Robot Johnson to Film National Pilot at July 26th Performance

CHARLOTTE – The Robot Johnson Show (www.robotjohnson.com), Charlotte's
premier sketch comedy troupe, will film its Saturday, July 26th
performances at the Duke Energy Theatre in Spirit Square for a national
pilot. If picked up, the pilot would be the first national television
show ever produced in the Queen City.

"I suppose that it's the hip young thing to downplay success for comic
effect, but in all actuality this is pretty huge," says David Golden,
writer/performer with Robot Johnson. "An opportunity like this is what
we've been working towards for a year with this troupe, and for more
than a decade with this group of people."

The July 26th performances are part of Robot Johnson's "Audience
Favorites" weekend, comprised of audience-selected sketches from
McGlohon Theatre and the troupe's first run at Duke Energy. Both the
8:00 and 10:00 pm performances will be recorded, with the best material
and crowd reactions edited together to form a single half hour-long
pilot. Chuck Bludsworth, local filmmaker, writer, and longtime friend
of Robot Johnson, will be directing the pilot.

Robot Johnson is Charlotte's premier sketch comedy troupe, giving the
Queen City good humor by bad people. Shows are Friday and Saturday
nights at 8:00 and 10:00 pm, running July 11th through August 2nd at
the Duke Energy Theatre, part of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
at Spirit Square. For more information, please visit

www.robotjohnson.com or call 704-640-ROJO (7656).

Duke's Tony Almeida to chair Charlotte Regional Partnership board of directors

CHARLOTTE, NC - Tony Almeida, vice president of business relations and
economic development with Duke Energy Carolinas, will become chair of
the Charlotte Regional Partnership board of directors for the
2008-2009 fiscal year that begins July 1.
 
Other members of the Partnership's leadership team are: Humpy Wheeler,
first vice chair; Landon Wyatt, partner with Childress Klein
Properties, second vice chair and Business Development and Marketing
Advisory Committee chair; Pete Acker, president and CEO of Carolinas
Medical Center-Lincoln, treasurer; Jeff Kane, senior vice president,
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Charlotte Office, Audit Committee
chair; Alan Dexter, partner with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein,
Planning and Performance Review Committee chair; Robert Van Geons,
executive director of Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission,
Economic Development Advisory Committee chair; Steve Luquire, CEO of
Luquire George Andrews, immediate past chairman..
 
Ronnie Bryant is president and CEO of the nonprofit, public/private
economic development organization that markets the 16-county,
two-state Charlotte region. The CRP leverages regional resources to
create opportunities for long-term growth, job creation and investment
in Charlotte USA. Additional information is at www.charlotteusa.com.

A nonprofit, public / private economic development organization, the
Charlotte Regional Partnership allocates and leverages regional
economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic
growth, vitality and global competitiveness of the Charlotte region.
 
 

Charlotte’s ClubFurniture.com Provides Furniture For New “The Baby Borrowers” Reality TV Show on NBC

Charlotte's ClubFurniture.com Provides Furniture
For New "The Baby Borrowers" Reality TV Show on NBC

For Immediate Release 06-19-08

CHARLOTTE, NC – Sofas, chairs, coffee tables and other furniture
provided by ClubFurniture.com of Charlotte will "star" in a new reality
TV show premiering this Wednesday, June 25th at 9 p.m. on NBC, called
"The Baby Borrowers."

The highly entertaining show reveals what happens to five teen-age
couples as they take care of someone else's baby, then toddlers,
pre-teens, teen-agers and finally aging seniors. "I had no idea this is
what it took" is a comment heard frequently in various forms from the
struggling teen "parents." Like the hugely popular "American Idol," the
basic format for the program started on TV in the UK, where it drew
large audiences.

NBC describes "The Baby Borrowers" as "a unique social experiment that
takes five teen-age couples on a rollercoaster ride of adult
responsibility, allowing them to experience parenting firsthand.
Desperate to have their own life and family, our lovebirds are thrown
in at the deep end. They're given real houses and real
responsibilities, the most important of which is to look after children
from a range of age groups. . . . In the end, will these couples be
able to cope with the pressures of parenthood or will they break?"

