What is the Cashiers Real Estate Market...

I Found this article posted by T.C. and Company Properties and I hope it will help you understand what and where the Cashiers Market is.

The real estate in Cashiers, as in many areas of the Appalachian Region of Western North Carolina, has been on a steady rise for many years, and nothing seems to be able to derail it. For investors and people looking for second (third, fourth) homes, this place is a gold mine. You can always expect a return on your investment in the coming years. And, don't be surprised if you see a movie star or the head of a Fortune 500 company in any of the restaurants in Casheirs, Highlands, or nearby Sylva.


ZIP Code: 28717Approximate

Location Boundaries: Southern Jackson County in North Carolina

Location Characteristics: Combine the drastic granite dropoffs of the Blue Ridge escarpment with more than 80 inches of rain a year and something dramatic is bound to happen. Around the town of Cashiers (pronounced CASH-ers), perched at 3,500 feet on the Eastern Continental Divide, the jackpot shows up in the form of waterfalls—everything from tiny cliffside seeps to 400-foot-plus cataracts that roar into deep gorges. The downtown is little more than a crossroads, the junction of U.S. 64 and North Carolina 107, and a mile or so radius of antique shops, high-end restaurants, and second-home clusters discreetly tucked into the woods. The thousand-foot cliffs of Whiteside Mountain provide the kind of hairy, multipitch, huge-exposure climbs that would almost make you swear someone had trucked the place out from Yosemite.If you're ready to get away from commercialized areas, a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains "finger" of the Appalachians, Cashiers is your place. There are no chain restaurants or unsightly billboards and enormous signs. Cashiers is protecting the natural beauty and integrity of the area, and it has been a secret, second-home destination for the rich and famous for many years. The extremely private, but convenient location to nearby airports and major interstates to metropolitan areas (Asheville, Atlanta, Greeneville, etc.) make it a "no brainer" destination.

For more information on how to purchase a home or for additional information on the Highlands Cashiers Real Estate Market contact The Blue Ridge Summit Group at O: 828-743-7077 or C: 404-394-7144

The Divide at Bald Rock
Bald Rock

Is it time to move to the Carolinas???

I found this article about how the North Carolina Real Estate Market is holding up better than anywhere in the country.... With charlotte emerging as the anchor the rest of North Carolina is following in its footsteps. For more about this article check out TIME LIFE Magazine.

In 1791, George Washington called Charlotte, N.C., a "trifling place." In 1941 an author scoffed that the city had as much use for high-rises "as a hog has for a morning coat." By 1991, Charlotte was still a minor-league city without major-league sports, a cultural wasteland with a central business district that died every weekday after work. "No restaurants. No nightlife. Nothing," recalls seven-term Republican mayor Pat McCrory. "You could lie down in the street and never have to worry about getting run over." A local planner gained notoriety by proving it was impossible to find a Snickers bar downtown after 5 o'clock.
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But there's no longer anything trifling about Charlotte. With $2 trillion in assets being managed from the glossy bank towers of Tryon Street, the city is now the nation's No. 2 financial center behind New York City. In early September, Bank of America, the behemoth of North Tryon and the largest U.S. bank, swallowed the beleaguered investment firm Merrill Lynch, while Wachovia, its competitor on South Tryon, considered a merger with Morgan Stanley. And while the rest of the country is sinking, Charlotte is soaring, with 28 construction cranes downtown. It's got the nation's least-battered metropolitan-housing market, lowest office-vacancy rates and fastest-growing airport. It hosts the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats and the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Its center-city population has doubled since 2000, and its light-rail system, just a year old, is already approaching its ridership goal for 2025. Meanwhile, ribbon-cuttings are scheduled for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, three museums, a theater and an African-American cultural center by 2010.
"To understand Charlotte, you have to understand our ambition," says chamber of commerce head Bob Morgan. "We have a serious chip on our shoulder. We don't want to be No. 2 to anybody." Civic leaders often compare their city to New York, Chicago, and even London. On Sept. 11, 2001, McCrory notes, with a sly grin, that local banks swiftly evacuated their skyscrapers: "Everyone in Charlotte assumed we were next."
The business of Charlotte was always business. The city began as a trading post at the intersection of two Indian trails, hosted America's first gold rush and first mint, and later blossomed into a transportation and textile hub. Charlotte's white leaders agreed to desegregation relatively early, concluding that turmoil was bad for business. And local banks exploited North Carolina's liberal acquisition laws to build the conglomerates that now dominate headlines. Today Charlotte's nine FORTUNE 500 companies help run the city, not only by writing checks--Bank of America and Wachovia have pledged $15 million apiece to build new cultural centers--but also by helping to write plans. "We're a pro-business city like none I've ever seen," says Center City Partners head Michael Smith. "It's true about Southern hospitality, but there's a real hunger here."
It can be jarring to hear Charlotte's power brokers explain that it's important to improve their city not for its own sake but for the sake of its businesses, which need high-quality culture to attract high-quality talent. But even if they sometimes make Charlotte sound like a New South wealth-generating machine that happens to contain people, their boosterism is producing real progress. Charlotte still has problems with smog, schools and sprawl, and a few condo projects have stalled in the credit crunch. But Charlotte's mix of climate, cheap housing, new urban amenities and old habits of materialism are attracting a new generation of workers, including a reverse migration of black professionals from the North. "If you have a solid résumé and you're willing to work hard, you'll be rewarded here," says Keith Parker, a 41-year-old African American who runs the city's wildly successful transit system. "It takes away the stereotypical fears about Southern cities." Charlotte might not be New York or London yet, but it's over its Snickers problem. "We don't mind when the competition thinks we're Mayberry," says McCrory. "We're happy to be America's best-kept secret."


