Lifestyle UNION
Finding lifelong love at the prom. Elvis is alive and well in our county! Couple raises $1.1 million for charity. Fresh produce abounds at county stands. June / July 2013 www.UnionLifestyle.com
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Union Lifestyle PO Box 1064 Monroe, NC 28111-1064
Lifestyle UNION
Contents Union Lifestyle June / July 2013
June / July 2013 Vol. 2, No. 4
Editor Nancy E. Stephen
Contributing Writers Madison McCain Kate Meier Mary Waller
Photographers Nancy E. Stephen Patrick Schneider Darcy Duncan/If It’s Digital
Union Lifestyle
A publication of Cameo Communications, LLC PO Box 1064 Monroe, NC 28111-1064 (704) 753-9288 www.UnionLifestyle.com Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/UnionLifestyle
On the cover Nine-year-old Kristen Sorrell poses at the Field of Dreams.
5
14
Fun July Fourth Activities.
The Big E is alive and well in Union County.
6
16
Finding love at the first prom.
Golf tournament volunteers raise $1.1 million.
8
18
Fathers impact children in many ways.
Nothing says summer like fresh produce.
10
20
Babies are cute for a reason.
It’s worth the wait at Stacks Kitchen.
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22
Field of Dreams more than just photos.
Lots to do in the county during June and July.
Patrick Schneider photo for Old South Studios
6 June
Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 3
Sunburns fade, but the damage lasts forever. Schedule your skin exam today.
Editor’s letter My, how your perspective on life can change as the years begin to pile up! Thirty-four years ago, as a young newspaper editor, I wrote a somewhat tongue-in-cheek column about how I was middle age. I was 26. My rationale was that if I lived to be 75, a number that I now hope to pass by 10 or 20 years, 26 was middle age. Birth to 25 were the years of youth, 26 to 50 were middle age and 51 to 75 were old – one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel, as the saying goes. Well! Now firmly ensconced in that golden geezer category – not just barely, you understand – I’d like to edit that newspaper column. And slap that young whippersnapper into reality! I’m turning 60 this summer, and that horrifies me. Not because being 60 is horrifying, (age is just a number; you’re only as old as you feel; 60 is the new 40; yada yada yada) but because I can’t figure how I’ve lived 60 years. That’s 21,900 days! How many of those days did I fritter away? Can I have a do-over? If I live to be 90, I have 10,950 more days, and that sounds relatively good. But what if the banana peel gets me at 80? Then I only have 7,300 days. So here’s my plan to make the most of what time I have left. t Create a bucket list and get with it. I have a quasi business plan; it’s time for a revised life plan. t Quit spending time doing things that don’t benefit me or anyone else, for that matter. (A friend recently described an unproductive meeting as “four hours I’ll never get back.”) t Be proud of having a 2-year-old’s ability to constantly question. There’s a lot to learn in a few short years. t Live, love, forgive and forget because if I don’t, unnecessary stress will further shorten those 10,950 or 7,300 days. And I don’t have time for that. Editor@UnionLifestyle.com
Waldman Dermatology Certified by the American Board of Dermatology
1423 E. Franklin St. Monroe, NC 28112 (704) 289-9448
10512 Park Rd., Ste 113 Charlotte, NC 28210 (704) 542-8018
www.garywaldman.com 4 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
Restoring Historic Downtown Monroe . . . one building at a time. Office and retail space available John Wiggins, 704.242.4393 www.UrbanMonroe.com
Fun Fourth Festivities Compiled by Madison McCain
Union County is at its best during traditional Fourth of July festivities countywide.
Indian Trail Crafts
Monroe Celebration
Make a flag from red, white and blue materials to wave during the day’s parades.
Fireworks at Belk-Tonawanda Park begin at 9:30 p.m.
9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Free, all ages welcome. Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, 100 Navajo Trail
Indian Trail Parade and Celebration Fun festivities begin at 9:30 a.m at Town Hall, followed by the parade at 11 a.m. www.IndianTrail.org
Lake Park’s Old-Fashioned Picnic Festivities at Russell Park begin at 11 a.m. Details at www.LakeParkNC.gov
Lake Park Firecracker Run Benefits Common Heart, a nonprofit organization addressing hunger and poverty. Check in and registration at 6 a.m. 10K race at 7:30 a.m., 5K at 9:15 a.m., 1K at 9:20 a.m. Kids’ firecracker dash at 10 a.m. (704) 218-9060 or www.TheCommonPlace.org for info and to register.
Details about other festivities will be posted at www.MonroeNC.org.
53rd Unionville Celebration 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The traditional celebration features live bands, plus rides, slides, games, car show and tractor show. Festival food for sale. The parade, featuring everything from floats to antique tractors and decorated lawnmowers, begins at 1 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.
Waxhaw’s Taste of Small Town Americana Independence Day begins at 10 a.m. with a parade in historic downtown. From 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., enjoy the annual beach party in downtown with water inflatables, food concessions and a rockin’ party band. When the sun goes down, watch the fireworks set to patriotic music at 9:30 p.m. behind Summerfield Auto on Waxhaw Parkway. www.Waxhaw.com
Love at first prom The prom, ah, the memories. When most of us attended our high school prom, we went with whomever we were dating at the moment (subject to change before the end of the night) or a best friend. It was a night to remember, certainly, but how many of us can remember the prom many decades later with the same date, who now is our spouse? By Nancy E. Stephen
P
am and Bill Wofford don’t have many memories of the 1978 Monroe High School prom because they didn’t stay. “We left after an hour, at most,” Pam says. “It was a very shortlived experience; he didn’t want to go at all. Prom “I badgered him into going, and he 1978 wore a blue tuxedo to match my blue dress. We had our picture made, sat around the table for a while and left. Neither of us could dance.” Little did they know that 32 years later, they would marry. The two met when she was 13. Their fathers worked at the same mill and vacationed at Garden City Beach, where the families often got together. Although Bill attended Garringer High and Pam attended Monroe High, the two dated through her junior year. If you can call it dating, Pam says. “Our dating consisted of him coming to my house or me going to his to watch TV. We didn’t have dates where we went out in public.” Until her junior prom, which wasn’t all that exciting. They broke up after her junior year, and each went his own way for 31 years, during which time Pam married and Bill did not. The two reconnected in 2009 when Bill’s sister invited Pam to a party for Bill’s dad. Pam and Bill’s 6 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
sister had remained in touch throughout the years. Just two months later, Pam’s husband of 21 years died in a tragic accident. A few months later, Bill’s sister invited Pam to a party at Christmas, when the high school sweethearts reconnected yet again. “He came by to see me on New Year’s Eve, and it was like there had never been 30 years that passed. There was no strain to find something to talk about. We talked all night,” Pam recalls. On some level, “I never stopped loving him. “But I didn’t know on New Year’s Eve that we would get married and live happily every after. “He was my first love and I was his first love. I do believe that we were meant to be together. We both agree that we needed to go through what life gave us to appreciate where we are now. If we’d married after high school, it would have ended in divorce.” The two married in 2010, with Pam wearing the ring Bill gave her as a 16-year-old as her wedding ring, albeit augmented with diamonds. Life with her childhood soulmate “is everything I thought it would be – and then some! “Life with him is as awesome as I thought it would be.”
