Hickory Living September 2022

Complimentary September 2022 2022

On the Cover

Best of The FOOTHILLS HickoryLIVING READER’S CHOICE AWARD

Where Compassion Meets Innovation page 12

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES! HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

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contents SEPTEMBER 2022 FEATURES 12 • COVER STORY Catawba Valley Health System Where Compassion Meets Innovation

MacAdam Smith Publisher mac@oasisluxuryhomes.com (484) 769-7445

18 • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Swisher Skin And Laser Enhancing Your Natural Beauty

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22 • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Scenic View Landscapes, LLC Creating Scenic Views

IN THIS ISSUE

Kathy Wheeler Design & Advertising Sales kathylivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 238-3224

6 • Welcome To The September Issue 10 • September Events 2022

Best of The FOOTHILLS HickoryLIVING

22 Hickory

LIVING 10225 Hickorywood Hill Ave., Unit A Huntersville, NC 28078 (484) 769-7445 HickoryLiving@gmail.com

www.HickoryLivingMagazine.com 4

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READER’S CHOICE AWARD

VOTING CONTINUES! See our special advertising section starting on page 31.

Hickory Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Hickory Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Sharon Simpson Advertising Director sharon@lncurrents.com (704) 677-9159

contributors

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Peter Eisenhauer Kathy Wheeler

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

by Shane Greene Photography

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Welcome to the

September Issue

By Kathy Wheeler

F

ollowing the first week of school everyone is rewarded with a little break. Plan something fun for the extended Labor Day weekend! If you are looking for day trips, we have plenty of options no more than a few hours away. The North Carolina Zoo, Biltmore, and Carowinds are always fun for families. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort offer concerts as well as casino fun and is a great option for couples. There are also a lot of free, local concerts listed in our September Events on page 10. Whatever you decide to do for Labor Day, enjoy the weekend!

As the temperatures drop, fall is the perfect time to winterize your home.

Sealing up drafty doors and windows will save you on your utilities. It’s amazing what caulk, foam stripping, and door sweeps can do to make your home cozier this winter. Other items on the fall-to-do-list include: • Clean and repair the gutters • Drain and store your garden hoses 6

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©iStockphoto.com | LeManna

and insulate outdoor faucets.

• Clean and store lawn chairs and any outdoor furniture you won’t use.

• Schedule maintenance on your heating and air system and change the filters monthly.

• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Hire a chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney.

• If you have an alternate heating source for power outages, make sure it is in proper working condition before you need it!

Our September cover story features Catawba Valley Health System. Read their story on page 12 to learn about some of the state-of-the-art technologies Catawba Valley Medical Center offers patients in our area. It’s truly amazing!

We have two business spotlights this month. Scenic View Landscapes is featured on page 22 and is known for their incredible designs and customer service.

Kevin Sipe and his team can design and install a beautiful landscape customized

just for your property. They also offer horticultural maintenance to keep it looking gorgeous, so all you have to do is enjoy it! If you are looking to redesign your outdoor space, give Scenic View Landscapes a call. You won’t be disappointed!

Featured on page 18, Swisher Skin and Laser introduces Virtue RF, a new radio frequency microneedling technology.

RSVP to attend their open house on September 29th when customers can explore their services and ask questions about the new treatment. Read their article for details.

The voting for 2022 Best of The Foothills—Hickory Living’s Readers’ Choice Awards continues through the end of October! Please visit us online at www.

HickoryLivingMagazine.com or our Facebook page to find a link and vote for your favorite businesses!

Thank you for reading the September issue of Hickory Living!

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SEPTEMBER EVENTS Enjoy!

