April 2010 by Belva Greenage

apr il 2010 Compl imentar y

Kara Newport Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Grows In Her Care

Oh, Snap! Naturally Picture Perfect

A Walk In The Woods Carolina Thread Trail Connects Communities

Soap Box Back-To-Basics Clean

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How does dancing fit into the life of a school teacher and single mother?

salsa waltz

ANY interest at all in dancing, then follow through on that interest! Call DanceSport Carolina and get your fears calmed and your questions answered,” she adds. “As I look back on my life, I have too many regrets of things that I did not accomplish, pursue or even attempt. DanceSport Carolina makes dancing achievable for everyone, no matter your age, size, ability or lack of ability!” Linda Geer will be celebrating her one-year anniversary as an amateur competitive dancer May 2, at the Southern Paradise Ball at the Ballantyne Resort Hotel. Come see her and many other amateur and professional Ballroom and Latin dancers demonstrate their passion and love for dancing! DanceSport Carolina, Charlotte’s only exclusive Ballroom and Latin dance studio, offers the finest instruction in Ballroom, Latin, Swing, social dance, competitive dance, wedding dance, fast & slow dances and more! Singles, couples and teens are welcome! Please visit us on the web at www.DanceSportCarolina.com for more information on our dance studios, or call us at 704-299-4003. Ticket information for the Southern Paradise Ball ballroom dance competition, Sunday May 2, 2010 at the Ballantyne Resort Hotel & Spa in Charlotte, North Carolina, can be found at www.SouthernParadiseBall.com or by calling 704-299-4003.

Cha Cha

Tango

premier upscale dance studio in the area, with two south Charlotte locations. For Linda, finding a dance home she felt comfortable with was an essential first step. After several short months of lessons, her instructor Anthony McKnight began to notice a real talent and passion for dance emerge in Linda. Anthony asked Linda if she had ever considered competing in ballroom dance. Linda decided to give it a try. She attended the Southern Paradise Ball in May 2009. The Southern Paradise Ball is a national ballroom dance competition held annually right here in Charlotte at the Ballantyne Resort. After a fantastic first competition experience, Linda was hooked! She began entering (and winning!) ballroom dance competitions across the country. “As an amateur dancer, I have continually felt accepted and welcomed and that I fit right in at each competition I’ve attended. As a woman, I enjoy dressing up, wearing makeup and making myself look as beautiful as possible! I almost feel like a princess! Competing is fun and fun was definitely lacking in my life. After I dance, people approach me to tell me how much they enjoyed watching me and my instructor Anthony dance together. I wish I could bottle that feeling! My soul is filled,” Linda says. Pursuing a dream can be a life-changing experience. It often takes a leap of faith, a journey into the unknown, a step out of your comfort zone. “If you have

Ballroom

e all have a secret desire inside; a hobby we’ve always wanted to take up, a type of person we’ve always wanted to become, a passion that’s been waiting to surface for years. For Monroe High School teacher Linda Geer, her dream was to become an accomplished dancer. Linda, approaching her 50th birthday, was faced with many of society’s stereotypes and struggled with herself about becoming a dancer at her age. How does dancing fit into the life of a school teacher and single mother? After overcoming much insecurity, Linda decided to pursue her dream. She called DanceSport Carolina dance studio and began learning to dance! “I initially started taking dance lessons as a means for exercise and social interaction. My expectations were to become competent enough to dance in social settings (weddings, parties, etc) and not to look or feel like an idiot! I was quite hesitant about seeking a studio as I thought I had to be part of a couple, that I was too heavy and that I was much too old to begin dance lessons,” says Linda. Linda’s first impressions of DanceSport Carolina were quite positive indeed. ”The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff is extremely friendly, yet professional, and knows everyone by their name.” DanceSport Carolina is Charlotte’s only exclusive Ballroom and Latin dance studio. In business for six years, this once-small dance school has become the

Swing

Matthews/stallings

2717 Old Monroe Rd stallings, nC 28104 Ft Mill/lake wylie 13521 steeleCroft Pkwy Charlotte, nC 28278

(704) 299-4003

www.DanceSportCarolina.com Linda Geer, Student & Anthony McKnight, Instructor

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Contents A pril 2010

20 60 63

D e p a r t m e n t s

12 From The Publisher Earth Angels

14 Girl Time Tips, Trends, And Fancies

20 Queen City Jewels

Happenings You Don’t Want To Miss

24 Money Talks

A Redesign With Energy In Mind

Charlotte Women Making Strides

Along That Vein

This Way To Success

68 Health Flash What You Need To Know To Stay Well

26 On The Move 27 Work Notes 58 Beauty

Back To Basics With Soap 6 TOC0410.indd 6

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60 At Home

To Roth, Or Not To Roth

C h a r l o tt e

66 Health Matters

74 Tomorrow’s Charlotte Woman Charlotte’s Future Fabulous Females

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cheer

jump sing garden shop laugh with confidence Experience immediate relief from involuntary urine loss, a common medical condition affecting more than 12 million women in the U.S. alone. FemSoft is a reliable, non‑surgical treatment option with coverage by Medicare and a growing number of insurance plans. Talk with a specialist about trying FemSoft and get back to doing what you enjoy most.

Learn more about this simple, immediate solution at tryfemsoft.com, or call us at 1-800-FEMSOFT (1-800-336-7638).

CAUTION: Rx only. USA (Federal) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician trained in the management of urinary incontinence. INDICATION: The FemSoft Insert is indicated for the management of stress urinary incontinence in adult females. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Not for use in women with bladder or other urinary tract infection (UTI), urethral stricture, bladder augmentation, pelvic radiation, or conditions where urethral catheterization is not clinically advisable, immunocompromised, at significant risk from UTI, interstitial cystitis, pyelonephritis, history of severely compromised urinary mucosa, unable to tolerate antibiotic treatment, on anticoagulants, overflow incontinence or neurogenic bladder. WARNINGS/ PRECAUTIONS: Patient education and monitoring by a qualified professional is required for safe use. History of frequent UTI may increase risk of UTI. Continuous 24‑hour use increases the risk of complications. Replace every 6 hours to reduce UTI risk. Discontinue for urinary, vaginal, venereal infection; hematuria; bleeding; abrasion, irritation of the bladder, urethra, urethral meatus. Mental impairment may reduce ability to use safely. Safety and efficacy have not been evaluated in pregnant women. Use of improper size could result in migration or discomfort. Do not use during sexual intercourse. ADVERSE EVENTS, COMPLICATIONS, AND RISKS: The following adverse events have been reported with the use of the device: Bacteriuria, symptomatic UTI, urinary symptoms (including urgency, frequency, and nocturia), asymptomatic UTI, insertion trauma, bladder/urethral trauma/irritation, hematuria, spotting, vaginal yeast infection, device failure, bladder spasm, back pain, migration, pyelonephritis (possibly related to pre‑existing renal stones). © 2010 Rochester Medical Corporation, Stewartville, MN

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Charlotte Woman Today’s

Business/Lifestyle

Volume XIII, Number 12 April 2010 PUBLISHER

Belva Greenage

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Fern Howerin Editor

Michelle Young Hubacher Assistant Editor

Karsen Price ART DIRECTor

Anita O’Hara SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Cara Gracie Sales Director

Kristen Dibble Sales Executive

Barbara Herd Business Manager

Nikki Wilson WEb Designer

Cliff McNamara Contributing Editor

Leigh Barrett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

pROFILEs

28 BusinessWoman Of The Year Cathy Bessant, Global Technology &

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Augusto Photography Armando Bellmas James Brown Scott Stiles

Operations Exec With Bank Of America

32 How Does This Garden Grow? Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Kara Newport Directs With Care

36 Design In Shades Of Green Gantt Huberman’s Cheryl Walker Helps Guide Environmental Building

40 Home Is Where The Heart Is Matthews Cardiologist Leigh Younce Educates Patients On Heart Health

48 Smog, Be Gone Clean Air Carolina Strives For Healthier Charlotte Air

50 A Focus On Nature

The Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association Promotes Conservation

OnTheCover

FEATUREs

The Carolina Thread Trail Urges Communities To Take To The Forest

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5200 Park Road, Suite 111 Charlotte, NC 28209 704/521-6872 www.todayscharlottewoman.com Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Today’s Woman Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area. Subscription rate is $20 per year for 11 issues plus the TCW Resource Guide. Copyright ©2010 Today’s Woman, Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited. Today’s Charlotte Woman and Today’s Woman Inc. do not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers.

Kara Newport, executive director, daniel stowe botanical garden.

44 A Walk In The Woods

Jennifer Bradford-Epstein Janet Cooper Haas Fiona Harmon Michele Huggins Melinda Johnston Hannah Miller Deb Mitchell Karsen Price Lee Rhodes Carolyn Steeves

Photo by armando bellmas.

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todayscharlottewoman.com Contribute

Events

R oad Trip, Anyone? Meet Us In R aleigh For Coffee & Conversation On Fri., April 23, join us in Raleigh for a morning of storytelling and sisterhood at the Southern Women’s Show. Starting at 7:30 a.m., we’ll announce the creation of TCW’s sister publication, Today’s Triangle Woman. Meet up with co-workers and friends, do a little light networking, and mingle with some of the Triangle area’s leading ladies. Visit todayscharlottewoman.com for information or to order tickets in advance for $20 — quantities are limited.

Blog

Celebrate Mom

For The L ove O f Mom And Her Cooking! What better way to honor mom than to make her oh-so-special meatloaf part of Today’s Charlotte Woman’s first-ever virtual cookbook! We want your mom’s best recipe — you know, that one dish she’s been famous for making ever since you were a little girl. Log onto our Web site this month to find out how to participate in our Mother’s Day cookbook.

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Come Sit A Spell Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden invites visitors to “Come Sit A Spell” with its newest exhibit of artistic, useful, and unusual chairs, seats, and benches. Log on to todayscharlottewoman.com to read Web editor Karsen Price’s blog, inspired by the Southern tradition of hospitality and springtime ease.

Get Connected Social media outlets enhance relationships, make information gathering easier, and keep us in the loop with just a click. Want to be in the loop with us? Find Today’s Charlotte Woman on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Have A Heart? (A Heart Story, That Is) Do you have a heart disease or heart attack survivor story to tell? Or, have you been on the other side of the coin, and provided care to someone who suffers from heart disease? If so, the Charlotte Chapter of the American Heart Association would like to hear about it. Put pen to paper and craft your personal story for AHA’s Day Of Beauty contest. Entries will be accepted from April 1-30. Visit www.todayscharlottewoman.com for more information on making a story submission. One entry will win a day of beauty and relaxation, compliments of the AHA.

