South Charlotte Weekly

Vol. 15 No. 52

December 25, 2015 www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Dear Santa…

Students from Beverly Woods and Huntingtowne Farms elementary schools wrote Santa a few notes, and Old Saint Nick let South Charlotte Weekly take a peek on their way to the North Pole.

Page 9

Colony project to improve streets Synco Properties hopes to rezone 27 acres and convert a 40-year old apartment complex into a mixeduse development.

Page 3

Sensitive Santa meets with kids

Catholic earns big win

Easter Seals United Cerebral Palsy hosted a “Sensitive Santa” to give children with special needs the chance to meet Santa.

Page 6

News Briefs 6 | Opinion 7 | Education 8 | Faith 10 | Calendar 11 | Sports 12 | Classifieds 15

Despite losing its leading scorer, Charlotte Catholic earned a big road win over South Meck. Now, they’re headed to NYC. Page 12

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Page 2 | December 25, 2015 | South Charlotte Weekly

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South Charlotte Weekly | December 25, 2015 | Page 3

The Colony could upgrade SouthPark street network Council discusses revising small area plan

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Plans to redevelop the Colony Apartments could not only add commercial space to the SouthPark Mall area, but also improve its street network.

Synco Properties is seeking city approval to rezone the 27 acres to mixed-used development on the west side of Sharon Road, between Morrison Boulevard and Colony Road.

The developer wants to convert the nearly 40-year-old apartment complex into 990 residential units, 250,000 square feet of office, 300,000 square feet of retail and 225 hotel rooms.

City staff anticipates the proposal will increase daily vehicle trips from 2,350 to 24,000.

About one-third of the 300,000 vehicles traveling through the SouthPark area are using streets such as Fairview, Sharon and Colony roads, according to Mike Davis, division manager for the Charlotte Department of Transportation.

Davis said the proposal unlocks a lot of route choices, making for more efficient trips.

“You have to sort of pre-suppose the growth of people wanting to live in Charlotte, the employment and retail that they are

going to frequent,” Davis said. “We have got to put it somewhere. There’s a lot of efficiency in organizing it in this way compared to having it in a scattered location where the trips lengths are longer.”

Depending on the type of stores that open at The Colony, the project could yield alternative destinations for similar shops across town.

Ken Davies, a local lawyer, spoke on behalf of Foxcroft resident William Byron during the Dec. 14 public hearing. His client has a problem with the proposal’s building elevations and traffic.

“This is an apparent effort to put lipstick on a pig as far as the congestion that is going to be created by this project,” Davies said, noting the project would decrease the number of fully functioning access points.

Davies told council that the rezoning request was a “wholesale violation” of the SouthPark Small Area Plan.

“How can the city have credibility with the neighborhoods around SouthPark, which worked so hard in 2000 to put together this small area plan, when it’s going to be wholesale violated by this proposal?” Davies said.

While not consistent with the SouthPark Small Area Plan, city staff said the request fell in line with plans calling for more mixed used in the area.

District 6 Councilman Kenny Smith said

the project probably would be in compliance with the small area plan if the city updated it, which hasn't been done since 2000.

“I’m wondering if there’s enough discipline either in the planning or around the dais to craft such a plan,” District 4 Councilmember Greg Phipps said, “and at the same time, consider the many rezonings that may come before us. How do you co-exist with doing a plan and at the same time accepting all the many rezonings that will come to exasperate the congestion problem?”

Smith said there are a lot of areas that will be redeveloped over the next 10 years in the SouthPark area, particularly out toward Rexford or Fairview roads.

At-Large Councilmember Vi Lyles said one of the council’s biggest challenges is making sure SouthPark has appropriate zoning.

Lyles said the Colony project differs from other proposals because it doesn’t depend on Sharon and Fairview roads without breaking down the traffic into shorter trips.

The council might revisit the need to revise the small area plan during its January retreat.

Smith said even though not everyone is fully happy about The Colony rezoning, he takes pride in how far it has come.

Colin Brown, an attorney with K&L Gates, credited Smith for challenging the development team to make the rezoning a collaborative process rather than a combative one.

K&L Gates represents Synco Properties.

“Throughout the process I don’t think we’ve run into a single person who has disagreed with the need to redevelop this site,” Brown said. “The question has just been, ‘what is it going to look like?’”

Since a December 2014 open house, the development team has held at least a dozen public meetings and hundreds of hours of discussions with neighborhood leaders about the project, Brown said.

That community interaction led to several revisions of the plan, including the lowering the number of residential units from 1,100 to 990 and the size of the hotel from 300 to 225 rooms.

The Barclay Downs neighborhood initially had concerns regarding traffic, density and building heights, according to resident Hilary Larsen. She said the plan now before council, which the neighborhood endorses, represents more than 40 revisions the community requested the developer make.

“We think with this project, we’ll actually be able to protect SouthPark Mall,” Larsen said, noting residents have something to walk to. “We don’t want it to go the way of Eastland by creating the types of retail and the types of residents who can move into this area and begin to use this project.”

Page 4 | December 25, 2015 | South Charlotte Weekly

The Weekly

Business Briefs Chambers to kick off New Year with themed chapter luncheons The SouthPark and Ballantyne chapter of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce will host special-themed luncheons next month to kick off the New Year.

The SouthPark chapter luncheon, themed “Economic Forecast” will take place Jan. 12, 2016, a Tuesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Maggiano’s Little Italy. Wells Fargo Managing Director and Chief Economist John Silva will be the event’s guest speaker, giving attendees a presentation of the “Economic Forecast of 2016.”

The Ballantyne chapter luncheon is slated for Jan. 13, 2016, a Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ballantyne Village Theatre. Attendees will learn about the availability and bandwidth of Google Fiber, as well as what it can do for Charlotte, the local economy and future technology needs.

Find more information and register at www. charlottechamber.com.

‘Older people’ urged to beware of scams during the holidays The N.C. Partnership to Address Adult Abuse is urging elderly individuals to stay on their guard during the holidays to avoid becoming a victim of scams.

The Weekly

Restaurant Scores The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected the following restaurants from Dec. 11 to 17: 28209 • Clean Catch Fish Market, 2820 Selwyn Ave. – 98.5 • Las Americas Restaurant, 3609 South Blvd. – 95.5 28210 • Café Monte, 4705 Ashley Park Lane – 94.5 • Dogwood Southern Table & Bar, 4905 Ashley Park Lane – 93 • Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 6000 Fairview Road – 93

The organization, in a news release, referenced a recent article by Jenefer Duane, of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Older Americans, in which Duane provided tips to avoid falling victim to scammers that prey on individuals’ generosity during the holiday season.

Tips to avoid scams, as detailed in the release, include: • Phone your family to verify that an emergency or urgent request is genuine before offering help to someone who claims to be a grandchild or other relative or friend.

• Beware of a caller who insists on secrecy, and don’t allow people to discourage you from seeking information, verification, support and counsel from family members, friends or trusted advisers before making a financial transaction.

• If a caller claims to be from an established organization, such as a hospital, charity or law enforcement agency, look up the number of the organization independently and verify the claim before sending money.

