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Hollerin - The National Hollerin Contest
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During her return visit to North Carolina, Ellen stopped by our studio while attending a Wabi-Sabi Workshops leaded stained-glass Masterclass. With a remarkable background as a dedicated rehab nurse, Ellen's story is a testament to resilience and passion.
Discover her path from healthcare to leading Legacy Vans, a company dedicated to providing mobility solutions for those with disabilities.
Join us for an enriching conversation that highlights the power of determination and the pursuit of a meaningful mission.
Key Points
• Andrew's band raised $10-$20K for charity
• Family Christmas stories & traditions
• Boxing trainer turned city commissioner
• Runs campaign using music promotion skills
• Christmas music writing and soulful storytelling
Best Quotes
01:18 - 01:30
• "I started it back in 2010, when I moved back to Wilkes from Charlotte. My band, Hot Vegas was the name of my band when I played in Charlotte. And, we would usually do a Christmas event in Charlotte."
09:13 - 09:23
• "We had a piano. It was an old upright piano behind our couch, at that time when I was a kid.
15:26 - 15:33
• "I boxed on the side in Charlotte when I wasn't on tour just for fun.
30:35 - 30:46
• "I just felt like my life had not always turned out how I wanted. I had dreams and things I wanted to do, but for whatever reason, they don't turn out and I go down another path."
Dive into the warm nostalgia of Christmas with Carl and guest Dale Isom, exploring childhood memories, festive traditions, and the spirit of the holiday season.
Key Points:
1. Fond childhood Christmas memories
2. The significance of holiday traditions
3. Embracing the spirit of Christmas year-round
4. Impact of beliefs on daily life
Chapter 2: Coats & Compassion: A Community Service
05:06 Uncover the heart of community service with a discussion on a 25-year-old local coat drive and the power of volunteerism to support those in need.
Key Points:
1. Hosting a coat drive and breakfast
2. Volunteering to meet community needs
3. Benefits of lifelong service
4. Engaging community beyond the church
Chapter 3: A Look Back at Music and Community
07:06 Carl and Dale reminisce about a musical journey, local entertainment evolution, and how small initiatives create a thriving community.
Key Points:
1. Growth of local music venues
2. Reflecting on the community's evolution
3. The impact of sharing music and culture
4. Significance of community-driven concerts
Chapter 4: Serving as Mayor & Tackling Challenges
13:47 Dale shares his recent election as mayor and talks about future visions for addressing housing, childcare, and homelessness in Wilkesboro.
Key Points:
1. Becoming mayor of Wilkesboro
2. Plans for education and community support
3. Prioritizing local housing and jobs
4. Addressing challenges with homelessness
Chapter 5: Festivities, Family, and the Future
Experience the joy of family Christmas traditions, the love of reading to grandkids, and the anticipation of another communal holiday season.
Key Points:
1. Christmas traditions with grandchildren
2. The joy of sharing stories
3. Adjustments with growing family dynamics
4. The importance of preserving memories
#musicfestival #windowworld #LifeintheCarolinas #wilkesboro
Many stories would bring them together over the years, and countless long conversations about good things cultivated their friendship and brought them together for this casual visit to Tucker, Georgia.
Following a hearty, traditional southern meal at Matthew’s Cafeteria, Carl captured this moment with his iPhone, and it was when Doc expressed his fondness for the people of the Carolinas and asked Carl to convey his sentiment that this video was shared in its entirety.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our dear friend Doc Lawrence for his unwavering commitment to journalism over many years and consistent dedication to spotlighting the silver lining.
Noteworthy:
1. Doc Lawrence has written stories about Georgia and the South for over three decades. He is widely recognized for his expertise in food, wine, distilled spirits, music, and Southern culture.
2. Matthews Cafeteria is a family-owned restaurant established in 1955 by Louise and Bill Matthews. Since then, Matthews continues to produce made-from-scratch Southern cuisine the way it should be. Today, Matthews is run by their son-in-law and grandson.
Being a Horse Owner
[2:54]
Being part of many different disciplines of the equestrian world, Abbie thinks that the Natural Horsemanship approach and the partnership method perform better over time than trying to force a horse to do something.
