Cm dec15web

DECEMBER 2015

Tidings of Comfort and Joy:

The Holiday Tour of Homes

Holiday Decorating:

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

December Events:

What’s Happening

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Word on the Street December 2015 Volume 15 n Issue 12 President Pam Tolen

Managing Editor/Art Direction Kim Cassell Advertising Kimberly Brouillette Jason Huddle Contributing Writer Kim Cassell Contributing Photographers Michael A. Anderson Photography builtbykids.com cardboardchristmas.com City of Concord Cami Ferguson hometodecor.com Cabarrus Magazine is published by: Comfort Publishing Inc. 296 Church Street N. Hidden Plaza Concord, NC 28025 For editorial inquiries, call 704-782-2353 or email them to Kim Cassell at kcassell@ cabarrusmagazine.com. For advertising inquiries, call Jason Huddle at 704-907-7847 or Kimberly Brouillette at 704-305-7599.

Visit us at www.cabarrusmagazine.com.

All rights reserved. ©2015, Comfort Publishing Inc., 296 Church Street N., Concord, NC 28025. 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.

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Rachel Fesko

Publisher Jason Huddle

I love this season, especially in Cabarrus County.

Our grand, historic homes dressed in their holiday finery give me a sense of peace and joy...just what this time of year is all about.

It’s also one of the reasons we chose to celebrate the houses that took part in 2014’s Holiday Tour of Homes – an event that takes place every two to three years only. The residences portrayed in this issue are located right here in our Historic Districts.

To go along with the tour, we’re covering how Residents of Historic Concord Inc. – along with valuable help from the homeowners – organizes this monumental project and why, plus how we as Americans came to embrace the Christmas tree.

When we launched this publication in January 2001, our goal was to offer a magazine that would show Cabarrus County as the shining star it is, highlighting the accomplishments and challenges of the region and how we as a community continue to rise above.

As we approach our 15th anniversary next month, we look forward to continuing that tradition for another 15 years, and would like to thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t have done it without you! Of course, as always, don’t forget to patronize those businesses that support us!

Happy holidays!

Jason Huddle

This Issue...

Deck the Halls 6

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

11

Breaking Bread: Chef Ferguson Dishes

12

Tidings of Comfort and Joy: Holiday Tour of Homes

23

Give Me Shelter: Cabarrus’ Adoptable Cats

24

Cabarrus Businesses: On the Go

28

What’s Happening: December Events Calendar

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By Kim Cassell

O, Christmas Tree O, Christmas Tree At holiday time, the world literally lights up.

In homes, along our streets, in front yards, each family decorates in a way that reflects what the holiday means to them, and how they celebrate it.

The aluminum Christmas tree was introduced in the late 1950s by the Aluminum Specialty Company. Note the revolving color wheel that was used instead of tree lights.

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Those with children might incorporate huge, lit inflatables that seem to wave to passers-by as the wind blows. Others may illustrate their faith more traditionally with a nativity scene passed down through their family.

Prior to the mid-19th century, Americans observed Christmas in manners they’d brought over from their home countries. Christians typically kept the holiday quiet and personal; there was no outward celebrating.

“Puritans, for instance, attempted to ignore Christmas because the Bible was silent on the topic. Virginia planters took the occasion to feast, dance, gamble hunt and visit, perpetuating what they believed to be the old Christmas customs in English manors,” according to historytoday.com. “Even as late as the early 19th century, many American, churched or unchurched, Northerners or Southerners, hardly took notice of the holiday at all.”

The Germans, however, had been bringing Christmas trees into their homes since the 16th century as well as lighting candles. The ritual made its way to England where the trees were decorated with candies and fruits, dolls, small musical instruments and jewelry. "

A pre-1920s Christmas tree

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When a Christmas tree was erected in Pennsylvania in 1830, though, it was looked at as more of an oddity than anything else. Even though it was used as a means to solicit donations for the town’s church, some nonGermans viewed it as pagan and wanted it taken down.

By the 1850s, the German Christmas tree was becoming an American standard, the media helping to spread word of the little-known custom.

Vast immigration saw the growth of Northern villages to industrial towns. “At this crossroads of progress and nostalgia, Americans found in Christmas a holiday that ministered to their needs. The many Christmases celebrated across the land began to resolve into a more singular and widely celebrated home holiday,” historytoday.com adds. “It became a moment of idealized national selfdefinition.

“At first, the decoration of these fragrant evergreens reflected the whim of folk tradition. Celebrants added nuts, strings of popcorn or

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beads, oranges, lemons, candies and homemade trinkets.” Some also wired tapered candles to the branches.

By 1870 or so, Christmas trees – typically spruce, pine or fir – were being sold to the consumer, as were ornaments imported from Germany.

Brightly colored glass balls, wax angels with glass wings and cut tin decorations were replacing handmade items. Then the advent of electricity replaced candles with bright lights that could be left on for longer periods of time. By 1900, one American in five was estimated to have a Christmas tree.

The next two decades saw Japan and the Czech Republic facing off against Germany and its command of the ornament market. They produced more and fancier decorations.

“By 1935, more than 250 million Christmas tree ornaments were being imported to America,” holidayspot. com says.

