July 2021: The Laurel Magazine

a e

L UR L The Heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Waterfall Guide featuring Sliding Rock pg. 76

July 2021

Blur of a Beating Wing Our cover artist, Laura Moser

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CON T E N T S July 2021

13 What To Do

16 Independence Day Celebrations

67 Recreation & Creation 68 Views from Whiteside

89 Arts

106 The Bascom’s Sculpture Trail

115 Dining

116 Ristorante Paoletti

135 Shopping

180

138 Let’s Go Antiquing!

158 Lake Toxaway

38

160 Lucy Armstrong Moltz

169 History

178 Gardening Traditions

185 Lifestyles & Wellness

186 Yellow Mountain Preserve

201 Giving Back

208 Rotarian Rebecca Baker

212 Commerce

216 The Firewood Company

84

The American Bald Eagle

At a Glance Guides

158

Mountain Café

30 Calendar | 60 Dining Guide | 62 Accommodations Guide | 72 Highlands Map | 74 Cashiers Map | 102 Service Guide | 128 Advertiser’s Index 62 Calendar | 77 Waterfall Guide | 128 Dining Guide | 130 Accommodations Guide 152 Highlands Map | 154 Cashiers Map | 198 Service Directory | 272 Adver tiser’s Index

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VOLUME NINETEEN, ISSUE SIX

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 Well, here we are in July, the hot center of the Busy Season.

Of course, compared to most of the rest of the country, it’s silly to describe this little corner of the Southern Appalachians as “hot.”

On those occasions when the thermometer climbs into the low 80s, all we have to do is wait for an afternoon shower.

And, if your spirit needs rejuvenation, just tune into the music emanating from the free concerts that are once more popping up on the calendar, and, of course, the performances of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival.

We’re saving you a place at this Feast of the Senses!

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 Kevin FitzPatrick 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 14-62

photo by Susan Renfro

W H AT TO DO

Pinchas Zukerman and Amanda Forsyth

George Li

Highlands-Cashiers

Chamber Music Festival Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival packs an astonishing amount of events and per formances into its 40th Anniversar y Season.

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ighlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival launches its dynamic sixweek 40th Anniversary Season, with The Pinchas Zukerman Trio performing a July 5 Gala Concert.

The trio – composed of virtuoso violinist Pinchas Zukerman, cellist Amanda Forsyth, and pianist George Li – will perform Trio in E Minor by Shostakovich; and Trio in A Minor by Tchaikovsky.

That’s just a hint of the exciting events that shape the festival’s busy season.

“As always, we’ll offer some of the world’s greatest music, internationally-known performers, beautifully intimate settings, the cool mountains, fine dining and art, and more. Creative programming and extraordinary musicians are a signature of our Festival, and we once again welcome an exciting mix of old friends with brilliant new guest musicians,” says Dr. WIlliam Ransom, the Festival’s Anna and Hays Mershon Artistic Director. “Having grown to a sixweek summer season now, with additional 14 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

fall and spring concerts and events and celebrating our 40th anniversary, we are now one of the largest and longest-running Festivals in the US. I hope everyone will come join the fun this summer and celebrate the best life has to offer with us!”

The season will see the Plateau debut of harpist Bridget Kibbey, who’s been called “The Yo Yo Ma of the Harp,” and young pianist Michael Gurt, who’ll perform “The Virtuoso Piano.”

The season wraps with the Gershon/ Cohn Final Gala at the Village Green Commons, Sunday, August 8 with “The Eight Seasons,” another demonstration of the festival’s playful programming. This pairing of performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, will feature the talents of violinist David Coucheron, The Eroica Trio, and The Festival Chamber Orchestra. The celebration continues with dinner at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club.

In addition to the performances scheduled

over its bravura six weeks, the festival will be offering its Festival Feasts series, its intriguing Salons, and the immensely popular Interlude Concert. Naturally, it’ll once again be staging its Family Concert (of Peter and the Wolf) and Ice Cream Social. The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival brings an added dimension of excitement to its 40th anniversary season with a series of Feasts and Salons embroidered within its six-week calendar.

Feasts are exclusive dinners or cocktail buffets attended by the Festival’s artists, who, instead of performing, engage in sparkling conversation with their dinner guests.

Salons are casual events featuring Festival musicians performing short programs, followed by light hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

For tickets and details about the entire season, visit h-cmusicfestival.org or call (828) 526-9060.

by Luke Osteen

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2021 Feasts of the Festival

“Zukerman Trio at Freesia Ridge” Monday, July 5th – 7 P.M. $150/person - 16 Places Special Guests: Pinchas Zukerman, Amanda Forsyth George Li Hosts: Judy & Louis Freeman “Bastille Celebration” Thursday, July 15th – 6:30 P.M. $125/person - 10 Places Special Guests: Luke Fleming, Amy Schwartz Moretti Hosts: Olivia & Bob Holt, Kathleen & Ray Michaels “Virtuoso Pianist” Sunday, July 25th – 7 P.M. $125/person - 15 Places Special Guest: Michael Gurt Hosts: Cathy & Mike Crosby “Bailey Times Two” Saturday, July 31st – 7:15 P.M. $125/person - 12 Places Zuill and Allison Bailey Hosts: Martha & Al Pearson “Dynamic Duo: David and Sara” Friday, August 6th – 12 Noon Brunch $100/person - 16 Places Special Guests: David Coucheron, Sara Sant’Ambrogio Host: David & Jill Krischer “Julie Coucheron Performs at Cloud Manor” Wednesday, September 1 – 6 P.M. $150/person – 25 Places An Exceptional Cocktail Buffet Hosts: Greg & Mary Thompson

2021 Festival Salons

“Yo Yo Ma of the Harp” Thursday, July 22nd – 6 P.M. $75/person - 25 Places Special Performing Guest: Bridget Kibbey Hosts: Kay Kramer & Frank Cohen “Rhapsody in Blue” Tuesday, July 27th – 6 P.M. $75/person - 35 Places Special Performing Guest – William Ransom Hosts: Teri Dolci, Sibyl Fishburn, Sam Hollis In Honor of Archie Norton

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The Rocket’s

Red Glare

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There’s so much fun packed into the Plateau’s Four th of July celebration that it’s spread over an entire weekend.

erhaps July 4, 2021 may mean more to people this year than it has in a long time. Freedoms taken for granted were stifled for many months due to an unseen germ, and celebrating Independence Day in 2020 was for the most part shackled because of pandemic fears.

Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s Visit Highlands, NC, will be providing live music all weekend as well as the Fireworks Finale. The music begins on Friday, July 2, at 6:00 P.M. with the Foxfire Boys at Town Square on Main Street and continues on Saturday at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park with Blaze the City, which spotlights vocal harmonies and funky dance rhythms playing pop, funk, rock, country, blues and Motown.

On Saturday, July 3, attention shifts to the Town Ballfield.

First up, it’s the Boy Scouts’ Water Rocket Launch from 9:00

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to 11:00 A.M. Once the launch site has been cleared and the scouts have changed into dry clothes, everyone is invited to participate in Traditional Field Games from 11:00 A.M. to noon.

That should ensure that everyone is good and hungry for the town’s Hot Dog Lunch from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. From noon to 1:00 P.M., the MAMA (Mountain Area Medical Airlift) Helicopter and its crew will land and present a close-up view to the public.

The Rotary Duck Derby will be staged at Mill Creek from 1:30 to 2:30 P.M. This year’s July Fourth band will be Moon Dance, a band specializing in tributes to each decade with music from the 1950s to the 2000s; this concert is also at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park

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starting at 6:00 P.M. And in a last minute development, Cashiers will stage its own celebration with a rocking concert by the popular dance band Continental Divide at 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 4 at the Village Green Commons.

Sapphire Valley will host its Yankee Doodle Dandy Day on July 4th, which includes a cake walk, inflatables for kids, duckie derby, etc. Wristbands will be available to purchase for activities and food. A band will be performing throughout the day.

And, looking to get an early start on the fun, Town and Country General Store in Cashiers is hosting Mile High Band, from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Saturday, July 3.

Of course, in all of this act responsibly, don’t do stupid stuff, and enjoy the joyful freedom of a Quarantine-Free celebration.

by Deena Bouknight / photo by Susan Renfro

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W H AT TO DO

Fireworks at

Lake Glenville

The 24th Annual Friends of Lake Glenville Fireworks Over the Lake, slated for 9:30 P.M. Saturday, July 3, is a beautiful celebration of an indefatigable community spirit.

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ake Glenville is going forward with its annual fireworks display. The 24th Annual Friends of Lake Glenville Fireworks Over The Lake will be held on Saturday, July 3, at approximately 9:30 PM. People can either gather safely and responsibly in their watercraft or find an ideal site on land to celebrate America’s Independence Day. The fireworks will be launched from The Pointe, which is just north of Trillium on the west side of Lake Glenville.

Law enforcement will be monitoring watercraft to make sure that people are maintaining safety on the lake.

In 1997, to celebrate the Fourth of July, Stuart Hall and his friends launched fireworks over Lake Glenville from Tom Turner’s Buck Knob Island construction barge.

That year, Stuart and Co. also directed a fun boat parade of “The Glenville Navy.” The floating parade is no longer part of the

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festivities, but the fireworks have become one of the most anticipated events of the year.

Ceding the point that firing explosives from a barge wasn’t exactly the safest idea, the show moved on shore at The Pointe, which is just north of Trillium’s facilities on the Western shore of the lake. The generous homeowners of The Pointe have allowed the show to be launched there ever since.

Boats begin to gather in the water well ahead of the show. Their lights reflect on the glassy surface of Lake Glenville, adding to the glittering display that begins at dusk, around 9:30 P.M. There are also great viewing areas on land along Highway 107 all the way up to Signal Ridge Marina.

by Deena Bouknight

W H AT TO DO

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Secrets of

Snot Otters

We’ll bet you didn’t know you had a neighbor that goes by the name Snot Otter. You can learn all about these misunderstood creatures at the vir tual Village Nature series presentation at 5:00 P.M. July 29. Check HCLT’s website or Facebook page for a zoom link to this presentation.

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Snot Otter,” “devil dog,” “lasagna lizard,” “mud devil” are just a few of the colorful names used to describe one of the largest, wrinkliest, slimiest and most fascinating salamanders native to the Appalachian Mountains. Hellbenders, as they are commonly called, live in cool, clean, fast flowing streams in the Southern and Central Appalachians. Many of the streams that originate in the Highlands Cashiers Plateau flow into rivers where hellbenders are found. These gray to brown flat salamanders with heavily folded skin can reach over two feet in length as mature adults. Their appearance can be off-putting to some and historic myths that hellbenders were venomous caused many to be killed out of fear. While hellbenders 20 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

are actually harmless to people, they are important predators of crayfish and other aquatic critters. But hellbenders are at risk.

Like all amphibians, hellbenders breathe through their skin and require extremely clean water to survive. Water pollution, runoff, habitat disturbance, and habitat loss have all contributed to decline in hellbender populations across their range. The first step in conservation of these often misunderstood creatures is through education of their habitat, biology, and behavior.

You can learn more about the “Secrets of Snot Otters” through our virtual Village Nature series presentation on July 29 at 5:00 P.M. as Lori Williams, Wildlife Biologist for the NC Wildlife Resources

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Commission, delves into the lives of these fascinating beasts.

The Village Nature Series (VNS) is a monthly speaker event co-hosted by The Village Green and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, featuring experts in their field presenting on wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local cultural heritage.

Traditionally, these events are held at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers, NC, however, this presentation will be held virtually. Check HCLT’s website or Facebook page for a zoom link to this presentation.

HCLT is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to preserving the unique natural resources of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau through conservation, stewardship and education. To learn more, visit www.hicashlt.org.

by Sarah Pursel, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

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W H AT TO DO

Greens on

the Green

Shopping at the Green Market, staged ever y Wednesday afternoon at the Village Green in Cashiers, is a link to the community’s past and its future.

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ocal farmers’ markets are some of the best places to not only choose just picked, super-fresh produce, but also handcrafted, distinct wares. Home-grown, handpicked, and handmade local goodness can be found at the Green Market, Village Green Commons, in Cashiers, from 2-5 P.M. every Wednesday, though October 27. According to Ann Self, Village Green director, the market is “producer only,” meaning that the vendor must be the grower or producer of all the products they sell. Plus, vendors must produce within a 125-mile radius of Cashiers.

Besides filling a basket with naturally raised meat and dairy items, fresh eggs, jams, pickles, freshly baked bread, and delicious granola, there are fresh-cut flowers for the table, herb-scented soaps for gifts

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and personal use, and much more.

One of the vendors is local farmer Don Deal, who is a member of a multi-generational farming family. The Deals, in fact, were among the first settlers to the area, and records show that Deal ancestors purchased Cherokee lands from the U.S. Government. Growing food on the rich land has been a way of life and a tradition for the Deals, and they have passed down important farming skills through the generations.

Don has been bringing the family’s freshly grown produce to the Green for the past five years. He said, “Cashiers residents are very fortunate to have and should be proud of the facilities at the Green.”

He added that he especially appreciates that the market can operate

W H AT TO DO

Highlands

Market

Treasures for the kitchen and the home are offered ever y Saturday morning at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

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rain or shine with plenty of parking, bathrooms, and an openair pavilion.

The Green Market will continue to follow best practices to ensure the safety and well-being of customers and vendors. Customers should plan to bring face coverings to shop. Customers should also stay home if they are experiencing illness of any kind. Vendors are expected to follow the same procedures as customers, in addition to ensuring safe setup and sanitizing practices. To keep up with Green Market news and happenings at Village Green Common, visit CashiersGreenMarket.com.

by Deena Bouknight

here’s nothing like taking the time to prepare a good homecooked meal, and weekends are when we have time to cook from scratch.

Any good cook knows that a special meal calls for the finest ingredients, so why not visit the Highlands Marketplace on Saturday mornings from 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street and pick up the freshest ingredients for your creation.

This open air market is a feast for the senses offering our area’s freshest produce, meats, seafood, and other products. The dew has barely dried on the produce, picked fresh from the fields.

Local farmers, craftsmen, and artists gather here under colorful tents selling the bounty of the season. Fresh produce of every imaginable kind can be found here on any given Saturday, and you can complete your menu with meats, seafood, fresh eggs, homemade breads, pastries, pies, jams, jellies, relishes, and dips, just to mention a few of the many delicious items available.

If you’re looking for something already prepared, why not pick up a quiche? Heat and Eat never tasted so good.

Your options are practically limitless so take your time to savor the selections. It’s a new and different delight every week so plan to start your weekend choosing the best of the mountains.

Don’t forget to check out all the local craft items available for sale here, too. Your perfect basket, homemade quilt, beautiful picture or piece of pottery will take on a special meaning when you have a chance to meet the artist, and hear firsthand the inspiration and hard work that went into each piece.

Saturday mornings are just right here at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

by Mary Jane McCall

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W H AT TO DO

Music, Wine,

& CLE

The Center for Life Enrichment will give you plenty to wine about with its exciting new summer series. For more information, visit clehighlands.com.

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Davis Picklesimer and Karen Hunt

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LE isn’t just about Life Enrichment, it’s about lifelong Karen calls Highlands The Aspen of the East Coast. She’s eager to enjoyment. Now that safe-mingling is back, let the put Highlands on a very prestigious map. She and Davis (proprietor celebration begin! of Highlands Wine Shop) accepted positions on the Center for Life CLE’s new Winemakers Series will present unique opportunities Enrichment Board. They are hard at work applying their expertise for some serious shoulder-rubbing at personalized wine tastings to promotion of the Highlands wine, food, and entertainment in addition to one-on-one conversations with domestic and community through the educational prowess of CLE, the Highlands internationally renowned vintners.

Chamber, OEI, and other generous businesses.

Board members Davis Picklesimer and Michael Trujillo, a renowned Karen Hunt collectively have decades of California winemaker, wowed … the exceptional chefs and professional and personal relationships Highlands with a June visit, schmoozing fine quality food and wine within the wine industry. She served with 56 locals at a planned informal associated with Highlands. in leadership positions in several Napa gathering. If you want to experience Valley giants. She was President of DAOU his exceptional wines, Highlands Wine Winery as well as V.P. of Francis Ford Shop now carries them.

Coppola Winery and Peter Mondavi Brian Larky, founder of Dalla Terra Family Wintery.

Wine will be coming to Highlands July 21-22. Visit clehighlands.com She says, “I had the opportunity to meet many winemakers and for the latest listing of unveilings, tastings, restaurant-partnering, executives. They are a close-knit group. But no one knew about the and soirées. Learn how CLE will bring wine luminaries like Larky exceptional chefs and fine quality food and wine associated with directly to you.

Highlands. It’s a well-kept secret.”

And if you have the heart and the time, CLE still needs Part of her duties (though she thinks of it as joy) was to invite winevolunteers. Remember, Center for Life Enrichment keeps putting makers and winery owners to gatherings at patrons’ homes. Hosts the CLE in clever! arranged for wine enthusiasts, aka serious purchasers to indulge in

by Donna Rhodes extraordinary evenings with Napa’s wine makers and masters.

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W H AT TO DO

Wildlife in

Wild Places

Mountain Wildlife Days at Sapphire Valley Resor t, slated for July 16 and 17, is a rare oppor tunity to meet and understand our furred and feathered neighbors.

For information, visit highlandsouthadventures. com or call the Sapphire Resor t Community Center at (828) 743-7663.

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mmerse yourself into the awe-inspiring world of nature and live animals at the 14th Mountain Wildlife Days, July 16 and 17.

Co-sponsored by and held at Sapphire Valley Resort, the weekend features a series of exceptional experiences and programs for adults and children to learn about wildlife and wild places.

The two-day series of presentations and lectures offers a singular perspective on the astounding lives of wild creatures and teaches us why it’s important we care about them.

Participants can kick off their weekend with a Friday Morning Bird Walk led by “birders” from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society or choose from one of two hikes led by an experienced local hiker to one of two scenic locations and waterfalls.

On Friday afternoon, licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator Carlton Burke will headline a special free admission program for youth groups titled Owls of the Night. A self-described “freelance naturalist” who has been rehabilitating and caring for injured and orphaned animals for more than 30 years, Burke operates the educational service Carolina Mountain Naturalists.

Friday evening events include Bryan Heller on piano and an extraordinary photo collection by Bill Lea – Caring for Creation.

On Saturday morning, Carlton Burke will return with a program featuring some of Western North Carolina’s mammals, reptiles and snakes and explore why their struggle to survive in the wild has become increasingly difficult.

Also, on Saturday morning, “Snake Man” Steve O’Neil will

showcase his collection of native reptiles, amphibians, and other animals. A passionate wildlife and nature conservationist, O’Neil advocates for our fragile environment through his organization – Earthshine Nature Program – with outreaching programming, science advocacy, and renewable energy messages.

“Wolf Man” Rob Gudger follows. A wildlife biologist who became fascinated with wolves during a career with Duke Energy, Gudger’s ever-popular program will center on the National Geographic presentation named Wolves, Wolf-Dogs and Our Dogs. A firm believer that wolves are normally misunderstood, Gudger will dispel the myths surrounding these fascinating animals by permitting the audience to interact with his wolves.

The Saturday afternoon program will likely highlight unusual animals from the Australian Outback brought to you by the North Georgia Zoo. Home to one of the most well-known programs of its kind, their animals have traveled throughout Georgia and the East Coast and been featured on Dirty Jobs, Animal Planet, Rachel Ray, Jeff Corwin, and more.

There is a $5 entry fee for adults for the Friday evening event and $8 for all day on Saturday. Children are admitted free.

Mountain Wildlife Days is directed by John Edwards and sponsored by the Sapphire Valley Resort, area merchants, and friends of wildlife.

More information is at highlandsouthadventures.com or call the Sapphire Resort Community Center at (828) 743-7663.

by Marlene Osteen / photo by Bill Lea

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Waterfalls &

Wildflowers

The Joy Garden Tour, benef iting The Village Green, explores the exquisite green beds, f ields, and terraces that adorn Cashiers.

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oy Garden Tour Chairs Paige Barnes and Vicki Keller selected the theme The Wonders of Waterfalls and Wildflowers. Each of the four gardens has unique features and distinctive elements to delight.

Due to ongoing health concerns, to ensure the safety and well-being of the community, the 2021 tour has been modified to offer private and semi-private inperson tours to patron-benefactors. Information about these VIP experiences can be found at cashiersgreen. givingfuel.com/joy-garden-tour-2021. In addition, a virtual tour will be available to those who are not to participate in-person.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by visiting VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/events and clicking on the Joy Garden Tour. Those who buy the virtual tour will receive a unique link to a beautifully-produced video tour of the stunning featured gardens for 2021.

This tour is sponsored by Landmark Real Estate Group and through The Laurel magazine.

Along with the tour of beautiful private gardens, the Garden Shops are open to everyone from 10:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road.

Shoppers can browse the selections from more than

35 vendors. A boutique experience of choice items appeals to garden and floral enthusiasts but the shops also include a discriminating collection of antiques, personalized items, gourmet food, distinctive home furnishings, clothing, jewelry and more.

A number of special events are planned including a book signing with James Farmer on Saturday morning.

Farmer is a designer and author who has been featured on The Today Show as well as a contributor to Southern Living magazine. He also owns a vacation home in Cashiers. This book signing event is sponsored by local merchant Rusticks.

The Joy Garden Tour is named in memory of Carolyn Joy Dean who gave generously to help establish The Village Green, the 13-plus acre park in the center of Cashiers. Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers who share her spirit, Joy Garden Tour raises money for conservation and improvements to The Village Green for area residents and visitors enjoy.

For additional information including how to purchase benefactor packages call (828) 743-3434 or email kayebkeller@gmail.com.

by Ann Self, Executive Director of The Village Green

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Kristen Kelly

Orchard Sessions

Return

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Countr y ar tist Kristen Kelly brings the sound and passion to the July 22 Orchard Session at The Farm at Old Edwards. For tickets and more information, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/OrchardSessions.

can think of no better way to enjoy the euphoria of summer and the return of live music than at an outdoor concert. That’s a promise soon to be fulfilled at The Farm at Old Edwards during Orchard Sessions.

On Thursday, July 22, country artist Kristen Kelly will headline, and glorious listening is sure to ensue.

Growing up in small-town Lorena, Texas, Kelly studied the music of her late grandfather, country musician Sterling and learned about classic rock from her father. Along the way, she fell in love with the Blues. She learned to love poetry and listened to country giants; the Judds, George Strait, and Willie Nelson. Kelly spent her youth singing in church and talent shows and in the high school choir. She pursued a music degree at Waco’s McLennan Community College.

She started writing and recording with a friend and released an album entitled Highway is My Home under Modern Day Drifters. In 2010 after her collaborator had moved on, she recorded Peacekeeper under her name.

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names in country music – Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, and Willie Nelson, and performing at the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and Nashville’s Bluebird Café.

She released three new singles in 2020, including Ashes, which was featured on Season 7 Episode 1 of the Netflix series The Ranch. In April this year she celebrated her return to the music scene and country music with her latest album, Something Worth Saying – described by one writer as “the perfect quintessentially country album.

The show begins Thursday at 6:00 PM and finishes at 8:00 PM – perhaps just in time to stargaze at the night sky. The cover charge is $15 for hotel guests and members with early online tickets available.

And there is a $25 cover charge for the public, with online ticket sales opening two weeks in advance, if available. Every ticket includes complimentary light bites and a cash bar. The sessions will move indoors to the new Orchard House in the event of rain.

For updates and to book online, visit OldEdwardsHospitality. com/OrchardSessions. Please note that dates are subject to change.

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Let the Band

Play On

The sounds of summer f ind their full voice with the return of Highlands’ Weekend Music Series – per formances Friday at Town Square, and Saturday at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park.

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Kurt Thomas

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If music be the food of love, play on.” – William Shakespeare There is much to celebrate this summer, and Highlands Weekend Music Performances, hosted by Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s Visit Highlands, N.C., are literally music to the ears of area residents and visitors alike.

There are upcoming live music options for everyone, from bluegrass and country to gospel to acoustic folk or jazz. And all bands are well known and well followed. For example, the Foxfire Boys band is a versatile, high energy band that grew out of the Foxfire Program in northeast Georgia. The band has been together for over 30 years and has performed at venues such as: Grand Ole Opry, Fire On The Mountain Show (TNN), and much more.

Johnny Webb’s laid-back yet seasoned and professional performances give audiences a truly exceptional musical experience with a down-home flavor and a line-up of country music songs-both old and new. Their versatility and song selections span over 50 years of music, and they are constantly updating their repertoire of songs.

Sycamore Flats offers an immersive acoustic band sound blending traditional country songs with exciting new energy that will have everyone present on their feet dancing and asking for more.

The Wobblers present a heavy emphasis on New Orleans-style rhythms and unique instrumentation, and the band pulls from a wide variety of influences.

In fact, each band has distinction, and all events take place from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.:

July 2 - Foxfire Boys, Town Square July 3 - Blaze the City, Kelsey Hutchinson Park July 4 - Moon Dance, Kelsey Hutchinson Park July 9 - Southern Highlands, Town Square July 10 - Kurt Thomas Band, Kelsey Hutchinson Park July 16 - Johnny Webb Band, Town Square July 17 - Shane Meade & The Sound, Kelsey Hutchinson Park July 23 - Sycamore Flats, Town Square July 24 - Silly Ridge Roundup, Kelsey Hutchinson Park July 30 - Byrds and Crows, Town Square July 31 - The Wobblers, Kelsey Hutchinson Park

by Deena Bouknight

Scan for more info

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Summer of Music

in Cashiers

In celebration of a season that’s free of quarantine, music returns to the Cashiers Village Green.

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Continental Divide

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hile The Village Green will not have the usual Groovin’ on the Green outdoor concert series this summer, there will be a modified version.

Concerts on the Commons will be a limited edition of outdoor and indoor concerts July-October.

Village Green Executive Director Ann Self has already scheduled some outstanding musicians, including a return to the stage by the Nashville artist Joe Lasher Jr. The concerts will feature favorite groups and perhaps a few new ones as well.

The Village Green staff is delighted, too, that they will be able to hold concerts indoors when the weather turns inclement or cooler and when daylight is shorter in the Fall.

Like many musical and other venues, the Village Green will be selling Commons Pods with reserved concert seating.

Village Green leaders are working out the particulars to accommodate as many residents and visitors as they can safely. An announcement regarding information for Commons Pod sales and other concert details can be found at VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/concerts.

Live music will return with a concert by the popular dance band Continental Divide at 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 4, at the Commons. Continental Divide has been playing venues

across the southeast for more than 30 years. From the silky smooth voice of Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame performer Gene Pharr to the lightness of the rhythm section to the flowing lines of the horn section they put on a performance that everyone will be sure to remember.

A new music event, Cashiers Village Crawl will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, July 16, featuring Nitrograss taking the Commons stage and Spalding McIntosh and Friends performing at the Gazebo near the Cashiers Crossroads. The evening will include pop-up boutique shops at the Commons venue along with a wine tasting by the Highlands Wine Shoppe. Food trucks will serve up delicious food to purchase on both sides of The Village Green. Local retailers will be open late and businesses will have special promotions that evening.

Sip, savor, shop, and stroll the newly-refurbished Cashiers Greenway Ramble for a delightful midsummer night with friends and family.

To learn more about the Concerts On the Commons or the Village Crawl, visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/Events.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Our National

Symbol

I

Benjamin Franklin was correct about so many things, but the Wild Turkey?

magine the amazement of the early colonial and expeditionary Europeans when, arriving in the New Land, they encountered what to them were gigantic forest birds. Everything was bigger in America but two large birds were startlingly large: the Wild Turkey and Bald Eagle.

Europe, their homeland, had a lovely collection of songbirds – small, vocal, colorful – and domesticated geese and swan, but nothing like these two giants. These were new birds and they existed only in North America.

The plentiful Bald Eagle had a looming presence in early American forests and in our hearts and minds today. The image of the Bald Eagle on our flags, coins, and seals reveals our continuing regard for these birds.

Before I get into that, however, I have to deal with the story concerning Ben Franklin.

Some say that Ben Franklin opposed naming the Bald Eagle the

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National Bird and favored the Wild Turkey as a more noble bird.

(Eagles are predators but are also opportunistic scavengers who will “steal” the kill of other raptors.)

One imagines a floor fight in the Continental Congress with Franklin, later to become our first Postmaster General, holding court in boasts and bellows. None of this happened.

At the time of the Congressional action naming the Eagle the National Bird in 1782, Franklin was in Paris as the celebrated U.S. Ambassador to France, which helped America gain independence from Britain. He was not even a member of Congress.

There is, however, a letter he wrote to his daughter back home in 1784. In this letter Franklin writes the following: For my own part, I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly…besides he is a rank coward. The little Kingbird not bigger than a sparrow attacks him bodily and drives him

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Beer, Bark &

Barbeque

Bark, Beer & Barbeque, set for August 17 at The Farm at Old Edwards, is a howling good time and the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s main fundraiser. For tickets or more information, call (828) 743-5769.

T out of the district.

Franklin did not “oppose” the naming of the Bald Eagle the National Bird but he did disagree with the Congressional decision doing that.

So, in the summer of 1782 the Continental Congress voted that the Great Seal of the United States would carry the image of a Bald Eagle holding 13 arrows in the talons of one claw and an olive branch in the other. The arrows were a symbol of the strength of 13 states and the olive branch offers peace. Peace through strength. That sounds American.

Our National Seal was designed to symbolize National character. From the Bald Eagle we find courage, strength and wisdom. I leave it to you to interpret the remaining symbols on the seal. Union is the dominant theme.

Happy July 4!. United we stand!

by William McReynolds

he 10th annual signature fundraising event in Highlands for the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society returns to The Farm at Old Edwards on Tuesday, August 17. The evening features a live and silent auction combined with live music, beer, wine and spirits, and a scrumptious southern barbeque dinner from Cashiers Farmers Market.

Bark, Beer & Barbeque will be limited to just 150 guests this year.

Tickets are $220 per person and a portion of the ticket purchase is a generous, tax-deductible contribution to support our lifesaving mission of rescue, spay/neuter and adoption, and community outreach programs such as humane education, summer camps, rabies vaccination clinics, pet therapy and a free food pet pantry.

A highlight of this preeminent fundraiser for the CashiersHighlands Humane Society will be the presentation of the coveted awards for CHHS Humane Heroes of the Year. Three awards will be bestowed to recipients who have significantly contributed their time, heart and resources to help further the mission of CHHS on behalf of the abandoned and neglected animals in our community.

Bark, Beer & Barbeque is the “must-attend” party for party animals on the Plateau and has always sold out quickly, so reserve your seats today! To charge your tickets by phone, please call (828) 743-5769.

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, one-and-ahalf miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Visit us online at chhumanesociety. org. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.

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Back

on Track

The Plateau’s twin libraries are boosting their ser vices and programs to meet the needs and desires for their quarantine-liberated patrons.

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here is good news, for a change. Local libraries are not only - author talks (Hudson and Cashiers) back on track regarding many in-person opportunities, - movies at the library (Hudson) but the prolonged pandemic actually resulted in expanded - in-person children’s programs: Cashiers has Storytimes and digital services. twice-weekly Stay-and-Make craft programs, plus a Harry Potter day Said Carlyn Morenus, branch librarian for Hudson Library in “And, the list is expanding almost daily,” said Richards. “Plus, Highlands, “We’ve long had free Wi-Fi, but now it’s expanded so you we offer one-on-one tech help. Cashiers basically has a full, normal can use our Wi-Fi way out in library parking lots as well as in or near looking summer at this point. In July our special events include our buildings.” the annual book store clearance, and the Local libraries are also adding remote American Eagle Foundation is bringing … and now we have printing options, so patrons can print from in some of their raptors. We’ll be starting hotspots available for any a phone or laptop, “and even better, you movies again in August. Summer Learning patron to check out. can send a print job from anywhere, and Program for kids and adults wraps up at the then come to the library to retrieve it,” end of July.” noted Morenus, adding that another plus is Lessening Covid-19 cases and deaths, expanded hotspots. “We’ve offered hotspots for students during this as well as increased vaccinations and acquired immunity cases, strange past school year, and now we have hotspots available for any means “more people are willing to come in for up-close help again,” patron to check out. Hotspots are a great way to try out the technology said Morenus, “and then they can use all our new digital expansion and see if it works for you before signing a contract with anyone.” projects.”

Serenity Richards, branch librarian at Albert Carlton-Cashiers All good news for summer visitors to local libraries!

Community Library, is thrilled that in-person programming has

by Deena Bouknight ensued. “As we ease our way out of Covid restrictions and back to ‘normal’ life, we are back to offering:

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Bestsellers

Discussed

Best-selling authors Karen White and Susan Meissner will make appearances in both Cashiers and Highlands – July 9 and 10; and July 30 and 31, respectively. You need to make reser vations – (828) 743-0215 for Cashiers; and (828) 526-3031.

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Susan Meissner

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he Highlands-Cashiers area is privileged to be a draw for New York Times best-selling authors. Scheduled to visit the Plateau throughout the summer into fall are authors who not only present their latest works and sign books, but who also explain their distinct approaches to the writing process.

Karen White, whose latest release is The Last Night in London, will be at The Village Green Commons Hall on Frank Allen Road next to the Cashiers Post Office at 3:00 P.M. Friday, July 9. This event is by reservation as seating is limited – call Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library at (828) 743-0215.

Ms. White will be at the Hudson Library in Highlands, the following day, July 10. (See her profile in the June Laurel.) You’ll need to make reservations for this, also – (828) 526-3031.

Author Susan Meissner will discuss The Nature of Fragile Things, at the Village Green Commons Hall at 3:00 P.M., Friday, July 30. Once again, reservations may be made by calling the Cashiers Library – (828) 743-0215.

She’ll follow with an appearance at Hudson Library the next day. Be sure to call Hudson Library for reservations – (828) 526-3031 In June, The Laurel had a chance to speak to Meissner and learn a little about her life and writing career. Usually an author’s premise for a book begins with a question, consideration, or curiosity. Meissner pondered: “When disaster happens, what do we do? How are we transformed when we are compelled to go through cataclysmic change? How is our

character refined or redefined by it? These musings got me started on what would become (The Nature of Fragile Things) with the 1906 San Francisco earthquake as a backdrop. The more I thought about it, the more I also wanted to write a story that would feature strong women at a time when they had little autonomy or agency. I wanted to suppose they would nevertheless rally together, as women have always done, to protect those they love, and that even though tough circumstances would try their mettle, they would not be undone by them.”