201 Wedd 0 ing
Today, Bill is a utilities crew chief at City of Charlotte and Pam is a human resource/safety manager at Tuscarora Yarns.
I
Prom 1981
t was 1979, and Chris Bragg took Kathy Keyser’s best friend to the prom at Swansboro High School. The spark of a 34-year romance ignited that night, but it was between Chris and Kathy, not his date. A post-prom party “was the first time Chris and I made a connection. I was going to do something stupid, and he wouldn’t let me,” Kathy says After that night, they had eyes only for each other. “We started picking at each other at school. He’d take me into senior courtyard, and we’d talk.” “We were flirting – high school style,” Chris adds. 2013 “We knew we liked each other,” she chimes in. On Darcy Du ncan/If It ’s Digital the last day of school, “he put his Photo hands on the open bus window and pulled himself up to say, ‘will you write me this summer?’ And that was that.” This being decades before Internet and cell phones, the couple communicated by handwritten letters while Chris was away that summer. Kathy even remembers the grey stationery Chris used. In fall, they both attended a beach music festival at Emerald Isle, albeit separately. Kathy, now a high school junior, was with a friend when they saw two guys sitting at picnic table. “Who do you want to go for?” the girls discussed. “That was our first kiss – at the picnic table,” she says, chuckling at the girlish behavior. A few weeks later while back at college, Chris decided to ask Kathy out on a date, but instead of doing the asking himself, he used a surrogate. His sister asked Kathy on Chris’ behalf. “That was our first real date,” Chris recalls, and Kathy’s first date ever. “I was going to take her to a football game, but didn’t get there in time. Her dad teased her that I wasn’t showing up. “By the time I got there, the game was over, so we drove to McDonalds and got sundaes and talked for a couple of hours.” Kathy thought Chris “was very cute. He was a little older, and I’d never dated before.” Did he sweep her off her feet? “Not really.” As a college student, Chris escorted Kathy to her junior and
senior proms and gave her an engagement ring on her graduation night – while sitting in a car in the driveway! At the end of her first college year, the couple married – she was 18 and he was 21. Some parents might be alarmed by their youth, but Kathy’s father, who married her mother when he was 17 and she was 16, simply said, “What took you so long?” Now 31 years later, the couple seems as cute and cuddly as you would expect in teenagers, not middle-aged professionals. “It’s been a good life,” Kathy says, “with a few bumps. I found the right person for me; I just found him earlier than expected.” Chris agrees. “There’s nothing I’d do over again. I don’t know how it would get better. Kathy’s my best friend. We always put each other first. We sit and talk; it’s been great.” “People think it was so difficult for us, but for us, it was our norm,” she says. “It was easier for us because we always had each other to rely upon.” Today, Kathy is executive director of the Union County Community Shelter and Chris is a superior court judge.
Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 7
Mothers get a lot of credit, but Dad is the rock of our family By Mary Waller
T
he text came in at 9:02 p.m. on Thursday: “FL exit 156. Gas & sandwich.” That’s mile marker 156 in Florida. Eighty-six miles to go. Earlier that day, the borrowed truck and rented trailer – loaded with our middle child’s bed, dresser and desk, a kitchen table, some end tables and night stands and lamps – pulled out of our driveway in Weddington. Juliet had decided to remain in Florida this summer, work a couple part-time jobs and live on her own
with roommates. She’ll stay there for her final college semester this fall. As a mom, I’d been down this road of a child moving out before. After all, our oldest graduated from college in Boston and now lives in Seattle, happily married and working at Microsoft. “Dad” – my husband Mike – flew out when he made the move, meeting the furniture delivery trucks and helping Lincoln get settled in his new apartment. Now, Dad is helping Juliet with her rite of passage out of the nest. Mike read the lease, talked through what needs to happen
At an especially dark and difficult time in my life when I was confronted with the proverbial “fork” in the road, my father was of great spiritual benefit to me. I could either choose retaliation and revenge, or forgiveness; there is no path through the middle that leads to anywhere. He told me that this is where the rubber meets the road for Believers and urged me to choose life and forgiveness no matter how difficult. This advice has served me well throughout the years and lifted me out of bondage into new freedom. Matthew Sganga, 36, Monroe This is one of the best things my dad ever told me. After finishing undergraduate school (in four years), my dad said “The bank of dad is closed.” I did not have to work my way through school, but once I was finished, I was expected to make it on my own. James Allen Lee, 37, Marshville My daddy’s nickname for me was the great pretender, which insinuated that when telling a story, I would embellish the truth occasionally. His admonition, that I remember to this day, is don't pretend something that it's not. Just tell it like it is! Charles Norwood, 83, Monroe
8 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
I remember my father saying you can tell how good a job you did as a parent by watching your grandchildren. In other words, the way we parent our children speaks to the way our parents parented us. Trinisha Dean, 31, Waxhaw
with the bank account and reminded her to set up accounts with the power company and an Internet provider. This was his third trip to Florida in less than four weeks; the first traded cars; the second got her belongings moved from her dorm into storage. This is what fathers do. And I’m married to one of the best. I could give you a laundry list of things Mike does day-in and day-out to fulfill his calling as Dad. You Mike Waller heads to Florida know what it looks like: in one of his “Dad” roles. diapers and feedings in the early years; playing baseball and lacrosse in the back yard, cheering at soccer matches and swim meets as they grow older. But what about the less tangible things? The guidance he provides when someone has a decision to make. The example he
sets for living with a disease that requires major lifestyle changes. How to be the steady rock. How to be the giver. Always the giver. It’s a job that doesn’t end when the kids leave home. As a 50something kid myself, I still receive from my father – guidance, a $1 car when we just couldn’t swing one and even short-notice use of his truck to pull the trailer to Florida. In another year, our youngest, Sarah, will head out on her college adventure. I’ve watched her relationship with Dad grow; she relies on him as her older siblings have and continue to do. I fully expect that Dad will load up the car, unload at the dorm and be at the other end of the text at all hours of the day and night. And while he won’t show it while she’s looking, the tears will well as he heads back home. The Facebook post from our daughter in Florida at about 2 p.m. Friday – barely 24 hours after Mike had left Weddington – read: “I love my daddy.” I do, too. And watching with a mom’s eyes, I see firsthand how important it is to have an involved father. He provides comfort, guidance, stability and unwavering love. We never should underestimate that, no matter how old we are. Mary Waller is corporate communications professional and former newspaper reporter and freelancer.
