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PARTNER CARRIERS
Mike Griffin, CEO Mooresville
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Paul Renegar Statesville
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Logan Canipe Lincolnton
Leon Brown, III Statesville
Leyda Martinez Denver
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Lauren Yount Maiden
Melissa Armstrong Mooresville
Dennis Long Statesville
Barbi Dellinger Lincolnton
Rich Schrader Mount Holly
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Better Than A Jungle Throw-Down
“Hey, Flaps, what we gonna do?”
“I dunno, whatcha wanna do?”
Back and forth it goes, in a classic scene from Disney’s The Jungle Book. With lilting Liverpool accents and characters leaning heavily into an uncanny resemblance to the Fab Four who were all the rage at the time, a group of rather forlorn looking and sounding vultures – Flaps, Buzzy, Dizzy and Ziggy – ponder what to do next in one of the movie’s drearier scenes. At a momentary loss for ideas, the foursome is suddenly energized by the appearance of a lost man-cub, Mogli, and the entertainment that is about to ensue with Shere Khan the tiger pursuing the boy.
I think of that scene every time my husband and I are looking at each other across the kitchen table on a rare day off, wondering, “What we gonna do?” The goal is to come up with something – anything – that doesn’t involve errands, home repair or any other type of manual labor.
We often forget that it doesn’t take the sudden specter of a jungle throw-down between a child, a tiger, a protective panther and a well-meaning but bumbling bear to keep us entertained. Not at all. We are quite gifted around these parts with so many options to quench our thirst for entertainment, especially this time of year when the music and arts festivals abound.
This month’s edition is dedicated to just those pursuits, and no matter where you throw a dart on a map of the Lake Norman area, you’re bound to hit a bullseye for more than a few things of interest.
The Town of Davidson is particularly replete with options when it comes to concert series and art exhibits. Check out our Fall Festivals & Events listing starting on Page 37 for what’s on the roster at the town’s Concerts on the Green and Concerts @ The Circles, or which musical ensemble the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church will host this fall. Our “Weekend Getaway” feature (Page 34) also offers art exhibit options at Davidson College’s Van Every and Smith Galleries or the outdoors Campus Sculpture Collection.
You could also navigate your way through a corn maze at historic Rural Hill in Huntersville, enjoy an afternoon in Cornelius at the massive ‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival, sample some sidewalk sales and wine and beer tastings at the Downtown Mooresville Uncorked & Artsy event or revel in some medieval ribaldry at the annual Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace.
And for the dog lover in all of us, there’s always the All American Dog Show in Cornelius, the Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival in Huntersville or the Mooresville Wiener Race at Ghostface Brewing. I mean, what goes better with a cold craft brew than dashing Dachshunds in costumes? We’ve provided a pretty extensive lists of festivals, fine arts and fun, but it’s far from complete, as we don’t have enough ink or pages to put it all out there.
So go and explore, because around Lake Norman, the question “whatcha wanna do?” is so easily answered. Just take a nice, leisurely stroll through this month’s issue for a few hints.
— LH Lori Helms Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com
Correction: In our August issue, the name of our Lake Norman’s Best Readers Choice Award winner for “Best Art Gallery” was incorrect. The winner is Mooresville Arts (www.mooresvillearts.org). Learn more about them in our “Weekend Getaway” feature on Page 34.
The magazine by and for the people who call Lake Norman home
Carole
The Complete History of America (abridged)
Friday, October 11 | 7:30pm
Saturday, October 12 | 2pm & 7:30pm
Newly updated for the 2024 election, the Reduced Shakespeare Company returns with 600 Years of History in 6000 seconds!
To The Limit: The Ultimate Eagles Experience
Saturday, September 14 2pm – New Matinee!
“To the Limit” captures the timeless spirit of The Eagles in a bottle and somehow makes it their own, offering exciting moments for every listener to enjoy!
Cain Center Singer-Songwriter Showcase: A Night of Originals & Influences
Saturday, September 21 7:30pm
Performers include Paul Bradley Atkinson, David Childers, Brit Drozda, Sam Brasko, and Taylor Winchester.
Fall Favorites
Copper Urns: $99
artful
How Creative Design and Local Talent are Elevating Lake Norman Homes
At the heart of every home lies a story waiting to be told through the lens of creative interior design. And what better way to tell your family’s story than with gorgeous art? Imagine walking into a room where a beautiful mural transformed your basic wall into a breathtaking focal point, capturing the essence of your family’s spirit and style.
Art is deeply personal, transformative, and unique — just like our creative process. We start by getting to know you, the homeowner, so we can fully understand your vision. What are your passions? What colors draw you in? How do you want to use your living space? Do you need a stress-free retreat? Or an updated, inviting kitchen? Because let’s face it — no matter how comfortable your sitting room is, everyone always ends up in the kitchen, perched against counters, excitedly talking over wine (and each other).
Then, we partner with local artists — talented people like Yvonne Boesel from Cornelius, Natalie Daratony from Charlotte, and Dale Barattini McLin from York, South Carolina. These collaborations result in art that is more than just décor. Whether we’re commissioning custom artwork to perfectly fit your mantle or transforming a beloved heirloom into a focal point, your vision guides every design decision. It’s not just about decorating; it’s about creating a space that inspires and excites you.
Your home can be a sanctuary of harmony and beauty, where cherished memories are made, relived, and remembered. Together, we can create a home that is not only gorgeous and functional but celebrates you and all the people you love the most. We would love the opportunity to work with you. Call or email Lori for an appointment or a complimentary discovery call.
20901 Catawba Ave. 704-458-6464
Lori@homeheartandsoul.com homeheartandsoul.com
If a town’s personality could talk, what would it say?
Close-up
on Cornelius
Filmmaker focuses on some of our favorite spots
by Lori Helms | photography courtesy Glenn Roberson
After spending some time talking with local filmmaker, writer and photographer Glenn Roberson, I’m guessing it would be something akin to actress Gloria Swanson’s famous quote from the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard: “Alright, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” And a close-up is just what it receives – several times, in fact – in Roberson’s recent film release, When First We Practice to Deceive. He describes it as a “con” movie, with some slick characters, storytelling twists and, if you pay careful attention, a series of location shoots that many of us would recognize.
The film’s press release describes the plot, in which “... a phone call from prison, a bag of cash and drugs, and a missing person spark a series of events that upend the lives of a jazz club singer and a good Samaritan.” There’s a lot going on in Deceive, which meant Roberson needed a lot of locations in which to shoot. Turns out Cornelius, as well as places in and around Troutman and areas of southern Iredell County, and a prison scene in Mount Pleasant (inside an actual, former prison that is now Southern Grace Distilleries), did not disappoint.
Roberson says he shot quite a bit of the film at Cornelius’ Oak Street Mill, using a variety of indoor spots as well as some architectural details and its tell-tale brick exterior. When watching some of the
night club, restaurant or warehouse scenes, you might spy what he describes as an interesting arched feature he used as the front of the movie’s night club setting (shot in the space occupied by The Comfortable Couch Company, or CoCoCo). He also used the back of the mill for the movie’s warehouse exterior, and there’s even an interior bar scene that locals will recognize as the Old Town Public House on Catawba Avenue.
Coupled with some wardrobe provided by the popular CoCo Couture in Jetton Village and catering from Cornelius-based Fresh Chef Kitchen, Roberson truly spread the love around some of our favorite Lake Norman-area haunts.
Now available on about a half-dozen streaming services including top-rated Tubi, Roberson says it’s his first feature-length film. He’s clearly produced something of note, as he says the movie has received about 10 awards following submission to a few film festivals. Not only did his lead actors receive recognition, Roberson gathered a few fists full of bling thanks to his gift for writing, directing, producing, editing and cinematography.
“Yeah, it’s pretty embarrassing when the credits come up,” he says with a slight laugh. “I’m kind of a perfectionist and didn’t really want to hand things off to someone else. I know what I want the finished product to look like.”
Filmmaker Glenn Roberson prepares for his next shot on the set at Cornelius’ Oak Street Mill. Below, Old Town Public House is the setting for a scene in Roberson’s indie film.
