Friday, May 27, 2011

"Fly" with Sugar Ray at Pavilion

Multi-platinum recording artist Sugar Ray will perform under the
Charlotte sky at the open-air Pavilion at EpiCentre on Saturday night,
June 25 as part of the Bud Light Summer Concert Series.

Sugar Ray exploded onto the mainstream in the summer of 1997 with the
single "Fly" from their sophomore album Floored. "Fly" spent four
weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and pushed Floored to double-
platinum status with over two million albums sold. The band's 1999's
follow-up, 14:59, produced two more top ten hits, "Every Morning" and
"Someday."

"When it's Over" from Sugar Ray's self-titled 2001 album was the
group's fourth top 15 single, peaking at No. 13 on the chart. Sugar
Ray's sixth studio album, Music for Cougars, was released in 2009.
Additional information about Sugar Ray is available online at
SugarRay.com and twitter.com/sugarrayband.

Tickets for Sugar Ray at Pavilion are $20 in advance/$25 the day of
the show and are available online at PavilionAtEpiCentre.com. Doors
open at 5 p.m. and show time is tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m. The
Bud Light Summer Concert Series is presented by Bud Light, KISS 95.1,
K 104.7, Three Olives, 1800, Jack Daniels, Bacardi, Fiji Water and Red
Bull. Pavilion is located atop EpiCentre, 210 E Trade Street in the
heart of uptown Charlotte.

Pavilion at EpiCentre is Charlotte's premier rooftop special event
venue, located in the heart of uptown. With its breathtaking views,
contemporary design and sophisticated Penthouse bar and lounge,
Pavilion at EpiCentre redefines urban, upscale events. Flexible floor
plans, the fully equipped Bud Light Sound Stage and unbeatable
amenities combine to accommodate limitless creativity in event design
for groups of any size.

McDowell Nature Center Announces Family Activities for Summer

The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department invites the
community to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax with
family activities each weekend through September at McDowell Nature
Center and Preserve. The activities are part of a series called "The
Great Urban Escape," and include: Playing with Fire, Family Campfire,
Nature at Night Hayride, Messy by Nature, Live Animal Talks andFamily
Kayak Tours.

Activities kick off each Friday night at 6:30 p.m. with Playing with
Fire at the McDowell Campground fire pit. Learn a lifesaving technique
of starting a "matchless" fire. Afterwards, hang out around the
campfire, sing songs, play games, listen to stories and eat s'mores. A
limited seatingNature at Night Hayride departs at 8:15 p.m. from the
campfire. Hayrides cost $1 a person and requires pre-registration.
Registration is not required for the campfire.

Live Animal Talks are offered each Saturday and Sunday. Talks on
Saturday are from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and
Sunday from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Get dirty with Messy by Nature from 1
p.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday, with a variety of messy crafts outside
the Nature Center. Family Kayak Tours launch from the waterfront deck
area each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and each Sunday from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m. Ages 5 and older may participate and the cost is $15 per
single boat and $20 for a tandem. Children ages 5 to 9 are required to
share a tandem kayak with an adult. Space is limited and advance
registration is required. No registration is required for Animal Talk
and Messy by Nature activities.

Bring a picnic and spend the day or make it a weekend and camp in the
only public campground in Mecklenburg County. RV, pull-through and
tent sites are available. A limited number of rent-a-tent sites are
also available. Call the Campground office at 704-583-1284 to make
your reservation.

McDowell Nature Preserve, located on Lake Wylie in southwest
Mecklenburg, protects over 1,100 acres of natural habitat and prairie,
with a Nature Center and seven miles of hiking trails. Admission to
the Preserve and Nature Center are free. The Preserve is open from 7
a.m. to sunset seven days a week. The Nature Center is open Monday –
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call
704-588-5224 for more information or to register for events.

Beneath the Badge at the Charlotte Museum of History

The Charlotte Museum of History will be open to the public for FREE on
Saturday, May 28. CMPD's specialized units will be on site with
displays and demonstrations from noon until 3:00 p.m.

The Beneath the Badge exhibit tells the history of policing in
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. While the exhibit has been at the
museum for more than a year, this is the last weekend it will be open
to the public. Please review the attachment for additional information.

Charlotte Named One Of Top 10 Pet-Friendly U.S. Cities

After scouring the country, Petside.com, the online destination for
pet owners and pet enthusiasts, has released its list of the Top 10
Pet-Friendly U.S. Cities: www.Petside.com/TopPetCities. The rankings,
which take into consideration the number of dog parks and major pet
stores, vets per population, pet-friendly city events and varying city
pet policies, feature the best of the best of pet-friendliness across
the nation. Coming in at the top of the list is sunny San Diego,
California!

