south charlotte living magazine june 2011

Jetton & Meredith P.L.L.C.Working on Results

Living the Good Life JUNE 2011

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Also inside: South Charlotte Middle School Students Go Global!& Kalen’s Sweet Miracles!

LIVINGSouth CharlotteSouth Charlotte

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You have found the Charlotte law firm to fight for you in court. At Jetton and Meredith, PLLC, we are committed to providing our clients with sound legal advice and excellent representation every time. We will stand for you in the most difficult of times and work to get the results you need.

• Divorce • Family Law • Criminal Defense • DWI • Traffic Citations • Car Accidents • Wills •

Jetton & Meredith Law, PLLC216 N. McDowell Street, Suite 110 | Charlotte, N.C. 28235

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at Jetton & Meredith, we stand for...• Personal Attention• Reasonable Fees• Practical Information• The Highest Level of Ethics

Serving Mecklenburg County and the Greater Charlotte Metro Area

“In the end Mark not only had my charges dismissed but he saved me plenty of money in the process! He does his job very well. I am only grate-ful for Mark and everything he has done for me! Mark has proven to be the best attorney for me, and he may be the best attorney for you too!!” - Crystal

“After my initial meeting with Eric, I felt relieved. It was evident that Eric possessed a thorough understanding of the legal system, knowledge he openly shared to ensure that I understood my rights and options. I had no doubt that I wanted to work with Eric through the divorce process.” - Sarah

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

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704.994.8205

� sclivingmag.com • JUNE 2011

8 • Cover Story: Jetton and Meredith, attorneys working for results

14 • South Charlotte Community House Middle Schoolers Go Global

16 • June 25th is sweet! Kalen’s Sweet Miracles

17 • June Happenings

20 • Fresh ideas for entertaining your guests this summer

24 • Good Eats: The Fat Man Visits Sushi-Ya!

28 • Parents: Have some fun with your kids and Aquarium Jello!

29 • At your Service

contents

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� sclivingmag.com • JUNE 2011

June is here and so is the wonderful sunshine. Along with this issue come some exciting changes for the magazine! You can now follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and our blog at SCLivingMag.com. Be sure to check it all out and Like us. We are about to have some new articles each month starting in the next issue as well. One of the big ones is a local article about where to go in a day and what there is to do there. It will be great for those that would like a short vacation. So, make a day of it! You may also view the magazine online at our website as well as subscribe to the online RSS news feed. These are great features for both our sponsors and our readers. All of these features are complimentary as well. Thank you for supporting South Charlotte businesses and thank you to all of our great and many fans.

“And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days”

– James Russell Lowell

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 - Nancy Moore & 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.

June 2011

Publisher, South Charlotte Living

Living the Good life

David Simms, Jr.

Tell us what you think!

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

Photo by Lorayn Deluca.

SCL from the publisher


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� sclivingmag.com • JUNE 2011Working on ResultsBy: Nancy Moore | Photos: Lorayn DeLuca

Working on ResultsJETTON & MEREDITH

P.L.L.C.JETTON & MEREDITH

P.L.L.C.


he wanted to work in a profession that helped people

Working on Results

Hey did you hear the one about the lawyer who...?” Ah, yes, lawyer jokes. Everyone

knows at least one lawyer joke. Even lawyers know lawyer jokes! Lawyers are stereotyped and seemingly larger than life, whether in fiction: Perry Mason and Matlock; or nonfiction: F. Lee Bailey, Johnny Cochran, and Howard Cosell (yes, Howard Cosell). People have preconceived notions about lawyers, both positive and negative. Mark S. Jetton Jr. and Eric S. Meredith are Charlotte attorneys whose goal is to change people’s negative perceptions of their profession.

Changing of the guard

If you’ve ever hired a lawyer, you know that it can be difficult to speak with him or her directly. They are either in court, with a client, or ‘unavailable.’ Waiting for the return phone call can be just as frustrating, if not more so. Mark and Eric understand the importance of keeping clients up-to-date on what is happening with their case. In doing so, they speak with clients directly as often as possible, so that questions can be answered and procedures explained. In many cases, clients have Mark’s and Eric’s cell phone numbers.

The men behind the change

Mark Jetton is a Charlotte native whose family can claim Mecklenburg County as their home since the mid-eighteenth century. Mark attended Providence Day School and received a football scholarship to Clemson. After two years of playing for the Tigers, Mark transferred

to Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Mark is still involved with competitive sports and enjoys playing flag football and softball. He also enjoys snow skiing, quail hunting, and working out at the YMCA.

While in college, Mark was a Vincent dePaul Draddy trophy semifinalist. The Draddy trophy, now known as the William V. Campbell trophy, is sponsored by the National Football Foundation and is awarded to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance.