Glenn Roberson
Lederhosen, Song Danceand
‘OOPS’ brings German polka music to the South
by
Sometimes our paths are well-planned, and sometimes it’s simply fate leading us to the right place at the right time. For David Jazbec, the right place was the Bavarian Kitchen Restaurant in Troutman; the right time was six years ago. Jazbec was dining at the restaurant when a kitchen mishap put service on hold. Luckily, he had his button box (European accordion) on-hand and, to ease the imposition imposed on patrons waiting to dine, he decided to play for the crowd.
The result was landing a once-per-month gig at the restaurant. The owners asked him to play for pay; instead, Jazbec agreed to play for complimentary beer and Wiener schnitzel. Add a bass player, a drummer, and a guitar and banjo-playing lead singer, and suddenly there was a band — a lively and true-to-the-polka genre band now known as the Optimistic Oompa Polka Souls (OOPS) Polka Band. The band provides a fun, entertaining option for people of all ages.
“We enjoy what we do,” says Jazbec. “We laugh, have fun and act like kids.”
Jazbec’s musical beginnings began in Cleveland, Ohio during his youth, when his father brought home a button box. Lessons from an older cousin and tagging along during the cousin’s performances lead to Jazbec joining a high school polka band with 10-15 button box players performing as the Fairport Harbor Button Box Club. The group was well-accepted, playing at restaurants and event venues. The Fairport Harbor Button Box Club continued successfully as Jazbec left for college, where he played mostly for family and friends.
Current band members have been together for four years and feature Jazbec (button box), Kevin Dean (guitar and banjo), Anthony Zurick (bass guitar), DeAnn Scheppele (drums) and Mike Scheppele (keyboards). The band also features Annette Dean and Michelle Titus, who engage the audience in dance and song. Adhering to authentic-
ity, the men wear lederhosen (short or knee-length leather breeches with suspenders), and the women wear the traditional Oktoberfest dirndl (a dress, an apron and a blouse).
The band has gained notoriety sharing their music throughout the south, performing at Hilton Head, Panama City Beach, Fort Jackson and Carolina Beach to name a few of the many locations the band has played.
“We play a blend of German favorites: polkas, waltzes, and we try to replicate the Munich Oktoberfest experience,” says Jazbec. “We slide in American favorites for those unfamiliar with polka. Audiences have been larger than anticipated: there are many transplants down here who recognize the music.”
One of the band’s goals is to perform a three-day show at the largest Oktoberfest celebration in America, held in Cincinnati, Ohio: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, a venue that draws several hundred thousand visitors yearly. The band’s most desired vision, however, is to perform at an Oktoberfest in Germany.
The OOPS Polka Band recently recorded its first original song titled, “Who Has More Fun.” The recording was made locally at a studio in Denver.
“Now that we’re playing venues with good sound systems,” says Jazbec, “we can record our sessions, burn CDs and offer digital access to our music.” The song, which was performed publicly for the first time at Protagonist Beer in Charlotte, can be viewed on YouTube.com.
For more information about OOPS Polka Band and to view their Oktoberfest calendar, visit www.oopspolkaband.com or call 704.654.6545.
Tony Ricciardelli photograph courtesy OOPS Polka Band
OOPS Polka Band takes a moment to pause at the Walhalla Oktoberfest, South Carolina. Pictured left to right are Annette Dean, Kevin Dean, Ed Harrigan, Mike Scheppele, DeAnn Scheppele, Anthony Zurick, David Jazbec and Michelle Titus.
and Interaction A Case for Fun
Cornelius entrepreneur brings people and businesses together
With today’s ubiquitous and ever-changing technology – the internet, social media, artificial intelligence and the ability to send and receive information 24/7 – the need for in-person communication isn’t as commonplace as it used to be. However, it’s been proven that human interaction is good for one’s health. Family dinners, playing board games, joining social groups, taking seated classes, attending reunions, etc., can provide a feeling of belonging, worth and acceptance.
For Case Warnemunde, Marketing Director of Bella Creative Inc., a marketing agency, and owner of the Bella Love brand, providing opportunities for people to gather and experience the joy and creativity of human interaction is paramount.
“I have belief in people and their untapped potential,” says Warnemunde. “It takes a broadcast approach to get people together for a shared passion in one’s hometown. It’s about building a movement to ‘Walt Disney-fy’ the community, to build a physical and social network around the way people connect in the 21st century.”
An Ohio native, Warnemunde attended the University of Cincinnati,
by Tony Ricciardelli
where he studied international business and marketing. There, he developed an interest in studying other cultures, subsequently participating in mission trips to Mexico and Guatemala.
“The experiences shaped me as I saw how people treat one another in their societies,” he says. “We’re individualistic, starving for relationships, belonging, love.” To fulfill these needs, Warnemunde cultivates unique talents and “community DNA” to market campaigns and events that create thoughtful experiences. Love, talent and creative expression are used as a framework to bring the community together – to connect people and services that normally would not be.
He came to North Carolina in 2009, transferring with his job from Outback Steakhouse in Cincinnati. Here, he would be within driving distance of his family, and his attraction to the lake area seemed a perfect location to set roots. Warnemunde lives in Cornelius with his partner, Jessica, and their son, Kipton.
Warnemunde founded Bella Creative, Inc., in 2009, with the goal of developing community marketing initiatives, homespun events and launching local businesses. Bella Love, established in 2010, is
photographs courtesy Bella Creative Group
Warnemunde’s community engagement agency. The Bella Love brand is well-known for its ‘Tawba Walk Street Festival on Cornelius’ Catawba Avenue, one of the area’s largest community festivals. The event features live bands, local artists, craftsmen and vendors, local craft breweries, food truck courts, kid zones, street art, live demonstrations, games, give-a-ways and more. During his time in Cornelius, Warnemunde has been involved in organizing and understanding the infrastructure of the small community, including its civic groups and nonprofits.
“I specialize in helping communities thrive by harnessing the power between local talent, developers and entrepreneurs,” he says. Warnemunde’s approach is to “Believe in people. Trust the process. Get vulnerable. Take action. Be curious. Lead with humility.”
Bella Creative is a unique marketing agency specializing in community engagement, developing campaigns and programs that serve to unite residents, connect area resources and highlight local talent while empowering the businesses that help communities thrive. Bella Love represents a community agency rooted in principles focused on valuing people and knowing the right ideas will come.
“Were building a movement,” says Warnemunde. “We’re an organization with a never-ending supply of ideas. Our events offer an exciting time for attendees and are great value for sponsors.” The venues are wholesome and family-friendly.
Bella Creative works with corporate sponsors to draw the quality talent and individual skills brought to the community. Other Bella Creative venues include The Food Truck Invitational, Cornelius Christmas, Cornelius Cards & Collectibles Convention, LKN Handyman, Olde Town Cornelius and Old Town Public House, featuring trivia, open mic events and live music. Warnemunde received the 2023 Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award for his work in helping revitalize downtown Cornelius. The next ‘Tawba Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, from 2 to 8 p.m.
Left, Case Warnemunde of Bella Creative Group. Above, Dirty Blonde impresses the ‘Tawba Walk crowd.
Opposite page: Mandy Michalak from Main Street Veterinary Hospital shares a joyful moment with kids at the ‘Tawba Walk petting zoo.
N-Spire Band rocking the ‘Tawba Walk stage.
Bella Creative, Inc., is at 19801 S. Main Street, Suite 9, Cornelius. For more information about Bella Creative and Bella Love, visit www.bellacreativegroup.com. or call 513.293.0569.
It’s a ‘Smile Celebration’
Improving quality of life for pediatric oncology patients
by Bek Mitchell-Kidd photographs courtesy Cool Kids Clubhouse
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, but for Tom Barrett, Managing Director of Huntersville’s Cool Kids Clubhouse, helping kids with cancer is a year-round privilege. Now in his second year with the nonprofit, Barrett, like many of us, has family members with cancer, including his sister and brother-in-law.
