Blessing of the Animals

The unbreakable bonds between people and their pets will be sanctified at the Village Green Blessing of the Animals, 11:00 A.M. Sunday, October 2. For more information, visit goodshepherdofcashiers.com.

On Sunday, October 2, I plan to be at The Village Green Commons Lawn in Cashiers amidst a cacophony of sounds, and a most unusual assembly of all things living. The occasion is the Blessing of the Animals, a collaboration with The Village Green and area churches: the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Cashiers United Methodist, Christ Anglican Church, Grace Community Church, Glenville Wesleyan Church, and Christ Church of the Valley. I will be listening to a symphony played by the voices of hundreds of animals. Every way I turn I will hear their peculiar songs – meows and moos, honks and hisses, clucks and croaks, yips and yaps, cheeps and chirps. Everywhere I gaze I will behold their faces – dogs large and tiny, cats’

fat and lean, some goats, a few slimy snakes, a hamster in a cage, a frog on a rock. Perhaps a Venus Fly Trap will make an appearance again as has happened before. After all, it’s a most egalitarian gathering of creatures. As in previous years, hundreds of folks will turn to bond over their love It’s an occasion to bear witness of animals. For it’s well known that to our love of animals. those of us who reside on the Plateau love our pets. It’s an occasion to bear witness to our love of animals. If you look around, there is always a cat or a dog, or sometimes a bird, a fish, or even a snake living among the people you know. Conducted in remembrance of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures, the Blessing of the Animals is an outdoor worship service. The observance emphasizes the love and respect that animals have with their humans, and that humans

have with all of creation.

Faith leaders will bless the menagerie of participants with prayers and scriptures that relate to creation. Worshipers can choose to have their pets blessed, by the clergy, who will in turn, go around to each animal and lay hands on them. The event is always free to the public and their pets. Seniors, families, singles, and children are encouraged to bring their well-behaved pet. Participants are asked to bring their pets on leash or caged and must be under their owners’ control at all times.

Attendees are urged to consider giving to the CashiersHighlands Humane Society. Donations of cash, pet food or gently-used blankets and towels, unscented cat litter and Milk Bones are all needed and welcomed.

by Marlene Osteen

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Well-Known and Locally Grown

The fruits of the season are on display (and even better – on sale) at the Plateau’s pair of Farmers’ Markets.

Imagine your family table loaded with fresh, dried, or edible flowers, herbs, fruit, berries, meat, fish, fowl, dairy, fresh-baked goods, all of it complemented with your choice of hand-prepared sauces, jams, and dressings. All this and much more is right around your corner, thanks to the dedicated local growers and artisans at Locally Grown on the Green, 160 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers (Wednesdays, 2:00-5:00 P.M.) and Macon County producers of Mother Nature’s bounty at Highlands Farmers Market (Saturdays 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M.) at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Both markets open through October. When you bring home high-quality, locally-sourced products, you know your family’s health, satisfaction, and enjoyment needs have been met in abundance.

With holidays approaching it’s time to start your gift gathering with unique hand-crafted candles, soaps, jams, jellies, wreaths, arrangements, hand-woven textiles, fragrances, dried herbs, hand-dyed yarns, birdhouses, baskets – the list goes on and on. Buy now. Be glad later. Chat with the producers and artisans. Learn about their products. Enjoy their stories about their land and history while you’re filling your larder with yum. If you haven’t already, mark your calendars’ Wednesdays and Saturdays reminding you to finish off your grocery shopping while enjoying a pleasurable outing. When your grocery store is outdoors, Life is good.

by Donna Rhodes

Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival

The Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival celebrates the aesthetic vitality of the season – October 7-9 at The Village Green. For more information and a full schedule of events and activities, visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com/Events.

Now in its 13th year, the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival annually attracts hordes of eager leaf peepers eager to catch the start of leaf changing season. From Friday to Sunday, October 7-9, the 13.2-acre section of The Village Green turns into an artisan merchant market and a music stage. Throughout the weekend, enthusiastic visitors crowd the field to admire and buy art and crafts while they simultaneously enjoy the changing leaves, the vibrant colors, the music and food and a perfect day in the mountains. This year 75 talented artisans and merchants will travel from nearly every state of the South to exhibit their hand made products. On display are hundreds of eye-catching and appealing works of arts and comestibles – from jewelry to metallurgy to paintings and pottery and clothing and soap and baked goods and honey. All of it is a feast for the eyes. Here’s a brief snapshot of three of the participating artists: Long a popular draw is Western North Carolina artist Deborah Bryant, who pulls inspiration from nature to weave rarefied, gorgeous fabrics. The sought-after garments she makes – scarves, ponchos and shawls – give life to her textiles. North Carolina woodcarver Chris Boone has been exhibiting at the festival for a decade. In 40 years of woodwork, Chris has made a name for himself by turning a hunter’s tool into beautiful works of art, carving decoy ducks and waterfowl that are a departure from traditional decoys. New to the festival this year is Amber Marcet from Sapphire who fashions artful candle holders, mugs, vases and other functional pieces from clay. Hungry shoppers will want to seek out one of the food trucks. From Sylva, Chili Chomper II will be serving up a delectable menu of delicious, freshly made Mexican favorites – tortas, tacos, tostados, quesadillas and burritos. Pizza lovers will be