Every author also has a specific writing process. Meissner will talk about hers at the library events, but she shared a glimpse of how she gets started, “Since settling into the historical fiction lane in 2008, I’ve begun each new book with a historical event in mind first, and then decided what kind of story would fit that impactful backdrop. I do the research first, and oftentimes it’s when I dive into the archives that I discover not only what kind of characters would dovetail nicely with that setting, but also what those characters want and what stands in their way – that’s always the heart and soul of a novel.”

Visiting North Carolina is near and dear to Meissner’s heart.

Although she resides in California, her son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters live in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where her son is stationed at Camp Lejeune. “I have fallen in love with the beauty of North Carolina in our visits to see them. There’s a pastoral splendor here that is both soothing and inspiring.”

Each of these events are free to the public.

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It’s Just

How We Roll

A dynamic new exhibit rolls into The Bascom, celebrating the fusion of ar t and engineering at the hear t of the automotive world.

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lready this summer, The Bascom has been alive with the sounds of excitement and eager footsteps of art lovers and car lovers alike. They’ve come to see the awe-inspiring cars and art of the Bunzl Gallery exhibit, FreeWheeling: The Allure of the Automobile in Contemporary Art, in the Bunzl Gallery.

A question we hear frequently is “Where are the cars!?”

We also note that guests are quite interested to know how we managed to move these amazing automobiles into a gallery space.

The short answer is: “Very carefully!”

Not only were the special vehicles chosen to be presented in the exhibition selected for their unique heritage, and importance in the evolution of the automobile, but they were also measured to ensure they would fit through The Bascom’s 72-inch doorways. The exterior doors, and interior gallery doors were removed to gain the proper clearance.

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At the exhibition’s opening, three vehicles were brought in, including Clark Gable’s 1954 Jaguar XK120 OTS, an original 1965 Shelby Cobra 427, and a fuel injected 1963 Corvette split window coupe!

These fantastic rolling works of art were just the beginning! The vehicles of the exhibition will be swapped out a total of three times, so the viewer has many reasons to revisit the exhibition. On June 15, 2021 three amazing new vehicles arrived including a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Alloy, a 1965 Jaguar Series 1, and a fuel injected 1966 Porsche 906-158. On July 20, the last round of automobiles will be rolled into the Bunzl gallery to close the show. In the category of last, but certainly not least, a beautiful 1957 Mercedes 300SL roadster, and a unique Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale will grace the FreeWheeling exhibit.

Few people leave the exhibit without being more interested

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in the names and makes of these automobiles, even if it was not a previous passion. The artworks also leave memorable impressions – from the narrative work of Brian Tull, who invites you to imagine the story of a female protagonist waiting in the car at a gas station, to the watercolors of Allan Gorman that are executed with incredible photo-realistic precision.

Knight Martorell has curated a dynamic and mesmerizing show; we are grateful to the artists represented in the exhibition, and to the car owners that have generously shared their collections with us. And a big thank you to the Highlands Motoring Festival for their invaluable assistance in procuring the artists and automobiles for FreeWheeling: The Allure of the Automobile in Contemporary Art.

by Billy Love Creative Director, The Bascom photos by Peter Ray

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Highlands

Twilight Race

The Twilight 5K and 10K Race beckons serious and not-so-serious runners for a bit of fresh air fun and competition, on August 15. Check out the details and sign up at runsignup.com. More race details are at highlandstwilightrun.com.

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he history of Highlands’ Twilight Race is neither as old nor the route as long as is the history of running.

That history stretches back 2500 years to a Greek named Pheidippides, who, as legend has it, ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens and then promptly dropped from exhaustion and died.

Far more fun for all participants will be the Rotary Club of Highlands Twilight 5k and 10k race at 6:00 P.M. on August 15. From its beginnings in 2013, it has combined world-class competition, amateur participation, and the idyllic scenery of the Highlands Plateau.

The 5k is an accessible and fun distance to race and an ideal choice for anyone who has just started running; or more accomplished runners looking to improve their time. The mostly flat course, which winds around Harris Lake, through Highlands Park, is also welcoming to walkers and strollers.

Perhaps the most fun you can have over 6.2 miles is the more demanding 10k race (for 15 and older only). The ideal blend of distance and speed, the route climbs Bear Pen Mountain. From 52 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

whence comes the query, “Will you eat the bear or will it eat you?”

The race starts and finishes at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park – the perfect gathering place to watch the awards presentation and a rock and roll concert by Tea 4 that follows the race end. T-shirts are guaranteed to all those who register by July 15. In addition, there are light-up necklaces for the kids and a free beer provided by Ugly Dog Pub for those of the legal drinking age.

What started as a race with 130 runners and a goal to raise $8500 has grown into an event raising more than $25,000 for technology for Highlands School.

The race attracts everyone from young to old, and fit to not so. Kids under 5 may run the 5K for free. Kids 5 to 9 may participate in the 5K for $10. Day of race price will be $40 for 5K and $50 for 10K. Check out the details and sign up at runsignup.com. More race details are at highlandstwilightrun.com.

by Marlene Osteen

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porchfest ad

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Summer Colors

Art Show

The Summer Colors Fine Ar t Show, set for Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25, is a beautiful ref lection and complement to life in the Southern Appalachians.

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ave you ever wondered if there’s something about our pure mountain air and the breathtaking scenery that surrounds us that brings out the inner artist in all of us?

Certainly, that’s true for the members of the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers, many of whom are artists who produce lovely works in an assortment of mediums, others of whom are simply art lovers.

Your chance to see the astounding array of talent in our area, all congregated for one colorful show is the ALHC’s Summer Colors Fine Art Show on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25, from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. at the Sapphire Community Center.

The Community Center is located at 207 Sapphire Valley Road just off Highway 64 in Sapphire.

There is plenty of parking, admission is free, and it’s indoors so weather won’t be a factor.

The show will feature over 20 booths of original fine art from members of the ALHC and the artists will be on hand to meet and greet. It’s a great opportunity to see and purchase original art, but it’s also a unique opportunity to speak with the artist and get the story on each piece. What was the inspiration? How did it come to fruition? How long did it take to create? Knowing the personal history of your art will make it even more prized.

Expect to see oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel paintings, as well as photographs, ceramics, sculptures and one of a kind jewelry. Items will be available in a variety of price ranges so there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see the works of so many local talents under one roof.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Highlands

Porchfest

For the ambitious Highlands Porchfest, set for Sunday, September 19, the entire downtown will ser ve as the musical venue. For more information, or to help (this’ll require a lot of hands), visit highlandsporchfest.com.

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Tim Huffman

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uoyed by the success of Bear Shadow, the music festival staged upon a Highlands meadow in April, the Center for Life Enrichment (with support from Visit Highlands NC/The Highlands Chamber of Commerce) is putting together Highlands Porchfest 2021, a one-day family-friendly musical event that’ll see musical acts performing across the town. Because of wide community support, these performances are free.

With 16 acts already committed, Highlands Porchfest will be held from 1:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, September 19. Bands, singers, and instrumentalists are participating at no charge to showcase their talents and engage the community (though of course tipping is highly encouraged).

Among the headliners are Wooten Hill Music. Two venturesome female singer-songwriters, Kim Hill and Paulette Wooten, are making the kind of music they want to sing, play and listen to at night while hosting friends at the retreat property they manage in the mountains of North Carolina. Not bound to a genre, they are a ‘living jukebox’ singing both covers and originals. Separately, they have both enjoyed success in their music careers - Kim as a Grammy nominated veteran award-winning recording artist and Paulette as an award winning film composer, musician, electronic artist and songwriter.

Tim Huffman is a Grammy-nominated recording artist that has recorded or performed with Jimmy Buffett, Zac Brown, Brooks &

Dunn and members of Kansas, The Allman Brothers, Hall & Oates, Crosby Stills & Nash, and many other artists. As an entrepreneur, he has started, grown and sold several companies from tech start-ups to fast food operations. For the past 20 years, Tim has been a global leader in the data center industry and currently serves as Executive Vice President of Data Center Solutions with CBRE. “Because Highlands Porchfest will be primarily held downtown, at The PAC and also The Bascom, attendees will be able to walk or bike as they move from location to location, frequenting businesses as they enjoy live music,” says Center for Life Enrichment Board Member Karen Hunt, who brought the idea for Highlands Porchfest to the board.

“Beyond monetary donations, CLE is looking for additional musicians and steadfast music loving volunteers to assist us the day of the event. Please email us at info@highlandsporchfest.com or call the CLE office at (828) 526-8811, if you can help,” says Lee Garrett, President of Center For Life Enrichment.

by Luke Osteen

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OUTDOORS

Faraway

Soirée

The Highlands Biological Foundation celebrates the beauty and myster y that’s the Plateau’s natural heritage with an exclusive Soirée at Faraway, 6:00 P.M. Monday, August 2. For more information about this exquisite fundraising event and to purchase a ticket, call (828) 526-2221.

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azzling social affairs are a long-standing tradition for summers spent in Highlands, and the Highlands Biological Foundation’s summer soirée is no exception.

Join HBF for our biggest annual fundraiser on Monday, August 2, from 6:00 P.M. until dark as they raise money in support of their organization’s mission of stimulating and promoting biological research and education in the Southern Appalachians.

This year, the festivities will be held at “Faraway,” the beautiful, historic home of Julia and Bill Grumbles. Located at the top of Satulah Mountain among a lush, verdant, forest, “Faraway” boasts spectacular views and amazing gardens. Built in 1898, the original structure was a Highlands landmark and was home to Dr. Mary Lapham, an internationally-recognized local physician who specialized in treating tuberculosis in the early 1900s.

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Much merrymaking has been held at this Satulah estate over the past 120 years, and HBF intends to keep the tradition alive next month with their Faraway Soirée!

Hosting this event is just another one of Julia Grumbles’ incredible contributions to Highlands. Last month, Grumbles concluded 10-years of service as HBF’s president, and her “Faraway” home is an ideal location to inspire our community to support the work of the Foundation. The event’s proceeds will benefit HBF as they work to educate our community about the unique biodiversity of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

For more information about HBF’s Faraway Soirée fundraising event and to purchase a ticket, please call the HBF office at (828) 526-2221. Parking is limited for this event, so a shuttle service will be provided. Stay tuned for more details.

OUTDOORS

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J U LY

It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine… it’s summertime!

— Kenny Chesney

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

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• Yankee Doodle Dandy Day, Sapphire Valley.

• Daylong July 4th Events throughout Highlands, (828) 526-2112. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• July 4th Concert Celebration Cashiers Community Chorus Patriotic Concert, (828) 743-3434.

• Continental Divide Concert, 6:00 P.M., Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434.

• Hiighlands Fireworks Finale, 9:00 P.M.

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.• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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.• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 9:00 A.M. to Noon, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• Village Nature Series, 5:00 P.M., (828) 743-3434. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• HCCMF Festival Salon, 6:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• HCCMF Festival Feasts, 7:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

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• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

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• Art League of Cashiers-Highlands’ meeting, 5:00 P.M., The Bascom, artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Lafayette 148 Trunk Show, Narcissus, (828) 743-7887.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

.• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Summer Colors Art Show, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sapphire Community Center.

• Suzy Landa Jewelry Trunk Show, Peak Experience, (828) 526-0229.

• Monica Rich Kosann Jewelry Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-1877.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• HCCMF Festival Feasts, 7:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

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• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434.

• Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 P.M. St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, • Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub.

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• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434.

• Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com.

• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub.

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• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.. The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434.

• Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub.

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• Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com.

• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. The Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub.

1

• Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112.

8

• Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112.

• Lafayette 148 Trunk Show, Narcissus, (828) 743-7887.

• Author Events, 3:00 P.M., Commons Hall, (828) 743-0215.

• Wish and Shoes Trunk Show, July 1-5, (828) 944-9474.

• Ali & Bird Jewelry Trunk Show, July 1-12, Acorns (828) 787-1877) • Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly Wine Tasting with Annelize, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080, highlandswineshoppe@gmail.com.

• Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

7

• Mountain Heritage Lecture Series, 10:00 A.M, Zachary Tolbert House, Cashiers, (828) 743-7710. . • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., below Highlands Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080.. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

14

• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., below Highlands Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• HCCMF Festival Feasts, 6:30 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

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• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., below Highlands Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• Highlands Wine Shoppe Wine Tasting, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080.

• HCCMF Festival Salon, 6:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Orchard Session at The Farm at Old Edwards. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

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• Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly Wine Tasting with Annelize, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., (828) 526-4080, highlandswineshoppe@gmail.com. .• Live Music, On the Verandah, (828) 526-2338.

• Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

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2

• Highlands Marketplace, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store, (828) 547-1300. tandcgeneralstore.com.

• 24th Annual Friends of Lake Glenville Fireworks Over the Lake, 9:30 P.M.

9

• Highlands Marketplace, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

• Theresa Forman Art Trunk Show, Acorns (828) 787-1877.

• Lafayette 148 Trunk Show, Narcissus, (828) 743-7887, •Book Bites, 12:30 P.M., Hudson Library, (828) 526-3031.

• Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Entertainment 6:00-9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

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15

• Joy Garden Tour, Village Green Shops, Village Green, (828) 743-3434.

• Mountain Wildlife Days, Sapphire Resort Community Center, (828) 743-7663.

• HCCMF Concert, 6:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112.

• Village Crawl, 6:00 P.M., Village Green Commons and Gazebo, (828) 743-3434.

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• Highlands Marketplace, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Joy Garden Tour, Village Green, (828) 743-3434.

• Mountain Wildlife Days, Sapphire Resort Community Center, (828) 743-7663.

• Carol Misner Art Trunk Show, Acorns (828) 787-1877) • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

17

22

• Suzy Landa Jewelry Trunk Show, Peak Experience, (828) 526-0229 • Monica Rich Kosann Jewelry Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-1877.

• HCCMF Concert, 6:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112.

• Concert on the Commons at Village Green, 6:00 P.M., (828) 743-3434.

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• Highlands Marketplace, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park.

• Suzy Landa Jewelry Trunk Show, Peak Experience, (828) 526-0229.

• Monica Rich Kosann Jewelry, Acorns, (828) 787-1877.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

• Summer Colors Art Show, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sapphire Community Center.

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• Friday Night Live concert, Highlands Town Square, 6:00 P.M., (828) 526-2112.

• Author Events, 3:00 P.M., Commons Hall, (828) 743-0215.

• HCCMF Concert, 6:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

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• Highlands Marketplace, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Phillip Curcuru Art Trunk Show, Acorns, (828) 787-1877.

• Betsy Paul Art Raffle, CashiersGlenville Fire Dept., (828) 743-0880.

• HCCMF Concert, 5:00 P.M., (828) 562-9060.

• Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Entertainment 6:00 to 9:00 P.M., Town and Country General Store.

• HCCMF Festival Feasts, 7:15 P.M., (828) 562-9060.s

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W H AT TO DO

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RECREATION & CREATION Pages 68-84

photo by Susan Renfro

OUTDOORS

Views From

Whiteside

Whiteside Mountain’s highest point is 4,930 feet and affords hikers a spectacular view of Cashiers Valley.

Cliff Saxifrage is found only in the central/southern Appalachians .

A turkey vulture flies below the ridge on Whiteside Mountain.

Rhododendrons getting ready to bloom.

Trillium

Don’t let the weather’s unpredictability make you rush your visit to Whiteside Mountain. There’s majesty and myster y in equal measure all along the way.

H

iking the trail along the top of Whiteside Mountain gives visitors a sense of standing on the top of the world. Located in Jackson County between Cashiers and Highlands, Whiteside reaches 4,930 feet at its highest point and affords those who make the journey a view for miles.

However, the weather in the mountains can quickly change.

Hikers can leave their car with the sun on their backs and by the time they reach the summit, all they can see is the gray mist of the cloud surrounding them from all sides.

When that situation arises, people tend to make their way down the mountain as quickly as possible, but those who bolt straight for the parking lot are missing out. There is plenty to see on the two-mile loop trail that runs along the east face of Whiteside.

The trail to the summit is lined with wildflowers throughout springtime; including Trillium, Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, Appalachian Bluet, Eastern Solomon’s-Plume, and Buckberry.

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A visitor favorite, Trillium grows in a variety of colors ranging from deep purple to pure white.

“Beautiful species, they have pale pink flowers when first flowering, then as the blooms age they turn a deeper pink,” said Highlands Biological Station Educational Specialist Paige Engelbrektsson.

Buckberry is not only beautiful, but it’s also edible.

“Buckberry, one of my favorite little shrubs,” said Engelbrektsson. “It’s everywhere. When ripe the berries are a dark purple-black and tart. It makes the perfect trail-side snack for many hikes around Highlands.”

Birdwatchers have plenty to see from falcons and vultures flying overhead, or they can turn their binoculars towards the trees and catch a glimpse of Goldfinches, Carolina Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and several types of warblers.

Falcon nesting season is between January and August, and they can often be seen chasing away nosy vultures who fly too close to their nest.

OUTDOORS

Appalachian Bluet

A Dark-eyed Junco has a snack while perched on a log.

Bears are known to make appearances, but they tend to stay away from hikers.

A moss-covered granite wall runs parallel to the trail on the way to the summit and makes a great playground for a variety of salamanders, snakes, and snails.

The moss has a deep green color and grows directly on the granite enjoying a steady trickle of water coming down from the mountain top.

“Moss has extremely shallow roots and does best when there’s a constant moist environment,” said HBS Horticulturalist Rachel Martin. “A granite rock with water seeping over is just as good of a habitat as under some shady trees as moss is very opportunistic.”

The views from Whiteside Mountain are nothing short of spectacular and worth making the trip to see, but there is so much more for those curious enough to take a closer look.

By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News

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OUTDOORS

Don’t Overlook

The Smallies

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OUTDOORS

There’s nothing shy about them – Smallmouth Bass are looking for a f ight.

A

s summer sets in, I anxiously await the first day that I can grab my 6wt fly rod, and a handful of popping bugs in pursuit of one of my favorite fish that swims in North Carolina – the Smallmouth Bass. Smallies, Smalljaws, Bronzebacks, whatever you want to call them, they make for one heck of a good time!

In particular I’m referencing Smallmouth Bass that live in our local rivers and even streams (Tuckaseegee, Horsepasture, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Toxaway, Cullasaja, etc.). For me, moving water is far more interesting than still water, and pursuing gamefish that live in rivers and streams adds an extra element to the whole equation.

It’s all about the current, and how the fish you are in pursuit of use those currents to live and feed. For instance, Trout and Smallmouth Bass use current very differently. Trout feed primarily on aquatic insects, and they use the current to bring those insects to them, and they simply stay in, or close to the current to feed on the buffet line of offerings. Smallmouth Bass are primarily ambush predators feeding mostly on baitfish and crawfish. They use current breaks such as a big rock in the river to hide behind and surprise their prey. Once you understand what to look for, the next step is making your fly or bait look like something they would want to eat.

Smallmouth Bass are as strong a fish as they come, but the ones that live in the river are even stronger because they are constantly fighting the current. The saying goes that, “if they were tied together, a three-pound River Smallie would drag a 10-pound Largemouth Bass around all day long!”

They love to jump once they are hooked as well, adding to the drama of the fight!

Both fly rod and light spinning tackle are great tools of choice when pursuing River Smallmouth. Water conditions and weather play a vital role in maximizing your experience.

Here in the mountains of North Carolina, the best time to go Smallie fishing is when it’s hot, and the water is low and clear.

So basically, it’s exactly when the local Trout fishing is at its toughest (which kind of works out perfectly).

When looking for a good place to park the car and get out and wade, you want to look for lots of current breaks and rocky shoals. Typically, those types of areas in the river will hold the highest concentrations of fish. To learn more about these overlooked fish, stop into your local fly shop!

by Matt Canter, Brookings Fly Shop

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Plateau

Playground A new alpine coaster at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center will add to the number of irresistible attractions to be found at Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley, and High Holly.

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T

he pastoral communities of Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley and High Holly are pooling resources to spread word about the enormous recreational possibilities offered to locals and visitors, a prospect made even more urgent with the introduction of an alpine coaster at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center.

Wiegand Sports USA has begun construction on the coaster, which will utilize gravity and a precisely engineered braking system to ensure that riders enjoy a fast, safe ride. It’ll also make use of the mountain’s natural contours to incorporate curves and drops into its course.

This new attraction fits in with an advertising strategy taking shape as this portion of the Southern Appalachians copes with an unprecedented wave of visitors finally freed Covid quarantines.

“We have decided on a brand for all the recreation opportunities in the Scaly Mountain, Sky Valley, High Holly area that will add to the Highlands experience,” says George Powell of Highlands Aerial Park. “It will involve collaborative advertising including free and paid social media as well as local print.”

This new initiative will focus on the unique experiences offered by those who visit the trio of mountain communities.

“There are exclusive attractions of significant importance to visitors like Sky Valley Country Club, one of the best courses in the mountains; Highlands Aerial Park, rated by TripAdvisor in the Top 10 percent of Outdoor Recreation Attractions in the World; year-round tubing at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center; a stocked trout pond, and other supporting adventures. There’s hiking on the famed Bartram Trail and the complementary trails of Highlands Aerial Park, Sky Valley, and the adjoining Nantahala National Forest. Waterfalls of Sky Valley and Middle Creek provide native trout fishing at both locations. Falconry exhibits, wedding venues, lodging options, Wine Vineyard, local cafes, and equestrian overnight lodging for riders and mounts add to the impressive list.”

by Luke Osteen

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OUTDOORS

An Adventure

to Yellow Mountain

Yellow Mountain rewards adventurous hikers with spectacular vistas.

Black lab Shabadoo atop Yellow Mountain photo by Bowen Grove @bowen_grove

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OUTDOORS

S

erious hikers, lace up your hiking boots, pack your backpack with lots of trail-worthy snacks and water, and head to Yellow Mountain, one of the area’s most challenging trails, and one more than worthy of the effort.

At 5,127 feet Yellow Mountain is the tallest peak in the area.

The trail head starts on Buck Creek Road at Cole Gap and is easily recognizable by a National Forest Service sign. There are usually cars parked there, too, as the trail is a popular one.

Allow 4-6 hours to make the approximately 10mile round trip. The total mileage sounds manageable to experienced hikers, but don’t be fooled, the route to this mountain peak is a roller coaster of ascents, descents, switchbacks and just enough level hiking to allow you to catch your breath.

The return trip is nearly as challenging as the ascent.

Yellow Mountain is your ultimate and most rewarding goal, but you’ll summit three additional peaks along the trail as well. First is Cole Mountain, a short distance from the beginning. Then comes Shortoff Mountain and hikers may well remember the challenging switchbacks to this summit as one

of the most difficult portions of the trail. Here you’ve reached an elevation of more than 5,000 feet. From here the trail is a series of dips and climbs, passing Goat Knob, your third mountain peak, before arriving at your final destination, Yellow Mountain.

Word of caution, on this final segment of the trail, pay careful attention to trail markers to make certain you remain on the right path.

The views from the summit of Yellow Mountain are stunning. The 360-degree view is one of the area’s most remarkable, and the layered view of distant mountains is awe-inspiring, especially when you climb the preserved historic fire tower located on the peak.

The tower was built in 1934 and was used until 1969, housing solitary fire watchers who scanned the surrounding forests for signs of smoke and acted as an early fire alarm system. The tower fell into disrepair until the mid-1980s when it was restored and listed on the National Historic Register.

by Mary Jane McCall

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OUTDOORS

Cashiers

Sliding Rock Sliding Rock Falls is a hidden gem in Whiteside Cove that’s per fect for anyone longing for a splash in a cool mountain pool.

C

ashiers Sliding Rock Falls, not to be confused with Sliding Rock north of Brevard, is a great local swimming hole for families. It was formed over time by the headwater of the Chattooga River flowing over the rockface.

At the bottom of the slide, you’ll find a nice sand-bottom swimming area. There are potholes at the middle of the slide that older kids and adults can cautiously jump into.

It’s best for the younger ones to slide closer to the trail to avoid the potholes.

We last visited Sliding Rock during a beautiful evening in early July when there were just a few others present. We particularly enjoyed 76 J U LY 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

viewing the waterfall with the surrounding rhododendrons in full bloom. There is a trail on the left side of Sliding Rock leading to some pleasing small cascades.

Trailhead directions From the intersection of Highways 64 and 107 in Cashiers take 107 south 1.75 miles to Whiteside Cove Road. Turn right and continue 2.8 miles to the bridge over the Chattooga River. There are pull-offs close to the bridge where you can park.

From Highlands, drive east from the center of town on Main Street.

At the edge of town, the name of the road changes to Horse Cove Road. Continue approximately four miles to Whiteside Cove Road.

OUTDOORS

At a Glance Waterfall Guide Enjoy this sampling of area water falls, for a deep dive visit thelaurelmagazine.com/recreation.

HIGHLANDS Bridal Veil Falls From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 2.3 miles west on US 64; Waterfall GPS: N35.07180 W-83.22910 Difficulty: You can park your car in a little parking area and walk 50 feet.

Dry Falls From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 3.15 miles west on US 64 to a parking area on the left; Waterfall GPS: N35.06884 W-83.23869 Difficulty: There are lots of steps you must go down to get behind Dry Falls.

Bust Your Butt Falls From NC 106 in Highlands, drive 6.35 miles west on US 64 to the pullout on the left; Waterfall GPS: N35.09268 W-83.26573 Difficulty: Don’t stop on the road itself!

Glen Falls From the junction of US 64 and NC 106 in Highlands, drive 1.75 miles south on NC 106 and bear left at the sign for Glen Falls.

Take Glen Falls Road, not Holt Road. Drive 1.05 miles to the parking area. Waterfall GPS: N35.03128 W-83.23829 Difficulty: There’s some climbing involved here.

Bear left and drive approximately five miles to the bridge over the Chattooga River. There are pull-offs close to the bridge where you can park.

Hike description The trailhead can be found on the north side of the road adjacent to the river. Hike the easy 100 yards to Sliding Rock. If the water flow is good, you will probably hear the sound of the waterfall at the trailhead.

by Ed and Cindy Boos

Upper Middle Creek Falls From the intersection of NC 106 and US 64, follow NC 106 South for 9.3 miles. Exactly 1 mile before you reach the Georgia state line, and about 0.3 miles after NC 106 crosses Middle Creek, a yellow School Bus Stop sign will be on the right. Park on the right side of the road right at the sign. Waterfall GPS: N35.00714 W-83.32916 Difficulty: The four-tenths of a mile hike is not strenuous but it can be confusing.

CASHIERS Silver Run Falls From US 64 in Cashiers, head south on NC 107 from 4.05 miles – there’s a pullout area on the left. Waterfall GPS N35.06599 W-83.06558 Difficulty: No difficulty.

Whitewater Falls From US 64 west of Lake Toxaway, take NC 281 for 8.5 miles and turn left at the sign for Whitewater Falls into a parking area.

Difficulty: Not strenuous, though the paved path is a bit uneven.

Cashiers Sliding Rock Cashiers Sliding Rock, a million miles from the cares of the 21st century, is easy to get to.

From the Cashiers Crossroads, travel south on NC 107 to Whiteside Cove Road. Head down the road for 2.6 miles to where the road crosses the Chattooga River and pull over just across the bridge.

Difficulty: A piece of cake.

Spoonauger Falls From Cashiers, travel on NC 107 8.2 miles.

The name changes to SC 107 – travel for 4.9 miles. Turn right onto Burrells Ford Road.

Drive approximately 2.0 miles to the Chattooga Trail parking area on the left (look for the Forest Service Bulletin Board) Hike north on the Chattooga Trail, which roughly parallels the Chattooga River for 0.25 mile, then cross Spoonauger Creek. Immediately on the right will be a side trail.

Difficulty: There’s nothing tricky.

Schoolhouse Falls From US 64, take NC 281 North for 0.85 mile and bear left on Cold Mountain Road.

Stay on the road. When it becomes unpaved, travel about 0.1 mile. Take the road on the right and travel for 0.1 mile to a parking area.

Take the trail to the right of the information kiosk. At the intersection, proceed straight on Panthertown Valley Trail. Turn left onto Little Green Trail. Schoolhouse Falls is about 0.15 mile ahead. Waterfall GPS N35.16330 W-83.00674 Difficulty: The hike isn’t challenging.

Scan for interactive map of waterfalls in the Highlands and Cashiers area.

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OUTDOORS

Wild Indigo

For ethereal beauty and mountain hardiness, the wise choice is the Wild Indigo Girls.

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OUTDOORS

F

olks on the Plateau take their gardens seriously.

Gardening here is a way of life, a pastime, a passion, a source of pride, and most certainly a topic of conversation. At many homes, the outdoor spaces flow so effortlessly into the indoor; the first “room” we enter is actually outside. I guess it’s why we are endlessly looking to enlarge our gardens and seeking new plants to fill them.

It’s for that reason that I asked Rachel Martin, Horticulture specialist at the Highlands Biological Station, for suggestions on native plants that may be less familiar.

Martin was happy to suggest two plants from the native Baptisia species – the Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo) and Baptisia alba White Wild Indigo).

If you’re on a holy quest for beautiful, rock-solid garden performers that are easy to grow and also feed pollinators, Baptisia is all you could hope for from any perennial. The indigenous species are well adapted to local climates and also support native wildlife and ecosystems.

And as Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, said in his video on the subject, “They are tough, reliable plants.”

Drought resistant, virtually pest- and disease-free, once in the ground they’ll last forever. More importantly for Highlanders, they grow in the open woodlands, and the Blue Wild Indigo will thrive in partial shade.

It’s recommended to plant in the fall and make sure that the soil

has lots of fertile organic matter. Though it’s a tough species, it will establish better when there’s better soil richness. Homeowners should be advised that wild indigos do get large – a consideration when deciding where to plant in the landscape. A mature specimen might grow to 2 to 3 feet wide, presenting like an appealing and rounded shrub.

The White Wild Indigo is the first to bloom, and with its dark blue stems contrasting with its pure white flowers atop a 2 to 3-foot spire, it’s a real dazzler. Perennial gardeners have long appreciated the Blue Wild Indigo (the 1992 North Carolina Wildflower of the Year) for its beautiful flower clusters of violet-blue blooms that sit above densely leaved plants that often grow to 4 feet.

Both plants are of particular interest for their seed pods, which develop fully in September and turn a shiny metallic color. When left alone and not deadheaded, they provide a unique auditory experience throughout fall and winter as well as a nesting habitat for native insects.

Visitors to the Highlands Biological Center can view both plants growing together by the Coker Laboratory Building. For more information about the center and to learn about this and other offerings, visit highlandsbiological.org.

by Marlene Osteen

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OUTDOORS

Bad News

For Bats

Luck may be running out for our diminutive nighttime neighbors.

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OUTDOORS

I

f you’re like me, the long Covid scare brought me back to nature in a profound way.

I noticed, really noticed, the birds that surround my home and learned to recognize and truly appreciate their astonishing songs. I was startled to realize that these neighbors had individual personalities, and I devised strategies to allow them to begin to discern me as a discrete person rather than a human-shaped threat.

Tricia and I became close friends to a family of raccoons, and a lifeline to a wary possum that’d been bruised and battered by everyday existence.

And I’ve come to cherish a trio of Little Brown Bats that regularly perform entrechat and tour en l’air that’d cause the principals of Ballet Russe to weep in frustration and envy.

They’ve always been our nocturnal neighbors here in the shadowed mountains.

The Cherokee viewed the diminutive squeakers as bearers of good luck. According to their First Tales, an eagle, a hawk, and other birds shaped the first bat from a diminutive mouse-like creature. This little animal wished to participate in a ball game in which the beasts challenged the birds. Because they were

four-footed, the mouse-like creatures first asked if they could play with the animals, which included a bear, a deer, and a turtle. But the larger animals made fun of how small the creature was and drove him away. He then appealed to the eagle, the captain of the bird team. The birds took pity on the little animal and fashioned wings for him out of the head of a drum made from a groundhog skin, creating the first bat. The birds won the ball game, with the agile bat scoring the winning goal.

But here’s the thing – it may be that luck is running out for bats here and around the world.

White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that’s decimating our local bat populations and their neighbors across North America. When you add that threat to the supposed bat connections to the global Covid pandemic (none of which are true) it’s a bad time to be a bat.

If you’d like to help these little mosquito-gulpers, please support the mission of the Highlands Biological Foundation and the efforts of Bat Conservation International (batcon.org).

by Luke Osteen

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OUTDOORS

The American

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle photographed by William McReynolds

T

The noble Bald Eagle, who’s f inally returned to the Plateau, is majestic even when it’s perched.

here’s something spectacular about this bird, our National Bird, and I am eager to tell you about it.

First, let’s get to know this iconic raptor. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is native to North America where it dwarfs all songbirds. Typically they weigh nine pounds. and have wingspans of up to 7.7 feet.

The female is larger than the male by 25 percent although the plumage is the same across genders. They have bright yellow beaks and legs, dark mottled body feathers, long white tail feathers and stunning white-feathered heads.

Bald Eagles occupy the highest reaches of the forest and sky. They soar on broad, flat wings, catching thermal convection currents that hold them aloft effortlessly. They dive at speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour. They perch and nest in the tallest trees in the forest.

Their nests are huge. Both male and female build the nest which they might reuse over the years, adding new branches and soft material each year. As a result, their nests, built at heights up to 180 feet off the ground, become massive, reaching weights of over one ton.

One to three eaglets occupy the nest for about 10 weeks before fledging. After fledging they linger around the natal nest for several weeks before launching independent lives in the forest. Maturity, breeding and their own nest come four or five years later. They are 84 J U LY 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

known to live 20 years in the wild. In captivity one lived to 50.

Now comes the spectacular part. Males court females with calls and flight displays. Courtship also involves chasing and acrobatic coupling not seen elsewhere in the avian world. The high flying male and female, at apex, lock talons, facing each other, and go into a spectacular tumbling free fall that ends moments later with the ground rapidly approaching and the pair breaking off into flight at the last second. How’s that for forming a pair bond!

