LNC June 2015 by SPARK Publications

Currents Davidson Community Players turns 50 Steve Langley bubbles over

Summer Fun

Embrace the lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big season VOL. 6 NUMBER

JUNE 2015

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Contents

10 The Main Channel What’s hip at Lake Norman

14 Porthole

Catwalk For A Cause and Bag Lady Luncheon

16 Captain’s Chair Autumn Michael leads Davidson Lands Conservancy

20 Game Changers Emily Jane Baldwin left corporate America to pursue her dream

Contents 29 R ip Currents — History

Davidson Community Players produces more than theatre

32 The Galley with

Lynn and Glenn

Denver’s Sweet Destinations offers a tasty spot

22 Blair’s Bits 36 G rapevine

Troutman’s Dru Kerley wrestles his way to the top

The big bang of wine evolution

houghts from 26 Rip Currents — Style 38 Tthe Man Cave Gear for summer fun

A letter from daddy with love

40 G ame On

Claudia Wiktorin makes her mark on the courts

42 Home Port

Davidson’s Judy McLean gardens for the fun of it

51 Currently

Your guide to summer entertainment

56 Lori’s Larks 26

Lori K. Tate becomes one with the wilderness at Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve

Currents About the Cover:

2014 Gold MarCom Award Winner for Design Excellence 2013 Platinum Award Winner for Magazine Special Edition 2013 Lake Norman Chamber Business of the Year 2010 Gold MarCom Award Winner for Best Magazine 2009 APEX Award Winner for Publication Excellence

Cover photography by Jim McGuire

Davidson Community Players turns 50 Steve Langley bubbles over

Vol. 6 No. 6 June 2015

Summer Embrace the big season Fun lake’s VOL. 6 NUMBER

JUNE 2015

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Subscriptions are available for $19 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.

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 supermarkets, as well as various Chambers of Commerce, real estate offices and specialty businesses.

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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At The Helm

ne of my favorite scenes in the holiday movie Elf is when Will Ferrell takes Zooey Deschanel to a coffee shop on their first date to try the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee.” A novice to New York City, or any city for that matter, Ferrell’s character “Buddy” took the coffee shop’s claim seriously and wanted to share the exciting news with his love interest. I completely understand where Buddy is coming from. When I experience something wonderful, I want to share it with others. If I see a funny movie by myself, I immediately want to rent it for my husband. In addition, I’m a sucker for false claims in advertising. A part of me really believes that a certain cream will reduce my wrinkles or that a specific purse will somehow deliver me to a chic world free from Cheerios and juice boxes. I once had a boss who crowned me “The Queen of Hyberbole.” Over the course of time, he noticed that when I really liked something, I would proclaim it was the best ever and swear that nothing could rival it. Keep in mind that this could be anything from a dry cleaner to a sandwich to a shade of lipstick to a parking space. He was right in that I got excited when I discovered something that I liked. I’m

SIMPLY THE BEST It’s time to vote on the Best of Lake Norman an animated person, and I own that. I have a tendency to express my emotions to a fault. If my dry cleaner gets out the ketchup stains, I think they deserve verbal praise in addition to their fee. If a sandwich is outstanding, it’s only fair to tell the sandwich maker how much I enjoyed it and how much it reminded me of one I ate on vacation in California years ago. As I’ve grown older, people, places and things have to work a little harder to receive my adoration, but no worries, The Queen of Hyberbole is still there. Just ask my friends about my affection for Publix (or read Lori Lark’s on page 64 of the April issue). I think it’s important to dole out praise when it’s due. Too many times in life, people focus on the negative, while never pointing out the positive. How healthy is that? If I make a connection with something and it goes beyond my expectations, I’m going to say something — something good. Well, now you have a chance to say something good with CURRENTS Second Annual 2015 Best of Lake Norman contest. Last year’s contest was so much fun that we’re at it again. We want you to vote on your favorite local places and things in the Lake Norman area.

It’s simple, just go on our website, www.LNcurrents.com/BOTL and type in your favorite local spot in a variety of categories from Best Appetizer to Best Place to Take Yoga to Best Place to Buy Women’s Shoes. On July 10, we’ll name the top five vote-getters in each category and rank them accordingly. All of the finalists will be featured in our August issue, and we’ll have another big party to celebrate the best of the lake. If you have a favorite local place to go for a burger, give that establishment the props it deserves. If you swear by a restaurant’s sushi, now is the time to speak up. If you always find the perfect earrings for date night at a certain boutique, let us know about it. We want to know what you consider the Best of Lake Norman, and I want to know that I’m not the only one who gets excited about a little thing like a cup of coffee. Happy voting!

Mission Statement: Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine will embody the character, the voice and the spirit of its The magazine by and for the people who call Lake Norman home

Sharon Simpson Publisher Sharon@LNCurrents.com

Lori K. Tate Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com

Taylor Buckley Advertising Sales Executive Taylor@LNCurrents.com

Publication Design & Production SPARK Publications info@SPARKpublications.com | www.SPARKpublications.com

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

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.

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Michele Chastain Social Media Specialist mac21268@yahoo.com

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ETHAN ALLEN

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Main Channel Movers, Shakers, Style, Shopping, Trends, Happenings and More at Lake Norman

The Bubble King Steve Langley is Lake Norman’s “bubbleologist”

THE SCOOP

For more information regarding Steve Langley, visit www.soapbubblecircus.com. For details about his upcoming Guinness Book of World Records attempt, visit www.discoveryplacekids.org.

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

It’s quite likely that Steve Langley is the only Lake Norman resident with the official title of “bubbleologist.” How this one-of-a-kind resident came to be the man behind the Soap Bubble Circus is quite a story. Langley, of Huntersville, has been a professional entertainer for most of his life. While working as a cook at a Charlotte restaurant in the early 1980s, he and a friend — both amateur jugglers — put together a comedy/variety act called The Fettucini Brothers and started performing at local festivals and parties. The act caught on, and for the next 13 years the pair entertained audiences around the world, including China, Japan, cruise ships, comedy clubs and TV shows like Evening at the Improv and Crook and Chase. “It was pretty heady stuff for a couple of young, excitable guys looking to travel and see the world,” says Langley, 52. But after 13 years, Langley was burned out and ready for a change. He dabbled in theater production for a while but soon found that he missed performing. “That’s where my soul was,” he says. He experimented with different acts and eventually started performing with paddleballs, even adopting the moniker “The Paddleball King.” This led to an appearance on an Italian TV show in 2011, where he performed with seven paddleballs, breaking a Guinness World Record. That same year, during a juggling festival in Davidson, he organized a special event in which 356 people gathered together and used a paddleball simultaneously, breaking another world record in the process. (You can see the video on YouTube.) It was following this event that Langley’s unorthodox career took another strange turn — this time toward bubbles. “I started studying soap bubble solutions, formulas, chemistry and how to make a bubble that will last. I became obsessed with the medium.” Today Langley performs around the region, doing stunts like juggling inside giant bubbles. This month he’s going to attempt another Guinness World Record at Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville for the most bubbles linked together in a chain — the current record is 30. “Bubbles are just a great way to connect with audiences,” he says. “People immediately respond and are transported to this childlike state of play. I really see bubbles as my future.” — Sam Boykin, photography courtesy of Whitney Davis Whitfield

Making a Splash in Smithville

In the Kitchen with Jill Dahan

Children in the historical Smithville community in Cornelius will soon have a new way to beat the heat. Construction has begun on a splash park in Smithville Park, Smithville which, for the first time in years, will allow nonSplash Park land or boat owners access to free recreational water in Cornelius. “About a year ago, we formed a small committee to try and figure out what we wanted to do to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis International,” says John Aneralla, committee chair for the project. “We really wanted A PLAYWORLD rendering PREFERRED of Smithville Splash Park. | 704.900.4175 | kevin@playworldpreferred.com to do something different and splashier, for lack of a better word. Even though we’re a lake community, no one has access to the lake unless you own a boat or property. We thought about offering an amenity to the community members who don’t fit into that category.” Founded in 1910, Smithville is one of the oldest communities in Cornelius, with roots dating back to the 1880s. But despite the convenience of the park, the local community rarely uses the ball fields due to the costs related to organized sports. Lake Norman Kiwanis has committed $10,000 each year for the next three years and is leading the fundraising efforts to pay for the cost of the splash park’s construction, estimated to be around $150,000. The town of Cornelius will initially pay for construction of the park and its ongoing maintenance. “This is truly a public/private partnership that benefits everybody,” says Aneralla, adding that the park should be completed by August of this year. “I think they [the Kiwanis and the town] should be commended for that.” — Renee Roberson, rendering courtesy of the Lake Norman Kiwanis Club

We Just LOVE! It’s the season for traveling, and nothing is better than traveling in style. With these pieces made by JOYN, you can make a difference in someone’s life while being fashionable. Mel and Dave Murray founded JOYN in 2010 when the couple moved to Rajpur, India with their two young sons to help the impoverished. JOYN employs a diverse team of Americans, Australians, Brits, Indians, Tibetans and Nepalese working together in Rajpur. The effort produces beautiful products such as these that are made by artisans who do 100 percent of the work, from weaving to block printing to stitching. The artisans also individually sign the tags on these items. So this summer when you pack for the beach, throw your stuff in a JOYN tote and give someone hope. For more information, visit www.joynindia.com. JOYN Zipper Wristlet, $40; The Weekender, $98; Backpack, $76; Leather Satchel, $50; Mary Poppins Bag, $80; The Marketplace, 19725 Oak Street, Unit 8, Cornelius, www. themarketplacenc.com.