thrilled to discover Asheville’s Travelin’ Dough food truck and their authentic Italian Neapolitan pizza made in the traditional style. Also on the culinary lineup, terrific charcuterie from Juqui Cheatham with Wanderview Hospitality of Cashiers. Always a highlight of the weekend is the Hometown Concert Series sponsored by Ingles Supermarket, this year featuring Joe Lasher and Kaitlyn Baker. Other headliners include Ellie’s Groove, George Reeves, Julie Gribble, and the Blue Ridge Junior Appalachian Musicians. The festival starts each day at 10:00 A.M. and ends at 5:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday, and until 3:00 PM on Sunday. For more information and a full schedule of events and activities during the Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, visit VillageGreenCcashiersNC.com/Events.

by Marlene Osteen

Understanding Bats

The October edition of the Village Nature Series, set for 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 25, at The Village Green, delves into the mysterious world of bats.

Rada Petric, Ph.D.

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Village Green sponsors each summer a series of lectures, with the last offering presented this month. The series focuses on area wildlife and their natural habitats: previous subjects have included raptors, black bears, and reptiles. But for October, The Village Nature Series, which begins at 5:00 P.M., October 25, is devoted to bats. In fact, Rada Petric, Ph.D., a research assistant professor and director of the UNC Institute for the Environment at the Highlands Field Site at Highlands Biological Station, will present Secret Lives of Bats. Dr. Petric’s presentation, just in time for Halloween, provides a peek into the lives of the fascinating nocturnal flying mammals and important information about how conserving the local bat populations is an essential factor in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Dr. Petric, became involved with bats as an undergraduate student at UNC Greensboro. She has been working in Highlands for the past two years. “I began to realize that there is just so much we didn’t and don’t know about bats,” said Dr. Petric. “They are so misunderstood … underdogs. But they are such crucial creatures for a healthy ecosystem. I try to promote all the positive things they contribFor the October 25 event, Dr. Petric will bring a taxidermy Big Brown and Red bat, two most common of the 13 local species, so that she can explain basics about bats and their ecosystem. “We have the most bats east of Texas, and Highlands and the surrounding area in North Carolina is a biodiversity hot spot for bats, so I will share about what threatens them and the concerns over their wellbeing that many people need to be aware of.” She added, “I will be focusing on the native species and what we can do to help them because they help us so much by eating over 1,100 mosquitoes per night per bat. I will also open up a conversation about bats and encourage questions.” Dr. Petric works with students at Highlands Biological Station, many from UNC Chapel Hill, who are involved in an immersive educational experience. Born in Bosnia, Dr. Petric said her visits to a grandmother who lived in the mountains instilled in her a love of nature and animals.

Look for 2023’s The Village Nature Series to begin at 5:00 P.M. on the last Tuesday of the month from May through October at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road.

by Deena Bouknight

Goblins on The Green Goblins on the Green, set for Saturday, October 29, at the Village Green, is a joyful gathering of the Silly, Sassy, and Slightly Scary. For more information, visit villagegreencashiersnc. com/goblins-in-the-green.

Trick or treating in the mountains is its own thing. Far from the porch lights and front walks of a suburban community, where the houses are close together, trick or treating on the Plateau can mean long treks between homes and perilous climbs up and down steep slopes. Which is why when Cashiers area children don their costumes, they won’t be traipsing through winding, dark mountain roads or taking candy from potentially sinister strangers. They will be heading to the Goblins on the Green party at the Village Green Commons in Cashiers to trick or treat with friends and neighbors. As Village Green Executive Director Ashlie Mitchell-Lanning told me, “It’s fun, convenient and most importantly a safe place for kids to come where they can get candy without having to drive up or down the mountain.” Billed as a “frightfully fun family-friendly Halloween event,” Goblins on the Green takes place at the Village Green Commons on Saturday October 29, beginning at 5:30 P.M. and going “until the candy runs out” or about 7:30. As in years past, ghoulish guests will join the resident spiders and bats for an evening that features loads of activities for kids and their families.

It’s a fun party where everyone dresses up – from the weird and scary, from goblins and ghosts and devils and angels to the Disney-themed and everything in between. Festivities include a costume contest and prizes awarded for best costume in categories – Child (2-5); Kid (6-12); Teen (13-18); and Best Couples Costume for adults. Count on spooky surprises, special treats, and plenty of candy! Event sponsors are known to hand out candy so fast that pumpkins are filled in record time. Area non-profits including the Cashiers Glenville Volunteer Fire Department, Boys and Girls Club and Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad participate by decorating the trunks of cars and trucks with inventive themes. Particularly memorable was last year’s Jurassic Park theme complete with a fully outfitted dinosaur! The event is sponsored by The Village Green in collaboration with Landmark Realty Group, Rusticks, Ingles Markets, The Laurel Magazine, Ben Harris Custom Homes, Cashiers Valley Realty, and Tampa Bay Trust Company! Goblins on the Green is a free, community-wide event for residents and visitors to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. For more information, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com/ goblins-in-the-green.

by Marlene Osteen

Art to the Rescue

Art to the Rescue, set for October 23 at The Vineyard at 37 High Holly, is an irresistible gathering of regional artists, music, amuse bouche, and a surprising auction, all for the benefit of local shelter animals. For more information, go to appalachiananimalrescuecenter.com.

