The Pineville Pilot by Charlotte Media Group

Pineville-area students take it to the mat in weekly yoga program

Happy Holidays!

The Pineville Pilot staff reflects on their favorite Christmas memories

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Volume 2, Issue 10 • December 2014

Christmas comes to Pineville

Air Force veterans open fitness center in Pineville

Josh Whitener/Pilot photo

by Ryan Pitkin news@pinevillepilot.com

Pineville residents welcome the holiday season. See more on page 4.

A married couple who has served a combined 50 years in the Air Force recently landed in Pineville, planning to bring their passion for fitness to the community by opening a new gym in town. Michael and Susan Gilder signed the lease on a new Anytime Fitness location in the Perimeter Center South shopping center in August, and hope to open the doors to the new facility in mid-January. The couple had wanted to live in the Charlotte area since Michael retired from the United States Air Force earlier this year, following 29 years of service. The Gilders moved to Tega Cay, South Carolina, following his retirement and soon after decided Pineville would be the perfect place to open their new fitness franchise. “Pineville has the small-town feel, but you have the big city right next door. It’s unique,” Michael said. “You can get to the big city, but you still have that small-town feel where people know each other and feel comfortable talking to each other.” Multiple people in the areas have already welcomed them into town and told them how much their services are needed in the area, Susan said. (see Anytime Fitness on page 12)

Johnston Drive realignment coming soon? Council considers creating a new four-way intersection on Main Street

by Josh Whitener news@pinevillepilot.com

The Johnston Drive and Main Street intersection in downtown Pineville could eventually be history. The Pineville Town Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday, Dec. 9, meeting to team up with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to consider a plan that would eliminate the Johnston/Main intersection in exchange for a

new traffic pattern, which would create a new four-way intersection on Main Street. The project’s goal would be to mitigate traffic congestion generated by the Church/Main streets and Johnston Drive/Main Street intersections being in such close proximity to one another. Jonathan Guy of Kimley-Horn addressed the council at the meeting, highlighting three concepts for the realignment of Johnston Drive and their estimated construction costs. Town manager Haynes Brigman said in a memo to councilmembers the three options “all work efficiently for traffic flow now, and will all still be efficient for future growth out to 2025.”

The council ultimately chose “concept 3,” a plan that would reroute Johnston Drive by aligning it with Church Street and curving it around to meet Childers Lane. The concept, which would require $870,000 in construction costs, would allow for several different onstreet parking options, but also would require the acquisition and removal of the Maestro’s Bar and Bistro property, according to Brigman’s memo. The estimated costs do not include right of way or property acquisition. Guy said Kimley-Horn recommended concept 3 as the most viable option, taking into consideration overall traffic flow, functionality

and user familiarity with the traffic pattern. However, some attendees at the meeting voiced concerns about how the project would negatively affect Maestro’s and the parking area of the nearby store, Luna. Brigman assured attendees and councilmembers that voting to pursue concept 3 wouldn’t require the council to commit to that design, particularly if further research raised concerns about its feasibility. “The purpose of it is for us to get the No. 1 choice of the council, and then we’ll begin to have those discussions,” he said. “And if we realize that it’s just not financially feasible for (see Johnston Drive on page 5)

INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Scores, Home Sales, 8; Education, 14; Honor Rolls, 14; Faith, 16; Calendar, 17; Sports, 18

Thank You On behalf of the Staff of Pineville Communication Systems and Pineville Electric Company we would like to extend our thanks for the generous donations received which helped make our 1st annual holiday food drive a success. Because of your generosity our 2 collection barrels were both filled to the top with soup cans, pasta, beans, canned meats, sauces and other goods. The food that we collected was donated to Loaves and Fishes food pantry which feeds families who have fallen on hard times. This is especially important during the holiday season. We are proud to provide service to such a wonderful and giving community.

Warmest Regards & Happy New Year from Pineville Communication Systems and Pineville Electric Company.

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News

Fire departments honored for Polk site save by Courtney Schultz news@pinevillepilot.com

Leaders from the President James K. Polk Historic Site in Pineville recently honored firefighters from the four fire departments that quickly quenched the fire in one of the historic kitchen houses in early October. Firemen from the Pineville, Pleasant Valley, Carolina Volunteer and Flint Hill fire departments enjoyed a lunch donated by Firehouse Subs and desserts made by women who work in the historic site’s kitchen. “We wanted to honor them for what they did that night in saving our history,” said Scott Warren, the site manager. “Because of their quick response, they were able to save the lower floor (of the house), and almost all the artifacts were saved and the damage was only limited to the second floor. I think it definitely had to do with their quick response.” The Pineville Fire Department responded within four minutes to a call about the historic site’s fire on Oct. 9, and the other fire departments arrived shortly after to help.

news@pinevillepilot.com

“If they (hadn’t responded in that time), we could have lost the house, and the fire could have spread to the main house,” said Sharon Van Kuren, president of the Polk site’s support group. “What (they) did that night can only be measured in gratitude … we want (them) to know we support (them), we’re grateful for (them) because I know, as a fireman’s daughter, what (they) go through.” Both Van Kuren and Warren said the departments respected the delicate nature of the structure and its importance to North Carolina’s history. The Polk site, located at 12031 Lancaster Hwy. in Pineville, is North Carolina’s only connection to a U.S. president, said Keith Hardison, the director of North Carolina historic sites of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Hardison said fire is the cultural resource department’s worst fear because 128 of the buildings preserved at the state’s historic sites are wooden. The Polk site has particular significance to the area, Hardison added.

Firefighters from Pineville, Pleasant Valley, Carolina Volunteer and Flint Hill fire departments were honored at a luncheon for their work at the Polk Historic Site in early October. Assistant chief of the Pineville Fire Department Mike Gerin, far left, was first on the scene of the fire. Courtney Schultz/Pilot photo

“It’s the heart and the soul of Pineville and this community,” he said. “Before Pineville, there was the Polk farm. Pineville grew around the Polk farm.” Hardison presented the four departments with proclamations from N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory declaring a day of appreciation for the departments that saved the historic site. “You did the job – whether volunteer or paid,” Hardison said. “You saved the James K. Polk site.” Mike Gerin, assistant chief with

the Pineville Fire Department, was the first to arrive at the scene on Oct. 9 and was considered imperative to the site’s protection. “If anything good comes from this, it brought us all closer together,” Gerin said. “For (the site) to still be here, it means a lot to us.” Warren said he’s grateful for the Pineville Fire Department’s presence in the town and their support for the historic site. “We honor them for what they do for not only us, but the town of Pineville,” he said.

Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 3

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News

Christmas comes to Pineville Town celebrates the season with tree lighting by Josh Whitener news@pinevillepilot.com

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Pineville residents ushered in the Christmas season with the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, Dec. 6. The event included refreshments, karaoke, live entertainment and a visit from the Man in the Red Suit, who arrived on a fire truck just before the town’s Christmas tree was lit for the first time this year. Children had the opportunity to sing along with Christmas favorites and the ever-popular “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen,” have their face painted by Santa’s elf and visit Santa himself to share their Christmas wish lists. The winners of the Main Street Christmas Window Decorating Contest were announced during the event, with Christie’s On Main taking first place, followed by Two On Earth Bakery Café and Kiki’s Kottage, in second and third place, respectively.