“When the opportunity came to help kids,” Barrett says, “I was blessed to come on board and make a difference in the lives of our young warriors.” Huntersville is one of three Cool Kids Clubhouse chapters – the first Clubhouse was established in Maryland, and there is also a location in Tennessee. The Huntersville location opened in 2020 to serve the Carolinas, and is named in honor of Dan Jansen, an Olympic gold medalist in speed skating.
“Dan Jansen is an amazing individual,” he says. “I often tell him that winning a gold medal is an incredibly unique experience, but what he has done after winning the gold is priceless.” You can often find Jansen hanging with the kids, playing games, watching movies or telling stories.
The organization’s mission is to improve the quality of life for pediatric oncology patients, survivors and their families by focusing on the academic, social and emotional needs brought on by a cancer diagnosis. Most referrals come via Levine Children’s Hospital, but families can also reach out to Cool Kids directly.
Cool Kids offers “smile celebrations,” hospital room décor bags, movie nights, back-to-school parties, quarterly celebrations and more. They also host teen-specific events.
“Teenagers already are dealing with finding their identity, peer pressure, social media and now a cancer diagnosis,” Barrett says. “The intent of the teen nights is to provide an outlet where they can forget
about cancer and be a teenager. We encourage the teens to pick the activity, and some of the events have been miniature golf, escape room and dinner.”
Tutoring is another way the nonprofit supports families. Cancer can affect the learning process; one third of kids going through treatment without educational support will be held back a grade. This is due to a combination of classroom time missed and the effects of chemo and radiation on the brain’s executive function.
One of the most treasured services from the Clubhouse is time away from treatments at a condo in Myrtle Beach. Available at no cost, it gives Cool Kids a change of pace and the opportunity to just be a family.
“Cancer is a very expensive disease and our families do not have the extra money nor the time to plan a vacation,” he says. “The condo takes away all the stress and worries.”
“Brayden was diagnosed with secondary cancer,” one Cool Kids’ mom says about their condo stay, “and it would not be financially feasible, so this is truly a dream come true and we are so grateful for the opportunity to be able to go to the beach. Thank you for allowing our family to create some wonderful memories.”
Cool Kids is supported through grants, individual donors, corporate donations and fundraisers. They also welcome volunteers and are always in need of gift cards to restaurants, and new toy donations.
Cool
Dwellings
How We Live at the Lake
Photography by Lisa Crates
Art takes center stage in this condominium remodel.
The fireplace went from functional to fantastic with a complete refresh, accented by the homeowner’s eclectic art collection.
After
Before
Notes of
Whimsy
by
It’s not unusual at all for interior designers to work on multiple projects over time for the same client. Whether it’s remodeling a small space or diving into a whole-home design adventure, the relationship that develops between client and designer is one of deep trust and understanding, so it’s natural to go back to that well when a new project awaits.
Lori Helms photography by Lisa Crates
Art is the star in this condo remodel
The entire space was transformed to become center stage for the homeowner’s whimsical sense of style.
It’s probably fair to say that interior designer Anna Stowe was not too surprised when a client for whom she had recently finished a condominium remodel reached out to her again not long after that project wound up. But Stowe, the manager and lead interior designer of Lake Norman-based Great Design 4 U, was a bit surprised to learn that her client had purchased another condo with a more desirable layout, and of course wanted to lock arms again with Stowe to make it a place of her own, while filling it with things she already owns. And what she owns is a wide-ranging and whimsical collection of art.
It became Stowe’s challenge to take a rather traditionally designed two-bedroom, two-bath space awash in beige tones, and turn it into a showcase of her client’s love for eclectic, far-from-traditional art and furniture.
“There is not one spot in this condo that we haven’t strategically placed some type of art or sculpture,” Stowe says. “It’s not a huge space, but we made the best out of every space she has.” Most of the pieces are limited editions that her client has picked up either from artist friends or from the many art fairs she has attended over the years. “We tried to create a design that complemented the art, so the art can be the star.”
And those pieces absolutely play a leading role no matter where you look, because with her client’s love for art comes her love for artistic furniture. It’s found in the custom-made iron table with a highly lacquered live edge wood piece, or the variety of blown glass lamps with the colorfully designed shades that just make you smile when you see them, or the trio of small tables near the fireplace that double
Above, designer Anna Stowe pulled in her client’s love of the eclectic with pops of orange to punctuate the blues of the newly remodeled kitchen.
Left, the sunroom’s sitting space is an oasis of whimsey with the subtle blues and corals used throughout the space.
as drink stands for visitors no matter where they choose to sit. It’s livable, functional art, and it’s everywhere.
Even the kitchen became a space to show her client’s flare for the eclectic. Featuring small pops of bright orange in some of the appliances and accessories for contrast, Stowe selected very bold blue for the walls. That same blue hue was picked up not just in the subtle veining of the countertop and backsplash quartzite, but in the cabinetry hardware as well. A wall of glass-faced cabinetry allows her client to showcase some of her Murano glass collection alongside other pieces.
The real artistry, however, comes in the relationship between art lover and designer. Stowe says it was important to stay true to her client’s love for all things wide-ranging and whimsical, while making sure not to overwhelm the smaller spaces available to display it all. She says it truly was a collaborative effort to decide what went where – and what didn’t.
“Much of the work was just really good conversations,” she says. “We work really well together.”
ATHLETES AMONG US
Nearly 600 United States athletes participated in this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris. Dozens have connections to North Carolina, and two whitewater slalom paddlers on Team USA have ties to the Lake Norman area: Huntersville resident Casey Eichfeld, 34; and Davidson College student Evy Leibfarth, 20. Both athletes train at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte and are members of the American Canoe Association, a nonprofit based in Virginia set up to provide education and competition opportunities for paddlers.
Pennsylvania-born Eichfeld is a four-time Olympian, having represented the U.S. in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2024. This year in Paris, in the men’s canoe whitewater slalom semifinals, he placed 16th, keeping him out of the quarterfinals. His wife and two-year old daughter were there to see him compete. Since becoming a dad, he says his perspective has changed.
“It’s not all or nothing any longer,” says Eichfeld. “While I want to do well and that’s important to me, I know I get to go home to my little one.”
Eichfeld’s been training full-time since 2008, the same year he moved to the area to be close to the Whitewater Center. From mid-March to October, he trains there five to six times a week. Practice begins 30 minutes before the guided rafting trips start on the competition side where you see the hanging gates paddlers must squeeze through. Flatwater workouts at Blythe Landing, a 24-acre park with boat access to Lake Norman, build speed and endurance.
“We’re in the gym three days a week, focusing on explosive power, being able to transition that weight very quickly,” Eichfeld says, “and working on the fast twitch muscle so that each of our strokes are nice and powerful and we apply that power quickly.”
Two Olympians with Lake Norman connections compete in Paris
by Vanessa Infanzon
In a typical competition, Eichfeld and other competitors move through fast-paced whitewater, passing through 15 to 18 gates in a race that lasts just 90 to 110 seconds. Penalties for skipped gates, going through a gate the wrong way or upside down adds 50 seconds to the final time.
“There’s a difference between being able to make it down the whitewater and being able to negotiate the gates we have hanging over the river,” he explains. “The lines we use through those gates are going to determine how fast we can be. We are dancing our way down the river. When it’s done well, it looks really smooth and effortless.”
‘A kid with a paddle’
The 2024 Summer Games were Leibfarth’s second Olympic competition – she went to Tokyo in 2020. She competed in three events this year: women’s kayak, women’s canoe and kayak cross. She won the bronze medal in women’s canoe, the first U.S. women’s slalom Olympic medal in 20 years.
In mid-August, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in the western North Carolina mountains hosted a parade and homecoming celebration in downtown Bryson City in Leibfarth’s honor. The Bryson City native grew up paddling on the local rivers.
“We’ve seen Evy grow up right here at NOC, starting when she was just a kid with a paddle,” says Kristin Kastelic, NOC’s director of marketing. “Now, she’s out there breaking boundaries and winning Olympic medals. She’s not just an incredible athlete, she’s one of our own, and it’s been a thrill for our community and staff to cheer her on every step of the way.”
photography courtesy Marc Hunt
Opposite page: Casey Eichfeld shows the form that has made him a four-time Olympian. Below, Evy Leibfarth is the bronze medal winner in women’s canoe at this year’s Summer Games. These images are from the 2024 U.S. Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials.
