Lake Norman Currents May 2018

May 2018

Lake Norman Real Estate’s legacy

AHOY, women sailors

Building boats in Iron Station

A MAGICAL SHE SHED

in Statesville

Spring looks to get you underway

MANDOLINO’S medium crust masterpiece

LIVE BOUNDLESS

Cornelius, North Carolina | premiersir.com/id/3363943 | 704.727.4170

The location, the style, the feeling you get when you walk through the door – every aspect of your home should be a reflection of who you are, where you’ve been and the life you aspire to live.

Your best life begins with a home that inspires you.

Call us today and let us find your inspiration.

877.539.9865

Asheville | 828.277.3238 Banner Elk | 828.898.5022

Charlotte | 704.248.0243

Blowing Rock | 828.295.0776

Linville Ridge | 828.898.5151

Lake Norman | 704.727.4170 PremierSothebysRealty.com

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

THE PENINSULA YACHT CLUB

Friends, Family, & Tradition

We are your home on the water!

Whether it’s dining on our veranda or just splashing around our pool, every moment spent at The Peninsula Yacht Club is another opportunity to make a lasting memory.

To learn more about membership, visit:

PeninsulaYacht.com/Membership

PeninsulaYacht.com • 704-765-4093

Drs. Coleman, Coleman & Foran

Summer is just around the corner… And so are we!

When your dentist or orthodontist says: “It’s time for the wisdom teeth to come out” Call soon for best dates!

Wisdom Teeth | IV Sedation | Computer Guided Dental Implants Call our office today to schedule your initial consultation Drs. Coleman, Coleman & Foran 19910 North Cove Road Cornelius / 704-892-1198 carolinaoms.com Lake NormaN’s TrusTed ChoiCe For oraL surgery siNCe 1985

15921 Robbins Green Drive #322 Cornelius, NC 28031 $624,900 � MLS | 3375134

View Team Nadine’s Full Listings Online www.ALakeHome.com Proud to be Keller Williams #1 individual agent in the Lake Norman Region for 2016!

Nadine Wynn

Nadine@TeamNadine.com • 704.806.6711

19721 Bethel Church Road • Cornelius, NC 28031

LAKE NORMAN

Kings Point & Skippers Landing W W W . M O R N I N G S T A R M A R I N A S . C O M

The Peninsula’s Top Closing Agent Since 2012

18211 NAUTIQUE DRIVE | $719,000

THE PENINSULA

8907 ROSALYN GLEN ROAD | $299,000

18300 INVERGORDON LANE | $685,000

THE PENINSULA

LD SO

WATERFRONT

THE PENINSULA

18806 HALYARD POINTE LANE | $1,875,000

19201 CAPTAINS WATCH ROAD | $605,000

r de t Un trac n Co

17701 SPRINGWINDS DRIVE | $899,000

UPPER JETTON

THE PENINSULA WATERFRONT

THE PENINSULA

LD SO

19824 SHEARWATER POINT DRIVE | $1,199,000

THE PENINSULA

LD SO

18518 SQUARE SAIL ROAD | $650,000

SHEARWATER POINT GOLF COURSE

LD SO

LD SO

17528 PARADISE COVE COURT | $1,179,000

17119 PLAYERS RIDGE DRIVE | $558,000

EDINBURGH SQUARE

LD SO

WATERFRONT

GOLF COURSE

LD SO

WATERFRONT

LD SO

THE PENINSULA

THE PENINSULA

15705 JETTON ROAD | $1,595,000

r de t Un trac n Co

18518 TOWN HARBOUR ROAD | $699,000

LuxuryPortfolio.com/LakeNorman Christina Stone

Christina.Stone@allentate.com ChristinaStoneHomes.com 704-740-0629

Dixie Dean

Dixie.Dean@allentate.com DixieDean.com 704-641-1465

WATERFRONT

THE PENINSULA

Contents May 2018 vol. 11 No. 5

24 Make a Mess Karen Toney turns off while turning wood

About the Cover:

Channel Markers Movers, shakers and more at the lake

26 Navigators Ian Ablett has boats to build

15 Jill Dahan helps kids through

32 Thoughts from

16 Lake Norman Realty was built

the Man Cave Shoes make the man

68 Out + About Ada Jenkins’ An

Evening at the Races

70 On the Circuit What’s happening at Lake Norman this month

MAY 2018

72 Lori’s Larks Editor Lori K. Tate taps into nature at Lake Norman State Park

6 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

34

Photo of Sydney Duarte in an outfit from CoCo Couture aboard Carolina Grace in Cornelius

by Brant Waldeck.

cooking

on a dream

18 How to get out on the water at Lake Norman

19 Model student Anna DeGrauw 20 Kari McCormick empowers

34 T rends + Style

Spring styles for a season of fun

with her soles

21 The Pearsall Family’s Rack Room Shoes ad campaign

Lake Spaces

How we live at the lake

48 Dwellings

Jennifer Beaman Pippin’s little house on the prairie

Dine + Wine

Eating, drinking, cooking and fun

40 G ame On

Karen Dobbs teaches women how to set sail on the lake

62 Wine Time

Choplins’ hidden depths

64 On Tap

Quality craft beer

48

65 In the Kitchen

with Jill Dahan

Roasted Potato Medley with Mint Pesto

66 Nibbles + Bites

Mandolino’s brings grandma’s pizza to Davidson

Subscriptions are available for $30 per year.

Send us your name, address, phone number and a check made payable to Lake Norman CURRENTS at the address above and we’ll start your subscription with the next available issue.

10225 Hickorywood Hill Ave, Unit A, Huntersville, NC 28078 704.749.8788 | www.LNCurrents.com

Lake Norman CURRENTS is a monthly publication available through direct-mail home delivery to the most affluent Lake Norman residents. It also is available at area Harris Teeter supermarkets, as well as various Chambers of Commerce, real estate offices and specialty businesses.

The entire contents of this publication are protected under copyright. Unauthorized use of any editorial or advertising content in any form is strictly prohibited. Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine is wholly owned by Oasis Magazines, Inc.

2014 Gold MarCom Award Winner for Design Excellence 2013 Platinum Award Winner for Magazine Special Edition 2013 Lake Norman Chamber Business of the Year

2010 Gold MarCom Award Winner for Best Magazine 2009 APEX Award Winner for Publication Excellence

Between the Beacons Charting Your Course to Retirement

Is This The Perfect “Investment” That Nobody Knows About?

ime and again we hear folks complain about how tired they are of banks paying virtually no interest on savings, checking accounts, and CDs. Same thing could be said of bond yields. Everyone needs a certain amount of money safe and liquid, but it’s been difficult to make a reasonable rate of return on that money in the current financial environment.

Over this past decade there has been a war declared on senior savers and conservative investors alike.

Fortunately, that’s starting to change, but it’s still tough to get a good return on safe or fixed income strategies.

Well, some time ago the insurance industry came up with a very attractive alternative that virtually nobody knows about! Imagine an account with the following benefits: • Your principal is safe and guaranteed a minimum return (subject

Wow! That sure sounds like a pretty nice list of benefits for you to enjoy. But like anything else, there has to be some strings attached, right?

Well, you would be correct. There are a few strings attached. First, what I’ve just described is a type of life insurance called “Single Premium Life, option C”. You make one single deposit and you can’t add money to it after that.

Because it’s life insurance, the first string is that you must be insurable to some degree. Now, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to qualify.

You just need to be insurable. Ratings do not really matter much with this type of plan, nor do they affect returns in any meaningful way. They simply impact how large the death benefit has to be to quality under life insurance tax laws.

The second string is that there is no guarantee on how much interest you

might earn from year to year, other than the guaranteed minimum (usually around 3%). You may earn 3% one year and 20% the next. Indexing strategies are used to determine the rates of return each year, and once money is credited it cannot be lost. Over time, after expenses, you can reasonably expect to earn between 6% 8%, but it could be higher. Over the past 20 years, the average annual rate of return has been between 7% - 8% with this type of policy.

The final string is that you do have some cost of insurance expenses each year (after all, it is life insurance). In this type of plan, they are minimal, but none the less they are there.

Sample - $100,000 deposit, 60 year old male, standard non-tobacco rate. The death benefit would be approximately $250,000 (tax free to heirs). You could expect to earn an annual internal rate of return after expenses of 6% - 8%. Your cash value is always 100% liquid (no surrender charges), if you die your heirs collect the $250,000 income tax free, and you can use up to 95% of the death benefit for long-term care if ever needed (tax free). What the heck else do you want?

When all is said and done, given today’s low interest rate environment and market volatility, these new hybrid life insurance plans are becoming a very popular alternative to keeping “dead money” in the bank.

We consider it another asset class that simply is not used enough and should be. You owe it to yourself

Chart Your Course to Retirement Thursday May 10th & Tuesday May 15th

Chillfire Bar & Grill - Denver ••• 6:30pm (doors open at 6:00pm) REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND Call 704-660-0340 or email kelly@jdswealthmanagement.com to learn more about this little used “investment” strategy.

At JDS, everything we do is designed to take the worry out of your retirement. If you’d like to set up a visit to discuss your retirement and get your own Chart Your Course Retirement Plan, then give us a call.

And remember: The purpose of the money dictates where you put it!

Until Next Month, James D. Stillman

(704) 660-0214 jdswealthmanagement.com 119-F Poplar Pointe Drive Mooresville, NC 28117 James D. Stillman is a licensed insurance professional, Registered Financial Consultant, and Investment Advisor Representative.

He is the founder and president of two companies: JDS Enterprizes, Inc. and JDS Wealth Management Corporation, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm.

All content is intended for informational purposes only. Guarantees apply to certain insurance and annuity products (not securities, variable or investment advisory products) and are subject to product terms, exclusions, and limitations and the insurer’sclaims-paying ability and financial strength.

Paid Advertisement

James D. Stillman

to the claims paying ability of the company) • Your account is fully liquid at all times (100% access to your account) • You have a very reasonable expectation to earn 6% - 8% average return over time.

• No income tax on earnings until you withdraw your money. Much like an IRA plan, the earnings are tax deferred • Increased tax-free transfer to your beneficiaries at death (they pay no income tax at all) • Long-term care benefits

from Where I Sit

The magazine by and for the people who call Lake Norman home

Publisher

What Happens Along the Way NOW THAT THE TRAINING WHEELS ARE OFF, IT’S TIME FOR SIMPLE ADVENTURES

MacAdam Smith Mac@LNCurrents.com

Advertising Director

by Lori K. Tate

MAY 2018

8 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

his issue is all about style and boats, so I’m going to write about bicycles. While we love boats at our house, and my daughter and I adore fashion (I dare you to count our combined shoe collection), bicycles are the hot topic in our home right now.

It all began this past February when Graydon and Margot, our 8-year-old twins known as The Tater Tots, began riding bikes without training wheels. In my day, this was as much a rite of passage as doing a handstand or knowing how to Double Dutch, but these days, kids have options.

They can roller skate; they can ride a scooter. Heck, some even ride electric scooters. It took our kids a while to realize how awesome it is to ride a bike, but once the training wheels were off, we were off.

Now we ride our bikes to the drug store, the grocery store and the coffee shop. We even rode them at Lake Norman State Park (see page 72 for more details about that). If I need to borrow something from my in-laws down the street, I can count on one of our kids to go get it. The Tots enjoy their bikes so much that we went to Bald Head Island for spring break — just so they could ride their bikes during vacation.

Watching them flirt with independence makes me happy, and a little terrified, but mostly happy. And it also reminds me of how much I adored my bike

Photo by Glenn Roberson

Sharon Simpson Sharon@LNCurrents.com

when I was a kid. One time when I was about their age, my mom and I were staying at my family’s cottage at Lake Tillery. It was a hot July day, and my father had commuted back to Concord for work, leaving us to swim and sunbathe.

Instead of frolicking in the water, mom and I decided to take our bikes out for a spin. At first we were only going to ride around the two-mile circle where our house was, but somehow we got the idea to ride to Green Top — the general store five miles away.

Keep in mind that this is rural Stanly County in the late 1970s. So even though there was hardly any traffic, it was still a big deal for me to ride my bike on a highway to something as grand as a general store. (And this is something my father would have never let me do, as he’s of the over-protective ilk. He’s a great guy and I love him, but this was light years out of his comfort zone.)

Though the hills were steep and the asphalt steaming, the ride was so exciting. I can’t

remember what we bought at the store, but I’ll always remember how exhilarating it was to get there.

My mom turns 81 this July, and though her memory gives her trouble these days, she can still retrieve some gems from the past. I hope our trip to Green Top will always be one of those.

As hard as it is to be a mom, and it is the hardest thing I’ve ever done (including algebra), it can also be quite simple. I’m sure my mother didn’t plan for our bike trip to be one of my favorite childhood memories, but it is.

Just as I can make lists and lists of elaborate plans, my kids treasure what happens along the way the most.

Decades later at that same cottage at Lake Tillery, I sat with my kids on the porch. A summer rainstorm rushed in, and I grabbed their tiny hands and led them to the yard, where we started running and spinning, hoping that the rain would fall harder and harder. It was pure delight — the kind that lasts even when the showers are over.

This Mother’s Day, I hope you’ll remember the simple things about living because those are the treasures that are worth the most.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com

Advertising Sales Executives

Carole Lambert Carole@LNCurrents.com

Cindy Gleason Cindy@LNCurrents.com

Beth Packard Beth@LNCurrents.com

Trisha Robinson Trisha@LNCurrents.com

Social Media Specialist Michele Chastain mac21268@yahoo.com

Design & Production idesign2, inc

Contributing Writers Holly Becker Trevor Burton Jill Dahan Bek Mitchell-Kidd Rosie Molinary Renee Roberson Mike Savicki

Contributing Photographers Lisa Crates Allison Hinman Wes Stearns Brant Waldeck

Mission Statement: Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine will embody the character, the voice and the spirit of its readers, its leaders and its advertisers.

It will connect the people of Lake Norman through inspiring, entertaining and informative content, photography and design; all of which capture the elements of a well-lived life on and around the community known as Lake Norman.

www.facebook.com/LNCurrents www.twitter.com/LNCurrents

FIND THE RIGHT DOCTOR. RIGHT IN THE LAKE NORMAN AREA. From sick visits and physicals to managing chronic conditions, our primary care doctors offer the care you need, close to home. Same-day or next-day sick visits are available at many of our practices, or make an online reservation at one of our urgent care locations. Most health insurance plans are accepted.

FAMILY MEDICINE

oo

2 NorthCross Family Physicians

9726 Sam Furr Road 3 Mooresville Family Medicine

ck

w Bra ley

5

e

l Rd

705 Griffith St., Suite 100

M

son R d liam Wil

le n bu

119 Marketplace Ave., Suite D

y r g Hw

MOORESVILLE

INTERNAL MEDICINE

4 Mecklenburg Medical Group -

77

ai

1

n St

Sch

Ch arlo tt e Hw y

3

1 Davidson Clinic

N

M

NorthCross 16455 Statesville Road, Suite 200

DAVIDSON Con co rd

5 Mooresville Internal Medicine

Rd

CORNELIUS Old

Associates 137 Professional Park Drive, Suite A

ville Rd tes Sta

6 4 2

73

le Rd esvil Stat

8

77

Sa

Rd urr mF

73

HUNTERSVILLE

7

4 North Charlotte Medical Specialists -

Huntersville 16455 Statesville Road, Suite 360 PEDIATRICS 1 Davidson Clinic 705 Griffith St., Suite 100

OB/GYN

4 Charlotte OB/GYN - Huntersville

16455 Statesville Road, Suite 480 4 Northcross OB/GYN - Huntersville

16455 Statesville Road, Suite 400 7 NorthEast Women’s Health &

Obstetrics - Davidson 2101 Shiloh Church Road, Suite 202 URGENT CARE

1 Carolinas HealthCare Urgent Care-

Davidson at Davidson Clinic 705 Griffith St., Suite 100 8 Carolinas HealthCare Urgent Care-

Huntersville 12905 Rosedale Hill Ave. 3 Carolinas HealthCare Urgent Care-

Mooresville at Mooresville Family Medicine 119 Marketplace Ave., Suite D

6 South Lake Pediatrics - Huntersville

9625 Northcross Center Court, Suite 201 485

7 Suburban Pediatrics - Davidson

2101 Shiloh Church Road, Suite 101

Call 844-235-7006 today to schedule an appointment.

