Carolina Spark Magazine: Issue 7, Summer 2023

PHOTO CREDITS: BROOKE PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY HAIR & MAKEUP: FAB FLAWLESS MAKEUP ARTISTRY VENUE: TIMBER HALL EVENTS

www.TheBlueBlanket.org

Kat@TheBlueBlanket.org

(772) 828-0778

Facebook: @TheBlueBlanket | Instagram: @theblueblanketinc

LinkedIn: The Blue Blanket | TikTok: @TheBlueBlanketInc

KATHERINE COSIMANO ACSW, LCSW, CEO

PHOTO CREDITS: BROOKE PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY HAIR & MAKEUP: FAB FLAWLESS MAKEUP ARTISTRY VENUE: TIMBER HALL EVENTS

PHOTO CREDITS: BROOKE PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY HAIR & MAKEUP: FAB FLAWLESS MAKEUP ARTISTRY VENUE: TIMBER HALL EVENTS

KAITLYN BAKER Nashville Recording Artist/Songwriter

Mexican Street Corn Casserole

SERVES: 5-6

24 oz. frozen corn, thawed

¼ cup mayonnaise

⅓ cup sour cream

1 tbsp. lime juice

1 tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. garlic salt

½ cup chopped tri-colored peppers* (optional)

4 oz. crumbled queso fresco or cojita cheese

2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped for garnish

pinch cayenne pepper

salt and pepper, to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Lightly grease a 2-3 quart casserole dish.

3. In a large bowl, mix together corn, mayonnaise, sour cream, and lime juice. Add chili powder, garlic salt, cayenne and mix well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in half of the queso fresco or cotija.

4. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Before serving, sprinkle with remaining cheese and chopped cilantro.

Note: This recipe is very versatile and can be garnished with many different options like jalapeños, green onions, tri-colored peppers, black beans, and many different types of cheeses.

SERVE AS A SIDE DISH OR A DIP FOR CHIPS!

Dear Reader,

First of all, before you start reading, here is a trigger warning for those suffering from loss or mental illnesses.

It is no secret that we all experience some form of difficulty in our lives. You might be thinking to yourself, ‘Wow, that was not the lead-in I was expecting for a women’s empowerment magazine.’ But hear me out. Let’s get down to the real stuff that we don’t always talk about. You never really know what someone is going through just by looking at them. A passerby on the street might carry the devastating grief of the loss of a loved one who unexpectedly died in a car accident two days ago. The woman sitting at the table next to you in the coffee shop might’ve just learned that she lost her second baby after years of trying. A co-worker might be experiencing debilitating anxiety, yet she puts on a happy face every single day anyway. That’s brave! When it comes down to it, life can be really hard. Sometimes, as women, we push it down and keep moving forward. The women in the pages of this issue have gone through so much. Today, I want to celebrate them for everything they have overcome, and all that they have accomplished to get to where they are today. They are determined, and they have conquered. And if you’re reading this and you, too, have gone through a lot and made it out on the other side, I want to celebrate you as well. You deserve to be celebrated, and to know your worth. Give yourself some credit for everything you have gone through, and everything you have accomplished. You, too, are a determined and conquering woman. You, too, are brave

Rosa Linda Fallon

Do you have a story you would like to share?

rosa@crystalcmarketing.com

CONTRIBUTING

Spark Your Inspiration and Empower Your Soul 2023

SAVE THE DATE:

October 13-14, 2023 | Davis Event Center in Fletcher, NC

Each ticket includes breakfast, lunch, free goodies, access to our vendors market, free parking, and admission to all speakers.

Carolina Spark Magazine will be hosting its very rst women’s empowerment seminar, Ignite the Spark: Spark Your Inspiration and Empower Your Soul 2023 during the weekend of October 13-14th at the Davis Event Center in Fletcher, N.C.

Curated for women in all walks of life, this two-day, interactive event will bring together insights from diverse backgrounds of women in di erent industries to focus on topics a ecting women on professional and personal levels. Ignite the Spark! will be jam-packed with creative and transformational workshops designed to empower women from all walks of life, networking opportunities, inspirational speakers. Our featured speakers include: #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author Kate Butler, Inspirational Speaker, Children's Book Author, & Former Professional Baseball Player Chris Singleton, Asheville-based Entrepreneur & Business Coach Brittany Bettini, and more!

Plus we will be hosting a surprise celebrity that you will not want to miss!!

To purchase tickets, scan this QR code or visit https://ignite-the-spark-csm.eventbrite.com

Lisa Genevieve Ziemer

Lisa Genevieve Ziemer is the CEO and founder of VaVaVooom LLC , a boudoir boutique with two locations in Asheville, and an online shop. For fifteen years, it has been her pleasure to provide intimate products that are consciously curated. “There are so many adult shops that carry products that are simply not safe for intimate use. The industry is not greatly concerned with high standards,” she says.

“As a woman concerned about what we put on our bodies, as well as in our bodies, my goal has been to create a destination that carries only body-safe intimate products, lovely lingerie and celebrates sexuality in a psychologically and physically positive manner.” VaVaVooom is attended by well informed, kind and considerate staff and all are welcome.

828.254.6329

www.vavavooom.com

57 Broadway Street, Asheville NC 28801

Franny Tacy

With degrees and work experience in Forestry and Education, and having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over a decade, Franny is now considered one of the preeminent experts of all things hemp. She participates in hemp Research Trials with North Carolina State University, has a TEDx speech on hemp, and is a founding member of the Women in Hemp non-profit.

Franny has developed Franny’s Farmacy into a vertically integrated brand involved in growing, processing, manufacturing, distribution and franchising 11 stores in 6 states, and expanding CBD dispensaries across the U.S. Franny "Puts the Farm in Farmacy" with her own line of premier hemp and botanicals products such as Edibles, Tinctures, Topicals, Teas & Pet Line.

Visit Franny's Farm in Leicester, NC or stop by one of many local dispensaries today!

www.frannysfarmacy.com

Tamara Maybin

Tamara Maybin, a proud Hendersonville native, co-operates the family-owned venture. The Grafted Olive Catering Company. Alongside her husband and daughter, Tamara embodies the spirit of this cherished Christian business. They have made The Grafted Olive a vital part of the local community, dedicatedly serving Hendersonville and neighboring counties.

Known for their uniquely customized Gathering Charcuterie Tables, The Grafted Olive caters to all events and adds a personalized touch to every occasion. Their motto, "Grown To Serve,' signifies their commitment to using fresh, farm-to-table produce to deliver unparalleled value to their clients. For the Maybins, this is more than just business; it's a divine calling. They see God's hand in their work, attributing their success to Him. The Grafted Olive, a reference to Romans 11:17-24, symbolizes their adoption into God's family.

The Grafted Olive | 828-676-8497

Megan Kerr

Megan is a retired military veteran, a mom of two, and a forever reader. Fiction is her favorite, and she loves finding new worlds where she can learn something new, or escape and enjoy a new adventure. She’s held many jobs in the past from birth doula to paralegal, but opening this bookstore is a dream come true! There are books for everyone at Off the Wall as well as workspaces, comfortable seating, and a baby-safe room for new parents. They also sell a variety of inexpensive snacks and drinks, so the entire family can get a tasty treat for an affordable price.

Off the Wall Books N Cafe

2000 Spartanburg Highway, Suite #400 Hendersonville, NC 28792

828-435-2297 | www.offthewallbooksncafe.com

9am-5pm Tues-Thurs, 9am-3pm Sat-Sun

Kristy Wilson CIC, CISR, TRA, President's Club

Kristy Wilson from Bankers Insurance is an experienced insurance expert who can help protect your business operations from potential losses. Whether you're a new entrepreneur or an established business, Kristy will listen to your needs and provide valuable suggestions. Her expertise includes risk transfer, contract and lease agreement review, and advice on claims prevention to mitigate risks and exposures effectively.

Kristy offers various services for your customized insurance program, such as general liability coverage, workers' compensation insurance, property coverage for buildings and inventory, and cyber insurance. While she specializes in industries like hospitality/ retail, medical/dental practices, warehouse/manufacturing facilities, professionals, and non-profit organizations, she can assist beyond these sectors.

Direct: 828-350-3122 |Mobile: 828-280-3369

www.bankersinsurance.net

Jeanne Perry

Jeanne’s Hair & Makeup Studio is located in Asheville, North Carolina, but Jeanne did not start in Asheville. She began her venture in 1983 at Mansfield Beauty Academy in Portland, Maine. She lived and worked as a stylist in Kennebunkport, Maine while raising her three children. Jeanne and her husband have lived in Asheville for about twenty years. Weddings are her specialty: both hair and makeup, on-location or in her studio. Whether it is a micro wedding, or a very large wedding party, it is always an honor to be part of their day. Even at 75 years old, Jeanne feels she learns something every day in the wedding industry. “I love what I do, as if the bride and her wedding party were part of my family!” Jeanne says.

Jeanne’s Hair and Makeup Studio

828-275-4952 | www.jeanneshair.com

Nicole Sharp

AR Workshop Asheville is your DIY destination! Our charming boutique studio offers hands-on craft classes, corporate parties & team buildings, private parties, summer art camp and a curated selection of gifts and on-trend home decor. We have recently added soy wax candle pouring workshops as well!

Family and woman-owned, a fun and satisfying experience is always our goal! Our paints are high-quality and our stains are non-toxic and fume free. No experience is necessary to leave with a beautiful customized piece of home decor. You provide the vision and we will guide the process! We offer a wide variety of projects including wood, canvas, chunky knit yarn and a new selection of youth projects. Come join us for some fun!

Our workshop calendar is always available online at our website 828-676-0075 | www.arworkshop.com/asheville

Lacey Townsend

After years in the industry, LOVE Land and Home formed out of a desire to help others find the love and joy that can be a part of the real estate buying or selling process. Homes are our shelter, and our land here in Western NC is sacred. Lacey Townsend believes that any real estate deal is more than just a numbers game. Holding space for buyers and sellers is just as important as providing the most accurate data and trends in this ever-changing market. She provides one-on-one service to her clients, whether they are first-time home buyers, or long time investors. She joyfully serves from Murphy to Marion, Hot Spring to Hendersonvillewherever her clients feel led, they go. LOVE Land and Home is all about real estate, with love.

Contact Lacey Townsend, 828-747-2506

lovelandandhome@gmail.com

Diane Luebbers

Diane Luebbers is a local real estate broker with BluAxis Realty serving the Western North Carolina area alongside her husband, Jim Luebbers. Specializing in customized, concierge-level real estate services, Jim and Diane go above and beyond to serve their buyer and seller clients. In her spare time, Diane enjoys fly fishing, writing, conservation work, cooking gumbo, and producing multimedia art pieces. Reach out to her today for assistance with your real estate needs!

Diane Luebbers

The Luebbers Team, BluAxis Realty (828)-785-8551

diane@bluaxis.com

Caitlin Clampitt

Caitlin Clampitt’s life is a whirlwind, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She owns three Amazing Lash Studios, two in Greenville and one in Asheville, co-owns a thriving PR agency, DCG Communications, and is mom to twins! Her favorite part of business ownership and the most meaningful part of her job is the relationships with customers and employees. With happy clients and even happier employees, the rest falls into place.

Amazing Lash Studios provides a wide range of transformational eyelash, brow and waxing services. Open 7 days a week and offering a discounted membership program, Caitlin’s goal is to make self-care accessible and affordable for all. “I like to describe extensions and lash lifts as a high maintenance way to be low maintenance every day,” she says.

caitlin.clampitt@amazinglashstudio.com www.amazinglashstudio.com

Emily Walker, Director, General Manager

Chimney Rock Management is proud to be a certified majority women-owned and woman-led business with a family-oriented culture. Just like any family, it takes good communication and everyone working together to help maintain the highest potential. Chimney Rock Management has operated the Chimney Rock section of the greater Chimney Rock State Park since 2007.

Their team of local folks is dedicated to their mission to create elevated experiences by providing exceptional service, offering informative, exciting and fun educational programs, and caring for the Park property and its amenities as if they were their own. They strive to provide their associates and guests with a nurturing environment where one can find inspiration and a deep connection to the natural world that creates memories to last a lifetime.

828-625-9611 | ChimneyRockPark.com

PHOTO CREDIT: HEATHER HAMBOR OF HH PHOTOGRAPHY

Holly Fisher

For many business owners, marketing feels complicated. Without a marketing plan, a website that generates leads, or a way to keep in touch with existing customers, you run the risk of losing out on business.

On September 30, 2023 at Expand 23 Asheville’s Holly Fisher will share a marketing strategy that works. The Marketing Made Simple Checklist helps business owners create a sales funnel so they can reach more customers. Learn to effectively develop, strengthen and communicate your brand’s story in the marketplace with a one-liner, website, lead generator and email campaigns. Fisher, owner of Fisher Creative Marketing and a StoryBrand Certified Guide, also will review attendees’ websites and give real-time feedback and tips.

To learn more about Expand 23, visit PLRconnectevents.com Holly Fisher - Holly@fisher-creative.com, www.fisher-creative.com/

Dr. Jackie Coley

After earning her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2014, Dr. Jackie Coley worked for several years as a forensic toxicologist and academic editor before taking the leap and following her true passion: high performance coaching. She’s on a mission to empower achievement-focused individuals to do the work they feel called to do so that they can make an impact and go after the things they truly want in life.

At Expand 23, coming to Asheville on September 30, Dr. Coley will be hosting Business Confidence 101, an interactive workshop that’s all about kickstarting your confidence so that you can show up powerfully and do the amazing work you’re meant to do.

For more information on Expand 23 visit plrconnectevents.com Jackie Coley - Jackie.Coley@gmail.com, www.jackiecoley.com/

Kurtavia Burton

Kurtavia Burton is the CEO of Kurtavia Writes LLC, also known as Kurtavia Writes & Assists, a writing and virtual assistance agency. With 11 years experience in Healthcare Administration, and a lifetime of writing, she is well versed in streamlining operations, writing, and management. She is certain to jump in and provide professional support and advocacy.

A visionary, game changer and fierce facilitator, Kurtavia empowers others, especially Women in business, through outsourcing support and encouragement. Her ebook You Are No Imposter: A Guide to Shining Your Light is the personification of her objective. Through this guide, Kurtavia encourages Women to cancel self-sabotage, and instead, show up, be amazing, and remain resilient. She will also be leading a workshop at Expand 23 - coming September 30, 2023 to Asheville, NC.

kurtavia@kurtaviawrites.com, www.tinyurl.com/kurtavia

Monica Rousseau

Principal Broker of Realty ONE Group Pivot, Monica Rousseau worked in the education field for years before going into real estate. Today, education remains the foundation of her business. As the owner of two very successful Realty ONE firms in Asheville and Hendersonville, Monica believes very strongly in educating her agents and making sure they have the knowledge they need to succeed. While she is a great agent, she says her highest and best use is in running her business and developing others. “I want to inspire people to want to learn and get better at their craft every single day,” Monica says.

Monica Rousseau - Realty ONE Group Pivot

90 Southside Ave. Ste 300 Asheville, NC 28801 319 N King Street Hendersonville, NC 28792

828-595-2494 | Email: Monica@rogpivot.com | www.linktr.ee/mrousseau

Lisa Neville

Lisa Neville is a Certified Life, Relationship and Tantra Coach who helps her clients gain a more intimate knowledge of themselves and their relationships with others. Lisa has helped many individuals and couples rekindle their passion for life and intimate relationships. She has learned through her personal experiences, professional training and finding the love of her life just how fulfilling relationships can be when we have the intimate knowledge and skills of loving ourselves first.

Lisa’s passion is to give that back to her clients through her meaningful and insightful sessions.

828-585-7669 | www.lovelifecoach.net

Brandy Parker

Strategic mortgage lender Brandy Parker believes every client is as unique as the home they love. With her personalized approach, she will tailor solutions to meet your specific financial goals and circumstances. If you are a first time home buyer, investor, or refinancer, she has a mortgage program to meet your needs. Brandy is dedicated to providing transparent and honest advice, ensuring you make informed decisions every step of the way. When you choose her team at Radius Financial Group, you can rest assured that you will receive unparalleled support, unmatched expertise, and a smooth, stress-free lending experience. Experience how she Makes Mortgages Better and makes your homeownership dreams a reality.

Brandy Parker, Mortgage Lender nmls# 2000648

Email: bparker@radiusgrp.com

Phone: 828-506-7007

Website: www.radiusgrp.com/brandyparker

Tonia Sheppard

As a graduate of Mars Hill College, Tonia studied Management and Marketing, and soon began working with Alan’s Jewelry & Pawn. Along with her husband, Alan Sheppard, she has helped to grow the business from one location into three, and then came the addition of Finkelstein’s Loan Office. Tonia has worked to bring Alan’s to the forefront as much more than just pawn, but a top-notch, go-to jewelry store. She meets directly with jewelry representatives across the world to find new and unique pieces of jewelry to sell within the stores. Not only will you find pre-loved jewelry but new, contemporary styles. Tonia is always happy to assist you in finding your perfect piece of jewelry. Stop in and celebrate Alan’s 35 years in business, or visit Finkelstein’s in downtown Asheville and celebrate their 120th year!

www.alanspawn.com

Patton Ave, Tunnel Rd & Cherokee Locations

Jazmin Whitmore

In February 2019, Jazmin Whitmore opened More to Love Consignment, a consignment shop that caters to curvy women on a budget. More to Love is more than just a store – it is a call to action to directly challenge fashion, beauty ideals, and judgmental attitudes towards curvy bodies. A curvy, queer, woman of color, Jazmin recognized the lack of options curvy women had, especially in vintage and consignment shops. She says that long ago, she adopted a guideline: If she finds herself complaining about something for long enough, she needs to start thinking about solutions. So, Jazmin opened her own shop where she gets to live out her passion by helping other women feel beautiful.

More to Love, Plus Size Consignment

606 New Leicester Hwy Unit B

Asheville, NC 28806

828-424-7270 | www.moretoloveasheville.com

Christy M. Ward

If anyone knows House & Home, you can bet it’s Christy M. Ward. Christy has spent 20 years helping home buyers and sellers with their Real Estate needs. In 2010, she stepped away from the big-name companies and created her brand, Allure Mountain Properties & Retreats, which specializes in helping people buy, sell and manage their real estate and STR/Flipper investments. This created a demand for property management, co-hosting and maintenance. Inspired, she expanded her team and maintenance division, AMP Home Services LLC. Christy and her team are resourceful and experienced with helping you achieve your home goals. Be it real estate, flipping, staging and design, or general cleaning/handyman services, you can rest assured Christy's team will take care of your goal.

www.ChristyMWard.com

6 Fashion Tips for Summer in the Carolinas

WRITTEN BY SHELBY BRAMLETT

Like most people, I love the outdoors. There is something so special about warm sunshine beaming on your face. Along with the warmer weather in the Carolinas comes longer days, and a chance to switch up your style. This season will motivate you to step out of your comfort zone and experiment in seasonal shades, and perhaps with bold pops of color.

1. Pick a New Color

From your eyes, cheeks, and lips, this season is all about using one color to create more of a subtle tone. A dewy and fresh makeup look is what’s on the radar. Picking a palette that can be used all over the face not only saves you money but is wonderful to use on the lips, eyes, and cheeks. Speaking of color, pink is about to explode! Maybe it’s the upcoming live-action Barbie movie or the peak color of 2023. Either way, hot pink polish, glitter accents, and pink statement lips will be a huge hit this summer. Making a comeback from the 90s is frosted shimmer — expect to see frosted lips and eyeshadows from your favorite social media influencers. Another makeup trend you can expect to see this summer is graphic eyeliner — it’s been around a while, but this summer you can be sure to see graphic shapes and designs along with bold pops of color.

2. Stay Sun-Kissed and Fresh

Let’s not forget the golden glow. Bronzers are the best way to get a sun-kissed look without damaging rays and are one of my favorite essentials. This summer, opt for the glow minus the sun damage by sweeping on a bronzer whether on bare skin or over your foundation to achieve a brightened, healthy glow.

3. Prep Your Skin for Summer Days

Less is more especially in the summer months, so proper skincare is a must. Your skin should be kept well hydrated and exfoliated. Well-prepped skin not only gives you a beautiful natural glow, but it also helps you hold and use less products. Instead of foundation, try

a tinted moisturizer. It's breathable and evens out your complexion without the layers. While these low-pigment formulas won’t cover all your imperfections, they will offer a beautiful glow with plenty of moisture.

4. Don’t Forget to Protect Your Skin

Don’t forget to use your sunblock! And with all the selftanners available, who needs to risk skin damage and skin cancer to achieve a golden tan? Over time, UV damage can take a toll on your skin and its underlying layers. In fact, an estimated 90 percent of skin aging is caused by the sun. So make sure you are protecting your skin every day with a high-quality SPF.

5. Keep Your Locks Shiny and Healthy

Summertime in the Carolinas is not a time to neglect your hair. Staying hydrated and using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner is a must. It's also the perfect time to trim your hair or refresh your style. Trends for this summer include: layers, contour cutting, and lots of fringe. You will also see shimmering undertones, highlights, as well as lowlights that glisten in the sunshine.

6. Dress Boldly (and Comfortably!) for Summer

Finally, don’t neglect your wardrobe! Summer is the perfect time to play around with colors and textures. This summer you will see lots of fringe, tassels, and mesh. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box, and make sure you are having fun with pops of color. You are sure to see lots of sheer pieces, metallics, cargo pants, relaxed-style denim, and maxi skirts. Opt for light fabrics, flowy tops, and comfortable materials.

If you don't like any of these trends, you're in luck!

Fashion is fluid and you do not need to adopt new trends to be chic, however, I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. You just may be surprised with your new look and the boost of confidence that may follow. After all, you might just start a trend.

10 Ways to Make Your Purse More Fun

WRITTEN BY CHELSEA BOES

“I wish I had a purse,” my six-year-old sighed one day last fall. “A bag just for me. Full of money and things I love.”

I wrinkled my eyebrows at her, trying to understand. I don’t know about yours, but my purse is not full of things I love. It’s a diggable graveyard of Paw Patrol figurines and broken pretzels. About half the time, I can unearth a Pull-Up for my toddler. Baby wipes on occasion. If I’m lucky, I can reach in and find the thing I’m usually looking for – a pen.

My daughter’s wish stuck in my brain. I tried to imagine a world in which I could describe my purse as “a bag just for me full of money and things I love.” I tried to imagine even having a purse I could reach into without losing my arm. Having much to learn, I crowdsourced. I asked my friends: “What is the most fun thing you carry in your purse?”

I’ve compiled their answers for the benefit of anyone who carries a leather appendage as unworkable as mine. You have to carry your phone and your wallet, of course—but to amp up the fun, add the following:

1. Something to do in a pinch. Dice. A novel. A diary. A hacky sack, crossword, or Sudoku pad. Watercolors and a little sketchbook.

2. A bit of hope. Nothing ministers to the frazzled spirit like the promise of future fun. Add to your purse tickets to a Tourists game, concert, or theme park. Or maybe your “hope” item will instead be a list of goals, or just one long-term goal broken up into small steps.

3. Something pretty. Aesthetics are motivating. I know this because when I was a little girl I screamed my head off every time I had to take a shower—until my mother bought me matching apple-scented VO5 shampoo and conditioner. Add to your purse a lip-plumper, a lotion that smells good, or a scrunchie.

4. Something for self-defense. I was truly stunned to learn how many of my friends carry items for self-defense. A whistle, pepper spray, a taser. One enterprising soul claimed she carries a revolver. Do these items count as “fun”? “Not for them,” one friend said, referring to the imaginary assailant she may have to use her taser on.

5. Something for someone else. Mom friends carry playdough, puzzles, and balloons, and softball eyeblack for their kids. Maybe you want to throw in granola bars or gift cards for the homeless, or blank notes to write to encourage someone you know.

6. Something a little weird. Among my friends, items listed here included a kazoo, a bag to pick up plant bits in the garden section, a shaker egg for spontaneous percussion, and a purple Camaro matchbox car. What preeminently weird thing has your name all over it?

