Inside: Government must fix PPP problem • Page 4A
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Wesley Chapel adds playground to Dogwood Park
ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261 justin@cmgweekly.com unioncountyweekly.com
The Village of Wesley Chapel opened on the parks and recreation committee.” a fenced playground Dec. 8 within DogThe village contracted with Mooreswood Park. ville-based Carolina Recreation & Design The playground is located near the park- to build the playground. ing lot. It features two targetDogwood Park is open daied play areas: one for children ly from dawn to dusk at 121 ages 2 to 4 and one for chilLester Davis Road, Waxhaw. dren ages 5 to 12). The play- While we could have Other park amenities indone something clude paved and unpaved ground includes swings and a small earlier, we carousel for group play. trails, dog park, picnic/grill “A playground has been on wanted something sites, fishing pier, amphiour radar for a long time,” the village could be theater, little free library, said John Lepke, chair of the geocaching, and commuproud of." village's parks and recreation nity-oriented events held • John Lepke committee. “While we could throughout the year. have done something small earlier, we wantUse of the playground must comply with ed something the village could be proud of. state guidelines regarding social distancing, I really think our patience has paid off. We group size and face coverings. The village are thankful for the support of our village encourages the community to sanitize council and the hard work and dedication of hands before and after play to prevent the our awesome team of volunteers that serve spread of COVID-19.
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WHAT'S INSIDE:
End is near? Atrium Health has COVID-19 vaccine, 2A
Wesley Chapel Parks and Recreation Committee members celebrate the opening of the new playground at Dogwood Park. Pictured, from left, are Brad Horvath, Julie Brown, Pat Utley and Julie Thomas. Chairman John Lepke is sitting. Photo courtesy of Village of Wesley Chapel
Big gift United Way invests $21.7M locally, 2A
Antoinette King wants to help erase the stigma associated with mental health and promote well-being. Photo courtesy of David King
Realignment Prep teams shaken up a bit, 3A
Pageant queen with a PhD
Above: Jaeda Jordan plays Tashandra, a city employee of Paradise, South Carolina, in "A Carolina Christmas." Photo courtesy of Dalton Pictures Below: Jordan and her mother at the film's premiere. Photo courtesy of Jaeda Jordan
MAKING IT TO THE BIG SCREEN
Older adults Thriving in a year of strife, 1B
'Town Hero' ushers in holidays
Antoinette King, reigning Ms. Elite Southeast America’s United States 2021, was designated as this year’s “Town Hero” for the Village of Lake Park. She lit the village's Christmas tree Dec. 6. The socially distanced evening included a concert by Grammy-nominated guitarist John Sharp and other activities. “During the holidays, it can be hard to deal with loneliness and isolation,” King said. “This year being a particularly challenging one, we felt it was important to safely come together as a community and enjoy a positive experience.” Aside from a crown, the Lake Park resident also has a PhD. She works to end the stigma of mental health. As a health psychologist, King is president and CEO of Crown Wellness LTD. She serves clients such as the US Department of Health and Human Services, the American Heart Association, Bissell Family of Companies and Premier Health. She strives to incorporate scientific knowledge with researched-based approaches to impact overall wellness.
Waxhaw native lands role in ‘A Carolina Christmas’ by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com
Although born in a small town, Jaeda Jordan always had big dreams. Growing up, she wanted to be a model and had aspirations of one day becoming an actress, but rejection early on crushed her spirit.
Top teacher Career change pays off, 5A
Years passed, but the Waxhaw native never truly moved on. Now at the age of 31, her dream has finally come true as she’s made it to the big screen in “A Carolina Christmas.” The movie was filmed last year in Myrtle Beach and premiered in 13 states on Nov. 20. “When no one else would give
it to me, he bet on Jaeda,” Jordan said of writer and director Jerry Dalton. “He showed me I was doing the right thing and I was exactly where God wanted me to be, so I appreciate him for entrusting me with this part.” see MOVIE, Page 5A
Ex-spouses make Taino Restaurant work by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Edward Concepion couldn't say no when his ex-wife approached him about helping fulfill her dream of opening a restaurant. The pair have been divorced for many years, but he remembered their conversations about going for it. ”This is something we talked about 20 years ago of her opening a restaurant,” Concepion said. “She's been doing catering for 20 some odd years and everything just came together.” Patricia Arguelles opened Taino Restaurant last month. Customer reviews have been positive. Many compliment the restaurant for its authentic Puerto Rican food. Among the most popular attractions is the mofongo, a plantain dish, which is available on
“
We've been embraced and I mean just overwhelmed by the community of Indian Trail and the surrounding towns. We are humbled. This is Patricia's dream come true.”
Fridays with chicken pork rinds, garlic shrimp, Creole shrimp, fried pork or fried beef. There are items that are served daily, but the main courses and daily specials change. Customers may see a special like yellow rice with a side of chicken escabeche (vinegar garlic sauce) or they may yearn for the tripleta, a sandwich with pork, chicken, steak, lettuce, tomato and cheese. “We don't have a menu,” Arguelles said. “The menu changes every week. It's run fonda-style, which is like the old-fashioned way to run a restaurant. It's whatever the chef wants to cook for the week.”
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Mayor Michael Alvarez and the Indian Trail Town Council welcomed the restaurant during their Dec. 8 board meeting. Alvarez has eaten there a couple of times. “We truly just appreciate the community as a whole,” Concepion said. “We've been embraced and I mean just overwhelmed by the community of Indian Trail and the surrounding towns. We are humbled. This is Patricia's dream come true.” Word is spreading about the restaurant, however. They've served visitors from all over,
Want to learn more? Visit www.antoinetteking.com or follow her @AntointteKingphd on Instagram to learn more about her mental health platform and professional background.