Or visit CarolinasHealthCare.org/YourDoctor 29

485

Celebrate with Family Knowing You Have a Comprehensive Plan of Insurance Coverage Thank You for Trusting Us to Protect You and Your Loved Ones Every Day of the Year

Ashton Loyd 227 West Plaza Dr. Hwy. 150 East Mooresville, NC 28117 (704) 664-9111

Dennis Long 125 East Front St. Statesville, NC 28677 (704) 871-8002

Auto Insurance

Leyda Martinez 7505 NC-73 F Denver, NC 28037 (704) 820-3904

Homeowners Insurance

Leon Brown, III 227 West Plaza Dr. Hwy. 150 East Mooresville, NC 28117 (704) 664-9111

Business Insurance

Lake Norman’s MOST DISTINCTIVE HOMES $4.275 M

$7.45 M

THE POINT - MOORESVILLE

MLS 3260624 | 168 Broad Sound Place Agents: Lori Ivester Jackson 704-996-5686 Doris Nash 704-201-3786

$2.999 M

THE PENINSULA - CORNELIUS

MLS 3352109 | 18525 Peninsula Club Drive Agent: Tracy Davis 704-779-9750

$2.65 M

$2.699 M

LAKE NORMAN - CORNELIUS

MLS 3375315 | 16101 Jetton Road Agents: Melinda Meade-White 704-534-9208 Berry Bean 704-609-3353

$2.295 M

WATERFRONT

4.86 ACRES IN GATED NEIGHBORHOOD

MOORESVILLE WATERFRONT

ARBOR OAKS - CONCORD

MLS 3373655 | 8642 Arbor Oaks Circle Agent: Laura Pegram 704-728-5122

MLS 3371972 | 448 Stonemarker Road Agents: Lori Ivester Jackson 704-996-5686 Doris Nash 704-201-3786

$539 K

$850 K

THE PENINSULA - CORNELIUS

MLS 3374736 | 17709 Springwinds Drive Agent: Marlene Ritts 704-999-3837

$529 K

WEATHERSTONE - CORNELIUS

MLS 3379439 | 20216 Oakbranch Lane Agent: Lori Ivester Jackson 704-996-5686

WHY I V E ST E R JAC KS O N CHRISTIE’S?

DENVER WATERFRONT

MLS 3370595 | 2649 Cherry Lane Agent: Laura Pegram 704-728-5122

SAILVIEW - DENVER

MLS 3371528 | 4512 Morning Dove Court Agent: Susan Dolan 704-560-7201

• Put our entire team of agents to work for you • Over 1300 affiliate offices worldwide • Engage the world’s most affluent audience • Local expertise, tailored service, Christie’s credibility

$2.15 M

UNDER CONTRACT

$1.799 M

$1,499,900

WATERFRONT NORMAN POINTE - DENVER

MLS 3374617 | 4035 Staysail Pointe Agent: Laura Pegram 704-728-5122

$1.429 M

THE PENINSULA - CORNELIUS

MLS 3350190 | 18922 Balmore Pines Lane Agent: Reed Jackson 704-713-3623

$1.195 M

SAILVIEW - DENVER

MLS 3366058 | 4304 Artesian Cove Agent: Susan Dolan 704-560-7201

$495 K

KINGS LANDING - MOORESVILLE MLS 3369812 | 195 Knoxview Lane Agents: Bill Moore 704-651-1532 Alison Smith 704-996-6747

THE PENINSULA - CORNELIUS

MLS 3353505 | 19209 Hidden Cove Lane Agent: Pam Boileau 704-905-0366

$1.475 M

THE POINT - MOORESVILLE

MLS 3378465 | 118 S Longfellow Lane Agents: Jackie Morgan 704-578-6682 Liz Kitts 704-813-0543

$1.325 M

CORNELIUS WATERFRONT

MLS 3301455 | 18034 Mollypop Lane Agents: Tracy Davis 704-779-9750 Alison Smith 704-996-6747

$1.095 M

ROBBINS PARK - CORNELIUS

MLS 3348580 | 18920 Henry Lee Knox Lane Agents: Lori Ivester Jackson 704-996-5686 Pam Boileau 704-905-0366

$899,900

RIVER RUN - DAVIDSON

MLS 3371167 | 18300 River Ford Drive Agent: Chris Helgeson 704-785-4958

$450 K

$439 K

PRICE REDUCED COWANS FORD - DENVER

MLS 3327916 | 7674 Turnberry Lane Agent: Meredith Hall 704-905-8400

MACAULAY - HUNTERSVILLE

MLS 3376729 | 15730 Glen Miro Drive Agent: Pam Boileau 704-905-0366

RIVER RUN - DAVIDSON

MLS 3376771 | 17018 Winged Oak Way Agent: Alison Smith 704-996-6747

IvesterJackson.com | Phone: 704.655.0586 | Info@IvesterJackson.com

Custom Homes on your homesite from $300K to over $2 million Serving the greater Lake Norman & Charlotte areas

SheaCustom.com 704.602.3333 We offer: Custom homes on your homesite | Homesite preparation and/or demo of existing home State-of-the-art Design Studio for your selections Home Warranty | Use your plan or start with one of ours

channelMarkers Movers, Shakers, Style, Shopping, Trends, Happenings and More at Lake Norman

Jill Dahan, founder of Sunninghill Jill Kids, carries bags of goodies to patients at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.

Connecting Through Cooking Jill Dahan’s new nonprofit spreads joy to families in crisis

SunningHill Jill Kids www.sunninghilljillkids.org

15 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Jill, adding that currently the hospital needs approximately 30 iPads a month for patients.

SunningHill Jill Kids has also donated 250 kids books to the hospital that children can take home with them when they’re discharged.

Jill says her husband, Rafic, has been extremely supportive of this endeavor by funding food costs for the classes so all of the proceeds can go to purchase iPads and special gifts for the kids. He also works hard to find the best deals on iPads and understands that Jill can’t cook for him on some evenings because she’s out teaching classes.

Her son, Alex, wrote and manages the website, while her oldest son, Antoine, drew the logo for the nonprofit. In addition, Cornelius’ PostNet has significantly discounted the printing of recipe books and information sheets for the nonprofit.

“We don’t realize it, but we’re all connected,” says Jill. “This is just my way to connect to people who are going through a rough time.” — Lori K. Tate, photography courtesy of Jill Dahan

MAY 2018

Patients at Levine Children’s Hospital of Charlotte check out new iPads given to them by Sunninghill Jill Kids.

ill Dahan knows how powerful it can be when friends and the community rally around a family in crisis. When her son, Alex, was diagnosed with cancer at age 15, the Dahans’ neighbors pitched in to buy him an iPad. “Alex was so appreciative,” says Jill, who lives in Cornelius. “It was just something you never forget.”

That memory inspired Jill, CURRENTS’ resident recipe columnist, to found SunningHill Jill Kids, a nonprofit organization that raises money from Cooking Class Parties to purchase iPads and other special gifts for patients (and their families) who are undergoing treatment and hospitalization for cancer and blood disorders at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.

During the parties, Jill, with the help of Karen Hughes and Sandie Durboraw, teach attendees how to prepare simple, nourishing dishes. The parties can be held at a host’s home, Jill’s home or at a location in Uptown Charlotte. In return, attendees are encouraged to make a taxdeductible donation to fund the organization’s mission.

Donations can also be made through the nonprofit’s website.

“Everyone donates what they feel motivated to give,” says

channelMarkers

For the Long Run Selling a Lifestyle Lake Norman Realty, Inc.

From left, Jane Getsinger and daughter, Abigail Jennings, co-own Lake Norman Realty, Inc. It was founded by James A. Jennings in 1978.

From left, Jane Getsinger and Abigail Jennings MAY 2018

16 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

s the founder of Lake Norman Realty, Inc., James A. Jennings preferred driving around the lake area making deals instead of sitting behind a desk. But when he started his company in 1978, the lake area was very different than it is now.

“To look back from year one to right now, that’s so dramatic, and the biggest part of that is the demand because in those early years there was no demand,” explains Abigail Jennings, James’ daughter and president/co-owner of Lake Norman Realty, Inc. “People thought this was too far to have a permanent home.”

James and his wife, Jane Getsinger, thought differently because they had grown up going to Lake Hickory with their parents, and they knew the magic that a lake could offer.

Eventually Jane’s father, Gene Troutman, built a home on Lake Norman. That was 50 years ago, and the family still owns the

home today.

“My father bought this lot for $3,000, and he thought he had just paid for the moon,” remembers Jane, who co-owns Lake Norman Realty, Inc. with her daughter. “James and my father were good friends, so daddy was really a visionary about lake style living, [too].”

James and Jane enjoyed their time on the lake so much that James, armed with a business and economics degree from East Carolina University, opted to leave his job at Xerox to begin a career in real estate. “We had a lifestyle. We were starting to have young friends on the lake, and we thought, ‘This is sellable, evenings on the lake in your home and waterskiing,’ ” recalls Jane. “The children had a Peter Pan existence, so we thought this is something other people would like to have.”

Turns out that they were more than right, as Lake Norman Realty, Inc. now has six offices in the Lake Norman

area with 126 associates and staff. James passed away from cancer in 1999, leaving Abigail in charge. Jane later married Layton Getsinger.

Abigail credits the success and longevity of the company to the time she spent working with her father. “I got that privilege to work alongside him for eight years from 1990 to 1998. He was diagnosed in 1998, and as soon as he was diagnosed he stepped out and we had one year. Every Friday for that year we would meet and talk, sometimes it would be about business, sometimes it would be about life. We had a very special year,” remembers Abigail. “Running a real estate business is really different than running other businesses, and so he did teach me those secrets of what you’ve got to watch out for and what you need to do.”

Abigail, an art major, enjoys how every day is different in the real estate business. “It’s always changing. It’s always

a challenge. And I think to be looking out over the horizon and seeing what’s next and planning for it and getting creative, those are the things I enjoy,” she says, adding that the company offers all kinds of real estate services. “We’re not just residential sales. We also do commercial, and property management for long-term and vacation rentals, and relocation. We are full service.

That diversification has been very helpful to get us through the various market times.”

As Abigail and Jane sit in Abigail’s Cornelius office looking through scrapbooks of the company’s history, it is obvious that this is more than a business to them. It’s a dream that has evolved into a legacy.

“We’re kind of honoring both of our fathers 40 years later on our anniversary,” says Jane. “He’s [James] still here with me,” adds Abigail.

— Lori K. Tate, photography by Brant Waldeck

We’re Just Crazy About

Short Stack cookbooks can be purchased at Elisabeth Rose Social Stationary for $14 each, 202 S. Main Street, Davidson, www.elisabeth-rose.com.

Photography by Lori K. Tate

If you’re looking for a gift for your culinary friend, these cookbooks from Short Stack are sure to please their palates.

Written by some of America’s top culinary talents, these smallformat cookbooks offer 20 to 25 recipes for a single subject.

For example, if you love lemons, the Lemons cookbook offers a variety of recipes from Meyer Lemon Moonshine to Lemon Aioli to Beet Salad with Cucumber, Lemon and Pistachios. If avocados are more Short Stack cookbooks offer to your liking, you’ll find recipes recipes by subject. for Asian-Inspired Avocado Smash, Warm Grain and Avocado Salad with Dates, and, of course, Guacamole in the Avocados edition.

Photography by Brant Waldeck

Short Stack cookbooks at Elisabeth Rose Social Stationary

“Congratulations CURRENTS crew on a decade of informing and inspiring Lake Norman residents.

Your commitment to lake-centric coverage is truly an asset to our community, and the content of your elegant pages is as rich and varied as this region itself. Just as the shores of Lake Norman connect our unique towns and counties, your classic publication brings us all together with your distinctive stories and timeless appeal. Thank you for keeping us all Current!” — Abigail Jennings President, Lake Norman Realty, Inc.

MAY 2018

1. Reduces muscle tension and relieves pain 2. Rehabilitates injured muscles 3. Boosts the immune system 4. Encourages detoxification 5. Relieves stress

YOU

www.lakenormanpoolandspa.com 704-878-6699

BELONG HERE

STATESVILLE 411 S. Center Street | 704-878-6699 x2

INCLUSIVITY. INTENTIONALITY. INNOVATION.

E S T. 1 9 6 9

JrK – Grade 12 | cannonschool.org

CORNELIUS 18926 Statesville Road | 704-878-6699 x3 DENVER 465 HWY 16 N | 704-878-6699 x4

17 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

5 Health and Healing Benefits of Hydrotherapy:

channelMarkers

Live Like a Native

Hit the Water

Compiled by Lori K. Tate

THE CURRENT is

BACK You can rent all types of boats at Lake Norman.

f you’re new to the Lake Norman area, one of the first things you’ll want to do is get out on the water. With 520 miles of shoreline, the lake is one of the best playgrounds around.

However, if you don’t own a boat or have a friend MAY 2018

18

Catawba

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Long Island Paddle Sports Canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals 7774 Hudson Chapel Road www.longislandpaddlesports.com

Cornelius Aloha Paddle Sports Paddleboard and kayak rentals 17505 West Catawba Avenue www.standuplkn.com Carefree Boat Club This is a boat club.

18020 Kings Point Drive www.carefreeboats.com Carolina Boat Rentals Pontoon and Jet Ski rentals 19357 H. M. Junker Drive 704.614.2118 Freedom Boat Club Lake Norman This is a boat club.

17505 West Catawba Avenue www.freedomboatclub.com

who does, it can be challenging getting in your lake time — enter boat rentals.

We’ve rounded up the places where you can rent anything from a paddleboard to a pontoon, so get ready to hit the water.

Morningstar Marinas at Kings Point Boat and Jet Ski rentals 18020 Kings Point Drive www.morningstarmarina.com 77 Watersports Pontoon and Jet Ski rentals www.77watersports.com

Davidson

Lake Norman Stay and Play Pontoon rentals 1479 River Highway www.lakenormanstayandplay.com Saltshaker Marine (Lake Norman Boat Rentals) Pontoon rentals Big Dukes Lane www.lakenormanboatrentals.com

Moose Paddleboard Company Paddleboard rentals 3380 Merchant Lane www.moosepaddleboardcompany. com

What’s Up Watersports Paddleboard, kayak, boat and Jet Ski rentals Hager Creek Access www.whatsuplakenorman.com

Denver

Sherrills Ford

Westport Marina Pontoon, ski boat, fishing boat and PWC rentals 7879 Water Oaks Drive www.boatwestportmarina.com

Lake Norman Marina Boat and pontoon rentals 6965 NC-150 www.lakenormanmarina.com

Mooresville

Lake Norman State Park Pedal boats, kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentals 759 State Park Road www.ncparks.gov

CS Rentals of Lake Norman Pontoon and PWC rentals 1459 River Highway www.csperformance.com

Troutman

Please note that though we tried to make this a comprehensive list, some boat rental business might have been inadvertently left out. Please also note that any person under the age of 26 must successfully complete a NASBLA approved boating education course before operating any vessel propelled by a motor of 10HP or greater. You can find out more on the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission website for the new regulation: G.S. 75A-16.2 — www.ncwildlife.org.

Be on the lookout for information regarding CURRENTS Best of the Lake competition. We need you to vote for your favorites in the following categories: Active/Entertainment/ Leisure, Food, and Shopping and Pampering.