[3:55]
For Abbie, establishing a connection with your equine partners on a personal level can create relationships that last a lifetime. These are fantastic, authentic relationships.
[6:44]
Abbie grew up having the responsibility of taking care of horses. In the morning, she would feed, muck out the stable, and ensure everybody was cared for. While in the evening, she exercises and takes care of her gear. Her horse knew all of her secrets. An off day for Abbie is an off day for him too.
[8:23]
Someone shared with Abbie that she could tune into the horse's heartbeat, which is slower and more comforting. When you're near them, your heart rate decreases, your blood pressure falls, and you become calmer and alert.
Property and Businesses
[18:07]
Abbie talks about her businesses, the restaurants, hosting events like meal days and Outlanders events, and her plans to return to her root–equestrian horse camp. She will launch it in the summer and is called the giddy-up gang. It is for children from the age of 7 to 14. The idea was for the parents to come and rent a cabin or camping and drop their kids off at the barn in the morning. The kids get to help with feeding, grooming, learning about the actual care of the horses, going trail riding, do exercises in the ring. She looks forward to seeing where that program can grow.
Fun in the Summer
[24:42]
Abbie likes sitting on the creek in the summertime while listening to the beautiful sound of the water.
[25:16]
For Abbie, Elk Creek is a great place to completely unplug and connect with what's important. There’s tubing in there, a family-friendly activity that visitors will surely enjoy.
Creating Strong Community
[30:06]
With the relaxation that Leatherwood brings the people, the joy of seeing the faces of visitors returning, and the beauty of Wilkes County, the whole experience has become extraordinary. And from there, a strong community is born.
[31:43]
Waking up in the morning at Leatherwood is an experience you don’t want to miss. Just imagine the cats waiting, the barn crew feeding them, horses waking up, birds chirping, and mist rising while you drink coffee, looking out over the Blue Ridge.
Go to leatherwoodmountains.com to learn more about Leatherwood Mountains and start your magical and relaxing experience.
Music is Life
[1:34]
Martha grew up in a small town in Mount Nebo, West Virginia. She sings gospel songs conventionally with her grandmother, in the church choir, and her uncles were bluegrass musicians. Since birth, music is already in her as her family told her that she sang first before she talked. On top of that, she spends most of her time singing outside.
[4:14]
Because she often sings in church and at her mom’s record collection, Martha developed harmony at an early age.
Singing Training Experience
[8:24]
Martha is a musician who enjoys practicing. Before she started singing, she had piano lessons as a child. Despite not being a brilliant pianist, she would practice for hours because she enjoyed it.
[10:28]
Because Martha is trained in classical music singing, she has to go through an unlearning process. She needs to find her voice again to sing folk music.
Higher Music Techniques
[14:27]
Martha is grateful for her education, especially in The Martha Basset Show, where she continuously learns new songs. She continuously studies music in various scenarios she has created for herself. She considers how tough it would be if she couldn't read, for example, chord charts.
The Start of the Martha Bassett Show
[16:56]
Martha’s show started after Chris Groner and Debbie Carson bought the Reeves Theater. They offered Martha to do something regularly, but Pat Lorenz, Martha’s partner, suggested they would have a show and named it “The Martha Bassett Show.”
Future Plans
[22:36]
On top of its live performance, The Martha Bassett Show is also hopeful of becoming a national radio show. They now have coverage on NPR around North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
[25:39]
The show has evolved but stayed true to its original goal: supporting women as much as men in their programming.
Opportunity To Shine
[26:00]
In The Martha Bassett Show, every show is different. Even poetry and storytelling are allowed to be on stage.
[31:27]
In their show, the stage turns over every day to three songs. Thus, it gives audiences various tastes they might like depending on the artist on the stage.
Live Streams
[35:54]
Live streams are very beneficial for the show. It can be seen in how much they put effort into having three camerapersons and good cameras.
Martha’s Band Journey
[38:16]
Her first band was Martha in the Mood Swingers, which started in the mid-90s-96. They were a dance band that played upbeat swing music. After 9/11, everything fell off. She also loves jazz.
