December 2021: The Laurel Magazine

a e

L UR L The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Wreaths Across America Honoring the Fallen pg. 28

Images Steeped

in Stories

December 2021

Cover Artist, Kirk Dornbush

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CON T E N T S December 2021

13 What To Do

16 Trim Our Town

53 Recreation & Creation 60 Christmas Memories

69 Arts

74 Highlands PAC

87 Dining

92 Holiday Wines

103 Shopping

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104 Plateau Picks

115 History

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117 Highlands History

123 Lifestyles & Wellness 130 The Perfect Gift

139 Giving Back

144 Highlands Child Development Center

152 Business

152 Highlands Chamber of Commerce

146

A Big Good-bye

At a Glance Guides

118

Highlands’ Early Years

30 Calendar | 60 Dining Guide | 62 Accommodations Guide | 72 Highlands Map | 74 Cashiers Map | 102 Service Guide | 128 Advertiser’s Index 48 Calendar | 98 Dining Guide | 100 Accommodations Guide 108 Highlands Map | 110 Cashiers Map | 136 Service Directory | 176 Adver tiser’s Index 6 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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VOLUME NINETEEN, ISSUE ELEVEN

JANET CUMMINGS Managing Partner janet@thelaurelmagazine.com

MARJORIE CHRISTIANSEN Managing Partner marjorie@thelaurelmagazine.com

MICHELLE MUNGER Art Director mungerclan5@aol.com

SARAH FIELDING Account Manager sarah@thelaurelmagazine.com

LUKE OSTEEN Editor / Writer luke@thelaurelmagazine.com

DONNA RHODES Writer dmrhodes847@gmail.com

MARLENE OSTEEN Writer marlene.osteen@gmail.com

MARY JANE MCCALL Writer mjmccall777@gmail.com

DEENA BOUKNIGHT Writer dknight865@gmail.com

THOMAS CUMMINGS Distribution Manager jothcu@yahoo.com

Publisher’s Note If you’re like us, you’ve been in something of a mad sprint since the beginning of October.

The thousand details of everyday life and the confluence of events and activities would sometimes come close to overwhelming us.

But here we are in December, and these pages are filled-to-bursting with invitations to find our Peace and reconnect with our Joy. They’re peopled with our friends and neighbors, who remind us of the Goodness that’s embedded in this Season.

Whether you’re a year-rounder or a seasonal resident who’s browsing this magazine far from the Plateau, or someone who’s only in the neighborhood for a few hours, please know that we’re wishing you Merry Christmas and a Bright 2022.

Sincerely, Janet and Marjorie

Visit us online thelaurelmagazine.com phone 828.526.0173 email info@thelaurelmagazine.com mail Post Office Box 565 Highlands, North Carolina 28741

Contributing Writers: Jane Gibson Nardy, Mary Adair Trumbly, Sue Blair, David Stroud, William McReynolds, Sue Aery, Ann Self, Zach Claxton, Ashby Underwood, and Chris Wilkes Contributing Photographers: Susan Renfro, Greg Clarkson, Charles Johnson, Peter Ray, Terry Barnes, and Colleen Kerrigan.

Copyright © 2021 by The Mountain Laurel, LLC. All rights reserved. Laurel Magazine is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Laurel Magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel Magazine nor any of its staff is responsible for advertising errors, omissions, or information that has been misrepresented in or to the magazine. Any substantial errors that are the fault of the magazine will be subject to a reduction or reimbursement of the amounts paid by the advertiser, but in no case will any claim arising from such error exceed the amount paid for the advertisement by the advertiser.

WHAT TO DO Pages 14-49

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Christmas Around

The World

The Spirit of Christmas that animates the Holiday Season here on the Plateau has its roots in traditions from around the world. (And yes, that’s a Yule Goat.)

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he celebration of Christmas is a worldwide event where history, culture, and religion meet.

Our American Christmas season features feasts and family, worshipful church services and remembrances, music and singing galore, Santa Claus and joyful gift giving, and rededication to peace on Earth and good will to all.

This, a Yule Log, caroling, and much more form our Christmas season.

In Finland, Christmas is much about Santa Claus who, by tradition, is said to live in northern Finland near the Arctic Circle. Indeed, each year millions of letters are sent to Santa Claus, c/o Finland, and a large Finnish theme park, Christmas Land, is said to be “near his home.”

In ancient custom, a Yule Goat was celebrated in Finland and today Santa’s name in Finnish is Joulupukki, meaning Christmas Goat. Joulupukki travels by reindeer and leaves gifts under the trees. The Christmas feast includes salted fish, pork, potatoes, and

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vegetable casseroles.

In Russia, Christmas is making a comeback after being banned by the Soviets. New Year became the main seasonal celebration in the Soviet Union and remains so in Russia today. The two celebrations have merged into one long holiday from December 31 to January 10.

January 7 is the holy day, Christmas Day, following the Orthodox calendar. On New Year, Grandfather Frost, and his granddaughter, Snegurochka, appear suddenly and give gifts to the children. Perogies are prominent on the table.

In China where only 1 percent of the people are Christians, the Christmas Story is mostly unknown. Among the very few rural Christians, a plastic tree might appear, but ceremonies are personal and private. In the large cities, on the other hand, secular Christmas trees and festive lights appear in department stores and public places.

A new Christmas Eve tradition in China is giving apples to friends,

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brightly wrapped and symbolic of peace.

Ethiopia is a predominantly Christian nation on the Horn of Africa. This ancient culture follows the Coptic Orthodox calendar placing Christmas Day, again, on January 7. Some fast for 43 days before the Christmas feast. The faithful dress in white and they attend Christmas Eve Mass, which might last from 6:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M. on Christmas Day. There are candlelight processions, singing, and Holy Communion.

In traditional Ethiopian belief, one of the Three Wise Men was Ethiopian.

Worldwide, Christmas is a traditional family event and ours is the family of the Highlands Plateau and of all humanity.

Peace on Earth, goodwill to all from the Laurel magazine.

by William McReynolds

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Trim our

Town

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Trim Our Town is an ardent way to bring the Jolly to downtown Highlands.

he downtown Christmas season in Highlands officially began November 27 with the lighting of the Christmas tree and lights at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. However, another important initiative launched that day was Trim Our Town.

Said Kaye McHan, director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, “The event is a storefront decorating contest and is a People’s Choice Award! Voters have a chance to win a $200 gift card by participating.”

The goal of Trim Our Town is to encourage residents and visitors to patronize the many boutiques, restaurants, shops, etc., throughout Highlands. Each participating Trim Our Town business will have a distinct poster displayed prominently.

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of refuge and restoration, but also to discover locally crafted items and exotic goods from afar. Although first inhabited primarily by hardy and industrious tradesmen, many of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent, people from all over the country and the world have set up shop in Highlands.

In fact, there are dozens of unique businesses throughout quaint Highlands, and experiencing the creativity applied to entrances and windows is a delight for young and old alike. There are whimsical scenes, spiritual images, colorful hues, natural settings, and much, much more.

“If you’re looking for a present for your family, just want to make them happy, or just want to make yourself happy, the stores are decked and full of the most endearing gifts for everyone on your

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holiday shopping list,” said McHan. “Spend the day shopping, lunching (with a special holiday drink), and end your day with ice skating. It’s holiday bliss!”

While enjoying Trim Our Town, patrons’ children and grandchildren can drop a letter to the North Pole in Santa and Mrs. Claus’s special mailbox at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park this year. His mailing address is 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888. Plus, there is a holiday photo opportunity at the park, where “elves” have decorated Santa’s sleigh for the holidays.

Trim Our Town runs through Christmas Eve, December 24.

by Deena Bouknight photos by Susan Renfro

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Jubilant Illumination Decked out in jubilant illumination, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park sets the stage for a joyous Holiday Season.

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e have 19th century inventor Edward Johnson, a friend and partner of light-bulb inventor Thomas Edison, to thank for the tradition of electric bulbs on Christmas trees. Johnson does not get the credit for initial illumination on a tree; that goes to 16th century Protestant reformer Martin Luther, who came up with the idea of adding small, lighted candles to the branches of an evergreen.

But Johnson’s idea was “… to replace the candles with a string of colored electric lights, which he did with eight bulky, pear-shaped bulbs on a single wire,” shared a Time 2015 report. And, as occurs in many American communities, lighting a main tree has been a longstanding Christmas tradition in Highlands.

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Plus, “since 2019 we have been lighting the entire KelseyHutchinson Founders Park and the trees on Main Street,” explained Kaye McHan, director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce.

“Lighting the tree is the moment children who are young and old have been waiting for all year!”

With people waiting, talking, and drinking hot chocolate and coffee in the dark of the park, the main tree suddenly bursts forth its holiday brilliance the evening of November 27. Then, afterwards, for many weeks while people visit and gather during the December holiday seasons, the lights present a sense of magic for anyone driving by, walking through the park, enjoying the ice skating at the park, and more.

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“Evenings set amongst the softly lit trees of the park, and joy and laughter from the ice skating rink, it’s all available throughout the holiday season – and into January,” explained McHan. She credited not only chamber staff, but multiple contractors and numerous volunteers for planning and carrying out the annual Christmas tree and park lighting. “We are always trying to work a year in advance in order to improve the event each year and be flexible in the event delivery as needed,” she said. “The lights are intended to encourage community gatherings and to warm the heart and celebrate the season.”

by Deena Bouknight

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A Joyful Noise

Mike Kinnebrew’s concer t at The Farm at Old Edwards, set for December 16, marks a joyful return to the Plateau. The public is invited. For more information and tickets, visit oldedwardshospitality. com/f ireside.

Mike Kinnebrew

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n December 16, a cherished Christmas tradition returns to The Farm when the sounds of Mike Kinnebrew’s holiday music will fill The Barn – the quintessential backdrop for the season and the performer.

Since last year’s Covid-cramped performance was shunted online, Kinnebrew says that he cannot wait to come back and “play for our Highlands family again.”

His music sways between country and folk-influenced by the artists that played on the family station wagon in his youth – The Beatles, The Monkees, and Elvis among them.

Kinnebrew’s musical gifts – much more than just the “three chords and the truth” that often characterizes the mix-ups of these genres – include his gift of connecting with his audience. With his gently demanding voice, he packs his lyrics with stories of life and love, tales that are relatable and familiar.

As Drew Holcomb of Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors described, “Mike is a fantastic songwriter and performer.

His lyrics are thoughtful and intelligent, alongside music that evokes the classic songwriters we all know and love.”

This year’s program, A Celebration of the Season, will include favorite Christmas tunes, tunes from his album One Way to Find Out, and a selection of the ballads and music of his mentors. Also in the promise are new songs that are to be

part of an album currently in the works, to be produced by Grammy-nominated producer and Kinnebrew’s good friend, Paul Moak.

Joining him in concert for the evening, under the rustic rafters at The Barn will be Kinnebrew’s wife Lindsay on vocals and perhaps, as well, some of their Nashville friends.

Kinnebrew is eagerly looking forward to returning to Highlands and fondly recalled past holiday sessions, “Magical nights of music that seem to come so often in Highlands. Tis’ the season.”

The evening will be staged from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. A cash bar and complimentary light bites are included. The public is welcome. There’s a $15 cover charge for Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm Hotel Guests and Members, and a $25 cover charge for the public. Online ticket sales will open to the public two weeks prior to each session, so guests and members should make their purchases now.

Please Note: events are for guests 21 and older, and dates are subject to change.

by Marlene Osteen Scan for more info

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Cheese Biscuit

Queen

Mar y Mar tha Greene’s Hosted Weekend at HalfMile Farm promises to be playful, satisfying in so many ways, and rewarding, but probably not explosive.

For reser vations, visit Half MileFarm.com.

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or Mary Martha Greene, featured guest at Half-Mile Farm’s Hosted Weekend on January 21-23, “food is the language of love.”

It was the language spoken among the matriarchy of great cooks that populated her home growing up in South Carolina between Beaufort and Columbia.

In her new book, The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All, Greene reveals the stories surrounding those dishes with instructions on how to recreate them. And all the while reminding us that the recipes hold memories that are not solely hers but are the legacy of two gifted aunts, her mother, and grandmother.

A seductive and skilled Southern storyteller, she invites the reader to sit down with her at the kitchen table to share stories and recipes, bolstering the notion that “great food leads to great times and great memories.”

In a decades-long career in politics, Greene says she’s “used cooking and baking to win friends and influence people both in my lobbying career and when entertaining business prospects for clients, and many of the stories come from those events.”

As Virginia Willis, chef and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author noted, “You’ll come for classic Southern recipes and stay for the tales.”

In dishes from the cheese biscuits of the book’s title (“in a league all by themselves”) to Aunt Mimi’s go-to dishes for entertaining, Cheesy Pudding and Shrimp Harpin, Greene’s recipes are simultaneously

humble, familiar, and unpretentious while being undeniably fantastic.

Greene told me she’s excited to return to Highlands.

As to her last visit here, well, let’s say, one can “Blame it on the Wine.” As Greene told me, she had previously enjoyed frequent “mountain excursions” to Highlands with family. But, for this visit, she and friends had splurged on a particularly spectacular rental – a home that had recently sold for $2,000,000. The crowd was eagerly looking forward to the meal that Greene promised to turn out in the home’s spectacular kitchen, which boasted a professional Viking range.

That first night, as the group gathered on the deck cooing over the views, wine glasses in hands, Greene turned the gas on the stove, set pots of food to cook on the eyes, and joined her friends outside. It wasn’t long before conversation was interrupted with a large boom and the sight of metal covers bursting from the stovetop. It seems that Greene had turned on the gas without actually lighting the burners.

Thankfully, there was no significant damage.

Her visit to Half-Mile, which promises to be somewhat less explosive, includes Friday and Saturday social hours with craft beverages and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Greene’s book will also be available for signing and purchase.

Hosted events are for Half-Mile Farm guests only. Visit HalfMileFarm.com to check for room availability.

by Marlene Osteen

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Wreaths Across

America

Wreaths Across America will commemorate the sacrif ices of veterans at noon on Saturday, December 18, at Highlands Memorial Park. For any questions about sponsoring wreaths locally or about the event, please contact Phil Potts at (828) 200-9753 or ppotts63@ frontier.com.

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reenery is a quintessential holiday symbol. And Wreaths Across America captures the feeling of warmth and hospitality that the season brings by honoring the sacrifices of veterans with countless wreaths placed at gravesites.

A national movement since the early 1990s and an official non-profit 501(c)(3) organization since 2007, Wreaths Across America hits close to home with a ceremony at Highlands Memorial Park at noon on Saturday, December 18.

The purpose of the event will be to “remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom. Those are the triple goals at the heart of Wreaths Across America,” said Highlands’ location coordinator Phil Potts. “It’s a way to remember and honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance Wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every local veteran aloud.”

Anyone can get involved. Individuals and groups can arrange to participate in annual wreath-laying on the second or third Saturday of each December.

Wreaths Across America shares: “Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach is carried out by coordinating

wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 states, at sea, and abroad.”

One of the primary goals of Wreaths Across America is to teach younger generations about the importance of honoring veterans who sacrificed to protect those freedoms.

Besides wreath placement on graves, Wreaths Across America volunteers also conduct programs that honor veterans; one of those programs is the “Thanks a Million” campaign, which distributes cards to veterans as a simple “thank you” for their service. Plus, Wreaths Across America participates in veterans’ events throughout the year and has a veteran liaison on staff to work with local veterans organizations.

The organization encourages people to sponsor a veterans’ wreath at a nearby cemetery, volunteer by placing wreaths, or by donating to a local Wreaths Across America sponsorship group.

by Deena Bouknight Scan for more info

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Survey and Services

Local libraries are shaping their futures thanks to input from citizens.

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eginning in October, the Fontana Regional Library system, serving six libraries in Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties, asked for input via a survey that focuses on factors most important to communities.

The survey has been available online, but there are also paper surveys available at branches. The survey ends this month, and the outcome will help determine the library system’s long-range planning goals and priorities in targeted areas, such as employment and economy, education, broadband connectivity, health and mental health, diversity, and recreation.

Further, the results of the survey will guide partnerships with local organizations.

Carlyn Morenus, branch librarian for Hudson Library, Highlands, noted that local partners are a critical building block of success in Fontana Regional Library system’s communities. She said, “We want to be sure that we are being responsive to the needs and interests of our communities. We’re reaching out to both current library users and those who haven’t used the library.”

Also important for library patrons to know is that the OverDrive app will be discontinued in early 2022, explained Serenity Richards,

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branch librarian, Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library. The Overdrive app, free to library card holders, provides a plethora of e-book and e-audiobook options, but for the past few years, patrons have been encouraged to download and use the more user-friendly free Libby app, which accesses the same resources.

Plus, the Digital Seniors grant is a project that “addresses the digital divide as it is experienced by senior citizens who lack access to the Internet,” shared Morenus, “who do not have digital skills, or who may not recognize the benefits of internet connectivity. The goal is to provide seniors with both the technology (including internet connectivity) and the skills they need to use digital devices to explore the internet in a way that is meaningful to them on an individual basis. The libraries will provide initial home set-up and ongoing oneon-one instruction on using a Chromebook and Wi-Fi hotspot that participants check out for the duration of the grant period.”

For more information, contact any of the Fontana Regional Library branches as well as local senior centers.

by Deena Bouknight

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Light Up The Village

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The breathtaking Christmas Display at The Village Green is testament to a vibrant community.

he Cashiers Area Chamber is giving a giant shout out to The Village Green for once again bringing the bigger, brighter, and more festive light display to the Crossroads and the Village Green this year. They’re also encouraging business owners to light up their businesses to coincide with this event.

This beautiful light display is the result of the vision of Drew English who felt the annual display needed updating. He shared his vision with The Village Green, The Cashiers Area Chamber, and the community who enthusiastically endorsed the idea and helped the dream become a reality.

Drew, the gardener responsible for the lovely dahlia garden at High Hampton, has been a seasonal resident of Cashiers for years.

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He remembers the annual Christmas tree lighting as a highlight of his family’s holiday celebrations. Over the years he noticed that the display, which was left up from season to season and thus showing signs of aging, needed a refresh, and envisioned it being as festive and magnificent as the community.

Never one to see a problem without offering a solution Drew proposed that the entire Village Green be professionally done. With the help and support of the Cashiers business community, their leadership sponsors – High Hampton, Berkshire-Hathaway Meadows Mountain Realty, and Silver Run Reserve– funds were soon raised, and the vision became a reality.