Consider your gas tank empty when it hits a quarter tank. Someday, you will thank me. Melinda Plue, 38, Monroe My father told me that real success in life is measured by what you do to make another's life a little better. Jack Hargett, 45, Wesley Chapel Opportunities come to those who work hard. The early bird gets the worm! (This one when I was running late.) Kim Norwood, 51, Monroe
While my father was attending seminary, my sisters and I were exposed to many classical forms of music, both sacred and secular. As teenagers, we were prone to occasionally mocking the efforts of those who were attempting pieces of greater complexity than we were yet able to comprehend. My father's advice went something like this . . . Learn to understand that you may offer meaningful praise. Don't criticize something simply because you don't understand it. That shows your ignorance. Find something within the piece that pleases you or that you enjoy and think on it before offering your thoughts. Otherwise, keep them to yourself as you really have nothing intelligent to say. Daune Gardner, 41, Waxhaw
Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 9
Babies are cute for a reason By Kate Meier
W
hen my little Monster (our son’s nickname) was just a few days old, my sister and sister-in-law came to visit, themselves each toting their new babies.
No one tells you exactly how sleep deprivation will affect you – never mind that you are caring for another life while trying desperately to remember which is the gas pedal and which is the brake. No one tells you how you will have trouble falling asleep at night – tired as you are – because you were foolish enough to watch the news and now you’re terrified of ever letting your child get old enough to leave your arms, your house, your rule. No one tells you that there will be times that you
I snuggled on the couch with Monster while they cooked, played with the babies and poured me a glass of wine. We talked about what it’s like to be a mom; what it’s like to love something so much; what it’s like to feel like you simply can’t breastfeed anymore because your nipples are sure to fall off, they hurt so much. I think that pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood are areas that still aren’t talked about in enough detail to fully prepare you for what you’re going to experience. My mother very directly said to me once in my pre-Mommy days, “I don’t want to tell you what being pregnant is like because you won’t want to ever get pregnant.” Truer words were never spoken. And pregnancy is the easy part! Then you physically have the baby. During the entire labor, you’re thinking, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done. Someone shoot me now to put me out of my misery.” But even those 27 hours of hard labor aren’t anywhere near as challenging as being a mother. 10 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
Summer Princess Camp, ages 4-5, June 17, 18, 20 Fancy Nancy Camp, ages 5-6, June 24, 25, 27 American Girl Camp, ages 7-8, June 17, 18, 20 Summer Intensives, ages 8 and up
Bonita’s School of Ballet Bonita Simpson 903-B N Charlotte Ave. Monroe, NC 28110 (704) 289-5733 BalletUnion.com
Kate Meier and Monster
worry that maybe you rushed into this parenting thing, maybe you should have waited longer to be a parent. No one tells you that there will be times when you practically throw the baby at your husband in tears, saying, “Just take him. I can’t be around him right now.” No one tells you that it’s possible your body will hurt for days – even
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weeks – after having the baby. And once your midwife clears you to begin running again, no one tells you that if you push yourself too hard, you’ll get hemorrhoids and cry every time you have to go to the bathroom. Something my mom did tell me, however, is that God makes babies cute to make up for all that stuff. And it’s true. No one can really tell you what it’s like to look down at that little angel while you’re feeding him and feel so much love you think your body will burst. No one can really tell you how it feels to watch your baby cry, and you wish and pray and hope for anything to stop it because you feel his pain a million times more than he does. No one can really tell you how it feels to watch your kid hit milestones – even the teeny ones – and feel the pride that only a parent can feel. No one can really tell you how it’s possible to look through pictures of your kids over and over again and never get sick of it and insist other people look at them and not realize that you’ve become that annoying parent who is always showing off pictures of your kid. Before we become parents, all we get are little glimpses of what it’s like to be a parent. We know it will be hard, we know it will be worth it. We just don’t know the details. And then, by the time your baby becomes a toddler, you’ll have forgotten all those little details and you’re ready for Baby Number Two.
Until recently, Kate Meier spent most of her time chasing her toddler, who has earned the nickname, “Monster.” Kate and her husband became the proud parents of Monster No. 2, a little girl, born in May. She is an award-winning-journalist-turned workat-home mommy.
Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 11
Field of Dream By Nancy E. Stephen
I
t’s impossible to see acres and acres of sunflowers and not smile. It’s as if the sunflowers themselves are smiling back at you.
