Lake Norman's Latest Articles

Fishing - Crickets

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Fishin’ With Capt. Gus!
Crickets
5-6-12

Crickets are a preferred bait for catching pan fish, particularly bluegills and other members of the sunfish family. While best fished alive, the squeamish might find it a little unnerving to handle crawling bugs that resemble small grasshoppers. But, crickets do not bite, and on some days, will out-fish worms or minnows. Crickets have a universal appeal to most freshwater fish, so don’t be surprised if you hook a bass, perch or catfish while fishing for sunfish.

Crickets are available at most area tackle shops that sell live minnows. All that’s needed to contain and transport them is a small and inexpensive cricket cage. Surprisingly, a tube of about fifty crickets sells for about $3.50 - about the same price as a carton of red wigglers or night crawlers. Crickets stay lively throughout a day’s fishing as long as they’re kept out of heat View More Crickets

Nate's Notes - Giving Warms the Heart... even in 55 Degree Water

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

December… what a month. It almost seems like there is so much to do it’s tough to actually appreciate the Holiday season. Redneck Yard Art – Check. Christmas Tree and other inside decorations – Check. Pictures with Santa – Check. Christmas Cards, designed, printed, mailed – Check. Presents purchased – Check. Elementary School Christmas Program – Check. Holiday Parties – check, check, still checking checks. Wow, they don’t stop. And to add to the fun, I determined 45 minutes prior to departure for the last party that I no longer fit in my dress shirts. So, excessive eating – Check. And emergency trip to Stein Mart for a new shirt – Check.

Some moving "redneck lawn art," featured at the Davis' home. (NATE DAVIS photo)

Amid all of the holiday “fun,” I also got to “enjoy” my very first View More Giving Warms the Heart... even in 55 Degree Water

Real Estate - Real Estate Market is Recovering as Pending Home Sales Rise

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February and is 12.8 percent above March 2011 when it was 89.9. The data reflects contracts but not closings.

The index is now at the highest level since April 2010 when it reached 111.3.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing. “First quarter sales closings were the highest first quarter sales in five years. The latest contract signing activity suggests the second quarter will be equally good,” he says.

“The housing market has clearly turned the corner. Rising sales are bringing down inventory and creating much more balanced conditions around the View More Real Estate Market is Recovering as Pending Home Sales Rise

Nate's Notes - Weekend Anniversaries: LKNFun, Rusty Rudder celebrate 10 years

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

I’m excited and proud to announce that on Saturday we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of LKNfun.com and the Rusty Rudder, at the Rusty Rudder, with hundreds of friends, fans and loyal Rudder patrons.

It all starts with an idea

I started LKNfun.com in 2002. I was 28-years-old, had no kids, and one year prior had moved here from Arizona with my wife, Carrie. After about a year of attending parties at the Sandbar and various lake houses, I decided to start a website that would serve our fellow boat/lake/party enthusiasts.

Initially, I designed the site to help teach boaters the basic elements of “rafting etiquette,” and to let everyone know where the party was going to be each week. Back in 2001 and 2002, there were 10-12 annual house parties and people unfamiliar with the territory (including me) had trouble knowing where and when each of these parties was going View More Weekend Anniversaries: LKNFun, Rusty Rudder celebrate 10 years

Nate's Notes - Forget the coupons – Save money just ‘cuz it’s Monday

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Forget the coupons – Save money just ‘cuz it’s Monday

Posted on 12 April 2012.

With two kids and a super busy wife hauling them all over the place for after school activities, our family eats out frequently during the week. Some people are coupon clippers, but we’ve found with the kids that many times we can actually save more money by following the daily specials offered by our local restaurants.

Restaurants don’t typically offer big specials on the weekends because they usually have plenty of business, so they up their game during the week to get you in the doors.

Happy Easter! The Davis family, from left: Mazie, Carrie, Zoie and Nate.

This week we got home late Sunday night from our trip to Tennessee to visit Carrie’s family for Easter, and like most people before we left for a week-long trip we emptied the fridge, leaving the pantry View More Forget the coupons – Save money just ‘cuz it’s Monday

Fishing - Mandatory Boater Education Law

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
Mandatory Boater Education Law
April 15, 2012

Photo credit Capt. Gus:
Boat cruising on Lake Norman

It has been several years since the Mandatory Boater Education Law became effective. The law requires that no person under 26 years of age can operate a vessel with ten horsepower or greater on the waters of North Carolina, unless the operator has met the requirements of boater safety education.

To satisfy this law, several local organizations offer one day boating safety classes that meet the requirements outlined by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and are approved by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The training is conducted by professionals. Many are USCG licensed Captains.

