Life in Our Foothills March 2016

life in our foothills

March 2016

Josh Trejo Teachin’ it real

The Pleasure of Pottery in the Japanese Raku tradition

Drone’s Eye View March 2016

A primer on the popular flying gadget

Defiant Attitude Deep diving whisky maker

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Editor’s note One of the neatest and most uplifting things I’ve witnessed in a while is a middle school art teacher who not only connects with his students on a relatable level, but holds them enthralled, who encourages students to use their imaginations and personal vision, and have fun while making their art.

Mr. Trejo, as his students at Polk County Middle School call him, barely looks older than a high school student himself. His influences are street artists like Banksy and the colorful world of graffiti art. He’s hip, he’s genuine, and the kids know it. His class has quickly become a favorite elective.

Spend just one class period with him and it’s easy to see why. With so much attention in the national discourse today on science, technology, engineering

and math education, or STEM, it’s wonderful to see that Polk County has a solid appreciation for arts education (changing STEM to STEAM) and of letting students explore that creative side of themselves. Step into his classroom, starting on page 37.

The story of an artist of a different sort, one who blends the art and science of the centuries old process of whisky making, starts on page 40. Tim Ferris of Defiant Whisky (spelled the Scottish way, of course) is a colorful character whose life will remind you of a Mission Impossible movie.

Also harkening back centuries, but to the Orient, another art form examined in this issue is Japan’s Raku pottery. Jim Cullen, a well-known potter in this area, explores this tradition with writer Steve Wong, starting on page 16.

As always, I appreciate your comments, feedback and suggestions regarding this magazine, as well as ideas for future magazines.

Thanks for reading, and welcome to March!

Claire Sachse, Managing Editor claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com

on the cover PUBLISHER

Betty Ramsey

EDITORIAL

Claire Sachse

CONTRIBUTORS

Gillian Drummond Kirk Gollwitzer Judy Heinrich Carol Lynn Jackson Linda List Michael O’Hearn Mark Schmerling Vincent Verrecchio Steve Wong

MARKETING Kevin Powell Magan Etheridge PRODUCTION Jamie Dawkins Layken Gibbs Robyn Holm Amanda Porter ADMINISTRATION Ashley Brewington DISTRIBUTION Jeff Allison Austin Hylemon Austin Kempton Evan Plumley

Josh Trejo.

Photo by Mark Schmerling

Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia, LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher.

Please address all correspondence (including, but not limited to, letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills, 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782, or email to claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com.

Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing subscribe@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151. ext. 101. The magazine is also available online at tryondailybulletin.com.

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 7 P.M. Tryon Fine Arts Center Film Series “Waking Ned Divine” Tryon Fine Arts Center tryonarts.org

THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 4 On The Tip Of Their Brush Upstairs Artspace, Tryon upstairsartspace.org

THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 The Instructor’s Showcase The Best of our Best Tryon Arts & Crafts School tryonartsandcrafts.org

THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Between The Covers Andrew Hayes Book Art Upstairs Artspace, Tryon upstairsartspace.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 12 P.M. Recitals at Noon Timothy Shepard, organ Holy Cross Episcopal Church Tryon

THROUGH SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Preserving African-American Art in the Foothills Tryon Fine Arts Center Gallery I tryonarts.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 8 P.M. “A Moon for the Misbegotten” Main Stage Tryon Fine Arts Center tryonarts.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Guest Artist Show Tryon Painters and Sculptors Tryon tryonpaintersandsculptors.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2 P.M. Downton Abbey traditional British tea Polk County Public Library Columbus polklibrary.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 12 P.M. Recitals at Noon presents Lesley Bush, Charlene Means, Piano and Organ Holy Cross Episcopal Church Tryon

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A Moon for the Misbegotten

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 3 P.M. Foothills Music Club Organ Concert Tryon Presbyterian Church Tryon foothillsmusicclub.org

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 3 P.M. Ivana Carlson, Violin Music In Landrum Landrum Presbyterian Church Landrum, S.C musicinlandrum.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 6 P.M. Mixed Media Show, Opening Through April 20 Tryon Arts & Crafts School Tryon tryonartsandcrafts.org

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 4 P.M. Sunday Salon with author David Hoffman Lanier Library Tryon lanierlib.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1-5 P.M. Go Fly A Kite Foothills Equestrian Nature Center Fence.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 12 P.M. Recitals at Noon presents Kymric Mahnke Holy Cross Episcopal Church Tryon

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 6 P.M. Opening Reception: New Faces Artists new to the Upstairs Exhibit continues through April 22 Upstairs Artspace Tryon upstairsartspace.org SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 6 P.M. Opening Reception: Artful Chairs Exhibit continues through April 22 Upstairs Artspace Tryon upstairsartspace.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 7 P.M Literary Open Stage Lanier Library Tryon lanierlib.org

Super Saturday

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 6 P.M. Tryon Concert Association’s TGIF with Peter Fletcher, Guitar Tryon Fine Arts Center Tryon tryonconcerts.com

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Easter Egg Hunt

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 9 A.M. Super Saturday Children’s Theater Festival Tryon tryonsupersaturday.com SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 10 A.M. Easter Egg Hunt Landrum Library Landrum, S.C. cityoflandrumsc.com

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Dover String Quartet

SATURDAY MARCH 26, 10:30 A.M. Wild Tales presented by Doug Elliott Walnut Creek Preserve pacolet.org THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 8 P.M. Tryon Concert Association presents Dover String Quartet Tryon Fine Arts Center Tryon tryonconcerts.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS 12

COLUMNS 22 Country Living 29 Much Ado 31 In Good Taste

FOOTHILLS FEATURED 9 Kiwanis Chili Dinner 12 Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner

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FEATURES

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16 The Pleasure of Raku’s Flames and Fire 24 The Turnaround Man 32 The Eye in the Sky 40 Tim Ferris: Deep Diving Whisky Maker

Q&A

APPOINTMENTS

37 Josh Trejo

46 Monetta Farrier @ Tryon

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Kiwanis Chili Dinner Photos by Michael O’Hearn

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Nearly 150 community members attended the Tryon Kiwanis Club’s annual chili dinner on Saturday, Feb. 6. Chili, cornbread, beverages and desserts were served at the dinner to the backdrop of live music.

1. Bob Swann and Mary Sasser 2. Lorin Browning, Carol Browning, Caroline Brown, Art Brown 3. Virgil Stucker, Lis Stucker, Lisa Mosley, Philip Mosley 4. Heidi Shull, Ken Shull, Fran Creasy, Al Creasy, Sylvia Colosimo and Butch Colosimo 5. Brett Phipps, Erica Sullivan, Hannah Netschytailo, Jennifer Griffin, Emma Wagoner, Sammy Haase and Anamarie Gundersen.

6. Audrey Ortiz, Frank Ortiz, Tommy Vehorn and Edith Vehorn 7. Bob Montgomery, Doug Lyon, Norman Conklin and Kathleen Conklin

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Tryon Fine Arts Center presents

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Kiwanis Chili Dinner Photos by Michael O’Hearn

8. Randy Grobe, Wayne Mullinas, Suzanne Engelmann and Jauan Ferriter 9. Steve Rosenberg, Robyn Rosenberg, Mary Prioleau and Kim Adams 10. Parky Flanagan, Lynn McKeller and Charles McKeller

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Kiwanis Chili Dinner Photos by Michael O’Hearn

11. Marce Crowder, Joe Crowder, Lynn Montgomery and Eloise Johnson 12. Christel Walter and Manfred Walter 13. Paula Edwards, Phillip Edwards, Q. Burnett and Sherry Burnett

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Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Photos by Michael O’Hearn

The 28th annual Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce dinner took place on Jan. 26 at the Purple Onion restaurant in Saluda. Awards were distributed to six recipients for their volunteerism and business leadership skills for 2015. Kim Karaman, Madelon Wallace, John Vining, Carl Wharton, Dennis Nagle and Susan Casey received awards at the event.