[41:49]
Martha receives a sense of community from the show and feels strongly when great musical moments occur. She met so many individuals because of this show, and it's been a growing family. They provide the finest hospitality for artists to feel comfortable.
The Special Reeves Theater
[46:10]
The Reeves Theater is so special. It brings back good memories from the past, which makes it a special part of the community. Martha’s Show was to look for a space to rent, and Reeves Theater could not be replaced by Reeves Theater. It's a unique place.
Bigger Purpose of The Martha Bassett Show
[54:34]
The show becomes a bigger purpose the Martha Bassett herself to the point that it could run without her. Martha thinks her most significant contribution outside of music-making is her booking, which she feels is the most important job on the show.
The Abundance of Talented People
[58:39]
Carolinas have an abundance of highly talented people. Having talented people are nationwide, but what separates Carolina is that it cultivates gifted people. For example, Martha learns during the pandemic that there are many talented people in North Carolina at a national level.
Kippy Dooley
[1:06:03]
Martha’s song Kippy Dooley is based on a real-life story, and she personally knew that person. It was also the first song that she ever wrote.
Go to marthabassett.com or marthabassettshow.com to listen to Martha’s music and learn more about the show!
You can also follow Martha on her socials:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
For more on Life In The Carolinas, visit lifeinthecarolinas.com
Jay’s Winery Journey
[2:33] The idea behind the winery is that Jay loves wine and wants to connect it to a generational wealth transference.
[4:14] Jay’s desire to keep his family together and have a way to transfer wealth led him to build a plan and start his winery business.
[07:20] The first step was to find suitable land and bed. When we talk about the right land, we're talking about the wrong land for farming, which is the appropriate land for vineyard cultivation because you want the grapes to struggle to live.
Happy Place
[14:38] Jay describes his vineyard as a yin and yang. It gives him balance in life, and that is the wonderful part.
[16:08] Jay experienced drinking wine from a plastic milk jug. However, it was the best bottle of wine he had because it changed how whole day. And that is why Jay considered wine a very romantic notion, and it's about the totality of the experience more than anything else.
Challenges Faced
[23:50] Jay and his winery faced numerous challenges. But these challenges add fuel for his business to grow further. Each time that they had a loss, they rose higher than before, allowing them to grow continually.
[25:59] The key is how you adapt to the problem. Plus, you got to be flexible.
[28:20] You have to focus on what's working and concentrate on that area. You also have to admit defeat because that's how you learn. That’s a very scarce personality trait.
Learnings From Around the World
[31:24] Jay discovered that growing grapes east of the Rockies Mountains is difficult. This is because 90% of the grapes are cultivated in what is described as a Mediterranean environment. It equates to 3% of the world's land area. 3% of the world's surface grows grapes there because it’s easier.
[39:17] When meeting with the clients for the first time, bringing out a bottle of wine is an icebreaker at the table.
Better Life and Society
[45:55] Jay’s father teaches him that no matter what he does in life, he should be the best at it and be the most passionate.
Wine Club
[49:48] Jay’s wine club is successful, and they have 20,000 people visit every year. At first, they face a problem: too many people are coming. They needed to make a few adjustments.
Jay’s Advice
[1:00:29] Jay often says, don't get too depressed. Just focus on your job, and be passionate.
[1:03:04] For Jay, something simple with the right person is meaningful at the right time. Thus, it becomes like a mantra for him to live a good life.
Go to www.raffaldini.com to learn more about Raffaldini Vineyards and their wines, and make a reservation for a tasting visit.
For more on Life In The Carolinas, visit www.lifeinthecarolinas.com and www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com
Seth’s Journey
[1:22] Seth grew up in Wilkes county and graduated from Appalachian State University. Since then, Seth decided to stay in Wilkes county and raise his family.
[4:58] Seth and his family want to protect and preserve their wonderful community at all costs. His county boasts a unique atmosphere, livelihood, and everything around it, including clean air, clean water, and abundant land.
Food Business
[7:00] He started working in the restaurant industry in 1995. His work composes of bussing tables and washing dishes. After he accumulated much experience, Seth began his training to cook under the supervision of a french chef. He spent six years as a sous chef, where he gets most of his culinary experience.
