The Birth of Coffee Pours Out Origins of Global Coffee Culture - at Discovery Place

For 500 million coffee drinkers worldwide, the rich aroma of a daily cup of coffee is an expected and habitual part of their everyday routine. But before coffee beans can be imported, ground and brewed, they are cared for and cultivated by an estimated 25 million people across the planet whose often arduous daily work ensures the steady drip of one of the world's most popular beverages.

The Birth of Coffee, an exhibition of words and photographic images opening October 2 at Discovery Place and sponsored by S&D Coffee and Tea, focuses on the people across the world who grow and produce coffee, often in small hillside villages using dated methods. It captures the global stories of the intense and often difficult growing techniques, in the process illuminating the science and the diverse human experience behind the daily cup. Based on author Linda Rice Lorenzetti and photographer Daniel Lorenzetti's book of the same name, The Birth of Coffee travels a quarter of a million miles across four continents from the old Dutch plantations of Sumatra to the mountains of Costa Rica.

"While we may enjoy it as part of our daily ritual, we don't often look beyond our lattes to think about the ways science influences coffee production," said John Mackay, president and CEO, Discovery Place. "From agricultural techniques to the environment to the people behind the process, this exhibition is a fantastic visual representation of how those coffee beans reach your cup."

As coffee trees grow and are cared for, they produce white flowers with "cherries" containing a seed called the coffee bean. Cherries are harvested and cultivated and then categorized by color, weight and size to be bagged and prepared for international export. And with the popularity of coffee-based drinks skyrocketing and the debut of coffee blenders, roasters and other technology, the evolving personally-crafted coffee beverage continues to heighten demand for the dark brew.

"I think that when most people sit and have a cup of coffee in the morning they don't understand what it takes to get that coffee to the table," says author Linda Rice Lorenzetti. "It's important to make those connections and hopefully this project does that," said exhibition photographer Daniel Lorenzetti.

Among the 40 coffee-tinted images with narrative text in the exhibition:
· The Coffee Ceremony, Ethiopia – Coffee is indigenous to the Ethiopian culture and a centuries-old tradition dictates the steps this Ethiopian woman follows: first roasting the beans, then preparing the coffee and lighting itan, a myrrh incense, while waiting for it to brew.
· The Transaction, Yemen – Coffee is strictly in the male realm in Yemen. Whether transporting coffee to market, pulping, winnowing, weighing, measuring, buying or selling – the industry is exclusively composed of men conducting business with other men.
· In the Trees, Costa Rica – It is not by chance that school vacation coincides with the coffee harvest in Costa Rica. The Fiesta de Café is a time of hard work in which the community and entire families participate and there are often celebrations.


"There is a moving story of relatedness in these pictures. Millions of people are involved in growing, harvesting, and caring for the coffee we love so much and this exhibition reminds us of our connection," said Tracy Ging, director of sustainability & corporate social responsibility, S&D Coffee and Tea. "Our business is about people–from those who grow our products, those we employ, and to those we serve–and this event is one way we can honor some of those people."
The Birth of Coffee is on display at Discovery Place October 2, 2012 – January 7, 2013. For more information about the exhibition visitdiscoveryplace.org or birthofcoffee.com.

About The Image Expedition and The Birth of Coffee
The Image Expedition imageexedition.com is a not for profit documentary
organization designed to document (with words and images) and preserve ancient places and indigenous ways of life that, with the passage of time, might otherwise be lost forever...it is global visual artifact gathering. The Birth of Coffee, birthofcoffee.com is a project of The Image Expedition. For more information visit the websites above or call 512.585.0011.

About S&D Coffee, Inc.
S&D Coffee, Inc. is headquartered in Concord, NC and has been privately held since its founding in 1927. Since then, S&D has become one of the top foodservice roasters in the United States, the leading provider of foodservice iced tea and the first American coffee roaster to be ISO 9001: 2008 compliant.

About Discovery Place
One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that engage people in the active exploration of science and nature. The Museum brings relevant, contemporary science to life through groundbreaking exhibitions, interactive educational programming and hands-on activities. Nearly a half-million people from all over the United States engage with Discovery Place and its IMAX®Dome Theatre each year.

Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the Museum's parking deck – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets. For more information about Discovery Place, call 704.372.6261 x300, visitdiscoveryplace.org or connect with Discovery Place on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Dean & Deluca Charlotte Reopens Following Complete Renovation

DEAN & DELUCA Charlotte, the beloved retailer renowned for its curated selection of artisanally made gourmet food, has reopened following a complete renovation, including the retailer's first in-store restaurant, the Wine Room, in Phillips Place near SouthPark. All renovations throughout the store were led by Charlotte-based architecture firm Studio Fusion. The expanded market has been updated with a stunning and spacious open floor plan, expanded retail space and additional café seating. Formerly located across the street, the new Wine Room set inside the market is home to a full-service restaurant serving a tapas-style menu from Executive Chef Andres Moncayo.

The newly designed market exhibits a clean, open-air design with twenty-foot ceilings, more retail space and a larger kitchen. The updated layout enhances the store's marketplace feel, and café seating has been expanded both indoors and on a new outdoor patio. Interiors now feature Carrera marble floors and countertops, metro shelving, and exposed columns, signature to DEAN & DELUCA stores around the world.

The Wine Room is marked by clean lines crafted from warm materials, with cream-colored brick and mosaic-tiled walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a black granite bar. With brick and wood detailing, the entrance leading from the market into the Wine Room is designed to look like a building façade reminiscent of the entrance to DEAN & DELUCA's very first store in SoHo. Set atop wide-plank wood floors, seating is available at custom walnut dining tables and banquettes, communal tables, and at the bar and outdoor patio. The Wine Room is open for lunch and dinner daily, with brunch on weekends.

Formerly of Charlotte restaurants Toscana and Luce, Executive Chef Andres has been part of the DEAN & DELUCA Charlotte team for eight years, and oversees the store's new menus, including the Wine Room, seasonal prepared foods and catering.

The Wine Room menu showcases the freshest ingredients from DEAN & DELUCA's market, including tapas-style small plates, salads, panini, a selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie, and more. Menu highlights include the Poached Pear and Valdeón Blue Salad, the South American Ceviche, the Seared Scallops with Lentil Salad, and the Braised Cabernet Short Rib. The menu is matched by an outstanding variety of California wines from both the best large producers and small-production vineyards, many of which are exclusive to DEAN & DELUCA. The wine list offers more than 80 wines by the glass and 1,000 by the bottle. Guests can also purchase bottles in the store's retail market to enjoy at home.

DEAN & DELUCA Charlotte is home to the finest, curated artisanal food products along with prepared foods available to-go. The store's selection also pays homage to its location in Charlotte, a town rich with regional, local cuisine. DEAN & DELUCA Charlotte's catering menu was recently voted the "Best in the City for 2012" by Elevate magazine.

DEAN & DELUCA Wine Room Hours:
Lunch & Dinner (same menu): Sun. - Thurs. 11am - 11pm; Fri. - Sat. 11am - 12am
Brunch: Sat. and Sun. 10am-2pm

About DEAN & DELUCA
Founded in 1977 by Joel Dean, Giorgio DeLuca and Jack Ceglic with the opening of its flagship store in SoHo, New York, DEAN & DELUCA is a multi-channel retailer of gourmet specialty foods with locations throughout the United States and abroad. DEAN & DELUCA specialty products are sold through 13 retail locations in select U.S. markets (New York; Washington DC; Napa Valley; Charlotte; and Kansas City), catalogs and an e-commerce site, www.deandeluca.com

Local Crusade Warns Families About Fall Prevention

The first day of fall kicks off a Fall Prevention Crusade to warn local families to safety proof their homes to prevent seniors from falling. Falls are the #1 cause of injuries, hospital visits, and deaths among those 65 and older. That's why Senior Helpers, one of the largest in-home senior care companies with an office in our area, warns families to safety proof their homes with a "Fall Prevention Checklist."

