#5
September 1, 2026#7
September 1, 2026
Searchable issue transcript
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1 foothills Digest Fo o d Art Hist or y Culture Event s O pinion Style Summer 2018 North Carolina Kids Magazine Included $6.95 The Long Shot by Richard Eller Fireworks! Twe et sie Horn in the West Hikin g Adventures foothills Digest Fo o d Art Hist or y Culture Event s O pinion Style Fall 2018 Kids Magazine Included $6.95 The Untouchables by Richard Eller Balloonfest! foothills Digest Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin Tom Dooley Granny Magic Thanksgiving FURNITURE: A look at the history and future of furniture in the Foothills
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(828) 322-8011
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foothills Foothills Digest 619 2nd St NE Hickory NC 28601 Phone: 828.475.1323 E-mail: editor@foothillsdigest.com Website: foothillsdigest.com Produced in Hickory, NC Printed in Vietnam EDITORIAL CARMEN ECKARD JON ECKARD Chief Editor and Publisher Principal Photographer COLUMNISTS Calvin Reyes Kelsey Crowe Richard Eller Heather Wood Davis Granny Eckard James Thomas Shell Gabriel Sherwood Ryan Gant Kathryn Dellinger CONTRIBUTORS Clayton Joe Young Carson Sailor Al Stout Allen Finley Jeffrey Wilhelm *Special thanks to Dianne Taylor for her help with editing.
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Letter from Editor FALL 2018 Visit our site, foothillsdigest.com! Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crispness in the air, and the smell of chimney smoke. I love fog rolling over mountainsides that look positively aflame with fall leaves. I love Thanksgivings with my family in Rutherfordton, where my kids have room to run around with their cousins. A special thank you to Kelsey Crowe (pg 46 and 129) for being such a wonderful holiday host for all these years. This is good stuff. I love it here. I want to take a minute to thank you for your loyal readership, or for picking this up if it’s your first time. We’re trying to change the way the story of the Foothills is told. This place is wonderful, and I’m glad you’re part of helping us show it in that light. I also appreciate that you’ve forgiven our typos. As we grow, you can expect a more polished magazine in every way, and we are loving the process of getting better at this. One last note, regarding political ads. Our ads are open to any person running for office in Western North Carolina and we reached out to the same number of politicians from each side of the aisle. We work hard to remain balanced without a political bias, and I hope you’ll note that about our content. Fall has so many things I love: pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving and voting. I hope you’ll enjoy all of those things. Remember, voting is one of the best and easiest ways to make our voice heard. Whoever you want to vote for, please make sure you vote. You can scan the code at right to download the form to register to vote. Sincerely, Carmen Eckard
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6 Contents FALL 2018 Letter from the Editor BalloonFest! Pumpkin Picking in the Foothills Eastern Spotted Newt Brown Mountain Lights Granny Magic Halloween Hang Your Head and Cry Untouchable Football 05 10 18 22 24 28 34 36 40 Brushy Mountain Apple Festival Old Things and New Beginnings Granny Eckard Furniture in the Foothills Renovations and Thankfulness BOCA Thanksgiving Recipes Natural Design 44 46 50 60 62 66 70 76 Page 68
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7 Land of the Craftsmen Hiking in the Foothills A Change of Pace A Lesson in Semantics Count Your Blessings Seeking Shalom Eventfully Yours Visiting Writers Series Poetry Aunt Flora’s Song Photography 118 122 126 128 129 130 133 136 137 140 142 Sneaky Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Vegetables Kid’s Magazine Joe Lafone Michel Bayne and MIchael Ball Stone Age Sculptures HMA 75th Anniversary Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin Fox and Hound Fall Trends Foothills Style Deliciously Beautiful 79 81 82 86 92 96 99 106 110 112 116 Page 38
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8 Subscribe Our partner company is Eckard Photographic, and you’ll notice that most of our photography is by Jon Eckard. He is a commercial photographer based in Hickory, North Carolina. He is quite good at assessing the needs of your business and delivering high quality photography quickly and at fair rates. We think the quality of his work speaks for itself, and we hope you will call as business needs arise. HTTP://ECKARDPHOTOGRAPHIC.COM | 828.475.1323 You can always subscribe online at http://foothillsdigest.com , but you can also fill out this form and send it in to: Foothills Digest/619 2nd St NE/Hickory NC, 28601. Name: Address: Phone: Subscriptions are $22 per year and we publish quarterly. Shipping is $14. Please enclose a check or your credit card information. Cards are charged $36 one time. Card Number: Expiration: CVV Code:
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9 O U R F A C T O R Y O U T L E T C O M F O R T F O R T H E M I N D , B O D Y & W A L L E T Shop our ever-changing assortment of factory overruns, discontinued items and market samples. All priced at an extraordinary value: a guaranteed minimum of 50% off suggested retail. Hickory Furniture Mart (level 1, west entrance) 2220 Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602 Tel: 828.261.0051 / Monday thru Saturday 9am to 6pm like us for new arrivals and special offers
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10 BalloonFest! They float graciously in the air like visual poetry with colors that could tantalize the palette of Raphael on a clean canvas of blue sky. They are hot-air balloons and people have been flying in them for 235 years to escape the clutches of earth’s gravitational draw. For 45 years the Carolina BalloonFest in Statesville has been the place to be on the east coast to see hot- air balloons ascend into the currents of air above the runways of the local airport. By Al Stout
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12 T he reason why pilots first gathered here was because Statesville had become a mini-De- troit for building hot air balloons at a factory then called the Balloon Works. Pilots had built up a camaraderie among themselves and were look- ing for a place where they could hold reunions and launch their aircraft. Rural Love Valley seemed like the perfect spot for such an event until this squadron of innocuous balloonists found they had made ene- mies out of two groups that had lived in that part of northern Iredell County for generations. They were the farmers and their livestock. The farmers not only asked that the balloonists never come back but in- sisted, forcing the pilots to find a safer haven. It was the sound of the burners keeping the balloons float - ing in the air that spooked the animals. To a cow they may have been dragons. I took my one and only balloon ride at this event long after the dust between the farmers and the balloonists had settled. It was at dawn on a cool mid-September day. The skies were cloudless. The pilot and his crew had already filled the huge nylon envelope with hot air on a soccer field in Statesville. The balloon looked like an exclamation mark at midfield as the burners were being turned down. As I climbed into the wicker triangular shaped carriage the pilot gave me a military salute. “Welcome aboard,” he said. The pilot was young and enthusiastic about his mission. “Ready?” The pilot shot three more blasts of hot air out of his burner and I noticed the crew was gradually letting go of their tether lines. We were then airborne. Me and Phileas Fogg, together again one more time. The only sound now was the creaking of the waist-high wicker basket. As we ascended I looked down on Interstate 77, and the houses slowly began looking like a village around a Lionel train set. The sun was just above the horizon and we were drifting to the south-west. “I don’t feel my hair getting blown around,” I said to the pilot. “You won’t. We’re flying with the wind.” As I looked down the view was awesome. “This is pretty cool,” I said . There simply were no words. The pilot had mentioned he was here for the rally. “Statesville has become a pretty big deal for balloonists,” he said. A few minutes later I asked, “So, where are you from?” “Texas. Just outside of Austin.” “What do you do in Texas?” “I’m a dog psychologist. Got my degree at a local junior college.” I had never met a dog psychologist before, but I let that one go. “How many flights have you made before this?” I asked. I was hoping to hear hundreds, but would have happy with 50-something.” “Well, I just got my license last week,” he said. “Next to my girl back home you’re my first passenger.” It was then I began putting the equation together: a dog psychologist who just gotten his license. I feel fine, but foundmyself grabbing my St. Michael medal under my shirt out of habit. “By the way,” he said, “you can call me Paul.” “OK. Paul, I’m just going to let you do whatever it is you have to do.” “You know you fellas here in Statesville are pretty smart giving us a practice day today. Pretty soon the sky will be filled with balloons and people are going to want tickets when they see all of us flying overhead.” I was about ready to tell Paul I had plans for later that weekend when I saw a tall red and white radio tower directly in front of us. A hundred yards out. “Paul,” I asked. “What’s your plan for that antennae?” “Well,” he looked over at me. “Do you see a steering wheel?” These were the days before cell phones. It would be another15 years until I would even have the capability of calling someone I loved and tell them “Bye”.
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14 www.hickoryfurniture.com | 1-800-462-MART (6278) I N S P I R I N G H O M E S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D F O R O V E R H A L F A C E N T U R Y North Carolina Craftsmanship Generations of skilled craftsmen building the finest furniture available. Proudly supporting our local craftsmen, manufacturers and retailers.
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15 Danny Hearn was president of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce in those days and had already earned the reputation of being a strong leader and organizer for the National Balloon Rally in Statesville. “Before we changed venues,” he said, “I could spot an angry farmer in his overalls three blocks away. I knew what they were going to say to me and I sorta had something prepared to say back to them.” Hearn said along with local people like Sam Parks and John Robinson he was able to organize a new home for the rally and keep the balloonists from bailing out of Statesville. Phil Hazel was managing the airport and agreed to help out with the use of his runways. “The airport wasn’t as busy then as it is now,” Hearn said, “so this turned out fine. What people don’t realize given the number of venders who service the crowds now is that back then all we had was a ten-by- ten foot tent serving either beer or Pepsi.” Fifty yards away from the ever large and looming tower Paul leaned over the rail of his gondola, as he called it, and spit. He watched as it splash into a parking lot below. “There’s only one thing for us to do.” He had my full attention. “We’re going to rise above this obstacle.” Paul let his burner rip with no immediate effect. But soon, gauging our position alongside the tower, we began going up. By the time we cleared either one of could have reached out and touched it. Neither of us tried. “Paul, why did you spit over the side?” I asked. “To figure out the direction of the wind. It’s an old trick. We can’t steer a balloon but we can use the wind to help us out a little. We weren’t getting any assist from the wind below so we had no place to go but up.” I wanted to tell him I could have figured that one out even without my license, but Paul was not finished with his tutorial. “A lot of people would think that if you looked at the way the wind is blowing through the tree-tops is the direction we’re going in up here. But the truth is that the wind will go in different directions depending on your altitude. Also the wind will usually follow in the direction of a valley if you need to get down into one of them and alter your direction some. We’re about 2200 feet up and drifting at about ten knots.” There wan’t much conversation for a while until Paul picked up his radio. “We haven’t heard from our chase crew for a while,” he said. “Let me check in.” Seconds later a panic spread across his face. “Our chasers have no idea where we are.” How could you lose sight a ballon the size of the Statesville Hotel floating almost a half a mile in the sky? A spokesperson for Firefly Balloons, which used to be called the Balloon Works, said if it takes 100,000 BTU’s to heat your home it would take 20 million BTU’s to get a balloon’s nylon envelope filled up. Also the air inside the balloon has to be at least 100 degrees hotter than the ambient air outside it before it can successfully take-off.
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Balloon flight, like another famous tandem in Kitty Hawk, began with two brothers in France. The Montgolfiers. They owned a paper making company and were fascinated by the way hot embers of burning paper floated into the air. They were soon filling paper bags with hot air in their chimneys and watched them float even higher from the roof tops. They enlarged the scale of their enterprise and were soon seen sending animals up in baskets attached to hot-air balloons fueled by wood and burning hay. The first untethered balloon ride with human cargo happened in Paris in 1783. Today the hot-air balloons are fueled with liquid propane. “Man, we are going to have to find us a landing area,” Paul said. “The chase crew will just have to find us.” But there was nothing below us but a dense wooded area. A dirt road appeared and both of us hoped it went somewhere. “Look,” Paul shouted. “There’s a clearing just ahead. We should make that.” Paul released some of the air in the balloon through a vent at the top of the balloon and we began our descent. We clipped the top of a tree at the edge of the clearing. “Don’t worry about that,” he said. “It’s a common accepted practice we use to slow us down.” I noticed the wind had picked up and as we hit the field the carriage was knocked to its side and the wind dragged us on the ground for at least a hundred feet. When it came to a stop Paul was already on the horn trying to raise his chase crew. “I don’t know,” he shouted, “we’re in the middle of some field.” “Tell them we’re out off Cool Springs Road,” I said, brushing hay out of my hair. While we waited Paul pulled a sandwich out of his back pocket. “Wanna bite?” “Nah, I had breakfast,” I lied. “What did you think about your first balloon ride with me as your pilot?” Paul asked. Well, let’s see. A doggie shrink and me as his first passenger. At least he didn’t tell me he was a rocket scientist with NASA. “Paul, ya done good.” Hearn would help run the rally for 26 years after its inaugural. “It grew so fast,” he said. The National Balloon Rally in Statesville would become the second largest such venue in the United States with up to 150 balloon pilots and crews attending. “We had 40 to 50 venders, and all the great Beach Bands from back then playing on flat bed trucks. Johnny Cash was there once and so was Lee Greenwood.” Like the Wright brothers, people came to North Carolina for the weather and soft breezes in autumn. They blow best at dawn and at sunset and it is after the sun goes down that the light from the burners light up the multi-colorful gentle giants in an array called the “moon-glow”. Today the name of the event is the Carolina BalloonFest, but it holds to its tradition that it will be held in Statesville in the comfort of an easy October clime. But for all the time he spent making this a successful event there is one thing Hearn never did during his tenure. “I never took a balloon ride.” Never took a balloon ride. Why? “People don’t know this about me,” he said, “but I’m afraid of heights.” http://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/ Al Stout lives in the foothills of North Carolina with his bride, Nancy who paints birds. Together they waste too much time laughing. She peddles while he paddles. Currently he is trying to re-learn how to tune his guitar half as well as Charlie Byrd.
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19 pumpkin patches in the Foothills Johnny Wilson Farm is in Granite Falls. This full service farm has a pumpkin patch during October. Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis offers pumpkin picking, a 7 acre corn maze and hayrides. Bring a flashlight for after-dark fun. The Red Wolf Farm in Maiden has a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. Check out their new location. Perry’s Berries in M o r g a n t o n h o s t s pumpkin picking and hayrides in October. The Shelby Corn maze does Halloween right! Pick pumpkins, get lost in the corn maze and much more! Devine Farms in Newton is delightful in Fall. Their 8 acre corn maze is a sight to behold and the pumpkins are ripe for the picking. Carrigan Farms in Mooresville, NC is an exceptional farm situated near a beautiful quarry. Pumpkin picking and hay rides make it popular in fall. The Pumpkin Patch in West Jefferson has 40 varieties of pumpkins and gourds, a corn pit and a maze.
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21 Pumpkin Tips for October: Look for a pumpkin that still has the stem on it. Pumpkins without stems have often been handled too much. You can tell how long a pumpkinhas been sitting by how dry it’s stem is. Be sure to look for a nice green stem. Don’t be scared of an odd shape. Some of the best Jack-o-lanterns come from oddly shaped pumpkins. When you cut open your pumpkin to make a Jack-o-lantern, don’t cut the top off. The stem provides nutrients even after the pumpkin is in your home, and you don’t want to cut that line of nutrients. Instead, cut a hole out of the back of your pumpkin. It will last longer and be more structurally sound. Likewise, don’t use the stem as a handle. That’s why most of them are broken. Be sure to check for soft spots. Those will turn to mush quickly. Use an LED light inside your jack- o-lantern. Candles slowly cook your pumpkin from the inside, which smells lovely but makes your pumpkin’s life much shorter. Knock on your pumpkin. Only buy it if it’s nice and hollow sounding. Serving Men and Women for all of your Surgical Aesthetic needs. Vitality Surgical Center offers a wide array of services including Vaser-Lipo, facial plastics and more. For more in F ormation contact 828-322-1498 . V itality S urgical c enter
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Eastern Spotted Newt 1 2 4 Like all amphibians, Eastern Spotted Newts begin their life cycle as eggs. Eastern Spotted Newts are members of the Salamander family and they lay their eggs in the water. are members of the Salamander family. The Southern Appalachians have the most species of salamanders and newts in the whole world. There are seven species of newts in the United States, but this one is relatively common in the foothills region. The second life stage of the Eastern Spotted Newt is tadpole. It’s incredibly unusual for animals to have a 4th life stage. The Eastern Spotted Newt undergoes an additional metamorphasis, spending the last portion of his life, often many years, in the water. It is here where the Eastern Spotted Newt mates and lays new eggs, completing the cycle.
