Friday, August 31, 2012

Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft, and Design to open Sept. 1 at Mint Museum Uptown

Featuring more than 60 installations, sculptures, furniture, and
objects, Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft, and
Design explores the most cutting-edge conceptual and technical trends
in woodworking today. Organized by the Museum of Arts and Design, New
York, and debuting September 1, 2012, at Mint Museum Uptown and
running through January 27, 2013, the exhibition emphasizes the ways
artists, designers, and craftspeople have incorporated modernist
approaches and strategies into woodworking—deconstructing vessel
shapes, playing on the relationship between function and form, and
utilizing woodturning and furniture techniques in the creation of
sculpture. The works, all created since 2000, challenge traditional
applications of wood within the design and craft worlds, and exemplify
the wide-ranging, frequently unexpected approaches to the medium by
contemporary artists and designers. The exhibition will subsequently
be on view at the Museum of Arts and Design from March through July,
2013.

"It is very important for the museum to present world-class special
exhibitions to complement our internationally-regarded permanent
collection during the Democratic National Convention," said Dr.
Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. "Against the Grain:
Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft, and Design is a fascinating look at
the way artists and designers use traditional woodworking techniques
to create startlingly fresh work. Organized by the Museum of Arts and
Design in New York, in consultation with the Mint, we are honored to
premiere the exhibition in Charlotte. On behalf of the Mint, I
express my gratitude to Moore & Van Allen PLLC and the Founders'
Circle for their generous support of Against the Grain."

The exhibition features 57 artists and designers from around the
world, including influential sculptors Ursula von Rydingsvard,
Courtney Smith, and Martin Puryear, who will display one of his
furniture pieces for the first time; installation artists Gary Carsley
and Alison Elizabeth Taylor; designers Maarten Baas, Sebastian
Errazuriz, and Pablo Reinoso; and studio wood artists Wendell Castle,
Andrew Early, and Hunt Clark, among others.

"Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft, and Design aligns
beautifully with the Mint's commitment to innovative 21st-century
creative expression from a variety of cultural perspectives.
Moreover, the museum's collection is very strong in both turned wood
and studio furniture, most notably, the Jane and Arthur Mason
Collection, as well as recent major acquisitions; Joseph Walsh's
Enignum from the Mint's Project Ten Ten Ten series, and Silas Kopf's
Who's Chicken, Now? will both be on view during the exhibition," said
Annie Carlano, the Mint's Director of Craft + Design. "Beyond museum
walls,Against the Grain has a particular connection to our community
and region. The American furniture industry is centered here, and
until just a few months ago, the Furniture Society was based in
Asheville. Designers and makers live amongst us."

"Against the Grain is a complete immersion into the seemingly
limitless world of contemporary woodworking, an imaginative experience
where function is subsumed by fantastical forms and textures," said
Holly Hotchner, Nanette L. Laitman Director of the Museum of Arts and
Design. "The creators featured in the exhibition exemplify the
innovative practice that MAD is dedicated to supporting and bringing
to the fore. Their work defies clear categorization and draws together
traditionally disparate themes, ideas, and techniques into stunning
and surprising works of art."

Organized by MAD Curator Lowery Stokes Sims, Against the Grain is part
of MAD's ongoing "Materials & Process" series, dedicated to exploring
contemporary innovations in traditional techniques and materials, and
highlights the tremendous creative energy and fresh thinking that
creators are bringing to wood today. "Wood is a ubiquitous material
and a medium of basic function as well as tremendous versatility. In
the last several decades, artists have truly begun to test its
creative boundaries, expressing and expanding wood's aesthetic and
conceptual possibilities," said Sims. "The artists featured in Against
the Grain represent the forward-thinking approach that has spurred the
medium's renaissance."

The featured works fall into seven thematic designations that
encapsulate the breadth of creative production in wood. Many of the
artists and designers are inspired by wood's most natural state as
trees, utilizing branches, logs, and planks and creating works that
draw upon the wood's grains, textures, and patterns. Others fuse a
variety of wood elements together to create distinctly new visual
forms, producing a more powerful experience than the individual parts
might allow. Digital techniques have also transformed woodworking,
allowing creators to manipulate materials and produce illusions that
were previously impossible. The use of wood as a material to convey
political and social content as well as humor and visual puns has also
grown and been refined as artists experiment with the medium.
Additionally, environmental issues will be woven throughout the
exhibition as increased ecological consciousness is implicit in the
work of all contemporary woodworkers.

Highlights from the exhibition include the following works:

• Mark Moskovitz's fully-functional chest of
drawers mimicking wood stockpiled for the winter exemplifies the type
of camouflage and secret compartments that have long been an
intriguing feature of furniture. His Facecord Chest, 2011, was
inspired by the haphazard geometry of cordwood and the accidental
poetry in its stacking.

• In OddychajÄ…ca, 2011, Ursula von Rydingsvard
manipulates a field of flat 2-by-4 beams into an organic form that
gently curves out into space.

• Designers Ian Spencer and Cairn Young are
presenting their Roccapina V chair, 2012, a product of the Yard Sale
Project, which produces furniture that combines computer-aided design
and traditional construction techniques. The result is a richly
patterned surface resembling a volumetric quilt.

• Alison Elizabeth Taylor's installations of
illusionistic marquetry, which recreate architectural elements of
abandoned houses—including linoleum floors or painted and papered
walls whose many layers have been worn away after years of water damage.

• Maarten Baas' "smoked" version of a Marc
Newson chair, which has been torched and rendered nonfunctional and
yet maintains lyricism and elegance in its new sculptural form.

• A chest of drawers by artist Courtney Smith,
whose functionality has been subverted by the insertion of arbitrary
rectangles and boxes of plywood. The resulting sculpture challenges
ideas of structural integrity and authorship as Smith intrudes on
existing design elements.

• Ai Weiwei's 2008 evocation of a cluster of
grapes in his eccentric assembling of ten simple Qing Dynasty stools,
rendering the group useless.

• Gary Carsley's cabinet installation is part of
an ongoing project of photographing parks and landscapes all over the
world, printing them on vinyl, and then applying them to walls and
IKEA furniture. He plays with our sense of space as the print blends
the wall and furniture together into one landscape environment.

• Cameroon-born artist Barthélémy Toguo's
large-scale stamp, hewed out of a block of wood and engraved with "Who
is the true terrorist?," taps into the tradition of the woodblock-
printed image and evokes the political paranoia infecting recent
international relations.

• Chilean designer Sebastian Errazuriz, whose
Porcupine Cabinet, 2011, is a candidate in the Mint's "Vote for Art"
project. It is one of six specially-chosen works by some of the
world's top artists and designers that will be on display throughout
Mint Museum Uptown. Museum visitors will cast ballots for their three
favorite works. Visitors to the museum during the Democratic National
Convention will be offered ballots from September 1-7; voting opens to
the general public October 1 through November 9.


MEDIA PREVIEW
All media are invited to preview the exhibition at Mint Museum Uptown
from 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday August 30 (curator's tour and
refreshments provided) or during a media drop-in from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
on Friday August 31. In addition, admission is FREE to all members of
the media throughout public operating hours during the Democratic
National Convention (reservation required). See more information about
operating hours at mintmuseum.org; emailleigh.dyer@mintmuseum.org to
RSVP.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft, and Design is
organized the Museum of Arts and Design and curated by Lowery Stokes
Sims, Charles Bronfman International Curator at the Museum of Arts and
Design, assisted by Elizabeth Edwards Kirrane, Assistant Curator at
MAD and project manager for the exhibition. The exhibition has been
curated at The Mint Museum by Annie Carlano, Director of Craft +
Design. Against the Grain is made possible at The Mint Museum through
generous support from Founders' Circle Ltd. and Moore & Van Allen PLLC.

The exhibition tour includes The Mint Museum, Charlotte, North
Carolina (September 1, 2012 - January 27, 2013), Museum of Arts and
Design, New York, New York (March - July, 2013), and other locations
to be announced.

