Ann Caulkins and Gerald Johnson to speak at Johnson C. Smith University April 18th

Ann Caulkins, president and publisher of the Charlotte Observer and
Gerald Johnson, CEO and publisher of The Charlotte Post, will discuss
how the media influence elections and campaigns during a free public
lecture at 7 p.m. on April 18 at Biddle Hall on the Johnson C. Smith
University campus. The event is part of the university's Lyceum Series
"Democracy 2012: The Road to Charlotte."

Caulkins has worked at the Charlotte Observer since 2006. She was the
first woman president of The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. and
publisher for three years.

Johnson is CEO and Publisher of The Charlotte Post Publishing Company,
Inc. and Chairman of Consolidated Media Group. He is also president of
the Charlotte Post Foundation and a member of the American Leadership
Forum.

Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is the premier
independent urban liberal arts university located in the heart of
Charlotte, N.C. It offers a progressive liberal arts curriculum with
26 fields of study to more than 1,600 students. The University
prepares students for success through excellent academic programs with
a focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global
responsibility.

Premier Festivals Announce Summer Music Festivals in Charlotte and Myrtle Beach

Premier Festivals is pleased to announce the summer lineup of
festivals featuring some of the biggest acts in Christian and Gospel
music set in family-fun locations from the beach to amusement parks.
Festivals include Beach Blast, JoyFest, Rock the Park, Wonder Jam,
KingsFest, SpiritSong, HeartFest, and PointFest.

The 2012 festival season kicks off in May with Beach Blast in Myrtle
Beach, S.C. Fans have the opportunity to experience the live music
from all their favorite artists. Tickets are on sale now for the
festivals.

Date
Festival Location
May 19, 2012 Beach
Blast Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
May 26, 2012
JoyFest Charlotte, North Carolina
June 16, 2012 Rock the
Park Charlotte, North Carolina

To purchase tickets, please visit http://www.premierfestivals.com/all_events.php
. Early bird specials are available for some events.

Beach Blast takes place in downtown Myrtle Beach, S.C. featuring
tobyMac, Third Day, RED, Royal Tailor, Jamie Grace, along with emcee
KJ52 and speaker Nick Hall. Also, the freestyle stunt team Outcast BMX
will be performing.

JoyFest makes stops in Charlotte, N.C. at Carowinds – "Thrill Capital
of the Southeast" - amusement and water park and Doswell, Va. at Kings
Dominion – "Virginia's Premier Themed Amusement Park" the state's only
combination water and ride park. Artists on the lineup for one or both
stops include Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp, Lecrae, Martha
Munizzi, VaShawn Mitchell, William McDowell, Humble Tip and Bone
Hampton.

Rock the Park takes place at Carowinds amusement and water park in
Charlotte, N.C. featuring Third Day, Jeremy Camp, RED, Lecrae, Royal
Tailor, Jamie Grace, and guest speaker David Nasser.

Charlotte Regional Realtors Report Home Sales Increasing

The Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association reports on the residential
real estate market in this region based on Carolina Multiple Listing
Services, Inc. (CMLS) data. The number of closings for March 2012
(2,098) increased 10.4 percent compared to March 2011, when closings
totaled 1,900.

Both the average and median sales price showed positive increases. The
average sales price in March 2012 ($196,182) was up by 0.4 percent
compared to the same period last year ($195,336), and the median sales
price ($154,000), the best measure of trends over a period of time,
showed prices up by 3.5 percent compared to March 2011 when the median
sales price was $148,728.

The average list price in March 2012 ($265,741) increased 7.8 percent
when compared to the average list price for the same period last year
($246,520), bringing the percent of original list price received
measure to 91.3 percent as compared to 88.2 percent last March. March
2012 pending contracts totaled 2,309, an increase of 5.3 percent over
last March's pending contracts (2,193) for the CMLS region.

New residential listings in March 2012 totaled 4,736, down 9.1 percent
compared to the same period last year when new listings totaled 5,211.
Overall inventory continued its downward trend, down 20.8 percent
compared to March 2011, leaving the CMLS region with a 9.4 months
supply of homes for sale as compared to 13 months supply during the
same time last year. The average number of days a property was on the
market from the time it was listed until it closed (list to close)
totaled 150, which is a decrease of six days when compared to last
March when the list to close count totaled 156 days.

The share of new listings that were distressed in March was 12.4
percent, compared to 20.6 percent the previous year. 15.8 percent of
all closed sales in February were distressed, compared to 33.4 percent
in March 2011.

For more residential-housing market statistics, visit the
association's website at www.CarolinaHome.com and click on "Community
Data." For an interview with 2012 association/CMLS President Jennifer
Frontera, please contact Kim Walker.

The Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association is a trade association
that leads, educates and equips members to be productive. It provides
more than 6,600 Realtor® members with the resources and services
needed to conduct ethical, professional, successful and profitable
businesses. The association is dedicated to being the region's primary
resource for residential real estate information. The association
operates the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CMLS), which
has approximately 7,200 Subscribers and is the private cooperative
Realtors® use for access to tens of thousands of residential listings
in a 10-county service area, including the high-growth Charlotte area,
as well as listings outside this service area.

