sharon@lncurrents.com (704) 677-9159
Welcome to the
July Issue
By Lori Helms
don’t know about you, but I feel like summer really snuck up on me. It seems like not too long ago I was cycling through my rotation of favorite hoodies to keep me warm, and worrying about whether it was ever going to warm up enough to play some tennis in a few less layers of clothing.
Yet, here we are, and now it’s just the most recent string of afternoon and evening summer rainstorms that are tripping up my tennis game (well, not to mention my natural gift for double faults and unforced errors). I haven’t even really been able to play enough to start re-aggravating my annual summertime tennis injuries – the shoulder that starts to hurt, the ankle I regularly tweak, my bum left knee that never fails to remind me that I’ve gotten another year older. The good news is, if any of these ailments (or
worse) visit you, there is a place nearby for accessible, high-quality healthcare.
Catawba Valley Medical Center is experiencing significant growth, acquiring new practices and recruiting several physicians to meet the region’s surge in demand. Read more starting on Page 10 about how their professionals are responding to that demand for Catawba Valley area residents and beyond.
If the onslaught of these hot, muggy summer days is starting to take a toll on you, our “Weekend Getaway” contributor Vanessa Infanzon has a wonderful cure. She recently visited the mountain town of Sylva, and says it’s an absolute must-see, mustplay and must-do. It’s barely a two-hour drive from Hickory and definitely worth the trip. She offers lots of lodging, dining and entertaining ideas in her review of the area starting on Page 22.
And it’s time to shift your cooking habits to meet your summertime tastebuds. Nothing speaks to the season better than a fresh, flavorful summer salad. Our “What’s Cooking?” contributor Kathy Dicken has crafted a quick and easy recipe for Caprese Chicken Salad that comes together in less than an hour that features fresh basil and mozzarella, topped with a balsamic glaze and olive oil. Turn to Page 21 for her mouthwatering concoction.
Wishing you a summertime with as few rainstorms and injuries as possible, and with all the fun and flavor you can find!
— LH Lori Helms Editor lori@lncurrents.com
Body Sculpting
0 Windward Lane #27, Granite Falls 98 S Main Street, Granite Falls
167 Gunpowder View Cr., Granite Falls
1266 18th Street NE, Hickory
1028 Pocono Place, Newton
Hickory
Loop NE, Hickory
on the cover
Catawba Valley Medical Group (CVMG), part of the Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS), is experiencing unprecedented growth as it expands its footprint throughout Catawba County and into neighboring Caldwell County. This growth includes the acquisition of new medical practices and the recruitment of a significant number of physicians and advanced practice providers to meet the increasing demand for quality healthcare services.
Owned and operated by CVHS, which also oversees Catawba Valley Medical Center and a range of ancillary services, CVMG now includes 17 primary care practices and eight
of Catawba Valley Medical Group Growth and Expansion
specialty care practices, providing comprehensive, coordinated care to the region.
The group’s most notable and recent expansion occurred in June with the addition of Gastroenterology Associates, PA, of Hickory. Now operating as Gastroenterology Associates of Catawba Valley Health System, the practice remains at its established location at 415 North Center Street, Suite 300, in Hickory. This integration marks a significant enhancement to CVMG’s specialty care offerings, particularly in gastrointestinal and digestive health services.
Annette Gwaltney, FNP-C, of Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Viewmont
Brad Hardee, DO, of Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Parkway
Photos ourtesy Catawba Valley Health System.
Dressler, MD, of Catawba Valley Vascular Surgery
This strategic growth underscores CVMG’s commitment to increasing access to high-quality care and serving the evolving healthcare needs of the community.
With a longstanding reputation for excellence and compassionate care, Gastroenterology Associates brings deep expertise and a highly respected team of providers to the CVHS network, significantly expanding access to advanced digestive health services across the region.
“This is an extraordinary addition to our medical group and our health system,” says Dennis Johnson, president and CEO of CVHS. ““Gastroenterology Associates has a longstanding reputation for excellence and is the area’s largest provider of gastrointestinal and digestive services. They will only enhance our efforts in offering the best care possible to our community and our region.”
The integration supports CVHS’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves by increasing access to specialized care and streamlining coordination across primary and specialty services.
Patients of Gastroenterology Associates can expect continuity in care with added benefits from being part of the broader CVHS network, including improved access to advanced technology, support services and coordinated care pathways.