The winners of our CURRENT Award will be featured in the August issue of CURRENTS.

TO VOTE, VISIT www.lncurrents.com Look for the CURRENT icon and click!

Take 10

Anna DeGrauw is a model student junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, double majoring in political science and global studies, with a minor in American public policy.

During her freshman year of college, she interned in Jinja, Uganda and later studied at Lorenzo de Medici in Italy, where she worked at an organic vineyard. This past semester she completed an exchange student program at Mahidol University, outside of Bangkok, Thailand.

For the next three months she will be working at an organization located in the province of Mae Hong Son, Thailand, where she will be learning from Karenni refugees who have faced civil unrest and political persecution from

Myanmar and have now resettled in Thailand. After Thailand, she’s off to Nairobi, Kenya and then to Chapel Hill for her senior year.

“Since Lake Norman’s Next Top Model, I have grown an appreciation for community development and empowerment on an individual level,” writes DeGrauw from Thailand. “Each day I am reminded by the people around me to celebrate the differences that exist between us, and honor the many similarities that

shape our lives and to continue building peaceful communities, expressing ourselves creatively and fighting for a more equitable world where everybody wins.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography courtesy of Anna DeGrauw and Glenn Roberson Photography

MAY 2018

his year marks the 10th anniversary of CURRENTS Magazine, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. As our staff looks back over the last 10 years, there are plenty of moments that stand out in our memories. That said, we’ve decided to share some of the best ones each month throughout 2018 in this column appropriately titled Take 10.

In March 2012, we launched Lake Norman’s Next Top Model, a local model competition for our spring fashion issue. Our first winner was Anna DeGrauw, who was a freshman at William A. Hough High School at the time. She went on to graduate from Community School of Davidson, and now she’s a

Anna DeGrauw, Lake Norman’s Next Top Model 2012, is currently doing an internship in Thailand.

19 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

channelMarkers

Soles Good for the Soul Kari McCormick empowers others with her style and experience

“We sold out within the year, and I decided I was onto something.”

— Kari McCormick

MAY 2018

20 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

As the owner of Bella K, Kari McCormick uses her success to help empower children. Inset, McCormick with her son, Cole.

ari McCormick wasn’t sure if selling shoes was going to be the right fit for her. “I started with 2,000 pairs of flip-flops in my bandana-style collection,” recalls the owner of Bella K. “We sold out within the year, and I decided I was onto something.”

Bella K has made big strides since then and now includes a resort and bridal collection.

The flip-flops are handassembled in the Lake Norman area and are available online, at local boutiques and several national retailers. Despite having a designated office and shipping and storage rooms, flip-flops have found a way into

every corner of McCormick’s house. The Clemson University graduate has plans for continued growth, including tan-colored soles and a kid’s line.

But for this Huntersvillebased entrepreneur it’s not just about fabulous footwear.

Kari has infused her successful business with a mission to help families living with sensory processing disorder, and to empower all children.

“Based on my past experience as a school teacher, combined with the struggles of my son, Cole, being diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, I decided to launch the Selfie Style Girl’s

Empowerment Workshop,” says Kari.

The workshop is held annually in the Lake Norman area and is a one-day gathering focused on gratitude and confidence.

Last year’s event featured local community partners, and nationally recognized women, including Miss North Carolina United States 2016, Elizabeth Crage, and the Radio Disney Ambassador for the Choose Kindness Campaign, Jessie Chris, as speakers. The next workshop is scheduled for the fall of this year.

“Our first workshop had a waiting list within a week, and we expect this year’s to also fill up quickly. The workshops are

currently for girls, but I would like to expand to include boys because bullying, confidence, dealing with peer pressure and societal pressures affect everyone.”

Kari also authors The Collection of Life Stories, which is an ongoing compilation of her experiences while raising Cole. “As I’m learning about my son’s diagnosis and helping him through his struggles,” she says. “I realize that many times there is a hidden lesson for me as well.” — Bek Mitchell-Kidd, photography by Lisa Crates

For more information regarding Kari McCormick and Bella K, visit www.bellakstyle.com.

channelMarkers

Royal Treatment for Real People Huntersville’s Pearsall Family stars in Rack Room Shoes’ ad campaign

From left, Michael, Nia and Tia Pearsall of Huntersville were selected to star in Rack Room Shoes’ spring ad campaign.

MAY 2018

21

John P. Campbell Memorial Golf Tournament

June 20, 2018 at Mallard Head Golf Course

PROCEEDS BENEFIT

For tournament details contact: Amy Fuhrman - (704) 873-4719 Eddie Campbell - (704) 664-7031

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

t’s a fantasy that has played out in the minds of most of us at one point or another — starring in an ad campaign and getting the star treatment while doing so. For Huntersville’s Pearsall family — Tia, Michael and their 8-year-old daughter, Nia — that dream came true late last year.

It all started when Tia saw an e-mail from Rack Room Shoes last fall seeking submissions for its Real People Campaign and Kids Club. At first she only planned on sending a few photos of her daughter, but then she went ahead and entered a few family photos.

Tia was surprised to receive notification a few weeks later that they had been selected as finalists. After answering a few more questions about their interests, hobbies and talents, they were notified in November that they had been selected as the feature family.

Their photos will be featured on the retailer’s website, social media channels and digital advertisements for the spring season.

As part of the campaign, the Pearsalls were treated to pedicures to get their feet ready to model the spring shoe line.

They also enjoyed a nice dinner the night before as they were briefed on what to expect during the shoots. The pampering continued with a stay in a local upscale hotel, limousine chauffeur service, as well as dinner at a few other area restaurants.

In addition, they received the usual “star treatment” benefits such as hair, makeup and wardrobe, and had breakfast and lunch catered during the two-day shoot at Wheelhouse Media Studio in Uptown Charlotte.

And if that’s not enough, the family received a keepsake photo album with photos from the shoot and a $500 gift card to Rack Room Shoes, plus they got to keep the shoes they modeled during the shoot (about 15 pairs total). Tia loved the colorful Bobs for Dogs from Skechers, Michael favored the tan Sperrys, and Nia picked out the pink and purple Nike slides as her favorite.

“Overall, it was a great experience for our family,” says Tia. “It created lots of memories that we can look back on and share with others.” — Renee Roberson, photography courtesy of Rack Room Shoes

145 Old Post Road Mooresville, NC

Jillian Mack

Mooresville/Lake Norman (704) 500-6372 Jillian.Mack@allentate.com

18930 Mary Ardrey Circle Cornelius, NC

Dan Callahan

Lake Norman (704) 999-4524 Dan.Callahan@allentate.com

Offered at $2,950,000 Positioned on a double lot in The Point at Trump National Golf Course Charlotte, this comfortable yet elegant family home creates the lakeside lifestyle you are looking for. Its integrated floor plan provides seamless transition from room to room, blending the formal and informal spaces for relaxed entertaining. High ceilings with intricate millwork along with Southern Chestnut floors provide timeless design elements for its discerning occupants.

MLS#3262743

Offered at $2,250,000 One-of-a-kind home on Lake Norman. Situated on 1.7 acres in the highly sought-after Patrick’s Purchase neighborhood. This four bedroom, three bathroom home with three half bathrooms has an open floor plan where you and guests can relax and enjoy one another’s company. Enter through double front doors to the two-story foyer with elegant curved staircase. Main level offers master bedroom suite, expansive family room, library/office with spiral staircase, gourmet kitchen with large island.

MLS#3370525

18827 Flat Shoals Drive

2216 Metcalf Drive

Cornelius, NC

Sherrills Ford, NC

Gretel Howell

Lake Norman (704) 451-5060 Gretel.Howell@allentate.com Offered at $1,144,000 Step into luxury in this classic and timeless New England farmhouse in Lake Norman’s most prestigious country club neighborhood, The Peninsula. Designed and built by award-winning contractor and owner E S Johnson Builders. The heart of this home features a two-story family room with its 400-year-old, rough-hewn mantel sitting atop a meadow rock fireplace. Open to professional grade chef’s kitchen where no expense has been spared in its outfitting.

MLS#3370734

Lee Ann Miller

Lake Norman (704) 562-2922 LeeAnn.Miller@allentate.com Offered at $955,000 Imagine pulling up the drive and seeing this waterfront home for the first time. The elegant roof lines, classic brick facade, stately covered entry and three-car garage blend perfectly for instant curb appeal. As you enter this home, you are welcomed by a two-story foyer yet your eye is instantly drawn towards the wall of windows in front of you. The windows in the great room frame the lake views and natural scenery perfectly like pictures on the wall.

MLS#3335450

107 Beachview Drive Mooresville, NC

Candi Schuerger

Mooresville/Lake Norman (704) 400-1232 Candi.Schuerger@allentate.com Offered at $1,169,500 A truly one-of-a-kind property on a peaceful location on Lake Norman with breathtaking long range views from almost every room. Situated on a double waterfront lot, beautifully landscaped with mature trees, new sea wall, boat ramp and private pier with gazebo. This home features a luxurious master suite on main level, gourmet kitchen (including pizza oven), two fireplaces, hardwood floors and extensive moldings. There are three additional bedrooms plus an office and extra storage.

MLS#3283269

200 Timber Lake Drive Troutman, NC

The Brady Team

Lake Norman (704) 498-7225 jc.brady@allentate.com Offered at $935,000 Gorgeous home in a lovely quiet neighborhood at the end of a cul-de-sac. Sits on beautiful 1+ acre waterfront lot, totally flat with 254’ of shoreline. Step inside and notice the craftsmanship and attention to detail this home offers, lovely hardwood floors and coffered ceilings. Formal dining, huge custom kitchen, breakfast room, counter seating open to the great room with stone fireplace and gorgeous views of Lake Norman. Master on main, three huge bedrooms up with two full baths and bonus with wet bar.

MLS#3372271

make a Mess

The Beauty of Art

by Rosie Molinary | photography by Lisa Crates

Karen Toney turns off while turning wood

MAY 2018

24 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Karen Toney of Davidson’s Ben & Jerrys’s enjoys woodworking in her spare time.

t the busiest time in her professional life, Karen Toney decided to add something to her personal schedule.

In 2004, as the long-time Scoop Shop manager of Ben & Jerry’s in Davidson, Toney partnered with the store’s then-owner to open another location in Cornelius as well as co-brand their locations with a coffee company. The growth obviously meant more work and longer hours and, yet, rather than let it take over her life, Toney signed up for a woodworking class at what was then the Davidson Icehouse Art Center.

“I had always done basic woodworking with my dad growing up. I had an appreciation for wood and

could handle tools so, in 2004, I took that class for the first time and absolutely fell in love,” recalls Toney, 49. “We had just opened that other store, and we had co-branded with Port City Java. I am not a morning person, and I don’t drink coffee. It was one of the hardest years of my life, and, with this class, for three hours, I could disappear.”

Woodworking, as it turned out, suited Toney’s personality. As someone reluctant to routine and prone to boredom, she loved how every piece of wood reacted in its own way and yielded something different. Using sharp tools required focus, and there was the profound satisfaction of not just seeing but being responsible for an

incredible transformation.

“It was very engaging. You could go from a log to the shape of a bowl before the end of class,” recalls Toney. “I took the class again and again because I loved it.”

Toney bought a lathe, built a workshop and began to turn on her own. Then, as can happen when life gets busy, she walked away from her woodshop one day and didn’t return for years.

During that time, her creativity didn’t go dormant, but she was using it on everything from helping to conceive and execute the now-beloved Concerts on the Green to thoughtfully training and supporting her high school-aged staff. After so much time passed, she was no

Behind the

Process Creativity is: Necessary for life.

When you were 10 years old, what was your favorite way to be creative? Finding ways to drive my older brother crazy.

What’s a good way to be more creative every day?

Look for opportunities. They already exist; be open to them.

What do you wish you had more time for in your life?

Honestly, I have lots of time.

I don’t utilize the time I have well sometimes.

What creative resource has been most helpful to you? Finding mentors and becoming a mentor.

longer confident in her ability to turn wood.

“I couldn’t remember how to approach the wood, and I was kind of chicken. I went to a wood symposium in Hickory.

A wood shop up there had a work station where you could turn a pen for free, and I was

“We are all creative in some way that you may not have discovered yet.”

— Karen Toney

Toney sells her pieces to fund her woodworking hobby.

MAY 2018

hooked again,” explains Toney of her return to woodworking just a couple years ago.

“I was like, ‘What all do I need to get started?’ and the salesman jokingly said, ‘Your first pen will cost you $100 because of all of the things you have to buy, but they will get cheaper as you go.’ ” To grow her knowledge, Toney started watching YouTube videos. The videos helped her expand her woodturning skills and, soon, she began to offer her work for sale to fund her hobby, even though the idea made her nervous.

“We are all creative in some way that you may not have discovered yet. Oftentimes, we don’t start something because we want it to be big or hugely successful. But one person who gets one thing out of it, in the bigger picture, that is so valuable,” says Toney. “That’s the beauty of any kind of art is that it will reach somebody but not everybody. You have to be willing to risk.”

25 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

In the Nation, we make you whole again.

In the Nation, When you add Brand New BelongingsSM to your homeowners, we make you whole again. renters and condo insurance, we don’t just give you the partial

SM When you addvalue Brandof New Belongings to your homeowners, things that have been stolen or destroyed, we help you renters and condo insurance, don’tthe justlatest give you the partial replace themwewith versions.

We put our members first, value of things that have been stolen or destroyed, we help SM because we don’t have shareholders you . replace them with the latest versions. We put our members first, because we don’t have shareholdersSM.

For your many sides, there’s Nationwide®.

Join the Nation® that doesn’t do things halfway.

Join the Nation® that doesn’t do things halfway.

Don Carney

Mike Griffin

190 Jackson St. Don Carney Davidson

190 Jackson St. (704) 892-1115 Davidson

(704) 892-1115

Angela Jackson Jim Jarrett Angela Jackson

Ron Parks, Jim Jarrett

LUTCF

19824 West584 Brawley 584 Brawley School 227 West Dr. 19824 West 9713 Northcross Carney MikePlaza Griffin Angela Jackson wes Jim Jarrett Catawba Ave. Rd. Suite 102 Ct. Catawba Ave. School Rd. Center Mooresville 227 West PlazaSuite Dr. D 19824 West 584 Brawley Suite D Corner of Brawley Suite 102 7048921115 Huntersville (704) 664-9111 Harbour Park SchoolRd. & Williamson Ave. Mooresville Mooresville School (704) 548-0500 Cornelius Catawba Cornelius Rds.

Tracey Tracey Fox Smith

Earl Carney Earl CarneyInsurance Insurance Ron Parks, LUTCF 171 Wagner St.

171 Wagner St. 9713 Northcross Beside BB&T and Troutman

Post Office Troutman Center Ct. (704) 528-4141

(704) 528-4141 carneyw@nationwide.com Suite 102 Huntersville (704) 799-1571

Suite D 892-6004 (704) 892-6004 (704) 664-9111 (704)

Mooresville

Wes Carney

Carney Insurance Tracey Fox Smith Agency

Earl Insurance 190Carney Jackson St. the Post 171Behind Wagner St. Office Davidson Troutman (704) 892-1115

(704) 799-1571 Mooresville (704) 548-0500 (704) 528-4141 799-1571 (704) 892-6004 Products underwritten by(704) Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Home

Cornelius

Office: Columbus, OH 43215. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Availability varies. Nationwide, Nationwide Is On Your Side, and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2016 Nationwide CPO-0836AO (08/16) 7344962 Optional feature. Exclusions and limits apply. Damaged items may be repaired in some cases. Details vary by state and policy language. Please consult your policy for the specifics of your selected coverages. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle, Brand New Belongings, Join the Nation and We put members first, because we don’t have shareholders are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0599AO (08/14)

#C#

|OptionalHOme | POwersPOrTs | BUsiness | Life | reTiremenT feature. Exclusions and limits apply. Damaged items may be repaired in some cases. Details vary by state and policy language. Please consult your policy for the specifics of your selected coverages. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle, Brand #C#

#C#

#C#

#C#

#C#

#C#

#C#

#C#

#C#

New Belongings, Nation and We put members first, because we don’t have shareholders are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0599AO (08/14) IO # : Join the6686-1

PECS AD SPECS

AUTO

Publication: Market: Ad Size : 1st Insertion:

IO # : Publication: Market:

Lake Norman Currents WNC 1/2pg Horiz (7.5” x 4.84”) - 4color 3/2015

6686-1 Lake Norman Currents WNC

REVISED 2/4/15

Headline:

YWA

REVISED 2/4/15 Headline:

Navigators From left, Ian Ablett (Abe), Lynda Horinka and Randy Stilwell stand between Ben Gunn and Susie, both boats they built together.

