Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte to Launch Urban Sip Wine Bar, City's Largest By-the-Glass Menu

Presenting more than 90 wines and 35 single malt Scotches by the
glass, Urban Sip at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is scheduled to open
on December 29 as the Southeast's most comprehensive fine beverage
experience.

Presenting an unmatched by-the-glass list of Cabernet wines and the
city's most noteworthy selection of California vintages by the bottle
and by the glass, Urban Sip also will be the only hotel wine bar in
the Carolinas to make available single glasses of Far Niente
Chardonnay, Cakebread Chardonnay and Dom Prignon Champagne, all
accessible in a single experience, and all presented in a contemporary
setting offering spectacular urban views. Additionally, Urban Sip
will offer the highly-demanded Opus One and Quintessa by the glass,
along with ten specially-designed flights of three wines each,
presented in Riedel stemware.

For guests wishing to savor fine and rare Scotch whiskeys, Urban Sip
will pour single-malts from six different regions of Scotland,
including Highland, Lowland, Islay, Isle of Skye, Isle of Jura and
Orkney Islands. Featured labels are set to include Macallan 25 Year,
Glenlivet 25 Year and Johnny Walker Blue Label Scotch, complemented by
fine cognacs such as Hennessey Paradis and Rmy Martin Louis XIII, and
by several renowned whiskeys including Crown Royal Reserve and
Blanton's Single Barrel.

"Urban Sip has been designed to revolutionize the wine and Scotch
experience for this region, and many of the wines we have selected
have never been poured by the glass in Charlotte," said David
Rothwell, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. "With fine
beverage tasting a growing trend, and wines-by-the-glass increasingly
demanded among wine aficionados and newcomers alike, we are excited to
introduce this transformative new tasting experience to guests and the
public."

Urban Sip will complement its wine and Scotch menus with a premium
array of 21 cult and artisanal cheeses from seven different
categories, including such blues as Ba Ba Blue, several premium French
mountain cheeses, hard cheeses such as Utah's Sea Hive, which is hand-
rubbed with local wildflower honey and Redmond Real Salt, and a
selection of North Carolina cheeses to include Bloomin' Sweet Ash from
Hillsborough, Carolina Moon from Chapel Hill, and Silk Hope from Siler
City.

Urban Sip is scheduled to begin operations on December 29, 2010 and
will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5 to 11 p.m. Located on
the 15thfloor of the AAA Five-Diamond
Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, Urban Sip offers the quintessential new
lounging and tasting environment, blending wine, food and style in a
contemporary but comfortable and relaxed urban setting, and offering
complimentary valet parking and by-the-glass wine prices ranging from
$9 to $39.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is located at 201 East Trade Street in the
heart of the city's most popular business, sports, dining and
sightseeing district. For details and reservations, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com/charlotte
, call 1.800.241.333 or contact a travel professional. The AAA Five
Diamond-rated Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte hotel is located at the
intersection of College and Trade Streets in uptown Charlotte and may
be contacted directly at 704.547.2244.

CMPD Releases Photos of Hit and Run suspect vehicle

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Major Crash
Investigation Unit is looking for a two-tone (dark blue over a lighter
color) Ford F-150 pickup truck in connection to a fatal hit and run
collision on November 28, 2010 at 5:19 am. The suspect vehicle struck
a pedestrian in the 4200 block of Brookshire Boulevard and continued
outbound until it turned left onto S. Hoskins Road. The truck will
have damage to the front grill (honeycomb style) and tinted bug
guard. Anyone with information about this incident can call a
detective at 704-432-2169 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Reedy Creek Hosts Fourth Annual Holiday Open House

Reedy Creek Nature Center invites the public to the fourth annual
Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 4, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The FREE celebration will feature great environmentally-friendly gift
ideas , puppets and children's stories with the University Library,
crafts, activities, naturalist-led hikes and, of course, Santa.

Enjoy FREE coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies while they
last. Weather permitting, there will be a fire and marshmallow roast
at the outdoor amphitheater which includes a fire ring. The
celebration will conclude at 2 p.m. with naturalist-led hikes through
the Nature Preserve.

Reedy Creek Nature Center serves as the gateway to the Nature
Preserve. The Reedy Creek Nature Preserve protects over 736 acres of
natural, forested habitats. Preserve trails pass by mixed pine and
hardwood forests, open fields, lakes and streams. A variety of free
and low cost public programming, from children's birthday parties and
summer camps to natural and cultural history hikes, and special events
are offered.