National Names Local Galleries,
by Vanessa Infanzon
Art opens our perspective, expands our ways of thinking and gives us room to pause. Children and adults may be inspired to try something new or creative.
“It gives you a moment to see how other people are thinking,” says Simone El Bey, Visual Arts & Education Director, Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius, “and how other people are moving through life and how other people are processing different information.” El Bey recommends approaching an art exhibit with curiosity, open-mindedness and wonderment. She prides herself on creating places for people to feel safe, to express emotion and explore.
“I love advocating for people to have space to be themselves,” she says. “It’s like we are inviting them to be themselves for just one moment of the day.” Lake Norman residents don’t have to travel far to see ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture and more. Local galleries feature distinct artists from the area and all over the world.
• Davidson College’s Belk Visual Arts Center is home to Van Every and Smith Galleries. “Tyler Starr: Tales of the Future,” is in Van Every Gallery through Oct. 6. This solo exhibit includes mixed media works and artists books by Starr, an associate professor of Studio Art at Davidson College. Both galleries will display “In Dialogue,” Catherine Opie’s work from Oct. 14 through Feb. 2, 2025. Attend the artist talk with Opie on Oct. 14 at 5 p.m., in Tyler-Tallman at Sloan Music Center. Learn more at www.davidsoncollegeartgalleries. org/exhibitions.
• While on campus, tour Davidson College’s outdoor sculptures. Highlights from the Campus Sculpture Collection include: “Waves III” by Jaume Plensa, Wind Sculpture (SG) I by Yinka Shonibare and Walking See Flower by James Surls. More details are available at www.davidsoncollegeartgalleries.org/campus-art/.
• Cain Center for the Arts fall exhibits include “Broken History,”
Lake Norman attracts artists from all over the world
Tyler Starr Flags, Placards, and Illicit Climbers of the Capitol Insurrection (January 6, 2021), 2022
Cain Center
Yinka Shonibare CBE, Wind Sculpture (SG) I, 2018, Steel armature with hand painted fiberglass resin cast, 275.5 x 100 x 78.75 inches. Collection of the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College. Gift of Patricia A. Rodgers in memory of her husband B.D. Rodgers.
featuring ceramics by brothers Brad and Bryan Caviness, and will run Sept. 10 through Nov. 1; and “Generations: Highlighting Indigenous Artists” is on display from Nov. 12 through January 10, 2025. Learn more at www.cainarts.org/visual-arts.
• Within Cornelius Town Hall is Heritage Hall, a dedicated space for antiques and reproductions of archival photographs recalling the history of Cornelius from the time of the Catawba to the Centennial celebration in 2005. The History Room displays the Conard Collection, photographs by longtime Cornelius resident Jack Conard. More information is available at www.visitlakenorman.org/ listing/cornelius-heritage-hall/32.
• Mooresville Arts, housed in a restored train depot in downtown Mooresville, displays local and regional art throughout the year. Fall exhibits include “Avant Gard” and “Hot + Cold” through Sept. 26, “42nd Annual ArtOberfest” is a judged show and competition from Oct. 1 through Nov. 14, and “Music & Lyrics” will be featured Oct. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn more at www.mooresvillearts.org.
• Stroll along the greenway in Huntersville’s Holbrook Park for the SculpTOUR exhibition. Five of the six sculptures were created by North Carolina artists including “Joelukeben” by Bradley Tucker, a 12-foot-tall steel structure powered by the wind; and “Basin & Range,” a stone sculpture by Todd Frahm and Lara Ngyuen from Asheville. More details are available at www.visitlakenorman.org/ things-to-do/attractions-entertainment/arts-and-culture/public-art-displays/.
All concerts take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Green in Davidson in front of the public library. The concerts are free, and coolers and picnics are welcome, www.concertsonthegreen.com.
Blue Dogs Trio (Sept. 14)
The Davidson College Symphony & Jazz Ensemble (Sept. 28) Gospelfest (Oct. 12)
DAVIDSON’S CONCERTS @ THE CIRCLES
Concerts are held the first and third Saturday of the month through Oct. 19, on Jetton Street by Clean Juice (605 Jetton Street), from 5 to 9 p.m. An opening acoustic artist will perform first, followed by the headliner at 7 p.m.
Shot Thru the Heart (Sept. 7)
80z Nation (Oct. 5)
Envision (Oct. 19)
MUSIC AT ST. ALBAN’S
All concerts take place at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson, at 3 p.m., and will be proceeded by a free youth concert featuring local students on various instruments. “Meet the Artist” receptions are held after the concerts to engage with the performers. General admission is $20, $15 for seniors, youth and students are admitted free. Tickets are available at the door for purchase or at www.musicatstalbansdavidson.org.
Be sure to pick up our October 2024 issue, featuring a story by contrib- uting writerAllison Futterman on the 20th anniversary of the Music at St.Alban’s series.
The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra (Sept. 22):
This concert will premiere a suite by series founder Henry Lebedinsky. Come early for a 30-minute chat with Lebedinsky and NCBO conductor, Frances Blaker.
Charlton Singleton Jazz Ensemble (Oct. 20):
A South Carolina native, Singleton’s performance will captivate your soul, elevate your spirits and electrify your senses.
Lindsay Kesselman and Allison Gagnon (Nov. 24):
The duo will present “How Can I keep from Singing?”, an afternoon of art song. Pre-concert lecture at 2 p.m., sponsored by Davidson Learns.
CAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Made possible by a founding gift from Ericka and Bill Cain and other local philanthropists, the Cain Center for the Arts is a source of creative expression for the people of the Lake Norman region. The center opened in early 2023 to offer the community opportunities for art education and performance.
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (Sept. 13):
The oldest operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas, the CSO returns to the Cain Center for the Arts for a dynamic program called “How We Got Here: A Journey Through Sound & Time,” filled with pieces by Handel, Mozart, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Copland, Williams and many more. Ticket prices are $47-$72.
Riders in the Sky (Sept. 20):
These Grammy Award winners have been entertaining audiences with their harmonies, wacky Western wit and high-yodeling adventures since 1977. They were featured in Ken Burns’ Country Music and their original song, “Woody’s Roundup” for Toy Story 2 introduced them to new young fans. Tickets are $35-$55.
Singer-Songwriter Showcase (Sept. 16):
Enjoy some of the best singer-songwriters of Charlotte and the Lake Norman area performing some of their original songs “in the round.” Performers include Paul Bradley Atkinson, David Childers, Brit Drozda, Sam Brasko and Taylor Winchester. Tickets are $25 general admission.
Jim Messina (Oct. 17):
An undisputed expert in the art of making hit music, his legacy spans five decades, multiple super groups (including Loggins & Messina, Poco and Buffalo Springfield), a vibrant solo career and scores of producing and engineering credits. Tickets are $55 to $75.
18th Annual Lake Norman Empowerment Festival (Sept. 21):
This community event (formerly “Praise in the Park”) provides Christian entertainment, local and national professional artists, ministry, inspirational vendors, food and more. Admission is free. 5-9 p.m. Smithville Park, 19710 S. Ferry Street, Cornelius. www. cornelius.org.
NEW!!!! Ramble On Music Festival (Sept. 21):
The Town of Davidson introduces a new all-day festival, when performing artists from around the country will converge on a vacant 2.5-acre lot in downtown Davidson. The festival is a partnership between the Town of Davidson and the newly formed, Davidson-based Downriver Records. In addition to six main stage music performances, the Ramble On festival will feature local food and beverage vendors, an interactive art station and an artists’ market for local arts and crafts makers. Admission is free. 405 S. Main Street, Davidson, from noon until 10 p.m. www.townofdavidson.org/rambleon.
EVENTS & FESTIVALS
Mooresville Wiener Race (Sept. 7):
It’s back and better than ever – join the crowd at host Ghostface Brewing’s Social District (215 S. Broad Street, Mooresville). Dachshund races will be held in the Puppy, Junior, Adult and Senior age groups, and don’t forget about the costume contest. All proceeds will benefit Piedmont Animal Rescue. A link for tickets and registration for races can be found on the Mooresville Wiener Race Facebook page.
