South Charlotte Weekly

Vol. 16 No. 7

February 12, 2016 www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Bye-bye suburbs The suburb boom has burst as Millennials and Baby Boomers alike seek pedestrian-friendly communities with shops and restaurants right outside their front door.

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

CHARLOTTE – Efforts to convert the suburbs into more walkable urban areas aren’t exclusive to south Charlotte. A leading urban landuse strategist says it’s a trend happening nationally in cities. “If you think you’ve seen a lot of great high-density walkable urban communities over the last 10 years, you ain’t seen nothing yet,� Christopher Leinberger said. “It’s going to increase by a factor of five-fold over the next 10 years. We’re seeing a structural shift toward a walkable urban future.� (see Suburbs on page 9)

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

From real estate to art

‘Matilda The Musical’ is magic Roald Dahl’s classic “Matilda The Musical� takes the stage at Belk Theater until Feb. 14.

Page 3

Athletes celebrate Signing Day

Former Realtor Nancy Couick gave up her real estate career to open an art studio and teach classes.

Page 4

Pediat ric B oul evard Therapy Services Union County’s largest pediatric therapy clinic offering services for children ages birth through 20.

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Student athletes from south Charlotte ink their college commitments with a celebration Feb. 3.

Page 13

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Page 2 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

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South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 3

Review

‘Matilda the Musical’ is a magical, hilarious time

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

If you’re like me and grew up reading all of author Roald Dahl’s books, you’re going to love “Matilda The Musical,� which made its way to Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Belk Theater.

Dahl’s “Matilda� tells the story of a remarkable young girl living with spiteful parents who don’t recognize her genius, but she uses her mental forte to help others – particularly at Crunchem Hall, where a mean headmistress Miss Trunchbull rules the school. The musical, which is part of the PNC Broadway Lights series, is an adaptation of the story that twists the well-known story into a family-friendly performance of humor, abstract and creative sets and detailed chorography.

What really sets “Matilda The Musical� apart are the unique sets, choreography and physicality of characters, and the wonderful cast of children.

Set designer Rob Howell used lots of boxes – many which bared letters that created words – used as interchangeable furniture or decoration.

During “School Song� in the first act, the boxes were used in a striking way, each with their own letter that lit up when the letter was represented in the songs.

Choreographer Peter Darling orchestrated wonderful physicality in the characters, particularly the company numbers, which presented cohesive pictures on stage. I loved the many

Evan Gray, who plays Bruce, center, triumphs in “Bruce,� as he devours Miss. Trunchbull’s (played by David Abeles, right) cake. Photo by Joan Marcus.

dangling and reaching arms in “The Chokey Chant.�

The children in the cast were spot on and precise in their chorography – particularly during stunts in “The Smell of Rebellion� and on swings in “When I Grow Up� in the second act.

Charlie Kersh made a precious Lavender, with a squeaky voice and hilarious expressions, and Evan Gray thrived in his role as Bruce, who showed off his pipes in “Revolting Children.�

The children added a wonderful flair of lightheartedness, but often were difficult to understand, especially while singing, which might be why the venue provides a lyric guide for the songs with mostly child singers.

In the first act, a sassy, matter-of-fact Sarah

McKinley Austin played Matilda. In the second act, however, Savannah Grace Elmer took over as the lead, without any explanation. The transition proved successful, though, as Savannah was the more talented singer.

Austin didn’t come out for curtain call at the end of the performance and didn’t project as well in the first act, which leads me to believe she might have fallen sick during the performance. Regardless of the switch, Matilda wasn’t played with the sweet, modest Mara Wilson movie portrayal, but instead seemed straightforward and withstanding, as if she wasn’t going to take her mistreatment without a fight.

David Abeles was a standout performer as Miss. Trunchbull, with his hysterical costume and strong vocals. Miss. Trunchbull is already

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more of a stereotyped character, but Abeles’s depiction wasn’t slapstick, which I appreciated.

All the characters that hurt Matilda the most – Trunchbull, Mrs. Wormwood (played

by Cassie Silva) and Mr. Wormwood (Quinn Mattfeld) – were portrayed in zealous, caricature costumes and personas.

I loved that audiences saw more of the Wormwoods’ characters, which were outrageously funny and both had awesome voices.

Miss Honey, played by Jennifer Blood, also displayed more of the consequences of her tumultuous past. Blood had the most eloquent, understated voice on stage.

The performance does take some liberties with the story, such as Miss. Honey’s story coming to Matilda in a vision rather than Honey sharing her past herself, and the FBI becoming the Russian Mafia (which results in an odd exchange between the Russian Mafia boss and Matilda), but audiences won’t miss much from Dahl’s original plot.

Children and adults of all ages would love this show. It’s not a “kiddy� show, so parents can appreciate the humor, especially with some great zingers and lines. “Matilda� was definitely a gem in the PNC series. “Matilda The Musical� will run at Belk Theater until Feb. 14. Tickets range from $30 to $140 and can be purchased at www.blumenthalarts.org/ events/detail/matilda.

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Page 4 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

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Realtor pursues passion for painting

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

ENDS MONDAY

CHARLOTTE – Once her children grew up and left the house, Nancy Couick started teaching watercolor techniques out of her basement. One class led to two. Then three. Finally, she opened a studio.

Couick likes how the light shines through the tall windows across the front of her studio on Park Cedar Drive. The classroom is configured in a way so that students sit at rows of tables facing her. There’s a large mirror hanging above Couick’s workstation that allows students to see what she’s doing.

Couick teaches about 50 to 60 students weekly and brings in instructors monthly from across the country to lead weekend seminars.

She held a reception Jan. 29 to mark the opening of her annual student art show exhibition.

The exhibit will remain up until Feb. 16.

“I’m always amazed at what they can do,” Couick said of her students. “I probably get the most rewards from seeing how well they do.”

