Cm feb18web

FEBRUARY 2018

Black History Month:

The Carter Woodson Legacy

Game Changers:

Products of Their Decisions

Five Nights in Concord Crime Stoppers:

The Rushco Robbery Case

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Word on the Street February 2018 Volume 18 n Issue 2 President Pam Tolen

Managing Editor/Art Direction Kim Cassell Advertising Kimberly Brouillette Jason Huddle Contributing Writers Kim Cassell Jason Huddle George Veltri Contributing Photographers Michael A. Anderson Photography Cabarrus County Cabarrus Regional Chamber Expedia Greensboro CVB Independent Tribune Library of Congress Cabarrus Magazine is published by: Comfort Publishing Inc. 296 Church Street N., Hidden Plaza Concord, NC 28025 For editorial inquiries, call 704-7437498 or email them to Kim Cassell at kcassellcabarrusmagazine.com. For advertising inquiries, call Jason Huddle at 704-907-7847 or Kimberly Brouillette at 704305-7599.

Visit us at www.cabarrusmagazine.com.

All rights reserved. ©2018, 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

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr. February is Black History Month, but how and when did it take shape, and by whom? We answer those questions.

It’s also a particularly fitting time to spotlight some African-American standouts in our community. Ella Mae Small and Hank Alston are two such individuals. Small took over her late husband Allen’s seat on the Concord City Council after his passing and has continued to serve ever since. Alston has been a long-time volunteer in the business community through the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and has now stepped out on his own as business owner.

We also take a look at our own area’s past when it comes to racial relations.

Spoiler alert: Sometimes it’s hard to look in the mirror.

It has been almost 25 years since the Concord riots of 1993. You don’t know what I’m talking about? It’s okay. Most people – even those who lived here at the time – don’t talk about it. It’s a black eye on our proud history. Growing up here, I always thought of this area as progressive when it came to race relations. I had friends of all races. We hung out and had fun together. There was no “us vs. them” mentality that I can recall. But one hot week in July 1993, we discovered as a community that we hadn’t come as far as we thought.

Regardless of our past, though, I am proud of our diverse county. I am thrilled my children have been blessed to grow up in an area where they have been exposed to a variety of cultures and perspectives. The only way we’re ever going to achieve true racial harmony is if we are willing to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes and try to see things through their eyes. It is my hope that we’re on our way to that future now. Time will tell.

Best regards,

Jason Huddle

This Issue...

Game Changers 6

Black History Month: The Carter Woodson Legacy

12

Game Changers: Products of Their Decisions

19

Food for Thought: Thai Chicken Satay and Rice Salad

20

Five Nights in Concord

23

Paw Prints: Cabarrus’ Adoptable Cats

24

Cabarrus Business: On the Go

31

Crime Stoppers: The Rushco Robbery Case

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Black History Month educates today’s children about the struggles of those willing to take a stand for reform.

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By Kim Cassell

Black History Month: The Carter Woodson Legacy

“THE THING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY IS THAT THE TRUTH IS SO MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN ANYTHING YOU COULD MAKE UP.” - HENRY LOUIS GATES

February is a special time to celebrate significant moments and people leading up to the Civil Right Movement and beyond, as well as educating today’s children about the struggles of those willing to take a stand for reform.

Carter Godwin Woodson is considered the Father of Black History. Born in New Canton, Virginia, in 1875, his parents were former slaves. Because Woodson’s family was large – he had six siblings – and economically poor, he had to work as a sharecropper and in the coal mines of West Virginia to help support his family rather than attend school regularly.

Still, Woodson taught himself the basics of school instruction. At the age of 20, he was able to focus on his education full-time, earning his diploma from Douglass High School in just two years; he became a teacher there.

“In 1900 he was selected as the principal of Douglass High School. He earned his Bachelor of Literature degree from Berea College in Kentucky in 1903 by taking classes part-time between 1901 and 1903,” according to Wikipedia. “From 1903 to 1907, Woodson was a school supervisor in the Philippines. Later, he attended the University of Chicago. He completed his PhD in history at Harvard University in 1912, where he was the second African-American (after W.E.B. DuBois) to earn a doctorate. After earning the doctoral degree, he continued teaching in public schools, later joining the faculty at Howard University as a professor, and served there as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.”

As a historian, Woodson saw a lack of chronicled African-American history.

This prompted him to partner with Alexander L. Jackson in the writing of The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861, published in 1915.

According to Wikipedia, “He noted that African-American contributions ‘were overlooked, ignored and even suppressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who use them.’ Race prejudice, he concluded, ‘is merely the logical result of tradition, the inevitable outcome of thorough instruction to the effect

Carter G. Woodson

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10 Places to Explore African-American History Whether during Black History Month or throughout the year, plan a visit to one of these intriguing North Carolina sites that reflect African-American history and heritage.

• African-American Heritage Walking Tour, New Bern New Bern free blacks exerted cultural, economic and political influence – and also owned slaves. This walking tour takes in historical homes, churches and businesses with rich legacies from Colonial times to the modern era.

• Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum at Historic Palmer Memorial Institute, Sedalia North Carolina’s only state-supported historic site recognizing a woman is also one of the first to honor an African-American. The site is the location of the former Palmer Memorial Institute, an African-American preparatory school established by Brown in 1902.

• Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, Rodanthe The Pea Island Life-Saving Station, the only U.S. LifeSaving Service station with a crew of African-Americans, performed many heroics. A century after their 1896 rescue of all nine passengers on schooner E.S. Newman during a hurricane earned them a posthumous Gold Lifesaving Medal. Plan a visit between April and October, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s season.

• Harriet Jacobs Trail, Edenton To commemorate the bicentennial of her birth, Harriet Jacobs’ memoir, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, will be used as the framework for a program on February 9 at Edenton United Methodist Church Family Life Center.

Beyond this one-day event, visitors can follow a selfguided tour of Edenton sites that relate to Jacobs’ life.

• Harvey B. Gantt Center for AfricanAmerican Arts + Culture, Charlotte Charlotte’s destination for African-American art, history and culture, the center celebrates the cultural contributions of Africans and AfricanAmericans, and serves as an epicenter for music, dance, theater, visual art, film, arts education programs, literature and community outreach.

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• International Civil Rights Center & Museum (ICRCM), Greensboro This museum is located in the former F.W. Woolworth retail store, the site where, in 1960, four freshmen from N.C. A&T State University sat down at the “whites only” lunch counter and challenged the laws of segregation.