"Falls have become a nationwide problem and despite what people may think about the older population…falls are not inevitable. In fact, they're largely preventable," says Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers, with a local office of highly trained caregivers specializing in dementia and Alzheimer's care. "Up to 30 percent of those who fall suffer injuries such as hip fractures or head traumas. Our highly trained caregivers can help spot danger zones in and around seniors' homes and help seniors move around their environment more carefully."

Consider This:
Source: CDC

• 1 out of 3 seniors falls each year.
• In 2008, 19,700 older Americans died from fall related injuries.
• In 2008, 2.1 million older Americans were injured in falls.
(Latest data available)

Senior Helpers "Fall Prevention Checklist"

• Install handrails on BOTH sides of stairs and grab bars in bathrooms (1/3 of households in America with stairs DO NOT have banisters or handrails. Only 19% of households in America have grab bars in tubs/showers).
• Provide plenty of light at the top and bottom of stairs and throughout hallways.
• Paint the bottom basement step white to make it more visible.
• Secure rugs to the floor to prevent tripping.
• Attach non-slip strips to the bottom of slippers and shoes.
• In outside areas, check steps and walkways for loose bricks, cement or stone.
Senior Helpers "Fall Prevention Checklist" for Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients

• Encourage seniors to wear hip protectors (90% of hip fractures are due to falls).
• Make sure they have a walking aid within reach.
• Use an emergency sensor overnight to help detect wandering.
• Do not use bed rails overnight. Instead, lower the bed to the ground.
• Encourage seniors to rest with the head of the bed slightly raised.
• Use a seatbelt on a shower chair. Never leave them in the shower or bathroom unattended.
"When you care for a senior with dementia, you have an added responsibility because dementia puts seniors at the highest risk for wandering which increases chances for falling," says Ross. The "Fall Prevention Checklist" is one initiative in our dementia and Alzheimer's program called our Senior Gems® program. We recommend families hire our caregivers because they know how to keep senior loved ones safe while simultaneously encouraging mobility and independence. This takes training and experience."

Other Tips To Help Prevent Falling:

• Have Foot Size Measured – do this each time your senior buys shoes. Foot size changes with age and a shoe that is too big increases the risk of a fall.
• Exercise Regularly – choose activities that increase leg strength and improve balance in seniors, such as Tai Chi.
• Eye Check-ups – make sure senior loved ones have their eyes checked by a doctor at least once a year and have their eyeglasses updated as needed.
A good tip: consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for activities such as walking outside.
• Review Medications – have a doctor or pharmacist review medications/prescriptions to learn what may cause side effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness.
This story affects all seniors and their families in your area. Help us spread the word about Fall Prevention Awareness by touring a senior's home with Senior Helpers experts/caregivers as they point out the most common danger spots.

Did You Know?

• In 2008, 82% of fall deaths were among people 65 and older.
• Fall-related fractures occur more than twice the rate for older women than for older men.
• More than 90% of hip fractures are caused by falls. And white women have significantly higher hip fracture rates than black women.
• Direct medical costs of falls equaled $28.2 billion in 2010.
To learn more about how to care for your senior loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's through the Senior Helpers' Senior Gems® program, please visit our website at www.seniorhelpers.com. There, you can also request a complimentary Senior Gems DVD.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AgedCarer

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About Senior Helpers:
Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has nearly 300 franchises in 40 states and one Canadian province offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. For more information, please visit: http://www.seniorhelpers.com/

About Senior Gems:
Senior Gems is a revolutionary program to help family members and professional caregivers properly care for their aging loved ones through each stage of dementia. Teepa Snow began developing her Gem Levels in 2006. In 2011, the Senior Gem program was created with her guidance and assistance. This program puts Senior Helpers at the forefront of individual and in-home dementia-specialized caregiving as they offer all of their in-home companions and caregivers the opportunity to become dementia care certified through the training program.

Davidson will Celebrate 50 years of Integration at Homecoming Oct. 5-6

Davidson College invites public to events commemorating 50 years of integration at the college which will be held during Homecoming Weekend, October 5 and 6. The occasion will include reflections on the beginnings of racial integration, diversity on campus today, and a look toward the future.

Davidson's Board of Trustees opened the doors first to African students. Dr. Benoit Nzengu, a surgeon living near Paris, enrolled in the fall of 1962, and Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, who teaches at UNC-Chapel Hill, enrolled in the fall of 1963. Both men will attend the commemoration, and Dr. Nzengu will offer one of Friday evening's keynote "Alumni Reflections."

Members of the general public are invited to attend presentations on Friday afternoon, October 5, and Saturday, October 6. On Friday at 4 p.m. in Chambers Building Room 1062 Joseph Howell '64 will discuss his book, Civil Rights Journey, The Story of a White Southerner Coming of Age during the Civil Rights Revolution. Howell grew up in a privileged Nashville family during the last years of Jim Crow, got involved in the civil rights movement as a Davidson student, and ultimatelyworked on the front lines of the movement. He will be joined by his wife, Embry, with whom he shared the experience of working with the Student Nonvolent Coordinating Committee in 1966. She is the daughter of the late Davidson President Grier Martin.

Three public talks on Saturday morning in Chambers Building will address the current state of Davidson's continuing efforts toward diversity.

"Multicultural Affairs at Davidson" at 9 a.m. will be led by Tae-Sun Kim, director of multicultural affairs, and Sarbeth Felming, associate dean and director of multicultural admission. They will discuss demographic changes at Davidson over the years and initiatives by the college to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse community.

"Faculty of Color and Curricular Diversity, Campus Climate and Tenure" at 10 a.m. in Chambers Building will be led by Helen Cho, associate professor of anthropology, andHilton Kelly, assistant professor of education. They will speak about the role of faculty of color in supporting college diversity initiatives, as well as new projects and classes being offered in the Ethnic Studies Concentration.

"The ACE Investment" at 11 a.m. in Chambers Building will explain this Davidson program to blendnetworking and career advice to help bring together alumni of color with distinct professional passions.

For more information about the weekend's activities, call 704-894-2642.

Designer Trina Turk to visit The Mint Museum October 15

Trina Turk, fashion, textile, and accessories designer, will share her passion for mid-century modern at the Fall Enrichment Forum: Passion for Fashion hosted by the Mint Museum Auxiliary. The fundraiser features Turk's talk, entitled "Mid-Century Modern Musings," as well as a fashion show and reception in Mint Museum Uptown's Robert Haywood Morrison Atrium.

WHEN: Monday, October 15 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts
500 South Tryon Street, Charlotte

WHO: Mint Museum Auxiliary
Sponsored by The Private Bank at Wells Fargo and Sloan Boutique

Trina Turk is both inspired by and represents the California lifestyle – optimistic, progressive, accessible, effortless, colorful, and confident. Known for her use of dynamic colors and signature prints, her ready-to-wear, accessory, and home collections are influenced by her love of vintage as well as modernist and graphic arts, and mid-century modern architecture.

Mint Museum Auxiliary:
The Mint Museum Auxiliary is a leading, innovative affiliate organization dedicated to generating funds to support inspiring educational offerings for the community and significant acquisitions for the museum's permanent collection. To find out more about ticket sales, visit www.mintmuseumauxiliary.org.

The Mint Museum

As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, groundbreaking exhibitions, and riveting educational programs. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte's Eastover neighborhood as the state's first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, 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 cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning center city, 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. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide 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, visit the NEW mintmuseum.org.
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SAT scores decline in CMS, state and nation

Average scores on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), one of the measures used to determine college readiness, declined in the nation as well as in North Carolina and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2012 - the third consecutive year of declines across the board.

