Burlington Magazine Issue 9

burlington ISSUE #09 - PRICELESS

MAGAZINE

Alamance Makers Guild Building S.T.E.A.M. in Burlington

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Contents

issue09

10

26 06

18 departments Community News 10 Taste of Alamance

Ask the Expert 12 Your Feet 14 Real Estate 24 Your Money

4 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

22

History

16 Burlington Fire Horses

Business Buzz

18 King Creole - Spicing up the Food Truck Scene

Health & Wellness

20 April is National Foot Health Awareness Month

16

features 06 Alamance Makers Guild - Building S.T.E.A.M. in Burlington 20 April is NC Beer Month 22

ParkLiner - Take Me Somewhere Fun

Dear Readers,

A

s you may have already heard Burlington Mayor Ronnie Wall resigned this month with plans to pursue a new career as a T.V weatherman. Wall was quoted as saying “I want to do something where I have great responsibility but take none of the blame.” Before leaving office he appointed I, your intrepid editor/publisher, as acting mayor until the next election saying, “Alex is probably the smartest man in the city -- bless his heart.”

So, as Burlington’s acting chief executive there are a few changes taking immediate effect. We’ve contracted Lucius Wilson to play the national anthem on his guitar before every council meeting. Water and sewer bills can now be paid at the Rusted Bucket Tavern. All city business will now be conducted at Front Street Public House.

As a way to enhance the city’s brand, the Dentzel Menagerie Carousel in Burlington City Park will be dismantled. The seats from the Carousel will be installed on the city’s new public light rail system, where riders can enjoy listening to a rendition of “Wagon Wheel” by Back Porch Orchestra on a constant loop.

In downtown, on the lot between Front, Davis, Spring and Main Streets, a large public outdoor pool constructed and funded by the city will feature a tiki bar, performance stage and water slides. Lifeguards trained to judge the best cannonballs and jackknife dives will be licensed to award cups of Jello.

During winter months the pool will be frozen and equipped for ice skating and basketball. Lemon-flavored snow-cream will be served after snow storms. Trust me, it will be great.

City Manager Harold Owen presented these proposals to the Burlington City Council in a super-secret, closed, midnight meeting open to the public. All proposals were passed unanimously.

The new proposals were kept secret from the public because we wanted it to be a surprise.

Surprise!

Oh yes, one more thing –

burlington MAGAZINE

Issue 09 Publisher Alex Alfonso Editor in Chief Sherry Johnson Contributors Walter Boyd, Lynn Burnette Dr. Todd Hyatt, DO, Heather McAdnrew

Cover Photo Provided by Alamance Makers Guild Burlington Magazine is published by Asheboro and More Marketing, Inc. Any reproduction or duplication of any part thereof must be done with the written permission of the Publisher. All information included herein is correct to the best of our knowledge as of the publication date.

Corrections should be forwarded to the Publisher at the address above.

Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within Burlington Magazine are not endorsed or recommended by the Publisher. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies.

© Asheboro & More Marketing, Inc. 2014 P.O. Box 1369 • Asheboro • NC • 27204 (336) 698-3889 • www.burlingtonmagnc.com

April Fools!

Alex

BurlingtonMagNC.com | 5

Alamance Makers Guild Building S.T.E.A.M. in Burlington

The Alamance Makers Guild made sparks with a Tesla coil exhibit the first year it staged the Burlington Mini Maker Faire. The Guild made waves the next year at the second annual Mini Maker Faire, filling Holly Hill Mall and Business Center with musical Tesla coils, Ham Radio exhibits, Robots, 3-D printing, a space balloon, do-it-yourself Muppet-like puppets and Steampunk stylists, attracting a crowd 4,000 strong from around the Triad.

6 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

by Alex Alfonso Photos provided by Alamance Makers Guild

T

his month, the Burlington Mini Maker Faire built S.T.E.A.M., the acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

The Mini Maker Faire is transforming Burlington into the destination for the Triad’s tinkerers, experimental scientists, builders, Steampunks and do-it-yourself artisans of all disciplines.

The Mini Maker Faire is more than just a once-a-year event for the Alamance Makers Guild, which is looking for a permanent Maker space in Burlington. The Guild and the Burlington Mini Maker Faire receives a huge push from local makers and Guild sponsor Bennett Harris. Harris makes science kits, which are sold in schools and through catalogs, such as the Reinventing Edison: Build your own Lightbulb and Reinventing Morse: Build your own Telegraph kits. Three years ago Harris exhibited his designs at Maker Faire Bay Area in San Mateo, California. The size and scope of the gathering inspired him to organize a local Mini Maker Faire.

“That’s their flagship Faire, it is the first one they ever did, and that year they had more then 150,000 people come over a two day weekend. They take up the entire state fairgrounds there and it was just an amazing experience,”

Harris said.