Josh Whitener/Pilot photos

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When Comfort Matters 704-596-2525 www.andersenservices.com Page 4 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

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News

Pineville Parks and Recreation Winter Fun =fccfn lj fe ]XZ\Yffb The close proximity of the Johnston Drive/Main Street and Church/Main streets intersections is a source of traffic congestion for drivers in downtown Pineville. Josh Whitener/Pilot photo

Johnston Drive (continued from page 1)

us to acquire the right of ways necessary for concept 3, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make a shift.â&#x20AC;? Town staff and the council also plan to work closely with downtown merchants to gauge their input and concerns about how the realignment plan would affect their businesses. With concept 3 being the second-most expensive of the three options, Mayor Jack Edwards was quick to point out the council should be less concerned with costs and more concerned with how each design would fare years down the road. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not time to be cheap now, because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking ahead 25 years,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. Concept 1, Kimley-Hornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-choice recommendation, would utilize a four-way stop for the new connector road that would lead from the Church/Main Street intersection to Childers Lane and Johnston Drive. The

concept would be the least expensive option, at about $836,000, because there is less land to acquire for the new roadway. The option would not affect Maestroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property, according to Brigmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memo. Concept 2 would utilize a traffic circle, or roundabout, instead of a four-way stop at the new connector road, which would meet Childers Lane and Johnston Drive. At nearly $1 million, the option would be the most expensive choice because of the amount of land the town would have to acquire, including the acquisition and removal of Maestroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property. Mayor Pro Tem Melissa Rogers Davis was opposed to concept 2, citing the roundabout as a deal-breaker. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have one in town, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gathered from people all over that they do not (like it). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small, not constructed very wellâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not in favor of the roundabout.â&#x20AC;? Contact town hall at 704-889-2291 for more information about the plans.

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news@pinevillepilot.com

Pineville Pilot â&#x20AC;˘ December 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 5

News

Community starts with neighbors who care.

That’s what our town is made of. State Farm has a long heritage of helping out in the community. That’s why I’m proud to support our local South Meck High School and all the Winter Sports Athletes…Go Sabres!!

Get to a better State®

The Pineville Pilot

News Briefs Town approves Parks and Recreation master plan The Pineville Town Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday, Dec. 9, meeting to approve a master plan for the town’s parks and recreation department. The plan had been in the works for nearly two years, councilmembers and Parks and Recreation director Kristy Detwiler said at the meeting. The plan outlines the vision and goals the department has for the future, including parks, amenities, facilities and more. The purpose of the plan, councilmembers and Detwiler said, is to provide a “road map” to direct the council and town staff as they move forward with parks and recreation projects. Councilmember Les Gladden also pointed out that having a master plan in place would make it easier for the town to apply for and receive grants for certain projects. Residents can pick up a copy of the master plan at town hall, located at 200 Dover St.

Town sets dates for 2015 meetings

Pineville recently announced its schedule for town meetings in 2015. Pineville Town Council meetings in 2015 are scheduled for: Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8. Council meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, unless determined otherwise by councilmembers. Meetings take place at The Hut, located at 413 Johnston Drive.

NCDOT to replace Polk Street bridge

Darin “Mort” Morton, Agent 618 Main Street Pineville, NC 28134 Bus: 704-889-3030 mortmorton.com

The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to replace a dual-lane bridge on South Polk Street, near Little Sugar Creek and the entrance to the Landmark at Chesterfield apartments. When the project was first planned in 2011, the only request Pineville made to the NCDOT was that the new bridge include sidewalk passages. As a result, the NCDOT requested the town cover 20 percent of the

costs of the sidewalks, with the NCDOT covering the other 80 percent. The Pineville Town Council unanimously voted at its Tuesday, Dec. 9, meeting to uphold its agreement to contribute 20 percent of the funds needed to build the sidewalks. The town will pay $4,301 for the project, likely using Powell Bill funds. The bridge will remain a two-lane bridge and is scheduled to be replaced in late spring or early summer 2015.

Two public hearings set for January council meeting Pineville residents will have the chance to comment and ask questions during two public hearings at the Pineville Town Council’s next meeting, slated for Jan. 13, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. The first issue, discussed during the council’s November meeting, is a code amendment addressing the discharge of weapons. The proposed amendment would explicitly prohibit people from discharging “any bow, compound bow, cross bow or any other similar weapon within 300 feet of any occupied structure, public roadway, sidewalk, park, church, school or other areas frequented by the public,” according to a memo town manager Haynes Brigman provided councilmembers. The text amendment states the discharge of such weapons will only be allowed on private property with proper approval from the property owner, unless otherwise approved by the town. The second public hearing concerns a resolution of intent to change the town charter to allow councilmembers to serve four-year staggered terms. The purpose behind the change is to adapt to how the majority of towns similar to Pineville operate, Brigman said at the town’s Tuesday, Dec. 9, meeting. Terms would be staggered, with two councilmember seats up for election every two years, to avoid ousting the majority of the council in a single election. If the change is approved, the town would begin implementing the policy by allowing the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the 2015 election to be the first councilmembers to serve four-year terms. The term for Pineville’s mayor would remain at two years. The public hearings and council meeting will take place at The Hut, located at 413 Johnston Drive.

State Farm, Bloomington, IL Page 6 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

Dr. Amir Marashi and the staff of the Pineville-based Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery recently earned accreditation from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities for their second site, located in Steele Creek. The Pineville site of Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery was the company’s first surgical facility to receive AAAASF accreditation, with the Steele Creek site following in the Pineville location’s footsteps, according to a news release. “We understand that patients want to find a surgical team that they feel comfortable with and that they trust to provide exceptional care,” Marashi said in the release. “We felt that achieving accreditation for both our Pineville and Steele Creek offices would give patients added confidence in our care, and help them feel more at ease when choosing our practice for their oral and maxillofacial surgery needs.” The AAAASF aims to improve the quality of medical and surgical care in ambulatory surgery facilities by providing the highest level of patient care and safety, according to the release. The release called the process of earning AAAASF accreditation “rigorous.” In order to be an AAAASF-accredited facility, Marashi is required to hold hospital privileges for any procedure that is performed; use anesthesia professionals for deeper levels of anesthesia; maintain a safe surgical environment, equipment, personnel and surgeon credentials through specific standards; maintain the same standards as hospital operating rooms; and undergo “rigorous” peer review and data tracking. The practice’s Pineville site is located at 10035 Park Cedar Drive, suite 300.

Holiday government office closings Pineville government offices will be closed Dec. 24 to 26, Wednesday to Friday, for the Christmas holiday. Offices will resume normal hours of operation on Dec. 29, a Monday. Government offices in Pineville will close again on Jan. 1, 2015, a Thursday, for New Year’s Day. Offices will resume normal hours of operation on Jan. 2, a Friday.

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The Pineville Pilot

Crime Blotter The following people were arrested in Pineville between Nov. 11 and Dec. 7, according to the Pineville Police Department: • Bill Cole McGuirt III, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Possession of marijuana. Nov. 11 • Timothy Lamar, N.C. Highway 51, no address listed: Possession of marijuana. Nov. 11 • Timothy Fitzgerald Nelson, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny; resisting/ obstructing/delaying arrest. Nov. 11 • Brandon Michael Porrata, 1000 block of Johnston Road: Communicating threats. Nov. 13 • Margaret Kelly Hedrick, 10100 block of Johnston Road: Unlawful concealment. Nov. 13 • De’Ja Simone Ramsey, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 14 • James Andrew Dibella, 100 block of North Polk Street: Driving while impaired; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 15 • Janet Marie Dorow, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Unlawful concealment. Nov. 15 • Phillip Anthony Spivey, 11300 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Speeding; driving while license revoked. Nov. 15 • Corinne Alexandra Bourgeois, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 15 • Kristen Morrow Anthony, 950 block of North Polk Street: Drug violations; possession of drug paraphernalia; simple possession of marijuana. Nov. 16 • William Preston Knoles, 9100 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Resisting arrest. Nov. 16 • John Hutchins Wheless, 9100 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Driving while impaired. Nov. 16 • Christie Anna Huckabee, PinevilleMatthews Road, address not listed: Trespassing. Nov. 16 • Johnathan Artaitana Kitchens, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Unlawful concealment. Nov. 17 • Cynthia Jasmine Diaz, Intersection of Pineville-Matthews Road and Centrum Parkway: Possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 18 • Pattie Imelda Grant, 200 block of North Polk Street: Possession of Schedule II drug; drug violations; fictitious plate; possession of drug paraphernalia; driving while license revoked. Nov. 18 • Tyrisha Joynisha-Angie Dixon, Interstate 485 inner loop: Felony shoplifting; possessing/ concealing stolen property. Nov. 18 • Willie Romaine Thompson Jr., Interstate 485 inner loop: Possessing/concealing stolen property; driving while license revoked. Nov. 18 news@pinevillepilot.com

