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Contents |
Inside | February bruary 2009 Currency Monthly financial feature
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It’s time to get tax information together
16
Rip Currents Local residents and companies making waves in our area
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More than a good driver
22
NHRA’s Doug Herbert shares ares life lessons for the road
19 Meeting of history and high-tech Data company creates home in Mooresville’s old Knox Building
22 Bringing the party to you Lake Norman’s brew chef changes his own menu
The Grapevine
26 A toast to love Couple’s vineyard, winery rooted in Old World tradition
30 When deep purple falls,
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it might be Chambourcin
32 On Course Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Golf across the state Verdict Ridge supplies variety of terrain
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Excuses will not get you back into your skinny jeans. Personal training at our private studio will. At Fitness Together, it’s just you, your personal trainer and results. Start today.
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Mooresville 229 Medical Park Road, Suite 100 704.658.1522
www.fitnesstogethercharlotte.com LNC 0209 1.indd 7
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Contents |
Temptations
36
Chocolates from the heart Quality candies are made from scratch
36
The Galley
40 Easy evening Dining, entertainment combine at Midtown
42
Let’s Go
42 Asheville album A getaway to remember
40
Home Port
48 Backyard habitats beckon birds, animals It’s time to create your wildlife-friendly landscape
52 Your decorating passport Designers gain access to furniture makers
55 Make it yours
56 55
Furniture manufacturers embrace custom work
56 A walk in the forest The Woodlands at Davidson incorporates luxury living with flora and fauna
Currently
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Spotlight on regional events
60
Top picks of things to do in the lake area
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At The Helm |
The magazine by and for the people who call Lake Norman home
Sharon Simpson
Romantic revelations A loving look at the lake area
L
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009 LNC 0209 1.indd 10
et’s have a heart-to-heart talk here. After all, it’s February, the official month of love and romance, and this issue is full of ideas for those who’ve been stung by cupid’s arrow. What better way to truly romance the one you love – or desire – than with gourmet chocolates, made right here in the lake area at Davidson Chocolate Co. Temptations tester Trent Pitts shares his finds there with us on page 37. You can taste for yourself and put together your own gift package for someone special, perhaps in a chocolate heart box. Want to add something more to that gift? How about a North Carolina wine? We have a blockbuster pairing this month, with a look at Chambourcin, a deep purple wine with a subtle taste. Grapevine writer Trevor Burton tells us all about this superb wine in his column, while free-lance writer Eloise D. Morano takes us on a tour of the Daveste’ Vineyards in Troutman, one of the wineries in North Carolina that turns out Chambourcin. There’s even an entree recipe to help you launch a romantic evening. For a romantic getaway, spend a weekend in Asheville, tasting the unparalleled food offerings, shopping in the eclectic and upscale shops and visiting the Biltmore Estate. Start planning your trip on page 42. Closer to home, how about loving what is around us more? We continually hear about the benefits of living more naturally and more closely attuned to nature and the Earth, of walking lightly on the planet. Stroll with us through a residential development designed to do just that: The Woodlands at Davidson, a Certified Wildlife Habitat where creatures are respected residents, too. Then
learn how to create your own backyard habitat for birds and animals from Julie Higgie, a certified habitat steward with the National Wildlife Federation and a naturalist/educator with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, in our story that begins on page 48. The Woodlands has its own trail network, but you can take a leisurely, romantic walk with someone throughout the lake area, from window shopping at Birkdale Village to following the paths at Lake Norman State Park or one of the other parks. Or bike or run. It’s good for your heart and soul. There’s plenty more to see and do this month, including dining on the waterfront and playing a round of golf. Check out Currently, our community calendar, for activities happening in the lake area throughout February. And be sure to check out our webpage, www.LNCurrents.com, for photos from local events. You might see yourself or someone you know there.
Letters to the Editor Here’s your chance to be seen and heard. Have a comment concerning something you read in CURRENTS? Want to pass on a moneysaving tip, complain about Lake Norman traffic, thank someone special or just tell us why you love living here? Whatever is on your mind, tell us about it. And include a portrait-type photo of yourself, if you’d like. You can send letters to PO Box 1676, Cornelius, NC 28031 or email to Editor@LNCurrents.com. Let’s give Lake Norman something to talk about!
Lake Norman CURRENTS is a monthly publication available through direct-mail home delivery to the most affluent Lake Norman residents. It also is available at area Harris Teeter and Lowes supermarkets, as well as various Chambers of Commerce, real estate offices and specialty businesses. Subscriptions are available for $29 per year. Send us your name, address, phone number and a check made payable to Lake Norman CURRENTS at the address below and we’ll start your subscription with the next available issue. Sharon Simpson Publisher Sharon@LNCurrents.com
Carol-Faye Ashcraft Editor Carol@LNCurrents.com
Cindy Dorman Advertising Sales Executive CindyD@LNCurrents.com
Cindy Gleason Advertising Sales Executive Cindy@LNCurrents.com
Jennifer Hansell Advertising Sales Executive Jennifer@LNCurrents.com
Kim Morton Advertising Sales Executive Kim@LNCurrents.com SPARK Publications Publication Design & Production info@SPARKpublications.com www.SPARKpublications.com Ad Production - Sumcad Design Mission Statement Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine will embody the character, the voice and the spirit of its readers, its leaders and its advertisers. It will connect the people of Lake Norman through inspiring, entertaining and informative content, photography and design; all of which capture the elements of a well-lived life on and around the community known as Lake Norman. Lake Norman CURRENTS P.O. Box 1676, Cornelius, NC 28031 704-749-8788 • www.LNCurrents.com The entire contents of this publication are protected under copyright. Unauthorized use of any editorial or advertising content in any form is strictly prohibited. Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine is wholly owned by Venture Magazines, LLC.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
VOL. 2 NUMBER
JANUARY 2009
your
R IE EM PR
Currents
1/16/09 3:31 PM
Undercurrents | by Jeremy Jarrell | photos by Trent Pitt
Matt Black
J
Sing and laugh along
Veteran dueling piano players Matt Black and Keith Montrose have been entertaining audiences at Jokers for more than two years. And just like the timing needed to perform the array of popular songs they have prepared and the wide variety of audience requests, the jokes come with perfect timing, too. Enjoying a great time at Jokers requires only a willingness to participate and the strength to keep laughing until it hurts. Black says, “The focus is not supposed to be us, but the crowd – getting them involved and getting them to have fun. It’s really unique.” Country standards, blues favorites, rock ’n’ roll classics and modern hits are part of the duo’s repertoire, with more added every week to keep everyone involved and singing along. The sounds of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” may suddenly change into Sir-Mix-A-Lots dance fa-
vorite “Baby Got Back” in a seamless transition. “The challenge is to do things that people wouldn’t expect to hear on piano. You try to be as close to the original and do it justice, but on the piano and with some laughs thrown in for good measure,” Black says. “Not everyone likes all of the songs, not everyone likes to dance, but everybody likes to laugh.” And while it may seem a marathon six-hour show performed five days a week could easily become stale, Black and Montrose easily adapt to the vibe of any crowd on any night, allowing the show to stay fresh. “The nice thing about doing these shows is performing it for people who have never seen it,” Black says. “I think the best way to do comedy is to react to the things that happen in the audience during the show, and then it doesn’t get old.” As a professional dueling piano player for 13 years who has worked all across the country, Black says finding the vibe at each venue is
The audience is quick to dance and join in the fun.
okers Dueling Piano Bar, located in Mooresville’s Queen’s Landing, offers the experience of seeing and hearing talented musicians simultaneously tickling both the piano ivories and the funny bone.
Audience is part of show at Jokers
Keith Montross
different. The Lake Norman audience is exceptionally open to joining in the fun, laughing at the players and even at themselves. “It’s a nice mix. You are supposed to come and get wild and crazy and let your hair down a little bit and relieve some stress,” he says. “Our crowds are open to it.” Jokers Dueling Piano Bar offers a full menu and bar with drink specials throughout the week. Jokers is open to everyone over age 21, and over age 18 after signing a waiver with a $5 cover charge. The doors open at 7 p.m., with shows beginning at 8 p.m. and continuing nonstop until 2 a.m. For more information, visit www.jokerspianobar.com. LNC
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Jeremy Jarrell has worked as a writer, copywriter, editor and occasional photographer for several years for newspapers, magazines and advertising agencies. An alumnus of Marshall University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, he lives in Huntersville.
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Currency | by the staff of Ladd, McCall & Associates, PA, Cornelius Office
Get it together It’s time to round up tax information This is the third installment of a series of tax tips and information that we will be presenting each month through April 2009.
H
ere are some actions for February that will help smooth the processs of filing your tax returns this year.