“The Mythbusters were there, I got to meet the R2D2 builders club so I got my picture taken with R2D2, and they had a Steampunk village. So, it was not just technology it was also art and creativity.”

It was sort of the county fair of the future, where instead of it being your prized pig and your giant pumpkin, it was your new robot, or your new circuit, or your new program.

And I really wanted to bring that back to Burlington.”

Harris started by putting out a sign at the Raleigh Maker Faire encouraging anyone from Alamance County to say hello. As it happens, two people did. Harris began meeting with those two people at the local coffee shop, at Company Shops Market, brainstorming on how to find other likeminded makers.

“Because, surely, out of all of Alamance County, there are other artists, or other creative people, there are other engineers, and they probably like to do the same kinds of things we do,” Harris said.

The few started a Meetp.com group. Meredith Thornton of the Sylvan Learning Center on Church Street, where Harris tutors math, allowed the group to meet at the center after hours. Mimi’s pizza began to cater the meetings, adding another local draw.

“Having a stable place as a home base really allowed us to get going,” Harris said. “We had a meeting with a few people. The next time we had ten and the next time we had 20. And then we said, ‘how can we do more?’ I call it shining the Bat signal – how do we find the crazy people... I

BurlingtonMagNC.com | 7

said, why don’t we just throw a full-fledged Maker Faire?”

The Make movement is a world-wide phenomenon. The Burlington Mini Maker Faire is a franchise event. Harris and the Guild worked with a branding director from Make to set up the local faire. The first year, Burlington’s Mini Maker Faire attracted around 1,500 people, according to Harris.

The estimate from the 2013 Mini Maker Faire was 4,000.

The Maker Faire is a production of Maker Media, which publishes Make magazine and sells DIY electronics, tools, kits and books through its on-line and pop-up Maker Shed stores.

“The ultimate goal is to open up a Maker space that would be a meeting place, a shared workshop and lab, a business incubator, a classroom. My focus is education. I try to bring a culture of equality,” Harris said. “In my mind if you build a robot you’re not cooler than the guy who made jewelry, or the woman who does weaving, or the woodworker, or the person who walked in and has never made anything that’s kind of afraid of doing it but wants to learn.”

Anyone who “makes” something can join the Guild.

Danny Oakley found the Guild through the online social network. Oakley built his own car, a Shelby Cobra, completely from mail order parts. “Make, Break, Fix, Repeat.” is the name of his blog where Oakley documents the building of his latest project, a Star Wars R2-Q5 droid.

The collaborative spirit of the Alamance Makers Guild made him feel accepted, Oakley said.

“That was the first thing that I saw, there was no alpha-dog hierarchy to the group, like you see with some other groups, even if I passionate about automotive or passionate about electronics. It wasn’t a ‘well you’re not doing that right you need to do this kind of thing.’ It was very collaborative. So for me, that was the draw and why I wanted to jump into the deep end,” Oakley said.

“Most of my memories growing up were failing tests,

8 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

but going out and making the bottle rocket without-needingthe-instructions scenario. So, you definitely need to focus on the fundamentals, but there are some kids who get so much more out of the hands on.”

The next generation of makers is getting a charge from the Guild as well. Sabrina Otero, 16, attends AlamanceBurlington Middle College and formed a Teen Chapter of the Alamance Makers Guild last year. Otero and her classmates produced a play at their school and a member of the Guild helped design and build the props. Otero enjoyed the hands-on work and learned about the Guild.

“There are not many programs in Burlington that let teenagers learn what they want to hands on,” she said. “In general, there are no mentoring programs, as far as I know, were you can learn a skill from someone older and teach younger people.”

Having an inclusive group, collaborating together, experimenting and creating for themselves is the paramount focus of the Alamance Makers Guild. Bringing together a diverse group of creative minds to solve design problems or share ideas for new innovations trumps even political or personal differences, according to Harris.

“We’re a very diverse group. Our nation is very politically polarized over the last ten years or more, but we have folks from all walks of life, who if they were to sit down here and espouse some of their views might become deadly enemies. But, they’re both interested in learning how to solder, or ‘hey, how did you make that thing.’”

Makezine.com, the internet magazine of the Make movement, spotlighted the Alamance Makers Guild last year during the North Carolina Maker Faire in Raleigh.

A combination lock pepper mill that only opens when the letters line up to spell P-E-P-P-E-R. Plarn, yarn made from plastic bags, robots, a Steampunk gun arsenal are a few of the items created by Guild members that grabbed attention of fair attendees.

Not only has the local community responded enthusiastically to the Bat signal Harris illuminates, it seems the stars are aligning for makers in Burlington. On Harris’ Twitter feed last month, he celebrated the opening of Harbor Freight Tools on Church Street, which makes it easier for some makers to buy specialized tools and parts. “(Anyone) who makes it or is interested in how it’s made, even if they don’t want to do it themselves, or can’t, they can still come and learn about it and maybe be inspired. I think people left the Maker Faire last year wanting to go home and make something,” Harris said.