MAY 2018

26 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Boats

to Build

At 82, Ian Ablett “Abe” has no intention of docking anytime soon

riving through the hills of rural Iron Station, you see lots of sheds and barns.

They’re filled with tractors, old cars, rusty lawnmowers and stacks of junk. However, in the large shed beside Ian Ablett’s home, you’ll find nothing of the sort. Instead you’ll discover two nautical masterpieces that completely redefine the term “do it yourself.”

Left, it took Ablett three years to build the steam engine for Ben Gunn. Right, inside Susie, Ablett’s latest creation.

Decades ago, Ablett built his first boat, a 50-foot catamaran christened Bulawayo after the city in southwest Zimbabwe.

He and Susie sailed it for 10 years throughout the Pacific and all the way to New Zealand. The couple stopped in Hawaii thinking they would

and welded the boiler for Ben Gunn, while Horinka spent a year sanding and varnishing the vessel. “She does the finishes and makes it beautiful,” says Abe. “It’s time consuming,” adds Horinka. “There’s six coats on the outside of Ben.” Painted in a rich emerald green, complete with leather seats and brass rails, Ben Gunn is an elegant ride. It’s logged more than 400 hours and won numerous awards since it was launched in 2004.

Ablett chose to build a steam engine because he remembers seeing them in his native country. “I used to see them in England on the River Thames, the originals from 1898. … I used to drool over them. They were gorgeous,” he recalls “There were gentlemen on them, and they had a man to run it because they were very rich. The originals, if you want one now, it would cost you a million or more.”

“So since he couldn’t buy one, he just built him one,” says Stilwell, adding that there’s a Guy Clark song with the lyrics, “Let the chips fall where they

will, I’ve got boats to build.”

“We go over to the Sports Page [in Denver], and the guys play guitar over there on Wednesday nights. When Abe is with us, when he goes, they always sing that song.”

One of the best parts about building a boat is that you can pick out all of the details. “I like this feature. I like that feature of this one, and then put it all together, and there you go,” Ablett says, adding that he drew the boat out (lofted it) on the floor with chalk. “Nowadays people do that with computers, but I think the floor is better.”

Inside Out Susie, the threesome’s current project, is quite a different endeavor. First of all, no one was sure Ablett would build another boat after he was in intensive care for an aneurysm in 2010. “Abe said, “I don’t think I have another boat in me,’ ” recalls Horinka. “But after a while he got his energy back up and was feeling fine, and he said, ‘I’m going to build another boat’ and he did.”

Susie began in 2012. This time

27 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

An elegant ride

only be there for a few months.

“We were headed to the pipeline, the Alaska Pipeline, to make some big bucks you know,” recalls Ablett. They ended up selling the boat and buying a home in Hawaii, where they lived for eight years.

The Bulawayo is now chartering in Guatemala, and photographs of its adventures hang on the wall of Ablett’s boat shed.

In 2001, Ablett set out to build Ben Gunn after spending three years meticulously building its 20HP compound reciprocating steam engine from a 1903 blueprint. The engine produces 150 pounds of steam in just 10 minutes, and all the steam recirculates in a closed system so no additional water is needed. Watching the engine run is like watching a symphony. Every piece of the engine knows its part and plays it perfectly in tune.

Ablett built Ben Gunn, named after the character in Treasure Island, with Lynda Horinka and Randy Stilwell, both of Denver.

Horinka is a cabinetmaker by trade, and Stilwell is a welder.

Ablett and Stilwell fabricated

MAY 2018

Eighty-two-year-old Ian Ablett, who goes by Abe, fell in love with boats as a young boy growing up in Liverpool, England. He began his apprenticeship repairing and building boats at age 15, and his interest in boating, as well as his delightful British accent, has only grown stronger since then.

As the salty sailor sits in his boat shed smoking cigarettes, he’s humble about what he’s created — a 34-foot steamboat christened Ben Gunn and a soon-to-be-completed 30-foot trawler named Susie after his late wife. These aren’t boats he’s renovated or touched up.

These are vessels he’s made from scratch with his own two hands.

Navigators

MAY 2018

From left, Horinka, Stilwell and Ablett sit in the cabin of Susie, a 30-foot trawler they hope to take around The Great Loop.

Ablett ordered the engine, but he and his crew have done everything else, including learning how to apply fiberglass to the boat’s hull. Jim Templeton, a fellow boat maker in the Lake Norman area, showed them how to do it.

“None of us had ever done that before,” explains Ablett of the messy, yet successful endeavor. “You take your time. Be precise.”

“He had Popeye arms when he was done with the fiberglass,” jokes Horinka.

Susie’s skeleton is constructed of white oak, while her interior is made of mahogany. Horinka found a place on the Internet that was selling mahogany for a good price. Ablett called the number on the site and asked if the company was in Boston or Florida, normal boating supply centers. “He said, ‘Well, you’ll need a GPS to find me. I’m in a place called Iron Station,’ ” remembers Ablett of the call. The supplier was located just a few miles away.

When the weather stays consistently nice, they’ll pull Susie outside under a higher shed, so they can put the pilothouse on her. Ablett says they have about two years to go until she’ll be ready to hit the water.

He plans to try her out on Lake Norman first and then take her on The Great Loop,

28 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

O-arm® Complete Multidimensional Surgical Imaging System Now at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center

Ben Garrido, M.d.

aBiGail espinal, pa-C

Jordan Glaser, M.d.

Ahead of the Curve...

O-arm® is a registered trademark of Medtronic.

Lake Norman Orthopedic Spine Center is dedicated to providing our patients in the Mooresville and Charlotte areas with the highest quality of spine care. We focus on meeting your individual needs to alleviate all back and neck pain from spinal degenerative disorders.

ELEVATING SPINAL CARE TO A NEW LEVEL Same day appointments available 170 Medical Park Road, Suite 102, Mooresville, NC 28117 | 704.660.4750 www.lakenormanorthopedicspine.com

a system of waterways that encompasses the eastern part of the United States, as well as Canada.

“I’ve seen all over the oceans, so I thought I’d see America inside out,” says Ablett.

When asked who’s invited to go with him, he answers, “Whoever wants to.”

“People will join him at different stages,” says Horinka. “A lot of us have that plan where we’ll meet up with him and stay for a week or two.”

With a galley, head and sleeping room for Ablett and at least two crew, there’s room for others to join him on his adventure. But the real adventure is creating something from nothing.

“I just enjoy working with wood, finding things and putting it together,” says Ablett.

“I enjoy the satisfaction.” Adds Horinka, “You get to kick back and say, “Look what I did.’ ”

receive 20% discount on venue

www.laurelgray.com • 336-468-9463 Renae@laurelgray.com or Kimmyers@laurelgray.com Laurel Gray Vineyards is located only one mile off of I-77 at Exit #73B (Hwy 421N) to Exit #267 then 1/10 of a mile. Follow signs.

MAY 2018

The 20th Annual Charlotte Antique & Classic Boat Show will be held on Saturday, August 24-25 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Trump National Golf Club, 120 Trump Square, Mooresville. For more information, visit www.blueridgechapter-acbs.org.

First 5 booking from this ad

Manicured Vineyards Lovely Rose and Seasonal Gardens Covered Event Venue Award Winning French Estate Wines

29 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

18825 W Catawba Ave Cornelius NC 28031

thoughts from the Man Cave

Shoes Make the Man

by Mike Savicki

|

photography by Mike Savicki

How I learned a man’s style should extend all the way down to his feet

MAY 2018

32 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

hen it comes to men’s fashion and style, I’ll tell you up front that I’m no expert. My look falls somewhere between gym rat and gym teacher with the latter “dress up” occurring only when I know I’m going to be seen in public. Why do I dress this way? Because a huge benefit of being a writer is that you can be productive throughout an entire week wearing the exact same outfit day and night, no matter how dirty or smelly, because you never have to see anyone if you don’t want to.

So, when I decided to write about men’s fashion, I first looked for inspiration from the guy who pretty much defined what it means to be fashionable on and off the court — Michael Jordan. “It’s gotta be the shoes!”

At least that’s what Spike Lee, excuse me, Mars Blackmon, said back in the early 1990s when he tried to explain Michael’s greatness to a Jordan-loving and shoe-crazed global public.

People believed him, too. The first Air Jordans, introduced in 1985, changed the game so much that the NBA banned several future models, perhaps including those made with alligator and other exotic animal skins, to the chagrin of no one.

Global sales of Air Jordans skyrocketed and continue to orbit in another stratosphere — even to this day.

But because I’m not Michael Jordan, or even Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, who makes a black pair of Nikes look good as part of a $10,000 suit ensemble, I needed to find a different shoe expert to discuss men’s fashion right down to the foot.

Keeping it local, I rolled into

Whit Miller Shoe Store & Repair in Downtown Mooresville and chatted with longtime owner, and lifelong leathersmith, David Miller, 66.

As a bit of background, David’s father and uncle bought the now 91-year-old shop back in the 1970s, and David was raised in the trade, his first leather kit being a $14 Tandy set he bought in 1972.

“If anybody looks at shoes, I do,” he began as we chatted about the shoe’s place not only in a man’s wardrobe but also in society. As I watched David grind the sole off a black leather dress shoe while simultaneously explaining the merits of putting new heels on a pair of women’s open-toed pumps, I knew I was in the right place.

“What shoemakers don’t want you to know is that they don’t make shoes like they used to, and they don’t want you getting attached to any one pair,” he explained. “People come in here with shoes in shambles, and there’s really nothing I can do with them.

Rather than repair shoes, as has historically been the case, we live in a throw-away world now. People don’t regard shoes like they used to.”

(If I had $1 for every pair of shoes I have thrown away in recent memory, I’d have more than enough to buy a nice new pair of leather Bostonians or Johnston & Murphys, which would rarely be worn.)

“For guys, this is not a suit and tie world anymore. Now it’s more or less a casual world, with the exception of banks and some bigger companies. Rather than having the shoe match the

David Miller, owner of Whit Miller Shoe Store & Repair in Downtown Mooresville says its important to find a shoe or boot that makes you feel good while wearing it.

suit, guys are doing it differently now. Light-colored shoes with dark suits. Almost anything goes. The new rules aren’t like the old ones.”

Finally, after explaining the differences between a welted shoe (the kind you really want to buy because they last and last and can be re-soled, reheeled and otherwise made to look new no matter their age or condition) and everything else (most expressly the poor quality molded rubber sneaker I had on my feet as we chatted), David left me with a few words of advice. “Find a shoe or boot that feels good on your feet and makes you feel good wearing it no matter where, when or why,” he said. “I’m a boot guy, and I do my best work and feel most comfortable when I’m in my boots. It needs to be the same for everyone.”

The shoes, I learned, still make the man.

M E N ’ S & W O M E N ’ S FA S H I O N

find ays w l a 'll you

L ARE APP

IES SOR S E C AC Y R EL JEW

S OE SH

19732 ONE NORMAN BLVD, CORNELIUS // 704.892.1004 @blonde_faith

STORE HOURS Mon – Thu: 10 am – 6pm Fri: 10 am – 7pm Sat: 10 am – 6 pm Sun: 12 pm – 5pm

Located at The Shops At The Fresh Market 20601 Torrence Chapel Road | 704.892.7070

FLAIRTRADECONSIGN.COM

MAY 2018

@lunasatthelake

A fun place to shop, sell and consign gently used, upscale, mens and womens fashions.

33

120 langtree village drive - mooresville - hamptonsmens.com

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Summer Essentials at

Trends+Style

MAY 2018

34 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Anchors away

by Lori K. Tate

ò

photography by Brant Waldeck

MAY 2018

35

Dress by Nicole Miller, $440 ò Luna’s, 19732 One Norman Boulevard, #320, Cornelius. You can also visit Luna’s on Facebook. Seasonal Whispers Bracelet, $108; Beje Earrings, $108; Seasonal Whispers Necklace, $108; Patti shoe in nude by Sam Edelman, $110 ò Blonde Faith at Luna’s, 19732 One Norman Boulevard, #320, Cornelius, look for Blonde Faith on Facebook.

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Celebrate the latest looks for spring aboard Lake Norman’s Carolina Grace

Trends+Style Gitman Bros. sailboat shirt, $215; pants by Peter Millar, $145; belt by W. Kleinberg,$150; boat shoes by Peter Millar, $245 ò Hampton’s Men’s Clothing, LangTree Lake Norman, 120 Langtree Village, Suite 105, Mooresville, www. hamptonsmens.com.

MAY 2018

36 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Dress by Nanette Lepore Swim, $148 ò Sweet Magnolia, Magnolia Plaza, 8301 Magnolia Estates Drive, Cornelius, look for Sweet Magnolia Lake Norman on Facebook.

MAY 2018

37 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Trends+Style Top by Atina Cristina, $147; pants by Atina Cristina, $177; Urban Expressions clutch, $42.50 ò CoCo Couture, Jetton Village, 19818 N. Cove Road, Suite B, Cornelius, www. thecococouture.com.

Special thanks to our models, Sydney Duarte and Gianni Masciopinto, as well as our stylists: Michelle Edwards, esthetician and make-up artist, and Cathy Dougherty, hair stylist and make-up artist, from Savvy Salon & Day Spa, 20430 W. Catawba Avenue, #2, Cornelius, www. savvysalonanddayspa.com. Carolina Grace, a 90foot luxury yacht on Lake Norman, provided the location for our shoot. For chartering information, visit: www.cruisethelake.com.

Stenstroms shirt, $295; linen pants by Peter Millar,$145; belt by W. Kleinberg,$150 ò Hampton’s Men’s Clothing, LangTree Lake Norman, 120 Langtree Village, Suite 105, Mooresville, www.hamptonsmens.com.

MAY 2018

38

We

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

LET’S BE ERFECTLY FRANK!

Swimsuit Season!

Whether it’s the lake, the pool or the beach, Sweet Magnolia has Lake Norman’s best selection of swimwear!

ble at Coco Couture in Jetton Village

LET’S BE PERFECTLY FRANK!

on Village Shopping Center e Road, Suite B, Cornelius, NC 28031 .8044 • www.thecococouture.com

Suits and cover ups from leading designers like Trina Turk, Nanette Lepore, LaBlanca, SeaWaves and Cabana Life, for ALL body types and sizes 2-16.

Only available at Coco Couture Jetton Village Shopping Center 19818 N Cove Road, Suite B, Cornelius, NC 28031 704.896.8044 • www.thecococouture.com

Mon-Sat 10am – 6pm

8301 Magnolia Estates Drive Cornelius, NC 28031 704-896- 6008 www.mysweetmagnolia.com FB: SweetMagnoliaLakeNorman Insta: SweetMagnoliaLakeNorman

COCOCO C R E ATI V IT Y EN CO U R A G ED

H A N D C R A F TED I N N O RTH C A RO LI N A

19725 Oak Street #5 | Cornelius, NC | 704-892-6680 | support@COCOCOHome.com | COCOCOHOME.COM

GameOn

Ahoy, Ladies!