1. Jimi Buell, Deanna Ermson and Debbie Junge 2. Matt Troyer and Cato Junge 3. Kim Adams and Debbie Penny 4. Kathy Toomey and Mike Karaman 5. Mike Karaman, Carolyn Baughman, Mike Baughman and Janet Sciacca 6. Claire and Carl Wharton 7. Eric Lemon, Donna Marzuka and Kathy and John Toomey

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Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Photos by Michael O’Hearn

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8. Ethan Waldman, Stephen Brady and Eric Overholt 9. Stephen Brady, Eric Overholt and Andy Millard 10. Mike Karaman, Kim Karaman, Kim Adams, Debbie Penny and Jimi Buell 11. Janet Sciacca

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Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner

Photos by Michael O’Hearn 12. Jeff Byrd, Eric Lemon, Donna Marzuka, Ronnie Reid, his wife, Angie and Renae and Ethan Waldman

13. Close to 45 patrons stopped by the Purple Onion in Saluda to celebrate the 28th annual awards dinner for the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce.

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The pleasure of Raku’s flames and fire Potter Jim Cullen teaches ancient Japanese technique Written and photographed by STEVE WONG

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t had been a full Saturday of watching a few people mold clay, mix glazes, and talk pottery talk. I like pottery, and I buy pottery when it strikes my fancy, but I had learned the hard way that I had no artistic or technical talent in making it. I had failed Pottery for Dummies, not able to “center” my clay, much less shape it or glaze it.

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But this particular teacher, Jim Cullen, had promised me some excitement … flames and fire, and pieces of beautiful pottery made through the ancient Japanese tradition of Raku.

I had heard the word “Raku” many times in my novice dealings with pottery. It was always said with a bit of reverence, as if defin-

ABOVE: Most of the day, the pottery students worked independently or in smaller groups. But very often instructor Jim Cullen would bring them together to hear something universal. RIGHT: When loading a kiln, the idea is to get as many as possible in — without breaking any.

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ing it was difficult, maybe impossible, and beyond Western thinking. When looking at a collection of pottery, the Raku pieces are usually noted as being special and more expensive. If you’ve ever seen horsehair pottery, you’ve probably seen Raku pottery, and if you bought it, you paid handsomely.

Combine Raku mysticism and equestrian enthusiasm, and you have tapped into an almost sacred art form of draping a dead horse’s hair onto sizzling hot pottery to create vessels that might hold the spirit of the deceased animal. I just like how the squiggly black lines look on light-colored flower vases.

The 10 or so people in the daylong workshop at Jim’s home and studio in Campobello, S.C. were all potters of various experience and talent, and they were psyched to be there. They, too, had been tempted by the notion to experience and learn about Raku. Most had brought unfinished – formed and hardened, but not finished or glazed – pieces of their own making in hopes of having them transcended to Raku. I don’t know what Jim told the student potters, but he had promised me flames and fire.

Jim is a good teacher and one of the most respected potters in the Carolina Foothills. He teaches in both South Carolina at Chapman Cultural Center and North Carolina at Tryon Arts & Crafts School, and his classes are in high demand, as is his own pottery work.

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His Roundhouse Studio — of his own design — is almost legendary among his followers. To be invited to attend a workshop there is like being invited to cook alongside Julia Child in her own kitchen. They all brought snacks and bag lunches, and Jim provided printed information sheets with technical recipes and step-by-step instructions on various techniques.

He dubbed the workshop “Let’s Burn Some Pots!” Yes, let’s get on with some burning…

“Patience, Grasshopper,” is something Jim has said to me on more than one occasion. First things first: Introductions, coffee, a tour of the studio, general comments about the day ahead, chitchat. Inside and out, the studio was packed with cans and bottles of chemicals; scores of pots in various stages of creation; kilns big and small, purchased, restored, cobbled together; gas tanks; newspapers; and it all had a reason to be there as we learned as the day went on.

Those little metal trashcans with lids sitting outside, next to the kilns? Guess what happens when you fill them with old newspapers, maybe some dry leaves, and gently place red-hot pieces of pottery in them? Fire and flames that must 18 M ar ch 2016

ABOVE: A class member carefully lifts a piece from the kiln.

LEFT: Once a piece of pottery is put in a trashcan and it blazes, the trick is to cover the can quickly and tightly. The more smoke, the better. RIGHT: As cooled pieces are pulled out of the trashcan, they are usually covered in ashes.

be smothered as fast as possible to create as much contained smoke as possible because smoke is one of the things that makes Raku so special.

There’s Raku, and then there is Raku, and to hear Jim talk about it is like trying to understand Far East philosophy. Some words and concepts are nearly impossible to translate into Southern English. I was relieved to find out that Naked Raku is done with clothes on. On the simplest level, Raku means pleasure, and Raku pottery was first used in Japanese tea ceremonies. I’m sure some Japanese tea experts might take exception to such a simplistic understanding of Raku.

Jim was pacing the day, with an obvious goal to end with flames and fire. Throughout the day, the potters learned different techniques, compared notes, applied glazes of every sort, fired pots, broke pots, came close to crying over broken pots, cleaned up messes, and made ready for a big fiery finish, which came after dark.

You could feel the group’s anticipation in the cool air as the individuals brought out their best pieces, stoked the kilns, filled the trashcans, and tried to predict what their finished products would look like. Waiting for the kilns was the worst part, like waiting for water to boil. There was constant monitoring, adjusting of temperatures, and clockwatching.

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When the kilns were ready to give up their glowing contents, the trick was to transfer the pieces to the waiting trashcan without breaking them. No easy task. Some broke. But once the pieces were in the trashcans, flames would erupt, and the potters would scramble to get the lids on, hoping the complex techniques of clay molding, glazing, firing, and smoking would produce pieces of art.

Adding to the rush and excitement is the fact that a kiln can hold several pieces of pottery at one time, but a trash can gets only one piece at a time. In a group effort, they hustled and dodged each other with long tongs to take the pieces out of the kiln and place them in individual trashcans and clamp 20 M ar ch 2016

down the lids in mid blaze. The one thing the studio didn’t have was smoke alarms. Actually, waiting for the trashcans to cool was probably the worst part.

The best was to yet come, and it did indeed.

As the trashcans cooled and the pieces of pottery were pulled from the ashes, the potters were elated with the results, though some were prettier than others. Some were down right gorgeous. The “oohs” and “ahhs” were plentiful as each potter brushed off the ash to reveal deep earthy tones combined with metallic and iridescent sheens in unpredictable patterns.

