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Published by Carmen Eckard, 2018-12-14 10:42:17

WinterIssueforAnyflip

WinterIssueforAnyflip

the guests are families, most 51
rooms offer a large bed and a
set of bunk-beds. The rooms
have gorgeous views of the
mountains, and are styled in a
way that’s part southern, part
glitz, arguably just like Dolly
herself.

One of the most exciting parts
of staying at the DreamMore
Resort is knowing that you
might run into Dolly. She stays
at the resort several times a
year and you’ll know if she’s
there because her tour bus will
be parked outside.

Everything about the resort
seems to be carefully designed,
planned and executed, which
makes it easy to relax and enjoy
yourself.

In fact, Dollywood’s DreamMore
Resort was named America’s
Best Theme Park Resort by
USA Today, and indeed, it truly
does offer many perks, like Time
Saver passes, special shuttles
that help you skip the lines, and
special deals when you stay in
tandem with a trip to Dollywood
or Dollywood’s Splash Country.

But, we were delighted to find
that even when the parks are
closed, the stay in the resort
is top-notch. Even better,
special deals are usually
available during the winter
months, so be sure to ask
when you book your stay.

If you don’t love resorts,
there are so many lodging
options in town. We also
recommend Dollywood’s Smoky
Mountain Cabins, which can
accommodate 2 to 34 people
and offer a lot of flexibility for
guests.

Photography provided by Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.

Top-notch Night Out:

Dinner and a Show

I love a good production, and this is, positive word that brings with it notions
indeed, a good production. From the of sweet tea, front porches and friendly
performers to the servers to the ticket neighbors. That meaning of the word is
takers-every person we encountered particularly on-brand for Dolly Parton
seemed excited to be there and dedicated and her businesses. But to a lot of other
to our good experience. people, the word “Dixie” is about slavery,
The show is a good mix of silly and war and oppression. We applaud the
impressive. Skeeter is one of the company for acknowledging that the
characters, hailing from North Carolina, word was creating division where they
and his antics keep the show light- didn’t intend division. In replacing it
hearted. The website says the show with “Dolly Parton’s,” they were able to
has “live animals, dramatic lighting keep the sweet tea, front porch, smiling
effects, incredible sounds and exciting face vibe that fits the show so well.
pyrotechnics,” and each of those is a true The Dinner Theatre was started back in
statement. A wall with 12.5 million LED 1988 and has been extremely popular for
lights provides a spectacular backdrop many years. The delicious food is another
to the action and dazzles by showing the major factor of this continued success.
beauty of the Smoky Mountains. In the time it takes to watch the show,
But at the center of the show are 32 you are served a four course meal. The
highly trained horses. They perform tricks menu hasn’t changed much for 30 years,
and are part of the competition between but they have spent that time perfecting
the “North” and the “South”. the recipes. I’m especially fond of the
Now don’t worry, there aren’t any hard vegetable soup. Full disclosure: I asked for
feelings here. It’s all in good fun. The more and bought the mix to take home.
audience is split into two sections, each You won’t be getting any silverware, so be
vying to win the most contests ready to dig in with your fingers. It isn’t as
The performers join in the competition messy as it seems, I promise.
on their horses, and some audience
participation keeps things fun.
There are also musical numbers, including
a truly spectacular performance of Dolly
Parton’s Color Me America.
You may notice that the dinner theatre
has undergone a re-branding, one that
we find to be particularly sensitive and
timely. Called “Dixie Stampede” for three
decades, the attraction dropped the
“Dixie” for “Dolly Parton’s”.
To a lot of people, the word “Dixie” is a
52

32 horses and highly trained

performers entertain while

you are served down-home

good food you’ll eat with your

hands. Photo by Jon Eckard

(865) 453-4400 dpstampedepigeonforge.com 53

Pigeon Forge is packed full of activities for vacationers.
One of the most popular destinations is the
Smoky Mountain National Park. This spectacular
800-square-mile park covers much of Western
North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Visiting this
park is a great way to reconnect with our mountains,
which happen to be some of the oldest mountains in
the world. This also happens to be the most visited
National Park in the US! Hiking, camping and even
guided tours are available at this park. 8 waterfalls,
abundant wildlife and even bears make this an exciting
trip. Dress warmly and explore to your heart’s content!

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, in neighboring In 2005, Dolly started a
Gatlinburg, is a truly spectacular aquarium. I go to program that now benefits
every aquarium I am near, as a general rule, and I’ve children all over the world.
been to dozens in my life. This is, hands down, the Her Imagination Library sends
best one I’ve visited. over one million books around
the world every month, each
They house over 10,000 aquatic creatures in 10 addressed to a child between
themed areas. The most exciting display is an under- birth and age five. Thousands
water tunnel with a conveyor that moves you along of partner organizations have
beneath sharks and a beautiful, slow-moving sea signed on to her cause.
turtle. Other exhibits get you well-acquainted with
penguins, and sometimes there are even mermaids! Both of our boys have been
part of this program, and it’s
hard to explain the excitement
they feel each month getting a
new book with their name on
it. Ownership leads to pride and
pride is a great motivator. This
program is helping to increase
literacy the world over.

To learn more, donate or sign up,
visit www.imaginationlibrary.com.

54

55

During the winter months, one of You can also have the time of your
the most popular destinations in the life at the Outdoor Gravity Park. This
Smokies is Ober Gatlinburg. It is best is a popular summer destination, but
known for Skiing and Snowboarding, beginning this winter, you can go
but that isn’t all Ober Gatlinburg offers. tumbling down a snowy hillside in a
The scenic chair lift is not-to-be- giant inflatable ball. The experience
missed, offering exceptional views of may make you feel a little like a gerbil,
nature. An alpine slide is an exhilarating but there’s a reason they enjoy rolling
way to see the sites, as is the ski around like that: it’s fun! You can
mountain coaster. Other attractions document the whole thrilling ride with
include Amaze’N Maze, a rock wall, a go-pro cameras that are mounted to
chair swing, mini golf, rides for children, the balls.
a carousel and ice skating. There is also
the opportunity to get up close with the For the adults, Pigeon Forge and
indigenous wildlife. Bears, otters and Gatlinburg offer a large variety of
birds of prey are on display and well- liquors, spirits and wines. Moonshine
cared for. is as much a part of the history of the
Tennessee hills as it is ours, which is to
Or, hop over to The Island to ride the say, Moonshine was important. There
Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. This are many distilleries in the area that
enormous Ferris wheel rises 200 offer tours and samples. Old Forge
feet in the air and all-glass gondolas Distillery and Ole Smoky Moonshine
allow you a view of the town and at The Island are both great places to
mountains that is unparalleled. After get started on a moonshine adventure.
you ride the wheel, The Island also has
several celebrity-owned restaurants Be sure to visit the Titanic Museum. It is
and excellent shopping. We also the world’s largest museum experience
recommend The Escape Game, where and we think it’s the best way to
you and other players are locked in a imagine life on the Titanic. You have
room and have one hour to figure out
clues to escape.

