Outdoor Water Use Allowed Two Days Per Week

On September 24, 2008, the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory
Group (DMAG) met to review regional water/drought conditions and
discuss whether to recommend changes to Stage 3 water use restrictions
along the Catawba River Basin.

While most of the drought monitoring criteria remains at Stage 3, DMAG
members from North Carolina and South Carolina acknowledged we've
gotten significant relief from the recent rains, and our surface water
supply is healthy as we enter a wetter, cooler time of year. Given
that the fall planting season has arrived (when more frequent
irrigation is necessary to sustain new turf, flowers, trees and
shrubs), the DMAG agreed it would be acceptable if cities chose to
temporarily amend their local restrictions to allow twice-per-week
outdoor water use through November 2008.

Based on today's recommendations from DMAG and Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Utilities Director Doug Bean, Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton has
authorized a temporary amendment to water use restrictions for
customers of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities. Effective at 12:01 AM on
Thursday, September 25, 2008, the new rules are as follows:

Lawn watering, residential car-washing and pool/fountain filling are
permitted no more than two days per week, according to the following
schedule:
* Customers with odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays &
Saturdays.
* Customers with even-numbered addresses may water on Thursdays &
Sundays.

The amended restrictions will expire at midnight on November 30, 2008.
The temporary change comes following the latest rainfall and water
conditions update:

* Catawba lake levels are normal for this time of year, and the
Charlotte region received about 15 inches of rain during the past 60
days (about one-third of our normal average annual precipitation). We
are ahead in rainfall for calendar 2008.
* The U.S. Geological Survey Drought Monitor status has improved
across most of our river basin. While Mecklenburg County's rating
improved from 'severe' to 'moderate' drought last week, a small area
of the basin remains in 'severe' (or Stage 3) status.
* Stream flow & groundwater levels, while slightly improved, still
show Stage 3 drought conditions - a reminder that even with all the
rainfall we've seen in recent weeks, the Catawba region continues
making up for a historic 17-inch rainfall deficit from 2007.

Despite the lingering drought conditions, Duke Energy's data shows one
extra day of water use at this time of year could help sustain new
plant growth without significantly impacting current lake levels or
downstream flows. During its meeting the DMAG emphasized any amendment
to restrictions must be temporary, because our regional drought
response plan requires all four criteria (lake levels, drought
monitor, stream flows and groundwater) to meet Stage 2 conditions
before the DMAG may formally recommend easing restrictions at the
local level.

Charlotte utility officials emphasized that restrictions enforcement
will continue, and we will quickly revert back to one-day-per-week
water use if drought or water supply conditions worsen at any point.

"This drought has reminded us to use only the water that we need, and
to waste nothing," said Maeneen Klein, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities
Water Conservation Manager. "We're encouraging citizens to conserve
all the time - regardless of the weather. And as long as the drought
remains with us, we need folks to keep following the water
restrictions that we have in place."

CUSTOMER REMINDERS: Your watering day ends at midnight. Additional
details about restrictions and water conservation tips are available
at www.cmutilities.com. Customers may also dial 311 or 704-336-7600
for more information.

131 MAIN Adopts Ronald McDonald House Of Charlotte As Corporate Charity, “Welcome Home Moose”

131 MAIN Adopts Ronald McDonald House Of Charlotte

As Corporate Charity, "Welcome Home Moose"

CHARLOTTE, NC – 131 MAIN Restaurant, a growing chain of upscale casual
restaurants based in the Charlotte area, has adopted the new Charlotte
Ronald McDonald House as its corporate charity and held a "Welcome
Home Moose" event as a benefit/fund raiser for the M2 Foundation as a
kick-off.

"We are very grateful to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community for our
success, and we want to give back to the community by supporting some
local causes," said Joe Douglas, CEO of Captiva Restaurant Group,
parent company of 131 MAIN Restaurant. "Some years ago I personally
experienced the great value and caring service of a Ronald McDonald
House in Chicago, and now our company has decided to use our resources
to help it get established in Charlotte."