The first artificial Christmas trees were manufactured in 1930 by Addis Brush Company, their branches made from brush bristles. Aluminum trees

were introduced in 1958, produced in Chicago, IL, and Manitowoc, WI. The 21st century is seeing fiber-optic, holographic mylar and just about every color artificial tree. Pre-strung, remote-controlled LED lights, flocked branches to simulate snow, the eye glazes over trying to take it all in.

“Artificial trees became increasingly popular during the late 20th century,” Wikipedia says. “Users of artificial Christmas trees assert that they are more convenient, and, because they are reusable, much cheaper than their natural alternative. They are also considered much safer, as natural trees can be a significant fire hazard. Between 2001 and 2007, artificial Christmas tree sales in the U.S. jumped from 7.3 million to 17.4 million.”

But we are truly fortunate, as North Carolinians, to have easy access to a wealth of Christmas tree farms.

According to the NC Christmas Tree Association: • North Carolina has an estimated 50 million Fraser fir Christmas trees

growing on over 25,000 acres.

• Fraser fir represents over 90 percent of all species grown in North Carolina.

• Fraser fir is grown in the far western North Carolina counties, which include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey.

• There are more than 1,600 North Carolina growers.

• The North Carolina Christmas Tree industry is ranked second in the nation in number of trees harvested and cash receipts.

• North Carolina produces over 19 percent of the real Christmas trees in the U.S. • The North Carolina Fraser fir has been judged the nation’s best through a contest sponsored by the National Christmas Tree Association and chosen for the official White House Christmas tree 12 times (more than any other species): in 1971, ‘73, ‘82, ‘84, ‘90, ‘93, ‘95, ‘97, 2005, ‘07, ‘08 and ‘12.

• The North Carolina Fraser fir Christmas tree is the most popular Christmas tree in North America and is shipped into every state in the U.S. as well as the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Japan and other points all over the world.

• There are approximately 400 choose & cut Christmas tree farms in North Carolina.

Real or artificial, the Christmas tree industry has become a multi-milliondollar business. In 2013, more than 33 million live Christmas trees were sold in the U.S. compared to 14.7 million artificial trees, according to statista.com.

Today, the Christmas tree stands as a centerpiece for faith, love, peace and family. Its adornments sacred to the season, it radiates tradition from each of its sparkling lights. Merry Christmas! n

Thomas the Train and Friends is a highly rated Lionel product.

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Breaking Bread cabarrus magazine is happy to feature personal CHEF CAMILLA FERGUSON. she WILL BE BRINGING ONE OF HER OWN RECIPES TO CABARRUS MAGAZINE READERS EACH MONTH, so Bon Appetit!

Coconut Cream Pie INGREDIENTS 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut 1 cup half-and-half 2 cups coconut milk (in a can, in the Asian food section) 2 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (9-inch) pie shell, baked 1/2 container whipped topping DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake it, stirring occasionally, until golden brown (about 10-15 minutes). Watch closely. Bake pie shell according to package instructions.

In a medium saucepan, combine the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, flour and salt, and mix well. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Mixture should become thick. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in 3/4 cup of the toasted coconut and the vanilla extract. Reserve the remaining coconut to top the pie. Pour the filling into the pie shell and chill until firm (about four hours or overnight). Top with whipped topping and toasted coconut.

Cami Ferguson has a passion for food that was developed at an early age.

As a child, she watched her grandmother make homemade Italian specialties as well as her dad cooking “Southern soul food.” Between the two, she learned a lot about different culinary styles. Her horizons were further broadened and tweaked by her exposure to a large variety of global cuisines during her extensive travels. She has turned all of those experiences into one joyous profession.

As a personal chef, Ferguson performs a variety of services for individuals, couples, families and small groups. She encourages everyone to enjoy quality time over intimate dinners with family or friends without the stress of planning, shopping, preparing, pick-up or cleanup, and can design menus – from basic to elegant – to satisfy many individual tastes, needs and budgets.

Chef Ferguson can be reached at 704-330-9321, CamillaFerguson@ gmail.com or at her website: www.CuisineByCami.com. n

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The staircase in the W.L. Burns house is decorated with natural materials reminiscent of those used when the home was built: circa 1930.

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By Kim Cassell

Tidings of Comfort and Joy: The Holiday Tour of Homes the Historic DistrictS of downtown Concord have got to be among the most meaningful and elegant aspects of our community. and they can be enjoyed on foot.

Predominantly constructed between the latter half of the 1800s and the Great Depression, these homes serve as a reminder of Concord’s lucrative textile industry, Locke Mill being the first cotton mill in town.

With the success of the mills came a surge in population. Names like Cannon, Coltrane and Brown represented all forms of business and industry that were needed as the city grew. With business came homes, which sprung up close to the town center. Styles ran the gamut – from Queen Anne Victorian, to Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical, Italianate, Second Empire and American craftsman bungalows.

Today, Concord’s three registered Historic Districts – North Union, South Union and Edgewood (see map on page 14) – are still dominated by the stately residences that were the original framework of this community. And since 1988, the homeowners in these districts have rallied around each other in helping preserve their neighborhoods.