7. A memory. One friend carries a childhood photo of her husband for the occasional needed “aww” and for a laugh. Another keeps her grown son’s first driver’s license from the state they used to live in.

8. Something practical—besides your wallet and phone. Do you tote a tape measure, multi-tool, or a StickAny ball? StickAny is a neat Amazon find that rolls around the bottom of your purse picking up the gunk, like the Roomba of purses. Scrolling reviews, I wonder, “Could StickAny handle my pretzels?” My cold-footed friends keep socks. The festive ones carry a wine key, though they say it often gets confiscated in airports.

9. Something yummy. Some carry candy. Others stash a teabag. I throw in a whole grapefruit—something to demolish when I’m starving in the Walgreens pharmacy drive-through.

10. Cash. One responder said carrying cash makes her feel like “I’m getting something for free.” This cash is just for you. Budget for it, then hit the ATM and tuck the

bucks in your bag for spontaneous coffee, nail polish, and newspapers. Or maybe you should spend it like my nowseven-year-old would—on the crane game in the grocery store entryway. Just for fun. Because that’s what this is about.

My daughter got her first purse this winter. It holds allowance money, colored pencils, notepads, chapter books, hair bows, and other bits of treasure she finds along the way. On the outside, it’s almost identical to mine — a small, brown leathery backpack. She did this on purpose. And now I try to make mine like hers, on the inside.

"I GOT MY GROOVE BACK"

Asheville resident Michelle had been experiencing the roller coaster of the side effects of menopause." One minute I am anxious and the next I'm settling into depression. Same with the hot flashes! The sleep disturbance is really getting to me. I was told I would 'just have to live with it or go on HRT' which I wasn't quite ready for".

Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of the reproductive years. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 but can occur earlier or later. Michelle was exhausted from not sleeping due to night sweats and feeling defeated from losing her drive. "Am I just supposed to live with this? I feel like my world is falling apart!"

If you are struggling with Menopausal Symptoms, you're not sleeping at night because you're burning up from the inside out, you have difficulty focusing, and you're experiencing brain fog, unwarranted anxiety, and loss of drive. You're irritated with dryness, and even your ears are itchy. Your doctor told you you may have to 'just live with the changes', and you're taking medications like SSRIs that aren't working or have terrible side effects.

Our providers have been helping the Asheville community using cutting-edge and innovative integrative medicine for over ten years. Specializing in reproductive health they consistently generate unparalleled results. What was once a missing link in healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of Asheville.

Michelle recently noticed she was gaining weight around her belly, even though she eats healthy and tries to stay active. "This not-sleeping business is really putting a dent in my energy levels. It is becoming a struggle to exercise and ride my bike." Most people describe it as if someone punched a hole in their gas tank and turned their world upside down.

Menopause is MUCH MORE than night sweats and hot flashes. It is a highly individual experience.

"I started getting treatments and my hot flashes decreased immediately, not to mention I started sleeping better!"

Our experienced providers at South Slope Acupuncture & Wellness are using the timetested science of Acupuncture and technology originally developed by NASA, as well as traditional Chinese Medicine, that assists in regulating the body and its hormones.

If you've missed too many activities with loved ones due to exhaustion, or you're burning up and not getting any sleep, it is time to call Dr. Kirgan and her staff at South Slope Acupuncture & Wellness.

Embrace change with comfort and confidence. Manage menopause your way.

South Slope Acupuncture & Wellness is accepting new patients again and will offer a NO COST consultation for a limited time, so call 828-575-5904 to schedule your consultation.

"I started feeling like my body was no longer my own."

Spark Spotlight

SPARK SPOTLIGHT TEACHER

Assistant Professor Jessica Kammerud

Jessica Kammerud is an Assistant Professor of Stage Properties in the School of Design and Production at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She previously worked as the Assistant Properties Supervisor at the Goodman Theatre, the Assistant Props Manager for the Glimmerglass Festival, a Properties Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Public Theater, and as a Properties Director and Stage Manager at North Carolina Stage Company in Asheville, NC. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Design and Production at the UNC School of the Arts, and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of North Carolina Asheville.

1. How long have you been a teacher?

I have given guest lectures and taught various classes over the years. The 2023-24 school year will be my second year teaching full time.

2. What inspired you to want to become a teacher?

I grew up surrounded by teachers — parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, all teachers. I always knew it was something I wanted to do. Having worked in the industry for a number of years, it became increasingly clear, particularly coming out of the pandemic, just how broken and unsustainable the theatre industry had become as a way of life. The best way I know to improve the industry is to start with the next generation.

3. What do you enjoy most about teaching?

My favorite part of teaching is the one-on-one advising and mentoring that our smaller class sizes allow. Some of my favorite teaching moments have actually occurred as a part of the advising process. Having the opportunity to problem-solve through a project one-on-one with a student, or advising them on the nuances of a difficult conversation with a member of their artistic team — those opportunities are a privilege. Students grow and change so much, particularly throughout undergrad, and watching those students become adults, confident and ready to make informed decisions and work through their next big steps is incredibly rewarding.

4. What is your favorite subject to teach?

I teach in the Stage Properties program in the School of Design and Production, so the easy answer is: Props! Though the program is called "Stage Properties", the skills, techniques, and history we teach translate readily to work in Film and Television, Themed Entertainment, Escape Rooms, Theme Parks, and Commercial work as well as Theatre. Specifically, I enjoy teaching historical and cultural context classes in the props department.

5. What is most rewarding about being a teacher?

Seeing students thrive! Growing up, I remember watching incredibly smart and creative friends struggle with a very traditional classroom model – amazingly talented folks who would have thrived had they been students in a program like the one I teach in now. Watching students, who never quite found their niche in high school, come into a handson, intensive, program focused on the thing they love, is amazing. They come out of their shells and start to see their own strengths, all the ways they could turn that thing they really geek out over into a lucrative career.

PHOTO CREDIT: AMBER RENEA PHOTOGRAPHY

US Air Force Nurse Gladys Estolas

Gladys Estolas has been a registered nurse for over forty years. She has always enjoyed helping those in need. Gladys became interested in joining the military during her sophomore year in high school when one of her friends introduced her to the Navy Sea Cadets in 1975. She attended boot camp in San Diego and was an active member for three years, drilling with them on the weekends. Throughout her career as a military nurse, Gladys has served at multiple air force bases nationally and internationally. Just last year, she moved to Asheville, North Carolina from California to start a new life in the mountains.

1. What inspired you to enlist?

I already had twenty years of civilian nursing as a registered nurse. I loved my calling as a nurse and I wanted to experience what nursing was like in the military. I wanted to serve the country that gave me so much opportunity. My family immigrated to this country from the Philippines in 1969, and God has blessed us so much by bringing us here.

2. How did you imagine military life before you joined?

Since I was introduced to the discipline of the military in high school, I knew that it would be rigorous and challenging. I had been a nurse for twenty years before I joined active duty service. At Officer Training School (OTS), we were constantly reminded that “the needs of the Air Force comes first before nursing interests.”

3. What was the most significant experience during your time serving in the Air Force?

The most significant experience I had was my deployment in Afghanistan. I worked as a bedside nurse in the Transitional Care Unit at Bagram Airbase. I had wanted to work at the patient’s bedside, and here was my chance. Although we did not have the most modern medical equipment and supplies, we managed to perform surgeries and post-op recovery for US soldiers, coalition forces, Afghan nationals, and detainees. The days were long and sleep was short and lacking most of the time, but thank God I came home.

4. What occupies your time nowadays?

I now work with the Veterans Health Administration as a Telephone Triage RN. When I left active duty in 2013, I transferred to the VA. I wanted to help my fellow veterans. I also volunteer as a nurse once a week at the free clinic at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM). It is my prayer that God would use my gift, in some way, to help someone in need whether physically or spiritually. I also enjoy physical exercise. While I was in the military, I was able to complete eight marathons in four countries (Ireland, Japan, US, Canada). I like spinning on my stationary bike, weight training, and HIIT workouts. I also love the outdoors. We are so blessed by the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.

5. What do you recommend to women who are interested in enlisting?

I definitely recommend women enlist in the military. The military offers so many opportunities. For example, the Air Force paid for my Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN), while I was stationed overseas in England. The military also fosters a sense of camaraderie and community. Whether I was in England, Japan, or Virginia, I was also a member of Officer Christian Fellowship, and it was my family away from my immediate family. I believe the military not only teaches discipline but it also challenges our core values. God gives each of us talents and gifts, and we can use these gifts to help our fellow men.

Are you or someone you know a Teacher, Artist, Veteran, Author or First Responder in North or South Carolina? If so, we want to feature you!

Send an email to Rosa@CrystalCMarketing.com to inquire.

SPARK SPOTLIGHT WRITER Author Brenna Kean

In February 2022, Author Brenna Kean published her book Baby Goat Rising. In the book, Brenna talks about her own experiences being diagnosed at age nine with Bipolar Disorder. She also talks of her addictions and struggles, the effects they had on her, and how she overcame them. These included body dysmorphia, homelessness, abuse (mental, physical, emotional), depression and anxiety disorders.

All the while, she says her bouncy little alter ego, “Baby Goat,” has been cheering her on and reminding her that no matter how hard things get, positivity is a must. She has received many messages and emails from women telling her their stories and thanking her for giving them the courage to open up and talk. “Being able to tell a story that can empower another is the most satisfying feeling,” Brenna says, adding that it was also her goal with the book to remind readers never to judge someone based on their appearance. “You never know what someone has been through and it’s important to be kind, always.”

1. How did you become interested in writing?

I had wanted to write for as long as I can remember! When I was a little girl, preschool-aged, I would “make” my own books, sewing the pages together, then creating covers out of cardboard from cereal boxes that I would then cover with wrapping paper (making them ‘pretty’). I would then write and illustrate stories for these little books I made and give them as gifts to my parents and grandparents. I was meticulous and a perfectionist even at such a young age, and they turned out pretty cool!

Then, maybe in fourth or fifth grade, I was told that I should write about my adventures, as I had lived a life that most cannot comprehend growing up on the Bering Sea Coast of Alaska. Of course, I would later learn this would be called an autobiography.

2. What initially drew you to writing?

I was never aware of my ability to tell stories that would captivate people, but it is what I enjoy. Writing, no matter what age the intended audience, is a way of universal communication and understanding. Think of how an avid storyteller will often use their hand gestures to make their points —- the same can be done with words on paper.

3. Where does your inspiration come from?

I have lived an interesting life, and I’ve had experiences that most cannot even comprehend. Being able to tell of my ‘adventures’ in life is a way of educating others on a personal and meaningful level. Writing is a way of forming a connection or bond with your audience, and for someone like myself who considers themselves shy and introverted, it is a way of being able to overcome that.

4. What is most important to you in your writing?

I write because I care. As I’ve gotten older, writing has become an outlet, a way to explain myself so that others who may be in the same position can relate. Writing is a bonding experience: both for me with myself and my emotions, and with the reader.

5. What is the most rewarding part of being a writer?

Being able to give voice to others that may not feel they have the right to have one is incredibly rewarding. Finding that voice brings about a level of self-confidence that when nurtured, allows a person to blossom as an individual. If I can connect with even a handful of people to realize their own potential and self-worth, then that in itself, is the most rewarding part of writing I could ever ask for.

SPARK SPOTLIGHT FIRST RESPONDER Lieutenant Ann Fowler

Originally from Fort Myers, Florida, Lieutenant Ann Fowler was always focused on the traffic-related side of police work. While she says that there were very few women in this field when she entered it, Ann’s military background and ‘bossy’ nature kept her from getting any flack from the men on her team. “I’m a pretty no-nonsense kind of person. You had to learn pretty quick to hold your ground,” she says. Ann took part in creating a specialized DWI task force in Buncombe County. She also got her certification as a Standardized Field Sobriety instructor. She was selected as Drug Recognition Expert Instructor of the Year, as well as receiving a MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Award. After an impressive 25-year career, Ann will retire this December.

1. How long have you been in your position?

I have been a Police Officer with the Asheville Police Department since February 1999. I was promoted to Sergeant in September 2014 and promoted to Lieutenant in September 2020. Before becoming a Police Officer here in Asheville, I served in the US Air Force for four years as a Security Forces Officer (Police Officer).

2. What initially caused you to become interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement?

I have always been athletic, and I wanted a job that was physical and would challenge me. My personality is as a "helper." I enjoy being a problem-solver and helping others with their needs.

3. What is important to you in your job?

It is important to me that I remember who I am and keep a firm grasp on the good in the world and not just the bad. As a police officer, you will see the worst and the best of people within a few hours of each other. On top of that, most of us are Moms/Dads, Partners/Husbands/Wives and Sons/Daughters/Brothers/Sisters; we have to find a balance between not bringing work home and not bringing home to work. Law enforcement has not always been good at helping officers find this balance, but we are getting better now. We have recognized the toll this career takes on lives and personalities. We currently focus on officers' well-being, mental and physical health. The Asheville Police Department has prioritized its officers by implementing a Wellness Program that encompasses mental health, physical health, and nutrition. I am proud to help initiate this program as I work towards my retirement.

4. What is your favorite thing about your job?

I enjoy educating other officers, specifically Physical Fitness Training and Motor Vehicle topics (Crash Investigations and Driving While Impaired Investigations). I have always found interest in investigating Motor Vehicle Collisions. It's like putting a puzzle back together and getting closure/answers for victims in these cases. It is important to me to also prevent these actions by conducting traffic enforcement, education, writing a ticket for a traffic violation, or taking an impaired driver off the road. As an officer, you will never know how many lives you have saved by the job that you do, but you will always remember the ones you do not.

5. What do you recommend to other young women who want to get into law enforcement?

I would recommend this to anyone seeking a career that will challenge them, provide them the opportunity to give back to their community, and give them great pride when they put their uniform on to become a Law Enforcement Officer. Unfortunately, the focus has been on the officers who have failed us, but there is so much more good in this career. I am grateful to have served my community and worked alongside some amazing officers in my 25 years at Asheville Police Department.

Courtney Carballido

Interdisciplinary artist Courtney Carballido works in several different mediums, including photography, painting, sculpting, and even woodworking. Originally from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Courtney has been focusing particularly on photo montage recently, merging photos (digitally or by-hand) to create an image that doesn’t exist.

Courtney attended Louisiana State University in hopes to pursue Marine Biology, but her love for the fine arts motivated her to switch to an Interior Architecture degree. She transferred to Rhode Island School of Design and got her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 1990. After graduating, Courtney went to New York to work for Random House Publishing, designing book covers for paperbacks in the Ballantine Division. After a year, she returned to New Orleans and opened her own design business that she operated for ten years. After her divorce, Courtney moved to Western North Carolina and now lives just outside Black Mountain. She is currently working on an art series of shield-like pieces inspired by the Bible verse, Ephesians 6, describing the armor of God. Courtney is also editing a book she has written on how God has manifested himself in her life.

1. How did you become interested in art?

My mother studied art in college. She was a portrait and still life painter and taught art lessons to children at our house. Although she never taught me, I would sit in the next room and listen to what she was teaching. When we were kids, she had a drawer that she would fill with paints, pastels, linoleum blocks, wire and wax, and all kinds of things. If it was raining outside, we’d say, “Mama, what can we do?” She’d say, “Go to the drawer.” And I could take any of the materials in there and just play with them and express myself. I think it came naturally through my mother and through seeing the world in a certain way.

2. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

When I was younger, I loved Paul Klee because his work was very symbolic and abstract, playful and ethereal. I also like Frida Kahlo. She had a terrible accident when she was young. It disabled her in a way that she had to spend a lot of time in bed. I related to that because of the Lyme disease that I had for many years. Clyde Connell is a Louisiana artist who I also like. She’s another artist who had her own visual language that was so unique.

3. What is most important to you in your art?

The most important thing is to convey a message to people, and to put something out into the world that benefits others, something beautiful that evokes a thought or a positive feeling. There is a spiritual thread that I’ve always had in my work, something that connects the existence of light and dark in the human experience and connects them together. For me, I think that knowing God and having a relationship with Jesus Christ has been the biggest blessing of anything in my life.

4. What are some of the challenges that you have faced in your work?

Shortly after I moved overseas for a time, I got Lyme Disease. I had it for ten years. It was horrific. I was bedridden for the better part of six years. Oftentimes, I couldn’t even stand up and didn’t have energy to do much. So, I would take photographs and cut them up and create a collage. That’s how that [Photo Montage] process came to be. My limitation actually created something new that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.

5. What are your goals for the future as an artist?

The work I’m doing now is lighter, more joyful, less abstract. I have become more bold about sharing my beliefs in my work. I’d like to get into more collaborative work with other artists, specifically Christian artists, because I think that would be really interesting. I’m always interested in the spiritual aspect of life and the human experience.

SPARK SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: Interdisciplinary Artist

PHOTO CREDITS: NICOLE MCCONVILLE PHOTOGRAPHY

What’s Love Got to Do With It? 5 Things to Consider Before Buying Your Dream Home

WRITTEN BY DIANE LUEBBERS MIDDLE PHOTO CREDITS: REBECCA MURRAY

Congratulations! You’ve finally found your dream home! It has everything you’ve always wanted. It’s just perfect. But wait! Before you sign on the dotted line, here are five things you should consider.

Lifestyle

Yes, it may have spectacular mountain views, and yes, it may have all the privacy you could ever want and then some, but is that what you really want? Think about your lifestyle. If you’re somewhat of a hermit and don’t feel the need to go to town except once a week to stock up your pantry – great! A remote location may be perfect for you. But on the other hand, if you’re the gregarious type, and want to hop in your car and be at a local coffee shop in 10 minutes, you may want to rethink that mountain aerie.

I understand this scenario all too well. Matter of fact, I lived it. Years ago, my husband and I fell in love with a house outside of Bozeman, Montana that was two miles up a steep mountain road. Every time we went to town, it was a 40-minute drive one way just to get a gallon of milk or a tank of gas. If we needed to do errands, it ended up being an all-day affair, not just a quick trip. Make sure your dream home fits your real-life activities.

Resale

You swear this will be your forever home, and you love the basement-level family room that has been remodeled to look like a sarcophagus (true story!) You are Goth to the core and love it just the way it is. You’ll never move, you say, so what’s the problem? Never say never, my friend. Never say never. I’ve lost count of the stories I’ve heard about home owners who bought their forever home thinking that they would never need to sell. Then a few years later after a life-changing event of some kind, these same homeowners had to sell and take a loss on their beauty-is-in-the-eyeof-the-beholder home that only appealed to a very small pool of buyers. Always consider the resale value.

Neighborhood Culture

If your dream home is in a development that has a lot of restrictions and covenants and you’re the type of person that doesn’t like to be told what to do, that dream home may turn into a nightmare. What is important to you in your everyday life? Do you want to park your camper in your driveway? Plant a garden in your backyard? Put pink flamingos in your front yard? Purchasing a home in a community that doesn’t allow you to do what makes you happy won’t make you happy. And no, getting forgiveness instead of permission is not a recipe for a happy life either. Before you buy what just may end up being your forever home, make sure you can stand living there forever.

Growing Pains

Consider the long-term ramifications of purchasing a particular home. Don’t assume you can easily sell your home when the need arises to upsize due to a growing family or downsize when those fledglings leave the nest. The real estate market is cyclical and may not suit your timing if you do need to sell.

Yard Work

That cabin in the woods that you fell in love with online looks like the perfect home for you. Look at all those majestic, 100-foot trees! So beautiful…so private…so much work! Unless you plan on hiring a landscaper, think about what

it will take to maintain that beautiful property. Those gorgeous trees, so vibrant and green in the pictures, will shed all those leaves come fall. Are you up to raking or leaf-blowing for 10 hours at a time? Can you afford to hire someone to do it for you? And if your 100-ft trees are anything like mine, (Yes, I’m the one that fell in love with that cabin in the woods) they also like to self-prune. What does that mean? It means that after any storm, you may end up with a yard full of downed branches and limbs, some of which can be big enough to make you glad you weren’t walking underneath them when they fell. Now you have even more yard work to do – hauling all those branches to a safe, central location in your yard to burn them. And if your HOA doesn’t allow burning in your neighborhood, you will then have to pay to have them hauled away.

I’m not suggesting that you don’t buy your dream home. I’m instead encouraging you to think about the big picture, and the life you will be living in that dream home before you make a final decision. There are additional things to consider besides the five I’ve mentioned here. If you’d like to know more, please feel free to give me a call. If I don’t pick up immediately, leave me a message and I’ll call you back. There’s a pretty good chance I’m out doing yard work.

Diane Luebbers

The Luebbers Team

BluAxis Realty®

Your Concierge Realtor® Team!

We tailor our services to fit your needs!

(828)-785-8551

www.RiverstoPeaksRealty.com

www.jimanddianeluebbers.com

For 125 years, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has been committed to building a stronger community. Our initiatives and projects have stimulated economic development and supported the growth of thousands of local and regional businesses.

Today, we are the local champion for a balanced, thriving economy and connect businesses, large and small, to the resources they need to be successful.

We believe that together, we are more.

Discover all the ways the Asheville Chamber can grow your business and community.

MORE connections:

Check our calendar for upcoming educational and networking events, including monthly events and the biannual Mega Networking in Oct.

MORE inspiration:

Join WomanUP, our program for women in business, for an inspirational workshop in August and Celebration in November. Nominate yourself or someone you know for our outstanding women in business awards. Nominations due August 4th.

MORE community:

It’s our birthday, and we’re giving local nonprofits the presents. Help decide who should get a 125th Anniversary Grant by voting on our website. And get tickets to join us for our 125th Anniversary Celebration in September.

MORE visibility:

Membership gives you more benefits to take your business to the next level with visibility and savings.

Find all of this and more on our website:

www.ashevillechamber.org

MEET THE RITA LEE & ASSOCIATES REALTY TEAM

& read more about Founder Rita Lee on page 80

ASIA BANKS

A native of Asheville, NC, Realtor Asia Banks is driven by her love for the city she grew up in and a desire to make a difference. Asia’s grandmother owned a soul-food bar and grill on Eagle Street, which was once an historically thriving African-American business hub in downtown Asheville. The city’s acquisition of the bar left a lasting impression on her. Asia recognized the importance of knowledge and rights surrounding property ownership, inspiring her to enter real estate. She is now a broker with Rita Lee and Associates Realty Group. Asia appreciates the opportunity to make new connections with people during the buying and selling process. In her spare time, Asia enjoys quality time with her siblings, attends concerts, and explores different restaurants.

Chanisse DaNeisha

Chanisse DaNeisha, a 29-year-old broker from Asheville, NC, discovered her passion for real estate after a job loss. She worked as an assistant at Rita Lee and Associates Realty before earning her real estate license and transitioning into real estate brokerage. A “people person,” Chanisse DaNeisha thrives on learning and networking with a diverse range of clients. She appreciates that real estate affords her the opportunity to always learn something new. Chanisse DaNeisha enjoys spending time with her daughter, Unique Harmony, and her family. In her spare time, she is most likely to be found eating, dancing, taking photos/videos of her surroundings, and enjoying the present moment.

DAMAIN POOLE

Damain Poole is a 36-year-old real estate broker from Asheville, NC. After his grandmother left him and his family with a life estate, Damain wanted to increase his knowledge of how to handle such matters. He obtained his real estate license and joined Rita Lee & Associates Realty Group. Inspired by other successful real estate professionals, Damain is excited to have the opportunity to help

others achieve success through real estate. He is a devoted father to his son (11) and his daughter (5). Damain is also the Vice President of United Community Development, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the under-served communities of Asheville, NC. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family. He can most likely be found playing Chinese Chess when he’s not working.

JAMEKA JOHNSON

Realtor Jameka Johnson is originally from Mississippi but calls New Orleans her home. With a background in higher education and healthcare administration, Jameka brings her passion for helping people to her career at Rita Lee and Associates Realty Group. Jameka also offers tax preparation to her clients, and she plans on taking her talent further by becoming a Certified Public Accountant specializing in real estate tax advice. She is passionate about helping others learn how to utilize resources available to them to carve a path to homeownership. In her spare time, Jameka loves reading, cooking, and listening to music. She can most likely be found doing something spontaneous to uplift those around her.

