Lake Norman CURRENTS Magazine February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

SERVING LAKE NORMAN

Health &

Wellness

ISSUE Get Spruced Up 2024’s design trends

Get Moving Serving up mini tennis

Get Centered Live your ‘chi’

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Logan Canipe Lincolnton

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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Learning a language is like learning to ride a horse. Both take time and dedication and are meant to be fun.

Founder and CEO – Olivier Giraudo

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Inquire today to see how your school can become affiliated!

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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FROM WHERE I SIT

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

Spare me the Hallmark holiday As a kid that grew up in chillier, snowier places than the more comfortable climatic sweet spot we have here around Lake Norman, I really don’t mind the fickle month of February. Cold temperatures don’t bother me (they are, in fact, a menopausal woman’s jackpot) and the gloomy spells with rain, ice or even a tiny bit of snow that come and go are a little like visits with some great childhood memories. February, in short, is fun.

Well, that is, until the clay courts at my racquet club freeze overnight and ruin the odds of getting in some winter tennis.

What I’ve never enjoyed about February is the contrived celebration known as Valentine’s Day. For those of us of a certain age, I’m sure you recall having to make that Valentine’s Day card mailbox in elementary school out of an old shoebox and a bunch of red, pink and white construction paper. Then you were forced to give everyone in your class a Valentine’s Day card – even that kid with the questionable hygiene who always stood too close to you in the lunch line. Blech.

Publisher MacAdam Smith Mac@LNCurrents.com

Advertising Director Sharon Simpson Sharon@LNCurrents.com

Advertising Sales Executives

Carole Lambert Carole@LNCurrents.com

Moving into the teen years and adulthood, Valentine’s Day almost always felt like an exercise in anxiety aversion and managing expectations. The pressure to come through with the right card, the sweetest gift, the best dinner reservations ... it’s too much and Hallmark should be ashamed of themselves for inflicting this on our culture.

Beth Packard Beth@LNCurrents.com

Only a couple of years into our marriage, my husband and I called a truce on anything Valentine’s Day related. It had just gotten ridiculous – trying from one year to the next to top the humdinger celebration from the year before made the day less and less enjoyable. We have always been a very close couple and often say “I love you” more than a few times during each day, so honestly, what were we trying to prove on some arbitrary day on the calendar?

Coming to that agreement was an instantaneous relief, and I have to admit that we might take just a little bit too much glee in watching the hoops other couples will jump through to make that one random day of the year exactly what their partner had in mind, just because someone said it had to be that way. Nope, we’re not playing, and the sidelines are the best place to be on February 14.

There are far more interesting things to celebrate during February, so in lieu of chocolate you shouldn’t have, another piece of jewelry you probably don’t need or splurging on an evening out that you likely can’t really afford and won’t remember, give these celebrations some consideration: • National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day – celebrated on the first Saturday of February, it was conjured up back in the 1960s by a desperate New York mother of six whose kids had been trapped inside following a whopper of a snowstorm. She decided it would be a fun way to fight cabin fever, and apparently tons of moms agreed with her because it took hold over time.

• National Football Hangover Day – falls on the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday, and probably needs little more explanation than that, particularly if your team lost.

• National Do A Grouch A Favor Day – observed on February 16, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it falls right on the heels of Valentine’s Day. If you know someone who spent that day alone, or even worse, was forced to spend it with someone they’d rather not, do them a solid and find a way to cheer them up. A second observance of National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day would be a good way to sweeten up a grouch.

• National Love Your Pet Day – celebrated on February 20, but upon further reflection, every day is love your pet day. You don’t even need to have a pet to understand that. I mean, honestly.

Yes, those are all silly, contrived holidays, just like Valentine’s Day. But they arrive without the pressure, the expense and the angst – and hopefully with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry on top.

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— LH Lori Helms Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

This just in ... #giveaway Follow us on social media to get in on some great new giveaways we will feature. At least three local businesses will offer prizes each month (at least a $25 value). Make sure you “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to get in on the fun, fortune and maybe a little bit of fame.

Trisha Robinson Trisha@LNCurrents.com

Event Coordinator Alison Smith Alison@LNCurrents.com

Social Media Specialist Lauren Platts social@lncurrents.com

Design & Production idesign2, inc

Contributing Writers Trevor Burton Kathy Dicken Mickey Dunaway Jennifer Mitchell Bek Mitchell-Kidd Tony Ricciardelli Abigail Smathers Allie Spencer

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

E XC L U S I V E L Y AT

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

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Contents

About the Cover: Your health and wellness is important - learn how to support both with some of the area’s specialized practitioners starting on Page 39.

CHANNEL MARKERS

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Movers, shakers and more at the lake

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LIMITLESS

News around the Lake

A section for LKN residents 55+

New building in Davidson, new ‘Bliss’ in Cornelius

Best of the Lake Spotlight Lilly & Grace

Bet You Didn’t Know Books by the Butterfly

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Mind, Body & Spirit

50

Moment in Time

54

Limitless Learning

Tai Chi promotes vitality

‘The Mother Vine’

Understanding your assets

DWELLINGS How we live at the lake

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56 FEATURES

Warm & Whimsical

Design trends for 2024

66 21

DINE + WINE Eating, drinking, cooking and fun

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Game On

36

Horse Education Group

60

Wine Time

56

Volunteer Spotlight

62

Tasty Bits

64

Nibbles + Bites

66

On Tap

Beer tennis is on tap

For the love of language

Workforce development at FeedNC

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.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

The wonders of Willamette wines

Creamy Chicken Curry

Savannah Oyster Co. in Mooresville

The Barrel Wine Lounge

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.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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Everything but Ordinary From the owner of Barrel & Fork, comes a brand-new seafood concept with a purposeful lean towards the romance of the 70’s in Savannah with a coastal ethos of seasonality, vibe, and true southern hospitality. With Northeastern attention to seafood, sustainability, and a robust raw bar, we invite you to a thoughtfully presented menu that is delicate yet approachable. The space has an unapologetic energy, for some a little noisy for others completely infectious. An evening out should be driven by the entire experience; with world-class hospitality, a culinary approach to cocktails, and a savory menu that promotes humble ingredients with a sophisticated touch.

Cheers!

201 N Church St Mooresville NC (below Mill One building) 14

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

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704-664-6417

|

www.savannahoc.com

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2024!

” t s e B s ’ n a“L ke Norma is searching for

We want to hear from you!

Fifteen years ago, CURRENTS created Lake Norman’s first and only Best of Lake Norman contest. A year later, other publications followed suit and many of our local businesses got lost in the confusion of having too many “Best of” contests! To cut down on that confusion, CURRENTS has decided to change the name of our contest to Lake Norman’s Best Awards and we’re asking you, our readers, to nominate and vote for your favorite business in a variety of categories. We’ve also decided to start our contest early this year and give you plenty of time to get your nominations in!

TE FOR O V

Here’s how the (new) Lake Norman’s Best contest will work: 1. Go to our website www.lncurrents.com to nominate your favorites from our list of categories.

2. Nominations will begin on February 1 and end on February 29.

3. Nominees will be listed on the website and voting will begin on March 1, concluding on April 30.

4. The top five nominees in each category will be announced in our May issue.

5. Winners will be announced at a special Awards Gala on June 26 at The Cain Center in Cornelius.

6. Each winner will be showcased in a very special edition of CURRENTS called Lake Norman’s Best!

7. And as an added incentive to encourage you to vote, CURRENTS will conduct monthly drawings for all those who nominate and vote. Five lucky readers will win a $100 gift card to use at their favorite local business!

Here are the business categories you’ll be nominating and voting for in 2024: Best Lakeside Dining Best Breakfast Best Seafood Best Steak Best Burger Best Pizza Best Italian Cuisine Best Bakery Best Brewery Best Wine Selection

Best Cocktail Best Date Night Best Place for Live Music Best Sports Bar Best Art Gallery Best Event Venue Best Nail Salon Best Med Spa Best Hair Salon Best Cosmetic/Aesthetic Services Best Massage Therapy

Best Gift Shop Best Home Décor Best Women’s Boutique Best Men’s Boutique Best Place to Work Out Best Public Golf Course Best Boat Club/Boat Rental Best Attorney/Legal Services Best Interior Designer Best Jewelry Store www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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Windows and doors that reflect your lifestyle

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WindowAndDoorPros.com

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Channel Markers

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

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Join the Town of Huntersville’s Parks & Recreation Department for “Books at the Butterfly.”

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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CHANNEL MARKERS - news around the lake

Spreading the ‘Bliss’

by Lori Helms

There’s a bit of good news for fans of Royal Bliss Brewing Co., who may not be lucky enough to live near its Denver flagship location. According to owners Larry and Ginger Griffin, plans are in the works for a new spot in Cornelius, if their idea can pass muster with the Town of Cornelius Planning Board this month.

“It’s all gone so well,” says Larry about their Denver locale and the tremendous fan base they’ve created there. “We just thought there’s an opportunity, or maybe even a need, for one in Cornelius ... one that will have a full kitchen.” He says that’s the biggest oversight they made when establishing their Denver brewery – not recognizing how food is a really important part of the experience.