MAY 2018

40 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Six years ago, Karen Dobbs became certified as a US Sailing Level 1 Small Boat Instructor and founded Lake Norman Women Sailors, an organization empowered to teach women of all levels and abilities everything from the basics of the sport to advanced boat handling skills and techniques..

Karen Dobbs

Dobbs instructs from the helm of her second boat (named High C’s as a tribute to her love of trumpet playing, orchestra and music) and has worked with more than 200 women.

teaches women to set sail on the lake

by Mike Savicki | photography by Brant Waldeck

MAY 2018

41 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

aren Dobbs learned how to sail in a boat that leaked. True story. In one of 12 custom-made 33-foot wooden boats built exclusively for use on the vacation lakes of Upstate New York, the entire fleet knowingly built to leak, her job throughout college wasn’t to handle the sheets and sails, nor was it to navigate, read the wind and steer, it was to run the permanent bilge pump that was built into the cockpit. Four other crewmembers handled the glamorous sailing duties, while Dobbs made sure the boat didn’t sink.

Some might have become dejected and deterred with that set up, but the simple and vital role opened Dobbs’ eyes to the wonders of sailing. She fell in love with the craft’s beautiful design, the sound the wind made as it filled the sails, and how the boat heeled over and moved through the water with almost effortless acceleration. The teamwork and communication required between crew

GameOn Dobbs says that no two days are the same sailing on Lake Norman.

MAY 2018

42 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

E D A M G N I BOAT HE BOATS

WE BUY T

E L P M SI

LUB • C E H T N I • YOU JO

members fascinated her. And she even grew to respect the bickering and infighting that happens when nature and man aren’t on the same page.

So, when a friend urged her to consider purchasing a sailboat as a 50th birthday present to herself, she headed to the boat show, spoke with a dealer, and put a $25 deposit down on a 26-foot Hunter (with a wheel) she did not yet know how to sail.

“To say I wasn’t the sailor I am today would be an understatement,” Dobbs says. “But I had fallen immediately in love with that boat, and I knew I could learn with enough time, effort and dedication.”

Lake Norman seemed too busy at first, so Dobbs splashed the boat in Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake, where she would travel almost every weekend, live onboard and learn to sail. The first summer she simply started the engine, motored around the lake and learned how to dock while crewing for others.

n a tions o ylie! c o L t a ts ke W 30+ Boa a nd La n a m r o OY! Lake N T AND ENJ

RESERVE • G N I N I A EE TR

GET FR

• Access 150+ Locations in North America • Clubs in 31 States, Canada and France!

• Plans Start At $249/Month 704-228-3480 • FreedomBoatClubLKN.com

A BOA

Then she gained the confidence and skill to sail on her own.

After five years she moved the boat to Lake Norman.

Becoming an instructor Observing how the differences between men and women impacted the roles they played onboard, Dobbs made the decision to teach only women. After so many years at the helm, Dobbs could single hand her boat, and she wanted to share that confidence and skill with others.

“In those early years, I began to see how the differences between guys and women affected what each did onboard

initial three-hour lesson (spent both on land then underway), while others enroll in her two-day, nine-hour program.

She caters her teaching style and approach to the ability level and interest of the class, and there is no pressure, competition or unreachable expectations. Graduates of the nine-hour program are automatically enrolled as members of her “Dream Team” and are emailed a schedule of monthly sails as a way to help give them the opportunity to stay on the water.

Robin Moody was admittedly not a boater or water person when she enrolled shortly after returning from a sailing charter

“Karen’s teaching style is through her was liberating.”

and how each approached sailing,” she explains. “I started to see that putting guys together with women presented unique challenges.

More often than not it was the guys who grew up tinkering with things and gals didn’t, so most of the mechanical work went to guys. And so did the positions that were thought to require strength. I knew it didn’t have to be that way.”

Six years ago, Dobbs became certified as a US Sailing Level 1 Small Boat Instructor and founded Lake Norman Women Sailors, an organization empowered to teach women of all levels and abilities everything from the basics of the sport to advanced boat handling skills and techniques.

Most novices begin with an

through the British Virgin Islands. She and her husband, Ken, keep a 47-foot Beneteau (aptly named Moody Gras) in Charleston, but Robin only felt confident handling a short list of duties onboard. Sailing with Dobbs and learning how to tack, jibe and even catch a mooring ball changed not only her perspective but also her skill level.

“Karen’s teaching style is empowering, and learning through her was liberating,” Moody says. “Understanding the winds, the wind direction and the waves and the effect they all have on the sail was always a challenge for me, but Karen gave me that ‘I can do this’ confidence. She made it all very easy.”

WE ACCEPT ALL TYPES/SIZES

Open all year, sailing lessons, annual passes, paddle boards and kayaks for the whole family.

GET A 2018DONATE

YOUR TAX DEDUCTION

BOAT!

ELIMINATE EXPENSES 501c(3)

GET A 2017 TAX DEDUCTION & ELIMINATE EXPENSES 501c(3)

WE ACCEPT ALL TYPES/SIZES Open all year, sailing lessons, annual passes, paddle boards and kayaks for the whole family.

For more information

704-947-7245 Located at Blythe Landing Park on Lake Norman For more info call 704-947-7245 • www.lnsailing.org

Accepting New Patients!

Primary Care for Women Eva Imperial, MD, FAAFP

Eva Imperial is a board-certified family medicine physician with more than ten years’ experience. She provides comprehensive medical services for women of all ages, specializing in women’s health and wellness, helping each of her patients achieve optimal health.

Services offered include: • Annual gynecological exams • Age and risk appropriate health screenings • Sick visits • Various in-office procedures (IUDs, colposcopy, skin tag removal and more)

Eva Imperial, MD, FAAFP

980-435-0406 114 Gateway Blvd, Suite B, Mooresville, NC IredellPrimaryCare.com

“I enjoy helping patients be the healthiest they can be throughout their lives.”

www.lnsailing.org

Located at Blythe Landing on Lake Norman

43 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

— Robin Moody

YOUR BOAT!

MAY 2018

empowering, and learning

DONATE

GameOn Dobbs says that learning the basics of sailing on Lake Norman will prepare you for sailing just about anywhere.

While leaving Annapolis and a job as a sailmaker was difficult for Deb Pincus, connecting with Dobbs gave her a new opportunity to sail at her new Lake Norman home.

“Karen is so patient and kind in her approach to teaching,” Pincus explains. “Some women might shy away from something like sailing, but it really is empowering. There is a beauty in getting out on the water, and spending time in a boat can help a woman feel everything there is to feel about being a woman.”

Anchors aweigh

MAY 2018

Dobbs now instructs from the helm of her second boat (named High C’s as a tribute to her love of trumpet playing, orchestra and music), and has worked with more than 200 women. She says each student, each lesson and each sail are nothing short of amazing.

“It has been a wild mix of

44 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Lakeside Neurology A more natural, holistic approach to your medical problems. We are now offering an FDA approved medical food (natural supplement) called AppTrim™ for the dietary management of obesity.

• Vitamin Testing; Delayed Food Allergy Testing (Food allergies have been linked to many chronic illnesses.)

people from young women to former racers to retirees, and I have met some amazing, strong, wonderful women through the sport,” Dobbs says. “I’m in awe when I teach someone who naturally gets it, and I’m in awe when I see someone who has no sailing experience at all make gains.

There is nothing like meeting independent, energetic women who want to try something new.

“And when it comes to sailing on Lake Norman,” she adds, “learning to sail here, because no two days are ever the same, and so much changes even in an afternoon, means you can take the basics and sail just about anywhere. And the people, the women, wow, what a great community.”

To learn more about Lake Norman Women Sailors, visit www.lakenormanwomensailors. com or contact Karen Dobbs at 704.577.0600.

Luxury & Performance at the Lake!

• Evaluation and treatment of Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Neck and Back Pain, Parkinson’s Disease, Neuralgia, Headaches and Epilepsy.

• BOTOX™ for migraine prevention.

• FDA approved medical supplements for the treatment of Insomnia, Fibromyalgia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Joint Pain and Chronic Pain.

Official distributor of the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® which is FDA approved for treatment of Depression, Insomnia, Anxiety & Chronic Pain.

Call the Office for Special Pricing.

Shop online at www.drlorischneiderstore.com

Lori Schneider, M.D.

New York University School of Medicine

Awards received last three years running “Patients’ Choice” Award • “Compassionate Physicians” Award

704-896-5591

19615 Liverpool Pkwy., Ste. A • Cornelius • NC 28031

www.drlorischneider.com

RANDYMARIONCADILLAC.COM Visit Randy Marion Cadillac for all your service, parts and accessory needs

220 W. Plaza Drive I-77, Exit 36, Hwy. 150

Open 7:30 am - 8:00 pm Weekdays 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Sat.

Offering unsurpassed Concierge Service and Roadside Assistance

704-235-6502 Cadillac Direct • RANDYMARION.COM

g n i l l i r G t Ge ! er m m u s this $797.

00*

*Limited Time Offer Primo Kamado

The Primo Kamado is our traditional 18.5� round Kamado style ceramic grill. Perfect as a primary grill or as a complement to your existing gas grill or smoker.

Primo Ceramic Grills are the ONLY ceramic grills made in the USA.

Grill, bake, roast or smoke for all of your celebrations!

Family Owned and Operated TheHearthandPatio.com

4332 Monroe Rd., Charlotte • 704-332-4139

Home Fashion Begins With Quality Furniture

ISH AM

OAK & CHERRY

Solid Hardwood Custom Furniture Designs at Outlet Prices.

Sadie & Charleigh Hardin Amish Oak & Cherry third generation

2220 Hwy 70 SE | Hickory | North Carolina 28602 Hickory Furniture Mart | Level 2 | 828.261.4776 | amishoakandcherry.com

lake Spaces How we live at the lake

This ultimate She Shed in Statesville offers a respite for everyone, p. 48

Jennifer Beaman Pippin hangs out with her cat, Willow, at her She Shed at her home in Statesville.

MAY 2018

47

Photography by Wes Stearns

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

dwellings Jennifer Beaman Pippin and Wes Stearns love to entertain in their She Shed at their home in Statesville.

MAY 2018

48 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

little house

by Lori K. Tate | photography by Wes Stearns

Jennifer Beaman Pippin’s SHE SHED is every girl’s (and guy’s) dream MAY 2018

49 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

on the Prairie es Stearns had never looked at the bulletin board at Davidson’s Healthy Home Market. However, before the store closed for good, he wandered over to the board while he and his wife, Jennifer Beaman Pippin, were shopping there. A flier caught his eye, and he showed it to his wife.

dwellings “He said, ‘Honey, I think we’ve found your She Shed,’ ” remembers Pippin of Pippin Home Designs in Mooresville. “We had been talking about designing and building one [a She Shed] and how we wanted it to look.” The structure pictured on the flier was pretty close to what they had imagined. Pippin called the number on the flier, and before she knew it, she owned the tiny getaway of her dreams.

A reminder of home

MAY 2018

Pippin and Stearns had their She Shed moved from Charlotte to Statesville on a low flatbed truck before embellishing it with their personal style.

50

Almost two years ago, Stearns and Pippin moved from the lake and opted for a ranch house on four acres in Statesville. “I was raised in Eastern North Carolina on a farm outside of Goldsboro in Dudley. This area back here reminded me of home,” explains Pippin as she walks the 150 steps down a trail from her home to an open field dotted with cows. “When you’re sitting back here and the leaves are on the trees, you don’t see anybody.”

”

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Honey, I think we’ve found your She Shed.

“

– Wes Stearns

Vine & Branch Woodworks, LLC produces hand-crafted custom cabinetry and other custom woodwork based upon your life, your design and your style.

704-663-0077 388 E. Plaza Dr. Mooresville, NC 28115 VineAndBranchWoodworks.com

The privacy combined with the natural beauty of the land made it a perfect spot for her She Shed (also known as a private room/space where a woman can relax and do whatever she pleases). Stearns and Pippin purchased the structure from Jes Sanders of Studio S Architecture in Charlotte in April 2017.

The 10-x-12-foot She Shed stands 13 feet tall at its highest point and is situated on a 12-by-22-foot platform built by Stearns and Larry Davis, a semi-retired builder and friend.

We Service All Brands HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS

Air Conditioning, Furnaces & Heat Pumps Maintenance Agreements Fully Stocked Service Trucks FREE QUOTES ON ALL NEW SYSTEMS

www.AirDynamicsMS.com

A person always answers our telephone to provide you with fast courteous service.

NEVER A MACHINE!

Email: info@airdynamicsms.com

704-664-2665 (COOL) 704-664-4328 (HEAT) 210 TIMBER ROAD MOORESVILLE, NC 28115 FINANCING AVAILABLE

80 Years of Quality Contracting & Service

A DUKE POWER AUTHORIZED DEALER

FULLY INSURED LICENSES AND BONDED MECHANICAL #22250 ELECTRICAL #27269

MAY 2018

Significant Discounts for ESA Customers

51 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

• New Home Designs Check out our reviews on Houzz.com

HOMES WITH A VIEW

Jennifer Beaman Pippin FAIBD, CPBD

704-363-8037

• Renovation Designs

High Performance Home Consultant

www.pippinhomedesigns.com Creating award winning homes in the Lake Norman area for 31 years

dwellings

Your vision begins here ...

MAY 2018

52 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Creating Beautiful Kitchens and Baths

Two convenient Kohler Showrooms

HUNTERSVILLE 16235 Northcross Dr | Huntersville, NC 28078 704.892.6466 | www.hugheshuntersville.com

SOUTHPARK 621 South Sharon Amity Rd. | Charlotte, NC 28211 704.366.9099 | www.themajesticbath.com

Stearns is also responsible for all of the other fun things surrounding the She Shed, such as the shade sails, swing and newly planted pear trees.

He used wood from dead trees on the property to make the sails and the swing.

“My greatest enjoyment has been embellishing all around it,” says Wes. “He loves to be outside and do stuff with his hands and make stuff,” adds Pippin.

On the deck you’ll find whimsical Adirondack chairs in aqua, orange and yellow, as well as a cow weathervane and a vivid outdoor rug Pippin scored at market. Twinkling lights hang across the deck to give it one more element of magic.

Inside, the fun continues, as Pippin asked her friend, Judy Jandora, an artist who specializes in murals and jewelry making, to paint a birch tree mural on the back wall.

Throughout the trees you’ll find all sorts of surprises.

“Jenny, one of her favorite things is dragonflies, and they’re all throughout there, along with the spirals of energy and inspirational words [abundance, believe, harmony, pure, heart, sing, trust and more],” says Judy, adding that there’s also a jaybird painted in one of the trees. “We looked at a lot of different things. I like to create something that doesn’t overpower everything else, that actually works with it. I wanted to create a feeling that you could actually walk through, so it looks like it extends. I just used my intuition and all of the things I know that she [Jenny] loves, and I started letting it create itself.” “I surprised Wes with our names carved in the tree,” adds Jenny.

The structure came with a large desk inside that Pippin and Stearns decided to keep in the space. It now serves as

Last October, a hot air balloon touched down by the She Shed during Statesville’s Carolina BalloonFest.

MAY 2018

53 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

L A K E

N O R M A N

IS IT TIME TO SELL OR BUY? Call us for your exclusive action plan.

Vi c a n d A m y Pe t re n k o Vic Petrenko

Amy Petrenko

910.916.4308

910.916.4305

VicPetrenko.com

AmyPetrenko.com

Victor.Petrenko@PremierSIR.com

Amy.Petrenko@PremierSIR.com

19825 North Cove Road, Cornelius, NC 28031 PremierSothebysRealty.com Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

dwellings The She Shed can sit a total of 15 people inside and out.

a napping nook and sketching area. Inside you’ll also find a gliding recliner, a high-top table with two bar stools and a bench, complete with storage for blankets and pillows. Tracie Johnson Sawyers of PTI Design helped Pippin pick out furniture.