This was the payoff after a day’s dirty work: to take home clay pots and pieces of art that were made by people with the highest hopes

ABOVE: The finished products are now truly works of art. TOP RIGHT: A good time was had by all. RIGHT: Horse hair pottery is much sought after in equestrian communities, such as Tryon.

and respect for a craft so hard yet so simple. These handiworks would undoubtedly finds places of honor in the homes of their owners, giving them what is loosely translated as “pleasure.�

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country

LIVI N G

Guest Quarters Written by GILLIAN DRUMMOND

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o you remember the wonderful feeling you had the last time you stayed in a five-star hotel or a fine bed and breakfast? Your guest room, barn apartment or guesthouse can be transformed so that your guests leave feeling rested, pampered and refreshed.

Twin beds are often best in a guest room as they accommodate a variety of people. In a room with limited space, such as the barn apartment I was recently in, a Murphy bed can be the ideal arrangement. A comfortable mattress is a must. It should be firm but have a soft surface so that you are supported but feel like you are sleeping on a cloud.

With linens, cotton is the ideal, as they are soft, cool and launder well. Supima cotton is the best and the higher the thread count, the more luxurious they are. If you are lucky 22 M ar ch 2016

enough to have someone to iron them or can afford to send them to the laundry your guests will sleep in the lap of luxury. I personally prefer white towels as they can be bleached if a guest gets make-up on them. Be generous and give your guest plenty of towels, and always have extra pillows available.

I recently saw a picture of a guest room decorated by interior designer Vincent Wolf. It is simple and romantic. The walls are painted a beautiful shade of yellow. The twin beds are iron and are painted white; they have yellow bed skirts and white linens with embroidered, lacy pillowcases. There is a natural wicker table between the beds and a camel colored rug on the floor. Some simple black and white art in white frames hangs above the beds. The pharmacy lamps that hang on the wall at the side of each bed are also white. At the windows are ro-

RIGHT: In this guest room, a lovely English wallpaper with birds and flowers gives the room an air of lightness, joy and comfort. Photo by Tim Lee. Design by Drummond House.

light, good color on the walls, and perhaps a fireplace to sit in front of and enjoy a glass of wine in the winter months are a recipe for sure success.

One of the horse farms I recently visited had a barn apartment that was connected to the barn through the tack room. This served as a mudroom as well, keeping the guest apartment clean. Also, it’s easy to saddle up in the morning if you were staying there for a weekend of riding.

For the many horse farm owners that have guest quarters used by riders coming for equestrian events or friends coming to spend a weekend, you can give them an unforgettable experience if you add a memorable room to stay in. It can be a very simple space as long as it is comfortable, clean and fills their needs.

The guest room I used here to illustrate my point has lovely English wallpaper with birds and flowers to give the room an air of lightness and joy, the curtains treat a window stuck in a corner in a way that gives it style and color. The dressing table can double as a desk and the bed with its many pillows is a place to truly get a good night’s sleep. It is a guest room that leaves your guests savoring the memory.

Gillian Drummond has her design studio, Drummond House, in Tryon, N.C. You can view her website at www. drummondhouseco.com and reach her at info@drummondhouseco.com or 828-859-9895.

man shades in a plain yellow fabric that matches the walls, with a white border down each side. You could use white faux wood wide venetian blinds. They would look wonderful and be cost effective.

Speaking of paint, the easiest, least expensive way to give any room a wonderful look is to paint the walls a beautiful color. Benjamin Moore has a paint collection called Fresh Pales. It has many restful colors in it that would be perfect for a guest room.

The finishing touches that a make a guest feel pampered and special are some books or interesting magazines, nice smelling soap and shampoo in the bathroom, potpourri in a bowl and some fresh flowers in a vase in the bedroom. An alarm clock (I always forget mine), an electric coffee pot, and a small refrigerator are nice additions.

If you have a guest house, remember that the same principles remain true for the living room and kitchen. Comfort, cleanliness and warmth are what I would want in guest house living room. Comfortable sofas and chairs, good M ar ch 2 0 1 6

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The Turnaround Man

Legacy of the Cross Ministry brings the Word of God to prisoners, former prisoners Written By MICHAEL O’HEARN Photos submitted by STEVE COLLIE and MICHAEL HAMM

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eing sentenced to prison can turn a person’s world upside down in an instant.

But being released from prison just 21 months into a 45-year sentence at the Florida State Penitentiary is what prison minister Michael Hamm calls a “miracle,” one that completely changed his whole life’s focus.

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What led him to, and later from, that prison cell, makes for a fascinating tale.

After returning to the states after a tour in the Vietnam War, Hamm said he became a broker and a millionaire many times over by buying and selling hotels, ranches and horses.

In Atlanta, Hamm said he also ran with a crowd who introduced him to recreational

ABOVE: Horses are an integral part of the rehabilitation process at Crossroads Ranch, and Hamm likens working with them to therapy.

drugs, to which he became addicted.

“I came back to a confused country as a confused young man and I wanted to make my mark in life,” Hamm explained, about his life after the war. His financial fortunes went up and down with the vagaries of the lifestyle.

“I recovered [financially] within a few years and was back on top again,” Hamm recalled.

But, he said, he “didn’t recover from my addictions and they increased, so I went bust again.

And finally, some guys came to me and told me, ‘Listen, we know a way for you to make a lot of money with your airplanes.’”

That conversation landed this recreational

pilot in the business of what he euphemistically referred to as “importing exotic plants” from Central and South America.

“I thought that was the kind of business I needed to be in,” Hamm said. “My first run was to Central America on a 14-hour turnaround and I brought back a thousand pounds of marijuana and they paid me $85,000. It got my attention and brought about a major career change.”

After about five years of this high-flying lifestyle, Hamm’s business partner and his two sons were arrested and sent before a judge; they made what Hamm referred to as a ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ exchange.

ABOVE: Music is a big part of the Sunday services at the Crossroads Ranch and sometimes even the work Hamm and his ministry do out in the community. This cowboy choir, according to Hamm, consists of “hard heads” who banded together to sing “Sanctuary.”

LEFT: Being reborn in the presence of the Lord is part of the Legacy of the Cross process.

Each participant must sign on for a 52-week discipleship program that will teach them the Word of God, and the importance of being on a solid foundation of faith once they enter the world again.

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Every Sunday, Hamm receives 10 to 14 men and their families for a family day of worship through the Overcomers Program, which teaches the men how to overcome sin and the obstacles they will face once they exit the prison system. God’s process for setting a person free from unhealthy habits, and the power of sin and how to deal with shame and guilt, are cornerstones of Hamm’s program.

.TI ECALPER T’NOD

“I was the deal, and on July 14, 1985 I was sentenced to the Florida state prison,” Hamm said. “I was sentenced to a mandatory sentence of 45 years to life. When they slammed that prison door shut, I didn’t know if I would ever see the free world again.”

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“God had a better plan for my life, and I got born again sserd“I dA got teertkicked S and filled with the Holy Spirit,” Hamm said. piZ esince. tatS ytiCThat’s out of prison and I’ve been going back in ever m o c . n a e l c r e t s a m e c i v r es.wwIw had why I am in prison ministry. I was in prison before ever been behind bars, in that prison that has no walls.”

From his prison experience, Hamm said he developed a noitpircsed reffO heart for people like fohim had esahcruwho p muminiM .ylno nmade oitacol naesome lC retsaMecbad ivreS sihchoices t ta dilaV .00/00/00 hguorht doog reffO .¢1 fo 001/1 eulav hsaC .deriuqer XXX$ and bad decisions.

“I wanted to help those who had their wives and their children impacted by incarceration and their addictions,” Hamm explained.

