South Charlotte Weekly

Local author’s book helps young readers dash into the Holidays page 4

Serving The Arboretum, Ballantyne, Blakeney and SouthPark communities

Locally Owned & Operated www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Volume 14, Number 49 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014

South Charlotte schools ace academic competition

by Courtney Schultz courtney@thecharlotteweekly.com

Taking it to the mat

Yogarteen participants learn to stretch outside the classroom through a 10-week program that emphasizes concentration and compassion. See Courtney Schultz’s story on page 10. Courtney Schultz/SCW photo

Three south Charlotte schools qualified for the state finals of the Twelve academic competition that will take place Dec. 13 at Rogers-Herr Middle School in Durham.

Myers Park and Ardrey Kell high schools qualified in the high school division, and Jay M. Robinson Middle School qualified in the middle school division.

Twelve is a knowledge-based competition, orchestrated by the North Carolina Association for Scholastic Activities (NCASA), which tests students’ knowledge on primary core subject as well as other topics, such as sports and technology. At the competition, 12 topics are presented and students from each school are placed into four groups of three students to answer questions about three topics each.

“At the kick-off, the grouping of the 10 (see Twelve on page 13)

Playtime Sheets offers educational fun before bedtime Charlotte-based toy company debuts signature product

by Josh Whitener josh@thecharlotteweekly.com

It all started with a song on the radio that wasn’t exactly kid friendly.

Kevin Gatlin picked up his son from school one day and turned on the car radio, only to find his then-8-year-old son singing along to the hook of a “bad song.”

“He was 8 years old and didn’t know what

he was saying, but I did,” Gatlin said.

Shaken by the situation, Gatlin searched to find something suitable for his children to listen to in the car, but everything he discovKevin Gatlin ered geared toward kids was either a storytelling CD or a sing-along album – something he said neither parents nor children want to listen to for extended

periods of time.

Gatlin remembered the “A-B-C, 1-2-3” game his mom, a retired schoolteacher, used to play with him during car rides and chose to create a character that could guide children through various games they could play during road trips. Thus, the “Ride Along with Dooey” CD and Gatlin’s own toy company, the Charlotte-based Playtime EDventures, were born.

Inspired by the success and positive feedback to “Ride Along with Dooey,” which

includes more than 25 interactive car games, Gatlin chose to take another leap of faith and produce Playtime EDventures’s second product, Playtime Sheets, a product which recently made its debut at Charlotte’s Southern Christmas Show. The product is a “unique bedding solution that combines the comfort of traditional bedding with cognitive stimulation and creativity,” according to a news release.

Consisting of real twin-sized bed sheets (see Playtime on page 5)

INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Scores, 8; Education, 11; Faith, 16; Culinary, 18; Calendar, 20; Sports, 21; Classifieds, 27

Page 2 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

News

Fighting with faith Author’s book details her journey as the mom of a child with autism

by Josh Whitener josh@thecharlotteweekly.com

Linda Shannon always wanted to write a book, but she had no idea what to write about.

Shannon originally worked as a sales tax accountant, a career she pursued at the urging of her father and career counselor. But her entire life changed after she gave birth to her son, Brandon, in 1995.

“The first day I brought him home, I knew someLinda Shannon and her son, Brandon. Photo cour- thing was diftesy of Linda Shannon ferent,” Shannon said. “He didn’t cry unless he was hungry, and then when he did cry it was just a little bit.”

As Brandon continued to grow, Shannon and her husband, James, continued to notice signs, such as Brandon ceasing to speak in full sentences at about 3 years old.

“That was just so upsetting – there was no

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

rhyme or reason for it,” Shannon said.

After a number of tests and years of wondering, Brandon was diagnosed with autism at 8 years old – something Shannon said came as a relief and gave her peace of mind.

“Just to have that medical (diagnosis) on paper let me know, ‘Now I can move forward to what is next,’” she said.

Shannon has been a Christian since she was 14 years old and has relied on her faith, especially during the difficult days when she wasn’t sure what was troubling her son. As her prayer time increased, Shannon began journaling her experiences, writing stories, prayers and poems that reflected what was happening at the current moment and expressed everything she was feeling.

It was in 2009 when divine inspiration drove her to gather her musings and begin piecing together a book, Shannon said.

“In 2009, as well, I received part of the title – ‘Love Never Fails’ – (from God),” she said. “I was like, ‘OK, how does this relate to autism?’”

Shannon brainstormed about expanding the title and started sifting through her poetry, journal entries and prayers when she noticed a common theme: the feeling of being in a fight.

“It’s where I feel like I’m fighting autism – I’m fighting it,” she said. “There are things about the diagnosis and disorder that help Brandon do some fantastic things, (but) other things can cause turmoil, grief and unrest. I felt like I was wrestling with it – everything was a spiritual battle.”

Hence, the inspiration for the second half of the book’s title: “Wrestling with Autism.”

The entire process of putting together the book took about four years, as Shannon was simultaneously taking care of her family while she was crafting the book. The final draft was completed in late 2013, and the book “Love Never Fails: Wrestling with Autism” – Shannon’s first – was published in March.

Shannon said the most challenging thing about writing the book was choosing which stories from her journal to share. She wanted readers to be able to relate the struggles she, James and Brandon faced together, but she also wanted the book to stay positive and inspirational.

“I didn’t want anybody to be hurt, but

to help,” Shannon said. “That’s my gift, to encourage people. I just thrive on helping and encouraging … (The book) is not about what (Brandon) can’t do, but what he can do.”

Brandon, now 19 years old, is a senior at Providence High School. He has a passion for basketball and is currently working with a Charlotte Hornets trainer with the goal of becoming a professional basketball player someday. He plans to enroll at Central Piedmont Community College after graduating in June 2015 and increase the number of times he trains each week.

Brandon practices karate three days out of the week, and has his Brown Belt.

“He’s really good, and he just has a heart for it,” Shannon said about her son’s passion for sports. “His hand-eye coordination is great – that’s his gift. Anytime you put (a ball) in his hand, he does it. It’s just a natural gift.”

Writing the book not only has allowed Shannon to connect with readers who are inspired by the stories she shares, but also has brought her closer to her son.

“Through my writing, I’ve been able to know a fraction of the unconditional love God has for us by allowing me to raise Brandon,” she said. “I love being his mother. It’s the best thing that I do, the best job that I have.”

Find more information including a link to purchasethebookatwww.lindapraysforautism. com or search for the book at Amazon.com.

Shannon also is open to hosting book signings and author talks. Email her at lindashannon009@gmail.com for more information.

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 3

News

Dashing into the giving season Charlotte author writes children’s book for animal lovers

by Courtney Schultz courtney@thecharlotteweekly.com

The inspiration for Plaza-Midwood resident Clarkie Brown’s children’s book, “A Dasher Christmas” came while she was staying with her husband, Mike, in the couple’s cabin in the North Carolina mountains.

Brown had recently lost her beloved cat, Scooter, and was looking to relax at “The Hill,” the name she calls her cabin. While there, she and her husband found Clarkie Brown with Dasher a kitten living under their porch, and embarked on a scheme to rally the cat from under the enclosement.

“A kitten living below our deck was amazing because people up at ‘The Hill’ don’t usually have cats because they’re prey for the animals up there, like coyotes,” Brown said.

“In the five years that we’d had the hill, we’d never seen a cat.”

The couple lured the kitten from under the porch and trained it to be more family-friendly. Eventually the kitten became their family pet, Dasher.

“She is the most loveable, playful cat we’ve ever been around and we’ve grown up with cats,” Brown said.

She told friends and family about her experience finding Dasher and they encouraged her to write a children’s book.

Brown’s love of writing came when she was a child. She had a lazy eye, which means the muscles in her eye were not as strong as they could be and prevented her from seeing clearly, which left her literacy skills behind other children’s. Her grandmother, who was a college professor, gave Brown a travel journal to write entries in to help develop her literacy skills.

“She knew that because I love to travel that I would write travel entries and it would help me with my reading and my writing and punctuation. (It helped) to put ideas down on a page, to communicate a message,” Brown said.

Years later, after encouragement to Page 4 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

write her story into a children’s book, she said she felt God had given her two signs she needed to write the book in November 2011.

“Months earlier, I prayed and I said, ‘God, if Mike and I are not going to make the world a better place by bringing children into the world, use me as an instrument in one way or another to make the world a better place,’” Brown said. “‘Now you know God, I can talk myself out of anything, so you need to make it very clear what it is you want me to do.’”

In November 2011, Brown met two authors from separate towns who published children’s books with the same publisher, Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC, and felt the two occurrences served as her signs from God. Brown decided to write the story, and sent it to Tate Publishing, which was approved for publication five days later.

“I immediately knew that if it was going to publish, I wanted it to be used to help children in need,” Brown said.

She then decided to give all proceeds to New Life Homes, which help HIVpositive and abandoned babies in Kenya r e c e i v e proper care, nourishment and medications. Ninety percent of the children in the organization become HIVnegative after being in their care.

Brown said people have been responsive to the book, and have often given donations beyond the purchase of it, and now over $2,000 has been raised from book proceeds for New Life Homes.

“It’s been a huge reminder about how people have the most giving and loving hearts,” she said. “We are so blessed in this country to be as wealthy as we are and to be able to just give.”

She also said that although her book was meant for children, adults who are animal lovers have enjoyed the book as well. Others, like her illustrator, Liz Holt, have made strong connections to her story and can appreciate the storyline.

Brown will host a book signing at Park Road Books, located at 4139 Park Road in Charlotte, on Dec. 20, a Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m. The signed copy at the event will also feature a find label, which will identify items to look for in the illustrations, including Charlotte landmarks, such as the Duke Energy Building, where Mike Brown works. Copies can also be purchased at Amazon.com.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

News

Playtime (continued from page 1)

– one fitted sheet and one flat sheet – as well as a pillow case and 8 Crayola crayons, Playtime Sheets offers more than 30 games and teaching vignettes. Activities range from traditional games, such as checkers, chess and Tic-Tac-Toe, to original custom games and activities.

Playtime Sheets stays true to Playtime EDventures’s mission of providing educational activities for children. Gatlin recruited a team of educators who are experts in their field to develop educational curricula that go with the product, and even the most traditional games incorporate more than just playing by simple rules.

“It’s not just I move, you move,” Gatlin said. “We wanted to make it an educational, fun game, so we have questions that have to be answered in order for a child to advance in a particular game, like Tic-TacToe.” Gatlin came up with the idea for Playtime Sheets about three years ago, but unlike the CD, which Gatlin said was “easy” to produce, producing the new product was much more challenging.

“It’s like getting a four-year degree because there’s manufacturing involved,

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

time constraints … trying to learn the ropes before you spend the money takes a lot of time,” he said.

Gatlin’s efforts have paid off, as Playtime Sheets sold well during the Southern Christmas Show, and the product has received positive reviews. The Playtime Sheets content has been translated into Spanish to make the product “more demographic friendly,” Gatlin said, and partnering educators also have developed content for children with learning disabilities.

“We don’t just put out random toys,” he said. “We’ve also created special needs content, so if you have a child with autism or special needs, you have something for them.”

The company also partners with Classroom Central, Beds for Kids and the Salvation Army Women’s Shelter, donating a portion of the proceeds from Playtime Sheets sales to each organization. This gives the company a chance to give back to both the education industry and children who don’t have appropriate bedding, Gatlin said.

“We’re not a toy company that just wants to sell,” he said. “We’re a toy company where our first goal is, ‘How can we improve our surroundings or our community?’”

Find more information and purchase Playtime Sheets or “Ride Along with Dooey” at www.playtimeedventures.com.

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 5

News South Charlotte Weekly 10100 Park Cedar Drive, Suite 154 Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone: 704-849-2261 • Fax: 704-849-2504 www.thecharlotteweekly.com

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Andrew Stark Features Editor

Layout Editor

Josh Whitener

Liz Lanier

Asst. Sports Editor

Art Director

Hannah Chronis

Maria Hernandez

News Writer

A&E Editor

Courtney Schultz

Dee Grano

News Writer

Faith Columnist

Ryan Pitkin

Rev. Tony Marciano

ADVERTISING Charlotte Conway Adrian Garson DISTRIBUTION Manager Mike Kochy PUBLISHER Associate Publisher Randi Trojan Founder Alain Lillie Advertising: adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

South Charlotte Weekly is published by the Carolina Weekly Newspaper Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

News Briefs

Ballantyne Breakfast Club Meeting this weekend On Saturday, Dec. 6 at 9 a.m., the Ballantyne Breakfast Club will hold its monthly meeting at the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge’s Fairway Ballroom.