The Zucchini 500 Returns to Kannapolis April 21

The City of Kannapolis is preparing for the return of the Zucchini
500, the event that gives kids a chance to "put the produce to the
metal" by building cars made out of vegetables and racing them on a 16-
foot track.

On Saturday, April 21, from 1:00-5:00 p.m., kids of all ages are
encouraged to head to 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart's race
shop to build their own pinewood derby-style race cars. The "souped-
up" zucchini cars will be competing for titles like "Fastest Car" and
"Most Nutritious". Winners will receive prizes like Stewart Haas
items, racing tickets, and Gem Theatre tickets.

The event, which will be held at Stewart-Haas Racing, located at 6001
Haas Way in Kannapolis, is being offered this year as part of the
upcoming NC Science Festival, a multi-day celebration highlighting the
educational, cultural and financial impact of science in the state.

Children are encouraged to register and build cars in advance, though
a limited number of zucchinis and other "car parts" will be available
for those who wish to build their cars on the day of the race.

The Zucchini 500 began in 2009, and has since become a favorite
tradition of the City. Participants can view event details, including
a complete schedule, prize descriptions, registration instructions and
rules, at www.cityofkannapolis.com/zucchini-500. Kids can get
inspiration from photos of past zucchini cars on the website as well.

A celebration of motorsports and healthy living, the Zucchini 500
proves that sometimes it is OK to play with your food.

The Great Charlotte Clean-Up Planned

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has proclaimed April 27-29, 2012 to be
"The Great Charlotte Clean-Up" weekend. Each year, Keep Charlotte
Beautiful (KCB), one of the nation's first Keep America Beautiful
affiliates, participates in the Keep America Beautiful, Great American
Clean-Up by hosting a local clean-up. This clean-up effort is the
nation's largest community improvement program, built on a foundation
of individual responsibility and civic pride.

This year's Great Charlotte Clean-Up will take place April 27th-29th.
All neighborhoods, businesses and individuals are encouraged to take
part in a clean-up during the weekend or can get involved by signing
up to volunteer to help with a clean-up project. Citizens can register
a clean-up or sign up to volunteer at http://kcb.charmeck.org.

So far, 40 clean-ups have been registered to take place in Charlotte
over the course of the weekend with 485 volunteers participating.

Keep Charlotte Beautiful Chairman, Bruce Hammermann, comments, "The
KCB Committee is very excited about the impact we will be making in
the community this month and have been amazed to see the number of
neighborhoods, businesses and individuals who have stepped up to get
involved. This year's Great Charlotte Clean-Up Weekend will be the
biggest and best in the history of our Committee.

For more information about Keep Charlotte Beautiful and The Great
Charlotte Clean-Up, visit: http://kcb.charmeck.org.

Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB) was founded in 1974 and is one of the
nation's first Keep America Beautiful affiliates. KCB's objective is
to enhance the quality of life for Charlotteans by maintaining and
improving the cleanliness and beauty of our City. The Committee works
closely with neighborhood organizations and homeowners' groups, as
well as with area businesses, schools and local governments to achieve
its goals.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education announces three finalists for superintendency

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education has announced the three
finalists for the superintendency. They are:

• Kriner Cash, currently serving as superintendent of Memphis City
Schools.
• Ann Clark, currently serving as chief academic officer of Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools.
• Heath Morrison, currently superintendent in Washoe County School
District in Reno, Nevada.

The candidates will participate in public forums and school visits on
April 11-12.

Desserts needed to feed homeless men and women for Easter

The Charlotte Rescue Mission opens its doors, every year, on Easter to
all those seeking food, comfort and hope. In addition to a great
holiday meal, the Rescue Mission is collecting cakes, pies, cookies
and other sweet treats for its annual Easter dessert drive.
"We want everyone who comes to the Rescue Mission on Easter to receive
a real taste of home," says Rev. Tony Marciano, Executive Director of
the Charlotte Rescue Mission. "There is just something special about a
homemade dessert that makes you feel welcomed and loved."

The Charlotte Rescue Mission served over 1,000 meals last Easter and
hopes to feed even more this year. Fresh desserts can be dropped off
at the Charlotte Rescue Mission, two the days before Easter. The
Rescue Mission is located at Cedar and West First Street, diagonally
opposite the Panthers Practice Fields.

Who: Charlotte Rescue Mission
What: Desserts needed to feed homeless and community guests
on Easter Sunday.
When: Campaign dates: April 6, 2012 - April 7, 2012
Where: Drop off desserts at the Charlotte Rescue Mission -
907 West 1st Street (Diagonally opposite the Carolina Panthers
practice fields). Enter through the glass doors at the 2nd building
on the left.

About Charlotte Rescue Mission

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 predominately homeless.

