Susan Kirkland
A Simpler Way of Life at Maw’s Produce
The Ray Family
Technology Advances, People Stay the Same
CA ITAL LAY The Free Spirit Of Enterprise
Something
Wicked this way comes - W ICK ED W EED BR EW ING -
Friars in the Forest
p.84 One hiker’s encounter with some rare woodland creatures
Face Your Fears
p.39 Scary selections for this year’s haunted holiday
Volume IV - Edition X complimentary edition
capitalatplay.com
October 2014
Minor Emergencies. Major Attention.
2 Convenient Locations Hendersonville Near Epic Theater 212A Thompson Street Hendersonville, NC 28792
Fletcher Mission Pardee Health Campus 2695 Hendersonville Road Arden, NC 28704
(828) 697-3232
(828) 651-6350
Check-in ahead of your visit at www.pardeeurgentcare.org.
2
| October 2014
available at Wick & Greene
available at Wick & Greene
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
3
Publisher’s Thoughts
Your source for Hearth and Patio needs
Big Green Egg World’s Best Smoker/Grill The most realistic and natural looking gas logs
828-252-2789 264 Biltmore Ave. Asheville, NC
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| October 2014
E
very month, sometimes by design and other times by sheer happenstance, there is a relationship, a common thread to the content selected for that month’s edition. This October, I have the pleasure of being surprised. This edition is all about family and community. They have created businesses providing products and services of exceptional quality, and I find their stories especially compelling considering that they are also all family owned and operated. The cover article (beginning on page 12) focuses on a very well known Asheville based business, Wicked Weed Brewing. The jaw-dropping results are the realization of the efforts of two separate families (as business partners) and many other employees recruited specifically for their energy and expertise. Actually my favorite part of this piece is in the changes that occurred before they even opened for business. Maw’s Produce (page 56) tells the story of Susan Kirkland and how her son’s wholesale business led her into the private sector just as she was finishing a thirty-year career working with juvenile delinquents for the State of Georgia. Not least of all, the article on page 74 is focused on the Ray family and their businesses which aim to make sure that home is where your home is, despite any physical limitations. Interestingly, none of these businesses set out to do anything complex. Helping people live safely and comfortably in their own home sounds as sensible now as it did to primitive man. Similarly, people have craved good beer and fresh produce for almost as long. These ideas could easily be executed in the most minimal of ways without producing anything profound. The execution, however, is everything. The sum of their individual parts and operations is what makes them exceptional. This is not only clear in the little details attended to on a daily basis, which result in a well oiled machine, but also because they are family. They share in each others misery as much as they revel in their success. And even if they don't always like each other, they do have to love each other.
Sincerely,
Oby Morgan
BUY AN XTREME
$250 GET
828-633-1806 www.wingsnclays.com Your Beretta dealer in asheville:
IN
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
YOU COULD ALSO WIN THE ULTIMATE DUCK HUNT!
$250 credit will only apply for the purchase of Beretta Clothing and Accessories made during same transaction as the eligible firearm product (ON THE SAME RECEIPT). Clothing and Accessories must be in-stock at the dealer location to be eligible for the instant store credit. Only Beretta branded clothing and accessories merchandise is eligible for purchase and credit. Eligible guns for the $250 Beretta Bucks include NEW A400 Xtreme Shotgun Models only. Offer limited to one (1) credit per Beretta Eligible Xtreme shotgun model purchased. No substitutions or exchanges permitted. Groups, organizations, businesses or government agencies are excluded from and are not eligible for this offer. Eligible models must be purchased NEW at retail, in the United States, between the dates of August 1, 2014 and December 10, 2014. Offer does not include used, close-out, or discontinued models. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. Free goods while supplies last. Beretta USA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel or modify this promotion at any time and without notice. Void where prohibited. While supplies last.
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
5
The Free Spirit Of Enterprise
publisher & editor
Oby Morgan associate publisher
Jeffrey Green contributing editors
Dasha O. Morgan, Alexina O. Morgan, Brenda Murphy, Dr. Gregory Narron contributing writers & photogr aphers
Emily Ballard, Paul Clark, Adrianne Gordon, Anthony Harden, William Haywood, Hunt Mallett, Roger McCredie, Anna Raddatz, Toni Sherwood, Chuck Werle gr aphic designer
Hanna Trussler marketing & advertising Kathryn Dillow, David Morgan, Katrina Morgan, Pat Starnes
Information & Inquiries gener al advertising inquiries
e-mail advertising@capitalatplay.com or call 828.274.7305 high country inquiries
e-mail jeffrey@capitalatplay.com or call 828.320.6152 for subscription information
subscribe online at www.capitalatplay.com or call 828.274.7305 for editorial inquiries
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Capital At Play is protec ted through Tr ademar k Regis tr ation in the United States. The content found within this publication does not necessar ily ref lec t the views of Univer sal Media , Inc. and its companies. Univer sal Media , Inc. and its employees are not liable for any adver tising or editor ial content found in Capital At Play. The ar ticles, photogr aphy, and illus tr ations found in Capital at Play may not be reproduced or used in any fashion without express wr it ten consent by Univer sal Media , Inc.
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| October 2014
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October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
7
E XPLORE MORE THAN W ESTERN N ORTH C AROLINA C OMMUNITIES I N O NE L OCATION
As an authority on Western North Carolina living, Private Mountain Communities offers the region’s most comprehensive Buyer’s Resource and Discovery Showroom where you can find the mountain property you seek. On your terms. At your pace. With more than 75 years of experience, the PMC team of Broker professionals specializes in retirement relocation, residential and second home communities. Our online Community Finder™ will streamline your search by guiding you through an easy questionnaire, analyzing factors such as preferred amenities, architectural tastes and lifestyle preferences to match you to communities that are right for you. From rustic retreats and downtown condos to mountain lake properties and golf communities, let the experts at Private Mountain Communities help you find the property of your dreams.
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| October 2014
888.517. 3322 Downtown Asheville in the Grove Arcade One Page Avenue, Suite 150 pmcdiscoverasheville.com
a bartender serves a flight of Wicked Weed beer in their downstairs tasting room p.12 Photo by Anthony Harden
F E AT U R E S vol. iv
12 SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
ed. x
56 SUSAN KIRKLAND A SIMPLER WAY OF LIFE AT MAW’S PRODUCE
74 THE RAY FAMILY TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, PEOPLE STAY THE SAME
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
9
C ON T EN T S L
39
o c t o b e r 2 014
the ghost tr ain at The Tweetsie Railroad
30
39
84
Where do the local folk go?
Face Your Fears this Halloween
Friars in the Forest
colu m ns
briefs
events
lo c a l i n d u s t r y
A small sampling of activities popular with “home fellows”
l e i s u r e & l i b at i o n
Scary selections for this year’s haunted holiday
28 L ibations for Autumn
24 Carolina in the West
52 G oogle: Love It or Hate
48 The Old North State
Written by Hunt Mallett
It, You’ve Got to Know It Written by Adrianne Gordon
70 W hatever you do not
anticipate will happen Written by Chuck Werle
10
| October 2014
66 National & World News
c a p i ta l a d v e n t u r i s t
One hiker’s encounter with some rare woodland creatures
90 A utumn’s harvest
approaches, and so do the tourists. From corn mazes to zombie runs, with fiestas, fall festivals, and Oktoberfest, you have no excuses to be bored this month.
on the cover : Sam Duncan pours a Freak of Nature Double IPA in the downstairs taproom at Wicked Weed Brewing. Photo by Anthony Harden
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11
s om e t h i ng
Wicked this way comes written by anna r addatz
|
photos by anthony harden
On a sunny September morning in 2012, brothers Luke and Walt Dickinson were driving kegs of homebrew to the Brewgrass Festival being held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in downtown Asheville. Luke remembers telling Walt how nervous he was. “What if people don’t like our beer?” he asked. Walt’s response? “This is some of the best beer in Asheville in the back of our van right now, I guarantee it.” 12
| October 2014
luke dickinson , partner of Wicked Weed Brewing, pours a beer from the taps in the downstairs tasting room.
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
13
A
s the festival began, Luke’s fears quickly dissipated. Pouring samples from their tent, the brothers watched as the line of people wanting a taste of their product snaked across the park’s baseball field.
“We had the longest line at the festival by probably ten times,” recalls Luke. “We had 167 people in line at one point to get a sample of Wicked Weed beer. And we hadn’t even opened the brewery yet.” After this blow-out day, and taking home the People’s Choice award to boot, the Dickinsons and their business partners, the Guthy family, saw the stars align. While they had been working on the business for almost a year and were only a few months away from opening its doors, it was a serious vote of confidence to gain such powerful public approval. “Before that, we knew we were doing the right thing,” says Walt, “but at that moment, we all looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, I think we’re about to do something special.’”
A Mysterious Newcomer
The Wicked Weed brewery and restaurant at 91 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville definitely makes a statement. The wide, white stucco facade has rounded Spanish-style corners and a large, welcoming patio with plenty of seating and a metal firepit. Located next door to the popular Orange Peel music venue, the building is known to locals as the “old Asheville Hardware building” (a business that relocated to Buxton Avenue in 2010). Inside, rough red brick, dark wood, and high ceilings with exposed beams give the expansive bar and dining area a hip, industrial vibe. But warm lighting and a casual layout make guests feel at home. The style is similar, if a bit more cave-like, downstairs at the tasting bar next to the brewing area. From here, a glass garage door opens onto a back patio, this one with biergarten style tables and benches shaded by umbrellas and awnings. For many craft beer enthusiasts, accustomed to visiting small 14
| October 2014
start-up breweries in cramped, makeshift spaces, stepping foot into this new business when it opened at the end of December, 2012, was a bit of a shock. The interior was large and impeccable, the beer selection unique and overwhelming, the food delicious, and the customers lining up outside, in the cold dead of winter, just to get a seat. Where did this place come from? Some locals thought it was so slick it must be part of a chain. Others conjectured that it might have been bankrolled by investors from Charlotte or Atlanta who wanted to cash in on the Asheville beer scene. While there’s no question that substantial capital was involved, the reality is actually more locally grown than many would expect.
Brothers & Beer
The Dickinson family moved to Asheville from California in 1996; Luke and Walt both attended T.C. Roberson High School. Walt, the older brother who is now 32, briefly attended UNC Asheville for basketball, transferred to the forestry program at Haywood Community College, and then decided he “didn’t really want to measure logs.” Realizing school wasn’t for him, he got into rock climbing and spent five years traveling around the country, living in national parks and guiding for private clients, a time he describes as a “meager existence.” After an injury, he returned to Asheville. Here, he started a gutter cleaning company called Higher Ground in 2005. Meanwhile, Luke, who is three years younger, had attended A-B Tech, transferred to UNC Greensboro, and also decided that the academic life wasn’t for him. On Luke’s twenty-first birthday, Walt gifted him a homebrewing kit, thinking his brother could share a hobby he himself had discovered in college. Around this time, Luke found himself living in Delaware, becoming more and more enchanted with brewing beer. To see if he could make a career of it, he landed a volunteer gig at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, where he says he went from volunteer to part-time to full-time within a month. He worked there for three years, and then did a six-week brewing apprenticeship in Germany at Brauerei zum Rossknecht. After that, brewing took over Luke’s life. “I spent all the money I had on home brewing equipment, and wanted to do it professionally,” he says. He was exploring the idea of starting a “nanobrewery,” basically a one-person home brewery that is licensed to sell the small quantities of beer it produces. But he realized that with that model, he would still have to maintain a separate full-time job. When Luke discussed his ideas with his brother, Walt’s reaction was to go bigger. With several years of business ownership under his belt, Walt brought an entrepreneur’s ambition to the
king henry viii
watches with disdain as patrons imbibe what he called a “wicked and pernicious weed�
brewer elliot kouns
chef cardiff cre asey
taps at the new Coxe Avenue Funkatorium
le x kekl ak & jessik a palombo
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
15
table. “Walt started doing a business plan that made sense and showed some positive numbers,” says Luke. “So over the next year, we worked together to develop an idea of what a dream brew pub would be.” As the brothers dreamed and planned, a major consideration was where to locate their business. They both loved Asheville, but were worried the area was already saturated with breweries. Walt was in the process of opening a branch of Higher Ground in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and saw it as a city with a lot of potential. “In Asheville there were already twelve breweries,” Walt says. “I thought Chattanooga was an up and coming city, and I also had business associates there and a potential investing partner.” The Dickinsons were well on their way to opening their brew pub there; they just needed a little more capital. For that, they turned to family friends, Rick and Denise Guthy.
Partnering Up Rick Guthy had been boyhood friends with Luke and Walt’s father back in California. The two met in 1969 and played basketball together from middle school through college. The families had grown up together; to the Dickinson brothers, Rick was known as “Uncle Rick.” Rick had gone on to be a very successful businessman. In the 1980s, he was involved with his brother, Bill, at Guthy Renker, an infomercial business that sold motivational and self help products, including the popular “Think & Grow Rich” series. (Today, Guthy Renker focuses on the direct marketing of beauty products like Proactiv.) Rick oversaw the manufacturing side of the business, which was comprised of 700-800 employees and had distribution centers in both Asheville (where the Guthys have lived since 1989) and Southern California. After 32 years in the business, Rick retired in 2012. Around this time, Rick and his wife, Denise, were thinking about starting a local business in Asheville. “We decided to take our money out of the stock market,” says Denise. “We wanted to be in control of our money and do something different as a family.”
“We were the only inexperienced people,” says Rick. “We didn’t teach them, they taught us.”
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luke dickinson
walt dickinson October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
17
Styles of
BEER GLASSES (just a few)
Pokal Glass pilsners & cream or golden ales
Tulip Glass Scottish ales, barleywines, Belgian ales, & other aromatic beers
Snifter Glass Belgian ales, India pale ales, barleywines, & wheat wines (also good for brandy & cognac)
In timing that all the partners describe as kismet, the Dickinson brothers approached them with a pitch. Walt and Luke invited Rick, Denise, and their son, Ryan, to come to Chattanooga to see their plans and taste their beer. “We put together a bunch of beers for them and had a chef do a paired dinner,” says Walt. “They were fairly blown away by the concept.” The Guthy’s agree that they were impressed. Denise says the beer was “exceptional” and different from any beer she had ever tasted. Rick was amazed by the brothers’ deep, technical knowledge of brewing: “They are savants when it comes to knowing craft beer,” he says. And knowing the brothers for many years, they trusted them. But on the drive back to Asheville, the Guthy family defined their terms: they would have to be active partners, not silent investors; and the business would have to be in Asheville. As Denise puts it, “We live in Asheville, and we love Asheville. So we wanted to put our money, time, and energy into something in Asheville.” The brothers accepted. “It was the easiest sell for us,” says Walt, “because Asheville is where we learned to love craft beer.” Over a year and two million dollars later, Wicked Weed opened on December 28th, 2012. While a mid-winter launch might have seemed counterintuitive, its timing is just one example of what Denise means when she says that “doors kept opening.” Wicked Weed was the first brewery to open in Asheville after the announcements that big-time craft brewers Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Oskar Blues would be opening production facilities in Asheville. “The craft beer world was primed and ready to focus on something,” says Luke, “and those announcements gave that world a town to focus on.” And that attention only helped boost Wicked Weed’s exposure.
Building a Team
English Pint Glass ales & lagers 18
Having access to the kinds of capital the Guthys could offer changed everything for the Dickinsons. Instead of planning for a 2,000 -square-foot brew pub, the partners went after the two-story, 7,000-square-foot building at 91 Biltmore, which can accommodate 500 customers at a time. Instead of opening with a few brews on tap, Wicked Weed
| October 2014
launched with an astounding 17 options, all made in-house. Instead of offering passable pub food, they brought in Cardiff Creasey, the chef from the Red Stag Grill in Biltmore Village. Since none of the partners had ever run a brewery or restaurant before, they knew they needed to import expertise. Their first hire was Eric Leypoldt, a brewer from Dogfish Head Brewery, where Luke had held his first brewery job. Another key was placing Dave Herrington, who had decades of experience opening Outback Steakhouses, in the role of general manager. And they only hired experienced servers and bartenders to fill out the rest of the 145 person staff. “We were the only inexperienced people,” says Rick. “We didn’t teach them, they taught us.” But it’s clear that Rick’s vigorous work ethic and leadership style have been essential elements of the business’ success. In addition to decades of experience in building teams and managing people during his previous career, he has extremely high standards and a perfectionist’s eye for detail. Rick is one of the first people to get to Wicked Weed every day, arriving around 5am, when he takes an early morning stroll around the place to check for any anomalies. “I want to make sure that every light bulb works, that every nook and cranny of this place is spotless, that every window is clean,” he says. “We paint every day. If there’s a scratch on the wall, it gets fixed that day, not two weeks from now.” The Dickinsons say they have learned a lot from Rick’s example. As kids they thought of Rick as a fun and funny guy; working with him now has opened their eyes to his deeper traits. “Rick is always willing to scrape gum or pick up cigarette butts, never above doing any job at the restaurant. I have never met a man who is so dedicated to the day-to-day details. It’s inspiring,” explains Walt. Luke gives an example of Rick spontaneously jumping up during a meeting to break down cardboard boxes. “Rick shows us how to always be focused on the here and now,” he says. Denise and Ryan have hands-on roles, too. Denise played a major role in guiding the design of the interior—not an easy task, considering it meant combining the aesthetics of multiple partners. Walt says she has “great taste” for the decor and other details that contribute to the overall ambiance. Rick and Denise’s son Ryan, 28, helps Rick manage the upstairs while Luke and Walt manage the brewery operation. Ryan, who did sales and marketing for the PGA Tour prior to becoming a Wicked Weed partner, says he loves working in an industry “where people are so passionate about what they do.”
denise guthy & rick guthy
All Natural & All Local DRY AGED, PASTURE-RAISED
Asheville’s Only Whole Animal Butchery
artisan Smoked Meats, Sauces, Rubs, Charcuterie
B eef - l amB - p ork - C hiCken
left to right : Luke Dickinson, Walt Dickinson,
Denise Guthy, Rick Guthy, & Ryan Guthy
The Chop Shop BuTChery 100 CharloTTe STreeT, aSheville 828-505-3777
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 19
While the brothers may have originally seen their business as a Dickinson undertaking, they quickly learned to appreciate the dynamic that having multiple partners brings. When it comes to guiding the business strategy, they say that it can be easy for a single owner to become fixated on one idea or problem, but that with multiple partners (which also includes Luke, Walt, and Ryan’s wives), they don’t lose track of the big picture goals. In addition, because this group of partners vary quite a bit in age and background, a happy result is a business that appeals to all types. “Wicked Weed has become something that is a very palatable experience for all generations,” says Luke. “At one time, you can see people who are 21 and having their first beer, people who are going to a death metal show at the Orange Peel next door, and a group of retirees enjoying good times with old friends.”
