best of highlands 2015

Highlands2015Best of

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Best of Highlands 2015 1

2 Best of Highlands 2015


Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes the best of Highlands. You might feel the best expe-rience is walking through the morning woods to spot blue-headed vireos with other bird enthusiasts. Your ideal evening could be enjoying a glass of wine while listening to a violinist play Tchaikovsky. You might relish taking your little ones to a day camp where they can learn about art, nature, his-tory and books. Your favorite summer activity might be lis-tening to a live bluegrass band as the sun sets golden over a park.

No matter what your pas-sion, the Best of Highlands has you covered.

Th is year we bring you updated stories about the best in arts and entertainment, outdoor activities and community organizations. Youll nd highlights of this seasons hottest shows and coolest events. Our re-vamped hiking guide will help you explore the regions dashing waterfalls, thriving forests and sweeping vistas. You can learn how to connect with Highlands numer-ous wonderful nonpro t groups, and you can plan your summer and fall with our extensive calendar.

Whether youre a longtime resident or rst-time visi-tor, we hope this edition of Legacy helps you fall in love with the best that Highlands has to o er.

To be included in the pages of Best of Highlands, please contact us by phone at 828-526-4114

or via email to [email protected]. Best of Highlands is a publication of Th e Highlander.

Publisher Brad Spaulding

Editor Carolyn Morrisroe

Sta Writer Carter Giegerich

Account Executive Tyler Shook

Graphic Designer Stephanie Mason

Intern Davis Moore Cover photo: Dry Falls by Carolyn Morrisroe, May 2015

Copyright 2015. The Highlander. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without speci c written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Best of Highlands

ng a to a

You tle ey s-e

Carolyn Morrisroe, editor


Contents2015 Best of Highlands

7

8-19

20-39

40-56

57-59

60-75

Highlands History

Arts & Entertainment

Outdoors

Community

Mountain Flavors

Calendar


As the legend of Highlands founding goes, developers Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Carter C.C. Hutchinson left the Kansas prairies for what they believed would become the next major American city. Th e duo had drawn a line from New York to New Orleans and another from Chicago to Savannah. Where the lines crossed, they predicted would become a great population center. Th e center of their X marked High-lands, and in 1875 the men founded the town as a health and pleasure resort.

In addition to its popularity as a resort town, Highlands unique climate has also attracted the attention of scientists and researchers since its founding.

Kelsey and Hutchinsons predictions of a large population center never came to pass, but Highlands has been sought out as a welcome refuge for generations. With about 1,000 year-round residents, the areas population swells to an estimated 20,000 during the summer. Information adapted from Heart of the Blue Ridge: Highlands, North Carolina, by Randolph Sha ner

The colorful legend of Highlands founding

Samuel Kelsey

C.C. Hutchinson

Highlands History

View of Main Street in Highlands circa 1883Photo by John Bundy, courtesy of the Highlands Historical Society Archives


EntertainmentArts

&


The Performing Arts Cen-ter, at 507 Chestnut St. in Highlands, brings world-class talent to the region all season long. For tickets and more informa-tion, see highlandspac.org or call 828-526-9047.

Jeri Sager8 p.m., June 20

Jeri Sager a veteran of Broadway and numerous national tours. She is best known for her portrayal of Griz-abella in Cats, Andrew Lloyd Web-bers Tony Award-winning musical. She made her Broadway debut as Frumah-Sara, in the 25th anniversary production of Fiddler On Th e Roof. Sager has enjoyed critical acclaim for her portrayal of Fantine in Les Miser-ables and Eva Peron in Evita.

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

7 p.m., June

28

Bluegrass vocalist and fiddler Rhonda Vincent began her profes-sional music career at the age of 5, playing drums with her familys band, the Sally Mountain Show. She picked up the mandolin at 8 and the ddle at 10, performing with the family band at festivals on weekends. Rhonda Vincent & Th e Rage have gained pop-ularity at bluegrass festivals since their formation, play-ing hard-driving, high-en-ergy contemporary bluegrass music.

John McEuen8 p.m., Sept. 19

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands John McEuen (a founding member) opens the evening with their story: a bunch of young 1960s West Coast longhair hip-pies trying to make i t . T h rou g h l ive music, historic pho-

tos and lm, the audience nds out how this iconic California bands rocky past led to success. John Carter (son of Johnny Cash and June Carter) will also be on hand to relate the Car-ter family story and heritage with narrative and music.

Three Tenors & A Diva5 p.m., Sept. 26

Th e Performing Arts Centers rst gala per-formance and dinner starts at 5 p.m. with a concert by Th ree Ten-ors & A Diva. Aft er the concert, the audience

will be treated to a gala dinner at the Highlands Falls Country Club.

Billy McGuigan Band8 p.m., Oct. 2

Th e Billy McGuigan Band presents Yesterday & Today: Th e Interactive Beatles Experience. Th is show takes the incredible music of the Beatles and personalizes it with the stories and perspectives of audience mem-bers. Th e set list contains songs cho-sen by audience members prior to the show and again at intermission.

Franc DAmbrosio8 p.m., Nov. 27

Welcome the holiday season with Franc DAmbrosios Christmas in New York on Friday night after Th anksgiving. DAmbrosio, of Th e Phantom of the Opera, celebrates the sounds of the season with beloved holiday standards that evoke wonder-ful memories of Christmases past.

Live in HDPAC presents broadcasts of perfor-

mances by the Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet and National Th eatre of London. See PACs website for details.

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The Highlands Cashiers Players perform at the Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut St. in High-lands. For tickets and more information, call 828-526-8084 or visit www.highlandscashiersplayers.org.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeAug. 27 30 and Sept. 3 6

This comedic play was written by Christopher Durang and will be directed by Virginia Talbot.

Over the River and Through the Woods

Oct. 15 18 and 22 25. Th is play was written by Joe DiPietro

and will be directed by Adair Simon.

Holiday ReadingDec. 17

Highlands Cashiers Players will present their annual holiday read-ing to celebrate the season with the community.

Mystery Dinner TheaterMarch 11 13 and 1820, 2016Th e Players will put on a mys-

tery dinner theater show.

The Games AfootMay 19 22 and 26 29, 2016

The Highlands Cashiers Players will present, The Games Afoot by Ken Ludwig, di-rected by Michael Lanzilotta.

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Highlands Cashiers PlayersCommunity theater


Song, dance & screen

The historic Highlands Playhouses 77th season is bursting with music and laughs. All performances take place at the Playhouse, 362 Oak St. For in-formation, call the box o ce at 828-526-2695 or go to www.highlandsplayhouse.org.

Bubbles & All That JazzJune 20

Th e Highlands Playhouse will host Bub-bles & All Th at Jazz, a champagne dinner

on June 20 at 6 p.m., with silent and live auctions and a concert by jazz vocalist Vir-ginia Schenck.

Anything GoesJune 25 July 11

Th is classic musical theater production features a an unforgettable score by Cole Porter, amazing tap numbers, campy jokes and unlikely happy endings.

GodspellJuly 16 Aug. 1

A two-act musical that is per-formed in the round with the musicians placed throughout the audience, this show is com-posed of various musical para-bles from Th e Gospel Accord-ing to Matthew.

First Date Aug. 6 22

A lighthearted musical comedy that chronicles a blind date between Aaron (who has never gone out with a stranger) and serial romancer Casey.

End of the RainbowAug. 27 Sept. 6

Th is two-act play includes performances of famous Judy Garland tunes.

Film FestivalSept. 18 20

Th e Highlands Playhouse will hold the inaugural Classic Film Festival in High-lands. Th e festival will highlight the time-

less cinematic masterpieces from 1939. Films will include: Th e Wiz-ard of Oz , Stagecoach, Good-bye, Mr. Chips, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Gone with the Wind, Th e Hound of Th e Bask-ervilles , and Th e Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. Book signings, lec-tures and a trivia stroll are planned for venues around town.

MoviesThe Highlands Playhouse made im-

provements to its building last year and now shows feature lms on a 35-foot movie screen. Movies will continue through the summer. Call the box o ce for informa-tion and current listings.

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Friday Night Live

A free summer concert series sponsored by the Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce will take place Friday eve-nings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Town Square on Main Street. For more information, call 828-526-5841.

Th e following musical groups will perform this summer:

Johnny Webb Band (July 3, Aug. 21, Oct. 9); Mountain High Dulci-mer Club (June 19, July 10, Aug. 14, Oct. 16); Southern Highlands (June 26, July 24, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2); Tallulah River Band (July 17); Th e Dover Boys Med-icine Show (July 31); Macon Grass Band (Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23); Tea 4 Three (Sept. 11); and Alex Commins and Todd Prusin (Sept. 18).