The topic of this meeting will focus on roads and traffic in the south Charlotte area. Guest speakers will be from the Bissell Companies, Charlotte Department of Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation and several local and state officials including city council District 7 representative Ed Driggs, N.C. Senator Bob Rucho and representative Bill Brawley the chairman of the N.C. Transportation Committee.

Presentations and discussions will cover a range of soon-to-be-completed, under-construction and planned road projects in the area. There will also be public input on other projects that need to be considered to help relieve the traffic congestion the area is dealing with.

The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge is located at 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. in south Charlotte.

CBCC Donates Over 6,000 School Supplies Through Pints for Pencils Program

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) wrapped up its “Pints for Pencils” campaign by donating more than 6,000 school supplies to schools around the region.

For every pint of blood donated in August and September, CBCC made a contribution in school supplies. Counties received school supplies based on the number of units collected in that county during the two months of the program.

Page 6 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

“A thousand thanks to our amazing blood donors, organizations, businesses and schools for being instrumental in the collection of lifesaving blood and for making ‘Pints for Pencils’ a huge success,” Martin Grable, president and CEO of CBCC, said in a news release. “We are grateful to those who helped meet the needs of local patients and contributed to the education of future blood donors.”

CBCC is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 27 regional hospitals, serving 19 North Carolina counties. CBCC focuses exclusively on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives here in the Carolinas.

CBCC is also committed to supporting students – who make up over 20 percent of its donor base – through initiatives such as “Pints for Pencils” and through scholarship and grant programs. Since 2009, CBCC has awarded more than $172,750 in scholarships and grants to local students and schools.

Contact Kim Jones at 704-972-4727 or at KLJones@cbcc.us for more information.

Build, remodel and landscape expo kicks off new year

Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the 16th annual Charlotte Build, Remodel and Landscape Expo, which will bring hundreds of exhibitors to the Charlotte Convention Center on Jan. 9 to 11.

The show features seminars, exhibits and demonstrations from local and national companies, designed to help consumers through the process of home improvement, according to a news release.

The 16th annual expo is the first consumer home show of the season in Charlotte, and features exhibitors who specialize in home improvement. Builders and remodelers, decorators and landscapers, and dozens of other specialties are represented.

Visitors can also take advantage of great

show specials and discounts offered by the many exhibitors only available at the Build, Remodel & Landscape Expo.

Tickets are $5 for adults, while children 17-years-old and younger are free. Show hours are Jan. 9 from noon to 7 p.m., Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Jan. 11 from 11a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit www.HomeShowCenter.com for more information or to schedule a builder appointment.

SouthPark introduces new stores for the holiday season

SouthPark is excited to welcome Toy Mania, A Taste Of Southern Season, This Land and Silver Coast Winery Tasting Room as new stores to the mall this holiday shopping season.

Located in The Village next to Paul Simon for Women, Toy Mania is a specialty toy store providing the latest collection of games, RC helicopters, cars and retro toys.

Southern Season, the South’s largest gourmet retailer, has opened A Taste Of Southern Season in the center of The Village, and features an assortment of local, regional and international samples from Southern Season’s gourmet food selection.

This Land, an online shopping and lifestyle site dedicated to promoting American artisans and supporting our nation’s heroes, opened its first pop-up shop in the Nordstrom wing. The store features limited edition, signed, handcrafted giftware, clothing and accessories from some of the nation’s finest craftspeople.

Shoppers can enjoy a wine tasting from North Carolina’s finest award-winning wines and explore the gift shop and art gallery at Silver Coast Winery Tasting Room, which is now open in the Nordstrom wing.

Holiday shoppers can also now enjoy Southern cuisine at Dave and Fran’s Taste of the South located in the food court, in addition to the recently opened Panera Bread.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

News

South Charlotte Weekly

Crime Blotter

The following crimes were committed in the south Charlotte area, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Property Theft

• Homewood Suites, 12030 Copper Way: Two iMacs, worth $1,500

each, stolen from business. Nov. 30 • 9100 block of Royal Castle Court: $200 cellphone stolen. Suspect allegedly dragged victim by vehicle while driving away with the phone. Nov. 30 • Macy’s, SouthPark Mall: $121 in merchandise stolen by employee.

Nov. 30 • 4400 block of Sharon Road: $120 Kindle reader stolen. Dec. 1 • Belk, SouthPark Mall: Suspect attempted to steal $1,485 worth of clothes. Presented three different

identifications to security after being caught. Transported to jail as Jane Doe for felony larceny and resisting/obstructing/delaying an officer. Dec. 1 • 12200 block of Lullingstone Road: $4,000 in copper wire stolen from utility trailer. Dec. 1 • 6200 block of Morrison Boulevard: $2,000 in copper wire stolen.

Dec. 1 • 6800 block of Knightswood Drive: $4,368 bracelet stolen from (see Crime Blotter on page 8)

Home/Business Break-Ins • 1900 block of Courtside Lane: $200 worth of construction equipment stolen from home garage.

Dec. 1 • Tall Oak Place, no address listed: $200 cash stolen during home break-in. Dec. 1 • 4500 block of Fox Brook Lane: Suspects fled from home break-in when victim yelled from bedroom.

Nothing stolen. Dec. 1 • 3900 block of Kingsgate Place: $900 television and $300 worth of prescription medicine stolen during home break-in. Dec. 2 • 7100 block of Broadford Court: Attempted home break-in.

Nothing reported stolen. Dec. 2 • 600 block of Vista Grande Circle: Jewelry, video game systems, video games and cologne, worth $4,550 total, stolen during home break-in. Dec. 3

Vehicle Break-Ins

• 15700 block of Brixham Hill Avenue: Purse with wallet and cash inside, worth $630 total, stolen and $300 damage to Mercedes Benz during break-in. Dec. 1 • 7300 block of Pickett Court: $5 cash stolen during two vehicle break-ins. Dec. 1 • 14000 block of Conlan Circle: Bag, jacket, perfume, hygienic products, toy car, drinking glass and clothes, worth $685 total, stolen during vehicle break-in. Dec. 1 • 12200 block of Copper Way: Wallet, duffle bag, notepad, clothes, binder, chef coat and hat, worth $700 total, stolen during vehicle break-in. Dec. 1 • 13800 block of Conlan Circle: Purse holding wallet with credit cards and identification, worth $146 total, stolen and $200 damage to vehicle during break-in. Dec. 1 • 10900 block of Pampas Circle: Purse, clothing, makeup, jewelry, flash drive and prescription medicine, worth $925 total, stolen during vehicle break-in. Dec. 2

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 7

News

South Charlotte Weekly

Restaurant Scores The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected the following dining locations from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3.

Lowest Score: • Cajun Yard Dog, 8036 Providence Road – 91 Violations included: Person in charge is not a certified food protection manager; employees donned gloves to work with food without washing their hands; dishwasher was not washing his hands between handling dirty and clean dishes; staff prepping vegetables with their bare hands; food held at improper temperatures; and wet wiping cloths stored on various surfaces around the kitchen, but not in sanitizer.

All Scores: 28210 • Comfort Inn Executive Park, 5822 Westpark Drive – 96 28226 • Blanchard’s Deli, 5721 Carmel Road – 97 • Jade Dragon, 7741 Colony Road – 95.5 • Kabuto’s, 7724-B Pineville-Matthews Road – 95 • Maria Bonita, 7741 Colony Road – 97.5 • McDonald’s, 3315 Pineville-Matthews Road – 95 (see Scores on page 9)

Page 8 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

Crime Blotter (continued from page 7)

home. Dec. 2 • 5900 block of Quail Hollow Road: Sweatpants and wallet holding credit cards, worth $145 total, stolen. Dec. 2 • Home Depot, 5415 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.: Two car batteries, worth $200 each, stolen from business. Dec. 2 • Dillard’s, SouthPark Mall: $751 worth of jeans stolen from business. Dec. 2 • Jimmy John’s, 4717 Sharon Road: $850 stolen from cash register of business. Dec. 2 • 17300 block of Commons Crossing Drive: $600 iPad stolen from home. Dec. 3

Vandalism

• 15600 block of Donnington Drive: $200 damage to two garage doors by graffiti. Nov. 30 • 4800 block of Waterford Knoll Drive: $300 damage to apartment window in vandalism incident. Nov. 30 • Smithfield Elementary School, 3200 Smithfield Church Road: $5 damage to mailbox by suspects attempting to throw basketballs at deer. Dec. 1 • 4700 block of Piedmont Row Drive: $300 damage done to Nissan Maxima in hit-andrun. Dec. 1 • 3100 block of Springbank Lane: $3,000 damage to Infiniti G37 in vandalism incident.

Dec. 1 • 7600 block of Cedar Creek Lane: $187 damage done to Subaru Baja in vandalism

incident. Dec. 2 • 7700 block of Rea Road: $3,000 damage to Nissan Rogue in hit-and-run. Dec. 3

Fraud

• 6600 block of Reafield Drive: $570 stolen through unauthorized use of ATM card. Dec. 1 • Fifth Third Bank, 6310 Fairview Road: Suspect attempted to cash a fraudulent check.

Dec. 2 • 5600 block of Sage Hills Drive: $150 stolen through unauthorized use of credit card.

Dec. 2 • 7800 block of Rea Road: $214 stolen through unauthorized use of credit card. Dec. 3

Drugs

• 9000 block of Providence Road: Possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Dec. 1

Other

• 8600 block of Rea Road: Suspect struck victim’s vehicle and then drove into a building.

Suspect arrested for driving while impaired.

Nov. 30 • 2800 block of Redfield Drive: Victim found deceased animal in her home and didn’t know how it got there. Dec. 1 • 4100 block of Providence Road: Adult suspect encouraged two juvenile victims to fight.

Dec. 3

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

News

Scores (continued from page 8)

28270 • Five Guys, 1605 Galleria Blvd.

– 99 • Shiki, 1848-K Galleria Blvd. – 93.5 28277 • Blackthorne Restaurant, 11318 N. Community House Road – 98 • Cajun Yard Dog, 8036 Providence Road – 91 • Cherry Blossom, 8206 Providence Road – 94.5 • Five Guys, 9820 Rea Road – 98.5 • Genghis Grill, 11324 N. Community House Road – 97.5 • Hickory Tavern, 12210 Copper Way – 96.5 • Jade Villa Asian Bistro, 14815 Ballantyne Village Way – 93 • Jersey Mikes, 7828A Rea Road – 93 • Just Fresh, 13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place, suite 175 – 98.5 • Mellow Mushroom, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way – 97.5 • Villa Antonio, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way – 97 • Which Wich, 9831 Rea Road, suite G – 97

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

28209 • Crown Town Café, 4701 Hedgemore Drive – 95 • Dragon House Buffet, 355 E. Woodlawn Road – 95.5 • Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, 1730 Abbey Place – 97 • McAlister’s Deli, 4805 Park Road – 97 • Qdoba Mexican Grill, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road – 98 28211 • Eddie’s Place, 617 S. Sharon Amity Road – 96 • IHOP, 336 S. Sharon Amity Road – 98 • Leroy Fox, 705 S. Sharon Amity Road – 96.5 • Red Rocks Café & Bakery, 4223-8 Providence Road – 97 About the grades…Restaurants are given grades of A for scoring at least 90, B for 80 to 89 and C for 70 to 79. The state revokes permits for restaurants that score below 70. Find more details on Mecklenburg County restaurants at the health department’s website, http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/ county/HealthDepartment/Pages/ Default.aspx.

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 9

News

Taking it to the mat Middle school students participate in weekly yoga, art program

by Courtney Schultz courtney@thecharlotteweekly.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.

“Let the distractions slip away. Focus.”

Cash leads a weekly yoga and art class as part of Yogarteens, a 10-week nonprofit youth development program for sixththrough 12th-grade students.

Cash has practiced yoga for about six years, and is a certified yoga instructor. She began teaching yoga and breathing techniques to athletes, but as more students began to practice 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 with the hope of giving back to the community.

She has now expanded the program into six schools, including South Charlotte, Jay M Robinson, Alexander Graham and Community House middle schools as well as Northwest School of the Arts.

“This was not my original plan,” Cash said. “It’s amazing what it’s become.”

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.