HICKORY September 2, 9, 23, 30 The Sails Original Music Series Downtown Hickory under the Sails Bands start at 7PM. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

September 2: Greg Humphreys Electric Trio – Power rock trio September 9: Miss Tess – Jazz, blues, country, and rock and roll September 23: Randall Bramblett Band – Rock September 30: Lonesome Ace Stringband – Folk and country

September 16 The Sails Original Music Series This performance will be held at Taft Broome Park, 115 7th Ave SW, Hickory at Samuel Davis Multipurpse Field. Band start at 7PM. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

September 16: Jake Blount – Draws upon old-time bluegrass and blues influences.

downtownhickory.com/calendar/

September 10 9th Annual Auto Lawn Party L.P. Frans Stadium from 10AM – 3PM. 2500 Clement Blvd NW, Hickory In partnership with Volvo Club of America National Meet 2022, Hickory Museum of Art is excited to feature over 200 classic European cars. hickoryart.org/calendarofevents 10

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Check out these websites to see Hickory and Catawba County libraries, and parks and recreation events: www.hickorync.gov/calendar/ events/ www.catawbacountync.gov/countyservices/library/ or /parks/

MORGANTON September 9, 10 40th Annual Morganton Festival Opens Friday at 12 Noon until 11PM in downtown Morganton. Saturday starts with performances beginning at 9AM until 10PM. Over 100 arts and craft vendors, festival food, Kid & Teen Zone is full of rides and games.

MAIN STAGE BANDS Friday: 8-9PM: 20 Ride – Zac Brown Tribute Band 9:30-11PM: Crawford & Power – Country Saturday: 7-8PM: Kasey Tyndall – rock-infused, country sound 8:30-10PM: Ryan Perry – Modern country with honky-tonk hillbilly morgantonfest.org

VALDESE September 2 Valdese Family Friday Night Concerts • Held at Temple Field

behind The Old Rock School • Bring a lounge chair • Music starts at 7PM. SEASON FINALE September 2: The Tonez – Beach and Variety townofvaldese.com

NEWTON September 8 Music On Main North Main Street in Newton Bring a lawn chair or blanket, sun glasses, and bug spray. No coolers.

Food vendors and beer tent opens at 5PM or visit Newton Social District businesses. Band performs from 6PM until 8PM. September 8: The Breakfast Club www.downtownnewton.org

BLOWING ROCK September 2, 9, 16 23, 30 Music On The Lawn The Inn at Ragged Gardens 203 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock Bring a lawn chair, no coolers, no pets • 5:30PM–8:30PM September 2: Continental Divide September 9: Gracious Day September 16: Harris Brothers September 23: Shelby Rae September 30: Soul Benefactor www.ragged-gardens.com

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on the cover

Where Compassion Meets Innovation Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Catawba Valley Health System and Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) have been nationally recognized for decades for compassionate care within the hospital and across all of the health system entities. In fact, just recently CVMC was named a Top 100 Hospital in the U.S. for Patient Experience.

However, what you may not know is how advanced and innovative the health system is when it comes to delivering that award-winning patient care.

Among CVMC’s many world-class and state-of the-art technologies are the Neonatal Transport Service, the new da Vinci robot, and the Varian Edge Accelerator System. What makes these innovations special and unique to the people of Catawba County? Let’s look at each: 12

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CVMC’s Neonatal Transport service was formed in 2006 and continues to transport critically ill infants to and from our Level III NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). When it began, CVMC was transporting around 34 infants per year.

In 2008 the number doubled for total transports, and that number has steadily increased to around 130 per year.

“Utilizing a state-of-the-art ambulance specifically designed for infants, we have transported as far away as Charleston, SC, to Johnson City, TN, to Durham, NC, and mostly go where we need to, based upon the parents’ requests,” said Jackie Miller, CVMC administrator of the Women & Children’s service line. “We travel to Watauga County in the winter months, sometimes through snow and ice when Catawba County clears the roads.”

Photos:

On the cover, left to right– Michele McGlamery, Len Hurst, and Jackie Miller represent three areas of Catawba Valley Medical Center that feature cutting-edge technology to improve the care of their patients.