With a human population of 1.3 million, and a pet population of 1.2
million, San Diego has more than a dozen dog-friendly beaches and
parks, eight major pet stores and more than 800 veterinarians. More
than 50 restaurants in San Diego allow pets on their patios and many
local businesses offer treats to dogs on the run. And San Diego isn't
the only city where pets live large—with similarly impressive
statistics, nine other major U.S. markets round out Petside's list:

1. San Diego, California
2. Dallas, Texas
3. Seattle, Washington
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Denver, Colorado
6. Tuscon, Arizona
7. Charlotte, North Carolina
8. Fort Worth, Texas
9. Sacramento, California
10. Phoenix, Arizona

To get more details on Petside's list of the Top 10 Pet-Friendly U.S.
Cities, head to www.Petside.com/TopPetCities

While Petside.com sought out the country's pet-friendly establishments
the old-fashioned way, the site is now offering users the ability to
suggest—and search for—the best of the best in their own towns with
the new application, Pet Places. Pet Places is an online and mobile
database of pet businesses in cities around the country. Whether a
user is looking for a last-minute dog kennel or wants to review a
great new veterinarian in town, Pet Places is a great resource for pet
parents.

CMPD Searching for Violent Criminal Martin Russell Diamond

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Violent Criminal
Apprehension Team (VCAT) is currently searching for the whereabouts of
Martin Russell Diamond, DOB: 04/03/1988. CMPD arrested Diamond on May
18, 2011. He was charged with kidnapping and the brutal rape of a
known acquaintance. Diamond was transported to the Mecklenburg County
Jail and was being held on $105,500 secure bond.

On Thursday May, 19, 2011, a criminal court magistrate mistakenly
changed the conditions of the bond to an unsecured status. The suspect
subsequently signed himself out of jail that day. On Tuesday, May 24,
2011, CMPD received information that the suspect had been released.
CMPD detectives immediately obtained another warrant for the suspect.
CMPD's VCAT was immediately notified and prioritized the search with a
full complement of VCAT staff. They continue to work at apprehending
the suspect.

Martin Russell Diamond is 6 feet tall, weighs approximately 155 pounds
and has a tattoo of a cross on his shoulder. Diamond should be
consideredextremely dangerous. Anyone with information on his
whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 704-336-VCAT (8228) vcat@cmpd.org
Additionally, the public may forward their anonymous tips to Crime
Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://www.charlottecrimestoppers.com/
All information will remain confidential.

Charlotte-Area Breast Cancer Support Group Wins New Toyota to Expand Its Services

Toyota is pleased to announce that Cindy's Hope Chest, an organization
in the Charlotte area that provides emotional and financial support to
women battling breast cancer, has been selected as a winner of
Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program. 100 Cars for Good is a major new
philanthropic initiative from the automaker that is awarding 100 cars
to 100 U.S. nonprofits over the course of 100 days.

Cindy's Hope Chest (located in Indian Trail, NC) will receive a new
Toyota Highlander, which will be used to transport women to doctor's
appointments and treatments and help them with their errands. The
organization was selected as one of 500 finalists from thousands of
applications nationwide and picked as a winner through a public vote
on Facebook. Runners-up in the program each receive $1,000.
Additional details on 100 Cars for Good as well as information on all
of the program's finalists are available at www.carsforgood.com.

"The outpouring of support and interest in the Toyota 100 Cars for
Good program has been tremendous," said Jim Wiseman, Group Vice
President of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "It is amazing to see
how this program has brought individuals, organizations and
communities together. We are equally excited to see Cindy's Hope
Chest utilize their new vehicle to make an even greater impact in the
community."

Public voting began on May 9 and continues for 100 consecutive days.
Each day, five organizations are profiled on the 100 Cars for Good
Facebook page and voters may vote for the nonprofit they feel is most
deserving of the vehicle. A vehicle will be awarded each day through
August 16. Voters may place one vote per day, each day, over the
course of the program.

Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program is a key part of the company's
philanthropy efforts, which have contributed more than half a billion
dollars to U.S. nonprofits since 1991. For more information on these
commitments, please visit http://www.toyota.com/about/philanthropy/.

