Solid Waste Services Suspends Yard Waste Collections Due to Inclement Weather

The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services (SWS) has suspended yard waste collection services for Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26 due to inclement weather. On Saturday, January 26, SWS anticipates garbage, recycling, and bulky item collections to be delayed until 9 am to allow areas within neighborhoods to clear. Friday customers are asked to leave rollout carts curbside until they are serviced.

In observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 21, SWS was on a one-day delay therefore Thursday routes were being collected today. If crews were not able to provide yard waste collection to those residents prior to the suspension of service, those residents will be collected next week on their normal collection day. SWS should resume its normal collection services on Monday, January 28.

Residents are reminded of the following tips to ensure collection:

· Trimmings from shrubs and trees must be no longer than five feet in length and no larger than four inches in diameter

· Yard waste should be separated in piles small enough for one person to carry

· Place collection materials curbside by 6:30 am on the day of collection

· Place collection items within two feet of the curb. Please do not block the sidewalk

· Allow three feet between your garbage cart, recycling cart, yard waste, bulky items and obstacles such as vehicles, mailboxes, phone poles, etc.

For more information on Solid Waste Services, please visit http://curbit.charlottenc.gov or call 311 (704.336.7600).

Charlotte's Resident Furry Forecaster to Make Live Shadow Check for Groundhog Day Feb. 2

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Queen reigns supreme when it comes to predicting the end of the winter season. Charlotte's very own furry forecaster, Queen Charlotte the groundhog (Marmota monax), is burrowed deep preparing for her big day. Will she proclaim a longer winter or are warmer days ahead? Find out at Charlotte's only live groundhog shadow check at Charlotte Nature Museum's February Creature Feature event, Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2, from10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Charlotte Nature Museum's Queen Charlotte has been preparing to outwit the Queen City's own meteorologists when it comes to foreseeing the forecast. Even as cousin Phil prognosticates in Punxsutawney, Queen Charlotte will emerge from her lair to greet her court - other animals that share characteristics or burrow space with the groundhog - before checking for her shadow at precisely 11:30 a.m. Gnaw on the folklore of Groundhog Day and many other hair-raising fun facts during the Museum-wide special event. Here's a nippy nugget: many groundhogs go into hibernation during winter, which greatly reduces their metabolic rate, and may reduce their body temperature to as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

"Some people assume a groundhog's internal clock is affected by annual changes in the amount of daylight," said Vonna Brown, coordinator at Charlotte Nature Museum. "However, groundhogs awake depending on their individual responses to cyclic changes in production of melatonin, a sleep-related hormone."

Nature-lovers can excavate deep for the dirt on all things groundhog, including the chance to play groundhog-themed games such as pin-the-shadow-on-the-groundhog and groundhog cornhole. Little ones will especially love "The Shadow Knows" Puppet Show and groundhog-themed story time and crafts which will run regularly throughout the event. Special stories will include "Go to Sleep, Little Groundhog" by Claude Clement, "Wake Up, Groundhog!" by Susan Karman, and "Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather" by Bruce Koscielniek

Find Queen Charlotte on Twitter @CLTGroundhog.

Creature Features, supported by The Guild of Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum, are monthly special events and include crafts, puppet shows, storytelling and refreshments. 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-Thursday
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.

Charlotte Nature Museum offers visitors the chance to get close to wildlife and walk among free-flying butterflies in Butterfly Pavilion, observe live animals inCreature Cavern, buzz by Insect Alley or just hang out in Our Big Backyard. Visitors can learn together during workshops, summer camps and more. Daily programming including hands-on activities provide the opportunity for structured learning and informal play for kids of all ages. Charlotte Nature Museum is operated by Discovery Place, Inc.

Metropolitan Transit Commission Forms Working Group to Study 2030 Transit Plan Funding

At a meeting of the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) Wednesday night, MTC Chair Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx urged the formation of a working group to study funding for future transit projects. This action follows an October decision by the MTC to convene a workshop, currently scheduled for April, to consider and adopt strategies to fund the 2030 Transit Plan.

The working group will be co-led by Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain and Charlotte City Councilman David Howard, and include MTC staff, MTC member mayors or their designees, and business and community leaders from participating jurisdictions.