The catalogue, published by Monacelli Press, includes essays by
Curator Lowery Stokes Sims, who writes on the conceptual framework of
the exhibition; Assistant Curator Elizabeth Edwards Kirrane, who
chronicles how history, environmental issues, and politics have
predicated the use of various woods; and noted writer on art and craft
Suzanne Ramljak, who will examine the enduring preoccupation with wood
in human cultures. It is available in the Mint Museum Shops for $45.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN

The Museum of Arts and Design explores the blur zone between art,
design, and craft today. The Museum focuses on contemporary creativity
and the ways in which artists and designers from around the world
transform materials through processes ranging from the artisanal to
digital. The Museum's exhibition program explores and illuminates
issues and ideas, highlights creativity and craftsmanship, and
celebrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques when
used by gifted and innovative artists. MAD's permanent collection is
global in scope and focuses on art, craft, and design from 1950 to the
present day. At the center of the Museum's mission is education. The
Museum's dynamic new facility features classrooms and studios for
master classes, seminars, and workshops for students, families, and
adults. Three open artist studios engage visitors in the creative
processes of artists at work and enhance the exhibition programs.
Lectures, films, performances, and symposia related to the Museum's
collection and topical subjects affecting the world of contemporary
art, craft, and design are held in a renovated 144-seat auditorium.

Community Blood Center of the Carolinas Celebrates Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September

In commemoration of September being Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the
Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is working to increase
blood donors - and in particular African-American donors - to help
treat area sickle cell patients.

This effort is part of CBCC's new Sickle Cell Program aimed at
creating a registry of African-American volunteer donors whose blood
type and traits are matched with a local sickle cell patient.

"There is a real value and need for this program in our community,"
said Martin Grable, president and CEO of the Community Blood Center of
the Carolinas. "Nationally, the number of African-Americans who need
blood transfusions exceeds the number of African-Americans who donate
blood. The same is true in our own community where we simply do not
have enough local African-American donors to meet local patient needs."

Studies show that one in 500 African-Americans are born with sickle
cell anemia each year. Although sickle cell is not unique to African-
Americans, it is more frequently diagnosed in the African-American
patient population in the U.S. While blood-type compatibility is not
determined by race, select rare blood types more generally found in
African-Americans are needed to support sickle cell patients.

Research also shows that more than half of all persons with sickle
cell will require a blood transfusion in their lifetime and the
majority will require multiple transfusions, using an average of four
units per month.

Grable added, "These blood donations are necessary to support local
sickle cell patients who need our help."

In addition, CBCC is teaming up with various organizations throughout
the region to host blood drives in honor of Sickle Cell Awareness
Month. The following is a list of Sickle Cell Awareness Blood Drives.
More drives can be found at www.carolinadonor.org.

September 6
Doctors of America
727 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
11:00 am ‑ 2:00 pm

September 7
MAS of Charlotte
4301 Shamrock Drive
Charlotte, NC 28215
2:00 pm ‑ 5:00 pm

September 8
Logan Ministries
184 Booker St SW
Concord, NC 28026
11:00 am 3:00 pm

September 15
Grace AME Zion Church
3722 David Cox Road
Charlotte, NC 28269
10:00 am ‑ 12:00 pm

September 22
Sickle Cell Partners of the Carolinas
4447 South Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28209
10:00 am ‑ 2:00 pm

September 29
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
3301 Statesville Road
Charlotte, NC 28206
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

September 29
Mt Calvary Baptist Church
422 Carolina Avenue
Shelby, NC 28150
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

September 29
First Calvary
623 Crawford Road
Rock Hill, SC 29730
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

September 30
Ebenezer Baptist Church
2020 W. Sugar Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28262
9:30 am ‑ 1:30 pm

Anyone 16 and older who weighs at least 120 pounds is encouraged to
donate at one of the five CBCC centers located in Charlotte, Concord,
Gastonia, Hickory and Monroe or at one of CBCC's many mobile blood
drives, which can be found at www.carolinadonor.org. For more
information or to make an appointment, call 704-972-4700. For
organizations, businesses, churches and schools interested in
sponsoring a blood drive, contact Kim Jones at 704-972-4727.

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit
community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 21
regional hospitals, serving 16 North Carolina and three South Carolina
counties. CBCC focuses exclusively on gathering red blood cells,
platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives –
every drop of blood collected remains here to help people in the
Carolinas. CBCC is a member of America's Blood Centers, North
America's largest network of community-based, independent blood
centers providing more than 50% of the nation's blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in
your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

Follow the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter
and on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.

Mecklenburg County Announces Free Organic Waste Reduction Workshops

Experts from Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Management have announced
a series of free organic waste reduction workshops in composting and
other methods of residential organic waste control.

Anyone can compost almost anything organic - from vegetable peelings
to yard waste. Instead of relegating all that organic matter to the
garbage can, learn how to put it to good use. You can also learn ways
to make your home a "greener" place, how to reduce waste during the
holidays, and put worms to work for you in your very own worm farm.

• Home Composting Workshop. Learn the hows and whys of home
composting, proper soil preparation and management, mulching and
grasscycling. Participants take home a free wire compost bin and a
booklet on home composting. (Maximum number of 20 students per class).

• Make Your Home a Green Place. Learn to use natural alternatives to
toxic household cleaners (cleaners, pesticides, etc.). Participants
take home a booklet on toxicity reduction. (Maximum number of 20
students per class).

• Giving Green: a workshop on holiday waste reduction. Learn to give
green by creating one-of-a-kind gifts from re-purposed items and enjoy
a more Earth-friendly holiday season. Participants take home a booklet
on green gift giving and holiday waste reduction tips. (Maximum number
of 20 students per class).

• Vermicomposting Workshop. Learn how red wigglers can help your
garden and your food waste diversion efforts. Participants have the
option to take home a worm bin with 1/2 pound of starter worms.
(Maximum number of 15 students per class).

Classes begin Sept. 8, 2012. All classes are free and conveniently
located throughout Mecklenburg County, but pre-registration is
required. The deadline for pre-registration is the Monday before the
class. Please select a workshop and complete the registration form for
online registration or register by phone 704-336-4304.


Mecklenburg County's Master Composters Training Program

The Master Composters training Program is a free 40-hour training
program that is open to the residents of Mecklenburg County.
Applicants must have completed the County's Basic Home Composting
Workshop and/or have a working knowledge of composting

In return for the training, students are required to give back 40
hours of volunteer time to the Organics Waste Reduction Program and
its projects. Past projects have included developing a school compost
garden, and providing under-served neighborhoods with residential
recycling training. The classes meet weekly at various locations
throughout the County. For more information about the Master
Composters program, including obtaining an application, contact Solid
Waste Services by e-mail or call 704-201-2201.

Homeless Services Network Agencies Prepare for Displaced Families During DNC

Over the past several weeks, The Homeless Services Network (HSN)
agencies have come together to find a proactive solution to assist
potentially displaced families and individuals during the Democratic
National Convention.

The laws of economics show that large events in the area impact hotel
and motel rental rates. Charlotte currently has low-income families
and individuals living in motels who are facing potential displacement
from their shelter due to the increased rates. Although it is
difficult to predict an exact number, up to 100 families could be
impacted.

The HSN agencies have crafted a multi-tier approach to first, work to
prevent displacement, and second, provide support to families and
individuals who have been displaced. In a short period of time, the
group was able to raise nearly $20,000 to carry out their plan which
is designed to keep people safe and minimize the impact on school-aged
children.

Putting this plan in place was truly a community wide effort. Funding
was provided by donors that represent a cross-section of our
community; businesses, congregations and individuals, including the
Wells Fargo Foundation and Religious School Children of Temple Beth El
as collaborative contributors.