Photography courtesy of Elke Talbot

Lake Norman Kiwanis Club Brings Unique Park to Cornelius

Veggie Man Sandwich In the cave man age, manly men hunted and women foraged for nutrient-rich foods. Father’s Day is fast approaching, and summer is already here, so whether you are a man or woman, look no further than this favorite of my family and friends. Ciabatta or focaccia surround roasted summer veggies tucked between melting mozzarella, Parmesan and basil pesto. Packed with nutrients, vitamins and such a doddle to put together, this is the sandwich of the summer. “Five a day” never tasted this good. So goodbye Manwich, and hello Veggie Man Sandwich! Ingredients 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved 1 of each red and yellow pepper, deseeded and cut into strips 2 small zucchinis, sliced thinly 3-4 medium slices of red onion 1 focaccia or ciabatta loaf, cut in half horizontally 8 tablespoons of fresh pesto sauce 1 cup (4 ounces) mozzarella cheese, sliced 4 tablespoons freshly, finely grated Parmesan cheese 1 handful fresh basil leaves Sea salt and extra virgin olive oil to garnish Instructions Place cut tomatoes cut side up on a piece of parchment paper along with the pepper strips, zucchini and onion slices, and place on a baking pan in a 325 F-oven for 30 to 40 minutes until slightly shriveled. Remove and toss in olive oil to lightly coat. Open bread and spread pesto on both open sides. Layer the bottom half with veggies, and top with both cheeses. Close with top layer of bread and wrap in foil. Bake at 375 F for 20 to 25 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove, unwrap and tuck fresh basil leaves inside, and drizzle with a little oil and sea salt to garnish. Cut into wedges to serve. Serves 6-8. Jill Dahan lives in Cornelius and is the author of Starting Fresh! Recipes for Life. She also teaches cooking classes at Earth Fare in Huntersville. You can learn more about her at www.jilldahan.com. 11 lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Revved Up for a Revolution

The first Scots-Irish settlers, who arrived in the Catawba River Valley around 1750, were looking for land and a place to be left alone. Tired of religious conflicts and crowded farms in Maryland and Pennsylvania, those settlers thought they had found what they were looking for in the fertile bottomlands near what would become Lake Norman.

A marker stands on N.C. 115 denoting where Torrence’s Tavern once stood.

12 lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

They wouldn’t be left alone for long, though. Never friendly with British colonial authorities, Catawba River-area settlers were some of the first to join the revolution in 1775. They formed militia units or joined the Continental Army and headed off to battle in the North. The war stayed far to the north in its first few years, but the Catawba area would not be spared. During General Cornwallis’ southern campaign in 1780 and 1781, British troops crossed back and forth over the Catawba during a series of battles in North and South Carolina. On February 1, 1781, local militia and soldiers camped out near the Cowan’s Ford river crossing near the site of the dam that would 200 years later create Lake Norman. In dim early morning light, 5,000 British troops charged across the deep wagon crossing and overpowered the 900 colonial militia soldiers, who scattered east along the muddy road to Salisbury. A few miles up Beatty’s Ford Road, the militia troops regrouped at Torrence’s Tavern

(at the present day intersection of Langtree Road and N.C. 115 in Iredell County). On February 2, though, another group of British troops, this one led by the infamous Banastre “Bloody Ban” Tarleton, caught the colonials by surprise, chasing them out of the tavern, their flasks of whiskey spilling and scattering in the wet grass. Tarleton burned the tavern to the ground and destroyed the militia’s nearby campground. Though the British forces won many battles along the Catawba River, the chase through the Carolinas weakened them. By October 1781, General Cornwallis would surrender to General George Washington in Yorktown, Virginia. Back in the communities around the river fords, life returned to normal in the newly formed nation. — Chuck McShane, photography by Lori K. Tate Chuck McShane is director of research at the Charlotte Chamber and the author of A History of Lake Norman: Fish Camps and Ferraris. Contact him at chuckmcshane@ gmail.com. On Twitter: @chuckmcshane

Tales from the Glory Days Tom Higgins’ latest book recalls racing’s past

On a beautiful spring night near Darlington, South Carolina many years ago, Hall of Fame sportswriter Tom Higgins was driving back to his hotel after a pre-race sponsor dinner with the roof to his convertible lowered when he suddenly felt a strong, gripping, painful jolt to his neck. Traveling at 50 mph, and having no idea what might be causing the pain, he instinctively reached up to relieve the pressure. To his surprise, he found the two massive hands of Dale Earnhardt squeezing tightly. “As I turned my head, I thought I’d be seeing the devil coming to get me to pay for all of my sins, but I found myself looking directly into the face of my friend, Dale Earnhardt,” Higgins recalls with a deep laugh. “It seems he and Richard Childress spotted me driving along enjoying the smell of honeysuckle in the night, so they turned off their lights, drove up and decided to give me a scare. When I finally realized what was happening and gathered myself, I saw Richard holding Dale by the belt as the two sped off laughing.” Higgins, now 77 and long retired after a writing career that exceeded 33 years, hails from a time when racing was different and sports reporters were more closely connected to the drivers they covered. “They were a different bunch, flamboyant characters, a different breed all together,” Tom Higgins Higgins explains, “and we, as sports writers, had a different relationship with them. Back then it was like we were all part of a traveling road show. We traveled and worked together, played poker together and partied together. I respected them and wrote honestly, living by the motto ‘never throw anyone into the creek’ and that’s why the drivers trusted me so much.” In his book, Racing Into the Past; Tales from the Glory Days, Higgins recalls racing’s past as the sport set its roots and grew through the 1950s and 1960s. Originally penned to be the first of a three-volume series, Higgins has decided that the book should be a stand-alone to best honor drivers like Ralph Earnhardt, Banjo Matthews, Fireball Roberts and Junior Johnson, and pay tribute to a time when racing was more a means to an end and a way to put food on the table. “When I started in 1957 and was assigned my first racing story at Asheville-Weaverville, I didn’t want to go, and I had no interest in it,” Higgins, a Burnsville, North Carolina native who now lives in Mooresville, says with a smile. “But soon I was covering 50 to 60 races a year and watching drivers, many of whom only had one car, do whatever it took to not only finish a race but also make it to the next weekend. I had an incredible respect for them, and this book recalls what was one of the greatest times in the history of our sport.” — Mike Savicki, photography courtesy of Tom Higgins THE SCOOP Tom Higgins’ book, Racing Into the Past; Tales from the Glory Days, can be purchased on Amazon. For more information regarding Higgins, visit www.tomhigginsnc.com.

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Porthole Glenn Roberson (top) and Treasured Events of Charlotte (bottom)

Torie Costa

Ryan Neuman and a pediatric patient.

Sixth Annual Catwalk For A Cause

The children’s clothing for the show was provided by Belk.

Elijah Aschbrenner, a cancer patient at Levine Children’s Hospital, with Sherry Pollex.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Danica Patrick walk with a pediatric patient from Levine Children’s Hospital.

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation held its Sixth Annual Catwalk For A Cause at Merinos in Mooresville on May 13. Founders Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex host the event every year. This year’s festivities raised more than $250,000 for Levine Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer research, and donations are still coming in. The highlight of the evening was a fashion show filled with patients from Levine Children’s Hospital, as well as NASCAR stars. Torie Costa, Lake Norman’s Top Model 2014, spoke and modeled at the event. For more information regarding the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, visit Torie Costa www.martintruexjrfoundation.org.

Martin Truex Jr., Sandy Culver Plemmons and Sherry Pollex.

The Bag Lady Luncheon Committee.

From left, Jodie Widasek, Paula Jo Boykin, Dana Bradley, Sheri Lynch and Lorraine Dungan.

Bag Lady Luncheon The Patriot Charities held its Bag Lady Luncheon at Trump National Golf Club Charlotte on April 28. Sheri Lynch, the nationally syndicated radio talk show host of the Bob & Sheri Show served as the emcee, while Miki Racine Berardelli, the president of digital commerce and chief marketing officer of Chico’s, White House Black Market, Soma Intimates and Boston Propert was the keynote speaker. The event raised more than $100,000. For more information regarding The Patriot Charities, visit www.patriotcharities.org.

14 lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

A variety of purses were featured in the silent auction.

From left, Dana Bradley and Trump National Golf Club General Manager Gavin Arsenault and staff.

The 878th Engineer Color Guard.

From left, Emcee Sheri Lynch and keynote speaker Mikki Berardelli, president digital commerce and chief marketing officer Chico’s FAS.

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IO # :

6686-1

REVISED 2/4/15

Captain’s Chair by Holly Becker photography courtesy of Autumn Michael

years. She also has an extensive background in land conservation work. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Michael earned a joint law and historic preservation master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Her previous work includes starting a regional office for Preservation North Carolina and serving as executive director of Historic Charlotte. In addition to her duties with DLC, Michael also is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. We recently chatted with Michael about her new career endeavor and plans for DLC.

Why is Davidson Land Conservancy’s mission important to preserving Davidson? As the North Mecklenburg area continues to experience rapid growth, I think it becomes even more important to celebrate, connect with, and ultimately protect and preserve the land. I think that it is a value that is important to the town as a whole, as expressed both in the comprehensive plan that was done several years ago [wherein the citizens indicated that conservation should be a high priority to the town], and by the fact that the DLC was originally an initiative of the town and Continued on page 18

Davidson resident Autumn Michael stepped into a new role this spring as executive director of Davidson Lands Conservancy.

avidson resident Autumn Michael stepped into a new role this spring as executive director of the Davidson Lands Conservancy. A nonprofit land trust that works to preserve open space and protect wildlife habitats, Davidson Lands Conservancy (DLC) holds lease agreements and conservation easements, and serves as a monitoring agent for more than 500 acres in and surrounding Davidson. Michael replaces Roy Alexander, who unexpectedly passed away earlier this year. The Salisbury native is no stranger to DLC, having served on its board for six

16 lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Meet Davidson Lands Conservancy’s new executive director

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Continued from page 16

town planning. Our mission is to work to protect valuable land, educate the public and advocate on behalf of our ecosystems. I think we have done a great job of all three in our first 10 years and hope that we can continue that legacy in the next 10.

What are you looking forward to accomplishing as executive director of DLC? I hope to save more land and raise awareness of the DLC — that it exists as an organization and about what we do. Personally, I’d like to increase the number of families involved and see to it that the DLC continues to exist and thrive for a long time.

How can residents get involved or stay abreast of the work DLC is doing? The DLC’s web site (www.davidsonlands. org) and Facebook page are quick and easy ways to keep up to date on the work we’re doing. We also have WOW, which stands for World of Wonder, at the Davidson

Farmers’ Market most Saturdays. WOW provides hands-on educational activities and environmental information for families. We have the Run for the Green, our primary fundraiser, which has become part of Davidson’s fall experience. We always need tons of volunteers to help with the race.

This year’s Run for the Green will be dedicated to the memory of Roy Alexander. What mark has he left on the community? Roy was the founding director of DLC, so there’s no question I have some big shoes to fill. It’s been touching to read the memorial donations coming in as people share about Roy’s impact on them as landowners and how Roy helped them see the importance of saving their property.

