Union Lifestyle May-July 2015 by Nancy Stephen

UNION

Lifestyle

WAXHAW: A great place to live Local artists take skills to new heights Mac ‘n’ cheese for adults

Old-school DJs start new station

May - July 2015 www.UnionLifestyle.com

UNION

Lifestyle

Editor

Nancy E. Stephen

Away From Public View

Photographer Nancy E. Stephen

Contribution leads to a new

Union Lifestyle

volunteer career

A publication of Cameo Communications, LLC PO Box 1064 Monroe, NC 28111-1064 (704) 753-9288 www.UnionLifestyle.com

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Local performing artists take skills to new heights.

On the cover

Residents crowd Main Street in Monroe during one of the town’s Music on Main concerts. The yearly series begins again this year in May. Photo by Nancy E. Stephen

‘Spinning’ tunes

Old-school DJs start new radio station

Jewelry Design Hobby turns into passion

WAXHAW

12 - Great place to visit and live 14 - At a glance 15 - History 16 - Businesses thriving 19 - Staying healthy

Mac ‘n’ Cheese not just for kids

Sabor Latin Street Grill – yum

Our Quiz

How much do you know about Union County’s history

Event Calendar

Lots to do in Union

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 3

Mac ‘n’ cheese – it’s difficult to forget the blue box version t’s a difficult concept for me – sophisticated macaroni and cheese. I know it’s all the rage and that restaurants dedicated to that comfort food have sprung up. And yes, I know that you can put a wide variety of ingredients in the – dare I call it a delicacy? You can rarely pick up a magazine these days without reading new ways to prepare the old-fashioned dish. I’m just not an aficionado, which goes back to my early years when it was a diet staple. While in college, I lived in an apartment and cooked my meals. Then, like now, I liked to cook. But I didn’t have much money. I remember receiving a food and entertainment allowance from my parents each month. The less I spent for food, the more I had for entertainment.

If I remember correctly, those blue boxes of – no, not Kraft – but no-name macaroni and cheese sold at six boxes for $1. Is that even possible? I ate a lot of mac ‘n’ cheese back then; my faulty memory suggests that’s all I ate.

The money I saved by eating the blue box special went for pizza

4 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

– a Saturday night ritual – and other treats.

Since then, I’ve discovered a wide world of cheese beyond rubbery loaf American cheese product and gold powder from the box. Did the powder really have any connection to cheese?

Amazingly, today’s “designer” cheeses are not just good but absolutely delicious! And there are so many varieties.

I just can’t get past my macaroni and cheese aversion. Why is that?

Let’s see, I was in college for four years, then worked for next to nothing at my first newspaper job. I must have eaten my weight in the gold powder product during that time. It didn’t help, I’m certain, that I used margarine instead of butter and added no spices.

I’m determined to join the crowd of fans, so I will prepare the recipes that local chefs Matthew Sganga and Sandra Mannaravalappil created for this edition of Union Lifestyle. They’re tasty, certainly; I sampled both. Plus the ingredients suggest a flavor vastly different from plain mac ‘n’ cheese. I’m just not certain my brain can get past the color.

Editor@UnionLifestyle.com

Contribution leads to a new volunteer career

Away from public view

Colette Bromfield, recent recipient of the Governor’s Medallion Award for volunteerism, created the Union County Community Shelter’s Home Again program. Through her efforts, more than 50 individuals have moved into selfsupported housing with the furniture and supplies they need to start a new life. She is wife to husband Rafe and mother to son Jordan. Childhood ambition: I always wanted to help people. Nursing was the path until I had to take care of myself, my husband and an infant son. I bandaged the dolls who always had booboos on their arms and knee. Guilty pleasure: Reality TV – that’s my guilty pleasure. I love the Real Housewives of every city, seeing how other people live. They’re drama queens. Money can’t buy class, that’s for sure. Guilty splurge: Shoes and handbags. I’ve always loved shoes, everything from six inch heels to flip flops. I don’t care where they come from - Louboutin or TJ Maxx. I have upwards of 100 pairs – that’s terrible! I also love clothes and travel. Challenge: Balancing life with my almost full-time work at the Shelter, my husband and teenage son. Some weeks I don’t have anything to do at the Shelter; other weeks, it’s every day all day. My son gets his community service hours helping me. Greatest accomplishment: My son Jordan, for sure. He has a heart and feels empathy for other children, especially ones who aren’t the most popular. He will not put up with bullying in front of him. He cares about the underdog and makes an effort to be friends with everyone. He hates drama and refuses to participate in it. Lemons to lemonade story: The deaths of my mother, father and stepmother taught me a lesson. After taking care of my father and stepmother, I had no one to take care of anymore. I was in a dark place. Three months later, a new purpose was revealed to me – my work with the Shelter. We can either make ourselves miserable dwelling on the past or strong by moving forward; it takes the same amount of effort. Hero: My mother, Daisy, who was killed in a car accident when I was 9. I remember her doing kind things for people. She took an entire paycheck one week and bought four little girls new shoes and a Happy Meal at McDonalds. They were so excited. She took cake decorating classes, then made speciality cakes for poor kids’ birthdays. That was something she could do to make them feel special. Her kindness really made an impact on my life. Most overused expression: “Really?” Mantra: Work for a cause, not for applause. Take time to do what makes you happy.

e have faces for radio,” proclaims Marvin Crook of himself and partner John Griffin.

That’s just a smidge of the self-deprecating humor the duo quip nonstop during the Morning Marv and JJ Show on Monroe community radio station WDZD. WDZD is called community radio, a recent FCC project. The FCC opened these frequencies for a short period last year and received 2,000 applications.WDZD was one of the first in North Carolina to go on the air, initially broadcasting on July 3.

around by hand.” The studio is a small room with a computer, a couple of microphones and small control board.

“Sometimes we just want to play radio and we come in and do a show,” John quips. “There’s no pattern to it at all.”

But really there is a plan for the 24-hour station. Each Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m., Dan Shive airs Monroe Today, a community program interviewing locals about events, organizations and happenings.

MY, HOW TIMES HAVE CH

Old-school DJs broadcast from high tech, low watt

The low-power FM station has just a 10-mile signal, but because anyone with Internet access can listen, they’ve heard from listeners as far away as Japan. The station has had upwards of 8,000 hits in a given day.