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A red eft is the terrestial stage of the Eastern Spotted Newt. The red eft has a new set of lungs and spends its time on land. It’s shocking orange skin is eye-catching on any trail. He isn’t afraid of predators because they know he is poisonous and don’t bother him. If you see one, look, but don’t touch. Their skin is mildly poisonous and it’s better to leave them alone. This stage lasts 2-4 years. The red eft will continue to use his new lungs even when he metamorphasizes his final time. 3
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24 A s a resident of Wes ter n Nor t h C arolina many out of tow ner s will as k you w hat is t he b es t mount ain road s to t ake to s ee real A p palac hia. For year s I have always res p onde d NC Highway 181 b et ween L inville and Morganton. Per s onally I would p ut t hat s tretc h of road in mid Oc tob er up in a b eaut y contes t agains t any road in t he continent al Unite d St ates. T he Brow n Mount ain O ver look on 181 is an excellent place to s nag an awes ome f amily pic t ure, have a pic nic, or jus t t ake in jus t how great our nec k of t he woo d s is. To t he unifor me d t his is jus t a s cenic over look like hundre d s of ot her s in t he area, b ut at night it b ecomes s omet hing ot her wor ldly. For hundre d s of year s resident s of t he area have s een mys ter ious ghos tly light s r ising ab ove t he mount ain and t hen dis ap p ear ing. One of the earliest records of the lights dates to 1913 when a fisherman reported red lights rising above the mountains. The Charlotte Daily Observer ran the story but there was a lot of skepticism suggesting the man may have been seeing a train passing behind trees. Many legends have been told to explain the origins of the lights. Brown Mountain
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25 The earliest legend dates back to 1200 AD when a battle between Cherokee and Catawba Indians broke out on the ridge of Brown Mountain. The death toll was so high that no warriors returned home. After the battle women from both tribes took torches to find their loved ones and mourned together. The event was said to be so dark and emotional that it left an imprint on the land, causing the scene to play out every night. This is an interesting theory, but Cherokee oral tradition suggests that they were aware of the lights before European contact. Another legend involves the plantation owner for which Brown Mountain was named. The story says that in the mid 1800s Brown was kind to his slaves and would let them hunt the mountain to supplement their food. A slave went out one evening and did not return at his normal time so another slave went searching for him with a lantern. Neither were seen again, but the lanterns can still be seen at night to this day. Honestly this legend reeks of someone trying to come to terms with why two people enslaved people would just wander off one night. I’ll let you form your own opinion here, but a kind owner is still an owner and I would wager that these slaves simply had a very clever escape plan. The devoted slave trying desperately Lights By Carson L. Sailor, MA
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26 to return to his master narrative would become hit song in the 1950s (rolls eyes). There is a tale that a husband murdered his family and hid the bodies on Brown Mountain. The lights appeared over their graves to guide search parties, but the murderer escaped and was never seen again. And of course there are also the theories of fairies, UFOs, and even that the lights are conscious creatures that live inside the mountain. My favorite reference to the lights is a 1771 account by a German explorer who heard strange noises in the area and mentioned odd lights. In addition to the local vernacular explanations, scientists from Appalachian State University have tried to solve the mystery of the lights. The leading theory at this time is that it is some form of little understood ball lightning similar to heat lightning. Another scientific explanation involves plasma balls and quartz under the mountain. For me the scientific explanation of the lights is far less interesting than the historic explanations. Appalachia is a strange area. From early settlement until today the region has attracted folks looking to get away from it all. This isolation leads to some interesting happenings. Imagine being an explorer in 1771 far past the Appalachian Boundary which you were not supposed to cross in the first place and you hear strange noises in the nights. Think about what it would have been like to be a settler in the early 19th century. Your nearest neighbor was miles away and there are strange lights on the horizon. Humans have always had a need to explain their surroundings. In the modern age we use technology and science to fill in the gaps, but in the early days of the nation in the North Carolina backcountry, folk tales were used as means to explain what people did not understand. It’s very interesting that the slave story comes into popularity during reconstruction when the South is trying to come to terms with losing the Civil War. The Brown Mountain Lights are a fascinating anomaly, but in trying to understand them perhaps we have actually been trying to better understand ourselves.
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27 Listen to a song about the Brown Mountain Lights as you read. Read some science about the Brown Moutnain Lights. Watch a news clip by WCNC about the Brown Mountain Lights. Watch an applicable Life in the Carolinas . Watch the first captured footage of the lights from 2000. WWW.TIMBERCREEKMULCH.COM (704) 997-9393 GOOD WOOD. GOOD CHARCOAL.
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28 G ranny M a G ic By Carmen Eckard
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29 G et to know four plants revered by the G ranny w itches of a pp alachia . The Southern Appalachians are one of the most biodiverse places on earth. More than 100 native trees, 1,400 other flowering plants, and 500 moss and fern species are found in the Southern Appalachians. 25% of today’s medicines have their origins in plants found in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. That’s amazing. I invite you to consider these women not as witches, to be feared and shunned, because they were neither feared nor shunned. Instead, I hope you’ll consider them shamans of the healing plants of our region. In a region where getting to a doctor could take days, these women kept our anscestors alive and healthy, and did not ask for much in return. Their wisdom was passed down through family lines. Music, divination and botanical knowledge were all important peices of the Granny Witch’s work. They knew many plants and you can learn about four that were integral to their healing: sassafras root, viper’s blugloss, indian tobacco and calendula.
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s assafras Granny Witches, along with the native tribes, used sassafras leaves by rubbing them directly into wounds. It was effective in emergencies and prevented infection. This unusual plant has three distinct leaf patterns on the same plant and is very aromatic. The oil was used in root beer in the past, and the smell is quite reminscent of the drink. Even now, the plant is brewed into a tea. The plant has been used medicinally in our past to treat acne, urinary disorders, and sicknesses that increased body temperature, such as high fevers. Even today, scientists agree that sassafras is useful against scurvy, skin sores, kidney problems, toothaches, rheumatism, swelling, menstrual disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, bronchitis, hypertension, and dysentery. That’s quite a list for one leaf. The drug is so powerful, in fact, that today it is the precursor for MDMA, popularly called Ecstacy, which is an illegal recreational drug that appears to be a mainstay in American culture. It’s potency come directly from the sassafras plant, although it is amplified and changed with science. Our Granny Witches knew of it’s power before science did, however. To enjoy some of the medicinal benefits (but don’t worry-not the illicit effects of the drug), you can make some tea! It will work best for healing UTIs, kidney stones and toothaches. • Collect sassafras bark or root, 2 to 4 ounces. • Boil Water • Add the sassafras and let it steep • Remove the sassafras • Add sugar (You’re a Southerner. You know how much. Loads. Just like regular tea) • Add ice and drink.
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v iper ’ s b u G loss Viper’s bugloss is vibrant and beautiful. It’s bright blue blossoms are eye-catching. Additionally, it is a top-notch flower for honey production. Any garden near a bee hive shoiuld include viper’s bugloss. But our Granny Witches used it for different reasons. It is the number one defense against snake and insect bites. It was also made into a tea which was said to help with headaches, fevers and chest conditions. It can also be chopped up finely and used to treat boils. A concotion using the seeds and wine was touted as a cure for depression, and does seem to lift spirits. Science today agrees that it is a powerful drug, saying the leaves are: antitussive, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral and vulnerary. The roots contain the healing agent allantoin and the juice can be used to alleviate the pain of sunburns. To enjoy some of these benefits yourself, you can make a tea. • Collect one ounce of viper’s bugloss • Boil Water • Add the bugloss and let it steep • Remove the bulgoss • Add sugar if you want to. • Add ice and drink. A wineglass full is enough to feel the effects. There are reports of the leaves being poisonous in large quanties but there has never been a report of anyone being poisoned. But like anything, use in moderation.
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32 i ndian t obacco Before you even get excited about this one, I want to tell you that today, it’s considered toxic. The active ingredient is lobeline, which is a chemical similar to nicotene. There does seem to be at least antidoctal evidence that this plant can help regulate the dopamine release caused by nicotene and make it easier to quit.It was used regularly in stop smoking aids but was disallowed in the United States in 1993. It is still used in most other parts of the world for this purpose. It was used by Granny Witches and bqqqwy some indiginous tribes to treat bronchitis or asthma. It also has the nickname ”pukeweed” because it can be used to induce vomiting and sweats. The plant was also used to treat different muscle disorders. Most famously, it was used as a treatment for syphilis. Today, herbalists prescribe it for convulsive and inflammatory disorders such as epilepsy, tetanus, diphtheria and tonsilitis, but mainly for thinning mucous, which alleviates many illnesses. But again, to be clear: don’t use this one unless you have a doctor working with you. When taken improperly it causes profuse sweating and vomiting and it really isn’t much fun, and can lead to death. This herb is available commercially as ”lobelia”. The medical industry uses derivitives from this plant in many cough expectorants and counterirritants. It’s a powerful plant that can be helpful or harmful. The ability to use dangerous plants to heal is integral to a Granny Witch, and this plant was a another wonderful tool in their arsenal.
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33 c alendula Calendula is more commonly known as a marigold and Granny Witches weren’t the first to notice its power. Ancient Romans used calendula in their rituals, and wore crowns woven with the vibrant and familiar flower. These plants are powerhouses medicinally. Calendula oil is an anti-inflammatory and is used commonly in the United States. It’s praised for it’s efficacy with sunburns and radiation burns caused by cancer treatments. During the Civil War, calendula was used on the battlefields in open wounds as antihemorrhagic and antiseptic, and they were used in dressing wounds to promote healing. There isn’t another plant so well-known for its ability to heal skin. The best way to get the benefit of this flower is to make calendula extract, which you can then add to your lotions, soaps, or creams. • You’ll need to pick two large handfuls of calendula flowers and put them in a big mason jar. • Fill it with 100 proof vodka and seal it up. • Put it somewhere sunny and then once a day, for 14 days, shake it up. That’s it! You can add to any of your skin products at a rate of up to 5%. You can also dry the flowers and then use the petals to make tea. This tea can be consumed, dabbed on wounds or dressings, or frozen for later use. Calendula tea isn’t suitable for pregnant ladies, but that’s true of many herbs.
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34 Happy Halloween Halloween celebrations date back more than 2,000 years to the Ancient Celts and continue into the modern day. Practically ever kid in the country loves Halloween, and who can blame them? There isn’t much in the world that’s more fun than dressing up as someone else and getting loads of candy. But, it does involve inherent danger, so here’s some tips on how to be safe, and how to be the favorite house on the block! Trick or treating: • Stay with your kids. • Be careful crossing the streets. • Go to neighborhoods that are bustling with kids, or stay in your neighborhood where you are comfortable. • Wear something that is reflective, so cars can see you. • Don’t start too early or late-just as it’s getting dark is the best time to start. Giving out Candy: • Full size candy bars make you a hero. • Most people don’t like candy corn. • Don’t give out toothbrushes. • Don’t give the teenagers a hard time-it’s maybe the last time they get to participate. • If you have to leave, just leave a bowl on your porch. Staying home and pretending it isn’t Halloween: • If you can help it, don’t be a grouch. See the section directly above this one and give out candy. • If you can’t help it (maybe you have to work very early, or maybe your religion opposes it), then turn off your porch light. Kids aren’t disappointed by a dark house but they are disappointed if they walk up to your door and knock and you don’t answer.
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35 October 27 6-11 pm Paid for by Ric Vandett for NC Senate I care. I’m a FIGHTER. As your NC Senator, I will fight to: • Grow the economy and create better paying jobs • Return excellence to education for North Carolinians • Protect our Environment for our future. ”I have spent my entire life giving back to my community as an educator, community leader, and military veteran. I know the value of fighting for what I care about. I care about you. Please vote for me andI will carry our fight to Raleigh for our quality of life.” VOTE FOR RIC VANDETT ON NOVEMBER 6 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE DISTRICT 42 RICVANDETT.COM SEARCH FOR RIC VANDETT ON YOUTUBE
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36 Hang Your Head and Cry The History and Myth of Tom Dooley By: Carson L. Sailor, MA
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37 Since its was first discovered by Europeans the Foothills and High Country of Western North Carolina has attracted runaways of all sorts. Its isolation became a haven for those looking to leave their old life behind. In many cases it was a beacon of hope for runaway slaves, former indentured servants, and settlers looking for a better life. This isolation also attracted those looking to leave their lives behind for other less noble reason. The legends of Western North Carolina’s scoundrels became as popular as those of its heroes. There is one legend however that rises above the rest. Romance, intrigue, and murder all combine to create one of our states greatest folk tales, the story of Tom Dooley. The tale of Tom Dooley is a tale of misinformation, starting with his name. Tom Dula is the correct spelling but in the mid 19th century phonetic spelling would alter his name to Dooley. We know that Dula was born to an common Wilkes County family on June 22nd, 1845. From an early age Dula would have learned to work the land from his family and spent his off time playing fiddle and exploring undisturbed natural beauty of the Foothills. Before long he would find another beauty to be interested in, Anne Foster. At 14 years of age Dula was caught in bed with 12 year old Foster. This would be the first on many romantic encounters with women from the Foster family. Anne Foster would go on to marry James Melton. In March of 1862 as the Civil War raged across the United States, Tom Dula enlisted in the Confederate Army at 17. Newspapers of the time falsely reported that he served in Zebulon Vance’s 26th North Carolina Infantry regiment. Dula did however serve in Company K, 42nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment. During the war Dula and James Melton were captured and spent time in a Union prison camp. They were released in 1865 which is where the story truly begins. After his return from the war Dula resumed his relationship with Anne Melton despite her marriage. But soon Dula grew more interested in Anne Melton’s cousin Laura Foster. It should be noted at this point that Laura Foster was sought after my many gentlemen in the community, competing with Dula for her hand was Bob Grayson, a local school teacher. Legend says that Foster became pregnant and the two decided to run away together and elope. On May 25th, 1866 Foster left her home, but never made it to her elopement. Once she was discovered missing Foster’s family formed search parties to locate her. Foster’s horse returned to the house days later with a broken halter. Search parties soon found where the horse has been tied to a tree. Officials eventually called off the search assuming her body had been disposed of in the Yadkin River.