Your speciality is preservation law. What sparked your interest in the preservation of land and historic landmarks? I grew up in a rural area, and my parents both have unique connections

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In addition to your work with DLC, you’re also an adjunct professor, a consultant and a busy mom of four kids. How do you balance it all? I have an amazingly supportive husband, and my mom helps out a lot. It’s also the amazing town of Davidson and an intricate web of babysitters and friends. We all sort of help each other out. We, as a family, also are trying to live out our conservation values. We want to pass on these values to our children.

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Game Changers

by Rosie Molinary photography by Ben Sherrill

ost 14-year-old girls save their babysitting earnings for clothes and make-up. Emily Jane Baldwin used her hard-earned dollars to buy a piece of furniture that she still uses today. “I have always loved furniture. I discovered this dresser when my mom and I were looking around a furniture store in Wilkesboro. It’s a cream-colored Bombay style chest. To this day I think it’s the neatest piece, and I still have that dresser in my bedroom now,” says 31-year-old Baldwin, who began her career at Lowe’s in its advertising department after earning a degree in Communication Arts. Eventually, Baldwin moved over to store planning at Lowe’s but, as time passed, she couldn’t help but feel like she wasn’t quite doing what she was meant to do. “I was happy there, but it was a desk job,” she explains. “I am very creative, and I knew I could do something more.” That something more became Nellie Jane Home Boutique, which Baldwin opened in May 2014 in Mooresville. “If I didn’t do it now, when would I do it? I just had to take a deep breath and say that I was going to stop working there, and try this out,” Baldwin recalls. “Now, I am a small business owner with a little storefront where I sell furniture, home décor and neat one-of-a-kind pieces for the home.” Nellie Jane, named for Baldwin’s grandmother and her grandmother’s grandmother, is a carefully curated blend of Baldwin’s own style.

So Far, So Good Emily Jane Baldwin left corporate America to pursue her dream

“I have always loved decorating and accessorizing a home to make it your own place. I have an eclectic style of mixing antiques with mid-century modern. If my eye likes it, I incorporate it. So after accumulating all these pretty things over the years, I thought it would be a neat idea to have a shop that blended all sorts of styles,” she explains. At Nellie Jane, you’ll find not just a range of offerings but Baldwin’s English bulldog, Boss, and her mom. You’ll also find Baldwin, as she loves what she is doing so much that it’s hard for her to stay away from the shop. “I have always tried to stay true to who I think I am as a person. This feels right. Someone said to me the other day, ‘you don’t have any days off,’ and I said, ‘why would I need a day off?’ I don’t have to recover from the work week. If you honestly do what you love, you don’t mind doing it all the time. I give this advice to everybody else: if you are unhappy with what you are doing in your day job or personal life, then make a change. I made a huge change and so far so good.”

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Emily Jane Baldwin has always loved furniture and turned that passion into a business with Nellie Jane Home Boutique in Mooresville.

Up Close and Personal What’s the best advice you have ever been given? My dad would always tell me that the worst that anyone can ever say to you is no. What advice do you give regularly? If you are not happy in your life, you can make a change. What is one thing you cannot live without? My family. I love to have the support of my family. My parents, my brother and grandmother all live in Mooresville. When you were 8 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? A racecar driver. What is your best decorating advice? Don’t be afraid to use mix and match styles. If it’s pleasing to your eyes, then use it — who cares if it is one style versus another style. If you like it, then have it in your house. What is your best habit? I make a habit to be nice to people.

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Blair’s Bits

Troutman’s Dru Kerley began wrestling when he was 5 years old.

by Blair Miller photography by Ben Sherrill

Troutman’s Dru Kerley wrestles his way to the top

ight-year-old Dru Kerley isn’t like most kids his age. In fact, he never has been. Dru has already accomplished more than his parents ever expected. It all began when he was just 5 years old, and Dru started wrestling at the Statesville Recreation and Parks Department. He loved it and maybe that’s because he started off by winning his matches. And he kept

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

winning. In that first season, he lost just one match, and his winning ways earned him the gold in the Rec Division.

Continued on page 24

A natural

Dru’s parents, Katie and Dru Kerley, quickly noticed his love for wrestling and immediately signed him up to join the Mooresville Wrestling Club. He continued to win at a much bigger level, including statewide wrestling contests. “We knew he was good but didn’t realize how good until he won the Dixie Nationals,” explains his mother. At 6 years old, he had four matches at the Dixie Nationals in Atlanta and was named champion of his age group. It was then that his parents knew that he had something special going for him. For Dru, it’s simple. “Wrestling is a way to have fun and always try my best,” he says. And since his success in Atlanta, he’s taken off in the world of competitive wrestling. “We have been to 17 states in two years,” says Katie. “It costs a lot to travel

Photography courtesy of Dru and Katie Kerley

Work Hard, Win Hard

during the wrestling season, but it’s worth every penny to see your child on top of the podium with a big smile on his face and knowing that all his hard work he puts in is paying off.” Currently, Dru is ranked in the top 7 percent in track wrestling,

Dru began wrestling at the Statesville Recreation and Parks Department.

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Continued from page 22

Photography courtesy of Dru and Katie Kerley

Focused future

A second grader at Troutman Elementary School, Dru is already making plans for the future. He hopes to wrestle at Penn State University, one of the most successful college wrestling programs and then continue on to be a wrestling coach. “I want to teach kids how to wrestle so they can enjoy it like I do,” he says. Dru’s parents are proud of him just as they are

Dru enjoys competing.

Photography courtesy of Dru and Katie Kerley

A second grader at Troutman Elementary School, Dru hopes to wrestle at Penn State University one day.

Photography courtesy of Dru and Katie Kerley

which includes kids from all across the country regardless of age or weight class.

of their two other sons, Chase and Kyle. They say wrestling is the central focus for Dru and that he’s always thinking of new moves to try on the next kid at the next match. But it’s more than just lessons in athletics that Dru is taking away from his early success. His mother says he’s learning to work hard and just try his best every day. “He always seems to amaze me more and more every time he’s on that mat,” she says. “He has accomplished more at 8 years old than most people have in a lifetime.” His father is equally as satisfied with his success, especially since he coaches his son. “It makes me so proud,” he

Currently Dru is ranked in the top 7 percent in track wrestling, which includes kids from across the United States.

says. “I love watching him wrestle and work so hard at it. I also enjoy how much time we spend together as a family traveling to the different contests.” While Dru continues to win on the national stage, he’s still focused on growing and getting better. He may be just 8 years old, but he has a long road ahead of him that he and his family hope will continue to breed success along the way. “Dru can do whatever he puts his mind to as long as he always gives it 100 percent,” says his father. “As long as he loves it and works hard, he can accomplish anything.”

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Rip Currents — Style

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by Lori K. Tate photography by Glenn Roberson

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5 5. Climaweave Outdoor Pillow, $24.95, Seasons At The Lake, 428 South Main Street, Davidson (also in downtown Davidson), www.seasonsatthelake.com 6. UPF 50+ Hat by Prana, $42, Brushy Mountain Outdoors, 107 Plantation Ridge Drive, Mooresville, www.brushymountainoutdoors.com 7. Large Pick Me Up Pouch by Lilly Pulitzer, $32 each, Monkee’s of Lake Norman, 624 Jetton Drive and 106-A South Main Street, Davidson, www.monkeesoflakenorman.com 8. Minimalist Wavefarer Board Short by Patagonia, $59, Brushy Mountain Outdoors, 107 Plantation Ridge Drive, Mooresville, www.brushymountainoutdoors.com 9. MacBeth Collection Totes by Margaret Josephs, $49 each, Monkee’s of Lake Norman, 624 Jetton Drive and 106-A South Main Street, Davidson, www.monkeesoflakenorman.com 10. Torch LED Paddle, $250, My Aloha Paddle and Surf, 17505 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, www.standuplkn.com

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Lori K. Tate performs as Dolly Levi in Davidson Community Players' 2007 production of Hello, Dolly!, a charmed show from beginning to end for Tate.

by Lori K. Tate photography courtesy of Davidson Community Players

accidentally discovered Davidson Community Players. As a 20-something single girl living in Charlotte, I did community theatre in the evenings after work. Most of my friends were either attached, engaged or married, which left them with little time to hang out. That didn’t bother me because my true love was theatre. In the spring of 2001, I auditioned for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Theatre Charlotte, just minutes from my apartment. It was one of my all-time favorite musical comedies, so when I was cast as Panacea, I began studying my script. However, there was a catch. After doing a three-weekend run in Charlotte, the theatre was taking the show to Davidson for a twoweekend run through a special grant with Davidson Community Players (DCP). “Davidson?” I thought. “It’s going to take me forever to get there. I’ll have to pack a snack for the drive,” I thought. Regardless, I joined the cast. As typically happens during a show, we became a family through rehearsals and performances. By the time we reached Davidson, we were a well-oiled comedic machine. What we didn’t expect was the hospitality we received. Board members and volunteers cooked and baked for us. Gifts were occasionally left in our dressing rooms, and the audiences could not have been kinder. A year later, a pink piece of paper came in the mail announcing auditions for DCP’s production of Crimes of the Heart, Beth Henley’s classic play about three southern sisters. Remembering how much I enjoyed my time at Davidson (and realizing that the drive wasn’t that bad most days), I auditioned. Little did I know that this play would change my life and set me on a course for all kinds of adventures. I was cast as Lenny, the oldest sister and the most matronly one. Near the end of the run, a handsome light board technician came backstage to congratulate me on the show. We shook hands, and instantly I knew that this man was going to be my husband. That man, of course, was John Tate, and sure enough, we were married 13 months later. He owned a house in Huntersville, so that’s how I came to live in the Lake Norman area. Once we settled in as a married couple, I kept auditioning and John kept building sets and running lights. His mom, Joan Tate, is a well-known local actress, and the two of them had been involved with the nonprofit organization since 1986. Joan and I

Rip Currents — History

hello, Anniversary!

DCP has been breaking legs and forming friendships for 50 years have even done a couple of shows together. DCP is part of us, part of our family. John and I enjoy friendships with folks (young and old) we met through the Players. Sure, this intergenerational group of community volunteers consistently presents top-notch theatre productions (did you see 42nd Street last year?), but it’s done so much more than that for me and for others.