Their courageous actions reignited the quest for all Americans to stand up for freedom, justice and equality.

ICRCM brings history to life with permanent installation, exhibits, photography, artifacts, video re-enactments and interactive galleries.

• Nina Simone Plaza, Tryon The Eunice Waymon Nina Simone Memorial Project honors the remarkable life and legacy of a native daughter who achieved international recognition for her unique talent and her formidable contribution to the musical arts.

• Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House Museum, Wilson A museum featuring artifacts that depict the culture and contributions of African-Americans to Wilson’s history and development. The 1946 house is one of several built

by Freeman, an African-American stonemason, to help alleviate the housing shortage for GIs returning from the war. Though the house is said to be made of stone, the materials included bottles, tree saplings and string.

• St. Philips Moravian Church, Winston-Salem Built in 1861, this is the oldest standing AfricanAmerican church in the state. It stands adjacent to the newly-reconstructed 1823 log church with exhibitions conveying the African-American experience in the Moravian community. Today, the church is part of Old Salem.

• YMI Cultural Center, Asheville Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the center has served Asheville’s minority residents since 1893, when it was established as the Young Men’s Institute. The center houses numerous exhibits, many dealing with the history of African-Americans in western North Carolina, and sponsors such cultural events as Asheville’s Goombay! festival, a Kwanzaa celebration and the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration.

Source: Visit NC

that the Negro has never contributed anything to the progress of mankind.’ ” Woodson’s experiences in Chicago – staying at the Wabash Avenue YMCA and immersing himself in the innercity Bronzeville neighborhood – also saw him founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (also in 1915). It was later renamed the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. Its primary goals were to bring AfricanAmerican historical contributions to the forefront as well as the education of black children.

“Woodson believed that education and increasing social and professional contacts among blacks and whites could reduce racism, and he promoted the organized study of AfricanAmerican history partly for that purpose,” Wikipedia says. “He would later promote the first Negro History Week in Washington, D.C., in 1926, forerunner of Black History Month.”

Woodson decided to celebrate Negro History Week annually during the second week of February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He promoted his idea to schools and organizations in the hopes of creating the study of African-American history.

On February 1, 1970, Kent University’s Black United Students and Black educators took it a step further and founded Black History Month.

President Gerald Ford made it official in 1976 and it’s now celebrated across the U.S. Ironically, Woodson’s desire to separate African-American history from American history was met unfavorably by some of his own constituents. “Thus, Woodson’s efforts to get black culture and history into the curricula of institutions, even historically black colleges, were often unsuccessful,” Wikipedia says. “Today, African-American studies have become specialized fields of study in history, music, culture, literature and other areas.”

Greensboro’s International Civil Rights Center & Museum provides a visual for the non-violent protests of the 1960 sit-ins in that city.

Up until his death in 1950, at 74, Woodson remained an activist and writer, penning a weekly column in Negro World. He also wrote A Century of Negro Migration in 1918, The History of the Negro Church in 1921, The Negro in Our History in 1922 and Mis-Education of the Negro in 1933.

“Mis-Education – with its focus on the Western indoctrination system and African-American self-empowerment – is a particularly noted work and has become regularly course adopted by college institutions,” according to biography.com.

Today, Black History Month focuses on and honors the efforts of AfricanAmericans; each year has a theme. This year’s is African-Americans in Times of War – men and women who have fought for our freedom in the U.S. military.

According to the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH), “The 2018 theme commemorates the centennial of the end of the First World War in 1918, and explores the complex meanings and implications of this international struggle and its aftermath. Those very concepts provide a broad, useful framework for focusing on the roles of African-Americans in every American war, from the Revolutionary War Era to that of the present War against Terrorism.

“Times of War inevitably provides the framework for many stories related to African-American soldiers and sailors, veterans and civilians. This is a theme filled with paradoxes of valor and defeat, of civil rights opportunities and setbacks, of struggles abroad and at home, of artistic creativity and

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repression, and of catastrophic loss of life and the righteous hope for peace.”

Chiff.com adds, “During World War II, more than 2.5 million black men registered for the draft and 1 million served as draftees or volunteers in every branch of the armed forces. A decade before the first glimmers of the American Civil Rights Movement, most black men were assigned to segregated combat groups. Even so, more than 12,000 black men who served in the segregated 92nd Division received citations and were decorated for ‘extraordinary heroism’ on the battlefield.”

Then, on January 12 of this year, U.S. President Donald Trump declared Martin Luther King Day a federal holiday. What this basically means is that a day – January 15, in this case – has been recognized by the U.S. government.

According to wikipedia, “Every year on a U.S. federal holiday, non-essential federal government offices are closed,

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and every federal employee is paid for the holiday. Private-sector employees required to work on a legal holiday may receive holiday pay in addition to their ordinary wages.”

The White House posted a proclamation on its website – whitehouse.gov – that said, in part, “Dr. King once said: ‘We refuse to believe there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this Nation.’ We must work together to carry forward the American Dream, to ensure it is within reach not only for our children, but for future generations. As your President, I am committed to building and preserving a Nation where every American has opportunities to achieve a bright future. That is why we are expanding apprenticeship programs, preparing Americans for the jobs of our modernizing economy. We are also working every day to enhance access to capital and networks for minority and women entrepreneurs. With all we

do, we aim to empower Americans to pursue their dreams.

“Importantly, in paying tribute to Dr. King, we are reminded that the duty lies with each of us to fulfill the vision of his life’s work. Let us use our time, talents and resources to give back to our communities and help those less fortunate than us. Particularly today, let us not forget Dr. King’s own tireless spirit and efforts, as we work, celebrate and pray alongside people of all backgrounds. As one people, let us rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans, and as people who share a common humanity.”

There are celebrations of black history across North Carolina yearround, not just in February (see sidebar for a selection), but be sure to also check out Cabarrus Magazine’s Calendar of Events for a listing of special local celebrations taking place this month. n

Straight from the Heart February is Heart Healthy Awareness month. According to the American Heart Association, “Someone dies from heart disease, stroke or another cardiovascular disease every 43 seconds.”

Nutrition Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy • Take it slow and steady – Consider adding a piece or two of fruit each day.

• Enjoy home cooking and save money – Preparing meals at home can be more nutritious than eating out.

• Be strategic when eating out – Consider asking for more vegetables instead of deep-fried foods.

• Beware of those ‘popular’ diets – Companies attempt to profit from weight loss at New Year’s resolution time.

• Drink to your health – Choose water instead of soda or sweetened beverages.