Meck County Announces Closings For Memorial Day

Mecklenburg County government offices and agencies will be closed on
Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday.
This includes all units of the Department of Social Services, the Tax
Office, Elections Office, the Register of Deeds Office, and the Land
Use and Environmental Services Office.

Mecklenburg County Substance Abuse Center (Detox) is open 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
The Department of Social Services Care Line (704-336-CARE or
704-336-2773) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive
reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or
disabled adults.

The Health Department will be closed on Monday, May 30.

The Main Library and all library branches will be closed on Monday,
May 30.

All Solid Waste administrative offices and the Foxhole landfill will
be closed on Monday, May 30.

Park and Recreation administrative offices will be closed on Monday,
May 30.
Recreation Centers and the Marion Diehl pool will be closed on Monday,
May 30.
Special hours for pools include:
· Outdoor pools -Noon-6 p.m.
· Ray's Splash Planet -10 a.m.-6 p.m.
· Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center-8 a.m.-5 p.m.

As a reminder, CharMeck 311 remains open and available to the public
on holidays and weekends.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Davidson College Trustees Elect Carol Quillen 18th President of Davidson College

The Davidson College Board of Trustees today elected Carol Quillen,
vice president for international and interdisciplinary initiatives at
Rice University, the 18th president of Davidson College. Her
appointment is effective August 1, 2011.

Quillen's appointment was announced at an all-campus meeting this
afternoon. In making the announcement, Davidson's Board chair, Mackey
McDonald '68, said, "The Davidson search committee was a microcosm of
the Davidson family—trustees, students, faculty and staff with a broad
range of interests, experiences and backgrounds. Even with the great
diversity on the committee, there was a deep, shared commitment to
Davidson—and an absolute agreement about our new president. Carol
Quillen understands all facets of the academic enterprise," McDonald
noted. "A brilliant administrator and a talented teacher and scholar,
she can articulate not only the value, but also thenecessity of a
liberal arts education. Her values are Davidson's values. She inspired
us," McDonald said, "and we could not be more enthusiastic about
welcoming her to Davidson."

Quillen has had a long and distinguished career at Rice. She joined
the faculty as an assistant professor of history in 1990, and she
earned promotion to associate professor in 1996. From 2004 to 2008,
she served as the first director of Rice's Boniuk Center for the Study
and Advancement of Religious Tolerance, leading development of the
center's new mission and shaping an agenda that helped distinguish the
center from other organizations.

From 2006 to 2010, Quillen served as Rice's vice provost for academic
affairs, focusing particularly on developing initiatives that cross
academic schools, faculty diversity and faculty development, and
resource development. During this time, she worked with faculty to
develop and secure funding for a new Center for Asian Studies and a
new Institute for Urban Research. She co-chaired the president's
diversity task force, and instituted mentoring programs for junior
faculty.

In her current role, as vice president for international and
interdisciplinary initiatives, Quillen is responsible for developing
and implementing Rice's overall global strategy, which includes
research partnerships, recruiting strategies, curricular revision and
international opportunities for students. She also facilitates
implementation of university-wide initiatives, including the Institute
for Urban Research, Rice 360 (a global health effort), and
collaborations with Baylor and other institutions within the Texas
Medical Center. She works closely with the president, provost and
other senior leadership on academic, budget, curricular and capital
projects planning.

James W. Crownover, chair of Rice University's Board of Trustees,
said, "It's an honor for Rice that one of ours has been chosen to lead
a place as respected as Davidson. I've worked very closely over the
years with Carol Quillen-she's a strategic thinker and an outstanding
collaborator. It's easy to see how smart and inspiring she is; what's
harder to see, but what's also true, is that she's very hard-working.
She has a commitment to doing things well, and to helping those around
her do well, too. She will work hard, and she will succeed for
Davidson."

Quillen grew up in New Castle, Del., a small town where she says "it
was second nature to support the community and look out for other
people." A Presbyterian, she attended Quaker schools from pre-
kindergarten through high school. She earned a B.A. degree in American
history from the University of Chicago, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with
special and general honors, then received a Ph.D. degree in European
history from Princeton. A humanist whose academic interests include
early modern European history, European intellectual history and
gender studies, Quillen has written two books on Petrarch, as well as
a number of scholarly articles, reviews and papers. She has received a
number of teaching awards during her tenure at Rice, and also has
received grants and fellowships from the Social Science Research
Council, the Whiting Foundation, the Fulbright Foundation and the
Harvard University Center for Renaissance Studies, among others.