For additional information on the North carolina Real Estate Market or to find out how you can become part of the Western NC Mountains community contact The Blue Ridge Summit Group
O: 828-743-7077 C: 404-394-7177

The Cashiers area and Fun Activities For the Whole Family...

The love of nature and our beautiful mountain surrounding has long been a magnet for attracting visitors and second home owners to the Highlands Plateau. Here are some of the outdoor things to do in Highlands, Cashiers and Sapphire Valley.
Posted at the Highlands Chamber of Commerce website

Adventure Depot, TheRentals of mountain bikes, canoes, & kayaks. Conceirge services like arranging rafting-horseback riding, Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, rock climbing, rappeling, transportation, & hiking tours.Phone: (828) 743-2052Address: 2091 Yellow Mtn Road, Cullowhee, NC Highlands NCWebsite: http://www.adventuredepot.net/

Arrowmont Stables and CabinsArrowmont has one of hte best trail programs in the southeast, perhaps even the country. Plus there are comfortable vacation cabins with fireplaces and views. There is also a charming rustic lodge for weddings, receptions, parties, meetings, and fun.Phone: 828.743.2762Address: 276 Arrowmont Trail Cullowhee NCWebsite: http://www.arrowmont.com/

Great Smoky Mountains RailroadA variety of vacation packages are available from romantic getaways to Mystery Theatre Dinners to Polar Express.Phone: (800) 872-4681Address: 119 Front Street Bryson City NCWebsite: http://www.gsmr.com/

Jackson Hole Trading PostCleanest gem mine around. Large gift shop and snacks. Covered for all weather fun. Handicap accessible. We cut gemstones and create jewelry. We are 9 miles from Highlands on Highway 64.Phone: (828) 524-5850Address: 9770 Highlands Rd Highlands NCNantahala Outdoor CenterFull service outdoor center featuring whitewater rafting on the nantahala, French Broad, Pigeon, Ocoee, Chatooga, Nolichucky, and Cheoah rivers.Phone: 888.590.9266Website: http://www.noc.com/

Primitive Outback, Inc.We offer kayaking on the Little Tennessee River. It"s a 3 hour trip on a class I+ river section. It offers nature, animals, and bird life in its natural habitat. We also offer limited primitive tent camping. Our prices include pickup service at end of trip. See our website.Phone: 828-349-1717Website: http://www.primitiveoutback.../

Rolling Thunder River CoWhitewater Rafting - Camping - Bunkhouse - For Groups - Also Have Retail Store. www.RollingThunderRiverCo.comPhone: (800) 408-7238Website: http://rollingthunderriverc.../

Sapphire Valley Ski AreaA four-season resort nestled in the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. We offer skiing, boating, dining, special activities, and attractions. During the summer we offer "Tubby"Phone: 828-743-7663Address: 207 Sapphire Valley Rd. Cashiers NCWebsite: http://www.sapphirevalleyre.../

Scaly Mountain Outdoor Sports ParkWe are a 4 season destination featuring snowtubing.Phone: 828-526-3737Address: 7420 Dillard Road Highlands NCWebsite: http://www.scalymountain.com/

Southeastern ExpeditionsSoutheastern Expeditions is a whitewater outfitter on the Wild & Scenic Chattooga River. We run guided rafting trips and offer kayak and canoe instruction.Phone: 706-782-4331Address: 7350 HWY 76E Clayton GAWebsite: http://www.southeasternexpe.../