“We’re going to try to incorporate the same fun atmosphere as the current one, a place where people want to go and hang out,” the Griffins say.

Incorporating some of the same architectural touches as the Denver building, Royal Bliss in Cornelius will be a little bigger, thanks to the addition of a full kitchen and more seating. This will not be a production site – the Griffins believe the brewery in Denver is sufficient for that – but it will have a full bar to include liquor, rather than the menu of beer, wine, seltzers and ciders at its original locale.

If all goes according to plan and they receive a green light from the Cornelius planning board on Feb. 8, the proposal will go before the town’s board of commissioners in March. If approved, Larry says they could break ground this fall and open at some point in late 2025.

“We want to continue the feeling of the warmth and the atmosphere we’ve been known for at the new place, and then some,” says Ginger.

“It won’t lose that personal touch.”

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

A new old space

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony early this month when the Town of Davidson will celebrate the reopening of its Public Safety Building. The public is invited to the event on Thursday, Feb. 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at 216 South Main Street (the former Town Hall). Participants can join Mayor Rusty Knox at the circular drive in the front of the newly renovated building as he kicks of the celebration with brief remarks followed by the ribbon cutting.

Town staff moved into a larger facility early last year – a former school on South Street – which not only accommodates staff needs but has community space as well. The newly refurbished building on South Main Street will now be home to the town’s police and fire departments.

An honor from the governor

As a hat tip to his lengthy record of service to the State of North Carolina, recently retired Huntersville Police Chief Bence Hoyle has been awarded the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine.” Hoyle’s law enforcement career spans almost 40 years and includes his first stint as Huntersville’s chief of police when he was just 26 years old. He served in numerous other communities as well, including several years as Cornelius’ police chief before returning to Huntersville just prior to his retirement.

According to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, the award is given by the governor “for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.”

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BEST OF THE LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS AWARD WINNER Editor’s Note: Each month we will feature one of the Best of the Lake Norman CURRENTS Award Winners and share a little more behind-the-scenes info with our readers!

Lilly & Grace

by Lori Helms photography courtesy Lilly & Grace

Lilly & Grace owner Robyn Ford (right) used several pieces from her shop to decorate her daughter’s recent wedding. Guests ended up buying many of the items, including furniture.

At her Langtree shop, interior design business and boutique owner Robyn Ford tells me the entire enterprise is a true family affair.

“When people buy from Lilly & Grace, they get our whole team,” she says.

Since opening Lilly & Grace three years ago, she says most of her customers have become repeat clients, whether they are building a new home, remodeling a room or needing some new furniture or lighting.

I can attest to the truth in that statement. When I arrived to meet Ford, I watched as her husband was helping a client load a piece of art into the back of her SUV. When he wasn’t doing that, he was helping Ford and their daughter return the shop’s offerings and decorations to its “normal” aesthetic following the frenzied holiday shopping season. It’s that package deal, that true customer commitment, that earned them the recognition of our 2023 Best of the Lake Norman CURRENTS “Best Interior Designer.”

Ford believes it’s the honesty with which she treats her design clients that keeps them coming back for more – to buy a trinket as a special gift or outfit an entire new home or anything in between. She says it’s critical to be very clear about what the expectations are for design, budget and timing, and likens the relationship between designer and client to a marriage.

With the sheer volume of interior designers in our area, that’s not a designation to be taken lightly. Lilly & Grace is an entirely family owned and operated business, and Ford believes it’s that family feel that keeps her clients coming back – for just one more piece of art, just one more sofa table accessory, just one more room to be redecorated.

“I think that gives everyone a good feeling,” says Ford. “They trust us, we’re local ... they know we’re not going anywhere.”

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

“You’re stuck with me, because we’re going to be spending so much time together,” she says, adding that being candid with each other is critical to developing a level of trust for the duration of the design project. And that hard work and honesty pays off, she says.

“They all start off as clients, and they end up as friends.”

Find your friend in design at Lilly & Grace in their Langtree shop at 138 Village View Drive, Suite 104, in Mooresville. Learn more at www.lillyandgrace.com or call 980.447.9930.

TRENDS + STYLE

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! n i a g a s e k i r t Cupid s CELEBRATE FEBRUARY WITH SHADES OF PINK AND RED.

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1. Pink Tourmaline Necklace $208

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2. Cane-Fetti Handblown Tumblers $58/each 3. SOAK XOXO Bath Soap $16.50

4. Houston Llew Tandem Spiritile Art $250 5. Scarlet Lamp by Kinzig Design $980

6. Kent Stetson Crossbody $208 7. Marrakech Wanderlust Bowl $305

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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CHANNEL MARKERS - bet you didn’t know

Books at the

y l f r e tt u B

Where story hour takes flight

by Allie Spencer photography courtesy Town of Huntersville

Young children and their families enjoy the inaugural Books at the Butterfly event at Rosedale Nature Park in Huntersville.

When it comes to raising children, the phrase “the days are long, but the years are short” rings particularly true in the winter. We are spoiled for choice with parks, splash pads, pools and the lake in the warmer months, but when the cold and rain roll in, it can be a struggle to keep kids entertained. Thankfully, The Town of Huntersville’s Parks & Recreation Department has some great programs and events to carry us through.

The recently launched “Books at the Butterfly” will take place every Thursday at Rosedale Nature Park under the Rosedale Butterfly from 10 to 11 a.m., now through May. Aimed at ages birth to kindergarten (but all are welcome), children attending will hear a story read aloud by Jennifer Murrow, Huntersville Parks & Recreation Assistant, and participate in an activity and a craft. The theme and stories chosen each week will correlate with the seasons or holidays.

“We are always looking for ways to reach different age groups, our goal is to meet the needs of the community,” says Weston Smith, Huntersville Parks & Recreation Coordinator. “We wanted to use that space because it’s great with the butterfly and a new park.”

Registration is not required for this free program.

For anyone who hasn’t been to Rosedale Park yet, the fully fenced-in playground features treehouse-style climbing structures, monkey bars and a zipline. In addition, children can explore the natural playscape area which features slides built into a hill, a large circle swing and more climbing structures as well as a walking trail.

For slightly older children, “Creative Crafting” led by Mrs. Nicola is returning this spring. Aimed at ages 5-16, Nicola Mitchell, owner of 22

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

the creative events and design shop DewdleDew (@dewdledew on Instagram), will be leading a monthly craft (Feb. 18, March 10, April 7, May 19) from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Huntersville Recreation Center.

“We will explore both traditional and non-traditional materials, doing craft projects like weaving, collages, painting, making our own paper and so much more,” says Mitchell. Registration is required for this event and costs $15 for residents, $20 for non-residents. Mrs. Nicola will also be running classes for adults in May, so adult crafters, they’ve got you covered, too.

For elementary-aged students in a homeschool program, Huntersville Parks & Recreation offers “Homeschool PE” every Friday through the spring at the Huntersville Recreation Center. The first hour, staff will lead the attendees in an organized sport, followed by 30 minutes of open play. Registration is required and costs $3 for residents or $5 for non-residents.

Finally, Huntersville Parks & Recreation will be offering a program geared at teens each month called “Xtreme Teen Outings.” Coming up Feb. 10-11, kids aged 11-16 years old can sign up for bowling at Stars and Stripes, followed by a lock-in at the Huntersville Recreation Center. Spots are limited and registration is required. The program fee is $65 for residents, $70 for non-residents and includes dinner Saturday night, breakfast Sunday morning and snacks.

For more information on events or programs, visit Huntersville Parks & Recreation on Facebook or Instagram (@huntersvilleparksnrec). Allie Spencer is a mom of two living in Lake Norman. She shares events, playgrounds and things to do with kids on Instagram @lkn_littles.

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Wants

Design experts share their takes on this year’s trends

by Lori Helms

There is a wealth of interior design talent in the Lake Norman area, and while each of them is a creative individual in their own right, with differing approaches to color, form, texture and client relationships, there are a few common threads that appear to be weaving through the figurative fabric of their projects for the coming year.

4 2 0 for 2

The design talent at Lilly & Grace tells us to look for “moody” and sophisticated treatments for certain rooms this year.

Almost to a person, they will tell you to watch for a continuing shift toward warmer tones, particularly in kitchen cabinetry, floors, countertops and tile. The stark white kitchens and “farmhouse” black and white themes with which we’ve all become familiar will likely endure in some form or fashion, but designers say they increasingly see a shift toward natural or medium-toned stains, even adding that cream is essentially now the new white.

But don’t worry, the new or remodeled interiors of 2024 won’t entirely be an homage to earthy, taupe-heavy color palettes.

There is a refreshing penchant for patterns in wallpaper, draperies and tile work, with greens and blues making a strong showing.

And folks are also beginning to accept their ceilings as a perfect design space, using everything from wallpaper to wood paneling to provide texture, depth and interest.

We’ve collected some design tips and trends to watch for this year from some of the best interior designers in our region – there is definitely something for everyone’s wants and whims looking to breathe new life into their home in the coming year. www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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DWELLINGS

Burgundy, plums and blues are going to be a big part of 2024. If you don’t want to commit to those colors for large-scale items like cabinets, you can use them in accessories.

