Gatsby Gala

The Museum of the Waxhaws has added another fundraising event to its social calendar -- the Gatsby Gala in Monroe.

The details:

Saturday, June 2, 2012
7:00pm until 10:00pm


THE HENRY HALL WILSON HOUSE, 1301 E. FRANKLIN ST. MONROE NC
   
1920's Themed Casino Night with Dancing and Live Music by Walter Phillips and Jan Ringeling. Heavy Hors D'oeuvres and Cash Bar with Raffle Prizes and Casino Games in An Authentic Upscale 1920's-Era Venue.

$75 per person
Access our online ticket sales via our website
www.museumofthewaxhaws.org
or call the museum at 704.843.1832
Wear your best "Roaring 20's" party attire!

At $75/person and $150/couple, a little rich for my blood, but since as far as I know, I have no Roaring 20's attire, it might be for the best.

But for those of you with extensive wardrobes and looking for something to do...
 

Saturday evening bingo fundraiser at Cureton

There's a bingo fundraiser for the Perez family Saturday evening at the Cureton Clubhouse in Waxhaw. In January 2012, Robert Perez was diagnosed with an inoperable Stage 4 Glioblastoma (brain cancer) and will soon lose his health insurance.

I cannot attend due to a previously scheduled engagements, but at $10 per 3 cards, I should be looking for someone to play three cards for me. In fact, all of Waxhaw should be playing three cards given that price and the cause.

For more info or to donate, his friends have set up a web page.

DrumStrong

I noticed on my way home from work that they're setting up for DrumStrong again. I'm not real familiar with this event, but it seems to draw a lot of people each year and they support various cancer initiatives.

I'm not sure if this falls within the jurisdiction of Waxhaw or not, but either way it's close enough.

It's not too late to register for those looking to participate. See their page for all the details.

For those that have attended in the past, what are the odds that Paper Jamz drums will be used in the 30-hour non-stop drum circle? Just wondering.

Spring Fest over

Another festival has come and gone. I didn't make it until Sunday, so our day was rain-shortened. The kids got to do most everything they came to do, my wife got to make her rounds through the artists and vendors, and I got my sno cone.

Is it just me or does it seem to rain every Sunday on Waxhaw festival weekends?

First Friday

Tonight's First Friday of course. See the flyer below.

And that's all I have time for. Have fun if you head out!

Christmas Show & Fundraiser tonight

The Waxhaw Arts Council is having a Christmas Show and fundraiser tonight to raise money to be used throughout the course of the year.


Visit the Facebook page of the event to get all the details if you're planning on attending. Per Donna Frasca:

This is open to the public. This function is part of Waxhaw’s celebration of the arts – First Friday Art Crawl and celebration of the revision and fast growing Waxhaw Arts Council with a Christmas Sale, Party & Raffle.

A percentage of any sales to the artists and the profit from the raffle will go to help the Waxhaw Arts Council raise money to have future functions free to the public in Waxhaw, including educational programs to school children & public in the Waxhaw/Marvin/Wesley Chapel area.

There will be over twenty-five painters, photographers, potters, sculptors, printers, musicians, etc. participating in this show. Also, you will get a chance to see the new “Bean & Belle” art studio first hand. Jennifer Host Williams teaches classes to children and hosts “art parties” for different functions.

You may email any questions on Facebook ---Waxhaw Arts Council or call Lambeth Marshall, 704-843-5060.

I just wonder where the Waxhaw Arts Council was when I was working on my campaign sign garden. Maybe their input could have turned an ordinary campaign sign garden into an extraordinary one.

In other Waxhaw Arts Council news, John Anderson had an article in the Charlotte Observer about the Waxhaw Arts Council, including detailing the new leadership.

The new leadership for 2012 includes:

President: Scott Bland.

Vice Pres: Carolyn Carroll.

Secretary: Lambeth Marshall, with Lori Sanderson and Linda Dyer as backups.

Treasurer: Lambeth Marshall, with Missy Rose as backup.

In addition, committees were reaffirmed and the leadership established as follows: Social Media and Design, Donna Frasca (chairman), Gina Karpathakis, Verna Witt; Event Coordinators, Carolyn Carroll (chairman), Lori Sanderson (co-chair), Ann Tanzy, Linda Dyer, Verna Witt, Lambeth Marshall; Business Advisers, Consultations with Cathy Murphy, Barbara Faulk (Union County Arts Council), Daune Gardner (Waxhaw mayor) and Melissa Brana (CPCC Marketing); Advertising: Donna Frasca.