Several students, such as Susan Hinrichs, have studied watercolor with Couick since classes were first taught in her basement around the turn of the century. Hinrichs began painting as a release from raising three teenage girls.

Scenes from everyday life tend to catch Hinrichs’s eye, especially if they’re full of light and contrast. During the student art exhibition, Hinrichs displayed a painting inspired by the way light was hitting a vendor selling candles at the Matthews Farmers Market.

“I go to that farmers market to buy my fresh produce, but I always take my camera because you never know what you’re going to find down

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Restaurant Scores The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected the following restaurants from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4: Lowest Scores:

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• Baoding, 4722 Sharon Road, 28210 – 85 Violations included: Employees didn’t wash hands or change gloves after returning to cook line; staff filled or washed tea pot in hand sink; cooked chicken, dumplings and lettuce wraps holding at 49 to 54 degrees; cooked duck and noodles in walk-in cooler without date markings; cooked chicken and vegetables cooling at room temperature; and fridge and preparation unit not holding food cold enough.

• Flavors, 5900 Quail Hollow Road, 28210 – 86 Violations included: Person in charge didn’t have a certification; utensils were in hand sink; lettuce, cheeses, artichokes and hummus at 55 to 59 degrees; turkey, chicken and soup not marked by date; tomatoes stored in “make top” that wasn’t in “good working condition;” employees didn’t wear effective hair restraint; wet wiping clothes left on counter; boxes of utensils stored on floor; and gasket in drink reach-in torn.

All Scores: 28210 • Baoding, 4722 Sharon Road – 85 • Flavors, 5900 Quail Hollow Road – 86 • Harris Teeter juice bar, 8538 Park Road – 97.5 • Harris Teeter seafood, 8538 Park Road – 95 • Original Pancake House, 4736 Sharon Road – 95 • PF Changs, 6809 Phillips Place Court – 94.5 • Rusty’s Deli, 8512 Park Road – 94 28211 • Another Broken Egg Café, 3920 Sharon Road – 93.5 • Auntie Anne’s, 4400 Sharon Road – 96.5 • Bojangle’s, 6555 Morrison Blvd. – 96.5 • Brueggers Bagel, 106 S. Sharon Amity Road – 95

Justin Vick/SCW photo

there,” Hinrichs said.

Norie Sanchez started painting with watercolors four years ago. She showed off a painting of a fluffy baby owl she spotted outside of her south Charlotte home.

“This little one we watched for a long time,” Sanchez said, noting the bird fell on the ground from a branch after struggling to take its first flight.

Christine Walker has been taking classes and workshops at Couick’s studio for six years. She displayed a painting of her prized labradoodle, but she’s working on a portrait of her granddaughter.

“You do better the more you love the subject,” Walker said.

Couick worked 25 years as a realtor before becoming an artist.

“The more I painted, the less happy I was in real estate,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to be able to do for a living what you would do if you didn’t do it for a living.

“The world goes away when you paint,” she said. “You forget everything that was bothering you for three weeks.”

• Circle K, 4474 Randolph Road – 95 • Dairy Queen, 108 Sharon Amity Road – 97.5 • Doubletree Suites, 6300 Morrison Blvd. – 97 • Earth Fare meat/seafood, 721 Governor Morrison St. – 96 • Doubletree Suites, 6300 Morrison Blvd. – 97 • Earth Fare, 721 Governor Morrison St. – 96 • Harris Teeter deli, 112 S. Sharon Amity Road – 98 • Harris Teeter produce, 112 S. Sharon Amity Road – 99.5 • Starbucks, 4450 Randolph Road – 97.5 • Subway, 108 S. Sharon Amity Road – 95.5 • Treehouse Whiskey & Fork, 4423 Sharon Road – 92 28226 • Bangkok Ocha, 7629 Pineville-Matthews Road – 92 • Fresh Market deli, 7625 Pineville-Matthews Road – 92 • Fresh Market market, 7625 Pineville-Matthews Road – 93.5 • Nakato Japanese Steakhouse, 8500 Pineville-Matthews Road – 97.5 • Quick Wok, 8328 Pineville-Matthews Road – 91.5 • Thai House, 8706 Pineville-Matthews Road – 93 28277 • Another Broken Egg Café, 11324 N. Community House Road – 96.5 • Buona Vita, 3419 Torringdon Way – 98 • The Butchers Market, 8410 Rea Road – 98 • Fresh Market produce, 10828 Providence Road – 97 • Hickory Tavern, 12210 Copper Way – 94 • IHOP, 5335 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. – 97.5 • Jersey Mike’s, 7828 Rea Road – 97.5 • Manhattan Bagel, 8040 Providence Road – 96.5 • Mellow Mushroom, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way – 95 • On the Green Deli, 13840 Ballantyne Corporate Place – 98.5 • Outtakes, 13510 Ballantyne Corporate Place – 100 • Papa John’s Pizza, 11524 Providence Road – 96.5 • Publix bakery, 11222 Providence Road West – 97 • Publix deli, 11222 Providence Road W. – 97.5 • Publix meat market, 11222 Providence Road W. – 98.5 • Publix produce, 11222 Providence Road W. – 100 • Publix seafood, 11222 Providence Road W. – 98.5 • Subway, 10822 Providence Road – 96.5 • Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill, 3419 Toringdon Way – 98

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South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 5

Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery gives back through charity

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

An individual from the greater Charlotte area will have a chance to have a full, complete smile once again, thanks to one south Charlotte clinic.

Greater Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery’s Drs. Amir Marashi and Hani Mahgoub are giving back through their Second Chance charity program. The program will provide one deserving individual a full-arch restoration – which will repair teeth with dental implants to “create a new set of fully functional, natural looking teeth,” according to a news release – at no cost.

“I’ve done mission work in the past; it’s nice to be able to do something like that at home,” Marashi said. “It’s something very unique we’re able to give to a member of the community that cannot afford something like this.”