T.J.'s Water Adventures, LLCWe are offering half and full day canoeing and kayaking trips on Cedar, Bear, and Wolf Lakes and tubing and funyaking from East Fork to La Port Park on the Tuckasegee River.Phone: (828) 293-5110Address: 10223 Hwy. 107 Tuckasegee NCWebsite: http://www.tjswateradventur.../

The Fun Factory In The SmokiesOver 100 arcade games, go-carts, inside/outside mini golf, ferris wheel, carousel, kid's play area, laser tag, bowling, meeting rooms, Pizza Factory, Dessert Factory, Boiler Room Steak House- Family Entertainment Center.Phone: (828) 349-8888Address: 1024 Georgia Road Franklin NCWebsite: http://www.thefunfactoryint.../

WhiteWater Equestrian Center - WhiteWater GroupEnjoy horseback riding and gem mining at WhiteWater Equestrian Center near WhiteWater Falls . Kayren Hinkle will share local history, plant and animal life information, as well as local Indian stories while riding through the woods on old Indian tra...Phone: (828) 966-9646Address: 6420 Whitewater Road Sapphire NCWebsite: http://www.funhorsebackriding.com/?see also golf courses
Labor Day Getaways
Lake Glenville Boat Rentals


For More information contact The Blue Ridge Summit Group: 828-743-7077 404-394-7144
or Check out The Cashiers Real Estate Insider

Bald Rock
The Divide at Bald Rock

Western North Carolina - Relocating To The Mountains

Relocation Information for the North Carolina Great Smoky Mountains of Jackson County.Of course Jackson County is a wonderful place to plan a getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, but it also serves as a wonderful place to live for its residents.If you want to settle in a wonderful mountain locale, then we have just what you are looking for here in Western North Carolina, including a pleasant climate and the scenic beauty of the mountains. Jackson County was founded in 1851, in the heart of the North Carolina Mountains, nestled among the Great Smoky Mountains, and features a nice balance between peaceful forests and vibrant downtowns.Since we are already here, we have listed the Top Four reasons why you should relocate1. Central Location - Jackson County is 50 miles from Asheville, 111 miles from Knoxville, 50 miles from Gatlinburg, and only 150 miles from Atlanta. It's also convenient to Upstate South Carolina, and less than three hours from North Carolina's largest city, Charlotte.2. A River Runs Through It - The picturesque Tuckasegee River flows 40 miles throughout Jackson County. A moderate current makes it one of the best white-water rivers for beginners and families, and it is considered Western North Carolina's best stream for trout fishing.3.Booming Business - With a 24 percent increase in population in the 1990s, economic growth abounds. The county is also a popular tourist destination, which has fueled growth in the downtowns of Sylva, Dillsboro and Cashiers.4. Lovely Landscape - The county's 491 square miles encompass some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Southeast. Elevations range from 2,000 feet to more than 6,000 feet. The landscape is highlighted by waterfalls, rocky peaks and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The new 'Our Town ' magazine is here! This magazine is FULL of beautiful scenery and helpful information. Our Town can be accessed instantly online by going here!

For Information on how to join our wonderful community or if your just passing thorugh contact Mathew S. Kowal at The Blue Ridge Summit Group 828-743-7077 or 404-394-7144

Check out Rae's Blog at The Cashier Highlands Real Estate Insider
http://cashiersrealestate.blogspot.com

http://www.dividenc.com/

http://www.baldrock.com/

Western North Carolina: Bald Rock Testimonial

Bald Rock is a truly exceptional place to own a home and to live. It isa place with spectacular mountain scenery, moderate climate and friendlyfolks.One visit will be sufficient to capture your heart and your imaginationand to keep you here. If you are looking for a magical place to live,Bald Rock will surpass your expectations.

Gene and Marge Ragland

To Visit our magnificent community call Matt Kowal at 828-743-7077 or 404-394-7144

The Cashiers Highlands Plateau.... What a wonderful place for fall!

Weekly Fall Color Update 11/09/07

Fall color remains good in the protected valleys and lower elevations of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. The recent dry weather coupled with warm days and cool nights has led to an extended fall color season in western North Carolina this year. While many of the maples, poplars and hickories have started to fade, the area's oaks are now showing peak color.

One recommended drive in western North Carolina is US Highway 74A from Asheville to Shelby. Forests in this "isothermal" zone tend to hold onto their color later into November than the higher elevations north and west of the eastern continental divide.

In North Carolina's Piedmont on the Uwharrie National Forest, fall color is making its mark on the forest. Maples and sourwood are showing bright red and orange.

Western North Carolina has a wide range of elevations and many different hardwood tree species, so "leaf lookers" are almost always able to find good color here in the Carolina mountains from early October into early or mid November. Check out some of the links below to get the latest recommendations on other good color spots in NC.