see RESTAURANT, Page 5A
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Page 2A • The Weekly •Dec. 18, 2020
Atrium Health administers COVID-19 vaccine STAY CONNECTED • Twitter and Instagram: @mmhweekly. @ucweekly, @southcltweekly, @weekly waxhaw and @itncweekly • Like us on Facebook • E-edition: issuu.com/car olinaweeklynewspapers
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NEWSLETTER
Dr. Katie Passaretti, medical director of infection prevention at Atrium Health, was the first in North Carolina to receive the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer. Atrium Health was the first health system in the state to administer the vaccine, which the health system says is the best way to prevent infection from COVID-19. “This is a moment of hope as this vaccine has the potential to change the course of where we are with the pandemic,” Passaretti said Dec. 14. “I couldn’t be more excited. I feel perfectly fine and I haven’t had any issues or complications with the vaccine. I would highly encourage everyone to talk with your doctor and consider getting vaccinated when it is available for you.” Pfizer reports its vaccine is 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 among people who had no evidence of prior infection. Due to limited initial supply and based on national and state guidance, the first batch of the Pfizer vaccine is being given to Atrium Health staff in high priority, patient-facing areas, such as the emergency department and medical intensive care unit, and areas where health-care workers are at a higher risk for COVID-19 exposure. “Today, my spirit is certainly lifted with the vaccine arriving and Dec. 14 will be a historic day I will remember for the rest of my life," said Eugene Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health. “This has been a year that has tested all of us, and after fighting in the trenches 24/7, I am so happy that the cavalry is finally starting to arrive. Teams have been working around the clock at Atrium Health to prepare for vaccine distribution, and while we still have some months of heavy lifting, our frontline heroes have started to get the protection they deserve as we continue to provide health, hope and healing to each com-
COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer is stored at Atrium Health. High-priority patient-facing staff will be among the first in the nation to receive Pfizer vaccine. Photo courtesy of Atrium Health
munity we are privileged to serve.” Atrium Health said it remains critical for everyone to continue wearing a mask, social-distancing and handwashing, before and after having been vaccinated. To date, Atrium Health has conducted 10 clinical trials to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Atrium Health also opened a voluntary vaccine research registry, which allows people to learn more about vaccine research and development. People who take part in the registry may be invited to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials in the future and will be provided with convenient access to trials should they be interested. Partic-
ipating in clinical trials is a way for people to receive potentially lifesaving medications before they become FDA available. Novant Health's vaccine efforts Novant Health has been working with federal, state and county officials to develop and align allocation and distribution plans for the vaccine. This includes a four-phase vaccine prioritization framework, which begins with patient-facing health-care workers and first-responders, longterm health facility workers and residents, as well as adults with more than two chronic conditions. On the web: NovantHealth.org/Coronavirus
United Way of Central Carolinas announces $21.7M investment Subscribe to our free DAILY email newsletter to stay on top of everything we are publishing in print and online, as well as what we’re sharing across our social media platforms. Visit one of our websites for a link to subscribe.
Crisis Assistance Ministry allowed 40 nonprofits to pick up some of the free kitchenware for their clients after receiving four 18-wheeler truckloads of kitchenware from Electrolux. Photo courtesy of Crisis Assistance Ministry
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United Way of Central Carolinas is investing $21.7 million into communities across the Charlotte region. The nonprofit is awarding grants to more than 100 agencies in five counties that are building stronger neighborhoods, improving racial equity, boosting economic mobility and helping people meet basic needs in the pandemic. Thanks to thousands of corporate and individual donors, the investment includes $10.7 million for United Way initiatives and partner agencies in fiscal year 2021. The funding includes a $1 million contribution from Mecklenburg County to expand United Way’s Unite Charlotte initiative to improve racial equity, which was seeded by Wells Fargo in 2016. United Way also broadens its reach by welcoming 36 new partners with first-time grants to programs aligned with its mission. The investment also includes $9.2 million for agencies providing relief for people facing hardships due to the pandemic. The money, which began going out in July, is part of the COVID-19 Response Fund co-launched in March by United Way in partnership with Foundation For The Carolinas. The remaining $1.7 million represents additional United Way community investments and donor-directed funding for nonprofits. “United Way continues its evolution toward taking on this community’s highest priority needs, and there’s no question the pandemic and the urgent cry for racial equity top the list,” President and CEO Laura Yates Clark said. “At the same time, we continue our focus on fueling economic mobility in a city that lags behind in creating opportunity for those living in poverty. And that work begins at the ground level with empowering neighborhoods.” United Way’s Board of Directors boosted the 2021 funding by committing up to $3 million from its reserves to keep the overall funding pool for agencies the same as last year’s. Without dipping into reserves this year, overall grant funding would have declined due to a decrease in community contributions. United Way has awarded 127 grants totaling $10.7 million in partner funding to 119 agencies beginning in January. Highlights include: • $1.1 million will dramatically expand the Unite Charlotte effort, going to build capacity and fund 33 grassroots organizations working to advance racial equity and create opportunity. Grants range from $15,000 to $40,000 and recipients include such groups as Our Turn, Profound Gentlemen and Southside Rides, most of them led by people of color. • $800,000 will continue funding for United Way’s United Neighborhoods program. Grants will go to 16 groups and eight neighborhood ‘quarterback’ organizations that work together to identify – and address – specific needs within their communities. • $8.8 million in Community Impact Grants will go to 70 agencies, ranging from $6,250 to $777,500, in Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Union counties. Recipients include longtime partners such as Roof Above and Mental Health America, as well as new partners such as Socialserve,
Time Out Youth and Promise Resource Network. United Way also played a role in the COVID-19 Response Fund for emergency relief in the pandemic. United Way and Foundation For The Carolinas partnered to raise funds, assess needs and distribute grants beginning in March as North Carolina’s economic shutdown began. The Charlotte region responded to the call for help, with more than 1,100 donors contributing $23.6 million throughout the year. Grants flowed to agencies on the frontlines based on decisions made by a special grants committee of community leaders. United Way also helped find housing for residents of the Lake Arbor apartment community after owners decided to sell the property – leaving more than 300 low-income families without homes. “United Way has always functioned as the go-to agency when our community is in need, but what this organization has done in 2020 is remarkable and unprecedented,” said Scott Vaughn, chairman of United Way board Chair and a partner at McGuireWoods. “United Way is far more than a funding organization; it’s a convener and leader with a vast network of partners that together make a collective impact in our community far beyond what agencies might do individually.” Select Union County agencies and funding Community Health Services of Union County ($90,000) Council on Aging in Union County ($35,625) HealthQuest of Union County ($17,325) The Arc of Union/Cabarrus ($53,000) Turning Point - 97,500) Union County Community Shelter ($90,000) Union County Crisis Assistance Ministry ($109,375) Union-Anson County Habitat for Humanity ($40,000) Select Mecklenburg county agencies and funding Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas ($165,000) Care Ring ($410,000) Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center ($325,300) Child Care Resources ($495,550) Communities In Schools of CLT-Mecklenburg ($423,750) Crisis Assistance Ministry ($164,500) Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont ($131,000) Mental Health America of Central Carolinas ($225,520) NC MedAssist ($327,000) Roof Above ($300,000) Safe Alliance ($443,500) Salvation Army - Charlotte Area Command ($777,500) Urban League of Central Carolinas ($171,750) YMCA of Greater Charlotte ($100,000) Young Black Leadership Alliance ($100,000) YWCA Central Carolinas ($445,000)