• Ask for detailed information about charities, including the name, address, and telephone number. Then, call the charity directly and ask if the organization is aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name.

• If you have received a letter from the IRS stating that you owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS will neither call to demand immediate payment, nor call without first mailing a bill. And, the IRS does not require you to use a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card, nor will they threaten to arrest you for not paying.

Find more information on identifying and preventing frauds and scams at www.consumerfinance.gov/older-americans.

• Block & Grinder, 2935 Providence Road – 93 • Cuzzo’s Cuisine, 3500 Latrobe Drive – 95 • Toscana Ristorante, 6401 Morrison Blvd.

– 96 28226 • Carmel Place, 5512 Carmel Road – 96.5 • Char Bar 7, 6300 Carmel Road – 93 28277 • A Worthy Dog (push cart), 8140 Providence Road – 98.5 • Cajun Yard Dog, 8036 Providence Road – 94 • Chili’s Grill & Bar, 9730 Rea Road – 96.5 • Circle K, 15620 John J Delaney Drive – 97.5 • Ilios Noche, 11508 Providence Road – 98 • Lure Oyster Bar, 8420 Rea Road – 95.5 • On the Border, 10710 Providence Road – 97 • Romano’s Macaroni Grill, 10706 Providence Road – 94

28211 • Baku, 4515 Sharon Road – 93

Send us your favorite holiday recipes!

Share your go-to meals that keep your family cozy by emailing hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Visibility could thwart housing project

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Developers envision building 29 townhomes off Pineville-Matthews Road, but limited visibility along a sharp curve could put the project at risk.

Copper Builders needs approval from Charlotte City Council to rezone 4.53 acres on the north side of Pineville-Matthews Road, between Rea Road and Windswept Drive – the site of a vacant church.

City staff supports the project because it is within preferred density levels and compatible with low-scale residential character of the surrounding area, said Tammie Keplinger, rezoning planning manager.

Patrick Hunter, who lives in the Windswept subdivision to the west of the site, told city council during a Dec. 14 public hearing that he worries the road isn’t safe.

He believes most people drive at least 55 mph along the 45 mph stretch of highway, which includes a sharp turn and steep drop in elevation.

“Good luck hitting the brakes when somebody’s pulling out from this proposed development at 3 miles per hour right in front of you when you’re traveling 55,” Hunter said.

Residents will access the townhomes with right-in and right-out turns at N.C. 51. Hunter worries about people making U-turns in the median break in front of his

neighborhood.

John Carmichael, an attorney with Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson PA, said developers asked the N.C. Department of Transportation to put in a left-turn lane into the site, but the NCDOT didn’t think the project would generate enough traffic.

“We don’t dispute there are some issues out there but we feel 29 units doesn’t really impact it,” Carmichael said. “If it’s an existing problem, it is an exiting problem.”

The project would be a continuation of the Triveny townhome development, west of the site.

The developer also agreed to keep the height of some of the buildings no higher than the existing church structure at the request of Windswept residents.

Site plans call for seven buildings no higher than 45 feet. The property will have a 30foot buffer along the northern and eastern property lines, as well as setback along the road of about 80 to 100 feet.

Residents filed a protest petition against the project, which requires the city council and mayor approving the rezoning by a three-fourths majority.

“This is essentially a derelict site right now, so I’m very pleased to see some redevelopment happening there and I look forward to the improvement as a result,” District 7 Councilmember Ed Driggs said.

Opinion

Dear Santa, please use the front door I never really thought about it, but the first time I became a published writer was about 30 years ago. That’s when the weekly hometown newspaper printed my letter to Santa Claus.

I didn’t ask Santa for peace on Earth or help fighting social injustice, but I did come off as an extremely modest first-grader. I asked Santa for things I could actually spell, like a ball, bat, shirt – you get the idea.

Justin Vick Dad made fun of me for it. So the next year, I remembered to ask Santa for the toys I actually wanted and misspelled all of them like the rest of my classmates.

I don’t think Santa reads the Butner-Creedmoor News, though. He never gave me any of the toys I asked for. (I’m sure he reads the South Charlotte Weekly).

That same year I wrote Santa asking for onesyllable toys, he brought me a Nintendo Entertainment System. He left the magical video game machine unwrapped under the tree. I had never been more excited.

I remember initially laughing at everything in a simulated world of pipes and mutated turtles, even those instances when I’d mistime a jump and Super Mario would fall down a hole.

Not every Christmas was as perfect.

I remember shedding a few tears during the first Christmas I didn’t get to spend with my family. I had to work all day. Sigh – grown-up problems.

Then there was the holiday when my family’s

home burned down. I was 4 years old. My parents woke my sister and me up frantically in the middle of the night and gently tossed us out the window.

I remember throwing a temper tantrum some time after when my mother told me that most of our stuff was destroyed in the fire. I threw a Mickey Mouse doll across the sooted slab that remained of our house.

I wish I would have asked my parents before they died how they coped in that circumstance.

It had to have been one of the most deflating moments of their lives. My life would be completely different without that fire, so I’m grateful for it.

Now that I think about it, I’m grateful to be writing about Christmas again. Since I have the forum back, I’d like to encourage readers to live every day like it’s Christmas.

Think about how much better life would be.

Imagine waking up every morning with the same level of excitement you had when you were 6 years old and anxious to open presents from Santa.

People seem to connect to their faith, and other people, better during the holidays. You’re treated nicer, and with more respect. Imagine if we treated each other like that every day.

The problem is we don’t recognize the gifts given to us. I’m guilty of this. When I’m on deadline, I view the phone ringing as a distraction.

But such distractions provide an opportunity to disengage from the artificial deadlines of our day and really connect with people.

This holiday season, I’m savoring the little things, even the interruptions.

Email Justin at justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Ballantyne resident bringing healthy snacking to Charlotte

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

When his son began frequenting vending machines every Saturday during soccer games, Ballantyne resident Anatoliy Aginskiy discovered a lack of healthy snacking options.

“My wife and I are more about organic (eating) and health care,” Aginskiy said. “We try to be healthy as much as we can, but it got to the point where we were buying junk food every Saturday.”

Shortly after, an idea was born: to establish a vending machine that serves strictly organic, all-natural or otherwise healthy products; thus, Aginskiy founded Charlotte Healthy Way earlier this year. The business strives to offer healthy eating options by bringing “Naturals2Go” vending machines to various sites throughout the Charlotte area.

Aginskiy teamed up with Idaho-based Naturals2Go vending company when launching Charlotte Healthy Way in October. Together, the companies plan to offer vending machines that serve organic and all-natural food products as an alternative to the high-trans fat, high-fructose snacks that are common.

Naturals2Go vending machines also offer healthier, organic beverages as opposed to sugary sodas.

Aginskiy turned to the companies that are food suppliers of Whole Foods and EarthFare to purchase product for his machines. “… When you look around, there’s not really anywhere like this to buy organic chips or all natural chips … or more healthy, organic beverages, so this is why we wanted to get something like

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Healthy Vending

this started,” Aginskiy said.

