Images Davidson County, NC: 2011

2011 | imagesdavidsoncounty.com ®

What’s Online Watch a quick video tour of Uptown Lexington’s Pigs in the City.

davidson county, north carolina

POWERED BY INGENUITY Energy initiatives get the green light

heritage leader Bob Timberlake’s brand creates jobs

Making Room for More New Manufacturing Companies

sponsored by the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce

Davidson County in action

Don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how great Davidson County is in our quick videos at imagesdavidsoncounty.com, highlighting a little bit of everything that Davidson County has to offer.

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2011 edition | volume 9 ®

davidson County, north carolina

co nte nt s F e atu r e s 10 Powered by Ingenuity

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Energy initiatives get the green light.

16 Heritage Leader Bob Timberlake’s brand creates jobs.

22 Making Room for More Davidson County maintains economic roots while embracing new companies.

d e pa r tm e nt s 6 Almanac 28 Biz Briefs 30 Chamber Report 31 Economic Profile 32 Image Gallery 39 Local Flavor 40 Arts & Culture 43 Sports & Recreation 45 Education 46 Health & Wellness 48 Community Profile

on the cover Photo by Todd Bennett Davidson County Courthouse in Lexington

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All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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What’s Online imagesdavidsoncounty.com

Locally owned and servicing the Davidson County area since 1951

reSidentiaL & coMMerciaL Whether you are building a new home, installing a rubber roof, remodeling, or just replacing your heating or cooling system, Southern Services can give you the most efficient, reliable and durable products for your home.

®

What’s Online Watch a quick video tour of Uptown Lexington’s Pigs in the City.

DavIDsON COUNTY, NORTh CaROLINa

Get the inside scoop from our photographers’ blog

POWERED BY INGENUITY Energy initiatives get the green light

Bob Timberlake’s brand creates jobs

Facts & Stats

SatiSfaction Guaranteed

Dig deeper with in-depth data on industries, schools and more

Lexington, nc 27295 (336) 243-1500 www.southernhvac.com

Making Room for More New Manufacturing Companies

sPONsORED BY ThE ThOMasvILLE aREa ChaMBER Of COMMERCE aND ThE LExINGTON aREa ChaMBER Of COMMERCE

Get a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

Digital edition

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1203 Winston rd.

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2011 | IMaGEsDavIDsONCOUNTY.COM

hERITaGE LEaDER

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Learn about the local housing market and get started finding your place

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Davidson County Public Library & Historical Museum Davidson County, north carolina Project Manager mitch Kline Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editors Lisa Battles, Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Julianna Edmonds, Cary Estes, Kevin Litwin, Carson o’Shoney, Raven Petty, Eric Seeger Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, lance Conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Managers John Hood, Kim Madlom Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web Designer Leigh Guarin Web developer i Yamel Hall Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond Regional Sales Manager Charles Sweeney Sales Support/Community, Business, Custom Rachael Goldsberry Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Integrated Media Manager Margaret Rose Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall color imaging technician Alison Hunter Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner V.p./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Newsom V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

Images Davidson County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through through the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce 6 W. Main St. • Thomasville, NC 27360 Phone: (336) 475-6134 • Fax: (336) 475-4802 www.thomasvillechamber.net Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce 16 E. Center St. • Lexington, NC 27292 Phone: (336) 248-5929 • Fax: (336) 248-2161 lexingtonchamber.net Visit images davidson county online at imagesdavidsoncounty.com ©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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“The Very Best Place to Start for Learning and Discovery” Internet Access Toddler/Preschool Bedtime Storytimes Genealogy/ Local History Reference and Information DVDs Compact Discs Ongoing Used Book Sales Meeting/Conference Room Facilities

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Six Locations Lexington (242-2040) North Davidson (242-2050) Denton (859-2215) www.co.davidson.nc.us/library

West Davidson (853-4800) Thomasville (474-2690) Historic Museum@Courthouse Square (242-2035) catalog: library.co.davidson.nc.us

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Almanac

Welcome to Davidson County An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

Chocolate’s Sweet Success Davidson County is home to one of the best-known crew members in stock car racing, Danny “Chocolate” Myers, who now serves as the curator of the Richard Childress Racing Museum in Welcome.

For many years, Myers served as the gas man for the Childress-owned No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet driven by the late NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt.

Myers retired from the crew in 2002, but has stayed on with Richard Childress Racing as its safety director. He also hosts a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Go With the Flow Oar you ready to see some of Davidson County’s most watchable wildlife and serene scenery?

The 230-mile Yadkin-Pee Dee River Canoe Trail flows from Wilkesboro through Davidson County to the South Carolina border, and is suited to people of all ages and skill levels.

Access to the trail is available off U.S. Highway 64; from there canoeists can paddle south to Boone’s Cave Park and through game lands and backwaters. Another route begins at the Wil-Cox Bridge on Highway 29 and floats downstream into High Rock Lake, where camping and picnicking are popular.

Photo Courtesy of the Chocolate Myers Collection

That Works!

Build a workforce and they will come. That’s the thinking that drives DavidsonWorks, a dynamic partnership of private and public resources that provides workforce development programs to individuals and businesses in an effort to stimulate economic growth in the community.

Through DavidsonWorks, individuals can find assistance in their job searches, including help creating resumes and cover letters, interview training and skills assessment services provided by career consultants. Businesses may partner with the organization to make connections with highly trained and skilled employees, as well as receive assistance in training new and current employees.

