Friday, January 22, 2010

'What's New in World Mission?' - New Lecture Series

Dr Stanley H. Skreslet, F. S. Royster Professor of Christian Mission
at Union-PSCE in Richmond, will deliver the inaugural lecture in a new
Mission Lectureship Series at Union-PSCE at Charlotte, which kicks off
on Feb/ 8. The lecture for pastors and lay leaders will begin at 10
a.m. at Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.

Skreslet will address the theme of this year's series, "What 's New in
World Mission? Implications for Congregations."

The Mission Lectureship Series in Charlotte has been made possible by
the generosity of the late Rev. Thomas White Currie, Jr. (Th.D.'58),
father of Dr. Thomas W. Currie, dean of the Charlotte campus of Union-
PSCE.

"My father was passionately interested in the mission of the church
and he thought that Union-PSCE was just the right place for that
mission to be planted in the hearts and minds of future pastors and
teachers so that it could bear fruit throughout their ministries,"
said Dean Currie.

Skreslet is the author of Picturing Christian Mission: New Testament
Images of Disciples in Mission (Eerdmans, 2006). An ordained minister
in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., he previously served on the faculty
of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt. His interests
include the church's encounter with Islam, the witness of Orthodox
Christianity, and the particular calling of Western Christians within
the context of the church universal.

Skreslet who earned his D.Min. degree from Union Theological Seminary
in Virginia (now Union-PSCE) also holds degrees from Lewis and Clark
College and Yale University.

For reservations and more information, please contact Nadine Ellsworth-
Moran at Nadine.Moran@union-psce.edu or 704-337-2450.

Union-PSCE (soon to be Union Presbyterian Seminary) offers graduate
degree programs on campuses in Richmond, Va., and Charlotte, N.C., and
through the Extended Campus Program, to prepare men and women for
Christian ministries. Founded in 1812, it is one of ten theological
seminaries of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

LOCAL SPEAKERS BUREAU PRESENTS FREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORKSHOP

A free training session titled "Cyber Stalking & Domestic Violence,"
will be presented by the Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau from 6 p.m.
to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. Everyone is welcome.

This workshop will reveal how the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
Department helps victims of domestic violence. Detective Chris Perez
of CMPD's Cyber Crimes Unit will share tips on protection and how
social media – including sites such as Facebook and Twitter – play a
role. Detective Mike Davis and counselor Addie Rohrman of CMPD's
Youth Crimes & Domestic Violence Unit will provide insights on how
stalking plays a role in intimate relationships.

A certificate of completion will be provided.

When: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010
Where: Child & Family Services Center, 601 E.
Fifth St., Charlotte, Training Room 1 (map)

Parking is available in the lot alongside the building and on the
street.

The Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau provides resources to agencies,
organizations, companies, civic groups, schools and the faith
community with information booths at health fairs and through
formalized training. Topics range from basics such as Domestic
Violence 101 to specialized issues such as child observers, types of
abuse and survivors' stories.

Speakers include United Family Services and Women's Commission
professionals, as well as volunteers and survivors of domestic violence.

United Family Services and the Women's Commission Domestic Violence
Services bring a blend of two different perspectives on domestic
violence services. United Family Services is crisis-oriented, with the
Shelter for Battered Women and Victims' Assistance, while the Women's
Commission offers programs and services geared toward self-sufficiency
with a long-term focus.

For more information on the Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau, go to http://dvsb.charmeck.org
or call (704) 432-1568.

For more information on the effects of domestic violence in our
community, call the Mecklenburg County Women's Commission at (704)
336-3210 or United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Women 24-hour
hot line at (704) 332-2513.

Charlotte shredding service now offers drop-off service for individuals

If you need to destroy old bank statements, outdated files, or other
documents taking up space in your home, there's an easy, safe way to
do it.

Charlotte shredding service ProShred Charlotte now offers service to
individuals. The company, known for its on-site, mobile shredding
service for businesses, now accepts drop-offs from individuals at its
location at 801 Clanton Road in Charlotte.

The cost is $10 per file box, up to four boxes. After that, the price
is $40 per bin. A bin can hold up to 10 15-inch file boxes. There's no
maximum, so you can get rid of years' worth of papers. The minimum
order is just $10.

Your documents are secured in locked bins and then destroyed in one of
ProShred's shredding trucks upon return from their daily routes.
ProShred employees are trained and certified to provide secure
document destruction, and are background-screened and drug-tested
regularly. You will receive a certificate in the mail that your
documents have been destroyed if you choose.

ProShred accepts drop-offs from Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Items that can be shredded include obsolete tax documents, cancelled
checks, credit card statements or receipts, old business records, and
old insurance documents. There's no need to remove binder covers,
binder clips or staples before bringing the documents to ProShred.

For more, see http://www.proshred.com/about.aspx?
franchise_id=18&id=578 , call 1-877-767-4733 or 704/940-5617.
ProShred is a Charlotte shredding service dedicated to on-site
shredding, the most secure, convenient and cost-effective method for
destroying and recycling confidential documents and materials. The
company also provides hard-drive destruction for end-of-life computers.

Extreme Pita Putting a 'Wrap' On Charlotte With Half-Priced Pitas Jan. 29-30

Continuing to set a new bar in convenient, healthy dining, Extreme
Pita announces the opening of its newest restaurant in Charlotte.
Located in Ballantyne Village, the new restaurant is the Canadian
franchisor's first franchise location in the area and part of an
expansion initiative that calls for 15-20 restaurants throughout the
greater metropolitan area in the next five years.

Extreme Pita will be hosting a grand opening event January 29-30,
during which time customers will receive half-priced pitas. In
addition, the first 25 customers will receive free pitas for an entire
year.

"We're extremely excited about bringing Extreme Pita's fresh and
healthy menu to Charlotte," said Tracy Olson, owner and operator of
the new restaurant. "We look forward to feeding the local appetite and
answering the call for healthful quick serve alternatives."

