Hickory Living December 2022

Welcome to the December Issue

As we experience one of the busi est months of the year, I hope you take time to truly enjoy the season and the holidays. Try to simplify things as much as possible. Make the chores a family affair and another op portunity to spend time with each other. Light up the fireplace, drink hot choco late, sit on the sofa and watch a movie. Go for a walk in the crisp cold air of December and enjoy the decorations. Pull away from the hustle and bustle and just breathe. The important things on your to-do-lists will get done.

This month, we are happy to announce the winners of Hickory Living’s Best of the Foothills Readers’ Choice Awards! When I delivered the plaques to each business, they were so excited, honored, and grateful for your support. Thank you for voting for your favorites, and the winners are...on page 31. With this being the busiest shopping season of the year, we hope you shop local for those

gifts on your list and the services you need, and congratulate those winners! Our small business owners give back to our community in so many ways.

Our cover story this month features Wild Birds Unlimited. They have every thing a bird watcher needs to keep birds visiting their backyard. If you are look ing for a relaxing and fun hobby, visit Wild Birds Unlimited. They love educat ing customers on the best products to attract our feathered friends. Their story begins on page 12.

HealthSmart Pharmacy is our business spotlight on page 18. With four loca tions in the area, they offer so many services to help us stay healthy, from cold and flu vaccines to home delivery of medications, and consultations on Medicare Part D and medication plans. Also, if you are looking for gifts, they offer a good selection of self-care prod ucts and many items for children.

If you are needing some help getting into the Christmas Spirit, the article on page 22 will help. You will find some fun things to do and suggestions to help you enjoy the holidays with friends and family.

A good way to experience the season is with a visit to the Harper House, an his toric, Victorian mansion all decked out for the holidays! Check out their article on page 26.

With the close of 2022 and the begin ning of a New Year, it’s a good time to evaluate our lives and think about the changes and improvements we want to make in 2023. If you are considering turning your passion into a business, the article on page 34 is for you!

Thank you for reading the December issue of Hickory Living! We hope you and your holidays are merry and bright, filled with the love of friends and family!

©iStockphoto.com | RomoloTavani

What’s Cooking?

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.

Holiday Glazed Pork Loin

Here’s how to transform ordinary pork tenderloin and Brussels sprouts into the brilliant centerpiece of your holiday dinner table!

Cranberry Orange Glazed Pork Ten derloin with Brussels Sprouts is such a colorful, festive and simple holiday meal. The cranberry orange glaze is the perfect flavor complement to pork tenderloin, while the cranber ries and Brussels sprouts add the classic red and green to your plate.

I love how you can elevate an ordi nary meal to the next level with just a few of the delicious flavors of the season. Cranberry sauce and orange

juice make the perfect glaze to do just that. The sweet and sour glaze pairs perfectly with one of the many savory marinated pork tenderloins available in your meat department. We used marinated pork tenderloin in this recipe, since it is always juicy and flavorful, but you certainly could use unflavored pork in this recipe as well.

This recipe is perfect for the holidays or everyday! I hope you love it as much as we do!

Roasted Cranberry Orange Pork Tenderloin & with Brussels Sprouts

Servings: 4 • Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 package Smithfield Marinated Pork Tenderloin (27 oz.)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts - trimmed & halved

2 oz. diced pancetta (½ of a 4 oz. pkg.)

Salt and pepper to taste

Cranberry Orange Sauce

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

½ cup (4 oz.) sweet orange marmalade ½ cup (4 oz.) canned whole cranberry sauce

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Optional: fresh or dried cranberries for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with foil and set aside. Remove tenderloin from the package and pat dry. Rub tenderloin with 1 table spoon of olive oil.

Heat a cast iron skillet or dutch oven over Mediumhigh heat. When hot, sear the pork tenderloin for two minutes on each side, or until browned. Con tinue to sear the remaining sides for another one to two minutes per side until the whole tenderloin is browned. Remove from the pan and place tender loin on one of the foil lined sheet pans. Set aside.

Turn heat under skillet to Low before adding orange juice, bal samic vinegar, marmalade, cranberry sauce & spices. Stir sauce to combine and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until sauce begins to thicken. Spread half of the sauce over the tenderloin, then roast the tenderloin on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.

