South Charlotte Weekly

Vol. 16 No. 4

January 22, 2016 www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Faster Internet will boost Charlotte’s economy

Pet Supplies Plus opens Locally owned pet store Pet Supplies Plus will celebrate its SouthPark location with a grand opening Jan. 30. Page 6

See Story • Page 4

KEEP POUNDING Girlfriends host gala Three girlfriends use their friendship to give back with a charity gala to support local nonprofits.

Page 8

South Meck eyes states The reigning swimming state champions hope to repeat last year’s success at conference, regionals and states. Page 17

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Christian

Kids across the county are showing Panther Pride to support their hometown team headed to the NFC Championship. Mayor Jennifer Roberts declared January "Panthers Pride" month last week, and students at Charlotte Christian School celebrated by wearing their Panthers gear to school.

News Briefs 6 | Opinion 7 | Education 11 | Faith 12 | Calendar 14 | Sports 16 | Classifieds 19

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 2 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

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South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 3

Author brings history to life through prose Peter Golden to visit Park Road Books on Jan. 23

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Critically acclaimed author Peter Golden is first and foremost a writer.

“I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember,” Golden said. “I started (doing) freelance articles and finally got a book deal; I’ve been a full-time writer ever since.”

Golden has spent the past 35 years writing both fiction and nonfiction, most of which has some kind of historical significance. Over the course of his career, Golden has interviewed world leaders like former U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, along with Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig and more.

The south Charlotte community will have the chance to meet Golden as he visits Park Road Books for an author talk. The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 23, at 1:30 p.m. at the 4139 Park Road store. Golden will discuss his latest book, “Wherever There is Light,” a historical novel set in the World War II era.

The story revolves around an African-American college’s effort to rescue a Jewish family from the Holocaust. The novel is primarily set in south Florida, Paris and Greenwich Village, and Golden visited each location when conducting research for his novel.

“Going to these places, taking pictures and notes on them – seeing the real thing really stimulates the imagination,” Golden said. “The more

I see the reality (of a setting), the easier it is to make things up.”

Though the story itself is fiction, the backdrop for the events that occur in the novel is derived from actual history. Golden researched real-life accounts of African-American colleges saving Jews from the Holocaust.

“It’s a very unique piece of history – very few people know about the rescue of Jews from Hitler,” Golden said. “About 20 African-American colleges got involved and rescued professors from the Holocaust who would have died otherwise.”

The entire writing process took 18 months, and “Wherever There is Light” was officially released in early November 2015. Golden describes the story as “up and down” with “great moments of sadness and great moments of triumph.”

“I tend to like (characters) who succeed against great odds,” he said.

Though his book-writing success has opened doors to book tours, signings and author lectures, Golden always keeps writing the center of what he does – something he encourages other authors to do so, as well.

“You have to distinguish between being a writer and being an author,” he said. “Even if you look at writers who do well (financially), they spend a lot more time writing than doing everything else … Don’t take it on unless you love it.”

Golden plans to write his next novel about the aftermath of the Holocaust and its connection to the Cold War. Find more information on Golden and his books at www.petergolden.com.

Escape rooms the latest in Charlotte entertainment

by Hannah Chronis hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

We had less than three minutes left and couldn't figure out the last clue to unlock the door before a hypothetical plague swept the room and “killed” us all.

As a team of five right-brained journalists and graphic designers, we faired fairly well up until the end, considering much of the one-hour time span comprised of us trying to remember elements on the periodic table to figure out our next clue.

Escape rooms are the latest phenomenon in Charlotte’s entertainment scene. Guests are locked in a themed room – such as bio-hazard or Aztec ruins – for an hour and must find clues and solve riddles in search of a final key or code needed to escape. It’s a race against the clock that requires not only thinking outside-of-thebox, but also teamwork.

Escape Kings – one of Charlotte’s first escape rooms – opened off Westinghouse Boulevard in October 2015. Husband and wife Paulette and Nathan Manis, owners of Escape Kings, knew there was a market for escape rooms in the Charlotte area, and wanted to incorporate rooms not only for adults, but children as well.

When Escape Kings opened, they unveiled two adult rooms and a kid-friendly room.

“We wanted to do something for families, and there’s not anyone doing that around here,” Paulette Manis said. “Escape rooms don't have to be scary. We wanted parents to be able to take their kids if they wanted to.”

Escape Kings is the Manis’s first business venture; Paulette is a CPA and Nathan has a

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background in information technology. Nathan came up with the themes and engineered the rooms, which took about eight weeks, while Paulette is responsible for running the day-today business.

The escape room concept is traced back to Japan, and the first one didn't appear in the United States until 2012, when Puzzle Break opened in San Francisco, according to business website MarketWatch. Now, more than 150 escape room facilities are registered in the United States; 17 of those are in North Carolina, in major cities such as Asheville, Durham and Winston-Salem.

The biggest challenge in opening an escape room is attracting returning customers, since most won’t return after experiencing a room once. The Manis’s hope to keep Escape Kings fresh by hosting birthday parties, corporate events and, eventually, changing themes or adding new rooms.

“We’ve really gotten a positive response since we opened, and most of that has been word of mouth,” Paulette said. “We’re first and foremost a family-owned business, but we do hope to branch out.”

Visit www.escapekings.com for more information

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Page 4 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Gigabit Internet will boost Charlotte’s juice

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Alan Fitzpatrick’s day job is chief operating officer for DC74 Data Centers, but people around town probably know him best as a technology evangelist.

Fitzpatrick co-founded Charlotte Hearts Gigabit shortly after Google announced it was bringing Google Fiber to the city. His advocacy group promotes the idea of Charlotte leveraging ultra-fast Internet speeds to establish a competitive advantage over other cities. “We decided to have this grassroots effort of people who were volunteers – techies, entrepreneurs and geeks – that just thought this would be great for Charlotte,� Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick explained how gigabit Internet could enhance the local economy at a luncheon hosted by the Ballantyne Chapter of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 13 at Ballantyne Village Theatre.

Here are five key takeaways from Fitzpatrick’s talk:

Fueling competition

Charlotte is the latest city to experience a phenomenon known as the Google Fiber Effect.

Not long after Google announces plans to introduce gigabit Internet to a community, competing companies increase speeds and slash prices.

In Charlotte, Time Warner Cable upgraded Internet speeds for existing customers. AT&T is offering faster speeds through U-verse with AT&T GigaPower. “I really have to credit Google Fiber for driving the conversation,� Fitzpatrick said. “Until they said they were thinking of coming to Charlotte, most people were not talking about gigabit or what this could mean.�

Charlotte currently ranks below the national average when it comes to Internet speed. Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Provo Utah are among the fastest. They were the first Google Fiber cities.

Building the next Silicon Valley

Google Fiber has launched in only three cities so far, giving Charlotte an opportunity to jump ahead of many communities, in terms of cultivating a digital economy.

The service tends to foster entrepreneurship and attracts talent, Fitzpatrick said, particularly web, software and hardware developers. That’s evidenced by Kansas City Startup Village, a network of entrepreneurs harnessing the faster Internet speeds.

Fitzpatrick’s company, DC74 Data Centers, has hosted hackathons designed to develop new applications to leverage gigabit speed. “We can wait for Silicon Valley to do that or we can foster that in Charlotte,� he said. “It’s an opportunity to be early on the game.�

Gaining a reputation

Charlotte is getting national attention for its connection to Google.

Broadband Community Magazine recently published a four-page spread on the city’s ability to woo Google Fiber. A national Gigabit conference, Gigabit Cities Live 2016, will take

Justin Vick/SCW photo

Residents might see orange spools of fiber conduit put into the ground around Charlotte. This spool was parked outside of Carmel Family Physicians on Park Cedar Drive.

place April 5 at The Ritz Carlton. “I’ve heard people moving to Charlotte simply because they heard we are a Google Fiber city,� Fitzpatrick said. “If you’re a business and trying to recruit people across country, you can use this as a recruiting tool.�

Almost any company that is going to move to Charlotte is going to ask about access to Google Fiber, Fitzpatrick said. It’s not only a perk for businesses, but also their employees who want quality living.