Mark knew at an early age that he wanted to work in a profession that helped people. His competitive nature and ‘want to win’ attitude

were a perfect fit in becoming a lawyer. He continued at Elon, earning his law degree in 2009 -- the inaugural class of Elon University’s School of Law.

Surrounded by family, Mark’s mother is a nurse at Presbyterian Hospital and his father is a general contractor. His sister, Natalie, works for the Charlotte Checkers.

Eric Meredith was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina. A graduate of T. Wingate Andrews High School, he attended North Carolina State University (where he had been recruited to play golf ), and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. After graduating from NC State, Eric entered the Elon University School of Law.

At Jetton & Meredith, they understand the importance of keeping clients up-to-date on what is happening with their case. In doing so, they speak with clients directly as often as possible, so that questions can be answered and procedures explained.

“

10 sclivingmag.com • JUNE 2011

Since childhood, Eric has wanted to be an attorney. His mother managed a law firm and he tells the story of being three years old and meeting an attorney. Eric extended his arm and they shook hands. The elder attorney, who takes the credit for Eric becoming a lawyer, said that Eric was the only three-year old he’d ever known to offer to shake someone’s hand.

An only child, Eric’s parents reside in High Point. His mom manages a dental office and his dad is retired from K-Mart and the textile industry. When he’s not visiting his parents, Eric enjoys being outdoors and stays in shape with golf, basketball, and softball. If he’s not exercising outside, he’s at the YMCA.

Craziness pays off

Mark and Eric met in the second semester of their first year of law school. They were members of the same cohort – a group comprised of peers and mentors. They began studying and socializing together and realized that they

had the same ethics, methods of preparation, ideas, etc. They became great friends and took every class together.

In 2008, the year before graduating, they decided to open their own firm. They had both worked in law firms throughout high school and college, and had received offers from other firms, but they wanted to be on their own. “You’re crazy!” was the typical response from friends and family. With approximately 45,000 law students graduating every year in the United States, making your mark, especially on your own, can be a very daunting experience. Many large firms have downsized because of the economy and hanging out one’s shingle is expensive, time consuming, nerve wracking, and not always the best way to start out.

Mark and Eric weren’t intimidated by the prospect and moved forward with their plan. After researching other areas, and realizing that the legal industry was changing in their own backyard, they chose Charlotte. For almost one year prior to graduating, they visited the city every

Mark and Eric met in law school and realized they had the same ethics, methods of preparation, ideas...

JUNE 2011 • sclivingmag.com 11

weekend and met with lawyers, law clerks, and judges to build up contact base. Together they studied for the bar exam and in July 2009 passed on the first try.

Why Jetton & Meredith?

In September 2009 Mark and Eric opened the doors to their firm. Practice areas had been decided upon earlier. The team would focus on family law (divorce), personal injury, criminal defense, traffic (DWI/DUI), civil litigation, wills, and estate administration. Thanks to advance preparation, they had clients and client referrals lined up. They were in business!

The relationships Mark and Eric strive to develop with their clients are based on trust and confidence. Being available to their clients, including nights and weekends, and the way they make each client feel like he is the only one are the exceptions in law firms. Mark and Eric know the importance of their clients – without clients, they wouldn’t be in business. They fully understand this and

don’t take it for granted.

Within his first six months of practicing law, Mark settled a case for $100,000. As the saying goes, success breeds success. Mark and Eric are at the courthouse virtually every day of the week. When they are not in the courtroom, they are putting in long office hours, ensuring that each client’s needs are being met. Thanks to their hard work and dedication to their clients, the firm grew quickly, and Mark and Eric found themselves in a position to bring an associate attorney onboard.

Growing pains

Kelly Dees, a 2010 Elon School of Law graduate, joined Jetton & Meredith in February 2011. Kelly does some criminal and civil, but the majority of her practice is personal injury and workers compensation. Kelly is from Gibsonville, North Carolina, a small town between Greensboro and Burlington, and a neighbor of Elon. Kelly graduated from Eastern Guilford High School in

Mark and Eric met in law school and realized they had the same ethics, methods of preparation, ideas...


Gibsonville and attended the University of North Carolina, where she majored in journalism/mass communication and minored in political science.

Inspired to become an attorney by her grandfather, the late Julius Dees of Greensboro, Kelly fondly recalls the influence he had on her career choice. She remembers spending time with him in his office and watching how he worked. After passing the bar, her family presented her with all of his law books – some of which contain his handwritten notes in the margin.