TAMIEKA MOORE

Realtor Tamieka Moore is an Asheville, NC native, wife, and mom of four boys. During COVID, she decided that she wanted to pursue an entrepreneurial pathway. She earned her real estate license and joined Rita Lee and Associates Realty. Tamieka values the growth opportunities that the real estate industry offers, both personally and professionally. When she is not helping her clients achieve their real estate goals, she is spending time with her family. With a background as a healthcare professional, she has deep compassion for giving back to the community she came from. In her spare time, she takes pleasure in the company of her loved ones and partaking in enjoyable activities with them.

PHOTO: BROOKE PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY VENUE TIMBERHALL EVENTS RITA'S HAIR & MAKEUP: FAB FLAWLESS MAKEUP ARTISTRY

From Watering to Weeding: Critical Summer

Gardening Tips for the Novice Gardener

BY: LORI BROWN

As spring yields to summer, the way we approach plants, flower gardens, and front yard hedges has to adjust. This is because temperatures, levels of moisture, weed infestations, and plant needs change. As those conditions change, and bring with them potential threats to the health of our plants, we must change, too. Summer should inspire us to think like full-fledged summer gardening experts, starting with the weeds (a loud groan). Unfortunately, weeds can become your greatest worry in summer gardening activities. You may spend endless spring hours planting bulbs and new perennials after the hard freeze of winter has ended, hoping for gorgeous blooms from June through early fall, only to lose your plants a few months later as they are gobbled up by exploding weeds. The early work of spring gardening fades in the face of a summer weed frenzy, as weeds can destroy our plants in a matter of days or weeks.

Despite the brutal, back-breaking work of pulling weeds out of the ground at the root and using mulch to hinder long-term weed growth, when it comes down to it, there is no substitute for combatting weed growth other than that of purchasing a thick, comfortable knee pad, getting down in the dirt on your hands and knees, and pulling weeds out one by one. While there are some healthier options to purchase “weed sprays” that may eliminate weeds in areas where you have no other plants, in most cases, the weeds will still emerge among the flowers, requiring individualized attention.

Along with weeds, summer brings heat, and heat can become one of the greatest enemies to healthy plants. Blooms are known to wilt under the harsh rays of the sun, especially if they lack sufficient water. To combat extremely warm temperatures, make sure to water your flowers and shrubs often and provide periodic shade, if possible. A good soaking hose can be beneficial while watering. Make sure to use that hose to get water around the base of the plants. Also, your back will thank you for investing in outdoor spigots that are near your vegetation.

As you pull weeds and water regularly, also consider how excessive heat may result in additional damage to plants. Leaves may get scalded by the sun and whole plants can die rapidly if their roots are too shallow to stay firm in overwatered or under-watered dirt. Always remember that younger, less shallow plants need more water than older plants, and that over-watering is as much a threat as under-watering. Keep an eye out for wilting plants, yellow or brown leaves, and mushy stalks that remind us we watered too much.

If, like the current author, you enjoy these necessary tasks of “summer flower gardening,” but you have killed far too many tulips or petunias in your day to call yourself a “real” gardening expert, and you’re beginning to wonder if you should just toss out a pile of rocks instead, then your best approach to summer gardening is to follow the “SLOW” plan. I use this plan to avoid getting overwhelmed. It also helps me remember to stop trying to keep up with the neighbors. Comparisons are not healthy, so I keep my front yard simple and my gardening sanity in check by following this approach:

S. – Start simple

Choose to add three new plants instead of 30 on the day you plant. It’s not about quantity. Go for quality.

L. – Limit upkeep

Planting ground cover that spreads naturally can reduce the amount of upkeep for individual plants that may need regular pruning. Do your homework and choose low maintenance plants.

O.

– Observe what grows well

If your yard seems to work well with select plants and shrubs, then plant more of those. Some soils will not work for select plants, so go with what you know works and experiment with new plants in small batches.

W. – Walk and Talk

Walk and talk to other gardeners. I love nothing better than walking up to the friendly gardening expert at Lowes or my neighbor and saying, “Tell me how you got your tulips to bloom so well.” Learn a little each season to expand your skills.

As I have said before, your flower gardening goal cannot be to recreate the Garden of Versailles. Take things one day at a time, and one season at a time, for little steps of success. In the meantime, get out there and pull some of those pesky weeds! It helps your garden and stress levels at the same time. Bloom well this summer, friends!

Edisto Island - The Ideal Carolina Beach for Families

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

The coastline of the Carolinas offers a range of different beaches, each with their own style and appeal. Depending on whether you are looking for a beach with a fun nightlife and bar scene, quiet beaches for shell-seeking, or just a good spot for looking at the ocean over the pages of a good book, there is a beach for you.

In my case, I travel with a pack of small children and a dog — a challenge for any beach town. In Edisto Beach, South Carolina, I found something to please everyone in my family. I also found that the perfect time of year for a visit to Edisto is mid-to-late-April (depending on the often unpredictable Carolina weather).

By April, things have generally begun to warm up throughout The South, but have yet to become sweltering as they do in the summertime. Okay, the ocean was still a little cold, but since when has that ever stopped a kid from jumping in? It was absolute heaven, walking on the beach and laying out on the deck. The big perks, of course, were the lack of tourists that flock to the beaches after Memorial Day, and the fact that dogs are permitted to run leash-free on the beaches in Edisto before May.

If the heat does get to you though, the Happie Chick Ice Cream Truck drives around the neighborhoods on Edisto Island on a daily basis, bringing cold ice cream to people in the comfort of their own front yards. Admittedly, I had “Do Your Ears Hang Low” stuck in my head for the entirety of the trip, but I always welcomed the refreshing afternoon treat as well as the joy that chasing the truck brought my kids.

Anyone who spends any amount of time with small children knows that even something as full of fun as the beach can get old after a few days. I was delighted to find that Edisto Island had plenty of other activities to offer. They have quite a few walking trails through the salt marsh, great for spotting snowy egrets and herons. Edisto Watersports and Tackle also offers everything you need to rent for fishing and kayaking. They even offer guided tours through the ocean and inlet areas if you want to spot some dolphins. Hot Tip: If you love fresh oysters, High Tides restaurant is right next to Edisto Watersports and has the biggest and best oysters on the island.

Personally, it is always my goal when I visit the seashore to find the best local fried shrimp in the area. Fried shrimp is one of my favorite foods, and I eat them with nearly every meal while on vacation. The best shrimp I found on Edisto were at Whaley’s Restaurant & Bar. No wonder it was voted one of the top 25 dive bars in S.C. Whaley’s is an exceptionally unassuming place run out of an old filling station, with uneven floors and bathrooms you have to go outside to get to. That was an incredible meal, though! They also have a full bar and some fun island cocktails, a super nice staff, as well as the famous Ugly Fish on their wall.

For fried shrimp, I’d also like to bestow an honorable mention to SeaCow Eatery as well as McConkey’s Jungle Shack. SeaCow boasts a gorgeous sunset view of the marsh, and McConkey’s is directly across the street from a public playground, so a wait for a table does not mean the death of your evening out.

If you’re looking to cook your own fish though, the place to go for a great fresh catch is Flowers Seafood Company. It’s a touch further out, but the prices are way better than you’ll find by the beach. They also have a great food truck, serving fried fish trays outside the store. That way, you can purchase whatever you plan to cook for dinner and pick up a fantastic hot lunch while you’re there!

Far and away, the non-beach highlight of our trip was to the Edisto Island Serpentarium. This attraction is way beyond some dark room where you can witness semidepressed snakes hiding in a tank. The serpentarium is an expansive indoor/outdoor facility with multiple habitats where snakes can slither, swim, climb trees and interact with one another, while audiences look down on them from above. Okay, it looked like a scene out of my nightmares, but my kids went wild for it. They also have alligators, crocodiles, lizards, and turtles. We even got to see a particularly impressive presentation on local snakes, which was both informative and fun, and concluded with the audience being invited to hold a ball python.

In short, I could not have been more pleased with the thought that Edisto Island clearly puts into creating a comfortable environment for families with children. My family and I had a blast this summer and will definitely go back again.

Savvy Tips for Summer Staycations

BY CARLA BECK

If you’re dreaming of faraway vacay hotspots, but your budget or schedule falls short this year, don’t despair. Stretch your vacation dollars and your imagination by planning the perfect summer staycation. Skip the airport’s long lines and complicated traffic interchanges, and opt instead for quality family time and local attractions close to home. Western North Carolina mom Alice Tallman appreciates making memories as a family “without the added stress and expense of travel.” With two active boys, the Tallman family seeks opportunities to inspire creativity and adventure. Last summer their staycation destinations included lake days, hiking trails, ice cream soda fountains, and even a nearby children’s museum. Tallman explains that “Staycations help teach my boys to find adventure and wonder in ordinary places and moments. They learn firsthand that having fun as a family doesn’t have to be complicated.” Add these staycation-savvy tips to your summer calendar today.

Opt Outside

The Carolinas offer magnificent outdoor recreation choices for all ages and skill levels. Consider low-impact kayaking around a nearby

REEDY FIVER FALLS, GREENVILLE, SC

PHOTO CREDITS: CARLA BECK

lake or check out a local greenway for an energizing family biking day trip. Discover the wonder of backyard camping with the magic of fireflies, campfire stories, and the deliciousness of s’mores, all while appreciating the conveniences of home. Plan a family outing to pick fresh blueberries for homemade ice cream or delicious blueberry pancakes. Beat the heat with a classic water balloon battle or embrace the shade while reading a book and relaxing in a hammock.

Shop Local

Intentionally plan a day of local “treasure hunting” where each member of your family selects one special treat. Independently owned boutiques, thrift stores, and even local farmers' markets offer a variety of one-of-a-kind gifts for savvy shoppers. Research the newest restaurants, coffee cafes, or ice cream shops, then make the time to visit those at the top of your list. For a bonus adventure, contact your local chamber of commerce for a list of nearby summer festivals, and add one or two to your schedule.

Go Global

Satisfy your palate and expand your pantry by diversifying your daily menu. Seek out new recipes online or from friends and family, and intentionally add a little flair to replace your typical choices. Whether you plan a themed dinner with foods from one specific locale, or you sprinkle a few exotic recipes throughout your menu selections for the week, you are sure to break the boredom of the usual daily fare. Pro-tip: If you live in an area with a wide variety of restaurants, you might also order several menu items to-go and offer a taste-testing to discover which new flavors best suit your family before preparing a full meal.

Create Memories

Invite friends over for a day or night of collaborative creativity!

Challenge each other to see who is the best artist, or work together to design and construct a “masterpiece.” For a budget-friendly option, ask your guests to provide a few items for the party’s creativity toolkit. Online “how-to” videos will add technical expertise for those looking to master a new skill set, or simply search Pinterest for ideas to get you motivated. If you prefer in-person professional advice, book an appointment for a paint-your-own pottery studio lesson, or visit an art gallery or children’s museum to spark new ideas before you attempt your own creations.

Escape Reality

The best part of vacation is often the escape from the mundane chores of day-to-day life. A staycation can provide that same “magic” when carefully orchestrated. In the weeks leading up to your break, complete any mandatory to-do lists and carve out the time you will need to actually relax and have fun as a family. Step away from distracting digital devices, and move toward personal interactions with those people who matter most. If a totally off-the-grid lifestyle doesn’t match your family’s needs, then set aside a specific time each day for vital tasks before or after your staycation adventures.

GREENVILLE CHILDRENS MUSEUM, GREENVILLE, SC

PHOTO CREDITS: ALICE TALLMAN

LAKE CHATUGE, NC

PHOTO CREDITS: CARLA BECK

PHOTO CREDITS: ALICE TALLMAN

Financial Independence for Women

BY FAITH DOYLE, MBA, CFP® FINANCIAL ADVISOR AT WEBB INVESTMENT SERVICES

Managing finances can be a daunting task for anyone, but it can be especially complicated for women. Women face unique financial challenges such as the gender pay gap, career breaks due to caregiving responsibilities, and longer life expectancies. However, with the right tools and knowledge, women can overcome these challenges and achieve financial security and independence. As a female financial advisor, I have six practical tips to help women manage their finances and achieve their financial goals.

Start with a Budget

The first step to managing your finances is to create a budget. A budget is a plan for your money that helps you track your income and expenses. It allows you to see where your money is going and helps you identify areas where you can cut back on expenses. Start by listing all your sources of income and then list all your expenses. Be sure to include everything from your rent or mortgage payment to your daily coffee habit. Once you have a clear picture of your finances, you can make informed decisions about how to allocate your money.

Build an Emergency Fund

Life is unpredictable, and unexpected expenses can arise at any time. That's why it's important to have an emergency fund. An emergency fund is a savings account that you can use to cover unexpected expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, or job loss. As a rule of thumb, aim to save at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. Start by setting aside a small amount each month and gradually increase your savings over time.

Invest for Your Future

Investing is a great way to build wealth and achieve financial security. However, many women are hesitant to invest because they feel they lack the knowledge or

experience. As a financial advisor, I encourage women to educate themselves about investing and to start small. Consider investing in a low-cost index fund or a target-date fund that matches your retirement goals. If you're not sure where to start, seek the advice of a financial advisor who can help you create a personalized investment strategy.

Protect Your Assets

Protecting your assets is an essential part of financial planning. One way to protect your assets is through insurance. Consider purchasing health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or death. Additionally, consider creating a will and an estate plan to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

Negotiate Your Salary

The gender pay gap is a real issue that affects women's ability to achieve financial security. Studies show that women earn less than men in almost every occupation. However, there are steps women can take to close the pay gap, such as negotiating their salary. When negotiating your salary, do your research, and be prepared to make a strong case for yourself. Highlight your accomplishments and the value you bring to the organization. Remember, you are worth every penny, so don't be afraid to ask for what you deserve.

Plan for Retirement

Retirement may seem far away, but it's never too early to start planning. With the unique challenges women face, it’s important to start saving for retirement as early as possible. Consider contributing to a 401(k) or IRA and take advantage of any employer matching contributions. If you're self-employed, consider setting up a solo 401(k)

or a SEP-IRA. The key is to start saving early and to make consistent contributions over time.

Managing finances can be a challenging task, but with the right tools and knowledge, women can achieve financial security and independence. Start by creating a budget, building an emergency fund, and investing for your future. Protect your assets, negotiate your salary, and plan for retirement. Remember, financial security is within reach, and with a little planning and discipline, you can achieve your financial goals.

ANY OPINIONS ARE THOSE OF FAITH DOYLE AND NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. OR OF RAYMOND JAMES. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE OF ANY OF THE TRENDS MENTIONED WILL CONTINUE OR FORECASTS WILL OCCUR. THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM SOURCES CONSIDERED TO BE RELIABLE, BUT RAYMOND JAMES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FOREGOING MATERIAL IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY INFORMATION IS NOT A COMPLETE SUMMARY OR STATEMENT OF ALL AVAILABLE DATA NECESSARY FOR MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION. INVESTING INVOLVES RISK AND YOU MAY INCUR A PROFIT OR A LOSS REGARDLESS OF STRATEGY SELECTED.

MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUR EMPLOYER MAY BE SUBJECT TO A VESTING SCHEDULE. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR MORE INFORMATION.

401(K) PLANS ARE LONG-TERM RETIREMENT SAVINGS VEHICLES. WITHDRAWAL OF PRE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS AND/OR EARNINGS WILL BE SUBJECT TO ORDINARY INCOME TAX AND, IF TAKEN PRIOR TO AGE 59 ½, MAY BE SUBJECT TO A 10% FEDERAL TAX PENALTY.

PHOTO CREDIT: MICHELLE CITRIN STUDIOS©

What Every Girl Boss Needs to Know About Choosing the Right Small Business Loan

WRITTEN BY CHATTY GARRATE

So, you’re finally ready to launch a small business with that idea that’s been stirring inside your head for so long. Or maybe you already have an existing business but are itching to scale it. You go, girl! Not everyone has the drive, confidence, and perseverance to take the plunge and set up something bigger than themselves.

You already know that this path isn’t going to be easy. The road to success is riddled with challenges you must face with your chin up. One of which is securing the funding you need to get your business off the ground or grow it to the next level.

Enter small business loans.

Look, we get it. Loans, financing, numbers—all of this sounds overwhelming. But a loan can provide you with the capital you need to start or expand your business, hire employees, purchase inventory or equipment, and more.

Of course, there are many loan options available, and this might be where the confusion kicks in. Not to worry, though, because we’ve got you covered!

Know What Your Business Needs Are

The very first step in choosing the right small business loan requires you to get a little introspective and know what your business needs are.

How much funding do you really need? What will you use this money for? How long will you need the loan? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options and find a loan that meets your specific needs.

1. Know Your Credit Score

Your credit record is another big factor you must consider so that you can qualify for a loan for your small business.

A high credit score can improve your chances of getting approved for a loan and might even get you lower interest

rates and fees! On the other hand, a low credit score can make it a little bit difficult to qualify for a loan or result in higher costs.

2. Know The Lender’s Requirements

Each lender has its own requirements for loan applicants, such as a minimum credit score, minimum revenue, and time in business. Requirements vary significantly from lender to lender, so make sure to understand what they are before applying.

3. Know The Interest Rate and Fees

The interest rate and fees on a loan can have a significant impact on the total cost of borrowing. Interest rates can be fixed or variable and may be based on certain factors like your credit score, the amount of the loan, and the repayment term.

Fees can include application fees, closing costs, and prepayment penalties. These fees can vary widely among lenders.

4. Know The Repayment Terms

Speaking of repayment terms, this is also something you should definitely consider, as it can affect your ability to repay the loan and manage your cash flow. Make sure you understand the repayment schedule of whatever loan you’re getting, including the payment amount, frequency, and duration.

Some loans may have a fixed repayment schedule with a set monthly payment, while others may offer more flexibility with variable payments or interest-only periods. Choose a repayment plan that fits your budget and business goals.

5. Know The Lender’s Reputation

Look for reviews, ratings, and testimonials from other business owners who have worked with the lender you’re

considering. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau or other industry associations to see if there have been any complaints or legal actions against the lender.

A reputable lender should have a transparent application process, clear terms and conditions, and responsive customer service. They should also be willing to answer any questions you have and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

6. Know Alternative Financing Options

Beyond small business loans, there’s more to explore when it comes to financing options. Depending on what your business needs are at this moment, you can find funding through other sources, such as:

• Crowdfunding. Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo can help you raise money for a new product or project by getting support from a large number of individuals.

• Business Grants. Government agencies, foundations, and private organizations offer a variety of grants to support small businesses in specific industries and regions.

• Small Business Credit Cards. If you need to cover small expenses, a small business credit card can offer a flexible line of credit with rewards and other benefits.

• Microloans. Microloans are small loans typically offered by non-profit organizations or community leaders to support small businesses in underserved communities.

• Earned Wage Access. If you are just starting out and have access to your earned wages, you can use a small portion of your paycheck to add a little to your capital for your small business or side hustle. Exploring these alternatives can give you more flexibility and potentially save you money on interest rates and fees.

Grow Your Business With The Right Small Business Loan

Choosing the right small business loan requires careful consideration on your part, so it’s very crucial that you do your research. By weighing your options, you can find a loan that helps you achieve your business goals while minimizing costs and risks.

Chatty Garrate is a fur mom of 4 cute cats, and like a curious cat, she's a curious writer. She explores and writes about different topics. Her favorites are business, personal finance, and tech.

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Anna Sorrells Photo Credit: Sabrina L Greene Photography

Photo Credit: Brooke Parker Photography

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Not Too Nice, Not Too Tough: How the Goldilocks Dilemma Curtails Our Power

© 2023, BEVERLY JURENKO, INSIDE EDGE CONSULTING LLC

If you’ve ever been in a double bind, you know how uncomfortable it is. Like a dilemma, a double bind creates the feeling that any action we take will be incorrect in some way. Women in business experience a form of this double bind on a regular basis. We feel pressure to be nice, but not too nice, or we won’t be taken seriously. Simultaneously we know we must demonstrate competency, establish our credibility, and delegate effectively without coming across as threatening or demanding. As we walk this tightrope, we try not to go too far to either side. Just like Goldilocks, we must go beyond doing quality work to carefully package everything about ourselves – our mannerisms, our looks, our words, our presence – as “just right.”

Although cultural tendencies have shifted slightly over the past few decades, we still default to the male model when we think of leadership. “While women account for 47% of the US workforce benchmark, they account for just 28% of all executives in the top leadership teams of the S&P100,” reported Gabrielle Lieberman of executive recruiting firm Russell Reynolds Associates in February 2023. The women who are there often struggle with the double bind. “Women leaders are seen as competent, or likable, but rarely both,” says Catalyst, a global non-profit that helps build workplaces that work for women. Males who assert themselves are called “tenacious,” and we all know what assertive women are called.

While it is true that both men and women have been known to cross the line from leading to abusing, our biases push our perception of women over the line much more quickly. To compensate, women expend large amounts of energy regulating how we come across, often constantly assessing what to say and how to say it. We dial back on our ability to be direct and clear, and qualify our written and verbal communications to signal empathy and compassion so that others feel more comfortable. We must do this to be accepted, or else we might be told we have “sharp elbows” and “need to smile more.”

It's not unusual to see women change their demeanor after being told they are too direct. The backlash when women speak up confidently to a male-dominated group can be debilitating. Consequently, we advocate for ourselves less often, can lose confidence, and may even take on more than our share of the “office housework” by

doing things like bringing donuts or taking notes because no one else offers to do it, or because it is expected of us. Such tasks do not directly build our portfolio for professional advancement, and when they are doled out inequitably among teams, there are invariably some who gain and some who lose. Being nice has a cost. If we are viewed as being too nice, we are not seen as ready or qualified to be a leader.

Being extreme can be viewed as problematic, but it’s difficult for women to get it just right because what is acceptable behavior can shift and change with little notice. Moreover, because there are fewer women than men in leadership, women tend to be scrutinized and critiqued personally and professionally more than men are. What works one day may be disparaged the next. It's exhausting. It takes an incredible amount of energy to do your job and worry about social isolation among colleagues. Women often find themselves undertaking enormous efforts to build relationships and trust so that their ideas and recommendations will be given fair consideration for their merit. We strive to be approachable so that we will be included in all sorts of social interactions from the chat at the coffee machine to weekend outings with families. Most information sharing happens in informal situations, and if the majority is uncomfortable with us because they see us as threatening, we are likely to be excluded.

If you would prefer women be evaluated based on the quality of our work rather than how often we smile, here are a few things you can do:

1. Consciously use the same standards when evaluating job performance for across gender. If we don’t care how friendly men are, we should not care how friendly women are.

2. Be an interrupter. If you hear someone diminishing job contributions of a woman through phrases like “she’s too emotional” or “she’s abrasive,” you can point out how difficult it is to prove such claims are wrong, and how damaging they can be.

3. Be a leader of cultural change. Give credit when due to women for their ideas, provide space for them to present, and argue for them.

Only by advocating for fairness, one action at a time, will we be able to build a level playing field across genders. When people feel they are being treated fairly, they tend to be more engaged. Maybe Goldilocks had to find what was “just right,” but we can go beyond what we think fits within our norms at present to create new and better paths.

The Master of Concise:

Arlene Duane Hemingway Brings a Twist on Storytelling

WRITTEN BY ROSA LINDA FALLON

Ernest Hemingway had a way of providing his readers stories that were short, yet powerful. Fletcher, NC resident and retired career musician Arlene Duane Hemingway, who coincidentally shares the same surname with the 20th-century novelist, specializes in a rare literary form called “drabble.” Drabble is a short work of fiction precisely one-hundred words in length; its original form was derived from Monty Python’s Big Red Book. Participants of the drabble game were expected to write novels. The first person to finish was declared the winner. This evolved into the current Drabble form — an authentic microfiction story composed at the leisure of the writer. While the parameters of the Drabble are strict, Hemingway says it gave her the ability to craft what she needed to say during times when she needed it the most. She refers to this as the “Drabble Companion.” Now, she primarily uses the Drabble form, or Drabble Companion, as her main forms of expression.