Taupe, beige and darker wood tones are going to be trending this year. Gray and white aren’t going away, but people are asking for deeper grays that have brown tones, and instead of white, it is now cream. There are also a lot of tiles out there that look like wood, such as the reeded wood tile in this bathroom (bottom left).

Cabinetry Pro Tip: Instead of ripping out cabinets, reuse them in another space or paint them. New trim at the top, soft close features and new hardware can transform cabinets without having to spend the money on new ones.

— Michelle McKoy / Michelle McKoy Designs — Photography by Serena Apostal Studio

The trend toward approachable and functional personalized living spaces will continue into 2024, that will include unexpected details such as added wood, color on the ceiling and patterned wallpapers.

I will be applying lots of textures and natural elements that keep things more organic. I’m definitely seeing the trend toward warmer wood tones to add depth to the design, as well as more vibrant colors that bring in my client’s true personality and style.

— Lori Savio / Home, Heart & Soul — Photography by Lori Savio

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

When designing a kitchen, upgrading the sink is a must — we frequently replace the traditional two-compartment or split sink with a spacious, deep work station sink. This upgrade accommodates large pots and pans while providing ample prep space. The workstation sinks come equipped with accessories, enhancing both preparation and cleanup, offering added ease and convenience.

We’re infusing our designs with travel inspiration more than ever, drawing from architecture, landscapes and decor. Travel holds significant importance for our clients in shaping their preferences. This is a trend we don’t see slowing down as we move forward.

— Anna Stowe / Great Design 4 U Lead Interior Designer — Photography courtesy Great Design 4 U

Wallpaper is trending this year and we love bringing attention to a space by adding fun, eye-catching patterns.

Another design trend for 2024 that we cannot get enough of is custom draperies. We love choosing beautiful textiles to create draperies and we feel like this really completes a room. A must have color combo for 2024 is blue and green.

We love a rich and sophisticated look, and we will be seeing lots of “moody” design pallets in 2024.

— Madi Ford Stone / Lilly & Grace — Photography by Lilly & Grace

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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DWELLINGS

Remember when the dilemma of a tub in the master bath was a big decision? Now most homeowners, if faced with a choice, would put the space and the money into a big shower with as many bells and whistles as possible and willingly give up the tub. A post-pandemic effect is that steam and sauna are more standard requests in the luxury as well as upper mid-markets, with most of us being more health conscious and making self-care a priority. A design that is not new but is trending is using wet rooms in the master bath where the tub is inside the enclosed shower area.

A scullery, much like a home steam/sauna, used to be only for the highest end homes and budgets.

Now with more people cooking at home, a scullery seems to be a growing necessity. If there isn’t room for a full scullery, a “macked” out pantry will do.

— Kelly Cruz / Kelly Cruz Interiors — Photography courtesy Kelly Cruz Interiors

Statement Tile: Tile has been used over the years as the backdrop for the room, and is often seen as the white, beige or gray paint equivalent. Tile has now moved into a key design feature — bold and artful. We are using tile murals, super textural tile as statement walls, bold waterjet as key features and even 3D tile in current projects.

Embracing Color: Everyone has a visceral reaction to color. Your personal reaction is not based on a trend.

Often, it is a memory. In the 70’s, the color palette was very specific. Today, we encourage you to embrace the colors that make you inhale and smile. Use the whole box of crayons.

Lighting as Art: It is said that lighting is the jewelry in a room, and I wholeheartedly agree. It can also be sculpture or art. It can light up a corner, fill a tall ceiling and balance the view. If you are building a new home, the one suggestion I would give is to let the builder handle the recessed lighting and cabinetry lighting, and let your designer handle all of the fixed lighting. Lighting is key to the design of your space, and you want access to the most artful and beautiful lighting available.

— Starr Miller — Photography by Dustin Peck Photography 30

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Expect to see more countertop and tile materials with warmer tones. A current project is a kitchen renovation showing a fabulous new quartz countertop material which will run up the wall for a full slab backsplash. We have been doing that often. When the slab material is interesting, it makes a clean but important statement in the space. This kitchen will feature a combination of rift sawn oak with stain, my favorite green cabinet color, and of course, brass hardware. All very 2024.

— Wendy Yeakley / Homestyles Interior Design — Photography courtesy Homestyles Interior Design

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BESTTOFETHE BEST FO R

VO

We want to hear from you!

Nominate your favorite businesses today!

New Personal Lines Account Manager

»

KARA BRAMLEY

We would like to welcome Kara Bramley to our Personal Lines Department as an Account Manager. Kara has worked with us before as a Health Benefits Consultant Assistant, so we are glad to have her back with us in a fresh new role.

As a Personal Lines Account Manager, Kara will strive to service personal client accounts, fulfill client needs to the best of her ability, and create plan coverage options that are tailored to each client’s unique situation.

Kara gained her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Health Systems Management and has worked as a Health Care Aide.

With this experience, Kara brings with her a strong will, management skills, interpersonal skills, and client service experience with a focus on trust and care.

As Kara applies her skills and experience to a new field, she is eager to create new client relationships as she learns the world of Personal Insurance alongside the rest of the team at Fogle Insurance Group as we all strive to find tailored solutions to residents in the Greater Charlotte and Lake Norman areas.

(704) 875-3060 foglegroup.com 32

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Kara’s Insurance Tip:

Did you receive jewelry, firearms, furs, or collectibles for the holidays? It is a good idea to get any valuable items added to your Homeowners policy as soon as possible. Scheduling your valuables will ensure you get the full appraised value of the item if ever lost or stolen.

Give us a call and we will go over your valuables and talk about the next steps of getting them appraised and scheduled on your Homeowners policy.

Kara Bramley

New Personal Lines Account Manager

s e t i r o v a F Fresh

TRENDS + STYLE

touches of green for a nod to nature

[1] [5]

[7]

[3]

[4] [8]

[2] [6]

All of these items can be purchased at:

178 N. Main Street, Mooresville, NC 704.957.5014

1. Tufted Armchair - $1209 2. Pillows - starting at $49 3. Graham Lamp - $398

4. Bamboo Bud Vase - $65 5. Frames - starting at $19 6. Vases - starting at $89

7. Orchids - starting at $69 8. Imperial Taper Set/5 - $149

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

33

GAME ON

‘Show Up, Set Up, Drink Up’ Serving up fun at local breweries

by Lori Helms | photographs courtesy LNTA

Who knew you could have this much fun in a brewery parking lot?

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Above, just another fun outing with the ServeAces Mini Tennis Brewery League. Right, the highly-coveted “trophy” for the league’s last place team.

There’s always been this inherent tension between traditional tennis players and devotees of pickleball. Some folks play both, with varying levels of success. But there is a distinct, and rather vocal, divide when it comes to adherents of the 140-plus-year royal tradition of tennis and the pickleball upstarts with the noisy “kuh-dink kuh-dink” of their wooden paddle and plastic oversized whiffle ball. You can probably guess which camp I populate.

Well, folks, everybody can just calm down. There is a better way to enjoy a racquet sport, regardless of talent or equipment. And it all starts — and ends — with a beer.

Welcome to “ServeAces,” the brainchild of Amy Brandon, executive director of the Lake Norman Tennis Association (LNTA). And before we go any further, please take a second to pronounce ServeAces out loud ... we’ll wait. Yep, I saw it. The light just clicked on, didn’t it? Now you understand just what beer might have to do with a tennis league.

Part of her role with LNTA is a mission to grow the game, and to provide playing opportunities to those of all ages and abilities. After all, trying to learn tennis as an adult can be a daunting prospect.

Understanding the scoring, finding the right equipment, wearing the proper gear, and heck, even finding a place to play can all be a bit intimidating. So, Brandon thought, why not bring the game to where folks like to gather?

“Let’s do it in the breweries,” she says when describing the beginnings of her ServeAces Mini Tennis Brewery League. “I was trying to find a way to get non-tennis players with a racquet in their hand. We just wanted to bring tennis to people in a non-threatening environment.”

Almost eight years after that little brainstorm, and it appears Brandon and the LNTA are on to something. Starting in 2016 with only four sponsoring breweries and 64 players, it has grown to more than a dozen sponsors throughout the Lake Norman region and can claim roughly 500 players a year across more than two dozen teams.

Part of the attraction to ServeAces is how simple Brandon has kept it to make it easy to participate. The Thursday night Social division is for players new to tennis as well as old hands at it, but every point played in the Social division has to have a “newbie” on the court.

There is also a Monday night Growler division for the more competitive players.

There’s no complicated tennis scoring – the first one to 21 points wins, and you tag in new players every eight points. When players arrive at the scheduled brewery for their match, everything is there waiting for them – 21” junior racquets, a large foam ball, the popup net and even the tape to mark off the 18’ x 36’ court. Everyone having to use the same equipment is a great equalizer, as is the requirement that the ball must bounce in every point – no smashing it out of the air at the poor, unsuspecting newbie on the other side of the net.