Sama nt Wash ha ko, 10 years in remis s i on
Professional photographer Julie Staley came upon such a golden vista in Weddington a few years ago and knew it was the perfect backdrop for portraits. What she didn’t know is that some portraits she would take there would be among the most important images in a family’s life. Sunflower field owners LuAnn and Marvin Scruggs, who plant upwards of 15 acres of sunflowers each year, agreed to photo shoots in the fields. Julie staged photo sessions the first year for clients of Old South Studios, which she owns with husband Andrew, and the setting was a hit. “Everyone kept raving about the images; it was amazing.” Also amazing was that her niece, Kristen Sorrell, 9, who was diagnosed three years earlier with leukemia, was declared in remission the year “the fields became part of my life.” Naturally, Julie photographed her niece in the sunflowers. And something just clicked. Julie knew she had to make free professional photos with the sunflower backdrop available to other families suffering pediatric cancers. “I thought it would be beautiful if families who had gone through similar cancer diagnoses and treatments with their children could enjoy the experience. Most families would not have portraits made when their child was enduring treatments, side effects and even losing their hair.” Having a child with cancer “is a huge part of their family history; it’s one of the defining Carol in moments in their lives. Having portraits made Hunt e and helps them recognize that fact.” Churc hi l l So for one evening each summer, Julie and other photographers volunteer to create memory-making images for families. “The families get out of the car and can’t believe how beautiful it is. The images are beautiful, and the night is beautiful, too,” she says. “We keep saying, ‘Remember that hope is still bigger than cancer.’ These are big moments; these are milestones.” “Last year, we did not recognize everyone with all that
ms much more than photos way, it was comforting to go to the funeral and display a large print on an easel. These were the last months of the child’s life. They were all happy.” This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of that child, Christopher Thorne, whose family plans to attend. Julie’s niece went to the event last year, “and that was neat, to introduce her to the crowd. She could show families what is on the other side of treatment. She’s a vibrant, healthy girl, completely well. And my sister can speak to other parents, tell them that these are hard days, but they’ll be better.” Julie stresses that while she may be the event coordinator, she couldn’t do it alone. From the beginning, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society agreed to sponsor the event. “I just called them and explained what I wanted to do. I needed access to families, and they had a database of kids in treatment who were part of their support system.” The Levine and Hemby children’s hospitals in Charlotte also committed support immediately. Although each photo session is less than 15 minutes, Field of Dreams is a full family fun event lasting several hours. Teams of two photographers shoot each family’s private session, while others enjoy arts and crafts under a tent from Noah’s Art and enjoy kidThe family friendly music from Split treasures the Second Sound DJ company, photographs, C hr i s t op he plus T-shirts, face painting and which Alex calls r and h is fat Thorne other activities. “a visual record her of our family. “That night they seem to forget They show how she is that they have cancer; they’re just growing and recovering. It’s nice kids dancing, having fun and Photos to see the recovery.” getting their pictures taken.” by Patr ick Sch neider While the photos are beautiful, Field of Dreams Flashes of Hope, a national for Old South S offered a bigger benefit. “We got strength from people who photography charity that provides tudios had gone through a similar thing and come out the other side. free black and white portraits within That offers hope that it will happen with our daughter.” hospitals, prints multiple color images for each family. “No one pays for anything,” Julie emphasizes. Last year, they talked with a family whose daughter, now a teenager, had leukemia at age 4. “It was nice to see, while we’re in the thick of treatment, someone surviving and thriving.” Caroline’s chemo treatment should end on July 13, Families with children who are 18 and younger, who her father says. have been diagnosed with any form of pediatric cancer “It’s a beautiful place, the people are fantastic . . . great or are in remission are eligible for Field of Dreams facilities, beautiful night. The kids had fun wandering around portraits. the sunflowers,” Alex says. If your family qualifies and would like to participate in While most families photographed become cancer success Field of Dreams on July 15, visit OldSouthStudios.com stories, one child didn’t survive the disease, “which was and complete the contact form. difficult for everyone involved,” Julie says. “But in an odd hair. The first time, they came without hair, but then they came back last year with a big head of hair. They were sick with chemo; now they’re in remission . . . Those are beautiful moments, not in the usual way, but in the heart.” The first year, three photographers photographed seven families; last year, 10 photographers photographed 16. “We expected more, but it rained until 10 minutes before we started,” which prompted families who were driving a distance to not go. Julie has high hopes for this year, anticipating 25 to 30 families with more than 200 people. “I’m so proud of our team, I know that the families treasure those photographs.” Two-year-old Caroline Churchill attended with her twin brother, Hunt, in 2011, having been diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia just four months earlier. That year, the family left the hospital where Caroline had just had a chemo treatment to go to the sunflower field. “That was about as bad as she felt,” her father Alex recalls. “She had been through four months of treatment and was losing her hair.”
The Big E is alive and well! By Nancy E. Stephen
C
Wayne Brockwell has mastered Elvis Presley’s infamous snarl. Nancy Stephen photos
14 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
ontrary to popular belief, Elvis Presley is alive and well. Once a month. In Indian Trail. The official Elvis Presley Fan Club of the Carolinas meets every month at the VFW to remember and pay musical tribute to the man who rocked the world back on its heels with the sound and gyrations that made him unique. There’s minimal meeting at the club, but a whole lot of shakin’ going on as Elvis impersonators not only sing in Elvis style, but also often dress, move and coif their jet-black hair in the entertainer’s mode. It’s also an opportunity for long-time fans to hear Elvis’ less frequently heard music and to trade memorabilia. According to club president Allen Robinson, “Elvis was someone special. He pulled in people of all ages as fans while he was alive and continues to intrigue younger folk who know him only by his music and occasional movie rerun.” The local club, which started in 2003 and is one of hundreds nationwide, draws hard-core Elvis fans from as far away as Gastonia and Raleigh to enjoy time with fellow fans. So why is Elvis still so popular, almost 36 years after his death? The members say it’s the music, the aura and much more. Wayne Brockwell, an impersonator who drives from Albemarle to perform, says most members “grew up with Elvis and just think there will never be another one like him. (Today’s singers) don’t have the mystique. “There’s still a fascination; people still flock to his house 35 years after death and buy souvenirs. I don’t know of another entertainer around the world who still has that draw. He had a voice that never seemed to quit.” Jack Byrnes says Elvis “hit a certain touch for middle Jack Byrnes’ career as an Elvis America. People identified tribute singer earned him this with him; I don’t know why magazine cover. that is. People had a fascination with his mystique, how he went from poor kid to a great rise.”