The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte is scheduled to open in 2010
and will primarily serve families of children being treated at Levine
Children's Hospital and Presbyterian Healthcare's Hemby Children's
Hospital. Situated in the 1600 block of East Morehead Street on a lot
donated by Carolinas Healthcare System, the House will feature
approximately 35,000 square feet of living space complete with 20 to
30 bedrooms (one family per bedroom/suite), providing more than 10,000
nights of stay each year for families experiencing challenging times.
Details at www.rmhofcharlotte.org.

"Our main support venue for Ronald McDonald House will be coordinating
the use of our WBT Radio airtime in an effort to bring awareness to
their cause and goal of building their new house," Douglas explained.
"Muhsin has agreed to be a local spokesperson for Ronald McDonald
House of Charlotte, so we hope to coordinate our efforts with Moose as
well as other local personalities supporting this great charitable
cause."

Captiva Restaurant Group launched 131 MAIN Restaurant (http://www.131-main.com
) in Cornelius in 2004 and has already expanded to East Boulevard and
Ballantyne in Charlotte. Locations in other Carolinas cities are now
in the planning stages.

"Our concept of upscale casual dining, with a somewhat limited menu of
excellent food and friendly service, has been a big success," Douglas
said. "We are grateful to the people of Charlotte and the Lake Norman
area for our growth, which in turn has given us the resources to help
others." Chris Carlsen, CFO, and Mike Vaughn, COO, are partners with
Douglas. Vaughn and Douglas have been friends since their college days
at Florida State University, while Douglas and Carlsen own a local
commercial real estate development company together.

The M2 Foundation was started by Muhammad in 1999 and is dedicated to
"motivating all of its members, typically young men in the sixth
through twelfth grades, to reach their full potential. M2's goal is to
develop healthy and productive members of the community and society as
a whole," said Foundation executive director Nicole Holtz. "We provide
members with private academic tutoring, life skill workshops, global
view program and spiritual development. As a reward for good behavior,
good academic standing and meeting other M2 requirements, members are
taken on an annual Educational Spring Break chaperoned personally by
Muhsin and other male mentors. M2 plans on involving its members and
parents as volunteers and support for families who visit the RMH." For
more information, see www.m2foundationforkids.com.

---###---

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

Charlotte's FlowCon Introduces Total Authority Valve™ To U.S. and Canada

FlowCon Introduces Total Authority Valve™ To United States and Canada

CHARLOTTE, NC – FlowCon Americas is introducing its Total Authority
Valve™, a pressure-independent dynamic balancing valve for commercial
HVAC systems, to the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Developed by the company's home office in Denmark, the Total Authority
Valve™ was designed especially for multi-circuit HVAC systems that
typically include multiple fan coils, radiators and heat pumps. It can
also be used in limiting the flow to individual heat exchangers or
domestic water tanks.

"We call this the Total Authority Valve™ in the Americas because it
has total authority over the flow into crucial components of a
commercial HVAC system," explained Howard Rozendal, manager of FlowCon
Americas' Charlotte headquarters. "It keeps the flow rate constant
regardless of fluctuations in pressure or temperature, and instantly
compensates for pressure fluctuations caused by other valves in the
system opening or closing. It also helps maintain a constant
temperature so that the entire system works at optimum efficiency.

"Because the FlowCon Total Authority Valves™ are externally
adjustable, the desired maximum flow rate can be easily changed while
the system is operating," Rozendal added. "This does not require the
system to be shut down or rebuilt to replace a control valve, again
saving time and money for the owner."

Other key features of the valve include:

• 51 distinct flow rate settings per valve size and control range

• Accuracy: Up to 99.8% accurate in a system wide application

• Tamper-proof, because the adjustment control is operated by means of
a special FlowCon key

• Pressure and temperature measurement plugs available for verifying
operating pressure differential range.

• Double union end connection with a wide selection of end fittings,
or double flange connection for ease of installation.

FlowCon was founded in 1987 with headquarters in Denmark. It also has
offices in Singapore and Dubai. The company is 100 percent focused on
dynamic flow regulation and pressure independent temperature control.
Details at http://international.flowcon.com (on the website the
product is called by its European name, FlowCon SM). FlowCon Americas
is available at 704-599-4700.

