Cheers to a Simpler Christmas

There’s beauty in simplicity when infusing a splash of holiday cheer throughout the house.

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Festival of Lights

Everyone – everyone – is invited to the lighting of the first candle of the Menorah at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands on the

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Winter Wonderland

The Village Green and surrounding shops and businesses in Cashiers will be a Glittering Wonderland throughout the grey days and dark, dark nights

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Oh, the Stories CHS Can Tell

2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Cashiers Historical Society.  It was kicked off with a $100-a-plate brunch held at the historic Hanks House with about 40 guests in attendance.  Since that time, so much new information has been learned about the early days in Cashiers Valley and so much valuable historic preservation has been accomplished.  Alan …

Botanical Explorers & Early Settlers

This is the second in a series of three articles saluting the Botanical History of the Highlands Plateau, based upon research of the Laurel Garden Club’s Land Stewards and Ran Shaffner. The pamphlet and video accompanying the research were winners of the N. C. Society of Historians’ Paul Green Multimedia Award in 2015. In the 18th century, botanical explorers introduced …

Getting Our Bearings

Bears are beautiful and fascinating creatures.  While many people are frustrated with bears getting into their birdfeeders, trash or even homes, most feel a sense of awe and respect for them.  Leaving aside the challenges of living in bear country for a moment, here are some interesting facts: • Black bears are found only in North America: Canada, 42 of …


Black and White Warbler

This migrant from Mexico and the Gulf states summers widely in eastern North America. It feeds on insects in tree bark and has a song described by Sibley as a high-pitched series of two-syllable phrases with 5 to 10 repetitions: weesa weesa weesa, weesa, weesa, weetee weetee weetee weetee weet weet weet. Its call is a rattling, hissing fssss.   …

About Trout

While Powell Wheeler’s job with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission focuses on anything that relates to fishing in public rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams, he has a special place in his heart for the out-of-the-way places where native brook trout dwell.     Sometimes these populations are very isolated, which plays havoc with genetic diversity.  These isolated streams are frequently …

Spring Peeper

The spring peeper’s most distinctive trait is the dark cross or X-shaped blotch that usually is found on its back. In fact, the species name “crucifer” means “cross bearing.” The spring peeper can be tan, gray, yellowish, orange or pinkish. It is a small frog with small toe pads. Spring peepers inhabit woodlands and swamps, preferring areas of thick, brushy …


A Fading Golden Opportunity

Early spring in Appalachia brings the return of some of our most beautiful and precious songbirds, the warblers.  Soon our trees and bushes will be decorated with members of this large avian family sporting such descriptive and geographic names as Yellow-throated, Hooded, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Kentucky, Chestnut-sided, Canada, Black-throated Blue, Black-and-white and Black-throated Green. The rarest of these small, colorful birds …

Narcissist, and Proud of It

Narcissus – what a name.  These flowers have every right to be a little narcissist – after all, they’ve got the guts to stick their neck out on a cold Spring day while other flowers are still getting their beauty sleep.  In Greek mythology, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, and couldn’t tear …

Cliffside, Nature’s Getaway

As spring begins here in the mountains, the landscape transforms from a dull brown speckled with evergreen trees into a lush and vibrant mixture of colors, scents, and sounds that dazzle the senses any time you step outside.   To best experience the wonders of nature one must venture out of town and into the wild.  For those with a …


Globalization of Wine

I began my wine career 25 years ago in an environment where I was, almost exclusively, exposed to domestic wines.  My experience with old world wine, though limited, was eye-opening. The differences between new and old world were obvious. I rarely saw an old world wine with alcohol levels above 13 percent, the fruit was restrained and balanced and there was …

This Takes the Cake

Rebecca Shuler grew up with a grandmother who loved to cook.  “Dolly” Ramey was known for her classic Southern meals, especially her fried chicken.  Rebecca remembers her Granny fixing chicken for every church function and to give away to pastors in the area.  Shuler, who is the Highlands town clerk, carries on Dolly’s legacy with another one of the family’s …

Dine out for Life

The Western North Carolina AIDS Project’s 14th Annual Dining Out For Life is happening again on Thursday, April 28. “This is WNCAP’s largest fundraiser of the year and biggest community event,” says Jesse Oates Vest, Special Events Coordinator for the agency. There are over 115 restaurants participating throughout seven counties that day and over 250 volunteers who help make it …