Gaston Alive April 2019 by David Hamrick

Cool Key Lime Cake

Baby Names & Punchlines

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From the Publisher Sometimes there is so much beauty in the world that it just seems overwhelming. And then there are times we are so preoccupied with bills, jobs, and getting the kids to soccer practice that we just don’t notice. Our cover picture this month is a close up of an Aprilis Stultorum at the edge of photographer Rick Haithox’s studio in Dallas. It’s a middle sized nondescript tree sort of off to the side, which most of the time goes undisturbed and unnoticed. But by taking a moment, we were able to capture this spectacular image on our cover. We certainly don’t take credit for the flowers; we were just lucky enough to capture their natural beauty at this moment in time- and share it with you. Thanks Rick. What are you missing? Happy spring, David

featured this month

cool Key lime caKe By shelBy wilsoN

BaBy Names & PuNchliNes By BeN DuNGaN

Cool Key Lime Cake

Baby Names & Punchlines

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MAGAzINe

gaston alive

On our cover this month is an Aprilis Stultorum that is outside Rick Haithcox’s studio in Dallas. Photo courtesy of Rick Haithcox, graphic design by David James.

To be part of our team, or to submit art, photo or story ideas, please email us at: info@gastonalive.com 128 Birchwood Court Mt. Holly NC 28120 www.gastonalive.com 704.650.8330

Advertising Info: 704.650.8330 info@gastonalive.com GA|4|19

www.gastonalive.com www.facebook.com/GastonAlive

Gaston Alive Magazine is published monthly in the Gaston County, NC area by Art FX Media. All editorial contained within is the property of the publisher and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. The publisher accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the writers or advertisers. ©2019 Art FX Media.

SUMMER CAMPS ■ S.T.E.M. Drone & Laser Tag camps ■ Classroom training with hands-on experience

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Call Dimmer & Sons Con New Custom Home, Bathr

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KitcHeN Remodel Jim and Heather Stancil Our experience with Greg Dimmer was exceptional from start to finish. We had waited a long time to renovate and had very clear ideas of what we wanted: an attractive kitchen that was also highly functional. Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suggestions and advice helped us to achieve that goal. And his workers were always timely, respectful of our privacy and property, and happily accommodated all the changes we made as the project progressed. We love our new kitchen; it was worth the wait! 6 gastonalive.com | facebook.com/gastonalive

nstruction To Build Your room Or Kitchen Remodel! BatHRoom Remodel Denise Brown

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Key Lime CaKe

By ShelBy WilSon

Key lime pie is one of my favorites, so with spring finally here I thought some key lime would be tasty! ...but I decided to do cake this time. By the way-this is a very moist cake. It can also be baked in a 9-by-12-by-2-inch pan to be easily served in squares. Also, I use whatever limes I can find...regular limes seem to work great!

Ingredients 1 3-ounce package lime-flavored gelatin 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 5 large eggs, slightly beaten 1½ cups vegetable oil ¾ cup orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup Key lime juice (from about 25 small Key limes or 4 large regular limes)** ½ cup confectioners’ sugar

Cream Cheese Icing* ½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature 1 1-pound box confectioners’ sugar

Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans. In a large mixing bowl, mix the gelatin, sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir to mix well. Add the eggs, oil, orange juice, lemon juice, and vanilla. Divide the batter evenly among the 3 pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness by lightly touching the tops of the layers or inserting a toothpick. Cool the layers in the pans for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto racks. While the layers are still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners’ sugar and pour it over the layers on the racks. You can pierce the layers with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better. Allow the layers to cool completely as you prepare the icing. Cream the butter and cream cheese. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar until the mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Spread the icing between the layers and on the top and sides of the cake. *The cream cheese icing is optional. This cake is beautiful and tastes great with just the glaze poured over it. gastonalive.com | facebook.com/gastonalive 9

BaBy Names & PuNchliNes By Ben Dungan

My son, evan, seems to know when one of my jokes are coming. He can sense the approach. He can spot the set-up a mile away. He knows the punchline isn’t far behind either. It never fails. He just knows. and there’s no reason he shouldn’t know by now - he’s only known me and my sense of humor for the last 15 years. He oftentimes knows where my joke-minded brain is going to go even before I do. except for a few weeks ago. We were stopping just outside of asheville where he lives to grab some lunch. I had decided this was going to be the day I told him my big news. after we placed our lunch order, it was the time to share the news with him. “So, there’s something I want to tell you”, I said. “It’s not bad, but it is something that will impact you and me and all of us.” at this point, he sees the approach. now he’s getting ready for the set-up. “I just wanted you to know that [my girlfriend] Jillian is pregnant, and we’re expecting a baby this fall.” He just sits there. and waits. and then he waits some more. Then he says, “I’m waiting for the punchline.” Clearly, I’ve trained him well. He knows a punchline is always lurking around the corner, except this time, there was no punchline to be found. This was no joke. For once, I was being serious - a baby was on the way, and he was going to be a big brother. I’m sure I caught him off guard. an announcement like that would catch anyone off guard. But he seemed fine. He seemed genuinely happy for me and for Jillian. I even got the impression that the idea of him being a big brother sounded pretty good to too. and then I hit him with the punchline. “and if it’s a girl, we’ve decided on naming her Betty Hemby Dungan.” He broke into a smile. I got him with a baby name he knew I’d never use, just to get a laugh out of him. He didn’t see it coming - the punchline or the baby news. That’s how life can be sometimes. I didn’t see it coming either, but I’ve had a little more time to process little Baby Dungan. I’ve also had a lot of time to think about baby names - the ones we’d like to use and the ones that Jillian would