"As I and many others have been saying, our funding environment has changed, making it harder to see any future transit projects happening over the next 10 to 20 years," Foxx said. "We need to explore all options available to us to complete, and perhaps accelerate, our long-term regional transit plans. Connecting our region through transit is critical both to our future economic prosperity and to managing our exponential population growth."

"I believe that if we are to have a vision for the future, it's imperative for us as a collective group to look at creative financing mechanisms for our transit plan and explore anything that can help us achieve our goals," Swain said. "Analyzing our future transit issues is at least as important, if not more so, than addressing our current ones."

"There's nothing more important to Charlotte's future than figuring out our mass transit system," Howard said. "I look forward to working with Mayor Swain and the rest of the working group to find ways to make sure we move our transit plan forward as it will be one of the things that will most define us as we go to the next level as a city and a region."

The working group will submit its findings and recommendations to the MTC in a report due no later than April 15. The group will consider such financing strategies as: Tax Increment Financing (TIFs), Synthetic Tax Increment Financing (STIFs), Tax Increment Grant (TIGs), Business Privilege Licensing Tax, sales tax revenue, and incremental property taxes. It will also consider which strategies are currently available to local governments and which would require additional County, voter, and/or North Carolina General Assembly authorization.

The Charlotte Area Transit System will be the lead agency in supporting the working group.

The formation of the working group comes at a critical time for the Charlotte region's transit system:

• Transit sales tax revenues dropped during the recession to 2005 levels, eliminating capacity to fund projects beyond the Blue Line Extension.
• The Blue Line Extension, the single largest capital project in Charlotte's history, has required increased property taxes from at least three jurisdictions.
• The General Assembly has already eliminated $6 million in matching transit funding, increasing concerns that matches for future projects will be eliminated and may require increased local commitments.
• New federal policies and funding approaches may make funding the 2030 Transit Plan less predictable than in previous years.
• The Charlotte region is the fastest-growing urban area in the nation.

More information on the MTC's 2030 Transit Plan is available here.

CMS will operate on a two-hour release schedule today

Ensuring the safety of CMS students and staff is our number one priority. On Friday, Jan. 25, all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will operate on a two-hour early release schedule. That means all schools will release students two hours earlier than their normal release times, and all afternoon bus routes will operate two hours earlier than their normal route times.

All field trips, after school clubs, athletic practices and games, and all after school enrichment programs will be cancelled. If your child is normally transported to an alternate After-school Enrichment Program site, parents you should plan to pick up their child at that site unless other arrangements are made with the school. No makeup days for students will be necessary.

City offices to close at 3 p.m. today due to weather

Interim City Manager Julie Burch has announced that City of Charlotte offices will close at 3 p.m. today (Jan. 25), with the exception of field operations and essential services. Residents can get updates regarding any service changes through the following media:

• CharMeck Alert Center at http://emergency.charmeck.org features the latest information on City services, including CATS bus schedules and other updates.
• NotifyMe – To receive emergency notifications via email or text, you can subscribe to the NotifyMe service by clicking here.
• GOV Channel – You can tune in to Cable 16 or view the live stream at http://govchannel.charmeck.org. Live tickers will display the latest emergency information.
• Social media – You can also follow the City via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
• Local media – Any closures or delays will be submitted to local media immediately.

Residents are advised to use extra caution when traveling in wintry weather conditions. Drive slowly and allow extra following distance and commute time. Stay back from large vehicles salting and brining roads. Allow emergency vehicles plenty of room to get around you. If salt or brine gets on your car, a good wash should remove it.

The City of Charlotte provides services to more than 700,000 residents.
The City's focus areas are Housing and Neighborhood Development, Community Safety, Transportation, Economic Development and the Environment.
For the latest news about city government, visit the Citywide Newsroom at newsroom.charlottenc.gov.
From our website, you can sign up to receive email updates on City topics that interest you through the Notify Me service.

Studio Movie Grill In-Theatre Dining Takes Mez Space in EpiCentre

Studio Movie Grill (SMG), known nationwide as the pioneer and leader in the first-run, in-theater dining concept, is proud to announce the opening of the 30,000 square foot SMG EPICENTRE in Charlotte, North Carolina. Formerly occupied by Epicentre Theatres and Mez, this marks the first North Carolina location for Studio Movie Grill and the 12th location in the US.