The multi-tier approach includes the following strategies:
• A motel fund to prevent displacement
• A single-site shelter at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club,
534 Spratt Street
• This site will also act as the hub for transportation to Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools for school-aged kids
• A Room in the Inn - rotating congregational shelter

Population Seeking Assistance
Responsible Agency And Contact Info
Families with children
A Child's Place, 704-343-3790
Salvation Army Women's Shelter, 704-348-2560
Individuals
Urban Ministry Center, 704-347-0278
Salvation Army Women's Shelter, 704-348-2560
Men's Shelter of Charlotte, 704-334-3187

At this time, 33 local congregations have committed to providing a
total of 747 beds over eight nights through the Room in the Inn
program, administered by the Urban Ministry Center. The HSN agencies
are grateful that the faith community has stepped up to help in this
time of need.

Bob Henderson, Senior Pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church said,
"Our community of faith is embracing this opportunity to address the
needs of our homeless citizens, to ensure that all children enjoy a
successful start to the school year, and to shine a light on the
ongoing challenges many in our community face when trying to provide
decent housing for their families."

While this is a contingency plan for housing for families and
individuals who may be displaced during the week of the Democratic
National Convention, it is not a solution and points back to the
overall need for additional quality, affordable housing in Charlotte.
Families should not have to live in motels and risk being displaced.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx states, "I applaud the Homeless Services
Network agencies for their collaborative effort to develop a plan to
support families and individuals impacted by the DNC. I thank the
faith community, businesses and individuals who have also stepped up
to help the most vulnerable in our community. Homelessness is an issue
that will continue to exist after the week of the Democratic National
Convention. The need for this plan points back to the overall need for
additional quality permanent affordable housing throughout Charlotte.
This is a community issue and I implore and encourage us; elected
officials, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Coalition for Housing members,
service providers, the faith community, and the citizens of Charlotte,
to combine our collective resources to continue developing solutions
to end and prevent homelessness."


About Homeless Services Network
Homeless Services Network is a group of agencies united for Charlotte-
Mecklenburg's homeless and those who are most vulnerable to
homelessness. The group recognizes homelessness is a multi-faceted
problem and that combining knowledge and expertise offers a greater
hope of achieving their goal to prevent and end homelessness.

Andrew Roby Cornhole Tournament Set for Oct. 13

The Pitchin' for Wishes Cornhole Tourney, sponsored by general
contractor Andrew Roby and Harris Teeter, will take place Oct. 13 at
Freedom Park.

The tournament's fundraising goal is $200,000 to benefit Make-A-Wish®
Central & Western North Carolina, which will provide hope, strength
and joy for children suffering from life-threatening medical
conditions. Last year's bag toss tournament set a Guinness world
record with 256 cornhole competitors, but organizers plan to shatter
that mark this year with 512 competitors.

The family-friendly tournament will feature an NCAA bracket-style
cornhole competition, as well as food, music, mascots from Charlotte's
professional sports teams, a bouncy house and children's play zone.
The event, organized by Andrew Roby, is in its fifth year.

"We've had tremendous success in the past, and we can't wait for the
2012 tournament," said David McGuire, Andrew Roby chief operating
officer. "But, we can't do it alone. To reach our fundraising goal,
we'll need cornhole competitors, event volunteers, donations from the
community and additional sponsors."

The average cost to grant a child's wish through Make-A-Wish Central &
Western North Carolina is $6,000.

A recent example of a wish that came true is 15-year-old Amanda from
Taylorsville, N.C. Despite battling acute lymphocytic leukemia, Amanda
is a self-taught pianist who practices in church, while her pastor
father prepares his sermons. Her wish was for a new piano.

Another example is Kenyon, a 7-year-old from Belmont, N.C., who has
been battling fibromuscular dysplasia since infancy. Though his arms
and legs are scarred from multiple surgeries, Kenyon loves to swim,
and he is fascinated by oceanic animals. His wish was granted when he
was sent to Discovery Cove and SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., to swim with
dolphins.

Nine-year-old Jack from Charlotte suffers from extrapyramidal cerebral
palsy and extreme osteoporosis, and his wish was to meet his favorite
wrestler, John Cena. Jack is wheelchair-bound with minimal motor
skills, but he loves to watch wrestling on television. So Make-A-Wish
arranged a meeting with Cena and provided Jack with an unforgettable
experience.

And, 6-year-old Adam from Charlotte, who suffers from spina bifida,
wanted to be a Carolina Panther. His wish came true when he was
drafted No. 1 by the Panthers in the 2010 Make-A-Wish Draft. Adam also
officially welcomed quarterback Cam Newton to the team later that year
when the Panthers selected Newton No. 1 in the NFL Draft.

Though Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina grants about 200
wishes each year, it has more than 325 qualified children in its
pipeline. The organization relies solely on fundraising support from
the local community.

The Pitchin' for Wishes entry fee is $60 for each two-person team. The
first-place team wins $1,000, and the second-place team wins $500.

The event is noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Organizers expect up to
1,000 people to attend.

As co-sponsor of Pitchin' for Wishes, Harris Teeter has committed to
raise $75,000 for the cause. Andrew Roby has raised $233,000 for
various charities through its cornhole tournaments in previous years.

For more information about the Pitchin' for Wishes Cornhole Tourney,
including sponsorship packages, volunteer opportunities, registration
and entry requirements, visit www.pitchinforwishes.com.

Andrew Roby, the premier custom residential contractor in the
Carolinas, specializes in remodeling, kitchen and bath renovations,
new homes and handyman services. The company was founded more than 60
years ago as a one-man remodeling firm and has grown into the largest
in the Charlotte metro area with offices in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel
Hill, Boone and Atlantic Beach, N.C. With fine materials, unsurpassed
craftsmanship and commitment to customer service, Andrew Roby produces
one-of-a-kind homes that feature style, luxury and comfort. Visit www.andrewroby.com
.

Dore Academy Renamed The John Crosland School

Charlotte's first school solely for children with learning
disabilities and/or attention deficit disorder has opened in its new
home, with a new name honoring one of the region's most respected
philanthropists.

Dore Academy is now The John Crosland School, a name change announced
today on the first day of school for 85 students at the new six-acre
campus near Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. At a celebration
highlighted by the unveiling of a sign with the new name, the K-12
school joined with the Charlotte community in honoring this latest
contribution from the homebuilding pioneer and business and charitable
giant.

"This is a great day for our school family, and for a Charlotte
community devoted to all its children," said Bob Selee, chairman of
the board of The John Crosland School. "We have a new home and a new
name. Coupled with our long-standing commitment to educating children
with learning disabilities, we begin the school year with unparalleled
excitement. We have Mr. Crosland to thank, first and foremost."

John Crosland, Jr., whose multi-faceted Charlotte real estate company
bears his family name, personally contributed more than $1 million to
the school. Foundation For The Carolinas, which oversees the Crosland
Foundation, helped bring the two parties together to make this gift
possible.

Said Foundation Senior Vice President Holly Welch Stubbing: "John and
his foundation have been working in the areas of learning differences,
affordable housing and urban policy research for many years. He is
lending his name and his legacy to this school at this time because he
really believes at his core that this is who he is."

The personal motivation behind this gift is powerful: Crosland had to
overcome dyslexia from an early age, a learning disorder marked by
difficulty reading and writing.

"I thought it important – really important – to help people with
learning disabilities," he said. "I have one. I know how difficult it
was in the early days in school. I know it would mean a lot to
students to go to a school like Dore Academy."

Now it's The John Crosland School – "Crosland" for short. Much more
about the life of the independent college preparatory school for
Grades K-12 is at www.JohnCroslandSchool.org.

The ceremony announcing the name change included remarks by Bailey
Patrick, a longtime friend of John Crosland and his family, who spoke
on his behalf; Don Williams, board chairman of The Crosland
Foundation; Senior Vice President Holly Welch Stubbing of Foundation
For The Carolinas; Bob Selee, chairman of the school board and father
of 11th grader Wesley Selee; and Associate Head of School Maria M.
Leahy.

