C is for Community

Halloween is a big event at our house. At best count, we celebrate this holiday for at least 14 days straight. There are parties and trick or treating, but my children's favorite event is Trunk or Treat at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Cornelius. We don't attend church there, but our neighborhood is down the street from the church. As soon as my kids see the Trunk or Treat sign go up, they begin counting down the days, as this as been part of their Halloween celebration all of their 7-year-old lives.

You don't have to be a church member and you don't even have to live down the street to attend, as everyone is welcome. Bethel puts on the festival to share a good time with the community. It's free, and there are always fun activities. Obviously, kids get to walk through a parking lot of decorated cars and score lots (and lots) of candy. Then there are all shapes and sizes of bounce houses and slides, free food, and live music. The church's boy scout troop magically transforms their scout hut into a haunted house, and hay rides are offered the entire time.

My favorite part is that we get to see our neighbors and friends. We might see people we see all the time, and we might run into other folks we haven't seen in years. Either way, it's fun to catch up as we watch our kids play and enjoy the sense of community that the Lake Norman area still manages to offer. That's a trick in itself.

Above, my daughter, Margot, aka Super Hero Barbie, enjoying the slide at Bethel Presbyterian Church's Trunk or Treat for the 17th time.

Three for Thursday - Halloween Style

It's time for one of the biggest weekends of the year. Even if you don't have children, Halloween beckons you to have fun. And since Halloween lands on a Tuesday this year, a lot of folks will be celebrating the holiday this weekend. Here are our three picks for Halloween fun. Be sure to enjoy all the tricks and treats out there!

Davidson Halloween March (October 27) The Town of Davidson will celebrate the Halloween season with its traditional Halloween March along Main Street. Families should line up at town hall to parade along Main Street to receive treats from merchants and organizations. 5 p.m. Free. Downtown Davidson, www.townofdavidson.org.

Ghost Walk Haunted Trail (October 27-28) This thrilling haunted trail is for only the bravest souls. Historic Latta Plantation is turned into a frightening sight once the moon rises over the forest and the spooks come out at night. Those who dare must come aware that the haunted trail is a true scare. Not suggested for children under 9. 7-10 p.m. (Last admission for ghost walk is 9:45 p.m.). $10 per person. Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Rescue Ranch’s Corn Maze (October 27-28) Rescue Ranch opens its gates for visitors to experience the twists and turns of a lighted Corn Maze presented by Chevrolet. The nine-acre corn maze boosts a Chevy design. The lighted maze will be open Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. during October. $8 for guests 13 and older; $5 for children two to 12; children under 2 are free. Rescue Ranch, 1424 Turnersburg Highway, Statesville, www.rescueranch.com.

My Campus Fix

I like to include a run on the Davidson College campus in my weekly workout mix. Lucky for me, the weather cooperated with me this morning, and I was able to run.

It's a simple thing, running from my kids' school in Davidson to the campus, but it brings me so much joy. I run around Roosevelt Park to see if there is any wildlife to be found. (There's usually a gaggle of geese.) Then I head to the college, where I find professors and students walking briskly to class toting their coffee and backpacks, their heads filled with new ideas and theories. Everyone always gives me a friendly greeting, but it's quick and to the point, as we all have things to do.

My job is to head to the track, where I can run as many laps as I want. My bad knee loves this part of the run because the track's surface is cushioned. It's like a spa day for my right leg. There are usually athletes on the field training for whatever sport they play for Davidson. Sometimes it's track and field, obviously, and other times it's conditioning for football or lacrosse. There are always a few townies getting their laps in by either walking the track or running up and down the stairs of the bleachers.

I treat the track as my personal meditation oval, a place where I can lose myself in my thoughts and know that I'm not going to run into traffic — literally. Between my solitude and the fresh air, running here gives me a sense of peace that I'm able to carry with me the whole day through.

When I head back to my car at my kids' school, my coffee is waiting for me, along with the rest of my morning. I feel energized and ready to take on whatever shows up in my inbox — all because of 45 magical minutes.

