Union County Weekly Feb. 18, 2022 by Charlotte Media Group

INSIDE ▼ 'America's Funniest Man' to perform in Monroe PAGE 3A Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 • Vol. 15 • No. 7

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Sheriff’s office investigates deaths INDIAN TRAIL – The Union County Sheriff’s Office launched three death investigations within a span of four days, including one that resulted in the arrest of a man accused of killing his wife. A detention officer conducting morning meal service at the Union County Jail around 6:15 a.m. Feb. 11 discovered a 32-year-old inmate who was unresponsive. Union EMS transported the inmate to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office did not release the prisoner’s name and said there

was no evidence to suggest foul play. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation, which is standard procedure. A few hours later, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to conduct a well-being check at 10:15 a.m. in the Crismark subdivision in Indian Trail. Multiple sources told the sheriff’s office that a deceased woman may be inside the home within the 5000-block of Paddle Wheel Lane. Deputies and detectives found the body of 48-year-old Ashley Drinnon inside the home.

They arrested the woman’s husband, 53-year-old Timothy Drinnon, on charges of first-degree murder. Drinnon Detectives are trying to determine a motive for Drinnon’s death. Officials request anyone with information about the case to call 911, the sheriff’s office at 704-283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600. Deputies, detectives and investigators descended Feb. 14 to a park near N.C. 205 and Pleasant Hill

Church Road to investigate another death. Officials withheld the victim’s name as they investigated the circumstances of his passing. They described the death as an isolated incident and suspected no foul play was involved. Retired officer passes away The Union County Sheriff's Office is mourning the passing of former detention officer Mary Millhouse. Millhouse served the department from 1997 until retirement in 2009.

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Literacy program moves to SPCC

Help us help you Health care officials ask for resources, 2A

Curiosities Incoming expo is devoted to oddities, 2A Novant Health announced Feb. 14 that staff administered more than 203,700 COVID-19 vaccine doses over the past year. Photo courtesy of Novant Health

Masks optional?

Top earner Alzheimer's walk proves popular, 1B

Republicans want to give parents ability to opt out of mask mandates for children by Nyamekye Daniel Contributor

Slow aging Clinic among first in area to offer procedure, 1B

Sweet gesture Veterans receive valentines, 2B

(The Center Square) – North Carolina Republicans plan to propose legislation to allow parents to opt their children out of face covering requirements at schools. The state does not have a mask mandate at schools. The policy is left up to local school districts, and many follow the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit. The toolkit recommends that “schools have a universal masking policy in place for everyone (age 2 and older), in areas of high or substantial transmission,” according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention guidance. Schools, however, can make face coverings optional when community transmission levels drop. As of Feb. 10, 40 out of the state’s 115 schools districts, including Union County Public Schools, moved to mask optional policies. Under current law, school districts must decide each month what their face covering policy will be. When schools reopened for in-person instruction in March, masks were required in the toolkit. Gov. Roy Cooper lifted the requirement in June but added the recommendation that schools should

“

require students and staff to wear masks during the new school year. House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, sent a letter to Cooper on Feb. 11, urging the governor and NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley to end the policy. “It is time to end the policies that have disrupted classrooms and hindered student achievement,” Moore said. “The science does not support these onerous restrictions that continue to harm our children.” Other governors have eased the mask requirement in other states as the current COVID-19 surge has started to decline. Cooper told reporters that Moore knows that there is no state mask mandate.

It is time to end the policies that have disrupted classrooms and hindered student achievement. The science does not support these onerous restrictions that continue to harm our children. • Tim Moore House Speaker