Meanwhile, toss the Brussels sprouts with the remaining table spoon of oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and spread in one layer on the second sheet pan. Place the pan of sprouts in the oven with the pork tenderloin for the last 15 minutes of cook time.

After 25-30 minutes of cooking, remove both pans from the oven. Check to ensure the internal temperature of the pork has reached 145°. If so, tent pork with foil and let stand for 10 min utes before slicing. Brussels should still be green and tender, with just a slight bit of browning. Serve pork tenderloin slices on a platter, drizzled with reserved sauce and surrounded by sprouts. Top with a garnish of fresh or dried cranberries for a festive touch! Delicious with a side of mashed potatoes too!

on the cover

Photo:

On the cover–Sean Ryan, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited of Hickory.

Pictured–Sean and Store Manager Tina Johnson welcome you to Hickory’s bird watch ers paradise, Wild Birds Unlimited.

Hickory’s Specialty Shop for Bird Watchers

By Amy Casil | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Do you enjoy watching the birds and wildlife in your yard? You’re not alone: over 41 million people in the U.S. are back yard birders, the Audubon Society reports. According to Wild Birds Unlimited’s owner, Sean Ryan, “Backyard birding is the second-most popular passive hobby next to gardening.” How can you join in this hobby and experience an endless variety of birds in your own back yard? Visit Wild Birds Unlimited’s charming and well-stocked store in Hickory and speak with the helpful and knowledgeable staff!

How Does Backyard Birding Work?

Sean says that it’s a very easy hobby to get into. “Put the food out, and, while it may take a little bit, birds come and feed.” It’s exciting to watch the birds come and go. In North Carolina, people can expect to see chickadees, wrens, finches, eastern bluebirds, woodpeckers, chickadees, cardinals, and more.

Different birds prefer different kinds of food, and Wild Birds Unlimited has many choices of food and feeders, specifically suited to the species that visit your yard or those you would like to attract.

Different Foods for Different Yards and Birds

Sean and I discussed the difference between quality bird food that is optimized for different bird species, and non-specialized, lower-quality food sold in mass-market stores.

Wild Birds Unlimited offers over a dozen choices of food, but right now, Sean’s favorite food is No-Mess Blend. This highquality food attracts many types of birds and has no shells to make a mess around the yard and feeder. No-Mess Blend also comes in a version with added calcium. Calcium supports strong eggshells, bones, and beaks. In general, Wild Birds Unlimited’s seed mixes start with sunflower seeds—feeding a mixture with shelled sunflower seeds lets the birds immedi ately get to their preferred food without scattering small shells everywhere.

The specialized foods available at Wild Birds Unlimited also in clude spicy blends like Fiery Feast, with spices that birds don’t mind but critters like squirrels don’t like and won’t touch. Sean

Above–At Wild Birds Unlimited you will find colorful bird houses, garden décor, and prewrapped gift baskets for easy holiday shopping!

Photos

, top to bottom:

• Add a little spice to your feeding to help thwart those pesky squirrels

• Preston the Penguin is a perfect starter feeder.

• Wild Birds Unlimited’s APS hardware easily supports any feeder in your yard.

said that there are a number of ways to discourage squirrels from gobbling food meant for their feathered friends. At the Hickory store, you can purchase squirrel-proof feeders that help birds access the food they enjoy while discouraging furry visitors. The store also carries hopper feeders, Bark But ter feeders, and systems for hanging and mounting feeders. The store has dozens of options in food, feeder, bird baths, bird houses, and more.

Why Get Involved with Backyard Birding?

“It gives you peace and joy to see the birds flying and enjoy ing themselves,” Sean said. “Watching birds is relaxing and enjoyable.” When birds like cardinals visit your yard, they contribute a splash of color and happiness. The daily lives of many bird species provide endless opportunities to see nature in action and witness, in the words of Sean, “The cycle of life.”

Participating in backyard birding also helps wild birds. You may have heard about the Audubon Society’s State of the Birds report that keeps track of how many wild birds live in the U.S. and Canada. The studies show that about half of wild bird species are in decline. Over the past 50 years, bird experts estimate that almost 3 billion birds have disappeared.