Marashi and Mahgoub will partner with Dr. R. Bruce Miller of Charlotte Prosthodontics, who will help with the prosthetic element of the full-arch restoration. The procedure is dubbed a “revolutionary solution” for patients who are missing teeth, in the process of losing teeth or in need of dentures.

The surgery is a full-day process that requires extensive preparation, Marashi

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said.

“It’s very labor intensive – we remove all the diseased tissue and place dental implants. The patient will leave with the prosthesis at the end of the day,” he said. “They basically go to sleep and wake up with a new smile, which looks very nice.”

The full-arch restoration will allow the patient to once again have the look, feel and strength of natural teeth. Patients also will be able to enjoy their favorite foods again, as the procedure has proved to be a long-lasting solution for those suffering from missing multiple teeth.

A full-arch restoration’s benefits go beyond just fixing a person’s mouth.

Poor oral health can cause numerous health complications, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, diabetic complications and even mental health issues, when factoring in a lack of self-confidence, Marashi said.

Those interested in learning more about the program and whether they might be a candidate can visit www. greatercharlotteoralsurgery.com/secondchance. Online applications are available through Feb. 15. The office will then review applications and likely select the recipient in March, Marashi said.

Coca-Cola promotes four execs Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated has appointed three executive vice presidents and a senior vice president, effective April 1.

They are as follows: • Robert Chambless will oversee sales, marketing and distribution operations as executive vice president, franchise strategy and operations.

• David Katz was named executive vice president, human resources and product supply.

• James Harris will oversee ongoing growth through acquisition of distribution territory and other key company strategic initiatives as executive vice president, business transformation.

• Clifford Deal III was named senior vice president, chief financial officer, succeeding Harris in that role.

Dynacast sponsors local golfer Dynacast International will sponsor professional golfer Brendon de Jonge on the PGA Tour.

He’ll wear the Dynacast logo and appear at the Ballantyne-based company’s events. de Jonge lives with his wife, Mary, in the Deerfield Creek subdivision.

Dynacast is a global manufacturer of small, engineered metal parts with 23 manufacturing plants in 16 countries.

CVS converts Target pharmacies The first CVS Pharmacy locations in Target stores are now open in the Charlotte market, including Matthews, Monroe and Wesley Chapel.

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CVS Health acquired all Target pharmacies and retail clinics across 47 states in December 2015.

CVS Health will convert 1,672 Target pharmacies to CVS Pharmacy locations over the next six to eight months.

The transition includes various CVS programs, such as Maintenance Choice, Specialty Connect and Pharmacy Advisor and digital tools.

CVS Health consists of more than 9,500 retail pharmacies and 1,100 walk-in medical clinics.

Belk launches fashion competition Belk has launched its fourth annual Southern Designer Showcase, giving fashion designers a chance to have their clothing featured at select stores and on www.belk.com.

Cynthia Washburn-Nester, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction, said the company is looking for designers who can bring Belk’s moniker “Modern. Southern. Style.” to life.

Senior executives will select finalists by April 20 and invite them to present designs May 19 at Belk headquarters at West Tyvola Road.

Designers, at least 18 years old, can apply through March 31 at www.belk.com/southerndesigner.

County jobless rate decreases RALEIGH – Unemployment rates decreased in 70 of North Carolina counties in September, including Mecklenburg, according to the latest stats from the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Mecklenburg’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.1 percent in November to 4.8 percent in December.

The county reported 26,939 of 563,364 people were unemployed.

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Page 6 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

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Editorial Managing Editor Hannah Chronis Education Editor Courtney Schultz Development Editor Justin Vick Sports editor Ben Doster Faith Columnist Rev. Tony Marciano

Advertising Charlotte Conway Mike Gianpetro

Design Art Director Maria Hernandez Layout Editor Erin Kirby

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

News Briefs Blair named to Hall of Fame as Top Family Law Attorney Dilworth resident and Essex Richards Partner Rob Blair was recognized by Business North Carolina Magazine as the top family law attorney in North Carolina on its 2016 list of Legal Elite.

The magazine sends ballot notices to members of the state bar in North Carolina. ReadRob Blair ers respond to the question: “Of the Tar Heel lawyers whose work you have observed firsthand, whom would you rate among the current best in these categories?”

Blair received the most votes for family law.

Blair is the third Essex Richards attorney to be named on the list. Others include Lou Lesesne (2007, employment law) and N. Renee Huges (2012, employment law).

Blair has practiced law for 25 years and has been a board-certified specialist in family law since 2002. Areas of his practice include separation and divorce, child custody and support, spousal support, domestic violence and marital agreements.

Visit www.voterid.nc.gov or call 866-522-4723 for more information.

Charlotte Squash Club names Varela as new head coach Charlotte Squash Club named Hugo Varela head coach on Jan. 1. Varela arrived to Charlotte from his native Spain on Jan. 18 and immediately began offering private lessons and clinics to club members.

“We are delighted that Hugo has joined us in Charlotte” said Connie Barnes, owner and COO of Charlotte Squash Club, in a news release. “He is a skilled and enthusiastic coach and will be a valuable asset to the club as we continue to grow by attracting experienced players, as well as those of all ages who are new to this dynamic sport.”

Varela has played squash competitively since he was 9 years old, and was ranked as high as No. 3 in Spain. He is currently No. 165 in the world.

Tournaments will be held at the club throughout 2016, ranging from weekly challenges between local schools to a Professional Squash Association event scheduled for late April.

Full details of membership, lessons, clinics and tournaments can be found on the website charlottesquash.com.

during a dinner briefing presentation from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee, Community Building Initiative (CBI) and City Attorney Bob Hagemann on Feb. 8.

Council will take action on the proposed amendment to the ordinance at its Feb. 22 meeting. The proposed changes to the ordinance are the same as those presented last year, which would add marital and familial status, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity to the list of protected characteristics in the existing ordinance.