Naturals2Go vending machines also allow customers to read ingredients for each product before making a purchase. That way, people who need to avoid specific foods for dietary or allergyrelated reasons can choose the right snack.

Aginskiy, who recently joined the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, has been in contact with various venues throughout the area and hopes to place vending machines in several locations in early 2016. He said his target clientele are gyms, schools, offices, parks and “pretty much anywhere where people want to have healthy options.”

“The coolest thing about it is it’s no cost to the location – just putting up a vending machine people can use,” Aginskiy said.

Find more information at www.charlottehealthyway.com.

South Charlotte Weekly | December 25, 2015 | Page 5

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Page 6 | December 25, 2015 | South Charlotte Weekly

Remi hosts ‘Bring your parents to work day’

The Weekly

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

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

Editorial Managing Editor Hannah Chronis Business Editor Josh Whitener Education Editor Courtney Schultz Development Editor Justin Vick Sports editor Ben Doster Faith Columnist Mark Harris

News Briefs Giving Tree Charities hosts third annual toy drive Giving Tree Charities hosted its third annual “Toys for our Troops” toy drive, which concluded Dec. 19 with a special Christmas carnival, “Gift of the Magi” performance, catered lunch and visit from Santa. Children whose parents are presently or recently deployed, or children who had a parent injured or killed in action, received Christmas presents that wouldn't have otherwise been possible. The drive helped Giving Tree Charities continue its mission of helping local military families, and letting them know they are appreciated this holiday season.

Special needs children meet ‘Sensitive Santa’

Advertising Charlotte Conway Adrian Garson Andrea Mounts

Business Publisher Jonathan McElvy Associate Publisher Frank Vasquez Business Manager Brent Epling

Design

Golf Club at Ballantyne to host annual Junior Open

Art Director Maria Hernandez Layout Editor Erin Kirby

More than 100 golfers from around the Southeast will compete at the 15th annual Ballantyne Junior Open, hosted by The Golf Club at Ballantyne, on Feb. 13 and 14, 2016. The open is a 36-hole stroke play tournament directed in partnership by The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and Dana Rader Golf School’s Steve Bogdanoff and Jon Myeres.

Golfers will compete in divisions by age and gender, including: boys younger than 10; boys 11 to 13 years old; boys 14 and 15 years old; boys 16 to 18 years old; girls younger than 13 years old; and girls 14 to 18 years old.

An awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 14, a Saturday, at 3 p.m.

The 2016 field will be capped at 108 golfers.

Registration is required and available online at www.hjgt.org through Feb. 3. A schedule of events, host hotel information, tour information and driving directions also are available online.

The general public can attend and admission is free. Spectator carts will be available for a fee.

Advertising: adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Letters to the Editor: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Press Releases: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

South Charlotte Weekly is published by Charlotte Media Group. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Ballantyne-based Remi recently celebrated LinkedIn’s “Bring in Your Parents Day.” The company opened its doors and encouraged employees to bring their parents, step-parents or grandparents to Remi and spend the afternoon at the company’s headquarters. Fourteen employees and 20 parents participated in the event.

Families took pictures together and viewed a brief presentation about Remi by Brian Landon, director of human resources.

“As an award-winning company in a niche business, it can sometimes be difficult to explain what the company does and the role employees play without getting too technical,” Landon said in the presentation, which is available on YouTube.

Parents were presented a catered lunch and were asked to write down the best advice they gave their child. The results have been posted in Remi’s “The Best Advice You’ll Ever Need!” blog post.

Remi is located at 11325 N. Community House Road.

Easter Seals United Cerebral Palsy North Carolina chapter hosted a “Sensitive Santa” event for children with special needs. The event allowed children with disabilities the opportunity to meet Santa in a setting that avoided sounds and over-stimulation that could cause a child to react negatively. More than 50 children participated in the event.

The event featured a decorated, private room for photo sessions, as well as a workshop area with snacks and crafts for kids. The event was free for families to attend.

For Katie, a 5-year-old girl diagnosed with autism, this was her first time meeting Santa.

“We cannot thank you or the program enough for today,” said Katie’s mom in a news release. “My daughter, Katie, was not only happy to meet Santa, but your kind elves gave her an elf hat that she wore the entire time we were there. I have many happy tears in my eyes… thank you for helping make this a very Merry Christmas for our family.”

Easter Seals UCP works with adults and children managing disabilities and mental health issues. Contact Lisa Hall, senior development director in the Charlotte area, at lisa.hall@eastersealsucp.com for more information.

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South Charlotte Weekly | December 25, 2015 | Page 7

Opinion

In our home, Christmas is Thanksgiving

You’re going to think I have my holidays confused, but as you nestle around your fireplace (or swimming pool, depending on what El Niùo brings this week), I’d like to share my favorite Christmas story.

Some of you might know this story, but with 50,000 new readers this year, it seems worthy of repetition.

Jonathan McElvy Just before my 5th birthday, my biological father lost a two-decade long battle with cancer – that tended to happen frequently to cancer patients in the 1970s. And if you injected me with truth serum, I still couldn’t tell you one thing about Christmas that year, which fell a few months after his death.

What’s interesting is I don’t remember anything about Christmas the next year, or the next year, either. It’s not that our family spent three years mourning the death of a wonderful man, and it’s certainly not because our fervor for the reason for Christmas disappeared. It’s just that I have absolutely no recollection of those years.

Maybe it’s because our family just didn’t have a lot. After all, life insurance compa-

nies weren’t handing out lucrative policies to people with inoperable cancer. Meanwhile, my mom worked every job she could find just to provide cheap clothes and healthy food. I’d imagine the Christmas gifts were as sparse as my recollection.

But maybe there’s another reason I don’t remember those three Christmases. Shortly after my eighth birthday, my Mom was engaged to remarry a man named Douglas McElvy and in 1982, he was part of our family Christmas for the first time.

I remember the smell of the room when I awoke Christmas morning and found an electric guitar, an amplifier and a microphone (we were raised in a very musical family). It smelled of fresh plastic, cardboard and Scotch tape.

I remember the beady eyes of my older brother when he walked behind his new drum set. And we weren’t talking about kiddie drums here – these were the real deal with glittery cases, loud cymbals and heavy sticks.

I remember the joy in my younger sister’s open mouth when she stood beside a doll house that was bigger than she was. This thing was hand-crafted and new-Dad painted, and there were enough clothes and fake women to make the Kardashians jealous.

I remember seeing my mom standing at the side of the room, seeing her children as happy as they had been in years. I don’t

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know if my mom shed any tears; I bet she did.

There were other presents. There were full stockings. And for almost 30 minutes after we children came down from our highs, our family sat in a room and read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.

My memories of Christmas 1982 have nothing to do with the electric guitar, which long ago was incinerated in some dumpster. My brother traded out those drums for something bigger and better a few years later. And I’m pretty sure a hatchet was taken to the doll house that entertained my sister for the next five years.

What mattered about that Christmas was what my brother, sister and I learned about gratitude. It didn’t matter that Thanksgiving Day was a month earlier. What mattered was that we couldn’t believe what our new dad had done for us.