Visit www.davidsonworks.org for more information.

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Pig Days of Summer

Fast Facts

Pigs start popping up everywhere in Uptown Lexington each May, and stay there until mid-October.

Just when people might start to wonder whether pigs finally flew (away), a gigantic festival celebrates ... barbecue.

Never fear, these pigs won’t end up on your plate: They are made of fiberglass, painted colorfully and given clever names, then auctioned to raise money for the Uptown Lexington organization as part of the annual “Pigs in the City” campaign.

The piggy presence also builds momentum for the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival next scheduled for October 22, 2011. The festival was named one of the top 10 food festivals in America by Travel & Leisure magazine.

n Thomasville’s Big Chair, a symbol of the area’s rich history of furniture making, rises 18 feet from its base.

Davidson County At A Glance Population (2009 estimate) Davidson County: 159,947 Lexington: 21,420 Thomasville: 27,036 Location Davidson County is in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, an equal distance between Charlotte and Raleigh.

Beginnings Davidson County was founded in 1822 and named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. William Lee Davidson.

For More Information Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce 6 W. Main St. Thomasville, NC 27360 Phone: (336) 475-6134 Fax: (336) 475-4802 www.thomasvillechamber.net Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce 16 E. Center St. Lexington, NC 27292 Phone: (336) 248-5929 Fax: (336) 248-2161 www.lexingtonchamber.net

Winston-Salem Winston-Sal Win W ns s ale

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Greensboro G ns o

40 40 8 85

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High hP Point o Welcome

Thomasville Lexington

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n High Rock Lake covers 15,000 acres and has been host to the Bassmaster Classic fishing competition four times. n Every October, some 150,000 barbecue enthusiasts gather for the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival. n The old Davidson County Courthouse now serves as the County’s historical museum. n Boone’s Cave Park features Devil’s Den, a cave along the Yadkin River where Daniel Boone reportedly hid from American Indian marauders. n PGA Golfer Bubba Watson and his wife Angie own a summer home at High Rock Lake and enjoy living in Davidson County.

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High Rock Lake

Davidson County

Denton Uwharrie National Forest

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What’s Online

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Take a virtual tour of Davidson County, courtesy of our awardwinning photographers, at imagesdavidsoncounty.com.

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visit our

advertisers Coltrane & Company Inc. Davidson County Community College www.davidsonccc.edu Davidson County Public Library www.co.davidson.nc.us/library

North State Communications www.northstate.net Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation www.partnc.org

Davidson Water Inc. www.davidsonwater.com

PPG Industries www.ppg.com

EnergyUnited www.energyunited.com

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Lexington Utilities www.lexingtonnc.net

Southern Services of Lexington Inc. www.southernhvac.com

High Point Regional Health System www.highpointregional.com

Thomasville Medical Center www.thomasvillemedicalcenter.org

Hospice of Davidson County www.hospiceofdavidson.org

Thomasville Veterinary Hospital www.thomasvillevet.net

Lanier’s True Value Hardware www.lanierhardware.com

Time Warner Cable www.yourtwc.com

Lexington City Schools www.lexcs.org

Turlington & Company LLP www.turlingtonandcompany.com

Lexington Memorial www.lexingtonmemorial.com

Wal-Mart www.wal-mart.com

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Dive In!

To Markets We Go

Things are going swimmingly these days at Blue Stone Dive Resort.

The 19-acre man-made lake just outside Thomasville is actually a former slate quarry once owned

by Martin Marietta Materials, now Lockheed Martin. In 1994 Robert Outlaw, who owns Blue Dolphin diving resorts in Greensboro and Winston-Salem, purchased the lake and surrounding acreage and renamed the property after the blue slate found in the quarry.

Today, Blue Stone is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and divers can experience a full day of underwater fun for $20. The resort opens each spring on Easter weekend and operates through October.

Here’s a fresh idea: From spring through early fall, stock your crisper drawers and fill your pantries with the best in local foods from the Thomasville and Lexington farmers markets.

The Thomasville Farmers Market is located on the corner of Guilford and Commerce Streets beneath the water tower in downtown Thomasville. It is open from May through September, Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

The Lexington Farmers Market is located at 29 Railroad Street at the historic railroad and freight depot and is open from May through October, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and from June 20 through Oct. 13 also on Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m.

Both markets feature vendors who farm in Davidson and surrounding counties.

Wheels of Fortune The Piedmont Triad Omnium, a three-day, premier bicycling road race in Davidson County, raises thousands of dollars for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society each July.

The event is a USA Cycling-sanctioned event and welcomes approximately 300 top cyclists each year. Each day of the event features a race, each with a different discipline.

Friday night competitors race laps in Uptown Lexington around a 3/4-mile closed oval course. Saturday morning is devoted to individual time trials around a 12-mile loop that begins at Davidson County Community College. The third phase of competition, Saturday night, involves two-person street sprint races in Uptown Lexington. Sunday features a long road race that begins at DCCC. Visit www.thepiedmonttriadomnium.com for more information.

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Powered by

Ingenuity From manufacturing to massive solar fields, green energy takes off in Davidson County

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Story By Eric Seeger Photography By todd bennett

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s the classic 1960s song goes, “the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind,” so was the answer to growth at a Lexington fiberglass plant, which is finding strength in the renewable energy industry. And here’s a little hint: It’s not the only Davidson County company boosting its bottom line by drawing energy from Mother Nature.

