The Perfect Gift

My 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 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.)

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

by Donna Rhodes | Illustration by Norma Jean Zahner

When 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 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!

Pain is Not a Prerequisite

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

by Dr. Sue Aery, Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

ACCOMMODATIONS ACCOMMODATIONS

BEAUTY

CONSTRUCTION CABINETRY

HOME CARE BEAUTY

CLEANING

HOME DECOR

REAL ESTATE

ROOFING REAL ESTATE

SERVICE REAL ESTATE

GIVING BACK

Pages 140-151

In 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 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.

Because It’s

Hard

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

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

Literacy & Learning Center

It’s remarkably easy to ensure that local children receive a year’s worth of reading pleasure, thanks to The Dolly Parton Imagination Library. For more information, visit maconncliteracy.org.

This 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.

by Jenni Edwards, Literacy & Learning Center

Medical 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 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.

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Following the successful launch of the Blue Ridge Health primary care center this summer, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation continues the call for community support.

by Robin Tindall, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Turning Out Dollars for Scholars

The Cashiers Rotary Club is aiming to assist local scholars. For information, visit CashiersRotary.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