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a caro

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PHOTO BY AUGUSTO PHOTOGRAPHY

FromThePublisher

Earth A ngels A pril prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go. — Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe, A Fictional A utobiography

hat a winter! Some days, I have felt like we existed at the latitudes and longitudes of Alaska. These old bones have ached in a way that only a cold winter can bring. As we welcome spring, I feel alive again, rejuvenated, and, finally … warm! April is here in all its splendor, presenting us with a fantastic time to celebrate Mother Earth. With this April issue of TCW, we turn our attention to some of what really matters in this green age, as we shine our spotlight on several Earth Angels who continue to teach us how to better love our Mother. What better way to showcase spring and the awakening of nature than with beautiful images? Our feature on the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association may inspire you to join them in their quest — to actively conserve, preserve, and protect natural areas in the Carolinas. With 10 chapters across North and South Carolina, comprising both novices and experienced photographers, this group offers anyone with a love of nature an opportunity to learn about the Earth while practicing a shared passion for photography. With a similar mission, The Carolina Thread Trail (“The Thread”) encourages North and South Carolinians to appreciate and enjoy the natural spaces, woods, paths, and trails in our midst. I first heard about The Thread, a multistate project that focuses on our forests, at a recent meeting of a Charlotte group called Women Executives, where Ruth Shaw so passionately spoke about the need for the project. She is chair of The Thread’s governing board and plays a key role in this extraordinary effort to provide a venue for improving the physi-

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cal health of Carolinians, to link communities, and to preserve natural areas that, without this project, may cease to exist. As we learn to more fully embrace our planet, let’s remember to consider the benefits of filling our tables with locally grown fruits, vegetables, and even meats and dairy products from the many farm-fresh options available in the Charlotte area. Sometimes we just need a reminder of the goodness in produce plucked from a vine in a nearby garden, or milk from a cow in a field right around the corner. Somehow, the food just tastes better if you know it comes from Waxhaw! In addition to our celebration of this green age, the Greenages and the team here at Today’s Charlotte Woman are celebrating us — with the expansion of this wonderful publication to the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. We are launching a sister publication — Today’s Triangle Woman — in North Carolina’s exciting and vibrant Triangle region. With the same great focus on the accomplishments of that area’s women, as well as on local events and topics important to all women, TTW will launch this month with a digital edition. We, along with our partners at the Meredith College Institute for Women’s Leadership, look forward to meeting many of our future readers at the Southern Women’s Show in Raleigh, April 23. If the spirit moves you, join us that day for the Raleigh version of “Coffee & Conversation.” Visit todayscharlottewoman.com for details. Ready to go,

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GirlT ime t i p s ,

t r e n d s ,

a n d

f a n c i e s

C OMPILED BY MIC HELLE YOUN G HUBAC HER

Quick Fixes Save On Heating And Cooling

he average family spends $1,500 a year on energy bills and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly half of that amount goes to heating and cooling. The EPA estimates that homeowners can save up to 20 percent of heating and cooling costs by air-sealing homes and adding insulation to attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joints. The first step on the road to conserving energy and money is to conduct an energy audit to identify spots where energy is lost through gaps and cracks. Start in your basement and move upward. Look for visible gaps, as well as cold or hot spots.

Lighting The Way HVAC Penetration Your air-conditioning system setup could be doing more than just heating and cooling your house — it could be an air-infiltration culprit. C heck the HVAC ducts from your attic and basement into your living space. There may be gaps where the ducts go through the floor above into the ceiling below. The EPA recommends sealing these leaks with spray foam, caulk, or weather stripping.

Plumbing Although plumbing pipes may be hidden behind or under the sink, it doesn’t mean that the pipe penetrations aren’t allowing unwanted outside air and maybe even bugs into the house. C heck for holes where the pipes enter from the floor or wall in all rooms that have running water (kitchen, bathroom, utility room, and laundry room).

Electrical Circuit Box Stand in front of the electrical box of your house and look for where the main electrical lines exit the box and enter the living space (look upward from basement boxes). If there is a hole, seal it. 14

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Electrical Outlets Over 10 years of: Experience, Education, Applied Science & Carefully Planned Treatment Protocols to effectively help you achieve your goals!

Homes have holes cut in the walls to accommodate electrical outlets. After turning off the circuit where you plan to work, use a screwdriver to remove outlet cover plates. Check and seal gaps between the wall and the metal box that houses the socket.

Attic Hatch

With heartfelt thanks to Dr. Posang for

Seal around the attic hatch frame to keep unconditioned attic air from entering your living space.

her guiDance, DeDication, love & frienDshiP.

More Energy Savers •

Install a timed thermostat, or adjust the temperature before you leave the house.

•

Close the fireplace flue when not in use, and install glass fireplace doors to keep energy from escaping.

•

Check to make sure no air vents are blocked by furniture or drapery.

•

Insulate any areas that are not heated and cooled (garage, attic, basement, crawl space).

Visit dowgreatstuff.com for more information on how you can save energy and money by sealing household gaps.

Tomorrow is on iTs way... how will you face your fuTure? Take a proven, posiTive approach To smarTer

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A P R I L

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GirlTime

Who’s Calling?

So Fresh

Tote Your L unch With Purpose

Someone Who N eeds Your Phone

he Verizon Wireless HopeLine program allows customers (of any provider) to bring in their no-longerused cell phones and accessories to be recycled. The phones are refurbished and sold, with the proceeds going to local nonprofit advocacy agencies that help support victims of domestic violence. Donated phones that cannot be refurbished are properly recycled. Last year, consumers and businesses donated nearly 1.1 million phones to the HopeLine program. In turn, Verizon awarded $1.6 million in cash grants to domestic violence awareness and prevention programs, and donated 23,000 phones with 69 million free minutes of service to almost 600 shelters nationwide. Wireless phones and accessories are accepted in any condition and from all manufacturers. Consumers can bring phones into

any Verizon Wireless Communications store across the country, or visit the HopeLine Web site at verizonwireless.com/hopeline to download a free, postage-paid envelope.

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These days, whether to save money or to eat more healthfully, it seems that more of us are packing our lunches. Now we can add environmental activism to the reasons that egg salad sandwich tastes so good. Neela, the homegrown bag business that produces eco-friendly, reusable and recyclable grocery bags and carryalls, has introduced its Insulated Lunch Tote — a grownup lunchbox for customers who asked for a fun alternative to the brown bag (or worse, the bottom of an overfilled briefcase). The Insulated Lunch Tote comes in three patterns and retails for $10. Visit neelabags.com.

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T o d a y ’ s

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All Wrapped Up Soap Never Felt This Good

or a fresh take on clean, Fiat Luxe Designs has produced a clever wash and washcloth combo with its line of felted soaps. These small, sudsy spheres are actually bars of soap wrapped tightly in felted wool. The more the ball is

used, the softer and squishier it becomes, creating a thick lather. The soaps cost $12 per bar, and scents include floral, herbal, and earthy notes. Visit fiatluxedesigns.com for information.

To:

Happy Homemakers

From: Fern Howerin

And, Perhaps Radical

Date: February 13, 2009

AD PROOFOPEN HOUSE:

Shannon Hayes, who raises grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, and poultry on her rural New York farm, set out to live a more ecologically balanced life, to be more fully involved with her family and home, and to have the personal freedom to pursue her intellectual and creative passions. She and her husband decided they could raise their children and enjoy a rich, pleasurable life on less than $45,000 per year. After discovering that she was not alone in what she calls “radical homemaking,” Hayes hit the road and started interviewing women, men, and families who had set out on similar paths. In her new book, Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture (Left to Write Press, 2010), Hayes explores what makes their lifestyles work, demonstrating ways to eat locally, conserve fossil fuels, cut down on pollution, revive the economy, and live happier lives. From her interviews, Hayes compiled a list of challenges that she says can lead to personal fulfillment, independent thought, creativity, and the possibility for profound social, ecological, and economic change. Here are ways you (and your family) can move toward the radical side of homemaking. 1. Commit to hanging out your laundry to dry. 2. Dedicate a portion of your lawn to a vegetable garden. 3. Make an effort to get to know your neighbors and look for ways to cooperate in cutting down on the expenditure of resources. 4. Go to your local farmers’ market each week before you head to the grocery store. 5. Do some spring cleaning to identify everything in your home that you absolutely don’t need, and donate to help others save money and resources. 6. Vow to start carrying your own reusable bags, and use them on all your shopping trips. 7. Choose one local food item to learn how to preserve for yourself for the winter. Visit radicalhomemakers.com for information. >

Issue: March 2009

April 28th — Begins at 9:00 am

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GirlTime Pattern, color

Salutation Sunrise

and texture...

R ecycle Y our Y oga Mat

where it belongs.

In honor of Earth Day, April 22, Recycle Your Mat, a national yoga mat recycling organization, encourages yogis to say a sustainable farewell to their used mats. Recycle Your Mat provides socially responsible yoga mat recycling, upcycling, and reuse services for yoga practitioners and yoga studios. Upcycling, which is the process of turning any given item into another useful item, has an immediate environmental advantage. According to Recycle Your Mat, upcycling a typical plastic yoga mat curbs nearly 90 percent of the CO2 typically emitted during new mat manufacture and reduces carbon impact over the life of the materials. “I wanted to create a system that magnifies the sum of our efforts,” says Recycle Your Mat founder Stephanie Stano. “Together, yogis can make a great change in the consumer marketplace by recycling their mats en masse to be used in new products.” Visit recycleyourmat.com for information.

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o green on your deck or patio this spring with a gorgeous, lime-hued Casablanca Lantern. These handcrafted metal lanterns are deceptively delicate. The fine filigree workmanship is actually quite sturdy and will stand up to even the most intense outdoor entertaining. The lanterns come in two sizes: 10 inches ($7.95), and 18 inches ($14.95). Visit zgallerie.com for information.

Have A Drink On Me Coasting To Earth-Friendly Entertaining

ocktails anyone? Serve your guests with style and thoughtfulness with classy coasters created from recycled chipboard. Kamal, the art on paper designer, offers eight-packs of Letterpressed Coasters that look good and do good. They come in several designs and color combinations, and can be creatively used to enjoy any season, celebration, and occasion. They are $16 for a set; visit onkamal.com for information. TCW

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Q u e e n H a p p e n i n g s

v C i t y Y o u

D o n ’ t

J e w e l s W a n t

T o

M i s s

Green Your World Public Gardens O ffer Inspiration

o you have a green thumb … or want to develop one? Don’t miss the Spring Plant Sale at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens April 16-17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McMillan Greenhouse, 9090 Craver Road. The Gardens’ largest sale of the year offers an impressive selection of native plants and exotic botanicals, wildflowers, trees, shrubs, perennials, and indoor species. Proceeds support the McMillan Greenhouse and fund the operations of the Gardens. “Public gardens, in general, are a great resource and source of inspiration for the public that often don’t get much press — and some, like us, are free,” says Paula Gross, assistant director of the Gardens. The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens is composed of a collection of three public gardens: the McMillan Greenhouse complex, the three-acre Susie Harwood Garden, and the seven-acre Van Landingham Glen, all located on the east side of the campus. Each garden offers a diversity of species and cultivars. >

WantToGo? Visit gardens.uncc.edu or call 704/687-2364.

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Fabulous Florals In And Around The Queen City If you’re looking for a little inspiration for your own patch of botanicals, there are several public gardens in the Charlotte area that are bursting with innovative ideas. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont 704/825-4490 dsbg.org McGill Rose Garden 940 N. Davidson St., Charlotte 704/333-6497 mcgillrosegarden.org Memorial Garden 50 Spring St. SW, Concord 704/786-8009 concorddowntown.com/pages/memorial_ gardens.html UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens McMillan G reenhouse 9090 Craver Road, Charlotte 704/687-2364 gardens.uncc.edu Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary 248 Ridgewood Ave., Charlotte 704/331-0664 winghavengardens.com

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Our breakfast and lunch guests complained so much we had to make a change.