Growing Pains Wicked Weed has made a big name for itself in a very short period of time. So short, in fact, that the partners refer to the age of their business in months, as you would an infant. Wicked Weed Brewing is now 21 months old—and this bouncing baby brewery is quickly outgrowing its crib. 20
| October 2014
the taps at Wicked Weed’s upstairs bar
this photo : Taps at the new Coxe Avenue Funkatorium. below : Walt Dickinson testing out the new tasting room. Local artisans, Vaden Custom Builders, created all the handmade wooden pieces.
Wicked Weed serves 500,000 customers a year. Anyone strolling down Biltmore Avenue on a weekend evening is likely to see a line out the door—a line that has been a regular occurrence since the business’ opening weeks. Rick projects that Wicked Weed will serve one million pints in 2014, which is 40% higher than 2013, their first full year in business. In short, Wicked Weed is maxed out. The partners didn’t expect the business to grow so rapidly, but as Walt says, “We’re brewing nine times a week with nine brewers, and we can barely keep enough beer on tap.” Part of the challenge is that Wicked Weed defines itself by its wide variety of options. They keep 27 to 29 different house-made beers on tap at all times (a plan that Leypoldt, the brewer who came on board from Dogfish Head, initially called “f—ing crazy”). “It’s no easy task to keep that board full,” says Rick. “Having our large variety of beers on tap every day is what sets us apart from other breweries” The demand at the Asheville location is compounded by the fact that Wicked Weed distributes to about 100 other accounts across North Carolina. As a result, Wicked Weed is in the process of expanding their operation. In October, they will open The Funkatorium, a tasting room and barrel house on Coxe Avenue, a few short blocks from the Biltmore Avenue location. This 12,000-square-foot space will accommodate the storage of 1,000 wooden casks of barrel-aged sour beer, a line of brews for which Wicked Weed is becoming increasingly well-known. (For example, Draft October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
21
Magazine recently named Wicked Weed’s Serenity brew the publication’s first ever 100 point rated wild ale.) In addition, the company is in the process of renovating a 40,000-square-foot facility on a 6.8-acre lot in Candler—which happens to be right next door to New Belgium’s distribution center. This will act as Wicked Weed’s new production facility, enabling them to brew twenty times more beer, or up to 50,000 barrels annually. (For comparison, the downtown location is
responsibilities for the partners. Ryan will move more heavily into sales, increasing distribution within North Carolina (whose breweries are allowed to self-distribute within the state) and then working with a distributor to land select accounts in other parts of the country. Luke and Walt, who until this point have been hands on in the day-to-day brewing operations, will remain intimately involved with recipe development and quality control while taking on more managerial roles. For the brothers, these shifting roles are taking some getting used to—especially for Luke. “It’s been tough for me, because I want to be a brewer,” he says. “In making this jump from a brew pub to production, I don’t get to clean as many tanks or mash in as many beers.” Where he used to spend seven days a week in the brew house, he now spends only two. Walt, too, reveled in the manual labor of beer making. But he says he remembers something their father, who was also an entrepreneur, used to say: “If you’re working with your hands, you’re not planning for expansion.” He has more quickly
Walt has more quickly adapted to the idea that their new role is in seeing the bigger picture and executing the vision, not throwing yeast in a vat. “Two guys can’t make 50,000 barrels of beer,” says Walt. expected to produce 5,000 barrels in 2014.) The partners hope to be shipping beer from the new facility by summer of next year. Walt says that bankers were “competing over the opportunity to lend us the money” for the $5 million project. With this growth comes a larger staff—Rick says they expect to hire an additional 80 employees over the next year—and shifting
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Kevin Martin, Laura Cummings McCue, & Priestley Cummings Ford
adapted to the idea that their new role is in seeing the bigger picture and executing the vision, not throwing yeast in a vat. “Two guys can’t make 50,000 barrels of beer,” says Walt.
Brotherly Love For anyone with siblings, a natural question for the Dickinsons is: How do you do it? How do you run a stressful, growing business with the person who has a lifetime of experience in pushing your buttons? It turns out that it takes some practice. Like many siblings, Walt and Luke have very different temperaments. Walt is a confident, optimistic, risk-taker. Luke is more cautious, reserved, and grounded. As Luke says, “He does rock climbing; I play golf.” As the business was getting underway, these differences in personality manifested as differences in execution. While they agreed on the vision for the product, they did not agree on how to get there. Luke pictured a simple brew pub; Walt envisioned a giant brand. They eventually settled on a middle ground, which was solidified by the Guthys’ involvement. GA_Cap@Play_July2014.pdf_GA 6/5/14 3:16 PM Page 1
But for the Dickinsons, the bigger challenge has been learning how to communicate with one another in a new way. Walt says it took over a year for them to stop “fighting like brothers and start arguing like business partners.” Now they say they feel lock-stepped, pushing together toward the same goal and knowing how to get through to each other when need be. On the plus side, being brothers means the successes are all the sweeter. Luke says there are moments every week when he has to pinch himself. “It’s a cliche,” he says, “but my life is my passion and my passion is my life.” Walt, who is generally unwaveringly optimistic, says Wicked Weed’s success has surprised even him. “It’s not surprising to me that people really like our beer, and we’re making a decent living at it,” he says. “But the scope and level and reach… however I would have quantified that when we started, now it’s like 100 times that.” In fact, he says, what he, his brother, and the Guthys have accomplished in under two years is more than he expected from his entire career. “We’ve been flown to New Belgium to collaborate, we’ve won medals,” he says. “But those moments when you go, ‘Wow,’ are short-lived, because it’s coming at you so fast you’re basically functioning on instinct.” Instincts that are obviously serving the Wicked Weed crew and customers quite well.
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October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 23
CAROLINA in the
Public affairs graduate program gains accreditation
WEST [
news briefs
Family Nurse Practitioner Program wins grant western north carolina
A two-year $700,000 federal grant will give stipends to students in Western Carolina University’s (WCU) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master’s degree program who hope to work in rural or underserved communities. The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services presented the grant as part of the Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship program. The program is intended to help increase the number of primary care providers in rural areas or public health departments that frequently have difficulty recruiting and retaining such providers. According to Tamera
cullowhee, nc
]
Pearson, associate professor and director of the WCU FNP program, family nurse practitioners are high-quality, cost-effective primary care providers who promote health and holistically treat patients of all ages, diagnosing and treating common acute and chronic health problems. The WCU FNP program uses clinical training sites in rural and underserved areas, and nearly 80 percent of WCU nursing students are from Western North Carolina and seek careers in the area. The WCU FNP program was launched in 1999, but transitioned in fall 2014 to a full-time, hybrid program that allowed students to meet for classes once a week and complete other coursework online. WCU received a similar two-year grant in 2012 that supported FNP students to receive up to $11,000 annually to assist with tuition payments, books, fees, and reasonable living expenses.
Western Carolina University’s master’s degree program in public affairs (MPA) has received accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The accreditation, which means that WCU’s MPA program is in compliance with the NASPAA’s standards, is valid for seven years. Accreditation indicates that the graduate level program is contributing to the knowledge, research, and practice of public service, determining observable goals and outcomes, and using information about its performance to guide program improvements. Chris Cooper, head of the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, explained, “What sets our program apart from the pack is our exceptional commitment to the region…We are very explicit in our mission statement, coursework, and assessment that we are interested in training the next generation of public servants to serve Western North Carolina. We are a regional program with our sights firmly set on improving governance in
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Western North Carolina. Accreditation certifies that we’ve achieved this goal.” He called the accreditation, the program’s first, a “monumental accomplishment” that validates that the Western Carolina MPA program is among the country’s best. Since the program’s founding in 1980, it has had more than 400 MPA graduates, director Roger Hartley said. WCU’s MPA program currently enrolls between 55 and 60 students per semester. Most courses are taught in the evenings at WCU’s instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square in Asheville, with additional elective courses offered in Cullowhee and online.
River Arts District improvements advance asheville, nc
According to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Asheville will receive a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant of $14.6 million for the East of the Riverway Multimodal Network project. It is expected to help revitalize the River Arts District and support economic growth by completing an interconnected 6-mile
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the old north state
national & world
carolina in the west
displayed on the Mars Hill campus and in the tribal offices in Cherokee. Dr. Lunsford explained that the purpose of the agreement is firstly to enhance educational opportunities for students who are members of the Eastern Band to come to MHU. In addition, the agreement includes essential components that call on the Tribe for input regarding historic collections at the university related to Native American history. According to Dr. Lunsford, those collections include “significant artifacts and documentation of the great contributions of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to the region.” Chief Hicks appreciates the relationship of friendship with both Dr. Lunsford and with MHU. He said the EBCI supports education for its young members, spendmars hill, nc ing nearly $3.5 million in North Carolina annually to educate Cherokee students. Representatives from Mars Hill That money is used toward the arrangeUniversity (MHU) and the Eastern Band ment with Mars Hill University, as well as of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) authorized for other similar pacts with universities a renewal agreement solidifying and statewide. Under the agreement, which renewing the cooperative relationship was initially signed in February 2011, the between the two organizations. Dr. Tribe must play an active role in continuDan Lunsford, president of MHU, and ing toThe offer advice and consultation for Principal Chief Michell Hicks signed Introducing various historic events and presentations ceremonial versions of the agreement at the university. It also calls for a coopin both English and Cherokee. The signed agreements will be framed and erative effort to provide comprehensive
network of pedestrian, bicycle, and roadway improvements. The Department of Transportation is awarding a total of $600 million on 72 projects in 46 states and the District of Columbia. The Department of Transportation received 797 applications for the TIGER grants, requesting $9.5 billion. Asheville’s $30 million is expected to link 3,800 homes through transit, bike, and pedestrian paths. Also, additional intersection improvements should improve traffic and safety along the Riverside Drive corridor.
Mars Hill University renews agreement with Tribe
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scholarship funds for all members of the EBCI who qualify academically, and who choose to join Mars Hill University. Updates to the agreement this year permit more flexibility in granting financial aid to students attending MHU who are members of EBCI than the original document allowed. Additionally, MHU will offer a $20,000 annual grant for any approved EBCI student(s) recruited to any of MHU’s athletic teams.
Blowing Rock approves Mountain Leaf Project blowing rock, nc
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The Blowing Rock Town Council has approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for the Catellus Group. The Catellus Group, based in Charlotte, plans to develop a 7.359-acre area located between Chetola Resort and Hill Street that will contain a 112-room hotel with conference space, spa and restaurant, an additional restaurant, up to 26,000 square feet of retail space, 20 condominiums, and parking spaces. The site’s name is tentatively Mountain Leaf.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit now in Fletcher fletcher, nc
Fletcher has welcomed Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and its tasty slow-cooked barbecue, creative side dishes, and the free ice cream with a meal purchase. Dickey’s is the nation’s largest BBQ chain, specializing in “fast casual dining.” Mike Wiemers owns and operates the site in Fletcher, and it is not corporate run. He was previously Huddle House senior vice president, overseeing more than 400 of the 24-hour diners. Wiemers hopes to establish three more locations and is seeking a site in Hendersonville. The Fletcher site is in Saint John’s Marketplace, at Saint John’s Road off U.S. 25 North. Wiemers plans to add more 26
| October 2014
space next door, as well as an outdoor dining area. Mike and Joan Wiemer’s oldest child, Nicole “Nikki,” manages the Fletcher restaurant. Their younger brother, Mike Wiemers, is assistant manager in Fletcher. He will manage the upcoming Hendersonville site. He ran a barbecue club as a student of Andrew College, located in south Georgia. He custom built a 10-pound smoker out of a stainless steel beer keg. This year, Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. has been honored by food industry consultant Technomic as “Fastest-growing restaurant chain in the country.” Travis Dickey founded it in 1941 in Dallas, Texas.
Black Mountain Town Square black mountain, nc
Last month, a ceremony was held in Black Mountain to transfer the ownership of Town Square from the Town Square Steering Committee back to the Town of Black Mountain. The Town Square is located at the corner of Montreat Road and State Street. In 2009 citizens encouraged the Board of Aldermen to purchase the property and keep it for the Town. The resulting purchase of the 1.3acre site required a decision regarding the use of the property. This sparked a debate between those in favor of commercial development and those hoping for green-space use. In 2010 the Board of Aldermen assigned the oversight of the issue to a group of volunteers called the Town Square Steering Committee. This committee was given the task of determining what the public sought for the site, developing a plan, and raising enough money to fund the project. After numerous surveys, a “green space with parking” concept seemed to be favored. Since then, over 800 contributors have given $476,354 in donations, brick purchases, and fundraisers as the project advanced. Features of the design include the clock tower, the Rotary Splash
Bold Rock Hard Cider facility progresses mills river, nc
The owner of Bold Rock Hard Cider, based in Virginia, claims his company is a month or so away from breaking ground on a multi-million dollar expansion facility in Mills River. Days before formally introducing the hard apple cider maker to Western North Carolina at Asheville’s Beer City Festival this spring, John Washburn announced that his company was completing a 10-acre land purchase in Mills River to construct an advanced production facility, tasting room, and agri-tourism attraction. Comparable to Bold Rock’s existing operation in Nellysford, Virginia, the idea for Mills River is to begin small and considerably expand it. Washburn previously said the project would ultimately comprise an $8 million investment and generate 50 jobs. The company, which hopes to produce 200,000 cases of hard cider in 2014 and 350,000 next year at the Virginia plant, may eventually equal or surpass those numbers in Mills River, depending on demand. The Mills River site sits across the French Broad River from Sierra Nevada. A creek boarders the property, and it is sheltered from the industrial park border by nearly 300 oak trees.
Pisgah Inn contract renewed brevard, nc
Pisgah Inn owner Bruce O’Connell has won another 10 years to operate the inn of the Blue Ridge Parkway. O’Connell first
came to the inn in 1978 when he purchased it with his parents. Since then, he has been through two contract renewals with the National Park Service. However, this time, he was concerned of losing to one of the big concessions companies that, in his opinion, have been progressively taking over more local operators. He even hired a consultant to write his proposal. The inn, located off mile 408.6 of the Parkway, includes a 51-room lodge, restaurant, gift shop, country store, and employee housing. The contract awards O’Connell management of the inn through the end of 2024.
UNC Asheville ranked as one of nation’s best asheville, nc
According to U.S. News & World Report’s new “Best Colleges 2015” rankings, UNC Asheville was ranked as the nation’s eighth best public liberal arts college. UNC Asheville is also included on the U.S. News & World Report list of national liberal arts colleges, private and public, “where the faculty has an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.” Based on surveys of college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans, UNC Asheville is tied for eighth in the nation in this category and is the only public university on this list. U.S. News & World Report ranked 236 national liberal arts colleges, 212 private and 24 public, in its survey, using a weighted formula that comprises academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, commitment to instruction and class size, student abilities and admissions selectivity, college financial resources, and alumni financial support.
EILEEN FISHER
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H
Libations for Autumn
hunt is the
owner & operator of Weinhaus, located on Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville.
by HUNT MALLETT
H
ER E COM E S AU TU M N W ITH cooler days and a cornucopia of harvest fruits and vegetables. The fresh berries and midsummer vegetables give way to root vegetables, squashes, apple and pear harvest, and earthy mushroom dishes spiced with fall herbs. Eating seasonally has become very popular here in Western North Carolina. This is nothing new; it used to be the only option before frozen, canned, or packaged foods came along. But the commercialization and big business of the agri-food industry all but ruined the joy of simple, yet healthy and delicious farm-to-table fare. In Asheville’s “Foodtopia,” many local restaurants love to source their local ingredients to match the season. We do the same at home in our kitchens, as we retreat from the lawn or deck to cozy indoor meals. So what about the drink pairings to match this change of seasons. It’s a time when we can shift gears from light summer wines to the more robust reds and fuller-bodied whites. Here are some pairing
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suggestions to think about as the days grow shorter and cooler. First, for those that enjoy white wines, consider the fuller-bodied varieties such as Viognier, Roussanne, Chardonnay, Godello, Riesling, or Gewürztraminer. A few suggested pairings follow, but feel free to substitute. Viognier with glazed root vegetables; Roussanne with baked pork roast; pumpkin risotto and Pinot Gris; lobster rolls and buttery Chardonnay; Spanish paella and Godello; applecrumb pie and Riesling; curried butternut squash soup and Gewürztraminer; or pears and sweet sparkling wine. Don’t forget the Rosés! Food pairing for Rosés in the fall and also move toward a heartier style. Look for Rosés that are made from bolder grapes such as the Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé from South Africa’s Mulderbosch winery, or one from Italy’s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (Valle Reale). These wines are excellent pairings for baked ham or roasted turkey. Naturally, the coming of autumn calls for more red varieties, especially those that are light to medium-bodied such as Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Tempranillo, Gamay,
H
or Barbera. Pairing suggestions include: Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir) with penne and wild mushrooms; Côtes du Rhône (Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault) wines with root-veggie and meat stews; Rioja (Tempranillo) with Iberian ham and wild mushrooms drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar; Beaujolais Village (Gamay) with turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce; or Barbera d’ Asti with a hearty red sauce pasta. Perh ap s t he mo st seasona l libation to pair with food on the Asheville scene is beer. After all, in Beer City the brewers craft new “seasonal” beers throughout the year. W hile wine production is tied to the vintage that each year’s crop produces, brewers have the advantage of brewing specifically for a season, varying the style and ingredients available. In the modern craft beer industry, there are no hard rules for what gets brewed, and brewers love to push the limits (the same goes for naming beers). Already on our shelves at the Weinhaus in Asheville are local favorites such as Highland Brewery’s “Clawhammer” (Oktoberfest style), Green Man’s “Harvester” (Amber Ale), and Catawba’s “King Don’s Pumpkin Ale” (Spiced Herb/Vegetable Ale). These and other beers are not just for chugging while watching the football game. They pair well at the dining table, and, like wine, they tend to get fuller-bodied and higher in alcohol as the weather turns cooler. So I encourage you to embrace this wonderful time of year when the weather changes and the opportunity to enjoy seasonal foods and libations affords us the ability to mix up our dining habits and settle in for the colder months ahead.
