Hickory Living September 2023

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

HICKORY

The Sails Original Music Series

Welcome to the September Issue!

By Kathy Wheeler

September kicks off with Labor Day weekend and ushers in the first day of fall on the 23rd. There are lots of fun things to do locally this month. The arts are in full swing during September in Hickory. Check out some events and performances you may want to attend on the right.

Whether you are looking to remodel or just need repairs, it’s the perfect time to start preparing your home for winter and the holidays ahead. You will find good advice starting on page 19 in our Fix It Up For Fall section. Also, our advertisers are professionals who can get the work done you need.

Voting continues for Hickory Living’s Best of the Foothills

Readers’ Choice Awards! Go to our website for a link to vote for your favorite local businesses! Voting will end October 31st, and the 2023 winners will be announced in our December issue. Good luck to the many amazing businesses participating!

Our September cover story features Scenic View Landscapes and owner Kevin Sipe. At a young age, Kevin demonstrated the values and practices that are fundamental to the company today—innovation, integrity, and quality. As a result, Scenic View has been creating beautiful landscapes for homeowners in our area for 23 years. Read their article starting on page 10.

Thank you for reading the September issue of Hickory Living

Under The Sails on the Square, Downtown Hickory • Performance begins at 7PM • Bring a lawn chair or blanket • Alcohol and food from local vendors or pack a picnic.

September 1: Mellow Swells

September 8: Zoe & Cloyd

September 15: Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters

September 22: Rissi Palmer

September 29: Brother Boys

hickorync.gov/sails-original-music-series

Jazz on Tap Legacy Concert Series

Commscope Stage in front of Olde Hickory

Taproom, Downtown Hickory 4–6PM • Bring a lawn chair • Alcohol and food available from local vendors

September 3: Byron Bean Dixieland Band

September 17: Todd Wright Quartet

Dowtown Hickory Art Crawl

September 21 • 5PM –8PM

Art • Music • Demonstrations

The Kick-Off Party begins at 5PM at Full Circle Arts, 42B 3rd Street NW, Hickory. Maps of the Art Crawl and participants will be available. Artists will be stationed within four city blocks.

downtownhickory.com/

The 9th Annual Footcandle Film Festival

September 15–24

For tickets and schedules visit: www.footcandlefilmfestival.com

Hickory Community Theatre

A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder

Performances are held Thursday through Sunday until September 16.

For tickets and showtimes visit: hickorytheatre.org

A Skilled Team Creating Scenic Views LANDSCAPES,LLC

By Amy Casil

It all started with an after-school job, a lawnmower, and a 1966 Jeep truck. Kevin Sipe, owner and founder of Scenic View Landscapes didn’t always have the deep knowledge of landscaping and horticulture he has today.

Over 30 years ago, Kevin was a high school athlete, Boy Scout, and church member who liked being outdoors. Before he had a drivers’ license, Kevin started mowing yards for family members and neighbors borrowing equipment from his father and extended family. Once he could drive, he decided to grow his business and went door to door, eventually getting over two dozen people to sign up as customers.

With all the new clients, Kevin needed his own mower and something to haul it with. A perfect solution arose—his grandfather’s 1966 Jeep pickup truck. His great-grandmother had it in her barn, and agreed that Kevin could earn the truck by mowing her lawn. Week by week, Kevin mowed her property and she reduced the amount he owed. One day, the truck was paid off and Kevin was able to buy his first

mower using $100 prize money he’d won by selling enough raffle tickets for his high school.

The core values of problem-solving and innovation, integrity, and quality that Scenic View Landscapes has today began with that 1966 Jeep pickup and his first lawnmower. The old truck is still around. Kevin’s father has restored it to its 1960s glory.

Blessings and Connections over the Years

While Scenic View Landscapes’ many successful projects and excellent work quality speak for themselves, Kevin talked about the values and experiences that have led to their growth and success. Whenever you see their trucks or staff members around the Valley, you will see a group of happy, polite, considerate people.

“We’ve been blessed,” Kevin said. “We have really seen God work in all of our families’ lives over the years.” These blessings have come to the company’s work family and also

within his own family. Kevin spoke movingly about how the Scenic View team stepped up and continued to excel while he needed to work from home and care for his wife at the end of a long illness two years ago. “She is in heaven now,” he said. “She just beat me there.”

The atmosphere of caring, strong and real Christian values, and deep connections with staff members and the community are so clear when talking with Kevin.

