September, 2020: Up Front Episodes for Uncertain Times

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SEPTEMBER 2020

MAGAZINE

A Real Conversation on Race Relations P. 6 How to Work from Home Effectively P. 12 A Word of Encouragement P. 18

Up Front

Episodes for Uncertain Times Revisiting relevant Cabarrus Magazine podcast episodes that had a huge impact.

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[ Publisher’s Notes ]

Word on the Street

T

he word for this year is “pivot.” I’ve heard that word a lot on Zoom calls lately. It is something we all have had to do because of the pandemic, and this magazine is no exception. When we put together our editorial calendar almost a year ago, we had planned to bring you stories of Cabarrus County’s expansion this month. We were going to talk about how the old Philip Morris plant is once again in use by companies like Carvana. We were also going to talk about Harrisburg bursting at the seams and how Midland and Locust are finally putting themselves on the map. But, as you know, everything ground to a halt in March. Plans are on hold. Yes, construction is still happening, but the excitement for these projects is not at the forefront of people’s minds, and we get that.

What is on people’s minds are things like safety, a desperate need for encouragement and the turmoil in our county. These are the things people want to talk about. Fortunately, on our podcast, Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine, hosted by yours truly, we’ve been covering these topics.

In April, we talked to Pastor Dale Jenkins, of New Hope Worship Center in Concord, to try to get some answers as to why this is happening, as well as some encouragement for our spirits. We also spoke with local expert, Tom Cooper, on tips to work from home effectively, which many are still doing.

Finally, in June, we had some very real conversations about race relations with two African American men in our community, Sam Dozier and Addul El Ali. Read what happens when people actually sit down and listen to each other.

I should also mention these episodes are edited for brevity for the purposes of this print edition. I would encourage you to subscribe to Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine on your favorite podcast platform and give a listen to these episodes. You can also visit CabarrusMagazine.com and click on the “podcast” tab at the top of the page. There, you can listen to every episode in existence.

We realize podcasts aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but the things said during the episodes featured in this month’s issue deserve to be read, if not listened to.

I truly hope you will do just that.

Cabarrus MAGAZINE

September 2020 Volume 20 | Issue 8 PRESIDENT Pam Tolen PUBLISHER Jason Huddle ADVERTISING Kimberly Brouillette Jason Huddle DESIGN SPARK Publications CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jason Huddle CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Huddle Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Cabarrus County Charlotte Motor Speedway

Cabarrus Magazine is published by: CabCo Media Group 1025 Concord Parkway N Concord, NC 28027 For editorial inquiries, call 704-782-2353 or email them to PR@cabarrusmagazine.com.

For advertising inquiries, call 704-782-2353.

Visit us at cabarrusmagazine.com.

Sincerely,

Jason Huddle

4 | Cabarrus Magazine

All rights reserved. ©2020, Comfort Publishing, Inc., 1025 Concord Parkway N, Concord, NC 28027.

Reproduction, in whole or in part, without permission is prohibited. Products named in these pages are trademarks of their respective companies. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Cabarrus Magazine or Comfort Publishing, Inc.

[ September 2020 ]

Up Front Episodes for Uncertain Times 6

FEATURES 6

A Real Conversation on Race Relations

12

How to Work from Home Effectively

18

dragana991 / istockphoto.com

A Word of Encouragement

REGULARS 17 12

Cannon Pharmacy: Chronic Pain

23

Breaking Bread: Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bars

24

Cabarrus Business: On the Go

30

Business Resources: At a Glance

18 September 2020 | 5

[ Feature ]

REAL CONVERSATION ON A

Editor’s Note: This transcript is from the Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine Episode entitled, “Real Conversation on Race Relations, Part 1” (Recorded June 2020). We have edited it here for brevity, while still trying to not diminish the message of either of our guests. The full transcript can be read on CabarrusMagazine.com. You can also listen to the full episode, as well as Part 2, on your preferred podcast platform.

6 | Cabarrus Magazine

piovesempre / istockphoto.com. Modified by SPARK Publications.

RACE RELATIONS

[ Feature ]

Left to Right: Jason Huddle, Adul El Ali and Sam Dozier had some real conversation on race relations over two episodes of Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine

Jason Huddle: Joining me are two members of our community. Sam Dozier…is highly esteemed in this industry and in this community. I’ve known Sam for many years.

We also invited Addul El Ali. He is a Republican, African American in our community. He also hosts his own podcast called The Urban Conservative. He has a unique perspective from Sam, which is why I wanted them both to come in.

Sam grew up in the projects of St. Louis. Ali did not. They don’t necessarily agree on some topics that we’re going to discuss today.

One of the most poignant things that was said yesterday afternoon that didn’t get caught on the microphone but it was very impactful for me, was when my mom walked into the office.

She said, “Sam, tell me, what I can do

“I just sat back and I was like, Wow! I totally get it. And I think that’s generally what everybody wants, right?

You want to be heard, right? The problem is, we’re all busy talking so much that we’re not listening to anybody else.” for you? As a 70-something-year-old White woman, what do you want me to do?”

Sam answered, in a very gracious way. And to paraphrase him, he said, “I want you to stop trying to fix it and just listen. Just listen to my perspective and what I have to say and empathize with me.”

I just sat back and I was like, “Wow! I totally get it.” And I think that’s generally what everybody wants, right? You want to be heard, right?

The problem is, we’re all busy talking so much that we’re not listening to anybody else.

Addul El Ali: Thats right.

Jason Huddle: But it kind of sets the tone for this whole conversation that we’re going to have, because I am here to listen. I’m here to ask questions. But I’m also here to listen, as a White male.

As somebody who has not experienced September 2020 | 7

[ Feature ] growing up as an African American person, I am here to listen, and I want to know what you guys think.

Addul El Ali: I think a lot of the issues that we see on the racial front now are symptoms of, like (Sam) said, something that’s a little deeper. But what is that deeper thing than the “America was founded on racism” thing? We can’t take modern understandings of what race was back then, because they didn’t look at race the same way back then the way we look at it now. I think the symptoms of the violence, the rioting, the looting, the perception, like the brother said, in some of the realities that people think they’re living in; and I’m not saying that disrespectfully, I’m saying that from the perspective of people (who) may 8 | Cabarrus Magazine

Svetlana Lukienko / shutterstock.com. Modified by SPARK Publications.

