Charitable giving in Union County
Warbirds taking flight Mecklenburg’s loss is Union’s gain ‘Lemons to lemonade’ life
November 2015 – January 2016 www.UnionLifestyle.com
UNION
Lifestyle
5
Editor
County manager’s life a ‘lemons to lemonade’ story
Nancy E. Stephen
Writers
Martha S. Allen Nancy E. Stephen
8
Photographer Nancy E. Stephen
Union Lifestyle
A publication of Cameo Communications, LLC
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On the cover
10
Local playwright ‘always wanted to perform’
12
Warbirds take flight on Nov. 7 & 8
14
Airshow founders still an integral part of event
If it’s autumn, it’s BBQ time in Union County. Butch Kelly of Butts “R” Us sauces smoked ribs in a recent competition in Waxhaw, where he earned two awards.
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Photo by Nancy E. Stephen
Mecklenburg lost a winner when Mario’s moved to Union .
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She’s more suited to sawdust than suits.
16
It’s fall – and that means charitable giving time
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Charitable giving key to nonprofit success
22
New nonprofit a collaboration of churches
26
Lots of fun things to do in Union
Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 3
Watch out! I’m on a ‘high horse’ about the elections
I
don’t believe I will make it to Election Day in 2016. I’m totally annoyed, disgusted, frustrated – pick a word – at the political diatribes being broadcast almost daily. You would think the candidates would factcheck their statements before they make them public. But that’s not happening. If it makes good sound bites or editorial copy, all restraints are off. Even when quoting the competition with information that’s been recorded and available to anyone, candidates are, shall we say, straying from the truth. In an earlier lifetime, decades ago when I was a newspaper editor, we used to jokingly say, “Don’t let the facts stand in the way of a good story.” It was funny then as a joke; now that it’s happening, the humor is gone. Both parties’ candidates are taking “he said, she said” to a new level – and that’s appalling. How are we to respect whomever is elected president if he or she is firing verbal volleys regularly? How did we get to the point where it’s OK to attack someone’s appearance, call them a dog or a liar. It’s truly embarrassing that candidates, our potential leaders, have made this campaign look like an old-fashioned schoolyard brawl. The situation would make a good TV comedy – if it weren’t real. And if it weren’t our country. The mud-slinging isn’t just from political parties or candidates, although, sadly to say, we’ve actually come to expect that. The general public has gotten into the act. The advent of social media makes it possible for everyone with a computer or smart phone to make his opinions public. And that’s not bad; in fact, freedom of speech is our First Amendment. It’s part of what makes the United States what it is. That freedom differentiates us from other countries where if you say the wrong thing, you can be imprisoned for life. Or worse. Writers simply are not checking facts before they post their comments and are reposting others’ verbiage as if it’s the gospel – again without checking. I consider some of what I read to be libelous. But more importantly, it’s downright mean. The public cannot be excused for its pettiness; we were taught better than that. Mothers would not be proud of their adult children taking potshots at public officials. It’s mean-spirited. But good heavens, our next president is doing the same thing? How and when does this stop? For my own sanity, I’ve chosen to hide Facebook friends whose writings I consider blasphemous and to take candidates’ verbiage with a grain of salt, hoping the truth will rise to the surface in the next year. I hope so, but it doesn’t look good. Editor@UnionLifestyle.com
My whole life is a ‘lemons to lemonade story’
Away from public view
Cindy Coto, county manager for Union County, lived the first 16 years of her life “all over the world as a military brat.” Having lived in Florida for most of her adult life, she now claims North Carolina as her home. Childhood ambition – I wanted to be a ballerina. Unfortunately, I learned that I’m one of the most graceless people on this planet. I was fascinated with the grace and beauty of the dance. It was the complete opposite of how I viewed myself – not what I saw in myself. Guilty pleasure – I don’t usually take time for guilty pleasures. But I enjoy going some place and unplugging. I’m typically plugged in to my office, to my life. Unplugging really is very liberating, but I don’t do it frequently. Guilty splurge – I have a fetish for pocketbooks and shoes. No one deserves as many pocketbooks as I have. It’s ridiculous that anyone has as many shoes as I have. Because I dress so conservatively for my job, this is one of the few ways I can express my personality. So I do buy unusual shoes – show a little bit of who I am in. When I retire, we will have a bonfire and burn 90 percent of my clothing. Strongest personality trait - I don’t think of myself as a perfectionist, but I never quite measure up to my expectations. My expectations are very difficult to achieve. My Pilates instructor says she doesn’t have to correct me because I am so hard on myself. On my recent Outward Bound experience, one facilitator constantly said to me, “Will you quit being so hard on yourself?” I feel like I never measure up. It makes me what I am. But it can be a burden. Inspiration – Maya Angelou moved me, as did her book, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.” Knowing what she went through in her childhood and what she became was amazing to me. That has stuck with me for years. Challenge – The Outward Bound program. From a mental and physical perspective, it’s one of more difficult things I’ve ever undertaken. I’m not sure I would have done it if I had known everything – camping in the open, hiking on unlevel ground with a 50-pound pack. I thought I was physically fit, but found out I definitely am not. My body said, “I can’t take another step, I’m physically done,” but I just had to push through it. Real life hero – I attribute so much of where I am today to John Curry, my first boss in Volusia County, Florida. At my first-year evaluation in a low-level position, he said, “What are you doing? You’re talented. You’re bright. Get yourself back to school. . . .” He was the first person who vocalized that to me. At that point, I was willing to settle for far less. He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. So I did night school for years, then went to school while working full time, with two kids and a husband. Lemons to lemonade – My whole life.
FROM BANKING TO BASEBOARDS Kristina Rose better matched to sawdust than suits
S
ome people find the perfect career in their first jobs. Others, such as Kristina Rose, discover they are not so suited to their first career.
In banking for six years, Kristina dressed conservatively and sat behind a desk for eight hours a day. But that just wasn’t her.
“I started in reception, then trained in closing home loans as a junior processor. I liked the job security and that reporting was a little challenging. But. . .
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6 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
“What I didn’t like was that it was redundant. I did the same thing every day – sit at a desk with no real diversity to my job. I felt like a slave to the hours, watching the time tick by. “I’m more of an outgoing person. Sitting at a desk doing the same thing with the same mindset wasn’t enough for me. ‘This cannot be my life,’ I thought. ‘There’s no way this is my life.’ ”
She didn’t have to look far to find another profession.
“I could see the beautiful shelves and closets my husband built and thought ‘this is a little more interesting.’ ”
James built their son an armoire with Kristina’s assistance, and that sparked her interest even more. “That was the first time I did a project with him. It seemed easy and fun! He knew how much I couldn’t stand my job.”
So the couple started their own finish carpentry and woodworking business, based on James’ 15 years experience in the field. James “knew his work was worth a lot more
than what he was being paid,” so owning a business was appealing for him, too.
“I quit my job, and we went on a whim hoping that it would work. And it did, beyond our expectations.”