The Alamance Makers Guild meets once a month the second Thursday of each month at the Sylvan Learning Center at 2356 South Church Street, Burlington. For more information about the Guild go to www.facebook. com/AlamanceMakersGuild or www.meetup.com/TheBurlington-Makers-Meetup-Group/. 

BurlingtonMagNC.com | 9

community News

T

he Taste of Alamance is an event where

support the community in addressing its human service

ticket holders are provided a tasting of

needs. We strive to identify those needs, to educate and

food prepared by local food and beverage

involve the community, and to acquire, organize, and

vendors, representing a wide variety of

allocate funds for the benefit of those with insufficient

cuisines from around Alamance County.

resources in a manner that ensures accountability and

From locally owned wineries and restaurants to

maximum effectiveness. Currently, United Way works

names recognized nationwide, you are sure to find a

with our partners to deliver programs and services that

taste to fit your pallet. Live music from The Mason

target community needs centered around the building

Lovette Band! For 2014, Taste of Alamance will

blocks for a good life: income and financial stability, a

support and is supported by United Way of Alamance

quality education that leads to stable employment, and

County and make a donation to the Piedmont

health and family stability. Join us as we continue to

Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross.

address the underlying causes of community problems,

The United Way of Alamance County, as an organization of donors and volunteers, exists to 10 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

transform lives and create opportunities for a good life for all. ď‚™

Participating Businesses

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Ask the Expert-Your Feet

High Heels and Bunions: Is there a Connection?

I

f anything is getting a bad reputation these days, it’s definitely high heels. Study after study has shown beauty really is pain when it comes to this type of footwear.

They are proven to damage your posture, strain your calf muscles, twist your ankles and even permanently shorten your tendons. However, there is some small bit of good news: high heels won’t give you bunions, explains Burlington podiatrist, Dr. Hyatt of Triad Foot Center.

Dr. Hyatt confirms these claims with findings from the Framingham Foot Study. “The study looked at the connection between foot pain and the type of footwear in more than 1,000 adults, and the findings concluded that bunions, and similar foot conditions, are highly inheritable and not necessarily caused by wearing high heels.”

Excessive high heel wear can make your pre-existing condition worse, but research shows bunions are inherited from your genes and not your Jimmy Choo’s.

“In most cases symptoms include a bulging bump near the base of your big toe. This is often partnered with persistent pain due to soreness around the joint,” Dr. Hyatt continues.

While this research may lead you to break out your highest pair of stilettos, remember that bunions are a bone deformity, which means accommodative footwear will now become a necessity.

If you suffer from bunion pain and are looking for relief, please visit one of our three convenient Triad Foot Center locations in Greensboro, Burlington and Asheboro, or call 336.441.5644. 

Dr. Hyatt is a native of Burlington, North Carolina, and graduated from Greensboro College. He received his medical degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.

His residency training was completed at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Veterans Medical Center in Baltimore. At the Veterans Medical Center, Dr. Hyatt specialized in vascular disease and surgery as well as wound healing. Dr. Hyatt then completed a podiatric surgical residency at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital where he specialized in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He is Board Certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

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Ask the Expert-Real Estate

Holiday Home Safety T Keep windows, garages and sheds locked; and don't forget to use deadbolts.

Retirement: Is This a Good Time to ‘Downsize?’

Use timers to turn on lights and a television or radio.

M

Maintain at least a foot of space between a burning candle and anything that can catch fire. percent plan to make that move to a smaller home. oving into a smaller home – downsizing – isn’t

just a way to save creaky knees from the two-story monster where you raised your family. It’s also a way Pros and Cons When hanging lights outdoors, avoid using staples or nails which can damage wiring. Use UL-rated clips to free up equity to use during retirement. Although Like any move, downsizing requires careful consideration, Americans lost a substantial amount of home equity during the consultation with your financial advisor and a solid plan. housing older Americans faredcircuits better than most.holiday In fact, lighting; Althoughunplug often impossible to achieve, perfect timing comes in Don'crisis, t overload electrical with your tree and outdoor lights before goin in 2010 the median home equity for those between the ages of handy as well. Timing the sale of your current home to coincide 55 and 64 was $100,000, according to Reuters. Americans age with a seller’s market, when sales prices are up, helps you hang 65 and over did even better; they claimedplace." $135,000 Burgulars in on to thatknow Don' t leave a spare keytypically in a "hiding where look. hard-earned andto much-needed equity. Selling in a home equity. down market, on the other hand, may result in a loss.

