Last week DavidsonNews.net gave the scantily clad “Bikini Babes” lots of press, so it’s only fitting that Around Davidson offer the scantily clad “Man of the Week”: Vick McKinney. Vick is a fixture on South Main Street in Cornelius who can repair any vehicle you name and claims to “mend everything but a broken heart!” Truly someone to know. Read more below.
Also this week find news about Ivan Brown‘s return to Afghanistan, a reminder about an upcoming recital plus reports on a Michigan wedding for the Gardner/Masten families, a baby boy for Brian and Stacy Baker of the McConnell neighborhood and a new grandbaby for Tim Honeycutt of the Davidson Post Office.
Someone to Know
(and someone your vehicle needs to know!)
Meet Vick McKinney. This self-made man grew up in the North Carolina mountains near Newland. One of 11 children, he left the mountains and came to the Piedmont following high school where he found employment driving a truck. After a year behind the wheel, he signed on with Jr. Auten of Auten Motor Company in Huntersville in 1972 and worked there full time for 13 years. A quick student with automobile body work, Vick wanted to have a place of his own and found a house in Cornelius with an ample back yard for his shop in 1978. Vick reminisced about this first home on South Main Street with a mortgage payment of $55 a month!
From the backyard of that same house, Vick McKinney maintains a successful body shop open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. One has to look carefully (turn in on the gravel driveway just past the eighth house beyond the Cornelius Fire and Rescue Station when headed south on Route 115) to find this “naked to the waist” automobile miracle worker who can fix anything from broken seat belts to dented fenders. In Vick’s own words, he can mend “everything but a broken heart!”
DavidsonNews.net's "Scantily Clad Man of the Week" is Vic McKinney, pictured here hard at work sanding a '55 Chevy with the help of his son, Lil' Vick.
While he is averse to the buttoned-down look, we know that on occasion, when the north winds blow a gale and the temperature falls below freezing, Vick does dust off a shirt and cover those tan biceps! Vick is married to Vickie and has two sons, Robbie and Lil’ Vick, as well as two grandchildren.
Lil’ Vick works in the shop with his dad as one can see when the camera found both sanding a ’55 Chevy they are restoring for a friend.
A stop to visit with Vick and get a repair estimate is an adventure – a worthwhile adventure. Wayne Stowe sent him lots of traffic but with Wayne north of Davidson now, DavidsonNews.net thought it a good chance to encourage new folks to get to know him. Call Vick at 704-892-9281 if you have questions before you go or just drop in. Vick McKinney is certainly someone each of our readers needs to know.
Return to Afghanistan
Nancy and Ivan Brown and their children (l-r: Lloyd, Aurelia Rae and Adam).
Our thoughts and prayers go with Ivan Brown as he returns to Afghanistan and continues his work there.
An earlier “Around Davidson” story on Ivan and his family highlighted his career with the Davidson Police Department followed by employment as a Dyn Corp International contract trainer of Afghan National Police.
Ivan enjoyed a two month sojourn in Davidson this summer combining some needed surgery with relaxing time spent with his wife, Nancy, and children, Lloyd, Adam and Aurelia Rae.
We wish him the very best as he rejoins his team on the outskirts of Jalalabad. With a little luck he will have holiday leave and be back in our midst in time for Christmas.
Jenny Giduz and Annie Rhodes perform Aug. 22.
We’ve mentioned the musical talent of Jenny Giduz and Annie Rhodes in previous Around Davidson columns but want to remind our readers of their upcoming vocal recital next Friday, August 22, in the Lingle Chapel of the Davidson College Presbyterian Church.
Jenny and Annie will sing opera and Broadway songs including classical duets and solos. Accompanied by pianist Theresa Woody-Rhodes, this 8 p.m. program is free and open to the public. A reception will follow and give members of the audience a chance to wish Jenny well as she begins college at the UNC School of the Arts and Annie as she begins her senior year at North Meck High School.
Wedding Bells: Gardner/Mastens in Michigan
The Gardner and Masten families gathered at Michigan’s Gooseneck Lake on August 2 to celebrate the marriage of Tate and Amy.
Amy Masten and Tate Gardner wed on August 2.
Tate is the son of Nancy Smith Gardner of Davidson and Joe Gardner of Cornelius. Amy is the daughter of Dave and Jeri Masten of Ludington, Michigan. Officiating at the 5:30 p.m. outdoor ceremony about 20 miles outside Ludington was the groom’s uncle, Curtis Smith of Dallas, Texas. The bride and groom took a ride in a pontoon boat on Gooseneck Lake after the ceremony, returning in time for photos and a wonderful reception with dinner and dancing under a tent overlooking the lake.