And what made the gratitude more poignant were the three years prior, when we didn’t remember a single thing about Christmas.

Most of us don’t think about Christmas that way. We think about the exchange of gifts, the days away from work, the family sitting close by and the nauseating amount of food we’ll ingest.

What I think about are the reasons I have to be grateful. We might not all share the same beliefs, but in our home, I’m grateful

for a Savior who came to earth. It doesn’t bother me that the Bible doesn’t mention evergreens or Christmas ornaments. We choose to celebrate the birth of Christ, and I’m unabashedly grateful in that celebration.

I’m also grateful for those three “missing�

Christmases when I was a child. They gave me a perspective that only heightens this time of the year.

And last, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share stories like this with you, our readers.

A few weeks ago, our newspaper sent out a letter about a program we do once a year called Voluntary Pay. We received all sorts of notes from readers, thanking us for what we bring each week. We even had one lady who took the time to buy a stamp, just to send us a note that said she couldn’t afford a donation, but to thank us anyway. So to all those readers who contributed, please accept my sincere gratitude for the encouragement you have given our staff.

The season of Christmas gets lost in all sorts of meanings these days. Maybe we all find something that lends the opportunity to say “Thank you.�

Merry Christmas.

Email jonathan@carolinaweekly newspapers.com

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Page 8 | December 25, 2015 | South Charlotte Weekly

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Three south Charlotte women want area parents concerned about Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ student reassignment changes to realize “it’s going to be OK.�

Dr. Suzanne Cormier, Rachel Hunt and Amanda Raymond own Charlotte School Search (CSS) LLC, a consultant company that provides personalized school searches for individual children.

The organization takes an invasive approach to matching a child with the school that best fits their needs, which Raymond said might not necessarily be a school that “looks good on paper.� They tour schools, speak with administration and follow a personalized rubric. “For several years, we’ve had mothers come to each of us for advice about schools,� Cormier said, “because our children are older and we’ve gone through this whole process and we were very involved in trying to figure out the best schools for our children.�

They investigated consulting firms in other cities for guidance and founded their organization in April. CSS seeks to aid families who are moving to the area, families who are new to the school system or families who want to change schools. Their biggest clientele are families who moved to the area, but the three women suspect they’ll see an increase in clients after CMS establishes new district lines.

Cormier said they’ve been approached recently, as many parents worry about the unknown consequences of redistricting. “Most of the families are concerned with past history because their child is going to be moved someplace that they can’t anticipate, so everyone is wondering where the line is going to be drawn and want to know, ‘How is that going to affect me?’� Raymond said.

Hunt said although they don’t “have a crystal ball,� the women could ease fears about student assignment. “There are good schools in CMS in different areas – all areas of the city have good schools,� she said. “It’s not like you have to be just in the South or have to be just where you are now and there are different schools for different kids. Just because a school is highly ranked doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best school for their child.�

CSS hopes to serve as an objective consultant for parents to discover the right fit for their child, even if that means the school doesn’t rank the highest academically. “The beauty of what they do is they just listen to their neighbors (about schools) and we don’t have dog in the fight. We don’t have children in the schools. So, we’re going to be much more objective,â€? Hunt said. â€œâ€Ś We’re not emotionally invested like we were (when their kids were in school). We were just like all these parents.

We know what they’re going through.�

CSS wants to guide parents not to simply lis-

ten to their neighbors’ opinions about schools, but to recognize that school selection should be based on the individual child’s needs. “They need to grasp that it’s OK to take their child out of that top school and put them some place else because it’s the top school for your kid,� Raymond said.

CSS also pushes parents to take a detailed look at their child, including interests, academic needs and personalities when looking at the “best� school. Student reassignment might incite parents to reevaluate what their child needs in a school.

Raymond said when she moved to Charlotte 12 years ago, neighbors were protesting their Myers Park High School students being moved to South Mecklenburg High School. She believed South Meck was a lesser school, but said looking back on the situation, she realized South Meck would have been a great choice for her children if she hadn’t listened to the buzz.

She hopes other parents don’t follow her same path. “The reality is when they start moving kids around, some of the schools that parents think are not so great are going to become great,â€? she said. â€œâ€Ś None of these schools are stagnant.

The school that is great today may not be great in five years.�

She also reminds parents if district lines are redrawn where their child will attend a different school, she predicts they most likely won’t travel to a different end of the county to attend school.

Raymond believes communication is the key to relieve anxieties around student reassignment, particularly regarding families’ options in the school lottery system if they don’t like their home school. Moving forward, CSS encourages CMS to continue community conversations and to be transparent about the school choice process.

Cormier suggested CMS Board of Education members visit neighborhoods about the upcoming process, as they will be most vocal about assignment as a group. “It’s not going to be the complete solution, but it’s something and they need to take it slow,� she said.

The Policy Committee has remained slow in deciding new student assignment guidelines, beginning the process in February and not expecting a decision until.

Visit www.charlotteschoolsearch.com or call 704-277-5570 for more information about CSS. South Charlotte Weekly will investigate student reassignment and what it could mean for Charlotte through its series “Moving students, moving targets.� Look next week for information on the CMS policy committee’s objectives and plan they discussed throughout December.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly | December 25, 2015 | Page 9

“Dear Santa...”

Dear Santa, I have been good this year. For Christmas, I want a par of pretend Elsa earrings.

Love, Addison

All letters are written verbatim and have not been edited for grammar or spelling.

Dear Santa, I have been good every day. I want a barbies doll homes.

Love, Yavleen

We know south Charlotte kids have been good this year. Old Saint Nick gave South Charlotte Weekly a chance to peek at what children from second-graders and kindergarteners at Beverly Woods and Huntingtowne Farms elementary schools wrote Santa this year.

Dear Santa, I will be good for Ms. Lyons. I want Minecraft game please.

Love, Edward Dear Santa, Hi, my name is Alana and I’m in second grade at beverly wood Elementary School in Charlotte Noth Carolina. I have been a good student this year. Can you plees get me toys and books. Pleese write back. I wish you a marry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Sincerely, Alana M. Dear Santa, I hav bee good. I want scirt. Can I git a pony too? I want 12 Sindorilu shows. I want Frozen Towers and Barbies in a house.

Love, Angelina Dear Santa, I have been very good this Yeers. I Love You. I wood like lipstk 100 Frozen. Dog Frozen Stickers. And my tablit to be fixs. Pees it shee!

Love, Hannah F.

Dear Saint Nick, I live in north Carolina Charlotte. I hope you bring joy and happnies. My name is McRae. p.s. I can’t wait for presents. p.s. Fly up town see the sights. it’s call uptown Dear Santa, I have been goo. my sister has been ok. this year bring for my sister a doll. I will need a dress And I want a doll house.

Love, Rocio Dear Santa, Hello. My name is Summer S. and I am a second grade student at Beverly Woods Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I am wrighting you about what I want for Christmas.