Cotact Matt Kowal at The Blue Ridge Summit Group 828-743-7077 or 404-394-7144

The Cashiers Highlands Plateau

Head for the Hills
By Kathy Becker




A change in climate with a change of pace -- the same thing that draws many people to Southwest Florida -- is proving to be an irresistible lure for some working Neapolitans, who find themselves heading for the high hills of Georgia and North Carolina.

In the jargon of the development real estate business, they are called half-backs or boomerangs, because many of them originally came to Florida from the north. Now they are landing about halfway back to their birthplaces, seeking getaways well above sea level.

"We moved down here from the north and find ourselves halfway," says Michael Vranek, vice president of sales at Lely Resort for Stock Development, who has a getaway place he visits nearly every other weekend in Blairsville, Ga., just south of the North Carolina border. "There are four seasons up there, but none of them are so harsh. It's so delightful in the summer. The golf courses are open 12 months of the year. There is some snow or ice, but it's gone in a few hours or a day. And there's unbelievable, true beauty. My wife's family is in Baltimore and Cleveland, and everyone can meet there. We had 13 people for Thanksgiving there last year."

June Mueller, former president of the Naples Area Board of Realtors in 1999, is semi-retired and selling real estate to Neapolitans in Cashiers, N.C. "It's the same issue that drove the baby boomers to Florida looking for a simple, safe place," she says. "They like that kind of lifestyle. It's so similar to Naples. I could see it blossoming in the same way as Naples."

Neapolitans are helping fuel North Carolina's boom. Mueller says about 25 percent of the members of the Country Club of Sapphire Valley near Cashiers are from Naples. "When I built my house three to five years ago, it was $140 a square foot to build," Mueller says. "Now it's between $200 and $450."

This is an article that was published Nov 2006 in the Naples Ilustrated Magazine.

The Blue Ridge Summit Group 828-743-7077
www.DivideNC.com
www.BaldRock.com

It's time to invest in Cashiers...

Investing In Western North Carolina....


If you've been looking for a secure investment, mountain property continues to be perfect choice as it increases in value each year. It can also provide a residual income by renting to others when you are away as well as a much needed family getaway when you are in town. We have extensive residential and commercial listings in the Highlands, Cashiers and Sapphire, North Carolina real estate market.
If you find a particular community, mountain view property or lake front home that you find interesting or perhaps you would like to build a log home on your own mountain acreage or maybe a commercial investment is closer to your dream, click the email link next to the listing and we'll send you some free information.
We can meet all of your needs in the Highlands, Cashiers and Sapphire North Carolina real estate market. We welcome you to our piece of heaven and hope you enjoy the wealth of information offered here.

We will be happy to help you with anything you need from activities to accomodations and finding your peice of heaven on the continental divide..... Contact The Blue Ridge Summit Group at 828-743-7077