Three for Thursday

My 7-year-old twins refer to Thursday at Junior Friday. I'm all for it, as I love spending the weekends with my family. Lucky for us, we live in an area where something fun is always going on. Who can complain when your biggest problem is figuring which fun thing to do? We at CURRENTS like to help folks with this problem by recommending activities for the weekend. Below are are top three choices for this weekend. Enjoy!

Halloween in Huntersville & Fireworks Spooktacular (October 21) Enjoy live music, balloon twisters, airbrush tattoos, magicians, bounce houses, Halloween crafts, Springfree Trampoline and local craft vendors. Food trucks and beverages will be available for purchase. End the event by enjoying fireworks at 7:15 p.m. (weather permitting). 4 p.m. Free. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.huntersville.org.

All Hallows Eve Family Day (October 21) Dress in your best Halloween costumes and trick or treat around Latta Plantation. Play games, see historical demonstrations and meet the friendly farm animals while you visit. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $9, $8 students and seniors, children 5 and under are free. Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Fifth Annual Laketoberfest Music & Brew Festival (October 21) (pictured below) Enjoy beer from local North Carolina breweries in addition to food truck fare, music from local bands, a kids’ zone with crafts and games, and more. 4-9 p.m. Free. Bailey Road Park, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org. 

Four Years is Way Too Long

Today while finishing up the November issue, I stumbled upon our blog and was inspired to make it active again. Truth be told, our publisher, MacAdam Smith, also thought it would be a good idea to bring a blog into the mix. So, here we are, and I'm glad because it allows us to communicate with you, our readers, even more.

Please check back frequently to see what we're up to at CURRENTS and in the Lake Norman community. Fall is beautiful time here, and we're excited to go explore all of the fun things there are do. Stay tuned!

Lori K. Tate
Editor, CURRENTS Magazine

Quiz Answers!

Thanks so much for taking our history quiz. As promised, here are the answers. They are in bold. Happy Anniversary, Lake Norman!

1. What is the official name of Davidson College’s crowdsourcing project focused on the history of Lake Norman?

1. Beneath the Lake
2. Lake Norman Now and Then
3. Under Lake Norman
4. Lake Norman Legends

2. Which country music legend performed at one of the first Lake Norman Lot sales?

1. Kenny Rogers
2. Hank Williams
3. George Jones
4. Porter Wagner

3. Which Duke Power [now Duke Energy] president was integral in making the Davidson College Lake Campus a reality?

1. W.B. McGuire
2. Norman Cocke
3. Bob McKillop
4. Samuel Spencer, Jr.

4. The land of which two mills was flooded during the creation of Lake Norman?

1. Cannon Mills and Springs Industries
2. Burlington Industries and Cornelius Cotton Mill
3. Locke Mill and Tuscarora Yarns
4. East Monbo Mill and Long Island Mill

5. Which bridge still resides under Lake Norman?

1. The Beatties Ford Bridge
2. The Old Highway 150 Bridge
3. The Sam Furr Bridge
4. The Peninsula Bridge

6. Which plantation house’s ruin can be found under Lake Norman?

1. Latta Plantation
2. Dilworth Plantation
3. Middleton Place
4. Elm Wood Plantation

7. What is the name of the oldest waterfront venue on Lake Norman?

1. The Landing
2. North Harbor Club
3. Rusty Rudder
4. Oni’s

8. Which camp opened on the shores of the Catawba River in 1938 for the benefit of orphans housed at various orphanages in the area?