Saturdays on Pine

In its third year, Saturdays on Pine will return to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street, now with a brand-new stage aft er extensive renovations over the winter. Concerts take place on Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Th e concerts are free. For more information, contact Kay Craig at 828-526-8364.

June 27: Porch 40 (progressive Southern funk rock) July 4: Fritz & the Crooked Beat July 11: Hobohemians (mix of proto-jazz, blues, and folk)July 18: August Christopher (improvisational free styling,

crowd participation, comedy, and radio-friendly songs)July 25: TBA Aug. 1: Tea 4 Th ree Aug. 8: Nitrograss (bluegrass)Aug. 15: WellStrung (bluegrass)Aug. 22: High 5 (rock, Southern soul)

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The Bascom: A Center for the Vi-sual Arts, o ers exhibitions, classes and workshops for all ages on its six-acre campus at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands. Special features include an 87-foot-long covered bridge entrance; a 2,500-square-foot barn rebuilt for use as the pottery and three dimensional Dave Drake Studio Barn; and a central three-story, 27,500-square-foot main building.

Exhibitions are free and open year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sun-days. For more information or a schedule of classes and events call 828-526-4949 or visit www.thebascom.org.

Outdoor sculpture May 24 Jan. 6, 2016

Th is year marks the inaugural exhibi-tion on the Margaret and Horst Winkler Sculpture Trail at the Bascom. Curated by Cashiers sculptor Wesley Wo ord, the Bascom Outdoor Sculpture Invitational features work by seven leading American sculptors.

Lands BeyondJune 6 Aug. 30

On view in the Bascoms Loft Gallery from June 6 through Aug. 30, Lands Beyond: Other Worldly Landscapes and Visionary Topographies presents a

mind-bending take on the genre of land-scape art. Curated by author Tom Pat-terson, Lands Beyond is composed of works by next-generation American self-taught artists, including J.J. Cromer, Maura Holden, William Fields and George Lowe.

Hudson River School masterpiecesJune 27 Sept. 27

World-class examples of Hudson River School landscape painting come to the Bascom this summer in Sublime Beauty: Th e American Landscape, curated by Gra-ham C. Boettcher, chief curator at the Bir-mingham Museum of Art. Free opening reception and curator talk on Saturday, June 27, at 5 p.m. on the Bascoms terrace.

Barn DanceJuly 11

Th e Bascoms annual Barn Dance o ers country, contra and square dancing, with live bluegrass music from WellStrung, a world-class caller and food vendors from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Southern Lights SundayJuly 26

Th e Bascom presents the visual poetry of the three artists of Southern Lights. Th ey invite you into their world of emotional experiences from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greehey Atrium Gallery.

Bascom 30th anniversaryAug. 1

Th e Bascom celebrates 30 years of serv-ing the communities of Highlands and Ca-shiers with an aft ernoon and evening of free celebration and fun on Aug. 1. The event includes free receptions for two ex-hibitions starting at 2 p.m.

Bascom in BloomAug. 13 16

Enjoy four days of ne art and owers during the Bascom in Bloom, which fea-tures artful oral arrangements inspired by Bascom exhibitions from oral designers from throughout the country.

The Three Ceramic ArtistsSept.12

The Bascom presents the fifth annual Th ree Ceramic Artists Symposium. Th is years featured ceramic artists are Alex Matisse, Trey Hill and Shadow May. Th e symposium will take place at the Dave Drake Studio Barn and will feature live demonstrations.

Celebration! Motown DanceSept. 25

Dance the night away at the Bascoms ft h annual Celebration! Motown event, with dinner, drinks and dancing.

The Bascom


Highlands MarketplaceTh e Highlands Marketplace, featuring

homegrown produce and handmade arts and craft s, runs every Saturday during the summer and into November from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street in downtown High-lands. For more information, email [email protected].

Village Square Art & Craft ShowsOn June 20 and 21 and again on Aug. 29

and 30, the Highlands Village Square Art & Craft Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street. Th e event will feature

regional artisans, music and food. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Macon County Art Associa-tion. Call 828-787-2021 for more information.

Cashiers Arts & Crafts FairTh e Rotary Club of Cashiers

Valley presents an Arts & Craft s Fair Sept. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Village Green in Cashiers, featuring pottery, artwork, furniture, quilts, jew-

elry, clothing and homemade jams and relishes. You can expect to see mountain themes, from unique birdhouses and paintings to handcrafted wooden bowls and ceramics. Admission is free but donations are accepted. For more informa-tion, see cashiersrotary.org.

Mountain Heritage DayTh e 41st annual Mountain Heritage Day

will showcase traditional southern Appala-chian art, craft s, culture and music on Sept. 26 on the campus of Western Carolina Uni-versity in Cullowhee. For more information, see mountainheritageday.com.

Cashiers Valley Leaf FestivalTh e Greater Cashiers Area Merchants

association will host its seventh annual Leaf Festival Oct. 9 11. For more infor-mation, see visitcashiersvalley.com.

Highlands Own Arts & Crafts Show Highlands Own Arts & Craft s Show will

ll the Civic Center on Oct. 10, with dozens of local artisans showcasing their wares. For more information, call 828-526-2118.

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Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music FestivalChamber music

The 34th season of the Highlands-Ca-shiers Chamber Music Festival begins June 28. Friday concerts (6 p.m.) and Sunday concerts (5 p.m.) are at the High-lands Performing Arts Center. Saturday and Monday concerts (5 p.m.) are held at the Al-bert Carlton Library in Cashiers. For tickets and more information, see www.h-cmusicfestival.org or call 828-526-9060.

ConcertsJuly 10/11: Roman Kim, violin; William

Ransom, pianoJuly 12/13: Roman Kim and Sarah

McElravy, violin; Yinzi Kong and Yang-Yoon Kim, viola; Edward Arron

July 17/18: Ariel String Quartet, Val-erie Von Pechy Whitcup, harp; William Ransom, piano

July 19/20: Ariel String Quartet, Val-erie Von Pechy Whitcup, harp; William Ransom, piano

July 24/25: David and Julie Coucheron, violin and piano

July 26/27: William and Alexandra Preucil, violin; Yinzi Kong and Miles Ho -man, viola; Charae Krueger, cello

July 31/Aug. 1: Vega String Quartet, Andres Cardenes, violin; Elizabeth Prid-

gen, pianoAug. 2/3: Andres Cardenes, violin; Wil-

liam Ransom and Victor Asuncion, pianoAug. 7/8: Fei-Fei Dong, piano; Mar-

geaux Maloney, violin; Andrew Gonza-lez, viola; Khari Joyner, cello

Special eventsSpecial Performance: Sublime Beauty:

Th e American Landscape features music, art, a wine dinner and a champagne re-ception at the Bascom on June 28 and 29 at 6 p.m.

Bach at Bucks: On June 30 at 7:30 p.m., enjoy free informal chamber music at Bucks Co ee Caf on Main Street in Highlands with the members of the Sera- n String Quartet.

Opening Gala: Th e Opening Gala Con-cert and Reception will be held in High-lands on July 5 and 6 with the theme, Jazz Meets Classics. Featured performers are the Eroica Trio and the Gary Motley Trio.

Salons at Six: Th is season features two Salons at Six: July 7 at the home of Lynne and Jim Browne featuring jazz pianist Gary Motley and vocalist Veronica Tate; and July 14 at the home of Olivia and Bob Holt, with lecturer and legendary voice of

classical music, Lois Reitzes. At each event, wine will be served from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by performances until 6:30 p.m., then light refreshments.

CLE Classes: Th e Center for Life En-richment hosts four classes on the origins and development of music, taught by Ste-phen Crist. Classes are held Saturdays, July 11 Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call CLE for more information: 828-526-8811.

Childrens Concert: On July 14 at 3 p.m., a free family/childrens concert and performance of Babar the Elephant will take place at First Presbyterian Church in Highlands followed by an ice cream social.

Interlude Concert: Internationally known pianist Norman Krieger will play the music of Chopin and Brahms at the First Presbyterian Church in Highlands on July 15 at 2 p.m. in a free concert.

Final Gala: Th e nal gala concert and dinner party for the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival tunes up on Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Highlands Performing Arts Center, with The Festival Cham-ber Orchestra presenting Mozart in the Mountains. Dinner follows at Wildcat Cli s Country Club.


Outdoors


The Highlands Biological Station o ers several ways for the com-munity to learn about the rich natural heritage of the Highlands pla-teau. Many events are free. Th e sta-tion is also home to several research labs and o ers biology courses and special topics workshops that are open to community members.

Zahner Conservation LecturesA tradition since the 1930s,

the Zahner Conservation Lec-tures are free evening lectures about natural history and con-servation. Th e events are held at 6:30 p.m. at the Highlands Nature Center July 2 to Sept. 3. Lectures this year include presentations about coyotes, bats and the poetry of Rob-ert Frost.