“When I was a kid, I saw him twice – 1972 in Madison Square Garden and 1973 on Long Island,” he says, recalling the experiences with exactness. “We got there at 3 a.m., standing in line, waiting for them to open the doors. It was six hours before the doors opened. We were there for nine hours to get tickets. Crazy, waiting nine hours,” he says, shaking his head. “I never waited nine hours for anything.” Jack says Elvis fans are older – “lots of them are in their 70s” – and the attendance in Indian Trail bears him out. One local fan is 91-year-old Dorothy Hartis Keziah. “I heard him the first time he sang on television. It’s been years and years and years ago.” She attends the club every month with daughter June Rowell. “She has a lifetime membership; she’s been coming for years,” June says with a laugh. Why? You might ask. “Because he’s lovable,” Dorothy 91-year-old Dorothy Keziah, here with Wayne explains. “I just Brockwell, doesn’t miss many fan club meetings. love the sound of his voice.” Years ago, she bought tickets for June and her sister Nora to see Elvis in concert, sharing her Elvis fascination with the next generation.
Jack Byrnes serenades a fan club visitor in the Elvis style. The Elvis Presley Fan Club of the Carolinas meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the VFW in Indian Trail. Visitors are welcome.
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Davis Taylor of Gastonia says Elvis was given a gift “to give back to others, to lift them up when they’re sad. People found consolation in his music. I feel like he was a gift to us, something to be appreciated and not taken for granted.”
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Davis never saw Elvis; he was just 11 with the icon passed away. But that hasn’t stopped him from performing as Presley. “I remember watching his movies, slicking my hair back and dreaming of performing like Elvis. It’s a hobby,” he says smiling.
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Wayne, the 67-year-old impersonator, “was doing Elvis way before he passed away. I started at about 10, listening to him on the radio and singing along. Over the years, I developed his voice pattern; it kinda stuck with me. “My favorite time is his Las Vegas years – he was at his best then.” It was during the Vegas years when Elvis started wearing glitzy jumpsuits, which Wayne has duplicated for his own performances. Wayne has visited Elvis’ home in Memphis in full costume and is thrilled that other visitors see his resemblance to the star. “People ask to take pictures with me. I’ve been honored that they would associate me with Elvis. I feel honored and proud that I can help keep his memory alive.”
CITY OF
MONROE
COUNTRY CLUB
MONROE
a heritage of progress
U.S. 601 S, Monroe n (704) 282-4661 MonroeCountryClubGolf.com Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 15
By Nancy E. Stephen
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‘
eventeen years ago, when I was marketing and fund-development director for Hospice of Union County, Rob Kreisher called, saying he wanted to hold a fund-raising golf tournament for the organization. Who was Rob Kreisher? No one at the non-profit knew. He met with me, and I was skeptical, at best. This was before fund-raising golf tournaments were every week occurrences, and Rob was a vice president for a commercial roofing distributor and had no background in fund-raising or event planning. But he was an avid golfer, and he had amazing enthusiasm. Somehow he was going to make this work. Rob and his wife Jean said they would run the tournament, needing little assistance from Hospice staff or volunteers, and set a goal of $10,000. The Kreishers surpassed their goal, raising more than $17,600 that first year, despite a very tight operating budget. Volunteers made cold cut sandwiches for the golfers, and the end-of-play reception featured a live auction of sports memorabilia that Rob bought on consignment. In subsequent years, the profit kept rising and rising, eventually raising a cumulative total of more than $1.1 million “and change,” Rob says, with a grin that still speaks incredulousness. “We’ve come a long way,” he says. “Early on, we asked ourselves ‘Could we ever build this up to $50,000?’ ” In 2008, the tournament raised $103,000, the highest one-year total. But when the economy tanked, profit declined, too, dropping to $67,000 before rebounding last year to $101,000. The couple selected Hospice as the tournament beneficiary because several of Jean’s family members were served “fortunately and unfortunately” by a hospice in another county. Unfortunately, because hospice meant the end of loved ones’ lives; fortunately, because the hospice care dramatically influenced and improved their end of life, Rob says. “Hospice profoundly impacted him,” Jean says, “as he sat with family members during the last days of their lives.” “If we could give something back,” Rob explains, “we wanted to do that.” So he poured his emotion into the golf tournament to benefit Hospice of Union County.. Rob set his sights high the first year, charging $250 per golfer for play at Providence Country Club, where the tournament has remained. The fee remains the same, too, and the additional profit comes from sponsorships, silent auction, raffles and more. At first, Rob tapped into his golf buddies for players. In subsequent years, those golfers returned, bringing friends with 16 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
We love the people,
Golf tournament volunteers ra
them, to the point that the tournament is always sold out at 140 golfers. “We can’t have any more golfers,” he says gleefully. “I realized how much people enjoy the tournament three years ago. We were sold out, but it poured and poured rain all day. We had 139 golfers show up and play in rain that measured one inch per hour. That’s when I realized that Hospice means a lot to these people.” Rob recalls asking a friend about the speed of play that day. His friend replied, “These people sit with dying patients all day; do you think I care about how long it takes to play today?” “We wanted it to become everybody’s tournament, the players’ tournament,” Rob says. “And that’s what it’s become. Every year, I get asked by 50 to 70 people in January for the date of the tournament. We’ve had 95 percent retention through the years. It
’
we love the mission
aise $1.1 million for Hospice
Jean started making a case of strawberry jam for the silent auction each year, and it’s become a huge hit. Not only must she make two cases now, but each case raised $180 last year. Now that’s some special jam . . . and benevolent golfers. Through the years, Rob and Jean, plus Hospice staff and tournament volunteers, have gotten tournament day down to an art. Play is over by 5:15 p.m., followed by a reception and the moment everyone has been waiting for – what Rob calls the “cool thing” of the check presentation. They know how much the tournament has raised through sponsorships and golfers’ participation before the day begins, and a giant check is prepared – but without the total. The day’s silent auction, mulligans and raffle add another $17,000 to $20,000, which is calculated on the spot so the final profit can be added to the check for the momentous unveiling. “That makes everyone part of it. They are so excited because they did it. We have the original $17,000 check up there with us so they can see how far they’ve come since the first year.” By 7 p.m., the tournament is over for the year, and the golfers and Kreishers leave on an emotional high from the satisfaction of helping terminally ill patients and their families. How can the Kreishers continue their enthusiastic running of the golf tournament, I asked. Why are they not burned out? “It’s the people at Hospice, really,” Rob responds. “We’ve asked ourselves ‘how long can we do this. Is it 25 years or 35?’ At one time, we said 20 years, then 25, now there’s no end in sight. “We love the people, we love the mission.”