Limit alcohol intake and high-calorie specialty coffee drinks.

Approach exercise the same way: start slow. If you smoke, you need to quit. Sedentary people are at greater risk of having their heart muscle shrink and stiffen in late-middle age, which can increase their risk for heart failure.

Studies have shown this can be reversed with moderate aerobic exercise five times per week.

Cannon pharmacist, George Veltri, states that it’s important for everyone to “know their numbers.” New guidelines recommend a stricter blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 across the board. However, this needs to be tailored to each patient.

He recommends those with blood pressure that averages over 140/80 see their doctor. They may need to be treated with medications. For those over 50, a risk assessment can be done to see if low-dose aspirin is beneficial.

It’s also wise to check with your pharmacist before purchasing over-thecounter medications or homeopathic

supplements. Many can either raise your blood pressure or interact with prescribed medications.

Veltri encourages his patients to have a home blood pressure monitor or come into the store to check their blood pressure at least three times

By George Veltri

Sponsored by Cannon Pharmacy per week to help evaluate control and minimize overtreatment.

People say that when someone dies of a heart attack, they died of natural causes. Let’s make this the year that we say there is nothing natural if we can do something about it. n

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By Kim Cassell

Game Changers:

Products of Their Decisions HISTORICAL TRAUMA: IT’S THE RESULT OF EXPERIENCES OF A CULTURAL GROUP – NATIVE AMERICANS, IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. THEIR EXPERIENCES CAN INCLUDE POVERTY, WAR, VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION.

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African-American and licensed psychologist, Keisha Ross, PhD, wrote an interesting presentation called Impacts of Historical Trauma on African-Americans and its Effects on Help-Seeking Behavior.

Ross explains that this type of trauma affects a whole culture and travels from generation to generation. Even if a Millennial didn’t experience the violence firsthand, he or she is still impacted by it.

While Native Americans were forced to “Americanize,” plus endured loss of lives and land, European immigrants came to these shores hoping to escape discrimination, famine and religious intolerance. African-Americans faced slavery, poverty and America’s colonial dominance.

What all these groups share is how their experiences manifested into negative responses with common denominators: poverty, racism, aggression, substance abuse, suicide, homicide and domestic violence, among others.

Ross says, “Poor individuals and families are not evenly distributed across communities or throughout the country. Instead, they tend to live near one another, clustering in certain neighborhoods and regions.

Ella Mae Small has gone from – unexpected even to herself – school teacher to local political leader.

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“This concentration of poverty results in higher crime rates, underperforming public schools, poor housing and health conditions, as well as limited access to private services and job opportunities.”

Marshall Cannon, an AfricanAmerican marketing professional and writer, agrees with much of what Ross has to say. While he points to educational opportunities as a basis for success, he sees motivation as both working for and against AfricanAmerican communities.

When economics come into play, Cannon looks at lower-income public school districts experiencing budget cuts, as well at at-home instability.

“The idea that our youth can achieve under these conditions is questionable and dismissive of the differences in what’s happening in the AfricanAmerican community as compared to other communities,” he says.

“Some of the country’s most important African-American communities within cities like

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New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, passionate people – in the hopes Washington, D.C., and Atlanta have of prompting needed, large-scale had a major impact on our culture as a change. They often have little regard whole. These cities have continuously for their own personal safety, instead seen individuals achieve continuing a steadfast push high levels of success across toward the goal. Former many fields, including U.S. President Barack academia, entertainment, Obama once said, “Change sports, science and art. will not come if we wait for While there are exceptional some other person or some individuals who achieve other time. We are the ones at the highest possible we’ve been waiting for. levels, these cities also We are the change that we see large swaths of seek.” their African-American For some, the goal isn’t Warren C. Coleman population fall below the attained in their lifetime. poverty line as well as historically Motivation, though, continues to run attaining lower levels of basic through the veins of those who are educational fundamentals like reading handed the baton, and there are a comprehension.” number of African-Americans that have Ross points out, however, that played pivotal roles in this country’s positives can come out of historical fight for racial equality. Names like trauma. They include: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, • Resilience – work on understanding Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and the historical trauma; Mohammed Ali quickly come to mind.

• The ability to become strong, healthy But what compels a person to that level or successful again after something of motivation? bad happens – focus on healing Cabarrus County is home to those ones self as well as healing within who think along the lines of those and among the community; named above. We call them game • Adaptive survival behaviors – changers. Warren C. Coleman was one, releasing the pain in healthy ways; and has been spotlighted in Cabarrus • Increased religious/spiritual coping Magazine in years past.

– spiritual/religious and/or cultural Born in 1849 to Rufus C. Barringer healing services; (a white man born in Cabarrus County • Evolutionary enhancements – taking who became an attorney, politician advantage of psychological treatment and Civil War general) and Roxanna services.

Coleman (a slave), Warren Coleman Cannon says, “Motivation is an founded Coleman Manufacturing individual’s trait that can propel an Company in 1897. It was the first individual. As individuals, we can textile mill owned and operated create circumstances for ourselves and

by African-Americans in the U.S., singularly change our world. However, employing some 300 at its peak. He is changing the world one person at a buried in Campground Cemetery, near time has proven to be as hopeless as the intersection of Cabarrus Avenue finding weapons of mass destruction. and Old Charlotte Road.

It really is a community and societal obligation to change the world.

The Smalls Individuals change themselves, but Ella Mae Small and her husband communities change the culture.”

Allen – now deceased – are Thankfully, individuals throughout contemporary examples of movers and history have dedicated themselves shakers in Cabarrus County. Ella Mae to causes, crusades – even other met Allen at Carolina A&T College

(now North Carolina A&T State University) during the fall of 1956.

“It was my freshman year and I had seen him several times. We had spoken to each other several times and he always gave me a big smile,” Ella Mae remembers. “I often visited the library on Friday evenings to check out books that were on reserve so that I could do my assignments over the weekend. On one of my Friday night trips, there were only two people in the library – Allen and me.

“I was searching the shelves for the books I needed and suddenly I realized that someone was standing near me and it was Allen. He asked, ‘Are you finding the books that you are looking for?’ I answered yes and thanked him for his concern. He went back to his table and I returned to my table to gather my personal belongings. I looked up and he was staring in my direction, and I had the most peculiar feeling. I think it was love at first sight.

“Allen left the library before I did.

When I descended to the 1st floor, he was standing there and asked, ‘May I walk you to your dorm?’ He came in and visited until visiting hours were over. A week later, he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes.”