The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020 • Page 3A
NCHSAA realignment brings sweeping changes Schools in Mecklenburg, Union counties affected by adjustments to 2021-24 plan by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com
Every four years, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association takes a look at conference boundaries and schools' average daily membership (enrollment) numbers to realign its member schools into conferences – oftentimes moving schools up and down from classifications based on enrollment. Last week, the NCHSAA came up with its first of four drafts of its conference realignment plan that would go into effect beginning Aug. 1, 2021, and running through August 2024. The second draft is set to come out in mid-January, and there is an appeals process for schools who wish to make their case heard with potential concerns about the changes. However, if the past three realignments serve as any indication, there will not be many if any changes made from this point forward. The final draft is set to come out in March, but if the state stays closely to what it’s proposed, there’s going to be some major changes coming to the schools in our coverage area. 4A The first big change comes in Union County, where Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge, Piedmont, Sun Valley and Weddington move up to 4A after previously competing in the Southern Carolinas at the 3A level. They will join “Conference 58” with Porter Ridge, who remains in the 4A classification but leaves the Southwestern 4A Conference they have been a part of for the past eight athletic seasons. This new conference should remain a highly competitive league across the board. That’s not the only big change, however. Former Southern Carolinas stalwart Charlotte Catholic is taking the step back into 4A themselves
and will provide a shot in the arm to the Southwestern 4A, bringing with them a strong athletic pedigree in football, tennis, swimming and diving and soccer. Other members of that league, dubbed “Conference 59” on the state’s draft, include long-time SW4A members Butler, Independence, Rocky River, East Meck and Myers Park. Providence will move back into this league, after the Panthers have spent the past eight in the So. Meck Conference. That’s where we move next, and that conference will see some pretty big shifts as well. Entitled “Conference 49,” the league will feature mainstays Ardrey Kell and South Meck along with Olympic, Harding and Berry as traditionally has been the case. That conference, presumably still the So. Meck, also includes newly minted 3A schools West Meck and West Charlotte, who drop from 4A. NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said the state’s new realignment plan is not shying away from creating mixed-classification leagues as they did for the past four years. "The number of split conferences in this alignment draft represents the realignment committee’s desire not to limit those,” she said. “It also takes into consideration the protection of natural rivalries and strongly considers geography and travel time. Of course, this means the way of getting into the playoffs must be reviewed and updated. That will come later.” 3A The So. Meck is one of many conferences across the state’s four classifications to have shared-class leagues. “Conference 44” is basically the old Rocky River 2A/3A. It will house Union County schools Central Academy and Parkwood as 3A members along with 2A teams Monroe, where the Redhawks
Butler (above) could be playing the likes of Providence and Charlotte Catholic (below) within its conference in addition to familiar foes Myers Park, Independence and Rocky River. CMG file photos
move down from 3A, and Forest Hills, who stays in 2A. Anson and West Stanly, a pair of 2A schools, round out the blended conference. 1A/2A Union Academy stays in the 1A classification, but is in a mixed league featuring 1A opponents Albemarle, Apprentice Academy, Gray Stone Day, South Stanly and 2A foes Jay M. Robinson, Mount Pleasant and North Stanly. The conference will be different after moving out of the Big South for the Cardinals, but they will again be traveling long distances to road conference games. Overall, it seems the NCHSAA is even further trying to cut down on travel time to away games and keep group like-sized schools together. It seems strange, though, that Ardrey Kell, typically one of the state’s largest and most overcrowded schools, would be in a blended league with a pair of 3A
schools, but sometimes it’s unavoidable like in Union Academy’s case. Either way, it should make for
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Page 4A • The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020
McElvy: Government must fix the gaping PPP problem by Jonathan McElvy CEO of McElvy Partners
One of the most effective tools implemented by the federal government in the fight against this enemy called McElvy COVID was the Paycheck Protection Program. If you haven’t followed the specifics, this program allowed small businesses to apply for a “forgivable” loan that would offset payroll and other operating costs, and it was a raging success. Businesses were able to pay employees during the worst five-month span since the Great Recession. Expenses such as rent, utilities and telephone were offset with proceeds from the loan. The Paycheck Protection Program could come back to haunt small businesses when they see how impacts taxes. There are different analyses on the topic, but the Small Business Administration estimates 51 million jobs were spared thanks to the dissemination of PPP funds. I will openly admit that our company’s ability to secure PPP funds saved the jobs of nearly half of our employees. That’s the good news, and anyone who reads this should understand how important the Paycheck Protection Program was to millions of small businesses across the na-
tion. Today, however, the federal government seems destined to ruin the very businesses it rescued seven short months ago. If you are a small business owner, or if you work for a small business (under 500 employees), or if you know someone who fits in that category, which means all of you, please take the time to understand how this piece of federal legislation, known as the CARES Act, could completely backfire on small businesses. Please make sure you are educated on how the same government that sought to prop up businesses now could force the same businesses to lay off millions of people. You’ll have to excuse this brief lesson on business finances, but there’s no other way to explain it. You own a business called Barry’s Boxes. Obviously, you sell boxes. Unfortunately, you don’t have a contract with Amazon. In 2019, before the world came crashing down, you had a good business bringing in $1 million a year in revenue. You had 10 employees (including yourself ) each earning a $40,000 salary, and your total expenses for the year (payroll, rent, boxes, etc.) were $900,000. That means your business showed a profit of $100,000 in 2019, and you had plans to open a second location in 2020. Except that never happened because of COVID. When the federal government
Stith is new leader of state community college system by Julie Havlak Carolina Journal News Service