John and Marvin follow from 10 a.m. until noon, playing beach and oldies and talking on air between themselves and with callin listeners, some of them regulars. “We’re not rehearsed, we just open the mic,” John says. “We can be casual, hometown. We wing it a lot.”

You never know what they’re going to talk about. It might be the weather, who saw whom where and what’s happening around the area. “We have some regulars who call in with general chit chat” and a lot of laughter, Marvin says.

On the weekend, Carolina Beach airs from 10 am. to 1 p.m. with new beach releases “spun” by DJ Eric Bowman, and Charlie Brown on the Beach airs both Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Marvin Crook, left, and radio partner John Griffin broadcast from their studio in Downtown Monroe. The FCC opened the limited low frequencies so that small towns could have a local radio station. Instead of big city stations with 100,000 watts, “we’re sitting here with 100 or so,” Marvin explains.

Their physical studio is tucked in the back of the old Belk building on Main Street in Monroe and is very different from the radio both remember from years – no, decades – ago. “We used to have turntables and had to cue records,” Marvin recalls. “There are no turntables here.”

John chimes in with recollections of the needle breaking and sliding across the record.

“When we started,” John says, “it took a five room building, now it can be in a shoebox, so to speak. The transmitter can be carried

6 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

James Reddish, a longtime Monroe broadcaster, broadcasts a show each Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and he’s taken the casual approach even further by transmitting from his home studio to the downtown studio which forwards the signal on to the tower on Morgan Mill Road.

“I’ve been out of radio for 20 years,” Marvin said. “We saw each other at Radio Shack and John asked if I wanted to get back in the radio. I called him that night and bingo! Here we are.” Very different from typical stations, community stations cannot air commercials or political advertising. They can receive listener donations and underwriting from merchants – but there the content is limited to “who, what, where, hours, website and slogan. No prices, no ‘best’ whatever in town,” Marvin explains. Business and individual support is considered a tax deduction since the station is a non-profit organization.

Fortunately their expenses are relatively low; they don’t pay any FCC fee and their overhead is a small amount of equipment, rent, tower space and music rights.

Instead of records or even DVDs, their playlist of about 3,000 beach and Motown tunes from the ’50s to the ’70s is on computer. When there’s no DJ, the music plays in rotation – 24 hours a day.

Dan Shive, left, talks with John Griffin in the studio.

Why did they start a new station? “The love for radio, which I’ve always had,” John says. “I wanted to get back in radio,” Marvin adds.

HANGED! community station

Because the station is non-profit, it can never be sold, but the license can be passed on to another non-profit. That’s not something they foresee in the near future.

For the men, the new station has been fun. “I needed something to do,” John says. “I enjoy every minute of it; I have a ball.”

WDZD.FM can be found at 99.1 on your radio or at www.WDZDFM.org on the Internet.

James Michael & Co. Make every day sparkle! Stafford Place Executive Offices 1201 Stafford St, Suite A-2 Monroe, NC 28110

Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 704.296.5531 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 7

Jewelry design – a h Wire wrapper ‘works around the stone’

hen Daniel Wilcox sits down to create a pendant, he takes inspiration from the stone. Rarely does he have a preconceived design. “I work around the stone; I work to accent the stone. It all comes and I work on it.” His interest in wire wrapping started while attending Appalachian State where he graduated with a degree in anthropology. “I haven’t used it yet . . . probably won’t.” Initially, Daniel was interested “in rocks, the metaphysics of stones.” As a festivalgoer, he recognized “a culture with people into metaphysical things, stone artwork .” After seeing artists’ work on Facebook, he decided to “give it shot, see if I could do it.” In 2014, he and a friend decided to try wire wrapping as a career. “We were living in a VW van. We took off on Jan. 1 and tried to make art and sell it to support our living on the road. We made it to California where the van broke down and we ran out of money.” Back home in Union County, Daniel started working in the family’s heavy equipment business by day. “I sit around after work, put on some music and wrap. “Lately I’ve been very motivated because my work is getting better, and I’m getting more recognition. That’s always inspiring - when people appreciate it.” Daniel prefers making pendants since “guys and girls will wear them and they’re the most fun to make.” But they’re not created with a male or female in mind. Each pendant has yards upon yards of wire – silver, copper, gold-filled – wrapped tightly around a semi-precious stone. He

uses no torches to “weld” the wire ends in place; instead he wraps and hides the ends. Does it ever get tedious? Yes, it does, he says. Sometimes he starts a piece, then puts it aside for days before continuing the process. Sometimes people bring him their own stones for a unique piece. Most times, however, Daniel purchases the stones. “As I’ve gotten more into it, my eye for quality stones has gotten better.” Occasionally he’ll create a pendant with flexibility, allowing it to be hung by either end or by either side. He also has created a doublesided, double-ended pendant which gives the wear four different looks. His most complex piece required 22 hours of work. Most, however, take much less time and sell for $50 to $300, depending on the complexity of the piece. “I’m experimenting all the time.There are a lot of forums where people discuss wrapping. Wire wrapping is a big trend in Asheville and Boone,” he says. Look for Daniel’s work on Facebook (Daniel Wilcox Designs) and on Etsy (DannyBoyWraps).

hobby turned passion I

‘It’s not my livelihood, but it’s my passion.’

