CURRENTS magazine

SERVING LAKE NORMAN

APRIL 2022

Eco-friendly

laundry products

Lobster at the lake

The Loch Norman Highland Games begin

Dive into

Outdoor Living

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FROM WHERE I SIT

10 Ways to Procrastinate in the LKN area As I’m writing this, the weather has done its usual “break out the flip flops, oops just kidding!” shenanigans we’ve all grown used to this time of year.

One day it’s sunny with temps in the 70s and the next day it’s rainy, windy, with a high of 35 degrees. I know that will have changed once this issue is on the stands, though. April is the time of year I get obsessed with spring cleaning. I feel like my entire family has been so busy in the last year that we’ve barely had time to keep up with basic housekeeping tasks, much less do any sort of deep cleaning. But right around the time I know I should be wiping down the baseboards and scrubbing the rocking chairs on the front porch, the weather will get so warm I’ll be tempted away. It starts slowly, like lingering over lunch on an outdoor patio with a friend or taking a longer evening walk through my neighborhood. Won’t you join me in brainstorming some other great ways to procrastinate this month? Here are ten solid ideas for you.

1. Celebrate Scottish fun for the whole family at the Historic Rural Hill’s Loch Norman Highland Games April 9-10. The festival is once again open to the public this year and organizers have been hard at work preparing.

2. Put on your helmet and take a bike ride on one of our many area greenways.

3. Support local artisans at Art on the Green in Downtown Davidson April 22-24 and Hello Huntersville Music & Arts Festival on May 1.

4. Check out the new Rosedale Nature Park in Huntersville.

5. Sample from one of the many food trucks at places like ‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music or the Festival of Food Trucks in Downtown Mooresville on May 7.

6. Sign up for a fun outdoor workout class featuring a combination of strength and cardio at Camp Gladiator offered through Cornelius Parks and Rec. 7. Participate in National Jazz Appreciation month with the live Jazz Concert Series April 9, 23 and 30 at Veterans Park in Huntersville.

8. Shop for fresh produce and other gourmet goods at one of the many farmers markets like Huntersville Grower’s Market, Davidson Farmer’s Market, Merino Mill Market, Josh’s Farmers Market, or the Evening Farmers’ Market in Statesville.

9. Enjoy the sunrise or sunset on the lake by boat, canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard.

10. Gather with others by grabbing coffee, a beer, or a meal at one of the many outdoor restaurants or breweries.

This is only the beginning of all the ways you can explore. We’d love to hear about any other hidden gems that may not be listed in this issue.

Enjoy the outdoors!

MacAdam Smith Mac@LNCurrents.com

Advertising Director Sharon Simpson Sharon@LNCurrents.com

Advertising Sales Executives

Carole Lambert Carole@LNCurrents.com

Beth Packard Beth@LNCurrents.com

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 Bek Mitchell-Kidd Karel Bond Lucander Jennifer Mitchell Tony Ricciardelli Mike Savicki Allie Spencer Lara Tumer

Jon Beyerle Lisa Crates Jamie Cowles

CORRECTION: In our March 2022 issue, we inadvertently ran a column from Trevor Burton for Wine Time that has been run in the past. We apologize for this mistake.

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

Publisher

Contributing Photographers

Editor Renee@LNCurrents.com

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

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Since 1930. Trusted for Generations.

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Contents

About the Cover: There are many options to consider when planning for a pool.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Plunge Pools

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LAKE SPACES How we live at the lake

CHANNEL MARKERS

47

Movers, shakers and more at the lake

FEATURES In Every Issue

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32

34

70

72

Thoughts from the Man Cave

17

The McKinney Vento Education program

18

Rosedale Nature Park in Huntersville

20

Bet You Didn’t Know –The Lake Norman Chapter of Bright Blessings

Andrew Golden embraces Davidson

22

Navigators

24

Sheets Laundry Club designed to help environment

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Game On

Loch Norman Highland Games Return

IN THIS ISSUE 28

Your Best Life

The 2022 Lake Norman Hospice Regatta

40

Special Advertising Section

A Gut Check for Your Health

A month of things to do on the lake

68

A Pet for You

Renee Wants to Know How can families stay in shape together?

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.

10225 Hickorywood Hill Ave, Unit A Huntersville, NC 28078 484.769.7445 | www.LNCurrents.com 12

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.

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

DINE + WINE Eating, drinking, cooking and fun

Tips for planning an outdoor pool

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On the Circuit

A Cornelius home gets a functional facelift.

66

For the Long Run – April is for Arts

We’re Just Crazy About – Summit Coffee’s oat and almond milk beverages

Dwellings

60

Wine Time

62

On Tap

64

In The Kitchen

66

Nibbles + Bites

Something to consider about old vines

Hoptown Brewing Company

Any Berry Muffins

Lobster Dogs in Denver

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 | APRIL 2022

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

Schooling Iredell County’s Homeless Children McKinney Vento Education program offers academic safety, stability

by Tony Ricciardelli

Assume you’re a child suddenly uprooted to live with relatives in an unfamiliar community; or visualize you’re a parent living with your children in a motel room, a transitional shelter, a car, a neighborhood park, or an abandoned building. Imagine the overall hardship and doubt these conditions place on a child’s sense of security and well-being. In Iredell County, there are more than two hundred school-age children living with homelessness.

Since the 1980s, the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act (also known as Title IX, Part A of Every Students Success Act), a federally-funded entity, serves to ensure the education of homeless children. The program offers families the resources needed to survive and overcome homeless conditions.

According to Iredell Statesville Schools McKinney-Vento District Program Liaison Tonya Reid, “We work with families, providing their children with sustained educational participation during ‘transitional’ periods, keeping children in a safe, stable, academic environment.”

The program demands strong parental participation, and a partnership focused on what’s best for the children: ongoing engagement and communication are imperative.

McKinney-Vento provides transportation to and from a child’s “home” school including transportation from neighboring counties.

If a child enrolled in the Iredell Statesville School district takes residency with family in Mecklenburg County, the organization collaborates with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to arrange transportation for the student to remain in the Iredell Statesville Schools classroom.

Reid emphasizes, “Our mission is to address the barriers that chil-

dren in homeless living situations face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. We have dedicated student support staff working to identify and serve homeless students and guide their families.”

McKinney-Vento also assists homeless students transitioning from high school to college, providing points of contact and referral services for students to obtain housing and assistance. “We’re here to help,” says Reid; “however, people can be reluctant to come forward, so we also rely on all school staff and the community to contact us if they suspect a child or family is struggling.” In these situations, a referral may result when a teacher observes a downturn in a student’s performance or behavior, or when citizens notice changes in a neighboring family’s domestic habits or living situation.

The goal is noble yet replete with challenges; the impact of COVID-19 further complicates the mission with job losses and changing financial circumstances pushing otherwise established families into dire situations. Helping families obtain the financial resources to regain security and independence takes time. Recovery is difficult as rent and home prices are at a premium, and inflation is rising rapidly. Additionally, periods of unemployment and homelessness can marginalize a once-promising resume, further exacerbating a trying situation.

For more information about McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program, contact Tonya Reid at 704.832.2549, or treid@iss.k12.nc.us. www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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CHANNEL MARKERS

Space to Run and Play

for All

Huntersville Parks & Recreation held several community input sessions when making plans for the 13-acre Rosedale Nature Park.

Rosedale Nature Park opens in Huntersville

by Allie Spencer Photography courtesy of Huntersville Parks and Recreation

Just behind the bustle of Rosedale Shopping Center in Huntersville, near exit 23, you may be pleasantly surprised to find a new 13-acre nature park. Rosedale Nature Park opened to the public in February and features a fenced in playground, natural playscape, dog park, ¼-mile gravel walking path with fitness stations, and a 24-foot butterfly.

The land had been donated to the town of Huntersville 23 years ago when the shopping center was built but remained undeveloped until recently. Planning for the nature park started three years ago and included several community input sessions.

“We heard from the community input; Huntersville has a lot of athletic fields, active spaces, and courts, but we haven’t done parks that are more natural that don’t have a lot of other activity going on,” says Michael Jaycocks, Director of Huntersville Parks & Recreation.