Participation – the percentage of students who took the test, which is not required by high schools - increased in the U.S. and North Carolina but declined in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Despite the decline, North Carolina and CMS continue to have a markedly higher percentage of students take the test than in the nation overall.

The SAT measures students' knowledge and skills in three areas: mathematics, critical reading (former called the verbal section of the test) and writing. The maximum score is 2400 (800 on each of the three sections).

"We pay close attention to these results because they are one indicator of our students' readiness for college-level work," said Ann Clark, deputy superintendent of CMS. "We think that the rigor in the new Common Core standards will help us to get these scores moving upward."

The average total score in CMS for 2012 was 1463, down from 1482 in 2011, a decline of 19 points. That decline was larger than the nation, which dropped to 1498 from 1500 a year ago. It was also larger than the state's decline to 1469 from 1475 in 2011.

Scores on the three parts of the test also declined or stayed flat.

In math, scores in the nation stayed flat – 514 for 2011 and 2012. In North Carolina, math scores declined two points to 506 from 508. CMS scores declined four points from 507 to 503. Students taking the test must apply numerical concepts to solve problems and use data literacy skills to interpret tables, charts, and graphs.

In critical reading, scores declined by one point nationally, with an average score of 496 compared to 497 a year ago. North Carolina declined by two points to 491, compared to 493 a year earlier. CMS declined by eight points to 487 from 495 in 2011. This part of the test focuses on reading and gauges students' ability to draw inferences, to synthesize information, to differentiate between main and supporting ideas, and to understand vocabulary from context.

In writing, scores declined by one point nationally to 488 from 489 a year ago. North Carolina declined two points, falling to 472 from 474. CMS declined seven points to 473 from 480 a year ago. This part of the test assesses ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively, to improve writing through revision and editing, to recognize and identify sentence-level errors, to understand grammatical elements and structures, and to improve coherence of ideas within and among paragraphs.

In CMS, which has historically had a much higher participation rate on the test than the national average, that trend continued, although the number fell by one percentage point. In CMS, 67.5 percent of eligible students (high school juniors and seniors) took the test in 2012, compared to 68.5 percent a year ago. North Carolina has also traditionally outpaced the nation in participation, and 68 percent of students in the state took the test, up from 67 percent a year ago. Nationally, participation in the test increased to 52 percent in 2012, up from 50 percent a year ago.

Mayor Foxx to Chair New U.S. Conference of Mayors Advanced Manufacturing Task Force

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Fall Leadership Meeting in Dallas on Sunday, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx was named Chairman of the Conference's newly created Advanced Manufacturing Task Force. With more and more American manufacturing jobs moving to metropolitan areas, Foxx will direct the task force to help mayors around the country grow their cities' manufacturing sectors and create high-paying jobs for their citizens.

Foxx previously served as Co-Chair of the Conference's Small Business and Franchising Task Force.
"We welcome Mayor Foxx as Chair of the Mayors Task Force on Advanced Manufacturing," said Philadelphia Mayor and USCM President Michael Nutter. "Mayor Foxx brings a wealth of experience to the policy discussion on job creation as we work together to make cities more efficient and create Main Street jobs."

"As the presence of advanced manufacturing in American cities continues to grow, it's critical that our city leaders are able to foster environments in which such firms can thrive," Foxx said. "This Task Force will examine how city policies on workforce development, technology transfer, infrastructure, tax reform, access to capital, and zoning can help advanced manufacturing companies grow and create jobs in America's cities. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to continue to serve my fellow mayors and their constituents across the country."

The City of Charlotte provides services to more than 700,000 residents. The City's focus areas are Housing and Neighborhood Development, Community Safety, Transportation, Economic Development and the Environment.

For the latest news about city government, visit the Citywide Newsroom at newsroom.charlottenc.gov.
From our website, you can sign up to receive email updates on City topics that interest you through the Notify Me service.

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Three local venues to offer free admission September 29

On Saturday September 29, Carolina Raptor Center, Carolinas Aviation Museum, and The Mint Museum will all open their doors free of charge along with over 1,400 other participating venues for the eighth annual Museum Day Live! This immensely successful program, in which the museums will emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, D.C.-based facilities, encourages learning and the spread of knowledge nationwide.

Inclusive by design, Museum Day Live! fulfills Smithsonian Media's mission to make cultural education accessible to everyone. For one day only, the museums will grant free access to visitors who download a Museum Day Live! ticket at Smithsonian.com. Last year's event drew over 350,000 museum-goers, and this year's Museum Day Live! is expected to attract close to 400,000 participants.

The Museum Day Live! Ticket is available to download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! Ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2012 and a list of participating museums and cultural institutions, please visit Smithsonian.com/museumday.

More information about the attractions and events at each venue:

Carolina Raptor Center

The center at 6000 Sample Road in Huntersville is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through education, research, and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. General adult admission is normally $10. On September 29, events include an 11 a.m. Live Bird Presentation, a 12:30 p.m. Vulture Feeding, and a 2 p.m. Meet the Keeper Program. More information at www.carolinaraptorcenter.org.

Carolinas Aviation Museum

The museum devoted to the history of aviation and aircraft is at 4672 First Flight Drive near Charlotte Douglas International Airport. General adult admission is normally $12. Exhibits include a recently completed exhibit on the "Miracle on the Hudson, Flight 1549." On September 29, visitors will be able to take a special tour of an Eastern Airlines DC-7 and a replica of Air Force One as it was during President Reagan's tenure for a special charge of $7. More information at www.carolinasaviation.org.

The Mint Museum

Charlotte's oldest and largest art museum is offering free admission at both its locations: Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road, and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street. General adult admission is normally $10. Free admission will be offered to all visitors and a Museum Day Live! voucher is not required. Mint Museum Uptown's free admission day coincides with Hola Charlotte Festival 2012, A Cultural Celebration! In cooperation with the Latin American Women's Association and Norsan Media, the festival includes a salsa contest, live music, cuisine and a celebration of the culture of Latin heritage. Museum visitors will also experience the final weekend of the exhibition Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial, closing September 30, and will be invited to cast ballots in the "Vote for Art" project, which allows visitors to select which work or works of art from among six choices should be added to the museum's permanent collection. At Mint Museum Randolph, visitors will experience the final weekend of Drawings of Thornton Dial, which also closes September 30. More information at the NEW mintmuseum.org.

About Carolina Raptor Center

Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through research, education and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. Over 35,000 people walk the Raptor Trail each year, enjoying our 25 species of raptor including hawks, eagles, owls and vultures. In 2012, 834 birds were treated in the Raptor Medical Center with almost 70% of those that live through the first 24 hours being released back into the wild. CRC Educators present programming to over 25,000 school children a year onsite and in their classrooms.

About Carolinas Aviation Museum

Founded in 1992, and located at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Carolinas Aviation Museum has the largest collection of aircraft and aerospace artifacts between Washington, D.C. and Robins, GA. The collection spans the entire history of powered flight, and includes the world-renewed "Miracle on the Hudson" Airbus A-320. The museum's mission is to educate and inspire the next generation to excel academically in the areas of math, science, and history through the preservation of our aerospace heritage. More information about the museum can be found athttp://www.carolinasaviation.org or http://www.facebook.com/ft1549. Follow the Museum on Twitter @Carolinairmusem.

About The Mint Museum

As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, groundbreaking exhibitions, and riveting educational programs. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte's Eastover neighborhood as the state's first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, 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 cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning center city, 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. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide 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, visit the NEW mintmuseum.org.

About Smithsonian Media

Smithsonian Media comprises its flagship publication, Smithsonian magazine, as well as Air & Space, goSmithsonian, Smithsonian Media Digital Network, and the Smithsonian Channel. Smithsonian Media is a division of Smithsonian Enterprises, the revenue-generating business unit of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research complex consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. Approximately 30 million people from around the world visit the museums annually.

