south charlotte living magazine march 2011

Rudy’sItalian

Restaurant & Bar

Consistency,

Quality and

Outstanding Service

on Rea Road

Living the Good Life MARCH 2011

complimentary copy

Waxhaw Teen Powerlifting in Dubai

Fashion and the Charlotte Charity League join forces to help our Schools

And, poisonous plants & your pets.

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Providing the latest in dental technology, our new state-of-the-art Matthews o�ce servesyour entire family’s oral health care needs.O�ering a variety of services at two great locations, our friendly sta� is here to make sure your experience exceedsall expectations. Two o�ces,

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MATTHEWS: 428 Sam Newell Rd. Suite 101 BLAKENEY: 8918 Blakeney Prof. Dr.

www.northcarolinasmiles.com

John Pinnix, DMD . Christopher Phelps, DMD Thomas Grimes, DDS . George Betancourt, DMD

Matthew Miller, DDS

Family and General DentistryZoom Advanced Power (One hour tooth whitening)

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� sclivingmag.com • MARCH 2011

6 • Poisionous Plants and Your Pet

8 • Cover Story: Rudy’s Italian Restaurant and Bar on Rea Road

14 • The Charity League of Charlotte uses Fashion to Give Back to CMS Schools

19 • March Happenings

20 • Lindsay Good: Powerlifting in IWAS Junior World Championships in Dubai

22 • Learning Vision Skills Helping Your Child’s Development

24 • Your’e Engaged.... Now What? Five Questions to Answer First

26 • From the Fat Man: Cyros Sushi & Sake Bar

28 • Good Eats: French Onions Soup

29 • At your Service

Now What? Five Questions to

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MARCH 2011 • sclivingmag.com �

March is a spectacular month here in Charlotte. There are a multitude of concerts for the music lovers in many of us. Cirque du Soleil: Totem is in town on the 9th as well. The parks are beginning to fill with people too as we notice the weather growing ever warmer. It’s inevitable to enjoy spring time here in some fashion. Spring can bring out the kid in all of us some times. For some it is all about fishing even if you do not catch anything, yet for others it is all about the latest sport you may be into. Some of you are die hard football fans while others may just want to kick a ball around. Whatever your choice, enjoy it here in Charlotte, it is worth it. Let’s always remember that no matter how large Charlotte may seem, we can always treat it as a small town. Do you know who your neighbor is? Maybe it is time to get to know them if you have not done so already! Either way you choose, savor the days ahead like “The Fat Man” savors his favorite food this month. Be sure to check out “The Fat Man’s” review for this month, it is a great one about a sushi place in South Park. If you have a favorite restaurant that you want to help get the word out about how great it is, please email [email protected]

“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” – Mark Twain

Publisher - David Simms, Jr. 3122-100 Fincher Farm Rd. Suite 216 Matthews, NC 28105 704-443-8216 www.SCLivingMag.com Art Direction / Graphic Design - Katie Schnellinger Advertising - [email protected] Office - 704-443-8216

Advertising Sales - Chuck Sheridan 704-345-8608 Carol Gifford 704-847-6736 Jason Brown 704-907-1540 Carlton Peade 704-957-0819

Contributing Writers - Carol Gifford, Nancy Moore, The Fat Man Cover & Cover Story - Lorayn DeLuca Photography

E-mail submissions and ads - [email protected]

South Charlotte Living reserves the right to deny anyadvertisement or listing that does not meet South Charlotte Living standards. Submissions are welcome, butunsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned.South Charlotte Living assumes no responsibility forinformation, products, services or statements made byadvertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved.Reproduction in whole or in part without writtenpermission from the publisher is prohibited.

MARCH 2011

Publisher, South Charlotte Living

Living the Good life

from the publisher

David Simms, Jr.

SCL

SXbs

Tell us what you think!

Let us know what you want to see in future issues!Q

Photo by Lorayn Deluca.

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It is always a shock when pet owners come home to find their dog sick and their favorite houseplants chewed to

pieces. There are many safe plants that can be kept with dogs but there are some vary common houseplants and even outdoor plants that are extremely poisonous and potentially be lethal to dogs.

Understanding which houseplants should not be kept in the house or within reach of your dog is important. The following is a list of the most common houseplants that are toxic. Remember to check any plant with the nursery or with your vet to make sure that they are not poisonous:

There are also many bulbs that are stored over the winter in houses that are poisonous if consumed by a dog or even used as a fun toy. These include most the garden bulbs such

as lily varieties, tulips, elephant ears, gladiolas, hyacinth, iris, crocus and amaryllis bulbs. Lily of the Valley is very toxic both as a bulb and as a plant.

Common garden plants that are found both inside and outside that are potentially deadly to dogs include Dieffenbachia, Foxglove, Morning glory, Nightshade, Onions, Tomato plants and most of the varieties of ivy.