How is this possible? One cause is habitat loss that creates a lack of sufficient food; birds have a fast metabolism and can lose up to 40% of their body weight in a single night. Back yard birding gives these birds a vital boost in nutrition, and the hobby provides you with a peaceful, enjoyable pastime. You can create a safe harbor for hungry birds in your own back yard.

Happiness Abounds at Wild Birds Unlimited Sean speaks so enthusiastically about the great experiences customers and staff alike have at Wild Birds Unlimited. “The people who work at Wild Birds Unlimited enjoy working there. It’s a positive, happy experience,” he said.

When customers enter the store, they immediately see a relaxing, pleasant environment displaying a variety of food, feeders, accessories, books, and gifts related to backyard bird ing and wild birds. The team of five staff at the store love it when people stop in to talk about birds and create an envi ronment at home for these precious creatures.

Education and Community Support

Store manager Tina joined Wild Birds Unlimited last February and now offers community talks about wild birds. Wild Birds Unlimited has been a part of Hickory’s community for almost two decades, and one store employee, Roger, has been with the store for much of that time. Other team members include

Clay, Rick, and Emily. Every employee of Wild Birds Unlim ited, along with its owner Sean, is committed to educating others about the beauty and benefits of backyard birding.

Sean wanted to emphasize that the store is part of the com munity, and that residents and community groups can re quest a talk from a staff member to learn more. It’s simple to request that Sean or Tina offer a talk by coming into the store or using the website’s request form.

Talks can inform the public about wild birds and what every one can do to help them. For example, birds can lose their lives because they don’t recognize the dangers of glass win dows. An estimated 1 billion birds die every year because they accidentally fly into windows, confused by reflections in the glass. A screen on the outside of the window, or film, paint, or string that breaks up the reflection can prevent these accidents.

House cats also pose a danger to birds. A shocking 2.6 billion birds are estimated to be killed by cats each year, making this the top cause for the loss of birds, besides habitat loss.

A Joyful, Peaceful Hobby

Speaking with Sean, I couldn’t help but feel his deep enthu siasm for a hobby that’s almost 100% positive for everyone involved. “Watching wild birds provides a sense of peace and joy,” he said. He loves owning the Hickory store. Wild Birds Unlimited has many repeat customers because they visit the store not just to buy products but also to talk about their pleasant, peaceful, and enjoyable hobby.

Sean explained that North Carolina’s birds are mostly in the area year-round, including woodpeckers, who enjoy eating suet (seed mixed with beef fat), robins and mourning doves that feed off the ground, and chickadees and finches who like loose seed. Some birds like to feed in the air, while others prefer whole seeds that they cache throughout their territory so they will have food now and later.

The cardinal’s song and bright red color is considered an em blem of the holiday season but there are a few migrant birds that will be visiting Hickory over the holiday season, includ ing the black-eyed junco and the yellow-bellied sapsucker, a black-and-white striped woodpecker with a red head and yellow belly. Juncos like millet and cracked corn, while the yellow-bellied sapsucker is a fan of suet when not boring holes in trees for sap. These are just a few of the interesting facts you can learn by visiting Wild Birds Unlimited.

3014 North Center Street • Hickory, NC 28601 828.855.0991 • Visit: myWBU.com/hickory

Photos

, top to bottom:

• EcoTough feeders help improve the environment and are great for the birds too!

• Specialty food feeders add variety to your birds’ diets!

• Shop for nature-themed holiday gifts for your bird lover, and ornaments you Christmas tree.

business spotlight

Photos:

Left–HealthSmart Pharmacy staff–Leticia Ayala, Melissa Fisher, Carrigan Elrod, Kristan Sigmon, Lauren DeBerry PharmD, and Andrea Ramsey

Opposite page, clockwise–

• HealthSmart Pharmacy ready for holiday shoppers!

• Kristan and Lauren previewing some holiday merchandise.

• Carrigan helping customer with her ever present smile!

A Pharmacy You Can Count On

By Amy Casil | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Having a pharmacist you can trust and a welcoming local pharmacy that is there for you when you need it is helpful dur ing any season but especially during the winter months. And, if you can’t get to the pharmacy, delivery services are that much more appreciated. With seven lo cations in North Carolina, HealthSmart Pharmacy is the welcoming, caring, friendly pharmacy that meets all those needs and much more.