The numbers of Bald Eagles in North America were in steep decline in the 20th Century until they were given protection from hunters. After DDT was implicated in egg shell failures among nesting birds and banned, eagles made rapid and full recoveries in some states. In 2007 they were removed from the official list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

Today you can find Bald Eagles on the Plateau near large bodies of water and rivers. Imagine a large Bald, swooping down suddenly and catching a large fish in its able talons and just as suddenly flying away with a triumphant SCREEEEECH. Spectacular squared!

Happy July from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

by William McReynolds, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society

ARTS Pages 90-111

photo by Susan Renfro

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Blur of a

Beating Wing

For ar tist Laura Moser, the dynamic tension between Order and Chaos lies at the hear t of her work.

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aura Moser learned early-on that chaos is a creature that can’t be controlled. You simply deal with it creatively.

How does she do that? She layers chaos with order, each element brushing against the other, until they cement a truce – dark peeking out through the light.

Every so often she figuratively throws her favorite things into a pot: graphics, painting, advertising, Nature. She ladles in icons, myths, romance, grooves, cursive curlicues, folds, reticulates, ridges, textured fabrics, vintage periodicals, fine and fancy papers. She simmers it all down to a fine reduction, then brushes, throws, etches, slaps, flings, slathers, and trowels it onto a huge canvas.

The result is rich, concentrated blocks of neutrals like charcoal, ebony, coffee, chocolate, onyx… with a vein of soothing calm crawling ‘round their corners. She layers again, this time with whites and tans

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and creams, and then digs, gouges, and presses – letting imagery, intentional or accidental, pop out – the shape of a pan or pot, a pleated dress, or the blur of a beating wing.

It’s physical work, but not in a masculine sense. Her creations are powerfully feminine.

Folded rice paper dresses tell scores of stories.

She says, “This concept is part of the Powerful Women Series. The dresses are made of rice paper which is translucent and beautiful, but also very strong. The dresses symbolize leaders. Emerging from the background are people they represent. In the folds of the dresses are the names of world leaders. The names of women important in the lives of clients can also be inserted in the dresses.”

Laura shifts her imagination from one series to another. One of her favorites is hummingbirds.

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She says, “Hummers are small, but they are powerful birds. They’re ferocious and fast, moving forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways.

Given their size and weight they appear to defy physics. They are Nature’s tiny miracles and a delight to paint.”

While Laura’s work is more abstract than representational, to her, each painting tells a story. But she prefers her audience to assign their own stories, for those are truly the ones she trusts most.

To see more of Laura’s work visit her new gallery at 40 Burns Street, adjacent to Josephine’s Emporium, in Cashiers. Or see her on Instagram. Visit her Website: lauramoserart.com.

by Donna Rhodes

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Fairy Mirth

& Magic

Fair y tales and happy endings lie at the hear t of ar tist Barbara Desmond’s latest venture. To learn more, visit Desmond Fair y Company on Facebook.

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arbara Desmond, designer and smile-maker, leaves a fairy dust trail wherever she goes.

She, kids, and every grown-up’s inner child know that somewhere between dragonflies and stars, there are enchanted creatures called fairies who sprinkle magic and mirth. After recent challenging times, we all need imagination and the joy it brings.

Barbara is doing her part to capture and spread it.

Desmond Fairy Company, Barbara’s latest inspiration, was in response to friends who’d fallen ill. “My friend had cancer and I wanted to give her something . . . a literal warm fuzzy. I created a soft, healing blanket, adorned with a large prayer pocket.”

Her blanket was cozy and comforting. Prayers and notes of reassurance from friends and family were right at hand in an embroidered pocket full of love.

The Fairy Company’s healing tree grew many branch products, including fairy blankets and fairy boxes for youngsters who are having a difficult time, emotionally and/or physically.

The ornate, colorful, magical boxes are topped with a custom fairy figurine and filled with treasures chosen especially for the beloved recipient.

While Barbara is pleased with her business success, the icing and fairy-cherry on top is seeing the smiles on faces from diverse populations. A heart-felt smile crosses cultural, political, and religious boundaries in a heartbeat.

Barbara closes with, “If I can inspire you to use your imagination for a second, then my job is done.”

Visit Desmond Fairy Company on Facebook. Or catch her in regional shows and events.

by Donna Rhodes

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Summertime &

We’re Here!

Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus: LIVE, set for August 14, brings a measure of frisky fun to the Plateau; while Neil Zirconia offers A Beautiful Noise on September 17.

For tickets and more information, visit HighlandsPerformingArts.com.

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Neil Zirconia

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he Highlands Performing Arts Center is open. We had two wonderful, in-person concerts in June.

Now we’re preparing for our August and September concerts.

At 7:30 P.M. Saturday, August 14, it’s Comedy – Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus: LIVE. This Off-Broadway hit comedy is a one-man fusion of theater and stand-up, and is a light-hearted theatrical comedy based on The New York Times #1 Best-Selling book of the last decade by John Gray.

Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom. This hysterical show will have couples elbowing each other all evening as they see themselves on stage. Sexy and fast paced, this show is definitely for adults, but will leave audiences laughing and giggling like little kids! When Mars and Venus collide, the adventures are earth-shatteringly hysterical. It’s a great recipe for a date night out: a little storytelling blended with some comedy and a dash of sage wisdom from the book. A delicious evening of entertainment!

September brings Retro Rock/Yacht Rock to the PAC. On Friday, September 17, we offer a fabulous faux Diamond: A Tribute to Neil Diamond by Neil Zirconia. He will take you on an exciting journey down memory lane that only Neil himself can inspire. He’ll hold your attention with the onstage presence and charisma th​at is pure Neil. Not to mention his unique baritone voice and singing ability that so amazingly resembles Neil Diamond, you won’t believe your ears. The likeness is extraordinary. Neil Zirconia has perfected all the emotion, excitement and the magic that is Neil Diamond. People of all ages are touched by the power of his words and the beauty of his music.

More to come: Broadway by Bravo Amici, on Sunday, September 26; and more Retro Rock by Fleetwood Mask on Friday, October 1.

Tickets are available online at HighlandsPerformingArts.com – click on the red Performing Arts Center tab.

by Mary Adair Trumbly, Highlands Performing Arts Center

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Can You Tell Me

How to Get to…

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Community remains at the hear t of Highlands Playhouse’s message and mission.

nspired by Sesame Street’s mission, Scott Daniel, Executive Director of the Highlands Playhouse, wants to demonstrate that we’re never too old to Grow Smarter, Stronger, Kinder.

As we recover and re-community after Covid, the opportunity for change is now, and Scott feels theater is at its core.

“Sesame Street is how a community was built,” says Scott. “It’s a neighborhood that taught many generations about kindness and compassion, and what it’s like to be part of a community, from one end of town to the other. Not all people look, act, speak, think alike.

It’s that diversity that makes us stronger, better.”

That concept segues into Scott’s curated July film series: movies that explore Community. What better theme for Highlands?

Ring of Fire and Curtains Up! are the theatrical center from which the movie choices radiate, harkening back to the iconic fire around which village stories were/are told.

The kick-off film is a nostalgic yet informative look at the most successful children’s television show in history titled Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, followed by Queen Bees, starring Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Ann Margaret, and Christopher Lloyd.

Circumstances require Burstyn temporarily move into a retirement facility. There she encounters mean girls – the senior citizen kind.

Move from mean girls to mean streets with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. It’s a jubilant celebration of heritage and community, led largely by Dominican immigrants who re-communitied a poor, rough neighborhood. From dazzling direction to mesmerizing music, let your level of love for community sky-rocket, in this month of fireworks and festivity.

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Scott points out that in its 8-plus decades of operation, the Playhouse has missed only two seasons: one at the beginning of World War II and the other for Covid. At a time when we needed entertainment and escape most, we couldn’t have it. Even so, the loss of it and so many other things has re-communitied us. We are more grateful, we are more empathetic, and, having been in isolation for what feels like years, we appreciate community more than ever.

The essence of theater/performance is story-telling. Playing a guitar with no audience or no fellow-musicians is fine for a while, but ultimately, it’s not enough. We need each other. Community and communication come from the same root, communicare: to share.

Theater is our community-builder. Like Russian dolls, we have communities inside communities. Inside Highlands we have the theater. Inside the theater we have a community of actors and tech specialists who have their own little communities, and inside those are families and clubs and organizations. And inside those are more connectors. It’s endless.

Covid reminds us there are no boundaries. We are all spokes on the same wheel. By taking care of each other, we keep turning. Theater is all about the metaphor of community.

Visit highlandsplayhouse.org for more details about the July movie series and the live stage performances.

by Donna Rhodes

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Tapping Into

Ancient Symbols

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Ar tist Gloria Hernando’s work draws upon a spirit that’s ancient and profoundly Feminine.

loria Hernando is a passionate, multi-faceted artist. At each turn she reflects new light, color, spirit, possibility, and discovery. Her roots run deep, tapping into ancient symbols and mysteries, making way for the feminine. She spins an invisible organic thread, connecting fire to light to earth to water to metal to air and sky.

Latin for Glory speaks volumes. Gloria’s given name is Latin for glory – the word overflowing with power, light, honor, and beauty. It has a spiritual connotation, but in a universal sense. As it is spoken, the o-sound is round and resonant and feminine-ly soft.

Gloria, an artist, interior designer, and student of architecture, is drawn to elemental symbols and the archetypal bull, which represents spirit, generative power, strength. On the surface the bull seems anything but feminine, but cultures ancient-to-modern revere its organic line, particularly the horns and the negative space between them, for horns and space mimic the shape and components of the womb, and from it creation comes.

Gloria, a Dominican-American, went through a personal crisis a

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while ago. To rise out of the abyss, she adopted the bull as a symbol and took to heart the power of her name. Her mission: to empower women (and men) through her iconic images.

Terra Mater, Latin for Mother Earth is Gloria’s current series. In Western literature, the hero’s journey is rarely that of a woman. In Gloria’s research and exploration, she is uncovering and celebrating the feminine. Classic tales of heroism usually focus on earth’s elements. Humankind is genetically-wired to fire, water, air. We can’t live without them, so it’s no wonder the arts are steeped in them.

But this time, Gloria’s elemental journey is distinctly and divinely feminine. As she says, “We need more woman power!”

“My artwork and career are a journey,” she says. “I show the behind-the-scenes work. I communicate each step with my personal life. I invite people to join my journey on Instagram@latinforglory and my website, latinforglory.com.

by Donna Rhodes

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Drawing

with Presence H-C Ar t League Honorar y Lifetime Member Norma Hendrix will present a program on her unique process of combining mindfulness and a deep respect for nature into her work, at 5:00 P.M. Monday, July 26, at The Bascom.

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orma Hendrix, Honorary Lifetime Member of the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers, will be the guest speaker at the Art League’s July 26 meeting at The Bascom. A wine reception will be held at 4:30 P.M., followed by Norma’s presentation at 5:00 P.M. Hendrix, an exhibiting artist for over 40 years, holds a BFA from Ohio University, an MA from Western Carolina University and an MFA from Northern Vermont University. She’s been an artist in residence at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont; and Atelier Four Winds of Aureille, France.

She was a professor of Drawing, Life Drawing, Painting and Art History at Western Carolina University from 1999 to 2009. She founded and served as Executive Director of Cullowhee Arts, an internationally-recognized non-profit from 2011 – 2020, which hosted national and international artists who taught workshops at Western Carolina University and other venues in the U.S. and abroad.

Earlier, she was Education Director at The Bascom in Highlands and founded Studio 598, a teaching studio and exhibition space.

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Arts’ ArtSpace Gallery in Sylva.

She has exhibited in solo and group settings and has twice received a North Carolina Arts Council’s “Regional Arts Project Grant.” The most recent award funded a mono-print project at Jeff Hirst Studio in Chicago, Illinois, culminating in the suite of work: “Land, Water, Air,” exhibited at the Cullowhee Arts’ ArtSpace. Hendrix’s artwork is held in private and public collections in the US, France and England.

Hendrix has a deep connection with nature; thus much of her work is expressed in semi-abstract landscapes. She has recently chosen to make her art using environmentally friendly materials: graphite sticks and powders, inks, mineral pigments and hide glue, water soluble and natural materials. Her supports are rice paper mounted on wood panels.

She will present a slide lecture, “Drawing from Presence,” which includes her recent work, and on-site drawings and photography that inspire her studio practice.

For more information about the Art League, visit artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com.

by Zack Claxton, Art League of Highlands-Cashiers

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The Bel

is Back

(L-R) Stella Zambalis, Jon Jurgens, Sarah Jane McMahon, Christopher Clayton, Sarah Nordin, and Tyler Putnam.

The Show Must Go On! Bel Canto returns to the Highlands Per forming Ar ts Center on September 12 with a quar tet of stellar per formers. This event is always a sellout – mail your contact information to Bel Canto Recital, P.O. Box 2392, Highlands, NC 28741 or call The Bascom at (828) 787-2867.

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he 28th Annual Bel Canto Recital had to be postponed a year, but we’re back and better than ever with a great lineup of four performers.

We haven’t been completely inactive and were able to make donations to our beneficiaries – The Bascom, Highlands School, Highlands Community Child Development Center and the Gordon Center – and distributed scholarships to three local students thanks to our generous donors.

The recipients are: Anne Marie Moore, who will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill; Tessa Wisniewski, who will be attending Central Carolina Community College; and Abigail Nichols, who has chosen UNC-Charlotte.

The lineup put together by our talented Artistic Director, Stella Zambalis, is, as always, an outstanding group of performers.

They will be Kara Shay Thompson, soprano; Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano; Jonathan Burton, tenor; Todd Thomas, baritone, and, as always, our “Orchestra,” Dr. Stephen Dubberly, who has been with

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Bel Canto since its inception.

Kara Shay Thompson, soprano, continues to build her expansive stage career by creating characters that push the limits both musically and dramatically and has a career spanning many of the opera houses across the country from Sarasota to Chicago to Santa Fe and a repertoire of dramatic roles from Verdi to Beethoven to Menotti as well as numerous concert appearances.

Mezzo Soprano Mary Phillips, who has appeared in opera houses across the country and throughout Europe, is considered to be in the first rank of singer-actors. She made her Met debut in La Forza del Destino and has sung numerous other Verdi roles as well as many Wagner roles and others.

Jonathan Burton, tenor, is a “returnee” who has appeared in Bel Canto before. Burton has been praised for having “thrilling power and beauty” in his voice. Opera News proclaimed that he “produced a wonderfully shaded Nessun Dorma that included brilliant top notes” He has performed roles from Puccini, Verdi, Bizet to Rene Clausen’s

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Sarah Nordin, mezzo-soprano and Tyler Putnam, bass (2017 Bel Canto performance) (L-R) Jon Jurgens,, tenor; Christopher Clayton, baritone; Sarah Jane McMahon, soprano, Sarah Nordin, mezzo-soprano and Tyler Putnam, bass (2017 Bel Canto performance)

A New Creation.

Baritone Todd Thomas, is recognized by opera companies and critics alike as one of the true Verdi baritones gracing stages today and has enjoyed great success in the Wagner repertoire as well. He was the Crested Butte Music festival Artist in Residence and sang the title role in Der Fliegende Holländer for the Shanghai Opera and was also invited to be a featured artist in the Wagner Gala Concert with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra.

The date (as always, the first Sunday after Labor Day) is September 12.

We always sell out, so get your reservations in early. The concert will be held in the Highlands Performing Arts Center and will be followed by a celebratory dinner at Highlands Country Club with the artists.

To contact Bel Canto and get on the mailing list, mail your contact information to Bel Canto Recital, P.O. Box 2392, Highlands, NC 28741 or call The Bascom at (828) 787-2867.

by Janet Grantham

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The art of

Leslie Jeffrey For Leslie Jeffer y, ever y landscape, ever y beast and bird, ever y mood of the ocean, deser ves to be captured by her imagination and poured onto her canvas. You can view her work at Ann Lea Fine Ar t Galler y, 976 Hwy. 64 East in Cashiers.

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o fully experience abstract art the brain must disengage and let emotions take over. It’s like a visual freefall. There are no handles to grab, no familiar safety nets. You just let go, glide around a canvas, and enjoy the ride.

Leslie Jeffery, master abstract expressionist, is happiest when she’s filling a huge canvas with marks, scrapes, and textures for her viewers to sail over, under, around, and through. These are catch-your-breath moments that bond the viewer and painting for life.

Leslie’s grandmother, who helped found the Tampa Art Institute, lit her granddaughter’s artistic fire around six years of age. She took Leslie on plein air painting excursions. The out-of-doors, the pure sun-drenched colors, the immersion in nature (from Jacksonville, her birthplace, to Largo, Florida) all contributed to a magical union with the painting experience.

Representational images like sailboats, wildlife, and landscapes were favorite subjects that put Leslie on a path to study Art History and Constructive Design at Florida State University, receiving her degree in Art Education.

It’s not uncommon for an artist who masters representational images to leap into abstract expressionism. Realism is tight work. Abstraction is loose, and to many, a more rewarding practice. Leslie paints regularly in her studios in Largo and Highlands, where she spends her summers, completely absorbed 104 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

in every artful application.

She’s a Signature Member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP), the National Assn. of Women Artists (NAWA) and The Florida Artists Group. She is a Past President of Las Damas de Arte, a Tampa based group of women who exhibit together and raise money for art scholarships. Leslie was co-founder of The Carolina Gallery of Fine Art in Highlands. She’s presented twice for the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers at The Bascom. She exhibited a solo show Sounds of the Sixties at Mahaffey Theater, Duke Energy Center for the Arts in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Last year, Covid didn’t get in her way. She participated in the FLAG exhibition at Foosaner Museum in Melbourne, Florida. and she presented a solo exhibit Adios 2020 at Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa. She recently won First Place at Art Center Sarasota juried exhibition UNCHARTED (out of 270 entries) and First Place at Dunedin Fine Art Center in MAPPED OUT in April this year. To view her work, visit the new Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery at 976 Hwy. 64 East in Cashiers.

And if you want to know what her best piece is, she will say with a grin, “The one I just finished.”

by Donna Rhodes

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The Bascom’s

Sculpture Trail

Rejuvenation pops up in a simple walk on the edges of The Bascom, 323 Franklin Road.

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f you’re like me, an inordinate amount of your day and night is spent staring at a screen.

Whether your work depends on your online presence, or your sanity requires that you spend random free moments and hours engaged in social media, or you desperately need to unwind from the last 16 months of free-floating pandemic anxiety by treating your eyeballs to whatever Netflix or Hulu or Amazon deem necessary to your mental and emotional survival, well, there you are.

I don’t know if there’s quantifiable data to support this contention, but I swear that I can detect my IQ slowly diminishing as my screen time increases. There’s a distinct dulling of the senses and a nagging supposition that it’s not supposed to be this way.

Normally, I’d escape by way of undertaking a hike of the sort Brian O’Shea so masterfully describes in these pages. Or stepping out and resolving to watch and listen for whatever feathered neighbor has been spotlighted by our William McReynolds.

And, since this is the season, taking in a performance offered by the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival. Think of it – the masterworks of Mozart or Beethoven presented by the finest musicians in the world.

But last Sunday, I lacked the time to indulge in any of these escapes.

I’d been sitting at my desk for hours, working on the pages that you’re enjoying at this moment (right?) and I’d grown, let’s be diplomatic here, ripe. Plus, I’d been editing the H-C Land Trust’s

story, and I was feeling a bit queasy after writing and thinking about Snot Otters..

And those hectic days leading up to publication don’t allow time for a hike into the deep woods or an inspiring vista.

But it turned out that an easy solution was right in front of me, or one-eighth of a mile in front of me.

Tricia decided that we’d pay a visit to the Horst Winkler Sculpture Trail. That’s a little green jewel that wanders through The Bascom’s campus and it’s packed with wonderments both subtle and startling.

And, since it unwinds beneath a cool canopy of branches and shadows a babbling tributary of Mill Creek, the effect is one of being miles and years from downtown Highlands in the summer.

The sculptures are arrayed across the trail and they never cease to surprise or beguile. And since there are outsized Seussian benches scattered about, you’re constantly invited to sit and contemplate.

And, this was a marvelous surprise, the trail is now the outdoor setting for the Read2Me Story Walk How Do You Wokka-Wokka by Elizabeth Bluemle and illustrated by Randy Cecil. As you take in the story page by page, you’re invited to participate in activities that’ll challenge you to move and, this is important, be a bit silly.

We emerged from the trail 20 minutes later and 20 years younger.

I promise there’s magic here.

by Luke Osteen

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DINING Pages 116-129

photo by Susan Renfro

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Ristorante

Paoletti

Ristorante Paoletti, now in its 37th year, continues to enjoy its reputation for offering an exquisite dining experience. It’s located at 440 Main Street in Highlands.

Reser vations are a necessity – (828) 526-4906.

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istorante Paoletti has been one of the town’s premier destinations for a superlative dining experience since 1984.

Utilizing quality ingredients with artful preparations they consistently strive to offer their clientele a friendly, and attentive dining experience in a dining room of sophisticated décor.

For the 37th year business partners Arthur Paoletti and Executive Chef Kevin Paoletti have served Main Street April through December.

A team effort along with twenty-five-year kitchen devotee turned Chef de Cuisine, Danny Magliocca together have consistently catered to the well-traveled foodie and wine aficionado. Magliocca previously performed the role of the Sous Chef for the restaurant for many a year and the natural selection to command day to day operation of the intricate kitchen in 2021.

The menu offers a tantalizing selection of Antipasti including Escargot, Mussels, Calamari and an exceptional Carpaccio di Manzo.

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A sumptuous fresh seafood Gratin has become a crowd favorite as well as a juicy Ricotta Meatball so very savory with light tomato sauce and a cheesy, creamy polenta all new to the menu in 2021.

Artisan pasta made in house daily and imported bronze-dye cuts from small Italian producers include gluten-free pasta from Naples, Italy. A great start to your meal pasta is offered in Primi portions as well as a larger main course size. The Cannelloni all’Emiliana is forever the most talked about dish under the tent at the annual opening event for the Highlands Food & Wine Festival.

A decades long reputation for some of the freshest coastal seafood in the region and have built a loyal following and as a result it is by far their most popular category on the menu. Shrimp & Scallop stuffed Maine Lobsters and a plethora of uber-fresh fish and Seafood Specials are consistently offered and sell out each evening. This is always a sign of a well-run kitchen.

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A large selection of quality meats and chops are offered nightly as well. The Osso Buco and a succulent Elk Rib Chop are some crowd favorites. Dining options for the vegetarian or vegan are always available.

Having been a recipient of the Wine Spectator’s ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ since 1987, their deep cellars offer some of the Southeast’s finest Italian selections of aged Barolo, Barbaresco, Super Tuscans, Bordeaux and Burgundy in addition to pages of domestic selections from California and Oregon. With more than 40 nightly wines by the glass from both European and American producers, also offered are a selection of Reserve wines preserved by the Corvin System. Imported from Chicago, Wine Director/Advanced Sommelier, Kyle Tarczynski brings not only extensive wine knowledge but a knack for the creation of classic Craft Cocktails and his own signature creations as well.

Along with associate, Certified Sommelier, Vijay Shastri, you can be assured of a friendly and knowledgeable ally to choose the perfect bottle, glass of wine or cocktail to enhance your dining experience.

If you have room left for something sweet, the Tira Misu and homemade Gelati are both house specialties.

With Covid restrictions lifted the Paoletti’s have opted to keep the partitions in place. They offer a more secure, & private gustatory experience for those seated at tables in the dining room. Dining at the Bar is back to its usual pre-Covid ten-seats and offer the full evenings dinner menu on a first come-first serve basis.

Dinner reservations are accepted a month in advance of your desired dining date and reservations are best attained with at least two weeks’ notice. So, plan ahead and make a reservation to join them one evening and treat yourself and your family to one of Highlands’ finer pleasures.

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Peach

Gazpacho

For Chef Kelly Vogelheim, the creative force at the hear t of Skyline Lodge’s new Oak Steakhouse, the challenge and the joy of the job comes from concocting a recipe that truly ref lects the richness and palate-pleasing generosity of local ingredients.

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Executive Chef Kelly Vogelheim

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hile working in South Carolina, Chef Kelly Vogelheim became so enamored with the state’s fragrant, juicy peaches that she decided that they should go in everything.

So she added them to Gazpacho. Poured into a thermos and brought along to a picnic in the mountains, perhaps by a waterfall, it’s the perfect refreshment on a sultry summer day.

Kelly, who heads up the kitchen at the newly opened Oak Steakhouse at the Skyline Lodge, only recently arrived in the South.

Born in Michigan to a lineage of extraordinary female cooks, she knew from an early age that she was born to cook.

After culinary school, she landed the Chef gig at Interlake Steamship Company. The experience “was a turning point. It gave me the freedom to experiment.”

Hungry to return to land, she moved to Charleston in 2016, assuming the Chef de Cuisine position at Lowcountry Bistro. In 2018, Vogelheim joined the Indigo Road Hospitality Group (they also own Skyline Lodge) at their Florence, South Carolina, farm-totable restaurant, Town Hall.

With a pedigree that includes being named 2019 South Carolina Chef Ambassador and features in Southern Living and Rachel Ray magazines, Vogelheim has earned a reputation for her passionate and inventive use of local and sustainable products.

Vogelheim shared with me her vision for Oak Steakhouse; “I want my menu to reflect the riches of mountain ingredients.”

Peach Gazpacho

Ingredients 3 Cups Fresh Peaches, peeled and chopped 3 Tomatoes, Chopped 1 Cucumber, Diced Small ½ Cup Red onion, Diced Small 1 teaspoon Fresh Garlic, Minced 1/3-Cup Fresh Lime Juice ¼ Cup Rice Wine Vinegar Salt and Pepper to taste Dash of Hot Sauce 1-3 teaspoons sugar Directions 1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a food processor and pulse until just blended.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until smooth 3. Chill for 3-4 hours in the refrigerator. *Chef’s notes: to add texture to this dish, reserve some extra chopped peaches, tomatoes, & cucumber and add into the Gazpacho after it has been blended. *Garnish with fresh cilantro or crème Fraiche for a nice presentation.

by Marlene Osteen

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Midsummer’s

Night Dream

Raise your glass to the glor y of Champagne – it’s the Laurent-Perrier Dinner at The Farm at Old Edwards, Thursday, July 29.

For tickets or more information, visit OldEdwardsHospitality. com/ChampagneDinner.

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inally, there’s reason to toast – the nearing end of the pandemic and the return of the annual Laurent-Perrier Dinner to The Farm at Old Edwards. So raise a flute and join the festivities at Midsummer’s Night Dream, a themed pink and white soirée on Thursday, July 29.

Nothing feels quite as hopeful and joyous as an evening filled with the drinking of Champagne.

Champagne Laurent-Perrier’s Vice President of Sales, Camille Cox, is breaking out all the good stuff for an evening that promises riotous, champagne-popping revelry, much conversation, and some illumination. She will be on hand to talk about Laurent-Perrier, which since 1812 has been producing some of the world’s most famous and sought-after bubbles.

Filling the f lutes will be the very best from this esteemed Champagne house; some poured from special large format bottles. Surely, this is the promise of a drinking and eating experience to relish.

There will be the Laurent-Perrier Brut, a wine described by wine critic James Suckling as “flavorful and intense, full-bodied and round, with a vivid bread-dough finish.”

And most eagerly awaited, the Laurent-Perrier Rosé – the world’s largest selling rosé Champagne. That’s the one that acclaimed wine reviewer Robert Parker said: “is bursting from the glass with notes of smoky red berry fruit, apples, blood orange, pomegranate, and warm

biscuits” (How do you say “Wow” in French?).

These are truly versatile champagnes offering a unique range of flavor profiles to be enjoyed with a variety of foods. That Champagne is inherently built for culinary pairings is evident in the menu Old Edwards’ Executive Chef Chris Huerta has created.

Tailor Made for the wines of Laurent-Perrier, the five-course menu will feature the height of the season produce from the Garden at Old Edwards and include the best local ingredients. It’s also a brilliant showcase for the heightened talent and creativity of Chef Huerta.

The evening will begin at 6:30 P.M. with passed hors d’oeuvres and festive lawn games in the Orchard before guests move to the Pavilion for dinner. Adding to the fun are surprises and giveaways, including bottles of Champagnes and other bubble-related treats.

Live music and dancing will complete the scene. Guests are encouraged to don their finest pink and white attire. Dinner is sure to bubble well into the night!

Camille will also be on hand during the weekend, hosting a series of events for Old Edwards guests, including a social hour and tasting on Friday and Saturday nights and a special daytime event on Saturday.

For details and to book online, visit OldEdwardsHospitality. com/ChampagneDinner. $185 per person, including Champagne throughout the evening, plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating.

by Marlene Osteen

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The Plateau’s

Newest Caterer

For caterer Rober to de Jong, a full-blown dinner par ty should truly be a celebration, not a source of migraine-inducing anxiety. For information or to engage his ser vices, call (786) 838-8423 or visit his Instagram account, rober to-deJong.

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Roberto de Jong

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n the South, there are few things we like better than a fulltilt dinner party. And certainly now, after more than a year of lockdown, we are all eager to throw open our doors and welcome in friends and family.

Yet, the very thought of turning one’s home, one’s inner sanctuary, into party space is enough to fill even fearless souls with dread.

Enter Roberto de Jong, The Highlands-Plateau’s newest caterer.

In the 30 years he’s been in business, De Jong has honed his skills at setting a beautiful and delicious table. He knows full well how to eliminate a host’s stress and ensure a festive environment.

De Jong grew up in San Paulo, Brazil, a child of European parents (Italian and Dutch) who loved food and embraced entertaining. He worked at his parent’s Italian restaurant before moving to Miami.

There he spent 10 years working in the catering department of a prominent restaurant before opening his own event business.

Three years ago, he visited Highlands and, like so many others, fell in love with the town. As a child growing up in Brazil, his family had a mountain home where he spent holidays. During the pandemic, he spent more time in Highlands and saw a chance to integrate his work with the community.

No ordinary party planner, De Jong understands what it takes to transform a venue into a first-class party scene.

He likes to meet with potential clients first to understand their needs, and he has an uncanny grasp of what people want to eat and

how they want to eat it.

And it’s not just about the food. He’s equipped and skilled at creating custom event designs and is a master at floral design.

Want to use your china, linen and glassware? De Jong will show you how to use it.

Need a tabletop provided; he can do that too. Assistance with lighting, photography, audio visual and interactive themes is also available.

As you might expect from a caterer of his stature, the menu includes international and crowd-pleasing selections. That he was in the restaurant business first, shows in his careful touches. Medallions of Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Reduction, Pistachio-Crusted Salmon with Beurre Blanc, Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops, and Seared Tuna with Aioli Sauce are just some of the examples of his robust flavors and solid recipes.

Best of all, it’s all served with panache and ease.

It sounds like this is only the beginning for Roberto de Jong.

For more information, call Roberto at (786) 838-8423 and be sure to visit his Instagram account, @roberto-deJong, for more information about his work.

by Marlene Osteen

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The Kitchen

at Peggy

The Peggy Crosby Center’s generosity ex tends throughout the Highlands community.

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Suzanne Young

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nyone living in Highlands prior to 2016 remembers Holly and her catering service on the bottom floor of Peggy Crosby Center. When Holly made a career shift, the door swung open to a new owner, Suzanne Young.

Suzanne loved Highlands. She loved crafting food. And she was thrilled to buy Holly’s well-established business. She and her husband seamlessly shifted into catering and a dinner-from-scratch carryaway where boxes of Yum flew out one door and into another. Little did she know that four years later, her business at Peggy would help sustain the Plateau through a pandemic, when residents were forced to hunker-down.

Residents longed for variety to enliven home cooking.

Suzanne says, “During the pandemic, our carry-away increased, since so many were not able to gather for big events. We stayed open through the winter, because our customers really needed us.”

PCC is at a three-road convergence. Even though it isn’t on the main thoroughfare, people traveling to drop-off or pick-up students; patients on their way to the dentist or doctor; walkers taking a constitutional; seniors arriving for a CLE session; flora and fauna enthusiasts communing with the hummers in the Pollinator Garden or on the Greenway; or business associates conferencing with tenant board members are pulled to Peggy. More often than not, these passers-thru snag a snack, lunch, or casserole from The Kitchen.

There is a reciprocal relationship with for- and not-for-profit organizations. It’s no wonder Peggy has an incredible Pollinator garden, for its tenants and clients cross-pollinate businesses by supporting, interacting, and promoting each other. And that pollination extends to the town.

So next time you are out and about, go just a tiny bit out of your way and surprise your family with The Kitchen Carryaway & Catering home-cooked lasagna/salad/garlic bread dinner box while you celebrate the busy Peggy hive, buzzing about Highlands business.

Contact Suzanne at: thekitchenofhighlands@gmail.com. (828) 526.2110. Or visit: thekitchenofhighlands.com.

by Donna Rhodes

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Southern

Chefs

Expect good things from the kitchen when nationally-recognized chefs Steven Satter f ield and Joseph Lenn pool their talents at The Farm at Old Edwards, Sunday, August 15. For reser vations or more information, OldEdwardsHospitality. com/Satter f ieldandLenn.

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f the Southern chefs that could be labeled “iconically Southern,” Steven Satterfield and Joseph Lenn would certainly be the obvious choices.

Together they have shown the rest of the country that Southern food is America’s most vital and brilliant.

On Sunday, August 15, the two chefs – and good friends – will come together to cook at The Farm at Old Edwards.

Satterfield runs Miller Union, a cozy restaurant in a former industrial space on the Westside of Atlanta. Lenn is the chef at J.C. Holdway, housed in a former photography studio in downtown Knoxville.

Their cooking has earned both men James Beard Awards and together, their restaurants have acquired a small constellation of stars. Like many great chefs, both men take their cues from family and provenance.

Known to his peers as the “Vegetable Whisperer,” Satterfield was born in Georgia’s Lowcountry, raised on the region’s rice, seafood, and fresh vegetables. It’s his history, along with the history of the South, that informs Satterfield’s cooking – a style that one reviewer described as “understated luxury.”