At the time, James was working for a contractor in a neighborhood development, where another general contractor appreciated the quality of his work. So when the couple went out on their own, “we were almost guaranteed a contract,” Kristina says.
Once they started basic trim work, such as baseboards and crown moulding, in homes under construction, homeowners would
ask for extras – built-in cabinets, built-out closets and fireplace cabinetry.
“Now they ask for even more, such as coffered and tray ceilings, drop zones and window bench seats.” The couple says they have found a niche “beefing up” spec homes, adding chair rails and wainscoting, bead board and display centers.
All work is custom and done on site. “If people hire us, they better like sawdust in their driveway,” she says laughing. “Because that’s where the work will be done.”
At first, Kristina’s time was spent learning the craft and the tools. “James was teaching me the saw and had me mitering corners.
“Now he prefers me on the saw,” she says, “because I do it perfectly. I just get it!”
James calls Kristina “a major asset. She’s learned the trade faster than anybody I’ve taught. You show her something one time and she’s got it.”
And despite her feminity, “she’ll sweat with everybody else.” Leaving her secure bank job “was scary at first, but when we took the step, it was a blessing all the way through. Starting our own business is one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. “People who own their business work harder because they’re responsible for bringing everything in. We want to make our customers happy; we want to have the quality.” The couple has expanded their business applying epoxy garage floor treatment. Kristina calls herself a tomboy, but says, “I still want to feel like a girl. My hair can be covered with sawdust at the end of the day,” she says, making a face. Nights and weekends, it’s a different story. “On weekends, I might overdo it. Like put on a dress to go to Walmart. And I still get my nails done, a pedicure. But shoes stay on those babies at work!”
Contact James or Kristina Rose at (704) 995-6948 or (704) 995-4534
Sawdust flies as Kristina cuts moulding at a job site. Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 7
‘I feel like I’m changing lives’ ‘I
By Nancy E. Stephen
want to make legs when I grow up.” Robert Ito didn’t say that as a child, but he loves the profession he “fell into.” “I feel like I’m changing lives,” he says matter-of-factly. Rob’s career was prompted by a college roommate who had a prosthetic leg. “I was almost through a degree in business administration and management, and my college roommate’s prosthetic leg intrigued me. I knew I wanted to get into the field.” The roommate, also a certified prosthetist-orthotist, impacted Rob’s life a second time by inviting him on a mission trip to Mexico to make limbs for residents who cannot afford a prosthetic. “Since 1999, I may have missed three or four years. We all missed 2001; our plane was scheduled to go on 9/11 but that trip just fell apart.” Rob’s enthusiasm for those continued experiences bubbles from him. An outgoing, enthusiastic man by nature, he becomes even more animated when he talks about the trips,
the words tumbling out rapidly as he recalls favorite experiences and savors the gratification. “I get satisfaction of doing the same thing as I do here but without limitations or constraints. We don’t have to worry about price, insurance, prior approvals or liability. We build a leg because someone needs a leg.
Robert Ito believes he’s changing lives with his volunteer services in Mexico, pictured, as well as in his Monroe clinic.
8 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
“And the patients are so grateful. I remember a patient who drove 12 hours to the clinic.” Sometimes patients walk in with makeshift limbs, crutches or wheelchairs. “It’s amazing,” he says. “How in the world can they walk with something like that? But they do – they’re determined.” The volunteers do the same work in the Mexican clinic as they do in the United States, but the process “is far more compact. If it takes a month to make a limb here, we’ll do it in four or five days there.” An existing lab opens four times a year as a free clinic, using volunteers to make and fit limbs. “They provide the equipment; we donate our services.” But the team actually donates much more. “We collect old limb components, break them down and carry them in $5 suitcases we pick up.” The clients channel their enthusiasm for the potential of a better life into very dedicated therapy. “They’re going to walk,” Rob says emphatically, “failure is not an option. “They’re very resilient and quick learners. Some go immediately back to work” with just a few hours of therapy. “They are so grateful to us,” he adds. “They don’t have any money, but on the last day, they’ll bring a couple of apples, maybe tamales. And that’s very gratifying; they just want to say thank you.”
‘
He recalls another patient, “a guy my age who is diabetic. He had already lost one leg and was very down emotionally about losing his other side. I could feel the emotion when he stood up the first time on his second leg. That’s very rewarding to see him stand up for the first time.” Rob considers pre-amputation counseling an important part of his practice. “I feel like patients do better with more information prior to their amputation. I like to talk to them then about where they were activity-wise and where they want to be.” Typically, the first month after amputation is needed for the limb to heal, swelling to reduce and stitches to be removed. “For the first month, we’re already educating them. Prosthetic limbs are very expensive, ranging from $10,000 to more than $100,000 for a microprocessor knee that is adjustable through computers or smart phones and can determine if a person is walking on a flat plane, incline or decline and adjust accordingly. The Veterans Administration and most private insurances cover the cost.
‘
While the mission Children as work is gratifying, young as six so is Rob’s months can be everyday work fitted, he says, with his business, adding that Prosthetic children typically Orthotic can receive their Specialists of prosthesis free Monroe. through the Shriners He sees people of Hospitals. all ages “get their life back” after an Robert Ito’s collection of prosthetic limbs through the Rob has seen amputation, many amazing years shows vast changes in the profession. typically from an success stories in accident or diabetes. his career, including a youth who was injured in June during a car accident. “I have plenty of patients in their 70s and 80s and a couple in their 90s. I put something appropriate on them, depending on their level of activity. I match their limb to their functionality and activity level. Obviously, a teenage athlete and an 80-year-old have different needs and desires, but we can accommodate them all.” The boy was trial fitted with an above-the-knee leg just a month after the accident. Athletes and very active patients are fitted with more complex and durable limbs than a senior By the second month, he was walking around. citizen whose needs are fewer. “What’s incredible,” Rob says, “is that he had “I ask ‘Was the patient able to ambulate before extensive surgery on the other knee and in his the amputation?’ If they were, they should be hand. It was amazing. With an above-the-knee able to ambulate afterwards.” limb, it’s hard to walk in. He was amazing.”
There’s a direct outcome to my work. If they walk on it, that’s success.