• Benjamin Steven Catoe, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 18 • Nathaniel David Young, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 18 • Adam Alston Varney, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 18 • Michael Shane Moratti, 1100 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 19 • Richard Tylear Basch, 1100 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 19 • Cassandra Newman, Pineville-Matthews Road, address not listed: Drug violations; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 20 • Oscar Leonel Sanchez, 1100 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Possession of drug paraphernalia; drug violations. Nov. 20 • Mareta W. Tsegay, 8700 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Drunk and disruptive; resisting officer. Nov. 21 • Rana Fadl, 8700 block of PinevilleMatthews Road: Drunk and disruptive; resisting officer. Nov. 21 • Dequilar Thomas Moore III, CiCi’s Pizza, 10707 Park Road: Failure to heed lights and siren; no operator’s license; speeding; flee to elude arrest; parole and probation violations. Nov. 21 • Alonzo Cedric Parker, 9400 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 21 • Brandon Jaquan Jones, 9400 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Resist/delay/obstruct arrest. Nov. 21 • Kyle Mason Evans, 10200 block of Feldfarm Lane: Possession of drug paraphernalia; drug violations. Nov. 22 • Ricardo Rodriguez, 10200 block of Feldfarm Lane: Possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 22 • Stephonia Santoine Bowden, Interstate 485 near intersection of South Boulevard: Drug violations; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 22 • Travis Donelle Glenn, Toys-R-Us, 11300 Carolina Place Pkwy.: Fraud. Nov. 23 • Markisha Antoinette Littlejohn, ToysR-Us, 11300 Carolina Place Pkwy.: Fraud. Nov. 23 • Mary Janette McWaters, 100 block of Reid Lane: Simple physical assault. Nov. 24 • Patrick Stephen Massa, 100 block of Reid Lane: Assault on a female. Nov. 24 • Alicia Michelle Rochester, 10900 block of Park Road: Possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 25 • James Elliott McAuliffe, 10900 block of Park Road: Possession/concealing weapons. Nov. 25 • Larry Kishawn Green, Family Dollar, 8500 Pineville-Matthews Road: Escape from

custody; resisting arrest; warrant for arrest. Nov. 25 • Jaleel Graves, Belk, 11009 Carolina Place Pkwy.: Possessing/concealing stolen property. Nov. 25 • Briana Jackson, Belk, 11009 Carolina Place Pkwy.: Possessing/concealing stolen property. Nov. 25 • Derrick Jones, Belk, 11009 Carolina Place Pkwy.: Possessing/concealing stolen property. Nov. 25 • Jennifer Rose Zorich, Intersection of Lee Street and Towne Center Boulevard: Driving while impaired. Nov. 26 • Demarcus Montez Lamar Dawkins, 10600 block of Park Road: Resisting/obstructing/ delaying arrest. Nov. 27 • Andrew White, 10200 block of Johnston Road: Felony possession of cocaine; possession of drug paraphernalia; driving with revoked license; expired registration tag; inspection violation. Nov. 27 • Elizabeth Kay Buck, 10200 block of Johnston Road: Possession of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 27 • Christopher Gonzalez, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 27 • Aaron Armando Aguilar Villa, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 27 • Laura Alfonso Mendes, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Brandon Thomas Whitt, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Skyler Ty Koerber, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • William Benjamin Foster III, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Malcolm Fletcher Cumberland, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Deneirrean Treshawn Brake, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny; escape from custody; resisting arrest. Nov. 28 • Jaime Leonel Torres, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Jennifer Morales Estrada, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Geisy Paola Garcia, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Possessing/concealing stolen goods. Nov. 28 • Mari Amon Holmes, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Dominick Earl Mitchell, Jr., 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Nov. 28 • Richard Melendez, 10100 block of Johnston Road: Drunk and disruptive; resisting arrest. Nov. 29 • Diana Rene Helms, 500 Amon Lane: Domestic disturbance. Dec. 1 • Kenny Fernando Puerta, Intersection of Carmel Crossing and Johnston roads: Consuming alcohol under 19 years old; driving while license revoked. Dec. 2 • Angie Brook Aguirre, Intersection of Carmel Crossing and Johnston roads: Consuming alcohol under 19 years old. Dec. 2 • Yamilex Kattyana Hincapie, Intersection of Carmel Crossing and Johnston roads: Consuming alcohol under 19 years old. Dec. 2

• Labrece Dejuan Knox, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Unlawful concealment. Dec. 2 • Franklin Hunter Stephenson, 9100 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Driving while consuming alcohol under 21 years old. Dec. 2 • Steffen Green, Kmart, 10500 Centrum Pkwy.: Larceny. Dec. 3 • Stacy Erika McDonald, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Dec. 4 • Darius Amir Edwards, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Trespassing. Dec. 4 • Duane Jackson, 9800 block of PinevilleMatthews Road: Damage to real property. Dec. 4 • Ralph Richard Silva, CMC-Pineville, 1000 Blythe Blvd.: Warrant service. Dec. 5 • Shanique Rayonna Smith, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Dec. 5 • Jamela Latess Anderson, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Dec. 5 • Devin Graham, 10500 block of Kettering Drive: Simple possession of marijuana; possessing/concealing drugs; possession of drug paraphernalia. Dec. 5 • David Jon Keaveny, 8200 block of Trail View Drive: Warrant for arrest. Dec. 5 • Erin June Dyke, Lancaster Highway, address not given: Driving while impaired; provisional driving while impaired; reckless and careless driving; speeding to elude; failure to comply with license restrictions. Dec. 5 • Ryan Gregory Sweetman, 12700 block of Lancaster Highway: Liquor law violations; consuming alcohol under 19 years old. Dec. 5 • Sean Erin Cunningham, 12700 block of Lancaster Highway: Liquor law violations. Dec. 5 • Sarah Lyn Slater, 12700 block of Lancaster Highway: Underage consumption of alcohol. Dec. 5 • Thomas Justin Morgan, 8500 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Warrant for arrest. Dec. 6 • David Alan Brenner, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Dec. 6 • Elijah Dayquan Blount, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Unlawful concealment. Dec. 6 • William Franklin Pittman III, Home Depot, 10210 Centrum Pkwy.: Larceny; trespassing. Dec. 6 • Crystal Rodriguez-Sanchez, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Dec. 6 • Corey Austin Eaton, 8700 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Possession of marijuana; underage consumption of alcohol. Dec. 7 • John Francis Kennedy II, 8700 block of Pineville-Matthews Road: Underage consumption of alcohol. Dec. 7 • Honey Vansung Bawi, Highway 51 near intersection of Park Road: Underage consumption of alcohol. Dec. 7 • Debra Renee Kerchner, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Simple possession of marijuana; larceny. Dec. 7 • Michele Morest, 11000 block of Carolina Place Parkway: Larceny. Dec. 7 • Jerrel Devonta Spencer, Intersection of Main Street and Oakley Avenue: Driving while impaired. Dec. 7

Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 7

News

The Pineville Pilot Restaurant Scores The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected the following dining locations in Pineville between Nov. 14 and Dec 10. Lowest Score: • Captain D’s, 10601 Centrum Pkwy. – 93.5 Violations included: Raw chicken stored over raw fish in refrigerator; in-use sanitizer not at proper concentration; batches of coleslaw and green beans in cooler weren’t date marked; floors needed cleaning behind and under equipment. 28134 • Captain D’s, 10601 Centrum Pkwy. – 93.5 • Four Points by Sheraton Charlotte – Pineville, 9705 Leitner Drive – 94.5 • The Haven in the Village at Carolina Place, 13150 Dorman Road – 95

• Hilton Garden Inn – Pineville, 425 Towne Centre Blvd. – 95.5 • The Laurels in the Village at Carolina Place, 13180 Dorman Road – 95 • Longhorn Steakhouse, 10605 Centrum Pkwy. – 96 • Monkey Joe’s, 601 N. Polk St. – 96.5 • Red Lobster Restaurant, 9415 Pineville-Matthews Road – 95.5 • Starbucks Coffee, 9015 PinevilleMatthews Road – 99 About the grades Restaurants are given grades of A for scoring at least 90 percent, B for 80 to 89 percent and C for 70 to 79 percent. The state revokes permits for restaurants that score below 70 percent. The Pineville Pilot places restaurants that receive a score of 94 or lower, indicating a grade of A- or below, in the “lowest scores” category, with specific violations listed.