The following is a partial list of organizations and agencies conducting classes this year.
* Lighthouse Marine Services - (www.lmservice.org)
* The Lake Norman Sail & Power Squadron - (www.usps.org/lakenorman)
* View More Mandatory Boater Education Law

Sports - 2nd Annual ‘Aloha Cup’ 2012 –Paddle For Humanity

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Stand Up Paddle Board Races to Benefit Our Towns Habitat for Humanity

Cornelius, NC (April 2, 2012) — My Aloha Paddle Sports and Fitness will host the second annual ALOHA CUP 2012(STAND UP PADDLEBOARD RACES) on Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 8:00 a.m.-noon at Vinnie’s on the Lake (Mooresville). Registration is $20 and includes a t-shirt. All proceeds to benefit Our Towns Habitat for Humanity.
Other events include:
Stand Up Paddle Board, Fitness and Yoga on the Board Demonstrations
Various Booths and Display
Raffles
Music, Food, Fun and MORE!

“We were really pleased with the event last year and look for an awesome day on the lake this year,” said Rob Bennett, owner and operator of My Aloha Stand Up Paddle Sports & Fitness. “In just one year, interest in paddle boarding has skyrocketed in the Lake Norman Area. Enthusiasts have realized the health and fitness benefits and have enjoyed View More 2nd Annual ‘Aloha Cup’ 2012 –Paddle For Humanity

Nate's Notes - The best Gift this Season is a Smile (or two, or three...)

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

With Thanksgiving just behind us and the holiday season officially in full swing, now is the time to be thankful for what we have and to turn our attention to those less-fortunate. It truly is more fun to give than to receive, but sometimes it is hard to figure out how – and where – to give.

Sure, it is fun on Christmas morning to see our kids light up at the sight of their gifts, but let’s be honest: most of the kids in our neck of the woods are spoiled beyond belief. So while it’s fun to see them smile, it’s a whole lot more fun to give to kids who have little or nothing. And for those in our community who aren’t affiliated with religious organizations and don’t trust the telemarketers (for good reason), it can be hard to find ways to experience the joy of giving View More The best Gift this Season is a Smile (or two, or three...)

Nate's Notes - A Lesson in Holiday "Cheer"

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

As parents, my wife Carrie and I encourage after school activities other than video games and watching television. But being a typical “guy,” by the time our girls were old enough to participate in after school activities, I had put zero thought into what those activities might be.

Carrie thought we’d put the girls on the dance/gymnastics route (pretty typical, I guess), which was good news for Zoie, 5, who is all about some dancing. But Mazie, 7, didn’t latch on in the same way. At one point, she decided she’d give gymnastics a try, and we made that happen.

Our friend, Paige Coleman, owns White Lightning Gym in Huntersville, so deciding where to send Mazie was easy. She went to gymnastics a couple of times a week for several months, but, as with dancing, decided it wasn’t for her. Paige suggested that Mazie try cheer, as most little girls View More A Lesson in Holiday "Cheer"

News - Cornelius Town Newsletter 11/25/11 - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Written by Commissioner Dave Gilroy - Reposted.

Hello Everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

First, a warm thanks to everyone who took the time to vote two weeks ago. As I mentioned prior to the election, turnout in these local-only, off-year elections is extremely LOW. For the four Cornelius precincts, the dismal #s this year were 6%, 8%, 13%, and almost 20% (Jetton Park poll) for an overall average of 10.6% of registered voters. I really appreciate your support again of course, but the most important thing is to find a way to get broader participation – more to come on this subject in time.
Our Town Board met Monday night. There is a lot going on, so please read when you have a few minutes to spare:

Positive Sales Tax Trends – we started our meeting with some good news on fiscal year (FY) Q1 tax receipts from the county sales View More Cornelius Town Newsletter 11/25/11 - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Nate's Notes - Holiday In's and Outages...

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Any week that kicks off with a “surprise” school closing is sure to be a tough one. Although our house didn’t lose power Monday, we certainly were feeling the effects of the outage.

“Power Outage Day” (it might as well be called – after all, the kids got a holiday out of it) began for me around 5:30 a.m. with the phone ringing in the bedroom. Carrie had left the room around 2 a.m. to escape my extra-loud snoring, so she didn’t have the pleasure of the early morning wake up call. We just bought these new phones that have talking caller ID, and though I was half-asleep, I do recall a computerized voice saying, “Meck County…” to which my response was to promptly roll over and fall back to sleep.

An hour and a half later, the day then began as normal, with the whole family up at 7. As we View More Holiday In's and Outages...

Sports - 2 Powerboat Racers Die After High Speed Crash in Key West

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

KEY WEST, Fla. – Two offshore powerboat racers died Wednesday after their catamaran went airborne at high speed and crashed, marring the opening of three days of racing at the Key West World Championship, officials said.