PPG Lexington PPG Industries is a huge international company with plants in more than 60 countries, but in 2009 things didn’t look so promising for its Lexington plant. The factory, which makes fiberglass yarn specially designed for use in wind energy turbine blades, was forced to lay off more than 100 employees as the recession put plans for wind farms on hold. At one point, according to plant manager Todd Douthit, the facility was operating at a fraction of its capacity.

Today, with the economy looking more robust and utility companies developing more sustainable sources of energy than ever before, PPG has strengthened its niche as one of the world’s top suppliers of fiberglass

SunEdison’s solar farm in Cotton Grove Township, just outside Lexington

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Clockwise from above: PPG Industries in Lexington manufactures fiberglass yarn used in wind energy turbine blades; a worker at PPG packages fiberglass for a customer; Honda Civic that runs entirely on natural gas.

construction materials for the wind power industry. With that positioning, the Lexington plant has increased production and added more than 180 new positions. A recent study by the Oceana Group revealed that the waters off the North Carolina coast represent 22 percent of the wind generating capacity of the entire East Coast.

That’s enough capacity, if tapped, to power the 12.7 million homes in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia combined.

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SunEdison Lights the Way Another (literally) shining symbol of the county’s leadership in sustainable energy went online in 2010 when SunEdison turned on its new solar power plant. At the time of the launch, about four megawatts of power were available, but the farm is expected to produce 16 megawatts when completed.

That roughly translates to adding enough carbon-free power for 1,600 homes to the electrical grid.

The company’s 365-acre site in

Cotton Grove Township will be one of the largest solar photovoltaic farms in the country when construction is complete. By then, it will have about 64,000 panels that automatically rotate to follow the sun’s path. The downside to solar power is that it’s not constant – panels only generate electricity under sunlight – but it is an extremely lowmaintenance form of power generation.

SunEdison sells the electricity it produces to Duke Energy, which owns and operates the electrical grid, under a

20-year contract. Duke partnered with the solar power company to build this $170 million-plus facility as part of its overall renewable energy portfolio, which includes wind, solar and biomass sources. The company’s goal was to sell 12,000 megawatt hours of electricity in 2010, and 10 times that amount by 2018 as part of the state’s mandate to energy companies to aggressively grow generating power from sustainable resources.

Whether it’s making clean electricity

on an unprecedented scale or manufacturing the materials to develop new wind-power generators or solar collectors, Davidson County leads the way in sustainable energy.

Driving Force Meanwhile, the City of Lexington has also made green headlines lately by purchasing five alternative energy vehicles for its work fleet. Two of the vehicles are hybrid Toyota Prius cars, and the other three are Honda Civics

that run entirely on natural gas.

“Performance is exactly the same with the natural gas cars compared to petroleum-powered vehicles, but the emissions are much, much cleaner with natural gas,” says Rick Comer, Department of Public Works director with the City of Lexington. “All five vehicles were purchased with federal grant money through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, and the primary reason for getting them is obvious – pollution control.” dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Bob Timberlake:

Lexington

Businessman Bob Timberlake leverages his brand to create jobs in Davidson County

Story By Eric Seeger Photography By todd bennett

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cabin sits on a hint of a slope, covered in snow, a thin wisp of smoke leaving its chimney. In the background, Grandfather Mountain stands tall and majestic, giving the landscape its sense of place and character. The painting is classic Bob Timberlake – from the way he captures shadows to the way he’s using the painting’s limited reprint to raise money for charity.

Davidson County Heritage For 40 years, the Davidson County native has built an international reputation by capturing – and sharing – iconic landscape and still-life imagery of North Carolina, from the Appalachians to the Outer Banks. Though he made his name

One of Davidson County’s most notable residents, Bob Timberlake, 73, is celebrating 40 years as a professional artist and 20 years as a furniture designer.

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Left to right: Some of Bob Timberlake’s works of art; Timberlake’s studio in Lexington

by representing the entire state, the Lexington area holds a special meaning for him.

“My family and my wife’s family have been in this area since the 1740s,” Timberlake says. “Both of our forefathers were instrumental in the Revolutionary War; they raised an army of patriots to battle Cornwallis in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.” They were later singled out by Loyalists and assassinated for their efforts to end the King’s reign.

Timberlake Brand With such deep lineage in the area (as he jokes, he’s probably somehow related to half the people living around Lexington), Timberlake is serious about seeing his neighbors do well. It’s become a running theme as he’s built a line of home furnishings around the Bob Timberlake brand. In 2010, he signed a new contract with Century Furniture Company, a highly regarded North Carolina manufacturer, in order to increase the amount of “World of Bob Timberlake” products made in his native state.

“I’m just incensed that we’ve been so stupid to ship our jobs, our know-how and our heritage overseas,” Timberlake 18

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The early morning sun illuminates the area of Bob Timberlake’s studio.

says. “I got to a point where I’ve said ‘no more.’ I’m not going to let them ship anything else of mine overseas.”

Since it launched 20 years ago, Timberlake has fought to help protect local jobs, in the face of a furniture industry that’s guilty of off-shoring so much production. He tries to make sure as many goods as possible in his line are sourced from this area.

Timberlake will be adding more products – including door and cabinet hardware and stoneworks – to his signature line. Offering U.S.-made products has become a large source of pride for him, and items made in North Carolina are even more special.