Sam Dozier: Let me touch on that— why it’s very important to listen for anything in any type of situation. Some people want the answer and then some people want the solution. You know now, if you just want the answer, that is just the what. Meaning that it is strictly that you can get an answer by looking on someone else’s paper and then write down what they wrote down and you have the answer. But you have to understand the equation.

Meaning you need to know the what, the why, the how, the when, and the where, when you are talking about something that we’re talking about right now. It’s going to be take more than just the what. So, that’s the fix that I’m talking about, when people are trying to fix something.

Normally, if someone fixes something is kind of like repairing it, right? You know, sometimes it’s just that bandaid on something. But that doesn’t take care of the core of what made this what it is. In order for healing to happen, it has to go below the surface. When you’re able to listen to a person’s hurt and the pain, then that’s when the empathy can come; when one feels that you empathize— we’re not looking for sympathy.

“I think that the difficulty is in an internal Black conversation about what it means to be Black in America in 2020 (and) a real thorough change in how we teach American history and education. Acknowledging the falls, acknowledging the slavery acknowledging the horrible, terrible parts, acknowledging all of that, and then assessing where we are and going.” not understand there’s a different way to look at their own life. And not that education solves everything, but I mean, fundamental, American basic

education isn’t what it was when I was going to school, and I was at the tail end of when it was changing (in the) 80’s. It’s not the same ballgame.

[ Feature ] I think that education and how our education system has basically catered to, let’s just call it subculture… teaching us Ebonics and the lies of omission about certain things that happened in our history, painting all of the founding fathers as these racist, redneck, slave-owning tyrants that couldn’t stand Black (people). There’s certain aspects of our history that I think, by and large, we aren’t taught. I think that’s one part of it.

I think the other part of the race problem in America is, I think, the lack of identity. What it means to be Black in America got co-opted by a certain class of people who then said this is the lack experience. The well-spoken, that ain’t the Black experience, right? Like, you would look at Barack Obama—technically, he didn’t have what you would call the American Black experience. But we identify him as one of us, when

he don’t know nothing about none of the struggles we had here. So, I think that the difficulty is in an internal Black conversation about what it means to be Black in America in 2020, (and) a real, thorough change in how we teach American history and education. Acknowledging the falls, acknowledging the slavery, acknowledging the horrible, terrible parts, acknowledging all of that, and then assessing where we are and going.

What I’m saying now is that I think we’ve got to get to a point first within the Black community that we’re accepting of different worldviews…

Not all of us view politics through the lens of being oppressed. There’s not too many other places that we can pick, like, on the planet that you would rather live, right? There’s a few, but there’s not too many other places in regards to the level of freedom you have here.

Sam Dozier: As a Black person, is what you’re saying?

Addul El Ali: As any person—White, Yellow, Black, Red. I’m saying for me, it does. The numbers don’t warrant me being scared leaving my house—the number of police shootings…it doesn’t warrant being shook.

Jason Huddle: Here’s my question—and I come from a very sincere place in asking this, okay?

My oldest son, when he was just shy of two years old, was severely bitten by a dog. It was one of the scariest, probably one of the worst days of my life. I had to take him to the hospital. It was horrible. We asked the doctor, is he going to be afraid of dogs now? And the doctor said, that depends on you. If you freak out every time you see a dog walking down the street, he’s gonna freak

September 2020 | 9

[ Feature ] out. But if you show him that not every dog is like the one that bit him, he will be fine. There’s only one time I can remember, and it was within a few months after the dog biting, there was a dog walking down the street in our neighborhood that looked just like the dog that bit him and he freaked out. Other than that, we’ve always had a dog in our house.

He’s always been a dog person. He loves his dogs, because we didn’t freak out every time a dog came down the street. So, my question is this from a very sincere place. Is the fear of the police in the African American community? Is that a taught behavior? Or is that a learned behavior by experience?

Sam Dozier: That’s great question.

Let me first touch on the fear, because most people think the fear of the police is constantly being scared. We’re not scared of the police. But that doesn’t make us not fearful for our life. You understand what I’m saying? And because we’re not scared of the police, when we know that we didn’t do anything to warrant (an officer) pulling us over.

I know that I didn’t do anything, but because the officer knew that he can get away with it. This is what people are talking about in the Black community. The system has to change because there’s a systemic inequality standard that’s going on right now.

Now, if we understood that this was not for us, that’d be totally different. I understand that maybe everything can be totally equal. But that’s not what you tell us. Because when we recited the Pledge of Allegiance, we say I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice – I’m cool right there, but don’t say “for all” if it doesn’t mean me.

Addul El Ali: Right.

10 | Cabarrus Magazine

“We’re not scared of the police. But that doesn’t make us not fearful for our life. You understand what I’m saying? And because we’re not scared of the police, when we know that we didn’t do anything to warrant (an officer) pulling us over. I know that I didn’t do anything, but because the officer knew that he can get away with it. This is what people are talking about in the Black community. The system has to change because there’s a systemic inequality standard that’s going on right now.”

Sam Dozier: We’re talking about the people that are crying out right now. These are people that are in poverty, impoverished in areas, going to schools that we know need fixing, been needing some solutions to this thing. We understand… what these school systems look like.

We understand what these urban communities look like. All of this, that’s a part of what contributes to the injustice and there’s a systemic type of oppression that’s been with us for so long, and that’s dated all the way back, coming all the way up.

Addul El Ali : So, I think one of the things we got to look at to answer the question simply is yes, it’s a learned behavior. And yes, a portion of that is ingrained. So, who was taught that behavior? And who was the behavior ingrained in? We could go all the way back to slavery and talk about the fact that there wasn’t any fear of White people, right? Not all Black people were scared of all White people. But, by and large, you know, it was a society, it was a time where Whites were looked on as a superior race.

So, there was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and all these other different laws that were passed.

Culture doesn’t necessarily move at the speed of legislation. It takes time for natural inclinations to change over time. One of the things that we have to look at though, there’s just not one linear, flat way to look at history.