This is money they fully intend on tapping into during One other disadvantage to selling your current home is all retirement, and downsizing into with a smaller is one way to Lock your power box anhome electricity authority lockassociated (lock towith which you and thecommissions, electric company ha the fees the sale: Real estate access that money. mortgage fees and concessions to buyers can all add up to a your home security alarm system cannot be cut off from the power supply.

Only 29 percent of baby boomers between the ages of 50 significant amount of money. If downsizing into a condo, you’ll and 64 plan on moving within the next five years, according need to consider HOA fees, while moving to a more expensive to Reuters, and only a fraction of them plan on downsizing. community will bring additional costs as well.

“Downsizing is scary, and it’s a major event in life, like having Advantages to downsizing in preparation for retirement, or to an empty nest after the children leave,” Gerontologist Karen save more money during retirement, include the obvious: a Owen-Lee told the Salt Lake lower mortgage, and thus lower payments. If you have enough Tribune. equity in your current home, you may be able to purchase Attitudes change as we age, the you new home outright, thus eliminating paymentsthat have A special thank to our clients, friendsmortgage and family however. Of the 14 percent of completely. growUtility in 2013.

We could not have had such a succes folks over 65business who say they’ll bills will be lower with less square footage to heat and move withinwithout five years, 67 your support.

Wishing happiness this cool, and a smaller lot mayyou allowmuch the retiree to avoid having to holida

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pay a landscape maintenance company. If the new home is in a walkable area, you’ll save money on gas and wear and tear on the car.

Make a Plan

One of the most important steps to downsizing is looking for that window of opportunity – a time when the market is robust for sellers yet sales prices aren’t so high as to price you out of the market on your new, smaller home.

While waiting for that opportunity, create a plan that includes downsizing to a smaller home, but also consider a less expensive location to get maximum bang for your retirement buck.

Instead of looking at cities or towns with strong job markets (a strong job market tends to increase home prices), look at smaller cities. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to move far from friends and family, claims Richard Satran of U.S. News and World Report. “Even overheated housing markets are ringed by pockets where home prices are more affordable,” he said.

The median move for folks over the age of 65 is 71 miles from their current home, Satran said, but 25 percent of them end up over 1,000 miles away. A great source for researching cities that might fit your bill is AARP. They list the best cities if you crave sunshine, the most affordable cities, best cities abroad, and even the most quirky cities in which to retire.

Once you narrow down where to live, the rest of the plan is easy. Determine what is most important to you in a neighborhood or community. Walkability? Proximity to recreational facilities? With a list of your wants and needs, a good real estate agent can help you find the ideal home in a community that fits your lifestyle.

Deciding whether to downsize is a personal choice. It requires taking into consideration your current financial position and the lifestyle you hope for in retirement. Seek the counsel of financial and real estate experts before making any firm decisions. 

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History

Burlington Fire Horses

I

n 1905, Burlington’s small volunteer fire department acquired its first fire station on newly-created Clay Street (later Andrews Street), near the Worth Street intersection, on or close to the spot where the State Theater once sat.

The building was a one-story frame structure measuring approximately 22 x 40 feet that had formerly been used by local merchant Nat Cardwell as a storage shed.

At or about the same time, Ernest H. Murray, who was then the fire department’s secretary, went before the board of aldermen and asked for permission to acquire a horse to pull its new hose and water wagon. Specifically, he told the aldermen that the firemen would purchase the horse themselves if the city would supply food and board, and the

by Walter Boyd

board agreed with this proposal. Shortly thereafter, the fire department acquired a large, gray stallion named “Rubin.”

“Rubin” was tended by Wesley Monroe Cable, who was fondly known about town as “Uncle Wes.” He was a 58year old widower who served as the fire department’s first manager and also cleaned Burlington’s streets. Initially, Cable kept “Rubin” at his residence, but it wasn’t long before a stable and living quarters were added to the fire station.

As a fire horse, “Rubin” proved to be something of a disappointment. In fact, all he seemed to be able to do well was eat. It took the stimulus of a whip to get “Rubin” moving, and even then he moved along at hardly more than

Burlington’s first fire horse “Rubin” on Spring Street about 1910. Wesley Monroe Cable, the fire department’s manager, is holding him. Fire Chief Zeb Waller is in the background.

16 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

In 1914, Burlington’s last fire horse “John” practicing for a race. Manly Baker, who co-founded Burlington’s first movie theater (the Grotto in 1907), is at the reins.

a trot. The only time he seemed to move fast was when someone put a bucket of oats in front of him.

Despite his shortcomings, “Rubin” served Burlington’s fire department until at least the fall of 1910. Over the next two or three years there were two more horses—one named “Prince” and the other named “Dolph”—but other than their names nothing is known about them.

The Burlington fire department’s last—and favorite— horse was a dark bay named “John,” who was purchased from local livestock dealer Joseph Monroe “Joe” Fogleman.