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Stacey Wood, Jr., MD

It was probably inevitable. After six months of serving the most unique breakfasts and lunches ever tasted, our guests started grumbling about not being able to enjoy the same fresh take on dinner. And wouldn’t stop. This ought to do it. Beverly Belle, MD

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QueenCityJewels

Clean And Green

Fine Forum

Eco-Friendly Charlotte Festival R eturns

The A rt O f Sustainability

photo courtesy of charlotte clean and green

t’s that time of year again — time to think about going eco-friendly with Charlotte Clean and Green. The third annual festival is slated for April 17 on Central Piedmont Community College’s uptown campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In 2009, nearly 4,000 people participated in 35 environmental classes and workshops on topics such as alternative energy, backyard wildlife habitats, and green careers. This year, the festival is partnering with CPCC’s Sensoria — a weeklong celebration of the arts held April 12 through 17 — and the City of Charlotte Neighborhood & Business Services’ “Symposium for Neighborhoods.”

The Mint Museum is hosting an artists’ forum that focuses on green practices and sustainable design April 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Road. A panel group will discuss philosophies, innovations, and the global view on sustainable design and architecture, followed by a Q&A session. Panelists will be Annie Carlano, director of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design; Anne Jackson, associate at Perkins and Will Architects; and Carrie Gault, principal at Happy Box Architecture.

WantToGo? Call Allison Taylor at 704/337-2032 or e-mail allison.taylor@mintmuseum.org.

WantToGo? Visit charlottecleanandgreen.com.

L et’s Do L unch ... And Support The Assistance L eague Lunch with the Assistance League of Charlotte and learn about its philanthropic programs, including Operation School Bell®, Operation Check Hunger, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, Assistance League Scholarship Fund, and Assistance League Outreach. The Philanthropy Luncheon will be Wed., April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory will serve as honorary chair for the luncheon. Other honored guests will include a family member from the Operation School Bell program, as well as a judge and Teen Court member from the Teen Court Program. The program includes a viewing of an Assistance League video.

WantToGo? Covenant Presbyterian Church is located at 1000 E. Morehead St. Call 704/543-1299 or e-mail CHEFBGK@aol.com.

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S chneider Photography

photo B Y D aniel Payne

Sharing A Heritage Dances O f India Spotlights Diversity And Unity

elebrate diversity and unity with Central Piedmont Community College and internationally acclaimed performer Dr. Maha Gingrich at the ninth annual Dances of India production Sat., April 24, at 4 p.m. in Dale F. Halton Theater on CPCC’s Central Campus. Dr. Gingrich, the assistant chief information officer at CPCC, will lead 40 other dancers in a unique presentation, spotlighting a series of dances designed to promote unity while recognizing and celebrating the diversity and festivals of India. The performance will include 2000-year-old classical dances, such as Bharatha Natyam, Kuchipu-

di, and Kathak, as well as traditional Indian folk dances. Dr. Gingrich, who was a professional dancer in her native India, has been teaching dance in Charlotte since 1986. Trained in three different dance traditions, she is dedicated to keeping the Indian heritage alive in the Charlotte community. TCW

WantToGo? Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for school-aged children. Free parking is available in the faculty/ staff parking deck on Fourth Street. Call 704/3306534 or visit tix.cpcc.edu for tickets.

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3/22/10 11:41 AM

CAROLINAS CONCERT A S S O C I AT I O N NOW

Charlotte Concerts Presents

Empire Brass

Friday, April 16, 8 p.m. Piedmont Halton Theater Central Community College FOR TICKETS CALL 704-330-6534 ONLINE SALES www. CharlotteConcerts.org

www.CharlotteConcerts.org

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By Charlotte Magazine

Cafe Monte French Bakery and Bistro’s commitment to using only the highest quality ingredients served fresh at an exceptional value for our customers makes quality French food accessible to all. Bon Appétit! We’re ecstatic to welcome Chef Marc Hibbs, to Café Monte. Chef Hibbs is renowned for his Farm-to-Table creations and daily Chalkboard Specials. Joining Chef Hibbs is Carol Keener, our new in house Pastry Chef!

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner :: Place to-go orders at: cafemonte.net On and Offsite Catering :: Rehearsal Dinners :: Bridal Showers ::Breakfast Meetings Monday - Thursday 7 AM - 9 PM : : Friday 7 AM - 11 PM Saturday 8 AM - 11 PM : : Sunday 8 AM - 3 PM

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MoneyTalks

Brough t To Y ou By ...

Convert To A Roth? W h y

N o w

M a y

( Or

M a y

N o t )

B e

t h e

R i g h t

Tim e

In 2010, the IRS has lifted the income restrictions for investors who convert their traditional IRA and/or eligible employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k), to a Roth IRA. Since its introduction in 1997, the Roth IRA has enjoyed great popularity — and it’s easy to understand why. Eligible Roth IRA owners can make after-tax contributions and withdraw them (not earnings), tax-free, at any time. Rollover or converted contributions can also be withdrawn at any time, although they may be subject to the 10-percent penalty tax. Once the account has been open and funded for five years, distributions will be federal income tax- and penalty-free if the account holder is at least age 59-and-ahalf, or meets one of the other circumstances for making a qualified distribution or an exception applies as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. One of the Roth’s few drawbacks has been its income amount restriction for converting from a traditional IRA, but the IRS has lifted the restriction in 2010. If you’re focused on saving for retirement, this is potentially very welcome news. “Many people can really benefit from making the switch,” says Laura Grogan-O’Mara, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management vice president of Legislative and Public Policy. “However, anyone considering converting to a Roth IRA needs to understand the less-obvious effects of this decision.” In other words, this is an opportunity that comes with choices. “The decision

sounds simple when you look only at the advantages, but investors should work together with their financial advisors and tax professionals to weigh several factors,” Grogan-O’Mara recommends. The main one is this: The conversion involves an upfront tax liability that may be worth assuming, depending on your circumstances and retirement income strategy.

Is A Roth Right For You? Converting to a Roth IRA could have many benefits but may not be ideal for everyone. There are tax implications that you will need to take into account, and it is strongly suggested that you speak with your tax advisor before making any decisions. The questions below are designed to help you further explore whether a Roth conversion strategy makes sense for you. If you answer “yes” to many of the questions below, you may want to consider a Roth IRA conversion. • Do you have assets invested in traditional IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans? • Do you have funds outside of your IRA to pay the income taxes that a Roth IRA conversion will trigger? • Do you want to increase your tax-free savings as part of your overall portfolio

strategy? • Do you anticipate that your tax bracket or tax rate will be higher in retirement? • Do you want to potentially reduce the taxable value of your estate? There are two other factors that could influence your decision. One is that market turbulence may have primed your IRA for conversion — a lower account balance generates a lower tax burden. The other, notes Grogan-O’Mara, is that “for conversions made in 2010, it’s possible to spread the resulting income over a two-year filing period.” You generally must recognize the full taxable income from your conversions in the conversion year. However, under a special rule for conversions you make in 2010, unless you elect complete recognition in 2010, you will recognize the taxable income equally in 2011 and 2012, bringing one-half of the conversion amount into ordinary income each year. This does not lock in the 2010 ordinary income tax rates. Because there are so many considerations involved, it’s important to talk with your financial advisor and your tax professional about converting to a Roth IRA. They can help you determine whether this opportunity can advance you toward achieving your retirement savings goals.

Neither Merrill Lynch nor its Financial Advisors provide tax, accounting or legal advice. Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state or local tax penalties. Please consult your own independent advisor about any tax, accounting or legal questions you may have. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank G uaranteed May Lose Value MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

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Charlotte Women’s P Av i l i O n , P l l c Health care for life comprehensive care For All Of Your Obstetric & Gynecologic needs u Pregnancy & Delivery u Fibroid Tumors u Ovarian cysts u cryotherapy u lEEP & laser Treatment u Menopause & PostMenopause Management u infertility Assessment & Treatment u Gynecologic Surgery

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O n W o m e n

m a k i n g

Job Changes/Promotions Natasha Kreutzer was named account representative for SouthWood Corporation, which provides signage and graphics.

Horizon Bay Assisted Living at Concord (formerly Eden Gardens) has hired Mary Posse as director of community relations. Joanne Christmas has joined Bankston Partners’ specialized IT division as a senior recruiter. JACK!E Studios has hired Gail Peterson as creative director. W. H. Gill Associates/Nationwide Insurance has promoted Kirsten Hampy to vice president, personal lines division.

New Business/Changes Coral Riley, Dana Jordan, and Judy Theobald have opened Macie’s Encore Bridal, an upscale off-the-rack and consignment wedding boutique, in Mooresville’s Ahlara International, at 155 Joe Knox Ave.

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Michelle Icard, founder of Charlotte-based Athena’s Path, Hero’s Pursuit, and Girls Rock the House youth programs, has announced the creation of parent company Cognition House. Georgianna “Georgy” Kratzert has opened Georgy Porgy’s Ladies Consignment Boutique at 19812 S. Main St., Suite C, Cornelius.

Lauren Sammerson has joined Luquire George Andrews as vice president of public relations.

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Karen Premo, a natural-light, lifestyle photographer, has opened Karen Premo Photography at 2848 Pleasant Road, Suite 113, Fort Mill, SC. Shawnelle Cherry, a fashion design graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, has opened Future Fashion Designers at 123 N. Main St. in Mooresville. Kimberlee Turley joins the company as instructor. Ann McGuire has opened Ann McGuire & Associates, a WBE-certified commercial construction project management firm.

s t o r i e s

Brenda Marshall was named the national director of the Women’s Initiative Network. Tabitha Falcon was named 2009 CAREGiver of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic region by Home Instead Senior Care.r Carolinas Medical Center was named a Center of Excellence by Sirtex Medical Inc. The COE designation recognizes premier hospitals and medical centers in the United States that have made significant contributions to interventional oncology research and clinical practice. Dr. Robin N. Coger, professor of mechanical engineering and engineering science, and director of the Center for Biomedical Engineering Systems at UNC Charlotte, was awarded the 2010 Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award. The Legal Marketing Association’s Southeastern Chapter has announced its 2010 Charlotte City Group leadership: Cindy Caldwell, chair; Denise Hebert, co-chair; Nancy Moore, membership chair; and Debbie Lawrence, sponsorship chair. Amy Norris, Lindsay Sams, and Honey Campagna are board members-at-large for 2010. Cynthia Johnson was named Outstanding Educator by the staff at Whitewater Academy.

Se nd

Awards And Installations Sandi Thorman, CPA, a partner at Greer & Walker LLP, was appointed to serve as a member of PFK North America’s Women Into Leadership Task Force for 2010.

y o u r

n e ws

t o :

On The Move editor@todayscharlottewoman.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman

5200 Park Road, Suite 111, Charlotte, NC 28209

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worknotes

The lines between

and age are disappearing.

Which Way Up? Finding Success Today

New

Spa

By Kar sen Pr ice • Be mindful and intentional when selecting a career direction and job. • Recognize the differences among what Bell considers the three career paths of the corporate world: “good corporate citizen,” the “executive suite,” and “extreme jobs.” • Give your résumé a facelift. The old way of listing jobs, with concise descriptions below each entry, for instance, doesn’t cut it in today’s market. Modern résumés, Bell says, “must reflect how you changed and influenced the process in a positive way,” and represent more than a person’s basic skill set. • Go into new positions with a goal to define yourself in the first 90 days — and to have that definition be overwhelmingly positive. • Work as a team player. Bell notes that this strategy is more important today than at any other time in history. She encourages leaders to develop their teams, and to listen to everyone, especially those who may present challenges.