Foundation ForaysExplore the biological

and cultural diversity of the Highlands plateau. Events will complement Zahner lectures and be led by a station sta per-son or eld professional. Events include a hike of Siler Bald and an exploration of Blue Valley. To learn more, visit www.high-landsbiological.org or call the foundation at 828-526-2221.

MondaysBotanical Garden Tour, 10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Join Nature Center guides on a walk to discover the beautiful native plants of the southern Appalachians. All ages. Free.

TuesdaysFamily Nature Activity, 3 p.m. 4 p.m.Activities vary, but may include critter searches, discovery walks or nature games. Ages 4+. $1 per person.

WednesdaysStorybook Science, 2:30p.m. 3 p.m.Nature lessons will be based around a childrens storybook using items from the Nature Center. All ages. Free.

ThursdaysPrograms and Zahner Conservation Lectures. A variety of programs, including the Zahner lecture series, interpretive hikes and special events. Costs vary.

FridaysAnimal Feeding Time, 11 a.m. 11:30 a.m.Observe what each of the Nature Centers animals eat and learn how they feed. Free. All ages.

SaturdaysFeatured Creature, 11:30 a.m. 12 p.m.See and learn about the Nature Centers live animals up close. Free. All ages.

DailyHighlands Nature Center,

930 Horse Cove RoadThe Nature Center is open Mondays through Saturdays through Labor Day and features exhibits and live animals. Call 828-526-2623.

Nature CampsThe Nature Center offers nature day

camps each summer for children. Th e four-day camps run from Tuesday through Fri-day and are rotated weekly. Advance reg-istration is required.

Wow! A World of Wonder. Ages 4 6, $55 per child. O ered June 2-5, July 7 10, and Aug. 4 7.

Amazing Animals. Ages 7 10, $85 per

child. O ered June 23-26, July 28 31.

NatureWorks. Ages 8 11, $85 per child. O ered June 9-12, July 14 17.

Junior Ecologists. Ages 11 14, $120 per child. O ered June 16 19.

Mountain Explorers. Ages 10 13, $120 per child. O ered July 21 24.

Wonders of natureHighlands Biological Station & Nature Center

ogical Station for the com-out the rich ghlands pla-e. Th e sta-al research urses and that are bers.

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iler Bald and an y. To learn more, visit www.high-l the foundation at 828-526-2221.

Flame azalea at the Botanical Garden by Carolyn Morrisroe


Explore the vast plant diversity and ecosystems of the southern Appalachian Mountains by walking the trails of the Highlands Botanical Garden. Th e garden is open from dawn until dusk daily. Free weekly themed tours will be held Mondays at 10:30 a.m. through Sept. 22. Meet at the Nature Center.

Old Growth Forest ZoneTh is trail includes acid cove and rich cove plants such as

doghobble and Eastern hemlock. Th e Coker Rhodo-dendron Trail begins on Lower Lake Road.

The Wetland and Lake ZoneAn area of moist, shaded woodland and lake edge,

wetland and bog. Plants include ferns, Jack-of-the pulpit and swamp lilies. Th e Fern Trail crosses silty soil wetland species and ferns. Th e Lower Lake Trail and Bog Board-walk follow a stream through riparian hardwood forest and cross over a bog. Th e Upper Lake Trail winds through

a heath forest along the eastern shore of the lake.

The Woodland ZoneTh e most extensive area of the garden includes mixed hard-

wood and conifer species found at mid-elevations in the Ap-palachian Mountains. Th e Woodland Loop winds through hardwood-dominated forest typical of Highlands with sev-eral woodland wild owers in the understory. Th e Foreman Trail passes through hemlock-hardwood forest. Th e Falls Trail follows a shaded stream and loops past a small cascade on the property border. Th e garden also includes demonstra-tion zones such as a moss garden, a butter y garden and a Cherokee garden.

Highlands Botanical Garden

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By the BEAR Task Force

While we love black bears, the last thing most of us want is to encounter one on a trail or in our campsite. While it is uncommon to en-counter bears, being prepared is important to a bear-safe experience.

Facts about black bears Th ey have a very keen sense of smell. They are extremely curious and

intelligent. Th ey are most ravenous in spring and

fall. Diet is 85 percent vegetable matter:

nuts, berries, seeds, grass; also grubs, bees, termites, larvae.

Bears stand up to get a better look or smell not to attack.

Th ey prefer to avoid humans. Bears will be more aggressive when

protecting food or cubs. Th ey are very powerful and can cause

serious injury if startled or provoked. Bears can run 35 miles per hour and

are excellent tree climbers. Bears are wild animals to be treated

with caution and respect.

On the trail Travel in groups. Do not allow children

to run ahead. Remain on trail. Hike during the day.

Bears are more active aft er dark Stay alert and avoid surprising a bear.

Advertise your presence with talking, singing and bear bells.

Use caution when traveling on a bike or in berry patches, dense vegetation and noisy streams where a bear may not see, smell or hear you coming.

Keep dogs on leash; they can provoke a bear.

When packing food and odorous non-food items (scented toiletries, gum), use doubled plastic bags to seal in odors. Bet-ter yet is a bear-proof container.

Bring extra zip-top bags for left overs and for packing out garbage.

What to do if you see a bear

Bears are basically shy and naturally afraid of humans, so attacks are rare. If one comes near you it is most likely just

curious. Do not approach the bear. Back up and

return down the trail or make a wide de-tour around it.

If a bear approaches you, stay calm and do not run that may elicit a chase re-sponse by the bear.

Let the bear know you are not a threat by talking soft ly. Lift arms or pack over-head and slowly back away.

If the bear snaps its jaws, huffs and slaps the ground, it feels threatened.

The bear may bluff charge rush forward and stop to intimidate you. Hold your ground until it turns and leaves, then back away.

Never come between a mother bear and her cub!

If a bear follows you, stand your ground and yell, clap your hands, wave your arms, or throw something (rocks, sticks) at the bear until it leaves.

Never toss food or your pack at the bear, as it will quickly learn to confront other humans for food rewards.

Th e Bear Education & Resources Task

Force has several brochures about bears available at post offices and libraries in Highlands and Cashiers.

Black bear countryHiking smart in the Highlands area

Photo by Cynthia Strain


Highlands Aerial Park, lo-cated on Highway 106 between Dillard, Ga., and Highlands, opened in 2012 and has blos-somed into a buzzing center for outdoor adventure.

Its main course features seven separate zip lines with breathtaking views.

Th e climax of the course can be found on the fourth zip line: The Squealing Mare. Named after local folklore, it consists of a 1/4-mile ride reaching a height of 210 feet in

and over the forest canopy. For the younger adventurer or hesi-

tant adult, there is the Brave Indian, a course designed for the whole family. Th e park also o ers approximately an hour and a half s worth of nature trails for those who like to feel the land be-neath their feet.

Th is season brings new additions to the park: a giant swing and a wagon ride through mountain meadows to a tumbling waterfall.

For more information, see www.highlandscanopytour.com or call 828-526-8773.

To the treesHighlands Aerial Park

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Explore the outdoorsHighlands-Cashiers Land Trust

In addition to preserving lands in West-ern North Carolina, the Highlands-Ca-shiers Land Trust o ers a variety of op-portunities to enjoy and explore the di-verse landscape of the plateau with its summer eco tours and the Village Square Nature Series.

Th e Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is the oldest land trust in North Carolina, and has preserved more than 2,500 acres of land, be-ginning with the protection of the summit of Satulah Mountain in 1909. For more in-formation, see www.hicashlt.org.

Eco toursThe land trusts eco tours each high-

light a di erent aspect of the natural world around Highlands. Th e cost to join any of the 2015 eco tours is $35 for new members and includes a one-year membership to the land trust. Th e cost for current mem-bers is $10. Reservations are required. Email [email protected] or call 828-526-1111. For more information, see www.hicashlt.org.

June 23: Th e Road to Franklin. A his-toric stroll along a forgotten path a por-tion of the old road that once led from Highlands to Franklin.

July 21: Heart of Horse Cove. Many have traveled the hairpin picturesque drive down to the cove but few know about the rich natural and cultural history of this charming valley.

Aug. 21: Serpentine Barrens. Explore a unique ecosystem within the Nantahala National Forest and learn more about its inhabitants from herpetologist and bota-nist guides.

Sept. 17: Bald Rock. A special-access hike to the summit of Old Bald through Camp Merrie-Woode. Hikers will learn about a number of rare plants from a bot-anist guide and be rewarded with a grand view from above.

Sept. 23: HCLTs Annual Elk Excursion. An enchanting journey that has become an annual tradition. Th e group will travel to Cataloochee Valley at the peak of the rut.

Village Nature SeriesTh is series of free community events is

held at 5:30 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month from May through Septem-ber at the Village Green in Cashiers. No reservations are needed, and the presenta-tions are held rain or shine. All programs are family friendly.