http://www.baldrock.com/
http://www.dividenc.com/

The Cashiers area Humane Society

Our MissionTo Provide Humane care and treatment for all dogs and cats needing protectionTo secure safe, permanent homes for all adoptable animalsTo promote and subsidize spay/neuter programsTo advocate for proper care, treatment, and welfare of all animals
Recent Media Coverage of CHHumaneSociety:Two locale publications, THE HIGHLANDER and THE CROSSROADS CHRONICLE, feature weekly stories on CHHumaneSociety. Pick up a copy or today or visit their websites for exciting news.
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Parking lot pups
By Carol Childs
Two pups with inauspicious starts in shopping center parking lots are hoping to find more promising futures as beloved pets with forever families of their own. Toby and Miley are young, playful, eager to learn and please, and are wagging and wiggling at Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society (CHHS), waiting to be adopted this week.
Toby is a long and lean dachshund mix, a medium-energy boy who loves to play almost as much as he loves belly rubs. Rescued from a parking lot a few months ago, Toby is about a year old and gets along great with kids and other dogs. He never messes in his kennel overnight, comes when he’s called, and is learning to walk on a leash like a champ. Toby needs a second chance and a family to love and trust for life.
Like Toby, Miley met her first family at a shopping center, one of a litter of pups being given away out of the back of a truck. Fostered for a few weeks while on the shelter’s waiting list, Miley is a high-energy Jack Russell terrier mix, who spent most of her four months of life tied up in the yard. She’s a smart and sassy pup in need of time, attention and training, but Miley loves kids, other dogs, clowning around and having a good time. She’d be a great agility dog, which would be the perfect outlet for her boundless energy.
Visit Toby and Miley at CHHS this week, take them for a romp in the dog park, and come ready to play and get lots of puppy kisses.
Bringing Home a New Dog: Crate Facts. According to the Paw Rescue organization, housetraining problems are the top reason people surrender dogs. Crates aid in housetraining because of dogs' den instincts; they avoid messing where they sleep. Crating is not cruel, but should be limited to 4-5 hours maximum a day.
Teach your dog that good things come in the crate, like toys and treats. Stay in the room awhile and praise when the dog rests calmly in the crate. Resist letting the dog out if she cries. Over the transition period, gradually open the crate door and increase the number of rooms to which she has access. Do not keep dogs in dark, damp basements, garages, or non-family areas; this undermines your efforts to raise a socialized, well-behaved, house-trained pet (http://www.paw-rescue.org/dog_guide.php).
Spay/Neuter: Coupons for free or discounted spay/neuter surgeries by your veterinarian are available at the CHHS shelter in Cashiers, Cashiers Village Veterinary Clinic (743-5656), Cashiers Chamber of Commerce (743-5191), at Bryant Art Glass in Highlands (526-4095), Highlands Chamber of Commerce (526-5841), and in Sylva at Cope Creek Animal Clinic (586-3584). Call the shelter for more information (743-5752).
Lost & Found Pets: If you lose a pet or find one, immediately alert the local radio station (WHLC FM 104.5 FM), which broadcasts lost-and-found pet information as a public service. Inform CHHS, and place a notice with the pet's photo on the bulletin boards at Ingles in Cashiers and Hudson Library in Highlands. Both the Crossroads Chronicle and The Highlander will publish one free lost or found pet ad.
Location: Visit our shelter in Cashiers on Highway 64, 2.3 miles east of the crossroads, behind Reid Real Estate. Hours are 10–4 Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday. Visit us online at our NEW web site: www.chhumanesociety.org.
Donations, memorials and memberships are greatly appreciated and can be mailed to the CHHS, PO Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717. We accept donations online (see below) and by credit card. All donations are tax deductible and go a long way toward supporting the CHHS animals.
All our animals have been spayed or neutered and receive inoculations, veterinary care, and preventiative treatment for fleas, ticks and heartworms, and all our dogs also have been microchipped. For more information about animals available for adoption or opportunities to volunteer or foster, please phone the Shelter at 743-5752.




Photo by Marty MacMillan
Let the good times roll! Four-month-old Miley is a high-energy Jack Russell terrier mix, bound to fill the life of her forever family with years of love, laughter and fun, fun, fun.







Photo by Marty MacMillan
Slender in the grass: Toby is a sleek, sweet and gentle little guy, a year-old dachshund mix who’s great with kids and other dogs. Toby needs a loving home and playmates for life.









Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society
Laurel Magazine - September 2008

Kudos to the organizations and individuals who donate their efforts and resources to help the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society animals. Atlantic South Power stepped up when lightning struck our generator causing the pump to fail. We now have a new surge protector thanks to their generosity to prevent that from happening again. Wildcat Cliffs Country Club recently had a dog show and raised $2,028 for our shelter. Four Wildcat artists – Patti Foster, Emily Buskirk, C.B. Jennings, and Ruth Getzen -- agreed to paint pet portraits which were raffled, plus the Wildcat Cookbook Committee kicked in proceeds from the sales of their book. 45 dogs participated, and a howling good time was had by all.
We also appreciate the volunteers who walk the dogs every Friday morning, as well as the individuals and groups who come on other days to assist with shelter operation and pet socialization.
Join the CHHS staff and volunteers Saturday, September 6 and October 4, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at the Village Green in Cashiers, for the opportunity to meet and adopt some of our wonderful pets. Hosted by Dan Allen of Coldwell Banker, Dr. P.J. Boatwright will be on hand to vaccinate and micro chip your personal pets for a small fee.
Don’t give up your pets because you can’t afford to keep them. The CHHS maintains a free pet food pantry and offers basic veterinary care to owners who are struggling to keep their pets. We also offer coupons for affordable spay/neuter surgery.
If you have feral cats in your neighborhood, phone the CHHS to learn about our Spay/Neuter/Trap/Release/Return program. We can help.
The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a private No Kill shelter, supported by individual donations and grants, which can be mailed to CHHS, PO Box 638, Cashiers, N.C. 28717. Donations can also be made by credit card and on the newly redesigned webpage, www.chhumanesociety.org. The CHHS is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Telephone us at (828) 743-5752, or visit us in Cashiers on Highway 64 East, 2.3 miles past the Crossroads.