56

the opportunity to touch an iceberg, These two towns are supported by
and sink your arm into water as cold as the tourism industries, and the people
it was the night the Titanic sank. You we met always seemed dedicated to
can also try to stand on the deck as it providing us with an experience we’d
sinks, as well as walk through replicas enjoy and remember. When they said
of iconic areas like the Grand Staircase. “Y’all come back now,” we were certain
The process is made a little more they meant it, and we will come back.
personal as you are given the identity We hope you will too.
of a passenger or crew member before
you walk in-you aren’t told the fate of
the person until the end of the tour. It’s
a poignant way to spend an afternoon.

We love visiting Pigeon Forge and
Gatlinburg because it offers exciting
adventures while still feeling like home.

57

GROUNDHOGS

in the Foothills

By Carmen Eckard

Groundhogs are a common site across North Carolina. We’ve all driven past groundhogs
standing alert beside the road, but how much do we know about our furry neighbors?

Groundhogs are the largest member of the Squirrel family. They are usually about
twenty inches tall and can weigh up to fifteen pounds. They build incredibly complex
burrows in the ground that can be up to 65 feet long. These burrows can have several
levels and always include separate chambers that could be labeled “bathrooms.”

Groundhogs are marmots and are known by many names, including “woodchuck”
and “whistle pig.” Found in most of the United States, and even into Alaska, these
animals have sunk their teeth into popular culture. “How much wood can a
woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood,” is a tongue twister nearly
every American is familiar with today. The answer, you may be surprised to find
out, is “None.” Woodchucks do not chuck wood at all. The name is thought to be a
corruption of several Native American words like wejack, woodshaw, or woodchoock.
58

But perhaps groundhogs are known best for Groundhog Day, when it’s said that a
groundhog emerging from its cave will determine whether we have six more weeks
of winter weather. What you may not realize is that this is because Groundhogs
are true hibernators. There are not many species in North Carolina that can claim
that. Some bats, most squirrels and a few other rodents join the groundhog in a
true winter hibernation. The black bears in our region have a modified version.
Groundhogs sleep for weeks or months, only waking to rid their body of waste
material, and their heart rates drop to five beats a minute. When they emerge,
it’s a good sign that the worst of winter is behind us. Male groundhogs tend to
wake up early to check on their potential mates. Once they check the burrows
of all of the females in their territory, they go back to sleep until it warms up.

Groundhogs are the subject of every elementary school class, as the nation focuses
its collective attention on the activities of one groundhog each February 2nd. He’s
affectionately called Punxsutawney Phil, but it’s his shadow, not his name, that is

59

important. Groundhog Day, February 2nd, the activities of Punxsutawney
comes from a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition Phil and the length of winter,
that says if a groundhog, most specifically but it’s still a fun tradition, and
Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow when Americans have always leaned
he comes out of his burrow, winter will on traditions to get us through
continue for six weeks. If he does not, long, hard winters.
winter will end early. Truthfully, science
shows absolutely no correlation between You’ve probably never seen two
groundhogs together. They are
incredibly asocial, seeking out
companionship only to mate.
Mothers and children part ways
quickly after nursing, and spend
lives of solitude. I’ve seen two
groundhogs together, only once,
and they were fighting each
other dramatically in the middle
of the road. Traffic stopped in
both directions as everyone
watched two groundhogs fight
fiercely, standing on their back
legs. It was fascinating and
every bit as dramatic as a WWF
wrestling match.

Unfortunately, groundhogs are
often considered pests by many
people, especially farmers.
There are two main reasons for
that. The first, most obviously,
is that they are herbivores and
love to eat whatever a farmer

60

grows. They are particularly choosy and they love to eat the most tender greens.
Additionally, their burrows cause enormous problems for farm machinery. Those
impressive burrows can break a tractor axle in two seconds flat. For this reason,
farmers try to rid their land of these rodents.
Groundhogs are called “edge species,” meaning they like to inhabit the bit of
land where woods meet meadows and fields. That’s why you see them so often
standing by the edge of the road-they like to live right where the woods end, and
in the foothills, the woods end right next to the road most of the time.
Groundhogs, woodchucks or whistlepigs...whatever name you use, you have to
admit that even though some consider the marmots to be pests, Americans are
fascinated by these animals!

61

www.outdoorsupplycompany.com

Chuck the

Woodchuck
By Carmen Eckard crafted a nice cage for him, but he
wasn’t interested in living in a cage.
Photography by Evelyn and Jon Eckard When they woke up a couple days
after his move outside and he was
In my family, one sure-fire way gone, they searched the woods like
to make everyone smile is to any loyal pet parent. They shouldn’t
bring up Chuck. Chuck was my have worried because when they
husband Jon’s pet groundhog got back, Chuck was sitting on
when he was young, and he the porch waiting for them. After
was quirky, energetic and by all that, he made himself a proper
accounts, funny. burrow and settled into his new life.

Groundhogs are considered pests, Every day, Jon would go outside
and someone killed Chuck’s to feed him and call his name. He’d
mother when he was still very come running for his carrots and
young. Luckily, folks found tiny affection.
Chuck and suspected that the
Eckards would be the perfect Jon and Chuck entered a contest
family to help him. hosted by the Western Piedmont
Humane Society (now the Humane
Jon remembers feeding him Society of the Catawba Valley).
milk by the dropperful until he They were surprised and thrilled
was old enough to eat. Chuck to win “Most Unusual Pet.”
loved to eat and carrots were
his favorite. Eating was serious Groundhogs are an unusual pet, but
business, and he’d stand up Chuck was the kind of animal people
while nibbling long slices of remember forever. Even after all
carrots until they disappeared. these years, I still catch Jon smiling
every time we pass a woodchuck
Chuck lived inside for a while, standing at attention on the side of
sleeping in the dog bed and the road.
generally being an adorable pet,
but the family kept “losing”
socks, hats and other small,
soft objects. They eventually
caught Chuck red-handed.
He was stealing those
items to make himself a
pretty impressive burrow
behind the furniture.

The family decided he
shouldn’t live inside
after they discovered
his handiwork, and they

Each May the Hickory Landmarks
Society hosts an annual fund
raising event, a Hickory home
and garden tour. Thanks to the
kindness of selected property
owners, HLS has been fortunate
to showcase over 160 of Hickory’s
finest architectural buildings and
gardens in the past 24 years. On
May 17th, HGTV’s John Gidding will
be the featured speaker for the
tour, which goes throughout the
day on May 18th.
Tickets for the Romance of
Home and Garden Tour are sold
($25 in advance, $30 on Tour
day) beginning in February and
proceeds benefit our organizations
mission to preserve Hickory’s
architectural heritage. Keep an eye
on our site for ticket sales: www.
hickorylandmarks.org.

HHICOKSORTYSLAJNOKHMNARGKSIDSODCIINETGY

1:
2:

3:

64

Snow f la k e s

No two snowflakes are alike. That’s because each of the 10 quintillion water molecules
in a snowflake have a choice to make as they freeze. Therefore, each snowflake is as
individual as we are, but they do fall into different categories. It’s hard to get a good look
at a snowflake before it melts, so we’re sharing some close up images so you can get a
better look. One thing most snowflakes have in common is their six-pointed symmetry.
We call the arms of snowflakes “dendrites” and they occur because of the hexagonal
crystalline structure of ice.