Made in North Carolina “Imagine if every time you and your friends went into a restaurant, you asked the waiter if they offered any North Carolina wines,” he said. “Think about how that would affect the industry around here. Before the Civil War, this state was the biggest wine producer in the country.”

Likewise, that sentiment applies to local woodworks.

Timberlake hears stories of many customers who come to the High Point Market looking specifically for North Carolina-made furniture. The stronger that reputation for quality becomes, he believes, the better the local industry will fare. As he sees it, that’s not important just for his own business, but for the entire Lexington area that he considers to literally be family.

Hall of Fame In 2010 Timberlake was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame. He also reaffirmed his commitment to manufacturing furniture in North Carolina and has contracted with Century Furniture Co. to continue the “World of Bob Timberlake” collection.

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VitaCost in Lexington makes and sells vitamins and has experienced 25% growth during the last year or so.

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Making Room

for More Davidson County maintains economic roots while embracing new companies

Story By Cary Estes

Todd Bennett

D

avidson County might have become well-known as a center for furniture manufacturing, but the area was not going to sit back in its rocking chair and watch the changing economy pass by. While furniture and textiles remain the root of Davidson County’s economy, a number of new businesses have entered the region in recent years, including several technology-based companies.

“There clearly has been a surge in activity,” says Jim Donnelly, dean of the School of Community Education, Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship at Davidson County Community College. “We’ve had the opportunity to bring in some different kinds of businesses that I think will

help us build a more broad-based economy, whereas we used to be perhaps a little more narrowly focused.”

Vitacost One such company is Vitacost, a leading online retailer and direct marketer of health and wellness products. Vitacost opened a 113,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution center in Lexington in 2008, and announced in 2010 that it plans to expand that facility to approximately 225,000 square feet. The company says the expansion will enable it to double the average number of orders processed from 500 per hour to 1,000 per hour, with maximum capacity of 1,700 per hour during peak utilization.

Kathleen Reed, the director of dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Telworx is a manufacturer of portable cell phone towers in Welcome. Right: TIMCO will begin producing passenger seats for airplanes in Wallburg.

Staff Photo

investor relations at Vitacost, says the company chose Davidson County as its East Coast hub for a variety of reasons.

“There is an accessible workforce to draw from, and it’s a very centrally located place to put a distribution center,” Reed says. “Plus, temperaturewise, this area has very acceptable levels of humidity, which is important in the manufacturing of supplements.”

Todd Bennett

Telworx Communications Another recent arrival to the region is Telworx Communications, an equipment distributor for the telecom industry. In 2005, Telworx moved its headquarters to the Welcome area and built a 40,000-square-foot warehouse.

Peter Sangimino, Telworx marketing director, says Davidson County’s knowledgeable workforce appealed to company officials.

“We needed to add about a dozen warehouse people one month, people who had technical knowledge, and we were able to find employees fairly quickly,” Sangimino says. “There is certainly a ready and willing workforce in the area. Also, the ability to buy enough land to allow for expansion was important as well.”

TIMCO and Others TIMCO Aerosystems announced it will start a manufacturing operation in

Wallburg in 2011. The plant will make airline passenger seats and interior systems. The company plans to invest nearly $5 million in machinery, equipment and upgrades to an existing 120,000-square-foot facility. The plant is expected to create nearly 300 new jobs almost immediately and employ 500 people within seven years.

“That’s an example of a different kind of business coming here, yet they’re hoping to leverage some of the workforce we already have, because there certainly is an upholstery component to what they’re doing,” Donnelly says.

Other companies that have made the move to Thomasville include CV Products, a developer of auto racing components, Xceldyne Technologies, a manufacturer of titanium valves and components, and fuel-pump manufacturer Xtreme Fabrication.

“There are a lot of things that have always made this a good place to do business, and those things still exist,” Donnelly says. “We have an available workforce, a commitment to supporting businesses, relatively inexpensive land, and a community college system and workforce board that can help with hiring and training.

“We’re optimistic we’ll continue to see more companies who will consider Davidson County as a good place to call home and do business.” dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define Davidson county’s economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$1 billion Annual retail sales

$7,066 Retail sales per capita

$107 million Annual hotel and food sales

11,601 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

HT AUTHENTIC Biz: Athletic apparel Buzz: HT Authentic manufactures and distributes custom-made clothing that originates from its Thomasville location.

The company specializes in colorful, custom performance apparel and is committed to providing athletes with fashionable moisturemanagement gear. The company actually transfers the role of designer from factory to individual, providing customers with a variety of trend-setting design options and an array of colors. Clothing categories include maximum cold wear, maximum warm wear and short wear. www.hitoms.com/HTAuthentic.php 28

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LASER PRINT PLUS Biz: Printing services Buzz: Laser Print Plus has locations in Thomasville and Columbia, S.C., and specializes in high-speed, high-quality laser printing. The company takes the worry out of the expensive overhead and expertise required for top printing tasks, and also offers saving solutions for mailing needs. The company’s services include invoices and statements, direct mail campaigns, technical manuals and more. www.laserprintplus.com REX OIL COMPANY Biz: Oil, gasoline and lubricants distributor Buzz: Since 1932, Rex Oil Company has been supplying fuel service to the Piedmont and Triad areas. Drivers for the Thomasville company will deliver heating oil to customers’ homes whenever the need arises or on a scheduled basis.