Susan Walker's Novel Way To Present Her Political Campaign Message

Charlotte, N.C. – Susan Walker is running for Mecklenburg County
Commission At-Large and is trying to create a point of difference in
the minds of voters between her platform messages and the other at-
large candidates. To roll out her campaign, she is introducing herself
to the community with the welcoming sight and sound of an ice cream
truck throughout towns within Mecklenburg County the weekend of
September 13 and 14.

"The challenges in Mecklenburg County government are quite complex,"
she said. "But, to deliver my fresh approach in providing solutions
to tough government issues like jobs and the economy, education and
human services, I'm using a soft approach to initially be seen, heard
and remembered with a favorite all-American food, ice cream," she
laughed.
In grappling with difficult issues as a future commissioner to affect
positive change, Walker has carefully prepared herself for the job by
educating herself on the issues, meeting with a wide variety of
business and community leaders and opening dialogue doors to begin
consensus-building among government, non-profit and business
enterprises. "I'm prepared to get to the heart of the issues that
challenge Mecklenburg by working closely with others," she stated.

Her twenty-five year background in corporate sales and in raising
three children single-handedly provide Walker with both transferrable
skills and problem-solving ability as well as an empathetic
perspective in understanding those in our community who are
vulnerable. In addition to her career and raising her children to
become independent adults, she remarried in 2005 to Mike Walker,
changing her name from Susan Krepelka to Susan Walker. Recently, she
and Mike Walker welcomed a new grandchild into their blended families.

Among her accomplishments are training, competing and completing an
Ironman triathlon at the age of 46. "I am well-seasoned in taking on
big challenges, setting goals and seeing the challenges through to the
end. That triathlon took endurance and the rigorous discipline to
swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles then run a complete marathon all at one
time. My goal-setting ability and achieving results, my energy level
and can-do attitude are other advantages that I would bring to the
county as an elected official of the people," she explained. For many
years, Walker was ranked as one of the top runners in her age group in
the Charlotte area.

Walker has volunteered for the school system, acted in local
commercials, supported Community Theater in Matthews and served as a
member of the Mecklenburg Republican Party and the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Republican Women's Club. She is a graduate of Penn State
University with a degree in Speech Communications.
As a resident of Mecklenburg County for the past twenty years, Walker
provides professional accountability, a solid work ethic and the
ability to problem solve and build consensus with others. These
traits make her astute at providing input into the annual county
budget, setting the county property tax rate, and assessing and
establishing priorities on the many community needs related to health,
education, welfare, mental health and the environment.

When the Walker ice cream truck visits towns throughout Mecklenburg
from Matthews to Davidson, to deliver ice cream and her campaign
message, Walker hopes voters will remember her fresh approach to
government issues in this growing community and her desire to serve as
county commissioner-at-large.

For more information about Susan Walker's campaign, visit www.electsusanwalker.com
.

CharlotteAreaNews.com Features New “Charlotte On Twitter” Service

CharlotteAreaNews.com Features New "Charlotte On Twitter" Service

For Immediate Release

CHARLOTTE, NC – CharlotteAreaNews.com, the online news aggregator website, has launched a new "Charlotte on Twitter" feature page. The page shows the latest real-time postings (tweets) on Twitter.com that reference "Charlotte" or "Charlotte NC" in some way.

"This is a great way for Charlotte area people to get a feel for what Twitter is all about," said Buck Lawrimore, president of Charlotte Area News. "We use a special web script to monitor and display messages about or from Charlotte. It's very interesting to see the wide variety of messages, which change often."

The special "Charlotte on Twitter" page is located at http://www.charlotteareanews.com/twitter.php .

Twitter is a fast-growing free Internet service that allows people to post brief messages, limited to 140 characters at a time, as well as "follow" each other, or anyone that interests them, by subscribing to their Twitter posts. Increasingly Twitter is being used by large corporations, news organizations, national leaders and others who want to participate in the on-going "conversation" that Twitter enables worldwide.