His menu at Miller Union reflects his devotion to “farmstead cooking” and is embodied in dishes like Herbed Cornmeal Fritters with dilly yogurt and curried almond, or Grouper Filet with peach salsa and grilled cabbage. Root to Leaf, the cookbook he published in 2017, mimics his cooking philosophy – minimal treatment of the

very finest ingredients. Described as “an exhaustive and fascinating guide to the four seasons of vegetable life in the American South,” it’s a collection of mouth-watering recipes that both elevate and celebrate the world of fresh produce.

Knoxville native Joseph Lenn came to fame at the exalted temple of cuisine, the Inn at Blackberry Farm, where he spent 10 years, five of which were at the helm.

His 2016 opening of J.C. Holdway was one of the most anticipated openings of the season. The menu is centered on a wood-fired stove and reflects his ambition to serve “simple food prepared well.” Or as Esquire noted when naming J.C. Holdway to its Best New Restaurant of the Year list, “he’s more or less throwing a wood-fired Super Bowl party of the gods.” Not-to-be-missed dishes include Slow-Cooked Egg with Chicken Confit and mushrooms and gnocchi, which marries refined technique with outsized pleasure.

On the menu for the evening are delicious offerings that rejoice in the summer season: dishes that promise indulgence, enjoyment, and dining at its most elevated. Intelligent and curated wine pairings selected by the Old Edwards sommeliers will enhance and complement the menu.

Plan for 6:30 P.M. cocktails and 7:00 P.M. dinner. Cost is $185 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Please note this event is for guests 21 and older. To book online, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/ SatterfieldandLenn.

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DI NI NG thelaurelmagazine.com/cuisine

B Breakfast

L

Lunch

D Dinner

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS 4th Street Market - (828) 526-4191 Asia House - (828) 787-1680 The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922 Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775 The Cake Bar - (828) 421-2042 Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762 El Azteca - (828) 526-2244 El Manzanillo - (828) 526-0608 Highlands Burritos - (828) 526-9313 Highlands Deli/SweeTreats - (828) 526-9632 Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525 Midpoint (828) 526-2277 Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400

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SB Sunday Brunch

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Takeout Only

Pizza Place - (828) 526-5660 Ruffed Grouse (828) 526-2590 Subway - (828) 526-1706 Tug’s Proper - (828) 526-3555 Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997 Canyon Kitchen - (828) 743-7967 Cashiers Village Tavern (828) 482-8743 Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160 Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750 Cork & Barrel Lounge - (828) 743-7477 El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522

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Take Out

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Outdoor Dining

(828) 743-4334 (828) 547-2096 (828) 966-4700 (828) 743-7614 (828) 743-0020 (828) 547-1300 (828) 743-3000 (828) 743-7711

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Reservations Recommended

(828) 526-5002 (828) 526-0803 (828) 526-3807 (828) 200-9308 (828) 526-4446 (828) 787-2990 (828) 526-4188 (828) 526-3554 (828) 787-2525 (828) 526-2110 (828) 526-9419 (828) 526-1019 (828) 482-4720 (828) 526-2338 (828) 526-4906 (828) 526-0383 (828) 526-8364 (828) 526-3807

Vegetarian Selections

Wine

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS 4118 Kitchen + Bar 64 Highlands Plaza Bella’s Junction Cafe 20 Old Mud Creek Road, Scaly The Bistro at Wolfgang’s 460 Main Street Calder’s Cafe 384 Main Street Fire + Water Restaurant Reservations Required Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar 465 Main Street Fressers Courtyard Cafe Village Square, 470 Oak Street Highlands Smokehouse 595 Franklin Road Hummingbird Lounge 455 Main Street Highlands, NC * The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering 350 S. Fifth Street Lakeside Restaurant Smallwood Avenue Meritage Bistro 490 Carolina Way Oak Steakhouse at Skyline Lodge 470 Skyline Lodge Rd On the Verandah Highway 64 (Franklin Road) Paoletti’s 440 Main Street *Rosewood Market Main Street The Ugly Dog Pub 298 South 4th Street Wolfgang’s Restaurant 460 Main Street CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Cashiers Farmers Market Crossroads Cashiers Valley Smokehouse US 64 West The Greystone Inn 220 Greystone Lane The Orchard Highway 107 South Slab Town Pizza 45 Slab Town Road Town & Country General Store Deli 14 Raggedy Lane The Ugly Dog Pub 25 Frank Allen Road Zookeeper 45 Slabtown Road

Meals

The Restaurants of the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

Full Bar

Plateau Dining Guide

Children’s Menu

To see the most up-to-date information about dining on the plateau visit thelaurelmagazine.com/restaurants

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JJ’s Eatery and Canteen - (828) 743-7778 Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740 Mountain Cafe - (828) 577-0469 Panthertown Cafe LLC (828) 862-366 Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - (828) 743-0220 Subway - (828) 743-1300 The Falls Cafe and Grill - 828-877-3322 The Library Kitchen and Bar - (828) 743-5512 Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655 Table 64 - (828) 743-4135 Villa Amato (828) 885-7700 Wendy’s - (828) 743-7777 Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000 Winslow’s Hideaway - (828) 743-2226

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Ad On Page

Pet Policy

Banquet Facilities Wireless Internet

Cable/Satellite TV

In Room Microwave/Fridge

Exercise Facility

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

Whirlpool Rooms

On Site Restaurant

Plateau Lodging

On Site Bar/Lounge Pool

thelaurelmagazine.com/lodging

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

Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire

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1600 Golden Road | Lake Toxaway, NC

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Fire Mountain

700 Happy Hill Rd | Scaly Mountain

firemt.com | (800) 775-4446 n n

Greystone Inn

220 Greystone Ln | Lake Toxaway

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Earthshine Lodge

445 Main St | Highlands

Old Edwards Inn and Spa

470 Skyline Lodge Rd | Highlands

Skyline Lodge

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VACATION RENTALS The Vineyard at 37 High Holly 37 High Holly Road | Scaly Mountain thevineyardat37highholly.com | (828) 505-6190

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VACATION RENTAL AGENCIES Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals

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

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401 N 5th St | Highlands

highlandsiscalling.com | (828) 526-3717

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Landmark Vacation Rentals

17 US Hwy 64 E | Cashiers

landmarkvacations.com | (877) 926-1780

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Rent in Highlands - CCP

507 Main Street | Highlands

rentinhighlands.com | (800) 684-2171 x 302

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341 Hwy 64 W, Ste 102 | Cashiers

ncliving.com | (828) 743-1999

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Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals

CASHIERS, NC: High Hampton Resort - (800) 334-255 Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706 The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247 Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780 Laurelwood Inn - (828) 743-9939 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 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

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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 3 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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CELEBRATING CAMARADERIE Enhance your home and honor close friendships – and love of family – with this touching textured artpiece.

WALLS OF WONDER

Camaraderie Figurine | $172 .50 Rusticks | Cashiers

Transform your walls to be as original as you are with these abstract original paintings by Atlanta artist Nancy Race.

12” x 12” Wonder I and II by Nancy Race | $325/ea Gracewear Boutique | Cashiers

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

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL

This colorful block top is bold and luxurious - pair it with a geometric inspired necklace, and you have a day made for fun.

Necklace | $62 Moonlight Top | $130 Elevation | Highlands

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TIMELESS TREASURES Wear them separately or together - these vintage sterling silver bangles add a classic touch to any ensemble.

Sterling Silver Bracelets | $75, $175, $95 Mirror Lake Antiques | Highlands

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FRIENDLY FOLK ART Add color & whimsy to your garden with these beautifully detailed wooden bird houses. The perfect blend of form and function, the entire menagerie are hand carved and hand painted.

Gord-O Bird Houses | $29.99 Bird Barn & Garden | Cashiers

SAVOR THE FLAVOR Spice up your taste buds with unique offerings of fresh graden produce – with some tasty twists.

Jalapeno Quail Eggs | $11.89 Candied Jalapenos, What’cha Dill Pickles, Pickled Okra | $9.89 Pickled Carrot Sticks, Baby Beets | $8.89 Colonel Mustard’s | Highlands

COMFORTABLE COMBO Take layering to an easy level with this bra camisole that combines the support of a lightly padded bra with the practicality of a stylish camisole.

Hanro Allure Camisole | $89 Lenz Gifts | Cashiers

HAND FORGED

For more than 100 years, Gränsfors Bruk have created the world’s most sought-after hand-forged axes. Crafted with a Swedish steel, first quality hickory, and sheaths of oiled, grain leather - these axes are as practical as they are beautiful.

Gransfors Double Bit Axe $395 | Large Carving Axe $214 Highland Hiker | Highlands

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Let’s Go

Antiquing!

The collections of Cashiers and Highlands antique galleries are an endlessly kaleidoscopic array of elegant, one-of-a-kind treasures and, always, a surprise or two.

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hopping for antiques is fun for all, whether you’re a serious collector or someone looking for that perfect little piece that fits perfectly into a spot in your home.

Luckily, here on the Plateau we have great opportunities to shop the finest antiques, along with unparalleled personal service provided by small business-owners and their attentive staff.

Josephine’s Emporium

Start your day in Cashiers in the Burns Street area at Josephine’s Emporium at 40 Burns Street, across from The Village 138 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Hound. Antique prints of every size, sort and description invite you to linger over each, admiring the artistry and nuances of these timeless pieces. Botanical, bird and nature prints abound with beautiful works

by John James Audubon and Mark Catesby, among others. Don’t be surprised to find an intricate engraving with hand watercolor from the 1600’s hidden among the many treasures here. Take your time to peruse the antique maps and don’t forget to bring your art that needs framing.

In the same building is A List Antiques, a deceptively humble location for a larger-thanlife antiques warehouse. A-List Antiques features authentic pieces from Belgium and France that are larger than life. Think European farmhouse or hunting lodge. Large farm tables that seat up to twelve, oversized paintings, ten to twelve foot cabinets and pieces of garden art, particularly faux bois pieces that will elevate any garden or outdoor area. They also have a few well-chosen

A List Antiques

elaborate chandeliers that promise to be the centerpiece of any room. Proprietors Ed and Ann Miller Hopkins are more than happy to help you find that perfect piece.

Next door at 25 Burns Street is The Village Hound. The place is a lovely antique store and art gallery where owner Lee Dages has acquired an amazing selection of all things animal related, particularly dog and equine pieces. You’ll find antique furniture, accessories, rugs, art, even a vintage Hermes scarf or two tucked among the treasures here. Fun Fact: The back of the store offers everything you need for the pet lover, from

SHOPPI NG collars and leashes to homemade organic treats.

Here you will find antique furniture; art, including watercolors and oils; mirrors; the finest pottery including Majolica and Staffordshire; English silver, china and copper accent pieces and; antique books; and more. Shopping here is habit forming.

20s, 30s and 40s, all painted by artists from Highlands and Cashiers. Flowers, southern art, and southern hospitality make this shop a must-visit.

The Village Hound Mirror Lake Antiques The Bear’s Den

Nearly New Furniture Consignment

Nearly New Furniture Consignment at 60 Village Walk might not be the first place you think of when shopping for antiques, but it is always worth a look. Proprietors Mary Connor and her daughter Jenna Connor, often find themselves offering stunning pieces, and naturally the inventory turns over quickly so it’s a new opportunity every week. Mary says that while they don’t always have the big showy pieces, you can often find that surprising, unique smaller item for your home. Think antique kitchen scales or equipment, pictures, vases and other artwork. Treasure hunting at its best!

Vivianne Metzger Antiques

Vivianne Metzger Antiques at 31 Canoe Point offers an ever-changing inventory of pieces from the countryside of Europe.

Proprietors Vivianne Metzger, Bill Tibbetts and Cherie Tibbetts travel to Europe each spring to bring the finest back to you.

The Bear’s Den at 404 Highway 107 S (formerly Honeybee Home) has rebranded itself more in alignment with their love of finding unique items for your home. Selling new, gently-used and vintage items, they love to scour estate sales and find one-of-a-kind items for your home. From furniture and art to gifts and home décor, they find pieces that will become your family treasures. If you see it today, you’d better get it, because once it’s gone, it’s gone. Their items are so unique that reordering is not often an option.

Oakleaf Flower and Garden

In Highlands you’ll want to stop in at Oakleaf Flower and Garden at 395 Main Street. The visually stunning array of all things floral, garden, gift and home accessory will entice you inside, but you’ll soon discover there’s so much more to be explored. Dare we say a museum quality collection of carefully-curated antique pieces that showcase owner Kirk Moore’s passion and discerning eye for exquisite pieces, particularly southern furniture, art and English pottery from Staffordshire.

Don’t miss their Southern art collection show, which features paintings from the

Mirror Lake Antiques, on the hill at 215 South 4th Street, should be your first stop for estate and contemporary jewelry.

If you’re looking for sterling flatware and hollowware, they are happy to match a particular pattern for you. This shop is truly a treasure trove of antique and estate jewelry, elegant porcelain, and many special items that are just right for entertaining.

Owners Stan and Donna Cochran have loved curating their eclectic collection for the last 48 years and they are happy to help you find the perfect vintage piece to fit your contemporary lifestyle.

ACP Home Interiors

ACP Home Interiors at 1990 Dillard Road offers just what you’d expect: items for your home including home décor and accent pieces; luxurious bed linens; lighting; lamps; furniture; fine art; and more. The unexpected surprise here?

Vintage European trunks and hard cases.

Their selection of vintage Louis Vuitton and Goyard trunks is extensive and worth the short drive out of town. They have been buying and selling vintage trunks for more than 30 years.

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Look Good.

Play Well.

Elena’s Golf and Women’s Active Wear offers stylish choices for women on the move. Treat yourself to a careful browse at 381 Main Street in Highlands.

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Elena Wood

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E

lena and Vance Wood had been summering in Highlands for years.

So it was natural that following the birth of their daughter eight years ago and Vance’s decision to retire from a long time career in the golf business that they would settle full-time in Highlands. They yearned for a small town in which to raise their daughter, and Elena envisioned fulfilling a lifetime dream of opening a retail store.

Though golf has been continuously popular in Highlands, the market for women’s golf attire was seriously underserved. And so, in 2016, the couple opened Elena’s Golf and Women’s Active Wear.

Golf is different from other sports. Not only because it’s the only game where players report their own scores and call penalties on themselves, but because “proper attire” is frequently dictated by the clubs and or course. Though we have moved on from the days when women wore long skirts and heels, golfer’s today still have a certain look and style.

That frequently means the skorts, skirts, shorts, capris, and polo shirts that can be found in ample supply on the shelves and hangers at Elena’s.

Elena’s Golf and Women’s Active Wear fulfills the needs and criteria for other sports as well – including tennis, walking, and equestrian. People shop according to different principles, and in this regard, Elena’s covers all the bases.

Whether you shop for durability, price, sustainability, or size, Elena has a stylish choice.

Looking for clothing that offers sun protection? Elena’s stocks that as well.

Also to be discovered at Elena’s, all the finest golf accessories for pros and beginners alike. Here you’ll find the best golf gloves, Footjoy golf shoes, and socks to improve your game, along with the top golf bags to protect your clubs. And though Vance works behind the scenes managing the online business, Elena is in the store connecting with customers, answering questions, and ready to help.

Realizing that golf had social distancing built right in, more and more people discovered golf since the onset of the pandemic. Even better, it’s an activity you can do outside while still being near other humans. The result has been a boom to the business. As Elena told me, April and May 2021 were the store’s busiest months since opening, and she looks forward to furthering increases this summer.

Elena’s Women’s Golf and Active Wear is open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and is located at 381 Main Street.

Call (828) 533-9954 or visit elenagolf.com.

by Marlene Osteen

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Bear’s Den

Take a couple of golf pros who’re madly in love with the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, allow them to buy and transform Honeybee Home and, voila! You end up with the endlesslyintriguing The Bear’s Den, 404 Highway 107 South in Cashiers. For more information, please call (561) 389-7231.

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Marshall Carpenter and Honey

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n May of 2013, Marshall and Beth Carpenter visited friends who had just completed a new vacation home overlooking Lake Glenville.

They immediately fell in love with the Plateau, especially the beauty of the mountains and all the area has to offer: hiking, fishing, golfing, shopping, dining, friendly people, and Groovin’ on the Green.

They loved the area so much they closed on their own vacation home that August. Marshall and Beth loved spending summers here for the next five years and in May of 2018 they left their careers of 30-plus years as PGA and LPGA golf pros and moved here full time.

They owned and operated an award winning golf shop at an exclusive country club in South Florida, in addition to teaching, running tournaments, and all the other duties club pros have.

After several months of retirement, they were missing the retail business they had built. They prayed for the right opportunity and in the winter of 2018 they purchased Honeybee Home.

Their first season they enjoyed meeting so many nice residents and visitors. At the end of the 2019 season, Beth missed the golf business, so she accepted a position as the Buyer/Merchandiser and LPGA Teaching Professional at The Cullasaja Club.

At the end of the 2020 season, Marshall decided to change the complexion of the store. No longer would mattresses be offered from the downstairs showroom and some of the old merchandise they purchased from the previous owner would be removed from the store.

He opened some new accounts and found new suppliers to help him

find nicer offerings from estate sales and model homes.

Marshall said he wanted a fresh start for the store with the new inventory so he changed the name to The Bear’s Den. When asked what he enjoyed the most about owning The Bear’s Den, Marshall replied, “I love visiting with all the wonderful people that come in and of course being able to bring my beautiful little golden retriever, Honey, to work every day.”

Marshall hopes you will stop in and say hi, give Honey a pat, and explore the unique new and vintage offerings in the four rooms on the main level plus the downstairs showroom.

The Bear’s Den is located at 404 Highway 107 South, just a halfmile from the Cashiers Crossroads. For more information, please call (561) 389-7231.

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Ali & Bird Jewelry

Theresa Forman

Summer Trunk Shows

Acorns, the dazzling shop at 212 South 4th Street in Highlands, will stage a series of irresistible trunk shows through August.

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ummer trunk shows present more intimately distinct aspects of an artist, craftsperson, or retailer’s wares – items often not readily available in retail shops.

“Trunk shows are the perfect way to showcase more of the specific line or artist than we have room to display in the store,” said Holly M. Laughridge, director of retail and purchasing, Acorns. “For example, when Elizabeth Locke comes twice a year, Pam [Lettie] or Caroline [McKay] will bring the entire current collection so enthusiasts can see all she has to offer. Trunk shows are also a great time for us to see new things and get direct feedback on customers’ thoughts so that we may adapt our buying and inventory to the customers’ wants. Our book signings are popular because fans of the book are able to meet the author or photographer and build relationships with them. Trunk Shows are win-win-win situation between the store, the vendor, and the customer!”

Acorns Trunk Shows take place throughout the summer months.

On display is a vast array of jewelry and art to peruse, covet, and even purchase. All trunk shows take place at Acorns, located in 144 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

downtown Highlands at 212 South 4th Street: Ali & Bird Jewelry, July 1-12 – a unique line out of Atlanta, Ga., featuring subtle to statement piece; Theresa Forman Art, Theresa Forman, Artist in House, July 10 – presenting soothing oil-on-linen landscapes, floral arrangements, and more; Carol Misner Studio Botanical Paintings, Carol Misner, Artist in House, July 17 – highlighting giclee prints of original, highly detailed works described as resembling “ X-rays in watercolor.”

Monica Rich Kosann Jewelry, July 23 - 25 – including a creative take on charm and locket jewelry; and Phillip Curcuru Art, Phillip Curcuru, Artist in House July 31 – spotlighting the drama of nature by a local naturalist and artist.

For more information about the upcoming trunk shows, visit acornshighlandsnc.com or call (828) 787-1877.

by Marlene Osteen

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The Distinctive

Renovation Duo

Jose Gonzalez and Gabriel Munoz

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J. Gabriel is devoted to helping its clients transform their homes into deeply personal sanctuaries.

ose Gonzalez and Gabriel Munoz have always had a knack for home design.

As they tell it, “For 22 years we have been bringing our clients the most unique, upscale, gifts, apparel, home decor and accessories through our retail stores in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.”

From their beginnings, this duo, friends who’ve known each other since Junior High School in Miami, has owned and operated nearly a dozen stores.

Three years ago, the pair opened J. Gabriel in Cashiers, where they initially applied their sense of style to a thoughtful and unique selection of gifts. Now, as the pandemic has ignited a wave of home renovations, they are expanding their square footage and offerings As lockdowns and restrictions forced most of us to look more closely at our homes, many of us saw a need to make it better. The home was no longer just a place to sleep or a mere escape from the 146 J u l y 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

hustle and bustle of the outside world.

And, increasingly, people were spending their travel budgets on home improvements. For many, the whole idea of home has been transformed this last year.

As Gonzalez explained, “the boom in building has been one of the driving forces for us to move into more home décor.”

As of July, the downstairs will open to make way for a variety of small furnishings, accessories, lighting, natural fiber and cotton rugs, and wall art. A curated selection of dining tables and chairs, bed linens, upholstered pieces and chandeliers fills the new space.

As Gonzalez describes it, “there’s an eclectic mix of occasional and smaller pieces.”

“We are going to sell mountain living,” Gonzalez said in explaining that this formula would affect everything from throw pillows to lamps. The collection will emphasize a personal version of comfort

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and understated luxury. He believes in combining textures and colors to create inviting and warm settings, yet casual enough that “it’s okay to put your feet up on the sofa.” Understanding that many of his customers are shopping for a second home, the owners focus on selling moderate-priced furniture of the most refined taste.

Gonzalez and Munoz appreciate that for most of us, home is our “happy place” and that, in the end, design is really about the art of living well. They believe in helping their customers express themselves and their style through their design choices while still advising on practical considerations of durability or cost.

J. Gabriel is open year-round – a fact that has endeared them to many in Cashiers who live there year-round. The store is open daily and located at 252 Highway 107 South in Cashiers. More details are at jgabrielliving.com. They can also be reached at (828) 743-7151.

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Vivianne Metzger

Antiques

Nimble thinking and the wise application of 21st centur y technology have ensured that Vivianne Metzger Antiques emerges from the Covid Catastrophe with a cabin of treasures and a f illedto-bursting warehouse.

The shop is located at 31 Canoe Point in Cashiers.

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Bill and Cherie Tibbetts, and Vivianne Metzger

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hen Vivianne Metzger and her husband Bill opened “We at Vivianne Metzger Antiques, became concerned about Vivianne Metzger Antiques in Cashiers 20 years ago, she whether we would be able to shop in the UK without quarantining. quickly developed a reputation for maintaining an everWe knew we’d miss all those small antique fairs where we find so changing collection of rare and precious English and French antiques many smalls. Our lead time for shipping continued to shorten, so and furniture. we decided to shop and order via FaceTime with our long term, most When her daughter and sontrusted dealers. in-law, Cherie and Bill Tibbetts, “It was a very intense process, joined the business in 2007, involving hours of reviewing piece by …a wonderful variety of very unique that collection mushroomed to piece. We had to critique all aspects pieces from England and France… vast proportions that required of each piece looking at finish, an expansive warehouse to store dimensions, age and overall quality. It everything being shipped across was not the same as viewing, touching the Atlantic. and evaluating in person, but we were Central to all this were the deep personal connections that Cherie able to fill our (normal) 40-foot container.” and Bill forged with dozens of trusted dealers in the UK and France.

So how did this bit of clever gamesmanship work out?

These dealers came to know the pieces and the colors and aesthetics “We were so pleased to receive our container in May with a that were suitable for display in Vivianne Metzger Antiques and, wonderful variety of very unique pieces from England and France,” ultimately, in the homes of its clients. says Cherie. “We invite you to come by and see it all and are open Everything changed with the arrival of a global pandemic in 2020 Monday through Saturday, 10:30 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.” – no more visits to quaint little villages, no more long conversations Vivianne Metzger Antiques is located at 31 Canoe Point, just off with dealers who’d become close friends. of Highway 107 South in Cashiers. For more information, call (828) “As we all know, 2020-21 was a very unique and challenging year, 743-0642, but you really owe it to yourself to stop in. You can also for all aspects of life & business! You certainly had to be prepared to follow them on Instagram, where Cherie spotlights her finds every roll with whatever came your way,” says Cherie. day, and also posts about their buyings trips.

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Visit Our Advertisers WEST END

1. On The Verandah Restaurant 2. Highlands Smokehouse 5. The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts 6. The Bascom Shop 7. The Dave Drake Ceramic Barn at The Bascom

SOUTH END

25. 4118 Kitchen & Bar 26. Full House Gallery 27. Dauntless Printing 38. Lupoli Construction 39. Pat Allen Realty Group 43. The Laurel 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

100. Main Street Nursery 101. Rosewood Market 103. Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 108. Summit Architecture 124. Landmark Realty 126. Shiraz Oriental Rug Gallery 132. Elevation: High Fashion for Women 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 159. Colonel Mustards 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 175. S’More Kids Klothes 177. Oak Leaf Flower & Garden 178. McCulley’s II 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 201. Hudson Library 202. Country Club Properties 206. Business Spot 207. Creative Concepts Salon

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WRIGHT SQUARE on MAIN

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

ON THE HILL

302. Wish & Shoes 303. Mirror Lake Antiques 306. Acorn’s Designer Fashions & Home Interiors 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

SPRING VILLAGE 406. Brookings

OAK STREET

601. Highlands Playhouse

VILLAGE PARK

613. Cleaveland Realty 615. Shakespeare & Co.

617. Fressers Courtyard Cafe

CAROLINA VILLAGE

707. Yoga Highlands 709. High Dive 709. Truckin’ at the High Dive 710. Meritage Bistro 711. Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals

NORTH END

814. Highlands Cashiers Players 814. Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center

OUT NC 106 ➡ Peak Experience ➡ Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center ➡ Highlands Aerial Park ➡ Vineyard at 37 High Holly ➡ Fire + Water ➡ Bella’s Junction Cafe ➡ Sky Valley ➡ 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 ➡ Center for Plastic Surgery ➡ The Brier Patch ➡ Cullasaja Club ➡ Pat Allen Realty Group ➡ Highlands Dermatology ➡ Roman’s Roofing ➡ GlenCove

For a complete listing please visit our website, thelaurelmagazine.com.

Being added to our listing is easy!

Simply advertise with The Laurel.

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

NORTH 107 16. Stork’s - Wrap. Pack. Ship 19. The Look Boutique 20. Mountain Mermaid 21. Sashay Around Ladies Boutique

THE SHOPS AT CASHIERS COMMONS 25. Bella Cotn.

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 39. Cashiers Farmers Market 40. On the Side BBQ

111. Rusticks 112. Vivianne Metzger Antiques 115. J. Gabriel 121. Robin’s Nest 123. Caliber Fine Properties 128. Mountainworks Custom Home Design LTD. 131. Tampa Bay Trust Company 136. McKee Properties 137. Bounds Cave Rug Gallery 138. The Orchard Restaurant, Events Barn & Guest Cottage

THE VILLAGE GREEN 142.Village Green Commons 143. The Village Green

WEST 64 151. J Mixon Decorative Painting 154. Cashiers Valley Smokehouse 155. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center

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 75. Carolina Rustic Furniture 76. Blue Ridge Bedding 77. The Designers Market 78. Ann Lea Fine Art 79. Jennings Builders Supply

VILLAGE WALK 80. A-List Antiques 80. Beth Poindexter Luxe 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

SOUTH 107 101. Narcissus 102. TJ Bailey’s for Men 103. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming 104. Brookings Fly Shop & Cashiers Village Outfitters 108. Landmark Realty Group 109. Ugly Dog Public House 110. McCulley’s

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156. Creekside: - Silver Creek Real Estate Group 165. Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry 173. Betsy Paul Properties 176. Lenz Gifts

VISIT NORTON ➡ GlenCove ➡ Town and Country General Store

DOWN 107 SOUTH ➡ Silver Run Reserve

OUT 64 WEST ➡ Cedar Creek Club

VISIT CULLOWHEE ➡ Four Seasons Landscape

VISIT LAKE TOXAWAY ➡ The Greystone Inn ➡ Alair Homes ➡ Killer Bees ➡ Historic Toxaway Foundation ➡ Historic Toxaway Market ➡ Mountain Cafe

➡ Bear Tracks Travel Center ➡ Earthshine Lodge ➡ Headwaters Outfitters ➡ Healing Through Harmony ➡ Southern Highlands Reserve ➡ Balistreri Realty

VISIT SAPPHIRE : ➡ Black Bear Lodge ➡ Lonesome Valley ➡ Sapphire Valley Real Estate VISIT SYLVA : ➡ Imperial Security

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

Being added to our listing is easy!

Simply advertise with The Laurel.

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L A K E T O X AWA Y

Robin, Courtney and Linda

Robin and Chris Pickel

Toxaway For Foodies

There’s Historic Toxaway Market at 15889 Rosman Highway in Lake Toxaway and, right across the street, Mountain Café. Both offer palate-pleasing treats and, just as impor tant, a taste of this friendly mountain community.

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ocated on the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, just 13 miles beyond Cashiers, Lake Toxaway, also referred to as a “a storied community” because of its historical significance and rich heritage, has welcomed new traditions in the form of a market and a café. Historic Toxaway Market and Mountain Café – across the street from one another – are owned by Chris and Robin Pickel.

The Market opened in July 2017, while the café opened in June 2020.

“We are just trying to offer people here opportunities to try some good food, take home items, have a snack break, meet for coffee …,” said Robin.

Mountain Café boasts a gift shop, a selection of Hershey’s ice cream, cones, sundaes, root beer floats, espresso shakes, and more, as well as coffees made with locally roasted Pisgah Roasters coffee.

A selection of muffins, some gluten free, plus cookies, breakfast croissants, quiches, danishes, etc. are also available during the café’s Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. 7 p.m., hours.

“Mountain Café is a nice break place between hiking or other

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activities, or it is a great place to start the day. We have rocking chairs on the front porch, so some people hang out and relax for a while,” said Robin, who added that free Wi-Fi is available.

The Market is essentially a wine store and gourmet market for foodies, with over 400 different wines, a selection of beers, cocktail mixers, and dry goods such as pasta, muffin mixes, sauces, spices, crackers, chips. Many goods are organic and non-GMO, explained Robin. Plus, there are Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, grass-fed steaks and ground beef, local eggs, and regionally-made frozen dinner items such as pot pies, lasagnas, casseroles, etc.

A wine tasting room provides opportunities to sample some wines, while there are wine and cocktail related items in the Market’s gift shop.

Visit Historic Toxaway Market at 15889 Rosman Highway in Lake Toxaway and, right across the street, Mountain Café.

by Deena Bouknight

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Toxaway

Visionary

You can visit and stay at the home of Lucy Armstrong Moltz – known today as The Greystone Inn. This visionar y woman ensured that Toxaway remained a vibrant community in the wake of the catastrophic dam break of 1916.

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Lucy Armstrong Moltz

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his portion of Western North Carolina has been blessed with dreamers who were as unshakable in their convictions as the granite mountains that shaped their settlement.

Of course there’s the case of Messrs. Kelsey and Hutchinson who slapped a couple of yardsticks down on a map and willed Highlands into existence.

And the Zachary’s who opened their boarding house/general store in the 1830s. The business also doubled as a bank, allowing locals to barter, and exchange gold for cash.

Which brings us to Lucy Armstong, a young woman who was a free-spirited, fearless socialite in Savannah, Georgia.

She came to Western North Carolina in 1910 with her husband George to stay at the deliciously sybaritic Toxaway Inn (alongside most of the luminaries of the Gilded Age).

Like so many then and now, Lucy was easily enraptured by the beauty and tranquility of Lake Toxaway and in 1913, she told George that she wanted to build a home on its shores.

In a bit of remarkable gamesmanship that suggests George truly understood his wife and her impulses, he suggested that she select an ideal spot and camp out all summer before making a final decision.

“In the summer of 1913, Lucy chose a rocky knoll on a short peninsula on the Western shoreline of Lake Toxaway for her home site and proceeded to ‘camp’ in true style,” according to the archives of The Greystone Inn. “She started by having a hardwood floor built,

then covered it with a 2,000-square foot tent, and completed her camp by setting up a smaller tent next door to house 11 servants.”

That’s right, true to her reputation as a progressive thinker, Lucy invented the concept of glamping 100 years before it would enter the public consciousness.

And, true to his word, George built a lake home on that very spot, which was completed in 1915 and called Hillmont.

In 1916 a tremendous flood caused the Toxaway dam to burst.

The lake emptied and so did the steady stream of vacationers.

Although the Toxaway Inn never reopened, the Armstrong’s did not desert their retreat. Undeterred, Lucy continued to visit her mountain home, and after her husband’s death in 1924 made Lake Toxaway her permanent residence.

In the early 1930’s, Lucy remarried local businessman Carl Moltz.

The two entertained frequently and expanded the home.

Lucy was a big supporter of the local community. Teaching women skills that included cooking, canning and homemaking and during the difficult days of the depression, Lucy created jobs on her estate for people. She loved children, often hosting picnics and paid for over two dozen young people to attend college.

You can see the fruits of her passion and her generosity of spirit when you visit her home, which is now known as The Greystone Inn.

by Luke Osteen

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L A K E T O X AWA Y

The Hurricane

of 1916

In 1916, a season of f loods and a hurricane spelled disaster for the getaway destination of Lake Toxaway.

Though they imagined they were roughing it, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and Mr. Unknown Figure were 100 yards from the comforts of the opulent Toxaway Inn.

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n last month’s issue of The Laurel, I laid out the mystery of a string of elderly former Toxaway residents dying in remote parts of Oregon in the 1980s and 90s and ending up back in the mountains for burial.

I noted that Toxaway in the early 20th century had all the makings of a thriving, growing community. That was predicated upon the building of the opulent Toxaway Inn and the construction of a railroad from Brevard to Toxaway Station.

The railroad opened this corner of western Transylvania to exploitation of its mineral resources and its vast stands of the magnificent American Chestnut.

The inn brought America’s gentry to an untrammeled wilderness where they could enjoy all the amenities and comforts of modern 20th century life. It was spa living before people knew what that was.

It also brought a small army of workers needed to keep the entire enterprise going, and the railroad brought battalions of lumberjacks to harvest the deep forests that carpeted the surrounding mountains.

But a pair of catastrophes decimated this tiny community and left residents impoverished, some scattered to the far western forests of Oregon and Washington.

In July of 1916, heavy rains settled onto this corner of the Southern Appalchians. The soil became saturated and

mudslides were frequent.

Piling on, in August a hurricane came ashore in Mississippi and turned northeast, arriving in Western North Carolina on August 13. That’s when the earthen dam holding back Lake Toxaway’s swollen waters gave way.