don’t think of myself as an artist – not at all.” So proclaims Cindy Malone, who makes hundreds of unique jewelry pieces each year for big shows, such as the Southern Christmas Show and Richmond’s Bizarre Bazaar. “I’m just throwing stuff together. If you like it, that’s cool,” she says, her casual tone a contradiction to her desire to make everything perfect. Cindy’s foray into a passion of jewelry making ”came naturally. “I’ve always liked to do crafts; I always liked jewelry.” Last year, she exhibited at five shows, including the Junior League and Southern Christmas shows in Charlotte and Matthews Alive. Making enough jewelry for a good booth display and to last the full show is taxing, she says, adding that “I’ve been making like crazy; my next show is in two weeks. I work best under pressure.” Her style varies between beads, pearls and sea glass, which she calls her favorite. “But I love doing pearls for spring – they’re popular now.” Because every stone, pearl or piece of sea glass is different, so is every end product. “It depends on the pearls or beads that I find. Every one definitely is different because the pearls and tones are all different. “That’s the thing that I like. I like someone to have a piece of jewelry that’s unique, that you don’t see fourteen hundred of.” A customer recently asked for eight sets of triple strand pearls for a wedding, and while they will be similar, they can’t be identical. Where does she get her inspiration? “It’s whatever this brain comes up. A color inspires me or something that someone is wearing. Stringing is the easy part; picking out the beads or pearls takes more time. She purchases most of her beads, which range from blue lapis to turquoise, black onyx, yellow citrine, amethyst, smoky quartz, rainbow fluorite and garnet, from Jaipur, India,

because the prices are good. “I want a deal on beads and pearls,” she says. Her “good deal” turns into a good deal for her customers, too. A mid-range set of necklace and earrings runs about $35. Her favorite sea glass jewelry takes the most time.

“I pick up sea glass whenever I’m walking on the beach,” a habit she picked up when living in Wilmington. “I’d walk the beach, find glass – you’d think I was finding money or jewelry because I’d be like ‘ahhh.’ ”

She requests blue wine and brown liquor bottles from restaurants, which she breaks into pieces, and has used stained glass from a friend. Moving from raw glass to a necklace is time-consuming. “I take it home and toss it into the tumbler (with a sand-like grit) for a month or so.” “I farm the glass. I throw it on the table to show and go ‘Oh, I want this and this’ or ‘This is good for earrings.’ I pair it up.”

After making hundreds of pieces, Cindy’s work isn’t done. She packages everything individually and hauls it to one of her big shows, where she spends long days every day setting up her booth, selling and eventually tearing it all down.

But the effort and stress are worth it.

“At the big shows where I’ve been for years, people will come running to me, saying, ‘We came to you first; we want to see what you have.’ That touches your heart. “They’re my friends, not just my customers. I’ve made lifelong friends with customers and vendors at the shows.

Those “friends” often want the jewelry she’s wearing. “They say, ‘I want that,’ and I give it to them. “It’s not my livelihood, but it’s my passion.”

mac ‘n’ cheese

It’s not just for kids w

Text by Nancy E. Stephen

i acaroni and cheese or mac and cheese? Whatever you call it, the comfort food has climbed to the level of haute cuisine. No longer composed of gold-colored semi-cheese product stirred into elbow pasta, the hearty dish has been slimmed down, dressed up, health-icized and paired with more meats than you might imagine.

Nowadays, you can find restaurants dedicated to the specialty. Mac Bar in New York, for example, offers mac ‘n’ cheese a la carbonara, margarita, stroganoff, reuben, cheeseburger, mac’shroom, primavera, Mayan chipotle, lobster, plus mac quack, made with duck confit.

Union County chefs have created new versions of the traditional dish, with enough ease for you to make at home and enough savor to put a macaroni smile on every diner’s face.

Stone Table

Pork Belly and Carmelized Onion Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Chef Matthew Sganga, owner of Stone Table in Downtown Monroe, is known for serving down home southern food with a high end flare. His version of mac and cheese features pungent smoky pork belly or bacon with a housemade farmers’ cheese.

1 1/2 cup dried elbow macaroni 1 cup cottage cheese or farmers’ cheese (recipe follows) 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (Tabasco) Salt & pepper to taste 1 cup heavy cream 4 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely shredded 4 oz. American cheese, diced 1 tablespoon. grated Parmesan cheese 4 oz diced cooked pork belly or bacon 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter 2 medium shallots 1 teaspoon minced garlic Cook pasta in large saucepan of boiling salted water 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, slice shallots thinly and sauté in oil or butter on low heat until brown and caramelized, approximately 5 minutes. Add

10 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

garlic and cook 1 minute.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly butter 1 1/2 quart soufflé dish or 4 x 6 inch casserole.

Blend cottage cheese or farmers’ cheese with reserved cooking liquid, mustard, Tabasco and cream in processor until smooth.

Stir into pasta. Add pork belly or bacon, and garlic-shallot mix. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in Cheddar and American cheeses.

Transfer to prepared dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until top begins to brown. Serve hot.

Farmers’ Cheese

In medium sauce pot, add 4 cups of milk and ¼ c buttermilk OR 1/4 cup white wine vinegar.

Bring to a simmer – do not boil.

Pour through a fine mesh strainer. Let the cheese curds drain.

Discard whey, the leftover liquid, or save for other use. Use cheese curds as you would for cottage or ricotta cheese.

109 S Main St. in Monroe www.StoneTableMonroe.com

with these additions! South Charlotte Chef

Pimento Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Chef Sandra Mannaravalappil offers meal delivery service with weekly menus from the Mediterranean, Central and South America, Asia and beyond. All freshly prepared meals come with seasonal sides of vegetable, starch, bread and homemade dessert. www.SouthCharlotteChef.com; (704) 497-3800 See more mac ‘n’ cheese recipes online at www.UnionLifestyle.com

Filling fridges and tummies across the Metrolina 1 stick butter 1 cup flour 1 clove grated garlic 1 teaspoon grated onion 2 cups milk 1 cup pimento cheese (homemade or purchased) 16 oz. cheddar cheese (separated) 1 pound crispy fried bacon 1 pound cooked pasta Heat butter in a pan, add flour and combine, then add milk, stirring to make a thick white sauce (approximately five minutes.) Add pimento and 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, garlic and onion, stirring until the sauce is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine sauce with cooked pasta and chopped crispy bacon. Place in a greased baking dish, sprinkle with reserved cheddar and bake until crispy on top, about 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Sandra tested various mac ‘n’ cheese recipes on diners recently, and this was the winner. Other variations included smoked crab dip and bacon with mozzarella cheese and a combination of spinach with feta and mozzarella cheese in a white sauce. “Just start with a cream sauce,” she says. “You can add anything you want.”

The South Charlotte Chef meal delivery service

Daily meals for busy people.

American, Italian, French, Indian – we cook it all.

Healthy meals cooked and delivered to your fridge.

Complete with fresh salad, bread and homemade dessert.

Free of excess sodium, fats and sugars.

