Lake Norman Currents 1012

Currents Pampering your pets in Mooresville Panthers tailgating in style Patrice Reynolds educates through Friends of the Animals

vol. 3 number

October 2012

10

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Contents |

10 The Main Channel

10

What’s hip at Lake Norman

16 Porthole

The CURRENTS Commodore Cover Contest

18 Captain’s Chair Patrice Reynolds is determined to change the way the next generation treats animals

22 Smooth Sailing

18 22

Mooresville’s Alden Phelps has a furry friend to keep her balanced

28 What People Do Tony DaDante’s career has gone to the dogs — in a good way

33 Around

33

the Track

How the NASCAR pit box came of age

34 The Galley

with Lynn and Glenn

Dining lakeside at Grilles Sports Café

37

37 Grapevine Chilean wines offer great taste at a great value

44 Game On

Flyball dogs have got game

34

50 Home Port

Mooresville’s Debbie and Heinz Little are good sports

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

61 Currently

Honor breast cancer this month

64 One More Thing

Joey and Kim Baker love the Carolina Panthers, and it shows

6

28

44 50

| Lori K. Tate

Take advantage of the good times

I

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

know that this is our annual pet issue. But as I reviewed my past October editor’s notes, I realized that you already know about my cat, Azalea; my first pets, Hermit and Kermit (hermit crabs); and my three-month dog ownership experiment in sixth grade. Looks like the only pet story I haven’t shared with you was the unfortunate demise of my goldfish. Turns out you shouldn’t fill fish bowls with hot water.

So instead of writing about the importance of pets, which I think is pretty well illustrated throughout this issue, I’m going to write about another topic that comes to mind in October — breast cancer. Knock on wood, I have not had this ruthless disease, but I know so many women who have.

When I was in college, my 26-year-old cousin, Jackie, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I’d call home and get updates, but I was too young and way too self-absorbed to grasp what was going on. There I was all frazzled about passing media law, and she was worried about making it to her next birthday. She did make it to her next birthday, but the birthdays stopped when she was 32.

I hate it when I read in an obituary that someone lost his or her battle with cancer. It insinuates that the person didn’t try hard enough to live. If you’ve ever known someone with cancer, you know that their will to live is stronger than the best heavyweight lifter at the Olympics.

Saying that they lost just adds more sadness to a tragically senseless situation.

My cousin went through three bouts of cancer before it took her life. After each treatment, she had a renewed zest for living. She would talk

8

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

photo by Glenn Roberson

At the Helm

Live it up

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

about things that she wanted to do, things she wanted to accomplish, things she wanted us to do together. If there is a bright side to cancer, it’s how quickly it changes your perception of what’s important.

This month Jackie would have been 46. Ever since she passed away I’ve kept a picture of her on my chest of drawers to remind me daily to live the heck out of every minute. When I look at it, I can’t help but think about all she’s missed.

I wish she could have been at my wedding nine years ago. I wish she could play with my twins.

The other day when I was worried about something trivial, a friend told me to think about the positive. He said that focusing my energy on the negative aspects of the situation was just going to send me into a spiral of despair.

The same could be said about what happened to my cousin. As tempting as it is to dwell on how unfair Jackie’s illness was, I try to remember the good times we had — swimming in the lake, listening to Rick James’ Super Freak when it first came out and talking about boys.

When pink ribbons start popping up on store shelves in October, I think about what my cousin went through. I think about how hard it was and still is on my aunt and uncle. I think about how important being healthy is and how quickly that can change. Life is short for all of us, but for Jackie and so many others it’s even shorter.

This month, take the time to live your life to the fullest because you can bet that there is someone out there who is fighting their hardest for that privilege.

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.

Subscriptions are available for $19 per year.

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

Lori K. Tate Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com Sharon Simpson Publisher Sharon@LNCurrents.com

Carole Lambert Advertising Sales Executive Carole@LNCurrents.com

Cindy Gleason Advertising Sales Executive Cindy@LNCurrents.com

Kim Morton Advertising Sales Executive Kim@LNCurrents.com

Trisha Robinson Advertising Sales Executive Trisha@LNCurrents.com SPARK Publications Publication Design & Production info@SPARKpublications.com www.SPARKpublications.com Ad Production - Stacie Mounts About the Cover: Maddie is the winner of

this year’s CURRENTS Commodore Cover Contest.

Photo by McGraw Photography.

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.

Lake Norman CURRENTS P.O. Box 1676, Cornelius, NC 28031 704-749-8788 • www.LNCurrents.com 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 Venture Magazines, LLC.

Vol. 3 No. 10 October 2012 www.LNCurrents.com

Challenge

So Personal That We You To Compare Pampered Pets Inn With Any Other Pet Care Business In The Lake Norman/Charlotte Area

WOW FACTORS

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the

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

Cosmic Creation

Kelsey Deuel competes in the Olympics of hair design

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Kelsey Deuel of Savvy Salon & Day Spa in Cornelius dyed model Hannah Sexton’s dark brown hair platinum blonde (with accents of light lavender and ashe gray) and cut it into a short bob overlay with a softedge and a square fringe to compete in the Wella 2012 Trend Vision competition.

10

Kelsey Deuel loves a challenge, so when she heard about the Wella 2012 Trend Vision competition in Los Angeles, she entered.

As a stylist and nail technician at Savvy Salon & Day Spa in Cornelius, she was prepared to take on whatever the contest threw her way — and that’s exactly what she did.

The competition involves Wella sending out four pictures depicting various trends. This year’s trends were titled Blaze, Celeste, Grace and Roxy. Deuel chose to interpret the Celeste look, which has a futuristic, yet feminine feel. “Celeste is a leader. She doesn’t have to try to be anything,” explains 21-year-old Deuel. “She just is what she is.”

With that in mind, Deuel dyed model Hannah Sexton’s dark brown hair platinum blonde (with accents of light lavender and ashe gray) and cut it into a short bob overlay with a soft edge and a square fringe. “I wanted it [her hair] to be bold, but I wanted it to be sleek and simple at the same time,” she says.

Deuel began working on Sexton’s hair in April and later entered the contest along with 900 other stylists from the United States and Canada. In July she found out she was one of 30 finalists, which meant she got to fly to Los Angeles to compete in person.

It was there that she won first place (gold) in the Young Talent competition. This month Deuel; Sexton; her make-up artist, Sara Violassi; and Savvy owner Pat Helmandollar travel to Madrid, Spain to represent North America in the 2012 International Trend Vision Competition.

“I’m up against the rest of the world now,” says Deuel, who has been working at Savvy for a year and is a graduate of Aveda Institute Charlotte. “I’m just so excited for Spain, and I can’t wait to represent North America. I hope we can win it for North America.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography courtesy of Savvy Salon & Day Spa www.LNCurrents.com

Barking it Up

At this Cornelius bar, the dogs always get lucky Lucky Dog Bark & Brew in Cornelius is a fortunate find where dog lovers can spend time with their pets without giving up watching sports and socializing.

“We love dogs, and we’re huge football fans,” says Kelly Waugh, who owns the business with husband Randy. “We would come home from work and want

and serves beer, wine and espresso. Patrons can bring in food or have it delivered.

An outdoor patio features TVs, music and picnic tables, as well as sails for shade and fans for hot days. A fenced space is set aside for the smaller set.

Singles night every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. has been a popular addition, Kelly says.

Just Make It

Pupermint Treats from Huntersville’s Yappy Hour Bakery Ingredients 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 1 cup of water 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup of oatmeal 2 tablespoons of dried mint (or 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint) 1/3 cup of chopped parsley Instructions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl combine oil and water. Gradually add flour, oatmeal, mint and parsley. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 35 minutes.

For more information about Yappy Hour Bakery, visit www.yappyhourbakery.com.

From left, Kelly and Randy Waugh opened Lucky Dog Bark & Brew in Cornelius because they grew tired of leaving their dogs at home when they wanted to go out in the evening.

to go out, but our dogs would be so sad.”

A growing clientele has shown them that the time was right to fill that gap with a bar, indoor/outdoor dog park, day care and full-service grooming facility.

“It’s all intertwined,” Randy explains.

“You can pick your dog up from daycare, and meet people and have a glass of wine. This is good for the dog, and now you can come out with your dog.”

Inside, a play area with a floor made of recycled tires gives pups a place to romp while owners gather at picnic tables or play cornhole. The bar features a 120-inch TV www.LNCurrents.com

The sports-themed boutique features pet accessories and officially licensed sporting gear not found in most pet stores. Bar guests must be 18 years old, and each household pays a $10 membership fee, half of which goes to the Cornelius Animal Shelter.

— Lynn Roberson, photography by Glenn Roberson The Scoop Lucky Dog Bark & Brew 9607 Statesville Road Cornelius Hours: Mon-Fri 4 p.m.- close, Sat 11 a.m.-close and Sun noon-close

NOTE: Pupermint Treats are for dogs.

11

Main Channel |

Behind the Cover

Move over Benji, here comes Maddie

Owned by Stacy Applegate, Maddie won this year’s CURRENTS Commodore Cover Dog Search.

This year’s winner of The CURRENTS Commodore Cover Dog Search never aspired to be famous, but her playful attitude coupled with her television star good looks made it inevitable. Meet Maddie, the adorable mutt Stacy Applegate discovered on Petfinder.com two and half years ago.

Applegate wanted a dog that resembled the 1970s TV dog star Benji.

“I had not been able to adopt any of the other seven or eight dogs I had been interested in, either they were gone, not a good fit for my lifestyle or the foster parent didn’t show up for a meeting,” recalls Applegate. “When I saw Maddie on Pet Finder, I knew she was the one. “ Through the adoption process Applegate learned that Maddie was one of 12 puppies who had been found

with their mother under a shed in the rain. All 12 had Parvo, and only three survived.

Now the 56-pound dog enjoys giving people “hugs” by walking between their legs, playing with her Santa hat (she gets a new one every year) and doing “wagagility” exercises at The Dog Knowledge in Charlotte.

Applegate says that Maddie’s new found fame hasn’t gone to her head yet. “She seems to take it in stride. She loves the attention,” says Applegate.

“She was calm when she won.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography

by McGraw Photography

The Scoop For more on The CURRENTS Commodore Cover Dog Search, see page 16.

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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www.LNCurrents.com

for 12 years. “When Mort passed away I figured it was kind of a tradition to have a cat here, and Benny just happened to be available. He’s filled Mort’s shoes very well.”

With a scratching post and two fluffy beds, Benny, aptly named after Benjamin Moore, has everything he needs in the Cornelius store. “He’s not wanting for anything,” says Weimer. “A lot of times he prefers a paint pan for this bed.”