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The case would have gone cold had an argument between the Foster Sisters Anne and Perline not brought new details to light. Upon questioning Perline accused Tom Dula of Laura Foster’s murder and took officials to the grave site. Dula fled to Trade, TN after hearing this and assumed a fake name. Foster’s body was found with her legs broken in a shallow grave with a single stab wound to the heart. One of Ann Melton’s handkerchief was found at the grave site. Grayson looking to avenge the woman he had been pining over hatched a plan to bring Dula back from Tennessee. In the 19th century extradition was much harder to secure than today. Grayson feared that Dula if given enough time could escape far beyond the isolated Southern A p p a l a c h i a n re g i o n . Grayson forged extradition papers and took a poss eto capture Dula. Soon the posse returned parading Dula through town and accused Ann Melton as an accomplice. Melton was soon arrested as well. Zebulon Vance, a both former and future Governor of North Carolina agreed to represent Dula and Melton pro bono. Vance immediately secured a change of venue and had the trail moved to Statesville. It would have been impossible to have an impartial jury in Wilkes County. Throughout the course of the trail news of Dula’s relationships with both Melton and Foster came to light. Dula held that he was innocent through the entirety of the trail but refused to share any details about his relationships with either Foster or Melton. Vance was able to get Melton acquitted, but Dula’s silence would lead the jury to convict him of Fosters murder. On May 1st 1866 Dula was hanged in Statesville. Ann Melton may have been found not guilty but the murder of Foster would follow her the rest of her life. Many believed that she was a witch or an agent of the devil to have gotten away with such a heinous crime. Melton later died when a wagon rolled over on her. It is said that on her deathbed she could see black cats and smell bacon frying. The trail of Dula was a huge local event. Almost immediately after the execution, people wrote folk songs about the murder. This would have stayed a local tall tale if it had not been for a fortuitous relation. Bob Grayson had a musically inclined nephew named Gillam Bannon Grayson who in 1929 traveled to Victor Records in Memphis to record “The Ballad of Tom Dooley”. From this recording the Kingston Trio would re- record the song in the 1950s and establish it as a folk standard in the United States. The facts of the story are pretty basic. There’s a love triangle, a handsome troubadour, and a murder. It seems hard to believe that this story would blow up into one of the region’s biggest folk tales. That is of course until you understand the oral traditions of Appalachia. With each telling
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of the story it became bigger. With embellishments from local storytellers and musicians, Dula becomes a folk hero on par with Paul Bunyan and Daniel Boone. The story has also launched an outdoor drama that runs each July in Wilkes County. Typically at the end of an article historians will give a reading list for further research, but I feel the best way to experience this story is to get out in Wilkes County and ask a local what really happened. I guarantee you won't hear the same story twice. The Appalachian Visitor Center were friends of the late Frank Proffitt, Jr. Frank, who explained the origins of the song as being written by his grandmother, who overheard Tom Dula singing to himself the basis of the chorus as he sat atop his coffin on his way to be hanged. He also said that his grandmother remembered hearing Tom sing the song from his jail cell as people had gathered from the town outside the jail during the trial. Listen to the song Read AVC’s account No Mosquitoes. GUARANTEED. 828.221.2219 BugsBITE.com Fall in love with your yard again... Be Mosquito Free! (828)327-8300 www . goodwinfamilydenti S trync . com Great Dental Health=Great Overall Health Offering: • Crowns, Bridges, Veneers • Fillings: Mercury Free • Implant Restoration • Partial and Full Dentures • Oral Cancer Screening • Non Surgical Gum Therapy Offering Care Credit
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40 UNTOUCHABLE High school football is war, every Friday night for fans of all ages. This contact sport comes with perils but also great rewards for those crowned “champion”. Every player and spectator too dreams their team is going ‘all the way’ this season, with high flying dashes to the goal line and dramatic defensive turnovers. Usually, its all about scoring more than the opponent but for one western North Carolina team, that was never a problem. Winning the state championship, the Ridgeview Panthers went undefeated in 1964 with a record of 12-0. However, such a distinction only begins to tell the story. On the way to each ‘W’, the team held their opponents scoreless. Yes, they denied every other team any opportunity to cross the goal line. No touchdown, not even a field goal (and forget about a safety). Ultimately, at the end of their “untouchable” season, the scoreboard revealed their dominance. Ridgeview 446, opponents 0. Ridgeview High was the only African-American high school in the Hickory school system. The jewel of the community, the Panthers fielded sports teams every year strong in both skills and fundamentals. The football program proved to be especially talented. Under the coaching of
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41 FOOTBALL BY: RICHARD ELLER Samuel Davis, a towering tradition began in the record books in 1957 when successive teams put together a string of 74 regular season wins that remains unbroken among NC high schools to this very day. In fact, the only thing that ended the streak was the closing of Ridgeview, a result of integration. In 1964, schools in the South remained segregated. Students at Ridgeview continued to get hand me down textbooks. One characterization prior to the Civil Rights Era described black schools were “separate but not equal” to their white counterparts. However, in some ways Ridgeview was greater than equal. With a first rate teaching staff, some with credentials from Harvard, Ridgeview High held the distinction of having the most accomplished faculty of any school in Catawba County. Students recalled their teachers as being tough but fair. Also, Ridgeview students knew that their instructors cared about them, and not for just what they could do on the field. The tradition of excellent that existed in the classroom spilled over onto the gridiron. The phenomenal season that propelled the team to go down in history began with a heartbreaking
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42 loss the year before at the state championship. Throughout the year 1963 Ridgeview, in their signature orange and blue jerseys, held opponents scoreless. But in the final game, instead of blanking the opponent, the Panthers were denied a score. Ridgeview lost 0-38. Announcer Ellis Johnson, who had started referring to the earlier team as “The Untouchables”, reportedly announced, “the Untouchables have been touched.” The team went home vowing to never come up empty again. The following summer they got up earlier, studied playbooks harder, practiced more diligently than ever before. Quarterback Allen Pope boiled it down to two things his team had, confidence and conditioning. He admitted “we didn’t have any great players, but we were a great team.” The long standing tradition of premier Ridgeview teams provided the confidence. They won state championships four times previously. Conditioning came with events like when Coach Davis drove his team out into rural Catawba County, dropped them off and told them to run back home. They did. And in each game it paid off. Pope remembered how fresh they remained in the fourth quarter against other depleted teams. To make the feat even more spectacular, Allen Pope, like a lot of other players for Ridgeview handled positions on both sides of the ball. He played both quarterback and safety. The team didn’t set out to hold opponents scoreless but halfway through the season someone realized the trend and they sought to keep the streak going. Offensive and defensive guard Xenephone Lutz remembered how the coaching staffed warned against getting obsessed with
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43 VOTE FOR A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN NORTH CAROLINA! Since Representative Jay Adams has been in office Catawba County has experienced economic growth creating 1,364 jobs. Hickory experienced 423 new jobs and Conover experienced 151 new jobs. PAID FOR BY JAY ADAMS FOR NC HOUSE COMMITTEE such a goal, they reminded players to stay focused on the win streak as they headed back to the state championship. No repeat of 1963 would do. But as the season continued the desire to keep the other side out of the end zone mounted. Each game proved to be a unique drama in its own right. Stories circulate that one team used a thunderstorm to try and avoid a drubbing by Ridgeview. The game was rescheduled and when they did play, the Panthers won 52-0. Ridgeview High held another opponent to just 22 yards rushing. Some of the intimidation may have sprung from the fact that as the orange and blue came onto the field they clicked their heels in unison as they sung, “let’s go down and get this thing over with, we’re going to win this game.” At the conference championship Ridgeview played country rival Central (Newton) High. Both undefeated teams clashed for bragging rights as well as the win. Ridgeview 28, Central 0. The Panthers delighted spectators. Interracial crowds (significant in a segregated world) came to see team fireworks on both sides of the ball. Home games welcomed spectators on what players called “the dust bowl” because the field was more dirt than grass. The Panthers played before ‘standing room only’ crowds in a stadium that seated 2,000. The offense under the coaching of assistant Roger Scales pulled off plays that often went for big yardage. Doug Bumgarner scored over 30 touchdowns. Allen Burch added another dozen, as did Ed Cunningham. At least once per game on average, the defense forced a fumble that lead to a score. A few trick plays even found success as the Panthers once feigned confusion to their benefit in the end zone. As it did the year before, the season came down to the championship game. After sailing through the first round of the playoffs, the team met Hamlet for all the marbles. The championship was played at Hickory’s Lenoir-Rhyne College. The LR Bears themselves sported an exceptional football tradition in the area. Under coach Clarence Stasavich, Lenoir-Rhyne won their own national championship in 1960. Ridgeview and Hamlet remained scoreless right down to the last few seconds of the first half. Then, the most threatening moment of all came. With the entire season on the line, game announcer and Hickory Daily Record reporter Ellis Johnson described the action. “The Tigers found themselves on the Panthers’ two-yard-line, first and goal to go. The Panthers defense led by Captain John Hodge, Xenephone Lutz, Charles Redman, Allen Pope, and others, stopped the drive of the Tigers on the one-yard line as the gun sounded to end the scoreless first half.” Defensive guard Xenephon Lutz remembered the moment when it looked like the season might repeat the 1963 disappointment. His excitement led him to repeatedly shout out to the Hamlet offense, “You ain’t going anywhere.” His team captain, John Hodge refocused him on the task at had by saying, “Shut up and play some football.” The Panthers went on to score twice in the second half. The defense got back to its game and never allowed Dunbar to get close again. The immaculate season was won. As Ellis Johnson reported, “The untouchable Panthers ended a victorious perfect season.” In 1966, Ridgeview consolidated into Hickory High, and that fall put together a team that also won the state championship (though not un-scored upon). Sadly, the Ridgeview community lost some of its identity and the accomplishment of its academic and football excellence, when the school was closed, in the turbulent times of integration. But mention of the 1964 team to any life long resident of Ridgeview and they know the story game by game. The alumni of the high school meet regularly and the orange and blue are remembered and celebrated. All you have to do is mention them by the nickname they were given in 1964 and which still applies. “THE UNTOUCHABLES.”
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44 On the first Saturday each October, Wilkes County is host to the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival. We think it’s everything a Foothills Festival should be. You’ll find food, arts, crafts, entertainment, demonstrations, and fun for the whole family. Hosted by the Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club on October 6. This 41st Annual event brings statewide attention to the lucious apples of our region. This is one of the largest one day festivals in the Southeast, and it’s a must visit attraction for all Foothills locals. Apples have made up the largest part of the Wilkes County agricultural scene for a century. Some of the tastiest apples in the country are grown here, including Red and Golden Delicious, Galas, Fujis and Pink Ladies. The festival is held in the heart of downtown Wilkesboro and draws huge crowds of over 160,000 each year. Old- time Appalachian Crafts are celebrated as well, including quilting, woodcarving, chair making, soap making, pottery throwing and more. The delicious scent of simmering and heavily-spiced apple cider is on the air and all around people are enjoying the crispness that promises colder weather is coming.
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45 We are the preferred providers of oral surgery, wisdom teeth and dental implants for many area employers. No matter where your patients live or work, they’re close to one of our offices in Hickory, Lincolnton, and Statesville. Visit our website at www.omsdrs.com for a complete listing of participating employers and dental plans. Visit any of our three convenient offices!
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46 By Mackenzie Wicker Photography by Kelsey Crowe New Beginnings Historic Farm is like the small towns that surround it—lovely and quaint and too easy to miss. Sitting quietly off Alternate Highway 64/74 in Rutherford County, the place is owned by Sheri and John Crenshaw, who raise heritage breeds—traditional livestock from a simpler time—like long-haired Scottish Highland cows and Cotswold sheep. “I guess we like old things,” Sheri says. “Like the house. There’s a nostalgia to it, I guess.” The house on the property dates back to 1910, when it was built for a local doctor and later sold to farmers. The Crenshaws fall somewhere between the two fields— Sheri is a nurse and John is a paramedic, and they both work the organic gardens in raised beds that sit between the pastures, the coop, and the rustic pavilion that serves as a reception site for people using the farm as a wedding venue. Sheri says a bit shyly that they were brought to the farm through a “God thing.” John used to pass by the property regularly on drives through the county and told himself he’d love to have a place like it. When they were looking for farming land and a house in which to begin a new phase of life together, Sheri found the old farm in a search. It wasn’t until they were pulling into the driveway to see it that John realized it was the farm he’d loved for so long. At first, it seemed unattainable, but somehow things came together and they moved in—with six children between them—in 2013. Since then, they’ve worked to restore the place to its farming roots. They’ve also renovated the buildings, making use of all the historical items they can salvage. “The cool thing about an old place is there’s actually a story about each thing,” says Sheri. “Each thing had a purpose in what they used it for.” Besides the cows and sheep, the farm is home to chickens, ducks, some cats and a variety of friendly goats, all watched over by a family of Great Pyrenees dogs, who keep the coyotes away. Old Things & New Beginnings
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Although they sell and share produce and e g g s , t h e C r e n s h a w s don’t ever plan to offer their animals f o r m e a t . They’re part of the family, at this point. “ I ’ m k i n d of a mushy farmer,” says Sheri. “I think w e t a l k e d about it in the beginning and that plan went downhill really quick.” The animals get plenty of visitors though. On occasion, Sheri leads goat yoga classes. The livestock is available for socializing during retreats. And the Crenshaws offer farm tours for school kids, and sometimes for grown-ups, too. Visit their website at: http://www.newbeginningsfarms.com/ 828.468.8625 B usiness F ilms W edding F ilms l ive e vent P roduction A eri A l u A v m edi A (FAA l icensed )
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Granny Eckard GRANDPA’S HAMMER MILL My mother’s father was born in 1884 and married his fifteen-year-old bride in 1905. They lived at the foot of Baker’s Mountain and owned a sizeable sustenanance farm where they raised nine children. Grandpa was slight in stature but very inelligent, learned, gentle and a God-fearing Baptist. They were life-time members of Wilkie’s Grove in George Hildebran area. However, Grandpa never owned a car and driving his mule and wagon over roads then taken over by cars became precarious. So in their later years they attended Henry River Baptist Church which was closer and had a church bus for transportation. Grandpa completed public school, which in those days was fifth grade. As a teen, I found his old alegbra books in their attic. Although I was in high school, these books were Greek to me. We were told that he taught Grandma to read using the Bible as his text, and I never saw her read anything else. All the children helped alongside their parents and it was hard work. They built their own house and barns, grafted fruit trees, cultivated a garden and canned for winter. They also grew cane and made molasses, kept bees, raised chickens and pigs, milked dairy cows, plowed with mules,, and harvested wheat and oats with a cradle. More importantly for me, Grandpa taught my Dad all these skills. About the time their last child graduated from high school Grandpa decided he was getting tired. He was 69 and ready to divest himself of all that work but wanted something to keep him busy. So he purchased a hammer mill and millstones, built a shelter on the public road about a half mile from their house, and set up shop grinding wheat, oats and corn for income. When his customers arrived at the mill, Grandpa could see the vehicle from his front porch and walk up the long driveway to take care of business. He always walked leaning forward with his fingers entwined behind his back. It was a memorable experience for us kids to visit Grandpa at the mill and watch him work. I am sure he never made any real money but he certainly left a legacy. Granny Eckard grew up at the base of Baker’s Mountain and writes about her memories in each issue.
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Catawba Valley Furniture By Carmen Eckard Photography by Jon Eckard
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It all started, as so many of our stories do, with an industrious citizen who saw an opportunity and made a leap. This citizen was George Hall. He owned a general mercantile store on Main Street in Hickory at the turn of the 20th century. Day after day, George watched trains snake through the center of town, pulling heavy loads of lumber from the South, headed for factories of the North. In 1890, the whole state of NC only had 6 furniture factories, all quite small. And George Hall saw Opportunity, with a capital O. In 1901, he gathered a group of bankers and businessmen who determined to build an industry around the wood that made its way through the town daily. This meeting was so important that when people explain the history of Hickory, it marks the beginning of a new era. The first furniture company was called Hickory Furniture Company, and Hall proved to be an excellent manager. Within a year, he helped open a second venture called Martin Furniture Company. From there, many more furniture companies opened, both in Hickory and in the surrounding Foothills communities, and the Catawba Valley’s reputation as a world-renowned furniture center was born. Business thrived in the newly bustling town of Hickory and the surrounding counties. In 1913, Hickory became the first in the state to govern with a council. This type government helped to create a business environment in which furniture manufacturers could grow into giants of industry. The valley also had a monumental advantage: the Catawba River. The Catawba River (called Wateree River further downstream) is one of the most dammed rivers in the nation. There are 14 major dams creating 11 lakes. This is because of a truly impressive change in elevation that creates fast moving water and large drops. Our state is known for its beautiful waterfalls, but drops like those in the Catawba River are also excellent for industry. The river has always been an easy and cheap source of power for furniture manufacturing and other industries as well. Because train routes and power from the river made manufacturing so affordable, the furniture industry became a true mainstay in our community. There are many families across the Foothills who have worked in the same trade, often the same company, for 4 generations. An incredibly skilled workforce developed over time, which led to a strengthening of the Catawba Valley’s furniture reputation, as the companies here produced high-quality heirloom furniture. In the 1950s, a Hickory hotel called Mull’s Hotel and Restaurant became a popular destination for furniture salesmen and those in the industry. They began setting up their wholesale products for display in the basement of the restaurant. In 1963, Leroy Lail and his new bride Lynn (Mull) Lail, began encouraging furniture companies to meet twice a year to display their products to buyers , and that was the beginning of the Hickory Furniture Mart. The Hickory Furniture Mart now houses over 100 stores, representing nearly 1,000 furniture brands. The Mart has been highlighted in the New York Times, Newsday, Los Angeles Times, Woman’s Day and many other national publications including The Oprah Winfrey Show .
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54 The Hickory Furniture Mart helped cement the region’s status as the furniture destination and the manufacturers continued to produce the highest quality items. The Mart gradually shifted focus and became a retail destination. More than half a million people visit each year, and they buy a lot of furniture. This has always allowed our craftsmen to make more furniture and it created a system that allowed for impressive growth. Foothills residents will remember that we suffered a hard time in the early 2000s. Many manufacturing jobs left, vanishing with the whispers of neighbors saying ”gone to China.” While this was a nation-wide phenomenon, it hit our valley hard, possibly harder than anywhere else. It’s a sad story we all know. None tell it better than former Henredon CEO Mike Dugan (and Foothills Digest contributor), who wrote the book The Furniture Wars: How America Lost a 50 Billion Dollar Industry . But there is a new story, and it’s exciting. The story goes like this: Once upon a time, the jobs came back. Once upon a time, smart business decisions and dedication to timeless craftsmanship brought the industry back from the brink. Once upon a time, cutting edge technologies and enterprising business people rejuvenated the Catawba Valley’s reputation. Furniture is alive and well in the Catawba Valley, with a thriving industry that supports it. In fact, it’s still Catawba County’s main economic engine, with 8,700 people employed in 111 different furniture companies. If you were to add up every single employee from every restaurant in the whole county, from every McDonalds and Starbucks, to each local treasure like BOCA, Cafe Rule, Highland Avenue or Standard Oyster Company,
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55 www.hickoryfurniture.com | 1-800-462-MART (6278) I N S P I R I N G H O M E S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D F O R O V E R H A L F A C E N T U R Y NORTH CAROLINA FURNITURE When you have a reputation around the world for being the best, people travel great distances to see you. Proudly supporting our local craftsmen, manufacturers and retailers.
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then that’s still 2,000 fewer people than our furniture industry employs. Each year, workers in the furniture industry earn over $350 million and much of that money is recycled back into our community. Each furniture factory in our valley has stories of employees who come from a long line of furniture makers. Above, Shawn and Donnie Price smile together as they work at Vanguard Furniture. Their father before them worked 40 years at Vanguard, and they’ve followed in his footsteps, working together for most of their careers. On the previous page you can see Adam Byrd showing the eight-way-hand-tied manufacturing process that is so prevalent in the Catawba Valley region. He too is the son of a furniture maker, and his dad works right next to him. This heritage is part of what makes Hickory an unshakable furniture capital. Scott Millar, of the Economic Development Corporation of Catawba County says , ”T he indus T ry is reconsolida T ing in T he h ickory area , and T he big names are all focusing on making T he high - quali T y produc T we have always craf T ed in h ickory . n ame T he company and you are likely T o see T heir upper end goods being made here . i T hink h ickory ’ s furni T ure indus T ry is solid .” And he’s right. Furniture from Hickory is sold all over the world, from the nation’s largest and most well-known furniture manufacturers. Our reputation worldwide is still as solid as the tree our town is named after. Leroy Lail, owner of the Furniture Mart, says, ” i T hink furni T ure in h ickory has a grea T fu T ure . o ur manufac T urers specialize in furni T ure T ha T is well - craf T ed . a lso , T hey have seen T he fu T ure and are working wi T h cvcc and have crea T ed a f urni T ure a cademy which will T rain various craf T speople . o ur c onven T ion c en T er and v isi T ors b ureau has plans underway for an addi T ion T o T he building , T ha T will recognize T he his T ory and heri T age of our craf T smen and will be open year round for visi T ors .”