Page 10 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

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 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 the goal rather than rushing into the end result.

“It’s not about being good at something,” she said, adding program is perfect for both athletes and non-athletes. “It’s about the practice.”

Quail Hollow eighth-grade student 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 get 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, joined Yogarteens because her mother practices yoga, 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.

Cash said the experience has been “rewarding” since students aren’t the only ones learning lessons.

“I learn from them as well,” she said. “I learn to remember to have that playfulness as an adult.”

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 in south Charlotte.

BeYoga is hosting a winter challenge to raise money for Yogarteens throughout December. Based on “check-ins” through Facebook, Yelp and other social media, Be Yoga will track how

Yogarteens founder Kelsey Cash (in black tank top) leads weekly yoga sessions at Quail Hollow Middle School.

Courtney Schultz/SCW photo

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, and 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 the 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 will also 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 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 conformable to be who they are and empowers teens to have confidence in their every day life,” Grom said. “(Yoga is) really a centering experience. It brings you to yourself. Really its to discover your full potential within your body.”

Cash plans to continue to build and sustain the program and hopes to expand the program to other schools.

Visit yogarteens.org to find more about the program or email info@yogarteens.org.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Education South Charlotte Weekly

Education News & Notes

Charlotte Catholic to perform Christmas concert The Charlotte Catholic High School bands will present “A Christmas Festival” concert on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, located at 3016 Providence Road in Charlotte.

The program will showcase the symphonic band, percussion ensemble and jazz band.

Admission is free, and the performance is open to the public.

Contact Michael Ford at 704-370-3361 or mikef@charlottediocese.org for more information.

Eastover to host presentation for parents Eastover Elementary School will host a presentation, “Anxiety and Our Children,”

by Dr. Elizabeth Christenbury, a psychiatrist at Presbyterian Psychological Services.

The presentation will be for parents on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Contact Alexis Marteslo at eastoverpta@ gmail.com or amarteslo@gmail.com for more information.

Eastover is located at 500 Cherokee Road.

Charlotte Latin students participate in Phoenix Literary Festival Charlotte Latin Upper School creative writing students Audrey Davis, Rachel Hargrave, Genna Holtz, Riley Singer and Jack Wrigley competed for and won invitations from High Point University to attend the school’s Phoenix Literary Festival on Nov. 21.

The writing workshop featured Nathaniel Mackey, the Reynolds Price Professor of Creative Writing at Duke University, who is a professional poet, novelist, editor and literary critic. He also has served as the chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.

Charlotte Secondary student makes a splash at MIT Jonas Nilender, a sophomore at Charlotte Secondary School, attended the Splash program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Nov. 22 to 23.

The program involves classes offered to high school students once a year at MIT. This year, 3,400 students chose to attend Jonas Nilender classes among 600 total courses.

Jonas enjoyed classes about the Korean War and nuclear weapons technology, according to a news release. He plans to study mechanical engineering in college. www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Myers Park IB students ace DECA competition Several IB students from Myers Park High School earned top spots at the DECA District competition on Nov. 20 at Myers Park.

The competition is a combination of a knowledge-based exam and businesscase role play presented in front of judges, according to the school’s newsletter.

Members will continue their competition season by testing and presenting at the DECA State competition in February in Greensboro.

Top performers at the state competition will compete at the International DECA competition to be held in Orlando, Florida, in April. The Myers Park DECA club is the 5th largest chapter in North Carolina.

The following students took top honors at the event: business services marketing, Diane Martin, first place and top test; principals of marketing, Jackson Proctor, third place overall and top role play; Proctor and Pierre Lipton, top test; and restaurant full-service management, Sara Chelena, finalist; and Alex Gordon, top role play.

Duke summer academy accepting applications Duke University began accepting applications for its 2015 summer academy for high school students as of Dec. 2 for students currently in ninth to 12th grade.

The academy is a three-week, non-creditbearing program that attracts students who represent the next generation of leaders from around the world, according to news release.

Students will experience authentic college residential life, explore global themes and make connections with students from around the world while going on various excursions around the state and country.

Applications can be found at summersession.duke.edu/high-schoolstudents/duke-summer-academy.

The application fee is $50.

Contact Teresa Cerrato Amador at teresa. cerrato.amador@duke.edu or Dr. Nicki Charles at nicki.charles@duke.edu for more information.

Teacher turnover decreases in 2013-14 The number of teachers leaving North Carolina public school classrooms is down slightly from last year, according to the 2013-14 annual report on teachers leaving the profession presented to the North Carolina Board of Education earlier this month.

In 2013-14, 13,557 teachers left their local school districts resulting in an overall state turnover rate of 14.1 percent, according to a news release. This was down from the 14.3 percent reported in 2012-13.

The turnover rate for CharlotteMecklenburg Schools was 15.2 percent with “personal reasons” as the highest proponent for turnover, according to the report.

Find more information about the teacher turnover rate at www.ncpublicschools. org/docs/educatoreffectiveness/surveys/ leaving/2013-14turnoverreport.pdf.

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 11

Education

Andrew Crosby, a sixth grade social studies teacher, dressed up as King Tut as part of the day’s activities. Courtney Schultz/SCW photo

Students sampled cuisine from various countries to experience the countries’ cultures.

Courtney Schultz/SCW photo

Each class represented a different country through cultural displays. Courtney Schultz/ SCW photo

Students dressed in cultural costumes and learned about different countries during International Day. Courtney Schultz/SCW photo

Students take a journey around the world during International Day

by Courtney Schultz courtney@thecharlotteweekly.com

Students at Charlotte Secondary School traveled around the world without leaving school as they celebrated the Paideia school’s first International Day on Friday, Nov. 21. The day allowed students to explore the cultures and cuisines from countries across the globe, and each grade was given a continent and each classroom represented a different country.

Students participated in academic activities throughout the week leading up to Friday’s event, and then researched and displayed the country’s history, culture, music, clothing and more through their classroom presentations. Each student was given a “passport” to take a journey around the world in each classroom, and students also sampled cuisine from various countries.

Encore Catering and Café, Margarona and many parents contributed food items to the event.

“It’s about sharing each other’s culture that we haven’t experienced before,” said Laura Cook, head of high school and one of the event’s organizers.

Charlotte Secondary considers itself a diverse school with students from varying backgrounds.

“We mostly did this because we have a diverse school and it’s helpful to learn from families all around the school,” said Agustina Morello, an 11th-grade student and Charlotte resident.

Art teachers Michelle Rusgo and Charlotte Chavis also were instrumental in organizing the event.

Rusgo said they wanted to work the five senses throughout the project.

Page 12 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

“Students led and teachers facilitated,” Rusgo said. “The student had to choose how they thought the country needed to be represented.”

Caitlin Cornwell, development and communications coordinator, said the goal is to develop students as world citizens, and feels students most enjoyed taking ownership in creating their displays.

Rusgo felt the schoolwide event allowed the high school students to mentor the middle school students as they helped them execute ideas and bring their imagination to life.

Daryn Edmonds, an 11th-grade student from Charlotte, helped build different structures for middle school classes, including a pyramid for the sixth-grade students that represented Egypt.

“Originally, in my seventh-grade year, we

represented Eygpt (in a previous, smaller cultural event day), and I built a pyramid,” Daryn said. “I wanted to build the pyramid again for them.”

Daryn constructed the pyramid in about two days, and was glad to see the younger students mingle with the older students.

Rusgo hopes children find an appreciation for other cultures and bring an attitude of tolerance to the school.

“The more education you have in different cultures, then there is less bullying,” she said.

Daryn feels the event ties in with the family-oriented culture of the school.

“We’re all a big family – despite race or background,” he said.

Visit www.charlottesecondary.org to find more information about the school.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Education

Twelve (continued from page 1)

primary topics and two wildcard topics is announced. Each team has 12 minutes to assign three team members to each group before the first round begins,� read the competition’s website.

Students of each group answer 12 questions for 12 rounds, which are 10 minutes each, according to Leon Pfeiffer, executive director of NCASA. Students prepare by practicing with PowerPoint presentations from past competitions to establish the timing and pace of the competition. “If students aren’t used to the fast pace, they can get befuddled,� said Pfeiffer.

This is NCASA’s fifth year hosting the high school competition and the third year for the middle school division.

Both Ardrey Kell and Myers Park’s teams are hoping to take the top spot again after both schools have taken first at the state competition in the past. “We’ve won states in the past, and we’re looking to continue that legacy,� said Jenny Haney, physics teacher and Ardrey Kell’s Twelve team adviser.

The team’s strength is humanities, Haney said, and the team has been preparing through past questions and PowerPoints. She also said choosing students to go into each grouping is something the team has learned is important, but she hopes students enjoy the experience. “The kids have a great time and they really enjoy it and I think that’s probably the best,� Haney said. “The

academic kids don’t always get to excel in this competition setting.

Athletes have the chance to show their skills in a competition, and I think this a great chance for the kids to show their skills, who are more academic.�

Monika Tubb, science teacher and Myers Park’s Twelve team adviser, feels the students preparation in the classroom alone will help the team ace the competition. “We’re going to focus in practices where their weaknesses were (at the regional competition a few weeks ago) and focus on those areas,� said Tubb, who is advising the team for the first time.

She said she fully expects to win, and feels the team has the confidence level to achieve the top spot. She also added that students gain more than a coveted title. “Most of all they gain a sense of belonging and partnership and gain friendships,� Tubb said.

Pfeiffer hopes to continue the competition and to attract future students who appreciate knowledge. “Part of (the competition) is that students gets to celebrate the love of learning,� he said. “It’s an opportunity to learn more. It encourages students to go out and learn more about their favorite subjects.�

He encourages all students who have an interest in the competition to try it. “Like anything else, it’s good to try it out,� Pfeiffer said. “Most students who participate in it enjoy it and come back next year.�

Find more information about the competition, which is open to the public, at www.ncscholastic.org/ index.php/twelve.

BECOME A FAN! Search for the

fan page to get updates on upcoming stories and breaking local news.

Missed Paper? vĂŠĂžÂœĂ•ĂŠ>Ă€iĂŠ>ĂŠÂ…ÂœÂ“iĂŠ`iÂ?ÂˆĂ›iÀÞÊVĂ•ĂƒĂŒÂœÂ“iÀÊ>˜`ĂŠ`ÂœĂŠ Â˜ÂœĂŒĂŠĂ€iViÂˆĂ›iĂŠĂžÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŠ7iiÂŽÂ?ÞÊLĂžĂŠĂˆ\ääʍ°“°ÊFWFSZ 'SJEBZ]ĂŠÂŤÂ?i>ĂƒiĂŠV>Â?Â?ĂŠÂœĂ€ĂŠi“>ˆÂ?ĂŠĂ•ĂƒĂŠ>˜`ĂŠĂœi½Â?Â?ĂŠ}iĂŒĂŠ œ˜iĂŠÂœĂ•ĂŒĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠĂžÂœĂ•ĂŠÂˆÂ“Â“i`ˆ>ĂŒiÂ?Þ°

>Â?Â?Ê­Çä{ÂŽĂŠn{Â™Â‡Ă“Ă“ĂˆÂŁĂŠÂœĂ€ĂŠi“>ˆÂ?

EFMJWFSZ!DBSPMJOBXFFLMZOFXTQBQFST DPN

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 13

Page 14 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 15

Around Town

South Charlotte Weekly

Faith & Religion News & Notes

John Gorka

Singer/songwriter John Gorka to perform at Providence UMC Providence United Methodist Church will host a concert by world-renowned singer/songwriter John Gorka on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. in the church’s Wolfe Hall.

Gorka hails from New Jersey and began his musical journey by performing at a neighborhood coffee house in eastern Pennsylvania.

His songs have been recorded by well-known artists, such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black, Edwin McCain and Maura O’Connell.

“His rich multifaceted songs full of depth, beauty and emotion gained increasing attention from critics and audiences across the country, as well as in Europe where his tours led him through Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany,” read a news release about the concert.

Gorka also has graced the stage of Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, etown and CNN. His new song, “Where No Monuments Stand,” is featured in the upcoming documentary “Every War Has Two Losers” about activist and Oregon poet Laureate William Stafford.

Tickets are on sale at www.providenceumc. org, with profits benefitting Providence UMC’s Haiti missions and UMAR. Providence UMC is located at 2810 Providence Road.