The second reason for celebration: The John Crosland School welcomed
85 students to the first day of school Monday in its new 58,000-square-
foot home on Parkway Plaza Boulevard off Billy Graham Parkway. The
brick building, once an office, is nearly four times bigger than the
previous location on Providence Road. That will allow enrollment to
eventually grow to 250 students – an increase of 194 percent. With a
central location, proximity to fast-growing south Charlotte and the
S.C. suburbs, easy highway access and more than 100 parking spaces,
the new home will be more convenient for the Crosland School family
present and future. Students this year come from 21 cities and eight
counties in North and South Carolina.

The capital campaign to raise $5.9 million for the property and
relocation continues, with $1.5 million needed to complete the first
phase. Long-time civic and business leaders Hugh McColl Jr. and Dale
Halton are honorary campaign chairs.
Since its founding by Mary Dore in 1978, the school has
educated and nurtured more than 3,000 students challenged by learning
disabilities and ADHD (attention deficit).
Associate Head of School Leahy said the new campus and
building – renovated to offer the warmth of a school setting – will
allow teachers and staff, with the support of families, to inspire
children in new ways. "The opportunities that are part of this new
chapter in the life of our school," she said, "will be evident each
day in the classrooms and throughout the campus."

Among the highlights:
– Additional areas exist to allow for physical education
classes, after-school activities and the expansion of athletic teams
beyond the previous offerings of basketball, golf and track. The
property, lush with green space, backs up to county-owned Renaissance
Park. The school hopes to take advantage of the park for after-school
activities.

– A cafeteria/multipurpose room will offer more space for
larger group activities as well as for what has become a school
hallmark: Study Hall, when students start their homework with teachers
there to help.

– The arts will rise to richer heights with the addition of a
theater for drama and dance; a larger music room that can accommodate
a full band /orchestra, choir and current ensembles. A larger art room
will have a kiln, allowing students to work on sculptures.

"I can't begin to express the anticipation our teachers
and staff are feeling with these opportunities to expand our program
in so many ways," said Leahy. "The true beneficiaries will be our
children."

Board chairman Bob Selee and his wife, Ann Marie, can attest to that.
Their oldest child, Wesley, 16, struggled in public school because of
his special needs. He'd come home from school filled with stress and
anxiety, unable to do his homework. "He was walking in circles around
the island in the kitchen in frustration every night," Selee said.
Wesley's life, and theirs, changed when they discovered Dore Academy
when he was in fourth grade. The smaller classes, nurturing
environment, pace of learning and teachers with a gift for
communicating helped transform Wesley into a confident young man who
loves going to school and is playing sports. He's even mastered the
art of doing homework, and is researching college options.

"The difference has been stunning," Selee said. "He now has the self-
confidence and self-esteem to be able to learn. The school has
provided Wesley with an environment where he can truly learn, and a
sense of belonging. It's been a complete life-changer."
About The John Crosland School

Since opening in 1978, the school has earned a distinction as one of
the nation's leaders in creating academic success among its
constituency. Among its foundations: Individualized instruction, small
classes (7-to-1 student/teacher ratio), emphasis on the arts, bi-
monthly school assemblies built around character education and
development, and a reading program that stresses a multisensory
approach to teaching this most important of life skills.

The school helps ensure students with financial needs have access – 28
percent receive some level of financial help – and the principle on
which the entire philosophy is built never changes: There is no limit
to what a child can accomplish. More than 90 percent of the graduating
seniors go on to attend two-and four-year college programs.

The John Crosland School is dually accredited by the Southern
Association of Independent Schools and Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools. For admissions information or to visit the
school, call (704) 365-5490. Or visit the new website at www.JohnCroslandSchool.org
.

About John Crosland
John Crosland Jr., 83, for years led the Charlotte-based
real estate company that his father, John Crosland Sr., founded in
1937. He retired as chairman of Crosland Enterprises in 2007, a
business he propelled into national prominence as a leader in real
estate development. He currently serves as Chairman Emeritus, and is
recognized as the undisputed leader of homebuilding in North Carolina.
The family name, and business, are synonymous with quality home-
building and development – and with philanthropy. He and his wife,
Judy, have one son, John Crosland, III.
A child of the Depression who learned at an early age to
appreciate the value of a home, he founded Charlotte's Habitat for
Humanity chapter in 1983. As a child who had to overcome dyslexia, he
has helped numerous students with learning disabilities at his alma
maters, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., and Davidson
College. Dealing now with Parkinson's disease, as his father did
before him, he contributes to Carolinas HealthCare System for research
to find a cure. In 2000, he made a gift that established the Crosland
Foundation at Foundation For The Carolinas.
The emphasis reflects Crosland's lifelong passions:
Helping children with learning disabilities, affordable housing, and
urban policy research and education. To honor his father, he
established the John Crosland Sr. Distinguished Professorship in Real
Estate and Development at the UNC Charlotte Center for Real Estate.
The lesson he learned long ago, the one that helped him
build a successful career and life of giving, is the one he hopes
children at The John Crosland School will learn: "I would say to them,
'Don't be bothered by what other people will say about you. You can
stand there and take pride in what you do. If you try hard enough, you
can overcome anything. You've got tools now that will make it much
easier, and it will make a big difference in your life if you get an
education.'"
###

Arianna Huffington joins The PPL, additional DNC speakers announced

Arianna Huffington, Founder of the Huffington Post, will take to The
PPL's stage to moderate a Female Founders panel featuring Sara Garces,
Founder, Packard Place, Molly Barker, Founder, Girls on the Run, Kay
Koplovitz, Founder of USA Network and Chairwoman of Springboard, and
Jacqueline Patterson, Founder, Sheercom LLC.

This panel will focus on female entrepreneurs as job creators, and
examine the obstacles and strategies particular to their success
stories on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM. The PPL's stage
will host this, along with many others, at 222 South Church St.,
Charlotte, NC 28202 during the days of the Democratic National
Convention.

The PPL also proudly announces the following speakers to it's stage
lineup:
• Elon James White, Host, This Week in Blackness
• Julie Samuels, Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Kwasi Asare, CEO, Fighter Interactive
• Paul Geller, Sr. VP External Affairs, Grooveshark
• Steve Jang, CEO, Soundtracking
• Ted Cohen, CEO Tag Strategic
• Thom Duncan, Executive Director, SlowFood Charlotte

The PPL will unveil additional speakers in the coming days.
Credentials to attend and watch The PPL's stage programming in person
are currently $99.00 per person, on a first come, first served basis,
and are available at: http://dnc2012.eventbrite.com. Stage content
will be broadcast online for free for those who are unable to attend.
Details are forthcoming.

About The PPL
The PPL is more than a centrally located building in Uptown Charlotte
that will serve as the hub of activity for 1,000 plus independent
voices attending the Democratic National Convention. The PPL is a
result of a grassroots effort to organize an energetic workspace,
combined with engaging programming, for a diverse, creative community
of non-credentialled bloggers, journalists, photographers, artists,
and activists who will collectively provide the voice of healthy,
respectful political discourse for the Democratic National Convention
September 3 through 6.

Mecklenburg County Sending 2012 Property Tax Bills Now

The Mecklenburg County Assessor's Office will begin mailing 2012
property tax bills this week. Bills are being sent for real property
as well as personal and business property and are payable beginning
September 1. Bills can be paid without interest through January 7, 2013.

Of the 355,000 real property bills expected to be issued for 2012,
some number will be withheld until the second billing in October. The
second billing is a normal procedure for certain properties whose
value or tax records are still being processed before the respective
bills can be issued. Examples include, but are not limited to,
properties whose values were appealed in 2011, and have yet to be
heard by the Board of Equalization and Review, and properties changing
value in 2012 as a result of new construction or other factors.