Weimer says that Benny pretty much has the run of the store, as he climbs on top of displays

and paint cans in addition to listening to the fax machine. “When it’s slow and boring in here, you can always find him and get him to play chase with a paper ball,” says Weimer. “He also likes to get in ladies purses. …I’ve been trying to get him to get the American Express cards out of the purses, but he hasn’t quite gotten that yet.”

As for Benny’s favorite paint color? Why it’s Bennington Gray of course.

— Lori K. Tate, photography

by Laurie Martin

DRS. COLEMAN & COLEMAN Benny the Cat enjoys helping customers at Lake Norman Paint & Decorating in Cornelius.

The Cat’s Meow

Fall Break is approaching… we’re here for you!

Benny the Cat knows a thing or two about painting the town Next time you need help picking out the perfect paint color, head over to Lake Norman Paint & Decorating to consult with Benny. He won’t say much, but he definitely knows plenty about paint, as he’s been living in the Benjamin Moore store most of his life.

You see, Rick Weimer, owner of the store, rescued Benny, a beautiful gray tabby with green eyes, two years ago from the Cornelius Animal Shelter. “He came to the store when he was six weeks old,” explains Weimer, adding that Mort, the store’s former feline resident lived in the store

Drs. Patrick and Michael Coleman have contributed to smiles throughout the Lake Norman area for many years! We see family members of all ages, teenagers, parents and even grandparents for the same consistent, safe and comfortable oral surgery care in our state-of-the-art Surgical Facility.

Drs. Coleman & Coleman 19910 North Cove Road Cornelius / 704-892-1198 carolinaoms.com Benny the Cat has lived in the Benjamin Moore store since he was six weeks old. www.LNCurrents.com

Lake Norman’s Trusted Choice For Oral Surgery Since 1985 13

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Main Channe; |

Dog Time

A roundup of the best places to take Fido at Lake Norman 10.

Robbins Park, 17738 West Catawba Avenue, Cornelius — Who doesn’t like to run in a big field? Robbins Park has one of the best ones around.

9. Birkdale Village, Huntersville — Shop, eat, walk and simply hang out with your dog and watch the world go by. With outdoor seating at many of the shopping center’s restaurants, you don’t have to leave your pup at home on date night.

8. Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road,

Cornelius — A 1.5-mile walking trail in the shade = a happy dog.

7.

Fisher Farm Park, 21215 Shearer Road, Davidson — Take your pup out for a day on the farm at this 200-

acre park, which is accessible from the north by the West Branch Greenway.

6.

Campania Italian Café & Trattoria, 416 South Main Street, Davidson — If your pooch likes Italian, Campania welcomes canines on its front porch.

5. Summit Coffee Co., 128 South Main

Street, Davidson — So what if your dog doesn’t care for coffee, Summit has water bowls out front and on its back patio. Drink up!

Swing by the pet friendly Village Store down the street if you need to do some shopping.

4.

The Lake Norman Wine Cottage, 200-A North Harbor Place, Davidson — For those dogs who enjoy being by the lake, this place is for you. Dogs can drink out of a Harley Davidson water

bowl and venture inside for free treats from the red fire hydrant.

3.

Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius — This is the home of Swaney Point K-9 Park, a four-acre, fencedin, off-leash area for dogs. Talk about livin’ it up!

2.

Lucky Dog Bark & Brew, 9607 Statesville Road, Cornelius — Though it recently opened, doggies already know about this new hot spot, complete with an inside play area and a fenced-in outdoor area. Party time!

1. The Preserve Dog Park, 330 O’Henry

Avenue, Davidson — Fully enclosed with a hiking trail and a natural area, this hangout is open to dogs with current Davidson dog tags and rabies vaccinations.

—Lori K. Tate If you know of any other cool places to take your dogs in the Lake Norman area, please post them on our blog.

Visit www.lncurrents.com and click on the Our Blog tab.

Going Once, Going Twice Rotary Club of Lake Norman-Huntersville debuts new bidding technology

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Bidding will be as simple as the touch of the fingertips at the 15th Annual Lake Norman Wine Spectacular on October 13. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Lake Norman-Huntersville, the charity event will showcase a new electronic bidding system called BidPal. Guests will be issued an iPod Touch at check in, or they can register their own smart phone or iPad to log into the BidPal system. From their handheld devices, attendees will be able to place and monitor bids, receive notifications when they’ve been outbid, preview live auction items, and purchase raffle tickets. Auc14

tion winners can pay for their items and have a receipt e-mailed to them before exiting the ballroom.

Kandi Ranson, co-chair of the Lake Norman Wine Spectacular, says guests will enjoy the efficiency of the bidding process, and she believes that it will translate into raising more funds for beneficiaries.

Says Ranson, “I think people who’ve attended in the past will be surprised by how easy and fun it is to use this [the electronic bidding system].”

— Holly Becker

The Scoop The Lake Norman Wine Spectacular will be held Saturday, October 13 at the Havana Banquet and Ballroom, 8325 Copley Drive, Cornelius. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event includes wine tastings, silent and live auctions and a plated dinner. Auction items include vacation packages, personal services and wines from private collections. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Lake Norman Community Health Clinic, the Hope House Foundation, USO-North Carolina, Pints for Prostate and End Polio Now. For more information, visit www.winespectacularhuntersvillerotary.org.

www.LNCurrents.com

Porthole |

The CURRENTS Commodore Cover Dog Search

photography McGraw Photography

The CURRENTS Commodore Cover Dog Search was held Saturday, August 25 at Birkdale Golf Course in Huntersville. The beautiful weather brought out a great crowd for the festivities. Sixty-nine dogs competed for the title of CURRENTS Cover Dog, and more than $10,000 was raised for Friends of the Animals,a Mooresville-based organization with the mission of promoting responsible pet ownership, providing low-cost spay and neuter services, and promoting adoption of homeless animals.

Special thanks to the founder/producer of the event, Deborah Bell, owner of Deborah Bell and Company, and the many sponsors who made the event a huge success.

Cover Dog Winner Maddie with owner Stacy Applegate.

The panel of distinguished dog-loving judges.

Bryan Paschal of Paschal Promotions presents awards to the runner-up dogs.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Winner of the Best Eyes contest, Sadie, with owner Rob Vojtko.

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Sharon Simpson; Maddie’s owner, Stacy Applegate; event founder and producer Deborah Bell; and emcee, WBTV News anchor Paul Cameron.

From left, a representative from sponsor Hendrick Mercedes, Northlake; first runnerup Louie with owner Cami Broughton; second runner-up Professor Fitz with owner Sean Nadel; and Theresa Wengel representing sponsor Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge. www.LNCurrents.com

Winner of the Owner/Pet Look Alike contest, Linus with owner Karla Koertner.

From left, Deborah Bell, Sharon Simpson and Patrice Reynolds celebrate another great Cover Dog event.

Karla Koertner (center) enjoys a winning moment with her dog, Linus.

Patrice Reynolds, executive director of Friends of the Animals, welcomes the crowd.

Dog owners had a great day with their pets.

A contestant keeps calm before the competition.

The audience enjoyed the beautiful weather.

17

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Paul Cameron and his daughter, Andrea, entertain the crowd. www.LNCurrents.com

The judges concentrate during the competition.

Porthole | photography McGraw Photography

Who Owns Who

CURRENTS is proud to sponsor a contest that celebrates the bond between dog owners and their pets. If you’re looking for a dog of your own, check out Friends of the Animals at www. friendsoftheanimals.net or the Cornelius Animal Shelter at www. cornellius.org. There are plenty of furry friends in the Lake Norman area who need a good home.

18

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Live Life OutdOOrs

Captain’s Chair |

by Renee Roberson photography by Laurie Martin Patrice Reynolds, executive director of Friends of the Animals, hopes education and outreach throughout the community and schools can change the next generation’s way of thinking about the treatment of animals.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Patrice Reynolds is determined to change the way the next generation treats animals 20

A Warm and

Fuzzy Calling T

he statistics Patrice Reynolds shares regarding how many dogs and cats are euthanized in the surrounding ninecounty radius each year (approximately 44,000) are startling and heartbreaking. As the executive director of Friends of Animals, Reynolds believes that by educating the community, beginning with its youngest members, there’s hope that these numbers will decline over time.

In 2005, a group of local women in the community founded Friends of the Animals, an

organization based in Mooresville, with a mission of promoting responsible pet ownership, providing low-cost spay and neuter services and promoting adoption of homeless animals.

In the beginning, the group worked strictly on a volunteer basis with no paid employees, but in October 2010 they hired Reynolds, who has more than 25 years of experience working with nonprofits, to serve as executive director. She hopes education and outreach throughout the community and schools can change the next www.LNCurrents.com

generation’s way of thinking about the treatment of animals.

How did you get started with the organization?

When I learned what was going on in our community and in our country regarding how we as a society dispose of our animals . . . I was shocked. I’m passionate about taking care of our animals. As a former schoolteacher, the whole education component was huge for me because that’s the only way we are going to transform what is going on . . . to have our youth recognize what responsible pet ownership really is and the importance of spaying and neutering. That’s how we start changing what’s going on.

How long has Friends of the Animals been operating, and what type of history does it have?

Friends of the Animals was incorporated at the end of 2005 by a small group of people whose dream was to build a center and make

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adoption center. It’s going to be about 17,000 square feet. It’s going to be an adoption center where people can come in and adopt pets. We’ll look at being able to rehabilitate and rehome. We’ll have a trainer and a medical clinic. It will provide low-cost spay and neuter services.

An education center will provide training and summer camps for children, and we’ll work with local schools. It’s going to be two to three years out before we can start breaking ground. We have land secured at Exit 31. We’ll work with humane societies, rescue centers and animal controls. We have about three acres. We’ll be near about 20 acres of green space, which we’ll be developing into dog parks and public walking trails. LNC More on www.LNCurrents.com The Scoop For more information, visit www.friendsoftheanimals.net.

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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a difference in the lives of homeless animals in our community. In 2007, the group got together and met with Iredell County commissioners to advocate for better conditions at the County Animal Control Shelter. At that time pets that were being destroyed were mostly destroyed in gas chambers. They now use lethal injection for putting down most of their animals. The group was successful in changing the ways Animal Control operates today.

Our vision is to have a brand new facility that the community wants to come to. It will be an inviting place. It will have an adoption center for 150 animals (90 dogs and 60 cats). We’ll work with schools with a curriculum that has already been developed called Mutt-i-grees®, a program that Yale University helped put together. It starts with Pre-K and goes up to high school.