June 30: Th e Bear Necessities. An open

dialogue about bears with Bill Lea, a na-tionally recognized nature photographer and author.

July 28: Get Acquainted with the Na-tives. A colorful discussion about native plants and pollinators with Susan Sun-flower, a master gardener and member of the Native Plant Society and Western North Carolina Botany Alliance.

Aug. 25: Bug Apptit! A tasteful pre-sentation about insects with Zack Lemann, chief entomologist at the Audubon Insec-tarium in New Orleans.

Sept. 29: Sheepnoses & Timbertwigs. All about heritage apples with Dana Holden, who has a passion for nding and preserv-ing apples that are part of Appalachian ag-ricultural heritage.

Volunteer eventsJune 20 and July 11: Volunteer, Get

Free Beer! Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator Kyle Pursel will lead a volunteer work day at either Satulah Mountain Preserve or Kelsey Trail. Aft er-ward, volunteers will enjoy a free beer at Satulah Mountain Brewing Company. For more information, contact Pursel at [email protected] or 828-526-1111.

Photo by Bill Lea

Photo courtesy of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust


Carpe Diem Farms is a magical place. Whether its your rst or your 20th trip to this sanctuary of nature, youll have a wonderful experience. Over and over again, Carpe Diem hears from its students, participants and visitors that the minute they come through the gate, the noise of daily life drops away and a sense of calm, even a heightened aware-ness, lls the void.

CDF is the home to 10 horses, three dogs, two cats and a wide variety of wild-life, especially birds. It was designated an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999. A pair of red-tailed hawks soars above the farm daily. Hummingbirds dart to feeders and owers and yellow nch ll the trees.

For 23 years, Carpe Diems experiential foundation has utilized the equine sta ,

the labyrinth, the place, to en-hance life for a wide variety of participants. Children as well as adults, couples and corpo-rate clients nearly 4,000 have participated in a wide va-riety of programs, camps, pri-vate lessons and activities. CDF provides a unique opportunity to explore the human potential through its equine experiences.

Learning to partner with a 1,200-pound horse teaches les-sons that mirror visitors lives. People can hone observation skills, learn teamwork and subtle ways to interact, and through herd dynamics, learn skills that transfer to family life and the work environment. Be-haviors witnessed on a large scale through

the horses can lead to some aha moments.Working on the farm, caring for the

horses is a Zen experience chop wood, carry water. Th e tasks repetitive happy, healthy horses the reward. Visit Carpe Di-ems newly renovated website, www.car-pediemfarms.org for more information.

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Bird watchingHighlands Plateau Audubon SocietyThe Highlands Plateau Audubon Society serves the Highlands, Ca-shiers, Franklin and Scaly Moun-tain communities, with a mission to pro-vide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife.

Th e Audubon Society o ers regular Sat-urday eld trips throughout the summer season. Th is years schedule includes sev-eral new venues as well as repeat visits to favorite birding spots in the area. Th is year the group will also coordinate some trips with the Franklin Bird Club, guest leaders will share their knowledge, and beginners sessions will be o ered once per month. Th ose sessions are aimed at assisting feeder watchers, new and would-be birders with binoculars and eld guides, though birders of all levels are welcome and encouraged to participate in every walk.

Most eld trips will meet at 7:30 a.m. either in the Highlands Town Hall park-ing lot or in Cashiers at the new Ca-shiers-Glenville Recreation Center. Car-pooling is encouraged and usually essential due to limited parking at birding destina-tions. Participants should bring binoculars if they have them, water and stout walk-ing shoes, cameras and sunscreen. Hats

with visors are oft en useful. Trips will be led by birders experienced with the local birds and habitats, assisted by club mem-bers who will help with eld guide identi- cations and binocular use.

For more information and an updated schedule of field trips and programs, see www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org.

Field trips June 20: Jones Gap and Bartram Trail.

Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Highlands Town Hall. Explore a bit of the Bartram Trail and enjoy great views as well as birds. Good hiking footwear and water are advised.

June 27: Joint trip with Highlands-Ca-shiers Land Trust to High Hampton. No charge. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Peggy Crosby Center in Highlands or at 8 a.m. at the Cashiers Recreation Center.

July 17: Mountain Wildlife Days walk. Meet at the Cashiers Recreation Center at 9 a.m. A surprising number of birds may be found in this more urban area. Aft er the walk, go on to the many activities at Moun-tain Wildlife Days in Sapphire.

July 21: Birds & Beer. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company in Sapphire.

Aug. 1: Beginners Walk. starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Cashiers Rec-reation Center. Th ere are plenty of birds to be seen around the Rec Center, the board-walk and the Village Green.

Aug. 18: Birds & Beer. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Ugly Dog Pub in Highlands.

Sept. 5: Beginners Walk. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Highlands Town Hall.

Sept. 12: Charlie Davis Memorial Blue Ridge Parkway trip. Th is trip is made in memory of Davis, who was a longtime member and supporter of Audubon. Meet at 7 a.m. at the Highlands Town Hall park-ing area. The Parkway always provides spectacular views and interesting birds.

Dec. 18: Christmas Bird Count. Will begin at 7:30 a.m. at a location to be an-nounced later.

Aug 1: Beginners Walk


Highlands areaCullasaja Club

Location: 1371 Cullasaja Drive, HighlandsPhone: 828-526-3531Website: www.cullasajaclub.orgThis private course was designed by Seay, Palmer

and Riley. It was named the best fth hole by Golf Digest in its Americas Best 18 Holes feature in Feb-ruary 2000. The club was founded in 1988.

Highlands Country ClubLocation: 981 Dillard Road, HighlandsPhone: 828-526-2181Website: www.highlandscountryclub.comHighlands Country Clubs in-town private course

was designed by Donald Ross. The club was founded in 1928.

Highlands Falls Country ClubLocation: One Club Drive, HighlandsPhone: 828-526-4118Website: www.clubhfcc.comThis private course features 19 holes, with the nal

hole being used for optional play when necessary. The course is par 70, totaling 6,300 yards with 250 feet of elevation change.

Old Edwards Club at Highlands CoveLocation: Hwy. 64 East, HighlandsPhone: 828-526-8008Website: www.oldedwardsinn.com/golfThis 18-hole, par-71 course is a private club that is

open to members and guests of Old Edwards Inn.

Wildcat Cli s Country ClubLocation: 770 Country Club Drive, HighlandsPhone: 828-526-2165Website: www.wildcatcli scountryclub.comThis private course features an 18-hole champi-

onship regulation layout. It is the areas highest golf course, at an elevation of 4,200 feet. The club was founded in 1961.

Cashiers areaBurlingame at Sapphire Lakes

Location: 1600 Hwy. 64 West, Sapphire Phone: 828-966-9202Website: www.burlingameccwnc.com The 18-hole private course features 6,640 yards of

golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.

Country Club of Sapphire ValleyLocation: 120 Handicap Drive, SapphirePhone: 828-743-2462Website: www.ccsapphirevalley.org The Country Club of Sapphire Valley is a private,

member-owned equity club.The golf course was originally designed by George W.

Cobb and opened in 1956. It was updated by Bill Bergin.

High Hampton Country ClubLocation: Hwy. 107 South, CashiersPhone: 828-743-2411Website: www.highhamptoninn.comThis 18-hole course was designed by George W.

Cobb and features bentgrass greens and plays at 6,012 yards from the back tees. Golf Digest named the eighth island hole one of Americas greatest golf holes. The course is open to High Hampton guests and residents.

Lake Toxaway Country ClubLocation: 4366 W. Club Blvd., Lake ToxawayPhone: 828-966-4020Website: www.laketoxawaycc.comThis Spence Golf Design course underwent a $9 mil-

lion renovation in 2009. This private course is open to guests at the Greystone Inn.

Red Bird Golf Links Location: 67 Cherokee Trail, SapphirePhone: 828-743-1991Website: www.redbirdgol inks.comRed Bird features a nine-hole executive golf course.

The course and practice facility are open to the public.

Sapphire National Golf ClubLocation: 50 Slicers Ave., SapphirePhone: 828-743-1174Website: www.sapphirenational.comThis public mountain course received a $2.5 million

renovation in 2010. Golf Magazine praised the course, saying it had three of the most beautiful holes in West-ern North Carolina. The club was founded in 1982.

Trillium LinksLocation: 48 Links Drive, CashiersPhone: 828-743-4251Website: www.trilliumnc.comThis private 18-hole regulation length course is a

par 71 and 6,505 yards.

Wade Hampton Golf ClubLocation: Hwy. 107 South, CashiersPhone: 828-743-5465Website: www.wadehamptongc.comWade Hampton is a gated private golf club lo-

cated in Cashiers. The Tom Fazio-designed course is consistently one of the highest-ranked mountain golf courses in the United States.