Changing work dynamics

The promise of gigabit Internet speeds extends beyond watching Netflix or downloading two albums in one second. As many as 20 to 40 devices in a home could be connected to the Internet. “There’s a whole wave of technology that’s going to put everything online and let you control,� he said. “All of those things are going to need access to the Internet to communicate.�

Faster Internet speeds also could prompt more people to work from home.

Fitzpatrick has heard of some offices sending employees home because the office Internet was so slow. There’s also the promise of improved productivity when you think about the number of times you download or upload files through your email over the course of a day or week.

Promoting digital inclusion

Considering how much time people spend online, Fitzpatrick said it’s hard to imagine that up to 20 percent of Charlotte residents don’t have a home Internet connection.

For some, the barrier might involve the cost of buying a computer or a monthly subscription. Others might not know how to use a computer or can’t conceive of what they would use the Internet for.

Fitzpatrick is part of Charlotte’s digital inclusion steering committee. The group tries to get more people online. “High-speed fiber doesn’t really achieve its real benefit if segments of its society are excluded,� he said. “We want everyone to be online.�

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 5

Growler USA microbrew pub to bring craft beer to Tordingdon Circle

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

As the craft beer craze continues to grow in Charlotte, residents of Ballantyne and surrounding areas will soon have a new spot to frequent when they’re in the mood for a cold one.

Growler USA: America’s Microbrew Pub will open a new site at 12206 Copper Way in Toringdon Circle, located near Johnston and North Community House roads, on Jan. 30.

The pub will offer more than 100 draft selections, including 20 beers brewed within Charlotte city limits, according to a news release. Local breweries featured will include Triple C, Birdsong, Olde Mecklenburg, D9, The Unknown, Sugar Creek and Lenny Boy. “Our experience will deliver the beer in the way that the brew master intended for it to be delivered to the brew drinker,” said Matt Coben, owner of the Ballantyne pub. “… We’re really excited about bringing the craft beer experience to south Charlotte.”

Growler USA isn’t just for fans of microbrew beer; the pub also will serve hard cider, draught wine, handcrafted root beer, cold-pressed coffee and kombucha tea.

The pub will have a food menu, featuring two “Carolina culture” favorites – pimento cheese bruschetta topped with fresh cherry tomatoes and crabmeat, and a “Charlotte Dog,” complete with beef and bison chili, Dijon mustard and melted cheddar cheese. The menu also will feature a variety of salads, sandwiches and pizzas.

Josh Whitener/SCW photo

The Ballantyne pub has three bars – two with traditional seating and one standing area. Taps are monitored electronically to provide patrons with real-time social media updates about new, existing and out-of-stock menu items. Patrons can charge their cellphones at charging stations, and the pub offers an HDMI/computer hookup for private meetings or business presentations.

“We’re not a sports bar,” Coben said. “We want to offer a comfortable environment … where you can relax and enjoy yourself and have a conversation. We want to be a destination.”

Growler USA is a national franchise headquartered in Colorado. The Ballantyne pub is the first Growler USA location in Charlotte.

Beginning Jan. 30, Growler USA will be open Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, from noon to 8 p.m. Visit www.growlerusa.com/nc-charlotte-ballantyne for more information.

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Page 6 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

The Weekly

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 Rev. Tony Marciano

Advertising Charlotte Conway Andrea Mounts

Design

News Briefs Pet Supplies Plus ‘marks territory’ on Sharon Road Pet Supplies Plus will open its latest Charlotte-area store in SouthPark, located at 4732 Sharon Road, with a grand opening celebration on Jan. 30 and 31. Store owner Matt Grimm said the celebration would include sale prices, free nail trims, and giveaways. On Jan. 30, free scratch cards up to $50 values will be given away with a purchase. A “pets and people pizza party� will take place between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On Jan. 31, the first 100 customers will receive a free small bag of dog or cat food.

The 5,600-square-foot store also will feature a self-service dog wash.

Grimm also owns the Pet Supplies Plus located on Pineville-Matthews Road.

Visit www.petsuppliesplus.com for more information.

Art Director Maria Hernandez Layout Editor Erin Kirby

Business President Jonathan McElvy Publisher Kelly Wright Associate Publisher Frank Vasquez Business Manager Brent Epling

Press Releases: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Photo courtesy of Pet Supplies Plus

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Registration open for 3-2-1 Dash for Down Syndrome March 19 Registration is open for the annual 3-2-1 Dash for Down Syndrome, which will be held March 19, a Saturday, at 8:30 a.m. at 8835 Blakeney Professional Drive. The event will include a 5K, 1-mile fun run and family friendly activities. Registration costs $25 online and $40 on the day of the event.

Proceeds will benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte, which supports Down syndrome research and education.

Register at wwwdashfordownsyndrome. racesonline.com.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

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Carowinds is hiring more than 4,000 associates to prepare for the upcoming season and two new attractions: Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare and Carolina Harbor, the Carolinas largest waterpark. Both will be included in the price of regular admission.

Jobs vary from entry to supervisory levels and are available in the following departments: admissions, aquatics, cash services, entertainment, food and beverage, games, guest services, human resources, maintenance, marketing merchandise, park services, rides and security.

Applicants must be 15 years or older. Candidates should apply online at www.carowinds. com/jobs to begin the hiring process, or stop by Carowinds employment office at 14523 Carowinds Blvd. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Weekly

Advertising: adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

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

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Carowinds hiring 4,000 people

Dear Editor, In response to Mr. Witherell's letter found in the Jan. 15, 2016 edition, I wanted to make an important clarification.

Donald Trump did not say that all Mexicans are rapists. He said, "Among all the illegal immigrants coming from Mexico were some pretty bad people, some of them were rapists, some of the were drug dealers.� – Donald Trump, page 14, “Crippled America.�

In Trump's book, “Crippled America,� he eloquently describes the fact that there are

"351,000 criminal illegal aliens in our prisons that cost America over $1 billion a year."

He also is very clear of his support for legal immigrants that contribute positively to society. Living in America is a privilege. Through a proper legal vetting process and an existence of a wall, we can filter out those will questionable intensions. This is vital in a country where our prisons are over capacity. We as taxpayers are fitting the bill. We also cannot forget the massive amount of illegal drugs that are smuggled across the border that directly lead to crime.

I suggest that Mr. Witherell read Trump's book and not only depend on a media outlet's interpretation of his words, he may even end up voting for him.

Barbara Stackhouse Dear Editor, Mr. McElvy – I enjoy your newspaper and consider your editorials the only ones in Charlotte worth reading. I was most interested in your recent one about Donald Trump. Although I believe that Ted Cruz is by far the better candidate, I do enjoy watching Trump and especially like the way he makes the liberals’ heads spin.

I think you may have missed the point on the Trump phenomenon. I don’t think any of his supporters care what he says as long as it is not governed by a spineless concern over being politically correct. Thinking people are just tired of the perpetually offended and their control of too much of the media and far too many of the political types.

People are sick of a president who bows and scrapes before tyrants and who seems committed to join them as a “fellow tyrant.�

Many of us are disgusted with pretend journalists who regurgitate the White House line – regardless of whether it is factual. Further, we are sick of people who join Hillary in saying “what difference does it make?� when brave Americans are abandoned by our government and left to be murdered in Libya. Sure I would vote for Donald Trump – heck, I would vote for Mickey Mouse before I would vote for a deceptive Democrat!

John Lane

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 7

Opinion

We might be dying, but we’re getting rich too If you’re old enough to remember, there was a time when families sat down to eat dinner and, somewhere between your last bite of green beans and your first bite of meatloaf, that corded weapon hanging on the wall Jonathan McElvy started to ring.