Home Sales

in Pineville

A breakdown of recent home sales Nov. 2014 Oct. 2014

Sept. 2014

15 $301,591

8 $237, 429

Homes Sold Average Sales Price

15 $233,381

* Editor’s Note: The following is a list of homes sold in Pineville in November 2014. Information provided by the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association’s website, www.sales.carolinahome.com. Date sold

Address

Sale price

28134 Bridlestone 11828 Southcrest Nov. 19 Lane McCullough 1106 Cedar Park Drive Nov. 28 1121 Cedar Park Drive Nov. 26 15724 Country Lake Nov. 26 Drive 1118 Cedar Park Drive Nov. 26 11627 Founders Park Nov. 26 Lane 1113 Cedar Park Drive Nov. 26

$264,000

$329,040 $320,914 $416,447 $382,955 $301,640

Date sold

Address

15534 Country Lake Drive Nov. 25 15329 Country Lake Drive Nov. 24 1110 Cedar Park Drive Nov. 24 1105 Cedar Park Drive Nov. 14 Parkway Crossing 10223 Enniscrone Road Nov. 6 10228 Enniscrone Road Nov. 3 The Cottages 10039 Bishops Gate Blvd. Nov. 24 Woodside Falls 14601 Sapphire Lane Nov. 10

Sale price

$379,026 $412,849 $321,979 $303,715 $241,794 $194,000 $177,000 $176,500

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Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 9

News

Home is where the heart is by Josh Whitener news@pinevillepilot.com

won’t take place this year. My 84-year-old PePaw suffered a series of health issues from August to mid-October, and my family was forced to make the tough decision of placing him in an assisted living center. His house was emptied and placed on the market, and will no longer serve as the warm centerpiece behind so many holiday traditions, the biggest being Christmas Eve. My heart aches when I think about not spending Christmas Eve at my PePaw’s house; when I realize my 4-month-old son, Aiden, will never experience Christmas Eve at his Great-PePaw’s; when I face the reality of the new normal. But in the midst of the sadness, I’ve found hope and joy. We still have my PePaw. We’ll still celebrate with each other, just at a different place. The rest of our traditions will remain the same. Home isn’t a building. This might sound cliché, but home truly is where the heart is. The classic “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was written about soldiers serving overseas during the holidays, and carries the powerful message of no matter where you are, your heart can still be home. Let’s all take a moment this season to forget the trimmings, trappings and holiday stress and cherish what truly matters: those we hold dear. Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve is going to be strange this year. Ever since I can remember, we’ve gathered each year on the evening of Dec. 24 at my grandfather’s house. Our ChristJosh Whitener mas Eve traditions begin with a fingerfood dinner, followed by an annual reading of the Nativity story as told in Luke 2. Then we pass out presents and find out who drew whose name, while the kids eagerly tear into a plethora of toys, games and goodies. After several hours of laughter and enjoying one another’s company, we bid farewell to PePaw (yes, that’s what we call him – you might chuckle, but to us it’s practically his God-given name) and make the short drive from Belmont to McAdenville to see the countless displays of dazzling Christmas lights. It’s been my favorite Christmas tradition from the time I was a child, eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival, to adulthood, waiting with anxious excitement to “help Santa” bring gifts to my own kids. But that tradition as we’ve known it

Celebrating Change by Hannah Chronis news@pinevillepilot.com

Each Christmas Eve, my two sisters and I join our parents and celebrate the evening at Grandma Dockery’s house. My dad is one of four boys and the only one with children, so we’ve Hannah Chronis been spoiled from a young age – unapologetically raking in presents from our adoring aunts and uncles and soaking up compliments of how wonderful we are (though, as the years have passed, we’ve begun to realize that our relatives are undoubtedly biased after watching home videos that captured our once-proclaimed “cuteness” as just annoying tweens craving attention). When I was 9 years old, my Uncle Kenny looked at my sisters and me and said, “You know, before you know it, you girls will be bringing boys home on Christmas Eve.” I laughed. And laughed and laughed and laughed. What a ridiculous thought! I would never bring a boy to Grandma’s house. This was my family and my

Christmas Eve, and heaven forbid someone else coming in and getting more attention than me! It was ludicrous. But here we are, many years and many Christmases later and just like every year, things have changed. On Nov. 8, I got married. My last name changed from Dockery to Chronis and for the first time in my life, I’ll be bringing a “boy” home for Christmas and deep into Dockery territory – a thought that would’ve made my 9-year-old-self cringe. But family means something a little different this year. Familial boundaries I once so rigidly defined are now fluid and flexible. My sisters are now his sisters. My grandma is now his grandma, and I’m beginning to realize that sharing family is a beautiful thing. My hope and prayer this year is that family can mean a little something different to all of us this holiday season. Whether you’re celebrating with a new baby or without a loved one, embrace the change and embrace the family you make for yourself. Tradition is beautiful and cherished, but change can be, too – if we let it. And though life undoubtedly looks a little different this year than it did last, or when you were a child, it really is wonderful.

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Page 10 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

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News

A tale of two religions by Courtney Schultz news@pinevillepilot.com

This year marks the first year I won’t be waking up in my parents’ home on Christmas morning. The past four years I’ve scurried home after grueling exams to the Courtney Schultz welcoming arms of home-cooked meals, tinsel around the tree and endless cups of eggnog. After graduating college this past May, I moved out on my own to an apartment with the responsibility of decorating my place, among others. Some people might find my holiday decorations a bit befuddling because I am Jewish, but I have a tall Christmas tree glimmering in my apartment window. I grew up in a household of tolerance and acceptance. My father is Jewish and my mother is Christian, so we always celebrated holidays from both religions, which means the “most wonderful time of year” meant Hanukkah and Christmas in my household.

My elementary-school-aged self thought that celebrating both holidays just meant more presents, but as I matured I realized both Christmas and Hanukkah share similar meanings. To me, both holidays commemorate miracles of God: the birth of Jesus is a Christmas miracle, and the oil in the menorah burned for eight days, when the oil was only expected to last for one day (another miracle). The holiday time should be a reminder of all of the everyday miracles in each other’s lives. The small blessings we experience each day, such as getting the last one of your favorite muffins at Dunkin Donuts or finding $5 in an old pair of jeans. That’s why I proudly decorate my apartment with a tree, lights, poinsettias and other traditional Christmas decorations. Because they remind me to think of the little things that make up the great parts of my life. They are part of the tradition of acceptance that I grew up with and remind me of the love and compassion revolved around the holiday season. Of course, I have my menorah on my table as well, but no decoration defines or takes away from the spirit of the holiday season: the season of being thankful.

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Christmas: It grows on you by Ryan Pitkin news@pinevillepilot.com

One may assume that Christmas means more for a child than for an adult, but it’s been my experience that the holiday becomes more meaningful as you mature. Ryan Pitkin Sure, running down the steps on Christmas morning and seeing the presents laid out under the tree was a feeling that no child lucky enough to experience it will ever forget. But as I get closer to 30 years old, I can’t help but be thankful that I now look forward to Christmas for family reasons as opposed to materialistic ones. For nearly 20 years, my family has taken turns hosting a Christmas Eve party with the two families of my closest childhood friends. As children, we boys would fill a large plate with as many Chick-fil-A nuggets as we could take from the spread and run off to whatever room hosted

news@pinevillepilot.com

video games, discussing what sort of presents we hoped to rip open come sunrise. I’ve now hosted the party in my own home for three years running and, while the same three families have stayed close and attend each year, it’s noticeably a better experience as all in attendance have grown into adults who appreciate each other’s company. I now look forward to all of the siblings around my age, who in the past decade have flown the coop and started lives of their own, joining with the parents, who each have had such an integral, individual impact on each younger person’s childhood in the room, and simply catching up on what the last year has brought for all of us, good or bad. I now look forward to my sister coming down from her home in the mountains – only two hours away, but seemingly further at times – to spend the weekend in Charlotte, beginning with that night. Sure, some gifts will be exchanged the following morning, but everyone’s mind will be far from that on Christmas Eve, and that’s the way it should be.

Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 11

News

Anytime Fitness (continued from page 1)

“We’ve gotten great reception from the local businesses, from the mom-and-pop stores,” she said. “Everyone we’ve talked to around here is happy that we’re here.” That works for the Gilders, because what they say sets their gym apart from others in the area will be the sense of community they hope to nurture. Anytime Fitness locations average about 800 members, a goal the Gilders do not plan to exceed. Michael said he would like to treat all members as a part of a family, as opposed to a statistic. “We’ll be able to give members that personal attention that they deserve,” Michael said. “Big-box gyms would rather take your money and not have you use the equipment. If you don’t show up to our gym for a few days, we’ll call you and say, ‘Hey Sally, what’s going on? Are you doing alright?’ That makes a difference.” While Susan has always focused on fitness, Michael needed some motivation. He recalls a time when members of other branches of the armed forces would refer to his branch as the “Chair Force,” until 2004, when some higherranking officials decided to make physical training a requirement for the U.S. Air Force. Michael earned a promotion in 2007, but it would not be granted until he passed his annual physical training test. He passed after a few tries and then began taking fitness more seriously. He took up cycling and said his life

was forever changed. “I lost 40 pounds. I started feeling better, not being tired at the end of the day,” Michael said. “There are a lot of physical ailments that come with inactivity, and I lost all of them. That’s when I built a passion for fitness, which played into our decision when we started thinking, ‘What will we do when we retire?’” After researching multiple options, the Gilders chose Anytime Fitness, which offers discounts to veteran business owners and works with the Wounded Warrior Project to help wounded veterans. The Gilders, in turn, will offer discounts to veterans who are interested in joining the gym, and they’ve already hired one military spouse as a personal trainer. “We wanted to be able to give back to what has (been) given to us for all those years,” Susan said. “The military has taught us so much, just about physical fitness and health.” The Gilders’ Anytime Fitness location will offer high-intensity interval training that is inspired by CrossFit programs but differs in the way it is carried out. There are no timed events, but the programs are shaped around helping with everyday activities. “A lot of people go to the gym, and they jump on a treadmill and lift a few weights,” Michael said. “We will offer functional training that introduces everyday activities into a physical environment.” Anytime Fitness also will offer WellBeats programs – training programs ranging from kinetics to kickboxing that can be uploaded and projected on the wall of the gym to give

Michael and Susan Gilder at their sales office in the Perimeter Center South shopping center, next to the Anytime Fitness location they aim to open next month. Ryan Pitkin/Pilot photo

a person the training they need at any given time. The Gilders’ ultimate goal is to build a more fit community in Pineville and the surrounding areas, while making their gym a place people

look forward to visiting every day. “We fit right into a niche where the everyday person can come in and not feel any intimidation,” Michael said. “Anyone can be comfortable here.”

Healthier together Sign up now for classes and events, or visit NovantHealth.org/localevents Festival of Trees

Grandparents’ class

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Nov. 18 through Dec. 27, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Get into the holiday spirit with a tour of our themed holiday trees.

Dec. 20, 10 a.m. to noon. New and expecting grandparents are invited to learn about today’s childbirth experiences and advancements in infant care. Cost: $10 per person.

Dec. 20, 10 a.m. to noon. One-time session teaches parents or caregivers all they need to know about infant safety and CPR techniques, providing hands-on practice with a model. Cost: $15 per person or $25 per couple.

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Greater Charlotte Health and Fitness Expo Jan. 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Jan. 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join Novant Health for the third annual health and wellness expo. Take advantage of free health screenings, tips and guides for living a health lifestyle, a cardio dance zone and more. Cost: $5 at the door; free admission for kids under 12. Keep Friday’s ticket stub for free admission Saturday.

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Find health topics and classes based on your needs: NovantHealth.org/localevents. Call 704-384-CARE (2273) to register for classes, unless noted. © Novant Health, Inc. 2014

Page 12 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

15403

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TAKING THE WRONG PATH KEPT JAMAL IN SCHOOL.

Every year, we help more than 1.3 million kids succeed in school. From supporting students who are incarcerated to those who are just struggling to keep up, we do whatever it takes. See how you can help us change the picture at CISCharlotte.org.

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Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 13

Education

Courtney Schultz/Pilot photo

Taking it to the mat Pineville-area middle school students participate in weekly yoga, art program by Courtney Schultz news@pinevillepilot.com

At 7:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning, about 20 yoga mats with blocks and scarves lay across the floor of Quail Hollow Middle School’s gymnasium. “Breathe in and find your center,” said Kelsey Cash, founder and leader of Yogarteens and an art teacher at Quail Hollow, the south Charlotte middle school that draws students from Pineville. “Let the distractions slip away. Focus.” Cash leads a weekly yoga and art class as part of Yogarteens, a 10-week non-profit youth development program for sixth- through 12th-grade students. Cash has practiced yoga for about six years and is a certified yoga instructor. She began teaching yoga and breathing technique to athletes, but as more students began practicing with Cash before school, she was inspired to create a curriculum to bring yoga into schools. With the help of other yoga instructors, Cash created a

curriculum incorporating messages of encouragement and compassion with an art project in hopes of giving back to the community. She has now expanded the program into five additional schools, including South Charlotte, Jay M Robinson, Alexander Graham and Community House middle schools, as well as Northwest School of the Arts. Cash says she wishes she had been exposed to yoga sooner in her life. “I judged (yoga) when I first tried it. I thought it would be too slow for me. Once I started, I was hooked,” she said. Through the program, she teaches acceptance of others, generosity and stress-relieving strategies. “I want them to have another tool for coping strategies. That they can roll out their mat and have a stress relief,” Cash said. She hopes the lessons students learn on the mats translate to their everyday lives. During one lesson, she compared trying to master a difficult pose to accomplishing other goals in life and emphasized the importance of working toward that goal rather than rushing into the end result. “It’s not about being good at something,” she said, adding the program is perfect for both athletes and non-athletes. “It’s about the practice.” Quail Hollow eighth-grader Timothy Cashman said yoga has encouraged him to learn new things and challenge himself. He said when he was new to yoga, he struggled and would become frustrated, but has now found a connection to it. “Thursday is my busy day. I have soccer and personal training. Yoga starts the day off for me,” Timothy said. Anna Kulesa, a sixth-grader at the Pineville-area middle school, joined Yogarteens because her mother practices yoga. Anna enjoys working toward becoming more flexible. “My favorite part is getting into that final pose that you’ve been working on for a while and that you’re pushing it,” Anna

said. Students pay a $130 fee for the 10-week session, but the nonprofit also creates various art projects to help raise funds for Yogarteens and other area nonprofits. Yogarteens also receives donations from area yoga studios, such as Be Yoga and Wellness, located in south Charlotte off PinevilleMatthews Road, near the Pineville line. BeYoga is hosting a winter challenge to raise money for Yogarteens during December. Based on “check-ins” through Facebook, Yelp and other social media outlets, Be Yoga will track how many people practice yoga at Be Yoga’s two locations in south Charlotte or Dilworth at least 30 times until Dec. 31. If 30 people complete this challenge, Be Yoga will donate $200 to Yogarteens; if 50 people complete this challenge, Be Yoga will donate $500 to Yogarteens. Emily Grom, assistant manager at Be Yoga, hopes to encourage community members to start their New Year’s resolutions early and help Yogarteens. “It’s a big thing, and we want so many people to come and participate in it and share in that experience,” she said. Be Yoga also will host a “karma yoga class” that costs $5, and encourages participants to donate to nonprofits such as Yogarteens. Grom feels it’s important for middle school students, such as those at Quail Hollow, to practice yoga to cope with the stresses of their lives. “In middle school, it can be a hard time, so being able to be comfortable to be who they are empowers teens to have confidence in their every day life,” Grom said. “(Yoga is) really a centering experience. It brings you to yourself. Really, it’s to discover your full potential within your body.” Cash plans to continue building and sustaining the program and hopes to expand the program to other schools outside of the Pineville and south Charlotte communities. Visit yogarteens.org or email info@yogarteens.org to learn more about the program.