Writing is a belated twist for this retired career musician. Hemingway grew up in New York City. Growing up, her mother insisted on long and rigorous music lessons. She graduated from the Juilliard School of Music and went on to become extremely successful, performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Radio City Music Hall, working numerous other musical events in New York, and helping to launch a composer’s new work at the Lincoln Memorial.

Hemingway taught music for years in a public school system in Long Island, New York. During her years of teaching, she was the only teacher of color in the district and, unfortunately, experienced discrimination. To help process her experiences, Hemingway kept a journal. “I’ve been writing, collecting stories for quite a while. It was the one way I kept my sanity,” she says. One day, she came across an advertisement in the newspaper offering writing classes at the public library. It was during this class Hemingway was introduced to the drabble form. “And that’s when I fell in love.”

Hemingway describes writing her first Drabble assignment as one of the hardest things she has ever done. “I thought, ‘this is going to be a piece of cake!’ but it wasn’t,” Hemingway recalls. This is because a Drabble is a complete story with a beginning, a middle and an end. Hemingway says she recognized that this was a wonderful way for her to be able to speak truth to power

in her everyday life. “There’s a lot of truth that can be said in a drabble,” she explains. She not only began crafting stories, but she also began crafting things she wanted to say to those who were besieging her in the workplace. “I realized the empowerment of keeping calm and speaking concisely,” she says. “It kept me balanced.” Now, Hemingway says it is easy for her to pick out redundancies in general. “This is why I can’t watch or listen to too much news,” she laughs.

In March of 2020, Hemingway released A Twist of Lemon, 100 Curious Stories in Exactly 100 Words (The Three Tomatoes Book Publishing), a collection of 100 unique stories each with its own reality. Each page tells the story of a distinctive character, their trials, and tribulations, all within a paragraph or two. Many pieces are based on true stories, or at least originate from real-life prompts.

Hemingway takes inspiration from her experiences, and those of others. For example, she might mentally record a conversation she overhears in the grocery store, or she may find inspiration in something she sees or reads. She always travels with a pen and paper when she is out and

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREDIT: MICHELLE CITRIN STUDIOS

about. At home, though, she writes with a pencil. “There’s a reason for that. The ideas hit me. The next thing, it goes down from an idea in my head to my heart. And then it finally goes down to my hand, and my hand scribes the words as the story begins to create itself on paper,” she describes. She goes on to say that because a pencil has graphite in it, it “scratches” the page unlike a pen. “To me, that’s like going to the creative canal. I love the pencil.” While the Drabble form does not require it, Hemingway’s signature writing style is ending her stories with an unexpected twist. She explains how the title of her book reflects the nature of her storytelling: “Every story I write has a twist in it. It starts off one way, and as you go along, then you go, ‘Oh, it’s a surprise!’ You don’t expect the ending after the way it started!” Hemingway has discovered that, “every person, place or thing is a story waiting to be told.” Or more specifically, a drabble waiting to be written.

For more information on Arlene Hemingway, visit her website: www.arleneduanehemingway.com

To purchase a copy of her book, visit your local bookstore, Amazon or www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder

- Not Slowing Down

There aren’t many kids who can claim their grandma has done a TEDx talk, but Maggie Wallem Rowe’s six grands can! Maggie, now 70 years old, is quite accomplished and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Originally from Illinois, she and her pastor husband Mike served three congregations in New England and the Midwest before making their home in Western North Carolina in 2018.

Along with being a mom and grandma, Maggie has been a college professor, a public relations professional, and a women’s ministry director. She has spoken at hundreds of women’s retreats and conferences on topics such as parenting, friendship, anxiety, finding your calling, marriage, and vocation. Maggie also writes and and performs historical reenactments of the lives of noted women of faith.

Maggie has contributed to multiple books including study Bibles and has authored two solo books – Life is Sweet Y’all and This Life We Share. This past winter she just completed her second polar plunge for a fundraiser for a local children’s educational program. In her blog, View From the Ridge, Maggie shares poignant thoughts and wise insights into everyday life and regularly interacts with the many readers who comment.

How does she do everything?

She doesn’t.

“You can’t do it all,” she insists. “Not at the same time.” Maggie didn’t set out to pursue multiple vocations. More than once she felt less than qualified for leadership roles she was asked to assume. She credits her relationship with God for helping her make those decisions and directing her path. “When it came to one position for which I felt completely unqualified, I searched the Scriptures for a reason not to take it, and instead I found

a record of people who responded to God’s promises by saying yes. God has always supplied what I lack.”

Family has always come first for Maggie. “I have a very supportive husband and family”, she says. Her travel and speaking schedule is especially full during the holidays. Years ago, the women of her church would band together to bring meals to her young family in her absence. Maggie realizes not all women have that. That is why she also advocates for women to support one another in whatever stage of life they find themselves.

Now in her “third trimester” of life, as Maggie puts it, she often speaks against ageism. She feels our greatest obstacle as we age is discrimination against ourselves. “In the West,” she says, “older women often feel invisible and unheard. It’s tempting to feel as if we’ve been confined to the margins rather than being in the middle of the stories everyone is talking about.”

Maggie favors a quote by psychologist Mary Pipher: “Ultimately ageism is prejudice against one’s own future self.”

Rather than being self-limiting, Maggie prefers to focus on what she has to give now, in this stage of life. She points out that anytime we lose something, it makes space for something new in our lives.

She says in her TEDx talk, “… [we discriminate against ourselves] by comparing our weaknesses to others’ strengths or identifying ourselves by what we’ve done in the past and not what we’re capable of in the future. Maybe we’ve let previous failures define us, but our past performance doesn’t get to prophesy our future potential.”

In conclusion, she encourages women to take four steps:

1) Jot down ten to fifteen words you’d use to describe

Maggie Rowe

WRITTEN BY SUSAN ZURCHER

yourself. Eliminate the ones that arise out of your perceived weaknesses.

2) Do a personal inventory of your skills and experiences, including volunteer work. What’s no longer a part of your life that once took up most of your time?

3) What have you dreamed of doing if you had the courage, the time, and the finances?

4) Even if you lack 90% of what you feel a new achievement requires, take that 10% that you do have while actively seeking the resources you need. The 90% will come.

Like many of us, Maggie is still tempted to try and take on more new challenges than she has time for. But these days she’s allowing for more margin in her life by leaving some white space in her planner yet scheduling important things she enjoys including exercise and hiking.

If you are wondering what might be next in your own life, consider how Maggie’s four steps might apply to your situation. Watch and listen for the need that has your name written on it.

For more information on Maggie and for a little encouragement, visit her website: www.maggierowe.com

PHOTO CREDIT: CARL CRAMER

Event Planner Jennifer Saucier Restarts a Love in her Life

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

When Wedding Coordinator, Event Planner and Venue Owner Jennifer Saucier graduated from high school, she expected to go into a vastly different field. “I had family in law enforcement, so it kind of ran in my blood,” she explains. “I was afraid to do it and my husband didn’t want me to do it. So, I pursued a different path.”

Originally from Madison County, North Carolina, Jennifer got married and had children very young. “I had my son twenty days before my twentieth birthday. I was a youngin’ raising a baby,” she says. Unfortunately, after getting married at eighteen, Jennifer became a victim of domestic violence within her marriage. She remembers a Buncombe County police officer, telling her, ‘Ma’am you have to get out of this before he kills you.’ “I was finally brave enough to get out of that relationship and got a divorce. I ended up working on the same patrol squad with that same officer years later.”

Jennifer went on to become a police officer for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. “I felt like I had taken the victimhood of domestic violence and gotten rid of it,” she says. “I overcame and became a better person. I was able to take care of my son and be a good role model for him.” After divorcing her husband, she became a single mother and raised her son in Weaverville, NC. Her son, who she is so proud of, has since grown up to follow in his mother’s footsteps and become a correctional officer in Tennessee.

Jennifer recalls those years as some of the best of her life. “Being a mom and officer, and being in my community, and helping people overcome like I had, that was healing to me,” she says. Though she adored her job, she always kept her side gig as a wedding and event planner going. Prior to getting divorced, Jennifer had a career in hair and makeup, which led to connections in the wedding

industry. She started planning her own events and found she really enjoyed it. “It kind of tumbled into a passion I loved to do on the side. It was fun putting things together for other people. That was a happy thing in my life.”

At this point, Jennifer entered a really dark point in her life. She was injured in the line of duty, an event that put her into a downward spiral. “I had become a police officer and regained my life, and then it was taken away from me,” she explains. “So, I felt like I went from victim, to hero, back to victim. I went down a really dark hole.”

Jennifer had suffered multiple injuries that had to be treated through surgeries and still left her disabled. She temporarily lost use of her right arm and was in physical therapy for two years. She was forced to take medical retirement because she was no longer able to perform the duties of a deputy sheriff. “It was devastating,” she recalls. “When they finally said to me that I was done and I couldn’t do this anymore, my entire world fell apart. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to be a productive person again. I really had to dig deep for a while.”

When things seemed at their worst, a much-needed blessing came into Jennifer’s life. She met her current husband Darrell, also a Deputy Sheriff. On a visit to his family’s home in South Carolina to visit his family, the couple started a discussion of what their retirement would look like. Jennifer’s brother-in-law suggested they tour a 32-acre lot for sale in Sumter. “Well, the minute we stepped on the property, I fell in love. When I walked into the building that was there, I realized I could make this a wedding venue, and this could be amazing,” she says. Even though her husband was reluctant to move to South Carolina, he couldn’t help but fall in love with the property as well. “So we bought the property, and we turned what was a warehouse into a wedding and event

venue.” The couple also built their home on the back of the property.

The land became The HIVE @ Lavender Estate, known for its tranquil, modern farm vibe and simple, beautiful style. Jennifer and her husband opened the full-service venue in August of 2020. “In three years, we have won the Best of Sumter 2022 Wedding Venue, and the Best of Sumter 2023 Wedding Coordinator, Event Planner, and Banquet Facility. I was shocked, and I was in awe, and I felt so blessed,” Jennifer shares, adding that the venue is already booked into next year. “What we love is for our clients to come in, share their vision with me, and I provide a personalized proposal, and we become a one stop shop for the client. We literally do everything for their big day from start to finish.” Now a mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, the owner of a successful wedding venue, and happily married, Jennifer cannot help but think of what a difference can be made in a short period of time. “I was so depressed and lost that my job had been taken away from me,” she remembers feeling. “The one thing I could remember that made me happy was events and wedding planning. And I thought that could restart a happy place in my life.” Not only did it restart Jennifer’s happiness, but it gave her the opportunity to help bring other lovers together in wedded bliss. Whether a simple, or extravagant event, Jennifer delights in helping couples design and host their dream weddings at The HIVE @ Lavender Estate, making it as much of a dream-come-true for them as it has been for her.

For more information on The HIVE @ Lavender Estate, or to book your event today, visit their website: www.lavenderfieldestate.com/contact

“THE ONE THING I COULD REMEMBER THAT MADE ME HAPPY WAS EVENTS AND WEDDING PLANNING. AND I THOUGHT THAT COULD RESTART A HAPPY PLACE IN MY LIFE.”

PHOTO CREDIT: MIA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

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Miss Queen City Keelie Jones: Empowering Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention

WRITTEN BY ROSA LINDA FALLON

In a world where women are making remarkable strides, Hendersonville, NC native and Miss Queen City Keelie Jones stands out as an inspiring young lady who is determined to make a positive impact in her community and the world around her. While pageantry may not have been Keelie’s initial passion, it became an avenue for personal development and empowerment. Starting at age 15, Keelie joined the Miss America organization. She says pageantry has helped her excel in more ways than one. “It’s helped me grow into the person that I am today. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of self-growth out of participating in pageants because I’ve always been a very competitive, performance-based person,” Keelie says. “Getting to pair that with public speaking and community service work, as well as holding a brand title, has helped me create an image for what I want myself and my future to be.” Through her participation in pageants, Keelie has honed her skills, gained confidence, and established a clear vision for her future. She is currently Miss Queen City and aspires to earn the title of Miss North Carolina. Keelie’s academic pursuits also reflect her diverse interests and commitment to personal growth.

As a senior at UNC Charlotte, Keelie is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Applied Dance, and a minor in Biology. These seemingly disparate fields align with her aspirations of a career in Health Administration. Not only is Keelie excelling academically but she is also dedicating her efforts to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.

Tragedy struck Keelie’s life when she lost her close friend and mentor, Miss USA 2017 Cheslie Kryst, to suicide just last year. Keelie met Cheslie when she was 12 years old. She credits Cheslie for helping her build her confidence and having a profound impact on her life. When Cheslie passed, Keelie says she remembers feeling so angry. “I remember talking to my mom and I said ‘I am so angry

because I feel like no one is doing anything, and it’s killing me because I feel like everyone’s already forgotten about her.’ And my mom looked me in the face and said, ‘Then do something about it.’”

So she did. In memory of Cheslie, Keelie founded “Crying Out Loud,” a nonprofit organization focused on promoting mental health awareness and providing resources to those in need. Her initiative serves as her community service project as Miss Queen City, but Keelie envisions it becoming a nationwide platform. Keelie says, “I want this nonprofit to be something that my children take over when I pass. I would like it to be a nationwide thing that is well known just for the sense of making mental health awareness and suicide prevention a constant conversation, and an available place where people can receive resources.” According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults ages 10-34. Keelie wants to implement a curriculum into middle school and high school classes and various health clinics across the country. She shares that she also struggled with her own mental health, only furthering her passion to help others facilitate conversations around the topic. “I felt like I wouldn’t have struggled so badly with my mental health and conteplated suicide as well if it had been more of a conversation growing up,” she says.

Keelie’s journey is still unfolding, with the upcoming Miss North Carolina competition being a significant milestone. As she competes for the coveted title, she aims to utilize her platform to further amplify the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Beyond pageantry, her dedication to her academic pursuits and the growth of her nonprofit organization continue to shape her future. Through her unwavering commitment, her vision extends well beyond personal recognition as she strives to trailblaze a movement for the mental wellbeing of those around her for generations to come.

KEELIE PHOTO CREDIT: JILLIAN MARIE BEAUTY AND PHOTO

WOMEN WHO TRAILBLAZE

WOMEN WHO TRAILBLAZE HISTORY TEACHER DOT CASE

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

In her 47 years as a teacher, Dot Case inspired countless students to go on to pursue their dreams. “I didn’t have children of my own, so my school children became my children,” she explains, adding that she always knew teaching was her calling.

Dot started teaching history at Edneyville Middle School in 1969. After that, she taught at Edneyville High School until it closed in 1993. Then, she went on to teach at North Henderson High School until her retirement in 2016. Her favorite subjects to teach were the constitution and World War II. She thoroughly enjoyed taking her students on field trips to Raleigh and Washington D.C., and has encouraged them to travel and see the world. “That’s what history is all about, making it come alive for kids,” she says. She was selected as the Henderson County Teacher of the Year in 1982, 2009 and 2010. She was also WNC Teacher of the Year in 2010. In 2022, Dot was inducted into the Education Hall of Fame. Besides reaching students in the classroom, Dot coached Junior High basketball, track, cheerleading and gymnastics. She also supports other female teachers

through her work as a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Outside of the school system, Dot served on Governor Pat McCrory’s Teacher Advisory Board from 2014-2016. “It was a really great experience for politicians to listen to little ole teachers out of the mountains,” she says, adding that her small-town feelings did not keep her from telling McCrory’s team when she disagreed with their proposed policies.

In 2018, Dot ran and won a seat on the Henderson County School Board. Earlier this year, one of Dot’s former students nominated her for the ATHENA International Leadership award. “That was the honor for me, that a former student thought I was worthy of the award,” she says, adding how wonderful it has been to see her students’ success after they’ve left her class, and that she has formed long-lasting friendships with many of them well into their adulthood.

Since retiring, Dot has continued traveling and volunteering at several schools. While she is relieved to finally get to take it easy, she admits to missing her students terribly. “I love, love, love teaching,” Dot gushes. “That’s what’s made my world go round. It’s been the love of my life.”

WOMEN WHO TRAILBLAZE MISS USA - MORGAN ROMANO

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Miss North Carolina, Morgan Romano, was crowned Miss USA in Auburn, AL during the Miss Alabama USA and Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant this past January. “It’s a once-ina-lifetime experience,” she says of winning. “It was the best time of my life, something I’ll never forget, and something I’ll be telling my kids and my grandkids about.”

Originally from upstate New York, Morgan developed a love of being on stage as a competitive dancer and hoped to one day become a Rockette. Instead, she attended the University of South Carolina and began taking courses in chemical

engineering. “There were a lot of boys and I didn’t know anyone,” she recalls of her college classes. “That’s kind of what made me be in pageants, because I wanted to meet other like-minded girl friends that I could hang out with.” She participated in a few pageants in South Carolina and always came in with the top five, but never won. After graduating in 2020, Morgan moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and accepted an engineering position at a development company called RE Mason.

Morgan also began doing regular training to improve her pageant skills. “It’s honestly like training for the Olympics. You have to work everyday to do something to get better,” she explains. She would work with a physical trainer every morning, then do a full day of work. After work, Morgan would run a mock interview, and work on branding, or practice stage-walking, or do a fitting. She would end her day by listening to a podcast to stay

WOMEN WHO TRAILBLAZE ROCK BOTTOM RECOVERY FOUNDER STACIE LEDFORD

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Stacie Ledford was brought up in a poor, dysfunctional family in Hiawassee, Georgia. Her father was an alcoholic who died the day before Stacie’s 13th birthday at the age of 39 due to complications after having been shot. Her mother died of heart failure when Stacie was 23, and her sister died shortly thereafter of an overdose.

While Stacie was no stranger to alcohol, she says her addictive behavior really began when she was in her 30’s. “I’d always been one of those people that, if I picked up a drink, I was drinking to get drunk,” she recalls, adding that she doesn’t feel that she ever learned decent coping skills. Eventually, Stacie added prescription drugs to the mix and her life began to spiral out of control.

After her first arrest in February 2015, Stacie went to a detox center, which did not work for her. “I just told them what they wanted to hear. We are master manipulators and professionals at what we do,” she says of people with substance use disorders. In July 2015, she enrolled in a behavioral counseling center where she was diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. Within 60 days after being released, Stacie overdosed on mouthwash and Xanax, but was revived. Twenty-three days after that, she was arrested again and held in jail for 33 days.

up-to-date on current events. “It’s a lot of work, but a lot of reward and a lot of fun too.” The work paid off, and Morgan won Miss North Carolina and went on to win Miss USA.

Now, as Miss USA, Morgan is traveling internationally to work with different organizations, such as Best Buddies, Smile Train, and Women in STEM. While she hopes to continue to do work that betters the world, she hasn’t decided on what path to take after her term as Miss USA ends. “The opportunities are really endless, which sounds amazing, but can also feel really overwhelming,” Morgan explains, stating that she has made so many contacts with amazing organizations through her roles as Miss North Carolina and Miss USA. “I’ve never ever taken a break in my life. I’ve definitely always had that hustle mentality, and it paid off. I think I just need to take a step back and figure out who Morgan is now.”

In jail, Stacie met several women whose lives had been ruined by their addiction to drugs, like heroin. Not only did the experience incite her to clean up her own act, but to help others do so as well. “I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem anymore,” Stacie recalls.

In January 2017, she created her own nonprofit, Rock Bottom Recovery, in Hayesville, North Carolina. It is an open support group for people who are struggling with, or recovering from, addiction/ substance abuse, as well as their families. They hold meetings every Monday night at the Clay County Senior Center. Besides meetings, Rock Bottom Recovery does everything from jail ministry, to driving people to rehab, to doing medical work-ups, and assisting in the financing of medical treatments. “It’s what I was meant to do. I have to be who I need,” she says of her role, adding that she meets all her clients with love and no judgment. “When someone is using, they’re hurting. Addiction is just a symptom of a deeper problem.”

Today, Stacie is a certified Peer Support Specialist, Recovery Coach, and SMART Recovery Facilitator for Rock Bottom Recovery. She finds her work incredibly gratifying, and hopes to grow Rock Bottom to have its own building, as well as transitional homes for her clients who have recently been released from prison. “For me, all I have is today,” she says. “You can’t do anything about yesterday and tomorrow is a gift.”

WOMEN WHO TRAILBLAZE FOOD BANK DIRECTOR CANDICE PARKER

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Director of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina Candice Parker says she was blessed to come from a very loving family and had never been exposed to violence in her early life. In December of 2016, her body was left unconscious next to a river. “I needed to leave a terrible situation with my son’s father. I left everything behind,” she recalls. In a different state than all her friends and family, Candice had to depend on the kindness of strangers and went to the local women’s shelter to get help. She remembers that period as being understandably difficult, but also memorable and impacting. “You have no compass, but you just know internally that you have to get it done. It is very possible to pivot, adapt, and rise up.”

The shelter also happened to be hiring for a Fund Development role. “I said, ‘I’m a domestic violence victim, how does that make sense?’,” recalls Candice, when the Executive Director told her she should apply for the position. “And they said, ‘You’re the perfect person for this because you can tell a story.’” The board of directors unanimously agreed to bring her on.

“I knew I had found my calling, and that was to sincerely help others,” says Candice. “For me, this is something I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. It is the most rewarding experience I can have to help other people.” From there, she climbed the ladder starting at the Coastal Women’s Shelter, the tri-county domestic violence agency, followed by Promise Place, the tri-county sexual assault resource

center. Then she became Director of Development at Religious Community Services, the tri-county homeless shelter.

Now 38, Candice is Branch Director of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. Since June 2022, they have distributed over 2 million pounds of food to Craven, Carteret, Pamlico, Onslow and Jones counties through their retail donation program, as well as 7.5 million pounds from their 30,000 square foot branch through the 65 local nonprofits they partner with. Through her work, Candice feels she has reached her life’s purpose. “It’s my job to create a wake with discussions surrounding hunger, its impact, and what we can do,” she says. “I have sincerely listened to the people that I have served and I got to use my developmental brain to find solutions.”

To make a donation to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern Carolina, go to their website: foodbankcenc.org/about-us/locations-contact-info/new-bern

"Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes."

—Nancy Pelosi

PHOTO CREDIT: BOB MACKOWSKI

Courteney Lowe and Laura Jorgensen Collaborate with UNCA Students to Connect with the Asheville Business Community

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIDERBOX/RUNNERBOX

After years of competing as professional road-racing cyclists, Laura Jorgensen and Courteney Lowe definitely had a healthy sense of determination and drive. What they didn’t have was money. “Everyone is doing something to make a living,” Laura says of female competitive athletes. Laura and Courteney’s businesses, The RiderBox and The RunnerBox, began as a way to make their financial ends meet and keep racing. “It started as a thing to supplement our professional racing career, because women’s sports doesn’t even pay you enough to not have a second job.”

The idea for the RunnerBox came from Laura’s high school coach’s sister. She had started a small business out of her home, putting together a selection of products for her runner friends and shipping them through the mail. When the business became too much work, Laura took it over in 2013 and began running it out of her grandmother’s house in Cullowhee, North Carolina. “I had all the skills necessary to grow the business,” says Laura, who had previously been working a corporate job to pay her bills. Formerly a member of the U.S. National Pro Cycling Team, Laura admits she thought RunnerBox was something she could do on the side for a year, or two. “I never thought it would turn into something like this. The business was successful right away. It’s been an incredibly unexpected and fun journey. I’m so grateful for this business and that we started it.”