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It turns out, one of the biggest tourism drivers in the Catawba Valley is the Furniture Mart. Mandy Pitts Hildebran, of the Hickory Metro Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau says that in 2017, 500,000 people visited the Furniture Mart, and they came from countries all over the world. Their tourism dollars help our restaurants and motels and keep our furniture factories in business. The regions’ largest furniture manufacturers include Century Furniture, Heritage Home Group (formerly Hickory Chair), Vanguard Furniture, Lee Industries, Ethan Allen, Sutter Street Manufacturing (Williams-Sonoma), and McCreary Modern, with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams right around the corner in Taylorsville. Each of these have over 500 employees. But it isn’t just the furniture companies themselves that comprise the industry. Below, a worker reloads a machine that makes fabric at Outdura. Consider if you will each of the suppliers that service the furniture manufacturers. While these numbers are more complicated to gather, Nathan Huret at the EDC explains that $475 million worth of local products are purchased by the furniture industry each year. Added to the $350 million
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58 Back by popular demand... 375 main Ave NE Hickory NC 828.322.8011
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59 in wages yearly, one can start to understand the true size of our furniture industry. Nathan also points out that furniture is entwined with the public image of Hickory so thoroughly that it can’t be untangled. The City of Hickory’s slogan is ”Hickory. Well Crafted.” It’s an obvious nod to our culture and history. Many people from all over the world know of Hickory, North Carolina because of the quality furniture our residents have always produced, and our popularity is because of that furniture. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the town is named after a wood, and not just any wood, but one of the best furniture making woods around. For 117 years, Hickory has grown, hand-in-hand with its furniture industry. Neither the city nor the industry are showing any signs of defeat in 2018. We are thriving. We are growing. We are creating the best furniture in the world, hands-down. If it weren’t so, then the largest fur niture companies in the world wouldn’t have their furniture made here. Technology is wonderful, and companies are always driven to save money, but hand-crafted furniture is timeless and requires skills honed over many years. Even an eight-way-hand-tie takes years to master, but it’s a vital part of our furniture. At right, above, Shica Long of Vanguard Furniture stands with a roll of fabric. She is a cutter, one of the most skilled jobs in the industry, and she’s been mastering her trade for years. Chair by Cox Manufacturing
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60 She now trains new employees, as well as students at CVCC’s Furniture Academy. The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy is an industry-driven training program designed by local furniture manufacturers to prepare students for skilled positions that are in high demand by one of the region’s largest employers. It’s a great benefit to our region, and helps to attract high-quality craftsmen to the industry. It may be time for you to replace your furniture. In fact, I’m almost sure it is. Make the drive to Hickory. The Hickory Furniture Mart is an excellent place to start your search, and truly, if you can’t find it there, it probably isn’t furniture. Author’s Note: I especially want to thank a few people for their help with this article. Everyone in Hickory has an opinion about Hickory furniture, but I spoke with a handful of people who have a truly comprehensive understanding of the industry and its issues: Leroy Lail, owner of the Hickory Furniture Mart, gave me an excellent overview of our history, as well as a lot to think about. It’s off subject, but he says, ”The harder I work, the luckier I get,” and I found the statement to be so true and important I’m sticking it here with my thanks. Mitchell Gold, of Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams was also very helpful. He kept me from over simplifying the problems in the 2000s, and provided valuable insight about the industry today. I’d also like to thank the following companies because we are using photography shot in their businesses: Salmagundi Designs (The chair on the opening page and this one are both hers. She crafts custom pieces that are truly eye-catching), Vanguard Furniture, Outdura and Cox Manufacturing. I’d also like to thank Mike Dugan for his comprehensive work researching the collapse. Tracey Trimble, Executive Vice President & General Manager of the Furniture Mart provided me with information and opened figurative doors for me. Scott Millar and Nate Huret of the EDC of Catawba County were incredibly helpful, providing verified statistics about our industry. Like every part of this magazine, this article is a work of collaboration because our community is wonderful.
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61 With 12,000 square feet of meeting space and an experienced staff committed to perfection, Crowne Plaza of Hickory is the ideal place for your next corporate meeting. We have a dedicated Crowne Plaza® Meetings Director who is excited to be your point of contact. We guarantee we will respond to your request for quote within two hours. 11 rooms assure that you’ll have the space you need for your event. We also offer high- speed wireless internet and we have multi-media capabilities, allowing for seamless presentations. (828) 323-1000 1385 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard SE Hickory, NC 28602
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(828) 322-8011 THANKFUL FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS The Steeles purchased a beautiful 1930s home in the heart of Hickory, but it was badly in need of renovation. One of the reasons they chose this house was the large addition that theyknew would be perfect for entertaining. They updated the large addition into a beautiful entertaining room, with gorgeous windows and a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e t a i l s . ”Our family is the center of our lives and it was so important for us to create an amazing space that had plenty of room for us to all get together. We are so thankful for our family, and that we are get to work together every each day. We are also thankful to share the joy of our clients as their own renovations are completed.” S t e e l e ’s C o n s t r u c t i o n works hand in hand with Steele’s Design Studio and Opulence by Steele to walk their clients through each step of the remodeling process. On the opposite page is a table setting by Steele’s Design. It is opulent and natural in the same moment, and captures the spirit of Thanksgiving perfectly. Each place setting has its own inspiring quote. The family is happy to join together to celebrate in their newly updated home. They’d love to help you create a perfect space for your family. They’d love to help you create a perfect space for your family. This sprawling estate is filled with ancient trees and opulent spaces. Donna Steele shows her grandson Leo the new Christmas tree while his mom is nearby. The Steele family pauses to pray and to acknowledge the many things they are thankful for. Photography by Jon Eckard.
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66 BO CA By Carmen Eckard. Photography by Jon Eckard. This treasure is located in Hickory, in an old mill building that has been gloriously restored. Moretz Mill joins Hollar Mill and Transportation Insight in spectacular mill remodels that have rejuvenated a whole section of town. Blight no more, Moretz Mill houses many local businesses and BOCA is the crowning jewel. I’ll be honest: I had never eaten at BOCA before we did this review. I have been back several times since our first meeting, however, because it charmed me so thoroughly. We started our meal off with a beet and arugula salad. This salad was simple but harmonious; arugula and beets were paired with candied orange peel and goat cheese. The dressing was a delightful orange coriander vinaigrette, made withwith white balsamic vinegar. The salad was so well-balanced...the light and fragrant candied orange was an excellent counter to the earthy taste of beets. The theme of earthly delights carried through to the main course, which was a braised lamb shank. This meat was fall-off-the-bone-tender and Chef Taylor explained that it’s because the braising process is a slow cooking process similar to the way Southerners cook our Barbecue: very slowly, over low heat, past the point of well done. This meal also had caramelized onions, tomatoes, and a Parisian two spice. The meat was served on a base of fava beans and au jus. The lamb is topped with carrots, napa cabbage and parsley, tossed in lemon oil. The tastes were surprising but pleasant. New, yet familiar, cutting edge, but somehow homey.
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68 If you haven’t had lamb, you should know that it should taste grassy and fresh, and perhaps gamey without the negative association that comes with that word. There is a fatty acid chain in lamb that isn’t present in beef, and it’s something people can taste even at very small levels. It’s also more tender than beef, and the slow-cooking process used here amps that up tremendously. This meal is an excellent way to experience lamb. Youssef and Carol Amrani
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69 We were also served piquillos (previous page). This is a type of red pepper which is then roasted and peeled, with goat cheese inside. It’s then seared and topped with parsley and black pepper. Delicious and simple, I’ll order these again. We ended our meal with a chocolate ganache mousse cake. This was a simple sponge cake with cocoa powder, blueberries and mint. Not too sweet, it was an excellent finisher, and the blueberries provided a lovely note. BOCA is one of the Foothills premiere restaurants. Youssef and Carol Amrani are well- known across the region for their contributions to our community. Youssef has been Hickory’s best-known chef for many years, and we are all delighted that he has opened BOCA, which seems to be a nod to his heritage, and perhaps to the fact that the Foothills are now home. Carol is also the general manager for Moretz Mill, which houses other businesses like Vitality Medical Spa, Essential Circles of Life and the venue 74 South, which is a popular destination for weddings, proms and events. I personally have so much respect and admiration for people who work hard to achieve greatness in their chosen field. Youssef and Carol Amrani have achieved greatness, and the whole region benefits. I try to show you the best of the best, and in this case, I know I’ve done my job. Side note-I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Kobe Beef burger I got on my next visit was actually the best burger I’ve ever eaten. You should try that too. Chef Taylor
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71 Perfect Thanksgiving Basics: 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Place turkey in a roasting pan and massage spice rub completely in and around Turkey. 3. Roast turkey uncovered for 30 minutes. 4. Lower temperature to 300 degrees and cover turkey thoroughly with aluminum foil. 5. Roast covered turkey for about 4 hours. 6. Remove foil and raise temperature to 400 degrees. 7. Roast until skin is desired crispiness, remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before carving. INGREDIENTS: 1 W hole t urkey ( r ecipe is F or 14 lbs ) s pice r ub : 2 t bsp G arlic p o W der 1 t bsp Fennel s eed 1/2 t bsp r ed p epper F lakes 1 t bsp o nion p o W der 1 t bsp o re G ano 1 tsp l emon p eel 1 tsp p aprika 2 t bsp s alt 1/2 c up b utter ( m elted ) 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Wrap garlic and olive oil in aluminum foil. With the opening facing up, place foil package directly on oven rack. 3. Roast for 30 minutes, remove and allow to cool. Remove garlic cloves. 4. Heat a sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add butter and flour to make a roux. 5. Add garlic cloves to roux and whisk together. 6. Add stock and simmer. Sauce will thicken as it approaches boiling point. 7. Salt to taste and serve at desired thickness. ROASTED GARLIC GRAVY: 1 H ead G arlic 1/2 tsp O live O il 3 t bsp b utter 3 t bsp F l O ur 1 c up t urkey s t O ck THESE RECIPES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY CALVIN REYES. CALVIN IS IN THE MIDST OF AN ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT AT HENRY RIVER MILL VILLAGE. HE WILL EVENTUALLY OPEN A RESTAURANT ON SITE. Recipes by Calvin Reyes. Photography by Jon Eckard.
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72 Whipped Mashed Potatoes 1. Peel potatoes and place in large pot. Cover with water and boil until tender. 2. Drain potatoes and add to large bowl. Add milk. Stir until combined. 3. With a whisk, combine butter into potatoes 1 tablespoon at a time, until all butter is incorporated. (This takes time, but it’s worth it!) 4. Add parsley, salt to taste, stir and serve. INGREDIENTS: 5 p ounds y ukon G old p otatoes 1/2 c up W hole m ilk 1 c up b utter 1 t bsp d ried p arsley s alt Slow-Cooked Green Beans with Cabbage 1. Crisp bacon in a large pot or dutch oven. Remove, but leave oil. 2. Turn burner to medium and add green beans and cabbage to pot. Stir for 1 minute. 3. Add stock and butter and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low. 4. Cook for 1 hour, remove from heat. Salt to taste. 5. Serve in large bowl and sprinkle bacon pieces on top. INGREDIENTS: 6 s lices b acon ( diced ) 1/2 h ead c abba G e ( chopped ) 1 p ound F resh G reen b eans ( ends removed ) 3 c ups v e G etable s tock 4 t bsp b utter s alt
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73 Within the walls of Webb Custom Kitchen, history & spirit whisper to those who listen... We invite you to join us for a unique experience of modern decadence blended with authentic historical relevance in the heart of Downtown Gastonia. http://webbcustomkitchen.com/ 182 S.South St. Historic Downtown Gastonia, NC 28052. Phone# 704-864-8385
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75 6 G ranny s mith a pples 14 o z o F p acka G ed c aramels 2 t bsp o F m ilk 1 p acka G e o F c ra F t s ticks or other sticks Caramel Apples 1. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray (or line with wax paper) 2. Remove stems from apples and insert craft sticks 3. Over a double boiler, melt unwrapped caramels and milk until combined. Remove from heat, and allow to cool for a minute 4. Roll each apple in the caramel and place on prepared baking sheet. 5. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to set caramel. Recipe by: Hettie Johnson Rudisill Submitted by Anita Rudisill North Carolina’s oldest continuously serving bar Opened in 1932, Antlers Bar has been a Foothills Destination for nearly a century. Bistro Roca offers exceptional cuisine and a top-notch atmosphere. 143 Wonderland Trail Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (828) 295-4008 ww.bistroroca.com North Carolina is home to a wide variety of apples. Our orchards grow Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, Stayman, Granny Smith, Gala, Jonagold, Gingergold, Fuji, Cripsin/Mutsu, Goldrush, Honeycrisp, Empire and Pink Lady. Some of the best places to get apples are the local orchards in the Foothills, like Sugarloaf, shown at right.
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76 TO SET A GORGEOUS TABLE, BORROW FROM nature. by Donna Steele When you live in an area so lush with natural beauty, it’s easy to find inspiration in nature. Examine botanical elements in a new light, which will lead to exciting new combinations that will delight your senses. For this look, we were inspired by the experience of walking through mountain woods on a crisp fall day, with whiffs of fir on the breeze and a beautiful antler lying on moss. We juxtapose the coldness, highlighted with our choice of all white flowers, with the warmth of fir and the crackling of a fire. The result is both primal and elegant. You can find many beautiful accessories at our store Opulence by Steele in Hickory, and if you are crafty, you can gather natural items and turn them into one-of-a-kind accessories that reflect your own style and perhaps remind you of your own experiences in nature. Antlers, pine-cones, flowers, shells, fur, sprigs of plants and more can added to your table’s decor. Look around and find some inspiration for your own exquisite looks. Donna Steele is the lead designer with Steele’s Design Studio and owns and operates Opulence by Steele with her husband Tim, of Steele’s Construction, and their family.
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78 10 tricks t O G et y O ur kids t O ea t ve G et ables “Kids are renowned for being picky eaters and trying to get them to eat their vegetables can seem like a never-ending battle,” said Renee Greene, Wellness Dietitian at CVMC’s Health First Center. “But parents, don’t give up! Because vegetables are packed with nutrients needed in your child’s diet, skipping them really isn’t the solution.” To help, Renee offers 10 creative ways to get your kids to eat their veggies: • Set up a pizza-making station in the kitchen. Provide ingredients like tomato sauce, low fat cheese and cut-up vegetables for toppings. Try spinach, red or yellow peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and artichokes. Need a night off? Order pizza for delivery and choose vegetable toppings! • Keep cut vegetables handy for mid-afternoon snacks, side dishes, lunch box additions or a quick nibble while waiting for dinner. Favorites include: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery sticks, snap peas, radishes or sliced peppers. • Stuff an omelet with vegetables. Turn an omelet into a meal with tomatoes, onions, garlic, spinach, squash and low fat cheese. • Hide vegetables in your main dish! Add colorful vegetables to soups, casseroles, lasagna, pasta sauce and stir fry dishes. • Layer sandwiches with veggies. Jazz up their packed lunches by adding cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, avocados and sprouts to a turkey sandwich. • Kids love to dip their foods. Serve hummus, yogurt or low fat dressing with a variety of vegetables for a healthy snack. • Let kids “decorate” their foods. Start with carrot sticks or celery. Give them peanut butter and dried fruit to make edible creations! • Have fun with fondue! Dip vegetables into melted cheese for a hands on approach to dinner. • Assemble vegetable kabobs to cook on the grill. Let your kids help load the skewers with peppers, squash, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions. • Put the kids in charge. Ask your child to choose a new veggie to try or let them arrange raw vegetables into a fun shape or design. Adapted from: 20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits and Vegetables; Eat Right. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. And from: Kid-Friendly Veggies and Fruits; 10 tips for making healthy foods more fun for children; ChooseMyPlate.gov
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81 Check out foothills kids Not only are these kids books printed in our magazine, but we also print copies to send home with school children. We need your help! We are seeking partnerships to provide quarterly magazines for all children in our region. We can’t do it alone! It costs about $0.75 per copy, per issue. If you or your business would be interested in partnering with us to bring these books to our young citizens, please call 828.475.1323 or email us at editor@foothillsdigest.com.
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83 A Passion for Art by Barry G. Huffman Art photographed by Tom Delvin Joe LaFone has been around for a while – three quarters of a century to be exact. When he was fourteen years old he went to see Lust for Life, the movie about the life of Vincent Van Gogh. The impact was instant and powerful; he wanted to become the famous artist. The trajectory of Joe’s life in pursuit of his passion for art has reflected the times: the cultural shifts of the 1960s and 70s and the tensions of later decades as he pursued art, raised a daughter, cared for his elderly parents and, in 2010, lost his home to a bolt of lightning. Thankfully, he has lived longer than Van Gogh, produced more work, and fought a few less demons than his mentor. Although Joe never received a formal education in art, he worked in well-known museums, met famous artists, haunted favorite art exhibitions, read and studied voraciously, handled masterpieces and absorbed centuries of art history. He experienced art movements of the twentieth century including Impressionism, Dada and Surrealism, Regionalism, Realism, Abstract Expressionism and Contemporary American Folk Art. Joe has made a living working in art museums as an installer, handler, framer and conservator. Learning to clean and repair paintings, he took on commissions to restore art professionally. Joe satisfied a life-long passion of searching for art at flea markets, at sales and auctions, and at junk shops, buying undervalued paintings, restoring them and selling them up the ladder. Along the way he acquired vast knowledge about almost all decorative arts. Although Joe had been making art and exhibiting since an early age, it was 2003 when God came to him in a dream and told him to paint Grandfather Mountain endlessly, to paint a credible still life and to iron his shirts. As he will tell you today, “Two out of three ain’t bad.” Joe Robert LaFone is a native of Hickory, born in 1942. His father served in World War II returning home to work as a house painter. His mother’s ancestors included members of the Cherokee Nation. Growing up in Hickory in the 40’s and 50’s and attending Green Park School, Joe was a fine example of a Little Rascal, although his mother insisted on perfect attendance at the Episcopal Church. When he was older he discovered the Hickory Museum of Art located in an old house downtown. Paul and Mickey Whitener, founders of the Museum, recognized his interest in art and allowed him to spend time studying the collection. Eventually, he worked there on weekends absorbing all he could learn. After completing high school, Joe headed to Sarasota, Florida, to the Ringling School of Joe LaFone
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84 Art. He had no money to enroll, but he worked in a shoe store and visited the museum as often as possible. He was not following in Vincent Van Gogh’s footsteps but he was learning all he could. The next decades led him to the Ackland Museum of Art in Chapel Hill, a town he grew to love. Joe moved on to New York and Washington, D.C., to work at the Whitney Museum of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. He crossed the country on a road trip, ending up in the Haight-Asbury district of San Francisco, the origin of the hippie counterculture. Joe partook of all of the fruits of the sizzling 60’s. In the 70’s he and his daughter, Becky, lived in Florida where he found work, but they frequently returned to Hickory to visit. With his parents facing health issues in the 1980s, Joe and Becky moved back to the house of his childhood. He cared for his mother and father until their deaths. Joe often worked on his front porch, exhibiting his vibrant oil paintings carefully for possible customers to see his latest work. A blowing horn could signal a sale with Joe placing a wet painting in the trunk while the customer never left her car. He also created lovely pastels. Always willing to share his knowledge and encourage the young, his porch became the meeting place for a community of emerging artists. Joe arranged group and solo shows in unexpected places such as a tattoo parlor. His own paintings graced the walls of many homes and offices, sometimes moving to distant places with their owners – to Nevada, Virginia, Ohio and beyond. Joe LaFone has always encouraged young artists to engage their artistic talents. He has taught classes and shared his knowledge and he has promoted the Hickory Museum of Art. When Steve Brooks appeared on his porch, a great friendship began. Steve, whose parents were church friends of Joe, was a furniture designer, but he also had an impressive educational background in fine art as a painter and printmaker. Over the course of years they sometimes have worked as a team on
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85 collaborations. They completed a series of large oils of women, calling them “Divas”. Mountain landscapes and still lifes were other subjects, and on occasion they worked together on pastels. The years have mounted up but Joe continues his passion of creating art, although the pace is a bit slower. The colors are as vibrant as ever. Flowers are strong and sassy, almost bouncing off the canvas. Grandfather Mountain stands tall in the background, perhaps silent, but keeping watch over the riotous fields of cabbages and corn in the valley below. Joe LaFone sums up his art and his life: “Where did I go? What did I do? Was there order to my actions or were they all just happenstance? I think of the word ‘rondo’, a musical term meaning a statement and then a repetition of the statement on a theme; return to where you began. This was my relationship to the world and to my hometown – Hickory. The world was, at times, necessary for my growth. Hickory was necessary for my comfort and my relief. I think of the word ‘legacy’, meaning simply that which you leave behind. Did I leave something good? I hope so. I hope that my life will be an example for young artists coming after me. No matter where you have been, no matter what you have done, you can return to the place you began your life and your work. Rely on your inner self, do good work and pass your example on to the next generation.” LaFone Living Art, a biography of Joe LaFone by Barry Huffman, may be purchased at the Hickory Museum of Art gift shop.