The golden anniversary Connie Welsh founded Davidson Community

Players in 1965. Next month marks the 50th anniversary of the company’s first production, Time of Harvest. A theatre arts major from Carnegie Mellon University, Welsh was known to ride her bicycle around town wearing a black trench coat. If she gave you a compliment on your performance, you knew you really did something. Talk to almost anyone who grew up in Davidson during this time, and they’ll tell you that they took acting classes from Welsh when they were children, as kids were her passion. Welsh was

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

involved in one way or another with the Players until 1990 when she directed The Rainmaker. She died the next year. Welsh passed away by the time I found the Players, but the stories of her and her vision live on to this day with every show, class and workshop. Lucky for me, I was fortunate enough to know the late Rupert Barber Jr. and the late Max Polley, two Davidson College professors who were also integral to DCP for decades. Barber began teaching at the college in 1963 and was the school’s first professor of theatre.

the Heart when a baby in the audience began crying during the first scene. I came backstage and told Max, and he kindly talked to the folks during intermission and they decided to take their baby home and put her to bed. Years later when I was in the comedic farce Don’t Dress for Dinner, a newspaper critic was a bit harsh on my performance, which was otherwise receiving praise. Max called me the day the review came out and said to just keep doing what I was doing because it worked. That phone call gave me all the Marla Brown starred in DCP's 2013 production of Wit.

A Davidson College religion professor, the late Max Polley served as the first chair of the DCP board. Connie Welsh teaches a group of children in Davidson circa 1968.

A theatre arts major from Carnegie Mellon University, Connie Welsh founded Davidson Community Players in 1965. She remains a legacy in the community to this day.

Joan Tate performs in the 1986 production of Night Watch.

confidence I needed to continue. I went on to win a Metrolina Theatre Association Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role.

The role of a lifetime DCP's 1987 production of Our Town.

He once told me that he and Connie could “talk the talk” when it came to theatre. Polley, a religion professor at the college and the first chair of the DCP board, was one of the first people I met with DCP. We instantly bonded during a performance of Crimes of

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

The pinnacle of my time with DCP, so far, was playing Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! during the summer of 2007. Even if you’re not a theatre person, you know this role is a big deal — her name is in the title for God’s sake. I never aspired to be Dolly, but just like the Players, the role found me. I went into auditions with my eye on the part of

Irene Molloy, the sweet soprano who owned a hat shop. She got to sing some solos and have a slice of the limelight. I though a little slice would be nice. During auditions, the director, Melissa Ohlman-Roberge, who has directed me in many shows, called me to her desk and said she wanted me to read for Dolly. If she would have told me I had a fish swimming out of my nose, I would have been less surprised. As good directors do, she saw something in me that I didn’t. She saw potential, and she knew how to bring Dolly out of me. A lot of people in the theatre community were shocked when I was cast as Dolly because I wasn’t a belter. Some even thought I was too young for the role. That just made me more determined. Through countless hours of rehearsals, studying lines (because Dolly has a ton of them), honing my dance skills and working with Jacque Culpepper (my voice teacher), Dolly came to fruition, and I loved every single second of playing her. I even loved the blisters on my feet from my character shoes. The show sold out, and people still come up to me and tell me how much they enjoyed it. Aside from marrying John and having my children, it was the best experience of my life because I proved to myself that I could do something I initially didn’t think

the love, respect and work that it requires. It doesn’t just happen. Fortunately for the Lake Norman area, Davidson Community Players has been happening for 50 years and is poised for 50 more. Happy anniversary, DCP! Thanks for bringing out the best in me — and the community.

Kudos to Davidson Community Players

In 1973, DCP produced Born Yesterday.

I could pull off. I know for a fact that my performance would never have been successful if it weren’t for all of the fellow volunteers at DCP who supported me. There was the stagehand who let me in early to practice on the Duke Performance Hall stage, the accompanist who made me a CD of all my songs, the seamstress who fixed my dress in minutes after it got caught on a bicycle chain — onstage, my mother-in-law who pinned my long hair every night so I could put on a red

wig that was specially rented for me from California by DCP, the volunteer who helped me do a 20-second costume change every night in the wings and all of the kids in the cast who reminded me of how I fell in love with theatre in my second grade play. The list goes on. When you go to one of DCP’s shows, it’s hard to imagine what all it takes to bring it to the stage. You can look at a breakdown of the mechanics to get a sense of it, but there’s no way to understand

Davidson Community Players is an awardwinning theatre company comprised primarily of volunteers. It has won 33 Metrolina Theatre Awards, in addition to being named North Carolina’s Community Theatre of the Year in 2011. In 2004, DCP won the North Carolina Theatre Conference Community Theatre Award. In 2006, its first fall production, The Spitfire Grill, went on to win North Carolina’s Best Production at AACTFest. This month the company performs Chicago at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall June 18-27. For information and tickets, visit www. davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

Where Business & Nature Meet

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The Galley with Lynn and Glenn by Lynn Roberson photography by Glenn Roberson

Dishes take inspiration from international flavors.

What a TRIP Cupcakes offers a delicious finish to a meal at Sweet Destinations.

s far as Patti and Steve Merkel can tell, their Sweet Destinations: A Travel Café is a unique concept. They have searched far and wide, but cannot find another spot that combines a café and a travel agency. “We believe we are the only travel café in the United States,” Steve says. “We looked, but we couldn’t find any others.” The cornerstone ingredients for this fresh casual Denver café are Steve and Patti’s extensive experiences with — and love of — food and travel.

Mapped out 32

Guests pick up on the theme right away, as they walk into a cozy space that features a

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massive map of the world on one wall and an equally eye-catching photograph of a tropical beach scene on another one. “With our maps, people can show their children where they went on their travels,” Steve explains. “You see globes, but very rarely do you see maps anymore. It’s hard to see the entire world on a map.” Children choose from their “Unaccompanied Minors — Jr. Travelers” menus and eat on world map placements. A pint-sized table gives the younger set a special place to dine. The couple streams travel photographs on a monitor overhead and invites guests to submit their travel photos to win free food.

Patti and Steve Merkel

Patti and Steve Merkel offer a tasty stop at Sweet Destinations in Denver In another more practical touch, a travel booth nestles in the corner, so guests can discuss and book travel with Patti’s Travel Planner, a full-service travel agency. Relationships, including their own, add another essential ingredient to the recipe. “Steve and I were childhood friends,” Patti says. “We grew up in the same neighborhood in upstate New York. We reunited at our 20year high school reunion.” The couple moved to the Charlotte area in 1999 and settled in Denver shortly after. Now, their café is about one mile from their home. “When I moved to Charlotte, I gave up working and stayed home with our children,” Patti says. “I had gone to school for travel and

tourism back in the ‘80s. I lived in New York City for a while, but I couldn’t afford to work as a travel agent, even though it was a passion for me.” After the children grew up, she began operating the travel agency from their home. Patti also had worked in the culinary industry. “I worked almost 30 years in the food service business, every aspect from bus girl to cook to waiter to management, to ownership.” she says.

The Club Med Wrap with Italian pasta salad.

sausage and gravy, and eggs with sides such as potatoes or grits, and ham, bacon or sausage round out the choices. Special offerings include tailgate and lake specials, theme nights, and cupcake decorating classes for all ages. The catering menu can be augmented with special items, as can group parties onsite. “The atmosphere lends itself for parties,” Steve says. “We can accommodate 50 Around the world to 60 people.” In one of the fresh selections, the salad As with their ties to the local and culinary station starts with a choice between romaine, communities, Patti nurtures her deep spring mix and spinach for the greens, topped connections in the travel industry. “My with five toppings from a list of more than relationships with the cruise lines and resorts 20. They buy as many local ingredients as are crucial,” she explains. “You can shop they can, and are growing some of their salad online for travel, but you don’t really know fixings in the East Lincoln Community Garden what you’re going to get.” at Sally’s YMCA. That’s certainly not the case at Sweet Sub sandwiches with names like the Italy, Destinations. Club Med, Istanbul, Europe and Sicily provide THE SCOOP a quick around-the-world view. They also Sweet Destinations: A Travel Café make the chicken and tuna salad, cole slaw, 2495 North Highway 16 Hawaiian salad, Italian pasta salad, and Not Denver German potato salad fresh. 704.966.1434 For breakfast, the café serves bagels, Hours: Mon-Sat 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, omelettes, eggs and French toast. Biscuits with Sun 6:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Steve owned the Chippery Gourmet Cookie Company before selling it in 2005 to Otis Spunkmeyer. When considering their next stage in life, the couple realized that their travel, business and culinary expertise made for a potent combination. They also knew that the Denver area needed a café like theirs to offer quick and fresh options.

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Come visit us at our NEW space located in the heart of downtown at the “square”. We now have more fashions and many new lines! Come and check us out! Mention this ad and receive 20% off entire purchase (excludes big brands) Salice Boutique

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Sweet Grass…a Unique Boutique Specializing in All-Occasion Gifts Redefined Home Style

Nellie Jane is a fine interior-design boutique located in Morrison Plantation. Expect to find a curated collection of furniture, mirrors, lighting, and home décor that blend funky and modern with timeless tradtional. Nellie Jane Home Boutique

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Including birthday, weddings, baby, hostess and home accessories. Featuring such brands as Lenny & Eva and John Wind Jewelry, Capri Blue/ Rewind/Ella B Candles, as well as, locally crafted items and our own exclusive Lake Norman merchandise. For that personal touch Sweet Grass also offers embroidery, monogramming and fun Pinterest-inspired workshops after hours. Sweet Grass

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New summer fashions are arriving daily. Now featuring Vanilla Brazil line of jewelry and clothes! Offering swimwear, yoga pants, clothing, shoes and gorgeous bags, mostly from Brazil’s top fashion designers. These brands are closer to you than ever before. Come experience the Vanilla way of Shopping! Vanilla Brazil

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Grapevine

And, the winner is… California’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars beat the best France had to offer.

by Trevor Burton

A big bang that led to the expansion of the universe of wine

Boom! C

hange is always with us, occurring slowly. But, every now and then, along comes a pivotal event that changes the world forever, sometimes on the good side, sometimes on the bad side. Our Declaration of Independence in 1776 was certainly one — good if you’re on this side of the “pond,” not so good if you’re on the other side. Our bicentennial celebration was the basis for another revolution, this time concerning wine. Definitely, good for us. This event goes by the title, “The Judgement of Paris.” It was a wine tasting held in the City of Light on May 24, 1976. A wine merchant, Steve Spurrier (no, not the football coach), owned a

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wine store and wine school, L’Academie du Vin. Many of his clients were expat Americans, anxious to learn more about wine. Spurrier was intrigued by some of the California Cabernets and Chardonnays his students brought in for him to taste. Curious to see how these vinous newcomers would do against French wines made from the same grapes, he arranged a blind wine tasting in celebration of the American bicentennial activities in Paris.

