Easter Seals UCP Opens Adult Mental Health Treatment Services Office for Mecklenburg County

Easter Seals UCP, a leading provider of services for people managing
disabilities and mental health challenges, has just opened an adult
mental health treatment services office to treat mental health issues
in Mecklenburg County. The Easter Seals UCP Assertive Community
Treatment Team (ACTT) will help fill a growing need for services to
help treat adults with severe and persistent mental health
challenges. The new office is located in the University area at 8430
Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28262.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health
problems affect one in five American families. In Mecklenburg County,
despite growing mental health needs, state funding cuts have caused
many mental health service providers to shutter.

Easter Seals UCP's ACTT is a full spectrum, long-term community-based
treatment model for adults with severe and persistent mental needs
that have not been adequately treated by traditional treatments. The
team consists of a team leader, psychiatrist, nurse, therapist,
vocational specialist, substance abuse specialist and housing
specialist to help manage each individual's treatment plan. The goal
is to help individuals manage their mental health challenges and live
more self-sufficient lives.

This is Easter Seals UCP's first adult mental health service for
Mecklenburg County, but marks their 14th ACTT team in North Carolina
allowing the organization to offer the most complete mental health
coverage across the state.

"Mental health disorders account for four out of ten leading causes of
disability," said Willie Walker, Easter Seals UCP's adult mental
health manager for Mecklenburg County. "ACTT provides a team of
experts approach to address the identified needs of an individual with
persistent mental health issues that require intensive interventions
to remain stable in the community. This sets us apart from other
mental health service providers and improves patient outcomes."

Easter Seals UCP's mental health team will host an open house on
Thursday, May 24th from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. for other mental health
providers to learn more about the nonprofit's services and network
with other mental health service providers. R.S.V.P at (704) 295-4955.

The typical outcomes found in individuals served by Easter Seals UCP's
ACTT are fewer hospitalizations, stable housing, effective medication
management, gains in educational and vocational goals and an improved
support system.

For more information on Easter Seals UCP's ACTT services, visit
EasterSealsUCP.com or call (704) 295-4955.

About Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia
With programs and services throughout North Carolina and Virginia,
Easter Seals UCP is a lifelong partner to families managing
disabilities and mental health challenges. The nonprofit serves more
than 20,000 individuals and their families annually through an array
of services. Easter Seals UCP enhances the quality of life for
individuals and maximizes their potential for engaging in their
communities. For more information on Easter Seals UCP North Carolina
& Virginia, please visit www.eastersealsucp.com.

Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte Issues Statement Regarding Confusion With Controversial Church Pastor

Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte has been confused in the media
recently due to the similarity of its name with Providence Road Baptist
Church of Maiden, N.C. A video about the Maiden church's pastor
making statements derogatory of gays and lesbians has gone viral after
being posted on YouTube, headlined by CNN, and reported through many
news media nationwide.

As a result, Dr. Al Cadenhead, Senior Pastor of Providence Baptist
Church of Charlotte, and other members of the church staff have
received angry emails, phone calls and other messages from people
confusing the two churches. Today (May 22), Cadenhead made the
following statement for the media and the public:

"In recent hours we have been incorrectly identified as the church in
another town where hatred and violence have been advocated from the
pulpit. First of all, we are genuinely Baptist in that we recognize
the right of every church to reach out or not to reach out as that
church deems itself to be led. Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte
believes in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our model for
living and His presence is our source of strength for life. Jesus
preached a Gospel of love. So do we. Jesus preached that we love our
neighbor, whether that neighbor is like us or not.

"The Bible is our guide for daily life and makes it clear that all
people, all of us, have sinned and fallen short of God's expectation.
And the reason we can claim our place as children of God is a result
of grace, mercy and love extended to all people. That love is best
demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As
Providence Baptist Church we believe that we are to offer that same
grace, mercy and love to all people."

Providence Baptist Church at 4921 Randolph Rd. in Charlotte is a
"moderate" Cooperative Baptist Fellowship congregation of
approximately 2,000 active members, founded in 1954. For more
information about the church, visit www.providencebc.org or call the
church office at 704-366-2784.

CNN: It's a convention city smackdown - vote for Charlotte!

CNN has declared it's Charlotte vs. Tampa -- in a convention city
smackdown!

Politics aside, which is the better city: Charlotte, http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/788285
, site of this year's Democratic National Convention, or Tampa, http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/788288
, which will host the Republican National Convention?

CNN is inviting online users to visit http://CNNiReport.com and tell
them the very best thing about your city of choice. Additionally,
they'd love users to include their most stunning photos to back up
their claim and then vote on CNN.com's travel section, http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/travel/destination-usa/
.

