Hickory Living August 2023

Complimentary August 2023

On the Cover

Women

Celebrating

Kelly Jones Williams –

Your Journey Financial Advisors page 10

In Business pages 19-23

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

1

2

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

3

contents

AUGUST 2023 FEATURES 10 • COVER STORY Kelly Jones Williams – Thrivent Your Journey Financial Advisors

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

16 • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Craftsman Cabinet & Furniture Custom-Built for Your Home

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

16

20 • Killians 21 • A Woman’s View 22 • RE/MAX Legendary 23 • Vitality Anti-Aging Center

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

IN THIS ISSUE 6 • Welcome to the August Issue!

25 • AUGUST Events 26 • What’s Cookin’ Atlantic Beach Pie 2023

Best of The

26 Hickory

FOOTHILLS HickoryLIVING READER’S CHOICE AWARD

VOTING STARTS NOW!

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

www.HickoryLivingMagazine.com 4

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

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

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.

contributors

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kathleen Supino • Amy Casil Kathy Wheeler • Kathy Dicken

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

By Shane Greene Photography

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

5

Welcome to the

August Issue!

By Kathy Wheeler

A

ugust is a busy month with kids heading back to school.

I’m sure children are excited to shop for school supplies and see their friends, but dread changing their lazy summer schedules. Starting their new sleep schedule several weeks in advance will help this transition.

Once kids have their books and supplies, pay close attention to the weight of your child’s backpack. They shouldn’t carry more than 10-20% of their weight. For smaller children, err on the low side of that range. Encourage them to use their locker for things they don’t need to carry all day long, and only bring home what they need to complete their homework assignments.

We at Hickory Living wish students a successful school year filled with academic learning, finding their passions, meeting new friends, and lots of fun extracurricular activities!

6

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

©iStockphoto.com | ikopylov

Before school starts, you still have most of the month to enjoy the outdoors and some great music and other activities!

See page 25 for free August events in our area.

In this issue we are celebrating women in business starting on page 19! We encourage you to read these feature articles about passionate women doing what they love and being successful at it! They are a true inspiration to others to follow their own dreams.

August starts the voting for Hickory Living’s Best of the Foothills Reader’s Choice Awards! Go online to our website for a link to vote for your favorite local business. Maybe there is a local business who went above and beyond providing you exceptional customer service. Let them know you appreciate their efforts by voting for them! Voting will go through the end of October, and

the 2023 winners will be announced in our December issue.

Our August cover story features Kelly Jones Williams with Thrivent’s Your Journey Financial Advisors team. Kelly and her team help develop a personal financial plan based on your values and goals. They specialize in protection planning, strategies for tax mitigation as well as estate planning, investing advice, and small business owner planning.

Read their article starting on page 10.

This month’s business spotlight features Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture located in Hudson. Offering custombuilt cabinets and furniture, their designers work with you to create a unique home interior for your family.

Their article starts on page 16.

Thank you for reading the August issue of Hickory Living!

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

7

8

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

9

on the cover

Kelly Jones Williams – Your Journey Financial Advisors

By Kathleen Supino

Your Journey Financial Advisors with Thrivent offers financial services to residents of Hickory and surrounding areas.

Founded in 1902, Thrivent has a proven track record of success that has made it a Fortune 500 company. For more than 120 years, Thrivent has helped people build their financial futures and live more generous lives, offering a full range of expert financial solutions and serving more than 2.3 million clients, as well as the communities in which they live and work1. But there’s a special sauce that Thrivent offers that helps set them apart, and that is the opportunity for inspiring generosity.

It may sound unusual for a financial services company to place generosity as one of its core tenets. As a financial services firm founded on a common bond of Christianity, Thrivent is fraternal benefit society allowing the ability to make a positive impact with clients in their communities, including the Hickory community and beyond. When individuals or businesses become a client of Thrivent, they have access to 10

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

generosity programs that help amplify their impact in their community. Giving back is important to their clients and is part of what makes Thrivent truly unique. The Your Journey Financial Advisors Team with Thrivent is also engaged in volunteer programs, charitable giving, and numerous partnerships, including with Habitat for Humanity. They believe that teaming with clients and organizations that better a community helps everyone go further and be stronger.