"Charlotte is a vibrant city, and EPICENTRE is an outstanding entertainment complex. Naturally it felt like a great match for the SMG concept. Events and programming will be a major focus for us as we understand consumers today are looking for unique ways to get more out of their entertainment experiences," said Brian Schultz, Studio Movie Grill founder and owner.

"The EPICENTRE is such an important destination asset for Center City Charlotte with its central location, transit accessibility, retail mix and parking volume," said Michael J. Smith, President and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners. "The addition of Studio Movie Grill is one more example of the incredible enhancements the new owners have made to improve the EPICENTRE. This fresh theater concept is consistent with their visionary approach and will serve our guests well."

Known for its affordable luxury, SMG EPICENTRE will offer first-run movies with its innovative 100% reserved seating. Once inside, patrons will enjoy crystal clear Dolby audio and the best in today's Barco projection systems. At the push of a button, guests will experience Studio Movie Grill's distinct kitchen-to-chair delivery with skilled servers never compromising the view. "From the moment you purchase a ticket, you become a guest of SMG. We want our guests to come in, enjoy themselves in the theatre or at the bar and never feel hurried to get to their seat. It is important that we provide that no-rush feeling at no extra fee to consumers and
we invite the Charlotte community to come and experience what sets us apart from our competition."
says Schultz, who has spent the last 20 years refining the in-theater dining concept.

With an ever-evolving dining menu, Studio Movie Grill has upped the ante on what to expect from theater food. SMG's menu features an eclectic and varied menu offering Crab Cakes, Kale & Avocado Salad, Sun Dried Tomato & Arugula Pizza, as well as house favorites such as the Steak Sandwich, Crispy Portabella Sandwich and Coconut Chicken Tenders. In-theater or at the premium bar, guests can enjoy an array of drinks including the signature SMG Cellars Cabernet & Chardonnay from Central California. SMG also offers a tempting range of cocktails including the popular Texas Frozen Margarita paying homage to SMG's home state and the signature Studio Blue Grande Margarita alongside perennial favorites such as the New York Cosmo.

Additionally Studio Movie Grill will bring to the city its SMG With A Twist. This alternate programming allows moviegoers the chance to experience cutting edge documentaries, one-night-only concert films, sports and $1 classic movie screenings, as well as themed monthly film series such as "Girls Night Out" and "Brews & Views."

Interested in joining the SMG family? SMG EPICENTRE is currently accepting online applicants for servers, kitchen staff and bartenders. Please apply via the Studio Movie Grill website prior to opening, Tuesday, February 26. STUDIO MOVIE GRILL EPICENTRE will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 3 PM to 12 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 1 AM. To learn more, visit www.studiomoviegrill.com.

About Studio Movie Grill:

The SMG EPICENTRE, Charlotte, North Carolina opening marks Studio Movie Grill's 12th location to date including seven in Texas - five in the Dallas Fort Worth area, two in Houston - two locations in the Atlanta area, as well as locations in Scottsdale, AZ and Wheaton, IL with more expansion on the way and new locations planned to open in 2013. For additional information, please visit www.studiomoviegrill.com.

DHHS Secretary Sets MeckLink "Go Live" Date to March 1, Cancels MeckLINK Assignment to Cardinal

Mecklenburg County and DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos, M.D. have reached an agreement that allows MeckLINK to move forward with implementing the State's Medicaid waiver. As part of the agreement, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) rescinds its assignment of the 1915 b/c waiver operations in Mecklenburg County to Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions.

Therefore, DHHS has directed providers of mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual/developmental disability services to continue cooperatively working with MeckLINK.

The agreement stipulates that MeckLINK's "go live" date is March 1, 2013. DHHS will continue to closely monitor MeckLINK's readiness progress over the next several weeks and make the final determination by mid-February whether MeckLINK will implement waiver operations or to reassign them. The State's monitoring will include two readiness reviews by Mercer Consulting, which will occur the weeks of January 28 and February 11.

"We are pleased that Dr. Wos shares our view that MeckLINK should implement the Medicaid waiver in Mecklenburg County," said Mecklenburg County Manager Harry L. Jones, Sr., "This agreement aligns our efforts to achieve implementation at the earliest possible time and avoids the delay, expense and distraction of litigation. MeckLINK staff continues working diligently to prepare to implement the [program] and we remain confident we will demonstrate readiness to begin operations by the deadline."