DONATE G O OD S

www.SATRUCK.org 1-800-SA-TRUCK Or Drop Off at our store in Pineville at 8500 PINEVILLE-MATTHEWS RD. Page 14 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

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Education

The Pineville Pilot

Education News & Notes

Sterling Elementary students take achievement tests All kindergarten-through-fifth-grade students at Sterling Elementary School have been taking Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests during December, to help teachers and school staff estimate their achievement level. Testing will continue through Dec. 19. MAP tests are adaptive, computerized tests offered in reading, mathematics and language usage. Each MAP test question’s difficulty is based on how well the student answers the previous questions. As a student answers more questions correctly, the questions become more difficult. If a student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. In an optimal test, a student answers half of the questions correctly and half of them incorrectly. The final score is used to estimate the student’s achievement level. Teachers use MAP tests to track a student’s

Third Grade: Elliott Ballowe, Thomas Bedzinsk , Anika Boucher, Elijah Colvin, Zoey Cook, Sarah Davey, Julio Flores Ramos , Tamiah Garcia, Laila Kelley, Natalia Lainez, Andres Patino, Hannah Patterson, Carlee Pinto, Jocelyn Bridget Rodriquez, Austin Romanat, Trishna Suthar, Ellis Sutton, N’Kaiya Taylor, Kendrick Valentine, Vivana Zambrano and Hayden Zumbrum. Fourth Grade: Emma Alford, Caroline Cochran, Rohan Patel, Adam Simpson and Gali Strilka. Fifth Grade: Joshua Calland, Bianca Enireb, Micaela Flandoli, Bethanny Flory, Lorelai Kaminski, Sami Kazzaz, Jake Sninsky, Kilik Xiong and Mudra Yajurvedi.

A/B Honor Roll Third Grade: Oliver Alvarez Romero, A’Lailah Andrews, Mackenzie Baldwin, Silas Barnes, Anthony Butler, Hailey Chamniss, Raphaela Corral, Joseph Derrick, Desi Duncan, Corah Edwards, Christopher Enireb-Gaibor, Edgar Escobedo Carrillo, Imran Faridy, Emily Finland, Estrella Franco-Duarte, Jada Galvain, Ajunique Gans, Melanie Hance, Trenton Haynes, Leticia Herrera, Ellis Herron, Louis Hill, William Igwe , Anthony Iracheta, Jayden Jefferson, Presley Jewell, Isaiah Johnson, Daeshon Jones, Jack Kaiser, Asya Karaeva, Elijah Kennedy, Sabrina Lateefuddin, Savannah Loftus, Skyler Long, Daniel Lorenzo Angeles, Miracle Mba, Kaelin McCabe, Gabriel Merkel, Shawnacy Miller, Oscar Miramontes Montoya, Faizarh Montgomery, Emanuel Munguia Galindo, Omar Perez, Marielis Perez Rocha, news@pinevillepilot.com

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progress and growth in basic skills. The tests let teachers know where students’ strengths are and if they need help in a specific area. Teachers then use this information to guide classroom instruction. School staff is prohibited from discussing any student information, test results or district assessment programs directly with parents, due to privacy laws. Quail Hollow staff to receive baked goods before holiday break Quail Hollow Middle School’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is asking parents to help supply homemade cookies and other treats to show appreciation to the school staff as winter break commences. The PTSA asks parents to bring or send treats with their students on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 17. On that day, each Quail Hollow Middle staff member will receive a holiday cookie tin. The staff will then be invited to the teacher’s workroom, where they will have the opportunity to fill their tins with their selections from the cookies and treats provided. Email Karla Hollowell at khollowell44@ gmail.com for more information on the cookie exchange.

Pineville Elementary School Honor Rolls A Honor Roll

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Anderson Platero Soto, Karen Rivera, Daniel Robinson, Zoey Robinson, Bruno Salvi, Ericka Sanchez, Iris Savage, Summer Scott, Jalin Sheperd, Eric Silverio Esquivel, Kyle Spyhalsky, Morgan Tompkins, Dawson Trieu, DeShawn Washington and Liliana Zapote. Fourth Grade: Alexis Acosta-Mendez, Itzel Aguilar-Fonseca, Ashley Aguilar Jiminez, Zykira Al-Khatib, Valeria Alvarez, Pearson Baldwin, Laney Ballowe, Stephanie Beach, Jamison Becker, Emeka Capio, George Carrasco-Mendoza, Autumn Carroll, Taniyah Cheeks, Erin Clark, Jackie Cooper, Samantha Craig, Aaron Cuthbertson, Allison Geraghty, Romi Gibbons, Marissa Gillman, Vicki Harbarger, Michael Hill, Skyler Jennings, Allen Johnson, Tyler Jones, Natalie Kashefska, Melany Landa-Vasquez, Alez Lich, Jacob Maksimenko, Elijah Martinez, Makenzie Miller, Elianny Peralta, Brisa Rocha-Chavez, Isabella Smith, Evan Stinson-Wesley, Brody Taylor, Charlotte Tsui, Josiah Weed, Vanessa Wilkinson, Kyra Xiong and Laurel Young. Fifth Grade: Angel Abundio, Aaliyah Aleem, Sara Aranha, Bryan Barboza, Xander Barrett, Kayla Benzel Beshella, Andrea Brown, Khamani Burch, Jenae Burwell, Alexander Call, Nicolas Cebey, Angela Cortes, Kierah Cox, Victoriah Crawford, Zoe Espinoza, Brian Fontanel-Aguilar, Alex Frame, Xander Gainey, Fiona Ganchenko, Ciara Gasque, Angel Giuria, Annalise Gonzaga, Isaac Gonzalez Cervantes, Joel Gonzalez Flores, Evan Graesslin, Cameron Hairston, Alani Hall, Reginald Hollis, Cady Howard, Ahmad Hussein, Lauren Ionto, Mason Jonas, Kyle Kaizer, Antonio Lizardo, Joseph Moore, Briana Morris, Eowyn Muck, Owen Osborne, Kennedy Ostrander, Ryan Patroski, Emily Person, Anaiss Platero, America Reyes Duarte, Mia Salvi, Karina Sanders, Jacob Shackelford, Asher Stern, Anslei Taylor, Jabari Washington and DeShari Williams. Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 15

Around Town

The Pineville Pilot

Faith & Religion News & Notes

Children’s Christmas play, choir musical at Harrison UMC Harrison United Methodist Church will host a Children’s Christmas play, “The Bethlehem Project,” on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 4 p.m. in Hammill Hall. “The Bethlehem Project,” directed by Laurie Spinelli and Amanda Burns, features the traditional Christmas story, but “with a fresh twist that provides both fun and life relevance for kids,” according to a news release. The program also will include a 3- and 4-year-old choir, directed by Marilyn Doyon. Harrison UMC’s choir, along with a full orchestra, will perform the Christmas musical “Season of Wonder” on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. The performance will feature “traditional holiday favorites to warm the heart and inspirational music that will feed the soul,” the release said. Harrison UMC will host traditional candlelight Christmas Eve communion services on Dec. 24, a Wednesday, at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 11

Page 16 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

p.m. Find more information at www. harrisonchurch.org, or call 704-541-3463. Harrison UMC is located at 15008 Lancaster Hwy. Pineville UMC’s Christmas Celebration, Christmas Eve services Pineville United Methodist Church will host Christmas-themed worship services on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 9 and 11 a.m. Later that day, the church will host a Christmas Celebration for all ages. The event begins at 6 p.m. Pineville UMC also will host three Christmas Eve candlelight communion services. A 5 p.m. service will take place in the church’s Crossroads Center, followed by services at 7 and 11 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Find more information at www.pinevilleumc.org, or call 704-889-2022. Pineville UMC is located at 110 S. Polk St.