Customer service is prioritized at Your Journey Financial Advisors, and the company’s commitment to service has been proven again and again. A case in point is the recent pandemic. While COVID-19 presented unique challenges to everyone, Thrivent found that staying on top of technology enabled them to stay in touch with clients virtually. With the availability of platforms like Zoom and webinar software, Thrivent has incorporated even more efficiency into the way they can meet clients where they’re at to offer support and advice. Taking it a step further, Your Journey Financial

Photos:

On the cover–Left to right, Niki Smith, COO for the Your Journey Financial Advisors, Kelly Jones Williams, partner, Colby Bolick, partner (Photo by Shane Greene) Opposite page–The Your Journey Financial Advisors team (Photo provided by Thrivent) Left–Team meetings are held weekly in the Hickory office to discuss client cases, upcoming events, and how to be better advisors for their clients.

(Photo by Shane Greene) Below–Advisors meet with a client to discuss goals. (Photo by Shane Greene)

Advisors now offer recurring member events via webinars, in addition to online resources for clients to improve their financial clarity.

Even the process of onboarding a new client is addressed with the client’s needs front and center. Kelly Jones Williams, a 15-year veteran with Thrivent and leader of the Your Journey Financial Advisors team, is a licensed financial advisor. She details her personal approach to assessing a client’s financial situation and goals before providing recommendations. “We go through an in-depth process to determine your values and behaviors and establish goals for accountability and success. We make the connection between what’s important to you and how you can live your legacy before you leave it.”

The first step for creating a personalized financial plan for clients is a connect meeting. This is where the client and a member of the Your Journey Financial Advisors team discuss past financial choices and current financial situations, including available investment options. Next, the focus is on goal development, where the client expresses goals, priorities and concerns, while the team member may suggest financial goals that align with the client’s interests. After that comes data gathering, strategy and delivery, all of which takes place in careful, thoughtful stages.

The Your Journey Financial Advisors team is not the only resource that clients have. They are hands-on and all-in, with portfolio managers who keep target objectives, trends, and what matters most to you in mind. Your Journey Financial

Advisors has an available team of six financial advisors, three junior advisors, and nine support team members. Communication is a top priority, especially during rocky times when clients may need a little bit of extra information or support.

Clients can always access available help from any of the support staff. Your Journey Financial Advisors doesn’t operate with a silo model, where everything and everyone is separated. Instead, a client has all the resources available, not just those of one team member.

Mrs. Jones-Williams emphasizes that the work done at Your Journey Financial Advisors is a team effort, helping ensure that every client gets the maximum value from working with their team. “My team and I specialize in protection planning, tax mitigation strategies, estate planning strategies, and small business owner planning,” she says. Mrs. JonesWilliams’ personal path to Thrivent included a job working HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

11

Photos, Left

The Hickory/Claremont offices doing some team building. From left to right: Jennifer Miller, Jeannie Caldwell, Niki Smith, Collin Carlton, Colby Bolick, and Kelly Jones Williams.

Below–Kelly praying for their clients.

(Photos by Shane Greene)

at a credit union. At the time, she knew she wanted a career where she could help people, but the credit union wasn’t serving her entire life’s purpose. She feels that with the help of God’s guiding hand, she’s found what she is meant to do.

Mrs. Jones-Williams has consistently performed as a top financial advisor at Thrivent. Recently, she was inducted into Thrivent’s Voices in Philanthropy Hall of Honor, one of only 44 active members. She’s proud to say that two of those members are on her team at Thrivent. In addition, many of the team members are active with Habitat for Humanity’s international builds and have traveled to El Salvador on numerous occasions. They hope to continue doing so in the future.

The concept of giving and abundance is Bible-based, with the idea that generosity and being wise with money is a way to achieve financial clarity. Mrs. Jones-Williams tries to live that belief through her personal work. She supports a number of local and national organizations, with both her time and financial resources, including the National Kidney Foundation, Hearts and Hope, and the Hickory Soup Kitchen. She is also a sitting board member and advocate of the Catawba Valley Health Foundation.

At Thrivent, the belief is that life is a journey, and they want to take that journey along with their clients, every step of the way. The goal of the Your Journey Financial Advisor team and Thrivent as a whole is to help people reach a place where they feel content and have confidence to attain their goals and live a life full of meaning and gratitude.

12

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

Thrivent Financial Your Journey Financial Advisors 910 Tate Blvd. SE, Suite 105, Hickory 828.855.9690 • Connect.thrivent.com/kelly-jones 5776176.1 1 As of Dec. 31, 2022 Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional. If requested, a licensed insurance agent/producer may contact you and financial solutions, including insurance may be solicited.

Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.

Member benefits, programs and activities are not guaranteed contractual benefits. You should never purchase or retain any insurance or annuity products simply to be able to participate. Participation is subject to applicable Terms and Conditions.

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing™ recognizes financial advisors and professionals who devoted extra effort in facilitating charitable gifts to the organization.

Financial advisors and professionals who are inducted into the Voice in Philanthropy (VIP) Hall of Honor have helped their clients give more than $5 million in charitable gifts to benefit our shared communities during their careers.

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing™, a separate legal entity from Thrivent, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, is a public charity that serves individuals, organizations and the community through charitable planning, donor-advised funds and endowments.

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing works collaboratively with Thrivent and its financial advisors.

Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not availablein all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. Thrivent.com/disclosures.

Insurance products, securities and investment advisory services are provided by appropriately appointed and licensed financial advisors and professionals. Only individuals who are financial advisors are credentialed to provide investment advisory services. Visit Thrivent.com or FINRA’s BrokerCheck for more information about our financial advisors.

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

13

14

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

15

business spotlight

Photos, Left to right:

• Designer Charles Sparks, co-owner of Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture • Design meeting – Charles, Rodney Harrelson, and Brian Barlow • Co-owner and operations manager Brian Barlow • Cabinet designer and installation manager Rodney Harrelson

Trends in Wood and Home Furnishings “We are seeing a growing interest from younger people who are interested in good furniture,” said Charles. “They are just as attracted to the quality of the furniture as the beauty of it. Plus, they love the customization that we offer.”

Custom-Built for Your Home

By Amy Casil | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Talking with Charles Sparks, designer, vice president, and co-owner of Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture, I quickly learned about the business’ commitment to their customers. They offer fascinating and beautiful wood cabinetry and furniture along with the benefits of custom woodwork throughout the home.

Charles told me that they had just installed a 15-foot dining table in a private residence. The table was made of wormy maple, also called ambrosia maple, and is a decorative wood with beautiful patterns and striping. Working with many high quality materials and providing individual attention to every customer, Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture’s name truly fits the business. They offer Amish-built custom cabinetry and solid wood, hand crafted furniture that is Americanmade. You can work with them to design any type of cabinetry or furniture and receive decor advice for any room.

16

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

Traditional styles are also on the rise again, Charles told me. “A lot of the grays and whites are still popular but they’re waning a bit. People are coming back to more traditional designs.” Hunter green and burgundy are just a few colors that are reemerging in home interiors.

Barnwood has been popular for a few years, and it is still continuing strong. Reclaimed from old barns, most of the barnwood that Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture uses comes from the Midwest. Charles also mentioned that one of their furniture builders collects driftwood from lakes and creates one-of-akind pieces from it.

Focus Areas in the Home I asked Charles which room renovations or redesigns were likely to have the greatest impact for homeowners and he quickly responded, “Kitchens and bathrooms.” When considering home values, updated kitchens and bathrooms tend to add value, and Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture’s cabinetry can maximize your storage while adding to the beauty of

the room’s design. They are truly made for your home and to your style. With their design help, you can choose the wood, finishes, and hardware. Their professionals will come to your site to take the necessary measurements. “Both cabinets and furniture can be any design you want, from French Country to very rustic,” said Charles.

Charles and I discussed the trend toward better outdoor living spaces. Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture is able to design indoor-outdoor spaces and also offers decor for many areas of the home.

All of their staff is not only experienced, but dedicated. “Design is so much fun,” said Charles. He is involved from start to finish with customer designs. The process benefits from

staff experience with manufacturers. The company likes working with furniture builders who are family owned and operated, and focuses on quality materials and workmanship. As a result, Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture offers you complete choice in cabinet and furniture. You will benefit from their design advice as well as their years of experience and relationships with other businesses that also love wood, fine craftsmanship, and both beautiful and functional furnishings and cabinetry.

Craftsman Cabinets & Furniture 2994 Hickory Blvd, Hudson, NC 28638 Open Monday–Saturday 10AM to 6PM (828) 572-4424 craftsmancabinetsandfurniture.com

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

17

18

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

successful powerful passionate

Celebrating Women In Business

© iStockphoto.com | nyul

Hickory Living is proud to celebrate women in business this month. On the following pages, you will meet successful women in our area who are following their passion. They possess an entrepreneurial spirit and the ambition and positive outlook that it takes to grow their businesses. We appreciate all that they contribute to our local economy, and we celebrate their success!

