Thursday, December 29, 2011

Charlotte Trash and Recycling Holiday Collection Reminders

To ensure efficient holiday collection, the City of Charlotte Solid
Waste Services reminds residents of the following:

· Garbage, recycling and bulky item collection services will
be provided. All Curb It! collection services – except yard waste –
will be provided according to the regular schedule.

· Yard waste collection will resume on Monday, January 2.

· Extra garbage will collected until December 30. Extra
garbage outside the rollout cart must be bagged and placed beside (not
on top) of the cart.

· Christmas tree collection begins January 2. Residents can
place natural Christmas trees curbside for yard waste collection on
their scheduled collection day. Artificial trees must be scheduled
for bulky item collection. To schedule a bulky item collection, call
311 (704.336.7600) or schedule online at http://
curbit.charlottenc.gov. Before placing trees at the curb, please
remove all decorations. Residents living in multi-family communities
that are on the City's multi-family contract can call 311 to schedule
Christmas tree collection.

· Place items curbside no later than 6:30 a.m. on your
scheduled collection day. Garbage and recycling carts must be removed
from the curb by midnight that same day.

· Please recycle. For a list of items accepted in the Recycle
It! program and tips on how to properly prepare recyclables for
collection, call 311 or visit http://recycleit.charlottenc.gov.

For more information on all Curb It! services, call 311 or visit http://curbit.charlottenc.gov
.

Mint Museum announces Contemporary Architecture + Design series, early 2012 programming

The Mint Museum is launching its first-ever Contemporary Architecture
+ Design (CAD) series with an event on January 5 at 7 p.m. that brings
the architect who designed the new Mint Museum Uptown building and the
artist who created the monumental five-story work on display in its
atrium together to discuss "The Marriage of Art + Architecture." The
series continues throughout 2012 as part of a slate of innovative
programming that will broaden the museum's audience and reach deeper
into the community than ever before.

"We believe it is important to launch a new architecture and design
series to serve the museum's mission of sharing innovative
perspectives and engaging audiences in new ways. It further
illustrates our commitment to leadership in the fields of design and
architecture through our collection, research, exhibitions and
programming," said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the
Mint. "It will be an ideal complement to our strong slate of other
diverse programs including ArtFusion, family-friendly Sunday Fun Days,
studio art classes, lectures, films and more."

Monthly CAD events will continue throughout the year and bring notable
names in the architecture and design fields to Charlotte, including
Rodolfo Machado, principal of Machado and Silvetti Associates, who
designed Mint Museum Uptown; artist Sheila Hicks, subject of the
museum's current exhibition Sheila Hicks: Fifty Years; Craig Dykers,
co-founder of Oslo- and New York-based architecture, landscape, and
interior design firm Snøhetta; and Cortney and Robert Novogratz, who
with their seven children are featured on Bravo's show "9 By Design."
All of the events will be held at Mint Museum Uptown except Dykers'
visit on February 15, which will be held at UNC Charlotte's Center
City Building at 320 East Ninth Street. Events are $10 for non-members
and $5 for members, and more information is available at mintmuseum.org.

Also joining the museum's winter and spring slate is an expansion of
the museum's new ArtFusion series, a selection of FREE monthly events
that include music, dance, fashion, interaction with local artists and
more. The winter/spring events kick off January 31 from 6-9 p.m. at
Mint Museum Randolph with a celebration of the museum's 75-year
tradition of collecting North Carolina pottery, a lecture, music, and
more. "Whether it's your first time to the Mint or your 50th,ArtFusion
offers something new for everyone," says Laura Everett, Adult Programs
Coordinator for the Mint. "This spring's experiences include a
surrealist fashion show, dream interpretation, and much more. I hope
that people will use this opportunity to explore Mint Museum Uptown,
rediscover Mint Museum Randolph, and see what we're up to – these
programs are slightly offbeat but always engaging."

The museum has also announced family-friendly spring programming
including Sunday Fun Days; Toddler Time at the Mint; Saturday Art
Sessions; and studio art classes for children, teens, homeschoolers,
adults and masters. Other programs include curator tours,
demonstrations, performances, lectures and films tied to the museum's
slate of exhibitions (think Surrealism, fairytales and much more!).
Some programs require pre-registration, which is available at
mintmuseum.org. Information about all upcoming programs is in an
attachment with this news release, and most programs are listed in an
online brochure at www.mintmuseum.org/education-programs-winter-spring-2012
. Please contact Leigh Dyer, the museum's public relations and
publications manager, at 704-337-2009 or leigh.dyer@mintmuseum.org for
more information.

ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM
The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of
two dynamic facilities: the newly opened Mint Museum Uptown and the
historic Mint Museum Randolph. As the oldest art museum in North
Carolina, The Mint Museum offers its visitors a remarkable opportunity
to experience art through two facilities that feature a global
collection spanning over 4,500 years of human creativity.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, the
Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte's Eastover
neighborhood as the first art museum in North Carolina. Today,
intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the
ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, historic costume and
fashionable dress, European, African, and Asian art, among other
collections. Resources include a reference library with over 15,000
volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a Museum
Shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent
collection and special exhibitions.

The Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Mint Museum
of Craft + Design, as well as outstanding collections of American,
contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti
Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility
combines inspiring architecture with groundbreaking exhibitions to
provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural
experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning center
city, the Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center
for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of
Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and
Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. The Mint
Museum Uptown also features a range of visitor amenities, including
the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art
studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check
outmintmuseum.org.

CMS Releases Magnet and Student Assignment Information

The CMS student placement office wants families to be aware of
important information, events and deadlines coming early in the year:

• Student assignment notifications will be sent home with students
beginning the first week of Jan.
• Magnet lottery applications will be accepted online from Jan. 6
through Feb. 13
• The CMS Magnet Fair will take place Jan. 7

Student assignment notifications:
CMS will send individual assignment notifications home with all
current students beginning the first week of January. This mailing
includes each student's identification and PIN numbers, as well as
directions for online application to the magnet lottery. Students who
are new to CMS and students assigned to Title I Choice schools will
receive the information in the mail.

Only students who participate in the lottery or Title I Choice will
receive lottery assignment notifications in February.

Magnet program and magnet lottery process
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools online magnet student-assignment
lottery will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. beginning Friday, Jan. 6,
through Monday, Feb. 13. CMS families must go online to apply for
magnet programs.

Only families who wish to apply for a magnet program need to
participate in the online process. Families who are happy with their
listed placement do not need to apply. Students must meet eligibility
requirements, if any, before an application to a magnet program can be
accepted. Click here for more information about magnet programs.

For the 2012-2013 school year, programs at Collinswood and Oaklawn
language academies and Morehead STEM Academy will become K-8 magnet
programs. As a result of the expansions, E.E. Waddell Language Academy
will no longer provide a middle school Spanish program and Cochrane
Collegiate Academy will no longer provide its math and science magnet
programs.

CMS will offer nine magnet programs at 37 schools (17 full-magnet
schools and 20 partial-magnet schools) for the 2012-2013 school year.
Magnet themes include International Baccalaureate; Military and Global
Leadership; Leadership and Global Studies; Montessori; Learning
Immersion/Talent Development; Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM); Traditional; Visual and Performing Arts and World
Languages. All CMS students are taught the North Carolina Standard
Course of Study. Magnet programs address students' special abilities
or talents.

CMS will provide free computer access at the Family Application Center
(700 Marsh Rd.) and at all zone offices. Computers at these locations
will be available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families can contact Student
Placement with any questions. Representatives are available from 7
a.m. to 6 p.m. The phone number is 980-343-5335. Spanish-speaking
representatives are also available.

Jan. 7 Magnet Fair
CMS is also hosting a district-wide Magnet Fair on Saturday, Jan. 7,
from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
(1430 Alleghany Street). Representatives from all the magnet programs
will be available, as well as staff from the English as a second
language (ESL) department, career and technical education, study
abroad programs, Parent University and student assignment. School
health workers will also answer questions about required physical
examinations and immunizations. Computers will be available, so
families can complete the online student-assignment forms if they
would like to participate in the lottery.


Important student-assignment dates:
· All current and newly enrolled CMS students will receive
individual assignment notifications beginning the first week of Jan.
This will include instruction sheets, student identification and PIN
numbers that families will use to apply for a magnet program. Families
must register for magnet programs online. Those without computer
access can visit any CMS zone office or the Family Application Center
(700 Marsh Road).
· The first magnet-lottery application period is from Jan. 6 –
Feb. 13. Lottery assignment notifications letters will be sent to
families in February. The letters give assignments through the lottery
process and provide information on how to ask for reassignment.
Students new to CMS in the 2012-2013 school year must have enrolled in
the system by Dec. 2 to be eligible for the first magnet lottery.
Students who enrolled after Dec. 2 will be eligible for the second
magnet lottery, which runs from March 14 to June 4.
· Families interested in learning more about CMS magnet
options can visit the CMS Magnet Fair on Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. until 1
p.m. at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology (1430 Alleghany
Street). Representatives from each magnet program will be available at
the fair to share information and answer questions

Friday, December 23, 2011

Solid Waste Services Curb It! Christmas Holiday Schedule

The holidays generate tons of waste and Solid Waste Services is ready
to collect. To ensure items are collected on schedule, Charlotte
residents are reminded of the following:

· Holiday collection services are provided. Curb It! services
– residential garbage, recyclables, yard waste and bulky items – will
be provided according to the regular schedule on Friday, December 23.
All services except yard waste will be provided Monday, December 26
through Friday, December 30.