When you travel on US 64 over Toxaway Falls, you can see a vast slope of bare rock that’s nearly 100 yards wide. That stretch was carved by the escaping torrent of Lake Toxaway’s five billion gallons of water draining in the span of 18 minutes.

If you were to follow the course of Toxaway River from that devastated landscape, you’d find an enormous 60-foot-long boulder carried down the flood. About a half mile further down Toxaway River there’s a 60-foot long boulder weighing nearly 900 tons that was moved there by the flood.

Instead of a picture-postcard vision of beauty and tranquility, Lake Toxaway was transformed into 540 acres of drying mud, interspersed with shallow pools clogged with dying fish.

That ended the idea of Toxaway serving as a glamorous getaway and in 1947 the Toxaway Inn was sold and dismantled.

Well, I’ve used up my word count. Join me next month when I finally solve the Mystery of Uncle Mac.

by Luke Osteen

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Toxaway

Panthers

Does a Ghost Cat still prowl the isolated corners of Western Nor th Carolina?

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ast month, when I began writing about the mystery of former Toxaway residents ending up in the far corners of the Pacific Northwest, I drew upon the recollections of my grandfather, John Luke Osteen, who spent his 20s serving as the teacher at Toxaway School.

He told me heaps of stories about his time as Mr. Luke, as he was known to his students and their parents.

One that resonated with me as a kid that I’ve carried with me over the decades was his recollection that a panther roamed through the deep American Chestnut forest that ringed Toxaway.

This was in the early 1920s and it electrified the community. Conventional wisdom held that painters had vanished from the landscape at the turn of the century. This creature had been spotted by experienced woodsmen and my grandfather’s friend, a farmer named Thomas Card. Footprints were spotted and a strange creature was heard yowling in the night.

Painters, as they were called by the first white settlers here, and also known as Eastern Cougars and Mountain Lions, were once scattered throughout the area (witness all the creeks and

ridges and mountains that bear the name – and, of course, the Carolina Panthers).

The Cherokee considered them powerful spirits that were to be treated with respect. The whites who moved into the mountains of Western North Carolina attributed to them a sinister nature and their presence was considered an ill-omen.

Painters were powerful hunters in all types of weather and navigates the forest with ghostly majesty.

But here’s the thing – though this Mystery Cat electrified the Toxaway community in the 1920s, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the US Forest Service maintain that there haven’t been panthers here for 120 years, there have been sightings reported throughout the ensuing decades, all the way to the present day.

If you’ve seen a large cat gliding through the forest or spotted unusually large tracks, contact us here at The Laurel. It’s a mystery that’s shadowed my family for 100 years.

by Luke Osteen

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Love of Place

Geneva Zachary and Julia Zachary circa 1920

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The Cherokee

John Zachar y’s peripatetic daughters always managed to make it home to the Cashiers Valley.

Ogress

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n circa 1900, after graduating from Teacher’s Normal, forerunner of Western Carolina University, John Alexander Zachary (1881-1919,) accepted a one-room schoolhouse teaching job in a small Georgia town near Atlanta.

He was named after his great-grandfather, Col. John A. Zachary, one of the first settlers in Cashiers Valley.

By 1910, young John Zachary had met and married a Georgia girl; moved to Atlanta; changed professions from teacher to railway mail clerk; and became the father of two girls, Geneva and Julia.

He was not a well man and by the fall of 1919, at the age of 38 years, he succumbed to the then-deadly tuberculosis – a slow, painful death.

While John’s widow, Viola, struggled to make a living by taking in boarders and making hats, daughters Geneva and Julia were students at Atlanta’s Fulton High School as well as taking after-school jobs to help make ends meet.

Geneva worked for Western Union, riding her bicycle all around downtown delivering telegrams. Julia worked for Norris Candy Company where she was befriended by the wealthy Lowensteins, owners of the candy company. They taught her how to dress and walk and fix her hair as well as teaching her how to run a very successful candy company. (She eventually became vice-president of the company.)

Starting even before their father died, Geneva and Julia would take every opportunity to spend time with their Zachary grandparents in Cashiers. They would board the train in Atlanta and get off the train in Hendersonville, North Carolina. There they would transfer to a little train that terminated at Toxaway, North Carolina.

There, their grandfather, T. R. Zachary (1850-1921), would meet them with a mule-drawn wagon. It would take them a large part of a day to make it up to Cashiers. They would frequently have to stop to remove big rocks out of the dirt road. But, oh, how happy they were when they finally got to the house that T. R. had built in circa 1882. Cashiers Valley was their favorite place in the whole world.

That strong love of place would be passed on to future generations.

by Jane Gibson Nardy, Historian, Cashiers Historical Society

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The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau was a dangerous place when U’tlun’ta ruled from her throne on Whiteside Mountain.

hen times are tough – pandemics, worldwide catastrophes, talk of the Apocalypse – Hollywood reflects those disasters in horror movies.

We Pandemicans were stuck at home last year, and the movie industry cranked out horror movie videos to an anxious, yet willing audience.

The public’s collective fear taps into the themes of scary movies or vice versa.

And when it’s make-believe fear, we can superimpose our real fear onto the movie.

It’s a release.

But before Hollywood and group therapy, how did ancient civilizations anthropomorphize fear?

Through word-of-mouth myths like the Cherokee ogress legend, U’tlun’ta (Spear-Finger). The forefinger on her right hand was a spear or obsidian knife, a handy utensil for extracting livers and kabobbing them while she slurped and gobbled.

She walked the borders of western Tennessee and North Carolina.

Her favorite home was the Thunder Mountain, our own Whiteside.

Think about her next time you’re hiking Old Whitey, and a chilly wind snaps your neck hair to attention.

If you do have a Spear-Finger encounter, U’tlun’ta, like all villains, has a weak spot: her heart was in her right palm. All you have to do is get past that Swiss-Army Finger.

She was a chunky babe. Made of stone, she thundered, crushing rocks as she rumbled across a mountainside. Her voice echoed through the passes and scared birds away. When the birds were silent/gone, it was a sign U’tlun’ta was nearby.

Running away from a lumbering rock doesn’t sound that hard, but U’tlun’ta could shape-shift into one of your children or a seemingly harmless old lady.

One time she picked up a huge boulder bridge and carried it in the air to Whiteside. Higher Beings thought U’tlun’ta was getting too uppity and too close to the Upper World, so they smashed it. You can see the bridge remains today in Whiteside Cove.

Ran Shaffner’s Heart of the Blue Ridge is rife with interesting tales, some tall, some true. Visit highlandshistory.com or email hhs@ highlandshistory.com for more info.

by Donna Rhodes

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Mountain Heritage Lecture Series

A pair of lectures, set for July 8 and August 5, will illuminate the adventures of two tireless travelers. For more information, contact the Cashiers Historical Society at (828) 743-7710.

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ashiers Historical Society invites you to join them for their annual Mountain Heritage Lecture Series, held this year on July 8 and August 5 from 11:00 until 12:30 at the Dowden Pavilion on the grounds of the Zachary-Tolbert House.

Admission to each lecture is free but donations are always appreciated.

The July 8 lecture features actress and storyteller Anne Van Curen, who transforms herself into Grandma Gatewood, the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail in 1955. Grandma Gatewood was 67 years old and escaping a life of domestic violence when she made her first journey, wearing cloth sneakers and carrying only a walking stick and a sack of supplies over her shoulder. Her hike was a far cry from today’s thorough hikers who often have state-of-the-art hiking equipment. So realistic is Ms. Van Curen’s portrayal that you will find yourself reliving every step and adventure of this brave pioneer’s journey. National interest in her journey is credited in part with saving the Appalachian Trail.

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On August 8 Tom Robertson will speak on his work Ellicott’s Rock: Surveyors’ Footsteps on the 35th Parallel. Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area is the only wilderness area that straddles three states: Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and spans three national forests: Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia, Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, and Sumter National Forest in South Carolina. This wild and scenic recreation area is enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts each year, but a lesser-known fact is that the original surveys of the area resulted in a boundary dispute between North Carolina and Georgia that became known as the Walton War. Major Andrew Ellicott, a well-respected surveyor, was tasked in 1811 to determine the correct border between North Carolina and Georgia and end the dispute. Subsequently the area was named in his honor.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Whodunnit

Highlands Style

Our little mountain town looks so tranquil, but there’re plenty of shady characters lurking in the pages of Death on the Mountain.

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hodunnit? It’s a July morning in 1925, and Nicholas Padgett, in mauve silk pajamas, lies on his lawn above the gorge—strangled. A buzzard sits next to the corpse, about to breakfast. Who murdered the most unpopular man in Thunder Falls, N.C., who the evening before—at the wedding of Margaret Irving and Thomas Tallis—audaciously kissed the bride and then whispered in her ear in a knowing way? The war-hero groom? Padgett’s brother in law, who accused him of business fraud as he left the church? Or was it the lunatic son of the bride’s housekeeper, kept chained to a ceiling beam at his mother’s cottage?

You won’t find “Thunder Falls” on a map, but it’s located between Dillard, Ga., and Cashiers, N.C., and the road down to the Mayberry County seat goes behind Angel Wing Falls. The foul deed is chronicled in the atmospheric 1931 novel by Dorothy Ogburn, Death on the Mountain. Ogburn (1890-1981) was from Atlanta, and spent summers in Highlands with her husband and son, both named Charlton. Ogburn wrote two other mysteries: The first, Ra-Ta-Plan-! is set on the Georgia Sea Islands; The Will and the Deed takes place in the Hudson River valley.

In its 1930 review of Ra-Ta-Plan-! the New York Times said “the author has succeeded in making each of her characters a distinct personality, an achievement so rare in mystery fiction as to be worthy of special notice.” The same is true of her Highlands-set tale, whose plot the Raleigh News and Observer commended as “refreshingly novel.” Ogburn reminds me of writer Louise Penny.

Our sleuth is teenaged ornithologist Stephen Latimer, clearly based on Ogburn’s son, who became a talented writer himself (see his 1975 natural history, The Southern Appalachians: A Wilderness Quest). But Charleton Jr.’s first paid job was catching flies to feed the salamanders at the Highlands Museum (now the Biological Station).

Next month: A *real* literary mystery that featured all three Ogburns.

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

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Where Earth

Itself Rebels

Light Fracture by our own Deena Bouknight casts an unf linching spotlight upon a disaster of Biblical propor tions and the people who struggled to rebuild.

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o here we are, in the midst of the busy summer season with an imminently readable summer novel, one that’s written by my friend and co-worker Deena Bouknight.

Before we dive into Light Fracture, Deena’s third work of fiction and a tale that unspools with a ferocious inevitability, let’s talk about me.

I’ve lived here on the Plateau for 34 years.

I’ll run into you and have to defend my opinion and back up my words. And when I screw up (1,437 times and counting, folks) I have to live with the consequences far into my accelerating senescence.

So what I’m trying to tell you is that, like Balzac, I write with “clean hands and composure.”

Which brings us to Deena’s Light Fracture and the reasons it resonates so deeply as a tale set in the grim days leading up to and through Charleston’s devastating earthquake of 1886. These are people who’d lost so much during the Civil War and the hardscrabble days that followed. True to their era, they bore their miseries with stoic acceptance and passions were kept under rigid control.

This calm resignation is all the more striking as we tumble out at the far end of a global pandemic, when arguments, fist fights and, God help us, shootings were judged to be adequate responses to mask regulations.

Ladies and gentlemen, you need to become acquainted with the inhabitants of Deena’s meticulously researched Southern Historical

Literary Fiction. That’s her term for it, but I think it shades into Southern Gothic territory – poor, tragic Agnes refuses to lie in peace and her presence plays counterpoint to the earthquake that equalizes everything.

(Just how powerful was that earthquake? We need look no further than the estimable Jane Nardy’s Cashiers History entry in the March 2021 issue of Laurel. That thing shivered across the landscape for 300 miles and cracked the face of Rock Mountain!)

And the sturdy Morris Island Lighthouse is a character as formidable as any courthouse anchoring a Faulkner tale. Deena plays it for all its worth.

This is a tale of secrets buried deep and the revelations that’ll be brought to the surface when the earth itself rebels.

If you’re looking for a respite from the disaster that was the last 16 months, well, the catastrophe that tumbled Charleston may be the tonic you’re seeking.

Deena’s book is available at Shakespeare and Company in Highlands, and a well-known online retailer of books.

by Luke Osteen

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Gardening

Traditions

The garden thriving at the Zachar y-Tolber t House is a patch of precious living histor y.

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iving history is found in many forms: cities, re-enactments, museums, and even gardens.

On the grounds of the Cashiers Historical Society, site of the Zachary-Tolbert House, is a historical representation of a 19th century garden, which is planted with heirloom seeds.

Extension services and horticulturists alike classify heirloom seeds as either grown for a “certain length of time” or passed down by a family or group that has preserved them.

However, one hard-fast criteria for heirlooms is this: The seeds must be gathered from an openpollinated plant; hybrid seeds do not count as they are helped along by humans.

In Elvira’s Kitchen Garden, named for Elvira Keener Zachary, Mordecai Zachary’s wife, are heirloom vegetables grown, harvested, and then donated annually to Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry in Cashiers.

Garden co-chairs Teed Poe and Bette Hines, along with Master Gardener Sally Carpenter, work in the garden. They were inspired to establish the garden after a 2017 Cashiers Historical Society symposium featuring landscape architect Mary Palmer Dargan in 2017 focusing on early American kitchen gardening.

“The information presented in the symposium directed us on how to build a garden like the one Elvira would have had to feed her 11 children and the boarders who stayed in the house,” said Poe. The garden is 20 by 20 feet in size and is surrounded by hand-carved wood fencing. However, because the garden is situated on a historical and archaeological site, the volunteer gardeners had to bring in the soil and mound it up instead of digging down, where there might be artifacts from the 19th century.

Said Poe, “We decided to purchase heirloom seeds that represent vegetables that were planted at that time, such as what is known as the ‘three sisters’ – corn, beans, and squash. And we also plant cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, carrots…about seven different vegetables in all.

“People are so interested in heirloom seeds that they are purchasing them and passing them down. We love for people to come and see the garden and get ideas for their own gardens.”

by Deena Bouknight

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80 Years

Jeannie, Tucker, and Isabel Chambers

in the Making

Buoyed by a track record that stretches back to the 1940s, Chambers Realty and Vacation Rentals has emerged from a global pandemic into a white hot real estate market.

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omewhere on the journey to discovery that we all traveled during the pandemic, we all found real estate.

After all, it was, for more than a year, the only trip we could take.

And so real estate, and more specifically our homes, became the central question. Together we mused about availability and price, home values, land costs, whether to build or rent or buy or renovate or restore. Unquestionably, the pandemic magnified and exacerbated what was already a perplexing conundrum for most of us.

To the rescue are Jeannie and Tucker Chambers of Chambers Realty and Vacation Rentals. The firm has been helping residents, prospective buyers, and vacation renters navigate the Highlands market for generations.

As they say, “We’ve been here for ages.” Tucker’s grandfather, Tudor, a fifth-generation Highlander, founded the agency in 1941.

They have the distinction of being the oldest continuously owned family real estate business in town and Highland’s first Realtors.

In 1990, Tucker and Jeannie moved from Greenwood, South Carolina, and took over The Chambers Agency in 1997, under the tutelage of Tucker’s parents, Tony and Isabel Chambers. When they married in 1989, Tucker told Jeannie that they would one day move back home to the mountains. Then, with an engineering degree, Tucker also worked for a couple of surveyors in Highlands. Tucker knew Highlands and understood real estate. Jeannie had honed her management skills during a 15-year career in a hospital business office. Jeannie became a broker in 1992, and Tucker in 1998.

Though the company has grown in the years since then, they continue to operate with the same family-owned, small-town business vision as their predecessors.

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Indeed, the last 15 months have brought changes and challenges.

The rental market, a substantial part of their business, was affected first and dramatically.

As Jeannie told me, “When the pandemic hit, we had no clue as to whether or not we would have a job. For one month, everything was completely shut down as no rentals were allowed during April.”

And when they did reopen, stringent new cleaning measures and longer intervals between stays had to be instituted.

But then, as Jeannie said, “The whole world discovered Highlands.”

And what started as an explosion in the visitor market eventually led to a boom in residential sales. Last year was their best year ever.

Houses have been selling so fast that people are knocking on doors asking to buy homes.

To prospective buyers, Jeannine advises caution and getting to know the area before making a purchase. As she says, “Highlands does not fit everyone. It’s not a little Vail or Aspen, but for most of us it’s heaven on earth.”

For inquiries about vacation rentals, residential or land, and acreage for sale or property management, call (828) 526-3717 or visit highlandsiscalling.com.

by Marlene Osteen

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Yellow Mountain

Preserve

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Yellow Mountain Preserve, a breathtaking estate perched on the slopes of Yellow Mountain, is a rare proper ty that adjoins National Forest Service land. To learn more and to view this unique parcel, call Liz Harris with McKee Proper ties at (828) 342-3194.

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ocated on the beautiful Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Yellow Mountain is unquestionably one of the most majestic peaks in Western North Carolina. Few places in the world rival the majestic beauty of this mountain.

Seldom does one have an opportunity to own any property as remotely spectacular as Yellow Mountain, but as it happens this rare opportunity exists. Mckee Properties agent Liz Harris is offering Yellow Mountain Preserve, a 200-acre estate on the north, west, and east sides of Yellow Mountain.

It offers majestic views and recreation possibilities, and adjoins over 12,000 acres of National Forest Service lands that encompass the south side of the mountain.

“Yellow Mountain Preserve has a special ‘Sound Of Music’ feel that brings joy to everyone who spends time there,” says Harris.

This estate opportunity boasts the highest elevation on the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau at 5,127 feet at its highest point. It offers panoramic views, a charming cottage and gate-house, large sweeping gentleman’s farm, spring fed pond, direct access to hiking trails, and roads and utilities throughout. Located centrally between Cashiers and Highlands and minutes from the area’s finest golf clubs, Yellow Mountain Preserve could not be more ideally suited for a majestic

family estate, or as a carefully planned low-density community.

The property is blessed with abundant water, including high-flow wells and a lovely spring-fed pond.

Yellow Mountain Preserve is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own and enjoy the best the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau has to offer. Nature has provided the grandeur with stunning views and lush vegetation. With infrastructure and access to high speed internet in place, you’ll be sitting on top of the world, with the world at your fingertips.

For more information on this rare opportunity to own a piece of paradise, call Liz Harris with Mckee Properties at (828) 342-3194.

by Mary Jane McCall

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Even Singles Need Estate Plans

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f you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan.

In evaluating your needs for this type of planning, let’s start with what might happen if you die intestate – that is, without a last will and testament. In this scenario, your assets will likely have to go through the probate process, which means they’ll be distributed by the court according to your state’s intestate succession laws, essentially without regard to your wishes.

Even if you don’t have children yourself, you may have nephews or nieces, or even children of cousins or friends, to whom you would like to leave some of your assets, which can include not just money but also cars, collectibles, family memorabilia and so on. But if everything you own goes through probate, there’s no guarantee that these individuals will end up with what you wanted them to have.

If you want to leave something to family members or close friends, you will need to indicate this in your last will and testament or other estate planning documents. But you also may want to provide support to one or more charitable organizations. Of course, you can simply name these charities in your will, but there may be options that could provide you with more benefits.

One such possibility is a charitable remainder trust. Under this arrangement, you’d transfer appreciated assets – such as stocks, mutual funds or other securities – into an irrevocable trust. The trustee, whom you’ve named – in fact, you could serve as trustee yourself – can then sell the assets at full market value, avoiding the capital gains taxes you’d have to pay if you sold them yourself, outside a trust. Plus, if you itemize, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction on your taxes. With the proceeds, the trust can purchase income-producing assets and provide you with an income stream for the rest of your life. Upon your death, the remaining

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS trust assets will go the charities you’ve named.

Aside from family members and charitable groups, there’s a third entity that’s central to your estate plans: yourself. Everyone should make arrangements to protect their interests, but, in the absence of an immediate family, you need to be especially vigilant about your financial and health care decisions. And that’s why, as part of your estate planning, you may want to include these two documents: durable power of attorney and a health care proxy.

A durable power of attorney lets you name someone to manage your finances should you become incapacitated. This arrangement is especially important for anyone who doesn’t have a spouse to step in. And if you become incapacitated, your health care proxy – also known as a health care surrogate or medical power of attorney – lets you name another person to legally make health care decisions for you if you can’t do so yourself.

Estate planning moves can be complex, so you’ll need help from a legal professional and possibly your tax and financial advisors. You may not have an immediate family, but you still need to take steps to protect your legacy.

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

Edward Jones, Member SIPC Mary Beth Brody

Discover more about the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau thelaurelmagazine.com

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The Art

of Living

Beth and Ken Bowser

For Beth and Ken Bowser, ar t is central to the ar t of living together in love and joy.

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he story of the pandemic is full of tales of couples’ relationships strained by the compelled togetherness.

On the other hand, Beth and Ken Bowser seem to be the perfect pandemic pair.

Unlike other couples, forced into becoming perpetual co-workers by the stay-at-home orders, they had shared a world of ministry and creative expression for most of their nearly 44 years together.

Ken paints, and Beth constructs works from glass.

They met in Canton, Ohio, in 1975; Ken was then a pastor in the United Methodist Church. Like her husband, Beth also was in the ministry in the United Methodist Church. She also worked in higher education administration.

In 1995 Ken retired, and the couple moved to Glenville. The couple both had ties to the South and especially Atlanta – Beth was born there, and Ken had received his Masters of Divinity at the Emory University, Candler School of Theology.

Beginning in the 1960’s Beth visited Glenville regularly, where a favorite uncle had a home. Beth, on her part, remained active in ministry until 2017.

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Once in Glenville, they set up working art studios in their new home.

Ken had begun painting in high school. It wasn’t until seven years after graduation from the seminary he took up painting again – then in oil. When, a few years later, he met Hudson, Ohio, resident and well-known watercolorist Lowell Ellsworth Smith, he enthusiastically embraced the medium.

Smith eventually became his mentor, encouraging his art and helping him hone his skills through collaborations with fellow artists and visits to Colorado, New Mexico, and Mexico.

Glass has been Beth’s passion since she was a young adult. In 1980, she finally took a course in stained glass production, and has been engaged with glass ever since.

Along the way, she became interested in kiln-formed glass – a medium she prefers for the unique challenges it offers.

“Some pieces come out of the kiln as expected, others are happy accidents, while others are accidents waiting to be redeemed,” she explains. Her kiln glassworks include pendants, bowls, plates, and free-hand designs.

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Beth and Ken Bowser, 1995

Both artists are moved by past travels to Western Europe, Russia, For Beth, these past 15 months have seen an explosion of production and the Southern Hemisphere. The unimaginable richness of the art and a chance to focus on working in new methods of kiln-fired glass, in churches and museums that they viewed, and visual images they including glass sculpture and pressed glass. brought back have inspired and served as a reference point.

The pandemic has stirred a feeling of the fragility of life. As Ken The pandemic has offered so wisely said, “The pandemic brings one face-to-face the couple freedom to with the reality of life; it’s a very wonderful gift that can … mutual trust, a shared experiment and expand. Ken be gone in just a moment.” ministry, and separate relished the opportunity it Theirs is a story of a remarkable and long partnership. bank accounts. allowed for Beth to observe and The success of which Beth attributes to “mutual trust, a critique his work. shared ministry, and separate bank accounts.”

“It’s always helpful to have Beth and Ken’s art is available for purchase at the The the eyes and thinking of another person when they look at your work Bascom gift shop in Highlands (thebascom.org), or viewings may be – somebody else’s looking at and reacting is always helpful.” scheduled by emailing Beth at Bethb272@gmail.com, and Ken at As before, Ken is stimulated by his surroundings, the people and Kennethbowser6@gmail.com. landscapes of which are the subject matter of his canvases. And he finds value in the weekly Studio Alive workshops at The Bascom,

by Marlene Osteen where he can draw from live models and interact with fellow artists.

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Healing with

Healthy Heat Infrared heat does a lot more than make you feel toasty.

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magine for a moment, a life that is healthy and whole.

A life where the mind and body work together to support one another and thrive. It sounds wonderful, but the reality is that a lot of people are experiencing some level of physical or mental imbalance and are seeking a variety of alternative approaches to become whole again.

One such approach is using healthy heat from an infrared sauna, specifically a Sunlighten Sauna.

Although saunas have been popular for centuries, they are not often thought of for treatments in traditional medicine.

Traditionally, saunas have been unbearably hot, steamy rooms in which breathing can be difficult. But the saunas of today have technologically evolved from the harsh, 200+-degee rooms they originated from to a soothing, healthy heat.

Sunlighten Infrared Technology brings forth a therapeutic treatment that is not only relaxing but also clinically shown beneficial for your health. These saunas also help eliminate toxins, further supporting the healing process.

Infrared wavelengths are the invisible part of the sun’s spectrum consisting of near (NIR), mid (MIR) and far (FIR) rays. These rays have the ability to penetrate human tissue. This characteristic makes infrared beneficial because it heats the body directly at the core rather than simply warming the air resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where the majority of toxins reside.

Some of the health benefits include: 1. Detoxification: a Sunlighten sauna generates a sweat 7x more detoxifying than a traditional sauna.

2. Relaxation: designed to encourage the purest form of relaxation and stress-reduction.

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS 3. Weight Loss: an infrared sauna session can burn up to 600 calories. Sunlighten saunas showed a reduction in belly fat in just 3 months.

4. Heart Health: the SoloCarbon heaters have been clinically shown to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

5. Pain Relief: therapeutic benefits to back, neck, and arthritis pain from continuous use of infrared therapy.

6. Anti-Aging: the skin’s appearance improves as pores open from the deeper sweat induced by the infrared therapy.

7. Muscle Recovery: naturally increases circulation, helping your muscles get the oxygen and nutrients it needs.

8. Cell Health/Immunity: stay healthy with the natural, preventative properties of our exclusive LED near infrared heating technology, which aids in cell health and overall immunity defense.

9. Wound Healing: the advanced LED near infrared technology has the unique ability to heal wounds faster and minimalize scarring.

Infrared heat is safe and healthy for all living things but, like with anything, moderation is key. You can be exposed to infrared light for hours without the risk of burning because infrared is a naturally occurring output of the sun but does not contain the harmful UV rays associated with unprotected sunlight. This alternate approach to becoming healthy and whole will be available locally!

Cashiers Valley Fusion Yoga and Wellness is excited to be offering the Sunlighten Infrared Sauna beginning this summer as one of their holistic treatments for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. More details can be found at cashiersvalleyfusion.com.

by Mary Abrany. Mary is the owner of Fusion Yoga & Wellness in Cashiers and a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

She is committed to helping others achieve their goals and works to bring more positivity to the world one person at a time.

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

Living Life Together

H

Let’s not lose those common sense health practices that we cultivated during the long Covid season.

ow do we move forward from a pandemic? Covid-19 has been part of our lives for over a year now!

It’s like a great relationship gone bad…We are now facing a society with new norms, some who have had the vaccine and some who have not. Whether we do or don’t, we must realize that contamination and contraction of the virus is still a major concern!

Although the vaccine is available and many have had it, it is still not preventing the transmission of the virus. Yes, it certainly helps those who are exposed to it, some get it still, but the symptoms are much less serious. Those who carry it can still spread it, to those who have the vaccine and those who don’t.

What am I getting at?

In my office, as a chiropractic physician in North Carolina, we are still mandated by our state association to require masks at all times while inside the office. This may change after the publication of this article, but for now it stands.

I have already noticed that the prevalence of “common” colds and viruses are emerging in our very small town. We have had patients report that they have a stomach virus, common cold and bronchitis

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as well as a few that have contracted Covid even though they were vaccinated. All of this points to the fact that we still need to be prudent with our choices to socialize, go out to eat, and gather in large numbers. I am a firm believer that hygiene and good immune function is the key to less spread of any disease or sickness.

Now, as a small town, part of a large society, we are stumbling forward in hopes of finding a new normal and a small semblance of our “former” lives.

Just like the path toward good health and longevity, we still must err on the side of caution and think before we act and speak.

Illness, unfortunately, is rampant in many different forms. We did a great job so far in pushing the Covid pandemic down to a much smaller footprint,so let’s continue to be mindful, diligent and caring when it comes to the journey that we have found ourselves on- be healthy, stay the course, love one another and live a long and fruitful life – Together!

by Dr. Sue Aery Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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LIFESTYLES & W ELLNESS

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SE RV IC E

ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS

BEAUTY

BEAUTY

CABINETRY

CLEANING

CLEANING

CONSTRUCTION

HOME MONITORING

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SE RV IC E

HOME DECOR

LAWN AND GARDEN

PICTURE FRAMING

PRINTING

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

ROOFING

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BUSI NESS

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GI V I NG BAC K

GIVING BACK Pages 202-211

photo by Susan Renfro 201 J U LY 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 Zen

of Life

M

Nicole Taylor and Natalie Owens after exercising Mercedes and Izzy.

There’s nothing sleepy about life on the farm.

any of our readers have heard me say that daily chores of life on the farm are very Zen – Chop Wood, Carry Water.

Tending to the horses, dogs, cats, birds and all of nature allows us to maintain a rhythm of sameness.

Time and time again guests to the farm will say, “How lucky you are to get to ride horses whenever you want.”

Fact is, that’s not the case at all. Riding the horses is way down on the list of things to do. Their care and well-being is the top priority, and those who haven’t lived the joy of farm life see all of this through different eyes.

Allow me to share a typical “Day in the Life” of the farm.

For me and those who joyfully and faithfully work and volunteer here daily, it’s a well-greased machine. I’m up at 6:00 most days to greet the morning, walk the dogs, feed dogs, cats, birds, and occasionally myself, all before getting ready to head to the stables. Horses are fed at 8:00. In the summer they spend the nights outside with access to the arena and several paddocks. Watchful eyes examine each horse as they come into the stables for breakfast – watching for any signs of injuries. Each receives their ration of oats and supplements. (This

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same process occurs at lunch and dinner.)

They receive any meds, body work, special treatments and grooming. Fly masks on and sprayed, they head out to the fields for morning grazing and work begins. That means cleaning stalls, fields, arena and paddocks of any manure for fly management. The herd of eight averages 450 pounds of manure a day! We compost and sell “Promising Results,” to help with expenses!

Meals are made for the rest of the day and water buckets and troughs are cleaned. Hay is soaked for two hours to remove excess sugar. At noon they return for lunch and if we aren’t fixing fences and mowing fields we may get to lunge a few and maybe get in the saddle. Dinner is at 3:30 and they are back out for the night!

It’s all a labor of love for the eight remaining horses who have given so much to our participants over the course of 25 years, “Exploring the Human Potential Through Equines.”

Carpe Diem Farms is a 501(c)(3) experiential education foundation.

by Sue Blair, Carpe Diem Farms

GI V I NG BAC K

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GI V I NG BAC K

T & Learning Literacy

A pair of Summer Camps will ensure that The Literacy & Learning Center will continue to teach and inspire, even when school’s out. The center is located at 675 South 4th Street in Highlands. For more information, call (828) 526-0863 or visit maconncliteracy.org.

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here are many things students can do to keep learning all summer while they aren’t going to school. Studies have shown that reading and doing other stimulating activities for the brain can improve a child’s test scores and overall learning experience in the long run.

The Literacy & Learning Center will provide many enriching activities over the summer for students, even if you have not enrolled your child in our programs before!

TL&LC will be hosting educational summer camps in July for grades kindergarten through sixth grade. There are two camps available, the first will be Space Camp, and students will engage in fun and educational activities learning about outer space.

The second camp is Nature Camp, where TL&LC is teaming up with The HighlandsCashiers Land Trust to help students learn about the plants, animals, and minerals in the environment around them.

TL&LC will also be providing individual tutoring throughout the summer. Individual tutoring offers a learning experience that is catered to the student’s specific needs. Students can use this resource to work with a volunteer on reading, math, or any other subject they need extra help with.

The Literacy & Learning Center is dedicated to providing quality educational support for students of all ages, even when they aren’t in school. To find out more about TL&LC’s summer programs, call (828) 526-0863 or visit maconncliteracy.org.

by Jenni Edwards The Literacy and Learning Center

GI V I NG BAC K

Save a Friend, Donate

Despite an unprecedented streak of adoptions, the fallout from the Covid crisis continues to reverberate with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s bottom line.

A

ll of us at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society wish to express our sincere thanks to the amazing folks who have come forward to adopt and foster a shelter pet during the first half of 2021. We have a remarkable streak (which began in February 2014) of 88 consecutive months with 20 adoptions or more, and adoptions so far this year are above the record-setting pace we experienced a year ago.

The number of adoptions is the good news, but we still need a great deal of financial help to get through these tough times and we would appreciate any assistance you can provide. Normally at this time of year we would be applying the proceeds from our June fundraiser – Pawsitively Purrfect Party – towards our lifesaving mission. Although the lessening of COVID-19 restrictions will now allow us to host our annual August fundraiser Bark, Beer, and Barbeque (which we are very thankful for!), having to cancel Pawsitively Purrfect Party resulted in an approximate loss of 25% of our annual revenue.

We would be very thankful for financial donations of any amount to

help continue our 34 years of work on behalf of animals in need in our community. There are three ways to make a tax-deductible financial gift: 1. Online via our website chhumanesociety.org (look for the red “Donate” button on the top right of the homepage); 2. Charge a donation to your credit card by calling us at (828) 743-5752 or; 3. Send your check to our mailing address at: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.

We sincerely thank you for your kindness, compassion and support.

Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, 1 ½ miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Visit us online at www.chhumanesociety.org. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to: CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.

by David Stroud, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

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GI V I NG BAC K

Cashiers Cares

Delivers

Even in the midst of a global lockdown, Cashiers Cares has still managed to suppor t nine local agencies. Donations and memorials may be made throughout the year and may be mailed to Cashiers Cares, Inc., P.O. Box 1072, Cashiers, NC 28717.

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GI V I NG BAC K

D

espite the challenges presented by the pandemic lockdown, Cashiers Cares has distributed $70,580 from the 2020 Annual Campaign to the nine agencies it supports.