“Now more than ever, people need to have a pharmacy they can count on,” said Andrea Ramsey, manager of the Cla remont location. “HealthSmart Pharma cy gives personalized service and strives to make every experience a great one.”

Cold and Flu Season

With cold and flu season underway,

HealthSmart Pharmacy is ready, Andrea said. They have a full range of over the counter (OTC) cold and flu products to relieve symptoms and speed recovery. The pharmacy also offers the flu vaccine along with other vaccines like the pneu mococcal and shingles vaccines. It’s easy to schedule an appointment for a vac cine. All customers need to do is speak with a staff member at their local branch.

Keeping Prices Affordable

Many people are concerned about rising prices, and Andrea wants customers to know that HealthSmart Pharmacy does everything possible to keep prices afford able. “Patients do not need to ask if there is any type of coupon or discount when filling a prescription,” Andrea said. When the pharmacy receives a promotion or discount, it passes it on to the customer.

HealthSmart Pharmacy also has cou pons and promotions for retail prod ucts that can make OTC products and healthcare items like durable medical equipment and home health supplies more affordable.

Gifts and Self-Care

You can locate gifts for all ages at HealthSmart Pharmacy, including Hallmark products at select locations. In addition to holiday-themed gifts and cards, HealthSmart offers makeup and grooming products for both men and women, including Glo Minerals. The pharmacy also offers CV Sciences’ Health Transformed CBD products, including oils and topicals.

“This season, we’ve have added more gifts and items for children,” Andrea said. “We stock small toys, baby toys and teethers, pacifier holders, and stock ing stuffers. So, if you’re headed out to pick up a prescription and would like to pick up something for a special child in your life, we’ve got you covered.”

Consulting on Medicare Part D and Medication Plans

One of the most important services that HealthSmart Pharmacy offers is a consultation about Medicare Part D and Medicare Open Enrollment. They also offers consultation and assistance with medication adherence, including pill packs, medication therapy manage ment, and medication synchronization.

And, if you can’t get to the pharmacy, HealthSmart offers free delivery. Andrea said “We have many customers who take advantage of our free delivery.”

The pharmacy delivers to a broad range of areas, going out toward Catawba and others. The staff at HealthSmart Pharmacy cares about their patients and continually offers their expertise and support to maintain the best possible health outcomes for the community.

3119 North Oxford, Claremont 828.459.2149 • Other locations in Viewmont, Conover, & Newton

GETTING INTO THE Christmas Spirit

By Kathy Wheeler

Everyone’s idea of the perfect Christmas is different. For some, they would rather avoid it if they could, while others dream of their childhood Christmas where the excitement of the holiday was magical.

Experiencing Christmas as an adult is much different than when we were children waiting for Santa to arrive...We were “tucked in our bed while visions of sugar plums danced in our heads.” Instead of being tucked in, we are up all hours trying to prepare for the holiday, and instead of thinking of sugar plums, we are going over lists upon lists of gifts to buy, knee deep in decorating, and entertaining family that we see once a year. How do we escape or at least get some of the magic back? You will find some tips in this article!

If you want to avoid all things holiday, take a cruise or go on vacation. In other words, get out-of-town and just be unavailable for all of the expectations. If a renewed passion for the holiday and that magical feeling is what you are looking for, think experiences instead of gifts. Plan some

day trips with friends and family to places that have a whole staff who decorate. For instance, the Biltmore House offers candlelight tours this time of year and is a beautiful way to spend the day exploring what Christmas may have been back in the late 1800s. Omni Grove Park Inn is another location to help you get into the Christmas spirit. It opened in 1913 and has beautiful architecture. The Inn is lavishly decorated for the holiday and hosts the National Ginger bread House Competition yearly. If your budget doesn’t allow for you to stay at the resort, consider just visiting to take in the decorations, gingerbread houses, and maybe have lunch at one of several restaurants located on the property. The Blue Ridge restaurant offers gorgeous views of the mountains.

Locally, the Harper House is hosting a fundraiser where their rooms are decorated by different groups and you pay to vote for your favorite. What a nice way to spend time with friends, while helping the Historical Association of Catawba County.