“Show up, set up, drink up,” Brandon says. It’s just that simple.

The top team at the end of each season wins customized pint glasses with their team name and the honor of hosting the end-of-season party. There’s even the traditional winners’ plaque, with team names added at the end of the spring and summer seasons.

But this may be the only tennis league in which there is an unspoken race for the bottom, if for nothing else but to hold the coveted “Dead Last” award. It is a trophy resembling a miniature toilet bowl, engraved with “Try Again Next Year.” Funny thing, though. You can’t find a picture of anyone hoisting the Dead Last toilet who isn’t wearing an ear-to-ear grin.

Or holding a beer.

Registration for the spring ServeAces Mini Tennis Brewery League opens soon. Visit www.lnta.org for more information, or contact Brandon at director@lnta.org or 704.746.2897.

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

35

FEATURE

Exercising

the Mind A language learning legacy

by Jennifer Mitchell photographs courtesy Horse Education Group

Above, Horse Education Group founder Olivier Giraudo, and North Academy of World Languages principal Lydia Fergison, with a French painting donated to the school. Left, children learn French through arts and crafts at the HEG after-school immersive French club.

“It’s important to me to connect my students with that kind of cultural immersion because I see firsthand the difference it makes when learning the language.”

Learning a foreign language takes time and determination. Monica Giraudo knew that intimately. Her small, French language tutoring service helped strengthen fluency skills in dozens of her students and it was her passion. However, in September 2019, Monica lost a fouryear battle with ovarian cancer. Her husband, Olivier Giraudo, was determined to build on the foundation his wife had started.

“I was really puzzled as to what to do with her tutoring service,” he says. “Should I cancel with her students, or try to grow this business?”

A skilled entrepreneur and philanthropist, Giraudo was inspired to establish an educational legacy in his wife’s honor. In 2020, with COVID causing a temporary end to in-person teaching, he brought joy to online learning. Building a team of native language instructors 36

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

not only in the Lake Norman area but across the U.S. and the world, he incorporated the flexibility of online or in-person instruction and launched the next phase of what his wife had started.

“Students should be smiling and having fun as they are learning and each student needs to learn at their own pace,” says Giraudo. “Our educators incorporate arts and crafts, cultural cooking classes, camps, after school activities and more to establish an emotional connection through the adventure of the learning process.”

The language learning center, once known as OMM French Enhancement Education, is now Horse Education Group (HEG).

He says the new name comes from the notion that learning a language is like learning to ride a horse – both take focus and dedication and are meant to be fun.

Left, Olivier Giraudo with his daughter, Maria. Below left and right, students in the 2023 fall semester Arab studies course enjoy an Egyptian Arabic cooking class.

HEG now has 48 instructors worldwide and is still growing daily as new applications for educators are received. Instruction is offered in nine languages including French, Spanish, German, Chinese – Mandarin, Arabic, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Persian. The group partners with two international schools in the area including North Academy of World Languages (NAWL) in Huntersville and South Academy of International Languages in Charlotte. The principal at NAWL, Lydia Fergison, says her daughter attended a virtual Christmas-themed language camp with HEG and was hooked.

Group offers tutoring to all age ranges, including many adults.

HEG offers camps and after school activities at NAWL and other schools. The group also offers virtual tutoring and has a unique partnership with Davidson College.

Born and raised in Sainte-Maxime on the French Riviera, Giraudo did not learn his polished English in the school system. He learned it while traveling to the United States and interacting with the people and the culture. That’s exactly what he aims to create for his own students as well as for his daughter Marla, who was raised bilingual.

“Through cooking and cultural immersion, I see my students’ lives being enriched as they learn dialects with these tutors,” says Rebecca Joubin, Professor of Arab Studies at Davidson College. “It’s important to me to connect my students with that kind of cultural immersion because I see firsthand the difference it makes when learning the language.”

Joubin says when a student is enjoying the process and engaging in energetic activities to reinforce the language, they will always remember the experience and the knowledge will not fade. Horse Education

“We try to find the perfect tutor for each individual,” Giraudo says.

“Our number one priority is for the teacher to create an emotional connection with the student.” He says he treasures the tutors he has hired because they are not only the face of the business, but they unlock the secret to learning a foreign language. He plans to begin presenting an exceptional teaching award to his staff beginning in June 2024.

“My wife Monica hoped to use her own personal experience to inspire students to achieve their potential,” he says. “This teaching endeavor is a way to honor my wife’s memory and give back to a community that has given us so much.”

To learn more about Horse Education Group, visit www.horseeducationgroup.com.

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

37

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

PREFERRED PROVIDERS

If you are searching for a medical professional to assist each member of your household in maintaining optimal health, learn more about the Lake Norman area’s premier medical professionals on the following pages.

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

39

SPECIAL PROFILE FEATURE

The Perfect Provider

Michael Foran, DMD Michael Coleman, DDS CAROLINA ORAL & FACIAL SURGERY

F

ounded in 1985, Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery focuses on dental alveolar surgery, such as tooth extraction and dental implant placement, as well as bone grafting, pathology and dental infection services, and in-office anesthesia and sedation.

Dr. Michael Coleman and Dr. Michael Foran stay abreast of the latest in technique and technology, which has proven to be paramount to the practice’s success.

“Our practice is mainly an office-based oral surgery practice. We specialize in surgical procedures consisting of extraction of wisdom teeth and other non-restorable teeth, bone grafting, placement of dental implants, biopsies and management of pathology and surgical intervention of oral and facial infections,” explains Dr. Foran, an Army veteran.“We have extensive training and experience in in-office sedation to provide comfort to our patients.”

Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery is one of the first practices in the area to implement CTguided implant procedures. Dr. Foran says CTguided surgery allows bone grafting and dental implant placement to be more precise. “It has become much more common in my practice, and it helps me serve our patients better,” he explains, adding that the practice also has privileges at the local Novant hospitals for more complicated procedures that require a hospital setting, such as trauma and facial fractures, as well as orthognathic surgery.

Regardless of the complexity of the procedure, the goal of Carolina Oral & Facial Surgery is to always provide the most up-todate oral and maxillofacial surgical care in a warm, professional and caring environment, personalized to meet an individual patient’s dental needs.

“We are not a large corporate practice. We tailor our care to the individual, in a low-volume and caring environment,” adds Dr. Coleman, who is highly trained in all aspects of oral surgery and implant dentistry. “Our support staff is second to none, and we are always

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

available to our patients, even after the office closes.”

These board certified physicians treat each patient as they would want their wives and children to be treated, with respect, courtesy and compassion. “Our ultimate goal is to provide patients with a thorough diagnosis, the most state-of-the art oral surgery and dental implant treatment, modern facilities and equipment in a professional yet personal, caring, and, perhaps most important, safe environment,” explains Dr. Foran. “We all pay close attention to the concerns of our patients for the best possible treatment and outcome.”

19910 N. Cove Road | Cornelius, NC 28031 704.892.1198 | www.carolinaoms.com

SPECIAL PROFILE FEATURE

The Perfect Provider

Neel Gandhi, MD

CAROLINA BIOONCOLOGY INSTITUTE

C

www.carolinabiooncology.org | 704.947.6599 9801 Kincey Ave., Suite 145 | Huntersville, NC 28078

team

arolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI) was founded in 2005 and is the only independent private practice fully dedicated to early phase clinical research trials in the region. The institute has seen more than 4,500 patients and opened more than 160 Phase 1 solid tumor clinical trials, several of which have led to FDA immunotherapies. CBOI has a good track record, noting most of the immunotherapies commercially approved by the FDA over the past decade were initially studied on phase 1 clinical research trials right here in Huntersville.

The clinical team at CBOI specializes in helping patients with metastatic cancer who are running out of standard commercially available treatment options gain rapid access to cutting-edge clinical research trials that are not yet widely available. Most patients can be seen within a week and enrolled in a trial within 10-14 days if they are eligible.

CBOI is proud to welcome Dr. Neel Gandhi who recently joined CBOI in early 2023 after practicing oncology for 10 years in Princeton NJ. He takes a very patient- focused and personalized approach to each patient and their type of cancer, to enable access as quickly as possible, choosing the most appropriate phase 1 clinical trial.

“I strongly believe in immunotherapy and how it will be an integral part of the cure for cancer in the future,” says Dr. Gandhi. “With new trials regularly opening, we have a pipeline of hope for those facing an uncertain future.”

The other CBOI providers John Powderly, MD; and Sherene Banawan, PA-C, participate in numerous community patient advocacy organizations along with outreach, education and awareness campaigns for access to early phase clinical trials.

Those groups include the Colon Cancer Coalition, the Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research, the American Cancer Society and Teal Diva.

But it’s not all work and no play for Dr. Gandhi. He says if he were to add to his list of talents, he would love to be able to play the electric guitar, but he’d settle for an ideal day off from work by sleeping in, having a nice brunch and watching a good movie. www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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SPECIAL PROFILE FEATURE

The Perfect Provider

Christian F. Sorensen, MD IREDELL FAMILY MEDICINE

I

f you’re seeking care for anyone in your family age six or older, Iredell Family Medicine in Mooresville has the medical staff to fit your needs. Dr. Christian F. Sorensen received his medical training at Rutgers Medical School, and with his practice partners Lori Sumner, PA-C, and Kristie Smith, FNP, his practice is focused on caring for each patient as an individual, with each having different goals and needs.