• a new nalepalesh set • The thea stilton book, the journey to Atlantis • The Book Thea Stilton and The Secret of The Snow • The Book Thea Stilton and The Secret of the fairys • The Book Thea Stilton and the Secret of the old casel • The Book Thea Stilton and The Tresher of the Viking Ship

Opinion

Realizing a lesson in need The holiday season for an education reporter at a local newspaper can be simultaneously heartwarming and stressful.

For the weeks leading up to schools’ holiday breaks, I’m on a wild goose chase for information before administrators, teachers and students enjoy some time off with their families and friends. Throughout those weeks, various schools around Mecklenburg and Courtney Schultz Union counties discover “the reason for the season” and give back to their communities through toy collections, giving trees and senior citizen breakfasts, among others.

It’s remarkable how giving our school community can be, especially when those who hold the purse at the state capitol could really shell out a couple more shekels for our local teachers and schools. Families in our community who can give do just that.

After traveling from school to school, I’ve found my sometimes cynical, Grinch-like heart touched by students’ comments about giving back. One child told me she just wants her peers to be “happy and healthy,” (Isn’t that what we all want year round?) while another told me he would be content this year knowing he made another child’s Christmas more pleasant by giving to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree.

The projects have bridged the gap between economically disadvantaged students and their more fortunate peers – what CMS’ school board hopes to accomplish next year. They began to realize these children need items that they may take for granted, such as gloves, hats or underwear.

I can’t imagine my 5-year-old self being excited about underwear, but necessities become wants for families of poverty. These children might not receive anything on Christmas. The day will pass by like any other day.

I adopted a child from the giving tree at the Siskey Family YMCA and the 9-year-old girl asked for shoes, pajamas and a small purse. No toys were on her wish list.

Realizing the need in the community gave me a critical reminder that we can’t stand tallest until we stoop to help others. I can’t take what I have for granted.

I have to remember it’s OK that my cat, Lucy, climbed up the tree for the 100th time and tore apart the branches, or that I won’t be able to afford the latest and greatest gadget.

But it’s wonderful I enjoyed potato latkes and brisket with my family on the first night of Hanukah and that I plan to enjoy another family get-together on Christmas.

I think we all could use a little reminder to be kinder to each other – especially to our families, since they’re the real gift.

Email Courtney at courtney@carolinaweekly newspapers.com

Dear Santa Claus, Hello my name is Millie. And I am in second grade Beverly Woods Elementary School. in Charlotte North Carolina.

This is what I want for Christmas a American Girl Doll her name is Amanda. And clothes for the American Girl Doll. She has ornge hair.

Dear Santa, I want a flower case. And I want a phone. I have been good this year.

Love, Amiya Naomi R. Dear Santa, Hello. My name is Julie and I and a second grade student Beverly Woods Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

At Christmas, I hope you like the cookies.

I’ve been wating to asck have you ever met GoD and Jesus. Is Rudolphs nose still shining!

Sincerely, Juliz Hallen B. from brianna i will be in flrud this Chrismis I’m afrad if you will git hurt senseseely.

Brianna Lin M. Dear Santa, I have been good, I want a swimming pool.

I want a toy truck, too.

Love, Les Dear Santa, Hello. my name is Stacy K. And I am a second grade student Beverly Woods Elementary School in Charlotte North Carolina.

This what I want for Christmas a car for kid police car that I can drive.

Love, Stacy Dear Santa, My name is paolo.

I have been good. All I want is a dog! A Real dog!

Dear Santa Hello. My name is Gianna and I am a second grade student at Beverly Woods Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

My wish list is by my tv.

Sincerely, Gianna Dear Santa, Hi. My name is Ethan and I’m a second grade student at Beverly Woods Elementary School.

Thank you for the year you got me a skuter.

Sincerely, Ethan W. Dear Santa, Hello Santa. My name is Max W. and I am 7 years old. Thank you for the gifs and ever thing. You have done for cirsmis it is a oner.

Hop you have a good excellent cirismis.

Sincerely, Max W.

Dear Santa Hello. My name is Kayla and I am a second at Beverly woods.

I havd bin vare good. I wood like toy and books.

Sincerely, Kayla G. Dear Santa, Hello my name is Mac. I am 7 years old. I am a second grade at Beverly Woods Elementry school in Charlotte, North Carolina. Santa do you have a raindeer named roodoof Santa thank you for Christmas. Santa how do you get around the world to deliver presents to all the kids in the world.

Dear, Santa Claus. Hello my name is Will F. My sister is Alex F. She is in 5th grade and she is 10.

I really want a hover board but my parents say it is to dangerous Oh, and I go to Beverly Woods Elementary School and I live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I hope you are having a great time in the north pole! So can you answer my question on Christmas. my questions are…. is there really a pole in the north pole? how was Christmas first started? can I have a tv? (in my room) how small is a elf? how are you doing? is your toy factory big? do you really fly the hole world? are the santas at the mall really your helper or are they fake? are your elfs fake? are you real? do you think some of the cookie that people leave out for you gross? do you like jelly a lot?

Sincerely, Will F. Dear Santa, I have been good. Can you bring me some games?

Love, Mould Dear Santa, hello my name is Saran and I am a second grade student at beverly woods elemeentay school in charlotte North Carolina.

Merry Christmas! Santa!

Sincerely, Saran T. Dear santa, Hello. My name is Ayden. I am a second grade student Beverly Woods elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Love, Ayden to: Santa Dear santa claus, Hello. My name is Bella and I am a second grad student at Beverly Woods Elementary in Charlotte, North Carolina. I want a big tralen for Christmas.

Sincerely Bella S. Dear Santa.

Hello. My name is Cameron.

I am a second grade student at Beverly Wood for Christmas is want a new football and a new games and I want a basketball and a basketball hoop.

Sincerely, Cameron M.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 10 | December 25, 2015 | South Charlotte Weekly

Faith

The Weekly

A reminder to the church during the Christmas season

by Dr. Mark Harris mark.harris@charlottefbc.org

The word “Christmas” evokes many feelings and memories, some pleasant, and perhaps, some unpleasant.

The Christmas holiday season is a cultural Mark Harris phenomenon unlike any other, when faith and fantasy combine in ways that must seem bizarre to the outside observer. (Think of the “Santa at the Manger” motif that was popular a few years back.) But at the heart of Christmas is the greatest theological truth of all time: God so loved the world that He gave His Son. In the Christian church, we call this the incarnation: God, who is an eternal, immortal, invisible Spirit, became a man and dwelt among us. To paraphrase the beautiful words of a Christmas worship song by Chris Rice, God wrapped our injured flesh around Him, breathed our air and walked our sod. He robbed our sin and made us holy. He came to us to rescue us, deliver us from captivity into

freedom, from darkness to light. This good news is the heart of the gospel: He came to us.

The challenge to the believer is to stay focused on this truth in the midst of the craziness of the season. The bigger challenge to the believer is to follow Christ so whole-heartedly that we embrace this same calling to rescue and deliver those desperately in need. At the beginning of the Christmas season, Dec. 3 to be exact, I had a humbling, convicting opportunity to hear the story of a young man I know well who is embracing a call to rescue.