Kelly is a great addition to the firm, sharing Mark and Eric’s philosophy of putting the client first. She explains that, during the initial consultation, they spend as much time as is needed with the client, understanding the client’s needs and anticipated outcome. They review strategies and review customary timeframes. (Unfortunately, lawyers are

often at the mercy of the court; what appears to only need a few days can actually take a couple of months.)

When she’s not at the firm, Kelly enjoys reading, playing tennis, taking her beagle, Miller, to the dog park, and spending time with her boyfriend, Ryan Valente, also an attorney. First impressions

The friendly voice you hear when you call Jetton & Meredith belongs to Tasha Beard. Tasha’s been with the firm since September of 2010. She’s married and has two daughters, McKinley and Greyson.

Community involvement

Jetton & Meredith are involved in the community on a professional level; i.e., State and County Bar Associations, as well as a personal level. Mark is a member of the Elon University Young Alumni Board, the Elon University Phoenix Club, and volunteers with the Salvation Army through the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. He is often seen at Butler High School as a guest speaker sharing stories about his profession.

Jetton & Meredith work with the philosophy of putting the client first.


Eric is a member of the Elon University School of Law Alumni Association, the Charlotte Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis International. In addition to the workload and community involvement, Mark and Eric make the time to sponsor bowling tournaments and Little League teams.

Contacting the firm

If you find yourself in need of a lawyer, don’t hesitate to call Mark, Eric, or Kelly. The office is located at 216 North McDowell Street in Charlotte – right across from the post office. The telephone number is 704-333-1114. You can also reach them via email at [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

A final word

If you are a regular reader of South Charlotte Living Magazine or Matthews Living Magazine, you may notice that I take a special interest in all of my cover subjects. With a nod to each person’s individuality, I sometimes share that individualism with you. Eric offers a fun perspective on uniqueness.

It can be difficult standing apart from the masses (or sea of suits) in the courthouse, especially when you’re the ‘new kid on the block.’ Sometime last year, Eric began wearing two-tone wingtip shoes (sometimes called spectator shoes). What began as one pair, soon turned into buying five more pairs and earning Eric the reputation as, “The attorney with the shoes.”

So, when you visit Jetton & Meredith, look down when you meet Eric. He won’t be insulted. (

Jetton & Meredith work with the philosophy of putting the client first.


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A group of Community House Middle School (CHMS) students are headed to Maryland to compete

in the 2011 World Finals for Odyssey of the Mind. The group will join from 600-800 teams from around the world.

The seven girls, along with their coaches, hope to continue their winning record and bring home a top place for their team along with lots of memories of competing with students from around the world.

The team includes Janelle Deal, Elizabeth Moyer, Colleen Carroll, Molly Warner, Sarah Martinko, Monique Porter and Disha Ratra. Janice Deal coaches the team, assisted by Jenny Moyer and Michael Deal. It’s a team of “veterans,” and one “rookie,” Carroll.

“It’s so nice to be going to the World competition,” says Moyer, an 8th grader from Pineville. “North Carolina is one of the most competitive states and we won first at Regionals and second at States … and I know we’ll be absolutely amazing at Worlds!”

“It will be so much fun,” adds Warner, an 8th grader from Pineville. “I can’t wait to see our competition – they’re coming from Poland and China and a lot of places.”

The team worked really hard to win in the earlier competitions. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-

solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Teams compete at four different levels, from elementary and middle school to high school and college.

Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. The CHMS team is one of 11 from CMS, and the only one in its group chosen to advance to the World Finals.

At the World Finals, explained Deal, the team will perform an eight-minute skit based on its interpretation of a long-term problem. The characters in the problems were from literary classics. Teams are given a rubric in advance and members choose how to script and present a skit about it, incorporating required elements in a creative way.

They must include some required elements and are allowed only a small budget to make costumes and props. Her team will perform the same skit it did for regional and state competitions, with some improvements to help boost its score and win rave reviews from the judges.

“We’ll keep tweaking the script and upgrading parts of our costumes and sets to get ready,” said Carroll.

The team will also compete in spontaneous problems or brain teasers

that must be solved by the group in just minutes. The team wins more points for more creative solutions. The problems build on verbal and mechanical skills, and some use both.

After meeting weekly for a couple of months and now three times a week, the team is ready to go.

“I’ve seen their confidence levels go up. Teamwork is a huge part and learning how to work together,” said Deal.

“We chose to ‘Be a Tour Guide,’ loosely based on the characters in Moby Dick,” said Janelle Deal, “and I’m Capt. ‘Rehab,’ with an obsession, and anger management issues.”

The skit is about Capt. Rehab who is on the run and obsessed, after being attacked by a washing machine that agitated off his leg. To retaliate, Capt. Rehab grabs the first thing he sees, an old lint roller to use as a peg leg. The rest of the skit is about his adventures, visit Ft. ‘Laundrydale,’ and then Mt. ‘Washmore’.”

