DECEMBER 2024
LOCAL PAGES
Welcome to the December Issue
By Kathy Wheeler
Merry Christmas! At Hickory Living Magazine, we wish all of you a wonderful holiday season filled with fun activities, shopping, decorating, and celebrating with friends and family. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I hope you embrace the season and festivities with a giving heart.
IN THIS ISSUE
We are excited to announce the winners of Hickory Living’s Readers’ Choice Awards! See page 29 for the list of amazing businesses who were voted the Best of the Foothills. Thank you to all who voted and when you visit these businesses, congratulate them!
If you are struggling with finding the perfect Christmas gift, check out our Shop Local pages on pages 22 and 23. You will also find some help on choosing a great gift on page 16.
I wanted to continue to feature ways to help those in Western North Carolina
recover from Helene, especially during the holidays. There are so many people donating and doing incredible things to make a difference. We have featured a few on page 28 and information on how you can contribute.
Our December cover story features HealthSmart Pharmacy in Viewmont. Bill Pitts has been the pharmacist there for 20 years and enjoys assisting his customers with their medications. However, if you only go through the drive-through, you are missing out! Bill and his team have the store ready for the holidays with gifts and decorations. Stop by to pick up your medications AND shop! You can read their story starting on page 10.
NEW BEGINNINGS
I will be retiring in December from Hickory Living Magazine. I’ve designed the magazine since the second issue back in 2008. Over the last 16 years, it has been my pleasure to work with incredible people to promote their
businesses. Thank you for your loyalty to Hickory Living and for trusting me to promote your business. I have made some amazing friends through working with the magazine and I am grateful to have worked with each one of you.
I would like to thank Shane Greene and his wife Bonnie. Shane has made my job easier with his amazing photography, and Bonnie adjusts those photos to perfection. Thank you both for sharing your talent with me, for your professionalism, and your friendship.
We are spending December getting the new staff in place and up to speed. We are looking forward to working with them and their new ideas! Sue Wales is our new sales representative and is very personable and has a lot of experience with print media. Welcome her! Thank you to our readers and our advertisers. We can not produce a magazine in our area without you! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
©iStockphoto.com | Kristen Prahl
on the cover
A Long Tradition of Caring and Service VIEWMONT
By Amy Casil | Photos by Shane Greene Photography
It’s not often you get to talk to a business that has been a mainstay in its community since 1944, but I was so happy to talk with Bill Pitts at HealthSmart Pharmacy in Viewmont about their history, current services, and wonderful staff. While Bill may have not been the pharmacist at the pharmacy back in 1944, he has been there for the last 20 years. In today’s fast-paced world, convenience sometimes takes the place of personal service, but Bill explained that the pharmacy offers a convenient drive-through window that many customers use, at the same time as they provide a personal touch, getting to know customers, their families, and their needs with every visit.
Knowing the Physicians and the Community
Bill Pitts is 79 years young and spoke about how he has gotten to know the physicians and other providers in the community over the years. “It’s a big advantage to us and our customers,” he said. The pharmacists can and do get in touch with doctors quickly if there are any questions about a patient’s medication, refills, or other needs.
“We have a loyal clientele,” Bill said, and part of that loyalty stems from the personal touch that Bill and the staff are able to provide. Bill had nothing but praise for his fellow staff, including pharmacist Gina Powers, and Katie Teague,
pharmacy technician. Both have been with the pharmacy for a long time, particularly Katie, who has been with the pharmacy for 20 years, since graduating from ASU. “She knows our customers and can often anticipate their needs,” said Bill.
Don’t Hesitate to Come in to the Pharmacy
Viewmont Pharmacy not only has a convenient drivethrough window that provides quick, easy service for prescriptions, they also offer medication delivery with same-day service. “For those who are recovering from surgery or who have limited mobility, this service is a big help,” Bill said. “We have a good-looking pharmacy,” Bill added. We talked about how many people use the drive-through, but they may be missing opportunities to shop for holiday gifts and other needed items if they don’t take a few minutes to park and shop in the store.
As we talked, Bill mentioned that cold and flu season is underway. He wanted to remind customers about the services they offer at the pharmacy such as medication consultation and guidance for medication management. “With today’s time constraints in medical offices, doctors often depend on the pharmacists to explain the prescribed medication to the patient,” Bill said. “Our staff does an excellent job of this.”
Find Holiday Gifts and More
Robin Ball shared Bill’s enthusiasm for the pharmacy’s layout, atmosphere, and shopping experience. Robin spoke with me about the many different gift lines and decor that the pharmacy offers. My mind flashed back to “big box” chain pharmacies, which often offer low-quality merchandise for high prices.