While wine production is tied to the vintage that each year’s crop produces, brewers have the advantage of brewing specifically for a season, varying the style and ingredients available.
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 29
local industry
Where do the local folk go? written by roger mccredie
This is a true story:
O
n a picture perfect fall morning some years ago, I was walking down Woodfin Street in Asheville. The cloudless sky was that limitless royal blue that belongs only to the mountains in October. The white oaks and poplars along the sidewalk had turned a dignified yellow-gold. But most spectacular were the ornamental maples that dotted the lawns of the hotels and apartments on both sides of the street. They were Day-Glo hunting vest orange and British guards scarlet, and where the sun hit them they appeared quite literally to be burning, as though the Almighty had scattered them around for Moses in case he missed the original memo. A long, late model Lincoln with an outof-state tag glided to the curb near one of the maples. The driver popped the trunk, got out, and, as I watched, he walked purposefully over to the little tree, snapped off a particularly spectacular low-hanging branch, tossed it into the trunk, and drove off as casually as he had driven up. 30
| October 2014
Photo by Ann Perkins
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT THE SOUTH HAS FOUR SEASONS: almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas. In Western North Carolina, though, the seasons are distinct. Spring is lush and blossomy. Summer is sunny and mild (or so the Chamber would have you believe). And there is a minimalistic, crystalline beauty to winter. But the mountain fall, even for the most blasé or unobservant, is so beautiful it can literally take your breath away. So perhaps, in the spirit of charity, we may forgive the Lincoln driver’s botanical vandalism. Maybe he lived where there aren’t any leaves and wanted to take home proof that he had actually been amid such beauty. Maybe he wanted to hold on to that leafy incandescence for his own soul’s sake, until eventually the leaves withered and taught him a lesson. Whatever his motive, he belonged to a particular species, peeperus leaforum, whose primary behavioral pattern is traveling great distances to ogle foliage. In the years since I observed that particular specimen’s behavior, however, new species have made Western North Carolina an autumn destination. They have been attracted by the ancillary bait set out for them. The Asheville Convention and Visitors’ website calendar lists a total of 231 events scheduled in and around Asheville from September 1st through November 30th. These include the Wise Woman Herb Fest and the nationa l ly-k now n Lake E den Arts Festival (LEAF), both in Black Mountain. LEAF’s listing describes it as “one of the treasured traditions for families and friends across the Southeast and beyond. A weekend at LEAF is the equivalent of going on a year-long, multi-cultural music, arts, dance, and outdoor-adventures journey, which “recharges our batteries.” The Golden Retriever Nationals are also on tap for October, as is a “stroll” through the rapidly gentrifying River Arts District, which is home to fewer artists than it once was, because the city, concerned for their safety, evicted some of them from their ramshackle-but-affordable studios. Asheville, having earned the title of Beer City, U.S.A., offers a plethora of events centered around beer. There are craft beer
So, like timid woodland creatures venturing out when the forest grows quiet, they make their way to places and activities little known or noticed by the Biltmore House pilgrims or the beer connoisseurs.
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
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the eliada homes corn ma ze
symposia, brewery tours, tastings, and promotional parties, all capped (no pun intended) by Asheville’s very own Oktoberfest, where children under the age of eight must display a designated driver bracelet indicating that they will be conveyed home by a presumably sober adult. In general, commercial Western North Carolina’s strategy for capitalizing on an annual natural phenomenon—the changing of color of the leaves of deciduous trees—is based on the “Field of Dreams” approach: If you build it / throw it / host it / sponsor it / advertise it, they will come. And they do. Holden Caulfield, the adolescent protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, spends several pages fretting over where the ducks in Central Park Lake go for shelter in winter. Similarly, we may ask, what of the natives—the people for whom this area is not a temporary destination but the place in which they live and move and have their being? (Then again, we may not ask at all, but for the sake of argument and this article’s theme, let’s just say we do.) In early September, when the first fall foliage predictions appear in the media and online and the first leaf-peeper room reservations begin trickling in, the locals’ lives begin to turn inward. They, after all, have kids in school and work to go to; and even if their work takes them deep into tourist territory 32
| October 2014
(and perhaps is tourist-related) they tend not to tarry when the workday ends, but to hasten home to roost. To the observant, this is signaled by a noticeable decline of downtown of people who are not wearing shorts and flip-flops. But Western North Carolinians are no different from their incomer counterparts, in that they crave recreation, relaxation, and human society. So, like timid woodland creatures venturing out when the forest grows quiet, they make their way to places and activities little known or noticed by the Biltmore House pilgrims or the beer connoisseurs, and in fact there is a plentiful and eclectic variety of indigenous entertainments. Here’s a sampling of activities and venues popular with the homefolks: The Eliada Homes Corn Maze: A venerable and venerated Buncombe County institution, Eliada Homes began its life as Faith Cottage, a refuge for unwed mothers founded by a local clergyman, the Rev. Dr. Lucius Compton. In 1906 Compton also founded an orphanage to care for children whose mothers had not kept them, or whose mothers had died in childbirth. Eliada Homes, Inc., now exists as a residential and non-boarding center for high risk children and adolescents, as well as a multi-faceted child development center. The fall corn maze is a major and popular fundraiser. Smack in the middle of Eliada’s rolling campus off Leicester Highway is its very own 12-acre cornfield, which every year is transformed into something very like a crop circle on steroids. In early September a team of corn maze specialists (or misanthropic gnomes) carves an incredibly complicated design through the still-green, six-foot stalks. At intervals along this trail they place scorecard posts—also fiendishly painted green— equipped with hole punches of different designs. Contestants are furnished with a map showing the overall design of the maze—which of course can’t be made out from ground level— and the locations of the posts, which are numbered. The idea is to complete the route through the corn station by station and come out the other side without losing children or going mad. On a busy day the maze sounds like a large family picnic gone horribly wrong. There is a constant hum of muffled conversations involving the map, punctuated by raised adult voices (“Keep together!” “Hold on to my shirt!” “Don’t do that!”) and various juvenile cries (“There’s a snake!” “You’re just saying that!” I gotta peeeee!” ). As the season advances and the stalks turn dry and brown, there is also a fair amount of sneezing. Some adventurers fall by the wayside, but others emerge, sweaty and disoriented, into the open, holding their completed scorecards aloft with palsied hands, having traumatized themselves for a good cause. High School football games: The South, of course, is a country unto itself. It even has a state religion: football. As soon as the season starts, the same front-porch sockets that held the Stars and Stripes on the Fourth of July sprout the heraldic banners of pigskin allegiance—Carolina blue, NC State scarlet, even the occasional Tennessee orange.
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There is no hometown college team to root for—UNC Asheville plays basketball but not football—so allegiance and attendance is transferred to the high school level, where the rivalries are even more intense because they are crosstown or even cross-neighborhood: Owen versus Reynolds; Asheville versus anybody; and, the century-old private school matchup between Christ School and Asheville School, which is held in broad daylight and attended by all the tradition-soaked solemnity of Yale versus Harvard. And there’s more on the line than school pride and bragging rights. Rest assured, the college scouts are out there. If, as the Duke of Wellington once said, the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, the future of the NFL lurks in the shadows of the Friday night lights. Excursions to somewhere else: Using the sauce-for-the-goose tactic, many natives pick the fall tourist season to become tourists in their own right. This activity is particularly popular among retirees, who don’t have work schedules to worry about and whose kids are long since out of school and never call home anyway. Globe Treks, based in Hendersonville, specializes in coach excursions ranging from day (or evening) concert or theater outings to long-weekend shopping forays (Atlanta, Chicago, New York) to full-scale, week-long safaris to the Outer Banks, the Great Lakes, and Pennsylvania Dutch country. Packages include lodging and meals, and the operative word here is “coach,” not “bus.” Travelers ride in a vehicle with amenities and comfort features that make first class air travel look shabby. And for those who really want to get away, Globe Treks offers international group vacations. Ireland, Iceland, and Quebec are on the current menu. Jamming at Mrs. Hyatt’s: In 1947 Wayne Hyatt, who played the mandolin and built and repaired instruments as a hobby, began inviting some of his fellow Southern Railway workers, who were also musicians, to his home on Brevard Road to make music of an evening now and then. There being no shortage of traditional musicians hereabouts, word soon spread, the jam moved into what had once been the Hyatts’ garage, and the gathering was fixed by consensus for Thursdays after supper. (Nelia Hyatt had been known to feed her husband’s friends, but the catering job became too daunting.) Over the decades the Thursday jam became not just a salon for accomplished musicians but an informal academy of Appalachian culture where young musicians came to learn the old songs, the old ways of playing, even the old stories and collective memories of generations past. After Wayne Hyatt’s death, Nelia and a nucleus of musicians and neighbors kept everything going. Then commerce encroached, the Hyatts’ neat brick home went under the bulldozer and, despite frantic efforts to save it, so did the “music house.” Again the musicians, friends and neighbors rallied, holding fundraisers and even organizing a 501(c)(3) charitable
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
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local industry
corporation to give traction to the preservation effort. Meanwhile, local resort Pisgah View Ranch has stepped into the breach and hosts the weekly jams, now held on Sunday afternoons. I include Mrs. Hyatt’s here because in a corner of my heart it is always a mild fall evening with the doors wide open at the old place, the music spilling out, the overflow listeners mingling in the driveway, and a fat autumn moon rising over the surrounding fields instead of over car dealerships. Inside, from his old recliner, the bearlike figure of Wayne Hyatt follows a tune, cradling a mandolin of his own making in his enormous sensitive hands. He is surrounded by mountain music makers whose age and accomplishment have earned them the curious Southern honorific of “Mister” before their first names: Mister Tommy Bell, Mister Carl Cochran, and Mister Boomer Lewis. On one such evening, the legendary fiddler Mister Byard Ray sidled up to me, fixed me with a gimlet eye, and said, “You know what Bluegrass is?” Intuiting that this was a rhetorical question, I said, “No, Mister Bayard, what is it?” “Bluegrass,” Mister Bayard Ray said, “ain’t nothin’ but old-time mountain music, played too damn fast and too damn loud.”
“October is the season for returning: even the town is born anew…The tide of life is at the full again, the rich return to business or to fashion, and the bodies of the poor are rescued out of heat and weariness…”
Staying home: Even the worldliest and most jaded of Western North Carolina locals (yes, there are a few) are aware at some level that they are fortunate enough to inhabit one of the most beautiful places on God’s green earth. And there are few places from which this beauty is not visible, especially in the fall, when it’s hard to miss, whether from an office window or the back porch, or even in the car, seeing the sun setting the always-looming hills on fire. And it’s not the scenery, or not just. That can be captured, albeit inadequately, with the click of a cellphone’s camera. To those who live here, autumn works changes in the metabolism and in the spirit. It’s difficult to describe, but maybe the essence of fall hereabouts comes closest to being captured by a gangly Asheville kid, born in October, who delivered newspapers in the predawn darkness, and who grew into a larger-than-life man who wrote things, including this: “October is the season for returning: even the town is born anew…The tide of life is at the full again, the rich return to business or to fashion, and the bodies of the poor are rescued out of heat and weariness… “All things on earth point home in old October: sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken—all things that live upon this earth return…” He too came home again. In the time of the turning leaves.
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L leisure & libation
writ d t e n by to n i s h e rwo o illu s t r at i o n s by h a n n a t ru s s l e r October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 39
leisure & libation
Fear. It gets us all. For some, it’s tarantulas.
For others, pythons. Maybe spirits and witches haunt your dreams. But what if you could master your fear, finally get beyond it, with the help of a few haunted attractions this year? Will Halloween 2014 be your year to face your fear?
c low n tow n
“People are scared to death of clowns,” Tony Cooke, proprietor of The Haunted Pyramids, says. Even though for one price guests can tour all four unique haunted houses at The Haunted Pyramids, many are happy to skip that one. “There are people who don’t want to go through the clown house,” Cooke says, “It doesn’t make any sense to me.” From the set of Cinemax’s hit series Banshee (filming in Charlotte), Cooke takes a break from his special effects work to chat with Capital At Play. “I’ve been working on movies for 20 years, so I have lots of movie props we use, like from Children of The Corn II,” Cooke says, “We’ve got the sign from Hell Raiser III lit on fire.” Because Cooke has a pyrotechnics license for his special effects work on movies, he’s able to use flame and fire. “The fire is outdoors, of course,” Cooke explains, “but you can see it from inside and feel the heat.” Cooke hires 50 ‘scarers’ to interact with guests. “They love their work,” Cooke says. The Haunted Pyramids is located on Cooke’s farmland in Lawndale, North Carolina. Whether you’re in a couple or with a party of five, your group gets to guide itself through each house, although Cooke admits the staff helps steer guests in the right direction. The biggest of the four houses is The Haunted Pyramid. There are two houses that are 3-D, meaning guests wear 3-D glasses inside: Monster Manor and the infamous Clown Town, which includes a spinning tunnel. The 40
| October 2014
newest attraction is The Asylum. There is a gift store where cautious little ones can wait with a parent and food is available for purchase. Cooke has allowed some parents to bring small kids before dark and look around. There is no restriction on age, and the staff is ready to rescue anyone who is freaking out. Cooke also hires a policeman for safety, but these precautions don’t prevent people from getting scared to death. “People who get real scared won’t even come back,” Cooke says, “Typically someone does hyperventilate; we’ve had ambulances come pick people up.” As far as whether facing fears at haunted houses helps people, Cooke says, “I don’t know if it helps them or not, I think it’s more of something to cross off your bucket list.” If your bucket list includes facing down clowns, the Haunted Pyramids is here to help. “This is the Bible belt, so we try not to offend anybody,” Cooke says, “but we will scare the crap out of you.” The Haunted Pyramids hauntedpyramids.com 2745 Toney Road, Lawndale, NC (Near Burns High School) Tickets: $22/person admission for all four haunted houses Open every Friday & Saturday through November 1st from dusk until around midnight.
L
ch i ldr en of th e cor n
WHAT HAUNTS YOUR DREAMS A few phobias for thought, some are real fears for many, others are just real funny.
P Phobophobia:
The fear of phobias
Wiccaphobia:
The fear of witches & witchcraft
Coulrophobia:
The fear of clowns
Ophidiophobia:
The fear of snakes
Arachnophobia:
The fear of spiders
Coulrophobia:
“A lot of people my age watched Children of The Corn and won’t go in there,” David Tucker, proprietor of The New River Corn Maze admits. Children of The Corn, was a short story penned by Stephen King that was adapted into a feature film in 1984. King obviously touched upon an instinctual fear with his creepy cornfield, and the film spawned a horror movie franchise. The latest version, Children of The Corn: Genesis, was released in 2011. The five-acre field located near Boone, North Carolina, is jam-packed with cornstalks ten to eleven feet tall. “When you get in there you can’t see out,” Tucker says. “It’s just corn everywhere and the sky.” The maze winds through the stalks with over a mile of twists, turns, dead ends, and switchbacks. “Even the sound of corn rustling is scary,” Tucker says. The farm also has a four-acre pumpkin patch where visitors can select the perfect pumpkin for carving or eating. They also have gargantuan 150-pound pumpkins, jacko-lanterns, and pumpkin ‘oddities.’ New this year is a passenger train to take guests on a ride around the farm. Although the sun is still above the horizon, inside the maze’s wall of corn, it gets dark much earlier. “You can hear people screaming in there towards dark,” Tucker says. Those unable to find their way out of the maze have to come back the way they came in. In past years they kept the maze open after sunset, but Tucker admits he’s getting too old to be out there until midnight, plus he says it wasn’t very kid-friendly and they had some accidents. “Some people never came out,” Tucker jokes. “We find bones.”
“Some people never came out,” Tucker jokes. “We find bones.”
The New River Corn Maze newrivercornmaze.com Located just outside of Boone, NC, on Hwy 421 along the banks of the New River. Maze Tickets: adults $7, students/kids $5, kids under 5 free School groups Friday only: teachers free, students $3 Train rides: $5 Combo train & maze tickets: adults $10, students/kids $8
The fear of clowns
Atychiphobia:
The fear of failure
Gamophobia:
The fear of marriage
Anuptaphobia:
The fear of staying single
Cacophobia:
The fear of ugliness
r u n away t r a i n
The chug of metal wheels approaches. A long low whistle blows. Gates clang as they lower at a desolate crossing. The train roars past. But then, unexpectedly it careens off track, catapulting passengers out the windows as it screeches into a twisted mass of smoking metal. This could be the Great Train Wreck of 1914, the theme for this year’s Ghost Train at The Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock. “This is an imagined wreck that happened 100 years ago,” Chris Robbins, president of Tweetsie, Inc. says. “Passengers on the Ghost Train will see live scenes of the wreck, some of which may be jolting.” To be clear, passengers will not be in a train wreck; they will be observing a train wreck as they pass by safely aboard the Ghost Train. This is in line with the general atmosphere at Tweetsie Railroad: safe, scary fun for the entire family. “You can be six, fourteen, or forty-six years old and have a great time here,” Robbins says. Part of that balance is accomplished by giving attractions a humorous edge. October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 41
leisure & libation
On Ghost Train nights, the park closes at 6pm so they can change out the locomotive from the Wild West themed daytime train to the spooky red-eyed Ghost Train locomotive that resembles a skeleton’s head. Once the park reopens at 7:30pm, the party on Main Street never stops, with music, dancing, and live characters to interact with guests. Kids can trick-or-treat at stations throughout the park. Attractions include The Haunted House and Freaky Forest. New this year is the Warp Tunnel, a walk-through attraction sure to be a disorienting sensory experience. Like guest favorite, The Black Hole, it’s an optical illusion. There’s also a live performance at the Black Light Theater show. This year’s Master of Ceremonies will be Darkus Night. Most attractions are suitable for all ages, but it is not recommended that children under eight go through the Haunted House, Freaky Forest, or ride the Ghost Train. “There are lots of Halloween attractions that do edgy, gross and bloody stuff, but we don’t do gross-out here,” Robbins says, “It’s designed to be scary but not over-the-top.”
the ghost tr ain
at the Tweetsie Railroad
The Ghost Train at The Tweetsie Railroad tweetsie.com 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock, NC Tickets: adults $39, children $26 (includes all attractions) Open every Friday & Saturday night through November 1st from 7:30-11:30pm.
dizzying heights
Acrophobia is an extreme or irrational fear of heights, rare among the population. But most of us feel a little shaky when looking down from a high building, or over the edge of a cliff, especially when there is no safety rail. The crew at the Beanstalk Journey, a zip line attraction in Morganton, North Carolina, is all too familiar with facing the fear of heights. T he i r H a l lowe e n inspired event, The Haunted Zip Line, ups the fear factor; not only are you zipping above the treetops, it’s Halloween and it’s dark. According to Otter Browning, manager at the Beanstalk Journey, he’s guided his share of frightened guests. “When you’re lucky enough to guide a trip, you’ll see them terrified
“When they can overcome a barrier they thought they could not break through, it builds confidence in many areas.”