Carroll is the guard, who guards the ‘Venus Lint Trap,’ while Porter plays Capt. Kirk, Retra plays Capt. Crunch and Warner is the Starbucks siren.

The skit is rife with puns – intentionally, said Moyer.

“We sat around the table and talked for four or five hours, coming up with different ideas,” said Janelle Deal.

South Charlotte Middle Schoolers Go GlobalBy Carol Gifford


“It took many work days and practices until we agreed on the script,” said Porter, a 6th grader from Charlotte. “We worked like a tag team – each of us had our own little jobs.”

Deal listened and, using her laptop, wrote down the brainstorm sessions and the girls refined the ideas until they wrote the script. Then, they started memorizing their lines. Not only does the speaking part need to be polished, but the costumes and scenery do too.

“For World Finals, we’ll be adding more stuff to our palm tree to make it look three-dimensional,” said Ratra. “We’ll add Starbucks coffee sleeves -- turned inside out, they look like bark -- and dryer sheets that look shimmery for water and leaves.”

One of the hallmarks of OM competitions is the use of creative materials for all costumes and props, said Deal; the team has only $125 to spend. The team is required to “think outside the box,” and be creative.

“These girls amaze me with the solutions they come up with,” said Deal, who has been coaching OM teams for the past 10 years. “They have to do it themselves and so

much of it is personality and learning group dynamics.”

“I learned how to use a hacksaw so I could cut a pipe,” said Moyer. “Outside assistance is a big no-no.”

Raising funds to attend the competition isn’t easy, but the girls excelled. They sponsored a “Friday the 13th” dance at CHMS, to give students some fun and time to relax before coming back to school to take their EOG tests. It included refreshments and the chance to get your photo taken in front of a ‘Happy Friday the 13th’ ladder. Depending on how ‘lucky’ you are, you could stand on the ladder or walk underneath it. The dance raised more than $1,000 to help finance the trip.

Costumes ready, lines memorized, changes in script practiced … this team is ready to score big, says Deal. They’ll soon take their place with the teams from Belgium, Canada, Singapore, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong at the University of Maryland campus.

“I’m just so proud of them,” said Deal, as she tears up. “I know this is a trip of a lifetime and I hope this is something they always remember.”

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June 25 is Sweet Three-Peat for Kalen’s Sweet MiraclesBy Carol Gifford

kalensweetmiracles.org

A birthday celebration to raise money to help those battling childhood cancer makes a

sweet three-peat appearance this month in Matthews and the public is invited.

Kalen’s Sweet Miracles 3rd Annual Birthday Fundraiser takes place from 12-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, at the Providence Hills Community Club-house, Providence Hills and Savannah Hills Rds., Matthews. The family event includes a silent auction, raffle items, a bake sale with specially-decorated cakes, homemade barbecue and hot dog plates, and live entertainment with DJ Row-shay.

“The fundraiser for Kalen’s Sweet Miracles is a wonderful event that my family and I look forward to each year,” said Hope Summerhill. “So many neigh-bors and people from the Matthews area come out to support the event that the atmosphere is celebratory and upbeat, almost like a family reunion.

“The food is delicious, the desserts are heavenly, and the services and products that are donated from local businesses for the silent auction are fun, creative, and useful things that we enjoy bidding on.”

The event is an annual fundraiser for an organization of the same name, Kalen’s Sweet Miracles, a 501(c)3 organization established in memory of Kalen Friz-zell, a 14-year-old Matthews girl, who died of cancer three years ago. Her par-ents, Kimberly and John Frizzell, named the organization after an old-fashioned sweet shop that Kalen had dreamed of opening.

“Kalen loved making sweets for oth-ers,” says Kimberly Frizzell. “When she was undergoing treatment, she couldn’t go to school. She would stay home and

watch her favorite chefs on the Food Network and experiment with baking.

“We would come home to choco-late dipped strawberries and red velvet cakes,” says Frizzell. “Kalen was a self-taught pastry maker and she planned to attend Johnson & Wales University to learn to become a chef.”

At the age of 10, Kalen Frizzell had a pain in her leg. It was diagnosed as os-teosarcoma, and she started treatment of chemotherapy and had a femur bone and full knee replacement. She was in remission for a year, and then the cancer later returned and metastasized in her lungs. Twice, she had two surgeries to remove malignant nodules. The chemo-therapy damaged her bone marrow and she developed leukemia, necessitating more chemotherapy treatment and the need for a bone marrow transplant. Af-ter a successful bone marrow transplant at the Duke University Medical Center, four infections invaded her lungs, and she died, just a month short of her 15th birthday.