Charlotte Rescue Mission main phone number: 704.333.HOPE

Front Porch Ice Cream Now Available at Lowe's Foods, Food Lion, Ingles Markets and BI-LO

Mooresville Ice Cream Company announces its new Southern style ice
cream, Front Porch, is now available at Lowe's Foods, Food Lion,
Ingles Markets and BI-LOs throughout North and South Carolina.
"The demand for Front Porch has been amazing, and we're only months
into the launch," said Robert Acree, Mooresville Ice Cream Co.'s
general manager. "I can't tell you how happy we are that our down-home
styled flavors are now even more readily available to our rapidly
growing customer base."
Front Porch is a new line of ice cream from the Mooresville Ice Cream
Company that has been producing high quality, down-home ice cream in
North Carolina for 88 years. The line features uniquely crafted
Southern flavors in homespun flavors: Sweetie Tea, Blackberry Crumble,
Nana's Banana Pudding, Lemony Sunshine, Chocolate Rocker, Scarlett Red
Velvet, Sassy Strawberry, Peachy Keen, Sublime Key Lime, Black Cherry
Twilight, Homestyle Butter Pecan, Praline Costal Crunch, Dreamy
Vanilla Cream and Mountain Mint Chip.
Front Porch Ice Cream is also available at its authentic ice cream
parlor located at the original creamery in downtown Mooresville, which
is still fully operational today. A newly renovated and expanded
parlor will open at the site this spring.
About Mooresville Ice Cream Company, LLC:
Mooresville Ice Cream Company, LLC, maker of Front Porch Carolina
Churned Ice Cream, has been using the freshest and highest-quality
ingredients to produce premium ice cream since 1924. Founded by B.A.
Troutman and R.C. Millsaps in Mooresville, N.C., this family-owned
business focuses on producing exceptional, hand-crafted ice cream. Its
latest brand, Front Porch Carolina Churned Ice Cream, offers flavors
inspired by memories of Southern summer nights rocking on the front
porch, including Sweetie Tea, Scarlett Red Velvet and Nana's Banana
Pudding. It will be available in Carolina grocery stores in February,
2012. For additional information, please visit www.enjoyfrontporch.com.

April 11 Charlotte area community conversation to focus on Trayvon Martin shooting

"Can We Talk About Trayvon Martin? Why Is What Happened So
Disturbing?" Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations, the Community
Building Initiative and Mecklenburg Ministries will co-host a
community conversation on the February 26 shooting in Florida of 17-
year-old Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watch volunteer George
Zimmerman.

WHERE: Little Rock AME Zion Church, 401 North McDowell Street
WHEN: Wednesday, April 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

WHY: The Martin shooting has generated important questions about race,
gun rights and the criminal justice system. "We believe it is
important for our community to make time for a fair and safe
conversation about this incident," said Community Relations Executive
Director Willie Ratchford. "While some people consider it a terrible
injustice, others perceive it to be a rush to judgment ."

CMS Superintendent candidates to visit Charlotte

Three finalists for the superintendency of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools will visit the district April 11-12 to meet with the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Board of Education, CMS staff and the community.

The finalists, whose names will be disclosed on April 9, will meet
with principals and staff, and tour schools the morning of April 11.
Public meetings have been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon around
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, concluding with a meeting at
Northwest School of the Arts for parents, students and staff. Media
interviews with each candidate have also been scheduled that afternoon.

"A quality public education is the bedrock of a thriving community.
Education is an economic driver that is the key to Mecklenburg
County's continued prosperity. A great public school system is led by
a leader with vision and commitment to the success of the next
generation. Our next superintendent will be the board and the
community's partner in producing graduates who are career and college
ready," said Ericka Ellis-Stewart, who chairs the nine-member Board of
Education. "We want everyone – the public, our families and our
employees – to take part in this critical part of the search process,
so we are making the candidates available in a variety of locations
and forums."

The candidates will meet with principals, CMS staff and students
during visits to Mallard Creek High, Sedgefield Middle and Nathaniel
Alexander Elementary between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April
11. These sessions are not open to the public or the media.

On the afternoon of April 11, each finalist will attend one session at
each of four sites (see link for details) to answer questions during
panel discussions. The panels will be made up of community members
chosen by the Board of Education. Panelists will submit their own
questions and also ask those supplied by the public. The public can
submit questions by sending a direct message to @CMS_Schools on
Twitter, or by sending a message to Facebook.com/
CharlotteMecklenburgSchools. The deadline for submitting questions is
noon on April 10. Community members can also check for updates that
will be tweeted live on April 11 throughout the day by following the
hashtag #CMSSuptSearch.

The panel-discussion sessions will be held from 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m., 2:45
p.m. to 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal
Church (parish hall), the meeting chamber in the Government Center and
Francis Auditorium in the main library on Sixth Street. The last
session, which will include all three candidates, will be held at
Northwest School of the Arts from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To see the
complete schedule, click here.

Media interviews with each candidate will be scheduled at 12:45 p.m.,
2:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. in room CH 18 at the Government Center.

On Thursday, April 12, the candidates will participate in their last
school tours and meeting with CMS principals in the morning before
attending an invitation-only lunch with area education officials and
elected representatives. After lunch, the Board of Education will
conduct interviews with each candidate in closed sessions. There will
be no media opportunities on April 12.

The Board of Education is expected to announce the new superintendent
by early May.