Shrubs in the garden or the yard can also be problematic. Trees and shrubs such as:

Many pet owners don’t realize that Aloe Vera can potentially be poisonous to dogs if consumed in large quantities. There are many other species of plants that can cause allergic reactions, rashes and skin and mouth lesions in dogs if the animal is exposed to the plants at certain

Poisonous Plants & Your Pet

· Most Philodendrons · Chinese Evergreens · Cordatum · Corn Plant · Devil’s Ivy · Golden Pothos

· Marble Queen · Peace Lily · Nephthytis · Most Dracaena · Taro vine

· Avocado · Yew · Macadamia Nut · Schefflera · Bamboo

· Oleander · Mistletoe · Yucca · Sago Palm

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outside


times in the plants growth. Often the either the leaves, flower or bark is poisonous but perhaps not all three. For example, grape vines themselves are not poisonous to dogs but the grapes can be extremely toxic.

Safety Tips

Take some time to research the various houseplants and garden plants that your dogs may potentially be exposed to. It is not always necessary to completely remove the plants; rather they may just need to be placed above the dog’s reach. Puppies are more prone to chewing and mouthing items than are most mature dogs, so by monitoring how your dog behaves around your house and garden plants you can predict if you will have to remove the plants or if the dog will not bother them. Remember, however, that even dogs that don’t chew or play with plants may decide to do so at some time, so it is usually best to try to keep these plants out of the areas of the yard or house that the dog has access too when unsupervised.

If you believe that your dog has ingested a poisonous plant, or any type of plant, and is exhibiting signs of

pain, nervous problems, salivating, drooling, vomiting or diarrhea immediately contact your vet and have the dog examined. Be sure to bring the plant in with you to help the vet identify the poison that was consumed.

About The Author : Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com - where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.

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Matthews Periodontics offers our patients:• A soft touch in a caring atmosphere. • The only laser FDA approved to treat periodontitis, which

means, therapy without cutting, sutures, or pain. • Treatment of non-disease periodontal issues,

such as frenectomies, gum grafting, correcting gummy smiles, and implant therapy.

• Different levels of sedation, if necessary, including IV sedation, oral sedation, and laughing gas.

• Periodontic care for pediatric and orthodontic patients.

1320 Matthews Township Parkway, Suite 101, Matthews, NC 704.847.5657www.matthewsperio.com

After The Referral...The relationship between you and your dentist is a special one. Your dentist may

be the first to observe a change in your health. When a periodontal change is noted, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist.

Left untreated, periodontitis may lead to tooth loss, heart disease, stroke, respiratory issues, and complications with diabetes and pregnancy. Dr. Kiya Green Dixie, of Matthews Peridontics, is board certified and the only practicing female periodontistin the Charlotte area.

Dr. Kiya Green DixieDiplomate of the AmericanBoard of Periodontology

Matthews Perio_half H ad_Oct 2011 1 9/21/10 12:22:48 AM

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cover story

By: Nancy Moore | Photos: Lorayn DeLuca

Rudy’s Italian

Restaurant & Bar6414 Rea Road, Charlotte704-544-4949Consistency, Quality, and Service

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South Charlotte Living Magazine’s first foray outside of Matthews took me to Rudy’s Italian Restaurant & Bar located at 6414 Rea Road in Charlotte. If

you’re familiar with Trader Joe’s, Rudy’s is in the same shopping center (Piper Glen). I want to preface this article with a disclaimer: This is not a restaurant review (although at times it might appear to be).

Meeting Rudy

My husband, Craig, and I had the pleasure of dining with Rodolfo Amadio a/k/a “Rudy” on what I thought would be a quiet Tuesday night. Rudy was at the door waiting and welcomed us with a warm handshake. Although Rudy has been in the United States since 1991, he still has a heavy Italian accent, which certainly adds to his charm. We sat at what Rudy said was a quieter table – right around the corner from the door, but near a wall. It was a great table – we could hear people come in, but it wasn’t noisy and it wasn’t cold from the door opening. We discussed wine preferences and Rudy summoned our waiter, introduced him to us (Vincent), and proceeded to order a delicious white wine (I’m not a fan of reds).

From cost analyst to restaurateur

Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Rudy, who holds a master’s degree in cost analysis, was working in Rome as a cost analyst for a furniture company. In 1990, the company transferred him to Marion, North Carolina. A divorced father of two boys, his sons moved with him to the States. He shares with us the difficulties he had understanding the language and the dialect. He even went so far as to visit a community college to take an English class. The instructor assured him that, in time, he would be fine. It wasn’t long before he was saying ‘y’all.’

While living in Marion, Rudy longed for authentic Italian ingredients. At a friend’s recommendation he went to The Fresh Market in Asheville. While standing in the checkout line, he overheard a conversation between two women who were ahead of him. They were speaking Italian! He was so excited to hear his native language that he listened in on their conversation and even answered a question one woman asked the other. Of course, just

like a good romance novel, one of the women would become his wife. Rudy’s eyes sparkle when he recalls how he met Luisa.

Luisa, a native of Milan, was divorced and raising four children in Charlotte and was already in the restaurant business. While they were dating, Rudy’s company offered him a job in China, but Rudy was settled in North Carolina and he had found Luisa. In 1991, he left the company

and moved to Charlotte to be with Luisa and to work in the restaurant business. They married in 2002.

Rudy smiles when he says that he knows numbers and Luisa is creative. They write their own recipes and are constantly experimenting with whatever ingredients are on hand. When creating a recipe, they’ll offer it as a special in one of the restaurants and if it’s a hit, or if it’s requested, it may be added to the menu.