Visit careergpsthebook.com for information on Career GPS: Strategies For Women Navigating The New Corporate Landscape. TCW

Do your hands and legs age you beyond your years? Eradicate unsightly spider veins in your legs or bulging veins in your hands with sclerotherapy — a virtually pain-free treatment with results in only one or two sessions. For larger bulging leg veins, our exclusive Cool Touch™ CTEV Endovenous Laser is a remarkably effective procedure that requires no hospitalization and no down time. It’s performed right in the office by Dr. Munavalli who has trained at world-renowned institutions Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Emory University and the University of California-San Francisco. Call for your consultation today and learn how these highly successful treatments can get you back to your life in the same day! 704.375.6766

r. Ella Bell, associate professor of business administration at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, has good news for working women: American society is entering a period when we will be at the core of the work force. But, she insists, it’s not enough to work hard and assume your work will speak for itself. Instead, women must master a new set of strategies if they hope to navigate the ever-changing corporate map. “It is our time, but we need to be ready,” Bell says. “Knowing who you are is the first step.” To help women on this path to self-awareness and success, Bell created Career GPS: Strategies For Women Navigating The New Corporate Landscape (Amistad, 2010). She says she doesn’t consider the book a career guide as much as she sees it as a source of encouragement for women to find their authority, power, and dream-come-true career paths. “I believe that the time is right for women to claim their leadership roles in corporate America,” she says. According to Bell, today’s professional woman should follow certain guideposts as she forges her path to success and career fulfillment:

Serv ices !

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Cathy Bessant, Global Technology & Operations exec with Bank of America, has a history of making positive change throughout various structures within the Bank.

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Cathy Bessant 2009 Charlotte BusinessWoman Of The Year By Lee Rhodes • photo by AUGUSTO PHOTOGRAPHY

ueens University of Charlotte has named Bank of America executive Cathy Bessant its 2009 Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year. The annual award recognizes the achievements of women professionals in the for-profit sector, based upon their con-

tributions to their business, civic, and cultural communities. From her civic leadership to her business acumen, Bessant is continually working for the betterment of

the Charlotte region, and she becomes the 25th woman honored as BusinessWoman of the Year. During her 25-plus year tenure at Bank of America, Bessant has had what she calls the “good fortune” to work in many of the Bank’s businesses: Corporate Banking, Mortgage, Community Development, Consumer Banking, Small Business, Marketing, and Corporate Affairs, and most recently, Global Corporate Banking. In January, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan asked her to take on the role of Global Technology & Operations executive. As the head of a consolidated technology and operations group and a member of Moynihan’s executive management team, Bessant is responsible for an organization that comprises about 25 percent of the Bank’s associates.

“Technology & Operations is critically involved in many of our company’s most interesting challenges and opportunities,” Bessant explains. “Risk management, regulatory compliance, globalization — we can help business executives across the company manage these and other issues aggressively and successfully. We can make a significant contribution to the company’s growth.” Bessant has accountability for everything from the Bank’s hundreds of technology platforms, to its operations sites and call centers

around the globe, to major corporate transitions, such as the integration with Merrill Lynch. The Bank’s vast T&O group was consolidated several years ago, but then de-centralized into the business as the Bank evolved. Now, under Bessant’s leadership, it’s coming back together again, and virtually everything that it takes for the company to operate is led by or participated in by her team. She speaks of the T&O organization’s role as a key partner, driving efficiency and innovation, and delivering end-to-end solutions for all of >

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ous reforms in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools. She was instrumental in the successful effort to have the NASCAR Hall of Fame choose to locate in Charlotte, and Agent Of Change she remains on the Hall of Fame’s advisory Bessant is known at Bank of America as board. She sits on other boards througha business leader who brings a fresh perout the country, many of which relate to spective to each of her roles and is not afraid banking. Locally, she says, “I’m also pretty to challenge conventional thinking. In her actively involved in my children’s school.” position as chief marketing officer in the Bessant and her husearly 2000s, she completely band, John Clay, have two revamped the look of 6,000 children, who are 14 and banking centers around the By far, the most important things in my life are my children. 10. She and John spend a lot United States and introduced I call myself a mom who works as opposed to a working of time at swim meets and the bold red design that has field hockey and lacrosse become the company’s signamom. That’s an important distinction to me. games watching their kids, ture. As head of Global Cor— Cathy Bessant both of whom are active in porate Banking, her job just athletics. Recently, they’ve prior to the current post, she co-led a project to develop the company’s help Mecklenburg charities weather the re- enjoyed watching the Olympics as a family, growth strategies outside the United States, cession. The effort, which she calls “a great and they are avid travelers. “By far, the most important things in my following the transformative acquisition of body of work,” has already raised $4 million. Previously, Bessant co-chaired, along life are my children,” Bessant says. “I call Merrill Lynch. In addition to her multifaceted leader- with former Mayor Harvey Gantt, the Citi- myself a mom who works as opposed to a ship at Bank of America, Bessant is active in zens Task Force for the Charlotte-Meck- working mom. That’s an important distincthe civic arena and is deeply involved in the lenburg Schools, which proposed numer- tion to me.” TCW

‘‘

community. This past December, she began a two-year assignment as chairman of the board of The Foundation For The Carolinas, a nonprofit corporation created by and for Carolinians. FFTC is among the top 10 community foundations in the country. Bessant is also chairing the Community Catalyst Fund, a group of foundation and private sector funders that have come together to

‘‘

the lines of businesses and geographies of the company.

Join Us for a Free Women’s Health Seminar! “Feeling Poised Without the Pads” Please join the physicians of the Pelvic Health Institute for an informative seminar about options for urinary stress and urge incontinence and heavy and irregular bleeding. Dr. David Konstandt, urologist, and Dr. Bernard Taylor, urogynecologist will offer insight into management of these conditions and how to get back to the activities you enjoy!

There is no cost to attend this seminar, but reservations are requested.

David Konstandt, MD, MS G. Bernard Taylor, MD, FACOG

Thursday, May 6, 2010 6:00 - 7:30 pm North Harbor Club, 100 North Harbor Place , Davidson, NC Please RSVP to 704.766.1147 by April, 30, 2010

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www.lakenormanurology.com

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Kara Newport joined Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in 2006, and has helped create a unique lineup of public programming.

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A Woman For All Seasons Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Grows Under Kara Newport’s Expert Hand By Melinda Johnston • PHOTOS BY ARMANDO BELLMAS

ara Newport boasts an eclectic collection of skills few people can match. She can trim out a sheep — and card and spin the wool. She can show a horse and play soccer with the guys. As executive director of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, she can also explain the molecular structure of plants, run a capital campaign, and set up grounds for an elaborate

indoor/outdoor wedding.

From organizing to orchids, programming to pruning, budgets to bromeliads, Newport knows her business from the inside out — and that knowledge has paid off. Since she came on board in 2006, the Garden has tripled the number of programs offered to the public, and attendance has grown from 75,000 guests to 110,000 in 2009. Two years ago, the orchid conservatory opened under her watch. Numerous public programs have been added, and the latest technology, including Facebook, Twitter, and cell-phone tours, is being integrated into the timeless art of gardening.

Home-Grown

Newport, a vegetarian whose favorite food is fried okra, grew up in small-town Lewisburg, Ohio, which she compares to Mount Holly, where she now makes her home. “We lived on a small, non-working farm, but my dad thought we should have some animals,” she says. “I voted for horses, but he got sheep. Of course, I was only 5 years old at the time.” So, she learned to tend their Suffolk sheep. A member of 4-H for several years, she entered her livestock in the Preble County fair, where she regularly won ribbons for her

blocking and trimming of the woolly animals. In high school, Newport excelled in science and played soccer with the boys — because there weren’t enough girls to field a separate team. Her love of science led her to major in botany at Miami University in Ohio, where she also joined the equestrian team. But the long hours inside the lab made her restless. After graduation, instead of pursuing a doctorate in botany, she chose a slightly more social path, earning her master’s degree in horticulture administration from the University of Delaware. What followed was a string of jobs in some of the coolest places around, including the Philadelphia Zoo, North Carolina Outward Bound, the Franklin Institute (a world-class science museum in Philadelphia), and Charlotte’s own Discovery Place.

The Call Of The Garden

When the DSBG board began the search for a new executive director, members wanted someone with a background in both science and fundraising. Newport brought both. Plus, her experience with wool surprised and impressed the board members, many of whom had deep textile connections. Now, as head of one of the largest > A P R I L

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planned botanical gardens in the Southeast, Newport is responsible for 50 part-time and full-time employees, a $3-million budget, 12 separate gardens spanning 110 acres, an orchid conservatory, an aviary, several trails, and 290 additional acres that will be developed in accordance with a 50-year plan designed by the Garden’s founder, the late Belmont textile executive and philanthropist Daniel Stowe. “We [at DSBG] connect people to plants and the environment,” Newport says. “Most of us don’t have as many opportunities to connect with nature as we used to. We can no longer even assume that children growing up in rural areas know more about agriculture than anyone else — they still play video games and get their milk from the grocery store. But even if you live in an apartment in Charlotte, you may grow plants on your porch or in a container garden. We serve as an inspiration and an information source for our visitors.”

photo courtesy of daniel stowe botanical garden

DSBG’s o r c hid c o n ser v a t o r y is a big dr a w f o r v isit o r s. Lef t : “ho se c ha ir ,” c r ea t ed by a shley a n dr ew s, is pa r t o f t he ga r den ’s “C o me Sit A Spell, V iew s o f t he So u t her n ga r den ” ex hibit .

The Garden is open year-round, seven days a week, and Newport says there’s always something new and interesting to explore. In fact, she acknowledges five seasons at DSBG — and winter isn’t even in the mix. “We’re always planning new and fresh events for all five seasons — spring, summer, fall, the holidays, and orchids,” she says. “There is no winter in our year.” The holiday season has turned into one of DSBG’s most popular times, featuring 34

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carriage rides, more than 600,000 lights, a train display, an orchid tree, and more. Working the crowd last season, Newport says she found that a visit to the Garden during the holidays has become a tradition for many, with some bringing a dozen or more members of extended family to enjoy the decorated grounds. Orchid season runs from January through mid-March, with special shows, classes, and displays, including the orchid conservatory that features “living walls” that hold hundreds of orchids mingled with tropical plants from around the globe. Newport appreciates that the Garden is organized around aesthetics, rather than plant type, so that designers can concentrate on beauty of the display when developing an area. “We’re a display garden, so all of our plants are integrated,” she says. “We can mix and match our plants to make the prettiest

and most attractive displays. We use some native plants and mix them with non-invasive, non-native plants. This only adds value to the native plants, because it allows them to be seen in a greater context.”