“We worried that the Covid restrictions would seriously impact us,” Chairman Pam Kerr explained. “For example, Cashiers Cares traditionally hosts the Hot Dog Lunch at the Community Center following the Christmas Parade, which helps generate community awareness and financial support each year.”

This year the group’s fundraising was limited to a letter-writing campaign, with a big boost from the efforts of the Trillium Families Care organization, which alone raised more than $32,000. The Trillium Club’s support was instrumental in Cashiers Cares’ efforts to maintain the community’s lifelines during a difficult year.

The agencies supported by Cashiers Cares are: AWAKE, which serves children and others who are victims of abuse; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cashiers/Highlands, which teams mentors with children; and Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, which serves low-income residents needing dental care.

Also supported by Cashiers Cares is the free Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers, which provides medical care and prescriptions to those in need; Fishes & Loaves, which supplies food to those who fall below the poverty level; and Four Seasons, which is devoted to palliative care for end-of-life residents. Literacy

Council of Cashiers, which offers tutoring as well as free books to emerging readers and their families, is another recipient of Cashiers Cares funding.

Additionally, SAFE, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, and United Christian Ministries of Jackson County, which serves people in emergency situations, fall under the Cashiers Cares banner.

In essence, Kerr says, a contributor’s single gift can touch the lives of the youngest child to an elderly person in end of life care.

Since 2008 when Cashiers Cares launched its mission to support the unmet needs of Cashiers and Southern Jackson County residents, more than $400,000 has been distributed. The allvolunteer organization operates with little overhead in order to return to the community nearly every dollar raised. Church of the Good Shepherd, St. Jude’s Catholic Church and Cashiers United Methodist Church have provided underwriting support since the organization’s inception.

Donations and memorials may be made throughout the year and may be mailed to Cashiers Cares, Inc., P.O. Box 1072, Cashiers, NC 28717.

by Luke Osteen

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GI V I NG BAC K

All Walks

of Life

For Rotarian Rebecca Baker, a global pandemic is no reason not to continue ser ving her community.

Rebecca Baker

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GI V I NG BAC K

R

otarians around the world represent every imaginable Another Rotarian passion of hers is Rotary’s polio eradication background, ethnicity, and skill set. Many Rotarians own program, as well as the clean water initiative worldwide. businesses and run for public offices, but just as many are As she has become involved, she said she would like to see more builders, architects, designers, medical professionals – and the young professionals involved. “I think people may think that we are list goes on. all older and retired and male,” she noted. “We have some dynamic Rebecca Baker falls in the latter category. She joined Rotary Club young working women who are still raising their children. We of Highlands Mountaintop in fall of 2020. While it may not have have many different life perspectives, but we are all interested in appeared to be an opportune time to dive community and/or world service.” into volunteerism, due to an ongoing Rotarians have in-person and Zoom …but we are all pandemic that called for social distancing, meeting options, and meetings typically interested in community Baker was not deterred. last one hour. Added Baker, “We also have and/or world service.

She was drawn to becoming a Rotarian many opportunities for volunteer service for the very reasons that pique the interest throughout the week and on weekends, and admiration of others: “I was incredibly such as the Arts and Crafts Fair and trash impressed with the mission of Rotary and pickup. As the co-chair of the membership the philanthropic work in this community and the world,” said Baker, committee, I want to let people know we are also planning some a nurse practitioner in Highlands who owns, with her husband, Dr. really fun get-togethers for 2021-2022.”

Scott Baker, a small family practice office in Highlands called Baker To learn more about Rotary Club of Highlands-Mountaintop, Family Practice. call (828) 526-2858 or send a message through the club’s A 25-year, full-time resident of Highlands, Baker said, “I have Facebook page. been so impressed with the Covid vaccination initiative in Highlands

by Deena Bouknight by member Robin Austin.”

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GI V I NG BAC K

Welcoming All Patients

The opening of Blue Ridge Health – Highlands Cashiers in the Jane Woodruff Clinic Building on the campus of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital vastly expands the health care options available on the Plateau.

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T

he Oxford Dictionary definition of “Common Good” is an act or service that is done for the benefit and/or interest of all.

This month, the Plateau’s new health center, Blue Ridge Health – Highlands Cashiers, opens with two new doctors, and a full support staff, welcoming all patients.

The opening of the health center, over a year in the making, is a true example of how an organization can achieve common good for the community it serves.

The new health center will be located on the second floor of the Jane Woodruff Clinic on the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital campus.

Drs. Davis and Fincher will see all patients from infants to seniors and everyone in between, offering a full spectrum of primary care services including chronic disease management, treatment for acute illnesses and minor injuries, women’s services, sports medicine, physical exams, health screenings and healthy lifestyle and nutrition programs.

An innovative component is also being woven into the fabric of the new health center. In collaboration with Mountain Area Health Education Center, BRH – HC will become a Rural Teaching Practice where UNC School of Medicine students, MAHEC Residents, and many others will become acquainted with our unique community while providing quality primary care during their rural rotations.

With only 3 percent of North Carolina’s primary care physician graduates choosing to practice in rural locations, and the challenges that arise from being in a rural, mountainous location, the Rural Teaching Practice enhances the long-term success of recruiting physicians to our area to practice, live and fall in love with our treasured mountain community.

Putting together this collaborative, dynamic program involves a substantial financial commitment. In order for BRH – HC to open and become established, the foundation knew that we needed to invest in the common good for our community. However, we can’t do this alone.

With generous donor support, BRH – HC will provide a robust array of health services benefitting full-time, seasonal and visiting families across our Plateau for generations to come.

So, please, join us in Lifting Health and Well-being, because together, we can truly make a difference! For more information on how you can help, visit hchealthfnd.org today!

by Ashlie Mitchell-Lanning Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

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BUSI NESS

The Benefit

of Busy Streets

I

Think Parking is Such Street Sorrow? Crowded streets and sidewalks benef it all Highlands residents.

f you’re like most of us among Laurel’s readership, you’re plowing through this Busy Season like a gravel-laden dump truck rumbling down the Cullasaja Gorge.

Perhaps your calendar is filled with visits of friends and family from far away. Maybe you need to make dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant way in advance. And perhaps your plans to stop at a Main Street boutique to buy a gift end up taking an extra 10 minutes because you just couldn’t find a close parking place.

But allow us to explain why these complications and minor vexations are actually good news for all of us living and working here.

We at the Highlands Chamber, dba Visit Highlands, NC, are of course aware of these summertime issues.

But that’s a good thing because Highlands has been welcoming visitors since its establishment in 1875 because tourism has provided economic growth and sustainability for residents to have a quality life part time or year-round.

Young Strategies’s calculations estimate that total visitor spending in Highlands is $64,102,083 per year. This visitor spending generates local North Carolina sales tax of 2 percent for our town government. The Highlands Chamber of Commerce dba Visit Highlands, NC, receives a portion of the occupancy tax, also paid by visitors, from Macon County.

In FY 2019/20 we received $866,064 from Macon County. That is a lot of money!

Our Board of Directors has approved the budget for fiscal year 2021-22. We want you to know how our budget for occupancy tax benefits the Town of Highlands and its residents.

20 percent will go to local nonprofits; 19 percent provides all of Highlands with free events. We also hire local and regional musicians for entertainment/gatherings, thus generating jobs; 18 percent supports marketing inspired by a new marketing firm that

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is focused on months when resident and visitor populations are reduced, thus generating an economy to keep Highlands open year-round; 14 percent goes to staff – again, jobs for local residents; 7 percent is allotted to contractors, once more, increasing jobs for local residents; 7 percent provides technology platform expenses, including new and upgraded website development, video, initiatives and campaigns for the off-season, and online communications, keeping you and visitors informed; 5 percent is used for the Welcome Center, which serves residents and visitors; 5 percent is used for traditional media buys. It keeps residents and visitors informed through newspapers, magazines, radio, and our annual publications. And guess what? More local jobs; 4 percent goes to administrative expenses; And 1 percent is used for branding and PR. The Board of Directors and Staff directing Visit Highlands, NC, are using Macon County Occupancy Taxes as legislated. We purposefully plan quality-of-life improvement for our residents, while striving for a sustainable year-round economy through visitor management.

A couple of months of crowded parking (which translates to more spenders) provides funding for Town Government, Local Nonprofits, Local Employment, Communication to Residents and Visitors, Events such as Outdoor Concerts, Fireworks, Parades, Light up the Park, Halloween, and much more.

So, think of it as exercising when you need to park a little further away. You’re building strength in your body and your town. For more info, visit highlandschamber.org.

Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands NC

BUSI NESS

Time to Reconnect on the Plateau

S

It’s off icial – The Summer Cashiers Experience is back on the calendar.

hop. Dine. Stay. Play!

Cashiers and nearby Highlands are springing into summer amid relaxing health restrictions, vibrant blue skies and abundant blooming flowers. After months of social distancing, many families and friends are now gathering – within the continued safety protocols – to celebrate on the Plateau.

July marks the return of the Village Green’s Joy Garden Tour in Cashiers. New this year will be the Village Crawl an extended shopping event launched by the Cashiers Area Chamber Retail Roundtable in coordination with the bi-annual garden tour.

The public is invited to enjoy evening shopping hours of 5:00. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, July 16. Many of the participating upscale apparel, home and gift, and specialty boutiques near the Cashiers Crossroads, the intersection of US 64 and NC 107, will offer a garden-

themed purchase premium to complement Joy Garden festivities.

Live music also will be featured in various venues of the Village Green from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Ample and convenient parking is available on Frank Allen Road.

Concerts on the Common will be held mid-July to October in lieu of the traditional summer Groovin’ on the Green music series on the Village Green lawn.

For more information, visit Cashiers411.com, the online community calendar for events in Cashiers, Glenville, Sapphire, Lake, Toxaway and Highlands.

by Stephanie Edwards, Executive Director, Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce

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New Brokers at Silver Creek Real Estate Group Silver Creek Real Estate Group has added a pair of brokers to handle a booming Plateau real estate market.

For more information, visit ncliving.com.

Kirsten Kohl

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Jodi Moore

BUSI NESS

S

ilver Creek Real Estate Group, a leading real estate firm on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, has added two new brokers, Kirsten Kohl and Jodi Moore.

“We give careful consideration to who will be a good fit for our team,” says company president Jochen Lucke. “Kirsten and Jodi both have a proven track record of successful sales careers and fostering quality relationships. By utilizing Silver Creek’s powerful marketing platform, they will be able to even better serve their clients in Burlingame, Lake Toxaway, and across the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.”

Jodi Moore began her real estate career in Palm Beach County, Florida, in 1999 with Prudential Florida WCI Realty, where she was an award-winning residential agent beginning with her first year.

Prior to working in real estate, she was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a consumer product company for nine years, during which time the company’s sales grew by nearly 400 percent.

She and her family became full-time residents of Cashiers in 2008 after visiting the area and falling in love with the mountain lifestyle.

Moore’s strengths lie in her sales and marketing skills and the ability to work with a diversified group of people, as well as her passion for real estate.

After attending college in Helsingor, Denmark, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Kirsten Kohl enjoyed a successful

sales and marketing career in the hearing health field starting with Siemens Hearing Instruments. Shortly after a move to Swiss-based Bernafon AG, Kohl was responsible for five states as the Southeastern Regional Sales Manager.

In 2011, Kohl and her husband bought a home in Sapphire, so they could spend more time and eventually retire there. Now Kohl shares her love of people and her love of Western North Carolina by helping others achieve their dreams of a home in the mountains.

Silver Creek Real Estate Group specializes in real estate in Cashiers, Highlands, Sapphire Valley, Lake Glenville, Lake Toxaway and Bear Lake, NC, as well as larger properties in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

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

Scan for more info

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BUSI NESS

Keeping the

Home Fires Burning

The Firewood Company is at the hear t of your favorite restaurant or cozy evening. For more information call (828) 200-3050 and ask for Bob or email bobhenritze@gmail.com.

Bob Henritze

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BUSI NESS

I

s there anything more relaxing than settling in next to a roaring fire on a cool evening, or more fun than building a fire in your wood fire pit and making s’mores with your family?

Roaring fires and good times are the stuff that memories are made of, so don’t be caught without firewood. The right wood is key to a trouble-free fire. Finding it is as easy as calling The Firewood Company.

Owners Bob and Pamela Henritze met at the Highlands Rotary Club Christmas party in 2014, and their love at first sight story evolved into both a happy marriage, and a business partnership that keeps growing and meeting the needs of area restaurants, businesses and homeowners.

The Firewood Company began in 2015 by supplying wood to select restaurants in Atlanta, and soon grew to include Northeast Georgia, Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. Restaurants depend on The Firewood Company for timely service, fair prices and the best wood available.

That’s right, the Henritze’s might be responsible for that perfectly smoked rack of barbecue ribs or

that succulent wood-fired pizza at your favorite restaurant. Talk about behind-the-scenes suppliers who make businesses successful!

Soon they realized that residential customers also needed a dependable source of perfect wood so they began making their product available to private residences. Their oak, white oak, hickory and seasonal hardwoods are always perfectly seasoned and in the size you need. They’re one phone call away and soon you’ll have a perfect load of firewood in short order, always delivered with a smile.

Their website at firewoodcompany.net is filled with glowing testimonials of their product and service so do yourselves a favor and let The Firewood Company light your fire. For more information call (828) 200-3050 or email Bob at bobhenritze@gmail.com.

by Mary Jane McCall

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#1

More closed transactions than any other office on the Plateau in 2020

$233M

357

Number of closed transactions

by Silver Creek in 2020

$104M

171

Silver Creek’s total sales volume in 2020

Silver Creek's total sales volume so far in 2021

Number of closed transactions

by Silver Creek so far in 2021

STATISTICS STATISTICS ACCORDING ACCORDING TO TO HCBOR HCBOR MLS MLS ASAS OF OF 6/15/2021.

6/15/2021.

L O C A L LY O W N E D .

I N D E P E N D E N T LY O P E R AT E D .

JOCHEN LUCKE

DAN ALLEN

PRESIDENT/BROKER

BROKER

RICK JACKSON

BAMBI FAMOUS

KEVIN KOACH

KIRSTEN KOHL

EDDY MCDONALD

JODI MOORE

CASSIE NEAL

LINDA PRIDGEN

CHUCK SELF

MERRY SOELLNER

RAY TRINE

ROB WHITNEY

BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

AMANDA BRYANT ASSISTANT/BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

MELISSA HAGGAR-JORDAN ASSISTANT/BROKER

PARKER ANDERSON BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

DARLENE OTT ASSISTANT

CHRIS DUFFY BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

BROKER

RIVA SMITH

ASSISTANT/BROKER

NNCCLLI V I VI N I NGG. C . COOMM | | CCAASSHHI E I ERRSS: : 882288- -774433- -1 9 1 99999 | | HHI G I GHHLLAANNDDSS: : 882288- -552266- -22999999

S T ON E F LY offered at $6,500,000

CASHIERS

Just minutes from the shopping and fine dining of downtown Cashiers, Blue Bear Camp is the ultimate Adirondack-style mountain lodge. This prime property borders the Nantahala National Forest, ensuring privacy and abundant wildlife. Another world awaits in the dreamlike setting amid the wild Chattooga River, flowering landscaping, sparkling waterfall, and lush forest, all against the stunning backdrop of Whiteside Mountain and Devil's Courthouse. MLS# 91521.

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GOLF CLUB ESTATES offered offered at at $3,200,000 $3,200,000

N E W LY LISTED

SAPPHIRE

Just a short stroll or golf cart ride from the Country Club of Sapphire Valley, At Last Lodge is a custom-built, gated estate featuring artisan, elegant finishes and the ultimate in creature comforts. Secluded and peaceful, the 4.7+ acre property is flat with many enclaves to enjoy outdoor living, such as a chimney garden with a woodburning fireplace from the 1800s, a koi pond, waterfall, and a stone patio with a fire pit. An impressive entry door with a one-of-a-kind bronze relief welcomes guests into this entertaining haven, the heart of which is the gourmet kitchen. MLS# 96601.

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60+ ACRES offered at $2,950,000

SYLVA

This 60.96 +/- acre estate has been sculpted for a variety of uses and provides all the necessary amenities. A very lovely three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home oozes modern rustic charm. The open floor plan flows from the kitchen to dining areas, which then leads into the expansive living room with vaulted ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace. The space feels very inviting, relaxing, and yet sophisticated for entertaining purposes. Upstairs you will find light and bright three bedrooms with two full baths. MLS# 96690.

N E W LY LISTED

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BURLINGAME offered at $2,399,000

N E W LY LISTED

SAPPHIRE

Welcome to Enchanted Falls Farm, a 3.39 +/- acre private estate located on the Horsepasture River within the scenic Smoky Mountains. This beautiful mountain estate is perfectly situated to take advantage of the picturesque Burlingame Creek and its many waterfalls. The well-stocked creek offers anglers many opportunities to fish with the spectacular falls as a backdrop. Relax on the screened porch featuring a cozy wood-burning fireplace and listen to the waterfalls. MLS# 96649. Additional 3.51 acres can be combined with this property for $2,800,000. MLS# 96532

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ALPINE ESTATES offered at $2,250,000

HIGHLANDS

This light and bright dwelling boasts a fabulous in-town location, just a few blocks from Highlands' iconic Main Street, while providing picturesque mountain vistas. Two levels of decks accommodate countless evenings of al fresco dining and breathtaking sunset views. The primary bedroom is situated on the main level. The upper level has a generous sitting area with a kitchenette, bathroom, and private bedroom. The lower level has another sitting area with a flat-screen TV, kitchenette, and access to another large deck with sleeping swing. Another bonus room and bath are on this private level as well. MLS# 96422.

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CEDAR HILL $1,995,000 Brand new construction in the premier gated community of Cedar Hill, located just minutes from Cashiers and Sapphire. This custom home offers beautiful mountain views, and features private driveway to the home for additional privacy. The view welcomes you to the open design which appeals to today's mountain lifestyle. The kitchen with center island overlooks the dining room and features a separate butler's pantry. A spacious main bedroom with separate sitting area, two walk-in closets, as well as double vanity round out this suite.

The powder room and laundry room are also located on the main level. The lower level family room offers additional living space and access to the lower deck area. Three additional bedrooms with adjoining baths are also located on the lower level. If you are looking for new construction, this home is anticipated to be completed in late 2021. Don't miss this opportunity. MLS# 96203.

75+/- ACRES $1,995,000 Situated on gently rolling 75+/- acres with a large fenced pasture and tractor shed, this one-bedroom tiny house would make a great guest cottage or rental. The site for the main house has a long southern view overlooking the pasture area and distant mountains. 65 of the acres are in a conservation easement, while 10 remaining acres can be subdivided. Paved entry leads directly from Highway 64, and walking trails with creeks and falls are adjacent to the property. MLS# 96260.

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STONEFLY $1,950,000 This 4,000 +/-square-foot home is located only minutes from the dining and shopping of Cashiers and boasts four bedrooms and four full baths and one half bath. Located in a very private gated community, the large and level lot offers a stream and pond which can be admired from the large deck and covered porch. Enjoy sitting by the pond as you have a fire in the fire pit and listen to the sounds of nature.

Downstairs provides another living area, bedroom, small kitchen and media room. Guests or family can enjoy the home on any of the three levels. MLS# 96467.

GLENVILLE $1,890,000 Near the shores of Lake Glenville, this amazing gentleman's farm sits on 24.4+/- unrestricted acres of gently rolling hills, fenced pasture land, and a beautiful pond fed by three different springs. A scenic, winding drive leads to the top of the property, where you'll discover a large, comfortable log home ideal for kicking up your feet after a long day of playing outside. The residence offers incredible seclusion, sitting at almost 4,000' elevation with wonderful long-range mountain views from both inside and outside the home. The lower level affords private living for in-laws or guests, complete with a separate entrance, its own bedroom, bathroom, living area, laundry room, and even a kitchen.

The property is currently being enjoyed as a gentleman's farm and estate, but the fact that there are no restrictions makes its uses limitless.

MLS# 96435.

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NEWLY LISTED

BURLINGAME $1,799,000 This stunning lakefront home has exceptional mountain views. It is the perfect mountain retreat, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Lake views are framed by tall windows, cathedral ceilings, beams and a stone fireplace in the living room. Mary Palmer Dargan's stunning landscaping and rockwork in the backyard create an outdoor waterfront oasis with your own private dock. Wander the stone paths, sit by the fire pit, admire the landscaping or take a canoe ride around the lake. Guests and the outdoor areas of the home can be served by a second kitchen on the lower level. MLS# 96758.

THE DIVIDE AT BALD ROCK $1,775,000 Sitting on over two acres in the premier gated community of The Divide at Bald Rock, this grand getaway has its own gated entrance leading to the home, far away from noisy highways. Massive log beams frame the incredible mountain views as the custom built-ins highlight the stone fireplace, which is the centerpiece of the open living area. The spacious home offers formal and casual dining spaces, a chef's kitchen with a Viking stove, and a covered deck with a stone fireplace. The primary suite is one of three bedrooms and sits on the main level, offering its own porch and fireplace. MLS# 96233.

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119 + ACRES

HIGHWAY 107 NORTH $1,585,000 Located on 119.34 +/- acres with short and long-range mountain views, this custom home offers easy access throughout the seasons.

There is a smooth flow from the kitchen to the dining to the living room, which offers vaulted tongue-and-groove ceilings, a large stacked stone wood-burning fireplace, as well as a wood-burning stove to stay cozy on snowy days. The kitchen has been updated with granite countertops, two copper sinks, and a pot filler. MLS# 95370. 23.14 acres and home can be purchased for $1,100,000 (MLS# 95279).

BALD ROCK $1,500,000 Situated on the edge of Camp Merrie-Woode's magical forest, this enchanting cabin offers the utmost privacy, with no other home to interrupt the surrounding vistas. Upon entering the carved doors, ascend to the upper level to see cathedral ceilings and a two-story fireplace. To either side of the fireplace, sliding doors access the deck. An open floor plan encompasses the dining room, living room, and kitchen. An adjoining screened deck is the ideal gathering spot for dining al fresco while listening to the babbling brook outside. MLS# 96374.

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NEWLY LISTED

TATER KNOB ESTATES $1,500,000 With the rare combination of magnificent mountain and lake views with a lakefront location, this home is light and bright with walls of windows, high ceilings, and an open floor plan. A primary bedroom on the main floor with an en suite bath allows for easy living, while a second bedroom upstairs and two lofts provide plenty of space for guests. A wraparound deck offers several spots to admire the views while enjoying the cool mountain breezes. The home's new owners can enjoy a summer of fun on the lake right from their private boat dock. An unfinished lower level has the potential to be a home gym or workshop, while an attached double garage adds convenience. On the market for the first time, this home offers close proximity to the historic resort village of Cashiers, providing residents with an opportunity to shop and dine to their heart's content. MLS# 96698.

UNDER CONTRACT

WHITEWATER COVE $1,400,000 This equestrian estate in Whitewater Cove offers over five acres of privacy, only 15 minutes from the fine dining and shopping of Cashiers.

The property encompasses two homes in excellent condition, both with an upscale look and feel. The single-level, double master main home - with spacious bedrooms and an open-concept floor plan - features a stone fireplace in each sitting room, shiplap-covered walls throughout, a large kitchen with a sizable island, and a marvelous screened porch to enjoy the mountain air - perfect for entertaining!

MLS# 96645.

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SAPPHIRE HIGH $1,175,000 Retreat from the world to an elegant Sapphire High home with year-round views of the brilliant Blue Ridge Mountains. Secluded and private, the focus on detail is evident with its open floor plan and only the highest quality furnishings and custom finishes. Created with a rustic Italian influence, the decor features contrasting elements, such as Mediterranean textiles against natural rough surfaces, to create a dramatic design impact. The heart pine wood flooring, trim, and crown molding throughout the home exhibits a high level of fine artistry.

Experience gracious living from the stained-glass front door to the expansive 100 feet of decking with a screened-in porch that frames the panoramic mountain views. MLS# 93732.

BALD ROCK $999,000 Gorgeous equestrian property with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths all one one level! Total of 6.38 acres with approximately 2 acres of fenced pasture, perfect for horses or dogs. Long and short range westerly facing mountain views from this easily accessible location at above 4,100 feet elevation. Home was completely remodeled in 2013 and features vaulted ceilings, tongue and groove paneling, wood floors, newer kitchen with custom alder wood cabinets, Alaska white granite countertops and stone backsplash. MLS# 96505.

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CULLOWHEE RIVER CLUB $949,000 Perched above the Tuckasegee River with mountain views, "River View Cabin" radiates the vibe of outdoor living. Nestled in the Cullowhee River Club, experience the tranquility of the rushing waters from the covered Trek deck or the walk-out lower-level equipped with a gas line for a fire pit/grill and wiring for a hot tub. This maintenance-free home exudes elegance, comfort, and craftsmanship. Natural slab stone adorns the entry and perimeter and is complemented by terraced stone landscaping. MLS# 96038.

BIG SHEEPCLIFF $875,000 Located just minutes from the Cashiers Crossroads and within the gates of the highly coveted Big Sheepcliff community, this wonderful three-bed, three-bath mountain retreat is perched at over 3,700 feet of elevation. The cozy, bright living room with a wood-burning stone fireplace boasts high, vaulted ceilings and is flooded with natural light. Exceptional southerly views of famed Whiteside Mountain are a breathtaking sight year-round. MLS# 96522.

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L AKE TOX AWAY ESTATES $860,000 This beautiful timber frame construction offers golf course living at its finest within the confines of the prestigious gates of Lake Toxaway Estates. The large deck, both covered and uncovered, overlooks the fifth green and the mountain range beyond. A golf cart path leads directly from the house to the course for easy access. The large primary suite on the main level boasts a spa-like jetted tub. Two additional bedrooms on the upper level and another bedroom on the lower level affords en-suite baths. The second living area on the lower level includes a gaming area and another half bath for added convenience. Gather friends and family on chilly evenings to relax around the fire pit and enjoy the sounds of the waterfall on the property. MLS# 96099.

BIG RIDGE $860,000 Imagine watching from the deck as the sky turns from purple to blue as the stars fade and the sun rises over the mountain, hearing only the songs of birds and frogs, and the stream as it meanders to the pond below. This three-bed, three-bath, exquisitely appointed mountain home sits on over 12 scenic, private acres in the close-knit Big Ridge community, just 10 minutes from Lake Glenville and 20 minutes from downtown Cashiers. MLS# 96697.

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WATERFALL COVE $829,000 Located on beautiful Lake Glenville only steps away from the shoreline, this three-bedroom, three-bath lakefront home is loaded with mountain charm! The property features two stories of wrap-around decks and tons of natural light, staying remarkably cool during the summer months.

The rondette design provides added structural stability and views of nature from all sides. The open kitchen and living room face the lake view, offering a wood-burning fireplace for those cool mountain evenings. MLS# 96445.

NEWLY LISTED

BURLINGAME $749,000 This retreat is ideal for large families with spectacular views of the eleventh fairway and mountains beyond, having been renovated with beautiful wood floors throughout most of the house. A light and bright kitchen offers an expansive island and quartz countertops, while the primary bath has been renovated with quartz countertops and an updated tub and shower. A large stone fireplace in the living room highlights the cathedral ceilings. MLS# 96628.

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STONE CREEK ESTATES $725,000 New construction to be completed by late summer of 2021. Conveniently located within walking distance or short golf cart ride to The Country Club of Sapphire Valley (membership by invitation only). This custom 3 bedroom 3.5 bath home features an open floor plan in the main living area with shiplap on the walls. A split bedroom plan for additional privacy. A covered walkway connects the house to the two car garage. MLS# 94764.

NEWLY LISTED

SIMS VALLEY $510,000 This is an excellent opportunity for someone seeking to own a newly constructed home (built in 2015) in a gated community. Enjoy wonderful mountain views from your open deck, covered porch with fireplace, or inside your home, since the view side of the home is graced with a wall of windows that lets the outside in. Friends and family can be entertained seamlessly with open-concept living, dining, and kitchen areas. MLS# 96709.

UNDER CONTRACT

HOLLY FOREST $475,000 Cozy, well-maintained and loved, one-level living with 3 bedrooms/2 baths and loft affording accessibility, comfort and ageless appeal. Views of the Blue Ridge Mountains welcome you as upon entering the open, bright and fluid floor plan with a living area accented by skylights and stacked stone fireplace. MLS# 96582.

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HOLLY FOREST $469,000 Offered for the first time since its construction, this amazingly well-maintained Holly Forest abode would be a fantastic option for year-round living or pose as a spectacular mountain retreat. Meander up the beautiful 230-foot paved driveway to this wonderful getaway.

MLS# 96502.

NEWLY LISTED TOX AWAY FALL S $424,900 A gorgeous waterfall and a great opportunity to reside in Toxaway Falls, these units rarely come on the market. The condo is located at walk-in level with stunning views of the waterfall. All new appliances, new commodes, new wine coolers, new gas logs in the fireplace, and new faucets, along with raised vanities, are included in the major upgrades. MLS# 96426.

UNDER CONTRACT COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES $400,000 This is a rare opportunity to purchase a short sale property. Situated on a level lot, this unique home with golf course frontage has an attached twocar garage. Its exceptional location in the gated Country Club Estates area is near the end of a cul-de-sac and is just a short walk or golf cart ride to the Sapphire Valley Resort amenities. MLS# 96657.

CULLOWHEE $335,000 Unrestricted 8.257 +/- acres with 650+/- feet of Gem Creek frontage.

Charming 2 bedroom/1 bath cabin and less than 5 minutes away from Lake Glenville make this a very rare and unique property. The location of the property lends itself to easy access back to downtown Cashiers, Franklin and Sylva. MLS# 96191.

NORTON ROAD $269,000 This charming mountain summer cabin is on 1.02+/- unrestricted acres approximately 3 miles to the Cashier Crossroads. The cabin offers all-on-one level living, 1 bedroom, and 1 full bath and a nice open space from the living room to kitchen with a spacious covered front porch. MLS# 96397.

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CULLOWHEE $230,000 Hard to find, charming mountain cabin on unrestricted 2.267+/acres. The cabin offers all on one level living, 2 bedrooms and 1 full bath. Nice open space from the living room to kitchen and a spacious front covered porch. Home has had recent improvements and some vacation rental history as well. MLS# 96032.

UNDER CONTRACT RIVER CHASE $219,000 Bring your suitcase and toothbrush as this fully furnished unit is move-in ready, offering a perfect retreat for the busy family to get away at any time. The living room is vaulted with wood ceilings and floors, as well as a gas fireplace. MLS# 96541.

LOT S & L AND ADMIR AL’ S POINT Looking to build a home with views of Lake Glenville? Take a look at this lot on the east side of the lake with easy access to Cashiers.

Enjoy the views of the lake and the mountains beyond, along with cool summer breezes. Buy now and build or hold onto the lot for future home. Don't miss this opportunity for a lake view lot. MLS# 94746. $95,000.

BALD RO CK NEWLY LISTED Spectacular gently sloping 10+ acre estate lot located in the prestigious community of Bald Rock. This lot borders the National Forest and equestrian trails allowing easy access to trail ride, hike or mountain bike. Bald Rock community features waterfalls, wooden bridges and streams throughout plus an equestrian center and a pavilion with 2 fireplaces and full kitchen. Ownership also comes with Sapphire Valley amenities that give you access to the golf course, tennis courts, rec center, fitness center, indoor/outdoor pools, community center, ski slope, zip line and more. MLS# 96752. $449,000.

BE AR L AKE Sitting in the middle of this beautiful mountain lake, Bear Lake Heaven Island is truly a unique opportunity. Bear Lake is a pristine lake at 2,600 feet elevation located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With 22 miles of shoreline, much of which is National Forest, Bear Lake is perfect for enjoying all the water sports or simply a slow evening cruise. No need to hop in a boat to reach this island, because there's a causeway for easy access to

your property. The island has underground power, a 12 GPM well, an installed 12 bedroom septic system, high-speed internet, 2 large docks, and 1,500 feet of shoreline. Unlike most property on the lake, which requires a building set-back, your property line ends at the water's edge. Spectacular lake and mountain views in every direction. Three-fourths of the island has been cleared and leveled; a trail, wide enough for a vehicle, circles the perimeter of the island. The entire lake frontage has been fortified with a rock wall to prevent any erosion. The property could be subdivided, making it a great site for a lodge, or it could be the most private of estate sites. Having a helicopter is no problem with the easy approach and a great landing site. MLS# 94384. $2,950,000.

Panoramic 180 degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and long range views of Bear Lake with clearing, on this end of a cul-de-sac homesite in Bear Lake Reserve. Bear Lake Reserve is a private and gated mountain lake, luxury resort getaway in Western North Carolina. Enjoy the rustic beauty of the mountains and countless amenities offered including: golf, tennis, hiking and trails, outdoor pavilions, a lake club and more. The resort adjoins Panthertown Valley, also known as “The Yosemite of the East". Conveniently located to the neighboring towns of Cashiers, Highlands, Sylva and Franklin you can escape to a desirable location offering a moderate climate, outdoor adventure, or just peace and respite from the fast pace. Incredible opportunity to build your custom dream home with impressive mountain vistas. MLS# 95383. $149,900.

BIG RID GE 11.23 acres of beautiful rolling pasture land with exceptional mountain views and all situated above 4,000 ft. elevation! Equestrian lover's will delight at the thought of riding in this heavenly setting,

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This 2.52 +/- acres offers cool breezes, mountain views with clearing and gentle enough topography to ensure economical foundation costs for your mountain dream house! Located in the casual community of Big Ridge, you'll experience peace, quiet and solitude on this generously sized building lot. Water is available at the north end of the lot. Close to Lake Glenville for all kinds of water antics! Spend your summer or a lifetime.

MLS# 96309. $39,900.

home built on this lot is centrally located just a short drive by golf cart or vehicle to the Burlingame Country Club, children playground, Horsepasture River, leash-free dog park and more.

Views of Lake Soquilla can be seen from the Lakeshore Drive side of the lot which could be further enhanced with permission from the HOA and your neighbors across the street.

Membership to the Burlingame Country Club is optional, but is required to use certain amenities. MLS# 94073. $29,000.