“Our practice strives to provide excellent access to care, and consistently great patient interactions,” says Dr. Sorensen.

“We are dedicated to spending the necessary time needed with patients to develop a care plan that will both help treat current illness and teach patients ways to prevent future risks.”

If they are not holding office hours with their patients, Dr. Sorensen says as a family-oriented practice, they are likely participating in a variety of community events, including local 5Ks, health education opportunities, health fairs and much more. It’s a community involvement commitment he says will continue through 2024 and beyond.

While he finds great fulfillment in his work, Dr. Sorensen says his vision of perfect happiness would be walking along a sunny beach with his family and collecting seashells. In the absence of that on a regular basis, he says a perfect day off would find him doing next to nothing, and preferably doing it on the water.

“Sometimes it is nice being lazy,” he says, “but any day on a boat is great day!”

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

704.360.5190 www.iredellfamilymedicine.com 544 Brawley School Road, Suite A Mooresville, NC 28117 **Now Accepting New Patients**

SPECIAL PROFILE FEATURE

The Perfect Provider

Dr. Micah Kirscher, DNP, FNP-C FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER

Dr. Coral Kirscher, DNP, FNP-C FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER

R

• • • • • • • •• •• Renew Health and Wellness ••• • • • •• Ct www.renewhealthwellnessnc.com | 704-612-0011 18805 W. Catawba Ave., Suite 100 | Cornelius, NC 28031

y l i m fa

enew Health and Wellness in Cornelius is owned and led by the husband-andwife Family Nurse Practitioner team of Dr. Micah Kirscher, DNP, FNP-C; and Dr. Coral Kirscher, DNP, FNP-C. They met during their doctoral program at Frontier University in Lexington, KY, where they both earned their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees specializing as a family nurse practitioner.

“We created Renew because we were fed up with a traditional medical system that is more concerned with insurance guidelines rather than treatment guidelines, and the patient factories who are only concerned with the bottom line rather than patient outcomes,” Micah says. “Coral specializes in weight loss, anti-aging/ longevity medicine and women’s hormone optimization, and I in men’s testosterone/hormone replacement, hair restoration and regenerative medicine.”

The practice’s goal is to treat the underlying condition rather than just prescribe medication to treat a group of symptoms. The list of specialties at Renew Health and Wellness is vast, including treatments for men’s health, hair restoration, weight loss, pain management using non-steroidal regenerative treatments and class IV laser therapy.

The Kirschers believe what sets their practice apart is that theirs is a true “family practice” and not bound by some corporate oversight requiring them to see far too many patients in a day, spending far too little time with them. They strive to develop personal connections with their patients and to understand the personal struggles of not being “heard” by traditional medicine they may have endured.

The doctors say their current practice is their idea of perfect happiness, and that they love working together.

“A lot of people thought we were going to fail because we would be spending too much time together,” Micah says. “I feel honored to be able to go to work and sit next to Coral each day then go home and live our life outside the clinic together. There’s nobody else in this world I would be able to do this with, that is for sure.”

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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SPECIAL PROFILE FEATURE

The Perfect Provider

G

raystone was originally established as Harris, Foster and Lefler, PA in 1969

by Dr. William Harris, Dr. Thomas Foster and Dr. Hampton Lefler. In 1973, a new office was constructed near Catawba Hospital, which they shared with ENT physicians, subsequently becoming known as Graystone Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat.

In 1977, the practice became Graystone Ophthalmology Associates with the joining of Dr. Randal Williams; and, in 1993 Graystone inherited their Lenoir office with the acquisition of Lenoir Eye Care Clinic. During that 16-year span, the founding physicians of Graystone also opened the original Lincolnton office.

Years later in 2000, the current CEO, Sheree Watson, joined the group and helped transform the practice into a highly-functioning organization.

In 2008, the physicians of Graystone determined it was in the best interest of their patients to merge their two Hickory offices and ambulatory surgery center into one combined location. The current Hickory campus was established as the central headquarters, a full-service eye care practice, and a fully accredited surgery center.

From 2009 to 2012 the Lenoir office was fully renovated, the new Lincolnton building was completed, and at the invitation of Dr. William Atkins, Graystone entered the High Country with the acquisition of Watauga Eye in Boone.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

2016 brought the construction of the new Boone building, as the physicians of Graystone merged their Boone and Linville offices. 2019 was another big milestone year with Graystone’s 50th Anniversary, and their continued investment in the community with the expansion of the Hickory location.

Their 40,000-square-foot addition houses a Vision Correction suite, full-service Cosmetic and Aesthetic Center, and adds additional operating rooms to the existing Surgery Center space.

By keeping up with the latest in science and technology, the practice continues to focus on comprehensive eye care, cataracts, glaucoma, refractive procedures (iLASIK), corneal disorders, retinal disorders, pediatric vision disorders, oculofacial plastics (functional and aesthetic services) and optical services.

The team at Graystone Eye (fourteen board certified ophthalmologists and one board certified optometrist) offers the latest in laser surgery and advanced technology lenses.

Graystone is a fully accredited retinal research facility and is proud to offer new treatment options for patients.

The practice takes pride in its rich history throughout the region and continues to evolve to offer the best in advanced eye care. The mission is and has always been to preserve the gift of sight and improve lives — one patient at a time.

888.626.2020 www.graystone-eye.com www.graystonelasik.com www.eyesfacebody.com Hickory (Graystone Eye & Surgery Center, Graystone iLASIK, & Graystone Aesthetic Center) 2424 Century Place SE, Hickory, NC 28602 Lincolnton (Graystone Eye) 2311 E. Main Street, Hwy 150, Lincolnton, NC 28092 Lenoir (Graystone Eye) 2060 Hickory Boulevard, SW (Hwy 321S), Lenoir, NC 28645 Boone (Graystone Eye) 2640 Hwy 105, Suite 102, Boone, NC 28607

SPECIAL PROFILE FEATURE

The Perfect Provider

Kent Pike HEALTHMARKETS INSURANCE AGENCY

KNeed affordable Medicare

ent Pike with HealthMarkets Insurance Agency knows what matters to people regarding their health – finding the right doctor is always important, but it’s also important to find the right coverage to see that doctor.

“We work for you, the consumer, to find the right health or Medicare plan that fits your needs,” he says. Pike believes there is nothing more important than your health, therefore his focus is to simplify the health insurance search by removing the confusion. He makes this easy for his clients by taking a personal approach to the

process, stressing the importance of face-to-face communication. “We are local – local office and service yearround,” he says. “We would much rather talk to you in person where you can visit and sit down to express your concerns, rather than doing it over a phone call or email.” His personal dedication to his clients sets him apart as he brings an accessible approach to healthcare and Medicare within the Lake Norman community. As part of his own health routine, Kent is an avid golfer, who loves going to the course with his youngest daughter, hoping to compete with her in a fatherdaughter tournament one day.

that’s in step with your life Choosing the right Medicare coverage can be confusing.

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704.437.4038 www.healthmarkets.com/kpike 862 Brawley School Road, Suite 203 Mooresville, NC 28117

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www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

45

Living Well Your local resource for health and wellness services near you Audiology

PHC – Lake Norman Ear, Nose & Throat Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD Susie Riggs, AuD Del L. Hawk, Au.D 140 Gateway Blvd.

Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

Cardiology

PHC – Heart & Vascular Jips Zachariah, MD Naveed Rajper, MD

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

Dermatology

PHC – Mooresville Dermatology Center Naomi Simon, MD Kristin Prochaska, PA-C Gina Noble, PA-C Heather Hollandsworth, FNP Susan Stevens, RN, BSN

128 Medical Park Road, Suite 201 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1827

Family Medicine

PHC – Nabors Family Medicine Emily Nabors, MD

142 Professional Park Drive Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-696-2083

PHC – Lake Norman Family Medicine Timothy A. Barker, MD Bruce L. Seaton, DO Amanda H. Bailey, DO Kyle Babinski, DO Bilal Khan, DO Sherard Spangler, PA 357 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-7328

PHC – Sailview Family Medicine Tiana Losinski, MD

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

PHC – Fairview Family Medicine Golnar Lashgari, MD Erica Vollano, FNP-BC

146 Medical Park Road, Suite 210 Mooresville, NC 28117 •704-235-0300

PHC- Lake Norman Dermatology Joel Sugarman, MD FAAD Allison Hanley, PA-C Melissa Moser, PA-C 140 Leaning Oak Drive, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 704-658-9730

PHC - Troutman Family Medicine Amrish C. Patel, MD Janeal Bowers, FNP Kimberly Whiton, FNP Jeanne Pierce, PA-C

PHC – Wolfe Dermatology Steven F. Wolfe, MD Molly Small, PA-C

Gastroenterology

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

Riva Dermatology “Imagine your skin at its Best!”