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Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 9
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Judy Simpson Cook with Melvin Faris
By Nancy E. Stephen
ho knew Brad Pitt’s mother lives in Union County? Not his real mother, maybe, but a woman who portrayed his mother in a TV movie. Judy Simpson Cook, an actor turned playwright from rural Union County, calls that her claim to fame. “He was 25 and gorgeous. I was about 40 and flattered that they thought I was attractive enough to be his mother.” Filming A Stoning in Fulham County was just one week in her lifelong theatre career, “but it’s the most interesting to others. I can say I touched Brad Pitt.” Today, some 25 years later, Judy is known as the founder and director of The Storefront Theatre, a readers theatre that produces five shows a year. Readers theatres are in-character readings of plays with the actors standing behind music stands, not acting the role. How did she go from Waxhaw to Brad Pitt to theatre founder? “From the time I was tiny, I wanted to perform. I was extremely shy, so my mother put me in dance lessons when I was 3 or 4 years old. It didn’t take.” A couple of years later, her mother added piano lessons and voice lessons. “She tried everything to try to bring me out from the little shadow that I was.” Shy she might have been, but some might have called Judy a precocious child. “I told my voice teacher I didn’t want to sing ‘Three Little Kittens.’ So I sang ‘Ricochet Romance,’ a very popular song at the time. I probably looked a little dopey singing a torch song at age 5 or 6.” Judy’s mild demeanor hides wicked selfdeprecating humor that she sprinkles throughout conversation. “I stopped voice lessons and took piano lessons for far longer than my skills would indicate.”
As Mrs. Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar
Performing her adaptation of Christmas Carol
‘. . . I always wanted to perform.’
After graduating from Parkwood High School, she attended Presbyterian College. “For about an hour, I thought about teaching. But my heart wasn’t in it. My second year, they hired a full-time theatre director. I made a beeline to his office proclaiming, ‘I want to be in a play.’ ”
“My father said he was going to make a lawyer out of me. My parents encouraged me to teach or be a secretary or nurse. Clearly, I had no aptitude, no gift of teaching. I didn’t like it, and I certainly wasn’t good at it.”
In college, she played a variety of roles, even grandparents. While she aspired to be an actor, the business was difficult to break into. “Schools now teach people who want careers how to get one. It’s a lot more than the acting part; it’s the business. How do
10 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
you go about getting into theater? I didn’t know any of that; I didn’t have a clue. “To go to New York or California would have required a level of information and bravery that I didn’t have. I would have been afraid, too scared to do it.
“I probably wouldn’t have done well. Once I got there, I still wouldn’t have known what to do. I was ignorant, but mostly it was fear.” Trying to break into the Charlotte theatre scene after college, Judy discovered “the roles for people 21 and 22 or who looked 12 were not plentiful.
“Theatre Charlotte was doing ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and I decided ‘if I’m not cast in this play, I’m done.’ ” But she was cast and her career solidified.
Judy in Love Letters “I became a playwright because another women in Cuckoo’s Nest complained about the lack of theatrical literature that dealt with the women’s movement, the kinds of things that women were thinking about and trying to do. So we decided to create a play. “The experience of having other people bring my vision to life was far more rewarding than I thought it could ever be.”
Transitioning into a solo writer, Judy wrote one-acts, then full plays. In all, she has written 11 plays, plus “probably half dozen one acts and some one-person shows. “I have some fun movie credits to my name,” Judy says. She played part of a couple buying a house from Natalie Wood and Christopher Walken in Brainstorm, possibly best known for Wood’s untimely
With Sheila Proctor in Judy’s play, 1963 death in mysterious circumstances. “I had lines and interaction with the two of them. It really was a neat experience. I was a celebrity for about an hour.”
Most artistically rewarding, she says, was her work in American Gothic, which can be seen in reruns.
“I’ve always wanted to act. It’s just something you want to do. It’s part of being an introvert – the ability to be someone else, to try on someone else’s emotion and style. It’s not about being the center of attention, that’s not it. I always wanted to perform in any way.”
“I miss the movies and having those occasional opportunities,” Judy muses, adding “but Storefront is my baby.” www.thestorefronttheatre.org
Movie scene from Paradise Falls
The Storefront Theatre
When Judy and her husband Ron moved back to Waxhaw in 2005, she immediately founded The Storefront Theatre in Waxhaw, now in its ninth season.
“I thought ‘I can do this. I can have a readers theatre. It will take not so much money, room, time.’ I was wrong on all three counts. We did one, and people liked it. “People can see it in their heads. Actors can bring stories to life without actually showing them. It’s not a lesser thing, it’s a full thing.”
Storefront also hosts an annual writing competition with the winners performed in “We Like Short Shorts,” a festival of 10minute plays. The competition has grown to 352 entries last year.
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Warbirds take flight over Monroe
By Nancy E. Stephen
arplanes buzz overhead, spiraling in aerobatics. Flames shoot skyward as “bombs” explode on the ground. American and Soviet forces engage in a dogfight that the Americans win – of course. It’s Warbirds Over Monroe time, a two-day celebration at Charlotte Monroe Executive Airport that provides the sights and sounds of past wars to the more than 60,000 annual attendees. It’s almost stimulation overload for onlookers! Now in its eighth year, Warbirds stuns your brain as air battle reenactments supply a vision of the tension, excitement and drama of historic air battles. Each year, the show has amazing pyrotechnics, which bring “a true experience” to visitors, says Event Coordinator Pete Hovanec, Monroe’s communications and tourism officer. “They’re not just seeing planes, but seeing explosions, seeing what war Pete Hovanec could really be like.” All the featured planes are real military craft utilized from WWII onward. This year, the event will have a stronger Vietnam War connection. “We’ll always be a
World War II show, but we want to recognize other folks and their sacrifices in Vietnam.”
Upwards of 40 planes from as far away as Florida and Pennsylvania participate; all decommissioned and many restored by their owners. “Some planes are worth $4.5 million,” Pete says, “and the cost to keep these planes flying is unbelievable.”
Parachutists will be jumping from the city-owned The Tinker Belle, a C46 Curtis Wright, the largest transport aircraft in WWII.
While the wall of fire and strafing runs appear to be close to onlookers, they’re very safe, Pete says. “The wall of fire is on the other side of the runway. As planes fly by, workers will ignite fuel in bags with a fuse to simulate a bomb or strafing run.” More than 50 vendors and activities are set for each day, which starts at 9 a.m. with military helicopter rides and continues with re-enactments, static displays, interactive exhibits, formation flying, parachute jumps, kids’ zone and vendors. The show ends each day with the popular wall of fire at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s event adds a hangar dance at 6 p.m.
You can also expect a mock WWII battle on the ground, complete with Germans and Americans firing blanks, racing around in military jeeps and trucks and yelling.
More than 150 re-enactors dress as Germans and Japanese warriors and set up true-life military camps for visitors to walk through. Always scheduled around Veterans Day, “Warbirds Over Monroe was designed as a way to give back to veterans,” Pete says. “We’ve tried to keep that focus.
on Nov. 7 & 8
“We want to encourage people to learn about history of the aircraft out there, aircraft that helped win wars, save lives. Visitors are able to be out there, see, smell and hear history come alive.” Mayor Bobby Kilgore wants attendees “to come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of what our servicemen and women have done for this country.” Veterans, their families and visitors from several states bombard the city’s airport each year as the airshow’s reputation has grown. Performers and plane owners also enjoy the event and return each year. “It’s like a big family reunion every year. They like to come here; we treat them right.” While designed to honor veterans, the city also uses the event to showcase its airport – the first general aviation facility in the Carolinas to have Customs and Border Protection service that allows international flights to land – and to bring awareness to the local aerospace industry. Union County has the highest concentration of aerospace industry in the southeast region and employs approximately 3,000. Warbirds is great exposure for the city, Pete says. “We’ve had people come from Italy specifically for the show. And a reporter from Saigon TV reported on the show from here. “Our hotels see a major spike, and thousands of visitors are eating in our restaurants. There’s significant economic residual.” www.warbirdsovermonroe.com Visit www.UnionLifestyle.com for a look at the impact of aerospace industry in Union County.