For more information contact Reedy Creek Nature Center 704-598-8857.

Noted Jazz Artist-Alumnus Performs at Davidson College December 4

The Davidson College music department invites the public to a full day
of musical events featuring noted jazz pianist Harry Pickens on
Saturday, December 4.

Pickens, a 1981 Davidson alumnus who lives in Louisville, Ky., has
collaborated withmany noted jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie,
Freddie, Hubbard and Milt Jackson. He has issued three CDs in a career
that has included concerts in 17 countries around the world. Pickens
is shown in the photo, seated, with Davidson music professor Bill
Lawing, standing.

There is no charge to attend any of the events, all of which will take
place in Tyler-Tallman Hall of the Sloan Music Center. The day will
begin at 11 a.m.with Pickens leading a master class and conversation
titled "From Stage Fright to Standing Ovation."

At 2 p.m. Pickens will conduct an open rehearsal with the Davidson
College Jazz Ensemble. At 4 p.m. he will lead another master class and
conversation titled "Power Practice: How to Get the Most Out of Every
Minute of Your Practice Time."

The residency will conclude with a 7:30 p.m. formal concert with
Pickens and the Davidson College Jazz Ensemble during which hewill
perform some of his original compositions. His work reflects his study
of diverse musical backgrounds, which include classical, jazz,
popular, and world music genres. Pickens is also noted for directing
his musical talent into works that increase awareness of social issues
and into works that help listeners connect with the divine.

He has served as worship leader and musical director for many national
and regional spiritual conferences and gatherings, and has composed
theme songs for the Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference, Kentucky
Developmental Education Association, and the Center For Interfaith
Relations. He has also created and staged community-wide celebrations
that tap the power of the arts to inspire positive social change.

Pickens is the composer of more than 40 songs that will be included in
the "Sing The World To Peace"™ songbook, scheduled for publication
soon. He has produced three CDs of his music.

For more information about the concert at Davidson, call the music
department at 704-894-2848.

Charlotte Area Resident Wins Big Prize from Jack in the Box

It took three weeks, more than 170,000 mouse clicks and possibly the
most new fans ever in 21 days, but Jack has finally met his new
biggest fan: David Hughes, from Hickory, North Carolina. Jack in the
Box® restaurants and its creative agency, Secret Weapon Marketing,
have announced that Hughes is the winner of the "Be a Rich Fan"
competition, awarding him with more than $11,500 in nickels.

Hughes was randomly selected among thousands of Facebook users who
were already fans of Jack's or became a fan of Jack's during the month
of October. For each existing and new Facebook fan, Jack made a
nickel donation into a money jar, displayed and updated in real time
on his fan page. Jack now has more than 283,000 fans, and showed a
280% increase in fans throughout the campaign in October.

"Be a Rich Fan" was one of the latest initiatives in a series of multi-
channel advertising campaigns from Secret Weapon reaching Jack's young
fans and cultivating relationships with a wider audience. Ever
grateful for the outpouring of support after his bus accident on Super
Bowl Sunday in 2009, Jack has fully resumed his responsibilities as
CEO and "Be a Rich Fan" was a way to show appreciation for his growing
fanbase around the country.

"While this was a campaign to celebrate Jack's popularity and share
some of his wealth, Mr. Hughes definitely showed the most potential as
a best buddy for Jack," said Dick Sittig, Founder & Creative Director
of Secret Weapon, which has handled Jack's marketing efforts for the
last 15 years.

Secret Weapon and Jack are continually working on Jack's acts of
philanthropy, most recently rewarding America with free tacos on
Tuesday, November 16th. If you haven't already, watch the "Dentist"
spot, where Jack makes the free taco offer under the influence of
laughing gas:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2oJCtU9lc&feature=
player_embedded.

For more information on what Jack is up to, visit www.facebook.com
(search "Jack in the Box") or www.jackinthebox.com. For additional
information on award-winning creative agency, Secret Weapon Marketing,
visit www.secretweapon.net.

Bank of America Introduces Online Car Buying Center

Bank of America has introduced the Car Buying Center, a unique online
resource designed to make shopping for a new or used car easier for
consumers. By using the site (www.bankofamerica.com/carbuyingcenter),
consumers can take advantage of Bank of America's car buying power as
a leading auto financier and benefit from the low price guarantee on
new cars purchased through the site. This new online research and
purchase tool is powered by Zag, a division of TrueCar Inc. and a
leading provider of private-label online and mobile car buying programs.