Hamm relocated to Alabama to build the Crossroads Ranch as a chaplain and guided the ranch for 25 years.

“I would take guys out of jail and out of prison, some with alcohol .devreser sthgir llA .naelC rdrug etsaMecivand reS 2102 © .naelC retsproblems aMecivreS yb uoyand evres osome t desnecil right ssenisub toff nednethe pedni nA

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A facet of Hamm’s program deals with the “equip and ignite” process of training volunteers how to evangelize to inmates. Hamm said some volunteers learn how to do this for the first time and, as seen in this photo, they meet with an inmate and pray. Hamm said the “ignite” part of the training comes when the volunteer returns from the field “ignited” with the feeling they made a difference in a convict’s life through prayer.

street,” Hamm said. “I would give them life skills, set them on the right path and on a solid foundation with the Word of God. I would teach them how to be good husbands and good fathers and how to begin that reconciliation process back with society and their families.”

His explanation for doing prison ministry stems from wanting to give convicts a positive environment to return to once they finish their sentences.

“Most crimes that are committed by these guys, over 90 percent are drug-related and are because of their addictions,” Hamm explained. “When they come out, if they don’t have a positive environment that they can go back into, they will go back to the places they were in, they fall back in the same crime or the same situations.”

Hamm moved to Tryon in 2015 after one of his friends passed away, leaving a widow with four boys. While visiting Midway Baptist Church one Sunday, he met Steve Collie, a financial planner who works at Wells Fargo in downtown Tryon, who happened to be playing with his band at the church that day.

Hamm said he was interested in Collie when he saw him playing his guitar at the church, particularly when Collie said he had made the guitar he was playing.

“I said I was impressed with it and we realized we had some things in common,” Hamm, also a guitar player, said. “He got interested in the ministry and began to go into the jails and prisons with me. At that point, I asked M ar ch 2 0 1 6

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him if he wanted to be the treasurer of the ministry.”

Collie said he was astonished at what Hamm had been through and knew about prison systems.

“He knew exactly what was going on because he had been through it,” Collie explained. “From my standpoint, I want people to know that not everybody judges them, that I want to help them and their families. Our teaming up has been great, to have him on my side so I can share my faith as well.”

Having a heart for helping people too, but not knowing exactly how to, lead Collie to team up with Hamm.

“We have completely different backgrounds and skill sets,” Collie said. “I feel he can add to what I’m doing and he’s certainly taken to my heart. We have teamed up here and want to get this concept out.”

Collie and Hamm are going into prisons together now in Polk County as well as in Spindale.

“We want to make a difference in Western North Carolina and South Carolina,” Collie said. “We want to do it here. That is our only intent. Knowing what we know about fatherless families and the vicious cycle of those continuing to go back in, I feel like the prison 28 M ar ch 2016

population is our greatest mission where we can make the biggest difference in the families and communities.”

Currently, Collie and Hamm do not have a stationary location for their ministry like Hamm had when he began in Alabama. But, they are hosting a fundraiser March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Midway Baptist to help launch the Legacy of the Cross Ministry in this area.

To attend, r.s.v.p. to 828-231-9319 or lagacy­ ofthecross@gmail.com.

Collie said he hopes to show people in prison systems that no one will look at them differently and that they can come out into a better environment.

“Getting them out of this vicious cycle and getting them to be fathers again is the mission that we’re on,” Collie said.

According to Hamm, 27 million people are growing up without fathers today and 86 percent of the men and women who are incarcerated come from fatherless homes.

“I got kicked out of prison after 21 months.

One time was enough,” Hamm said. “No parole, no probation and I had a mandatory sentence. That was the first miracle God did for me. The second one came when Jesus became the Lord of my life.”

ABOVE: On Jan. 31, Hamm and Steve Collie (left) presented their concept for the Legacy of the Cross to the Tryon community at Tryon United Methodist Church. The duo is currently seeking a location to serve as their base of operations here in Polk County and will bring the Upstate, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee regions together through their ministry. Hamm and Collie are taking donations of furniture items and appliances, and will be holding a fundraiser at Midway Baptist Church in Columbus on March 29.

much A D O

Payday

Ain’t What It Used To Be Written by STEVE WONG

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ayday used to be special, something everyone -- even if you didn’t work – looked forward to. With today’s direct bank deposits, I’ve not looked forward to, much less celebrated, a payday in many years. I’ve not held a valid paycheck in my hands since my disco days.

My fondest payday memory is of my late Uncle Douglas Moony of Pineville, N.C. He and his wife Roberta, deceased also, were second- and third-shift mill workers with three daughters and then a fourth who came surprisingly late in life.

Roberta and my mother were like sisters, so our two families were very close and involved in each other’s day-to-day lives. One of my earliest memories is wondering what little but extravagant thing Uncle Douglas would do with money in his pocket… like bring home a bagful of penny candy for the kids, buy the fixings for homemade hand-churned ice cream, or have dinner at a fish camp.

I’m sure there were other ways that my jolly Uncle Douglas found to celebrate his weekly payday, but the family’s anticipation of payday was more real than the actual payoff in Mary Janes or fried catfish. It was everyone’s reward for a good hardworking week.

Early in my working life, I was employed at a big corporation that issued weekly, paper, paychecks. In my own little way to celebrate having my own money for the first time, payday became the day I went to bank during my lunch hour, cashed my check, and ate lunch at a better-than-usual fast food restaurant.

Payday, which was always on a Friday, was the best day of the week. I had money in my pocket, and life was good, especially at the discos after midnight.

Today, I don’t get a paycheck, not even a stub in a sealed envelope. If I didn’t program my computer, I wouldn’t even get an email notice telling me that my earnings had been transferred from my employer’s bank account to mine.

Not only has the thrill of getting paid been replaced with a Google Alert, the satisfaction of paying my bills is a thing of the past, too. When I still used a checkbook, I could at least sit down

at the kitchen table with a stack of bills, a calendar, ink pen, notepad, calculator, checkbook, envelopes, and stamps to figure out who got what. There was some satisfaction in dropping a handful of payments in the mailbox.

Now, whether there are funds in my account or not, my debtors draft my bank account automatically. Unless I electronically intervene, my money comes and goes without ever giving me the satisfaction of signing a check or touching cold hard cash.

The only time I have money in my pocket is when I push the “cash back” button at the self-checkout register at Bi-Lo. Instead of cash, I now have a debit card, which used be called a check card and cash card.

Now, if I could only figure out if Starbucks wants me to swipe my card, insert my card, or just wave my card close to its own electronic gadget. No, it wants my Apple Watch to get cozy with its iPad checkout. I don’t even have to use my finger as an electronic pen anymore.

I sort of miss paying for a real cup a coffee with real money.

I also miss Singapore Slings, too-tight polyester pants, and Disco Inferno. But I’d settle for a bagful of penny candy, paid for with real pennies.

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in good

TA S T E

Irish Stew makes March feel mellow Written by CAROL LYNN JACKSON

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arch brings us cold weather, soup weather and the celebration of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

I’ve always heard and often times experienced that soups seem to be so hard to make, taking a lot of little steps to get to what seems like such a simple meal. I make vegetable stock every week and if there has been a bird on the table that week, I will make a chicken stock, too. This is the liquid I start my soups in though many people just begin with filtered water. I chop and dice and puree and coax along the melding of all the ingredients, herbs, and spices.