Positioned in a niche between monster fast food outlets and fast
casual dining environments, Extreme Pita offers consumers convenience
and value with its large selection of fresh and nutritious pita
sandwiches. Featuring a "no rules" menu that customizes every rolled
pita to suit the individual tastes of its health conscious customers,
Extreme Pita serves all pitas fresh or sautéed in water, not oil,
right in front of the customer. Sandwich options range from tuna,
steak and ham to vegetarian options, including falafel and hummus,
among others.

According to Olson, Extreme Pita's fresh and healthy menu is keeping
the burgeoning franchise ahead of the competition, emphasizing that
while the down economy has forced some consumers to reduce their
frequency of eating out, others are simply looking for more healthful
and cost-conscious options.

"The current economic climate presents a great opportunity for us, as
consumers are constantly making trade-offs and looking for value when
it comes to their dining options," she added. "While many consumers
are downgrading from casual dining to QSR, they prefer not to
compromise their choice in food. Good economy or bad, customers want
to enjoy foods they crave without sacrificing freshness, nutritional
value and taste."

Extreme Pita was co-founded by Alex and Mark Rechichi in 1997. Their
desire was to provide a product that would compete against traditional
fast food concepts. Right from the start their idea was simple – sell
fresh and healthy food. After a great deal of research and
experimenting, Extreme Pita became the answer to this quest. Today the
company boasts more than 235 locations in North America and is
experiencing a double digit growth rate. For more information on
Extreme Pita, visitwww.extremepita.com.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Back Expert Reveals Secrets of Pain Relief This Month in Davidson

The internationally acclaimed Gokhale Method (sm) comes to Davidson,
N.C., in a series of classes that will be held by instructor Maya
White on Friday January 29 – Sunday, January 31. The Gokhale Method is
a system for pain-free living developed by Esther Gokhale, renowned
author of "8 Steps to a Pain Free Back."

The classes are six, 90-minute workshops in three days that will fix
your posture, heal your pain and give you the tools to prevent injury
without months of doctors' visits, pills or therapy.

Sessions provide lifelong tools for healthy, pain-free posture and
movement. They teach participants how to: reduce or eliminate many
kinds of musculoskeletal pain, prevent joint degeneration, increase
energy, stamina and flexibility, reduce stress and look and feel more
confident.

Esther Gokhale is an acupuncturist, author and expert in pain-free
living. She developed the Gokhale Method (sm), a unique, systematic
approach to help people find their bodies' way back to pain-free
living. Esther has practiced acupuncture and taught posture, dance,
and yoga in her Palo Alto, Calif., wellness center for the past twenty
years.

In 8 Steps to a Pain Free Back (Pendo Press; April 2008; $24.95),
Gokhale uses historical and scientific facts to show that most of what
our culture has taught us about posture, including what most doctors
recommend, is misguided and even damaging.

In many cultures, people still have knowledge of natural posture and
movement that prevents pain and enhances health. Both manual laborers
and sedentary workers from remote Burkina Faso, villages in Brazil,
and rural Portugal have not forgotten how to sit, stand, walk and
sleep in harmony with their bodies' design. As a result, they do not
suffer from back pain. Inspired by their techniques, Gokhale has
created a method of posture re-education that has guided thousands of
her clients away from back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and
other musculoskeletal ailments.

The Gokhale Method courses will take place starting the evening of
Friday, January 29 – Sunday, January 31 at 203 Lorimer Road, Davidson,
N.C. 28036. Registrants can sign up at www.egwellness.com or by
calling 1-888-55-POSTURE.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

National expert in media effects will speak at Davidson Feb. 3

One of the nation's leading scholars in media and communication
studies, Jennings F. Bryant, will present the annual McGaw Lecture at
his alma mater, Davidson College, on Wednesday evening, February 3.

There is no charge to attend the talk, titled "Why Did I Just Watch
That?" which begins at 7 p.m. in Duke Family Performance Hall. For
more information call 704-894-2528.

Bryant is the Distinguished Research Professor and Associate Dean of
the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the
University of Alabama, and Director of its Institute for Communication
Research.

In his talk at Davidson, Bryant will combine research findings with
theoretical concepts from Aristotle, Freud and recent communication
and cognitive psychology to explain the appeal of traditional and new
types of media. He will also indicate some relatively unknown
rationales for "guilty pleasures" in the entertainment arena.

Bryant, a 1967 Davidson graduate, earned a Master of Divinity degree
in Communications and Counseling summa cum laude from the Louisville
Theological Seminary. He received his Ph.D. in Mass Communication,
again summa cum laude, from Indiana University.

A prolific and distinguished scholar who has published more than 200
articles in leading journals, he was instrumental in the formative
stages of the Children's Television Workshop and Sesame Street. He
served as President of the International Communication Association and
has been named a Distinguished Scholar of the Broadcast Education
Association. A superb and lively public speaker, he has won several
teaching awards, including this year's Burnum Distinguished Faculty
Award from the University of Alabama.

His varied background allows him to bring valuable professional
experience into the classroom. In his younger years, he was a Spencer
Fellow at Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) where
he worked on Sesame Street and The Electric Company. He wrote for
children's television programs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also
founded and sold two companies that produced specialty television
programs, and through the years served as a consultant to more than 45
major media companies.

From 1990 through August 2004, under Bryant's leadership the
University of Alabama's Institute for Communication Research worked
with federal and state agencies, foundations, and more than 60
corporate clients and performed about $8 million in studies to help
them address a wide range of communication issues and problems. The
institute presented more than 200 reports to clients including the
United States Department of Education on the TI-IN United Star
Network, to Lawrence Erlbaum Associates on textbook curriculum
analysis, to the Children's Television Workshop on television violence
issues, to Nick Jr. on the effects of viewing particular programs, and
to Southern Progress Corporation on readership studies.