Frizzell organized the non-profit and decided to host fundraisers to help her deal with her grief – and honor the memory of her beloved daughter. Each year, she said, the Kalen’s Sweet Miracle’s birthday celebration is bittersweet.

“This year marks another year of mile-stones that we can’t share with her,” said Frizzell. “This year should have been her senior prom, her 18th birthday and she was supposed to graduate with the Butler High class of 2011. We are ap-proaching this as a celebration of all of the things that we won’t get to share with Kalen this year.

“This is a celebration of her wonderful life and we are doing that by giving back to families who are battling this beast


JUNE2011EVENTS6/4CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS vs. ROCHESTER TWINS (Opening Day)@ Knights StadiumMore info at www.charlotteknights.com

6/4 Matthews Summer Concert & Movie Series - Movie @ Stumptown Park, check out Matthewsfun.com for more info!

6/11 SCMS - Charlotte Symphony performance @ Stumptown Park

6/12, 6/18, 6/19, 6/26, 7/3Summer Pops Series 2011:SYMPHONY @ SOUTHPARKAll concerts begin at 8:15; preludes at 7 p.m. Admission: $10 for adults; children 18 and under are free; Season pass is $25 for all five concerts! Go to www.charlottecultureguide.com for more!

6/14 Flag Day

6/18 SCMS Movie @ Stumptown Park

6/19 Fathers Day

6/25 SCMS Concert @ Stumptown Park

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

• charlottesgotalot.com

One Summer by David Baldacci

If David Baldacci is known for any series of books it would be the Camel Club. High action, government conspiracies, Baldacci is definitely a New York Times bestselling author. His new book takes a whole dif-ferent direction; One Summer is about tragedy, love, overcoming obstacles, and most of all family. Jack Canfield is told he has a terminal illness, in his last few days as he says his good-byes, Lizzie, his wife is killed in a tragic car accident. With no one to care for the children, they are split up and sent to different family members around the country. Jack goes into an unex-pected remission. In an attempt to bring his family back together, they go to Lizzie’s childhood beach home in South Carolina, where the four of them have one incredible summer.

Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Looking for a mystery with tons of outrageous charac-ters and plenty of humor? Than, Smokin’ Seventeen is the book for you. A fast-paced and hilarious book, this would be a great beach book for the summer. Stepha-nie Plum is a “not so good” New Jersey bounty hunter. She stumbles through and with the help of her friends captures the perps. In this book, Stephanie finds out she is being hunted by a serial killer, has two “perps” to catch, and her friends and family are making her finally decide between her long time off and on boyfriend, Trenton cop – Joe Morelli or bad boy security expert – Ranger. Don’t miss out on this laugh out loud mystery novel.

Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham(for young adults)

With two attorney parents, Theodore Boone knows a lot about the law. Theo’s best friend, April disappears in the middle of the night. No one has any idea of what happened. The police have no leads, so Theo has to use his legal and investigative knowledge to find April and the truth. This would be a great book for families to do on the summer road trips. The well known storytelling of John Grisham, but appropriateness for the kids.

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

Books to watch out for this June:


called cancer as hard as we did.”The event is also very special for one of

Kalen’s friends, Ashley Elliott.“When you enter the room it’s like I’m

with Kalen and all the memories of Kalen come back to me. You kind of have that feeling that Kalen’s there for you and you are there for her.”

Kalen’s Sweet Miracles has been very successful at raising funds to help sup-port other families coping with child-hood cancer.

“The first year, we raised nearly $6,000. Last year, we raised $12,000,” said Friz-zell. “Our goal this year is to raise even more.”

The silent auction and raffle helps raise a lot of the money. Previous year auc-tion items included: a Flip Mino Video, a weekend stay at the Ballyntyne Hotel, portrait packages, autographed sports memorabilia, salon packages, gardening gifts, music lessons and several themed gourmet baskets. Raffle items included an iPad and a 32 GB iPod Touch.

“One of my favorite parts of the Kalen’s Sweet Miracles Fundraiser is the Silent Auction,” said 11-year-old Ansley Nor-man. “I love looking at the cute, creative cakes that are donated and I was so ex-cited last year when I won the bid for the basket of dog treats.”

Those who attend the June 25 event will be able to bid on items such as: sum-mer camps, NFL autographed footballs signed by players from the Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, an autographed picture of Steve Smith, spa certificates, portrait packages, salon packages, gourmet cakes, restaurant gift cards, and other gift bas-kets.

One lucky person will win an iPad 2 for purchasing a $5 raffle ticket, said Frizzell.

Kalen’s Sweet Miracles was recently recognized for its commitment to giv-ing back to families of children battling cancer by the Levine Children’s Hospi-

tal. Kalen’s Sweet Miracles makes fund-ing available to the staff at the hospital’s hematology and oncology clinic to help families undergoing treatment for can-cer.