Opposite page–CVMC’s Neonatal Transport service was formed in 2006 and continues to transport critically ill infants to and from its Level III NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

Left–Utilizing a state-of-the-art ambulance specifically designed for infants, CVMC has transported from as far away as Charleston, SC, to Johnson City, TN, to Durham, NC.

She added, “We are known not only for great outcomes but also for our timeliness in getting to the transport facility and our professionalism to that facility’s staff. It’s extremely difficult having a critical infant and having to wait sometimes hours for a team to arrive. The transport service allows expert neonatal care closer to home for Catawba Valley families in need of a Level III NICU.” The Neonatal Transport service is under the guidance and direction of David Berry, MD, and Samuel Wellman Jr., MD, and is staffed by specially trained NICU nurses and respiratory therapists.

The CVMC Neonatal Transport Team: • Transports infants in need of critical care for a variety of reasons (including low birth weight, respiratory distress, • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and/or infections present at birth) from neighboring facilities to CVMC’s Level III NICU, which offers a higher level of specialized care; • Delivers care by highly trained respiratory therapists and NICU registered nurses; • Provides services to and from facilities throughout the region and as far north and west as Virginia and Tennessee; • Offers specialty transport that provides high-frequency jet ventilation and nitric oxide administration on board; • Benefits infants and their parents by keeping them as close to home as possible;

Photo:

Above–The CVMC Neonatal Transport team delivers care by highly trained respiratory therapists and NICU registered nurses.

• Allows infant admission to CVMC’s Level III NICU staffed by registered nurses, registered respiratory therapists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and board-certified neonatologists.

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In 2022, CVMC announced the acquisition of the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System, furthering the hospital’s promise to provide world-class care to Catawba County and the surrounding areas. By providing surgeons with this advanced technology, the hospital continues to improve its minimally invasive surgical capabilities in the areas of general surgery, gynecology, urology, and surgical weight-loss, among others.

The da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System is the newest generation of robotic surgical equipment. This robotic assistant, manufactured by Intuitive, features technology that first became available for use in 2000 and was primarily used for prostatectomies and gynecology patients.

Since then, the surgical tool has greatly evolved and become commonly used for a growing number of procedures.

According to Intuitive, the robot provides surgeons with even greater operational precision, as well as a highly magnified view. The surgical system uses advanced robotic, computer, and optical technologies guided by the surgeon, so the surgeon maintains control of the robot at all times.

Photos, Above, top to bottom:

• The da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System uses advanced robotic, computer, and optical technologies guided by the surgeon, so the surgeon maintains control of the robot at all times. The system extends the capabilities of the surgeon’s eyes and hands.

• CVMC continues to improve its minimally invasive surgical capabilities in the areas of general surgery, gynecology, urology, and surgical weight-loss, among others.

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The manufacturer added, “Doctors use many technologies that enhance their capabilities beyond what the human body allows. MRI and CT scanners, for example, enable doctors to ‘see’ inside the body. Similarly, many surgeons perform robotic-assisted surgery using a da Vinci system because it extends the capabilities of their eyes and hands. We believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care.

Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.”

The hospital also owns the da Vinci Si Surgical System, an earlier version of the robotic assistant, which is also utilized by surgeons for minimally invasive procedures. CVMC encourages anyone who would like to learn more about the da Vinci XI Surgical System to visit Intuitive.com/productsand-services/da-vinci.

Photo

: The Varian Edge Linear Accelerator System is used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. It rotates 360 degrees to ensure that beams are being focused as close to the cancerous tumor as possible.

Another unique addition for CVMC is featured in its radiation oncology department, that now showcases the new Varian Edge Linear Accelerator System that provides patients with advanced treatment techniques, such as surface guidance and respiratory gating. Why is that significant? These technologies allow for more accurate, faster, and safer radiation treatments for cancer patients.

The Varian Edge Linear Accelerator System is used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. The device focuses high-energy X-rays that can target and destroy cancer cells in the specific spot where a tumor is located.

Delivering treatments with more accuracy by targeting and monitoring a tumor’s exact location is made possible by what is referred to as surface guidance and respiratory gating technologies.