CEDAR HILL UNDER CONTRACT Enjoy the beautiful mountain sunsets from Parsons View. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, this lot has exceptional mountain views. Cedar Hill is an upscale gated community offering its residents awe-inspiring views and the very best in luxury mountain living. If you're searching for the perfect lot for your future dream home convenient to the heart of Cashiers and Sapphire, Cedar Hill will not disappoint.

MLS# 95137. $295,000.

THE BOULDERS Nice lot with short range mountain views. MLS# 95258. $29,500.

Nice 1.47 +/- acre lot with short range mountain views. MLS# 95257 - $29,500.

BRID GE CREEK 0.50 acre lot at 3,900 feet elevation with tucked away views of Lake Glenville. Located in the low density neighborhood of Bridge Creek, just a short scenic drive to Cashiers and 25 minutes to Highlands. Cross over the charming covered bridge spanning the trout waters of Norton Creek to enter the quaint community of Bridge Creek which offers a community pond, picnic area, outdoor chimney garden and hiking trails. MLS# 91223. $26,100.

BURLINGAME NEWLY LISTED Great opportunity to own over 4 acres with golf course and Horsepasture River views in Burlingame Country Club. Build your dream home in this amazing community. Must see to appreciate. MLS# 96498. $399,000.

NEWLY LISTED Very private location in Burlingame. 2.5 +/acres with Creek running through it on both sides. Gentle topo makes for easier build site. Situate house to view beautiful waterfall. Sit on your porch and listen to the sounds of the creek.

Must see to appreciate. MLS# 96542. $350,000.

NEWLY LISTED One acre private cul-de-sac lot with great views of Hogback Mountain and Burlingame's 5th fairway.

Build your dream home here. MLS# 96593. $149,000.

Desirable, nearly level lot located within the grounds of Burlingame Country Club. This lot can be accessed from either the quiet Lakeshore Drive on one side or the easily accessible Upper Whitewater Road on the other. Your future mountain

The Meridian at Cedar Hill is the final phase of the very popular neighborhood of Cedar Hill. These lots are at over 4,000 feet elevation with private sewer access, water, paved roads and underground power. A well maintained neighborhood with pristine roads, gated entry and lovely homes. Exceptional mountain views including Bald Rock and Lonesome Valley Canyon set this estate lot apart. MLS# 96301. $170,000.

Streams, streams, streams! There are 3 streams that pass through the property and 2 that intersect at one point! Easy to walk property with trails and walking planks over the streams that go in every direction. Gentle home site with nearly flat access off the main road. Expired 4 septic permit on file and private community water available. Pretty setting with some short range mountain views possible as well. Cedar Hill is a highly desirable gated community located only minutes from the Cashiers Crossroads. Sapphire Valley Resort amenities are optional with a $500 initiation fee and annual fees of $858/ yr (2021), upon membership application and approval. 2,800 square foot minimum building requirement. MLS# 95571. $160,000.

The Meridian at Cedar Hill is the final phase of the very

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LOT S & L AND

but anyone who wants to enjoy long range mountain views in a peaceful and serene setting will appreciate this land. The perfect building knoll sits just a tad higher than the rest of the acreage providing great sight lines in all directions. Lot faces west for remarkable sunset views! Located in the Big Ridge area, approximately 10 miles from town, it's far enough out to be private yet close enough to go to town to go to the grocery store or enjoy one of the many fine shoppes or restaurants in the area. Cashiers offers many free local events to enjoy as well such as Groovin' on the Green concerts every Friday night in the summertime. Call to schedule a showing of this property! MLS# 90175. $399,000.

popular neighborhood of Cedar Hill. These lots are at over 4,000 feet elevation with private sewer access, water, paved roads and underground power. A well maintained neighborhood with pristine roads, gated entry and lovely homes. Exceptional mountain views including Bald Rock and Lonesome Valley Canyon set this estate lot apart. Cedar Hill is an upscale gated community offering its residents awe-inspiring views and the very best in luxury mountain living. If you're searching for the perfect lot for your future dream home, Cedar Hill will not disappoint. Convenient to the heart of Cashiers and Sapphire. MLS# 96300. $150,000.

MLS# 96402. $200,000.

THE CHAT TOOGA CLUB

The Meridian at Cedar Hill is the final phase of the very popular neighborhood of Cedar Hill. These lots are at over 4,000 feet elevation with private sewer access, water, paved roads and underground power. A well maintained neighborhood with pristine roads, gated entry and lovely homes. Exceptional mountain views including Bald Rock and Lonesome Valley Canyon set this estate lot apart. Cedar Hill is an upscale gated community offering its residents awe-inspiring views and the very best in luxury mountain living. MLS# 96298. $155,000.

Situated on a quiet street in the gated community of Cedar, located just minutes to Cashiers and Sapphire. The lot has a great view potential and is ideal for designing your dream mountain home and enjoy the cool summer temperatures. The community features a pavilion with stone fireplace along Rochester Creek, perfect for an afternoon picnic or hike. The community is very well maintained and welcomes residents to their mountain retreat.

MLS# 91330. $120,000.

Tucked away in the gorgeous gated community of Cedar Hill is this high elevation, easy build lot with beautiful mountain and ridge line views. There is an expired septic evaluation on file with Jackson County for a three bedroom home. Full Sapphire Valley amenities are available with initiation and additional annual fees.

This lot is a quick five-minute drive to Cashiers and a twenty minute drive to Highlands. MLS# 96100. $85,000.

CEDAR CREEK CLIFFS

Gorgeous premiere 5+ acre lot inside the gates of the prestigious and exclusive Chattooga Club. Great building site on this beautiful lot adjacent to Mac's View which will never be built on and is deeded to the homeowners association. Phenomenal views of mountain range and Whiteside Mountain - Perfect for sipping cocktails as you watch the gorgeous sunsets! MLS# 93769. $950,000.

Beautiful lot on corner of Club Drive and Gorge Trail in the well-established Chattooga Club community. Beautiful waterfall on the property with lots of hardwoods and indigenous plants including Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurels. Club membership by invitation only. MLS# 96442. $595,000.

One of the few lots still available in this established, exclusive and gated community. Gentle building site with view potential. Many beautiful hardwoods and indigenous plants on property including rhododendron and mountain laurels. Membership to Chattooga Club by invitation. MLS# 94549. $385,000.

Huge views form this large lot in the Glenville area. The bottom of the lot falls away from a very level building site, making it easy to open up the view. South facing, so plenty of year-round sunshine.

Convenient to Lake Glenville and Cashiers. Community water system. At nearly 4,400 feet elevation, you are guaranteed a cool summer. Compare to other easy build view lots, this lot is a great opportunity. MLS# 94470. $75,000.

Pretty lot, 1.81 acres for your dream mountain home in the well-established exclusive and gated community of The Chattooga Club. Conveniently located only 2 miles from town. Many pretty hardwoods, rhododendron, mountain laurels and other indigenous trees and plants on the property. Lake Chattooga and Mac's View picnic area with outstanding views are owned by the Homeowners' Association. Membership to the Chattooga Club by invitation.

MLS# 94551. $369,000.

CEDAR RID GE ES TATES

A wooded lot inside the gates of the well-established gated community of The Chattooga Club. Many beautiful hardwoods, rhododendrons and mountain laurels and other indigenous plants. Easy building site. Only 2 miles from town. Private wells included in you POA fee. A great opportunity to build your dream mountain home in this exclusive neighborhood! Club membership by invitation only. MLS# 94550. $359,000.

Build your mountain home alongside a tall majestic waterfall and also overlooking Horsepasture River! This large 2.47 acre lot is what dreams are made of with a private waterfall and approximately180 feet of Horsepasture River frontage that is only a 5 minute drive or less to the Cashiers Crossroads. Easy to find and view with a lot marker sign and a trail cut into the lot to allow you to walk around the potential home site area. Ideal home site positions your back deck overlooking the waterfall and river below.

Expired 4 bedroom septic permit on file and there is an existing water system to hook onto so no well drilling needed. Electricity is accessible at the road and Northland Cable or Frontier DSL are your options for internet/cable tv within this community. A new survey has been ordered and will be available upon completion.

CHES TNUT RID GE Fronting on Fenley Forest Trail and adjacent to Trillium, this 6+ acre parcel is the perfect spot with low HOA fees and close to Cashiers.

Producing well on property. Nice building area. MLS# 95902. $55,000.

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Located at 4000+/- feet of elevation, this 6.108+/- acres is located in the unique high elevation community. The lot has the potential for short and long range mountain views. The lot is close to hiking trails and green space. The development is in close proximity to downtown Cashiers. Chinquapin amenities include miles of hiking trails, biking and 4- wheeling, trout fishing, camping and a community clubhouse. There is also from the community, easy access to Panthertown Valley National Forest. If you are looking for even more acreage, lot 10 next door is also for sale with 3.407 +/- acres. MLS# 95866. $240,000.

Located at 4000+/- feet of elevation, this 3.407+/- acres is located in the unique high elevation community. The lot has the potential for short and long range mountain views. The lot is close to hiking trails and green space. The development is in close proximity to downtown Cashiers. Chinquapin amenities include miles of hiking trails, biking and 4- wheeling, trout fishing, camping and a community clubhouse. There is also from the community, easy access to Panthertown Valley National Forest. If you are looking for even more acreage, lot 9 next door is also for sale with 6.108+/- acres. MLS# 95867. $225,000.

Enjoy approximately 400 feet of bold Robinson Creek frontage from this gently laying 3.46 acre lot. There's an abundance of natural flora covering the property including beautiful ferns, moss covered rocks, mountain laurel and rhododendrons.

Privately located at the end of a circular cul-de-sac with an old logging road leading you right into the center of the property.

Continue your journey onto just one of the many community hiking and waterfall trails that goes through the property down to the stream where the property line ends. Throw in a line and there's a good chance you will catch a native brook or rainbow trout, or both! Just across the stream you will see one of several Wilderness Cabins that are available for property owners and their guests to enjoy. Next to that Wilderness Cabin area is a large conservation property so you don't have to worry about anyone building behind this lot. There are about 13 different trails in Chinquapin, some for UTV/ATV's, hiking and mountain biking. Take off from your home in any direction and it will lead to one of the many waterfalls in the area. The Chinquapin community is truly is a nature lover's paradise! MLS# 93754. $150,000.

2.13+/- gentle rolling acres at the end of cul de sac. Lot backs up to wooded green space. Chinquapin is a beautiful nature community where residents have access to multiple trails for hiking, biking or ATV rides, teepee village, ponds for fishing, picnic pavilion, helipad and community social gatherings throughout the season. If you are looking for a beautiful location to build your mountain home, Chinquapin may be the place for you. Convenient to Cashiers for shopping and dining and Lake Glenville for skiing, tubing, swimming and more. MLS# 96240. $135,000.

Located on a dead-end road, Lot 107 is an easy build with gentle topography and an active 4-bedroom septic evaluation, with fantastic ridgeline views that are part of the draw of Chinquapin. This 2,000-acre, private, gated community, with 700 acres in permanent conservation, offers a variety of amenities including ATV/UTV, hiking, and mountain biking trails, fishing streams, camping sites, cabins, an activity field, disc golf course, helipad, and more. The trail at the bottom of the

lot is a close hike to beautiful Twin Falls A short distance to the trailhead of iconic Panthertown Valley - a 6,311-acre back country recreation area in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest - surround yourself with beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from an elevation of 4,500 feet. MLS# 95311. $109,900.

If you want to be in a community of upscale homes and low density, a community that features acres of conservation easements, trails, ponds, stables, and more; look no further. It's a private gated 2,000 acre community with wide paved roads, underground utilities and high-speed fiber internet. Chinquapin offers a unique mountain experience. This lot sits at just shy of 4,000 feet elevation, has a gentle sloping building site and a nice mountain view. MLS# 95987. $79,900.

CROSS CREEK PRESERVE Build your dream home right next to a waterfall! Extremely unique lot with a BOLD stream and 2 waterfalls bordering approximately 480 feet along the left side of the property.

This 2.68 acre lot will also have great mountain views once house site is cleared and view is trimmed in. A trail or walkway leading from the home site down to the common area can easily be added for direct access to the common area. Building will be a breeze on this nearly level building site. Underground utilities and water access already in place and there is an expired 3 bedroom septic permit on file. Cross Creek Preserve is a well-manicured community with only 24 home sites and a gated entrance where you pass through a charming covered bridge. This lot also backs up to the peaceful and serene common area where you can kayak, fish in the trout stocked lake or enjoy a campfire in the community fire ring. Located only 5.5 miles from the heart of Cashiers in the popular Norton Road area. MLS# 95971. $199,900.

Come build your dream home upon this generously sized 2.69 acre lot within the beautifully manicured Cross Creek Preserve.

This wooded, gently sloping lot offers easy access and potential for long range mountain views to enjoy from your future getaway, whether it be a primary or secondary residence.

MLS# 95183. $175,000.

Amazing long range mountain views can be seen from this home site in the prestigious gated community of Cross Creek Preserve. As you enter the community through the charming covered bridge you will see that this is a very well maintained neighborhood with nice common areas including a trout fishing pond with waterfall and a huge field and fire pit for owners to enjoy. Nearby Trillium Links & Lake Club can be seen from this north facing lot. Surrounded by several upscale neighborhoods, Cross Creek is also close to Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club and Old Edwards Club. Conveniently situated between Highlands and Cashiers for quick trips to town for shopping and dining. Seller already has a complete set of ready to build custom house plans designed specifically for this lot for a 3-4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home. Contact listing agent for more details! MLS# 89979. $169,500.

CULL A SA JA CLUB Build your dream home on these two lots being sold together within the upscale, gated community of the Cullasaja Club!

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CHINQUAPIN

Coming in at over two acres, these gently rolling adjacent properties boast gratifying potential for a build site that, with some trimming, could open up a beautiful view. Cullasaja Club combines luxury living and the ultimate in leisure for a true one-of-a-kind Western North Carolina community. At the heart of this exclusive gated enclave lies a par 72, 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course, as well as a clubhouse with mixed grill & formal dining room. Cullasaja Club also boasts one hard surface & five lighted clay tennis courts, state-of-the-art fully-staffed fitness and activity center, and canoeing, kayaking or fishing on fully-stocked Lake Ravenel.

There aren't many of these opportunities left! MLS# 96349. $275,000. These lots are available for individual sale – Lot 86 $125,000 (MLS# 96347) and Lot 85 - $149,000 (MLS# 96348).

CULLOWHEE FORES T 11.65+/- acres with a mix of stream and waterfall frontage located in the gated, informal community of Cullowhee Forest. The size of the lot gives you options for the future home site along with the potential for short range mountain views. MLS# 95250. $99,000.

Cullowhee Forest is a gated community focused around nature, large lots, and a pristine mountain feel. Surrounded by lush forest, this property is 6+ acres at 3,600' elevation, making it an ideal location for a temperate mountain getaway. High-speed internet will be available via recently approved fiber optic cable installation. The private community common area is arguably one of the prettiest in the area, providing direct access to the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River - an ideal spot for fly fishing - and private access to an unbelievable community waterfall greater than 100 feet tall. Miles of additional hiking trails, including High Falls Trail, are directly accessible from the common area. MLS# 94921. $35,000.

CULLOWHEE MOUNTAIN ROAD Here is your chance for 20+/- acres (deed says 20+/- acres and Tax Office shows 16+/- acres ) of unrestricted land in the heart of the mountains for Western North Carolina. Ready for one or multiple home sites, this parcel has a paved driveway connecting off one of multiple build sites to Cullowhee Mountain Road. If you like higher elevation views, work your way deeper into the 20 acres and surround yourself in nature with complete and utter wooded privacy while taking in the stunning views from your new deck in any direction. Just 12 minutes to the Pine Creek Recreation area on Lake Glenville and under 30 minutes to the shops and restaurants of the town of Cashiers. MLS# 94875. $130,000.

CULLOWHEE RIVER CLUB

tain views. Sounds of the rushing river abound on this gentle sloping, largely cleared lot with short and some potential long range mountain views. Cullowhee River Club includes a common green space area, pavilion, fire pit, and fireplace. It is conveniently located minutes to Western Carolina University and a short scenic drive to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. Both the Asheville airport and Harrah's Casino are an hour's drive. Public sewer is available.

MLS# 96237. $165,000.

FALCON RID GE NEWLY LISTED Spectacular long range southwesterly views from this 2.42 acre home site. Great Chimney Top, Rock and Whiteside Mountain views extending all the way east to Rainy Knobs and beyond. Community water system and electricity are accessible at road. Located in the desirable neighborhood of Falcon Ridge, this lot sits at a cool 4,000+ feet elevation and has astonishing layered views into South Carolina. This home site has paved access and sits far enough away from Tower Road to provide quiet tranquility.

This is the perfect spot to build your mountain getaway! Falcon Ridge has a community common area with a pavilion and a bonfire ring and is a wonderful place to enjoy with friends, family and neighbors. Panthertown Valley, a 6,300 acre wilderness area, is right around the corner making hiking and waterfall sightseeing very convenient. Ownership also comes with Sapphire Valley Resort amenities where you can enjoy golf, tennis, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, carpet golf, community center, ski slope, zip line, Lake Fairfield access and more. MLS# 96606. $195,000.

GLEN L AUREL Huge views of Lake Glenville and mountains. Access to Lake Glenville with shared dock. Paved roads and community water. Underground utilities. Frontage on 2 community roads. Lot is very close, less than 1/4 mile, from a public boat launch. So you can easily put in and take out any watercraft. If you're looking for it all, view, lake, and elbow room; this is it. MLS# 95547. $49,500.

Easy build lake access lot within walking distance to Lake Glenville and the community boat dock. This lot has a gentle slope and a very pastoral view of pastures and mountains. The lot is easily accessed from paved state road. This lot is also very convenient to Cashiers, Highlands, Franklin and Cullowhee. Glen Laurel has paved roads and underground utilities. Minimum square footage for homes, only 1400 sf. Affordable opportunity to own your mountain cabin with an almost lake front lot. Within 1/4 mile of public boat ramp. 3 bedroom septic permit issued. MLS# 95506. $41,000.

UNDER CONTRACT Large view lot with lake access. Paved road wraps around lot with gentle building area at bottom and big view from top. Lake and mountain views. Paved road and underground utilities. MLS# 96460. $35,000.

GLENSHORE

Incredibly light filled homesite located at the end of a cul de sac and situated above the Tuckasegee River with Blue Ridge Moun-

UNDER CONTRACT Wonderful lake front lot, located in the gated community of Glenshore. With low square footage building requirements and access to community water, makes this one of the best lot deals on Lake Glenville. And if you're looking for more room to expand, the lake front lot to the right of this lot is for sale.

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One of the more established lakefront subdivisions on Lake Glenville, Glenshore is a gated community featuring some of the most beautiful multi-million dollar homes in the Western North Carolina area. This affordable corner wooded lot, priced under assessed value enjoys winter views of Lake Glenville and with additional tree topping/trimming, potentially even more enhanced views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Each home site in Glenshore is individual, offering unique perspectives of nature. The waterfront community of Glenshore on Lake Glenville offers its residents all of the pleasures the lake has to offer – boating, jet skiing, swimming, fishing and more. MLS# 94182. $39,900.

GLENVILLE NEWLY LISTED Extremely unique and rare opportunity to have 107 +/- acres across from Lake Glenville. Property offers amazing mountain and lake views along with pond and stream frontage. Location of property is only minutes from downtown Cashiers. MLS# 96441. $2,800,000.

pavilion with fireplace. MLS# 96275. $199,000.

HIGH SPRINGS It doesn't get much better than this! Gentle 1.8+/- acre building lot with easy driveway access and a house site that has already been partially cleared. Located at the end of a culde-sac that is shared with only two other owners. The lot line extends all the way down to Birch Creek Trail below so it would be easy to open up the view with a little tree trimming for a great year-round long range mountain view. Southwesterly views of Whiteside Mountain, Satulah Mountain, Yellow Mountain, Black Rock Mountain and more. These two lots were combined into one so there is only one $1,000 POA fee per year and it includes water usage. Only a 1,400 minimum square foot building requirement! Expired 3 bedroom septic permit on file. MLS# 95795. $125,000.

HIGHWAY 10 7 SOUTH

GOLF CLUB ES TATES Fabulous views over the Country Club of Sapphire and the mountains beyond. Located in the gated community of Golf Club Estates, this lot offers a great opportunity to build your perfect mountain dream home. Membership at the CCSV is by invitation only, and just a short golf cart ride away. MLS# 94304. $175,000.

GRE YCLIFF UNDER CONTRACT 3,900 ft plus of elevation, lake and boat dock access, with mountain views. Located in the Informal Gated community of Greycliff, the community offers wide paved roads throughout, community water, underground utilities, simple common sense restrictions, and a low minimum build requirement of 1,400 square feet. Greycliff is one of the few communities around Lake Glenville that offers the ability for members only to access Lake Glenville and have the use of a common boat dock. MLS# 95684. $49,900.

Wonderful long range mountain view lot located in the gated community of Greycliff. The community offers wide paved roads, underground utilities, community water with lake and boat dock access. MLS# 95897. $55,000.

HIGH ME ADOWS Very hard to find 4.70+/- acres, with a gentle topography, located in a low density gated community with extensive walking trails, close to downtown Cashiers. If you are looking for privacy and the feeling as though you are in a state park, then this lot and the community of High Meadows provides just that feeling. The lot also has a small babbling brook that runs through the property if you are looking for a little water noise. There is currently a trail cut in from the beginning of the lot to the very end of the lot which will connect you to one of the walking trails and take you to a common area that provides an outdoor

On the market for the first time, the historic Waddell/Hanks House estate sits in the heart of the highly desirable Highway 107 South corridor in Cashiers, North Carolina. The estate overlooks a gently meandering Fowler Creek and Wade Hampton Golf Club's beautiful 7th and 8th holes. This section of the corridor boasts an impressive concentration of luxury homes, a central uncongested location, two prestigious private country clubs, and the newly renovated High Hampton resort. With few building restrictions, the estate property represents an exceptional opportunity to build a custom single-family compound, several estate homes, or a development with upscale cottages for seasonal or year-round residents. The 12.16-acre property consists of contiguous parcels of 3.41 acres, .64 acres, and 8.11 acres. MLS# 94760. $3,700,000.

HOGBACK CREEK ES TATE Well priced adjoining lakefront lots totaling over an acre with gorgeous views of the lake and mountains beyond. Hogback Lake is great for canoes, kayaks, sails, pontoons, fishing boats w/trolling motors and swimming. There is an expired septic improvement permit for a three bedroom dwelling from 2002 (would need to be updated with Jackson County). Sapphire Valley amenities are available if desired but not mandatory.

MLS# 94633. $80,000.

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MLS# 95824. $320,000.

HO GBACK L AKE UNDER CONTRACT Great opportunity to own a lake front lot with minimal fees! Enjoy beautiful views of Hogback Lake and Hogback Mountain from this half acre lot. Drop a canoe or fishing line in right from your own property! Located at the south end of the lake near the dam with easy access off Highway 64. Current 4 bedroom septic permit on file. NO HOA fees and Sapphire Valley Resort membership is optional with a one-time $500 initiation fee and $858 annual fee (2021 fee). MLS# 96045. $60,000.

HOLLY FORES T Easy build lot with a great view of Chimney Top Mountain and green space on two sides. Easement in place that allows for a gentle driveway to be built through green space leading straight to the build site knoll. Quick drive to Highway 64 with no steep roads to climb or descend, very usable in the winter. Less than 5 minutes to amenities and restaurants, 8 minutes to Cashiers.

MLS# 95181. $20,000.

Great location to build a mountain home...right in the heart of Sapphire Valley! Just a golf cart ride away from the Sapphire National Golf Course & The Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company & Restaurant. This unique lot has frontage from Buckberry Drive and Mayapple Drive. The ideal location to put in a driveway would be from the front left side of the lot, near the small stream, that would lead up into the perfect home with lots of privacy. Close to the main highway, yet not close enough for road noise to be an issue. Ownership comes with Sapphire Valley Resort amenities.

MLS# 94259. $19,500.

Nice gentle lot with over an acre of land and year-round mountain view potential! This property has a long private driveway already roughed in so it’s easy to see where the best home site would be. Both lots on each side already have homes built on them so privacy won’t be an issue. Expired 4 bedroom septic permit on file.

MLS# 96440.$23,000.

Gently sloping lot in Holly Forest VI with long range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a cascading stream trickles through the property. White pines, ferns and rhododendrons adorn this beautiful wooded lot that offers a fairly level building site. Located a short drive to all the Sapphire Valley Master Association (SVMA) amenities, a ten minute drive to Cashiers and less than an hour to the Asheville airport. Ownership comes with all of the SVMA amenities including golf, tennis, swimming, skiing, tubing, miniature golf, outdoor hiking trails and canoeing or kayaking at the breathtaking Fairfield Lake. Mountain dreams do come true and this unique and inviting lot is waiting for you! MLS# 95850. $15,000.

Over half an acre lot with nice building envelope in Holly Forest Community. This community and location are optimal for building a year around residence, vacation home or investment property.

Sapphire amenities are associated with this lot including golf, tennis, indoor/outdoor pool, fitness room, jogging track, ski slope and Fairfield Lake. MLS# 96091. $15,000.

Great view lot in the heart of Sapphire Valley. Just minutes to Cashiers and Sapphire, as well as all the Sapphire Valley amenities.

Year round view will be available from the home once the trees are trimmed. MLS# 94189. $9,900.

A noisy stream runs along the bottom portion of this lot! This gently sloping home site will make the perfect mountain cabin

spot. A great location for nature lover’s with a canopy of trees surrounding the property. Just a short walk to the Narrows waterfall and common area. This would be a great building site for a 2 story home that overlooks the stream. Expired septic permit on file and community has low homeowner’s fees. Ownership comes with Sapphire Valley amenities. MLS# 88627. $6,500.

THE L AKE CLUB This is your chance to own an easily buildable lot within the highly coveted Lake Glenville community, The Lake Club of Cashiers!

With over 2.54 acres of land, the Lake Glenville views could be enhanced even more with some tree trimming. The Lake Club offers owners buried utilities to each building site along with the rare opportunity to be in a gated community on Lake Glenville with a clubhouse dedicated to those owners relishing in the boating lifestyle. The Lake Club has a community dock just minutes away from this lot easily reached by golf cart, allowing the new owners an opportunity to escape to the lake for a day of fun at a moment's notice. Nearby, the quaint villages of Cashiers and Highlands feature abundant choices for fine dining and eclectic shops for exploring. Don't miss out on one of the few opportunities within The Lake Club of Cashiers and your opportunity for living the Lake Glenville lifestyle. MLS# 96047. $185,000.

L AKE TOX AWAY ES TATES Extraordinary value and location with 2 potential building sites.

Private, level and easy to build golf course frontage lot on the 12th Hole, short distance to clubhouse, 4 bedroom septic evaluation and well evaluation on file. Located on a private "loop". There's also a spot for a potential pond or water feature. The property has deeded lake access to Lake Toxaway and its proximity to the lake and club amenities make it a terrific location. MLS# 95956. $99,000.

Are you looking for that perfect piece of land to hold until you're ready to build that mountain dream home? Here is a unique opportunity to own a very gentle-laying lot in prestigious Lake Toxaway Estates. The reasonable topography allows for wonderful economy of foundation costs and the elevation allows for that lovely view at a budget price. Lake and mountain views can be made even better with selective tree trimming. At nearly 1.5 acres, you'll enjoy plenty of space for building your mountain dream home, beautifying the landscape, play time or just while away the hours in the cool mountain air. The location on Panther Ridge is so convenient to Lake Toxaway Country Club for a fabulous country club experience (membership is available with approval) and this lot comes with deeded lake access on the state's largest private lake. Enjoy all that the development has to offer, including lake access, views galore, hiking trails and a friendly environment. The community is convenient to many of the natural riches we all love this area for such as many waterfalls, US Forestry Service parks, abundant wildlife, fishing and much more! Enjoy life in your second home or live here year round. MLS# 94710. $68,000.

L AUREL FALL S Over 15 acres of land to enjoy at 4,100+ ft. elevation! Long range mountain views and short ridge views from these 2 northerly facing lots. A gorgeous property that is truly unique and offers a ton

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8.99 acre parcel available at 3,700 feet elevation in the gated and private community of Laurel Falls! Great winter mountain views too! Listen to the sounds of the rushing stream located on the lot directly across the street from this property. A perfect building shelf runs along the entire middle section of the property. Enter into the far right side of the lot and walk across through the middle level portion to reach one of the best potential home sites. The Laurel Falls community is adjacent to and has a private trail into the 6,300 acre Panthertown National Forest where nature enthusiasts enjoy hiking, biking and horseback riding. Low POA fees and only 1,000 sq. ft. minimum building requirement. This lot can be subdivided one time according to the most recent covenants and restrictions. No mobile homes or modular homes allowed in Laurel Falls. Only about a 20 minute drive from Cashiers where shopping, dining and activities are abundant! MLS# 96059. $89,000.

Two great adjoining lots in the scenic, wild and gated subdivision of Laurel Falls. Each lot has a survey, expired septic evaluation for a 3 bedroom home with easy building sites! A small stream runs through the property providing additional mountain charm. Ridgeline views with tree trimming. Lots of usable land. Laurel Falls is bordered by thousands of acres of protected Panthertown Valley. The Yosemite of the East. MLS# 96084. $40,000.

MANTLE RIDGE Tucked away in a tranquil setting at a cool elevation of almost 3,800 feet, this scenic property is comprised of almost 2 gentle acres. Beautiful eight lot subdivision nestled among Christmas tree farms with underground utilities. This location is perfect to build your dream home and your slice of the mountain life! The location offers views of Shortoff Mountain.

This property is very private yet convenient to both Cashiers and Highlands. MLS# 95847. $99,999.

NORTH NORTON ROAD Hard to find 10.84+/- unrestricted acres for sale with lake and mountain views. The property also offers Lake Glenville access.

8 water taps available for property with the Strawberry Hill Homeowners Association. MLS# 95907. $425,000.

OLD EDWARDS Beautiful setting from this gently sloping lot with wonderful mountain and golf course views! One of the last golf course

lots available and overlooking 17th tee and green. The homesite has a stream running along the right side for the soothing sounds while enjoying a cocktail on your future deck. This lot is very convenient to Old Edwards Club and GlenCove amenities. Water and sewer tap fees have already been paid. MLS# 95878. $349,000.

PILOTS KNOB One of the best panoramic views on the Plateau and close to Lake Glenville! Fantastic building lot in the desirable neighborhood of Pilots Knob. Year-round mountain views. Community features include a trout pond and common area fire pit where owners enjoy long range mountain views and also a Christmas tree farm. Pilots Knob is paved throughout and has an inviting gated entrance with a pretty waterfall feature. Low POA fees and underground utilities make this a great place to build your mountain escape at almost 4,000+ feet elevation! The owner has a set of house plans available that have been pre-approved by the developer. MLS# 96312. $145,000.

NEWLY LISTED The communities finest big view lots handpicked for ease of build and their fantastic long range views!

Pilots Knob is a thriving gated, mountain top community with high elevation lots rising above 4,100 feet. The community offers paved roads, green space, beautiful landscaping, a community pond, fire pit and refreshingly low HOA fees. With recent home sales, numerous lot sales, custom spec builds and privately owned builds underway, Pilots Knob is quickly becoming a bustling mountain community! While manicured and elegant, Pilots Knob's beauty remains unspoiled and the wildlife is abundant. Conveniently located just minutes from Lake Glenville, the areas premier lake, with access to boating, hiking, a public lake front park, a waterfall hike and a whitewater kayaking boat launch is all just around the corner. Pilots Knob is a scenic drive from Cashiers or Highlands and allows for easy access to restaurants, shopping and groceries while providing a true mountain escape! Pictures and words don't do this property justice. MLS# 96519. $98,000.

PINE FORES T UNDER CONTRACT A big view lot that is conveniently located between Sapphire Valley and Cashiers. Great sunsets await as you face in a westerly direction. Access is very short off of Highway 64 on a community paved road. Community water available. Build your mountain view home on this lot and you will be only a short drive from the many restaurants, shops and amenities of our beautiful mountain community. MLS# 95976. $129,500.

RO CK Y KNOB Two lots for the price of one! Located in the gorgeous gated community of Rocky Knob, these lots provide a peaceful setting to build a mountain home with lots of land to explore.

Owners have the privilege to enjoy the beautiful Lake Osage, a 17 acre lake, along with a covered pavilion and grilling area. Sitting at approximately 3,700 feet elevation, this is the perfect area to escape the heat of lower elevations. Not far from the Sky Valley Tubing Outdoor Center where they have summer

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of sprawling level acreage. Position your house anywhere you'd like among the native flora and ferns that cover the property.

The driveway is already partially roughed in and leads you to a clearing and a fire pit area where you will enjoy the best views.

Laurel Falls is a private neighborhood with gated access and low property owner fees. Nature lovers will appreciate the community's private access into the 6,300 acre Panthertown National Forest and trout fishing in Robinson Creek. Laurel Falls only has a 1,000 sq. ft. minimum building requirement making it the perfect spot to build a mountain cabin. These two lots are being listed together and offered at a discounted price for 15.89 acres. This property backs up to Chinquapin land for added privacy. MLS# 96190. $195,500.

and winter tubing, ice skating, gem mining, trout fishing, a market and Annie's Cafe. Only 10-15 minutes into downtown Highlands too! MLS# 95238. $55,000.

ROUND HILL ES TATES Fantastic location in the popular Round Hill community and close to the Sapphire Valley Resort! Gentle building site at the very end of a cul-de-sac and sitting at 3,300 feet elevation. Westerly facing lot with year round mountain views possible with select tree trimming. Expired 4 bedroom septic permit on file and 1,800 sq. ft. minimum building requirement. All Round Hill Estates residents have the option to join the Sapphire Valley Master Association.

Members of the Sapphire Valley Master Association enjoy golf, tennis, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, carpet golf, ski slope, zip line, community center, park/playground, picnic area and deeded access to Lake Fairfield. Membership to the Country Club of Sapphire Valley is by invitation only. MLS# 95667. $60,000.

SAPPHIRE COMMERCIAL

Sapphire Valley, including Bald Rock and the Balsam Mountains beyond. Located on the ridge at over 4,100' of elevation so that you can enjoy the cool summer temperatures. Centrally located, Sassafras Ridge offers easy access to the numerous amenities of both Cashiers and Sapphire. MLS# 95140. $495,000.