All bills paid on or after January 8, 2013 will be assessed interest
at a rate of two percent for the first month, and three-quarters
percent every month thereafter until paid. For those with a mortgage
on their real property, bills are typically sent directly to the
mortgage holder for payment.

The reverse side of the tax bill contains a comprehensive list of
frequently asked questions. Property owners who have further questions
concerning their 2012 billing can contact CharMeck311 by dialing 311
within Mecklenburg County or 704-336-4600 from outside the County.
Information is also found at http://tax.charmeck.org.

Citizens should be aware that customer service counters at Bob Walton
Plaza for both the Assessor's Office and the Office of the Tax
Collector will be closed on Monday September 3 for Labor Day.
Additionally, access to the parking lot will be restricted during the
Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, September 5 through Thursday,
September 7. Offices will be open and available by mail, telephone,
and email. Normal access to the building will be restored on Friday,
September 8, barring any extended restrictions from Homeland Security.

Friday, August 24, 2012

$40M Brightmore Senior Living Community in Ballantyne Breaks Ground

Liberty Senior Living has just broken ground on Brightmore of South
Charlotte, a $40 million senior living community located in the
Ballantyne-area of Charlotte, NC.

"We're thrilled to begin the first phase of development for Brightmore
of South Charlotte," stated Jerry L. Cooper, Director of Marketing and
Development. "Unlike some Charlotte-area senior living communities,
Brightmore of South Charlotte will be geared toward the vibrant,
active retiree and will offer the convenience of independent living,
assisted living and skilled nursing all on one campus."

The 230,000-square-foot luxury retirement community, which will be
located at 10021 Providence Road West, will offer seniors a full
continuum of lifestyle choices and a range of amenities, including
various dining venues, a market, beauty salon, fitness center and pool.

Brightmore of South Charlotte will also differ from other full-service
senior living communities by featuring only rental options and will
not require an initial entry fee to become a resident.

Construction of Brightmore of South Charlotte's health and
rehabilitation center, The Pavilion Health Center will begin this
month and is slated for completion in late 2013. Construction of
Brightmore of South Charlotte's independent living residences and The
Terrace at Brightmore, its licensed assisted living and memory care
center, will follow and are estimated to be completed in 2014.

To commemorate this occasion, Brightmore of South Charlotte made a
$5,000 contribution to help support Charlotte Rescue Mission's Dove's
Nest, which offers counseling and aid for women battling substance
abuse addiction, and their children. An official grand opening for the
new Dove's Nest facility will be held in September.

Tony Marciano, Executive Director of Charlotte Rescue Mission said,
"Through the generosity of Brightmore of South Charlotte, women whose
lives have been unraveled due to an addiction can bring hope not only
to themselves but also to their children."

Those interested in learning more about Brightmore of South Charlotte
and the benefits of becoming a Priority Partner, including priority
residence selection, up-to-date informational meetings and social
events, should contact the Brightmore of South Charlotte information
office at 1-855-833-8511 to set up an appointment. You can also
visitwww.BrightmoreofSouthCharlotte.com for more information. Those
interested in learning more about The Pavilion Health Center please
contact 704-940-8300 or visitwww.libertyhcs.com.

About Liberty Senior Living

Liberty Healthcare Companies, the parent company of Liberty Senior
Living, is a family of independently operated health care providers,
offering a special combination of people and services that provide
seniors with choices, dignity, respect and care. Serving more than
15,000 customers in the Carolinas and Virginia, Liberty Healthcare's
comprehensive services are designed to meet the evolving needs of
seniors including independent living, homecare and hospice, assisted
living and memory care, short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing.

2012 CMPD Citizen Survey Shows Overall Positive Impressions

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department recently received the
results of the 2012, CMPD Citizen Survey. The survey agency conducted
650 telephone interviews between May 17 to June 21, and covered
several issues ranging from the community's perception of the CMPD, to
how safe neighbors feel in their communities. The survey is a valuable
tool for the department and serves as a benchmark for our customer
service delivery. This marks the tenth year CMPD has commissioned the
study.

In summary, the survey concluded:

1. A strong majority of residents have a positive overall
impression of the CMPD and believe the police have been effective in
making Charlotte-Mecklenburg and their neighborhood safer. While there
were few significant changes from 2011 to 2012, improvements made in
2011 were maintained. The improvements that were maintained include:

a. Performing job with integrity/honesty.
b. Using good judgment in the use of force.
c. Charlotte-Mecklenburg is a safe place to live.
d. I am safe in the neighborhood where I live.
e. The CMPD is effective in making Charlotte-Mecklenburg safer.
f. The CMPD's crime fighting and crime prevention strategies are
effective in neighborhoods.

2. The significant improvements from 2011 to 2012 include:

a. The percentage of respondents who say poor street lighting is
a serious problem decreased.
b. Non-emergency Crime Reporting Unit satisfaction ratings
improved on setting correct expectations for what would happen next.
c. Overall satisfaction with the non-emergency Crime Reporting
Unit increased from 2010 to 2011, and improved again in 2012.

3. Satisfaction with 911 remains very high

4. Most residents indicate they have seen police patrolling in
their neighborhood.

5. Maintaining and increasing police visibility is what residents
believe is the most important thing the police can do to keep them safe.

"Don't Curse Your Wedding Bed Before You Say I Do" Says Local Minister and Author

Tara White has been sharing her testimony of healing and wholeness.
Through her book, Don't Curse Your Wedding Bed Before You Say I Do,
she recounts her own story of brokenness, rebellion, and the
subsequent reconciliation with the Lord and with the love of her
life. Her experience has inspired her to educate young women and men
and making good and godly choices in relationships. Now a
Relationship Coach, White counsels singles and couples. Through her
God-given insight, White, a minister of the Gospel, has been guiding
singles and couples to better relationships. Here's what some are
saying:

"At one point in my life, I felt like giving up. I was broken
hearted, lost and ashamed. I felt like I had nothing left. And then
came a word from Minister Tara White that changed my life and reminded
me that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. She
reminded me that I can win as long as I keep my head to the sky. It
made a great difference in my life." – T.R.

"I was abused, misused and discouraged with my then husband, of eight
years. We had gotten into another physical fight and I had promised
myself that the next time he hit me, I had to end this marriage. I
had left this man once and felt as if I could not bear to tell my
family again about the abuse I was going through. I was at the very
end of my rope with no money, two kids and too much ungodly pride to
admit-- this marriage was doomed and over. I prayed and called the
only person I knew who would not judge me but would pray for me and
give me sound, Godly advice---Tara White." – W.W.

It's her calling to minister that led her to start God's Promise
Ministries. The ministry was birthed to minister to women, singles,
and youth. It's designed to transform lives by drawing people closer
to God through teaching, uplifting, and encouraging them through the
word of God. The goal is to teach women, youth, and singles to pray
and develop a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The
ministry also seeks to bring healing to those who are hurting, and
those who are still in the healing process from past wounds, while
restoring them into a right relationship with God. God's Promise
Ministries encourages women to seek healthy relationships, and urges
them to come into a true understanding of their value, worth, and
purpose in life.

The organization, soon to be a 501(c)3, offers an array of workshops,
conferences, and materials that will help people to find themselves in
the Word. This ministry aims to teach younger women that they are
"diamonds in the rough" while encouraging those women to recognize
their worth and value by learning what the word of God has to say
concerning their bodies. These workshops put an emphasis on abstinence
awareness, long and short-term benefits of staying celibate and
encouraging abstinence to all youth and singles. God's Promise
Ministries wants to inform all that "Little becomes much, when placed
on the Master's hands". God's Promise Ministries also wants to remind
all that "the Promises of God in Him, are yes, and in Him AMEN". The
organization will officially launch Fall 2012 with festive celebration
ceremony. More info on the event to come. For more information on
Tara White or God's Promise Ministries, log on to her brand new
website, www.TaraWhite.org.