After a couple of hours of this work, I wolf down the first bowl within minutes and am grateful I doubled the recipe so there is soup in the fridge or the freezer for future meals.

Having once lived in Ireland, I’ve enjoyed the “simplicity” and often times low budget meals the Irish prepare that are also quite nutritious and hearty: fresh fish or shellfish recipes, hearty breakfasts of eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and healthy breads that are smothered in delicious sea- and salt-kissed Irish butter.

In the cold month of March, I think Irish Stew. People tend to think there is a special recipe to make traditional Irish Stew but to be honest, there is nothing special about this Irish recipe except that it tastes delicious.

And there are only four ingredients to traditional Irish stew making it a very low cost meal. With good local and organic onions, carrots, potatoes, and a local grass-fed beef or lamb, I like to keep the process super simple. And I think Irish Stew just gets better as it is re-heated.

INGREDIENTS FOR COOKING TRADITIONAL IRISH STEW • 2 large onions • 4 large carrots • 1 lb. grass-fed beef chuck roast or lamb

• • • •

8 large potatoes 2 T. flour 2 T. olive oil or butter Salt and Pepper

DIRECTIONS: Wash and cut onions into moderate size chunks (don’t eat onions? Don’t worry, this can still be cooked using celery).

Wash carrots and cut into chunks (some prefer thicker chucks for taste).

Wash and peel the potatoes and then cut each one into 2-inch cubes (same size cubes as you will cut the beef.) Add to a 2-3 quart pot of pre-made vegetable, chicken, or beef stock. Add a little salt and pepper.

Slice the meat into 2-inch cubes and dredge through flour with some salt and pepper added to flour.

Brown the meat cubes in the olive oil (or oil and butter blend) and then add to the potatoes in the stockpot.

Heat the stock with potatoes and browned meat cubes until the liquid boils and then add carrots and onions. Adjust the salt and pepper.

Keep on a low simmer and stir every now and then until vegetables are cooked.

Serve hot with your amazing healthy bread and butter.

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The Eye in the Sky Written and Photographed By KIRK GOLLWITZER

I

f ever there has been a consumer product that was born under a bad sign, the drone would win with flying colors. The word itself connotes bees, male wasps, ants, and unmanned aerial combat vehicles, and so the flying camera has drawn much criticism.

Just a few years ago, it was rare to see a 32 M ar ch 2016

remote controlled model airplane. But, like the model train, they’ve all been relegated to the hobby graveyard and replaced with something much more interesting: an iPhone. Besides, model airplanes were primitive in technology, difficult to fly, and had nothing at all to do with social media!

ABOVE: A picture of the home of Bob and Lynn Montgomery taken by a drone for Kathy Toomey of New View Realty.

RIGHT: A photo taken during Winter Storm Jonas at Fox Meadow Farm in Mill Spring.

Then along came the drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the most popular consumer electronics toy of the day, manufactured mainly by the Chinese.

One such Chinese company, Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI), provides a full line of commercial and recreational UAV’s for photography and videography, and all of their products are controlled by an iPhone or Android device. Their drones range in price from $600 to north of $1,000.

On the low end of their product offerings, the slick little device comes with a 4k UHD video camera and a rechargeable flight battery, which is capable of keeping the unit in the air for almost 20 minutes. A three-axis gyroscopic stabilization gimbal holds the camera stable while it soars high above the earth, as it is controlled by a human on the ground, and linked to a constellation of satellites.

The concept is actually really cool! Three components come into play: the handheld controller, an iPhone and the drone itself. Through the use of joysticks, the controller tells the drone to go up or down, turn on its axis from left to right, and move forward or backwards.

While the controller communicates with the drone, much like a computer might communicate with a wireless printer, the iPhone, clipped to the controller, talks directly to the camera attached to the drone. Meanwhile, satellites

Brunson’s & Furniture Center

Patio Shoppe

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Here are some simple guidelines to follow in order to avoid disaster: •

Always fly in GPS mode (rather than manually).

•

Always keep the drone within the line-of-sight.

•

Never take off with less than six satellites in control of your aircraft.

•

Never fly your drone indoors.

(I know, right? But people still try!)

•

Always charge all components of the drone, including the flight controller and iPhone.

•

Always fly in favorable weather conditions.

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in space connect to all three components and oversee everything.

The satellite connections are crucial for the novice pilot, because they provide the majority of control over the aircraft. If the pilot panics and lets go of the joysticks, the drone will remain stationary in the sky until it realizes that there is a problem on the ground. Control then switches over to the drone as it creates its own flight plan and safely returns home.

But even with all of these technological flying wonders, the consumer population continues to shun these flying contraptions as being high-tech “peeping toms” which should be shot out of the sky by a registered gun owner. Sadly, there’s good reason for this ridicule mainly because of the careless human on the ground controlling this technological wonder in the sky.

Therein lies the familiar question: do drones invade people’s privacy and cause

ABOVE: Looking up at a DJI Phantom-2 Vision+ during a flight during a snowstorm.

Did you know?

Roughly 700,000 drones were expected to ship in the United States last year, a 63 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Most are “quasi-toy” devices costing around $150, but the price can go up into the thousands for drones that can stay airborne longer, deliver state of the art video and photo capabilities, and increased speed. The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation requires drone operators to get a permit for commercial and government drone operators. (ncdot.gov/ aviation/uas)

a physical injury or do the careless humans on the ground?

Just as there are irresponsible gun owners, there are an equal amount of thoughtless drone owners who disregard safety measures as they modify their drones to do the unthinkable. They boost motor power, amp up battery storage and modify the communication frequencies allowing the drone to fly completely out of sight.

It’s the human on the ground that finds ways to attach automatic pistols to their drones and remotely fire them at their neighbor’s homes, or finds ways to fly their tiny aircrafts at altitudes exceeding 1,200 feet, over major airports, sold-out stadiums or the most sought after travel destination of all -- the White House.

Power always corrupts when a groundbreaking piece of technology makes its way into the idle hands of the consumer. Not sometimes, but always, someone finds a way to ruin the fun for everyone. Remember the laser pointer?

So, along comes the government in the form of the Federal Aviation Administration to save the day. Their solution is easy: make it a crime for any UAV owner to fly their drone (weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds) above 300 feet, around crowds, near airports and a long way from the president of the United States. The FAA requires the pilots to be registered with the agency and take an oath of safety. Everyone who flies a drone must send $5 to the FAA or face a hefty fine anywhere from $27,500 to $250,000 or accommodate a prison cell somewhere in the vicinity of Bernie Madoff.

But there’s also good news.

A responsible human on the ground, who follows the rules and respectfully works their way through a moderate learning curve, can derive an incredible amount of enjoyment and value from drones.

There is no question that the drone is a wonderful tool for business, advertisers, filmmakers and realtors. For the realtor, it’s a slam-dunk. Providing a prospective buyer with M ar ch 2 0 1 6

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a very cool aerial shot of their listing is nothing short of amazing.

Still, most realtors shy away from aerial photography or video of any kind. They continue to believe that a single flat photo of the property taken from the side of the road will suffice.

“It’s the price and location that sells real estate, not some fancy video,” the frustrated customer is told as they walk out the door and down the street to a realtor who puts a little skin in the game and appreciates quality pictures and video.

Certainly, available satellite imagery can suffice, but those images are always dated and are not even close to the quality of a photo taken by a drone.