Franklin areaMill Creek Country Club

Location: 341 Country Club Drive, FranklinPhone: 828-524-4653Website: www.thegolfclubatmillcreek.comThis public course is a par 72 totaling 6,153 yards

with bentgrass greens designed by Bruce Devlin.

Sky Valley areaSky Valley Golf Club

Location: 568 Sky Valley Way #1, Sky Valley, Ga.Phone: 706-746-5303, 800-437-2416Website: www.skyvalleycountryclub.comThis public course is a par 72 totaling 6,901 yards.

Golf courses


The Highlands Plateau Greenways mission is to develop a system of walking and hiking trails that pro-tect and connect the natural settings and historic sites of the Highlands. Its goal is to create a system of green spaces on which pedestrians can get around town without walking on streets. Th e Greenway is desig-nated as a National Recreation Trail and a North Carolina Birding Trail.

Th e Highlands Plateau Greenway com-mittee is in the process of adding to the trail system. One new trail under construction is on the old sled run starting at First and Oak streets. Th e pavilion from Kelsey-Hutchin-son Founders Park was moved there over the winter and is slated to become a new en-

trance to the trail system, with maps and information.

Th e Greenway includes the following trails: Sunset Rock, Botanical Garden trails, Coker Rhododendron Trail, Big Bear Pen Trail, Kelsey Trail, Mill Creek Trail and Bascom Trail.

Greenway work days are held monthly, and volunteers are always welcome to help with trail construc-tion and maintenance. For more information, see www.highlandsgreenway.com or email [email protected].

Maps of the trail are available at the Highlands Visitor Center and the Hudson Library.

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DayThe Highlands area is a hikers paradise, with plentiful trails that o er everything from fam-ily-friendly strolls to backpacking ex-peditions. Whether you seek delicious solitude, breathtaking vistas, inspir-ing waterfalls, or just a pleasant pic-nic spot, Highlands hiking trails have you covered.

Bridal Veil FallsLevel of difficulty: Extremely easy. Visible from road.

Parking: Limited.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 2.7 miles. Follow High-way 64 (Franklin Road). Waterfall is on the right.

Highlight: Easily accessible photo opportunity.

Description: An old alternate road curves under this waterfall, allow-ing pedestrians to pass underneath. A parking area is adjacent. Be very careful not to impede traffic on the highway.

Chinquapin MountainLevel of difficulty: Moderate; 700-foot elevation gain.

Driving distance/directions from downtown: 2.9 miles. Follow Highway 106 (Dillard Road) to Glen Falls Road on left . Take immediate right and fol-low road to trailhead.

Parking: Adequate.Hiking distance: 3 miles round-trip.Highlight: A less crowded trail with

lovely views.Description: Take the trail that

bears to the right from Glen Falls trail-head and bulletin board. Be ready to rock-hop over several small streams on the way to the summit, which has a number of rocky overlooks into Blue Valley.

Hikes


Cullasaja FallsLevel of di culty: Easy. Visible from road.

Driving distance/directions from downtown: About 9 miles. Follow Highway 64 (Franklin Road). Water-fall and pull-o are on the left .

Parking: Extremely limited.Highlight: Very scenic waterfall.Description: Th is waterfall is visi-

ble from the road, but it is strongly ad-visable to pull o to view it. It is more easily accessible when traveling east on Highway 64 up the mountain. Th e viewing area is in a narrow portion of the gorge, so use extreme caution and be aware of the tra c.

Dry FallsLevel of di culty: Easy to moderate

Driving directions/distance from downtown: About 3.5 miles. Follow Highway 64 (Franklin Road). Water-fall parking area is on the left .

Parking: Ample.Highlight: Absolutely stunning wa-

terfall with very little hiking involved.Description: Th is relatively accessi-

ble hike involves a series of steps to a very short trail that leads behind the waterfall. Recent upgrades include a more level trail, improved drainage, new railings and improvements un-derneath the waterfall.

Glen FallsLevel of di culty: Di cult; 700-foot elevation drop in one mile.

Driving distance/directions from downtown: 2.9 miles. Follow High-way 106 (Dillard Road) to Glen Falls Road on left. Take immediate right and follow road to trailhead.

Parking: Adequate.Hiking distance: 2 miles round-trip.Highlight: Multilayered waterfall

thats gorgeous any time of year. Description: Th e trail leads to three

cascades, starting at the top of the rst falls. Th e trail down is easy, but the trail back up can feel quite steep. Th e hike length can be tailored by turning around at any of the falls viewing platforms.

Glen Falls by Carolyn Morrisroe


Ellicotts RockLevel of di culty: Moderate.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 6.3 miles. Follow Horse Cove Road from Highlands down to the inter-section of Bull Pen and Whiteside Cove roads. Bear right on graveled Bull Pen Road and drive 1.8 miles to trailhead.

Parking: Adequate.Hiking distance: 7.4 miles round-trip.Highlight: A pleasant wooded hike,

even if you dont nd Ellicotts Rock itself.Description: The trail follows an old

roadbed and is about 3.7 miles one way. Th e trail leads through a rich pine and rho-dodendron forest. At two miles, there is an

intersection of two trails; continue straight. At 2.7 miles, bear left at junction and de-scend toward the river. At 3.5 miles the trail bends to the right and heads downriver. At 3.65 miles, just aft er a left bend in the trail, a narrow path descends to the river. To reach Ellicotts Rock you must ford the river. After fording, take the Chattooga River Trail to the right for a short distance to Ellicotts Rock, which is the area where Georgia, South Carolina and North Car-olina meet.

Granite CityLevel of di culty: Moderate.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 6 miles. Follow Horse Cove Road from Highlands down to the inter-section of Bull Pen and Whiteside Cove roads. Bear left on Whiteside and drive 1.2 miles to a steep trail on the left .

Parking: Limited.Hiking distance: Short.Highlight: A fun area that serves as a

natural playground. Description: A trail up the hill leads to a

jumble of large granite outcrops and boul-ders, with many nooks to explore. Warn-ing: Th is area attracts snakes, so its best to wear boots and long pants.

Old Iron Bridge and Chattooga River Loop

Level of di culty: Moderate.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 7.9 miles. Follow Horse Cove Road from Highlands down to the inter-section of Bull Pen and Whiteside Cove roads. Bear right on graveled Bull Pen Road and drive 3.1 miles to the bridge.

Parking: Adequate.Hiking distance: 2-mile loop. Highlight: A lovely river with swim-

ming holes. Description: Th e trail begins just before

the bridge on the west side of the river and proceeds upriver for some distance before switching back to the left and returning through hemlock forest to Bull Pen Road. Th e more aggressive hiker may wish to fol-low the Chattooga River Trail farther up the river. This is a more strenuous hike, with many water crossings, 6.25 miles total, ending at a parking lot for the Chattooga

Ellicotts Rock Wilderness trail by Carolyn Morrisroe


River Trail on Whiteside Cove Road. It is best done with experienced fellow hikers.

Panthertown ValleyLevel of di culty: Varies. Driving distance/directions from

downtown: Take Highway 64 east through Cashiers. Two miles past the Cashiers crossroads, turn left on Cedar Creek Road. Continue 2.3 miles. Turn right on Breed-love Road and drive 3.5 miles, the last bit of which is unpaved.

Parking: Adequate. Parking is along the end of the road before the trailhead. Do not

block road or any private property. Hiking distance: Varies. Highlight: A large backcountry area

with an extensive network of trails. Description: Panthertown Valley com-

prises 10,000 acres of land in the Nantahala National Forest and has been referred to as the Yosemite of the East. Numerous trails loop through the valley, and there are opportunities for camping, horseback rid-ing and mountain biking. Th e area boasts streams, woods, mountain bogs, waterfalls, granite cli s and biologically diverse hab-itats. It is recommended that hikers rst obtain a map of Panthertown, as its com-plexity can confuse even repeat visitors.

Cli side Lake Recreation Area

Level of di culty: Varies. Mostly easy.Driving distance/direction from down-

town: Take Highway 64 west toward Franklin for 4 miles. Drive past Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls and the entrance to Van Hook Glade Campground. Turn right into Cli side Lake Recreation Area. Follow road to parking areas. Th ere is a day-use fee for vehicles.

Parking: Ample.Hiking distance: Varies, but not more

Panthertown Valley by Carolyn Morrisroe


than 2 miles.Highlight: A scenic lake thats great for

a relaxing picnic, with short nature hikes in the area.

Description: Th e Cli side Lake Recre-ation Area includes several trails: Clifft op Vista (1 mile), Potts Memorial (0.6 miles), Cli side Loop (0.75 miles), Homesite Road (1.25 miles), Skitty Creek (0.3 miles), Van Hook (0.3 miles) and Ranger Falls (2 miles). Follow posted signs and maps.