There was no such thing as Caller ID back then, and you had no idea if it was Grandma or some goon from Greenville on the other end of the line pitching a steam cleaner that could miraculously suck germs off a soap bar.

I miss those days of dinner interruptions. I miss when our only annoyance came from a broke college kid calling to inform mom that her son had been named to the Who’s Who of Brilliant Booger Biters. For one night only, mom could buy a hard-cover album with my name on Page 393 for the low, low price of $39.95.

The reason I miss those days? Email. And by email, what I obviously mean are the 77 emails I received (on my work account) in one day from people and businesses that believe I have some very serious medical problems.

It all started with a company that proudly proclaimed its product offered the best heart attack warning system in America. When I didn’t click on that piece of spam, I promptly received a second email from the same Russian warehouse offering a product that could quickly heal me from my recent heart attack.

The only medical reason I’d have to fear a heart attack would be from utter paranoia brought on by the next dump of emails.

Apparently, I need a new drug that will defeat diabetes. I received four emails reminding me that I should immediately start taking an inventive new probiotic because there’s a chance I’m grossly overweight. I received another two emails from the Mayo clinic telling me they had found a cure for hearing loss. Worst of all, I was offered a product that will fix all my sagging skin, which seems odd considering I haven’t even had time to lose all that weight.

That’s OK, I quickly received another email that I could buy a product and have skin that looks just like Jennifer Lopez’s, which would be great if I were, you know, a woman.

In the sort of humor you can’t make up, the next email came from a company informing me they are legally allowed to sell cannabis pills in all 50 states, which is about the only pill I’d buy if I had heart disease, obesity, diabetes, no hearing and sagging skin.

Besides the obvious medical crisis I face, not all companies think I’m in such bad shape. I had email offers from four different

Introducing

vendors, all notifying me that they would immediately deposit money into my account. A couple were lowball offers – one is sending me $562; another $961. The other two were more my speed. If I’ll hand over my bank account information, I can have checks for $15,000 and $250,000 deposited tomorrow.

That’s the reason I didn’t even buy a PowerBall lottery ticket last week. Combine all those deposits and I’ll pull in a cool $266,523 just tomorrow. And that doesn’t even count the seven straight days of $50 at Kohl’s and another $100 in free Macy’s dollars. Now we’re up to $266,973, and if the PowerBall winners took home a combined $500 million after taxes, I can have just as much as them in 5.13 years.

The problem I have with spam email isn’t that businesses are out there trying to make a buck. According to one (very small) piece of research on this topic, I found most companies can earn about $10 off of every 1,000 emails they send. So if they send 100,000 emails, they earn $1,000, and if these jokers send out 1 million emails, that’s an easy 10 grand. Without getting into too many details, these virtual mail warehouses send out millions upon millions of emails each day, based on lists they’ve either purchased or stolen from the Web, and it’s an enormous business.

No, my problem is that the braniacs in Washington D.C. aren’t smart enough to fig-

ure out a way to put a halt to the invasiveness.

In 2003, bureaucrats basically legalized spam email in something called the CANSPAM act. Once again, you can’t make up this irony: CAN-SPAM stands for “Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing.”

Without too much legal mumbo-jumbo, here’s what the act says: You have to allow people to unsubscribe to your emails and your subject line can’t be misleading. In our business, they call it “truth in advertising,” and email spammers are “required” to offer us a little truth, which means I’m on the brink of death, even though I’m getting a quarter million bucks tomorrow.

I love technology. I even love email. Call me an old-timer, but I kind of miss the days when companies couldn’t intrude on our lives at every single turn.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Netflix just sent me an email because I might like a recently added show called “Dawn of the Croods.”

No lie, here’s the summary: “The world’s first family is back for more laughs as they discover sports, sleepovers and other wonders in a world of exotic creatures.”

Sports and sleepovers with exotic creatures, huh? Sounds like an entirely different category of spam emails I get ever so often.

Email jonathan@carolinaweekly newspapers.com

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www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 8 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

SALES REP POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Workforce housing drives Colony Road upgrades

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Charlotte Media Group is looking for additional sales reps for our growing group of award-winning community newspapers.

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

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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: Chloe ID: A5084435 Breed Mix: Shorthair Age: 2 years Weight: 10 lbs

Sex: Spayed Female Date of Arrival: 1/12/16 (Surrendered) Vaccinations: Has all required vaccinations. Has been microchipped.

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Synco Properties doubled down on its commitment to incorporate workforce housing into redeveloping the Colony Apartments, winning over the project’s harshest critics on the Charlotte City Council.

The council unanimously approved the project Tuesday, Jan. 19, but not without expressing concerns about the SouthPark area’s growing traffic congestion and the affordability of housing.

The project entails redeveloping a nearly 40year-old apartment complex. The 27-acre site on Sharon Road, between Morrison Boulevard and Colony Road, could yield up to 990 residential units, 300,000 square feet of retail, 250,000 square feet of office space and a 225-room hotel.

Synco Properties initially offered to designate 5 percent of its residential units for workforce housing.

Councilmember Claire Fallon challenged those representing the developer during a public hearing about whether 5 percent would be enough for those being displaced by the redevelopment.

Fallon entered Tuesday’s meeting prepared to vote against the proposal, but the developer’s willingness to increase the amount of workforce housing to 55 units over 30 years prompted Fallon to change her mind.

“This is the first time someone has been willing without protest or name-calling to put in workforce housing,” Fallon said. “It is important.”

Kenny Smith, who represents SouthPark on the council, said this was the first project citywide in which a developer offered workforce housing without public sector help.

“We’re not paying for it,” Smith said. “This is coming out of their bottom line.”

John Autry called for the council to come back from an upcoming retreat with policies to address the lack of diversity in housing options for all citizens.

“We always like to complain about congestion and how we can’t widen our way out of congestion,” Autry said. “One of the keys is to have people live closer to where they actually have to earn their living.”

Smith said Charlotte can’t widen SouthParkarea roads, such as Colony, Coltsgate, Fairview, Rexford, Roxborough or Sharon. He said the key to improving navigation through the area is through redevelopment. This will, in turn, improve interior road networks.

Smith said Synco Properties was involved in about a dozen public meetings regarding the rezoning. He deemed it unprecedented the project earned support from four nearby communities.

Synco Properties also offered a few other concessions, Smith said, including lowering the elevations of buildings and increasing the amount of buffer along Colony Road.

A 300-room hotel was moved from Colony and Sharon roads to the interior of the property, which dropped the elevation at the intersection from 160 to 75 feet. The hotel was reduced to 225 rooms.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts didn’t have a vote but she urged the council to think “outside of its silos” to consider how its decisions affect school enrollment.

Roberts said the project would cost the school district $3.4 million in additional capacity, noting that Sharon Elementary, Alexander Graham Middle and Myers Park High would all be overcrowded.

‘Girlfriends’ to host bi-annual gala

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Three years ago, a group of women of South Asian origin met up for a “girl’s night out.” Little did they realize, the conversation they had that night would start a campaign to help community organizations.

The Queen City Sahelis (QCS) – a group of women volunteers – help support underserved charitable nonprofits.

The QCS typically support charities that assist women, children and seniors, including Turning Point of Union County, a women’s domestic violence shelter; East Elementary School, a Title I Union County public school; and The Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte, an organization that connects learning programs and services to seniors.

“The goal is to spread awareness and give (the organizations) wings to fly as they’re helping more and more people,” said Indu Valdyanathan, of QCS. The organization is pending 501c3 status, but has grown from a few women to 50 to 60 members, Valdyanathan said.

QCS will host a fundraising gala, “An Evening of Giving,” to benefit Turning Point, East Elementary and Shepherd’s Center on Feb. 6, a Saturday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Providence Country Club, located at 6001 Providence Country Club Road in Charlotte.