Warbirds Over Monroe
Saturday, Nov. 7 9 a.m.
Gates open with vendors
10 a.m.
Speakers and music
10:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m.
Noon
Army Heritage Aviation Foundation Helicopter rides open Welcome/veterans program
National Anthem by Theresa Eaman WWII Airborne Demonstration Team
12:15 p.m.
Aerial aerobatics
5:15 p.m.
Matt Younkin twilight performance
4:45 p.m. 6 p.m.
Wall of fire
Hangar dance
Sunday, Nov. 8 9 a.m. Gates open with vendors 10 a.m.
10:45 a.m. 11 a.m.
Army Heritage Aviation Foundation Helicopter rides open Speakers and music
Welcome/veterans program
Patriotic music by Theresa Eaman
11:45 a.m.
National Anthem by Theresa Eaman
12:15 p.m.
Aerial aerobatics
Noon
4:30 p.m.
WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Wall of fire
Airshow founders still an integral
I
part of event By Nancy E. Stephen
t started with a few guys sitting around an air hangar musing about military veterans not receiving their deserved recognition. Soon, Bob Russell and Bob Yanacek made those conversations much more than talk. That’s the illustrious beginning of Warriors and Warbirds, the precursor of Warbirds Over Monroe, which took flight in 2005. “We wanted to honor veterans around Veterans Day. We didn’t have any money, but said ‘Well, we can have a WWII hangarstyle dance,” says Bob Russell.
“We were going to cook hotdogs, burgers and invite veterans to enjoy the night. Once airport people and customers started to hear about our ideas, they donated money, which allowed us to hire a live swing band.”
That first year, approximately 350 veterans and family members attended, which “shocked us that we could get that many people out.”
That initial success prompted the Bobs to expand the next year’s event into a fly-in with pilots bringing in vintage warplanes for ground exhibit and to continue the hangar dance. “We had several thousand people show up; it just floored us,” Russell says.
So they set their sights even higher – a bona fide airshow. Their small group of volunteers met with the City of Monroe officials who not only agreed to allow the airport use, but also provided police and fire support. “They recognized the crowd that we could draw into the city,” he says.
The Bobs took classes on how to run a show, counting on the yearly event to grow dramatically. A4 Skyhawk fighter jet And it did, growing more quickly and to a much bigger event than they could imagine.
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14 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
The first airshow, “we had between 25,000 and 30,000 people.”
The event continued to grow annually, and in 2012, the City of Monroe took over the show with Warriors and Warbirds volunteers continuing to be involved. The Bobs are more than volunteers or bystanders at the show. They have their own German Focke Wulf, a post-WWII plane brought over from Germany by container. It took them 14 years
Warriors & Warbirds Inc. was formed to preserve the history of aviation, to serve as an educational tool for the community and to ensure that the memory of those who gave their lives in service to their country shall not perish. and a lot of money to restore it. Warriors and Warbirds, now a nonprofit, owns a WWII jeep, three-quarter ton Vietnam era truck, plus a WWII plane tug that are displayed at each event. The group also has two additional donated planes – a C123 and an A4 Skyhawk fighter jet – but not fully refurbished. ”The only stipulation for the C123 is that we can’t change the name or nose art of a pink hippo.” The plane’s name? Ponderous Polly. Russell explains that it’s considered bad luck to change the name of a boat or plane.
“We’re trying to get a museum started, but we need more room. We want a full hangar with displays all around.” Currently, most displays are housed in the Bobs’ personal hangar, but it’s just not big enough.
Their interest is not just as a museum of physical items; the group also wants to serve as an information repository. “We want to teach people the sacrifices veterans give to us to live in this free country – especially the young people. “We’ve got our problems, but we’re still the best place to live in the world.”
www.warriorsandwarbirds.com
The plane currently sits in New Bern, where volunteers travel to work on it. “We’ve had to rebuild the rudder and more. It’s going to be a bigger job than we thought . . . it’s going to take awhile. “The day we ferry it back to Monroe, we want to have a Vietnam homecoming, which veterans didn’t get when they came back.” The fighter jet, which flew missions in Vietnam, is the same model that former presidential candidate John McCain piloted and was shot down in.
Warriors and Warbirds initially purchased the City’s pride and joy – The Tinker Belle, a C46 Curtis Wright, the largest transport aircraft in WWII. The City later purchased the plane from the nonprofit with Tourism Board funds although Warriors & Warbird volunteers pilot it to other airshows and perform repairs.
The City gets an appearance fee and funds for fuel and oil for each show, as well as hotel rooms for the crew.
Ponderous Polly, a C123
“Our time is free,” Russell stresses. “Nobody in our organization gets a dime.
“It’s a labor of love for all of us.”
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Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 9
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It’s fall – and that means charitable giving time By Martha S. Allen
hen the weather turns cool in autumn, another seasonal change also begins – fundraising appeals. Non-profit organizations often take advantage of end-of-year generosity (and the desire for tax deductions) so don’t be surprised to see appeal letters in your mailbox! Are you already feeling generous? If so, your favorite charities would appreciate receiving a check now. Many start their fiscal year on July 1 when donors’ minds are on their vacation or back to school, not contributions, and cash flow can be strained. We are asked to donate to many worthy causes, and it is very tempting to give a little here and a little there. If that is your desire, go ahead. Each organization appreciates your gift. But few people have unlimited resources or philanthropic funds. Perhaps giving a larger gift to a few causes will make more impact. It’s up to you to consider and to decide. There are more than 1.5 million registered non-profits in the
25% off
U.S., and dozens in Union County alone. With so many deserving organizations to choose from, how do you decide which ones get your dollars?
Ask yourself these questions
What are you trying to accomplish through your gift? Does your family have a favorite cause? Have you had experience with a certain non-profit? Martha S. Allen Are you expressing your desire for change or to right a wrong? Are you asking a non-profit to try to make the world a better place? When you figure out the “what” of your intent, the “who” decision becomes easier. Do your research and ask questions. Directors of non-profit organizations are happy to discuss their mission, successes and needs with potential donors. Guidestar (Guidestar.org) and Charity Navigator (CharityNavigator.org), which rate non-profits, put emphasis on the amount of overhead expense. No one wants to see excessive overhead at a non-profit, but well-run programs must have some
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overhead. Many organizations are blessed with competent volunteers, but still need the stability that paid employees and a physical office provide.
What is your gift?