Community Partners with United Way to Increase Literacy Opportunities for At-Risk Students

As part of a week of activities to kick off the 2012 United Way of
Central Carolinas campaign, the organization announced several new
partnerships on Thursday designed to increase reading among at-risk
students served by United Way agencies involved in Collective Impact.

IKEA Charlotte has joined with United Way by providing furniture to
create reading corners for several United Way funded agencies. First
Book-Charlotte and Target are providing new books for children in
these agencies from preschool to high school. The United Way Young
Leaders donated new books and raised more than $500 to purchase books.

In their effort to give back to the community, IKEA Charlotte has
committed to donate book shelves, rugs, carpets, pillows and other
furniture that can be used to create comfortable areas in agencies
where children can spend time reading. This week, furniture and
accessories to design three reading spaces were donated. Furniture was
placed this week at The Learning Collaborative, a United Way funded
preschool program for at-risk students. Throughout the year,
additional furniture for reading spaces will be donated.

First Book-Charlotte recently announced a grant to United Way for
$7,500 for new children's books. Target also granted $2,000 to
purchase books for early learning. The nearly $10,000 received will
be used to purchase books that will be given to agencies for their
programs and to go home with children. In addition, as part of United
Way's PROJECT 1,000 to recruit, place, and train readers, tutors, and
mentors in funded agencies, every volunteer will receive a selection
of books to use with the student they will be supporting in the coming
year.

"With our new Collective Impact model, United Way is focused on fewer
goals with greater results," stated Jane McIntyre, executive director
of United Way of Central Carolinas. "We know that being on grade level
in reading by third grade is a critical factor in a child graduating
from high school on time and ready to continue their education or find
meaningful employment. The donations and partnerships with IKEA-
Charlotte, First Book Charlotte, Target, and the United Way Young
Leaders will put books in the hands of children who generally don't
have access to new books at home. The gifts will also encourage
reading in our Collective Impact agencies."

About United Way of Central Carolinas
United Way of Central Carolinas focuses on three vital areas: Children
& Youth; Housing & Stability; and Health & Mental Health. Through its
88 partner health and human services agencies, United Way creates long-
lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of
problems, working in Anson, Cabarrus, Charlotte/Mecklenburg,
Mooresville/Lake Norman and Union. To get help, or learn how you can
help, call United Way's 211 hotline, or for more details, please visit www.uwcentralcarolinas.org
.

Shutterfly Foundation Playground To Be Built at Sugar Creek School August 29

More than 200 volunteers from Shutterfly and Sugar Creek Charter
School, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the North Charlotte
community will join forces on Wednesday, Aug. 29 to build a new
playground at the school. The new playground's design is based on
drawings created by children who participated in a Design Day event in
July.

WHY: Today's kids spend less time playing outside
than any previous generation in part because only 1-in-5 children live
within walking distance of a park or playground. This play deficit is
having profound consequences for kids physically, socially and
cognitively. Children need a place to play every day in order to be
active and healthy, something KaBOOM! has been committed to since 1996.

The new playground will provide more
than 500 children in the North Charlotte community with a safe place
to play. Currently, the children who attend Sugar Creek Charter School
only have a small amount of out-dated equipment, which will be
replaced by the new playground.

The playground is the first built by
KaBOOM! and Shutterfly and is one of more than 150 playground builds
KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2012 in an effort to fulfill
its vision of a great place to play within walking distance of every
child in America.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 29
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick
off ceremony and volunteer deployment
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Best
viewing of playground construction
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Final
construction phase and adjustments
2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ribbon-
cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area
(Note: all times approximate)

WHERE: Sugar Creek Charter School
4101 North Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28207

WHO: Hundreds of volunteers

VISUALS: Before and after shots of the site
Volunteers assembling brightly colored
playground equipment
Volunteers moving 43,740 square feet of
safety surfacing by hand
Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the playground

Sugar Creek Charter School
Sugar Creek Charter is a 12 year old, 850 student, K-8 school located
in a former K-Mart near Charlotte's center city. With a parallel
emphasis on academic excellence and character education and a 2012
Composite Achievement Score of 80.2%, Sugar Creek has become one of
the area's highest performing urban schools.

Shutterfly
Shutterfly's vision is to make the world a better place by helping
people share life's joy. This inspired Shutterfly to create the
Shutterfly Foundation, whose mission is to help organizations,
institutions and communities harness the power of sharing motivational
stories. The Shutterfly Foundation was launched in 2007 and is run by
a team of employee volunteers who are committed to supporting
education and family wellness in the communities where they live and
work.

KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play. Children
today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, a
fact that is having disastrous consequences on their health,
achievement levels, and overall well-being. To fight this play
deficit, social entrepreneur Darell Hammond founded non-profit KaBOOM!
in 1996 in Washington, D.C. with a vision of creating a great place to
play within walking distance of every child in America. Since then,
KaBOOM! has mapped over 89,000 places to play, built more than 2,100
playgrounds, and successfully advocated for play policies in hundreds
of cities across the country. KaBOOM! also provides communities with
online tools to self-organize and take action to support play on both
a local and national level. Hammond chronicles the founding of the
organization and the importance of the cause of play in his The New
York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save
Play. The book details how businesses and communities can work
together to save play for children across the country. All author
proceeds support KaBOOM!. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM!
also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more
information, visit www.kaboom.org.

Magistrates Will Not Perform Marriages During DNC

The Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds will issue marriage licenses
September 4 through September 7, however, magistrates will not perform
marriages at either of their locations during the Democratic National
Convention.

Magistrates normally perform marriage ceremonies at the Mecklenburg
County Courthouse at 832 East 4th Street and Jail Central 801 East 4th
Street. Some Magistrates will be temporarily assigned to Jail North
during the DNC, but they will not perform marriages either.

Couples should make arrangements with a minister, pastor, rabbi or
other persons authorized by the Federal or State government to perform
a marriage, or seek out magistrates in other cities such as
Statesville, Gastonia or Monroe. The license is good for marriage in
any county.

Charlotte Mayor and Fellow Panelists Will Discuss Energy Issues at Davidson Sept. 5

Davidson College invites the public to a high-level panel discussion
on energy and sustainability on Wednesday morning, September 5. The
event is being held in conjunction with the Democratic National
Convention, and will consider Charlotte as a risingenergy hub, and how
sustainability initiatives are becoming major economic drivers of the
future.

Davidson President Carol Quillen will introduce the four panelists—
Eric Spiegel, CEO of Siemens Corporation; Charlotte Mayor Anthony
Foxx; Vincent Davis of Duke Energy and Envision Charlotte; and Graham
Bullock, assistant professor of environmental studies and political
science at Davidson.

Bloomberg.com sustainability editor Eric Roston will moderate the
discussion, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Duke Family
Performance Hall of Knobloch Campus Center. There is no charge to
attend, but tickets are required. They can bereserved for a small fee
at www.davidson.edu/tickets<http://www.davidson.edu/tickets>, or
obtained at the door on the morning of the event if any remain. For
information call 704-894-2135. A reception for the public and
panelists will immediately follow the presentation.

ERIC ROSTON
Eric Roston is editor of Bloomberg's Sustainability News website,
bloomberg.com/sustainability. He is also author of the book "THE
CARBON AGE: How Life's Core Element Has Become Civilization's Greatest
Threat." The book contends that the fastest way to learn the most
about the world is through the carbon atom. Roston joined
Bloomberg.com after serving as a senior analyst on the National
Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

ERIC SPIEGEL
Eric Spiegel is President and CEO of Siemens Corporation, the U.S.
subsidiary of Siemens AG, one of the world's largest electronics and
engineering companies. Siemens has more than $21 billion in annual
U.S. sales and has 60,000 American employees representing all 50
states. Spiegel is responsible for growing the U.S. business in the
industry, energy and healthcare sectors. An expert on the global
energy industry, Spiegel is co-author of the 2009 book "Energy Shift :
Game-Changing Options for Fueling the Future."