Photo courtesy of QCS

About 85 percent of the proceeds will go to the three organizations, according Valdyanathan, and the other funds will go toward event costs.

The event will include a cash bar, raffles, a silent auction, surprise entertainment and a buffet dinner.

Tickets cost $100 per person. Seating is limited to 180 adults.

Tickets can be purchased through sending a check to Queen City Sahelis, P.O. Box 49051, Charlotte, NC, 28277 or emailing qcsahelis@ gmail.com.

Community members can also visit goo.gl/ hA4s30 for more information about tickets, sponsorship, raffle donations and event details.

Visit goo.gl/cmkHks for more information about QCS.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

The Weekly

Restaurant Scores The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected the following restaurants from Jan. 8 to 14: Lowest Scores: • Tavern 51, 8700 Pineville-Matthews Road, 28226 – 91 Violations include: Date not recorded on label when last oyster was sold or served; raw chicken stored above shrimp; raw crab legs stored above fries in reach-in freezer; open package of turkey breast and container of garlic in oil not date marked in preparation unit; cleaning chemicals stored on rack with food; wiping clothes stored on kitchen counters; in-use utensils stored in water at 59 degrees in rice cooker; two fryer baskets damaged; and hood ventilation system had a light out. • Rush Espresso, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, 28277 – 92.5 Violations include: Employee handled baguettes with bare hands; cabbage heads stored in reach-in unit not properly covered; plates, bowls and slicer with food debris; opened bag of arugula, brie, prosciutto, tomato and corn not date-marked; cabbage, salami, black beans, roast beef, pepperoni, feta, goat cheese, tomato, meat, pasta, corn, tomatoes, guacamole, egg salad and sweet potato held more than seven days.

All Scores: 28209 • Greystone Restaurant, 4101 Park Road – 94 • Harris Teeter (produce), 4101 Park Road – 100 • Smoothie King, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road – 98 28210 • Food Lion (bakery/deli), 10120 Johnston Road – 98.5

South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 9 • Food Lion (seafood/market), 10120 Johnston Road – 98 • Panda Express, 101 Seneca Place – 98 • Umai Sushi and Asian Bistro, 8418 Park Road – 91.5 28211 • Aqua E Vino, 4219 Providence Road – 97.5 • Arthur’s, 4400 Sharon Road – 94.5 • Shun Lee Palace, 4340 Colwick Road – 95

The Weekly

Business Briefs Queen’s Feast returns Jan. 22 to 31

28226 • Harris Teeter (deli), 4100 Carmel Road – 97.5 • Kabutos at 51, 7724 Pineville-Matthews Road – 95 • McAlister’s Deli, 4130 Carmel road – 98 • Starbucks, 4100 Carmel Road – 97.5 • Tavern 51, 8700 Pineville-Matthews Road – 91 • Tin Tin Restaurant, 10215 Park Road – 93 • Trio Restaurant, 10709 McMullen Creek Pkwy. – 97 • Waffle House, 8300 Pineville-Matthews Road – 93 28277 • Bamboo 7 Asian Cuisine, 15025 Lancaster Hwy. – 95.5 • Bi-Lo (deli), 8620 Camfield St. – 96 • Bi-Lo (market), 8620 Camfield St. – 98.5 • Bi-Lo (produce), 8620 Camfield St. – 98.5 • Burger 21, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way – 97.5 • Harris Teeter (deli/Starbucks), 16625 Lancaster Hwy. – 96.5 • Harris Teeter (meat/seafood), 16625 Lancaster Hwy. – 97.5 • Harris Teeter (produce), 16625 Lancaster Hwy. – 99.5 • Qdoba Mexican Eats, 16631 Lancaster Hwy. – 94.5 • Pio Pio Restaurant, 15025 Lancaster Hwy. – 98 • Rush Espresso, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way – 92.5 • Taco Bell, 8000 Providence Road – 97 • Terrace CafÊ of Ballantyne, 14815 Ballantyne Village Way – 97.5

The winter 2016 Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week will run Jan. 22 to 31 and feature a record 133 restaurants in the Charlotte metro area, which will offer prix fixe menus of three or more courses at dinner for $35 to $35 per person.

The event will include restaurants in eight counties throughout the region. Last year’s Queen’s Feast drew 170,000 diners to 125 participating restaurants across the eight counties, according to a news release.

Fifteen restaurants are first-time participants this year – including Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar in SouthPark; CO Pan Asian Cuisine and ROCKSALT, both in the Park Road shopping center; and Pearlz Oyster Bar in Ballantyne.

Reservations during Queen’s Feast are “strongly recommended,� according to the release. Find a full list of participating restaurants at www.charlotterestaurantweek.com.

with various customized support services “designed to optimize efficiencies, reduce expenses, attract and retain clients and boost revenue,� the release read.

During 2015, IAA grew its expanding regional base by 18 advisors and expects to see a similar upward trend in 2016, according to the release.

IAA is powered by the resources of LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker/ dealer, according to Financial Planning magazine and based on total revenue. LPL is an enabling partner to more than 14,100 financial advisors and approximately 700 financial institutions. The LPL Financial Large Enterprise Division credited IAA as being the largest hybrid LPL branch office located in the Carolinas, the top hybrid RIA firm affiliated with LPL for Engagement and high ranking on the Ramping Index, based on 2015 LPL Financial Large Enterprise Division data.

Find more information on IAA at www.indepen dentadvisoralliance.com.

Ballantyne-based hybrid RIA firm sees success in 2015 Independent Advisor Alliance (IAA), a Ballantyne-based community hybrid solution in the Carolinas founded by Robert Russo, experienced significant growth in 2015, according to a news release.

IAA focuses on building a community of successful independent advisors serving the financial and retirement needs of individuals and businesses, according to the release. Through its hybrid RIA model, the business provides its affiliated advisors

Health& Wellness

Photo courtesy of Holly Curtis

(From left) Robert Russo, Founder and CEO of IAA, with Mark Casady, CEO of LPL Financial.

2016

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Page 10 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Panther Pride at Charlotte Christian The Charlotte Christian School community celebrated its hometown team Jan. 15 with a day dedicated to “Panther Pride.” Students and faculty from the lower, middle and upper schools wore their Panther gear in celebration of the NFC championship hopefuls.

Photos courtesy of Charlotte Christian

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South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 11

Education

Clark discusses future of CMS

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders provided a glimpse of the district’s future that could help improve student pathways.

The Hood Hargett Breakfast Club hosted its monthly luncheon on Jan. 14, featuring CMS Superintendent Ann Clark and state and district board of education (BOE) member Eric Davis.

Clark and Davis discussed district topics, including the pending superintendent search, upcoming challenges, student reassignment, the teacher pipeline and what concerns the state. Both gave insight into what to expect for CMS’s future.

Student assignment

what’s to come in July when Clark’s contract runs out. Some board members – including Davis – have been vocal about retaining Clark as the district’s leader.

“It’s no coincidence we’ve achieved (academic strides) during her tenure,” Davis said.

Chuck Hood, of Hood Hargett, said he was ready for the district to have some consistency. He did not want the board to conduct a national search for superintendent and seeks to keep Clark in office.

Davis said the board hopes to “get off the duff” in the next few weeks, citing a board retreat on Jan. 22 might provide answers.

In the meantime, Davis also encourages community members to reach out to board members regarding making movement on the search.

Setting new standards

The topic on most parents’ minds is Clark called on the room full of corpoCMS’s board of education policy commitrate partners to become involved in helptee’s plan to set student assignment staning accommodate the district’s needs, as dards, and how those standards will affect well as presented new standards she wants students. to set for students to have Davis said the policy “ What message can career pathways. committee had discussed She said the district is we send to show we earlier on Jan. 14 the comchallenged with uncerwant teachers? mittee’s two primary goals: tainty of the state budget We can’t wait for reducing high concentraand diminishing funding tions and promote and exRaleigh to at the local and state level, panding schools and configure it out.” all while student needs are cepts that are working in CMS Superintendent Ann Clark increasing. the district.