Cash, stocks, goods, services or scheduled bank draft – there are many ways to make an appreciated gift. Checks are always valued, but having a gift deducted regularly from your bank account may be easier than giving a lump sum.
Don’t forget those appreciated stocks, the ones that you’ve held for a long time. These stocks are excellent gifts to non-profits, which can sell the stock and retain the full amount of proceeds. If you had sold the stock and then given funds, you would have to pay the taxes for long-term gains. This is a win for everyone. Check with your accountant to make sure that your stock qualifies. Crowd-funding is on the rise as a means to fundraise. Do your homework to make sure that the need is legit.
You also can give products or non-cash contributions, such as office supplies, clothes, household goods or items for a nonprofit auction. These items can be as valuable as a cash donation.
Everyone should know how much they want to give each year.
It can be a dollar figure or percentage of income. Making a giving budget makes it easy to determine when and how you will make your gifts.
Charitable giving is your opportunity to SHINE in your community
Self–assess. What do you want to accomplish with your giving?
Be aware of your giving Habits, when and how you like to give.
Are the non-profits staying in Integrity with their mission? Are you fulfilling your philanthropic goals?
What are your Next right steps to giving?
What Energies do you want to put into the non-profit? They will appreciate having your donation of funds, non-cash contributions, or volunteer hours.
Martha S. Allen, CEG, is a life coach with The Vibrant Coach, which uses the SHINE methodology in its work. Martha has been involved with non-profit organizations for many years, serving as staff, volunteer and philanthropist. Free tea with purchase.
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Charitable giving the key to local nonprofit success By Nancy E. Stephen
all can be the most important season for nonprofit organizations.
It’s a time when people are thinking about end-of-year tax-deductible charitable contributions, plus they’re in a benevolent mood. “This is a critical time – absolutely critical,” says Kathy Bragg, executive director of the Union County Community Shelter. For the Shelter, 76 percent of overall yearly donations come in the fall.
The 24-year fundraiser says, “There’s a lot to be said about the season of giving. For many individuals, that’s when they make their large charitable gifts.”
The Shelter is expanding its fall fundraising breakfast into two programs to take advantage of donors’ generosity and to better reach the western side of the county.
The Foundation For The Carolinas also sees an end-of-year increase in contributions although it is not directly soliciting funds. Catherine Warfield, vice president and director of Centers for Giving, says a “big push” in the fourth quarter is typical. “People are making their financial decisions then, it’s just donor habit showing itself.”
Sheila Crunkleton, regional executive director of the American Red Cross, explains that local contributions to the Red Cross often increase after national or international disasters when millions of dollars are raised nationwide. All contributions designated for those disasters are honored, but just the awareness of potential local disasters helps bring in dollars for local needs. The United Way, one of the oldest nonprofits serving Union County, also conducts its fundraising campaign in the fall. Executives from the Foundation, Shelter
and Red Cross all agree that significant funding comes from relationship building.
“People want to give to causes but they have different motivations for doing so. The key to being a successful fundraiser is to understand that the relationship with the donor is a higher priority than the gift amount. You need to understand each other and why you can make good partners,” says Shelter executive Kathy Bragg. Building those relationships involves a lot of time and knowledge, but the return is worth it. “We always want it to be a winwin situation,” Kathy says. “Our job is to inspire transformational gifts, gifts that can advance our mission.
Sheila agrees. “Our goal is to develop longterm relationships with corporations and individuals whose charitable giving desires match our financial needs.” “We often work with donors and their attorneys to develop charitable plans that won’t be implemented for many years,” says Catherine from the Foundation. “We
Supporting Students and Encouraging Educators Union County Education Foundation PO Box 909 Monroe, NC 28111 info@ucedfoundation.org
www.ucedfoundation.org
18 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
Brown, vice president and program officer. “Our purpose is to educate folks and plant the seed, and when the time is right, they can implement their personal philanthropic philosophy.” In her four years at the Shelter, Kathy has seen contributions and gifts rise from $310,000 to a current revenue line of $800,000. She believes the Shelter’s successful fundraising is due to three reasons: t “We’re telling our story more often and it’s a good story. People understand homelessness and hunger.” t “We’re developing Nine-year-old Jackson Phillips collects a change container relationships year round with donors. We’re not a from Sheila Crunkleton of the Red Cross. one-time encounter.” can work with you today to create a t “We’re keeping up with best practices philanthropic legacy that will be in our industry. We’re nimble enough to implemented later.” change our strategies to achieve the outcome the community is willing to “It’s about the right timing for the donor,” support.” adds the Foundation’s Alli Celebron-
Help renovate the historic
Center Theatre
Because American Red Cross financials are kept by region, contributions from Union County are not available. Last year in the Southern Piedmont region, however, which includes Union and the nearby counties of Anson, Stanly, Cabarrus, Rowan and Montgomery, contributions were $694,145. “All donations help,” Sheila says. “Every dollar truly makes a difference.” Approximately one third of regional donations come through the United Way.
“We get a very wide range of support,” she says, from children to families and to six local governments that contribute approximately $15,000 each year. In October, a third-grade student at Marshville Elementary School conducted a change campaign at his school, using water cooler bottles as collection bins. Valued contributions at the Red Cross can be more than dollars. “For us, contributions of time, talent and treasures are as critical as dollars.” More than 2,000 volunteer hours were recorded in the first two months of this fiscal year in Union County. Blood donations, which Sheila calls “liquid gold,” are also valued contributions. More
TO DO LIST
Obtain the structure. Thank you, City of Monroe!
Structural engineering evaluation of building.
Sign a long-term lease
Architectural renderings
Capital fund-raising campaign
Write local and national grants Tax-deductible contributions can be made online or mailed to 1829 Dickerson Blvd., Suite 352, Monroe, NC 28110.
www.TheCenterTheatre.org
Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 19
than 4,500 units were collected last year in the county; 14,182 in the region.
The United Way also cannot give a specific amount of contributions raised in the county, due to many corporate gifts being counted regionally, according to Richard Heins, regional vice president of county operations. Historically, though, Union County has received more funds from the United Way of Central Carolinas than it has contributed.
United Way distributions 1994-2015
Last year, countable county contributions topped $1 million, while distributions exceeded $1.5 million, far more than the $40,000 distributed in 1973.
Union receives more funding that it raises for three reasons, Richard says.
t Distributions are based on needs. About 31,000 people in Union County are touched by United Way agencies a year, illustrating
employer’s corporate campaign there.
Is fundraising becoming more difficult?
The nonprofit executives say no.
a “tremendous need.”
“I can’t say it’s getting harder,” the Shelter executive says. “We haven’t saturated our potential yet.” The Shelter will start a 24month, $3 million capital campaign in January for a bigger facility on land donated by the City of Monroe. “Without individual contributions, it would be very devastating.”
t Approximately 38,000 Union residents work in Mecklenburg County, with many making contributions through their
Today, the utilization of social media technology is a key because everyone can
t Local outcomes from funding is effective. “Our agencies can prove they’re making a difference in lives.”