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86 Michel Bayne and Michael Ball Michel Bayne and Michael Ball are two very talented potters working in the Catawba Valley tradition. Michel lives in Lincolnton, while Michael lives in Asheville, but the two come together quite often to share their craft. Above, they are smiling victoriously as they’ve just finished a successful firing together. Michael Ball has been creating pottery since 1996. He is known for his pristine throwing, as well as for the lizards and eyeballs that often adorn his work. He takes traditional Catawba Valley forms and embellishes them in his own way, and the result is functional art. Full disclosure: my very favorite piece of pottery is Michael Ball piece-it’s a perfect Rebecca jug with a lizard crawling up the side. I walk by and touch it at least once a day. Michael has honed his craft delightfully, knowing just how to manipulate the clay to arrive at pieces that are completely unique. Michel Bayne’ interest in pottery goes back to 1977, but it wasn’t until 2003 that he began throwing in earnest. He bought a large piece of farmland in Lincolnton with a river running by. Many people don’t realize that the clay for Catawba Valley Pottery is dug here as well. Our potters don’t go to the craft store to pick up a block of clay-they dig it out of river beds and then employ a process of milling the clay that leaves it absolutely unique to our region. Michel has been able to dig clay on his property. He also has an extensive pottery shop, with everything a potter would need, including this amazing groundhog kiln, seen at right. Another unique thing
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89 “Choose a Job to Transport your Career” Transportation Insight is Hiring! We value the attributes of professionalism and high-quality character. A successful candidate will value and possess these attributes: strong work ethic, strong communication skills, motivation to grow and learn, positive attitude, dependability, responsibility, honesty and integrity. If this sounds like you, please apply at www. transportationinsight.com/about/careers/. about our pottery is that it is fired in a wood-fired groundhog kiln. There are still several very old groundhog kilns standing in our valley- the kiln used by some Reinhardts, some Propsts, Burlon Craig and his descendants is still functional. These things last. And Michel Bayne built his exactly to his needs. I was lucky enough to join these fellows for a firing, and it was a day I’ll remember my whole life. There is something truly magical about peeking into a kiln, with glowing faces looking back at you. The collaboration between these gentlemen is very interesting. It’s clear watching them that they are friends-they work together because it’s more enjoyable for them, and they push each other to be better. It warmed my heart to see (although let’s be clear-nothing needed warming. Those groundhog kilns are HOT). At left, the men check the kiln. On the next page, you can see what I think is the most exciting view in the pottery world-pots glowing during a firing. Michael’s and Michel’s work is available at American Folk Art and framing in Asheville. You can email Michael at Riverbirchpottery2000@gmail.com or call Michel at (980) 241-0493. Both men keep active facebook pages where you can see their latest work.
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92 Stone age sculpture: the art of Ken Broderick By Barry G. Huffman In his beloved novel Look Homeward, Angel, North Carolina author Thomas Wolfe wrote, “… a stone, a leaf, an unfound door; a stone, a leaf, a door.” This haunting phrase today may be adapted to the relevancy and the sense of place imbued in Ken Broderick’s rock sculptures. ******** Ken Broderick was born in Miami, Florida, in 1952. He grew up in a congenial blue-collar neighborhood north of the city - almost a suburb of the Everglades. Ken and his friends knew about practical things because there was no money for extravagances, so they invented games, made their own toys and followed their curiosity to new adventures. At age fourteen he helped Susan, two years younger, with a church youth ceramic project. A friendship developed that would eventually lead to marriage in 1974, a family and happy decades together. Over the years Miami experienced substantial cultural and social change. Hurricane Andrew, a Category Five storm, devastated Miami in 1992. Ken and Susan repaired storm damage to their home but found themselves restless. He had worked for BellSouth for many years; but after vacationing in the North Carolina Mountains in 1993, Ken requested a transfer to Boone. In December, 1994, a call came giving them forty-eight hours to decide about the move. Susan’s elderly parents agreed to come north with them. Boone greeted Ken with a bitterly cold January in 1995; Susan, son Chris, and daughter Kimberly, followed in May. Susan’s family had frequently visited the North Carolina Mountains around Boone as early as the 1950s. Three of her father’s sisters had built summer cabins near Howard’s Creek and Foscoe in Watauga County. She and her family often stayed at Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland, and she and Ken later repeated some of her youthful experiences with their children. Ken retired from AT&T (formerly BellSouth) in the spring of 2016 with thirty nine years of service. Finally, he was able to devote himself to what had become his passion – creating sculpture from locally found rocks. Long years of solitary walks by rivers and creek beds have taught him to be selective in determining which stones will best suit his purpose – the ones he will stop to examine closely or stoop to lift. Ken speaks of those moments: ”It may sound strange but some stones I have collected asked to be picked up. Those are the special ones – when I know exactly how and where they will be joined with others to compose a sculpture. The tributaries of the New River basin are very old – the oldest in North America – and for eons water has passed over these stones. I feel that history with each one I place in my bag.” Ken Broderick describes a need to create – to visualize an object and to use his skills to bring it to life with his hands. A small bird was his first project. He had erected a large cross in his front yard from limbs he gathered from the shores of Scott Reservoir after a flooding rain. A second bird still sits on the horizontal limb of the cross. People would sometimes stop to talk about his mounting piles of rocks and to admire the variety of plants in his yard. As the yard filled with other small, and not so small, creatures made of assembled stone, they began to inquire about prices. He had been making small objects of driftwood for a shop so the rock rabbits, turtles, fish and birds added another dimension to his work. Always interested in woodlands, Ken identified places where he can reliably find an assortment of stones. Searching with the owner’s permission, he checks his ‘honey holes’ after heavy rains. Rushing water tumbles up an amazing array of stones, mostly granite, he has not seen previously. The astonishing colors and striations provide decorative highlights and focal points for his creations. Often the shape of a stone will suggest its future use. At home he sorts the rocks by size and shapes. One box may contain possible rabbit ears, another box for fish heads, and another holds stones for bird bodies or wings. There are piles of miscellaneous
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94 rocks awaiting ideas not yet conceived. A small wooden building provides storage for his tools including a hammer drill, a 4 inch grinder, a wet saw, a drill press and a bench grinder. He has constructed a secure place to use these tools, mindful of the necessity of precision in his work to guarantee the best result. Ken’s goal is to ensure each creature he makes is a finer version of the one that preceded it. In describing the process he uses to assemble his artistic sculptures, Ken starts with collecting the rocks he will use. He then selects stones for the concept he has in his mind, followed by shaping them to fit together by scale and design. Here he will use tools to perfect each piece including drilling holes to hold metal rods that secure and stabilize each part - next comes surface sanding and grinding. Ken then moves the separate pieces onto Susan’s dining table for washing and assembling. The sculpture now takes on a new surface. Ken notes that the newly processed stone will quickly acquire a patina from the elements in its environment, actually acting as a sponge. He takes care to avoid contact with grease or even skin oil before the stone can be finished with a concrete sealer. He fills joints with grout to give a homogenous and natural appearance to most or all spaces. Ken signs “Kenny Bill” in the grout, a name his mother called him when she wanted his complete attention. It is ready for display either outdoors or outdoors. Ken Broderick is having a good time. The opportunity to be creative and to hold in his hands a small rabbit or to wrap his arms around a human sized rock sculpture gives him a satisfying sense of peace. He wants to keep a fine balance in his art so it will always be fresh to him. Susan, his business partner and best fan, looks for sensible places to show and sell his work and she helps with the many planning details. (His second best fan has filled his front yard in Hickory with a dozen remarkable Broderick sculptures.) Ken describes his creative process as a journey from concept to completion. A rabbit dancing on a rock will make anyone smile; however, Ken’s journey from a mountain creek bank to a customer’s joy requires significant work. Ken enjoys his artistic journey but his greatest pleasure is to stand aside and watch people when they come upon one of his creatures and connect with what he has made. He understands that a small part of the natural world has been revealed to them and they will certainly see the properties of stone and of art differently. ******** “…a stone, a leaf, an unfound door;” A stone found on a forest floor, millions of years from a mountain top to the skilled hand of a creative person. A leaf as ethereal as a moment in the mind of an artist. An unfound door as tentative as a possibility of originality. “a stone, a leaf, a door.” A stone of solid condensed time and convulsed history. A leaf caught between life and death by an afternoon breeze. A door as an original object realized. My apologies and my thanks to Thomas Wolfe.
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97 Oakwood Dental Arts is a full service dentistry firm based in the heart of Hickory, North Carolina in the historic Oakwood district. Our mission is to help you thrive in our town. Whether you have a troubled tooth that needs help or want to get that smile you’ve always dreamed about, we are here to serve. We will work with you to create a plan to achieve the best oral health possible. Let’s take the journey together. 828-324-6235 OAKWOODDENTALARTSNC.COM MCKINNEYDDS@OAKWOODDENTALARTSNC.COM
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99 By Carmen Eckard Photography by Jon Eckard This page features art from Out in the Open, the newest album.
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100 L ike so many young men in colleges across the South, some friends started a band. It was 2000, and the men went to school together at the University of Chapel Hill, and had a particular passion for bluegrass music. But unlike those other young men, the band formed by these friends was GOOD. Fortunately, success has found them, and seems to be following them around like a star-struck fan. The band, Steep Canyon Rangers, consists of Woody Platt, Graham Sharp, Mike Guggino, Nicky Sanders, Mike Ashworth and Barrett Smith. They are perhaps THE premiere bluegrass band in the nation. Their 2012 album Nobody Knows You won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year. From group-of-buddies to Grammy-winning-band is quite a journey, but Woody Platt tells me that really, the more things change, the more they stay the same. ”I t looks l I ke we ’ re hav I ng fun because we are . w e ’ re good fr I ends and we st I ll enjoy mak I ng mus I c together .” Watching them perform, what stands out to me is the ease and the confidence that this group displays when they are creating music. Bluegrass is notable for the unspoken communication between musicians that allows for jam sessions that are harmonious. But these gentlemen take that communication to an extreme. 18 years of friendship, of learning the cues of the other, and of what is obvious respect for each other has incubated their raw talent into something exceptional.
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101 The band’s new album is Out in the Open . It mixes folk, bluegrass, pop and country, excelling at each. It’s fresh and classic at the same time, which I think many bands have attempted, but very few achieve. The strings are stripped down. The harmonies are somehow rich and sparse. It’s sooooo real, thousands of miles from auto-tune. In fact, the vocals were recorded with the men standing around a microphone in one room. The authenticity is haunting. The song Can’t Get Home breaks my heart beautifully, and, as a parent, it resonates deeply. It’s about the parts of childhood that we can’t get back. Mike Guggino tells The Chicago Tribune “ m ost of the guys I n the band have k I ds , and we ’ re see I ng them grow up I n front of us . t hey ’ re hav I ng exper I ences we had at the I r age . I t ’ s a beaut I ful th I ng , but I t can also be a b I t sad as a parent .” Listen to it, and all of their songs, at their website’s listen page, www. steepcanyon.com/listen/. The band has recently received much acclaim, performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and even more recently, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, PBS, as well as being interviewed by all manner of news sources. The band was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2017. In short, if you haven’t Photo provided by band.
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102 started listing to them, it’s time. You have a lot of albums to catch up on. When Steve Martin, who had recently released the Bluegrass album The Crow , realized he needed bluegrass musicians to play with him on tour, he never even considered another band. He had played with Steep Canyon Rangers when his wife brought him to North Carolina for a visit, in an informal jam session that clearly impressed Martin. Steve Martin told the story at a press conference at Merlefest , saying that when he was asked to pick a band he said, ”I only know one bluegrass band : s teep c anyon r angers .” He asked the band to play with him in 2009, and they agreed. It’s an unusual arrangement. The band continues their career as a quintet, but they also tour with Steve Martin. They have award winning albums both with Steve Martin and as a quintet. The Long Awaited
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103 Album , which was a collaboration between Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin was nominated was hugely popular. As I watched the band joke around with Steve Martin, it was clear that they are having fun. I was fortunate to watch the band perform both with and without Steve Martin. If you’re familiar with Merlefest, you’ll know that Doc Watson always said the music there was ”Traditional Plus.” The heart of that is obvious in the music the band plays as a quintet. The soul of bluegrass runs throughout all they play, but they aren’t afraid to pull from other genres. I appreciate their flexible attitudes. When Steve Martin plays with them, it’s a different experience. Celebrity as large as ”Steve Martin” has a tendency to walk in the room before the performer, metaphorically. There is an excitement that can’t be ignored, and it can’t help but flavor the performance. Steve Martin is a bluegrass musician, and he’s also a comedian. The music they played together is entirely enjoyable, with me laughing as well as grooving. Steep Canyon Rangers and Friends pose at a press conference at Merlefest. They are joined by Allison Kraus and Sam Bush.
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I think Steep Canyon Rangers and Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin are both ”Traditional Plus”. I think the difference is the content of the ”plus”. Steep Canyon Rangers are traditional plus a deep musical knowledge, exquisite harmonies dripping with familial ease and some polish. Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin are Traditional Plus laughter, fun and sparkle. Caroline, below, is an excellent example of this. It isn’t just the performances that are different: playing with Steve Martin generally means larger venues and larger audiences. This gives the band even more exposure, and they gain new fans this way. They will play about 50 shows with Steve Martin this year, with many additional tour dates of their own. You can see their tour schedule at their website: http://www.steepcanyon.com/tour/.
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Listen to Steep Canyon Ranger’s new single Going Midwest by scanning the code at left with your smart phone. At right, listen to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Visit Steep Canyon Ranger’s listening page at steepcanyon.com/listen/. Their entire discography is there, including many collaborations with Steven Martin and others.
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In my last article, I discussed the nature of the Millennial generation and how they have become the most vital cog in the American Economic Engine, as the largest demographic representative in terms of labor and consumption. Millennials have moved to major metropolitan areas, because that is where they can earn the most money and enjoy life. Statistical information shows that Millennials earn their highest income versus cost of living (1) in the San Francisco Metropolitan area. Raleigh is ranked #14 on the list. In this era of constant change, the major metropolitan areas in our nation have been more resilient in dealing with economic upheaval, because they have larger economies of scale. Where a smaller community may be driven by one major industry, these larger metro areas are much more economically diverse with multiple major businesses in multiple business sectors. The loss of a major business in a large metro can certainly cause stress, but it isn’t going to break the community. An individual living in a large community, who finds themselves displaced, can more easily find a job within that community; whereas in a smaller community, they might just have to move. It used to be that almost all children would earn more than their parents had at any particular age. Today, that number is around 50 percent (2). Much of the economic flux we have faced in our country can be attributed to what the 20th century Austrian Economist Joseph Schumpeter (3), one of the founding theorists on Entrepreneurship, termed Creative Destruction. Creative Destruction occurs when innovation deconstructs long-standing arrangements and frees resources to be deployed elsewhere. Schumpeter saw innovation as the driving force of the marketplace through Capitalism. He believed that the innovation and technological change of a nation comes from its entrepreneurs, or “wild spirits.” Innovation is progress driven by competition. In talking about Economic Regeneration, “Change” is at the forefront of economic reality. The economy on every level of human existence has always evolved. Whereas, in the past, it could take years for things to change, now our economy changes drastically from day-to-day. We must embrace change and learn how to operate and thrive in such an environment. The alternative? Embracing stagnation... No thanks! What Schumpeter was getting at relates to creativity. We are living in an age that is defined by creativity, much more so than the preceding Industrial Age. Our present economy has been defined as a “Creative Economy.” Millennials, as a “Free Spirited” generation, like to define themselves by their creativity, being different, and having unique personalities. They want help implementing creative ideas and recognition for successes. Companies that facilitate this way of thinking will be the most successful. We have to know that this creative capacity can be used to a community’s advantage. This mindset benefits us all! How can we cultivate this energy? Young people want careers and want their work to have meaning. They want a better world and to associate with good business practices. Most don’t want to waste their lives in a cubicle in an organization that is deeply resistant to change. There are so many career options for the best and the brightest. And isn’t “Best and Brightest” what you want in a community? The answer to community growth is to attract Millennials. How we do this is pretty much up for debate. Attracting this creative generation will lead to the “Wild Spirit” of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship and that should be the endgame. (1)The 25 places where millennials make the most money - The Exponent (Purdue University) – July 18, 2018 (2)The Fading American Dream - Trends in Absolute Income Mobility Since 1940 – Equality of Opportunity Project – February 2017 (3)Innovation and Entrepreneurship – The Austrian Economist Joseph A. Schumpeter – The Austrian Embassy – March 27, 2015 Innovation and Entrepreneurship - The Austrian Economist Joseph A. Schumpetovation and Entrepreneurship - The Austrian Economist Joseph A. Schumpet James Thomas Shell The Hickory Hound So, this is the fifth edition of the Foothills Digest and the Fox and the Hound. Thank You Car men for affording us a platfor m for a discussion of issues that are vital to our area. This initial thread has been related to fostering Economic Growth in our area. We have discussed Plan Creation and Implementation, V ision, the Marketplace, and Leveraging Unique strengths. Now we discuss how to attract Millennials to our community, because we have lost many from the younger generation and they are vital to the growth of our region’s communities. How do we inspire innovation and change?