The CMS graduation “We think this creates effective ‘guard rate has improved by at least 18 percent, rails’ to address critical issues,” Davis said. but Clark thinks the district can go a step “It’s neither to the extreme of one side, but further.

She wants to provide another “key can bring all students closer to making it performance indicator” requiring “indusbetter.” try credentials” to graduating seniors, Clark mentioned the school district has 75 schools in which 75 percent or more are such as AP work or an IB diploma, to postudents of poverty and said those students sition students with a pathway after high need to be addressed without impeding school.

She said she’d present the idea to the other schools. school board in March to ensure the disDavis added the BOE wants to gain “fintrict is taking steps to provide students er insight” into parent preferences and gain with a “solid plan.” Clark hopes in two specificity of student desires to help the to three years every graduating senior will board determine a wider array of offerings. have a plan and believe the business comIn the past, district staff has “forced” munity can set up a plan. student assignment on families, but Davis Clark also voiced concerns about the said the board wants to take a responsive teacher pipeline, as more young teachers approach to student assignment options. are opting for other states’ teaching jobs Clark said the policy committee adrather than staying in North Carolina. vanced four goals to bring before the entire She encouraged the community to demBOE to confirm those are the “guard rails” onstrate the value of teaching in Charlotte they wish to set, so staff can start researchto upcoming teachers.

Clark suggested ing what boundaries might look like. providing affordable housing or ameniShe also encouraged parents to look out ties, such as child care or Internet packfor a community survey in the next two ages, to teachers to attract them to the to three weeks. Clark wants community area.

She said she has no problem selling members from all zip codes to be engaged in the process before they start discussing future teachers on living in Charlotte, but many don’t move here because of living boundaries.

“There is no judge; it’s not a court case,” expenses.

“What message can we send to show we she said. “We can get ahead of that and say, want teachers?” she asked the room. “We ‘This is what we value.’” need to start thinking about what we need for Charlotte (to be competitive). We can’t Superintendent search wait for Raleigh to figure it out.”

CMS’s BOE has been tight-lipped about

Queen’s Grant High School

CAMPUS TOURS Every TUESDAY and THURSDAY 10:00 am www.queensgranthigh.org 10323 Idlewild Road, Matthews, NC 28105 Phone (704) 545-0736

Nurturing the Desire to Learn JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK! January 31st - February 6th Charlotte Catholic High School 7702 PinevilleMatthews Rd 704.543.1127 Christ the King Catholic High School 2011 Crusader Way Huntersville 704.799.4400 Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School 3100 Park Road 704.527.7822 Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School 4225 Shamrock Drive 704.531.0067

St. Mark Catholic School 14750 Stumptown Rd Huntersville 704.766.5000 St. Gabriel Catholic School 3028 Providence Rd 704.366.2409 St. Ann Catholic School 600 Hillside Ave 704.525.4938 St. Matthew Catholic School 11525 Elm Lane 704.544.2070 St. Patrick Catholic School 1125 Buchanan St 704.333.3174

Contact any of our nine schools to receive a detailed schedule of events and activities in your area.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 12 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Education

CMS population needs community to ‘buy-in’

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools student reassignment discussions have ignited a laundry list of questions about the social issues in Mecklenburg County.

Mecklenburg County has polarized wealth between the high-poverty and low-poverty areas, many of which reside next door to each other.

But who makes up Mecklenburg County?

Who are the children attending CharlotteMecklenburg’s public schools?

CMS reported they enrolled 146,140 students this year. That population broke down into 40 percent black students, 29 percent white students, 22 percent Hispanic students, 6 percent Asian students and 3 percent American Indian or multiracial.

Approximately 187 countries are represented in CMS, with 175 languages spoken by students.

A recent CMS report stated 37,170 students speak another language when they go home and CMS has approximately 17,000 limited English proficiency students.

CMS is a relatively diverse district, but U.S. Census data appears to present a different ethnic picture of the entire county.

White populations (49.3 percent) make up the largest ethnic group with black (32.1 percent) and Hispanic (12.6 percent) populations following behind.

About 15 percent of people living in the

county are foreign-born, which 18.8 percent of residents speaking another language at home with 52 percent of residents stating they don’t speak English “very well.” Forty-eight percent of those who speak another language at home speak Spanish.

The Census Bureau estimated approximately 147,896, or about 15 percent, Mecklenburg County residents lived below the poverty threshold in 2013. Approximately 2,014 were considered homeless on Jan. 29, 2015, and 81 percent of them were black.

Mecklenburg County’s highest poverty areas include zip codes 28208 near the airport; 28205 – Plaza Midwood and part of NoDa; 28212 and 28215.

The high-poverty zip codes include some of CMS’s 76 Title I schools, including McClintock Middle School, Greenway Park Elementary School, Oakhurst STEAM Academy, Eastway Middle School and Harding High School.

However, some of those zip codes, such as 28205 and 28212 are directly adjacent to two zip codes (28204 and 28207) with the lowest poverty in the county. Poverty resides a street or two away from the Cherry and Elizabeth neighborhoods and SouthPark areas where the least number of people of poverty live.

However, a recent report from Paul Jargowsky at The Century Foundation states high-poverty neighborhoods have seen a greater increase in population than low-poverty areas.

Many families earn less than the living wage in

Mecklenburg County, a common issue throughout the nation and children have found trouble leaving poverty.

Two Harvard University economic professors deemed Charlotte the second toughest place behind Baltimore, Maryland for kids to escape poverty. This means Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s children of poverty most likely will become adults of poverty.

What do the numbers mean?

Experts say if the community doesn’t get involved now, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area will continue to experience polarized wealth, but money isn’t the solution.

Business leaders put money into the lowperforming schools through programs, such as Project L.I.F.T., but the problems are completely solved in the west Charlotte corridor, according to Roslyn Mickelson, a sociology professor at UNC Charlotte, who has researched school desegregation and resegregation in Charlotte. She believes the voting population has switched, as more Latino, Asian and black families migrate into the area. More white voters “don’t have a sense of what the community went through,” while the ethnic voters are weary of “black” issues, Mickelson added.

Black neighborhoods create black schools because student assignment is mostly based on geography. A study earlier this year from Stanford found middle-class black families will reside in neighborhoods with lower incomes than the

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typical low-income white family. A study from two Harvard economists tracked children and where they grew up influenced their lives. The study found children who grow up in neighborhoods with less poverty and crime and schools with higher test scores progressed better as adults than their “worse” neighborhood counterparts.

Some experts are concerned if the community doesn’t step in, children of poverty will not be prepared adults – the next generation of voters, leaders and decision makers.

They encourage the community to introduce alternate career paths to children of poverty and investment time through volunteering.

School officials call for more participation of the community in schools through volunteering – particularly parents and other adult role models in a child’s life.

Mickelson encourages community “buy-in” of helping reach children of poverty, which she said can include adjusting attendance boundaries, increasing magnet programs and coordinating school and housing policies.

Some community members hope CMS will gain more corporate partners to help increase community buy-in, which may help level the playing field for high versus low poverty schools.

“We can get this right. We are strong and we can be stronger,” said Mary Nell McPherson, executive director of Freedom School Partners.

“We can choose the kind of community where all children grow into who they were created to be.”

ISSUE DATE: • February 5 & 19 • March 4 & 18 • April 8 & 22

C G Charlotte Media Group

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South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 13

Faith

The Weekly

I discovered Pandora and reconnected with my original break up song

by Tony Marciano tonym@charlotterescuemission.org

I am part of the “Flashing 12” generation. You know what that means, right?