Ashlie Mitchell-Lanning, Executive Director of The Village Green

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says, “we are so pleased that we, The Village Green, are able to offer this beautiful and magical show of lights at the Moore tree and within our park. None of this would be possible without Drew and his dedicated team of volunteers that devote their time to ensuring that our community has something beautiful to experience during the holidays.”

As always, the Moore Christmas Tree at the Crossroads is the main attraction with over 18,000 lights. Children will be especially delighted by Candy Cane Lane at the Green’s entrance off Highway 64.

Throughout the rest of The Village Green, you will find many more lit trees so make time to walk through and enjoy this winter wonderland.

by Mary Jane McCall photos by Drew English

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Ice, Ice,

Baby

Highlands Ice Rink is open at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. (Note to Olympic Hopefuls: The Beijing Winter Olympics debut in two months, so there’s still plenty of time to practice.)

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here’s something charming and a little oldfashioned and even romantic about ice skating outside. And few things say “Winter in Highlands” like ice skating at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Which explains why when the mercury drops and the ice-skating rink opens at the park, it becomes a frozen playground, a place to join the party and ice skate with fellow winter enthusiasts.

Operated by the Town of Highlands, the rink serves as a neighborhood gathering spot, attracting residents and tourists alike to explore and experience the park and the town in a new way – on ice skates.

Many consider it a counterpart to hiking which draws enthusiastic participants. Come here on a cold winter day, and you’ll witness a veritable Currier & Ives scene as couples and families with young children twirl and glide across the ice.

Indoor ice rinks and rural ponds may be fine. Still, there’s something particularly magical about skating in the center of town – steps from the town’s artfully decorated restaurants and shops, surrounded by hundreds of trees strung with twinkling Christmas lights. Also lit is the rink – both for extra festivity and

to stay open later. A pop soundtrack provides plenty of rhythm for carving a figure eight or simply smooth gliding. There are benches for onlookers, and hot chocolate and coffee are for sale when a chill sets in.

Admission to the rink is $5, with or without skates.

Rental skates are available from youth size 8 to adult size 14. The rink is open now through March 6, or as long as the ice remains solid. Hours are Thursdays 1:00 until 8:00 P.M., Fridays and Saturdays 1:00 until 10:00 P.M. and Sundays 1:00 until 5:00 P.M. Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for group bookings and parties, and the rink has special holiday schedules for Christmas.

Adhering to North Carolina pandemic rules and procedures, The Town of Highlands Ice Rink will allow only 30 skaters on the ice at one time, and online reservations are necessary.

Information about parties, times, dates, and other concerns is available by calling Highlands Parks & Recreation Department at (828) 526-3556 or by visiting highlandsnc.org/recreation-ice-rink.

by Marlene Osteen

photo by Colleen Kerrigan

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A Day of Parades

It wouldn’t be a Plateau Holiday Season without The Cashiers Christmas Parade and Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade, both set for Saturday, December 4.

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he communities of Highlands and Cashiers know how to celebrate the Christmas season, and starting December of this year both communities are having their Christmas parades on Saturday, December 4.

Can you think of a better way to get in the spirit of the season than a day of parades?

We can’t and are giddy with delight at the thoughts of two parades in one day. Make no mistake, you need to see them both. It really is twice the fun, and you have just enough time in between the two to shop and have lunch. This day just keeps getting better and better.

The Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade steps off at 10:30 A.M., making its way down Main Street to the delight of onlookers.

Magic is in the air and creativity is on display as these creative floats and entries march down Main Street.

Churches, businesses, and organizations spend weeks designing and building floats which will be joined by not one but two marching bands – the Franklin High School Band and the Rosman High School Band – dogs, horses, classic cars, the Highlands School Homecoming Court, cheerleaders and ball teams, fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and much more.

Back this year are crowd favorites, the Walking Nativity featuring live camels and the always entertaining and well-

choreographed dancing ladies of the Mountain Garden Club.

Of course, Santa will be the Guest of Honor.

The Cashiers parade starts at 3:00 P.M. and marches up 107 South to the crossroads where it turns left down Highway 64 to Frank Allen Road. The Village Green, purveyor of the magical light display that brings such joy to the community will be the Grand Marshall this year. The theme this year is Your Favorite Christmas Character, so feel free to come dressed as your favorite character from film, TV, or book, but please no Santas. There can only be one Santa, after all, and he’ll be a Featured Guest in this parade as well. Fun and creativity abound in this parade, evidenced by the names of the awards that will be bestowed at parade’s end: Cashiers Christmas Star, Elfin Magic, Holiday Spirit, Tin Soldier, Cashiers Caroling, Vintage Vehicle, Fruitcake Award, and Rudolph’s Friends. The Rosman High School Band caps a busy day by marching here, too.

For more information, call the Highlands Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Center at (828) 526-5841 and the Cashiers Area Chamber at (828) 743-5191.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Uptown Downhome

Creations

Cookbook author and culinar y celebrity Rebecca Lang will showcase her Uptown Downhome Creations with a hosted weekend at Half-Mile Farm, December 3-4. For reser vations, visit Half MileFarm.com.

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n December 3 and 4, Half-Mile Farm will welcome cookbook author, media star, and Food Network judge Rebecca Lang.

I recently spoke with Lang by phone. She was at home in Athens, Georgia, with her two teenage sons, and in a cheerful domestic mood – happy to talk about her trajectory to culinary stardom.

As was quickly revealed, Lang figured out early on that what she loved most was to eat: “I would rather eat than do anything in the world. Both of my grandmothers were exceptional home country cooks, and so I figured out if I wanted to eat the most, then being in the kitchen is where that happened.”

Growing up in the small South Georgia town of McRae, Lang was surrounded by country farms and produce trucks. By the time she was 10, she was churning out blueberry muffins. When she enrolled in college at the University of Georgia in the late 1990s, she knew she wanted a career in food, but cooking wasn’t cool back then.

Nevertheless, determined to pursue her passion, she called Nathalie Dupree after seeing her on TV. Lang recalled telling the well-known Southern culinarian, “I want to learn what you know.”

Surprisingly, Nathalie took the young Lang under her wing, becoming one of the most influential people in her life. Dupree advised her that if she wanted to be a cookbook author, she needed to go to culinary school to learn the science of cooking.

And so she did, completing the course at Johnson and Wales before going on to her first job as an assistant Food Editor at Oxmoor House and finally fulfilling her ambitions as a writer and teacher.

Lang is a prolific author– she has published a total of eight cookbooks – but it is her abiding love of party giving for which she is known best.

In her latest book, Y’all Come Over, she lays out her simple gospel for entertaining. Ultimately the joy of reading Lang’s book is that she is teaching you much more than how to execute a single dish.

Though she has many solid and delicious recipes – try the Georgia Shrimp Rolls, Deviled Eggs, and Fancy Hot Dogs – her mission is a way of urging you to trust and hone your skills as a hostess. The book details every step of entertaining, “from the initial inspiration to texting, to where to hang the wreath, to closing up the dishwasher.”

Attendees at the weekend will have occasion to taste some of Lang’s most requested recipes. Breakfasts will include Night Before Crepes, Overnight Coffee Crumble Cake, Rosemary Biscuits with Ham and Red Eye Aioli, and Ruby Red Ambrosia. Social Hours will offer up tastes of Cava-Mint-Pomegranate Sippers, Sinful Butter Saltines, Old-Fashioned Pecan Cheese Ball with local crackers, Coca-Cola BBQ and Bacon Shrimp, Ginger Wine Spritzer, Two Pepper Blue Cheese Wafers, Tarragon Deviled Eggs, and Fig and Red Onion Jam with local cheese.

Hosted events are for Half-Mile Farm guests only. Visit HalfMileFarm.com to check for room availability.

by Marlene Osteen

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Letters to

Santa

Neither a global pandemic nor their occasional random acts of naughtiness will prevent Santa from hearing the wishes of his dedicated followers.

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olks, Santa and Mrs. Claus have been very carefully following the trajectory of the pandemic and have decided that keeping Santa healthy for the big night is top priority. With great regret they have decided that Santa should not sit for photos this Christmas season but keep himself safe and sound at the North Pole.

In all honesty, this may be for the best because word on the street is that the children have been very good this year so his busy night will be busier than ever. More hours in the toy factory mean more presents to be delivered.

Santa holds a special place in his heart for Highlands and all the good children here so he’s a bit sad at not being able to see them in person but he and his clever elves came up with the next best solution.

Children can still get their requests to Santa by visiting the KelseyHutchinson Founder’s Park and dropping their letters to Santa in the 42 D e c e m b e r 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M AG A Z I N E . C O M

special mailbox he had his elves install there. Letters to Santa should be addressed to 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888.

Those enterprising elves surprised Santa and decorated his sleigh and left it at the park so that families can continue their tradition of having their family pictures made in the park. Bring your camera when you’re dropping off those letters to Santa so you can snap your annual holiday picture. (Hey kids, this may be your only opportunity to have your picture taken in the driver’s seat of Santa’s sleigh!)

Santa hinted that he might look at Facebook if time allows and see all those happy family photos so snap away, snap away, snap away all!

.

by Mary Jane McCall photo by Colleen Kerrigan

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Snow Fest

at 4118

Let Snow Fest at 4118 thaw out your winter mojo (or perhaps you need a chance to chill) at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park in Highlands, Januar y 29-30.

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here are some people – ok, a lot of people – who’ll tell you that Highlands goes into hibernation some time in the early hours of January 1, slowly emerging from its frost-tinged slumber in the third week of March.

But Highlands Chamber of Commerce is looking to correct that misconception with its Snow Fest at 4118, looking to unthaw the frozen calendar January 29 and 30.

“The event is for those of us who are adventurous and unfazed by the blustery wind and temps and for whom an outdoor activity is just the ticket to fight off those winter blues,” says Chamber Executive Director Kaye McHan. That means you’re invited to put on your best winter coat and mittens for two adventurous days of snowballs, ice slides, and merry-go-round, smores, snow-ga (that’s yoga for the limber and adventurous), and more at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park.

And of course, there’s also the Highlands Ice Rink at the park, inviting young and old, and delivering a 21st century vibe to a Currier & Ives mainstay.

For the latest information, visit highlandschamber.org.

by Luke Osteen

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Mark 2022 May Day

Bear Shadow Festival, set for April 29 through May 1 of nex t year, promises to bring the same level of musical energy to the Plateau. Details are still being worked out – for up-to-date information, visit bearshadownc.com.

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he wildly successful Bear Shadow Festival will emerge from hibernation for its second year, the weekend of April 29–May 1, 2022.

Named for the shadow that appears annually behind Whiteside Mountain, Bear Shadow is organized and owned by Highlands Festivals Inc, a 501(3)(c) that’s also responsible for Highlands Food & Wine.

Much like the spring 2021 inaugural festival, the 2022 event will feature tons of live music, guitar clinics, a music-oriented film fest, and outdoor activities like hiking and yoga, accompanied by live 46 D e c e m b e r 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M AG A Z I N E . C O M

music to get folks really moving. The intimate local mountain setting drew an extraordinary roster of talent earlier this year, including some very big names – St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Mandolin Orange, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Chuck Leavell, The War & Treaty, Jamestown Revival, Shelly Colvin, Devon Gilfillian, and Robert Ellis.

Though details of the 2022 performers are yet to be announced, the roster of talent is certain to be no less illustrious in 2022.

Stretching from the Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in downtown Highlands to the top of Satulah Mountain, the Festival also includes smaller events with a variety of price points for

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locals and visitors.

Beyond attracting top music acts, an equally important part of the mission of the festival is to support and form alliances with local businesses. Highlands Festivals Inc., the organization that founded the festival, is intent on making the small businesses of Highlands the real star of the show – “to bring voice and face to the town’s small business – to bring energy and awareness to the restaurants and stores that were at risk during the past year and a half due to Covid.”

Festival organizer Casey Reid of Eleven.Events said that she anticipates that like the 2021 event, the spring 2022 festival will draw visitors from throughout the Southeast.

“Last year’s festival was sold out and enthusiastically enjoyed by more than 1,000 attendees,” she said. “The Highlands community and fans of our annual fall event, the Highlands Food & Wine Festival, demonstrated a fierce appetite for the quality of live music

we introduced in the spring, and we are thrilled to once again bring A-list talent to a star-studded lineup in 2022. The increasing number of inquiries we are receiving about 2022 is a clear indication that there’s a pent-up demand for next year’s event.”

For more information, visit bearshadownc.com.

by Marlene Osteen

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DE CE M BE R

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Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold!

– Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

4

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

1

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4 PM to 7 PM. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

2

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM to 2 PM. Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

The Bookworm open 11 AM to 3 PM. Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

3

Bazaar Barn, 10 AM to 2 PM. Olde Mountain Christmas Parade, 10;30 AM, Highlands.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

The Bookworm, 11 AM to 3 PM Met Opera: Eurydice, 12:55 PM, PAC. Cashiers Christmas Parade, 3:00 PM, Crossroads.

Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands .

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

5

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

6

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

7

Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

8

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4 PM to 7 PM. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Scott and Patti, 7:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

9

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM to 2 PM. Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

The Bookworm open 11 AM to 3 PM. Scott and Patti Holiday Spectacular, 7:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

10

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM to 2 PM. Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

The Bookworm, 11 AM to 3 PM Scott and Patti Holiday Spectacular, 7:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands .

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Scott and Patti Holiday Spectacular, 2:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

12

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

13

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

14

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

15

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, United Methodist Church.

Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4 PM to 7 PM. Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Scott and Patti, 7:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Mike Kinnebrew’s concert at The Farm at Old Edwards.

Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

16

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM to 2 PM. Scott and Patti Holiday Spectacular, 7:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

17

Bazaar Barn, open 10 AM to 2 PM. Wreaths Across America, Highlands Memorial Park.

Scott and Patti Holiday Spectacular, 7:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Scott and Patti Holiday Spectacular, 2:00 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

19

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

20

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

21

Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

22

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4 PM to 7 PM. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

23

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Trim Our Town Storefront Contest, Downtown Highlands.

Light Up the Park Display, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

24

Merry Christmas!

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Light Up the Park Display, Live Music, 9:30 PM, The High Dive.

Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

26

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating RInk open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

27

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

28

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.

29

Highlands Food Pantry Open, 10 AM to 6 PM, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

30

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

Betsy Paul Art Raffle, benefitting CashiersGlenville Fire Department, 5 PM drawing.

Ice Skating Rink open, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

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18

25

31

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

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RECREATION & CREATION Pages 54-63

OUTDOORS

The Birds of

Christmas The twelve days of Christmas bring the birds of Christmas.

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n the first day of Christmas My true love sent to me…

In a very old version of this song the lyric is “My mother gave to me.” Mother…true love, pretty much the same. Other versions say: “My good friends brought to me.” All in all, joyful gift-giving.

A partridge in a pear tree…

We don’t have many partridges here on the Plateau if you are thinking of giving this gift. It’s native to Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East, brought into North America as a game bird. You could find one, probably caged, or substitute a cousin, the Ringed-necked Pheasant. Ringed-necked Pheasants are brightly colored birds, year-round residents of the northern Mid-West, reaching down into Texas. We also have plenty of pear trees. But don’t look for a partridge or pheasant in a pear tree. They are ground dwellers who don’t like heights.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, We have plenty of dove here on the Plateau and in North America: Mourning Doves in particular. Turtle Doves are native to Europe and the Middle East, migrating south of the Sahara for winter. Our Mourning Doves were once called Carolina Turtledoves. Close enough. Get two.

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me Three French hens, Good gift! Any hen becomes a French hen when you call it a poulet.

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Roast them or cook them in a pot. What bad can you say about a people who have a kiss named after them?

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Four calling birds Calling birds are abundant here on the Plateau; an easy gift of four.

Our best calling bird is probably the Carolina Wren: loud and clear.

Remember also that the American Robin has been called “A Piano in the Woods.”

The fifth day brings gold rings followed on the sixth day by Six geese a-laying Canada Geese are abundant in North America, as every golfer knows. And six “a-laying” eggs could mean a lot of goslings. Think of them as mobile fertilization units.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming Swans need fresh water, preferably a lake, a large lake because swans don’t play well with others. They are, however, the gift of beauty to the person who has everything including a large lake. Brace yourself: swans are expensive to buy.

The remainder of the 12 Days of Christmas invoke gifts of maids a-milking, ladies dancing, lords a-leaping, pipers piping, and drummers drumming. Cheese and cream, a-dancing and music: How good is that?

Merry birds of Christmas from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

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The Scaly

Screamer

Highlands Outpost’s new Scaly Screamer promises a unique adrenaline-fueled mountain-touring experience. For more information go to scalymountain.com.

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here’s a new wave of coaster enthusiasts – not devotees of old school roller coasters, but acolytes of Alpine Coasters.

At Highlands Outpost on the Dillard Road (formerly Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center), the recently installed Wiegand Mountain Coaster is now one of the main attractions.

The center initially opened in the 1980s as Ski Scaly, a down-home version of a ski slope during the winter months and a cabbage patch for the owners during the summer.

When it became apparent that there was not enough snow for skiing, snow tubing was introduced, and then gradually other activities were added – ice skating in winter, trout fishing, and gem mining in warmer months. When it became evident that there was room and demand for more activities, the idea for the mountain coaster was born.

The new Mountain Coaster – also known as the Scaly Screamer – which takes riders down the mountain on an elevated steel track much like a roller coaster, was introduced over the fall and runs all year. Outpost manager Jason Sawin explained that, “It’s an aesthetically pleasing stainless steel coaster, built on the side of the mountain, so it’s mostly gravity-powered.” Instead of the experience of regular coasters, participants in an alpine coaster sit upright in sled-like carts that can accommodate one or two

riders. Each cart has a hand brake to slow it down or speed it up. In other words, the participant controls the ride.

The Scaly Screamer ride, according to Sawin, lasts an average of six minutes.

“We expect it to be a great addition to the center,” he said. “The mountain coaster is a great way to get into nature. The forest encloses it like a tunnel, so people will see and encounter things they wouldn’t normally see and experience while on the ground. And it’s not so fast that everything will be a blur.”

Sawin, a recreational industry professional, believes that our lush scenic part of Western North Carolina is “ideal for people who want to be outdoors in the natural environment, get fresh air and sometimes, participate in something thrilling.”

The center provides plenty of fun for everyone – locals and visitors, including dining at the center’s Annie’s Café and exploring the wares at the Bartram Market. And whether it’s mountain coasting or trout fishing, or snow tubing, there’s plenty to do outdoors.

More information can be found at scalymountain.com.

by Marlene Osteen

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Heaps of Christmas Cheer

The judicious addition of local greener y into your home can add heaps of Christmas cheer.