Stacey Coffey of Gastroenterology Associates adds, “Catawba Valley Health System and Gastroenterology Associates are strategically aligned in recognizing gastroenterology as a vital area for growth. Together, we are focused on expanding clinical expertise and ensuring patients receive comprehensive, diseasefocused care coordination throughout their healthcare journey.”
Gastroenterology Associates becomes the eighth CVHS specialty practice, joining Catawba Valley Cardiology, Catawba Valley Surgery & Cancer Center, Catawba Valley Vascular Surgery, Catawba Valley Vascular Surgery – Horizon (Lenoir), Catawba Valley Pulmonology, Catawba Valley Neurology and Catawba Valley Foot & Ankle Center.
The specialty practices, together with 17 primary care locations, form Catawba Valley Health System’s growing medical group. Altogether, CVMG employs 140 physicians and advanced
Gener
Pa Lee, FNP-C, of Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Claremont
on the cover
practice providers, delivering comprehensive care that resulted in 350,000 clinic visits over the past year.
“Our medical group is undergoing substantial growth as we respond to the region’s rising demand for accessible, highquality care,” says Mariane Carna, president of Catawba Valley Medical Group. “By expanding both primary and specialty care services, we are advancing our commitment to meet community needs. The reputation of Catawba Valley Health System for clinical excellence, patient safety and nationally recognized patient experience continues to draw physicians and practices who are aligned with our mission.”
Carna and Johnson both highlight that upcoming additions to CVMG’s Catawba Valley Cardiology practice will have a meaningful impact on the community. “As the demand for
cardiovascular care continues to grow, the expansion of our cardiology team — alongside the opening of the new Heart Center at Catawba Valley Medical Center — represents a critical investment in the region’s health,” says Carna. Johnson adds, “This combination will significantly enhance access to high-quality, coordinated heart care for patients across our service area.”
Courtney Scronce, CVHS Director of Business and Physician Development, says, “When recruiting for our practices — particularly candidates from outside the region — we’ve found that once they visit, our success rate in bringing them on board is very high. What’s even more encouraging is the growing number of providers who have already signed with us and are preparing to join. This includes both specialty and primary care physicians, as well as advanced practice providers.”
Shital Patel, MD, of Catawba Valley Family Care – Newton
“As the demand for cardiovascular care continues to grow, the expansion of our cardiology team — alongside the opening of the new Heart Center at Catawba Valley Medical Center — represents a critical investment in the region’s health ... ”
Catawba Valley Health System also is advancing its mission to improve healthcare access across the region through a new partnership with Urgent Care of Mountain View, resulting in the opening of two new urgent care centers in Catawba County. The first location launched in Sherrills Ford, with a second following in North Hickory’s Belle Hollow Shopping Center. Johnson emphasized the strategic importance of the Sherrills Ford site.
“Sherrills Ford is growing and thriving rapidly,” he says. “Alongside the urgent care center, we have family practice and specialty services housed within the same building. The strong community interest and support we’ve seen for these services are very encouraging.”
Looking beyond Catawba County, CVHS and CVMG are actively exploring expansion into neighboring counties. CVMG currently provides care in Alexander County through Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Taylorsville and Catawba County Family Medicine – Bethlehem. In 2024, CVMG also welcomed a new vascular surgery practice in Lenoir, now known as Catawba Valley Vascular Surgery –Horizon.
“Our goal is to engage with practices interested in joining a health system,” Johnson explains. “As an independent, community-based system, we offer a unique alternative to larger corporate systems, allowing us to operate efficiently while maintaining a personal approach to care.”
He concludes, “We remain committed to expanding services and establishing additional locations to meet the increasing healthcare needs of our community, while simultaneously building a robust and highly skilled clinical team to support this growth.”
Vince Pompili, MD, of Catawba Valley Cardiology
Atul Trivedi, MD, of Catawba Valley Cardiology
FIVE BOOKS
to Savor Summer
by Adah Fitzgerald, co-owner of Main Street Books
The slower pace of summer is the ideal time to pick up a book. Whether you’re borrowing a classic from the library or choosing a new release from Main Street Books in Davidson, reading isn’t an indulgence, it’s essential. Reading books has long been valued as therapeutic. Transporting readers into the lives and worlds of others builds empathy. Reflecting the lived experience of the reader provides validation. I’m sharing five new summer novels that my booksellers and I have read and highly recommend.
Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh (Flatiron Books)for fans of Crazy Rich Asians
Jia Song’s chance to earn junior partner in her law firm is at stake as she navigates the back-stabbing Park siblings who are suing their father over the assets of his billion-dollar Korean beauty empire. As Jia navigates the globe-spanning lies, you will be carried away with this decadent, smart, sensitive novel from Charlotte’s own writing phenom.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Crown)for fans of A Man Called Ove
Sometimes the best book recommendation is simply, “Trust me, you’ll love this.” Written entirely in letters penned to and from 73 year-old Sybil, her life in retirement from practicing law isn’t nearly as quiet or content as she’d like us to believe.
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (Ballantine Books) - for fans of Little Miss Sunshine
On a whim, PJ hits the road on a cross-country road trip to visit his high school sweetheart at the Tender Hearts Retirement Community. With two recently-orphaned children, a cat who detects death, and his estranged, twentysomething daughter in a car “borrowed” from his ex-wife’s fiancée, PJ is 63 and his high school sweetheart has no idea he’s coming. What could go wrong?
Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King (William Morrow) - for fans of Midnight Library
Read this one by the pool and then savor it with your book club. One day, the program that college student Monica Tsai is helping to build connects her to a young woman, whose gift of a single pencil holds a surprising clue to her family’s hidden history in Shanghai. The heart of this story is in asking whose stories get told. There is so much magic in this story and in the reading of it.
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Berkley)for fans of Barbara Kingsolver
Inspired by the real Kingdom of the Happy Land, a self-sustaining community of formerly enslaved men and women who were ruled by a king and queen in the North Carolina mountains, Dolen-Perkins shares this extraordinary story through the eyes of Nikki whose grandmother summons her to Asheville urgently, but mysteriously.
ABOUT MAIN STREET BOOKS
Main Street Books is located in the heart of Davidson, North Carolina, just 20 miles north of Charlotte and across the green from Davidson College. We serve the four Lake Norman townsDavidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Mooresville. Situated in the heart of our college town, we take seriously our role in introducing new literature to our readers and hosting literary events and groups. We are an independent, general interest bookstore with robust fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books collections. Main Street Books is co-owned by Adah Fitzgerald and Mary Barone.
What’s Cooking?
Summer Salad
by Kathy Dicken
photography by Kathy Dicken
Caprese Chicken Salad
During the summer, I love to cook with veggies from my garden, especially my juicy cherry tomatoes and fragrant basil. This Caprese Chicken Salad recipe adds chicken and Mozzarella balls to my produce to make the perfect summer meal. This warm, high-protein salad doesn’t take long to prep and cooks quickly. Grilled chicken certainly works for this salad, but if it’s too darn hot, try my Air-Fryer method. The chicken turns out extra juicy and tender every time!
Here’s the secret — simply brine your chicken before cooking, and it will keep your chicken nice and juicy. It’s easy! Fill a large bowl with warm water and stir in salt. Add the chicken, submerge and brine for 30 minutes at room temperature or several hours in the refrigerator. You will thank yourself later.
When you are ready to prepare your salad, you can cook your chicken in the air fryer in about 15 minutes. Slice your juicy chicken and add it to your summer salad, and dinner is served!
Servings: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minute
Ingredients:
Chicken
1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken
breasts (4 portions)
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Salad
5 cups Romaine lettuce (chopped)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
1/2 cup fresh mozzarella balls
1/4 cup fresh basil (cut into ribbons)
For dressing: Drizzle with balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil to taste
Instructions:
Fill a large bowl with about 4 cups of warm water and stir in 1/4 cup salt until salt has completely dissolved. Add the chicken, submerge and brine for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. Rinse off the brine and pat the chicken dry with paper towels before cooking.
Once you’re ready to cook the chicken, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, sea salt and black pepper to create the marinade. Add the marinade and the chicken breasts to a zip-top bag and massage to evenly distribute the marinade. Set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours.
Cook the chicken breasts. If using your air fryer, place the chicken in a single layer in the basket. Air fry until golden. See my cooking time chart below to estimate cooking time, or use a meat thermometer and cook until the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain.
In a large salad bowl, combine lettuce, tomatoes and mozzarella balls, and top with sliced chicken. Sprinkle the salad with basil leaves and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Enjoy!
Notes:
• Air Frying Times by Chicken Breast Size
Small (5-7 oz.) 7-10 minutes
Medium (8-10 oz.) 10-12 minutes
Large (11-12 oz.) 12-16 minutes
• Balsamic glaze can be found in the grocery store on the same aisle as vinegar.
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.