On March 2, 2015, council failed to pass an amended version of the ordinance in a 5-6 vote.

Sara’s YMCA to open Feb. 27 The latest YMCA of Greater Charlotte branch, Sara’s YMCA in Ballantyne Corporate Park, will open earlier than anticipated with a special celebration on Feb. 27, a Saturday.

“We believe people will come to Sara’s YMCA for health and wellness and we hope that they will also find a sense of community and a spirit of giving back,” said Steve Bowers, Y Community Vice President.

Features of Sara’s Y include: 24,000 square feet, cardio and strength training equipment, Wi-Fi, outdoor rooftop terrace, fitness yard with training equipment, hot yoga studio, group exercise classes, nutrition and wellness seminars, café and community room.

Sara’s YMCA will serve as a tribute to Sara Harris Bissell, who inspired its community-focused vision. It was made possible by a donation from Smoky and Margaret Bissell.

The new facility is located at 15940 Brixham Hill Ave.

N.C. voters must register by Feb. 19 to participate in primary North Carolina voters must register by Feb. 19 to vote in the March 15 primary. Voters can request an absentee ballot for the primary until March 8.

Register to vote by mailing, emailing, or faxing a completed voter registration application to the county board of elections. Residents also can register to vote in-person at your local DMV. In order to vote, residents must bring a valid photo ID. For a provisional ballot, voters must provide their date of birth and the last for digits of their Social Security number, as well as a document that verifies the residents name and address.

Hugo Varela is the new coach at Charlotte Squash Club.

City Council to vote on changes to non-discrimination ordinance Charlotte City Council reviewed the proposed amendment to the nondiscrimination ordinance

On Jan. 30, cancer survivors and their families helped kick off this year’s Relay for Life of Charlotte. The day ended with a survivor’s parade. Pictured is Sir Purr, Batman and Harriett Thompson, honorary survivor chair.

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South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 7

Education

CMS parents urge board to retain neighborhood schools

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Parents have made one thing clear to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (BOE): they want neighborhood schools to be a priority.

The BOE held a public hearing Feb. 9 to discuss four goals the board’s policy committee created as parameters for the student assignment guidelines, which would take effect in the 2017-18 school year.

The goals include: reduced the number of schools with high concentrations of poor and high-needs children; preserve and expand schools in programs that have achieving students; provide school assignment options to students assigned to schools that are not meeting state performance standards; and maximize the use of school facilities, transportation and other capital and operational resources to reduce overcrowding. The board requested public input at Tuesday’s meeting and will vote on the goals at its Feb. 23 meeting.

Parents came to the board on Tuesday with a resounding message that they don’t want forced busing and want to retain neighborhood schools. Many requested the school board add a fifth goal that sets home schools as a priority.

Parents also expressed fear over busing for the sake of increasing socioeconomic and ra-

Courtney Schultz/SCW photo

cial diversity. Some parents, particularly from Polo Ridge Elementary School, said their schools already had wide diversity.

One parent, of children at Ballantyne Elementary and Community House Middle schools, said his children thrive at their schools, but the school became successful through community involvement and the work of the teachers. “I understand there are disadvantaged kids and I’m willing to do my part,â€? he said. â€œâ€Ś but I don’t want my child going to a community that doesn’t value education the same way I do.â€?

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Many parents, who are highly involved in their neighborhood schools, said volunteerism might not follow their child to a school further away because of the increased travel time. They also said the valued giving their children the ability to attend school with their neighbors.

CMS parent Chris Robinson said school selection was a major determinant of where he chose to live. He worried moving highneed students to succeeding schools would “dilute the problem� rather than address the problem “head on.�

Some community members suggested the board look at other avenues to aid high-need schools rather than moving students, such as looking at systematic problems and helping to encourage parent involvement in high-need areas. Many presented evidence of increasing teacher salaries to attract quality teachers to the those schools or increasing community buy-in. They suggest aiding specific schools and increasing parent involvement in those schools, rather than diluting high concentrations of poverty.

However, some community members called for greater opportunities for high-need students, urging the relief of boundary lines that separate socioeconomic class and race.

Kevin Poirier, a science teacher at West Charlotte High School, said he sees the effects of poverty each day with his students living in hotels and worrying about food. He

said the lines drawn based on zip codes “systematically� hurts children of color, who live in their high-poverty areas, adding the combination of students bringing the stresses they endure living in poverty into the classroom produces a negative result.

ONEMeck member Rosalyn AllisonJacobs believed the student assignment plan was the “first step� to aiding high-need students, stating research shows schools with high poverty will not be successful and that a more diverse environment will increase achievement.

A parent from east Charlotte, who has a rising-kindergartener, said she was shocked to see a lack of diversity in her neighborhood schools and urged the community to break down the boundary lines she said are currently divided by race and socioeconomic status. “The parents with resources (to help highneed schools) leave the schools because they don’t want their child going there,� she said. “But they need to think about extending your neighborhood to one across the track.�

BOE member Ruby Jones alluded that rumors swirl around busing students, but that isn’t the board’s intention. Fellow member Tom Tate said in late January the board has not yet looked at specific plans to carry out the goals, but wants to nail down the specific objectives first to give to a consultant, who would give suggestions of action.

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Page 8 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Education

Bumpy road ahead for school district CMS faces multiple big decisions in coming year

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Most of what the public hears about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (BOE) these days revolves on the renovation of the student assignment guidelines.

However, the BOE has more on its plate than the assignment plan, including a superintendent search and budget preparations, leaving some BOE members wondering if the board is taking on too much, while others say they’ll need to make multiple decisions concurrently.

Parents say ‘no busing’

Parents were clear at the Feb. 9 BOE meeting about what they don’t want to come from the student assignment plan: busing.