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

19

Women in Business

Killian’s Hardware would like to welcome Jennifer Gott as a new co-owner and partner. The hardware store has been owned and operated by women since 1997. Sharon Killian Radke and Susan Killian Kirby grew up in the family business before becoming third generation owners. Jennifer, Sharon’s daughter, is now the fourth generation to follow in their footsteps. While these ladies continue to value the way their father and grandfather did business before them, they look forward to serving their future customers by implementing new innovations.

Jennifer Gott Partner and Co-Owner of

Killians

3790 Springs Road, Hickory, NC 28601 828.256.2147 www.killiansinc.com

20

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

A Hickory institution, Killians is always growing, and believes that the best is yet to come! To their many lines of outdoor power equipment, Killians is adding Ventrac compact tractors and attachments to serve municipalities, commercial customers, and property owners. Of course, as with all of their brands, they offer

parts and service. “It’s all about taking care of our community and providing what customers need,” said Sharon.

“We sell outdoor power equipment, service, and parts from all major manufacturers and engine brands, ” said Jennifer. “We offer fully stocked hardware, plumbing, and electrical departments, and our growth and success in every area has always been customer service.

We know our community on a personal level, and our knowledgeable staff helps you find exactly what you need.”

“Battery powered products are very popular among homeowners with smaller yards,” Jennifer continued.

“They’re a great value, easy to use, and don’t require maintenance or service.

It’s important to buy from a dealer who teaches you how to operate and maintain this equipment properly.”

Offering excellent products and services at competitive prices, Killians is committed to educating and supporting a new generation of first-time customers.

Women in Business

GYNECOLOGY Laura Faruque, M.D. Alicia Walsh, M.D. Teri Herman, W.H.N.P. Kim Rector, F.N.P. Anita Montes, M.D.

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Claire Harraghy, M.D. Jennifer Conway, M.D. Jessica Gibney, M.D. Lauren Hill, M.D. Heather Carswell, CNM Natalie Broadway-Robertson, M.D. A Woman’s View is an OB/GYN practice that cares for women through every stage of their life. From a young woman just learning about her body, through her child bearing years, to balancing careers, children, or grand children, and then gracefully aging into maturity, you will find a trusted provider at A Woman’s View. The providers are all women who have experienced much of what their patients are going through. They know how to help, both as a women and medical professionals.

Dr. Vickie Lovin established the gynecological practice in 1996. In 2005 primary care was added, and obstetrics was offered in 2008. Following Dr. Lovin’s retirement in 2020, primary care was discontinued the following May to focus solely on obstetrics and gynecology.

“Obstetrics is a big part of our practice,” said Dr. Claire Harraghy. “We love helping women through every stage of their pregnancy, and our reward is delivering precious, healthy children to their parents. It’s a very magical experience.”

Patients are seen for so much more than annual gynecological physicals.

Birth control, PMS, infertility treatments, breast health, HRT and menopause management, STDs, gynecologic and bladder surgery are all part of the medical treatment you can receive at A Woman’s View.

Besides gynecology and obstetrics, what services do you offer?

“Many women who are in need of tests appreciate that we offer 3-D mammography, ultrasounds, lab

services, and weight management inhouse,” said Dr. Laura Faruque. “Our patients are comfortable here, so getting a test done isn’t as stressful when they trust their provider. Also, every stage of our lives come with their own unique challenges. Some we breeze through, while others require a little help. We have counselors that we refer patients to who can help them navigate these challenges.”

For more than 26 years, A Woman’s View has been an active member of our community offering excellent medical care to women and supporting non-profits that help women. To receive OB/GYN healthcare designed for women and administered by women, call today to make an appointment!

915 Tate Blvd SE, Suite 170 Hickory, North Carolina 28602 Phone: 828-345-0800 Fax: 828-345-0350

HOURS: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM www.awomansview.com

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

21

Women in Business

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

RE/MAX LEGENDARY REALTORS®/Brokers, pictured from left to right, are:

Michelle Galloway Ashley Carmichael Amanda Stokes Lindsay Philyaw Wendy Axtell Amy Harline Sarah Stansfield Turner Claudia Vargas Sandy Dingler Libby Lail © Shane Greene Photography

There is a lot of knowledge and background work that goes into any real estate transaction. Choosing the right agent is essential to walking away from the closing table satisfied. The women at RE/MAX Legendary intend to live up to their “Legendary” name by building trust and relationships with their clients.