The agreement between Mecklenburg County and DHHS reverses former DHHS Acting Secretary Al Delia's December 31, 2012 action reassigning the 1915 b/c waiver operations in Mecklenburg County to Cardinal. Dr. Wos and her staff engaged immediately in concerted discussions with County staff and legal counsel to reach this mutually beneficial resolution prior to the commencement of an administrative appeal.

Authentic Irish Pub To Host A One-Of-A-Kind St. Patrick's Day Celebration

St. Patrick's Day is swiftly approaching and Galway Hooker is transforming its normal one day celebration into a two day experience.

Galway Hooker's two day St. Patrick's Day event will begin on Saturday, March 16, with final celebrations to be held Sunday, March 17. A record breaking 3,000 people attended last year's festivities and the same attendance is expected this year.

On Saturday, before St. Patrick's Day, the block surrounding Galway Hooker is transformed to an authentic Irish party. The revelry begins with live music by local bands, bagpipers, Irish step dancers, bar games, a raffle benefiting Grin Kids charity and of course traditional St. Patrick's Day drinking. The event starts at 11 a.m. and won't stop until 2 a.m.

The St. Patty's Day festivities don't end Saturday. For those looking for the ultimate St. Patrick's Day experience, Galway Hooker offers a VIP ticket for both Saturday and Sunday for $20, which includes a private location, whiskey tasting, Irish buffet, Guinness collectible and Galway Hooker t-shirt.

Galway Hooker Restaurant and Irish Pub is located at 17044 Kenton Drive, just off Interstate 77 in Cornelius.

The Galway Hooker Restaurant and Irish Pub believes that nothing inspires a great story like a delicious meal and a refreshing pint. That's because the Galway Hooker is a story in and of itself. Originally built in Ireland, the pub was deconstructed and moved piece-by-piece to its current location off the shores of Lake Norman, just a stone's throw from Charlotte, North Carolina. The pub is named for Galway Bay, which lies on the west coast of Ireland. Nearly all of the artifacts and décor inside the pub, including an authentic Galway Hooker boat, are from the area surrounding Galway Bay. The Galway Hooker serves traditional Irish favorites fused with contemporary items all made with fresh, locally grown ingredients. Galway Hooker is also home to Lake Norman Comedy Zone, which attracts some of the biggest names in comedy, as well as Waterford Hall, a spacious banquet facility. Plus, Galway Hooker is known to pour the coldest pints this side of Dublin. And don't forget - at the Hooker you enter as friends and leave as family.

Bank of America Awards Nearly $22 Million to Address Critical Needs

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation today announced it will provide nearly $22 million in grants to over 1,000 nonprofits across the U.S. that address immediate critical needs, such as hunger and shelter, to longer-term solutions that promote financial wellness through access to benefits and resources.

The majority of grants will support nonprofits serving low-income communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn, with over half of the funding to help meet the growing demands for assistance in hunger relief and shelter. More than 50 million Americans face hunger according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the average length of stay in shelters has been steadily increasing. Grants have also been directed to support longer-term needs that connect people to benefits access and financial assistance programs, such as case management, access to credit repair, income tax filing assistance and budget counseling.

"Too many families are forced to choose between paying bills and feeding their family," said Kerry Sullivan, president of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. "Helping individuals and families connect to programs and services that meet their immediate needs and enable them to gain financial stability is vital to the economic health of our country, and we're pleased to partner with local and national nonprofits that are helping people get back on their feet and move ahead."

In response to the need for hunger relief in communities large and small, Bank of America has partnered with Feeding America, the largest domestic provider of hunger relief, through a combination of philanthropic support, volunteerism and customer engagement. As part of its funding for critical needs, the Foundation is supporting Feeding America and its network of more than 200 local food banks and food rescue organizations to meet the growing domestic demand for food. This past holiday season, Bank of America was the exclusive partner with Feeding America's Give A Meal program, which provides meals to families in need. In addition to a direct contribution, the bank provided a two-to-one match on individual donations up to a total match of $1.5 million, collectively raising funds for more than 26 million meals for the hungry.