While Laura had a knack for finance and analytics, she says she could never have made the business work without Courteney’s skills in outreach. The two met in 2015 when they raced for the same team and became partners. As a former race team manager and 2013 New Zealand Road Race National Champion, Courteney

brought onboard her skills in brand partnerships, sponsorships and product deals. She also brought a heap of international contacts, such as former racers, performance coaches and nutritionists. “What we do in the job is very different, but it comes together and we meet in the middle,” Courteney explains of their dynamic. As the RunnerBox grew, racing became harder and harder, until the two turned the majority of their focus to the business. Shortly after, they expanded their business to include RiderBox. The RiderBox is full of the same types of products as the RunnerBox, but geared towards bicyclists. With products for pre-, post- and mid-workout, both boxes contain 10-11 internationally accredited nutrition products, including snacks, gear and accessories. Laura adds that the boxes are a great way to try new products and that the boxes make fabulous gifts for runners from non-runners, since picking out the best products can be challenging.

In 2016, they moved to Asheville, NC to establish a base for their business. Laura says the choice was based on the Asheville community as a whole: the cycling, the inclusivity, and the progressiveness of the area. “I wouldn’t want to build a business somewhere else. It’s just the most collaborative place I’ve ever been,” she explains, adding that it’s a great city for startups. “We want to pay that forward by growing a really strong business here that can give back to the community, hire people here and create jobs. We want to bring that all full circle and this is the very precipice of that journey.” Since the distribution center for the RunnerBox/RiderBox is in Michigan, Laura and Courteney wanted to do something to connect with the Asheville community.

Enter UNC Asheville Associate Professor of Business,

Dr. Susan Clark Muntean. In this unique course, the Business Consulting Practicum, Susan finds the most promising teams of entrepreneurs and partners with them over the course of a semester, connecting the scaling startup with her class. This provides students with an immersive learning experience, while providing value to grow the business. “We’re building that bridge between ‘campus on a hill’ and the entrepreneurial ecosystem and business community,” Susan says. “There are no textbooks, lectures or exams; it’s very hands-on; students are providing tangible and valuable deliverables for the business. It’s a win/win/ win for everyone.”

Susan started a similar program out of Ball State University in Indiana, but for the past eight years, has been teaching it at UNCA. This award-winning course she designed and teaches once a year provides students with the rare opportunity to shadow seasoned entrepreneurs and gain applied knowledge. Through the experience, the students also build confidence, gain professional experience, learn creative problem solving, and identify/execute opportunities. Susan stresses the importance of vetting the company to ensure they are a good fit for the students. “They’ve got to be dedicated mentors. They’ve got to want to work closely with undergraduates, and have projects that are challenging and provide multiple opportunities for applied learning,” she says. Laura and Courteney have been ideal leaders for her class in this regard.

Through the partnership, Laura and Courteney were able to focus on goals they had been putting off, such as growing their local presence, producing in a fulfillment center based in Asheville, and rapidly establishing their brand locally as well as nationally. “This class really opened our eyes to what is next for us in the future,” says Laura. “We believe we’ll be able to accelerate very quickly to become one of the biggest sports nutrition providers in the United States.”

The RiderBox and the RunnerBox is available on Amazon and Etsy.com, as well as at their website: www.therunnerbox.com

Legally Addictive Foods Founder Laura Shafferman Sweetens the Work Environment

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

The term “smart cookie” would be a fitting description for founder and co-owner of Legally Addictive Foods (LAF) Laura Shafferman. Not only did she take a family-favorite recipe and turn it into a thriving business — she did it all as a solution for a negative work environment that, abruptly, took a turn for the worse.

After graduating from Hofstra University in New York with a communications degree, Laura traveled and worked in Latin America for four years. She worked in various teaching jobs at bilingual schools in Argentina, Mexico City, and Colombia before returning to New York City to work in residential real estate. She eventually transitioned into real estate development marketing. Though she loved the social interactions with clients, Laura found the work environment to be toxic.

After witnessing her boss go through what she refers to as a “mini scandal,” the group fell apart, and Laura was laid off. Even though she was not associated with the scandal, Laura was held to a non-compete agreement. This meant that, for at least a year, Laura could not get any kind of job in her field. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Laura took this as an opportunity to pursue the possibility of starting her own business. A friend of hers was organizing a holiday market and suggested Laura participate in it as a food vendor.

Laura had always made a special type of cookie for gettogethers with her friends, which combined crackers, toffee and chocolate. They were consistently a big hit, and her friend suggested she make a few batches to sell at the market. Laura did, and they sold out in no time. She says many people have a recipe for this type of cookie, often referred to as “Christmas Crack,” but she couldn’t

find anywhere where they were sold. “No one was making these commercially,” Laura says of the cookies. She also opted to use Couverture chocolate instead of chocolate chips, and real toffee as opposed to simple syrup, which most recipes call for. Laura called her version of the cookie “The O.G.”

Laura’s products were then chosen to be a part of Dylan’s Candy Bar’s Best of New York assortment. Knowing she had a lot to learn about the business, Laura partnered with Dylan’s. She credits them with teaching her all about packaging, billing, and other business basics. Within a year and a half, Legally Addictive Foods had products in markets and coffee shops across the state.

Five months later, Laura met her future partner Seth. His background was in operations for television productions, including 13 seasons of the show Chopped. “He brought a very organized skill set that I did not have,” she admits, adding that she struggles with ADHD. “It was a perfect match.” The two became partners, both professionally and romantically, and were married in October of 2021.

By 2020, Legally Addictive Foods was being produced out of a 1,000 sq. ft. shared cooking space in Brooklyn. However, this was not sustainable for long-term growth. In Spring of 2022, they moved the company to Weaverville, NC. Laura says that she found the community to be extraordinarily welcoming, especially other food business owners. Now, in its new home, LAF is offering six variations of their signature cookie, as well as other snacks, including two chocolate bars, and a seasonal peppermint crunch bar. They have even collaborated with Spicewalla to create a salted gingerbread cookie, as well as an “Everything” cookie. “You constantly get to learn from other people

about their business,” Laura says of partnering with other local businesses. “It’s really rewarding and humbling.”

While she has built LAF from the ground up in a fairly short time, Laura admits it can be hard to sit back and enjoy it. “In the mind of a business owner, you’re just one disaster from ruin,” she says. Despite that, she hopes to continue building what she refers to as a “sweet and salty empire,” and to make the product a national brand and a household name. It is also one of Laura’s personal goals to help other female entrepreneurs succeed, and to continue to help shift the culture to make positive work environments for young women. “A big part of what I, personally, want to do is to mentor other female entrepreneurs in the future,” she says, adding that she found so much comfort and support from other women business-owners in similar industries.

Looking back on where she was just a decade ago, Laura is grateful that she was able to turn her life around. She encourages other female entrepreneurs to reach out to other women in the field, and if possible, to find a mentor. “The most important thing is to make sure you have good, supportive people around you,” she explains. “The people you spend your time with are critical to your success.”

For more information on Laura Shafferman, or Legally Addictive Foods, visit their website: www.legallyaddictivefoods.com

Unstoppable French Broads Brunch Member and

Posh Lounge and Beauty Bar

Owner Ginger Kelley: An Innovator in the Beauty Industry

WRITTEN BY ROSA LINDA FALLON

Owner of Posh Lash Lounge and Asheville native Ginger Kelley describes herself as “outgoing” and “passionate” about the beauty industry. At Posh, Ginger and her team create a warm, welcoming and stress-free environment where you can show up in your gym clothes to get your brows done, no explanation needed. “We have a family work atmosphere,” Ginger says of Posh. “That also speaks to the kind of clients we have. When you come into our salon, we are all-inclusive. We don’t see your flaws.”

A total beauty pro, Ginger is a certified esthetician, cosmetologist, and a permanent makeup artist. She graduated with her Aesthetics degree from Blue Ridge Community College in 2007. She was also part of A-B Tech’s first cosmetology program. A go-getter, Ginger was the first person in Asheville to offer professional individual eyelash extension services. Before making her mark, though, Ginger admits that starting her business was challenging.

She started out small and set up shop at Sugar Mama’s Waxing & Beauty Studio in the Asheville Mall while she was pregnant with her son. Soon after, she was introduced to the owner of Willow’s Dream Salon who allowed her to rent out a small space in her salon. “She encouraged me as a fellow business owner that anything was possible,” Ginger says. While working for Willow’s Dream, Ginger’s business started to take off. She has even been voted #1 Aesthetician for the Mountain Xpress since 2012.

In 2016, Ginger opened the first lash studio in Asheville, Posh Lash Lounge & Beauty Bar. The studio soon became so busy that Ginger couldn’t take on any more clients. She expanded her space and hired three more estheticians and a front desk receptionist. In 2018, Ginger got her tattooing license and began helping to boost the confidence of her clients through permanent makeup. After the hair salon next door went out of business, Posh Lash Lounge expanded and took over the space, turning the lounge into a full-blown beauty bar with ten employees.

Posh Lash Lounge and Beauty Bar is now Asheville’s premier one-stop shop beauty bar where you can have all your beauty services done in one place, including lashes, skin care, waxing, teeth whitening, permanent makeup, hair, and nails. Ginger prioritizes not only using the best products on the market, but also creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for everyone who walks through their doors.

She has also expanded her reach into the education scene. In 2020, Ginger created Posh Academy. She partnered with A-B Tech’s cosmetology department in 2021 to offer a continuing education program for estheticians and cosmetologists. While she enjoys her career, Ginger admits the work can be strenuous. She has discovered she is more passionate about teaching. “I got burnt in the stylist-realm”, she says. “I learned that I like helping mentor junior stylists more. I love the sparkle in a student’s eye when they get it.”

Recently, Ginger attended the Las Vegas Permanent Makeup Conference, being taught by the best PMU Artists from all over the world. There she earned twentyone certifications ranging from new permanent makeup techniques and tricks to the latest trends in permanent makeup, and even new Paramedical services. Ginger is now leaning into the Paramedical field, taking on areola tattooing for survivors of breast cancer, scar camouflaging, and scalp micropigmentation. She says, “This is the most rewarding work an artist can provide, the feeling my client has when they leave is so powerful. I love building the confidence of others. My whole career, I have looked for ways to help others.”

Ginger’s passion for helping others can also be seen in her community involvement. Not only does Posh give back to the community by sponsoring children at Christmas from Eliada Homes, Asheville High School, and Salvation Army, Posh also supports other community businesses ranging from the police and fire departments to the animals

at Mountain Area Pet Rescue. She is also a member of Unstoppable French Broads Brunch (UFBB), an allinclusive women’s group based in Asheville founded by local resident, Sarah Malson. UFBB provides individuals with the opportunity to network with other members of the community and support local causes.

Ginger’s passion and excitement for the beauty industry continually inspires her to be innovative. In addition to being a business owner and a teacher, she recently started her own product line, which she hopes to begin distributing in major cosmetic stores. As a mother of five boys and one rescue dog, Ginger keeps a tight schedule, but she prioritizes her family above all else. She also strives to afford her employees the same opportunities, emphasizing fostering a work environment where everyone works together collaboratively instead of competitively. “The only competition we have is ourselves,” she explains. “We understand the pressures that tend to be placed on women to meet certain vanity ideas, so the intention is to curate a space of empowerment where women can feel confident and beautiful. The goal in empowering other women is to level the playing field and provide a pathway to younger women who are following in our footsteps."

For more information or to book your appointment, visit their website: www.poshloungeandbeauty.com

CEO Nadine Vogel — One Proud Disability Mama and Entrepreneur Helping Others

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

PHOTO CREDIT: NV PHOTO

A serial entrepreneur and a mother of a disabled child, Nadine Vogel understands how crucial it is to ensure individuals with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else. Since people with disabilities are the largest and fastest-growing minority in the world, she wanted to do her part to make the world a little more comfortable for them. After graduating from the College of Charleston with her B.S. in Industrial Psychology and an MBA in Marketing from Golden Gate University, Nadine got a job working for a large corporation. She worked there for five years when she was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer. Nadine started a program within the company with services and products to help families who have disabled children plan for the future. She was granted the nickname ‘Queen of Disability’ by her staff. Her division quickly became the company’s most profitable department.

One day, the company’s CEO asked Nadine why, when creating this division of the company, she didn’t start her own business. Two years later, she decided to do just that and made that very same CEO a member of her new company’s advisory board. Nadine’s company, Springboard Consulting, began in March 2005 and now, eighteen years later, it is a highly successful, global company. Nadine attributes the majority of Springboard’s success to the fantastic people she works with. “You need an amazing team to execute.”

Springboard’s role is to help mainstream individuals with disabilities as candidates, employees and customers. They currently offer their services in over 70 countries around the world. Springboard helps businesses assess, develop and implement strategies to ensure they are appropriately and effectively integrating individuals with disabilities of all types across every functional area of the company from talent acquisition, management and sourcing to communications, compliance, facilities, employee resource groups, digital and more.

After creating a successful multinational corporation, Nadine didn’t slow down. She went on to found The Springboard Foundation, a charity that offers college

scholarships to students with disabilities. Her next move was to create DisAbility Mama & Co., a company whose goal is to empower, celebrate, honor and encourage women around the world who are caring for children with disabilities. Recently, to continue her efforts to empower women even further, Nadine created the The WIP (Women, Influence & Power) Group, which focuses on supporting women as business owners and executives. Nadine then went on to start her own global interior design and consultation firm, Sweetgrass Living. Sweetgrass serves both residential and commercial clients throughout the build or remodel process. The company has a unique expertise in applying the principles of accessibility and universal design to the beautiful spaces everyone is looking for. “That’s the creative side in me and I love to do that,” Nadine says.

Despite having multiple businesses to contend with, Nadine says the lifestyle suits her personality. “Life is crazy, but I get bored really easily, so it kind of works for me,” she says, smiling. To her, the idea of a work/life balance is an unrealistic goal. “I don’t think there is such a thing. To me, it’s about work/life integration.”

To female prospective entrepreneurs, Nadine advises trusting their instincts. “Trust your gut; it’s usually right. If you’re questioning your gut, determine what areas you’re questioning and bring in experts,” she warns. “Don’t do anything you’re not 5,000% passionate about. That energy and passion comes through your skin and people identify with that and want to align with that. Make sure you love it, because there are good days and bad days. If you don’t absolutely love it, those bad days could kill you.”

Now, with a home in Folly Beach, SC, and one in Florida, Nadine feels she is where she was always headed. A global speaking fellow, she hosts interviews and keynote speaking engagements across the globe. Once the host of her own television programs on Bloomberg and RVN networks, she now has her own podcast, entitled Disabled Lives Matter. “It’s like being a kid in a candy store,” she says. “I feel like a proud Mama. If they do better and thrive, then so will we.”

For more information on Springboard Consulting, visit their website: www.consultspringboard.com

For more information on DisAbility Mama, visit their website: www.disabilitymama.com

For more information on Sweetgrass Living, visit their website: www.sweetgrassliving.com

Don’t Abandon your Favorite Red Wines this Summer. Chill Them!

BY ANDY HALE, CSW

When we all first learned about wine, there were some very basic rules. Whites go with fish, reds go with steak, Champagne goes with wedding cake, whites are served cold and reds are served “room temperature.” These were the basic laws of the wine drinking universe, and anyone who didn't follow them was obviously an uncultured rube. Because of these laws, I constantly hear people swearing off their favorite reds during the summertime, because they aren’t enjoyable to drink in the heat. Today, I’m going to encourage you to break one of those laws and chill your reds!

What the heck does "Room Temp" mean?

First of all, I take offense to the simplistic view that reds are served warm and whites are served cold. This has led us to chuck our white wines in the fridge like a bunch of celery and leave our reds out on the kitchen counter next to the toaster. My fridge is set to 38 degrees — this is WAY too cold to serve a wine if you plan on tasting anything from it. It will be so cold that you won’t be able to smell or taste much of anything, which is a tragedy unless, of course, you are drinking bad wine.

As for "room temp," what does that even mean? I have my thermostat set at 70 degrees which is too warm to drink red wine, and I know people who have theirs set to 75 degrees or even hotter! The idea of drinking red wine at 75 degrees makes me queasy. It should be against the law, and it probably is in France.

The ideal serving temperature for whites is somewhere between the mid 40's to the mid 50's, depending on how rich the wine is. Serve your lighter whites colder and your richer, heavier ones warmer. For reds, it's from the mid 50's to the mid 60's with the same rules as the whites otherwise. Trust me, try drinking your wines around the right temperature and it will change your life. The easiest way to achieve this is by getting a wine fridge with two temperature chambers, one at about 45-50 degrees for the whites and one about 60-65 degrees for the reds. I received one of these a few years ago as a gift and they make it so easy! The only problem is they are very expensive.

A simple and free workaround for this is the old "15 Minute Rule." Pop your reds in the fridge for 15 minutes before serving and take your whites out of the fridge for 15 minutes before serving. I personally like my reds a little more chilled, especially in the summer, so I will often go for 20-25 minutes in the fridge, but you get the idea. Experiment with what works best for you and see if you like the results. I think you will!

Chillable Reds

Now when I'm talking about "chillable reds" I'm talking about chilled down cold, like 50 degrees cold. Not every red can be chilled down to this point without it tasting like you have made a huge mistake. Chilling down any wine changes the flavors and the perceived structure of the wine itself. For this reason, some reds are better suited to being served chilled than others.

First off, serving a red wine cool can intensify the tannins — that bitter, astringent feeling you get when drinking your favorite Cabernet. If you like your wines to taste "smooth," then this is a big no-no. The red wine you want to chill needs to be low in tannin. Secondly, chilling down a red wine will intensify the feeling of "body" in a wine. So your favorite full bodied, dark and inky red might taste like sludgy cement in your mouth if it's too cold. An ideal candidate to chill would be lighter in body, like a Pinot Noir or a Gamay from Beaujolais. Thirdly, serving a wine cold will mute some of the fruitier flavors in the wine, so choose a red with lots of fruit flavor.

Therefore, the ideal wine to chill will be light bodied, low in tannin and with loads of fruit. In other words, the wine equivalent of fruit punch. Pinot Noir and Gamay are good contenders. My favorites right now are a Cinsault from France called L’Amandier and a Spanish blend called La Maldicion. Both are light and fruity and perfect contenders for a chill.

Giving up your favorite reds during the hotter months is a sacrifice you just don’t have to make! Just chill your reds, and enjoy your summer. Also, while we are breaking wine drinking laws, please don't ever serve Brut Champagne with wedding cake.

Andy Hale is a Certified Specialist of Wine and was a professional Sommelier in Charleston until he moved to Asheville. He is now the Education Director at Metro Wines.

La Rumba: A Hidden Gem for Latino Cuisine

La Rumba is a hidden gem that truly captures the essence of authentic Latino cuisine. Restaurant owners Reynaldo and Luis hail from Veracruz, Mexico, and have brought their culinary expertise to the forefront by creating a menu full of scratch-made recipes. From the moment you step into the restaurant, you are greeted with warm, friendly faces and a welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home, making it the perfect spot for a family outing or a night out with friends. The decor is vibrant and colorful, with beautiful artwork adorning the walls.

But it's the food that truly sets La Rumba Latino Restaurant apart. Forget about the typical Mexican fare of fajitas, salsa bars, and facesized burritos. At La Rumba you'll experience something much more authentic and unique. Each dish is bursting with layers of flavor that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.

Rather than a basket of chips and salsa, you are offered elote, or street corn. A cob is slathered with a cream sauce and then sprinkled with spices for a truly great beginning bite. One of the standout dishes at La Rumba are the Maduros, or sweet plantains. These delectable treats are cooked to perfection, with a crispy exterior and a soft, sweet interior that is sure to please your taste buds. The house-made queso that is used in the nachos is another must-try dish. The cheese is creamy and flavorful, and it pairs perfectly with the crispy tortilla chips.

The Baja tacos are another favorite among patrons of La Rumba. These tacos are bursting with flavor, with tender and juicy pieces of fish that are perfectly seasoned and topped with fresh herbs and spices. Reynaldo also took the time to make us a special dish called Chipotle y media crema, which is sauteed shrimp and a chipotle cream sauce. It was amazing. I tried to lick the plate in the most lady-like way possible, and I’m not sure that I cared how I looked. The attention to detail that comes with each dish is unparalleled, and will leave you excited for the next bite.

The authenticity of the food at La Rumba is incomparable. Not only are the flavors bold and vibrant, the ingredients are of the highest and freshest quality. The owners take pride in sourcing their ingredients locally, ensuring that every dish is fresh and wholesome.

In conclusion, La Rumba is a must-visit restaurant for anyone looking for an authentic Latino dining experience in Asheville. Whether you're in the mood for a quick bite or a full meal, La Rumba is the perfect spot to satisfy your cravings.

Review

& Photos

by Desirae McGee, Advisor/Realtor Engel & Volkers desirae.mcgee@evrealestate.com

La Rumbas Restaurant Latino| larumbaAVL.com

105 River Hills Road Suite C , Asheville, NC

Cocktails to Beat the Southern Summer Heat

WRITTEN BY REBEKAH MCCUBBINS

Summer is here, and for many of us here in the Carolinas, that means it’s time to find a cool, refreshing cocktail to help us beat the heat. We’re bringing you 3 cocktails to sip on all summer long!

From beach days to backyard barbecues, you can’t help but get out in the sun when summertime hits. So why not find the perfect cocktail to help you stay cool?

A good summer cocktail is cold and fresh. It highlights bright flavors like citrus, florals, fruits, and fresh herbs. If it happens to be simple and easy to scale up for a gathering, even better!

Gin & Tonic

If you enjoy the spicy, floral flavor of gin, you can’t go wrong with a gin and tonic. It’s refreshing, adaptable, and so simple. You can customize your gin and tonic with flavored simple syrups, fruit juice, or some muddled fruit or herbs.

Ingredients

2 oz. gin

4 oz. tonic water

Lime or lemon wedge for garnish

Squeeze of lime or lemon juice

(optional)

Pour gin over ice. Add lime or lemon juice (optional). Add tonic water and gently stir. Garnish with a lime or lemon wedge and enjoy!

Aperol Spritz Mimosa

Aperol is an Italian apéritif that tastes like rhubarb and citrus. It’s a little bit bitter, a little bit sweet, and full of summery flavor. The Aperol Spritz makes a perfect light and bubbly summer beverage.

Ingredients

2 oz. Aperol

3 oz. Prosecco

1 oz. soda water

Orange slice for garnish

Pour Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy!

Tips to Mix Your Perfect Cocktail

An ever-popular brunch beverage, the mimosa is the easiest cocktail you’ll ever make. It’s made with equal parts of the two ingredients, meaning you can effortlessly make an individual glass or a whole pitcher. If simplicity is your priority, this will become your go-to cocktail throughout the summer.

Ingredients

Orange Juice

Prosecco or Champagne

Add equal parts orange juice and your sparkling wine of choice to your glass or pitcher. Gently stir and enjoy!

At the end of the day, your perfect summer cocktail is the one mixed with your own preferences in mind. You don’t have to follow the rules. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add some honey or a simple syrup. If you like a cocktail with a heavier taste of alcohol, change the ratio of your ingredients. If the recipe calls for lime but you prefer lemon, swap your citruses. Give yourself permission to make a summer beverage you’ll love!

Asheville Mom Robin Embler Fights for Her Daughter’s Quality of Life

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

This article is not meant to treat, cure, or mitigate any disease, condition, or injury. This is simply a true journey of successful applications applied with undeniable victorious results, thus far.

22-year-old Victoria Faith McNabb was an honors student with a winning smile and a passion for music. She played classical piano and adored ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ She was also the mother of a 3-year-old little boy. Eight years ago on May 22nd, Victoria was crossing Hendersonville Road (there has since been a crosswalk installed at the location) on her way to meet her mother for dinner when she was struck by an oncoming car going 45+ mph. She was tossed fifty-three feet, many of her front teeth were knocked out, and she suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

“That day, my daughter died, but I still have this broken body. I am so deeply grateful to still have her, but I miss her terribly,” says Victoria’s mother, Robin Embler. That same day, Robin embarked on a mission to fight for her daughter’s quality of life. “This is my journey, as much as it is hers. I tell Victoria, ‘I will speak for you, I will be your voice until you get your voice back. I will do whatever I need to do for you until you can do it yourself.’”