Satulah MountainLevel of di culty: Moderate; 700-foot

elevation gain.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: None.Parking: None.Hiking distance: 3.2 miles round-trip.Highlight: Inspiring views to be had

without leaving town. Description: As there is no public park-

ing on the mountain, hikers must park in downtown Highlands. From Main Street, walk on S. Fourth St./Highway 28 about 0.2 miles; as road curves right, stay to the left to walk up Satulah Road. Half a mile up, the road forks; continue straight on the left fork, Worley Road. A cul-de-sac at the end of the road marks the trailhead. Th ere are two marked trail signs, and you can take either, as they converge. About half of this hike is on paved road, skirting multiple

private properties, but the summit of the mountain is owned by the Highlands-Ca-shiers Land Trust and open to the public. Th e summit a ords sweeping vistas.

Scaly MountainLevel of di culty: Moderate; 1,000-foot

elevation gain.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: Take Highway 106 (Dillard Road) south 5.7 miles to the Osage Moun-tain Vista. Trail begins across the highway at a set of wooden steps.

Parking: Adequate. Be careful crossing the highway, as there is no crosswalk.

Hiking distance: 3.8 miles round-trip.Highlight: Rock outcroppings with glo-

rious views. Description: Th e 1.9-mile trail, which is

part of the longer Bartram Trail, ascends the mountain steeply, passing a small wa-terfall. It soon joins an old roadbed and continues to climb, following switchbacks before it becomes more level. At a trail in-tersection, follow the yellow blazes to the left to the summit of Scaly Mountain.

Sunset RockLevel of di culty: Moderate; less than

300-foot elevation gain.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 0.5 miles. Drive out Horse Cove Road from downtown Highlands.

Parking: Adequate parking across the road from the Nature Center.

Hiking distance: 1.2 miles round-trip.

Cairns on the Bartram Trail by Carolyn Morrisroe


Need a guide? Nantahala Hiking Club

If youd rather not venture out alone, the Nantahala Hiking Club o ers day hikes on most weekends throughout the year. Meeting places are usually designated in Franklin or Highlands, and excursions often go beyond the trails listed here. Hikers carpool to the scheduled trailhead. Reservations are required and hikes are usually limited to 20 people. A schedule of hikes for NHC is printed each week in The Highlanders events calendar, including hike description, hike leader, contact information and preferences regarding pets. Annual membership is $15.

Based in Franklin, NHC is one of 31 volunteer Appalachian Trail-maintaining clubs of the Appa-lachian Trail Conservancy. It has the responsibility of maintaining about 58.6 miles of the A.T. from the North Carolina/Georgia border at Bly Gap to the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

For more information, see the www.nantahalahikingclub.org.

Highlight: Perfect spot for a picnic or a quick respite in town.

Description: Walk up Sunset Park Road from the trailhead to a turnaround at the top of this gravel road. Sunset Rock pro-vides an overlook with a wonderful view of Highlands. A trail heading east from the turnaround leads to Sunrise Rock and a good view of Horse Cove. Those who require easier accessibility may drive to the top.

Whiteside MountainLevel of difficulty : Moderate to

strenuous.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 6.6 miles. Take Highway 64 East toward Cashiers. Turn right on Wh-iteside Mountain Road and drive to trail-head and parking lot on left .

Parking: Ample. Th e U.S. Forest Service charges a parking fee of $2 per vehicle.

Hiking distance: 2-mile loop. Highlight: A marquee local hike with

hard-to-beat views and interesting history.Description: A loop trail leads to the

summit, which is a ridge with many daz-zling overlooks. From the parking lot, starting the loop trail to the left is easier,

with a more gradual ascent. A more stren-uous climb can be had by starting the hike on the wooden stairs to the right.

Yellow MountainLevel of di culty: Strenuous; 2,000-

foot overall elevation gain.Driving distance/directions from

downtown: 4.9 miles. Follow Highway 64 East to Buck Creek Road on left . Pro-ceed 2.2 miles on Buck Creek to trailhead on right.

Parking: Adequate, across the road from trailhead.

Hiking distance: 9.6 miles round-trip.Highlight: Panoramic vista aft er a chal-

lenging climb. Description: This long hike up Cole

Mountain, Shortoff Mountain, around Goat Knob and up Yellow Mountain is worth the trip for the view to be had from the old re tower at the summit. Trail is well marked and maintained, but it will test the mettle of the weekend walker. Bring adequate water. Th eres a nice col-lection of wild owers along the trail, in season.

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Community


The Highlands Area Chamber of Com-merce and Visitor Center should be your first stop in town for informa-tion about local events, attractions, lodging and dining.

Located at 108 Main St. near the intersec-tion of Highways 64 and 106, it is convenient for visitors coming into town.

Th e Visitor Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays year-round. It is also open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays from May through November. For more informa-tion, see www.highlandschamber.org or call 828-526-2112.

Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor CenterVisitors info


Learn more about the rich history of the area with the Highlands Histor-ical Society. Th e Historic Village, at 524 N. Fourth St.,

is open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. 4 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through late October. It includes the House-Boyn-

ton-Trapier-Wright Home (the Prince House), the Highlands His-torical Museum and Archives, and Bug Hill Cottage. Admission is free. This year, the museum features a special exhibit, A Botanical His-tory of the Highlands Plateau: In the Footsteps of the Ancients.

For more information, call 828-787-1050 or see www.highlandshistory.com.

Dazzling DahliasHighlands annual dahlia festival returns

to the plateau Sept. 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Highlands Recreation Center, with a patron party scheduled for Sept. 10. Th e festival celebrates the beauty of dahl-ias with a friendly competition. Th e event draws hundreds of exhibitors, showing sin-gle blooms and oral arrangements.

Kelsey KidsKelsey Kids gather each summer to

learn about the history and experiences of the early lives of people in Highlands

beginning in 1875. Th is years childrens program took place June 15 19. Led by experienced and knowledgeable Highlands residents, the group planned to visit Fox- re, take a hike, experience music from a dulcimer and guitar, have a pioneer lunch, and make discoveries in the museum. Ap-plications for next years Kelsey Kids will be available on the website, www.high-landshistory.com, and at the museum. For more information, email Linda David at [email protected].

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Highlands Historical Society

Dazzling Dahlias Festival


Hudson LibraryReaders of all ages can learn and and have fun this summer at the Hudson Library. Children and teens are encouraged to sign up for the summer reading program, and the library will also be o ering several programs for children and families throughout the summer.

Ron Cromer will present Snakes Alive at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26, which includes a lecture dispelling common myths about snakes and an opportunity for attendees to hold the snakes. Th is program is sponsored by the Hudson Library but will take place at the Highlands Civic Center.

On Wednesday, July 1 at 3 p.m., the library will be having a Super Hero Movie Day, and children will have an opportunity to have their faces painted by Mary Bennett.

Families are invited to stop back in on Friday, July 3 at 2:30 p.m., as the well-loved magician and balloon artist Professor Whizzpop will be visiting the library.

On Tuesday, July 21 at 4 p.m., the library will host Science of the Superhero, where children in grades kindergarten through ft h will have the opportunity to see how a professional Marvel Comics illustrator uses math and science to create todays most popular superheroes.

On Wednesday, July 29 at 2:30 p.m. the N.C. Museum of Nat-ural Sciences will have an Interesting Invertebrates program. Children ages 4 and up can meet live invertebrates such as mil-

lipedes, cray sh, tarantulas and scorpions in this up-close, safe look at animals without backbones.

On Saturday, Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cashiers-High-lands Humane Society will have a Stop-N-Adopt in the Hudson Library parking lot, and at 11 a.m. in the meeting room speaker Bob Plott will present, Touching the Face of History: Th e Story of the Plott Hound, North Carolinas O cial State Dog. Th is program is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonpro t and a liate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Th e Hudson Library also shows movies twice a month. Family movies are shown on the rst Wednesday of the month at 3:15 p.m., and recently released lms are shown on the third Wednes-day of each month at 2 p.m.

Highlands residents are invited to the library for co ee and an open public discussion with Town of Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the last Friday of each month. Th e library also hosts a book discussion on the last Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.

Hudson Library is located at 554 Main St. It is open Tuesday Friday, 10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.fontanalib.org or call the library at 828-526-3031.

Beyond books

Photo by Gil Stose Photography


Changing livesLiteracy Council of Highlands

The Literacy Council of Highlands serves adults and children with a variety of free services from its space in the Peggy Crosby Center on Fift h Street. All its programs are open to the public and free of charge. Th is summer, the Literacy Council will be o ering

individual tutoring in all subjects; adult GED and ESL classes; summer camp with the Highlands Rec-

reation Park and the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust;

kindergarten prep at Highlands Com-munity Child Development Center;

Dolly Parton Imagination Library for all children in Macon County, birth through their ft h birthday. (To register a child for the Dolly program, visit imagi-nationlibrary.com.)

