Union County Weekly Oct. 2, 2020 by Charlotte Media Group

Inside: Community shelter provides eviction relief to renters • Page 2A

Friday, Oct. 2, 2020 • Vol. 14 • No. 40

ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261 justin@cmgweekly.com unioncountyweekly.com

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Hello, Joe Former VP Biden visits region, 2A

Poetry helps teen cope Weddington High student releasing book on Amazon by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

Kaleb Dufrene has been immune-deficient since he was a toddler. His body has a difficult time fighting average infections like the common cold and flu. After countDufrene less doctor visits and referrals, Kaleb and his family were finally close to getting more answers about his condition. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit.

When his quarantine started in early March, the 17-year-old Weddington High School senior found himself depressed, anxious and fearful. Kaleb knew he needed to create something to share his story. That’s when he picked up the pen and started writing “uneven sidewalks," a poem about soldiering on when life gets rocky. “Life isn’t just a straight and narrow thing. It’s not just this paved road that we walk,” Kaleb said. “It’s uneven and it’s cracked and there’s obstacles along the way, but the beauty of it is we can step over see POETRY, Page 5A

The front and back cover of “uneven sidewalks,” a poetry book written by 17-year-old Kaleb Dufrene. Photo courtesy of Kaleb Dufrene

Presidential pat on the back

Tourist boom

OPEN LETTER

I'm working to fight for our children by Todd F. Price

Visitors poured in before COVID-19, 1B

Union County School Board

Filling potholes Area gets funding for surfacing, 1B Sarah Motteler, Alyssa Tauro and Kayley Schmitt of Girl Scout Troop 1099 earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their many hours volunteering in the community. Photo courtesy of Kristen Motteler

Safe treatment Atrium Health launches COVID registry, 2B

Right fit Passenger seats save lives, 3B

Girl Scouts support charities across the Charlotte region by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

Three Girl Scouts from Troop 1099 in Waxhaw recently earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their time spent volunteering across the Charlotte region over the past year. Alyssa Tauro, Kayley Schmitt and Sarah Motteler received a medal along with a personalized certificate of achievement and letter signed by President Donald Trump. “It felt really nice to be recognized for the community service, but to me, it’s not about being recognized,” Kayley said. “It’s about doing your part to help the community.” The President’s Volunteer Service Award, founded in 2003, honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in the U.S. and inspires those around them to take action. Alyssa and Kayley, both seniors at Marvin

Ridge High School, won the bronze award for more than 100 hours of service. Alyssa volunteered with Red Cross Blood Drive, Habitat for Humanity and Rea View Elementary School in Waxhaw. As a member of Marvin Ridge student council, Kayley helped teachers and staff with projects. She’s also a youth mentor with The Sandbox and volunteered at the nonprofit’s “An Evening of Believing Prom,” in addition to making blankets for the homeless. The Sandbox helps families of children diagnosed with cancer, life-altering, rare or terminal illnesses. Sarah, a senior at the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics in Durham, won the gold award for more than 250 hours of service. She volunteered at the North Carolina Museum of Science’s Bug Fest, organized a book

To the esteemed residents of Union County: After an article titled “UCPS Appoints Members to Diversity Committee” was published by the Union County Weekly on Friday, Sept. 11, I felt it necessary to provide a response. This article misidentified me as another board member who recently resigned due to posting racially insensitive information to social media. Price Though this material was posted by a former board member, I wanted to make clear that I was in no way associated with these posts. As I had previously voted to approve the new UCPS diversity committee, I was saddened to see my name used in such a way. I believe racism has no place in our society or school system and I will continue to work for what is righteous and just. It has been an honor to serve as an At Large member of the Union County Public Schools Board of Education since March 2019. I have lived in Union County for over 20 years with my wife and two daughters. My oldest daughter graduated from Piedmont High in June of 2019 and currently attends East Carolina University. My youngest daughter is a current senior at Piedmont High. I have always strived to serve as an active parent in my children’s schools while making it a priority to lead by example and be an active member in our community. Following my faith and family, serving on the Board of Education has been of utmost importance to me since the moment I was sworn in. In addition to serving on the board, I am a member of the City of Monroe Safety Committee, working to ensure the safety of citizens of

see SCOUTS, Page 5A see LETTER, Page 5A

Indian Trail ABC Store proves pandemic-proof What is ... cool? Games spice up college courses at ECPI, 4A

ALSO: Indian Trail leaders have committed $500,000 in incentives to expedite site work of Indian Trail Town Center, which Union County's lead economic developer says will create new tax base and redevelop the downtown area, Page 5A

by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

Sales are going so smoothly at Indian Trail’s ABC Store that a second location is under development across the street from Sun Valley Commons. The N.C. ABC Commission approved Indian Trail’s second store in April. The Indian Trail ABC Board said at that time that it had just signed a five-year lease for its first location at 5880 U.S. 74 E. The town council agreed Sept. 22 to establish a capital investment reserve fund for acquisition, devel-

opment and construction costs of no more than $250,000 for the new store. The funding came from a surplus at its existing store. Attorney Wesley Hinson, speaking on behalf of the Indian Trail ABC Board, told the town council last month that once the loans are paid off, the new store at 6400 Old Monroe Road will generate upwards of $750,000 to $1 million annually. “There’s been a lot of businesses that have suffered but one of those that has not is alcohol sales,” Hinson said of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I feel like once COVID is over and we

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all have to go back to physical work, there’s going to be a lot of people buying vodka for mid-day breaks. Because I think alcohol sales in our store are up 150% year to date.” The new 7,550-square-foot store is expected to open by the end of the second quarter of 2021. It would give Indian Trail a store on each side of the U.S. 74 split. The Indian Trail store generated $4.56 million in gross sales and $1 million in state tax revenue, according to the North Carolina ABC Commission’s 2019 annual report. The town received a local contribu-

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tion of $403,000. Since then, Hinson said Indian Trail has overtaken Monroe as Union County’s most popular ABC Store. He told the council that alcohol sales are seasonal with 35% of sales generated in November and December. “The timing of this couldn’t be better,” he said. “Not only do we have record sales to produce this surplus of funds, which gives us the equity piece we need to move forward with the store, we’re also in a period of what’s the lowest interest rates for loans that we’ve ever seen at least in my lifetime. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