The long-standing company also provides marine, aviation, industrial and commercial lubricants to commercial customers at competitive prices. www.rexoil.com

Thomasville Veterinary Hospital PA

Thomasville Pet Center

303 National Hwy. Thomasville, NC 27360 (336) 475-9199

712 Brookdale Dr. Thomasville, NC 27360 (336) 476-5080

www.thomasvillevet.net THomAsVille VeT HosPiTAl • Member of American Animal Hospital Association Since 1990 • Full-Service Veterinary Care • Well Care and Senior Care • Dentistry and Grooming • Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery • Ultrasound and Endoscopy • Emergency Critical Care

THomAsVille PeT CeNTeR

emeRGeNCY CRiTiCAl CARe

• Bathing and Dipping

• Doctors On Call 24/7

• Specialty Grooming

• Doctor On Site Every Day Until 2 a.m. for After Hours Emergencies

• Pet Toys, Supplies and Bedding • Temperature-Controlled Kennels • Outdoor Play Area • Separate Cat Ward

• Every Day 24-Hour Monitoring of Hospitalized Patients • Services Available for Everyone

• Premium Diets

ORRELL’S FOOD SERVICE Biz: Broadline food service distributor Buzz: Orrell’s Food Service was established in 1954 and is currently a broadline food service distributor and member of Unipro Foodservice. They offer customers more than 3,000 items such as fresh meats, produce, canned goods and paper goods just to name a few. They serve restaurants, day cares, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. within a delivery area. Please visit the website to see the complete product listing or visit in person at the convenient cash and carry! www.orrellsfoodservice.com SMITH MILLWORK Biz: Moldings manufacturer Buzz: Smith Millwork opened in 1979 and manufactures custom moldings, door jambs, door slabs, square boards and more. It offers a wide variety of wood species such as poplar, red and white oak, ash, maple, cherry, mahogany and cypress. The company has a broad customer base and delivers products in a five-state area of the Carolinas, eastern Tennessee, southern Virginia and northern Georgia. www.smithmillwork.co

Quality on tap Yadkin River near our water treatment facility.

Davidson Water Inc.

Serving rural water needs for over 40 years Lexington (336) 731-2341

Thomasville (336) 475-8229

Winston-Salem (336) 764-2534

Water Plant (336) 787-5800

www.davidsonwater.com

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Better and Better Two chambers tackle improvement plans

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oth the Lexington and Thomasville chambers of commerce are experiencing slight overhauls these days to better themselves as they enter 2011.

Here are a couple specific initiatives:

Thomasville Area Chamber In 2009, the Thomasville chamber began a five-year capital campaign called Thomasville on the Move, with a goal of raising $1 million. The primary goal of Thomasville on the Move is to re-energize economic development

efforts within the community.

“We want to get Thomasville back on the map with several promotion and marketing strategies,” says Doug Croft, president of the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce.

One of the first projects is establishing a new chamber headquarters in a renovated building that will be known as the First Impression Business Center.

The chamber will occupy that building on Randolph Street in early 2011.

“The whole Thomasville on the Move initiative is geared toward getting prospective investors back to looking at us again,” Croft says. “Our city has a good quality of life, good transportation access, it’s a good place to invest, there are good schools, good home prices and a low tax structure. We want more companies doing business in Thomasville.”

– Kevin Litwin

Staff Photo

Lexington Area Chamber Strengthening partner relationships to enhance the chamber’s overall effectiveness is top priority right now at the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce. Those partnerships will hopefully lead to more economic success stories in 2011, says Burr Sullivan, president of the Lexington Area Chamber.

“It takes more teamwork than ever to be effective in today’s demanding atmosphere,” Sullivan says. “We are working closer with organizations such as the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, the

Edward C. Smith Civic Center, Uptown Lexington, Davidson County Tourism, the Lexington Tourism Authority, Davidson County Community College and others.”

Sullivan adds that the Lexington chamber is also increasing its number of annual functions to benefit members.

“These are a combination of educational events and networking/ fellowship events,” he says. “Our chamber is getting even more focused in 2011 for our membership and the entire community.”

Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce

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economic profile business climate Davidson County has long been a leader in furniture manufacturing and is home to two of the finest furniture manufacturers in the world – Thomasville Furniture Industries and Lexington Home Brands.

Companies here also manufacture textile products, chemical products, electronic connectors, batteries and plastics.

economic resources Central Park NC P.O. Box 159, Star, NC 27356 (910) 428-9001 www.centralparknc.org

Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce 6 W. Main St. Thomasville, NC 27360 (336) 475-6134 www.thomasvillechamber.net

transportation

Davidson County Economic Development Commission 1087 DCCC Road Thomasville, NC 27360 (336) 243-1900 www.co.davidson.nc.us

Davidson County Airport 1673 Aviation Way Lexington, NC 27292 (336) 956-7774

DavidsonWorks 915 Greensboro St. Lexington, NC 27292 (336) 242-2065 www.davidsonworks.org

5.75%

Denton Area Chamber of Commerce 27 E. Salisbury St. Denton, NC 27739 (336) 859-5922 www.dentonnorthcarolina.com

Total Sales Tax

Davidson County Transportation 925 N. Main St. Lexington, NC 27292 www.co.davidson.nc.us Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation 7800 Airport Center Drive, Suite 102 Greensboro, NC 27409 (336) 662-0002 www.partnc.org

tax structure

2.00% County Sales Tax

State Sales Tax

7.75%

Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce 16 E. Center St. Lexington, NC 27292 (336) 248-5929 www.lexingtonchamber.net