Amazing Maize
Maze (Sept. 20-Oct. 31):
Navigate the giant seven-acre corn maize featuring more than two miles of interconnecting paths. Take a hayride around the farm, pick a pumpkin, play a round of cornhole and more. Times and ticket prices vary. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. www.ruralhill.net.
2nd Annual Bands, Brews & BBQ Festival (Sept. 14):
Hosted by deBotech, Inc., in partnership with the Town of Mooresville, the festival will feature more than 25 regional BBQ food trucks, live BBQ shows with award-winning pitmaster Kevin Peterson and a Family Fun Zone presented by Piedmont Healthcare. The “B3 Beer Garden” will showcase craft beers from local breweries, including a special collaboration between deBotech and Ghostface Brewing. Liberty Park and Church Street in downtown Mooresville. Free admission, opens at 3 p.m. www.mooresvilleevents.com
Festival of Food Trucks (Sept. 7 & Oct. 5):
This year’s festivals have expanded and will be held on Broad Street from Center Avenue to Moore Avenue, and Main Street from Center Avenue to Iredell Avenue. Live music will be at every event, so bring a chair, bring friends, hang out in the street and enjoy more
than 17 food trucks from around the area. 5-8:30 p.m., entry is free. www.downtownmooresville.com.
Murray’s Mill Harvest Folk Festival (Sept. 28-29):
This 40th annual event celebrates Catawba County’s agricultural heritage with an array of exhibits, craftsmen and activities, antique cars, tractors and farm machinery, and traditional food preparations such as milling and butter making. Bluegrass, Country and Gospel comprise the impressive band schedule. Included in the ticket price ($5 at the gate) is a tour of the mill, where original French burr millstones grind away producing bags of flour and cornmeal. 1489 Murrays Mill Road, Catawba.
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival (Sept. 28):
This festival includes two stages of live music, more than 100 local artists and vendors, craft breweries, food trucks, street art, games, giveaways, a kid zone and more. Admission is free. 2-8 p.m. Old Town Cornelius, 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius. www.oldtowncornelius.com.
Downtown Mooresville Uncorked & Artsy (Oct. 4):
Local and regional artists display their works along Broad and Main streets. Live music, light appetizers and store specials in businesses and out on the sidewalks. The tasting portion of the event is $25 per person and includes all tastings and a souvenir glass. Part of the proceeds will benefit Mooresville Arts. The art and live music portions are free to attend. 5:30-9 p.m. Downtown Mooresville. www. downtownmooresville.com.
Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace (Sept. 30-Nov. 19):
History comes alive with non-stop, day-long, immersive and interactive entertainment. The open-air artisan market is filled with arts and crafts, games and rides, jousting knights on horseback, falconry, mermaids, fairies, dragons, feasting and more. Free parking. No pets. Ticket prices vary and are limited. Organizers suggest reserving your date in advance. Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. www.carolina.renfestinfo. com. [lots of images on their website]
All American Dog Show (Sept. 29):
Sign-up your pooch for the chance to win in a number of categories,
including “Best Kisser” and “Best Puppy Dog Eyes,” while the whole family enjoys vendor booths, concessions and children’s activities. Free to attend and park, registration required to participate. 2-5 p.m. Robbins Park, 17728 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius. www.cornelius.org.
Davidson Fall Arts Festival (Sept. 14):
Enjoy an evening art crawl featuring area artists and craft vendors, live music, an interactive art area and more. 4-8 p.m. Free. Downtown Davidson. www.townofdavidson.org.
Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival (Nov. 2-3):
This event showcases the incredible skill and intelligence of sheepdogs as they compete in a variety of challenges, including herding ability, obedience and agility. There will also be food and drink vendors, merchants, pet adoptions and demonstrations, or check out the Highland cows and the living history demonstrations. For the first time ever, the event will host “Huntersville’s Next Top Dog Show.” Categories include fluffiest coat, curliest tail, silliest name and best trick. $5 per dog to register. The festival is free for children 4 and younger. Tickets range from $6 to $28. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. www.ruralhill.net. [use last year’s image?]
Piedmont Craftsmen Fair (Nov. 23-24):
Quality craftsmanship and excellent design have always been the hallmarks of the fair. Held annually since 1963 by Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc., the fair showcases the handwork of more than 100 fine artisans from across the country. Exhibitors include craft artists working in clay, wood, glass, fibers, leather, metal, photography, printmaking and mixed media creating one-of-a-kind works that can be functional as well as beautiful. Held at the Benton Convention Center, 301 W. 5th Street, Winston-Salem. www.piedmontcraftsmen.org.
GALLERIES
CAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Caviness Ceramics Exhibit (Sept. 10 – Nov. 1): Brothers Brad and Bryan Caviness make unique ceramic artwork in North Carolina. They combine their interests in history with talents for art and design to inspire an appreciation for monumental achievements in art and architecture, bring attention to the destruction of ancient sites and generate an interest in preserving the ones that remain, whether threatened by the slow progress of time, natural disaster or war. The center is at 21348 Catawba Avenue in Cornelius. www.cainarts.org.
MOORESVILLE ARTS
Artoberfest Judged Show & Competition (Oct. 1-Nov. 14): One of Mooresville Arts largest events of the year, Artoberfest showcases art from local artists competing for top honors and Best of Show. This year’s show is judged by Wendy Hickey, found and Executive Director of ArtPop Street Gallery. Mooresville Arts is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to provide art and art appreciation for members and the general public. Mooresville Arts Depot is at 103 W. Center Ave., Mooresville. www.mooresvillearts.org.
Editor’s Note:
Watch for an upcoming feature on Mooresville Arts as they celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2025. There is a reason they were voted as “Best Art Gallery” in our 2024 Lake Norman’s Best Readers Choice Awards!
CAPTURING THE GLOW
Artist’s work explores the nature and light around her Lake Norman home
by Vanessa Infanzon
Multidisciplinary artist Meredith Connelly sketches a mushroom on a 100-year-old wood table in her studio, a small shed within walking distance of her home in Cornelius. When the weather cooperates, Connelly opens the door, relying on additional natural light from the windows.
“It’s surrounded by trees,” she says. “I can have peeks of nature, which inspire me. It’s a very quiet special space to me.”
Connelly lives on Lake Norman with her two youngest daughters and husband, Mike Zak. Her 20-year-old daughter lives in Charlotte. Connelly studied studio art at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, focusing on sculpture. Light is central to Connelly’s designs as she brings science, nature and technology together to create grand-scale installations.
“Light is interesting symbolically,” she says. “We’re drawn to it. Watch people around a campfire or walk outside and feel the sun on your face.” When it’s time to reset or think about things differently,
nature trails in Connelly’s neighborhood or Jetton Park provide the inspiration she needs.
“I’m even inspired by that horrible time of the year where everything is covered by pollen,” Connelly says. “It’s one of my most favorite times on the lake because it creates these almost biomorphic patterns, and you see just this field of yellow. It’s moving and beautiful.”
After a walk, Connelly returns with photographs, drawings and found items – all hold potential for a future project. Branches, rocks, pinecones, pieces of wasps’ nests and cicada exoskeletons cover every corner and windowsill. Connelly never knows what might captivate her. When she finds something visually interesting, she wonders if she could scale it and make it glow.
Whether it’s a mushroom or wildflower, Connelly learns everything about the item. She investigates how it interacts with the ecosystem and environment and what folklore might be associated with it.
Above, indoor installation “Decomposers Glow” at the Museum of York County (photo courtesy Ben Premeaux). Right, Connelly in her Lake Norman studio (photo courtesy Autumn Payne)
The mythology around mushrooms blooming in a perfect circle led to “The Fairy Ring,” Connelly’s first permanent exhibit. It features 110 illuminated fiber glass cast mushrooms, arranged in a circle, just like fungi grow in nature.