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Millennials will overtake the Boomers as the most populous generation in 2019 we hear, with 73 million citizens falling into that age range (1). Though they only outnumber Generation X by 6 million or so, youth and even slightly superior numbers will allow the Millennials to shape the economic and cultural landscape of our nation for the next 50 years. How well regions recruit younger industries and the citizens that power them will dictate growth potential for all involved. Luckily, we have some forward thinking leadership locally and some of our plans have been focused on ensuring the Foothills and Western Piedmont Regions get our share of what will be an expanding and enduring economic base. Good things are happening around us, and positive changes have been made to infrastructure and access. If we are to maximize on our Millennial marketability, though, then must continue to look for ideas to support the younger and more diverse citizens that attract the younger businesses. We have advantages that only need minor adjustments and investments, and some inspiration to change a mindset, to generate opportunity for responsible growth. Millennials are trending towards public and shared forms of transportation, and though people of all ages are driving less, right now over 30% of 19 year olds in the US don’t have licenses to drive. This is a new reality and will drive certain folks to the more developed regions by necessity, so how can we inspire the needed changes in transit options? What helped create and facilitate the car culture that swept the US in the latter half of the 20th Century? Millennials are also steering the markets towards more sustainable lifestyles and socially equitable opportunities. By 2025 they could comprise over 70% of the workforce and polling within the generation shows 87% would be loyal to companies that are socially and economically diverse and responsible (2). So, how do we market ourselves as socially and economically responsible and how do we capitalize on our diversity? And what has helped finance many of the innovations that make our lives cleaner and greener each day? The answer to both: public investment and shared innovation with the private sector brought about much of the amenities of the modern world, and we have the infrastructure and economic capacity to continue to do it here. The Eisenhower Administration used huge tax rates to fund the interconnecting of our nation with the highway system and created millions of recurring jobs nationally, while reshaping our culture for two generations. Locally we can use that example and invest liberally in the expansion of the Greenway system and spread a wider net of low cost transportation access with a responsible brand. The 50’s and 60’s also saw one of the largest expansions of public education in Human history, which provided a great deal of the Human capital and intellectual enterprise among the Boomers and Generation X, as well as educated tradespeople in many fields. Now, we need the same locally for Millennial marketing … and we have an opportunity to get back to that with the K64 approach currently making its way to activity at CVCC and elsewhere around us (3). It is a development model that focuses on the pathway from early education all the way to retirement after years of continuing education. You get what you pay for in most places and investment in a nation’s own citizens rarely bears a loss. This is one reason Forbes ranked the US the 12th best nation for business, while 9 of the first 11 are Democratic Socialist nations that invest far more in infrastructure and education while regulating the extremes of the Capitalist system that some of them invented to ensure equitable access and opportunity to all, and the other two are Communist Capitalists we shouldn’t consider as great role models (4). The United States will never be these places because we are a combination of ideas, and our ways of doing things must recognize the diversity of our vast land and the input of all our people … but no matter where you go if you have eclectically educated citizens with a way to get to work you are going to have the engine to drive innovation and help to inspire change in the private sector. The better we are at those things in our region, the more successful we will be at our recruiting and retention goals for companies and people of the next generation. 1.Millennials expected to overtake Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation - Pew Research - March 1st, 2018 2.The Millennial Consumer: A Driving Force for Corporate Sustainability - Ecosphere - January 2, 2018 3.K-64 Learning Homepage - 2017 4.Best Countries for Business in 2017 - Forbes - January, 2018 Gabriel Sherwood A civil di scourse
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108 Gabriel, I agree with much of what you say, but some of your conclusions show purely political biases. Trump isn’t a neo- fascist. To the point, because it has little to do with the thread of this conversation, Conservatism has plenty of support among Millennials. Time Magazine, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, points this out in an article – “Young Americans Are Actually Not Becoming More Progressive” – August 22, 2017 – Jean M. Twenge. The article delves into the political nature of today’s younger generations… “Individualism has also led iGen and Millennials to favor one thing above all else in politicians: Authenticity. Individualism promotes “come as you are” and “just be yourself,” and iGen’ers want their candidates to be — or at least seem — unwavering in their personal beliefs.”” As we both agree, technological advances are coming rapidly. Technology is second nature to the Millennials and the following “iGeneration (iGen)” -- named for their use of iPhones and interfacing with technology. According to Public Relations Society of America, the Great Recession taught iGen to be independent, and has led to an entrepreneurial desire, after seeing their parents and older siblings struggle in the workforce. (1) I agree with you on the issues of social acceptance of the young person’s mindset. I have a friend who is in his 70s and works for a local fabric design firm in our area. The company has a staff that consists of many Millennial aged women. These young women are choosing to live outside the area, many in Asheville. They say they roll up the streets at night in Hickory and they want to enjoy some nightlife. So what are issues I think we can agree on that the younger generations are facing that need our societal focus and attention? 1) Burdensome college debt 2) Underemployment for America’s most educated generation 3) Unable to afford housing independence 4) Financial Fragility 5) Fewer and fewer Millennials are becoming Entrepreneurs 6) Mental Stress and Depression. (2) Younger people have a desire to be entrepreneurs, but their financial fragility, due to college debt and not having enough income to save, is limiting their capacity to own businesses. If we as a community can come up with ways to help these young people move forward with some of their dreams and to get established, then we can get some of them to live here instead of the big cities. That will lead to growth as those seeds are cultivated into the future stakeholders and cornerstones of our community. 1)Move Over Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z: Understanding the ’New Realists’ Who Are Building the Future”. Public Relations Tactics. Public Relations Society of America. 12/10/2015 (2)The 10 Most Serious Problems Faced By Millennials – BestWork Inc. Response to your lead: Like the whale oil hunters of old, miners of coal in the US now, and anyone who’s job can be done by a robot over the next decades, the old giving way to the new is in overdrive for post industrial economies. With processors changing every six months, and new phones out nearly yearly, our commercialism is often as fickle as our pop-culture. What needs can we count on to be consistently relevant in the next 50 years, though, and what kind of jobs should we be looking for if we want our kids to make more than us right here? Other than jobs in education which offer a redundant investment in a local economy, and which millennials are attracted to if funded, 3 of the top 5 “Best Jobs for Millennials” involve computer software design, web development, and systems analysis (1). All of these are creative, all of these are potentially generational industries, and they can all be recruited if we can show them we have the people and infrastructure to support their needs. We know all those industries from local experience already, and we know we have what they need, but there are social considerations that can hamper creativity as well as the desire for workers and industries to join us. Extremes in social issues turn away millennials, The Questions and areas dominated by certain views will inexorably filter those energies and outlooks into the “Footloose Syndrome” for the young of the area and others who may want to join us. There is a lesson in the numbers of the last presidential contest. A popular meme we see on social media references the 2,649 counties won by President Trump as opposed to the 503 counties won by Secretary Clinton. Those 503 counties that leaned more Liberal than Conservative held 64% of our economic output in 2016 (2). If we really are prepared to work for economic progress, and towards a “Wild Spirit” of Creativity from a younger generation that holds progressive ideas, then we might have to let some of our region’s aging political and social mindsets be changed out in the next installment of creative destruction this November. 1 - US News and World Report - The 10 Best Jobs for Millennials - October, 2017 2. Brookings Institute - High Output America vs. Low Output America - November, 2016 Answer to your question: Responsible growth to me includes understanding the needed balance between the public and private, not allowing extreme inequalities to form between neighborhoods and/or social classes, understanding that all people and roles are needed in a health economy and that all should be respected, and that there are some sectors of our economy that must be understood to be investments in the future rather than profit sources now. In his book: “Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy” Schumpeter also wrote of his agreement with Marx that Capitalism would collapse, but instead of Marx’s Proletarian Revolution, Schumpeter asserted that highly successful Capitalism would eventually give way to Corporatism and the diminishment of the individual based business in favor of monopolies. In his vision the voting majorities would have no choice but to vote themselves into Socialism in order to survive income and class inequality that the market won’t regulate alone. And here with a third of the nation ready to take us back to the 90% tax rates of Collectivist Socialism and another third following Neo-Fascist rhetoric into state corporatism, it’s easy to see why Schumpeter is regarded as an Einstein of Economics. To prevent this we must invest. In addition to recruiting tech jobs and continuing to modernize our manufacturing sector, we can find ourselves a beacon for young talent whose job it is to inspire the youth of our region and state. We have a wide base of education professionals here, with many of them aging now and in need of good replacements. I say if we want to attract Millennials with jobs that matter; with jobs that will offer a base of economic stability to them and our area over a career; with jobs in which it is partly the purpose to cultivate the creativity of our area … educator rings a bell. The NC General Assembly isn’t helping us in that regard because I know young teachers who have left for Texas to get paid, taking our future creativity with them. We can get some back though, or recruit others, because another way to get young people to stay is to let them see they have a voice in their community. This election cycle there is change to be sure, as candidates driven by Millennial issues have risen to run from all walks of life in our county and state elections. Find candidates that speak to you, and make sure your voice is heard in November everyone …
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109 Vote blue for Catawba County Commissioners Paid for by the Friends of Laci LeBlanc, the Committee to Elect Michelle Morgan and the Committee to Elect Geniey Yang. It’s time for Democrats to have a voice in our County Government. You’ll have the opportunity to vote for three choices for County Commissioner. We hope you’ll vote for ALL 3 Democratic Candidates. L aci L e B L anc M ichelle M organ G eniey y an G
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110 Fall Trends Classic lines and fabrics that evoke nature are all the rage this Fall. Be true to your own fashion, but look for ways to simplify the lines of your clothing. The following Pantene colors, shown below, are very fashionable this year: Ultra Violet (Color of the Year), Red Pear, Valiant Poppy, Nebulas Blue, Russet Orange, Crocus Petal, Ceylon Yellow, Martini Olive, Quetzal Green, Sargasso Sea, Tofu, Almond Bluff, Quiet Gray and Meerkat.
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111 IV Hydration is the quickest and most effective way to hydrate, prepare, and recover when the body has become, or will become, depleted of fluid and vitamins. Our special blend of vitamins and medications will help an athlete prepare for a rigorous workout or competition, a traveler reset from jet lag, a patient recover from illness or surgery, and those wanting to stay well and prevent aging to feel at the top of their game. 100% of the fluids, vitamins, and medications are absorbed immediately and provide rapid results. F eel Y our B est ! B e Y our B est ! o ne dro P A t A time . A few of the IV Hydration therapies offered at V-Infusion are: • ”About Last Night”- Hangover Relief • ”The Recovery Room”- Recover from illness, surgery, or Injury • ”Reset The Clock”- Jet lag recovery • ”Game ON”- Pre and Post workout • ”Turn Up The Heat”- Fuel your fat burning Power • ”The Vice Grip”- Migraine and headache relief • ”An Apple A Day”- General wellness (828) 322-1498 25 years ago Kelly & Co opened under the principles of excellence in hair care and customer service. Today we continue to embrace these values. We are a full service salon welcoming men, women and children. Our stylists take special care to make even our youngest guests feel comfortable at the salon. We are trained in the treatment of all hair types from infant to mature, curly to straight, and everything in between! Hours of Operation Mon - 10am - 5pm Tues to Fri - 9am - 6pm Saturday - 9am - 4pm Walk-Ins Welcome Phone 828-323-8477 2613 N Center St, Hickory, NC 28601
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113 At left, Foothills Bear Tee Bella + Canvas Triblend Soft with a stylish fit. At right, Bless Your
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114 Your beauty , like the natural splendor of our mountains, is timeless. Just like the rocks beneath our feet, Your beauty endures. But unlike the abundant nature around us, which bares marks of time and storms, you don’t have to let time leave its marks on your face. Vitality Anti-Aging Center & Medical Spa strives to help you feel your best on the inside and look your best on the outside to achieve a sense of complete well being.
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(828) 322-1498 www.vitalitymedicalspa.com
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DELICIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL Fall color trends by Amber Starnes Flavor inspired hair color is a gorgeous movement for Fall 2018! Vanilla, lavender, honey blonde, and pumpkin latte are perfect for anyone wanting to have a little fun with their hair and also be chic and trendy! Spiced Cider is one of my favorite flavors for color right now! With a mix of warm and ashy tones it complements any hair type, texture, or skin tone. As sugar spice and everything nice will be taking over just ask your stylist to give you tones of auburn, copper, brunette, and ashy blonde to achieve this alluring hair color look! Food and drink themed hair inspirations are paving the road to describe colors and textures making conversations with your stylist exciting and fun! Cabernet Sauvignon, cinnamon sticks, and zested orange sound like the ingredients to a great mulled wine cocktail but its actually the influence for another hair color! Mulled wine hair color is being seen all over the runways and social media. Deep red with a purple hue spun with touches of orange and chocolate brown are the ingredients for this tasty formula! Just ask your stylist to customize this in lighter tones for fairer skin or deeper richer tones for dark complexions. So as the leaves begin to fall and our taste buds start to change don’t be shy to try on some of these tasty trends! Just like pulling out your favorite fall sweater its fun to play with your hair color changing your look with the seasons and becoming deliciously beautiful!!
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by Sarah Davis Up before the sun to take on another day, that first sip of coffee awakens the drive to create and craft something spectacular. Sore muscles and callused hands head out the door to another day’s work in an industry that has survived through the years, put food on many plates and helped secure a good life here in the metro for many. Men and women of all ages travel the dark roads of the morning before most bus routes start buzzing. Entering to the sound of “punch-punch” of the time clock before the hum of sewing machines crank up. There is nothing like the sound of an inside/outside upholsterer stapling their way around a piece that will one day sit in an ornate living room. As you watch their skilled hands quickly moving over a blank canvas of wood, springs and webbing – they add piece by piece and you start to see a beautifully crafted work-of-art that was once a drawing and idea go from design to fruition right there on the bucks. The furniture industry in our area has been a way of life. Most folks in these challenging but rewarding jobs have been in manufacturing for a very long time. Their parents and the generations before them worked hard to provide for their families in factories that produced some of the most well-known and sought-after furniture in the world. Hickory, or our metro rather, is still home to many great jobs offering great wages and a career in true craftsmanship. Through the years the furniture industry has taken its hits but a resilient industry they are; they have proven time and time again that people love well-crafted American manufactured goods. Yes, it’s true to say some items have gone overseas. But you won’t have to look too far to find upholstered goods right here in the metro. Wood carved, hand-painted, and beautifully crafted. Some companies include a personal touch with their sofas and chairs with a card signed by the 8-10 craftsmen who helped make that piece what it is today – from start to finish – you get a sense of the local pride and training that it took to make such an ornate and comfortable piece. It is an industry derived from the heritage of our area dating back to the late 1800’s. Families have built their companies here and many have survived through the years and remained local. They have invested in our community and it shows through the loyalty of their employees. While the industry has changed, and more technology allows for assistance on some of the production of certain items – it is still the skilled workers that create and help maintain what the world knows the Hickory area for, well-crafted furniture. We are the Furniture Manufacturing Capital of the world. Our area hasn’t stopped with furniture though, we have expanded our manufacturing resumé with many industries flocking to our area seeking skilled employees and a great area for doing-something-well. We salute those who are true craftsmen and help create the community around us. We are thankful to those who have carried on the traditions of our heritage and continue to prove that we are the Land of the True Craftsmen. Land of the True Craftsmen By Sarah Davis
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Convention Center & Visitors Bureau Home of a Well-Crafted Heritage www.hickorymetro.com Convention Center & Visitors Bureau
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120 It's time to get your Christmas Tree
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121 Since 1961, twelve of the White House Christmas Trees have come from North Carolina, more than any other state. That’s because the Christmas Trees grown in Western North Carolina are second-to-none. Consider starting a family tradition of picking your own tree from a tree farm. It’s a great way to create memories, get the most beautiful tree possible, save money and support an important local industry! The foothills are dotted with tree farms, and finding your favorite is fun adventure.