Pizza and more

Luisa and Rudy would own Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizza on Montford Drive for 15 years before deciding to sell the business and change direction. Their second restaurant, Dolce Ristorante, opened in April 2003. Dolce is located on East Boulevard near Kenilworth. Luisa manages Dolce and her oldest daughter, Denise, works there on Mondays and on an as-needed basis on other days.

By: Nancy Moore | Photos: Lorayn DeLuca

Rudy and Luisa write their own recipes... constantly experimenting with whatever ingredients are on hand. When creating a recipe, they’ll offer it as a special in one of the restaurants and if it’s a hit, it may be added to the menu.

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10 sclivingmag.com • MARCH 2011

“Rudy’s” is clearly Rudy’s domain. When the opportunity presented itself, Rudy took over the current space and opened Rudy’s Italian Restaurant & Bar in January 2010. It’s been going gangbusters since Day One.

Rudy’s

Walking through the front door takes you into the bar area. A horseshoe shape, the bar comfortably seats 12 and is separated by a wall from the dining room, allowing privacy for all patrons. The restaurant itself seats 85 and is served by a staff of 15, including the chef and sous chef.

The décor is that of an authentic trattoria Romana. The walls are painted a varied shade of reddish orange. Black and white pictures adorn the walls. In Italy, these pictures would be of family members; at Rudy’s they are of Italian celebrities and comedians. The dark hard wood dining tables are bare and the chairs have rattan seats. These

details, too, reflect the authentic trattoria. Rudy wants guests to feel comfortable and for those who are Italian, he wants them to feel at home.

Rudy’s is not ostentatious – it is comfortable with a very warm environment. During our dinner, Rudy excuses himself several times to shake hands and give hugs. Many people stop by the table to ask if he is, indeed, Rudy. When he answers in the affirmative, they compliment him on the restaurant and the food.

Appetizers, dinner, and desserts

Everything at Rudy’s is homemade, beginning with the bread (be sure to try the nine grain) through to the desserts – nothing frozen here. And you can taste it. Ingredients, such as the fine ground Italian flour, are flown in from Italy or acquired locally.

Everything at Rudy’s is homemade, from the bread through to the desserts – nothing frozen

here. And, you can taste it. Ingredients are flown in from Italy or acquired locally.

Rudy’s vocalist, Gina Gutierrez, sings a love song as Renee and Mark Hill toast on a Monday night. Wednesday nights

feature a smooth “Frank Sinatra” sound.

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MARCH 2011 • sclivingmag.com 11

While I was looking at the menu, I decided I would let Rudy do the ordering. He gave Vincent instructions on what to serve, but everything we ate is on the menu. Homemade bread was brought to the table and served with a cannellini bean topping served on the side. We then had two appetizers: baked mushrooms stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and Parmigiano cheese with a cognac cream sauce, and mozzarella in carrozza – slices of bread dipped in an egg batter, flash fried, and topped with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes with anchovies (if you think you don’t like anchovies, give it a try; it’s mild). Craig and I shared an Insalata Rudy’s, or Rudy’s salad, which is field greens with diced pears, caramelized walnuts, raisins, and Gorgonzola honey dressing.

Rudy shared with us that it is customary in Italy to have pasta with every meal, even if it’s a small amount as a precursor to the main course. We had Sorrento, fettuccine with shrimp, sun dried tomatoes, and baby spinach

tossed in a garlic olive oil sauce.

Craig and I shared the entrée – Sogliola alla mugnaia, sautéed sole with cherry tomatoes, sweet red peppers, capers, Italian olive and pinot grigio sauce. The presentation was beautiful. The large filet of sole, coated in panko rather than bread crumbs, was at one end of a large rectangular plate, with sautéed green and yellow peppers with onions in the middle of the plate, and roasted red potatoes at the other end.

We shared not one, but two desserts! Tiramisu and cheesecake with wild berries. The tiramisu, which, when

Everything at Rudy’s is homemade, from the bread through to the desserts – nothing frozen

here. And, you can taste it. Ingredients are flown in from Italy or acquired locally.

Rudy’s vocalist, Gina Gutierrez, sings a love song as Renee and Mark Hill toast on a Monday night. Wednesday nights

feature a smooth “Frank Sinatra” sound.

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translated, means ‘pick me up,’ is made with a thin white cake, rather than lady fingers, and is very light and delicious. The texture held up to the coffee and wasn’t soggy. Rudy’s cheesecake is a layered cake made with mascarpone cheese, making it much lighter than the traditional cream cheese cheesecake. The wild berries were a mix of strawberries and raspberries. I’m not a very big cheesecake fan (unless it has chocolate), but this was wonderful.

Cultural differences

I asked Rudy to share with us the differences between northern Italian cooking and southern Italian cooking. A subtle difference is that in northern Italy, more butter is used, as opposed to the south, where they use more olive oil. Perhaps a more noticeable difference in the regions is the absence of tomatoes in the north.

Rudy also explains Italian-American, or immigrant, cuisine. When Italians first emigrated to the United States, they were very poor. In order to provide their families with a well-balanced meal, the major food groups were all incorporated, i.e., spaghetti and meatballs. Very rarely will Italians eat the food groups combined. Pasta, or starch, is served separate from protein.