St. Sarkis Armenian to host ordination ceremony Deacon Benjamin Rith-Najarian will be ordained to the Holy Order of the Priesthood on Sunday, Dec. 7, at St. Sarkis Armenian Church.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian will conduct the ordination. Barsamian is primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), which Benjamin Rithis based in New York and Najarian oversees more than 60 parishes from the East Coast to Texas.

The Celebration of the Divine Liturgy and Service of Ordination will take place at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary, and a reception dinner will follow the service in the church’s Acopian Hall.

St. Sarkis is located at 7000 Park Road.

Send faith news items to josh@ thecharlotteweekly.com.

Announcements should be sent two weeks in advance.

Page 16 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church’s annual Live Nativity will feature performances by children and youth and appearances by live animals. Photo courtesy of Barbara Navarro

Find your holiday fun Celebrate the season in south Charlotte

by Josh Whitener josh@thecharlotteweekly.com

December is officially here, marking the season for Christmas tree lightings, gingerbread houses, nativities, holiday performances, seasonal craft shows and the Man in the Red Suit himself.

Check out South Charlotte Weekly’s guide to holiday happenings around town scheduled for the weeks leading up to Christmas. And if you know of an event that’s not listed here, email us at news@ thecharlotteweekly.com with a few details about the event, including when and where it is, any cost associated and what

people who attend can expect.

Live Nativity People are invited to visit Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church on Dec. 13 and Sunday, a Saturday and Sunday, for the church’s annual Live Nativity.

The 15-minute presentation begins at 6 p.m. and repeats at 7 p.m. each night.

“This is a neighborhood tradition, telling of the timeless Christmas birth, through the acting of our children and youth, and enhanced with live animals,” read a news release about the event.

People are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Find more information at www.qhpc.org. (see Holiday listings on page 17)

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Around Town

Holiday listing (continued from page 16)

The church is located at 8001 Park Road.

Santa’s Craft Shop St. Matthew Catholic Church will host its ninth annual Santa’s Craft Show on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will feature gourmet chocolates and food, Christmas decorations, jams and jellies, photography, aprons, painted gourds, floral items, baskets, clothing, toys, lotions and soaps, ceramics, porcelain, breads and cookies, cards, purses, “unique” Santas, candles, jewelry, pottery, fabric art and more, according to a news release.

There also will be a shopping area for kids, as well as professional photos with Santa from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A food court will provide a sit-down area for dining, and the event also will include raffles and themed baskets. Admission and parking are free. People who arrive between 8 and 9 a.m. will receive the Early Bird Special including a free donut and coffee.

St. Matthew Catholic Church is located at the corner of Rea Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway, near exit 59 of Interstate 485.

Charlotte Chorale’s ‘Christmas Traditions’ concert The local, all-volunteer nonprofit Charlotte Chorale will perform its Christmas concert, “Christmas Traditions,” on Dec. 13, a Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. at the McGlohon Theatre in uptown Charlotte.

The performance will feature traditional Christmas carols, excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah,” selections from “The Nutcracker Ballet” and other popular yuletide songs, such as “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” Tickets cost $20, and are available online at www.carolinatix.org.

Charlotte Chorale also will collect $1 donations for its “Buy a Biscuit” program, which provides sausage biscuits to service members traveling through the Charlotte Douglas International Airport from Fort Jackson, South Carolina. These Columbia, South Carolina-based U.S. Army soldiers will receive a warm sausage biscuit when they arrive at the airport by bus on their journey home for the holidays.

The program, now in its seventh year, is part of an ongoing partnership between the Charlotte Chorale and the airport’s USO of North Carolina Charlotte Center.

Organizers provided 2,000 biscuits to soldiers last year.

Find more information at www. charlottechoraleinc.org. The McGlohon Theatre is located at 345 N. College St.

Pineville’s Christmas tree lighting The town of Pineville will host its annual Christmas tree lighting on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Belle Johnston Community Center.

Free activities from 4 to 5 p.m. will www.thecharlotteweekly.com

include a kids’ craft tent, bounce house, train ride, candy cane hunt and “snow.”

Entertainment with Mr. Nigel will take place from 5 to 5:30 p.m., and Santa will arrive on a fire truck and light the Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m.

Families are invited to visit with Santa and head over to the bonfire to make s’mores, as well as “bundle the kids” to visit Frosty’s Playland. People are encouraged to arrive early and visit downtown merchants and see who won the storefront decorating contest. Find more information at www.townofpineville.com.

The community center is located at 1000 Johnston Drive.

Gingerbread Lane competition People can visit The Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge to view a display of gingerbread creations from Thursday, Dec. 11, through Dec. 28, a Sunday.

Attendees can vote for their favorite entry with a $1 donation per vote, which will benefit the Levine Children’s Hospital. There is no cost to view the gingerbread houses.

The Gingerbread Lane competition offers two independent categories for professional and amateur entries. Judging will take place Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m.

Find more information at www.theballantynehotel.com/upcoming/events or call 704-248-4055.

The Ballantyne is located at 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

Blakeney’s Frozen Christmas The Blakeney shopping center will host Blakeney’s Frozen Christmas on Dec. 19 and 20, a Friday and Saturday, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. both evenings.

The event will feature carriage rides, crafts for kids, photos with Santa, an opportunity to win a giveaway from Kay Jewelers, hot chocolate and cookies and special character guests. Find more information at www.shopblakeney.com.

The shopping center is located at the intersection of Ardrey Kell and Rea Roads.

Caring Santa SouthPark Mall will host a Caring Santa on Dec 7 and 14, both Sundays, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

“Caring Santa Event provides a subdued environment for children with special needs and their families to visit with Santa,” read an announcement about the event.

Extra care will be taken to support sensory, physical and other developmental needs of children so they can enjoy the holiday tradition of visiting Santa and having their photo taken with him.

The Caring Santa will be stationed in Center Court near Kay Jewelers. Place a reservation for Caring Santa at www.eventbrite.com/o/southpark-mall-764006972.

SouthPark Mall is located 4400 Sharon Road South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 17

Culinary

La Catrina’s

....is la mediocre

by Charles Jenkin news@thecharlotteweekly.com

The building that was once Michael Arthurs, and before that O’Shea’s Irish Pub, has been culinarily reincarnated again. The place is in a prime location, in the booming growth of Ballantyne, at the fountains on Ardrey Kell Road. The shopping center is easy to get to, and there’s plenty of convenient parking.

With all that it has going for it, I’d expect a dining establishment to be very successful. The third contestant is another rebirth – what was once called Senor Tequila Mexican Grill on Rea Road closed earlier this year, but is now La Catrina Mexican Grill.

Travelers to Mexico often observe a stylishly attired female skeleton. The images are found in cartoons and on posters, as well as similar artwork by some of Mexico's great artists. This is image is known as “La Catrina.”

The front of the menu describes the thought process behind choosing a symbol of death and the Mexican tradition of celebrating the deceased.

This explains the skulls guests will observe around the dining room and bar area.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t get the décor, at least not for a restaurant– Mexican or otherwise. The original Irish bar from O’Shea’s appears intact and the rest of the room is filled with booths and tables. The tables are wrought iron with tile tops, most

likely the tables from Senor Tequila’s.

The floor is a bare, painted cement, and with the tables creates a hard look that can get also get noisy.

Guests will find most of the MexiLa Catrina is located a 8129 Ardrey Kell Rd. Charles Jenkin/SCW photo can fare they’d probably expect. Appetizers start with queso dip in a Mexican fondue, available with jalapenos, a traditional taco salad, quinoa salad light butter until golden and are then refried beans, chorizo, or ground beef or “Ensalada de Naranjas Y Tequila,” topped with a house tomato sauce and and pico de gallo; also with grilled which boasts mixed greens, toma- sour cream and come plated with rice, shrimp and artitoes, avocado, beans and esquites. A quesadilla, an chokes. roasted pep- enchilada and a couple burritos are “Nachos de La La Catrina Mexican Grill pers, mandarin included in this section, as well.

Casa” is offered 8129 Ardrey Kell Rd. oranges and Tacos are served with handmade traditional sugar roasted corn tortillas, fresh chopped cilantro, style, with addHours: pecans, with onions, salsa verde and lime. Guests ons of ground Monday through Thursday tequila orange can choose from carne asada -grilled beef or shred11 a.m. to 10 p.m. vinaigrette. steak; carnitas -seasoned roast pork, ded chicken; Friday through Saturday Several offer- Michoacán style; grilled chicken or “Nachos de 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. ings fall under that’s been marinated in achiote, Asada” with the heading lemon and spices; or chorizo - Mexiblack beans Phone: 704-246-7448 “Recetas de la can sausage with fresco cheese. “Al and a choice of www.lacatrinamexicangrill.com Familia,” or Pastor” is slow-cooked pork marinated grilled steak, family recipes. in pineapple juice and roasted chiles. chicken or Chimichangas “Tacos Cuervo” is comprised of three chorizo. “Calamares al Chile de Arbol” – crispy burritos filled with shredded corn tortillas dipped in guajillo salsa, arrive as lightly-fried rings dusted with chicken or beef, topped with melted stuffed with grilled skirt steak, pico the flavor red spicy peppers. “Arepas white cheese and pico de gallo – are de gallo and Mexican cheese. Tacos Venezolanas” are authentic corn-fried served with rice, beans and esquites de Pescado offers flash fried battered cakes filled with shredded beef or pas- (a Mexican corn salad). “Desmadre white fish, cabbage, pico de gallo and tor pork and pico de gallo. The menu de Enchiladas” arrive as three corn chipotle-lime cream. Other selecalso boasts Catrina’s fresh table-side tortillas filled with shredded, sea- tions include shredded beef with fried guacamole. Another offering is “Sopa soned chicken topped individually plantains; or grilled shrimp with artide Tortilla,” comprised of shredded with mole verde, mole poblano and choke. chicken breast in a zesty broth with cheese sauce, along with rice, black More options include half a dozen crispy tortilla strips, avocado, sour beans and esquites. “Chiles Rel- chicken dishes, another six with steak cream and fresco cheese. lenos Poblano” are peppers stuffed or pork, and five seafood dinners. (see La Catrina on page 19) For salads, guests can select from with Mexican cheese, pan fried with

Page 18 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Culinary

La Catrina (continued from page 18)

Fajitas can be had vegetarian or with most of the proteins. For a complete vegetarian consideration, there are four menu offerings. Guests can also choose to mix it up with one of the combination plates.

A couple of the poultry dishes are interesting. “Pollo con Mole de Metate” is made with grilled chicken breast covered with black mole sauce, made with different chiles, chocolate and spices, a traditional bittersweet sauce. “Pollo Tres Generaciones” takes a grilled chicken breast and tops it with honey barbecue sauce, melted cheese and pineapple.

My most recent visit was very much like the previous dining experiences at La Catrina, and similar to my last visit to Senor Tequila, which I’ll explain shortly. My guests met me at the restaurant on a Thursday around 7 p.m. Even on a Thursday evening, when most establishments in south Charlotte are doing a brisk business, La Catrina was rather quiet, with three other tables and no one at the bar.

It did make it easy to change tables from the front corner where it was very bright to a more appropriately lit table. Our waiter came over and asked for a drink order. No ‘welcome to La Catrina, is this your first time joining us?’ After all, they had just opened recently in the new location with a new name. They do have nightly drink specials on the website, they just were not shared at the table.

We received a bowl of salsa and chips as most Mexican restaurants offer. I like salsa – tasty little chunks and bits of tomato and peppers with just enough liquid to make the cilantro cling to the veggies. This salsa was almost all sauce and no vegetables as I could dip the chip in the liquid, but couldn’t actually get anything else.

The margaritas were brought to the table by the server. He placed the first one in front of me, which I thought odd, and then asked that I pass the next cocktail to the lady.

This was a booth table for four and very easy to comfortably place drinks before each individual and more

importantly, serve ladies first. We ordered the guacamole this time, as the menu says it is made tableside.

I was surprised to see our server return less than three minutes later with a large, heavy lava-type bowl of guacamole that he plopped on the end of the table and walked away.

What happened to arranging items and placing it center table for all to share?

The fact the guacamole wasn’t made tableside is inconsequential. What does matter is that the guac’ did not taste just made, and was laden with chopped tomato. It lacked flavor in general, along with the punch you get from just mashed avocado and was very disappointing.