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Kerry Shafran, MD, FAAD Lindsay Jayson, MPAS, PA-C Erin Dice, MPAS, PA-C Ashley Noone, MPAP, PA-C Nikki Leahy, MSBS, PA-C Mari Klos, CMA, LME

704-896-8837 Cornelius, Mooresville, Denver www.Rivaderm.com

Ears, Nose and Throat

PHC – Lake Norman Ear, Nose, & Throat Keith Meetze, MD Thomas Warren, MD Herb Wettreich, MD Fred New, Jr., ANP 140 Gateway Blvd.

Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

154 S Main Troutman, NC 28166 • 704-528-9903

PHC – Gastroenterology Brandon Marion, MD Aerielle Sibert, PA-C

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

PHC –Comprehensive Digestive Care Center Vivek Trivedi, MD Venu Gangireddy, MD Tiedre Palmer, FNP-C

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

PHC- Gastroenterology Laila Menon, MD Gabrielle Miller, PA-C

170 Medical Park Road, Floor 3 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506

Internal Medicine

PHC – Fox Internal Medicine Jessica Fox, DO Stephanie Michel, PA-C

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

Endocrinology PHC- Endocrinology Elaine Sunderlin, MD Emylee Brown, PA-C

170 Medical Park Road, Floor 3 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506 46 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

PHC – Internal Medicine & Weight Management Manish G. Patel, MD Julie Abney, PA Andrea Brock, PA-C

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

PHC – Lake Norman Internal Medicine John C. Gatlin, MD Swathi Talla, MD Caroline Turner, NP 548 Williamson Road, Suite 6 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-660-5520

Mental Health Services PHC-Mastor Mental Health Jason E. Mastor, MD Kristin C. Brown, PA-C Megan I. Flott, PA-C Diana J. Remenar, PA-C

206 Joe V. Knox Ave. Suite F Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-662-6500

Neurology

PHC – Neurology & Sleep Medicine Dharmen S. Shah, MD 359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-873-1100

PHC – Lake Norman Neurology Andrew J. Braunstein, DO Ryan Conrad, MD Craig D. DuBois, MD Roderick Elias, MD

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

PHC – Lake Norman Neurology Andrew J. Braunstein, DO Ryan Conrad, MD Craig D. DuBois, MD Roderick Elias, MD

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

Obstetrics/Gynecology PHC – Lake Norman OB/GYN James Al-Hussaini, MD Laura Arigo, MD Grant Miller, MD James Wilson, MD Nicole S. Wellbaum, MD NailaRashida Frye, MD Krisandra Edwards, FNP-C Alyssa Clay, DNP, FNP-C

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

Oncology

Southern Oncology Specialists William Mitchell, MD Poras Patel, MD

46 Medical Park Rd, Suite 212 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-659-7850

Orthopaedic Surgery

PHC – Piedmont Bone & Joint Scott Brandon, MD Brett L. Feldman, MD Alex Seldomridge III, MD Travis Eason, MD Julie Glener, MD Kim Lefreniere, PA-C

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

Orthopedic Surgery – Spine PHC – Piedmont Bone & Joint Alex Seldomridge, III, MD

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

Pain Managment

PHC – Pain & Spine Center Harsh Govil, MD, MPH Nathan Barkley, FNP-C Samuel Sackenheim, NP-C April Hatfield, FNP-C

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

PULMONOLOGY PHC –Pulmonology Enrique Ordaz MD Jose Perez MD Ahmed Elnaggar, MD Vishal Patel, MD

170 Medical Park Road, Suite 201, Mooresville NC 28117 • 704-838-8240

Rheumatology

PHC – Rheumatology Sean M. Fahey, MD Dijana Christianson, DO

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

Limitless

For the area’s 55+ adults who place no limits on living their best lives!

The practice of Tai Chi can promote vitality, at any age.

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

47

LIMITLESS - feature

Mind, Body & Tai Chi relieves stress, builds energy

by Abigail Smathers photography courtesy Joe Higgins

Spirit

Certified Tai Chi instructor Joe Higgins works with students through the parks and recreation departments in Cornelius and Davidson.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Tai Chi – its origin, its purpose and especially, its target audience. Though practicing Tai Chi offers many benefits, it’s often thought of as an old folks’ workout.

Local instructor Joe Higgins is looking to change that.

“I may be older now, but I’ve been doing Tai Chi for decades. I fell in love with yoga in college and was introduced to Tai Chi some years later. I’ve been doing it ever since,” says Higgins.

“While it’s great exercise for seniors, people of all ages can and do practice Tai Chi. My classes are for anybody and everybody who can stand for an hour.”

Certified by the American Tai Chi and Qigong association, Higgins leads classes for the Davidson and Cornelius Parks & Recreation departments. Aside from nearly 20 years of teaching experience, his background in psychology and counseling have given him a unique perspective on exercise and a philosophical edge as an instructor.

True to the origin of this ancient Chinese martial art, Higgins’ classes focus on bringing together the mind, body and spirit to promote vitality. Its various postures, which are derived from the movement of animals, are rooted in nature and are believed to help us reach equilibrium. According to Higgins, the principles of Tai Chi go beyond the classroom to aid in self-development, helping us become more aware and reap the fullest benefits of being alive.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

“We start with the physical. We work on balance, flexibility and strength to establish a strong foundation,” he says. “The body must be healthy to foster a healthy mind, but likewise, the mind must be healthy to foster a healthy body. We work on calming the mind, relieving stress and being mindful about our every movement,” says Higgins. “We tie it all together with the spirit. We focus on being present; we actively live our lives instead of being spectators. We build our energy from the inside out.”

Aside from improving physical markers, the mental health benefits of Tai Chi make it a valuable activity for anyone in today’s world. Inperson classes also offer an opportunity for connection.

“That’s one of the beautiful things about teaching in the Lake Norman area,” says Higgins. “It’s not just a town, but a real community. There’s camaraderie, there’s support and there’s exchange. To be able to provide such an important service and impart a positive effect on this community is so special. I have the honor of giving people the tools they need to better their lives and watching them spread that to others. They share their ‘chi’ to experience a strength that’s hard to find on your own.”

You can attend Higgins’ Tai Chi classes at the Cornelius Town Hall on Thursday mornings, and at the Davidson Town Hall on Wednesday mornings. Visit www.cornelius.org or www.townofdavidson.recdesk.com to register.

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www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

49

LIMITLESS - a moment in time

Mother Vine

by Mickey Dunaway

If you have read my “Limitless” columns, you likely know I was born and raised in very, very south Alabama. I was born in the small town of Brewton, just north of the Alabama-Florida state line. Moved at some point early on (I am still searching for that date), and was raised through high school in the town of Wilmer, just east of the Alabama-Mississippi line.

I grew up a country boy through and through. I had no choice. The woods and its bounty were my garden. For example, once I hit shotgun-carrying age — on the first day of squirrel season — my mama, a schoolteacher, let me stay out of school that day. As I recall, the note to return to school the next day read, “David Michael had permission to go squirrel hunting yesterday.” Nothing about excusing me. No sir. She only used my formal Christian names when she was less than pleased with me. Of course, I had covered my tracks and asked my daddy the night before if I could miss school, and as a hunter, too, he said, “Yes, I will tell Mama.” I am not real sure he told Mama.

Our small home at the end of our sandy dirt road was surrounded by woods on three sides. Walk a hundred yards, and I was hunting and having fun growing up; I could be found hunting those woods from September to March.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Often, though, friends and I just walked those beautiful woods and sometimes brought back the fruit of our journeying. There was a panoply enough to fill a cornucopia in those woods: bullises, chinquapin nuts, huckleberries and dewberries.

Dewberries are smaller, sweeter, with fewer seeds than blackberries, and, like their bigger northern cousin, often grow along roadsides and country lanes. Chinquapins grow in the open woods not far from water. They are a first cousin to the northern chestnut and are favorites of squirrels and deer. The nut is covered with spines so sharp that they must be removed with two sets of pliers when you get back home. The last of our forest fruit, the huckleberry, is the same as the Maine wild blueberry — both are cousins of the domesticated blueberry found in any supermarket, but smaller and tastier by far.

From this point forward, I want to focus on a favorite of all southerners: the muscadine or Vitis rotundifolia — a species of grape native to the southeast and south-central United States. Its range has grown during its 400-year reign as America’s grape into Florida, to the New Jersey coast and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.”

-Benjamin Franklin Where did this muscadine vine begin that could continue to grow, thrive and multiply across states after 400 years? That is the heart of Mother Nature’s remarkable love story for February. All grapes, native to America, began on the Outer Banks on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. So those bullises I picked and ate while walking the south Alabama woods came from the Mother Vine — probably transported from North Carolina by native Americans.

According to Wikipedia, the Roanoke Island Mother Vine is estimated to be at least 400 years old and was probably brought to Roanoke Island by Algonquian-speaking peoples. Other historians think it was brought by explorers who landed on Roanoke about the same time as the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

Regardless of its source, the Mother Vine of February 2024 is the same vine that produced scuppernongs on Roanoke Island in the early 1600s.