Kangaroo Express "National Coffee Day": Penny Coffee Deal

The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced it is celebrating National Coffee Day on Saturday, Sept. 29 by offering a 12oz. Bean Street Coffee for just one penny to every guest at its more than 1,500 Kangaroo Express convenience stores.

Guests can shine up that penny in their pocket and stop by any Kangaroo Express between 8 a.m. and noon on Sept. 29 to enjoy their one-cent, customizable Bean Street Coffee. (One per customer, while supplies last.) Penny pinchers are encouraged to arrive early, as coins in the "give a penny, take a penny" trays are expected to go fast!

Kangaroo Express is keeping the coffee deals brewing all year long with the 2012 Roo Mug. The Roo Mug is a reusable Bean Street Coffee mug available in Kangaroo Express stores starting Oct. 3. It retails for $1.69 – the same price as an extra-large coffee – and includes the first fill free. All additional refills are only $0.99.

Fans can enjoy even more savings by joining the Roo Club. Just text "ROOCLUB" to "THEROO" ("843766") to receive text messaging deals, including special $0.49 and free refill days, and other exciting offers. Each Roo Mug also has a QR code that customers can scan to access additional deals.

"We love our guests and our guests love coffee. That's why National Coffee Day is the perfect time to show our appreciation with a cup of coffee that can be paid for with the least appreciated coin of them all – the penny," said John Fisher, senior vice president of marketing, merchandising and restaurant operations, Kangaroo Express. "We hope our guests join The Roo for a Bean Street Coffee, customizable to their liking, and we invite them to enjoy yearlong savings with the Roo Mug."

Bean Street Coffee is the great-tasting brand of coffee served only at Kangaroo Express convenience stores. It can be customized with options such as sweeteners and flavor shots, including caramel and vanilla. Cappuccinos and flavored coffee and tea are available, as well, and are included in the National Coffee Day and Roo Mug offers.

Fans of the Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino can enjoy their favorite hot beverage at participating Kangaroo Express stores throughout the fall season.

You can practice building your brew of choice, and share it with your Facebook friends by building a brew at www.beanstreetcoffee.com. You can also learn more about Kangaroo Express' exclusive coffee and find a location near you.

About The Pantry and Kangaroo Express
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, The Pantry, Inc. is the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated convenience store chains in the country. As of August 6, 2012, the Company operated 1,589 stores in thirteen states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express®, its primary operating banner. The Pantry's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, as well as fuel and other ancillary services designed to appeal to the convenience needs of its customers. For more information, visit www.kangarooexpress.com.

Community invited to celebrate dedication of new Dove's Nest for women

The Charlotte Community is invited to the dedication ceremony for Charlotte Rescue Mission's new Dove's Nest for women.
When: Sunday, September 23 from 1:45pm - 3pm
Where: Charlotte Rescue Mission's Dove's Nest - 2855 West Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28208
Dedication Ceremony Schedule--
1:45pm Pre-program featuring Central Church of God choir and orchestra
2:00pm Dedication ceremony
2:45pm Ribbon cutting ceremony
2:50pm Community walk-thru


About Charlotte Rescue Mission

The Charlotte Rescue mission provides a free 90-day Christian residential program for men and women who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and are predominately homeless.

Anne Neilson's "Angels in Our Midst" Launches in Charlotte October 10-11

Charlotte-based artist Anne H. Neilson will be joined by author Ron Hall in celebrating the launch of her book "Angels in Our Midst," a coffee table book featuring her Angel Series and the stories behind the paintings. Hall will speak on October 10 at a sold-out luncheon and will serve as a special guest October 11 at Neilson's annual Strokes of Compassion Art Show.

"Angels in Our Midst," Neilson's first book, is a full-color, 9" x 12" hardbound, with 256 pages spotlighting more than 100 images of her work. "Angels in Our Midst" is available for pre-order and will officially be released October 1, 2012. Hall wrote the book's Forward.

There are a number of events planned surrounding the book's release including:

• Hall will speak Wednesday, October 10 at a sold-out luncheon celebrating '"Angels in Our Midst." Both Hall and Neilson will sign books at the event. "Ron Hall has had an influence on my art, and "Angels in Our Midst." Like so many others, I find him to be a huge inspiration and I am extremely honored and grateful to have him take part in this momentous occasion," says Neilson.
• Neilson will host the annual Strokes of Compassion Art Show October 11, 6 – 9 p.m. 2907 Providence Road #102 (the former location of Bella Casa), which benefits The Harvest Center, a homeless ministry organization that provides job-readiness for its clients. Hall will be a special guest at the event and will join Neilson in signing books. The event is open to the public.
• Neilson will exhibit her newest works and will be joined by fellow Charlotte-based artists Robert Langford and Andy Braitman at Red Dot Art Fair, the prestigious art event that will take place concurrently with Art Basel Miami, December 5 -9.
• Neilson will host book signings:
o Tuesday, October 16 at 3 French Hens, 4219-1 Providence Rd., 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

o Thursday, November 8 at Granville Antiques, 6809 Phillips Place Ct. at Phillips Place, 5 – 8 p.m.

o Friday November 9, at Bucketts, 2015 Ayrsley Town Blvd, Suite 107A, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

"Angels in Our Midst" follows Neilson's journey through her Angel series, sharing inspirational and personal stories behind each painting and about the many charities she has supported. The compilation, written by Neilson and edited by Betsy Thorpe, includes images from Neilson's Angel series as well as a selection of her stunning landscapes, figures and still-lifes. The book also includes devotions and quotes from art dealers and collectors.

A portion of the book's net profits will benefit a select group of charities Neilson has previously collaborated with including The Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, Texas and Charlotte-based The Harvest Center, Levine Cardiac Kids, Allegro Foundation and Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care and With Open Eyes.

ABOUT ANNE H. NEILSON

In 2003, Neilson painted her first angel. Upon realizing that she had "found her voice", Neilson began the Angel series, which reflected her deep and abiding faith and grew in success almost overnight. Galleries across the country sell Neilson's artwork to collectors in the U.S. and abroad. Her glorious use of color, texture and layering of paint onto the canvas gives the viewer a profound sense of engagement and awe into the world of "Angels in Our Midst". As a result of her successful national shows and the growing popularity of her work, Neilson's art has captured the interest of discerning art collectors. Her works hang in both public and private collections internationally, including those of several celebrities. Anne lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and their four children. More information at www.anneneilsonfineart.com.

DubLi.com Debuts Online Price Comparison Search in Charlotte

Representatives from DubLi.com, the ultimate destination for shopping and entertainment online, will show Charlotte shoppers how it pays to online shop with DubLi at the Southern Women's Show taking place at the Park Expo and Conference Center in Charlotte, North Carolina from Thursday to Sunday, September 20 through September 23.

DubLi.com offers consumers the best prices on millions of products and incredible savings on everyday purchases, along with free access to an endless selection of streaming music, videos and flash games. Additionally, DubLi's Shopping Mall offers shoppers up to 70 percent Cashback on all purchases. Shopping with DubLi is free and available to anyone who wants big savings when shopping from their favorite retailers, over 1,600 online stores in the U.S.

At the event, DubLi.com will also present "Live.Play.Save." on the Balancing Act stage at 4:40p.m. on Thursday, September 20th.

Charlotte shoppers interested in experiencing DubLi's tremendous savings can meet DubLi at the Southern Women's Show or visit www.DubLi.com and register for a free membership to create an exciting personalized shopping and entertainment experience.