“The future of charitable giving is bright,” says Richard of the United Way. “Like in every business, you do have to change, to adapt.
Last year, the American Red Cross responded to 70,000 disasters Your Union County chapter helped 65 families after a disaster, primarily house fires. collected 4,577 units of blood. taught 2,446 people lifesaving skills. delivered preparedness info to more than 12,000 people. Whether it’s helping a family recover after a home fire, providing lifesaving training or preparing the next generation to cope during an emergency – you are the one who makes it all possible. Because of your donations, our local chapter and volunteers are able to work around the clock to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Please help us bring food, shelter, comfort and hope to people who need it! You can send a check or visit us at redcross.org to use your credit card.
We simply can’t do it without you. Volunteers deliver the Red Cross mission. Please consider volunteering to help. 20 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
Union County Chapter 608 E. Franklin Street Monroe, NC 28112 704-283-7402 www.redcross.org
look at things instantaneously and make contributions wherever they are, at whatever time.”
Foundation executives agree, citing continued growth in the county’s donoraffiliated funds, where individuals create a fund that distributes contributions according to their wishes. In 2010, the funds collectively totaled $6.1 million; at the end of 2014, the total was $7.3 million.
Charitable giving trends have changed
“People certainly still want to support their community, but how they define their community has changed,” Richard says. “When I started, the business community
was very involved and folks followed the lead of their leadership. Now with so many companies that are decentralized, there’s not a big push to get involved. They’re leaving it up to individuals to decide whether to give, and some people want to be led.” The work-from-home concept has impacted corporate giving, he says.
United Way traditionally has been a personal “ask.” “It’s difficult to touch people not physically in the workplace, they’re working from home. A lot of companies don’t pull their people together to show them a United Way video or distribute and collect pledge cards.” The United Way executive says it’s
incorrect to suggest that immigrants are not contributing to charitable organizations. “If you let them know and explain what you do, they’re very generous.”
Catherine from the Foundation says the idea of millennials not being charitable also is inaccurate. “The change is less about the amount they’re giving, but to whom they’re giving. They’re more interested in supporting causes, instead of institutions.” At all agencies, requests or need for funding far outreach available funds. At the Foundation and United Way, volunteers read requests for funding, struggling to make donated dollars go as far as possible. “The need is outstripping the dollars available,” says Alli of the Foundation. “It’s a tremendous responsibility on our board members who have tough calls to make.” The United Way also fields continuing requests by new agencies, often from individuals new to the nonprofit arena.
“We’re getting more requests from those agencies. People have a passion to make a difference in the community. They need funding, and we’re the first place they come.” Sometimes, however, the new agency is a duplication of an existing and successful nonprofit. Being thought of first is not all bad.
“One of the nice things (about United Way) is that it involves so many different people and organizations, it can be the pulse of the community. When there is an emergent need, there already are so many people at the table. “The United Way’s partners can come together and solve a problem. That’s one of our main roles – to pull people together to address needs.”
Union County Community Shelter www.unionshelter.org (704) 289-5300
United Way of Central Carolinas www.uwcentralcarolinas.org (704) 283-1537 American Red Cross (704) 283-7402 www.redcross.org
Foundation For The Carolinas www.fftc.org
Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 21
‘Y
Heart for Monroe
Fledgling non-profit a local mission of churches By Nancy E. Stephen
ou gotta have heart; all you really need is heart . . .’
‘I can’t say enough. Some groups come and go, but Heart For Monroe has maintained a level of support that we can rely on.’ - Denny Ferguson
Those lyrics from the play “Damn Yankees” were written Principal Denny Ferguson says Heart’s volunteers are “an about a baseball team, but they could have been written integral part of our school community; they’re a part of our about Union County’s newest charitable organization. team. They don’t say ‘this is what we have to offer,’ but rather ‘how do we Just one year old, Heart support you?’ ” for Monroe shows its heart for Monroe and all East is a high-priority of Union County in an school, which ever-expanding approach. indicates extensive It’s grown exponentially needs on multiple from one church youth levels. Approximately group to a collaboration 97 percent of the of 17 churches, six students are eligible partner agencies and two for free and reduced elementary schools. And lunches, and a high boy, do they have heart. number are nonEnglish speaking when “When you think about they enroll. heart, you think about love,” says Angela The principal can’t list Clockwise from left: Gerhard Ungerer Morrow, evangelism all the ways Heart has director at partner church been involved – the volunteers at United Way’s Day of Caring; Elizabeth Missionary support is that Chris Salter, center, helps Shelter volunteers Baptist. “And with Heart expansive. In part, move furniture for Home Again; Jennifer Salter for Monroe we’re putting Heart has: makes a new bed during a Home Again move; our love into action.” t funded bilingual Jason Walle volunteers in the Motheread Founded and directed by library books, program, Ginger Walle with two other Walle Ginger Walle, Heart is the t donated teacher volunteers – daughter Isabella and son Hunter. direct result of a Shiloh appreciation gifts Baptist Church’s mission (typically provided by trip to the Dominican parent-teacher Republic where she, organizations which daughter Isabella and East does not have), other church members t funded food for the provided funds for backpack buddy tuition, books and food. program (which sends Team members had food home with needy raised thousands of students on weekends), dollars for the trip, “but t constructed a the real mission field is in reading garden with picnic tables, and our own backyard,” Ginger says she soon realized. And Heart for Monroe was born. t provided school supplies and classroom library books. Youth pastor Todd Daniels and Ginger met with community As important as the funding, if not more, are the volunteers. leaders to identify the town’s needs. “Because we were one Heart volunteers work twice a week in the Motheread youth group,” she says, “we decided to start small – with program (a collaboration with the Literacy Council and education and homelessness.” Alliance For Children for non-English speaking parents of Union County Community Shelter and East Elementary preschoolers), for the school’s field day and as chaperones officials would call their first efforts anything but small. for an overnight field trip to Williamsburg.
22 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
“It’s amazing to me what they’ve done,” the principal says. “They’re just good people who have a heart for our community. Volunteers are like rock stars in our building. They’ve done a lot for the culture of our school.”
‘Someone from Heart for Monroe is with me on almost every move out.’ - Colette Bromfield
Just as Heart For Monroe was starting, Union County Community Shelter volunteer Colette Bromfield was starting a rehousing program to assist moving from the Shelter into private housing. “But we really needed beds,” Colette says. Very quickly Heart For Monroe jumped in, committing to providing new beds for the Shelter’s Home Again program. To date, Heart has provided 110 beds, as well as other household furniture, manpower and trucks to facilitate the moves, which occur at least once a week. Early on, Ginger knew that for Heart For Monroe to be fully successful, “one critical component mission was getting other churches involved.” In June, her group was invited with other churches to Central United Methodist Church,
which had conducted a similar needs assessment. “All the churches said, ‘What if we work together under Heart for Monroe?’ “At that first meeting, seven churches said, ‘We want to get boots on the ground starting right now. What can we do?’ “Everyone turned in list of local projects. We looked at the key areas that we need to be focused on.” The list of needs were edited into four critical areas: hunger, homelessness, education and relationships. The initiative quickly gained momentum, culminating in the current collaboration of 17 churches, representing multiple denominations and scattered across the county. “By all of the churches working together,” Ginger explains, “we’re going to be more organized as a group and can make a bigger impact. We all have different gifts, different areas where we can participate. “It’s fascinating to be in the middle of that. It’s excitement and passion for what needs to be done in this city.” www.heartformonroe.com For a list of Heart for Monroe collaborators, visit www.unionlifestyle.com.