Kathy Toomey of Tryon’s New View Realty has used drone video for a year and considers them to be her good luck charms.

According to Toomey, “Property images and videos produced by a drone bring a higher level of detail to a listing’s presentation.

It’s especially effective for online marketing because you can capture the buildings and the scenery in one shot. You may only have a short time to grab a viewer’s attention so why Real estate marketing and TV/video/movies are perhaps the most well-known of uses for drones, but there are a plethora of other uses currently being employed by the government, civilian, research and business sectors.

Law enforcement: Search for missing people (drones can be equipped with heat seeking capabilities), monitor traffic accidents and roadways, capture crime sectors.

Park management: Capture poachers, find stranded hikers, monitor wildlife populations Product delivery: Deliver packages and mail Meteorological: Hunt hurricanes, chase storms Insurance industry: Monitor natural or manmade disasters or accidents Construction: Inspect roofs or other hard to reach structures Agriculture: Monitor crops for water or fertilizer needs Mapping: 3-D mapping, forestry or deforestation, archeological site, property surveys Utilities: Inspect power lines and water towers, detect solar panel outages, monitor oil pipelines or oil spills 36 M ar ch 2016

not use the best shot possible? Drones provide that extra edge!”

Using this technology to inspect property erosion concerns, fencing design ideas or prime building locations, a drone will deliver a photo far exceeding any land-based camera. Farm owners with missing cattle, horses or donkeys can also benefit from a quick overhead drone survey.

One last thing should be considered if you are considering purchasing a drone. A reasonable amount of skill with video editing is required. Do not expect that all of your footage will look as clear and pristine as advertised.

Remember, it’s a demo and there’s been a considerable amount of tweaking and color adjustment.

The drone is a magnificent piece of technology that requires common sense and care, much like a pilot completes before and during a flight. Don’t be one of those careless humans on the ground! Take time to learn how to use it, and only then will you capture the full value of your investment.

ABOVE: The eye in the sky has its sights set on this story’s author, Kirk Gollwitzer, as he maneuvers the drone upward with its hand-held controller.

Q&A with Josh Trejo Written By MICHAEL O’HEARN Photographs BY CLAIRE SACHSE

T

hink back to your middle school years. Were you lucky enough to have an art class as part of your curriculum? Polk County Middle School students are fortunate to have studio art as a “wheel class,” or elective. The art teacher, Mr. Trejo, also known as “Dr. Tre,” has a

reputation among the students for being “way cool,” “lots of fun,” and an inspiration to many budding artists. Mr. Trejo’s classes are small, around 10 students, allowing both individual attention and group collaboration, boisterous activity or quiet conversation. Step through his sticker-covered door and into his M ar ch 2 0 1 6

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art-supply packed classroom for a look at this street art inspired young teacher.

Q: What inspired you to get into this profession?

A: Everybody has a dream so I was planning on being a professional soccer player. And then I tore my ACL my sophomore year in college and realized I needed a backup plan. I was always good at art, but I never thought I could teach art. I never had that motivation to paint or draw and do things every day like a paid artist where, if you don’t do something that day, you won’t get paid. So, I like to teach and help people out.

Q: Do you have any inspirations as an artist?

A: Yeah, of course. I’m not an old school artist or into Renaissance art or the Baroque period and stuff like that. I’m a big street art fan, with people like Keith Haring or Banksy or Shepard Fairey with the “thinking outside the box” kind of thing. Picasso and cubism and stuff like that, it’s not bad. I like Van Gogh, and he had different stuff. You’ve got Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, basically the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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Q: What is your favorite part of being a middle school teacher?

A: I would love for one day to teach high school art, but you have Mr. Thomas at the high school. He’s the man. He’s just himself, and that’s part of the reason I wanted to teach. I did teaching at the elementary and high school levels while I was in college and didn’t think I would like it and I came in here and did some longterm subbing and it just blew my mind where, with these kids you would think you would have to baby them, but you really don’t. We do projects in here and they are really engaged. Every one of these students here wants to do art. None of them are like, “I’m too cool to do art.” It keeps me feeling like a kid, even though I’m 25.

Q: How do you inspire your students? What should they be able to take away from your classes?

A: With some teachers, I feel it’s like they have their one way to do something. With me, there’s so many ways to do something, anything.

For example, if we do a project with elements, I’ll give them the elements but I won’t be like, “You have to draw a dog in a house.” No, here are the elements and you can do whatever you want with

them, as long as it’s on your own. I don’t set boundaries.

Think outside the box. I don’t give them boundaries, and I try to push them to be more creative. I try to inspire them by showing them that I still do it, through my work. I show them works of different artists, too, and what they can do.

Q: Do you have any pieces on display around this area?

What is your favorite piece?

A: I’m working on a few things right now. Some I don’t want to reveal just yet, but no, I don’t have any pieces anywhere. My favorite set is “Es Mi Vida,” which I did for my senior show in college on illegal immigrants.

My dad inspired that, and it includes people who have been inspired by illegal immigrants. If he didn’t come over here from Mexico at 15, would I have been able to do what I have now?

Q: What is your philosophy on life?

A: I want to change the ways in which people look at things, because I feel like people have been programmed to look at things in one way and they think it’s the right way to do it. There are other ways to do it, but are you willing to put in the effort to do it? If you really put in the effort, you can do it. If you put in the work, you can do it. I’m still doing something I wanted to do besides being a soccer player. Nobody should just give up.

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Tim Ferris:

Deep diving whisky maker 40 M ar ch 2016

Out of the grist and wort, wash and wines, comes the heart of Defiant Whisky. Of the many technical terms in the distillation process, heart is literally the clear spirit that drips from the condenser spout of the still. Figuratively, heart is what deep-sea diver and Blue Ridge Distillery founder Tim Ferris puts of himself into every bottle.

Before Tim took the dive into the risky, highly competitive business of making whisky, he had started Defiant Marine in 2009 with $400 and was diving to go to work at depths down to 560 feet. His resume today includes 38 days working out of a hyperbaric chamber

that threatened claustrophobia on the ocean floor. On the relatively brief excursions outside to work on an oil and gas job, hypothermia could strike in three minutes without proper saturation diving equipment and procedures.

Saturation diving involves breathing heliox, a helium/oxygen mixture, and multiple days of precisely timed decompression when the job is done. Come up too quickly, and the body explodes.

Tim says that James Cameron had many diving details right in his deep-sea movie “The Abyss,” except “actors were not talking in helium voices.” With an obvious sense of humor,

ABOVE: Tim looks to many historic figures for inspiration including the Founding Fathers and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

One of many Emerson quotes that seems to be reflected in Tim’s convictions: “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

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Tim imitates the high-pitched squeak, “Hard to take people seriously sounding like this.”

But underlying his easy smile, Tim is as serious as one needs to be to salvage an Egyptian cargo ship loaded with vehicles that had sunk on top of a WWI German ammunition freighter. “We had 152 mm Howitzer shells

on the sea floor around as we worked. After the job was done, our team had to get to the airport...finding our way through Arab Spring rioting and checkpoints anchored by tanks.”

When Tim says “team” you can hear obvious pride. As far as Tim is concerned, his diving and whisky businesses are team efforts.

ABOVE: As one of a team with a shared hands-on work ethic, Tim was welding during system assembly and continues to do what’s needed, such as raking draff out of the wash tun for his farm feed. LEFT: The Defiant team works to craft the most distinctive taste in whisky. Even the bottle shape stands apart.