Page 2A • The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020

Biden talks racial, wealth inequality during Charlotte visit by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden opened with the pandemic during a Q&A in Charlotte on Sept. 23, noting how the illness is disproportionally affecting people of color. Biden mentioned evidence that some racial and ethnic groups – particularly Black Americans – are experiencing more serious illness and death due to COVID-19 than white Americans. This is due to social and economic factors that increase their risk, he said. “It’s just sort of emblematic of the inequality that exists and the circumstances that exist,” Biden said. “The cycle that exists is that the African American community by and large finds itself at the bottom of the economic heap when things are good," he added. "When things get bad, they're the first ones in the hole, and when things get better, they're the last ones out.” The former vice president’s visit

Former Vice President Joe Biden made his first official campaign visit to the Charlotte region on Sept. 23.

was tied to an outdoor “Black Economic Summit” at Camp North End in Charlotte, where he delivered remarks and then took questions from Black local business owners and community leaders. He touched on his plan, “Build Back Better,” which includes leveraging more than $150 billion in

new capital and opportunities for small businesses owned by people of color and investing $70 billion over 10 years for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. If Biden is elected, he wants to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. He said this will help the economy as a whole, as people will

Vick: Hyperlocal news makes me hyper-dizzy

Loura Hilliard loura@cmgweekly.com

NEWSLETTER

Justin Vick Managing Editor

T Subscribe to our free DAILY email newsletter to stay on top of everything we are publishing in print and online, as well as what we’re sharing across our social media platforms. Visit one of our websites for a link to subscribe.

his week marks a special milestone for Charlotte Media Group as we reintroduce Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, Union County Weekly and South Charlotte Weekly to our print readers. As COVID-19 began to spread across the Charlotte region in March, we merged our print newspapers into what became The Regional Weekly. We appreciate readers being patient with our regional format. There will still be some regional content in these editions, but we are work-

ing to make it more relevant and compelling to readers in all of the zip codes we serve. Moving forward, we will be more intentional about what runs in the print edition. We’re not where we were prior to the pandemic, but we’re scratching and clawing our way back. If you are interested in helping us, you can make a single donation to our voluntary pay program (www.cmgweek ly.com) or you can sign up for membership into our CMG Insiders program (on our websites), which has incentives built in. Otherwise, you can send me story ideas or submissions at justin@ cmgweekly.com. I want to thank everybody that has contributed to our campaigns so far as well an anyone who has emailed me information in recent months.

have more money to spend. “No one in America should be working a 40-hour-a-week job and still be living in poverty,” he said. “It should not exist.” He also wants to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. “I’m not trying to punish anybody,” Biden said. “It’s time everybody starts paying your fair share.” In response to a question about relief for restaurants affected by the pandemic, Biden bashed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. He said too much of that money went to big companies, instead of companies with less than 50 employees. Biden said he will make sure small businesses get funding to pay for gloves, masks, sanitation and social distancing tools (like signage and dividers) needed to open safely. “I promise you, I guarantee you, if I’m elected, you’ll get both the PPE, you’ll get also the money to be able to open and additional money not only to maintain your employees, but to maintain an open place,” Biden said.

Community shelter provides eviction relief to renters The Community Shelter of Union County is providing more eviction prevention relief funds to renters in Union County, thanks to federal and state grants. “Although the CDC ordered a nationwide suspension of certain residential evictions until the end of the year, we’re continuing to provide support now,” Chief Operations Officer Melissa McKeown said. “COVID-furloughed renters who are unable to pay their rent now will have no way of catching up on even more months of rent once the moratorium is lifted.” The eviction-relief funding will not only help households but also local landlords. “Most of our landlords are

small to medium business owners,” McKeown said. “They have been without rental income for months, too.” The criteria for eviction relief was established by the grantors, not the shelter. Renters must provide proof that their non-payments are the direct result of the COVID pandemic and that without assistance, they would become homeless. People should visit www. UnionShelter.org/EvictionRelief to see the criteria and documentation needed, fill out the form and forward it to the shelter. The grants make limited funding available through December 2020 and do not affect homeowners.

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The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020 • Page 3A

Truitt, Mangrum debate Opportunity Scholarships, reopening schools by Julie Havlak Carolina Journal News Service

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RALEIGH – Reopening schools is the top priority of Catherine Truitt, the Republican candidate for state superintendent. Truitt also wants to defend the Opportunity Scholarship program, but her Democratic opponent, Jen Mangrum, contends learning must take a back seat to teacher safety. Opportunity Scholarships provide low-income students up to $4,200 per year to help pay tuition at the private school of their choice. About 12,285 students received the scholarship in 2019. Mangrum bashes the program as a threat to public schools and a parasite on funding. Whoever wins in November will have the authority to manage the state’s $10 billion education budget, hundreds of contracts, and oversight of senior staffing decisions. On Sept. 24 Truitt and Mangrum faced off in a debate hosted by the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership and Spectrum News NC. Both candidates agreed virtual schooling has left some students behind. But their reactions couldn’t have been more different. Truitt says children have paid the price for Gov. Roy Cooper’s shutdowns. She bashed the governor for worsening inequities in education and criticized him for imposing a “one-size-fits-all” statewide approach. “Absolutely they’re falling behind,” Truitt said of students. “We are upholding one form of safety over another when we deny students the ability to return to school. As far as metrics go, what I’d say is that initially this all became about flattening the curve, and then it became ‘let’s have zero cases.’ The goalpost keeps moving.” Mangrum contends health is more important than learning. She described classrooms as “unsafe,” saying she’ll follow the metrics to either reopen or shut schools in the event of a second wave. She praised Cooper while slamming Mark Johnson, the current Republican state superintendent, for being “MIA.” “The state law that describes a teacher’s job description puts welfare as No. 1. Academics are No. 4,” Mangrum said. “Aca-