never let me use in a million years. The banned baby name list seems to amuse me most of all. They come to me from all places. Some jump out at me from a song (“Jimmy Mcgrew Dungan”), while others come from a movie (“eugene Jerome Dungan”). Some just appear out of thin air (“Little Debbie Dungan”) while others reveal themselves in a dream (“Betty Hemby Dungan”). The moment one pops into my brain, I instantly relay it to Jillian in hopes of garnering some sort of reaction. Most of the times she knows I’m joking, but sometimes she’s not even sure. That’s how my brain works - I’m always looking for a way to get a laugh out of life. and while I love to laugh and joke, I do realize this is serious stuff. We’re talking about a baby here. We’re talking about ultrasounds, monogrammed onesies, paint colors for a baby room, baby cribs that turn into toddler beds, and of course, we’re talking potential baby names. This is all new to me. It’s all new to me because I didn’t do any of this with evan. When I met his mother, he was only 10-months old. I missed everything up to that point. That means new and exciting days are ahead. It also means tired days are ahead too. This baby stuff is uncharted territory for me. So I look at it like I look at most things - with a grounded sense of reality yet not afraid to inject a little humor and laughter along the way. That helps to keep life from getting overwhelming. I still don’t know why the name Betty Hemby came to me in a dream, but I love it. especially when I think about her getting in trouble and me having to raise my voice and say her full name in a stern tone. This is kind of stuff that makes me laugh. I’m sure the banned baby name list will continue to grow. More jokes will be cracked. This is how I am. There’s always a punchline lurking in the distance. That’s why I’m putting Big Brother evan in charge of helping his new little sibling to navigate this new world of bad dad jokes and eye-rolling punchlines. and to help explain how thankful Little Baby Dungan should be for not becoming a Little Betty Hemby Dungan. gastonalive.com | facebook.com/gastonalive 11

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SAVETHE THE DATE! DATE! SAVE TEAM

AUSTIN

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Stanley location:

Ask Us About Catering Your Next Event!

Akropolis Greek Cafe

Jan. 4, 1993 - June 9, 2017 https://rememberingaustin.org Team

Join Team Austin on Sat. Apr. 13 Jan. 4, 1993 - June 9, 2017 https://rememberingaustin.org

for the Community Foundation Run/Walk/Donate. Join Team Austin on Sat. Apr. 13

for the Community Foundation Run/Walk/Donate. Your generous support will help to fund Gaston Control Substances Coalition (GCSC) Your generous support will help to fund for Education & Prevention of Opioid Crisis.

Gaston Control Substances Coalition (GCSC) for Education & Prevention of Opioid Crisis. Approximately 72,000 Americans including Austin

Hours Mon.-Thur.: 11a-3p, 5p-9p Fri.: 11a-3p, 5p-10p Sat.: 11a-10p Sun.:12p-3p, 5p-8p

died in 2017 from an overdose.

Approximately 72,000 Americans including Austin Help us to end the stigma of addiction, depression & mental illness with Education and Empathy. died in 2017 from an overdose. Please share this link https://rememberingaustin.org on your social media pages and email/

text it out to your family & friends to save lives. Help us to end the stigma of addiction, depression & mental illness with Education and Empathy.

Please share this link https://rememberingaustin.org on your social media pages and email/ text it out to your family & friends to save lives.

www.cfgaston.org Sign UpatNow! don’t judge get educated save lives

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Designate donation to Remembering Austin.

704-868-3636 • 3070 East Franklin • Gastonia (Next To La Fuente)

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© Kubota Tractor Corporation 2019. 0.00% A.P.R., 0.00% down, financing for 48 months on purchases of new Z100 models from participating dealers in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation USA; subject to credit approval. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 financed. Example amount based on sales price of $3,969. Each dealer sets own price. Prices and payments may©vary. Offer expires 6/30/19.Corporation, This material is for descriptive Kubota Tractor 2018 purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer. For the complete disclaimer, go to KubotaUSA.com/disclaimers and see the posted disclaimer.

126 Bessie Drive • Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Toll Free: 888-428-7902 • Phone: 704-482-7061 • Fax: 704-739-3713 14 gastonalive.com | facebook.com/gastonalive

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128 S. MAIN ST. • MOUNT HOLLY, NC • 704-812-8973

Welcome To Our Community...

AboUt Ask UsING YoUR R E CAt EVENt! NEXt

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• 40 Bed Assisted Living • 106 Bed Skilled Nursing Beds-Includes 20 Bed Skilled Memory Care Unit • Brand New State Of The Art Kitchen • 3 Hot Meals Daily + Snacks • Full Activity Programs • Medicare & Medicaid Certified • MD Medical Director & Nurse Practitioner On Staff • Only Licensed Nurses & Certified Nursing Assistants

Owner Ben Dorantes and Staff Hours Monday-Thursday: 11a-10p Friday-Saturday: 11a-10:30p Sunday: 11a-9p

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