As a backyard gardener who will struggle with growing a tomato plant this summer, I am amazed at this wonder of nature that has survived droughts, floods, hurricanes, pirates and wars.

I have walked among the towering redwoods in Muir Woods, California, and the fruited woods of Alabama that raised me as a child to love nature, but nothing surpasses Mother Vine of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

I hope you can drive this spring to visit the Outer Banks and the Mother Vine, and when you do, stop along the way and enjoy a muscadine slushy at most any local gas station. And before you return home, bring several varieties of muscadine wine produced by our state’s other wineries.

I admit that I am not a wine aficionado — remember my Alabama background — and when asked about my favorite wine, I usually respond, “Well, to tell you the truth, I like to taste the grapes, and nothing does that as well as North Carolina muscadine wine.”

Want to explore the Mother Vine? Visit https://content.ces.ncsu. edu/muscadine-grapes-in-the-home-garden, or watch “Field Trip to Muscadine Mother Vine” — PBS Special, Oct. 14, 2021.

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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53

LIMITLESS - learning

Show Your Family Some Love ... Plan Ahead!

I

t’s hard to believe February is here. In January, we were making New Year’s resolutions. Now it’s the month of hearts, cupids and chocolates. If you really want to show your family some love, consider leaving them a written document that tells them what they need to know about your assets.

You may already have a Will and Power of Attorney, but what about all your actual assets? Would your family know how to access them? Would they even know some of them exist? Many people do their banking/investing online, so there’s not a paper trail.

What about “digital” assets? Your photographs, email and social media accounts could be lost forever if your loved ones can’t log in to those accounts. Consider making a master list of your accounts containing account names, numbers, locations, usernames, passwords and other login credentials. This information can be stored on paper, a flash drive, in a safe, in cloud-based documents for which you can control access or with third party providers who use secure password management.

A thorough plan for providing information about your assets may utilize multiple approaches. You may want to leave a written document listing all accounts, account numbers, etc.,

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

while storing password and login credentials with a password manager.

You will also need to designate a trusted person to whom you provide this information so that they can access it when the time comes. Having this information readily available will save your family hours of time searching, going through old mail and files, and calling toll-free numbers only to get the “runaround.” Instead, you will have provided the necessary information to efficiently carry out your plans for transferring your assets to your loved ones. What a tremendous act of love from you to them.

Amy Shue Isaacs is an Estate Administration/Probate Attorney with The McIntosh Law Firm, P.C. Contact her at 704.892.1699 or visit www.mcintoshlawfirm.com.

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www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

55

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Changing Lives in 12 Weeks FeedNC training can be transformational

by Bek Mitchell-Kidd photography courtesy FeedNC

Above and far left, workforce development students celebrate their graduation from FeedNC’s programs. Left, hands-on training is a feature of the nonprofit’s culinary program.

Located in their new digs on Charlotte Highway in Mooresville, FeedNC continues to serve the Lake Norman community with a variety of programs.

The FeedNC programs have more than 50 local business partners, including many restaurants who support the program and are ready to hire FeedNC workforce development graduates.

Most people are familiar with the nonprofit’s Donoghue’s Open Door, a community dining space, open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. The food from the a la carte menu is provided at no charge, but if you can afford to pay, sharing a meal at a community table is a delicious and much appreciated way to support FeedNC. However, two programs you may not know about are the culinary as well as warehouse and grocery training programs. As the names suggest, the culinary program serves individuals who are unemployed or underemployed by providing life skill classes, hands-on field training and real-life experience in the culinary world, while the warehouse and grocery training program develops skills and knowledge to work in the industry, including an OSHA 10-hour card and forklift certification.

Another example is the partnership with Mitchell Community College — FeedNC culinary students earn at least 10 credit hours toward Mitchell Community College’s A.A.S Culinary Arts degree, and upon successful completion of the final culinary test, FeedNC graduates may be eligible to transfer 20 college credit hours.

“We surveyed our guests to better understand what programs would benefit families facing food insecurity,” says Brittany Holbert, FeedNC’s chief operating officer. “A recurring theme was that they were not making enough income to make ends meet or were experiencing job insecurity. That led to the pilot of the culinary workforce development program.”

The 12-week programs run seasonally, accommodating 22 students (14 culinary and 8 warehouse and grocery) per session. Since 2018, the initiative has graduated 70 students with a 90 percent employment rate upon graduation.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

“This program has helped me by giving me myself back,” says Carlotta Knox, a recent graduate. “Prior to entering the program, I felt overwhelmed … I now feel more confident of feeding my family, paying bills and being able to outright support myself.” Holbert witnesses this “change in action” on a daily basis.

“Having been with the organization for five years, I have had the privilege of seeing real change in real people’s lives,” she says. “I’ve seen students who went from working years at minimum-wage jobs who are now working full time, making $18 an hour with benefits and able to support their family without reliance on other services. I’ve seen someone who went from being unemployed with $2 in their pocket to being able to fulfill their dream of taking their children to Disney World. In my opinion, there is nothing more impactful than that.”

Interested or know someone who may be a good fit for the programs? Apply now for the 2024 fall session by contacting Kathryn Stulpin, Workforce Development & Education Program Coordinator at kstulpin@feednc.org. Learn more at www.FeedNC.org

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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

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Dine + Wine Eating, drinking, cooking and fun

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One of hundreds of labels ripe for the sipping at The Barrel Wine Lounge.

www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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DINE + WINE - wine time

A Star is Born Oregon’s Willamette Valley makes it on the map

by Trevor Burton | photograph by Trevor Burton

This story has a beginning. Enter the Letts — David and Diana — who became folk heroes in Oregon’s wine history. Grape vines had started being planted in Oregon soil. The Letts discovered an ideal site for their Eyrie Vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley subregion of Dundee Hills. Their first vintage was produced in 1970.

Switch, now, to the Olympics. Not this year’s games in Paris but the “Paris Wine Olympics of 1979.” This was a competition, sponsored by the famous French food and wine guide, Gault Millau. It featured 330 wines from 33 countries that were tasted blind by 62 “expert” judges. The 1975 Eyrie Pinot Noir Reserve attracted attention by placing 10th among Pinot Noirs. A stunning achievement for a wine from a region that almost no one had heard of, let alone tasted its wine.

Clearly it must have been a fluke. So, Robert Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin, a famed Burgundy negociant and producer, sponsored a second competition. This time the Eyrie wine came a close second behind Drouhin’s own 1959 Chambolle-Musigny. Some fluke!

David Letts’ reputation was established and so was Oregon’s. Robert Drouhin definitely thought so. It wasn’t long before Domaine Drouhin Oregon was built in the same Dundee Hills as Eyrie’s vineyards — a strong endorsement of Oregon’s terroir and an international recognition of Letts’ achievement. Drouhin has been followed by several of his fellow Burgundians. Let’s hear it for the Letts.

The Willamette Valley is located just south of Portland. It’s within 80 miles of the cool Pacific coastline. It’s in a broad, shallow valley, formed between the low-lying mountains of the Coast Range on the west side and the much larger Cascades to the east. Temperatures are kept moderate by the proximity to the ocean. Pinot Noir is comfy 60

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

Pinot Noir excellence, starring Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

here. The climate leads to relatively high rainfall. Gentle, long summers and wet autumns are the norm. Just what Pinot Noir likes.

An aside: one thing that sets Oregon apart from all other U.S. wine regions is its labelling laws. They are much stricter. National laws mandate that when a wine label carries a declaration of a particular state, a minimum of 75 percent of the grapes in the wine must be from that state. Oregon requires that 100 percent must be from Oregon. When an American Viticultural Area (AVA), for example Napa Valley, is listed on the label, the national legal requirement is that a minimum of 85 percent of the grapes must be from the AVA. Oregon requires a minimum of 95 percent.

Another fact is favorable to Oregon Pinot Noir. Most important, when it comes to grapes, the same local Oregon rules apply. National legal requirements are that if a grape is listed on a label, a minimum of 75 percent of the grapes in the wine must be the one carried on the label. Oregon requires a minimum of 90 percent. Strict laws — great wines.

So, a star was born. The “Paris Wine Olympics of 1979” caused a tectonic shift in the map of the world’s wine producing regions.

Oregon is a recognized, major producer of high-quality Pinot Noir wines. It’s well worth the time to search them out. Some famous Burgundian winemakers did so, and all wine lovers should, too. All you have to lose is excellent taste.

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www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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DINE + WINE - tasty bits

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

g n i t r o f Com

& Creamy Curry

by Kathy Dicken photography by Kathy Dicken

Chicken Curry On a cold winter day in the UK, you will often hear Brits say, “Let’s go for a curry!”

With good reason. There is nothing better to warm you up on a cold winter day than a creamy, richly spiced Chicken Curry. Brits are so mad for curry that Chicken Tikka Masala regularly gets voted one of the most popular takeaway meals in the UK — right up there with fish and chips. Their love affair with curry can be traced back to the 18th century when many Brits were resident in India.