Rob and Jean Kreisher
Give them a Summer Vacation they’ll never forget!
means a lot to people who play to be able to help.” Some of the players’ families have benefited from Hospice through the years, bringing the impact even closer to home. “We get too much credit; the staff does so much of the work,” Jean says. “Hospice does everything; they’re incredible.” But Hospice sees it differently. Wayne Berg, resource development director, knows that the Kreishers are the most important aspect of the tournament’s continued success. Griffin Motor Company, which became the tournament’s title sponsor after several years, is also a key component to the achievement. “They are so supportive,” Rob says of the Griffin family, “in every way you can imagine.” While the tournament IS a fund-raising event, there’s a lot of fun and a smidge of down home competitive bidding to it also. Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 17
Nothing says summer in Sweet Union like fresh produce Contact: (704) 530-1963, www.CedarLinnFarm.com, or info@CedarLinnFarm.com
T
hat initial bite into the year’s first local produce – luscious strawberries – is almost a memory, but don’t panic. Another first bite into Union County’s juicy tomatoes is just ahead. One of the most delightful features of summer in Sweet Union is the abundance of local produce, sold at stands peppered around the county the day it’s picked.
Creekside Acres Farm Location: 3424 Lanes Creek Rd., Marshville Hours: Farm store open for pick up of preordered products Sun.-Fri. 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Offered: Large chicken eggs; grass-fed lamb (late 2013, deposits due Nov.); free range chicken, livers and feet. (Waiting list.) Contact: www.creeksideacresfarm.com, (704) 681-5181, CreeksideAcres@windstream.net
Crave corn? Tomatoes? Okra, beans or squash? How about eggplant, onions or peppers? They’re all available. You just can’t do any better than fresh products straight from the farm.
Griswold’s Family Produce Location: 5411 Pageland Hwy, Monroe Hours: Sun.-Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Offered: Local fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, jams and jellies Contact: (704) 764-7105 McClain’s Produce Location: 15732 Idlewild Rd., Matthews Hours: Tue.-Sat. Offered: Local fruits and vegetables, baked goods and boiled peanuts Contact: (704) 882-1342 Nicholson Farm Store Site: 2416 Weddington Rd., Monroe Offered: Locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, salsas, ciders, hoop cheese and seasonal plants and flowers Contact: www.NicholsonFarmStore.com (704) 226-9084
But that’s not all that local farmers sell. Try goats’ milk, lamb and free-range meats. Or fresh herbs and spices. Our county is blessed with many locations where you can purchase the freshest and the best. These markets and farms are among them.
southeast. Locally grown herbs and spices. Contact: N/A
Christine Tweddle selects fresh produce at the new Providence Produce stand in Waxhaw.
Cedar Linn Farm Site: 2322 Trinity Church Rd., Monroe, and Union County Farmers’ Market Hours: Arrange pick-up appointment for items or Saturdays at the Farmers’ Market Offered: Goat milk, candles, free-range eggs, fresh chicken, turkey and pork. 18 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
Farmer and Daughter Produce Site: 360 Unionville-Ind. Trail Rd., Indian Trail Hours: Tue.-Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. Noon-5 p.m. Offered: Seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers and from across the
Peaceful Meadows Farm Site: 1740 Camden Rd., Marshville Hours: Picking hours are Mon. , Tue. and Thurs. from 5:30 p.m. -dark, June 25-30 every night 5:30 p.m. -dark. Call for availability. Offered: Pick-your-own blueberries, free range beef and pork cuts Contact: (704) 233-4902, (704) 506-4201, www.PeacefulMeadowsFarm.com Piedmont Produce General Store Site: 4212 E. Hwy 218, Monroe
Compiled by Madison McCain Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Offered: Local seasonal produce, honey, molasses, fruit preserves and butters, chow chow, hot sauces, fruit ciders and candies Contact: www.PiedmontProduce.com, (704) 753-2300 Providence Produce Sites: 3116 Old Monroe Rd., Matthews; 1316 Providence Rd. S, Waxhaw Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (7 p.m. Waxhaw location) Offered: Fruits and vegetables from NC, SC Contact: www.ProvidenceProduce.com, (704) 821-3270
Randy Simpson’s Farm Fresh Produce Site: Old Monroe Rd., Indian Trail Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Offered: Local produce, some organic Contact: (704) 361-1891 Terry Simpson’s Produce and Pumpkin Patch Site: 7304 Secrest Shortcut Rd., Indian Trail Offered: Local produce and plants Contact: (704) 882-8881 Union County Farmers’ Market Location: 802 Skyway Drive, Monroe Hours: Tue.-Sat. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Offered: Local fruits, vegetables, eggs and honey, plants and flowers from local nurseries
and 4-H., plus bread and baked goods Contact: (704) 283-3625, www.co.union.nc.us/livinghere Waxhaw Farmers’ Market Location: Corner of Price and Church Street in Downtown Waxhaw Hours: Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Offered: Producer-only market carrying all fresh and local items. Fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs, fresh cut flowers, hanging baskets, heirloom seedlings, plants, goat milk soap, kitchen items, bread and baked goods, grass fed beef, pastured pork and chicken. Contact: WaxhawFarmersMarket.com, marketbasket@waxhawfarmersmarket.com
If you haven’t visited in awhile, you haven’t seen The “New” Derby!