The N.C. Community College System elected Thomas Stith III to lead it through the coronavirus pandemic and steep enrollment losses. Stith will become president of a system of 58 community colleges that enroll about 700,000 students a year. He now serves as district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, a federal agency that secured more than $16 billion in coronavirus relief for N.C. small businesses. Stith also was chief of staff to former Gov. Pat McCrory from 2013 to 2017. He succeeds interim president William Carver and former President Peter Hans, who
passed the CARES Act, and when banks said they were finally accepting PPP loan applications, you did all the calculations, which were fairly simple. Your total salaries in 2019 were $400,000, and if we avoid all the math, it means you were eligible to receive a PPP “forgivable” loan of $83,300. Within a week of your application, your bank deposited $83,300 into your account, and you breathed a huge sigh of relief. While your business was still open, you only had 70% of the customers you had in 2019, and you projected revenue to drop to $700,000. Before getting the loan, you considered laying off five of your employees just to make it through the year. Immediately you put a plan in place to spend the money the right way. You kept your employees paid. You caught up on your rent checks. You paid for the power and your internet connection. Today, most of those PPP funds are long gone, and you used the money exactly as the government told you to use it. That’s a good thing, because the government promised the loan would be forgiven if you played by the rules. As Barry’s Boxes nears the end of this year, the business made some needed adjustments, used the PPP money, and will still show a loss. You did $700,000 in revenue (down 30%), and you were able
left in August to become president of the University of North Carolina System. As president of the community college system, Stith will help determine North Carolina’s comeback from the coronavirus shutdowns. But he faces a stark challenge. Stith will have to define his presidency against the pandemic and expected funding shortfalls from the economic downturn. He begins Jan. 11, three days after Gov. Roy Cooper’s coronavirus curfew is set to expire and months before vaccines can achieve herd immunity. “My vision for the North Carolina Community College System is guided by the principle that education translates into opportunity,” Stith said in a news release. “The North Carolina Community College System will lead our state’s economic recovery by providing education and training for our diverse population. The system will become a national model for
to cut almost every other expense in your company, allowing you to spend $730,000. In other words, you only lost $30,000 this year, which you offset with the money you made last year. So much for expanding your location, but at least you’re still in business. I imagine if you surveyed 1,000 small businesses, that wouldn’t be far off from the reality of what has happened to most of them. They’re going to show a loss this year, but the government’s stimulus plan (PPP) allowed them to stay open, and hopefully, regroup once the world reopens. Except that’s not what will happen. There’s a problem with the way the government defined “forgivable.” You see, Barry’s Boxes is going to have to take the $83,300 it received from the government, and when Barry determines if he made money (thus paying taxes) or lost money (not paying taxes), he has to reduce his expenses by the amount of the loan. Based on the language of this federal legislation, Barry has to reduce his $730,000 in expenses by $83,300, which means his actual expenses were $646,700. All of a sudden, Barry’s financials show he actually made a profit in 2020, even though we all know he didn’t. That’s right. The way the legislation currently reads, Barry now has to pay taxes on $53,000 in profit. And while that doesn’t sound like a
educational excellence.” Stith will have to grapple with the dramatic drop in enrollment that community colleges face across the country. The pandemic upended hands-on learning, restricted colleges’ ability to offer classes and slashed the budgets of low-income students and adult learners. “Working adults are struggling right now, and lower-income students are struggling in their ability to go to college this year,” said Scott Ralls, Wake Technical Community College president. “His challenge is to help us make sure we have some level of budget-enrollment stability, so we’re able to deal with the economic-recovery issues once the pandemic moves out of the forefront.” But to do that, Stith must also take on longstanding problems that stand in the way of recovering the enrollment growth of the past year. Community colleges have long struggled
lot – maybe he only has to pay 21% – that means he has to write a check for $11,000. And guess what, Barry is like every other small business out there, and he only has $25,000 left in his business account. The numbers get bigger as the companies get bigger, but the reality is the government is coming back to recoup a chunk of the money most small-business owners thought was forgivable. And I can promise there are thousands upon thousands of business owners who are at the end of their ropes, are considering closing down for good, and who will opt to throw in the towel if they have to part with much more of their remaining cash. I know this seems technical, but it’s vitally important that politicians on both sides of the aisle fix this problem. If they saddle small businesses with a tax that goes against the intent of the legislation, the loss of jobs will impact the people you know and love. Please consider emailing your U.S. senators and representatives. Ask them to fix this legislation before even more jobs are lost. Jonathan McElvy is the CEO of McElvy Partners. His company includes the Greensheet, The Leader, Fort Bend Star, Charlotte Media Group, Coastal Bend Publishing and Texas Printers. He has managed and owned small businesses for 20 years.
to recruit teachers from industries that offer higher wages. Lower teacher pay has left community colleges hard-pressed to offer students a way into growing industries. “Stith takes the reins at a critical time for the N.C. Community College System,” said Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation director of education studies. “Stith’s most formidable task will be to find a way to boost investments in high-demand programs without sacrificing affordability.” Stith doesn’t have a strong background in higher education, but that’s relatively common within the system. Past presidents often had political backgrounds that bolstered the community colleges’ relationship with the legislature. Stith spent five years as economic development program director at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the Kenan-Flagler Business School.
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Page 5A • The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020
Beginning teacher named a finalist for state award MONROE – Kimberly Robinson is a finalist for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching 2020 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. A second-year teacher at Monroe High, Robinson was named the Union County Public Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year in September. “I am honored to be a finalist for this award,” Robinson said. “I am sharing this recognition with my awesome colleagues at Monroe High School.” The award is given to one North Carolina beginning teacher in honor of their dedication, innovation and ability to inspire students to achieve. Robinson is one of 27 finalists for this prestigious award. “These finalists provide a snapshot of the lasting impact great teachers have on our students from the first to the last day they step into a North Carolina public school,” NCCAT Executive Director M. Brock Womble said. “We are excited about this opportunity to honor teachers for the important work
Kimberly Robinson went back to school after surviving cancer. Prior to teaching, she worked in the restaurant industry. Photo courtesy of Union County Public Schools they do in our state.” The award will be presented on April 15 at the NCCAT Cullowhee Campus. The winner receives $5,000, participation in a GoGlobal NC trip and instructional supply funds for the teacher’s school. The runner-up receives $2,000. As a finalist, all of Robinson’s travel expenses to participate in NCCAT training are covered.