About DubLi.com

DubLi.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MediaNet Group Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: MEDG), is the world's most comprehensive online shopping and entertainment community. Free membership provides customers with their own personalized shopping and entertainment experience. Customers can search millions of their favorite products and services with one click, compare shops and prices on one page, then buy from the world's leading, brand name merchants and earn Cashback on every purchase. Over the last eight years, DubLi has also developed a number of exciting, trusted platforms that are only available to its Members. For example, the Unique Bid auctions enable customers to purchase luxury items at up to 99% savings off their retail price. The Xpress Gift Card auctions provide customers the opportunity to purchase discounted Gift Cards that can be used, both online and offline, anywhere in the world. Customers also have unlimited free access to the most extensive online entertainment portal in the world… including music, videos games and more. Founded in 2003, DubLi's platform has emerged as the global shopping and entertainment leader serving millions of customers in over 100 countries.

Additional information about the Company is available in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Johnson C. Smith University Awarded $300,000 for Study Abroad in China

The College of Arts and Letters at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) has received its largest study abroad grant which will open opportunities in China to area college students over the next four years. An award of nearly $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Education for the program's first two years will fund the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad: An Advanced and Intensive Training Program in Modern Chinese Language and Culture.

The project will create an advanced and intensive summer Mandarin Chinese language and cultural training program at three universities in Beijing, Xi'an and Guangzhou, China, from 2013 through 2017. Fifteen students, a K-12 teacher and a student intern will participate in the program offered at China's Capital Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University and Guangdong Baiyun University. The opportunity will be available to students at Johnson C. Smith University, Queens University and the surrounding universities and colleges in the Charlotte area.
The collaborative effort will be managed by the Smith Institute Center for Excellence in Global Education at JCSU under the direction of Dr. Adelheid Eubanks, who is also the Director of Liberal Education and International Studies, and Dr. Matthew DeForrest, interim chair of the Department of Languages and Literature. Xia Cao, of the Government Sponsored Programs and Research Department, and Xiaosong He, JCSU's professor of Chinese, will provide additional cultural expertise and technical support.
"We look forward to this unique global opportunity to collaborate with our university partners and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools," said Eubanks. "This language emersion experience falls in line with our mission to offer a global education experience to every student."
Johnson C. Smith University provides students with a free passport and an opportunity to study abroad at 11 countries around the world.

Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is an independent, close-knit urban university located in Charlotte, N.C. It has a growing national reputation for integrating the liberal arts with business, the sciences and technology in ways that empower tomorrow's diverse entrepreneurial citizens and leaders. Offering 23 fields of study to more than 1,600 students from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds, the University's excellent academic programs focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global responsibility.

Unique Musical Duo Will Reside and Perform in Davidson

Two acclaimed musicians who explored North Carolina together from the mountains to the sea will visit and perform at Davidson College as part of their report to the institutions and municipalities thatsponsored their venture.

Haitian-American violinist, composer and band leader Daniel Bernard Roumain (a.k.a. DBR) and Greensboro-based song writerLaurelyn Dossett approached their collaboration from entirely different musical backgrounds.

DBR was formally trained as a classical violinist, but has become notable for blending funk, rock, hip-hop and classical music into an energetic and experiential form. Dossett followed a more self-taught, traditional path to a career in vocal performance.

Before they met in 2010, DBR had conducted about a half-dozen residencies at North Carolina State University over the years. In discussing another residency with arts programmers there, he expressed the desire to find someone of a different musical background for a joint enterprise in reflecting, recording and presenting musical stories of North Carolina.

NCSU's arts programmers enlisted the support of six other educational institutions and towns across the state, includingDavidson College's Friends of the Arts, and gave DBR the go-ahead. About a year ago he met Dossett, founder of the band "Polecat Creek." The two hit it off immediately, and agreed to join forces for the project.

As the first step, they spent 10 days last January visiting the towns and institutions funding the project to explore their musical heritages. They wrote a dozen songs based on that experience that they compiled into a recently released album titled "The Collide."

To wrap up the project, the duo is currently conducting extended performance residencies at each of the seven places, and will be at Davidson College September 24 through September 29.

That residency will conclude with a performance on Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of the college's annual C. Shaw and Nancy K. Smith Artist Series. During their performance, which is titled "Connecting Crossroads in North Carolina," DBR and Dossett will share the stage with college ensembles. General admission tickets for the concert are $20, and may be purchased by calling 704-894-2135 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or at www.davidson.edu/tickets. Copies of their album, "The Collide," will be available for a minimal fee at the concert. For more information call 704-894-2651.

Davidson is the second stop in their current tour, following a residency at UNC Wilmington and preceding residencies and concerts at Appalachian State University, in West Jefferson, at East Carolina University, in Goldsboro and at NC State University.
During the Davidson residency, DBR and Dossett will conduct rehearsals with student jazz and orchestral ensembles, conduct master classes in song writing, perform informally with student jazz musicians at The Brickhouse tavern, and perform at area public schools and community centers. WDAV Classical 89.9 radio is the media sponsor for the Davidson visit, and will air an interview with the musicians during the station's "Biscuits and Bach" show.

The Saturday night concert will include several songs off of "The Collide," some of which include direct references gained in their cross-state tour. The first song, "High and Blue," refers to a household in Aberdeen, N.C., at the corner of High Street and Blue Street visited regularly by musicians. "Rebels" salutes those North Carolinians who have fought over the years for civil rights – women of the Underground Railroad, the Greensboro Four and the LGBT community that opposed AmendmentOne. "The Keeper" is suggestive of lighthouse keepers, and promotes the message that we all must be our brothers' keepers. "Karolina" pays homage to a hard-working I-Hop waitress, and laborers everywhere whose work is overlooked and unappreciated.

Roumain received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music and earned a doctorate in musical composition from the University of Michigan. He's "about as omnivorous as a contemporary artist gets," according to The New York Times, and has collaborated and performed with Philip Glass, Cassandra Wilson, Bill T. Jones and Lady Gaga. He's been commissioned by Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Library of Congress and ESPN.

Bill Lawing, professor of music at Davidson, said DBR's formal training and skill would enable him to be a traditional classical professional violinist. "But he also has a strong interest in contemporary popular music that's informed by his traditional pedagogy," Lawing continued. "A lot of folk musicians are self-taught, and don't necessarily have strong technical skills, especially with the violin. You don't hear his combination of assets in performance very often."

Dossett followed a less formal path to a career in song writing and guitar performance. She went to college, got married, went to grad school, and raised three daughters. It was not until her late 30s, having settled in Greensboro, that she began inviting friends to her house to make music drawn from Appalachia and the Piedmont.
She formed the band "Polecat Creek" in 1997 and began singing in public, building a base of fans and earning critical acclaim. She is now a frequent performer at regional music festivals such as Merlefest, and has been a guest on the radio show Prairie Home Companion. She was commissioned to produce a song cycle with the North Carolina Symphony, and has taught songwriting and singing at many universities, workshops and festivals. She is the 2012 recipient of the Betty Cone Medal of Arts.

The compositions created for "Connecting Crossroads in North Carolina" are commissioned by NCSU Center Stage, Davidson College Friends of the Arts and Smith Artist Series,UNCW Presents, East Carolina University's S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series, and The Performing Arts Series at Appalachian State University. Additional support is provided by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts; and by South Arts, in partnership with the NationalEndowment for the Arts and the NC Arts Council.
More information about the album and the musicians' journey is available at connectingcrossroads.com, and a video interview with them is available at https://vimeo.com/49675989.
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 artscolleges 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.
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4th Annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund Awards Set for Oct. 4

The "Who's-Who" in Charlotte will fill the room on October 4, 2012 at the 9th Annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) "Awards of Excellence." This highly anticipated event will be held at Founder's Hall /Booth Playhouse located inside the Bank of America building and will feature a strolling supper and cocktail reception that will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by an awards program at 7:45 p.m. Sterlin Benson Webber will be the host for the evening and the event co-chairs are Ann Caulkins, Publisher & President, The Charlotte Observer and Nicole W. Dean, VP of Corporate Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer.