Parents worried their child will be bused miles away from their home school – a basis for many families’ housing decisions – as well as fear their child will be used to boost the average of a failing school.

“Busing is a tool of getting kids to school.

We bus as many miles today as they did with a court order years ago,” said Roslyn Mickelson, UNC Charlotte professor and researcher.

The guidelines would affect student assign-

ments for the 2017-18 school year. BOE member Tom Tate said the board wasn’t sure exactly what the plan would look like at its completion, but wanted to nail down four goals, which include reducing high concentrations of poverty, alleviating overcrowding, proving more options and preserving successful schools. The BOE held a public hearing regarding those goals at its Feb. 9 meeting.

Parents called for an additional goal to set neighborhood schools as a priority, while others urged for greater measures to help high-need students.

Tate told community members last month the board enforced a deadline of May 24 to determine if they plan to make changes, or postpone the renovation until the 2018-19 school year.

Tate said the board isn’t sure what they’re doing, but hope a consultant will provide suggestions of actions to fulfill the goals.

The board will vote on its goals on Feb. 23, with the hope they can give those goals to a consultant, who will help work out a plan.

New superintendent coming next year

After months of minimal action by the BOE, members finally agreed in a 6 to 3 vote to extend Superintendent Ann Clark’s

CONNECT

contract one year to give the board time to establish the student reassignment plan and carefully select a superintendent for the district. The board also voted they would establish and vote on a specific timeline for the search at its Feb. 23 meeting.

Many principals and community members urged the BOE to retain Clark as a long-term superintendent, but Clark clarified that since January 2015, she has had no interest in taking over the superintendent seat. Clark said she would stay in the position until the BOE finds a new candidate, but did not want to be considered in the search.

The superintendent search was a stark topic at the BOE’s retreat last month, in which the board remained divided as to how they plan to move forward with the search.

Some members believed the board could work on the superintendent search and student assignment simultaneously, while others believed the board should work on the student assignment first and then find a new superintendent.

BOE Chairperson Mary McCray said the board was “racially” divided regarding the search and potentially student reassignment.

Black BOE members McCray, Ericka EllisStewart, Ruby Jones and Thelma Byers-Bailey urged for a superintendent to be selected

by October, while the five white members Tate, Paul Bailey, Elyse Dashew, Eric Davis and Rhonda Lennon all urged for a yearlong search to hire someone next summer.

Bailey was outraged by the race accusation, stating he had a tight bond with his black son-in-law.

“We need to get over this folks,” Bailey said. “It’s 200 years ago. Get over it. We

made mistakes, but this decision will be based on the belief of the right thing to do with the school system. I am not going to buy into anything that tried to take anything that divides the board on race.”

The board plans to establish a specific timeline for the search at its next meeting.

“There was skepticism out there that we aren’t going to do a search,” Davis said.

“This timeline shows we will.”

The show must go on

Despite any animosity around student assignment guidelines and the superintendent’s fate, the board is legally required to create a budget to present to county commissioners.

Commissioners and BOE members haven’t agreed on the funding for CMS, and commissioners said last month they hope to build a greater bridge between the boards.

CFO Shelia Shirley said at the Jan. 26 BOE meeting the district’s operating budget, including increased student population and healthcare costs, has increased 12.7 percent since 2009, but the largest percent increase is from the federal government – CMS’s least flexible source of funding.

CMS is ranked last in the state’s per pupil expenditures and eighth in the percent of county expenditures, despite Mecklenburg County ranking the highest in property tax collection.

BOE members hope to come to an agreement with county commissioners on greater allocations for schools.

The board also plans to look at its capital needs and potentially look into established a bond to accommodate those needs that haven’t been met by current allocations.

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Suburbs (continued from page 1)

Leinberger gave the keynote address at the 2016 Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition's Forum: Reinventing the Suburbs on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the UNC Charlotte Center City Building.

After decades of demand for suburban development, Leinberger believes the industry has overbuilt what the market wanted. He points to demographics showing why the industry is shifting toward meeting pent-up demand for more walkable urban projects.

Millennials continue to favor urban environments, prompting more businesses to relocate where the creative class wants to live.

Meanwhile, Baby Boomers are shedding suburban homes in favor of places where they can walk to the grocery store, restaurants and other shops.

Projects already under development

When Synco Properties considered redeveloping the Colony Apartments several years ago, Tim Hose said the city’s planning director told his firm to focus on improving SouthPark’s pedestrian experience.

The firm sought out to complete a highdensity project to take advantage of the 27acre site’s value, while making the property more walkable and bike-friendly, Hose said.

The redevelopment involves converting 353 apartments into 990 housing units, as well as up to 225 hotel rooms, 300,000 square feet of retail and 250,000 square feet of office.

“By having that mix of uses, people who live on the site, many of whom will be able to shop there, work there, recreate there,” Hose said.

A pair of projects under development along Providence Road will also turn farmland into places where people can live, work and play. Waverly will combine apartments and single-family homes with restaurants, retail and office space on 90 acres at Providence and Ardrey Kell roads. Crescent Communities will build a similar mixed-use project with a culinary theme on 72 acres across the street.

The city has also gotten involved by combining property around the site of the former Eastland Mall in hopes of partnering with a developer to revitalize the 80-acre area.

“We have an opportunity here to take that 80 acres in a way we don’t even have in SouthPark and really reshape the walkability and scale of that 80 acres to reconnect to the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Ed McKinney, interim planning director for Charlotte.

Leinberger said such projects tend to generate six to 12 times more tax value than suburban projects.

Projects come with improved street networks

Overcoming the community’s traffic concerns remains one of the biggest roadblocks to redeveloping drivable suburbs into walkable communities, especially given the

South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 9 SouthPark area’s limited street network.

Leinberger points to Arlington, Texas, where the Wilson Boulevard connects to five walkable urban places, as well as a handful of light-rail stations. The number of cars and the level of traffic has decreased, despite an increase in high-density development over the past 25 years, Leinberger said.