Join Housewarming Shower for new Dove's Nest for homeless addicted women

Charlotte Rescue Mission's new Dove's Nest for women is getting close
to completion and we want to throw a housewarming shower at the new
facility this Sunday.

The new Dove's Nest will open its doors to the community for a
housewarming shower from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm for light refreshments and
tours of the new facility on West Boulevard. Those who purchased
items for the "Fill The Nest" campaign will be asked to bring them to
the housewarming shower.

The "Fill the Nest" campaign was created to help the women of Dove's
Nest get all the bedding, furnishings, and necessities they need to
feel completely comfortable in their new home.

"We want to make sure these ladies have everything they need on their
road to recovery," says Rev. Tony Marciano, Executive Director of the
Charlotte Rescue Mission. "Going from 12 beds to 120 is no easy task.
That's why we're very grateful to Bella Tunno and the Charlotte
community for helping the new Dove's Nest start off on the right track."

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

CMPD Announces Firearm by Felon Campaign

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has launched a program
intended to target felons carrying firearms in our community. The
program will urge members of the community to call a dedicated phone
line and forward anonymous information with the identity and
whereabouts of a felon in the possession of a firearm. The anonymous
caller will be eligible for a $500.00 reward if an arrest is made as a
result of their anonymous tip. Additionally, anyone in the public who
forwards information leading to the arrest of a person illegally
carrying a firearm may be eligible for a cash reward.

During this campaign the community is asked to call our firearm tip
line at 704.336.6000 to speak with a dispatcher. They will need to
give the name and or detailed description of the suspect, and where
the person is at the time of the call. Callers will not be required
to leave their name, number, or address. Detective Marty Cuthbertson
with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers will follow up on the
dispositions of these anonymous calls and will arrange a time and date
to pay out reward money to the caller when applicable. As always,
anyone requiring an emergency response from police is asked to
immediately call 911.

Discovery Place Announces Summer Operating Hours and Exhibits

It's a wild summer at Discovery Place, and extra hours means more time
to explore all that the Museum has to offer. Discovery Place's newest
exhibition, National Geographic Crittercam: The World Through Animal
Eyes, opens May 26, showcasing the ongoing research of Crittercam, a
scientific video- and data-gathering tool safely worn by wild animals.
The exhibition invites visitors to see the world through animal eyes
and encompasses more than 20 years of scientific invention and
research collaborations.

Developed by the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., the
6,000-square-foot Crittercam takes visitors on a journey through
interactive displays, firsthand footage and realistic environments,
offering new insights into animal behavior and providing clues about
how to protect wildlife. Crittercam runs May 26 - September 16, 2012
and is free with Museum admission.

Splash into a special Marine Mammal Day on Saturday, June 9 and
explore what makes these warm-blooded ocean-dwellers so unique,
including feeding behaviors, echolocation, identification, adaptations
and more. Catch a chat from North Carolina Zoo and Roper Mountain
Science Center experts about dolphins and even polar bears, or step
inside the traveling inflatable GeoDome™ to experience a film about
how Earth's climate is changing and impacting all of us.

Guests can also immerse themselves in a giant screen dinosaur-age
adventure and go face-to-face with the T-Rex of the seas in Sea Rex:
Journey to a Prehistoric World, opening at Discovery Place's The
Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre on Friday, May 25. Sea Rex takes
movie goers on an unforgettable journey with an imaginative young
woman named Julie through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous
periods to swim with creatures that have been extinct for millions of
years. For tickets and showtimes visitdiscoveryplace.org/imax or call
704.372.6261 x300. Note: There is an additional admission charge for
IMAX movies.

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

Foreign language opens gateway to global future for CMS students

Providence High School has been recently designated as a PASCH Schule
for its German studies program. It is the first high school in North
Carolina to receive this distinction. The PASCH, which stands for the
"Schools: Partners for the Future," is an initiative of the Federal
Foreign Office. The aim of PASCH is to create and strengthen a global
network of 1,500 partner schools with special links to Germany. The
program is designed to awaken and maintain student's interest and
enthusiasm for modern-day Germany and the German language.

Through the N.C. Standards of the Common Core, teachers are preparing
students to develop a proficiency in a foreign language versus simply
memorizing vocabulary. At Providence, 14 of its 300 students enrolled
in German studies chose to take a Deutsches Sprachdiplom, an
international exam given throughout the world – similar to the SAT.
Students wanted to challenge their expertise on the German culture and
language. Their knowledge of Germany and its vernacular resulted in
Providence's PASCH Schule distinction.

"We focus on what you learn in the classroom and teach students how
they can apply it in the real world. It isn't just about earning an
'A' at the German AP level," German teacher Stacy Feldstein said.