Weekly, monthly – whenever you need it! family meals n dinner party n giﬅ (Send a meal instead of ﬂowers!)

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704.497.3800 n SouthCharlotteChef.com

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 11

. . . a great place to visit and live

and then moved back, agrees. He returned “for reasons like this,” he says, gesturing at the town’s Easter egg hunt festivities axhaw is a great place to raise a family, according to that drew hundreds of families. residents who cite its quietness, quaintness and friendliness. “It’s a good, safe family environment; there are lots of They’re not alone in extolling the town’s virtues. family-oriented things to do – nice restaurants and parks.” The attractive town nestled in the shadow of bustling South Charlotte recently was Eric endures an hour-long commute to named the best place to raise a young Charlotte just so he can live in Waxhaw. family in North Carolina by John and Cassie Testa moved from NerdWallet, which also cited the Florida in 2006 and haven’t regretted town’s solid schools, friendly their decision for even a moment. “It’s a neighbors and affordability. nicer place to raise kids than South Florida,” John explains. NerdWallet said, “Waxhaw may be “We wanted to get out of Florida, and we only 23 miles south of Charlotte, but liked the Waxhaw area. this community . . . wears its small-town badge proudly. Families are attracted by The property values were good,” Cassie says. ongoing events around the town’s Main “We were looking for a place to move to, Street . . . .” picked the Charlotte area and began looking around. Waxhaw is very family friendly and Eric Gaddy, who grew up in Waxhaw, left Cassie and John Testa and their children

12 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

quiet – not like a big city.” Joy Butler lived in Waxhaw intermittently as a child of JAARS parents but permanently since 1984 and appreciates the small John and Nancy Darsey town atmosphere. She relates calling the tax office to see if she moved just a short could pay her bill online because she is handicapped. distance from Charlotte seven years The tax official said, “If you’d like, I’ll come to your house, ago even though pick up your check and bring your receipt,” Joy relates. John still commutes “This is where Waxhaw has been all these years and this is to Pineville for work. the Waxhaw that I love. I love the small town. “It’s just a quiet, nice “When my life fell apart 16 years ago and everyone knew my small place to live,” business, they still loved me and supported me through it.” Nancy says. “I just love the area. If you don’t believe it’s a To business owner Jane Hunt, “Waxhaw is hometown America. I small town,” she says with a moved here in 1988 to raise my kids here and it’s still the most John and Nancy Darsey and chuckle, “come to the Fourth of wonderful place in America to raise your kids. I had to move to granddaughter Olivia July parade.” Charlotte and just found Waxhaw. “We discovered that the house we “I was single at the time and it was were living in (in Charlotte) was not a good house to retire ‘where would I want to stay to raise in,” John adds. “We looked for a year and kept coming the kids?’ And this is where I back. Ultimately, we built a house out here.” landed.” The couple, who took their granddaughter Olivia to Not only is Waxhaw charming, the town’s Easter celebration, say the people, it’s also safe. According to FBI businesses and lifestyle are great. “Really, it’s crime statistics, as reported by because of the people who live here,” John said. Movoto Real Estate, Waxhaw “There’s a lot going on in this town,” Nancy adds. is the seventh safest town in the “The people who do First Fridays (a town event) have state. done a bang-up job.” “In bigger cities, sometimes you When her sons, now 16 and 19, were small, Gay Diller might feel weird walking around,” found the smallness of Waxhaw very appealing. comments Shane Fraser. “Here, it’s “There wasn’t a lot going on, but it was so close to Charlotte; Joy Butler and granddaughter different.” that made it appealing. We had the benefits of a small town Catherine Matheney with kids playing in the yard and being able to walk around town to restaurants,” she remembers. “In my neighborhood, lots of kids Statistics from 2013 show the town with just 176 crimes – 161 played together. It was totally safe for the kids to ride bikes on property crimes (the sixth fewest per person) and 15 violent sidewalks and run from yard to yard – the ultimate all-American crimes (the twelfth fewest.) family life. Incidentally, Waxhaw has become as a mecca for retired New “Our friends then wanted to live where the action was in Charlotte, York City police officers, according to Karen Weinstein, who and we missed that at first,” Gay says. “By the time we could leave moved here with her retired police officer husband. our boys with a babysitter, Deerstyne’s restaurant (now closed) had opened. Our Charlotte friends came out to eat here. “We learned about Waxhaw from other officers who had moved Deerstyne’s proved that Waxhaw could become a destination for a here. It’s very nice here. You got a lot more for your money here, great restaurant, even in the pre liquor by the drink days.” that’s for sure. You can’t afford to retire in New York.”

Town residents turned out by the hundreds to participate in Waxhaw’s Easter celebration.

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 13

POPULATION Population (2013 estimate) Population (2010 estimate) Population under 18 years (2010) Persons 65 and older (2010) Females (2010)

. . . at a glance

11,295 9,859 34.6% 7% 51.6%

EDUCATION High school grad or more, age 25+ (2009-2013) 95.5% Bachelor's degree or higher, age 25+ (2009-2013) 55.0%

14 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

HOUSING

Homeownership rate (2009-2013) 88.2% Housing units in multi-unit structures (2009-2013) 1.1% Median value, owner-occupied housing $231,800 Households (2009-2013) 3,386 3.02 Persons per household, (2009-2013)

INCOME Median household income (2009-2013) Persons below poverty level (2009-2013))

$77,467 5.1%

. . . how it started

riginally called the Wysacky after an Indian tribe that once inhabited the area, Waxhaw was settled by European-Americans in the mid-eighteenth century. Chartered in 1889, Waxhaw is the third oldest town in Union County. Most settlers were of German and Scots-Irish origin and were subsistence farmers. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, is said to have been born nearby in 1767, although South Carolina also claims his birthplace. The Howie Gold Mine opened in 1848, eight years before the California gold rush. At one time, it employed approximately 100 workers and mined gold worth an estimated $250,000 in 1854. In the late 19th Century, the community began to develop cotton mill factories for manufacturing textiles, which remained an important industry through the mid 20th Century. The arrival of the railroad in 1888 helped the town prosper by providing access to the markets of Atlanta. Tracks were laid

For a ma p o f the down town histor ic walki n g tour visit w , ww.W a x haw.c a nd s om earch histor ic walki ng tou r.

through the center of town continue to divide the old town shopping district. As the textile industry shifted to other areas and eventually out of the country, Waxhaw began a re-creation, evolving into an antique mecca and later a fine dining center. With a current population of 11,000-plus, Waxhaw strives to maintain its small town charm while encouraging quality growth. The Small Town Main Street committee continues an integrated approach to developing and marketing the historic center of town. The Waxhaw Historic District at the heart of town is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts proud old buildings and unique attractions. The most iconic attraction is the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the railroad tracks. Once used for automobiles to cross over while trains ran through town below it, it became pedestrian only in 1940. Today, the bridge is used daily by adults and children waiting for a train to pass underneath their feet.