Mountain Envy
Summertime in Sylva — where everyone belongs
by Vanessa Infanzon
In less than three hours, you can be in Sylva, a mountain town with spunk – and cooler temperatures. This Jackson County destination features Hotel Sylva, a renovated motel lodge with spacious rooms and easy parking. Grab a cup of Bootleg Coffee from the hotel’s lobby and walk to dozens of art, antique and boutique shops in the downtown area. The bakeries and cafes along the way will keep you fueled with homemade chocolate, ice cream and pastries.
Annual events such as Concerts on the Creek — held weekly in Bridge Park from May through August — bring musicians to the banks of the Tuckasegee River. Bridge Park is also the hub for the Jackson County Farmers Market, featuring more than 35 vendors from April to October on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The market on Saturday continues through the winter, weather permitting. Couples, families and friends will find something to love in Sylva’s walkable downtown or in the county’s wilderness.
Art Lovers
WildKitchen Supply’s name might throw you, but don’t pass it by. Local artists’ works such as crocheted pieces, glass creations, pottery and woodwork designs fill the store. Check out the vintage and thrift clothing in the back. The shop also serves as a refillery: purchase in bulk for soaps and other household items. Sign up for one of the cooking, foraging or gardening classes offered throughout the summer.
Drop into Snake Song, a floral design shop, for jewelry, dried flowers, hand forged knives, heirloom seeds and many other items you won’t find anywhere else. Mountain Laurel Shop’s owner builds the wood tables, benches and chairs throughout the store. A sweet surprise is the nostalgic candy in the back room.
Pinnacle Parkphotograph courtesy Nik Breedlove
On July 19, in the nearby town of Dillsboro, the Front Street Arts & Crafts Festival hosts 40 of the region’s artisans. Galleries, restaurants and shops are open.
Historians
The Lost Art of the Berlin Wall is an unexpected gem in downtown Sylva. Open now for just two years, the gallery displays salvaged pieces from the Berlin Wall, some with the original art intact. It’s an art and history lesson, taking you through the construction of the wall to its demolition in 1989. Chad Sovo, the museum’s curator and resident artist, will answer questions and walk visitors through the gallery.
Whether you love cats or not, you will gain an appreciation for the art, books, memorabilia and mummified cats collected by Harold Walter Sims Jr., the man behind the American Museum of the House Cat; he passed in 2024. The admission fee for touring the 4,000-square-foot museum supports Catman 2, a no-kill cat shelter in Cullowhee, founded by Sims.
Foodies
There’s no shortage of places to eat, drink and snack in downtown Sylva. Grab delicious sweets from Baxley’s Chocolates or Cotton Leigh Bakery. Enjoy fresh bread, croissants or a Danish at Little Cove Bread Bakery before they sell out each day. Head to Blue Ridge Bootleg for coffee and its cool interior. Decked out in black, leather and wood, the name pays homage to the owners’ grandfathers, who were both bootleggers.
The Cut’s full menu and cocktail list, which includes CBD mocktails, boasts in-house syrups and homemade baked goods and dishes in an eclectic atmosphere. Live music and outdoor seating make it a perfect summertime escape. There’s no reason to go hungry in Sylva: Foragers on the Green, City Lights Café, Lucy in the Rye or Meatball Pizzeria will keep you fueled for hiking, shopping and cooling off on the water.
Outdoor Enthusiasts
A nature experience can be as extreme or as gentle as you want when you visit Sylva. The Tuckasegee River Greenway is an easy two-mile (out and back) paved path along the river. The Waterknob Trail and the Mountain to Sea Trail offer more challenging paths for hikers. At Pinnacle Park, visitors can hike the first part of the Bridge Loop on Fisher Creek following a Certified Forest Therapy Trail self-guided walk. Brochures at the trailhead highlight how forest therapy and its sensory invitations help calm the brain and make participants more aware of their natural surroundings. An abundance of small waterfalls along the creek makes the moderate, sometimes rocky and steep trail, worth the work. Anglers can sign up for guided fly-fishing tours through Tuckasegee Fly Shop or pick up gear and flies from more than 500 patterns.
Find more information about Sylva on the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority website at www.discoverjacksonnc.com/your-trip/towns/sylva.
Sylva at night, courtesy Clay Townsend; City Lights Cafe, courtesy Jackson County Tourism Development Authority; Blue Ridge Parkway near Waterrock Knob, courtesy Jared Kreiss; Meatball Pizzeria, courtesy Tembo Hospitality Group.