He conducted a major research project in 1989 funded by the National
Association of Broadcasters about the effects of TV violence on young
viewers, and continues to research on this topic, as well as the
effects of the use of entertainment in educational television. He has
also researched and provided commentary on the commercialization of
children's television and the use of children's programming to sell
goods.

Bryant's contributions in terms of media effects include coediting
with Dolf Zillmann the 2002 volume Media Effects: Advances in Theory
and Research, which is used in mass communication theory classes
worldwide. His 1983 book with Dan Anderson titled Children's
Understanding of Television: Research on Attention and Comprehension
is still one of the most frequently cited books on media and children.
In 2001 Bryant and his daughter Alison wrote the second edition of
Television and the American Family. He continues to be among the most
prolific of scholars, publishing four books during the first half of
2006 alone.

He also coedits a series of scholarly books and advanced textbooks for
the publishing firm of Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, many of which have
won major awards.

His visit to Davidson, which will include a workshop for faculty about
how digital media has altered the way young people think and act, is
sponsored by the college's Public Lectures Committee.
Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for
1,800 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C.
Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has
graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of
the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson
Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the
nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages,
giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson
competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding
Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
###

CPCC's Institute for Entrepreneurship to offer a free seminar the week of February 8

The Institute for Entrepreneurship at Central Piedmont Community
College announces a free seminar for the week of February 8:
Wednesday, February 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at South County Library,
Charlotte, N.C.
How to Fund Your Start-Up SBX 7529-501
This seminar reviews the various forms of equity and debt financing,
including conventional bank loans,
SBA guaranteed loans, private loans, venture capital, factored
receivables, credit cards and supplier trade credit.
To register, visit www.cpcc.edu/e-institute and/or call 704.330.4223.
The Institute for Entrepreneurship at CPCC is a member of the Small
Business Center Network (SBCN) comprised of 58 Centers throughout
North Carolina. The objective of the SBCN is to increase the success
rate and the number of viable small businesses in North Carolina by
providing high quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective
and existing small business owners and their employees
Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in
North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification
programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing
education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically,
financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of
Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named
CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the
workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers
through innovative educational and training strategies.

Free talk - Charlotte and the Great Depression - How We Rebounded

How did Charlotteans of the 1930s deal with sudden economic
contraction and a prolonged depression? As businesses failed and
personal fortunes were wiped out, the people of Mecklenburg County
nevertheless organized themselves to address the crisis and plan for
future growth.

Hear what they did -- and how we can learn from them as our region's
economy changes -- in a free talk with librarian Tom Cole from the
Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.
Economic transitions have been the key to our region's growth and can
be again. Cole will share an uplifting message, based on our history,
during our own time of economic dislocation.

Join us on Sunday, January 31, 3 pm at The Duke Mansion, 400 Hermitage
Road in Charlotte. Parking is free. Cole's talk is part of the Explore
History! Series co-sponsored by the Levine Museum of the New South and
The Duke Mansion. For details: 704/714-4400

The attached photo is a 1931 shot featuring Amelia Earhart visiting
Charlotte.

UPDATED REGISTER OF DEEDS WEB SITE

The Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds has updated its website (http://meckrod.manatron.com
) to provide County residents with more information about filing an
Assumed Name certificate.

Anyone doing business in Mecklenburg County under a name other than
the business owner's given name is required to file an Assumed Name
certificate with the Register of Deeds. If a business operates as a
sole proprietorship or a general partnership, it should file an
Assumed Name Certificate, also known as a d.b.a. (stands for "doing
business as"), for each name the business uses. If a business
operates as a corporation, limited partnership, or limited liability
company and operates under a name other than the name on file with the
Secretary of State, an Assumed Name Certificate must be filed in each
county in which the business will have a registered or principal office.

Since the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds office does not provide
the Assumed Name certificate form, the recent web site updates provide
County business owners with links to the North Carolina Department of
Commerce, where the form is available to download free of charge.

The new web site updates also include links to the North Carolina
Secretary of State, the Central Piedmont Community College Institute
for Entrepreneurship, the Mecklenburg County Economic Development
Office and the US Small Business Administration. There is also a list
of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Assumed Name filings.

Before recording the Assumed Name with the Register of Deeds, business
owners should perform a search of records at the Register of Deeds
office to ensure the name is not already in use. The fee for recording
a one-page assumed name document is $14.00. Each additional page is
$3.00. Assumed Name certificates must be notarized by a Notary Public
before being filed with the Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds
office does not have a Notary Public on staff.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Parks Helms' Resignation Letter

Here's the resignation letter that Parks Helms sent Mecklenburg County
Government Thursday afternoon as he resigned from the ABC Board:
http://bit.ly/6eBe27

Real Estate Services, Roberts win awards

Mecklenburg County Real Estate Services Director Mark Hahn and Board
of County Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts are being recognized
for their thinking, literally.

Both were honored recently with the "Creative Thinker Awards" by the
Chicago-based Counselors of Real Estate.

Roberts, who is in her third term on the BOCC, received her award for
"her forward thinking public policy initiatives that pave the way for
the county to aggressively pursue sustainable development."

Since being elected, Roberts has been a vocal proponent of sustainable
development and sound environmental policies.
Hahn was "the orchestrator of a team… that converted the down and out
Freedom Mall into a cutting-edge example of what mixed use office and
retail revitalization can do for a struggling neighborhood," the
organization said.

The County facility, formerly called the Freedom Mall, is at 3205
Freedom Drive and has been re-named the Valerie C. Woodard Center.

The facility is a converted mall that houses County social services,
Information Services and Technology, and Real Estate Services offices.
The County will seek LEED certification for the facility, which
incorporates several green-building features such as rainwater
collection and storage, rain gardens, an under-floor air distribution
system, extensive use of recycled materials throughout the building,
and eco-friendly paints, carpets and furniture.