Read the whole thing.

Veteran's Day Ceremony

I should probably mention that Waxhaw is having a Veteran's Day Ceremony that kicks off in a little less than an hour.

From the town website:

You are invited to the 2011 Veteran’s Day Ceremony in historic downtown Waxhaw. The program is slated for Friday, 11-11-11 beginning at 12 noon and will be followed by a light luncheon. It will take place in front of the Waxhaw Military Wall of Honor located in the East North Main Street block in historic downtown. The program will be emceed by Commissioner Joyce Blythe and will include: the changing of flags by The UC EMS Color Guard and singing of The National Anthem by Caren Bigelow Morgan. Members of American Legion Post #208 will lead the program including Commander James Grainger.

Check it out if you're around town today.

Forever Grateful tomorrow

Thanks to all those who served or are currently serving our country!

I mentioned this once before, but I just wanted to remind you about the Forever Grateful tribute put together by Scott Farb and Ken Corn that is taking place all day on Saturday. It's a free event with souvenir bags for the kids.

A description:

This FREE day-long event will feature uniforms from every war the American Soldier has taken part in, from the French and Indian War to modern day. Reenactors in uniforms from different periods will enhance your visit to the exhibit. Photographs, helmets, equipment, weapons and war trophies will also be on display. Children who attend will receive a free souvenir package to take home from the event. The exhibit will also feature streaming video shot by local resident Ken Corn, who served as an embedded photojournalist in Iraq.

For more information, please contact event organizers Scott Farb or Ken Corn via Facebook message, or via email, at MarchingThruTime@gmail.com - this is a FREE event, and we certainly hope to see you there!

Plus he added this later:

This event is shaping up to be something big - it will be a memorable day. Come out and see military displays, the likes of which the town has never seen before. We are adding a special display on Medal of Honor recipients, and the US Army Nurse Corps. We hope to see you here!

We'll have to make our way there at some point, although the we've got family in town and a birthday party.

First Friday

Just a friendly reminder that First Friday is tomorrow.

Here's the flyer:

Ghost walk follow-up

I wasn't sure if we'd make it or not, but the kids voted at the eleventh hour to go on the Waxhaw ghost walk. We met up with the others outside Waxhaw UMC. I have no training in estimating crowds, but I suppose there were about 100 people give or take a few. Most everyone in attendance were adults or teens, but there were a smattering of younger kids throughout the crowd.

Cecilia Neal led us on the ghost walk where she passed along tales of death and true crimes that are still apparently leaving their mark on Waxhaw today. She started out with a story from a house that once stood at the Waxhaw Farmer's Market regarding a father who just couldn't take his four kids anymore and hung himself out the window. (By the way, these are just my recollections so some of the details may be off. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

Upon hearing this, my wife and I exchanged glances as we weren't sure our kids (youngest in kindergarten) needed to be hearing about stuff like this. But thankfully it didn't appear they were listening real closely and the stories didn't seem quite so bad for the most part.

My youngest was cold and tired, so he only lasted about 25 minutes and spent the rest of the time waiting in a warm car with my wife. My oldest and I lasted one hour before heading home.
My goal next year is to hear the entire thing.

But it was definitely interesting to hear about the apparitions floating around Waxhaw. We heard stories of them from Stewart's Village Gallery, the old surf shop, and a slew of tales from the stretch of businesses starting with the used book store.

Donna took some photos during the ghost tour and posted them here. I personally haven't examined them closely, but it wouldn't surprise me if a specter popped up in one later upon closer examination.

By the way, the Union County Weekly had an article on the walk before Friday. It contained a handful of interesting tidbits on Waxhaw, including this one:

Many may be surprised to learn, according to Neal, that one of our nation’s last witch-hunts occurred in Waxhaw. In the 1700s, the townspeople accused Nancy Craighead of witchcraft after her preacher husband died. To arrive at a verdict, those in charge dug up his body and forced his wife to touch his skull. A finger bleed would be proof of her true witch identity. Lucky for Craighead, her finger never bled, and town leaders dropped the charges.

WAA Monster Bash @ Kensington tomorrow

The Waxhaw Athletic Association is having a Monster Bash for youngsters this Saturday at Kensington Elementary. I had planned to take the kids there, but it appears the family schedule is already booked for these hours.

If you're looking to drop the kids off and get some dinner with your sweetheart, it sounds like a win-win for everybody involved.