Coltrane & Company, Inc. Real Estate Brokerage & Development

PPGFiberIndustries Glass Products

Commercial • Residential • Land Will Build to Suit

SOL COLTRANE, CCIM 49 S. Talbert Blvd. • Lexington, NC 27292 (336) 249-6304 • Fax: (336) 248-8935 E-mail: coltraneco@lexcominc.net

Celebrating 44 Years in Davidson County

dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Image Gallery

The sun-setting view from The Springs Club House overlooking High Rock Lake Staff Photo

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Image Gallery

Homes along historic Salem Street in Thomasville are rich in architectural style, ranging from Great Anne to Colonial Revival.

Photo by Todd Bennett

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Internationally acclaimed painter and designer Bob Timberlake’s studio in Lexington Photo by Todd Bennett

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Image Gallery

A detail at Bob Timberlake’s studio in Lexington Photo by Todd Bennett

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High Rock Lake Photo by Brian McCord

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Local Flavor

Dishing Out Tasty Tradition Local diners Enjoy everything from barbecue to Italian

Todd Bennett

The barbecue plate from Jimmy’s BBQ.

“Barbecue Capital” Lexington and Davidson County as a whole offer an assortment of dining options sure to satisfy anyone hungry for a taste of tradition, from its worldfamous smoked pork shoulder to authentic Italian dishes.

Barbecue Capital of the World Lexington is known as the “Barbecue Capital of the World.”

Colorfully painted fiberglass pigs are installed around Uptown, and the city hosts a huge Barbecue Festival, celebrating everything delightful about dip-basted, smoked, chopped pork-barbecue shoulder – the preparation and cut of choice here.

So, it comes as no surprise that some of the best barbecue restaurants in the world delight diners here year-round. One such place is Lexington Barbecue, also known as Honeymonk’s and Lexington #1. The staff is composed mainly of three generations of the Monk family, which, along with the comfort food, helps create a welcoming

and homey atmosphere.

The Barbecue Center specializes in Lexington’s famous style of barbecue, and also offers a variety of diner food, from burgers to ice cream sundaes.

Lexington counts 20 barbecue restaurants that have unique offerings sure to please residents and visitors alike. Diners can further indulge their barbecue cravings with food from Jimmy’s, Smiley’s, Smokey Joe’s, Speedy’s and Stamey’s Diners can further indulge their barbecue cravings with food from Smiley’s, Speedy’s, Jimmy’s and Smokey Joe’s.

Uptown Offers Upscale and More Diners will find eclectic eateries in Uptown Lexington. Uptown Grill attracts diners from all over.

Owner Rhonda Lankford says most-loved dishes include handpatted burgers and grilled hot dogs on split-top buns.

Naples Italian Grille’s scallopini and Florentina dishes are prepared with an Italian authenticity that makes them both customer favorites.

Cafe 35 serves salads, soups, sandwiches and burgers for lunch.

The upscale dinner menu includes items such as a 12-ounce strip steak, pan-seared tilapia and pot roast.

Quick Eats and good drinks Mainstreet Pizza and Deli is known for its potato soup and submarine sandwiches. And the Perfect Blend is said to have the best coffee in Lexington.

– Julianna Edmonds dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Arts & Culture

Culture Takes Center Stage Davidson County Offers Abundant Cultural Opportunities

Staff Photo

The annual Davidson County Agricultural Fair in Lexington

Culture is as integral to Davidson County’s infrastructure as the roads and homes that give its community shape. A unique fusion of festivals, art, music and history leave little to be desired by those seeking a sense of community through cultural exposure.

A Festival for All Occasions

Southeastern Old Threshers’ Reunion

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Known as the “Barbecue Capital of the World,” Davidson County hosts its signature Barbecue Festival in Lexington every October. The event is a festivity-filled homage to the slow-cooked style of barbecue that Lexington made famous.

Everybody’s Day, North Carolina’s oldest festival, is held annually in downtown Thomasville.

Originating in 1908, the festival features more than 200 food and craft vendors, as well as games and rides for children.

The Southeastern Old Threshers’ Reunion is a popular five-day antique farm equipment show that takes place on the 140 acres of Denton Farmpark.

The event also features crafts from local artisans.

As fall blows into town, so does the Davidson County Agricultural Fair in Lexington. The Lexington Kiwanis Club has sponsored this display of handcrafted designs, canned vegetables, flowers, animals and baked goods since 1940.

P.A.C.E. Park Amphitheater In partnership with City Hall, Thomasville’s P.A.C.E. Group created a brand new public entertainment venue in Uptown Thomasville.

The P.A.C.E. Park Amphitheater officially opened in 2010 and has hosted a variety of cultural events throughout the year. Adjacent to the Thomasville Farmer’s Market, the venue has boasted concerts, children’s shows, magicians, fundraisers, and barbecue dinners. Hardly a weekend goes by without some fun entertainment at the amphitheater.

And on the last Saturday of every September, Thomasville’s Everybody’s Day presents day-long entertainment live on the outdoor stage.

A Cultural Mecca Uptown Lexington is the center of cultural and business activity within Lexington. It houses the Davidson County Historical Museum, which is located in the county’s old courthouse. In addition to Uptown Lexington’s rich history, 190 retail and professional businesses can also be found in the area. Boutiques and stores offer a diverse sampling of crafts, antiques and clothing.