The 9th Annual Charlotte "Awards of Excellence" is part of a nationwide effort to inform the broader community about TMCF, its member schools/programs, and to raise funds to aid scholars who attend TMCF institutions/law/medical schools. The "Awards of Excellence" honorees are outstanding local individuals who are deserving of community recognition for their efforts in the Charlotte area, as well as in their career fields. The honorees are chosen by the local committee and TMCF consultants as individuals who exemplify Thurgood Marshall's passion for justice and civil rights, by continuing his principles, promoting diversity initiatives, addressing civil rights issues across different disciplines, and serving as significant role models to the next generation. "These community leaders serve as role models for the nearly 300,000 young men and women who are matriculating on our 47-member school campuses," said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., TMCF's President & CEO. "They not only exemplify what Justice Marshall stood for, but they understand our mission and are each committed to cultivating future generations of leaders."

2012 Honorees

Dianne Ward English, Executive Director, Community Building Initiative

Since May 1997, Dianne English has served as the Executive Director of the Community Building Initiative, a non-profit organization whose mission is intensifying the commitment and increasing the capacity of individuals and organizations to build an inclusive and equitable community in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

She has guided the development of innovative models that provide strategic assistance to individuals, organizations and institutions in addressing issues of race and ethnicity and has partnered with numerous community organizations and leaders in collaborative civic efforts.
From 1991 to 1997, Dianne served as Executive Director of Mecklenburg Ministries, an interfaith advocacy organization, and has served as a board member for numerous civic and non- profit organizations, including the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Center for International Understanding, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Charlotte Outward Bound, Florence Crittenton Services and the Urban Ministry Center.

Ms. English has received awards for her advocacy efforts, including Creative Loafing's Citizen of the Year (1996), the Martin Luther King Jr. Silver Medallion (1997), the Catholic Social Services' Colonel Francis J. Beatty Award (1998), Charlotte's Woman of the Year (2000), Charlotte Business Journal's Diversity in Business Award (2005), the YMCA's Willie J. Stratford Sr. Diversity Award (2008) and Leadership Charlotte's Lifetime Achievement Award (2009). She is a graduate of the American Leadership Forum Class IV.

Dianne is married to Roger English and has two sons, David and Christian, and one daughter, Wesley. She attended Emory University, received a B.A. in Education from UNC-CH and has pursued fine arts and graphic arts work at both the University of Georgia and Central Piedmont Community College.

James E. Ferguson II, Esq., Founding Partner, Ferguson, Stein, Chambers, Adkins, Gresham & Sumter, P.A.

James E. Ferguson, II, (known as "Fergie") is a founding partner of the firm Ferguson, Stein, Chambers, Gresham and Sumter, P.A. and has served as President of the firm since 1984. He currently heads the firm's catastrophic injury and wrongful death team, concentrating in medical malpractice, personal injury and products liability.

Recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the nation's top ten litigators, Mr. Ferguson has been listed in every edition of The Best Lawyers in America in two categories: personal injury litigation and criminal defense. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an exclusive organization of plaintiffs' lawyers whose membership is limited to 100 of the nation's top trial lawyers.

Since the late seventies, Mr. Ferguson has concentrated his practice in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases arising out of medical malpractice, personal injury and products liability. Under his leadership, the firm has successfully resolved cases for injured plaintiffs in an aggregate amount in excess of one hundred million dollars. In addition to his catastrophic injury cases, Mr. Ferguson continues to handle civil rights and criminal cases. Not only has he distinguished himself as a trial lawyer, he has achieved distinction as a teacher of trial skills and a leader of the profession.

He has held teaching positions at Harvard Law School and North Carolina Central Law School. He served as a Scholar in Residence at Santa Clara Law School and was recognized as an Honorary Fellow by the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, having been inducted in 1987. Mr. Ferguson co-founded South Africa's first Trial Advocacy Program, offering the program to black and white lawyers, even during the apartheid era. He has taught trial advocacy in London, Cambridge and Stratford-on-Avon, England, as well as throughout the United States, including the first advanced trial advocacy program offered in the United States through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He is a past Chair or President of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers.

In the civic arena, Mr. Ferguson has served as the Chair of the Charlotte Community Building Initiative and as a member of the North Carolina Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration. He served for more than 15 years as General Counsel and member of the National Executive Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union.


Kevin A. Henry, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer Snyder's Lance, Inc.

Joining Lance Incorporated in January 2010, Mr. Henry is responsible for all of the company's human resources, community affairs, government relations, and employment related legal and communications functions. In December 2010, Lance Inc. merged with Snyder's of Hanover and Mr. Henry was named Chief Human Resources Officer of the merged company which was renamed Snyder's-Lance, Inc. Prior to his current role, Mr. Henry was Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, a position he had held since 2001. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of the company's human resources functions. He has held a variety of human resources positions over a 20+ year career in the consumer products, retail and financial services industries.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Mr. Henry is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity – Beta Delta Boulé. Chairing the Board of Trustees for Charlotte Latin Day School and Johnson C. Smith University's Board of Visitors, he also serves on the Board of The Harvey B. Gantt Center. Past community service includes chairing the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Central Carolinas and the Charlotte Chamber's Black Professional Network. Additionally, he is a former Board Member of Junior Achievement, Queens University's McColl School of Business and Teach for America. Mr. Henry has been advisor for The Charlotte Chapter of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources and PRIDE Magazine.

Appreciation for Mr. Henry's community service includes recognition by the Charlotte Business Journal as a Top 40 under 40 Award Winner, the 2009 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award by the Urban League of Central Carolinas, and as the 2010 Father of The Year by the National Father's Day Council. In 2011 he was recognized by UPTOWN Magazine as a Charlotte Catalyst.

The Henrys, wife Tina and sons Tyler and Taylor, reside in Charlotte, North Carolina and attend the Central Church of God.


Edward P. O'Keefe, Esq., Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Bank of America

Ed O'Keefe is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Bank of America, the company's chief legal officer and adviser. Mr. O'Keefe leads a global department of 1,100-plus attorneys, paralegals and support staff in 40 U.S. and 20 international cities that manages the bank's legal affairs and legal risks. He leads a dynamic and innovative legal team that has won numerous awards, including Law 360's Innovative Corporate Counsel Award and multiple International Financial Law Review awards. Also an industry leader, Mr. O'Keefe serves on, among others, the board of The Clearing House Association, which he chairs, the General Counsel's Leadership Network, and the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity.

Since joining the company in 2004, he has served as head of litigation; global compliance and operational risk executive; senior privacy executive; and deputy general counsel for staff support. His previous experience includes managing director for Deutsche Bank, Associate General Counsel at Chase Manhattan and private practice.

Mr. O'Keefe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island. He received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law and is a member of the North Carolina, New York and New Jersey bar associations.

A community leader in serving children, Ed O'Keefe has transitioned from managing athletic teams to advocating on behalf of at-risk children. He serves on the board of directors of the Charlotte-based Council for Children's Rights as well as the United Way of Central Carolinas.

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The 9th Annual Charlotte "Awards of Excellence" is the third regional event in 2012. Past events include, Miami, and New Jersey and the Chicago event is scheduled to take place November 1. For sponsorship opportunities and ticket information, please contact: Mary V. Jones: mary.jones@tmcfund.org or call 201-227-8427 and for media inquiries please contact: Tiffany L. Jones: tiffany.jones@tmcfund.org or 212-573-8493.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Detectives Investigating Fatal Shooting by Officer in the South Division

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs Bureau are conducting a parallel investigation into an officer involved shooting at 10411 Takeridge Court. The call for service came in at 9:41 a.m., on Friday, September 14.