The second phase of the building's renovation was completed in April.
The third phase will expand the size of the facility to 400,000 square
feet.

Frank Warren, Carolinas Chapter president, said, "We saw a number of
extraordinary projects, both large and small, worthy of recognition.
We want this award to encourage creative solutions to complicated
development opportunities, particularly those in urban areas that can
promote the principles of long-term sustainability."

The Counselors of Real Estate is a by-invitation-only international
organization of 1,100 real estate professionals with proven experience
finding solutions for real estate projects.

Haley Dreis, Liz Howell & Dave Petty to Perform at Yn Wine Café

Yn Wine Café will wrap up the month of January with another segment in
its Emerging Artist Series with performances by Haley Dreis, Liz
Howell and Dave Petty.

The performances will take place on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 beginning at
8 p.m. There is no cover charge, and the doors will open at 5 p.m.

About the Artists

Haley Dreis
Haley Dries has loved all types of music since she was 6 years old.
Currently, Dries is a student at the University of South Carolina,
where she is studying music and journalism. She uses her classical
training as a base and taught herself how to play guitar a year ago
during a break in her studies. Dreis is making waves in the New York
City music scene with her debut indie release, Beautiful to Me, now
available on CDBaby and iTunes.

Liz Howell & Dave Petty
A resident of Charlotte, Howell began playing guitar and writing songs
when she was a teenager. After partnering with Tyger Wade in 2004,
they released their debut folk-country self-titled CD in 2006 on
CDBaby. Their second CD, released in 2007, has a rich, bluesy feel.
Recently, Howell went solo, but has teamed up with Dave Petty to write
a few country songs. Petty, also a resident of the Queen City has been
playing the local coffeehouse scene for more than 10 years. His sound
has been described as country driven by rock progression with The
Eagles, Radney Foster and Pat Green as influences. Both Howell and
Petty are members of the NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association
International), and have recently entered their works into CMT's song
contest.

Also, every Sunday at Yn Wine Café is Martini Sundays. Patrons can
enjoy one of our perfectly mixed martinis for just $6 – Sunday nights
never tasted (or sounded) so good. For more information about the
Emerging Artist Series, please contact Sasha Rabon by calling
704-724-6150 or emailingsrabon@131-main.com.

About Yn Wine Café
Yn Wine Café, located at 1315 East Blvd., Charlotte, is a true Napa
Valley wine bar in the heart of Dilworth. It has a collection of
award-winning wines and also offers small plates of delicious light
fare including Espresso Rubbed Tuna, Tender Short Ribs, Fresh Shrimp
Rolls and Homemade White Chocolate Bread Pudding. Yn Wine Café's
hours of operation are Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Monday through
Thursday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m.
to 1 a.m. Yn Wine Café is owned and operated by Captiva Restaurant
Group who also own and operate 131 Main Restaurants, an upscale casual
dining restaurant serving updated American classics with an emphasis
on fresh food with four locations in North Carolina, including one in
Dilworth. Based in Cornelius, NC, Captiva was founded in 2004 by its
three principals: Joe Douglas (CEO), Michael Vaughn (COO) and Chris
Carlsen (CFO). For more information, visit www.yn-cafe.com.

-

Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights Quarterly Survey Finds New Retirement Sensibilities and Priorities Emerging Among Affluent Americans

Bank of America today announced findings from the latest Merrill Lynch
Affluent Insights Quarterly, a survey of the values, financial
priorities and concerns of affluent Americans and the challenges and
opportunities they face. Focused largely on issues related to
retirement, the second in this series of quarterly surveys reveals
that many affluent Americans are rethinking their vision of retirement
and offers lessons learned from retirees and what they wished they had
done differently when planning for retirement.

Surprisingly, given the opportunity to do it all again, roughly half
(51%) of retired respondents indicated that they would have focused
more on their "life goals" and less on "the numbers" and on hitting a
specific nest egg dollar amount when planning for retirement, while
the remaining respondents (49%) indicated that they would have focused
more on "the numbers."

Retirees who wished they had focused more on their "life goals"
indicated that they would have spent more time determining how they
wanted to live in their retirement years (38%) and based their
retirement income needs not just on a number that would sustain them
but on one that would help them live their ideal lifestyle during
these years (13%). Additionally, 8 percent would have created a plan
to better support their philanthropic missions. Among those who
indicated that they would have focused more on "the numbers," 23
percent wished they had started working with a financial advisor
earlier in life and 18 percent would have given up more luxuries in
order to reach their retirement goals. Among all retired respondents,
three out of 10 (31%) worked with a financial advisor when planning
for retirement, though, in hindsight, more than half (55%) wished they
had started doing so sooner.

"Helping our clients plan for retirement will continue to be a core
focus for our business in the years ahead," said Sallie Krawcheck,
president of Bank of America Global Wealth & Investment Management.
"Our experienced Financial Advisors work closely with clients to
better understand their lifetime aspirations. Through this personal
approach, coupled with a sophisticated portfolio of financial
solutions, we strive to help clients minimize the complexity and
uncertainty associated with retirement, allowing them to concentrate
on what matters most."

Impact of the Recession

In the wake of economic recession, 56 percent of respondents, whether
retired or not, found some "silver lining" in how it affected - or may
affect - their retirement planning and priorities. The survey finds
affluent Americans returning or holding on to core values, including
an enhanced focus on things that will matter most in retirement, such
as family and friends (33%), and a realization that there may have to
be trade-offs in retirement or a scaling back of their current
lifestyle (23%). Others decided to take their retirement "off
autopilot" and start thinking more about what they need to do in order
to live the retirement they want (19%).