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 15

ou might think Waxhaw’s quietness and historic downtown indicate a slow, possibly dying business environment, but local entrepreneurs move to Waxhaw because of its temperament. The town is home to a mixture of eclectic entrepreneurial and mainstream businesses. Both sides of Main Street – a railroad runs between them – are lined with historic buildings that somehow fit the businesses housed within. Osvalda Bergrath and Jenny Poortvliet, partners at Funki Monki furniture boutique, chose downtown Waxhaw after looking at other area towns. “We specifically came to Waxhaw, because we wanted something (an atmosphere) to match the furniture,” Osvalda says. “We looked at Fort Mill and Pineville,” before moving their business. “I just love the country feel here,” Osvalda says. Open since September, “business has been great. It’s doing well. We have repeat

Small and corporate business work together to build thriving atmosphere

customers and customers who bring in their pieces for us to paint. Our two vendors also do very well,” she said. One of the town’s newest businesses is Black Chicken Fine Wine & Craft Beer, which opened on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. “Waxhaw is a thriving downtown area and there was nothing out here like this,” says Melanie Presson, business partner with Jason Niec. “It’s going well; we’ve done well. The weekends have been crazy busy, and we just opened for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.” Jason Oshita, owner of the former bibis restaurant in Downtown Monroe, created the menu.

. . . growin

“We love it here,” Melanie says. “It’s a great fit.

axhaw’s energetic businesses have an association unlike most others. The Waxhaw Business Association (WBA) meets each month at a breakfast meeting with a room-filling enthusiastic crowd. It’s unusual for a town of Waxhaw’s size – approximately 10,000 – to have its own business association, especially one with extensive Shane Fraser and Kim Karpovich of the WBA Osvalda Bergrath of involvement and energy. businesses work because Waxhaw is building to a destination. The far-reaching business participation comes from a common Visitors can go to a restaurant, then shop for antiques, visit the interest, say current chair Kim Karpovich of Carolinas Healthcare Man Cave and later enjoy a glass of wine just down the street. System and vice chair Shane Fraser, owner of SNAtoday, and That’s what I love Waxhaw.” because it’s run by volunteers. “You can park your car in one spot and walk everywhere in the “Everyone’s involved,” Kim says. “Everyone has the same downtown business area,” says Kim. “Waxhaw feels like a interest – to build a thriving business atmosphere.” thriving town. There’s a traditional feel on (NC highway) 75; on “We do have a thriving downtown,” Shane affirms. “Other towns (NC highway) 16, it’s new. It’s a neat town; it has such character. have dead spaces; we don’t. We have a hometown feel. It’s not a That’s what can make it a destination town.” lot of corporations; it’s people with small businesses trying to “I’ve brought young friends from South Charlotte and given them make a living.” the whole tour,” adds Shane. “And they’re amazed.” “There’s a great business energy here,” Kim says. “You can grow a “We have people coming from Winston-Salem, Raleigh . . . . I thriving business in Waxhaw.” didn’t expect that,” Kim adds. “People want to do business here,” Shane adds. “Unique

16 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

And I love how people support the downtown; they’re all about supporting local businesses. A lot of people say they’d rather support a local business than go to a corporate one. It’s nice to hear that.”

ng businesses

For Jane Hunt, who owns Eight Legs Gallery & Divine Custom Frame with husband David, the slow pace of Waxhaw was enticing.

“We like to know who the customers are; we like working with our friends. And we like everything to slow down in life.” The couple has owned the business for 11 years. “We have a lot of interesting businesses,” says long-time resident Gay Diller, mentioning not

Funki Monki

only small craftsmen shops, but also businesses such as Kapstone Medical, a firm that partners with inventors and manufacturers to develop and new medical devices, and Chronotec, a high-tech remote timekeeping software business. Gay and her husband, Brett, both work in small businesses in Waxhaw and have been acutely interested and involved in the town’s development, Gay on the planning board and Brett on town council.

“For a while, it was just a bunch of little businesses that were struggling,” Gay recalls. Now at least one expert says the downtown area has grown too commercial and doesn’t have the demographic of downtown housing that would attract high-end retail. “We’re looking to offer opportunities for flexibility, such as condos over storefronts,” a model that has worked well for centuries in European small towns.

www.Waxhaw.com

The WBA is a mix of local business owners, some corporate and franchisees. At each meeting, members have social time, “a great time to catch up,” Shane explains. “It’s connecting local business owners with other opportunities across the Charlotte region.” WBA holds Business After Hours events and participates in many town festivities. “A lot of businesses also sponsor events for the schools and other non-profit organizations,” Kim adds proudly. The WBA’s dedication to all things business helped spawn the Waxhaw Entrepreneurs (WE), an incubator for people starting a business. WBA mentors lead workshops, and fledgling businesses use the WE space for meetings. Shane and Kim are proud not only of the Association but also of the town’s individual businesses that have created the synergy to make Waxhaw a shopping, dining and entertainment destination. www.WaxhawBusinessAssociation.com Jane Hunt of Eight Legs Gallery & Divine Custom Frame

Branch Banking and Trust Company Monica Teague

Assistant Vice President Market Leader Waxhaw Branch

520 N. Broome St. (704) 843-9513 Office t (704) 843-2166 Branch MTeague@BBandT.com

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 17

t hasn’t been many years since Waxhaw residents had to travel to Monroe or Charlotte for most medical care.

It’s a very different scenario now; Providence Road is the home to several medical facilities.