Unlike, “Rubin,” “John” was a very fast horse and his most famous feat was winning the $100 first prize in a fire horse race in Winston-Salem on August 5, 1914. In all fairness, though, “John” came in second, but the first place winner was disqualified.

“John” moved into luxurious quarters in Burlington’s new municipal building at the corner of West Front and South Worth streets in 1917, but his days were numbered after the fire department bought its first truck in early 1919.

He pulled the back-up wagon until the second fire truck was purchased in 1924. The department needed his stall to house the new truck, so “John” was sold to Moore & Cates’ Home Ice Company.

“John” spent his last few years hauling ice during the summer and coal during the winter. People said he looked dejected and outcast in his new career. Around the beginning of March 1927, he slipped on a patch of ice and fell. He made no fight to recover and died on March 5. 

Heather McAndrew

Phone: 800.388.9304 Mobile: 336.269.2112 Fax: 800.213.5683 BurlingtonMagNC.com | 17

community character

by Alex Alfonso

King Creole

Spicing Up the Food Truck Scene

I

f you’re familiar with Burlington’s food truck scene the red brick paint of the King Creole truck is instantly recognizable. Some are saying to themselves right now, “Burlington has a food truck scene?” Yes. At the Burlington Farmer’s Market, during the Fourth Friday Festivals downtown or at any local event where people need to eat, the King Creole truck can be found serving authentic southern Louisiana cuisine to all with a craving.

The red truck with the bayou vista on its flank may act as a Pavlovian dinner bell setting mouths watering but the real satisfaction comes from tasting Chef Micah Martello’s loaded dishes of creole cuisine.

“The food truck customer is a different customer,” Martello said. “They are a more adventurous eater, they’re more of a foodie. People that are into food follow food trucks. I can get away with more cutting edge type food on a food truck than I can in a restaurant. I can serve things out of this truck that people maybe wouldn’t risk at a restaurant, because it’s a different customer. And that’s one of the fun things.”

Food trucks are one of the latest trends in urban dining.

The popularity of food trucks downtown prompted Burlington’s city council recently to establish regulations for the trucks operating in the city. Chef Martello, who is on the board of the Burlington Farmers’ Market, uses local ingredients in his dishes. Downtown Burlington’s restaurants at the moment provide limited menu options.

18 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

Martello believes food trucks can give adventurous eaters in Burlington a chance to try different kinds of food and will play a vital role in the rebirth of downtown Burlington.

“I firmly believe food trucks are not a passing fad. There are many factors involved in that, and the main reason is economic. Starting a restaurant is a huge investment.

On a food truck, it’s a totally different ball game. With a food truck, we’re small, we’re agile and we are lean. We can operate at a lower expense and still make a decent, honest living without having to spend $500,000 opening a restaurant,” Martello said.

Far from being green as new sprouts, Martello honed his skill as a chef and restauranteur in southern Louisiana.

Winning numerous culinary awards, including being nominated for a James Beard award early is his career, Martello took a long sabbatical from the food service industry when he grew disillusioned with the administrative duties of running a restaurant day to day.

The food truck led Martello to rediscover his passion and love for cooking.

“I had to figure out a way to be a chef without being in a restaurant. And the food truck allows me to do that...

One of the things I missed so much was the customer interaction. I mean, I really, truly enjoy making people happy with food,” he said. “To be able to talk to people about what they want to eat, make it for them, hand

them the food and watch them light up when they taste it. I really enjoy that one on one that I get with my customers.”

Crawfish etoufee, gumbo yaya with shrimp, andoullie sausage and smoked chicken, shrimp and tasso pepperjack grits, poboy sandwiches and jambalaya with smoked chicken and sausage are a few of the dishes that have foodies stepping up to Chef Martello’s food truck window. Sides include red beans and rice, chicken and okra gumbo, and for dessert King Creole offers a caramel bread pudding. Martello bets the creole-inspired offerings from his truck will lure Burlington diners out of their food comfort zones.

“We are really trying hard to stick with Burlington. We run from Winston(-Salem) to Raleigh , but Burlington is where I live, Burlington is where I want to run, and trying to get the message out and raise awareness that it’s O.K. to eat out of a truck,” he said. “We’re inspected just like a regular restaurant. We have a fantastic health score.”

“Burlington needs to know that there are food options other than McDonald’s, and Chili’s and Applebee’s, and Ruby Tuesday. There are real chefs out here that are producing real food at a very reasonable price. You can come to my truck and feed your family for 30 bucks, and get good portions and know that it is fresh. We want people to accept and embrace food trucks.”

“The city of Burlington has been wonderful when it comes to food trucks. They really want us here. And, as far as promoting downtown, we feel that food trucks are going to be a part of the rebirth of downtown Burlington.

That’s kind of what we are shooting for, just to raise awareness and let people know. Come out and eat.”