“Fairy rings are naturally occurring arcs or rings that happen in nature,” she says. “There’s a lot of myth and folklore (about the rings) that span across cultures, which I find really interesting. There’s that piece of science, nature and technology and also that mythological spirit-based research that comes into play.”
In 2022, an unoccupied snail shell captured Connelly’s attention when she was walking on one of the trails around her home. She carried the spiral shell home.
“I remember staring at (the shell) and looking at that beautiful spiral,” she says, “and then thinking about that being one of the earliest symbols you see in human communication.”
The snail shell became the basis for a large installation, “Decomposers Glow,” which is now at the Museum of York County through November 10.
“What seals the deal for me is when there’s this juxtaposition of a very dynamic role in the environment,” Connelly says, “and this really interesting historical or ancient narrative … that are part of or connected to it.”
View Meredith Connelly’s local installations:
“Decomposers Glow”
Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill, South Carolina
The indoor exhibit runs through November 10. www.chmuseums.org/news/431
Ezell Community Park, 4101 Mintwood Drive, Mint Hill
Permanent outdoor exhibit Coming in May 2025 www.meredithconnelly.com
Bilal Khan, DO Building Generational Family Care
Following completion of his family medicine residency in 2023, Dr. Bilal Khan joined Piedmont HealthCare’s Lake Norman Family Medicine practice in Mooresville to carry out his mission to provide compassionate, comprehensive and thoughtful primary care to his patients.
Dr. Khan offers care for patients ages two and older, with services including everything from routine physicals to complex disease management. He also provides acute/same day visits in addition to procedures including joint injections, skin biopsies and gynecological care. There is X-ray equipment as well as a full-service lab on site, complemented by access to a large variety of Piedmont HealthCare’s specialists. It’s a continuum of care that Dr. Khan enjoys being able to provide for his patients, while learning more about them and their families and how best to care for whatever challenges or struggles they face.
Caregiving runs in the family, as his wife, Katherine Crocco DVM, has been practicing at Aloha Veterinary Hospital in Mooresville since 2022. In addition to general practice care, she has a particular interest in exotic animal medicine, providing services for pets such as reptiles, birds or small mammals. Dr. Khan and Dr. Crocco met in high school in their senior year AP Biology class and have been supporting each other’s medical pursuits ever since, as they both aspire to help those in need.
“It’s very rewarding to make a difference in someone’s day with something as simple as an antibiotic for an infection,” Dr. Khan says.
by By Lori Helms photography by Megan S. Tubbs www.momentsbymegan.com
“I never leave work not feeling that I helped at least one person that day.” Dr. Crocco couldn’t agree more.
“Helping preserve the human-animal bond is the biggest joy of my career,” she says. It’s rewarding for her to see the gratefulness in someone’s eyes after “fixing” the one they love the most while advocating for creatures who cannot advocate for themselves.
Since joining the Lake Norman Family Medicine practice a year ago, Dr. Khan says his patient base has steadily grown to include those who are new to the area, family members and friends of current patients or just those looking for a fresh start with a new primary care provider. That expansion has helped him toward his goal of having an impact on the larger Lake Norman community.
“Caring for three generations of the same family is one of the best aspects of family medicine and makes you feel like an integral part of the community,” he says, adding he also appreciates the rewards inherent in developing long-term relationships and trust with patients and their families.
His family is growing, as well. The duo has two children – an almost three-year-old son named Cassian, and their nearly eight-month-old daughter named Della Rose. The household also includes what they call a “mini-farm” with two dogs, two cats, a horse and a snake.
Piedmont HealthCare | Lake Norman Family Medicine 704-664-7328 | 357 Williamson Road | Mooresville
From Kitchen Volunteer to College Freshman
High School senior seeks a future in technology
by Tony Ricciardelli | photograph by Tony Ricciardelli
It’s often challenging for a young person to decide on a career path. Pairing skills and interests with long-term vocations isn’t easy. Whether college-bound, destined for military service or seeking a career in the trades, choosing a life path for rising high school seniors can be stressful and daunting.
However, for students with a clear destination in mind, the journey is carefully planned and executed. For Mooresville High School senior, Ameena Saleem, the path is decided and the plans are in motion. With her sights set on either North Carolina State University or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Saleem is eager to study biomedical engineering, working to advance technology in medicine.
Saleem, originally from Kerala, India, emigrated to the United States when she was nine years old. She explains the differences between schooling in America versus schooling in India, noting that wearing uniforms was the norm, while classes ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., six days a week. Additionally, students are required to study three languages: Hindi, Malayalam and English. In alignment with her planned college major, Saleem’s favorite subjects are biology and math.
With an impressive GPA, Saleem took part in the North Carolina Governor’s School — a one-month, on-site program for gifted students. The program, held at Meredith College in Raleigh, gave Saleem the opportunity to focus on the sciences: marine biology, geographic information systems and paleontology. Self-reflection and self-improvement were also an integral part of the curriculum.
Beyond her studies at Mooresville High School, Saleem finds time for local involvement and giving back to the community. Since ninth
grade, Saleem has volunteered at FeedNC, a non-profit providing meals, education and displacement services in the Mooresville community.
“It started as a school project for my Environmental Science class,” says Saleem. “I began as a dish washer and donations sorter, and now I prepare food for the chefs. It’s fun and it makes me feel useful. I like cooking, and the food served there. Kitchen duty is my favorite position.”
Additionally, Saleem serves as Teen Engagement Manager on the Teen Advisory Board at the Mooresville Public Library, helping to run various teen programs and supporting thematic teen events. She assists with summer reading promotions and decorating the teen area. Teen Librarian Megan Mosher describes Saleem as creative and well-organized.
“Ameena is proactive, artistic, motivated and a great leader,” says Mosher. “She works well on a team or on her own. She loves being part of the community.” As a reader, Saleem enjoys fantasy novels; her recent picks include the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, and Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan.
Saleem’s extracurricular interests at Mooresville High include several activities. She is a member of the Beta Club (a service-oriented leadership club for students wanting to have influence in the community), The Art Club, the National Honor Society and Junior Civitan Secretary (focusing on environmental awareness, social causes and community engagement). As Saleem embraces her senior year and looks forward to spring 2025 graduation, she anticipates the new opportunities and life experiences awaiting her on the college campus.
“I’m both excited and nervous about going to college,” says Saleem. “I’m eager to learn and to meet new people.”
Mooresville
Mooresville High School senior Ameena Saleem, Teen Advisory Board Engagement Manager at the Mooresville Public Library, shares a seat with two of the library’s favorite patrons.
Limitless
For the area’s 55+ adults who place no limits on living their best lives!
in Four Movements Organ Recital
by Mickey Dunaway
“What do you call it when old codgers get together?” Of course, you call it an organ recital! Get ready. Here comes my most recent composition ...
Movement One: The Apple Watch
It was early fall of 2022, and my Apple Watch began beating a rhythm on my left wrist. It said I was in atrial fibrillation. I manually checked it with the watch five more times, and it returned the same conclusion each time. Time to head to the emergency room.
Their EKG showed that the Apple Watch diagnosis was spot on. The ER doctor gave me meds to hold me until I could see a cardiologist. Two days later, I was at the Sanger Cardiac Unit in Concord, meeting with Dr. Thomas Christopher. This appointment resulted in scheduling an ablation to the offending short-circuiting nerve bundle causing the A-fib. Later, a second doctor installed a physical device called a Watchman in my left atrial appendage to prevent the possibility of blood pooling, clotting and causing a stroke. The atrial appendage is rather like the appendix — a vestige with no usefulness.
Movement Two: I Gotta Feeling
My right knee had hurt like hell for more than a year. No more walking at all with my dogs. Since I was not getting younger, I decided it was time to stop putting off my knee replacement. The X-rays showed bone on bone — no wonder it always hurt. After meeting with my orthopedist, it was clear that replacement was the only option.
In early June, I blissfully went off to la-la land in a local operating room, and soon my orthopedic surgeon went about measuring, marking, cutting, sawing, screwing, hammering and gluing.