Reflecting on 2009, respondents also indicated various lifestyle
changes made during the last 12 months. As they looked to reduce or
control spending, last year more than twice as many individuals spent
less on "personal luxuries" (43%) when compared to those who gave less
to charities than they had in previous years (21%). Other ways
affluent Americans changed the way they lived in 2009 included:


• Cutting energy costs (48%).
• Becoming more aware of day-to-day/short-term cash flow (38%).
• Vacationing less (30%) or closer to home (20%).
• Scaling back on recreational activities such as golf, skiing,
tennis, etc. (29%).
• Delaying capital expenditures, e.g., home improvements or
automobile expenses (16%).

More than half (52%) of non-retired respondents made some adjustments
to their lifestyle last year, expressing concern about the impact of
the economy on their ability to meet their financial goals (50%).
Among non-retired respondents who now feel off track in terms of when
they had hoped to retire, 68 percent cited that the recession has in
some way taken its toll on their finances. Although 29 percent still
expect to retire later than originally planned, this number is down
from 37 percent in our previous survey (released Oct. 5, 2009).


"The recession has caused Americans' attitudes toward retirement to
evolve at an unprecedented pace," said Andy Sieg, head of Retirement &
Philanthropic Services at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. "For many,
retirement is no longer a specific date at which an individual goes
from working to not working. Today, the transition into retirement is
tending to be more gradual and fluid. As such, an effective retirement
strategy should go beyond an accumulation target and retirement income
planning, and take into account what is truly important to an
individual or couple, as well as the challenges they may face down the
road."


Health Care Costs a High Concern


The survey illustrates that affluent Americans are slightly less
concerned about the current impact of economic issues, with 84 percent
citing high concerns compared to 95 percent in the previous survey.
However, rising health care costs continued to rank among the highest
financial concerns for both retired and non-retired respondents. Fifty-
nine percent of retirees cited rising health care costs as a high
concern and, among them, 41 percent were unsure how future health care
costs should factor into their retirement plans, and 37 percent were
confused by ongoing public and government debate over health care
reform issues.


Similarly, 53 percent of non-retired respondents also cited health
care costs as a high concern. Among them, 54 percent noted their
advancing age, 44 percent the health care debate, and 39 percent the
potential impact of future health care costs on their retirement plans
as major drivers of their concern. Additionally, 13 percent of these
respondents noted the need to simultaneously support the health care
costs of their children and aging parents as a significant factor in
their overall health care concerns.


Other high concerns among respondents included (T=total; R=retired;
NR=non-retired):


• Ensuring retirement assets will last through lifetime (T: 53%, R:
51%, NR: 55%).
• Potential for inflation (T: 48%, R: 50%, NR: 47%).
• Afford the lifestyle I want in retirement (T: 48%, R: 41%, NR: 53%).
• Preserving inheritance for children/grandchildren (T: 37%, R: 32%,
NR: 41%).
• Ability to support philanthropic priorities (T: 29%, R: 31%, NR:
28%).
• Caring for aging parents (T: 23%, R: 19%, NR: 26%).

Advice from Retirees


In this survey, retirees were asked where they would recommend those
within 10 to 15 years of retirement focus their attention and where
those more than 15 years from retirement should be focused:


Within 10 - 15 years of retirement:

• Build a plan around what is most important to you in retirement
(51%).
• Have a plan to manage retirement income throughout retirement (47%).
• Pay down debt (40%).
• Account for unexpected costs and risks such as health care, cost of
living and/or market fluctuations (38%).
• Pursue home ownership (24%).
• Be cautious of taking investment risks (21%).

More than 15 years to retirement:

• Build a plan around what is most important to you in retirement
(43%).
• Pay down debt (41%).
• Have a plan to manage retirement income throughout retirement (39%).
• Account for unexpected costs and risks such as health care, cost of
living and/or market fluctuations (38%).
• Work with a financial advisor if you don't already (25%).
• Pursue home ownership (25%).

"Understanding our clients' retirement-related realities and pursuits
is a tremendous asset and helps us to guide them on their journey,"
said Claire Huang, head of marketing for Bank of America Global Wealth
Management, Global Banking and Global Markets. "Through continuously
conducted surveys such as this, we have greater insight into their
current priorities and concerns. These findings, along with our market
research, help us stay on top of an evolving marketplace and offer
better retirement advice and solutions."


Affluent Insights Quarterly Methodology


Braun Research conducted the Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights Quarterly
survey by phone between Dec. 1 and Dec. 16, 2009 on behalf of Merrill
Lynch Global Wealth Management. Braun contacted a nationally
representative sample of 1,000 affluent Americans with investable
assets in excess of $250,000, and oversampled 300 affluent Americans
in each of 14 target markets including Atlanta, Ga.; Boston, Mass.;
Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; Miami, Fla.;
Minneapolis, Minn.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Philadelphia, Pa.; San Francisco,
Calif.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Fairfield County, Conn. (Stamford,
Greenwich and Westport); Washington, D.C.; Orange County, Calif.
(Irvine, Laguna Hills and Newport Beach). The margin of error is +/-
3.1% for the national sample and +/- 5.7% for the oversample markets,
with both reported at a 95% confidence level.


Bank of America


Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions,
serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and
large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk management products and
services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United
States, serving approximately 53 million consumer and small business
relationships with 6,000 retail banking offices, more than 18,000 ATMs
and award-winning online banking with more than 29 million active
users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management
companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking
and trading across a broad range of asset classes serving
corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the
world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 4
million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-
use online products and services. The company serves clients in more
than 150 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a
component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Researchers Develop First Successful Hair Cloning Technique

Two leading New York and Charlotte hair transplant surgeons and
researchers, Gary Hitzig, M.D. and Jerry Cooley, M.D.., have become
the first medical doctors to successfully clone hair using an FDA-
cleared wound healing powder called MatriStem®MicroMatrix™. Using
this powder, Dr. Hitzig and Dr. Cooley have been able to create a
technique that multiplies the number of hair follicles in an area that
had previously stopped growing hair – a breakthrough that many hair
restoration researchers have been trying to accomplish.