Quillen's daughter, Caitlin, will be a first-year student at the
University of North Carolina next fall. Quillen's husband, Ken Kennedy-
a computer pioneer who founded the computer science program at Rice—
died of pancreatic cancer in 2007. "His greatest gift to me, and to
the Rice community, was in living the life he would have chosen,"
Quillen said. "That's something I think about in a very profound way
every day."

At Davidson, Quillen succeeds Tom Ross '72, who announced in August
2010 that he would step down to become president of the University of
North Carolina system in January 2011.

Davidson's presidential search began in October 2010, when the Board
of Trustees appointed an 19-member search committee that was chaired
by Kristin Hills Bradberry '85. Made up of trustees, students,
faculty, parents and staff, the committee "demonstrated an untiring
commitment to Davidson College," said McDonald at today's all-campus
meeting. "The search process was inclusive and informative, and the
entire Board of Trustees is enthusiastic about the outcome. This
committee has served Davidson College well."

Davidson's Presidential Search Committee retained Storbeck/Pimentel, a
highly regarded executive recruitment firm, to assist with the search.

About Davidson College
Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for
1,900 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.

About Rice University
Located on a 285-acre forested campus in Houston, Texas, Rice
University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20
universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected
schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering,
Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is known
for its "unconventional wisdom." With 3,485 undergraduates and 2,275
graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is
less than 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit
communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice has
been ranked No. 1 for best quality of life multiple times by the
Princeton Review and No. 4 for "best value" among private universities
by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about
Rice," go tohttp://futureowls.rice.edu/images/futureowls/Rice_Brag_Sheet.pdf
.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Randolph OBGYN Physician Karen Horne Among First To Offer Robotic Hysterectomies

Dr. Karen Horne of Randolph Obstetrics & Gynecology (Randolph OB/GYN)
has become one of the first OB/GYNs in Charlotte to become proficient
in robotic surgery for laparoscopic hysterectomies.

Robotic surgery utilizes the da Vinci Si™ surgical system that has
revolutionized surgery for many specialties. For gynecology
procedures, the da Vinci Si™ surgical system can be utilized to
perform laparoscopic hysterectomies.

"Some people are taken aback at first when they hear the word
'robotic," Dr. Horne explained. "Every movement is fully under the
physician's control. 'Robotic' simply refers to the way the system
replicates the physician's hand movements with very precise
instruments inside the patient's body. The benefits of minimally
invasive surgery using these state of the art laparoscopic techniques
are very appealing to patients who need surgery but would like to
return to their normal activities as soon as possible."

Benefits include:
• Avoiding large, painful incisions
• Performing the entire surgery with only a few, tiny (5-11mm) incisions
• Less blood loss
• Quicker recovery
• Less chance for infection
• Less overall pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster return to normal activity

"Patients are typically up and walking within hours of the surgery.
Some patients can even go home the same day. Because they have less
pain, most patients are able to resume household and career
responsibilities within a week or two," Dr. Horne said. "This is the
perfect choice for busy women who need surgery but don't have time for
the long eight-week recovery associated with an open hysterectomy."

Key features of the da Vinci Si™ surgical system includes:
• Enhanced 3D, high-definition vision of the operative field, with up
to 10X magnification - Greater visualization and magnification allows
the surgeon to tackle cases that are more challenging while still
performing the hysterectomy in a safe, efficient manner, Dr. Horne
explained.
• Superior visual clarity of tissue and anatomy – The surgeon can
carefully seal vessels and remove the uterus while taking great care
to avoid injury to other structures.
• Surgical dexterity and precision far greater than the human hand –
Allows for "meticulous dissection and avoidance of unnecessary tissue
damage that ultimately leads to less overall pain."
"In general, most women have exhausted all other options before they
resort to having a hysterectomy. My job is to make this process as
easy as possible. I want my patients to have a safe surgery that
requires less recovery time so they can get on with their lives,"
states Dr. Horne.

With offices at 2711 Randolph Road, as well as the EpiCentre in uptown
Charlotte and on Statesville Road in Cornelius, Randolph OB/GYN was
founded in 1976 and currently serves thousands of patients in the
Charlotte region. Personal attention and caring for each individual is
one of the practice's core values. For more information, visit www.RandolphOBGYN.com
.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Small Business Week In Charlotte Starts May 16

Charlotte's Small Business Week 2011 Kickoff Event will commence a
week-long schedule of events. A highlight of this event will be the
public unveiling of the new small business web portal –
CharlotteBusinessResources.com. Attendees will be invited to provide
feedback on the site.