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Start compiling some of the information that you will need to file your 2008 taxes. Give this information to your tax preparer as soon as possible so there will not be a delay in filing your return. Materials may include: • A copy of your 2007 return • W-2, 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income), 1099-INT (interest), 1099-DIV (dividends), 1099-R (distributions from pensions, annuities, IRAs, etc.), 1099-B (proceeds from broker and barter exchange transactions) and Form 1098 (mortgage interest) • Unemployment compensation received • Alimony paid or received • Amount of real estate taxes and personal property taxes paid in 2008 • Dependent care expenses (address of person or facility, amount paid) • Charitable contributions, cash and non-cash (name and address of facility, description of items donated, amount originally paid for the items)
• Unreimbursed medical/dental expenses paid (You may deduct only the amount by which your total expenses for the year exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.) • A certain portion of premiums paid for qualified long-term care insurance can be included as medical expenses. Speak to your tax preparer to confirm the amount you can include. The amount allowed depends on the age of the taxpayer • Closing statement if you purchased or sold property • Expenses and income related to investment property • If you were self-employed or an independent contractor, business income, expenses and mileage log. For all business miles driven from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008, the mileage rate is 58.5 cents per mile. The rate is 50.5 cents per mile for the first six months of 2008. • Be sure to inform your tax preparer if you had a change in marital status
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There is an additional standard deduction for those who do not itemize their deductions but pay real estate taxes. The additional deduction amount is equal to the amount of real estate taxes paid up to $500 for single filers or up to $1,000 for joint filers. This deduction is available for the 2008 and 2009 tax years and
increases your standard deduction. If you were not eligible in 2007 for the economic stimulus rebate or received less than the maximum amount because of your income and other factors, you may qualify for a recovery rebate credit in 2008. You would not receive a separately issued check but would, instead, claim the rebate credit on your 2008 return, which would affect your refund or the amount you owe. Check the IRS website at IRS. gov for further information and a worksheet to help you figure out the amount of the credit, if applicable, for your situation. In our December article, we discussed making eligible energy saving improvements to your home to qualify for a tax credit. These have since been extended to 2009. To expand on this topic somewhat, we would like to add the following that pertains to non-business property tax credits for these improvements. Individuals are allowed a lifetime credit of up to $500. Only $200 may be for qualifying windows and/or skylights. A 10 percent credit is given for energy-ef-
ficient improvements, such as certain metal or asphalt roofs, insulation or exterior windows. A credit of $50 is given for each advanced main air circulating fan, $150 for each qualified natural gas, oil or propane furnace or hot water boiler and $300 for central air-conditioning, electric heat pump water heaters, electric heat pumps, natural gas, propane or oil water heater, etc. As a reminder, the products that qualify are very specific. If you are buying a product to qualify for this credit, be sure to first verify that the product meets the specifications for this credit. Consult your certified public accountant for further information and to have a plan designed for your particular needs. LNC
Currency |
or had a child in 2008. If you make contributions to an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan by April 15, 2009, you may be eligible for a Saver’s Credit of up to $1,000 ($2,000 if married, filing jointly). The amount of the credit is determined by the amount of your contributions, filing status and your adjusted gross income. The Saver’s Credit applies to the following income levels for 2008: • Single or married filing separately with incomes up to $26,500 • Married filing jointly with incomes up to $53,000 • Head of household with incomes up to $39,750
Disclaimer: Information contained was accurate as of the date of publication. Because of frequent tax law changes, information may no longer be accurate. For the latest tax information, contact a certified public accountant.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
704-664-9111
1/16/09 3:31 PM
Rip Currents | by Mike Savicki
More than a good driver
NHRA’s Doug Herbert shares life lessons for the road
Herbert enjoys Christmas 2007 with Jon, James and daughter Jessie.
D
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
oug Herbert makes his living by driving fast. Really fast. In his 17 years behind the wheel of an 8,000 horsepower dragster, he estimates he has gone more than 300 miles an hour a thousand times. But in the past year, after a tragedy took the life of his two sons, Herbert’s life has taken a new meaning. Even as he continues his pursuit of top speed, he is teaching others how important it is to slow down. Safe driving, in his opinion, is the key to staying alive. In late January 2008, while training near Phoenix, Ariz., Herbert received the telephone call that every parent fears. He learned that his
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Herbert says another important component of B.R.A.K.E.S. is the Safe Driving Contract. “The contract is almost like a get out of jail free card,” he says. “If your teen calls you, even at 2 in the morning, you promise that you’ll get up and bring them home with no questions asked and no consequences. It may be hard thing for a parent to do, but you don’t want to get the phone call that I got.” Now Herbert hopes B.R.A.K.E.S. will grow
Rip Currents |
Research shared by B.R.A.K.E.S. indicates that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, especially for those between 16 and 19 years old. Nearly half of the 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes were carrying at least one passenger under 21 and no adult passengers. Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. Defensive Driving Program is one way the organization is making a difference. In a four-hour course that is run at Herbert’s dragster bears the photos of his sons.
two sons, Jon, 17, and James, 12, had been killed in a car accident near their home in Cornelius. Excessive speed was a factor in the crash. “I came home as fast as I could and made it my mission to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again,” Herbert says. “Learning what happened was devastating.” His response was swift, and it began with a visit to his elder son’s class. “On that Monday after I came back, I talked to the kids at SouthLake (Christian Academy) and told them we had a serious problem and needed to do something as fast as we could. We talked about the consequences of driving fast and came up with a list of things we could do to keep people safe,” he says. “The kids helped me deal with the tragedy by making something good of it.”
speedways and drag strips across the country, Herbert and his staff of instructors work with both parents and teens on the many aspects of safe driving. Herbert shares, “I know that parents need to take a pretty active role in their kids’ driving, especially when they first start, because it is those first few years that are the most important. We are trying to pack five years of experience into a four-hour class. Initially the parents have to drag their kids out to the school but, by the end, it is the kids who want to stay. We hope they will spread the word about their experience.” Parents and teens together The Defensive Driving Program begins with classroom instruction that introduces braking, vehicle operation and mechanics. It is followed by a three-part driving exercise in which both the parents and the teens navigate a vehicle through an accident-avoidance simulator, skid pad and autocross. And it ends with a 30-minute wrap-up session in which each student is presented with a diploma and given a bag of information to take home and review. The bag includes an interactive computer driving program called “Teen Smart” that helps kids qualify for insurance discounts in certain states.
nationally. And, in addition to spearheading the organization, returning to the National Hot Rod Association starting line and operating the Doug Herbert Performance Center, he has set his sights on breaking the land speed record in a custom-designed vehicle he is building with a team of engineers. At age 41, Herbert is beginning a new chapter of his life. He concludes, “I have an understanding in my life that I hope not too many other parents ever have. I know how it feels to go really fast, and I know how important it is to slow down. The danger as I see it is not the speeds I reach on the track; the danger is backing out of your driveway and turning onto the open road. It is my job to share that with others. Life is just too precious.” LNC WANT TO KNOW MORE? To learn more about B.R.A.K.E.S. and how you can get involved, visit www.putonthebrakes.com or www.myspace.com/ brakeswithdougherbert. Free-lance writer Mike Savicki has lived and worked in the Lake Norman area for 15 years, frequently covering the racing scene.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
From their friends A week later, Herbert returned to the school and learned that the students developed an idea for a nonprofit organization that he would lead. “The kids came up with the name and they even had the idea for a logo, too,” Herbert says. “I could have spent a million bucks at an advertising agency to get the same thing, but this means so much more because it came from the kids who knew Jon and James.” B.R.A.K.E.S. is an acronym for Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe. As Herbert began to educate himself on the tragedy, he learned that he was not alone. Teen driving statistics are alarming. “Six thousand kids die every year behind the wheel, and a good percentage is because the kids don’t know what they are getting in to when they get in a car,” he says.
Students attend a B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving School in Charlotte.
1/16/09 3:32 PM
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Rip Currents |
The original bead board ceiling is being replicated throughout much of the second floor.
by Sam Boykin
Meeting of history and high-tech
Data company creates home in Mooresville’s old Knox Building
T
he evolution of Mooresville’s historic downtown continues with the advent of a high-tech company that’s setting up shop on Main Street.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Mark Beck, founder of the data-mining company Bridgetree, bought the Knox Building in 2006 and plans to open the newly renovated space this summer. The three-story structure, formerly the home of Joe Knox Properties and, before that, Port City Transfer and Storage Co., was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bridgetree provides information and analytics to marketing companies and other businesses. It employs about 120 people and has offices in China and India. The 9,000-squarefoot Mooresville location will be the company’s U.S. headquarters and meeting center, providing its employees wireless capabilities and other services. In addition, Beck may rent the building’s 900-square-foot storefront if he can find the right retailer. Beck says Bridgetree, which he started in 1995, had outgrown its current location, a 6,000-square-foot building at The Cotton Mill in Davidson. Maria Jacobs of Lake Norman Realty put Beck in touch with the family of the
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photo by Cindy Jacobs, courtesy of the Mooresville Historical Society Inc.
Rip Currents | The building formerly housed Port City Transfer and Storage Co.
The third floor windows were replaced with the original rope pulley system.
Formerly used as storage space, the third floor has weathered, exposed brick walls and bead board ceilings.
“Restoring a historical property takes a special kind of owner. We appreciate the efforts because the historic fabric of our downtown is the crown jewel of our community, in many respects.” -- Tim Brown late Joe Knox, Mooresville’s longtime mayor who had operated his Mooresville real estate business out of the Main Street location for more 20 years. “Mooresville is good location for us,” Beck says. “It’s an easy drive up I-77 from the airport, and convenient for people coming in from places like Greensboro and Winston-Salem.” Bridgetree employee Peggy Rees, who is managing the project, explains that while they’re renovating and updating the space, they’re also maintaining its historic integrity and charm. “We’re trying to keep it in character with the rest of downtown Mooresville,” Rees says.
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Building on what’s there Working with Kanoy Construction of Thomasville, Rees and Beck have created more than a half-dozen meeting spaces within the three-story building, all of which are accessible via two staircases. There will be an entrance along the side of the building next to Leadership Park, a brick courtyard with a few benches, and another facing Main Street. While still a work in progress, some areas of the building are starting to take shape. Formerly used as storage space, the third floor, which has weathered, exposed brick walls and bead board ceilings, has undergone the most substantial renovations. “They were very frugal when they originally built the third floor,” Rees says. “A lot of the nails we found were partially bent. You could
tell they pulled nails out of one spot and used them in another. And the bead board started off one size in the front of the building, and the width changed the farther back it went. They weren’t going to waste any lumber.” True to the time Rees says they were able to save about 80 percent of the original bead board ceiling, and are replicating it throughout much of the second and first floors. They also coffered the ceiling along the front of the third floor to hide a lengthy steel beam they installed to provide additional support. Moreover, the coffered ceiling helps better showcase the new arch windows, which look out onto Main Street. “We replaced all the third floor windows with the original rope pulley system,” Rees says. “Most people who do historic preservations use materials that look the same, but ours is truly the same. It’s exactly like what was in there.” They also were able to salvage the building’s original pine floors and are using similar floorboards wherever the floors needs patching. “It’ll be a good match once everything is refinished and stained,” Rees says. And Beck, using some of his contacts back in his hometown in Michigan, found period glassware, including a chandelier, decorative stained glass and globe-shaped schoolhouse lighting fixtures, a style popular in the early 1900s. “It’s going to be hard for people to tell what’s
old new and what’s old,” Rees says. New with the old Tim Brown, Mooresville’s director of planning, says he applauds restoration efforts by companies such as Bridgetree. “It’s easier to build something brand new,” Brown says. “Restoring a historical property takes a special kind of owner. We appreciate the efforts because the historic fabric of our downtown is the crown jewel of our community, in many respects.” Bridgetree joins a handful of other companies along Main Street that are helping transform downtown, a quaint and picturesque area with pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lined with small boutiques and mom-and-pop operations. In recent years a smattering of new retailers have opened, including an art gallery, a home décor boutique, a wine shop and even a tattoo parlor. These sit alongside such unique gems as Whit-Miller Shoe Store and Repair, which has been in business more than 80 years, and D.E. Turner Hardware Store, which opened in 1899. “Downtown Mooresville is very charming and has a lot of potential,” Beck says. “We’re excited about being a part of it, and bringing a high-tech company to a historic district.” LNC Free-lance writer Sam Boykin is renovating his own 107- year-old house in Mooresville.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Rip Currents |
story and photos by Eloise D. Morano
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Bringing
the party Lake Norman’s brew chef changes his own menu
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the Denver Area Business Association, which had hired him to provide a buffet and carving station for about 50 members. Featured was a pretzel-and-mustard-crusted pork loin, with a rich gravy of dark cherry ale and dried cherries. The venue was Denver United Methodist Church, but Schafer says his background gives him all the tools he needs to cook anywhere.