Big Thunder Marine — a 46-foot Skater catamaran with four 1,200 horsepower engines that competed in the Superboat Unlimited Class — came down so hard its right front hull was severely damaged on the third lap of Wednesday's race inside Key West Harbor, organizers said.
Superboat International President John Carbonell said he witnessed the crash, which occurred adjacent to a spectator area.

"He was probably going about 130 mph and the boat's propellers were barely in the water," Carbonell said. "The boat apparently caught some air and went bow (front) up; straight into the air, came down and went backwards."

He identified the dead as Robert M. Morgan, of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Jeffrey Tillman, View More 2 Powerboat Racers Die After High Speed Crash in Key West

Nate's Notes - Buy one at the Buffalo Tues. – it’s for a good cause

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Buy one at the Buffalo Tues. – it’s for a good cause

Posted on 30 March 2012.

Mark your calendars, friends, and head to the Kilted Buffalo Tuesday night. Enjoy tasty beverages served to you by your friendly neighborhood Nate’s Notes columnist, while proceeds from the evening benefit a nonprofit organization that is near and dear to my heart: Little Smiles.

I first learned about Little Smiles last year, when some of its volunteers approached me to help promote one of their charity events. The group’s mission is to bring “little smiles” to children in hospitals, hospice and shelters. Those “smiles” take many forms – from toys and games to outings and events – and all are provided by volunteers. In providing those things, the organization helps children escape their everyday pain and allow them to just be kids again, even if it is for only a short period of View More Buy one at the Buffalo Tues. – it’s for a good cause

Fishing - Bedding Bass

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
Bedding Bass
4-1-12

The spring spawning season is in full swing and the time to catch big bass is now. With the unseasonably warm spring, the “nesting season” came early this year.

The good thing about fishing for bedding bass is that the only special equipment you need is a pair of polarized sunglasses and an electric trolling motor. The glasses reduce the glare and allow you to see the spawning beds, and the trolling motor allows you to quietly approach the beds. Since much of the bedding activity occurs in water less than five feet deep, fish are not difficult to locate. Just look for circle-like patches from one to three feet in diameter. It is much easier to see the beds/nests with the sun at your back, but the shadows cast by the boat and of those on board, will spook the bass from View More Bedding Bass

Real Estate - Survey says.... Real Estate will be coming back BIG by 2014

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Housing starts will nearly double and home prices will begin to rise in 2013, with prices increasing significantly in 2014.

Those rosy predictions come from a new semi-annual survey of 38 of the nation’s leading real estate economists and analysts by the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate. The economists foresee broad improvements for the nation’s economy, real estate capital markets, real estate fundamentals and the housing industry through 2014, including:

• The national average home price is expected to stop declining this year, and then rise by 2 percent in 2013 and by 3.5 percent in 2014.;
• Vacancy rates are expected to drop in a range of between 1.2 and 3.7 percentage points for office, retail, and industrial properties and remain stable at low levels for apartments; while hotel occupancy rates will likely rise;
• Rents are expected to increase for all property types, with View More Survey says.... Real Estate will be coming back BIG by 2014

Fishing - Spotted Bass Fishing

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

Fishing with Capt. Gus!
Spotted Bass Fishing
3-18-12

The spotted bass, a member of the black bass family, was introduced by fishermen in the 1990's. It is being credited with making Lake Norman a top bass lake in the United States. “Spots” have proliferated to the point that they have replaced the striped bass in popularity.

These fish are hard fighters on light tackle and are very easy to locate. Anglers search them out by watching for images of them feeding on forage fish (shad and herring) on fish finder screens, or by casting lures around points, humps and submerged woody debris. Since spots often travel in schools, it’s not uncommon to catch one on every cast. When they change locations, you begin the search again.

Not only are spotted bass plentiful, but some are quite large. A 6.97 pounder was taken in February on a Rapala DT6 lure. This View More Spotted Bass Fishing

Nate's Notes - Free Means Free, Even in Olde English

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

In continuing with our Family tradition of Sunday Family Fun Day, my wife, Carrie, the girls and I headed out to the Renaissance Festival. This was our fifth year at the festival, thanks to the good promotions people who trade tickets with us for advertising on LKNfun.

I began selling the “comp” tickets five years ago – a practice I now know is a no-no. My intention always was to spend all my proceeds from the ticket sales inside the fair – no harm, no foul (or so I thought). I usually ended up with about $200 cash to spend, and that would turn into a medieval spending spree, making the festival truly memorable for the kids.

Mazie and Zoie got their faces painted at the festival Sunday. (Nate Davis photo)
Face painting for $20? Sure, kids… $30 for princess hats? No Problem… Riding a camel? View More Free Means Free, Even in Olde English

News - Charges dropped, Glenridge arson suspect freed

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

After almost 2 months in Mecklenburg County Jail, the primary suspect in a series of arson fires in Cornelius over the past year was freed Monday after the Mecklenburg District Attorney dropped the charges against him. Robert Joseph Prevatte, 31, was arrested Sept. 16 as police investigated a series of arson fires on Meadow Crossing Lane in the Glenridge neighborhood, where he was living with his girlfriend.