Grace Life Church to host variety of Christmas events Grace Life Church of Pineville, previously known as Stough Memorial Baptist Church, will host several Christmas-themed events during the days leading up to Christmas. Grace Life’s Just Older Youth, or JOY, group will host a Christmas dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. The event is open to anyone 55 years old or older. The church will fill and distribute “Christmas Pokes” throughout a nearby neighborhood on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 20. People can sign up in the church’s gathering center or call the church office at 704-889-7665 for more information. Grace Life will host a Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24, a Wednesday. Call the church office for details. Find more information about Grace Life Church at www.gracelifepineville.com. Grace Life Church is located at 705 Lakeview Drive.

will host a New Year’s Eve service on Dec. 31, a Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m. Find more information at www.southcharlottebaptist.org, or call 704-542-5536. South Charlotte Baptist Church is located at 12416 Lancaster Hwy. The Laurels is located at 13180 Dorman Road.

Christmas Sing-A-Long, holiday services at South Charlotte Baptist South Charlotte Baptist Church will host a Christmas Sing-A-Long event at The Haven and The Laurels in the Village at Carolina Place on Sunday, Dec. 21, from 4 to 5 p.m. People are encouraged to bring their families, along with some cookies to share with the residents of The Laurels. South Charlotte Baptist will host a Christmas Eve candlelight service on Dec. 24, a Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m. The church also

Send us your faith news! Have a church yard sale coming up? Is your youth group hosting a fundraiser car wash for missions? Will your performance team be presenting a holiday concert or stage production? Well, let us know! Send an email with your news or announcement to news@pinevillepilot.com. Be sure to include dates and times for special events, as well as any cost associated. Announcements should be sent one month in advance.

Christmas Eve service at Pineville Nazarene Pineville Church of the Nazarene will host a Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24, a Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. “Invite your friends and family, and join us for a special candlelight service … as we celebrate the birth of our Lord,” the church said in an announcement. The service will take place in the church’s family life center. Find more information at www.pnaz.org, or call 704-542-3618. Pineville Nazarene is located at 8614 Pineville-Matthews Road.

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Calendar

The Pineville Pilot

Calendar 12.17.14 Wednesday

Life Line Screening Individuals with high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or family members of someone suffering from those ailments, have the opportunity to be screened for their risk of stroke through the service of Life Line Screening. Life Line Screening uses ultrasound technology to view the plaque buildup in patients’ carotid arteries, the main arteries that carry blood to the brain. People can register for a Wellness Package, which includes four vascular tests and an osteoporosis screening for $149. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Call 1-888-653-6441 or visit www. lifelinescreening.com/community-partners to register for the event, and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced higher than $129. Belle Johnston Community Center, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville

12.19.14 & 12.20.14 Friday & Saturday

Christmas at Blakeney, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Blakeney shopping center, located in south Charlotte near Pineville, will host two nights of Christmas fun for the whole family. Children can enjoy crafts, carriage rides, hot chocolate and cookies and pictures with Santa at this free event. Adults can enter to win a giveaway from Kay Jewelers. Visit shopblakeney.com or call 704-523-0272 for more information. At the corner of Ardrey Kell and Rea roads, Charlotte

Ongoing until 12.28.14 Sunday

Gingerbread Lane visits Area residents can visit the annual Gingerbread Lane for free to view gingerbread creations until Dec. 28. People can see the winners of this year’s competition, which includes two independent categories for professional and amateur entries. Contact 704-248-4055 with any questions. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte

12.29.14 Monday

Winter Break Fun Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children who are 5 to 12 years old can have a day for fun that includes a pizza lunch and snack. The cost is $20 for Pineville residents and $25 for nonresidents and must be paid to the Belle Johnston Community Center by Friday, Dec. 19. Space is limited and available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Belle Johnston Community Center, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville news@pinevillepilot.com

12.31.14 Wednesday

New Year’s Eve Party by Gallery Restaurant, 9 p.m. The Ballantyne, located off exit 61 of Interstate 485, near Pineville, will offer a New Year’s Eve celebration for guests staying at the Ballantyne Hotel or dining in Gallery Restaurant. The event will feature a DJ, drink specials and a champagne toast at midnight. The event is for individuals who are 21 years old and older, and dressy attire is recommended. Gallery Restaurant at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte

12.31.15 Wednesday

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Charity Ball, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Haute Exclusive Fashion Mall will host a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball to ring in the New Year at one of Pineville’s newest event spaces. The event will feature entertainment by a celebrity artist and band, DJ, food, champagne toast, prizes, giveaways and more. Required dress attire is formal, and a mask is optional. There will be prizes awarded for Best Mask and Best Dressed. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, and can be purchased at www. hauteexclusivefashionmall.com/happenings. html. Contact 704-910-5856 or info@ t h e r o y a l o r c o r c h i d e v e n t c e n t r e. com or visit www.facebook.com/ events/805557286175627/ for more information. The Royal Orchid Event Centre, 11812 Carolina Place Pkwy., suite A, Pineville

2.13.15 Friday

39th Annual Senior Citizens Valentines Banquet, 6 p.m. The town of Pineville will host its annual banquet for Pineville residents who are 60 years old or older. The event is for Pineville residents only and includes a dinner of steak tips with gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, salad, roll and dessert and entertainment courtesy of magician Bryan Saint. Senior citizens must make a reservation to attend the banquet by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6,2015, a Friday, by calling 704-889-2400. The town requests for a person to make a reservation for themselves and a spouse only, due to limited seating and to avoid duplicate reservations. Belle Johnston Community Center Gym, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville

Send your events to news@ pinevillepilot. com

DEC. 17 Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 17

Sports

Cardiac Cats return to state final by Andrew Stark news@pinevillepilot.com

After Vance scored late in the fourth quarter of a back-and-forth Western Regional final, Charlotte Catholic first-year coach Mike Brodowicz had a feeling what was coming next. His team had already rallied from 14-0 and 20-7 deficits in the game, but now needed one more stand to advance to their season goal of playing in a championship game. Brodowicz calmly called a timeout to rally his defense, who had already gave up 34 points, the second-most it surrendered all year. But at that moment, the only thing that mattered was his team needed to make a goal line stand with the entire season hanging in the balance and a mere 13 seconds left on the clock. “I had a feeling it was going to come down to them going for two at the end,” Brodowicz said. “I had a feeling it would come down to one play, and I told our guys we were going to play base Cover Two like we have all year long.” After the defense applied pressure to Vance quarterback Omar Baker, junior linebacker Matt White stepped in front of a Baker pass on the right sideline, intercepting it and preserving the season as the Cougars get set to play New Bern in the N.C. High School Athletic Association final on Friday, Dec. 12 at Wake Forest University’s BB&T Field. The appearance in the championship game is nothing new as it’s the Cougars sixth in the past 11 seasons – they repeated as state champs in 2004 and 2005 and last appeared in the state finals in 2012 – but while this year’s team looks similar in size, stature and defensive intensity, they have the capability to look different on offense, and that’s by design. With the ground game bottled up with a season-low 168 rushing yards against Vance, the Cougars had to rely on another tactic to move the ball, but to Brodowicz it was all part of the plan.

Page 18 • December 2014 • Pineville Pilot

In the regional final, junior quarterback John Walton completed 14 of 16 passes for a career-high 231 yards – he’d topped 100 passing yards twice this season and had a career high 155 in a win over Olympic in early October – setting the tone for the offense through the air which is atypical of traditional Catholic teams. “When I first got hired here, I knew we were still going to be a running team because that’s who we are at Charlotte Catholic,” Brodowicz said. “It’s our identity, we’re proud of it and we like to run the ball, but if we need to throw the football to be able to win we need to be able to do that. We had to throw the football against Ardrey Kell to win and tonight we did, too. “We don’t want to have to hang our hat on that, but we want to be able to win the football game any way that we can. We have to have the capabilities to do that.” With Walton’s big night the Cougars had more passing yards (231) to rushing yards (168) – the first time that’s happened in recent memory. But no matter how they attacked, the Cougars were able to get the ball in the hands of Catholic’s playmakers as Ryan Miller (126 yards total offense) and Jaret Anderson (159 yards offense, three touchdowns), a duo that’s carried the Cougars while accounting for 62 percent of Charlotte Catholic’s offense this year. “The kids just executed,” Brodowicz said. “What people don’t realize is how well the offensive line is playing. People think it’s very easy to come up and run block, but to pass block is completely different. “The offensive line opened the holes and they gave John time to throw. After that, John did a great job. Ryan made some unbelievable plays – he was phenomenal out there – and then Jaret was great. Jaret and Ryan have been our playmakers all year.” Now the No. 3-seed Cougars have one more hurdle to cross in their quest for their first state title since 2005 as they set to take on New Bern, the bracket’s No. 1 overall seed who has gone 16-0 this season. The Bears are a formidable bunch as