We are the generation that never figured out how to set the clock on our VHS recorder (for those of you who forRev. Tony Marciano got – VHS were those big tapes we stuck in a machine to watch videos. They preceded DVDs and Netflix).

You can imagine my wonder when I discovered Pandora. It was great. Growing up in the 70s, I decided to listen to that wonderful “1970s” easy listening music – Hall and Oates, Gordon Lightfoot, etc.

One day I was enjoying the music when my favorite “break up” song came on.

The year was 1975. I was dating my first girlfriend. I got into John Denver music because she liked John Denver music. I bought two of his records and played them because that was what she liked.

Unfortunately, things weren’t going quite as well as I had hoped.

The pastor invited the youth over to his house for a Sunday night Bible study and sing along. I was singing while she was “messing around” with some other guy in the youth group. It was bad.

During that time, the band Ace came out with the song, “How Long Has This Been Going On?” One of the lines is, “But I can’t help but have my suspicions, cause I ain’t quite as dumb as I seem.”

Other lyrics are, “Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasions, don’t admit that it’s part of a scheme, but I can’t help but have my suspicions, cause I ain’t quite as dumb as I seem. And you say you were never intendin’ to break up our scene in this way, but there ain’t any use in pretendin’, it could happen to us any day” then back to the chorus, “How long has this been going on?”

She came over to my house to break up with me. I still remember what she was wearing. She said the classic line, “You’re a nice guy but this isn’t working.” I listened, smiled and watched her drive off.

I was told her mother’s heart was broken. Her mom liked me more than the new boyfriend. I just wasn’t as exciting as the new guy. He was fun; I was serious. He was the class clown. I was the guy who never got in trouble. She married that guy. I never listened to John Denver songs again. A few years later, we were all

WA LT O N WO O D P ROV I D E N C E H O S T S

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games and Silver Arts Kickoff Saturday, January 30th 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

P ROVIDENCE

‘Seeking Purpose’ retreat at St. Matthew slated for this weekend BALLANTYNE – St. Matthew Catholic Church will hold a ‘Seeking Purpose’ retreat on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The retreat will help attendees discern their spiritual gifts and focus on areas of wisdom, prayer, faith, leadership, healing, music, writing, hospitality, service and more. Registration costs $35 and includes continental breakfast, training materials, a personal Charism assessment, lunch and snacks.

Contact Betthan Rohaly at barohaly@gmail.com or 704-941-7456 for more information.

St. Matthew Catholic Church is located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

Charlotte Civic Orchestra to perform at Matthews UMC MATTHEWS – Charlotte Civic Orchestra will present “Magical Moments in Opera,” featuring soprano Virginia Gutierrez, who will perform excerpts from Bizet’s “Carmen,” Puccini’s “La Boheme” and “Madame Butterfly,” Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” and more. The orchestra also will perform Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 and music from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The concert will take place Feb. 21, a Sunday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for students and senior citizens and $40 for families.

Visit www.charlottecivicorchestra.org for more information.

Matthews UMC is located at 801 S. Trade St.

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

Advertise your church

CLTWklies_ad_BW.indd 1

Rev. Tony Marciano is the executive director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. He is available to speak to your group. Find more information at www.charlotterescuemission.org.

Faith Briefs

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

in a friend’s wedding. Needless to say, it was awkward.

When she broke up with me, I felt rejected. I remember going to help my father with a project we were working on in the garage. He tried to comfort me as he watched his son going through his first breakup. It hurt. It hurt like no one’s tomorrow. You want to die; you actually think you’re going to die.

You don’t.

God doesn’t break up with me when I don’t measure up. He’s not surprised when I mess up as if I caught him “off guard.”

He doesn’t say, “Didn’t see that one coming.” He doesn’t walk away because I’m not cool, not funny or not perfect. He doesn’t “roll His eyes” in shame when I embarrass Him with my behavior. In fact, He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

I still laugh when that song comes on the radio. It is my “ultimate” break up song. I’m also glad that God won’t break up with me.

I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend.

Event demonstrations Registration packets Community tours

11945 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277 | (704) 753-7019 www.Waltonwood.com www.facebook.com/waltonwoodseniorliving

8/21/15 1:00 PM

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Contact us to learn more.

704-849-2261

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 14 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

The Weekly

Calendar January Shop at 23 Glam Ciel Art Gallery Shopaholic City will host a shopping event at Ciel Gallery. The event will include a winter trunk show, fashion and beauty advice, massages, wine and light refreshments. A VIP after party will follow the event, and a percentage of proceeds will be donated to charity.

4 to 7 p.m.; Ciel Art Callery, 128 E. Park Ave.

Resumes 23 Teen to Succeed Erika Spradley, author of “30 Min. Career Coach” will hold a free “Getting a Job 101” workshop in conjunction with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to help teens learn how to build a resume and interview for a job. Registration is required. Contact Plaza Midwood Library or visit their website at www.cmlibrary.org/branch/ plaza-midwood for more information.

2 to 3 p.m.; Plaza Midwood Library, 1623 Central Ave.

26 24 Hours of Booty Kickoff

The 15th annual 24 Hours of Booty kickoff party will include drinks, appetizers and a short program to prepare for the fundraising event on July 29. Money raised will be donated to organizations searching for a cure for cancer.

5:30 to 8 p.m.; Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, 911 E. Morehead St.

27 What’s ahead for 2016

Central Piedmont Group of Sierra Club will present Michael Kirschman, deputy director of Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department. Kirschman will speak on the department’s plans for 2016 and give an update on projects. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation following at 7 p.m.

6:30 p.m.; Mahlon Adams Pavilion, 2435 Cumberland Ave.

27 Lunch and Learn

JAJ Nonprofit Resource will hold a lunch and learn to discuss “How to build a brand.” The presentation will feature Kevin Carlisle of PerfectImage. RSVP at www.jajnpr. com/lunch---learn.html.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Casa Rita’s, 9727 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews

27 Ballantyne Book Club

The next Ballantyne Book Club meeting will discuss “The Patron Saint of Ugly” by Maria Manilla. RSVP is encouraged and seating is limited.

5:30 p.m.; Aloft Charlotte Ballantyne, 13139 Ballantyne Corproate Place

Hankerin’ 27 Hillbilly Auditions Pineville Players will hold auditions for its production of “Hillbilly Hankerin.” The cast will include 17 females and nine males. Set designers, crew, hair and makeup, advertising and costume design also will be needed. Rehearsals will take place on Sundays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Callbacks will be on Jan. 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

7 to 9 p.m.; The Hut, 413 Johnson Drive, Pineville

28 Fashion Show Bridal Styles

J. Majors Bridal Boutique will hold a bridal styles fashion show featuring an evening of cocktails, giveaways and bridal fashion, presented by Love & Honey. RSVP to bridal stylesfashionshow@gmail.com.

7 to 9 p.m.; J. Majors, 2400 Park Road

30

Student Assignment Panel

League of Women Voters of Charlotte will hold a “Guidelines and Opportunites” discussion to answer questions about CMS student assignment. The event will feature analysts and education experts from UNC Charlotte, CMS and the North Carolina Justice Center.

10 to 11:30 a.m.; South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road

for Hemophilia 30 Hearts Casino Night Hemophilia of North Carolina will hold a casino night to benefit the nonprofit, which raises money to cure bleeding disorders. Tickets cost $100 and include food, music, beer and wine, auction items and the change to win raffle prizes.

6:30 to 11 p.m.; Big Chill, 911 E. Morehead St., suite 100

February

6

Art with Heart Auction

Safe Alliance will host its annual Art With Heart auction to benefit women and

children in crises. The event will feature silent and live auctions with art pieces donated from artists around the world. Since its 2000 inception, Art with Heart has raised more than $1 million for Safe Alliance to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Contact Safe Alliance Director of Donor and Corporate Relations Savannah Smith at 704-367-2733 or savannah.smith@safealliance.org to purchase tickets.