“Eight people can sit in here and 15 total inside and out,” says Pippin. “I’ve got a little cooking surface so we can heat up a little kettle of tea if we want to.”

A fun getaway

MAY 2018

54

Because the She Shed is not heated, Pippin says they enjoy it more in the warmer months. “In the summertime I’m out here a lot,” she says. “This is my getaway. …I think about every lady that comes back here loves it and wants to do something like it. It’s real unique.”

Even though she enjoys relaxing in the space, she and Wes also enjoy sharing it with friends, too. She’s hosted girl parties and birthday parties in

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Where the OLD is the new NEW

Unique never goes out of Style AT THE DEPOT!

MAY 2018

Best Antiq ue Mall Charlott e Magazin e’s

Bob Awar

d

Pippin asked her friend, Judy Jandora, an artist who specializes in murals and jewelry making, to paint a birch tree mural on the back wall.

her She Shed, and they’ve also had bands play on the deck.

“We rented a tent, and all of the deck furniture went in the tent while the band played,” recalls Pippin.

One of the coolest things that has happened while they were enjoying their shed was the Carolina BalloonFest last October at the nearby Statesville Regional Airport.

The couple had been enjoying watching balloons all weekend, so they went out to the She Shed for the last launch on Sunday morning. Stearns was

videoing the balloons with his iPad, which happens to be white on its backside.

“One of the balloons came in close and saw that white and said, ‘We’re going to land here,’ ” recalls Pippin. “One of the things they told us is that they always look for white sheets in the yard, which is a signal that it’s okay to land there. We didn’t know. We were just out there with a white iPad, so this year we’re going to put out a white sheet, and we’ve invited them back.”

Most of the time, the

Ellie’s Ellie’sDiner DinerNOW on OPEN site

Come visit the largest antique mall in the South 88,000Square Square Feet Feet •• Over Over 725 Booths 88,000 625 Booths Comfortably air air conditioned conditioned Comfortably

325 McGill Ave. NW Concord, NC 28026 704-787-9351 www.depotgibsonmill.com Mon-Sat 10-7• Sunday 1-6

55 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

WINNER 2017

dwellings Pippin enjoys a glass of wine with Jandora at the end of a long day.

She Shed serves as a quiet place where she and Stearns can sit in appreciation and watch the cows, who surprisingly enjoy watching them as well. Pippin says she also

”

We eat a lot of pimento cheese, southern caviar, out here. … It’s a fun getaway without having to drive anywhere.

“

– Jennifer Beaman Pippin

MAY 2018

enjoys meditating in the space.

“I have a couple of times, not as much as I’d like, watched the sun rise,” says Pippin. “Mostly we come out here in the afternoons with a glass of wine, have a snack, pimento cheese. We eat a lot of pimento cheese, southern caviar, out here. …

It’s a fun getaway without having to drive anywhere.”

56 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

We can find the perfect home for every member of your family Our clients receive unsurpassed representation, personalized attention and we leverage innovative technology and marketing tools to allow our clients to sell and buy homes quicker, with less hassle and have a little fun while doing it.

Naomi Bjerke Owner | Broker | CRS 704-931-3133 naomi.bjerke@callnaomi.com 9820 Northcross Center Ct. Ste 50 Huntersville, NC 28078

REALTY

BOUTIQUE

realtyboutiquenc.com | Start your new career today! | Join Realty Boutique!

&

Where Beauty

Functionality Meet

Remember

Mother’s Day Sunday May 13 Master IJO Jeweler

The Antwerp market is normally limited to only large dealers and importers. As a Master IJO Jeweler, R.Gregory Jewelers has direct access to the Antwerp diamond cutters. This access gives Master IJO Jewelers an incredible price and quality advantage.

Before you make your next diamond purchase, come see us…let’s talk.

R. Gregory Jewelers takes diamonds very seriously. We’re not just jewelers, we’re also diamond brokers which gives us access to the most powerful diamond center in the world, Antwerp, Belgium. By traveling to Antwerp By going directly to the Antwerp cutters, we are able to find we the exact looking arediamond ableyoutoaresearch through thousands of carats of diamonds, selecting for and pass the savings on to you. only the most perfect diamonds at the lowest price.

R. Gregory Jewelers sorts through hundreds of diamonds, selecting only the very best quality at the best value.

Master IJO Jeweler The Antwerp market is normally limited to only large dealers and importers. As a Master IJO Jeweler, R.Gregory Jewelers has direct access to the Antwerp diamond cutters. This access gives Master IJO Jewelers an incredible price and quality advantage.

As a Master IJO Jeweler, we have direct access to the Antwerp diamond cutters, giving us an incredible pricecutters, and quality By going directly to the Antwerp we are able to find the exact diamond you are looking advantage. for and pass the savings on to you.

We’re just back from Antwerp with a new selection of diamonds. Let us help you find the exact diamond you’re looking for. She will be happy you did!

R. Gregory Jewelers sorts through hundreds of diamonds, selecting only the very best quality at the best value.

Custom Fabricated • Oven Hoods • Counter Tops

122 Summerville Dr, Mooresville, NC • 704-663-3497

The Antwerp market is normally limited to only large dealers and importers. As a Master IJO Jeweler, R.Gregory Jewelers has direct access to the Antwerp diamond cutters. This access gives Master IJO Jewelers an incredible price and quality advantage.

www.rgregoryjewelers.com R. Gregory Jewelers sorts through hundreds of diamonds, selecting only the very best quality at the best value.

By going directly to the Antwerp cutters, we are able to find the exact diamond you are looking for and pass the savings on to you.

MAY 2018

WWW.COPPERINNOVATIONS.COM

Kim & Matt Clendenin selecting only the best Langtree Lake Norman Master IJO Jeweler Downtown Statesville I 38 Village View Dr. Suite I 06 I 22 West Broad St. 704-997-2881 704-872-8941

57 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

6:30 – 9:30 PM • Town Hall Lawn MAY 4: Carolina Soul JUNE 1: Chunky Daddy JULY 3: (@YMCA) Kids in America AUGUST 3: The Stranger SEPTEMBER 7: Chairmen of the Board OCTOBER 5: The Lilly Brothers

More info? MooresvilleRecreation.org • 704.663.7026

Dine Out & Wine Down Lake Norman’s Finest Restaurants, Pubs and Wine Bars

Good Wine, Beer, Food, and Music 2 TUESDAYSS1/ES OF PRICE GLASBEER WINE &

Restaurant & Retail Wine Shop

NEW RESTAURANT HOURS: MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW! MONDAY TUES & WED THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

CLOSED 3-9pm 3-10pm Noon-10pm (live music 5-7) Noon-10pm (live music 7-10) Noon-6pm

RETAIL WINE SHOP HOURS:

MONDAY 10am-8pm TUES-SAT 10am-9pm Noon-6pm SUNDAY

LIVE MUSIC

DINNER & WINE PARING May 23rd Featuring Klinker Brick Wines RSVP to info@WineMaestro.com or call 704-664-1452

MOORESVILLE A Bluefield Rd. in the 690

Winslow Bay Commons Shopping Center

(704) 664-1452 | info@winemaestro.com

Ask us about doing on-site private events or off-site catering

See Our Full Menu at www.winemaestro.com Follow us on Facebook for more daily updates & specials

Lake Norman’s Best Kept Catering Secret

Mom deserves the best BBQ HUNTERSVILLE

9230 Beatties Ford Rd. | (704) 394-1464

MOORESVILLE

515 Rinehardt Rd. | (704) 663-5807

www.lancasterbbq.com

Catering for ALL events New Clients Receive 15% Off

Off I-77 @ exit 33 • 117 Trade Court (Mooresville) 704.799.1110 • www.jeffreyslkn.com

704.607.3078

www.cateringbytracy.net

Di Dió

“Your pet’s home away from home” “We welcome your inspection”

• Multi pet family discounts of 25% • Entire facility A/C...Completely Fenced for Security • Knodel Mobile Wellness by Kathy Knodel DVM • ALL Breed Grooming everyday by appointment

RABIES CLINICS: Sat. May 5th AND Sat. June 9th FROM 1 to 3pm

Di Dió K-9 Country Klub Serving the Lake Norman Communities since 1987 Licensed and inspected by the NC Dept of Agriculture

(*rabies clinic does not apply) ....offers expire April 30th 2018

must bring ad with coupon

704-663-0472 • www.didiok-9countryklub.com 135 DiDió Circle • Mooresville, NC 28115 • Hwy 21-115 North

MAY 2018

God Loves You

10% OFF Boarding with (5 days or more) 10% OFF all vaccinations * Knodel Wellness

59 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

1s t N igh t

F R EE

!

MAY

LI NE FREE MUSIC UP

MAY 2018

3 10 17 24 31

60

THE STRANGER Billy Joel Tribute

ON THE BORDER

EVERY THURSDAY

LIVE

5-9PM MUSIC

THRU SEPTEMBER

STARTS

AT 7:00

CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY! www.lncurrents.com

Eagles Tribute

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

NATURAL WONDER Stevie Wonder Tribute

CHICAGO REWIRED Chicago Tribute

OF GOOD NATURE Indy-Rock-Reggae

LangTree LANGTREE LIVE IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

D9 Brewery joins LangTree LIVE this year with beverages available for purchase at each event. Located in Cornelius, D9 is a 10 barrel production brewery who is reimagining some of the world’s most unique and trusted styles of beer. * Must be 21 years of age or older with valid I.D. to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages at LangTree.

{ NO OUTSIDE COOLERS PERMITTED } Band lineup subject to change. Please check LangTreeLKN.com for up to date information and full lineup.

1-77, EXIT 31 | 119 LANDINGS DRIVE | MOORESVILLE, NC 28117

MAY 11 RELAY FOR LIFE

2018 FIELD OF FLAGS “Memorial Day Weekend Celebration”

Visit the Field on Friday, May 25 thru Monday, May 28 Commemorative Ceremony on Monday, May 28 at 10:00am at the Lowes YMCA Flags available for purchase for $35 to honor a veteran

BE BOLD. BE BRIGHT. BE BRAVE.

FROM 5:30PM - 11PM

Cecile G Ebert Charitable Foundation

150 Landings Dr., Mooresville

LANGTREELKN.COM

Carolina Self Protection

CVS Publishing

Silly Chickens Lodge B&B

RE/MAX Executive Realty Angela Purvis Team

www.mooresvillelknexchange.org

Dine + Wine Eating, drinking, cooking and fun

MAY 2018

61 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Hidden depths at Cornelius’ Choplins, p. 62

Photography by Allison Hinman

Craft beer quality, p. 64 Roasted Potato Medley with Mint Pesto, p. 65 Mandolino’s Artisan Pizza brings grandma’s take on the dish to Davidson, p. 66

Mandolino’s Artisan Pizza brings a little New York flavor to historic Main Street Davidson.

Dine + Wine

Wine Time

Hidden Depths

by Trevor Burton | Photography courtesy of Trevor Burton

Each time I dine at Choplins in Cornelius, I uncover even more reasons to like it

Spanish wine with steak is a good bet at Choplins in Cornelius.

MAY 2018

62 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

f one were to define the cuisine at Choplins, it would be something like, “a bistro serving mainly steak and seafood with a southern twist.”

But it goes deeper than that, as I discovered when I met with Wes Choplin.

We were putting together a wine dinner for a bunch of wine enthusiasts that I know.

For the most part, restaurant wine dinners revolve around a selection of wines made by the owner or chef and then proposed to potential diners.

Not so with Choplin, as he’s the epitome of flexibility and expertise.

His is a more bespoke, customized approach. He doesn’t come up with a theme for a wine dinner and then invite people to attend. Guests, like me, come to him with a request for a wine dinner around their own theme. My theme was a dinner

with wines from fairly obscure regions of Spain. My objective was to dig out wines for my wine buddies — wines that are great values and then pair them with appropriate dishes. Choplin and I agreed on the wines instantly.

I was impressed that he could even find them.

Then we set about creating a tapas menu of Spanish cuisine.

That was a lot of fun, but we spent quite a bit of time cursing the fact that paella couldn’t fit into the logistics of the meal we were planning. We salivated over and compared paellas that we both had experienced around the country and around the world. Even without our mutually beloved paella, we managed to come up with a pretty nifty Spanish wine dinner together.

The strenuous effort of planning that dinner worked up quite an appetite, so I decided

to stay around for lunch. That’s when I came across a couple more of Choplins’ hidden depths.

I was in the mood for a steak dish — planning a dinner takes a lot out of you. Naturally, I jumped to the wine list to find something to go with my steak.

There was a great wine from Chile, so I ordered it.

Unfortunately, I was there just before Choplin’s weekly wine delivery, and my wine was not in stock. My server and I were going over the list to come up with an alternate when an “aha light bulb” flashed on. Back he came with an already-opened bottle of wine from one of those obscure Spanish regions — probably from an in-house tasting a day or so previously.

Perfect for my steak.

So, now let’s talk about the steak. It was a small dish of a couple of medallions, potato pancakes and charred asparagus.

The steak was another clue as to how Choplin operates. The steak was special. It comes from a farm in the Midwest where family roots go back to the covered wagon days. Imagine that, dining on a steak that probably has forebears on an ancestry website.

More important than the meat’s lineage was the fact that it was so tender. And, it definitely paired well with my Spanish wine.

Choplins is right up my culinary alley. The food is not overly complicated, and the environment definitely exudes a bistro feel. The wine list isn’t made up of the “usual suspects.”

It’s varied and interesting. And, if you get lucky like I did, you might get a surprise wine to try out with your meal.

Choplins 19700 One Norman Boulevard, Suite C Cornelius www.choplins.com

WE’RE MAKING A SPLASH WITH VETERINARY REHAB

Our Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Services Help Pets Recover From Injury And Surgery Call 704-948-6300 to schedule an appointment.

Tom Hemstreet, DVM, RSO Donna Warren, DVM

Jean Tuttle, DVM, CCRP, CVSMT Lauren Kappers, DVM

Kay Wahl, DVM, CVA Gretchen Burke, DVM

Treating Pets Like Family For 20 Years

704.948.6300 • www.LakeCrossVet.com 106 Parr Drive, Huntersville, NC

In The Big Yellow House Off Of Hwy. 73

Carolyn Ives, DVM Kari Hyatt, DVM

by Mike Savicki

Steimel and Hoy agree that when it comes to brewing and serving a high quality craft beer, it is a matter of balance.

“Brewers need to be true to the style of beer they offer, and that varies so much from type to type,” says Steimel. “Our job is to find a style of beer that goes with your palette and brew it cleanly and consistently. It’s a matter of fine tuning a recipe and taking it through multiple iterations and adjustments until we get it just right.”

With 22 different regular and seasonal beers in rotation, Primal isn’t yet satisfied. Along with additional cold crashing steps and leaving their beer in fermentation a bit longer than most other breweries, Primal recently introduced a centrifuge (a filter of sorts) into the brewing process to remove yeasts and other solids down to an astoundingly low particle level (below .5 microns).

The result is a clearer beer. They are one of only a handful of breweries in the state to do this.

“Craft beer is something unique in and to itself, and quality must be at the core,” says Hoy. “The very word craft in what we do implies both art and science. When we talk about a well-balanced beer, we talk about art and science coming together like almost nothing else.

Whether you are new to craft beer or know what you want, you’ll know a good beer when you taste it, and it’s up to us to keep pace.”

If you are wondering what Steimel and Hoy are drinking these days, Hoy’s Primal beer of choice is the Devil’s Gas Pumpernickel IPA, while Steimel’s go-to beer of choice is the Po Jo IPA. There’s always the Grim Creeper, too.