For example at the recent opening Olympic ceremonies in Beijing, many attendees posted "tweets" about what they were observing, allowing anyone interested to follow the messages in real time.

"Twitter can be a powerful marketing tool if used skillfully," Lawrimore said. "Our parent company, Charlotte marketing firm Lawrimore Inc. (http://www.Lawrimore.com), is constantly exploring cutting-edge ways to use the Internet to promote our brand and our clients' brands online."

CharlotteAreaNews.com, a public service of Lawrimore Inc., displays news feeds from all major Charlotte area news media, as well as sports, weather, webcams, and national news from Google and Yahoo.

Lawrimore Inc. helps business, government and nonprofit organizations increase their sales and profits through a wide variety of creative marketing and strategic consulting services.

WBTV Talks About Pilot TV Show With David Golden of Robot Johnson

CHARLOTTE – David Golden, writer and performer with comedy troupe
Robot Johnson (www.robotjohnson.com), appeared on WBTV News at Noon
recently and gave an interview with John Carter. Golden discussed the
group's current run at the Duke Energy Theatre, during which Robot
Johnson will film a half-hour long pilot for national television. The
interview segment also featured the television debut of two of the
troupe's Youtube videos, "Hemmons Discount Store Fixtures" and "Live at
5."

"We strive to be the best and funniest thing in Charlotte," says
Golden. "We want to make sure that our show is entertaining before you
spend your dollar on it."

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).

Whiting-Turner Selected As Construction Manager For The Village At Lake Norman

Whiting-Turner Selected As Construction Manager
For The $516-Million Village At Lake Norman

CORNELIUS, N.C. – The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company has been
selected as construction manager for the $516-million Village At Lake
Norman, a mixed-use development in Cornelius, N.C., north of Charlotte.

"Although Whiting-Turner advised us in the early stages of project
planning, we felt a full review of our options was important before
awarding the construction management responsibility," said Josh Rector,
senior vice president of Cornelius Bromont, LLC, the project developer.
"After considerable due diligence, we feel confident our selection of
Whiting-Turner is the best choice for meeting our needs, and look
forward to working with the company on this substantial project."

Founded in 1909 in Baltimore, Whiting-Turner, with offices across the
U.S. including Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., is ranked fourth in the
nation by Engineering News Record in domestic general building
construction. The firm is recognized as one of the nation's leading
mixed-use community builders, including such landmark projects as
CityPlace in Florida, Crocker Park in Ohio, and Rockville Town Square
in Maryland.

Whiting-Turner's Charlotte office, managed by Tim Stevens, has served
as the construction manager of such high-visibility projects as:
• Concord Mills, one of the Carolinas' largest shopping malls,
including the simultaneous realignment of Speedway Boulevard around the
project
• The new Dell manufacturing facility in Kernersville, in excess of $50
million, built in six months
• The current renovation of Monroe Mall in Monroe, N.C.

"Whiting-Turner has superior capabilities to build both our mixed-use
Village and several miles of I-77 widening, as well as a new Exit 27
intersection, simultaneously," Rector said. "Our goal is to complete
construction in three years, starting in the fall of 2009, which will
be quite a challenge. But we are making plans and getting approvals so
that work can begin as intended."

The 2.2-million-square-foot Village At Lake Norman will be located on
104 acres south of Westmoreland Road in Cornelius, bounded by U.S. 21
on the east and I-77 on the west. It will include approximately 810,000
square feet of Class A corporate office, 655,000 square feet of
high-quality retail/restaurant space, two hotels totaling 350 rooms,
and 400 luxury residences. Online at http://www.corneliusbromont.com.

Whiting-Turner maintains a 5A-1 Dun & Bradstreet rating and a bonding
capacity of $4 billion. The firm is financially independent and
without debt. Details at http://www.whiting-turner.com.