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any local gardeners take pleasure in harvesting the winter feast that takes place in their backyards for Christmas décor – for use in garlands and wreaths and ornaments. In the South, native greenery has been used for decorations since Colonial Times – a tradition historians believe the first settlers brought with them from England. For centuries, Southerners have been elaborately decorating their churches – hanging garlands of Fir, Holly, Mountain Laurel, and Mistletoe from the roof, the walls, the pews, and even the pulpit.

As plants with the brightest red berries are always sought after, Holly comes to mind.

Highlands Biological Station Botanist Rachel Martin advises: “One shrub worth considering for holiday decorating is Ilex verticillate, a native deciduous holly. It’s a rare occurrence to have a deciduous holly but in exchange for shedding its leaves, Ilex verticillate offers beautiful bare branches dotted with clusters of bright red berries as a consolation. The name Winterberry is very apt and using it invites native plants and nature into your home during the winter months.”

There are cultivated varieties and hybrids, differing in height (3 to 15 feet), berry color (bright reds to reddish-orange and yellow), and size ( 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch). The berries are longlasting if you cut the branches and bring them into the house, but do not put them in water. Outside, berries last as long as the

birds allow. Their fiery beauty and ease of care have inspired many a Christmas Wreath.

Also worthy of consideration are the leaves of our native Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora. The large leaves, glossy and dark green, make stunning wreaths and bases for large decorations and hold up very well – even without water.

The straight species does well, but several cultivars such as Teddy Bear offer stunning golden hues on the leaf undersides and are soft to the touch. Avoid spraying anti-transpirant on the undersides of the leaves, as it will ruin the beautiful fuzzy texture. Martin advises that Southern Magnolias aren’t as common on the Plateau because of our harsh winters but can be found easily in the lower elevations.

Readers are advised to take proper safety precautions when bringing live greenery indoors, making sure they are brought in as fresh as possible.

The Clemson University Extension Service suggests that, “Before bringing the greenery inside, soak in water overnight to rehydrate them. Never place fresh greenery near heat sources – space heaters or heater vents. Check all decorations every couple of days for freshness and replace or remove the dry portions.”

by Marlene Osteen

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Christmas

Memories

The hunt for the Per fect Highlands Christmas Tree could take you down some unexpected routes.

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ruisin’ for Christmas trees.

Yep, that’s what we did in the good old days before Christmas tree farms dotted the landscape and artificial trees became acceptable.

For every tree you see atop an SUV these days, its early and modest predecessor was unceremoniously loaded into the trunk of a sedan the size of a football field and taken home to be nailed to a wooden stand and bedecked with lights the size of golf balls and shiny tinsel.

These trees, while precious in our sight and memories, were undoubtedly the inspiration for Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. Most likely they were white pine and they were, to put it kindly, sparse. Mom, being from South Carolina, always dreamed of finding a cedar, but white pines prevailed.

Getting there was part of the adventure.

Where would we look? Most often it seemed we’d head to Blue Valley, though admittedly on more than one occasion we might have strayed onto private property. This particular year we ventured in an entirely new direction. It was early

on a gray morning in December when Mom and I took up the mantle of finding the tree. We loaded a handsaw in the trunk of the trusty blue and white Ford Galaxy and headed to Brush Creek.

Why there, I have no idea, but down the remote gravel road we traveled, Christmas carols playing on the AM radio, eyes peeled for the perfect tree, when what to our wondering eyes should appear but…a young man we knew happily bopping out of the woods as though it was the most common occurrence in the world.

The three of us continued down the road and after a few false starts we finally found our tree.

Our Christmas guest happily scaled the side of the mountain, sawed the tree down, loaded it in the trunk for us, and headed back on his merry way, off on whatever adventure we had interrupted.

These days I have an (gasp) artificial tree but make no mistake, I can’t pass a young pine tree without sizing up its potential as a Christmas tree, or remembering the sweet smell.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Hemlocks &

Salamanders

A dedicated cadre of researchers delving into the mysteries found on the Plateau form the centerpiece of Highlands Field Site program’s wildly successful return.

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his year, the Highlands Biological Foundation has invested more than ever before in research and education on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau – a feat only possible thanks to our supporters!

Some of HBF’s recent victories include hosting a successful season of nature-packed summer camps, funding several scientific research grants, expanding Highlands Nature Center outreach programs, welcoming renowned author and climate activist Dr. Katharine Wilkinson for a free community event, and committing three $100,000 grants over the next few years to UNC-Chapel Hill’s Highlands Field Site program at the Highlands Biological Station.

The latter victory is one that makes us especially delighted. This fall, after a two-year hiatus, the station welcomed back their long-standing HFS program.

With it came Dr. Rada Petric, the first-ever HFS Director, and 12 motivated UNC students ready to explore the ways humans affect the natural environment and the tools used to measure, understand, and communicate these impacts. Bats, hemlocks, and salamanders are just the tip of the iceberg for the subjects these students researched during the

semester. Not to mention their group work analyzing microplastics in the Chattooga River, landscape studies using drones, and immersive, overnight field trips to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the grassy balds of Roan Mountain.

These talented and determined students have been working hard for the past four months to contribute to the understanding of the incredible biodiversity of our region. You can join them for their end-of-semester celebration where they will present their individual and group research project findings for our community.

The presentations and reception will be held on Thursday, December 9. Location and time to be determined. Stay tuned to highlandsbiological.org for more information on this and other events.

For a sneak peek at the students’ research projects, see HBF’s fall newsletter on our website as well. The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.

by Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation

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ARTS Pages 70-83

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Images Steeped in Stories For photographer Kirk Dornbush, the secrets of humanity and creation are all around us, waiting for his illuminating gaze.

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hotographer Kirk Dornbush saw the light early on. That brilliance has been glowing and growing in him ever since. As far back as he can remember, he’s been drawn to compelling images defined by dramatic light and deep shadow.

But what punches this romantic, right in his core, are the photos that make poignant statements about Humanity.

Storied 20th Century photographers Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams, and Edward S. Curtis set the standard for Kirk’s black and

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white compositions.

Of course their technical perfection mesmerizes him. But bits of life, frozen in time, are his favorite teachers, for it’s in the observation and study of these iconic images that he learns the most. A family dazed and devastated by the Dust Bowl; Native Americans vanishing forever on a fated horizon; on the opposite end of the spectrum, the mind-blowing wonder of the majestic Rockies are just some of Kirk’s best study-guides.

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While Kirk is in awe of Lange’s ability to discreetly capture a child’s shellshocked gaze, it’s landscapes that call him loudest. They too have a soul and personality, but they are welcoming and forgiving to a photographer’s intrusions.

Happiest scanning Nature’s panoramas, Kirk snaps vignettes along the Bartram Trail as it winds to the top of Scaly. It’s there, his 35th anniversary nearing, in perfect light, that he photo’d two weatherworn trees, intertwined, roots woven around rock and each other as if to keep from toppling in this crazy world. That iconic symbol of support and love spoke volumes to his wife.

Abandoned, crumbling structures have rich histories, but for their tales to be told well, the light has to be perfect. It’s in a morning or

evening glow that their roofs and battered siding reveal their best stories. Kirk is there to give permanence to their memory with a little luck and careful planning, “Observation is the key,” says Kirk. “ If you have an affinity for photography and you look at enough photos, then framing a brilliant image with perfect light will evoke the emotional response you hoped for. After a while, the process becomes unconscious, instinctual.”

To learn more about Kirk Dornbush’s work, contact him at kdornbush1@gmail.com.

by Donna Rhodes

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Holiday

Greening

You open your home to an entire suite of sensual delights when you invite Nature into your Holiday decorating plans.

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efore there were plastic blowups, flashing lights, and twirling plug-ins, December decorating was au naturale.

And some (me included) still prefer it that way.

A favorite tradition of a log church just outside of Asheville is to gather the congregation on a Saturday in December with the one mandate: Bring greenery from your gardens and yards and forests.

What results is the “greening of the church” with fragrant garlands and swags. The following Sunday morning presents a sensual experience ushering in the season in a way that only nature can accomplish.

That sacred family, the one that launched the “Reason for the Season,” smelled only livestock dung and dirt in that ancient makeshift birthing room (i.e. stable).

But we have the opportunity to inhale the woodsy fragrance of a Frasier fir, grown lovingly somewhere in the Western North Carolina mountains. Or, we might decide to trod upon our own property and scout out a more willowy, subtly fragrant cedar for decorating with smell-good strings of dried fruit, potpourri, and popcorn.

With the Christmas tree as the centerpiece, a

natural holiday décor can be achieved with clippings from common Plateau plants: holly trees, mountain laurels, rhododendrons, and anything growing that is evergreen. Use a wreath form and prune and poke and arrange clippings to form a door or gate decoration. Pull out every usable container and fill them with water and stuff them with the plucked bounties; the aromatic arrangements decorate mantels, tabletops, dining tables, and more.

Make garland or a sash with long-bough, fresh-cut clippings of a wispy cedar or white pine, for example, by attaching limb to limb with floral wire (for garland) and the stem ends upside down (for a sash).

Add bows if desired – or just stick purely to an outdoorsy ambiance throughout the home’s interior.

Natural greenery may have to be replenished mid-season, but the payoff is a beautiful, scentfilled home that beats artificial any day.

by Deena Bouknight

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The MET,

Live Via Satellite

The MET Opera returns to Highlands Per forming Ar ts Center with a pair of productions – Eur ydice on December 4; and Cendrillon on Januar y 1. For tickets or more information, visit HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

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he MET Opera is back in full swing with new productions for the 202122 season.

At 12:55 P.M. Saturday, December 4, the MET will present Live via Satellite, Eurydice.

The ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, who attempts to harness the power of music to rescue his beloved Eurydice from the underworld, has inspired composers since opera’s earliest days.

Rising American composer Matthew Aucoin now carries that tradition into the 21st century with a captivating new take on the story. With a libretto by MacArthur Genius Grant-recipient Sarah Ruhl, adapted from her acclaimed 2003 play, the opera reimagines the familiar tale from Eurydice’s point of view.

Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium, leading Aucoin’s evocative music and an immersive new staging by Mary Zimmerman. Soprano Erin Morley sings the title role, opposite baritone Joshua Hopkins as Orpheus and countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński as his otherworldly alter ego.

At 12:55 P.M. Saturday, January 1,

we’ll present the classic tale of Cinderella.

Laurent Pelly’s storybook staging of Massenet’s Cendrillon is presented with an all-new English translation in an abridged 90-minute adaptation, with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as its rags-to-riches princess.

Maestro Emmanuel Villaume leads a delightful cast, which includes mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo as Cinderella’s Prince Charming, soprano Jessica Pratt as her Fairy Godmother, and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and bass-baritone Laurent Naouri as her feuding guardians. It’s the perfect Holiday adventure for all ages, young and old.

A pre-opera discussion will begin at 12:30 P.M. before the operas begin at 12:55 P.M. Tickets are available at HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

We’re located at 507 Chestnut Street.

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

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Traditions and Superstitions

A host of traditions and superstitions shadow theaters around the world.

You can help Highlands Playhouse avoid this pack of troubles.

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hile there’s not an ounce of science to support bad luck associated with black cats, walking under ladders, or Friday the 13th, who among us still wonders how many years of bad luck remain on our broken mirror inventory? And is there a special demon in hell that keeps track of looking glass penance?

One thing is for certain: superstitions abound, and there are plenty in theater. For instance, it’s bad luck to say good luck. Instead we say, break a leg, which sounds like inviting bad luck. But it comes from the belief that pixies and ghosts haunting the theatre do the opposite of what they’re told. So actors intentionally ask for broken legs, and thus believe they’ll get money, fame, and tickets to the Tina Turner Musical.

But why a leg? Why not a neck or back? There is a curtain called the “leg” in the wings that conceals backstage. If you break this leg you break past the barrier that keeps you from being onstage. And if you make it to the stage before you are supposed to, you’ve thrown everything out of synch. Crash, bang, boom. It’s the end of life as we know it.

Another break-a-leg explanation dates back to Elizabethan theater when the audience would throw money at the actors if they liked their performance. An actor would bend over to pick up loot, thus breaking (the line of ) his leg.

If the audience didn’t like the show, they’d throw splattery things and rotten rutabagas. No line broken there. A contract maybe.

Here’s another: Never whistle in the theater. When rigging was installed in a playhouse to fly scenery or actors, sailors were the 78 D e c e m b e r 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M AG A Z I N E . C O M

engineers-of-choice to manage the ropes and pulleys. On ship sailors communicated these maneuvers with coded whistles. If an actor inadvertently whistled while crossing the stage, a sailor could hear that as a cue, and BOOM! Leading man is now Flat Stanley.

Never say Macbeth. Say Scottish Play. The actor playing Macbeth in the original production died in an accident (perhaps someone whistled) and Shakespeare, himself, had to stand in for him. If you inadvertently say, M—beth in the Playhouse, run outside, spin around three times, and spit, avoiding your friends’ shoes, of course.

A bad dress rehearsal means a great show. Ah, hope and denial collide. But by the time the cast and crew have squeezed every last ounce of energy out of their exhausted bodies and brains, there are bound to be a few last-minute blunders. However, by opening night, adrenalin pumping, a wine-prepped audience, electric air, careful planning and hard work will pull it all together.

Help the Playhouse launch 2022 by creating nothing but good luck for the crew, staff, and actors with a generous end-of-the year donation. As Executive Artistic Director Scott Daniel says, “Supporting the arts by becoming a sponsor is a theatre tradition that is a necessity to the survival of small professional theatres like Highlands Playhouse.”

Visit highlandsplayhouse.org and make your pledge today. Scott promises he’ll clean up your broken mirror debt in exchange.

by Donna Rhodes

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The Concept

of Place

The Bascom’s Winter Resident Ar tist Colin Dawson brings a critical eye to the concept of Place in ar t and the world.

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Colin Dawson

he Bascom Winter Resident Artist Program, better known as the WRAP, calls on students or faculty from across the Southeast to submit site-specific installation proposals for The Bascom’s Thompson Gallery based on an annual theme.

For 2022, The Bascom will be connecting programming throughout the year to the theme of Place.

This residency provides the selected artist with the opportunity to live and work on The Bascom campus while designing, building, and installing their project proposal in a four week period. As a professional development opportunity, the WRAP allows an artist the time and space to create, document their process, and exhibit their work in a gallery setting.

We enter this winter season by welcoming the latest addition to our Winter Resident Artist Program, Colin Dawson. Competing with applicants from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, Colin’s project proposal was a standout given that he has been exploring the theme of Place for the last few years. Through an

investigative lens, Colin researches the historical narrative of specific pieces of land, and documents the discoveries found there through plaster casting, and sculptural assemblages.

Colin is a first year MFA candidate at Western Carolina University. Originally from Pensacola, Florida, he brings with him a background in furniture design, and works in sculpture.

Regarding his view on the arts, Colin says, “I view art as a public service that helps us digest our culture and its effects. Elements of pop culture, art history, literature, film, TV can by synthesized into artistic forms to break down and define their impetus, sources, and affect.”

We are excited to witness the process and result of his work at The Bascom, and in the community.

Please join the Bascom in welcoming Colin Dawson to the Plateau, and be sure to visit The Bascom to view his exhibition, open January 11 through April 2, 2022.

The Bascom, A Center for Visual Arts, is located at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands.

by Billy Love, The Bascom

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A Successful

Season of Art

Drawing upon its members’ natural talents of creativity and ingenuity, the Ar t League of Highlands-Cashiers managed to stage a successful year of meetings and events.

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s the calendar year draws to a close, the Art League of HighlandsCashiers is grateful that the 2021 season mostly returned to normal following a year of cancelled programs and events due to Covid.

This year, all six free monthly presentations took place at The Bascom, and the League sponsored three fine art shows, one in Highlands and two in Sapphire Valley.

Despite the residual effects of the pandemic that held down the number of exhibitors to fewer than normal, there were record sales of member artwork.

The one event that regrettably was not able to take place was the week-long Children’s Summer Art Camp at the Rec Park.

Other positive measures of a successful season are evident. ALHC membership grew from 39 members in 2020 to 64 in 2021. The ALHC website was greatly improved, and in addition to featuring more member artwork on it, we also established

a presence on Instagram. You can visit artleagueofhighlands-cashiers.com. to keep up with current events and to view members’ artwork.

The Art League wishes to thank The Bascom for once again providing the venue for its meetings and for sponsoring an ALHC member exhibit that will run through the end of the year. If you haven’t yet seen this exhibit in the Joel Gallery, we encourage you to do so.

We also thank the community at large for its support with presentation attendance and membership gains. The Art League welcomed new board members, and the board will be busy during the winter months making plans for an even more exciting year in 2022.

We hope you will join us during the 2022 season that kicks off next year on April 25.

by Zach Claxton, Highlands-Cashiers Art League

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DINING Pages 88-98

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Serving up Food

& Fellowship

Highlands Burritos, located at 226 South Four th Street, is ser ving up generous helpings of comfor t food and, just as impor tant, local conversation.

They’re open Monday through Saturday, 11:00 A .M. to 3:00 P.M.

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ver the course of these last 20 Covid-cramped months, I’ve rhapsodized about the sublime joy of dining out with friends, of restoring the warp and woof of relationships that’ve frayed.

The happy chatter and bursts of laughter that punctuate our meals at all of our Plateau dining destinations, from mom ‘n pop cafés to deeply-indulgent dining rooms that’ve earned an international reputation, is a powerful tonic to the quarantine stupor that’s somehow followed us into this new, unsettled landscape.

It’s always been that way on the Plateau – food and fellowship served in equal portions. Consider that Mrs. Elvira Zachary’s Boarding House was often referred to as Zachary’s Kitchen, or that Highlands’ earliest businesses were The Highlands Inn and The Central House, both offering full menus to their guests.

I’m bringing this up because that’s what I encountered during our

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fast trip to Highlands Burritos.

Though my time in the place spanned only a few minutes (we were on a takeout, eat-at-our-desk mission), I encountered and chatted with three friends who’d been missing from my life for the past 20 months.

We updated ourselves, exchanged gossip (this is Highlands, after all), shared pictures of loved ones and grandkids, and talked about plans for the off-season.

I lack the poetry to describe what a benison it is to indulge in these sweet Plateau traditions. The serving line at Highlands Burritos serves the same purpose as those early morning bull sessions at Farmer’s Market or those earnest discussions at Calders Coffee.

And while we’re talking about the simple bliss of falling back into the lives of friends and the neighbors we’ve lost track of, let me jump

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over to the simple bliss served up at Highlands Burritos.