MONROE – Common Heart’s adult literacy program is moving to South Piedmont Community College in hopes of giving students more opportunities and helping more families. The college, which has supported the program since its launch in late 2019, will now house this free community service in the School of College & Career Readiness. The program’s 19 students and seven tutors will have access to additional resources and can use the college’s campus as a meeting place if they’d like. RJ Lightsey, Common Heart’s literacy program manager, will oversee the program at SPCC. As Common Heart focuses on its expanding food pantry network and economic empowerment programs, adult literacy needed a new home and reaching out to SPCC was top of mind, Common Heart Executive Director Keith Adams said. SPCC has supported the program with free testing services since Common Heart took the lead in reviving adult literacy in Union County after the sudden closure of the Union County Literacy Council in summer 2019. “I can’t imagine a better place for this program to land,” he said. “SPCC’s dedication and resources will allow the program not only to continue, but to grow and thrive. I’m really excited to see how many more lives will be changed by adding adult literacy services to their already robust offerings for adult learners.” Kelly Stegall, dean of the School of College & Career Readiness, said South Piedmont is excited about the potential for this program not only for new students but enrolled students who could benefit from the supplemental support – at no charge. Stegall said it was important to keep this program as a free service. Students do not have to live in Union County to receive help and the program will be offered at campuses in both Union and Anson counties. Most of the students who come for help now have never been to college and it’s a chance to encourage that excitement and zest for learning, Lightsey said. At South Piedmont, tutors will be able to meet with students in the evenings on campus which is something Common Heart didn’t have available. Email rlightsey@spcc.edu or call 704290-5261 to volunteer as a tutor or enroll as a student for free help,

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NEWSLETTER

Health care officials ask state for help in addressing staff shortages by Nyamekye Daniel Contributor

(The Center Square) – Health care officials in North Carolina are calling on the state to help tackle the workforce shortage among medical professionals in the state. Steve Lawler, president and CEO of the North Carolina Health Care Association, said the workforce shortage existed before the COVID-19 pandemic but for the past two years, hospitals have been overwhelmed daily by an influx of patients. “What we’re seeing today is a staff that has been involved in essentially a daily mass casualty every day for two years,” Lawler said. Lawler was among a group of health care officials who testified Feb. 15 before the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services The panel also heard testimony from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley and other NCDHHS officials. Kinsley told lawmakers the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the job vacancy rate

at state facilities. He said before the pandemic, the job vacancy rate was between 15% and 20%. Now, it is 30%, Kinsley said. Lawler said the current turnover rate in the state’s 130 hospitals is 18%. He said before the pandemic, it was between 8% and 12% North Carolina is short 10,000 nurses. Lawler predicts the shortage could increase to as low as 12,000 nurses or as high as 23,000 nurses. Lawler asked the panel to consider spending more on public universities and colleges to streamline more health professionals into the workforce. “We’re fortunate that North Carolina has some of the best educational platforms in the country,” Lawler said. The state is home to Duke University, Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina. NCDHHS Deputy Secretary Tara Myers said the situation in nursing homes is “compounded by many factors.” Myers said the work is physically, mentally and emotionally draining, and direct care workers usually have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Lawmakers provided direct

Members of the National Disaster Medical System team demonstrated patient care at Atrium Health Pineville. The hospital welcomed the team to assist with its emergency department. The person being treated in this photo isn't COVID positive. Photo courtesy of Atrium Health

care workers with a wage of $15 an hour and $133 million for bonuses of up $2,000 per worker in the biennium budget, but Myers said it is not enough. In addition to higher salaries and more bonuses, Myers asked lawmakers to review the regulatory requirements and create higher education pathways for direct care workers.

“It’s no secret that the direct care workforce has some of the hardest jobs. Oftentimes, they live in poverty and are dependent on public assistance,” Myers said. “Their education level sometimes is lower. That could be due in part to the fact that they’re having to work multiple jobs and don’t have an opportunity to get a higher education.”

AAA: Carolina gas prices continue to rise Subscribe to our free email newsletter to stay on top of everything we are publishing in print and online, as well as what we’re sharing across our social media platforms. Visit one of our websites for a link to subscribe.

CHARLOTTE – Gas prices in the Carolinas are still trending more expensive on the week as strong upward pressure remains on prices at the pump. The main culprit behind the most recent climb in pump prices continues to be the high cost of crude oil, which is bobbing around $90 per barrel and has caused the average price for gasoline in the Carolinas

to set a new 2022 high of $3.33 per gallon in North Carolina and $3.26 per gallon in South Carolina. “Between the tight supply of oil worldwide and an increase in demand, that’s a recipe for higher prices at the pump,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. “Unfortunately for motorists it doesn’t appear that this