1. Hexagonal Plate: These are simple hexagonal shapes and sometimes have a star in
the center.

2. Stellar Plate: These are more common than hexagonal plates. They have simple,
unbranching arms.

3. Stellar Dendrites: This is what everyone recognizes as “snowflake shaped.” They are
six-sided branching dendrites.

There are other types of snowflakes, including needles, columns, bullets and irregular
shapes. Most snowflakes are imperfect but all are patterned.

Snowflakes, in the right conditions, can grow very large. It’s said that the largest
snowflakes ever recorded fell on January 1887 at Montana’s Fort Keogh. The history
books says there were “flakes as big as milkpans.” This is of course very rare, and the
largest snowflake photographed wasn’t even half an inch.

Interestingly, not every large snow storm is considered a blizzard. There are very exact
specifications for a storm to be labeled as such. Winds must be over 35 miles per hour
and snow must reduce visibility to a quarter of a mile for at least three hours.

About half the population of the world will never see a snowflake. About a million billion
snowflakes fall on earth every second, however, so snowflakes certainly aren’t rare!

One inch of snow melts to about 1/10th of an inch of water.

Most of the world’s water is in the ocean, but 80% of the fresh water on earth is frozen,
existing as snowflakes or ice and our ice caps can be seen from space.

65

This is the sixth, and the finale, in this series, about economic development in our area. We have discussed vision, aligning to
the marketplace, leveraging unique strengths, and inspiring people to innovate, and change. Now we finish up by articulating
how we connect with and influence people to move here and do business in our area.

In summary, I think that we can all see that Gabriel and I agree on more than we disagree on when it comes to the issues of
Economic Growth. I think we all understand it’s difficult to sustain a successful economy over a long period of time. We are
at the mercy of external forces, including, but not limited to, the overall business cycle, culture, and politics. Our fortunes
will ebb and flow with the times, but a proactive approach is necessary to ward off stagnation. This is about action versus
inaction, which is completely different than the modern political paradigms deemed Conservative-Progressive.

The bottom line is that growth necessitates a clear understanding of where you want to be in the future. If you don’t have
goals, then what is your endgame? You’re just winging it through life. Winging it isn’t a formula for success. The Roman
Philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets oppor tunity.” Good for tune isn’t just about being at
the right place at the right time, but also about being open to and ready for new opportunities. That is what this series has
been about… Preparing for Success!

Over the past year I have discussed, in this forum, I have a saying, ‘Smart people make things simple.
how I believe we should economically develop our Stupid people make things complicated.’ Think about
area by cultivating the most impactful demographics talented athletes, chefs, artists, whatever… don’t they
in the current era. We have seen a stagnation in our make whatever they are doing look easy? Think about
population growth and it is directly correlated to the procrastinators always doing mental gymnastics,
lack of economic growth of the area. It is a chicken always ‘studying’ something, always doing busy work,
or egg situation, because it relates to jobs and job but never seeming to get anything accomplished…
quality. Have young people left, because of the lack of wasting time… wasting away.
good paying jobs –or- are the good paying industries
not locating here, because there is a lack of qualified As I have already discussed, local leadership has to
young working aged folks to fill the positions? have a plan. We have to engage all of the components
Once again, I will point to where South Carolina of this economic equation. We must be effective
economic development officials said that they didn’t listeners. We must develop our ability to be nimble
need pre-trained individuals for Upstate South about understanding and diagnosing problems and
Carolina’s BMW plant. They trained the initial workers responding with effective solutions. Develop a system
at the plant and then later created specific technical that allows engagement across multiple platforms of
programs to train workers for future jobs in the government and private industry. Cut the red tape
automotive industry. and have open engagement between elected officials,
There must be a multi-faceted approach in creating government administration, business leaders, and
an environment to benefit from people who are in the the citizenry. How do we create, acknowledge, and
sweet-spot of their productive working lives. People engage opportunity? Do you recognize opportunity
who are 40 years and younger are better able to adapt when it is staring you in the face? We cannot afford to
to economic change than those 40 years and older. By dismiss opportunity!
the time you hit 40, you are ready to settle into some
form of routine. Many 40 year olds have established Growth is positive change from Time A to Time B. To
family structures. By and large, middle aged folks direct growth, you have to have an intelligent plan
aren’t looking (and can’t afford) to change jobs on a about where you are at, where you want to go, and
whim or move here, there, and everywhere. how you are going to get there. In identifying the
Let’s look at a good reality, presently Millennials there, you have to identify and engage your Vision,
and their younger compatriots iGen are the future which is the first step in creating your plan. The growth
of economic development and productivity in our we desire requires defined goals and benchmarks of
modern world. They are now the largest demographic where we want to be at a time certain in the future.
in the workforce and in the consumer marketplace. That measurable vision defines success or failure and
Success will be defined pretty simply, because “Quality develops accountability. That accountability helps
of Life” correlates to economic growth, therefore our motivate the drivers of the plan to make necessary
community’s overall “Quality of Life” is dependent adjustments (tweaks or wholesale changes) that
upon growth in the largest workplace and consumer can get to the successful goal. The thing about this
demographic. In other words, if the young people exercise is that it is never over. You cannot rest on your
aren’t living here or moving here, then we aren’t laurels. Like one of my teachers from the past would
succeeding. tell us, when he caught us looking at the clock, “Time
will pass… will you?”
66
James Thomas Shell

Maintaining a steady growth pattern is an important part Our last conversation included my suggestion of focusing on
of a healthy economy and society and to us the need for bringing in educators … there are college level instructors at
working age newcomers is critical in building on what we CVCC making less than 40K a year. The teaching profession
have going. We know steps must be taken to actively attract is by in large still female, and I recently heard from a former
the people we need, but is it just the responsibility of our coordinator of superintendents that the teaching college at
leaders, government and/or business, to keep us growing? UNC Charlotte had over 900 students when he began his
As far as business health, our local leadership has done well. tenure there 9 years ago and last year when he left there
So much so that Hickory was just proclaimed as having the were less than 100. These are professional jobs that are a
“lowest costs for business” by Forbes. backbone of local economies, and they are not heading here.
This is an honor that will perhaps bring us interest from Now I don’t want this to be a pouncing session on our local
companies looking to invest, and that is something we all drive to improve, because there is a drive to improve that
celebrate, as it will bring not only dollars but perhaps more includes everyone, but as the USA Today article pointed out
youthful talent into our communities. In addition to our drive some of the most effective means of bringing people in is
to expand we must also have pause and measure, as our bringing them home and focusing on the demographics. We
goals must be mitigated by the need for responsible growth have a lot of folks who have left for the cities around us and
and must be focused on increasing the value of our people we can work hard to market the area to them along with a
as it compares with the interests of businesses we offer a push for the young professional woman, and we may attract
home. attention. But, I fear it won’t do a thing if they look for a
A USA Today article from December, 2017 covered some comparable job in a different area and take a massive pay
reasons younger professionals touted as critical to invest cut to come here.
in a location. Jobs is always number one, but increasingly We are all responsible for our community’s growth, each
the addition of “good paying” is finding its way into the and everyone one of us. We entrust our leadership with
discussions. According to Data USA, Hickory’s median the guidance of our societies and we expect responsible
household income declined in recent years by 4.61%. growth in opportunity in return, but in the end it is the civic
Payscale.com says wages continued to drop another 1.1% engagement of citizens that leads any municipality or region
in the 2nd quarter of 2018, and average income in Hickory or state. First we must teach people to give their best but
is $5,ooo less than average in NC and $14,000 less than also to expect better than to have basic fears that a good
average for the nation. One reason the area is good for salary alleviates. A desperate salesperson is seen a mile
business is because overhead is low … and that includes away, one that is secure sells more.
payroll. That’s one thing that can get folks past the transportation
Another trend in modern families is the more educated issues we face here and we can create the market for better
woman being the highest earner while the man may be a education access with and movement in the green in income
tradesman or in the service industry or manufacturing. Those growth instead of the red as we have seen for years here.
are couples we could use, as our trade markets need young Like Lenoir-Rhyne offered locals half tuition, let’s offer
blood to replace aging service techs and our manufacturing returning citizens a promise of tax breaks for companies
resurgence needs workers. But, as the Convention Center that offer better than living wages. After that, we can boost
prepares for a Professional Women’s event that will bring and boast a great image that is backed up in the numbers
several hundred guests, the average working woman in that matter, and get some of our state’s best educators and
Hickory earns $16,000 a year less thank the average man. I public servants, and that’s a recipe for responsible growth to
personally can say I know a young professional woman with
young children who is looking North for better pay in her last a generation or two. Gabriel Sherwood
field, even as it compares to cost of living.