demics are important, but the first thing is their health and safety and that of their grandparents. Yes, some have fallen behind. We’re going to have to accelerate next year.” Both candidates supported wearing masks at school. Truitt distanced herself from Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Forest, who has criticized face coverings. Mangrum opposes the state’s Opportunity Scholarships. She blamed the program and inadequate public school funding for failing schools. “Not only is it the worst one,” Mangrum said of Opportunity Scholarships, “[but] our students are getting curriculum that says man and dinosaur walked together, that slavery isn’t that bad. They have no accountability, no transparency, yet they’re [private schools] taking dollars away from our kids.” Truitt called the description “disingenuous.” “The Opportunity Scholarship program is an opportunity for some families who’re low income to escape from neighborhood … schools that have been failing for generations,” Truitt said. “I don’t understand how someone can claim that we’re dismantling public education when we’re providing more funding than ever.” Both candidates support higher education spending and teacher raises. But Mangrum said more money is the solution to education’s problems. Truitt pointed to more local flexibility. “We’re at a crossroads in education right now that has been accelerated by COVID,” Truitt said. “COVID has shed light on many things that were already wrong with our system. … We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and expect different results.” The nonprofit N.C. Institute of Political Leadership trains future public servants to serve in elected or appointed office in North Carolina. Its Hometown Debate series, produced in partnership with Spectrum News, focuses on political races in election years and policy issues in non-election years. The Truitt-Mangrum debate was the second of this election’s Hometown Debate series, and was held at Meredith College in Raleigh.

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Page 4A • The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020

Games spice up college courses at ECPI It might seem that games would be something that most students leave behind when they advance to the college classroom, but highly skilled educators know that games can serve as an invaluable tool for stimulating learning, especially in a remote learning environment. At ECPI University’s Charlotte campus, medical assisting faculty member Dr. Sharon Tam has found them quite useful. Some of the games she uses includes Kahoot, Jeopardy and Quizlet. She also uses a variation of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? In her version, questions are tightly aligned with the medical assisting curriculum, including the muscular and skeletal system. “I might offer a student a lifeline or a 50/50 where I take away two of the possible

answers,” Tam said. “They can also ‘phone a friend,’ meaning they can ask a classmate for help or they can ‘ask the audience,’ which involves polling the entire class. “The students really seem to enjoy it,” Tam said. “Games like these allow them to engage in some friendly competition which brings a motivational element into the process. They also work as teams which fosters collaboration. Being able to work as team member is valuable in just about any profession.” Games also bring a visual element into the learning process. Seeking to bring that same visual ingredient into his remote classroom, Cyber and Network Security faculty member James Clapp is using Mindmeister, an online mind-mapping tool that allows users to capture, develop and share ideas visual-

ly. Mind-mapping is a technique that helps Clapp’s students visualize their thoughts and communicate them to others. It encourages a free flow of ideas, which makes it the ideal format for brainstorming and creative problem-solving. As a learning tool, it can help students structure information, improve memory, foster creativity, and facilitate collaboration. Right now, Clapp is using MindMeister to map out the intricacies of each service that comprises Amazon Web Services. “I implement mind-mapping because it allows the student to visualize content to put all the pieces together in way that illustrates how they interrelate,” Clapp said. “Mind mapping not only requires that all students engage with each other, but also makes them want to engage because it is actually enjoyable, not just another assignment. It’s one of the few projects that we have done that students work on during their break because they are having so much fun. Another unique aspect of mind-mapping is that it allows them to make connections to material that is already presented thereby, encouraging deeper learning.” Feedback from students has been very pos-

itive, both in terms of facilitating teamwork and retaining information. “We each had a branch that come off the main topic, so by researching it, collaborating with teammates, as well as connecting the services completed by other groups, it helped us piece the puzzle together and made it much easier to retain what we had learned, rather than sitting through a long lecture,” student Obbie Clayton said. “The class agreed that this method was much more mentally captivating than a lecture class.” Classmate Mitchell Shelton said Mind Maps helped him keep the subject matter as short and concise as possible which made for quick recollection. “This is the way I learn best, focusing on key words and associating them to the proper topic,” Shelton said. “It’s a great tool for virtual learning environments because it keeps the whole class engaged whereas something like PowerPoint isn’t going to connect at the same level. By the end of the class, we filled in a lot of information, and it left me feeling confident enough to sit for my first certification with the mindset that I could pass it.”

Obbie Clayton said techniques like mind-mapping are more effective than a mere lecture. Photo courtesy of ECPI

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The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020 • Page 5A

Catalyst for downtown Indian Trail gets incentives by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

Indian Trail leaders have committed $500,000 in incentives to expedite site work of Indian Trail Town Center, which Union County’s lead economic developer says will create new tax base and redevelop the downtown area. Chris Plate describes Indian Trail Town Center as a three-part mixed used development that is going to be a catalyst for downtown. It will have 252 apartments, 100 townhomes and 160,000 square feet of retail and commercial office space. Plate, executive director for Monroe-Union County Economic Development, told the Indian Trail Town Council on Sept. 22 the incentives are only going toward the commercial portion, namely water infrastructure. “The water pressure is adequate to satisfy the residential components within this development but not the commercial piece,” Plate said. The developer plans to invest $30 million in construction and equipment of the new buildings with the potential upfit of up to $15 million within the shell of the buildings, Plate said. It could generate 175 retail

“

Incentives are very important to us. We want to make sure we use them appropriately and have protection to the taxpayer because it is their investment.”

and office jobs. Plate told the council that for every dollar invested into the project, they’re getting back $7.13 over 10 years and $14 over the lifetime of the project. The developer couldn’t create the commercial project without the incentives, Plate said. “It definitely is a defensible incentive to put forward to the taxpayers because they are actually going to be reaping significant benefits and that is just on this footprint,” Plate said. “This does not count the other benefits that will occur around it in that epicenter.” Councilman David Cohn said he liked the Town Center project but noted the council has been talking about it for 14 years. “There are so many things in town that we’ve approved that never get built,” Cohn said. He wanted to know when the developers would actually start building.