You say you want a revolution The French tasters chosen for the event were the cognoscenti of French wine, all with

impeccable professional credentials, the crème de la crème of France’s oenophiles. Only one of them had ever tasted a Californian wine before. Some of the best wines of Bordeaux, first growths and others, were matched against California Cabernet Sauvignons, and Burgundy’s famed white wines were matched against California Chardonnays. First came the white wines. California white wines took three of the top four spots in the blind tasting, with a 1973 Chateau Montelena beating out a 1973 MeursaultCharmes Burgundy for the top rating. The unthinkable had happened, at least from a French point of view. But they moved on to taste the red wines — a tad more crucial, as red wines were viewed as far more important and prestigious than whites. The tasting organizer, Spurrier, admits that, rather than wait until the end to announce the results as he had originally planned, he informed the judges that a California white had won the first tasting. Panicked, judges did everything to identify which they thought were the California reds and to make sure they got low marks. To much gnashing of Gallic teeth, California came out on top a second time. The 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, their first vintage, produced with grapes from vines a mere three years old, was judged the best. The Cabernet Sauvignon had vanquished four top-ranked Bordeaux, including first-growths Château MoutonRothschild and Château Haut-Brion. Wow! Fulmination abounded. Questions were raised, loudly, about the validity of the test and of the statistical methods used to tally results. The whole thing would have been kept under French wraps and quickly forgotten. However, there was an American journalist present, George Taber, TIME magazine’s Paris correspondent. It was he who broke the news to the world. This was a vinous “shot heard round the world.” It catapulted California wines onto the world stage by illustrating that exceptional wines could come from somewhere other than traditionally sacrosanct French terroir. And this was more than just a one-time, lucky event. It’s been duplicated over the years, often with similar results. I would recommend renting the movie, Bottle Shock, as it depicts the event and is highly entertaining.

California, here we come All this has meaning beyond being a

Around the world And it didn’t stop there. If the Judgement of

Trevor Burton would recommend renting the movie, Bottle Shock, as it’s about the 1976 tasting and is highly entertaining.

Paris was a vinous shot heard round the world, the results, themselves, also shot around the world. Take Australia, for example. There had been a wine culture in the country since it was founded as a British penal colony in the late 18th century. Most wine made was for domestic consumption. Recognizing the situation and its implications, Australian winemakers were happy to sit on California’s coattails and enter into the international market for wine. The same thing for other countries: Chile, Argentina, South Africa and more. And not just Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Grape varieties from throughout the Old World found new life in the New

World. Grapes like Merlot, Pinot Grigio and many, many more. There have been huge investments in all the New World countries —ironically, much of it from France where winemakers weren’t able to find the same opportunities back home. This is more than just an absorbing wine tale. It has given us so many options to choose from when it comes to wine. We get to taste what the differences are between wines made from grapes from all around the world. Wines from Australia have their own nuances, as do wines from Chile, Argentina and other countries. A whole world of wine to let your taste buds do their thing and go exploring — a world of difference. The ripples of the Big Bang are smoothing out. By now, all that’s left to do is taste and savor the wine — maybe while watching Bottle Shock. Enjoy. About The Writer

ripping yarn. It changed the world, literally. California Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays were more than just okayed, they were lauded, and California’s wine industry took off. In just a few years the number of California wineries tripled, and the amount of quality wines being produced exploded. All this coincided with an interesting marketing dynamic. American consumers were becoming more interested in wine, but there was still an intimidation factor. Ordering a bottle of Old World wine from a wine merchant or a sommelier at a restaurant, one still had to have a somewhat deep knowledge to figure out whether to chose a Château Mouton-Rothschild or a Château Haut-Brion, to use a couple of examples from the 1976 tasting’s runner-up list. California made it easy — all one needed to know was which grape to choose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and so on. The practice of using grape varieties rather than domaines or regions made life easier. Buying a domestic wine was a snap compared to buying one from Europe. Just another reason to prefer a Californian wine.

Trevor Burton of Mooresville is 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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Thoughts from the Man Cave

Caroline Savicki is her daddy's little girl.

Dear Caroline,

Mike Savicki photography by Mike Savicki

I know you are not quite three, and it will be some years before you are actually able to read this letter, and more before you are able to understand the emotions and feelings behind the words, but I still thought writing to you this Father’s Day might be a great way to share a few lessons I have already learned from our time together. So let’s start at the beginning. I have always been a planner. In the days before I knew I’d be bringing you and Mommy home from the hospital right after you were born, I remember doing test drives to study every curve, memorize every bump and familiarize myself with the speed limits, intersections and traffic flow. I wanted to be prepared, safe and ready when the big day came. But the moment we clipped your carrier into the seat base and started moving, something magical happened, I got caught up in the magnitude of the moment and forgot everything. My emotions took over, and I found myself simply awestruck and amazed by what was happening.

A Letter from

Daddy Writer Mike Savicki writes to his daughter, Caroline 38 lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Lesson number one. Prepare as best you can, but never let preparation get in the way of seeing the magic and mystery of the moment. I am learning that being a dad doesn’t come with instructions. Late on one of the first nights home, when Mommy needed to sleep for three hours between feedings, she handed you to me then rolled over on her side and closed her eyes. I held you swaddled in my arms and never moved a muscle. Why? I didn’t know what else to do. When Mommy awoke, we laughed because she had to peel you from my arms because my body had frozen in one position. Everyone was fine. Lesson number two. When you aren’t sure what to do, trust your instincts. Sometimes I’m too stone-faced. Before you could talk, we began playing a silly game where one of us made a face, and then the other person copied it. For lack of a more creative name, I call it “The Face Game.” What’s great is that no matter what faces we make along the way, like happy, sad, scared, surprised, startled, humbled, confused or amazed,

we always end the game with smiles and laughter, and that makes me feel more connected to you in a way words can’t.

Lesson number four. Be aware and worry sometimes, but allow yourself to experience that which might be outside your comfort zone and you will see beyond your fears. I am different from most dads because

Lesson number five. Embrace the fact that you are different, and do your absolute best with what you have. Looking ahead, talking about love isn’t something a dad is trained to do with his daughter. Sure, there are books out there with lots of different stories that back theories, but when I think about doing it with you, I get nervous. Sure, I’ll probably scare off a few boyfriends, and I’ll likely stand in the way of a few other possibilities reaching the front door, but I’ll never get in the way of you being in charge of your life and embracing your passions. Lesson number six. Be proud of the woman you will become, and be self-confident and brave, too. And

remember, I may not have answers, but I’ll always be a shoulder for you to lean on when you need it. Oh, just one more thing. By the time you learn to read, and you get this far into my letter, I will have already read this to you 1,000 times, mostly while you were sleeping and I was stationed outside your door making sure the monsters stayed away. I will have cried almost every single time. My final lesson, Caroline — it’s okay to cry. Happy Father’s Day. Love,

Daddy About The Writer

Lesson number three. If you want to connect with someone, truly and deeply, look him or her in the eye and give a smile that starts in your heart. Chances are good that they will smile, too, and you will connect. A new father doesn’t need any extra incentive to worry. I worry about you all the time. There are the toddler worries, like not wanting you to trip, fall or get sick, then there are the lifetime worries, like not wanting you to get seriously ill or injured physically, emotionally or psychologically. But, to be honest, I don’t know what kind of world is out there waiting for you, and I am learning there is only so much I can worry about before it overwhelms.

I’m in a wheelchair. Sure, I can roll 40 miles an hour down a hill in my racer (and that’s cool), but I cannot climb a flight of stairs (and that stinks). What I have learned, and what I want you to remember as you meet new people, is that we all have differences, some more visible than others, and we are all unique and special in our own ways.

Freelance writer Mike Savicki has lived and worked in the Lake Norman area for nearly two decades. His interest in athletics and love of sports journalism spans from racing to rugby and anything in between.

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Game On by Mike Savicki photography by Candy Howard

Lessons (and Love) from Dad

With college and pro aspirations, Claudia Wiktorin makes her mark on the courts

s nearly as she can recall, Claudia Wiktorin’s fascination with balls and ball sports began at around age two or three. Her father, Lennart, was mainly the cause. Having relocated from his native Sweden several years earlier, Lennart brought with him a love of sport that extended from hockey and rugby to soccer, handball and tennis. To say their lives, and their house, was filled with balls would be an understatement.

A natural

Tennis balls fascinated Claudia the most. Bouncing, throwing and hitting tennis balls had become a central part of her daily routine by age 5. Hardly a day passed when she was away from a tennis ball and racket, and no wall, door or window in their Davidson house was outside her target range. So when her parents enrolled Claudia in tennis lessons at River Run at age 6, and she first met club pro, Georg Husk, and

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Bruce Hawtin, Lennart thought he had finally found Claudia a more appropriate location to express her hitting passion. “But what we found [after Claudia began taking lessons] was that she would come home and just keep hitting balls after her lessons ended,” Lennart, 62, recalls. “The lessons sparked something in her. We built her a wall outside, then when it got dark she would come in and pick areas like the opening above a doorway below the ceiling to volley, and she would do it until we had to yell to her to stop.” Claudia’s natural talent, love of the game and passion to improve made a mark on Husk from the very beginning, as well.

“Looking back, Claudia was a natural talent. She was always a great ball striker, strong, athletic and powerful,” recalls Husk. “I remember I’d often have to just end the lessons because she would be hitting the ball off the fence beyond the court, and having fun with it, and I couldn’t get her to keep it within the lines. “In the end,” he adds, “she figured it out, and now she is an incredible, powerful ball striker. And that’s what the women’s game is all about these days, so she is well positioned.” By age 12, Lennart says Claudia began beating him in matches (Claudia says it was much earlier), and he knew it would soon be time for her to find a coach who could take her to a higher level. “I had already begun to see she needed more than what I could provide,” he says. “I had always known I could take

Lennart Wiktorin, Claudia's father, coached her to a certain level before encouraging her to train at various tennis academies.