A civil discourse with

&James Thomas Shell Gabriel Sherwood

67

Gabriel, in the overall outlook of the Forbes’ article our goal sheet for responsible growth.
‘2018 Best Places for Business and Careers’ that you We have spoken on inclusion of all citizens and municipalities
allude to, we see that Raleigh (#2), Charlotte (#5), and businesses and NGO’s, as the more ideas at the table
Durham (#13), and Asheville (#15) did extremely well, mean a better chance for good government and working
but Hickory was listed as #172 out of 200 cities in that solutions. We have the Hickory Young Professionals, who
list. That fits in with our second article (Winter 2018) just celebrated their 10th Anniversary, working to engage
where I address what I surmise to be the Tale of Two the younger population alongside other similar service and
States here in North Carolina. networking organizations across the area. The Rotary Club of
I am glad that you are encouraged by the North Hickory is currently hosting Students of Distinction from each
Carolina’s positioning in the marketplace as a whole high school in the area who have shown leadership skills
and I am also hopeful that we are taking some steps and merit in study and extracurricular activities. We should
in our region to move forward. I would however like collectively be hoping to keep in touch and either keep these
to see an emphasis placed upon the more Rural and students at CVCC or LR or the App State Campus, or work to
Suburban areas of the State that have been hurt by the lead them back to the area after their education elsewhere.
rapidly changing dynamics of modern industry and the Reaching out and engaging people where they are now
post modern “free-trade” economy. while showing them a vision of where they could be with us
I agree with what you state about young people wanting can be a path to our goals, and with the right coordination
good paying jobs. On my blog, though I haven’t really and direction we can see great success.
added articles over the past year, in the past I have We also have spoken about how we can utilize our attributes,
constantly talked about the underemployment issue and one we already see being used is … well, the sun above
and this “Low Cost of Doing Business” certainly seems us. How much could we save our taxpayers, our business
to correlate to that. Hickory, in that 2018 Forbes list owners, our citizens, if we simply put a couple solar panels
that you interjected into this conversation, ranks #1 in on every government building, business, or home that can
the nation as the least expensive place to do business. accomodate one, in the area? We have great recycling
21 places in the bottom 50 of that overall list rank as systems and expanding public parks and services, we are
the cheapest places to do business. Maybe it’s less close to nature and the city, we have access to an international
expensive, because there’s a lot less economic activity airport, and we have local flare and food options, which are
taking place here than in the more successful cities in all good additions to our regional brochure … but we would
that list. make the national news with a commitment like that.
I do agree that people need to take charge and be If we can save money by using the free fusion reactor we
leaders, but that doesn’t forgo those who have asked circle and allocate that to offering incentives for companies
and are being paid to assume the forefront of leadership that agree to provide above average salaries and wages in
positions in our communities. In the end, they are exchange for forward thinking leadership and investment, I
in charge of the decision making process, including believe we will see a good return.
setting policies and making plans for the direction of Know your enemy and know yourself and you will never
the community. We can only make suggestions and know defeat in a hundred battles” - Sun Tzu. You are correct
hold them accountable to a certain extent. They are in that dawdlers will dawdle and complainers will offer plenty
observations with few solutions behind them, but those who
charge! James Thomas Shell research the root of a problem and have the courage and
acumen to act decisively will often be successful. Fortune
As often is the case, we agree on much. A multi-faceted favors the bold “they” also say and if we are bold in our
plan is needed and we have some facets of it in place or requirement for our people to be valued and seen as an
on the way and it must be strategic and a decade ahead of investment, if we expand access while reaching out to
itself. Over the past year we have agreed that we need to engage the people we want to be here with us with what
work on access and transportation options to connect us to we can offer … those who care about such things will notice.
the economic powerhouse of the Charlotte market. The 16
extension is well underway and the double lane access will Gabriel Sherwood
decrease travel time between the ever expanding suburbs
of Charlotte and our area. The expansion of 150 across the 2hfo0trt1-pb8su:/sF/iownrewbswes-s.afonBrdbe-sectsa.rPceoleamrcse/-ss2i0tfe1os8r/-ksBueuratsbtitnaleed-selsenahadansud-stheCena-/wr2e0ae1yr/8s#/71–00O6/22c4at/oct4bh7ee4-rb42e74set,-p2l0a1c8es--
bridge into the Mooresville area as part of the development rhNMetoaitlplvdeesyn:m-/nn/biowaetlws-rhw5et.,orue2s-0sawm1teo7a-dcl-laoycm.icteioe/m8s:3/0sR9teo5ar5dy0/yn0e1o/wr sn/2o0t 1h7e/1re1/w05e/mcoilmleen!ni–alsU-sSmAalTlo-cditaiyes--
of the Eastern parts of Catawba County I think would be a https://datausa.io/profile/geo/hickory-nc/#intro
great investment in having some of Mecklenburg’s commerce https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=Hickory-NC/Salary
and professionals jumping the lake.

More land at a lower price in a growing area is an attraction
we can utilize with proper marketing and valuation of our
attributes, while at the same time checking several boxes on

The Questions

68

Tour our historic village which housed
the Henry River Mill and was the setting
for Hunger Games. Find out more at
henryrivermillvillage.com

Open Door Homeless Relief Needs Donations

Homelessness is a complex problem and it’s hard to know how to help. As Winter hits the foothills, if you are moved
to help the homeless in a tangible way, there is a group that provides immediate assistance to people suffering from
homelessness. They work closely with the homeless community, listening to the actual needs of the people they see
face to face. In our next issue, we will talk more in depth about problems and solutions regarding homelessness, but
in the meantime, we hope you’ll consider donating items to keep suffering people warm, dry and fed during what’s
expected to be an extra harsh winter.