The Appalachian Animal Rescue Center, aka Macon County Humane Society, the no-kill shelter in Franklin, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Here’s your chance to give it a round of a-paws by attending Art to the Rescue, Sunday, October 23, from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. at The Vineyard at 37 High Holly in Scaly Mountain. The Center’s board of directors is actively raising funds year-round. Art to the Rescue is their most profitable event. Artists from the region who are passionate about animals donate from 20-100% of their sales to the rescue celebration. Many of them have attended and donated all four years since the gala’s inception. Among your favorite returnees are Jason Rizzo, photographer, oil painter, watercolorist; George Elliott, master of many mediums; and Gosia Babcock, phenomenal painter of animals in oil.

There will be at least six other artists, some who show and some who donate to the silent auction. Altogether there are over 100 works of art to purchase or bid upon, in addition to restaurant gift certificates, door prizes, gift baskets, and a raffle. Your $40 ticket entitles you to participate in all the events, enjoy the fantastic sounds of Sweet Charity (which is performing gratis), wine, cheese, appetizers, (prepared by the amazing Chef Tim Lundy) and a scrumptious slice of anniversary cake. Bone Appetit! Dress divinely and be a glamour-puss for the pup-arazzi. Help these animals live long and prospurr. And who

John Finley, grandson of ALHC member, John Cannon

knows? Andy Warhowl might show up. For more information, go to appalachiananimalrescuecenter. com or contact Mariann Huston at dmhuston2@frontier. com, or Sharon Archer at junkdoglady@gmail.com. You can buy tickets at AARC Thrift store, AARC Shelter, Franklin Chamber of Commerce, and the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands NC. (Editor’s Note: We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that this story contains the highest number of groan-inducing puns in a single article in Laurel’s 20 years of publication. Our advice to our beloved correspondent, the same that Hamlet admonished Ophelia over 400 years ago: “Get thee to a punnery!”)

by Donna Rhodes

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More than Just Lunch

It’s an open table when the Highlands community serves up its Empty Bowls Project, October 2 at First Presbyterian Church of Highlands. Tickets are $25 each. To buy tickets, visit internationalfriendshipcenter.org/events.

Most of us think of soup as a bowl of steaming liquid comfort food, a companion to a sandwich at lunch or perhaps a delicious start to a fancy meal at a restaurant. But at the 20th annual Empty Bowls event in Highlands, soup is a way to feed the hungry, and nourish our community – one bowl at a time.

On Sunday, October 2, 500 caring neighbors will share a bowl of soup at the First Presbyterian Church to benefit the International Friendship Center’s Highlands Food Pantry. Held after church services, from 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., the event integrates art, social action and a delicious lunch. Handmade bowls are used to serve the soup and patrons take home their empty bowl to remind them of those who go hungry around the world.

The event is the Pantry’s biggest fundraiser, and as Andrea Smith, Director of Social Services explained, “Because food is at the center of our work, Empty Bowls is critical to our ongoing success. It keeps our shelves stocked with healthy foods, feeds food deprived fellow citizens, and builds connections between neighbors.” Empty Bowls is a partnership with the First Presbyterian Church and a community wide effort supported by the Highlands United Methodist Church, The Bascom Center of the Arts, local restaurants and a dedicated team of volunteers. All of the funds raised will go towards providing food for insecure families in need.

“We set a goal for $10,000 this year,” Smith told me. First Presbyterian has donated the space for the event, and Marty Rosenthal will be in charge of the kitchen, keeping the soups warmed and serving up a selection of seven different soups: Brunswick Stew from Scaly Mountain’s Blue Hound Barbecue restaurant, Chicken Tortilla from Los Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant, Clam Chowder from Primary Restaurant & Bar, Fall Squash Bisque from Madison’s Restaurant, Italian Sausage and Root Vegetable from Four65 Woodfire Bistro & Bar, Vegetarian Lentil from The Kitchen Carry Away & Catering, and Creamy Tomato from Kristy Lewis at United Methodist Church.

More than 300 bowls were made for the event at the Dave Drake Studio at The Bascom. (Crafting the bowls were: Frank Vickery, Pat Moore, Janet Chmar, Ann Gober, Tumpy Bethea, Marth Sutherland-Wright, Ned Turnbull, Francie Root, Keiko Coughlin, and Molly Suminski.) Others were donated by Harry Souchon, fired at his home studio. Forty-two were made by kids and adults participating at The Bascom’s Community Day on July 2.

by Marlene Osteen

A Taste of What’s to Come

Oh, the choices! Highlands Food & Wine Festival is offering a pair of delicious new options.

When the 7th annual Highlands Food & Wine Festival takes place from November 10-13, the little town will be transformed into a culinary showcase. At events throughout Highlands, celebrity chefs will seduce the taste buds of hundreds of attendees and esteemed wineries will charm the palates of wine aficionados. New to the weekend schedule is a wine tasting on Friday, November 11 from 4:00 to 5:30 at the Skyline Lodge. Billed as a tour of the major wine growing regions of France, the event will highlight the wines of importer Vineyard Brands. Founded by Robert Haas in 1971, the company has as impressive a blue blood resumé as one could ever find in the world of fine wine.