This is far from the case at Viewmont Pharmacy. “Everyone is surprised when they come in to the store,” Robin said. “We have a beautiful store thanks to Kelly Teague, who creates eye-catching displays with our great gift selections.”
As one example, we talked about Hallmark gifts. For the past eight years, Viewmont Pharmacy has been a Hallmark Gold Crown store. Hallmark Gold Crown stores have the largest selection of Hallmark items, from gift wrap and cards to ornaments and decorative items. “We have all the cards, gifts, and Hallmark exclusive items,” Robin said.
The pharmacy also carries many other interesting, appealing gifts, including nationally-known brands like Willow Tree figurines and cards and Stonewall Kitchen gifts, including jams, spreads, and gourmet baskets. Hickory has so many gifted local artisans and hometown brands, and the pharmacy also carries Doxie Guy barbecue sauces and products,
Opposite page–HealthSmart Pharmacy’s commitment to professional, friendly, personal service is their highest priority. Pictured above:
• Bill and Gina offering medication counseling at the convenient drive-up window.
• Kelly Teague helping customers choose a gift from the holiday collection.
• Judy Geitner arranges the Keepsake Ornament Wall.
Photos:
On the cover–From left to right, Katie Teague, Bill Pitts, and Gina Powers
Photos: Pictured, top to bottom:
• Bill counsels a patient about a new medication.
• Whether you have a prescription to fill or not, it’s worth a visit to shop for holiday decor and gifts!
• HealthSmart Pharmacy’s is ready for holiday shopping with an amazing gift selection!
• Robin Ball is HealthSmart Pharmacy’s finance officer.
and Savannah Bee honey. A recent addition to the store’s gift lineup are Maril candles, which are a brand of high-quality, long-burning soy candles. Other gift lines include Demdaco, Evergreen, and Enesco. Robin and the other store staff enjoy visiting gift shops whenever they travel, taking notes for gift lines and bringing back ideas for Kelly.
December “After-Hours” Party
The Pharmacy is holding an after-hours party on December 5 from 6 to 8 p.m., so Hickory residents can get a head start on holiday shopping. Robin said that there’s a special 40% off discount on one item that night, and it will be an ideal time to pick up gifts, especially for the “hard to please” friend or relative, or the family member who has everything.
Visiting A Local Pharmacy and Business
Talking with Bill Pitts and learning about his decades of experience as a caring professional pharmacist, I started to think about what a difference knowing your local healthcare providers can make in life. So many different businesses and lines of work have turned into “big box” or chain stores which are all standardized. But people are anything but standardized, and neither are our towns. Bill and Gina and the entire staff at Viewmont Pharmacy not only care about everyone’s health and well-being, they work hard to have a pharmacy that offers convenience as well as a personal, hometown touch. This is a business people can really rely upon, I thought, and that is probably the best thing anyone can say about a local business. Don’t miss Viewmont Pharmacy’s after-hours shopping night on December 5th!
HealthSmart Pharmacy
has three convenient locations:
Holiday Shopping
By Kathy Wheeler
December continues the Christmas shopping season, and everyone will be looking for the perfect gift for family and friends on their list. You need a plan. Only after considering the recipient’s personality, style, interests, needs, and your budget, are you ready for the quest to find a gift that will bring them joy and much use.
So many of us get distracted while shopping for others by things we like. I usually make it home with a few gifts, five impulse purchases for myself, AND a blown budget! Not what I intended to do. The solution is simple: stick to a list of what you plan to purchase and your price range. If you find something you really like for yourself, take a photo
that includes the tags. Someone may need a hint or two from your Christmas wish list; however, be sensitive to their budget before making a suggestion.
My husband is a professional musician. Friends ask what’s a good musical gift they can buy him that he doesn’t already have. I usually laugh and respond with, “If he doesn’t have it, you and I can’t afford it!” People with a hobby or professional interest almost always have a very specific wish list and have already researched their next purchases. Chances are they can give you a list of desired items they want, the best place to shop, the name brand and model number they prefer. If the items are over your budget, consider purchas-
ing a gift card from the store they refer you to.
Personally, I would rather give gifts that need to be wrapped, or should I say, unwrapped. I love seeing the wrapping paper come off and the anticipation on the recipient’s face. However, sometimes a gift card is a better choice. For instance, rather than buying clothing, a gift card from a favorite boutique allows the recipient to purchase something that fits. Gift certificates to spas are another great choice. You can’t wrap a service. Gift cards to a favorite restaurant make wonderful gifts for couples.