Rudy’s keys to success

Rudy believes there are three keys to being successful in the restaurant business. First, you have to love the business. Second, you have to take care of people. Third, you have to take care of your staff. Many of Rudy’s staff members started with him at Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizza and worked at Dolce.

Dine out tonight

There is live music every Monday and Wednesday at Rudy’s. On Mondays a soloist leisurely walks through the restaurant serenading the guests. Wednesday nights feature a “Frank Sinatra” sound. Meal specials are offered


throughout the week and martinis are half off every Wednesday. For the gnocchi lover, it’s only available on Thursdays – so plan ahead.

Rudy’s is open for lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant reopens for dinner at 5 p.m. through 9 p.m. (Monday through Thursday). Dinner is served Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended (704-544-4949).

If you’re in the Dilworth area and would like to give Dolce a try, it’s open for lunch Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for dinner Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and dinner Fridays and Saturdays 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Both restaurants are closed on Sundays. What do Rudy and Luisa do for their meals on Sundays? They don’t cook! Rudy loves steak and Luisa likes sushi, and sometimes they’ll eat Italian. They also visit Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizza every other week or so to see how things are going.

Rudy’s won’t drain your wallet, but you won’t find spaghetti and meatballs with a side of garlic bread on the menu for $5.99. If you like Italian food, you’ll love Rudy’s. If you love Italian food, Rudy’s is what you’ve been looking for in a high-quality local Italian restaurant.

We met Rudy with a handshake and left him with a hug. Building relationships over good food. That’s what life is all about. I love this job . . . (


At a time when the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is again

facing a budget crisis and trying to pare expenses, it becomes even more important to have help from community organizations willing to step in and offer assistance.

One stalwart of the community is the Charity League of Charlotte (www.charityleagueofcharlotte.org), a local non-profit celebrating its 90th birthday this year, that helps fund the needs of children in CMS schools and throughout the community.

“We help supply the needs and services for children at 18 CMS schools,” says Brenda Rorie, long-time member and treasurer of the organization. “We provide uniforms for thousands of children who need

them and services ranging from specialized computers and programs for children with disabilities to supplies for the classroom and snacks.”

Its contributions to CMS students and schools have become even more important when funding for elementary programs and services is uncertain in next year’s CMS budget. Last year, the group donated 6,000 snacks to CMS schools for children who arrived too late in the morning to get a breakfast at school. It supplies local schools with thousands of uniforms, socks, underwear, sweat pants/tops, coats, book bags, school supplies, health room supplies, AR (Accelerated Reader) and FRED (Families Reading Every Day) books, and snacks for an extended day program.

The Charity League funds a Greater Enrichment Program after-school and summer enrichment program for low-income, at-risk children in the Charlotte, purchasing supplemental school tools and enrichment activities such as games, flashcards, student dictionaries, calculators and bean bags and rugs for quiet time.

To fund its mission to help needy children, the Charity League hosts two main fundraisers each year.

Coming up this month is the Charity League’s 30th annual Fashion Show to be held on Thursday, March 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Carmel Country Club, 4735 Carmel Rd., Charlotte. Tickets are $50. For reservations, please call (704) 364-3314. This year’s fashion show will

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Charity League of Charlotte Steps in to Help CMS SchoolsBy: Carol GiffordPhotos By Nanine Hartzenbusch.

Lauri Starnes models an outfit from Coplon’s boutique on the run-way at the 2010 Charity League of Charlotte Fashion show held at Carmel Country Club Thursday, March 25, 2010. Photo by Nanine Hartzenbusch

Amy Pharr models a dress from Coplon’s boutique on the runway at the 2010 Charity League of Charlotte Fashion show.

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include fashions by Mack and Mack Charlotte, a local women’s apparel boutique at 6401 Morrison Blvd. The shop features artisan designers from across the U.S. and owned by Pamela Melton. Models will be provided by Mack and Mack. There will also be a silent auction featuring many products and services, adds Rorie.

The second fundraiser, the Charity League Showcase of Artisans, is held in the fall at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Ballantyne. The organization also receives some funding through grants.

“I have seen firsthand all that the League does for children in Charlotte,” says Holley Tillman, a

third year member. “The League is a non-profit organization with no management expenses since we are all volunteers. We don’t even pay for

meeting space -- St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church provides us a free place for our monthly meetings.”

Founded in 1911 by a group of

young women at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church to help local children in hospitals, Rorie says the projects of the Charity League have changed

over time, but always with the goal of assisting needy children. It has opened cafeterias in schools and a nursery school for children, in addition to funding other programs to help support children.

Today, it provides a “Moozie” robotic talking cow to teach children character skills, positive attitudes and early childhood social skills. Last year Moozie “talked” to more than

3,000 children in Charlotte.

Working with the Harvest Center on Julia Ave., the Charity League supplies basic needs for homeless

Willow Grove704-545-0009

10043 Idlewild RoadMatthews, NC 28105

There’s something very special about life at Willow Grove. It’s a warm, accepting community of neighbors who feel like family. It’s a devoted staff providing unrivaled service, compassion and care. And it’s the unique feeling of being right where you belong, a feeling of being home.