The event will also feature breakfast and networking with information
provided by the City's Small Business Resource Partners.

The winner of the Extreme Makeover: Small Business Edition, a contest
providing essential business services to one lucky business, will also
be announced.

WHEN: Monday, May 16, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Program begins at 8:15 a.m.

WHO: Mayor Anthony R. Foxx
Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon
Patrick Mumford, Director of Neighborhood & Business Services
Brad Richardson, Director of Economic Development
Charlotte Small Business Resource Partners
Charlotte Small Business Owners and Community Leaders

WHERE: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Lobby
600 East Fourth Street

WHY: Small Business Week 2011 is a coordinated effort
between the City, the City's Small Business Resource Partners and
other business organizations. It's an opportunity for Charlotte's
Small Business owners to network and learn about financing and other
topics related to their business.

VISUALS: Mayor Anthony Foxx will unveil the new small business web
portal, CharlotteBusinessResources.com. Event attendees will be able
to surf this dynamic new business tool and provide feedback at laptop
stations. The Extreme Makeover: Small Business Edition winner will be
recognized. Charlotte small business owners networking with the
City's Small Business Resource Partners and other area business owners.

CMPD Uses "Bait" Vehicles to Catch Auto Thieves

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Auto Theft Unit continues to utilize
multiple methods in order to continue reducing auto thefts in
Charlotte. One of the ongoing operations involves the use of bait
vehicles designed to safely apprehend subjects involved in the theft
of motor vehicles. The bait vehicle fleet is a broad representation of
the cars most often stolen and are placed in locations and by methods
determined to have increased risks of theft. Due to the overwhelming
evidence in bait vehicle thefts and arrests, the Mecklenburg County
District Attorney aggressively prosecutes these individuals.

On May 11, 2011, one of the deployed bait vehicles was stolen in the
Westover Division at 9:12 p.m. Within minutes, the vehicle was
surrounded and safely disabled as designed, resulting in the arrest of
three individuals. One of the suspects arrested was a juvenile. The
other two defendants are:

DeAngelo McAdams DOB 07/09/1994
Dedrick Flowers DOB 10/27/1993

Based on the totality of the investigation, a fourth suspect is being
sought for questioning at this time. Anyone with information on the
possible identity of this individual is asked to call Crime Stoppers
at 704.334.1600.

This marks the 49th arrest since this program was started.

AAA Awards Five Diamonds Again to Ritz-Carton, Charlotte - for 2012

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is celebrating the announcement of its
second consecutive AAA Five Diamond award, this time for 2012. The AAA
announcement signals that the hotel has retained its prestigious
ranking based upon meeting rigorous standards of service, facilities
and amenities which the revered travel organization associates with
the finest luxury hotels. More than 60,000 properties are evaluated
each year by AAA's professional evaluators, and less than one third of
one percent of them typically earn a AAA Five Diamond designation.

"We are truly honored to receive the AAA Five Diamond award for 2012,"
said David Rothwell, General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte.
"This distinction is a tribute to the Ladies and Gentlemen who create
the guest experience at our hotel every day. The entire team's
commitment to our guests, our community and each other shines very
brightly in these Diamonds."

David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas, added, "The Ritz-
Carlton, Charlotte continues its leadership position in hospitality
and service, again winning AAA's highest rating for hotels. It is
among the best in the Queen City on delivering on a commitment to
making guest experiences exceptional and memorable. The Ritz-Carlton
is a beacon for travelers and tourists that is helping Charlotte's
transformation into a world-class city."

The renewed AAA Five Diamond ranking for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
comes on the heels of its successful December 2010 opening of Urban
Sip wine and Scotch bar, presenting the region's largest selection of
premium wines by the glass. Other enhancements to the property include
the recent addition of a Peet's Coffee and Tea designed to serve local
businesses and travelers, and the 2011 installation of the area's only
luxury hotel electric vehicle charging station. A highly-visual
expansion of the hotel's fine art program has also taken place,
highlighted by an acclaimed new Ben Owen Pottery Gallery on the
property's Lobby level and the recently-installed front-drive
sculptures of Carolina artist Shaun Cassidy. The 146-room LEED® Gold-
certified hotel expects to unveil several further unique enhancements
between now and year-end.

For reservations or information about The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte,
please contact Toll-Free Room Reservations at (800) 241-3333, a travel
professional, or The Ritz-Carlton website at www.ritzcarlton.com.