The five couples will "live" in five new homes in a cul de sac in
Eagle, Idaho. Producers of the show contacted Charlotte's
ClubFurniture.com because of their track record providing quality
furniture for other TV shows including NBC's "The Apprentice," Fine
Living TV, TLC TV and other programs.

"This is very exciting for us and we think the show is going to attract
a wide range of audiences because it is so entertaining," said Darrin
King, president of ClubFurniture.com. "People who live in North
Carolina can get special satisfaction in knowing that much of the
furniture was made right here in our state. We're proud of the fact
that most of the manufacturers who work for us are located here in the
furniture capital of the world."

ClubFurniture.com was started by brothers Darrin and Jeff King selling
North Carolina Furniture direct to consumers online. As demand grew,
they've established relationships with leading US furniture
manufacturers, expanded their website and provided home furniture
products to thousands of customers nationwide for more than 10 years.

"We're family owned and take pride in providing very personalized
service for all our customers," Jeff King said. "This leads to a high
level of customer satisfaction, which is extremely important to us."

For more information, visit http://ww.clubfurniture.com or call
1-888-378-8383. The NBC promotion page is

http://www.nbc.com/The_Baby_Borrowers/

###
[Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Inc., 704-332-4344,
www.lciweb.com.]

HomeAid Charlotte's Board Members Announced

 HomeAid Charlotte's Board Members Announced
- Under the Tutelage of Home Builders Association of Charlotte New
Non-Profit Aids the Local Homeless Population -
 
Charlotte, N.C. - Operating under the Home Builders Association of
Charlotte, HomeAid Charlotte was recently established as the 19th
chapter of the national organization, HomeAid.  HomeAid Charlotte's
mission is to build or renovate dignified housing for temporary
homeless families and individuals by working with other non-profits in
the community dedicated to helping the homeless. 
 
The Home Builders Association of Charlotte selected the following
individuals to serve as leaders in establishing and governing HomeAid
Charlotte:  President: Elliot Mann, Standard Pacific; Vice President:
Tom Ingram, David Weekly Homes; Treasurer: Mark Baldwin, Home Builders
Association of Charlotte; Secretary: Andrea Berenfeld, Lennar Homes;
Directors: Larry Burton, Newland Communities; Michael Hinshaw, Hinshaw
Properties; Bob Kardos, Toll Brothers, Inc.; Dean Kellum, John Wieland
Homes; Shawn King, Bonsal American, Inc.;  David Parler, Wachovia Bank;
Chris Pinckney, National Gypsum; John Shea, Shea Homes; Steve Windell,
Bank of America; and Libby Currier, Executive Director, HomeAid
Charlotte
 
"We have pledged the initial operating funds to HomeAid Charlotte for
2008 and provide them with office space," said Mark Baldwin, executive
vice president of the association.  "With homelessness escalating in
our community at such an alarming rate, we wanted to be part of the
solution in working with other non-profits who serve the homeless," he
continued.  "That's why we hired Libby Currier to become the executive
director of the program and to work closely with the community and the
newly-formed volunteer board of directors to carry out their mission
and policies."
 
"By partnering with other non-profits helping the homeless, HomeAid
Charlotte allows our association's members an opportunity to do what we
do best – build with an added benefit of giving back to our community,"
said Baldwin.  "For every dollar invested in HomeAid Charlotte, we
estimate this contribution results in an average of $2 to $3 of in-kind
labor and materials."  
 
HomeAid Charlotte's national partners locally include Bank of America,
National Gypsum, Pro-build, as well as Sakrete of North America. The
national builder partners who helped launch HomeAid Charlotte through
their local divisions are: Beazer Homes USA, David Weekley Homes, John
Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, K. Hovnanian® Homes, Lennar
Corporation, Shea Homes, Standard Pacific Homes and Toll Brothers.

In the near future, HomeAid Charlotte will announce its plans for its
first project in the community.  The organization is working closely
with the Homeless Services Network and care providers of the homeless
to become a viable solution to aid our community's homeless population
in need of temporary shelter as they become self-sufficient.
 