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a zombie guide gets ready to lead a group on The Beanstalk Journey’s Haunted Zip Line Tour
L Gynophobia:
The fear of women
Androphobia:
Fear of men
Xenophobia:
The fear of strangers or foreigners
Glossophobia:
The fear of speaking in public
Phasmophobia/Spectrophobia:
The fear of ghosts
Pteromerhanophobia:
The fear of flying
Barophobia:
The fear of gravity
Acrophobia:
The fear of heights
Agoraphobia:
The fear of situations in which escape is difficult. This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack.
Claustrophobia:
The fear of confined spaces
Mageirocophobia:
The fear of cooking
Technophobia:
The fear of technology
Chronomentrophobia:
The fear of clocks the ghost tr ain
at the Tweetsie Railroad October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 43
L
leisure & libation
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at the beginning, but then you see them grow within themselves,” Browning says. One thing that makes the Beanstalk Journey’s zip line different is that you stay up in the tree houses, zipping between them, as opposed to coming down between zips. For the Haunted Zip each tree house will be decorated with a theme, such as the Bat House and the Ghost House. There’s a spooky candle-lit cemetery to zip over, and the course is decorated with spider webs. “Halfway through, kids get candy and ‘blood’ to drink, and we tell ghost stories,” Browning says. The guides wear headlamps, but otherwise it’s dark. And Browning promises there will be a few surprises. They take a maximum of eight people out at a time, but the course has two starting points, so multiple groups can go at once. The course takes one and a half to two hours to complete. Browning feels facing fears pays off tenfold. “They’re not just defeating their fear of heights,” Browning says, “when they can overcome a barrier they thought they could not break through, it builds confidence in many areas. We don’t realize what we can do.” The Beanstalk Journey's Haunted Zip Line Tour thebeanstalkjourney.com Located within Catawba Meadows Park, 701 Sanford Drive, Morganton, NC Tickets: $39 per person, a bargain for facing several fears at once (45% off the normal price of $69). The Halloween Zip Line Tour is given October 24th through Halloween night.
Nosocomephobia:
The fear of hospitals
Trypanophobia:
The fear of needles / injections
Hemophobia:
The fear of blood
Dentophobia:
The fear of dentists
Elurophobia:
The fear of cats
Nyctophobia:
The fear of the dark
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Necrophobia:
The fear of death or dead things
Pyrophobia:
The fear of fire
Lilapsophobia:
The fear of tornadoes & hurricanes
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Samhainophobia:
The fear of Halloween semantics vs . disorder
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the unexpected
“We have a high scare factor,” Scott Sexton, proprietor of The Nightmare Dungeon in Greenville, says, “we’re not just jumping out from behind a door to scare you.” Nightmare Dungeon is actually two separate two-story haunted houses, and attracts enthusiasts from across the states. It boasts realistic sets, interactions with professional actors, and high tech special effects. “We’ve got ceilings that fall down on you,” Sexton says.
viral outbreak leading to a Zombie Apocalypse, a Madhouse full of tortured mentally ill patients, and a truly Southern terror: The Redneck Rampage. After sixteen years putting on The Nightmare Dungeon, Sexton says he’s seen behind the scenes too much to get scared anymore, but that wasn’t always true. “I remember before I started doing haunted houses, I was scared to death of them,” Sexton admits. “I acted like I wasn’t scared in front of my friends. But inside I was thinking, ‘what have I gotten myself into?’” That’s probably what visitors at Nightmare Dungeon are thinking right before a real car careens toward them, stopping just inches from their knees. “I’ve got a couple things in there that’ll bring down a big guy,” Sexton says. Behind the scenes, the crew can see who is in the haunted house and make the experience more intense for those who have a high tolerance for fear. This also enables them to get anyone out quickly who is in over their head. “There are exits all around,” Sexton says.
“Some kids handle it better than grown ups,” Cooke says. “It just depends on the way you are.” Sexton started Nightmare Dungeon with his father. “He didn’t think it was a good idea at first,” Sexton says, “but he saw we could have fun with it and make some money.” This year visitors will be exposed to the Toxic Waste Room, The Claustrophobia Room, and the Terror Pit. There’s also a
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L Safety is Sexton’s first consideration. They must pass muster with the fire department and building codes, but Sexton says they go overboard on safety. “Last year Channel Four came here for a segment on safety in haunted houses,” Sexton recalls, “they said they would trust their own kids coming through here.” One way the Nightmare Dungeon crew manages to handle whatever arises is by limiting the number of people going through to ten at a time. Sexton feels getting past fear is important. “A lot of people hide their fears and it will hurt you in the long run,” Sexton says. “People’s fear holds them back, but when they see it’s not so bad, they can get past it.” Nightmare Dungeon opens on September 26th and is one of the few Halloween attractions that remain open every day through November 2nd. The festivities begin at dark and go on until around midnight. Kids 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent. Nightmare Dungeon nightmaredungeon.com 645 Old Anderson Road in Greenville, SC Tickets: start at $20 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under
f e a r fa c to r
One thing these proprietors have observed is that one’s fear factor is not necessarily a factor of age. At Beanstalk Journeys Haunted Zip kids as young as four years old can zip line. Robbins has been with Tweetsie Railroad since 1996. “I’ve seen eight year olds come out of the haunted house giggling and adults leave scared to death,” Robbins says. “Lots of people get intimidated surrounded by eleven-foot corn,” Tucker says. But he admits an individual’s imagination plays a role in the scare factor at The New River Corn Maze. “College kids go in there and scare themselves most of the time,” Tucker says. At The Nightmare Dungeon, Sexton promises to scare people of any age. “This is not a normal haunted house,” Sexton warns, “it was built for adults, but some kids can handle it.” Over Cooke’s seventeen years running The Haunted Pyramids, he has observed little correlation between fear and age. “Some six, seven, or eight year old kids handle it better than grown ups,” Cooke says. “It just depends on the way you are.”
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THE OLD
NORTH
Funding approved for $15M Alamance Community College training facility
STATE [
news briefs
RDU could have nonstop flights to European city by 2016 research triangle area
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is hoping for nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Germany, or Paris, France, within the next two years. The last time RDU had a nonstop flight to Paris was in 1988. Since then, the economy and Research Triangle Park have changed quite a bit. Tech and bio-pharmaceutical companies have rising global reaches, and the demand to have quick access to Europe are crucial to elevating RDU’s global status. Teresa Damiano, who leads RDU’s air service recruitment efforts with Dave Young, said, “We have about 1.5 million people who go back and forth between those destinations.” Pitching
alamance county
]
Alamance County commissioners approved plans to fund a $15 million training facility at Alamance Community College intended to help close the skills gap between employers and potential workers. The commissioners voted to release voter approved general obligation bonds to construct the new 45,000-square-foot Advanced Applied Technology Center. According to Dr. Algie Gatewood, president of Alamance Community College, the facility will enable the college to train nearly 100 students annually in high demand areas ranging from welding and machining to automotive systems technology. Several community college partners support the facility, including automotive parts manufacturer GKN Driveline, Honda Power Equipment, Sheetz, Cambro Ma nu factu r i ng, a nd Cox Toyot a. Community college officials initially began efforts to have the facility built in 2008. While Alamance County voters approved a $15 million bond referendum
RDU to international airlines involves examining traffic numbers to calculate the demand. That consists of people who fly to Frankfurt and Paris through connecting flights from RDU. They survey the community to get an idea for what it desires out of an international flight. Then, they pitch to airlines that may have an aircraft not assigned to a route and are looking for international expansion. During the pitch it is acknowledged that area is growing twice as fast as the national average, and that the foreign-born national population growth is three times the growth of the national average. In previous years, acquiring a new nonstop international flight to Europe was not an option because the economic downturn had halted flight growth. “Now, it does look like there is a growth mode in the international market,” added Damiano.
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for the facility in 2012, voters also turned down an increase in the sales tax that would have supported it. Now, the college will instantly seek approval from the State Board of Community Colleges to bid for a designer. Gatewood expects the building will be up and running within 18 to 24 months. The new facility will expand the college’s capacity for training programs by 112 percent.
The Produce Box goes to Charlotte research triangle area
The Produce Box, a Raleigh-based a company that offers fresh, local produce delivery by subscription, is expanding to Charlotte. Courtney Tellefsen launched The Produce Box seven years ago and has hired Molly Hammonds as the Charlotte regional manager. In 2013 the company packaged and distributed more than two million pounds of produce. Nearly 8,500 families currently subscribe to the service. Members select their weekly deliveries, and the proceeds go to the 40 farm partners that send their produce to the company. In 2012 American Express OPEN awarded The Produce Box $25,000
24
66
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national & world
as one of the five best small businesses in America in its second “Big Break for Small Business” annual competition.
Bayer CropScience’s $30M Research Triangle Park project research triangle area
Bayer CropScience’s $30 million investment in Research Tr iang le Park (RTP) has broken ground on “Greenhouse 1,” and the facility plans to contribute to the RTP-based Bayer North American and Global Seeds Headquarters. The greenhouse lab will accommodate what Bayer calls “innovative seed trait research,” which seeks to better protect crops, such as modifying plants to improve resistance to yield-crushing parasites. Dedicated and isolated greenhouse space will permit insect testing, as well as nematode trait research and plant disease research. Nematodes, a plant parasite that looks like a tiny worm, can attack crops and spread plant viruses, and companies such as Bayer are researching methods to prevent the problem. The new lab will continue those efforts. The facility will
the old north state
include 200 additional parking spaces and a security hut at the RTP campus. Sustainability features include a rainwater collection system for greenhouse plant irrigation, low flow, sensor plumbing fixtures, occupant sensor lighting, daylight harvesting, filters to improve indoor air quality, and reflective roofing to cut the building’s heat intake. This greenhouse is scheduled for completion in 2015. It will replace Greenhouses 3 and 4, which have served the company for more than 30 years. Greenhouse 5 exists as a 60,000-square-foot facility that opened in July of 2012 in RTP. Currently, there are nearly 700 Bayer CropScience employees that work in the Triangle.
Krispy Kreme expanding in D.C., Maryland winston-salem, nc
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. plans to establish 20 new stores in Washington, D.C., Southern Maryland, and Northern Virginia through an agreement with Monu ment Rest aura nt s V II LLC. Although Krispy Kreme will be a new venture for Richmond, Virginia-based
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 49
the old north state
Free Sewing Classes with a new sewing machine purchase
Monument Restaurants, it has already developed more than 90 Five Guys Burgers franchises in eight states. Monument Restaurants has also purchased Krispy Kreme’s existing Rockville, Maryland, location. Krispy Kreme will keep its ownership of several other existing stores it operates in D.C. and Northern Virginia. Winston-Salem-based Krispy Kreme has 260 domestic shops and 590 international locations.
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Citrix’s flagship entrepreneurship initiative, Citrix Venture Accelerator Innovators Program, is getting Red Hat’s cash support. In addition, the city of Raleigh, which already publicized its commitment to the program, announced it would be contributing $100,000 toward the accelerator effort. Jason Widen, executive director of co-worker space HQ Raleigh, the fourth partnering organization behind the project, says he hopes other large corporations view Red Hat’s investment as a challenge. According to Widen, the goal is to invest in entrepreneurs in order to keep them in Raleigh, therefore growing the entrepreneurship community and creating more job opportunities. The Citrix program offers mentoring and $25,000 in grant funding to help early stage startups get off the ground.
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| October 2014
The International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences has honored Greensboro -based Honda A ircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa
Fujino with the 2014 Award for Innovation in Aeronautics. Fujino received the award at the 29th ICAS Congress being held in St. Petersburg, Russia, last month. He was recognized by ICAS for his revolutionary contributions in the design and development of the HondaJet and its over-the-wing engine mount design. Fujino expressed: “I am very honored to receive this prestigious recognition in aeronautics…We had a vision to design a high-tech aircraft that would set a new standard in business aviation. To have Honda’s research and development capabilities recognized among the world’s most respected aerospace companies and society is significant for me.” Honda is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Company that employs more than 1,000 in Greensboro. It anticipates delivery on its $4.5 million lightweight jet to customers will begin by early 2015.
Little Black Dressing Co. named Martha Stewart competition finalist high point, nc
The entrepreneur and owner of Little Black Dressing Company is a finalist in Martha Stewart’s “American Made” competition. Kissie Stroup’s salad dressing manufacturing company is based in High Point. Previously, bottles of Little Black Dressing’s signature salad dressing were supplied to the U.S. Open, which generated contracts with The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, and Lowes Foods. Stroup is now selling her product in The Fresh Market locations in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Southern Pines and in Lowes Foods’ Clemmons store. She is also preparing to sell in Whole Foods in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte. The “American Made” contest will hold an online voting session until October 13th, and winners will be announced October 17th. Little Black Dressing is one of two North
Carolina-based finalists in the “Bottled, Jarred, and Canned” section of the competition’s “Food” category, joining Carolina Wild, a fruit juice made in Pink Hill.
It’s easy to get fooled if you’re on your own.
UNC Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship wins award from SBA U NC Wi l m i n g t on’s C ent er for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) received a $50,000 grant as a business accelerator from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The CIE is one of 50 winners nationwide out of more than 800 applicants. A panel of seven judges who are experts in entrepreneurship, investing, and business plans, both inside and out of federal government, chose the winners. The judges evaluated the applications and pitch videos submitted by the 100 finalists in the competition. Each of the 50 organizations will receive a cash prize of $50,000 from the SBA. In accepting the grants, the accelerators will be committing to quarterly reporting for one year. They will be required to report metrics such as jobs created, funds raised, start-ups launched, and corporate sponsors acquired. This information will allow the SBA to establish a database of accelerators and their impact, and to develop long-term relationships with the start-ups and constituents in these innovative and entrepreneurial communities. UNC Wilmington’s CIE was one of three winners from North Carolina. The other two, City Startup Labs and RevTech Labs, are located in Charlotte.
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adrianne
is Director of Marketing & Operations for JB Media Group.
Love It or Hate It, You’ve Got to Know It by ADRIANNE GORDON
S
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION HAS AN AIR of mystery about it—a website goes online and it might or might not appear on the first page of Google search results. It’s easy to wonder if there is any rhyme or reason as to why Joe’s Plumbing is listed first when I search for “residential plumber” and Smith’s Plumbing is on page 10, particularly if you own Smith's Plumbing and understandably want the most exposure possible for your business. While it may seem random, there is in fact a very specific formula at work. We can understand a lot about how search engines operate, what they reward and what they punish, without a PhD in mathematics or computer science. It’s important to first understand that Google’s mission is to organize information and make it both accessible and useful. Google search results are derived from a very complex algorithm that takes over two hundred factors into account. The algorithm is equal parts smart, sophisticated, and ever-evolving. To use an often quoted phrase: knowledge is power. By knowing a few key pieces of how search engines 52
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work and why, businesses can have a powerful advantage in getting more exposure as people search for the solutions that those businesses provide. Here is a peak behind the curtain of search engines, no calculus required: It can read. Google is “reading” everything on the web—a company’s website, social media conversations about the company or product, review sites, media coverage, and even map listings. The search engine’s ability to comprehend language has grown rapidly. In its early days, Google was simply looking for specific words or phrases on web pages to match with what was typed into the search bar. Say you want to buy a patio umbrella. Now, we’ve all gotten those search results where the page is called ‘Patio Umbrellas,’ and those two words appear several times in bold or linked text, but the page is actually not about patio umbrellas or anything at all. It’s as if the words “patio umbrella” have been dropped into an essay on nutrition—it simply doesn't make sense. That web page is not valuable to someone who wants to buy a patio umbrella at all. Google now recognizes this and penalizes pages that engage in this practice. It’s great for
A
us as searchers—we get results that have clearer and stronger connections to what we are searching for. As businesses, it means we have to be specific and consistent in what we put on the web. Google is essentially depending on us to tell it what our company, product, or service is. This doesn’t mean a web page has to be redundant—Google is now sophisticated enough to recognize synonyms. The search engine now understands that patio umbrellas are also called deck umbrellas or outdoor umbrellas; they fall into the category of outdoor furniture and are an alternative to an awning or retractable outdoor shade. Suddenly website content about patio umbrellas can be specific, consistent, and interesting. It knows what we like, what we need, where we are, and what our plans are. Google does not read minds, but it does track where we go and what we do on the web. If you have Gmail, they are also reading your mail. It’s no coincidence that ads for travel sites and beachwear appear in the sidebar of your Gmail account after you email a friend about your upcoming vacation plans. If you’re already on vacation and searching for a restaurant, the results Google provides will be specific to where you are, including a handy map of restaurants near the hotel you are sitting in as you type your query. In the big picture, this is useful for businesses because their ads are being shown to people who are talking about what they are selling. The search query data that Google tracks is very useful in finding out how people think and talk about a product or service. For example, on average 5,400 people search “outdoor umbrella” each month, with another 4,400 looking for “offset umbrella.” As many people search for a black patio umbrella as search for a striped one. If you're in the business of selling patio umbrellas, this is incredibly powerful information. Google’s Keyword Planner is essentially acting as a customer focus group 24-hours a day, seven days a week. This information is free and available to anyone interested in finding it. This data is also what is behind the suggestions that appear in the Google search bar when you begin to type. Google provides options based on what other people have searched in an effort to help us find what we need. From a marketing perspective it is a very easy way to find out what phrases, questions, or specifics are searched. More and more searches are specific
questions about a product like: “What is the best patio umbrella fabric?” and “What material is the best for patio umbrellas?” This provides great insight into what specific product features potential customers care about and how they are looking for information to make their buying decision. So I’ve mentioned some of the current ways Google uses artificial intelligence to produce search results tailored to the individual searcher. At this point though, the search engine is
This doesn’t mean a web page has to be redundant— Google is now sophisticated enough to recognize synonyms. The search engine now understands that patio umbrellas are also called deck umbrellas or outdoor umbrellas; they fall into the category of outdoor furniture and are an alternative to an awning or retractable outdoor shade. still evolving. It does not yet “understand” language in the way that a human being can. It cannot completely know the context of a search, or the true intent of the person entering a query. It cannot yet anticipate your needs. This means that in order to be effective, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies must take the limitations of Google into account. It only knows what we tell it. Google can’t come up with the answers to questions about patio umbrella fabric unless someone somewhere writes about it. Search engines are completely dependent on what businesses, bloggers, and media write and put on the web. That means that businesses have the responsibility of putting written content on the Internet that clearly connects with what people are searching for. Earlier, I asked why does the website for Joe’s Plumbing show up first in a search for “residential plumber” while Smith’s Plumbing is on page 10. Well, if the website for Smith’s Plumbing talks about their commitment to quality, fast service, and that they specialize in clogged sinks, but doesn’t say they are a residential plumber, then Google doesn’t know that their website is about “residential plumber” and it does not send people searching for that phrase to Smith’s. In contrast, if the other company describes themselves as a residential plumber, includes “residential” in their services description, and perhaps uses the phrase in the title of their pages, then Google will know that they unclog sinks for homeowners as well as restaurateurs. For services or October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
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K products where location is important (I don’t want information on a plumber in Atlanta, Georgia, if my sink is clogged in Hendersonville, North Carolina) then Google will take the business’ location into account as well. If Smith’s website doesn’t mention Asheville and their address says Arden, they aren’t likely to come up very high when someone searches for “residential plumber” from a computer, tablet, or smartphone in Asheville. We know that a plumber in Arden is perfectly capable and available to unclog a sink in Asheville but Google does not (at least not yet). It relies on what other people think. Google considers how other people have interacted with a website in the past in its evaluation of web pages. When past visitors have not found the site to be valuable and have left after viewing only the first page they came to (called “bouncing”) or spent very little time viewing the site, Google assumes the site is not serving the needs of people searching for that term. In the future, the site is less likely to be recommended by Google for that keyword phrase. To be fair, it takes a lot of people clicking away for a site that is doing well to drop in the search rankings, but this can be a factor in why a site can’t move up in search engine rankings. Sites that are difficult for mobile users to navigate can be particularly vulnerable to this factor. Mobile search is on the rise, and with more people using those small screens as their primary tool to access the web, serving those visitors well is an important strategy to support a site’s overall search engine rankings. On the other side of the coin, a site that visitors tend to spend time on and view multiple pages of is likely to get more traffic from people searching the same phrase. At the end of the day, search engine optimization is a data driven process that can be explained, understood, and approached by those with less than a doctorate in advanced mathematics. Google is likely to remain the number one search engine in the world (and they own #2 YouTube, but that’s a topic for another day). What matters to Google has to matter to businesses who want to be found online. The engineers and statisticians in Palo Alto do change their minds and their algorithm an estimated 500 to 600 times a year. You can expect that Google will continue to evolve in the future, but the overall trend has been and is expected to remain on content. Your SEO strategies must evolve right along with Google.