Allen was a year older than Ella Mae, but remained enrolled at the college an extra year to take graduate courses and electives – and be near her. “We graduated in June of 1956, he entered the Army in August (there was a draft at that time) and we were married December 30, 1956,” Ella Mae shares.

After Allen completed his service in the Army, the Smalls moved to Concord. In 1958, Allen became a teacher – then principal – at Logan High School. Ella Mae had earned her Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education and home economics before going on to earn her master’s in early childhood education at UNC Charlotte.

She spent her career years teaching in the Cabarrus County, CharlotteMecklenburg and Atlanta school systems, as well as at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and North Carolina A&T. After attending Atlanta University and earning his master’s degree, Allen was named principal of Coltrane-Webb Elementary School. This was significant because that appointment made him the first African-American principal of a desegregated school here in Concord.

He also served as principal of Wolf Meadow Elementary School before he retired in 1992.

Recalling those years, Ella Mae says,

“Racism was the most serious obstacle that we faced. When schools were integrated, Afro-American teachers and students were assigned to white schools. We were accepted, but in many schools we were made to feel unaccepted. Allen became the first principal of a ‘white school’ in the Concord City School System and he was confronted with many challenges, including notes from someone who claimed to be the Ku Klux Klan.

“We lived in constant fear. Allen did not exhibit fear, but I detected that he became more aware of his surroundings. I was more fortunate because I was assigned to a school that seemed to be more receptive, but I still received some second-class experiences. We never felt like we were totally accepted as educational professionals.”

Allen retired from education in 1992 when he was principal of Wolf Meadow. Five years later, he won his seat on Concord City Council.

“A few years before Allen passed,

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Ella Mae Small at the dedication of the Allen T. Small Bridge: November 2015

he had a friend in a nearby city who passed and we were wondering who would take his seat on (that city’s) council,” Ella Mae shares. “Allen’s opinion was that his wife should apply for the position. He also said that if anything happened during his tenure, he would like for me to apply. I said, ‘I can’t be a council person.’ He replied, ‘You can be anything that you want to be.’ ” With Allen’s sudden passing in 2006, Ella Mae was indeed encouraged to file for her husband’s position. She was reluctant but gave it serious thought.

“I talked with my family, pastor, friends and Mayor Scott Padgett. All of them thought that it was a good idea and encouraged me to apply,” she says. “There were three other applicants at the selection event; one withdrew when she realized that I

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had applied. There were six council members present and I received five of the votes.”

While Ella Mae was appointed to fill her husband’s council seat until the next election, she won subsequent elections and remains a council member today.

She prides herself on Concord’s accomplishments while she has been in office, like securing additional water from the Catawba River; the new City Hall; restoration of the old HeiligMeyers and Hotel Concord buildings to apartments; greenway expansion; and The Villas at Logan Gardens.

Ella Mae is active in the Logan community, in educational associations, the NAACP, the Cabarrus County Child Protection Team and Sisters in Partnership, and at Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church.

She’s also seen the achievements of her husband celebrated. In August 2015, the North Carolina Board of Transportation approved naming a new bridge constructed on Cabarrus Avenue over Norfolk Southern Railroad in Allen Small’s honor.

Just down the street from the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, the Allen T. Small Bridge was dedicated in November 2015. Now at the gateway to a city that he dedicated his adult life to hangs a plaque with his likeness.

Former Concord Mayor Scott Padgett said at the time, “The City of Concord is pleased to be a part of this tribute to Allen, who was a public servant of highest order. He served as a teacher

and principal not far from where we are standing; he truly cared about young people and pushed them to succeed far beyond what they believed they could do. As a council member, he was very interested in economic development and creating jobs for those thousands of young people he cared for as students.”

Ella Mae hopes to continue that legacy, saying, “If I walked down Union Street 25 years from now, I would like to see the old City Hall and Annex buildings replaced by new buildings that would be occupied by businesses and tenants – all of the buildings renovated and fully occupied, the street redesigned to be more people-friendly. The street would be lively and business would be flourishing. In fact, it would be a ‘dream street.’ ” Hank Alston Hank Alston is a Concord native whose parents were schoolteachers.

“Dad was a coach,” he says. “I graduated from Northwest Cabarrus, and then went on to UNC-Chapel Hill. Out of school I started out in radio sales. Sales jobs then progressed from radio to office equipment to telecom. It wasn’t long before Windstream ended up purchasing the company I worked for, so I worked for Windstream for about eight years.”

Along the way, Alston became immersed in the community, both on a professional and personal level. Currently the president of

Hank Alston has made career decisions over the years that have brought him to business ownership.

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Hank Alston, third from right, has won Chamber Ambassador of the Year three times.

Cabarrus Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors, he’s won Chamber Ambassador of the Year three times.

He’s a member/former member of various business, fraternal and faithbased organizations, as well as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels.

Now Alston has taken the next step in his career. He’s a franchise owner and business broker with Transworld Business Advisors. “I sell businesses

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for a living,” Alston says. “Business ownership is something I’ve wanted to do for a while; this was the right opportunity at the right time.

“It was difficult to leave the security of Windstream and, even more, the people I worked with but, based on everything I had done in the past, this opportunity was perfect because it fit beautifully with my background.”

When asked if he’s seen a shift in attitude toward minority-owned businesses, Alston says, “To some degree, but at the same time there is still somewhat of a perception out there that blacks aren’t that knowledgeable of certain industries – even by my own race. There are blacks that won’t do business with black-owned businesses because of the perception that they are not equipped.

We (blacks) can be like crabs in a barrel. We don’t want to see someone of our race get ahead of where we are, so we pull them down.”

And while he doesn’t necessarily see added challenges as an African-

American running a business, he has experienced racism in his corporate life.

“Several years ago, there was a man who I spoke on the phone with and he was interested in meeting with me. But when we met and he saw I was black, he was no longer interested – things like that.”

It’s not a deterrent, however, because Alston advises minorities wanting to launch their own business to, “Follow your dream. Don’t let anyone take that from you. It sounds cliché, but it’s the truth. There will be challenges along the way but if you’re passionate about something, you’ll find a way around or through those obstacles.”