SCOUTS (continued from page 1A)

drive during quarantine to collect more than 1,500 books for Book Harvest in Durham, sent out military care packages and letters and delivered gifts and handmade cards to Bright Blessings in Matthews. The nonprofit celebrates birthdays of homeless and impoverished children. In addition to receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Alyssa and Sarah have also earned Girls Scout Gold Awards for their projects in the community. Kayley’s project, “Second Chance Comfort-Fast Fashion for Feline & Friends,” has been approved and she is currently working on it. Kayley hopes to educate people about fast fashion and its environmental impact by collecting used clothing that would otherwise go to a landfill. She will then repurpose the fabric into small blankets and toys for foster pets. “I love animals. I have three cats and a dog,” Kayley said. “I’m very happy and excited to be finding a solution to two of these issues that I’m very passionate about.” Through “Technology for Seniors,” Alyssa helped teach older adults about current apps, websites and social media platforms to stay connected with friends and family. Alyssa visited Waltonwood Providence, a senior living community in Charlotte, and

POETRY (continued from page 1A)

those cracks and get back up again and keep going down the path that we’re going.” Kaleb would go on to write 89 more poems to himself and others with anxiety or an autoimmune disorder over the next few months. Together, they make up a healing book of the same name, “uneven sidewalks.” He plans to self-publish the book exclusively on Amazon in early November. The book is broken into two parts. The first is called “stumbling” and the second is “ascending,” to represent the times that we fall and the times we get back up again, Kaleb said. The poems go in chronological order of when they were written, aside from Kaleb’s first poem, “uneven sidewalks,” which sits in the middle. “You can kind of see where I was between having intense anxiety that wasn’t processed all the way until actually being able to process what I was going through,” he said. Each poem has a minimalist illustration drawn by

• Chris Plate Economic Development Director Marcus Arroyo, president of Ty-Par Commercial Realty, replied there were a lot of intangibles that lead to delays. His firm has been working with the town, county and state to remove some of the obstacles. “As of right now, we have two really good businesses that want to come now,” Arroyo said. “We want to go ahead and get those properties and pads ready as we speak.” He said buildings could start going vertical into early 2021; however, it may take up to five years to finish the project and fulfill road improvements. Plate assured the council the agreement has language to protect the town from losing its money if the project doesn’t meet its schedule. “Incentives are very important to us,” Plate said. “We want to make sure we use them appropriately and have protection to the taxpayer because it is their investment.”

met with residents to help answer individual technology questions and needs. She also created a website to host her presentations and make them easily accessible to older adults and care facilities worldwide. Her project was completed just before the pandemic and provided necessary resources to those in assisted living and independent living. Sarah’s project, “#FindSerenityInArt,” focused on the benefits of art on mental health. Sarah planned to hold events at school for students to create paintings while promoting healthy habits to reduce stress and anxiety, but she had to pivot due to the pandemic. Instead, Sarah distributed chalk kits, canvas kits and flower pot painting kits to Waxhaw residents, along with a flyer about the positive effects that art – both creating it and viewing it – can have on anxiety and stress levels. She asked recipients to post pictures of their projects on social media with the hashtag #FindSerenityInArt so she could track her progress. Sarah also created a website and Facebook page to share the benefits with others and sent informational flyers to schools around the country. “The impact was larger than I could have ever dreamed it could be,” Sarah said. All three girls helped support each other’s projects by volunteering to paint canvases, partnering with older adults who needed assistance at technology events and offering to be a collection point for clothing drives.

his friend, Sabrina Becht, that’s meant to capture the embodiment of the words. “It also kind of represents what I was feeling during that time that I wrote it,” Kaleb said. Originally, Kaleb wasn’t planning on sharing his poems at all. It wasn’t until he showed his parents that he even considered doing something more. Kaleb said his parents have always supported his creativity as an actor, singer and writer. He has been in more than 20 staged productions and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Walt Disney World and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. When they read “uneven sidewalks,” Kaleb said they were in awe. “I saw something in their eyes,” he said. “It kind of just expressed the beauty of the concept that even though these words may mean one thing to me, it definitely means something to someone else.” However his poems are interpreted, Kaleb said he wants readers to know no matter where they are in their journey, it’s never too late to heal from what

they’ve gone through, and their story can inspire hope. That’s why Kaleb decided to dedicate “uneven sidewalks” to his cousin, Adam; his brother, Colton; and his great-grandfather, who he calls “Pop.” In July, Kaleb’s cousin was found unconscious in his apartment in Louisiana. He was on life support for almost two months before making a miraculous recovery. Kaleb's brother recently re-tore his ACL and will miss most of his high school football season. His great-grandfather has been battling skin cancer for years. Kaleb hopes the poems in “uneven sidewalks” are relatable and convey a message of empathy, while leading the reader toward healing. “Even if we’re going through different things, we still have that same process of starting with the tragedy that we go through and then going all the way to healing and to restoration again,” Kaleb said. Get the book Follow Kaleb Dufrene on Instagram @kalebdufrene for details about the release of “uneven sidewalks.”

LETTER (continued from page 1A)

Monroe. I am also proud to have been a Monroe Rotary board member, Alliance for Children board member HealthQuest board member, and Union County Chamber of Commerce board member. Working to fight for our children’s right to a safe learning environment, I was appointed to the UCPS safety committee in early 2018 and currently serve on that committee today. This committee includes law enforcement members who discuss every aspect of ensuring safety for all 53 of our Union County Public Schools, along with their students, teachers and staff. It is because of my passion to serve our community, I was drawn to serve our Board of Education, composed of myself and eight other highly respected individuals. During my tenure on the Board of Education, I have served on both the finance and policy committees where I advocate for all UCPS students, teachers and staff. My background, working as a banker, brings a unique skillset to the finance committee. I continue to push for complete transparency in all financial aspects of UCPS while understanding the nuances of a $450 million budget composed of three sources; federal, state and local. I continually advocate for increased funding at the state and local levels. As a member of the policy committee, I promote policies to ensure students and staff have the tools to be successful and that all students have equitable educational opportunities. In the 2019-20 school year, I, along with the majority of the board, supported numerical grades for