Literacy Council sta will be attending the Imagination Li-brarys Homecomin 2015 workshop June 23 26 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Th ey will meet with other orga-nizations o ering this program, hear about the latest in childrens literature, learn strat-egies and techniques for marketing the program, and listen to keynote speak-ers, from childrens authors to program collaborators.

Summer fundrais-ers include Randall

Atcheson in concert, a Pa-trons Party at Cullasaja Club, and the Highlands Motoring Festival, which once again includes events that bene t the Lit-eracy Council.

Th is fall promises new programming, including individual and group tutor-ing for elementary children at Highlands School and at the four elementary schools in Franklin.

For more information, visit www.highlandsliteracy.com, call 828-526-0863 or email [email protected].

Summer schedule: Adult GED and ESL classes: Tuesday and

Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Individual tutoring: Monday Th urs-

day, 10 a.m. 4 p.m. (1 hour sessions). Randall Atcheson Patrons Party:

Friday, June 26, 6 p.m., Cullasaja Club. Randall Atcheson concert: Saturday,

June 27, 4 p.m. 6 p.m., Highlands PAC.

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Students artistic creations on display at the Bascom.


Forever homes

One of the most p i c tu re s qu e no-kill shelters in the United States, the Cashiers-High-lands Humane Soci-ety is nestled among 10 rolling acres in the Blue Ridge Moun-tains, surrounded b y t h e n a t u r a l beauty of scenic forests, mountains, wa-terfalls, rivers and lakes. Dogs and puppies romp and run in multi-acre play yards, and cats and kittens interact and play in cageless community cat rooms.

Established in 1987 as a 501(c)3 non-pro t animal welfare organization, CHHS has rescued, provided compassionate care and found forever homes for thousands of abandoned and neglected animals. CHHS receives no federal, state or local tax dol-lars, and no nancial support from any national animal organization. One-hun-dred percent of its funding comes from individual donations, grants, bequests and special events.

In addition to its core mission of an-imal welfare, CHHS also has multiple community outreach programs to help improve the lives of local residents and their pets. Th ese initiatives include low-cost spay/neuter, low-cost vaccination clinics, humane education programs for local schoolchildren, pet therapy visits to area senior living communities, and more than 50 o site adoption events through-out the community each year.

CHHS is one of only four North Caro-lina Emergency Placement Partners with the Humane Society of the United States

that have the capacity for large-scale transport to assist in puppy mill raids, hoarding and cruelty cases, and nat-ural disaster rescue and relocation. CHHS has received national recognition for its participation in two multi-agency rescues in the past year.

CHHS is currently in the midst of a two-year capital project that will double the capacity of the existing shelter on its campus. A new adoption center is being built that represents the largest expansion in its 28-year history. Once completed, the new building will provide a modern, state-of-the-art shelter for 50 additional dogs, plus a meet-and-greet room for prospec-tive adopters, and a multipurpose room that will be used for indoor dog training and as a classroom for school eld trips.

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is located on Highway 64, two miles east of the Cashiers crossroads. Shelter hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Satur-day, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Visit CHHS online at www.chhumanesociety.org to see pictures and descriptions of all the adorable, adoptable dogs and cats looking for forever homes. For more infor-mation, call the shelter at 828-743-5752.

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

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Photo by Marty Boone


The Highlands Food Pantry is a proj-ect of the International Friend-ship Center and Highlands United Methodist Church. It is open every Mon-day from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In 2013, the Food Pantry served 305 dif-ferent family units, which represents 1,293 individuals. Those families were served 2,708 times. In recent years, North Car-olina has regularly ranked among the top 10 states with the highest percentage of citizens experiencing food shortages, ac-cording to Feeding America, a hunger re-lief charity. North Carolina also has one the highest percentages in the United States of children under 18 years of age who are food insecure on a regular basis, at over 26.7 percent. In USDA de nitions,

food insecurity is a term that refers to people reporting re-duced quality, vari-ety or desirability of diet; disrupted eat-ing patterns; and re-duced food intake. Macon County had a food insecurity rate of 16.2 percent in 2012, or 5, 470 individuals, according to Feeding America.

Th e Food Pantry o ers canned goods, non-perishable items such as sugar, oil, dry beans and our and toiletry items as well as produce and eggs. Th e Food Pantry ac-cepts volunteers year-round as well as do-

nations for the hundreds of needy local families that are served on a weekly basis. Items can be dropped o at the Highlands United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Th ursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

For more information, call 828-526-0980.

Helping the hungry

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The Food Pantry

Volunteers at the Food Pantry


Highlands-Cashiers Hospital is a not-for-profit community hos-pital serving Highlands, Cashiers and the surrounding mountain communi-ties. Located on Highway 64 between the two towns, HCH offers diagnostic and acute patient care through onsite profes-sional services or provides a referral to other regional health care systems. Emer-

gency care is physi-cian-sta ed 24/7. HCH has 24 beds for acute-care services and 80 beds in the Eckerd Living Cen-ter, a skilled nursing facility. Th ere are four hospital-owned physician clinics in High-lands and Cashiers. Th e hospitals founda-tion, with the support of the community,

provides significant operating resources to the facility and its programs. HCH became a member of Mission Health System in 2014. For more information, see www.hchospital.org.

Mission HealthMission Health,

based in Asheville, N.C., is the states sixth-largest health system Other Mis-sion Health member

hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Mar-ion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard.

The Eckerd Living CenterTh e Eckerd Living Center is an 80-bed

skilled nursing facility located on the cam-pus of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. Since 1993 when the center opened, its goal has been to provide residents superior services delivered by a sta dedicated to the high-est standards of care. In July 2013, facili-ty-wide renovations were completed to cre-ate enhanced dining enjoyment, outdoor garden access, activity rooms, social areas and a variety of specialized improvements.

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Highlands-Cashiers Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

Jane Woodru Clinic

Center: Jackie Ring, president of HCH.


Zachary-Tolbert House & Groundsare now open for the season!

House tours every Friday and Saturday from 11am - 3pmTours available throughout the week by appointment

1940 Highway 107 Southjust 2 miles South of the Crossroads

August 22nd-30th

FEATUR ING:

Tom Fazio - NOTED GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTSidney Matthew - GOLF HISTORIAN AND EXPERT ON FAMED GOLFER BOBBY JONES

Special Luncheon Speaker - TOURING GOLF PROLocal Experts - DESCRIBING THE HISTORY OF GOLF ON THE PLATEAU

GOLF EXHIBITION - WATCH A SHORT ROUND PLAYED WITH ANTIQUE, HICKORY-SHAFTED CLUBS

$125 / PERSON INCLUDES ALL OF THE ABOVE AND:a light breakfast, snacks, lunch and a cocktail reception at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley

TUESDAY, JUNE 30TH 9AM-3PMTENTH ANNUAL JAN W YATT SY MPOSIUM

2015

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION;www.CashiersHistoricalSociety.org 828-743-7710

Thursday, July 23 6:30-duskMusic on the Grounds

Presenting David Holt & Josh Goforth


Center for Life EnrichmentDo you have a curious mind? Or a desire to know more about the world and events going on around you? Th e Center for Life Enrichment o ers instructive, educa-tional and enlightening lectures and classes on a variety of topics. Apple expert Nigel Sixsmith strips away questions and fears about iPads and other Apple products in his popular computer classes.

Bridge experts Duane Meeter and Brenda Manning help individ-uals improve their skills in the widespread pastime. CLE o ers par-ticipants the chance to unleash creativity in an instructive arts class, tour the beauty and splendor of some of Highlands homes and gar-dens, delight in a cooking class with local cooking stars, open up new channels of information in the world of current a airs, history, philosophy and religion.

Presenters at CLE are a liated with some of the best universities and colleges in the country. Most lectures are two hours in length. CLE also invites the public to join in an overnight trip to the beau-tifully revitalized downtown area of Greenville, S.C., or enjoy a day trip to the John C. Campbell Folk School, a facility dedicated to pre-serving the rich heritage of the Appalachian region.

CLE o ers classes in conjunction with the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival and the Bascom: A Center for Visual Arts.

The CLE lecture hall is located in the lower level of the Peggy Crosby Building at 348 S. Fift h St. Everyone is invited to participate in lectures and classes, but members receive a discount on courses. For more information on membership or classes, call 828-526-8811 or visit www.clehighlands.com.

Lifelong Learning


Serving a year-round population of approximately 1,000 residents, the Town of Highlands o ers a range of services and amenities available to both residents and visitors.

Town Hall is located at 210 N. Fourth St. and open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Many town o cials offices are located at the building, and utility bills can be paid there. For more information, call 828-526-2118 or see www.highlandsnc.org.