When we look at economic history, we look at educational history, we look at legal history, we look and see what factors contributed to that condition. So, one of those factors is yes, we have a post-slavery society where, during that time, a lot of pseudo-scientific things in relation to race were being spread.

One of the dynamics that we also have to understand is that there was a point in society where we looked at American society as a whole with respect. There was a time when a butcher was a respected guy in a community. There was a time where the mechanic was the respected guy in the community. The milkman was a respected dude. And the police officer was a respected guy. Black, White, Yellow, Red—didn’t matter…

We were fed through arts, through music, through film, through all of that stuff. And you know, everything said was antagonistic to the police.

They’re the enemy.

[ Feature ] One of the biggest rap groups of all time was Public Enemy? Public Enemy, he didn’t tell us to go be the power. They didn’t say go vote out the power. They said fight the power!

Think about that. What do you mean by fight? Because fight has a certain connotation. When you look at the imagery, what were they actually saying, right? Do we really get that? You can’t have pride in yourself if every image that you see of yourself is destructive. Part of that was ingrained, and part of that we owe to the degradation of American culture and the lowering of standards.

Sam Dozier: So, back in like between ’75 and let’s say ’85, the police were a fixture in the neighborhoods in the communities.

We knew the officers—Officer Smith (would) come out and play football with us, throw the ball— not necessarily play, but throw the ball. This was a White officer, but because he invested the time that was necessary to learn (our) community, and then, even when he saw us doing things that we shouldn’t have been doing, he was not aggressive when he came up to question it. See, now, they don’t even question anything anymore. …They come up demanding everything.

Addul El Ali: This is where I think the Black experience in the race conversation becomes so difficult, because what happens is there are people who have experiences, and you don’t want to say that their experience isn’t a real experience and it hasn’t happened.

I’ll give you a prime example of what we were just talking about.

When you look at how law enforcement has been done in this country, by and large, the last, I don’t know, hundred years. You put your cops where the crimes are. Any good police chief will tell you this is a pleasantly quiet neighborhood.

There’s no need for me to invest manpower in scrolling this neighborhood because nothing ever happens over there in Mayberry, but down the street in Jonesville, you’ve got robbery after robbery after this and after that…. So, there’s all of these police there. I think when we examined what lead up to the crime epidemic, the crack epidemic that hit

and how to disallow disproportionately, and the terribly disproportionate impact on Black communities (which) was a major reason we got to the point of that ‘94 crime bill.

What I’m saying, essentially, is that the things that we should be up in arms and angry about as a Black community are the things we’re celebrating.

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September 2020 | 11

How to

Work from Home Effectively

dragana991 / istockphoto.com

Editor’s Note: This transcript is from the Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine Episode entitled, “How to Work from Home Effectively” (Recorded April, 2020). We have edited it here for brevity. The full transcript can be read on CabarrusMagazine.com. You can also listen to the full episode on your preferred podcast platform.

12 | Cabarrus Magazine

[ Feature ]

Jason Huddle:

Tom Cooper is a trainer and coach who works with teams to improve communication, teamwork and performance. He’s also a homeschooling dad of eight kids and has been working from home for more than a decade. I’ve asked Tom to share some insights about working from home.

I got an email yesterday from a person who’s working through this and she said, “You know, for many of us we we’re home schooling or enacting distance learning plans while juggling full time work. It’s challenging.” So, the first thing I would say, “How do we keep our sanity in this? You know, this is a season. We’re going to get through this.”

This feels like it’s never going end, but it will. Don’t lose hope in that.

So, if we’re gonna get really practical about it, how much routine can you continue to have? What can you do to make it seem normal? So, …I would recommend that you get up every day with an alarm, you know?

You know, you get dressed, you go to a workplace. Now, your workplace might be your dining table. It might be a card table in your bedroom. It might be whatever it is, but you go to your workplace, and you do your work thing, and I think that there’s something psychological about having the space to go do the thing. It’s a work thing. And you know what stopped me the other day about this?

They were saying, when you go to work, you pack your stuff and you get in your vehicle and you commute to the office and you get to work, and then you get your cup of coffee.

You’ve got a routine. You’ve got a prep for work routine, and then you’ve got an end of day routine that you already do. I would encourage folks to do some kind of a routine.

Jason Huddle:

Doesn’t that also come with getting the family to respect that? In other

Kerkez / istockphoto.com

Tom Cooper:

“I’m in a place where I’ve got my own space and so I can close the door that has it. The normal sounds in my office are kind of contained in my office, but you might have a spouse who’s working in the same space with you.

You might need headphones on to keep from distracting and so I would recommend that you pick (some) up.“ words, if you are “at work,” whether that be the dining room table or upstairs in an office, the family understands. This is the same as Mom or Dad being at their office.

We can’t just interrupt them. We can’t just call them whenever we want. We have to treat it just like they’re at their office. Isn’t that true, too?

Tom Cooper:

Absolutely right. I put a sign on the door that says, I’m on a call, please don’t disturb. So yeah, the idea of being able to say “I’m at work” is reasonable. And I told my kids, you know, if you need to reach me during the workday, send me an email. If it’s urgent. You can text me, but send me an email and I’ll September 2020 | 13

[ Feature ] schedule a time to talk to you. And that sounds kind of crazy. But the reality is, if I’m gonna be able to be effective in the work that I’m doing, I need to have a think time. And I can’t just have my door broken down, or somebody interrupting (me) every 10 minutes.

Now, I’m super sensitive to the fact that I’m blessed in that my wife works outside the home. And so, she kind of corrals the home school activities during the course of a day.

But it’s still very interruption-driven, you know?

And what do I do about these kids interrupting me all day? Well, you have to bake that into the process.

Ask them to not do it. But then, they’re gonna need your attention.

So, you’re gonna need to find a way to be able to find natural breaks in the process. Give them a cadence where they’re able to connect with you every hour or two. A couple of minutes to connect with them— checking in. “How’s school going?”

“Give yourself a little bit of a mental break, but recognize that part of the stress that you’re under is that we are social creatures and we’re made for connection.”