Each national HomeAid chapter is a 501(c) (3) charitable, non-profit
organization and is sponsored by a committed, local building industry
organization.  Today, because of the generosity and dedication of many
in the home building industry, HomeAid is one of America's largest
providers of shelter for the temporarily homeless. 
 
Established in 1945, the Home Builders Association of Charlotte's
members include builders, developers, trade contractors, lending
institutions, real estate companies and building-material
manufacturers, suppliers and distributors.  To learn more about HomeAid
Charlotte and the Home Builders Association of Charlotte, visit their
web site at www.hbacharlotte.com.
 

Village at Lake Norman Issues News Update

A new issue of the Village at Lake Norman Email Newsletter is available
online at:

http://www.corneliusbromont.com/news/updatejune3.html

If you would like to receive future issues directly, we encourage you
to sign up at:

http://www.corneliusbromont.com/news.html

Best regards,

Buck Lawrimore

Cornelius Bromont Completes Purchase Of Property For The Village At Lake Norman

Cornelius Bromont, LLC, Completes Purchase
Of Property For The Village At Lake Norman

For Immediate Release May 19, 2008

CORNELIUS, NC - Cornelius Bromont, LLC has completed the purchase of
104 acres in Cornelius and Mecklenburg County, to be the future site of
the Village of Lake Norman. The project is part of an overall mixed
use development that involves construction of office, residential,
retail and hotel facilities.

In addition the developers plan to construct about $80 million in
roadway improvements, including the widening of I-77, a new Exit 27 at
Westmoreland Road, widening of U.S. 21, a new flyover bridge taking the
realigned Bailey Road across I-77, additional roadway construction west
of the interstate, intersection and signal improvements, and more. The
roadway improvements require further approvals by local, state and
federal highway officials, which are currently being pursued by the
developers and their team.

On-site construction will include retail space, Class A office space, a
250-room full service hotel with banquet facilities and a 100-room
boutique hotel, as well as high-end residences above retail.

Cornelius Bromont has partnered with the BUILD Fund of America to
provide mezzanine financing for the project and Fifth Third as an
additional lender. The amount of the purchase was not announced.

"We are very pleased to have passed this important milestone," said
Josh Rector, project manager and Senior Vice President for Cornelius
Bromont. "We are now proceeding to complete the engineering and
architectural plans, and most importantly the necessary transportation
improvement approvals. Members of our team are also talking with
several potential tenants. We hope to begin physical construction by
the end of 2009."

"This is such a great opportunity for the North Carolina building
trades," said Tim Nichols, Director of Marketing at Labor-Management
Fund Advisors, LLC, the real estate advisor to the BUILD Fund of
America. "The Village at Lake Norman is just one example of how the
BUILD Fund of America invests back into the jurisdictions from where it
receives funding. Not only is this a great opportunity for union
members in the area to invest in such a lucrative project, but they and
their families will also be able to patronize and enjoy the Village at
Lake Norman for many years to come."

About Cornelius Bromont, LLC

Cornelius Bromont, LLC, is a partnership of Bromont Investments of
Scottsdale, AZ, and Carlsen Douglas Development of Huntersville, NC.
Both firms have over 30 years experience in real estate and commercial
development. Bromont has won national awards for the design and quality
of its buildings. More information on Cornelius Bromont is available at

http://www.corneliusbromont.com.

About the BUILD Fund of America

The Building Union Investment and Local Development ("BUILD") Fund of
America is a commingled real estate fund that provides pension funds
the opportunity to diversify their existing stock and bond portfolios
with to-be-built institutional quality real estate projects located in
their jurisdictions. The mission of the BUILD Fund of America is to
earn competitive market-driven returns by investing in to-be-built or
significantly rehabilitated real estate projects that increase market
share for union labor and signatory contractors. The BUILD Fund of
America, which includes investments by U.S. labor union members,
requires that union labor be used to construct the project. Therefore,
this project is expected to create a significant amount of jobs for
union labor and contractors. Details at www.LMFA.com.