On this visit I tried the chili rellenos. The peppers themselves and the cheese within were very tasty – unfortunately, the sauce on top was thin and breaking up. The side of refried beans in the small tortilla cup was cold and congealed. The taco entrée was mediocre and the shells tasted a bit stale. In general, the food on this occasion was just fair, as in previous times. The service had been somewhat better previously, but this time was less than satisfactory.

As the Facebook page reads, Senor Tequila closed due to the lease being up and reopened as La Catrina a few months later, with basically the same menu, which is fine. When Senor Tequila first opened, and for years after, the place was very busy and the food was very good.

Like too many restaurateurs, the decision was made to expand into the empty space next door and double the size of the eatery. The last time I visited Senor Tequila I had a fairly poor experience. The dishes had definitely lost something and service was very bad. It is extremely disappointing to see a successful restaurant expand, go downhill, and then close. To then reopen a few miles away, without going back to what made them successful originally – really delicious Mexican fare – is even more disappointing as is wasting my money on mediocre food.

La Catrina needs to either quickly improve the quality or suffer the same fate as the previous renters, and that of Senor Tequila.

SALES REP POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Carolina Weekly Newspaper Group is looking for additional sales reps for our growing group of award-winning community newspapers.

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, able to meet deadlines and have excellent communication skills. Advertising sales experience preferred; strong outside sales experience required. We offer salary plus commission, cell phone, paid vacation and a great territory.

E-mail your resumé to

alain@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com No phone calls, please.

One-and-a-half out of four stars www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 19

Around Town

South Charlotte Weekly

Calendar 12.6.14 Saturday

Ballantyne Breakfast Club Meeting, 9 a.m.

The Ballantyne Breakfast Club will meet in the Fairway Ballroom to discuss updates on in-progress and pending area road projects. The will also be a discussion of additional road needs and traffic concerns.

Guest presenters will include Clifton Coble, president of Bissell Development; Mike Davis, developmental services district manager for CDOT; and Warren Cooksey, director of outreach and community affairs for NCDOT. District 7 City Council Representative Ed Driggs, Senator Bob Rucho, Representative Jacqueline Schaffer and Representative Bill Brawley, Chairman of the North Carolina Transportation Committee will also be in attendance.

The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte.

12.9.14

Sunday

Tuesday

John Gorka, live at Providence UMC John Gorka has recorded 11 albums and many wellknown artists have recorded and/or performed his songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black, Edwin McCain and Maura O'Connell.

Tickets are $16, and are available online at www.

ProvidenceUMC.org. Profits benefit the missions of the Providence United Methodist Women.

Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Road, Charlotte Tuesday

Charlotte Woodcarvers meeting, 9 a.m. to noon The Charlotte Woodcarvers meet weekly on Tuesday mornings in Matthews.

All skill levels, from the most experienced to new carvers wishing to learn, are welcome to join the Charlotte Woodcarvers.

Cathcot Center of Carmel Presbyterian Church, 2048 Carmel Road, Charlotte

12.9.14

Saturday

Tuesday

The Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Decline, 2 to 3:30 p.m.; and 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Learn the best exercises to boost brainpower in this free workshop entitled, “Exercising Helps Keep You Smart: The Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Decline,” from The Ivey Memory Wellness Day Center and presented by Jessica Martin of Genesis Rehab Services.

Pre-registration is requested, and seating is limited for both sessions. Call 704-909-2070 for more information.

The Ivey Memory Wellness Day Center, 6030 Park South Drive, Charlotte

12.13.14

Page 20 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

Saturday

Christmas at the Mansion, 6 to 9 p.m.

All Things Possible Ministries will host a fundraiser to benefit people in life-threatening medical situations.

The event will feature live music, Christmas caroling, a raffle, heavy hors d’ oeuvres and a dessert contest judged by culinary experts.

Children’s DVDs will be playing in the theater room downstairs during the event.

Proceeds from the event will go toward paying medical bills of people who are in life-threatening medical situations, but lack funds for treatment, testing, medication and treatment. The donations are tax deductible.

Adult tickets are $20 before Dec. 10 and tickets for children 4 to 14 years old are $10 in advance. Adult tickets at the door are $25, and kids tickets are $15.

Register online at www.allthingspossible.org or email info@atpmin.org to enter the dessert contest.

The Johnson Mansion, 1800 Queens Road W., Charlotte

Dec. 6

12.13.14 Saturday

‘A Christmas Festival’ concert, 7 p.m.

The Charlotte Catholic High School bands will present “A Christmas Festival” concert. The program will showcase the symphonic band, percussion ensemble and jazz band.

Admission is free, and the public is invited to join the band in celebrating the Christmas season with music by the talented students of Charlotte Catholic High School.

St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte

12.9.14

12.6.14 Sky Zone Charlotte gets into the holiday spirit, 3 to 4 p.m.

Sky Zone Charlotte has teamed up with K104.7 to bring holiday spirit to the community. Santa’s helper, Ashley the Elf, will visit the trampoline park to hand out free gifts and goodies to everyone on the ‘nice’ list.

Ashley the Elf will have candy, holiday mugs, reindeer antlers for all and a special prize will be given to one winner at the end of the event.

For more information, visit www.skyzone.com/charlotte.

Sky Zone Charlotte, 10200 Centrum Pkwy., Pineville

12. 7.14

NoDa Campus Run, 5:30 p.m.

St. Nicholas will unleash a Krampuslauf, or a Krampus run, through the arts district of NoDA. Santa and his Krampus — the fearsome creature from Alpine folklore with long horns, a shaggy body, sharp fangs and a long, lolling tongue — will be out roaming the streets of NoDa looking for naughty and nice kids of all ages.

Professionally-trained Krampus wranglers will be on hand to help keep the monsters at bay, and there's fun all over the arts district, with a few special stops planned.

Look for Krampus in and around the area, plus catch all the special events throughout the night.

Visit www.nodakrampuskrawl.com for more information.

12.14.14 Sunday

Holiday tea and shopping at the Duke Mansion, 2 to 4 p.m.

The Duke Mansion invites guest to brighten their holiday season with a delicious holiday tea at The Duke Mansion.

While there, visitors can shop for memorable gifts from some of Charlotte’s top boutiques.

Tea will be served in the living room with tea sandwiches, canapes, scones and sweets.

The cost is $35 per adult, $15 per child ages 5 to 12 years old.

Reserve your spot by Dec. 12 at 704-714-4445 or by email at kellis@tlwf.org .

The Duke Mansion, 400 Hermitage Road, Charlotte

Send us your stuff!

Have an event going on in south Charlotte people should know about? Well, let us know!

Send us an email listing about your event, including when and where it is, any cost involved and how people can learn more or get involved. Items should be submitted at least a week in advance, and not all submissions will be used. Email us at news@thecharlotteweekly.com..

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Sports

South Charlotte Weekly’s

South Charlotte Player of the year:

Roshnee Sharma, Providence Day

South Charlotte Coach of the year:

Robin Griffit h, Charlotte Latin

Girls Golf Super Team MEGAN CULLIP

KERI KENKEL

Ardrey Kell

Charlotte Catholic

Cullip closed out an illustrious career in style as the senior helped Ardrey Kell win the So. Meck 8 conference regular-season title and finish second in the NCHSAA Class 4A Western Regional. Cullip finished seventh in the region by shooting an 80, and tied for 12th with a two-day 156 at states.

The Charlotte Catholic sophomore finished ninth at the NCHSAA Class 4A Western Regional by shooting an 84, but made a name for herself the following week at the state tournament at Pinehurst No. 1, where she shot a two-day 157 to finish in a tie for 14th place.

ROSHNEE SHARMA

ALEXIS WHITNEY

Providence Day

Ardrey Kell

Still just a junior, Sharma had a fine season leading the Chargers. She guided Providence Day to a conference title by firing a second-place 74 at the CISAA match, and followed that up with a two-day 146 at the NCISAA match, which was good for second place and an all-state bid.

The Ardrey Kell junior finished two shots off the pace at the NCHSAA Class 4A Western Regional, shooting a 76 to tie for second place. Whitney was the top southern Mecklenburg golfer at the state championship, where her two-day total of 155 tied her for eighth place.

It’s all in the SWING

by Hannah Chronis hannah@thecharlotteweekly.com

Providence Day junior Roshnee Sharma said her life changed for the better two years ago when her father’s business relocated from Richmond Hill, Ontario to Charlotte.

She was 13 years old at the time, and though the move meant adjusting to American culture and making new friends, she knew it would have an immediate positive impact on her golf game.

Sharma began playing the game at the young age of 6, but was limited in her development by the lack of accessible courses in Richmond Hill. Since moving to North Carolina, she’s transformed into one of the Charlotte area’s best golfers in the span of just two years. At the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association conference tournament this season, Sharma finished in second place behind Cannon’s Anna Redding. At the NCISAA state tournament, her two-day 146 made her the tournament runner-up and an all-state selection. After a wildly successful season, Sharma is now the 2014 South Charlotte Weekly www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Golfer of the Year.

Despite her standout performances, Sharma said the recognition and championship-worthy performances came as a surprise.

“It’s definitely been incredible,” she said. “I’ve been working really, really hard, but this was still unexpected. I didn’t expect to perform as well as I did because it’s my first year playing tournaments in a long time because of the move. I’ve spent a lot of time working on my swing, and it’s paying off.”

Sharma works in conjunction with her father, who’s helped develop her game from the time she received her first putter nearly a decade ago. She said it’s been his encouragement and perseverance that’s helped catapult her career.

“My dad is my coach, but we’re more like a team,” she said.

“We’re students of the game. It excites us both so much to learn about the golf swing and create shots. I remember when we lived in Canada, he would practice his swing inside and I would think, ‘That’s the most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen.’ When he gave me a U.S. kids’ set, it was one of the greatest moments of my life.”

Sharma’s natural talent is obvious – over the summer she fired a final-round 71 to win the Eighth Carolinas Junior Girls 15-andunder championship – but the humble star credits her success to her love of the game.

After a demanding academic schedule at Providence Day, Sharma heads to the Club at Longview where she’s on the course for three or four hours a day, even in chilling winter temperatures.

But for Sharma, it’s hardly considered practice.

“We’re always trying to get better and try something new and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than on the course,” she said. “For me, the hardest part is transferring from the golfing mind to the academic mind, but I think that’s one of the most fun things as well. I love challenging myself.”

When Sharma isn’t on the course or studying, she’s busy implementing her latest venture – a nonprofit organization she founded

Moon Cheong

Charlotte Latin The sophomore backed up her breakout fresh-

man season as the Hawks’ top golfer. The all-state selection finished third in the conference match by shooting a 75, and also was third at the NCISAA championship, firing a two-day 152, which helped Charlotte Latin to a fourth-place finish.

Second Team Bailey Dorton, Myers Park Sarah Godel, Providence Emily Herron, Charlotte Latin Parker Metling, Independence Austin Palmer, Charlotte Catholic

called ARFNA (The American Research Foundation for Nut Allergies).

Sharma suffers from a peanut allergy so severe that she must wear gloves on the course when going to shake someone’s hand.

But the allergy hasn’t inhibited her abilities, and she’s using it as motivation to contribute to society.

“I’ve been focusing on what I can do for society,” she said.

“There are a lot of people who suffer like I do and they probably think, ‘I can’t do the things that other people can do.’ I want to not only find a cure for it but I want people to know they can have a normal lifestyle. All of this as spawned because of golf. If I never played golf, I would never have the courage and motivation to start my own charity.”

With her senior year ahead of her, Sharma not only hopes to improve her tournament play and success on the Charger team, but she hopes to begin generating interest from colleges and continue developing ARFNA. She said none of it would be possible if it weren’t for golf.

“Golf is one of the best teachers in life,” she said. “It teaches you how to bring your body, mind and emotions under control.

When it’s in sync, it gives you the opportunity to perform your best while at the same time, when it’s not, you can’t. I think that really teaches me a lot deep down. I think it also teaches a lot about character and morals. The integrity of the game relates to real life and it gives you a confidence knowing you can be a good person and good citizen.

“In real life and golf, you have to do what’s in your power. In golf, you can hit a great shot, but the wind picks up and then it’s in the bunker. You can sit around and cry or you can pick up and do something. That’s one of the most important things about golf and real life. We can do what’s in our power and we can contribute. Golf has really helped me grow as a person. I love it. It’s everything.”

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 21

Sports

making their Cougars charge

by Andrew Stark andrew@thecharlotteweekly.com

When most fans think of Charlotte Catholic football in the past they probably think of a stud running back leading a host of capable runners, a physical offensive line and a hardnosed defense that opportunistically holds teams below their scoring average by both maximizing its big-play ability and minimizing opponents’ offensive attacks.