What’s going on…with them, and how can you help smooth them into the next activity? Because they’re used to having a structure, and they really need a structure right now.

Putting them in front of a tablet or in front of a screen, it’s not gonna be great for them. So, you might need to send your kids to play for the next hour. I’m gonna be on a conference call. You need to go outside and play.

14 | Cabarrus Magazine

And I think it’s good for us to get outside. Your kids need to get out.

You need to get outside.

But…thinking back on our productivity, one of the things that I want is an appropriate level of production. But in this season, none of us knows what a good hard day is because we’re under the kind of mental or emotional stress that we’ve not been under before.

Jason Huddle: True.

Tom Cooper:

And so you gotta give yourself a break, you know. It’s not reasonable to expect that you’re going to be able to juggle all the balls and act like you’re not juggling all the balls. It’s okay to slow down a little bit and to be able to walk away at the end of your workday. And that doesn’t mean that you can sit and watch Netflix or DisneyPlus. Now, you might have to do that. You might need a mental health break in the afternoon because you might just be totally stressed out, and that’s okay, but you gotta find a way to figure out what your productivity is and be able to do that work.

And then the other piece that I think is just critically important…is the human connection. That is super valuable. I would recommend some kind of virtual happy hour with folks.

Pick up the phone and call people.

People have time to talk. I received a call yesterday from somebody haven’t talked to in months, and he just needed to talk, and it was great to catch up with him. So it’s okay.

Give yourself a little bit of a mental break, but recognize that part of the stress that you’re under is that we are social creatures and we’re made for connection.

Jason Huddle:

Those are all great points. Even during a workday, you get up, you go have some coffee, you go to the water cooler. You do certain things during

the day just to give your eyes a break.

Move your muscles a little bit, even if it’s for five minutes. You need to keep that routine at home.

“And then the other piece that I think is just critically important…is the human connection.

That is super valuable. I would recommend, you know, some kind of virtual happy hour with folks.”

Tom Cooper:

Absolutely. I mean, there are times where…I’ve got to go clear my head a little bit because my brain functions best when it’s fully in order, just like the rest of your organs. When your body is moving around, that helps you, too.

So, being able to be intentional about saying I haven’t stretched in a while. I’m sitting in a chair that’s maybe not the best chair for work. I’m sitting kind of hunched over a table, and it’s not the right height for my keyboard. And so my back is kind of scrunched over.

You probably need to be thinking about that.

I think the other component that I wanted to mention is communication with your boss. Have great conversations with your boss about what’s reasonable and what’s expected; what’s achievable during this season, because you might feel like you’re doing a great job and your boss might be frustrated.

You’re not producing as much, or you might be just beating yourself up. (You may) feel like you’re a

doble-d / istockphoto.com

[ Feature ]

lone performer and your boss is barely keeping their head above water and your boss might be feeling intimidated by how much work you’re doing.

Jason Huddle:

“First, practice, practice.

You need to know how these apps work. You could set up a test meeting. I’m telling you right now, get one of your co workers and say, Hey, I need to practice this stuff a little bit and we get on a Web X together?”

Tom Cooper:

for being able to have that type of connectivity in remote connection and the like.

First, practice, practice. You need to know how these apps work. And the good news is that you can get free accounts. You could set up a test meeting. I’m telling you right now, get one of your co-workers and say, “Hey, I need to practice this stuff a little bit and (can) we get on a Web X together? Can we get on a new meeting together? I just want

Regardless, remaining relevant is key.

Whether you’re talking about your boss, or just running your business and making sure you’re out there in front of people, keeping that awareness up for your customers.

Either way, it’s critical for sure.

A lot of people overlook some details when it comes to these virtual meetings that we’re all having. Why don’t you talk a little bit about that, Tom? I’ve been doing virtual meetings for a very long time, and I’m excited because we have not been in a good position ever before. I mean, the tools are more accessible and more functional. All these tools are terrific

to play with some of these features.

This is all new to me, and I don’t want to look like an idiot. Would you be willing to help me?”

And your coworker’s having the exact same problem. So, make the time to practice. Figure out how to I set up a meeting (and) invite people.

You know, those kinds of things matter, because it helps you look more professional during the meeting. You don’t have to be an expert, but you need to figure out the basics. How did I get into the meeting? How to get out of the meeting? How do I view those people other than the host? How do I start a meeting invite? Practice that stuff because when you need it, you don’t want to be stressed out going on schedule a meeting and I (have) never even looked at how this works. Can I talk for just a second about how to look good?

Jason Huddle:

Yeah, absolutely. Please.

September 2020 | 15

[ Feature ]

Tom Cooper:

So the first thing we’re gonna realize that the stuff that was put into your laptop is probably the cheapest possible component they could put in there, whether it’s a camera, whether it’s a microphone.

Also, your microphone placement matters. If you’re trying to take notes by typing during your meeting on your laptop, every stroke is gonna “clackety clack” right on top of the microphone. And so, it’s gonna make you sound terrible because, you know, they can’t hear you over the sound of the 1940’s typing pool where you got people on typewriters…typing away. That’s what you sound like.

So, I would strongly recommend that you look at how to get a better microphone.

“All the Instagram models can tell you that angles matter, and so if you’re laptop is on your desk, or worse, on your lap, that camera’s pointed up your nose.”

Jason Huddle:

I find that using headphones helps me hear everybody better, too, especially in a situation where you have multiple people and they’re all talking. I don’t know. For me, it helps me kind of decipher who’s saying what.

Tom Cooper:

Yeah, I’m in a place where I’ve got my own space, so I can close the door … The normal sounds in my office are kind of contained in my office, but you might have a spouse who’s working in the same space with you.

You might need headphones on to keep from distracting and so I would 16 | Cabarrus Magazine

recommend that you pick (some) up.

But your audio is the most important thing you can improve to make you sound better (and) look better on the video meetings.

The next (step) is around your video. All the Instagram models can tell you that angles matter, and so if you’re laptop is on your desk, or worse, on your lap, that camera’s pointed up your nose. Nobody wants to look up your nose, literally.

If you’ve got nothing else, get a couple of those Amazon boxes that are piling up in your house, because you’ve been ordering stuff.