For more information about the King Creole Food Truck go to www.kingcreolefoodtruck.com. 

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BurlingtonMagNC.com | 19

Health & Wellness

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month Healthy Feet Means a Healthy Lifestyle; Don’t Live with Foot Pain

A

pril is National Foot Health Awareness month and the podiatric team at Triad Foot Center wants to make sure you refresh your focus on your feet. According to a study by the Institute of Preventative Health, an estimated 80 percent of people ages 21 and older have at least one problem with their feet.

Often times, foot problems are indicators of other problems happening inside your body.

“Foot pain is something you don’t want to ignore,” says Dr. Norman Regal, DPM. “If you had an excruciating headache every day you would get it checked out, right? The same goes for your feet. Aches and pains aren’t something you should have to live with. Healthy feet allow you to have a healthy lifestyle and enjoy the things you love doing the most.

Many foot related problems are linked with wearing ill-fitting footwear, improper support, flat feet, high arches, as well as many other foot-related ailments. Feet are specialized structures that need specialized care, and a podiatrist can make an important contribution to your total health.

“People often forget about all of the activities that cause stress to your feet,” says Dr. Richard Sikora, DPM, “Constantly being on your feet, due to your job or exercise

routine, could put excessive strain on your feet, which often leads to pain and complications if you’re not wearing the proper footwear.

National Health Foot Awareness month is a great time to remind people to take care of their body’s foundation –the feet, however, the message should be just as important 365 days a year.

Here are our top three tips to get you started on your journey to healthy feet: 1. Don’t ignore foot pain, foot pain is not normal. See your podiatrist if you’re experiencing foot pain.

2. Check feet regularly for the development of thicker nails, changes in foot color, and peeling skin. If you’re diabetic this is especially important, as numbness in your feet can mask the signs of sores and ulcers, which left untreated can result in amputation.

3. Make sure your shoes fit properly. The best time to try shoes on is in the afternoon and evening when feet are their largest size Maintaining optimal foot health is important because they literally allow you to “walk through life” without complaint when you properly take care of them. If eyes are the window to your soul, then feet are the doors to your health. 

Triad Foot Center is a leading podiatric medical practice serving the Piedmont Triad at their Greensboro, Burlington and Asheboro offices with Drs. Norman Regal, Richard Sikora, M. Todd Hyatt, Kathryn Edgerton and Richard Tuchman. Triad Foot Center prides themselves on having a team of highly trained and skilled medical and surgical podiatry experts, all certified by the Board of Podiatry Examiners.

20 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

Chamber Golf Classic Friday, May 16, 2014

Southwick Golf Club 3136 Southwick Drive Graham, NC *Entry Fee:

$70 per golfer/$280 per team

All proceeds go to support the Chamber’s programs. Pick up registration forms at:

Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce 610 S Lexington Avenue, Burlington

336.228.1338 • alamancechamber.com

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BurlingtonMagNC.com | 21

Feature

April is NC Beer Month

by Alex Alfonso photos courtesy East of Elon Home Brewing Coop

W

hether drinking from a glass, frosty mug, or a stein, no one needs an excuse to enjoy a well-crafted beer. For those who do need an excuse April has been officially declared Beer month in North Carolina. No April fools! We now have a month dedicated to drinking and brewing beer.

The micro-brew or craft beer industry has exploded in recent years. The industry is already big business in the state. Craft beer manufacturers and sellers pumped an estimated $800 million into the North Carolina’s economy last year and supported more than 10,000 jobs.

There are now 100 craft breweries and brewpubs in North Carolina -- the most in the south -- and 20 more plan to open for business in 2014. Regional brewers are being recognized for using a diverse range of locally produced ingredients such as sweet potatoes, blackberries,

22 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

blueberries, kumquats, sorghum, persimmons and more traditional ingredients like hops, barley, wheat and rye.

The breadth of this burgeoning industry, from agriculture to tourism, prompted Governor Pat McCrory to decree April ‘NC Beer month.’

Burlington’s brew hobbyists, connoisseurs and casual drinkers are getting a taste of the craft beer economy as well. Upscale Cutlery Steakhouse featured a St. Patrick’s Day beer dinner with the chef pairing five courses with five craft beers. Company Shops Market in downtown offers a large selection of local and regional craft brews for sale, while The Front Street Public House exhibits local craft beers on tap with a wide array of tap handle art.

The East of Elon Home Brewing Cooperative, a group of amateur brewers who meet every other Sunday, advise

definition; water, malt, hops and yeast. The equipment can be found easily at local stores.

The way a brewer mixes the four ingredients, when they add the hops, and controlling the temperature during the process can all affect bitterness and texture. Know the difference between a lager and an ale? The grains ferment on the bottom of the mixture for a lager, ales ferment on the top. When and how much hops is added to the mixture can affect bitterness.