Leading the tasting will be Vineyard Brands’ Vice President Olivier Lotterie, who will illuminate, explore and taste with attendees the wines of five legendary wineries: Champagne Delamotte Brut; Founded in Reims in 1760 by vineyard owner Francoise Delamotte, the house joined forces with the enigmatic Champagne Salon in 1988. Bursting with aromas of peach and freshly baked bread, the wine is a fleshy, giving wine with fine mousse. Domaine de Berthiers Pouily Fume: Formerly owned by one of Loire’s most notable personalities, Jean Claude Dagueneau, the Domaine is now part of Domaine Fournier. Full-bodied and rich, the wines exhibit the spicy smoky nuances of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Liger Belair Moulin A Vent Vieille Vignes; For 250 years, the Liger-Belair family has been passing down the tradition of winemaking. Deep, intense and explosive with savory herbs, licorice and graphite adding complexity to the dark fruit, the Moulin a Vent is a wine to savor.

Maison Les Alexandrins Crozes Hermitage: Known for producing North Rhone wines that are classic expressions of the region. Deemed by one reviewer to have “as much fine tannin as it does richness,” the wine has a stack of ripe, black cherry fruit. Chateau La Gaffeliere Dame de Gaffeliere St Emilion: This is the second wine of classified growth Château la Gaffelière. Dominated by Merlot, the wine has weight as well as a rich, velvety texture supporting the powerful black fruits Just added to the lineup – Tarpon Cellars is joining Oysters Carolina for a tasting of oysters and wine at the Highlander Mountain House on Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. Tickets to both events are $65 per person. To sign up for either event, and to stay abreast of news from Highlands Wine and Food, visit highlandsfoodandwine.com

Sweet Sounds Downtown

The sweet sounds of Autumn fill Highlands’ weekend evenings.

Ezra and Katie

Weekends in Highlands are synonymous with live music, and October marks that bittersweet month when the concerts are ending for the year. Knowing the season is wrapping up makes it even more special to head downtown on Friday and Saturday nights and enjoy the chill in the air and the lively music. Friday Night Live concerts take place every Friday night at Highlands Town Square at 343 Main Street from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M. Friday Night Live is part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina and its line-up features some of the best mountain music in the area.

Saturday evenings the fun moves to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street for Saturdays on Pine. These lively Saturday evenings bring out young and old alike to mingle, dance, and listen to great music. These concerts take place from 6:00 to 8:30 P.M. Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic or pick up a bite to eat at a local eatery and join the fun. It’s truly a great place for friends and families to stop, unwind, relax and enjoy great music and a rocking good time under the stars.

The outdoor concert series is made possible by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands N.C. The concerts wrap up with the following performances:

Friday Night Live:

Oct. 7 – Byrds & Crows Oct. 14 – Southern Highland Band Oct. 21 – Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes Oct. 28 – Ezra and Katie

Saturdays on Pine: Oct. 1 – Fancy and the Gentlemen Oct. 8 – Thirsty Horses Oct. 15 – Picante

Oct. 22 – Vega Band Oct. 29 – Laney and Friends (5:00 to 7:00 P.M. as part of Celebrating Highlands’ Heritage)

by Mary Jane McCall

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Theatre and More!

Let’s put on a show! The Plateau’s libraries are setting the stage for Youth Theater.

Megan Greenlee-Potts

Libraries are the go-to for a diverse range of interests, evidenced by the MGP Productions Youth Theatre programs offered at both the Hudson Library in Highlands and Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Megan Greenlee-Potts, MGP Productions owner and MGP Youth Theatre artistic director, shared that Fall Youth Theater classes in October are scheduled as follows:

Hudson Library (Highlands):

Performance classes; Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M.; ages: 7th grade and up. (Come around to the back of the building to the Meeting Room entrance as the library won’t be open at 9:00) Performance Classes; Saturdays from 1:00 to 2:30 P.M.; ages: 4th through 6th grades.

Cashiers Library:

Technical Theater, Design, & Production classes: Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M.; ages: 7th grade and up; Performance Classes: Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M.; ages: 4th through 6th grades; Performance Classes: Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M.; ages: K through 3rd grades. All classes are free of charge, according to Greenlee-Potts, and she advises interested parties to sign up as space will be limited for each class.

She added, “Auditions for all area students, regardless of whether or not you took the fall youth theatre classes for the holiday show are scheduled for Thursday, October 27, beginning at 6:15 P.M. at the Cashiers library & Saturday, October 29, at the Highlands library. Call backs (if needed) will be Sunday, October 30 in the afternoon.”

Please contact Ms Greenlee-Potts to schedule a time for your audition. For more information or to sign up, contact Greenlee-Potts at mpotts@fontanalib.org or mgp.youththeatre@gmail.com. In addition, Hudson Library added another author to its Books & Bites series. John Pruitt, who was a newscaster and reporter in Atlanta, Georgia, for over 40 years, has released his first novel, Tell it True, which is inspired by a case he covered in the 1960s in rural Georgia. The Books & Bites event is Friday, Oct. 14, at 12:30 P.M., and reservations are required by calling the Hudson Library at (828) 526-3031 or by visiting fontanalib.org/highlands.

by Deena Bouknight

Top October Fishing Spots

The mountain streams are beckoning, and we’ve got a couple of sweet sites to visit.