“Buying a home is one of the most important and expensive investments you will make,” said Amanda Stokes, REALTOR and owner of RE/MAX Legendary.

“We want each transaction to exceed our customer’s expectations. Helping people find a new home or a space for a business venture is such a rewarding experience for our team,” Amanda continued.

How did you decide on this career track?

Agents in our firm enjoy people and helping them find a place to call home.

With families of their own, our agents understand that it’s more than a house.

It’s about finding a neighborhood where they are comfortable and a place where they can flourish. We love what we do and the difference we make in people’s

(Not Pictured: Wendy Flynn, Danielle Stone, Kristen Knox)

lives! No transaction is the same. It’s all very personalized, and through the process, we get to know a lot of really nice people.

navigate the process of buying or selling property. You want someone who is knowledgeable about your local market, has great negotiation skills, and is responsive and easy to contact when you Tell us about the growth of your need answers. Our agents stay on top company. of local sold comps and active invenBy exceeding client expectations and tory. We know when a new property through hard work, we continue to grow. hits the market and when contracts fall Our business is built on repeat satisfied through. Our agents always negotiate clients, word-of-mouth referrals, and our and advocate for our client’s best interest reputation for getting it right. We have and prioritize their needs. Terms like 19 extraordinary brokers, 13 of which closing dates, contingencies, and repairs are women. Our brokers consistently can be as important to a client as price. receive positive reviews and we have the We place a huge emphasis on training, added benefits of being partnered with a continuing education, and implementnationwide brand and RE/MAX market- ing the newest technology available for ing. We want people in this area to know our industry at RE/MAX Legendary. Our that we are experts in real estate with a agents stay up to speed on the frequentpulse on all things local. We are here to ly changing real estate laws to ensure help our clients get the most out of their that our clients are protected, underreal estate experience. stand the process, and know their rights.

Whether it’s using technology to adverWhy should people partner with tise listings and reach potential buyers RE/MAX Legendary? or finding someone’s dream home, our Ultimately, finding the right real estate team brings years of experience, experagent is about finding someone you tise, and their love for the industry to trust. The real estate market is always each transaction. Call today for your changing, and you need an expert to legendary real estate experience.

828.855.1055 • 3244 Springs Rd NE, Hickory • www.remaxlegendary.com 22

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

Women in Business

Grace McLaurin is a physician assistant, owner, and partner in Vitality Anti-Aging Center, Vitality Surgical Center, V-Infusion Hydration Center, and owner of Aesthetic Consulting & Training (ACT) in Hickory. The group offers integrative health and nonsurgical aesthetics, such as Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, Coolsculpting Elite, Cooltone, Laser Services, PRP, as well as weight management, nutrition, skincare, and more.

How did you decide on this career track?

“I’ve wanted to be in medicine since I was a young child. I pursued a different path earlier in life, getting married and having my children. When I moved to Hickory, I realized I was close enough to Wake Forest to go after my dream, and the PA profession seemed to be the perfect fit,” said Grace.

“We started in the spring of 2006 with five people, and we’ve seen growth every year since opening. With an amazing staff who always put patient care, safety, and results as number one, we were blessed eight years ago to have the opportunity to move into Moretz Mills and have continued to grow.”

What are some of the treatments you have added?

“Over the past year or so, Vitality has added and updated some amazing new treatments such as SaltFacial, Diamond Glow, and we have expanded our weight loss and body treatment services with the addition of Coolsculpting Elite and Cooltone for body contouring, and Semaglutide injections that help you eat less and feel fuller when you do,” continued Grace.

© Shane Greene Photography

Grace McLaurin, DMSc, PA-C Owner and partner in:

What awards or industry recognition has Vitality received?

“We have been listed by RealSelf’s Love My Injector as one of the top 100 injectors in the country. We are nationally recognized as a top 500 account with Allergan, have expanded our own very popular skin care line, and have spent many hours educating and training others. In addition, a few years ago I fulfilled a longtime goal of mine by receiving my Doctor of Medical Science degree.”

What are the latest trends in your field?

“Body contouring is very popular right now. Vitality offers non-surgical options that can help people achieve the body they have always dreamed of. Vitamin infusion and preventative health are certainly of special interest. In the aesthetics realm, attractive lips are always popular, and a natural, healthy, refreshed look is huge for both men and women...we can achieve with threads, Sculptra and lasers.”