Jaycocks says the goal was to take down as few trees as possible, work with existing slopes to develop the natural play features and try to provide ample shade during the summer.

Dodd Studio, of Fort Mill, S.C., was enlisted to design the space and construction started in April 2021. The total project cost $1.65 million. The resulting park has become a hub of activity for families, dog owners, and residents hoping to catch a sunrise or sunset on one of the swinging benches.

The fenced in playground designed for children ages 5-12, 18

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features a poured rubber surface making it easier to walk on, a merry-go-round, a treehouse play structure with slides, and two ziplines, one of which is accessible. In the natural playscape, visitors will find two hill slides (accessible to children who can transfer out of wheelchairs) with a paved walking path, a bridge, climbing areas and a circular swing. The park also has bathrooms on-site, located near the playground, a plus for families with small children.

For dog lovers, the park includes a natural, wooded, fenced in dog park (1-acre for big dogs, 0.4 acre for small dogs) and a spicket for hosing off dogs after they’ve thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Park goers in need of a rest can unwind in the bright yellow Adirondack chairs under the eye catching butterfly the welcomes visitors and will provide shade in the summer.

Eventually the Torrence Creek Greenway will be extended through the park to connect to the CATS Park and Ride across I-77. Jaycocks explains that in the next 4-5 years the greenway will link downtown Huntersville to Birkdale Village offering cyclists a seven mile journey with several points of interest along the route, Rosedale Nature Park will certainly be one of them.

Rosedale Nature Park, 9519 Rosewood Meadow Lane, Huntersville

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CHANNEL MARKERS - bet you didn’t know

Special Deliveries

Program Coordinator Linda Morris at the office at Broad Street United Methodist Church in Mooresville.

The Bright Blessings LKN Chapter

by Renee Roberson photography by Renee Roberson

Linda Morris, Ed.D, retired from education 14 years ago, but she’s never wanted to retire her passion for serving communities. She still maintains close relationships with a group of retired educators from Cornelius Elementary School, and in early summer 2019 they decided to take a field trip to Bright Blessings in Matthews. While there, they wondered if it would be possible to bring the benefits of the program into the North Mecklenburg/ Iredell County area. The Bright Blessings Executive Director told them, yes, of course, and the women quickly sprang into action.

Bright Blessings first began in 2005 as a monthly birthday program for children staying at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Charlotte. The organization’s founders, John and Amy Cervantes, wanted to help brighten the lives of needy children while also instilling a love and commitment for community service in their own young children. What started as a family project to celebrate homeless and impoverished children on their birthday has continued to expand and grow and has been in the Lake Norman area since 2019.

Since then, in three years, the LKN branch has served 600 children in 46 schools.

Once given the greenlight to expand Bright Blessings into the area, Morris, who now serves as the Program Coordinator for the LKN office, and her team paused. They didn’t have an operating budget or a space where they could base the program. No matter—by July 1 they had money donated from Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church and space at Broad Street United Methodist Church in Mooresville. The program continued to grow with volunteers of all ages from the surrounding community and kept on going even through the uncertainty of the 20

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

pandemic. Morris knew how important it was to support and lift up the students and take any burdens they could off the guidance counselors who coordinate recipients of the program from within the schools.

Bright Blessings serves area children living in Supportive Housing units, often with siblings and parents who have limited income and resources. Each of the programs are funded in a variety of ways, from grants to church and community donations and fundraisers. The Bless-a-Birthday program gives children a Family Party Pack complete with everything needed to create a birthday cake, decorations, supplies, two gifts, three books, and hygiene kits. They also have the Gift of Care program, which helps schools distribute hygiene kits, snack bags, and bags of emergency supplies. The Gift of Literacy program enables Bright Blessings to include age-appropriate books as part of the birthday packs.

Students from area schools enjoy donating their time and efforts to Bright Blessings. A young man at Hough High student organized a toy drive at Christmas that was so large the toys filled up the entire volunteer room at Broad Street UMC and is now brainstorming how to do another next year. Other students donate their own money and initiate drives with the help of employees at local companies.

Morris credits the original group of organizers for helping to grow the LKN Chapter of Bright Blessings. “I think teachers are used to figuring things out and being resourceful.”

To learn more about how you can help, visit www.brightblessingsusa.org/lakenormanchapter

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www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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CHANNEL MARKERS - for the long run

Showcase for Spring April is for the Arts in Davidson Compiled by Renee Roberson Photos courtesy of Facebook

A number of events are centered around Art on the Green, the spring arts festival that is popular with both residents and out-of-town visitors.

For as long as anyone can remember, April has been home to Art on the Green, a spring arts festival in Davidson that draws visitors (and artists and artisans) from the surrounding towns.

This year, an expanded roster of events adds to the celebration of art and culture in the North Mecklenburg counties.

To kick off the month of festivities, ReadDavidson, a town-wide initiative organized by a group of readers, Main Street Books, the Davidson Public Library, and Town of Davidson, has selected four different books to highlight along with organizing three different virtual events for the week of April 4. This year’s books are “Infinite Country” by Patricia Engel (adult fiction), “What Makes Us” by Rafi Mittlefehldt (young adult fiction), “When Stars are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson (middle grade non-fiction), and “Story Boat” by Kyo Maclear (children’s picture book).

To learn how you can support ReadDavidson, sign-up for one of the virtual author talks, or view a list of previous ReadDavidson selections, visit www.ci.davidson.nc.us/459/ReadDavidson The Gallery Crawl is scheduled for April 22 from 6-9 p.m., 22

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

featuring artists who will display their work in Davidson establishments from South Main Street, historic Main Street and the Circles @ 30. The crawl will also feature refreshments for sale along with live music. The next day, Art on the Green begins, with a juried art festival with booths full of hand-crafted art from artists all throughout the region, along with musical performances and specialty food and drink from on-site food vendors and area restaurants. Art on the Green runs April 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 24 from noon to 4 p.m. Local schools are also participating in this year’s festivities. Davidson Green School is sponsoring a Young Artists’ Showcase featuring the work of area students in grades 6-12. The Community School of Davidson will also be onsite selling student artwork and providing ceramic throwing demonstrations.

Plan to stay on Sunday for the season opener of Concerts on the Green at 6 p.m., featuring the Davidson College Jazz Ensemble.

To learn more visit www.townofdavidson.org/April

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CHANNEL MARKERS

The Lake Norman Hospice Regatta will take place at the Lake Norman Yacht Club and proceeds support end-of-life care for those who cannot otherwise afford it.

Raising Important Funding for Patients and Families The 2022 Lake Norman Hospice Regatta

by Jennifer Mitchell | photography by Meredith Williams

Volunteers have been hard at work planning this year’s Lake Norman Hospice Regatta. The event takes place the weekend of May 14-15 at the Lake Norman Yacht Club (LNYC) in Mooresville and is one of the largest fundraising efforts benefiting Hospice & Palliative Care Lake Norman, a regional office of Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR).

“This year’s event will be a powerful moment of reflection and re-connection,” explains Tom Atwood, Vice President of Philanthropy. “The regatta is one of our signature fundraising events and it allows us to help cover end-of-life care for those who cannot otherwise afford it on their own or simply do not have the health insurance that will provide for the comfort care they need.”

The HPCCR service area covers roughly 30 counties across the Carolinas. On average, the organization cares for nearly 1,100 hospice patients and 1,800 palliative care patients a day. In 2020, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region spent nearly $1.5 million caring for uninsured patients and offering bereavement services to the community at no charge. “That is why our fundraising events are so important,” says Atwood, “and why our dedicated family of donors are really stakeholders in our community’s sense of well-being.”

HPCCR provides patient-centered care for those at the end of life through hospice care, as well as caring for those with chronic 24

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

health needs through palliative services. In addition to the Levine & Dickson Hospice House, in Huntersville, the organization has five other hospice houses across the Carolinas.

Weekend of Sailing Festivities

The regatta festivities kick off with a sailor social at 6 p.m. on Fri., May 13, with the races getting underway the following morning at the Lake Norman Yacht Club. Saturday evening will include a fun-filled, casual attire dinner and charitable giving including both a silent and live auction. Sunday races continue, followed by an afternoon cookout and award ceremony.