Mark Blackwell is not yet 30 years old. I met him when I became his family’s pastor 10 years ago when he was a senior at Myers Park High School.

Mark is a people-person with a drive to get things done. He went on to UNCWilmington where he was president of the student body for two years. After college, Mark founded Justice Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the problem of human trafficking.

On Dec. 3, I attended his first major fundraiser.

Via video, I was able to see Mark at work doing what Jesus did – going to people in need wherever they might be and pulling them out of their dark situations when asked. I also saw community at its best. Mark’s organization is a Christian ministry, but by the na-

ture of its work, is closely allied with law enforcement. At the dinner that night, Justice Ministries Vice President Aimee Johnson was recognized as the 2015 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award recipient for North Carolina for her work preventing crime in vulnerable communities. The official FBI news release describes Ms. Johnson’s work as two-fold: providing direct assistance to victims and creating educational programs regarding human trafficking.

Two FBI agents on hand to present the award described Ms. Johnson’s work with young people teaching them how to avoid becoming victims of the sex industry.

In a community, there is a need for government. Law enforcement is a good example. The church is not in the business of apprehending and prosecuting criminals, but somebody needs to be in that business. How wonderful when government also recognizes the need for the church. We are in the “people business” for the long haul. We are in the business of relationships. We are in the business of rescue and redemption.

The challenge for us is to stay focused on that. May the baby in the manger, God in vulnerable human flesh entering the world in the crudest, most humble of circumstances remind us this Christmas season.

CMPD Animal Care & Control

Orphaned Animals Available for Ad❤ption Name: Lola ID: A1099176 Breed Mix: Boxer Age: 6 years Weight: 55 lbs

Sex: Female (will be spayed) Date of Arrival: 12/9/15 (Stray) Vaccinations: Has all required vaccinations. Has been microchipped.

Lola is a very laid back, gentle girl who is extremely social and wants to be with people. She leans into you and will even put her head in your lap. She is easy to walk on leash and though she enjoys a short walk, she really just wants to be your lap dog. Lola would do best in a home with kids over 10 as small children might be overwhelming for her.

She is currently in our Train to Adopt program learning basic obedience. She is a little excited when she first meets a dog but quickly settles. She might do best with another dog that is not too playful as she is pretty much a couch potato these days. Lola is heartworm positive but this is highly treatable. Due to her heartworms she qualifies for the Foster to Adopt program where adopters foster her while we treat her and when she’s cleared medically, the foster will adopt. Consider this wonderful girl and come

LOLA

Faith Briefs

Church at Charlotte to begin DivorceCare CHARLOTTE – Church at Charlotte will launch a new session of DivorceCare on Jan. 6, 2016, a Wednesday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. The church also will run a 13-week session of DivorceCare for Kids for elementary-aged children, which will run concurrently with the adult session. Sessions will take place every Wednesday.

Church at Charlotte is located at 2500 Carmel Road.

‘Cultivate’ kicks off at Carmel Baptist on Jan. 7 MATTHEWS – Carmel Baptist Church will kick off a “Cultivate” challenge on Jan. 10. The seven-week challenge will focus on a deeper personal discipleship and making the church’s Student Discipleship Center a reality. The time is to be determined. Visit www.carmelbaptist.org/event/784771-2016-0110-cultivate-challenge for more information.

Carmel Baptist Church is located at 1145 Pineville-Matthews Road.

St. Matthew Catholic to hold retreat CHARLOTTE – St. Matthew Catholic Church will hold a “Seeking Purpose” retreat on Jan. 23, 2016, a Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the church’s New Life Center banquet room. The retreat will discuss God’s purpose and plan for your life through a relationship with the Holy Spirit, as well as discerning spiritual gifts, baptism and confirmation. Registration fee is $35 and includes breakfast, training materials, lunch and snacks.

Visit www.stmatthewcatholic.org to register.

Send faith news to hannah@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Church Directory ` MASS TIMES Monday, Tuesday, Thursday- - - - - 7:00 AM Wednesday—Extraordinary Form - - - 6:00 P M (Holy Hour, 5:00 PM ) Friday - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8:30 AM Saturday (Anticipated) - - - - - - - 4:30 P M Sunday- - - - - - - - - 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday—Extraordinary Form - - - - - 12:30 P M RECONCILIATION Thursday 5:30-6:30 P M, Saturday 3:00-4:00

PM

3635 Park Road † Charlotte 28209 † 704-523-4641 † StAnnCharlotte.org

CMPD Animal Care & Control also holds an adoption event the first Saturday of each month at the SouthPark Mall located at 4400 Sharon Road Name: Vixen ID: A1097713 Breed Mix: Shorthair Age: 5 months Weight: 4 lbs

Sex: Female (will be spayed) Date of Arrival: 10/29/15 (Stray) Vaccinations: Has all required vaccinations. Has been microchipped.

VIXEN “I’m working undercover to keep an eye on you and

your household. You may not even know you’re under surveillance. I can vanish into thin air if anyone or anything interferes with my investigation. If you need a cat who knows how to stay out of trouble and will always keep your secrets, I just might take your case.” She is a VIP: Only $10 to adopt!

8315 Byrum Drive / animals.cmpd.org ADOPTION FEES RANGE FROM $63 TO $103

Advertise your church

CLTWklies_ad_BW.indd 1

8/21/15 1:00

HERE!

Contact us to learn more.

704-849-2261

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

The Weekly

Calendar December

28 and Stories

Holiday Concert

Jamie Laval’s Scottish Solstice Celebration will explore the Scottish Highlands during the holidays, and include music, dance, poetry, and stories that draw on the ancient Celtic celebrations associated with the Winter Solstice and Christmas. Asheville-based violinist, guitarist and storyteller Jamie Laval will headline the event. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $18 for students, and can be purchased at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/2412043.

7:30 p.m.; Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave.

New Year’s Eve 31 Daytime Celebration Relay for Life Ballantyne will hold a daytime, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. The event will feature a caregiver, cancer survivor and balloon drop. Balloons are available for purchase and cost $5.

10 a.m. to noon; Ballantyne Village, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way

Year’s Eve 31 New at Village Tavern Village Tavern in SouthPark will hold a masquerade-themed New Year’s Eve party.

DJ Chase Morgan will provide music and party favors will be handed out. Safe transportation will be available. Cost is $20 per person.

Call 704-552-9983 for reservations.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Village Tavern, 4201 Congress St.

January

1

Girl of the Year debut

American Girl Doll store will hold an event to present and honor the Girl of the Year. Free gifts will be available while supplies last.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; SouthPark Mall, 4200 Sharon Road

9

Betty Bingo in Ballantyne

Betty Bingo will host the “Betty Bingo Show” at the Ballantyne Art Center. The event will include bingo, karaoke, dancing and prizes. Cost is $20 and tickets are buy one get one free if purchased before the show. Visit www.kelsterbrockman.wix.com/bettybingo for more information.

7 p.m; Ballantyne Art Center, 11318 N. Community House Road

9

David R. Cross book signing

Author David Cross will be on hand to sign copies of his latest book, “Finding Freedom.”