Come Sit A Spell

It’s that kind of versatility and creative thinking that is the impetus behind the Garden’s most unique exhibit to date: “Come Sit A Spell, Views of the Southern Garden,” which opened March 19. The exhibit offers artistic renditions of garden chairs demonstrating how outdoor space has evolved over the years. More than 50 participants have created one-of-a-kind seating pieces and will compete for prizes, some of which will be determined by guests, who will text their votes. A number of the chairs will be sold through an online auction — another nod to technology. Different activities will be offered through-

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out the exhibition period, including an April 17 presentation by Felder Rushing, who travels with a garden planted in the back of his pickup truck — from his home in Mississippi. Other highlights include hands-on gardenrelated art for children, seasonal plantings with a focus on pass-along plants, and an overall taste of our lovely, old-fashioned Southern culture. “This exhibit is another way to use the Garden as a platform to connect with people,” Newport says. “It allows them to get involved, and shows them how to integrate plants into their lives. It’s not just a passive exercise.” She admits the rural location of the Garden is a challenge, but says that only makes her job more exciting. “I feel like we’re far away, so we constantly have to keep finding new reasons for people to make the short journey here!” she says. “But we’re a unique place, and we do things in a unique way. Plus, we have a lot of smart people on staff. We can figure it out.” When asked where she sees herself five years from now, Newport’s answer isn’t surprising — she’s found both her home and her calling. She’s happily settled into a 1920s house she shares with her husband, Patrick Eagan, and their four large dogs. They board their four horses nearby and ride every chance they get. Newport’s job offers her the opportunity to be surrounded by nature, as she walks through the conservatory on even the coldest winter days, and holds meetings outside whenever possible. “One of the best things we do is to provide an immersive experience to our guests,” she says. “We want them to feel like they’re taking a break from everyday life and have traveled to another place. There’s nothing else like this anywhere around. And I get the pleasure of experiencing that every day.” TCW

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Architect Cheryl Walker employs innovative design to make public buildings energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

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Green From The Ground Up Award-Winning Charlotte Architect Walks The Walk By Ha n n a h Miller

o see architect Cheryl Walker’s “green” imagination at work, take a look around the ImaginOn library and theater complex in uptown Charlotte. There, you’ll find restroom partitions that appear to be made of red, orange, blue, and yellow confetti. Believe it or not, they’re actually constructed from recycled detergent bottles that would be taking up landfill

space if not for Walker and her green-minded client, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

However, along with many other energysaving features in the building, those repurposed bits and pieces are now valuable teaching tools, according to Charlotte library manager Lois Kilkka. “Since we’re a youth facility, we think it’s very important that the young people realize our county has tried to create a sustainable future for them,” she explains. Plus, she adds, examining the partitions is a favorite pastime of children and adults alike. “If you look closely enough, you can see little barcode numbers or alphabet letters.”

Seeing The Light

Over at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities’ recently built Environmental Services Facility, located off Billy Graham Parkway, lab analyst Gina Kimble has a different reason to appreciate Walker’s firm’s work. Fins and roof monitors on the new lab make innovative use of sunlight, bouncing it into the interior where it is reflected off light-colored ceilings. “We actually never have to turn the lights on in this office,” Kimble says. “It’s very pleasing.” Walker notes that effective utilization of sunlight is an equally important element in UNC Charlotte’s Center City Building that is now going up at Brevard and Ninth streets.

Within the 12-story structure, which is the University’s first urban classroom building dedicated to serving uptown’s business and cultural hub, floor-to-ceiling “curtain walls” of glass will custom-tailor the amount and quality of sunlight entering each side of the building. As far as light goes, Walker says, “Sunlight is free and, when carefully controlled, is highquality.” Some studies have indicated that children do better on tests in day-lit classrooms, and retailers who take advantage of proper day lighting in their stores sell more goods. And, of course, the more warmth and light from the sun, the greater the savings in energy costs. Walker, a principal and sustainable design coordinator at Gantt Huberman Architects, has spent most of her 26 years as an architect looking for ways to educate clients and designers on the benefits and technical requirements of green building. Her commitment is shown not only in the high-profile buildings she’s helped design, but in her behind-the-scenes work on environmental issues with the American Institute of Architects and the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council. In addition to her large-scale sustainable efforts, Walker believes even small actions count when it comes to improving the > A P R I L

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Rendering BY St udio AMD

Photo BY T o m Kessler Photog raphy

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Ga n t t hu ber ma n ’s su st a in a bl e, en er gy -ef f ic ien t pr o jec t s in c o r po r a t e f ea t u r es t ha t n o t o n l y w o r k ha r d bu t a r e v isu a l l y a ppea l in g a s w el l . 1) UNC C ha r l o t t e’s C en t er C it y Bu il din g; 2,3,4,6) C ha r l o t t e-Mec kl en bu r g U t il it ies’ En v ir o n men t a l ser v ic es f a c il it y ; 5) ima gin o n .

environment. At Gantt Huberman’s North Tryon Street office, for instance, she led a team in developing internal green policies and recycling practices. “I’m notorious for getting things out of the trash basket, and saying, ‘Could we use the back of this paper?’ ” she says with a laugh. She even rips labels from packaging materials so they can be reused.

The Evolution Of Resourcefulness

Walker’s passion for sustainability started when she was a child growing up in North Carolina’s Johnston County, where her father was a school principal and her mother was a teacher. Walker attests that anyone who has grown up in a teacher’s household knows about saving. “Teachers never have enough resources,” she says, noting that teachers often use their own money to buy classroom supplies. For Walker, the passion for saving went one step further — to reuse. Even as a child, she knew that trashcans were treasure troves of possible “construction materials” for her 38

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“projects.” She’d think, What can I do with that cardboard tube? When Walker studied at North Carolina State University’s School of Design in the late ’70s and early ’80s, few people were talking about the ideology behind going green. Architects had long embraced some of the concepts, like orienting buildings to sunlight, but there was no comprehensive approach toward resource conservation or creating healthy buildings and communities. In 1992, after working several years for conventionally oriented firms, Walker and her friend Gail Lindsey started their own firm, Design Harmony, in Raleigh. Committed to sustainable practice, the two young women made a pact that every project they accepted would let them work toward environmentally responsible design in five areas: site and climate; energy and water efficiency; indoor air quality; alternative building materials; and waste management. Those areas now are the cornerstones of USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

The green-minded duo were barely into their first year of business before their resolve was tested in the form of a prospective client whose work, Walker says, “would have supported our firm for a year.” But he couldn’t comprehend incorporating green principles. Walker and Lindsey reluctantly turned him down, picking up smaller jobs instead. One of those jobs brought them national attention, after author Michael J. Crosbie described it in his pioneering book, Green Architecture: A Guide to Sustainable Design (Rockport Publishers, 1995).

It’s Not Easy Being Green

In 1997, Lindsey became a national and international consultant on green building, and Walker made her way to Charlotte. But, she says, Charlotte wasn’t quite ready for her ideas. Firms she interviewed with told her, “If we want any green stuff put on our buildings, we’ll call you.” For three years, she worked at a conventional architectural firm, holding her tongue

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about her green goals. “I was told, ‘You can’t talk to our clients about it,’ ” she says. Eventually, she approached and was hired by Gantt Huberman, where she emphasized how very important green building was to her. The company allowed their new hire to present her ideas for the new ImaginOn to client Bob Cannon, then head of the library system. “I said, ‘Here’s the perfect project,’ ” she remembers. “It’s all about children, resources, community, innovation.” Walker promised that the green innovations wouldn’t increase the construction cost of the building, and that they would employ traditional construction methods used in innovative ways. And there were no added costs for the green building features at ImaginOn. ImaginOn was designed to save energy and conserve resources. Now, five years after completion, an updated energy analysis indicates that energy costs there are 28.4 percent less than what they would be in a conventionally built building. This energy cost savings remains at the predicted level, despite ImaginOn’s expanded hours of operation and increase in numbers of visitors (an additional 150,000 visitors annually over the originally anticipated 300,000). With cabinets of compressed wheat straw, flooring from recycled tires, and stone walls made from a tombstone manufacturer’s leavings, ImaginOn received a LEED Silver certification in 2006. The Environmental Services Facility was awarded a LEED Gold certification in 2009. Also in 2009, Walker won Mecklenburg County’s Solid Waste & Recycling Department’s Leadership in Green Building Award

and AIA North Carolina’s inaugural sustainability award. Walker says she has seen Charlotte’s attitude on green shift dramatically, citing the establishment of a local USGBC chapter and CPCC’s new associate degree in sustainable technology. North Carolina is rapidly embracing green energy technologies and aggressively training for future “green collar” jobs. Gantt Huberman is involved in eight North Carolina projects for which it will seek a LEED rating. Walker not only continues to manage her own projects, but she oversees the work of five other LEED-accredited professionals in the firm. After hours, her passion for conservation continues. She shares a condo and a car with firm partner Jeff Huberman, her fiancé. The condo is only half a block from the office and Walker happily says, “I walk to work.” For a year-and-a-half, she and Huberman have spent weekends renovating their 10-year-old condo, deconstructing cabinets, doors and hardware, walls, and molding in such a way that each piece can be recycled by donating it to Habitat ReStore, or to a local builder for reuse. Amazingly, this practice goes all the way down to each and every nail. “Every nail,” Walker affirms. “We pull them out from the back so that the wood is not damaged.” At home, like most people, Walker reads the triangle-shaped identification on the bottom of every bottle, and tries to figure out what household waste is recyclable and what isn’t. And, like most people, she is sometimes tempted by the thought, Nobody’s looking! I’ll just throw it away. Being Cheryl Walker, she doesn’t. TCW

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Cardiologist Leigh Younce sees her work with patients as an integral part of heart-health education.

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Home Is Where The Heart Is Local Roots Run Deep For Cardiologist Leigh Younce By Michele Huggins • PHOTOS BY SCOTT STILES

hen Dr. Leigh Younce left her family’s farm in Fairview and headed off to college, she had no aspirations to be a cardiologist. And, although she held onto the hope of one

day returning to the area she loved so much, she didn’t know that her career would

circle back to Union County, where generations of her family have lived and worked

for more than a century. Thirteen years later, Dr. Younce, the only female cardiologist at Mid-Carolina Cardiology in Matthews, now diagnoses, treats, and encourages patients — many of whom she knew as a child — who have a myriad of heart conditions.

As an undergraduate at N.C. State University, Dr. Younce initially pursued a degree in pre-veterinary medicine but soon realized she wanted to focus her studies on helping people. She switched gears and turned the page to premed. After graduating, she attended medical school at Bowman Gray University in Winston-Salem, where she completed her residency in internal medicine. A visual learner who was interested in studying the heart throughout her post-graduate career, she completed her fellowship in cardiology at Bowman Gray.

A Community Of Trust

Dr. Younce was drawn to Mid-Carolina Cardiology for its continuity of care, compassionate physicians, and an emphasis on preventive cardiology, as well as state-of-the-art technical expertise. She firmly believes in communication and being an effective, ongoing patient advocate. “Nobody knows a patient like her own doctor, and there are so many subtleties of communication that are critical,” she says. As communication builds trust, trust helps progress care and treatment in patients.

While many of Dr. Younce’s patients recognize her as the young girl who grew up on the family farm in Union County, they appreciate her abilities to diagnose and treat their heart conditions. She appreciates, in turn, having the opportunity to work with people she’s known since childhood … and to improve their quality of life. “It’s wonderful to work in this community,” she says. “I feel that I understand and can relate to people in the community, having grown up here.” Dr. Younce believes educating patients and the public is the key to unlocking better heart health across demographics. She encourages her patients to stop smoking, eat better, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. She’s a proponent of the Mediterranean diet and recommends 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days a week.