Open Door Homeless Sports, where the organziation
Relief is happy to take your gets a special deal. They also use
donations of time or these money to buy gas to host several
particularlly needed items: events for the homeless and to
• Gently Used Blankets drive them to church 3 times a
• Tents week.
• Sleeping Bags
• Hoodie Sweatshirt Donations can be dropped off at
These items are also helpful. Open Door Baptist Church @ 4663
• Sewing Kits Spring’s road, Conover 28613.
• Food Monetary donations can be sent
• Personal Hygiene Items to Open Door Homeless Ministry
• Socks at PO Box 51, Conover,NC 28613.
• Gloves You can also contact the Facebook
• Hand Sanitizer page to arrange donations.
• Feminine Products
• Tylenol “He that hath two
• Bandaids coats, let him impart to
If you’d prefer to donate him that hath none. And
money, $34 buys a tent and he that hath meat, let
sleeping bag at Academy him do likewise.” -Jesus

LUKE639:11

Come and Eat: Retelling the Story of Homelessness
by: Liz Goebelbecker

For those of us who work in ministry and non-profits, we are often asked, “How can we help the homeless?”
It is a well-meaning question with good intentions behind it, but the answer may or may not be the answer we
are looking for.
This article was formed out of a conversation. It is a collaborative response from several different points
of view. I grabbed coffee with Casey McCall and Carrie Workman from the Salvation Army, Austin Pearce
from the Hickory Soup Kitchen, and two current residents of the Salvation Army, Eric and Rebecca, who are,
themselves, experiencing homelessness.
Those of us who are working with vulnerable communities are often asked,” Where do we begin?” William
Wordsworth once said, “To begin, begin.” If it is our desire to participate in the conversation surrounding
homelessness, we need to broaden our perspective of what homelessness is and what it is not.
Homelessness means to be un-homed, unsheltered. Everyone, from the government to non-profit agencies,
define homelessness differently. If you are living in a tent, you are homeless. If you are living in a homeless
shelter, such as the Salvation Army, or staying on the sofas of friends and family, you may not be considered
homeless. Homelessness is not a matter of “just” getting a job. It is a complex, layered consequence of
brokenness in not only a person’s life, but within systems of our communities. Homelessness is a matter of
justice. If we consider the many areas that constitute a holistic life, we would include emotional, mental, and
physical wellbeing, relationships and social connectedness, in addition to employment, affordable and safe
housing, transportation, and child care. Let’s step back and consider the profound effect of addiction and
trauma. Around our conversation, it was agreed that the greatest overarching concern within the community
of those experiencing homelessness is despair, worthlessness, hopelessness, and giving up.
Friends, if that is the greatest need, then how CAN we help our neighbors experiencing homelessness?
These are some ideas from our friends living and working in this vulnerable community:

ADVOCATE
Advocate within your community for the most vulnerable of our citizens and neighbors. Call for safe affordable
housing that has supportive services to help families and individuals move their lives forward in health and
abundance. Call for a transportation system that is creative and flexible and can help people truly get where
they need to go. Call for employment that pays a living wage so that once our neighbors are able to move into
safe and secure housing, they are able to afford to stay there. Advocate for childcare and supportive services
for parents with children so they don’t need to choose between caring for their children or going to work.
Advocate for greater access to mental health services and rehabilitation programs to aid those suffering in
addiction right in their hometowns, so they don’t have to move, risking losing their jobs or relationships.

70

OFFER OPPORTUNITY
We can help those who are experiencing challenging times in their life by hiring them for work. When we offer
second-chance employment and leasing for homes, we are partnering in transformation. Eric shared with us
that opportunity is the bridge out of homelessness. Yes, opportunity to work and live and thrive, but even more,
when folks are offered opportunity they feel cared for and valued.

NOTICE
Sometimes love looks like noticing a hair cut or a smile or a tear. Our homeless friends believe that they are
invisible to the world. Become a deep listener. If you would like to participate in systemic change that leads
to shalom living for all, become a student and allow those who have experienced homelessness, or are right
now homeless, to be your professor. Ask questions. Be a friend. Correct unfair stereotypes and notice where
community conversations have missed the mark. The burden to change cannot lie with the vulnerable. Those
who hold privilege and places of power within our communities need to be willing to be vulnerable and
acknowledge that we do not always understand.

GIVE ABUNDANTLY
Research non-profit organizations, agencies, and ministries who are building relationships within vulnerable and
marginalized communities. Organizations such as the Hickory Soup Kitchen, the Salvation Army, Greater Hickory
Cooperative Christian Ministry, Safe Harbor, Exodus Homes Ministry, and others, who are providing essential
material needs for survival, but who are also striving to build relationship and working to help individuals move
their lives out of poverty. Organizations need financial resources to provide supportive services beyond food and
shelter. They need to pay qualified staff members, who are so often overworked and underpaid. Consider giving
monthly to the organization of your choice.

EAT WITH ME
So often people ask whether they should give money to someone on the street. The truth is, you need to
follow your own heart and intuition. Give if you would like to give, and refrain from giving in that way if you are
uncomfortable. Either way, please be kind. If you are concerned about giving out cash, maybe a gift card to
a local restaurant. However, the most meaningful and loving thing we can do is to eat together. Come to the
Hickory Soup Kitchen for lunch. Set aside an evening every once in a while and come down to the Salvation Army
for dinner. Sharing a meal and fellowship with our neighbors is the most powerful and transformative gift that
you can give. We learn by listening and by sharing stories. Our hearts change when we enter into relationship
with one another. We being to understand that we belong to one another regardless of the circumstances of our
lives. We can learn from one another, and we can each be transformed in the process.
How can we help the homeless?
Our little coffee group decided that we need to get together more often and share ideas and stories with one
another. Maybe you have a group of friends who care deeply about building community and loving our neighbors.
Maybe you could grab lunch at the Hickory Soup Kitchen or spend time with folks in the lobby of Greater Hickory
Cooperative Christian Ministry. Let’s build a big table and invite everyone! Maybe we will find that once we begin,
our perspective has changed, and we have made new friends.
Maybe it's just a constant beginning, a constant moving, a constant cycle of learning and re-learning and un-
learning, never to arrive, just to journey alongside.
Just journey alongside, friends. And please, come and eat.