People are getting around by walking, biking or taking the metro.

“One of the things we got to get beyond is some of the mythology,” McKinney said, noting the internal trips between uses in SouthPark is significant and growing.

McKinney said the notion that the intensity of uses will lessen internal trips and yield opportunities to walk is hard to believe now, but the numbers will prove true.

Hose said the Colony Apartments redevelopment will extend Rexford Road through the site and connect it with Sharon Road, allowing for traffic to be taken off busy streets like Colony Road.

Chris Thomas, of Childress Klein, said his Waverly project will create more of an internal street grid to mitigate traffic around I-485. Commuters could also see some relief with the extension of Ardrey Kell Road.

Affordability, rezoning pose challenges

The popularity of the suburbs in the late 20th century gave rise to neighborhood groups, which rally residents in opposition of new development, whether it be a neighboring subdivision or strip mall.

As a result, Leinberger said the industry is delivering only one-quarter to one-third of what the market needs, driving up social equity challenges. Some worry that creating more walkable urban communities will drive up property values to a point where they will displace residents with lower incomes.

Leinberger said walkable urban communities fall into one of two points of a spectrum: high opportunity-low affordability or low opportunity-high affordability. Developers are trying to reach high opportunity-high affordability projects from two vantage points, he said.

Still, cities were built along racial lines, Leinberger said, which makes such challenges hard to overcome.

Zoning ordinances also can prove challenging for redevelopment. Leinberger has been part of 14 development projects, with each one “illegal” when proposed. One project took several years and millions of dollars to come out of the ground.

Collin Brown, a Charlotte attorney, is part of the Piedmont Public Policy Institute, a group consisting of academic experts who tackle real estate issues such as community impact and housing affordability.

“We have a zoning ordinance that’s big and thick, but one of the things I’ll say for it is: There is flexibility built in so that if there is the political will and community consensus, we can make this happen in Charlotte,” Brown said.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 10 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Faith

If only the Patriots had won the AFC playoffs

by Tony Marciano tonym@charlotterescuemission.org

You remember the blizzard of 2016 – 1 ¼ inches of snow.

Schools were shut down. We all stayed home (we’ll find any snow excuse to stay home).

Sunday we had Rev. Tony Marciano to stay home.

The AFC playoffs with Denver vs. New England determined who we played in the Super Bowl.

We had out-of-town guests from Maine visiting us during the games. We both wanted the Patriots to win. He wanted his “home” team to win the AFC playoff.

I wanted them to play the Panthers in the Super Bowl where we would beat them. You know the score. They lost. Denver went to the Super Bowl.

My guests had no interest whether my home team won or lost. Their beloved Patriots had lost. While watching the Panthers vs. Cardinal game, they announced they wanted to watch “Downton Abbey.”

We would flip back and forth between commercials to see how the plot was doing.

I suggested they go to my mother’s side of the house and watch their show so I could watch the Panthers beat the Cardinals. This was a “win-win” situation until my wife called us for dinner. My wife made homemade manicotti. Since there were so many of us, we decided to eat on my mother’s side.

There we were at her dining room table. Behind my mother was the TV. On her set was “Downton Abbey.” I couldn’t win.

I hurriedly ate and said I had to go back on my side of the house to watch the Panthers game. When half time was over, the sports announcer made some crude comment how the Panthers don’t do well in the second half of a game. He kept talking about how wonderful the Cardinals quarterback was and this was going to be his chance to shine. I didn’t hear that much about Cam. While they watched “Downton Abbey,” I had the pleasure of watching the Panthers disprove that announcer. In fact, we went so far as to put our backup quarterback into the game for the last few moments of play.

All season long, I sensed that the announcers had a hard time saying something positive about the Panthers. When we were 4-0, they said if we lost that game, then all the other games were just “dumb” luck. If we had Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning, they would have talked about us. But, we were the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Is that near Charleston, South Carolina or was

Age of Extremes Wednesday, February 17th 7:00 p.m. at the Waltonwood Providence Theater

Presented by Dr. Jürgen Buchenau, Professor and Department Chair Department of History, UNC Charlotte Join us for a discussion of the twentieth century as the “Age of Extremes”-- a time when extreme ideologies, sophisticated weaponry, and global conflict threatened our globe in numerous and unprecedented ways. $10 donation encouraged to benefit UNCC Student Programs

it Charlottesville, Virginia?

Every day, I live with the same dilemma of being misunderstood. I work with drug addicts and alcoholics – men and women who society sees as outcast. Some might say they are “drunks.” They’ve never held down a steady job, always caused family problems and cost all of us too much financially as a society.

Just like the Panthers, no one really talks about the residents of the Rescue Mission in a positive way. In reality, they are very bright, intelligent and funny. Prior to the Mission, they are misunderstood. They complete our recovery programs and become fathers and mothers to their children. They are the sons and daughters parents are proud to show off.

They learn they are loved. God deeply loves them and wants the very best for them.

I felt the Panthers were misunderstood all season long. I witnessed the sports announcers not giving them credit for being a really good team. It bothered me but I understood. The men and women I serve every day are also misunderstood, except by God. I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend.

Calvary Church honors Senior Pastor John Munro on 10th anniversary CHARLOTTE – In a special service on Sunday, Feb. 7, the congregation of Calvary Church celebrated Senior Pastor John Munro’s 10th anniversary at the church. The Scottish pastor is the ninth pastor to lead the church since its foundation in 1939.

The Calvary Choir and Orchestra sang “Legacy of Faith,” a song written for the occasion by staff member Chelsea Hathaway. The rendition of “Amazing Grace” included bagpipes and Scottish drums as a tribute to Munro’s heritage.

Munro and his wife, Gundy, were presented with gifts and a bouquet on behalf of the church’s leadership board and congregation.