At the end of the day, search engine optimization is a data driven process that can be explained, understood, and approached by those with less than a doctorate in advanced mathematics.
Adrianne Gordon counseled and trained business owners for over 10 years before joining JB Media Group as Director of Marketing and Operations. She doesn't speak code but does have an MBA from Western Carolina University. 54
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A Simpler Way of Life AT M AW ’ S PRODUCE written by paul cl ark
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photos by ellen gwin
The light touch works well at Maw’s Produce, a roadside vegetable stand near Banner Elk, North Carolina, where Susan Kirkland treats customers as lovingly as she handles the fruit.
In a kind voice sounding much younger than her 75 years, Mrs. Kirkland greets each customer as they come in the shop beside the busy highway that whisks people into Boone. As her soft hands weigh the merits of each tomato and peach on display, she pauses to ask her regulars about the latest family news. Retail is personal at Maw’s Produce, which may explain why this unprepossessing produce stand in Foscoe, North Carolina, is in its 20th season. For Mrs. Kirkland, the business is more than just the business of selling fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s about providing a service to local residents and to people
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 57
mrs . kirl and
who spend summer months in second homes at resorts that surround this ranch house by the road. “I just love the people,” Mrs. Kirkland said one sunny day in August as the traffic roared by. “You get to know them. We’re real flattered that they come here.” She was wearing light running shoes, prepared for the busy afternoon she knew was ahead. The pie lady had already been there, and Mrs. Kirkland was expecting the peach guy at any moment. That afternoon, she had to go pick up some produce, and she was enjoying a break in the action. Maw’s gets its produce from Danny Kirkland, Mrs. Kirkland’s son. Danny Kirkland and his wife, Jackie, run LettUs-Produce, a large wholesale operation in Boone that supplies produce in the Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and Linville areas to more than 100 businesses, restaurants, resorts, country clubs,
hospitals, and grocery stores, as well as to Appalachian State University. Seven days a week during the high season, its six trucks go out twice a day to make deliveries. Danny Kirkland started the business in 1993, two years after he graduated from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. “I wanted to come back up here,” he said of his return to the mountains from Savannah, Georgia, where he moved after graduation. He worked at a couple of produce businesses down there, picking up valuable knowledge. But he preferred the mountains and what he said was its simpler way of life. Opportunity came when a friend in the High Country needed tomatoes for his restaurant. Kirkland started hauling them from Columbia, South Carolina, working long hours to increase the size of his business and the breadth of fruit and vegetables he offered his customers.
“Danny had this great old big sign made that said ‘Maw’s Little Shack of Produce.’”
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One of which is Maw’s, started in 1995 by Kirkland so he’d have a retail outlet to complement his wholesale work. He tapped his mother to run the store. Mrs. Kirkland was in Savannah, where she’d wrapped up three decades of working with serious juvenile offenders for the state of Georgia. “I’d been retired a month when he called and said, ‘I’ve rented this little building, you need to come up here,’” Mrs. Kirkland said. “He thought I’d be glad to get out of Savannah, because it’s hot down there. Also, I’m kind of blessed with a lot of energy.” She was happy he called. At 55 she was not really ready to quit working. Running a produce stand near her son’s home meant she’d see a lot more of him and his family, and she wouldn’t be far from her other son and daughter-in-law in Atlanta. Mrs. Kirkland, her yellow running shoes tucked under her as she sat and talked, opened a scrapbook filled with photos, magazine articles, and other mementos of the business’ history. She flipped to a picture of Maw’s first building, a little up the road from where it is now. There it is, she said—a tiny shed with an awning, next to a gem mining tourist attraction. “It had a little bitty room,” she said. “Danny had this great old big sign made that said ‘Maw’s Little Shack of Produce.’” He bought Maw’s current location in 2000. It used to be a quilt shop, and before that it was someone’s home. The owner of the quilt shop was an acquaintance of Mrs. Kirkland’s. She called her one day to say she was going to retire, and she thought the building would be a good location for a produce stand, which turned out to be true. Echota, a residential community with beautiful views of Grandfather Mountain, opened the next year. Foscoe, North Carolina, started to grow commercially, attracting visitors from rentals and second homes on Sugar and Beech mountains. Tourism in the High Country was strong. “It has turned out to be a wonderful location,” Mrs. Kirkland said.
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✁
A tasty testimonial for Maw’s Produce Michael Story, a recent graduate of Appalachian State University, was driving home from work in June when he stopped at Maw’s Produce for a snack. “Not only was I warmly greeted,” the Lenoir resident, now a graduate student studying landscape architecture in Arizona, writes on his blog: “But with my purchase of a locally made apple fritter (which was delectable), they gave me half of a cantaloupe, a band of green onions, three peaches, as well as three russet potatoes. By the time I was walking out of the door I felt as if I were leaving my grandmother’s with satchels of delicious loot.” Out of appreciation, he created this recipe for Maw’s Garlic and Onion Mashed Potatoes.
Maw’s Garlic & Onion Mashed Potatoes From Michael Story Ingredients: 3 Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed 5-6 green onions, chopped, separated into white and green 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1/2 cup of milk 4-6 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper, to taste 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise or sour cream (optional) Directions: BRING a large pot of water to boil and cook potatoes until soft, about 20-25 minutes. IN A SMALL PAN, sauté garlic and white part of the onion in a tablespoon of butter. DRAIN potatoes and put in mixing bowl. ADD sautéed onion, butter, milk, salt, pepper and the optional cream or mayonnaise. MASH. Sprinkle with remaining green onion.
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 61
Photo courtesy of Allison-Kaufman
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She spoke while sitting on the stairs that lead to the upper floor of the business, where she sells quilts, wooden toys, and other crafts by local artists on consignment. The walls of the stairwell around her are covered with photos she had taken, many so old they are curling and turning blue, of customers and friends in the shop. She had artfully cut the pictures so all the extraneous features were gone, leaving only the people she obviously loved. Which says everything, it seems, about the way she runs Maw’s Produce—it’s about the people she meets. “Hey,” Mrs. Kirkland said to a young man who came in the store with his mother. “How was practice?” “It was good,” said Jamie Gough, 14. A rising freshman at Watauga High School, he had been at football practice that morning and was on his way, with his mother Julie Gough, to get his sports physical. He works at Maw’s Produce, alternating shifts with his 13-year-old brother. Peter, who had been in the back of the shop, came up to see why Jamie and their mother were there. Julie Gough handed him a bag of tacos. “Hey bud,” she said, tousling Peter’s hair as he eyed lunch. “You have to share.” M rs. K irk land laug hed and smiled generously. She met Jamie last December, when he came in looking for a job. “He was so cute, but I didn’t need any help because we were closing,” she said (Maw’s is open May through December). “But he knew how to say ‘yes ma’am,’ so I kept his name and phone number.” And now she has him and his brother. “It’s a good working relationship. If one of the two brothers can’t work, the other one can,” she said. They live close by and ride their skateboards to work. “I just send one of my sons over,” Julie Gough said, laughing. She mentioned another son, waiting in the car, which made Mrs. Kirkland speculate that maybe she would have a third Gough boy working for her one day. Which is entirely plausible. The boys’ mother stops in to chat a lot. “Have you been real busy?” she asked Mrs. Kirkland. “Yeah, we’ve been real steady,” she said. Afternoons tend to be busier than mornings. She suggested that Peter—“Petey,” she and his mother called him—eat lunch while he had the chance, but he was already carrying a box of vegetables out for a customer. Julie Gough called to the woman by name while Mrs. Kirkland nodded in appreciation of Petey’s manners and work ethic. She was as proud as a grandmother could be. She had previously employed another set of young brothers, and that arrangement worked out also. When one boy is busy, the other one usually isn’t. “You’ve been a very important lady to a lot of people,” Julie Gough said. “A lot of people have had their first jobs here. That’s a big thing for a young man.”
A woman in Blowing Rock makes the cinnamon rolls, dropping them off on Tuesdays. Maw’s sells Ashe County Cheese and English Farmstead Cheese, made in McDowell County. It sells North Folk Farm beef, chicken, and pork from nearby Zionville, and Moravian beef and chicken pies from Winston-Salem.
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“They all know how to say ‘yes, ma’am,’” Mrs. Kirkland said. “All of them do.” Good manners has its reward. She recalled a boy who worked for her years ago who, after getting his master’s degree, returned to the shop and mentioned that he wanted to go
area. Mrs. Kirkland said she has done well because “number one, I have such quality produce, and we’re so customer-friendly. And the other thing is, everything in here gets picked up and checked every day,” she said, waving her hand over the tables of peaches, bins of corn, baskets of apples, and buckets of melons. She and her crew—the Gough boys and 18-year employee Brenda Klinger—handpick each item they put out, a practice that Mrs. Kirkland learned from Danny Kirkland. “This son of mine, he’s real particular about stuff,” she said. “To this day, he goes through every box of tomatoes before they leave the warehouse to the customer. There’s not one bad tomato in a box that he sells. You’ve got to have pretty produce. And then you’ve got to be customer-oriented. To me, those are the two key things. If you don’t have pretty produce, people won’t come back.” She flipped the scrapbook open again to point out little notes her son had written her about salesmanship as it applies
“These tomatoes that have a little bitty spot on them,” Mrs. Kirland said, “you put them under the counter so that when someone buys peaches, you can give them some of those tomatoes.” into international missionary work. She put him in touch with some people at the Boone-based relief organization Samaritan’s Purse who may help him get started. “So there are a lot of good stories around here,” Mrs. Kirkland said. “That’s a perk of being in a small town,” Julie Gough said. Maw’s Produce has had the same customers for years, a big accomplishment when you count all the produce stands in the
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to the produce. People driving by a stand have to see some vegetables out front, so they know you’re open. That’s rule number one. There’s a rule for stacking cantaloupes, and one about selling wrinkled yellow peppers. “That says a whole lot about what we do here,” Mrs. Kirkland said about her son’s note about the shriveled peppers. “They should not have been out here for somebody to buy,” she said. “There had better not be a bad tomato.” “These tomatoes that have a little bitty spot on them,” she said, “you put them under the counter so that when someone buys peaches, you can give them some of those tomatoes. What that does, that tomato—one I would eat—it’s going to taste real good. So they’ll come back, and they’ll get tomatoes.” She smiled and started to laugh. “They think I’m giving food away. But that’s not what it’s about. That’s another little trick of the trade.” Another point of good salesmanship, she said, is remembering the names of people who stop in. They’re flattered and pleased. “I can’t always do it, but I think that’s real important,” she said. “The other thing that’s important is that, when someone walks in, someone needs to speak to them, whether you know their name or not. Everybody who works here works hard so that nobody will pick up a wrinkled yellow pepper.”
Danny Kirkland buys as much as he can from Watauga, Ashe, Avery, and McDowell counties. He keeps much of the rest of Maw’s Produce local as well. Two wood cook stoves act as sideboards for homemade pound cakes made by a woman in Lenoir and delivered every Thursday. A woman in Blowing Rock makes the cinnamon rolls, dropping them off on Tuesdays. Maw’s sells Ashe County Cheese and English Farmstead Cheese, made in McDowell County. It sells North Folk Farm beef, chicken, and pork from nearby Zionville, and Moravian beef and chicken pies from Winston-Salem. It carries breads made by a bakery in Boone. Mrs. Kirkland makes a snack mix that’s popular with hikers of the trails on Grandfather Mountain. She has sticks that Petey has cut and cleaned for roasting marshmallows for s’mores. She was about to make her run for more produce, when she put the scrapbook back on the shelf behind the cheery green checkout counter. She seemed light on her feet, despite the miles she had to go before the season ends. “This is a perfect thing for me to get to do,” she said. “It’s a good life. And I tell you what, you sleep real good at night because, you know, you’re tired.”
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October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 65
UPDATES FOR
NATIONAL WORLD [
& news briefs
Zillow makes deal for Chinese market
marketing officer, added, “Chinese home buyers spent $22 billion in the United States last year, nearly doubling what they spent in the previous year.”
u.s. to china
Zillow Inc. is hoping to tap into the profitable Chinese appetite for American homes by making a deal with a Chinese real estate company. Zillow, based in Seattle, said Chinese home shoppers who look for United States homes using Leju Holdings Limited platforms now will have access to Zillow’s U.S. listings. This will be done through a co-branded Zillow-Leju site. According to Zillow, Chinese buyers are the largest population of foreign buyers of homes in America. The median price of the homes they purchased was approximately $523,148, with 76 percent of purchases reported as all-cash purchases. Amy Bohutinsky, Zillow chief HunterBanks_CapitalPlay ad.pdf
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NASCAR, Comcast’s Xfinity ink 10-year sponsorship deal nation
NASCAR signed an agreement with Comcast to make the company’s Xfinity brand the title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series through 2024. According to the Florida-based motorsports organization, the 10-year deal is the longest single agreement for a title sponsorship of any NASCAR national series in history and the longest entitlement sponsorship in this 10:42 AM
series’ history. Comcast’s Xfinity brand is a residential service brand and video and high-speed Internet provider. It will be the third title sponsor of the series. Previous sponsors were Anheuser-Busch and Nationwide Insurance. On the first day of next year, the competition will be known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In addition, Comcast’s NBC Sports unit will begin broadcasting NASCAR race events in July. The deal will also establish Comcast’s Xfinity as a NASCAR partner. Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, said, “NASCAR and Xfinity are each leader brands with much in common. Both are focused on innovation and have products built for speed. Together, we will work to take this series to new heights and elevate one of the most unique and powerful partnerships in all of sports.”
Target and U.S. Bank buy into Apple Pay nation
U.S. Bank and Target are buying into Apple Inc.’s mobile-payments service. The service, Apple Pay, allows consumers to make purchases by touching an
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iPhone 6, or Apple’s new smart watch, to a receiver device at checkout terminals. Apple has arranged agreements with six major banks, including Wells Fargo and Company, which will allow their cards to be used with the system. U.S. Bank will also allow its customers to use the service later this fall. Companies also can integrate Apple Pay into their mobile apps, which is where Target comes in. According to the retailer, customers using Target’s app on iPhone 6 devices can take advantage of the technology. Apple Pay users can pay without having to enter account or billing information each time. Retailers that will accept Apple Pay in their stores include McDonald’s, Whole Foods Market, and Walgreens.
Harvard receives record $350M gift
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carolina in the west
the old north state
of Hang Lung Group Ltd. gave the record-breaking gift with the intent to advance research to fight pandemics, humanitarian crises, and other humanitarian and environmental challenges. As part of the gift, Harvard will rename its school of public health the T.H. Chan School of Public Health in honor of the Chans’ father. The money will support all aspects of the school and its student needs, from improving research and work in under-served disciplines to reducing the cost burden for students to attend. Gerald Chan has degrees in radiation physics and radiobiology from Harvard’s public school of health and owns a home in Newton. He and his brother’s firm own commercial real estate throughout Asia, as well as in the United States, having recently acquired parcels in Harvard Square.