Music in the Air Davidson County hosts a number of musical events throughout the year, most notably the Third Thursday evening concert series, held once a month from May through September in downtown Thomasville. All concerts are free and open to the public. Another option for music lovers is the once-a-month, Thursday night Alive After Five concert series. The parking lot behind Lanier Hardware is the soundstage for this series. A slew of other musical events includes Sunset Sounds in downtown Thomasville, Music on the Lawn during Uptown Lexington’s Summer Strolls, and Childress Vineyards’ Music in the Vineyards and Wine Down Thursdays.

– Julianna Edmonds

Downtown is Picking Up Uptown Thomasville, Inc. is a locally funded organization of residents, professionals, property and business owners with a goal of bringing revitalization, community involvement and business growth to downtown Thomasville. Plans include community events with Thomasville Tourism, the chamber and the city, Wi-Fi access throughout downtown and a sprucing up of storefronts, to name a few.

Lanier’s

HARDWARE, INC.

The place to find what you want since 1940

Come and see where yesterday’s and today’s hardware stores meet.

We have 30,000 sq. ft. of retail space packed with: hardware ✦ plumbing ✦ paint tools ✦ office supplies gas logs ✦ housewares electrical ✦ lawn and garden hunting and fishing supplies hobbies ✦ cake supplies sporting goods ✦ toys pet supplies ✦ horseshoes wood stoves ✦ and much more Do you know who has keys to your home or office?

We can RE-KEY your existing locks to insure “ONLY YOU” have control of who has keys to your home or office.

Lexington UtiLities Natural G as • ElEctric • WatEr r EsourcEs “Serving Davidson County Since 1904”

HigH Point Winston-saLem tHomasviLLe Lexington

476-5074 722-0075 476-5074 243-2489

WWW.Lexingtonnc.net

Can you imagine … a world without children?

BRING IN THIS AD AND GET ONE STANDARD LOCK RE-KEYED FOR FREE.

We Can’t.

Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org

218 S. Main St. (336) 248-5938 www.lanierhardware.com

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Sports & Recreation

Venture Out

High Rock Lake, site of numerous Bassmaster competitions

Brian M c Cord

There’s more to Davidson County than barbecue and furniture

While Davidson County might be most famous for its barbecue, there’s more in the area to keep guests and residents alike entertained. From the many county and neighborhood parks to the lakes and caves, Davidson County is full of fun places to spend an afternoon.

Parks

Sports

The parks in Davidson County have some unique features. Boone’s Cave Park is a beautiful and scenic 110 acres, filled with more than three dozen species of wildflowers, walking trails to the Yadkin River, a 1700’s-style cabin and a cave that is long rumored to be the hideout of the legendary Daniel Boone.

Denton’s FarmPark gives visitors the chance to experience life from a different time – the park features a 1.5-mile railroad track called the “Handy Dandy” (complete with steam train) that encircles the park’s 15 restored buildings, including a blacksmith shop, old-time post office, radio museum, country store and Aunt Fannie’s Doll Museum.

The Uwharrie National Forest is a popular destination among locals for camping, hiking and more.

Davidson County is also home to more than 20 county and neighborhood parks, such as The Doak Skatepark, Childers, Finch, Grimes, and Harrison and Veteran’s Memorial parks.

The biggest sports events in Davidson County are both cycling events – The Piedmont Triad Omnium and the Tour de Kale.

Golf is also popular in the region, and the County is home to some excellent courses such as Winding Creek Golf Club, Sapona Country Club, Lexington Golf Club, Colonial Country Club, Willow Creek and Meadowlands.

For those who prefer team sports, the minor league baseball team, the Thomasville HiToms, plays every summer.

Water Recreation With a few recreational lakes – High Rock, Tuckertown and Lake Thom-A-Lex – and the Yadkin River running through the county, Davidson has plenty of opportunities for many different waterrelated activities.

– Carson O’Shoney dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Education

Grow and Learn

Peter Navrat studies on campus at Davidson County Community College

Staff Photo

Davidson County schools provide quality education

Students in Davidson County may find themselves joyfully overwhelmed with educational offerings from elementary school lasting even after graduation.

The Growing Years There are three public school systems operated within Davidson County—Lexington City, Thomasville City, and Davidson County Schools. Each of these systems provides students with skills they need in order to excel, while also inspiring them to be active in the community. The three systems strive to offer a caring, learning environment, hold high expectations for students and staff—and seek to be efficient. The goal is to graduate all students to be future-ready for a globally competitive environment.

Lexington City operates seven schools and serves 3,090 students. Thomasville operates five schools and serves 2,450 students. The larger Davidson County Schools system operates 33 schools, including 18 elementary, six middle schools, six high schools, one early college, one alternative school, and one special needs school. Resources for learners include a gifted program, advanced placement, career and technical education, online scholarship opportunities—and more.

Teachers serving across Davidson County average 13 years experience and 31% hold advanced degrees.

More than 88% of high school seniors plan on attending a two or four year college or university, while the rest look to join the military or enter the job force. Millions of dollars of financial aid are awarded to graduates seeking to continue their learning.