School board member Todd F. Price with family. Photo courtesy of Todd F. Price

UCPS seniors and in-person graduations. I believed our seniors needed their accomplishments recognized after years of hard work. Before I conclude, I would like to thank the entirety of our staff as we navigate through this trying chapter together as Team UCPS. Your hard work, long hours and dedication to our students does not go unnoticed. As I ask for your support and vote, when reelected, I will continue to advocate for all UCPS students and staff. Although we are living in unprecedented and trying times, I am confident in the resilience of our community and I look forward to continuing to serve our wonderful school system, looking towards greatness and working for what our students, teachers and staff deserve. In closing, I would appreciate your continued support by voting for me, Todd Price, for Union County Public Schools Board of Education on Nov. 3. Respectfully, Christian, husband, father and proud UCPS Board of Education member, Todd F. Price

Page 6A • The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020

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COMMUNITY The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020 • Page 1B

Work starts on regional rehab hospital Atrium Health broke ground Sept. 24 on the new Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation hospital. The project is the first step in modernizing Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center campus in Charlotte. Officials said the new building will be a regional rehabilitation hospital, designed with state-of-the-art technology and programs to better serve patients and the surrounding communities. “A bricks and mortar milestone with a scope, scale and size that is not only significant but is truly fulfilling our mis-

sion of hope, health and healing – for all,” said Ken Haynes, president of Atrium Health’s Greater Charlotte Region. The project will include a 150,000-square-foot replacement hospital, 70 private patient rooms, a 9,300-square-foot outpatient clinic, an outdoor therapy challenge garden, an aquatic therapy program and a center for independent living. “Our new rehabilitation hospital will provide an environment with a focus on patient experience, enhanced quality of care and be a state-of-the-art hospital

that will allow for recruitment of the best and the brightest providers,” said Dr. William Bockenek, chief medical officer of Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation. “Each of these will help raise the standards of excellence for Carolinas Rehabilitation, continuing to make this hospital a leader in patient care.” The groundbreaking coincided with the hospital’s 70th anniversary during National Rehabilitation Week. Construction is expected to take just over a year with a grand opening slated in the next 18 to 24 months.

Robbie Parks tells those at the groundbreaking about getting injured nearly 40 years ago in a crash. He’s now a sports and adventure program tech at Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation. Photo courtesy of Atrium Health

It's OK to go gray Women jumping on hair trend by Kim Wickerham Contributor

From parks to events like Taste of Charlotte, the Charlotte region has proven to be a great place for families to visit. CMG file photos

Top tourism

Visitor spending hits record $7.8B in region last year Visitor spending in the Charlotte region hit record highs in 2019, once again surpassing all other destinations in the Carolinas. The region hosted 29.6 million visitors, an increase of 400,000 visitors from 2018, according to research firm Longwoods International. “The Charlotte region’s 10year growth, leading the state in visitor spending, is significant,” CEO Tom Murray said. “Our $7.8 billion visitor economy fuels critical areas such as building transportation assets, raising the destination profile, attracting strategic events and enhancing quality of life.” Visitor spending in the Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical

Area, which represents 10 counties in the Carolinas, increased by 5.2% and totaled $7.78 billion. Mecklenburg County led all of North Carolina's 100 counties in domestic travelers' expenditures at nearly $6 billion, an increase of 5.6% over 2018. Mecklenburg County represents 26.9% of all domestic travelers' expenditures in the state. Union County, which ranked fifth among the Charlotte MSA, generated $152 million in visitor spending. State and local tax revenues generated from travel totaled $425.7 million in Mecklenburg and $11 million in Union. These figures represent an estimated annual tax see TOURISM, Page 4B

NCDOT sends out $132M for roadwork Projects will focus on resurfacing streets The N.C. Department of Transportation has begun distributing nearly $132.7 million in Powell Bill funds to 508 cities and towns across the state. Municipalities use the money primarily for street resurfacing, but it can also be used for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, drainage systems, sidewalks and greenways. “The Powell Bill funding helps local governments improve transportation systems within their communities,” Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette said. “These funds help complete critical projects like repairing roads and supporting local projects

such as bikeways and sidewalks.” Amounts are based on a formula with 75% on population and 25% on the number of locally maintained street miles. Twenty-three cities are receiving at least $1 million, led by Charlotte at $13.7 million based on its population of 863,985 and 2,537 miles of maintained roads. Others receiving funding include Monroe ($907,879), Indian Trail ($856,511) Matthews ($724,684), Mint Hill ($684,847), Stallings ($388,692), Waxhaw ($364,434), Pineville ($203,628), Marvin ($147,799), Wingate ($96,801), Lake Park ($91,194) and Marshville ($62,802).

Municipalities have received more than $4.8 billion in street aid since the Powell Bill program started. Communities will get half of their allocations soon with the remainder coming by Jan. 1. CMG file photo

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Charlotte Media Group. Our Voluntary Pay programs runs through October 15th and your contribution goes directly to funding our mission of providing hyperlocal, unbiased, vetted news in the communities we call home. Visit www.cmgweekly.com/donation to make an online contribution. Or, you can mail us a check at PO BOX 1104, Matthews NC 28106. We sincerely appreciate your support!

Adrian Garson

Over the past few months, I’ve seen a new trend emerging on social media. From the pages of Facebook to the Wickerham colorful pics on Instagram, women are proudly sharing their latest fad, gray hair. All over social media, these silver foxes are popping up and rightfully so. They’re beautiful women in their 40s and 50s, maybe a co-worker, teacher, family or friend. Regardless of the woman, they all have one thing in common. They are fed up with coloring their hair. Perhaps this trend was provoked by the pandemic. Salons had shut down abruptly, leaving women to take to their own devices. Some chose to purchase box dyes, while others decided to wait it out. As weeks turned into months and roots began to surface, women began embracing their natural color, proving that gray hair is beautiful no matter what the age. Now, you might be thinking this sounds oh-so-wonderful but have no idea where to start. That’s where I come in. I’ve done enough research for the both of us and am happy to share. Besides, I’ve had a few of these silver foxes in my own chair and can dish the dirt on the entire process. So, let’s get started. First, you need to find the right colorist. You’ve taken years to build up all that color, right? So, let’s take some time searching for a skilled colorist to remove it. Look for someone that specializes in gray transformations and has a substantial color portfolio. Get a handful of consultations, gathering information as you go. Consider questions such as, how long have you been coloring your hair? And, why are you choosing to embrace your gray now? All of this information gives the colorist insight to your lifestyle and helps determine if you’re a good candidate or not. Be patient with the vetting process, it could take a while to find just the right colorist. So, it’s transformation day and you’re more nervous than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Relax, it’s going to be a fun day! The key word being day. Remember when I mentioned the plethora of color that has built-up on your hair? Well, it’s going to take some time to get it all out, roughly eight to 10 hours. The length of time can vary depending on your hair color, texture and condition. It’s important to remember that going gray see GRAY, Page 3B