MatriStem MicroMatrix, a product of regenerative medicine innovator,
ACell, Inc., is a wound healing powder that promotes healing and
tissue growth and has now proven to help regenerate hair in the donor
and recipient regions of hair transplant patients. While intended for
diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, traumatic wounds,
second degree burns, surgical wounds (donor sites/grafts) and trauma
wounds, Hitzig and Cooley have found that its properties offer a
broader scope of treatment, including hair cloning.

MatriStem fundamentally changes wound healing by triggering new blood
vessel formation at the wound site, as well as providing a favorable
substrate for host cell attachment, proliferation and
differentiation. Hitzig and Cooley have also found that MatriStem
causes the body to regenerate the original tissue complete with hair
follicles.

"We've made amazing breakthroughs using MatriStem as a hair cloning
tool," said Dr. Hitzig. "We've been able to multiply the number of
hair follicles growing in the recipient area, and as an added benefit
are seeing faster hair growth. This new hair cloning technique also
makes hair transplantation surgery less invasive.

"We are excited about the results of our preliminary studies," said
Dr. Cooley. "By combining the MatriStem with existing follicle
components, it appears that we are able to achieve true hair
regeneration. Further research will help us to refine this process to
make it a consistent, reproducible technique. It may be especially
well suited for those who have run out of traditional hair for
transplantation."

The original intent of the study was to see if the wound healing
powder could correct scars from previous hair transplants and re-grow
hair in the donor area. Successful results in treating scars led to
this hair cloning breakthrough.

Dr. Gary Hitzig is a board certified hair restoration surgeon in New
York City. He is also the author of Help and Hope for Hair Loss and
developed and patented the Hitzig Linear Punch, a collection of
extremely sharp disposable surgical punches that make narrow
elliptical slots, which are sold to surgeons around the world. Dr.
Hitzig has published numerous peer review articles on hair transplant
techniques and is a regular presenter at medical hair restoration
symposiums around the world. Dr. Hitzig is a member of the American
Society of Dermatological Surgery, International Society of Hair
Restoration Surgery and the American Hair Loss Council. He can be
reached at (516) 536-0385 or visit www.nyhairloss.com.

Dr. Jerry Cooley is a board certified dermatologist in Charlotte,
North Carolina and diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration
Surgery (ABHRS). He currently serves as Vice President of the
International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). A frequent
lecturer at hair transplantation conferences, Dr. Cooley has authored
numerous articles and textbook chapters, and is past co-editor of the
Hair Transplant Forum International, the most widely read journal
dedicated to hair transplantation. Dr. Cooley can be reached at (704)
542-1601 or visit www.haircenter.com.

CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCES INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS MANAGER

Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton announced today that Julie White
has been named Intergovernmental Relations Manager for the City of
Charlotte. She replaces Boyd Cauble who retired in December. White
will be leaving her post as the Director of the North Carolina
Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, a group of the State's twenty six
largest city mayors focused on addressing issues affecting local
governments and promoting the interchange of ideas and experiences to
expand urban areas as livable, environmentally sound and economically
viable. As director she helped establish and execute legislative
priorities for advocacy, research and coalition-building.

Her 15-year career includes serving as Senior Policy Advisor to Lt.
Governor Dennis Wicker and Legislative Liaison for House Majority
Leader Representative Phil Baddour before joining the North Carolina
Department of State Treasurer. During her tenure at the State
Treasurer she held various positions including Director of
Communications, Director of Corporate Governance, and Senior Advisor.
From October 2007 through May 2008 she took a leave of absence from
the Department to become Deputy Campaign Manager for Richard Moore's
campaign for governor.

White will assume her new role January 18 as senior advisor to the
City Manager regarding policy issues, strategic initiatives, and
legislative proposals. She will be responsible for providing in-depth
policy research, analysis and lobbying on Federal and State
legislation impacting the City of Charlotte.

As primary liaison between other governmental entities White will work
with quasi-public sector agencies and private sector organizations to
maximize efforts and influence legislative outcomes. These include
Mecklenburg County, the Metropolitan Transit Commission, and the North
Carolina League of Municipalities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the
National League of Cities, the Chamber of Commerce as well as higher
education institutions and designated advocacy groups.

"Her strong legislative background and reputation for working
effectively with elected and appointed officials across the region and
state will be an asset to the City of Charlotte," says Walton.
"Additionally, her experience in governance and policy-making will
help us accomplish our priorities."

In an effort to strengthen the relationship between the State and the
City of Charlotte, White will be based in Raleigh allowing her to
greatly increase the City's involvement with the state's elected and
appointed leadership. Having the City's chief lobbyist working in
Raleigh for a significant portion of her time will enable the City to
significantly expand its advocacy work both during the regular
sessions of the General Assembly and in the interim. White will be in
Charlotte to participate in City Council meetings, staff meetings and
other intergovernmental policy meetings.

"I look forward to joining the City of Charlotte's professional staff
with an eye to building stronger relationships between the City and
the State's elected leadership," White says. "Providing a greater
focus on the State's Capitol will ensure better information sharing
and more opportunities for input into the legislative, policy, and
regulatory development processes for the City."

White holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a
Masters of Public Administration from North Carolina State University.
She also attended the Stanford Law School Fiduciary College, an
intensive three-day program for trustees and senior managers of
endowments, foundations, and public, corporate, and union pension funds.

White will also be responsible for the development and execution of
the City's federal agenda and will be the City's principal contact
with Holland & Knight, the City's lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.

More than 150 candidates applied from across the country. White was
selected among 10 finalists for the position.