This premier lot in Sassafras Ridge located at the top of the mountain with the most breathtaking panoramic views. The site features gentle terrain for building your mountain dream home with opportunity to have a private driveway enter and exit at two locations on the property, for the true mountain estate feeling and plenty of parking. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic views over the Sapphire Valley, including Lonesome Valley and Bald Rock, the Balsam Mountains in the distance and too many others to list. The property borders National Forest land on the south side for additional privacy. As you enter the gates of the community and ascent to the top, the natural waterfalls, rock outcroppings and stone work reminiscent of the Blue Ridge Parkway welcome you home. On the ridge you will enjoy cool summer breezes and the most spectacular views. Centrally located, Sassafras Ridge offers easy access to the numerous amenities of both Cashiers and Sapphire. It also overlooks the Country Club or Sapphire Valley with a full complement of amenities. CCSV membership is by invitation only. MLS# 96114. $350,000.

SIMS VALLE Y

Great commercial location located in the heart of Sapphire Valley with direct Highway 64 road frontage. The property is a blank canvas with lots of possibilities in a thriving area that's exploding with growth. A parking area is already in place, all utilities are available.

MLS# 94261. $275,000.

SAPPHIRE HIGH Looking for 9+ acres in the heart of Sapphire Valley with all the amenities Sapphire Valley has to offer. This property would make for a great private retreat. Can be subdivided 3 times. MLS# 96287. $175,000.

Truly an awesome lot! Paved driveway already in place leading to the perfectly flat building site with 360 views. Long or short range mountain views in any direction you look! This private home site adjoins another 22+ acre tract that is privately owned with road access from the opposite end of the property providing this home site ultimate privacy. Sims Valley is a beautiful gated community with paved access, community water and underground utilities.

Owners also enjoy use of the clubhouse, swimming pool, pavilion, pond & fitness center. Located only 10-15 minutes from the Lake Glenville public boat ramp and beach swimming area. MLS# 95454. $119,000.

Extremely desirable building lot with bold stream frontage and a nearly level building site. This is the ideal place to build a mountain home overlooking a beautiful babbling stream with many small waterfalls. Enjoy some short and long range mountain views from this peaceful setting as well. Conveniently located near the community clubhouse, outdoor pool, fitness center and pavilion that owners can use for social gatherings. MLS# 85846. $44,000.

SPRING FORES T SA SSAFR A S RIDGE

A very easily accessible, buildable lot on Windemere Way within the gates of Spring Forest. Lot 8 offers exceptional, southerly long range mountain views of Sapphire Valley - This parcel has a near level portion for your future home site that will make any builder smile. Spring Forest is conveniently perched just minutes to the Cashiers Crossroads as well as everything Sapphire Valley has to offer. MLS# 95200. $155,000.

S TONECREEK ES TATES This large lot features beautiful panoramic views over the

These two lots have great mountain and rock face view potential of Cow Rock & Bald Rock with tree trimming. Sitting at 3,500 ft. elevation in the gated community of Stonecreek Estates with

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Sitting at 3,480 ft. elevation, this 1.5 acre lot will have great views of Cow Rock & Bald Rock with tree trimming. Located in the desirable and gated community of Stonecreek Estates with public water and sewer available. Just a short golf cart ride to the amenities of Sapphire Valley including golf, tennis, indoor/outdoor pools, fitness center, ski slope, zip lines and more. Membership to The Country Club of Sapphire Valley is by invitation only. MLS# 93047. $35,000.

Great mountain and rock face view potential of Cow Rock & Bald Rock with tree trimming. Sitting at 3,500 ft. elevation in the gated community of Stonecreek Estates with public water and sewer available. Just a short golf cart ride to the amenities of Sapphire Valley including golf, tennis, indoor/outdoor pools, fitness center, ski slope, zip lines and more. Membership to The Country Club of Sapphire Valley is by invitation only. MLS# 93048. $35,000.

S TONEFLY Looking for a lot in town with frontage on the headwaters of the Chattooga River? Here it is, 340+ feet of river frontage, very private and only a short distance to town. Large, easy building site. If you have someone who is interested in sending their kids to the Summit Charter School, it's a short walk away.

MLS# 95721. $395,000.

In-town lot with 460 feet of stream frontage. Headwaters of the Chattooga River runs down 2 boundaries. Easy build, easy access. Located in gated community only minutes from shopping and restaurants. The whole community is very gentle lying, so very walkable. MLS# 95736. $295,000.

In-town lot with 290+ feet of stream frontage on the headwaters of the Chattooga River and a small waterfall. Only minutes to shopping and restaurants. Easy build, 1.1 acre gentle lot with gradual slope from the paved entry road down to the stream.

Gated community with paved roads and underground utilities.

The community is very walkable. MLS# 95728. $245,000.

If you are looking for an easy build lot, close to town, in a gated community and with a stream that is part of the headwaters of the Chattooga River, this is your lot. Stonefly is only a little over a mile from the Cashiers crossroads. Convenient to shopping and restaurants, this lot has a gentle slope from the paved entry road down to the stream. The lot is a little over 1 acre and wooded with beautiful deciduous trees. The house site is so gentle that there would be plenty of room for parking, driveway and easy in and out. MLS# 95727. $239,000.

A wonderful easy build lot in-town. Small stream is one border for approx. 350 feet, which is the headwaters of the Chattooga River. Stonefly is a gated community with paved roads and underground utilities. Short drive to all the restaurants and shopping in the center of Cashiers. The community lies very gentle and so is very walkable. Foundation, driveway and parking would all be very easy since this lot is so gentle. Many possible home sites on this 1.38 acre property. MLS# 95729. $230,000.

S TR AWBERRY HILL Wonderful lake and mountain views from this 5.77 acre northwesterly facing property located in Strawberry Hill. Great natural building shelf already on the property for the perfect home site. End of road privacy from this Lake Glenville view lot and a cool breeze from 3,700+ feet elevation! Due to the amount of rock on the property, an engineered septic system will be required (estimated at $12,000 per bedroom). Private community water and just a short drive to several public boat ramps and the Jackson County Rec Park area with swimming area and hiking trails. MLS# 94126. $135,000.

Hard to find southern facing, big lake and mountain views at an affordable price. If you are looking for even more acreage and views, lot 33 directly next door is also for sale. MLS# 95885. $49,500.

Hard to find southern facing lot. Big lake and mountain views at an affordable price. If you are looking for even more acreage and views, lot 32 directly next door is also for sale. MLS# 95958. $49,500.

Great location in well-established Strawberry Hill, is this generously sized building lot. Views of Lake Glenville and mountains beyond. Easy access to the lake for family fun. Close to Cashiers, Glenville and Highlands for events, restaurants and shopping. MLS# 96401. $49,500.

SUGAR FORK ROAD Amazing opportunity to own a this 1.27 acre lot with approximately 228 feet of Cullasaja River frontage! Arnold Branch stream also runs down on one side of the property. This nearly level lot has already been nicely manicured with privacy plantings added for future growth and gravel has also been added to the driveway. Current 3 bedroom septic system installed and well system installed along with the electricity on site.

Seller has also obtained an RV permit and a brand new survey with benchmarks. This is an ideal spot for a cottage on the river and would make a perfect vacation rental location. Builder reference available if needed. A short drive to the Smokey Mountain Center of Performing Arts, Little Tennessee Greenway, Cullasaja River Gorge & Falls, Highlands, Cashiers, Lake Glenville are just a short drive up the mountain. Come sit back and listen to the sound of the river. MLS# 95335. $95,000.

SUMMER HILL

Fantastic lot located in the prestigious gated community of Summer Hill. This 4.95-acre lot features its own private

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LOT S & L AND

public water and sewer available. Just a short golf cart ride to the amenities of Sapphire Valley including golf, tennis, indoor/ outdoor pools, fitness center, ski slope, zip lines and more.

Membership to The Country Club of Sapphire Valley is by invitation only. MLS# 95845. $60,000.

waterfall and panoramic views of Lake Glenville. MLS# 95062. $950,000.

lot. This parcel is a must see! MLS# 96080. $125,000.

Summer Hill is a preferred, higher-end, gated community with generous lot sizes. Lot 23 is private, approximately 1.68 +/acres, high in elevation, and offers great mountain and sunset views. The owner's adjoining lot 24 is also currently available for purchase and would be an ideal addition to lot 23, for those looking to create an estate-sized parcel. Located on the west side of Lake Glenville (between Cashiers and Highlands), Summer Hill residents enjoy access to the lake with a boat dock, sandy beach, boat ramp, and large picnic shelter with a fireplace. MLS# 95631. $79,000.

WHISPER L AKE

Summer Hill is a preferred, higher-end, gated community with generous lot sizes. Lot 24 is private, approximately 1.99 +/acres, high in elevation, and offers great mountain and sunset views. The owner's adjoining lot 23 is also currently available for purchase and would be an ideal addition to lot 24, for those looking to create an estate-sized parcel. MLS# 95632. $79,000.

NEWLY LISTED This extremely level building site is this the perfect spot to build your mountain home! Westerly facing home site sitting at 3,200 ft. elevation and backing up to an almost 200 acre private estate. Electricity and water hook up at the road and an expired 3 bedroom septic permit on file.

The Whisper Lake common area has a lake side picnic area and dock where you can enjoy swimming, canoeing and kayaking.

This beautiful lot also comes with Sapphire Valley amenities including golf, tennis, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, fitness center, game room, carpet golf, river front picnic area, park/playground, ski slope, zip line and access to Lake Fairfield. MLS# 96605. $35,000.

Lot has a good view of Whiteside Mountain in well-established and exclusive neighborhood of Wade Hampton. Priced below market value! Motivated seller! MLS# 90236. $120,000.

UNDER CONTRACT Welcome to wonderful Whisper Lake! Great lot in this fantastic community which offers access to the private lake for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and canoeing as well as all the Sapphire Valley amenities including tennis, golf, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, fitness center, game room, and much more. There is a small spring that runs along the edge of the property. Fiber Optic has been run to the road throughout the community. MLS# 95903. $8,500.

WATERDANCE

WHITEWATER RID GE

WADE HAMPTON

Take a dip in the cool Tuckasegee River while dreaming of your perfect home situated directly above on this lot in the gated Waterdance community! If you love the idea of walking out your front door and going for a swim in the gently moving pool below your home, then this is the lot for you. The section of river frontage you own with this lot has both small rapids and slow moving pools, perfect for the avid angler or nature enthusiast. This lot has access to the community water located 100' from where the proposed home site is. If needed you could apply for a larger septic system. The community itself features paved roads, covered bridge, gated access, and gorgeous water features such as the waterfall that is across the road from this

Your chance to own an extraordinary 4.86 acre lot with multiple build sites that will allow to create the most expansive, long range views in the Sapphire area. This lot is located in the private, quiet subdivision of Whitewater Ridge and sits on the south side of the road, allowing the new owners to build their home in the highly desirable section for incredible views deep into South Carolina. Sitting at an elevation over 3,700 feet, the back portion of the property drops off to allow for wonderful southern exposure and no obstacles to impede your view.

Whitewater Ridge is a low cost HOA community with gated entrance, pond, community green space and pavilion for use by property owners. MLS# 96153. $275,000.

WILD TURKE Y NEWLY LISTED 16 acres of rolling property with good mountain views. MLS# 96616. $195,000.

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MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM

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

|

CASHIERS, NC 28717

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM

|

828.743.3411

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

Ethyl’s Cove 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

OFFERED FOR $6,950,000 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

|

CASHIERS, NC 28717

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM

|

828.743.3411

Fox Den, Big Sheepcliff 3 BR / 4.5 BA — An absolutely stunning modern design by the late Jim Fox, renowned for his unique, custom homes here in our region.

One of Fox’s last designs, it was built in 2002 and recently went through a masterful “seven digit” renovation. You’ll find an easy two steps from the paved parking onto the entry deck and into the copper roofed foyer.

The views straight through the “parlor” are amazing. In fact, all of the major rooms in this home are oriented to take in the fantastic mountain ranges, lining up layer after layer out to the south, east and southwest.

The kitchen features a brand new top-of-the-line Viking kitchen with a huge waterfall island and excellent storage. Nearby is the large pantry and convenient laundry. Window-graced dining is near the splashy bar, and all are open to the living room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and

OFFERED FOR $3,850,000 extraordinary maple ceilings. The master suite has his-and-her closets, a sleeping area and a reading lounge. Also on the main level, on the opposite end of the home, are the dramatic powder room, one guest bedroom and an office overlooking the view. Downstairs you’ll find a den, a small bar, a bedroom/bunkroom plus two more baths. The super-cool artist studio could be converted to accommodate more sleeping, if needed. There is a large, lower-level storage area and a two-car garage. The large lot is located in the middle of Big Sheepcliff, a favored in-town neighborhood, but is very private at the end of a cul-de-sac. The lot has a great “mountain flat” area which could accommodate a guest house, pavilion, firepit or lawn. This impressive home is being offered primarily furnished with some exceptions. MLS 96023

UNDER CONTRACT

BETH TOWNSEND, GUILD™ C

828.421.6193

|

BETH@CASHIERS.COM

Wade Hampton Golf Club 4 BR / 4.5 BA — Located at a high point on approximately 3.5 acres in Wade Hampton Golf Club, a McKee Development, this home offers privacy and fabulous mountain views. Designed by the area’s top home and interior designers, this is essentially a brand new home offered with an exceptional furniture package. The spacious great room - with its vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling dry stacked stone masonry fireplace and walls of windows - is cozy, yet expansive. It flows beautifully onto the screened porch overlooking gorgeous, pristine views of the mountains in nearby National Forest. The large porch features a wall of doors that open completely, creating an exceptional entertaining space with the living room.

OFFERED FOR $3,500,000

It features vaulted ceilings, a stacked stone fireplace, and clear roll-downs that make the porch another “indoor” living space. The elegant kitchen and dining area is beautiful, with appointments fit for a chef and style fit for a designer. A beautiful master bedroom and second bedroom, along with a cozy den/library, offer plenty of main-level living space. Two guest suites upstairs offer vaulted ceilings and stunning floor-to-ceiling steel and glass windows. A two-car carport, complete with storage, and lovely perennial, low-maintenance landscaping complete this perfect home package. This home is a special beauty! MLS 95525

619 HWY 107 S

|

CASHIERS, NC 28717

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM

|

828.743.3411

Little Ellijay Farm 4 BR / 4 BA — This beautiful 100-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 art studio, a

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

OFFERED FOR $2,995,000 large functioning barn, gardens, a chicken coop, fruit trees, fenced pasture land, fresh water ponds, springs and creeks throughout! Contact the listing agent today for a tour of this beautiful mountain farm. MLS 95528

Lichen Rock, Cedar Creek Road 200 ACRES — This pristine large tract located approximately five miles to 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,

OFFERED FOR $2,800,000

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

|

BETH@CASHIERS.COM

Wade Hampton Golf Club 5 BR / 5.5 BA — This is a charming, classic mountain home located in the highly sought-after community of the Wade Hampton Golf Club, a McKee Development, just five minutes from Cashiers. The home has gorgeous, sweeping, long-range views year round and is located on a spacious 1.42 acre homesite. The exterior features beautiful stacked stone, cedar shingles and gentle, nearly-level topography. The interior boasts a stunning semi-open floor plan with great entertaining flow through the large great room, kitchen, screened porch and dining room.

The great room offers gorgeous, pristine views to the east of the mountains

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

OFFERED FOR $2,695,000

in nearby National Forest, soaring ceilings and a beautiful masonry stone fireplace. The spacious master suite also offers great views, a beautiful stone fireplace and an adjoining office/den. Additional accommodations include a guest suite on the main level with views and a private deck, and three additional, large guest suites upstairs, all featuring beautiful vaulted and peaked rooflines. The large kitchen, located just off the great room, is perfect for a chef’s finest cooking and for family fun cooking and gathering.

It offers stacked stone surrounding the range, a large island, lovely vaulted ceilings and plenty of pantry storage. MLS 95742

Silver Run Reserve 4 BR / 4.5 BA — Between two North Carolina mountain ridges lies an expansive grassy meadow. Silver Run Creek winds along the middle, sparkling in the sunshine. This is Silver Run Reserve. A private low-density mountain community with nearly 300 acres adjoining the Nantahala National Forest and a Nature Conservancy, Silver Run Reserve features 120+ acres reserved and enhanced as shared community space and a variety of activity-focused and natural amenities. Located within the prestigious southern corridor of Cashiers, you’re just 5 minutes from the crossroads. Enjoy the services of a full-time Community Experience Coordinator to make luxury mountain living effortless. The Mountain Cottages feature .3 to .5 acres adjoining a rolling ridge top meadow with beautiful mountain and wooded views. These are pre-construction cottage sales; the building shown after the first photo is The Lodge, the community gathering spot. The cottage is a Meyer-Greeson-Paulin-Benson designed

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

OFFERED FOR $1,995,000 home, with 3,010 heated sq. ft. and ~650 sq. ft. of screened porch. It features a 4 bedroom / 4.5 bath floor plan with two master bedrooms on the main floor and two additional bedrooms on the second floor. The Mountain Cottages are located within a short walking distance to The Lodge and the center of the community. Silver Run offers many enjoyable and desired amenities and activities: The Lodge; The Water Plant; Fitness & Activity Center; Golf Simulation Lab and instruction; and open recreation space.

The Lost Library is a special hiking destination located on the highest elevation mountain point with sweeping panoramic views. The Pavilion features indoor/outdoor seating areas, an open-air bar and a pool with panoramic mountain and meadow views. Activities include hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, a golf park and curated events and experiences.

Check out Silver Run Reserve today! Note: Photo depicts similar home.

MLS 96642

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

Wade Hampton Golf Club 3 BR / 3 BA — Located in Wade Hampton Golf Club, a McKee Development, this stately home offers lots of natural light and views of Whiteside Mountain. The paved loop driveway passes under a two-car carport with covered access to the home. Inside you’ll find pretty wood floors, a large, welcoming living room with soaring ceilings and a floor-toceiling stone fireplace. All rooms are generous in size, and the bedrooms (two on the main level) are nicely separated for ultimate privacy. The kitchen shares a generous space with the nearby dining area which has access to the open view porch. The laundry and home office are near the master

BETH TOWNSEND, GUILD™ C

828.421.6193

|

BETH@CASHIERS.COM

OFFERED FOR $1,275,000

suite. On the opposite end of the house, just off the living room, is a bright, Pullman-style bar area with a sink, refrigerator and windows overlooking the view, as well as a door to the outside. Two en suite bedrooms — one up and one down, each with private balconies — and a large, covered grilling and dining porch cap off the floor plan. This property has wonderful garden space available and very easy access through the south gate of Wade Hampton. A new cedar shake roof was installed in 2020. MLS 95741

Cedar Creek – Breedlove 49 ACRES — Introducing “Sarvis Ridge” — rolling meadow, dense woods and a table-flat building site at the top, at 4,020 elevation. The meadow features a small, dipping pond. The property can be divided into four parcels (with five-acre minimums). The Webb Lake 1930’s cabin, a

Pinnacle Ridge

$350,000

OFFERED FOR $875,000

common area lake and trails and a caretaker home are directly across the road from this prime tract. Southern to eastern views are into the 600acre Webb conservation easement. This heritage property has unlimited potential! MLS 95707

Cedar Hill

$159,000

4+ ACRES — Located in Pinnacle Ridge, a gated/low density

2+ ACRES — This lot has been owned by the same family since

community off of desired Treasurewood Rd. Large lot with long range views back to Lake Glenville from the gentle building site with a driveway already cleared. This is a perfect lot to build your mountain getaway! MLS 95933

1993 and was chosen for easy access, its gentle building site and great potential views to the northwest with clearing. The lots on either side already have homes built, and due to their location, there is plenty of privacy on this ample-sized lot. MLS 94780

619 HWY 107 S

|

CASHIERS, NC 28717

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM

|

828.743.3411

Whiteside Cove Road 2 BR / 3 BA — This charming BIG VIEW cottage sits atop a “double rise” tract of land that adjoins USFS in the sought after Chattooga River corridor of Whiteside Cove Road area. Accessed by private road, and partially paved private gated drive, this gently rising property has lots of usable land. A second home site will have views similar to what the cottage has. Enter the cottage off a partially covered wrap around porch into the great room with cathedral ceilings. Unique sloped shoulder local stone

OFFERED FOR $870,000 wood burning fireplace is the focal point of this space. Kitchen and dining open to the great room. Graced throughout with pickled pine paneling (in closets, too!), the floor plan is simple with two bedrooms and baths privately situated on the main level and an office/ tv room upstairs, with its own small bath. A nearby two car “hide the ride” garage could be converted into guest space if needed. MLS 96421

UNDER CONTRACT

BETH TOWNSEND, GUILD™ C

828.421.6193

|

BETH@CASHIERS.COM

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

LOTS & LAND LOT

ACRES

DESCRIPTION

E-158

1.30

Near level with mountain views

96021

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF & LAKE CLUB

$599,000

E-32

0.92

Golf and mountain views

95880

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

$475,000

E-215

3.78

Gently rolling with mountain views

95868

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF & LAKE CLUB

$395,000

N-1

0.69

Overlooks the 8th fairway

94033

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

$359,000

M-36

2.68

Whiteside Mountain views

95874

WHITESIDE FOREST

$265,000

N-55

0.81

Gently rolling with winter golf course views

95803

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

$160,000

E-26

0.72

Gently rolling near the Clubhouse

94722

WADE HAMPTON GOLF CLUB

$125,000

MOUNTAINTOP GOLF & LAKE CLUB / MLS 96021

MLS

SUBDIVISION

PRICE

WHITESIDE FOREST / MLS 95874

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

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

E-3

0.96

13th and 14th fairway views

95645

Bolder Dash Road

$425,000

N-1

0.69

Overlooks the 8th fairway

94033

Chimney Top Trail

$359,000

N-19

0.66

Gently rolling with golf course views

96232

Fox Fire

$300,000

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

94825

Cherokee Trace

$555,000

S-10

1.56

Mountain view, gently sloping

94614

Cherokee Trace

$195,000

S-25

2.18

Distant mountain views

93654

Cherokee Trace

$150,000

R-50

0.65

Mountain view and golf course views

96573

Cherokee Trace

$ 60,000

FOREST FLOOR

R-43

0.72

Gently rolling, end of cul-de-sac

95244

Ox Lock Road

$195,000

N-51

0.50

Wooded, close to Clubhouse

94361

Chimney Top Trail

$125,000

E-26

0.72

Wooded, gently rolling

94722

Chimney Top Trail

$125,000

R-46

0.91

Wooded, end of cul-de-sac

94423

Ox Lock Road

$110,000

R-25

0.91

Wooded, gently rolling

94896

Cherokee Trace

$100,000

R-26

0.94

Wooded, easy build site

95662

Cherokee Trace

$ 90,000

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

|

828.743.3411

MCKEEPROPERTIES.COM

Between two North Carolina mountain ridges lies an expansive grassy meadow. Silver Run Creek winds along the middle, sparkling in the sunshine. This is Silver Run Reserve.

A community that more than surrounds you with peace and beauty, it fills you up. Here you are free to roam and run… to hike and play… to seize the day and savor the moment.

Here at Silver Run Reserve, you’re free to be.

EXPERIENCE C ASUAL MOUNTAIN LUXURY

828.342.3194

|

SilverRunReserve.com

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

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

LIVE WELL. RUN FREE.

LIZ HARRIS, GUILD™ C

828.342.3194

|

|

OWNER / BROKER LIZ@CASHIERS.COM

A DV E R T I S E R’ S I N D E X 4118 Kitchen and Bar A Jones Company A-List Antiques Acorns ACP Home Interiors Acts Retirement Life Communities - Tryon Estates Alair Homes Allaben Fine Art Allison Diane Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery Annawear Annell Metsker, Artist Around Back at Rocky’s Place Bags on Main Balistreri Realty The Bascom Bear Tracks Travel Center Bella Cotn Bella’s Junction Cafe Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beth Poindexter Luxe 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 The Book Nook Bounds Cave’s Rug Gallery The Brier Patch Brookings Fly Shop The Business Spot C. Orrico Calders Coffee Cafe Caliber Fine Properties Carolina Rustic Furniture Cashiers Benefit Antique Show Cashiers Chamber of Commerce Cashiers Candy Shoppe Cashiers Farmers Market Cashiers Kitchen Company Cashiers Valley Smokehouse Center for Plastic Surgery Robert T. Buchanan, MD Cedar Creek Club Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals Charles Johnson Fine Art Photography Chocolate Heaven/Cake Bar Christine’s Home Decor The Christmas Tree Classic Lighting & Design, Inc. Colonel Mustard’s Specialty Foods The Copper House Corso Of Atlanta Country Club Properties

4118kitchen-bar.com acornshighlandsnc.com acphomeinteriors.com

P 120 P 142, 216 P 141 P 63 P 132, 248

aboutacts.com/Highlands alairhome.com stantonallabenart.com

P 53 P 166 P 107 P 80 P 110 annawearnc.com P 44 annell.com P 106 aroundbackatrockysplace.com P 93 P 148 laketoxawayliving.com P 163 thebascom.org P 51 beartrackstravelcenter.com P 160 bellacotn.com P 78 bellasjunctioncafe.com P 129 meadowsmountainrealty.com P 151 P 140 P 208 betsypaulproperties.com P 275 P 45 blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com P 162 blackrockgraniteandcabinetry.com P 179, 198 blair-realty.com P 48 P 215 blueridgebedding.com P 86 blueridgemusicacademy.com P 192 P 209 P 149 boundscaverugs.com P 39 P 192 brookingsonline.com P 71 biz-spot.net P 74 P 188 calderscoffeecafe.com P 121 caliberfineproperties.com P 87 carolinarusticfurniture.com P 86 cashiersbenefitantiqueshow.com P 75 cashiersareachamber.com P 214 P 142 cashiersfarmersmarket.com P 127 P 58 cashiersvalleysmokehouse.com P 124 plasticsurgerytoday.com mckeeproperties.com highlandsiscalling.com charlesjohnsonfineart.com christineshomedecor.com classiclightinganddesign.com colonelmustardshighlands.com copperhouse.properties corsoatlanta.com ccphighlandsnc.com

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P 213 P 99 P 82, 198 P 92 P 73 P 199 P 57 P 215 P 127 P 211 P 79 P2

Creative Concepts Cullasaja Club Dauntless Printing Debbie McAfee, Artist The Designer’s Market Dinner With Duffy The Dry Sink The Dutchmans Earthshine Lodge Edward Jones Investments Elena’s Women’s Golf and Activewear Elevation High Fashion for Women The Exchange Fire + Water Fire Mountain Inn & Cabins The Firewood Company Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry Four Seasons Landscaping Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar Fressers Courtyard Cafe Full House Gallery Fusion Yoga & Wellness Dr. Edward D. Frederickson MD FACP GlenCove Gracewear Boutique The Greystone Inn Head Innovations Headwaters Outfitters Healing Through Harmony High Country Furniture & Design The High Dive Highlands Aerial Park Highlands Chamber of Commerce Highlands Dermatology Highlands Fine Art Highlands Lawn & Garden Highlands Rock Yard Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation Highlands Cashiers Players Highlands Pharmacy Highlands Playhouse Highlands Porch Fest Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Andrea Gabbard Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Jody Lovell Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty - Sheryl Wilson Highlands Smokehouse Highlands Transportation Company Historic Toxaway Foundation Historic Toxaway Market Hollie Steil, Artist Home Emporium Hudson Library Hummingbird Lounge Imperial Security & Wiring

cullasajaclub.org dauntlessprinting.com thedesignersmarket-nc.com thedrysink.com dutchmansdesigns.com earthshinenc.com edwardjones.com elenagolf.com firemt.com firemt.com firewoodcompany.net fishesandloavescashiers.org fsl-wnc.com four65.com wecaterhighlands.com fusionyogaandwellness.com glencovelifestyle.com gracewearcoollectoin.com thegreystoneinn.com headwatersoutfittters.com healingbeautyharmony.com highcountry.com highlandsaerialpark.com highlandschamber.org highlandsdermatology.com highlandsfineart.com highlandsrockyard.com h-cmusicfestival.org hchealthfnd.org highlandsplayouse.org highlandsporchfest.com sothebysrealty.com highlandssothebysrealty.com highlandssir.com highlandssmokehouse.com historictoxaway.org historictoxawaymarket.com homeemporium.com fontanalib.org oldedwardsinn.com IS-W.co

P 198 P 133 P 199, 207 P 92 P 59 P 194 P 217 P 150 P 161 P 189 P 82 P 142 P 49 P 15 P 15 P 193 P 36 P 81 P 125 P 119 P 108, 109 P 189 P 213 P 64, 65 P 83 P 4, 165 P 198 P 159 P 161 P 37 P 121 P 66 P 112 P 44 P 22, 23 P 33 P 204 P 40, 56, 174, 178 P 200 P 214 P 210 P 97 P 54 P 47 P 196 P 199 P 129 P 205 P 164 P 159 P 107 P 10, 11 P 45 P 63 P 198

AADDVVEERRTTI ISSEERR’ S’ SI INNDDEEXX J Gabriel Jack’s Upholstery Jennings Builders Supply Jenny Mixon Josephine’s Emporium John Cleaveland Realty Ken Bowser, Artist Killer Bees 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 Lonesome Valley The Look Boutique Lupoli Construction Main Street Gifts Main Street Nursery Martha Anne’s Martin Lispcomb Performing Arts Center McCulley’s McKee Properties McKee Properties Cedar Creek Club McKee Properties - Philip Bradley McKee Properties - Maggie Elmer McKee Properties - Liz Harris

jgabrielliving.com

P 149 P 206 P 177 P 111 P 141, 199 P 29 P 103 P 160

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highlandsperformingarts.com mckeeproperties.com mckeeproperties.com mckeeproperties.com mckeeproperties.com mckeeproperties.com

P 95 P3 P 35, 85, 99, 145, 173, 195, 252-271

P 99 P 195 P 35 P 85, 254, 255, 258, 259, 261, 262 , 266 McKee Properties - Wayne Monday mckeeproperties.com P 173, McKee Properties - Beth Townsend mckeeproperties.com P 145, 256, 257, 260, 263, 264, 265 Meritage Bistro meritagehighlands.com P4 Merrell Thompson Photography merrellthompson.com P 5, 140 Michelle Page Webster, Artist pagetheartist.com P 110 Mirror Lake Antiques mirrorlakeantiques.com P 17 Morales Painting P 75 Mountain Architecture PLLC mtnarchitecture.com P 217 Mountain Cafe historictoxawaymarket.com P 159 Mountain Mermaid P 188 Mountain Spring Spas and Pools mountainhotspring.com P 21 Mountainworks Custom Home Design, Ltd. mtnworks.com P 69 Nancy’s Fancys P 49 Narcissus P 101 Nearly New nearlynewnc.com P 143 Nora & Co P 216 Oak Steakhouse oaksteakhousehighlands.com P 114 Oakleaf oakleafstyle.com P 32 Old Edwards Inn & Spa oldedwardsinn.com P 63, 198 On the Verandah ontheverandah.com P 123 The Orchard Restaurant, Event Barn & Cottages theorchardcashiers.com P 118 Pat Allen Realty Group patallenrealtygroup.com P 182, 183 Pat Calderone calderonegallery.com P 106 Peak Experience peakexp.com P 94

Poss Realty Preferred Properties of Highlands Preferred Properties of Highlands - Ann Scott ProClean Services Reach of Macon County Rebecka’s Home Cleaning Service Rent In Highlands-CCP Ristorante Paoletti Robin’s Nest Roman’s Roofing LLC Rosewood Market Rusticks Sapphire Valley Real Estate Sashay Around Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center Shakespeare and Company Shari Erickson, Artist Shiraz Oriental Rug Gallery Silver Creek Real Estate Group Sky Valley Country Club Skyline Lodge Slab Town Pizza Smitten S’more Kids Klothes Southern Highlands Reserve Southern Way The Spa Boutique at Old Edwards Inn Spoiled Rotten Stork’s Wrap, Pack & Ship The Summer House by Reeves Summit Architecture Suzy Coffeen, Artist Tampa Bay Trust Company TJ Bailey’s for Men Town and Country General 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 The Vineyard at 37 High Holly Vivianne Metzger Antiques Warth Construction West Pace Advisors WHLC FM 104.5 Wilbanks Smile Center - Dr. Jsoe Wilbanks Wish and Shoes Wit’s End Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro Woofgang Bakery & Grooming Yoga of Highlands Zoller Hardware The Zookeeper Bistro

possrealty.com ppoh.com ppoh.com procleanserves.com reachofmaconcounty.org

P 203 P 156, 157, 199 P 199 P 198 P 204

P 198 P 131 P 129 P 38 P 199 P 126 P 46 P 181 P 17 scalymountain.com P 66 shakespeareandcompanyhighlands.com P 175 P 88 shirazruggalleries.com P 28 ncliving.com P 218-247 skyvalleycountryclub.com P 66 skyline-lodge.com P 114 slabtownpizza.com P 124 P 93 smorekidsklothes.com P 103 southernhighlandsreserve.org P 159 P 148 rentinhighlands.com paolettis.com robinsnest-cashiers.com romansroofingnc.com rosewoodgourmet.com rusticks.com sapphirevalleyrealestate.com

oldedwardsinn.com spoiledrotten2.com summerhousehighlands.com summitarchitecturepa.com tampabaytrustcompany.com tjbmens.com tandcgeneralstore.com theuglydogpub.com theuglydogpub.com victoriasclosetnc.com victoriasclosetnc.com victoriasclosetnc.com villagegreencashiersnc.com thevineyardathighholly.com vmantiques.com warthconstruction.com westpaceadvisors.com whlc.com wilbankssmilecenter.com wishandshoes.com wolfgangs.net yogahighlands.com zollerhardware.com thezookeeperbistro.com

P 63 P 147 P 15 P 55 P 12 P 110 P 72 P 134 P 113 P 122 P 122 P 122 P 143 P 143 P 143 P 168 P 172 P 174 P 46 P 276 P9 P 21 P 184 P 41 P 26, 27 P5 P 205 193 P 58, 199 P 118

273 J U LY 2 0 21 | T H E L A U R E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

PARTING SHOT

by Susan Renfro