Smooth Sailing |

by Lee McCracken photography by McGraw Photography

Sniffing for Sugar Mooresville’s Alden Phelps has a furry friend to keep her balanced

A

girl and her dog … the picture of perfect harmony. For Alden Phelps, the bond with her golden retriever puppy literally is about keeping things in balance — specifically her blood sugar.

Alden, 15, is the only child of Craig and Staci Phelps of Mooresville, and Labor Day weekend was her 10-year anniversary of being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. This fall, however, Alden celebrates the start of a new decade of

living with diabetes with Zappa, her new service dog.

“He came from a hippie litter,” laughs Alden, adding Zappa’s siblings were named after other rock legends, including Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. “And he’s really chill, too, when he has his service vest on.”

But mom Staci says Zappa acts just like any other 14-month-old puppy when he’s not on the job. “He loves chasing balls, chewing bones, swimming in the

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Fifteen-year-old Alden Phelps of Mooresville was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes 10 years ago. This past fall she got a service dog named Zappa to help her keep track of her blood sugar. Inset, Zappa enjoys playing catch as he takes a break from wearing his service vest.

22

www.LNCurrents.com

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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www.LNCurrents.com

Smooth Sailing |

lake and going for boat rides.”

Managing her care Alden was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 5. She says she remembers riding in the ambulance, being in intensive care and doing crafts in the hospital play room.

Her mom remembers the fear and anxiety.

“Alden had just started kindergarten,

and she was drinking a lot from her new thermos,” recalls Staci. “One night she got very sick; at the doctor’s office Alden’s blood sugar was 450 — normal is around 80. When the doctor told us she had to go to the hospital, Alden was rushed immediately to the ER by ambulance.”

Alden remained in the hospital for about four days so the family could learn how to manage her illness. “Our child’s life was in our hands, and we felt totally

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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When Zappa wears his service vest, he’s all business.

unequipped,” remembers Staci. But the family’s new normal took shape very quickly. They learned to read nutrition labels, count carbs, do finger pricks (to test Alden’s blood sugar) and administer insulin.

“The nurses gave me a teddy bear and taught me how to give myself the shots,” says Alden. “Back then I got insulin shots twice a day.”

With bravery and a can-do spirit, Alden was a champion at accepting her diabetes and managing her care, says her mom. By the time she was in the third grade, Alden was giving herself insulin shots every time she ate. Yet, even while reading food labels, keeping track of her blood sugar and managing her health by adjusting her carb-to-insulin ratios when she needed to, Alden had a very normal childhood that included birthday parties, outings, sleepovers and sports.

Alden has been home-schooled since middle school, and she trains in Tae Kwon Do. When she was 13, Alden got an insulin pump, which delivers the insulin she needs www.LNCurrents.com

and chasing toys when we brought him in our house,” says Alden. “Even though he’s a golden retriever, he’d never swum before. I taught him to swim in Lake Norman.”

Alden explains that when she and Zappa are hanging around the house, he doesn’t have to wear his service dog vest.

The bundle of blond fur is both a joyous companion and healthcare helper for her.

He’s also a great comfort for the teen’s parents. “Alden will be driving and then going

Smooth Sailing |

learning to get sensitized to and detect Alden’s glucose levels — her highs and lows — through smelling Alden’s breath and licking her hands.” Playing hide-andseek helps Zappa get familiar with Alden’s scent. Unlike many pets, Zappa does not get any “people food” treats because his sniffing and licking are reserved for when he is working.

“He was so laid back when we were in Kansas, but he went totally crazy playing

Pickers Welcome 24 hours a day and eliminates the need for shots. She attaches it to her abdomen via a tiny needle, and the meter hooks on the waistband of her pants or a pocket, just like an iPod. “Its name is Sheldon from the TV show The Big Bang Theory,” explains Alden.

Playing hide and seek

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Two years ago, Alden read a story about a girl and her diabetes assistance dog, and the campaign to get her parents to agree to the idea began. The family went through CARES (Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education & Services) in Concordia, Kansas, and Zappa cost a mere $2,500.

“From the time I applied to the time I got him, it took 18 months,” says Alden, noting Zappa was raised by inmates at a correctional facility and then went through puppy obedience training before he got specialized assistance training at CARES. “We went to Kansas in August and spent a week,” says Alden. “I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him.”

Most of the time in Kansas was spent bonding, adds Alden’s mom. “Zappa is

Smooth Sailing | Above and right, Alden and Zappa are the perfect match, as they bonded instantly.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

to college soon,” says Staci. “Zappa will give her a lot more independence and me less of a need to worry. I was always alert to Alden’s glucose levels and could tell almost instantly when she was too low. Now, that’s Zappa’s job.”

Alden is the first patient of pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Ketcha LynShue to get an assistance dog. Alden wants to talk with others who have juvenile diabetes and share her experience.

Adds Staci, “We’re hoping to be able to give back to the community, perhaps even raise money, to help other kids.” LNC Lee McCracken is a Charlottearea freelance editor and writer who lives in Stanley and grew up spending summers on Cayuga Lake in upstate New York. Since moving to the Charlotte area in 1994, she has written about business, education, health care and real estate for various publications.

26

www.LNCurrents.com

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

contact us at: BOUKCatering.com: 704.584.9132

What People Do |

by Lori K. Tate photography by Glenn Roberson

Pampering

www.LNCurrents.com

28

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

for Profit

T

Tony DaDante’s career has gone to the dogs — in a good way

www.LNCurrents.com

What made you decide to purchase Pampered Pets Inn? Two things. I have a passion for changing business spaces. My whole career has been around change, so this is an industry that has been a mom and pop industry forever. It’s got a few big players. I looked at it and said if you can carve out a niche, and in my case it would be a Ritz-Carlton niche, regardless of the economy, this is a recession-proof business if you do it right.

What’s a typical day like here?

The day starts out with pick-ups at 6 a.m. We have a fleet of pet limos.

We’ll come to your house, open your door, take your dog and pick it up.

At 7 p.m. take it back home to you.

Once your pet arrives, we have a huge food prep session. Every owner brings

his or her dog’s own linens, food and medication. We have to prepare a meal for each dog in a separate way. We let all the dogs out to do their thing. Then we feed them, and an hour after the feeding is done we start taking 10 dogs at a time outside to play on the K9 turf and in the pool. Then it’s just a continuous loop.

How do you know the dogs will get along with each other?

The 10 dogs are scientifically put together. They all go through a psychiatric assessment with me before they come in here. That allows me to place them in the right playgroup, so we don’t have any fights or any injuries. The combination is based on their breed, their temperament, their size and how much anxiety they have based on being away from their owners.

29

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

ony DaDante has a soft spot for pets. He’s raised three generations of golden retrievers, and over the years he has invested in various pet industries throughout the country. Last Thanksgiving he took a more hands-on approach to the industry when he purchased Pampered Pets Inn in Mooresville.

Since then he’s taken the business from around a 30-percent occupancy to 90-percent occupancy. With a slew of fancy amenities — think a boneshaped saltwater pool, 24/7 pet limo service, K9 turf, sun shade cabanas, a cattery with an aquarium, and a special outdoor cooling and misting system — Pampered Pets has morphed into a pet-centric resort.

We recently met with DaDante to find out what’s involved in the business of pampering other people’s pets.

What People Do |

How many dogs do you have here on a typical day?

Over 100. That’s a combination of boarding and day care, plus all the dogs that come here for training. We have the capacity for 130, and we’re expanding.

What’s the most exotic breed that you’ve kept so far?

We have a lot of greyhounds that are

rescue greyhounds, which are just wonderful to save and to love on. We also have dogs and Elk Hounds. There are so many different breeds.

How do you keep the dogs entertained?

We have a huge bone-shaped saltwater pool that has a complete spa around it that shoots water jets in the air to keep the dogs cool. We have K9 turf, so there’s no

BE READY for whatever life throws at you

Tony DaDante with a client. who just took a dip in the bone-shaped saltwater pool.

It’s alway a good ide to be prepared

digging and no ticks. We have toys, and we do agility work. Dogs will keep themselves amused. And then there are those dogs that just hang out in their clique. They lie down, they’ll roll around and they’ll snore. It’s the funniest thing in the world to watch.

It’s always a good idea to be prepared.

Call today for a free quote!

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Do dogs ever get homesick?

Yeah, obviously there are dogs that miss their owners. You can tell the owners that have a great relationship with their dogs.

What do you enjoy most about this business?

I think my biggest satisfaction is that I’m a street kid. I grew up with nothing. I lost my parents when I was young. To me it’s all about winning. We’re winning. We’ve been able to achieve our first goal, which is to care for every dog. We’re making the lives of pet owners easier. I also think we’ve made a difference in the community.

I think we’re showing people that we’re intolerant of mistreating dogs. LNC www.LNCurrents.com

Life Restored

Continuing a Family T radition of E xcellence.

Helping families remember

someone they love is our goal at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services. For five generations our family has worked with other local families to create a meaningful experience, offering funeral options tailored to their needs. We are proud to be a part of the Lake Norman community and proud to carry on the tradition of excellence started by the Raymer family in 1989.

Thank you for allowing our family to guide and comfort you through the loss of a loved one.

John & Claudia Kepner with son Jonathan

Brian Center Health & Retirement

752 East Center Avenue • Mooresville 704-663-3448

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

LAKE NORMAN DREDGING & MARINE CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Around The Track |

by Mike Savicki photography by Autostock

Command Central T

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

odd Meredith had a hunch he was on to something clever when he mounted a television and satellite receiver on what had traditionally been his team’s toolbox on wheels and rolled it onto pit road before Daytona’s Bud Shootout in the mid 1990s.

He knew that crew chiefs were at a disadvantage calling races because they could only see a portion of the race from their pit road confines. By being able to watch the television broadcast of the race while they planned strategy, Meredith thought his team might gain an advantage.

32

What Meredith didn’t know was that his action would trigger a series of events that changed the strategy of the sport.

“Back then, when I showed up with a huge tube television with a Direct TV satellite on it, you can be sure I got some looks when people saw it for the first time,” recalls Meredith, vice-president of operations at Joe Gibbs Racing in Huntersville. “But I remember thinking this was going to be the most brilliant idea ever, and I’d be the first person to do it.

“Well,” he continues, “we show up to

The NASCAR pit box has come a long way over the years.

Shown here is the FedEx car driven by Denny Hamlin.

How the NASCAR pit box came of age Daytona with the television and dish, and all the Childress guys had it, too. I wasn’t the first, but it certainly was a game changer.”

Meredith’s ingenuity didn’t stop there.