Rachel Marcus and her father Brad recently volunteered at the shelter while visiting from Orange, CT. Rachel is 11 years old and hopes someday to be a veterinarian. Harley the dog, pictured, and all CHHS pets have been spayed or neutered and have received necessary inoculations, flea and tick preventatives, and veterinary care. Dogs are micro-chipped as well.




For more information contact the Humane Society Directly or Call the Blue Ridge Summit Group at 828-743-7077 and ask for Matt Kowal

Moving Into Leaf Season on The Casiers Highlands Plateau

The "Indian summer" days of autumn, when the days are clear and sunny and the nights cool and crisp, provide an almost irresistible lure to those who enjoy the outdoors. This type of weather is also the most favorable for a spectacular show of autumn colors, making this season of the year still more delightful.

Scientist don't yet fully understand all of the complicated actions-and even more complicated interactions-involving pigments, sunlight, moisture, chemicals, hormones, temperatures, length of daylight, site, genetic traits, and so on that make for a perfect autumn color display. As research probes deeper and deeper into the basics of life, and more and more answers will be forthcoming.

But full understanding is not necessary to the enjoyment of the lovely days of autumn in forest, city, and countryside. Americans are blessed with many opportunities to see this yearly splendor.

The roads, trails, lakes, streams, and recreation areas of the National Forests are available for your pleasure.

The forest roadsides of autumn attract by far the greatest number of sightseers. But trails, often winding deep into forest solitude, offer special closeness to nature for hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders.

Streams and lakes add special enchantment in the fall for fishermen and boaters, and colorful backgrounds for photographers. The surfaces of quiet forest lakes double the colorful mantle of their surrounding hills.

Hunting in eastern forests often coincides with the peak of the color season, and the pleasure of just being out-of-doors in the golden days rivals the thrill of the hunt.

And even along city streets the colors blaze forth, delighting residents of towns fortunate or farsighted enough to have retained some trees.

A GREEN LEAF IS GREEN because of the presence of a group of pigments known as chlorophylls. When they are abundant in the leafs cells, as they are during the growing season, the chlorophylls' green color dominates and masks out the colors of any other pigments that may be present in the leaf. Thus the leaves of summer are characteristically green.

The chlorophylls have a vital function: they capture some of the sun's energy and utilize it in the manufacture of the plant's food - simple sugars which are produced from water and carbon dioxide. These sugars are the basis of the plant's nourishment-the sole source of the carbohydrates needed for growth and development.

In their food-manufacturing process, the chlorophylls themselves break down and thus are being continually "used up." During the growing season, however, the plant replenishes the chlorophyll so that the supply remain high and the leaves stay green.

But as autumn approaches, certain influences both inside and outside the plant cause the chlorophylls to be replaced at a slower rate than they are being used up. During this period, with the total supply of chlorophylls gradually dwindling, the "masking" effect slowly fades away. Then other pigments that have been present (along with the chlorophylls) in the cells all during the leaf's life begin to show through. These are carotenoids they give us colorations of yellow, brown, orange, and the many hues in between.

The reds, the purples, and their blended combinations that decorate autumn foliage come from another group of pigments in the cells called anthocyanins. These pigments are not present in the leaf throughout the growing season as are the carotenoids. They develop in late summer in the sap of the cells of the leaf, and this development is the result of complex interactions of many influences - both inside-and outside the plant. Their formation depends on the breakdown of sugars in the presence of bright light as the level of a certain chemical (phosphate) in the leaf is reduced.

During the summer growing season, phosphate is at a high level. It has a vital role in the breakdown of the sugars manufactured by chlorophyll.

But in the fall, phosphate, along with the other chemicals and nutrients, moves out of the leaf into the stem of the plant. When this happens, the sugar-breakdown process changes, leading to the production of anthocyanin pigments. The brighter the light during this period, the greater the production of anthocyanins and the more brilliant the resulting color display that we see. When the days of autumn are bright and cool, and the nights are chilly but not freezing, the brightest colorations usually develop.

Anthocyanins temporarily color the edges of some of the very young leaves as they unfold from the buds in early spring. They also give the familiar color to such common fruits as cranberries, red apples, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums.

In our autumn forests they show up vividly in the maples, oaks, sourwood, sweetgum, dogwood, tupelo, black gum and persimmon. These same pigments often combine with the carotenoids' colors to give us the deeper orange, fiery reds, and bronzes typical of many hardwood species.

The carotenoids occur, along with the chlorophyll pigments, in tiny structures - called plastids - within the cells of leaves. Sometimes they are in such abundance in the leaf that they give a plant a yellow-green color, even during the summer. But usually we become aware of their presence for the first time in autumn, when the leaves begin to lose their chlorophyll.