Buying Local Versus Online
Some items are fine to buy online, while others are not. For example, textiles and other merchandise where the feel, weight, or texture are important are better purchased from a store. Clothing and bedding are good examples. Even though you may be familiar with the fabric content of an item, the weight and texture may not be to your liking, or the color, for that matter. Variables from how the camera captures the color to how your monitor interprets it can make a huge difference in what you see on the screen to what you receive in the mail. Electronics are good items to buy online if you know what you are looking for. Many people do their research and make their selection locally, and then complete their purchase online to save a little money. I think it is worth a few extra dollars to support your local merchants; I may need their help next season. Online purchases are perfect when you can't find items locally. Make sure to read the return policy and consider how much trouble it would be for you or your recipient to return the gift if needed.
I hope you find all the items on your list this season and enjoy wrapping them up in pretty packages! Happy shopping!!
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.
Beef Wellington
Treat your family to Beef Wellington, a timeless classic that’s perfect for a special family meal this holiday season. This 200-year-old recipe makes for quite a fancy presentation and perhaps looks intimidating to prepare. However, it is quite simple to put together, can easily be made ahead and cooks in a fraction of the time of a turkey. The beef tenderloin is simply spread with Dijon mustard and wrapped in layers of mushrooms and prosciutto, before being blanketed in buttery puff pastry.
Beef Wellington
Servings: 6 • Prep time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1.5 or 2 lbs. beef tenderloin
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
Salt and pepper
MUSHROOM DUXELLES:
10 oz. mushrooms
1 shallot, chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, minced
8 slices prosciutto (10 oz.)
3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten
INSTRUCTIONS
Season tenderloin on all sides with salt and pepper. Preheat a large skillet or Dutch oven to medium-high heat coated with olive oil and butter. Add the tenderloin and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until browned. Remove from the heat and set aside.
While the meat rests, prepare the Mushroom Duxelles. In a food processor, add the mushrooms, garlic and shallot. Pulse until finely minced. Heat your skillet to medium-high and add the mixture, along with the parsley and thyme. Sauté the mushrooms until all the moisture has evaporated – it’s very important to cook all of the moisture out of the mixture. Remove from heat and let cool.
While the mixture cools, spread Dijon mustard on all sides of the tenderloin. Then, lay out a long piece of plastic wrap and place half of the prosciutto slices down the middle so they are even and slightly overlap. Next, spread half of the mushroom mixture on top of the prosciutto, leaving an inch border from the sides, and place the tenderloin on top. Spread the remaining mushroom mixture all over the meat and lay the remaining prosciutto over the top. Finally, roll the tenderloin up in the prosciutto and mushroom mixture, folding up the sides around the tenderloin as you roll. Wrap the plastic wrap tightly around the beef and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
At this point, remove the puff pastry from the freezer to thaw and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Once thawed, roll the puff pastry sheet out on a lightly floured surface, large enough to wrap fully around the tenderloin. Place the tenderloin in the center and brush the egg on the pastry around and on the tenderloin. Roll the tenderloin tightly in the pastry. Brush with the remaining egg mixture and cut a few slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Place on a sheet pan fitted with a rack.
Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce heat to 400 for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the beef registers at 125 degrees for medium rare (use a meat thermometer to check the temperature). Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing into thick (1 inch) slices.
Events to Attend This Holiday!
November 29–December 14
December 6-8
2nd Annual Hickory Christmas Show
Hickory Metro Convention Center
1960 13th Ave. Drive SE, Hickory
For Tickets, visit: HickoryChristmasShow.com
Presented by: Hickory Shows
December 13–15
The Nutcracker
Old Post Office Playhouse • 10 S. Main Ave, Newton
December 13 at 7:00 p.m.
December 14 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
December 15 at 3:00 p.m
Tickets available at: www.thegreenroomtheatre.org
Presented by: Paramont Automotive, Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts, and Old Post Office Playhouse
Other performances will be held for schools and a sensory friendly production.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Hickory Community Theatre
30 3rd St. NW, Hickory.
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30
Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.
For tickets, visit hickorytheatre.org
Produced in Association with Catawba Valley Health System
December 5, 6, 7, 8
A Christmas Carol
Green Room Community Theatre • 10 S. Main Ave, Newton
Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. • Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Experience Dicken’s Christmas classic where the entire show will be performed by Mr. William “Bill” Morgan.
To purchase tickets, visit: www.thegreenroomtheatre.org
Produced by: Arts Culture Catawba
Helping Those in Western North Carolina This Holiday!