“Years later, when the Champion Tire and Wheel guys came along with trailers big enough to haul what we couldn’t fit in our hauler, we started working on a new design,” he explains. “The idea was to make the boxes bigger and have a foldout platform on top where the crew chief could sit above and call the races with enough room to move around.”

So in the months leading up to the start www.LNCurrents.com

Costing upwards of $150,000, the modern day pit box contains two satellites, a dozen hi-def monitors, NASCAR electronic timing and scoring systems, weather forecasting equipment, and multiple computers that run in-house programs to monitor everything from fuel mileage to tire wear.

In the 20-plus years since Meredith’s ingenuity became a fixture for crews on pit road, pit boxes have evolved into one of the most electronically complex command centers in all of professional sports.

www.LNCurrents.com

Pit boxes have evolved into one of the most electronically complex command centers in all of professional sports.

pit box is still a team’s main war wagon.

“Ideally, you want to put as much information as you can at the crew chief’s fingertips so if a caution comes out with 10 laps to go, he’s got all the information he needs to make a good decision,” Meredith says. “That’s why the pit box is so valuable. It’s not a stretch to say there probably aren’t any races today where the pit box information doesn’t play a role in a crew chief’s decision making process.”

And for the other guys on the team,” he says, “we still need to keep up with the race, and we still do it by watching the television broadcast. Of course it’s all hi-def these days, but the need is still the same as it has always been.” LNC

Kyle Bush's crew works hard on the ground and from the pit box.

Freelance writer Mike Savicki has lived and worked in the Lake Norman area for 15 years, frequently covering the racing scene.

33

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

of the 2005 season, Meredith spent hundreds of hours again designing a pit box unlike anything the sport had ever seen.

“The box we unveiled at Daytona that year was massive, and I got a few laughs once again but, guess what? By the next year everybody else had one, too,” Meredith jokes.

In the 20-plus years since Meredith’s ingenuity became a fixture for crews on pit road, pit boxes have evolved into one of the most electronically complex command centers in all of professional sports.

Costing upwards of $150,000, the modern day pit box contains two satellites, a dozen hi-def monitors, NASCAR electronic timing and scoring systems, weather forecasting equipment, and multiple computers that run in-house programs to monitor everything from fuel mileage to tire wear.

An onboard camera system records every pit stop, and within seconds after a car screams back onto the track, the

crew can instantly view and analyze their performance. VGA cables have morphed through DVI to the new industry standard HDMI, and to keep pace with the advances in electronics, teams typically upgrade their pit box cabling every three to four years.

Multi-car teams also enjoy the added capabilities of instant messaging and sharing performance data through encrypted wireless connections.

Pit boxes still serve their original purposes, too. They carry all the team’s pit road tools, generators, nitrogen canisters, and minor repair supplies and also serve as a perch for crew chiefs. In as much as it has become an electronic command center, the

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Give them a reason to stare this season!

Tempt Boutique is very excited about their new fall and holiday collections. As always, they have traveled from Las Vegas to New York, bringing Mooresville their top “picks” for the upcoming seasons.

Tempt’s new styling team will keep you up to date on what’s new for this season, and beyond. Visit Tempt at the store soon, or simply call to discuss how you can integrate the new trends into your wardrobe collection.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Tempt Boutique

The Village at Byers Creek 124-C Argus Lane www.temptboutique.com/store Mooresville, NC 28117 facebook.com/temptboutique 704-663-7388

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Trunk Shows at The Lily Rose

Announcing upcoming Trunk Show Dates…Watters and Watters Oct 4-6; Casablanca Nov 1-3. Gowns not regularly featured in the shop are shipped to The Lily Rose for these dates. Purchase your gown during the weekend of the show and receive a discount.

Have an upcoming social event? Don’t forget The Lily Rose! Our new fall styles are arriving daily…come by and see what works for you. Alterations are performed ‘in house’ for your convenience.

The Lily Rose

19826 North Cove Road, Suite D Cornelius, NC 28031 704-895-1007 www.lilyrosebridal.com Tues 10-5 and 5-7 by appt Wed Fri 10-5 Thurs 12-7 Sat 10-4 and “Your Hours” by appt Closed Sun-Mon

Pleasures to have, Treasures to keep.

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Hickory Furniture Mart

Level 4 2220 Highway 70 SE, Hickory NC 28602 866-801-RUGS 828-267-0808 www.uniqueorientalrugs.net

The Elements 4 Life...

Welcoming Fall

Thanks to everyone who came out to The Elements 4 Life first annual fall festival and to everyone who helped raise money for the Ada Jenkins Center. Make sure to stop in this month for all your fall decor and fall pumpkins (available until Halloween). Mention this ad and receive 10% off

any one item.

The Elements 4 Life)

16024 Davidson/Concord Highway Davidson, NC 28036 704-896-3009 www.theelements4life.com www.LNCurrents.com

Ease into Fall Beautifully at Lakeside Boutique

A unique place to shop!

Tommy Bahama, Rock Revival, Miss Me, SiSis, Efley, and More.

Lakeside Boutique

Textor 200-BAmy North Harbor Place Davidson, NC 28036 I-77,cel:Exit 30 (704) 657-9813 200-B North Harbor Place Davidson, NC 28036 704-765-9143 textoramy@yahoo.com www.lakesideboutique.com www.lakesideboutique.com Mon-Closed Tues-Thurs 11am-6pm Fri-Sat 11am-8pm Sun 11am-4pm

Custom Facials for Radiant, Youthful Looking Skin!

Nicole Ambrosio provides custom skin care services after a thorough skin analysis.

Rejuvenate your look with a 75-minute custom facial or Microdermabrasion.

Ask about Salicylic, Jessner, Glycolic or Lactic peels for beautiful, glowing skin!

Schedule an appointment for a relaxing, comfortable experience. Packages are available.

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The Comfortable Couch

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The Comfortable Couch

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New Fall Arrivals Daily!!

Shop tops and sweaters from Ella Moss, 525 America, Splendid,GLAM, Theme, Sanctuary, Bella Dahl and more! Denim from Joe's, Hudson, Citizen, True Religion, and Paige! And don't miss our fall shoes from Sam Edelman and Dolce Vita! Shop with us online at www.lavendarboutique. myshopify.com

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“Custom Made Furniture to Fit Your Lifestyle”

Give us your “Wish List” and we will tailor a Built-in Display of Cabinets, Media Center, Wet Bar, or even a Tavern environment. The possibilities are endless.

Custom Wood Creations, LLC

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Lavendar Boutique

Sweet Boutiques Advertising feature that keeps you up on “current” fashion and gifts.

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CHROMA SALON Celebrates Women!

Mothers and Daughters: Visit Chroma Salon this month and receive a haircut and touch up color for $65 or a haircut and partial foil for $75. Mention this ad and receive 20% off any 1 boutique item. Call today for more details.

Chroma Salon

17039 Kenton Place Suite 104 Cornelius, NC 704-896-2889 info@chromassb.com

Colorblocking is still where it's at this Fall season!

Expect to see beautiful color combos such as teal & orange, purple & yellow, black & red and much more. Find the latest fashion trends at Salice Boutique. Located in our new location in Historic Downtown Statesville. Look for the Pink & Green striped awning.

Salice Boutique

105 S. Center Street Statesville, NC (704) 380-4983

Clothing, Shoes, Accessories and Activewear

Luna's at the Lake

19732 One Norman Blvd. Suite 340 Cornelius, NC 28031 704-892-1004 facebook.com/Luna's at the Lake

Consignment 1st of Lake Norman Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Fine quality pre-owned furniture, home décor, new market samples and model home closeouts. Find exactly what you’re looking for! Great selection of living room, bedroom, dining groups, artwork, lamps, rugs & more.

Consignment 1st of Lake Norman 350 W Plaza Dr., Mooresville (between Belks & Kohl’s) 704-663-0905 consignment1st@windstream.net consignment1st.com/gallery/lakenorman

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The FaSHOEnista The FaSHOEnista @ Ashley Carol

20901 Catawba Ave. Cornelius, NC 28031 704-892-4743 www.TheFaSHOEnista.com www.Facebook.com/TheFashoenista at Ashley Carol LIKE us on FACEBOOK

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The Galley |

The Porterhouse Pork Chop at Grilles Sports Café is marinated in fresh herbs and garlic and then char-grilled.

by Lynn Roberson photography by Glenn Roberson

Filling A Niche

Mooresville’s Grilles Sports Café makes a fresh start Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

38

www.LNCurrents.com

G

uests at Grilles Sports Café in Mooresville will find a familiar face, as experienced restaurant owner Cliff Bingham has reclaimed a space where he once operated Exit 36 Grill and Billiards.

“I had sold it and was going to retire,” Bingham says. Another restaurant opened in the space, but has since closed. Bingham was drawn to open a spot in the space, based in part on former clientele’s feedback.

He knew he wanted to expand his previous concept, and Grilles was born.

www.LNCurrents.com

“Come for the food; stay for the fun.” To fulfill that motto, Grilles has designed a variety of settings to accommodate different moods.

Chicken Caprese Pasta tempts the tastebuds.

Seared, rare sushi-grade tuna encrusted with black peppercorns and sea salt and served with honey soy wasabi dipping sauce is a favorite.

tables that had been there previously, to create a lounge area to complement the games. A space at the front near the bar is set aside for video games, to insulate other areas from the sound of the games.

Fans will be able to watch games from the NFL Sunday Ticket on the 14 flat-screen televisions, choosing between the different games being shown.

More than food Outside, guests can watch the sunset from the main deck overlooking the main channel.

The view is expansive, affording a laidback, 39

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Collaboration is key “This is a sports café, where we have an emphasis on good, fresh food,” Bingham explains. “Before, it was more of a sports bar. There aren’t that many nice restaurants on this side of the lake.” He realized the area was ready for a restaurant of this type.

Bingham hired experienced manager Brad Brooker as general manager and brought on Brantley Turner as chef.

“We have a really good collaboration,” Bingham says. “We’re emphasizing fresh grilled fish, steak and pork chops, along with a lot of the bar foods.”

Popular dishes include seared ahi tuna and the smoked salmon BLT. The Tex-Mex Bowl appeals to guests, with its black beans and rice, pico de gallo, and choice of grilled chicken, smoked pork or grilled tilapia. Innovative pizzas, steaks, chicken, porterhouse pork chops and other fish entrees have proven popular.

“We make our own rubs and marinades,” Turner says. He also smokes the meat on site.

Among other options, the bar serves up to 24 beers on tap, including craft and local beers.