C
hef Tim Schafer radiates energy as he talks about his new direction. One that takes him back to his beginnings. The Lake Norman-area chef, known as a world authority on cooking with beer, has closed his gourmet restaurant in Sherrills Ford and morphed into a fulltime caterer.
From the beginning Schafer says his rough beginnings in an orphanage in Morristown, N.J., offered him a clear Denver area business people check out Tim Schafer’s buffet spread, choice of good or bad. “I bounced around foster homes. It was tough. But great things can come out of such a bad beginning,” he says. “I decided I needed a job, and got one in the meat room at a supermarket. I was the clean-up kid, making $2 an hour. But they were the first people to show faith in me. “Then a buddy of mine and I decided to go to a vo-tech for catering and to meet girls – which 23
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
“Sometimes you can’t open the next door until you decide the other one has closed,” he says of his decision. “There’s such a niche to be filled with catering. I’ll eventually set up a commercial kitchen. I’m ready.” Schaefer, who lives in Denver and has been featured on Food Network TV more times than he can count, wants to be a private chef, taking the party to wherever the client is. The advantages of catering vs. owning a restaurant? Schafer says it’s Economics 101. “It’s so much more predictable than the restaurant business,” he says. “With a catering job, there’s a contract involved. There’s no guesswork. You know what rentals you’re gonna need and what staff. And I still get to be an artist with the food. “In the restaurant, I’ve had 100 reservations and only 80 people show. That’s a loss just in one night. That doesn’t happen with catering.” We caught up with Schafer at
to you
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Rip Currents
“I’ve been in touch with food, literally, for almost 30 years.� The main course was pretzel-and-mustard-crusted pork loin, with a rich gravy of dark cherry ale and dried cherries.
didn’t work, by the way. Instead we learned to make a lot of salami ‘sombreros’ and deviled egg ‘mice’ for catering jobs.� From there, he scraped together money for culinary school, and he was launched. “I graduated from the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) 20 years ago. I’ve been in touch with food, literally, for almost 30 years,� he says. When he moved to Lake Norman five years ago, he left behind a top-notch restaurant in New Jersey that still bears his name. Brew chef About 15 years ago, Schafer began experimenting with beer and food pairings. He also won a trip to the Great American
Beer Festival in Denver, Colo., where he met Tony Forder, publisher of Ale Street News, the most widely circulated beer newspaper in the country. He has been writing columns for the publication ever since. “I’m known as the brew chef, and I’ve done hundreds of beer dinners,� Schafer says. He particularly likes doing beer cooking parties or even in-home cooking lessons for special occasions. Custom catering Schafer says he interprets catering very broadly. He will arrange for rentals, from tents to forks. “I go to people’s homes and take care of everything, down to the rentals
they need,� he says. “It’s their special day, so I make sure there’s extra food. I cook right in your kitchen. And, please!, your guests can come in and ask me questions while I’m cooking.� This is a man who was taught to clean as you go, and he is strict about it. “I leave the home cleaner and neater than when I go there. You get to finish the champagne in bed while Tim is downstairs cleaning. “It’s all about the ‘wow’ factor. Making people smile is my high.� LNC WANT TO KNOW MORE? Contact Tim Schafer at 704-651-0042.
Recently moved into a new home? If you would like a Welcome Neighbor visit, please call Susan Coyne at 704-892-6035 or visit www.welcomeneighbor.org
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Grapevine |
love
story and photos by Eloise D. Morano
A toast to Couple’s vineyard, winery rooted in Old World tradition he owners of Daveste’ Vineyards, Dave and Ester DeFehr, have been married d more 40 years, and the name of theirr win nery eryy says iitt all: “Dav-Este,” a composite of their names. Like their vineyard, they are anchored in a way that allows them to send out new shoots of growth as needed, and to do so gracefully.
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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The quiet depth of the DeFehrs’ relationship has reduced at least one visiting bridal party to happy tears. Ester says she was surprised. “They asked me, ‘How do you do 40 years and what does it take?’ ” she says. “I told them it was very simple, and I simply spoke from the heart. We give each other space. But most of all we respect each other.”
Building on the past Dave’s parents were born in Russia, and his mother often talked about her vineyards there. Dave says, “With all this in mind, when I was deciding which grapes to grow, I was able to find a widely grown Russian Continued on page 29
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Growing and changing Dave and Ester have known each other since college in the 1960s, when they decided to marry and go to Nigeria to teach for three years. Dave taught science, and Ester taught English. When they returned to North America, Dave joined the family furniture business in Winnipeg, Canada. In 1991, he moved South, opening a factory in Troutman to serve his East Coast clients. By the time it closed in the early 2000s, he and Ester were hooked on the Lake Norman area and the climate and wanted to figure out a way to stay. “In the summer of 2003, I was browsing the newspaper,” Dave says. “I noticed an article about RagApple Lassie in the Yadkin Valley, and how they had transformed from growing tobacco to growing grapes. I was always interested in landscape and growing things, and my mother and grandfather had amazing green thumbs.” Dave decided to take viticulture courses offered at Surry Community College in Yadkinville to learn about grape growing. At the same time, he volunteered at Laurel Gray Vineyards nearby, learning from mentors there. He loved it, bought 52 acres in Troutman, and he and Ester started with a four-acre vineyard in 2004. Their spread went from vineyard to winery when the DeFehrs opened their 1,000-case winemaking facility in the fall of 2006. Last fall, they opened a timber-frame tasting room on the property, with a threesided rocking chair porch. There’s a pond, waterfall and walking trails that volunteers are helping them develop. A visit to the winery during growing season is a visual feast, with rows of neatly staked grape varieties accenting the shape of the rolling land.
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Grapevine |
years ago and, to her delight, has become the grape called Rkatsateli, which makes me happy focus of an artists group in the Troutman area because it carries on family tradition. It is rarely that meets at a studio on the vineyard property. found in North Carolina, and makes a dry white It’s so popular, there’s a waiting list to join. The wine.” tasting room is their gallery, and Ester’s paintEster is a native of Argentina – with not a ings grace Daveste’ wine labels. trace of an accent. “That’s my father’s doing,” she Probably the most striking of these is a says cheerfully. “He was a linguistics teacher, painting of a mighty tree, reaching its muscuand it’s very simple. He didn’t allow accents.” lar limbs to the sky. The soil beneath appears From Argentina comes the Malbec grape transparent, revealing how deeply the roots are that the DeFehrs grow. It makes a complex, anchored. LNC deep red wine with fruit notes that are distinctively different from a merlot or cabernet. The DeFehrs are still expanding their vineyards, so some of the grapes they make into wine come from select vineyards as far away as Virginia. Ester discovered a latent artistic talent 15 Continued from page 27
ESTER’S ROAST PORK WITH CHAMBOURCIN SAUCE FOR T WO
Stuff garlic liberally throughout a pork loin. Rub heavily with cracked pepper and rock salt, and roast until brown. When it’s cooked, remove it to a platter, and mix into the drippings: ¾ cup Chambourcin wine
Eloise D. Morano has been a free-lance writer and journalist for 28 years, including eight years in the Boston area as a food critic. She has a master’s degree in landscape design and ecology.
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Daveste’ Vineyards 155 Lytton Farm Road Troutman 704-528-3882 www.Daveste.com White varieties: Chardonnay, Viognier and the lesser-known Rkatsateli, grown widely in Eastern Europe. Red varieties: Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin. Call if you wish to rent the facility for a wedding or party. Daveste’ has a relationship with a list of caterers that can help you. Daveste’ welcomes volunteers, who are treated to wine and some of Ester’s cooking, in trade for their help.
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Grapevine |
When deep purple falls,
by Trevor Burton
it might be Chambourcin I
t seems like I spend my time during the day thinking of ways to find interesting wines that are easy on the wallet. To tell the truth, I sometimes dream about them, too. And so, within that context, I’d like to introduce you to a little-known grape that makes some really great wines. And it’s a grape that has found a successful home in North Carolina. This interesting character goes by the name of Chambourcin (“Sham-bore-san”).
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
My first encounter with the grape was when my wife and I attended the Spring Show in Charlotte just after we’d moved to the lake several years ago. We were delighted to see a booth offering tastings of North Carolina wines. We were anticipating many joys of living here, but local wine wasn’t one of them. Although we eagerly looked forward to a pleasant surprise, the tastings didn’t go well. The samples were more like remedies for cold symptoms than wine. Like troupers, we stuck it out to the end and came across the final wine, a Chambourcin from Westbend Vineyards. One sip and the bells rang and lights flashed. All was good again. This was a great experi-
ence. Local wine was quickly added to our list of anticipated joys of lake living. The Paris test At that time I was still toiling in the commercial sector. One of my clients was in Paris, and so I visited the City of Light quite often – a tough task, but I put up with it. My client was, and still is, a fervent wine lover. So I put North Carolina Chambourcin to the test. I took a bottle of it to Paris to share with him and some of his colleagues. French wine lovers are a tough bunch. For them there are good French wines, medium French wines and then everything else. It was within that environment that
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my Chambourcin was judged. Where it came out was pretty good. We all agreed that it ranked along with one of the best wines from the Loire Valley – we deemed it close to a Chinon. That may seem like faint praise but, in fact, from French people who know their wines it’s more like a huge accolade. The folks at Westbend were delighted when I recounted the episode to them. It turns out that we were right on. Chambourcin is a hybrid developed in the Loire Valley of France, based on a number of undetermined Native American species. It was developed, along with several others, to combat a root disease that came close to destroying the wine industry in France. The grape thrived and is still planted in the Loire Valley. It has since bounced back across the Atlantic and done rather well here, especially in North Carolina.