Marilyn Porter Koch, Anne Lee Pearson and Stephen Morris founded The Residents of Historic Concord Inc. (RHC). The organization says, “The purpose of Residents of Historic Concord Inc. is to provide a forum for discussing and acting on issues of importance to the historic neighborhoods of Concord. The constant objective is to preserve and improve the downtown historic areas as residential neighborhoods. We do this by preserving the appearance and "

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promoting beautification of the area.

We work in cooperation with several other organizations, such as the City of Concord, the Chamber of Commerce, Concord Downtown Development and 14 Cabarrus Magazine n

Historic Preservation Commission.”

The RHC, whose membership is unrestricted, is led by a four-person board of directors. “The board is nominated and elected by members,”

Marcie Schwalbe, current RHC president, says. “Board members serve two-year terms. Anyone can join, but only resident homeowner members can vote. Meetings consider upcoming events and neighborhood concerns.”

The RHC holds two meetings yearly for its full membership: one in the spring and one in the fall. This year’s fall meeting saw new board members elected. Schwalbe and her fellow officers will step down at the end of this month, with new officers taking their places on January 1: Jana Marx, president; Lea Halloway, vicepresident; Rudi Muenster, treasurer; and Jenny Dabbs, secretary.

While the RHC’s initiatives have always been to raise awareness and appreciation of the Historic Districts, Schwalbe says, “It evolved into a fundraiser. Our projects have included purchasing and planting American Elms to maintain the canopy, and Historic District sign toppers.

“This year, RHC hosted two summer porch parties, an ice cream social, a St. Patrick’s Day party, a hugelysuccessful community-wide yard sale (27 homes participated), National Yard Art Day, a scarecrow contest and the neighborhood has one of the most well-attended trick-or-treat events in the country. We are also the main route for the Concord Christmas parade and many homes in the neighborhood decorate with lighted Christmas balls hanging from the trees...this is truly magical at night!

“We will host workshops for making the Christmas balls and lighted stars,” she continues. “This is open to the public for $5 (free for residents of the Historic District). The (last one) is Saturday, December 5, from 2:00 to 4:00pm at 288 Union Street N. (The Odell House). Participants should bring wire cutters, work gloves and 200 mini-lights per ball.”

One of the largest RHC fundraisers is the Holiday Tour of Homes, held since 1992. Offered in December – one day every two to three years – this event

sees Historic District homeowners volunteering to open their houses to the public.

Lea Halloway has volunteered to be the RHC’s next home tour chairperson.

Her goal is to reach out to fellow Historic District homeowners six to nine months out to see who might be willing to literally open their doors at the next Tour of Homes, tentatively slated for December 6, 2016.

Asked why the tour doesn’t take place every year, Schwalbe says, “It is very labor intensive and expensive to host the tour. The board determines when we have enough homeowners willing to volunteer. The homeowner is responsible for decorating the home; the RHC pays for advertising, supplies a floral arrangement and hosts a preview party. The entire process is at the discretion of the homeowner.”

Visitors to the tour are greeted by RHC volunteer guides – sometimes high school students earning community service hours – at each participating home. There, they receive historical information about the home, who currently lives there and what modifications they’ve made to the house. More than 800 people took part in last year’s 1.2-mile tour that raised nearly $9,000. The proceeds went toward the RHC’s mini-grants program and tree replacement project.

Called the 2014 Tidings of Comfort & Joy, the tour featured six residences and St. James Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Union Street and Corban Avenue.

Schwalbe provided the following from the RHC brochure: “These homes have been lived in and loved, restored and renovated, enlarged and amended. They have sheltered many generations of families, been the site of many holiday celebrations, weddings, christenings, etc., and given enjoyment to countless visitors and guests.

Through the hard work and resources of our dedicated homeowners, they will continue to contribute to the beauty of our city.”

Opposite page: The living room and, above, a bedroom in the Colonial Revival W.L. Burns house

Courtesy of the Residents of Historic Concord, the 2014 tour homes were: W.L. Burns House Located at 43 Marsh Avenue N.W., the W.L. Burns house was built circa 1930. The brick two-story is a Colonial Revival house with a symmetrical

five-bay façade. The central entrance is composed of a gabled roof portico with Tuscan columns and halftimbering. The broad cornice is trimmed with decorative boards. The porch is supported with square brick piers and has a flat roof. Because of the brick piers and its broad eaves, "

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Attention to detail and time-honored adornments in the Daniel Branson Coltrane house’s foyer and dining room

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the home has a bungalow feel about it. Kate and John Turner currently own the home.

Daniel Branson Coltrane House Located at 84 Union Street N., the Daniel Branson Coltrane house was built circa 1893 by Coltrane who served as director of Concord National Bank for some 50 years. The home blends Queen Anne and Colonial Revival elements. Features to notice include the porte-cochere, which was enclosed to create a sunroom; wraparound porch with tapered Tuscan columns; sunbursts in the porch gables; urn-shaped finials on the balcony; and cornice trim that includes dentil courses and modillion blocks.