At a very young age, Robin’s parents divorced and did not have a close relationship with her father. She set out to give her children a different childhood than the one she experienced. At thirty three years of age, Robin freely gave her heart to Jesus Christ and became a Born Again Christian. She began making substantial changes in her life. Robin committed herself to living a healthier lifestyle and became ‘a researcher of wellness.’ Even after Victoria’s accident, Robin remains determined to maintain those values in her daughter’s life.

In the neurotrauma ICU, Victoria’s initial Glasgow Coma Scale (3-15) rating was 6 (severe). Upon hearing of what happened, Victoria’s husband threatened to take her off life support. Although Robin was told Victoria would be a vegetable, never be able to do anything, she knew God was faithful. Immediately, Robin began fighting for legal guardianship from Victoria’s husband and won. She also began researching alternative methods of healing to improve her daughter’s condition. The following thirtyone days there was no change and the hospital took methods to push her out. Victoria was discharged to the CARF (the accredited Care Partners Rehabilitation) for the next eighty-one days. Robin was given the option to either take Victoria home with no support, or to go

to a nursing home. Victoria spent 29 horrific months in a nursing home while Robin was present 7-12 hours a day caring for her. “I cannot tell you the buckets of tears and the times I have fallen on my knees, crying out to God to help me,”

Robin continued taking steps to improve her daughter’s care. In the nursing home, Victoria was fed a food supplement through a tube of which the main ingredient was high fructose corn syrup. Though the nursing home disapproved of it, Robin began bringing in homemade smoothies and pureed food for her. Victoria responded well to being fed, and could swallow on her own.

For seventeen months in the nursing home, Victoria suffered from poor care. The administrative staff did not approve of what Robin was doing to help her daughter, and made every effort to remove Robin’s guardianship. After six months of court hearings, the nursing home removed their petition and Robin remained Victoria’s legal guardian.

Six years ago in November, Robin brought Victoria home and became her full-time caregiver. With the approval of Victoria’s health care professionals, she created a comprehensive care plan. She took Victoria off all her medications, replacing them with supplementation, a healthy diet of smoothies and pureed foods, including essential oils, a daily massage, quantum physics, neurofeedback therapy and brainwave-stimulating activities. Victoria also sees a chiropractor twice a week, practices Kinesiology, and has done fifty-two sessions in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. She receives a lot of love and support from her therapy dog, Louie. “The therapies that I’m doing, I know they’ve made a difference,” Robin reports, citing that Victoria’s brain has shown a 52% increase in neuroplasticity since she left the nursing home, which she says is unheard of. She says Victoria has never

been sick since leaving the nursing home and that all testing shows her to be emotionally stable, happy and content.

Robin is paying out of pocket for a great deal of Victoria’s care. She has qualified for nonprofit status to receive donations to assist with Victoria’s care. While there are numerous government programs designed to help people who are born with challenges, this is unfortunately not the case for those suffering disabilities due to injury over the age of 22. Robin brings in support staff, as well as periodic visits from medical professionals, but says that it is incredibly hard to find and keep help. “It’s all on my shoulders. I need help. I can’t do the (other) things I need to do; I cannot advocate for her if I don’t have someone consistently caring for her.”

Currently, according to the North Carolina Brain Injury Association (BIANC), there are 280,000 people in NC who suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. Robin says everything she has read from many neurologists who specialize in TBI state the brain is neuroplastic and capable of change. Robin maintains a website and a

YouTube channel about Victoria so people can keep up with her progress. She is also considering hosting her own podcast focused on improving the lives of people with traumatic brain injuries. Robin says that she knew when she named her daughter Victoria Faith that her story was going to be incredible. Her daughter’s progress causes her to reflect on the bible passage from Esther 4:14: ‘Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.’ Now at 30, Victoria has progressed on a physical level, as well as a mental one. She colors, does activities with art, and creates music with her keyboards. She can perform some sign language and tries to brush her own hair and teeth. In physical therapy, she is currently working toward full weight bearing and standing. The most special improvement for Robin is when her daughter will turn her head and give her a kiss throughout the day.“I feel I win the lottery every time because I know she’s there,” Robin says of that moment. “I hear often that Victoria is blessed to have me. I am the one that is abundantly blessed to have her.”

For more on Robin and Victoria’s story, or to make a taxdeductible donation, visit their website: www.HelpVictoriaFaith.org

She Lived. . . Stitch by Stitch. . .

Last night I was exhausted; mentally, emotionally, and physically. Wednesdays are always difficult for me since I worked the previous two nights, but despite extra sleep yesterday afternoon I was pretty pitiful. So, I put myself to bed. I snuggled under my Grandma quilt and drifted off to sleep.

Today is the 98th anniversary of the day my Grandma Jones was born. This marks the first birthday we won’t be celebrating with her. She is celebrating it in heaven and I don’t regret that. I miss her. A lot. But, I know she was ready in every sense of the word and I’m thankful she is there.

However, I couldn’t help but think of the impact she had on the lives of so many people in this world. She wasn’t famous. She wasn’t rich. She wasn’t a huge success by today’s standards. Yet, in every way that really counts she was famous, rich,

WRITTEN BY MIRIAM BRADLEY

and successful. And she did it stitch by stitch.

You see, my Grandma was a wife, mother, grandma, sister, friend, and daughter. She took her relationships and responsibilities seriously. One way she showed her care was by providing for her family. She made quilts. Lots of quilts. When her children were at home she made quilts to keep them warm. They weren’t for show, although she loved to make them beautiful. As her family expanded, so did her quilt making.

For each new grandchild she made a baby quilt. There were 23. For each grandchild’s high-school graduation she made a tie-quilt. There were 23. Then she went on to make each of us a quilt for a double bed. When she came to a wedding, she brought a quilt and Grandpa brought money. A few years ago, when it became apparent even to her that she wouldn’t be able to keep her house much longer, she gave out

the quilts to those who weren’t yet married. I put mine away for a while but then decided I wanted to use it, married or not.

Since getting married I have kept the quilt folded at the bottom of my bed. When I am cold I pull it up. I can see different pieces of material in it that I recognize. They were the remnants of things Grandma made for us when we were younger. I know that Grandma put a lot of love into each of the quilts she made, just like she put a lot of love into each of our lives. She wasn’t a woman of many words. She wasn’t managerial. She was just a woman who loved her family and provided for them.

Even though I don’t have children I can learn a lot from her. I need to use the talents I have to provide for and bless those God puts in my life. That’s all He asks. I don’t need to do it all at once, either. I can do it like my Grandma, stitch by stitch, over a life-time.

Canton Prom Traditions are More Important than Ever After Mill Closes

BY VICTORIA GRACE

When Amanda (one of my friends after years of working with her family) reached out to me about taking her son’s junior prom photographs, the first thing I did was check my calendar. I was open, so I told her I would love to. For his sophomore year we did his prom photos at Lake Junaluska (a popular place for Pisgah High students to go for pictures before dinner on prom days). This time, though, I had an idea.

A few weeks before she reached out the town of Canton had been told the paper plant was closing. Pisgah High School isn’t even as old as the plant. For generations, many of the students’ families had worked there.

Even though I do photography full-time, my degree is actually in middle grades education. When I was student teaching at Canton Middle School I was told that it was particularly hard to motivate some students to participate in school because they had jobs waiting for them once they turned eighteen, and they didn’t need to graduate high school to earn a very

PHOTO CREDITS: VICTORIA GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

comfortable living just like their family members had for generations before them. For many in our community, a job at the plant was the only job they ever planned to have or needed to have.

The announcement of the closure changed the trajectory of our town, and so many lives. There was never a need for a ‘Plan B’ until the news broke suddenly in Spring of 2023. So I asked Amanda if she trusted me… and if her son and his friends would be willing to take their formals with the plant in the background, since this would be the last prom Pisgah High ever hosted with the plant in operation.

After the gallery was delivered I asked Amanda, her son Camden (Pisgah High Junior), and his classmate Elizabeth a few questions about their experience since it was so atypical.

When I asked you to trust me and take the photos with an industrial plant behind you, what was your first thought?

Elizabeth: I thought it was a great idea with being told the mill was closing. We aren’t sure what is to come for it so it gives me memories I can cherish forever.

Camden: I trusted her, 100%. She’s never steered us wrong.

Amanda: Our family would never second-guess her! Every time Victoria has suggested something for our family we let her be the rockstar that she is! She has an eye for detail that only trust allows to flourish.

How long has your family lived in Haywood County? Do any of your relatives work at the plant?

Elizabeth: My dad is a third generation worker from his side of the family. His grandfather and father both retired from the mill. My mother’s dad also retired from the mill as well. My dad would have been at the mill for 9 years in August.

Camden: We were all born and raised here.

Amanda: I was born and raised here. I moved away briefly for college and work experience but the community and the people of Canton brought me home. My dad and both of my grandfathers retired from the mill.

How have many of your friends or family been directly impacted by the closures?

Elizabeth: It has made a lot of uncertainty of what the next steps are for our family. We kept our faith and trusted that my dad would find another job, which he did.

Amanda: Unfortunately one of my closest friends' husband was employed by the mill and they are going to be relocating out of state.

Did the photos in front of the plant turn out how you thought photos in front of a plant would turn out?

Elizabeth: They turned out even better than I could’ve imagined. Victoria did a fabulous job and I am more than grateful for them and what they represent.

Do you think the closure will impact your senior year at Pisgah?

Elizabeth: I’m not positive on how anything will change, but I know that our community will stay strong and together. Our town has made it through some of the hardest times just in the last two years. Canton will come out on top because of the people.

Camden: Some things may change but we will do our best to maintain traditions.

Is there anything you want people to know about our community and how the mill impacts our way of life?

Elizabeth: I want others to know that it is more than just a mill, it is our way of life. It’s the people and families that call Canton home. It’s Friday [night] football games with the whistle blowing when Pisgah scores. No matter what adversity has brought to us, Milltown will stick together through it all. Canton will always be Milltown and my home.

Do you have a favorite picture of Camden from the session?

Amanda: There’s one of him standing on the bridge looking down and holding his cowboy hat. I think that one captures the essence of a young man growing up in our Milltown. Country roots, blue-collar work ethic, but knows how to shine himself up for a night.

PHOTO CREDITS: VICTORIA GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

A Night to Remember: Prom 2023

1 Abby, Tessa, Kaleb: A Lasting Impression Photography 2 Abigail Brewton 3 Addison Brewton

4 Hayden: Bliss Salon 5 Christianna Downey & Rylan Honeycutt 6 Luis, Myah, Claire, Aliyah, Conor: Forget Me Not Photography 7 Zack & Alayna 8 Nick Singleton & Elizabeth Smith, Allie Ferguson & Camden Edwards: Victoria Grace Photography 9 Mariah & Shiloh

10 Allayja Gilliam: Tia Nicole Photography 11 Caden & Christy 12 Catherine Sigmon & Ben Foust 13 Rylee Stokes & Ashton Clendenen: Susan Clendenen Photography 14 Kyndall Rector 15 Andrea Arrington: Dress: J Lorraine Designs & House of Sconiers Fashion Designer (Gee-Gee Asheville) Style: Angela Timbers Arrington 16 Faith Laws: taken by Chelsea Baker 17 Savannah & Gavin 18 Ethan Gaffney & Jasmine Nelson 19 Grace Sigmon & Maddox Anderson

PROM FEATURE: 2023

Two Women Leading the Movement to Preserve the Small Town of Old Fort, NC

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

As the small town of Old Fort, North Carolina continues to grow, expand and change, a handful of local organizations are determined not to let it lose the qualities that made it special in the first place. Instead, they plan to help it grow in a way that is good for the people who have been calling it home for generations. Two women who are leading this movement are Lisa Jennings and Stephanie Swepson Twitty.

Lisa Jennings

Lisa Jennings is the Outdoor Recreation Manager for the U.S. Forest Services Grandfather Ranger District, a 200,000-acre space spanning from Catawba Falls to Blowing Rock, and including 300 miles of trails. For the past four years, she has also been working with the G5 Trail Collective, a public/private partnership between the Grandfather Ranger District and Camp Grier. The partnership was created as a solution to the lack of funding for trail development and trail maintenance in the area. The name G5 refers to the five counties included in the Grandfather Ranger district (McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Avery, and Watauga).

“Old Fort is really at a turning point, getting around the corner of change,” Jennings says, referring to all the new businesses moving into the area. She says one of the critical factors driving the town’s growth is its appeal as an outdoor destination and ‘trail town.’ “We wanted to bring something more accessible and equitable to the Pisgah National Forest. We wanted, not just development, but smart and equitable development.”

Jennings says the idea for the G5 Trail Collective originated from the camp’s education Executive Director, Jason McDougald, to connect the iconic Heartbreak Ridge trail and the town of Old Fort. From there, it has blossomed into a plan to build 42 miles of trails on public land to connect and improve the existing trail system over the next 5-10 years. Jennings explains her role in the development is that of a project manager for the Forest Service, and a subject matter expert for the public lands and trails.

“I get to do both,” she beams. “The big picture planning, but also go into the woods and see it being built and help with the plans.” Jennings adds that she even enjoys crawling through the rhododendrons to make sure that everything is progressing correctly.

In order to give the trails the improvements they truly needed, the G5 Trail Collective needed to gather

some serious funding and community support. They joined forces with some great partners, like Eagle Market Street Development Corporation, CDC and together they formed the Catawba Vale Collaborative. It is the goal of the Catawba Vale Collaborative to redefine rural development in the area by leveraging its natural resources in a sustainable way, and positioning marginalized communities to benefit from the resulting economic growth. To date, they have raised over $1.5 million to fund the project.

Stephanie Swepson Twitty

As a native McDowell County and resident of Old Fort, Stephanie Swepson Twitty serves as Eagle Market Street

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDRE DAUGHTERY, PRO 16 STUDIOS, LLC

PHOTO CREDIT: DARRELL CASSELL

Development Corporation, CDC (EMSDC) President and CEO. She is eager to see Old Fort be a thriving rural community. She concurs with Jennings that Old Fort is on the precipice of an economic boom, and wants to prevent those responsible for its economic brightness from being pushed to the outskirts.

To fight this, Swepson Twitty is championing the cause of creating a more equitably-inclusive Old Fort, equating it to the concept of “a rising tide that lifts all the ships.” She says, “the town benefits from being a strong economy. When we think about equity, it’s not related to a color, race, or ethnicity. I think about equity as being enough resources for all citizens to participate in a thriving community. There are challenges to seeing that inclusiveness is realized, but equity includes all of us.” EMSDC is a nonprofit, predominantly persons-of-colormanaged, community economic development group whose goal is to benefit the community through the development of people, property and businesses to create equitable and socio-economic justice for all. In addition to their work with the G5 Trail Collective, EMSDC offers a variety of programs and services to help emerging nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and fledgling businesses get up and running.

In July of 2022, EMSDC opened the Catawba Vale Business HUB at 37 East Main Street, making it the first business of color to be represented on Old Fort’s Main Street since 1924. Swepson Twitty describes it as a coffee and coworking space for local and visiting small business owners. They are currently open from 9am3pm. The following December, EMSDC purchased the 60,000 square-foot warehouse next to the Old Fort Town Hall; the development will become the Catawba Vale Innovation Market, a business accelerator space.

To purchase and renovate that space they have partnered with Mountain BizWorks, Invest Appalachia and Opportunity Appalachia, and all Community Development Financial Institutions working to improve economic conditions in smalltown rural America. Ultimately the project will support a state of the art, virtual film production studio, 20,000 sqft. of creative manufacturing production and retail space, a signature restaurant and a 150-seat meeting and conference space.

Swepson Twitty is unendingly gratified at the success that EMSDC has found through its partnerships with the Catawba Vale Collaborative and its partners. “I cannot say enough. I’m so excited to be doing the work I’m doing. I’m so grateful to be alive at this time,” she says. Jennings is equally pleased with the progress that has been made through the combined work of the Catawba Vale Collaborative and their partners. “I love that other people

are going to gain that love and appreciation of public land,” she says.

The first 6-mile section of the G5 Trail Expansion opened last June, and includes a 100-space parking area. Jennings was thrilled to see over 500 people from the community come out to attend the ribbon cutting event.

“People are really enjoying the trails,” she says, stating that the new trails are much more welcoming to all types of users, including equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers. They have also been designed to include signage so people don’t get lost, and are even wheelchair accessible. “It’s different from what people are used to seeing on Pisgah National Forest trails. It’s really easy to get out and enjoy. That’s truly the success that we are excited about.”

In their different, but equally important ways, women like Jennings and Swepson Twitty are helping to make Old Fort an even better place to visit, and a wonderful place to call home. “We aren’t trying to be Asheville, or Marion. We just want to be authentically Old Fort,” Swepson Twitty says. Thanks to these women and the combined efforts of groups like the Catawba Vale Collaborative, and EMSDC, the town of Old Fort and the trails that surround it are in very good hands.

PHOTO CREDIT: HALLEY BURLESON

Casting Carolinas Creates a Ripple Effect of Healing for Women Experiencing Cancer

Casting Carolinas’ Executive Director Starr Nolan grew up on the river. A lover of the outdoors, sports, and music, one of her favorite things to do was walk up and down the water. “Still my favorite things,” she says. She also had a love of music. Starr began playing the piano at the age of five and went on to pursue a college education. After her Freshman year, she decided to switch to an English degree. “Then I discovered it was a degree in Unemployment,” she says, joking. Starr went back to school and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work and started a private practice. While working in social work, she had several friends and family members who were touched by cancer. Starr became passionately interested in addressing issues surrounding the disease.

The idea for a nonprofit that combined the joy of flyfishing and healing from cancer was the next step for her. She started the nonprofit organization Casting Carolinas in 2015. She describes the combination of working with the trauma that is a cancer diagnosis and fly-fishing as a perfect fit. Casting Carolinas offers a series of free fly-fishing retreats for women of all ages, with all types of cancer, and at any stage of cancer. The women work with instructors and relate with one another to discover empowerment and healing both in nature and with each other. In her role as Executive Director, Starr says she does everything from applying for permits, to program development, to washing off dirty wading boots.

At the retreats, the healthy components of nature are combined with the evidence-based skills for coping and healing. “Fly fishing is such an amazing learning experience,” Starr says. “There’s never a dull moment. You’re always trying to work it out, and learn the river, and understand nature.” Starr explains that Casting Carolinas’ Retreat Model, included in all their activities, is what sets them apart. It is based on the acronym F.L.O.W. and is designed to help people who are reeling from a

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

cancer diagnosis. Casting Carolinas F.L.O.W. stands for: (F) Find your breath, (L) Look inward, (O) Open up and Observe, (W) What’s next?.

Casting Carolinas Participant Angela Evans says the retreat weekend she attended in 2020 was foundational for her, and taught her skills she still uses today. “Cancer tells you there’s so much you can’t do. In the stream, you can do whatever you want to and that’s very powerful,” she says about her experience.

Angela feels she was in a lot of denial about her own cancer diagnosis and didn’t like to talk about it. She dreaded the group meetings at Casting Carolinas until she attended her first one and found that they were focused on healing and full of positivity. “It’s not everybody sharing their sad stories, not dwelling on cancer. It was such a special time for me. It gives you a sisterhood of people to share that with, and that supports you after you leave.”

“The retreats are all about stepping outside your comfort zone,” Starr explains, sharing that many women sign up for the retreats but profess hesitancy to touch a fish, or even step in the water. Starr makes it clear that the instructors don’t push the attendees to do anything they don’t want to do at the retreats, but somehow, all the participants have gotten in.

The retreats are held at St. Christopher Camp and Retreat Center in John’s Island, South Carolina, or on Lake Logan in North Carolina. Casting Carolinas hosts three retreats per year in March, April and October. At the retreats, sixteen women come together to work with highlyqualified instructors on knot-tying, casting a fly rod, and learning to listen to the river. There is also a health and wellness instructor on staff, as well as a psycho-social director and a retreat leader.

“Fly fishing has always been a traditionally male sport, but more women are getting involved in it,” Starr explains, citing that of all the fishermen featured in the Southern Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, only four of them are women, and every one of those women are instructors with Casting Carolinas. She adds that Casting Carolinas is proud to boast over 250 alumni, many of whom have returned to volunteer with the organization. Starr shares that they are deeply grateful to their generous supporters, and that their ability to offer retreats depends entirely on donations.

“Quality of life is so important,” says Angela. “You have doctors that treat your body, but don’t think about making your spirit well.” When cancer had Starr at her lowest point, she rediscovered her happiness and joy through Casting Carolinas. Starr says she feels great pride when women who have been on her retreats tell her that it not only helped them, but also their families, because they conquered their fears in the river and brought that conquest home with them.

To learn more about Casting Carolinas, or to volunteer or make a donation today, visit their website: www.castingcarolinas.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CASTING CAROLINAS

The Special Liberty Project Creates a Healing Place for Veterans and their Families

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPECIAL LIBERTY PROJECT

After being a military wife and mother for sixteen years, Jessica Merritt discovered she wanted to make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. She and her husband Cory created the Special Liberty Project (SLP) to give back to individuals who have given so much for their country. “We really do therapy in a different way,” Jessica says of SLP’s process.

Jessica and Cory were high school sweethearts. After school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona where she studied to become a financial advisor while Cory joined the military and was stationed in San Diego, California. Since the two locations were only about a sixhour drive apart, they were able to see each other most weekends. They married in 2007.

Most military families are transferred every 2-3 years and have to start over completely with very little support. Jessica says her family was very fortunate to not have ever been relocated. They stayed in their home in San Diego for 21 years. Jessica acknowledges the difficulty most military spouses experience, and that “they don’t ask for help often enough.” She shares that Cory was deployed nine times during their marriage, and was even involved in a terrifying helicopter crash. “He’s been deployed for over half of our marriage, and it’s been really difficult,” Jessica admits.

With a background in financial planning, Jessica made smart choices with the family’s income and was able to purchase their homestead in Southern California where she also set up a farm. “Every time my husband would deploy, I would just go to my little farm. It really was such a healing experience,” she says.

One day in 2016, Cory got the idea to invite some veterans he knew through the Wounded Warrior Project to go hunting in the desert near their home. After they returned, Jessica received a grateful email from one of the soldier’s wives, saying that her husband had been “in a very dark place and that the event had saved his life.” Seeing the need for more events just like it, Jessica and Cory came up with the idea to start a non-profit that

hosted several such events throughout the year. They called their organization the Special Liberty Project. During their first year, they planned to host four events, and it turned into twelve instead. Cory was deployed again, and Jessica was left to organize everything on her own. Her first event was a turkey hunt, which she pulled off flawlessly with a little help from her kids and veteran volunteers. Jessica also noticed her kids interacting with the veterans at the event. Realizing how much they missed their dad, she recognized the veterans were helping to fill that void. This gave her the idea to start a series of events that matched up veterans with children of fallen soldiers. At these events called Gold Star Corps, veterans have the opportunity to connect with Gold Star kids and mentor them in “fatherly skills,” such as fishing and using tools.

At one of the events, Jessica noticed how military wives and mothers gathered together. This sparked the idea to begin hosting weekend retreats for Gold Star widows and mothers. At the first retreat, she was blown away by the way the women shared and connected. “What happened at that table exploded,” she says. “I decided this is what I wanted to do.”

The couple started looking for a place to host their events on a regular basis. After exhausting the real estate market in California and Arizona, they got the idea to build a retreat center on the East Coast while still hosting certain events on the West Coast. When they found their location in Franklin, North Carolina, Jessica knew it was a perfect fit. “This is home,” she recalls thinking when she saw the 30-acre property located on the border of the Nantahala National Forest. They built their own home and the retreat center there. “It’s euphoric living here. Everyone who stays with us is amazed!”

The SLP homebase officially opened in April 2020. “It was just absolutely phenomenal!” Jessica exclaims, adding there is something innately healing about WNC. “I’m so grateful for the support and to be part of this community,” she remarks. SLP hosts a four-day event

every month where women stay in “glamping tents” and participate in a daily activity in three areas: physical exertion, emotional health, and learning a new skill. Jessica says that, even though they are working through tremendous grief and stress, it is one of her main goals to give her guests a relaxing, luxurious experience.