"Bank of America is committed to developing innovative products and
services that meet our customer's changing needs," said Ellie Clarke,
president, Bank of America Dealer Financial Services. "We're listening
to our customers and understand they are looking for an easy and
convenient way to shop online for a vehicle. At our online Car Buying
Center, you can compare prices, see photos and read user reviews,
customize your options, get a low price guarantee from certified
dealers, and apply for a loan on a new or used car. It's all in one
place."

Car Buying Center enhances the car buying experience for customers by
making it easy to research inventory and get:

• A competitive, upfront price in writing, which will be honored by
Bank of America certified dealers.
• The ability to lock in a haggle-free price with a local Bank of
America certified dealer while online.
• Average savings of $4,356* off MSRP (Note:Prices vary by area.
Savings are based on actual customer transactions reported by Zag as
of October 1).
• The ability to apply for a loan to finance a new or used car
purchase.

Car Buying Center connects consumers with over 4,000 Bank of America
certified dealers across the country who are committed to upfront,
haggle-free pricing and the bank's standard of excellent customer
service. Customers can then benefit from Bank of America auto
financing, which provides clear and easy-to-understand terms and
conditions at attractive rates.

For more information, visit www.bankofamerica.com/carbuyingcenter.

Mecklenburg County Announces Closings for Thanksgiving Day

Mecklenburg County government offices and agencies will be closed on
Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26, 2010 for the
Thanksgiving holiday. This includes all units of the Department of
Social Services, the Tax Office, Elections Office, the Register of
Deeds Office, and the Land Use and Environmental Services Office.

Mecklenburg County Substance Abuse Center (Detox) is open 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.

The Department of Social Services Care Line (704-336-CARE or
704-336-2773) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive
reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or
disabled adults.

The Health Department will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and
Friday, November 26.

The Main Library and all library branches will close at 6 p.m. on
Wednesday, November 24 and remain closed all day on Thanksgiving.

All Solid Waste administrative offices and the Foxhole landfill will
be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26.
Staffed recycling centers and Compost Central will be closed on
Thursday, November 25 and reopen on a normal schedule on Friday,
November 26.

Park and Recreation administrative offices, recreation centers and
nature centers will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2010.
Administrative offices and recreation centers only will remain closed
on Friday, November 26, 2010.

As a reminder, CharMeck 311 remains open and available to the public
on holidays and weekends.

CHS to provide athletic trainers for all CMS high schools

Certified athletic trainers will be placed in all Charlotte-
Mecklenburg (CMS) high schools over the next five years under an
agreement announced today between CMS and Carolinas HealthCare System
(CHS).

The athletic trainers, who will be CHS employees, will be nationally
certified and state licensed, and will direct efforts to protect the
health and safety of student athletes in all sports. The action
follows growing concern nationwide about athletic injuries, especially
concussions sustained by football players and sudden cardiac deaths.

"This is a remarkable opportunity for us to ensure that our student-
athletes are receiving the best care while they take part in sports,"
said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, superintendent of CMS. "We are very
fortunate to have Carolinas Medical Center and Carolinas Healthcare
Systems as partners, and we thank them for helping us keep athletics
safe for participants."

CMS high schools that have received a certified athletic trainer this
year are South Mecklenburg, Berry Academy and East Mecklenburg.
Additional trainers will be added each year until 2015, when all CMS
high schools will have one.

Dennis Phillips, executive vice president-metro group of CHS, said the
agreement builds on a 17-year relationship with CMS that has provided
comprehensive sports medicine services to the schools.

"Our partnership to date has produced a number of unique efforts to
safeguard CMS student athletes, including the highly successful Heart
of a Champion Day and our ongoing study and treatment of concussions,"
Phillips said. "This agreement will better structure our relationship
and result in an expansion of services available to students."

Heart of a Champion Day, begun in 2008, screens more than 1,000 CMS
student athletes annually. The free screenings include a general
medical evaluation, orthopedic exam and two heart tests to check for
conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac death.

CHS' Sports Medicine Department and Carolinas Rehabilitation jointly
operate the Carolinas Concussion Network, which monitors brain
injuries, provides treatment and tests athletes before they are
allowed to resume competition.

Concussion Network programs include a research study using wireless
sensors in football helmets that record the force of impacts during
football games. The data is transmitted to a sideline computer in
real time. Also, athletes in all sports who have sustained a
concussion are given a computer-based test that measures cognitive
function before being cleared to play.