It’s set up like your standard Subway – you place your order and advance, choose your protein, your fillers (rice, black beans, refried beans), and toppings that are rolled into the creation.

Each burrito is crafted by a trio of smiling women and men (some of whom are fluent at English, some not-so-much, but each gracious and dedicated to their task).

And each burrito is the Tex-Mex equivalent of a British Ploughman’s Lunch. They’re enormous, incredibly filling, and budget friendly.

Tricia and I ordered Blackegdfgned Fish and Ground Beef versions, and our friend Casey was gratified to discover a Veggie option.

Even though I mentioned that these choices were enormous, my dedication to the thoroughness of my reviews led me to add a generous helping of guacamole to the order.

Now I don’t know your religious leanings, and I’m usually tightlipped about my expressions of faith, but let me just say, “Sweet Jesus, that’s some incredible Guac!”

You could taste the sunshine and the freshness, and it was a quick transport to some tropical hideaway.

No wonder those sweet counter workers were smiling so much – they knew they were serving up something transcendent!

And, since this was a lunch order that would carry over into the evening, I also ordered Pico de Gallo and Tortilla Chips. I’m snacking on these as I’m writing this. (Again, taking us back to my evocation of the Ploughman’s Lunch.)

To complete the Tex-Mex theme, I ordered bottles of Mexican (Real Sugar) Coca Colas. These were appropriately fizzy and fun. Casey swears by the Margaritas that are crafted at Highlands Burritos, but since this was a takeout order, these were a no-no.

Highlands Burritos is located at 226 South Fourth Street. You can order online, highlandsburritos.com, but if you have time, why not stop to place your order and dine there? I promise, you’ll get into a conversation with someone (including, if they have a moment of time, the people building your order) and keep that wonderful Plateau community spirit going.

by Luke Osteen photos by Susan Renfro

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Let Someone

Else Cook

Family get-togethers and holiday enter taining are so much more enjoyable when someone else handles the cooking.

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f your holiday plans include meals out at one of our area’s fine restaurants, please note that most area restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve for your dining pleasure. Your options on Christmas Day are limited. Reservations are recommended, and in some cases required, and should be made well in advance. Your choices on New Year’s Eve are plentiful but make those reservations early as possible!

Call for Information on Carry Away: Fressers Courtyard Café (828) 526-8847 Rosewood Market (828) 526-0383 The Kitchen Carryaway (828) 526-2110 Dusty’s Rhodes Superette (828) 526-2762 Call for Information and Reservations:

On The Verandah (828) 526-2338 The Library Kitchen and Bar (828) 743-5512 Oak Steakhouse (828) 482-4720 Ristorante Paoletti (828) 526-4906 Wild Thyme Gourmet (828) 526-4035 Tug’s Proper (828) 526-3555 4118 Kitchen & Bar (828) 526-5002 Highlands Smokehouse (828) 526-3554 The Orchard Restaurant (828) 743-7614 The Ugly Dog (828) 743-3000; The Ugly Dog (828) 526-8364 Cashiers Valley Smokehouse (828) 743-2096

Bella’s Junction Café: Scaly Mountain (828) 526-0803

Midpoint (828 )526-2277

Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bar Bistro (828) 526-3807

Madison’s Restaurant (828) 787-2525

Julep Farms (706) 960-9600

Bridge at Mill Creek (828) 526-5500

Greystone Inn (828) 966-4700

Lakeside Restaurant (828) 526-9419

Highlander Mountain House (828) 526-2590 Four65 Woodfire Bistro and Bar (828) 787-2990

by Mary Jane McCall

Fire+Water at Fire Mountain Inn (800) 775-4446

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Red, White,

& Bubbly

The correct selection of wine adds a joyful f lavor to any holiday celebration.

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f, as Christmas approaches, great questions are stirring about what wines to be serving, then I give you to know there is nothing to dread.

For simply said, there’s much pleasure ahead, and generous pours of joy to be spread.

Sparkling Wines: It goes without saying, no celebration is complete without some bubbles.

For the Traditionalist: from Champagne, France, from whence it all started, the iconic Laurent Perrier Brut, elegant and lively with scents of peach and warm biscuits.

A Terrific Value: A refreshing Chenin Blanc based wine and sure to bring a smile is the Sparkling Champalou Vouvray Brut.

White Wines: My rather eclectic list of wines that I think will add interest to the holiday table and brighten up the festive season through their unique personality.

Burgundy for the Chardonnay Fan: Henri Perrusset Macon Villages is a superb Macon with lovely honeysuckle fruit and zesty acidity, and the Louis Michel Chablis is brilliantly citric and mineral.

For the Not-Chardonnay Lover: The Planeta Etna Bianco, from Sicily has enough richness to satisfy the chardonnay lover and brightness to satisfy everyone else.

A Full-Bodied White Destined to Shine: From the Central Coast of California, the Treana Blanc is fabulously textured and unctuous with good acidity.

Red Wines: A brief compilation of some compelling wines certain to intrigue and delight.

From a Revered Producer: the Ridge Three Valleys Red. Certainly, nothing could be cozier than sipping a glass of this zinfandel-based blend by the fireside.

For Old and New World Wine Lovers Alike: the Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is spicy and savory with notes of plum, raspberry and violet.

The Crowd Pleaser: The Adelsheim Pinot Noir Willamette Valley gives up aromas of fresh cranberries and peppercorn.

And for Dessert: Fonseca Late Bottled Vintage Port is an ideal pairing with bleu cheese or chocolate.

These and similar wines can be found in Highlands at The Wine Shoppe, Bryson’s and Mountain Fresh Grocery and in Cashiers at the Wine & Provisions Shop at Hotel Cashiers and The Wine Cellar of Cashiers at 130 US 64.

And finally some advice for collectors from my friend Danny Haas, of Vineyard Brands Selection. Because the 2020 vintage was subject to small yields due to frost and other conditions, prices are likely to escalate dramatically, so buyers should seek to stock up on the 2019 vintage now.

by Marlene Osteen

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It’s Time to Wine

Cashiers Hotel’s The Wine and Provisions Shop magnif ies the hotel’s concierge level of ser vice with its wisely-curated inventor y of wines and its shelves of unique items.

For more information, visit hotelcashiers.com or call (828) 743-7066.

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ust in time for the holiday season, the owners of the sleek new Hotel Cashiers have opened The Wine and Provisions Shop in the hotel lobby.

Clearly, the shop owners have done their homework, stocking their place with some real finds – employing their shopping expertise to stack the shelves with delightful and handy items for the home, entertaining, and gift-giving. Among them are an array of offerings from companies built by women – craft bitters and sodas ideal for mixing or simply sipping on their own from The Bitter Housewife, wearable art created by two Highlanders for the Outsider Supply brand, and relaxing luxurious bath soaks from Daughter of the Land. Other treasures to be discovered in the shop’s curated collection are playful hats and socks and vibrantly patterned towels from the Mollusk Surfshop.

With the holidays comes travel, and the search for a unique hostess gift can be a frustrating experience. Just the thing might be an heirloom quality fragrance, candle, or blanket from Los Angelesbased former musician Neil Bardon – a “designer’s designer.” Other enchanting gift ideas are handmade leather bracelets and accessories from Lifetime Leather and organic soaps from Bell Mountain Natural.

The wine shop has a definite point of view and an individual characteristic – comforting indicators that you are in the hands of knowledgeable staff. As in all good wine shops, there is an assortment of distinctive bottles, and the selection of wines is kept relatively small to exemplify the best of a region, grape, or style. Specializing in small production family wineries, the buyers have managed to get a hold of some of the most off-the-beaten-path bottles on the market, and the inventory is constantly shifting.

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Also represented are the wineries favored by the locals, from California’s Davis Family Vineyards and Penner Ash in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Now that we’re well into cold weather, it’s time to drink some big reds – perhaps the Pozos Family Mendoza Malbec, from a winery owned by a family that lives in Cashiers seasonally, or the highly acclaimed Darioush Caravan Red. Wine drinkers will be delighted to find among the wine racks two great values – the award-winning Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon and a Rhone Valley blend, the Domaine Galevan Parole La Femme. Bubbles from iconic Champagne houses Laurent Perrier and Veuve Clicquot are also featured, as is an intelligent list of white wines. To pair with the wines is a range of artisan cheeses and savory snacks.

The staff is eager to chat with guests, whether to find a new favorite wine or to advise on assembling a fun and festive gift basket. The store also hosts wine tastings and educational events with local Sommeliers and wine aficionados where they introduce new and exciting pours and wine gift sets.

The Wine & Provisions Shop at the Hotel Cashiers is open to the public at 45 Slabtown Road in Cashiers (next to Chili Loco). The store is open 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm, with longer hours during the season, and is the only non-grocery store on the Plateau offering wine purchases in the evening!

For the most updated store hours, wine tasting events and for more information visit www.hotelcashiers.com or call (828) 743-7706.

by Marlene Osteen

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Pause for Some Yum Mary Greene’s Christmas Chicken Recipe From Mary Greene: This dish makes a colorful presentation to serve for a holiday dinner—especially if you are expecting a multitude of guests at your manger. Serve it with wild rice and steamed or roasted broccoli to make a beautiful plate. If you’re planning a holiday party, substitute chicken tenders for the chicken breasts, cut them into large bite-size pieces, cook as directed, and serve in a chafing dish with toothpicks. You can also use the sauce with a large bag of pre-made meatballs.

Ingredients 6 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts 1/3 cup all-purpose Flour 1 teaspoon Salt 4 tablespoons (½ stick) Unsalted Butter 1½ cups Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce ¾ cup freshly squeezed Orange Juice ¾ cup granulated Sugar ½ cup finely Chopped Onions Finely grated zest of 1 Orange ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger Cooked Wild Rice for serving

Rebecca Lang

J

ust in time for holiday entertaining, this month’s column features recipes from two celebrated cookbook authors – both of whom will soon be visiting Highlands at hosted events at HalfMile Farm. Mary Martha Greene is the author of The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All. Rebecca Lang has authored eight cookbooks, her most recent, from which this recipe is excerpted is Y’All Come Over.

Rebecca Lang’s Cava-Mint-Pomegranate Sippers From Rebeccca Lang: I’ve had a love for anything with bubbles my entire adult life. If you come to my house, your chances of a sparkly drink are pretty good. Most recipes call for making bubbly cocktails by the glass and that can be time-consuming. Making a batch in a pitcher and giving yourself a small window to chill makes life easier.

Combine the juice and honey in the pitcher in advance and just add the other ingredients before serving. Nothing made with bubbles should ever cause any stress.

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Pomegranate Juice 1/4 cup Honey 2 (750-milliliter) bottles chilled Cava 1 Lemon, sliced 2 tablespoons Pomegranate Seeds Fresh Mint Sprigs

Directions 1. Pound out the chicken breasts to a ½-inch thickness.

2. Combine the flour and salt in a wide, shallow bowl and dredge each chicken breast in the flour mixture.

3. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a few pieces of the chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until light golden brown in color.

4. While the chicken is cooking, combine the remaining ingredients except the wild rice in a small saucepan with a lid. Place over low heat and bring to a boil, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves.

5. Pour sauce over the chicken. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is tender. Serve over wild rice.

Mary Greene

Directions 1. Combine the juice and honey in a pitcher, stirring until the honey dissolves. Add the Cava and sliced lemons. This yields 7 3/4 cups.

Chill until ready to serve (but no more than 30 minutes so bubbles hang around).

2. In the Champagne glasses, divide the pomegranate seeds and a sprig of mint. Top with the Cava mixture, and serve immediately.

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HOTELS / MOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS 19386 Rosman Hwy | Sapphire blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com | (828) 553-6535

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Greystone Inn

220 Greystone Ln | Lake Toxaway

thegreystoneinn.com | (828) 966-4700 n n

Hotel Cashiers

7 Slab Town Road | Cashiers 445 Main St | Highlands

Old Edwards Inn and Spa

470 Skyline Lodge Rd | Highlands

Skyline Lodge

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VACATION RENTAL AGENCIES Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals

488 Main Street | Highlands meadowsmountainrealty.com | (828) 526-1717

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Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

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CASHIERS, NC: High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252 Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706 The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247 Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780 Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258 The Orchard Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614 Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623 Reid Resort Rentals - (828) 743-5955 Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999 The Wells Hotel A Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289 GLENVILLE, NC: Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946 Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875 Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482 HIGHLANDS, NC 200 Main - (855) 271-2809 Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717 Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717 100 100

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The Chateau - (561) 613-1496 Fairview House - (866) 526-8008 Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246 Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590 Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186 Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380 Highlands Inn Lodge - (828) 526-5899 Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839 The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999 The Lodge at Old Edwards - (828) 787-2560 Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799 Mitchell’s Lodge & Cottages - (828) 526-2267 Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008 Park on Main - (800) 221-5078 Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870 Rent in Highlands - CCP - (800) 684-2171 x 302 Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919 The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736 Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222

SAPPHIRE, NC Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire - (828) 553-6535 Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441 Foxhunt At Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667 Hampton Inn & Suites Cashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545 Mt Toxaway Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582 Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734 Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085 Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211 SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC: Fire Mountain - (800) 775-4446 The Vineyard at 37 High Holly - (828) 505-6190 LAKE TOXAWAY, NC Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333 Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700 Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141 DILLARD, GA: Julep Farms - (706) 960-9600

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SHOPPING Pages 104-107

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UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR Handcrafted from cedar, this rustic nativity scene will add a bit of warmth and faith to your holiday home.

Rustic Nativity on Wood | $36 .95 Main Street Gifts | Highlands

P la t e a u P i c k s a fe w o f o u r fav o r it e fi n d s

SERENITY SCENE You will love this 19th century original painting, highlighting natural hues and golden light. It’s sure to bring the sense of nature’s calm to any wall.

Rolier Painting | $ 525 Nearly New | Cashiers

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GO BIG Need some life in your hair? Try this futuristic foamy froth with fortifying Bamboo. It volumizes fine, thin, limp hair without damage, dehydration or weighing hair down. Thick, voluminous hair results last for days.

Bombshell Volumizer | $28 Bombshell | Cashiers

UPDATE YOUR SPACE Give your space a new look with these fabulous decorative pillows from Bungalow, a new lifestyle boutique that offers renewal and revitalization for the home, the body and the spirit.

Yellow Design Pillows | $140 ea.

Blue and Green Pillows | $160 ea.

Bungalow Boutique | Cashiers

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HOLIDAY BRILLIANCE Add sparkle to the holidays with this stunning16-inch white gold necklace with 1ct. tw diamonds.

18kt White Gold Diamond ‘Bean’ Necklace $ 6800 Jannie Bean | Highlands

A MARK ON CANVAS Brighten your home with this colorful, original oil on canvas. Artist Dirk Walker has collectors across the country as well as overseas — both in private and corporate collections.

Dirk Walker Oil on Canvas | $3600 Whiteside Art Gallery | Cashiers

HANDCRAFTED CHRISTMAS MERRY MENAGERIE Looking for the perfect holiday gift? These kid-approved, oh-sosoft and cuddly will make spirits bright this holiday season!

Douglas Stuffies | Assor ted Pricing The Toy Store | Highlands

Express your Christmas joy with a collection of merry and bright hand-thrown pottery creations by Tennessee artist Shirley McKinney.

Christmas Tree Mug | $33 Cookies Plate | $17 Set | $ 50 Peak Experience | Highlands

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Holiday Gifts

Feeling an above-normal level of gift giving anxiety in the days leading up to Christmas? These shops and galleries, recognized far beyond the conf ines of the Plateau, are a simple balm to ease your mind.

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Tis the season for gift giving and choosing that perfect gift for everyone on your list is as easy as shopping locally.

Find out for yourself why the Plateau is nationally recognized as having the best small town shopping in America. You’ll find the quality and selection unparalleled, but it’s the personal shopping experience that elevates us above the crowd. Take the stress out of the season and shop locally.

The Bascom Shop at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands is the place to shop for unique

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The Bascom handcrafted gifts that are sure to delight and equally sure to become family heirlooms.

Their collection includes glass art,

sculptures, ceramics, paintings, handwoven baskets, textiles, ceramics, hand-carved wood items, candles, jewelry, and books.

During the holiday season they also offer themed cards, and hand-painted ornaments.

Oakleaf Flower and Garden at 395 Main Street in Highlands offers a wide array of florals, garden items, gifts, and home accessories, along with a museum quality collection of carefully curated antique items that showcase owner Kirk Moore’s passion and discerning eye for exquisite pieces,

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Oakleaf Flower and Garden

particularly Southern furniture, art, and English pottery from Staffordshire. All this and welcoming Southern hospitality, too.

Main Street Gifts

Smitten

Aptly named, Smitten, at 468 Main Street, guarantees you’ll be smitten with their unique handmade in the USA items. This creative and colorful shop offers pottery, jewelry, candles, paintings, photographs, contemporary crafts, art for the body, and other gifts for your home.

They will happily share the stories of their crafters which makes each work of art personally meaningful.

Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens

Main Street Gifts at 366 Main Street offers items for him, her, your home, and even your pets. Stop here for all your gift needs and choose from colorful silk flowers, barware, games, pillows, garden items, candles, picnic baskets, wallets, Croakies belts, and wooden signs to personalize any space.

Acorns

Acorns, The Shop at Old Edwards in the heart of downtown Highlands, beckons you into their luxurious world of contemporary and antique home furnishings and décor, one-of-a-kind art pieces, and rugs carefully curated from around the world. Pamper yourself with their fine Italian linens and luxurious pillows and bedding. Their knowledgeable staff are happy to help you find just what you’re looking for. Give the gift of luxury this season.

Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens, just outside Cashiers at 1473 Highway 64 West is the place to go for gifts to pamper and please the most discerning tastes. Featuring Sferra bedding, Yves Dolorme European linens, luxury Baobab candles, fragrances, and they also carry upscale women’s lingerie from such lines as Hanro, Natorio, and Cat’s Pajamas. Owner Fred Lenz personally selects his inventory from the finest lines and he is happy to assist in all your selections.

selections that will transform your home into your sanctuary, with an emphasis on comfort and durability. They offer home décor, small furnishings, lighting, mirrors, floral arrangements, home fragrances, gift items, natural fiber and cotton rugs and so much more. Their showroom is a delightful mixture of colors and textures that will elevate your style.