7 to 11 p.m.; Founders Hall, 100 N. Tryon St.

10 Lupus Support Group

Lupus Foundation of America North Carolina Chapter will hold its monthly meeting at Myers Park Presbyterian in room F102.

This group provides participants an opportunity to receive introductory information about lupus, encourage the expression of concerns, provide an opportunity to share experiences, encourage and support positive coping strategies, and emphasize the importance of medical treatment. The meeting is free.

1 to 2:30 p.m.; Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 1073 Providence Road

13 Betty Bingo

Betty Bingo will host the “Betty Bingo Show,” which will feature bingo, singing, dancing and prizes. The hour-long comedy show is family friendly. Tickets cost $20 and are buy one get one free if purchased before the show. Visit www.kelsterbrockman.wix. com/bettybingo for more information.

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

Send calendar events to hannah@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 15

Hot Tickets of the Week

THE SINGERS! THE DANCERS! THE STRING OF PEARLS BIG BAND!

South Charlotte Weekly will give you what we think are the best events this weekend. Let us know what you’ll be attending at our Facebook Page.

Date Night

“Improv Interactive” Charlotte Comedy Theater will host its standard show, which they’ve performed for more than 12 years. Each show is different, which includes short-form games, similar to “Whose Line is it Anyway,” with Chicago-style long form – all based on audience suggestions. The troupe hosts the event every Saturday.

The actors have been known to embarrass people, so it might make for an awkward first date. But, it’s located in the back of Wet Willie’s in the Avidxchange (N.C.) Music Factory, so you also can enjoy adult slushies before or after the show.

Make a reservation for you and your date at charlottecomedytheater.com/shows/ improv-interactive.

Jan. 23, 8 p.m.; 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte Family Fun

“Potter Sherlock”

“Mobbed by an unexpected outpouring of fans of the swing era, 500 people had to be turned away” The Washington Post

Blumenthal Performing Arts presents a production of all 60 Sherlock Holmes stories retold in 80 elementary minutes. It’s a hilarious show that’s fun for the whole family.

Tickets start at $20.

Jan. 22 to 24; McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St., Charlotte Single & Mingling

“Ice Ice Baby Part II” It’s time to take your talents back on the ice for a little exercise and rejuvenated spirits. The event will feature a DJ, renovated snack bar with food and alcoholic beverages and of course entertainment watching others wall on their behinds. Bring a friend and take a chance on the ice.

Admission costs $7 and skate rentals cost $3. Find more information at icebaby2. eventbrite.com.

Jan. 22, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.; Pineville Ice House, 400 Towne Centre Blvd., Pineville

The Weekly

Social Media Posts

Shaked @sportsguyshow Jan. 17 Very heavy snow in Ballantyne.

Chey @cheyyyyrose Jan. 16 Shoutout to the loyal Seahawks fans that are camped out all over the Ballantyne Hotel lobby.

Eric Wasson @ericobxfan Jan. 16 Just saw the Seattle Seahawks arrive in Charlote. They're staying at Ballantyne Resort.

Merrick Haston @merrick_Haston Jan. 15 I've been hearing too many sirens around Ballantyne lately.

Sophie @sophcamo Jan. 20 A mall cop at SouthPark is following me and Keagan on a Segway.

Manny Rivera @DreShmurda Jan. 19 Doesn't matter anyway, I'd rather go to Charlotte anyway cause SouthPark Mall is da bomb.

Carman Myrick @Carmanetc Jan. 19 "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" You know that custodian at SouthPark Mall that walks around and sings opera? Yea that's about it.

Sophie Webb @AyeltsSophie Jan. 16 SouthPark Mall alarms went off and everybody evacuated. I already paid for my Starbucks so I went back in and got it. Whoops.

Dexter C. Weathers @iamDCWeathers Jan. 16 SouthPark must be the rich people mall.

Let me get out of here.

Alexis Whitney @alexissswhitney Jan. 20 So many Ballantyne moms at the gym.

Dear God why.

Angie @spicynuggett Jan. 18 I spent the day in Belmont today and I realized how much I actually love Ballantyne.

Suzette @Suzette_L Jan. 17 Snow in Ballantyne!

@southcltweekly

“Seeing In The Mood isn't an option. You must” broadwayWORLD.com

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Page 16 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Sports

South Meck swim team looks to defend state championship

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

South Meck’s boys’ swim team went 26 years in between state championships, ending the drought last season with a 232-230 win over Green Hope. The Sabres might not have to wait as long to win its next one. “Reload” is the theme coach Leslie Berens has preached since the start of the season, and that mantra rings true for South Meck, which returned its entire team.

In theory, the Sabres shouldn’t lose any points, which bodes well for South Meck in its pursuit for another state title.

The journey to return to the Promised Land began at the team’s first practice, but championship season has arrived with the conference meet taking place Friday, Jan. 22, followed by regionals Feb. 6 and states Feb. 10 and 11.

South Meck’s veteran swim team shouldn’t have a problem taking it one meet at a time; the seniors have set the tone in those categories, and the rest of the team has followed suit.

“They’re mature, they’re stronger,” Berens said.

“The juniors especially want to make more of an impact, and they are learning so much from our seniors. The seniors are such leaders, and the juniors are respecting them so much and observing how they race, how they come ready to do their thing for South Meck. That’s neat how they’re understanding their role. The juniors will be ready to step into leadership next year.”

What’s scary for its competitors is South Meck doesn’t only have talent – it has depth. Berens has switched her lineups around all season, due to the number of talented swimmers.

For example, last season at the state meet, one of South Meck’s top swimmers, Noah Cahan, was sick, so Berens plugged Kellen Stillman into

(From left) Luke Johnson, Graham Cooper, coach Leslie Berens, Kellen Stillman and Nathan Murray.

the lineup and the Sabres didn’t skip a beat. Now, Stillman is one of team’s best swimmers, and around the top of the lineup.

As if the Sabres weren’t deep enough, they’ve added a diving team. Freshmen twins Ethan and Luke Foster have made quite the splash. Luke won the conference, while Ethan placed third.

South Meck is 7-0 with a fourth consecutive So. Meck 8 Conference championship on the line, which would only add to the dominating legacy this senior class will leave if it goes out on top.

Senior captains Cahan (UNC-Wilmington

commit), Graham Cooper (UNC-Wilmington), Nathan Murray (Tennessee signee) and Graham Weaver (North Carolina signee) set the bar high at South Meck for each other, and the underclassmen. Juniors Luke Johnson and Stillman are following in their footsteps “We know what’s going to happen, what has to happen to get where we want to be again,” Murray said. “We’re still pretty much the same [team]. We’re confident. That’s the formula for success. Not too much has changed. I think we’re going to be primed for states. It’s going to be a fast meet this year much like it always is, but this

year may be faster than most.”

Murray added he and his teammates see the big picture and have a plan for the state meet, but know it still requires them to swim above and beyond what they normally do in the pool. He calls it “an out of body swim” – something several of them experienced last season.

“We have the goal, we have focus, but we don’t lose sight of having a good time,” Murray said. “I think we’ve done that so far. We have an opportunity to have a lot more fun as we keep going.”

Johnson said South Meck’s senior captains have been key in preventing a spirit of complacency from setting in.

“We’ve been working really hard in practice,” Johnson said. “We always have it in the back of our minds that we need to work hard to maintain our success to work hard.”

Johnson added he and his teammates are unified and push one another to do their best.

“It definitely feels like there’s a lot more attention now of people trying to take us down and trying to get into the same position and living up to that expectation of being the champions we were last year,” Stillman said.

South Meck was able to slip under the radar last season, but that won’t be the case as the Sabres make their final push to defend their crown.

However, this group of talented and experienced swimmers will be ready, so come what may.