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Guests view silent auction items during the annual Charity League of Charlotte fashion show fundraiser at Carmel Country Club Thursday March 25, 2010.

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children including clothing and sleeping bags, toiletries and toys, books and games. The Charity League helps out children at Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital by providing a Kindermusik program for those undergoing treatment.

For older students, the Charity League offers a scholarship program. Founded in 2004, the Robert J. Alander scholarship offers grants to graduating CMS seniors who plan to continue their education in the field of marketing at an accredited college or university, and over $150,000 has been awarded in scholarships.

While activities and programs may have changed over the years, “it’s clear we were in it with the children for the long haul,” says Rorie. “Every endeavor is motivated by the welfare of children. “We are thankful for the Charlotte women have been a part of our organization and given us such proud history and meaning,” says Rorie. (

Rudy’s

LUNCHMonday - Friday 11:30am - 2:30pmDINNERMonday -Thursday 5:00pm - 9:00pmFriday - Saturday 5:00pm - 10:00pmMUSIC on Mondays & Wednesdays!

Located in the Piper Glen Shopping Center6414 Rea Rd. Charlotte, NC 28277

704-544-4949Call for your reservation today!

www.rudyscharlotte.comRudy’s

Rudy’sItalian Restaurant & Bar

Come enjoy all the flavors ofItaly in an atmosphere that will

make Italy feel like home.

Models line up to show off their fashions at the end of the 2010 Charity League of Charlotte Fashion show held at Carmel Country Club Thursday, March 25, 2010. Photo by Nanine Hartzenbusch

The Charity League of CharlotteOur Motto: Brightening Children’s Lives Since 1921.Charity League, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to actively enhancing the lives of Charlotte area children by promoting academic achievement, pro-social behavior and self-worth through volunteerism.

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MARCH 2011 EVENTS3/9 PRCR Advisory Board Meeting @ Matthews Community Center – 7:00pm3/11-12 Matthews March Madness – 5 on 5 Bball Tourney @ Crews Road Rec. Center3/17 Charlotte Symphony Youth & Junior Youth Orchestras Youth Festival Concert3/17 St. Patrick’s Day3/19 St. Patrick’s Day Parade 11AM, & Charlotte Goes Green Festival (downtown)

3/20 First Day of Spring

Find out what’s going onin your community!• matthewsfun.com

• charlottesgotalot.com1. Sing You Home by Jodi PicoultJodi Picoult is known for intertwining contro-versial topics into her novels. Her new book is no different; she challenges the idea of a traditional family and examines infertility and gay rights.

2. Toys by James Patterson and Neil McMahonJames Patterson is back with another new novel, and co-authoring for the first with Neil McMahon. A page turning action story with a touch of science fiction: Hays Baker must un-cover the truth to save himself and all humans from extinction.

3. The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. AuelThe long awaited sixth installment in the Earth’s Children series. As the story continues, Alya and Jondalar are adjusting to their new lives as parents living in prehistoric Europe.

4. Night Road by Kristin HannahThree high school friends, Mia, Zach, and Lexi, make one bad decision that results in a tragedy. As the years pass they have to live with the consequences and try to find the courage to forgive.

To learn about other March new releases visit Kristan at Audio Books of the Carolinas! 7868 Rea Rd. Suite I Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)341-0794

Books to watch outfor this March:

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Lindsey Good, 16, of Waxhaw has been competing in amateur sports across the country for years but she never

dreamed she’d be in an international sports competition when she was in high school.

“I never thought I’d get that far to be able to represent my country in an international competition,” said Good, a junior at Weddington High School. “I was so excited when I got the letter in December telling me I had made the team.”

Good will compete in powerlifting, a sport she started just one year ago when she began weightlifting, competing in both bench press and powerlifting. Since that time, she’s competed in two national competitions and set three national records.

One of 12 junior WASUSA athletes selected for Team USA, Good will compete in the 2011 IWAS Junior World

Waxhaw Teen Selectedto Represent U.S.

in International CompetitionBy: Carol Gifford | Photos by: Tim Good

Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on April 14-21. She will represent the U.S. along with two other athletes from North Carolina: Sean Burns from Matthews and Jill Moore from Concord.

Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports USA, or WASUSA (www.wasusa.org), is a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee, originally founded in 1956.

The organization existed under several different names before becoming WASUSA in 2009 to better reflect its goals of encouraging training and competition for athletes with disabilities including women and quadriplegics to compete in sports other than basketball. In 1982, the organization joined the U.S. Olympic Committee and moved to its headquarters in Colorado Springs to provide athletic experiences for athletes with disabilities paralleling those of the able-bodied, from novice through elite levels.

“I like weightlifting because it makes me feel strong,” said Good. “I don’t have all the muscles that other people have so I can’t push off from my legs. I have to do it from my chest and I have to learn how to breathe differently and balance the weight.”

Good is an accomplished athlete who began competing in basketball at age 8. In addition to weightlifting and basketball, she also competes in archery, table tennis and track and field, although she’s cut back on her other sports to train for her international competition.

She will attend the competition with her best friend, Jill Moore from Concord, and without her family. In addition to daily training and competition, there are social events planned every day and opportunities to do some sightseeing.