Trevor Burton of Mooresville, a retired technology marketing consultant, now occupies himself in the field of wine and its enjoyment. Certified by the International Sommelier Guild, he is founder of SST Wine Experiences and, along with his wife, Mary Ellen, conducts wine education and tasting tours to wine regions throughout the world.
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Subtle taste Chambourcin wines have a beautiful, deep, dark color, almost purple. Winemakers often use the wine to beef up a weaklooking Cabernet or Merlot. Simply looking at a glass of Chambourcin, you’d expect a high-powered oomph when you taste it. Not so. It’s nowhere nearly as robust as it looks. What I like about the wine is its combination of subtle nuance and structure. You get light layers of fruit and definite herbaceous flavors as well as a great shot of tannin, but they don’t jump out and scream at you. It’s more like a pleasant conversation. This is a great wine to pair with food. Veal and Chambourcin make a tasty couple. Roast chicken would go nicely with it, too. Mild cheese such as gouda, feta or light cheddar and Chambourcin complement each other very well. Chambourcin abounds in North Carolina. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding some. It’s almost a certainty that, if you tour the Yadkin Valley, you’ll discover a bottle or two. They’re a great value, about $15.. A tradition at our house is to dine on roast chicken each Sunday evening. For our next Sunday meal I’m going to open
a bottle of Chambourcin and a bottle of Chinon. Each will be tremendous with the chicken, and I want to compare the wines again. It’s an experience I think you’d really enjoy, as well. For me it will be interesting, of course, but it also will take me back to Paris and my wine buddies; great fun overlooking the Seine and sipping Chambourcin from little old North Carolina. Very nice. LNC
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On Course | by Mike Savicki Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Golf Across the State Verdict Ridge supplies variety of terrain 34
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On Course |
A small pond guards the green on the signature hole, number 9. Verdict Ridge winds through a residential development.
P
Morning mist covers the area looking from the tee box to the green on hole number 1.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
laying a round of golf at Verdict Ridge in Denver is like driving across the state. The first few holes give golfers the feel of Pinehurst, with pine trees lining the long and narrow fairways. Middle holes are marked with creeks, streams and natural wetlands to mimic the feel of the coastal Carolina courses. And dramatic elevation changes and spectacular views along the final four holes resemble North Carolina mountains. The cart path even rides like the Blue Ridge Parkway as golfers work their way back toward the clubhouse.
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On Course |
Located in Denver, not far from the western shores of Lake Norman, Verdict Ridge brings the best features of North Carolina golf together in a challenging and visually stunning 18 holes. “The topography is what makes us unique,” says Billy Powell, head golf professional. “You have three holes in a row that are perfectly flat in the tradition of Pinehurst, and you have sections that are hilly like you find in the mountains.” Powell says the beauty of the course was
planned from the beginning. “When I arrived here after we opened, there wasn’t much more than a few gravel paths and trailers around the property,” he says. “Our owner, Ed Knox, spent almost two years studying golf course architecture before he ever broke ground. The view from the clubhouse has changed, but the beauty
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that Mr. Knox envisioned remains.” As Verdict Ridge adds phases of homes to the property, the pine trees and natural sections along the fairways and greens are being preserved to give golfers the feeling of solitude that often is missing from other courses that wind through residential neighborhoods. “In my opinion, the prettiest part of the course are holes 14 through 17, where you are out there in the middle of the woods away from it all,” Powell says. As visually stunning as the course appears from the clubhouse, its signature hole takes golfers’ breath away. “Almost everyone agrees that number nine is our signature hole,” Powell says. “The hole has a pond on the right that comes into play, homes along the left fairway, a two-tiered green and a waterfall. If the pin is in the back, the hole plays very differently than when it is on the front.” The par 4 hole plays 351 yards from the black tees. Powell also asserts that people are what give Verdict Ridge an edge. “It starts in the pro shop and extends to the driving range and then onto the course,” he explains. “Our members are some of the best people you’ll ever want to meet, and our guests come back time and time again because of the feeling they get from the staff.” Although the club has memberships, the course is semi-private, open for limited public play. When Verdict Ridge opened in 1998, it was embraced as one of the best new courses in North Carolina. In the past decade, Verdict Ridge has hosted U.S. Open qualifying, MidAmateur qualifying and North Carolina Four Ball Championships. The par 72 course plays 6,992 yards from the black tees, 6409 yards from the blue tees and 5,819 yards from the white tees. LNC WANT TO PLAY? To learn more about Verdict Ridge and take a virtual tour of the course, visit www.verdictridge.com.
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Verdict Ridge Ridge Country Country Club Club is is just just aa •• Verdict Uptown short drive and putt away from short drive and putt away from Uptown Charlotte. (30 (30 Minutes) Minutes) Charlotte. Voted prettiest prettiest golf golf course course by by •• Voted Charlotte’s™™ Taste Taste Magazine Magazine Charlotte’s Pro Shop Shop (Tee (Tee Times) Times) ## 704-489-1206 704-489-1206 •• Pro Club House House ## 704-257-0100 704-257-0100 •• Club 7332 Kidville Kidville Rd, Rd, Denver Denver NC NC 28037 28037 •• 7332
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Temptations |
story and photos by Trent Pitts
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Temptations |
Quality candies are made from scratch
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Heart Sue and John Elliott
E
late, although there are a few that lend themselves better to one or the other – the hot chili is made with only dark chocolate, and the strawberry cheesecake with only milk chocolate. The hazelnut truffle that my wife, Kathryn, and I sample happens to be of the dark variety: very rich, with a mild hazelnut flavor and a chocolate shell sprinkled with small golden flecks. The dark chocolate is not quite as sweet as the milk chocolate, so for those who prefer a more intense chocolate experience, this is it. We try the Cappuccino truffles in both milk and dark; the taste of the crème and smell of the coffee aroma – it’s as though there is a cup of cappuccino before us. This one is my favor-
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ver since the cocoa bean was introduced to Europe in the 1500s, the world has never been quite the same. For many people, chocolate is a daily obsession; for others, it is a rare treat to be savored. Yet with mass-produced chocolates available on almost every corner, where can you find those with the highest quality?
One of the rare spots in the Lake Norman area was opened last August in Davidson by chocolatiers Sue and John Elliott. Davidson Chocolate Co. produces superb candies using high-quality confectioner’s chocolate combined with hand-made fillings. Some chocolate shops buy the centers pre-made; others are franchises where all production of candies takes place off-site. But the Elliotts will have none of that – their chocolates are made from scratch. “One of the major things is that the product is so fresh, and we only make something when we need it – there are no products stacked in the freezer,” John says. Gazing at the display case, there seem to be endless possibilities – truffles, turtles, fudge, dried fruit slices dipped in chocolate, cherry cordials, caramels, coconut creams, English toffee, peanut butter cups, chocolate dipped Oreos and more. Most of the Elliotts’ truffles are coated with either dark, milk or white choco-
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Temptations |
ite. The lemon crème in milk chocolate has a soft, smooth filling with a tart lemon flavor. The Kahlua truffle: sweet milk chocolate with a mild coffee sensation – perfect. English toffee is Kathryn’s favorite: crisp, buttery toffee covered in milk chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds. Overall, Kathryn thinks the milk chocolate confections are the best; I prefer the dark. When my son, Trevor, sees what is going on, he decides to become an official taster in short
order and offers up the following: “The turtle, it’s chewy and crunchy, it is really good … I want to go to the store and get another one.” The Elliotts previously operated a chocolate shop in the mountains of North Carolina, near the town of Franklin. The former owner provided them with recipes more than 100 years old that came from his family of chocolate makers from Holland – recipes that the Elliotts still use. The new Davidson location already has
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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plenty of business – nearby schools provide a constant stream of customers, and the Elliotts have developed many corporate relationships with their custom molded and stenciled products for companies that want to present their logo in chocolate. For Valentine’s Day, chocolate heart boxes will be available, which are edible heart-shaped truffle containers made from chocolate. And if that is not enough, the Elliotts will arrange with a florist to have flowers and chocolates delivered together. LNC WANT TO GO? Davidson Chocolate Co. Davidson Commons 610 Jetton St., Suite 150 Davidson 704-896-7245 www.davidsonchocolate.com Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Trent Pitts, a native North Carolinian, has been photographing and writing about the people and places of the Lake Norman area for several years.
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Temptations |
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
im’s career-long track record of achieving successful results for his clients has earned him recognition throughtout NC and among his peers in the legal field nationwide. He has been named to the Best Lawyers In America publication consistently for the past 23 years and was recently named as one of the Top Super Lawyers in the the state of North Carolina. As a former NC Court of Appeals Judge, Jim Fuller is a widely respected trial lawyer known throughtout the state for this commitment to justice and his exceptional litigation skills. With 32 years of courtroom experience, he has dedicated his legal practice to helping people who have been injured by the negligent or criminal conduct of others. Jim and his wife Jean live in Spinnaker Cove, and attend the Davidson United Methodist Church. A member of the Lions Club, Jim also serves on the boards of the Ada Jenkins Center, Davidson Lands Conservancy, and the Davidson Community Players and was recently appointed to the Town Planning Board.
1/16/09 4:03 PM
Galley | by Cathy Swiney | photos by Trent Pitts
Salmon Dinner with sauteed green beans and baked potato
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Chocolate Tower Cake
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dows is heated or cooled, depending on the season. A small deck outside offers additional seating on warmer days. It had been a while since we’d ducked into Midtown Sundries, but we returned with confidence, knowing the classic American food and casual atmosphere would help us chase away the winter blues. On a recent Friday night, the bar was busy with an after-work crowd, and the spacious dining room was bustling with families, couples and small groups.