Put it on your desktop and put your laptop up on top of the boxes and have that camera right (at) eye level.

That will make a huge difference, because that will get you in a place where you can be seen more like you.

Also, when you’re talking on a meeting like that, look at the camera.

Don’t look at the stream. Look at the camera because…if I’m looking at the screen, I’m kind of looking down. It feels weird now…but it makes a big difference in the way people perceive you, so that could make a difference.

You might consider upgrading your webcam. You know, by getting a webcam, you could put on a tripod on your desk. You might find that’s a huge improvement. One of the nice things about that is that you move your body a bunch and your camera moves every time you do that. If you’ve got your webcam on a tripod, fixed in position, then you just look less fidgety—not as distracting for folks.

Jason Huddle:

Can I also add to make sure you’re aware of exterior noise around you?

Like if there’s people talking, or even if you’re unwrapping a piece of candy or things like that, just mute yourself for a second and do that It’s so distracting when the speaker is talking and they’re giving some good points and I can’t hear because of somebody’s peppermint.

Tom Cooper:

That’s really good.

Jason Huddle:

Talk about lighting and also give us a few horror stories that you’ve seen.

“That means don’t put your camera facing the window with you between the camera in the window, because then you look like you’re in the Witness Protection Program. So turn yourself around.

Have the window in front of you, right in your face, so we can see your face.”

Tom Cooper:

So the most important thing you (should avoid) is have your face be eliminated. That means don’t put your camera facing the window with you between the camera in the window, because then you look like you’re in the Witness Protection Program. So turn yourself around.

Have the window in front of you, right in your face, so we can see your face. You can spend the money on lighting. I’ve got some ideas about that. But realistically, don’t have your face in the dark. People want to see your face.

But…just look at yourself in the camera and see. Do I look like I’m in the Witness Protection Program?

Is there a bright light behind me?

That’s probably the biggest mistake that I’ve seen made.

Chronic Pain Management

R

oughly 20% of American adults suffer from chronic pain. Pain is considered chronic if experienced most or every day in the last 6 months.

Pain is also often a component of many chronic conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, Parkinson’s, obesity, etc. Living with pain has a high cost, both to emotional health, as well as physical health. The CDC estimates healthcare related costs due to pain to be $560 billion.

When experiencing pain, it can sometimes feel as though you are trapped in a vicious cycle. The feeling of pain can lead to tense muscles, which can create shortness of breath, which can increase anxiety, which can cause difficulty sleeping, leading to fatigue and depression. At any point in time, it can be difficult to determine where the pain stops and the depression begins. Each symptom of pain can be interconnected.

Chronic pain can be difficult to treat as it is often not well understood.

Taking powerful pain medications should not be the first, or only, course of action. The good news is there are many activities that can be learned and practiced within the home environment that can lead to better coping and management of pain.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing pain. It can be difficult to try a new solution when there is a possibility it will not work or might make the pain worse. Having emotional support from others can make a big difference when trying and evaluating a new treatment option.

Cannon Health offers two class options for people to learn about pain and other chronic condition selfmanagement skills to improve overall health. Classes can either be completed over weekly phone calls, or virtual computer sessions, which is ideal during a time of social distancing. Skills such as deep breathing, gentle exercise,

healthy eating, improved sleep, managing difficult emotions, pacing activity, and communication skills can be used to help limit the impact of pain

[ Healthy Living ]

BY EMILY EVANS SPONSORED BY CANNON PHARMACY

and allow you to get back to living a healthy and active life. Call Cannon Health to register for a class at 704-886-0840, option 2.

September 2020 | 17

[ Feature ]

A Word of

18 | Cabarrus Magazine

[ Feature ]

Encouragement Editor’s Note: This transcript is from the Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine Episode entitled, “A Word of Encouragement” (Recorded April, 2020). We have edited it here for brevity. The full transcript can be read on CabarrusMagazine.com. You can also listen to the full episode on your preferred podcast platform.

Jason Huddle:

Gajus / istockphoto.com

A lot of people are having a hard time dealing with this virus, not only from a financial standpoint, but also from a spiritual one. Many people I’ve talked to are having a crisis of faith. How could God let this happen?

September 2020 | 19

[ Feature ]

“Peace doesn’t just come because of an absence of a storm. Peace comes because of the presence of Jesus being there and so we can speak peace in the midst of whatever storm that we’re facing.”

Why is this happening? If God is all knowing and benevolent, why is this happening to the entire world?

All very valid questions. And I could think of no one better in the community to answer them than Pastor Dale Jenkins, from New Hope Worship Center.

So Pastor, lets let’s get right to it.

Everybody is struggling. I know in your message to your congregation this week, you talked about everybody enduring a storm right now. There’s no exceptions. How do you answer the question about why is this happening? You know, how can God, who is a benevolent God, let something like this happen not only to our country and our community, but to the world?

Pastor Dale Jenkins:

It’s a great question. Ah, that’s a question that obviously goes beyond just the moments that were living in. What we’re experiencing is unprecedented. We have never experienced anything like this, a worldwide pandemic of this sort.

But the question itself that you asked is something that is a historical question. I think what happens is that we experience life all together, 20 | Cabarrus Magazine

and the way that the Bible would frame it is this—it rains on the just and the unjust. They’re storms that we all face. They’re things that are difficult because we are facing things together, and we happen to be all in this collective storm together. But one of the things that moments like this do, is it helps us to discern and discover our priorities and maybe more importantly, our foundation.

So, if there is a storm, the winds, the waves, the things that we’re experiencing in life, it really puts to test the foundation upon which we built our lives. I think a lot of that is what’s being revealed right now.

What is the foundation? What are we depending on? What have we grown accustomed to? What is the foundation of our lives? And, of course, those things are testing that.

And there’s a parable that Jesus told someone who built their house on the rock, a firm foundation,

versus someone who built their house on the sand, and they experienced the same storm. But the outcome was different.

And so I think there’s an eternal perspective that we can have, relative to the earthly things that we experience. But the reality is, we’re all feeling the effects of this, and it is affecting a lot of people, godly or otherwise, church-going or not, and we’re having to grapple with that to find our source of peace that goes beyond our earthly circumstances.