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Jaeda Jordan (right) said acting in "A Carolina Christmas" was a childhood dream come true. The film is about the hope that Christmas is still alive. Photo courtesy of Dalton Pictures
MOVIE (continued from page 1A)
“A Carolina Christmas” is set in Paradise, South Carolina – a quaint, coastal community where everyone gets along. That is, until Ben shows up. Ben has been hired as the new city inspector and little did the city know that Ben hates Christmas and has vowed to shut it down. Jordan plays Tashandra, a loved city employee of Paradise who is not about to let this new inspector from New York City ruin her favorite time of year. Ben steps up his campaign to shut down Christmas when a new merchant comes to town and defies him at every turn. “My job was just to show him how great Christmas is,” Jordan said. The film also follows two other storylines. Charley and Erika are two individuals who are slightly bitter with the world. When they cross paths, it can only lead to sparks as they both have the same personality but refuse to admit it. Single mom Elizabeth and her daughter, Bella, recently moved to Paradise to start a new life. Elizabeth works at the pizza restaurant attached to the motel where she lives. Tim moves into the room next to Elizabeth’s, but not everyone is who they appear to be. “The message is so beautiful … it’s the hope that Christmas is still alive,” Jordan said. “The ending is nothing short of a blessing. The movie is amazing.” For Jordan, seeing her childhood dream become a reality means everything. She had done some modeling as a teenager, but said there came a time when she was told she was “too heavy for a commercial or too wide for an agency.” “I remember one of the reps at a certain modeling agency told me, ‘When you go from a size eight to a size two, come back and audition,’” Jordan said. “That was my last audition. I had given up. Although my family never gave up on me, I still threw in the towel and I began to focus on my studies.” Jordan earned an associate degree in social work, bachelor’s in human service management, master’s in business administration and master’s in organizational leadership. She worked in the corporate world for eight years before leaving to take a break. It was then that she came across an audition for a role in “A Carolina Christmas” and thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Turns out, she would never know because she got the part. “All I saw in my mind was the ‘yes,’ and it
RESTAURANT (continued from page 1A)
including Lancaster County, S.C., Lake Norman and Winston-Salem. Some customers are asking the restaurant to open during the weekends. Concepion said that is in the plans as is using the large fenced area for outdoor seating more in the spring. The
"A Carolina Christmas" was made by Dalton Pictures and filmed last year in Myrtle Beach. The movie is family-friendly and has no adult language, nudity or adult situations. Photo courtesy of Dalton Pictures
was a manifestation of that,” she said. Jordan, who now lives in Concord, was on set for four days and filmed four scenes. Since “A Carolina Christmas” was her first movie, she said there was a lot to learn. For starters, she didn’t realize how many camera angles were needed to capture a single shot. “There were so many takes,” Jordan said. The most surreal moment was last month when Jordan took her mom to the premiere in Myrtle Beach. She said it was “priceless” for her mom to see her on the big screen, especially since she was there for all her auditions as a teenager. “It was one of those moments like, pinch me so I can see if this is real,” Jordan said. Jordan works as a project coordinator for residential and commercial properties, but she wants to eventually transition to acting in commercials, TV and movies. If nothing else, she hopes her role in “A Carolina Christmas” inspires others who dream of becoming an actor. “I just don’t want them to give up too early because that one audition can change everything,” Jordan said. “Before, I didn’t have anything. Now I have something to put on a resume.” "A Carolina Christmas" has completed its run in North Carolina. It is still in theaters in Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina and Wisconsin. It is not yet available to stream.
area features a small stage positioned in front of a giant mural of a Puerto Rican flag, which serves as a great spot for a photo or a quick TikTok video. “She's the genius behind Taino Restaurant,” Conception said of his ex-wife, Arguelles. “She gets in every day at 5 o'clock. You get all fresh food all day long. She's cooking multiple
times a day.” Want to go? Taino Restaurant operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3816 Sardis Church Road. Customers planning a visit can check out what's going to be available at https:// tainorestaurant.com or Facebook page (@tainorestau rantindiantrail).
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Page 6A • The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020
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Thrive over 55 The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020 • Page 1B
Egbe Monjim bo (left) raised more than $7 while Helen ,600 during th Wright’s Mem e Walk to En ory Team (top Photos courte d Alzheimer’s right) hauled sy of Alzheimer , in at least $2 ’s Association ,300. - Western Caro lina Chapter
Thriving during a year of strife Charlotte Media Group committed in January to publishing a monthly section dedicated to issues of interest to older adults. We branded “Thrive Over 55” to match our biannual senior expos. As a precursor to next week's special edition outlining 2020's biggest newsmakers, we thought we'd walk through memory lane to highlight some of the biggest issues affecting older adults this year. The nature of events change Charlotte Media Group postponed its Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo from March 20 to May 16 (eventually getting canceled) shortly after Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency March 10 in response to COVID-19. This was before we would see Cooper's mass gathering restrictions and Dr. Anthony Fauci's warnings to wears masks. At that time, COVID-19 was assumed to affect mostly older adults, so we didn't want to put our readers at risk. Shortly after, other events and large gatherings began getting postponed or canceled. Soon, events like the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, went virtual. That particular event raised $577,000 despite the pandemic. Eventually, the Levine Senior Center, Matthews Rotary Club, Town of Waxhaw and other organizations began holding drive-thru events to distribute food and supplies to older adults and veterans. Counties identify outbreaks at nursing homes Nursing homes in Charlotte, Matthews, Monroe and Pineville
were among the first in the region to report COVID-19 outbreaks of two or more positive cases in April. Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties guided prevention as well as containment. Many of these places instituted strict safety protocols among staff, ensuring the most vulnerable weren't exposed to the virus. North Carolina required biweekly COVID-19 testing at nursing homes in August. Patriotism reverberated through neighborhoods Steve Davis, a retired Air Force staff sergeant, stood outside his Matthews home and played “Taps” for Memorial Day, but the salute to the fallen became a daily ritual beloved by neighbors. Members of the Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235 rolled up their sleeves to restore the veterans memorial at Stumptown Park in Matthews. Led by Commander Mark Tofano, they sought to give a proper tribute to fallen heroes. The post showed off its work during its annual Veterans Day observance. Indian Trail and Waxhaw held virtual events to honor veterans. Waxhaw unveiled a new patriotic sculpture for American Legion Post 208 at the Waxhaw Military Wall of Honor. Towns saw more senior housing projects Cities, towns, villages and unincorporated areas continued to see high demand from the development community for age-targeted and age-restricted housing projects. Developers even touted
Waltonwood Cotswold, a senior living community in the Charlotte area, thanked staff during National Nurses Week by placing signs around the community depicting staff in superhero garb. Photo courtesy of Waltonwood Cotswold
a new form of a housing in Matthews – the unbundled senior living experience. These types of projects saw the most resistance in the western portions of Union County, where higher density projects were proposed just outside of town boundaries. Southminster opens doors to $120 million expansion Southminster welcomed new residents in the fall to a new hybrid villa concept and unveiled a 200,000-square-foot health center with four skilled nursing neighborhoods as well as assisted living apartments. These enhancements to the south Charlotte campus were part of a $120 million expansion. A tour of the expansion revealed large open floor plans with the feel of a custom home and a connectedness to amenities in the health center.