“The Lake Norman sailing community is comprised of good-hearted generous people, and spending time with sailors both on and off the water, who share the passion for hospice is why I’ve stayed involved with this regatta for two decades,” says Emily Jones, Past Regatta Chair and sailing competitor.

The race is open to competitive and non-competitive sailors. This year organizers hope to raise $100,000 and proceeds will offset costs for grief and bereavement care for many in the community who have experienced a loss. Funds will also help provide endof-life care and comfort to those who need it most.

For more information about the Regatta or to purchase tickets, visit hpccr.org or lnyc.org.

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4. Ceramic Bunny Planter 6. Hand-hooked Pillow $79 $122

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CHANNEL MARKERS - we’re just crazy about

e e r F t l i u G

Beverages Summit Coffee removes alternative milk surcharges If you prefer oat or almond milk in your beverages but hate getting charged a premium for it, you’ll be excited about the news Summit Coffee recently shared. They have removed surcharges for oat and almond milk from their café menus. In a late February post on their social media, Summit cited the following reasons for their decision: • Oat milk uses about 10 times less water and land compared to producing cows’ milk.

• Oat milk produces only 1/3 of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to dairy milk.

• The production of oat milk uses 60 percent less energy compared to dairy milk.

A mocha latte with oat milk.

Enjoy your oat or almond milk latte and make a toast to the Earth while you’re doing it!

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

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YOUR BEST LIFE - COURTESY OF THE EXPERTS AT WELLCOMEMD

The Holistic

Approach

A look at how the gut microbiome affects overall health

Gastro-intestinal issues are like fingerprints—commonplace, but very individualized. When a patient comes to WellcomeMD with GI concerns, we ask a lot of questions to better understand the patient as an individual: about symptoms, diet, stress, and medical history— including other treatments that have already been tried. The answers help guide us in developing the best personalized plan of treatment and prevention.

The standard American diet can include too many cheeseburger-anda-beer evenings. Not good. But fortunately, many of us have been hearing a lot about the significance of diet and of what we’ve learned to call “gut health.”

Most patients seeking help appreciate that finding the source of a problem such as diarrhea or constipation may take some sleuthing.

Often, we may recommend food allergy tests, a stool sample, a food diary, or tests for gluten or lactose intolerance. In almost every patient there is a need for high quality prebiotics and probiotics.

But the buzz around gut health can also bring skepticism. Not all treatment innovations fulfill their promises, and the subject of personal health pulls promotional attention like a magnet pulls in iron filings. A British Medical Journal study of more than 800 news articles about gut health and probiotics in the popular press found lots of rahrah, but very little discussion of the limits of what we know on this subject. Careful questions like “Which treatments do not work?” were also quite rare.

But some new, holistic, approaches that reach beyond traditional medicine do build credibility in the research literature and in medical practice over time. Gut health has earned at least some of the popular attention it’s receiving. This relatively new field has already yielded substantial, and helpful, research findings. The mix of thousands of different species of bacteria, viruses and other microbiota really can generate greater or lesser digestive health—and they can be a regulator of inflammation throughout the body.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

A recent overview of research in the science journal Nutrients concludes that “The gut microbiome plays an important role in human health and influences the development of chronic diseases ranging from metabolic disease to gastrointestinal disorders and colorectal cancer.”

“The health of this complex gut ecosystem has implications for various conditions including obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and cardiovascular disease,” the authors summarize.

Wait...depression? There’s a surprising link between gut health and psychological balance that anyone who has experienced stress-connected stomach problems can testify to. The nervous system that lines your digestive tract, sometimes called your “second brain,” can play a role in your psychological outlook as well as your physical health.

In the last few months a research report from the Stanford Medical School, published in the journal Cell, points to dietary changes that can have strong positive impacts. The focus of the study was fermented foods.

Eating foods such as yogurt, kefir, fermented cottage cheese, kimchi and other fermented vegetables, vegetable brine drinks, and kombucha tea led to an increase in overall microbial diversity, with stronger effects from larger servings, the authors state.

Four kinds of immune cells showed less activation in group that ate and drank fermented foods. Nineteen inflammatory blood proteins also diminished. One protein, interleukin 6, has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and chronic stress.

Whether you’re dealing with gut health or other issues now or looking for a comprehensive health plan to avoid problems in the future, access to a doctor who knows you well can be a rare bargain. Consider the savings in avoiding a preventable disease, and the value of early detection of serious health problems, when you evaluate primary care physicians.

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It’s time for you to vote for your favorites in our 2022 Best of Lake Norman contest!

What restaurant has the best pizza, steak, burgers, etc?

Where is your favorite date night spot?

Who is your favorite attorney, dentist, landscaper?

All these categories and much more!

GO TO:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/BOTL2022 And vote for your favorites!

CONTEST ENDS JUNE 30 Winners will be announced in our August issue.

Only one vote per I.P. address Employees of Currents Magazine and any of its affiliates do not qualify to vote.

ARTS | SCI-TECH | SPORTS | COLLEGE PREP

704-721-7198 | campcannon.com www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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THOUGHTS FROM THE MAN CAVE Caption copy goes here.

An Eye Towards

Sustainability

Do you remember your first impression of the lake and its surrounding towns? Maybe it was the water itself, the boats, and the marinas. Perhaps it was the shops and restaurants. Or the neighborhoods. The outdoor vibe itself is an increasingly big draw.

Whatever it was, perhaps it was your first impression that led to your drop anchor and plant roots.

When new in town Davidson resident and town planning employee, Andrew Golden, first saw the area, he was drawn to it for another aspect entirely. It was just a handful of months ago that he first drove into Davidson, saw what the town is already doing for nature, the environment, and sustainability, and knew he had found a special place.

“I remember first seeing the roundabouts near the interstate, the way parking was set up in front of walkable shops being built for the pedestrian, and even the presence of plastic recycling bins around the downtown, and I knew that the town thinks like I do,” Golden shares. “It was the little things that jumped out at me. Davidson was different.”

Golden views communities through the lens of an environmentalist. He is passionate about nature and sustainability. The Appalachian State graduate is interested in climate change issues, geography, and environmental awareness. He loves the vibe of a small college town—not too far from the country yet close enough to a bigger city like Charlotte—and he believes that balance makes communities like ours vibrant.

Golden also sees the area as a young, active, outdoors enthusiast. Being near the mountains for snowboarding, camping, and hiking. The lake for kayaking. And natural spaces, trails, and greenways for biking. He’s a bike-to-work person. His dog often 30

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

New in town, meet Andrew Golden

by Mike Savicki photography by Jon Beyerle

accompanies him on his explorations.

With an eye towards sustainability and appreciation of the steps Davidson has already taken towards being environmentally friendly, Andrew Golden describes what can still be done both through deliberate planning and with community care, concern, an action.

“As an environmental thinker, I see opportunities for more sustainable practices like more buildings with green roofs, a change in impervious surfaces, more renewable energy, and even shifting to streetlights that leave the night sky more visible,” he shares.

“I’d like to see more walkability, more bikeability, even more and better public transportation —- just keep it going in the same direction.”

How will this change and improve our local environment? With the lake as a major resource, building with green, plantable roofs and reducing water runoff improves land sustainability and water quality. Directional and energy efficient lighting reduces light pollution which aids in nature. And remember those roundabouts and directed parking that first caught Golden’s eye? They keep traffic moving which reduces the time motor vehicles sit at idle.

But the big key to nurturing a successful community, Golden believes, is attitude and mindset.

“Most of all,” Golden adds, “I think for change to happen we must shift our mindset and think about the unintended consequences of our actions. My message is to keep in mind that change can begin in any town, at a local level. And when that happens, when we start locally, even if we don’t all always agree on everything, we can build and grow a sustainable community.”

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704-978-8814 | info@daciredell.org www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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NAVIGATORS

Chris and Laurian Videau

Clean Laundry,

Clean Conscience Earth-friendly laundry soap “Sheets”

by Karel Bond Lucander photography by Lisa Crates

Every second the equivalent of a truck full of plastic is dumped into our oceans. That’s 60 trucks of plastic each minute. Among the floating discards are big plastic bottles, plastic scoopers, and plastic-lined cardboard cartons.