Balance is the key to brewing and serving a high quality craft beer.

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

IT IS TIME FOR SOME NEW ACCESSORIES

FREE OAKLEY GIFT WHEN YOU MENTION THIS AD

SPECIALS*

MAY 2018

64

When it comes to agreeing on what makes a good craft beer, Primal Brewery’s co-founders, Ray Steimel and David Hoy, agree there is no agreeing.

“Ask anyone and they will give you a different answer,” says Steimel. “And if I give you an answer today, it very well may change in six months,” adds Hoy. That is because in the short time that craft beer has been on the scene around Lake Norman (Ass Clown Brewing Company was the first to open its doors in 2011, followed

by D9, Primal, Bayne and Eleven Lakes), the industry has continued to undergo rapid change and evolution due largely in part to the consumer’s preference and taste.

“Unlike when we started, we aren’t brewing the beers that Ray and I like to drink anymore,” explains Hoy.“It is more about mass appeal and catering to the customer’s evolving palette. It is the customer who is driving what we create. It is the customer who is pushing all of us to be better.”

PRIMAL BREWERY CO-FOUNDERS DISCUSS QUALITY IN CRAFT BEER

EST IN STOCK

$50.00 OFF BULLET SPRAY IN BED LINERS LARG CTION OF SELE T 10% OFF ALL AMSOIL PRODUCTS AMSOIL PRODUC ILE M 50 A 10% OFF ALL BED COVERS IN E LIN RADIUS. 10% OFF ALL LIFT KITS 35% OFF ALL OAKLEY PRODUCTS UP TO 45% OFF IN STOCK WHEEL AND TIRE PACKAGES FREE INSTALLATION WITH PURCHASE OF AN IN STOCK PLASTIC BED LINER.

All Specials Expire May 31st, 2018

***209 WEST PLAZA DRIVE*** • Mooresville NC 28117 • 704- 235-6800 • M-F 8:00am-8:00pm Sat 8:00am-4:00pm www.facebook.com/ RandyMarionRMX

Pro Comp Suspension Authorized Installers

Photography courtesy of Primal Brewery.

On Tap SUDS WITH STYLE

Dine + Wine

Ingredients 1 pound mini mixed variety potatoes 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or avocado oil Jill Dahan

Sea salt and ground pepper to taste Mint Pesto Ingredients 1 cup fresh mint leaves and tender stems (about three packs)

Photography by Glenn Roberson Photography

Photography courtesy of Jill Dahan

In the Kitchen with Jill Dahan

1/3-cup Italian flat leaf parsley

PESTO POTATOES

1/3-cup shelled pistachios 2 ounces (1/2-cup) Parmesan, freshly grated 2 medium garlic cloves, crushed Finely grated zest and juice 1/2 - 1 lemon

Roasted Potato Medley with Mint Pesto

1/3-cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions Roast potatoes in melted butter or oil at 400 F for 20 to 25 minutes until fork-tender and golden brown.

For pesto, pour oil and juice of half of a lemon into the blender and add the rest of the ingredients and pulse till almost smooth. Serve with potatoes. Serves about four to six. ill Dahan lives in Cornelius and is the author of Starting Fresh! Recipes for Life. You can J learn more about her at www.jilldahan.com.

MAY 2018

Spring and mint go together like princes and princesses, so go swap out your summer pesto with this zippy spring mint number. Fast and fresh, it will tantalize your taste buds with the rich nutty taste of pistachio coupled with the very suitable partners of mint and lemon. This pesto is a one-stop shop for heart healthy fat, plus it’s a great boost of protein and fiber to keep you going.

Don’t be shy, as it’s not only good with potatoes but marries well with lamb, chicken, fish and many other veggies. Once you taste it, you won’t need much “encourage mint” to whip this beauty up all summer long.

1/2-teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

65

• Advanced Medicine & Surgery • Laser • Wellness Plans • Online Pharmacy • Boarding • Grooming • Vaccines/Dental Care • Exotic Pet Medicine/Boarding

Convenient location Adjacent to Petco & Target 10110 Northcross Center Ct, Suite 100 Huntersville, NC 28078

Alisha Fennell DVM

Alycen Adams DVM 704-439-0600 www.CarolinasVetCare.com

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Simply the best... for your pet!

Dine + Wine

Nibbles + Bites

A Slice of Long Island

by Holly Becker

|

GRANDMA-STYLE PIZZA COMES TO DOWNTOWN DAVIDSON

Photography by Allison Hinman

Mandolino’s Artisan Pizza

STATS Cuisine

Artisan, brick-oven pizza

Price

-

Lunch Dinner

MAY 2018

66 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Attire Casual

The staff at Mandolino’s Artisan Pizza in Davidson stands with one of its rectangular-shaped pizzas, which orgininates from Long Island.

At Mandolino’s, the crust is not thick or thin but a medium crust with a fine crunch in every bite.

andolino’s Artisan Pizza brings a little New York flavor to historic Main Street Davidson.

When you think of New York pizza though, you might not picture this exact slice of cheesy heaven on a crust.

Known as grandma-style pizza, Mandolino’s serves rectangularshaped pizza originating from Long Island, New York.

At Mandolino’s, the crust is not thick or thin but a medium crust with a fine crunch in every bite. Pizzas are cooked on an 18-x-13 sheet pan inside a 900-degree brick oven.

“The cast iron pan and hot temperature really creates a crisp crust on the bottom,” says Managing Partner

Atmosphere Casual and rustic

Group Friendly Family Friendly Going Solo (Pizza is not sold by the slice- you will have leftovers) Lunch Meeting Date Night Outdoor Seating

PRICE KEY 15 and under

$

25 and under

$

50 and under

$

75 and under

$

This includes an entree and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Island eating the family pizza recipe he now creates daily in Mandolino’s kitchen. But don’t confuse the grandma pizza with a Sicilian pizza. Schutz says the difference is in the proofing, also known as rising.

“This [the grandma] is a quicker rising dough. Grandma used to make this while the kids were playing,” explains Schutz, who learned the art of pizza making from his brotherin-law, who owns several pizzerias in New York City.

From specialty pizzas to buildyour-own

Fresh from the farm In addition to Mandolino’s dough, all salad dressings are housemaid, and meats are cut

fresh daily. “We try to be farmto-table as much as possible,” says Tognarina. “We don’t have a freezer, so everything comes in here extremely fresh and high quality, and we think that comes out in the pizza.”

The menu reflects Executive Chef Bill Schutz’s Italian roots, as he grew up on Long

Mandolino’s Artisan Pizza 208 South Main Street Davidson www.mandolinospizza.com Hours: Mon-Thu, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

MooresvilleFarmersMarket.com

SATURDAYS

JUNE-SEPTEMBER 8 AM – 12 Noon Liberty Park 255 E. Iredell Avenue • Mooresville NC 28115 For more information or to become a vendor contact NSloop@MooresvilleNC.Gov

67 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Jason Tognarina, who owns Mandolino’s and sister restaurant Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse with Bill Schutz and Michael Orlando.

MAY 2018

Outdoor seating is an option at Mandolino’s.

Mandolino’s features six specialty pizzas, three with a red-based sauce (tomato, mozzarella and basil) and three with a white-based sauce (ricotta, mozzarella and Parmigiano). The specialty pizzas offer adventurous toppings.

“These are toppings you probably wouldn’t think to put on a pizza but work nicely together,” explains Tognarina.

If you’re a traditionalist when it comes to pizza toppings, you can build your own pizza with a variety of toppings. There’s also a 14-inch, gluten-free pizza option, which is the only round pizza on the menu. On the weekends only, Mandolino’s

features a chef-inspired breakfast pizza, available from 11 a.m.-1p.m. A heavy influence of Italian wines and four craft beers, including one white and one red on draft, round out the drink menu.

Mandolino’s partners actively searched for a place to launch their pizzeria, and then the restaurant space across from Flatiron became available. The two-story restaurant space offers two different vibes.

The lower level dining area is bustling with action in the kitchen, small bar area and open dining area. The upper level offers a more laid back, quiet atmosphere with a fireplace, bar and occasional live music.

The restaurant’s moniker is a nod to partner Michael Orlando’s love of the mandolin.

A world-class mandolin player, Orlando sometimes plays his beloved mandolin in Mandolino’s upstairs dining area. Throughout the restaurant’s interior, you’ll notice the mandolin motif.

Out + About

An Evening at the Races Photography by Lynsey Marie and Andrea Elizabeth

MAY 2018

68 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

n April 14, Ada Jenkins Center held An Evening at the Races at Sweet Magnolia Estate in Cornelius. During the fundraising event, guests participated in a live and silent auction, enjoyed a sit down dinner

by Bouk Catering, and learned about Nancy Snell Griffith’s recently published book, Ada Jenkins The Heart of the Matter, which chronicles the history of the nonprofit center.

Presented by Novant Health, the event raised $190,000 and many guests opted to indulge in the horse race theme by wearing derby hats, seersucker suits and floral dresses.

Ada Jenkins is committed to helping people in the community create lasting solutions for health, education and economic stability. For more information, visit www.adajenkins.org.

Living Well Your local resource for health and wellness services near you Audiology Piedmont HealthCare Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD Susie Riggs, AuD Del L. Hawk, Au.D

140 Gateway Blvd.

Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

Cardiology Piedmont HealthCare Gary K. DeWeese, MD, FACC Jips Zachariah, MD

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829

Dermatology PHC – Mooresville Dermatology Center Naomi Simon, MD Scott Paviol, MD Kristin Prochaska, PA-C Lauren Wilson, PA-C 128 Medical Park Road, Suite 201 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1827

PHC – Wolfe Dermatology Steven F. Wolfe, MD Jennifer Bender, PA-C

114 Gateway Blvd., Unit D Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-663-2085

Riva Aesthetic Dermatology

General Dermatology, Coolsculpting, Botox, all Fillers, Laser/IPL

Kerry M. Shafran, MD, FAAD Lindsay Jayson, MPAS, PA-C Keri Squittieri, MMS, PA-C Mari Klos, CMA, LE 704-896-8837 Cornelius www.Rivaderm.com

Ears, Nose and Throat Piedmont HealthCare Keith Meetze, MD Thomas Warren, MD Herb Wettreich, MD Fred New, Jr., ANP

140 Gateway Blvd.

Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

Family Medicine Piedmont HealthCare Timothy A. Barker, MD Heather C. Kompanik, MD Bruce L. Seaton, DO Amanda H. Bailey, DO Sherard Spangler, PA

357 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-7328

Piedmont HealthCare Tiana Losinski,MD

206 Joe V. Knox Ave. Suite J Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-4801

Piedmont HealthCare James W. McNabb, MD Emmett Montgomery, MD

435 East Statesville Avenue Mooresville, NC 28115 • 704-663-5056

PHC – Fairview Family Medicine Rebecca Montgomery, MD

150 Fairview Road, Suite 210 Mooresville, NC 28117 •704-235-0300

Iredell Family Medicine Emily Nabors, MD FAAFP Jodi Stutts, MD

544 Brawley School Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-5190

Pellegrino Family Medicine Yvette-Marie Pellegrino, MD, FAAFP Lori Sumner, PA-C 544 Brawley School Road Mooresville, NC 28117 •704-360-9299

Gastroenterology Charlotte Gastroenterology and Hepatology John H. Moore, III, M.D. Steven A. Josephson, M.D. Scott A. Brotze, M.D. Michael W. Ryan, M.D. Devi Thangavelu, M.D. Vinaya Maddukuri, M.D.

Lake Norman Offices: 13808 Professional Center Dr. Huntersville, NC 28078 115 Commerce Pointe Blvd.

Mooresville, NC 28117 Appointment Line: 704-377-0246 www.charlottegastro.com Locations also in Charlotte, Matthews, and Ballantyne

Piedmont HealthCare Carl A. Foulks, Jr., MD Chi Zuo, PA-C

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021

Piedmont HealthCare Vivek Trivedi, MD Tiedre Palmer, FNP-C

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021

Neurology

Orthopedic Surgery – Spine

Piedmont HealthCare Dharmen S. Shah, MD

Piedmont HealthCare Alex Seldomridge, III, MD

Piedmont HealthCare Andrew J. Braunstein, DO Ryan Conrad, MD Craig D. DuBois, MD Douglas Jeffery, MD Roderick Elias, MD

Physiatry –Interventional Spine Care

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-873-1100

124 Professional Park Dr, Ste A Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-662-3077

Piedmont HealthCare Andrew J. Braunstein, DO Ryan Conrad, MD Craig D. DuBois, MD Douglas Jeffery, MD Roderick Elias, MD

9735 Kincey Avenue, Ste 203 Huntersville, NC 28078 • 704-766-9050

Neurosurgery Iredell NeuroSpine Peter Miller, MD, Ph.D.

544 Brawley School Road 28117 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-954-8277 Petermillermd.com

Piedmont HealthCare Manish G. Patel, MD Julie Abney, PA Andrea Brock, PA-C

128 Medical Park Road, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-1001

Piedmont HealthCare John C. Gatlin, MD LuAnne V. Gatlin, MD Ann Cowen, ANP-C

548 Williamson Road, Suite 6 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-660-5520

Stout Internal Medicine & Wellness Dr. Sam Stout 444 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-9310

Piedmont HealthCare Harsh Govil, MD, MPH Thienkim Walters, PA-C April Hatfield, FNP-C

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829

Piedmont HealthCare Jacqueline Zinn, MD

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1838

Primary Care Iredell Primary Care for Women Eva Imperial, MD, FAAFP

114 Gateway Blvd, Suite B Mooresville, NC 28117 • 980-435-0406

PULMONOLOGY Obstetrics/Gynecology Piedmont HealthCare James Al-Hussaini, MD Laura Arigo, MD Katie Collins, DO Grant Miller, MD James Wilson, MD Nicole S. Wellbaum, MD Coral Bruss, ANP-C

131 Medical Park Road, Suite 102 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-663-1282

Occupational Medicine Internal Medicine

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1838

Iredell Occupational Medicine Joe Wolyniak, DO

128 E. Plaza Dr., Unit 3 Mooresville, NC 28115 • 980-444-2630

Orthopaedic Surgery Piedmont HealthCare Scott Brandon, MD Byron E. Dunaway, MD Brett L. Feldman, MD Alex Seldomridge III, MD Kim Lefreniere, PA-C Sherry Dawn Repass, FNP-BC

359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829

Iredell Orthopaedic Center Jason Batley, MD

544 Brawley School Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-0956

Piedmont HealthCare Enrique Ordaz MD Jose Perez MD Ahmed Elnaggar, MD

125 Days Inn Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-838-8240

Rheumatology Piedmont HealthCare Sean M. Fahey, MD Dijana Christianson, DO

128 Medical Park Road, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-1001

at the Lake

a month of things to do at the Lake CONCERTS

LangTree LIVE Concert Series (Every Thursday) Enjoy live music every Thursday night at LangTree Lake Norman.

On May 3, The Stranger — A Billy Joel Tribute band performs. 7-9 p.m. Free.

LangTree Lake Norman, 401 Langtree Road, Mooresville, www.langtreelkn.com.

MAY 2018

70

The 2018 Music on Main Concert Series (May 4 and June 1) On May 4, the Carolina Soul Band performs sweet soul sounds of such legendary groups as The Drifters, The Coasters, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Little Anthony and the the Imperials, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and many, many more.

On June 1, Chunky Daddy performs classic and modern day party hits. 6:30 p.m. Free.

Mooresville Town Hall Lawn, www.ci.mooresville.nc.us.

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Davidson Concerts on the Green (May 6 and 20) Uptown Funk performs its Bruno Mars tribute on May 6. Band for May 20 TBA. 6-8 p.m. Free.

Davidson Village Green, www. concertsonthegreen.com.