Love doesn’t have to hurt. Turning Point exists to end domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse.
2014-2015 Statistics
Domestic Violence
439 victims served 93% now living violence free
Sexual Assault
As Union County’s only victim services agency, we operate Turning Point’s Domestic Violence Shelter, Sexual Assault Resource Center and Tree House Children’s Advocacy Center.
73 victims served 58 crisis calls
Tree House Children’s Advocacy Center
150 child abuse victims served
We assist clients in living an independent and abuse free life through counseling, victim advocacy, case management, support groups, and a variety of services tailored to meet the needs of each client. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to our mission.
Domestic Violence Crisis Line 704-283-7233
Checks can be mailed to Turning Point PO Box 952 Monroe, NC 28111
Sexual Assault Crisis Line 704-283-7770
Online donations can be made at www.TurningPointNC.org
Shop our Second Chance upscale thrift stores to support our mission.
Boutique, 2447 Old Charlotte Hwy, Monroe Home Decor, 2409 Old Charlotte Hwy, Monroe Boutique, 1201-B N. Broome St., Waxhaw
www.TurningPointNC.org
Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 23
Mecklenburg lost a winner w
M
ecklenburg County lost a great family restaurant when Mario’s Italian Restaurant and John’s Place scooted across the county line into Stallings.
Shrimp Broccolini
The restaurant and connected bar feature an extensive menu of traditionally-known items PLUS a variety of more atypical dishes. You’ll want to try them all.
We’ll say upfront that owners John & Martha Fisichello are longtime friends and that we’ve enjoyed their restaurant for many years. But we would call them out for a perceived flaw just as quickly as any other restaurant owners.
Eating Out in Union
We have a list of “have to tries,” dishes that we would return to enjoy repeatedly – and have.
Filet mignon Milanese ($30) with sauteed mushrooms is so tender that the stereotypical statement “you could cut it with a butter knife” almost is fact. Delicious, amazingly tender, flavorful with mushrooms that do melt in your mouth. Chicken cacciatore ($10/$14) is a very generous portion, really enough for two hungry people or tomorrow’s dinner. Made with plenty of fresh onions and peppers in a rich tomato sauce, it was served with a large portion pasta on the side. With grilled, not breaded, chicken, it’s a good low-carb.
Chicken scaloppini ($10/$10) features tender chicken in lemon butter sauce served with mushrooms and spaghetti. Our diner expected a stronger lemon flavor in the dish, but enjoyed the meal.
Filet Mignon Milanese
You can actually taste the lobster filling in lobster ravioli ($12/$16) – and that’s atypical. The ravioli were served in a delicate tomato and vodka cream sauce.
Shrimp broccolini ($13/$17) is a delicious sauté of peppers, tomatoes and shrimp in a light butter sauce served over linguini. Mario’s has many house specialities, including chicken, veal and shrimp served in marsala, scaloppini, piccata, parmesan and francese styles. Traditional pastas are available plus specialty versions, including spinach stuffed shells, pasta margherita and
Appetizers
Here’s the skinny
Ambiance: Many different seating areas – family-oriented,
cozy bar with complete menu, outdoor and semi-enclosed patios.
Menu: Large menu with many atypical Italian dishes, as well
as traditional pizza and pasta. Homemade desserts and garlic bowties are specialities. Full bar with 24 wines by the glass and bottle, plus 15 beers. Specials daily, plus Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Quality: Very good. There’s no doubt of fresh ingredients and spices; meats are cooked to order, and seafood is tender, not rubbery. Everything is made to order.
Service: The server was attentive but not overbearing and dishes were presented in a timely fashion. Drive-up window for pickups.
24 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
Value: Great value. Dine in or take out. Entire menu for
delivery. We like that most entrees are available in smaller portions.
Will we return? Absolutely!
Mario’s Restaurant and John’s Place 2945 Matthews Weddington Rd. Matthews, NC (actually in Stallings city limit) (704) 847-4884 Phone; (704) 841-1134 Fax www.eatmariospizza.com
Mario’s Italian Restaurant Mon-Thur 11 a.m. -10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m. -11 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m. 10 p.m. John’s Place Mon-Thur 11 a.m. -11 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m. -12 p.m.; Sun Noon11 p.m.
when Mario’s moved to Union portions.
Chicken Cacciatore
lobster ravioli. You can add chicken or shrimp to any pasta.
With multiple extreme-temperature brick ovens, Mario’s takes pizza crusts to a new level. Thin and crisp with a slightly blistered crust, the 10-inch specialty pizzas are truly a delight for a single diner.
German Chocolate Cake
Prices range from $12 to $15.
Try their diverse varieties, such as the gorgonzola grape with fresh rosemary, white clam with alfredo sauce, breakfast anytime (marinara, prosciutto, mozzarella topped with a sunny side up egg) chicken spinach feta or shrimp with pistachio pesto, red peppers and broccolini and more.
You could make a meal with an appetizer and salad, but you’ll at least want to add a dessert. Cheesecake, German chocolate or carrot walnut cake ($6), cannoli ($4), tiramisu ($5) and crème brulee ($8) are all homemade and delicious. We shared and still took some home.
The crème brulee was especially outstanding. “Light and delicious” said one diner; “creamy and perfect caramelized top” said another.
A special touch was a fruit sauce of strawberries and raspberries in a Grand Marnier reduction.
Finally! A perfect classic martini – gin, vermouth, served with no ice and two olives. Bartenders in Union County seem to have a difficult time with this drink, but this one was perfect on the first try. The new location offers diners multiple seating areas, including one outdoor patio and one semi-enclosed, which features retractable doors for the summer breeze and a fireplace for fall evenings.
Of course, traditional pizzas also are available. New York style comes by the slice, in 14- and 16-inch rounds and as a square Sicilian or 10-inch gluten-free version.
Go ahead, indulge in bread with your meal. Homemade garlic bowties are made daily and they’re also toasted for salad croutons. Try the signature chicken rolls with onions, tomato sauce and mozzarella or Italian sausage rolls with onions and green peppers. Go for Stromboli by the slice ($8) or whole ($25).
We indulged in appetizers, salad, rolls, entrees and desserts, which is more than a bit much unless you share. Three appetizers and three desserts were gracious plenty for five diners.