Chris Videau – a 20-year Army veteran who has traveled the world – painfully observed first-hand the vast plastics that pollute our seas. After leaving the military in 2016, Chris and his wife, Laurian, also an Army veteran, wanted to do something to combat this global garbage crisis. They set out to create a plan.

That plan evolved into SheetsTM Laundry Club, an eco-friendly, zero-plastic laundry soap alternative.

“SheetsTM really started when I met Chris Campbell at our two sons’ tee-ball game,” CEO and cofounder Videau says. “We had both signed up to be coaches with the Lake Norman program. I owned a brick-and-mortar in Mooresville, and he was in e-com32

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

merce. We became friends, hung out and within the first six months, the initial concept came to life. If my kid hadn’t played tee-ball, Sheets probably wouldn’t exist today.”

In December 2019, the venture began in Campbell’s garage. By April 2020, the operation moved into a Mooresville warehouse and now has 11 employees. To date, Sheets™ Laundry Club has exceeded $9 million in sales, and been featured in many publications, including a recent article in The New York Times.

On TV’s “Shark Tank” In November 2021 the two Chris’s also made a $500,000 “Shark Tank” deal with Daniel Lubetzky. “It was more intimidating than going into an air assault mission and getting shot at,” says Videau, who flew Army Blackhawk helicopters for 14 years.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be on the show and have a product. It was surreal.”

Sheets is a plastic-free company and will never provide single-use plastics in any capacity. Other laundry detergent options include liquid in plastic bottles and powders in plastic-lined cardboard with plastic scoopers. Both contain added fillers because the industry translates weight to money; if it feels heavy, it’s a good value. “With Sheets, 50 loads of laundry weighs 12 to14 ounces,” he says. “Semi-trucks transporting laundry sheets versus bottles or boxes is significantly less. There is also a huge savings in our carbon footprint and emissions.”

How Sheets work One pre-measured, dehydrated sheet of detergent – equal to two ounces of liquid soap – dissolves instantly in the wash. Sheets are all natural and offer the same cleaning power as the ‘big brands.’

“They work as well as any laundry detergent and remove tough stains, like grape juice, spaghetti sauce and makeup,” Videau says.

“But we don’t use harsh synthetic chemicals used in mainstream detergents.”

They are also low suds. As he adds, “Suds may be aesthetically pleasing, but they are holding dirt particles at the top of the wash.”

The distribution center for Sheets Laundry Club is located in Mooresville.

Manufactured in Asia, by the end of 2022 Sheets will be 100-percent American made. “We bought all the manufacturing equipment and are setting up a contract manufacturing facility in Augusta, Ga.,” Videau says. “We just needed to grow enough to do it. Currently, every other product we offer is American made.”

The company also offers plastic-free dryer sheets along with selfcare and kitchen products.

As Videau states on his website: “There is no Planet B.” Change can only come when each household takes steps to reduce its plastic footprint. Sheets wants to help make that easy. “We wanted to create a product where customers didn’t have to read directions to change their lifestyle.”

Where to get Sheets You can try Sheets without subscribing. And in June, Sheets will be available at Harris Teeter, the first brick-and-mortar chain to offer them. Videau has a discount code to get started online today: TRYME10. Sheetslaundryclub.com www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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GAME ON

Celebrating Scottish Loch Norman Highland Games Resurface at Historic Rural Hill

Don’t miss the Opening Ceremonies at 10 a.m. on April 9.

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History

Spectators enjoy watching the “Heavy Athletic” events that were the pre-cursors to those found in modern-day track and field.

by Tony Ricciardelli photography by Lisa Margolis

After a two-year hiatus, the Loch Norman Highland Games returns to Historic Rural Hill in Huntersville, April 9-10. This year marks Rural Hill’s 28th hosting of the games; the first event held in 1993. The 2022 production emphasizes Scottish clan representation, where visitors will find information about membership, crests, badges, and Scottish surnames.

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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GAME ON

A weekend highlight is the Open Highland Dance Championships.

Historic Rural Hill’s Executive Director Jessica Bustamante is excited about this year’s celebration. “There’s so much planning that goes into this program, from scheduling the weekend itinerary to ensuring the overall authenticity of each event. It’s a celebration of Scottish history and a cultural experience that’s worth repeating every year.” Bustamante notes that in 2018, Officer of the State of Scotland, Dr. Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms attended Rural Hill’s Highland Games, stating that it was among his favorite venues.

The Highland Games expects to draw a crowd of fifteen thousand to twenty thousand guests, who will experience Scotland’s century-old customs, competitive athletics, art, industry, and culture.

Just Dance One of the weekend’s highlights is the Open Highland Dance Championships, one of only six championships sanctioned by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing held in the United States.

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The competition showcases different dance styles including Highland Dance, Irish Dance, and Scottish National Dance. “The most impressive dance,” says Bustamante, “is the Sword Dance, a dance originally performed by warriors on the eve of combat, using two swords as a cross marking the dancing spot. Tradition held that if the warrior danced without touching the sword with his feet, he would be successful in battle.”

Since music most always accompanies dance, it’s no surprise that the Scots have adopted the bagpipes as symbols of Scottish Nationalism. On Friday night, the Loch Norman Highland Games offer a sanctioned piping competition known as the Jimmy McIntosh Piobaireachd Challenge (pronounced Piobrak) in both the band and individual categories. On Saturday, there is an allday open competition.

Bustamante emphasizes “Our games highlight world-class pipers, musicians, and vocalists including Seven Nations, Ed Miller, and the Tannahill Weavers, a renowned Celtic band from Scotland.”

The games attract world-class pipers, musicians, and vocalists, along with the chance to celebrate Scottish clans.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the “Heavy Athletic” events-precursors to modern day track and field categories-reliant on strength and endurance; these events include the Clach Neart (stone of strength) similar to the shot put, weighing between 16 and 20 pounds; the weight toss (28 pound and 56 pounds) thrown for distance; the sheaf toss, throwing a 20-pound burlap sack of straw using a pitch fork; turning the caber, tossing an 18- to 20-foot long, 115 and 140 pounds section of tree trunk; the 16-pound or 22-pound hammer throw, and Highland Wrestling.

Notably, several “Heavy Athletic” world records were recorded at Rural Hill. Non-professionals interested in participating at the amateur level should register at the “Heavy Athletics” tent on Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. There is also a Long Bow and Battle Axe Throwing competition open to men, women, and children.

cludes a Gaelic classroom, and a hands-on Waulking workshop, where wool is processed into soft fibers as women sing Gaelic songs, and there is an historical militia encampment portraying a timeline extending from 200 A.D. to 1781 A.D. The camp re-enacts 18th century life in the Colonies, while The Austlend Vikings demonstrates life in 11th Century Viking England.

For visitors seeking Scottish cuisine, a variety of choices are available including meat pies, Scottish barbeque, sticky toffee pudding, and haggis for the gastronomically adventurous. A Whisky Seminar allows participants to taste and explore several varieties of scotch whiskey. Past samplings included Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenmorangie, and Highland Park. There is a Kid Zone offering activities for children including miniature golf, and Kilted Races.

There are Highland cows, sheep herding competitions, a parade of Scottish dogs and more.

Interactive activities and authentic food Those interested in Scottish merchandise or first-hand participation will find vendors selling kilts, tartans, jewelry, ironwork, photographs, wool products and more. This year’s venue also in-

For more information about the Loch Norman Highland Games go to www.lochnorman.com.

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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Living Well Your local resource for health and wellness services near you Acupuncture Best Acupuncture Deleon Best LAc Tom Cohen LAc Raven Seltzer LAc

Family Medicine

PHC – Nabors Family Medicine Emily Nabors, MD

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

8213 Village Harbor Drive Cornelius NC 28031 • 704 655 8298 bestacupuncture.com

PHC – Lake Norman Family Medicine Timothy A. Barker, MD Heather C. Kompanik, MD Bruce L. Seaton, DO Audiology Amanda H. Bailey, DO PHC – Lake Norman Ear, Nose & Throat Sherard Spangler, PA Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD Kyle Babinski, DO Susie Riggs, AuD 357 Williamson Road Del L. Hawk, Au.D Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-7328 140 Gateway Blvd.

Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638

Cardiology

PHC – Cardiology Jips Zachariah, MD

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

Dermatology

PHC – Mooresville Dermatology Center Naomi Simon, MD Michael Redmond, MD Sarah Carlock, MD - Summer 2022 Kristin Prochaska, PA-C Gina Noble, PA-C Heather Hollandsworth, FNP Susan Stevens, RN, BSN Michelle Caamano, RN, BSN Laetitia Cloete, Licensed Aesthetician 128 Medical Park Road, Suite 201 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1827

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

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

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PHC – Sailview Family Medicine Tiana Losinski, MD

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

PHC – Full Circle Family Medicine James W. McNabb, MD Jacqueline Swope, FNP 435 East Statesville Avenue Mooresville, NC 28115 • 704-663-5056

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

Oncology

Internal Medicine

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

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

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 LuAnne V. Gatlin, MD 548 Williamson Road, Suite 6 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-660-5520

Mental Health Services

Soul to Soles Connection Free Counseling Services for Military, Veterans & their Families Mooresville, NC 28115 • 704.237.0644 www.s2sConnection.org

Southern Oncology Specialists William Mitchell, MD Poras Patel, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery

PHC – Piedmont Bone & Joint Scott Brandon, MD Brett L. Feldman, MD Alex Seldomridge III, MD Kim Lefreniere, PA-C Jeffrey Reeves, MD

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

Physiatry –Interventional Spine Care

Willow Equine Counseling Services with Horses

PHC – Pain & Spine Center Harsh Govil, MD, MPH James Murphy, MD April Hatfield, FNP-C

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

Mooresville, NC 28115 • 704.237.0644 www.Willow-Equine.com

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

PHC - Troutman Family Medicine Amrish C. Patel, MD Amanda Honeychuck, NP Kimberly Whiton, FNP

Neurology

PULMONOLOGY

PHC – Fairview Family Medicine Golnar Lashgari, MD Jennifer Scharbius, MD

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

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. Nicholas R. Crews, 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, Mint Hill, Matthews, and Ballantyne

PHC –Northlake Digestive Care PHC – Lake Norman Ear, Nose, & Throat Carl A. Foulks, Jr., MD April Lockman, NP Keith Meetze, MD 359 Williamson Road Thomas Warren, MD Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021 Herb Wettreich, MD Fred New, Jr., ANP PHC –Comprehensive Digestive 140 Gateway Blvd.

Care Center Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638 Vivek Trivedi, MD Tiedre Palmer, FNP-C Endocrinology 359 Williamson Road PHC- Endocrinology Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021 Elaine Sunderlin, MD

Ears, Nose and Throat

PHC- Gastroenterology Laila Menon, MD

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 Douglas Jeffery, 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 Douglas Jeffery, 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 Katie Collins, DO Grant Miller, MD James Wilson, MD Nicole S. Wellbaum, MD Coral Bruss, ANP-C Pam Monroe, WHNP-BC

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

PHC –Pulmonology Enrique Ordaz MD Jose Perez MD Ahmed Elnaggar, MD

125 Days Inn Drive, 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

OUTDOOR POOLS - SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Take the

Plunge

Factors to consider when planning for a pool

by Renee Roberson Photography courtesy of Carolina Plunge Pools 40

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

The pandemic found more people investing in pools to enhance their property and create the perfect outdoor oasis.

Picture this. You’re lounging poolside, gazing into the shimmering blue water through your sunglasses, a book club read in one hand and the frosty beverage of your choice in the other. In the past, this may have seemed like a scenario only reserved for a vacation at a tropical destination or on a cruise ship. But thanks to the moderate temperatures in the southern part of the United States and the desire to spend more time nesting at our homes with friends and family, outdoor pools have skyrocketed in popularity, especially in our area.

More and more people found themselves researching swimming pools and spas in the past two years, and the global pandemic had a lot to do with it. But the popularity of pools has remained, so we reached out to a few local experts to find out a little more about what to expect during the process, from researching types of pools to length of construction time and maintenance and landscaping tips. www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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OUTDOOR POOLS - SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

“Do your homework on all types of pools and especially the contractor/owner of the company or qualifier of the pool company,” says Bob Pippin with Elite Pool Renovations. “Google the owner’s full name—you may be surprised at what you find out. Then eliminate those that are suspect or that do not seem to be a good fit for you.”

Types of pools

Determining use

Mark Peterson with Carolina Plunge Pools says you should consider how you would use a pool before beginning the research process. Would your primary use be for swimming laps, recreational use, or mostly for aesthetics? What are the ages of any children in your home and how well can they swim? How easy is access to your rear yard in regard to the equipment and machinery that will be needed for installation? Once you determine what you’ll use your pool for primarily, set a reasonable budget and interview as many as three different pool contractors. It’s also a good idea to view completed projects to get a firsthand look at style and craftsmanship.

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Pippin says there are essentially three types of in-ground swimming pools—those with vinyl liners, fiberglass, and concrete (also categorized as gunite). Pools with a vinyl liner are easier to install and the least expensive. Fiberglass pools are less expensive than concrete and have a quicker install time. The concrete pool is the most expensive but offers more longevity. A gunite pool is composed of sand and a cement dry mix while a concrete pool is stone, cement, and sand. It’s a cheaper option than concrete but Pippin says it may not be as durable given the soil conditions in North Carolina and the freeze and thaw extremes at different times of the year.

Plunge pools, also known as cocktail pools, are also a popular choice because they can provide all the amenities of a standard-sized pool while fitting into a smaller space.

Peterson notes that once you’ve settled on a contractor, beginning the process means your backyard will be under construction for an estimated three to five months.

Maintenance and beautification

Another thing to consider is the continued maintenance necessary for your pool. Peterson says you’ll need to perform a weekly maintenance for quality water. While technology can help with monitoring, if you have a larger pool, a pool service company is recommended for the water and cleaning. For smaller pools, such as plunge pools, the owner can usually handle maintenance, but a pool service company can assist with this, too. Peterson also advises adding money into your budget for some hardscaping once the pool is installed, from pavers, decking, natural stone, or concrete.

“A great landscaping job and landscape lighting can have as much impact on a pool project as the pool itself,” says Pippin.

Factors to consider before having a pool built • Neighborhood covenants • Intended use for pool • Maintenance responsibilities • Location of septic systems on your property

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

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www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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PROVIDING QUALITY INTERIORS AS INDIVIDUAL AS EACH CLIENT

WWW.KELLYCRUZINTERIORS.COM | 704.895.2530

Lake Spaces

Photography by Kyle Scharf/ProLocal

How We Live at the Lake

A Cornelius home is updated with outdoor entertaining options for visiting friends and family. www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DWELLINGS

Lake Norman

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

The design team kept the original screened-in porch, making just a few tweaks to add storage and a revived screening system. A pool, firepit, and outdoor shower were added making it the perfect playground for the homeowners to entertain and their grandkids think is cool. The area is made up of a lounge deck, spa, water feature and multiple sitting areas.

“We are definitely looking forward to enjoying it this summer,” says Strickland. “Last summer we did as well, but we were still waiting on a lot of outdoor furniture etc., so now that it is complete, we love having our family and friends over to enjoy it. What makes it so nice is how it all flows so well and it is easy to maintain.” Hosting duties will also be easier with the addition of a retractable pergola making the space desirable year-round, rain or shine.

Cornelius home is updated with space for entertaining

by Bek Mitchell Kidd photography by Kyle Scharf/ProLocal

A classic for the shores of Lake Norman in the 1990s, this home was ready for a modern makeover. The family was transitioning to being empty nesters, but still needed plenty of space for visiting family and entertaining friends.

Lead designer Ashley Jimenez of Ashley J. Design says, “We just really needed to clean up the details.” By collaborating with custom luxury builder, Grainda Builders, rounded columns were removed, spaces were opened up, and functionality for the way the family wanted to live was prioritized.

Owner Lisa Strickland sums up it up best.

“Grainda Builders said we would enjoy our home even more if he remodeled it rather than if he built us a new one because we already had the positive memories of raising our family here and all the celebrations through the years. And they were so right.