----------###-------

Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Communications Inc.,
704-332-4344,
http://www.lciweb.com

Robotic Comedienne Takes More Stoic Role in Shakespeare Classic

CHARLOTTE – Meghan Lowther, cast member with Robot Johnson
(www.robotjohnson.com), has been cast in the role of Benvolio in
Shakespeare on the Green's production of Romeo and Juliet. The
tragicomic turn is nothing new for this comedienne, who's been featured
in plays like The House of Yes, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and
The Expanding Sky with companies like BareBones Theatre Group and
Chickspeare.

Romeo and Juliet will play June 5 – 27 at The Green Uptown, located
adjacent to Three Wachovia Center. For more information please visit

www.collaborativeartstheatre.com.

Robot Johnson is Charlotte's premier sketch comedy troupe, giving the
Queen City good humor by bad people. Shows are on Friday and Saturday
nights at 8:00 and 10:00 pm starting May 16th at the Duke Power
Theatre, part of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. For more
information, please visit www.robotjohnson.com or call 704-640-ROJO
(7656).

N.C. Business Leader Launches Fishing Lodge in Patagonia

'Patagonia Fishing Hosts' Launched In Argentinian
Fisherman's Paradise By N.C. Business Leader and Local Guides
For Immediate Release May 2008

The Andes-backed rivers and lakes around Cholila in the Patagonia area
of Argentina are considered by experienced fly-fishing insiders to be
the angling paradise of the Western Hemisphere.
In Cholila decades ago, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid escaped to
a rural shack, far away from the reaches of U.S. lawmen. Today
fly-fishing enthusiasts from the U.S. and northern Latin America escape
the pressures of the urban world and stay in a few remote lodges like
the one recently opened by a North Carolina retired business executive
and Patagonia fishing guides.
They call their operation Patagonia Fishing Hosts
(http://www.patagoniafishinghosts.com) and their lodge the Carrileufu
Valley Lodge.
"This gives people the chance to experience first-hand the legendary
Patagonian fly fishing dreams," said founder John B. Bell Jr., an
experienced angler, retired CEO of John Boyle & Co. in Statesville, NC,
with numerous business interests worldwide. "With crystal-clear lakes
and flowing rivers surrounded by the beautiful Andes mountains, the
area around Cholila looks a lot like Montana 70 years ago – beautiful,
natural and unspoiled. And the fish are abundant in these waters which
are just minutes from our lodge."
Bell is a longtime member and supporter of both Trout Unlimited and
the Federation of Fly Fishers, who have endorsed his enterprise. "This
is the essence of great, great fly fishing," he declares
enthusiastically. "Always catch and release. World class guides, new
equipment, lots of smart and hungry trout, streamside 'gaucho lunches,'
plus fine dining and wine, Argentine style, at the end of each
rewarding day."
Carrileufu Valley Lodge is a rustic, fully furnished retreat that
accommodates a maximum of 10 guests at a time to ensure a high level of
personal service. It has five double rooms each with a private bath, a
full kitchen, an authentic Patagonian chef, a fireside gathering room,
and many other amenities.
"This is truly a fisherman's lodge," Bell said, "patterned after some
of the best in Montana, Wyoming and Quebec, although thoroughly
Argentine at heart. Fishing activities include overnight float trips,
spring creeks, plus a great selection of lakes and rivers. Trout
species include book, brown, rainbow and landlock salmon.
"Carrileufu Valley Lodge offers a unique location that greatly reduces
travel time from the lodge to select fishing water," Bell noted. "You
will see lots of fish and wildlife in this area but very few people
besides your fishing group.
"Cholila is easily accessible by air and vehicle, usually flying
through Buenos Aires to Bariloche or Esquel. And as a convenience for
our guests, we offer transportation from the airport to the lodge,
including beautiful scenery along the way."
A number of avid U.S. fly fishermen fish in Montana and other northern
areas in May through September, then move down to Patagonia to fish in
its warm months, November through April, Bell explained. "Our new lodge
helps create an endless season for North American and European fly
fishermen."
Patagonia Fishing Hosts is managed in Cholila by Pancho Panzer, an
experienced, college-educated Patagonian fly-fishing guide, who is
fluent in English. Panzer's team, all bilingual, includes other
professional guides, skilled cooks, and a full maintenance staff.
A typical Patagonia Fishing Hosts package includes six fishing days
and seven nights of lodging, for about $4,000 dollars US each person,
sharing a room with another fisherman, and sharing a guide. Air travel
is additional. Guests can request individual rooms and guides for
additional cost.
Cholila has a romantic history. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
escaped U.S. law enforcement by living there for years in the early
1900s – until their ill-gotten money started running low and they had
to return to "work," robbing more banks. Some believe they were killed
in a shoot-out, and others believe they escaped and lived to a ripe old
age. Their cabin is 20 miles away from the Carrileufu Valley Lodge.
Other area attractions include:
- Museum "LeLeque Estancia," about one hour driving distance from the
lodge, featuring artifacts and information about Patagonia history
- The old Patagonia Express train, which rides a very narrow track
through the mountainous country, powered by a smoke-blowing steam
engine
- El Bolson's famous artisans fair an hour away
- Bird watching for beautiful flamingos and condors
- Horseback riding and hiking in the many trails around the area
"A trip to Patagonia is a total experience," Bell concluded. "Absorb
the culture, the food, the friendly people, and their beautiful country
and, of course lots and lots of great fishing."
For more information, visit http://www.patagoniafishinghosts.com or
call Pancho Panzer at 0054-2945-1553332.
----------------####---------------
Editors: Attached is a photo of Carrileufu Valley Lodge.
For more information and additional high-res photos of Patagonia
fishing,
contact PR Representative Buck Lawrimore,
Lawrimore Inc., Charlotte NC, 704-332-4344, http://www.lciweb.com