Adding spices or fruit along with the traditional malt and hops expands the flavor of beer. Experimenting with new ingredients is a trademark for small-batch and craft brews. Local brewers tend to use readily available ingredients that vary with the seasons.

“If you can bake a cake, you can certainly brew beer,” affirmed Kristina Simmons of East of Elon Home Brewing Co-op.

Whatever your taste in beer, raise one this month to celebrate NC Beer Month!

Anyone interested in learning more about home brewing can contact the East of Elon Home Brewing Cooperative through their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/groups/eastofelon. If you are interested in investing $100 and becoming an owner of the Burlington Beer Works Brewpub, visit facebook.com/ BurlingtonBeerWorks. 

“Home brewers are always really friendly,” Baltutis said. “They want to get people to try their beer.” and teach home-brewing techniques at county libraries.

Burlington Beer Works Cooperative, a brewery and restaurant, plans to announce its location in downtown Burlington once there are 1000 owners (the current number is close to 500), who have each invested $100 in the business. At the center of both these beer-fueled endeavors is Ian Baltutis, former candidate for mayor of Burlington, business owner and at-home brew master, proselytizing the economic and pleasure potentials of brewing beer.

“Home brewers are always really friendly,” Baltutis said. “They want to get people to try their beer.”

The East of Elon home brewers were at the Mebane Library in March where they brought a batch of homebrewed root beer, snacks and explained to a small group of enthusiasts the nuances and equipment needed to brew beer at home. The simplicity of the process surprised some. Only four ingredients are needed to make beer by

BurlingtonMagNC.com | 23

Your Money

P

Scrimp on Coffee – NOT Your Retirement Plan Contribution

reparing for retirement requires a plan, and that plan should consist of two important phases: the saving years and the retirement years. To achieve the goal of a financially secure retirement, you will have to make wise decisions during the saving phase of your plan.

But when it comes to finding additional areas to cut expenses, don’t make the mistake of scrimping on your taxadvantaged retirement plan contribution. Making your annual contribution to a tax-advantaged retirement plan, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, can reduce your current income tax as well as allow your account to grow tax-deferred.² According to the 2012 Wells Fargo Retirement Survey conducted by Harris Interactive, Americans say the 401(k) is the “best retirement savings vehicle,” followed by the IRA and a savings account. Thirty-four percent of Americans who have a 401(k) available through their employer are saving between 3% and 5% in their plan, and 32% are saving between 6% and 10%. Those contributing to a 401(k) report more companies are offering the match (77%) this year versus 66% a year ago.

Yet, as much as the tax savings makes sense, when the budget is pinched, you may be tempted to skip your retirement plan contribution this year –for your own financial wellbeing, please don’t. Here are three common excuses for not contributing to your retirement plan this year – and an equal number of counterpoints to suggest why you should.

Excuse #1: My company won’t match my contribution this year.

Counterpoint: Companies that normally match their employees’ contributions to retirement plans may suspend their match in a year when company profitability is under pressure. The fact is, you compound the gap in retirement growth income if you follow suit and fail to make a current-year contribution.

Excuse #2: We’re trying to put more money in the bank.

Lynn Burnette Financial Advisor 1708 Westbrook Avenue Burlington, NC 27215 Direct 336-584-3094

Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is a registered broker-dealer and separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Member SIPC. ©2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 1113-02329 [84976-v3] A1507 24 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

Counterpoint: The money you put away in an individual or joint account is after-tax money and the interest earned on the account is also subject to tax. In a 30% tax bracket, it would take $1,428 of pre-tax dollars to equal a contribution of $1,000 in a tax-deferred retirement account. What’s more, that doesn’t account for the taxes you’d pay on interest earned in your taxable account.

Excuse #3: I’ll catch up on retirement savings next year when the economy improves.

Counterpoint: If you normally contribute the maximum contribution limits, you will not catch up. The maximum amount you can personally contribute to a 401(k) plan is $17,500 in 2013 on a pre-tax basis. If you are older than 50, you can also make a catch-up contribution up to a maximum of $5,500. Just keep in mind that once you miss making a maximum annual contribution, you cannot make it up due to annual contribution limits.

No more excuses – think about making your retirement plan contribution and err on the side of retirement preparedness.

Skipping out on retirement contributions now can make it difficult if not impossible later to go back and make up the shortfall. 

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Donald Kehler, Financial Advisor, First Vice President – Investment Officer and Lynn Burnette, Financial Advisor, in Burlington, NC, at (336) 584-3094 or (800) 4511615.