1. Camp Dogwood
2. Camp Catawba
3. Camp Fellowship
4. Camp Barnhardt

9. What name was found on the single tombstone discovered during the land clearing for Cowan’s Ford Dam in 1958?

1. Norman Cocke
2. John Cowan
3. John Abernathy
4. William Lee Davidson

10. Which local family had three brothers serve as mayor of Charlotte, Cornelius and Mooresville at the same time?

1. The Washam family
2. The Jetton family
3. The Davidson family
4. The Knox family

11. What year did Duke Power [now Duke Energy] dam the Catawba River?

1. 1970
2. 1953
3. 1975
4. 1963

12. Which anniversary did Lake Norman celebrate this year?

1. 25^th
2. 50^th
3. 30^th
4. 75^th

Might As Well Jump

A little over a year ago my husband and I went to see Van Halen perform in Charlotte. Before you even ask, it was Van Halen, not Van Hagar. Lucky for us we got to see the original band featuring "Diamond Dave" — David Lee Roth perform.

The concert was excellent, as I am a huge Eddie Van Halen fan. Like cheese, wine and a good leather satchel, Eddie just gets better with age. Anyway, we were enjoying the concert when suddenly everyone left the stage except for Roth. "These are my dogs," he says as a big screen appears behind him. And for the next 15 minutes we watched a beautiful short film about this dogs. Beautiful but quite strange as a rock concert. None of us in the audience really knew what to do with this information.

Turns out that Roth grew up on a farm in Indiana. With that nugget of knowledge it doesn't seem so strange.

What does this have to do with Lake Norman, Lori? You might be asking yourself. Well this weekend is The 2013 Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival. I've never been and am happy to say that I will be attending tomorrow.

Supposedly there will be a lot of things going on such as the National Border Collie Sheepherding Championships, as well as demonstrations by the Carolina Dock Dogs and the Greater Charlotte Shetland Sheepdog Club. I can't imagine what I'm in for, but I have an idea it's going to be super cool (and cute).

Just to get me in the mood, I think I'll listen to a little of Van Halen's 1984 album on the way there. As Dave sang in the '80s, "Might as well jump."

Enjoy lake living,

Lori K. Tate
Editor, CURRENTS Magazine

Seeing the Light(s)

My life basically takes place on two roads in the Lake Norman area — Catawba Avenue and Highway 115. I'm on both of them every single day, so I immediately notice anything out of the ordinary — enter Blinkies.

When I first saw these twinkling lights on the two red trees in front of ACE Hardware in Cornelius, I thought I was imagining things. Remember, I have two 3-year-olds, so I'm always reading about princesses and magic wands. This could have easily been an extension of my Cinderella knowledge. But no, the lights were there the next day and the next.

They weren't traditional Christmas lights saturating a tree Christmas Vacation-style, not that there's anything wrong with that. These were placed far apart from each other, scattered even, so much so that I slowed down one day to see if they were clipped to the branches individually. They weren't, as I finally saw the power cord linking all the magic together.

The more I see the lights, the happier they make me. Believe me, after getting the twins ready for preschool every morning, I'm always searching for any shred of serenity I can find. These lights give me that as I drive the kids to and from school. Finally, I succumbed to my curiosity and went into the store to inquire about them. The lady at the counter said, "Oh, you mean Blinkies, they're right over there," as she pointed to a stand-alone display. She then referred to me one of the managers, Dori Rice, so I could learn more.

Turns out Blinkies are a relatively new phenomenon and were developed by Roger's Products Inc. right up the road in Kernersville. "When he [Roger] first called and told me about the Blinkies, I wasn't sure," remembers Rice, adding that the lights are placed six feet apart on the cord. "He said, 'just let me come down and hang some on your trees so you can see.' " He did, and Rice became just as captivated as me.

The trick with these lights is that they exude a glistening effect. The blink appears to be slower and completely random, so the tree subtly sparkles. In addition, the whiteness of the lights is also softer. Roger's website refers to the effect as "a touch of twinkle."

Call it whatever you want, but to me these lights represent the happiness we should all try to seek out on a daily basis. It's so easy to become down, even depressed during the holidays. And as we all know, stress seems to unfortunately be a constant in today's world.

These lights can help ease those negative thoughts for just a moment. Trust me, if I can sense their magic when my kids are screaming in the backseat of my minivan as we drive by ACE, anyone can. So when you get a chance, drive by the Blinkies and enjoy a small slice of delight.