That’s the formula the Cougars have used seemingly forever – and it’s worked. Catholic has won at least 10 games in 12 of the past 13 seasons, and has gone 65-8 in the last five years, including this season’s 13-1 mark as they set to host Vance in the NCHSAA Class 4A Western Regional final on Friday, Dec. 5.

But although the results have been the same – the Cougars always-potent ground game has amassed 1,079 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in three playoff games – this year’s formula has looked vastly different to first-year coach Mike Brodowicz, who served as an assistant for 10 seasons under long-time coach Jim Oddo before taking over this year.

“I’m very excited about where we’re at,” Brodowicz said.

“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. We had (Elijah) Hood all of those years, we had (Steven) Belivaqua all of those years, (Ben) Herlocker, but this year it’s kind of, ‘OK, now who’s going to go out there and do it?’

“Obviously Miller and Jaret have done a great job, but we make some good throws at times and our line is blocking, but we don’t have that guy.”

Miller is senior jack-of-all-trades Ryan Miller who has rushed for 305 yards and five touchdowns in the last two weeks. On the year, he’s second on the team with 719 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, leads the team with 611 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and has played some quarterback and defense, as well.

Jaret is leading rusher Jaret Anderson, who has emerged as the top option in the backfield, rushing for 1,897 yards and 23 touchdowns this year.

The duo has emerged together to lead the offense, something that was a bit of a question entering the year.

“It was kind of a struggle at first for the whole team,” senior linebacker Braedon Mead said. “We didn’t have that one horse to carry us, and we were trying to figure out who would be the next one to step up, but as the season went on we figured out we can’t do this alone and we had to come together and play as a team.”

And that can’t be any more true anywhere than on the defensive side of the ball.

“Our defense is a bunch of no-name kids who play the scheme and have an air about what they’re doing and play together,” Brodowicz said. “But this has probably been the best team effort since maybe our state championship in 2005.”

The Cougars flexed their defensive muscle a week ago, holding high-powered Reagan quarterback Jake Easter scoreless, smothering an offense that had averaged 42 points per game and holding the Raiders to their first shutout since August of 2010.

“Week by week we’ve had different individuals step up – it’s not just one person,” said junior linebacker Alexander Gagnon, who led the Cougar defense with nine tackles against Regan and is second on the team with 108 tackles on the season. “I think each week we have someone else step up and we’ve been clicking.”

Gagnon and Mead (119 tackles) have lots of help in the Page 22 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

The Charlotte Catholic defense is a big reason for the Cougars’ 10-game win streak, but as they prepare to play Vance with a state title berth on the line, (from left) Jakob Trumpower, Alex Lapiana, Braedon Mead and Alexander Gagnon feel they have a lot more to show. Andrew Stark/SCW photo

form of junior linebacker Matthew White (84 tackles), senior defensive end Jakob Trumpower (72 tackles, 4.5 sacks), senior defensive back Alex Lapiana (72 tackles and three interceptions) and junior defensive back Andrew Brouse (five interceptions), among a host of others.

And everyone has contributed.

“In the last couple weeks especially, we’ve definitely been on our assignments,” Trumpower said. “We haven’t given up too many long runs, and not really any long touchdown, so we’ve been playing well as a team. We don’t have anyone who is going anywhere crazy-big to play football, but we do have great coaching, we have great teamwork and we play well together.”

All of that was on display when junior linebacker Connor Miller, who led the team in tackles and sacks at the time, was lost for the season after 10 games. Unfazed, the Cougars subbed in junior Michael Wilson, who has responded and refortified a dangerous defensive unit, posting 62 tackles and 6.5 sacks this year.

“It’s a pride thing for this defense,” Lapiana said. “This whole year we’ve held teams to below their scoring average.

Obviously we want to go into every game thinking you’re going to get a shutout, but we’ve done well all year at least limiting teams.

“We’ve rallied together as a whole team. Last year it was kind of like it was Elijah Hood and the rest of the Charlotte Catholic team, but now it’s just Catholic and it’s worked out well for us.”

On the year, the Catholic defense has limited all but two teams – Ardrey Kell and lowly West Meck – to below their scoring average, a fact they take great pride in.

“We’ve done a good job eliminating people’s strengths and making them beat us in another way,” Lapiana said. “I think we’ve been practicing really hard and I think we’ve been hitting our groove as a team. At the beginning of the season we kind of had some slow starts, but we’ve been coming out physical and playing well.”

And as the Cougars to prepare to take on Vance – a big, physical team who likes to spread the ball around on offense, especially with running back Donnovan Spencer (1,686 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns and a Mecklenburg

County record 406-yard game against A.L. Brown), quarterback Omar Baker (2,268 passing yards, 1,143 rushing yards and 38 total touchdowns) and receivers Myles Dorn (1,105 yards) and John Ifedi (653 yards) leading the way.

But, even with all of the firepower Vance possesses, the Cougars will continue to play their game as they look to return to the state championship game for the sixth time in the past 11 seasons.

“They do what they do,” Brodowicz said of Vance. “I think it comes down to who doesn’t put the ball on the ground.

They’re physical, but that doesn’t scare us. 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.”

The Cougars will benefit from playing at home, a place they’ve gone 37-2 since 2010, including playoff games. But this playoff game, especially to the seniors, is all they’re thinking about now.

“It’s special for sure,” Lapiana said. “For the seniors, we get to play our last home game with a chance to go to a state championship – it’s not just some meaningless regular season game, but it’s the biggest game of our lives beside the state championship.”

With a huge home-field advantage, a 10-game win streak, a trip to the state finals on the line, an offensive moving the ball as well as it has all season and a defense making believers out of everyone, the Cougars seem to have an edge.

But until the final horn sounds on Friday night, Brodowicz knows his team must battle each play to return to the state finals.

“We’re playing with a lot of confidence, but this time of year everyone is good and everyone is hot,” he said. “Their deficiencies are being overcome with excitement, and that’s what high school football is all about.

“It will be a good game – that’s what semifinals are, good games between two good teams with a lot on the line. We’re excited for it.”

Hannah’s pick: Charlotte Catholic Andrew’s Pick: Charlotte Catholic www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Sports

boyss u p e r 7 1) Ardrey Kell (4-1) Previous ranking: No. 3 The Knights boast four players who average 9.8 points or more and now get steady guard Devin Cooper – who transferred back to the Knights after starting this year at Northside. They’re as dangerous as any team around.

2) Providence Day (2-3) Previous rank: No. 1 It’s really hard to fault the Chargers who’s three losses have come to Huntington Prep (No. 7 in Maxpreps.com’s national rankings), Wesleyan Christian (No. 17) and state power Greensboro Day by a combined 10 points. They’ll bounce back, but they take a slight hit this week.

3) Myers Park (3-2) Previous ranking: No. 3

girls

su p er 7

1) Myers Park (5-0) Previous ranking: No. 1 With Aliyah Mazyck and Rydeiah Rogers headlining a strong returning cast, Myers Park was already a favorite to repeat as state champions. With the emergence of newcomer Chanin Scott and freshmen Lyric Mitchell and Ariyanna Brown, it’s understandable why they’re ranked No. 5 in Maxpreps.com’s national poll.

Previous ranking: No. 2 The Knights have played Class 4A state title hopeful Myers Park, Class 3A contender Weddington and perennial privateschool favorite Providence Day in recent games, so the schedule will even out and wins will follow for this talented group.

4) Butler (2-1) Previous ranking: No. 4

4) Butler (3-0) Previous ranking: No. 4

Butler’s win over South Meck looks really good right now. The Bulldogs’ one-two guard punch of RaeQuan Scott and Orlando Robinson rivals anyone’s, and Jah’lil Carter may be an emerging star.

The Bulldogs have looked good in their three wins to start the year, but don’t seem like they’re anywhere near their potential just yet. This team has a lot of talent, and with Kobe Leigh and Fairen Sutton will be in every game this year.

5) South Meck (3-2) Previous ranking: No. 5

5) Rocky River (2-1) Previous ranking: No. 5

The Sabres made a big statement with a win over Myers Park, and with Kamil Chapman, Grant Hedberg, Khayleb Connelly and Jalen Blakeney all seemingly on the same page, the Sabres could get on a roll.

The Ravens had their best season ever last year, and Ariana Nance and Hydeia Harvey have come out of the gates to prove that was just the beginning, and transfer Erin Whitley is adding another layer of toughness to a talented bunch.

6) Providence (2-2) Previous ranking: No. 6

6) Charlotte Christian (3-2) Previous ranking: No. 6

The Hawks nearly upset Myers Park and have looked good early on. Daniel Jones is proving to be dangerous, and if the Hawks get another consistent scorer or two, they could make some noise this year.

Also receiving votes: Charlotte Christian (4-1), Charlotte Catholic (3-1)

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

fan page to get updates on upcoming stories and breaking local news.

3) Providence Day (3-1) Previous ranking: No. 3 The Chargers have dominated the private school ranks, winning nine of the past 10 titles. With a two-point loss to Ardrey Kell, they proved they can hang with anyone in the state – public or private. Sophomore Janelle Bailey is in line for a really big year, and showing it already.

7) Charlotte Latin (3-2) Previous: No. 7

Search for the

2) Ardrey Kell (3-2)

The Mustangs suffered their first two losses of the season to South Meck and Charlotte Catholic, but Zaqwuan Matthews is playing inspired basketball, and they have 10 guys in their rotation – two traits that will go a long way for them.

Providence is one win away from topping last year’s total and two victories shy of their win total from the previous two years. With brothers Dalen and Devon Dotson and Luiz Machado off to fast starts, more wins are on the way.

BECOME A FAN!

A narrow overtime win over South Meck saves the Knights ranking for now, but they have a tough road ahead with Weddington, Parkwood and Rabun Gap among its upcoming opponents – games that will help give us a more complete picture of this group.

7) Covenant Day (6-1) Previous ranking: Not ranked The Lions jump into the rankings for the first time in nearly two years, but they may be here to stay. Sophomore forward Sarah Billiard is averaging more than 17 points and 17 rebounds a game, and her sister, Hannah, is averaging a double-double as well.

Dropped out: South Meck (2-4)

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 23

Sports

sports shorts

by Andrew Stark andrew@thecharlotteweekly.com

Myers Park earns Nelson 600th win, faces tough test The Myers Park girls basketball team began its state title defense by going 5-0 through a tough schedule of games to open its year. The Mustangs also earned coach Barbara Nelson her 600th career coaching win, but face one of their toughest tests to date when they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to take on Blackman on Friday, Dec. 5.

Blackman, who was ranked No. 1 in Maxpreps.com’s national poll before falling to Potter’s House Christian on Nov. 28, was the only team to defeat the Mustangs a season ago.

Blackman features 5-foot-11 junior guard MeMe Jackson, a Tennessee commit, Alex Johnson, a 6-foot junior forward who has offers from Ole Miss and Middle Tennessee State, Chaz Bond, Southern Illinois commit Micah Norris and Chrystal Dangerfield, the No. 7 rated prospect in the Class of 2106 and Blackman’s

leading scorer.

The Mustangs boast their own lofty national ranking – they’re fifth in Maxpreps.com’s poll – and highprofile recruits in Southern California commit Aliyah Mazyck and N.C. State signee Rydeiah Rogers.

The winner of this game could move to the nation’s top spot as Blackman and No. 2 Riverdale Baptist (Md.) have lost, and Mater Dei (Calif.) has yet to play this season.

Nelson earned her 600th win against Weddington on Nov. 29 and has since added two wins to her total.

The Mustangs return home on Tuesday, Dec. 9 against North Meck.

Christian’s VanSickle commits to Virginia Tech

Charlotte Christian senior kicker/ punter Jackson VanSickle committed to Virginia Tech University on Nov. 28.

On the season, VanSickle made seven of 10 field goal attempts, converted on all 53 of his extra points and had 31 punts for 1,037 yards – a 33.5 yard per punt average.

Charlotte Christian’s Jackson VanSickle committed to Virginia Tech on Nov. 28. Andrew Stark/ SCW photo

VanSickle, who is rated a 4.5star kicker and raked 41st in the Class of 2015 by Chris Sailer Kicking, had interest from a number of other schools including Connecticut, Duke, East Carolina, Georgia Tech and Miami, according to 247sports. com.