Highlands police and re departments

Th e Highlands Police Depart-ment and Highlands Fire & Res-cue are both located on Oak Street between N. Fourth and N. Th ird streets.

To reach either the police or fire departments in an emer-gency, dial 911.

Highlands Recreation Park and Civic Center

Th e Highlands Parks and Recreation Department o ers a variety of activi-ties for all ages. Th e facility has a new hardwood oor and scoring system in its gym. It also o ers free-weight equip-ment, a fitness room, tennis courts, meeting rooms, a bridge room, arts and craft area, kitchen, stage, baseball/soft ball eld, soccer eld, playground, picnic shelters, pool and a dog park.

In addition, several tness classes are o ered, as well as league sports for bas-ketball, soft ball and baseball for adults and children at various times through-out the year. Th e Highlands Duplicate Bridge Club also holds games several times each week at the Civic Center, and a monthly senior luncheon is of-fered during part of the year. For more information, call 828-526-3556.

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The Relay for Life celebration of life and the e ort to raise money to end cancer will continue this year. High-lands Relay for Life event will be held Aug. 7 from 6 p.m. to midnight at the High-lands Recreation Park. Th is years goal is to raise $40,000.

On the night of relay, participants will walk into the night to represent the ongo-ing hope for a cure. Th e program includes

a survivor lap and luminaria ceremony. Th e event will also include live music, food and games.

For more information, go to www.relayforlife.org/highlandsnc. Anyone interested in forming a team or who wants to be on the committee for 2015 should contact Carrie Shuler at 828-788-3525 or email [email protected].

Relay for Life

Fight fi nishto the


The Highlands Emergency Council is a nonpro t organization that assists the areas low-income residents.Th e Emergency Council is located at 71

Poplar St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. It provides assistance for food costs, heating fuel and medical ex-penses. It relies on monetary donations as well as clothing and usable household items. Families with speci c needs, such as large appliances, can be put on a waiting list if the center does not have an appropri-ate item on hand. Donations of food, cloth-ing, appliances, linens and furniture are accepted during the councils open hours. For pickup of large items or for more in-formation, call 828-526-4357.

Lending a handHighlands Emergency Council

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The International Friendship Center/Centros de Amigos is a nonpro t agency whose mission is to provide information to the international populations of Macon and Jackson coun-ties. It is located in the Peggy Crosby Center at 348 S. Fift h St., Highlands. Th e center o ers assistance with the following ser-vices: Tax ID application, tax returns, interpreting, translation, notary public, banking, auto insurance, drivers license, housing, employment, immigration, child care, education and legal ques-tions. For more information, call 828-526-9938, ext. 290 or 252.

The Peggy Crosby Center provides o ce space for nonpro t groups serving the Highlands area. Th e building is the for-mer Highlands hospital and is located at 348 S. Fifth Street near Highlands School. For more information, call the center at 828-526-9938.

Peggy Crosby Center

International Friendship Center


Mountain FlavorsBy Marilyn Underhill

Highlands: Youre the berries, as in blueberries, blackberries and raspberries but glisten-ing, ruby-red strawberries are my favorite.Strawberry season means summer has arrived. You

can now find these gems winking at us from the grocery store displays, farmers markets and road-side stands everywhere. Homegrown strawberries are the best.

Th e aroma of perfectly ripe strawberries should make your mouth water. Th e large, commercial-scale growers oft en pick the berries while still green, but as we all have learned, once the berries have been picked, they will not get any sweeter. So let your nose be your guide.

Strawberries are a treat you wont regret in the morning. Packed with vitamins and fewer than 50 calories per cup, they are a dieters friend.

If the strawberries did not come in one of those plastic ventilated containers, then place them in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and cut several holes in the wrap. All berries will decay much faster aft er they have been washed, so wash the berries right be-fore you are ready to serve them.

The tart sweetness of strawberries is a perfect hand-to-mouth treat, but there exists an abundance of recipes that feature strawberries in everything from drinks to desserts.

The following recipes offer a sampling of easy strawberry treats that can be enjoyed by family and friends. Bon apptit.

Strawberry Basil Soda(The Kitchen)

Ingredients:1 lb. strawberries, trimmedJuice of 1/2 lemon1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves1 cup sugarCarbonated water

Directions:Juice strawberries using a juicer or blender. If using a juicer: Juice strawberries according to

manufacturers instructions. Discard pulp.If using a blender: Place strawberries in a blender

Strawberry delight


and pulse until smooth. Strain through a sieve, pushing juice through with a spatula. Discard solids.

Pour strawberry juice into a liquid measuring cup. Add water to reach 1 cup if needed. Pour into a small saucepan with lemon juice, basil and sugar.

Heat mixture over medium heat until boiling. Simmer ve min-utes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool. Strain syrup through a sieve into a clean container and discard solids.

To serve, spoon 2 tablespoons of syrup into an 8-ounce glass, top with carbonated water, and stir. Taste and add more syrup, if desired.

Can refrigerate syrup up to one week. Makes about six drinks

Disney Worlds Strawberry Soup

Ingredients: 2 lbs. frozen strawberries16 oz. heavy cream2 oz. sour cream3 oz. yogurt1/2 lb. fresh strawberries

Directions:Th aw the frozen ber-

ries in their juices.Blend all of the in-

gredients (except the fresh berries) on low until smooth.Chill, shake well before serving.Add fresh strawberry halves as a garnish.

Strawberry Freezer Jam(Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:2 cups crushed fresh strawberries4 cups sugar 1 (1.75-oz.) package dry pectin3/4 cup water

Directions:Mix crushed strawberries with sugar and let stand for 10 min-

utes. Meanwhile, stir the pectin into the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and boil for one minute. Stir the boiling water into the strawberries. Allow to stand for three minutes before pouring into jars or other storage containers.

Place tops on the containers and leave them for 24 hours. Place into freezer and store

frozen until ready to use.

Strawberry Pie(Terri c family recipe)

Ingredients:1 baked piecrust1 cup sugar

3 Tbs. strawberry Jello, undissolved

3 Tbs. cornstarch1/4 cup cold water1 cup boiling waterRed food coloring1 Tbs. butter

1 tsp. lemon juice1 quart washed and freshly

One of the most picturesque no-kill shelters in the United States, the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is nestled amongst ten rolling acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains,

surrounded by the natural beauty of scenic forests, mountains and rivers. Dogs romp and run in multi-acre play yards, and felines interact and play in cageless community cat rooms. Since 1987, CHHS has rescued, cared for, and found forever homes for thousands of abandoned and neglected animals.

Visit the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society today its your destination for unconditional love!

ADOPT VOLUNTEER DONATE

OnSHat

Your destination for unconditional love!

www.chhumanesociety.org | (828) 743-5752 | Hwy 64 East, 2 miles from the Crossroads behind Reid Real Estate


prepared strawberriesWhipped cream, optional

Directions:Mix sugar, Jello, cornstarch and cold

water in a saucepan, forming a paste.Add 1 cup boiling water and a dash of

food coloring. Cook over medium heat until lightly thickened.

Remove from heat; add butter and lemon juice. Allow mixture to cool.

Add strawberries. Pour into prepared pie shell.

Do not refrigerate. Top with whipped cream just before serving.

Strawberry Sorbet(London River Caf Cookbook)

Ingredients:1 lemon, seeded and roughly chopped2 cups sugar2 lbs. strawberries, hulledJuice of 1 to 2 lemons

Directions:Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a

food processor and pulse until combined.

Transfer to a bowl. Puree the strawberries in a food processor and add to the lemon mixture along with the juice of one lemon. Taste and add more juice as desired. Th e

lemon avor should be intense but should not overpower the strawberries. Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until frozen.


A plethora of extraordinary musical performances can be experienced at the 34th annual Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, which takes place at various locations from July 5 to Aug. 9. Concerts range from intimate to grand, and events also include a family concert, picnic concert, classes, feasts, an opening reception and a nal gala. For more infor-mation, see www.h-cmusicfestival.org or call 828-526-9060.

Highlands comes alive with patriotic spirit and family fun for the Fourth of July. All day, events take place at the ball elds next to the Community Building and at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. Music, food, a duck race and, of course, reworks make for an exciting Indepen-dence Day. For more information, call the Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at 828-526-2112.

BestbetsFourth of July

A seasons worth of entertainment ideas

Nature Center

The summer calendar at the Highlands Nature Center is positively bursting with activities for young, old and every-one in between. Th e Nature Center hosts a diverse array of programming, includ-ing walks, classes, tours, lectures and spe-cial events that explore the wonders of our local ora and fauna. For more informa-tion, see www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828-526-2623.

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music

Festival

Highlands Playhouse

This season, the Highlands Playhouse will feature four lively musicals: Anything Goes, Godspell, First Date and

best of highlands 2015

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