CEO Inc. President Deborah Millhouse Named to PRC Board

Deborah Millhouse, president of CEO Inc. (www.ceohr.com) has been
named to the Pregnancy Resource Center's board of directors. The
Center is a non-profit, non-denominational organization which provides
young men and women who are or believe they might be expecting with
information, compassion and support.

About Deborah Millhouse
Deborah Millhouse is President of CEO Inc. She received her Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration from the University of Redlands,
Redlands California. Millhouse is a Certified Staffing Professional
(CSP) as designated by the American Staffing Association, Certified
Personnel Consultant (CPC) and Certified Temporary Staffing Specialist
(CTS) as designated by the National Association of Personnel Services.
She was named to the Business LeaderHall of Fame as one of the top
entrepreneurs in the Charlotte area and to the Business Leader list of
2008 Women Extraordinaire, which recognizes women of extraordinary
accomplishment and contribution. She was also named a Women in
Business Achievement Award winner by Charlotte Business Journal for
significant business accomplishments.

CEO Inc. is certified as a bona fide Women's Business Enterprise by
the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and as a
Women-Owned Business by the City of Charlotte Minority and Women
Business Development Office. For more information please visit www.ceohr.com
or call 704-372-4701.

CPCC's Institute for Entrepreneurship to offer two free seminars the week of February 1

The Institute for Entrepreneurship at Central Piedmont Community
College announces two free seminars for the week of February 1:

Monday, February 1, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Morrison Library, Charlotte,
N.C.

From Corporate World to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition SBX
7892-501

From your corporate desk, have you ever daydreamed of running your
own business? This seminar outlines the path from corporate America to
entrepreneurship. What is it really like to run a business? How do I
decide the best business for me? How much money is it going to take?
Where do I find the financing I need? How much money can I potentially
make? These questions and more will be answered in the seminar

Thursday, February 4, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Institute for
Entrepreneurship, Central Campus

Advanced Job Costing with QuickBooks® SBX 7831-501

Want to know how much your business makes on each item you sell, what
costs you have not billed for, or how to invoice from bills? See how
to compare estimates to actual numbers or run job profitability
reports. This seminar demonstrates how the advanced job costing
features in QuickBooks® Pro helps you run your business more
efficiently.

To register, visit www.cpcc.edu/e-institute and/or call 704.330.4223.

The Institute for Entrepreneurship at CPCC is a member of the Small
Business Center Network (SBCN) comprised of 58 Centers throughout
North Carolina. The objective of the SBCN is to increase the success
rate and the number of viable small businesses in North Carolina by
providing high quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective
and existing small business owners and their employees

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in
North Carolina, offering close
to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate
training, market-focused continuing
education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically,
financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of
Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named
CPCC the

Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and
technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative
educational and training strategies.

Charlotte Mayor Foxx will host "fireside chat" at Davidson College King Day celebration

In addition to the previously announced talk by former N.C. Supreme
Court
Chief Justice Henry Frye, Davidson College¹s Martin Luther King Day
celebration will now also feature a "fireside chat" with Charlotte's new
mayor, 1993 Davidson graduate Anthony Foxx.

Foxx will host the discussion with students and community members from
3 to
4:45 p.m. on Monday, January 18, in the Alvarez College Union Smith 900
Room. There is no admission charge.

Raised in Charlotte by his mother and grandparents, Foxx graduated
from West
Charlotte High School and enrolled in Davidson. He became the college's
first African American student body president, and earned a bachelor's
degree in history. He earned his law degree from New York University
School
of Law, and then held positions in all three branches of federal
government.
He was a judicial clerk for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Sixth
Circuit, a
trial attorney for the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of
the
U.S. Department of Justice and counsel for the House Judiciary
Committee.

Foxx returned to Charlotte and served on a number of community boards,
including the Mecklenburg County Education Budget Advisory Committee,
the
North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation Board
and
the North Carolina Dance Theatre Board. He was elected as an at-large
member
of Charlotte City Council in 2005, and was elected Mayor in November
2009.

The previously announced schedule of King Day educational seminars
concerning race and justice has been adjusted to accommodate Mayor
Foxx¹s
appearance. The seminars will now run concurrently in the Alvarez
College
Union from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. They are:

• In Room 312 Assistant Professor of Education Hilton Kelly will lead
a film
and discussion titled "Like Being Untied and Tickled at the Same Time:
Remembering Legally Segregated Schools for Blacks." The presentation
will
consider the legacy of legally segregated schools for blacks and
suggests
new ways of thinking about today's resegregated schools.

• In Room 302, 1995 Davidson graduate and journalist Issac J. Bailey
will
lead a session titled "Why I Don't Eat Watermelon in Front of White
People
Even in a Post-Racial World." The title is drawn from a book published
by
Bailey in 2009 concerning contemporary race relations. Bailey writes
feature
stories and a regular column for the Myrtle Beach Sun-News, and has
won many
awards for outstanding journalism from the South Carolina Press
Association.

• In the Smith 900 Room three current Davidson students - Jesse Johnson,
Darrell Scott and Justin Hua, along with Diversity Program Advisor
Cristina
Garcia, will lead a session titled "Check All that Apply: Examining the
Complexities of Racial Identity as Forced by Societal Labeling." The
discussion will focus on the terms society has chosen for labeling
individuals based on ethnicity and race. College applications,
employment
applications, the Census and medical forms have long included
identification
by race, but some are changing. Participants will be asked talk about
how
changes are influencing societal interpretations of ethnicity and race.

The day's activities also include a walk for justice, "King Day for
Kids,"
and a Gospel Extravaganza. For further information, call 704-894-2225.

Monday, January 4, 2010

BBRRRR! Bundle up - and protect your water pipes from extreme cold

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities (Utilities) crews are repairing at
least four leaks and others are under investigation. If you see water
leaking onto a street or sidewalk, please call 311 or 704-336-7600.