Ardrey Kell boys take over top spot in Super 7

Coming off an impressive season which saw the Ardrey Kell boys basketball team win a school-record 24 games and advance to the fourth round of the Class 4A state tournament, the Knights have come out of the gates showing they’re ready to back it up.

The Knights (4-1) have taken over the top spot in South Charlotte Weekly’s Super 7 rankings after winning each of their games by more than 10 points, and getting balanced production up and down their roster.

Elon commit Steven Santa Ana again leads the Knights in scoring (13.8 points, seven rebounds and 3.4 assists per game), but he’s been willing to contribute in a number of ways, said coach Mike Craft, who pointed to Santa Ana’s 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three drawn charges in their most recent win over Rocky River on Dec. 2.

“He’s really trying to distribute the ball and score, too,” Craft said. “I think he put a lot of pressure on himself in the Myers Park game (a twopoint overtime loss), but we talked about letting his teammates help him, and he’s done that.”

The Knights are deep and balanced with seniors Collin Cooper (13 points Page 24 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

per game), Ryhle Scott (11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds), Josh Freund (9.0 points, 8.0 rebounds), Seth Davis (3.1 points, 4.2 assists) and reserve Luke Lawson (5.0 points) all playing prominent roles.

“We have a senior-laden team, they know each other very well,” Craft said. “I can’t say enough about Rhyle and Josh inside. They’ve been steady and consistent – they’ve been able to score and rebound – and then Collin Cooper is averaging almost as much as Steven, is shooting the ball well and seems really comfortable in his role.

“Seth Davis has done a great job for us, he’s a heck of point guard and brings a certain amount of confidence to our team. Luke has done well at the point and played some (off) guard, too. All of those seniors have done really well.”

And the Knights have two wildcards to bolster an already strong lineup in sophomore guard Wes Morgan, who recently returned from injury, and senior Radford commit Devin Cooper, who was the Knights’ second-leading scorer a season ago and recently transferred back to Ardrey Kell from Northside.

“You’re adding another Division I player who can defend, push the ball and score and it adds another dimension to our team,” Craft said. “He has experience, he knows what we want and these last couple of days at practice, it’s like he never left.”

The Knights host East Meck and West Meck next week before opening conference play at Olympic on Dec. 16.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Sports

Basketball weekly stats Girls

POINTS

Name School Janelle Bailey Providence Day Aliyah Mazyck Myers Park Ariana Nance Rocky River Sarah Billiard Covenant Day Erin Whalen Providence Day Ali Fitch South Meck Hannah Billiard Covenant Day Kobe Leigh Butler Chanin Scott Myers Park Fairen Sutton Butler Michaela Daniels Providence Maggie Dupree Charlotte Catholic

Rebounds

Name School Sarah Billiard Covenant Day Lyric Mitchell Myers Park Janelle Bailey Providence Day Chanin Scott Myers Park Hannah Billiard Covenant Day Chi-Chi Maduegbunam Providence Deja McCain Ardrey Kell Grace Gach Charlotte Country Day Jaiden Mason Charlotte Christian Carrie Eberle Charlotte Catholic Lucy Pedlow Charlotte Country Day Melissa Roulier Charlotte Catholic Keyanah Richardson Butler

assists

Name School Aja Stevens South Meck Michaela Daniels Providence Sarah Billiard Covenant Day Kennedy Boyd Providence Day Maggie Dupree Charlotte Catholic Quiera Gilmore Ardrey Kell Izzy Gallant Providence Day Alexis Khlor Covenant Day Kobe Leigh Butler

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Games Points 4 24.5 3 19.3 3 18.3 7 17.9 4 16.3 5 14 7 13.7 3 13 3 12.7 3 12 4 11.5 3 11 Games 7 3 4 3 7 4 2 4 5 3 2 3 3

Rebounds 17.4 12 10.5 10 9.9 9.3 9 8.8 8.6 8.3 8 7.7 7.7

Games Assists 6 4.5 4 4.3 7 4 4 3.8 3 3.3 2 3 4 2.8 7 2.4 3 2.3

steals

Name School Michaela Daniels Providence Ali Fitch South Meck Claudia Dickey Charlotte Latin Lyric Mitchell Myers Park Carrie Eberle Charlotte Catholic Lucy Pedlow Charlotte Country Day Carly Walker South Meck

blocks

Name School Carrie Eberle Charlotte Catholic Sarah Billiard Covenant Day Hannah Billiard Covenant Day Chi-Chi Maduegbunam Providence Melissa Roulier Charlotte Catholic Sydney Scott Charlotte Latin Ali Gakenheimer Charlotte Country Day

Games Steals 4 5.5 5 4.4 1 4 3 3.7 3 3.7 2 3.5 2 3.5

assists Games 3 7 7 4 3 1 3

Blocks 4.3 4.1 3.4 3.3 3 3 2.7

Games 4 2 3 3 3 3 4 6 6 3 4 2 4 3 5

Points 28.5 23 23 22.7 22.7 20.7 20.2 18.7 18.7 18.3 18 17 16.8 16.7 16

Games 3 6

Rebounds 15.7 14

Boys POINTS

Name School Trey Phills Charlotte Christian Dalen Dotson Providence Khayleb Connelly South Meck RaeQuan Scott Butler Zaqwaun Matthews Myers Park Orlando Robinson Butler Grant Williams Providence Day Shawn Morrison Grace Academy Jaylen Thompson Grace Academy Kamil Chapman South Meck Remele Evrett-Hicks Carmel Christian David Perry Queen’s Grant Josh Howard Providence Day Patrick Tape’ Queen’s Grant Leito Holloway Rocky River

Rebounds

Name School Grant Hedberg South Meck Jaylen Thompson Grace Academy

Name School Patrick Tape’ Queen’s Grant Mac Brydon Carmel Christian Trey Phills Charlotte Christian Josh Howard Providence Day Remele Evrett-Hicks Carmel Christian Jah’lil Carter Butler Quadrian Jamison South Meck Luiz Machado Providence Josh Freund Ardrey Kell Name School David Perry Queen’s Grant Trey Phills Charlotte Christian Dalen Dotson Providence Tireq Morrow Rocky River Cole Klaren Grace Academy Jonah Hood Carmel Christian Jalen Blakeney South Meck Seth Davis Ardrey Kell Grant Williams Providence Day Jace Weir Queen’s Grant Bill Robertson Myers Park Demetry Leake Queen’s Grant Devon Dotson Providence Jaylon McClinton Charlotte Christian

steals

Name School Devon Dotson Providence Tireq Morrow Rocky River Lee Houck Myers Park Cole Klaren Grace Academy Dalen Dotson Providence Jalen Blakeney South Meck Kamil Chapman South Meck Chaz Raye Providence Day Remele Evrett-Hicks Carmel Christian

blocks

Name School Patrick Tape’ Queen’s Grant Nick Goble Myers Park Jah’lil Carter Butler Grant Hedberg South Meck Quadrian Jamison South Meck

Games 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 5

Rebounds 12.3 11.5 9 9 8.5 8.3 8.3 8 8

Games Assists 2 7 4 5 2 5 3 5 5 4.4 4 4.3 3 4.3 5 4.2 4 4 2 4 2 4 3 3.7 2 3.5 2 3.5 Games Steals 2 4.5 3 3.7 3 3.7 5 3.6 2 3 3 2.7 3 2.7 4 2.5 4 2.5 Games 3 3 3 3 3

Blocks 5.7 3.3 2.5 2.3 2.3

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 25

Page 26 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Carolina Weekly Classifieds Network

To advertise, visit www.carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

s #LASSIlEDS ARE ADVERTISED IN 3OUTH #HARLOTTE 7EEKLY 5NION #OUNTY 7EEKLY AND -ATTHEWS -INT (ILL 7EEKLY s

Vehicles for sale

2004 Silver Cadillac Escalade ESV for sale - Tan leather interior, 199K miles, no major defects $6,800 OBO Priced to sell - Call 980-4281467 No financing, Cash/MO only.

121914 Garage Sale

Dunn With Heart Moving Sale Friday, Dec. 5th,10 AM to 3 PM Saturday, Dec 6th, 9 AM to 3 PM Sunday, Dec 7th, 10 AM to 2 PM 5924 Hoover Ave Indian Trail, NC 28079 Dining Table & Chairs, Hutch.

Rockford Chest.

Nichols & Stone Chairs.

China, Waterford Chrystal, Fine Glassware, Silverware, Computer Desk. Men\’s Suits& Women\’ Clothing.

Cash, Master Card & Visa Accepted Don\’t Miss This!

120514 Merchandise

SHOP AVON 24/7 at your convenience.

Contact Mary Abel, Avon Independent e-Sales at 704497-7722 or visit http://meabel. avonrepresentative. com or www.

A l l B e a u t y N o w. c o m to place your direct delivery to home.

Use Discount Code: THANKYOU20 or WELCOME for 20% OFF on 1st order.

013015 For Sale

ELTON PIANO for sale .

Excellent condition .

Piano bench / stool included.

Daughter used when she took lessons. In Matthews area . $350. Call David M. 704-578-2392.

121214 Help wanted

ATTN: Drivers-$2K Sign-on Bonus Love your $55K Job! $2K Sign-on Bonus + Benefits Ave $1100 Weekly CDL-A Req 1-888-592-4752. www.ad-drivers,com.

SAPA GET PAID WEEKLY!FT and PT mail work from home. For full details visit: www.750weekly. comor call 512-8270060 (24/7). SAPA D r i v e r s : Regionals with CDL-A Run Southeast, Mid-south, Midwest Home Weekly. NEW PAY PACKAGE Good Miles, BCBS Medical/Dental/ Vision Jim 855-842-8501.

120514 Drivers: You Deserve a GREAT Paycheck

& Benefit Package.

E-Logs/Detention Pay after ONE HOUR!!

Monthly Bonus P r o g r a m / W e e ke n d Home-Time… CDLA/1 yr. Exp. 877-7043773. 120514 Diesel Truck Mechanic Salem Leasing is growing! We are seeking qualified Diesel Truck Mechanics to perform customer vehicle maintenance and repairs in our Pineville, NC shop.

Hours: 2nd shift We Offer: Great Benefit Package, 401K, Paid Holidays, Vacation & Bonuses: Job Requirements · Minimum three years diesel maintenance experience. · High School Diploma or higher. · Strong customer orientation. · Proven ability to lead work teams. · Basic computer skills. · Good driving record and proven work history. · CDL-A driver license is preferred, but not required. · Must have own tools.

Apply online, www. salemleasing.com or visit Salem NationaLease at 900 Crafters Lane. Pineville, NC 28134. 121214 Looking for great pay, local schedule, and excellent benefits?

Salem currently seeking local A & B CDL A & B Drivers to join our Charlotte area team.

Drop and Hook only.

Home Everyday We Offer: Great Benefit Package, 401K, Paid Holidays, Vacation & Bonuses: Job Requirements: CDL-A or B License Minimum 1 year driving experience.

Ask about our New Driver Apprenticeship Program.

Walk in applicants welcome weekdays.

4810 Justin Court, Charlotte. 28216 Please APPLY BELOW, or call 800-709-2536 for more information! www.salemleasing. com. 121214 Curves Part Time.

Must be Energetic, self motivated and love working with people..

Morning and evening hours a must. Send resume to curvesfitness@aol. com. 102414 Financial

Beware of loan fraud.

Please check with the better business bureau or consumer protection agency before sending any money to any loan company. SAPA INJURED? IN A LAWSUIT? Need Cash Now? We Can Help!

No Monthly Payments to Make. No Credit

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Check. Fast Service and Low Rates. Call Now 1-866-386-3692. www.lawcapital.com (Not available in NC, CO, MD & TN) SAPA Delete Bad Credit in just 30-days! Raise your credit score fast!

Results Guaranteed!

Free To Start Call 855831-9712.

Hurry!!

Limited Enrollments Available. SAPA Services

We Fix It Re Weather Strip your old windows and save energy $20 per window Since 1969 704-578-6264.

122614 “PROFESSIONAL P A I N T E R S S H E E T R O C K H A N D Y M A N $$$$$$$$$$$$$ discounted services all winter long. Always the best prices and service, We have been in business for twenty five years.

Our services include painting, sheetrock repair and installation, popcorn removal and repair, pressure washing, handyman, light plumbing and electrical. Licensed and insured all work has a full warranty.