Cello Forum (May 20) This quartet of cellists features members of the North Carolina Symphony. They perform a varied program of classical and contemporary transcriptions for cello ensemble. Part of the Music at St. Alban’s concert series. 3 p.m. $15; students and young adults under 25, $10; seniors 62+ $10; children under 12 free. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson, www. musicatstalbansdavidson.org.

Lake Norman Big Band (May 21) The Lake Norman Big Band plays every third Monday night at The Finish Line Restaurant in Mooresville. The show features favorite hits from the big band era and more. 7-9 p.m. $20 cover (includes buffet dinner). Call 704.664.2695 for reservations. The Finish Line Restaurant at George Pappas Victory Lanes, 125 Morlake Drive, Mooresville, www. thelakenormanbigband.org.

EDUCATION

Lake Norman Sail & Power Squadron 2018 Safe Boating

Class (May 12) The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission requires that “Vessel operators born on or after January 1, 1988 must have successfully completed a Boating Safety Education course to operate a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.”

The Lake Norman Sail & Power Squadron offers a Safe Boating Class throughout the year.

Parents and children (at least 10 years old) are encouraged to attend together. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $45, additional family members sharing a manual, $25. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion Street, Cornelius, www.usps.org/lakenorman.

EVENTS

Cornelius PARC 5K Run & Walk (May 4) This race begins and ends at Westmoreland Athletic Complex and winds through parts of the McDowell Creek Greenway, on beautiful trails and around scenic ponds of Robbins Park. The 5K racecourse is challenging, consists of elevation changes and incorporates a variety of running surfaces, including natural surface, gravel, pavement and a wooden boardwalk.

This family- friendly event is open to most running levels with race divisions divided into groups based on age and gender. Proceeds will go to the Top Deck Foundation to benefit Warrior Jace and his family to assist with medical expenses. For ages 5 and up.

6:30-8:30 p.m. $35 for runners, $30 for walkers. Westmoreland Athletic Complex, 8430 Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org.

Easton Mills Memorial Challenge (May 5) Enjoy a two-hour functional training workout in honor of the late Easton Mills, a 2-year-old member of the Lake Norman YMCA who passed away in 2017 due to a brain tumor. All proceeds go to the Send a Kid to Camp program, which helps send kids to camp who otherwise would be unable to go. 9 a.m.- noon. $40 per person. Lake Norman YMCA, 21300 Davidson Street, Cornelius, www.ymcacharlotte.org.

Davidson Town Day (May 5) This annual festival brings everyone to

Girls’ Night Out

Family Fun

town. Learn about community-oriented organizations, listen to music, play games and enjoy good food. Be sure to check out CURRENTS 8th Annual Canine Cover Contest at the event. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Free. Davidson Village Green, downtown Davidson, www. townofdavidson.org.

ville to celebrate the works and talents of local artists and musicians, while you taste the fruits of local breweries, wineries and food trucks.

STEM is a newly added component to this event from local businesses.2-6 p.m.

Free. Downtown Huntersville, www.huntersville.org.

Paddle 4 Purpose (May 5) My Aloha Paddle & Surf, Inc. in partnership with Charlotte Cycleboats, LLC and the Southern Stoke Series, will host the 7th Annual Stand Up Paddle Board Race and fundraiser to benefit six local charities and one international foundation. The events on Saturday morning will feature Elite (6.2 miles) and Recreational (2plus miles) races, kid’s races, and open class paddle crafts, which include kayaks, Surfskis, OCs, etc. All races are open to the public with some prior Paddle craft experience. Limited paddleboard rentals will be available on a first-reserve basis. Check-in begins at 7 a.m., races 8-10:45 a.m. and live auction 11 a.m. (followed by a luau lunch). Prices vary for events. Port City Club, Cornelius, www.facebook. com/paddle4purpose18.

North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival (May 11-12) Enjoy live bands and more types of North Carolina-brewed beer than you can count. Fri 11:30-10 p.m., Sat 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Ticket prices vary. Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net.

Beyond Walls Opening Reception (May 5) This is the fourth year of this award-winning public art exhibition. 4-6 p.m. Robbins Park, 17738 West Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org.

Lake Norman Bike Expo (May 12) Join fellow community members on a leisurely ride through Davidson and Cornelius. This 8-mile ride will start on the South Prong Rocky River Greenway in Davidson, connect to Bailey Road, travel down the Caldwell Station Creek Greenway in Cornelius, and loop back to the start via the quiet streets of east Cornelius, finishing back at the start at approximately 10 a.m. Anyone age 14 and older is welcome; participants ages 14-17 must be accompanied by an adult. Helmets are required and a bike with gears is recommended.

Families with younger children wishing to ride should attend the family ride beginning at 10:30 a.m. 8 a.m. registra-

Me Time tion, 8:30 a.m. Lake Norman Community Bike Ride begins.

Parking is available at Davidson Elementary School, 635 South Street, www.cornelius.org.

35th Annual Race City Festival (May 12) This Mooresville tradition features live music, 200 vendor booths, food trucks, a beer garden, arts, crafts and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Free. Downtown Mooresville, www.mooresvillenc.com.

Springtime in Paris Ladies Tea (May 19) Enjoy a ladies tea to benefit The Huntersville Pregnancy Center. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $12 each or $60 for a table of six to eight. Huntersville United Methodist Church, 14005 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, www.humconline.org.

Cornelius Jazz Festival (May 19) This multi-cultural celebration is fun for families, so bring your chairs and blankets to come experience an evening of local jazz band performances. There will also be artisans, food trucks and children’s activities. 5-9 p.m. Free. Smithville Park, 19710 South Ferry Street, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org.

The Barefoot Movement — A Benefit Concert to Inspire and Support Youth Music (May 27) Community in Christ Lutheran Church in Cornelius in partnership with D9 Brewing Co. is hosting a fundraiser with BBQ, D9 beer, and music.

WWII Battle Reenactment: Aftermath of D-Day (May 5-6) This annual battle reenactment showcases the lives of both Allied and Axis troops during WWII both at home and abroad. Each demonstration will take you back to that tumultuous time in world history. Get a glimpse into the life of soldiers and civilians and learn about how their lives were impacted during this particular war-time. Enjoy food vendors, self-guided tours, visiting with re-enactors and a live battle each day at 2 p.m.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. $9, $8 adults/ seniors, children 5 and under free. Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Hello Huntersville (May 6) Head to downtown Hunters-

Photography courtesy of Historic Rural Hill.

Date Night

The North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival takes place at Historic Rural Hill on May 11-12.

Local artists will perform starting at 5 p.m. The Barefoot Movement, a bluegrass band based in Nashville, performs as the headliner starting at 7 p.m.

Plates will be sold for $5 each.

A donation is requested for the concert in support of Community in Christ Lutheran Youth Music Ministry. Community in Christ Church, 7621 Norman Island Drive, Cornelius, www. communityinchrist.org/cic-bbq.

Four Corners Framing and Gallery Various exhibitions. Tue-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 148 N. Main Street, Mooresville, 704.662.7154, www. fcfgframing.com.

Cornelius Memorial Day Program (May 28) Come celebrate our local veterans at this service to honor Memorial Day. 10-11 a.m. Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius. www.cornelius.org.

Mooresville Arts Gallery Various exhibitions. Tue-Fri noon-4 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 103 W. Center Avenue, Mooresville, www.magart.org.

Huntersville Memorial Day Ceremony (May 28) Celebrate our local veterans and their service. 11 a.m.

Veterans Park, Huntersville, www.huntersville.org.

GALLERIES

Cornelius Arts Center Various exhibits. Mon-Thu 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri-Sat 9 a.m.-noon.

19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org.

Tropical Connections Various exhibitions. Tue- Fri 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment. 230 N. Main Street, Mooresville, www.tropicalconnectionslakenorman.com.

The Van Every/Smith Galleries Annual Student Art Exhibition. Through May 10. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat-Sun noon-4 p.m. Davidson College, The Van Every/Smith Galleries, 315 N. Main Street, Davidson, www. davidsoncollegeartgalleries.org.

MONTHLY EVENTS

Carolina Raptor Center Live bird presentations, flight shows, behind-the-scenes

2nd Friday Street Festival (Every second Friday) This event features many of the area’s most talented and innovative artists and craftsmen while showcasing a fabulous lineup of entertainment including local bands, performance groups, live art demonstrations and much more. Area businesses will be out to impress, offering special sales and incentives to event guests, who can also enjoy a variety of food and drinks from local breweries and food. 6-10 p.m. Free.

19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, www.oldtowncornelius.com.

Davidson Farmer’s Market (Every Saturday) Find fresh local produce and flowers and this event. 8 a.m.-noon.

Next to Town Hall between Main and Jackson streets in downtown Davidson, www. davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

Huntersville Growers’ Market (May 12 and every Saturday through the summer) Come stock up on local produce. 8 a.m.- noon., corner of Main and Maxwell Streets, Huntersville, www.huntersville.org.

SPORTS

Davidson College Baseball It’s time for a trip out to the ballpark, aka Wilson Field.

Charleston Southern (May 2, 6 p.m.), Presbyterian (May 9, 6 p.m.), Dayton (May 17, 6 p.m.; May 18, 2 p.m.; May 19, 11 a.m.). Davidson College, 202 Martin Court Drive, Davidson, www.davidsonwildcats.com.

Mooresville Spinners (Throughout the summer) Come out and watch the Mooresville Spinners play baseball. The Spinners are a summer collegiate baseball team in the Carolina Virginia League. Statesville Owls (May 26, 7 p.m.), High Point Locos (May 27, 5 p.m.), Race City Bootleggers (May 30, 7 p.m.). $5 per person per game, $100 season pass. Moor Park, 691 S. Broad Street, Mooresville, www.mooresvillespinners.com.

THEATRE

Much Ado About Nothing (May 4-5) Beatrice and Benedick are the perfect match — it’s too bad they can’t stand each other. When their war of wits comes to a head, their friends decide there’s only one thing to be done — trick the hapless couple into falling hopelessly in love.

The resulting series of plots, pranks, plans and ploys start to veer out of control, threatening

more than one romance. Will their scheming succeed? Or will it all be Much Ado About Nothing? Warehouse Performing Arts Center. Fri-Sat 8 p.m.

Pay-What-You-Will, $5 suggested minimum. Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www.warehousepac.com.

Barbecue Apocalypse (May 10-26) Three couples gather on the back deck of a very modest suburban home for a mid-summer barbecue, where the hosts, Mike and Deb, struggle with feelings of inadequacy about their home decor, their clothes, their careers, their culinary skills, and pretty much everything else. Their guests don’t help matters: Ash is a successful but annoying yuppy; his wife, Lulu, likes to get very drunk, very quickly. Win mistakes his obnoxious confidence for charm, and his new girlfriend, Glory, is just too young and beautiful to be tolerated. As the world literally falls apart during their terrible, little barbecue, the only way to measure success is by survival or extinction. Thu 7:30 p.m., Fri-Sat 8 p.m. $25, $18 seniors/students. Produced by Charlotte’s Off-Broadway. Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www.warehousepac.com.

MAY 2018

Foster’s Frame and Art Gallery Various exhibitions.

Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10a.m.-4p.m. 403 N. Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, 704.948.1750.

Lake Country Gallery Various exhibitions. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Exit 36 – Mooresville, between Belk and Kohl’s, 704.664.5022, www.lakecountrygallery.net.

tours and more take place at Carolina Raptor Center throughout the month.

Visit carolinaraptorcenter. org for more details.

71 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Lori's Larks

Editor Lori K. Tate and her children, Graydon and Margot, check out Lake Norman State Park.

Hit the

MAY 2018

72 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS

Trail

eople always ask how we come up with story ideas for CURRENTS. Sometimes they’re pitched to us, sometimes I meet someone who has an interesting story and sometimes our stories find us while we’re reporting another story. That’s exactly what happened with this month’s Lori’s Larks.

While venturing to Jennifer Beaman Pippin’s She Shed in Statesville (see page 48), I passed a sign for Lake Norman State Park (LNSP). Though I’ve lived in the Lake Norman area for 15 years and grew up one county over, I had never been to LNSP. Turns out the following Friday, my husband had the day off, so we loaded our bikes into our pickup and took off for the park with our 8-year-old twins (The Tater Tots).

Just off Exit 42 in Troutman (10 miles south of Statesville and 32 miles north of Charlotte), LNSP offers more than 1,900 acres of natural fun, and entrance into the park is free. If you’re into mountain biking, this is the park for you, as there’s the 30.5-mile Itusi Trail. If you’re into hiking, you can also hike the Itusi Trail, but you must yield to bikers. Also note that this trail closes when it’s too wet from precipitation.

We began our adventure by picking up a map at the Visitor Center and heading out on Alder Trail. At 0.8 miles, this is an easy trail to hike, as it circles the peninsula between Norwood and Hicks Creeks. It also skirts Lake Norman and offers a great view of the spillway and gates that control the water level of Park Lake (a 33-acre lake within the park). Lake Shore Trail offers five

by Lori K. Tate | photography by John G. and Lori K. Tate

Editor Lori K. Tate taps into nature at Lake Norman State Park miles of more moderate hiking, while the Dragonfly Trail features an ADA-accessible .25-mile path from the Visitor Center to a scenic overlook on Lake Norman.

Because our children recently learned to ride their bikes without training wheels, they were eager to take a spin at the park. The catch is that none of us have mountain bikes, and you really need that type of bike for these trails. When we asked the lady at the Visitor Center if there were any easy trails, she suggested we ride in the parking lot of the beach area since it wasn’t crowded that day. Not crowded indeed, as there were only 10 cars parked in the vast lot.

We rode a few laps around the parking lot and then tried a short bike trail near the beach, which is the place to be during late spring and summer. The beach is open daily for swimming from

Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The park charges a fee to swim only when lifeguards are on duty.

To enjoy the water even more, you can rent pedal boats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards for Park Lake. You can also bring your own boat and launch it from the park’s boat ramp for free.

Though we had fun during our time at LNSP, we were only there for a few hours. With 32 camping sites on the property, you can certainly stay long enough to enjoy everything the park has to offer. I plan on hiking the Itusi Trail as soon as I get the chance.

Lake Norman State Park 759 State Park Road Troutman www.ncparks.gov May-September hours — 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

WE ARE LOCAL | WE ARE GLOBAL

Gorgeous 5 bedroom/4 full bath home with 3-car garage. Grand formal living area with high ceilings and tons of natural light. Dream kitchen with large island and double-wall oven. Wooded backyard grants additional privacy/serenity.

Indian Land, SC $395,000

Danae Caufield 704-900-4099 Broker In Charge

Cap Adriano is a gated community offering the ultimate in sea-front living in one of the most sought-after areas on the island. Villas offer: open plan concept with plenty of light, mediterranean gardens, large heated pool, outdoor kitchen and incredible views!

Explore luxury living .... Mallorca, Spain | Prices from â‚Ź 8,900,000 Mallorca tops the list of Spain's best islands, and was voted the second best island in Europe and the sixth best in the world by TripAdvisor.

Brittany Burton

704-309-1208 jami.prince@evusa.com

Lynne Shapiro

704-900-4102 brittany.burton@evusa.com

704-231-9282 lynne.shapiro@evusa.com

Liza Gerardo

614-323-4525 liza.gerardo@evusa.com

Connor Hayes

704-797-1642 connor.hayes@evusa.com

Nita Hunt

704-577-9266 nita.hunt@evusa.com

Elizabeth Kalinowski 704-576-6725 elizabeth.kalinowski@evusa.com

Amy Worland

Amber Garchar

704-562-4731 amber.garchar@evusa.com

Jami Prince

FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS

704-239-4447 amy.worland@evusa.com

16745 Birkdale Commons Parkway | Huntersville, NC 28078 | 704-765-4265 | lakenorman.evusa.com Š2018 Engel & Volkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Volkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.