Part of the definition of success is the ability to sit back and say you’ve done all you aimed to. But does anyone with passion and motivation really ever stop exploring? Stuart Scott said, “Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.” n

Breaking Bread Easy Thai Chicken Satay and Rice Salad (Serves 4-6)

INGREDIENTS Dressing: 1/4 cup canned, unsweetened coconut milk 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 tsp. red curry paste 1/8 tsp. ground cayenne pepper 1-2 Tbsp. hot water

Salad: 1 cup Uncle Ben’s Flavor Infusions Roasted Chicken rice 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 1 cup shredded carrots 1 cup sliced pea pods 1 cup sliced red pepper 1 avocado, pitted and sliced 4-6 red radishes, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp. chopped peanuts 2 Tbsp. chopped green onions

DIRECTIONS Dressing: In small glass bowl, stir together coconut milk, peanut butter, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, red curry paste, cayenne pepper and hot water; set aside. Cook rice according to package instructions. Makes about 3 1/2 cups. In the center of individual plates, place about 1 cup of rice. Arrange chicken, carrots, pea pods, red pepper, avocado, radishes, peanuts and green onions around rice, then drizzle with dressing.

When time is of the essence, look for delicious recipe ingredients that are convenient and easy to prepare while also offering great taste and health benefits.

You’ll find more recipes like this one at cabarrusmagazine.com!

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By Jason Huddle

Five Nights in Concord LONG BEFORE ANYONE HAD HEARD OF FERGUSON, MISSOURI, OR KNEW WHO MICHAEL BROWN WAS – DECADES BEFORE THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT EXISTED – THERE WERE THE 1993 RIOTS IN CONCORD. It was an incident many locals don’t care to remember. Even in the wake of all the protests against police brutality in the last few years, it just hasn’t arisen as a topic of discussion.

It all began in the early hours of July 11, 1993. Around 3am, an estimated 180 to 200 people arrived at the Waffle House restaurant, then located on Highway 29 near the I-85 cloverleaf intersection. As the restaurant was only approved for 27 occupants, a crowd quickly formed outside. One member of that crowd was Angelo Robinson. As it turned out, this would be Robinson’s last night on this earth. However, the events that led to his demise are still up for debate more than two decades later.

Eyewitness accounts said that a member of the Concord Police Department, who was working off-duty as a security guard for the restaurant that morning, and Robinson began exchanging words and the situation escalated quickly. Backup was called in and Robinson was subdued by police, who used pepper spray. Little did they know that Robinson suffered from lung disease and an enlarged heart.

He also had a blood-alcohol level of .12 (over the legal limit of .08).

An autopsy revealed that these conditions caused an adverse reaction to the spray. Robinson began vomiting in the police cruiser as it made its way to police headquarters. By the time the vehicle arrived at the station, Robinson was unconscious and was soon pronounced dead at the scene. These are the basic facts of the case that are undisputed. The truth of the details, however, remains a mystery to this day.

Some witnesses said that Robinson was acting belligerent and even swung his

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fists at officers after they had tried to persuade him to calm down and leave.

Others said it was the officer who was the antagonist and actually tackled Robinson as he attempted to walk away.

One report stated that Robinson had been engaged in a fight at a nearby lounge earlier that night. By the time he arrived at the Waffle House, he was already agitated and looking for a fight.

Still others painted Robinson as an athletic star – a good kid who was getting ready to leave for Elon College to play football on a scholarship.

Unfortunately, the details, at that point, were irrelevant. A black man was dead at the hands of white police officers. Nothing else mattered.

Concord was a sleepy bedroom community to Charlotte at the time.

Its population was only around 17,000 people; today, it boasts more than 90,000. The nation was also still in a state of unrest after the beating of Rodney King, an African-American man, by white police officers in Los Angeles. The officers’ subsequent acquittal on all charges of brutality set off a firestorm in east L.A. the likes of which have never been seen again to this day. People were killed or injured.

Businesses and homes were left to burn as emergency services refused to enter what was essentially a war zone.

It was utter anarchy and the memory of the outrage was still fresh here in Cabarrus County, as it had only been a year since that had occurred.

It didn’t take long for word about Robinson’s death to spread through Concord, and an agitated crowd formed the following day in Kimberly Park, in the Logan community.

Protesters began throwing rocks and bricks at police officers. Fire hoses were used in retaliation. It was the 1960s all over again.

Rioting began to spill into the streets of downtown. Businesses were vandalized and looted. For five nights it continued. A state of emergency was

A Cabarrus Avenue convenience store was one of the businesses damaged by looters during the unrest following the death of Angelo Robinson.

declared and a curfew was enforced.

Reason and logic went out the window, giving way to fear and rage.

Concord made national news for all the wrong reasons. No longer was

racial discrimination outrage reserved for the large metropolitan areas. Now small towns had something to say, too – and it wasn’t pretty.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson visited

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Rev. Jesse Jackson came to Concord to console the Robinson family and call for an end to violence.

Concord and proclaimed at the time, “We want healing and we want justice.

But there will be no peace without justice.”

By this time, the three officers involved in the incident had

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been taken off duty pending the investigation. But Jackson’s remarks seemed to reinforce the idea in some that the rioting and destruction of the community were necessary in order to bring awareness to the situation.

Eventually, the officers were found not to have intentionally caused Robinson’s death and were returned to duty. Given that pepper spray was (and still is) considered a non-lethal tool, there was no way they could have known they were inadvertently causing Robinson’s death. When the autopsy results revealed as much, the outrage diminished and the rioters disappeared. The aftermath, however, remained – shopkeepers and homeowners were left to clean up.

Fortunately, no one else lost their life as a result of the incident, but dozens were injured and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage was done.

As a writer, I would love to talk about how far we’ve come in 25 years. But have we? For a while, racial tensions in

our country seemed to decrease. Then incidents like that of Michael Brown and, locally, Keith Scott, happened.

The riots returned. Once again, the details didn’t matter. Outrage and fear dominated the situation.

Fortunately, these events did yield some positive results. Better training for police officers in handling certain situations is already underway and is something everyone agrees needs to happen. Many police departments across the country are making concerted efforts to ingratiate themselves into the predominately minority communities within their cities in order to demonstrate they are there to help, not to hurt.

When one considers that these and other events have spurred a national desire to improve racial relations, it can be concluded that we have come far since those five days in July 1993.

But when one hears the accounts from minorities of racial discrimination they encounter on a daily basis, it is evident we still have a long way to go. 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.

MISTY is a pretty dilute tortoiseshell calico – gray and buff instead of black and orange. At nearly a year old she’s very playful and active, and will be great entertainment for her new owner.

Misty is up-to-date on vaccines and spayed. She does fine with other cats and is getting used to dogs, so no worries if you have a multi-pet household. Make an appointment to meet her!