C G C G Charlotte Media Group

Charlotte Media Group

Page 2B • The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020

Atrium Health launches vaccine research program Atrium Health has developed a new research program, “STRIVE for Healthier Futures,” in hopes of identifying a vaccine that safely and effectively prevents the spread of COVID-19. STRIVE has opened a voluntary vaccine research registry that will allow people to learn more about vaccine research and development. People who take part in the registry may be invited to participate in future COVID-19 vaccine trials and will be provided with convenient access to trials should they be interested. Currently, there are no antiviral medicines available to treat COVID-19 and no licensed vaccines to prevent infection or serious illness related to the disease. “Vaccines are the way forward and will allow us to turn the page on this pandemic across the world, our country and our local community,” said Dr. Christine Turley, vice chair of research at Atrium Health Levine Children’s. “Each person now has a

unique opportunity to play a role in this effort.” Atrium Health is looking for at least 10,000 volunteers to join the registry as a critical step in providing a strong, regional response to the pandemic. Following the launch of the registry, Atrium Health will open a COVID-19 vaccine trial. Atrium Health anticipates the trial will guide scientists closer to identifying a safe, effective vaccine that will be widely accepted. Officials said it is crucial to have diverse representation in program participants. Patients’ outcomes with infection illness or response to medical treatments may vary depending on many factors. For example, there may be disparities in outcomes based on pre-existing health conditions, race and ethnicity, or treatments that work well in men may not be as effective in women. “When study participants reflect diversity, we can gather information that allows us to best develop solutions that work for all patients,”

DINING SCORES Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants Sept. 18 to 24: Charlotte (28209) • Chopt Creative Salad, 4125 Park Road – 95 • Easy Like Sunday, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road – 95 • Five Guys Burgers And Fries, 2810 South Blvd. – 99.5 • Hibiscus, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road – 96.5 • Kung Fu Tea, 4200 South Blvd. – 98.5 • Little Spoon Eatery, 2820 Selwyn Ave. – 94.5 • Maple Street Biscuit Company, 2725 South Blvd. – 98 • Portofino Italian, 5126 Park Road – 98.5 • Rock Salt, 512 Brandywine Road – 97

Charlotte (28210) • Ilios Noche, 8426 Park Road – 97.5 • Waffle House, 4739 South Blvd. – 95.5 Charlotte (28211) • Copain Catering Kitchen, 6601 Morrison Blvd. – 95 • Grandma’s, 3500 Latrobe Drive – 97.5 • Passport Dough & Co, 3500 Latrobe Drive – 91 • Roosters Wood Fired Restaurant,, 6601 Morrison Blvd. – 92.5 • Shun Lee Palace, 4340 Colwick Road – 95 • Wendy’s, 6555 Morrison Blvd. – 97.5 Charlotte (28226) • Chili’s Grill & Bar, 8302 Pineville-Matthews Road – 95.5 • Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, 8334 Pineville-Matthews Road – 99

Cases by zip code These figures represent cumulative COVID-19 cases reported by counties. Mecklenburg (Sept. 23) 28105: 878 28134: 290 28209: 566 28210: 1,356 28211: 634 28226: 744 28227: 1,581 28270: 427 28277: 955

Atrium Health, Carolina Panthers and Johnson C. Smith University partnered to distribute more than 30,000 masks Sept. 26 at the college campus to people, businesses and organizations as part of Atrium Health’s Million Mask Initiative. Photos courtesy of Atrium Health

Union County (Sept. 28) 28079: 587 28104: 492 28110: 1,365 28112: 844 28173: 999 28174: 276 28103: 234

CINE for details.

Turley said. Call 833-451-1188 or visit www. Atrium Health.org/COVIDVAC-

• Groucho’s Deli, 5110 Park Road – 96 • Hungry Howies, 8334 Pineville-Matthews Road – 98.5 • It’s Just Great Food, 4519 Providence Road – 99 • Mr. Toyko Japanese, 8334 Pineville-Matthews Road – 86.5 Charlotte (28277) • Arooji`s Wine Room, 5349 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. – 95 • Burtons Grill And Bar, 9816 Rea Road – 94.5 • Cafe Fior, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way – 97 • Chick-fil-A, 7910 Rea Road – 94.5 • Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, 16131 Lancaster Hwy. – 91 • Manhattan Bagel, 8040 Providence Road – 95 • Queen City Craft And Gourmet, 5349 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. – 96.5 • Saladworks Ballantyne Corners, 11318 North Community House Road – 96.5 • Sushi 101 Noodle Bar, 5355 Ballan-

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tyne Commons Pkwy. – 83.5 Indian Trail • Kate’s Skating Rinks, 14500 U.S. 74 E. – 99 • Starbucks, 13731 E. Independence Blvd. – 98.5 • Tap and Vine, 6443 Old Monroe Road – 100 Matthews • Azteca Restaurant, 9709 E. Independence Blvd. – 95 • Genghis Grill, 9727 E. Independence Blvd. – 94.5 • Grace O’Malleys Irish Public House, 157 N. Trade St. – 96.5 • Kabob-Je Rotisserie & Grille, 2233 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 90 • Osaka, 3531 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 92.5 Mint Hill • 7-Eleven, 4300 Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road – 96 Monroe • Cook Out, 1410 W. Roosevelt

Blvd. – 97 • Golden Corral, 2507 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 99.5 • Oasis of Monroe, 116 S. Main St. – 98.5 • Showmars, 2398 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 95 • Southern Roots Bar and Grille, 350 E. Franklin St. – 94.5 • The Spot, 1513 Concord Ave. – 98.5 Pineville • Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 99 • Charley’s Philly Steaks, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 94 • Chipotle Mexican Grill, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 97.5 • Sam’s Club Cafe, 11425 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 99 • Starbucks Coffee, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 99.5 • Starbucks Coffee, 9015 Pineville-Matthews Road – 99 Stallings • Mario’s Pizza Italian Restaurant, 2925 Weddington-Matthews Road