After a brief vacation, Munro will return to the pulpit on Sunday, Feb. 28 for Calvary’s annual Missions Conference.

On March 13, he will resume his current message series from the book of Revelation.

Munro was born and raised in Scotland. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a law degree and became a criminal prosecutor. When he received the call to full-time ministry, he resigned from his law practice, moved to the United States and attended Dallas Theological Seminary. He has been a pastor for more than 30 years.

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.

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The Weekly

Calendar February

12

‘The Age of Love’ screening

Waltonwood on Providence will hold a movie screening of “The Age of Love,” a story of 30 senior citizens who sign up for a speed dating event open to those 70 years old and older. Seating is limited. RSVP at 704-2468670.

1 to 3 p.m.; Waltonwood, 11945 Providence Road

13 College 101 seminar

Jennifer Cook DeRosa will lead an information session on how home-schooled children can get into college. Register in advance. Call 704-416-5200 or go to www.cmli brary.org for details.

3 p.m.; Mint Hill Branch Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Squash Club 13 Charlotte tournament Charlotte Squash Club will hold an intercollegiate tournament at Providence Square courts between Duke, North Carolina, Davidson and College of Charleston. Admission is free and attendees are invited to test out their squash skills after the tournament is over.

9 a.m. to noon; Providence Court, 5660 International Drive

Better 13 Making Investments Port Wren Capital LLC will discuss “The Key to Making Better Investments” at the American Association of Individual Investors Charlotte Chapter meeting. Attendees will learn about long-term capital appreciation and the necessity of knowing the “story” behind a company. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Free for first-time guests.

10 a.m.; Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens 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

13 Ballantyne Ball

The second annual Ballantyne Ball will benefit local nonprofit The Sandbox. The masquerade event will include a cocktail reception, dinner, silent and live auctions, music and dancing. Visit www.ballantyneball.org to purchase tickets or learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

6 p.m.; Ballantyne Hotel, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

17 Chapter One book club

The Chapter One book club now will meet on the third Wednesday of each month.

South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 11 This month’s discussion will be on Jenny Lawson’s “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened.”

Attendees must be 18 years old or older. Registration is not required.

10:15 a.m.; South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road

18 Career and College Expo

Ardrey Kell High School will hold a career and college expo to help students learn more about life after high school. Presentations will include: admissions, college life, selecting a major, building a resume and more.

6 to 8 p.m.; Ardrey Kell High School, 10220 Ardrey Kell Road

Possibility of 19 The Architecture Mint Museum presents, “The Possibility of Architecture: A Challenge to the Culture of Form.” The event will feature speaker Ken Lambla, dean and professor of the College of Art and Architecture at UNC-Charlotte. Coffee will be served at 10 a.m. Free with museum admission.

10 a.m.; Mint Museum, 2730 Randolph Road

Making at The 20 Bark Secret Chocolatier The Secret Chocolatier will hold a bark making class where attendees will learn about chocolate, tempering and choose from a variety of ingredients to make their own bark. Cost is $25 per person. Class space is limited and reservations are required either in person at The Secret Chocolatier or online at www.squareup.com/market/the-secretchocolatier.

2 to 3:15 p.m.; The Secret Chocolatier, 11318 N. Community House Road, suite 203

College 21 Demystifying Admissions Levine Jewish Community Center will hold a college admissions seminar to discuss: applying for college; making the best college decision; choosing between the SAT and ACT; the new SAT forma; need-based financial aid; landing a merit scholarship and more. Cost is $70.

2 to 5:15 p.m.; Levine Jewish Community Center, 5007 Providence Road

Club of 26 Whiskey Ballantyne The Whiskey Club of Ballantyne will explore rye and wheat at its next meeting. Cost is $50 per person. Register in advance by calling 704-248-4100 or emailing cbrobst@ theballantynehotel.com.

6:30 p.m.; Gallery restaurant, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

26 Senior Speed Dating

Waltonwood Providence will hold a speed dating event for seniors. The event is open to the public, and area seniors are invited to attend as like-minded singles get to know each other through a series of short, one-on-one conversations.

1 to 3 p.m.; Waltonwood, 11945 Providence Road

Send calendar events to hannah@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

Page 12 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

Sports

Myers Park girls’ basketball set for another playoff push

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

The Mustangs have come together as a team at the right time. That’s not a good thing for opponents, especially when you look at recent history.

Myers Park (17-5, 11-0 Southwestern 4A) is on pace to reach 20 wins by the end of its conference tournament, where it’s favored to win. But that likely won’t be the ceiling of this team, as it sets out to win its third consecutive state championship.

However, coach Barbara Nelson is quick to say the goal for Myers Park is to be the best it can be every day. That might look different this season from the previous two.

The Mustangs have lost more games this season than the previous four years combined. But the talent is there for this team to accomplish something special once again.

It all starts with Kentucky signee and senior small forward Chanin Scott, who is a doubledouble (18 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.3 spg and 1.3 bpg) waiting to happen. Scott gives Myers Park a dependable leader who can carry the team, but she’s going to need help if the Mustangs want to cut down the nets in March – something she thinks is entirely possible.

“We’ve clicked with each other so well that you couldn’t tell that we were a young team,” Scott said. “That’s what’s special about this team.

I think we’re capable of playing really solid defense and rebounding really well and moving the

ball enough so everyone can get a shot.”

The Mustangs realized their potential for success in a unique way – a 52-46 loss to nationally ranked Alpharetta (Ga.) St. Francis in Washington, D.C. Dec. 28. Several players played at a different level they haven’t reached until then, and some did things no one had seen them do before.

“St. Francis is a group that plays AAU together, and they’ve come together to play high school ball the last couple of years,” Nelson said. “It’s a special group of kids, and our kids really showed up that day. Everybody did the dirty work. Everybody blocked out. Everybody made the extra pass. Everybody worked to stay in front and get to help side.”