I woke up not feeling too bad. So, after the hospital physical therapist came by, and I walked a few yards with a walker, the hospital discharged me, and my wife drove us back home — knee replacement as an outpatient.
On that ride back home, I thought about this surgery as the height of
optimism for anyone at my age of 77 — wondering what I’d do now since I would soon be walking again. That feeling lasted for the rest of that day and was replaced with a trip to Dante’s Seventh Circle of Hell soothed only by the joy of ice packs (and a Dilaudid).
The surgery was successful. However, the muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the knee still ache after every PT two months after surgery. Yet, I still go to therapy twice a week because I could see that the more I went, the more progress I made. In fact, I put on my socks on a recent morning without help — the first time since June 4.
Movement Three: Antibiotics, Anyone?
I woke up on a Monday morning in mid-July, and my left foot was swollen. By Tuesday, the foot was so swollen that I had no visible toes. Off to the ER for a diagnosis, then back to the hospital.
The diagnosis was cellulitis — a common and potentially serious bacterial skin infection that can spread quickly. For three days, the hospital pumped me full of IV-administered broad-spectrum antibiotics. The antibiotics worked. The swelling and pain went down, and I “escaped” after three days to a program called Hospital at Home.
Movement Four: Escape to Paradise
The Hospital at Home program is for acute care patients whose care team determines they would do better at home with technology providing a link to the H@H medical team. The team is comprised of hospital-based paramedics, and a tele-physician and nurse who only see patients by way of FaceTime. Once it was clear the antibiotics were working and I was on the way to a normal-sized foot, my team conferred and I was released completely.
Finale: Hope Springs Eternal
Years ago, I wrote a goal for myself: “Dream Big, Plan Well, Act Boldy.” I think it still applies at 77. When I finish physical therapy, my BIG dream is to walk my Brittanys Boomer and Chloe every day for at least a mile. It is about time. It has been more than a year since I have had that pleasure.
John Powderly, MD Neel Gandhi, MD
Sherene Banawan, PA-C
When Should I Update My Estate Plan?
An estate plan is not a one-time task but an ongoing process that should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure it remains relevant and aligned with one’s current wishes and circumstances. There are several key reasons why and when an estate plan should be reviewed or updated.
First, major life events should trigger a review of your estate plan. Events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child or the death of a loved one can significantly impact your estate planning needs. For example, after getting married, you may want to update beneficiary designations or include your spouse in your plan. Conversely, after a divorce, you may want to remove your ex-spouse from your estate planning documents.
Second, changes in financial status warrant a review of your estate plan. Significant changes in assets, investments, debts or income may necessitate adjustments to your plan. This ensures that your assets are distributed according to your current wishes and that large sums of money are distributed to younger beneficiaries at the appropriate age.
Furthermore, changes in relationships or responsibilities within your family or among beneficiaries may necessitate updates to your estate plan. For example, if a beneficiary develops special needs, you may want to establish a trust or modify existing
provisions to provide for their care adequately.
Changes in laws and regulations can also affect estate planning strategies. Probate laws and regulations related to healthcare directives and powers of attorney may change over time. Regularly reviewing your estate plan with a qualified professional helps to ensure compliance with current laws and takes advantage of any new planning opportunities.
A general rule of thumb is to review your plan every three to five years or whenever there are significant changes in your life circumstances, finances or laws that may impact your estate planning goals. Reviewing and updating your estate plan is crucial to ensure it reflects your current wishes and serves its intended purposes effectively.
Cameron A. Crump is an Estate Planning Attorney with The McIntosh Law Firm, P.C. Learn more at www.mcintoshlawfirm. com/attorneys/cameron-a-crump/ or contact her at 704.892.1699.
Dine + Wine
Eating, drinking, cooking and fun
Photo by Smartshoot
Garlic knots are just part of the experience at G.O.A.T. Pizza in Cornelius.
A Successful Transplant
Perfect with steak, this wine has found a new home in Uruguay
by
First, a little context. When she was operating her business, my wife, Mary Ellen, had some important business partners in Montevideo, Uruguay. They were important enough that she went to visit them at every opportunity. I’m pretty good at carrying bags, so I accompanied her whenever she went. She had a business reason, I had a vinous reason; I wanted to dig deeper into “Uruguay’s Grape,” Tannat. I wanted to visit wineries and talk to winemakers about what they were doing with their wine.
Tannat is one of several grapes that have gone from being a bit-player in Europe to becoming a major wine force in South America — Malbec and Carménère are other examples. They have done more than just been transplanted; they’ve thrived in their new home.
And that, believe it or not, brings me to beef. Mary Ellen’s business partners (actually, they had become good friends), were constantly saying that Argentina was famous for its beef but Argentina’s best beef was imported from Uruguay.
In Uruguay, cows outnumber humans four to one. Uruguayans consume more beef per capita than other countries in the world. Their consumption weighs in at way more than one hundred pounds per person — about double the American average. So, back to wine ... the pairing of Tannat and beef comes quite naturally in Uruguay. Tannat is a wine that seeks out steak to pair with, because of its high tannin levels. Hence the grape’s name, Tannat begs for protein-rich grilled meats.
Uruguayan beef is definitely lean. That’s because the animals are grass-fed. Research has shown that Uruguayan grass-fed cattle have low levels of fat and a high percentage of “good fats,” such as choles-
terol-lowering fatty acids. Uruguayan livestock are free-range, raised in natural conditions with a mild climate, fertile land and plenty of water from the country’s several rivers and streams. Their welfare is ensured. Uruguayan people are proud of their beef.
Invariably, our friends and the two of us would end up visiting a winery, as Montevideo is in the middle of wine country. Or we’d end up at some restaurant for a light lunch — in Montevideo, a light lunch includes lots of beef.
At one winery while touring the vineyards, we walked by a huge steak cooking over wood embers. Just a prelude to lunch with the winemaker. Fun fact: the winemaker spoke no English and my Spanish is non-existent. He kept talking about “Boojolay.” Finally, I got it and blurted out, “carbonic maceration.” That’s how he was making some of his wine — it’s also the method used in Beaujolais (Boojolay), in France. He and I became instant friends. We had lunch together, dining on pieces of that steak we had walked by, previously. It turned out that the winemaker’s son was a trained chef. We dined well.
During another visit, we ended up at a restaurant, one of many at the Mercado del Puerto (Port Market). I’d recommend the market as a place to dine. I mention this only to say we enjoyed the “light lunch” — plenty of steak. And we experienced, for the umpteenth time, how well grilled steak and Tannat complement each other. Perfection on a table and, yes, the table groaned.
You can get bottles of Tannat at several locations around the lake. It’s perfect for that steak you’re grilling for a summer dinner. You should try them together. Enjoy.
Trevor Burton photography by Trevor Burton
Yes, and the table groaned.
UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE » protecting our LKN community
• What is Medicare? Medicare is made up of two parts; Part A, which covers inpatient needs and Part B, which covers outpatient needs like office visits, medical testing, and procedures. Part A and Part B are commonly known as “Original Medicare”
• Can I delay Medicare? Maybe! Those over 65 who continue working or are enrolled in employer health insurance have the option to delay coverage. If you have “credible coverage”, you can delay enrollment in Part B. Get with your employer to see if your plan is considered credible, if not, you could pay a penalty.
• Can I get more coverage? Yes! There are two main paths you can take. One, a Medicare Supplement plan, that works along with your Original Medicare, and a separate Prescription Drug plan. Or two, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that contracts with Original Medicare and provides Part A and Part B coverages. Most include prescription drug coverage, and many offer more benefits like dental, vision, and hearing!
• Am I stuck with my choice? No! You can make changes to most plans during the Open Enrollment period, October 15 – December 7 every year.
(704) 875-3060 foglegroup.com
*We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.
W. Plaza Dr. | Mooresville 28117 Mon - Fri. 7:30am - 8:00pm | Sat 8:00am - 4:00pm
open 9am - 9pm Mon - Sat
Pam Powers, Benefits Consultant, and Jenny Habel, Benefits Consultant Assistant, will sit down with every client to assess their needs, budget, and eligibility.