Carotenoids are common in many living things, giving characteristic color to carrots, corn canaries, and daffodils, as well as egg yolks, rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas.

Their brilliant yellows and oranges tint the leaves of such hardwood species as hickories, ash, maple yellow-poplar, aspen, birch, black cherry, sycamore, cottonwood, sassafras, and alder.
In late summer the veins that carry fluids into and out of the leaf are gradually closed off as a layer of special cork cells forms at the base of each leaf. As this cork layer develops, water and mineral intake into the leaf is reduced, slowly at first, and then more rapidly. It is during this time that the chlorophyll begins to decrease.

Often the veins will still be green after the tissues between them have almost completely change color.

Individual leaves, even of the same species, turn color in many different ways.

These maple leaves show both a complete change across an entire leaf (top), and partial change (bottom), with blocks of tissues turned brilliant red while adjacent areas still remain green.

Or, each leaf may be two or more colors at the same time. The yellow from the carotenoid pigments blends with the red from the anthocyanins.

When conditions of temperature, moisture, and the amount and strength of sunlight are all in the right combinations, we will be treated to spectacular fall colorations.

The entire trees blaze forth in vivid hues, along city streets as well as across the open countryside.

For More Information on how to enjoy the spectacular parade of colors that is Fall on the Plateau, contact Mathew S. Kowal, The Blue Ridge Summit Group at 828-743-7077 or 404-394-7144

www.DivideNC.com
www.BaldRock.com

Casheirs area Freinds For Life Benefit at The Divide Pavillion

HORSES HELPING CATS & DOGS

"Friends For Life Benefit"

Don't miss this unforgettable benefit at The Divide Pavillion Sunday September 28, 2008.

Join us from noon until 4:00pm at The Divide Pavillion

Come see Gypsy Vanner Horses, eat great food, enjoy music, a free raffle, silent auction, and fun for all ages.... 100% of proceeds go to benefit the cats and dogs of friends for life.

Friends for Life fosters and finds homes for special needs and senior animals.

The Blue Ridge Summit Group

828-743-7077

404-394-7144

www.dividenc.com

www.baldrock.com

Western North Carolina Building Permit Report....

The Western North Carolina Residential Building Permit Report has been released.
As of 6/30/2008 building permits were down 38.6% in Jackson County, N.C. (Cashiers)
versus the same time last year.
In Macon County, N.C. (Highlands) permits were also down 21.4%.
As a whole, the entire Western North Carolina Region was down an average of 45.1%
for building permits.

The Blue Ridge Summit Group
828-743-7077
404-394-7144
www.dividenc.com
www.baldrock.com

The Cashiers Highlands Real Estate Market...

Outpacing the rest of the Nation...


Continued strength and resistance to the national trends seems to be the order of the day. While we have seen some impact to segments of the market here in Raleigh, there are still segments that seem to continue to chug forward.At a recent economic summit here in Raleigh the Chief Economist for the National Home Builders Association had this to say:"Seiders projected that national home sales will hit their nadir in the current quarter, and that housing starts will begin to rise in the third quarter of this year.But, he added, the housing market in North Carolina will continue to outpace the nation's. Housing starts across the country this year should fall about 20 percent, but in North Carolina, the decline should be about half that, Seiders said. North Carolina didn't experience the "runaway housing appreciation" that occurred in markets such as Las Vegas and Florida. So now it's cushioned somewhat from the steep declines in housing prices and housing starts happening elsewhere, Seiders said.Likewise, Custer[CEO of RBC Centura, Raleigh based bank] noted that North Carolina was one of only a handful of states where housing prices appreciated 4 percent or more last year."We're very fortunate to live and be able to do business in North Carolina," he said.

For more information on where to invest contact The Blue Ridge Summit Group... We are not just waiting for these opportunities to come to us, we are creating them.

828-743-7077
404-394-7144
www.dividenc.com
www.baldrock.com

For more on this article see: http://www.narreia.com/newsadvice/news_detail.php?blog_id=1054

Dinning Out On The Cashiers/Highlands Plateau

The plateau is full of local flavors to tempt the palate. One of the newest spots to dine on the plateau is The Zookeeper Bistro. Two seasons ago the twin talents Chef Kristian Murphy and His Brother Jake descended on the cashiers area and took it by storm. Their inovative cuisine and casual yet rustically elegant setting will certainly create a dinning experience to be remembered. The Zookeeper Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, everyday except Monday. As you enter the Bistro your always greeted with a friendly smile and the smells of the days fresh creations. Chef Kristian's daily creations are inspired by not only the fresh local produce and seafood, but by local mountain traditions. Chef Kristian adds his own intercontinental flair to create dishes unparralleled by anyone else on the Plateau.