ANTHONY FOXX
Anthony Foxx was first elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2005,
and was elected mayor in November 2009. He is now chair of the
steering and host committees for the 2012 Democratic National
Convention. Raised in Charlotte's Lincoln Heights neighborhood, Foxx
earned a bachelor's degree in history at Davidson College in 1993, and
was the first African American elected as student body president. He
earned his law degree from New York University, and has served in all
three branches of federal government—a judicial clerk for the U.S.
Circuit Court for the Sixth Circuit, a trial attorney for the Voting
Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
and counsel for the House Judiciary Committee.

VINCENT DAVIS
Vincent Davis is director of Smart Energy Now Community Partnerships
at Duke Energy, and also serves as Duke Energy's spokesperson for the
Envision Charlotte sustainability initiative. Envision: Charlotte is a
collaborative partnership among major employers, building owners,
municipal representatives and technology leaders. It will employ Duke
Energy's "Smart Energy Now" program that uses digital grid
technologies to display real-time energy data throughout uptown
Charlotte. Envision: Charlotte intends to make Charlotte the most
measurably sustainable community in the nation, with a goal to reduce
energy use in Uptown by 20% in five years. Envision: Charlotte
promises economic benefits by attracting cost-conscious, green-minded
companies to Uptown.

GRAHAM BULLOCK
Graham Bullock teaches political science and environmental studies at
Davidson. His Ph.D. thesis at the University of California, Berkeley,
concerned product eco-labels, corporate sustainability ratings, and
other forms of information-based environmental governance. Bullock has
served as The Nature Conservancy's ecotourism coordinator in China,
where for three years he helped develop community-based ecotourism
enterprises. He is also a co-founder of GoodGuide, which provides
information about the social, environmental, and health performance of
more than 100,000 consumer products through both an online database
and an iPhone application. At Davidson, he teaches courses on
environmental policy, and a seminar on citizens, consumers and the
environment.
###

Realtors welcome DNC visitors, delegates to North Carolina

The Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association and the North Carolina
Association of Realtors® (NCAR) received a grant from the National
Association of Realtors® (NAR) to run digital billboards during the
Democratic National Convention (DNC). The associations worked with
Adams Outdoor Advertising to create ten digital billboards now on
display in various locations throughout the Piedmont region through
Sept. 16. The billboard campaign serves as a way to welcome DNC
delegates, media and visitors to North Carolina.

2012 Association/Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CMLS)
president Jennifer Frontera said, "We all know Charlotte, North
Carolina is a great place to live and soon delegates, media and
visitors from all over the U.S. will find that out. Even if visitors
to this area don't come back and call Charlotte home, we want to make
sure they remember the Realtors® welcomed them to our great city and
state."

The bright blue digital billboards displaying the "Welcome to North
Carolina" message will run in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston
and Union Counties from August 20 – September 16, 2012.

Locations:
• Highways 150 & 16 (Catawba Co.)
• I-85 & Dixon Road (Gaston Co.)
• I-85 & Billy Graham Pkwy.
• I-77 & WT Harris Blvd.
• I-85 & Statesville Ave.
• I-77 & Tyvola Road
• I-485 & Nations Ford Rd.
• I77 & Carowinds Blvd.
• US 74 & Walkup Ave (Union Co.)
• US 29 & Speedway Blvd. (Cabarrus Co.)

For more information, visit the association's website at www.CarolinaHome.com
or for an interview with 2012 association/CMLS President Jennifer
Frontera, please contact Kim Walker.

The Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association is a trade association
that leads, educates and equips members to be productive. It provides
more than 6,000 Realtor® members with the resources and services
needed to conduct ethical, professional, successful and profitable
businesses. The association is dedicated to being the region's primary
resource for residential real estate information. The association
operates the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CMLS), which
has approximately 7,200 Subscribers and is the private cooperative
Realtors® use for access to tens of thousands of residential listings
in a 10-county service area, including the high-growth Charlotte area,
as well as listings outside this service area.

Bank of America Helps Fight Breast Cancer With Everyday Portraits

Bank of America has launched a new microsite in partnership with Susan
G. Komen™, Everyday Portraits, which transforms a picture and a story
into a one-of-a-kind portrait that allows users to honor anyone who
has fought or is fighting breast cancer.
Right before their eyes, the pixels of the image are replaced with the
words from their tribute to create a memorable portrait. When the
portrait is complete, contributors can share their tribute with family
and friends through Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. The site URL is http://bankofamerica.com/komenpartnership
.

"Bank of America feels that it is important to put a face to those who
have been fearless, heroic and courageous in their fight against
breast cancer," said Jill Calabrese Bain, Affinity Banking executive
for Bank of America. "In addition to our Pink Ribbon credit and debit
cards, we want to give people the opportunity to honor someone in
their life who has been affected by breast cancer and pay tribute in a
new, creative way."

In addition to Everyday Portraits, Bank of America is a National
Survivor Recognition Program sponsor for the Susan G. Komen Race for
the Cure® series and the presenting sponsor for the Susan G. Komen 3-
DayTM series. The Komen 3-Day is a three-day event that supports
bringing an end to breast cancer with a 60-mile walk, fundraising
participation, community development, and celebration of the special
people for whom each person is walking. The first of this year's 14
walks began during the weekend of July 28-29 in Boston.

"We are proud of the partnership we have built with Bank of America.
Thanks to their longstanding support, they have helped build awareness
while raising critical funds for cutting-edge research and programs
that help men and women in communities across the U.S.," said Nancy
Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions,
serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and
large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk management products and
services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United
States, serving approximately 56 million consumer and small business
relationships with approximately 5,600 retail banking offices and
approximately 16,200 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30
million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading
wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and
investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes,
serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around
the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to
approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of
innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company
serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of
America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones
Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she
would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G.
Komen for the Cure works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and
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komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Charlotte Rescue Mission Receives $75,000 from US Airways

US Airways has made a donation of $75,000 to the Charlotte Rescue
Mission (CRM) to help women struggling with homelessness and chemical
addiction. This gift will be used to expand the Dove's Nest center
for women struggling with homelessness and chemical addiction. Dove's
Nest provides food, shelter, clothing and professional counseling for
women and their children.

"This generous gift from US Airways will change the lives of so many
women and children in the coming year," says E.J. Underwood, director
of development at CRM.

"US Airways' support of the Charlotte Rescue Mission is more than just
a charitable donation; it is fulfilling a promise to our employees,
our customers and our communities to invest in nonprofit organizations
that care for the most vulnerable in the cities we serve," said Kelly
Balthazor, US Airways' Director of Community Relations. "We are
honored to begin a partnership with the Mission and help them to
provide safe shelter and long-term recovery programs that will
ultimately change their lives of their residents."

Charlotte Rescue Mission provides a 100 to 120-day residential
recovery program for men and women who are addicted to drugs and/or
alcohol. Because all of CRM's clients are homeless or at-risk of
becoming homeless, services are provided at no cost. The life and job
skills training clients receive at CRM helps them transition back into
the community as contributing, successful members.

City of Charlotte Receives HUD Grant Funding for Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced
last week that they have awarded the City of Charlotte an additional
$2.4M Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant funding. These funds will
be used for the testing, risk evaluation, control and reduction of
lead-based paint hazards in 185 low-income housing units in Charlotte.
The funds will also be used to provide community awareness and
education, contractor training, continuation of the LeadSafe Charlotte
HOTLINE in English and Spanish, and to screen children under the age
of six for the presence of elevated blood levels.

HUD has recognized the City for their continued success in planning
and implementing the use of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant
funds. The City has operated this HUD funded grant program since 1998
and has since inspected over 2,744 units and completed lead hazard
reduction in nearly 2,000 units. The City also provided lead hazard
training and information at 200 community events and estimates that
they have reached over 20,000 people, with the goal of educating the
community about the dangers of lead- based paint. In total, the City
has received seven rounds of Lead Hazard Control grant funding for a
total of $19,400,000.