If you’ve read The Laurel at all, you know we have a passion for fishing in general, and fly fishing in particular. Throughout our 20 years, we’ve featured columns by pros like Matt Canter at Brooking’s Anglers and Chris Wilkes at Highlands Hiker. That’s why we wanted to include Simons Welter’s listing for the Top Fly-Fishing Spots in Jackson County in this issue. Simons is a seasoned female angler with Brooking’s (that’s right, she’s an associate of Matt’s) and she says that October is a prime fly-fishing month here in the mountains. Factors like sunshine and cooler temperatures come into play and the fish are primed to strike!

Simons dove into the details of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, and she came up with a couple of terrific sites in Jackson County that are practically calling out for someone to cast a line.

Grab your gear and join us at: Among the waterfalls and rapids along the 14.6-milelong Whitewater River, fishing enthusiasts will find lively wild brook, brown and rainbow trout. Of course, any time you’re on the river, you owe it to yourself to visit Whitewater Falls. (See Ed and Cindy Boos’ profile of this majestic landmark in this issue). The Chattooga River starts at the base of Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, southwest of Cashiers. This wild and scenic river stretches 57 miles and is a tributary of the Tugaloo River, making it a prime location for fishing. Available Fish: Brown and Rainbow.

Far off the beaten path and fed by Rough Butt Creek, this scenic, 30-foot waterfall features cascading falls, a small pool, and banks overflowing with fern and rhododendron, and rocks coated in moss. This location is a wonderful and scenic spot to fish brown trout.

(In the interest of fairness, despite this magazine’s impeccable history of supporting fly-fishing, I must admit that I have an anteater’s level of interest in the sport. I tend to get sleepy when I spend time alongside a rushing stream, and I simply lack the temperament for seducing a fish. My son Alex, however, learned the intricacies of the sport when he was six years old, on the banks of Harris Lake under the gentle guidance of Mozelle Edwards.)

by Luke Osteen

Alyssa Bonagura at Orchard Sessions

A lifetime in the making, Alyssa Bonagura’s Orchard Session at The Farm at Old Edwards, set for October 5, is an exclusive glimpse into a brilliant musician’s artistry.

Alyssa Bonagura

On Wednesday, October 5, American country music talent Alyssa Bonagura returns to Orchard Sessions, the live music concert series at The Farm at Old Edwards. The daughter of singer/songwriter parents Michael Bonagura & Kathie Baillie, Bonagura was literally born into music. As she recounts, “I was three weeks old when my parents landed another Top 10 single. My mom said, ‘Alright, let’s take the kid on the road,’ and I grew up on their tour bus. My life was waking up in a different city every day and singing with them. I wanted to be just like them.” She began performing at the age of two and by the time she was 10 she’d already recorded a duet with Kenny Rogers. “He really gave me my first shot,” she says. “I grew up this traveling country music gypsy who was around Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire. There was never a doubt in my mind what I should be doing with my life”. At 11, her father encouraged her to begin writing songs, teaching her how to layer harmonies and ultimately outfitting their attic into a makeshift recording studio. By 16 Alyssa had a 50-date tour opening for Marty Stuart and was serving as a session singer on the side. She received her college diploma from Paul McCartney for her studies at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts in the U.K. Four years later, her song, I Make My Own Sunshine, inspired by Liverpool’s rainy weather, was featured in a Lowe’s commercial. Alyssa honed a reputation as a “songwriting seamstress,” writing songs for Jessie James Decker, Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, and others.

She formed the west coast folk and classic rock ‘n roll duo The Sisterhood Band with another child of song, Ruby Stewart (daughter of Rod Stewart). In the past 10 years, she has fine-tuned a sound that reaches far beyond her Nashville roots. Her music blurs the boundaries between genres, mixing the southern storytelling of country, the free-thinking spirit of rock & roll, and the cinematic sweep of Brit-pop into its own hybrid. it’s a sound that’s every bit as diverse as her own story. After a tumultuous year that included a pandemic uprooting and the disbanding of The Sisterhood Band, Bonagura has embraced a season of change. Last year she released New Wings her first single from her upcoming fourth studio album which took her around the world with major appearances including the Opry and a sold-out UK headline tour.

Online ticket sales open to the public two weeks prior to each session. For updates and to book online, visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/OrchardSessions.

Highlands on the Half Shell

“Four other Oysters followed them, And yet another four; And thick and fast they came at last, And more and more and more,” Sorry, Oysters, it’s Highlands on the Half Shell, Sunday, October 2 at Highlands Biological Station.