Jason Huddle:

In yesterday’s message, you talked about Jesus in the boat and the story of when he rebuked the wind and spoke to the waves, and everything calmed down. I don’t expect you to go into the whole message, but can you just give us the bullet points of what was your analogy between that and what we’re going through as a country right now.

Pastor Dale Jenkins:

Pastor Dale is the Lead Pastor of New Hope Worship Center in Concord, NC, where he has served since 1993 in various pastoral roles, including youth pastor, worship pastor, executive pastor, and lead pastor (since 2006).

Sure. As with any story in the Bible, there are things that we can learn and apply to our lives. And as I read that story, I realized that Jesus was there. He was in the boat with the disciples and suddenly a storm arose, and it took them all by surprise.

And I thought that really was a good picture of where we are right now. We could say that we’re kind of all in the same boat and we’re experiencing this sudden storm. But Jesus was there, and He rebuked the wind and he spoke to the waves. And it’s interesting the nuance of words that’s used there because…the wind is something that is unseen. You can see the effects of the wind, but you don’t see the wind itself. (You see) the waves, of course, the sea itself, the air, the physical entities that were affected by the wind. And so, I think with every storm that we face, there is that invisible dynamic, that spiritual dynamic, that is very real,

[ Feature ]

although unseen by our physical eyes.

This is where I think it’s so important for us to engage in things like prayer and petitioning the Lord and asking him to intervene, because there is that invisible dynamic. And so, we want

to be very responsible, as believers, as those (who) are putting our trust in God to call upon Him, and to know that He is there in the midst of that moment— that storm that we’re facing—there is an invisible realm to this.

But yet, there is a practical aspect to this. And so, when Jesus spoke to the sea, he spoke peace. And I think it’s important that we, in our words, whether on social media, in our conversations with others, we have to September 2020 | 21

[ Feature ]

“The Lord bless you and the Lord keep you.

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

be aware that what we say and even how we say what we say, really does matter so that we can speak peace to people in the midst of the storm, so that we can speak peace to our children. We can speak peace to those struggling with fear and anxiety. Peace doesn’t just come because of an absence of a storm. Peace comes because of the presence of Jesus being there, and so we can speak peace in the midst of whatever storm that we’re facing.

Jason Huddle:

Exactly, I think you touched on it earlier with the story of the house on the rock versus the house on the sand. Both houses experienced the storm. Just because you believe in Christ, or in God, does not make you immune to what’s going on.

Do you think that part of getting through this is that people are looking for ways to reach out to people, to help people, even from a limited basis. Even though we really aren’t supposed to have a lot of contact with people, do you think that’s what’s gonna help get us through this is by getting out of our own private little boxes and looking for opportunities to help people, however possible, and come together as a community? Is that going to help our psyche in dealing with all of this?

Pastor Dale Jenkins:

It’s interesting that you ask that question because I think it’s is fundamental to the human condition (that) we need 22 | Cabarrus Magazine

relationship. We’re born for that.

When God created human beings, He created all of the earth and all of the things that we know that exist.

So, on that world view, then we understand that God created all these things that God created with his own hands formed out of the dust. He formed human beings, and everything that God created, He said was good. There was only one thing that he said was not good—he said, it is not good for human beings…to be alone.

In other words, He created us and designed us for relationship.

And so, I think in this particular moment that we’re facing,…it comes down to that we have to love and to be loved. And what I love to see in our community right now is that we’re seeing that image of God being reflected.

Jason Huddle:

I just would ask you to speak to our listeners (about) a message of peace. Just give them some encouragement. If they were all here together, what would you say to them to offer peace in this very tumultuous time?

Pastor Dale Jenkins:

I think my words would, of course, from my context and an understanding that I’m talking to a lot of people who obviously have a lot of different beliefs and backgrounds. But from my perspective as a pastor, in fact, just my perspective as a believer, I would say, yes, it’s true. All of us are facing a storm right now,

all of us, and that’s not often that you can say words like that. But, Jesus is greater than the storm, and that He is the One who can bring peace to you in the midst of the storm.

So whatever you’re facing, whether it’s this particular pandemic that we›re all feeling the effects of, or your own personal storm in your marriage, or in your family, or in your finances, or whatever that looks like, Jesus can bring peace in the midst of that storm. And our trust in our hope is beyond just that which we can physically and tangibly touch and feel in this earth.

Our hope goes much further than that. It’s beyond this world.

It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t impact in effect this world, but what it does mean is that we have a hope that is beyond this world and our present realities.

In other words, we can have peace in the midst of the storm.

And so, I would just speak those words of comfort, and to speak this blessing that is found in the Old Testament that the priests used to speak to all of the people.

And they would say this often to them.

“The Lord bless you and the Lord keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. In the name of the father and of His son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

“In the name of the father and of His son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

[ Breaking Bread ]

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bars INGREDIENTS • 2 rolls chocolate chip cookie dough, divided • 2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each), softened • 1/2 cup sugar • 2 eggs, at room temperature • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract PREPARATION 1. Heat oven to 350o F. 2. Prepare 9X13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

3. Press 1 1/4 cookie dough rolls into bottom of pan.

4. In large bowl, mix cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar, mix well.

Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat until combined. Pour cheesecake filling over cookie dough base.

5. Crumble remaining cookie dough over cream cheese filling.

6. Bake 35-40 minutes.

7. Cool completely before cutting.

Store in refrigerator.

September 2020 | 23

[ On the Go ]

WHAT’S NEW IN CABARRUS COUNTY

Cabarrus County Holds Ceremony for Construction of Fifth Courthouse in its 228-Year History

A

small, socially-distanced group gathered in front of the Cabarrus County Government Center to celebrate downtown Concord’s future. The catalyst is the Cabarrus County Courthouse renovation/expansion project that will reshape downtown and create a natural connection between Union and Church streets in Concord.

Cabarrus officials livestreamed the ceremony, which featured interactive displays and a live art demonstration by oil painter Kevin Harris, of ClearWater Arts Center and Studios.