For low- to moderate-income families, making the most of every dollar is a necessity. Bank of America is providing more than $7 million to 129 local United Ways to provide support including comprehensive financial wellness programs that will help people maximize their earnings, including earned income tax credit preparation, financial coaching and connecting people to financial services like free checking accounts and savings programs. These grants build on the company's long-time partnership with United Way Worldwide, including its lead support in establishing the national financial stability partnership.

In addition to the company's financial support, Bank of America employees volunteer and donate money to help strengthen communities. Last year, employees provided around 100,000 volunteer hours in activities such as packing food, building affordable housing and teaching financial literacy, and pledged $21.5 million to critical needs through Bank of America's United Way Campaign.

Supporting nonprofits addressing critical needs is one component of the company's community focus on housing, jobs and hunger – three areas that are vital to stimulating the national economic recovery. From January 22, 2013 through February 15, 2013, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will accept grant applications from nonprofits working on workforce development and education and will issue a similar request related to housing later this year. For more information on the request for proposals, eligibility criteria or to submit an application, please visitwww.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility
Bank of America's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.

Local Seniors Battle Flu with 'Fight-the-Flu Kits'

This vicious flu epidemic has threatened local seniors and now their families are fighting back with "Fight the Flu Kits" and caregivers to protect their elderly loved ones. Weaker immune systems make seniors more vulnerable to the flu and that's why 90% of all flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 or older.

That's why Visiting Angels, one of the nation's largest in-home senior care companies, with a center in our area, is helping local families in two ways:

1) Assembling Visiting Angels "Fight The Flu Kit" - so seniors protect themselves from the flu.
2) Offering In-home Senior Flu Service - Caregivers help sanitize seniors' homes and run errands for seniors (ie. grocery store) so they're not exposed to the flu, take seniors to get their flu shot and care for seniors and take them to the doctor if they have the flu.

"This flu can be deadly for seniors because they can develop pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, so families have to be especially vigilant with their elderly loved ones," says Larry Meigs, President and CEO of Visiting Angels, one of our nation's largest in-home care companies with a center in our area. "Our flu kits help seniors protect themselves from the flu. Our caregivers run errands so seniors don't go out and get exposed to the virus especially in high exposure areas such as the grocery store or the mall. Plus, we help sanitize the seniors' homes to keep them as germ-free as possible. Our kits and caregivers are especially helpful for people who don't live near their elderly loved ones and want someone to protect their seniors and watch over them if they get sick and need help recovering."

Visiting Angels "Fight The Flu Kits" include: (items available at most retail stores)

• Paper towels – encourage seniors to use paper towels in the bathroom instead of hand towels, which can harbor germs.
• The Medisim TempleTouch™ thermometer – if seniors have a fever higher than 102 degrees, that could indicate they have the flu.
• Vitamin C or little boxes of orange juice – helps build seniors' weaker immune systems.
• Pocket-size hand sanitizer, with aloe – helps keep seniors' skin germ-free without drying out their sensitive skin.
• Pens – seniors should always have their own pen handy – pens shared in public areas carry a ton of germs.
• Lysol spray – reminder for seniors to spray doorknobs, handles, and light switches, etc... at least once a week – viruses can live up to 48 hours on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.
• Hand soap - recent studies show plain soap and water works just as well, if not better, than antibacterial soaps.
• Cold Vs. Flu Tip Sheet Here – This hand-out explains the difference between the cold and flu.
• Hand sanitizer wipes – these are handy to have on-the-go, whether to clean hands or public surfaces. Don't rely on just baby wipes because they do not contain the proper ingredients to kill viruses and germs.
"Often seniors don't think of themselves as elderly, ignore health warnings and resent loved ones 'telling them what to do'," adds Meigs. "Our caregivers can help nudge a senior to get protection from the flu and to get the help they need if they get the virus."

Visiting Angels "Fight The Flu" Tips for Seniors

• Get the flu shot because it's free and covered by Medicare. People 65 and older have two flu shots available to choose from – a regular dose vaccine and a newer higher dose flu vaccine that results in a stronger immune response. Seniors should talk to their doctors to see if they're a good fit for this vaccine.
• Shorten the duration of symptoms by getting an anti viral medication within 48 hours.