Call for your free estimate: 704-2402258”. 12.19.14 European Cleaning Woman – 16 years experience. Looking for a job. Clean house, apartment or office. References available. My name is Martina. Call 704628-5504 or 516554-3960. 121914 BYTESIZE COMPUTER SERVICES LLC FREE onsite service & FREE consultations.

Virus Removal, Computer Hardware and Software repair, Speed up slow Desktop or Laptop Computers, one hour In-Home personalized Computer Training sessions, Repair & Purchasing and Upgrading available.

We offer Personable engagements and VERY competitive pricing. 25 Years of Computer Experience.

Call Mark at 704287- 8827 or visit our website: www. bytesizecomputer services.com.

References are available. 041714 FREE ESTIMATE Top Line Tree Service is a family owned and operated business.

Travis the owner is on site from start to finish to guarantee the home owner is satisfied with our service.

Services offered: Tree removal Pruning, trimming,

topping, shaping, stump grinding, lot clearing, landscaping Etc...

Call 704-226-7599 for your free estimate.

Thanks, Top Line Tree Service.

121214 ROLLER SETS, hair cuts and styles for the more mature! Senior discounts! $15 styles, rollers or blow dry. $18 cuts. $50 perms, $45 colors, styles included.

MELISSA HAIR 704621-0909. 010215 NU VISIONS PAINTING

By Al Baskins on FB. Let us color your world one room at a time ! Interior / Exterior Painting Commercial / Residential Cabinets / Kitchens / Baths Specializing In Repaints Deck Restorations Pressure Washing Spring Special 10% off with this add Over 30 years experience painting Charlotte Al Baskins , Owner Pineville N.C. 704- 605- 7897 / 704-

ACROSS ACROSS 1 Ancient Briton 15 Actress BulgarianWard or Croat 5 Church bell 9 location Writing surface for chalk 10 Shade at the 14 swimming One ___ (vitamin pool brand) 14 Skating 15 competition Something a surfer catches entry, maybe 16 Barkin Was sickof “The 15 17 Big Next-to-last Easy” chemical 16 Void element alphabetically, 17 *Chilled before zirconium appetizer or dessert 18 Iowa State’s city 19 19 Actress Raises, as young Lollobrigida 20 Ship heading 20 Port of Algeria 23 The Bible’s 21 Like one side of Queen of ___ Everest 25 Mount Still, in poetry 23 that the 26 State ___ Blanc, borders so-called “Man Bangladesh of 1,000 Voices” 25 strip 27 Comic Liberal arts makeup school in Waterville, 26 Brand in aMe. bowl 32 Sponsorship: Everyone 27 33 Var. 7 Up or Pepsi 34 Illustrious Reads quickly 29

889- 7479. 122914 Real Estate–For sale

LAKE LURE Rumbling Bald Resort , 2 lots = .68 acre with membership One mile from clubhouse .Two lots one deed for $15,000 Call Fatima @ 516-532-7411 or David @ 704-5782392. 121214 Real Estate–rental

DUPLEX 2bd/1ba Wilgrove Rd. Near Park.

New appliances, new carpet, hardwoods in living room. $650/mo. No Smoking Security Deposit & Background Check Req\’d 704-575-4273.

120514

& Activation. CALL, COMPARE LOCAL DEALS! 1-800-3510850. SAPA

Miscellaneous

EARN YOUR High School Diploma at home in a few short weeks. Work at your own pace. First Coast Academy. Nationally accredited. Call for free brochure. 1-800-6581180, extension 82. www.fcahighschool. org SAPA

For a limited time, get free equipment, no activation fees, no commitment, a 2nd waterproof alert button for free and more - only $29.95 per month. 800-9834906

Get The Big Deal from DirecTV! Act Now- $19.99/mo. Free 3-Months of HBO, starz, SHOWTIME & CINEMAXFREE GENIE HD/DVR Upgrade!

2014 NFL Sunday Ticket Included with Select Packages. New Customers Only IV Support Holdings LLC- An authorized DirecTV Dealer. Some exclusions apply - Call for details 1-800-4139179. SAPA

DISH TV Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 months) SAVE! Regular Price $32.99.

Call Today and Ask About FREE SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1-855-8669941. SAPA

AIRLINE MECHANIC CAREERS START HERE - GET FAA APPROVED MAINTENANCE TRAINING. FINANCIAL AID FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS. JOB P L A C E M E N T ASSISTANCE. CALL AVIATION INSTITUTE OF MAINTENANCE 1-866-724-5403 WWW.FIXJETS.COM. SAPA

ENJOY 100 percent g u a r a n t e e d , delivered?to-the-door Omaha Steaks! SAVE 74 percent PLUS 4 FREE Burgers - The Family Value Combo ONLY $39.99.

ORDER Today 1-800715-2010 Use code 48829AFK or www.

O m a h a S t e a k s. c o m / mbfvc46

*REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL* Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE! Programming starting at $19.99/MO. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers. CALL NOW 1-800-7951315 SAPA

Pets

LOST DOG! Lawyers Road & Mill Grove MintHill-rooms for Road, Union County rent for senior living or Meck County. Rat 55 & above,all utilities Terrier. 4 years old. included,internet, Male. 15 pounds. wifi, washer/ Mostly white with dryer,furnished den some black patches and dining provided. and some brown on rent $475 & deposit Dish TV Retailer -SAVE! face. Long skinny legs $475.masterbedroom Starting $19.99/month and short stubby tail.

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation suite $575/deposit (for 12 months.)

Medical Guardian - Sweet, but shy, timid 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation $575, lg fenced FREE Premium Movie Top-rated medical and a bit nervous. Will For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 Eighth Avenue, New York, 10018 NOT bite. His name backyard to share.620 Channels.

FREE alarm andN.Y. 24/7 medical For Release Monday, 8, 2014 is Buzz. He gets cold 120514 Equipment, Installation alert monitoring.

For Information Call:December 1-800-972-3550

easily, quivers and shakes a lot. When lost, had collar with outside cable attached, but may have fallen off. He has seizure. Call Cindy – 704-614-5600.

HELP: LOST DOG, \”Dotty\”, Australian Cattle mix, 7yrs, 35lbs.

Lost 8/1/14, Rea Rd. Black/White, black patch right eye. pink/ grey collar. Contact Kim 704-763-3661.

Her loving family misses her very much!

Cats cradle boarding beautiful 5 star cats only kennel. Huge sunfilled suites, 3 levels, climbing tree. Pickup/ delivery. 20% Senior discount. For rates and requirements call 704.771.6052 www.

Cat boardingcharlotte.

Com. 072514 PROVIDENCE PET SITTING is licensed, insured, and pet CPR/ First Aid certified. We have been lovingly caring for pets for over 10 years. Contact us at 704-591-7274 for more info. 101014

For Release Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Crossword Crossword 38 Unwelcome look 70 It may be

32 40 Baseball Prevent

great Hodges 43 Insect in a 33 Foot specialist? summer swarm 34 is 44 Its Did capital sum work?

46 Pristina Cookie sometimessash 35 Geisha’s dunked in milk 36 *Billboard 48 listing Genetic info carrier 38 He’s a real doll 49 Service at 39 Holy Staples or Communion, FedEx Office e.g.

53 ___ Jima 41 Very, in Vichy 56 To the ___ 42 Temper degree 43 57 Grps.

Ancient Roman robes 44 Part of a planet 58 Person in 45 Pay (up) overalls sucking a pieceasof astraw, 46 Ruin, dog stereotypically might shoes 63 Stoners’ Ancient 48 71-Across land purchases in modern-day 50 Reasons for Turkey some street 64 closures Pieces with 90° bends 52 One being 65 strung Taxis along?

68 Long guitar parts 53 Dentist’s 69 instruction Assistant

after a 54 slapped Longtime Prego

joke slogan … with a hint to and the 71 Like Zeus answers to the Hera fivesome starred 72 Did clues weeding 59 Meat-andSafe-deposit 73 box item, dish vegetables

maybe 60 Surface anew, in aDOWN way 1 La ___, Bolivia 61 Yellow sub?

2 Dictator Amin 62 Payroll IDs 3 No longer on the 63 Bottom of the air barrel 4 Baseball great 64 known Something to as “The match Peach” Georgia

DOWN 5 Exchange

Tanningpriest lotion 61 Tibetan letters 7 Birds, 2 scientifically Canal zone?

3 speaking Actress Lucy 84 Bowl Bachor boat composition 9 Polynesian wraps Ingredient 105 In ___ of (asin a much Asianfor) replacement cooking 11 Frighten ___ one-word B 126 Like 7 answers Feeling fluish, say Ford failure 13 ’50s Rodeo ropes 218 Baseball great ANSWER ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 9 Willie Culminate with F A L C O A M I S S G S T 22 10 Major Frankcomponent of the euro “___ McCourt’s I L I A C Z O W I E L E I symbol Ashes” A L L T H A T J A Z Z I M A 23 Milan’s La ___ *Kick the habit, T A T A R S O S E S T I R 11 opera say house L E T O U T T A 24 as abone putt 12 Sank, Forearm D A Y S O F T H U N D E R 28 How some Ex-Fed head S I N S L O A N S R O Y 13 packages arrive, Greenspan P S S T T O N Y A T A P E for short 18 Part of a A C E A E R I E O T I S 29 Praiseful poem chorus line?

O L D B L A C K M A G I C 30 Process leading 22 up Obscures G U A V A A T E to childbirth 23 Heart Excuses, A N D I N B A S H T E T L 31 diagnostic, excuses in brief U T A B E A T T H E H E A T 24 Highly *Feature of D E M E X T R A N E R D Y 35 offended many a TV Y D S E T H A N A R O A R 36 Food from interview heaven

Edited by Will Shortz Edited by Will Shortz 1

2

1 14

3 2

4 3

5 4

6

5 15

14

7 6

8 7

10

13

22 21

22

26

28 29 30 27 28

32 32

33 33 39

40

36

55 46

40

29

35 43

47

51 44

36

31

37

38

48 42 52 45

47

59

30

34

41 42 37 46 41

50 56

31

34

45

49

51

13

25

27 26

54

12

19

21 25

43

12

19

20

44 39

11

16

24

38 35

11

16

18

24 23

58 50

10

9

18

20

53

9 8

15

17 17

23

No. 1103 No. 1029

48

60

57 49

61 62 52

63 53

54 64

68 59

60 69

7061

71 62

63 72

7364

55

65

56 6657 6758

PUZZLE R. BENDER PUZZLEBY BYJANET ELIZABETH C. GORSKI

37 59 with a a choice 25 Male-only *Time toparties retire? 47 51Brand Copiers 37Makes Canadian-born swoosh hockey x 11”great page 39 machine 26 Tape Ancient market 50 8›” 52 Bookstore sect. button abbr.

40size: LetsAbbr. go of 60 Muse of history 28 Follow 55 Seattle-to-L.A. 44“Definitely!”

Big name at 41 de Triomphe 30 ___ Turns inside out 51 ___ Antique Little Bighorn 61 Yedirection 52 Bygone cry of 42 that Shoppe 31 1920s Giftedcar person?

45high “Youspirits said it!” had its inventor’s 56 Yalie 33 initials Gradually 47Cake Remarkable, as 62 Secondhand 53 topper introduced, 57 Part of AARP: a coincidence 45 Exasperated with “in” 54 Beau with roses, 66 Hive Abbr. dweller response to 49say Bran name?

34 “How Leg was your strengtheners 50 Acacia features 58 Canon camera 1 day?”

55 /16 of a pound 67 Do needlework

Annualsubscriptions subscriptionsare areavailable availablefor forthe thebest bestofofSunday Sunday Annual crosswordsfrom fromthe thelast last50 50years: years:1-888-7-ACROSS. 1-888-7-ACROSS. crosswords AT&Tusers: users:Text TextNYTX NYTXtoto386 386totodownload downloadpuzzles, puzzles,ororvisit visit AT&T nytimes.com/mobilexwordfor formore moreinformation. information. nytimes.com/mobilexword Onlinesubscriptions: subscriptions:Today’s Today’spuzzle puzzleand andmore morethan than2,000 2,000 Online pastpuzzles, puzzles,nytimes.com/crosswords nytimes.com/crosswords($39.95 ($39.95aayear). year). past Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

South Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • Page 27

Page 28 • Dec. 5 to 11, 2014 • South Charlotte Weekly

www.thecharlotteweekly.com