The slogan for South Meck last season was “Do your job.” Shortly after the Sabres won the state championship Berens was driving down Park Road. When she passed South Meck she saw the big rock on the lawn in front of the school with “We did our job.” painted on it. The Sabres have reloaded, and are ready to do their job once again.

Squash comes to Charlotte in form of new club

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Squash – not the vegetable, but the sport – has found its way to Charlotte, and has peaked the interest of local students.

It’s now a club sport at Charlotte Country Day, Charlotte Latin and Providence Day, providing a new opportunity for students to participate in athletics.

Squash is played indoors and on a four-walled court. It’s an up-tempo sport that employs racquets, and resembles tennis. Forbes Magazine ranked it as the No. 1 “Healthiest Sport.”

Charlotte Squash Club has mentored beginner programs at Country Day, Latin and Providence Day with regular coaching sessions to give the student athletes a strong foundation of the game’s fundamentals.

The student athletes also are given the opportunity to participate in summer camps, fitness programs, individual and group lessons and tournaments.

“Our AussieNick junior programs have been run out of our club in the DC Area for more than 10 years and cater to over 200 students, and

we anticipate similar success here in Charlotte,” Charlotte Squash Club owner and COO Connie Barnes said in a press release.

It’s no wonder squash’s appeal is catching on; it only takes two people to play, and can be played no matter the weather conditions.

Charlotte Squash Club believes the sport also enhances students resumes for when they begin to prepare for the college application process, because it teaches commitment, the importance time management and leadership.

“Many colleges, especially the Ivy League schools, are actively looking to recruit talented squash players” Barnes said in the release. “So joining a squash program can help with overall health and fitness as well as enhancing a student’s appeal to college admissions staff.

“At age 11, I was told by a coach that I had the worst eye, hand coordination she had ever seen.

I ignored her criticism and went on to be a stategrade level player in Australia for 15 years. Having proved my coach wrong, I know the most unlikely kids can develop into strong players. I now love coaching juniors and watching them grow to love this game.”

Contact info@charlottesquash.com for more information about the club.

Photo courtesy of Country Day

These Charlotte Country Day fifth-grade boys are learning the new sport of Squash, which is new to students in the Charlotte area.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly | January 22, 2016 | Page 17

Sports

Phills, Knights looking to long post-season

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Charlotte Christian’s girls’ basketball team sustained its first CISAA loss of the season when it was upended at home, 48-42, by Charlotte Latin.

The Knights (12-6, 2-1 CISAA) are in a threeway tie for second place in the league with the Hawks and Covenant Day, while Providence Day remains at the front of the pack.

Coach Luke Boythe and his team have big aspirations after getting a taste of success last season when Charlotte Christian advanced to the semifinal round of the state playoffs before falling short to the runner-up Rabun Gap, 44-33, on the way to a 21-10 finish.

“The key to know any success is knowing who you are, what your mission is and knowing what your goals are and then continuing holding your team to those standards,” Boythe said. “We’re very specific about that. We’re very intentional about that.”

Boythe said it helps to have good players – and he has plenty of them. In fact, he has one of the best in the greater Charlotte area in senior wing Kerstie Phills, the daughter of former Charlotte Hornets star and the late Bobby Phills.

She is enjoying a stellar final campaign with the Knights. Phills, who is Charlotte Christian’s go-to-player, is averaging 20.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 3.4 spg and one bpg.

“Kerstie Phills is playing on a different level,” Boythe said. “We wouldn’t be who we are without her.”

Junior guard Gerlea Patton, junior forward Jaiden Mason and senior guard Payton Buell also are making a positive impact on the court for the Knights this season.

“Jaiden Mason is unbelievable for us,” Boythe said. “She’s gotten better. Gerlea Patton has gotten better. ” Mason locks down the paint as a strong defensive presence inside. She rebounds well, and does a good job of finishing around the basket.

Patton’s impact might not always show up in the box score, but she is fighting for rebounds and kicking it out to shooters. Patton knows when she needs to shoot, scores when she needs to score, and is a good on-the-ball defender.

Buell gives Boythe a dependable sharpshooter,

Kerstie Phills

who also can attack the rim off the dribble too.

Charlotte Christian should be well prepared for the postseason after going through its gauntlet of league play and a challenging nonconference schedule.

Boythe is quick to say the CISAA is the best conference in the state in terms of private school girls’ basketball. Providence Day has won six consecutive state championships, and Latin and Covenant Day also are competitive. The Knights, Hawks and Lions are gunning for the Chargers, but are a force to reckon with in their own right and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“Night in and night out, it’s a grind,” Boythe said. “You got to come ready to play. I think that as much as anything, we’ve continued to progress as a team where you say, ‘Hey, listen, you got to show up every day, and you can’t take anything for granted. Nobody is going to give anything to you.”

“You got to compete. You got to play to our standard regardless of the opponent, and you got to be at your best every night. I think that’s where we’ve progressed a lot as a team is understanding we have to play to a standard, play to our standard, because the teams we’re playing, they’re not going to give you anything.”

Boythe believes his team has improved from last season to this season. He said if it defends with intensity, is patient on offense and plays together, it can compete with any team in the state.

The CISAA will certainly be a good litmus test for the Knights as they prepare to compete at the state level.

Charlotte Christian visits Charlotte Country Day (5-10, 0-3 CISAA) Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.

Providence Day to host ‘Play4Kay’ game Providence Day’s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will hold its annual Play4Kay fundraiser and breast cancer awareness event when it hosts Covenant Day Friday, Jan. 22.

This is the 10th year in a row Providence Day has participated in this program, which is in conjunction with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation.

Providence Day hopes to raise $2,000 for this initiative. The girls tip off at 6 p.m., and the boys will play at 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Chargers will wear pink uniforms and pink shoes, and will play with a pink ball. Fans are encouraged to wear pink too. There also will be a bake sale for the Play4Kay fund, starting at 3:15 p.m.

Ardrey Kell girls’ basketball sustaining success

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Ardrey Kell girls’ basketball team saw six seniors, including five who went to play at the collegiate level, move on after graduation following last season’s conference championship, fourth round state playoff appearance and 25-3 (14-0 So. Meck 8) finish. But expectations remain high for the Knights, who have jumped out to a 13-4 (7-0 So. Meck) start.

Coach Jeff Buseick believes his team has improved from last season to this season, which is significant considering all that the 2015 squad accomplished.

Senior guard and team captain Chase Muhammad (Wofford commit), senior forward Danielle Griffin, junior guard Kathleen Rogers, sophomore guard Journey Muhammad and sophomore guard Deniyah Lutz have been key to sustaining Ardrey Kell’s high level of play and success on the hardwood and preventing a drop off from last season to this season following the mass exodus.

“This team is very versatile,” Buseick said. “We have a lot of different skillsets, and people have different strengths. I think we complement each other well.”

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Buseick, who is in second year at the helm, admits the success of the program didn’t start with him; he is just trying to build on it.

“The number one thing is competitiveness, and being competitive in everything we do,” Buseick said. “If you watch us work during the week, whether it’s in the weight room or on the court, we’re competitive from start to finish. That helps us improve individually and as a team. It prepares us for games.

“There are times where our practices are more competitive and we create such a high level of intensity in practice that it makes the games seem more comfortable.”

Buseick and his staff have their players embracing the daily process and commitment of competing and being great teammates. That has proven to be a difference maker for the Knights, and has buoyed them in their run of success.

Ardrey Kell, which sits atop the So. Meck 8 standings, claims a two-game advantage over Charlotte Catholic, South Meck and Berry, which are in a three-way tie for second place in the conference.

The Knights host West Meck (6-10, 2-5 So. Meck 8) Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.

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Onlinesubscriptions: subscriptions:Today’s Today’spuzzle puzzleand andmore morethan than7,000 7,000past past Online puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

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Page 20 | January 22, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

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