Care for some Cajun food? You’re in luck! The annual Highlands on the Half Shell event is coming to the Highlands Biological Station on Sunday, October 2. And it’s the party we’ve all been waiting for! For those among you who know and crave the seductive style of New Orleans cookery then you’ll want to gather on the lawn at the Valentine Meadow beginning at 4:00 PM. Co-chairs Martha Stubbs and Jennie Stowers enlist the support of a host of volunteers – board members and locals alike – to procure, prepare and serve the food that is the centerpiece of the event. Local home cooks whip up Cajun delicacies, concocted with the traditional ingredients of the Bayou. Enthusiastic volunteers get together to cook jambalaya – the classic dish in the Cajun canon that represents every celebration in Louisiana. And they dish up steaming bowls of Cajun comfort -gumbo- that they’ve so lovingly made. Again, this year, Hal Stubbs will steam succulent, saline oysters on the grill. There will be scrumptious sides brought by other supporters of the Biological Foundation and plates of sweet, toothsome pralines to finish. But it’s not just the food that matters here. This event is to benefit the Highlands Biological Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focused on stimulating, promoting, and funding biological research and education in our region. The Foundation has been supplying critical support for the Biological Station and it’s three facets: the Nature Center, Botanical Garden and Biological Laboratory since the Station’s founding in 1927. The Station’s campus is a unique and magical place that holds a special place in the hearts and minds of locals and travelers alike.

The attendees who will gather under the tent, surrounded by a colorful canopy of leaves, have come together to raise much needed dollars for research and programming. It will make possible the free community and year-round educational programming at the Highlands Nature Center, which focuses on the spectacular biodiversity of the southern Appalachian region and helps bring nature into the lives of children. A true gift to the Highlands community, the Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University that serves up a palette of nature attractions including the Nature Center and a botanical garden replete with over 450 species of trees, ferns, flowers, and more. Festivities begin 4:00 P.M. and last until dark. Come dressed in your favorite Cajun Casual. Tickets are $125 per person. To buy tickets, visit highlandsbiological.org. or call (828) 526-2221.

by Marlene Osteen

Heritage Jamboree Highlands Heritage Jamboree is a new celebration of what’s best about this tiny mountain community – Saturday, October 29

Bailey Mountain Cloggers

Afirst-time event, Highlands Heritage Jamboree will celebrate and honor the town’s history with traditional music, dancing and more on October 29. Residents and visitors will enjoy bluegrass, clogging and bagpipes performances. “We’re excited to provide this event to Highlands in honor of the rich heritage of the area,” says Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. “The skill, artistry and joy that goes into the creation of music and dance is something we want to continue to preserve and celebrate.” Performances at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park will include: Margaret Tooke of the Highlands Bagpipers, 3:00 – 3:30 P.M. Bailey Mountain Cloggers, a championship dance team from Mars Hill University, 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. Laney and Friends, 5:00 to 7:30 P.M. Additional performances and/or demonstrations may be announced closer to the date – visit thelaurelmagazine.com for more information.

by Mary Jane McCall

Randall Atcheson Concert

The fortunes of The Literacy & Learning Center will rise considerably with an October 9 benefit concert by pianist Randall Atcheson. Visit maconncliteracy.org or call (828) 526-0863 for more information.

Randall Atcheson

Concert pianist Randall Atcheson will be visiting Highlands to benefit The Literacy & Learning Center in October. Atcheson was a child prodigy who entered Samford University at 12 years old and who’s made an impressive career as an organist, pianist, and composer. He was accepted into The Juilliard School where he became the only student in the history of Juilliard allowed to pursue and receive simultaneous degrees in piano and organ performances. Atcheson was the winner of the first Juilliard Organ Competition and subsequently gave the premiere performance on the new pipe organ in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. In December 2014, Atcheson performed his 12th solo concert at Carnegie Hall. Atcheson’s recording career began following his New York debut on both piano and organ at Alice Tully Hall. He has recorded on the Word, Windham Hill, PolyGram, and RCA labels. His heavy concert schedule has taken him to five continents. He has performed at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and Blenheim Palace, England, and has made much-acclaimed piano debuts in Sydney, Jerusalem, and Rio de Janeiro. Atcheson has also played for President Obama and has performed for such artists as Mick Jagger, Kathie Lee Gifford, Phil Collins, and Diana Ross. His gift of communicating the beauty of music in various forms has led to a decidedly versatile career as a much-sought-after artist in the classics as well as in pop and the sacred repertoire. The concert, which will be held at Highlands Performing Arts Center on October 9, will benefit The Literacy & Learning Center’s many free educational programs. The mission of The Literacy & Learning Center is to enrich lives and expand the knowledge of children, adults, and families through diverse educational programs that advance literacy in its many forms and to promote lifelong learning, which results in an informed and empowered community.

by Jenni Edwards, The Literacy & Learning Center

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Solving the Childcare Crisis

A vital local institution, Highlands Community Child Development Center is looking to boost its fortunes with FundDay, October 21.

One truth made clear by the pandemic is that without a system of broad affordable daycare, modern society devolves into impossibility. Not only is it linked to better development in children, but it relates to businesses’ ability to recruit and retain talent – it’s a social responsibility that requires robust community backing. Since 2005, Highlands Community Child Development Center has been at the forefront of resolving the childcare crisis locally, supporting the needs of area working families. It’s the only year-round, state-licensed, five day per week, 10 hours per day childcare program in the Highlands Township, which accepts infants, providing care for children eight weeks to five years of age. As Ann Flynn, Vice President of HCCDC recently told me, “The role of HCCDC in allowing parents to provide for their families while their children are cared for and nurtured is crucial to the prosperity of the community. These are the children whose parents staff the restaurants, grocery stores and other establishments, supplying the services on which our community relies, ensuring the quality of life for which Highlands is so well known.”