The Murphy brothers have created a place to not only to dine, but it has captured the essence of what it means to be in the Western North Carolina Mountains. Chef Kristian boasts and impressive resume spending his first seven years traveling from NYC to Naples, to Detroit as a Sous Chef at the Ritz Carrolton. From there he took his experience to Atlanta as the Corporate Chef for Apres Diem, Carpe Diem, and the Carrol Street Bakery. From Atlanta Kristian traveled to Savannaha Georgia to take a position as a Chef at the Nationally acclaimed Gottlieb's. It was not to long after this that Kristian was offered the Executive Chef position at The Ocean Plaza Resort on Tybee island. Kristian has been featured in Bon Appetite Magazine and has also won two Gold Medals at the Taste of Savanah with his famous chocolate sushi.

His brother Jake brings the ideal compliment to their relationship. Jake has traveled the country spending his time not only in the kitchen, but mostly in the front of the house. Jake epitomizes fine service. Jake has spent time behind some of the most popular bars in the United States and traveled seasonally working in five star resorts. Jake creates memories like no other, his quick wit and expansive knowledge of food and wine make hime the ideal tour guide for your dinning experiance.

The Zookeeper serves three meals a day, making it hard to choose a favorite dish. The Brunch menu is classic and elegant with a slight mountain flair. It's hard to beat the "Murphy's Omelet", perhaps their cornerstone omelet it will make your taste buds dance. This egg white omelet is stuffed with bacon, vidalia onion, baby spinach, diced figs, local cullowhee goat cheese, and fresh parmesan reggiano, and at only $10.00 you will leave full, happy, and still have money left for lunch. Breakfast specialties also include their famous chicken and waffles, a lovellkentucky hot brown, and of course their Maine Lobster butter roll.

Lunch is and eclectic mix of old favorites and new standards. Start with a house made hummus trio, and an order of Thai Shrimp toast. Work your way to one of the always healthy and fantastically delicious fresh salads, and then choose from an array of lovely sandwiches. If your not in the mood for all this food then try a cup of the She crab soup and a half portion of Kristian's own dried fruit salad with mountain apple vinaigrette. Check out the lunch menu below and plan your next meal.

Dinner at the Zookeeper is one to remember. With a slight mountain flair Kristian and Jake have taken their dinner menu and raised the standards for food in Cashiers and all across the Plateau. A broad mix of intercontinental cuisine along side some classic favorites will satisfy the taste buds of the biggest "foodies", or the pickiest of eaters. I like to begin with the Vidalia onion, served over rissotto, regiano cheese in a brocolini, butter puree. I then like to move onto the Bitter Greens. Endive, radichio, arugula, chippollini, onion, and a blue cheese viniagretter. If I am particularly hungry, wich is most of the time I will even throw in a cup of their award winning crab bisque. The entree is always a tough choice, so look below and pick yours.

THE ZOOKEEPER BISTRO

CASHIERS, NC

If you have private party or catering needs the Zookeeper can help you too. Kristian and Jake can create a custom menu and theme for the most informal occasion, or a Black Tie Affair. Below are some pictures from a recent private event. The menu was set for eight people and eight courses where served tapas style, finishing with an adaptation of Kristians award winning Chocolate Sushi. This time he serves it over a sweet kahlua syrup. Next time your in Cashiers remember to dine at the Zookeeper Bistro, or call them to host your private event....

JOIN US AT THE ZOOKEEPER BISTRO

FOR THE FINEST AND MOST MEMORABLE MOUNTAIN DINING EXPERIENCE

The Blue Ridge Summit Group

828-743-7077 404-394-7144

www.dividenc.com www.baldrock.com

The Cashiers Farmers Market...... Oh so good!

The Cashiers farmers Market is a staple of mountain life. Every day people descend on the market to find the best of local produce, homemade jams and jellies, and any good ole' home canned things you can think of.

The old world charm of this rustic building will throw you back to a finer time of daily shopping. Not only will you find Western North Carolina's Finest produce, but also the Charleston Seafood Connection. fresh seafood is brought in fresh from the docks and sold throughout the weekend. No trip to the Market would be complete without a stop by the "On the Side BBQ" that serves up the best BBQ on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau. These old family recipes will leave your taste buds tickled with joy. The next time yo

ur in the Cashiers area don't forget to stop by The Cashiers Farmers Market for a taste of old world mountain charm.

The Blue Ridge Summit Group

828-743-7077

404-394-7144

http://www.dividenc.com/

http://www.baldrock.com/