A Woman’s Point Of View

A female cardiologist in a male-dominated field, Dr. Younce says she’s always felt right at home with her colleagues, and her gender > A P R I L

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has never held her back. She likes working in a diverse community that attracts newcomers. Mid-Carolina Cardiology has a strong interest in research to help eliminate heart disease as the No. 1 killer in the United States. In an effort to support her colleagues and patient education throughout the state, she served as a Councilor for the N.C. Chapter of the American College of Cardiology for six years. However, as a wife and mother, as well as a heart-health educator, Dr. Younce is especially passionate about heart health for women. She strives to increase awareness of cardiac issues and to educate women about symptoms that aren’t traditionally associated with heart attacks, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach; sweating; and shortness of breath. “Women spend so much time taking care of spouses and kids,” she says. “But they owe it to themselves and their families to take better care of themselves.” Like most working moms, Dr. Younce finds that balancing career and family commitments can be daunting at times. She credits her husband for his active role as a father who helps out in many ways, including taxiing their 10-year-old daughter and 12-yearold son to various activities, and enabling her to work as a full-time cardiologist — often as long as 11 hours a day. When Dr. Younce does manage to get away from her office, she enjoys spending time at the home she and her husband built on the family farm in Fairview, where she often spends time riding horses and practicing karate. For five years, she and her family took karate lessons, and each earned a black belt. She also studies dressage and has fun horseback riding with her daughter, as well as joining in the occasional foxhunt. Dr. Younce says she enjoys her career as a cardiologist. She feels gratification in the healthy outcomes she sees in her patients, and that motivates her to continue as a leader in her field. “I love the aspect of cardiology that you can do so much for so many — long-term care and management and short-term symptom relief from medications, to diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures. Best of all, there’s a tremendous amount of proof that what we do really works.” TCW

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3/12/10 1:43 PM

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A Common

photo courtesy of the carolina thread trail

threa

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. 1 M ead... A Connection To Millions

By Lee Rhodes

ong after Henry David Thoreau ventured into the New England woods and a deliberately rustic lifestyle, an inept, out-of-shape travel writer by the name of Bill Bryson tested his own mettle along the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, as countless other hikers do every year. His book, A Walk in the

Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Broadway, 1998), begins: “Not long after I moved with my family to a small town in New Hampshire, I happened upon a path that vanished into a wood on the edge of town.” In this age of sidewalks and urban cityscapes, bigbox stores and the lure of endless media entertainment, the pull of the woods — and of its trails — has not diminished with time. The woods themselves, however, have.

Fortunately, a group from the Carolinas is doing something about that. The Carolina Thread Trail (known simply as “The Thread”) is an initiative to link over two million citizens via hundreds of miles of trails, as part of a 15-county, two-state network of trails. Billed as “more than a hiking trail, more than a bike path,” The Thread is a landmark project aimed at preserving natural areas and creating an opportunity for endless exploration and celebration of the woods’ fragile splendor.

Ruth Shaw, retired CEO of Duke Energy Corporation and chair of The Thread’s governing board, articulates what will make this effort so significant. “It is special and important for a number of reasons, but the most important one is accessibility to nature, which will be absolutely free and convenient,” she says. Michael Marsicano, executive director of the Foundation For The Carolinas and also a board member, agrees. “The Thread is one of the first multi-county efforts that have brought together local governments, corporations, and the nonprofit community to partner on a scale as significant as this,” he says. “It’s an extraordinary undertaking that will benefit over two million people, free of charge.” >

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As one of the effort’s sponsoring organizations, FFTC worked with more than 40 community and business leaders to draft the vision for The Thread as a system of interconnected trails and greenways. The FFTC continues to provide leadership as a philanthropic partner in conjunction with two leading land conservation groups involved in advancing the project: The Trust for Public Land; and the initiative’s lead agency, Catawba Lands Conservancy, a regional land trust that permanently protects land, water, and wildlife habitats. These organizations partner in several key areas. In addition to facilitating communities’ acceptance of the vision, the groups provide funding through efforts to raise private capital and the sourcing of state and federal funding. They also help access the technical expertise required to build trails and greenways. “This is a herculean undertaking, with all of these different jurisdictions collaborating on one mega project,” Marsicano acknowledges. “It has taken the extraordinary professional acumen of Dave Cable [executive director of Catawba Lands Conservancy] to pull this off.” “Pulling this off” will take time. Key linkages of the trail will be realized in the near future, while other trail segments will unfold over the next couple of decades under the umbrella of the regional vision. The trails in each community will maintain their own identities. As a “green interstate,” The Thread will ultimately link parks, green spaces, and significant attractions throughout the region. Communities that choose to participate in the project self-determine all aspects of their trail systems. The Thread staff offers assistance and technical resources to help communities create and implement their trail paths, including the location, destinations linked, and planned uses (walking and hiking, biking, horseback riding) of the trails. Once completed, The Thread will span two states, more than 40 destinations, and over 7,300 square miles in the following counties in North and South Carolina: Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cherokee, Chester, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union, and York. “We have been concentrating for the past couple of years on getting trails approved by the various counties and jurisdictions that 46

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On The Path

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have to approve the trail,” Shaw explains. “That really has been a major accomplishment because, without a plan in place, you can never realize the vision.”

Fruits Of The Labor

The benefits of this vision will be extraordinary, particularly in the arena of physical fitness. As a venue for walking, jogging, running, and cycling, the greenways and trails will work to combat the alarming statistics about the health of inactive and overweight Americans. The U.S. Surgeon General recently completed a landmark study validating, once again, that “Americans can substantially improve their health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives,” and that even modest increases in activity can have maximum benefits. Walking in the woods, as Bill Bryson can attest, has also been shown to improve psychological health, reducing anxiety and stress by providing opportunities to interact with nature — since The Thread will nurture linkages between communities — with each other. Within communities, in fact, access to green space and hiking areas has become one of the most desired amenities, surpassing even golf courses. The Thread will support economic prosperity by attracting new employers to the region. It will also increase awareness and visitation of cultural and historical venues, and educate countless children through a vast outdoor classroom. Perhaps most significant, it will create a sustainable

legacy for generations to come. “This is endowing our land for future generations and is every bit as important as cash endowments,” Marsicano says. Those who recognize the need to secure this legacy and conserve America’s woodlands can get involved with the effort itself. “The best way is through the planning that is going on in the individual counties,” says Shaw, who suggests that people check out the Web site (carolinathreadtrail.org). “There are chances to be involved from the beginning, as to where the trails will go, and then in the next phase, with the design of the trails,” she adds. “And, of course, we would be delighted to accept financial contributions.” Other regions that have realized the benefits of large-scale trail systems and have built them with success include St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Detroit. Closer to home, the Palmetto Trail traverses South Carolina, trekking through maritime, sandhill, and Piedmont forests; and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail traverses several large swaths of North Carolina and stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Just as these trails have made the woods and nature more accessible, so too will The Thread, which is already seeing success. “The Thread really has [already] brought us together as a regional community in important ways,” Shaw concludes. “We don’t know each other across the region like we should, and to do something like this across North and South Carolina will be amazing. It’s truly a way to build social capital.” TCW

1. M

To Learn More

Visit carolinathreadtrail.org for information about The Carolina Thread Trail, including volunteer opportunities and details on making financial donations.

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Out Of The Smog Clean Air Carolina Strives For Healthy Air Quality By Jan e t Co o pe r Haas

he Queen City is a very dirty girl. She now ranks as the eighthsmoggiest city in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. That’s up from 13th place since 2008. Yikes! “We’re clearly going in the wrong direction,” says June Blotnick, executive director of Clean Air Carolina (formerly Carolinas Clean Air Coalition). Due largely to coal-burning power plants and motor vehicle exhaust, Charlotte is the smoggiest city in North Carolina, and is currently in violation of the federal EPA’s minimum air-quality standard for ozone pollution — a status that puts The Queen City in jeopardy of losing transportation funding. What may be more attention-grabbing, especially for women, is the health risk that dirty air brings to our cardiopulmonary, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. Because women are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease than men are, we tend to be more concerned about the fact that particulate matter (or soot) can enter the bloodstream and wreak havoc with our cardiovascular systems. But it’s not just our hearts we need to guard. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, children who grow up in cities with chronic air-quality problems may reach adulthood with their lung capacities diminished by as much as 20 percent. “You may think the sky is blue,

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but it’s what you don’t see that can really be dangerous,” Blotnick says. If you, your child, or an elderly family member has respiratory issues, Blotnick recommends visiting airnow.gov to register to have an air-quality forecast e-mailed daily. These alerts, which you see from time to time on the local weather stations, let you know when participating in outdoor pursuits may be particularly unsafe. From retrofitting buses to lobbying for sustainable, renewable types of energy, Clean Air Carolina has plenty of work ahead. The nonprofit organization advocates at the local, state, and national levels to boost our overall energy efficiency, promote cleaner sources of energy (such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass), and encourage the use of public transportation and hybrid vehicles. Blotnick, along with her paid staff of two, and a volunteer army of dozens of envirofriendly Charlotteans, works to put air quality on everyone’s personal radar as a health issue. “We’re in trouble with the EPA,” she says, referring to Charlotte’s air status. “We have the power, as individuals, to do something, but it’s going to take each individual to be aware and take action. We owe it to our children.” TCW

Take A Stand … and a breath of clean air Awareness of the effects of polluted air is important, but Clean Air Carolina hopes Charlotteans will assume an active and intentional role in bringing our air back into healthy ranges. Below are just a few simple steps we can all take to head in that direction: • Adjust your thermostat to a higher setting in the summer and a lower one in the winter. • As much as possible, rely on natural light during the day. Turn off lights and unplug small appliances when not in use. • Swap your incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents. • Purchase only appliances that have the Energy Star designation. • Don’t idle! Did you know that if you idle your vehicle for 10 seconds, your car uses more fuel than if you turn off the engine and restart it? Encourage your children’s schools to participate in Clean Air Carolina’s “No-Idle Month” campaign April 12 through May 10. • Log on to cleanaircarolina.org to sign up for Clean Air Carolina’s first 5K Run for Clean Air on May 22, at McAlpine Creek Park. Funds raised from the event will be used for education and advocacy programs.

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raptor pose • photo by quindolyn jones

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n a time when we can instantly access extraordinary images of natural phenomena occurring anywhere in the world — be it hundreds of miles beneath the ocean’s waves, or inches

above the dense growth of a rainforest floor — can a singular image of a river otter peeking over a thicket of grass in a nearby yard still affect the way we view nature? For the members of Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association, the answer is, “Yes, absolutely it can.” >

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Co m m o n Gr o u n d

favorite dragonfly • photo by quindolyn jones

sharing • photo by joy cassidy

With 10 regional chapters across the Carolinas, CNPA member photographers — both weekend novices and experienced professionals — promote the natural beauty and value of the Carolinas through the camera lens. They work together to hone their art, all the while building personal connections based on their shared passions of photography and nature. And, where there are nature photographers, nature conservation is usually not far behind. Through their photography, CNPA members hope the public will be inspired to actively explore, conserve, and preserve natural areas around North and South Carolina — at neighborhood parks, along community creeks, and in their own backyards.

great smokies • photo by quindolyn jones

“As I encounter new things, I want to learn about them, whether it’s a bird I’ve never seen before, or a tree or flower I want to identify,” says Debra Jean Dandro, CNPA member and co-coordinator for the Charlotte Region. “The more I learn, the more I want to learn about the world around us.” “We have a common love for nature,” adds CNPA member Quindolyn Jones. “CNPA supports my No. 1 goal (and an age-old conservation slogan) when enjoying the outdoors: Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints.” In an effort to expose the public to that desire to learn and protect, the group sponsors events, such as ecoexhibits (collections of photos exhibited for the purpose of promoting conservation), and service projects around the Carolinas.

dragonfly • photo by joy cassidy

S h u t t e r b u gs U n i t e The largest organization of its type in the area, CNPA originated in 1992, when respected professional photographer > bee and yellow flower • photo by quindolyn jones

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Tom Vargo led several workshops around the Carolinas. A handful of professional and amateur photographers who attended the workshops forged friendships and organized outings together, to photograph wildlife. It was on one such outing, in 1993, that the idea to establish a club surfaced. By the summer of that year, the official CNPA mailing list consisted of 39 names. Today, 17 years since its inception, CNPA is more than 1,000 members strong. For the nature photographer, the compulsion to learn about the natural world and the compulsion to learn how to produce stellar photographs of that world are circular: It’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Nature photographers of all experience levels view the opportunity to learn about their craft on an ongoing basis as priceless. “Photography is a lifelong learning process,” Jones says. “No matter how good or successful you are, you are always striving to improve.” To quench members’ thirst for > Praying mantis • photo by joy cassidy

green anole lizard • photo by joy cassidy

hawk • photo by joy cassidy

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knowledge, CNPA offers featured speakers at its regular meetings (the 180-plus-member Charlotte group convenes monthly at the REI store across from Northlake Mall) and at the fourday, all-chapter annual gathering. Member dues cover educational opportunities on topics ranging from software photo processing to suggestions on how to attract specific types of wildlife for their close-ups. In fact, say members, education is one of CNPA’s biggest draws.