trend will change anytime soon.” Fuel Price Overview • Feb. 14 Gas Price Average: $3.33 (North Carolina); $3.26 (South Carolina) • 2022 High: $3.33 (North Carolina); $3.26 (North Carolina) • 2021 High: $3.25 (North Carolina); $3.18 (South Carolina) The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.48, ris-

ing sharply by 4 cents on the week. This average is 18 cents more than a month ago and 98 cents more than a year ago. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration, total domestic gasoline stocks dropped by 1.6 million bbl last week. On the other hand, gasoline demand rose from 8.23 million b/d to 9.13 million b/d. A de-

crease in total stocks and increased demand have contributed to upward pressure on pump prices, but rising crude prices continue to play the dominant role in pushing pump prices higher. Gas prices will likely increase as demand grows and crude oil prices remain above $90 per barrel. Log on to https://gas prices.aaa.com/ for updated state and metro prices.

Home show offers ideas, interactivity

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo organizers expect to spice things up CHARLOTTE – One part horror convention and one part dark arts, The Oddities and Curiosities Expo will bring more than 150 local and national vendors to the Charlotte Convention Center on Feb. 26. Attendees can expect to see vendors and small businesses showcasing taxidermy, preserved animal specimens, original horror and Halloween-inspired artwork, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, skulls, bones and funeral collectibles. “The Oddities and Curiosities Expo was created purely out of the excitement of bringing communities we care about together through events,” said Michelle Cozzaglio, who owns the expo with her husband, Tony. “Honestly, we had no idea it would turn into what it has today. Our goal has always been to

uplift those around us while giving everyone, including ourselves, the opportunity to truly do what they love.” The Cozzaglios have been taking The Oddities and Curiosities Expo on the road from coast to coast for the past five years after observing there was a market for this type of large-scale event. Longtime collectors of oddities and obscure memorabilia themselves, the pair also own a record store and screen printing business, and operate punk festivals across the country. In addition to visiting the showroom floor, guests of The Oddities and Curiosities Expo are able to purchase tickets to a day-long taxidermy class where they can learn to make their own two-headed duckling mount. Participants will work with frozen animals to learn the basics of taxidermy. The O&C Expo also hosts Rainy

CHARLOTTE – The all-new Charlotte Home + Remodeling show arrives at The Park Expo and Conference Center from Feb. 25 to 27, where guests can shop for home-related products and services, experience stunning displays to help inspire their the next home project and connect with industry experts on the latest trends. The one-stop shop features everything needed to refresh a space – all under one roof. Guests will be able to find unique gifts and home accessories, receive advice from home improvement experts in a variety of areas, and shop for home décor, foods and sauces at The Marketplace. Attendees can stroll through the Ikebana flower arrangements to find Japanese art created locally by Charlotte’s Chapter 49. The show also features a live butterfly exhibit where

guests can enter the area and feed butterflies. Kids can also get a “Build and Grow” kit from Lowe’s at the She Built This City booth. Grab your plans and ideas – guests can meet one-on-one for consultations with local interior designer Anna Stowe to get value tips and learn new trends. Stowe will also give presentations throughout the show. Attendees can schedule consultations ahead of time. Show hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday as well as and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. On-site parking costs $8. Cash and credit card will be accepted. A concession area will be open during show hours. Tickets for adults cost $12 at the door and $10 online. Tickets for children 12 and younger are free. Visit https://charlottehomeandremodelingshow.

Day Revival and their Museum of Marvelous Mutations, a 1,600-square-foot carnival sideshow reminiscent of big top attractions of the early 1900s. For an additional $7 ($5 advance), guests can experience “The World’s Largest Traveling Freak Show” and meet Simon the Cyclops Lamb and Beefcake the Bulldog Calf. Want to go? The Oddities and Curiosities Expo will take place Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., Charlotte. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door and children 12 and under are free. The event is all ages; however, parents are advised to use their best judgment about if their children should attend. Tickets can be purchased at https:// odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com/tickets

The show features Ikebana arrangements (ABOVE) and room models (TOP). Photos from Yellow Duck Marketing