. . . staying healthy

Practices currently housed there include: l Medical Group of Waxhaw l Charlotte Medical Clinic l Union OB/GYN l Union Surgical Associates l Union Pulmonary and Sleep Specialists l Waxhaw Pediatrics

Just down Providence Road is Novant Health’s Family Physicians Just a few years ago, Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) officials believed that the Waxhaw area needed expanded medical & Sports Medicine facility. Physicians there offer primary care, newborn, pediatric and adolescent care as well as physical care, and they were therapy, women’s health services, aesthetic procedures and correct. bone density testing. The CHS-Waxhaw Waxhaw also offers a diversity of other medical care, facility – a combination including dental and chiropractic care. of 24-hour emergency Carolinas Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab focuses on department, medical finding the true cause of your problem instead of merely practices and outpatient treating the symptoms. The practice helps infants to seniors services – opened in live an active and pain-free lifestyle. The practice offers December 2011. disc compression therapy, scoliosis treatment, foot orthotic Last year, according to Carolinas HealthCare Waxhaw care and pain management, among others. Keri Anderson, director “While it's often perceived that the chiropractor is solely here to of nursing-emergency services, says the emergency department treat back and neck pain,” says Dr. Kyle B. Jones, “this is simply a had 14,500 visits. “We’ve had a really good growth; we’ve had a small piece of what we do. 5 percent increase every year in volume. “We not only treat CHS chose Waxhaw for its second healthcare pavilion “because soft and hard tissue people were driving 15 to 20 miles for emergency services,” problems such as Keri said. While known for its emergency department, the sciatica and joint facility also “handles anything from minor injuries to patients pain, but also more with chest pains or stroke symptoms and trauma patients. systemic issues, “This truly is an access point. If you need to be seen, we’re such as here all the time, including nights and weekends.” fibromyalgia, The system offers full-service emergency medical services as allergies, chronic well as in-patient and out-patient imaging, such as CT scans, xear infections and rays and ultrasounds, as well as a full-service lab and doctors’ Waxhaw Family Physicians & Sports Medicine Center headaches.” offices. “We wanted the ease for people being able to go to Waxhaw. www.carolinashealthcare.org/waxhaw; (704) 667-6800 “We look at what the needs are for the community,” Keri says, www.nhwaxhawfamilyandsportsmedicine.org; (704) 384-8640 adding that orthopedics was added in 2013. www.carolinaschiropractic.com; (704) 243-1010

Safe, Natural, Effective Back & Neck Pain Sports Injuries l Headaches l l

Bulging Discs Scoliosis l Sciatica l l

704.243.1010

Dr. Emily Gilbert

Dr. Kyle B. Jones, Clinic Director

101 Waxhaw Professional Park Drive l Suite D l Waxhaw, NC 28173 l CarolinasChiropractic.com

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 19

H igh F lyers

how to do it. These are things that we do to pay the t’s not a career for people who need to plan bills.” everything,” says Monroe native Rachel Strickland, Her aerial work has ranged from 20 feet in the 32. But she loves her life as a freelance aerialist air to “hanging off a crane three stories and variety performer. high in Ireland. . . . I prefer 22 feet.” “When I went to college, I was interested in Rachel’s specialty, aerial hoop, contemporary, modern, African and belly requires her to touch the floor. “Twenty dance. Then I saw a clip of Cirque du Soleil and feet is substantial; 30 feet is quite was intrigued, but thought ‘probably not, you high.” The hoop or lyra is a 38-inch ring have to be Russian or started when you hung from a strap tethered to the ceiling. were 2.” “The appeal of lyra is that it can spin very fast; that’s The intrigue stayed with her as she “did what made me fall in love with it.” the backpack thing” for a few months in Europe after college. “I thought Rachel, who expects to perform in Ireland in June ‘What the hell,’ found a school and and later in Australia, prefers an outdoor setting for decided to give it a shot.” her art, although she has performed in Las Vegas. “Vegas is the mecca, but I really don’t Her parents were not thrilled, as like it.” she recalls. Just as her job is not the norm, neither are “I think they were starting to get her hours. “In a recent week, I had three used to my choices being off the performances; other weeks there are none. wall. In my trip to Europe, I’d proven When you’re not working, you need to be somewhat that I could take care of training.” myself, that I wouldn’t put myself in Now living in San Francisco, Rachel “I’ve been doing this for seven years. When danger. Plus they knew there wasn’t says October through New Year’s are you start, you’re so in love and dazzled by anything they could say. the Black Friday for performers who everything, but humbled. There’s “I wanted to be an aerialist, but didn’t work most then. During the always something so much better even know what it was called. holiday season, she performs at and you see what people are corporate parties including Google, “I did intense conditioning for a year capable of and how much which held a party on the retired Navy before I was strong enough to do further you can go. It keeps carrier USS Hornet. “We walked around much on the fabric. That was the you inspired. in character (she was a 1940s pinup hardest part. It took me a year to “It can’t be just a job. There’s sailor) and engaged get to a good base strength before a lot of sacrifice, a lot of the people.” I could consistently work on skills.” things you choose not to do to While studying for two years, she Although aerial is her first love, she do this. I’m definitely reaching supported herself by dancing with frequently performs other skills. “ a new point and wanting to several companies, “which taught I was stiltwalking recently on work on my own terms. me about performing. I frequently stilts that were hilariously low – “I’m enjoying choreographing entertained at a corporate event or baby stilts. (The client) wanted and directing a lot more. I still party and had to learn to not break a woman to be uncomfortably love to perform, but I like to be on character. It was a crash course.” tall at an event, too tall to be the creative side of things. natural. Her first aerial performance was at the Pink Door Restaurant in Seattle. “They gave myLifestyle first gigl and it for 20 me Union MayI -kept July 2015 four years.”

Did she know how to stiltwalk? “I usually just say “yes,” then learn

“I won’t say I’m ever going to be done with this . . . I’ll be an aerialist for the rest of my life.”