Utilities encourages customers to protect their plumbing in a home or
business. Taking steps now can prevent burst water pipes and costly
repairs later.

Try these tips:
* Insulating exposed pipes in unheated areas. Pipe wrapping material
is available at your local hardware.
* Sealing any openings and air leaks in your crawl space or basement.
Use cardboard, plastic or newspaper to seal air vents if necessary.
* Open doors on cabinets below sinks to allow warmer room air to
circulate around plumbing at night.
* Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots.
* Unplug automatic lawn sprinkler systems if you have one. Irrigation
line breaks and sprinklers spraying onto sidewalks and roadways will
quickly lead to serious public safety hazards.
* If you own a backflow prevention assembly, contact Utilities
backflow staff at 704.399.2426 for tips on properly winterizing your
system.

Former NC Chief Justice will highlight Davidson College's King Day events

Davidson College invites the public to attend a full day of activities
on Monday, Jan. 18, in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Featured
guest for the event will be former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice
Henry Frye.
Frye holds a long list of "firsts" in the state. In 1968 he became the
first African-American to serve in the N.C. House of Representatives
in the twentieth century. He served there a dozen years, and then was
a state Senator for two years. In 1983 he was appointed by Governor
Jim Hunt as the first African-American to serve on the N.C. Supreme
Court. In 1999 Gov. Hunt appointed him as Chief Justice -- another
first. Frye served in that post for two years, and currently practices
law in Greensboro.

Chief Justice Frye will present the keynote speech at a Community
Convocation from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Alvarez College Union
Smith 900 Room. An hour-long community reception featuring
performances from Davidson's a cappella groups will follow.

There is no cost to participate in any of the day's events, which
focus on the theme, "Realizing the Dream." They begin at 9:30 a.m.
with a "Walk for Change" beginning and ending on the front steps of
Chambers Building. The walk will conclude with a reading of Dr. Martin
Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
From 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room
student volunteers will a host "King Day for Kids" program for
children age kindergarten through fifth grade. Activities will focus
on literacy, social justice, and community involvement, with children
participating in small group readings, storytelling, and bookmaking.
All participants will receive literacy-based goody bags. Parents
interested in enrolling children in the program should RSVP by calling
704-894-2872.

The afternoon will feature three seminars in the Alvarez College Union
that concern race and justice.

There will be two concurrent seminars from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. In Room
312 Assistant Professor of Education Hilton Kelly will lead a film and
discussion titled "Like Being Untied and Tickled at the Same Time:
Remembering Legally Segregated Schools for Blacks." The presentation
will consider the legacy of legally segregated schools for blacks and
suggests new ways of thinking about today's resegregated schools.

In Room 302, 1995 Davidson graduate and journalist Issac J. Bailey
will lead a session titled "Why I Don't Eat Watermelon in Front of
White People Even in a Post-Racial World." The title is drawn from a
book published by Bailey in 2009 concerning contemporary race
relations. Bailey writes feature stories and a regular column for the
Myrtle Beach Sun-News, and has won many awards for outstanding
journalism from the South Carolina Press Association.

The final seminar of the day will be held from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in
the Smith 900 Room. Three current Davidson students – Jesse Johnson,
Darrell Scott and Justin Hua, along with Diversity Program Advisor
Cristina Garcia, will lead a session titled "Check All that Apply:
Examining the Complexities of Racial Identity as Forced by Societal
Labeling." The discussion will focus on the terms society has chosen
for labeling individuals based on ethnicity and race. College
applications, employment applications, the Census and medical forms
have long included identification by race, but some are changing.
Participants will be asked talk about how changes are influencing
societal interpretations of ethnicity and race.

The day's events will conclude in celebration with a Gospel
Extravaganza beginning at 7 p.m. in Duke Family Performance Hall.
Individuals and groups currently scheduled to perform are the Davidson
College Gospel Choir, Fresh Anointing of Wingate, N.C., Rae Ellis of
Charlotte, and Kabra Benford and Psalms 100 of Columbia, S.C. There
will be a special guest appearance by Ivan Powell and Garment of
Praise of Raleigh.

CPCC Entrepreneurial training program offered to displaced workers at no cost

The Institute for Entrepreneurship at Central Piedmont Community
College (CPCC) will offer the award-winning FastTrac® NewVenture™
program to emerging entrepreneurs beginning February 2. Through
funding provided by Governor Perdue's Charlotte Regional Economic and
Workforce Recovery Initiative, this program, valued at several hundred
dollars, is offered at no cost to North Carolina residents who are
unemployed or underemployed and want to pursue business ownership as a
career. This program is part of FastTrac® LaunchPad, a joint
initiative of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Deluxe
Corporation Foundation.

The FastTrac® NewVenture™ program is a practical, hands-on business
development program designed to help budding entrepreneurs develop a
business idea and then plan the critical steps to a successful
business launch, including how to identify and reach target markets,
plan and man operations, set financial goals, fund the startup and
much more. To enhance classroom instruction, participants will hear
from successful entrepreneurs, receive coaching from business startup
specialists and work in small group planning sessions with fellow
entrepreneurs. A workbook and online guides for a business plan and
financial worksheets are also included at no cost. At close,
participants will present a summary of their business plan for review
by peers and coaches.

The program will be offered on Tuesdays, February 2 through March 9,
from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hall Professional Development
Building on CPCC's Central Campus. To apply for admittance, go to www.fasttrac.org
and complete the on-line application. Click on "Program Locator –
Get Started" and enter your zip code. Select the Charlotte Region
Programs for Displaced Workers then follow the link for Central
Piedmont Community College. The application deadline is Wednesday,
January 27.

For more information, contact Renee Hode, director of the Institute
for Entrepreneurship at CPCC, at 704.330.6832.

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in
North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification
programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing
education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically,
financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of
Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named
CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the
workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers
through innovative educational and training strategies.