Making that vision a reality is the continuing commitment of the staff and community-based board of directors of HCCDC. Together they are “dedicated to fulfilling their long-standing heritage of providing full-time quality childcare, early childhood education and childhood development to the families who live and work in the greater Highlands community.” But the simple truth is that it’s extremely difficult to operate a self-supporting high-quality facility without charging rates so high that most families cannot possibly afford them. In order to provide tuition money to parents who are unable to afford it, HCCDC relies on grants and contributions. To ensure HCCDC’s ongoing prosperity, local businesses have come together to launch the first annual FundDay on October 21. In doing so, they’ve pledged contributions to assist in subsidizing HCCDC’s vital services- including facility expansion, facility maintenance and classroom and playground needs. The Board of Directors of HCCDC is encouraging people to shop in these venues on October 21 as a way of thanking them for their participation: Lupoli Construction, Kitchen Carry Away and Catering, Reeves Hardware, Highlands Pharmacy and Highlands Lawn and Garden, Wits End, Vivace, McCulley’s, Martha Anne’s on the Hill, CK Swan, Dry Sink, Rosenthal’s, Highland Hiker, AnnaWear, Old Edwards, Oak Leaf, Bryson’s Grading, Subway, Wild Thyme, Ugly Dog, First Bank, and Dr. Sue Aery Chiropractic.

by Marlene Osteen

Festival of Trees

The Cashiers Festival of Trees is a singularly Plateau-y introduction to the Holiday Season – Friday, November 25-26 at The Summit Center.

The Summit Charter School Foundation is once again holding their 2nd annual Cashiers Festival of Trees fundraiser on Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, November 25, and Saturday, November 26, from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. at the Summit Center at 370 Mitten Lane. This is the perfect place to find the inspiration and decorations you need to transform your home into a winter wonderland for the Christmas season.

Nothing gets you into the holiday spirit like viewing and bidding on more than 100 Christmas trees, wreaths, and holiday baskets imaginatively decorated and donated by area businesses and nonprofits. What a delight to see such creativity on display and have a chance to bid on and take home a fully decorated tree of your own. Mark that tree trimming to-do chore off your list if you’re a lucky winner! The festivities don’t stop there as there are also lots more activities throughout including crafts for children, a Build-aBear pop-up, gift shopping in the Gift Zone for holiday-themed items and food, and a Dolly Parton Imagination Literacy Library stage. Appalachian Golf Cars has also made a Club Car available for raffle. It’s a day of fun for everyone. Another highlight is the VIP Breakfast with Santa and Friends on the morning of the 26th with the menu provided by Chef Andrew Barlow and Chef Alexis Smith of The Club at High Hampton. If you can’t attend in person, organizers are making it easy to participate virtually as well so everyone has a chance to enjoy the fun and place their bids. The primary focus of the fundraiser is raising money for the Summit Charter School Foundation, which raises vital funds

to support Summit Charter School, a tuition-free K-12 public charter school. In the true spirit of the season, the Foundation gives 80 percent of an item’s proceeds back to the nonprofit that decorated and donated the item. It’s a great way to spread Christmas cheer and make an impact on local students, teachers and nonprofits that make such a difference in our community. Local residents Sarah Palisi Chapin and Sarah Jennings are serving as the co-chairs for a second year in the row and McKee Properties is the event’s Presenting Sponsor. For those interested in supporting the Cashiers Festival of Trees as a volunteer, benefactor, corporate sponsor or to submit a tree, wreath, or gift basket for the silent auction visit the school’s website at summitschool.org or contact Melissa Hudson at (828) 743-5755 or email her at mhudson@summitschool.org.

by Mary Jane McCall

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar

“October is crisp days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book.”

– John Sinor

Cashiers Designer Showhouse, 10 AM-4 PM. Erin Gray Trunk Show, Acorns. Sentimental Journey, 2 PM & 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

Blessing of the Animals, 211 AM, Village Green. Empty Bowls Project, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, First Presbyterian Church-Highlands. Highlands on the Half Shell, 4 PM, Highlands Biological Station. Allman Brother Tribute: A Brother’s Revival, 7:30 PM, PAC Brooklyn: The Musical, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church.

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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 4 United Methodist Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. The Bookworm, 511 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Locally Grown on The Green, 2 - 5 PM, Village Green Commons. Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Buck’s in Cashiers. Orchard Sessions, Alysa Bonaqura, The Farm at Old Edwards. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Highlands Food Pantry 610 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:45 PM, Lewis HallVillage Green Commons. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Mountain Findings, 710 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, 10 AM-5 PM, Village Green. Bookworm 11 AM - 3 PM. 20th Anniversary Celebration, 11 AM-5 PM Around Back at Rocky’s Place. Friday Night Live concert, 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Cashiers Designer Highlands Marketplace, 1Showhouse, 10 AM-4 PM. 8 AM - 12:30 PM. Highlands Marketplace, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. 8 AM Erin Gray Trunk Show, Acorns.Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM.Food Drive, 10 AM-1 PM, Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry. Sentimental Journey, 2:00 & Barnas Denim Trunk 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.Show, TJ Bailey’s. Pop-Up Pipers, 4:30 - 5:00 PMBookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Highlands Burritos side patio. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Saturdays on Pine Concert, 6 PM.Brooklyn: The Musical, 2 PM Concert, 6 PM, Town & Country. and 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Bluegrass, Cashiers Smokehouse.Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

Highlands Marketplace, 88 AM - 12:30 PM. Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. The WNC Woodturners meeting, 10 AM, The Bascom. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Schoffel and Le Chameau,Trunk Show, Highland Hiker. Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, 10 AM-5 PM, Village Green. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Brooklyn: The Musical, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, 910 AM-3 PM, Village Green. Brooklyn: The Musical, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Randall Atcheson Concert, Highlands Performing Arts Center. . Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Putts for Paws, CashiersHighlands Humane Society 9:30 AM, Cullasaja Club,.