Claudia Wiktorin discovered she had a natural talent for tennis when she was 5 years old.

her to a certain level then that would be it. Better coaching, a higher game, a chance for her to grow off the court, that’s what she needed, and I knew the process might take her away from home. I wanted her to meet the international players, too, because I felt that would be important if she wanted to play tennis.” That change came when she was 14.

Training with top players Claudia began what is now a four-year span where she has lived and trained at some of the country’s top tennis academies. Her first stop was at Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Florida and later at IMG in

Claudia began beating her father at tennis by age 12.

Bradenton, Florida. Claudia says her game has improved exponentially, as she now regularly trains up to six hours a day on the courts and on her fitness with many of the world’s top players. Claudia’s results speak volumes. Her junior world ranking rose to close to 200 as she competed in Norway and Sweden, as well as all across Europe,

Georg Husk at River Run says Claudia is an "incredible, powerful ball striker."

South America and the Caribbean. While a December birthday meant Claudia aged out of the junior ranks before many of her friends, she sees it as an opportunity to begin college (she will attend North Carolina State University this fall) and start her quest to turn pro with the goal of hopefully one day attaining a world top 10 ranking. But coming home to Davidson, and hitting balls with her father on the same River Run courts where she first learned the game, and where they fine tuned it together for more than 300 tournaments so far, is something Claudia looks forward to doing whenever she can. “My dad was my first coach, and no matter where I go and where I play, I know I can always come home and we can hit,” Claudia says. “There is something special about that. I feel comfortable with my dad, and I know when we are together I can work on little things without feeling the pressure. And even though he’s not my coach anymore, he knows me so well, and he has taught me so much, from what it takes to get me motivated or to stay focused, so it’s great to be on the court with him.”

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Judy and Ed McLean's back yard in Davidson offers a fairy tale-like atmosphere.

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Home Port

Judy McLean cultivates joy in her garden

Just for the Fun of It

by Lori K. Tate photography by Ken Noblezada

Judy McClean

n the door of Judy and Ed McLean’s Davidson home is a colorful wooden sign that reads Cultivate Joy. One glance at their yard, and you’ll see that they take this statement seriously. “Gardening has always been a passion of mine,” says Judy, a Pennsylvania native. “I would rather be digging in the dirt than doing anything else.”

A side of sun The McLeans moved to Davidson nine years ago after living on Lake Norman. While their Davidson lot is not as large as the one and quarter acre they had on the lake, Judy has turned their yard into a botanical oasis that constantly attracts visitors. “People are always coming by and talking about the garden, how much they enjoy the garden. That makes

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Above, a clematis offers bursts of purple on her front steps. Below, Judy's vegetable garden features everything from onions to two kinds of mint. Right, special touches throughout the garden give the space a whimsical feel.

me feel good to know that I can bring joy to other people,” says Judy, who retired six years ago. “They’ll always stop and talk and ask questions.” Judy has lots of answers, as the lifelong gardener is in the process of becoming a Master Gardener and is a member of the Davidson Garden Club. Ironically, Judy’s mother was not a gardener, but she did let her plant packets of seeds

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in the yard. And one time, her mother let her dig up her peony plants. Everywhere Judy and Ed have lived, they have had a garden, but Ed is quick to point out that he’s just the yardman. It’s Judy who tends to the plants, so having a garden was an important factor when they purchased their Charleston-style house in Davidson. The corner lot they chose had a side yard, and Judy knew that would give

her plenty of room to use her green thumb. The side yard is the perfect place for plants that need direct sun, as there is no shade. Here, Judy has a mosaic of flowers that she loves including heather, gardenias, Foxtail Fern, hibiscus, white phlox, peonies, Swiss chard and more. Her

Judy is happiest when she's digging in the dirt.

Hastas are one of Judy's favorite plants.

Asian Lilly bush is filled with buds about to burst into beautiful pink blossoms. “I wish you could see it. They are just one mass of pink when they bloom. They’re just beautiful,” she says, as she walks on to the vegetable garden. A year and a half ago, Ed gave her

a truckload of garden soil. Later on for her birthday, he built her three raised beds for a vegetable garden. Judy heard Don Rosenberg, founder of Instant Organic Garden, speak at the Davidson Garden Club and patterned her vegetable beds after his instructions.

Where Beauty

Functionality Meet

The result is a live salad bar. There’s squash, zucchini, four different kinds of lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, spinach and onions. In her herb garden, you’ll find two kinds of mint, a bay plant, oregano, basil and parsley. “The cherry tomatoes are volunteers that the birds put in my yard every year,” she says, “This year I planted them in a pot.”

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A labor of love The back yard of the McLean’s home is intentionally shady for all of her plants that don’t care for the sun. When the couple first moved in, a shallow wall stood behind the house. When they began removing the wall, they found large amounts of gravel. Judy was still working at the time and spent her weekends trying to make the space a natural area. Ed even made her a sieve for the gravel. They finally hired a landscape designer to replace the wall with a curved wall and plant crape myrtles and the basic foundation plants. Now, different types of Mondo Grass and various hastas make their home there. An Aucuba Dogwood sits in the corner blooming later in the spring than the traditional white dogwood tree. Judy says this type of dogwood isn’t as prone to disease as the native dogwoods are. It also looks differently because it has pointed white petals instead of round ones. On the narrow alley between her home and her neighbor’s is where Judy

Plants and flowers line the inside and outside of the McLean's white picket fence.

keeps her Ostrich Fern collection. “When we lived at the lake, I got these Ostrich Ferns. They are a huge fern,” explains Judy. “When I came here, I probably brought five plants. I have given away hundreds. …They grow by runners, and they just keep producing and producing.” As long as they keep growing, she’ll keep giving them away. “They are very prolific,

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and they are happy here,” she adds. One of Judy’s favorite things about gardening is sharing with others, whether it’s someone getting pleasure from looking at her garden or receiving a bouquet of flowers from it. “Gardening is a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love,” she says. “I’m happiest when I’m out here. It’s therapeutic.”

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BEAUTY

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glennroberson.com

One of the best things about living at Lake Norman is its summer nights. When the sun goes down, the temperature is perfect for a casual picnic, complete with an outdoor concert or movie. We rounded up the best entertainment offers of the season so all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy.

MOVIES 2015 Cornelius Outdoor Cinema Series (June 10, 20, 24) Enjoy movies under the stars through The Town of Cornelius. All movies are shown on the town’s inflatable blimp screen. Some movies are edited for general content. The unique “Boat-In” movie at Jetton Park is hosted by the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. It gives spectators the opportunity to view the movie from land or from the lake. Boaters will be able to watch the movie from their boats and receive audio via boat radio or handheld radio. 8:30 p.m. Free. www.cornelius.org. June 10, The Little Rascals Save the Day, Kenton Place, 17115 Kenton Drive June 20, The Monuments Men, Cornelius Town Hall Lawn, 21445 Catawba Avenue June 24, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Kenton Place July 8, Annie (2014), Kenton Place July 22, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Kenton Place July 25, Moms’ Night Out, Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road August 5, Big Hero 6, Kenton Place August 15, Get On Up, The James Brown Story, Cornelius Town Hall August 19, Guardians of the Galaxy, Kenton Place Movies at McGuire (July 10 and August 14) Two large screens make viewing possible by land or by boat. Bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the show. If coming by boat you may anchor in the EnergyExplorium’s cove at the southern tip of Lake Norman. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Movies to be determined. 8:50 p.m. Free.

EnergyExplorium, 13339 Hagers Ferry Road, Huntersville, www.duke-energy.com Movies in the Park (June 6) Enjoy a movie in the park with your family. Presented by Radiant Life Fellowship, this summer movie series features pre-movie entertainment. Bring chairs and blankets. Movies begin at dusk. Free. North Mecklenburg Park, 16131 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, www.huntersville.org. June 6, Big Hero 6 August 28, Cinderella

MUSIC Celebrate America with Symphony in the Park and Fireworks (June 27) The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performs at Bailey Road Park before a fireworks display. The patriotic program includes: God Bless America, Hail to the Spirit of Liberty, A Salute to the Armed Forces, America the Beautiful, Stephen Foster Overture, Ode to the Star Spangled Banner and more. Bring picnics, blankets and chairs. KidsZone provided by Journey Church. Gates open at 6 p.m. Free. Bailey Road Park, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org. Charlotte Symphony Summer Pops (June 19) The Charlotte Symphony performs its Summer Pops program at the EnergyExplorium. Enjoy a picnic with your family under the stars, while you listen to classical music at its finest. You can even come by boat and anchor in the cove by the EnergyExplorium. 8:15 p.m. Free. EnergyExplorium, 13339 Hagers Ferry Road, Huntersville, www.dukeenergy.com Concerts on the Green (June-September) This annual tradition on the first and third Sundays of

LangTree Lake Norman LIVE (Every Thursday) This 21-week concert series is new on the lake scene and is already showing a lot of promise with performances from bands such as Simplified, The Spongetones, Swingin Richards and Joystick. 5-10 p.m. Free. LangTree Lake Norman, 119 Landings Drive, Mooresville, www.langtreelkn.com.

compiled by Lori K. Tate

Norman Outdoor Lake offers a variety concerts and Music and ofmovies under Movies the stars

the month is a must in Davidson. Be sure to pack a picnic and bring your blankets and chairs. 6-8 p.m. Free. Davidson Village Green, www.concertsonthegreen.com. June 14, Band of Oz June 21, Sidecar Social Club July 4, Pushh August 2, Image August 16, Rusty Knox Band September 6, The BackBeat September 20, Davidson Symphony & Jazz

Currently

Mingling on the Green Concert Series (Every Friday and Saturday) Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday evening at Birkdale Village, Huntersville’s unofficial town square. 7-9 p.m. Free. Birkdale Village, Huntersville, www.birkdalevillage.net. June 5, Borderlyne June 6, The Glass Hammers June 12, Dukes & Smith June 13, Rowan Big Band All Stars June 19, Leslie & Friends June 20, The Invaders June 26, Next Level Band June 27, Jon Benson Band July 3, Soundbarrier July 4, John T. Woodall Band July 10, Xtrabakin July 11, Rowan Big Band All Stars July 17, Michael Wolf & D.B.A. July 18, Indefinite July 24, Throwback Thursday Party Band July 25, Calvin Edwards Trio July 31, Robert Trice, Jr. August 1, Tim Cook Band August 7, Jon Benson Band August 8, Nita B. & Her Soiree August 14, Next Level Band August 15, Neighbor Unknown August 21, Dana & Susan August 22, The Groove Masters August 28, The Glass Hammers August 29, Exit 54 Music on Main (Through October) This monthly concert series brings folks to Downtown Mooresville for a good time. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free. The Lawn of the Mooresville Town Hall, www.downtownmooresville.com. June 5, Radiojacks July 3, Image August 7, Band Concord September 4, Moondance Orchestra October 2, Coastline