“We received a plaque,” said Frizzell, “and the most precious thing of all was a folder of letters of gratitude from families that we aided financially while their chil-dren were going through treatment.”

One family, she said, was having a hard time emotionally and financially. Their child was in treatment and their financ-es were depleted, and their refrigerator stopped working. They didn’t know what to do; they didn’t have the money to re-place it. Then they received a donation from Kalen’s Sweet Miracles that enabled them to buy a new refrigerator and have some money to spare.

Frizzell said another family at the Levine Children’s Hospital learned that they would be spending their last Christ-mas with their child, and they were in dire financial need.

“They were in danger of having their electricity turned off on a night that the temperature was to drop into the teens,” said Frizzell. “They were able to get sup-port from Kalen’s Sweet Miracles and pay their high energy bill. It gave them some small piece of mind.”

Another way the organization helps out is by supplying the hospital staff with gift cards for gas, Target, Harris Teeter, Wal-Mart, Bi-Lo and Food Lion.

“Whenever a family doesn’t have that extra money for gas to get their child to clinic, or for food or just basic necessities the gift cards are there to give as needed,” said Frizzell.

“The money that we raise from this year’s fundraiser will go directly to those needs as they have in the past. We have given over $20,000 in direct assistance to aid families,” she said.

“More than anything we want to cel-ebrate Kalen’s life and to give back in her memory.” Ph

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Donations can besent to:

Kalen’s Sweet MiraclesPO Box 1555Matthews, NC 28106-1555

Please make all checks payable to: Kalen’s Sweet Miracles

Kalen’s Sweet Miracles is a 501(c)3charitable organization.All donations are tax deductible.

www.kalensweetmiracles.org

www.kalensweetmiracles.org


With family schedules full to the brim, it can often be challenging to find quality time to spend together.

One way to create a night of fun without distractions is by planning a family game night. Parenting expert and Family Adventure Mom, Deb Geigis Berry, offers tips for sharing sweet moments of family fun during game night:

Schedule a date and time. The best time to play is after dinner. If it’s a school or work night, agree that homework and assignments will be finished so you can focus on the fun.

Build excitement with lunchbox invitations. Turn game night into a special event by making an invitation for each family member. Simply fold a piece of paper into a card and write “Are you game?” on the cover along with the date and time of your game night inside. Place the note into lunchboxes for kids to discover.

Sweeten Family Game Night. You can substitute playing pieces in games like Hasbro’s SORRY! with different Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates. Players can choose from chocolates in silver, gold, orange, purple, striped or polka-dotted foils. The iconic candy also makes the perfect treat when the game is over at the end of the night.

Pick a game that’s new to your family. It may be the next family favorite! Be sure to designate one person as “Game Captain.” That person will review the rules prior to game play and present them to each of the players at the start of the night.

Create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for fun and eliminate distractions.

Why not play in your pajamas? Feeling comfortable boosts the enjoyment factor. Also be sure to turn off cell phones, televisions and other distracting devices during the event.

Present a door prize. When players eat a Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate, have them roll up the wrapper into a ball and place it in a small clear jar or vase. At the end of the evening, have everyone guess the number of foil balls in the jar. After the official count, award the winner (closest to the correct answer) with a prize.

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Bright flowers are blooming, nights are turning warmer, the days are getting

longer: ‘tis the season for outdoor entertaining. Design insiders say you can make summer sizzle by throwing a great dinner party without breaking the bank. Simply start with two sources - your china cabinet and Mother Nature.

“With the higher gas prices and tough economy, many people are looking for ways to dazzle their guests without spending a lot of money,” says Keith Winkler, product marketing manager with Replacements, Ltd., billed as the world’s largest retailer of old and new china, crystal, silver and

collectibles. “Start by rethinking how you use your tableware. So many people only use their fine patterns for special occasions and then they’re locked into thinking you can only use a certain piece for its intended purpose.

By thinking creatively, you can find so many more uses that aren’t only pretty; but also a great conversation starter.”

Winkler says iced tea glasses are perfect for parfaits or fruit salads, while sherbet or champagne glasses are great for serving ice cream or other desserts. Martini glasses make fantastic shrimp cocktails. And don’t be afraid to use larger serving

Fresh ideas for summer entertaining


pieces, such as a punch bowl or soup tureen, for holding bread or buns at a cookout; you can also fill those with ice to chill wine and other drinks.

Think fresh

If you need a little inspiration to get you going, look no further than outside your door.