Even though lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978,
HUD estimates that approximately 24 million homes in the county still
have significant lead-based paint hazards which can cause a variety of
serious health problems in young children.

"This investment in the state and the City of Charlotte's children,
families and elderly is so important because it vividly and personally
reminds us that "home" isn't just about bricks, glass and mortar."
said HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. "Home is a
sanctuary where our children and elderly should feel safe and secure
-- where they can play, learn, and grow, develop under the loving
support of their parents and caregivers."
HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) is
unique among federal agencies. The OHHLHC was established to eliminate
lead-based paint hazards in America's privately-owned and low-income
housing and to lead the nation in addressing other housing-related
health hazards that threaten vulnerable residents.

As one means of addressing substandard housing, the OHHLHC provides
funds to state and local governments to develop cost-effective ways to
reduce lead-based paint hazards. In addition, the office enforces
HUD's lead-based paint regulations, provides public outreach and
technical assistance, and conducts technical studies to help protect
children and their families from health and safety hazards in the home.

Over 30 Artists Will Participate In The Third Annual Sip & Stroll

The third annual Sip & Stroll, popular with artists who want to become
involved in an innovative festival that features local art, wine,
music, children's activities and more, is set for Sept. 14-15 based at
the EpiCentre in uptown Charlotte.

Sharon Dowell, the curator for the art portion of Sip & Stroll,
announced that over 30 artists have signed up to display their work
for sale during the two-day event.

"We are pleased to announce that a wide range of artists with a great
mixture of artistic media will take part," Dowell said. "I'm so
pleased that artists are taking this opportunity to gain exposure
during an energetic and fun event. We are expecting about 40 artists
when it's all said and done."

For a glimpse at some of the work, visit www.
sipandstrollcharlotte.com. Artists are added as commitments occur. In
addition to nearly 40 artists, Sip & Stroll will feature live jazz
from start to finish, including Unique Blend on Friday, Sept. 14,
evening and the Tempo All-Stars, U-neek Flavur, and 5 & York on
Saturday, Sept. 15.

Also, interactive wine & art classes are being held throughout the day
located in SUITE on the 3rd floor of EpiCentre. Johnson & Wales
University is teaching you how to "Taste Wine Like a Pro" and Wine &
Design is helping you "get your art buzz on.' For the advanced wine
sipping pallet, the event also has added over 90 Wine Spectator Award
Winning VIP Sampling for an additional $15.

The event begins on Friday, from 5-7 p.m. as EpiCentre presents its
2nd Friday ArtWalk. The ArtWalk is a monthly gathering of local
artists featured in a relaxed setting in The Commons area, located in
the center of the first level. The ArtWalk continues into the Sip &
Stroll Kick-off party on the third level of the EpiCentre at Pavilion.

Tickets are available on line at www.sipandstrollcharlotte.com at $20
apiece for either day or a bundled price of $30 for both Friday and
Saturday access. A complimentary wine glass will be provided with
your ticket purchase. A family- friendly event, the children's
activity area on the first level of EpiCentre will feature a kids' art
project, and Radio Disney will bring their own style of creativity to
the event from 12-4 p.m.

EpiCentre is located at the corners of 4th & College Streets and
College & Trade Streets in Uptown Charlotte.

EpiCentre is the Southeast's hub for dining, entertainment,
recreation, nightlife and hospitality. Featuring an innovative design
and accommodating layout, EpiCentre is home to over three dozen unique
concepts encompassing over half a million square feet. The
restaurants, shops and nightspots at EpiCentre are perfectly situated
around an open air pavilion offering dramatic views of the Charlotte
skyline. Located at the intersection of Trade and College Streets,
EpiCentre is in the heart of vibrant uptown Charlotte, just blocks
away from prominent businesses and venues such as Bank of America
Corporate Center, Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte Convention Center
and the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Museum. Best of all, EpiCentre is
easily accessible from anywhere, including a convenient stop on the
LYNX Blue Line.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Bus roll out signals start of the school year

The annual bus roll out has become the most visible symbol of the
start of a new school year. This year, bus drivers will conduct dry
runs from Aug. 20-25. Buses will begin transporting students on the
first day of school, Aug. 27.

Approximately 950 school buses will conduct dry runs over the five-day
period. Drivers will practice their routes to become familiar with bus
stop locations. Drivers will not pick up students during the dry runs.
The buses will be on the roads from approximately 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. It
is important that the motoring public plan for a little extra time in
their morning commute next week.

We ask that all drivers exercise extreme caution around stopped school
buses. The community is an important partner in creating a safe
opening of schools for CMS students.

Parents should check the location of their child's bus stop before
school starts. Suggestions for parents and children include:
· Walk to and from your child's bus stop to become familiar
with the location.
· Ensure that your child arrives at his/her stop 10 to 15
minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
· Tell children to cross the street in front of the school bus
after activation of the stop arm and hazard lights.
· Remind children to tell the bus driver if something is
dropped near the bus.
· Remind children to tell a school administrator or police
officer about any disruptive behavior or suspicious activity at stops.

Transportation information is being mailed to families. This includes
bus stop locations, pick up and drop off times and bus route numbers.
Parents with questions about transportation or a bus stop should call
the school or the transportation office at 980-343-6715.

Parents can also fill out a transportation service request form online
to request changes to their child's transportation schedule.

United Way Launches 2012 Fundraising Campaign with New Partners

United Way of Central Carolinas has traditionally launched its annual
fundraising campaign with a news conference to reveal the campaign
goal. This year, we are doing so with a series of events across the
region, involving new and returning partners, plus more active
volunteerism including a major day of service in Union County, and
details on a key initiative gearing up to support academic success for
children.

Schedule of Events

Tues: Belk School Uniform Announcement

9:00 a.m. – Cabarrus event – Cannon Memorial YMCA – 101 YMCA Drive

11:00 a.m. – Mecklenburg event – Winterfield Elementary – 3100
Winterfield Place

After launching this initiative with United Way last year, Belk is
back with a $175,000 in-kind donation of uniforms for at-risk
students, increasing the number of uniforms by 65% and expanding into
two new counties (Cabarrus and Union).
For more detail: http://bit.ly/BelkUniforms

Wed: Community Challenge – Announcement of a new initiative to
increase academic success for children served through United Way
funded agencies

10:00 a.m. – The Learning Collaborative – 3045 North Davidson Street
(NoDa District)

Details TBA. Speakers include Mayor Anthony Foxx, Chamber President
Bob Morgan, and Communities In Schools mentor and Governor award
winner Colin Pinkney; partners include United Way Young Leaders, Whole
Foods, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and UNC Charlotte Center for
Adolescent Literacy, plus mascots from the Bobcats, Checkers and
Panthers, and more.

Thurs: United Way Board Meeting/Goal Announcement

8:30 a.m. – United Way regional office – 301 South Brevard Street
(Uptown)

Official campaign goal to be announced by board of directors, followed
by brief preview of campaign materials, then details of in-kind
donations by IKEA, First Books Charlotte, Target, United Way Young
Leaders, and more.



Fri: United Way Impact Day (United Way staff's day of service -
employees will volunteer in targeted Boys and Girls Club sites in
Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County to do literacy projects with students.
Each child will receive a brand new book to take home. Activities will
be held from 2-4:30 p.m. Contact information listed below if
interested in covering)



Sat: Union County 20th Annual Day of Caring, Belk School Uniform
Announcement

7:30 a.m. – Wingate University Belk Stadium – 660 N. Main Street,
Wingate

Chaired by Michael Jordan of Carolinas Medical Center-Union, this 20th
annual event will feature more than 1,000 volunteers doing 100+
service projects in a single day throughout the county. Belk will also
announce the expansion of its uniform donation for at-risk students
into Union County. For more detail: http://bit.ly/BelkUniforms