Chili Cookoff @ Parkwood Middle

Just a note that there's a Chili Cookoff & Fall Festival at Parkwood Middle School this Saturday October 22nd from 11a-4p.

If you're looking for something to do next, it's only $5 to taste the chili. $10 to enter the cookoff and taste.

BBQ results

The results of Waxhaw's Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff are available at the town website here. Unfortunately, it's a mish-mash of downloadable PDF and Excel files. Not very convenient for looking at the results.

So here they are in all their slightly-more-convenient glory:

Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
Kansas City BBQ Society PRO Results

Place Overall
1 Uncle Mac's BBQ Crue, Charlotte, NC
2 Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC
3 Serial Griller, Yorktown, VA
4 Up in Smoke, Rock Hill, SC
5 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC
6 Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC
7 Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC
8 Bad Mother Smoker, Concord, NC
9 Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC
10 Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC
11 Butt's R Us, Waxhaw, NC
12 Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC
13 Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC
14 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC
15 Jo's Jo's Backyard BBQ, Monroe, NC
16 Just Good, Inc., Monroe, NC


Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
Kansas City BBQ Society PRO Results Chicken

Place Chicken
1 Uncle Mac's BBQ Crue, Charlotte, NC
2 Bad Mother Smoker, Concord, NC
3 Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC
4 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC
5 Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC
6 Up in Smoke, Rock Hill, SC
7 Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC
8 Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC
9 Butt's R Us, Waxhaw, NC
10 Serial Griller, Yorktown, VA
11 Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC
12 Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC
13 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC
14 Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC
15 Jo's Jo's Backyard BBQ, Monroe, NC
16 Just Good, Inc., Monroe, NC


Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
Kansas City BBQ Society PRO Results Pork Ribs

Place Pork Ribs
1 Up in Smoke, Rock Hill, SC
2 Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC
3 Uncle Mac's BBQ Crue, Charlotte, NC
4 Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC
5 Serial Griller, Yorktown, VA
6 Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC
7 Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC
8 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC
9 Butt's R Us, Waxhaw, NC
10 Bad Mother Smoker, Concord, NC
11 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC
12 Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC
13 Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC
14 Jo's Jo's Backyard BBQ, Monroe, NC
15 Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC
16 Just Good, Inc., Monroe, NC


Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
Kansas City BBQ Society PRO Results Pork

Place Pork
1 Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC
2 Uncle Mac's BBQ Crue, Charlotte, NC
3 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC
4 Serial Griller, Yorktown, VA
5 Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC
6 Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC
7 Bad Mother Smoker, Concord, NC
8 Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC
9 Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC
10 Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC
11 Up in Smoke, Rock Hill, SC
12 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC
13 Just Good, Inc., Monroe, NC
14 Butt's R Us, Waxhaw, NC
15 Jo's Jo's Backyard BBQ, Monroe, NC
16 Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC


Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
Kansas City BBQ Society PRO Results Overall Brisket

Place Brisket
1 Serial Griller, Yorktown, VA
2 Uncle Mac's BBQ Crue, Charlotte, NC
3 Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC
4 Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC
5 Up in Smoke, Rock Hill, SC
6 Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC
7 Bad Mother Smoker, Concord, NC
8 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC
9 Butt's R Us, Waxhaw, NC
10 Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC
11 Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC
12 Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC
13 Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC
14 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC
15 Just Good, Inc., Monroe, NC
16 Jo's Jo's Backyard BBQ, Monroe, NC


Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
People's Choice Award

Place Butts Team #
1 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC 9
2 Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC 15
3 Backwoods BBQ, Waxhaw, NC 1
4 The Sizzlin' Pigs, Monroe, NC 6
5 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC 7
6 Butt's R Us, Waxhaw, NC 8
7 King B BBQ, Charlotte, NC 4
8 Butt Burners BBQ, Waxhaw, NC 3
Billy Bob Beamer BBQ, Waxhaw, NC 2
Meat and Heat, Waxhaw, NC 5
Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC 10
Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC 11
Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC 12
Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC 13
Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC 14
Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC 16
Up in Smoke, Rock Hill, SC 17


Place Ribs Team #
1 Carolinas BBQ Co., Hildebran, NC 9
2 Butt Burners BBQ, Waxhaw, NC 3
3 Uncle Mac's BBQ Crue, Charlotte, NC 8
4* The Sizzlin' Pigs, Monroe, NC 6
4* 521 BBQ, Indian Land, SC 7
4* Chubby's BBQ, Monroe, NC 10
4* Red, White and Que, Waxhaw, NC 13
Backwoods BBQ, Waxhaw, NC 1
Billy Bob Beamer BBQ, Waxhaw, NC 2
King B BBQ, Charlotte, NC 4
Meat and Heat, Waxhaw, NC 5
Kick'n & Grill'n, Waxhaw, NC 11
Palmetto Smokehouse, Greenwood, SC 12
Rock Store BBQ, Indian Trail, NC 14
Smokin' Good, Fort Mill, SC 15
Texas Outback Cookers, Monroe, NC 16