“There’s been so much creativity sparked and new interests and hobbies,” Jessica remarks, adding that never knows what activity will inspire growth and healing in an individual. SLP offers a variety of activities, such as hiking, equine therapy, pottery, massage, and tubing in nearby Deep Creek. Oftentimes, guests have been through too much trauma and so are reluctant to open up about themselves, so conventional therapy work is not always a good fit. “Not all people are comfortable sharing. There are some really terrible stories out there. Getting to where you can share that is huge,” Jessica explains.

All of SLP’s programs and retreats are hosted at no cost to the families who attend them. Despite the help they provide to veterans and their families, SLP receives no funding from the government and operates solely on sponsorships and private donations. “The hardest part of my job is raising money.” Jessica says they have an excellent program and a proven history – all they need now is financial support to help them make a greater impact. April 5th is Gold Star Spouses Day, and she hopes to see an increase in widow sponsorships during the month.

While running the retreats can be taxing, Jessica describes it as nothing short of profound, getting to witness her guests’ growth. She shares it has been extremely rewarding to see such a need for her business and to watch it grow organically. “The biggest gift you can get in life is to find your gift and give it away,” Jessica says. Through SLP, Jessica has definitely done just that, and more.

To learn more about the Special Liberty Project, visit their website: www.speciallibertyproject.org

Asheville Quilt Guild Sends Out Comfort into the Community

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Since 1987, the Asheville Quilt Guild has been creating handmade quilts to give out to people in need throughout Western North Carolina. Members pick up quilt kits at the meetings and return them when they are completed, never knowing whose hands they will end up in. “It doesn’t matter,” Community Quilts Co-chair Nancy Dazell says of not knowing where their quilts will be sent. “I know I’m sending out comfort. I don’t have to know the recipient; I don’t have to know the problem.”

The Asheville Quilt Guild gives out quilts to various groups, including Project LINUS of WNC, which distributes quilts any place a child might be in distress, such as the hospital, foster care centers, or scenes of car accidents. The Guild also donates quilts to the Asheville Veterans Hospital, Transformation Village, Habitat for Humanity, Copestone Mental Health Facility, and the Mission for Life-Share organ donor program. They also bring crib quilts and baby blankets into Mission Hospital’s NICU and maternity wing. Last year alone, the guild distributed 668 quilts into the community. “It’s actually great,” Guild Projects Chair Sian Brunton says of making quilts for others. “Because there’s only so many quilts you can make and give to your family members.”

Guild Projects Chair Jeannine Davies says Camp Bluebird is the project that is closest to her heart. It is a retreat for adult cancer survivors, put on by the Pisgah Health Foundation every fall. The camp offers various classes and activities for the attendees, including sewing. “It touches on those peoples’ lives specifically,” Jeannine says of the class, adding that the ‘campers’ learn to make various crafts, including sewn baskets, fabric-decorated greeting cards, and folded fabric stars. “Every year we come up with something different.”

Jeannine is also one of the teachers of the Youth Quilting Program sewing class that the Guild puts on for third graders at local schools, including Ira B. Jones Elementary School. The Guild volunteers start by teaching kids to sew a straight line on paper, then the kids sew four squares on their own to make a pillow. In the end, they all make and sign a nine-patch block that is sewn together as a quilt and presented as a gift to the school.

Local schools aren’t the only places the Guild teaches sewing. For the past eight years, Marcia Salansky has

been a volunteer teacher at the Western Correctional Center for Women, a minimum-medium security women’s prison in Swannanoa. During the class, the inmates have 8-10 weeks to make a complete quilt. They each pick their patterns and the teachers give them directions on sewing them together. After the first few weeks, Marcia finds there are very seldom any questions because the women learn so quickly. “They are a pleasure to work with. They are happy. They look forward to coming every week. The women have the opportunity to learn a pastime, something they can enjoy,” says Marcia. She says the women, aged late-teens to 70s, are selected for the class by the prison staff, and there is usually a waitlist. “The end product is really valuable for the self. It gives them such a sense of accomplishment.” After the class has completed their quilt, they give their quilt to the Guild to be donated.

One of the Guild’s newest members, Susan Sweeney, has always been interested in quilting, sewing, and handiwork. She joined immediately after moving to Asheville last September. “Just the satisfaction of creating something, especially if it’s my own idea, when I can take that thing and then use it to benefit somebody,” she explains.

The Asheville Quilt Guild currently includes 298 members and is open to all ages and experience levels. They hold

regular meetings and workshops with guest presenters, as well as more informal quilting bees in locations all over the WNC area. The last weekend of September, they will be hosting the 38th annual Asheville Quilt Show at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC. At the event, over 300 quilts from across the country will be on display and judged in various categories. The event will also feature vendors, workshops, raffles, kids sewing, a silent auction, and gift shop. For ticket information, visit the Asheville Quilt Guild’s website.

For more information on the Asheville Quilt Guild, visit their website: www.ashevillequiltguild.org

For info on the Asheville Quilt Show, go to: www.facebook.com/AshevilleQuiltShow/

A special thank you to Brooke Parker Photography, Fab Flawless Makeup Artistry, and Timber Hall Events for offering your services for our Cover Women photoshoot.

Amanda Foxx Melds Music Love with Family Love

WRITTEN BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Co-host of the 99.9 KISS Country morning radio program

The Eddie Foxx Show, Amanda Foxx discovered a love of Country music early in life when her mom began taking her to concerts with her. “As a young girl I saw Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and many more and thought they were the coolest people in the world!” she says. “To this day, my mom and I still enjoy going to concerts together!”

When she was younger, Amanda had plans of becoming a physical therapist, but shifted her plans when she started looking at education options. “When it came time to go to college, my heart was telling me that’s not what I wanted to do,” she says. “I held different jobs in healthcare administration and just worked instead of going to college.”

For the past two years, Amanda has been co-hosting The Eddie Foxx Show with her husband, Eddie. She had been a guest host on the program before, and had worked very hard to learn everything about the radio business. So, when the show had an opening for a new co-host, Amanda went through the application process and was hired. “Because we are married, the chemistry is there and it just was a natural fit,” she says. “We have so much fun being able to do the show together, and are truly blessed!”

Amanda says she absolutely loves interacting with the people she gets to meet through her job. She admits talking is a skill that came naturally to her. She says her favorite part of her job is the connections she makes with listeners. “We are a part of our listeners’ daily routines and being able to make them laugh and start their morning off on a positive note is our goal everyday,” she says. “To be there for them through the good and the bad and show them we are their friends and they are part of our family. We have cried together, laughed together, and shared real life events and stories together. The listeners have welcomed me with open arms and I couldn’t ask for more!”

Amanda goes on to say that the show’s listeners were especially supportive when she and Eddie announced that they were going to have a baby daughter. “Since

she has been born they have still been supportive and understanding even on the days she is in the studio crying during the show,” she says. “It truly is a family!” Since the show starts at 6am and the couple has to be in the studio by 5:15. Amanda feels that it’s early to wake up a baby, but they have conquered the early mornings, and it’s become their normal routine.

During the show, she and Eddie discuss current topics and funny topics, do contest giveaways, and take calls from listeners. They are also responsible for posting on social media, answering emails and messages, and recording commercials for clients. Sometimes they also have community events to attend or emcee after the show, such as blood drives, school supply drives, toy drives, grand openings, etc. “I hope over the next few years I can do even more for my community,” Amanda admits. “I love being able to give back and help as many people as possible. We have been given such a big platform that

we can make a positive difference in this world just by spreading love and laughs. I really couldn’t ask for more than that!”

Amanda’s favorite aspects of the show are ‘The Nitty Gritty From Music City,’ where she gets to share the latest gossip from Nashville, and ‘Amanda’s Morning Amusement,’ where she gets to tell funny jokes or stories. “Families tell us they listen together on the way to school, because it makes their kids smile,” she says of the show. “People have called and told us that they are going through a hard time and listening to us really brightens their day. Those are the reasons we do what we do!”

Amanda feels deep roots connecting her to her community in Asheville, and she is determined to carry that with her. She hopes to stay in this area and remain in her position on the radio. “I’m just a girl from Woodfin who cherishes the simple things in life like God, family, and country music!”

AmandaFoxx@iheartmedia.com

99.9 Kiss Country - Today's Hit Country in Asheville (iheart.com)

Rita Lee: A Force in the Western North Carolina Real

Estate Industry

WRITTEN BY ROSA LINDA FALLON

As a child, Rita Lee's second-grade teacher recognized her as a 'natural-born leader’. Always brimming with creativity, Rita now serves as the Owner and Principal Broker of Rita Lee & Associates Realty Group, the sole fully Black-owned and operated real estate firm in Western North Carolina. Since 2006, Rita has dedicated herself to being a full-time real estate broker. In 2021 she took the bold step of establishing her own firm. When other agents began seeking her guidance as a person of color in the industry, her firm started to grow. Today, with a team of five agents, Rita thrives as a coach, mentor, and advocate for both her clients and her team, leaving her mark on the real estate industry.

Having grown up in Asheville, Rita's upbringing involved assisting her mother in running the family's daycare center. Naturally, she followed in her family's footsteps and became a preschool teacher. It was while residing in Charlotte that she stumbled upon a sign advertising a real estate

license class, prompting her to consider a career change. After obtaining her license, Rita worked as a real estate assistant at a firm in Charlotte, where she learned about the home buying process and the qualification of potential clients. This included assisting them in pulling credit reports and organizing their financial information.

Today, Rita goes above and beyond to leverage her knowledge, guiding and educating first-time home buyers right from the start. "What I love most about real estate is being able to embark on a person's journey from the very beginning," she shares. Prior to referring her buyers to a lender, Rita offers comprehensive credit and financial advice to help them position themselves for a home loan. "As the expert, it is my responsibility to guide them towards that goal. Walking them through the process and witnessing their ability to purchase a home is immensely gratifying."

Rita acknowledges that being a black woman in this industry can present challenges. "Not all individuals are receptive to having a black woman represent them in the process of buying or selling their most significant asset," she reveals. However, she remains undeterred, noting that the right clients always seem to find her, and vice versa. Rita attributes this to her unwavering commitment to serving others, driven by her immense love and compassion.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rita has faced personal struggles as well. At the age of 35 in 2015, she received a breast cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, it was caught in time before it could spread. Reflecting on her experience, she expresses gratitude for conquering the battle, acknowledging that her presence today is owed to the support of her husband and doctor. This battle with cancer has given her a fresh perspective on life. “It was timing and God,” she acknowledges, adding to that list a persistent doctor. “If I didn’t have a persistent doctor, then I wouldn’t be here today.”

Deeply rooted in her faith, Rita credits God for the blessings in her life. She hails from a lineage of strong, independent women who were all business owners, and her husband has been a constant pillar of support as she built her business. Additionally, her two children serve as her motivation. “My children are definitely my driving force,” she says, adding that her kids learned a lot about the house-buying process, growing up with a mom in real estate. “I integrate real estate with my kids by teaching them about credit and being financially responsible. My kids are hard workers.”

While she takes pride in her origins, Rita remains acutely aware of the untold stories and the historic struggles faced by her African American ancestors. “Where the African American people have been left out, is the accumulation of wealth over time,” she explains. “Going back to the Civil War, there were 40 acres that were promised that were retracted. Also, the GI bill did not apply to Black Veterans, even though they were promised it.” She goes on to say that violence in African-

American communities caused destruction to what was built, forcing those that lived there to have to start all over again. Rita is determined to change this narrative by bridging the gap between people of color and the achievement of homeownership.

Now, having been a real estate broker for 18 years, as well as owner of Rita Lee and Associates Realty Group, Rita loves using the skills she has built up in her long career to help make someone’s dream of home ownership come true. The skills she uses most to equip and support her clients, and get them to the closing table, are her integrity, work ethic, and problem-solving skills. “If there is anything they’re not quite there yet [on], then I’ll help them come up with a plan.”

For more information on Rita Lee, visit her company’s Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/thencrealestategirl

Caroline Taylor: Showing Up, Staying Honest, and Ready to do Her Best

WRITTEN BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Caroline Taylor has been in the marketing field for forty years, having started her career working with Coca-Cola as their office manager in the 1980s. “It morphed into calling on some of the major grocery and convenience store chains and that led into the marketing arm of the company,” Caroline explains of her professional journey. While working at Coca-Cola, Caroline found herself in what was a very male-dominated industry at the time. “I can’t speak for today’s Coca-Cola, but back then it was difficult for women to excel and be able to grow and develop in what was then a male-dominated industry,” she says of her experience. When she later moved into broadcast media marketing, she discovered that there was nothing holding her back from conquering her goals — except for herself. Determined to succeed, the career transition empowered her to do better, to be better and to excel as an individual. “Women in particular do very well in [broadcast media] because they are such good multitaskers,” Caroline points out. “It has been my privilege to work with many wonderful women over the years.”

Ever a lover of marketing, Caroline believes marketing is the “secret sauce” needed to set your business, service, or product aside from the competition. Business owners so often look at marketing as an expense, but the most successful businesses today look at marketing as an essential part of their growth plan. “When both parties show benefits, that’s the beauty of marketing. It’s a true partnership.”

Twenty years ago, Caroline branched out into her own marketing agency, Southern Marketing Group. “I started [the agency] as something I could grow on my own, and it’s now taken me into my retirement years,” she says. “It was more out of necessity than anything else. I needed an avenue that was separate and apart from iHeart Media that was more broad-based in its capabilities.” Over the years, Southern Marketing Group has grown into a consulting, event-organizing, media-buying, and digital marketing agency.

As a professional, Caroline says she holds herself to the highest standard possible and prioritizes honesty and integrity in all her interactions. “Raise your hand when you make a mistake. People appreciate that,” she says.

She also stresses the importance of being prompt. “I once heard that if you’re early, you’re on time, if you’re on time, you’re late, and if you’re late, you're forgotten,” she says. “Time is our most precious commodity. Learn to respect yours and that of the people around you.” And last but not least, “value the relationships you work so hard to build. In 20 years you won’t remember the big deals, but you will remember the people that helped you achieve them.”

In her role, Caroline loves getting to meet people and helping them to grow their businesses. “I love meeting the customers and helping them meet their growth goals,” she says. “I love creating a plan that helps them meet those goals, and building relationships is the best part of the job.”

While she is proud of her professional success and enjoys her job immensely, Caroline has experienced incredibly hard times. She lost both her mother and husband to Alzheimer’s Disease within the same seven-year period. “That was an enormous responsibility, but it humanized

me more than anything ever could,” she recalls. “It made me appreciate them and the impact that both of them had on my life. It also gave me a better understanding of how awesome the people I was working with were because they supported me every step of the way.”

Caroline has since remarried, lives on a working longhorn cattle ranch with her husband Bill Taylor, and has 2 step children and four grandchildren. She says that her favorite way to spend her free time is with her family and on the lake.

For other women, aspiring to get into the marketing world, Caroline recommends patience and determination. “Don’t expect instant success. It’s going to take time,” she says. “It’s going to take a lot of work.” Each and every day, Caroline continues to show up — on time, and ready to do her very best.

Caroline P. Taylor President

Mobile 828-691-3071

Email southernmarketinggroup@outlook.com

1005 Cane Creek Road, Fletcher, NC 28732

Katherine Cosimano of The Blue Blanket: Empowering Mind Wellness and Transforming Mental Health Care

WRITTEN BY ROSA LINDA FALLON

As a licensed clinical social worker with a tender-hearted, compassionate soul, Katherine Cosimano could no longer bear witness to all the suffering and losses in the world without doing everything in her power to help.

“It hurt me to know the level of pain and trauma people were experiencing. I was committed to spreading love and light and healing in today’s dark and frightening world,” says Katherine. For the past twenty years, she has been working with clients on a therapeutic level in a variety of settings.

In response to the increasing need for services and an ineffective mental health system, she founded The Blue Blanket, Inc., an organization with the goal of disrupting the current mental health care industry by making treatment accessible, welcoming, effective, and scalable to all. Everyone deals with stress,

anxiety, fatigue, fear, depression or feeling overwhelmed, but it’s how one deals with their troubles that makes the difference. “Too many people were falling through the cracks,” she says. “The Blue Blanket is more than a business, it’s a movement.”

The Blue Blanket takes its name from the origins and purpose of a blanket. Katherine says, “It is a universal extension of humanity that overcomes the logistical challenges of a human hug and provides physical warmth and protection - an expression of human caring.”

There is also symbolism found in the color blue. “Our blanket is blue because this color represents intuition, sensitivity, comfort, stability and confidence, among other things. These are all values that The Blue Blanket embraces wholeheartedly,” she explains. “Also, a blanket’s strength comes

from the unity and interweaving of many thousands of threads, each stronger when brought together, each greater than the sum of its parts. The Blue Blanket symbolizes the coming together of humanity to comfort, nurture, and heal others in need.” She continues, “It is a perfect metaphor for mending and weaving together the fragmented shreds of our mental health care system into a strong, cohesive blanket that can deliver best practice mental wellness treatment effectively and efficiently, and the beauty of bringing hurting people together into groups where they find mutual support, validity and true connection.”

Women attending The Blue Blanket's retreats will leave equipped with the tools needed to transform themselves, and facilitate personal growth and long-lasting healing. These retreats, which take place in a space of acceptance, support, and emotional safety, offer opportunities to forge lifelong sisterhoods. “Through our proven approach of using multi-modal treatment, including traditional psychotherapeutic techniques, commitment

and acceptance theory, principles of neuroscience, yoga, mindfulness, sound healing, forest bathing, and art therapy, participants learn critical skills and strategies to reshape their thinking and behavior.”

“Mind wellness is the essential first step to living out one’s greatest potential,” Katherine explains. “By transitioning the terminology for our contemporary mental health challenges from one of “mental illness” (with all of its stigmatizing connotations) to “mind wellness”, we are disrupting the current landscape of mental health care. The Blue Blanket provides a welcoming and inclusive path for all people to achieve their full potential through empowering mind wellness.”

Katherine goes on to describe how emotional healing is such an integral part of women’s health and wellness. “Adjustments in thinking, feeling and behaving lead to the adoption of more adaptive coping skills that bring self-respect,” she says. “They lead to healthier relationships, both personally and professionally, to the motivation and dedication to pursue and remain on a values-driven path towards self-actualization, and to implementing sustainable self-care practices.”

Katherine sees the work of The Blue Blanket impacting women and their families for generations to come. She is determined to spread the message of healing, and help other women conquer just as she has. In addition to the expanded programs that will be offered in the future, the sustained changes in outlook and awareness trickle down to everyone with whom participants come into contact. “Our participants serve as models to other women, their children, grandchildren, friends and coworkers with the self-confidence and self-worth they carry into the world,” she says.

With a deeply caring nature like Katherine’s comes the necessity for self-care and rest. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys creating art and reading. She also loves to spend time with family and friends, to be silly, and to laugh. She is a mother of two sons, who are both grown and independent. She shares that as they were growing up, she exposed them to “best practices in positive parenting and her absolute unconditional love.”

As for what’s next, Katherine envisions the full implementation of The Blue Blanket’s transformational retreats, online and self-directed courses, and digital communications. She hopes to see a world one day where mental health care is elevated to the same level of urgency and importance as physical health, and where everyone has the chance to become whole again.

For more information on The Blue Blanket, visit www.theblueblanket.org

Overcoming Caregiver Stress: Empowering Women to Balance Responsibilities and Self-Care

WRITTEN BY ROSA LINDA FALLON

As caregivers, women often shoulder immense responsibilities. Caring for loved ones while juggling multiple roles and demands is no easy feat. The stress associated with caregiving can take a toll on women’s physical and mental well-being if not managed effectively. In this article, we will explore the stresses faced by women as caregivers and provide practical strategies to help them overcome these challenges and prioritize their own selfcare.

1. Recognize and Validate Your Feelings:

Caregiving can evoke a range of emotions, including stress, guilt, and even resentment. It is essential to acknowledge and process these feelings. Understand that experiencing these emotions doesn’t make you a bad caregiver; it’s a natural response to the challenges you face. Seek support from trusted friends, support groups, or professional counselors who can offer guidance and a listening ear.

2. Establish Clear Boundaries:

Setting boundaries is crucial when it comes to balancing caregiving responsibilities and one’s personal well-being. Communicate openly with your loved ones and express your needs and limitations. Learn to say “no” when necessary, without feeling guilty. Delegate tasks to other family members or consider hiring professional help to share the caregiving load. By establishing boundaries, you create space for self-care and prevent burnout.

3. Prioritize Self-Care:

As women, we sometimes feel as though caring for ourselves is selfish. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Self-care is essential for your well-being as a caregiver. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading, exercising, practicing mindfulness, or pursuing hobbies. Engage in regular physical activity to reduce stress and boost your energy levels. Prioritize quality sleep and maintain a healthy diet to nourish your body. Remember, caring for yourself allows you to better care for others.

4. Seek and Accept Help:

Many women tend to take on the caregiving role alone, fearing that asking for help is a sign of weakness. However, reaching out for assistance is a sign of strength. Delegate tasks to family members, friends, or community resources. Consider respite care services to allow yourself

breaks from caregiving responsibilities. Accepting help not only relieves your burden but also provides an opportunity for others to contribute and feel involved.

5. Utilize Support Networks:

Connecting with other caregivers who share similar experiences can be very helpful. Seek out and join local support groups or online communities where you can exchange stories, insights, and advice. Sharing your challenges and triumphs with others who understand can offer emotional support and practical solutions. Remember, you are not alone in your journey as a caregiver.

6. Practice Stress-Reduction Techniques:

Incorporate stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or mindfulness practices can help calm your mind and relax your body. Engaging in activities that promote relaxation, such as listening to music, taking a warm bath, or spending time in nature, can also alleviate stress. Find what works best for you and make it a regular part of your self-care routine.

Women caregivers face unique stresses as they balance the demands of caring for loved ones with their own well-being. By recognizing and validating their feelings, setting clear boundaries, prioritizing self-care, seeking help, utilizing support networks, and practicing stressreduction techniques, women can overcome caregiver stress and find balance in their lives. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury but a necessity, allowing you to provide better care and support to those you love while maintaining your own health and happiness.

Just Breathe…

WRITTEN BY STEPHANY SEMONES, CMF. CEO & FOUNDER OF PINK REGALIA

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that when you get in your car, you can't shake the lingering thoughts such as: “If I just keep driving, I could start over somewhere. Maybe I could get a job waitressing at a local diner and just, you know, get by, with much less stress and responsibility.” I know I have. Instead, I take a deep breath and I show up to whatever meeting or planned function that’s on my calendar (I’m also supposed to be at another function in an hour, by the way). At this point, I’ve spent the 15–30 minute drive either daydreaming about what my new life could look like, or why the idea would be a total disaster. I remind myself that I’ve worked so hard, and to look at how far I’ve come. I check the mirror, smile to myself (while also checking my teeth for whatever “meal” I’ve barely had time to chew on the drive), gather my belongings, and step out into my life.

Life has a way of adding stress to already seemingly stressful times. Sometimes, this is our own doing as human beings. Other times, it can be circumstantial. Our minds can sometimes help us escape, even if it’s just for fifteen minutes. Those self-help books about boundaries tout tips and tricks, and let’s be honest — they often have great life lessons. When I find myself spiraling out of control in my “I’M STRESSED” mode, I have learned, through much trial and error, to use a few of these tried and true tips and tricks. Let me share them with you.

Breathe

Literally, focus on your breath for just 2 minutes. Take a deep breath in. Pay attention to how you feel. Does the air feel cool or warm entering your nose? Does your chest or belly expand? Now, breathe out. How does it feel to let all that tension go? Better? Great! Do it again, and again until you feel a tiny bit calmer.

Focus on something that brings you joy – something you didn’t create. Try to get outside. Simply step outside to feel the sun (try closing your eyes here) or even the rain. It can be grounding to know that you have nothing else to do in those few moments other than feel the magnificence of life around you.