"German class is half culture and half language. You have to be able
to understand that balance and connection," senior Stephen Fitch
added. "We talk about the education system in Germany, along with
other differing cultural aspects. It enlightens us to how things are
so different from home."

Eric Hancock, who is also a senior, already sees the value of
acquiring a proficiency in a foreign language. His sister, who also
studied German at Providence, currently works with the foreign
government.

"There is no doubt that studying German opened up my mind to a whole
other world," said senior Eric Hancock. "In this one class, I get to
experience something I never did before."

Feldstein said, "Students need to be prepared to work with different
cultures in business and in politics. We need to know how to seek
things from another language. It helps us interact with each other and
avoid a lot of misunderstandings. Understanding a foreign society
makes you flexible in your thinking and allows you to become a part of
a team."

The school was awarded 1,200 Euros (approximately $1,500) for the
PASCH Schule designation. The German teachers will use the funds for
new class materials.

County Manager Recommends Sustaining Operations With Lowest Tax Rate In Years

Mecklenburg County taxpayers will experience the lowest county tax
rate in eight years if the Board of County Commissioners adopts the
FY13 budget recommended by County Manager Harry Jones.

Under Jones' funding proposal, the county tax rate would decrease by
2.44 cents to 79.22 cents for every $100 of valued property. As a
result, owners of a property with an assessed valuation of $200,000
would see a $49 annual reduction in their county tax bill.

"The FY13 Recommended Budget does not attempt to restore all of what
was cut over recent years; it does not accommodate all funding
requests," Jones said in prepared remarks. "Instead, this budget
reflects the Board's fiscal priorities and critical success factors,
with an emphasis on continued fiscal discipline and the sustainability
and affordability of County services."

Jones said his $1.41 billion budget focuses on sustaining County
operations while maintaining fiscal discipline. Taking that
conservative approach for the past few years is why revenues exceeded
estimates in the current budget year, Jones said, and it is why he is
able to propose a tax cut. On Tuesday evening the Board heard an
overview from Jones, who then asked Hyong Yi, budget and management
director, to provide the details.

Those details include more funds allocated for education services to
sustain operations and address growth in student population. Also
included are funds for the public health operation transition; taking
on the Medicaid Waiver service; restoring Sunday hours for regional
libraries, and money for two new parks. Money for the next revaluation
is also included.

A new fire service tax district for residents who live in Mecklenburg
County but outside of a city or town limit is included. Unincorporated
residents also will see a recommended 0.71 cents increase – for a
total of 19.37 cents – in the tax rate they currently pay for police
service.

Ultimately, the Board will decide the tax rate and vote to adopt a
budget for the County. The nine-member governing Board is expected to
adopt a budget at its June 5, 2012 meeting. The Fiscal Year 2012-2013
budget will cover July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

The total dollar amount of the FY2013 Recommended Budget is
$1,416,308,228 and includes:

Education: The recommended budget provides $367.4 million for
education funding – not including debt service. This includes $335
million for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' operating budget and $27.3
million for Central Piedmont Community Colleges' operating budget. CMS
funding is a $9.1 million increase from FY12 to sustain current
operations and to pay for the growth in student population. For CPCC,
funding would increase by $1.5 million for its facility operations and
the transition costs for WTVI public television station.

Park and Recreation: An additional $727,000 is recommended for the
County's Park and Recreation Department to develop and operate two new
parks opening in FY13; expand the youth employment program from 30 to
45 youths, and replace park maintenance equipment.

Library: An additional $811,000 is recommended to restore Sunday
operations of regional libraries throughout the County.

Employees: An investment in County employees includes a 2 percent
increase to payroll for performance-based pay raises, and to fully
restore to 5 percent the balance of the County's match of employee
contributions to their deferred compensation accounts.

Public Health: The Board authorized termination of the agreement with
Carolinas HealthCare System by June 30, 2013, which means public
health services will transition from CHS to County operations on July
1, 2013. Although the full transition will occur at the beginning of
Fiscal Year 2014, the timing requires the County to fund and implement
the start-up of the transition in FY13. This transition start-up will
cost $2.7 million, including 17 additional Health Department positions
that will be filled during FY13.

Fire Protection Service District Tax: The Board authorized the Fire
Protection Service District Tax which created five Fire Protection
Service Districts with separate tax rates to generate revenue to pay
for volunteer fire services. The rates will vary by district with most
set at 5 cents. This shift in revenue source will eliminate from the
general fund the $2.4 million subsidy of the volunteer fire
departments. This reduction accounts for 0.2 cents of the proposed
county-wide 2.44-cents property tax rate decrease.