“We don’t know exactly how each relationship we’ve had with customers has affected every job we do, but the way so many connections have started with one positive relationship or meeting and grown to so many others is just amazing,” Kevin said. Core values and blessings have been at the heart of the company’s growth and development since 2000. Scenic View Landscapes is now in its 23rd year.

Hiring the Right Team

Kevin talked about how important it is to build relationships with customers, coworkers, and business partners. “Our company morale and culture is family-oriented and fun, so employee values are important” said Kevin. “With recent labor force challenges, we’ve chosen to hire employees who exemplify our values—innovation, integrity, and quality. After they’re hired, we always train our people with any knowledge they need regardless of where they start.”

Landscaping work is physical, but Scenic View employees keep a positive attitude, are happy and upbeat, and able to handle the challenges. They enjoy the work, which in turn, helps the team build strong relationships with customers. Some Scenic View customers have been with the company for over 20 years, and while Kevin is amazed by this, he probably shouldn’t be since good things happen to good people.

Oliver and Tuddy Noble summed it up best when they said, “Kevin and his crew have designed, installed and maintained our landscape for more than twenty years. He and his staff are courteous, conscientious, accommodating, and absolutely dependable.”

Rick and Cheryl Orlowski, long-time customers of Scenic View, said, “Kevin and his team at Scenic View Landscapes have taken care of our property since we built our house in 2009. They were involved with the initial planning of the extensive greenery that we enjoy now. Over the years they have planted and tended to our yard in expert fashion. Problems that were encountered were dealt with promptly and our yard is now lush and healthy. The shrubbery is tended to on a regular basis and always looks good. They

Photos:

On the cover–Kevin Sipe, owner and lead designer of Scenic View Landscapes (Photo by Shane Greene)

Opposite page–The Scenic View Landscapes Team (Photo by Shane Greene)

Above–Kevin with his sister, brother, and dog after a day of mowing in the early 90s. They are pictured in front of his 1966 Jeep pickup purchased from his great-grandmother.

(Photo provided by Kevin Sipe)

The same 1966 Jeep pickup Kevin bought 30 years ago is shown in the background of this photo. The Jeep is now restored and owned by his father. Pictured, left to right are Bryson Henry, group manager; Camron St. Louis, installation team leader; Jake Wise, maintenance team leader; and Kevin Sipe, owner and lead designer.

(Photo by Shane Greene)

Photos, top to bottom

Debbie Sipe, office manager and bookkeeper

Bryson Henry and Erin Byrd, quality control manager, reviews weekly quality control reports to continue improving efficiencies and quality standards.

Neill Sipe and Duane Sipe, shop mechanics, maintains equipment to ensure the team can run efficiently and produce quality work safely.

coordinate with irrigation to see that it is optimal for growth. Annuals are planted yearly and bring an explosion of color throughout the yard. It is a pleasure to drive into our driveway and appreciate their work every day. We give Scenic View our highest recommendation.“

Scenic View Landscapes is also able to provide superior service to customers because they have a network of suppliers and vendors who also share their values. In recent years, supply chain issues have affected many industries, especially construction and landscaping. By treating suppliers well and going the extra mile for them, Scenic View is able to get the materials they need for your landscaping, hardscapes, and other projects.

Technology plays a role in keeping the team efficient. “We are always trying to use technology to have better design capacity,” said Kevin. The team tracks every job they do and continuously look for more ways to be efficient and improve quality.

Different Areas of Expertise

Although we started out talking about Kevin’s early years, he and the company have gained a lot of knowledge and capability over the years. The company’s design and installation side benefits from Kevin’s education at North Carolina State University in landscape horticulture.

While walking around properties with customers, Kevin uses his training, experience, and customer input to form a clear idea of the landscape or hardscape they want and the budget the project will require. His ultimate goal is to create a landscape the customer will love and be proud of.

Landscape maintenance is the other part of what Scenic View Landscapes does. While some companies offer mowing services only, this doesn’t exist at Scenic View Landscapes. They maintain landscapes they have installed; therefore, the team knows what the landscape needs—truly from the ground up. With the changing seasons in our area, the team is always looking for new materials to plant and maintain landscapes throughout the year.

The advantages of working with Scenic View Landscapes are about more than experience. You will have the opportunity to work with a team that really cares, loves what they do, and has their heart in the exact right place.