Mt. Pleasant Animal Rescue P. O. Box 1076, Mt. Pleasant 980-439-6505 mtpleasantanimalrescue@aol.com

ORSON, five, was found as a stray.

He had a microchip that traced back to another animal control agency in N.C., but those contacted denied owning a cat. We believe Orson had been dumped because of some dental issues he had that we took care of. This sweet boy is loving and affectionate, loves other cats and is enjoying playing again now that his mouth is painfree. Please visit precious Orson at Princeton’s Meow.

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

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On the Go

County Begins Construction on New Parking Deck Cabarrus County has posted signs informing visitors to downtown Concord that Surface Parking Lot 3 (corner of Barbrick Avenue and Spring Street) and Surface Parking Lot 4 (Corban Avenue and Spring Street) have closed.

During construction, which is expected to last through March 2019, courthouse visitors are encouraged to park in the County’s Surface Parking Lot 2 (next to Fifth Third Bank, between Church Street and McCachern Boulevard).

The closures signal the start of the County’s project to Downtown Concord construct a new five-story, 628-spot parking deck on the parking lots close during construction of corner of Corban Avenue and Spring Street, across from the a new parking deck.

Cabarrus County Courthouse. The deck is being built to address parking demands for courthouse activities.

In consideration of the impact to downtown business and visitors, County staff worked with City of Concord Transportation staff to plan a route for construction-related vehicles with the least impact on downtown businesses and visitors. The County also released 95 spaces in its public lots that were regularly used for internal functions. Those vehicles will divert to designated spaces across downtown that are not available for public use.

The County expects that, much like Concord’s municipal deck, the courthouse deck will also support growth in downtown Concord, and evening and weekend visitors to the area.

For more information on the parking deck project, visitcabarruscounty.us.

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Cabarrus County Animal Shelter Aims for Accessibility in 2018

The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office hopes that new approaches to community outreach at the Cabarrus County Animal Shelter (244 Betsy Carpenter Place, Concord) will support an upward trend in animal placements.

The animal shelter, managed by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, is offering extended hours for limited services, including public adoptions, reclaiming of lost pets and rescue partner transfers.

The new hours are MondayWednesday, Friday: 12:00 noon4:30pm; Thursday: 12:00 noon6:30pm; first Saturday of each month: 12:00 noon-3:00pm.

Administrators believe the new hours will allow people to come visit without having to take off from work, giving more time to leisurely visit with the animals. They also expect the extended hours will give pet owners more opportunity to reclaim lost pets and offer rescue partners, who often work normal business hours, time to pick up animals in need of transfer.

The animal shelter also recently began administering a Facebook page at CabCoAnimalShelter. Visitors can browse pets in the animal shelter’s custody, learn about events and follow important messages about shelter operations.

For more information on the Cabarrus County Animal Shelter, visit cabarruscounty.us/pets, Facebook at CabCoAnimalShelter or call 704920-3288. Those in need of assistance with stray animals should contact the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office at 704920-3000.

Junior Charity League of Concord Receives Grant to Help Purchase Clothing for Students in Need ABB Optical Group announces that Junior Charity League of Concord has received a $2,500 grant through the company’s 4th annual ABB Cares program, which recognizes charities that have been nominated by eyecare professionals across the country for exceptional programming and community impact.

Nominated by O.D. Lasheta P. David of Invision Family Eyecare, in Concord, Junior Charity League of Concord was founded in 1930 as an organization of women helping to feed children in need. Since then, it has evolved into creating opportunities to empower children and families by helping them meet their most basic needs. The primary purpose of Junior Charity Junior Charity League of Concord has received a $2,500 grant through the company’s 4th annual League of Concord is to improve the ABB Cares program. lives of their neighbors by providing educational programs and social services.

Since 1973, the Mariam C. Schramm Clothing Room has been the organization’s main mission to serve underprivileged children. Each week at the beginning of the school year, students from schools in Cabarrus County visit the clothing room to choose from the much-needed items.

For more information about Junior Charity League of Concord, contact Chrissy Hayes at office@jclofconcord.com or call 704-652-0669. For more information about the ABB Cares program, visit ABBOptical.com.

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Introducing the Junior Intimidators Who wouldn’t want to join the club? Never miss a beat at the ballpark and make sure your kid is part of the fun!

What’s in it for the kids?

• Officially licensed Intimidators hat • Complimentary ticket to every Sunday home game • Welcome letter from Tim E. Gator • Membership card • Exclusive access to member-only experiences (detailed below) • Opportunity to throw a first pitch before a game (schedule in advance) EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES • April 8: Jr. Intimidators team photo • April 22: Pre-game catch on the field • May 6: Take the field with the 2018 team • May 20: Tim E. Gator’s birthday • June 3: Player autograph session • June 17: Father’s Day family photo on the field • July 8: Take the field with the 2018 team • July 15: Post-game run the bases • July 29: Pre-game catch on the field • August 5: Post-game run the bases • August 19: End of Summer Bash For membership pricing and more information, contact the Kannapolis Intimidators at 704-932-3267, info@intimidatorsbaseball.com or visit kannapolisintimidators.com.

Spring into Arts Festival Call for Artists

The Spring into Arts Festival will be held Saturday, May 12, from 10:00am to 4:00pm in downtown Concord. The festival attracts artists from across the region. The centerpiece of the festival is a juried art show with artists spanning a wide variety of mediums, including jewelry, ceramics, wood, painting, photography, glass and textiles.

Applications are being accepted now; the application fee is $110. A jury selects artists for the festival based on their applications. Any artist who is not selected receives a full refund of their application fee.

Registration is available online at concorddowntown.com. For more information, send an email to info@concorddowntown.com or call 704-784-4208.

2018 Kannapolis Citizens Police Academy Begins The Kannapolis Police Department is once again offering its Citizens Police Academy.

The academy classes are interactive and provide information on all aspects of the department, such as patrol operations, traffic enforcement, defensive driving, firearms, K-9 operations, SWAT, felony investigations, courts and community service programs.

The academy will be held on Thursday nights, beginning February 15. In addition to the nine Thursday sessions, there will be one Saturday session held for firearms and police vehicle operations.

There is no charge to attend, but you will need to complete an application.

Find the application online at kannapolisnc.gov.

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Joyful Hearts Seeks Sponsors for JOYPROM 2018 Joyful Hearts is a 501(3)© non-profit organization with a mission to provide social events, JOYPROM and play groups for younger ages; respite care, support groups to parents, caregivers and siblings; and community involvement to promote those individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities within Cabarrus and surrounding counties.