It gave them the confidence they needed to compete with elite ballclubs.

“We’re excited to play anybody that comes up against us,” Scott said. “We’re not scared. We’ll put up a fight, so be ready.”

Myers Park turned around the next day to face Kealakekua (Hawaii) Konawaena, which had a completely different makeup. Those girls could all shoot the three and handle the ball, making them difficult to defend.

Konawaena cruised to any easy 65-41 win, but that experience served the Mustangs well. It challenged them, and it enabled Nelson and her staff to experiment with multiple lineups to see which combinations work best together.

“They thumped us,” Nelson said. “We saw two very different styles of play.”

Those games gave Myers Park opporutnities to see what it might face in the playoffs when it is matched up with big teams, small teams, uptempo offenses and a more deliberate pace of play. They’ve seen it all.

Nelson said that was when Myers Park began to turn the corner in terms of bonding as a team.

While her team has united, Nelson is glad it also has improved its decision-making and ballhandling, both of which were suspect earlier this season.

“I think we’ve really shored that up,” Nelson said. “We’re making really good decisions with the ball. We’re learning how to involve each other. We’re getting better at rebounding.”

What might end up being most important is the strides Myers Park has made in crashing the boards as a team. Early on, the Mustangs depended too much on Scott to shoulder the bulk of the rebounding load. Fortunately for her and Myers Park, the rest of the team is stepping up in that category.

“We’ve done a much better job of boxing out and gang rebounding, so I think that will really help us in the playoffs,” Nelson said.

Nelson and her staff also have developed several players into meaningful contributors over the course of the season, which has provided Myers Park with some good depth. The Mustangs can go about nine to 10 players deep, which could enable them to wear out opponents down the stretch.

Junior shooting guard McKenna Haire is Myers Park’s only other dependable double-digit scorer at 11.4 ppg, but the Mustangs are getting balanced production across the board from the rest of its roster.

Senior center Stuart Ayer, junior small forward Kianna Funderburk and sophomore point guard Ariyanna Brown have emerged as key role players.

Their improvement combined with the added depth could be a difference maker in those games, where it’s win or go home.

Myers Park is ready for its next challenge – the state playoffs. It knows what it feels like to lose, and has learned how to win. This group shouldn’t be surprised by anything opponents throw its way.

www.thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 13

Sports

Local athletes celebrate Signing Day

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

National Signing Day is always a special day for student athletes, their families, coaches and schools all over the country, because it puts them one step closer to making

their dreams come true.

Student athletes from south Charlotte signed a national letter of intent, finalizing their commitment to further their careers with their respective colleges Feb. 3.

Ardrey Kell athletes who signed will be featured on www.thecharlotteweekly.com.

(Front) Austin Kent, Jordan Fehr, Tyler Pistorio, Dru Seabrook, Jack King, (Back) Elisa Hicks, Lauren Ellis, Kayce Ransone and Jennifer Simmons, Providence

Elijah Deveaux, Davis Waldrop, John Turley, Caroline Lubinsky, Ryan Gilmartin, Grant Armistead, Alex Parker and Jeremiah White, Charlotte Christian

Zack Gilbert, Chance Kennedy, Moryah Johnson and John Brannon, South Meck

Tommy Halkyard and Brady Whitmore, Charlotte Latin

John Donahue, Graham McIntosh, Ali Gakenheimer and Julia Loesch, Charlotte Country Day

(Front) Jaret Anderson, Emma Stump, Marnie Brown, Mollie Ray, Paul Slota, (Back) Constant Mangongo, Connor Miller, Patrick Hogan, Xander Gagnon and John Walton, Charlotte Catholic

Eric Cal, Providence Day

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980-622-7833

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South Charlotte Weekly | February 12, 2016 | Page 15

Carolina Weekly Classifieds Network

To advertise, visit www.carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

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

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1-800761-9396 For Sale

5,000 watt Husky generator— purchased in 2010 for $648.00.

Never used. Now selling for $400!

Call (704)841-7647 or (704)957-1736.

Help wanted

Diane’s Cleaning Service I am in search of about 7 women who are personable, very neat, hardworking and full of energy to join my cleaning crew. You must be able to pass a drug test and background check as well as understand and speak English.

Also, a North Carolina driver’s license and Social security number are a requirement.

If you are interested in applying for a position, please call the number below and set up an appointment.

Diane Howard (704)-517-7926

PART-TIME NEWSPAPER DRIVERS NEEDED Candidates must have a clean driving record, proof of auto insurance and be able to lift 50-75 lbs. Additionally, the ideal candidate can work Thursday, Friday, or both and can make a long-term commitment to grow their workload and earnings.

For more information, please contact: Brent Epling brent@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com FINANCIAL

Beware of loan fraud. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SERVICES

Mature Caregiver/Personal Care Attendant to sit with your loved ones. Flexible hours and availability.

Will do light housekeeping. Call Joyce at (704)841-1375.

Don’t spend $4000 to $5000 to change your tub into a walk-in shower!

Call TubCut! $1295 to $1495.

(704)609-7341 Flooring Experts: tile, showers, backsplash, carpet. Commercial & Residential hardwood, laminate,

vinyl vct. Insurance and 100% warranty free estimates.

Call Francisco Escobar with Anything Custom Construction 704 977-7859.

Our services include painting, sheet rock, installation, popcorn removal and repair, wallpaper removal, pressure washing, handyman, light plumbing and electrical.

We appreciate our clients. FREE ESTIMATES: (704)995-9206.

GREAT atmosphere to WORK!! $175 week.

Check out our fb page: Salon One 10 in Matthews, 1118-A Sam Newell Road. $50 finders fee for hired stylist; $100 off 1st month’s rent!!

*PRESTIGE RENOVATION* Thinking of building or renovating?

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Page 16 | February 12, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly

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