[10:56] As the epidemic struck, the restaurant business suffered greatly. Seth considers it the most challenging period in the restaurant industry in the last two to three decades. His most difficult challenge was the rise in food prices and the loss of labor, as everyone was thrown out of work.
[12:28] Despite the struggles, Seth shifted his business focus and found a way to maintain his restaurant. They would handle deliveries, catering, and events. Additionally, they did an outside dining area and doubled their seating capacity.
Race Cars
[18:20] Seth entered the race car industry because of the invitation of his friend. After planning and laying the groundwork, they worked it out until his friend was finally racing. Seth’s main role is to provide drivers with a special diet.
[24:24] One of Seth’s favorites is racing, and he truly enjoys it. He works with the race team, building and buying race cars. They will be running full-time in the car tour with Dylan this year.
Passion
[31:18] There is no such thing as a simple business or investment for Seth. Since putting money into anything expects a return. And you’re not happy if you don’t get your return. Thus, whether he earned a return or not, it was an investment he was delighted to make.
[32:12] Seth takes passion in everything he does. From gluten-free foods to the beers they brewed, and that’s why everyone says they’re the best.
The Future
[35:27] Seth’s racing team has a three-year plan and will continue to grow. They are hoping for the team to win and also get the owner points championship.
[40:12] There are many things that Seth needs to handle. He is into the driver development program and the car racing development program. Furthermore, the plan for his brewery expansion is going on as they need support to keep up with the sales.
More Good Than Bad
[43:42] The bad will always be there; how you deal with it makes the difference.
Art of Tourism
[1:18] Thomas’s career revolves around hospitality, tourism, and customer service. As he learned to develop those skills, it led him to shine in the tourism role and make a difference for his community.
Journey to Career
[3:53] Thomas’ character is the deciding factor for pursuing his tourism career. Once he realizes who he is, it becomes his reason why he was able to make a difference in the tourism world.
The Evolution
[12:27] The best way to describe it is like a buzz. People come slowly, and ultimately, it becomes a whole collaborative work. Individual and town-specific projects aim to increase economic development and the community's health.
Outdoor Economy
[17:08] The outdoor economy comprises amenities such as biking, hiking, trailing, driving, racing, outdoor concert, state parks, and festivals.
Community People
[20:19] Wilkesboro's appeal stems from its people's inventiveness, creativity, perseverance, and will to succeed—to establish a decent quality of life, no matter what life throws at them.
[26:10] A business partnership is vital for the community since it gets people comfortable with taking risks. And that’s what Wilkesboro needs to grow, for its people to step out and build more projects.
Connections
[28:53] Thomas considers himself the facilitator, the one who knows every people around, and you can ask if there are things you need to know. This skill helped him so he could connect with different people so that they could collaborate and build a project.
Transformative
[34:37] It is transformative for Thomas to work for the community. Seeing the smiles on the people's faces is enough for him to continue working and help the community's growth.
[39:32] All the people know that they are all one unit. One town and community, so maintaining an inward focus and helping each other is necessary if the community wants to see bigger things happen.
Bigger Picture
[42:09] They will create a more extensive scale for what they do well. Also, Thomas plans to have data and research to accomplish the county's bigger picture.
[46:00] Slowly, Wilkesboro is starting to move forward toward the goal. More people are getting involved to ensure that the entire community moves together.
Progression in North Carolina
[0:50]
Jeffery dealt with how to reform taxes in North Carolina to give back to people while also creating positive growth in businesses that progress in the upcoming years.
[2:00]
With a tax reduction in North Carolina's personal income tax from 4.99 to 4.75, Jeffrey explained that as consumers have more money to spend on various activities and necessities, there is still such massive growth in the economy from sales tax revenue. Reducing personal income tax also helps attract retirees to base in North Carolina.
[3:46]
Jeffrey was concerned when they first did tax reforms, but he had faith, so the growth in North Carolina was positive.
North Carolina Zoo Expansion
[5:53]
Jeffrey talks about the fund for one of the most remarkable things in their state, the Asian exhibit of the North Carolina Zoo. Jeffrey takes great pride in their natural habitat zoo, similar to a safari, where a particular animal lives.