Happy trails Some of the Charlotte region's most powerful leaders decided to leave the limelight in 2020. • Roland Bibeau: Bibeau closed the book on 12 years of growth and community involvement as chief operating officer for Novant Health Matthews Medical Center. • Kathy Bragg: The CEO of the Community Shelter of Union Coun-
Above: The apartments at Southminster Terraces ranged from 1,400 to 2,000-plus square feet, giving downsizing older adults more space to breathe. CMG file photo Left: Neighbors in Country Place enjoyed listening to Air Force veteran Steve Davis playing “Taps” in his yard. Photo courtesy of Anna Marie Neubert
ty passed the torch to Chief Operating Officer Melissa McKeown after 10 years of expanding building capacity and programming. • Tim Ledford: As chief of the Mint Hill Police Department for 12 years, Ledford was known for being approachable in the community. He's riding off into the sunset later this month. • Kerr Putney: Putney retired in July as police chief of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department after more than 30 years of service to the city.
Bragg
Bibeau
Ledford
Putney
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Page 2B • The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020
Helms promotes service, protects history thews a better place through service. Helms was the 2016-17 recipient of that justin@cmgweekly.com very award. The Matthews Human Services Council has When Bill Helms took an early retirement been working to improve the quality of life from Wachovia, the corporate leader wanted in the region for 25 years. A celebration was to give back to the community. scheduled to mark its silver anniversary, but He got involved with his homeowners assoCOVID-19 threw a wrench in those plans. ciation as well as organizations like the MatThirty-four nonprofits are part of the counthews Historical Foundation and the Matthews cil. They meet once a month to find ways to Human Services Council. He's served on the help people. board of directors for both organizations. “It really is a unique organization in terms As president of the Matthews Human The New York Times Syndication Corporation of nonprofits working Sales together for a common Services Council, he recently presented 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 cause for the community,” Helms said. “I look C.O.S.Kids Executive Director Sue Sproat For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 for opportunities probably at least every other with the Nancy Glenn Community Servant For Release Tuesday, February 4, 2020 month to bring another large organization, Award. It goes to someone who makes Matby Justin Vick
Crossword ACROSS
29 Trip through the bush 1 Diving gear 31 *Decorative 6 Home to seven garden feature “-stan” countries with fish 10 Drive-up bank 33 Many an adopted conveniences pet 14 Wagner on a very 36 Star pitchers valuable baseball 37 *Almost-identical card pair, figuratively 15 James of Her Majesty’s Secret 41 ___ Sea (mostly dried-up lake) Service 42 Country on an 16 Actress Patricia isthmus of “Hud” 43 *It flows through 17 *Currency Turin replaced by the euro 46 Big name in sunglasses 19 ___ a soul (no one) 50 Clinch victory in 20 G.O.P. fund51 Result of a coup raising org. 54 Top-notch 21 Makes a boo-boo 55 Preachers preach 22 Apply suddenly, it as brakes 57 Oodles 24 Not go bad 59 Periods after the 26 Just one small fourth qtr. bite 60 Duchess of ___ (Goya subject) 28 Pigeon’s sound
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61 Common New Year’s resolution -- as hinted at by the answers to the four starred clues 64 “Dear Santa” requests 65 Like 2, 4, 6, 8 … 66 The mermaid in “The Little Mermaid” 67 Magnetite and cassiterite 68 Common first word 69 “___ after class” DOWN 1 Neglects, as responsibilities 2 It’s reshaped by Lasik surgery 3 Humanitarian org. since 1946 4 Clear tables in a restaurant 5 Tennis’s Arthur ___ Stadium 6 Call off, as a mission 7 Composer whose work might be appropriate during March Madness? 8 Alternative to an Airbnb 9 Supplements 10 Elsa’s sister in “Frozen” 11 Fans of Conan O’Brien, colloquially 12 Cast away, like Crusoe 13 Subtle acknowledgments
maybe in Charlotte or another small town, to tell us what we can do and see if there's ways we can partner and interact with them to help us or them.” Helms is also involved in the Matthews Historical Foundation, which manages the Matthews Heritage Museum and the Reid House. The foundation has been upgrading the Reid House by adding a back patio and disability ramp, for a better gathering experience once COVID-19 subsides hopefully in the spring The Charlotte Regional History Consortium recognized Helms last year with the Dandelion Award for his work in preserving area history.
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• Burton's Grill and Bar, 1601 E. Woodlawn Road – 95 • Reid's Fine Foods, 4331 Barclay Downs Drive – 96
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18 Give kudos 23 Floral necklace 25 Sentence shortener 27 Yarn purchase 30 Gym lifter’s unit 32 Tropical fruit with orange flesh 34 Mafia bosses 35 Olympics chant 37 Like the French and Italian flags 38 Silently bids adieu
Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants from Dec. 4 to 10:
• Thai House, 110 S. Sharon Amity Road – 90 Violations include: Employee didn't wash hands after cracking eggs and employee turned off faucet with bare hands; raw eggs were stored above raw lettuce in walk-in cooler; two containers of red curry, yellow curry and green curry didn't meet cooling parameters; and several items didn't have date labels.
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Bill Helms presents the Nancy Glenn Community Servant Award to Sue Sproat. CMG file photo
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Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.