©iStockphoto.com | Mikhail Konoplev

Hart Square Village hosts Christmas in the Village, December 3rd and 4th from 4 until 8 p.m. See their website for tickets at https://www.hartsquare.com/events/.

The Newton Performing Arts Center presents A Charlie Brown Christmas–Live on Stage December 9th, 10th, and 11th. Tickets can be purchased at https://ncauditorium.com/ charliebrown.

Visit McAdenville, Christmas Town USA, and drive or walk through downtown to see the display of lights.

Here are some other options that may help you get the magic of Christmas back:

• Attend a church Christmas pageant.

• Go on a group shopping trip.

• Organize some singers and musicians for Christmas caroling in your neighborhood.

• Plan a trip to a tree farm. There is nothing quite like cutting down your own tree and getting fresh greens to decorate with. The fresh air will do you as much good as anything.

• Throw a cookie party where friends bring their favorite homemade cookies and recipes to share with everyone at the party. Maybe you could provide a nice cookie tin or recipe box to your guests.

• Choose a family in need and make their Christmas special by purchasing gifts for them, or participate in a charity that does the same, like Toys for Tots, United Way Christmas Bureau, or Cops for Tots.

The point is to enjoy the holiday, not work through it. Find something that makes you feel like Christmas and share that experience with some of your favorite people.

Merry Christmas!

•

• Results Oriented Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapists In-House

•

Conover Nursing

Christmas AT THEHarper House

Deck the halls with memories of the families who once celebrated Christmas in the beautiful Victorian mansion nestled in downtown Hickory. Considered by the North Carolina Department of Archives and History to possess “the finest Queen Anne interior styling in the entire state,” the Harper House, at 310 N. Center Street, is poised to serve the broad spectrum of Catawbans and visitors from near and far.

Built in 1887 by Daniel Webster Shuler, Harper House stands impres sive all year round but shines particularly bright during the Christmas holidays. The three notable families that celebrated the holidays in the stunning home include the Shulers, the Thorntons, and the Harpers.

The Harper Family’s stay was by far the longest—from 1923, when Fin ley Gwyn Harper, Sr. (1880-1951), who operated Harper Motor Com pany, purchased it from Mrs. Minnie C. Taylor, to December 21, 2000, when Anne McPherson Harper Bernhardt, Lee Corinne Harper Vason, Mary Gwyn Harper Addison, and Betty Banks Harper Shelander—the daughters of Finley Gwyn Harper, Jr., and his wife Mary Banks McPher son Harper—generously arranged its acquisition by the Historical As sociation of Catawba County (HACC).

The Harpers’ long stay was providential, for each of the three genera tions appreciated the house’s architectural significance, preserving the foyer’s carved, coffered ceiling and intricate stained-glass window; the parquet floors of the dining room and family parlor; the ornate brass-

Photos by Ray Mata

work of the heavy doorknobs, sashes, keyplates, and many sets of pocket doors; the piano-grade cherry of the staircase with two landings and the dining room’s carved wainscoting, as well as the numerous sil houettes of family friends on the walls of the attic, where Mr. and Mrs. Harper, Sr., entertained during Prohibition.

Today, the HACC staff and volunteers at the Harper House welcomes visitors as a house museum, interpreting both Hickory history, through the numerous significant families who lived in the house, and Victo rian life in the South, circa 1887, the date of the house’s construction.

This holiday season, the community has come together to Deck the Harper Halls to raise much needed funds for a new roof on the beau tiful jewel of Hickory. Groups have selected rooms to decorate to be voted on by the public. The room that earns the most money (votes are $5.00 each) will be presented with a plaque announcing the winner of the first ever Deck the Harper Halls fundraiser. Decorating of the house will be completed November 30th. Voting will begin during regular open hours beginning December 1. For more information, contact Harper House at (828) 324-7294 or the HACC at (828) 465-0383.

310 N Center St, Hickory, NC 28601

https://www.catawbahistory.org/

Hours: Thursday–Saturday 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and by reservation for groups of 10 or more.

Doing What You

By Cheryl Grant

As we close out 2022 and begin another year, it’s a good time to look at our life and think about the things we want to change. Are we happy with what we are doing and where we are headed? Are you doing enough of what you love or do you feel like a hamster on a wheel?