– 95 • McDonald’s, 14522 Lawyers Road – 94 Waxhaw • Broome St Burgers, 203 N. Broome St. – 97 • China II, 1309 N. Broome St. – 91.5 • Hacienda El Rey Mexican Restaurant, 3901 Providence Road S. – 98 • South Main Street Barbeque, 116 E. South Main St. – 98.5 Weddington • Panda Chinese Restaurant, 13661 Providence Road – 91 • Rock Store Express, 13801 Providence Road – 98 Wesley Chapel • Hot Wok Restaurant, 5943 Weddington-Monroe Road – 98.5 • Kami Chinese Thai and Sushi, 5922 Weddington-Monroe Road – 92.5 • McDonald’s, 5925 Weddington Road – 98 • Saveeda’s American Bistro, 5922 Weddington-Monroe Road – 96

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Firefighters ensure child safety seats have right fit by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

Firefighters with the Hemby Bridge and Monroe fire departments partnered with Safe Kids North Carolina to distribute 50 child safety seats and ensure others were installed properly Sept. 11 in the Idlewild Market parking lot. Shannon Bullock, director of Safe Kids N.C., said such outreach events not only provide some financial relief to people during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also give first-responders more exposure to inspecting seats. “This gives them real life experience when we do these clinics to make sure they are signing off on the seats correctly before they are nationally certified,” Bullock said. Police and fire departments regularly offer child safety seat inspections across the region, including Charlotte, Indian Trail, Matthews and Monroe, though COVID-19 may have prompted some to temporarily reduce hours or suspend them. “Parents are sometimes overwhelmed by all the things they have to take care of and worry about,” N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said. “They may not think about the importance of having a properly fitting child safety seat.” AAA, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 and 37% of children killed in car

State insurance leader supports fire departments by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

Mike Causey travels the state visiting firefighters. Causey, state insurance commissioner, was in town Sept. 11 to not only support a Safe Kids North Carolina event in Stallings, but he also presented the Monroe Fire Department with the SAVE Award in appreciation of an “above and beyond action” taken to save a life. One of the ways Causey most frequently supports firefighters is through the N.C. Department of Insurance's matching grant program. This year, NCDOI distributed $8.5 million in matching grants to fire departments throughout the state, Causey said. They are not handouts. Fire departments have to apply and commit to matching the grant with a local contribution. “I can't tell you how many fire chiefs I've met and talked with that told me had it not been for the matching grants program, they would have closed their doors years ago,” Causey said. “It's that important.” It's so important that Causey has asked legislators to help increase funding for the program, given the need he has seen.

GRAY (continued from page 1B)

is a tedious process and will require a little patience and a whole lot of time. Be sure to pack a lunch and wear something comfortable, it’s going to be a long day. If your hair is on the darker side, the process will begin by decolorizing. This process eliminates a fair amount of artificial color from the hair and decreases the amount of stress and damage that would otherwise occur during the lifting process. As the color is lifted, the hair’s natural undertones will be revealed which can range anywhere from reddish-brown to orange. This part might seem a little daunting and have you second-guessing this whole gray transformation thing, but don’t. Decolorizing is necessary to the process and I can assure that you won’t be leaving with hair the color of a fruit bowl. After the decolorizer has done its job, the hair is prepped and dried for high-

Firefighters with the Monroe Fire Department went through special training with Safe Kids North Carolina to install and check child safety seats. Justin Vick/CMG photos

crashes are unrestrained. “Parents with the best intentions may still unknowingly endanger their children by putting them in the wrong seat or not securing them properly,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. Want to learn more? Visit www.buckleupnc.org for more information on child seat checking stations around North Carolina. He's also worked with the private sector in providing fire departments support. In May, his office announced Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina donated $500,000 to help rural fire departments across the state. The money went to volunteer fire departments that were among the least funded. “There's so many things we do at the Department of Insurance and people have no clue,” Causey said. NCDOI employs sworn law enforcement officers. They've recovered $7.5 million in damages over the past two years. Special agents recently charged a Charlotte man with felony insurance fraud, accusing him of reporting damage from a hit and run that had actually occurred before he bought his vehicle. NCDOI also helps people find lost life insurance policies, recovering more than $6 million in one month this year alone, according to Causey. Want to learn more? Mike Causey (Republican) is running for reelection. He faces Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat who held the seat from 2009 to 2016, in the November election. Visit www.mikecau seync.com and www.waynegoodwin.org for more information.

lighting. My color of choice is always bleach mixed with a low volume developer and a protein bonder for protection. Leaving out the gray roots, the hair is foiled in small sections to lift faster. When highlighting the hair, it’s important to match up the highlights with the hair’s natural color. This process will take a few hours as the hair lifts through the orange and up to a level 10 pale-yellow. If you were to peel a banana, the inside color is what we’re looking for. Once the hair is lifted, it’s time to rinse and tone. I use an acidic, semi-permanent toner to condition and seal the cuticle. Remember, the goal here is silver-gray hair, so working with colors such as violet or blue will eliminate unwanted yellow or orange tones. If you’re one that totes a full head of silver, this could be your last step of the day. But oftentimes that’s not the case. Guests will have more salt around the hairline, with salt and pepper scattered throughout the back. When this happens,

the colorist will need to go back through the hair a second time and re-create the look by matching the dark hair. For those that have grayed prematurely and still have some darkness, this process will be a simple one. Perhaps a few strategically placed strands will do the trick, or something to showcase your new streaks of silver. If you’re thinking Diane Keaton or Jamie Lee Curtis, you’re on the right track. Ten hours later, it’s time for the big reveal. The chair is turned and you see an enhanced version of your gray for the very first time. If you’ve been coloring your gray for years, this transformation could be a drastic one evoking all sorts of emotions. Be sure to give yourself some time to adjust. You’ve come a long way baby! Want to learn more? Parasol Salon is located at 9949 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews. Follow on Instagram @thebalayagebelle or call 704-608-7594.