Charlotte (28210)
• H.A. Pigsmiths Southern Science, 7224 Park Road – 98.5
Charlotte (28211)
• 131 Main, 5970 Fairview Road – 96 • 7-Eleven, 801 N. Wendover Road – 98 • Eddie's Place, 617 S. Sharon Amity Road – 97.5 • Thai House, 110 S. Sharon Amity Road – 90 • Toscana Ristorante, 6401 Morrison Blvd. – 94.5
Charlotte (28226)
• Blanchard`s Deli, 5721 Carmel Road – 95 • Bonchon, 8318 Pineville-Matthews Road – 97 • Chili's Grill & Bar, 8302 Pineville-Matthews Road – 97.5 • Harris Teeter (deli), 3333 Pineville Matthews Road – 97 • It's Just Great Food, 4519 Providence Road – 99 • Tacos4Life, 3351 Pineville Matthews Road – 95.5 • Trio Restaurant, 10709 McMullen Creek Pkwy. – 95.5
Charlotte (28227)
• Aggies Restaurant, 7209 E W T Harris Blvd. – 94.5 • Big Air Trampoline Park, 2408 Sardis Road N. – 98.5 • Circle K, 8910 Albemarle Road – 96 • Halal Food Cart, 7308 E Independence Blvd. – 93 • Mi Barrio's Halal Food Cart, 7308 E Independence Blvd. – 94.5
Charlotte (28270)
• Best Wok, 1717 Sardis Road N. – 95 • Subway, 1816 Galleria Blvd – 96.5
Charlotte (28277)
• A Worthy Dog (mobile Food), 8140 Providence Road – 100 • Bamboo 7 Asian Cuisine, 15025 Lancaster Hwy. – 95 • Big View Diner, 16637 Lancaster Hwy. – 95 • Bojangles, 6308 Providence Farm Lane – 97 • Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, 9820 Rea Road – 96.5 • Chick-fil-A, 11530 Waverly Center Drive – 98 • Chick-fil-A, 10001 Rea Road – 97 • Chipotle, 7800 Rea Road – 96.5 • Dakshin Indian Grill, 16640 Hawfield Way – 90.5 • Domino's Pizza, 6420 Rea Road – 99 • Harris Teeter (meat/seafood), 9720 Rea Road – 99 • Harris Teeter (meat/seafood), 16625 Lancaster Hwy. – 99 • King Kabab, 14027 Conlan Circle – 98 • Nothing But Noodles, 7930 Rea Road – 98 • On The Border, 10710 Providence Road – 93 • Pizza Hut, 15105 John J Delaney Drive – 94.5 • Queen City Craft and Gourmet, 5349 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. – 97 • Switchin Kitchens, 8025 Ardrey Kell Road – 97.5 • Tazikis Mediterranean Cafe, 7107 Waverly Walk Ave. – 95.5
see DINING, Page 4B
OF THE
Nominate a local business person making an impact in our communities! visit thecharlotteweekly.com to submit nominations.
The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020 • Page 3B
SCORE Charlotte elects three new leaders Helen Ruth Harwell and Danny Fischer were elected president co-chairs of SCORE Charlotte, an organization of active and retired executives who provide free mentoring to small businesses. The role of president was split into two cochairs to handle the numerous and growing responsibilities of the position. The organization also has a new treasurer in Carolyn Clarke. Due to COVID-19, SCORE Charlotte has set-up remote mentoring sessions via phone, e-mail and videos for small business owners or those wanting to start, expand or reopen an existing business. SCORE Charlotte partners with the Small Business Administration. Its offices are within SBA offices in the SouthPark area. Helen Ruth Harwell Harwell has been president and owner of Harwell Law Firm PA since 2007. The firm focuses on transaction legal matters including business law, estate planning and Harwell administration, and probate administration of estates. She has over 20 years of experience in corporate and transactional law, estate planning and probate administration of estates. She moved to Charlotte in 1998 after graduating from law school and worked for a law firm. Harwell has been active in SCORE Charlotte since 2014. Besides SCORE Charlotte, Harwell is active in numerous organizations, including the National Association of Women Owners and the Matthews Women’s Club Service League. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar and Mecklenburg County Bar Association. Danny Fischer Fischer is a consultant for DBFI LLC in Matthews and a travel advisor with Cruise Planners-Journeys with Juli.
He has worked as a project manager, data quality analyst, divisional operational manager, portrait studio owner, franchise specialist, funding consultant and entrepreneur Fischer over the span of 30 years. Fischer joined SCORE Charlotte in 2015. He received his second Distinguished Service Award in 2018 for his support of the chapter across the different client areas. He is also involved in the Matthews Chamber of Commerce. Carolyn Clarke Clarke joined SCORE Charlotte in May after retiring. Her career spanned 32 years in finance, accounting and auditing. She began her career in Clarke New Jersey with AT&T as a senior internal auditor in 1988, advancing to district finance manager in 1999. Clarke moved to the area in 2007. She joined Belk Corporate Offices in 2008 for five years, first as an internal audit manager, then advancing to interim chief audit executive and director of internal audit. She later became an engagement director in Charlotte with Clifton, Larson, Allen Custom Accounting Solution Team. In 2016, she became a senior consultant (director) of audit with Lincoln Financial Group in Greensboro. Her other volunteer organizations include immediate past chair, chair and board treasurer for Dress for Success from 2011 to 2019.
STUNNING NEW HOMES
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Want some mentoring Small businesses that want to talk or be assigned a mentor served by SCORE Charlotte can download a “Mentor Request Form” at www.Charlotte.SCORE.org or www.score. org. This can also be done by emailing char lottescore47@cltscore.org or by calling 704344-6576 and leaving a message.
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With Appreciation, We Say Thank And Wish You
You
Season’s Greetings!
C G Charlotte Media Group
Page 4B • The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020
Rev. Tony: You knew I was having a tough day when… Tony Marciano Reverend
L
et me take you back to August when my wonderful assistant, Pam, started receiving emails about our Thanksgiving Food Box outreach campaign. Those individuals were so excited about blessing a neighbor with a complete Thanksgiving meal! Families in need are given a frozen turkey along with all the fixings, which includes dressing, string beans, cranberry sauce, yams, dessert and so much more. Each year, we receive more and more requests for food boxes. Although we had commitments for food boxes, we were run-
ning short on turkeys. Each day, Pam reported that more and more people were committing food boxes without turkeys making the number of turkeys needed fall shorter and shorter. Eleven days before Thanksgiving, we created a media event where I wore a turkey hat while asking the community for turkeys. Five TV stations showed up and the turkeys began to come in. The Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving brought over 500 vehicles onto the campus of Charlotte Rescue Mission delivering food boxes and turkeys. We had so many turkeys we had to build a wall at the back of the freezer truck to contain them. The Monday before Thanksgiving is our big Thanksgiving Food Box giveaway. Our partnering agencies come to pick up the food and deliver it to our most fragile neighbors. One problem, Pam was out. She is the queen of our Thanksgiving Food Box pro-
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• Ted's Montana Grill, 7404 Waverly Walk Ave. – 95 • The Fresh Market (deli & cheese), Providence Road – 95.5
Indian Trail
Mint Hill
(continued from page 2B)
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virus. It became more than a statistic; it was a real person whose life was taken from this world. I needed peace. Not just calm, I needed an inner-peace in this storm of life. I now must wear a mask and put a bag over my hand every time I pump gas. None of this surprised God. This Christmas, you will hear phrases such as “Peace on Earth.” As we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, may we be ever reminded that true peace begins in our heart. When I was 15, someone handed me a Billy Graham track titled, “Steps to Peace with God.” It took me through the process of turning my life over to God, trusting the one whose death on the cross could let me know I was “good with God” not because of what I did or would do with my life, but because of what Jesus did – dying for my sins. Once I have peace in my heart, I can share that peace with others. I’ll be back soon. Until then, live well my friend.