We love our neighbors and our location— happy that we got to stay in place yet have a new home!” www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DWELLINGS

The master bath was a true transformation with all that the 90s deemed trendy stripped away including the tub, which was replaced with a luxurious walk-in shower. New windows allow natural light to flood the space.

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

For the win, Grainda Builders installed a wine room in the newly available space underneath the stairs. The state-of-the-art wine cellar may be the best use of unused space ever; with enough room for 200 bottles, the area operates independently from the HVAC with its own climate control including constant monitoring of the liquid temperature inside the bottles.

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DWELLINGS

A clutter-free kitchen was another game changer for the family.

The addition of a walk-in pantry considerably increased the prep and cooking space in the kitchen. The new scullery which includes a pot filler now also houses small appliances.

Cabinetry for every room. Designed on your budget!

Outdoor kitchens Custom cabinets Semi-Custom cabinets Bath vanities

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

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

Casual Elegance Is Easy

ISH M A

OAK & CHERRY

Solid Hardwood, American Made, Custom Furniture Designs at Outlet Prices.

Ask about our Spring Clearance Event!

After Market Sale April 22-24 2220 Hwy 70 SE | Hickory | North Carolina 28602 Hickory Furniture Mart | South Entrance Level 2 www.LNCurrents.com 828.261.4776 | amishoakandcherry.com

| APRIL 2022

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DWELLINGS

With the interior staircase moved, the upper loft area was opened and now encompasses a library and music area, entertaining space, bathroom, two bedrooms, and additional laundry for guests. There is also a laundry on the main level with a large soak sink, and plenty of room for hanging and folding clothes.

! e g a t S On

Spend the summer

Acting. Singing. Dancing. FUN! Ages 4-16 years old Safety protocols in place Since 1965

704-892-7953 | www.DavidsonCommunityPlayers.org 54

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

Relieve Pain, Leave Stress Behind, Conquer Your Day

Stop by.

Be Inspired.

Get a great massage and find serenity today.

Deep tissue, Swedish, Neuromuscular, Sports & More

704-465-5527 | www.serenitynowcornelius.com 18147 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius NC 28031

Stay Connected Subscribe to our sneak peek e-newsletter.

Click “be the first” at www.LNCurrents.com

Art | Jewelry | Gifts | Home

21136 Catawba Ave Cornelius, NC 28031 (704)-997-5500

Visit us online! @inspiredatlkn inspiredatlkn.com

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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Dine Out &

Wine Down weekEND Crawfish boils!

BEST OF THE LAKE

Go to ubereats.co for pick up m or delivery

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Check Facebook or call to confirm boil days & times!

Gumbo … Shrimp & Grits … Jambalaya … Voodoo Pasta

9709-A Sam Furr Rd, Huntersville | 980.689.2924 | thelostcajun.com

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LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

Luxury & Performance at the Lake!

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

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When our stories change, we change!

ASK ABOUT OUR VETERANS PROGRAM 704.237.0644 | info@Willow-Equine.com www.willow-equine.com

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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THE CUTTING EDGE

RESTAURANT & BAR OPEN NIGHTLY 104 S. Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115 | Historic Downtown | 704-230-1720 1365 Broadcloth St, Suite 101, Ft. Mill, SC 29715 | Kingsley Town Center | 803-548-3742 www.epicchophouse.com 58

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Dine + Wine Eating, drinking, cooking and fun

Photography by Lisa Crates

A decadent lobster roll.

p. 60 The effect of a vine’s age on wine p. 62 Hoptown Brewing Company p. 64 Any Berry Muffins p. 66 Lobster Dogs in Denver www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DINE+WINE - wine time

s e n i V Old

Can Make Great Wines

But be wary of companies using this term as a marketing ploy

by Trevor Burton | photography by Trevor Burton

It’s widely agreed upon in the wine world that old vines make better wine. That’s why you see increasing numbers of labels carrying the monikers; old vines, vielles vines or viñas viejas. “Old vines” is used a marketing tool to indicate that a particular wine is superior. It may be the truth or it may be, simply, marketing hype.

number. Vines can live much longer than this though. Estimated to be 400 years old, the Mother Vine, located on North Carolina’s Roanoke Island, is believed to be the oldest grape vine in all of North America. It was planted by either Native Americans or settlers of the Lost Colony.

Here’s why. There’s no legal or objective definition of an “old vine,” although that may be changing. It falls into the same category as a “reserve wine.” A wine might be special or it might be ruse to make it appear that way. You just have to know and trust the winemaker.

The more reputable the winemaker, the more likely “old vines” is to have veracity. And if a winemaker sells a “regular” and “old vines” bottling, it is more likely that there’s a perceptible difference in character between the wines.

Old vines tend to lose productivity with age. Winemakers and wine drinkers are of the opinion that this increases the concentration of the fruit and yields more concentrated wine. Quality replaces quantity.

Old vines have roots that run deep. When a vine ages the root system extends itself and the trunk thickens. This means that vines pull their nutrients and water sources from far below the surface. For this reason, older vines don’t suffer as much vintage variation. Though there’s no change in the buds of the vine, there are just fewer of them.

Newly planted vines take about three years to begin full cropping.

They may produce fruit after a year or two but are often pruned before ripening. By the fifth or sixth year a vine is ready for annual harvesting, increases its vigor, the amount of a vine’s vegetative growth, and continues to grow for the next several decades. After about twenty or thirty years the vigor begins to decline. At the age of forty the vine is over the hill and produces less and less fruit. This decline increases until the vine is about fifty years old and when the plant is in its twilight years. This is when the vigor generally plateaus.

Things are changing. Producers in several counties, Australia, South Africa, Chile have launched initiatives to protect their scarce old vineyards. They’ve begun a process to define and, maybe, legally control old vine wines. The Spanish region of Rioja has initiated a method to incentivize wine growers to keep old vineyards. There’s a move on to get their approach applied more widely throughout the European Union. Expect something similar in the United States.

This stage in a vine’s life is when winemakers refer to it as Old Vine.

Just as there is no legislation on the term there is also no official age that defines the term but fifty years seems to be the agreed upon 60

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If and when the designation, “Old Vines” becomes legally defined customers will become more confident in the wines and the extra price they may pay for them. Until then, it pays to know and trust a winemaker and not to assume that, just because a label says the wine is from an old vine, it really is.

Your Next Adventure Awaits

X

9616 Baile Cornelius, y Rd. 28031 NC

‘X’ Marks The Spot For Half A Dozen House Oysters On Us!

Saturday May 21, 2022 11 am-5 pm Elkin Municipal Park 399 Hwy 268 West Elkin, NC For more info: 336-526-1111 www.yvwf.com

{

SCAN TO BUY TICKETS EVENTBRITE*: Advance Tickets: $22 Day Of Tickets: $30 VIP: $100 (includes shorter lines, VIP Parking, Festival T-Shirt and access to the VIP Hospitality Tent where you can enjoy Yadkin Valley cooking). *Must be 21 and have ID in order to purchase a ticket

SAVOR wine from over 20 Yadkin Valley Wineries & Vineyards, enjoy great music all day, great food and WONDERFUL memories.

Music: 11:00-1:00PM DJ Ronny Lane / 1:00-5:00PM The Castaways Parking: $5.00 per car (proceeds benefiting the Elkin Rescue Squad).

Shuttles: from local hotels @ $10.00 each passenger for all day.

General Admission (age 16 and over - does not include wine): $5 Our Mission is to bring together wineries/vineyards from around the Yadkin Valley in order to promote and celebrate the wines of the region.

19th Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival on May 21, 2022 in Elkin, NC www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DINE+WINE - on tap

“Beer-ing” the Good Hoptown Brewing Co. is equal parts community, charity, and cheers

by Lara Tumer | Photography by Jamie Cowles

It’s no surprise that “beer a good neighbor” happens to be Hoptown Brewing Company’s motto and tagline, because that’s exactly what they are. Not only are they serving up some of the best craft beer in the area, but they’ve spent their first year in business raising upwards of $14,000 through their charity initiative, Sip It Forward.