Daily food and drink specials!
1012 Skyway Drive in Monroe l www.TheDerbyOnline.com l 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 19
It’s worth the wait at Stacks!
Ambiance: Clean and bright, but a little noisy. However, it’s appropriate for a family restaurant with lots of children. (4 stars) Menu: Outstanding. A large variety of traditional breakfast and lunch selections, plus atypical ingredients (especially for breakfast), such as portobello mushrooms, guacamole, challah bread, turkey sausage and fresh orange juice. (5 stars) Quality: All meals were freshly prepared and served with delightful presentation. Our only disappointment was the order of fried green tomatoes served with cucumber dill sauce and balsamic dipping sauce. We thought the breading was too crusty and the seasoning a little bland. (4.5 stars) Service: The wait staff was cheerful and attentive. Even though the café was very busy, our waitress took the time to explain several menu items and to offer suggestions about popular entrees. We had to wait about 40 minutes one day, but the owner brought orange cranberry bread to everyone waiting. Once we were seated, we were waited on promptly, and our food arrived in no time. (5 stars)
Value: This restaurant is obviously a favorite of the Waxhaw crowd, and it’s easy to see why. Good food, generous portions and to go boxes. (5 stars)
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tacks Kitchen in Waxhaw touts “good food and plenty of it!” They’ve got that right! The food is outstanding, and the portions very hearty. There’s always a “but” – but you may have to wait 30 minutes or so, especially on the weekend. A second “but” is but once you’ve waited, you’re glad you did. The restaurant seats about 65 and features at least 100 breakfast and lunch entrees that run the gamut of fresh traditional comfort foods to Mediterranean treats.
Restaurant Review
We made two visits – under the guise of ensuring an accurate review, but the second trip was simply an indulgence. Stacks is known for its French toast, which features thick challah bread that a local bakery makes following Stacks’ special recipe. Many patrons have a standing order for a loaf to take home. The French toast can be prepared traditionally, but a wonderful stuffed version features sweetened cream cheese, blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream. The restaurant’s featured version features two layers of bread, standing about five inches high, with berries, bananas, walnuts and whipped cream. Ask for a to go box immediately! We had the stuffed French toast, which was delightfully presented with enough “accoutrement,” but not so much that it became too sweet for breakfast. Prices range from $5.25 for a short stack to $9.95 for the big stack. We sampled cinnamon apple pancakes ($7.95), which featured light and fluffy cakes with sliced apples, not canned pie filling, whipped cream and walnuts. Fresh blueberries added a wonderful
Overall: We wish Stacks was more centrally located in the county because it’s a gem. But we’re willing to drive 30-plus minutes and wait outside for a table because the food is that good. (4.75 stars) Stacks Kitchen 521 N. Broome St., Waxhaw, 28173 (704) 243-2024 www.StacksKitchen.com Open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stacks’ French Toast 20 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
Pastrami Reuben
Vegetable Skillet
Martha’s Vineyard Salad sweet juiciness to the stack of blueberry pancakes, but there weren’t enough of them! Our diners declared both breakfasts “delicious.” A vegetable skillet was the daily special, and it was so good, it required a second try the next day. The large dish was beautifully presented on a cast iron skillet. A nicely seasoned combination of hash browns, peppers, onions and cheese was topped with two eggs over easy. Skillets range from a basic of potatoes and cheese topped with eggs ($5.95) to the Popeye with spinach, mushrooms, potatoes, cheese and eggs ($6.95), to the Big Daddy, loaded with bacon, country sausage, Virginia ham, cheese, potatoes and eggs ($9.25). One diner ordered a traditional breakfast of eggs, bacon and hash browns and pronounced it “perfect.” If you’re not into the bacon craze, you can surely find other breakfast meat that fits – pork sausage, turkey sausage, country ham, Virginia ham, liver mush and homemade corned beef hash. Hearty meat eaters can try the rib eye steak and eggs, pork chop, grilled chicken breast or even fried chicken tenders topped with homemade sausage gravy.
Cinnamon Apple Pancakes foods, and our diners’ two lunch entrees were deemed outstanding. The Martha’s Vineyard salad ($8.95) featured crisp and fresh dark spinach leaves, dotted with goat cheese and generously covered with candied walnut halves. The rim of the bowl was a pinwheel of thinly sliced, tart green granny smith apples, and the raspberry vinaigrette dressing was light and deliciously flavored. Stacks’ pastrami reuben ($8.95) was called “the best I ever had” by one diner. A corned beef reuben also is available. We plan a return visit to Stacks to try their baked spinach pie with feta cheese, Mom’s stuffed cabbage and Greek burger, served with pita bread, feta cheese, tzatzika sauce and cucumber.
Serving our clients with skill and our county with pride!
Stacks’ Florentine eggs benedict ($7.95) was wonderful. The spinach was lightly sauteed, preserving the leaves and not stirred into a green mess, topped with portobello mushroom, smoked bacon, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, on the side as requested. Our diner couldn’t stop eating, although her eyes and the meal were much bigger than her stomach capacity! Our group went the hearty breakfast food route on both visits, but the restaurant also features plenty of low-fat and vegetarian
Mallory Willink, associate; Donna Stepp, partner; Robin Goulet, associate; and Dana Lehnhardt, partner
Family Law Criminal Matters Traffic Violations Florentine Eggs Benedict
110 E. Franklin Street, Monroe, NC 28112 704.289.8585 t 704.283.5353 t www.MonroeLaw.net
Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 21
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things to do in Sweet Union Mon. Tues.
