This Saturday, 11-8-25, HEARTS Harvest ‘25: Milk & Honey
We hope you can join us this Saturday, November 8, 2025 for HEARTS Harvest ‘25, our annual harvest-themed exploration of history, nature, and the arts at historic Cedar Grove from 2:00 - 5:00 pm, 8229 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC. This year’s focus has been a deep dive into the land of milk and honey and we have churned up a few surprises too. Reserve your seats, and get your tickets for a unique and memorable exploration of hidden histories of honey and dairy in our region.
The featured speaker for HEARTS Harvest ‘25 is historic preservation consultant and architectural historian, Susan Mayer. Her presentation will be followed by a panel discussion including Mayer, along with local experts in beekeeping, biology, and history. Panel members include: Chris Simeral, Mike Luke, Aaron Kampe, and Michael Connor. Guests are also invited to explore historic tools on display and marvel at farming ingenuity through the ages. We’ll also learn how the Carolina Farm Trust is making a difference in our community with their President/CEO, Zack Wyatt, and we’ll enjoy a taste of a milk-and-honey creation by their Executive Chef, Ryan Forte.
This HEARTS Happening features live music by Charlotte-based sextet, Heidi and the River Down. Led by the soaring vocals of Heidi Sidelinker, the band features Mike Orlando (mandolin and banjo), Billy Jones (guitar and vocals), Edan Aldridge (multi-instrumental and vocals), Tim Helfrich (drums/percussion), and Phil Skipper (bass). They play an original Americana songbook full of tunes at once urgent and timeless, combining folk, bluegrass, and blues traditions. Though formed in 2023, the group has been in each other’s musical orbits for 20 years, often finding time to collaborate. Helfrich, Orlando, and Skipper are former members of the popular early-2000s band Cast Iron Filter. It has felt like a magical, serendipitous, and also somehow inevitable union for these six, and to watch them live is to experience the same.
Featured Speaker
Susan V. Mayer is a historic preservation consultant and architectural historian. She has authored numerous local landmark reports in Mecklenburg County, with the first being the W. S. Abernathy dairy farm. A native of north Louisiana, Susan graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a minor in History. She worked in commercial architecture before earning her Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Public History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. An active volunteer within her community, Susan serves on the boards of Historic Rosedale and the Charlotte Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity as well as in the PTA at her children’s school. She resides in Charlotte with her sons Andrew and Patrick, and dog Ursa.
In Cedar Grove’s Center Hall, we invite you, “Into the Fields,” to experience our latest visual art exhibit in partnership with Nine-Eighteen-Nine Studio Gallery, featuring the works of Doris Barahona, John “Trey” Miles, and Leigh B. Williams.
Doris Barahona was born in Santiago, Chile, but has been living in Charlotte since 1997. She is a mixed-media abstract painter with realist tones. She studied Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and later earned her PhD in Education from UCLA.
John Trey Miles is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based mixed-media and collage artist known for his works that often focus on the experiences of African Americans in both historic and contemporary contexts. He graduated from Western Carolina University with a BFA in art with a concentration in graphic design.
Leigh B. Williams specializes in paintings and collaborative work and has a BA in Fine Arts from the College of William and Mary.
Guests at HEARTS Harvest ‘24 Historic Tool Display
What’s a HEARTS Happening?
Designed to inspire and enhance our community’s shared sense of place, HEARTS Happenings are grass-roots events known for juxtaposing regional history and ecology with curated local music, visual art, and dance in multi-faceted, place-based programs. HEARTS (History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, and Store) is made possible by dedicated volunteers, HEARTS Circle members, presenting partner Lake Norman Realty, and generous donations from the community. All proceeds further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region.
Upcoming Special Events this Holiday Season
HEARTS Winter Wisdom, Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 - 5:00 Cedar Grove
Join us for our annual HEARTS Winter Wisdom at historic Cedar Grove in Huntersville, featuring storytelling, live holiday music with Gina Stewart, dance with the Moving Spirits, and meet the presenting artists from our “Into the Fields” exhibit, and so much more! Enjoy Cedar Grove decked out for the holidays and step back in time with seasonal stories of winter in the Piedmont.
HEARTS Winter Wisdom ‘24
Help Pottstown and Join Us at the Sneaker-Ball at Cedar Grove
Step into the holiday season in style at Deck the Soles, a festive evening that blends community, fashion, and purpose! Guests are invited to dress up their favorite sneakers and join us for an unforgettable night filled with music, dancing, seasonal cheer, and giving back.
This elegant yet laid-back celebration supports the Pottstown Heritage Group’s “Safety & Warmth” initiative, providing emergency assistance, home repairs, and safety resources to seniors and families in the Pottstown community.
Enjoy a lively holiday atmosphere complete with:
Music and dancing under the lights
Wine, beer, and festive treats
Raffles and community fun
Opportunities to give back while celebrating with friends
Your attendance helps ensure our neighbors have safe, warm homes this winter — and keeps the heart of Pottstown strong. Tickets and Sponsor Information
Holiday Sundays 1:00-4:00 at the Hugh Torance House and Store
Come to the Hugh Torance House and Store for our special seasonal days featuring unique Christmas gifts, books, holiday treats, living history, artisans, and historic holiday traditions.
November 30, Hanging of the Greens
HEARTS is working to preserve, explore, and share the important threads of our region’s rich tapestry of history, nature, and the arts. What began in Huntersville at Cedar Grove and the Hugh Torance House and Store has expanded to Iredell and Lincoln, and we look forward to exciting announcements on the horizon. Through HEARTS, we are creating sustainable futures for our special historic places. Thank you for your support. For more information, visit www.heartscollaborative.org or call (704) 920-9931. To connect with HEARTS for nonprofit services, group tours/events, service learning projects, sponsorships, and/or volunteer opportunities, please email info@HEARTSCollaborative.org or call 704-920-9931.
