He was new to town, new to the region, and seeking a trim.

Luckily for him, Scarborough has been here four years. She knows the stores, the shops. And she has a home computer.

Hi,

I'm new to the Huntersville Area. I am looking for a place to get my haircut, preferably a Paul Mitchell affiliate. Please excuse the spelling.

Thanks,

John.

Residents in northern Mecklenburg County used to communicate over backyard fences and potluck suppers. Now, Scarborough says, you're lucky if you know your neighbor.

``At one time there was a sense of community, but since we moved in three years ago, we've gotten new neighbors all around us. We have good friends, but there are so many people moving in. It's hard to keep track.''

That's where the Information Age comes in. Scarborough still subscribes to the morning paper, still listens to the radio for her local news.

But her kids are online every afternoon after school. And every other week, she dials into the Huntersville town page to see what folks are talking about.

Should the state erect another traffic signal on Sam Furr Road? Will reassignment affect Huntersville kids? Is there a safe, reliable day-care center in town?

``I definitely think that the Internet will become the way of the future,'' Scarborough said. ``It's an unobtrusive way to get information about any variety of subjects. You aren't bothering anyone, and you can access it when convenient to you.

``It's a place to talk about local issues. Not national or regional, but local. In your back yard.''

Scarborough, her husband and their four children live in Shepherds Vinyard. They moved to Exit 25 four years ago from Wakefield, Va., when Scarborough's employer moved from Williamsburg to Charlotte.

Now they're considering buying a bigger house in the Cedarfield subdivision. Scarborough has spent hours checking out interest rates on line. She wants to know what the market is going to do -- and how her home is going to change in coming years.

``When we moved here, we looked for a community that didn't have massive development,'' Scarborough said. ``Four years ago, Huntersville still had that small-town look.''

The disappearance of that small-town look is a popular topic at the town of Huntersville message board and in neighborhood chat rooms. Scarborough, like most of the folks who post messages, understands why so many people are moving in.

``Even though the area has grown tremendously over the past few years, it still has that small-town atmosphere. It still feels like a good place to raise your kids.''

And, despite the growth, it's still a place where neighbors talk to each other. Only now they do it online.

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