“I’ve been reading up on the culture and we’ve gotten information from the team coaches,” she said. “We need to be covered from our neck to our knees when we go out, and girls can’t go out alone.”

In Dubai, she will be competing against other girls age 14-21 in her same weight class. To build her strength and stamina, Good has been working with a personal trainer since December and she continues to train in basketball.

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“I got a trainer at Anytime Fitness in Wesley Chapel and I work out with him three to four times a week to build up my strength and increase the amount I can lift,” she says. Since working with the trainer in January, she’s lost 20 pounds and is carefully watching her diet to eat the right food to sustain her workouts.

Her workouts are targeted to increasing strength in her biceps and triceps by doing a series of light weight reps followed by scheduled heavy weight workouts.

“My coaches tell me that I look better and faster,” said Good. “I know I weigh less and can lift more and have moved down two weight classes in competition from last summer.”

Good also works with her weightlifting coach Mike Burn in Matthews, who trains her in weightlifting on a special bench that he built for her. In competition, she does a power lift, which means she starts with her arms completely extended and has to control the release coming back down and then extend the weight back above her head.

“In competition, you get three tries to lift with a loaded bar,” explained Good. “You get to tell the coach and other athletes what weight you are going to try to lift.”

Good started with a top lift of 65 pounds and her highest weight right now is 95, which she is hoping to increase before she leaves for her international competition.

“My left side is weaker so I need to work on increasing my strength there,” she said.

For now, she corresponds with the US powerlifting coach based in St. Louis and other athletes on the team via e-mail, Facebook or by texting.

She continues to play basketball on a coed team, aerobic exercise that is also helping in her training. The team competes in weekend tournaments and is scheduled to play in Denver on April 7-10 in a national championship tournament, just one week before she leaves for Dubai.

“I love the rush I get from competing,” said Good, “but I know it’s stressful sometimes for my parents because they have to get me back and forth to competitions and training.”

Good has to balance her athletics with a tough school course load, and her training is taking top priority now, meaning that she had to take a year off from competing in school track and field. She hopes to compete in sports in college and is narrowing down her search for schools.

She hopes the international competition will be another way to get noticed by college coaches.

“I’m a little nervous because I don’t know what to expect from the international judges,” said Good. “I just want to perform for myself and make my team proud and my family proud.” (

WANT TO HELP?

The cost for Lindsey Good (and each of the other 11 team members) to attend the 2011 IWAS Junior World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on April 14-21, is $4,600.

If you’d like to help sponsor her (and others) please visit: www.wasusa.orgChoose “Sponsor An Athlete” on left hand navigation bar, then choose “Athletic Development Fund Donations” from drop-down menu. Look for Lindsey Good’s name on list (Note: List is NOT in alphabetical order, and Lindsey Good’s name isnear the bottom).

OR Make check payable to: WASUSA. Mail to: c/o Good621 Brandy Ct. Waxhaw, N.C. 28173

Call Keith at 704-301-8400

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Learning vision skills is a vital part of a child’s improvement within the preschool years. These skills

lay the groundwork for future educational achievement, and as a result, are the building blocks upon which a child’s studying, writing and spelling will be built. Failure to develop the appropriate vision skills within the early years can result in a lifetime of struggling at school, frustration and underachieving.

Why Vision Skills are Important

The development of correct learning vision skills is an essential half of a child’s total development in the preschool years. But the vision skills growth is most frequently neglected in preschool curriculums, severely affecting the event of many who go on to have learning disabilities. We spend time developing a child’s gross motor skills, superb motor skills and social skills, however most often these essential learning vision skills are overlooked, to the long-time period detriment of the child’s development.

Within the classroom, vision is the dominant sense being responsible for round 80% of all info a child takes in. Therefore it is sensible that training vision skills might help them soak up and perceive visible information and thereby enhance the learning process. It is important that we not solely determine these learning vision skills, but also discover a way to rapidly and successfully skilled them so that the child’s skill to study may be enhanced to its maximum level.

Learning Vision Skills is Enjoyable & Fun

As a behavioral optometrist who is labored within the space of learning vision skills for over 20 years I have seen hundreds of success tales by enhancing and coaching the skills. The actually great point is that the techniques required to reinforce these learning vision skills are easy, enjoyable and enthusiastically embraced by both children and their parents. We now have developed a lot of games and therapy strategies that get preschool children

Learning Vision Skills in Preschool Helps Learning for Life


excited, thereby making the event of these important skills enjoyable and satisfying as an alternative of boring and tedious.

It’s All About the Learning

The question shouldn’t be whether or not these learning vision skills may be enhanced, but rather what’s the quickest and simplest means of training them? There are a selection of fascinating and fun games and strategies that can make the process of learning visible skills pleasant, and these do not contain expensive computer applications or consultations with professionals. These require solely a small outlay and an everyday but small quantity of labor, however the long term effect could be stunning in the lifetime of your child.

While your child is within the preschool years, take the time to develop the areas that they truly depend in the long term in your baby’s reading development. Learning vision skills in preschool is a recipe for success and can help prevent struggles of learning disability heartache!