Surface guidance detects when a patient moves during their radiation treatments. Detecting patient motion allows CVMC radiation therapists to ensure that only a tumor is receiving radiation

rather than healthy tissue close to the tumor. Radiation to the wrong part of the body can be harmful and may cause side effects later in life. The system also rotates 360-degrees to ensure that radiation beams are being focused as close to the tumor as possible.

Respiratory gating is another feature of CVMC’s Varian Edge Linear Accelerator System that accounts for motion during radiation treatments. The respiratory gating technology monitors a patient’s breathing and allows for the system to only send radiation beams during a patient’s exhale. During inhale, a patient’s entire torso moves, and if the tumor is located somewhere in that area, the tumor moves as well. When radiation occurs only during exhale, this allows for more accurate and faster treatments since the patient is still and their torso is relaxed. This technology is especially crucial when treating patients with left-breast cancer since the heart lies beneath the left breast. Respiratory gating minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues and organs.

The linear accelerator system technology that is available at CVMC is more advanced than many of the hospitals in the region. It greatly enhances the overall patient experience for those being treated for cancer. CVMC is proud to offer patients improved accuracy thanks to motion detection, faster treatment times by sending radiation beams during a patient’s exhale, and greater patient safety by better targeting cancerous cells and not healthy tissue.

Featuring advancements such as the Neonatal Transport, the da Vinci Xi robotic assistant, and the latest linear accelerator technology for cancer treatment, CVMC is poised to remain a leader in innovative care for our community for many years to come. Learn more about these and other advancements in patient care at CatawbaValleyHealth.org.

Catawba Valley Medical Center 810 Fairgrove Church Rd SE • Hickory

(828) 326-3000 www.catawbavalleyhealth.org HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

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business spotlight

Photos:

Left–The staff of Swisher Skin and Laser.

Center Below–Three injectors: Elena Willing, RN. LE, Jenette Swisher, MD, Jessica Stevenson, PA Opposite page– Dr. Swisher and Adair Bowman introduce their newest device, Virtue RF, for radio frequency microneedling.

Visit Swisher Skin and Laser Center located at 20 13th Avenue Northwest in Hickory.

Skin and Laser Center Enhancing Your Natural Beauty Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Swisher Skin and Laser Center opened its doors in November of 2020, right in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Despite this challenging environment, it has catapulted to be one the premier aesthetic centers in the area, even winning the title of Best of Catawba Aesthetics in its first year. Swisher Skin and Laser has grown quickly, with many happy clients. Why is it so successful and what sets it apart from the rest you may ask….

Like many aesthetic centers, Swisher Skin and Laser offers Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, and facials among its services. Dr. Jenette Swisher, the owner and medical director, and her team offer a winning combination of medical expertise, cutting-edge technology, and personal client care. The facility is modern and welcoming, and the staff is always going the extra mile to give their 18

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clients an added personal touch. In addition to the customer service, Dr. Swisher states that what sets Swisher Skin and Laser Center apart is their brand of natural beauty. “We seek to enhance, not totally change, our client’s appearance. Our best work is when no one knows that you have had anything done, but you look and (more importantly) feel fabulous,” says Dr. Swisher. “We work to give clients superior results at reasonable prices. We’ve had great success with offerings from simple facials, to hair restoration, and nonsurgical full facial restoration.” The services at Swisher Skin and Laser are backed with providers with decades of experience, professional medical grade products, and top of the line aesthetic devices.

Swisher Skin and Laser Center recently added VIRTUE RF microneedling to its service line. It is the only aesthetic

facility in the area that has this technology, the world’s first RF microneedling platform. Virtue RF helps tighten skin, decrease fine lines and wrinkles, improve pore size, and increase collagen and elastin. Its exclusive robotic precision delivery (RPD) system allows for less discomfort than other devices

and minimal downtime. Learn more about Virtue RF at their fall open house on September 28th. Here, you can speak to representatives from the laser companies, Obagi, and Upneeq. Enjoy refreshments and chances to win FREE Botox, laser hair packages, skin care products, and much more!