Nora and Company

Nestled in the heart of Cashiers, Nora & Company is a shop containing a variety of collections including art, apparel, gifts for all occasions, and home decor. Whether decorating for the holidays, welcoming a new baby, or celebrating a wedding, one can find an eclectic mix of choices. Nora strives to find unique items, often whimsical but always with style. Nora & Company is located in the Shops of Village Walk on Highway 107 South.

by Mary Jane McCall

J Gabriel

J Gabriel - The Art of Living at 252 Highway 107 South in Cashiers offers

Scan for more info about shopping on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau.

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Visit Our Advertisers WEST END

1. On The Verandah Restaurant 5. The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts 6. The Bascom Shop 7. The Dave Drake Ceramic Barn at The Bascom

WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN

(Factoid: Named after Whiteside hero) 113. Edward Jones 115. Preferred Properties of Highlands 117. Country Club Properties, Wright Square Office 119. Highlands Pharmacy

SOUTH END

25. 4118 Kitchen & Bar 27. Dauntless Printing 38. Lupoli Construction 39. Allen Tate/Pat Allen Realty Group 47. ACP Home Interiors 48. Nancy’s Fancys/ The Exchange 49. The Summer House Bed &Bath 50. The Summer House 57. Blue Elephant Consignment Studio 58. Head Innovations 59. Cake Bar & Chocolate Heaven

MAIN STREET

103. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 124. Landmark Realty 134. The Southern Way 136. Dutchmans 141. Bags on Main 142. Main Street Gifts 146. Wit’s End Shoppe 147. Calders Coffee Cafe 148. Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry + Wine Shop 152. Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty 153. Allison Diane Clothing 158. C. Orrico 160. TJ Bailey for Men 163. Spoiled Rotten 166. Annawear 167. The Christmas Tree 169. Country Club Properties 174. Elena’s Women’s Golf and Activewear 178. McCulley’s II 180. White Oak Realty Group 185. Ristorante Paoletti 187. The Dry Sink 189B. Smitten 190. Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro 191. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty 194. Old Edwards Inn 195. Madison’s Restaurant 196. The Wine Garden 197. Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar 202. Country Club Properties 206. Business Spot 207. Creative Concepts Salon

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ON THE HILL

303. Mirror Lake Antiques 305. Jeanie Edwards Fine Art 310. McCulley’s 311. Martha Anne’s on the Hill 312. The Ugly Dog Public House 313. Old Edwards Inn 318. Peggy Crosby Center: - The Kitchen Carry Away & Catering 319. Lakeside Restaurant

OAK STREET

601. Highlands Playhouse

VILLAGE PARK

612. Jeanie Edwards Fine Art 613. Cleaveland Realty 615. Shakespeare & Co. 617. Fressers Courtyard Cafe

CAROLINA VILLAGE

709. High Dive 709. Truckin’ at the High Dive 711. Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

NORTH END

814. Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center

OUT NC 106

➡ Peak Experience ➡ Futral Construction ➡ Highlands Outpost ➡ Highlands Aerial Park ➡ Fire + Water ➡ Pat Calderone Gallery

OUT 64 EAST

➡ Black Rock Granite ➡ Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services Meadows Mountain Realty ➡ WHLC ➡ Highlands Lawn & Garden ➡ Skyline Lodge/ Oak Steakhouse ➡ Highlands Rock Yard ➡ Futral Construction ➡ Center for Plastic Surgery ➡ Cullasaja Club ➡ Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group ➡ Roman’s Roofing

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Visit Our Advertisers SLABTOWN 2. Zookeeper Bistro 6. Slab Town Pizza 14. Hotel Cashiers

NORTH 107 16. Stork’s - Wrap. Pack. Ship 19. The Look Boutique 20. Mountain Mermaid

THE SHOPS AT CASHIERS COMMONS 27. Bird Barn & Garden 28. Cashiers Kitchen Co. 29. The Business Spot 30. Bombshell Hair Boutique 33. Zoller Hardware

AT THE CROSSROADS 37. Landmark Realty Group

THE VILLAGE GREEN 142.Village Green Commons 143. The Village Green 147. Bazaar Barn

WEST 64

154. Cashiers Valley Smokehouse 155. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center 156. Creekside: - Silver Creek Real Estate Group 172. Whiteside Art Gallery 173. Betsy Paul Properties 176. Lenz Gifts

DOWN 107 SOUTH ➡ Silver Run Reserve

VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY ➡ The Greystone Inn ➡ Alair Homes

CHESTNUT SQUARE 43. A Jones Company 47. Lehotsky & Sons, Builders 55. Fusion Yoga & Wellness

EAST 64 64. Alexander Gardens: - Victoria’s Closet - Victoria’s Closet Shoes & Purses - Vic’s for Men - Mantiques 75. Carolina Rustic Furniture 76. Blue Ridge Bedding 79. Jennings Builders Supply

VILLAGE WALK 80. A-List Antiques 80. Josephine’s Emporium 80. Laura Moser Art 80. Merrell Thompson Photography 82. The Village Hound 86. Nora & Co. 89. Nearly New Furniture Consignment 90. Gracewear Boutique 99. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty

VISIT SAPPHIRE : ➡ Appalachian Golf Cars ➡ Black Bear Lodge ➡ Sapphire Valley Real Estate VISIT SYLVA : ➡ Imperial Security

SOUTH 107 102. TJ Bailey’s for Men 103. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming 108. Landmark Realty Group 109. Ugly Dog Public House 110. McCulley’s 123. Caliber Fine Properties 128. Mountainworks Custom Home Design LTD. 136. McKee Properties 137. Bounds Cave Rug Gallery

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, s r e i h s Ca arolina C th r o N For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.

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H ISTORY

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HISTORY Pages 116-120

H ISTORY

Old Glenville’s Graves

A

Rumors and speculation still swirl about a myster y beneath the deep waters of Lake Glenville.

frequent question asked of me is, “What happened to the graves in the cemeteries of the old village of Glenville once the dam was built and the old village was flooded?

I’ll attempt to answer that question.

An announcement appeared in the Jackson County Journal newspaper in October of 1940 that the Nantahala Power & Light Co. was going to be digging up all the graves in the cemeteries in the former town of Glenville, and moving them to a new cemetery on the mountain across from the just built Hamburg Baptist Church. The church was being built with funds provided by the power company, to replace the original church demolished by the power company.

The announcement read “…that the land is required for use as a reservoir for the water impounded by a dam…., and that is therefore necessary to remove the graves from said cemeteries…”

The cemeteries listed in the announcement were the Monteith Cemetery, the Hamburg Baptist Church Cemetery, the W. F. Holden Cemetery, and the W.A.J. Nicholson Cemetery.

Persons having spouses or next of kin were formally notified by this announcement that each casket would be opened, and that “the dead bodies or any part buried therein or anything interred therein shall be removed to the new cemetery.” The living descendants and relatives were instructed to meet with an agent of the company, a man named Mr. Raper, if they wanted to be there at the time of the opening of the casket and the move to the new cemetery.

Mary Emma Burgess Monteith had just been buried in the Monteith Cemetery in April that year. Her husband, Thomas Samuel Monteith, who had died from blood poisoning from an abscessed tooth in 1917, was buried in the old family cemetery, as were three of their children 116 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

they had outlived. Their surviving children, James Candler Monteith, John Wesley Monteith, Thomas Clingman Monteith, Otelia Belle Fowler and Elsie Hawkins, must have met with the agent since their deceased family members are buried side by side in the new cemetery.

The village had a total of 113 years of being a business and farming settlement along the highest waters of the west fork of the Tuckasegee River, before the need to generate electricity became a priority. The village was first named Hamburg. Its name changed to Glenville in 1891 during the time of its town incorporation attempt.

According to my tabulations taken from other transcribers’ listings, there were 420 caskets moved that winter from the cemeteries in the old town of Glenville to the new cemetery we know as the Hamburg Cemetery. Of those moved, 31 are now unmarked as to their identity, and 389 still have stone markers citing their names and dates. Of those 389 gravesites, 106 still have stones engraved with the words “Removal,” which stones the power company had laid in an attempt to make a record of those removed, but many of these stones are apparently missing.

The earliest years inscribed on a headstone in the cemetery mark the remains of William Henry Moss who died in 1861, and Ruth Peek Moss, wife of Milton Moss, who died in 1863. Some of the unmarked graves could be even earlier.The graves of the earliest settlers that are marked are Alexander Wilson, Alfred Wilson, and Thompson Wilson, sons of the earliest Hamburg settlers, William and Catherine Wilson. The graves which are marked with just the surnames, Teague and Ledford, are also those of pioneer families.

by Carol M. Bryson, Historian and Author

H ISTORY

Band Together

T

Highlands String Quartet in 1887

This year’s Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade will be swinging to the beat of a cherished town tradition.

eachers of the Arts did cartwheels when Education’s Bigwigs in Washington announced a few years ago that the Arts were steeped in higher-level thinking.

At last, music, visual and performing arts were recognized as more than just an hour of recess.

But wait a sec! Does that mean music is like, math? Yep, it even has math in it. And so does visual art. Tons of it. And problemsolving galore. Try figuring out the relationship of dotted eighth and sixteenth notes in a measure of 5/4 time. When drawing a hallway in perspective, better have a ruler handy and an understanding of proportion and vanishing points (which weren’t even figured out until the 1400s). This is why the Greeks gave the Arts equal status with Math, Philosophy, Science. And we’re just now getting around to reappreciating the importance of all that.

Highlands can bust a few buttons on its vest, because it has always been a strong supporter of the Arts. In 1954 fanfare trumpeted from our mountaintop when the first band program at Highlands School was initiated. It wobbled a bit and was righted in 1989 as an unconditional, fully-orchestrated band. Its director, Kathy Teem, began in a trailer with an ensemble of 13 students. Imagine the honks and squawks reverberating around a 20’x30’ portable. It was like a babe’s first wail followed by hiccups, farts, and coos – then harmonies

and rat-a-tats of melodious sounds in a mere four weeks...okay, four months...well, just in time for a Christmas parade anyway.

By year 2000 the band would grow to over 200 middle and high school members. The school, students, and parents were thrilled with this accomplishment.

But in 1989 it was the town of Highlands that benefited most. The Christmas Parade (initiated by the Highlands Merchant Association) heretofore had been fun to see. However, it sounded like a silent, shuffling dirge. But when the Highlands School Band’s bass and snare drums kicked off their cadence, cornets and clarinets chiming in, the whole town snapped to attention, a smile on every face, a toe tapping in every shoe.

So when you see the local bands marching down Main Street in this year’s Christmas Parade, cheer them on. They are an amazing group of young people. Each will believe to their life’s end that Band wasn’t just a music group. It was a family.

Learn more about Highlands families by reading Ran Shaffner’s Heart of the Blue Ridge, a remarkable tome borrowable at local libraries and purchasable through highlandshistory.com. For more information, visit hhs@highlandshistory.com.

by Donna Rhodes

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H ISTORY

Highlands’

Early Years

Angie Jenkins’ new book casts a warm light upon a Highlands that’s long past, before it slips beyond the collective memor y.

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Angie Jenkins

H ISTORY

C

ompiled by Angie Jenkins, Memories of Highlands’ Early Years…Stories by Native Highlanders, is a brand-new book containing first-person accounts of growing up here, as well as tales of earlier times gleaned from the old folks at home.

It makes a wonderful Christmas present for anyone interested in “Old Highlands,” with lots of local color, funny stories, and touching reminiscences.

Like Angie’s two earlier tomes, it’s full of vintage photos, but unlike them the images are smaller and interspersed among the text, to make room for all the wonderful stories. All together there are 18 contributions from Brysons and Wilsons; Crisps and Crowes; and other worthies, some of whom I actually knew, though I’m younger than I look.

‘Tis the Season, so let’s focus on Yuletide tales.

Are you surprised that almost everyone in Memories of Highlands’ Early Years says how much colder and snowier winters used to be? That Aladdin’s Cave on the Hill, The Highlands Variety Store (1925-1983), operated first by Angie’s grandparents and then by Angie’s dad, Alan Lewis, features in multiple recollections. Perhaps because Santa made his one-and-only Highlands appearance at the five-and-dime, and all the local school children would troop in to make sure The Big Man in Red understood exactly what was required under the tree.

Back then—O halcyon days!—folks did most of their shopping on Christmas Eve, so Mr. Lewis would stay open late and was a font of good advice for clueless husbands and fathers deciding on gifts.

Whether growing up in town or on farms in Horse Cove or Shortoff, there wasn’t much extra for presents at year’s end.

“Christmas was slim,,” recalls Virginia Vinson Bryson, while the late Edna Phillips Bryson tells how local women got together to raise money so that every child in the community at least got a bag with an orange, candy and a toy.

Families trudged through the snow in search of *the* perfect tree to cut down and bring home.

The Creswell’s was always cedar: “Daddy said if it scratched, we would leave it alone,” remembers Mary Anne Calloway Creswell.

Once that standoffish fir was set up, it was decorated with homemade ornaments such as, “sycamore balls covered with foil…carefully removed from cigarette packs. We thought they were gorgeous.”

Mary Anne recalls that, “Mama started baking in early December: fruit cake, cookies, cakes, candy, fudge and divinity.”

When it comes to thrift, Hazel Edwards Rogers has them beaten.

She recalls that not only did her family make their own decorations for the tree, her mother (Hazel Althea Hedden Edwards) made her own glue for the paper chains! Take that, Martha Stewart! Still, on Christmas Eve, there was always a sparkler for each child. “As soon as it was dark, we got to go outside and light them. We thought they lit up the whole sky.”

by Stuart Ferguson, Local Historian, Co-Owner Shakespeare & Company

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H ISTORY

M Mighty Locomotive

That Does

Cashiers Historical Society’s ongoing labors provide a vivid link to the early days of southern Jackson County.

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uch like The Little Engine That Could, or in this case the Mighty Locomotive That Does, Cashiers Historical Society efficiently, effectively, and with great enthusiasm engages the community in their mission to reflect on and preserve our area’s past, all while celebrating and preserving our rich cultural history and diverse natural beauty.

You can visit their lovely campus any time of year to enjoy the serene and beautiful outdoor spaces and walking trails. During the season, which begins next Memorial Day, you can tour the historic buildings on the grounds.

The Zachary-Tolbert House is an architectural gem that remains virtually unchanged from when it was built in the 1840s.

Likewise, Colonel John’s Cabin is the oldest structure in Jackson County.

The Hampton Schoolhouse is a carefully renovated authentic structure that offers a glimpse into early education.

In addition to preserving and maintaining these historic buildings, CHS continues to

have a positive impact within the community offering a wide range of activities that provide opportunities for fun, enjoyment, and education.

Their annual Designer Showhouse is their largest fundraiser and has become one of the most enjoyed and anticipated events of the year, providing residents and visitors a chance to visit some of our area’s most prestigious homes.

They host Founders Day for third and fourth grade students from Blue Ridge School, Summit Charter School, and area home schooled students. Adult educational activities include their annual Jan Wyatt Symposium and Mountain Heritage Lecture Series.

CHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accomplishes a lot with their limited budget.

With your help they will continue to bring history alive.

by Mary Jane McCall

H ISTORY

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H ISTORY

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LIFESTYLES & WELLNESS Pages 124-132

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Helene and Ricky Siegel

Love Will

Find Its Way

The passion that Helene and Ricky fell for one another was swift, and they’ve kept it simmering over the decades.

L

ove is a funny thing.

The circumstances have to be just right for it to appear.

For some it happens in an instant, while for others it deepens over time.

And, what occurs when a guy in his mid-40’s raising two young boys encounters love at first sight with a quiet young woman 11 years his junior?

Helene and Ricky Siegel fell fast for each other after connecting at a “meet and greet” party when they were living in Atlanta.

Helene had not meant to attend, but en route to the airport to pick up a friend, she realized the event was on the way and decided to stop.

When she arrived, she couldn’t help but notice Ricky, who was giving out name tags.

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Helene remembered feeling an intense, chemical reaction. “I really wanted to get to know him. He had such nice energy and was physically attractive, very cool, and outgoing.”

As to Ricky, well let’s just say he was smitten at once.

He recalls thinking, “she was very, very cute, and she had a shyness about her that was very appealing.” He gave her his card, and three days later she called. That was November 1989, and though they spoke several times during December, it was January 1990 before they had their first date.

At the time, Helene was selling HMOs and considering a move to Seattle. Ricky was consumed building his landscape business while struggling to raise his sons, then 10 and 12.

Their feelings for each other developed swiftly – the relationship was

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Ricky and Helene Siegel, 1993

clearly earmarked for success. Within three months Helene moved in with Ricky and the boys. That year they bought a house together and in December got married in Rancho Mirage in Southern California.

Since then, the partnership has been marked by a complicated blend and balance of love, devotion, and two successful business ventures.

Soon after their wedding, Helene joined Ricky in the landscape business as comptroller and took over the floriculture branch of the company – concerning herself with the ordering and planting of flowers for hundreds of clients. Though the business thrived, by 1996, they knew they wanted to leave Atlanta and the busy highways that consumed too many of their hours. They yearned for the smalltown atmosphere of Highlands which they had grown to know and love during vacations.

When Ricky’s offer to purchase the 4 ½ Street Inn was accepted, they sold their landscape business and moved to Highlands.

Together they ran the B&B for 20 years, Helene in charge of

the bookkeeping, housekeeping, and cooking while Ricky was responsible for maintenance and grounds operations.

The couple recounts those years as some of the most wonderful of their lives – at times challenging, yet always solidifying the relationship. They’re proud of their family and their place in Highlands as active participants in community organizations.

As Helene said: “We are grateful for the people we met, whose lives we touched, whose lives touched us. Being part of the boys’ lives and having grandchildren was more than I could ever have expected.

It has been rewarding and enlightening. We have had a great life together; I don’t know that it could have been better.”

by Marlene Osteen

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Give yourself some “paychecks” for retirement

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D

uring your working years, you’ve probably met the costs of living through your salary.

But once you retire, where will the money come from? Is there a way to give yourself a “paycheck” for retirement?

There is indeed – but you’ll have to do a good job of managing your available income sources.

Here are some moves that can help: Accept dividends and interest payments. Instead of automatically reinvesting all your dividends and interest payments into your portfolio – which is an excellent strategy for building wealth – you might want to begin receiving these payments as part of your income. Keep in mind, though, that companies can lower or discontinue dividends at any time. However, it’s also true that some companies have consistently paid, and even increased, dividends over many years, and even decades.

Choose an appropriate withdrawal rate. Once you’re retired, you’ll likely need to begin withdrawing from your investment accounts. But you’ll need to avoid taking out too much early in your retirement – you don’t want to risk outliving your portfolio. For many people in their mid-60s, a 4 percent annual withdrawal rate is a good starting point, but everyone’s situation is different, and your ideal rate will depend on several factors: your age, the size of your portfolio, other sources of income, and so on. Once you turn 72, you’ll be required to take at least a minimum amount from your traditional IRA and 401(k), but you can choose to withdraw more, if necessary.

