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Firefighters at Highlands Fire Department served up dinner for linemen who have been out working to reconnect power since Sept. 28.

Firefighters at Highlands Fire Department served up dinner for linemen who have been out working to reconnect power since Sept. 28.

Relief efforts continue across the region

Linemen have spent much of the last two weeks traversing the mountain roads and getting electricity back up across the plateau. To thank them for their efforts, the Highlands Fire Department hosted them for a dinner Friday, Oct. 4.
The Cullasaja Women’s Club grants committee is comprised of (back row) Betsy Wigington, Kyle Ball, Esther Stokes, Evand Moore, Cherry Tyde, Debbie Thompson, Jan Pavlis, Anne Schaeffer, Marianne Lassiter, Jackie Martino, Donna Woltzen Maureen Browne, Sonya Honea and Bonnie Evans. Seated are Jane Adams, Jo Hill, Margaret Eichman, Lindy Colson Harrison and Dawn Van Fleet.

The Cullasaja Women’s Club grants committee is comprised of (back row) Betsy Wigington, Kyle Ball, Esther Stokes, Evand Moore, Cherry Tyde, Debbie Thompson, Jan Pavlis, Anne Schaeffer, Marianne Lassiter, Jackie Martino, Donna Woltzen Maureen Browne, Sonya Honea and Bonnie Evans. Seated are Jane Adams, Jo Hill, Margaret Eichman, Lindy Colson Harrison and Dawn Van Fleet.

CWO awards local grants

Cullasaja Women’s Outreach announced the results of its 2024 fundraising this week. This independent collective of 99 women focused on local philanthropy is awarding $345,000 in grants to Highlands and Cashiers area not-for-profit organizations.

Businesses deal with storm impacts

Following a path of destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which dumped record rainfall amounts and brought down trees all over the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, area businesses owners got out to survey the damage and restart their enterprises over the weekend.

Local food pantries need donations following storm

The MANNA Food Bank’s Asheville headquarters is flooded and out of operation for the time being after the devastation from Hurricane Helene last week. In Highlands, that means the Highlands Emergency Council is facing the possibility of running out of food.
Highlands Assembly of God on 6th Street narrowly missed a big impact as two trees fell across its entryway, but didn’t cause any major damage to the building itself during Hurricane Helene on Friday.

Highlands Assembly of God on 6th Street narrowly missed a big impact as two trees fell across its entryway, but didn’t cause any major damage to the building itself during Hurricane Helene on Friday.

Hard hit by Helene

The Town of Highlands is working to get back in working order after Hurricane Helene swept across the area, causing power outages and destruction of varying kinds across Western North Carolina last week.
Christy Curcuru showed guests at “Snip, Sip, and Support” how to properly arrange fall flowers.

Christy Curcuru showed guests at “Snip, Sip, and Support” how to properly arrange fall flowers.

HCCDC gets its flowers

The Highlands Community Child Development Center hosted  a unique gathering Wednesday night, Sept. 18 featuring a ceremony involving music and floral art, raising $20,000 this year to go toward maintaining childcare services in Highlands.
The Jackson County Board of Education was greeted by a capacity crowd at Blue Ridge School for its September meeting on Tuesday.

The Jackson County Board of Education was greeted by a capacity crowd at Blue Ridge School for its September meeting on Tuesday.

Blue Ridge hosts school board

A standing room only crowd greeted the Jackson County School Board for its annual September meeting at Blue Ridge School on Tuesday night.
The Highlands Town Board approved the amortization of short term rentals by a 4-1 vote on Sept. 19.

The Highlands Town Board approved the amortization of short term rentals by a 4-1 vote on Sept. 19.

Highlands commissioners approve amortization

After more than two years of wrangling with the future of short-term rentals in Highlands, the town board of commissioners voted on Thursday night to amortize the use as part of a zoning amendment to the unified development ordinance.
The Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival will fill The Village Green from Oct. 11-13.

The Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival will fill The Village Green from Oct. 11-13.

Leaf Festival set for October run in Cashiers

Between Friday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 13, visitors to the The Village Green’s annual Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival will be able to enjoy the changing orange, yellow and red leaves while also listening a lot of live music and shopping from over 100 vendors selling home-made wares.