Two principle parlors with elaborate ceiling molding and seven fireplaces grace the residence. The home also uses scalloped shingles and raised panels on many surfaces. Carol and Bill Meade have been restoring the Coltrane House to its former glory since purchasing it in 2012. Major projects have included restoring the wallpaper in the stair hall, renovating three bathrooms, converting a small bedroom into a laundry room and creating a mural of the owners’ farm in the family room.

Daniel Branson Coltrane was a Civil War veteran. His daughter Ruth married Charles A. Cannon.

J.L. Hartsell House Located at 125 Spring Street N.W., the two-story J.L. Hartsell house

was built in 1905 by Jonah Latinus “Tine” Hartsell. The key features of this residence include Queen Anne Victorian architecture illustrated by a witch’s cap adornment topped with

a finial; the original slate roof; and asymmetrical design with mixed textures.

In addition, Colonial Revival features are evident with the large "

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Evergreens and ribbon wind up the J.L Hartsell house’s u-shaped staircase banister.

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double Tuscan columns around the porch on the front of the home. Since Jillian and Sean Preston purchased the house they have painted the interior and exterior, refinished the original heart-of-pine hardwood floors, added a laundry room, renovated the halfbath with period Victorian fixtures and refurbished three fireplaces.

The home is furnished with many original antiques from the early 19th century, including a notable circa 1840 French Country Hunt Vitrine and operational grandfather clock from the same era. The homeowners recently acquired an original pre-Civil War bureau and an Italian Baroque brass and marble clock and candelabra set.

J.L. Hartsell was a Concord industrialist and the first secretary/ treasurer of the Yeung-Hartsell Cotton Mill. Hartsell founded the company, along with R.S. Young and P. Fetzer.

Aaron Greene Lentz House Located at 235 Union Street N., the Aaron Greene Lentz house was "

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A Christmas tree in a child’s room in the J.L Hartsell house

originally built in 1899 for Aaron Lentz’s youngest daughter, Kate. This Queen Anne-style home has changed little in the past 100 years. Notable architectural features include a hiproofed main block; façade bay with conical roof; and a wraparound porch with turned posts, decorative brackets, and balustrade with vertical and horizontal balusters.

The interior features original heartof-pine floors, an original built-in hutch in the butler’s pantry, an intricately-carved mantle in the den and a carved wooden front door. Major renovations include the conversion of the back porch into a kitchen and the division of the Gentleman’s Parlor to create a bathroom.

Heather and Troy Taylor purchased the home in 2013 and have discovered many hidden treasures, such as the home’s first cooking range, which is on display. The wonderful historical art seen in the home is by the homeowner’s father.

Besides St. James Lutheran Church, other homes on the 2014 tour (not pictured) included the Brown-Efird House, located at 205 Union Street S. Built circa 1880 by Rufus A. Brown, the home is a classic Italianate twostory brick masterpiece; the clipped gable roof maintains its original slate tiles. The home’s exterior possesses segmental arched windows and molded cornices supported by brackets with turned pendant drops. The "

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Doc Watson is one of 50-plus North Carolina musicians inducted into the NCMHOF thus far.

Dr. Paul Barrier on Snowball with Mary Bangle Barrier on the porch of their Mt. Pleasant home.

After the doctor’s death, Mary had Snowball put down, and she buried him and the doctor’s medical equipment in the back yard.

A beautifully crafted fireplace and surround in the Aaron Greene Lentz house

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Many original features – lovingly restored – remain in the Aaron Greene Lentz house.

interior has Italianate and Colonial Revival features, and is comprised of solid brick walls with recessed panels.

An unusual filigree wood screen separates the front hall from the stairs.

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In 1914, J.R. Efird bought the house and replaced the front porch with the broad wraparound, bricksupported porch seen today. He also added the three-part windows on the

first floor façade. When Lea and Cid Halloway purchased the home in 2012, they discovered that one of the five fireplaces was signed by Rufus A. Brown. They also found a time capsule filled with papers documenting the home’s history.

Rufus A. Brown was a Concord merchant and contractor.

Lastly, The William B. Ward House is located at 194 Union Street S. Built in 1901 for William Benton Ward, this home contains some elements of the Queen Anne style – such as the wraparound porch – and elements of the Colonial Revival style, such as the multi-pane windows that are original to the house. The sunroom was likely a porch and enclosed by later owners.

The home is currently owned by Dawn and Alec Lockavitch.

Ward operated W.B. Ward Wholesale Grocery.

Area residents – and not just those living in Cabarrus County – are sure to look forward to the next Holiday Home Tour. How fortunate we are to be welcomed into beautiful residences decked out for the holidays, and whose futures look bright because so many have taken a vested interest in preserving their – as well as our – past. n

Give Me Shelter THERE ARE SEVERAL ANIMAL RESCUES IN CABARRUS COUNTY, USUALLY PAST CAPACITY, FILLED WITH ADOPTABLE DOGS, CATS AND MORE!

The saying goes, “People that say money can’t buy you happiness have never paid an adoption fee.” These are the faces of the abandoned, neglected and abused, and they’re looking for that second chance. If you’re looking for a furry family member, please consider pet adoption.