Andrew Stark/Pilot photos

they’ve won 14 of 16 games by doublefigure point differentials and average 37.8 points on offense and allow just 8.3 points to their opponents. The success of the Bears starts up front with 6-foot-5, 325-pound lineman Dylan Voss, who’s getting national recruiting interest. He’s joined up front by 6-foot-4, 260pound Troy Taylor and 6-foot-3, 225-pound Duncan Musselwhite to form an imposing offensive line. They open holes for Mike Hughes – a dual-threat quarterback who has thrown for 1,263 yards, ran for 1,355 and scored 32 total touchdowns while accounting for just under half the Bears offense. Hughes is being recruited by nearly every major college program, but he’s not a one-horse show leading the Bears. Sophomore DJ Howard has 830 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, junior Rayshi Bolds has accumulated 601 yards and six scores and junior receiver/defensive back Tyriq McCarter leads the team with 502 yards and eight scores. Defensively, the stingy Bears are led by linebackers Sha’mond Squires (189 tackles), Charles Nobles (100 tackles) and Rodney Pender (71 tacklees) and defensive

backs Raheed McCoy (eight interceptions), McCarter (six interceptions) and Cypress Borden (103 tackles). While the Bears are star-studded and possess gaudy team and individual statistics, the Cougars will be just fine, Brodowicz said. “I’m very excited about where we’re at,” Brodowicz said last week. “But I look at it like this: We don’t have stars here this year, so we’re always looking to see what we can hang our hat on, and there’s not that one guy like we’ve had. “Ardrey Kell is a big offensive line, they have some good backs and a good quarterback, so it’s not like we haven’t seen this type of thing before. We just have to execute and have to strap it up and play our techniques.” And, lucky for Charlotte Catholic fans, that’s exactly what this year’s team does best. “We have a good group of guys who scrap and claw this year,” Brodowicz said. “You have to give them credit. “I think this year is one of those years where it’s all falling in place and things are going our way.”

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Sports

Sabres getting their roar back by Andrew Stark news@pinevillepilot.com

For the last two seasons the South Meck boys basketball team has struggled, hovering around .500 in 2012-13 before suffering through a 7-17 season a year ago where not much seemed to go their way. The Sabres closed out last year wining just two of their last 11 games, and didn’t give much reason for optimism coming into this year. But that has quickly changed. South Meck is 4-2 and has most recently put together a pair of impressive road wins – knocking off Myers Park by 16 points on Dec. 2 and backing that up with a 66-64 win at Porter Ridge on Dec. 9, a team who like the Sabres is much improved. In the win over Porter Ridge, the

Sabres overcame an eight-point second quarter and five-point halftime deficit. Kamil Chapman led the way with 19 points, but he had plenty of help as Grant Hedberg scored 14, Jalen Blakeney had 10, Khayleb Connelly tallied nine and Quadrian Jamison added seven points in the win. The balanced scoring attack has been a staple this season as Connelly (23 points, 5.7 rebounds per game), Chapman (18.3 points), Hedberg 14.3 points, 15.7 rebounds), Blakeney (12 points) and Jamison (6.7 points, 8.3 rebounds) have been productive all year. The Sabres will look to keep it going, but have some tough tests this month including hosting Berry (Dec. 16) and West Meck (Dec. 18). South Meck kicks off its conference play when the Sabres travel to Charlotte Catholic on Jan. 6.

Catholic girls topple Covenant Day, start year strong by Hannah Chronis news@pinevillepilot.com

The Charlotte Catholic girls basketball team had no problem handling Covenant Day on Dec. 9 as the Cougars dominated the Lions, 46-20. Six-foot junior Carrie Eberle recorded a seasonhigh 14 points in the win and made it a double-double with 10 rebounds. She also dished out two assists, grabbed two steals and added two blocks. On the season, she’s Carrie averaging 7.7 points per game and a team-high eight rebounds and 5.5 blocks. Senior guard Stephanie Ferraro had a big game, too, putting in nine points and recording eight rebounds, five assists, five steals

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and three blocks in the win while controlling the Cougar offense. Ferraro leads the Cougars scoring effort this season with an 8.6 points per-game average. With Ferraro and Eberle doing the bulk of the scoring, freshman guard Maggie Dupre has made a name for herself, averaging nearly eight points and three assists in the Cougars’ six games so far. She had a career-high 13 points in the Cougars seasonopening win over Eberle Charlotte Country Day and followed that performance with 12 points in their Dec. 2 win over Charlotte Latin. The Cougars (4-2) travel to Gaston Day on Dec. 13.

Catholic boys continue late-season run by Andrew Stark news@pinevillepilot.com

Last year was a down year for the Charlotte Catholic boys basketball team as the Cougars limped to a 4-14 start to their season. But during the final month, they seemed to put everything together and finished 4-2 down the stretch, a run they’ve carried into the start of 2014-15. The Cougars have come out of the gates 5-1, and are ranked in the Dec. 12 Super 7 rankings for the first time since late in the 2012 season. But their current run seems to be just the precursor to what’s to come, as their balanced scoring and deep rotation are turning things around in a hurry. Last week, the Cougars used four double-digit scorers to take out Butler, a team many expect to challenge for the Southwestern 4A regular-season title. Josh Brodowicz led the way with 13

points, but Sam Smith scored 12 and Joe Scibelli and Justin McKinstry both added 10 in the 61-57 win. In a 58-37 blowout of Covenant Day on Dec. 9, Jimmy Abate led the team with 14 points while Scibelli and Mckinstry added eight, Jack Larkin netted seven and Nick Zuhorsky scored five in another balanced offensive attack. That balance is a big reason for the hot start. Scibelli leads the team with 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and Brodowicz has averaged 10.6 points and a team-high three assists, but nine Cougars average at least 4.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Cougars have a few notable matchups this month, including Ardrey Kell (Dec. 16), at Olympic (Dec. 18) and their holiday tournament at Belmont Abbey beginning on Dec. 22. So. Meck 8 conference play begins in earnest on Jan. 6, in a battle with upstart South Meck.

South Meck girls off to best start in years by Hannah Chronis news@pinevillepilot.com

The South Meck girls basketball team downed Porter Ridge in a big 64-44 win on Dec. 5 to improve to 3-4 on the season – their best start in years. The Sabres Courtney Sanderson s h o w e d glimpses of potential last year, but finished the season with an 8-16 record as the majority of their top contributors were underclassmen. This season, led by a duo of Ali Fitch talented juniors in Ali Fitch and Courtney Sanderson, the Sabres are off to a strong start. In the

win over Porter Ridge, Sanderson scored a team-high 14 points while grabbing six rebounds, four steals and dishing out six assists. Fitch put up 12 points with four steals and three assists. Despite already having four losses this season, the Sabres non-conference schedule has been tough, but they’ve hung with some of the best teams in the area. On Nov. 19, the Sabres fell by seven points to a Butler team that’s currently 5-0. In their next game, they slipped by six points to Rocky River (5-1) and narrowly lost to a Charlotte Christian team that boasts standout forward Kerstie Phills by two points. With Fitch averaging 12 points and four steals per game and Sanderson averaging 7.5, the Sabres are also getting big performances from sophomore Carrington Barnett (7.6 points), freshman A’lea Gilbert (7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds) and 6-foot senior center Nnenna Okum (7.1 points, 5.6 rebounds). With even scoring from across their roster and a tough non-conference schedule under their belts, the Sabres will be ready to tip-off conference play against Harding on Friday, Dec. 12 where they’ll look to start improving from last year’s 6-8 conference finish. Pineville Pilot • December 2014 • Page 19

Page 20 â&#x20AC;˘ December 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Pineville Pilot

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