71

The High Cost of Free Fuel
By Granny Eckard

Winters on the mountain were harsh. Or perhaps it was not the winters but the living.
I don’t remember actually being cold, but I do remember several times waking to feel my mom
adding coats on top of our quilts on very cold nights. Our window panes were single-glazed and
some had cracks; one had a chunk missing in the corner - not that that made much difference
because, as we all now know, single-glazed windows were not that energy efficient. Occasionally
on a blustery, snowy night we would get snow on our quilt.
In the earlier years our heat was supplied by a thin-walled wood-burning heater in the sitting room
that also served as our parents’ bedroom. Many times that heater would be churning out so many
BTUs that the sides would be red hot, thus a potential hazard. But most of the activity surrounding
that heater and the wood-burning cook stove in the kitchen was a potential hazard.
Our parents made no difference about my being a girl. I worked outside with my brother and inside
with my sisters. So, on a certain Saturday the year I was eight, it was my turn to split slabs for the
kitchen stove. With a full-sized axe, I went about my chore as usual and chopped my pointer finger
right in the second joint. Blood was running, I was running, and Dad was running for the car to drive
me to the doctor to get it sewed up. It was a bad cut and left an enlarged joint that I will have for
the rest of my life. It’s not very feminine looking, but I am thankful that I have 10 fingers to type
about it.
Dad would haul loads of slabs from the sawmill and dump them in a big pile in the back yard.
When he felt the pile was worth the trouble, I suppose, he would hook up his tractor’s PTO to the
old saw blade and cut the slabs in pieces to be later split. On this potentially hazardous day, when
he got to the bottom of the huge pile of slabs, there was a huge pile of copper heads. He said
“stand back” or some other word, and sent Mom into the house for the shotgun and some shells.
He figured there were at least a half-dozen snakes under there which he blew all to bits.
On another occasion, this PTO was the source of an injury to my Dad’s right thumb. He was setting
up to saw and got his thumb caught where the belt made the “V.” The belt jerked all the skin off his
thumb down to the joint. He went over and sat down on the porch and asked for the kerosene jug.
Mom poured kerosene over the wound while we all stood in a semi-circle and watched the blood
coagulating and dripping down on the ground in ribbons. They tied it up with a white cloth and he
went back to work slightly light-headed. He never visited a doctor for this and eventually it healed
and the skin grew back.
One Saturday most of the family went on a road trip to visit my older sister and her family. My
younger sister and I did not want to go, so we stayed home and slept late. When we woke, we
decided to build a fire in the cook stove and make some breakfast. I put in the wood and a squirt of
kerosene, and as I leaned over to throw in the match the stove went “swoosh.” I saw a bright light
and felt a burning sensation over my face. We did not realize that there were still hot coals left in
there. Now I had to go to school on Monday (sophomore year) with no lashes and the front of my
hair burned off. I was mortified, but even on a good day no one paid much attention to me anyhow.
In 1958 the Manager of REA Electric Co-op announced a campaign offering free electricity for
cooking for four months if you purchased a new electric range during the months of September
and October. He listed reasons why a homemaker would want one: modern convenient, clean,
efficient...I could have given him more reasons than the ones he listed. End of story is that Mom
bought a beautiful new General Electric turquoise kitchen range. I wonder – was she enticed by
the offer of free kilowatts or was she concerned about our safety.
72

73

74

Sweet ‘Taters
Down Home Southern Cooking that’s Clean

By Carmen Eckard Photos by Jon Eckard

Sweet ‘Taters is located in Conover and the best parts of Southern Cooking. No
people are positively buzzing about it. margarine every makes it in the door, and
It’s brand new, but you wouldn’t know it they don’t even have a microwave.
from the crowds that fill the space every
time the doors are open. That’s because The food here is delicious and Clean. The
the owners already built a huge fan base meats are organic and locally sourced.
(80,000 strong on Facebook alone) when The vegetables are grown locally when in
they owned Roasted ‘Tater in Hickory. season and the ingredients are authentic.
People were sad to see it go, and it turns
out, the owners It’s hard to explain the
missed it as much as difference in a typical
the customers did. steak and one that’s
sourced from local and
This restaurant looks humane farms, but the
like Southern feels. Old difference is easy to
aprons, vintage cans taste. They say happy
and folk art create cows make better
an atmosphere that milk. They make better
puts Southerners at steaks too, clearly.
ease the same way
Grandma’s biscuits do. Each meal begins with
biscuits, and that’s
Grandma’s dishes are smart of Sweet ‘Taters,
on the table too, and not just my Grandma, because they are truly delicious. They are
but yours too. I’m positively tickled by served with whipped butter and house
the plating at this restaurant. It seems made preserves. These change all the
like every vintage China pattern that ever time, and you might be served watermelon
graced a Southern table is here, and some preserves, or maybe sweet potato butter,
of the food is even served in cast iron. like is pictured here.

You could be forgiven for not expecting The butter is European butter, thick and
much out of the food at a restaurant so
heavy on the theme. But you’d be wrong, creamy and hand whipped. These details
even so. Sweet ‘Taters seems to take only
ad up to a surprisingly pleasant culinary

experience.
75

We ordered a steak which was a Hand cut Stockyard Ribeye. We found it to be
perfectly marbled, cooked to our exact temperature request, and truly delicious.
The 14 ounce steak was served topped with parmesan peppercorn butter that
was freshly made in house. A perfectly cooked sweet potato topped with
whipped butter and brown sugar was an excellent complement to the meal.
We also couldn’t help but order the chicken and waffles. They were quite well-balanced,
with the soft waffle blending well with the crispy chicken, all covered with authentic
maple syrup. We enjoyed it, heartily, and we recommend that you try this if it’s on the menu.

76

We also tried blackberry ribs, roasted for a full 24 hours. They aren’t smoked because the
chef wants the taste of the meat to shine brighter than the cooking method. Homemade
barbecue sauce is delicious and changes each time they make it. Recent recipes have
included watermelon, sour cherry and even peach.
The menu at Sweet ‘Taters changes every day and you can always see what’s scheduled
on their Facebook page.

(828) 469-5177 102 10th Street NW Conover, NC

77

78

Anytime

Chili
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound andouille sausage, diced
1 onion, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup of your favorite beer
1 cup of vegetable stock
2 16-ounce cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 6-ounce can of tomato paste
4 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

1. Cook beef and sausage in a large cast iron dutch oven over medium-
high heat until browned.

2. Add onion and bell pepper and cook until tender.
3. Add garlic and stir completely. Pan should be very hot at this point.
4. Add beer to deglaze the pot. Reduce liquid by half.
5. Add remaining ingredients and stir.
6. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for at least 1 hour. (If a thicker

consistency is desired, remove lid to allow evaporation)

79

Located in Moretz Mills
74 8th Street SE, Suite 108

Hickory NC 28602
828.855.9949

www.BocaHickory.com
facebook.com/BocaHickory

Some photos courtesy
Revival Photography

80

Corn

Bread

muffins

INGREDIENTS: 1. Preheat oven to 400°.
1 cup flour 2. Line 12 cup muffin pan with muffin liners.
1 1/2 cups cornmeal 3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder,
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder baking soda, and salt.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vinegar, egg, and butter.
1/2 teaspoon salt 5. Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just enough to
1 1/4 cups milk
1 Tbsp of white vinegar moisten (avoid overworking).
1 large egg 6. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.
4 tablespoons butter (melted and 7. Bake for 13 minutes, or until the muffins begin to brown on top.
completely cooled)

81

Vegetarian Chili

82

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound shiitake mushrooms (diced)

1 onion, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbsp soy sauce

1 cup of vegetable stock
2 16-ounce cans red kidney beans,

rinsed and drained

2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 6-ounce can of tomato paste

4 tablespoons chipotle chili powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oil in a cast iron dutch oven
over medium-high heat.

2. Add mushrooms and sauté until
browned.

3. Add onion and bell pepper and cook
until tender.

4. Add garlic and stir completely. Pan
should be very hot at this point.

5. Add soy sauce to deglaze the pot.
6. Add remaining ingredients and stir.
7. Cover and simmer over medium-low

heat for at least 1 hour. (If a thicker
consistency is desired, remove lid to
allow evaporation)

THESE RECIPES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY CALVIN REYES. YOU CAN FOLLOW
HIM ON INSTAGRAMB @ FOOTHILLSCHEF.