The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022 • Page 3A

Tough room? Loving the difficult people in your life 'Funniest Man in America' will perform in front of Union County crowd MONROE – “The Funniest Man in America” comedian James Gregory will bring his down-home comedy experience to the Dowd Center Theatre. This one-night-only appearance will take place on April 8 at the newly restored, 560-seat center, located at 120 S. Main St. For decades, the unforgettable caricature of veteran comedian James Gregory has stood grinning: his shirt untucked, his arms outstretched, a carefree welcome to a down-home, hilarious comedy experience. The James Gregory show turns the clock back to a time when life was simpler – a time when people sat on the front porch and actually talked to each other without a cell phone in their ear. Gregory’s success, like his comedy, is the direct result of the values he grew up with. And now, 20-something years later, it is this unique brand of humor that packs the crowds into his sold-out shows. The absence of vulgarity sets James apart,

and his stories are carefully crafted art. “I have lived long enough to know people, know life,” Gregory reflects. “My comedy is based on my life experiences. It’s real, it’s funny, and the audience loves it. That’s why I’m still in business.” Constantly touring, Gregory is on the road about 46 weeks a year. He continues to entertain sold-out crowds in theaters and comedy clubs and remains in demand for corporate events. James has been the featured entertainer for over 200 corporations, including the Coca-Cola Company, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Hewlett Packard, and Kroger. James has also been the featured speaker for events sponsored by various civic and church groups. He can be heard weekly on syndicated radio shows such as Rick and Bubba, John Boy and Billy, and Bob and Tom. Combined, these shows are broadcast to people in over 220 cities nationwide.

Tony Marciano Reverend

really hate to admit this, but I am a naïve person. For whatever reason, I believe everyone will treat me the way I treat them. It sounds good. I think it’s very Biblical. It’s close to the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It works in theory. It doesn’t work in the real world. Over the course of my life, I have been lied to, verbally abused, insulted, and put down by some well-meaning folks who thought they were God’s ambassador to fix what was wrong with Tony Marciano. Perhaps there was some truth in what they said. The problem was how they said it and the impact it had on my emotions. In this imperfect world, you and I will encounter people who are cranky, grumpy, harsh, etc. While I know that “Hurt People Hurt People”, it still hurts when the verbal attack comes. In the book, The Four Agreements, author Don Miguel Ruiz says on the flyleaf, “Don’t take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are

immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” I have copies of that in my office and in my car. It’s a good reminder that the difficult people will always be in my life. But I am thin-skinned and take everything personally. I understand it in my head. I feel the pain in my heart. I’ve seen wounded individuals dump their verbal barrage on me and walk away. Sometimes I felt that I am in the movie Carrie when the pigs’ blood is dumped on her. What do you do? Recently, I came across an article from the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale about how to make and keep friends. It wasn’t a Dale Carnegie book. Instead, Dr. Peale talked about loving the difficult people in our life. He told the story of the businessman who was struggling with his competitors. He felt they were trying to put him out of business. Dr. Peale encouraged him to pray for God to bless his competitors. The man walked away sad because he just couldn’t (or wouldn’t) do it. The next time they met, the man reported to Dr. Peale that he just couldn’t do that. These men were his competition. How could he ask God to bless them? Wouldn’t that put him out of business? Once again, Dr. Peale encouraged him to pray for them. Ask God to bless them. Ask God to make their

businesses fruitful and profitable. Then watch what happens to your heart. The first time he prayed, was less than eloquent. It sounded more like, “God, you know George who is trying to put me out of business? Well bless him, even if I don’t like him.” As he continued to pray over the days ahead, his tone began to soften. They sounded more like, “God, I ask you to bless George. Let his business always be a success. Let him be profitable beyond his wildest imagination. Amen.” Finally, he prayed, “God, bless George. Make him more profitable than I am. Make him more successful than I am. Be with him, Amen.” I came up with my own list of my difficult people. I asked God to bless them beyond their wildest imagination. May they be incredibly successful. In this month of “love”, let’s ask God to bless the difficult people who have crossed our paths. I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend. The Rev. Tony Marciano is the President/CEO of Charlotte Rescue Mission. CRM provides free, residential, professional, substance abuse recovery services for men and women at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. He is available to speak to your group. Go to www.charlotterescuemission.org for details.