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

A month of things to do in the Lake Norman area Date Night

CONCERTS LangTree Lake Norman LIVE (Every Thursday) This 21-week concert series features all sorts of music every Thurdsay evening. 5-10 p.m. Free. LangTree Lake Norman, Mooresville, www.langtreelkn.com. Mingling on the Green Concert Series (Every Friday and Saturday) Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday evening at Birkdale Village. June 5, Borderlyne; June 6, The Glass Hammers; June 12, Dukes & Smith; June 13, Rowan Big Band All Stars; June 19, Leslie & Friends; June 20, The Invaders; June 26, Next Level Band; June 27, Jon Benson Band. 7-9 p.m. Free. Birkdale Village, Huntersville, www.birkdalevillage.net. Music on Main (June 5) The Radiojacks perform. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free. The Lawn of the Mooresville Town Hall, www. downtownmooresville.com. Concerts on the Green (June 14 and 21) Kick off spring with this favorite concert series. Band of Oz (June 14), Sidecar Social Club (June 21). 6-8 p.m. Free. Davidson Village Green, www.townofdavidson.org. Lake Norman Big Band (June 15) The Lake Norman Big Band plays every third Monday night at The Finish Line Restaurant in Mooresville. The show features favorite hits from the big band era and more. 7-9 p.m. $5 cover. Call 704.664.2695 for reservations. The Finish Line Restaurant, 125 Morlake Drive, Mooresville, www. thelakenormanbigband.org. Charlotte Symphony (June 19) The Charlotte Symphony performs at the EnergyExplorium. Enjoy a picnic with your family under the stars. You can even come by boat and anchor in the cove by the EnergyExplorium. 8:15 p.m. Free. EnergyExplorium, 13339 Hagers Ferry Road, Huntersville, www.duke-energy.com

Symphony in the Park and Fireworks (June 27) The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performs at Bailey Road Park before a fireworks display. Bring picnics, blankets

and chairs. KidsZone provided by Journey Church. Gates open at 6 p.m. Free. Bailey Road Park, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org.

EVENTS

Girls’ Night Out

Family Fun

chairs and blankets. Movies begin at dusk. Free. North Mecklenburg Park, 16131 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, www.huntersville.org. 2015 Outdoor Cinema Series (June 10, 20, 24) Enjoy movies under the stars through The Town of Cornelius. The Little Rascals Save the Day (June 10) — Kenton Place, 17115 Kenton Drive; The Monuments Men (June 20) Cornelius Town Hall Lawn, 21445 Catawba Avenue; The Amazing Spiderman 2 (June 24) Kenton Place. 8:30 p.m. Free. Locations listed above, www. cornelius.org.

Sailors with Special Needs (June 6) This event is held for individuals of all ages who have special needs due to cognitive/neurological disabilities. Highly qualified North Carolina Community Sailing volunteers offer 30 to 60 minute “navigational expeditions” aboard their Flying Scot sailboats. Held twice a year, this is an opportunity for special needs individuals and their immediate families to experience the thrills Indies + Docs (June 26-28) In of being out on the water. Noon-3 Leviathan, Kolya (AlexeÏ Serebriap.m. Free to residents/$5 for nonkov) lives in a small fishing town residents. North Carolina Communear the stunning Barents Sea in nity Sailing, 15901 NC 73 Highway, Northern Russia. He owns an autoHuntersville, www.cornelius.org. repair shop that stands right next Warrior Dash at Rural Hill to the house where he lives with (June 6) Experience 3.08 miles his young wife Lilya (Elena Liadova) like never before with wooded and his son Roma (SergueÏ Pokhoforests and 10 obstacles, including daev) from a previous marriage. Chaotic Cargo, Goliath, Alcatraz, The town’s corrupt mayor, Vadim Deadman’s Drop, Diesel Dome, Shelevyat (Roman Madianov), Giant Cliffhanger, Great Warrior Wall is determined to take away his and Hard Rain. Proceeds benefit St. business, his house, as well as his Jude Children’s Research Hospital. land. First the mayor tries buying Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, off Kolya, but Kolya unflinchingly Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net. For fights as hard as he can so as not to times and entry fees, visit www. lose everything he owns, including warriordash.com. the beauty that has surrounded him from the day he was born. Civil War Re-enactment (June 6-7) Travel back in time to Charlotte Facing resistance, the mayor starts being more aggressive. View Levia1865, as you enjoy live demonstrathan on a 17-foot screen in 5.1 surtions, exhibits, seeing the living round sound. 7 p.m. $9. Warehouse history farm animals, live music, Performing Arts Center, 9216-A food vendors and more. The Ladies Take Tea Tea Party fills at a first come Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www.studioccinema.com. first serve basis at noon each day. A battle reenacting the end of the Civil War occurs each day at 2 p.m. on the front lawn (don’t forget Brick Row Art Gallery Various exyour chairs). 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Adults: hibitions. Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or $8 seniors/students $7, children by appointment. 21325 Catawba under 5 free. Historic Latta PlantaAvenue, Cornelius, look for Brick tion, 5225 Sample Road, HuntersRow Art Gallery on Facebook. ville, www.lattaplantation.org. Cornelius Arts Center MonThu 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri-Sat 9 a.m.-noon. 19725 Oak Street, Movies in the Park (June 6) Enjoy Cornelius, www.cornelius.org. a movie in the park with your “Cotton” Ketchie’s Landmark family. Presented by Radiant Life Galleries Various exhibitions. Fellowship, this summer movie series features pre-movie entertain- The work of watercolorist ‘Cotment. Big Hero 6 (June 6). Bring ton’ Ketchie. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

GALLERIES

FILM

Me Time

p.m. 212 North Main Street, Mooresville, 704.664.4122, www. landmark-galleries.com. Depot Art Gallery Various exhibits. Opening reception and awards presentation, October 10 6-8 p.m. 103 W. Center Avenue, Mooresville, www.magart.org. Foster’s Frame and Art Gallery Various exhibitions. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10a.m.-4p.m. 403 N. Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, 704.948.1750. Four Corners Framing and Gallery Various exhibitions. Tue-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 112 S. Main Street, Mooresville, 704.662.7154, www.fcfgframing.com. Lake Country Gallery Various exhibitions. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Exit 36 – Mooresville, between Belk and Kohl’s, 704.664.5022, www.lakecountrygallery.net. Sanctuary of Davidson Various exhibitions. 108 S. Main Street, Davidson, www. sanctuaryofdavidson.com. Tropical Connections Various exhibitions. Tue- Fri 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment. 230 N. Main Street, Mooresville, www.tropicalconnectionslakenorman.com. The Van Every/Smith Galleries Rising Senior Art Majors (Through July 30) Having early exposure to what is involved in preparing for an exhibition, rising senior art majors experience first-hand the many steps required in showing their work. Come see a sneak peak of next year’s Senior Studio Art Major Shows. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; SatSun noon-4 p.m. Davidson College, The Van Every/Smith Galleries, 315 N. Main Street, Davidson, www. davidsoncollegeartgalleries.org.

M ONTHLY EVENTS Carolina Raptor Center Live bird presentations, flight shows, behind-the-scenes tours and more take place at Carolina Raptor Center throughout the month. Visit carolinaraptorcenter.org for more details.

The Artisan Market Craft Crawl (First Saturday) Formerly known as the Mooresville Craft Crawl, this market features baked goods, clothing, embroidery, jewelry, paintings, pottery, quilts and woodcarvings with an edge. 5-9 p.m. Free. Mooresville Town Square across from Lowe’s Foods. https://www. facebook.com/artisanmarketnc.

Corner of Church Street and East Iredell Avenue, Mooresville, www. downtownmooresville.com.

Lunch in the Lot (every Wednesday and Friday) Feast from a food truck in Old Town Cornelius at Oak Street Mill. Tables and chairs are set up at Kadi Fit so you can enjoy your lunch with friends. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Look for Old Town Cornelius on Facebook. Davidson Farmer’s Market (Every Saturday) 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Next to Town Hall between Main and Jackson streets in downtown Davidson, www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. Mooresville Museum (First and Third Saturday)View exhibits and artifacts from Mooresville’s past and present. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 132 E. Center Avenue, Mooresville, www.downtownmooresville.com. Downtown Mooresville Farmers Market (Every Saturday) This market features local produce, meats, eggs and more. 8 a.m.-noon.

Richard’s Coffee Shop & Veterans Museum (Every Saturday) Enjoy a community music jam every Saturday. 9 a.m.- noon. Free. Richards Coffee Shop & Veterans Museum, 165 N. Main Street, Mooresville, www.downtownmooresville.com.

SPORTS Mooresville Spinners (June 2) Come out and watch the Mooresville Spinners play baseball. The Spinners are a summer collegiate baseball team in the Carolina Virginia League. June 2, Virginia Marlins, 7 p.m.; June 4, Catawba Valley, 7 p.m.; June 5, Charlotte, 7 p.m.; June 6, Deep River, 7 p.m.; June 10, Virginia Marlins, 7 p.m.; June 11, Charlotte, 7 p.m.; June 12, Montreat, 7 p.m.; June 13, Piedmont, 7 p.m.; June 19, Charlotte, 7 p.m.; June 25, Catawba Valley, 7 p.m.; June 26, High Point Locos, 7 p.m.; June 27, Piedmont, 7 p.m.; June 28, Fuquay Varina, 1 p.m.; June 30, Charlotte, 7 p.m. $5. Moor Park, 691 Broad Street, Mooresville, www.mooresvillespinners.com.