An interesting note about Amy to make our readers smile: She graduated from Butler University in the late 90′s and moved to Davidson where she took dance classes from Terrilynne Knox and sometimes substituted for her. Tate’s mom, Nancy, and sister, Beth, met Amy at dance classes. When Tate was home on break from Yale, “sis” Beth brought Amy home one day to meet Tate. According to Amy, this is “an arranged marriage!”
“Sis” Beth Gardner Helfrich was a bridesmaid at the wedding. Tate’s brother, Curtis, was best man. Other Davidsonians in the wedding party were Scott Ortmayer and Will Roberts. In addition to Tate’s parents, there were many other uncles, aunts and cousins attending the festivities from North Carolina, Florida, Texas, California, New York and Washington.
Nancy Gardner rented a cottage in Luddington for the week preceding the wedding for immediate family members. Other members of the Smith clan also rented cottages nearby making it a wonderful time to celebrate family and help with wedding preparations. They made favors, assembled tables, chairs and the dance floor for the reception, as well as stocking a neighborhood canoe with beverages. Lots of fun and lots of camaraderie among friends and members of the bridal party.
Tate and Amy will be living in Hollywood, CA, where Tate is employed by the Weather Channel and also is writing screenplays. Amy will be seeking employment in the area. We wish this young couple the very best and extend congratulations to both families.
Cradle Roll
Welcome to Wyatt Rutledge Baker
Congratulations to Brian and Stacy Baker of McConnell who welcomed their third child and second son on July 19.
Happy faces for Ethan (6) and Blythe (3) as they get to hold their new brother, Wyatt Rutledge Baker.
Wyatt Rutledge Baker weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz and stretched to 19 3/4 inches. Five-year-old big brother Ethan and three-year-old big sister Blythe welcomed their new brother home. Also on hand to assist the family were paternal grandparents, Ron and Sue Baker of Chapel Hill, who came for a few days. Close by is Stacy’s mom, Beverly Piteo of Cornelius, and her stepdad, Michael Piteo, who have been checking in daily to entertain Ethan and Blythe. In addition, Uncle Brian Willard, Stacy’s brother, is not far away in Charlotte.
Brian and Stacy have lived in Davidson for the past seven years. Brian is a doctor with Lakeside Family Physicians in Huntersville. Best wishes to all the family and many thanks to Joy Bryant for the beautiful photo.
A First for Tim and Terri Honeycutt
No need to talk about mailing packages or buying stamps next time you see Tim Honeycutt at the counter in the Davidson Post Office.
Proud Grandpa Tim Honeycutt holds his beautiful granddaughter, Madeline.
Just roll up your sleeves and be prepared to settle in and talk baby – grandbaby, that is. Tim and his wife, Terri, are grandparents for the first time! Their daughter, Ashley, and her husband, Josh Nixon, welcomed Madeline Elizabeth Nixon last Thursday, August 7. Baby Madeline weighed in at 6 lbs. 13 oz. and already has proud Grandpa Tim wrapped around her little finger.
Josh and Ashley live in Mt. Holly not far from Tim and Terri and paternal grandparents, Tom and Alice Nixon. Ashley’s brother, “Uncle” Greg Honeycutt lives in Charlotte. Congratulations to all the family. How nice to have all the doting grandparents close by.
This ‘n That
Hooray for the Olympics
Aren’t the Olympics great? Hard to find time to report on local news items when sports coverage of the Summer Games is at its four year high! This week’s 4×100 relay was the best yet. Hooray for local swimmer Cullen Jones and the Olympic Spirit. He did not have the fastest 100 meter time but still represented us well and flashed the best million dollar smile on the medal podium. Hope someone from Davidson has been in Beijing for opening or closing ceremonies or any of the sporting events. Let us know if you were in attendance.
Hooray for the Local Connection to “Southern Living”
A few weeks ago we mentioned Rob Moody and Eco-Builders of Asheville who participated in an Extreme Home Makeover. Rob, husband of Corinne Smith (and related to our own Rosie Chapman of Cornelius, an employee of the Davidson Public Library), is featured with a home his company built near Asheville in Davidson Gap, NC. Look for the write-up beginning on page 52 in this month’s issue of “Southern Living.”
Have news for Brenda?
Send it to her by email at hbarger@bellsouth.net