Local performing artists take their skills to new heights

he nomadic life of a festival performer agrees with Monroe native Colette Dessingue. The 29-year-old travels around the nation performing at renaissance festivals, pulling a fifth wheel trailer as her home. “I’ve been doing it for 10 years now so it seems normal.” If you haven’t been to a renaissance festival, your ideas of carnival or festival performers is probably faulty. Many performers, like Colette, not only have college degrees and advanced training, but they also own a performance company that contracts with the festivals. And they don’t move every few days to a new city. “Some of the festivals are twomonth runs, so it’s a nice period of time to be somewhere. But I do like to travel.” Colette’s career “happened slowly. I was going to school when I started to do the first renaissance show (in Charlotte.) And it just slowly developed.” As a child, she studied yoga in her mother’s studio, following that with ballet and belly dance. While earning a bachelor’s degree in dance performance and choreography, Colette put her learned skills into

practice when a friend asked her to perform with a renaissance festival.

Ten years ago, she and musician friend Jen Mayer created The Jamila Lotus Dance Carnivale, which features feats of balance, strength, skill and daring alongside dance and live music by their house group, the Band of Eternal Souls. Colette not only performs but also creates the choreography based on traditional dance forms and movement from the Middle East, Africa and India.

As a festival performer, Colette has perfected a diverse set of skills – aerial silks, adult comedic puppetry, knife dancing . . . . And she’s a standup comedienne on the side! “Five or six years ago, I added aerial silks into the show.” Then it was knife dancing, “which I just learned.” Most of her performances are outdoors, with elaborate backdrops and costumes that she and her company members create. Sometimes her aerial performances are dangling from “a 6 by 16 plank bolted in between trees. I try to just alter what I do to make it fit in whatever space I have.” In North Carolina, “aerial helps sell the dance part” but the work is taxing on the body. At 29, Colette is phasing out her aerial performances and focusing on grounded stage show. Aerial work “is not the most gentle exercise there is. You have to do a lot of stretching before; there’s a lot of upper body involvement which puts a lot of stress on your joints.” Because audiences are intrigued by aerial, “schools are popping up all over. It used to be a circus trait that was passed down.” “I love getting the opportunity to dance and perform. That’s always been my goal and dream.”

OUR QUIZ: How well do you know Union County history?

1. Union County was established by an Act of the General Assembly of North Carolina ratified in December of what year? a. 1824 b. 1842 c. 1852 d. 1864

2. Monroe had the first location of which regional department store? a. Belk b. J.C. Penney c. Rose’s d. Ivy’s 3. The Revolutionary War Battle of the Waxhaws was sometimes referred to as: a. Buford’s Massacre b. Battle of Walkup’s Mill c. Davie’s Attack d. All of the above 4. The first passenger train arrived in Monroe in what year? a. 1874 b. 1863 c. 1901 d. 1896

5. Wingate University was founded in 1896 with what name? a. Wingate School b. Cannon School c. Cannon College d. All of the above

6. Which county never included the territory now embraced by Union County? a. New Hanover b. Bladen c. Anson d. Stanly

22 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

7. Camp Sutton served which of these functions during World War II? a. Grave registration company b. Prisoner of war camp c. Bakery unit d. All of the above 8. Union County embraces how many square miles of land? a. 424 b. 568 c. 643 d. 829 9. Which of these statements is true about Robert F. Williams, an African American civil rights leader from Monroe?

a. His grandmother gave him a rifle as a symbol of the family’s resistance against racial oppression. b. The NAACP suspended Williams for advocating violence. c. Williams received political asylum in Cuba after being accused of kidnapping. d. He advised the State Department on normalizing relations with China. e. All of the above.

10. Which of these Indian tribes were among the first natives of Union County? a. Waxhaw b. Catawba c. Lumbee d. Cherokee

Answers on Page 27

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 23

Sabor Latin Street Grill: Fresh, authe

f your Latin cuisine experience is limited to chain restaurants, you’ll be surprised at Sabor Latin Street Grill in Wesley Chapel. Sabor is a combination of Mexican, Caribbean and Latin-American styles that tempt your tastebuds.

Eating Out in Union

The menu is small, but it works. Sabor management has an effective business plan – know what you do best and limit your menu to those items. And what they do best is street food. The menu lists seven street foods, two nachos, one salad, one

quesadilla, four burritos, two tacos and one dessert. You don’t need any more than that, especially when the flexibility is this allencompassing. Elote Loco, Mexico’s traditional corn on the cob ($2.95), varies dramatically from southern style corn and was a wonderful taste treat for our native Iowan. The warm corn on the cob was spread with mayo and then sprinkled with cotija cheese (similar to Parmesan) and chili powder and served with lime wedges. Other street foods include Aarepa ($4.95), a Venezuelan ground corn flatbread filled with shredded chicken, tomatoes onion and cheese, plus Carne Asada Fries ($6.95), which are covered in grilled steak, queso, pico de gallo, guacamole, cotija cheese and sour cream. Coco Loco Chili Elote Loco, Mexican corn on the cob Ranchero ($3.95) is a charro style chili with chorizo and NoDa Brewing company coco loco porter. Gordita ($4.95) is a corn masa cake with your choice of protein, beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and cheese.

The El Dominicano burrito ($7.95) is overstuffed with a deliciously spicy mixture of shredded chicken, sautéed cabbage, tomato and onion mixed with rosada sauce. Our empanada – ($3.95)– an Argentinian puff pastry – was filled with spicy chorizo and deep fried to a beautiful golden brown.

Dominican nachos

Sabor offers 10 proteins that can be ordered in almost any dish. In addition to typical ground beef and shredded chicken, they offer grilled chicken, Al Pastor pork, grilled steak, chorizo sausage, grilled tilapia and shrimp, plus tofu ranchero and grilled veggies.

Here’s the skinny

Ambiance: Sabor is a small restaurant with a few booths and tables and has a visible assembly line so you can see your meal being created. Menu: Great Latin street food with 10 types of protein to use

interchangeably in most orders.

Quality: Sabor is the Spanish word for “flavorful,” and the

dishes that we sampled at the Latin Street Grill lived up to that description.

Service: Assembly was done by one person, so the orders

24 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

came in a staggered timeframe.

Value: Great value. Dine in or take out.

Will we return? We loved it! Definitely a place to return to for more “street food.”