[8:52]
The North Carolina Zoo was made to be a reflection of all environments around the world. Especially for education, Jeffrey thinks that people and children can learn better when they can see and feel what the different parts of the world represent.
Economic Growth
[10:26]
North Carolina was named The State of The Year by Business Facilities for the placement of new companies such as Amazon, Toyota, and many more. It benefits ancillary businesses that are tied to supplying the auto manufacturer.
[13:31]
Jeffery talks about creating a monetary fund to attract events like e-sports to do their event in North Carolina and draw thousands of people into their state.
[15:20]
Creating economic diversity is good to help in situations, such as economic downturns, that affect a specific sector of business as the state's economy is still working.
[21:43]
Jeffery is ecstatic to talk about new ideas and receive updates from different parts of the state while offering new opportunities and companies in town.
North Carolina's Great Outdoors
[22:24]
2023 has been designated as the year of Trail in North Carolina. Jeffery and the local, county, and state governments are working on expanding the hiking and trail systems all over the state.
[25:26]
With Jeffrey serving in public office, his work tends to be stressful most of the time. When Jeffrey needs a breather, the great outdoors serves as his breather from all the stress of his career.
[29:53]
With more people visiting North Carolina's state parks, the budget for outdoor recreation has reached 28 billion USD, used for various park activities such as hiking, camping, water sports, and many more.
Apprenticeship Program
[32:33]
With businesses needing a specific skill set related to their line of work, Jeffrey finds their apprenticeship program beneficial for anyone changing their direction in their career or someone who companies can train to meet the required skills. A company can work with the Community College to bring apprentices in.
[34:40]
With the apprenticeship program, when generally people with degrees have a higher chance of being employed, this stigma is avoided. People trained and learning the specific skill set will get hired.
Organizations
[40:17]
Jeffery thinks organizations are nimble education entities as they can make many changes faster than Colleges and Universities, which is a positive change for economic growth. He admires their foundations as they do great things, bring different kinds of people together, and give them exciting places to work to stimulate their minds.
[44:13]
Jeffrey is concerned about inflation and its impact on their state employees and teachers. With a 50,000 average salary and losing about 25% of that amount, the result needs to be higher to maintain a lifestyle where they can live and afford necessities.
NASCAR Race
[54:31]
Jeffrey is excited about the upcoming car race in North Carolina for the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, and renovations at North Wilkesboro Speedway are underway. NASCAR would be the equivalent of the NBA All-Star and NFL Playoffs.
[1:02:35]
Competing against South Korea, Jeffrey and the board have been working for World University Games to be held in North Carolina and eventually secured the spot for 2029, bringing people from all over the world.
Go to lifeinthecarolinas.com to learn more about the development of Life in the Carolinas.
Larry’s Birth
[1:00]
Larry says that he is a mountain boy. He was born on the 16th of March 1935 in Wilkes County in a small community called Oak Woods, a short drive away from Wilkesboro. He was told many years later that he was anticipated to be born. The evening he was born was a Saturday, and everyone was waiting for the Grand Ole Opry to come on.
Early Life
[3:20]
He graduated from high school around the time of the Korean War. He chose to join the Air Force and was in it from 1953 through 1957. He did his training in the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Larry eventually talks about all his experiences during his time with the Air Force.
God’s Purpose
[11:52]
Larry almost drowned three times in his whole life. He always felt God had a purpose for him. He is surprised that he is still living today due to his experiences. He says that his upbringing is what made him the man he eventually became now.
Curiosity
[13:30]
Larry shares another experience during the time he was with the Air Force. His curiosity almost led him to get incarcerated, and he had to sign a document that stated that he never saw what he saw. He says that one of the greatest inventions of the US Air Force is surveillance.
History
[19:02]
He’s always told his children and grandchildren that you often experience history in the making, become a part of history, or make history yourself. He states that he was a witness and that very few people have become part of history. He made history for the family. Larry says one of his many traits was being too curious and pushing the limits.
The Answer
[20:18]
Larry was often told that curiosity is the answer to questions. It might be hazardous to your well-being and one of his little faults in life, but it has also revealed a great revelation to him through the years. And through all of that, God gave him longevity.