During the event, county leaders and courthouse partners discussed the monumental impact the project will have on the community. “This ceremony is the culmination of years of work that went toward developing the right team, creating a shared vision and setting common goals,” said Steve Morris, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners chair. “Our vision focused on preserving history, then building on it.”

24 | Cabarrus Magazine

Superior Court Judge Marty McGee discussed the rich history of Cabarrus County court facilities and the collaborative work that’s been done to design a building that will “fulfill its high purpose as a place to provide justice.”

Principal Jody Driggs of Silling Architects spoke to the value of collecting the experiences of Cabarrus County and downtown Concord and incorporating them into the project. “We hope the completed project is legibly responsive to the proud history, dynamic present, and hopeful future of you in this place,” said Driggs.

Harris said he was honored to showcase his talents during the event. “I always want to be a part of anything community-based that puts artists out there,” he said. His artwork, which he completed during the ceremony, will become a permanent installation in the new courthouse.

Participants also had the opportunity to experience

[ On the Go ]

— Principal Jody Driggs of Silling Architects information stations in person and online. The stations featured stories of the Cabarrus County Courthouse through the years, as told by Judge Clarence Horton, a local historian and the host of Cabarrus County Television’s “Historical Moments.”

Commissioners approved the fiveyear, 250,000-square-foot renovation and expansion in 2019. The project is expected to continue through early 2023.

Construction began earlier this year, with crews working mainly nights inside the existing courthouse.

The ceremony marks the start of the first large-scale publicly visible work. The next step is the demolition of the existing courthouse annex to make way for the footprint of the new building.

For more information on the courthouse construction project, including video updates, renderings and construction announcements, visit https://cabarruscounty.us/resources/ courthouse-construction-project.

CabCo Media Group Gains Several Exclusive Nationwide Geo-Targeting Distribution Areas

CabCo Media Group has signed an agreement with a confidential national geo-targeting digital marketing firm to gain exclusive rights in several large areas located nationwide. This specialized geo-targeting technology

enables CabCo to provide their clients with interest-based marketing plans which have been configured through extensive analytical data. CabCo can now provide media campaigns that have been pre-configured for nearly 1200 different industries. These include everything from retail shopping to professional services and much more, such as real estate, financial services, restaurants, and tourism.

The technology prevents cookies and ad blockers from hindering ads from being seen by the viewers, plus ad placement on the page is always “above the fold,” which means no scrolling is needed.

CabCo’s new exclusive territories include a large area in the Piedmont region of North Carolina surrounding the entire city of Charlotte, and includes both Cabarrus and Rowan Counties. CabCo has been also granted exclusive rights in the large cities of Miami, Florida, Los Angeles, California and Nashville, Tennessee.

TotallyMJ / shutterstock.com

“We hope the completed project is legibly responsive to the proud history, dynamic present, and hopeful future of you in this place.”

September 2020 | 25

[ On the Go ]

“We are extremely excited about this new opportunity to expand our digital marketing services into not only the Piedmont area of North Carolina, but several major markets nationwide.”

— Kimberly Brouillette, CabCo sales manager, In addition to those cities, CabCo has been granted the entire state of Delaware and able to service most of the entire states of South Carolina and Georgia. Some additional areas include counties near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois.

“We are extremely excited about this new opportunity to expand our digital marketing services into not only the Piedmont area of North Carolina, but several major markets nationwide.

After the devastating COVID-19 shutdown, we saw a significant rise in demand for digital marketing options.

We decided to find ways to pivot our company services to make them available in other areas. Partnering with a national geo-targeting supplier has enabled us to do that,” says CabCo sales manager, Kimberly Brouillette.

For the new exclusive areas, CabCo is seeking to partner with various marketing firms, advertising agencies, publishers and other digital marketing service companies in each of these regions. Contact CabCo media group at (704) 782-2353.

CMS Now Offering Covid-Safe Tours

Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) recently announced an innovative new, “COVID-safe Fast Pass Tour.” Offered weekdays by appointment only, the tour gives fans a contactless experience, from registration through the hourlong guided tour of the property,

26 | Cabarrus Magazine

Charlotte Motor Speedway is now offering COVID-safe track tours you can take in your own vehicle.

including a chance to drive around the 24-degree banking of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway.

“At Charlotte Motor Speedway, we continue to challenge ourselves to find new and creative ways for families to get out of the house and make great memories with us, but do so in a safe and hassle-free way,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“From that challenge came the idea for the ‘Fast Pass Tour,’ which allows families the chance to learn about the speedway’s rich history and experience the thrill of driving on the iconic speedway from the comfort of their own vehicle.”

The process starts online, where guests can select their preferred day and time for their tour and make their reservation. Once guests

arrive for their tour, they will tune their car radio to a designated lowfrequency FM station to learn the 60-year history of America’s Home for Racing and hear fun facts as a tour guide leads them around the sprawling 2,000-acre property. The tour includes a drive through the NASCAR garage and around the high banks of the iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans will even have the opportunity for a photo op from their vehicle in Victory Lane. The Fast Pass Tour costs $30 per vehicle.

Reservations are open now online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com

RCCC Named #1 School On The Rise For 2020

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has been honored as the first #1 School on the Rise by the National

“At Charlotte Motor Speedway, we continue to challenge ourselves to find new and creative ways for families to get out of the house and make great memories with us.”

— Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway

[ On the Go ]

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College celebrates being named the first “School on the Rise” by the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3)

Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), recognizing the college’s dedication to providing industryrecognized certification opportunities for students in its automotive, advanced manufacturing and welding programs.

Rowan-Cabarrus emerged as this year’s overall winner for its dynamic and diverse program offerings, according to Roger Tadajewski, executive director of NC3. The award was presented during NC3’s Virtual Leadership Summit in July.

NC3 is a network of education providers and corporations working together to create sustainable models for Career and Technical Education, and produce a highly-skilled workforce. A monthly School on the Rise Award is presented to a member school showing consistent growth in issuing certifications that lead to student success. Rowan-Cabarrus has been an NC3 Leadership School since 2016.

The college’s automotive, advanced manufacturing and welding programs are growing in popularity as career opportunities and salaries in these fields continue to increase.