Many people are starting to focus on their passions and creating their life around that. They aren’t so much looking for a career that makes a lot of money, but more flexibility and time to pursue what they love. As with any major shift in priorities, there are pros and cons. Whatever lifestyle you choose, you have to determine how you will meet your financial obligations and make a living. Will you be able to

live comfortably, save for the future, take care of financial surprises, and still have enough left over to do the things you enjoy? As much as people dislike focusing on money, it’s a reality we can’t ignore.

The Dream of Owning Your Own Business

We were told growing up that we could be anything we wanted to be if we worked hard enough. However, that sentiment was meant to motivate us and give us confidence. It isn’t a conclusive statement on success. I know plenty of artists who work really hard on their craft, and are excellent at it, but don’t work as hard on critical parts of the business they don’t enjoy…or…ignore

them all together. For example, sales and marketing are typically necessary jobs that many passionate, creative people just aren’t into…Just because you are great at one thing doesn’t make up for neglecting those not-so-fun tasks. They don’t magically take care of them selves or go away because you don’t want to deal with them. You may be saying, “I don’t know how to do those tasks.” Well, that’s when you either learn how or hire someone else to do it if you can afford it.

Don’t over-romanticize being your own boss. Entrepreneurs will be the first to tell you that owning your own business is not all fun. There is a lot of pressure involved, and you have to decide if you

©iStockphoto.com | jacoblund

can handle it. Do challenges energize and excite you or do they stress you out and cause panic attacks? Does finan cial uncertainty scare you, or are you a person who plans for the worst and hopes for the best, taking it all in stride? Are you a procrastinator? The answer to these questions may help you decide if you would enjoy being your own boss and starting your own business, or if you prefer to have the security that a job offers.

Turning Your Passion into a Business

You may be considering turning some thing you love to do into a fulltime business. I would advise you to start it as a part time venture. Consider how the shift from doing something for the sheer enjoyment of it to doing it for profit will affect how you feel about your work. You may find the pressure of doing it for profit creates a totally different dynamic that subtracts from your joy. I’ll give you an example.

Recently, I was commissioned to do a painting. Typically, I paint for enjoy ment and sell them after they are fin ished. Because this was a commissioned piece, I felt the stress of getting it just right. The person loved the first paint ing, and with the pressure off, I did two more paintings using the same colors and enjoyed doing them so much more. Given the choice between the three, the person chose the second painting. It is my theory that the second and third paintings exhibited more creative free dom compared to the first one.

Don’t Be Blinded By Your Passion

Always be honest with yourself. Man does not live on passion alone. Just because you are passionate about some thing, doesn’t mean it will make you a living. Even though Van Gogh’s paint ings sell for well over $100,000,000 today, he was a struggling artist when he was alive. His younger brother helped to support him financially, and in the

end, Van Gogh shot himself when he was just 37 years old, feeling as if he had failed as a man and an artist. Re member, you are trying to create a life you enjoy, not one filled with financial stress and feelings of failure. If you want to turn your passion into a business, it will become obvious when the time is right. As the scripture in Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift makes room for him.” Until then, enjoy doing what you love to do and carve out as much time in your schedule as possible to pursue your passion.

As you consider what direction you want to take your life in, dream big, but then decide how those dreams will best make you happy and what price you are willing to pay to fulfill them. Here’s to doing what you love and loving what you do! When your passion reaches a place where it’s what drives you, it’s what you want to do the most…go for it and be smart when you do!

Holiday Shopping in Hickory!

The holiday season is in full swing and so is Christmas shopping! Double the impact of your gift-giving by shop ping local. It not only helps businesses financially, it benefits your community in general. Your support keeps the local job market healthy, keeps the sales tax in your area, and reduces your carbon footprint. You are buying from friends and neighbors who often support community charities, sports teams, and schools.

The Downtown Hickory Association has an event planned for December 3rd that encourages you to visit many of the downtown businesses. The 3rd Annual Cookie Crawl is the perfect way to enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and downtown! It starts at 11 am and continues through 2 pm and tickets are $15. You will find instructions on how to purchase tickets online by visiting www.downtownhickory.com/calendar. While you are strolling downtown, pay attention to all of the beautiful window displays, and vote for your favorite on Facebook at downtownhky.

©iStockphoto.com | Scharfsinn86