Easy Evening Dining, entertainment combine at Midtown
Midtown’s Famous Wings with homemade bleu cheese dip, celery and carrot sticks
THE CHECK Our meal for four came to $56.19, including tax but not tip. Midtown Chips, $7.49; beer, $3; mixed drink, $5.25; Salmon Dinner, $12.99; Our Famous Wet Beef, $8.99; two kid’s hamburgers, $4.99 each; Chocolate Tower Cake, $6.99; scoop of ice cream $1.50. THE RESTAURANT Midtown Sundries at Lake Norman 18665 Harborside Drive Cornelius By water: near Marker R5 704-896-9013 www.midtownsundries.com Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. seven days a week. Midtown also has location in the Denver and University City areas. Midtown Sundries Denver Cottonwood Commons 7296 N.C. 73 704-822-1380 Midtown Sundries University 3425 David Cox Road at Harris Boulevard Charlotte Free-lance writer Cathy Swiney, a Huntersville resident, has spent several years covering the restaurant scene in the Lake Norman area.
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The menu is versatile, expansive and solid. Heavy on bar food faves such as burgers and sandwiches, with nods to a nice variety of soups and salads, it also incorporates more substantial entrees such as Midtown Blue Plates featuring fried chicken or meatloaf, Bourbon Street Ribeye Steak and Broiled Galley Deluxe featuring four types of seafood. A casual interior reflects the reasonably priced menu. Accented with dark wood, well-spaced tables mixed with booths and windows overlooking the lake create a relaxing setting. A large patio with retractable win-
We started things off with a beer and mixed drink for the adults, Shirley Temples for the kids and Midtown Chips for all. Bar food at its best, the thinly sliced potato ovals fried until lightly browned and wonderfully crisp were mounded on the plate and topped with melted Cheddarjack cheese and chopped bacon. A side of Ranch dressing was provided for dipping. Other appetizers run the familiar gamut of wings, nachos, potato skins and onion rings, in addition to breaded oysters and sautéed clams and mussels. When it came time to order entrees, we found it difficult to decide because so many offerings caught our eyes. My husband finally settled on the Salmon Dinner. It featured a salmon steak grilled to perfection to bring out the fish’s flavor and was accompanied by fresh green beans sautéed tender crisp and a baked potato. I went in a more casual direction, ordering Our Famous Wet Beef. The sandwich, served on a soft hoagie roll, featured a pile of tender,
thin-sliced roasted lean beef, grilled onions and sliced mushrooms cloaked in provolone cheese. A small ramekin of savory au jus for dunking gave the hefty sandwich a hearty beef flavor. A heaping dish of homemade coleslaw, made with coarsely shredded cabbage, was the perfect choice from a list of sides. We ended our meal with one dessert that was simple – a scoop of vanilla ice cream – and one that was over the top – Chocolate Tower Cake. The three-layer moist cake struck the right chord among the chocoholics, whose forks held by large and small hands dueled for bites of the devil’s food cake iced with chocolate butter cream frosting topped with chocolate sauce. Somehow, the fork held by the small hand won that battle.
Galley |
B
illing itself as a “one-stopshopping” destination, the Cornelius restaurant offers a place to dine on typical American cuisine and kick back with a game of billiards or listen to live entertainment before and/or after your meal.
1/16/09 4:04 PM
story and photos by Trent Pitts
Asheville
Let’s Go |
Some of Asheville’s best shopping destinations include the Grove Arcade in the downtown area, one of the city’s architectural icons. Built in 1929 by E.W. Grove, the creator of the Grove Park Inn, the arcade features boutique shops, restaurants and regional crafts, all within a stunning historic structure.
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Album A getaway to remember
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Let’s Go |
W
A street performer enlivens the atmosphere downtown.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
ith a thriving arts scene, fabulous restaurants, Art Deco architecture and some the most beautiful scenery the Blue Ridge Mountains offers, Asheville has come into its own. What started as primitive crossroads in the late 1700s has evolved into a premier travel destination with more than 2 million overnight visitors per year – and it is just a two-hour drive from the Lake Norman area.
1/16/09 4:04 PM
Let’s Go |
Segway tours offer an easy way to see the downtown area and other sights.
In Asheville’s olden days, the likes of Davey Crockett and Daniel Boone traversed the area the only way possible, via a network of Cherokee Indian trails. But by the 1880s, a railroad line brought thousands of travelers in search of a mountain getaway, and the town was transformed. It gained the reputation as a therapeutic health resort and was visited by such luminaries of the time as Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. When the affluent George Vanderbilt came to town and discovered the region’s mountainous grandeur, it took his breath away, and Asheville’s most enduring legacy was soon to be established. Continued on page 48
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Rosedale Commons Shopping Center 13020 Rosedale Hill Avenue Huntersville, NC 28078 0HONE s 7EBSITE WWW CALLMAESTRO COM Sample fares are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy in the minimum categories. Airfare is additional. Fares are in US dollars and include non-discountable amounts. Taxes and fuel charges are additional. Fuel charge is $9.00 per day with a maximum of $126.00 per voyage for stateroom guests 1 and 2. Fuel charge is $4.00 per day with a maximum of $56.00 per voyage for stateroom guests 3, 4 and 5. Offers are subject to availability and may be altered or withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Let’s Go | Above: The Grove Arcade has been revived after years of disuse. Left: At 15 floors, the Jackson Building was the first skyscraper in North Carolina. It was completed in 1925. Below: The most popular of Asheville’s attractions is the Biltmore Estate, the 250-room mansion situated on 8,000 acres of pristine forest, lakes and gardens. George Vanderbilt’s country retreat was completed in 1895 after six years of construction. Many of the original furnishings remain, including those by Sheraton and Chippendale, as does a collection of 70,000 objects of art, with works by Renoir, Whistler and Sargent. Some interesting aspects of the home are the indoor bowling alley and swimming pool, George Vanderbilt’s personal library containing thousands of rare books, and the marvelous formal dining room with its oversize fireplaces, 70-foot tall ceiling and walls adorned with 16th century Flemish tapestries. Outside, sightseers may stroll through the formal Italian Gardens and then head down to the conservatory. Inside are collections of orchids, palms and other plants that are raised to embellish the Biltmore House and its gardens.
Continued from page 46
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Asheville has much to offer those who want to get out into the wild. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of town for dramatic mountain views. Wolf Ridge and Cataloochie ski resorts are just down the road. The French Broad River meanders through Asheville, allowing for great kayaking, canoeing and rafting expeditions; arrangements can be made with several local outfitters. Unlimited prospects are out there for mountain bik-
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Let’s Go |
ing, and for those who prefer a more leisure bike outing, Asheville has several greenways. The North Carolina mountain area is a golfer’s dream – a relaxing game of golf in a cool climate with extraordinary Alpine scenery is hard to top. Within Asheville are two Donald Ross designed courses, the Asheville Municipal Golf Course and the course at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa. Other Asheville links are at Reems Creek Golf Club and the Crown Plaza Resort. LNC
The landmark domed sanctuary of the First Baptist Church was designed by architect Douglas Ellington in the mid-1920s.
WANT TO GO? Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau 828-258-6102 www.exploreasheville.com Directions to Asheville: I-77 north to I-40 west. Or try the lower route to Asheville via N.C. 74, heading west. This scenic alternative offers side trips galore: Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Chimney Rock and Bat Cave. Take I-77 south to I-85 South to N.C. 74 west.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Don’t miss an issue of Lake Norman CU C CURRENTS! Subscribe now and we’ll g guarantee u delivery straight to your mailbox eev every v month. No more rushing to the store tto o pick up a copy and finding the racks eempty. m You’ll enjoy the convenience of direct h o delivery of the most sought-after home p u publication in the Lake Norman area. Interesting stories about local people aan n places, enlightening features on and we w wealth management, health and wellness, g great re dining, wine, travel and more. Great p photography, h professional design and an u up-to-date p calendar of events make this the ma m magazine you’ll have to read each month!
1/16/09 4:05 PM
Home Port | by Lee McCracken | photos by Trent Pitts
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to create your wildlife-friendly landscape
Backyard Habitats T
he morning melodies of songbirds and the scampering of squirrels are a delight to area residents who are creating backyard habitats. From Cornelius and Davidson to Denver, Mooresville and Troutman, homeowners are forgoing conventional landscaping and returning to more natural and sustainable landscaping â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yards that help to restore the balance of the ecosystem.
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Food Plants that provide acorns, nuts, berries, seeds, buds or nectar are important, and the best plants for Lake Norman habitats are those that are native to North Carolina. These trees and shrubs require less water and maintenance than do other exotic species because these plants are naturally adapted to the environment. Popular trees include evergreens (cedar and pine), tulip trees, oaks and beech. “The white oaks and red oaks are nice for shade and feed a lot of wildlife with their acorns. And they house owls,” Higgie says. Small trees, such as the Eastern redbud, dogwood and sourwood, are important, too. Also consider native shrubs, such as blueberry and the beautyberry, and nectar plants for butterflies: the black-eyed Susan, blazing star, purple coneflower, sunflower and, of course, butterfly weed (as opposed to butterfly bush, which comes from South America).
Photo by Dave McDonald
Julie Higgie checks a suet feeder. Suet cakes, which include fat mixed with food such as fruit and seeds, provides one of the highest sources of energy birds can get.
Feeders will attract birds such as this house finch.
Water Small birds need a shallow source of drinking water. “People tend to think Lake Norman provides birds all the water they need, but that’s not true,” Higgie says. “Small birds cannot drink out of the lake – they drown. Birds need a puddle. A shallow clay dish works very well for songbirds if you don’t want to buy an expensive birdbath.” Creating a wildlife habitat is an ongoing process, Higgie says, and it isn’t difficult. “I think a lot of people in the Lake Norman area already have a certifiable habitat right now, and they don’t realize it. Or maybe they just need to add one or two elements.” She adds, “And it’s great when homeowners get signs for their yards, because it helps spread the word about this important program.” Shelter, nesting Vines, ferns and other ground covers also are important for ground-nesting birds, such as morning doves. Cavity-nesting birds – including bluebirds, barred owls and wood ducks – seek shelter in the trees to raise their young, and nest boxes are simple to build (or buy) for the yard. “Along the lake, the wood duck babies hatch out of their eggs, jump out of the tree and march to the water,” Higgie says.