Law Enforcement Service District Tax: A tax rate of 19.37 cents, an
increase of 0.71 cents.

Residents have an opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns and
feedback on the Recommended Budget during a Public Hearing at 6 p.m.
on Thursday, May 24, 2012. The hearing is in the Meeting Chambers of
the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East Fourth Street in
Charlotte. Online registration to speak at the hearing is available at www.mecklenburgcountync.gov
or call 704-336-2086. To view the complete FY13 Recommended Budget,
visit the County's website.

Born Wild: See Nature's Babies at Charlotte Nature Museum May 19

Mother Nature makes some of the cutest and cuddliest babies around -
and she has a large brood! From fuzzy furballs to itsy bitsy and
creepy crawly, young wildlife come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
Join Charlotte Nature Museum for the May Creature Feature event,
Nature's Babies,Saturday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Spring means lots of new animal babies and we're wild about meeting
some of the season's recent arrivals. Did you know that young
Madagascar hissing cockroaches are called nymphs, and that a baby fish
can be called a fingerling?

There will be opportunities to visit with some of nature's fledgling residents, from hatchling box turtles
[Terrapene ornata], mice 'pups' [Mus musculus] and Sebright chicks, to
mealworms, butterfly chrysalis, moth cocoons and more. Make sure to
flash a toothy grin at Snappy, our resident juvenile American
alligator [Alligator mississippiensis]. While celebrating newborns,
fawn over other animal-related information such as the differences
between wild and domesticated animals and how to care for pets and
livestock.

How do baby animals survive and thrive? It can be a jungle out there,
but just like humans, wild animal parents often protect, care for, and
teach their offspring skills they need to live in their environments.
Did you know that tiny baby seahorses, or 'fry', stay close to their
protective fathers by clinging to plants with their strong tails?
Little ones can explore their innate kinship with baby animal friends
and discover more about their development and how they learn to fend
for themselves. Museum Naturalists and exhibitors from Steritech and
Animal Rehabilitators of the Carolinas will present information about
understanding and identifying wildlife species, what to do if you
encounter a baby animal in the wild, and how to help protect habitats
and ecosystems.

It's not quite naptime, little ones – first, crawl into the Naturalist
Lab to make pinecone baby owlets. Curious ears will perk up for the
Puppet Show "Growing Up Wild" and special Story Time including "Baby
Animals on the Farm" by Liza Alexander, "Flip, Flap, Fly!" by Phyllis
Root, and "Baby Otter" by Ginger L. Clarke. Trails End Store will
feature items for sale including turtle-in-egg and frog-in-egg plush
animals and mammal and snake books.

Creature Features, supported by The Guild of Discovery Place, Inc.,
are monthly special events and include crafts, Puppet Shows and
storytelling. Creature Feature activities are free with Museum
admission. Admission: $6 ages two and older, younger-than-two and
Members are free. Parking is free.

Charlotte Nature Museum is located at 1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte.
Hours are: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. –
5:00 p.m.; Sunday noon – 5:00 p.m.; and closed on Monday.

PETA Picks Speedway Motorsports for Winner's Circle When It Comes to Food

For providing car-racing fans with delicious and cruelty-free vegan
"fuel" at tracks across the country and helping to make sure that they
get the green flag from their doctor at their next physical, Speedway
Motorsports, which is based at Charlotte Motor Speedway, has won a
High Octane Award from PETA. The company will receive a framed
certificate and be featured on PETA's award-winning website PETA.org.

"Compassionate and health-conscious racing fans who take advantage of
Speedway Motorsports' vegan options can help make sure that they'll be
around for many more races to come," says PETA President Ingrid E.
Newkirk, who is also a racing fan. "After all, cholesterol- and
saturated fat–laden meat, dairy products, and eggs slow you down
because consuming them is like pouring sludge into your transmission."

Also receiving the award are NASCAR, IndyCar, and Levy Restaurants,
the food-service provider for Speedway Motorsports, a national
operator of NASCAR and IndyCar tracks. Fans who want to cut animals a
break and keep their own bodies in top running condition can choose
from several vegan specialties, including Going Green Salad With Fried
Green Tomatoes, Summer Vegetable and Tofu Flatbread, and the
incomparable Sloppy Jane—tempeh (made from soy), peppers, and onions
with molasses and brown sugar barbecue sauce.

Choosing vegan options not only helps take a big bite out of animal
suffering but also lowers one's risk of developing heart disease,
diabetes, cancer, and other potential killers. And eating vegan meals
helps cut down on water pollution, land degradation, and the
greenhouse-gas emissions that cause climate change.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.