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123 Hiking in the Hills Leaf Peeping on Black Balsam Knob Story and Photos by Katherine Dellinger If you’re searching for an unbeatable location to see the fall leaves this year, look no further than the Pisgah National Forest. Most people on the Blue Ridge Parkway will be driving slow and staring, but if you take a quick turn onto Black Balsam Road near mile marker 420.2, you can meet up with one of the most beautiful summits in the state. The Art Loeb Trail is a 30.1 mile trail that travels over several mountain balds, the first one being Black Balsam Knob. This short hike from the parking area is only 1 mile, but leaves you with some of the best views in the forest. From the summit you can see Looking Glass Rock, Mount Pisgah, Shining Rock and the summit of Tennent Mountain. As with most easy hikes, the trail can be crowded on the weekends. There is only a 425 foot elevation gain to the summit, but the trail follows some rocky areas, so supportive shoes are a must. Bring water, a snack and your dog for a great day in the mountains.
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124 Photo by Katherine Dellinger
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126 A Change of Pace By Ryan Gant BREAK OUT THE PUMPKIN SPICE! PUMPKIN SPICE EVERYTHING! PUMPKIN SPICE PROTEIN POWDER! That actually sounds really good… Anyways, everyone seems to get ecstatic when fall rolls around. It’s only natural. We were raised, and conditioned this way. Fall brings change; a change in color; a change in temperament; a change in foods; a change in school supplies; everything changes. However, fall can be dangerous. More times than not, we view fall as the comfort season. We break out the flannels, the thicker blankets; we replace ice creams with heavier soups and stews. So, cuddle up with caution. It is very easy to get drawn into a new “couch potato” pattern, and loose everything you gained over the last half of the year. While everything around us is changing, let’s make sure we keep one thing constant. Stay moving. In order to do so, we need to develop a plan in order to keep us on track as colder weather approaches. 1) Choose an appropriate time of day that works for your schedule. The warmer temperatures and longer days of summer allowed us to workout in the morning or evening to beat the heat. If your a morning person, workout in the morning. If you’re not, workout in the evening. Tune into what makes you feel more energized for your day. Develop a routine that you can stick to. 30 minutes a day is all you need. Just make sure to get it in 2) Take advantage of the weather. Fall provides us with some amazing weather to enjoy outdoor activities. Whatever floats your boat; if it is hiking, walking around the neighborhood, running, biking; make time a few times a week to go outside. Just make sure to dress appropriately. I wouldn’t expect anyone to go outside, with temperatures in the 40’s, and wear shorts and a cut off t-shirt. Be smart about it. 3) When temperatures get too chilly to go outside; it may be time to look into joining a local gym. If you don’t like the gym atmosphere, set up a consultation with a local personal trainer to come up with other alternatives. There are plenty of activities and bodyweight routines you can do in the comfort of your own home. Sometimes, just a little bit of guidance on how to start is the way to go. 4) Don’t gorge yourself on seasonal foods. This is what gets you into a mess to start with. Your body doesn’t know what to do with all of these excess calories coming into your body, but store them in ways we don’t like it to. Limit yourself, and maintain healthy eating habits going into the holidays. So, this fall, develop a plan that you can stick to; and as always have fun with it. Choose activities you, your friends, and your family would enjoy. Allow yourself to enjoy this wonderful season, but remember to cuddle up with caution!
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127 H ickory A cupuncture Offering Traditional Chinese Medicine to the Foothills of North Carolina. Acupuncturist Bridgette Barker L.Ac., MSOM combines extensive knowledge of this ancient practice with a kind bedside manner and excellent understanding of the rigors of modern life to effectively heal her clients, while leaving them better prepared and healthier. 950 Tate Blvd SE #101, Hickory, NC (828) 324-6750 375 main a V e ne H ickory nc 828.322.8011
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128 I ’ d l i k e t o t h a n k P o o v e y ’s G r o v e B a p t i s t Church for their church sign. As I drove home the other day, one side of the sign said, Be Thankful. I couldn’t agree more. (Side note, it may not say that as you drive by because I’m writing this well before you will read it) I love a good church s i g n ; e s p e c i a l l y t h e o ne that re a d , G o d D o e s N o t M a k e M i s t e a k s . H a h a , o o p s . S o m e t i m e s t h e m e s s a g e o n a c h u rc h s i g n i s c l e v e r a n d s o m e t i m e s i t i s d e s i g n e d t o a l a r m y o u i n t o c o n v e r s i o n o r c o n f e s s i o n , but then sometimes the sign is just plain ol’ simple, Be Thankful. W h e n i t c o m e s t o b e i n g t h a n k f u l I t h i n k w e s o m e t i m e s c o n f u s e t h i s w i t h b e i n g b l e s s e d . I n f a c t , d o y o u m i n d i f I g e t o n a s o a p b o x for a moment? Religious people love a good soapbox, especially preachers. So here is my plea from my soapbox: Please stop using the word and hashtag #Blessed. L i k e I n i g o M o n t o y a i n t h e P r i n c e s s B r i d e , y o u k e e p u s i n g t h a t w o rd . I d o n o t t h i n k i t means what you think it means. Sometimes e d u c a t e d , w e l l - t o - d o C h r i s t i a n s u s e t h e w o r d b l e s s e d , w h e n r e a l l y w h a t w e m e a n i s t h a n k f u l . A n d t h o s e w o rd s a re d i ff e re n t . Mostly this mishap has to do with the times we have a stroke of luck and say things like, “ We j u s t b o u g h t t h e h o u s e o f o u r d re a m s , we are #blessed.” Nope, you mean thankful. Yo u a re t h a n k f u l t h a t y o u r f a m i l y c o u l d g o to the bank and get the loan to mortgage a house you have really fallen in love with. Or, “Our little Johnny made it through his minor surgery: stitches for a busted lip, #blessed.” A g a i n , w h a t y o u m e a n i s t h a n k f u l ; y o u a re thankful that his injury was nothing more and that relatively speaking things are fine. Saying that you or I are blessed when things go our way, is just a tad cringeworthy, never m i n d b a d t h e o l o g y. B l e s s i n g a n d b e i n g b l e s s e d a re c e r t a i n l y w e l l - k n o w n re l i g i o u s terminology. But so is thankfulness. The term Eucharist means the meal of thanks, the ritual c o m i n g t o g e t h e r a n d b e i n g t h a n k f u l . Ye t re g u l a r l y t h e s e w o rd s , b l e s s e d a n d t h a n k f u l two are confused and used synonymously. L a s t y e a r o u r c h u rc h h a d a B l e s s i n g o f t h e B a c k p a c k s i n A u g u s t w h e n m a n y o f o u r y o u t h , c h i l d r e n a n d t e a c h e r s r e t u r n e d t o s c h o o l . D u r i n g t h e s e r v i c e w e h a n d e d o u t tags for backpacks that read, “Blessed to be a Blessing.” Perhaps this phrase will help us g e t t o t h e ro o t o f b l e s s i n g v e r s e s t h a n k f u l . Yo u see, a bles s i n g i s s o m e t h i n g g i v en that is often undeserved, something that tends to show divine favor. When we use the word blessed, what we are really saying is that God shows us more favor than God shows to others. So, if you feel that you’ve been blessed because you are living in your dream house, what you are really saying is that you believe God favors you and your family more than your friend who lives a few blocks away in a house that is too small for the four kids your friend has. Surely you don’t mean that! But if you are thankful for the house of your dreams, it simply means that you understand t h a t f o r l o t s o f re a s o n s t h e o d d s w e re e v e r in your favor, (thank you Hunger Games) and t h a t y o u a re f e e l i n g a s e n s e o f g r a t i t u d e t h a t e x t e n d s b e y o n d y o u r s e l f . G r a t i t u d e i s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h a n k f u l n e s s t h a t e x t e n d s o u t s i d e o f o u r c o n t ro l . G r a t i t u d e a n d t h a n k f u l n e s s i s s e e i n g t h a t s o m e t h i n g b e y o n d o u r g r a s p a n d o u t s i d e o f o u r o w n tedious orchestration of our lives, has shown u s f a v o r w e u s u a l l y d o n ’t s e e m t o d e s e r v e . To b e t h a n k f u l a l l o w s f o r t h e m i n d s e t t h a t w e c a n a l l b e b l e s s e d , w e a re a l l b e s h o w n G o d ’s f a v o r — w h i c h m a k e s t h a n k f u l n e s s a recognition of blessing. I w a n t t o b e c l e a r t h a t I b e l i e v e a l l p e o p l e are all blessed by God. We all wake up under the same blue skies and I know for fact the B i b l e s a y s s e v e r a l t i m e s t h a t i t r a i n s o n t h e wicked and righteous. This is why I love the National Parks system, we are all blessed by that beauty, but I digress. We are all under the banner of God’s favor. Blessed to be a b l e s s i n g i s a w a y f o r t h o s e o f u s w i t h m o re time and freedom, with more resources and means, to make sure that our recognition of blessing is acted out on behalf of everyone. B e i n g t h a n k f u l s h o u l d m a k e u s re a l i z e t h a t all of us deserve things like safe homes and schools and good, healthy food on the table. E v e r y o n e s h o u l d b e g i v e n a f a i r c h a n c e t o lear n and grow and flourish. Being thankful p u s h e s u s w h o f e e l b l e s s e d , t o e x t e n d t h a t s e n s e o f u n d e s e r v e d f a v o r t o e v e r y o n e around us. Be thankful for things you didn’t d o a n y t h i n g f o r o r b e i n g g i v e n g i f t s a n d opportunities you didn’t deserve is the space of blessing. So be thankful. We are all blessed. But in being thankful, we are given the opportunity to bless and be a blessing to others. And I think there is some merit to that. Maybe that could be a church sign. Or we could just keep it simple, (I’m looking at you, Poovey’s Grove) Be thankful. A LESSON IN SEMANTICS by Heather Woods Davis
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129 “I was complaining that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” -Confucius As we approach the fall season, we are often reminded of gratitude. We remember all that we have to be thankful for when family and friends surround our tables. While it’s beneficial to focus our energy on gratitude when the leaves tur n and the weather becomes crisp, there are many benefits to incorporating gratitude as a way of life. Gratitude may be one of the most accessible and underrated tools that we have to enhance our daily life and improve mental health. It doesn’t cost money and doesn’t take up a lot of time, but the rewards are well worth the investment. Research shows that people who practice gratitude on a daily basis experience less chronic pain and feel healthier than most people. In addition, those who practice regular exercises in gratitude tend to take better care of their body and mind. They spend more time exercising and follow through with the yearly appointments with their physicians. Evidence also shows that grateful people tend to get better sleep. Spend just a few minutes writing down things each night that you are grateful and it will help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and obtain more restful sleep. Gratitude improves our overall ability to hold space and empathy for others and reduces aggression overall. This includes our responses to conflict. Grateful people tend to seek revenge or retaliation less and report more positive interactions with their friends and family. There are plenty of concrete (and easy!) ways to incorporate gratitude into your everyday life: • Service work: When we spend time, energy, and focus on others we obtain perspective and lose our focus on self. • Make a gratitude list: Challenge yourself to list ten things each evening that you are grateful for. Try to think of new ones every day! • Embrace challenges: It is always helpful to look at your side of a situation, especially one that involves controversy. What can you lear n? What can you change next time? • Write a thank you card: In a world of emails and text messages, handwritten thank you cards are quickly losing ground. Write a personal card or letter to someone thanking them. • Encourage each other: When we look for and acknowledge the good in people, it enhances our own gratitude. There are small things that you can do each day to incorporate gratitude into your daily life. Not only does it increase your overall sense of happiness and well- being, it’s good for your health! COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: A CASE FOR GRATITUDE YEAR ROUND Kelsey Crowe, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS Algoe, S. B., Haidt, J., & Gable, S. L. (2008). Beyond reciprocity: Gratitude and relationships in everyday life. Emotion, 8(3), 425. Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. The Jour nal of Positive Psychology, 1(2), 73-82. Watkins, P. C., Woodward, K., Stone, T., & Kolts, R. L. (2003). Gratitude and happiness: Development of a measure of gratitude, and relationships with subjective well-being. Social Behavior and Personality: an inter national jour nal, 31(5), 431-451.
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130 s eekin G s halom c ommunity in net W or X c ata W ba By Liz Goebelbecker Coordinator, NETworX We are often inundated by all of the negative challenges we face in our communities. What a joy to find out that there is Good News! Here in Catawba County we are experiencing a movement of hope in which individuals are loving their neighbor and working toward building community where everyone is invited, welcomed, and encouraged. We call it Shalom Living – seeking peace, abundance, and wholeness not only for ourselves, but for everyone, regardless of their circumstances! We serve a ministry called NETworX, which is a part of the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry. NETworX views poverty as a holistic concern that includes spiritual, physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing. NETworX is an initiative that engages the community in helping move families out of poverty and address systemic solutions to poverty. In NETworX we offer love, acceptance and guidance for one another. For some, this is the first time such a gift has been offered in their lives. It is relational ministry rooted in intentional friendships and support. We are the beloved children of God. This new and radical identity is the engine that drives not only our relationship with ourselves, but with others as well. We believe in second-chance living! We believe that knowing who we are – identifying ourselves not with our past or our mistakes, but with the endless and everlasting love of God, we can do the next step, which is finding our purpose. Whether it is learning how to live a post-prison life, continuing to grow in recovery from addiction, learning how to utilize healthy decision-making skills, and life management resources, we learn and grow as a community, both participants and mentors. NETworX is a ministry of intentional friendship. We cross all lines that may be invisibly drawn in our world, and we form meaningful, encouraging friendships; a discipleship of equals. We are journeymen and journeywomen, and we are in
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131 it for the long-haul. We believe grace has a voice and that voice is ours. The radical, second-chance imperfection movement begins with individuals being courageous with their words and stories, feeling safe to speak the unspeakable things. We practice holy listening with compassion and without judgement. We listen, we don’t fix. We show up when things aren’t going well, and we are there for life’s celebrations. We share holidays and hospital visits, meetings with professors and car repairs, we pray together, we laugh together, and we cry together sometimes, too. We are a family where all are welcome; where we celebrate the miracle of healing and second chances. We celebrate the uncelebrated because we know that we are all prodigals. The miracle occurs when the people of the second chance become PLANNERS of the second chance. When lives are transformed, all of sudden folks are reaching back and grabbing the next person, paving the path forward, and changing their own communities. I often look around that room on Monday evenings during our class and wonder – why are you here? What are you hungry for? I know their stories, I know their goals. But we also know it isn’t about a new job, paying off a debt, finding safer housing, or getting new glasses. What do we hunger for? What do I hunger for? We hunger for value. We hunger for connectedness. We hunger to rest our tired and broken spirits in a place where we will not be judged and abused. We hunger for spiritual bread. We hunger to be made whole. We hunger for a world where to suffer is not a crime, and comfort is not far off. We hunger to have a voice. We hunger to be remembered. The Lord sent the prophet, “To bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of the vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” We have the joy of watching this process happen before our eyes. The Lord’s promises are alive in Hickory, NC. In serving one another, our ashes turn into flowers, and we are clothed in confidence, dignity, and love. Those who move their lives forward out of poverty in connection, relationship, and prosperity of spirit are becoming the teachers and prophets of our own small community. They are a light to God’s glory and promise. There is Good News in the foothills….won’t you join us? As we love our neighbor well, we are building a community where we will ALL experience Shalom Living! Back by popular demand! Opulence by Steele sells: • Quality Furniture • Orvis Sporting Traditions • Accesories • Clothing • And More... 375 main a ve ne H ickory nc 828.322.8011
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132 DEAR DAVID, David Zealy-Wright is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and a Clinical Supervisor Intern. He graduated from Catawba Valley Community College in 2005 earning an Associate in Arts, Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2008 earning a BA in Psychology, and in 2010 an MA in Agency Counseling. His specialty areas include addiction, depression, anxiety, life changes, men’s issues, relationships, and LGBTQIA issues. To ask David a question, email AskDavid@foothillsdigest.com! Dear David, I know you are an expert in addiction so I wanted to ask, what do you think a parent should do when their child is caught using drugs? Is this common in high school? I know about the opiate epidemic in this area and I want to do what I can to prevent my child from becoming a statistic. Scared Mom Dear SM, Let me first say, your experience is a very common one for parents of teens today. I teach at several high schools in the area and frequently have discussions with students about the prevalence of drugs with their age groups. Marijuana is far less stigmatized by these groups and there is a significant lack of information about other mood and mind altering substances and their dangers. The most powerful thing a parent can do is to educate their child with accurate information about illicit drug use and not shy away from hard questions. It is important to act if you see unusual behavior and if your child is caught, allow them to experience the natural consequences. A night in jail, in the long run, is a much better alternative to potential years of use while a family enables. See NIDA for Teens at https://teens.drugabuse.gov/ for up to date, accurate, and research based information. Also remember, addiction is frequently a family disease and survives best when it’s not talked about openly and honestly. Sincerely, David Zealy-Wright LPC, LCAS Dear David, My best friend is mad at me because I am not spending enough time with him. I just had my second kid and I am exhausted, I try to make time for him but he doesn’t have kids and I feel like I can’t win when I try to explain my change in priorities. He makes me feel guilty for putting my kids first and I’m just not OK with that but I don’t know how to get through to him. Bad Bromance Dear BB, It sounds like your friend could use a lesson in empathy, you should never have to apologize for putting your kids first. Unfortunately, when you have children some friendships don’t make it through the transition. Being a parent requires being selfless and a great deal of time and energy. Anyone that doesn’t understand and even encourage that can always find another friend. You however, cannot find this time with your children again. Life is short and those that are truly your friends will not only understand but will applaud you for being a good dad and having your priorities in order. Sometimes friends come in to our lives for a reason and sometimes for a season. Being able to discern the two and model good boundaries will be one of the best lesson you will teach your precious children. All the best, David Zealy-Wright LPC, LCAS Southern Charm in the High Country HOME · GARDEN · GIFTS 215 Boone Heights Dr., Boone · bbandminteriors@gmail.com · www.thebeeandtheboxwood.com · 828.386.6212
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133 EVENTFULLY YOURS, I am hosting a fall wedding next year and would love to know your ideas on how to create a fall wedding design and reception that does not include pumpkins but has fall flair. Fall is now the most booked wedding season of the year. Traditionally people think or late spring and summer as wedding season but the hot months and erratic weather do not lend to an outdoor friendly wedding. The cooler months and changing seasons set a beautiful array of colors for the wedding of your dreams. Brides are choosing bridesmaid dresses that fit in a plum, gold, crimson and deeper hues to set off a dramatic color palate. This choice in color also ties over to the linens for table cloths as well as flowers which are generally a deeper hue in the fall months. The addition of traditional blush and white or ivory mixed in the floral pattern is beautiful and dramatic as well. Rustic ceremonies and receptions are now the trend because of their casual yet stylish and comfortable feel. It is always a good idea to use what the landscape offers. Floral arrangements that include colorful foliage lending more to fall theme, as well as fruits such as apples, pears and pomegranates add a different flair to the décor. You may also consider featuring these fruits during your cocktail time, dinner or dessert. Consider a spiked or mulled cider as a specialty drink. Choose an assorted pie dessert station or even host guests to mini pies for their desserts over a large wedding cake. If you must keep with the standard stacked cake you may choose to adorn the cake with fruit like figs or blackberries. Many of these options create a show stopper effect with a lower budget cost. You may choose to use a heartier menu that includes the bounty of fall foods like acorn squash, artisanal breads and heavier spiced or flavored menu items. Fall is also the time when the ceremony may be set during the day when it is warmer, but last late into the evening when the temperatures drop. Remember that it is always a good idea to host an earlier wedding in the late fall due to the limited amount of sunlight for pictures. Do take advantage of the fabulous sunsets. Consider hosting your guests to a warm and cozy throw at each seat to keep them warm as the night progresses. A bonfire adds flair and the addition of a late night s’mores bar is loved by all. Eventfully yours, Tara B Tara H. Bland is owner and event specialist of Tara B’s Eventful Planning and It’s My Party Rentals. Tara has planned and directed weddings and events for the past 18 years in the Foothills of North Carolina.