Charlotte-based electrical company opens fourth location CHARLOTTE – Jimmy and Maegan Giler founded Viva Electric five years ago in the Charlotte area and have since expanded their business to reach Lake Norman, Greenville and Wilmington. The Charlotte entrepreneurs attribute their success to being the best partners together in life and in business. They strive to light up the lives of the people and communities they serve. “At Viva Electric, we provide our

clients quick and reliable electrical solutions for their homes and businesses, but it is our aim to do more than that,” Maegan Giler said. “At the core of our culture, we want to light up the lives of those around us including our communities, clients and co-workers. We believe in treating each other like family, spreading kindness where we can and leaving people better than when we found them.” Jimmy Giler started out in the

electrical field learning from his father-in-law, Sam. Earning $8 an hour, Jimmy learned the intricacies of the craft and fell in love with electrical work. He received promotion after promotion and realized he wanted to do more than work with his hands. He was drawn to the business side of the industry. “I wasn’t only working with my hands at that point,” he said. “I began connecting with people and

building relationships, which is what allowed me to start Viva.” Four years later, Maegan and Jimmy Giler have partnered with Griffin Brothers Companies and are opening their fourth location in Wilmington just months after launching the third location in Greenville. Through its market leader program, Viva Electric is empowering people who work in the trades to own their own branch of the com-

pany. The position is meant to give the feeling of ownership without the headaches of finances, marketing, dispatching, accounting and all things on the backend. Viva Electric specializes in electrical panel repairs and replacements, home generator installations, outlet installation, home wiring upgrades and circuit breaker repairs. Visit https://vivaelectric. net/home/ or call 910-623-8900 for details.

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BY THE UNION COUNTY WEEKLY

The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022 • Page 5A

Curley takes on leadership at Allen Tate’s Wesley Chapel branch

Union County Public Schools leaders Casey Rimmer and Andrew Houlihan received props for their work before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of UCPS

Gold Stars

Education Week honors Houlihan, Rimmer WASHINGTON – Education Week has included two administrators from Union County Public Schools in its 10th class of Leaders To Learn From. The education news organization released profiles of 11 outstanding school district leaders. The honorees were selected for their innovative and effective leadership of the nation’s schools. UCPS Superintendent Andrew Houlihan and Casey Rimmer, the district’s director of education technology and innovation, are being honored for their work – both before and during the pandemic. They set up tutoring programs, created teacher-training for remote learning and boosted student supports for counseling and early reading. “This year’s honorees are the epitome of resilience,” Education Week President & CEO Michele Givens said. “They have overcome myriad challenges to support students who have disconnected from learning, engage families in children’s education, and respond to students’ mental health needs.” The 2022 Leaders To Learn From are: • Susan Gilley, executive director of federal programs and instructional technology, Harrison Public Schools, Harrison, Arkansas • Andrew Houlihan, superintendent, and Casey Rimmer, director, education technology and innovation, Union County Public Schools, Monroe, N.C. • Melissa Jacobs, director of school library services, New York City Department of Education. • Jenna Monley, deputy chief of family and community engagement, The School District of Philadelphia. • Derek Richey, chief financial officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District. • Marifer Sager, senior manager, language

WESLEY CHAPEL – Allen Tate Companies has named Beth Curley as branch leader of the company’s Wesley Chapel office at 6330 Weddington Road, Suite A-2. Curley will oversee branch operations and lead and grow a team of more than 20 Allen Tate Realtors and staff. Curley began her real estate career with Allen Tate in 2005. She most recently worked as an award-winning Realtor at the Allen Tate Matthews/Mint Hill office. Prior to her real estate career, Curley worked in corporate accounting. She has volunteered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and previously led food and Christmas gift collection campaigns for the Matthews/Mint Hill office to benefit the Matthews HELP Center. “Beth is a highly knowledgeable and personable Realtor who will be an excellent

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Casey Rimmer has worked with Union County Public Schools for about 15 years. She has directed innovation and EdTech for three years. Photo courtesy of UCPS

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THRIVE OVER 55 The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022 • Page 1B