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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 11 United Methodist Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Catherine C Cooper Artist Event, 1-6 PM, Rusticks. Locally Grown on The Green, 2 - 5 PM, Village Green Commons Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Buck’s in Cashiers. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. “Change, Change, Change” Opening Reception, 4-6 PM, Ann Lea Fine Art Gallery Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

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Mountain Findings Open 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Eve Gay Trunk Show, Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Pottery Show, 10 AM-5 PM, The Bascom. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Books & Bites: John Pruitt, 12:30 PM, Hudson Library. Friday Night Live concert, 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Brooklyn: The Musical, 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse.

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Art League Fall Colors Show, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Rec Park.

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

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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands United Methodist Church. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM.

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The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, St. Jude’s Catholic Church. Locally Grown on The Green, 2 PM, Village Green Commons. Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Buck’s in Cashiers. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, The Ugly Dog Pub.

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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:45 PM, Lewis HallVillage Green Commons. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

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Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. 21 Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. Friday Night Live concert, 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Highlands Marketplace, 8 AM - 12:30 PM. 15 Art League Fall Colors Show, 10 AM-5 PM, Highlands Rec Park. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Eve Gay Trunk Show, Highlands Fine Art & Estate Jewelry Pottery Show, 10 AM, Bascom. Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. National Theatre Live, 1 PM, PAC. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Brooklyn: The Musical, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. 22 Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Metropolitan Opera, 12:55 PM, PAC. Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

Art to the Rescue, 3-6 PM, Vineyard at 37 High Holly.

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Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 24 United Methodist Church. Art League of Highlands-Cashiers meeting, 4:30 PM, The Bascom.

30 Art Benefit, drawing 5 PM, Betsy Paul Real Estate. 31 Halloween on Main, 6-8 PM, Highlands.. Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM. 29 Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Wine Tasting, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Highlands Wine Shoppe. Cashiers Valley Community Chorus, 5:45 PM, Lewis HallVillage Green Commons. Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 PM, The High Dive.

Highlands Food Pantry 10 AM - 6 PM, Highlands 25 The Bookworm 11 AM - 3 PM. , 26 27 Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. 28 Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. Mountain Findings, 10 AM - 1 PM. United Methodist Church. Cashiers Quilters, 12:30 PM, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Mountaintop Art & Craft Show, Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. St. Jude’s Catholic Church. The Bookworm, 11 AM - 3 PM. 10 AM-5 PM, K-H Founders Park. Highlands Heritage Village Nature Series, 5 PM, Wine Tasting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Friday Night Live concert, Cashiers Designer Showhouse. Jamboree, 3-7:30 PM, Kelsey Village Green Commons. Buck’s in Cashiers. 6 PM, Highlands Town Square. Bazaar Barn, 10 AM - 2 PM. Hutchinson Founders Park. Enchanted Forest 6-7:30 PM, Locally Grown on The Green, Beth Poindexter Trunk Show, Goblins on the Green, Highlands Botanical Garden. 2 PM, Village Green Commons. 11 AM-5 PM, Josephine’s. 5:30 PM, Village Green. Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM.Saturdays on Pine, 6 PM. The Ugly Dog Pub. Concert, 6 PM, Town & Country.Sideline Bluegrass, 7:30 PM, PAC Sentimental Journey, 2:00 & Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive. 7:30 PM, Highlands Playhouse. Highlands-Cashiers Community Players Nightwatch, 7:30 PM, PAC. Live Music, 9:30 PM, High Dive.

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CASHIERS

D OW N TOW N O F F I C E

341 Highway 64 West Cashiers, NC 28717 828-743-1999

LAKE GLENVILLE

D I S COV E RY C E N T E R

4312 Highway 107 N Glenville, NC 28736 828-743-1999

HIGHLANDS

D OW N TOW N O F F I C E

537 Main Street Highlands, NC 28741 828-526-2999

RECREATION & CREATION

Pages 82-99

Whitewater Falls

Even if you’ve lived on the Plateau your entire life, a visit to Whitewater Falls is still an occasion of Wonder.

According to the United States Forest Service, Whitewater Falls, a multi-drop waterfall, plunges 411 feet onto the valley below making it the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies. A quarter mile paved trail leads to the upper view of the falls. From there you may descend 154 steps to reach the lower view. Taking the steps to the lower deck is well worth the effort as it is considered the better view. A high volume of people visit Whitewater Falls making the morning and evening the best times to venture to the falls.

Directions

From Cashiers, NC, drive 8 miles south on Highway 107 to South Carolina. Continue on SC 107 for another 1.1 miles to