Please RSVP by calling or visiting SWISHER SKIN AND LASER CENTER 828-838-1184 20 13th Avenue NW, Hickory, NC swisherskin.com

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HickoryLIVING

business spotlight

Photos:

Left–Kevin’s early high school days are when he started mowing lawns. He is shown her with his brother Brian and sister Marie.

Below–As a landscape designer, Kevin embraces the beautiful details in a design that make up an exciting garden.

(Photos provided)

The company goes all out to ensure that customers get and keep that great “scenic view.”

LANDSCAPES,LLC

Creating Scenic Views

By Peter Eisenhauer | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Someone in Kevin Sipe’s family recently came across an old photo of the green 1966 model Jeep that Kevin used in high school to transport his lawn mowers to his customers’ lawns. It brought back some memories. “I had about 25 yards while I was in high school and it kept me plenty busy,” Kevin says. “It was also a fun way to make an income at that time.”

He may have happily continued with the business, but seeing his success in some horticulture classes, one of his teachers encouraged him to enroll at North Carolina State. “I studied under some really amazing professors at the time and it lit the fire of passion for me to get started into something a little more than mowing.” Kevin gained a strong base of landscape design and horticulture knowledge. In 2000, he started Scenic View Landscapes, with a focus on landscape design and horticultural bed maintenance.

“We have been blessed to work on some of the finest landscapes in our area,” Kevin said. “We serve a high-end landscape market, primarily residential and small business, allowing us to get creative and to maintain many beautiful gardens.”

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“Quality is truly very important to us, enough so, that we have hired a specific person into a very specific position to monitor our quality within our horticultural maintenance properties,” Kevin said. That dedicated position helps the company elevate its performance and fulfill its core values of quality business practices.

With the help of his group manager and team leaders, Kevin strives to strategically game plan each day to provide a level of quality that will meet and exceed client expectations. Kevin feels that nurturing his team is key to providing the innovation, integrity, and quality that customers deserve. Part of that is fostering a culture of a “family-like” setting, where all

Left–Sean Davis, maintenance team leader; Kevin Sipe, owner and designer; Bryson Henry, group manager Erin Byrd, quality control.

Debbie Sipe, office manager.

Kara Sipe, office assistant (Photos by Shane Greene)

members of staff take care of clients and each other.

“Our office staff strives to make our client’s first call experience positive and keeps us all in order at Scenic View,” Kevin said. “These sweet folks truly work to help make a positive experience for our clients.” He also praised his field team members, the ones clients see daily in the distinctive green shirts. “They are the people working in the sometimes challenging outdoors conditions, serving our clients to help make things as easy as possible.”

Scenic View Landscapes is always looking for great new team members, Kevin said. “We love hiring folks who are energetic, competitive, take pride in their work, love being outside, and enjoy caring for other people.”

“It is my honor and joy to be able to serve and work within God’s nature each day and to possibly create and nurture a “scenic view” in our clients’ own yards,” Kevin said.

Scenic View Landscapes, LLC (828) 256-2517 www.scenicviewlandscapes.net

Above–Creating and maintaining “scenic views” are what this company does best.

(Photo provided)

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2022

Best of The FOOTHILLS HickoryLIVING READER’S CHOICE AWARD

Visit hickorylivingmagazine.com to vote!

HICKORY LIVING'S READER'S CHOICE AWARDS

2022 Best of the FOOTHILLS

Is there a small business that you have enjoyed shopping with or who offered you great customer service? Let them know by voting for your favorites! 2022’s Best of the Foothills winners will be announced in our December 2022 issue.

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Home Builder Interior Design Landscaper/Lawn Service Nursery Real Estate Agency Consignment/Thrift Store Wedding Venue Jewelry Store Caterer Art Studio Cosmetic Surgery Center HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

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