83

Catawba Valley’s Hidden Treasure

By Alicia Wilfong
On the days when the air is crisp, and the sun is radiant, the view is magnificent. From the
top of Baker’s Mountain, looking over our valley carries you above church steeples and water
towers peeking through the tree tops from Charlotte to the famous line of the Blue Ridge.
What’s not so visible in that valley are the secluded Jacobs Fork and Henry Rivers. The
Catawba Valley offers outdoor enthusiasts a refreshing hike on a beautiful day or a relaxing
float down a river in one location.
Bakers Mountain soars 800 feet above the valley. The trails in the existing County Park offer
a leisurely hike or a challenging trail run to the top of the mountain platform. There’s no
need to backtrack as you choose among multiple paths back to the ranger station. As you
pass through, the generations of care and appreciation of this park is on display from the
historical home site to Eagle Scout projects, the creek and pleasant small waterfall area,
picnic tables and park benches.
On the rivers, there are natural areas that are nestled so deeply in the forest that most of us
don’t know they exist. Floating on peaceful ripples under canopies of trees, there is a feeling
of isolation from any thought of civilization. There’s always a pleasant spot to stop for lunch.
There is river use now, but most only for those knowing property owners with access.
That changes when we add multiple access points along both rivers, making them easily

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SPEA D

84

accessible and minutes from exits on Vitality Surgical Center
U.S. 321 and Interstate 40.
How do you promote a natural Serving Men and Women for all of your
resource while protecting it for Surgical Aesthetic needs. Vitality Surgical
future generations? One way is by Center offers a wide array of services
including it in a State Park. For over a including Vaser-Lipo, facial plastics and more.
year, the hidden treasures of western
Catawba County have been studied 828-322-1498.For more information contact
by NC State Parks as a possible
multi-site park including both rivers 85
and areas around Bakers Mountain
like the New River State Park in Ashe
County. The connectivity along the
two rivers offers multiple options
for canoe and kayak trips from two
hours to overnight.
Parks are an economic engine. The
million residents around Charlotte
have easy access to only two state
parks attracting two million visitors
a year. Those in Raleigh enjoy four
state parks attracting six million
visitors. That’s a gap of four million
visits annually between Charlotte
and similarly sized Raleigh. The
Hickory Metro Convention Center &
Visitors Bureau estimate that the
average day-trip visitor adds $50
to our economy. Closing that gap by
just one million visits represents $50
million a year.
Can we do it? That depends on us
completing two steps: First, State
Parks requires official authorization
by the General Assembly before
they can operate in Catawba County.
Secondly, a State Park needs land,
as condemning property is not an
option. So, we need to find willing
land owners whether public or
private, to donate or sell land at a fair
market price. Some private owners
have already signed on. Some public
owners, like the City of Hickory, have
offered the possibility of a donation
over 100 acres.
Protecting our natural heritage takes
time and energy but it is worth it. I
hope to see you soon, on the river or
along the trail.

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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.
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Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

Friday January 18th, 2019

With one eye on using the banjo to showcase America’s rich heritage and the other pulling the
noble instrument from its most familiar arena into new and unique realms, Béla Fleck and Abigail
Washburn’s second album Echo in the Valley is simultaneously familiar and wildly innovative.
“Some of the most interesting things in the world come together in strange and unique ways and
show our diversity,” reflects Béla, a fifteen-time Grammy award winner who is often considered the
world’s premier banjo player. “The banjo is just one of those things. It’s a great example of how the
world can combine things and create surprising hybrids,” a reference to the ancestral African roots
of the banjo combining with Scotch-Irish music in Appalachia.
Echo in the Valley is the follow up to Béla and Abigail’s acclaimed, self-titled debut that earned
the 2016 Grammy for Best Folk Album. This time around, the mission was to take their double
banjo combination of three finger and clawhammer styles “to the next level and find things to do
together that we had not done before,” says Béla. “We’re expressing different emotions through
past techniques and going to deeper places.” The results are fascinating, especially considering
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their strict rules for recording: all sounds “Choose a Job to
must be created by the two of them, the Transport your Career”
only instruments used are banjos (they
have seven between them, ranging from a Transportation Insight is Hiring!
ukulele to an upright bass banjo), and they We value the attributes of professionalism and
must be able to perform every recorded high-quality character. A successful candidate will
song live. value and possess these attributes: strong work
Fleck and Washburn met at a square dance ethic, strong communication skills, motivation to
and began playing music together a dozen grow and learn, positive attitude, dependability,
years ago, beginning with the Sparrow responsibility, honesty and integrity.
Quartet. They married shortly thereafter If this sounds like you, please apply at www.
and became parents to a cute little tot. transportationinsight.com/about/careers/.
They’ve been touring the globe as a duo for
years, almost nonstop but for each other’s 91
performances with various other musical
iterations: Béla with the likes of Béla Fleck
and the Flecktones, Chick Corea and Chris
Thile, among many others, and Abigail with
Wu Fei (a master of the ancient 21-string
Chinese zither), The Wu-Force and Uncle
Earl.
With the exception of a few restyled
traditional tunes, all tracks on Echo in the
Valley are originals, and are largely co-
written - a different creative approach from
their first album, where songs were mostly
his or hers.
“This time, we really wanted to truly write
together,” Béla adds. “We spent a lot of our
time on the lyrics, deciding what we want
the songs to communicate, both literally
and under the surface.”
Echo in the Valley reflects relevant issues
while simultaneously connecting us to
our past through wild re-imaginings of
traditional pieces. New original tunes range
from “Over the Divide,” a song inspired by
Hans Breuer, who worked to ferry Syrian
refugees to safety, to “Blooming Rose,”
inspired by Native American voices and
lamenting a continual distancing from
nature, and “Don’t Let It Bring You is an
emphatic mantra for hard times.
With I don’t wanna cry, cry, cry, oh, “Let it
Go” is ultimately about release from the
pain of transition, surrendering to growth.
The song acknowledges that we must let
our children grow up; the concession that
youthful innocence will one day give way to
adult cares and worries.
Clarence Ashley’s “My Home’s Across the
Blue Ridge Mountains” has been turned into