South Division patrol officers responded to Takeridge Court in reference to a domestic disturbance. A representative from Mental Health had placed a 911 call on behalf of a female resident who had locked herself inside of her home due to her grandson's aggressive behavior. As officers attempted to speak with the grandson he became very agitated and began to put his hands in his pockets. Officers gave verbal commands for him to remove his hands from his pockets but he refused.

Officers then approached the male in order to ensure that he did not have any weapons, due to his failure to comply with the commands. As the officers approached, the subject grabbed a pair of shears and raised them in the air and advanced aggressively towards the officers. Officer John Galland deployed a TASER device on the subject and Officer Ole Swenson fired two shots, striking the subject in the torso. Medic responded to the scene and transported the subject to CMC Main where he was pronounced deceased. The deceased has been identified as Clay Crawford McCall, DOB: 04/11/1986. Mr. McCall had a history of mental health issues and had recently been released from prison for a Manslaughter charge.

Crime Scene Search responded to the call for service to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives of the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Homicide Prosecution Team responded to the scene as well as the Mobile Crisis Team and representatives of the Police Attorney's Office.

No officers were injured during this incident. As additional information develops in this case it will be released by CMPD Public Affairs.

As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, Internal Affairs Bureau will conduct a separate but parallel investigation to determine whether or not CMPD policies and procedures were adhered to during the course of the incident. Officer Ole Swenson has been a member of the CMPD since February 19, 1986. Officer John Galland has been a member of the CMPD since July 12, 2004. Both officers are currently assigned to the South Division as a Patrol Officers. Per department protocol, Officer Galland and Officer Swenson have been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the shooting investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Sarvis is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. For additional information, reference CMPD complaint number 2012-0914-0941-06.

Meck County Receives Grant For Safe Visitation Site

Mecklenburg County is the recipient of a $399,845 federal grant awarded by the Office of Violence AgainstWomen (OVW). The three-year grant is for a Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange (SVSE) Center that is expected to help 200 families dealing with domestic violence situations.

"This will allow children to have meaningful, safe contact with both parents and ensure that parents and children are not placed at unacceptable risk,"Marie White said. She is Women's Commission division director for Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, the division is the lead for the initiative. The first year of the grant is for planning, and years two and three are for implementation. The OVW is part of the U.S. Justice Department.

Mecklenburg County will receive and administer the funds, and services will be operated by United Family Services, Inc. The center will be located at the Children and Family Services Center, 601 East 5thSt. in Charlotte.

"The project grew out of a shared community recognition that the lack of supervised visitation has increased the risk of domestic violence, curbed opportunities for children to have consistent visits with their non-custodial parent, and increased the anxiety of custodial and non-custodial parents and their children around visitation," White said.Development and sustainability of an SVSE Center has been a priority of the Domestic Violence Advisory Board and of the Mecklenburg Domestic Violence Fatality Prevention and Protection Review Team. Some key milestones for the initiative include:


• Develop and maintain an active Consulting Committee with representation from expert domestic violence providers, the courts, child advocates, the legal community and the Hispanic community to maximize the Center's responsiveness to community needs.


• Reach out and build relationships with the Hispanic community, which is currently underserved, to ensure that SVSE needs are met.


• Up fit the designated space, test and implement protocols, train personnel to ensure that the custodial and non-custodial parents do not come into contact.


• Develop criteria for serving families, referral procedures, risk assessment instruments and policies and procedures that ensure safety for adult victims and children.


•
Serve families in months 13 through 36, safely.


Partner participants include: CSS Women's Commission Division; United Family Services, Inc.; the 26th Judicial District Court; Legal Aid of North Carolina; Legal Services of Southern Piedmont; the Latin American Coalition; The Children and Family Services Center; the Council for Children's Rights; Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Speaker Announced for 7th Annual Dress for Success Charlotte Event

Dress for Success Charlotte Executive Director Kerry Barr O'Connor announces that Lou Solomon will offer the keynote address at the upcoming Look at Her Power event sponsored by Wells Fargo.

Solomon, CEO of Interact, author, and expert in authentic communication will share stories and insights about women finding their voices. "It is an honor to address this group," Solomon says. "Dress for Success Charlotte not only allows women to stand tall; it encourages them to embrace their authenticity and offers guidance and support in finding their own vision of success."

Dress for Success Charlotte hosts Look at Her Power on September 20, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Park Expo & Conference Center, (formerly the Merchandise Mart, 2500 E. Independence Blvd.)

Look at Her Power guests enjoy an evening of fun, delicious refreshments and the "Faces of Dress for Success" Fashion Show presented by Belk, Inc. They are also privy to a unique experience: a Private Preview and Opening Night Celebration of the 30th Annual Southern Women's Show, thanks to Southern Shows, Host Sponsor and long-time supporter.

Maureen O'Boyle from WBTV will return as emcee. This year's honorary chairs are Peggy & Danny Morrison, President of the Carolina Panthers and Jane Thomas and Marguerite Rupar are the Event Co-Chairs. The 2012 Paradigm Award, sponsored by L'Oreal Paris will be presented to Debby Alphin, a long-time supporter of Dress for Success Charlotte.

Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Now in its seventh year, Look at Her Power has raised more than $600,000 to support these programs.

Sponsors of Look at Her Power are: Wells Fargo, Southern Shows, Belk, Inc. -, L'Oreal Paris, US Airways, Debby & Steele Alphin, Bank of America, Bank of the Ozarks, Boingo Graphics -King & Spalding, Polymer Group, NFocus Magazine, the Park Expo & Conference Center, Red Rover Communications, Certus Bank - The Charlotte Observer - Gilbert E. Galle, Sarah Belk Gambrell, La-tea-das, McGuire Woods LLP, Piedmont Natural Gas, Don & Susan Sherrill, Today's Charlotte Woman - Ty & Pat Boyd, Brownlee Jewelers, Cato Corporation, Charlotte Bobcats, Doncaster Charlotte/Marguerite Rupar, Generation 3 Development, LLC, Lavoie CPA PLLC, Jenny and John Longshore, Danny & Peggy Morrison - Paul Simon for Women, Debby & Sandy Peretsman, Scoopcharlotte.com - United Technology Aerospace Systems, Women with Know How, Mary Lou Babb - - Dinwiddie/Hargadon Family, Elliott Davis, PLLC, Flowers of Charlotte, Laura Babb Grace, Cammie Hauptfuhrer - Lee Hecht Harrison, Concetta & Rod Higgins - Susan McDonough, JacelynPrichard - Solutions FYS, Inc., Nancy Tarbis and Jane & Chris Thomas. Food and Beverages provided by Brown-Forman Beverages,Excelesior - and La-tea-das.

About Dress for Success Charlotte:
Dress for Success Charlotte provides women with interview-appropriate attire, a support network and the tools for their economic self-sufficiency and to help break the cycle of poverty. Demand for Dress for Success Charlotte's services continues to increase. In 2011, Dress for Success Charlotte provided services to more than 1,000 women, up from 275 just five years ago. Besides interview-appropriate attire, clients benefit from programs and services at the organization's Boutique and Career Transformation Center, which offers a Professional Women's Group, one-on-one coaching, mentoring, free internet access and interactive group workshops. www.dressforsuccess.org/charlotte

Thrill Seekers Wanted to go Over the Edge on Oct. 13 for Special Olympics

On Saturday, Oct. 13 The VUE- Charlotte on 5th in Uptown Charlotte will be the setting for a unique and thrilling fundraising event. As many as 80 participants will have the opportunity to rappel from the towering skyscraper in support of Special Olympics NC athletes. Interested thrill seekers must be at least 14 years-old and raise a minimum donation of $1,000 by Oct. 13. Fundraising is simple and safe; participants just create a personal fundraising webpage at www.firstgiving.com/sonc and email friends and family. All rappellers will receive a free T-shirt and customized photo of their rappel. Additionally, all who raise $2,000 or more will receive an event video customized with their rappel. On event day Saturday, Oct. 13, all rappells will be streamed live on the Web at www.livestream.com/shorelineproductions.