Rowan-Cabarrus students train on the latest industry equipment and have opportunities for internships that often lead to job offers even before graduation.

“We are proud of our successful Career and Technical Education programs, and we’re absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the first recipient of the annual NC3 #1 School on the Rise Award,” said Dr. Carol S. Spalding,

president of Rowan-Cabarrus. “By partnering with leading industries, we are able to offer students the best hands-on training, a wide range of industry certifications, and ongoing education, thereby strengthening the local economy and creating opportunity for the citizens of our community.”

Cabarrus, Rowan and surrounding counties are home to many industrial manufacturing facilities, and workers with up-to-date credentials and certifications are top candidates for employment. Automotive, welding and advanced manufacturing students at Rowan-Cabarrus are able to train on industry-specific equipment and earn sought-after certifications with companies such as FESTO, Lincoln Electric and Snap on.

In fields such as welding and engineering, local employers are not only seeking the most qualified new employees, but often call on Rowan-Cabarrus to provide

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September 2020 | 27

[ On the Go ] continuing education and professional development opportunities for existing personnel. The college uses the same equipment for instruction that industries in the surrounding region use in their work every day.

“We see this as a great opportunity to give our students a top-notch education and to give employers in the community a chance to offer additional training as well,” said Carl Smith, Rowan-Cabarrus automotive systems technology instructor.

Rowan-Cabarrus has established advisory boards that include business representatives to ensure that the curriculum aligns with current industry standards. These partnerships also enable the college to place students in internships that allow them to learn in the workplace.

“We usually have companies wanting more interns than we’ve got students,” said Tony Bean, chair of

engineering technology programs at Rowan-Cabarrus. “The majority of students who intern have a job before they even leave school.

Cabarrus County Represents in State 4-H Finals

In August, NC 4-H announced the results of the State 4-H Presentation Finals competitions. There were 315 “4-H’ers” who competed in this year’s virtual presentation submission. Youth from all over the state submitted videos of themselves sharing what they have learned about their 4-H project topic this year. Cabarrus County had 11 youth participate in the state level competition. These youth earned the right to participate in the state level competition by earning gold or silver at the district level. Cabarrus County is part of the South Central District, comprised of 19 counties from the greater Charlotte area to Fayetteville.

Local winners included: John Noyes, Family & Consumer Science (Silver), Brianna Osborne, Horse Public Speaking (Gold), Claire Fischer, Horse Public Speaking (Silver), Katherine Jennings, Horse Public Speaking (Bronze), Emily Pennell, Open Class (Gold), Brooke Modesto, Public Speaking (Gold), Jasmine Olson, Public Speaking (Gold), Even Prawl, Small & Companion Animals (Gold) and Matt Pennell, Wheels and Engines (Gold).

The 4-H program serves as the premier positive youth development program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State Universities. More than 232,000 young people, between the ages of 5 and 18, participate in North Carolina 4-H educational activities each year with the help of 20,563 adult and youth volunteers.

Cabarrus Magazine Would Like to Thank its Community Sponsors!

What does a Community Sponsorship Get You? On Cabarrusmagazine.com: • Industry-exclusive sponsorship

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With Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine Weekly Podcast: • One :30 second spot to air during podcast • Mentions at beginning and end of podcast

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Omaha Steaks......................................... 29

www.cabcomedia.com

1-844-220-8812 www.omahasteaks.com/family583

Medical Facilities

Funeral Homes

920 Church St, N

Wilkinson Funeral Home........................11

Concord, NC 28025

100 Branchview Dr, NE

https://atriumhealth.org/locations/

Concord, NC 28025

carolinas-healthcare-system-northeast

Atrium – NorthEast................................. 32

704-786-3168 www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com

Graphic Design/Layout Spark Publications.................................... 4 2116 Crowne Center Dr, Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28227 704-844-6080 www.sparkpublications.com

Gutter & Leaf Protection Leaf Filter Gutter Protection................... 3 1-877-649-7231

Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers........................................ 31 • 202D McGill Ave, NW Concord, NC 28025 704-792-2297 • 308 E Centerview St China Grove, NC 28023 704-855-5200 • 298 Lincoln St, SW Concord, NC 28025 704-792-2313 Plus, three new locations in Salisbury and China Grove! www.crchc.org

30 | Cabarrus Magazine

Carolina Digestive Health Associates..................................... 2 1085 NE Gateway Ct Concord, NC 28025 704-372-7974 www.carolinadigestive.com

Pharmacies/Medications Cannon Pharmacies.................................17 Multiple locations in Concord and Kannapolis www.cannonpharmacies.com

Photographers Michael A. Anderson Photography..... 23 704-701-5908 www.michael-a-anderson.com

Print & Technology Services Modern Impressions.............................. 27 5029 West W.T. Harris Blvd Charlotte, NC 28269 800-840-2554. www.modernimpressions.com

Theaters Old Courthouse Theatre........................ 31 49 Spring St, NW Concord, NC 28025 704-788-2405 www.octconcord.com

IT’S OLD COURTHOUSE THEATRE’S

8th annual 10-Minute Play Festival

Coming up September 11-13!

(Mandates permitting)

Come out and support OCT as we begin our 45th season with this important fundraiser as you’ll watch talented local and regional playwrights present their short plays based around the theme, “Enough, Already!”

Virtual tickets are also available as well!

Check out www.octconcord.com for details!

49 Spring St. N.W., Concord OCT Box Office: 704-788-2405 www.octconcord.com

REAL. LOCAL. SAVINGS. See how much you could save with your local GEICO agent.

Stop in or call today!

Tara Morgan-Barreiro 980-258-6340 7741 Gateway Lane NW Concord geico.com/concord ¡Hablamos Español!

Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington, DC 20076 © 2020 GEICO. 20_541923358

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Cabarrus MAGAZINE

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SPONSORED BY: Atlantic Bay Mortgage, CERTEC Automotive, Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Cabarrus Eye Center, Concord Downtown Development Corporation, Level Up Realty, New Hope Worship Center, and Walk Cabarrus!

Call 704-782-2353 for Sponsorship Opportunities!

September 2020 | 31

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