Guests represent a mix of people. Seniors visit regularly while a younger set and families also frequent the grill. Wine tastings with an area group have brought about changes in the wines the bar stocks, as an example of the grill’s responsiveness to guests’ input.

The grill has adopted the slogan, “Come

Five pool tables and dartboards attract crowds, including an area darts league.

for the food; stay for the fun.” To fulfill that motto, the restaurant has designed a variety of settings to accommodate different moods.

The sunroom is light and airy, newly redecorated with comfortable booths and a fresh color scheme, resulting in a more formal vibe than in the other spaces of the restaurant. “We created comfort zones,” Bingham says. “When it was more or less a sports bar, we didn’t have booths.”

In another area, five pool tables and dartboards attract crowds, including an area darts league. They removed three pool

The Galley |

popular spot for diners. Brightly covered umbrellas create visual interest to complement the scenery. Boaters can pull up to the restaurant’s dock, using the eight available slips.

Acoustic bands on the weekends add to the mood, playing blues and oldies. Bingham invites guest’s ideas on the musical acts. “We’re still looking for the right fit on the live music,” he says.

A covered porch with brick walls and floors provides a cozy spot with cornhole games and

Grilles' quesadillas feature mixed cheese, olives and fresh pico de gallo.

including a recent fundraising effort for Special Olympics. The weekend breakfasts are another response to a gap in the area.

For lake residents, Grilles Sports Café offers fun, fresh food and a fantastic view of the water. LNC

Outside, guests can watch the sunset from the main deck overlooking the main channel.

a space that soon will boast an additional bar.

This space feels intimate and personal, with the warmly colored brick as a backdrop.

Many of the 30 or so staff may also be familiar to patrons. “Several of the employees worked with Cliff when it was Exit 36,” Brooker says.

Grilles is reaching out to area groups to build relationships and provide meeting space for gatherings.

The restaurant is considering how to structure an armed forces discount and is assessing its future charitable connections,

Fresh food is a priority at Grilles.

The Scoop

Grilles Sports Café 167 Pinnacle Lane, Mooresville 704.799.0074 Hours: Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-midnight, Fri 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Sat 8 a.m.-2 a.m., Sun 8 a.m.-midnight

North Mecklenburg Rotary Presents

Saturday, October 20th Noon to 6:00 pm Tickets $25.00 per person, $22.00 if you bring a canned food item.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Wine and beer tasting from 20 North Carolina wineries & micro breweries.

Live Music by The Mike Underwood Band Food available for purchase • Vendor and merchant area 2012 Beneficiaries: Ada Jenkins and Angels & Sparrows 40

www.LNCurrents.com

The big debut Chile’s opening act, its debutante ball, took place in Berlin in 2004; an event that’s known in Chile as the “Berlin Tasting.” Thirty-six of Europe’s most highly regarded wine journalists, writers and buyers met in Berlin to blind taste 16 wines — six Chilean, six French and four Italian. The European wines were some of the best that those two countries had to offer. When the results were announced there was a whole bunch of chagrin to go around, shared equally between France and Italy. Viñedo Chadwick from Chile’s Maipo Valley placed first, ahead of another Chilean wine, Seña from the Aconcagua Valley. To give you an idea of the wines it beat out, third place was the prestigious Bordeaux wine, Château Lafitte. Chile had truly arrived.

The Chilean wines that won in Berlin were made in a style much like the wines of Bordeaux, heavily oriented to Cabernet

Grapevine | by Trevor Burton

I

f you had to come up with a ranking of countries where conditions are best for growing grapes and making great wine, Chile would be high on the list. Chile’s wines have already proven themselves on the world stage, and they’re only getting better. The country has been making wine since the time of the Conquistadors — until relatively recently they were mostly bulk wines that really weren’t that good. Thankfully, a few pioneers figured out that it would be a better business making lower volumes of better quality wines, and they thrust Chile onto the world stage.

Sauvignon. Not too surprising as that French region has had a lot of influence on Chilean wines with investment and expertise. You really can’t go too wrong choosing a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Carménère from the Maipo Valley, but it’s what is happening elsewhere that really turns me on to Chilean wine.

A little background. Chile’s wine industry got its start in Maipo in the Central Valley.

Maipo is close to the capital, Santiago. The valley is a warm fertile plain where it’s easy to grow grapes, and the proximity to Santiago made logistics not too much of a challenge. But the real opportunities for great wines lie elsewhere—that’s where Chile’s unique topology comes into play.

Topology that shapes the wine Chile is a narrow country on South America’s West Coast. Its wine-growing regions are dominated by the majestic Andes Mountains to the east, by the Pacific Range to the west and by the Pacific Ocean’s cold Humboldt Current that flows north from Antarctica. These three factors act as a harmonious trio that shapes Chile’s wines.

As you move east or west from the Central Valley two things happen. You get into higher altitudes, and the soil is much less fertile. It becomes cooler, and vines have to struggle to survive in the poor Sauvignon Blanc from the Casablanca Valley — just one of the great values you’ll find in Chile.

Chilean wines offer great taste at a great value

www.LNCurrents.com

41

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

here to stay

Grapevine |

soil — struggling is good, as it builds up great complexity in the wines that the vines produce.

One of the quirks of Chile is that the closer you get to the equator, the cooler it gets thanks to the combination of ocean and mountains. The net result if you’re a grape is more intense sun and a longer ripening time — superb conditions that are not replicated anywhere else in the world.

But, what does all this technical information mean from the only important point of view, what’s the end product? There are so many great Chilean wines that it’s beyond the scope of this article to cover them all, but I’ll get to a few.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Three regions to seek out Go a little north of Santiago and closer to the ocean and you’re in the Casablanca Valley. Chile is best known for its red wines, but in Casablanca you’ll find an exception, Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc loves cool weather and Casablanca delivers.

To me, the wine is halfway between the stoniness of France’s Sancerre and the citrus character of New Zealand’s wines. Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc is nicely balanced if the other two Sauvignon Blanc wines are a little too extreme for your palate.

Go a little southwest of Maipo, and you’re in the Colchagua Valley. Here’s where you start to run into some really nasty soils — decomposed granite, schist, volcanic sands, and slate. All of which combine to produce great wine. One of the wines from this region gives an indication of how great Chilean wines can be. It is a wine produced

by Casa Lapostolle in a small sub-region of Colchagua, Clos Apalta. Apalta means “poor soil” in the local dialect.

At Clos Apalta, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are hand-harvested at night and brought to the highest level of the winery where they are 100 percent de-stemmed by hand, a very labor-intensive technique. This is the ultimate in TLC. It’s practiced by only a few wineries throughout the world. The winery has a vertical design, everything is gravity fed. There is no pumping that could add stress to the wine.

42

The majestic Andes Mountains have a huge influence on Chile’s wines.

Fermentation takes place in 21 small French wooden vats, each of which corresponds to an individual parcel of the Apalta vineyard. This enhances and augments the personality of each specific terroir plot in the vineyard. After two years of aging, the wine is bottled and either departs from the base of the winery or joins the underground library in the heart of the winery. This is seriously careful winemaking and shows the reverence of a Chilean winemaker to the quality of grapes and the need to translate that quality into wine. Terrific.

Finally, head north towards the equator and you come to the Elqui and Limari Valleys. The valleys are at high altitudes, around 6,000 feet, and close to the ocean.

Cool days, even cooler nights and high intensity sunlight — the solar radiation is 10 times higher than you would find in European wine regions. These are emerging regions just trying to find their way in terms of which grapes might do well. The wine that stands out to me is Syrah. Syrah is a grape that thrives on sunshine and really likes a cool climate.

I recently had a group of wine lovers taste a Syrah from Limari alongside one of

my favorite wines from France’s Saint Joseph region — a wine that’s also made from Syrah. The wines were more similar than they were different. The one, subtle difference we picked out was a nice, stony taste in the Rhône wine; not too surprising given the slate-filled soil that the grapes are grown in there. The outcome, though, was that the Chilean wine more than held its own.

To me, that’s a great compliment. These are wines to be sought out.

Chilean wines are far from unknown.

They’re easy to find. The important thing is that they are great values compared to similar wines from other parts of the world. Try a little comparison tasting — a Cabernet Sauvignon against a Bordeaux, a Sauvignon Blanc against one from New Zealand and the Syrah comparison I mentioned. It’s a lot of fun and very tasty. Enjoy. LNC Trevor Burton of Mooresville is certified by the International Sommelier Guild, he is founder of SST Wine Experiences and, along with his wife, Mary Ellen, conducts wine education and tasting tours to wine regions throughout the world. www.LNCurrents.com

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Game On |

by Mike Savicki photography by McGraw Photography Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Flyball is played in competitive heats between teams of four. In relay style, each dog races down a 51-foot lane obstructed with four jumps (each 10 feet apart), activates a springed box to release a tennis ball, grabs it and returns down the same path to cross a finish line.

44

www.LNCurrents.com

S

pot and Skye are athletes in the truest sense of the word. They have a passion for their sport. They love training, and there is nothing they would rather do than work hard.

The numerous trophies and ribbons that cover the walls of their home away from home serve as proof of their stature, and not a single day passes that they don’t think about playing their game.

But to be completely honest, Spot and Skye aren’t athletes in the traditional sense. They don’t compete to win, and their trophies and ribbons really don’t mean much to them. What matters are tennis balls.

You see, these two athletes have a seemingly relentless passion to retrieve tennis balls. They aren’t tennis players nor are they tennis ball persons. Spot and Skye are border collies, and retrieving tennis balls as fast as possible is a core part of their sport and it is what they would love to do all day every day if their owner, Dennis Meadows, would only allow them.

Spot and Skye are two of Lake Norman’s top flyball dogs. Spot is nearly 8 years old, and Skye is 2. This energetic brother and sister powerhouse pair loves nothing more than the thrills that are inherent in their sport.

When dogs fly Flyball is played in competitive heats between teams of four. In relay style, each dog races down a 51-foot lane obstructed with four jumps (each 10 feet apart), activates a springed box to release a tennis ball, grabs it and returns down the

Huntersville's Dennis Meadows with Spot and Skye, two of Lake Norman's top flyball dogs. Below, these dogs live for retrieving tennis balls as fast as possible.

These dogs got game

Fun-atics www.LNCurrents.com

45

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Flyball

Game On |

same path to cross a finish line. Spot and Skye compete as relay members on different teams of four. It takes each of them just over four seconds to blaze through the course.

The sport got its start in the ’60s and ’70s when a group of Southern California dog trainers invented a hurdle relay sport to keep their active dogs busy. A demo on the Johnny Carson Show then introduced it to America. The first competition took place in 1983, and the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) formal-

Spot and Skye compete as relay members on different teams of four. It takes each of them just over four seconds to blaze through the course.