Page 4B • The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020

TOURISM (continued from page 1B)

savings of $383 for Mecklenburg residents and $46.11 for Union residents. “Hospitality and leisure is the fourth largest industry in the region, providing more than 147,000 jobs, and visitor spending directly supports nearly half of those jobs,” Murray said. “Recovery of the tourism industry is critically important to support so many of our local businesses, get residents back to work and

help rebuild the region’s economic strength.” Beyond Charlotte, domestic visitors to North Carolina spent a record $26.75 billion in 2019 (an increase of 5.6% from 2018), directly supporting more than 236,000 jobs and $6.6 billion in payroll income across the state. “The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry as an anchor of economic devel- The Charlotte region has green spaces and man-made places that are memorable. Syndication Sales CorporationCMG file photo The New Syndication Sales Corporation opment,” saidYork WitTimes Tuttell, 620 Eighth Avenue, New New York, York, N.Y. N.Y. 10018 10018 director of For VisitInformation North Car- Call: visitation, we can attribute that visitors experience, and Call: 1-800-972-3550 1-800-972-3550 olina. For “As No. 6 Wednesday, state in our success to19, the2019 natural to a passionate effort to inRelease December 18, 2019 Forthe Release Thursday, December the country for overnight beauty and authenticity form and inspire travelers.”

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64 Words Formersaid attorney 56 in a general Holder rush 65 Manipulative Corner recesssort 57 66 Reclined Way to go 59 67 Big Fit to be court tried, say 60 clay or a hint 68 event Young…explorer of to TVthe answers to 17-, 26-, 40- and 69 52-Across Some jingle writers 66 “Let me think 70 … Order since 1868 hmm, I don’t 71 think Right so” away 67 Anthem alternative DOWN 681 Flag Inducing an “Ooh-la-la,” 69 Muppet trio say the Sisters, 2 Oinker Naysaying e.g. 3 “My turn to go” 70 Host of Fox’s 4 “Cosmos: Symbolic flower A of Flanders Fields Spacetime 5 Odyssey” Candy with a chewy output center 71 Range 6 Verdi work that may include DOWN camels 17 0.0 – 4.0(onto) Latches 28 Recognition Some cough for an actor, remedies informally 9 Blind rage 3 “Aladdin” alter 10 ego Club requirement 11 In disuse 4 Destroyer 12 destroyer Abandon, in slang 5 Backyard 13 gatherings, Before, in verse for 21 short Spanish direction 6 Turn ascow, the 22 Wordup, with volume dog or horse 7 Astonishment 25 Gracefully thin 8 “___ a date!” 26 High-ranking 9 Indian flatbreads 27 Nixon daughter 10 28 Register One of three in the Buickuplogo 11 Splitting 29 Delighted One eating 12 before a king toddler’s demand 30 Introduction Off the markto 13 31 geometry? Dundee denial

Shortz Edited by Will Shortz 11

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We are collecting the cutest photos of pets in southern Mecklenburg and western Union counties for Charlotte Media Group’s Pet Hall of Fame. Unlike other Hall of Fames, we plan on adding to it frequently. Email photos of your cute pets to justin@ cmgweekly.com or tag us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for consideration. We’ll recognize new inductees each week! Our social media handles are @mmhweekly, @southcltweekly, @ucweekly, @itncweekly and @weeklywaxhaw.

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Rusty Jones is a happy vacationer any time he can be with his family. Here he is enjoying porch time in the mountains near Brevard. Photo courtesy of Sheryl Jones

PUZZLE EATON-SALNERS PUZZLE BY BY ALEX ED SESSA

18 listing 33 LAX Lacto-___ vegetarian in a 22 Revealing, 36 way Maker of TVs, Colortrak 23 Shoe blemish once 24 Column style 39 Certain Wise (to), in 25 legislative dated slang limit

40 Fig. Products made 27 that might by Friedrich, for earn you some short credits 28 41 11-time ShellacsN.C.A.A. basketball 42 champs Got word (of) 30 ___ as them 47 “Woe Unclasp, a …” coin purse

33 48 Take 2015back Verizon acquisition 35 Latin 101 word 49 “IWriter Gay 37 remember 51 now” One Direction and OneRepublic 38 Frost bit? 41 54 Behold, Parable to Brutus message 46 Film director with co-starring role 56 aComputer data in “Inglourious unit Basterds” 57 Trough call 48 Key holders 58 The Gaelic 50 Verbal “uisge shrug beatha,” 52 Prepare a meaningfor “water bodybuilding of life,” for competition “whiskey”

53 that’s times, not 59 Taste Said three sweet, sour,about a war film bitter salty Pearl or Harbor 54 Trim, as a T-bone 60 32-card card 55 Uninspired game 58 a QR code 61 Use 401(k) for, say alternative 61 Marina del ___, 62 Calif. Role for John Huston in 62 Down-to-earth 1966’s “The types, Bible” in brief? 63 Epitome of 63 easiness Iconic Russian department 64 Long storestretch facing Red 65 Take home Square

Online Online subscriptions: subscriptions:Today’s Today’s puzzle puzzle and and more morethan than7,000 7,000past past puzzles, puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 ($39.95aayear). year). Read Read about about and and comment comment on on each each puzzle: puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. nytimes.com/wordplay.

Searching through the archives, we found this cute photo of Bozley celebrating the Charlotte’s Best Friends Pet Care's 20th anniversary in 2012. Photo courtesy Best Friends Pet Care

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The Weekly • Oct. 2, 2020 • Page 5B

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NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION 20 JT 45

FORSYTH COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF: STELLA BRIDGE PICKLER, A minor child.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

TO: JERRY WAYNE PICKLER, Respondent TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been entered in the above action. The nature of the relief being sought is termination of parental rights of the minor child, Stella Bridge Pickler. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than November 11, 2020, which is 40 days from the first publication of this notice. This the 30th day of September 2020. Jon B. Kurtz Jon B. Kurtz Attorney for Plaintiff NC State Bar No. 21158 KURTZ EVANS WHITLEY GUY & SIMOS, PLLC 119 Brookstown Ave., Suite 400 Winston Salem, NC 27101 (336) 768-1515 ***This publication is to run once a week for three (3) successive weeks, commencing October 2, 2020 and ending October 16, 2020.

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