For appetizers, we enjoyed mussels fra diavolo ($11), moderately spicy and ready for garlic knot dipping; arancini ($8), which are stuffed rice balls coated with breadcrumbs and fried, plus Greek style chicken wings, plump and flavored in pleasantly intense Greek seasonings, served with crumbled feta cheese.
Wings come in mild, hot, sweet red chili, Greek, BBQ, teriyaki or teriyaki garlic sauce styles and sized in 10, 20, 30 and 50 piece
James Michael & Co. Make every day sparkle!
Stafford Place Executive Offices 1201 Stafford St, Suite A-2 Monroe, NC 28110 704.296.5531
Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 25
22
7-8: Warbirds Over Monroe
Presented by City of Monroe $15 adults, $5 veterans, $10 for 12-18 Open at 9 a.m. Sat 6 p.m. Hangar Dance Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport www.warbirdsovermonroe.com
things to do in Sweet Union
November
7:
14-15: Bob’s Your Elf
The Storefront Theatre production An elf with an attitude stands out. $15; Sat. at 7:30 p.m.; Sun. at 2:30 p.m. Waxhaw Presbyterian Church 8100 Old Waxhaw Monroe Road www.thestorefronttheatre.org
11-15:
6-7: H.M.S Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan
7:30 p.m., $15 Union Symphony Orchestra Dr. Jessie Wright Martin, music director Dr. Kenney Potter, conductor Batte Center at Wingate University www.unionsymphony.org
Hosted by American Idol Bucky Covington. Union County Ag Convention Center Tickets at (704) 282-1164
Steel Magnolias Union County Playmakers Wed-Sat 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. Central Academy of Technology and Arts info@unioncountyplaymakers.org (704) 238-3394
13-14:
20: Chris Thile
Holiday Stroll & Shop Shop, dine and enjoy drinks at 25 locallyowned businesses in Downtown Monroe. Treasure hunt with chances to win giveaways.
14: Chili Cook-off
Pottery Sale and Exhibit Community Center, Village of Lake Park 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Details to be posted at www.lakeparknc.gov Ceramics and pottery crafted by area artists. Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, Navajo Lane. Nov. 14 (704) 821-2541 2015 AMG Heritage Awards www.indiantrail.org
14:
Grammy-award winning mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist. 8 p.m., $42 Batte Center at Wingate University www.battecenter.org
20-21:
Symphony Home Tour Self-guided tour of seven area holidaydecorated homes Benefits Union Symphony 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., $25 in advance, $30 day of Tickets at (704) 283-2525 or www.unionsymphony.org
The Batte Center Presents US Army Jazz Ambassadors
Chris Thile
US ARMY JAZZ AMBASSADORS
Romeo & Juliet
Cantus
CHRIS THILE
Nov 20, 2015 ■ 8 PM ■ $42 Nov 17, 2015 ■ 8 PM ■ Multiple Grammy Award-winner Austin Auditorium ■ and MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek) is Tickets Are Free The Jazz Ambassadors (America’s a mandolin virtuoso, composer, and vocalist with a broad outlook Big Band) is the official touring that encompasses classical, jazz, big band of the United States Army. This 19-member ensemble, rock, and bluegrass. On this new program, Thile will perform Bach formed in 1969, has received great acclaim both at home and solo violin works on the mandolin, as well as his own composiabroad performing America’s tions and contemporary music. original art form, jazz.
www.battecenter.org 704.233.8300
26 Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016
Aquila Theatre presents CANTUS: THE
ROMEO & JULIET FOUR LOVES
Jan 24, 2016 ■ 3 PM ■ $25 Set against a backdrop of warring households, Romeo and Juliet are the very archetype of tragic young lovers. It’s a story of romance, murder and tragedy, as famous as any that has graced the stage.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Jan 29, 2016 ■ 8 PM ■ $25 Cantus is a nine-member men’s vocal ensemble known worldwide for its engaging performances. The Four Loves program includes works by Poulenc, Whitacre, Grieg, Beethoven, McFerrin and Barnwell as it explores this unquantifiable emotion from all sides.
21: Fall Concert
Union Symphony Youth Orchestra 7 p.m., $6, $18 Marvin Ridge High School www.unionsymphony.org
22: Union County Christmas Parade
Downtown Monroe; begins 2 p.m. (704) 226-1407 Presented by Alliance For Children www.theallianceforchildren.org
December
4: Holiday Festival of Lights
Free. More than 100,000 lights illuminate downtown. Musical performances, children’s activities, Victorian singers and Santa. www.waxhaw.com
5:
Indian Trail Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Details to be posted on www.indiantrail.org.
4:
Senior Citizens Christmas Party Waxhaw celebrates its senior citizens with a town-sponsored Christmas Party. www.waxhaw.com
4: Stallings Christmas Tree Lighting &
Parade of Trees 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Birth to 4 have special meeting with Santa 6:30 p.m. - Tree lighting, caroling, cocoa and sweets, live music and Santa. www.stallingsnc.org
5: GingerSnap 5K & Girls on the Run
1,500 runners take to the streets of Waxhaw. www.waxhaw.com
5: Monroe Tree Lighting
6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Downtown Monroe Live entertainment at 6 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:50 pm Pictures with Santa, Rudolph & Frosty, food vendors, trolley rides, carolers, petting zoo Downtown business open houses
Union Symphony Brass & Percussion With CUMC Festival Choir James O’Dell, music director Central United Methodist Church, Monroe www.unionsymphony.org
13:
Waxhaw Christmas Parade Features local school marching bands, entries and floats by hundreds of businesses and members of the community. After the parade, have a snack with Santa. www.waxhaw.com
13-19:
Santa’s Ride through the Neighborhoods. www.waxhaw.com for details.
6: Lake Park Christmas Celebration
Town Center Gazebo Park Details to be listed at www.lakeparknc.gov
6: Winter Songs
Got an event for the public? Submit your activity with all the
details - who, what, when, where and cost per person - to
Editor@UnionLifestyle.com.
Symphony of Holiday Homes 5 p.m., Free
A tour of seven homes gaily decorated for the holidays. Sponsored by The Symphony League to benefit
Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
$25 in advance at (704) 283-2525 or UnionSymphony.org.
$30 on tour day at Swan Manor only (Checks and cash only) Tickets also available at these merchants. In Monroe August Lilly Florist Curves James Michael Jewelers M-Bellish
Shops at Nottingham Trinkets & Treasurers Pageland Pageland Antiques
Swan Manor, Ridge Rd Parmer Home, 4724 Campobella Dr. Grue Home, 3400 Peninsula Ct. Nelms Home, 1101 Village Lake Dr. Dugick Home, 301 E. Houston St. Bookholt Home, 826 Bridgewater Dr. Crooke Estate, 603 Plantation Dr.
Union Lifestyle l November 2015 - January 2016 27
James Michael & Co. Make every day sparkle! Stafford Place Executive Offices 1201 Stafford St, Suite A-2 Monroe, NC 28110
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Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 704.296.5531