Scenic View Landscapes, LLC

(828) 256-2517

www.ScenicViewLandscapes.net

(Photos by Shane Greene)

Fix It Up For FALL

The holidays are just around the corner! With the mild temperatures of fall, it is the perfect time to make any updates and repairs to your home before winter sets in. If you plan on doing any remodeling, you will most likely want that work completed before Thanksgiving, so it’s time to get busy!

Outdoor Improvements

Many of you have enjoyed your backyards throughout the summer by swimming in pools or relaxing on decks or patios. That enjoyment doesn’t have to end with the season. Once we get a little chill in the air, consider adding some outdoor heat. A fire pit can improve the usage of your backyard during the cooler months. It’s a perfect location to entertain friends, roast marshmallows, or enjoy a sunset. A hot tub is another way to bring the heat and a great way to reduce stress, relieve tired muscles, and even appreciate a winter snow. You can embrace the elements of winter or use home additions to bring the outdoors in by adding a screened in porch or sunroom. Either way, you will need a way to enjoy the outdoors when the seasons change.

Preparing Your Home for Winter

We’ve spent a lot of time outside during the last six months and probably ignored the interior of our homes. It’s always a good idea to be organized, but more so when the temperatures drop. You will be spending most of your time indoors and need extra space for activities. Give your home a good cleaning and clear out the clutter. Store items you won’t be using, and organize your space so you devote less time looking for what you need and more time enjoying what you have. Create a warm and cozy environment with color and textures and surround yourself with things

you love. If there is an area in your home that isn’t working, now would be the time to change it. Don’t go through another winter putting off an inevitable renovation.

Creating a comfortable, relaxing, and functional home takes planning and a lot of work. On the following pages we have articles to help you save on your energy costs and make your home more comfortable. There is a fall maintenance to-do-list to best prepare you for the colder months ahead and advertisers who can help you with all of your home improvement projects both indoors and out!

The Benefits of Window Treatments

While real estate professionals may tell you to remove window treatments to make your home look larger, brighter and more airy, living without coverings can create problems. Window treatments not only add aesthetic appeal to any decor, they serve many functional purposes.

Sun can fade the color of floors, fabrics and furniture. Drapes, sheers, shades, blinds, or shutters can minimize this damage by blocking or defusing the amount of light streaming through your windows. By controlling the light, you can also reduce glare while reading, working on your laptop, or watching a movie.

Window treatments provide privacy. Who wants the neighbors getting a free reality show at your expense? No one! Also, those of us who keep late hours may want to sleep-in during the day. Blackout fabrics can cast your room into darkness helping you sleep longer and better.

Covering your windows adds an additional layer of insulation to your home. Treatments can control drafts in the winter and keep the heat out in the summer reducing energy costs. Automated, motorized shades can be programmed with your smartphone or tablet for easy control.

When you mention drapes, people may envision the fussy, over-the-top, double or triple window treatments of the past. However, there are many minimalist designs and options that fit any decor. This fall consider covering your windows with stylish and efficient treatments that both save you money and add to the beauty and comfort of your home.

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Fall Home Maintenance

By doing necessary home repairs and maintenance this fall, you can avoid costly damage and keep your home in tiptop shape. Below is a fall to-do-list to help:

Check Heating System

Change filters on your heating system to allow for better air flow and have a professional check your heating source between seasons for needed repairs before critical weather.

Clean Gutters

Prevent water damage by cleaning your gutters and downspouts. Inspect gutters for damage and make sure the water is efficiently directed away from your home. After cleaning, consider installing gutter guards.

Inspect and Seal Windows and Doors

Replace worn weather stripping and caulk any cracks around windows and doors to prevent drafts.

Inspect and Repair Roof Damage

Your roof is the first line of defense against the elements. Ask a professional to check your roof for worn, curled or cracked shingles and damaged flashing. Make any necessary repairs to prevent water damage to your home.

Clean Siding and Seal Decks

Pressure wash siding to remove mold and make any needed repairs to your home’s siding. Clean decks and seal as needed. For concrete patios, repair any cracks.

Check and Insulate Pipes

Look for cracks, leaks, or corrosion on pipes and repair immediately. Insulate exposed pipes to prevent freezing.

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Clean detectors of dust and replace batteries or the unit if necessary.

Inspect and Clean the Fireplace and Chimney

Hire a chimney sweep to clean and remove any creosote buildup which can cause chimney fires. Inspect for cracks and damage that may need repair.