The book discusses life’s purpose, freedom in Christ and God’s calling in seven steps.

2 p.m; Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road

South Charlotte Weekly | December 25, 2015 | Page 11

10 Diversity Job Fair

Charlotte Country Day will host its third annual Diversity Job Fair, planned by diversity administration at Country Day, Providence Day, Charlotte Latin and Trinity Episcopal schools. The fair will focus on teaching opportunities at each school. Educators are invited to join representatives of the four Charlotte independent schools to learn how diversity among faculty and staff members is important to the institutions. Attendees will meet with administrators to learn about the schools and their programs. Bring resume copies.

3 to 5 p.m.; Charlotte Country Day Hance Fine Arts building, 1440 Carmel Road

11 Homosexuality workshop at RTS Reformed Theological Seminary will hold a workshop aimed to equip the Charlotte community and engage residents with the culture around them. The workshop will be presented by Dr. James White and will include two lectures: Homosexuality and the Bible and Homosexuality and Culture. White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. Register in advance at www. rts.edu/charlotte.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; RTS Charlotte Chapel, 2101 Carmel Road

12 Relay for Life kickoff

Relay for Life of Ballantyne will hold a kickoff as the first event leading up to Ballantyne’s June Relay Event. The kickoff will feature food and prizes.

6 to 8 p.m.; Bravo Cucina Italiano, 9824 Rea Road

Preschool 14 Harris Academy Tour Harris YMCA will hold a tour for attendees who want to learn more about its preschool programs. Attendees will tour the campus and meet the director and teachers of programs for kids 16 months to 5 years old. Contact Celeste Bailey at 704-716-6851 for more information.

10 to 11 a.m.; Harris YMCA, 5900 Quail Hollow Road

Holiday Prayer 18 MLK Breakfast The Greater Charlotte YMCA will commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual MLK Holiday Prayer Breakfast. Malcolm Graham, former state senator, will serve as the keynote speaker.

Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit the McCrorey Family YMCA. Directly following the breakfast will be the fourth annual MLK Teen Summit at the McCrorey Family YMCA. 8 a.m.; NASCAR Hall of Fame, 400 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.

and 19 Depression Suffering: Finding Hope Reformed Theological Seminary will hold a seminar on depression and suffering, presented by Executive Director of Center for Christian Education and Foundation David Powlison, who will use scripture to help those suffering, and help those whose loved ones struggle with depression. Powlison is the editor of The Journal of Biblical Counseling, and has served as a counselor for more than 30 years.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; RTS Charlotte

Community

in exactly these words, his advice was "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." From a general life perspective, I have sought to instill in my children that choices and decisions we make today determine the lifestyle we live tomorrow.

Rev. Mark Harris is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Charlotte. Contact him at mark.harris@charlottefbc.org.

If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would it be?

The Weekly Spotlight

Tell us a little about your background as a minister.

After earning a degree in political science at Appalachian State University, I was accepted into Campbell Law School. Through serving in youth ministry while in my senior year, God built a passion for His truth in my life, and I shifted my path, earning a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ultimately I earned a Doctor of Mark Harris Ministry from Southeastern. Today, I find myself looking back on 30 years of ministering to people, 27 of those as senior pastor of a local body of believers.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

From a ministry perspective, the best advice I ever received was from a pastor who was a "father in the ministry" to me. While he didn't say it

I would love to sit down with President Ronald Regan because he truly could stand on conviction without hatefulness and had a genuine ability to connect with all people.

This ability is often lacking today, and I would love to hear and learn from him how he did it.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things, which you do not know.”

As we go into the holiday season, what advice or encouragement would you give our readers?

Stay focused on the vision of Christ given to the prophet Isaiah in very dark days. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" The hope of the world is Jesus, God in human flesh, who came to earth to as our Savior, a wonderful counselor to a troubled world, a mighty God, an everlasting Father to a fast changing world where nothing seems to last forever, and as the one thing humanity never seems to achieve: the Prince of Peace. May the joy of knowing this one who has come be at the center of your life this season.

Opinion

All I want for Christmas is a mouse game My 5-year-old son, Caleb, loves Donkey Kong.

I’m not talking about these modern Wii or Xbox games. I’m talking about old-school, mid-1990s Super Nintendo Donkey Kong.

Last summer, I decided to pull out my old Super Nintendo, which I’ve held onto since receiving it for my birthday in third grade. I’m not sure Josh Whitener whether it was a way to deal with nervous excitement as we awaited the birth of our second child, or to distract me from the raging pregnancy hormones that – OK, I should stop there in case my wife reads this.

Anyway, I decided to start playing “Donkey Kong Country 2” and “Donkey Kong Country 3.” I introduced Caleb to the time-wasting activity, and he started referring to “Donkey Kong” as “the mouse game” – the first enemy you have to destroy in both games is a mouse. I guess it makes sense.

Caleb has never been picky when it comes to gifts. When Christmas rolls around, my wife and I usually give him suggestions on what to ask Santa for. We planned to do the same thing

this year. Everything was set – until an impromptu visit to a department store Santa last week, when Caleb specifically asked for “Donkey Kong No. 1.”

Now, that was a surprise. A completely offthe-wall request – one that, in hindsight, we should have seen coming – sent us scrambling to contact the elves in Santa’s eBay workshop to make sure Santa could make a 20-year-old game happen. If he’s good between now and then, Caleb will have a new “mouse game” come Christmas morning. Shhh, don’t tell him.

Sometimes life throws us surprises and we’re left scrambling to figure out how to deal with them. A job transfer, a blossoming or waning relationship, a baby – these can all seem scary at first. But, I believe some of life’s greatest blessings are things we didn’t plan for. Trust me – Caleb himself was a surprise.

It’s easier said than done, but wouldn’t it be better if we viewed more of life’s surprises as potential great adventures? Maybe Christmas is the perfect time to start.

Even though Caleb’s request initially gave us higher blood pressure and a slight arrhythmia, it’ll be worth it to see his face on Christmas morning when he sees what Santa and his eBay elves left under the tree: a new (old) mouse game.

Email Josh at josh@carolinaweekly newspapers.com

Page 12 | December 25, 2015 | South Charlotte Weekly

Sports

Charlotte Catholic wins over South Meck, despite injuries

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Charlotte Catholic boys basketball team had everything going against it when it made the short drive to South Meck Dec. 17, but overcame all of the obstacles in its way to win 75-71 in overtime.

The Cougars were without their leading scorer and rebounder, freshman big man B.J. Mack (12 ppg and 6.2 rpg), who sustained a sprained ankle in practice. Catholic also trailed by 13 points in the second half, and shot a meager 3-18 from three-point range.

“We just made a couple of timely ones (three pointers),” Charlotte Catholic coach Mike King said. “It’s nice to know that as a team that’s known to shoot the three and we’re able to win on the road in overtime only making three of them.”

Fortunately for the Cougars, defense travels – well, it does for them anyway. “Defense travels” has been Catholic’s mantra this season, but it took nearly three poor quarters of play by the Cougars for them to remember what they’re built on.