Maximize your Social Security. You have significant control over the amounts you’ll receive from Social Security. You can begin taking these payments at age 62, but they will be much larger if you wait until your full retirement age, which will likely be between 66 and 67. (You will receive the maximum amount if you wait until you reach 70.) So, if you

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS think you have enough income from other sources, you might decide to delay taking Social Security – but if you need the money, you may not be able to wait. And here’s something else to think about: If your spouse had considerably higher earnings than you did, you may be eligible for spousal benefits.

Consider an annuity. You might want to consider purchasing an annuity that provides lifetime payments. Some annuities are even indexed for inflation, meaning payments will increase or decrease each year, keeping pace with the Consumer Price Index. Annuities are not suitable for everyone, though, so, before investing in one, you should consult with a financial professional who is familiar with your situation.* Finally, don’t rule out the possibility of earned income. Just because you’ve retired from your full-time job doesn’t mean you can’t work in some capacity, perhaps by doing some part-time work or consulting or even opening your own small business.

Look at all these ideas when thinking about putting together an income plan for your retirement. You may find that your diligence will pay off.

Todd Holder

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Deeper Rest

in Long Winter Nights If you’re feeling the stress of Covid, are you taking it out on your teeth?

Ashby Underwood-Garner and Chad Garner

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A

re you a teeth-clencher? My dentist told me that during the pandemic he’s seen many patients with cracked teeth.

The stressors of the day build up and people tend to clench and grind their teeth at night to release stress and this is sometimes called TMJ dysfunction.

What does your jaw reveal about your overall health?

A beautiful face is a relaxed face. Ease in our expression says we are carefree. But what makes us frown, when it takes twice as many muscles as smiling, and as such, twice as much energy?

Grinding teeth and jaw pain are not just for the dentist.

A good bodywork and yoga therapist can address the muscles involved – the long-held knots in the head, neck and shoulders.

The TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint) is the most active joint in the body and the most powerful. Issues of the jaw can also involve communication, nourishment, choice, and indecision. When there is chronic imbalance, this can be the source of headaches, speech impediments, and limited expression.

It’s no wonder that since March 2020, much of humanity has been on a scale from “inconvenienced to nervous wreck.” Communities and families are strained because of

inconsistent Covid protocol measures and beliefs around the proper actions that will make the world normal again.

At night, our bodies resolve stress while sleeping, tossing and turning, clenching and releasing. We can sometimes wake up more fatigued than rested.

The human nervous system needs consistency as we are creatures of habit. People like to know what is happening next.

It’s nearly impossible for a person to make an easy decision right now.

“Where to go, who to be with, whether to go visit family, and will I need a mask,“ are all questions that can have a different answer in different conditions.

Weighing all of the options to chart a course daily is causing some of us to grind our teeth. Wars, plagues, and pandemics have challenged humans from the earliest days but community, love, and connection have always brought people through.

Our New Structural Yoga Series begins Monday, January 10th with Chad Garner, Advanced Rolf Practitioner. Contact Yoga Highlands Studio to register or schedule a Private Movement Session to address your needs – (828) 526-8880.

by Ashby Underwood-Garner Yoga Therapist, Rolf Practitioner Owner of Yoga Highlands

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

The Perfect Gift

M

Forget the Four Calling Birds. This tale centers around a Christmas Carol-warbling Macaw.

y birding-buddy, Artie, loves to tell tall tales about birds.

Her latest?

While Artie focuses on wild birds, binocular-to-beak, she knows other bird-lovers who enjoy their feathered friends, beak-tocheek.

Among them are a married couple from Virginia, Stuart and Katie, who recently acquired a Macaw – yes, the real Macaw.

“Stuart and Katie never had a pet,” Artie said, “Katie was allergic to fur. So, as a surprise, Stuart did a little research, went to a pet shop, talked to the shop-owner, and decided a parrot was the best choice for Katie’s Christmas companion.”

“There was one caveat, however,” Artie continued. “The bird, named Chess-A-Beake (Chess for short), couldn’t talk.

Whenever it tried, it stuttered. An ornithologist was called in. He trained the bird to sing Christmas Carols. Just like country singer Mel Tillis, the bird couldn’t talk worth a flip, but he could sing his tail feathers off.”

Wait. Did I say there was one caveat? I lied. There were two.

The second was you had to give the bird some incentive to warble.

If you held a lit match near his left foot, he’d sing Silent Night. If you held a match near his other foot, he’d sing Jingle Bells.

According to Artie, Stuart couldn’t wait to give Katie her gift, so he sneaked out of a holiday gathering and picked up Chess. He returned just as dessert was being served and announced, “Katie, my love, I had 130 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

to give you your gift early. Here he is. You finally have a pet.”

Katie looked at Chess, a large, handsome bird with eyes full of twinkle. She took an instant liking to ol’ Chess, and asked, “Does he talk?”

“Well, he sings more than talks. Here, let me show you.” Stuart struck a match as he assured everyone he wasn’t going to singe the parrot. It was just part of the show.

He held the match near Chess’s left foot and the bird sang the most beautiful version of Silent Night Katie had ever heard.

A match held near his other foot ignited a rousing version of three verses of Jingle Bells.

Guests cheered. Katie shouted, “This is amazing!”

“You don’t mind he can’t talk?” asked Stuart.

“Not a bit,” replied Katie, “But I wonder what he’d sing if you held the match between his legs.”

Stuart lit the third match and held it low and center.

Chess cleared his throat, then squawked, “Chess’ nuts roasting on an open fire!”

(Editor’s Note: We’ d like to apologize for the way this charming Holiday Story went off the rails at the end. It’s clearly not a reflection of our sense of humor or propriety. It is, however, a perfect reflection of Donna’s.)

by Donna Rhodes | Illustration by Norma Jean Zahner

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Pain is Not a Prerequisite

What’s the point of waiting? The emergence of chronic pain and debilitation demands a fast response.

W

hen a patient comes in for help with pain, dysfunction and help with alterations in their lifestyle, and starts out saying, “I waited as long as I could,” it makes me realize that I’ve not done enough to educate.

My job as a doctor is to help as many as I can before their pain becomes debilitating. We always want to prevent bad health situations and prepare for a better life situation with optimal health. I hope to impart good information and instill trust in order to change the story of someone who says, “I waited as long as I could” to “I am here to feel great and prevent further deterioration of my health.” Doesn’t that sound better?

Imagine how fun life can be when better health is the rule instead of the exception!

Why would you wait at all if you’re in pain? Would you wait until your car sputtered on the highway, forcing you to pull over and call a tow truck? We all know to check the oil and fluids and change them regularly. In much the same way, chiropractic maintenance care makes sense. Taking care of your structural unit – your skeleton and

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organs – through a gentle tune up of your nervous system on a regular basis is like keeping the most beautiful car tuned up so that it purrs when it runs at high speeds.

Making sure that the engine cranks every time you need it to is just like taking care of your body on a regular interval. Don’t wait until you’re in pain, sputtering and stalling, unable to function on demand, making excuses to not be active or enjoy the things you love to do.

If you take care of your body before you need to quit and rest, you can continue living your life with energy and freedom, without pain.

The next time you say to yourself, “I am waiting as long as I can,” finish that sentence with “to crash and burn.”

Then say, “I’m ready to take better care of me so that I can live my ultimate life without pain and discomfort!”

You can do this – just change the story that you tell yourself and others. Be proactive and proud of who you are and how you take care of You!

by Dr. Sue Aery, Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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L SI FEER EE S & WELLNESS SSE VTR IY CVL EI C

ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS

BEAUTY

BEAUTY

CABINETRY

CLEANING

CONSTRUCTION

HOME CARE

HOME DECOR

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L I F E S T Y L E S & WS EE LR EESI CS E S LE VN R I CV

HOME MONITORING

PICTURE FRAMING

PRINTING

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

ROOFING

SERVICE

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GIVING BACK Pages 140-151

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Because It’s

Hard

I

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s ex traordinar y run of adoptions means plenty of contented cats and dogs, and a Plateau laced with happy households.

n my first week on the job, a member of the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society board of directors took me to lunch.

Over a sandwich and chips we reviewed the adoption numbers from the previous two years. For 18 consecutive months we had not had a month with at least 20 adoptions, and in the winter, adoptions plummeted to single digits.

“You might want to think about closing the shelter to the public in the winter months,” he said.

I didn’t think for one moment that he was serious.

What I did believe, however, is that he was issuinag me a challenge.

A challenge that I eagerly accepted.

We embarked upon a 10-point plan to increase adoptions, which included a heightened focus on customer service, cleanliness and staff training, better signage and direct access to Highway 64, greater visibility on national adoption websites and a new website of our own, growing our Facebook presence from less than 600 friends to more than 23,000, building our volunteer and foster programs, and last but certainly not least, increasing our capacity to take in the animals the community brought to our doors.

So not only has CHHS found at least 20 forever homes in a single month, we now have achieved 20 or more adoptions for 93 consecutive months.

And yes, that includes every single winter month for nearly eight 140 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

years. Sure, it has been a challenge to stay open in the winter.

There are fewer folks on the Plateau, and weather conditions sometimes mean there are no customers, and less staff, on some of the coldest days.

But we will stay open to the public this winter, and every winter.

To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.”

And I will add…because it’s right. But it is also expensive. Please consider a generous year-end tax-deductible contribution to help ensure that CHHS will always be a safe and warm place for the abandoned, the abused, and the neglected. No matter the month, no matter the season.

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, one-and-a-half miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64 East. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Visit us online at chhumanesociety.org or call (828)743-5752. Donations can be mailed to CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

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Literacy &

Learning Center

It’s remarkably easy to ensure that local children receive a year’s wor th of reading pleasure, thanks to The Dolly Par ton Imagination Librar y. For more information, visit maconncliteracy.org.

T

his year, the Literacy & Learning Center has one thing on their Wish List to Santa: Books for all children in Macon County!

One way that TL&LC tries to do this is through The Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This wonderful program sends an age-appropriate book to a child every month until their fifth birthday, for free!

TL&LC funds this program through generous individual donations from the community. One way you can help ensure this program stays active and is able to reach more young readers is by purchasing a tree ornament!

For $30, you can sponsor a child through The Dolly Parton Imagination Library for an entire year. Additionally, you will receive an ornament with a Dolly Parton Imagination Library reader’s name inscribed on it to hang on your tree.

To sponsor a child and help spread the love of reading and learning to our littlest citizens, visit maconncliteracy.org, visit our office at 675 South 4th Street in Highlands, or call us at (828) 526-0863.

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Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Following the successful launch of the Blue Ridge Health primar y care center this summer, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation continues the call for community suppor t.

M

edical care is a necessary need for any community. But for the Plateau, convenient and quality health care has become a critical concern, as the area has struggled to retain quality medical professionals in recent years. Without doctors and nurses to provide the care we need, the whole community struggles.

It’s one of the main reasons the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation partnered with Blue Ridge Health to open a primary health center on the plateau. Since launching in June, Blue Ridge Health - Highlands Cashiers has helped many Plateau residents receive the care they need to live healthy and well. Two primary care physicians, Dr. Ann Davis and Dr. Kristy Fincher, along with a team of highly equipped supporting staff, have risen to the care challenge, going above and beyond to meet their patient’s needs.

“I am committed to partnering with patients to help them live their healthiest lives,” says Dr. Davis.

“I am excited to join this tight-knit community and use my skills

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to treat everything from a sprained ankle to a mother-to-be,” adds Dr. Fincher.

Blue Ridge Health-Highlands Cashiers is a fixed-cost center, providing care for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

To continue offering this essential service, HCHF relies on the generosity of our community to help fill the funding gap.

As you plan your year-end giving, please consider investing in the long-term health of the Plateau with a gift to the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation.

For more information about the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation and to learn how you can help, visit hchealthfnd.org.

by Robin Tindall, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

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Turning Out Dollars for Scholars

“

The Cashiers Rotar y Club is aiming to assist local scholars. For information, visit CashiersRotar y.org/Scholarships

A new year is just around the corner, which means new educational opportunities abound!” said Malice Grant of Sounds Essential LLC, a member of the Cashiers Rotary Club.

According to Malice, The Rotary Scholars Program is accepting applications from individuals who are embarking on an educational pursuit of some kind and currently work or plan to seek employment in the Cashiers, Glenville, Lake Toxaway, Sapphire, and Tuckasegee communities.

She added, “Rotary Scholarship opportunities are open to anyone seeking financial assistance for an academic pursuit of any sort, including those attending two-year trade or associate’s degree programs, training programs related to their current or intended jobs, and licensing, certification, or continuing education programs for advancement in their current careers.”

She also explained that support for GED and ESL programs is also available.

Rotary Club scholarships are given by individual clubs and are open to anyone except Rotary members and their families.

In additional to locally relevant scholarships, the Rotary’s global grants are for graduate students studying abroad in one of Rotary’s six causes: Promoting peace; Fighting disease; Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; Saving mothers and children; Supporting education; And growing local economies.

Scholarships last from one to four years and can include an entire degree program. Plus, district grants can be used to sponsor secondary school, undergraduate, or graduate students studying any subject, either locally or abroad. The scholarship may cover any length of time, from a six-week language training program to a year or more of university study.

Visit CashiersRotary.org/Scholarships for eligibility requirements and applications. Or, visit sites for Mountaintop Rotary Club at mountaintoprotaryclubhighlands.org or highlandsrotary.org.

by Deena Bouknight

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Keeping a Job and Childcare

Highlands Child Development Center provides a lifeline to families tr ying to sur vive this Covid-shaded work environment.

L

ast year, when the pandemic turned work and home life upside down, childcare bore the brunt of the upheaval, as centers throughout the country shut down.

But despite the physical risk, the HCCDC, The Highlands Child Development Center (highlandscommunitychildcare.org) remained open to support the needs of the working families of the community – essential workers or families who are trying to work from home whose employers do not understand that working from home with a small child is often hard.

Since its opening in 2005, the center is the only year-round, statelicensed, five day per week, ten hours per day childcare program in the Highlands Township, that accepts infants, and provides care for children 8 weeks to five years of age.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation of families had been described as “a global childcare crisis” created by a fundamental market failure.

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For too long, parents have had to struggle with the high cost of care while childcare providers have been incredibly undervalued and underpaid. It simply costs more to provide care than many families can afford. It is estimated that over 35 million children under five years old are sometimes left without adult supervision, a factor often linked to economic pressures on parents to work.

“The role of HCCDC in allowing parents to provide for their families while their children are being cared for and nurtured is crucial to the prosperity of the community,” said Ann Flynn, HCCDC spokesperson, “These are the children whose parents staff the restaurants, grocery stores, and many other establishments and provide the service on which our community relies.”

Paying for these programs is expensive and the center relies upon contributions from grants and individuals.

As Cathy Manning of HCCDC elaborated, “With the country, and particularly childcare in the US, still being bogged down by Covid,

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there haven’t been any new programs initiated recently.

This year we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation to provide tuition money to parents who were struggling to be able to afford childcare during the pandemic. HCCDC also received a significant increase in the support provided by Mountain Findings, also an indicator of the importance the community puts on making childcare, particularly infant childcare available to working parents. We also wanted to show our leadership this year and the value we put on our teachers, so we increased wages across the board for our employees.”

HCCDC is asking for our help so that they can continue to provide the service on which the community depends, and which will allow the children to thrive. A $50 gift will buy new books for the center’s library, and $100 provides a new tricycle for the playground. A new crib, bedding, and rocking chair can be added to the center with a gift of $1,000. Please visit highlandscommunitychildcare.org to contribute.

by Marlene Osteen

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A Big Good-bye,

a Big Hello

The Center for Life Enrichment’s Executive Director Sandy Carlton steps down after 30 years of dedicated and wise leadership.

Sandy Carlton

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I

t’s often said that an organization is only as strong as its foundation.

For the Center for Life Enrichment, Sandy Carlton has been that foundation for 30 years. In October, Sandy retired from her position as Executive Director.

“As someone who loves to learn, CLE has been the perfect fit. Since its inception, the quality of presenters and courses has continued to be top notch,” she said. “The rich array of topics offers something for everyone. It has been a pleasure working with a very dedicated board of directors over the years. The enthusiasm of the directors and staff, as well as the membership, is contagious and makes me confident that CLE will continue for many years into the future.”

Sandy has been an integral part of CLE since its inception back in 1992. She has watched CLE grow from an organization of 50 members to an organization of 500 plus memberships. Sandy energetically kept the CLE classes organized and running. She has earned the respect of all who have had the pleasure of interacting with her over the years. Her encouraging personality, dedication, and selfless hard work are reflected in the success and growth CLE has experienced under her guidance as Executive Director.

As the business backbone of the organization, Sandy has served and worked tirelessly with many Presidents and under numerous boards over the years.

Mark Whitehead presided as President for three years and said, “Sandy Carlton’s retirement marks the completion of a long

and successful time as Executive Director of The Center for Life Enrichment. I was fortunate to work with Sandy during my time as a volunteer, Board member, and President. Sandy was with CLE from the beginning and guided all of us. During my tenure when we had a small office and no classroom her knowledge and organizational skill kept 60 classes running smoothly all over Highlands. Sandy is a great friend and will be missed.”

Former President Ed Mawyer worked closely with Sandy and commented that “CLE would not have succeeded without Sandy and her settling presence. A true joy to know and work with. A friend for life.”

CLE’s current President Lee Garrett says, “For 30 years Sandy has been the face of CLE to our members and guests. She has devoted countless hours to make CLE a special place for ‘life enrichment.’

Thanks, Sandy, for a job well done.”

Sandy plans to be involved at a reduced capacity as a consultant for CLE, but is eager to travel, work in her garden, read, and enjoy life with her husband Bob and their two Rottweiler dogs.

The CLE Board unanimously appointed Fallon Hovis as CLE’s new Executive Director. CLE President Lee Garrett comments, “Fallon brings a broad array of skills to CLE, and she will do an outstanding job in her new position” All who have had the pleasure to interact with Sandy over the years from presenters, Board members, and volunteers realize that working with Sandy was truly an exceptional experience!

147 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

GI V I NG BAC K

The Angel

Giving Tree

Greystone Inn is inviting people in the Lake Toxaway/Rosman community and across the Plateau to par ticipate in its Angel Tree celebration, which assists local children and disabled seniors.