FSR Magazine uses the word “exquisite” to describe the balance of taste and finish.

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“I remember on the Egypt job, as my team assembled in the heat, coming together in Defiant T-shirts, Defiant caps, carrying Defiant duffle bags...like a band of brothers...fantastic!

No-quit guys living their convictions...specialists with their honors on the line, going in with just enough doubt to be cautious and stay alive but willing to defy nature.”

As an example of the talent and heart of the team, Todd Mumma is a nuclear plumber, underwater welder, and Defiant Whisky stillman.

Talking through a dark full beard, he tells of a ferry in Alaska that ran aground on an underwater mountain. The bow was hung up on the tip and the stern was settling down on the submerged slope. The Defiant team had to free the vessel before it slid into 700-foot depths. While the ship slowly tipped, Todd went down through the decks to weld an isolation patch over the breach.

“We had been on the go with this kind of work for about six months, when I thought it’d be good if we all got some R&R,” recalls Tim. “We went to Scotland to tour distilleries.”

While sipping, the thought came that making Scotch was not all that different than deep sea diving. Both ventures involved pipes, welding, water, pressure, temperature, and attention

to details. “We can do this,” said Tim. Team members agreed to “let’s do it” as a worthwhile activity between diving trips.

Sitting in a lawn chair in the main room of the building that he built as HQ for Defiant Marine near Bostic, N.C., Tim gestures left to right across the distillery equipment that spans most of the width. “From malting through maturation, we took nothing for granted. At Defiant Marine we

ABOVE: Attention to details in the Defiant Whisky process starts with a custom mill to grind (sequential pair) barley malt.

This is the second mill Tim had made to order. The first fell short of Defiant team standards for separating out grain solids that could have affected quality in all subsequent steps right through maturation.

R YO N TBUILDERS

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got used to figuring out what had to be done, often following no rules because there were none. So, when it came to Defiant Whisky, despite about 200 years of rules, we questioned everything anyway, wanting to be sure of the best way.”

The first step in whisky making is malting during which barley malt is ground into grist.

“What you see is our second custom barley mill,” says Tim. “The first wasn’t good enough. I wanted more refined grist to help improve taste right from the start. I’d also have more high quality by-product to feed my cattle, sheep, and pigs.”

As an aside, farm fresh meat will be on the menu of Tim’s restaurant at his Camp Golden 44 M ar ch 2016

Valley resort. This former 550-acre Girl Scout camp is being transformed into the home of an expanded distillery and a mountain retreat with modern facilities, horseback riding, lake fishing, and porch-view vistas. Tours are available, but all of that is another story.

Next, grist and water are mixed in a mash tun. The result is the liquid wort that Tim wants to be purer than typical. Wort is then fermented in washback tanks that yield the wash that goes into the still.

“Only whisky distilled in Scotland can be called Scotch,” explains Tim. “But I wanted a single malt that made me think of the Highlands

and my Scottish ancestors. So, we learned what was being done at the hundred or so malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, learning that the wash of a single malt Scotch was usually distilled twice.

We decided to use the Scotch spelling of whisky rather than Irish or American whiskey with the ‘e.’ Then we decided to learn more about the 28,000 or so distilleries in Germany. That’s why we now have a German copper still capable of triple distillation.”

Distillation separates “low wines” from the heart. Rather than maturing heart in oak barrels, Tim and his team defy tradition by dropping toasted spirals of oak into 350-gal-

lon stainless steel tanks to finish the precise process of balancing flavors, aroma, and character.

“We had an old former moonshiner stop in early on and he said, ‘Boys, I think you’re onto something here.’ More formally, we were voted Best New Whisky of 2013 and have been getting great reviews.”

For example, Cocktail Enthusiast wrote, “Pleasing drink from start to finish.” The Huffington Post, “Insanely smooth and round.”

The Whiskey Reviewer, “Revolutionary.”

To judge for yourself, Defiant Whisky is sold and sipped in the Carolinas.

ABOVE: To tour Blue Ridge Distilling Co. check out www.defiantwhisky.com for times and directions.

As you get close, simply follow the signs.

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Monetta Farrier @ Tryon Story and photo by JUDY HEINRICH

LEFT: Monetta owners Collins Daye and Alan Bernardo.

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s the North Carolina county with the most horses per capita, it’s not surprising that Polk and its surrounds have a large and active community of professional farriers. Since 2011, the area has also been recognized for its innovative farrier/ veterinarian collaborative known locally as “Farrier Jams,” most recently featured in January’s American Farrier Journal.

Now our farrier community has received recognition of another sort: the opening of a local branch of the well-known farrier supply company, Monetta Farrier Specialties. “Monetta Farrier @ Tryon” opened in early January at 190 Industrial Park Drive, Unit C, in Columbus (phone 828894-0280), with store hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

If you don’t think that’s a big deal, consider this: dedicated farrier supply companies are few and far between, usually just one or two to a state. The original Monetta, now 28 years old, is still the only dedicated farrier supply company in South Carolina. While some farm supply stores stock basic shoes and other farrier supplies, they don’t have the space to dedicate to the huge number of shoe types and sizes

available, or the specialized and often handbuilt tools that farriers use. That makes having a near-by, full-service farrier supply a big benefit to local shoers.

MONETTA, THEN AND NOW Monetta Farrier Specialties was started by Jack and Sarah Schwarz outside Monetta, S.C. about 20 miles north of Aiken. Over the years the company earned a stellar reputation for its stock and service, as well as for their annual “Spring Fling” get-together for customers.

Originally held under the pecan trees at the Schwarz home, the annual event has grown to include great food, good-natured competitions, and educational clinics from top farriers.

After 28 years, the Schwarzes wanted to retire and looked for a new owner to take over the company they’d grown so successfully. Enter another married couple, Alan Berardo and Collins Daye.

Alan grew up in New Mexico and settled in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. An avid outdoorsman and cyclist, he worked as a fireman in the forest service wildlands. Between fires, he worked as trail crew for local pack stations, clearing and

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maintaining trails for the riders and pack animals headed into the backcountry.

Alan was interested in horses as a boy but didn’t have much chance to be around them.

So when he worked at the pack stations he took the opportunity to ride out as the required “tail rider” at the back of the two- to three-hour trail rides whenever he had the chance.

One of the packers co-owned a shoeing school nearby and, seeing how Alan like working with horses, suggested he consider shoeing as a profession. Alan investigated it, liked what he saw and took the training course with the idea of going to shoe in Hollywood. That plan changed when a farrier friend decided to move to Pennsylvania with his girlfriend and talked Alan into coming along.

Alan then spent four years working at Chester County Farrier Associates, one of the country’s top practices, with a clientele ranging from sport horses in all disciplines and levels, to the US Equestrian Team. “That was the best education,” Alan says. “It was a phenomenal exposure to the business.”

During his time in Pennsylvania, Alan met a rider and trainer at one of the top events of the Indoor Show Season, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg. He and that girl, Collins Daye, married in 2009.

Collins, who grew up in South Georgia, had ridden Hunter/Jumpers since childhood, including at Harmon Field and FENCE, as well as Wellington, Harrisburg and other National Indoor Shows. She was on the back-to-back Huntseat national championship teams at the University of Georgia, and was the national individual champion in 2003.