“I felt we were struggling defensively, to get clean rebounds to help us with our break and then we got some layups and got to the free throw line and guys started seeing the ball go in,” King said.

“Any time you can win at a place like this on the road in conference, you’ll take those any way you can get them, but it does add a little gravy to it, if you want to think of it that way, winning without our leading rebounder and leading scorer, but it doesn’t surprise me.”

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Opinion

Catholic got its biggest lift from senior point guard Josh Brodowicz. Brodowicz catalyzed the Cougars with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists, but he also left an indelible impact on the defensive end with six steals and switching over to guard and frustrate South Meck’s dynamic scorer, senior guard Jalen Blakeney, in the second half.

“We always talk about how we play great defense, and we relied on that,” Brodowicz said.

“We get one stop at a time.

“People think we just shoot, but that’s not us. We can get to the rim and do a lot of other things. We’re not always going to make shots, but if you can get stops and run the floor and stops leads to offense and that’s what we did.”

Brodowicz willed Catholic to the win. King said never to count him out.

“Josh does Josh,” King said. “Josh is a great player. I’m fortunate to have him. That’s what he does.”

Junior forward Jimmy Abate added 20 points and six rebounds to help the Cougars improve to 11-0 (4-0 So. Meck 8). They sit alone atop the conference standings, while Ardrey Kell (4-7, 3-1 So. Meck 8) and South Meck (7-3, 3-1 So. Meck 8) are tied for second place.

Catholic isn’t only a veteran ballclub, but a resilient, deep, gritty and talented one, too. Once the Cougars get Mack healthy and back in the lineup, they’ll be closer to becoming what some are already calling them – a state championship contender.

Next for Catholic is a trip to New York City for the McGuire Classic, where the Cougars will face Cardinal Spellman Dec. 28 and Xavier Dec. 29.

When Christmas and sports collide When you reach the ripe old age of 28 like myself, Christmas presents don’t carry much hype. The holiday takes on a different meaning than when you were a child.

At the Doster home, we had to wait until Dad finished reading Luke 2 and praying to focus our hearts on the reason for Christmas before we could open our presents. As you can imagine, that was difficult for a kid like me, who had a short attention span.

Ben Doster Now, all I want for Christmas is to celebrate with my family and friends.

We were made to be in relationships with other people, which is a gift in itself.

Relationships play a significant role not only in every day life, but in sports too. Think about the way a player interacts with his coach, and how teammates work together with each other.

I recently heard a so-called expert say sports don’t teach character; they reveal character. He couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Sports do reveal character to some degree, especially when they make us lose our cool, but the positives outweigh the negatives in sports.

Team sports teach our young people, “team before self,” which is counter to everything society teaches us. Athletes learn how to work together with others to achieve a common goal.

That teaches sacrifice.

We live in a society that fosters an “It’s all about me” mentality, creating an epidemic of narcissism and entitlement.

I encourage parents to get their children involved in sports at an early age, so they can begin to learn the value of a group of people laying aside their personal goals to accomplish something together, something greater.

As the old adage goes, “It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.”

Kids also learn perseverance and how to respond to adversity when they play sports, which prepares them for life’s obstacles.

Like Christmas, sports also bring family and friends together through playing and watching. I love it when sports and holidays collide.

Thankfully we’ll have enough basketball to go around greater Charlotte, Union County and the surrounding area to feast our eyes on after watching “A Christmas Story” marathon and other holiday TV traditions that have worn out their welcome.

You have the Hoodie’s House Hoops Classic, Cox Mill Christmas Tournament, Urban Building Group Invitational, Kings Mountain Holiday Tournament and the Laurie Ann Cruse Christmas Classic to choose from for your watching pleasure. Each tournament features local teams, pitting them against elite competition from across the state and the country.

The holidays just got a lot better, if that’s even possible, so enjoy.

Merry Christmas, peace on earth and good will toward man.

Email Ben at ben@carolinaweekly newspapers.com

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South Charlotte Weekly | December 25, 2015 | Page 13

South Charlotte Weekly’s

Sports

2015 boys’ soccer Super Team Player of the year: Marco Garcia South Meck Senior forward Marco Garcia was the best player on the best team in the state. Opponents didn’t have an answer for him this season. Garcia scored 39 goals and dished out 20 assists to earn So. Meck 8 Player of the Year, all-state honors 4A state championship MVP. He is receiving interest from the Charlotte 49ers and Appalachian State.

Peyton Smith Carmel Christian

Giovanni Fanara Country Day

Carmel Christian senior forward/mid fielder Peyton Smith was dominant this season. He was an offensive nightmare for opponents, registering 30 goals and 28 assists. Smith, an all-state player, will continue his soccer career at DePaul University.

Charlotte Country Day junior forward Giovanni Fanara was vital to the Buccaneers’ state runner-up finish. The Italian exchange student recorded 13 goals and three assists on his way to all-conference, CISAA Player of the Year, all-region and all-state honors.

Reed Hunicutt South Meck South Meck junior forward Reed Hunnicutt played an integral role in the Sabres run to an undefeated finish, recording 10 goals and 20 assists. Hunnicutt was named to the allstate team for his stellar play.

Coach of the Year Eric White South Meck Second Team Joe Piacesi Queens Grant Karabo Maretlane Carmel Christian Jordan Sienkowski Providence Day Jack Vaughn Charlotte Country Day Manuel Figueroa South Meck Ethan DeSilva South Meck Harish Amatya South Meck Christian Mauney Ardrey Kell Jose Duarte Rocky River Andres Garcia Independence Davis Hammond Myers Park

Zain Blackwood Ardrey Kell

South Meck senior center back Brad Scharf made the most of his final campaign with the Sabres, and it paid off with a state championship. Scharf, who anchored South Meck’s backline of defense, helped the Sabres finish with 16 shutouts to earn all-conference and all-region honors.

Ardrey Kell senior center back Zain Blackwood was a defensive stalwart for the Knights and among the most suffocating defenders in the area. Blackwood, who is being recruited by Appalachian State and Virginia Tech, was named an all-conference, all-region and all-state player.

Chase Wheeler Carmel Christian

Dallas Baker Ardrey Kell

Carmel Christian sophomore forward/defender Chase Wheeler was a key contributor to the Cougars success this season. He finished with 21 goals and eights assists.

Ardrey Kell junior forward Dallas Baker was the Knights go-to offensive player this season. Baker scored a teamhigh 22 goals, and will likely get an opportunity to play at the next level.

Nick Aparicio Providence

Austin Acks Charlotte Latin

Senior forward Nick Aparicio gave opponents trouble the entire season. He scored 37 goals, and made the all-conference, all-region and all-state teams. The 6-foot California native owns the single-season school record of goals in a season, and the school’s record for career goals (64). He’s receiving interest from Appalachian and UNC-Wilmington.

Charlotte Latin senior forward Austin Acks was strong in his final season with the Hawks, recording 11 goals and 10 assists. Acks earned all-conference, all-region and all-state honors. Washington and Lee University is pursuing Acks.

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