*Four way tie for 4th place



Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cookoff
October 8-9, 2011
Kansas City BBQ Society Backyard Results

Place Overall
1 The Sizzlin' Pigs, Monroe, NC
2 Butt Burners BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
3 Meat and Heat, Waxhaw, NC
4 Backwoods BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
5 King B BBQ, Charlotte, NC
6 Billy Bob Beamer BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
7 Somerset Smokers, Waxhaw, NC

Place Pork Ribs
1 The Sizzlin' Pigs, Monroe, NC
2 King B BBQ, Charlotte, NC
3 Butt Burners BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
4 Meat and Heat, Waxhaw, NC
5 Backwoods BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
6 Billy Bob Beamer BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
7 Somerset Smokers, Waxhaw, NC

Place Pork
1 Somerset Smokers, Waxhaw, NC
2 Backwoods BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
3 Butt Burners BBQ, Waxhaw, NC
4 Meat and Heat, Waxhaw, NC
5 The Sizzlin Pigs, Monroe, NC
6 King B BBQ, Charlotte, NC
7 Billy Bob Beamer BBQ, Waxhaw, NC

I wish I could've been there.

Don't forget the historic walk!

Just another reminder that Joyce Blythe and Melvin Faris are doing a historic walk this Saturday. She has a letter to the editor in the latest issue of the Union County Weekly to remind everyone.

Her description:

Waxhaw native Melvin Faris will be joining me again. He is a walking wealth of information when it comes to reminiscing about his boyhood days in Waxhaw. He will tell you about going to the “moving picture show” and the day he played hooky from school because he heard the town depot was being moved. A momentous occasion that he wasn’t about to miss.

We will share some early turn of the century history of Waxhaw springing to life after the railroad came through, and the town was incorporated. We’ll even go back a bit further and tell you a little something about the Waxhaw Indians and young Andy Jackson.

Now, we don’t claim to know all there is to know about Waxhaw’s history, but we’ll share some of the things we do know.

Read the whole thing for all the details.

The big question is what exactly does Joyce Blythe have against WAA families? Other than the historic walk she kindly did for some local Cub Scouts, it seems like every other walk has been scheduled during baseball season. And we've always got a game.

How can one become well-versed in local history if you cannot attend these walks?

How was the festival weekend?

We were out of town last weekend so we missed Autumn Treasures, the associated BBQ cookoff, and whatever other numerous events were going on.

I hope everyone had as good a time in Waxhaw as we had at the beach. We stayed at a place called Dunes Village which featured an indoor water park, besides the beach that was a stone's throw away. The kids absolutely loved it.

In fact, my youngest told me this evening he liked Myrtle Beach better than Waxhaw. Waxhaw's going to have to work pretty hard to win him back.

Yet another WAA volunteer update

Rick Giarla sent out another update to WAA members. Here it is:

I promise, this will be my last plea for help. We were just made aware (today) that because of the large turnout that the Town of Waxhaw is expecting for this weekends Autumn Treasures event, they are asking for 24 more volunteers to serve as "block captains" on Saturday to answer questions and give directions to the various venus offered to the public. If you've had a change of plans for the weekend and find that you can give a few hours of your time on Saturday, please go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/autumn14 and choose one of the available time slots. WAA stands to gain $7,000.00-$8,000.00 from our willingness to volunteer this weekend and I personally will be forever grateful. Thanks so much!

Nice of the town to drop this on the WAA at hte eleventh hour.

Adding the 24 new volunteers needed to the slots still unfilled, the WAA now needs 58 volunteers. So if you've got the wherewithal to volunteer, there's basically one more day left to give Rick and the WAA a hand. Please sign up if you can.

This will probably be my last plea for help as well.

In other Rick-related charity news, you can contribute to his South Providence school fundraiser here. Not many have contributed thus far and $30000 is quite a goal nowadays. Hopefully some local businesses can contribute to help him get closer to his goal.

First Friday

With the Autumn Treasures festival going on this weekend, it might be easy to forget that First Friday is upon us again.

Most of you are probably thinking 'Ho hum, another First Friday.' But no, a couple differences that stand out:

* Main Street Grill is offering a full menu this time around.