People Who Click Within CNPA, education blends seamlessly into fun and fellowship. As members interact socially at meetings and outings, they glean ideas and experiences butterfly • photo by joy cassidy

chipmunk • photo by joy cassidy

river otter • photo by debra Jean dandro

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from each other. Venturing into nature as a group yields opportunities to learn, as well. CNPA’s interactive Web site allows members to carry their community online, as they view one another’s work and ask and answer questions on member forums. Jones describes CNPA as an open and welcoming group. “Whether a member is a professional or a novice, everyone is accepted,” she says. “There is never a foolish question or an awful picture.” CNPA’s continued growth is undoubtedly rooted in the deep connections among its members, and one key to its popularity, Dandro points out, is the unselfish, noncompetitive attitudes of its members, who share “photography techniques, equipment, and favorite shooting locations.” “It is so much more fun to be with others who enjoy the same things I do,” adds insurance agent-turned-professional photographer and CNPA member, Joy Cassidy. “If I want to stop and take pictures, I don’t feel guilty about making everyone wait for me to take a few shots, because they will be shooting, too!” CNPA members share the philosophy that they can grow more as photographers together than they can alone. Out of this growth springs the group’s artistic, eco-friendly mission to create a wealth of breathtaking images from our own unique corner of the world. In so doing, they nurture not only the art of nature photography, but also the communion they share with nature … and with one another. TCW

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AtHome The homeowners maintained the aesthetic of the home in their redesign. A mantel in the dining room was passed down from Elaine Scott’s father. It resided in a business in central Nebraska; the building was damaged by a tornado, but the mantel remained unscathed.

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Jerry Tylman and Elaine Scott’s home was redesigned with energy in mind.

Revolutionary Renovation Moving Toward A Greener Home Via Eco-Sound Choices By Carolyn Steeves • photos by scott stiles

our years ago, Elaine Scott and Jerry Tylman bought a house in Charlotte’s historic Elizabeth neighborhood. The structure needed some renovations, so the two decided to green up their house as they went about the process of fixing it up.

“I see so much waste in the building environment, and it seems that we could be a little bit smarter with how we use our materials,” Scott says. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have bought the house and renovated it.” Banister Homes was the contractor for the project, with Kathy Spence, sustainability expert with the firm, directing the work. Spence is a board member for the Charlotte Region Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Andrew Woodruff, from Woodruff Architecture, was architect for the redesign. Jim Gleeson, an architect with EarthCrew, was green consultant and designed the passive solar portion of the home.

Eco-Friendly Renovations And Innovations

The initial step to transforming the home was stripping it to the studs. “We gutted the house,” says Spence, “which is what you really have to do if you’re going to achieve energy efficiency with a home built that long ago.” One of the major features of the renovated house is an addition oriented to face true south, to incorporate passive solar energy. Windows allow the sun to come in and heat the home in the winter, and 2-foot overhangs help to cool the house in the summer by blocking the sun, which is higher in the sky during > A P R I L

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those months. There is a 3,000-gallon rainwater collection system, or cistern, that feeds into the lawn irrigation and provides water to the toilets. Radiant heat is supplied directly to the floors or to panels in the walls. Scott used paint with very low volatile organic compounds, thus improving the air quality inside the house — which has, in fact, been certified as a HealthyBuilt Home by the North Carolina State University Solar Center HealthyBuilt Homes program, an organization that sets statewide guidelines for green homes and pays close attention to energy efficiency and indoor air quality. “I think the added value that verification by a third party gives is twofold,” Spence says. “First, it reassures the owner of the property that the person implementing this is going to be tested. Second, people are concerned about the value of what, for many of us, is our biggest asset. A third-party verification shows that this house is energy-efficient.”

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Scott explains that although the house had “good bones,” it needed repairs. “We were able to keep a lot,” she says. “We kept a lot of the doors, and it had good hardwood floors.” They used reclaimed lumber from Dilworth Construction for the hardwood floors in the addition. Queen City Woodwright provided salvaged-wood countertops in the kitchen. The builders also saved the bricks from the original back wall of the house and used them on the outside of the addition. Reusing and repurposing original materials is not only a good idea from an environ-

mental standpoint. In spite of its “new look,” the house still reflects the aesthetic of the neighborhood. “I don’t think anyone would look at our house and say it’s different,” Scott says. “I believe Elaine and Jerry have set a very good example of what’s truly green — which is to reuse as much as possible of what we have,” EarthCrew’s Gleeson says. He says he tries to tell people to think about remodeling instead of building an entirely new house. “There’s no end to what you can creatively do in an existing house to change it into whatever you want it to be — and to save a lot of energy doing so.”

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A common perception about going green is that it costs more. However, Gleeson and Spence agree that as the demand for green building is going up, the cost is going down. “I’ve built several homes that were very green, very energyefficient, and didn’t cost any more than a conventionally built home,” Gleeson says. In the case of Scott’s home, the reclaimed lumber cost less, although the low-VOC paint was more expensive than regular paint. “I don’t think green has to cost a lot more,” Spence says. “There is much better availability, much better prices, and much better incentives from our county, state, and federal governments. I believe we’ll get to a point where it might not cost even a little more.” Gleeson points out that some changes actually save money over time, which is why it’s important to coordinate with everyone working on a project and to do your homework. “If your house uses half >

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the energy of the house next door, that’s a huge difference,” Gleeson says. In addition, the recycled or greener materials tend to last W E H AV E S O L U T I O N S. longer. “It all makes for a house that doesn’t cost as much to keep up.” “The cost of energy is something that everyone is aware of, so using less energy is something we can all agree on,” Spence adds. Scott concurs, noting, “The house we came from was smaller — maybe by a thousand square feet — and our bills here are less than they were there.” PUBLICATION: Charlotte the City Magazine

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“They were warning their members that [green building] is inevitable because it produces a better house,” Gleeson says. “Eventually there will be a tipping point where people won’t want to buy a house without some certification.” Spence is also optimistic about the future of green building. “I believe in 10 years the type of green building that we’re implementing today will be industry-standard practice,” she says. “I think everyone wants to have as little impact on the environment as possible.” For Elaine Scott and Jerry Tylman, the experience of a green redesign has been rewarding in many ways. “I’m really glad we did it,” Scott says. “I do think that when people see what we were able to do, it makes them realize, ‘Oh, hey, I can do that too!’ ” TCW

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A compost bin built into the kitchen counter is another element of sustainable design.

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v H e a l t h M a t t e r s

Along That Vein Choosing The Right Varicose Vein Treatment For You By Janet Cooper Haas

ore than 50 percent of women suffer from varicose and spider veins, which are usually caused by pregnancy, heredity, obesity, and, sometimes, on-your-feet careers like nursing and teaching. “If you stand for long periods of time, or cross your legs

often, we can actually see the changes in [venous] pressure,” says Vittorio P. Antonacci, M.D., an interventional radiologist, and co-director of Charlotte Radiology’s The Vein & Vascular Center. Those “changes” in venous pressure can signal serious health implications ahead, not to mention a potentially nightmarish swimsuit season. And, although most varicose veins are relatively benign, severe varicosities can lead to major problems caused by poor circulation through affected limbs. “Varicosity develops in twice as many women as men,” says Girish S. Munavalli, M.D., with Dermatology, Laser & Vein Specialists of the Carolinas. “Varicose veins can cause leg fatigue, swelling, aching, and sometimes throbbing,” he adds. “Lack of treatment can result in constantly swollen legs, an itchy rash and, because circulation becomes compromised, ulcers on the inner side of the ankle, especially in older adults.”

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Not-So-Simple Symptoms

Varicose veins look gnarled, purplish, and ropelike, and are visible through the skin. Spider veins, while smaller, are also visible through the skin, appearing as a web of tangled red, blue, and purple vessels. Both types are indicative of venous reflux disease, or venous insufficiency, which causes the unsightly appearance and, often, recurring pain and swelling. Bodybuilding, birth control pills, or hormone replacement therapy can also lead to varicose and spider veins. The resulting discomfort, which ranges from embarrassment to significant pain, is what sends women with varicose veins to seek treatment. Some women with venous insufficiency develop phlebitis, in which the vein becomes painfully inflamed and the leg becomes swollen, red, and warm to the touch. Phlebitis can lead to deep venous thrombosis, a life-threatening condition marked by the formation of a blood clot in a vein that is deep inside the body. If the clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. Ulcers are another unpleasant manifestation of varicosities. Venous ulcers, most often caused by poor circulation in the leg, are treatable, but typically very slow to heal. “The large majority of venous ulcers are not painful, but the average time for healing is three months, and they are almost certain to come back,” says Ramesh Sharma, M.D., of Vascular Solutions.

Time To Call For Help

“Medical indications are pain that you cannot live with, swelling, ulcers, recurrent phlebitis … or if you have a heavy, tired feeling, or your leg goes numb, or you have restless leg syndrome,” Dr. Sharma says, adding that, other than aesthetic concerns, “There’s no reason to treat [varicose veins] if there’s no pain.” Because varicose veins present more than just cosmetic issues, seeking relief involves first doing your homework, not only by exploring possible treatments, but by determining which doctor is best for you. As with many medical conditions, varicose vein treatments are offered by several types of physicians, including vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, dermatologists, and cosmetic surgeons. Experts agree it’s best to research a healthcare provider’s credentials

and ask for patient references. There are Web sites (healthgrades.com and physicianreports.com are two examples) that will, for a fee, provide reports on a physician’s background. Once you’ve found an appropriate doctor, you should discuss all viable treatment options, from non-invasive techniques to surgery. For immediate relief from discomfort, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium may help with the pain and swelling. Avoiding prolonged periods of standing or sitting can improve symptoms, and you should opt for a quick shower over a hot bath. Incorporating regular exercise can be helpful, and Dr. Sharma recommends elevating the affected area. “It really helps people feel better and helps them sleep,” he says. Dr. Antonacci notes that compression stockings also offer relief. “This can be especially beneficial on long car rides or when flying,” he says. “Compression stockings help with not only the pain and aching many patients with varicosities experience, but also, especially, with swelling.” During your initial appointment with a physician, be prepared to have your legs photographed. Most insurance companies require photographic proof before they will cover vein procedures. Also, many healthcare providers prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and/or the use of compression stockings for a certain period of time, in order to comply with insurance requirements. Your doctor should employ ultrasound to map your veins and develop a workable treatment plan. “Complete ultrasound is critical to developing an individualized treatment plan,” explains Dr. Antonacci. “There are anatomic variations in every individual, and what you read [about varicose veins] in a textbook is not what you see every day.”