Charlotte Firm Launches Online Ebook Store Ebookloads.com

Lawrimore Launches Online Ebook Store Ebookloads.com
May 14, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte marketing firm Lawrimore Communications
Inc. has launched a new online ebook store, Ebookloads.com, selling
low-cost ebooks on a wide variety of topics. Ebook authors are also
invited to submit their works.
"Ebooks are in great demand because they allow people who are
searching for information to download them immediately, versus waiting
several days for the books to arrive by mail or express," said
Lawrimore Communications president Buck Lawrimore.
"As the author of several ebooks sold on different websites, I wanted
one central location to sell my ebooks as well as those of others.
We've also started adding ebooks written by several freelance writers
we know, and welcome submissions by other writers, even if they have
written only one ebook."
Ebookloads.com, on the web at http://www.ebookloads.com, features over
100 ebooks in categories such as Business & Strategy, Foods and Drinks
(including cookbooks), Health, Internet Marketing, Web Developing,
Money Making, Occasion, Blogging and more. Other categories will be
added depending on what authors submit. Visitors to the site can also
download several free ebooks, available at the bottom of different
pages on the site.
Lawrimore Communications Inc., online at http://www.lciweb.com, is a
full-service Charlotte marketing and strategic consulting firm founded
in 1979. Buck Lawrimore is the author of ebooks about "Marketing
Strategy" available on the company website; "Dynamic Strategic
Planning" at http://www.strategic-planning-processes.com ; and several
others.
For more information, email ebooks (at) ebookloads.com.

Town of Cornelius Approves Rezoning For The Village at Lake Norman

Town of Cornelius Approves Rezoning For The Village at Lake Norman
For Immediate Release 4/24/08