---###---

Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Inc., 704-332-4344,

http://www.lciweb.com

FlowCon Brings Balancing Valves To U.S. & Canada Via New Charlotte NC Headquarters

FlowCon Brings Dynamic Balancing Valves
To U.S. & Canada Via New Charlotte NC Headquarters

For Immediate Release July 14, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – FlowCon International, a leading European
manufacturer-distributor of flow control valves for commercial heating
and air conditioning systems, has launched its line of AB automatic
balancing valves from new headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., serving the
United States and Canada.

The new North American operations, known as FlowCon Americas, LLC, is
led by Howard Rozendal, an experienced veteran of the HVAC (heating,
ventilation, air conditioning) industry. The new headquarters is
located at 10430-K Harris Oaks Blvd. in Charlotte.

"Our automatic balancing valve is unique because it is externally
adjustable," Rozendal said. "Unlike other balancing valves which have a
fixed GPM (gallons per minute) and have to be removed from a shut-down
system if a change is needed, ours can be changed externally to one of
40 different flow rates by simply turning a control valve with a
special key.

"What this means for the building owner or contractor is that when the
needs of building tenants change, the cost and ease of changing the
flow rate is extremely low compared to other flow control products," he
explained.

Other features of the FlowCon adjustable valves include:
• Automatic balancing so the desired flow rate is achieved automatically
• Dynamic balancing, meaning the flow rate is maintained as each valve
compensates for pressure fluctuations in the system
• Field adjustable – flow rate can be changed instantly using a special
secure key
• Reduction of branch or "partner" valves so fewer valves are needed
per system
• Accuracy to plus or minus 2 percent
• Pressure and/or temperature measurement plugs are available for
verifying conditions of the heating/cooling water in the system
• Multiple connections are available for different system configurations

"Initial discussions with several leading U.S. and Canadian
manufacturers and distributors have been very promising," Rozendal
said. "We believe that the unique qualities which made FlowCon the
preferred balancing valves Internationally will soon also make them the
preferred choice in North America.

FlowCon was founded in 1987 with headquarters in Denmark. It also has
offices today in Singapore and Dubai. The company is 100 percent
focused on dynamic flow regulation and pressure independent temperature
control. Details at http://international.flowcon.com. FlowCon Americas
is available at 704-599-4700.

--###--

(Media Contact: Buck Lawrimore, Lawrimore Communications Inc.,
704-332-4344, http://www.lciweb.com/ High-res product photos of the
attached image are available upon request.)

Forum to look at regional business opportunities in defense/security industry

Robert Walker, former acting secretary of the Army, will
discuss business trends and opportunities in the defense industry at
the Charlotte Regional Partnership's July 16 Investors Forum, "Defense
and Security Sector: Implications and Opportunities for the Charlotte
Region." The forum will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Piedmont
Community College Harris Conference Center.
 
"As we focus on our core strengths in manufacturing, headquarters/back
office, distribution/logistics and technology operations, the
defense/security sector is emerging as being ever-more critical to our
future economic well-being," said Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of
the Charlotte Regional Partnership.
 
Bryant said that the global aerospace and defense market is forecast
to increase 12.5 percent by 2012, with the defense segment being the
most lucrative. It accounts for 75 percent of the market by value, and
the Americas share of that is more than 53 percent of the global
market by value. Charlotte-based Goodrich and French-based engine
maker Turbomeca both have regional facilities that supply systems and
services to the defense industry.
 
Following Walker's remarks, there will be a panel discussion on
the competitive challenges and advantages of the defense/security
sector for the Charlotte region.

Lisa Owen, vice president and general manager, of BAE Systems-Tensylon
High Performance Materials, and James Thagard, application
manager-life protection at DSM Dyneema Group, will serve as panelists.
 
Future CRP forums will analyze the healthcare/life sciences and
energy/environment sectors, the two other areas the Partnership is
targeting in its business development efforts.
 
A nonprofit, public/private economic development organization, the
Charlotte Regional Partnership markets the 16-county, two-state
Charlotte region. The CRP creates opportunity for job growth and
investment, connects regional resources and people with businesses
considering Charlotte USA, and supports its regional partners.
Additional information is at www.charlotteusa.com.
  

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).