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“People all around the lake are moving toward living more green, more natural, inside and out” says Julie Higgie, a certified habitat steward with the National Wildlife Federation and a naturalist/educator with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department who works at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. “This is especially important for Lake Norman, because the area is so highly developed, and it’s becoming more and more so.” The Certified Habitat Program of the National Wildlife Federation was started in 1994 (known as the Backyard Habitat program then), and it is growing in popularity. People everywhere are learning how to restore or create a wildlife habitat in their own yards, neighborhoods and places of business. Higgie says late winter to early spring is the best time to get outdoors and begin planning. “Now is the perfect time to start learning about wildlife-friendly habitats and what you can do in your own yard,” she says. “February and March are the best times to plant, when shrubs and trees native to North Carolina are dormant.”
Home Port |
The essentials “The four elements of a wildlife-friendly habitat are food, water, cover and places to raise young,” Julie Higgie says.
1/16/09 4:05 PM
Home Port |
Making a yard that’s welcoming to wildlife and going green with your landscape, however, doesn’t mean having an expansive lawn. “Having less grass, especially with the water shortage we had last summer and fall, and allowing for more natural areas with native plants is more wildlife-friendly,” Higgie says. LNC
You’ve Arrived...
in Davidson to an upscale community with cultural opportunities and awardwinning academics.
Here in The Woodlands, home means a place to enjoy the relaxed lifestyle you’ve earned. Obtain that rare blend of provacy and community while exploring the various hiking trails that lace through this wildlife-friendly neighborhood.
Country Cottages starting in the $400s Custom Homes starting in the $800s with Estate Lots starting in the $170s
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Call Today for Your Personal Tour!
1-800-995-4795 ext. 2004 or visit www.thewoodlandsatdavidson.com
The Woodlands is located on Mayes Road in Davidson, NC.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Visit the National Wildlife Federation online at www.nwf.org/backyard. The North Carolina Wildlife Federation is has several chapters. The NWF and NCWF offer homeowners and property owners in North Carolina a joint wildlife habitat certification opportunity ($15 national and $5 state). Fore more information, go to https://secure.nwf.org/ backyardwildlifehabitat/certify/dspPartners.cfm. The Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists (www.lakenormanwildlife.org) is the local chapter of the NCWF. The group offers free nature programs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St.
SPRING NATURE PROGRAMS Latta Plantation Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road in Huntersville, offers classes to help area residents learn about becoming good stewards of the earth. Here’s a look at what’s offered this spring: N.C. Tree ID – Sunday, March 22, 2-4 p.m. Adults and children ages 8 and older can learn how to identify the state’s most common trees. Seeds to Fruit – Sunday, April 26, 2-4 p.m. Explore flowering trees and plants, and learn which ones produce everyone’s favorite fruits. Cost is $4 for adults and $3 for children. Go Green in the Garden – Sunday, May 17, 1:30-3 p.m. Adults and ages 12 and older learn beneficial gardening techniques using native plants and natural pest control. Cost is $4. Register for classes at www.parkandrec. com. For more information, call the nature center at 704-875-1391.
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Cindy Gaunt
Prompt, Personal & Professional Attention
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Enjoy lake living in desirable Silver Quay! End unit w/extensive landscaping overlooks lake, pool & common area. Main floor features all hardwoods & custom tile, heated sunroom leading to outdoor patio, cathedral ceilings in L/R w/gas fpl that flows nicely into kit and master suite! Attached garage is heated and cooled! Lots of storage throughout. A perfect combination of location & lifestyle. MLS 802292 $265,000.
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Tri-level townhome located in beautifully manicured neighborhood, including pool/clubhouse, walking trails, pond & tree-lined streets! Entry level foyer & attached garage. Main level is open w/bright kit, bar seating, formal DR,LR w/gas FP & deck overlooking pond. Top level has laundry, 2nd & 3rd BRs, master suite w/garen tub, dual sinks & tile. 2’ blinds, nickel hdwr & neutral decor throughout. MLS 811038 $184,999.
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Historical Home In Downtown Mooresville on 2.8 +/acres – Owner will assist in Financing or possible Trade. Completely Updated! Gourmet kitchen has Viking, 6 burner gas range, electric double ovens, 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers, and Advantium oven/ microwave! Master on main with 2 master baths – His & Hers! Billiard Room on lower level. Garage has HT/AC and a guest apartment above. New Roof (60 year warranty), 4 zone HT/AC, Water HTR (continuous). Lots of Windows! MLS 805954 $899,000
Private Brick Ranch featuring 3 BD a bonus/4BD or guest suite up, 3.5 BA, Screened Porch, Patio, Deck and tons character. Side load finished garage w/workshop area. Enjoy the evenings in the backyard on the deck, patio or screened porch. Pride of Ownership speaks for itself. Enjoy community pool & sandy lake front beach. Boat Storage! Tons of walk-in storage. MLS 806895 $379,500
Awesome location in Huntersville! Open floor plan w/lots of nice details. Arched pass through to kitchen, formal dining, eat-in kitchen, 42’ maple cabinets w/brushed nickel, black appliance. Master bath w/dual vanities and separate water closet. Huge bedroom/bonus upstairs w/bathroom and closet. MLS 810699 $189,000.
Gil ea dR idg e
Big Reduction! Beautiful home, great open floor plan with all the upgrades, corian, stainless appliances, 42 inch cabinets, gorgeous hardwood floors, tile in all bathrooms & laundry. Mstr bath w/ separate shower and garden tub, 2 inch blinds throughout. Tall fenced yard. Shows like new. Convenient to Birkdale Village, shopping and schools. MLS 780364 $260,000.
Charming old home place has 20+/acres & out buildings. 7 room house (IN NEED OF REPAIRS). Pasture mostly cleared and spring-fed stream along rear edge of property. Great Oppty. for private estate or possibly 4 smaller tracts. Town of Troutman water line along Monbo Rd. Both tracts w/ approx. 984+/- ft. road frontage. Parcel #4731056696/4731051526. MLS 796448 “AS IS” $600,000
Beautiful Home in Landis on cul-de-sac lot. Built in 2007. Large kitchen with granite and hardwood flooring. Dining room and breakfast area have hardwood floor with lovely moldings. Large Bonus room upstairs. This home offers many upgrades. MLS 817016 $202,000
Wonderful Country House sits on 9+ acres. This home has it all! Spacious, custom kitchen w/ceramic tile & open floor plan. Large master BR has room for sitting area. Basement is a second living or entertaining area w/full kitchen, den, game area, bathroom, bedroom and storage (or another bedroom). 40x24 Shop/Garage and 16x32 Shop/Garage. MLS 826438 $475,000
704-799-3015 www.dejrealty.com
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Home Port | by Allen Norwood
Designers gain access to furniture makers
Your Decorating
Photo Courtesy Of Century Furniture
passport F
urniture makers are wooing interior designers in a way that’s unprecedented for the industry, and you’re the one who’ll benefit most from this courtship.
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Century Furniture lets you add your initials or large medallions to throw pillows, or to upholstered chairs and sofas.
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Home Port |
Margi Kyle
Michelle Pawlak
ident of the 4,000-member Interior Design Society, based in High Point. Designer Kelly Cruz says she recently spent two hours with a helpful Hickory White sales representative, and more time with a salesperson from Stanley Furniture. “It was wonderful to find someone who could help,” she says.