About The Author Enhance your child’s visual skills and improve your child’s learning experience in preschool or prep. For a vision therapy program that can supercharge your child’s learning ability far into the future, check out Vision Preschool Materials.The author invites you to visit: http://bestvisiontherapy.com

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Learning Vision Skills in Preschool Helps Learning for Life


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Holiday season is engagement season. But after he pops the question and she says “yes,” the reality

of wedding planning sets in - and that feeling of joyful romance can fade as quickly as Christmas lights on an overloaded circuit or candy hearts in a dish. Here are the top five questions you will need to answer to make your wedding planning journey a pleasant experience.

“After Valentine’s Day, the holidays are the most popular time of year for couples to become engaged,” says wedding planning expert Raymond Miller of My Wedding Reception Ideas.com – a leading online resource for brides seeking unique wedding favors, decorations, and gifts. “Many brides-to-be who get engaged over the holidays will begin their planning efforts in the first months of the new year. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming.” Brides should begin their planning by answering five basic questions, Miller advises.

1. What is your budget?

“Funding your wedding can be one of the most expensive undertakings you’ll tackle in your life together as a couple,” Miller says. “Many couples only spend more on buying a house or car, or funding their children’s college educations.” Setting - and sticking to - a budget for your wedding is an essential step toward starting your married life on a sound financial footing. Determine where your funding will come from - if your parents can help or if you’ll be paying on your own - and decide how much you can afford to spend without going into debt.

2. What season works?

Virtually as soon as you announce you’re engaged, people start asking what the wedding date will be. To make answering that question as simple as possible, start by

You’re Engaged!Now What?

The top five weddingplanning questions to answer first.


considering in what season you would like to be married. Would you prefer a spring ceremony? Or do you dream of a holiday wedding? By narrowing down the season, and selecting it well in advance, you’ll be able to secure a date that will work for everyone.

3. Where do we want to get married and have our reception?

Will you have a destination wedding? Or do you want to keep it local? While wedding planning is usually most successful when done well in advance, if you’re interested in a destination wedding, planning far ahead is essential. Popular destinations book quickly in prime wedding seasons and you may find venues in the destination of your choice are booked a year or more in advance.

4. What kind of venue do you want?

Do you dream of a big church wedding? Or saying your “I do’s” in a beautiful natural setting? Perhaps you want your reception to be in a grand hotel. Knowing the type of venue you desire will help you refine your options and choose a specific location down the road.

5. Who do you want to officiate?

Is it important to you to be married by your own church’s minister? Or are you OK with a justice of the peace? Do you dream about being joined in marriage by a ship’s captain? Maybe your mother hopes to see you married by the rabbi who was there at your bat mitzvah?

Just as popular venues book quickly, favorite officiants also have their dance cards fill fast for popular wedding seasons. As soon as you know who you would like to officiate at your wedding, it might pay to approach him or her and find out about future availability.

“Of course there are many, many things to consider when planning a wedding,” Miller says. “But these five points are the basics you must address and everything else about your wedding will be planned around your answers to these questions. Once you’ve made these initial decisions, it will be easier to refine your options and decide exactly what will make your wedding wonderful, memorable and perfect for you. For more wedding planning and wedding reception ideas visit www.MyWeddingReceptionIdeas.com.

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I discovered a new place (to me) this month, Cyros Sushi & Sake Bar. But first, I must to give credit where credit is due. I went to this restaurant on the recommendation of John Kucera of the Carolina Trade Exchange. This is the second recommendation he gave me that turned out to be nothing less than spectacular.

The first recommendation was Gado Gado (I reviewed last month). If any of you that read these reviews own a business you should do yourself a favor and contact John Kucera and find out how you can become a member of the Carolina Trade Exchange. Now on to the review….

I have actually eaten at Cyros 3 times this month! A business lunch, business dinner, and a fun dinner with the family. Now, I know some of you are thinking, “I don’t eat sushi”, or “I’m not eating raw fish” and those thoughts are understandable.

You may be surprised to hear there are plenty of items on the menu that don’t contain any seafood whatsoever, and if you decide on a roll with seafood, it can be pan seared before they make the roll.

With that disclaimer out of the way let me tell you about my experience(s) at Cyros. I arrived early, about 10 minutes before they were open, one of the chefs informed that they weren’t open yet but I was welcome to have a seat until they were, and a friendly waitress offered to get me a drink while I waited. She introduced herself as Christina; I enjoyed a very pleasant conversation with her while I waited for my business guest to arrive.

Once my guest arrived we ordered drinks, appetizers, and salads. They have a very nice wine and beer menu, and of course they have Sake. I like my Sake very hot! I asked Christina if she could make it extra hot and she confided that she prefers hers that way as well.

My appetizer was Mushroom Dumplings served with

a delicious sauce to dip them in. I also ordered a fresh baby green salad with ginger dressing. I really like ginger dressing! I’m used to having that at a Japanese steak house except they usually serve it on iceberg lettuce. Let me tell you the baby greens make the ginger dressing “pop”, now I’m anxious to try the other salads they offer.

My main course was the Avante Garde Roll. Here is the description off the menu - tuna, crab and avocado topped with Cyros signature spicy sauce and Cyros spicy dark sauce, then flashed baked and topped with fried shallots and garlic. It was awesome! Nice and spicy, the fried shallots and garlic give you just enough garlic punch, slide the roll around in the special sauce and wow just enough flavor change to keep you wanting more.