Joyful Hearts is proud to be hosting the 8th Annual JOYPROM on Saturday, March 24. The JOYPROM is a prom for people with disabilities, high school age and older. Last year we had more than 1,350 attendees with disabilities for a night of dinner, dancing and fun. We also provided dinner for more than 500 parents and caregivers.

As part of the event, attendees get to pick out a dress or suit from our JOYPROM Closet; a professional photograph taken at the prom; and they get pampered with makeup, shoe shines, boutonnières, tiaras and a limo ride to the red carpet! The past six years we have not turned anyone away from attending this event and we would like to be able to do that again this year.

We are seeking sponsorship and some support from you to help us make the JOYPROM a success again this year.

A variety of sponsorship levels are available, each one promoting your company with different levels of signage, and print and social media advertising. Please consider becoming a JOYPROM sponsor! Call 704-699-7761 or send an email to speele@joyfulheartsnc.org for more information.

Cabarrus County Sheriff Brad Riley to Retire Brad Riley, Cabarrus County Sheriff since 2001, has decided not to run for re-election next fall. Approaching a milestone in service, Riley is utilizing the North Carolina Law Enforcement Retirement System separation allowance that was created to financially encourage officers to retire once they reach 30 years of service.

“I’m still very motivated to be Sheriff, still find excitement in coming to work every day and, mostly, still love what I do and the men and women I’m able to work with,” Riley says.

“I’ve always been committed to retiring while still in good health and while the agency is thriving and growing.” n

Cabarrus County Sheriff Brad Riley

February 2018 27 n

FEBRUARY SELF-GUIDED HISTORIC WALKING TOUR Daily Downtown Concord • Take a step back in time with the touch of a button when you download the Concord Downtown NC App to your Bluetooth-enabled device.

• More than 50 historic sites; follow along at your leisure.

• 704-784-4208; concorddowntown.com 2018 QUEEN CITY BLACK BUSINESS EXPO February 3 • 1:00-6:00pm Carole Hoefener Center 615 East 6th Street, Charlotte • 50 black-owned companies • Attendees can expect free giveaways, coupons, discounts and special offers. Music, food, shopping and entertainment round out the festive event.

• eventbrite.com BLACK GOLD: NC SLAVERY AND REED GOLD MINE February 3, 10, 17, 24 • 1:00-2:00pm Reed Gold Mine 9621 Reed Mine Road, Midland • Our lead interpreter hosts a presentation and discussion for Black History Month that focuses on the enslaved population of this area and North Carolina’s gold mining history.

• 704-721-465; reed@ncdcr.gov HURRICANE COASTER 3RD ANNUAL BIKE SHOW & SWAP MEET February 3 • 8:00am-3:00pm Cabarrus Arena & Events Center 4751 N.C. Highway 49, Concord • Vintage bicycle swap and show • Food, beer and music • facebook.com/ HurricaneCoaster1941/

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PIEDMONT FARMERS MARKET February 3, 10, 17, 24 • 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; piedmont-farmersmarket.com A VET TOGETHER February 6, 13, 20, 27 • 9:00-11:00am Carm’s Cafe 42 Union Street S., Concord • Join Cabarrus Veterans Coalition for free coffee and conversation.

• 704-960-4394 PIZZA NIGHT AT RED HILL February 7, 14, 21, 28 • 5:00pm Red Hill Brewing Company 21 Union Street S., Concord • Gianni’s Pizza Loft brings pizza to the Red Hill Tap Room.

• First-come, first-served until the pizza is gone.

• 704-784-2337 ADVANCE DIRECTIVE WORKSHOP February 8 • 5:00-7:00pm • Free Kannapolis Library 850 Mountain Street, Kannapolis • Review and complete your North Carolina healthcare power of attorney and living will forms.

• Have your advance directive forms notarized free of charge.

• Learn what to do with your completed advance directive.

• CarolinasHealthCare.org/ YourCareYourChoice

CABARRUS CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING February 9 • 11:00am-1:00pm Great Wolf Lodge 10175 Weddington Road, Concord • Join us as we celebrate our business community and recognize outstanding individuals and businesses.

• To register: Alison Paladino – 704-782-4000, x101; apaladino@cabarrus.biz CONCORD ON CANVAS PREVIEW PARTY February 9 • 5:00-8:00pm Red Hill Brewing Company Gallery 21 Church Street S., Concord • Enjoy the unveiling of 42 original paintings created by area professional artists and high school art students.

• Meet & Greet with the artists and/or place an opening bid before the main event on March 9.

• Wine and beer available for purchase from Red Hill Brewing Company • 704-784-4208; concorddowntown.com 2ND SATURDAY OPEN STUDIOS AT CLEARWATER ARTIST STUDIOS February 10 • 10:00am-4:00pm 223 Crowell Drive N.W., Concord • Several art studios on premises will be open with resident artists present to talk to, watch work, etc.

• 704-784-9535; clearwaterartists.com BLACK HISTORY MONTH: DIVINE KINGSHIP CELEBRATION February 10 • 2:00-4:00pm Johnson C. Smith University James B. Duke Memorial Library 100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte • Celebrate with us this groundbreaking book, Divine Kingship of Asante: A Model For Sustainable Development of Self and Community.

•Food, vending, African drumming, dancing and jazz music by A Sign of the Times • 704-371-6740; mrhue@jcsu.edu

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE TO THE MOON AND BACK February 10 • 6:00-8:00pm • $40/couple Kannapolis City Hall Laureate Center 401 Laureate Way, Kannapolis • An enchanted evening of dancing and fun. This program is designed for girls ages five and up to be accompanied by her dad, stepdad, grandpa, big brother, uncle or other special guy.

• Dressy (suit/slacks/jacket/tie) to casual (khakis/polo) attire.

• RSVP: 704-920-4300 DINOSAUR TIME TREK DRAGON EDITION February 10-11 • 9:00am • $14-$16 Cabarrus Arena & Events Center 4751 N.C. Highway 49, Concord • Dinosaur exhibit that transports you through our special Time Lab where you can observe enormous prehistoric dinosaurs, track modern-day sharks in real-time or glimpse mythological, magical dragons.

• dinosaurtimetrek.com THE CABARRUS QUILTERS GUILD February 12 • Doors open 6:00pm Forest Hill United Methodist Church 265 Union Street N., Concord • Meet & Greet/refreshments: 6:15-6:45pm • A trunk show with member Merle Clifford • cabarrusquiltersguild.org CABARRUS CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS February 13 • 5:30-7:00pm First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. 18 Lake Concord Road N.E., Concord • Premier networking event for business professionals • Free for Chamber members; nonmember guests are welcome to attend up to three times.