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ized the sport in 1984. Flyball has since grown to include more than 400 registered clubs and 6,500 competing dogs. NAFA sanctions more than 300 competitions each year.

As it has grown, flyball has borrowed a few tricks from other sports. Each heat begins as a red-yellow-green lighting system, similar to drag racing, flashes to start the clock. The four jumps the dog must clear resemble miniature track hurdles. From the sport of swimming, dogs have borrowed and modified the flip turn for maximum speed, efficiency and safety.

And the name of the sport? Some say it was coined from the passing motion of the original launch box that sent the tennis balls flying into the air for the dogs to catch and retrieve.

See Spot run “My dog [Spot] is the reason I do this,” says Dennis Meadows, owner of the 12-year old Meadows Bed & Biscuit in Huntersville and founder of Max Fast Flyball, Charlotte and Lake Norman’s only NAFA registered flyball organization. “It makes my dog happy, and because he’s happy, he trained me to love the sport, too.”

Meadows also says it was Spot’s facial expression that convinced him that flyball was the right sport choice for his border collie.

“Spot was trained as an agility dog first, but he never seemed to look happy in the pictures we took,” Meadows explains. “But I looked at him in a picture at his first flyball tournament, and he just looked happy. I knew he was having fun. And now you’ll always see him as a happy dog in flyball photos.”

Spot’s record speaks for itself. He is well Continued on page 48

9/17/12 12:13:36 PM www.LNCurrents.com

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Game on |

Continued from page 46

known across NAFA Region 9, comprised of North and South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, and one of the sport’s 22 regions in the United States and Canada.

Spot has earned enough points to be called a flyball master, the highest designation an athlete receives. And now, as an older dog, he is eligible to compete on veteran teams where the heats a competitor can take on are limited during a weekend-long tournament.

See Skye fly Spot’s younger sister, Skye, is following in her older brother’s paw prints and is rapidly ascending the flyball ranks. After less than two seasons, Skye has earned flyball champion gold, the designation before flyball master. She is a reliable start dog who is picking up speed and technique as fast as she gains her performance points.

How fast is Skye? The best flyball dogs in the world complete the course without error in a dog’s hair over four seconds. Skye reliably hits 4.2 seconds.

Your next dental visit could be as nice as a day in the park.

Dennis Meadows is the owner of the 12-year old Meadows Bed & Biscuit in Huntersville and founder of Max Fast Flyball, Charlotte and Lake Norman’s only NAFA registered flyball organization.

Meadows says starting a dog in flyball requires a sizable time commitment that Skye was more than happy to embrace. “It’s a similar commitment to what parents feel when they enter a son or daughter in a travel sport,” he says. “You have to commit to weekly practices and classes then travel to tournaments and hotels and get used to being on the road.”

Meadows adds, “I waited to enter Skye until her growth plates had fully formed and she was old enough to race safely. After watching Spot in the sport, you know she was quick to follow.”

Spot and Skye now compete in about one tournament each month, and when they aren’t on the road, they are training.

And if these athletes had their say in the matter, the training would never end because, sport fuels life and, as any dog owner will tell you, there is always a tennis ball out there waiting to be retrieved. LNC The Scoop

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Dental Services: General, Preventive, Sedation, Cosmetic & Restorative 704.896.9535 • 9725 Caldwell Commons Circle, Cornelius, NC www.drswhiteandhaines.com

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48

Want to take your dog to experience flyball firsthand? Check out the sport at the Spooktacular Tournament on October 27 and 28 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, North Carolina. The tournament is being organized by Dennis Meadows, owner of Huntersville’s Meadows Bed & Biscuit and coach of Max Fast Flyball, the area’s only flyball organization. Visit www.maxfastflyball.com or e-mail Dennis at dennis@maxfastflyball.com for details.

Freelance writer Mike Savicki has lived and worked in the Lake Norman area for 15 years, frequently covering the racing scene.

www.LNCurrents.com

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Rip Currents –Style |

1 Life is Good nylon collar, $20, Life is Good, Birkdale Village, Huntersville, www.jakesatbirkdale.com.

2 Life is Good bowl, $18, Life is Good, Birkdale Village, Huntersville, www. jakesatbirkdale.com.

3 Carolina Panthers jersey, $28, Lucky Dog Bark and Brew, 19607 Statesville Road, Cornelius, www.luckydoglkn.com.

4 Carolina Panthers collar, $13, Lucky Dog Bark and Brew, 19607 Statesville Road, Cornelius, www.luckydoglkn.com.

5 Hungry and Thirsty bowls, $12 each, Sweet Grass, Mooresville Town Square, 287 Williamson Road, Suite A, Mooresville.

6 Tag pawbrush, $12, Sweet Grass, Mooresville Town Square, 287 Williamson Road, Suite A, Mooresville.

7 Striped leash, $11.95, Uncommon Scents, Northcross Shopping Center, 9715 Sam Furr Road, Huntersville.

8 Personalized tag, $15, Poppies, Birkdale Village, Huntersville.

9 Red beaded collar, $24,99, Impeccable Paws, 19930 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, www. impeccablepaws.com.

10 Vibrant Party Dress, $24.99, Impeccable Paws, 19930 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, www.impeccablepaws.com.

11 Sherpa donut bed, $24,99, Impeccable Paws, 19930 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, www.impeccablepaws.com.

12 Dogs Rock treat canister, $32, Sweet Grass, Mooresville Town Square, 287 Williamson Road, Suite A, Mooresville.

13 Travel carrier (FAA approved), $34.99, Impeccable Paws, 19930 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, www.impeccablepaws.com.

Home Port |

by Deb Mitchell photography by Sarah McGraw

www.LNCurrents.com

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

52

Debbie and Heinz Little have strong allegiances to the Carolina Panthers and Wake Forest. If you need proof, look no further than their Lake Norman home.

The trophy case in the the Little's home.

The Personal Touch Mooresville’s www.LNCurrents.com

Heavily Involved Debbie, owner and founder of Debbie’s Staffing Services (recently ranked the 18th largest private sector employer in North Carolina) notes that she and Heinz (her CEO and the force behind taking Debbie’s Staffing nationwide) are more than just fans. Debbie (a native of Winston-Salem) met Heinz through business colleagues and Wake Forest athletics. In the early days of her business, Debbie gained clients by hosting sports events and ticket giveaways. She 53

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Debbie and Heinz Little are good sports

T

he best place in Lake Norman to watch the big game isn’t somewhere you’ll need to tip the waitress when you leave — it’s the Lake Norman home of Debbie and Heinz Little. In a contrast that manages to compliment the rest of the home’s cozy cottage style, the walk-out basement’s sports theme readily reveals the Little's favorite teams: Wake Forest and the Carolina Panthers.

Home Port | This page: The Little's involvement and their dedication to giving back over the years has yielded the couple a plethora of personalized memorabilia just right for decorating their home sports bar.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

even borrowed money in 1986 to sponsor the Wake Forest golf team at the NCAA championship (they won!). “We are very, very involved [with Wake Forest and the Panthers],� she says. Heinz was the first non-alumni president of the Deacon Club, and Debbie sat on the Athletic Board. And as ardent supporters of the Carolina Panthers and founding members of the Suite 87 Club, the Littles haven’t missed more home games than you can count on one hand. Their personal involvement and their dedication to giving back over the years has yielded them a plethora of personalized memorabilia just right for decorat54

www.LNCurrents.com

ing their home sports bar.

With the help of Debbie’s favorite go-to interior designer, Ann Youngblood, the couple managed to display their cache throughout the space and still make room for entertaining. A tour of the room reveals treasures such as autographed jerseys, balls, and shoes and photos of Heinz with sports celebs like Gary Player, Tim Duncan, Ricky Proehl, Al Groh, LeBron James and countless others. “There’s no room here for just ‘filler’ décor,” Debbie says. And, indeed, the space is a veritable personal museum of the couple’s connections in the world of collegiate and pro sports.

An entertaining space Rich woods and copper tones warm the space, and a faux finish on the walls lends an old world feeling. Brick floors and barstools upholstered in vinyl (found by Ann and deemed perfect for the room as it simulates the look of wine corks) are impermeable to the inevitable spills and drips entertaining brings. Avid wine collectors, the Littles have a refrigerated wine cellar complete with a tasting table.

Interior designer Ann Youngblood helped design the space.

The bar itself, a large-scale wood and copper creation that seats 12, holds court at the center of the space. Heinz consulted with a commercial bar owner to get the dimensions just right.

Behind the bar is a full kitchen of small-scale appliances, complete with a freezer for frosty mugs.

“I didn’t think we’d need an oven so we didn’t put one in at first,” explains Debbie, “but then I would run up and down the stairs with hot dips and such.” Retrofitting an oven from Ikea saved the day. Now game day snacks are no problem,

and no one has to miss a moment of the action.

A seating area and a pool table flank the bar on either side of the space while a dining table lends more intimate seating. Plentiful windows and French doors offer natural light and an incredible view of the pool area and the lake beyond. A full bath off the main room rounds out the functionality of the space.

“We’ve had 40 people in here before,” Debbie Continued on page 58

Allen Brawley is Back!

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

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Lakefront home, 8BR/8.5BA #2060621 $2,500k

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In Harbor Watch, Boatslip 3BR/3BA #2102471 $449k

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Exquisite European waterfront estate in exclusive gated community on Lake Norman. An entertainer's delight w/ HUGE sunset wat erviews, heated pool/spa overlooking beautiful sandy beach. Grand foyer w/1 of 7 firplcs opens to a stunning Great Rm w/gorgeous built-ins & soaring tin ceiling. Fabulous Gourmet Kitchen, screen porch, private pier, spectacular billiard, & game rm, NEW 3D tiered Theater! Sports bar & wine cellar in process of c ompletion. #2092735 $2,799,000

Lakefront in Norman Estates #2100137 $3,000,000

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LOTS FOR SALE... Lot w/ Boat slip $55k in Northview Harbour, #2062779. 3 Interior Lots $39,9k, $79,9k, $85k in Pebble Bay, #2062776, #2062791, #2062565.

Water View Lot $89,999 at Island Point, Interior Lot in Sailview $69k, #2062560. Lot in Woodleaf, $42k, #2074017. Lot in Verdict Ridge, $45,900, #2062030.

Lakefront lot in Sherrills Ford with pier & dock in place, $249,950, #2062557. Lot in The Summit, $20k, #2077473. 24+ acres in Catawba Co. $250k, #2073334.