Meet Fern. She’s about two years old and, weighing in at only seven pounds, she’s going to be permanently petite. She loves all cats and plays like a kitten, probably because living on the mean streets with her kittens robbed her of any playtime. She also loves people! When Fern came to us she had a mouth full of rotting teeth and was unable to eat well. However, after major dental work that left her with just four teeth, she has a hearty appetite and eats a predominantly dry food diet in her foster home, with some wet food as a treat. She is now ready for her forever home and to snuggle with a person or persons of her very own.

Please email hippiechick57@hotmail.com if you would like to meet this awesome girl. You won’t be sorry.

Graham, one year old, was turned in as a stray to Animal Control, yet was already neutered. Where was his family? This guy is quiet and laid-back, creating no fuss with the other cats and enjoying attention from people.

This handsome guy would be fine in a home with other cats or just as great as an only pet, as long as there is lots of petting to go around. He can be seen and loved on at Princeton’s Meow.

Princeton’s Meow – Cabarrus Humane Society’s Cat Facility 29 Brookwood Avenue N.E., Concord, NC 28025 704-721-6369 • www.cabarrushumanesociety.org

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On the Go DecisionPathHR Relocates its Concord Branch

Please Give to Third Annual Secret Santa For Seniors and Veterans

The Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and local dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the relocation of the Concord branch of DecisionPathHR® to 2339 Concord Lake Road.

There are many seniors and veterans in our community that have no one at this time of year, and they need us! Here’s how you can help: Select a tag off an area Christmas tree that has the senior’s or veteran’s name and needs. Purchase the items and return the gifts in a gift bag – with the tree tag attached – to the location the tag was selected from.

Tree locations: The Depot at Gibson Mill, 325 McGill Avenue; Cabarrus Creamery, 21 Union Street S.; 2 Gals Kitchen, 80 Union Street S.; Morningside of Concord, 500 Penny Lane; Badcock & more, 30 Branchview Drive; Mayflower Seafood Restaurant, 1493 Concord Parkway N.; Best Cuts Hair Salon, 3383 Cloverleaf Parkway; and Granny’s Attic, 9070 Highway 73E., Mt. Pleasant. The trees are up now and the gift return date is December 10.

Please contact Cheryle Kohlage (980-636-3020) or Anna Phillips (704-9568057) for more information, and thank you!

Concord Mayor Scott Padgett and Cabarrus Chamber CEO Patrick Coughlin join DecisionPathHR’s owners, Tom Gibson, Tanya Bennett and Robin Gibson.

DecisionPathHR® focuses on talent acquisition, including temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct hiring of executives. It also provides general staffing, clerical assistance and technical needs. For more information, call 704-251-4000 or visit decisionpathhr.com.

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JHE Makes 50 Top Event Companies List JHE Production Group has earned a coveted spot on Special Events magazine’s annual 50 Top Event Companies list for the 10th year in a row.

Special Events magazine mentioned recent JHE work for Wake Forest University with the Wake Will campaign, NASCAR Acceleration Nation, Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance and the Charlotte Hornets’ “BuzzFest.”

The 14th Special Events magazine roundup features 50 top event agencies nationwide, along with the most notable 2015 events and predictions for the future of special events. The 50 companies, which combined are expected to bring in $2.4 billion this year, noted that context, content and creative are the keys to successful events in 2016.

NCWorks Career Center Celebrates New Location The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) and the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of a new NCWorks Career Center.

Located at 845 Church Street N. in Concord, the center is dedicated to serving businesses and career seekers in the region, striving to connect job seekers and employers by providing consistent workforce delivery systems and promoting an integrated delivery approach.

S&D Coffee & Tea Named to NC100 List S&D Coffee & Tea has been named one of the largest privately-held businesses in North Carolina as indicated by its inclusion in the 2015 Grant Thornton North Carolina 100® (NC100). Holding the 12th highest position, S&D Coffee & Tea increased three spots from the 2014 NC100 rankings.

For more than 30 years, the NC100 has ranked the state’s largest private companies by revenue from the last fiscal year, excluding nonprofit, financial services and health care companies.

Stop in This Season: Cabarrus County Visitor Center All December long, the Cabarrus Visitor Center warmly welcomes guests with complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, holiday classic movies and more. And just in time for the gift-giving season, new merchandise is available.

Show hometown pride with “Where Racing Lives” shirts, tees from local 704 Shop, North Carolina souvenirs and more. Purchase postcards, books and tickets to area attractions.

Located at Exit 49 off I-85 – at 10099 Weddington Road, Suite 102 – the Visitor Center is a resource for travelers and residents alike. With takeaways from area hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping and events, guests leave inspired and excited to spend time in Cabarrus County.

Call 704-782-4340 or email Hey@VisitCabarrus.com for more information! "

From left: Chris Carter, deputy chief of staff for Congressman Richard Hudson; Will Collins, assistant secretary, NC Division of Commerce; Steve Morris, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners; Mike Beaver, WDB member; MaryAnn Raseberry, WDB member; David Hollars, executive director, WDB; Gary L. Mason Jr., center leader; Paige Jordan, senior member relationship executive, Cabarrus Chamber; and Tracie Brunt, vice-president of human resources, S&D Coffee & Tea

“We’re getting good feedback from employers and consumers in the community. They don’t feel like this is the same place as before,” Gary Mason, center leader at the NCWorks Career Center-Cabarrus, says. “Everything is new, we have new technology, new employees. It’s a new and fresh start.”