By Kathy Wheeler
During this holiday season, we don’t want to forget about our neighbors in Western North Carolina. The rebuilding and cleanup continues in the mountains after Helene, and there are many displaced families needing shelter. Some have been sleeping in tents, under tarps, and in vehicles. It’s important to get them out of the winter elements and into a safe environment. I’ve found a few groups working to provide these families with a roof over their heads and wanted to share this information with you, our readers. What better season to contribute to their efforts than Christmas?
A non-profit called Operation Helo, has been purchasing and delivering campers to displaced families in our mountain region. Their story is amazing!
Just after Helene hit, much of the infrastructure in the mountains was destroyed and not accessible by land. Due to the terrain, even by air, planes weren’t going to be able to do the job as well as helicopters could. With the help of Doug Jackson, founder of Operation Airdrop out of Texas, locals Eric Robinson and Matt McSwain reached out to the aviation community with the need of helicopters and pilots. Over 200
volunteer helicopter pilots with 100 helicopters answered that need and came together at the Hickory Regional Airport. Their mission was to deliver supplies, air-drop those supplies into remote areas, and rescue people. A GoFundMe account was established by Eric toward purchasing fuel for the missions and raised over $885,000. More than 2 million pounds of supplies were delivered, over 2,200 missions flown, and around 440 people extracted. Out of this disaster, Eric and Matt founded Operation Helo, a non-profit, receiving its 501c3 status.
As you know, this was just the beginning of the help needed in Western North Carolina. Determined to supply shelter to families who have lost their homes in the mountain region, Operation Helo has vetted hundreds of families in need of shelter and have delivered close to 100 campers as of early November.
There are a number of ways to donate. These campers are filled with the basics and you can find an Amazon wish list on their website at operationhelo.org. The organization recently took Thanksgiving dinner to families in Western North Carolina and will be delivering toys to Burnsville on December 14th through The Great Toy Convoy. Visit toys4wnc.com for more information. Also, check operationhelo.org often to see other projects they are working on and how you can donate.
Another group helping provide shelter, among filling other needs, is Patriot Relief. Started by Leigh Brown, a real estate agent out of Concord, Patriot Relief is building tiny homes in the Valdese community to be delivered to families in Western North Carolina. You can stay updated on how to volunteer and contribute by following them on www.facebook.com/PatriotRelief.
These are only a few examples of how local people have come together to help our fellow Carolinians. While we enjoy the holidays in the comfort of our homes, surrounded by friends and family, set aside some time to pray for those less fortunate and make a contribution to organizations like these to help the victims of Helene who have lost so much. Let’s create a magical Christmas for them!
©iStockphoto.com | cheggy11 | Anna Maslennikova | ToscaWhi
HICKORY LIVING’S READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
We want to thank all of the businesses who participated in the Best of The Foothills. You are the reason our community thrives! We appreciate what your business brings to our area. Also, we would like to thank our readers who shop local on a regular basis and who took the time to vote for their favorites!
the winners of the 2024 Best of The Foothills Are...
Best Auto Repair Services
Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota
Best Auto Dealer
Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota
Best Collision Repair
Custom Body Works
Best Insurance Company
Broome Insurance
A Legacy Partner
Best Breakfast
Windy City Grill
Best Sandwich Shop
Hatch Sandwich Bar
Best Dining
Backstreets Bar & Grill
Best Golf Course
Rock Barn Country Club and Spa
Best Place for Cocktails/Wine
Hickory Wine Shoppe
Best Fitness/Gym
The Spa Athletic Club
Best Aesthetic/Med Spa
Vitality Anti-Aging Center
Best Day Spa
Vitaltiy Anti-Aging Center
Best Weight Loss Center
Physician’s Plan Weight Loss + Aesthetics + Med Spa
Best Hair Salon
Kelly & Co. Hair Salon
Best Women’s Boutique
Aqua B Boutique
Best Dentist
McKinney • Graham Dental Arts
Best Orthodontist
Herring Orthodontics
Best Chiropractor
Conover Chiropractic Center
Best Veterinarian
Blue Skies Veterinary Hospital
Best Pet Groomer
All God’s Creatures Great and Small
Best Law Firm
Young, Morphis, Bach & Taylor, LLP
Best Hardware Store
Bethlehem Ace Hardware
Best Home Builder
Moss-Marlow Building Co. Inc.
Best Interior Design
Bumblebee Interiors, LLC
Best Landscaper/Lawn Service
Scenic View Landscapes
Best Plant Nursery
Settlemyre Nursery
Best Real Estate Agency
Realty Executives of Hickory and Lake Norman
Best Consignment/Thrift Store Consignment For A Cause
Best Wedding Venue
Hidden Hill Venue
Best Jewelry Store
Oz’s Jewelers
Best Caterer
L & L Catering
Best Cosmetic Surgery Center
Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology