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Two brothers who operate a commercial real estate firm in Hong Kong have donated $350 million to the Harvard School of Public Health, the largest individual gift in Harvard University’s history. According to Julio Frenk, dean of the Harvard School of Public Health Don’t let in Boston, Gerald and Ronnie Chan
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China launches precaution chopsticks china
Food scandal concerns in China sparked by recycled cooking oil, fox meat, and chemicals may be alleviated by an innovative “smart chopsticks” concept created by search engine Baidu. The company
national & world
says the device, which was born of an April Fool’s Day video, can tell consumers whether their meal is safe to eat. At the time, Baidu had no intention of actually pursuing the idea. However, according to a company spokesman, “it generated a lot of excitement both internally and externally.” A video released by the company shows recent development, exhibiting a user placing the electronic chopsticks in three cups of cooking oil. Sensors detect the oil’s temperature and evaluate its suitability for consumption. Then, the findings are displayed on a smartphone app. When cooking oil has a higher than 25% level of total polar materials, an indicator of freshness, the chopsticks flash a red light. Poor food safety is a primary concern in China. In 2008, during one of the country’s worst food scandals, the industrial chemical melamine was illegally added to dairy products, killing six children and making 300,000 people ill. A specific concern is “gutter oil,” cooking oil illegally made by reprocessing waste oil or by dredging up leftovers from restaurants and marketing it as new. It is not clear whether the smart chopsticks will go into commercial production. The company only made a limited amount of prototypes, the spokesman said, and no release date or price had been set.
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Lincoln Park Zoo to give Lionel Trains a new brand platform chicago, illinois
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Lionel Trains has been seen as a model train maker for roughly 114 years. This October, Lionel will unveil its first ever life-sized train installation at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Called the Lionel Train Adventure, the ride is being introduced as another attraction to draw more visitors to one of Chicago’s most popular tourist sites. But the train ride is also a new way for Lionel to expand an iconic brand’s footprint. According to a Lionel spokeswoman, the 28-passenger trackless train includes coal cars and a wheelchair accessible caboose. It will navigate along a path at the Zoo that begins at a newly built red brick train station and continues through an evergreen forest setting, across a country bridge and over a craggy canyon before returning to the station where the journey started. In addition to giving the Lincoln Park Zoo another attraction, the new Lionel train offers a new avenue for the recognized model train maker to remain relevant in the public eye in a new and different way. Lionel LLC, located in Chesterfield Township, Michigan, owns Lionel Trains. The Lionel Train Adventure formally debuts at the Zoo on October 2nd. The ride is currently scheduled to operate seasonally.
New vodka in Memphis memphis , tennessee
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Two prominent Memphis families are collaborating on the start of Memphis’ first vodka distillery. Alexander and Winston Folk, grandsons of Humphrey Folk Jr., founder of Folk’s Folly, and Richard and Cannon Smith, sons of Fred Smith, founder of FedEx Corporation, are launching Big River Distilling Company this October. Big River Distilling will create Pyramid Vodka, which will be made with ingredients from farms within a 100-square-mile radius of Memphis. By-products of the vodka will be recycled back to local farmers to be used for feed. The vodka’s production process takes eight days, and the distillery will be located at 802 Royal Avenue in North Memphis. Winston Folk claims the locally grown primary products for the vodka, water and corn, make Memphis the ideal spot for Pyramid Vodka production. The involvement of the Smith brothers is also related to the growth potential of the market. Richard Smith explained, “Vodka is America’s largest spirits category, and the premium sector has an attractive growth trajectory… This distillery is one-of-a-kind for Memphis, and we’re already seeing a great response from potential customers, local bars and restaurants, who want to carry the Pyramid Vodka label.”
capital_at_play_Oct14_no bleed.pdf 1 9/12/2014 11:25:28 AM
Shorepower assists Manhattan’s idling ambulances new york city
Shorepower Technologies has secured $350,000 in grants to bring truck-stop technology to the streets of New York to assist the idling ambulances of Manhattan. Shorepower secured $320,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and another $20,000 from Drive Oregon, which supports the state’s electric vehicle industry. According to Alan Bates, Shorepower’s vice president of marketing, the company is modifying its truck-stop electrification technology to build street corner kiosks that can power ambulances waiting at any given time. The New York Fire Department has nearly 600 ambulances idling at corners in Manhattan. Each uses about a gallon of diesel per hour while waiting for calls. Shorepower is altering the same power vending systems it uses to electrify trucks at truck stops to serve ambulance crews. However, one significant difference is that ambulances urgently depart with little time to deal with power lines. Shorepower is creating a system that will automatically eject the power cord when the driver turns the ignition key. The cord will automatically retract back into the kiosk. The company will initially install ten ambulance stations, but eventually expects a much larger market for the stations.
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Disney to build Frozen ride
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orlando, florida
It comes as no surprise: Walt Disney World is bringing an attraction based on the Frozen film to Epcot. Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, has allegedly said the company is “starting construction at Walt Disney World Resort on a brand new Frozen attraction at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot.” “The new attraction, which replaces Maelstrom, will take our guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film,” he explained. The park’s plans also include a meet and greet area in the Norway Pavilion, among other features. The new ride is reportedly expected to open by 2016.
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Whatever you do not anticipate will happen
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chuck has extensive PR experience & is currently the principal at Carolina Image Builders.
by CHUCK WERLE
W
HEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN to small business owners, the outcome is often disastrous or extremely damaging. But determination, being resourceful, and using strategic thinking can turn crisis chaos into recovery. There are two local enterprises as excellent examples: Pisgah Inn and Yesterday’s Tree. Because October is the height of the leaf season in the Mountains, visitors are everywhere, especially along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is also a prime revenue month for the adjoining Pisgah Inn. Last October, operator Bruce O’Connell defied Parkway managers by keeping the Inn open during the federal government shutdown. He put at risk his contract that had been in effect for his family since 1978. Loyal customers were very grateful, but O’Connell assumed that his chances of obtaining a new contract from the National Park Service were slim to none.
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So Bruce invested a staggering $100,000 with a consultant to prepare a very comprehensive proposal. The proposal described in detail O’Connell’s plans to upgrade the restaurant, the adjacent country store, the gift shop and employee housing. In all there were as many as 200 proposed changes. Among them was a plan to establish a location beyond the busy parkway corridor where supplies headed for the Inn could be consolidated to reduce the number of trucks traveling back and forth on the winding Parkway. He also proposed major changes to reduce solid waste the property incurs and for installing energy efficient LED lighting. The plan seeks to make the 51-room Inn “as environmentally friendly and green as can be done,” according to the operator. The enhancements would also include adding more fire sprinklers. He also made it clear that the Pisgah Inn restaurant seating will continue to provide exceptional views of the Parkway mountains. Was the proposal given serious consideration? A few weeks ago, O’Connell was awarded a new contract to operate the popular Inn for the next ten years, through 2025.
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Back in 2003, a fire in the middle of the night destroyed the entire building of Yesterday’s Tree, a very successful home furnishings store on Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Under the direction of owner, Peggy Yarborough, the store which was founded in 1983, had earned a loyal following by offering exceptional service, outstanding home furnishings, and wise counsel to customers. According to the Asheville Fire Department, the devastating blaze was traced to some rags used in refinishing furniture that were not stored properly during a very warm night. Nothing was salvaged, except the company records in a safe. Over the course of two traumatic weeks, the owner was convinced to start over by her loyal customers and friends. Hundreds of them. Even the Asheville media. Her creative advertising agency and public relations firm stepped in to help. Almost immediately. Timing was of the essence.
The best time to prepare for a crisis is before you have one. Even for a small business enterprise, the CEO should be the person to talk to the media.
A display ad for the Asheville Citizen-Times was created with the headline and ensuing copy:
Total Loss
“That’s what they’re calling it. But I think they’re wrong. Since the fire I have been overwhelmed by the understanding, the encouragement, and the generosity this community has offered the Yesterday’s Tree family. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all of the people who have been so unselfish with their sympathy and so giving of their support. My hope is that when our doors reopen, we’ll prove deserving of all the kindness you have shown us. Our inventory may be gone, but we held onto so much and gained so much more. How can that be considered a total loss? How can that be considered a loss at all?” —Peggy Yarborough A new store was opened one mile south of the original in a very short time, with a larger showroom. Right after the fire, our agency prepared a letter on behalf of the entire staff that was published in the same Asheville Citizen-Times which praised all the firefighters who risked their lives trying to save the store. The newspaper delivered a gift basket, as did WLOS-TV, while loyal customers provided food and helped with sorting out orders to be filled. Peggy Yarborough also established an endowment on behalf of the firefighters at AB-Tech entitled the Bio-Protection Program.
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October 2014 | capitalatplay.com
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It operated for 11 years. In celebration of Yesterday’s Tree’s 30th anniversary in 2015, a comparable plan is under consideration. At the old location, Peggy authorized a sign that read: “Thanks for Caring. Don’t Worry. We’ll be back.” —The Staff at Yesterday’s Tree and Truffles (with the store dog’s paw print and his signature sunglasses.) With a positive attitude and some creative thinking, most of the worst of crisis situations can be overcome. But not always. Terminated emergency room doctors at Haywood Regional Medical Center instantly recognized the need for a crisis communications plan. They had been fired by the Medical Center CEO in a policy dispute. The terminations were carried out with the support of the hospital board. But the same CEO was fired about a year later as the Medical Center suffered significantly from criticism by indignant Haywood County patients. The doctors have launched a powerful media relations campaign which included a public hearing, with all Haywood residents invited, and a presentation on behalf of the emergency room doctors, plus many endorsements from hospital nurses,
and outraged citizens worried about the shortage of qualified doctors in the case of emergencies. The Medical Center CEO had replaced ten emergency room specialists with six doctors from Phoenix Physicians LLC—even though the current staff had a valid contract that would not expire for another two years. Ultimately, the Medical Center was decertified for three months and the lost revenue took its toll. Nine of the terminated doctors sued and the settlement was reported as $1.5 million. A typical comment at the time was made by Robin Matthews, the medical chief of staff: “The medical staff is very distraught over the potential loss of these very fine doctors.” Mark Jaben, associate medical director for the emergency room staff, issued a compelling statement: “The emergency department is a tightly choreographed affair. They are going to drop these new doctors into a department where they don’t know how it runs. They don’t know the nurses. They don’t know the computer system, and they are going to do it on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year.” All of the displaced doctors, except one who stayed, eventually found new positions, and Jaben was recruited to become the head of the emergency room in New Zealand’s largest hospital. The doctors did receive considerable national media attention
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C members, employees, etc. A priority listing can be crucial. As for the media, that will be a challenge. The turnover in reporters these days is staggering. The Advocates for Small Business held a “Meet the Media” Workshop at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce a few years ago. There were seven media participants, usually senior staffers who are experienced in working with small business owners. Only two of the seven are still employed. Sherrill Barber is with WLOS-TV, and David Hurand is News Director at WCQS Radio. Enough said. Next month, I will address crucial tips in dealing with the press in a crisis situation. Then you will learn from first-hand experience in a situation dealing with one of the largest utility corporations in the Midwest (Chicago-based) and a wildcat strike by brewery workers while I was public relations manager for Miller in Milwaukee.
Chuck has experience in PR with major companies including J. Walter Thompson, Leo Burnett Company, & Miller Brewing Co. He authored an executives’ guidebook on press relations that was distributed by Harvard University’s Business School.
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throughout the entire ordeal, thanks to Vicki Hyatt serving as a wire service correspondent. So what do you do when a crisis situation erupts and the problem need to be solved immediately? Before you communicate to your most important audiences, some basic questions must be answered: What happened? Where and when did it occur? What went wrong? How soon can the situation be corrected? Who is responsible? Who has suffered, or will, because of the situation? Fortified with that vital information, you will be better prepared to select the most important audiences for immediate notification. One of them is bound to be the media. What you say and do at this critical point after the crisis can make all the difference in the outcome. The best time to prepare for a crisis is before you have one. Even for a small business enterprise, the CEO should be the person to talk to the media, with perhaps one or two other savvy and composed executives. Draft a simple one-page plan on the steps to follow and do not deviate. That page should contain the name and phone number of a public relations or crisis counselor to contact. Those other executives can help the CEO/owner decide who else should be notified—key customers, suppliers, board
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Technology advances, People stay the same THE RAY FAMILY written by emily ball ard
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photos by anthony harden
As any family that has an elderly or disabled loved one that they are caring for knows, getting the help and care required can often times be a struggle. Facilities aren’t always the answer, and affordability is always a concern. In a small office park in South Asheville, a family run business strives to offer an alternative that is both innovative and authentic, creating products that are advanced, and operating with a genuine purpose that gives you the warm fuzzy feeling of trust and hope. 74
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allen r ay
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tepping through the doors of SimplyHome, located off of busy Hendersonville Road, there is a calming and serene feeling, a bit unexpected for a technology company. New cutting edge technology might conjure up images of sharp modern art and industrial dĂŠcor. Yet the SimplyHome headquarters in Asheville fully lives up to its name and their philosophy of providing the comfort and protection you can expect in your home. The first interaction might be of a friendly Boston terrier rushing to greet you with a few sniffs and nudging for affection, and then returning to its sunny napping spot on the carpet beneath the bright windows. This office is a dog friendly establishment 76
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and employees are encouraged to bring their furry loved ones to work, assuming they are well-behaved. The entryway has high ceilings and comfortable seating. While waiting for your appointment, the trickling fountain gives the impression of relaxation that one might find before entering for a spa service, and along one wall is a shelf of relics from the past. There is an old typewriter, timeworn books, antique telegraph machines, and vintage cameras. These items are on display to represent things of our past and the advancements we have made, and also how the means of communication has evolved. Allen Ray and his family are the owners and founders of SimplyHome, a company that provides technological services
the simply home office
in South Asheville
and products to simplify home needs and provide a means of health monitoring to give individuals the opportunity to be self-sufficient in their own home, while still providing protection and keeping their family informed. In other words, a security blanket for those in need.
The Family Behind SimplyHome Allen and his wife first came to Western North Carolina on their honeymoon and instantly fell in love with the area. It would be 15 years before they found the opportunity they were looking for to return. As business consultants, they began by revitalizing an existing nonprofit business located in Southern
Pines, similar to what would become SimplyHome. Their first order of business was to establish their company in Asheville and to transition from a facility based service to a company offering the means for clients to live in a place they want to live: their own home. They felt that there just were not enough options for people who needed help but didn’t want to live in a home or state run facility. The mantra that they adhere to is that they are not selling technology, but trying to create an outcome, realizing that everyone’s outcome is different, therefore basing their services on individual needs. “We want to find out what are the failures built into your day, which is different for each of us, and design the supports October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 77
Caught up on work, but behind on life? The clock is ticking...
simplyhome ' s first family :
Drue, Jason, Allen, and Beau (the warm & fuzzy HR director)
a vintage t ypewriter
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SLEEPWORLD for them, knowing that tomorrow these supports may change.” Allen, his wife (Drue), and his son (Jason) all work at SimplyHome, and the fourth partner he describes as like a son to the family. They have achieved numerous awards, accolades, and patents you can see displayed throughout the office. Allen is an engineer and recipient of many technology awards, and his wife was recently named entrepreneur of the year by a local organization. Bumping into the whole family on a tour of the product demo space, they pose for a picture proudly holding their dog, Beau. There is a sense of ease and camaraderie throughout the office. There are talks of practical jokes, and a set of golf balls and a golf club rest in the corner for those days they want to “putt for lunch.” A vintage pin ball machine resides in the lofty product design space for those needed breaks from the intricate design work. The concept for SimplyHome derived from a visit to a facility in which an elderly patient described her experience. She loved the food, the care, and the place, but it simply wasn’t her home. It was from this that the light bulb illuminated, and the Ray family started their journey in helping people maintain their life at home.
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The Road to Home In addition to SimplyHome, the family also is the proprietor of Innovative Solutions, a Wisconsin based company with the same ideals that uses the technological developments to offer assistance to residents. The raw passion of what he does and what his company stands for is apparent, as Allen explains a sequence of events that propelled their business into action. In the early 2000s, the state of Wisconsin closed a number of institutions, displacing 154 patients in need and leaving them with few options for care, if any. The Ray family was outraged at the prospect of so many people being forced to relocate to places they didn’t want to be and taking them away from what they
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October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 79
were familiar with, and Allen’s wife urged her husband to use his skills in developing a solution. They appealed to the state with proposals and spoke with representatives in hopes of finding a resolution. They were met with resistance to their advanced suggestions of developing technology to aid these individuals. Allen temporarily moved to Wisconsin and adamantly spoke with each and every family that was being affected either through public meetings or individual discussions. These same families were instrumental in helping further their appeals, and their persistence paid off. In 2004 all of the family members in need were moved into community settings that integrated the SimplyHome technologies in assisting the special needs these individuals faced. A decade later these individuals are still living successfully in these establishments, and every year they have a picnic and shrimp boil to celebrate their successes. Allen enjoys attending these yearly festivities and feels rewarded when family members hug him in appreciation and express that they never thought their loved ones would strive and excel to reach the outcomes they have. Allen paints a picture of the vast dairy land throughout that area that can be used for communities such as this, in which residents can enjoy having chickens and other life enhancing amenities that are made possible with the technology that his company provides. He envisions such communities being developed in Western North Carolina and says he has been contacted by several representatives on how to make this happen. He believes that he has the successful model.
In the early 2000s, the state of Wisconsin closed a number of institutions, displacing 154 patients in need and leaving them with few options for care, if any.
The Language of Technology The key to success for SimplyHome is in the technology. In a time when new technology becomes old technology before we even know about it, Allen and his employees are more excited than ever. For each individual that they help they look at what products currently exist, and if they can’t find what they need, then they develop it.
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​ elehealth communicates with T the SimplyHome system.
Brooks Johnson assembles the system for environmental controls and monitoring.
An automated medication dispenser.
Who needs assistance?
here are some statistics on the disabled , as well as our aging popul ation .
Western North Carolina’s population is aging faster than the rest of the state. 36% of the population is over age 50.
A patented stove sensor to provide notice of an electric stove left unattended.
North Carolina’s highest percentages of elderly individuals are concentrated in 5 of Western North Carolina’s counties. Data for the 23 counties of Western North Carolina predicts that by 2030 the largest segment of the population will be over 60. 18.3% of Asheville’s population is aged 65 to 85 years. It is projected that this group will double in the next 14 years. (According to the Asheville Chamber of Commerce) North Carolina’s older population is expected to double by 2030, rising from 1.1 million to 2.2 million with one of every five Americans 65 years or older. (According to The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research) 20.2% of North Carolina adults ages 18 and over have reported that they have activity limitations due to physical, mental, or emotional health problems or limitations. (According to BRFSS, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
Environmental control activation, event notifications and social interactions are facilitated via tablets.
7.8% of North Carolina adults report they have a health problem requiring special equipment. Defined as the adult population born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers make up approximately 25% of the total population of the United States. 91% of baby boomers feel the need to take measures to ensure their future health. (According to the International Health, Racquet, & Sportsclub Association) The United Health Foundation has ranked North Carolina 36th in overall state health rankings. (Data derived from local county governments in Western North Carolina, as well as Western Carolina University’s 2014 Regional Outlook Report.)
Brooks Johnson
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Their products range from the basic emergency response The upstairs design room hosts a 3-D printer where all systems, to medication dispensers, to environmental controls prototypes are created and tested before distribution, and the operated by tablet or voice activation. They offer devices that experimentation happens with the inevitable successes and monitor health factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, and failures. Beside the wires, gadgets, and microchips there is a weight. They can install sensors that identify if the kitchen picture that simply states: “Technology advances, people stay oven has been on too long with the same.” And following down no motion detected. All of this the hall is framed artwork that software and technology is patients and clients have crebacked by customer support, ated. Each one telling a story as well as individualized family that just possibly SimplyHome notifications. may have helped them to tell. Back in the demo room, Allen demonstrates what happens Extreme Makeover: when someone gets out of bed Home Edition and enters the display bathroom. As he moves through There is no way to bypass certain tasks, an alert is sent unnoticed the many pictures to his phone demonstrating the lining the stairway displaying real time communication. The the company’s involvement in minute-to-minute breakdown the well-known, tear jerking, may be overkill for some, but inspirational show Extreme this is why they customize the Makeover: Home Edition, in system to each individual. which families in need are Wireless monitors notify the system In the eyes of SimplyHome, given a revolutionary home when an individual has left the bed & what sets them apart from renovation, that caters to their activates the bathroom light or can other companies—and there needs and disabilities. be programmed to call for help. aren’t many that do what they SimplyHome was contacted, offer—is that they view all of to partake in the show to prothese monitoring devices as its vide state of the art technology own language. Their job is to interpret all the languages in one to the featured at-risk individual. When initially contacted simplified, easy to read place. When training new employees, Allen reserved a bit of skepticism and was steadfast in his Allen equates this process to the United Nations where cultures instructions that he would only donate products and services with different languages convene in one place. In this case that were really needed. SimplyHome would be the interpreter. “We do it under one condition. We only do the things that
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he needs, just like we would for anyone, not just because it is good television.” He prides his company on the fact that they never upsell for unnecessary services. They don’t sell anything without an individual assessment. They reserve the right to say "no" and encourage all clients to say "no" when it is not right for them, whether the family wants it or the television station wants it. The first thing they did when they reached the filming site was request to see the client they were helping, and spent time finding out his actual needs. Once his health concerns were addressed, Allen asked him a personal question. “If you could change some things in your life what would that be?” His immediate response, without hesitation, was that he would never get a girlfriend if his Dad always had to hold the
SimplyHome has a continued dialogue with those they have assisted on the show as well as the cast and crew of Extreme Makeover. They periodically offer advice to the show, and they have offered any of their services free of charge for life for those individuals.
A Family Firm You get the feeling that working for SimplyHome is pretty much like working with family. Besides being allowed to bring your pets to work, you are also expected to concur with the family and business philosophy of giving back to the community. Allen requires that all employees fulfill at least two days a year of volunteer work to their chosen organization, and group volunteer activities are organized such as the upcoming sponsorship for the autism walk. “We want the outcome to be something they go home and feel good about. We encourage employees to leave the day feeling like you made a difference.” So at a time when baby boomers are aging, veterans are returning disabled from war, traumatic brain injuries are common, and disabled children are born daily, there is an overabundance of incapacitated individuals and a lack of facilities that are able to help. It is the goal of SimplyHome to help find other options. “To be in charge of their life at a time when we thought that they couldn’t be. What a powerful story,” Allen responds when asked why he comes to work each day. A powerful story indeed.
“To be in charge of their life at a time when we thought that they couldn’t be. What a powerful story,” Allen responds when asked why he comes to work each day. phone and listen to his conversations and was concerned that girls just found that creepy. In response Allen and his team worked in 108 degree weather in a small tent and developed an earpiece operated by a magnet that would give him the independence to pursue his social life, a deed that was ultimately beneficial and concurrently good television. “We don’t know what tomorrow will hold, but we know if we can give you the things that are essential to you, it will give you the time you need for your therapy and other things to help you feel better,” Allen advised.
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capital adventurist
Friars in the Forest
written by william hay wood illustr ations by a aron longo
A YOUNG MAN SAT BY A SMALL FIRE IN THE PISGAH Wilderness. Near nowhere and no one, thoughts of what was going on in society still pestered him along with the mosquitoes buzzing around. These would pass with more time and the pleasant tired feeling that comes with long days walking, rock hopping through streams, and flicking a fly rod around without catching much of anything. On the north side of a ridge, darkness had come early, and he wondered whether he had enough firewood to keep the cold at bay until the sun reappeared. Classrooms had never suited his disposition. The fluorescent lights would beat down on him grinding away with their unpleasant hum, and closed eyes would result in reprimand even on the days when he wasn’t actually sleeping in class. In between school sessions, an opportunity would arise allowing a window of escape to pursue some kind of existential resurrection. Though not dissatisfied with life, a yearning for something different was ever present. Uncertainty with what 84
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this educational path would lead to did not prove as inspiring as the uncertainty of new terrain or a test of courage. The fire dwindled as he nestled into a sleeping bag. It was not cold enough to be dangerous. He knew that he would wake up with cold toes and aching legs, but he also knew he would wake up. None of that Montana madness again, where maintaining the same toe count seemed unlikely. The instant potatoes he had filled his stomach with sat heavy and warm. Focusing on his own breath and the wrestling canopy above him, a fitful sleep set in.
A LOUD SNEE ZING SOUND in the direction of his bear bagged food stores brought him back to consciousness. Do bears sneeze? Maybe. Do I care enough about instant grits, couscous, and mashed potatoes to find out?
This thought passed quickly and, while he hoped his food would still be intact in the morning, a dark encounter with a black bear seemed unlikely to produce a positive outcome. Head went back to pillow and a similarly, unruly sleep found him again.
SNAP! The pop of the branch startled him. That was much closer. He popped an eye open. Daylight. From his rolled over position, head covered by the hood of his sleeping bag, there was not a good angle to see what was going on. “Hello. Hello.” A deep tenor echoed off of the trees. Dammit, he thought. Are the park rangers here to give me a hard time again? He sat up, wiping his eyes, and looked around. “HELLOOO.” The voice boomed again. “Hello.” The young man replied uncertainly. A group of about eight brownish figures came into view and the young man felt around for his glasses in the lining of his sleeping bag. The figures were too broad and billowy to be Ranger uniforms, and while bears might sneeze, they definitely don’t talk or hang out in groups. His fingertips finally grasped his glasses and he brought them up to his face. Men in brown robes approached and chorused more “hellos.” Unzipping his sleeping bag and rolling awkwardly out of it, the young man rose to his numb feet to greet these unusual woodland creatures. Wizards aren’t real as far as I know… Monks… They have got to be monks. “Hello fellows.” He coughed. Not having spoken much in the previous days words felt strange on his tongue. They did look like bears in their brown robes, especially those with beards. He introduced himself with an outreached hand. “I’m Jackson.” “Hello, Jackson.” They chimed back in discordant unison. He looked at them quizzically and they chuckled, one of the younger looking Monk Bears bursting into laughter. The eldest gave his younger charge a stern look. The laughter subsided after what seemed to be a little over a minute. The young Monk Bear wiping tears from his eyes. The elder Monk Bear turned back to Jackson. “I am Father Robert and we are Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. We are on a pilgrimage to Graymoor.” “Graymoor?” “It is a monastery in New York.” Father Robert explained. He looked tired. “Will you be walking the entire way?” “No.” He looked towards the heavens in thanks. “No, we are not. This is just a part of our journey for walking and meditation.” Father Robert introduced the other Friars, the youngest last, Brother John, making clear that he was the rookie. Jackson excused himself to go see what, if anything, was left of his bear bag in the distant trees. The bag was intact and still hanging where he had left it. Whatever had been mulling about underneath it was either unsuccessful in reaching it (hang ’em high) or
decided the bouquet of freeze-dried food was not worth the effort. Trudging back up the hill, he saw monks re-stoking the fire and pulling out some bread and water bottles. A heated (for monks) discussion was going on about wool versus polyester robes. Jackson set about making coffee, some breakfast, and chatting with Brother John and some of the other Friars. He did not know if Friars drank coffee. He had never met any Friars. The only monks he had met were he looked Buddhists in California and their robes were a different at them color. He offered the coffee quizzically anyway and a few of them accepted. and they The monks did not have chuckled , one much in the way of equipof the younger ment, but had not forgone all comforts. Where one might looking monk think there would be rope bears bursting sandals, there were Chacos. In most cases these men had into l aughter sought and found simplicity, solace, and service within the realms of their faith. Several spoke of an anxiety in the modern world that left them in need for a higher calling. Regardless of empathy between Jackson and the Friars, they did not seem
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interested in recruiting him. This was probably for the better. Perhaps the fluorescent lights had been too much for them as well.
THE FRIARS WERE PLANNING TO HIKE and camp for several nights, but were not as well equipped, as they are not allowed personal possessions. Brother John, the newest addition to the order, turned out to be an experienced minimalist backpacker. He told Jackson he had gone so far as to make his own packs and tarps out of parachute material. He was understandably still coming to terms with his most recent choice of what seemed like a much more serious type of minimalism: A life of abstinence and selflessness. it was a With some friarly help Jackson moment of packed his gear and, with little regard to his original destination, hil arit y began to walk, accompanied that every by his ill-prepared but jovial friends. They did not move with one of them any urgency and yet seemed realized at purposeful with every step. They walked in silence without once “ how ’ s speaking for several hours, their that for steps gradually finding a rhythm. your marilyn The day was hot and Jackson imagined the brothers must monroe !” be boiling in their robes. At a brother john stream crossing they splashed water on their faces to cool off, quipped but when the brothers began to fill water bottles he stopped them before they drank. “Hold up, fellas!” Brother John looked over and nodded. “Probably best not to drink that straight, it looks cleaner than it is.” He said, looking happy to be the one imparting wisdom for once. Jackson rifled through his pack pulling out a bottle of iodine tablets, distributing them among the brothers bottles. “Shake it well and wait a bit.” Giardia could make you s--t through a screened door, he remembered an old mentor telling him. It seemed better not to share this bit of the advice with the group.
between them and the shelter. As they took their first few steps, a strong gust of wind whipped up the incline, revealing more of the brothers than Jackson had any intention of seeing. As it turns out, Franciscan Monks do wear underclothes—most of them. It was a moment of hilarity that every one of them realized at once. “How’s that for your Marilyn Monroe!” Brother John quipped. This time even the elder of the group, Robert, fell into a booming laugh. As the voices echoed throughout the ravine, Jackson felt a camaraderie with a group that seemed like it would be so distant and stoic. Beneath the habits they were human. Kind and dignified in their decision to serve and live in chastity and poverty, yet still unashamed to laugh brazenly into the wind.
A SIDE TRAIL RUNNING OFF to the lean-to was posted with various signs warning the prevalence of bears in the area. Several of the brothers looked worried. Jackson did not. While his encounters with bears had been frequent over the years, mostly he had just seen their backsides as they lumbered off away from him.
.
.
HAVING COOLED OFF, the merry troupe continued on its way. The midday heat had tempered as they crested the ridge that had taunted them all day. Stopping, they gazed off over the mountains along with the speckles of houses and towns. “Glorious,” murmured one of the brothers. Jackson agreed in silence. The ridgeline ended and a rocky descending trail stood
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it seemed that these measures, while not ideal, would be just fine. Nestled in his sleeping bag Jackson felt grateful for the company in this den of snoring bear monks. He had done well. Maybe there was some margin of redemption in that.
“Have you ever seen one?” Asked one of the Friars. “A few, on and off, a lot of people carry bear mace to fend them off, but I honestly haven’t had the need for it,” replied Jackson. Bears had managed to dislodge and destroy a lazily placed bear bag a time or two, but, then again, he often picked blackberries and the mushrooms he could safely recognize. He figured he and the bears were about even. Should a bear come upon this group of big brown bear monks it would likely be very confused. Jackson certainly was.
AS THE FRIARS SCUTTLED ABOUT enthusiastically collecting firewood, Jackson pulled out his camp stove and began boiling water. The three brothers carrying backpacks unloaded some bread loaves and freeze-dried soup packs. Several of the friars had wine. Jackson broke out the last bit of pre-cooked bacon to supplement the soup, and a solid meal was scratched together. The younger friars enthusiastically discussed contemporary movies through the meal, quoting Will Ferrell and doing their best Christopher Walken impressions. This was a sight to behold. Seclusion and meditation were important to them, but there was something refreshing about monks laughing their habits off. Dusk set in and it became obvious to Jackson that the friars only had blankets and a few sleeping bags between them. It was going be a long cold night for them. Temperatures fluctuated drastically in these mountains. Jackson began passing out all of his clothes. He had a tarp tent shelter that would cover all of them. The lean-to, basically a half cabin, would keep the wind off. Layers, layers, layers. If I ever make it to the pearly gates I am going to have a lot of explaining to do already, I better not let these friars turn into Monksicles, Jackson thought. He looked in his pack and doled out the last of his clothes. Hopefully the layers beneath the robes would suffice. The friars on the polyester side of the debate would be converted to wool by 2am. With everyone crowded into the sparse structure of the lean-to
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THE COLD OF THE NIGHT LINGERED well into the morning. A light frost covered the tarp canvassing the length of the friars. The sun had summoned fog as it gradually scoured trees of crystalline dewfall. Rubbing his hands together for warmth, Jackson looked on towards the ridgeline of the previous day with a satisfaction. The monks had seen his religion and appreciated it. He had witnessed their devotion and begun to understand their sacrifice. This was all accomplished without mention of the differences between them. The monks saw their breath as they gradually woke. Jackson assumed that in most contexts monks rose early for prayer. The vigorous climbs of the previous day and the lack of church bells gave them a chance to wake of their own accord. Breakfast commenced and ended quickly. Not in a rushed sense but Jackson was heading South and the friars North. They were meeting a fellow friar in a van to continue their pilgrimage. He was making up for a worthwhile day in the wrong direction and had a long leg of hiking to make up time and meet a friend. Thanks and farewells exchanged. Addresses given. Jackson doubted they would meet again, but it is always best to avoid such negativity when saying goodbye. Jackson smiled as he began his walk. Behind him the monks stopped on the incline and waved as Jackson traversed the narrow winding path. He did not see them, but his mind was clear as he continued on, only thinking of the path before him.
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Oct september 5 - october 26
Eliada’s Corn Maze thurs 9am - 4 pm , fri , sat, sun 10 am - 8 pm 2 compton drive, asheville, nc
Get lost in Western North Carolina’s largest corn maze this fall on the 12 acres of twisting trails at the Eliada Homes campus. Have fun while raising money to help care for children. They are located just four miles west of downtown Asheville in a scenic valley surrounded by mountains. Other popular attractions there include the hay ride, pumpkin patch, and corn cannons.
learn about the history of Laurel Park, back when visitors crowded the area’s lakes and pavilions to swim by day and dance by night. In addition, a replica of a general store will be on display.
admission: free
info: 828 - 694 -1619 hendersoncountymuseum.com
october 2- 4
NC Championship Walking Horse Show
wnc agicultural center , fletcher , nc
admission: $9 for adults , $6 for children ages 4 -11, children 3 & under free
This horse show is held at McGough Arena. Show times are at is 5:45pm on Thursday and Friday night, and 4pm on Saturday night.
october 1–24
october 4
info: eliada .org
info: 828 - 687-1414 or 919 - 681- 4431
Bearfootin’ Public Art Display main st, hendersonville, nc
Farm City Day 10 am - 4 pm jackson park, hendersonville, nc
Enjoy the public art on display featuring fiberglass outdoor bear sculptures decorated in different themes on the sidewalks of Main Street.
See modern and antique farm equipment and old timey demonstrations and displays. There will also be live entertainment, crafts, competitions, children’s games, a tractor pull, and food.
admission: free
info: 828 -233 -3216
october 1-31
“Coming of the Railroad” Exhibit wed -sat 10 am - 5pm , sun 1pm - 5pm henderson county heritage museum , hendersonville, nc See a replica of the Saluda Mountain Grade, the steepest main-line standard gauge railroad in the United States. Also 90
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admission: free
info: 828-697-4884 or 828-697-4891
october 4
Opening Reception for Hops & Crafts: Mugs, Steins, & Tankards reception: 2pm - 5pm Come meet your new favorite mug as Grovewood Gallery in Asheville celebrates American Craft Week with the opening of an exhibit of divine steins, perfect pints and tempting tankards, all
handcrafted by seventeen of Western North Carolina’s leading artists. Several participating artists will attend the opening ceremony, and craft beer and cider will be provided. Hops & Crafts is an invitational show, which will feature more than 70 beer drinking vessels. The exhibit will mostly be made up of ceramic offerings, but will also feature works by glass artists Mike Hatch and Terri Sigler. All vessels in this exhibit will be available for sale. Most range from $30 to $50. Hops & Crafts will be on display through Wednesday, December 31st.
admission: free
info: grovewood.com
october 2-26
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum wed -sat 8 pm thurs , sat, & sun 2pm flat rock playhouse, flat rock , nc Flat Rock Playhouse presents the Tony Award winning musical comedy. This broad and entertaining musical farce follows the path of the Roman slave, Pseudolus, on his long, convoluted, and ultimately hilarious path to freedom. It includes mild adult content.
admission: $40
info: 828 - 693 - 0731 flatrockplayhouse.org
october 4
Zombie Chase Race race begins at 4 pm , registration from 2-3 :30 pm
western carolina university, cullowhee, nc Runners will have a chance to outrun zombies during a 5-kilometer race that is
being sponsored by the Student Physical Therapy Association at Western Carolina University. The Zombie Run 5-K Chase Race will begin near the WCU picnic area. Runners will be given flags that zombies along the course will try to steal. Runners who complete the 5-K with at least one remaining flag will be considered “zombie apocalypse survivors.” Proceeds from the race will be used to provide physical therapy services to the community and to support physical therapy research. Prizes will be awarded to overall winners. Following the race, a “Zombie After Party” with live music and chicken wings and pizza will be held at Tuck’s Tap and Grille in Cullowhee from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Tickets to the after party are $5 for race participants and $10 for non-racers, with proceeds from the ticket sales also being used for physical therapy services and research.
admission: $20 advance, $25 on race day registration: active.com
Large selection of CHRISTMAS ITEMS just arrived!
october 3 & 5
Die Fledermaus oct 3 at 8 pm | oct 5 at 3 pm
diana wortham theatre at pack place, asheville, nc In Asheville Lyric Opera’s adaptation, the pompous Gabriel Eisenstein skips his first day of a jail sentence to have fun at Orlofsky Vandeburgh’s ball hosted at his mansion, the Giltmore. His friend, Dr. Falke, has convinced him to attend the ball in order to amuse Vandeburgh and seek revenge on his old pal for abandoning him in a prior time of need. After lying to his wife, Rosalinda, Eisenstein disguises himself and heads off to the party. As the night unfolds, expect to have many a laughs in this compelling romantic comedy.
admission: $30 - 58
info: ashevillelyric .org
october 4 -5 Art on Main Festival 10 am - 5pm main st, hendersonville, nc The Arts Council of Henderson County will present the 55th annual Art on Main fine art and fine craft festival, one of the region’s most popular outdoor arts festivals. The festival features clay, wood, glass, metal, painting, jewelry, and photography from local and regional artists, as well as many fine art and craft artists from states beyond the Southeast
“Our terraced mountain vineyard and winery nestled at the base of Grandfather Mountain is the first producing winery n Watauga County, NC. Warm breezes during the day and cool crisp nights help develop the flavors and balance of our wines. We think you’ll find our wines unique. Enjoy and share with friends!” Steve Tatum, Owner
LOCATED ON VINEYARD LANE IN FOSCOE LOCATED ON VINEYARD LANE IN FOSCOE Tasting Room Open Every Day Tasting Room Open Every Day except Tuesday Monday-Saturday 12&toSundays 6pm & 1:00 Sundays 1 to 5pm Noon till 6:00pm to 5:00pm (828) 963-2400 • www.grandfathervineyard.com (828) 963-2400 • www.grandfathervineyard.com
Sally Are Proud ProudTo ToWelcome WelcomeYou You Sallyand andSteve Steve Tatum Are To In Watauga WataugaCounty County ToThe TheFirst First Winery In October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 91
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region. More than 70 artists will participate in this juried and judged festival located on Hendersonville’s historic Main Street.
admission: free
info: acofhc .org
october 4 -january 4
The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.
join us!
asheville signature chefs auction November 7, 2014 6:00 p.m. for more information 828-258-1234 michaelablantonlowe@marchofdimes.com
National pastel exhibition reception: oct 4 from 5 -7pm on display: mon -sat 10 am - 5pm & sun noon - 5pm the bunzl gallery at the bascom, highlands, nc The Ba scom w i l l host the 2014 Appalachian Pastel Society Juried National Exhibition at the Bunzl Gallery. Stan Sperlak will be the show’s juror. An opening reception and curator talk will be held from 5-7pm on October 4th.
admission: free
info: thebascom .org
october 11
Motorama 9am -3 pm main st, hendersonville, nc Automobile dealers will display their new 2015 models, street rods, and antique and classic cars at this show. The Great Smoky Mountain Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Hendersonville Antique Car Club sponsor this event.
admission: free
info: 828 - 891- 8299 or 828 - 697- 8344
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october 11
Asheville Oktoberfest 1pm-6pm, check-in begins at 12pm coxe avenue, asheville, nc Downtown Asheville’s Coxe Avenue will transform into “Little Germany” for the Asheville Downtown Association’s 6th Annual Oktoberfest. Following a parade, the ceremonial tapping of the keg will officially open the festivities. Many brewers will feature seasonal ales for Oktoberfest and will be on hand to discuss their beers. The popular Oktoberfest Games will pit brewery against brewery with favorites like the stein race and keg-rolling contest along with new feats for participants to conquer. Back for the 6th year is internationally-renowned “oompah” band, The Stratton Mountain Boys. Their happy yodeling songs, shoe-slapping dances, and lively spirited Polka music are sure to incite dancing in the street and rousing cheers of “Prost!” Oktoberfest is a 21 and over festival, so you are encouraged to leave the kids at home. If you do bring children, those eight and up must have a designated driver ticket. Children under seven will be admitted free. Designated driver tickets are available for $15.
admission: $30 - $40
asheville signature chefs auction November 7, 2014 6:00 p.m.
Lioncrest - Biltmore Estate One Approach Road Asheville, NC 28803
info: ashevilledowntown.org
october 11
Fiesta 7:30 pm
blue ridge community college concert hall , flat rock , nc
for more information michaela blanton lowe mblantonlowe@marchofdimes.org (828) 258-1234
Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra presents French, Brazilian, and American composers inspired by folk music that showcase the vast vibrant, dynamic range of the symphony orchestra. World-renowned Mexican pianist Jorge Federico Osorio performs Beethoven’s monumental Emperor Concerto.
admission: $35 adults | $5 students
info: hendersonvillesymphony.org
october 11-12
Spruce Pine Potter’s Market 10 am - 5 pm 31 cross street, spruce pine, nc
presented by
This unique gathering of the region’s greatest potters and clay artists features wonderful food and beautiful handmade pottery
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on a colorful autumn weekend. Folks will have an opportunity to talk to the artists while stepping into a rich variety of backgrounds and interests.
admission: free october 11-12
Classic Wicker
Traditional outdoor wicker furniture, originally designed using the diamond back pattern with a braided frame, and generous proportions for total comfort. Classic features a high back and wide arms accentuated by our ball foot in UV resistant woven N-dura™ resin and aluminum frame.
Asheville Gun & Knife Show wnc agricultural center event center Mike Kent and Associates of North Carolina are hosting this gun show with a family friendly atmosphere, offering a wide variety of firearms and related equipment for shooters, collectors, and Civil War and Militaria enthusiasts. All federal, state, and local firearm ordinances and laws must be obeyed.
admission: free
info: 828 - 687-1414 or 770 -267- 0989
Club Aluminum
Introduced from France to Britain in the 19th century, croquet became the fashionable game of the day. Our Club & Croquet aluminum patio furniture is executed in our super-durable Weathered finish over extruded aluminum, updated for the 21st century.
october 12
NC Race for the Ring 1pm -3 :30 pm
wick and greene jewelers , 121 patton ave asheville, nc
Croquet Aluminum
109 BROADWAY
BLACK MOUNTAIN
(828) 669-5000 Mon. - Sat. 9am - 5:30pm TysonFurniture.com 94
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A lucky couple will win a $15,000 Wick and Greene Dream Engagement Ring at the NC Race for the Ring presented and hosted by Wick and Greene Jewelers. Qualifying couples will be invited to the one-day, real world digital scavenger hunt through Asheville. Participants will use mobile technology to answer clues and challenges to earn points. The team with the most points will win a $15,000 Wick and Greene Dream Engagement Ring. On-site registration begins at 1pm at Wick and Greene Jewelers, but couples must sign up on their website ahead of time for the chance to participate.
info: ncraceforthering .com
october 16
Move with Ease 1:30 –3 :30 pm
pardee signature care center , hendersonville, nc
Even with arthritis, you can move with ease. Cory Hustad, DPT, Barbara Shock, PTA, and Karen Winch, PTA and aquatics therapist, will demonstrate simple exercises and activities to help you maintain flexibility, which will allow you to enjoy your favorite activities. You can also participate in flexibility testing. Light refreshments will be served.
admission: free
to register : call 828 - 692- 4600 october 16 -19
Lake Eden Arts Festival camp rockmont, black mountain , nc Experience great and wildly spontaneous music from many corners of the globe at LEAF, including African, Latin, Appalachian, Cajun, Celtic, Blues, Bluegrass, French, Texas Sounds, and more. Discover new music and enjoy LEAF traditions by the lake, under the sun and stars, in the mountains. For three days, there will be four stages, a jam tent, healing arts, poetry, an African drum circle, and so much more.
admission: adult & youth prices vary (additional discounts for local, commuting residents , children 9 & under free
tickets: theleaf.org or by phone at 828 - 686 - 8742
october 17-19, 23 -26 , 30 -31 “Sylvia” thurs , fri , & sat 7:30 pm sun 2pm
hendersonville little theatre “Sylvia” is a romantic-comedy. When Greg brings home a stray dog named
Sylvia, his wife Kate, beginning to feel their long-time marriage is being neglected, resents her. What is to become of man’s best friend and the bone thrown between both of her masters’ relationships? This is a fun, touching, romantic-comedy that searches for a balance of compromise. Additional performances are on November 1st and 2nd.
admission: $20 adult, $15 student, youth (17 years and under) $10 info: 828 - 692-1082
october 18
Valle Country Fair 9am - 4 pm nc hwy 194 across from holy cross church & the valle crucis conference center , valle crucis , nc The colors, flavors, sights, and sounds of harvest season in the Blue Ridge Mountains all come together at the Valle Country Fair. Launched as a fundraiser for a little country church, it has grown into an annual event that attracts thousands and raises money for High Country charities. The Valle Country Fair takes over the grounds of the Valle Crucis Conference Center on NC Highway 194. Roughly 150 craft exhibitors have tents to explore. Two stages are set up to provide entertainment throughout the day. The kid’s area includes pumpkin carving, making fall crafts, old-fashioned carnival games, and a kid’s market, where kids can set up their own booth to sell their own crafts. Kids of all ages will also find their favorite fall-festival treats, including kettle corn, cotton candy, and candied apples. Food concessions include Brunswick Stew, barbecue, chili, hot dogs and hamburgers, corndogs, sausage with onions, ham biscuits, ice cream, funnel cakes, baked goods, jams and jellies, fresh-pressed apple cider, and hot-out-of-the kettle apple butter. Sponsored by Holy Cross Episcopal Church and The Valle Crucis Conference Center.
Bottle Shop • Tasting Bar • Cheese Store
Not only for fine wine... We’ve got a great selection of local & craft beer
“Art Songs of the Heart” Toni Carlton Autumn Group Exhibition September 27 - November 15 Opening Reception Sept 27, 2-5pm Winter & Small Works Group Exhibition November 28 - April 30 Holiday Open House November 28 & 29 from 10-5pm
admission: free with parking fee info: vallecountryfair .org
october 18
George Lopez 7:30 pm harrah’s cherokee casino resort event center , cherokee, nc George Lopez is a multi-talented entertainer whose career encompasses television, film, stand-up comedy, and late-night
10360 Highway 105 South in Boone, NC 10 Miles South of Boone in the Grandfather Mtn. Community www.carltongallery.com • 828-963-4288 GLASS • WOOD • PAINTINGS • CLAY • SCULPTURE • JEWELRY • FIBER October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 95
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television. For two seasons, Lopez hosted Lopez Tonight, a late-night television talk show on TBS, representing Lopez’s return to series television after starring in the groundbreaking hit sitcom, George Lopez, which ran for six seasons.
admission: $60 - $115
info: harrahscherokee.com
october 18 & 19
Tour de Falls, DuPont State Recreational Forest 9am -2:30 pm dupont state recreational forest, 1400 staton rd, cedar mountain , nc Buses will be available in the parking lot on DuPont/Staton Road to take visitors to High Falls, Triple Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Lake Julia. Buses are not handicap accessible and no pets are allowed on the bus.
donation: $12 adults , $6 ages 6 -17 info: 828 - 877- 6527
october 18 & 19
Asheville Kitchen & Bath Show 10 am - 5pm
wnc agricultural center , fletcher , nc Exhibitors offer cabinetry, countertops, cookware, and cooking demonstrations, as well as workshops on design and remodeling.
admission: adults $5 advance, $10 at the door ; children 12 & under free info: 828 - 692-3230 ashevillekitchenbath .com
october 18 & 19
october 24
Woolly Worm Festival
Air Supply
gates open at 9am with events scheduled throughout the day
9pm
banner elk , nc
This festival provides an opportunity to witness wooly worm races and to debate how accurately the worms’ stripes forecast winter. Since 1978, the residents of this village at the foot of Beech Mountain have celebrated the coming of the snow season with the Woolly Worm Festival. They determine which one worm will have the honor of predicting the severity of the coming winter; and they make that worm earn the honor by winning heat after heat of hard-fought races up a three-foot length of string. The Woolly Worm races begin around 10am. Each heat consists of 25 worms and races continue all day until the grand final around 4pm. The winning worm on Saturday gets the $1,000 first prize that accompanies the prestige of having your worm used to pronounce the official winter forecast. Participants wishing to race their worm may register at 9am. In addition to the races, enjoy live entertainment and 140 food and craft vendors with their handcrafted items, plus rides, musicians, and dance teams. There is ample parking, but the free parking is on a first come basis and the other available parking is offered by organizations for a minimal fee. There is a ‘no pets’ policy inside festival gates, except Woolly Worms, of course. Doggie day care is available outside of the gates at the main entrance. There are no ATMs on festival grounds, so be sure to stop at one of the bank ATM machines on your way.
admission: $5 adults , $2 for children 6 -12 , children under 5 free
info: woollyworm .com
harrah’s cherokee casino resort event center , 777 casino drive, cherokee, nc In 1980 Air Supply signed with Arista Records and “Lost in Love” became the fastest selling single in the world and leaped to the top of the charts. “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Sweet Dreams,” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” have each achieved countless plays on the radio. Air Supply is still going strong and more popular than ever. Those attending must be age 21 or older.
admission: prices vary
tickets: ticketmaster .com
info: harrahscherokee.com
october 22-24
October grant-writing workshop in Asheville 9am - 4 pm
biltmore park town square, asheville, nc
A certificate program in grant-writing will be offered in October by Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education. The workshop will be held at WCU’s instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square. Participants will have an opportunity to experience the grant process from concept development to completed proposal. Each participant will finish the workshop with eight-to-12 pages of peer-reviewed proposal text and a grant-writing certificate. Experienced grant writer Jack Smith, who has served as a consultant on major grants for many organizations, will lead the workshop. Smith has taught grant-writing to more than 35,000 students in 40 states.
admission: prices vary
info: pdp.wcu.edu or 828-227-7397
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| October 2014
Come�enjoy�the�magic�of�LEAF at�lake�eden • Camp�Rockmont� just�20�minutes�outside�of�Asheville october 26
Live@Aloft 4 - 8 pm
aloft asheville downtown , 51 biltmore ave, asheville, nc Live @ Aloft opens up Air Level for the public to enjoy live music, sips, and snacks. Get cozy on Air Level in front of the warming fire pit, grab a drink at the outdoor bar, or just sit back and take in the views of the downtown Asheville skyline plus the mountains beyond. As part of Aloft’s ongoing support of Charlie’s Angels and animal rescue efforts, the event will feature a pet costume competition just in time for Halloween. While the event is free and open to the public, donations will be accepted to support the continuing good work of Charlie’s Angels.
admission: free, donations accepted info: 828-407-4300 november 7
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March of Dimes Asheville Signature Chefs Auction Nahko & Medicine
6 pm lioncrest at the biltmore estate one approach road, asheville, nc Come for an evening of fabulous food prepared by our area’s finest chefs paired with an assortment of wines along with the thrill of a live and silent auction. The event is a fundraiser for March of Dimes and is presented by Mission Hospital.
contact : Michaela Blanton Lowe at 828-258-1234 or michaelablantonlowe@marchofdimes.com
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for the People
Rising Appalachia MarchFourth Marching Band
Delhi 2 Dublin ������������������������������� ������������������������������ Mystical Arts of Tibet Dom������������� Flemons Trio �������������������������� ���������������������� David Wilcox ������������������ Modern India ������������������������������ ������ ���������� David LaMotte
Arts • Poetry Healing Arts Kid Villages Lake sports Brews & Eats & More!
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If your organization has any local press releases for our briefs section or events that you would like to see here feel free to email us at events@capitalatplay.com Please submit your event by the first day of the month preceding your event.
LEAF�LOVE�&�THANKS�to�OUR SPONSORS,�Volunteers,�&�Friends. YOU�help�make�LEAF�happen! October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 97
From Pre-K to Pre-Med...
We Prepare Them.
www.carolinaday.org
828.274.0757
Carolina Day School’s teachers fully engage your bright, curious child. They exude a passion for learning and teaching, and are highly trained in developmental research and brain-based instruction. Our exceptional faculty creates a learning environment with an inspirational blend of high expectations and support, enabling students to stretch and grow. It’s simple: bright, bold, curious, well-trained teachers lead by example to help bring out the best in your child. Schedule a tour today to see the difference.
Congratulations
to the following Carolina Day school alumni, who graduated from unC Chapel Hill Medical school in 2014 and are pursuing their specialties:
Dr. Katie Jordan CDS Class of 2005 Pediatrics, University of North Carolina Hospitals | October 2014 98
Dr. Will McLean
Dr. Sarah Isbey
Dr. Taylor Bazemore
CDS Class of 2003 Family Medicine, MAHEC
CDS Class of 2004 Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
CDS Class of 2006 Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center
We’re a community bank right down to our core. Community banking is in our very nature. Carolina Alliance Bank started as a community bank and we’re proud to say we always will be. So naturally, here in Western North Carolina, you’ll find all the virtues we’re known for. Decisions made locally, for local benefit. Bankers you’ll run into in church, civic organizations, street festivals, and grocery checkout lines. Good friends and neighbors. Professionals with the savvy, clout, and capital to meet your banking needs, along with the time and interest to really get to know you. Clearly, this apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Come see for yourself. Visit us at carolinaalliancebank.com. You’ll like our flavor of banking!
1127 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 • 828-255-5711 218 North Main St., Hendersonville. NC 28792 • 828-233-0900 122 Cherokee Rd., Charlotte, NC 28207 • 980-321-5946 (Loan Production Office)
Also in Spartanburg, Anderson and Seneca
carolinaalliancebank.com
October 2014 | capitalatplay.com 99
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FAMILY FOOD & FUN Are you looking for quick, satisfying meals that you can cook for your family? Well, Ingles is all about bringing you easy, family friendly recipes and tips from some of the best food bloggers in the region. All of us at Ingles believe that the best things in life start with food, and the more we can learn, the farther we will go... so let's start cooking! 100
See all the recipes at ingles-markets.com. | October 2014