Road – 96 • Miki's Restaurant, 1819 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 95.5 • Qdoba Mexican Grill, 2233 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 94.5 • Stacks Kitchen, 11100 Monroe Road – 96 • The Portrait Gallery, 118 E. Charles St. – 96
DINING
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gram. Another staff member agreed to take on the task. By the time we were done, we distributed 5,100 Thanksgiving food boxes and 7,221 turkeys. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving was my day to catch my breath. I was so very grateful that God did what He always does – He showed up. Once again, He moved the hearts of so many people to make Thanksgiving a memorable day. We calculated that the program served over 20,400 individuals. Just one problem… (And please forgive me, I’m not trying to use seventh-grade bathroom humor). I’m in the bathroom of the Rescue Mission’s Community Matters Café. I looked down and saw the tag on my underwear. “That’s strange,” I thought. “The tag is supposed to be in the back.” It is then I realized that I had my underwear on backward for several hours and didn’t know it. I laughed. What was I going to do? I also realized that I was tired and not just from Thanksgiving. 2020 has been a year that will go down as one of the most bizarre years of my life. COVID-19 hijacked so many plans. The virus changed how all of us do business. I lost a friend and a co-worker due to the
• 100 Main Beef And BBQ, 7878 Idlewild Road – 95.5 • Chinatown Buffet, 140 U.S. 74 E. – 93 • First China, 6640 Old Monroe Road – 98 • Food Lion, 5850 E. U.S. 74 – 100 • Johnny K's, 138 N. Indian Trail Road – 98 • Omega Coney Island Family Restaurant, 3901 Old Monroe Road – 97.5 • Panera Bread, 14035 U.S. 74 – 97 • Popeyes,13800 E. Independence Blvd. – 95 • The Bridge, 5902 Indian Trail-Fairview Road – 98.5 • The Trail House, 6751 Old Monroe Road – 99 • Your GG's Kitchen, 5719 W. U.S. 74 – 99.5
Matthews
• Cantina Do Brasil, 4709 Margaret Wallace Road – 97 • Fujisan, 1801 Windsor Square Drive – 98.5 • Harris Teeter (meat & seafood), 3100 Weddington Road – 98.5 • Jersey Mikes, 3116 Weddington
• Circle K, 9201 Lawyers Road – 95.5
Monroe
• Culver's Butterburgers And Frozen Custard, 5122 Old Charlotte Hwy. – 96.5 • Dairy Queen Grill And Chill, 400 W. Roosevelt Blvd – 97 • Franklin Court Grille, 232 E. Franklin St – 98.5 • Golden Corral, 2507 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 97.5 • Logan`s Roadhouse, 2336 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 96 • Waffle House Monroe, 1229 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 97
Pineville
• The Chefs, 10725 Pineville Road – 96.5 • Chick-fil-A, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 99.5 • Hilton Garden Inn, 425 Towne Centre Blvd. – 96.5 • McAlisters Deli, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 98 • Ruby Thai Kitchen, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 95
DRIVE-THRU BETHLEHEM Dec 20, 5-7 PM Ways to Support Roof Above & Common Heart -Donation List Online-
• Sarku Japan, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 95.5 • Sbarro Italian Eatery, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 95 • Waldhorn Restaurant, 12101 Lancaster Hwy. – 98.5 • Wasabi Sushi, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 98 • Wingz American Grill, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 92
Stallings
• Emerald Lake, 9750 Tournament Drive – 93.5 • Mario's Pizza Italian Restaurant, 2925 Weddington-Matthews Road – 93
Waxhaw
• Broome St Burgers, 203 N. Broome St. – 97.5 • Frontier Meats, 8303 Lancaster Ave. – 100 • Ming Fu, 8139 B Kensington Drive – 93 • South Main Street Barbeque, 116 E. South Main St. – 97
Wesley Chapel
• Harris Teeter (deli), 5920 Weddington-Monroe Road – 99.5 • Harris Teeter (meats/seafood), 5920 Weddington-Monroe Road – 99.5 • Harris Teeter (produce), 5920 Weddington-Monroe Road – 99.5 • Hot Wok Restaurant, 5943 Weddington-Monroe Road – 99.5
The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020 • Page 5B
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Page 6B • The Weekly • Dec. 18, 2020
When every day can be a challenge, we’re here to give you strength. Cardinal Innovations Healthcare is a specialized health plan designed to coordinate care for North Carolinians in 20 counties with complex health needs. We serve those who receive Medicaid or are uninsured or underinsured, and need treatment for mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance use disorders. Our mission is to improve the health and wellness for these residents whose circumstances present enormous challenges every day – made more so by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to improving how we operate and partner within each county, and how we listen and respond to consumers in order to protect and preserve their safety and wellbeing. We have developed a new action plan that focuses on: •
Supporting children and families through an entirely new child welfare program
•
Expanding our network of providers for more choice and quality
•
Improving access to care and services for all members
•
Reducing Emergency Department utilization and partnering more effectively with hospitals
•
Improving how we interact, engage and support our members with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
In addition, Cardinal Innovations recently launched **ASK, which can be dialed from any mobile phone during a mental health emergency for immediate help and resources. And we are proud to be one of six health plans in the country chosen to work with the Center to Advance Consumer Partnership, through a grant funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to strengthen the way we engage and support our members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We have never been more determined to find solutions that bridge gaps in care, cut through red tape and overcome obstacles for our members. It is a new era for Cardinal Innovations as we work with counties and the state to enable better, longer, happier and healthier lives for those we care for.
For more details and to provide feedback, visit:
cardinalinnovations.org/aNewEra