Sabor Wesley Chapel 5945 Weddington Rd., Mathews, NC 28104 (704) 774-1083 SaborCharlotte.com Mon - Sat: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun: 11a.m. - 9 p.m.

entic and filling

Diners can go mainstream American-style Latin with nachos, tacos, taco salad and quesadillas. Authentic tacos ($2.75) are corn tortillas with meat, cilantro, onion and lime, while the American version ($2.95) is what you would get in a chain restaurant – flour tortilla with meat, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Order the authentic version! If you like taco salad ($6.95) but don’t prefer the shell, order a build-your-own-bowl ($7.95) and choose your own toppings. The only real difference is the bowl is in, well, a bowl!

Traditional nachos

American, Mexican and Colombian soft drinks, but also a variety of North Carolina beers and cocktails ranging from margaritas to mojitos and a few unusual drinks.

Kids have a choice of American taco quesadilla or chicken tenders, served with a side of chips and cheese, beans and rice or corn on the cob.

Even if you feel stuffed, order the one dessert – freshly cooked churros with strawberry ice cream ($4.95). Definitely worth the extra calories.

Order a side of chips for your table. It’s a generous portion of chips that are thin and crispy, yet sturdy enough to stand up to dipping in queso or guacamole. The guac had thick chunks of avocado. And don’t miss the salsa bar, which features a variety of housemade sauces. Try them all! We particularly liked the mango habanero salsa, which has a sweet and spicy taste.

You might be surprised that Sabor serves not only

E. Kelly Anderson, MD, attended Yale University

medical school, completed her internship and

Empanada stuffed with chorizo, or another protein of your choice. Churros and ice cream

residency through Carolinas Medical Center and

is board certified in Family Medicine.

1301 Dove Street in Monroe (Just off US 74 near the hospital)

(704) 283-8888 www.AndersonFamilyMed.com

Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 25

32 things to do in Sweet Union

May

1: Beach, Blues & BBQ

7 p.m.-10 p.m. The Embers (beach) Free concert; bring a chair Downtown Monroe

First Friday Businesses, restaurants open late, free carriage rides. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

2: Beach, Blues & BBQ

11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Noon -The Caribbean Cowboys (variety) Free; bring a chair

2: Waxhaw Area Artists Studio Tour

40 area artists Free; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Waxhaw.artscouncil on Facebook for a map of locations.

3: Waxhaw Area Artists Studio Tour

40 area artists Free; Noon – 5 p.m. Waxhaw.artscouncil on Facebook for a map of locations.

8: Car Cruise In – European Cars Free, 6 p.m. Main Street, Monroe www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

16: Spring Fest Art Kaleidoscope

All things art plus music, free Kids Zone, entertainment, food concessions. Downtown Waxhaw

17: Music on the Plaza

“!Si, Si Symphony!” Union Symphony & Youth Orchestra Free; bring a chair, picnic or blanket www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

26 Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015

17:

Spring Fest Art Kaleidoscope Noon. – 6 p.m. All things art plus music, free Kids Zone, entertainment, food concessions. Downtown Waxhaw

28:

Music on Main, music by Fourth Creek Band (James Taylor tribute) Free; 6:30 p.m. Bring a chair. Main Street, Monroe www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

5: First Friday

June

Businesses, restaurants open late, free carriage rides. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

Live at the Vines, music by The Village Greene $5, 7 p.m. Bring a chair 301 Bay St., Monroe (704) 283-4208 www.TreehouseVineyard.com

12: Car Cruise In – Mustangs

Free, 6 p.m. Main Street, Monroe www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

12: Jammin’ by the Tracks

Free, 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

13:

Live at the Vines, music by Throwback Thursdays Party Band $4, 7 p.m. Bring a chair, blanket, picnic. Treehouse Vineyards, 301 Bay St., Monroe (704) 283-4208 www.TreehouseVineyard.com

19:

Jammin’ by the Tracks Free, bring your lawn chairs. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

20:

Live at the Vines, music by RJ Adams $3, 7 p.m. Bring a chair 301 Bay St., Monroe (704) 283-4208 www.TreehouseVineyard.com

25:

Music on Main, music by Image (R&B) Free; 6:30 p.m. Bring a chair. Main Street, Monroe www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

26:

Jammin’ by the Tracks Free, bring your lawn chairs. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

27:

Live at the Vines, music by Province of Thieves $4, 7 p.m. Bring a chair, blanket, picnic. Treehouse Vineyards, 301 Bay St., Monroe (704) 283-4208 TreehouseVineyards.net

May 2:

Mother-Daughter Tea Come in your princess dress and tiara, prizes for most creative tiara. 11 a.m., bring an item for the Safe Alliance Domestic Violence Shelter. 600 Hospital Drive, Monroe. RSVP to (704) 631-1092.

May 30:

White Party to benefit Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter 6 p.m., dinner, dancing, silent auction $85, Rolling Hills Country Club, 2722 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe Register by (704) 288-1902 or www.TurnToday.net

June 6:

Golf Tournament 1 p.m., Emerald Lakes Golf Club Golf tournament to benefit The Miracle League of Indian Trail $75; BBQ dinner, greens fee, prizes raffle giveaway Register by May 31; call David Cohn at (704) 641-6944.

July

First Friday Businesses, restaurants open late, free carriage rides. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

4: Fourth of July celebration Free; parade at 10 a.m. Beach party 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Fireworks at dusk Waxhaw

4: Celebration in the Park

4:30 p.m., rides and fun foods 7 p.m., music by Darrell Harwood (country) 9:30 p.m., fireworks Belk Tonawanda Park Skyway Drive, Monroe

10: Jammin’ by the Tracks Free, bring your lawn chairs. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

12: Car Cruise In – Motorcycles Free, 6 p.m. Main Street, Monroe www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

17: Jammin’ by the Track

Free, bring your lawn chairs. Downtown Waxhaw www.Waxhaw.com for details.

23: Music on Main, music by Emily Minor (country) Free; 6:30 p.m. Bring a chair. Main Street, Monroe www.HistoricDowntownMonroe.org

1. 1842 2. Belk 3. All of the answers 4. 1874 5. Wingate School 6. Stanly 7. All of the answers 8. 643 9. All of the answers 10. Waxhaw and Catawba Union Lifestyle l May - July 2015 27

Quiz answers