When we first spoke to Scott and Sandy Plemmons back in 2019, the Mooresville brewery was at the very beginning stages of development. Skip ahead to present day and the couple is proud to have just celebrated their one-year anniversary in March, with an inaugural year more successful than they could have ever hoped or imagined.

The week of Hoptown’s anniversary was celebrated with equal parts community, charity, and cheers. Check presentations were made to each of the year’s Sip It Forward charities (an initiative that results in a donation to one of the brewery’s four chosen charities through the purchase of a special pint glass). Moving into year two, the focus will be on four brand new charities, including Sheldon’s K9s, Dove House, Hope of Mooresville, and Food for Days.

As planned, the brewery has a rotation of 12-14 beers on tap as well as hard cider, seltzer, and prosecco on tap for any non-beer drinkers. Hoptown serves one beer on nitro as well. In addition to their on-tap selections, a lot of thought and intention has gone into the brewery’s wine selection, which is rare and refreshing to see in a beer-conscious setting. In addition to the typical wine offerings, Hoptown is beginning to explore the more niche industry of 62

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In their first year of being open, Hoptown Brewing Company has raised $14,000 through their Sip It Forward charity initiative.

natural and sulfate free wines, made through dry farming and kept pesticide free.

The tap room has truly been designed as an “all seasons” space, featuring a 1,000-square-foot patio. In addition to the retractable roof, the patio can accommodate cooler days with a plethora of heaters and warmer days with plenty of fans. On flawless weather days, the additional 1,000-square-foot exposed outdoor area is the perfect place to sit and sip. The entire brewery is dog friendly for anyone who’d like to bring Fido.

While the brewery doesn’t have a kitchen on site, there is no shortage of food choices. Italian fare from Brooklyn Boys or TexMex from Cantina 1511 are both available for delivery right to the brewery. Food trucks are frequent on the weekends and charcuterie boards and snacks are available for order behind the counter, satisfying all tastes and cravings.

When asked what the community should look forward to as they embark on the second year of business, the couple remarked “We hope to keep doing what we’re doing. Providing good beer, good service, and a good environment.” Hopefully soon with Hoptown’s new canning equipment, anyone will be able to take home a little piece of Scott and Sandy’s self-made paradise by purchasing cans of the brewery’s most popular beers.

Hoptown Brewing Co. 107 Plantation Ridge Drive, Mooresville www.hoptownbrewing.com

www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DINE+WINE | in the kitchen

Fluffy

Fruit Any Berry Muffins

As berries start to come into season, these muffins are a family-friendly staple in my house. Pick a favorite berry or toss them all in for a subtle sweetness that’s sure to satisfy any baked good lover.

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup brown sugar 1/3 cup white sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1/3 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups of mixed berries Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

2. Combine first 6 ingredients, breaking up any brown sugar lumps with the back of a spoon.

3. Add remaining ingredients, except fruit, and stir until dry ingredients are incorporated fully.

4. Gently fold in berries.

5. Pour batter into 12 greased or lined muffin tins and bake for 2022 minutes, until cooked through and browned slightly on top.

Lara Tumer lives in Cornelius with her toddler twins, husband, and two Labradors.

In addition to cooking and recipe development, she loves traveling, running, event planning, and a nice glass of red wine.

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If your business retains clients’ personal identifiable information, you should consider purchasing a Cyber Liability policy.

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Where do cyber exposures come from? Cyber exposures can come from malicious attacks by hackers, unauthorized releases, and lost or stolen devices.

Are cyberattacks costly? Yes. Many small businesses forgo Cyber Liability insurance because they assume they are low risk. However, a cyber incident can devastate any type of business. These attacks and breaches create huge costs with the average cost, in 2021, being $180 per lost or stolen record of Personal Identifiable Information. Average cost of a data breach is around $1 million.

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With 34 years of experience in insurance, Cyber Liability is one of Doug’s specialties, along with restaurants, bars, and breweries. www.LNCurrents.com | APRIL 2022

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DINE+WINE | nibbles + bites

????

From Food Truck to a New Home in Denver

Owner Chris Yelton.

Lobster Dogs Restaurant

by Karel Bond Lucander| photography by Lisa Crates

If you don’t have plans for dinner tonight, consider a toasted split-top bun stuffed with juicy, decadent lobster that’s smothered in warm seasoned butter. Add a frothy craft beer or glass of smooth wine and you have a delicious evening at Lobster Dogs Restaurant in Denver. Thanks to owner Chris Yelton, lobster is not just for special occasions anymore.

taste for this delicacy. Some enjoyed it so much they inquired about buying a franchise. Today, there are more than 20 Lobster Dogs Food Truck franchisees nationwide, including in Asheville, Atlanta, Savannah, Knoxville and Houston. Yelton owns three trucks that serve Lake Norman/Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

During a trip to Manhattan, Yelton fell in love with the classic New England lobster roll and then became determined to introduce it to the Lake Norman area.

Chris and wife, Beverly, officially opened the new Lobster Dogs brick-and-mortar venture in December 2021. With rough-cut lumber, lobster pots and vintage fishing photos on the walls, the restaurant looks like a casual, nautical-themed place to get a good bite.

“We came across this little lobster shack in New York City,” the veteran restaurateur says. “I had never had a lobster roll before.

As a restaurant guy, I started working on the recipe and realized there was nothing like it in the area. I went and bought a trailer at a local company in Mooresville and began describing it to people as a hot dog bun but with lobster in it. I got the name trademarked and we were off to the races.”

Lobster Dogs Food Truck came first At the time, Yelton owned the Sports Page restaurant in Mooresville and opened Lobster Dogs Food Truck as a side gig.

That was 2015. As his truck made treks to area breweries, events and, during the pandemic, other venues, customers acquired a 66

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

“I wanted it to feel like you’re in a little shack near the ocean,” he says. “Laid-back and very casual, like walking to the end of a pier.”

Although Lobster Dogs has contended with the pandemic challenge of rising prices, Yelton has been adamant about not sacrificing the premium grade of his menu offerings.

“If you’re buying the best quality, you don’t have to hide it; just put it on the plate,” he says. “Our cold-water Maine lobster is sweeter and has a better texture. Our lobster is the star of the show.”

Lobster rolls and more For your first visit to Lobster Dogs Restaurant, Yelton recommends that you try his signature “lobster dog,” either Maine (chilled) or Connecticut (warm) style. Choose garlic and herb, Cajun or plain dipping butters.

But if lobster’s not your thing, there are also crab or shrimp rolls.

Or try peel-and-eat shrimp, specialty stuffed avocados or all-beef hot dogs. And then there’s another ‘all that’ melty option: The ooey, gooey Tribbiani grilled cheese lobster sandwich. Mmmm!

It’s named for one of Yelton’s favorite TV show “Friends” characters, Joey Tribbiani. As he explains, “Tribbiani loved fried stuff and cheese.”

Local craft beers and wine

What started as a food truck has evolved into a brick and mortar location in Denver, as well as more than 20 Lobster Dogs food truck franchisees.

Yelton also suggests complementing your lobster roll or other menu items with a craft beer or glass of wine. “Craft beer is a big part of our concept,” he says. “I wanted to support the breweries that support us, including King Canary and Eleven Lakes—we still go to both of those spots every other week in our food truck.

We also have Cabarrus Brewery beer, and we serve Daveste Vineyards’ wine; over 25 beer offerings and 10 different wines.”

So, when you have a taste for that succulent seafood, head over to Lobster Dogs in Denver and get your fix for Maine lobster handheld-style in a bun.

Lobster Dogs 1219 NC-16 Business, Denver 704.966.1417 Lobsterdogsfoodtruck.com

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! w o n K In The Find us on Facebook! facebook.com/LNCurrents/

2021 Win

ner, Brook

lyn

m a g a z i n e

Is proud to present our 10th Annual CANINE COVER COMPETITION! CURRENTS Magazine wants to see your fun-loving, tail-wagging, camera-craving canine adorning our Facebook page and on the cover of our annual Pet Issue coming in July.

Here’s how to enter your Furry Friend in our annual

Facebook Canine Cover Competition: 1. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LNCurrents 2. Message us on Facebook with a photo of your Camera-lovin’ Canine along with a brief description of how you and your primpy pup first met and why he/she should adorn the cover of CURRENTS’ July 2022 Pet issue!