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GI V I NG BAC K

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ake Toxaway Charities and The Greystone Inn are again joining with Rosman area schools to provide gifts and food for over 200 pre-qualified school children, the elderly and disabled in this third annual Angel Giving Tree celebration.

“This year has continued to be a difficult time for our neighbors struggling to provide basic necessities during Covid and remote learning for students,” says Shannon Ellis, who owns The Greystone Inn with her husband Geoff.

A tax-deductible donation of $250 sponsors a child ages Pre-K through high school. This provides a complete set of new clothing for each student from jackets to shoes and a Christmas stocking filled with needed items such as soap and toothpaste and a small gift. Each child also receives a larger wrapped gift from Santa, and the family gets a food box. If there are other children in the family, your donation provides gifts for them too.

“Staff at the four Rosman-area schools will shop, wrap and deliver the gifts to the students and their families.” says Shannon. “Everyone is invited to visit The Greystone Inn and their Angel Tree from December 3 through December 24. Wooden angel ornaments representing each child will decorate the tree.

“If you’re not able to visit in person, we hope you can

support by visiting The Greystone Inn website, click Reserve Now and choose Sponsor an Angel. You can choose the age of your ‘angel’, from school-aged children 4 to 18 or local seniors,” says Shannon. “Holidays are joyous times, and your gift ensures these local children and seniors will know they are not forgotten. Thank you on behalf of the students, their families and our elderly and disabled neighbors, Lake Toxaway Charities and The Greystone Inn. May you have a very joyous holiday season!”

To sponsor, please make check payable to Lake Toxaway Charities and mail check to Lake Toxaway Charities, PO Box 163, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 or visit www.thegreystoneinn. com For more information, please call Sherry Minnich at (912) 269-6508 or Paulette Todd at (828) 966-4700.

“Please participate and adopt as many angels as you choose,” says Shannon. ”With your check, enclose a note with the age and gender of the children you wish to sponsor if you have a preference. Santa’s elves will select one or more for you from the tree. To adopt a senior, please write ‘senior’ on the ‘for line’ on your check.”

by Luke Osteen

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GI V I NG BAC K

Hooray for Neighs!

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Here’s a sweet holiday message from the good people at Carpe Diem Farms (and the horses that they care for).

t’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Now, that’s certainly a hard statement to live up to when you live in the most magical place on earth!

But being surrounded by such natural beauty, God’s amazing creatures, the best people to work with and so much more, it’s also hard to dispute.

Well, it is December and the possibility of some snowy days and even a White Christmas does lead one to believe the opening line a little more.

We at Carpe Diem Farms count our blessings no matter the time of year. We have just celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving, the lighting of the town and its trees, enjoyed hot chocolate in the park, Santa and Mrs. Claus’ first appearance, the store windows lit for the holidays and joy on many faces. How blessed we are.

We also care for an aging herd of horses who have dedicated years and years of their lives to the service of helping people heal themselves by exploring their own potential through the equines.

We’ve experienced miracles that happen when humans expose

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themselves to the magic of horses. Many people must overcome a lot of personal fear because they feel dwarfed by these majestic animals or they’ve experienced unpleasant encounters in the past. Once they move beyond fear, the walls come down and the healing, growth, and magic flows.

We are into our 25th year of being here on the farm and 31 years since the foundation was formed. We wouldn’t be here without the help of so many who believed in the work we do and for which we are grateful.

As the horses age and as some we know will be departing the earth soon, we are reminded that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

May this season give you time to pause and count your blessings and be reminded. From all of us at Carpe Diem Farms, have a wonderful holiday season and a joy-filled New Year.

by Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms

GI V I NG BAC K

Shop With a Cop

A group of dedicated law enforcement Elves are ensuring that local children understand the true meaning of Christmas. To help share a bit of holiday cheer, mail your contributions to Caroline Cook, P. O. Box 2785, Highlands, NC 28741 or take them to Highlands Police Depar tment, 372 Oak Street, nex t to Highlands Playhouse.

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t is December and it is time for Shop With A Cop to begin.

This program provides Christmas for children who would have little or no Christmas. Each child is given a $100 gift card from Walmart in Franklin, and they Shop With A Cop. The children recommended to participate in this program are identified by various sources – their teachers, churches, neighbors, family and many times law enforcement officers.

Applications are available from the Sheriff’s Office in Franklin.

The children are told to buy something for themselves and something for someone else.

Then with the remaining funds the children may purchase anything they wish.

In the past necessities for the home were discouraged.

However, Sheriff Robbie Holland and his officers realized there was a great need. One year a child only got water and another only food for the family.

In many cases where the need goes beyond the $100 the officers who are shopping with the children bring out their own wallets and make the extra purchases possible.

Retired Major Andy Shields recalls a precious little girl approximately 5-7 years old, whom he’d shopped with the year before, who was so excited to be shopping with “her cop” again.

The girl’s father had died the morning he picked the little girl up. The family, knowing the child’s excitement, decided not to tell her until later due to her looking forward to this event for so long.

While shopping with “her cop” she insisted on getting warm gloves for her Daddy – the purchase was made. The little girl was told of her father’s passing when she returned home. Her father was buried with the warm gloves.

Many of these children need things like warm coats, shoes, socks, undergarments, and as mentioned before necessities for the home. Simple essentials most of us take for granted.

Your donation is tax deductible. Please make out your check to Shop With A Cop or SWAC.

by Caroline Cook 151 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

BUSI NESS

90 Years in the Making For all of its 90 years, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce has been spreading the word about this little mountain town that’s thriving with a dash of panache.

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t was 1931. Highlands was high above and far away from the Dust Bowl, the Depression, and sky-rocketing unemployment.

Year-round residents were a hearty lot, thriving on a rocky mountaintop with little or no electricity. Stamina was their middle name. The Plateau’s beautiful panoramas, healing atmosphere, and magnificent forests helped salve aching backs and limited crops.

And it was that mountain beauty that quintupled the summer population. Winter supported around 450 residents while summers swelled to 2500+.

As the rest of America reeled financially, things were going well enough in Highlands for the Chamber of Commerce to attempt to rejuvenate a 1923 organization of 60 members. The ’23 attempt would have materialized had it not been shelved for investment in physical facilities for the upcoming ’30s. That decision turned out to be a timely call. Water, electricity, and sewer lines were installed, which contributed to the biggest building boom since Highlands’ founding in 1875.

By 1931 roads into town were near completion. The prospect of a hard-surfaced Highway 28 cutting through Highlands prompted the successful revival of the Chamber of Commerce. After joining the North Carolina Municipal Association, the Chamber’s first mission was to launch marketing in the form of an 8-page booklet entitled, Beyond Satulah Lies Highlands. The brochure had information and photos of Satulah (south side), Glen Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wildcat Cliff on Whiteside, horseback riders on Satulah, and Highlands 152 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Estate Golf Course.

During the 1930s businesses like Charlie Anderson’s Drug Store, a Hat and Dress Shop, gas stations (Texaco, Sinclair, and Esso), Rice’s Meat Market and Grocery, the Office of Dr. William Matthews (founding physician of Highlands Community Hospital), Crane’s Riding Stable, Jam Pot, W.S. Davis’s Rock Store, Burnett and Talley’s Grocery Store, and Silver Fox Farm were established.

By the 1940s, Highlands welcomed a new post office, the Wit’s End (under the slogan “Where ye come when ye are already at thy own wit’s end and have found nobodie home.”) and the literal splitting of the Marett-Bascom Building, rolling the grocery and the hardware stores on logs to their new footprints.

During the 50s, a 70-year dream of a Town Hall was realized and built at the site of the first Highlands School. The building also housed the police and fire stations. The Highlands Garden Club set about making Highlands the prettiest mountain town in North Carolina.

In the 60’s, events were staples of Chamber’s community involvement. In 1963 the Chamber of Commerce sponsored an annual Square Dance at Helen’s Barn. 400 people, 3 bands, and a million happy feet attended. In subsequent years, charities began to mushroom across the Plateau including Mountain Findings and the Humane Society.

Through the 70s and the century’s end, other charities and service groups joined a growing generosity, among them Fibber Magee’s

BUSI NESS

George Masa’s photograph of Highlands from Sunset Rock in 1929, published by the Chamber of Commerce as one of its first acts to promote the town with an eight-page booklet, titled “Beyond Satulah Lies Highlands.”

Courtesy of the Highlands Historical Society Archives.

Closet, Peggy Crosby Center, Town Scholarship Fund, Helping Hand, Recreation Department, Highlands Jaycees, and more.

New businesses popped up, Perry Agency, Reeves Hardware, Town and Country, Highlands Bank, and more and more and more. Highlands was growing, practically booming, and with it the Chamber.

This year, Highlands Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 90th anniversary and along with it a myriad of events that have been hosted and supported over its nine decades: Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting and Santa in Highlands, Dahlia Festival, Meander in May, Greenway Trail, Performing Art Center programs, Porchfest, Motoring Festival, Halloween on Main, Highlands Food and Wine, Twilight 5-K and 10-K Races, Shred Event, Mountaintop Art and Craft Shows, Highlands Playhouse programs, Fourth of July Fireworks and Concerts, Founders Park Shrimp Boil, Plateau Pickup, Bascom Events, Saturdays on Pine, Friday Night Live, Highlands Biological Foundation programs, Highlands Chamber Music, and so much more.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce is just a decade away from being a venerable centenarian. It’s easy to take pride in the organization that’s kept the home-fires burning, the land protected, good people coming, and commerce growing as it continues to work diligently behind-the-scenes, while leading the Highlands parade.

by Kaye McHan, Executive Director, Highlands Chamber of Commerce

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BUSI NESS

Welcoming R yan Bears

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Ryan Bears

Ryan Bears assumes post of sales manager/broker for Allen Tate Companies’ local off ices.

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llen Tate Companies, the Carolinas’ leading real estate company, has named Ryan Bears as sales manager/broker for the company’s Highlands-Downtown and Wildcat Cliffs/Cashiers Road offices.

In his new role, Bears will play a key role in the development of the high-performing brokers affiliated with the firm, as well as attract quality new talent. His high-tech approach to the industry will position him perfectly to train agents on a wide variety of tools that were introduced during the merger of Pat Allen Realty Group and Allen Tate Realtors in August.

An accomplished real estate professional, Bears has worked as a Realtor with Pat Allen Realty Group/Allen Tate since 2018. In his leadership role, he will continue to list and sell residential and commercial properties as a Broker/Realtor.

Prior to his real estate career, Bears worked in finance and as sales manager for a large contracting company. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications/public relations from Newberry College, where he was a member and officer of Kappa Alpha Order.

He’s a supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, serves as a member of the Highlands ABC Board and has coached the Highlands Middle School basketball team for 4 years.

“Ryan is an individual with high integrity and high energy. He is passionate, kind, humble, and always willing to help. We are honored to welcome him to the Allen Tate leadership team,” said Mark Bardo, regional vice president, Upstate SC and Highlands/Cashiers regions.

A native of Florida, Bears moved to Highlands in 2004 where he attended and graduated high school, and then returned to the community in 2015. Bears makes his home in Highlands with his wife Maci and daughter Ansley. He enjoys family time, college football, golf, and travel.

To contact an Allen Tate agent, call (828) 526-8784.

BUSI NESS

Silver Creek Team Welcomes Ken Taft

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Veteran real estate professional Ken Taft takes the reins of Silver Creek ’s new Highlands off ice, located 537 Main Street. For more information, visit ncliving.com

fter helping its clients sell and purchase property in the Highlands area for more than a decade, Silver Creek Real Estate Group recently announced the addition of a new office – the company’s third on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau – and a new team member who will serve as the location’s Broker-In-Charge.

Seasoned real estate professional Ken Taft will join Silver Creek as the BrokerIn-Charge at the company’s Highlands office. The office is located 537 Main Street, between Mountain Fresh Grocery and the Highland Hiker with plenty of convenient parking.

“We’re thrilled that Ken has chosen to continue his successful real estate career with Silver Creek,” said President Jochen Lucke. “He brings a solid background not only in real estate but also corporate management, leadership, and quality Ken Taft customer service, all of which will be a great asset to our clients and our company as we continue to grow.”

A North Carolina native, Taft lived in Charlotte most of his life before relocating to Highlands. He is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a dual degree in business administration and management. Taft held several senior leadership positions with large corporations before transitioning to residential real estate, first in Charlotte and then, in 2013, on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

“With its exceptional marketing platform and market leadership on the Plateau, Silver Creek is definitely the right company to take my real estate career and client service to the next level,” said Taft. “I am looking forward to welcoming clients and visitors to Main Street Highlands and being a part of the incredible momentum of the Silver Creek team.”

Silver Creek Real Estate Group’s Cashiers office is the top-performing office on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, closing more transactions than any other office in 2020, with $233 million in total sales volume. Silver Creek is leading in 2021 as well, with the company generating more than $220 million in sales volume and 342 closed transactions as of November 5.

Silver Creek’s Highlands office will not only offer convenience for its topproducing agents and those they serve but also further enhance the client experience. The company has two other Plateau locations – its main office on Highway 64 West in Cashiers and its Lake Glenville office on Highway 107 North.

“For the past 13 years, Silver Creek has become synonymous with the Plateau, so having this solid presence in Highlands is a natural extension for us,’’ said Lucke.

“Our agents are an active part of the fabric of the Highlands community, and they’re thrilled to be a permanent part of its bustling downtown.”

Silver Creek Real Estate Group offers an exceptional experience for its clients seeking to purchase or sell real estate throughout the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau, including Cashiers, Highlands, Sapphire Valley, Lake Glenville, Lake Toxaway, Scaly Mountain, and Bear Lake, North Carolina. Established in 2008, Silver Creek is recognized across the Plateau and beyond for its superior, awardwinning marketing platform, which includes ncliving.com and NC Living magazine.

To learn more about Silver Creek Real Estate Group and its team, visit ncliving.com.

155 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

A private, low-density mountain community, located five minutes from Cashiers, NC on the prestigious 107 South corridor.

With five distinct residential offerings, including cottages and estate homesites, Silver Run Reserve features curated and natural amenities for indoor and outdoor fun and wellness.

LIVE WELL. RUN FREE. SilverRunReserve.com

156 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ CO-OWNER / BROKER 828.342.3194 (CELL) LIZ@CASHIERS.COM 157 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

OUR TEAM OF BROKERS

BETH TOWNSEND Co-Owner / Broker

LIZ HARRIS

Co-Owner / Broker

ANN MCKEE AUSTIN Co-Owner / Broker

COLEEN GOTTLOEB Broker-In-Charge

SANDY BARROW Broker

JOHN BARROW Broker / Rental Coordinator

WAYNE MONDAY Broker

PHILIP BRADLEY Broker

MAGGIE ELMER Broker

JOANNE BRYSON Broker

GUS BRIGHT

Broker Associate

CLAY CANTLER

Broker / Licensed Asst.

LOGAN CROCKER

Broker / Licensed Asst.

JESSICA HOHEISEL

Broker / Licensed Asst.

KARALINE SHOMAKER Broker / Administrator

619 HWY 107 S

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CASHIERS, NC 28717

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828.743.3411

LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC MINNIE COLE HOUSE 158 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

A Founding Partner

McKee Properties is proud to be a Founding Partner of G&G Land, a feature program of Garden & Gun magazine, highlighting properties that are dedicated to an “authentic sense of place and inherent responsibility to the natural world.”

MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF LUXURY REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE IN THE CASHIERS-HIGHLANDS AREA

M C K E E P R O P E R T I E S. C O M 159 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Yellow Mountain Preserve 205+ ACRES — This is the area’s finest estate opportunity, minutes from Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club and Old Edwards Club, and centrally located between Cashiers and Highlands, North Carolina. Yellow Mountain Preserve boasts the highest elevation on the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau, at 5,100 feet, and is a true legacy property. The 205.04-acre estate has roads and utilities in place for a low-density development or can be enjoyed as a single-family or shared-family estate. Elevation reaches 5,127 feet, offering unique high-elevation vegetation and the finest, grandest views in the area. The estate adjoins 12,000 acres of the Nantahala National Forest, offering unlimited trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. A 26-acre gentleman’s farm site sits at

OFFERED FOR $8,450,000

4,600 feet and provides a peaceful 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. At the summit, the Yellow Mountain fire tower rests near the boundary of the National Forest. The stunning panoramic views from there include Cashiers Valley, Whiteside Mountain, Lake Glenville and Sapphire Valley. Mountain laurel, blueberries and other heaths grow on the open bald of the summit, making it a truly special place. All of the views and natural surroundings, combined with electronic access through a stoned entry, a paved road, high-speed internet access and full cell phone coverage, makes Yellow Mountain Preserve an exceptional and unique piece of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Yellow Mountain Preserve is beautiful... by nature.

MLS 95168

619 HWY 107 S

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CASHIERS, NC 28717

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LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

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Winfield Farm 142+/- ACRES — Nestled between national forest and a ridgetop of gorgeous mountain views lies the beautiful Winfield Farm. This multigenerational family farm is located in Scaly Mountain on the southern edge of the Nantahala National Forest just 10 minutes from Highlands, North Carolina. Winfield Farm features long range mountain views, gently rolling pastures, heirloom apple trees and gardens, spring-fed lakes and ponds, mountain streams, multiple homes, barns, and other structures.