If you are not familiar, as I was not, you should understand that ground curry is actually a mixture of spices, usually including coriander, turmeric, cumin, paprika, cayenne, cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Also, some curry powders are spicy while some are not. Since curry powders are in fact a mixture of spices, the spiciness depends on the ingredients. Adding chiles, like cayenne, enhance the heat. What all curry powders share is a sweet warmth that gives a toasty depth to everything it is added to.

This comforting Chicken Curry recipe is simply made in one skillet, by sauteing chicken and diced onion with curry powder, ginger and garlic, then adding coconut milk for creaminess, and chickpeas and spinach for extra heartiness.

It’s perfectly creamy, spicy and warming. Serve over rice with a little sour cream and extra chili flakes if so desired.

Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. olive oil 3 chicken breasts (approx. 1 lb.), chopped into bite-size chunks 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp. ginger, minced 2 Tbsp. mild curry powder 1 Tbsp. ground coriander ½ Tbsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. paprika ½ tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. black pepper 2 Tbsp. tomato paste 1 can (14 oz.) finely chopped tomatoes 1 cup chicken stock 1 can (14 oz.) full-fat coconut milk 1 can (14 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed 2 cups (4 oz.) baby spinach Optional: 1 Tbsp. cornstarch 2 Tbsp. cold water Instructions: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly browned. Add the onion to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, to soften.

Servings: 4 Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes

Kathy Dicken lives in Huntersville and is the author of The Tasty Bits food blog.

For more meal ideas that are simple and delicious, you can follow her blog at www.thetastybits.com or on Instagram @thetastybits.

Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder, ground coriander, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Next, stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chickpeas, chicken stock and coconut milk. Bring to a low simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. If you would like to thicken the curry, stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with cold water).

This is completely optional and can be left out if the curry thickness is to your liking.

Finally, remove skillet from the heat and stir in the spinach until wilted, usually 2-3 minutes. Serve with steamed rice and garnish with sour cream, avocado, fresh cilantro and chili flakes if desired. www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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DINE + WINE - nibbles and bites

Where The Lake Meets

the Coast

Savannah Oyster Co. drops anchor in Mooresville

byTony Ricciardelli | photography courtesy Savannah Oyster Co.

For those seeking a fine seafood dining experience, finding fresh ocean fare in the Lake Norman region can be challenging. With the coast 200 miles away, choices are limited, and who wants to drive to Charlotte for a dozen oysters? Yes, there are numerous steak houses and traditional family-style restaurants serving seafood as non-specialty options, but does that seafood measure up to the satisfaction of dining in a restaurant that specializes in procuring, processing and creating an epicurean’s seafood delight on a plate? Probably not.

One needn’t, however, travel to the coast in search of fine seafood. At Savannah Oyster Co. in Mooresville, the seafood is fresh, the staff is knowledgeable and the atmosphere is inviting and attractive.

A California beach lover and surfer in his previous life, Jason Tuton, a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley, majored in Political Economics while bartending in San Francisco restaurants during his academic years. Later, he found success in owning several car dealerships on the west coast. Tuton admits when considering his previous 64

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2024

vocations, he has “no business being in the (restaurant) business.”

After establishing a Nissan dealership in Wilmington, Tuton fell in love with the Tar Heel State and, eventually, Lake Norman.

Subsequently, he decided to circle back to the restaurant scene, opening the successful Barrel and Fork in Cornelius. For his next venture, however, he went in a different direction. Where Barrel and Fork resides in a 120-year-old house that celebrates “the vibrance of days forgotten,” Savannah Oyster Co., located in a brand-new building, has a modern, breezy feel within its vibrantly refreshing and spacious dining area. Tuton is committed to creating an aesthetically enticing environment, and is responsible for the restaurant’s décor and design, right down to the flowers and chic table settings. The restaurant occupies a spacious 4,600 square feet, seating 95 patrons inside and another 75 guests on the outdoor patio.

In his planning and preparation, Tuton visited seafood restaurants from Boston to Portland, Maine — an educational excursion that lends itself to Savannah Oyster Co.’s seafood sourcing and in-house

Where the OLD is the new NEW

W e Gu a r a ntee to W i n Your H e a r t AT THE DEPOT!

A plate of mussels is just one delicacy to enjoy at the newly-opened Savannah Oyster Co. in Mooresville.

processing practices. Fish is flown in fresh and whole; the variety changes based on seasonal availability.

The restaurant operates on the “Pond to Plate” philosophy, focusing on the freshest farm-raised and wild-caught seafood procured only from responsible sources.

“We get calls every day from purveyors who tell us what type of fish they’ve caught,” says Tuton, “as well as a list every morning identifying specific fishing boats and what type of fish they have on board.”

The oysters are flown in daily and include varieties from Island Creek Oyster (Boston), Bluepoint (East Coast), Hog Island Oysters (San Francisco), Glidden Point (Maine) and Chesapeake Smokes (Chesapeake Bay). The growing popularity of eating raw oysters is impressive. It’s common for the oyster shuckers at Savannah Oyster Co. to process more than 800 oysters on a weekend night.

Manila clams, large shrimp, crab legs, octopus, sea urchin, little neck clams, mussels, shrimp and caviar are also featured, and not incidentally.

“Rather than the chef deciding which items to include on the menu, our menus and offerings are guest-driven,” says Tuton. “We listen to our customers and provide the products and services they’re asking for.” Additional menu items include crab and avocado timbale, Spanish octopus, Chilean sea bass, Maine lobster tail and mahi mahi.

Bar drinks lean toward tequila specialties with a California spin. “I’m a seafood ceviche type of guy,” says Tuton. “I like that vibe.”

“Oysters are the single most regulated item a restaurant can sell,”Tuton says. “We’re required to keep logs documenting who sold us the oysters, which farm they came from, the lot number, the date farmed, how long they’ve been in the restaurant.” Savannah Oyster Co.’s oysters and seafood are as fresh as they can be.

Savannah Oyster Co. is located at Mill One, 201 Church Street, Suite 100, Mooresville. For more information, call 704.664.6417 or visit www.savannahoc.com.

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DINE + WINE - on tap

Belly Up to The Barrel Where everybody knows your name

by Lori Helms | photography by Lori Helms

It’s not a stretch to say that just a few minutes after you walk in the door at The Barrel Wine Lounge in Mooresville, you have that vague déjà vu feeling of thinking you might know this place, or maybe you’ve been here before.

Then it hits you ... it’s just like stepping inside an episode of that popular 1980s bar sitcom “Cheers.” Only you’re not greeted by a chorus of “Norm!” It’s more likely to be a warm “Oh, hi honey!” from owner Trudi Zangardi. And rather than hoisting a frosty, frothy mug of something malty, you’re soon sampling something red, white or bubbly. Yes, you may be in a wine lounge, but it’s cleverly disguised – in décor, design and demeanor – as someone’s cozy and wonderfully appointed living room.

This is Zangardi’s third venture into the world of specialty wines, spirits and hospitality. She is the former owner of Lake Norman Cottage and The Cabin, both on the waterfront at North Harbor Place in Davidson. After losing her job in the banking industry in 2008 when the economy was crashing, Zangardi says she and her husband got to thinking – and drinking – at the dinner table one night over a bottle of wine, considering what their financial options might be.

“And this one night, we opened a second bottle,” she says with a knowing laugh and a bit of an eyeroll. “Now we all know, once you open the second bottle, there’s no return.” And that’s how the Lake Norman Cottage – and ultimately The Cabin – were born. She then opened The Barrel in 2016 while still owning the other two establishments but sold those in 2023, and has been blissfully turning her attention full-time on building not just the wine lounge’s business, but its home-grown sense of camaraderie.

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“I haven’t felt this happy in years,” she says. “This is now my focus, I love it. It’s like having three kids and two just went off to college.”

While it might be the tastings, the wine dinner pairings or the regular live music nights featuring a wide variety of genres that pull people in, her customers will tell you it’s really the sense of community that draws them here. There’s the former nurse, Amy Rubacky, who stumbled upon it as a place of refuge after relocating to Mooresville from Washington, D.C., knowing no one here and with three very unhappy teenagers under her roof. She says there were days early on when she would just stop in – not always for a glass of wine but sometimes for just friendly conversation or refuge from the teenaged tempest swirling around her house.

“It felt like being in someone’s home,” she says. “I never felt displaced, I never felt homesick.” It’s a sentiment shared by Stan Thompson, who holds the honorary title of Chief Executive Customer. He found solace at The Barrel for entirely different reasons, but the end result was the same.

“My wife had Alzheimer’s,” he says, “and she died (in 2022). When she had Alzheimer’s, I could bring her here and they would treat her with the greatest respect.” Thompson has become such a part of The Barrel family, that if Zangardi or her staff go even two days without seeing him, they make sure to check in with a phone call or text.

“This is not exactly a business,” Thompson says. “We’re participants.

It’s really not a ‘customer’ thing at all.”

Find out what kind of “thing” The Barrel Wine Lounge is by visiting at 1082-A Brawley School Road in Mooresville. Follow them on Facebook for daily specials and a music lineup or call 704.663.0058.

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www.LNCurrents.com | FEBRUARY 2024

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