Like Sushi Roll In A Bowl
by Kathy Dicken
photography by Kathy Dicken
Air Fryer Salmon Bite Bowls
Tender seasoned salmon bites served with fluffy rice, sliced avocado and steamed broccoli topped with a spicy Sriracha mayo compose this delicious salmon rice bowl that will be your new favorite air fryer dish. Simply chop salmon into bite sized cubes, toss in olive oil and a simple seasoning mixture and cook in the air fryer for 7 minutes. So easy!
The beauty of this salmon bowl is you can make it your own. Switch up or change any of the ingredients you would like. We like to add steamed rice, broccoli and avocado to ours, but cucumber, shredded carrots and edamame make tasty additions, too.
Trust me, once you taste this salmon you’ll be hooked. It’s made with such simple ingredients but tastes like it came straight from your favorite sushi restaurant.
Servings: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 7 minutes
Kathy Dicken lives in Huntersville and is the author of The Tasty Bits food blog. For more meal ideas that are simple and delicious, you can follow her blog at www.thetastybits.com or on Instagram @thetastybits.
Ingredients:
1 lb. skinless salmon filet, cut in 1-inch cubes
2 tsps. olive oil
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 avocado
1 bag (8 oz.) microwave broccoli florets
1 bag (8.8 oz.) microwave jasmine rice
Sriracha Mayo
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Sriracha (more if you like it spicy!)
Instructions:
Preheat the air fryer to 400o. Pat salmon dry, remove skin and chop into 1 inch cubes. Make the seasoning mixture by combining the dry spices: paprika, cumin, garlic posder, thyme, salt and pepper. Drizzle salmon with the olive oil and toss the cubes in the seasoning mixture. Once preheated, cook salmon in the air fryer for 7 minutes. While that cooks, mix up the Sriracha Mayo and microwave your rice and broccoli. Serve the salmon over steamed rice with broccoli and sliced avocado and drizzled with Sriracha Mayo. But it’s equally tasty over salad or tucked into tacos or wraps. Enjoy!
Note:
When I place my salmon in the preheated air fryer, I place it on a piece of parchment paper cut to fit the air fryer. It makes cleanup a breeze.
Audiology
Living Well
Your local resource for health and wellness services near you
John Lesher, MD, MPH 170 Medical Park Road, Suite 302 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506
PULMONOLOGY
PHC –Pulmonology
Enrique Ordaz MD
Jose Perez MD
Ahmed Elnaggar, MD
Vishal Patel, MD 170 Medical Park Road, Suite 201, Mooresville NC 28117 • 704-838-8240
Rheumatology
PHC – Rheumatology
Sean M. Fahey, MD
Dijana Christianson, DO 128 Medical Park Road, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-1001
Who’s the PIZZA ‘G.O.A.T.’?
Chef and entrepreneur opens a new concept in Cornelius
When the two-time winner of the Daytona 500 and Huntersville resident Michael Waltrip noticed none of his memorabilia was displayed at G.O.A.T. Pizza in Cornelius, he brought back a race helmet and a framed photo of him in Victory Lane. These were added to the collection of signed and unsigned helmets and jerseys from athletes who represent the restaurant’s theme, “Greatest of All Time.”
G.O.A.T. Pizza, a new concept within the Chef David Burke restaurant group, opened this spring featuring pizza, salads, smash burgers, a kid’s menu, sandwiches on Dukes Bread from Charlotte and gelato from Gnam Gnam in Greensboro. Menu items such as “Mayweather’s Meatballs,” “Super Bowl Salads” and “Field of Dreams
by Vanessa Infanzon photography courtesy Chef David Burke and Houston Ray
Veggie Sandwich” reference athletes, sporting events and sports movies. Burke, chef and owner of G.O.A.T. Pizza as well as Port City Club in Cornelius, calls it a family restaurant with a sports theme.
“The food’s got whimsy and some sophistication,” Burke says, “It’s shareable, it’s Instagram-able and conversational.” Burke has big plans for the phrase, Greatest of All Time. He’s introducing a program that allows members of the community to be nominated as the G.O.A.T. of the week.
“It could be a crossing guard, a schoolteacher, a coach, doctor or a nurse,” Burke says. “We put them on our flat screen, and they be-
Chef David Burke is hands-on at G.O.A.T. Pizza in Cornelius, the latest addition to his eponymous restaurant group.
come the G.O.A.T. for a week. I think the G.O.A.T. in any profession should be honored in our restaurant.”
Burke lives in New Jersey and drives or flies to the Lake Norman area about once a month. David Hynes, Burke’s cousin and manager, is Burke’s connection to the Lake Norman area and the spark behind the sports paraphernalia. Hynes, a former sports agent for 35 years, has lived in Cornelius for 20 years.
“We thought, ‘Let’s create a really fun environment the whole family can enjoy,’” Hynes says. “Ultimately, we wanted it to become the area’s ‘Cheers,’ where you can come, have fun and hang out with your neighbors.”
G.O.A.T. Pizza staff are receptive to customers’ requests. After concerns about being able to watch football games on the restaurant’s big screen TVs, the restaurant decided to extend its hours during the football season from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.
“We really want to blend into the community and serve what they love,” Hynes says. “Our managers are instructed to talk to all the guests and find out if there’s a local beer they want put on the menu.”
Jerseys from Wayne Gretzky, Jim Kelly and Joe Montana hang on the walls, along with Luke Kuechly’s signed helmet and Mike Tyson’s signed glove. Hynes worked with auction houses to buy most of the sports memorabilia in G.O.A.T. Pizza.
“Everything is authentic and signed and comes with a certificate,” he says. “We have lots more and we want it to be on rotation.” The
kitchen keeps a hammer on-hand in case basketball greats Steph Curry or Michael Jordan come into G.O.A.T. Pizza – their jerseys are unsigned.
“The staff are going to smash that [frame] open, hand them a Sharpie and have them sign it right here in Cornelius,” Hynes says.
G.O.A.T. Pizza is at 9623 Bailey Road, Suite 100, in Cornelius. Contact them at 704.237.4728 or visit www.goatpizzanc.com.
Slap Shot Spaghetti and Meatballs.
The Local Salon & Parlor
by Lori Helms photography courtesy The Local Salon & Parlor
“We are all about hair.”
That’s how The Local Salon & Parlor owner Lauren Rorie responds when you ask her about the services her stylists provide. It’s about cuts, color, extensions, pretty much any hair challenge you can dream up for her six talented stylists to conquer.
But talk to her just a little bit longer about what she thinks her salon is really about, and the word “community” comes up more than once. Actually, it comes up quite a lot, and that is likely the reason her business was voted our 2024 Lake Norman’s Best Readers Choice Award winner for “Best Hair Salon.”
Rorie purchased the salon about three years ago from the previous long-time owner after working there for about a decade, and she talks about her singular focus on not just branding it as her own but sharing that brand with her neighbors.
“I just had this mental note,” she says, “like, I’m just gonna make it mine.” But because she understands the inherent relationship between being a great provider of services and being a great supporter of the people and businesses around her, she practices precisely watch she preaches.
LAKENORMAN’SBEST
READERS CHOICE AWARDS
“I care about this community, and it’s really important to tap into it,” says Rorie. She said even the choice of business name was community intentional. “I named it ‘The Local Salon & Parlor’ so when people ask where a client had their hair done, they would just say, ‘the local salon.’” Ingenious in its simplicity – it makes it feel like a place you just need to stop by and stay a spell.
“All of our clients know each other for the most part,” she says. “When you walk in, you see your neighbor and we’re all just talking and having fun. It’s literally just one big conversation. ... And if we don’t know your name, we’re gonna find out.”
That personal touch and community outreach extends beyond the salon chair. Every month, Rorie hosts a book club that meets up on a rotating basis at nearby businesses to show them some love. She says it’s very loosely organized – no RSVP required – and there are folks from every walk of life. There are current clients or those who might be, new parents and empty nesters ... Rorie says it’s all in the name of wanting to be active in the community and bring more people together.
The stylists at The Local Salon & Parlor are winners in our “Best Hair Salon” category, and their clients have been known to gather for a book club meeting or two.