Among those going Over the Edge is the father and son pair –Brian Tallent and Jordan Tallent, who will be rappelling in honor of their family member Brandon Tallent. SONC athlete Brandon, 24, has competed in tennis, basketball and golf since 2004. In 2010, Brandon won a silver medal at the Special Olympics USA National Games with his basketball team from Mecklenburg County. Brandon will be cheering hard for is father and brother as they make their big descent.

Also among the brave is SONC athlete John Gray of Charlotte, a two-time Special Olympics World Games athlete, who most also won a silver medal with the 2010 Special Olympics National Games basketball team. John braved the building last year and wants to enjoy the spectacular views again in 2012.

Chubby Bear, the Charlotte Checker's mascot has ice in his veins. He can't wait to show off his courage in making the steep descent.

Brad Brooker, owner of Grilles Sports Cafe in Mooresville is attempting the feat. His sister Beth is a staff member with Special Olympics NC. Four members of the Charlotte Roller Girls will also descend the 35 stories.

Friends and fans also are encouraged to come out and watch these daredevils descend 35 stories in support of Special Olympics this weekend. The festivities will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Special thanks to Over the Edge - Charlotte sponsors: Cafe Carolina & Bakery, Choate Construction, Sport Clips, Northwood Ravin, MCL Companies, K104.7, Charlotte Roller Girls, Hooters, Adams Outdoor Advertising, The VUE-Charlotte on 5th, and Shoreline Productions.

Special Olympics North Carolina offers year-round sports training and competition for more than 38,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. These athletes inspire greatness through their success and provide motivation to the thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers Olympic-type competition in 19 sports on local and state levels. Visit Special Olympics North Carolina at www.specialolympicsnc.com. Engage with us on http://twitter.com/sonc_beafan; http://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsNC and http://www.youtube.com/BeAFanSONC.

First Accessible Multi-Sensory Environment Close to Becoming a Reality in Charlotte

Easter Seals UCP, a nonprofit that provides support, care and hope to children and adults living with disabilities and mental health challenges, in partnership with Levine Children's Hospital has secured more than 85 percent of the funding needed to build a multi-sensory environment (MSE) in Charlotte for children with multi-sensory disorders. Easter Seals UCP is hoping to raise the rest of the funds needed through donations from the community. This will be the first MSE in Charlotte open to the public and will be located at the Easter Seals UCP Children's Center (716 Marsh Road, Charlotte, NC 28209).

According to a study by the Sensory Processing Disordered Foundation, 1 in every 6 children experiences sensory symptoms that affect everyday life functions. Sensory stimulation is the sole means to engage with the world and is fundamental to survival, well-being, growth and development.

Thanks to the generosity of lead donors* the organization has raised $240,000 to ensure the MSE becomes a reality for so many young children needing help with sensory integration therapy. Easter Seals UCP is only $60,000 away from fully funding the renovation costs and the first three years of operation.

"In addition to seeing the great need for an accessible multi-sensory environment here in Charlotte, it's also very personal to me," said MSE capital campaign chair, Richard Worrell. "My seven year old son was born with a rare birth defect that presents him with significant developmental challenges. This MSE will give him a calming place to go that allows him to focus without overstimulation. I am grateful to everyone who has already donated to this effort and with some additional help from the community we know that this facility will make a positive development impact on many kids."

The purpose of a multi-sensory environment room is to provide stimulating activities for children to cope with their sensory issues. The space is designed to stimulate the senses with light, sound, touch, smell or taste. Multi-sensory environments can improve the health and quality of life of individuals with disabilities by improving brain activity.

Many children with autism or other special needs or sense impairments have trouble processing one or more senses, such as sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. A typically developing child may also experience sensory issues. Without appropriate stimulation, individuals may resort to self-injury, anger, or repetitive behavior as a substitute. This type of behavior interferes with daily living. An MSE provides an area that offers individuals an opportunity to control, manipulate, intensify, or reduce stimulation within a safe environment.

"We've spent a lot of time studying the benefits of multi-sensory environments, said Peg Smith, program manager for Early Childhood and Family Services program manager for Easter Seals UCP. "The research shows that children with mild to significant sensory impairments benefit tremendously from these environments through behavior improvement. We are incredibly grateful to all of the support we have already received to make this a reality for the Charlotte community and appreciate the support to help us raise the remaining funds needed. Our goal is to have the MSE open to the community by the end of the year."

There are many community multi-sensory environments across the country and the numbers continue to grow due to the developmental improvements many children are experiencing when they have the opportunity to stimulate senses in a manner that is soothing and calming.

Donations to the Easter Seals UCP multi-sensory environment can be made online at www.MSECampaign.eventbrite.com or a check designated to the Easter Seals UCP MSE campaign can be mailed to Easter Seals UCP, 6135 Park South Drive, Suite 350, Charlotte, NC 28210.

*To date, lead donors include the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, Leon Levine Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation, Hendrick BMW/Mini, Humana, Rick and Sharon Anicetti, Ann and Hooper Hardison, Cary Pickard, R. David and Pamela Sprinkle, Michael Sprinkle, D. Phelps and Katherine Sprinkle, Joshua and Ellen Thomas, Richard and Alanna Worrell and James and Nancy Worrell.

About Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia
Easter Seals UCP is a lifelong partner to people managing disabilities and mental health challenges. Established in 1945, our nonprofit serves more than 20,000 individuals and their families across North Carolina and Virginia through an array of community-based services and solutions. We light the runway, helping people find their own voices, make their own choices, and discover innovative solutions to their challenges. For more information on Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia, please visit www.eastersealsucp.com.

Free car seat safety check event set for Sept 21

Come visit us at our headquarters in Charlotte, where a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician will teach you the correct way to install your car seat, provide safety recommendations, and answer any questions you may have.

BRITAX Car Seat Check (all brands of seats welcome!!)

DATE: Friday, September 21, 2012

TIME: 8:00am until 11:30am

LOCATION: BRITAX USA Headquarters in Charlotte, NC (13501 South Ridge Drive, Charlotte, NC)

COST: FREE!!

*No appointment necessary. Child safety seats from every manufacturer are welcome

Please help us keep babies and kids safe on the road, especially during this heavy family-travel season!

Statistic: Improper car seat installation - and lack of a car seat altogether - is responsible for the death and injury of thousands of children each year. Approximately 96 percent of parents believe their child seats are installed correctly. However, research shows that seven out of 10 children are either not securely fastened in their car seat or are in a car seat that is not properly secured to the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Please visit our website for more information about this event: http://www.britaxusa.com/learning-center/britax-checking-station

2012 Checking Station Schedule:
*September 21, 2012: 8 am - 11:30 am
*November 16, 2012: 8 am - 11:30 am

NOTE: In the event of inclement weather, please call 704-409-1695 to confirm we are in operation that day.

About Sarah Tilton, BRITAX Child Passenger Safety Advocate (organizer of the Britax inspection station events)

As an active CPS Technician since 2002 and Instructor since 2004, Sarah is the spokesperson for BRITAX within the advocacy community participating in child passenger safety activities at a local, state and national level.

Sarah serves on the new product development, technical writing and marketing teams at BRITAX. In addition, she managed and developed the training curriculum for the BRITAX Consumer Services department, assisted with the development and implementation of the BRITAX ISO Quality Management System and organized and implemented a permanent checking station at BRITAX during her nine years with the company.

Sarah is currently active with the Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg coalition and is a member of the North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Training Committee.

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