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE ©2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 0113-01979 [82761-v3] e6614

Donald Kehler First Vice President - Investments Financial Advisor Burlington, NC 27215 Direct 336-584-3094

Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is a registered broker-dealer and separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Member SIPC. ©2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 1113-02329 [84976-v3] A1507

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BurlingtonMagNC.com | 25

ParkLiner

by Sherry Johnson Photos provided by ParkLiner

Take Me Somewhere Fun!

c

handler Palethorpe is an outdoorsy guy. He loves nothing more than getting out in the woods, away from city lights and noise and camping by the fire, enjoying nature. When he got married, he and his wife went car camping or spent the night at bed & breakfasts, not sleeping on the ground, and when their children came along, that became problematic because the car was too small to sleep them comfortably and bed & breakfast establishments no longer wanted them with small children in tow.

26 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

S

o Chandler, not wanting to give up his weekend trips, began looking at pop-up campers – but they took longer to put up than a tent. He looked at other options, including small campers. They purchased a camper in 2004, and Chandler immediately saw ways to improve it and make it better.

He majored in Biology at Carolina, but his passion is design and engineering. Not being able to use something without trying to improve it, the first project he completed on his new camper was one his wife asked him to look into. The table that came with it had two positions – up or down. She wanted it to fold up and tuck out of the way. Once Chandler took at look at it and saw how he could improve the design, he went to work. He calls the new design The Magic Table - you can set it up as a half or full size table, folds it down into a bench during the day or a bed for sleeping at night, and best of all, it tucks out of the way when not in use.

When he went to patent his new design, he realized that he wanted to manufacture the whole camper to go along with the table, and it would be different from anything else on the market today. He started in his garage by building a mock up of the interior he had in mind. He wanted a 6’2” man to be able to stand in the shower and not bump his head when he leaned over to rinse the soap out of his hair. The first camper Chandler owned, he actually had to get into the shower on his knees to fit in the small poorly designed space.

He built the first camper out of wood, and then hired an auto body shop to make a mold out of fiberglass for the exterior of the camper. He BurlingtonMagNC.com | 27

put it on a trailer and proceeded to build the interior.

Every detail he designed and redesigned, thinking outside the box for a lot of the details – using the interior of a boat for his inspiration.

In June, 2011 Chandler opened Parkliner in the former Mineola Cotton Plant in Gibsonville. He hired a fiberglass expert who used to build mega-yachts for a living to build the exterior of his. In fact, all of his assemblers worked in high end companies and are extraordinary at their craft. He is passionate about supporting the local economy, and many of the items he sources for his Parkliner trailer come from local artisans and companies.

He contracted Terry Boswell, of Boswell Welding & Fabrication to custom make the trailer that hauls the camper. A first rate welder and local Burlington business owner, Terry manufactures a sturdy chassis that holds the 2,300 lb. trailer easily.

When he wanted custom cabinet doors built for the abundant amount of storage his camper offers, he looked no further than his next door neighbor in the mill, Closet Genie. Ed Susan’s company has a CNC machine that can precisely cut the wood to Chandler’s exact measurements. All the cabinet doors are made out of furniture-grade maple plywood to make them beautiful, durable and lightweight.

The fabrics he suggests for covering the interior cushions of the camper are sourced from Sunbrella 28 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

outdoor fabrics, which are woven just 10 miles up the road in Glen Raven. These fabrics are durable, easy to clean and stand up to years of use and he offers a wide variety of colors to suit any taste.

Small space architecture has caught on with the upswing in the Tiny House Movement. 60% of Parkliner customers have a Master’s Degree or better, and that shows they are thoughtful people and careful where they spend their money. 25% of Chandler’s customers currently own or have owned a sailboat.

The same quality is applied to the Parkliner spaces as a high end sailboat.

When building the mold for the exterior, Chandler wanted to offer as much headroom as possible so people weren’t bumping their head or stooping as they walked around the interior. He used an anti-trolley top & fiberglass beams to provide amazing structural integrity. Roof vents and fixtures are concealed from side view for a sleek elegant look and allow a man 6’4” to stand in the camper with his shoes on and not bump his head. The body is lined with Astro-foil insulation covered with a special fuzzy wall lining to keep the interior warm or cool, just like in a fine boat or plane. An optional air conditioning unit can be installed under the dinette bench to keep the top aerodynamic and smooth.

He designed the interior cabinets to be surprisingly spacious, with 21 linear feet of storage space,

BurlingtonMagNC.com | 29

including an over the sink cabinet that is tall enough to hold a full size coffee maker. Even cabinets in the shower stall can hold small items such as towels, extra rolls of paper towels or toilet paper.

The camper itself is twelve feet long, 82 inches wide and eight feet tall. A 3% curvature on the exterior design allows crosswinds to rollover the camper without making it sway when large trucks pass it on the highway, keeping it firmly on four wheels.

The Parkliner is attractive, very affordable and best of all, maintenance free. Everything you need to get on the road and explore! ď‚™

30 | Burlington Magazine - Issue 09

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