The Career Center includes conference rooms, space for workshops, and offices for employers and partner agencies’ usage. For more information, contact Gary Mason at 704-786-3183 or by e-mail at gary.mason@rescare.com.

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Tech-Zone Opens in Kannapolis

Tech-Zone, a walk-up technology support center, announced the launch of its prototype store in Kannapolis – at 2217 Roxie Street N.E. – with a grand opening ribbon cutting.

Tech-Zone is designed to provide small and medium-sized businesses with enterprise-level technical support – from everyday issues and security to networking and mobility – delivered on-demand or by appointment, in-store or on-site with transparent, flat-rate pricing. Additionally, business customers with a valid tax ID have access to support services such as TechZone Pro support, Tech-Zone print, hosted private cloud, and exclusive wireless talk, text and data plans for smart phones, tablets and IOT devices.

“Kannapolis, Concord and the greater Charlotte region is such a vibrant area where small and mid-size businesses abound, making it an ideal location to introduce Tech-Zone before rolling out the concept nationally,” Dan Stone, Tech-Zone president, says.

Visit Tech-Zone.com to learn more.

Cannon YMCA Breaks Ground on Community Farm Afton Village and local residents daily pass a small, vacant, unassuming parcel of land located just behind McGill Baptist Church at the corner of Poplar Tent Road and George Liles Parkway. They will soon do a double take as they see a host of community volunteers tending the two acres, yielding fresh potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, beans, onions and the like.

Not to be confused with the term community garden, “urban agriculture (farming) assumes a level of commerce, the growing of product to be sold (or donated) as opposed to being grown for personal consumption or sharing.”

The YMCA has partnered with veteran sustainable farmer Aaron Newton, well known to Cabarrus residents for his leadership at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm. “We have a successful project plan in place for Share the Harvest,” Newton, project manager, says. “As part of our long-term plan, we anticipate 40,000 pounds of fresh produce and 2,000 annual hours of community volunteer involvement by year 2018. This may sound ambitious to many, but when you consider the successful model and project plan, it is very doable.

Thanks to a City of Kannapolis grant, we are purchasing a walk-behind tractor.

We are already pursuing other funding sources necessary for cold and dry storage, a greenhouse, mulch, tools and supplies to yield our first crop in 2016.”

Share the Harvest will tap into an existing network by partnering with local food distributors Cooperative Christian Ministry, Concord First Assembly and Meals on Wheels. Plans include on-site educational forums for local students as well as an associated food canning opportunity in the Kannapolis YMCA commercial kitchen.

For Share the Harvest information, including volunteer and funding opportunities, please contact Ron Davis at rondavis@cannonymca.org or 704-933-9622, extension 613. Also visit http://cannonymca.org/our-ymca/ community-farm.

Cabarrus Magazine would like to thank its digital sponsors! | Prominent position on homepage | Categorized business website listing | Logo placement with hotlink on every page of website | Company profile page To find out more about all of our great print and digital marketing opportunities, please call us at 704-782-2353.

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Carolina International School Adds Gymnasium Carolina International School, in Concord, held a ribbon cutting and open house for its new gymnasium addition. Hosted by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce, Head of School David Kukielski, School Board President Curtis Ifill, Concord Mayor Scott Padgett and Chamber CEO Patrick Coughlin were on hand.

Carolina International School – the first public charter school in Cabarrus County – started this school year with record enrollment (840) and a 12th grade class, the culmination of a multi-year growth process.

With more students overall, the school is now offering an array of high school sports teams, with competition already underway in Girls’ volleyball and co-ed soccer. These complement middle school teams in the same sports; the middle school also offers co-ed cross-country in the fall.

The gym will temporarily be subdivided into eight classrooms for at least the next few years until sufficient funds can be raised to build a hoped-for 16 additional permanent classrooms. The school plans to kick off a Capital Campaign to address this need.

Kukielski notes that “all these developments reflect the vibrancy of this school community, a vibrancy that all indicators suggest will continue to grow.”

Explosive Competition Puts Paramedics to the Test Once a year, paramedics from North and South Carolina compete in an intense two-day, head-to-head event that puts their skills and response to the test. This year, Cabarrus Emergency Medical Services (EMS) hosted 11 teams at the annual Carolina’s Competition held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

This was the first time Cabarrus hosted the competition and, as hosts, they couldn’t compete. They were instead judged on the competition scenarios and related events. Their goal was to create scenarios that were challenging and fun for the competitors, actors, judges, event staff and viewing audience.

From a staging location, teams received dispatch orders that they had to follow to the scene of the incident, then respond just as they would to a real-life scenario.

The night scenario involved a hazmat event at the speedway. In route, competitors encountered a vehicle accident between an ambulance and an SUV. The day scenario began with a routine call to a campsite for a bee sting. When they arrived, teams discovered it was actually a pediatric overdose. The scenario soon took on the complexities of a Hollywood movie when paramedics came across an illegal moonshine still and found themselves in the midst of a twofamily shootout.