• Alison Paladino: 704-782-4000, x101; apaladino@cabarrus.biz EXHIBITION: ORIGIN STORY AT THE GALLERIES February 15-28 • 9:00am-5:00pm The Galleries 65 Union Street S., Concord • Artists from around the country exhibit their work at The Galleries.

• 704-920-2787; info@cabarrusartscouncil.org

SOUTHERN ALPACA CELEBRATION February 16-18 • 8:00am-3:00pm • Free Cabarrus Arena & Events Center 4751 N.C. Highway 49, Concord • Alpacas, fiber, vendors and fun.

Come show support for alpaca farmers and watch alpacas from all across the Southeast compete for top honors.

• Area fiber artists demonstrate hand spinning, dyeing and weaving with alpaca fiber.

• Vendors sell alpaca-related products.

• 704-920-3976; cabarrusarena.com 2018 AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL EXPLOSION February 17 • 1:00-6:00pm Carole Hoefener Center 615 East 6th Street, Charlotte • Black-owned companies • African dancers and drummers • Food, giveaways, games, networking, family fun!

• eventbrite.com THE HILLBENDERS’ TOMMY ON STAGE AT THE DAVIS February 17 • 7:00, 9:30pm • $30- $35 The Davis Theatre 65 Union Street S., Concord • You’ve never heard The Who’s classic rock opera, Tommy, played this way – in the Hillbenders’ trademark bluegrass style.

• 704-920-2787; info@cabarrusartscouncil.org REPTICON EXOTIC ANIMAL & REPTILE EXPO February 17-18 • 10:00am • Free/$5/$15 Cabarrus Arena & Events Center 4751 N.C. Highway 49, Concord • Vendors • Presentations by CCSB Reptile Rescue and Rehab Center, Under the Canopy Farms, Union of the Snake • Raffles held every hour for multiple prizes throughout the weekend • repticon.com VETERANS BREAKFAST February 20 • 9:00am Mt. Pleasant Senior Center 8615 Park Drive, Mt. Pleasant • All military veterans and their spouses are invited.

• Call 704-920-3484 to RSVP.

HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES February 17 • 10:00-11:30am • $10 February 22 • 6:00-7:30pm • $10 Cabarrus Health Alliance 300 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis • Focus is on health benefits of naturally red-pigmented foods that will help you maximize the vitamin and mineral nutritional properties, while also promoting heart health.

• Classes are open to all adults and children ages five and older.

• To register or for more information: 704-920-1324; Meghan.Charpentier @CabarrusHealth.org ART WALK February 23 • 6:00-9:00pm Downtown Concord • Galleries and shops display visual art and host artists’ demonstrations.

There are often interactive displays, live music and refreshments!

• 704-920-2787; info@cabarrusartscouncil.org SWEET UM’S DANCE SOCIAL February 23 • 8:00-10:00pm • $15/$20 Positively Ballroom Dance Studio 70 Union Street S., Concord • This Valentines event celebrates the spirit of Sadie Hawkins and the empowerment of women, so ask your man to dance!

• Family-friendly event: teens and up are welcome to attend; dressy casual • 704-858-1995; info@positivelyballroom.com 2018 AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL February 24 • 1:00-5:00pm Carole Hoefener Center 615 East 6th Street, Charlotte • Black-owned companies • Games, food, giveaways, fun!

• eventbrite.com SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY February 24 • 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; concorddowntown.com

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At a Glance Accounting Firms Potter & Company 434 Copperfield Boulevard N.E Concord, NC 28025 704-786-8189 www.gotopotter.com

Financial/Lending Institutions Page 3

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

Page 3

Blue-J Page 16 Serving Cabarrus County and Greater Charlotte Metro 704-589-3148 www.bluejsmallofficecleaning.com

Computer Code Training Page 3

Computer Sales, Service and Repair Carolina CompuTech Page 9 850 Union Street S., Concord, NC 28025 704-785-8066 • 704-785-8076 tech@carolinacomputech.com www.carolinacomputech.com

Erectile Dysfunction Attention Viagra and Cialis Users Page 14 1-844-389-7687

Event Venues The Ballroom Chez Francois 9 Union Street N., Suite 200 Concord, NC 28025 980-439-6602 www.chezfrancoisthecreperie.com

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Pharmacies Page 2

275 Branchview Dr. S.E., Concord, NC 28025 704-795-0088 www.novacu.com

Funeral Homes

Cleaning Services – Office

Code Ninjas 8905 Christenbury Parkway Concord NC 28027 704-765-2028 codeninjas.com

Nova Credit Union 169 Dale Earnhardt Blvd.

Kannapolis, NC 28081 704-734-2800

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Hartsell Funeral Homes 460 Branchview Dr. N.E. Concord, NC 28025 704-786-1161

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1706 S. Cannon Blvd.

Kannapolis, NC 28083 704-933-6337 1402 N. Cannon Blvd.

Kannapolis, NC 28083 704-933-7948 www.cannonpharmacies.com

Photographers Michael A. Anderson Photography Page 15 38 Union Street S., Concord, NC 28025 704-701-5908 mike@michael-a-anderson.com www.michael-a-anderson.com

12115 University City Boulevard Harrisburg, NC 28075 704-247-1722 13575 Broadway Avenue Midland, NC 28107 704-888-5571

Print & Technology Services

522 N. Second Street, Albemarle, NC 28001 704-983-1188 www.hartsellfh.com Wilkinson Funeral Home 100 Branchview Drive N.E. Concord, NC 28025 704-786-3168 www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com

Cannon Pharmacy 760 Cabarrus Avenue W. Concord, NC 28027 704-788-6337

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Modern Impressions 5029 West W.T. Harris Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28269 800-840-2554 www.modernimpressions.com

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Restaurants Chez Francois The Creperie Page 10 9 Union Street N., Concord, NC 28025 980-439-6602 www.chezfrancoisthecreperie.com

Home Technology Providers Dish 1-844-403-6138 www.dish.com

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Spectrum 1-855-412-1569 www.spectrum.com

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Non-Profit Organizations United Breast Cancer Foundation Page 21 1-855-995-4599 www.ucbf.org

Theatres – Live Old Courthouse Theatre Page 3 49 Spring Street N.W., Concord, NC 28025 704-788-2405 www.octconcord.com

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