instance, and designers can be demanding. If you’re working with a designer to create that just-right look in your Lake Norman home, you want her to be picky. If you’re a busy furniture salesman, well .... Changing attitude Now, to compete in this uncertain global economy, U.S. furniture makers are capitalizing on their advantages. Their factories and craftspeople are here. They can tweak color and pattern, even size and paint finish, for the most exacting interior designer. That level of service isn’t possible for furniture coming from China – and never mind the longer shipping time from overseas. Here’s how warm the relationship is growing between designer and furniture maker: Some High Point showrooms and market buildings are hosting regular designer-only events, according to Kyle, who is national pres-
What it means to you Lake-area designers say the changes help them – and you, their customer – in several ways: • It opens access to quality, stylish furniture at more affordable prices, so it stretches your design dollar. You and your designer might pull together your entire house, perhaps, instead of just one room. Or, if you’ve never worked with a designer, you might discover that it’s not just for the ultra-wealthy. “Every customer that we have is not a rich person,” says Kay Kirby of the Design House of Davidson in Mooresville. “We deal with a couple of rich people a year, but the rest are average people .... And this will help them.” Cruz agrees: “Working with a designer doesn’t have to mean the high end of everything.” The furniture makers’ new willingness to adjust size, designers say, is an important plus that many consumers might overlook. You might fall in love with chairs for your dining room, for instance, and then discover that they won’t fit under your dining table. 55
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If you’re working with a designer, you’ll have access to more items in more styles than ever before – at better prices. And if you’ve persuaded yourself that you couldn’t afford to work with a designer, you’ll be able to reconsider. The behind-the-scenes relationship between designer and furniture company is one that designers’ clients don’t always see, but Lake Norman-area designers agree that the change is hugely important for consumers. “Yes, I’d say it’s a major shift, and it’s great for our industry and our customers,” says Margi Kyle of Cornelius. Says Michelle Pawlak of Lakeside Design in Mooresville: “Absolutely – and it’s long overdue.” The relationship between furniture makers and designers has been evolving, but created big headlines at the High Point Market in October as companies trumpeted custom programs aimed at designers. Lake-area designers say they visit the twicea-year international market to buy and to keep abreast of the latest design trends for their customers. Some 15,000 designers from around the world attended the October market, according to the American Home Furnishings Alliance. But designers haven’t always been welcomed warmly in the showrooms of the largest manufacturers. It’s easy to understand why. A designer might buy just a piece or two at a time, for
Kelly Cruz
1/16/09 4:06 PM
Home Port | Your designer and the furniture maker can solve the problem with a few simple tweaks. Other size changes are more complex and
require more work by the furniture company. Kirby says many customers want to enlarge furniture – “This is a big man and he wants a big chair” – which isn’t as simple as simply stretching the piece 2 inches in every direction. The furniture company might have to rework the piece from the floor up to maintain style and balance. • If you and your designer really want to stretch your style boundaries, you’ll find manufacturers are more willing. Kincaid Furniture’s
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Todd Hady says a designer faxed a sofa design to Kincaid with arrows indicating a dozen different fabric choices, and the company delivered in its standard two weeks. • You and your designer can get a price quote on custom work practically overnight, another important benefit you might not consider, until you’re waiting for long, frustrating weeks to see if you can even afford that perfect look your heart’s set on. Some companies promise quotes in 24 hours. • Even when no custom work is involved, designers say its a plus for them and their customers to have access to the wide variety of styles and categories offered by major manufacturers. That way, they don’t have to go one place for contemporary and another for French country, one place for dining room and another for home office. And one-stop shopping saves time and money. “At Stanley, I order occasional pieces and secondary bedrooms,” Cruz says. “The more variety, the more we can order from a single manufacturer.” Cruz says Stanley’s colorful new Coastal Living collection, introduced in October in partnership with Coastal Living magazine, will be ideal for beach cottages and second homes. Glenn Prillaman of Stanley, a Virginia company, offers one final reason that mainstream companies such as his are doing more than ever to serve designers like Cruz: More of us than ever are using designers. “It’s clear more consumers are now working with designers,” he says. “The better retail stores have all expanded their designer services and, as a result, the consumer is more likely to seek professional assistance, whether in the store or from their personal design consultants. So what we found is that we needed a dialogue with the designers, and we learned in the process that they wanted a dialogue directly with us.” LNC FOR MORE INFORMATION Kelly Cruz, CruzInteriors@bellsouth.net Kay Kirby, designhouseofdavidson.com Margi Kyle, drdesigner@aol.com Michelle Pawlak, lakesidedesignstudio@gmail.com
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Home Port |
Make it Yours
Point Market. Traditionally, collections introduced in October arrive in retail showrooms in the spring, but furniture makers say these programs will be available sooner. • Century Furniture highlighted its expanded monogrammed furniture program. Tashjian says you can choose to add your own initials or large medallions to throw pillows, or to upholstered chairs and sofas with smooth backs. www.centuryfurniture.com. • Harden Furniture introduced a custom headboard program that also includes new wood Stanley’s Coastal Living collection includes a desk, above, and bedroom bed frames. For the headboards, you can choose furniture in seaside colors, below. from six upholstery styles – including tufted, shaped and arched with nail head trim – and more than 800 Harden fabrics and leathers. www.harden.com. • Henredon Furniture’s custom paint program allows consumers to mix and match paint colors and finish techniques on wood pieces. The company offers a dozen colors, with combinations of antiquing, distressing and patina. www. henredon.com. • Hickory Chair says its made-to-measure wood pieces will allow unparalleled flexibility. Consumers will be able to stretch pieces to accommodate large, open spaces or scale them back to accommodate more intimate settings. www. hickorychair.com. • Lorts Manufacturing, an Arizona company, introduced a custom headboard program aimed at designers. The headboards are available in multiple finishes and distressing techniques, combined with the company’s fabric and leather selections. www.lorts.com. • Maitland-Smith introduced a new custom design program, “One – Singularly Crafted for Your,” that allows designers and consumers to blend more than Lorts lets buyers combine furniture colors 100 design options to personalize more than 300 pieces. www.maitland-smith.com. LNC for the dining room.
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urniture companies are welcoming business from interior designers as never before, and many have announced programs to customize furniture in new and innovative ways for designers and their clients. The change is so dramatic that it was the featured topic at the High Point Market in October. Todd Hady, vice president of sales and marketing for Kincaid Furniture, outlined his company’s push at the market’s opening press breakfast. He told the audience that Kincaid, based in Hudson in Caldwell County north of Hickory, has retrained its sales force to cater to designers and improved its offerings for designers. “We’re the designer’s bestkept secret,” he said. “We’re all about customization.” Other companies that announced custom programs included Century, Harden, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Lorts and Maitland-Smith. You can order a sofa embroidered with your initials, select unique paint and finish combinations, choose custom headboards that complement your master suite – even change the size of that table so it will fit comfortably in your breakfast room. “You make a wish list and we’ll deliver,” says Ed Tashjian of Century Furniture, a Hickory company. Century has long worked with designers, but announced a monogramming program to strengthen that portion of its business. Even makers of outdoor furniture are wooing designers. Teresa Buelin of Laneventure, a maker of highend outdoor furniture based in Conover, says her company last year launched a “Yes we can” campaign to spread the word through retail shops and designer showrooms. The company also sends emails to individual designers. Designers can customize with their own fabric, with special welting and with custom paint colors, she says. Here’s a look at a handful of the custom programs introduced at the fall edition of the High
Photo Courtesy Of Lorts Manufacturing
F
Photos Courtesy Of Stanley Furniture
Furniture Manufacturers embrace custom work
1/16/09 4:06 PM
Home Port | by Lee McCracken | photos by Trent Pitts
A Walk
The Woodlands at Davidson incorporates luxury living with flora and fauna
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
Forest in the
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Home Port |
Left: Residents can get exercise or just enjoy a leisurely stroll on the walking trails. Above: A pond provides another natural feature.
I
n a quiet corner where the borders of Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson meet lies a 70-acre piece of property that’s not only wildlife-friendly, but also is a model of ecological sustainability. The Woodlands at Davidson, a 57-home community that opened two years ago, is the first development in the state to be designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat. filtration and drainage, wildlife habitat protection and the use of drought-resistant, environmentally friendly landscaping materials and practices. “This community is setting the standard,” says Tim Gestwicki, deputy director of conservation programs for the state Wildlife Federation, noting that, to his knowledge, there are no other wildlife-friendly neighborhoods similar to The Woodlands in the nation. “With North Carolina expected to grow by another 2 1/2 million people in the next two decades, it’s a true smart-growth project – one that is not regulatory, but rather market-driven and voluntary – where the developers want to do the right thing,” he says. “We are launching in 2009 a formal wildlife-friendly development certification in conjunction with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.” Picturesque, private The houses in The Woodlands are offered by
Walker Madison, Marquee Builders and Dienst Custom Homes. Prices start in the $400s and go to $1.5 million, and square footage ranges from 2,500 to more than 5,000. Robbins says he and his partners, John Bauchman (Greathorn Properties) and Ken Foster (Ridgeline Development), carefully chose the three builders for their “reputation in the marketplace and quality products,” as well as their enthusiasm about the concept. Four families so far have moved into their homes in The Woodlands. Seven spec, or inventory, homes are available. Julie Jones, the real estate agent and marketing director representing The Woodlands, says prospective buyers are attracted to the wide, private lots and the beautiful setting. “It’s a pretty piece of land,” Jones says. “Most of the lots can accommodate basements, and many face open space or wooded areas.” Robbins says he often hears residents remark about the animals they encounter. “Just 59
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Located on Mayes Road, just 3 miles from downtown Davidson, this community was designed several years ago in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation to preserve about 24 acres of open space. The neighborhood includes forest areas, a one-acre park, a crab apple orchard, a butterfly meadow and walking trails. “From the stately oak trees and orchard at the entrance to the rolling landscape with wonderfully preserved hardwoods and softwoods, this project has exceeded our original expectations,” says John Robbins of Greathorn Properties and a partner in the development of The Woodlands. “The trail system is 1 1/2 miles – equal to, if not greater than, the road system in the neighborhood.” In addition to large sections of land that have been left undeveloped, The Woodlands incorporates energy-efficient home design and construction materials that aesthetically blend in with the environment, natural storm water
1/16/09 4:06 PM
Home Port |
the other day, a man said he saw a buck walk across his yard.” While common areas in the neighborhood have been landscaped with plants selected as habitat-friendly by the Wildlife Federation, homeowners are required to landscape their yards with plants native to North Carolina and leave as much of the existing vegetation and natural amenities untouched as possible. If they also add a source of water, such as a birdbath, their yards could become a certified habitat, as well. “Individual home sites are becoming wildlife-friendly,” Gestwicki says. “Kudos to John and the other partners for envisioning this, realizing it can be done and modeling for other developers what
CORNELIUS 704.892.9673
DENVER 704.827.7890
MOORESVILLE 704.663.3655
STATESVILLE 704.881.0771
can be accomplished.” Unconventional amenities The Woodlands is, in fact, a project that’s an ongoing lesson in preserving the environment. When the developers were planning the parks and common areas and were considering an apple orchard, Robbins says, they learned that a different fruit-bearing tree is more wildlifefriendly. “Tim told me the crab apple tree is one of the best sources of food for all types of animals,” Robbins says. These multipurpose plants also produce flowers, which attract pollinators and butterflies. Gestwicki describes The Woodlands as “a great place to live – not a community where everything is whacked down to squeeze in one or two more houses.” He says, “The Woodlands provides an aesthetically welcoming place to live, and it’s a community that is not harming the environment.” Walking trails are the increasingly popular amenity for those who lead active lifestyles,
RENTALS 704.662.6049
RELOCATION 800.315.3655
according to Robbins. And, with the preservation of significant hardwood trees and paths for woodlands creatures, The Woodlands offers an escape to the country just beyond the back door. The Davidson community also brings awareness to the importance of natural resources. “It’s a shining example of what we hope will become part of the normal building practices in the near future in North Carolina,” Gestwicki adds. LNC WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Woodlands at Davidson is about 3 miles from downtown Davidson on Mayes Road. From I-77, exit 25, go east on N.C. 73 for about 4 miles. Turn left on Mayes Road and turn right on Woodlands Trail Drive. Visit www.thewoodlandsatdavidson.com, or call Julie Jones at 704-897-1604. Free-lance writer Lee McCracken, a Denver resident, specializes in stories on business, education, health care and real estate.
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Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
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Avanti Custom Painting “High quality painting at an affordable price” • Interior & Exterior Painting • Serving the Piedmont for Over 20 Years • Fully Insured • Chosen by Cresent Communities as their Preferred Vendor
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Authorized Agents Security Plus Richard Wilson Emily Wilson Dick Delinger (704) 892-7210
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Is your photo on our website?