a rural blues, and Béla’s well-known piece Ireland – all mixed up in this beautiful
“Big Country” is framed by the traditional new sound, with those ancient tones in it,”
Appalachian tunes “Sally in the Garden” Abigail reflects. “The ancient sounds of
and “Molly Put the Kettle On,” a medley our culture remind us who we are, and in
Béla and Abigail performed hundreds them, we see a constellation of who we are
of times on stage before recording. becoming.”
“’Big Country’ is one of the most beauty Washburn has imbued this philosophy in all
melodies I have ever heard played on the
banjo,” says Abigail, who takes the aspects of her work, from the string
lead on this version. band Uncle Earl to her acclaimed
solo albums, Song of the Traveling
“Come All You Coal Miners” is Daughter and City of Refuge, and
the point-of-view of coal-miner her semi-autobiographical theatrical
advocate Sarah Ogan Gunning, work, Post-American Girl, as well as
whose passages remain poignant in her musical ambassadorship with
and powerful today. “This song China, a country with which she has
came from a very emotional, a long, profound history. Abigail is
mother-driven, daughter-driven, deftly following in the footsteps of
wife-driven place, and there are not the founding mothers of folk, and
many songs throughout history from has become a prominent voice of old-
that perspective, so I am incredibly time in our time while bringing to light
moved by her,” says Washburn. those ancient sounds of American and
Far East cultures in new and exciting
As the story goes, Béla was struck ways.
by the sound of Mr. Earl Scruggs’ Béla and Abigail’s creative process
banjo when hearing the Beverly on Echo in the Valley is sonically
Hillbillies theme song. He got hold
of a banjo, took his musical made manifest in the record’s
namesakes (Béla for Bartok, major themes of harmony,
Anton for Weburn, Leos for empathy and surrender. As
Yanecek) to heart, and has Abigail explains, the intense,
since continuously broken intimate collaboration that
new musical ground with Fleck and Washburn put
his instrument. Fleck forward on this project
has the distinction of required “a spirit of
being nominated in more staying strong, but also a
categories than any willingness to release into
other instrumentalist in the other’s ideas to create
Grammy history, and has something new,” possibly
brought his banjo through something bigger and more
scorching hot newgrass, beautiful than one could do
traditional bluegrass, on one’s own.
otherworldly funk, modern
jazz, African originals, transatlantic This duo is performing on January
Celtic, and classical realms, with two self- 18, 2019, as part of the Music in the Mill
composed banjo concertos to his name Concert Series at Hollar Mill. You can
(The Impostor and Juno Concerto), with a purchase tickets at Musicinthemill.com.
third one in the works. The address is 883 Highland Avenue SE,
Hickory, NC 28602. Doors open at 7:30, and
Abigail was similarly jolted into life as a the show begins at 8:10.
banjoist, but for her it was hearing Doc
Watson perform “Shady Grove.” “I was VIP Tickets $129 / General Admisison
proud to discover that I came from a Tickets Advance $50 / General Admission
country where you can hear that ancient Tickets @ Doors $60
sound - from Africa, from Scotland, from

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4,092

Number of Volunteers giving their time each year to cultural
organizations in Catawba County

882,347

Total attendance at cultural events
in Catawba County

$49,200,000

Dollar amount arts, science and history
organizations in Catawba County

generate annually in economic activity

Numbe3r5of years

of United Arts Fundraising

The United Arts Council of Catawba County recently conducted a study to
quantify the economic impact of the arts, sciences and history organizations
in our community. We learned that the Catawba County cultural community
generates $49,200,000 annually in local economic activity, and plays a key role
in attracting visitors. The cultural community provides jobs and opportunities

for volunteers, and sees annual attendance of more than 500,000 people.
The time is right to support the United Arts Fund. It is good for our community,
our economy and our local businesses. Please consider a tax deductible gift so
our arts, science and history organizations can continue to help make Catawba

County a great place to live and work.

To learn more about the United Arts Fund, call (828) 324-4906, or visit www.artscatawba.org9.3
This ad made possible by a generous donation from Robert Abbey Inc.

The Folk

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Keepers
By Carmen Eckard
Photograhy by Jon Eckard

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Charlie and Susan Frye are the
proprietors of Folk Keeper: Gallery
and Antiques. I don’t think it would
be an understatement to say that
they have become the heartbeat
of Downtown Lenoir, or to say that
Lenoir is better off because of it.

I know those are big words, and
maybe you don’t believe me. But
you’d be hard-pressed to spend more
than 10 minutes browsing shops in
Lenoir without seeing seeing some of
their art. And after spending the day
with them, it seems like most folks
wouldn’t dream of visiting Downtown
Lenoir without popping in to say hello.

Charlie tells me, “We are a Team” (The
capitilzation is mine, but I could tell that’s
what he meant). Charlie and Susan are
both artists, and as a team, they operate
nearly flawlessly, each knowing their
place and intuiting the other’s needs.
They live above their shop downtown,
allowing them to keep a constant check
on the pulse of Lenoir.

Charlie is a nationally aclaimed Folk
Artist. He is singular in his mission:
make art. And it seems to come as
naturally as breathing for him. One
of the most important qualifications
for being called a “folk artist”
is that you must be self-taught.

So we’re on the same page, I’ll share
the definition of Folk Art: artistic works,
as paintings, sculpture, basketry, and
utensils, produced typically in cultural
isolation by self-taught often anonymous
artists or by artisans of varying degrees
of skill and marked by such attributes
as highly decorative design, bright bold
colors, flattened perspective, strong
forms in simple arrangements, and
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“Teaching yourself how to do something is a very
Appalachian Foothills thing to do.”- Charlie Frye

Charlie’s paintings are known throughout the art world, and he’s become one of the
country’s most sought after folk artists. In fact, his artword graced the promotional
materials of the largest folk art show in the nation this year. People are noticing what he’s
doing in his sleepy little foothills town. And he’s somehow putting some of that sleepy little
town into each of his paintings. They *feel* like the foothills, which means WE LOVE THEM.

Charlie and Susan have known each other since they were kids, when Charlie had a crush
on her. Honestly, he still looks at her with that same adoration now even as they are happily
raising three teenagers, Grace, Gwyneth and Walker. I get the impression that this family is
actively living their best life.

“Take what you love and do it until you don’t want to do it anymore.
Then go to bed and do it again tomorrow.”- Charlie Frye

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Photo by Josh Clark
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Susan had always
wanted a store, and a
gallery and an antique
store seemed like a natural
fit, and would prove to
be very supportive for
Charlie’s painting career.
But once they were settled
into the space, art started
to pour out of Susan too.

She is now also a prolific
folk artist as well, and
visiting their store means
you might get to see both
of them working away,
bringing their visions to
life. You’ll also see so
many things they’ve made,
as well as things other
folks made that tickled
their fancies. Charlie tells
me “Our shop is what we
like.” You’ll like it too.

The easiest way to buy
art is to visit their store,
Folk Keepers Gallery and
Antiques. They also attend
several shows throughout
the year, including the
Kentuck Festival of
the Arts, Fearrington
Folk Art Show and the
Foothills Folk Art Festival.

These two work tirelessly
to ensure that Folk Art
continues to be living
art form. They are
carrying a torch, holding
space and keeping folk.

We applaud them heartily.

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THE QUIET SOPHISTICATION OF

Animal hides.

by Donna Steele

Far from their rustic beginnings, animal hides are now considered to be some
of the nicest, most high-end items you can purchase for your home. Once
relegated to Western-themed designs, the most chic spaces now house these
classic-yet-trendy hides. Animal hides are excellent statement pieces, and
unlike bold patterns, they are easy to integrate into your existing space. In
fact, a single throw or rug can tie a whole room together beautifully yet subtly.

Animal hides can be warm, luxurious and comfortable. They also don’t seem to show
any signs of losing their popularity. Natural products like these also age well, hiding
signs of damage.

Animal hides also bring nature into your space in a quiet way that is timeless and
opulent.

You can bring animal hides into your space in many ways. We love luxurious throws
and rugs. There are also ottomans and other furniture pieces available that use
animal fur, particularly sheepskin. Sheepskin is known for naturally regulating body
temperature by wicking heat away when you are hot and keeping the heat near you
when you are cold.

Keep yourself warm by bringing nature into your living spaces.

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