CORNELIUS, NC – The Cornelius Town Board Wednesday night (April 23)
approved detailed plans for the $516-million Village at Lake Norman,
the largest real estate development in the community's history.
The 104-acre project would include 1.4 million square feet of Class A
office, restaurants and retail, along with two hotels and 400 luxury
condominium residences. The project will be built over a
six-to-12-year period depending on market demand. It will be located at
a new Exit 27 to be constructed by the developer at Westmoreland Road
and I-77.
The decision followed a series of seven Town Board meetings, often
running to almost midnight, to hear evidence from various experts and
citizen viewpoints.
"We are very pleased that we have at last been granted this crucial
approval from the Town of Cornelius to help bring a truly great vision
for this region to reality," said Josh Rector, project manager and
Senior Vice President for the developer, Cornelius Bromont, LLC. "This
comes after two years of meetings with Town staff, the planning board,
and many community residents to help shape our project into a virtually
ideal solution for all concerned. We also hired and invested
substantially in the intensive work of a design team including leading
architecture, land planning and transportation engineering firms in the
region. We deeply appreciate all the time and extra effort which all
these great people have contributed to making this project a landmark
success.
"We still have quite a few hurdles to cross," Rector added, "including
approvals from Mecklenburg County, Metropolitan Planning Organization,
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Federal Highway
Administration and others. But the rezoning and approval by the Town is
the most important initial step in this process."
Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte said the project "is going to address the
top four strategic priorities agreed on by the Town Board, the Planning
Board, staff and others:
• "It will create a vehicle to address our traffic problems using NCDOT
support."
• "It will widen I-77, which has the most congestion and use in our
area."
• "It expands our tax base so we have more commercial property
generating taxes."
• "And fourth – the 'magic ingredient' – it will not increase our tax
rate."
"Look at what the town of Lenoir gave to Google to get a handful of
jobs," Tarte added. "We're getting 4500 jobs and the developer is
generating the money to make it all possible."
In addition to building a large commercial project that will generate
millions of dollars of new tax revenues for the Town and County,
developers have promised to also provide:
• $35.2 million for widening I-77 to three lanes in each direction,
from south of Exit 23 in Huntersville, all the way to Exit 28, the
current Cornelius exit
• $54.8 million for widening US Highway 21 and Westmoreland Road to
four lanes plus a landscaped median/turn lane for several miles; and
numerous other roadway, intersection and traffic signal improvements.
• Investing approximately $10 million to purchase several parcels east
of US Highway 21 that would allow realigning Bailey Road to "straighten
out the curve" as the Town has long desired. Bailey Road would then
cross the Village property, then cross over I-77 via a new Bailey Road
flyover bridge also provided by the developer.
• Acquiring land on the western end of the new bridge and building a
roadway to link with the western side of Westmoreland Road via Eagle
Ridge Way Lane. Both Bailey Road extensions would provide improved
east-west connectivity in southern Cornelius on both sides of I-77.
• Donating approximately two acres of land along the new eastern side
of Bailey Road for a new fire station, and an additional contribution
to Habitat for Humanity.
• Paying for design and engineering fees for the new fire station.
• Giving the town $1.3 million to purchase new fire equipment or any
other items it needs to offset increased costs of serving the new
project.
• Including a police substation within the Village.
• Grading and seeding four baseball fields at the Westmoreland Athletic
Complex.
• Public park areas, amphitheater, Village Green and other amenities.
The financing for most of the roadway improvements would come from a
combination of a Synthetic TIF (tax increment financing) and
Mecklenburg County COPS bonds (Certificates of Participation), based on
new property tax revenues generated by the Village project alone.
Details of the financial arrangements have yet to be worked out between
the Town of Cornelius, Mecklenburg County, and the developer. Those
details will later be presented to the Town Board for review and
approval pending any needed modifications.
"We believe strongly in the exciting potential of the Cornelius-Lake
Norman area," Rector said. "This is why we are willing to go to great
lengths to meet all the Town's conditions and provide as many
improvements as are financially feasible."
Cornelius Bromont, LLC, is a partnership of Bromont Investments of
Scottsdale, AZ, and Carlsen Douglas Development of Huntersville, NC.
Design team members include Bartlett Associates MegaStrategies as
architects, ColeJenest & Stone land planners and designers, Kimley-Horn
& Associates transportation engineers, and Charles MacLean of CCM3
Architects, designer of many Bromont projects for three decades.
For more information about the Village at Lake Norman, visit

www.corneliusbromont.com.
----####----
(Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Communications Inc.,
704-332-4344,
http://www.lciweb.com)