I won’t always recap holidays or talk about columns from weeks past, but I can’t help it this time. Halloween weekend was a doozy. And it all started on Facebook.

View More Halloween lessons learned the hard (and fun) way

Nate's Notes - Nate Tackles Halloween Flare - and Scare

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

By NATE DAVIS
CorneliusNews.net
View More Nate Tackles Halloween Flare - and Scare

News - Cornelius Town Newsletter 10/22/11 - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000
Written by Commissioner Dave Gilroy - Reposted.

Hello Everyone,
Our Town Board met this week – here’s a summary of the major things going on:

Veterans Monument - The monument is 75% complete and it is gorgeous! We are currently at 97% of full funding. Visit Town Hall or go to www.corneliusveteransmonument.org if you would like to make a donation and put us over the top. We will have a public dedication ceremony at 11:00 am, Veterans Day (November 11, 2011). All are encouraged to attend.

Sidewalk Improvements - Henderson Road and Willow Pond sidewalks are approximately 95% complete. Again, at the cost of a few hundred thousand dollars, we’re making remarkable progress toward our vision of making Cornelius easy and enjoyable to navigate for pedestrians and bikers.

Fall Leaf Pick-up - Town service begins on Nov 1st and runs through Feb 28th. Loose leaves (no sticks) need to be as View More Cornelius Town Newsletter 10/22/11 - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Nate's Notes - Nate is Back! My first Column in 3 Years...

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000
Hi, my name is Nate Davis and it has been just about 3 years since I wrote my last column in the Huntersville Herald. If you keep track of Local Media, you’ll know that the Herard was purchased around that time and the Lake Norman Citizen also printed it’s first issue around that time. It was also about this time 3 years ago when the economy really started to tank… it’s amazing how time flies. Enough reminiscing and on to a little bit about myself for anyone who is new to town or never read my articles of the past.

I have lived here in Cornelius for about 11 years. I have been married to my wife Carrie for over 13 years, and have 2 daughters ages 7 (Mazie) and 5 (Zoie). I also run a website dedicated to Dining and Nightlife for almost 10 years called LKNfun.com. I am an View More Nate is Back! My first Column in 3 Years...

News - Cornelius Board Newsletter - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000
Hello Everyone,

The Cornelius Town Board meeting was Monday night October 3rd. Here’s an overview summary of what’s going on in the City of Cornelius:

Bailey's Glen - we unanimously approved modest changes in the development plan for Bailey's Glen, an age-restricted (over-55 only) 96-unit community near our Middle School and High School. None of us are happy with the move to greater surface parking or shift to apartments versus condominiums, but we worked hard with the developer to ensure the highest quality aesthetics, and we will have fewer total residents at capacity. The adopted plan is the best today's market realities can support.

I-77 Widening – the good news on transportation infrastructure is of course I-77 widening with at least one additional lane all the way to Cornelius and conversion of today’s HOV lane to an HOT lane (High-Occupancy Toll). There is increasing certainty around the timing of this project – construction starting late View More Cornelius Board Newsletter - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Arts & Entertainment - Reynolds Limousine Service: Call Them So You Don't Drink and Drive

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

This article is courtesy of www.whatsupwithdana.com

I don't need to go on and on about the dangers of drinking and driving. We all know we shouldn't do it. I wanted to write this anyway because over the past year I've had several friends and acquaintances get a DUI in the Huntersville area. Several of the people that I know have been stopped leaving Birkdale Village or while on their way up I-77 returning from Charlotte. It can be tempting to drive after a couple of drinks especially when you are only a few miles from home but it is NOT worth it. Why take the chance? It is so much better to call a cab or get a car service.

If you want a reliable car service you should definitely call Reynolds Limousine. My friends and I have been using them for over a year and we've had great experiences. Just View More Reynolds Limousine Service: Call Them So You Don't Drink and Drive

Arts & Entertainment - Dress For Success Charlotte Look at Her Power Event September 15, 2011

Thu. 17 May 2012 05:39:56 +0000

I am posting this in hopes that I can get some of you involved in this great organization and especially in this event on September 15, 2011. Please get in touch with me if you would be willing to buy tickets. It will be so much fun and you'll be supporting a really great cause! Here is the info:

Dress For Success location in Charlotte, NC

I volunteer with a group called Dress For Success Charlotte. Maybe some of you are familiar with this fantastic organization which is focused on helping disadvantaged women find jobs and stay employed. I am really passionate about this organization as it truly makes a difference in the lives of the women and their View More Dress For Success Charlotte Look at Her Power Event September 15, 2011