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Check out Current Sightings at: www.LNCurrents.com
1/16/09 4:07 PM
Currently |
Calendar
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This month So Alive Gallery is featuring local artists representing mediums of oil, pastels, acrylic, mixed, pencil, stained glass, photography, hand-made jewelry, handbags and cards. So Alive Gallery is a nonprofit organization supporting artists, missionaries and charitable causes. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is at 108 S. Main St., Davidson. For more information, call 704-892-0044.
6 Feb. 2–March 27 In collaboration with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville is launching a new program, Livestrong at the YMCA, designed for adult cancer survivors who have completed treatment and want to live their lives to the fullest. It is an ongoing eight-week program that includes an exercise routine, a support group, an initial consultation and post-program testing. All training facilities, equipment and certified instructors are provided by Lowe’s YMCA. For more information, email Amy.Hurt@YMCAcharlotte.org or call 704716-4053.
the public, is at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion St., Cornelius.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory. For details, call 828-328-7147.
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What are those things from your attic? Stop by the Gaston County Museum during the monthly Coffee with the Curator and find out. A curator will identify objects and provide preservation assistance on pieces taken to the museum by visitors. If objects are too large, take photographs. No appointment is needed for this free program. There is a limit of three items per person, and there will be no monetary appraisals. The program runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The museum is at 131 W. Main St., Dallas. Fore more information, visit www.gastoncountymuseum. org or call 704-922-7681 Cultural Arts Reaching Seniors will present “Hand-Building Clay,” a talk and handson program featuring Susan Montague. The program begins at 10 a.m. at the Cornelius Arts Center. This event is free, however, advance registration is required. Light refreshments and fellowship will follow the program. To register, visit www.corneliuspr.org or email Mindi Stoner, program coordinator, at mstoner@cornelius.org. Hear the La Dolce Musica trio perform during the February presentation of the Cornelius Concert Series. The members of the trio are Gay Tatman, flute; John Kolpitke , viola, and Andris Rozukalns, piano. The free program, which is open to
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HOPSports will be at the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville between 9 a.m. and noon to demonstrate exercise software for children. The Charlotte Eagles also will be there, playing the games with the children and signing autographs. This event is free and open to the community. The Y is at 170 Joe V. Knox Ave. For more information, call 704-716-4000.
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Drop by Historic Latta Plantation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the popular “Back of the Big House” program. Hear the story of Suky and the other enslaved people who lived at Latta from 1800 to 1865. The program is free with regular admission: adults, $6; students and ages 62 and older, $5; ages 5 and under, free. The plantation is at 5225 Sample Road in Huntersville. For more information, call 704-875-2312 or visit lattaplantation.org.
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The Western Piedmont Symphony will present “Unity,” featuring Edmund Barton Bullock on piano. The concert will include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Danse Negré” from African Suite; Edmund Barton Bullock’s Appalachian Concerto, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Hickory. For more information and tickets, visit htwww.wpsymphony.org.
Through Feb. 3
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
The Christa Faut Gallery in Cornelius is featuring a group exhibition of paintings, drawings and wall sculptures by gallery artists Elizabeth Bradford, Scott Duce, John Borden Evans, Laura Grosch, Herb Jackson, Ulysses Jackson, Denise Lisiecki, Caroline Rust and Rick Smith. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment Saturday. The gallery is at 19818 N. Cove Road in Jetton Village. For more information, call 704-892-5312 or visit www.christafautgallery.com.
February 1
Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Concert Series presents “A Schubertiad Evening,” featuring Jerrold Pope, with Judith Burbank. The free concert will be at 2:30 p.m. at Holy
Feb. 15 Mooresville Concerts presents a program of bluegrass and original music featuring the band Davidson Express at 3 p.m. at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in downtown Mooresville. The program is family-friendly and includes appearances by some child performers, plus plenty of opportunities for audience participation. Davidson Express is a five-piece combo of local musicians: Sherman Campbell on fiddle, David Conner on banjo, Tony Hoover on mandolin, Cameron Swallow on guitar and John Wertheimer on bass. There will be a free post-concert, meet-the-performers reception. Concert admission is $10; $5 for children under 10. Tickets can be purchased at the Mack Center, 215 N. Main St., at the Mooresville Recreation Department office, or by calling 704-662-3334.
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The Mooresville Tuesday Morning Rotary Club is sponsoring a reverse raffle and dinner Hawaiian Adventure, with the grand prize being a trip to Hawaii. The gala is open to the public, and you need not be present to win. Net proceeds will benefit the Mooresville Soup Kitchen and the Mooresville Christian Mission. Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner and an evening of fun. The event will be at the Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville. For more information and tickets, call Rich Hawkins, 704-663-3892. Children can find a magical way to look at wildlife habitats with environmental educator Gail Lemiec, coordinator of Latta Plantation Nature Preserve’s first Fairy House Festival. The free event will feature storytelling, face painting, crafts and food. Children also can build their own fairy house – a natural structure habitat – on a nature preserve trail. “The whimsical nature of this event encourages children to use their imagination and ingenuity instead of relying on television and video games,” Lemiec says. “They may construct a habitat for fairies or gnomes at first and then see insects or other small animals using it.” Children are encouraged to dress as a fairy or gnome for the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prizes will be given for the best costume and the best fairy house in two age categories. For the grown-ups, there will be a raffle that includes three yard gnomes by artist Tom Clark of Davidson. Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is at 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville. For information on sponsorship, booths or activities, call Latta Plantation Nature Center at 704-875-1391 or visit www. parkandrec.com.
Feb. 17 Hear the U.S. Navy Band in concert at 7:30 p.m. at P.E. Monroe Auditorium, 775 Sixth Ave. N.E., Hickory. The program, presented by Lenoir-Rhyne University, is free, but advance tickets are required. For details, go to www.lr.edu or call 828-328-7147.
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Magician and illusionist Mike Super brings his program to Davidson College. The magic begins at 8 p.m. at the Duke Family Performance Hall, 207 Faculty Drive, Davidson. Tickets are $8-$20. For tickets, visit http://www3.davidson.edu/ cms/x9191.xml or call 704-894-2135.
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Davidson College presents “The Ghost Sonata,” the fable-like story of an old man who seeks to rescue his daughter from the house of horrors in which she is held captive. By promising the hand of a beautiful young lady as a reward, he manages to enlist the help of a student who has the power to see what others cannot. Because this play contains adult content, it is recommended for ages 13 and older. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18-21 and 2 p.m. Feb 22 in the Cunningham Fine Arts Building, 310 N. Main St., Davidson. General admission, $8; faculty, staff and seniors, $5; students, $4. For tickets, visit http://www3.davidson. edu/cms/x9191.xml.
Coming in March The 25th Davidson Horticultural Symposium celebrates this special anniversary by examining the evolution of the garden, providing both a reflective and a futuristic look at garden design and procedures. The symposium will be held March 2-3 at Davidson College. To receive a brochure or more symposium information, email mwwstewart@bellsouth.net, call 704-655-0294, or visit www.davidsonsymposium.org.
Feb. 19 Meet Lenoir-Rhyne University visiting writer Terry McMillan during a reading at 8 p.m. in P.E. Monroe Auditorium, 775 Sixth Ave. N.E., Hickory. The free program is presented in conjunction with the Patrick Beaver Library. Two of McMillan’s novels, “Waiting to Exhale” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” have been made into movies. For details, go to www.lr.edu or call 828-328-7077.
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Take your sweetheart back in time to the days of courting, homemade valentines and simple romance with a tour of Historic Latta Plantation. The home will be decorated with period Valentines, and tours will include sweetheart stories from the Latta girls. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. The program is free with regular admission: adults, $6; students and ages 62 and older, $5; ages 5 and under, free. The plantation is at 5225 Sample Road in Huntersville. For more information, call 704-875-2312 or visit lattaplantation.org.
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One More Thing |
F
ebruary is a time for all things of the heart. Not only is it the month for Valentine’s Day, but it also is National Heart Month, a great time to start taking better care of your heart.
February 28, 2009 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Charles Mack Citizen Center Mooresville
Set your
Heart on good health Day of Dance gets you started on the right foot
Lake Norman Currents | February 2009
On Feb. 28, Iredell Health System will join in the national Spirit of Women Day of Dance for Heart Health to help women learn how to live more healthy lives. The free event will combine the fun of dancing to different forms of music, such as belly dancing, rock ’n’ roll, jazz, salsa, swing and hip-hop, with health screenings and education on nutrition, heart disease and other 64
health issues. It will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville. Participants are encouraged to wear red shoes, the symbol designed to encourage women to take action for their heart health. For more information, go to www.iredellmemorial.org or call 704-878-4555. No registration is necessary.
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JANUARY BER 2009 WWW
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Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine would like to thank the advertisers who have trusted us to market their goods and services to our exclusive Lake Norman readership. We encourage you, our readers, to shop their stores, to use their services and to thank them for keeping the Lake Norman business community alive and well during these challenging economic times.
Abe Rummage, Acupuncture Aquesta Bank Cabinets by design Caruso’s Italian Restaurant Cielo Falls Cindy Gaunt Team CommunityOne Bank Dave McKenzie CPA David Fox Re/max at the Lake Debra Young Photography Equitable Divorce Fink’s Jewelers Fitness Together Glen Roberson photography Head Over Heelz Century 21 Hecht Realty Hugo Mac Huntersville Family Aquatics Julie Jones Team Ladd McCall & Associates Lake Norman Chrysler Lake Norman Paint Lake Norman Pool and Spa Lake Norman Realty Maestro Travel McIntosh Law Firm North Harbor Club Physicians Plan Piedmont Bank Pompeii Dentistry Progressive Pilates RDS home improvements Rotary Club of N. Meck. Sabi Grill Security Plus Insurance T1 Tapas Treasures by the Lake University Dermatology Verdict Ridge Welcome Neighbor Wild Bird Mart
Shop locally and support your favorite Lake Norman businesses. Keep our community strong and prosperous!
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NEW COMMUNITY Southeast Catawba Cty Homes from the $250â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All lots over 3/4 acre
Leslie Howard Auton 704-809-2501 www.WynSwept.com A HECHT Development Neighborhood.
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