Where Health and Beauty Meet®

What do you believe sets you apart from others in your field?

“Our goals are simple––to provide superior service to patients and clients to help you achieve your personal goals for health and appearance. To provide a comfortable, clean, safe, and relaxing atmosphere for all. To educate patients and the community about methods to take control of your health and appearance. Lastly, to set a standard for wellness in our community,” explained Grace.

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

23

2023

2023 HICKORY LIVING'S

Best of The

READER'S CHOICE AWARDS

FOOTHILLS HickoryLIVING

CATEGORIES

READER’S CHOICE AWARD

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! 2023’s Best of the Foothills winners will be announced in our December 2023 issue.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Auto Repair Services Auto Collision Repair Auto Dealer Insurance Company Breakfast Sandwich Shop Dining Golf Course Best Place for Cocktails/ Wine 10. Fitness/Gym 11. Aesthetics/Med Spa 12. Weight Loss 13. Day Spa/Massage/Facials 14. Hair Salon 15. Women’s Boutique 16. Dentist

17. Orthodontist 18. Chiropractor 19. Veterinarian 20. Pet Groomer 21. Law Firm 22. Hardware Store 23. Home Builder 24. Interior Design 25. Landscaper/Lawn Service 26. Nursery 27. Real Estate Agency 28. Consignment/Thrift Store 29. Wedding Venue 30. Jewelry Store 31. Caterer 32. Art Studio 33. Cosmetic Surgery Center

Visit HickoryLivingMagazine.com to vote!

Vote For Us!

24

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

AUGUST EVENTS NEWTON AUGUST 10 Music On Main Frank & Sue Jones Amphitheatre, 217 North Main Avenue, Newton • 6PM to 8:30PM • Food trucks 5PM • Bring a lawn chair. No outside coolers permitted. Beer can be purchased on N. Main and from downtown providers.

AUGUST 13: Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot www.downtownnewton.org

VALDESE AUGUST 4, 18, 25 Valdese Family Friday Night Concerts Held at Temple Field behind The Old Rock School Bring a lounge chair • Music starts at 7PM. August 4: Shelby Rae Moore Band August 18: Stella Rising August 25: The Super 60s

AUGUST 11, 12 The Waldensian Festival Main Street in Valdese • Friday–the cruise-in, food trucks, beer and wine garden open at 5:30PM • On Saturday, exhibits, food trucks, free Kidz Zone open at 9AM • Music starts at 7PM • Fireworks start at 10PM • Bring a lounge chair August 11: Southside Station August 12: Ryan Perry www.visitvaldese.com/events/

BLOWING ROCK AUGUST 4, 11, 18, 25 Music On The Lawn The Inn at Ragged Gardens, 203 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock • 5:30PM–8:30PM • Bring a lawn chair, no coolers or pets. Cash bar and menu available.

August 4: Harris Brothers August 11: Soul Benefactor August 18: Gracious Day August 25: Shelby Rae Moore Band www.ragged-gardens.com/music-on-the-lawn/ HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

25

What’s Cooking?

Atlantic Beach Pie Servings: 8 • Prep time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS 1-½ cups finely crushed saltine crackers (from 1 sleeve, about 37 crackers) 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar 1 large egg white, lightly beaten 1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 4 large egg yolks ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 large limes) ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons) 1-½ cups heavy whipping cream ¼ cup powdered sugar Lemon and lime zests, for garnish INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Crush saltines in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Mix crushed crackers, melted butter, sugar, and egg white in a medium bowl. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch glass pie plate; firmly press on bottom and sides. Freeze for 10 minutes. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack; cool about 10 minutes.

Kathy Dicken lives in Huntersville and is the author of the food blog, The Tasty Bits. For more meal ideas that are simple and delicious, you can follow her blog at www.thetastybits.com or on Instagram @thetastybits.

26

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

While the crust bakes, whisk together condensed milk and egg yolks until smooth. Whisk in lime and lemon juice. Pour mixture into the warm crust. Shield edges of pie with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F until the center is just set, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.

When you are ready to serve, make whipped cream. In a bowl, beat cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.

Spread whipped cream topping over chilled pie, leaving about a ½-inch border of custard showing around the crust. Garnish with lemon and lime zests, if desired.

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023

27

28

HICKORY LIVING • AUGUST 2023