Surgical Solutions

When compression stockings, elevation, or anti-inflammatory medications cannot relieve the pain, it’s time to explore other alternatives. The vein-stripping our mothers and grandmothers had to endure (an outdated operation in which the large vein determined to be the cause of reflux is actually pulled out of the leg) has given way to new, less-invasive procedures. Today’s surgical treatments are generally performed under local anesthesia,

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Compiled by jenni

t o

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f i t

a n d

W e l l

fer Brad ford-epstein

From Whence It Came Getting Back To Your R oots

F Waste Not

A Beautiful Blemish Don’t insist that your produce be flawless! O dd shapes and unusual pigments generally have no impact on flavor. However, insisting on beautiful broccoli or perfect peaches forces farmers (and supermarkets) to waste huge amounts of food, resulting in lost profits, and driving more intensive methods of production. L et retailers know you’d be delighted to eat varied veggies and funny-looking fruit, and enjoy the diversity in shape, color, and size that nature intended. 68

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or many of us, food is a relatively inexpensive commodity that we take for granted. Questions such as how, where, or by whom the food is grown generally aren’t topics of conversation around the dinner table. However, there is a movement afoot that centers on becoming more in touch with what we eat. Worry not, though … you won’t have to don overalls and sprout a green thumb to enjoy field-fresh produce and other homegrown goodies from the farm. Instead, you can become a locavore — someone who commits to focusing on eating locally produced, in-season food. When you buy local, you support the efforts of area farmers, which in turn strengthens the economy and preserves green space and farmland. Buying local also shrinks travel time and distance, not only reducing the carbon footprint, but ensuring that your food is at its freshest, tastiest best. And the fewer steps it takes to get that head of lettuce from the ground to your plate, the less chance for contamination.

There is a cornucopia of locally grown meat, dairy, and vegetable products right in the Charlotte area. Family farms in Concord, Waxhaw, Iron Station, Denver, and Fort Mill, S.C., and throughout the surrounding counties, offer homegrown goods for purchase. Many people are opting to join CSAs — Community Supported Agriculture associations — where individuals invest in a local farm in exchange for a weekly box of assorted vegetables and other farm products, such as eggs and milk. Challenge yourself to eat locally for one week, and perhaps it will inspire you to do more. Any small steps you take will help the environment, protect your family’s health, and offer support to farmers in your proverbial own backyard. In the coming months, our region will be bursting with an abundance of vine-ripened, juicy produce. Visit localharvest.org to find out more about CSAs and to obtain a list of area farms. Check out what’s in season at local farmers’ markets by visiting ncagr.gov/markets.

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Urban Jungle Up In The Air The Environmental Protection Agency cites indoor air pollution as one of the top five public health threats in America, and the strongest evidence is the 60-percent rise in asthma over the last decade. Surprisingly, modern furniture and electronic equipment can emit enough chemicals (formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide) to make the air in our homes and offices more hazardous than the air outdoors. NASA scientists studied 19 different plant species for two years and found that certain types of greenery are particularly effective absorbers of these harmful pollutants. Surround yourself with spider plants, philodendrons, golden pothos, English ivy, peace lilies, and dracaena to clean up the air indoors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and to brighten your work and living space. The study recommended the use of 15 to 18 good-sized houseplants in containers of 6 to 8 inches to improve air quality in an average 1,800-square-foot house. The more vigorously they grow, the better job theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do for you. >

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HealthFlash

Host With The Most? The Business Of Beneficial Bacteria

he supermarket invasion of probiotic products has kicked into high gear, and labels of everything from supplements to yogurt and granola bars are now proudly displaying this new buzzword. But what exactly does probiotic mean? The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” In other words, probiotics are “friendly bacteria” similar to bacteria and microorganisms that occur naturally in our digestive tracts. Think of it as a kind of party with your pals — and you are the “host”! Although your body typically makes enough of its own beneficial bacteria to keep you healthy, a number of medical, dietary, and lifestyle factors, such as inadequate fiber intake, oral antibiotic therapy, and ingestion of environmental toxins, are believed to disturb the delicate balance of digestion. When healthy levels of bacteria are lowered, yeast may flourish, which is thought to increase the likelihood of conditions such as infectious

Best Boosts

diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections. Probiotics help to raise the “good” bacteria levels and are believed to overpower some of the bad bacteria in your system. Scientific understanding of probiotics and their potential for preventing and treating health conditions is at an early stage. No studies have shown probiotics to be harmful in healthy people, but more information is needed on how safe they are for young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Consult with your physician before beginning a probiotic regimen. Although there is currently no recommended daily intake amount, probiotics can be found in capsule, liquid, powder, or tablet form, and in cultured dairy products such as yogurt and kefir. Be aware, however, that the number of live organisms varies greatly from product to product due to variations in processing methods. Different strains of probiotics provide different benefits, which can make shopping for such products confusing. TCW

Immune System Support WebMD.com asked internationally renowned microbiology consultant Mary Ellen Sanders,MS,Ph.D., for some suggestions to boost the immune system. • Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (sold as an ingredient for dairy and supplement products) • Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 (available in BioGaia Gut Health products) • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (in Danimals drinkable yogurt and Culturelle® capsules) • Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (in DanActive products) • Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 (available in Yo-Plus® yogurt, LiveActive cheese; use uncooked for best results)

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he relationship between you and your dentist is a special one. Your dentist may be the first to observe a change in your health. When a periodontal change is noted, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist. Left untreated, periodontitis may lead to tooth loss, heart disease, stroke, respiratory issues, and complications with diabetes and pregnancy. Dr. Kiya Green Dixie, of the Periodontal & Implant Center of Matthews, is board certified and the only practicing female periodontist in the Charlotte area.

Matthews Periodontics offers patients: • A soft touch in a caring atmosphere. • The only laser FDA approved to treat periodontitis, which means therapy without cutting, sutures, or pain. • Treatment of non-disease periodontal issues, such as frenectomies, gum grafting, correcting gummy smiles, and implant therapy. • Different levels of sedation, if necessary, including IV sedation, oral sedation, and laughing gas. • Periodontic care for pediatric and orthodontic patients.

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HealthMatters (cont.) with the majority of patients leaving their doctor’s offices experiencing immediate relief and few side effects. Most normal activities can be resumed the next day, although exercise should usually be avoided for a minimum of 48 hours. Endovenous laser treatment is one treatment option. According to Charlotte Radiology’s The Vein & Vascular Center, Dr. Antonacci was one of the pioneers for this catheter-based laser procedure, which seals closed the saphenous vein. Dr. Antonacci says the procedure, itself, takes only 45 minutes, requires no sedation or downtime, and is covered by most insurance plans. “Although we have three ways to perform endovenous ablation here in the office,” says Dr. Munavalli, with Dermatology, Laser & Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, “I prefer to use 1320 NM [Cool Touch CTEV™] endovenous laser.” This type of procedure accomplishes treatment through ablation, or closing, of the defective vein, through a tiny needlestick in the leg. According to Dr. Munavalli (known by his patients as “Dr. Gilly”), this endovenous procedure has been shown in studies “to treat larger veins and have fewer side effects than other laser technologies. You can treat more veins with it,” he says. Visit cooltouch.com/VaricoseVeins.aspx for information. Another treatment option is an FDA-approved catheter procedure, which uses radiofrequency energy to heat and close diseased primary leg veins in just minutes. “Patients tolerate the radiofrequency well,” says Dr. Sharma, who uses the patented VNUS Closure™ system for most vein repairs. The only incision made is the miniscule puncture needed to insert the RF device, called the VNUS ClosureFAST™ catheter. “I now reserve laser for people with the largest veins,” Dr. Sharma adds. Visit vnus.com for information. Although Dermatology, Laser &

Vein Specialists of the Carolinas’ Dr. Munavalli uses endovenous laser treatment 80 percent of the time in his practice, he utilizes radiofrequency treatment through ClosureFAST in the other 20 percent. After ablation, through either laser or RF treatments, the body automatically re-routes blood flow through healthier veins, and the restoration of normal circulation relieves the distention of the surface veins. The ablated vein becomes scar tissue and is eventually absorbed by the body. In a small percentage of patients, an ambulatory phlebectomy may be recommended. This is a minimally invasive surgical technique that directly removes visible varicose veins, via hook excision, through a very small incision. Stitches are generally not required, and scarring is characteristically nonexistent or very minimal.

Before And After

Keep in mind that the timing of vein treatment is important. In addition to the possible bruising that may occur, you’ll most likely be required to wear compression stockings in the weeks before and after a vein procedure, as a precaution against deep venous thrombosis. Unless it is medically dangerous to delay, schedule your vein work wisely. The hot summer months are not the prime time to squeeze your lower body into a pair of extraordinarily snug (and not-sofashion-friendly) stockings. “The incidence of DVT is less than 1 percent,” Dr. Munavalli says. But swelling and bruising can take up to a month to resolve — although most people have no bruising at all. Bruising depends on skin turgor, body weight, the depth of the affected vein, and the administration of the local anesthesia. Treatment usually involves more than one visit to the doctor, and total treatment time for varicose veins can take several months, even though patients typically resume normal activity fairly quickly. TCW

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The Play’s The Thing By Mich el l e Y o u n g H u ba ch er • Ph o to BY JA MES BRO WN

fter four years of working with a group called Playing for Others, 18-year-old Emily Hudson is moving on. But she doesn’t walk away empty-handed. “This has been a life-changing experience for me,” she says. A Myers Park High School senior who hopes to major in a math-related field, Emily is now interviewing with colleges from coast to coast. But during her freshman year in high school, she got involved in Playing for Others, a newly forming drama-based program designed to create relationships between teenagers and younger children with disabilities. PFO, a nonprofit group for high school students, is a leadership training program. Over a nine-month period, teenagers are paired with younger “buddies” with special needs to participate in organized outings. The year culminates in an art, music, and theater experience the teens plan, develop, and stage, selling tickets and finding sponsors to provide funding for the partner agency for that year. It was Emily’s love of the arts that drew her to PFO. She has been acting, on both TV and

the stage, since she was 5 years old. A heavily awarded scholar, she excels in academics and, in 2008, was appointed to U.S. House Representative Sue Myrick’s Youth Advisory Council, an honor based on Emily’s demonstrated leadership and desire to make a difference in her community. PFO has helped her do just that. This year’s partner agency is Mitey Riders Inc., an organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding and equine-related activities to children with special needs. Emily’s buddy is a 7-year-old boy who has Marfan’s syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue in the body. Each month, she and her buddy participate in PFO outings designed to allow them both an opportunity to do what children do best: have fun. In years past, PFO has raised thousands of dollars for its partner agencies, through corporate sponsorships and ticket sales for the annual spring arts weekend that caps the year-long partnership. But beyond the fundraising are the lessons of PFO. What Emily has learned is as powerful as it is basic. “Kids are kids,” she says. “Everyone wants love; everyone wants to have friends.” TCW

ToL earnMore Visit playingforothers.org for information on volunteering, becoming an adult advisor, or having your agency considered for a future partnership.

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