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134 October 18th – 20th, 2018 Have you ever wondered what treasures you have sitting around your house? Do you enjoy the history and elegance of glassware, fine china, linens, furniture and jewelry of an earlier time? The Service League of Hickory invites you to enjoy the upcoming Antiques Fair held October 18th thru the 20th at the refurbished Moretz Mill at 74 8th Street NE, Hickory. This is the third year that the fair has been hosted in this location which draws vendors and visitors from around NC and the Southeast of the US. This year 20 premier dealers and artisans will display fine silver, oriental rugs, paintings, china, furniture, vintage linens and more. Participants may also choose to have glass and pottery repair work on items that you may need refurbished. Tickets for the 2018 Service League Antiques Fair are $10 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. The Antiques Fair League Kitchen will be open offering delectable sandwiches and plates, soups and homemade cakes and pies. Seated dining and take out will be available. Kitchen hours are Thursday 10am – 8 pm; Friday, 10 am -3pm and Saturday (take out only) 10 am – 4pm. A ticket is not required for take-out orders. Food orders may also be placed by calling (828) 569-0066. Funds raised from this year’s fair will enable the League to continue their mission of Charity, Public Service & Education and will be used to support programs in our community. Since 1937, the Service League of Hickory, NC, Inc. has served those in need and has been instrumental in the origins of The Community Ridge Day Care Center, The Family Guidance Center and The Creative Museum for Youth later named The Catawba Science Center. The Service League of Hickory has supported, through dollars and volunteer hours, the Back Pack Program, YMCA, CCM, DSS Child Advocacy Center, Family Care Center, Safe Harbor, Salvation Army and many other notable community organizations. Since 1954, the League has helped over 200 area students achieve their college education goals through our annual scholarships, grants and merit awards. The League proudly funds ten college scholarships through their Scholarship Endowment Fund, The Glenn C. Hilton Endowment Fund and The Beulah Mae Jones Mitchell Scholarship Endowment Fund. Please contact the Service League of Hickory at serviceleagueofhickory@gmail.com for further information. 2018 Service League of Hickory Antiques Fair
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135 d esiderata By Max Ehrmann Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
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136 Every city has its hidden treasures—those cultural gems that are known far and wide, but often overlooked by “the locals” in the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Hickory’s no exception, and while it may be difficult to believe for some, many of our neighbors are completely unaware of the world- class writers that have been coming to Hickory for thirty years as part of Lenoir-Rhyne’s Visiting Writers Series (VWS). US Poet Laureates, State Poet Laureates, MacArthur genius grant winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, New York Times best-selling authors, and even a Nobel Laureate have walked the streets of Hickory bringing their magical story-telling talents with them. Students and community members alike have been transformed by the power of a single word, a single sentence spoken at the right time and heard by the right person. While changing lives, these writers are also improving the quality of life for everyone in our communities by creating bridges through words and opportunities to engage in civil discourse. For thirty years, over three hundred writers have taken the stage at Lenoir-Rhyne where they have entertained, educated and enlightened over 100,000 audience members, some fans who travelled across the country to hear their favorite writers. LR’s Visiting Writers Series is known in national and international arts circles as one of the premier literary programs in the country. Even a quick glance at the list of previous authors will capture some of the most important writers of our age: Alice Walker, John Updike, Shelby Foote, Jon Meacham, Anne Lamott, Reynolds Price, Leslie Marmon Silko, Pat Conroy and Julia Alvarez. Over the years the Writers Series has also organized community reads (one book, one city), initiatives, which we called “The Big Read.” Partnering in 2005 with CVCC, the Catawba County and City of Hickory Public libraries, local veterans groups and others, the VWS hosted Tim O’Brien author of the Vietnam War novel The Things They Carried. In addition to providing O’Brien’s book for free to over 1000 community members, The Big Read and LR also brought to town “The Wall That Heals,” a half-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial. The wall was escorted to campus in parade-like fashion by veterans on Harleys, Law enforcement and Emergency services and excited readers. The opening ceremony included high school ROTC Color Guards and a fly- over by Blackhawk helicopters. All of this was a sign of democratic solidarity and was reinforced by community discussion groups that tackled important issues like the origins of war and PTSD. By Rand Brandes, Founder & Director: LRU Writers Series The Visiting Writers Series of Lenoir-Rhyne University believes that reading is an essential element in the creation of vibrant communities. We invite authors to read from their own works in a relaxed environment before university and community audiences. We believe the beauty and power of words help us make sense of the world. Children’s writers, mystery writers, essayists, poets, and novelists all participate in this celebration of the written and spoken word. We believe that a community of readers is a better community.
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137 As demonstrated by The Big Read, there is another significant dimension of LR’s VWS that also often goes unnoticed—our history of partnering with local and regional community, civic, and cultural organizations. Since its inception in 1988, the VWS has collaborated with dozens of non-profits to create multi-faceted life-changing cultural/arts opportunities. These partnerships were designed to give a voice to the voiceless, to recognize and engage those who often exist in the margins of society and to celebrate the ways in which every culture has added to and strengthened the social fabric of our community. For the 2018-2019 season the VWS is partnering with Young People of Integrity, OUTright Youth, the Catawba Interfaith Council, the City of Hickory’s International Council, the NAACP, the Hickory Public Library, ALFA, Centro Latino, Catawba Pride, Hickory Young Professionals and the United Hmong Association. The Writers Series has assembled a mighty slate of writers for its 2018-2019 season—13 writers and 11 events. The season’s bookends, Laila Lalami and Naomi Shihab Nye, establish the truly international framework of the year. Both explore experiences based in cultural diversity and diverse cultures—Palestinian and Moroccan. Creating the foundation of the season are three highly-acclaimed writers: Juan Felipe Herrera, Armistead Maupin and Louise Penny. Maupin, a native of North Carolina and one of the country’s most celebrated LGBTQ writers, is certainly the keystone of the Series. Poetry, in that it attends to language in essential ways, has always been central to the mission of the Series and it is rightly represented this season by Li-Young Lee, Aaron Coleman, Joshua Bennett, and Anne-Marie Fyfe and Cahal Dallat. Fyfe and Dallat are also serving as LR’s Visiting Writers-in-Residence and will be teaching a semester-long creative writing workshop. There’s still plenty of fine-writing to grab the interests of readers in the novels of German author Matthias Göritz, Science Fiction writer Ken Liu, and Hmong story-teller Kao Kalia Yang. In today’s contentious times we need the clarity and compassion that stories bring to our lives more than ever. We need to dream stories, read stories, hear stories, and share stories. Throughout the ages, storytellers have been the custodians of our histories, the keepers of our accomplishments, the guardians of our values, and the fosterers of our aspirations. Join our story. Laila Lalami Thursday, September 27, 2018 Li-Young Lee Thursday, October 4, 2018 Ken Liu Thursday, October 25, 2018 Matthias Göritz & Aaron Coleman Thursday, November 8, 2018 Juan Felipe Herrera Thursday, November 15, 2018 Joshua Bennett Monday, January 21, 2019 Armistead Maupin Thursday, February 7, 2019 Anne-Marie Fyfe and Cahal Dallat, Visiting Writers-in-Residence Thursday, February 28, 2019 Louise Penny Thursday, March 7, 2019 Kao Kalia Yang Thursday, March 21, 2019 Naomi Shihab Nye The Little Read April 4-6, 201 9 2018-2019 Visiting Writers Series lr.edu/VWS
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138 WILSON’S CREEK L.B. SEDLACEK Once used as the summer hunting grounds for Cherokee Indians Once settled and the dense forest logged by the pioneers Wild and scenic river begins on the upper slopes of Calloway Peak Grandfather Mountain flowing in a southerly direction until it joins Johns River Wild and scenic river within the southern piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains flowing nine miles through the forest.
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139 L.B. Sedlacek’s poetry has appeared in publications such as "Pure Francis," "The Broad River Review," "The Broken Plate," "Mastodon Dentist," "Big Pulp," and others. She is the creator and author of "Poetry in LA (LA Poems)" and the Facebook page: @poetryinla where she has written many local poems about the Caldwell county and Lenoir area locals fondly refer to as "L.A." Her latest poetry book, "Words and Bones" was published by Finishing Line Press summer 2018. She also teaches poetry at local elementary and middle schools, publishes a free resource for poets "The Poetry Market Ezine," and was a Poetry Editor for "ESC! Magazine." In her free time, LB enjoys swimming, reading, traveling with her family and their hyperactive dog and volunteering for her local humane society. Find out more: www.lbsedlacek.com or www.thepoetrymarket.com Twitter: @lbsedlacek @frugalpoet Instagram: @ poetryinla @lbsedlacek Photo by Jeff Wilhelm
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140 AUNT FLORA’S SONG BY KERMIT TURNER Nearing the corner of the woods ten-year-old Mark Cooke hears random blares and screeches-- the pump-organ in his grandmother’s parlor. It must be one of his cousins visiting. Surely Aunt Marion will make them stop. As he goes along the sandy path the sounds grow louder. Aunt Marion’s old gray Ford is not in its place under the tall poplar at the corner of the front yard. It must be Aunt Flora at the old organ, left alone with Grandma, trying to entertain herself. Marion seldom leaves them by themselves. Mark has heard his mom say it’s sad that Marion, still young and pretty, probably will never be able to marry. Mark stops under the low-limbed chinaberry in the front yard. Raucous sounds cascade from the open parlor window and swirl in the sultry air. Leaning against the tree, dense branches just above his head, Mark pictures his large, homely aunt sitting on the little bench, her thick legs and swollen ankles moving above the pedals. Listening, he feels her loneliness, cut off from others by her looks and her “slowness,” a mind like a child’s. He pictures her face as she sits in the whirlpool of sound, the hazy gray eyes, the short-cropped graying hair in bangs, the buckteeth. Mark’s dad has often mentioned how after her brothers married and moved away, Flora had been her dad’s chief help on the farm, doing heavy work. Before he started school Mark had sometimes seen Flora helping in the fields and barn, but by that time she had grown overweight, had injured her spine and could not longer do hard labor. After Grandpa died and farming ended, she helped tend the large vegetable garden and assisted Aunt Marion in any way asked-- cooking, canning, sweeping, mopping. Never complaining, going stolidly through months and years. Mark raises his arms and grasps a limb above his head. Why he walks the long path to visit his aunts and grandma, Mark isn’t sure. Mostly he just watches quietly as his aunts do housework or he sits and watches Grandma as she lies in bed, listens to her wild talk when she is agitated. What would Grandma say if he went into her bedroom now? Curse Flora for making such a racket? Since her stroke his grandma has a sharp tongue and curses worse than any man he has ever heard. How could his quiet, church-going grandmother become this strange new person, so thin and pale and wild-eyed? The peals of the organ come steadily, urgently, riffling the leaves of the chinaberry and sending shivers up Mark’s spine. He clutches the limb more tightly and stares at the yellow chinaberries littering the ground. A bitter smell rises from berries he has stepped on, the thin skins and gooey insides leaving pale dime-size circles in the dirt. He recalls another Sunday, in early summer, when his mother’s two sisters were visiting. They
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141 had driven over from Winston-Salem where they lived with prosperous husbands. He was in the kitchen when his mom came in to pour glasses of iced tea for her guests. “Here comes Flora,” she muttered, looking out the window above the sink, her lips pursed, her forehead wrinkled. Mark stepped out onto the back porch. Through the screen he saw Flora toiling up the path from the hollow, a large lumpy figure in a baggy gray dress. “Mark, go meet her,” his mom said, almost whispering. “Tell her it’s not a good time, we’ve got company.” He turned and looked up at her face. She glanced away, avoiding his eyes. “Go on,” she said. “Tell her to come back tomorrow.” Hesitantly he went out the screen door and down the steps and met his aunt at the edge of the backyard. In hot harsh sunlight he faced the large woman in her loose faded print dress. Her sagging chest rose and fell, breath whispered from her wide dark nostrils, beads of sweat stood on her forehead and temples. “Mama said it’s not a good time for you to come,” he said. “She’s got company.” The cloudy gray eyes in the homely face gazed down at him with no expression except the usual perplexity and vague sadness. “Aunt Flora, you can come back tomorrow,” he said, almost pleading, wishing she would stop looking at him. His aunt continued to gaze down at him, her gray eyes and bucktoothed mouth unchanging; then she said haltingly, “Aw right, Mark.” His throat tight, Mark watched the broad round back and hips, the thick blue-veined calves as Flora waddled down the path toward the hollow. It would be a long hot trek from the hollow back uphill to Grandma’s house. . . . Under the chinaberry Mark grips the slender branch more tightly. The organ peals have gained momentum, come in waves, like bursts of grief and yearning, ruffling the leaves above his head. Mark stands mesmerized, swept away on the cataract of sound. Suddenly his aunt’s voice joins the organ blasts in high beseeching tones, like someone in peril calling, like hymns in church, but not in words, only animal-like cries. Mark’s heart seems torn from his chest and joined with the mysterious woman’s heart in its loneliness and longing, its cares and grief. He imagines his grandma lying helpless in bed at the back of the house joining in, her high thin voice filling the room. Abruptly the organ blasts and his aunt’s cries cease, but still Mark lingers under the tree. No, he thinks, he cannot go in and face Aunt Flora and Grandma now. He might not be able even to speak. Surely Aunt Marion will be home soon. Later he will look up the hill to check for her car under the poplar. He waits a minute longer, then steps from the shade and starts toward home. In harsh sunlight the sandy path is dazzling. Trees and bushes blur and shimmer. “Aunt Flora’s Song” is from Kermit Turner’s novel-in-stories A MATTER OF BLOOD, which chronicles the struggles of a foothills family during the middle decades of the 20th Century. A MATTER OF BLOOD may be ordered from Amazon or purchased in the gift shop at Hickory Museum of Art.
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142 Ana Cristina Godoy Accredited Jewelry Professional Jewelry Appraisals Graduated Gemologist GIA#0010127822 TRUNK SALE November the 17th Godoy Art Studio Holiday- show at Boca Hickory. Custom Fine Jewelry 828.493.3744 Anacristinagodoy.com anakadesign@yahoo.com
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143 Photo by Allen Finley
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144 Photo by Serge Skiba
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What do these Awards really mean to You and Your Community Hospital? For the sixth consecutive year, Catawba Valley Medical Center has been named a recipient of the Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience. Also, for the sixth consecutive year, a recipient of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics. This Women’s Choice Award identifies the nation’s best healthcare institutions measured against the needs and preferences of women, providing her the opportunity to identify which hospitals deliver the quality patient experience she seeks for her and her family, and for her birthing experience. This credential signifies Catawba Valley Medical Center’s commitment and passion towards an extraordinary healthcare experience for all patients, and is another example of the many ways we’re working to improve the health of our community. 828/326-3000 Follow us on Facebook www.catawbavalleymedical.org facebook.com/CatawbaValleyMedicalCenter Catawba Valley Medical Center does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, national origin, disability, or race in its health programs. Español (Spanish) ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. 繁體中文 (Chinese) 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 Hmoob (Hmong) LUS CEEV: Yog tias koj hais lus Hmoob, cov kev pab txog lus, muaj kev pab dawb rau koj. Hu