· Yard waste will not be collected December 26-30. Collection
services for yard waste will resume on January 2.

· Bag extra garbage. Extra garbage outside the rollout cart
will be collected until December 30. Extra garbage must be bagged and
placed beside (not on top) of the garbage cart.

· Properly prepare Christmas trees for collection. Beginning
January 2, Solid Waste Services will collect natural Christmas trees
as yard waste. Artificial trees should be scheduled for bulky item
collection. To schedule a bulky item collection, call 311
(704.336.7600) or schedule online at http://curbit.charlottenc.gov.
Before placing trees at the curb, all decorations must be removed.
Residents living in multi-family communities on the City's multi-
family contract can call 311 to schedule Christmas tree collection.

· Place items curbside. Collection items must be placed at
the curb no later than 6:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

· Recycle. Residents are encouraged to recycle, including
gift wrap and cardboard. For a list of items accepted in the Recycle
It! program and tips on how to properly prepare recyclables, call 311
or visit http://recycleit.charlottenc.gov.

For more information on all Curb It! services, visit http://curbit.charlottenc.gov
or call 311.

Mecklenburg County Announces Closings for Christmas and New Year's Holidays

Mecklenburg County government offices and agencies will be closed on
Monday, December 26 and Tuesday, December 27, 2011 for the Christmas
holiday and on Monday, January 2, 2012 for the New Year's 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, December 26 and
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 and Monday, January 2, 2012.

All Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches will be closed on December
24, 25 and 26, 2011 and again on January 1 and 2, 2012.

Solid Waste administrative offices will be closed on Monday, December
26 and Tuesday, December 27, 2011 and Monday, January 2, 2012.


All Solid Waste facilities (Recycling centers, Compost Central & the
Foxhole Landfill) will operate on normal schedules throughout the
holiday season.

Park and Recreation administrative offices will be closed on Monday,
December 26 and Tuesday, December 27, 2011 and Monday, January 2, 2012.

Nature Centers will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Recreation Centers will be closed December 24 through December 26,
2011 and also New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Ray's Splash Planet and the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center will be
closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Both
facilities will open regular hours on December 31, 2011.

Ray's Splash Planet will offer special holiday hours (10am to 6pm)
December 26 & 27 and January 2.

The Aquatic Center will also have special holiday hours (8am to 5pm)
December 26 & 27 and January 2.

The Marion Diehl Pool will be closed December 24, 25, 26, 31, 2011 and
January 1, 2012.

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

$2.5 Million Donated by Speedway Children's Charities in 2011

Nearly one million children benefited from the fundraising efforts of
the eight chapters of Speedway Children's Charities (SCC) this year,
with more than $2.5 million donated to 370 non-profit organizations
nationwide for the purpose of helping children in need.

"It is truly a blessing that we were able to help so many children
this year with the money raised," said O. Bruton Smith, founder and
chairman of Speedway Children's Charities. "It is our goal to help as
many children as possible live healthy, happy lives and I am proud of
what everyone at Speedway Children's Charities has accomplished this
year."

A chapter of SCC is located at each of the Speedway Motorsports Inc.,
(SMI) tracks including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway,
Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.

With the help of volunteers and the support of sponsors, SCC raised
the money through various fundraising activities such as track walks,
auctions, raffles, holiday light displays, annual galas and more.
Individual and corporate donations were also made throughout the year.
In 2011, SCC also partnered with Feed the Children to provide boxes of
food to deserving families in communities surrounding the individual
SCC chapters.

Since its inception in 1982, SCC has awarded in excess of $35.9
million to non-profit organizations across the country, helping more
than 11.3 million children. The children who have been helped over the
last 29 years would fill the stands of the eight SMI tracks more than
nine times.

"We have been able to help an amazing number of children this year and
over the past 29 years," said Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas
Sadler, executive director of Speedway Children's Charities. "It is
wonderful to see how much Speedway Children's Charities has grown
since its beginning and as we continue to provide assistance, in many
ways, to children in need across the country, I can never thank those
enough who have helped us throughout the years."

SCC was founded by Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports
Inc. and Sonic Automotive, as a memoriam and legacy to his son, Bruton
Cameron Smith, who passed away at a very young age. The first chapter
was opened at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the same location where the
national offices are today.

For more information on SCC or to see how to volunteer or make a
donation, visitwww.speedwaycharities.org.

About Speedway Children's Charities

The mission of Speedway Children's Charities remains true to the
ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in
educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them
lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of non-profit
organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of
children. Our vision is that every child has the same opportunities no
matter what obstacle they are facing. For more information visit www.speedwaycharities.org
.