“So many of us work really hard on our flower gardens and unfortunately those tender blossoms just don’t last all that long,” says visual merchandiser Dubravka Vujinovic. “Whether you have large flower beds or just a window box, it’s very easy to

let nature be your guide and take advantage of the vibrant seasonal colors and textures by adding flowers and other greenery to your dinner table.”

Get Creative

Fill a clear vase with lemons and add water and fresh flowers. You can even use double old fashioned glasses to create

floral arrangements for individual place settings.

Place smooth stones in the bottom of a clear glass pitcher, and use those to anchor a large fresh flower, such as

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If you need a little inspiration to get you going, look no further than outside your

door... Plant fresh flowers or herbs in cups and saucers to go around the table.

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a Gerber daisy. Fill with water for a fantastic accent - you can even float a candle for evening entertaining.

Plant fresh flowers or herbs in cups and saucers to go around the table or kitchen. This not only adds a splash of fresh green color, herbs are handy for healthy cooking.

Another quick summer decorating trick is to place fresh leaves or blossoms flat on a dinner plate, then place a clear glass luncheon or salad plate over the floral design. You can use various colored plates, leaves or flowers to create unique designs for each guest.

Arrange candles and flowers or even sand and sea shells on cake stands to use as table centerpieces or accents for any room of your home.

Vujinovic says you can easily give your table a fresh look by simply using colored glass plates, or adding an accent plate you can change seasonally to complement your everyday dinnerware. Hot color trends for summer 2011 include bright vibrant colors such as coral, turquoise and honeysuckle.

You can find more of Vujinovic’s design tips on Replacements’ YouTube Channel, or the company’s website, replacements.com.(

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Another quick summer decorating trick is to place fresh leaves or blossoms

flat on a dinner plate, then place a clear glass luncheon or salad plate

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Fat Man in a Box, Bento that is….

Bento, Japanese for lunch box. I know when we think of a lunch box we think of a square metal container with a handle and a cartoon character on it, usually containing a bologna and cheese sandwich on really doughy white bread, accompanied by pudding and a pickle. Let me assure you that the Japanese version is far superior. It is more a work of art designed to make lunch “an event”.

So where do you get a bento, what is in it, how much does it cost? Good questions indeed, you could hop a Delta flight to Japan for a quick lunch, but since we live in the great city of Charlotte we have some authentic options to choose from. I usually find that the smaller, less known about places tend to be the best places to eat.

Sushi-Ya Japan located at Arboretum is just one of those places. I stumbled on this place looking for a quick lunch and not wanting the typical burger thing. Even though there is some outside seating it was a little chilly (imagine that in May) so we ate inside. Nothing fancy inside, but very clean, quaint, and authentic feeling. We were greeted

by a very friendly smile by whom we thought was the hostess, turns out she was the wait staff & the hostess, busy, busy girl, but she seemed to be keeping up just fine.

I loved the menu and the many different options. Not your typical meat, vegetables, and rice Japanese meals

(although you can get that). There are several meals that also come with some sushi rolls along with a main dish. I like that because sometimes you don’t just want sushi or don’t just want the meal, so a combination is really nice.

I was excited that they have “Bento’s” on the menu. I had to have one. I love how the Japanese combine things to give you a unique experience each time. Just think about how they can take an ordinary napkin and make it a work of art (origami).

Our waitress/hostess promptly took our drink

order and gave us the lunch/special menus to browse while we waited for our drinks to arrive. They have Sake for only $2.50 and she brought it piping hot. Our server was very knowledgeable and a joy to be around. I ordered some egg rolls to start with, they weren’t your typical egg rolls filled with cabbage and a little piece of mystery meat, they were actually similar to the way Koreans make egg rolls, plenty

The Fat Man in a box Sushi-Ya!

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The Fat Man in a box Sushi-Ya!

of meat inside, a hint of spice and perfectly cooked, not greasy at all.

My lunch came with a salad, the dressing was outstanding. I also asked for some hot mustard for my egg rolls, they make a mustard sauce with ginger and although it is different then hot mustard I would normally eat with an egg roll, it was gentle, but full of flavor, a real compliment to the egg roll.

For lunch I ordered a Bento with shrimp tempura & hibachi chicken; it came with rice. There were several options for the Bento box including sushi, but today I wasn’t up for sushi although they have some unique rolls I will go back and try soon. My lunch came out hot and fresh. Just a side note, this is a great place if you need lunch in a hurry; they were really quick with everything.

Tempura is one of those things that if it is just slightly cold it is terrible, so these folks make sure you get your meal as soon as it is done. I love the sauce they give you for your tempura. The hibachi chicken was tender and wasn’t

“chicken remnants” like I have had elsewhere. Although this is a simple place the atmosphere is

pleasant, relaxed & quiet, so you can have a business meeting, study for a test, or just have a great lunch. The best part is that the prices are reasonable. You can have a nice lunch and some Sake and still be out the door for around $10. There are several lunch specials for around $5 so this makes a great place to eat during the week when you are trying to economize.