Move

Get on your feet and go for a walk. You can combine tips 1 and 2 for a pretty good little stress time-out. Walk to the next room, walk down stairs, or even walk to the restroom and back. If you really do have time to take a 30 minute break, then do it! Walk for 30 minutes and I promise, you’ll feel better.

Feel out of control? You are!

Well, not really, but you cannot control everything so don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself. This is simply a reminder that you cannot do everything for everyone all the time, so let that go, sister! You are a rockstar, and wildly capable, but truthfully can only do so much. If something fails because you couldn’t give it your entire soul 100% of the time, and it’s killing you trying, it is probably supposed to fail and create room for something greater.

Write or journal.

Journaling is great if you are into that, but sometimes just writing a post-it note and then shredding it, or even typing a “never-to-be-seen-again” letter to yourself or someone else can be extremely beneficial. The point is, get it out! Dream of that new life, or make a pros and cons list. Plan a dream vacation. Tell yourself how truly amazing you are, and celebrate what you have accomplished (reminder: you are enough regardless of what you’ve accomplished, but sometimes it’s nice to see these things written in black and white – or pink glitter ink).

Stephany Semones, CMF is a small business owner of Pink Regalia and Lift Your Spirits. She is also a philanthropist, wife, and poodle mom.

SINGER-SONGWRITER LEE NEWTON DISCOVERS THE ‘STRENGTH OF A WOMAN’

WRITTEN BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

PHOTO CREDIT: WILLIAM L ARMONITIS

Just three years ago, Country singer and songwriter Lee Newton was struggling to escape an abusive marriage. “I went many years just trying to make everything look perfect on the outside. It finally came down to a point where it got really bad,” she says. When her husband hurt her in front of their son, Cash, she knew she had to leave. “I grabbed my little boy, and ran. I had nothing with me.”

During that moment, Lee also felt she was given a gift from God to write beautiful songs. While she was on her way to the lawyer’s office, she began writing the song ‘Strength of a Woman’ about the day she left. By the time she came back home, she had the entire song written. ‘Strength of a Woman’ is now an anthem for many women who have been through difficult times in their lives. “Even after three years, I’m still receiving these inspirational stories from all these women. This song helps so many different women who are going through so much in their lives,” Lee says.

Lee grew up in Canton, North Carolina in a run-down house with mold and cockroaches. Lee’s father worked long hours as a cab driver, her mother suffered from depression, and the family was always struggling to make ends meet. But Lee credits the way she grew up for molding her into who she is today. Lee says, “how I grew up not only made me the musician I am today, but it has also made me the person I am today. I remember just being so alone all the time. But being alone gave me such an imagination, and I became such a dreamer. My dad gave me so many lessons, I don’t think he even realized he was giving at the time. That’s just stuff money can’t buy.” She also credits her father with instilling in her a love of music. He named her after the famous singer, Brenda Lee, and he taught her how to play the guitar.

While Lee loves the traditional country music genre, she also loves doing country songs with her own style. “I love being able to add my flare to it. I love to write my songs, tell my stories. When you write it for yourself, it affects so many people,” she describes. “As a songwriter, I love writing and singing my songs from the heart. Even if it’s

something I didn’t write, I love picking songs that have a good meaning to them.” Her first album, Undamaged, was released in 2021 and won EP Album of the Year for the Josie Music Awards. Her second album, Unleeshed, was released in April 2022. It hit #1 on the independent music charts and won the Josie Award for Traditional Country Album of the Year. Her third and fourth albums, From the Heart and Crossroads, were released just this year.

Now a three-time Josie Music Award winner, including Vocalist of the Year in 2020, Lee is working on her fifth album, Unplugged. She is currently nominated for eight Josie awards for 2023. As for her writing, Lee is excited to be growing and expanding. “I’ve spent the last three years telling stories of my childhood. I’m looking forward to writing love songs going forward.”

On June 24th, 2022, Lee married singer/songwriter Dale Houston at the Johnny Cash Farm in Tennessee. The two recently released a love duet, called ‘Burning Boats’ that is currently up for Vocal Collaboration of the year. They also recorded a song together for the first dance at their wedding. “My relationship now is so amazing. I have more now than I’ve ever dreamed of. I’ve never had anybody to help me shine, so to have somebody who actually gets it, and is 150% behind me just means the world.”

Lee offers encouragement to women who are going through hard times: “As strong women, we are going to go through things. It’s okay to have those moments. But we can’t stay in those ruts and instead can use what we go through.” Lee says she has learned from her experiences and always tries to stay positive. “I am a woman that tries to see the good in everybody. We can do anything we put our minds to do. I’m living proof of it. If I were to leave this earth right now, I would want people to always look at my name and have a smile on their face and know that I have brought some kind of joy to their hearts. I want to leave that kind of legacy.”

For more information on Lee Newton, visit her website: www.leenewtonofficial.com

Poet Mildred Kiconco Barya Aims to be Present… in the Present

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Writer, poet and Associate Professor Mildred Kiconco Barya says she first started thinking like a writer as a child, growing up on a farm in the village of Kabale, Uganda. She would observe the interactions between the cows and goats and make up stories about their relationships to entertain herself. Later, she started writing letters about her life to an imaginary penpal and hiding them under her pillow. “I wanted to describe my world and also was curious about other people’s worlds,” Mildred says, looking back on her childhood.

Over the years, Mildred has developed a love for a variety of writing styles and techniques. In 2008, she was awarded the Pan African Literary Forum prize for Africana Fiction. No matter what style she writes in, Mildred feels that her poetry is at the core of it. “If I trace my progress, poetry has always been there,” Mildred says. “I think the wellspring of creativity, of everything I write, whether they take the form of fiction or nonfiction, they are all coming from the poetry.”

Mildred attended Makerere University in Uganda and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Mass Communication. After graduating, she landed a job as a journalist with the Monitor Newspaper in Kampala. She also began volunteering with the Ugandan Women’s Writers Association, FEMRITE, which helped her grow as a writer. “You have to try to experiment and innovate in order to get outside what you know to make the work interesting,” Mildred says of writing. “Each piece is asking me to do something new and I like that challenge because it keeps me engaged and curious.” In 1998, Mildred published her first short story in FEMRITE’s Uganda Women’s Writing Anthology. She went on to publish her first book of poetry, Men Love Chocolates but They Don’t Say in 2002.

Though she learned a lot from her four years with the newspaper, Mildred says she could feel herself tiring of the formulaic nature of the journalistic writing style.This was not the case with creative writing, which she says was like a bottomless well of potential. Mildred decided to leave journalism and return to school, where she got her Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology.

From there, Mildred got a job as a Human Resources

Consultant, which she says combined her love of creative problem solving and studying human behavior. “I just wanted to know people,” Mildred recalls. “I realized that a lot of what happened in organizations made sense to me if I put a creative lens to it.” She hoped that the job would mesh well with her writing schedule. While Mildred did find time to publish her second collection of poems, The Price of Memory: After the Tsunami in 2006, she found that her job left her with little time and energy to write creatively.

Mildred was then presented with an opportunity to participate in a nine-month fellowship in Senegal under the mentorship of a writer she admired, Ayi Kwei Armah. After completing the fellowship, she was approached by one of the founders of the TrustAfrica Foundation, who offered her a position as an organizational writer in residence. She took it and moved to Dakar. While there, she also published her third book of poetry, Give Me Room to Move My Feet.

In 2009, Mildred moved to New York state to attend the MFA program at Syracuse University. As part of the curriculum, she was required to teach, which she was surprised to find she really enjoyed. “Teaching is what I had ignored, but what I needed all along,” she explains, citing that both of her parents were teachers. Following that, Mildred got her PhD in Denver, Colorado and went on to become a professor of World Literature and Creative Writing at UNC Asheville in 2016. Not only does teaching offer a symbiotic relationship with writing, Mildred also finds that reading her students’ works makes her a better editor of her own works.

Mildred has also discovered an unexpected love of creative nonfiction. In April, she published her fourth collection of poems, The Animals of My Earth School. In the next few years, she plans to release her first collection of creative nonfiction. “I feel like fiction has that magical element that just transported me to these worlds that I was exploring,” she explains. “With nonfiction, I’m super alert, super awake, and I think it’s because I am watching my life and thinking through all the lives of the people I’ve known.”

For her new book, Mildred has been writing mainly about her past, growing up in Uganda and living in the diaspora, which she remains deeply connected to. Despite this connection, Mildred says it is paramount for her to be rooted in the present moment. “I feel like when I was growing up, I was so much in the future. I was imagining what my life would be like beyond the mountains of my hometown. It’s finally dawned on me that the future came. This is the future for me,” she says. “Aim to be in the present always and the future will take care of itself. What’s in the future that can be better than this moment right now?”

To learn more about Mildred Barya or her works, visit her website: https://mildredbarya.com/

PHOTO CREDIT: TODD CRAWFORD

THE LADIES OF THE P.E.O.: HELPING WOMEN REACH THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS FOR OVER 150 YEARS

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Founded in January 1869, the P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization, was started with the goal of helping all women receive the education they desire. The P.E.O. started off as a sorority of seven female students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. It has since grown into an international nonprofit organization of around 230,000 women who are dedicated to providing educational opportunities for women of all ages, backgrounds, and educational levels. To date, the P.E.O. has provided over $398 million in education assistance and helped over 119,000 women reach their educational goals.

The P.E.O. has six core projects: the STAR Scholarship, to help high school students go to college; the Scholar Awards, an award for women seeking a doctoral level degree at an accredited university; the Program for Continuing Education, a grant for women whose education has been interrupted and find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and their families; the International Peace Scholarship Fund, to help international women pursue graduate studies in North America; the Educational Loan Fund, to help qualified women seek higher education; and even their own independent college, Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. The fully accredited four-year liberal arts college is nationally-ranked and boasts a very conservative cost.

Former P.E.O. Asheville Chapter M President, Judy Gifford, explains that the scholarships are exceptionally competitive and that candidates undergo an extensive interview and application process. She takes a great deal of pride in the fact that her chapter has represented multiple women who have been selected to receive an international grant from the P.E.O. One awardee has

completed her education and returned to join the group. “That’s a feather in our cap,” she says, smiling.

Judy explains that many members of the P.E.O. have been involved for multiple decades, or for generations, as she has. Her mother was a P.E.O. member in North Dakota, and now her daughter has also joined. “Families that believe in educating women, with as many as possible educational opportunities for women, encourage it with one another,” Judy says of joining P.E.O. She remarks that Chapter M has a 93-year-old member who has been with the organization for over fifty years. “It was mostly younger women [when the P.E.O. was founded], now it includes many older women.”

Originally from Wisconsin, Judy lost her father when she was only ten and grew up not having much money. She says these difficult factors helped her to see the value in education. “My mother said, ‘It doesn’t matter what we lose and what we have, because no one can ever take away your education or your experiences. So get as much education as you want and do as many different things as you can,’” Judy recalls. She went on to become principal of a local school.

After moving to Asheville from Trappe, Pennsylvania last December, Connie Peck joined one of the six Asheville P.E.O. chapters last December and became the group’s historian. She moved from Trappe, Pennsylvania, where she served on the board of the Perkiomen Valley Student Loan Fund Association for 45 years and was town mayor for twelve years. “When I moved here, that’s what my intent was,” she explains of joining a charitable organization that focused on education. “I fell into the P.E.O. I was fortunate enough to get involved. It really comes to the aid of many women that could use it.”

Connie explains that her parents’ generation did not place a great deal of importance on educating women. Her mother only completed the eighth grade in school. While Connie says her parents did impart on her the foundation for her principles and a love for her fellow man, they didn’t see much value in a woman taking college-level classes. Now, she gets to help other women do just that, which she says she finds very rewarding. “You can pass on your knowledge if you have it, but if you’ve never gotten it, how could you ever pass it on to your children?” Connie says.

Connie and Judy agree that the P.E.O. does great work for women, but also that the group possesses a strong social component as well. “These women are very encompassing, friendly and come to each other’s aid,” Connie says of the ladies of the P.E.O. The group gathers in members’ homes once a month to have their meeting, followed by an educational program, social time and lunch. “We just happen to like one another and have a good time,” Judy concurs. Across the country, the P.E.O. also offers special programs for their members, including grief counseling, as well as charitable works, such as organizing donations to Ukraine.

Part of the P.E.O. members’ duties is to seek out worthy women by calling school guidance counselors and speaking to women they meet out in the world. Catina Foster, mother of four, reached out to the P.E.O. after researching their scholarships online. Chapter M selected Catina as their nominee for the P.E.O. Continuing Education scholarship. She was selected to receive the award by the international committee on March 24th, and will be using the grant towards earning her Master’s Degree in Financial Planning at Bryant University in Boston.

Last April, another of Chapter M’s sponsors was selected to receive the STAR Scholarship from the N.C. State Chapter of the P.E.O. This student, Zoe Schruckmayr, is an honor student at Martin L. Nesbitt Discovery Academy in Asheville and will be attending UNC Chapel Hill in the Fall. In addition to her regular class load, Zoe took a considerable amount of AP and weighted courses, participated in CAYLA (City of Asheville Youth Academy), and is president of Nesbitt’s Girl Up program.

“All of the chapters and all of the P.E.O.s everywhere are working to provide as many educational opportunities for women as possible,” Judy explains.“I just think about the excitement that someone has when she receives an award and the excitement of helping women pursue their dreams, whatever their dreams may be.”

For more information on the P.E.O., visit their website: www.peointernational.org

AB-Tech Department Chair Paige Jimeson Instills a Legacy of Giving Back in Veterinary Medical Technician Students

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY A-B TECH

Chair of the Veterinary Medical Technology Department at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Paige Jimeson always loved animals and wanted to go into the veterinary field. Originally from Marion, North Carolina, Paige got her first job at a veterinary hospital when she was fifteen. Her dog was sick, and her family couldn’t afford her care, so she began working at the local veterinary hospital to help finance her recovery.

In 2009, Paige graduated from the A-B Tech Vet Tech Program and earned her licensure as a veterinary technician. The year after she graduated, Paige accepted a position as an instructor at her alma mater. Twelve years later, she took over the position of department chair after her mentor Dr. Lori Tapp passed away. “For me, career-wise, it’s a huge accomplishment and important to me because it’s her legacy that I’m carrying on,” Paige explains. “To show the community what an amazing Vet Tech program we have, in her honor, drives my passion.”

Paige points out that many people think of a veterinary technician as the person who cuddles with their pet while the veterinarian does the medical workup when in reality, they are highly skilled medical professionals and provide the majority of the care involved in healing the animal. They are also present for end-of-life care. “As a career, it’s both challenging from a medical standpoint, but also emotionally,” she says. “I feel like, as a veterinary technician, the role in patient care is to be their advocate.”

A-B Tech’s two-year accredited Vet Tech graduates enter the workforce with elite certifications, including Fear-Free, RECOVER Veterinary CPR and even Beef Quality Assurance. “They are making a difference in our community,” Paige says of the students. “We’re sending out licensed professionals that are advocating for animals not just locally, but all over the U.S.”

A-B Tech’s curriculum includes field work with local farmers in Buncombe and Haywood counties to ensure their livestock are healthy. According to Paige, the sheer amount of animals that their students get to see is unheard of in the average veterinary program. “Between January and May of this year, our students cared for 107 small shelter animals, 60 horses, about 100 sheep and goats, around 40 cattle, and a herd of 20 llamas,” she says. In 2010, the A-B Tech program partnered with Asheville Humane Society and the Buncombe County Animal Shelter to open a

new clinical facility complete with treatment area, surgery suite, lab, radiology suite and classroom. Located next to the Humane Society and in the same building as the animal shelter, the facility is committed to addressing all medical needs of the rescue animals under their care so they are ready to be adopted out. “We are running a small veterinary hospital for the shelter,” Paige explains. “The most rewarding part of my job is I get to help our community. We’re helping the animal shelter, farmers, and the Asheville Humane Society. We’re graduating students that are renowned in the community and have job offers before they’re ever even finished with school.”

Now, at only 36 years old, Paige is gratified by her professional accomplishments, and happy her job gives her time to focus on her family. “I have a job that I’m extremely passionate about, that I find rewarding,” she says. She takes pride in the fact that A-B Tech’s program instills professionalism and integrity in their students by teaching them through experience and inspiring them to make a difference in animals’ lives. “That’s where my focus is: maintaining the excellence of the program, and getting to live life a little bit. I have achieved early, but the sky’s the limit. I never knew I would be here.”

Seats are now available for Fall 2023. For more information, visit their website: abtech.edu/program/ veterinary-medical-technology-aas

Glitch 2.0 - Mentor Moms take Team to State Finals

BY MEG HALE BRUNTON

Annie Hawes and Katie Campbell were not exactly women in the world of STEM (Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mechanics), they were just moms who wanted the best for their children. “I have a really loud voice and I really adore and love my kids,” explains Annie. This year, both women became coaches/mentors for the student-led robotics team housed at Asheville High School, Glitch 2.0.

Annie’s daughter Chloe was in the original Glitch robotics team (then, held at UNC-Asheville). “I started doing robotics with her in fourth grade and moved up with her,” Annie explains. Chloe was accepted into the North Carolina School of Science and Math at age sixteen, and is now completing her electrical engineering degree at NC State University. When Glitch’s coach retired in 2022, Annie stepped up to keep the program going to make sure it was as helpful to future kids as it was for hers. Her son Bryce is team captain for the current Glitch team, 8727, and will be attending NC State for engineering this Fall.

For Katie, Glitch was the natural next step after her son Ben excelled in the FIRST Lego League at Claxton Elementary School, which was run by Annie. The Glitch team allowed him to join when he was still in the 8th grade. “Any student who wants to join can,” Katie explains. Glitch 2.0 currently has 43 members of students from Asheville High and SILSA, as well as one homeschooled student. She adds that there are no dues charged to the team members and that everything is paid for through their fundraising and donations. Now, Katie is a first-year coach and Ben (17) is the team’s programming lead. Last March at the FNC Charlotte Competition, Ben won the District Championship Dean’s List SemiFinalist award for his work on the team.

This year, team 8727 built a robot called Mega Stuf. It is 102 pounds without batteries. The team designed Mega Stuf on AutoCAD, decided what materials they would need to build it, ordered the parts, built it, programmed it, and operated it all on their own. “That’s what I love

about this. Our team is totally student-led,” says Katie. “I have loved seeing the whole thing come together! The project collaboration experience has been amazing!” She and Annie do acknowledge that they have help from an impressive team of volunteer mentors with backgrounds in companies like Apple, RedHat, Borg-Warner, and General Electric. Despite this accomplished support, the coaches are quick to clarify that the kids do all the work.

In order to compete at the annual FIRST Robotics Competition, the robot had to be built within strict requirements and be able to do a variety of unmanned tasks. Design Lead Liam Milner (16) explains that it took about six weeks to fully build the versatile robot, and that he contributed over 80 hours of design work. “Glitch has just changed my life,” he says. Liam hopes to go on to study Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Mechatronics or Aeronautics. He credits a great deal of his ambition to his time on the Glitch team. “When I came into high school, I had zero knowledge of how robotics worked, how designing worked. In that first year, I went from knowing nothing to being a Design Lead. It was a big step and I felt really happy about that.”

“I’ve had a lot of fun getting to design stuff and see it get built, and be part of the process,” says the team’s Mechanical Lead Alex Boniske (17), adding that he is a bit obsessed with robotics since this experience. He goes on to say that the Glitch team is open to everybody, whether they are interested in CAD (Computer-aided design), coding, electrical work, or even woodworking. “It’s just a great opportunity. Anybody who does anything related to STEM can join.”

For the team’s pit and safety captain, Gabriella Bluestone (16), her big contribution to the group came during the competition. During the match, Mega Stuf (along with two other robots) has to oppose a team of three other robots to complete a list of tasks in a series of around fifteen 2.5-minute matches. It’s Gabriella’s job to make sure that everything runs smoothly and everyone is doing their job. “It was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. Being in the pit is the most wonderful thing. It’s where the action is,” she explains. At first, Gabriella says she was nervous about taking on the role since she was an underclassman and had no real background in tech. “I was a theatre person through and through. It helps in robotics because I’m really outgoing.” While Gabriella admits there were technical difficulties at first, she definitely feels she earned her team’s respect.

The students even did their own fundraising and outreach. Outreach Lead Rachel White (18) coordinated the team’s outreach for volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and Greenworks. Collectively, the team raised $36,000 for the team’s endeavors. Business and Econ

Captain Joe Kledis (17) managed the team’s branding and even put together a comprehensive plan for budget, finance, structure and success, while prioritizing team longevity. This plan won the team two Sustainability awards in competition, making Team 8727 the first NC team to win at the championship level for business and operations. “It’s a pretty proud achievement of mine,” Joe says. “It’s given me a mission, I suppose.”

In addition to the Sustainability Awards, Team 8727 won at the FNC State Championship in Greenville, NC. They also won the award for Best Design and Execution/ Excellence in Engineering at the competition in Mecklenburg, NC. In April they took Mega Stuf to the state finals at Eastern Carolina University where they came in 12th. Glitch 2.0 Team 8727 is currently ranked 17th of the 76 teams in North Carolina.

For more information, visit their website: www.glitch8727.com

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Jeanne's Hair and Makeup Studio 828.275.4952 | jeanneshair.com

Karen Donatelli Cake Design

1000 Hendersonville Rd, Ste A Asheville NC 28803 | 828.225.5751 karendonatellicakedesigns.com

Kinder Consignment & Boutique 1253 Smoky Park Hwy, Candler NC 28715 828.633.2156 stores.myresaleweb.com/kinder-consignment

Kristy Wilson, Business Insurance Advisor bankersinsurance.net

(w) 828.350.3122 (c) 828.280.3369

La Rumba Restaurant Latino 105 River Hills Rd Ste C, Asheville NC 28805 828.505.2128 | larumbaavl.com

Lacey Townsend, Realter/Broker Love Land and Home | 828.747.2506

Lisa Neville 828.585.7669 | lovelifecoach.net

Loralei Inn

659 Lake Dr, Canton NC 28716 828.606.7965 | theloraleiinn.com

More to Love Plus Size Consignment

606 New Leicester Highway, Unit B, Asheville NC 28806 828.424.7270 | mtlavl.com

Mountain Area Preg 1710 Old Haywood Rd, Asheville NC 28806 828.252.1306 | mtnpregnancy.com

Off The Wall Books N Cafe 2000 Spartanburg Highway Suite 400 Hendersonville, NC 28792 | 828.435.2297 offthewallbooksncafe.com

Pink Regalia 485 Hendersonville Rd, Suite 3 Asheville, NC 28803 | 828.785.1881 452 Hazelwood Ave Waynesville NC 28784 828.454.1004 | pinkregalia.com

PLR Connect Events, LLC / Expand 23 PLRconnectevents.com

Realty ONE Group Pivot 90 Southside Ave Ste. 300 Asheville NC 28801 & 319 N King Street Hendersonville NC 28792 Office 828.595.2494 | Mobile 828.676.7264 monica.findhomesinasheville.com

Rita Lee Associates 1114 Patton Ave Asheville NC 28806 828.458.3910 linktr.ee/therealestatesolutionist

South Slope Acupunture 141 Asheland Ave, Unit 200 Asheville NC 28801 828.575.5904 | southslopeacupuncture.com

Southern Marketing Group southernmarketinggroup@outlook.com

Tamika/Car Sales Rep 843.321.6891 | beachautomotive.com

The Blue Blanket 772.828.0778 | theblueblanket.org

The Grafted Olive 828.676.8497

Timberhall Events 45 Timber Hall Events Lane, Leicester, NC 828.777.5089 | timberhallevents.com

VaVaVooom

57 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 828.254.6329 | https://www.vavavooom.com

Webb Investment Services 82 Patton Ave Ste 610 Asheville NC 28801 828.252.5132 | webbinvestementservices.com

Woman UP/Asheville Chamber 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 258-6101 | ashevillechamber.org