11.97 acres in Lincoln Co. $139k, #2095821. Lakefront lot in The Reserve, $269,950, #2062922. 3 ranch homes in Lake Haven in Denver, #2098839, #2099563, #2102397. Lakeview lot in Mooresville, $88k, #2106016.

11 acres in mountaintop estate, $200k, #2108433.

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Exquisite Mountaintop Log Home Estate! Imagine owning your own mountaintop resort on top of Little Mt in the Lake Norman area. Majestically situated on 10.23 acres in a gated community where nature & privacy w/ unbelievable views abound. Stunning custom log home is a masterpiece that is 2 stories w/finished basement, pool w/log pool house & cabana. Soaring ceiling, gourmet kitchen, 1st floor master. $1,290,000 #2108351

Get to Know Us

Preston at the Lake, 3BR/2.5BA In Harbor Master, 5BR/3.5BA #2091241 $400k #2096192 $329,900

Waterfront 2 Story Basement #2084973 $1,160,000 153foxhuntdr.epropertysites.com

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Lakefront Gem, 4BR/3.5BA #2094313 $674,900 3973cindyln.epropertysites.com

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In Verdict Ridge on golf course #2097502 $354k 1318valhalladr.epropertysites.com

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Lakefront Lot in Bordeaux #2099933 $149,9k

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Waterfront w/ pier & basement #2107026 $650k

In The Point, 4BR/4.5BA #2080713 $830k

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In Sailview, 5BR/3.5BA #2085689 $395k

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62 Acres in Catawba Co. #2062771 $650k

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Bank Owned Lots #2062285 $19,900 each

Lakefront home in Westbay #2061090 $949,000

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Lakefront Home, 4BR/3BA #2088271 $550k

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Deeded Boatslip, 4BR/2.5BA #2102773 $446,000

Lovely Townhouse, 2BR/2BA #2082023 $150k

Norman Pointe, 5 BR/5.5BA #2097826 $625k

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UNDER CONTRACT

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Holiday Harbor, 3BR/2BA #2101425 $170k

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Home Port |

Continued from page 55

says, “and you truly don’t feel it.” With enough seating for 20 and ample elbow room for all, it’s no wonder. And with a total of seven TVs placed strategically throughout the room, every play is in view, no matter where you stake out space during the party.

For Heinz and Debbie, it’s a perfect space to gather with friends and to celebrate their history, as well as their relationships with their two favorite teams. LNC

A tour of the room reveals treasures such as autographed jerseys, balls, and shoes and photos of Heinz with sports celebs.

Brick floors and barstools upholstered in vinyl (found by Ann and deemed perfect for the room as it simulates the look of wine corks) are impermeable to the inevitable spills and drips entertaining brings.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

With a total of seven TVs placed strategically throughout the room, every play is in view, no matter where you stake out space during the party.

58

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Currently A month of things to do in the Lake Norman area

Go Pink!

It’s time to raise awareness about breast cancer

U

www.LNCurrents.com

On October 7 celebrate a survivor and and help fund mammograms at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville Cancer Survivor’s Day. This free community event features exhibits, food, children’s activities and more. Visit the Yes, Ma’am! Mammograms Are A Must® tent and pledge your support for early detection of cancer. Sign a mammogram pledge to win prizes and help sponsor a squeeze for an uninsured woman living in the Lake Norman area.

Some 40,000 local women have not had a mammogram in the last 12 months, and Mecklenburg County has the highest rate of breast cancer diagnoses at Stage IV. Early detection is still one of the best ways to defeat this disease.

Later in the month you can go to Tastefully

Pink at 32 Flavors in Huntersville. The event, which was partially founded by Yes, Ma’am!, includes food, fashion and fun. At the October 11 event you can also shop for gifts and jewelry, win prizes and enjoy music by singer/ songwriter Anitra Jay. Proceeds from the event will fund a mammogram for an uninsured woman through Presbyterian Cancer Center’s new mobile mammography van. LNC The Scoop Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville Cancer Survivor’s Day is October 7 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville, 10030 Gilead Road, Huntersville. Tastefully Pink takes place on October 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 32 Flavors, 9525 Birkdale Crossing Drive, #102, Huntersville.

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

nfortunately, we all know someone who has experienced breast cancer or perhaps you’ve had it yourself.

Whether it’s you, your mother, your sister or your wife, the toll this disease takes on families is indescribable. That’s why it’s important to know about self-care and to stay breast-aware.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Lake Norman-area ladies are reminded to stay vigilant with their monthly breast self-exams and annual clinical exams.

Annual mammograms are recommended yearly as an essential part of women’s BREAST Health Action Plans beginning at age 40 for by the American Cancer Society. Here are other ways you can make a difference around the lake:

by Lori K. Tate

Calendar |

A month of things to do in the Lake Norman area CONCERTS “Mars” from the Planets (October 6) Special guests Anne Marie Samuel (viola) and Stephanie Foley Davis (vocals) perform with the Lake Norman Orchestra. Time TBA. Price TBA. Charles Mack Citizen Center, Mooresville, www.lkno.wikispaces.com.

Iredell Concert Association (October 13)

42 Five has been performing their unique brand of entertainment since the turn of the century. Five voices create a large instrumental band sound that goes far beyond a street corner barbershop sound. 7:30 p.m.

Individual season tickets $55, $20 students. Mac Gray Auditorium, Statesville, www.iredellconcerts.com.

Saint Patrick’s Solas Leighis Concert Series (October 14) The Tryon Street String Quartet,

featuring Charlotte Symphony’s Principal Cellist Alan Black, performs selections from Mozart, Haydn, Bach and Puccini. A Meet-the-Artist reception follows the concert. All proceeds benefit community outreach. 7 p.m. $15, $10 students, under 6 free. Saint Patrick’s, 201 Fairview Road, Mooresville, www.saint-patricks.org.

Music at the Square (October 20) All local, all

young, emerging artists. Six local bands play during the evening. Have a hot dog and enjoy the music. Bring your blankets. 8 p.m. Free. Mooresville Town Square, the corner of Brawley and Williamson Roads, Mooresville.he corner of Brawley and Williamson Roads, Mooresville.

Music at St. Alban’s (October 28) Molasses

Creek’s high-energy performances and phenomenal songwriting bring the love of their coastal home to the stage. 3 p.m. $15, students and seniors (65+) $10, children under 12 free. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Davidson, www.musicatstalbans.net.

Cornelius Concert Series (October 27) The

Huntersville Brass plays throughout the area for concerts church programs and weddings. Repertoire includes the classics as well as lighter genres such as ragtime and patriotic. 7 p.m. Free will offering. Sanctuary, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Cornelius, www.mtzionumc.net.

EVENTS Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze (weekends through November 4) One of the largest in the

Southeast, the giant seven-acre corn maze features over two miles of interconnecting paths. Visitors can also explore Rural Hill’s 265 acres and historic site, take a hayride around the farm, play a round of corn hole, play in mini-mazes, picnic or hike the trails. Times vary. $10, ages 5-12 $7, children 4 and under are free of charge. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival (October 6-November 18) The Carolina Renaissance Festival

is a medieval amusement park, an 11-stage theater, a 22-acre village marketplace, an interactive circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, and a feast — all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure.

Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $20, children $10. 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, www.royalfaires.com.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

Annual Downtown Mooresville Wiener Race (October 6) Aside from having loads of fun watching

feisty dachshunds do their racing thing, this event has a serious side as well. The goal of the event is to help local animal advocates raise awareness and funds for their causes. The MWR is open for participation to all nonprofit groups whose prime directive is to help our various animal friends, large or small. This year, Friends Of The Animals will provide volunteer assistance and be the beneficiary of proceeds raised. Check-in at 9:30 a.m., first heat begins at 11 a.m. Register fee is $25 and proof of all required vaccinations. www.mooresvillewienerrace.com.

12th Annual All American Dog Show (October 6) See the best dogs around at this event produced by

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The Town of Cornelius PARC Department. A highlight of the evening will be an opportunity for area petrelated businesses to display and sell their services and/or products. 5-8 p.m. Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org/parc.

Tour de Food (October 6, 20) This walking food tour

through historical Davidson features stops at seven to eight locally owned restaurants and specialty shops. Sample a taste at each stop while learning about Davidson’s rich history along the way. Meet the chefs and owners who create the delectable dishes from farm fresh food to put on your table. 1:30-5:30 p.m. $42.50. Downtown Davidson, www.davidsoncommunitycalendar.org.

The Lake Norman Wine Spectacular (October 13) Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Lake Norman-

Huntersville, this event includes wine tastings, silent and live auctions, and a plated dinner. Auction items include vacation packages, personal services and wines from private collections. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Lake Norman Community Health Clinic, the Hope House Foundation, USO-North Carolina, Pints for Prostate and End Polio Now. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets TBA. Havana Banquet and Ballroom, 8325 Copley Drive, Cornelius, www.winespectacularhuntersvillerotary.org.

Fore the Animals (October 16) Play golf while

you support Friends of the Animals. Barbecue dinner and awards follow the tournament. 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. Registration fee TBA. Birkdale Golf Course, Huntersville, www.friendsoftheanimals.net.

Pawbrokers Jewelry Party for Lake Norman Lucky Cats (October 18) Help support Lake Norman

Lucky Cats by attending their Pawbrokers Jewelry party.

The evening includes a signature “Pawtini” drink, donated jewelry is welcome, as 100 percent of the money raised from the sell of jewelry goes to support the effort of Lake Norman Lucky Cats. 5-9 p.m. Galway Hooker, 17044 Kenton Drive, Cornelius, www.luckycats.org .

Fourth Annual Lakeside Artists Studio Tour (October 19-20) Artists along the

Brawley Peninsula in Mooresville exhibit their work. Time TBA. Free. www.lknstudios.com.

‘Tawba Walk Art Crawl (October 19)

opening. This show is being presented in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and will have pieces for auction expressing the theme of “Hope” with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Habitat. Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun by appointment. 148 Ervin Road, Mooresville, 704.775.9516, www.andrechristinegallery.com.

Cornelius Arts Center Making a Splash! and The

Contemporary Horse are on display through October 19. Mon-Thu 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri-Sat 9 a.m.-Noon.

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

“Cotton” Ketchie’s Landmark Galleries Various

exhibitions. The work of watercolorist ‘Cotton’ Ketchie.

Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 212 North Main Street, Mooresville, 704.664.4122, www.landmark-galleries.com.

Davidson Studio Art Faculty Exhibition (Through October) Works by Professor of Painting

Hagit Barkai, visiting Assistant Professor of Studio Art Tyler Starr and visiting Assistant Professor of Art Darren Douglas Floyd will be on view in the William H. Van Every, Jr. Gallery of the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson College. www.davidson.edu.