The main home is perched on a gentle knoll overlooking the farm, while two other homes are within easy walking distance. Another lovely home is tucked in a large meadow bowl that looks up to the surrounding

OFFERED FOR $6,950,000 mountains. Two large barns, workshops, and a historic lodge are also contained within the 142 acres. Fabulous views can be enjoyed from everywhere on the farm/estate and the gentle topography makes the land very usable. A portion of the property fronts Dillard Road, offering great commercial potential on this parcel. Winfield Farm is just two hours from Atlanta and minutes from hiking trails, waterfalls, and all the clubs and amenities the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau has to offer. This is the first time on the market for this beautiful farm that has caught the eye of all who pass by. I look forward to showing it to you! MLS 97357

619 HWY 107 S

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CASHIERS, NC 28717

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LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ CC 828.342.3194 828.342.3194

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Magnificent Private Estate OFFERED FOR $6,950,000 3 BR / 2 BA; 214+ ACRES — This fine estate property boasts all the wonderful outdoor features that draw people to Cashiers, NC: spectacular, long-range mountain views; rolling, open meadows (some fenced and cross fenced); a pond with an active, flowing stream and private waterfalls; and miles of trails! This property is unrestricted. The renovated cottage with recently updated bathrooms is charming and overlooks the majority of the property. Plus, there are many fine additional building sites for a future main house or subdividing. It is conveniently located only 9.5 miles from the middle of Cashiers. MLS 95503

619 HWY 107 S

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CASHIERS, NC 28717

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM 164 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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828.743.3411

Cedar Creek Road OFFERED FOR $2,800,000 200 ACRES — This pristine large tract located approximately five miles to the center of Cashiers is almost completely surrounded by three conservation easements: Chinquapin’s (700 acres), The Webb family’s (600 acres) and Campbell’s (50+ acres). This parcel has old logging trails, rock outcroppings and a central “bowl” — prime for clearing as a meadow. A pretty stream headwaters on this high elevation tract and has several small sets of ripples and falls. The views have not been cleared, but will be substantial. MLS 92920

BETH TOWNSEND, GUILD™ C

828.421.6193

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BETH@CASHIERS.COM 165 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Glenville Lake Estates 4 BR / 4 BA — This beautiful lake home is set up to enjoy immediately with its updated interior, expansive decks and large dock all resting in a quiet cove on the desirable southeast side of Lake Glenville, close to town. The home features a master suite and guest room on the main level, a third guest suite on the upper level and a fourth suite on the lower level. The dining, kitchen and great room

OFFERED FOR $2,350,000 featuring a stone fireplace flow together with vaulted ceilings and lake views off the front deck to enjoy the pristine setting on the lake.

The large family and game room on the lower level provides for cozy evenings around the fireplace and a fun family game room, all while enjoying beautiful lake views. MLS 96991

619 HWY 107 S

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CASHIERS, NC 28717

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Little Ellijay Farm 4 BR / 4 BA — This beautiful 63-acre farm in the Cashiers/ Glenville area beside the Snowbird Community is full of charm. It features gorgeous views, rolling land, a main house, a guest house, an

OFFERED FOR $1,772,000 art studio, a large functioning barn, gardens, a chicken coop, fruit trees, fenced pasture land, fresh water ponds, springs and creeks throughout!

Contact Liz today for a tour of this beautiful mountain farm. MLS 97011

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

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Whiteside Forest 3 BR / 3 BA — This is a charming log home on a serene and stunning acreage. From the extensive creek frontage and beautiful meadow to the year-round mountain view, this home offers a peaceful mountain retreat while located only 10 minutes from Cashiers. The floor plan boasts an open living, dining, and kitchen with two bedrooms and a bath on the main level. The upper level has a bonus loft and a guest suite, while the lower level has an expansive family room, wet

OFFERED FOR $1,400,000 bar, two bonus rooms and a bathroom. The main level decks allow for full enjoyment of this peaceful setting and views. A bonus workshop on the property could be easily converted into a cozy guest house.

MLS 97046

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

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828.342.3194

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LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

Cullowhee Forest 3 BR / 3.5 BA — Located on 17+ acres with incredible mountain views, this move-in ready home is the perfect mountain retreat and sanctuary. Surrounded by towering hardwoods, mature rhododendron and other native flora, the house has stunning views of Pilot Knob and surrounding mountains. The well-maintained home features 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The spacious kitchen has beautiful cabinetry and includes a breakfast area looking out onto the porch and the beautiful view. Next to the kitchen is an ample sized utility room with washer, dryer, and utility sink. The living room has a lovely stone faced, wood-burning fireplace, gorgeous wood floors, adjoins a spacious dining area, and opens onto a porch and deck that runs the length of the house. Also on the main

SANDY BARROW JOHN BARROW

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478.737.9664

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828.506.9356

OFFERED FOR $855,000 level is the master bedroom with doors opening to the deck and porch.

Completing the master suite is a commodious walk-in closet and master bathroom with his and hers vanities, garden tub, and shower. On the lower level are 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, an inviting den, a light-filled office, large workshop area, storage space and a large deck. Added security is provided by a full featured alarm system and a whole house generator.

The surrounding grounds feature native specimen plants, hiking trails and a small spring-fed pond. Whether inside partaking in the comforts of the well-appointed home or outside enjoying the natural beauty of the property, this is mountain living at its best! MLS 96988

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North Norton Road 3 BR / 4 BA — If you are looking for a spacious home with amazing, long-range mountain views, then this is the home for you!

Located just 15-20 minutes from downtown Cashiers, this expansive home has plenty of room and storage for year-round residency or a great family retreat. You can find everything you need on the walk-in, main level living space including the master en suite, guest room and bath, laundry, living room and kitchen. The well-appointed kitchen is

OFFERED FOR $795,000 designed for master chefs and bakers alike! Beautiful built-ins line the hall and are perfect for displaying your latest literary finds. Cathedral ceilings and huge windows allow the living room and upstairs loft to be flooded with natural light. The fully finished lower level offers additional living space with a wet bar, game room, workshop, full bath and office/additional bedroom. The main and lower level porches allow plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the mountains! MLS 96734

JUST REDUCED

MAGGIE ELMER C

170 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

803.493.5734

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MAGGIE@CASHIERS.COM

Snowbird

OFFERED FOR $875,000

3 BR / 3 BA — The Snowbird lifestyle is essential to this beautiful property; abundant private hiking trails and postcard views are scattered throughout the gated 1,250 acre community with light restrictions and great neighbors. This cottage is current, classy, comfortable and exudes charm. Cozy living room with wood-burning fireplace has direct connection to open kitchen and also opens onto the massive covered porch. Master on main has cathedral ceiling and opens onto a pretty

side porch. Down a short hallway, the office/bonus room, stack washer/ dryer and full bath. Upstairs are two bedrooms with cathedral ceilings and shared bath. One of the upper bedrooms has a Rapunzel balcony overlooking the large covered porch and out to the long mountain views.

Perch yourself on the covered porch at 4,120 elevation and watch the world go by, or kick it up a notch and test your skills on over 10 miles of great PRIVATE hiking trails! MLS 97787

UNDER CONTRACT

Sarvis Ridge

$875,000

High Hampton

$759,000

49 ACRES — This property features a rolling meadow, dense

1.53 ACRES — It is rare to find a resale lot in High Hampton, and

woods, table flat building site at the top and over 4,020 feet elevation.

There is a small dipping pond in the meadow. The property can be divided into four parcels with 5-acre minimums. The Webb Lake 1930’s cabin, common area lake and trails, and caretaker home are directly across the road from this prime tract. This heritage property has unlimited potential! MLS 95707

this one is prime! The property is located on the “original/Inn” side of the neighborhood, which means no highway crossing is needed to walk to the great amenities. Grand potential view of famed Rock Mountain with approved clearing, this lot also fronts the Cherokee Campgrounds’ green space with direct access to the trail system. East to southeast views to the mountain provide sunsets “on the rock.” MLS 97439

BETH TOWNSEND, GUILD™ C

828.421.6193

|

BETH@CASHIERS.COM 171 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Sapphire High 3 BR / 3.5 BA — This charming home with year-round views is located in the desirable neighborhood of Sapphire High. The home is three levels with the living room, dining room, kitchen, a powder room and master bed and bath on the main level. The main level has an elegant stone fireplace and expansive windows to take in the spectacular view. The master has a walk-in closet and private access to the deck. Two levels feature expansive covered decks to enjoy the

OFFERED FOR $675,000 refreshing mountain air. The second bedroom is on the upper level and has its own private balcony. Also upstairs is a loft space and an extra room that would be perfect for an office or craft room. The lower level has a third bedroom and bath, a family room, laundry room, one-car garage and a large workshop. Its large lot has a waterfall, boulder field and terraced yard space perfect for the outdoor enthusiast. MLS 97276

UNDER CONTRACT

MAGGIE ELMER

|

C

803.493.5734

KARALINE SHOMAKER 172 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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C

828.200.1146

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

LOTS & LAND LOT

ACRES

DESCRIPTION

N/A

30

Mountain views adjoining National Forest

97163

CASHIERS

$895,000

E-158

1.30

Near level with mountain views UNDER CONTRACT

96021

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF & LAKE CLUB

$599,000

E-32

0.92

Golf and mountain views

95880

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

$475,000

B-6

0.51

Flat lot near the Clubhouse

96186

CHATTOOGA CLUB

$325,000

M-36

2.68

Whiteside Mountain views

95874

WHITESIDE FOREST

$198,750

7

2.86

Mountain views with a stream running through 97119

CROSS CREEK PRESERVE

$175,000

N-55

0.81

Gently rolling with winter golf course view

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

$160,000

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF & LAKE CLUB / MLS 96021

MLS

95803

SUBDIVISION

PRICE

WHITESIDE FOREST / MLS 95874

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM 173 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Wade Hampton Golf Club LOTS & LAND

LOT

ACRES

DESCRIPTION

MLS

LOCATION

PRICE

ESTATE PARCELS

L-8

3.85

National Forest and mountain views

94616

Silver Springs Road

$375,000

GOLF FRONT

E-32

0.92

Golf and mountain view

95880

Chimney Top Trail

$475,000

N-19

0.66

Great golf views

96232

Fox Fire

$225,000

N-55

0.81

Winter golf views, gently rolling

95803

Chimney Top Trail

$160,000

MOUNTAIN VIEWS

S-45

1.86

Long range mountain views UNDER CONTRACT

94825

Cherokee Trace

$555,000

S-10

1.56

Mountain view, gently sloping

94614

Cherokee Trace

$195,000

R-50

0.65

Mountain and golf views

96573

Cherokee Trace

$ 60,000

FOREST FLOOR

R-43

0.72

Gently rolling, end of cul-de-sac

95244

Ox Lock Road

$185,000

R-25

0.91

Wooded, gently rolling

94896

Cherokee Trace

$100,000

R-26

0.94

Wooded, easy build site

97657

Cherokee Trace

$ 85,000

R-49

1.25

Access to Katydid Road or The Low Road

83185

Katydid Road

$ 80,000

E-25

0.98

Gently rolling and wooded

96006

Mayapple Road

$ 75,000

619 HWY 107 S

|

CASHIERS, NC 28717

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM 174 D E C E M B E R 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

|

828.743.3411

THE HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS PLATEAU

MAY FEEL TIMELESS, BUT IT’S ANYTHING BUT SLEEPY.

There’s the vibrant community of doers and dreamers – the year-round locals, the seasonal residents, the people who arrive as part of a mad escape or a plan to discover the things that have been lost in 21st century life. They’re the ones who breathe life into the pages of Laurel Magazine, month after month.

Laurel chronicles the lives of the twin communities. We spotlight the men and women who give Cashiers and Highlands their unique character. Our calendar is a signpost for the events that fill the days and nights with wonder and excitement, and we highlight the restaurants and galleries that give both communities their unique anything-but-small town flavor. And we’ll whisper to you about the unspoiled natural treasures that are almost transcendent in their magic and mystery.

Subscribe to the Laurel Magazine. You don’t want to miss the story we’re telling.

Year Subscription $66 | 6-month Subscription $42 www.thelaurelmagazine.com/subscribe 828.526.0173

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4118 Kitchen and Bar A Jones Company A-List Antiques ACP Home Interiors Alair Homes Allaben Fine Art Allen Tate/ Pat Allen Realty Group Allison Diane Annawear Annell Metsker, Artist Appalachian Golf Cars Around Back at Rocky’s Place Bags on Main The Bascom Barbara Jamison Paintings Bazaar Barn Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - John Bynum and Faye Wurm Betsy Paul Art Raffle Betsy Paul Properties Bird Barn & Garden Black Bear Lodge Black Rock Granite and Cabinetry Blair Realty The Blue Elephant Blue Ridge Bedding Blue Ridge Music Bombshell Hair Boutique Bounds Cave’s Rug Gallery Bungalow Boutique The Business Spot C Orrico Calders Coffee Cafe Caliber Fine Properties Carolina Rustic Furniture Cashiers Chamber of Commerce Cashiers Candy Shoppe Cashiers Kitchen Company Cashiers Valley Smokehouse Catatoga Center for Plastic Surgery Robert T. Buchanan, MD Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals Charles Johnson Fine Art Photography Chocolate Heaven/Cake Bar

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P 91 P 35, 38 P 145 P 68 P 134 P 77 P 121 P 142 P 57 P 72 P 21 P 81 P 154 P 153 P 77 P 61

meadowsmountainrealty.com

P 41, 101

meadowsmountainrealty.com

P 101 P 118 P 179 P 38 P 119

betsypaulproperties.com blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com

blackrockdesignbuild-highlands.com P 40, 136 blair-realty.com P 20 P 44 blueridgebedding.com P 43 blueridgemusicacademy.com P 80 P 146 boundscaverugs.com P 31 bungalow828.com P 129 biz-spot.net P 35 P 34 calderscoffeecafe.com P 90 caliberfineproperties.com P 84 carolinarusticfurniture.com P 43 cashiersareachamber.com P 44 P 38 P 83 P 99 catatogaclub.com P 85 plasticsurgerytoday.com highlandsiscalling.com charlesjohnsonfineart.com

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Christine’s Home Decor The Christmas Tree Classic Lighting & Design, Inc. Country Club Properties Creative Concepts Creative Framing Cullasaja Club Dauntless Printing Diane McPhail, Artist Dinner With Duffy The Dry Sink Dutchmans Edward Jones Investments Elena’s Women’s Golf and Activewear The Exchange Fire + Water Fire Mountain Inn & Cabins Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar Fressers Courtyard Cafe Fusion Yoga & Wellness Futral Construction Dr. Edward D. Frederickson MD FACP Gracewear Boutique The Greystone Inn Head Innovations High Country Furniture & Design The High Dive Highlands Aerial Park Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation Highlands Chamber of Commerce Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Wine Shop Highlands Lawn & Garden Highlands Outpost Highlands Pharmacy Highlands Playhouse Highlands Rock Yard Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Andrea Gabbard Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Sheryl Wilson Highlands Transportation Company Home Emporium Hotel Cashiers Hummingbird Lounge Imperial Security & Wiring

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P 138 P 50

highlandsfineart.com

P 22, 23 P 20 P 52 P 74 P 79 P 60

highlandsoutpost.com highlandsplayhouse.org highlandsrockyard.com sothebysrealty.com

P 135

highlandssir.com

P 137

homeemporium.com hotelcashiers.com oldedwardsinn.com IS-W.co

P 45 P 10, 11 P 34 P 49 P 137

A DV E R T I S E R’ S I N D E X

Jeanie Edwards Fine Art Jennings Builders Supply Josephine’s Emporium John Cleaveland Realty Beth Bowser, Artist Ken Bowser, Artist The Kitchen CarryAway and Catering Lakeside Restaurant Landmark Realty Group Landmark Realty Group - Pam Nellis Landmark Vacation Rentals Laura Moser Art Lehotsky & Sons Lenz Gifts & Luxury Linens Leslie Jeffery, Artist The Look Boutique Lupoli Construction Main Street Gifts Mantiques Martha Anne’s Martin Lispcomb Performing Arts Center McCulley’s McKee Properties McKee Properties - John & Sandy Barrow McKee Properties - Philip Bradley McKee Properties - Maggie Elmer McKee Properties - Liz Harris McKee Properties - Karaline Shomaker McKee Properties - Beth Townsend Merrell Thompson Photography Michele Page Webster, Artist Mirror Lake Antiques Morales Painting Mountain Architecture PLLC Mountain Mermaid Mountain Spring Spas and Pools Mountain Valley Center Mountainworks Custom Home Design, Ltd. Nancy’s Fancys Nearly New Nora & Co Oak Steakhouse

jedwardsfineart.com jbwnc.com jcrealty.com

thekitchenofhighlands.com landmarkrg.com landmarkrg.com landmarkvacations.com lauramoserart.com lehotskyandsons.com lesliejeffery.art lupoliconstruction.com mantiquesn.com highlandsperformingarts.com

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mckeeproperties.com

P 75 P3 P 113, 156-174

mckeeproperties.com

P 169

mckeeproperties.com

P 143

mckeeproperties.com

P 143, 170, 172

mckeeproperties.com

P 156-174

mckeeproperties.com

P 172

mckeeproperties.com

P 113, 156-174

merrellthompson.com pagetheartist.com mirrorlakeantiques.com mtnarchitecture.com mountainhotspring.com mountainvalleycenter.com mtnworks.com nearlynewnc.com oaksteakhousehighlands.com

P5 P 76 P 29 P 56 P 149 P 39 P 19 P 36 P 151 P 129 P 148 P 17 P 86

Old Edwards Inn & Spa On the Verandah Pat Calderone Peggy Marra Peak Experience Preferred Properties of Highlands Preferred Properties of Highlands - Ann Scott ProServicess Reach of Macon County Rebecka’s Home Cleaning Service Rent In Highlands-CCP Ristorante Paoletti Roman’s Roofing LLC Sapphire Valley Real Estate Shakespeare and Company Silver Creek Real Estate Group Skyline Lodge Slabtown Pizza Smitten Southern Way The Spa Boutique at Old Edwards Inn Spoiled Rotten Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship The Summer House by Reeves TJ Bailey’s for Men The Toy Store Truckin’ at the High DIve The Ugly Dog Pub - Highlands The Ugly Dog Pub - Cashiers Vic’s for Men Victoria’s Closet Victoria’s Sportswear The Village Green Village Hound Warth Construction White Oak Realty WHLC FM 104.5 Wilbanks Smile Center - Dr. Joe Wilbanks Wit’s End Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro Woofgang Bakery & Grooming Yoga Highlands Zoller Hardware The Zookeeper Bistro

oldedwardsinn.com ontheverandah.com calderonegallery.com peggymarra.com peakexp.com

P 49, 136 P 96 P 76 P 77 P 149

ppoh.com

P 26, 27, 137

ppoh.com reachofmaconcounty.org

P 137 P 136 P 45

rentinhighlands.com paolettis.com romansroofingnc.com

P 136 P 55 P 93 P 137

sapphirevalleyrealestate.com P 133 shakespeareandcompanyhighlands.com P 120 ncliving.com skyline-lodge.com slabtownpizza.om

P 64-67 P 86 P 99 P 81 P 154

oldedwardsinn.com spoiledrotten2.com

P 49 P 61 P 15 P 102 P 112 P 82 P 97 P 97 P 97 P 148 P 148 P 148 P 114 P9 P 180 P 62 P 19

summerhousehighlands.com tjbmens.com theuglydogpub.com theuglydogpub.com victoriasclosetnc.com victoriasclosetnc.com victoriasclosetnc.com villagegreencashiersnc.com warthconstruction.com whiteoakrg.com whlc.com wilbankssmilecenter.com wolfgangs.net yogahighlands.com zollerhardware.com thezookeeperbistro.com

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PARTING SHOT

by Terry Barnes

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