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Her career has included being an independent trainer, assistant coach for the University of Georgia equestrian team, and head coach at Fresno State University, as well as her “fall back” job as a cardiac care nurse when the economy made horse training and sales a harder career to pursue.

As a Southern girl, Collins always intended to settle in the south, which she and Alan did a few years ago when they moved to Edgefield, just north of Aiken. Alan continued to shoe, predominantly performance horses, ultimately traveling regularly to major eventing competitions on behalf of the owners and riders of top horses.

Alan and Collins became customers of Monetta Farrier Specialties and friends of Jack and Sarah Schwarz. When the Schwarzes decided to retire and had no one in their family to take over the business, it seemed like a perfect fit for Alan and Collins. They bought the company in 2014, and have since acquired Georgia Farrier Supply, as well as opening Monetta @ Tryon. Alan continues to spend most of his time shoeing while Collins oversees the three stores.

Also part of the Monetta team are Alan’s parents, Pete and Barbara, who live with them in Edgefield and help care for Alan and Collins’ three-year-old daughter, Cade. Pete will also be an occasional presence at Monetta @ Tryon.

FARRIER SUPPLIES Farrier supply businesses are surprisingly personal. Consider that the Monetta store in South Carolina carries 2,700 individual products, and Monetta @ Tryon is not far behind with about 2,500.

“To meet the needs of your customers you have to understand not only all the products you carry but, more importantly, what types of horses and clients each customer is involved with,” says Collins. “Then there are the sizes, clipped or unclipped, aluminum or steel, race plates, sliding plates, Tennessee Walking Shoes, half rounds, and many more shoes designed for other specific purposes and types of performance. Not to mention the wide variety of nails, leather pads, and tools – many of them hand built – for which each individual farrier has a preference.”

“There is so much product knowledge involved,” says Collins, “I don’t think anyone could succeed in this business without actually having farrier experience themselves or having

a very close resource – like a significant other – who does.”

At the same time, Collins says, “It’s such a small industry that you do get to know your customers really well. And that helps you get to know their needs and what you can do to help them. It’s a real relationship business.”

One of the best parts of that relationship is the continuation of Monetta’s Spring Fling tradition. Alan and Collins hosted the 20th annual event in 2015 with a reunion of the clinicians who have taken part over the years.

“Ten top clinicians donated their time to be there, from across the U.S., and even Grant Moon from England,” Collins says. “Basically it was a convention and we were riding on the coat tails of the Schwarzes.” The 2016 Spring Fling is scheduled for April 23 at the South Carolina store.

WHY TRYON? Several things drew the couple to Tryon for the expansion of their business, including the area’s existing equestrian population and the development of Tryon International Equestrian Center, which will no doubt help that population grow.

Alan also admits to being drawn by some of the area’s other diversions: “I’m a mountain person, an outdoor person, I like biking,” he says. His first exposure to Tryon came in 2012 when he happened to be in the area and looked for a weekend ride to do. “It was the weekend of the Hincappie Gran Fondo cycling event that goes from Lake Lanier up the Saluda Grade, and down other local switchback mountain routes. I had no idea there was anyplace in North Carolina like this,” he remembers.

That wasn’t the only pleasant surprise the couple have found in Tryon.

“I have shod for almost 20 years, in South Carolina, California, Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other places,” Alan says. “Tryon has been the best experience and exposure to a farrier community. We have been so happily surprised at the level of helpfulness and collaboration among the farriers themselves and between farriers and vets. We’ve never seen anything like it.”

While Monetta’s primary customers are the farriers themselves, Collins says, she’s happy to have local horse owners drop in to say hello and check the place out. Being horse people, there’s little doubt you’ll find something to talk about if you do.

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Parting glance You can’t resist this face…

The toughest part of photographing animals at the Foothills Humane Society shelter, writes local photographer Vincent Verrecchio, is trying to explain why not when a dog is asking, “Can I come home with you, can I? Eh? Can I? Can I?” Or when a cat adopts you by commandeering lap time and refusing to listen to excuses about the dogs and cats already at home. (Photos

by Vincent Verrecchio) 50 M ar ch 2016

Marketplace Life in our Foothills • 828.859.9151

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Free In-home Estimates!

Marjorie 828-817-6350 210 Hawks Haunt Lane, Tryon $249,900 MLS#593419 Updated 2BR/2BA on 1.79 acres w/ mountain views.

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Hospice of the Carolina Foothills (EOE) has the following openings: Full Time: • Nurse Practitioner • Medical Social Worker • RN Case Manager - Homecare • Admission Nurse PRN: • Thrift Barn Floor Asst.

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RENTALS Go to www.tryonrealestate.com For Furnished and Unfurnished Long and Short Term Rentals Contact Pat Martin at First Real Estate 828-859-7653

HOME CARE MANAGEMENT Adult Family Living Opportunities Polk County and surrounding areas: Provide foster care for a person with developmental disabilities in your home and be rewarded with the satisfaction that comes with improving another person’s life while earning a living for yourself.

Must have a HS Diploma or GED; experience in mental health field preferred. For more info or to apply call: Home Care Management Corporation 828-247-1700

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$ TRAILER CLEARANCE SALE $ 60+ Trailers in Stock MUST GO! New 5x8: $525 New 5x10: $895 Financing Available!

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APPLY IN PERSON. Laurel Woods Assisted Living & Memory Care, 1062 W. Mills St, Columbus, NC 28722.

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Private House Cleaning Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly or 1 Time.

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VINTAGE BEAMS & TIMBERS • Barnwood, wormy chestnut lumber. Can deliver! 828-7129808

NOW HIRING Full-time and part-time positions in Housekeeping, maintenance/ landscaping, kitchen.

Apply in Person: From 10 am-3pm 85 Pine Crest Lane No phone calls, please.

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Second Chance provides 49% of Steps to HOPE’s operating income.

Your donations help victims of domestic and sexual abuse in our community.

Steps to HOPE 232 E. Mills St, Columbus 828-894-2373 LAND & ACREAGE FOR SALE Beautiful 13.1 acres of rolling hills, with established fescue pasture, mountain view & 400 foot road frontage- $140,000. Property is 20 minutes from TIEC in South Carolina. Follow the signs at Hwy 11 and Burnt Chimney Road to property on North Pacolet Road. Call 864-590-1906, after 5pm or 864-680-6309 for more information.

Tommy’s Home Improvement Roofs, renovations,siding, carpentry, decks,windows, screening. All Home Repairs.

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Come to 70 Oak Street in Tryon to fill out an application.

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25 years experience.

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Wishing You Well Flowers and balloons bring smiles to our patients, but at St. Luke’s Hospital, we deliver more . . .

Since 1929, St. Luke’s Hospital has been here, caring for our friends and neighbors in the Carolina Foothills.

As a community hospital, St. Luke’s fills a huge need, providing immediate access to lifesaving emergency care, outstanding surgical care, and attentive, compassionate acute medical care.

St. Luke’s Hospital is proud to offer the latest in digital imaging, outcomes-based rehabilitation, respectful geriatric-psychiatric care, state-of-the-art orthopedic care and more.

St. Luke’s Hospital remains committed to providing quality care… a safe, comfortable and caring atmosphere… medical services right here in our community.

Flowers and balloons are nice, but at St. Luke’s Hospital, we deliver far more exceptional care, close to home.

101 Hospital Drive, Columbus, NC • 828.894.3311 • www.SaintLukesHospital.com