Preparing for the Future Davidson County Community College offers more than 50 programs with two campuses and three satellite centers. On average the college serves 16,000 students a year with day and evening classes available. Full-time students looking to receive an associate degree may complete the course in two years, while diploma programs require three semesters, and certificate programs one or two semesters depending on the student’s time status.

Advisors are also available on-site to assist students.

Uptown Lexington Education Center and Thomasville Education Center are the two satellite centers in Davidson County catering to students who prefer smaller class sizes. Students may acquire credits for certificates, diplomas and degrees.

– Raven Petty dav i d s o n c o u nt y

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Health & Wellness

Take a Deep Breath davidson county Residents can access two top hospitals

photos by Todd Bennett

Lexington Memorial Hospital

Two hospitals are better than one, and residents of Davidson County are lucky to have a pair of award-winning medical centers in their community. Here is a brief overview of Lexington Memorial Hospital and Thomasville Medical Center.

Lexington Memorial Hospital

For More Info

This 94-bed community hospital represents 20 specialties and has 800 employees, including 120 physicians. LMH provides services that include surgery, an imaging center, critical care unit, birthing center and 24-hour emergency department.

lexington memorial hospital 250 Hospital Dr. Lexington, NC 27292 (336) 248.5161 www.lexingtonmemorial.com

Thanks, Wake Forest

thomasville medical center 207 Old Lexington Rd. Thomasville, NC 27360 (336) 472-2000 www.thomasvillemedicalcenter.org

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As a gift to LMH, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem has pledged up to $5 million in matching donations through 2013. The money can be spent in a variety of ways to benefit LMH, including equipment, renovations and community wellness programs.

Lexington Memorial and Wake Forest Baptist originally formed a partnership in 2008 that allows LMH to have access to Wake Forest Baptist’s expansive network of medical resources. It also allows Wake Forest Baptist to have a larger marketing presence in Davidson County, with the two medical centers being only 20 miles apart.

Wide Range of Services

Thomasville Medical Center

LMH operates a Wound Care Center that provides specialized treatment for chronic or nonhealing wounds, which may result in life-threatening infections, possible amputation and debilitating health problems. Other services that LMH offers include a dietary department, joint replacement center, pain center and sleep lab.

Thomasville Medical Center The original City Memorial Hospital of Thomasville opened in 1930 and changed its name to Thomasville Medical Center in 2001.

TMC has 149 beds and is regarded among the top patient care facilities in this region of the country.

Accreditations Thomasville Medical Center is now accredited with the prestigious Joint Commission, which evaluates hospitals for patient safety and clinical quality improvement processes. TMC has also received accreditation as a national chest pain hospital from the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

In addition, the hospital has earned national sleep center certification from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, along with national stroke care certification from the American Stroke Association.

Spacious E.R. In 2008, TMC opened a new 24,000-square-foot emergency center, which quadrupled the E.R. space that the hospital previously had. Today, the emergency center has 27 rooms compared to 10 in the past.

TMC officials say the spacious E.R. was needed in large part because of the growth in popu­ lations of retirees and of families choosing to relocate to Davidson County. Thomasville Medical Center serves about 30,000 emergency patients every year.

– Kevin Litwin

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community profile snapshot Davidson County is home to two vibrant communities – Lexington and Thomasville. The county is known as the Barbecue Capital of the World, with several restaurants that specialize in Lexington-style ‘cue. Site Selection magazine ranked the county eighth among U.S. micropolitan statistical areas.

transportation

20 minutes Median Travel Time to Work

cost of living

$45,731 Median Household Income

$100,854

Climate

Median Home Price

28.5 F

$610

Winter Low Temperature

household information

Average Annual Precipitation (National Average = 37.48”)

159,947

25% Age 19 and Under

48% Age 20-54

27% 76% 12% 7% Hispanic

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Eastern

Single

Black

Total Population

time zone

44%

White

Summer High Temperature

45.89”

Married

Age 55 and Over

Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

88.9 F

56%

Median Resident Age

5% Other

This section is sponsored by

Turlington and Company, l.l.p.

Certified Public Accountants

509 E. Center St. Post Office Box 1697 Lexington, NC 27293-1697 phone: (336) 249-6856 fax: (336) 248-8697

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Ad Index

31 Coltrane & Company Inc.

41 Davidson County Community College

5 Davidson County Public Library 29 Davidson Water Inc. 8 Energy United 47 High Point Regional Health System 5 Hospice of Davidson County

42 Lanier’s True Value Hardware

38 Lexington City Schools

24 Lexington Memorial

42 Lexington Utilities

44 North State Communications

38 Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation

31 PPG Industries

Ad Index (cont.)

4 Southern Services of Lexington Inc. 1 Thomasville Medical Center

29 Thomasville Veterinary Hospital

44 Time Warner Cable

48 Turlington & Company LLP

C4 Wal-Mart

DINING HEALTH C A R E

CULTURE

SHOPPING

BUSINESSES

NEIGHBORHOODS

SENIOR LIVING

RECREATION SALARY VOLUNTEERING POPULATION

INDUSTRY TRANSPORTATION

WEATHER

UTILITIES

MEDIA

MOVING SCHOOLS

Just the facts, please.

Many factors will determine your move, and now you’re just a click away from all the basic facts you’ll need. Visit imagesdavidsoncounty.com for our enhanced Facts & Stats section, now rich with quick, pertinent details about the community.

160 Lowes Blvd.

Lexington, NC Exit 91, Store is off Cotton Grove Rd. Store Manager: Erica Davidson