Memory of a Certain Racetrack
[21:41]
Carl asks Larry about his first memory of the North Wilkesboro Motor Speedway. Larry responds by recalling a memory from 1945. He says that it was a unique experience because he’s always loved old Ford cars.
Larry’s Family
[36:17]
Larry talks about his children and grandchildren. His oldest grandson is a major marine aviator. His son is a part of the Air Force as well. His other grandson is a police officer. One of his sons is a nuclear engineer, and another other is a lawyer. The youngest is back in Nashville.
Life in the Carolina’s Website - lifeinthecarolinas.com
www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com
Musical Family
[3:31]
Rick produced his first album at the age of 19. His mother was a trained pianist and played at the church. He started playing music when he was in fourth grade because his mother bought a guitar for his sister, but she never played it, but he would sneak around and play it by himself.
Creativity
[10:46]
Rick learned to keep everybody engaged at all times. He thinks of how he can show off at certain parts. But he thinks the most critical is learning to take all that creativity and put it at the right time. Like in business creatives and the “business” side, it must be balanced. As you get older, you realize that you will have this time when you take all the boundaries off and create while working with the budget.
Good Management
[16:20]
In Rick’s opinion, the key to leadership is not knowing everything per se but knowing people who do know everything and putting them in the right place. We may not have all the people we want, and we may have to continue looking. It’s a never-ending journey that is always developing, organic, and wonderful. That is the beauty of life. Identifying connections and knowing how you can work together to make something.
Gifts
[18:07]
For those who have gifts, Rick thinks the goal is to take it and nurture it and learn how to do better and stronger. What Rick did was work hard and get that gift to grow. That’s the easy part, and the hardest part is developing the character to manage the gifting that you’ve been given.
Wilkes County Line
[34:06]
The most important thing for Rick was the scenery. He is a big nature fan. Everywhere he went, all the things and niches in the county were just amazing to him as an outsider and caught his attention. He thought about how to tell people about the beauty of those areas and suck them into the story.
Business Side
[45:54]
The creative side is the easiest side for Rick. The business side is paying for college, and it’s the reality. He wants to put the business side first. How he does it by creating a product that people want to see and pay for. Thinking of how to satisfy our investors and the company. The first thing they do is put things together and look at what the state has and its taxes. Depending on the state and the percentages, it’s possible to get rebates as incentive and treat that as income.
Visit: www.Lifeinthecarolinas.com
www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com
The team at the Marathon Jam lives by their motto, Curatus Per Musica (“Healing Through Music”)—uniting a diverse group of people with the common goal of raising money and performing outreach to improve the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for us.
They do this through an annual fundraiser featuring musicians and artists of all ages and styles to play music and create art for twelve hours. These musicians generate donations by securing sponsors for each hour they participate in the jam. In 2015, The Marathon Jam started Outreach Programs to help those who cannot come to the Jams by sending artists and musicians to VA and other treatment centers to rehabilitate our Veterans and First Responders.
Since 2009, the Marathon Jam’s annual fundraiser recipients have been North Carolina’s Fort Bragg Fisher House and Camp Lejeune Fisher House, with over $500,000 raised for the latter.
In today’s conversation, John and Charles draw inspiring parallels between medicine and music, passionately speaking on his life-altering decision to shift career paths while continuing to carry out his mission to provide healing to as many people as he can touch. In fact, they perfectly illustrate this by briefly talking about their fascinating realization that the use of certain types of music actually facilitates healing and recovery in the operating room.
“Music is curative,” says Charles. “It was time for me to go from one mode to the other and still be able to provide that for people.” He adds: “When I first made this move, I called it ‘retirement.’ But it really isn’t. It’s ‘career change.’”
After telling some of their favorite stories of healing and hope through the initiative of Marathon Jam, John and Charles speak on how they see the organization's future. What started as a grassroots movement over 12 years ago is gaining steam throughout the state.
“Music is a way to communicate with human vulnerability. We’re not stopping. The need is there.”
Learn more about the Marathon Jam at www.marathonjam.org
Lifeinthecarolinas.com
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