* Maxwell's Tavern is having a Pint Night, offering free glasses with purchases of their seasonal brew Mecktoberfest.

Good times.

Chip in for South Providence

I mentioned Rick Giarla's rooftop adventure atop of Stack's Kitchen. (Is that my best headline yet? I was pretty happy with it for what it's worth.)

He's looking to raise $30000 for South Providence school in Waxhaw near the library.

For those looking to contribute to the cause, a site has been set up to make it awful convenient to support the cause. Visit and contribute what you can.

By the way, the WAA still needs volunteers this weekend. Sign up and lend a hand (and score some BBQ at the same time.)

Update on WAA volunteers

Rick Giarla sent out another email to WAA parents requesting volunteers for the BBQ cook-off this weekend at the Autumn Treasures festival, previously mentioned here.

I'd estimate 20 volunteers signed up today, but by my count, 47 more are still needed.

Twenty out of forty tasting servers are still needed for 12.30p-3.00p on Sunday.

Twenty-one out of forty servers/clean up persons are needed for the 3.00p-5.30p shift on Sunday as well.

So if you can spare a small shift, either in one of the aforementioned shifts or the other slots where someone is needed, please sign up.

UPDATE 10/5: It's just updates on top of updates here at the Broome Street Blues. As of 12.42p, only 39 volunteers needed with a couple more days left to fill the slots. Keep 'em coming!

Hicks in stix support Rick on Stacks?

I mentioned the help the WAA and Rick Giarla could use for the BBQ cook-off at Autumn Treasures. I also briefly touch upon Rick's latest feat for the community, but wanted to expand upon it with further details. From the WAA's Facebook page:

Beginning Friday, October 14th, South Providence will be hosting its largest fundraiser to date, thanks to the innovation and dedication of Waxhaw’s own, Rick Giarla. Rick became aware of the needs of South Providence through a conversation with Gale Smith, a custodian at the school. Gale has known Rick and his enthusiastic community involvement through Waxhaw Athletic Association, of which Rick is president. Gale approached Rick at the beginning of the school year in hopes he could somehow help the school acquire some technological needs such as Smartboards. Being a supporter of the community and students alike, Rick was up for the challenge.

Rick has served as PTO president of Waxhaw elementary as well as Parkwood middle, but he saw this as an opportunity to help a school that serves students across Union County. “I can make a difference and help South Providence get the same technology that the more affluent schools receive.” Rick met with Barry Ross, principal of South Providence for coffee in Waxhaw where they discussed the needs of the school and how Rick could help. The idea of “Sitting for South Providence” was born!

Rick fashioned the concept of people around the county, sponsoring him with donations as he spent the weekend atop a local Waxhaw establishment. He spoke with the owner of Stacks restaurant on Providence Road and the two agreed that the restaurant was the perfect location. George, the owner, even offered to feed Rick for the duration of his stay on the roof. The only task left to do was to get the word out and attract supporters for the cause. “The key to success here is getting all Union County schools behind it” Rick stated. He has a goal in mind of raising $30,000 for South Providence and is hoping that the community backs up his effort.

Rick will start his crusade at 8am Friday, October 14th and hopes to make it through the weekend, coming down from the roof at 8am Monday, October 17th. Staff members from South Providence will be rotating in shifts in from of Stacks throughout the weekend, collecting donations and showing their support for the cause. We are hoping for a great turn out and would love to see you there, supporting some of the best students from around the county. “These kids are just like any other kid, they deserve the same benefits.”

As if you needed another reason to support Rick efforts for the South Providence school or the for the WAA at the BBQ cook-off, I'll provide you with a brief personal take, a story I rarely share. My oldest had just signed up for tee ball in the WAA a few years ago, attending a handful of practices if memory serves. Complaining of headaches, he had an MRI that discovered a golf-ball sized tumor in his brain. He was immediately admitted to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor.

Post surgery, a stranger showed up with balloons (a baseball balloon was tucked in there as well) and it was Rick. Word must've filtered from our coach to Rick and he'd driven all the way from Waxhaw to Levine's Children's Hospital to deliver some balloons and wish our son, who he had never met, well. It made quite the impression on my wife and I.

I strongly suspect there's similar stories about Rick not yet told and my suspicion is that Rick likes it that way. I also suspect he wouldn't mind some support in his local fundraisers, such as this one or the BBQ cook-off supporting the WAA.

If Rick is supporting a cause, it's likely a cause worth supporting.