Among the new features that will be added under the CMS/CHS agreement
are dietary and health and wellness programs, CPR and Automated
External Defibrillator training, a 24-hour sports medicine nurse
hotline, sports medicine web site and a quarterly newsletter.

Certified athletic trainers hold a bachelor's or master's degree with
a major in athletic training and are focused on injury prevention,
assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. They are required to pursue
continuing education to retain their certification (ATC or Athletic
Trainer-Certified), which is awarded by the Board of Certification, Inc.

Athletic trainers practicing in North Carolina are also licensed by
the North Carolina Board of Athletic Trainer Examiners (NCBATE).

Charlotte School Nurses Urge Vaccination Against Meningitis

The School Nurses Association of North Carolina (SNANC) is urging all
Charlotte parents to have their preteen and teenage children
vaccinated against meningococcal disease now that school is back in
session. Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious bacterial
infection that can cause meningitis and take the life of a child in
just a single day.

Public health officials recommend meningococcal vaccination for
preteens and teens; however, a recent Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) survey found that in North Carolina, less than half
of adolescents 13 through 17 years of age have been vaccinated against
the disease. This is far below the CDC's goal of a 90 percent
vaccination rate by the end of 2010.

School nurses in North Carolina have joined the Voices of Meningitis
campaign to reach parents of preteens and teens about the importance
of meningitis vaccination now that school is back in session. Every
health-care visit is an opportunity to discuss meningitis vaccination.

Voices of Meningitis is a public education initiative that brings
together school nurses, parents, survivors of the disease and public
health officials nationwide to share their experiences to help educate
families with preteen and teenage children about prevention. Voices
of Meningitis is a program of the National Association of School
Nurses in collaboration with sanofi pasteur.

Preteens and teens are at greater risk for getting meningitis and are
more likely to die compared with other age groups. Of those who
survive, up to one in five is left with serious medical problems,
including amputation of limbs, brain damage, deafness and other organ
damage.

Everyday activities like spending long periods of time in large groups
or sharing water bottles during sports practices can put even healthy
kids at increased risk for the disease.

Vaccination has been available for years and is a safe and effective
way to help protect against meningitis.

Detectives capture suspects in night club shooting death

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit Detectives are
conducting a homicide investigation into a shooting death at the
Silver Fox club, 3935 Statesville Avenue. The victim was identified as
Juquina Harris, age 28.

Metro Division officers responded to a call for service which came in
as a shooting in the parking lot of club Silver Fox. When officers
arrived on scene, they found a female lying on the ground outside the
club suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was
pronounced deceased on scene by Medic at 2:13 a.m. Initial statements
from witnesses in the parking lot area are that several subjects were
involved in a physical altercation in the parking lot near the
entrance to the club. Shortly after the fight began, one of these
subjects pulled a handgun and multiple shots were fired in the parking
lot.

Witnesses on scene stated that a green sedan left the parking lot on
Statesville Avenue heading towards the city. At 2:13 a.m., Providence
Division officers were dispatched to a call which came in from
Carolinas Medical Center stating that a male subject who had been shot
was dropped off by at least one other subject in a green Pontiac four
door vehicle. Providence Division officers have detained at least one
subject who was with the shooting victim when he arrived at the
hospital. The vehicle in which they arrived has been secured and will
be processed by Crime Scene Search. Detectives are in the process of
determining whether or not the subjects who presented themselves to
CMC are related to the initial incident at club Silver Fox.

The tireless work of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide
Unit detectives led to charges being filed against two brothers for
the murder of Jaquina Harris. Earlier Friday, Elijah Akeem Ashford,
DOB: 07/16/1986, was arrested by the Violent Criminal Apprehension
Team shortly after being notified that a murder warrant had been
signed against him. Elijah Ashford was arrested without incident at
the intersection of Tappan Place and Academy Street; he is currently
at police headquarters. He will later be transported to the
Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, where he will remain in their
custody. At this stage of the investigation, it is believed that the
two subjects who arrived at CMC were bystanders and that one of the
subjects was struck by gunfire.

The Violent Criminal Apprehension Team subsequently arrested Aaron
Ashford (in photo) without incident, at 6602 Wisteria Drive, shortly
after 3:30 p.m., on Friday, November 19, 2010. VCAT worked quickly to
take both brothers into custody. From the time that VCAT began
working the cases until the arrests of both brothers were made, less
than a day had passed. Along with the tireless efforts of Homicide
Unit Detectives, this case was brought to a quick resolution.