Although this is a pretty large roll, I decided I should have a Spider Roll as a snack to go with my dinner and it didn’t disappoint. I love soft shell crab and those folks at Cyros know just how to cook them; the crab was perfect and the roll was delicious. I have to mention that the presentation is nothing short of spectacular, very impressive when your food arrives at your table.

Christina checked on us and took care of our every need, in my opinion the perfect waitress, friendly, knowledgeable, efficient and great with her timing. I think that is very important when you are having a business meeting over lunch or dinner. Sometimes during your conversation it is not convenient to have a server interrupt and Christina just had that 6th sense, very intuitive; she knew just exactly when to visit us to take care of our needs and yet not disturb us.

I highly recommend you take your business clients to Cyros to impress them, your client will be impressed and the prices will not break your budget. I almost forgot to mention that they actually get their regulars their own set of

The Fat Man goes CYROS!

the Fat Man...

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chopsticks, not the cheapie wooden ones, but handmade chopsticks, and they keep them there for your next visit. Imagine how impressed your date or your business client will be when you come in and your waitress gets your name and comes out with your own special set of chopsticks!

I also met “Ro” one of the owners of Cyros, it is nice to have the owner come by and check on you, it shows that they really care about you as a customer, you can’t get that at a chain restaurant. I only reviewed one visit to Cyros, however all of my visits were equally as pleasant, you can go formal, business, or casual and I tried all three.

Yes, the Fatman does sushi, even though it is healthy and low calorie – it may have an impact on my Fatman status! I won’t let that stop me though; I will be a regular at Cyros. Look for me there, I am easy to spot, I will have a big smile on my face and will be using my custom chopsticks that Cyros is getting for me. Oh wait that won’t work; I just described all of the regulars. When it comes to sushi……Trust The Fat Man!

If you have a suggestion for a restaurant for me to visit, or if you want me to visit your restaurant, email me at [email protected] I have been informed that in the past I have failed to give the address of the place I reviewed, moving forward I will include this at the close of each article.

Cyros Sushi & Sake Bar6601 Morrison BoulevardCharlotte, NC 28211(704) 919-1881

Carolina Trade Exchange7504 E. Independence Blvd., Suite 100Charlotte NC [email protected]: (704) 927-4684

Gado Gado becomes Café 157, March 01, 2011!157 North Trade StreetMatthews, NC 28105-1712(704) 844-8686

The Fat Man goes CYROS!

the Fat Man...

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Carolina Trade Exchange is locally owned and operated and is the only Exchange 100% focused on trade.

CTE is a member in good standing ofThe Matthews Chamber of Commerce.

Call today to find out if your Companyqualifies for a free membership.

Join Carolina TradeExchange Today!

carolinatradeexchange.com(704) 927-4684

Barter works!

Carolina Trade Exchange membership will bring your company new business, conserve capital, cut costs and connect you to those that may have not otherwise known about your great product or service.

T R A D E E X C H A N G E

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Your smile is a big part of what people judge when making a firstimpression. Give yourself and your children a gift that will last a life-time. We’re expert Orthodontists with over 50 years of experienceand countless smiles. Come in for a consultation and experiencethe quality and attention that make us unique.

Don’t Trust Something ThisImportant to Just Anyone

• Uptown112 South Tryon PlazaSuite 650Charlotte, NC 28284P 704.334.7203

• Arboretum7800 Providence Rd.Suite 201Charlotte, NC 28226P 704.334.7203

www.HullandColeman.com

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James C. Hull, DDS, MS • Grant G. Coleman, DMD, MS • J. Turner Hull, DDS, MS

01_00764A/4.qxd:Layout 2 2/19/10 5:11 PM Page 2

Recipe Ingredients• 1/4 c Butter • 1 ts Sugar• 1 c Dry white wine • 1/4 ts Pepper • 2 c Grated swiss cheese • Paprika • 6 Medium cooking onions sliced • 1 tb All purpose flour • 4 c Beef broth • 6 1/2 inch day old french bread slices • 1/2 c Grated parasean cheese

Directions1. In large Dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter.2. Add onions and sugar.3. Cover and cook, stirring occaisionally, 30 minutes or until onions are tender but not colored.4. Uncover pan, increase heat slightly and continue to cook, stirring regularly until onions are rich caramel colour (10 to 15 minutes). DO NOT LET ONIONS

BURN!5. Stir in flour until well blended.6. Gradually add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. 7. Stir in beef broth and pepper; bring to boil.8. Reduce heat to low.9. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.10. Ladle soup into 6, 1-1/2 cup oven proof bowls.11. Top each with bread slice; sprinkle with swiss cheese and parmaean cheeses and paprika.12. Place bowls on jelly roll pan.13. Broil until cheese melts and bubbles.ENJOY!Find more delicious recipes on www.foodclassics.com

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good eats!

Delicious FrenchOnion Soup!

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at your service

Get into a good book today!

Audio Book Rentals & Sales704.341.0794

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Place your business card HERE. Let our community know what services you can offer them!

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– Robert Louis Stevenson

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Is your business seeingenough green?

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south charlotte living magazine march 2011

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