Enjoy lake living,

Lori K. Tate
Editor, CURRENTS Magazine

Pace Yourself

When you live in the Lake Norman area, you will find you feel tired, even exhausted, more often than not. Sure there's all the water activity during the summer, but I find myself feeling a bit worn out during the colder months as well. The reason? All of things there are to do here.

Whether you do or don't have children, there are events every day of the week throughout the year in the Lake Norman area. We are a festival family, so we have been especially tired lately, as Lake Norman offers a ton of fall festivals.

One weekend we went to the Mooresville Cruise-In. The next we went to the country fair festival at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Cornelius. Last weekend we started early on Friday with the balloon festival in Statesville. On Saturday we went to Tom Cotter's Woody Party, one of our favorite events of the year, and a neighborhood block party. We followed that up with a trip to Carrigan Farms for pumpkin picking on Sunday. This weekend we went to Trunk or Treat at Bethel Presbyterian Church. Next weekend, we plan to hit the Renaissance Festival. Whew!

Our community is so very close-knit, that you can't help but see people you know when you venture to these events. Even if you don't know the person, you recognize them from the Y or from your kid's school or from Harris Teeter. That's one of the things that make them so fun.

I take this for granted when I hear other folks talk about the places they live. So many people don't know their neighbors and would never recognize them if they ran into them at the gas station. That doesn't work for me. I'm from a small town, and as much as I tried to fight it in my 20s, I'm a small town girl (I just like big town amenities, as I often suffer from severe sushi cravings). That's why I'm here, as it's the perfect balance for me — the best of both worlds if you will.

What did you do this past weekend? Feeling tired? Let us know what kind of fun you discovered at Lake Norman.

Enjoy lake living,

Lori K. Tate
Editor, CURRENTS Magazine

Big Night Out at Port City Club

If you read CURRENTS on a regular basis, you know that my husband and I have 3.5-year-old twins. Therefore, we don't get out much as a couple. For the past couple of months, we've really been trying to schedule regular date nights because if we don't, we truly have no idea what's going on in each other's lives. It's funny how a date night with your husband can feel like a first date over and over again.

Even though we can never have a conversation at home over two loud preschoolers, we can have long, even thought-provoking conversations at a leisurely dinner. The latest place we chose for this activity is Port City Grill in Cornelius. My husband, John, surprised me with dinner reservations there last Friday night and off we went.

For those of you who don't know, Port City is on the lakeside property that formerly housed Midtown Sundries and Latitude something. I forgot the official name because Latitude wasn't there for very long. Anyway, if you went to Midtown, you'll remember how casual it was (I've dined there in a bathingsuit and cover-up more than once). Well, Port City has taken things up a notch, and that's a very good thing.

The interior is lighter and more contemporary, and the food is much more interesting. Don't get me wrong, I loved, even adored, the turkey club sandwich at Midtown, but we're talking date night. I need a fancy entree for date night.

As soon as my husband and I arrived, we both discussed the changes to the interior. We agreed they were good ones. Then we scored a rock star table at the front of the restaurant with a stellar lake view. Immediately our waiter came to our table. John and I quickly began ordering before we realized that we didn't have to be in a hurry. No one was going to have a meltdown waiting for food because the two individuals who do that were at home with their grandparents. Once we came to that realization, we ordered wine and the crab cake appetizer. Then we proceeded to order more wine with our entrees. John had the stuffed salmon, and I devoured the NC Trout, which is funny because I'd never had trout before. I'm usually a tilapia girl all the way.

After dinner, we split some sort of lemon/key lime pie, which was excellent, and then we lingered to talk some more. Eventually we left, as we didn't want to occupy the table for the whole evening and cheat our wonderful waiter out of other customers. The place was really jumping by 8:30 p.m. That's right, our reservations were for 6:30 p.m. That's life in the parents of young children lane.

We would completely go back and plan to once we get another date night on the calendar.

Enjoy lake living,

Lori K. Tate
Editor, CURRENTS Magazine