3. Contact your friends and have them “like” your post on our page!

r

ner, Ryde

2020 Win

2019 Winner, Ra mon

Presenting Sponsor:

1 The pup with the most votes will appear on the cover of our July 2022 Pet issue!

The top three contestants will be featured inside the issue with a brief synopsis of their story!

2 Meet Sierra! She had just had a little of puppies when we found her- tired and confused. Love at first sight- we brought her home that day.

ENTRY DEADLINE:

All entry photos must be submitted along with the dog’s name and name of pet-parent no later than 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. Feel free to include a brief story of why your precious pup should appear on our cover.*

VOTING DEADLINE:

All votes; aka “likes” must be in by 9pm, Friday, June 10. *all contestants must reside in the Lake Norman area; Cornelius, Davidson, Denver, Mooresville, Huntersville, Troutman, Statesville.

3

She is the cutest!!! I hope he wins!

Winner will be contacted for their photo shoot to appear on our July cover!! (one vote per person please)

www.facebook.com/LNCurrents • LNCurrents.com

The Loch Norman Highland Games return to Huntersville April 9-10.

Spring Time!

Photo courtesy of Mary Laura Philpott

Davidson alumna Mary Laura Philpott visits Main Street Books in Davidson on April 19 to discuss her latest book, “Bomb Shelter.”

Compiled by Bek Mitchell-Kidd

Outdoor Events

Star Party (April 8) Join park rangers and the Piedmont Amateur Astronomers to celebrate the stars with games and plenty of telescopes to view the nighttime sky. Free. 7 p.m. Lake Norman State Park, Swim Beach Parking Lot, 1412 State Park Road, Statesville. www.ncparks.gov Growing Tomatoes (April 9) Learn about different tomato types and varieties, how to plant them, and how to keep them thriving. Free.

Registration required. 10 a.m. Pikes Nursery, 18234 Statesville Road, Cornelius. www.pikenursery.com Hop Into Spring (April 9) Get egg-cited for a great afternoon filled with family fun, including photos with Peter Cottontail, crafts, and an Easter egg scramble. Free. 2-4 p.m. Best for ages 3-12. Robbins Park, 17738 West Catawba Avenue, Cornelius. www.cornelius.org Loch Norman Highland Games (April 9-10) More than 65 competitions plus dancing, bagpipe bands, highland athletics, Scottish merchants and more. Ticket prices vary. Discount for advance purchase.

Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. www.ruralhill.net Spring Stroll Hike (April 14) Take a naturalist-led hike with Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation and learn about the plants and wildlife along the way. Free. 10 – 11:30 a.m. Robbins Park, 17738 West Catawba Avenue, Cornelius. www.cornelius.org Ladies Night Out (April 21) A fun stroll and shop experience for you and your favorite ladies, enjoy special retail deals and giveaways along the way. 5-8 p.m. Birkdale Village, Birkdale Commons Pkwy and Sam Furr Road, Huntersville. www.birkdalevillage.com

Arts + Culture

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (April 1-10) Rediscover the classic tale of four children who wander from an old wardrobe into the wonderful and exciting world of Narnia. All the action and adventure from the story are in this adaptation along with all the characters you know: Aslan, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Tumnus the Fawn, the White Witch Jadis, and Father Christmas. Come step through the wardrobe with Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, and experience Narnia like never before! April 3 and 10, 3 p.m.; April 1, 2, 8, and 9, 7:30 p.m. See website for ticket prices. Green Room Community 70

LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | APRIL 2022

Theatre Old Post Office Playhouse, 10 S. Main Ave., Newton, www. thegreenroomtheatre.org.

Music Bingo (April 7) There’s a winner in every round, and groove the night away with music, fun and friends. 7 p.m. Free. BoatYard Lake Norman, 18418 Statesville Road, Cornelius. www.boatyardlkn.com Creating with Books - Ogre Fun Storytime (April 12) Listen to stories and extend learning through a variety of hands-on activities.

You may get messy as you create individual swampish sensory tubs that you get to take home. Free. 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Best for ages 5-11. Registration required. Davidson Library, 119 South Main Street, Davidson www.cmlibrary.org/branch/davidson Jazz Month Concert Series (April 9, 23, 30) Enjoy the sultry tunes from artists from all over North Carolina and the country. Bring a chair, blanket, and snacks. Free. 5-8 p.m. Veterans Park, 201 HuntersvilleConcord Road., Huntersville. www.huntersville.org Author Conversation: “Bomb Shelter” with Mary Laura Philpott (April 19) Meet Davidson College alumna and bestselling author of “I Miss You When I Blink” to discuss her new poignant and powerful memoir that tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear with humor and hope. Free. 7 p.m. Registration requested. Summit Coffee Co., outdoor stage, 128 S. Main Street, Davidson. www. mainstreetbooks.com.

Pinkalicious the Musical (April 29 – May 8) Based on the popular book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, this is the tale of Pinkalicious, who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. $12. Davidson Community Players, Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour Street, Davidson. www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org Local Yarn Shop Day (April 30) Join the nation-wide celebration of independent, local yarn shops. Bring a project or just come to connect with expert knitters, crocheters, and crafters of all sorts. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cheers to Ewe!, 9856 Gilead Road, E-106, Huntersville. www. cheerstoewe.com Brightfire Music + Arts Festival (April 30) Shop local art at the night market, make a flower crown, watch a “fire performance,” learn to dance at the maypole, join the fairies for a tea party, food trucks, beer garden and more. Tickets $10-$50. Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. www.ruralhill.net

Photo by Lisa Margolis

ON THE CIRCUIT

RENEE WANTS TO KNOW

How Do You Stay Healthy as a Family?

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Top: Exploring Hanging Rock State Park.

Below: Mayors Woody Washam, Miles Atkins, Rusty Knox, and John Aneralla in last year’s Mayors’ Fitness Challenge awards ceremony.

Participating in the 2022 Mayors’ Fitness Challenge

by Renee Roberson

My family has always been one that could be considered active, although the way that looks has progressed over the years. When our kids were younger it was long walks, trips to the park, hikes in the mountains, bike rides (especially whenever we visited one of our beaches, Hilton Head Island), with my husband Daniel Dr. favorite Selma Burke and I going through various stages of learning how to be healthier adults and parents. I’m happy to report that we’re still physically active, but because my kids are 18 and 16, and our schedules are busy, we get in our exercise minutes on our own. Daniel and Noah are active in Boy Scouts and took a backpacking trip this past summer in New Mexico that challenged them both mentally and physically, and they spent months prior to the trip prepping.

Both my kids run cross country and track on their school teams, so in fall and late winter/early spring they are working out at least an hour per day with maybe one day or two days off. For them, keeping weight on rather than off is the challenge, so I worry more about the results of their annual physicals. They may work out a lot, but my daughter doesn’t have enough “good” cholesterol in her body and my son unfortunately takes after my genetic make-up and has more “bad” cholesterol than he should. As the main meal planner in our family, I’ve tried to add in more fruits and vegetables to meals, substitute in brown rice and whole-wheat pasta whenever possible, and I’m happy my daughter has become obsessed with kombucha, which provides great benefits for gut health.

Last year the local towns got together to host a “Mayors’ Fitness Challenge” that lasted 12 weeks among Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, and Mooresville. More than 1,200 people participated, with three million total minutes of activity, by logging their results online each week. Davidson won the “Most Fit Town” honors. I decided since each member of my family works out almost daily, I’d sign us up to participate in this year’s challenge, which will last eight weeks until April 30 and includes Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, and Mooresville once again. So far, the hardest part hasn’t been exercising but corralling everyone to tell me how many minutes they worked out on what day!

The key to staying active as a family is not to let the little details overwhelm you. Now that the days are longer, add a few minutes to the evening walk with the family. Take the dog out an extra time for some additional exercise. Build in 10-minute walks into your workday and get out of the chair. Take a walk or jog around the recreational field while waiting on your child’s sports practice to end. When out shopping, park your car a little further away from your destination to get in those extra steps. I love the message and intent behind our towns encouraging physical activity in ways that can be tailored to each individual and family. Keep on moving!

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