Thurs.
N-Step Line Dancing 7 p.m.-8 p.m. • $7 Register at nstepdance@gmail.com or (704) 989-2417. Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, 100 Navajo Trail.
Squiggles to Grins 10 a.m.-10:35 a.m. Ages 2-3 1/2, plus caregiver. new.kidzartsouthcharlotte.com or call (704) 941-0074
Qigong
11 a.m.-Noon • $10 A gentle flowing exercise. Contact marietheriault@windstream.net or walk in. Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, 100 Navajo Trail
Fri.
Intermediate Line Dancing
$8, $20 monthly 7 p.m. lessons, open dance follows; snacks available. Waxhaw American Legion, 801 E. South Main St. www.waxhawlinedancers.com or (704) 843-9119.
Fri.
Live at the Vines featuring different bands
7 p.m.-10 p.m. • $3 a lawn chair or blanket. June Bring Picnics welcome; no outside alcohol. Treehouse Vineyards, 301 Bay St., Monroe www.treehousevineyards.net
1
Summer Beach Party/Movie Night
1
Summer Fun Festival
6:30 p.m. • Free dusk, Journey to the Center of the Earth. June AtBring lawn chairs and blankets! Stallings’ Blair Mill Park, 1025 Fairoaks Drive; www.stallingsnc.org
5 p.m.-9 p.m. • Free entry, concert and fireworks. vendors, rides/inflatables for children, face painting, etc! June Food 6 p.m. Too Much Sylvia; 9 p.m. fireworks Wingate University Lake, Zeb Goodman Rd.,www.townofwingatenc.gov
1
Jackson Jam 3
6 p.m. • $45 per person Bring your chair or a blanket. Enjoy Lipstick on a Pig and the June Eagle’s tribute band, On The Border. Museum of the Waxhaws, 8215 Waxhaw Hwy. Tickets at www.museumofthewaxhaws.com or (704) 843-1832
1, 15, 22 June
Mineral Springs Music Barn
7 p.m. • $8 adults, kids under 12 free Bluegrass music and family entertainment. Concession stand. The Mineral Springs Music Barn, 5901 Eubanks St. www.mineralspringsmusicbarn.com
6-8
North Carolina Extension Master Gardeners Conference “Mastering the Garden Harvest”
$90 per person; open to everyone. Workshops on the benefits of eating fresher, locally grown foods, growing produce and supporting local farmers. Union County Agricultural Center, 3230 Presson Rd., Monroe www.mastergardenersunioncounty.org/2013-state-conference.html
June
7
Movies in the Park
7
Sunset Series Movie Night
June
8 p.m. • Free Cirque DuSoleil at dusk. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Gazebo Park, Lake Park; www.lakeparknc.gov
Free p.m. Crafts at Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center June 66:30 p.m. Bounce houses, face painting and games Madagascar 3 at dusk. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Crossing Paths Park, 130 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail; www.indiantrail.org
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June
8
June 22 Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013
Waxhaw’s First Friday 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Businesses and restaurants open late, offering discounts. Free carriage rides. Main St., Waxhaw; www.waxhaw.com
Indian Trail’s Family Fun Day 11 a.m. -5 p.m. Free games, free rides, food and craft vendors, music! Crossing Paths Park, 130 Blythe Drive; www.indiantrail.org
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June
Antique and Muscle Car Cruise-In 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; features Mustangs; Main St., Downtown Monroe www.historicdowntownmonroe.org
14, 21, Jammin’ by the Tracks Concert 7 p.m.-9 p.m. • Free 28 Bring your lawn chairs for this family concert. June Downtown Waxhaw; www.waxhaw.com
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June
27
June
5
July
6, 13 July
Sunset Series Movie Night Free; 6:15 p.m. Craft at Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center 6:30 p.m. Bounce houses, face painting and games Movie TBD; Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Crossing Paths Park, 130 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail; www.indiantrail.org
12, 19, Jammin’ by the Tracks Concert 7 p.m.-9 p.m. • Free 26 your lawn chairs for this family concert. July Bring Downtown Waxhaw; www.waxhaw.com
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July
Waxhaw’s First Friday Free; 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Local businesses and restaurants open late, offering discounts. Free carriage rides; Main St., Waxhaw; www.waxhaw.com
Live at the Vines featuring Different Music 7 p.m.-10 p.m. • $3; bring a lawn chair or blanket. Picnics welcome; no outside alcohol. Treehouse Vineyards, 301 Bay St., Monroe; www.treehousevineyards.net
Free; 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Features motorcycles. Main St., Downtown Monroe; www.historicdowntownmonroe.org
Movies in the Park
19
July
Music on Main 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. • Free; The Backbeat Band, a Beatles Tribute Band; concessions available. Bring a lawn chair. www.historicdowtownmonroe.org
Antique and Muscle Car Cruise-In
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July
8 p.m. • Free Finding Nemo. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Gazebo Park, Lake Park; www.lakeparknc.gov
Music on Main 6:30 p.m.-9:30 • Free Who’s Bad, a tribute to Michael Jackson. Concessions available. Bring a lawn chair. www.historicdowtownmonroe.org
Got an event the public would enjoy? Submit your activity with all the details – who, what, when, where and cost – to Editor@UnionLifestyle.com for inclusion in the magazine and/or online.
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Your insurance expert since 1989. Call or text (704) 254-6437 www.AffordableHealthcareAndYou.com Email Dixon@AffordableHealthcareAnd You.com
Union Lifestyle l June / July 2013 23
A special
Thank You to our volunteers.
Volunteers assist the American Red Cross in carrying out our humanitarian mission by: n Responding to disasters and providing shelter, food and emotional support to those affected n Providing 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families— in military hospitals and on military installations around the world n Assisting at blood drives to help the Red Cross maintain a reliable blood supply and ensure that every blood donor has a positive experience n Training people in first aid, water safety and other lifesaving skills Visit redcross.org for more information about becoming a Red Cross volunteer or call 704-283-7402.
American Red Cross