LKN Chamber 2008 Ambassador of the Year

 

I’m not really trying to blow my own horn here, but I am pretty excited about being named the 2008 Ambassador of the Year by the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. I honestly never gave a thought to the idea that I might be considered for that honor, presented to me at the Annual Awards Gala held last Friday at River Run Country Club.

As an active member of the LKN Chamber, I get to meet with new business owners, attend ribbon cutting ceremonies, greet folks at networking events, and so much more. I also have the privilege of co-hosting the BusinessWorks program, which takes place every second Tuesday of the month in the Chamber Board Room. BusinessWorks is a breakfast networking meeting that includes an opportunity for small business owners to promote what they do, and it also features a guest speaker every month talking about finance, marketing, or business growth.

Receiving a plaque at the Gala was a nice surprise, but for me, the real benefit of my involvement in the chamber is the chance to meet a lot of people and tell them what I do, and to help a lot of folks do the same thing. I am a big fan of Zig Ziglar, whose philosophy is “You can get what you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.” I’m a firm believer in that idea. It’s one of the reasons I like being in real estate. I get to help people accomplish their home ownership goals. I get to see people achieve their version of the American Dream.

Best of 2008?

I recently browsed the blog of a networking acquaintance, Carissa Roman of the PR Store, and she had a post with her picks for the best of several categories in 2008. Naturally, I disagreed with a few of the choices, and commented as such, but I thought I should create my own list and let you decide if you agree or not. My list will not be as extensive, but here goes:

Best of Lake Norman in 2008:
Best Cheeseburger – The Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson (Sorry, Carissa)
Best Pizza – Brooklyn South in Cornelius (Try the Nonna’s) (Carissa got this one right)
Best Breakfast Sandwich – Panera (The Vermont Cheddar is killer!)
Best Spicy Soup – Max & Erma’s Chicken Tortilla
Best Drive-Through Coffee – The Human Bean in Mooresville
Best Chinese Food – House of Taipei
Best Thai Food – Oxymoron!
Best Mexican Food – Who cares?
Best Meatball Sandwich – Vocelli’s, any location (you can pick it up and eat it like a sandwich)
Best Donut – Dunkin Donut’s Vanilla Creme Powdered Sugar
Best Acid Reflux Remedy – Prilosec OTC, one a day for the rest of your life
Best Weight Loss Program – Weight Watchers in Cornelius (or so I’ve heard)
Best Cardiac Care Unit – Presbyterian Huntersville to Downtown Charlotte
Best Walk Around the Lake – Jetton Park
Best New Fitness Center – Elite Fitness (no frills, just good equipment and helpful staff)
Best Bran Muffin – I don’t know. If you do, please let me know

There you have it…my Best Of List for 2008. Happy New Year to all of you!

T1 Tapas – Lake Norman High-Tech Dining

As an Ambassador for the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, I have the privilege of visiting lots of new chamber members at their businesses, and talking to folks excited about joining the world of small business owners around the lake. Many times these are restaurants, and so I often get to sample some of the establishment’s fare.

I had the pleasure this morning of attending the ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration of T1 Tapas in Birkdale Village. It is a unique concept in dining, because of the sophisticated level of technology used in the restaurant. The owner, Mike Feldman, has developed sitting booths where the menu is a touch screen built right into the table, and it also serves as a platform for giving high-tech presentations on a flat screen  monitor built into the booth. You really need to go and see it.

When you’re there, make sure to try the jerk chicken and sweet potato skewers. Great flavor! They also do a barbequed shrimp that is very good. They have food and drink specials regularly, so check it out often. This is a place where you can bring clients and make presentations, enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner, and stay as long as you like, nibbling on little plates of Mediteranean fare. Give it a try!

North Carolina Christmas Light Show Directory

Looking for places to go this Holiday Season to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas? Here are a few ideas that are reasonably close to the Lake Norman area, or at least close enough to consider, since they are pretty spectacular:

The closest light show I can recommend would be in McAdenville. Monday through Thursday evenings are the best nights to go, and expect long lines of traffic as you go through town. Lots of lighted buildings and homes, and plenty of “ooh’s and aah’s” for all.  This is the 53rd year of this event.

If you want to travel a little farther, there’s the Tanglewood Festival of Lights, in Clemmons, North Carolina. A little further to drive, but a beautiful display of lights. This event runs now through January 1, 2009.

If you want to make a day of it, I suggest looking into the many opportunities The Biltmore House in Asheville offers during the holdays. A few hours west on I-40, this world-renown estate has events day and night. Unlike many of the light shows, touring The biltmore is not free, but it is spectatcular!

Then, for those whose idea of a white Christmas is white sandy beaches, consider the Island of Lights Festival at Carolina Beach. Several days of different events, with a beach and water flair.

These are just some of the top Christmas happenings in North Carolina this year. For a complete list of events, check out www.visitnc.com/holiday/ for more information. Whatever your desire for a holday celebration, you will be sure to find something that delivers the spirit of the season here. Merry Christmas!

Lake Norman Area Schools

A good many of the prospective buyers searching the Lake Norman area for a new home are coming with children, and so are very concerned about the school systems around the lake.  Since I do not have children in the schools here, I cannot speak from first-hand experience. I can , however, make a recommendation for a website that will help you learn about the academic progress of any school you may be considering as you look for that new home. NC School Report Cards is a good resource and is user friendly for first-time viewers. Check it out. There is another website, GreatSchools.net, that will allow you to search not just North Carolina, but anywhere in the US.

So if you are a current NC resident looking to relocate, the GreatSchools site might be of help to you. If you are relocating to or moving within NC, I recommend the NC School Report Cards site.

It is always a good idea to research schools when considering a move. I think these sites will help you do that.

Latest North Carolina Drought Conditions

Here’s a look at the latest North Carolina drought conditions as reported by the US Drought Monitor: If you look closely, you can see that Mecklenburg County is currently divided between being Abnormally Dry and in a Moderate Drought. Much of the state, including our neighboring Cabarrus County, are not in drought conditions at all, according to the map. It looks like the western part of North Carolina is still having a tough time with water, showing Extreme Drought conditions.

As for Mecklenburg County and the Lake Norman area, Abnormally Dry is an improvement over past reporting. This is good news for people living on the lake as well as people trying to buy or sell lakefront homes.  Let’s hope western North Carolina starts getting some precipitation, because for Lake Norman to remain full we need to keep the upper reservoirs on the Catawba River system full.

Lake Norman Water Levels

Due to the dry summer we’ve experienced here in the Lake Norman area, the lake level has been falling. Not to dangerously low levels, but noticeably. However, due to the three consecutive days of heavy rainfall sent us by Tropical Storm Fay, I see that the lake is pretty much full again. That’s good news for people living on the lake trying to sell their homes, because it improves the chances that some smaller coves will continue to have navigable water late in the year.

According to Duke Power’s website reporting on water levels in the Catawba River System, Lake Norman is above their target for water level, but not at full pond. Full pond, indicated by an index of 100, equals 760 ft above sea level. Currently, the lake is at 98.2, with 98 being the target Duke has set. I also noticed that downstream in Lake Wateree, Duke is cautioning people living along the shoreline to watch for some flooding possibilities. That means that Duke is pumping water out upstream to maintain target levels.

With a couple more weather systems being watched in the Caribbean, we could see more rain, and that could really help the drought conditions. I’m just not sure now that Duke, and the commissioners in Mecklenburg county, aren’t so gun-shy about lifting the drought restrictions that no amount of water will make them comfortable. We’ll just have to wait and see.