The Bass Federation Southern Divisional Championship (June 9-12) Every year, the top 12 anglers of every state compete in the TBF Divisional Tournament Series. The top 2 finishers of each state in the divisional tournament move on to the TBF National Championship. Each year, one State Federation within that Division hosts the event, having a different state on a rotation schedule. TBF has 7 Divisions for the 47 State Federations to compete in – Northwestern, Southwestern, Northern, Central, Southern, Eastern & Mid-Atlantic. Lake Norman is the host this year. 6 a.m. until. Blythe Landing, 15901 NC Highway 73, Huntersville, www.visitlakenorman.org. 18+ Adult Tennis State Championships (June 11-14, 9-12) The North Carolina Tennis Association holds its state championship tournaments in the Lake Norman area. More than 1,500 of the top 18 & over competitors from across the state will compete in the four-day tournament. www.lnta.org.

THEATRE The Sloane Sketch Comedy (June 5-6, 19-21) The comedic piece will have you leaving the

theatre laughing. Thu-Sat 8 p.m. Tickets TBA. Warehouse PAC, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www.warehousepac.com CATS, The Musical (June 9-14) Twenty-nine actors from Charlotte to Concord and north to Mooresville will perform the musical CATS. The performance is based on the poems of T.S. Elliot. CATS is a musical that is entirely sung and danced. 7 p.m. $9. Community School of Davidson ArtSpace, Davidson, www.csdnc.org. Chicago The Musical (June 18-27) In roaring ’20s Chicago, Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap...until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream, “ as well as fame, fortune and acquittal. Recommended for ages 12 and up because of adult themes. Thu-Sat 8 p.m., Sun (June 21) 2 p.m., Sat (June 27) 2 p.m. Advanced tickets: $24, senior (65+) $22, student (21 and under) $12 . Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson College, www. davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

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53 lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Living Well Your local resource for health and wellness services near you Audiology

Family Medicine

Internal Medicine

Occupational Medicine

Piedmont HealthCare Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD Kathryn Curtis, AuD

Piedmont HealthCare Tiana Losinski,MD

Piedmont HealthCare Manish G. Patel, MD Julie Abney, PA Amy K. Bolling, FNP-BC

Piedmont HealthCare Frederick U. Vorwald, MD

140 Gateway Blvd. Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

Cardiology Piedmont HealthCare Gary K. DeWeese, MD, FACC

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829

Dermatology Piedmont HealthCare Naomi Simon, MD Scott Paviol, MD Kristen Prochaska, PA-C

128 Medical Park Road, Suite 201, Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1827

Piedmont HealthCare Steven F. Wolfe, MD Nikki Leahy, PA-C Jennifer Bender, PA-C

114 Gateway Blvd., Unit D Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-663-2085

Riva Aesthetic Dermatology

General Dermatology, Coolsculpting, Botox, all Fillers, Laser/IPL

Kerry M. Shafran, MD, FAAD Lindsay Jayson, MPAS, PA-C Keri Squittieri, MMS, PA-C Mari Klos, CMA, LE 704-896-8837 Cornelius www.Rivaderm.com

Ears, Nose and Throat Piedmont HealthCare Keith Meetze, MD Thomas Warren, MD Herb Wettreich, MD Fred New, Jr., ANP

140 Gateway Blvd. Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

Piedmont HealthCare

Ronel R. Enrique, MD 359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-838-8255

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357 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-7328

206 Joe V. Knox Ave. Suite J Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-4801

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435 East Statesville Avenue Mooresville, NC 28115 • 704-663-5056

Piedmont HealthCare Emmett Montgomery, MD Rebecca Montgomery, MD

191 West Plaza Drive Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-4000

Piedmont HealthCare Alisa C. Nance, MD Lana Simmons, FNP-C

150 Fairview Road, Suite 210 Mooresville, NC 28117 •704-235-0300

Bremnor Family Medicine Judy Bremnor, MD, FAAFP

136 Corporate Drive, Suite H Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-660-9780

Iredell Family Medicine Emily Nabors, MD FAAFP

544 Brawley School Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-5190

Gastroenterology Charlotte Gastroenterology and Hepatology John H. Moore, III, MD Steven A. Josephson, MD Scott A. Brotze, MD Michael W. Ryan, MD

Lake Norman Offices 13808 Professional Center Dr. Huntersville, NC 28078 150 Fairview Rd., Ste. 120 Mooresville, NC 28117 Appointment line 704-377-0246 www.charlottegastro.com Locations also in Charlotte, Ballantyne, SouthPark & Matthews

Piedmont HealthCare Carl A. Foulks, Jr., MD Angela Kellermeyer, PA-C

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Vein Specialists Carolina Vein Associates Specializing in the Treatment of Varicose and Spider Veins

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Who will be named the

2015 Best of Lake Norman and bring home the coveted

CURRENT Award? YOU Decide!

We all have our favorite spot to eat, play and enjoy all things Lake Norman, so again this year CURRENTS Magazine is giving you the chance to choose the BEST OF LAKE NORMAN. Beginning June 1, simply go to our website at www.LNcurrents.com/BOTL and write in your favorite local spot in a variety of categories from Best Burger to Best Place to Work Out. On July 10, we’ll take the top five vote-getters and name them the finalists in our Best of the Lake competition. The business receiving the top number of writein votes will be named our 2015 Best of Lake Norman winner and awarded our beautiful CURRENT Award during a special ceremony in mid-July (details to come). Winners will also be featured inside our annual Best of the Lake issue publishing on August 3. The top five finalists will be listed in every category as well. We’ve listed the categories here to give you a chance to think about your favorites. All you have to do is go to our website at www.LNcurrents.com/BOTL and write in your favorites! Please limit your choices to locally owned (Lake Norman-area) businesses only. All completed entries will be eligible for a random drawing for $100, so be sure to enter your contact information on your ballot. Only ballots with 50 percent or more of the categories filled in will be considered.

Get your friends involved! Help us get the word out and the votes in! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, link our site to your site, call, text, e-mail and even tell your friends face to face. We already know we live in the BEST spot in the world, so let’s salute the BEST of the BEST.

Business Owners:

Encourage your customers to vote! You know your business is the best so make sure your customers get their votes in. Promote it on your website, your email blasts, your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Be sure to include our CURRENT Award ICON in all of your advertising, reminding our readers to vote for your business.

704-749-8788 | www.LNCurrents.com | Sharon@LNCurrents.com /LNCurrents

/LNCurrents

2015 Best of the Lake Categories Food • Best Burger • Best Pizza • Best Appetizer • Best Beer Selection • Best Wine Selection • Best Steak • Best Seafood • Best Lakeside Dining • Best Ice Cream • Best Dessert • Best Sushi • Best Coffee • Best Mexican Food • Best Barbecue • Best Bakery

Arts & Culture • Best Art Gallery • Best Place to Take an Art Class • Best Place to Take a Music Class

Recreation • Best Place to Work Out • Best Place to take Yoga • Best Golf Course

Shopping • Best Women’s Boutique • Best Place to Buy Women’s Shoes • Best Place to Pamper Yourself • Best Place for Home Décor • Best Place to Buy Fashion Accessories • Best Gift Shop • Best Consignment Store • Best fine jewelry store Contest officially begins June 1, 2015. Votes will be accepted through July 10, 2015. Contest ends and voting site closed July 10, 2015 at 11pm. Employees of Venture Magazines and their families are not allowed to participate in the voting. Only one vote per computer. All results are final. Winners will be contacted by Venture Magazines and must agree to participate in a photo shoot or provide a photo to appear in the August issue of CURRENTS Magazine. CURRENTS Magazine reserves the right to delete undesirable or unacceptable content from the voting site.

Happy Voting!

Lori’s Larks by Lori K. Tate photography courtesy of Lori K. Tate

One with the Wilderness Lori K. Tate finds peace and quiet at Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve

ometimes things just work out. Take a recent Monday morning for instance. My twins had their first field trip at the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. They were only going to be there for a couple of hours, leaving my choices of what to do limited. As I was getting them ready that morning, I remembered a brochure I picked up at Davidson College’s Reptile Day. It was about Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve, conveniently located down the road from the Raptor Center. In a matter of minutes, I found my backpack and filled my water bottle because I was going hiking. I recently finished reading Cheryl

Strayed’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, a first-person memoir of how Strayed hiked 1,100 miles on the PCH — alone. Obviously, my morning hike wasn’t going to be all that, but, like Strayed, I needed some me time. Not retail therapy or a movie by myself, I needed some one on one with Mother Nature, as she knows how to calm me like no one else. So as soon as I dropped Graydon and Margot off with their class, I went to the Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve to get help charting my course for the morning. As someone who regularly gets lost in hospitals, I wasn’t going to take my chances in the wilderness without guidance and a map. Courtney Pham, who works at the front desk, looked at my map and

lake norman currents | June 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

outlined a five-mile hike that worked within my time limit. The hike included the Hill Trail, the Cove Trail and Split Rock Trail and was guaranteed to offer me beautiful views of Mountain Island Lake. With that information, I practically skipped through the parking lot to the beginning of the Hill Trail.

Editor Lori K. Tate clung to her map as she explored Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve in Huntersville.

Within minutes, a gravel road transported me to another world. Here, there were vast fields with the occasional wildflower followed by cathedrals of wooded shade followed by glimpses of the lake. A black and blue butterfly escorted me through the beginning of my journey. Soon, I reached the lake and sat on a small boulder to eat my midmorning snack. Looking across the water, I saw two fishermen perched on their boat, waiting for a nibble. “This is how Monday mornings should always be,” I thought. Soon I was back on the trail, stepping on rocks and roots to make my way to what was next. A lizard skidded across my path, a baby squirrel scurried to find refuge under a pile of brush and birds chirped in unison. The clean smell of earth engulfed me from my first step, intoxicating me with every breath. As I looped back to the Nature Center, I was sad to see my hike end but excited about future hikes with my family — and without. I chose one path, but there are plenty of others to explore, as the Preserve offers 12 trails, some hiking only and some hiking and horseback riding.

I saw a handful of people as I explored the woods given that it was a Monday morning, and that was fine with me. I made my visit to the wilderness to reconnect with nature and find the quiet center that so often becomes hidden in life’s noise. I found that and a lot more. When I picked my children up at the Carolina Raptor Center at lunchtime, they couldn’t wait to tell me about their adventures — petting a rat was among the many highlights. I just beamed and told them that mommy had a pretty fantastic morning, too. THE SCOOP Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve is located at 5226 Sample Road, Huntersville. For more information, visit www.charmeck.org.