At the end of the weekend, Carolina’s Competition announced the winners.

For the scenario-based competition, Lancaster County, SC, took first place; Rowan County, NC, took second; Wilson County, NC, took third; and Charleston County, SC, took fourth. The teams also participated in a timed, written test.

The winners of the written competition were Wilson County, NC, in first place; Lancaster County, SC, in second; and Rowan County, NC, in third.

The 2016 Carolina’s Competition will take place in Greenville, SC. As competitors, the Cabarrus EMS team, once again, has their eyes on the championship. n

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What’s Happening Speedway Christmas Through December 24 7:30-11:00pm Charlotte Motor Speedway 5555 Concord Parkway S., Concord • In its fifth year, Speedway Christmas has a completely redesigned route of 3.1 miles, more than 3 million highefficiency LED lights in 800 displays and a drive-the-track experience that always delights visitors.

• 704-455-3200; www.charlottemotorspeedway.com

A Golden Christmas December 5 • 10:00am-4:00pm Reed Gold Mine 9621 Reed Mine Road, Midland • Good food, good music and holiday cheer with a little history added in!

Blacksmithing, quilting, woodworking, basket weaving, underground candlelight guided tours of the mine.

• Hayrides to Mansion Hill: $2 for adults; $1 for children • 704-721-4653; www.nchistoricsites.org

Harrisburg Christmas Tree Lighting December 4 • 6:00-9:00pm Veterans Park – Town Center 4100 Main Street, Harrisburg • Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, take a horse and carriage ride around Town Center and enjoy a live nativity.

• On-stage entertainment by local church, school and civic groups • Hot chocolate, cider, kettle corn, crafts and more will be available for purchase from local vendors.

• Shawn Marble: 704-455-7275; smarble@harrisburgnc.org

Christmas Festival December 5 • 2:00-8:00pm Village Park 700 West C Street, Kannapolis • Crafts; food; business, church and non-profit agency vendors; carnival rides and inflatables; Kannapolis Singing Bears and Santa!

• 704-920-4343; www.kannapolischristmas.com

Holiday Festival December 4-6 • 6:00-9:00pm • Adults: $5; kids and seniors: $4 Intimidators Stadium 2888 Moose Road, Kannapolis • Laser Light Experience, Santa Claus, Kids Zone, live music, holiday concessions, crafts market • 704-932-3267; www.intimidatorsbaseball.com

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Holiday Happenings December 5 • 11:00am-2:00pm Downtown Concord • Free horse-drawn wagon rides and face painting for young and old alike. Children can participate in a Gingerbread Candy Hunt where they visit participating businesses along Union Street collecting edible decorations to create a gingerbread house to take home. Cost of Gingerbread Candy Hunt is $10 per child; reservations suggested.

• 704-784-4208

Piedmont Farmers Market December 5, 12, 19, 26 • 8:00am 518 Winecoff School Road, Concord • Open year-round. Fresh local produce, honey, free-range eggs, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef, chicken and pork • 704-425-5559; www.piedmont-farmersmarket.com chamber Business After Hours December 8 • 5:30-7:00pm BB&T 818 Church St. N., Concord • Members are FREE; non-members are welcome three times per year: first visit is free, second and third visits are $10.

• Chemin Duffey: 704-260-8110; coordinator@cabarrus.biz Kannapolis Arts Showcase December 11 • 7:00-9:00pm Sunshine’s Asian Cuisine 215 West A Street, Kannapolis • Artists are invited to come out with two to three pieces of their work. Share and discuss your work with other local artists. Please be ready by 7:00pm.

• mknox@modernfilminc.com; www.kannapolisarts.com 2nd Saturday Open Studios at ClearWater Artist Studios December 12 • 10:00am-4:00pm 223 Crowell Drive N.W., Concord • Free; music, refreshments, working artists and open studio. Come immerse yourself in our creative space!

• 704-784-9535; clearwaterartists.com

77th ANNUAL Kannapolis Christmas Parade December 12 • 6:00-8:00pm Downtown Kannapolis • 704-932-3808; www.cabarrusevents.org Celebration of Lights & Winterland Express December 12-30 • 6:00-9:30pm Village Park 700 West C Street, Kannapolis • More than 250,000 lights • Ride the Winterland Express and see if you can find all 12 Days of Christmas! Tickets for the train are $2 per rider.

• 701-920-4343; www. kannapolischristmas.com Mt. Pleasant Christmas Parade December 12 • 11:00am Downtown Mt. Pleasant • The parade route begins at Mt. Pleasant Middle School on N. Main St. • Samantha Fisk: 704-436-9803 The Cabarrus Quilt Guild December 14 • Doors open at 6:00pm Forest Hill United Methodist Church 265 Union Street N., Concord • Christmas meeting: Each member is asked to bring a dish, canned goods for Cooperative Christian Ministry and a $10 quilt-related gift in a brown paper bag. Visitors welcomed.