Depot Art Gallery Mooresville Artist Guild’s 30th Annual

Artoberfest features works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, plus other two- and three- dimensional works. October 2-November 1. The Mooresville Artist Guild hosts an artist reception the second Friday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. 103 W. Center Avenue, Mooresville, www.magart.org.

Foster’s Frame and Art Gallery Various exhibitions.

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

Four Corners Framing and Gallery

Various exhibitions. Tue-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 112 S. Main Street, Mooresville, 704.662.7154, wwwfcfgframing.com.

Lake Country Gallery Various exhibitions.

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

Merrill-Jennings Galleries Various exhibitions. MonFri 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 463 S. Main Street, Davidson, 704.895.1213, www.merrilljennings.com.

Check out the galleries in downtown Cornelius.

7-9 p.m. Free. www.cornelius.org.

Sanctuary of Davidson Various exhibitions. 108 S.

7th Annual Denver Art Trail (October 20-21)

Tropical Connections Various exhibitions. Tue- Fri 10

Local artists specializing in a number of art forms, including pottery, painting, one-of-a-kind jewelry of many styles, wood turning, quilted fabric designs, and more, display their creations along the west side of the lake. E-mail Deb Roach at debroach1@bellsouth.net.

The Children’s Schoolhouse 31st Annual Fall Carnival (October 20) Enjoy a carnival complete

with pony rides and bounce houses, as well as an assortment of games suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school-aged kids. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free, games and attractions $1-$5. Village Green, Davidson.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet: Mandala Sand Painting (October 22-25) Tibetan Lamas of Drepung

Loseling Monastery create colorful sand mandalas from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily in the atrium of the Alvarez College Union at Davidson College and discuss their work with observers. A closing ceremony in which the monks sweep away the mandala symbolizes the impermanence of all that exists. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free. Alvarez College Union, Davidson College, www.davidson.edu.

GALLERIES Andre Christine Gallery The Art of Photography features some of the area’s most talented photographers and how they see the world. The opening is October 13, 6-9 p.m. Show runs through October. Ceramic artist Penny Overcash will also spotlight her newest works in sculpture, as well as sign copies of her book during the

Main Street, Davidson, www.sanctuaryofdavidson.com. a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment.

230 N. Main Street, Mooresville. 704.664.0236.

H ALLOWEEN EVENTS All Hallow’s Eve (October 13) Come experience the history of Halloween and its famous characters.

There will be trick or treating around the plantation, Halloween baking in the old kitchen, storytelling, pumpkin painting, a costume contest and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free with regular site admission ($7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for students, ages 5 and under and members are free). Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Ghost Tales in the Dark (October 12-13, 19-20)

Tour the plantation by candlelight and hear real ghost stories from staff, volunteers, and previous ghost hunts.

RSVP is required, and you must be 10 years or older to take the tour. Friday, October 12, 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.; Saturday, October 13, 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.; Friday, October 19, 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.; Saturday, October 20, 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m. $12 per person (only $6 for members). Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Town of Davidson’s Downtown Halloween March (October 26) Dress your children in their

best costumes and parade, as well as trick or treat,

www.LNCurrents.com

Boo Bash (October 27) Celebrate Halloween at Bailey Road Park with The Town of Cornelius PARC Department. 6 p.m. Free. Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org/parc.

Trunk or Treat Contest at the Pumpkin Patch (October 27) Decorate the trunk of your car in the

spirit of Halloween, add a bowl and bring it to the Pumpkin Patch. Kids can trick or treat as they walk around from trunk to trunk. Be sure to enter the costume contest. 2-6 p.m. Free. Mooresville Town Square, corner of Brawley and Williamson Roads.

MONTHLY EVENTS Carolina Raptor Center Live bird presentations, flight shows, behind-the-scenes tours and more take place at Carolina Raptor Center throughout the month.

Visit carolinaraptorcenter.org for more details.

The Artisan Market Craft Crawl (First Saturday)

Formerly known as the Mooresville Craft Crawl, this market features baked goods, clothing, embroidery, jewelry, paintings, pottery, quilts and woodcarvings with an edge. 5-9 p.m. Free. Mooresville Town Square across from Lowe’s Foods. www.facebook.com/artisanmarketnc.

Blue Planet Water Environmental Center Tour (First Tuesday, Third Thursday) Learn about water

Hall between Main and Jackson streets in downtown Davidson, www.davidsonfarmesmarket.org.

The Huntersville Market (Every Saturday)

Sponsored by The Town of Huntersville Parks and Recreation Department, The Huntersville Market offers citizens wonderful local fresh produce, delicious baked goods, jewelry and charming crafts. Free. 7 a.m.-noon.

103 Maxwell Avenue, Huntersville, www.huntersville.org.

Open Air Market at the Crossing (Every Saturday) Buy local flowers/plants, jam/honey, soap,

candles, baked goods, handmade crafts and more. 9 a.m.1 p.m. Free. 9525 Birkdale Crossing Drive, Huntersville.

MOVIES Movies at the Square (October 13) Come watch Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Bring your blankets.

8 p.m. Free. Mooresville Town Square, the corner of Brawley and Williamson Roads, Mooresville.

SPORTS Davidson College Football Support the

Davidson Wildcats at home as the 2012 season continues. Dayton, homecoming (October 6, 1 p.m.), Jacksonville (October 13, 1 p.m.), Butler (October 27, noon). www.davidsonwildcats.com.

and wastewater through a hands-on tour. Fun for all ages. Tours are available the first Tuesday and the third Thursday of the month on a first-come, first-served basis. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission TBA. Call 704.621.0854 or e-mail Bplanet@ci.charlotte.nc.us to schedule a tour.

Davidson College Men’s Soccer See how Davidson bends it like Beckham. Wake Forest (October 2, 7 p.m.), Georgia Southern (October 6, 7 p.m.). www.davidsonwildcats.com.

Davidson Farmer’s Market (Every Saturday)

Davidson College Women’s Soccer These women

Farmers sell a bounty of seasonal vegetables; pasteurized meats and cheeses; and freshly baked breads, cakes and pies. 8 a.m.-noon. Free. Next to Town

Rock Band Friday (Fridays) Learn how to play Rock Band after school. 3:30-6 p.m. Free. Ben & Jerry’s, 202 South Main Street, Davidson.

THEATRE The Smell of The Kill (Through October 9)

Take three deliciously malicious wives with three unloving husbands and throw in a blender. That’s the recipe of Michele Lowe’s tantalizing comedy that had Broadway audiences cheering. The Smell of the Kill revolves around Nicky, Debra and Molly, women whose marriages are on the brink of disaster. When the men mistakenly lock themselves in a basement meat locker, the women are faced with a life-or-death decision: Should they freeze them or let them thaw? Time and price TBA. Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www.warehousepac.com.

Baby: The New Musical (October 11-28) Three

couples, each newly expecting a child, have very different but familiar reactions to parenthood: college juniors who have just moved in together; thirty-somethings who have struggled to conceive; the mother of three already-grown daughters unsure of what to do next.

A production of Davidson Community Players. ThuSat 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. $20. Armour Street Theatre, Davidson, www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

A Month in the Country (October 26-November 3) With wit and honesty Ivan Turgenev exposes the subtle

passions and manipulations of a family on a Russian country estate in the 1840s. A production of the Davidson College Department of Theatre, this play is recommended for ages 12 and up. Fri (October 26) 8:15 p.m. Sat 8 p.m. Sun 2 p.m. Fri (November 2) 8 p.m. $15, seniors $12, faculty/ staff $10 and students $6. Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center, www.davidson.edu.

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Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

www.LNCurrents.com

know how to play the game. College of Charleston (October 7, 2 p.m.), Wofford (October 19, 7 p.m.), Furman (October 21, 2 p.m.). www.davidsonwildcats.com.

TEENS

Calendar |

in downtown Davidson. Time TBA. Free. Downtown Davidson, www.davidsoncommunitycalendar.org.

One More Thing |

J

by Lori K. Tate photography courtesy of Joey and Kim Baker

oey and Kim Baker have been Carolina Panthers fans ever since the NFL came to Charlotte. But two years ago the Cornelius couple took their dedication to the team to new heights when they purchased The Cat House — a 1999 Ford Coachman that offers the ultimate in tailgating.

“We totally transformed it. …It was just an old camper,” recalls Joey, who owns a body shop in Concord and did all the restoration work himself. “All the tape and colors were messed up.”

Now the camper displays the Panthers logo, along with bright blue wording that reads “Cat House” and “Carolina Panthers.” Inside, the blue interior works with the theme, and a Carolina Panthers shower curtain hangs in the bathroom, which happens to be the reason the Bakers purchased the camper in the first place.

“We tailgate with a group of people. Before we got the camper we all had to use Porta Potties in the parking lot,” explains Joey. “The girls would go wait in line and befriend everybody.

We’d always end up with about 10 guys and three or four girls. After that happened several years in a row I told Kim that we were going to have to have our own bathroom.”

Now the Bakers park in an invitation-only, 22-space lot known as Panther Fanz that’s just steps from Bank of America Stadium. They tailgate for every home game, including pre-season,

with 10 to 30 people. “It’s like putting on a party every weekend,” says Kim. “We cook, and we try to do something different every game. We do brauts. We do kabobs. We did a Cajun tailgate for the New Orleans game. We try to plan a theme around the team we’re playing.”

If it’s a Sunday game, Joey says they start preparing for it on Friday and continue working on

The Cat House offers the ultimate in tailgating.

Joey and Kim Baker of Cornelius tailgate for every home game, including preseason, with 10 to 30 people.

Lake Norman Currents | October 2012

(More Than)

it all day Saturday. “For 1 o’clock Sunday games, we leave at 9 a.m.,” says Joey. “We get there, get our grills out and get everything ready to cook for everybody. By then it’s 12 o’clock, and it’s time to go in.”

It takes the Bakers from Monday to Tuesday to clean everything out of The Cat House, which was recently featured in a Pepsi commercial, and get ready for the next tailgate. “It’s a five- day deal,” says Joey, who has PSLs on the second row beside the visitor’s tunnel.

Although that seems like a lot of work, the Bakers think it’s completely worth it. “We love being together with all of our friends and making new friends. It’s just fun to meet different people,” says Kim. “One time when we were playing Baltimore, there was a whole group of Baltimore fans that came over and just started tailgating with us.

It’s nice to meet people from other areas.” LNC

Dedicated Fans Joey and Kim Baker love the Carolina Panthers, and it shows 64

www.LNCurrents.com

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