That being said, I think it is worth coming here to try some of the fancier things, especially the sushi. Arboretum has a lot of options for eating, fast, slow, fancy, modest, etc. Sushi-Ya Japan really fits all of the above although not really fancy it is fancy enough. So try a Bento, it is way better than a happy meal, actually add Hot Sake and it becomes a happy meal. (

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With summer quickly approaching, you’re probably dreaming of all

the fun you’ll have gathering with friends and family. You could be planning the traditional activities like going to the pool, hosting backyard barbecues or picnicking in the park, but why not spice things up by adding a little island culture to your plans?

In Hawaii, visitors and residents of the islands enjoy surfing and hula dancing in honor of the state’s iconic history. While much of the mainland United States doesn’t have surfing options, you can incorporate a little Hawaiian flavor and healthy living activities into your summer.

Chelsie Hightower, the Emmy-nominated professional dancer from the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” provides some easy fitness tips and healthy lifestyle activities you can bring into your family’s summer gatherings, with a bit of island culture added in as well:

Instead of a barbecue, plan a luau, complete with music, flowers and of course, the food. For table decorations,

floral sarongs or fishnets would work well. Silk flowers - or fresh, imported Hawaiian flowers - draped over railing posts, chair backs, doorways and the necks of your guests will help to enhance your luau theme. Load Hawaiian music into your sound system to get everyone up and dancing. And make sure you highlight the luau theme with tasty and healthy Hawaiian dishes like Mango-Maui-Guava Salsa served on low-calorie, low-fat Old London Melba Toast made with all-natural ingredients and whole grains.

Sign up for Polynesian dancing lessons. If you are unable to find Polynesian classes, many dance studios offer other options such as belly dancing or flamenco. These classes will not only provide great exercise, they will also give you the opportunity to learn more about another culture.

Biking down Haleakala volcano during sunrise. is another favorite Hawaiian activity. Many tourists will go a step further and explore the rain forests and beautiful scenic ocean views with mountain- and road-biking tours. You may not have a rainforest-covered volcano in your neighborhood but, chances are you have some beautiful scenic roads through shady woods or even fields of corn that your family can explore and enjoy on a bike.

If you’re ready to get away and visit the Aloha State, you could win a trip through the “Aloha Old London” Sweepstakes. Old London will send one lucky winner and a guest on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Oahu, Hawaii.

While soaking up the beautiful Hawaiian sunshine, experience everything this tropical paradise has to offer with surfing lessons, dinner for two at Tropics Bar and Grill, spa services at the Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage at Mandara Spa, private cooking lessons at the Chef Mavro restaurant and two Alii Luau packages at the Polynesian Cultural Center with admission to “PCC, Alii Luau and Ha: Breath of Life” evening show. The four-day, three-night, all-expenses-paid experience also includes air travel and accommodations at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa.

Visit www.Facebook.com/OldLondonFoods to learn more about the sweepstakes and enter to win.

AddsomeHawaiianfun

toyours

ummeractivities

Mango-Maui-Guava Salsa

Ingredients:2 cups thawed frozen mango chunks, diced1 cup thawed frozen guava or 2 cups kiwi chunks, diced1 red bell pepper, seeded, de-ribbed and finely diced1/2 red onion, finely diced (add to taste)1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced1 clove garlic, minced2 teaspoons fresh ginger, mincedJuice of one lime1 box Old London Melba Toast Whole Grain or Spicy 3 Pepper

Directions:Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with Melba Toast.

Find more delicious recipes at www.oldlondonfoods.com/recipes.php.

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Jello Aquarium Recipe RecipeA fun Jello® recipe to make with your kids. With just a little imagination, you can have your children smiling!

Recipe Ingredients• 1 pk Jello Berry BLUE jelly powder• 1 c Boiling water• 2 c Ice cubes• Gummy fish

Directions

1. Dissolve jelly powder in boiling water.2. Add ice cubes, stirring until jello thickens, about 3-5 minutes.3. Remove any unmelted ice. Spoon jello into clear sided bowls.4. Poke 3 or 4 gummy fish into each dish of slightly thickened jelly.5. Refrigerate 30 minute to set. Serve in about 1 and 1/2 hours.http://www.foodclassics.com/re3874/recipes.php

More Recipes from Food Classics

New Orleans Bread Pudding, House Of Blues Sweet Potato Cheesecake,Peaches ‘n’ Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes... find more at www.foodclassics.com. ( Ph

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Family Fun with

Food!

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