Memory Cafe´ December 16 (third Wednesday of each month) Faith Coffee & Sweets 5040 NC Highway 49, Harrisburg • Free event open to anyone experiencing dementia, their loved ones and/or their care partners. Share time, stories and journeys together while having fun in a social setting.

• No preregistration is required.

• Michelle Marciniak: 704-698-6324; michelle.marciniak@ carillonassistedliving.com CABARRUS CHRISTIAN Women’s Connection December 17 • 9:30am • $15 Cabarrus Country Club 3247 Weddington Road, Concord • Welcome Veronica Cordle of the NC Music Hall of Fame • Color Me Changed by Guest Speaker Susan Devos from McCormick, SC. The former military wife discusses the impact color has on her life.

• Brunch Music: Martha Campbell • For reservations (Dec. 14 deadline) and information, contact Barbara at 704-786-2722 or barb1960@ windstream.net.

Sponsored by the Cabarrus Christian Women’s Connection, an affiliate of Stonecroft Ministries

A Kannapolis Christmas Nativity Night December 19 • 4:00-9:30pm Village Park 700 West C Street, Kannapolis • Live nativity scene, live choir music, petting zoo, pony rides, vendors • 704-920-4343; www.kannapolischristmas.com Frostbite 5K 2015 December 19 • 10:00am-12:00pm Cannon Memorial YMCA 101 YMCA Drive, Kannapolis • 704-454-7800; www.cannonymca.org SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY December 26 • All Day Historic Downtown Concord • Make a purchase at any participating business and enter into a drawing for $100 in Downtown Concord Dollars to be spent in participating businesses.

• 704-784-4208; www.concorddowntown.com

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At a Glance

Automotive Sales

Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships Page 9 281-289 Concord Parkway S., Concord, NC 28027 (704) 786-2151 (Cadillac) • (704) 788-2121 (GMC) www.benmynatt.com

Automotive Spas/Maintenance

Splash Auto Spa/Certec Automotive 2215 Roxie Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083 704-795-2426 • 800-264-6823 www.splashautospa.net www.certecautomotive.com

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New Hope Worship Center Page 9 452 Brookwood Ave.N.E., Concord, NC 28025 704-786-0155 www.newhopewc.org

Cleaning Services – Office

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Dentists

Ferguson & Associates, DDS 244 LePhillip Court, Concord, NC 28025 704-786-8317 www.fergusondentistry.net Tzioros Family Dentistry 1704 Harris-Houston Road, Suite 3 Charlotte, NC 28262 704-548-0870 www.tziorosdentistry.com

Employment Services

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DecisionPathHR Page 2 2339 Concord Lake Road, Concord, NC 28025 704-251-4000 www.decisionpathhr.com

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Funeral Homes

Pharmacies

General Surgeons

Photographers

Wilkinson Funeral Home Page 8 100 Branchview Drive N.E., Concord, NC 28025 704-786-3168 www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com

Churches

Blue-J 51 Union Street S., Concord, NC 28025 704-589-3148 www.bluejsmallofficecleaning.com

Nonprofit Healthcare Assistance

The Speedway Club Page 31 5555 Concord Parkway S., Concord, NC 28027 704-455-3216 www.gospeedwayclub.com

Book Publishers

Gatmoon Publishing P.O. Box 1244, Concord, NC 28026 704-785-4798 info@gatmoonpublishing.com www.gatmoonpublishing.com

Event Venues and Restaurants

The Piedmont Surgical Clinic, PA Page 2 431 Copperfield Boulevard, Concord, NC 28025 704-786-1104 www.piedmontsurgical.com

Hospitals

Community Free Clinic Page 20 528A Lake Concord Road N.E., Concord, NC 28025 704-782-0650 www.communityfreeclinic.org Harrisburg Hometown Pharmacy Page 15 5006 Highway 49 S., Harrisburg, NC 28075 704-454-RX4U (7948) www.harrisburgpharmacy.com Michael A. Anderson Photography 38 Union Street S., Concord, NC 28025 704-701-5908 mike@michael-a-anderson.com www.michael-a-anderson.com

Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast Page 32 920 Church Street N., Concord, NC 28025 704-783-1275 • 800-575-1275 toll-free www.cme-northeast.org www.carolinashealthcare.org

Print & Technology Services

Insurance

Restaurants/Catering Services

AAA Insurance 167 Church Street, Concord, NC 28025 704-706-2325 hunter@morrisonagency.com www.aaa.com/aaainsurance

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Land Sales

American Land Corporation - Charlotte 21031 Catawba Avenue, Suite 105 Cornelius, NC 28031 704-535-4100 www.americanlandcorporation.com

Meat Markets

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The Stock Market Page 3 796 Concord Parkway N., Concord, NC 28027 704-787-9015 www.stockmarketnc.com

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Modern Impressions Page 27 5029 West W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269 800-840-2554 www.modernimpressions.com Bistro Catering & Events 48 Union Street S., Concord, NC 28025 980-621-6333 www.bistrocateringandevents.com

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Pier 51 Page 17 744 Cabarrus Avenue, Concord, NC 28027 704-787-9377

Testing & Research

Spectrum Discovery Center 222 Oak Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28081 704-250-1200 www.spectrumdiscoverycenter.com n

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