Don’t fall Walking with purpose victim to sweetheart scammers

Alzheimer’s Association

CHARLOTTE – The Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Charlotte continues to be one of the nation’s top Alzheimer’s Association walks in the country based on overall event revenue. Participants of the Charlotte event raised a record-breaking $807,000 to fund Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Rankings are earned by overall event revenue. The Charlotte event ranked 12th among the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2021 Top 30 Walks. The fundraiser has remained in the top ranking since 2016, moving from No. 25 in 2016 to 17 in 2020. “This past year, more than ever, we appreciate our Walk participants, volunteers, sponsors, staff and the greater Charlotte community for going above and beyond to make this event a huge success and to raise critical funds for Alzheimer’s research and local support

services for the 180,000 North Carolinians living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers,” said Katherine Lambert, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association - Western Carolina Chapter. In addition to the top ranking of the Charlotte event, several local teams and individuals earned national rankings. Among the Top 50 Walk Teams nationwide were Sharon Towers Walkers at No. 13 raising $139,000 and Team Unknown (David Moore Foundation) at No. 21 raising nearly $88,000. Earning a spot among the Top 100 Walk Participants nationwide was Charlotte resident Stuart Goldstein, who raised $31,000. The Alzheimer’s Association will host its 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Charlotte on Oct. 22 at Truist Field. Registration is open. Participants and teams can register by visiting act.alz. org/charlotte or calling 800-272-3900.

by Josh Stein Contributor

ABOVE: Walkers holding their flowers high during the Promise Garden Ceremony, a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. Keith Kelt/Alzheimer’s Association - Western Carolina Chapter RIGHT FROM TOP: Sharon Towers; Duane and Katie Church of Team Unknown; Stuart Goldstein; and Katherine Lambert and Trey Lindley. Photo courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association Western Carolina Chapter

Aesthetic surgeon helps slow down aging CHARLOTTE – Dr. Joel Beck has been in the forefront of plastic surgery for more than 18 years. He opened the Beck Aesthetic Surgery practice in Matthews, after relocating to North Carolina from California. The practice includes a Med Spa, where medical aestheticians create a comprehensive approach to care. Beck completed seven years of residency including general surgery training, burn basic science research and clinical fellowship, a craniofacial fellowship, and plastic and reconstructive surgery residency. He has a background in craniofacial surgery, burn surgery, reconstruction and advanced plastic surgery. Beck Aesthetic Surgery offers an array of advanced sur-

gical procedures, including rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, hair restoration, facelift and more. Beck Aesthetic Surgery recently added a new tool to its arsenal to minimize aging – the BBL HERO laser. The practice was among the first in the region to use the technology. BBL HERO can be used to treat sunspots, age spots, redness, dull-looking skin and other visible signs of aging virtually anywhere else on your body. It is frequently used to rejuvenate the arms, legs, chest and shoulders. “The BBL HERO delivers treatments at four times the speed and three times the amount of power output as the regular BBL treatment,” Beck said. “Patients

Before and after of a BBL HERO laser treatment. No downtime is needed. Photo courtesy of Beck Aesthetic Surgery

are treated more quickly without compromising efficacy. Areas like the face, neck and chest can be done in minutes with plenty of time to add on larger areas like the back, arms and legs. Plus with the higher energy output, patients receive a stronger treatment each time than with regular BBL.”

ake sure a scammer can’t break your heart or your bank account with a sweetheart scam. We all want to experience love and build relationships. But bad actors who want our money will prey on our needs and desires through sweetheart scams – especially online. Last year, my office received 46 sweetheart scams reports and people lost more than $2,525,008 to these scammers! These scams are no joke, so be wary of someone you’ve met online. Sweetheart scammers usually follow similar patterns – they start by befriending you online and reaching out to you through a private message. Before you respond to anyone online, try to verify who they are and the information they’re sharing. If you don’t know the person, don’t accept their request to connect. Sweetheart scammers will often move the conversation from an online dating site or social media page to phone chats or email so they Tips to potect yourself ● • Do a reverse image lookup can’t be as easily mon- using a website, like Google itored. They usually Images, to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from are upbeat, commit- somewhere else. ted and very inter- • Search online for a profile name, email or phone numested in you so they ber to see what adds up and can gain your trust. what doesn’t. • Ask specific questions Be especially alert to about details given in a someone who tells profiile to see if person struggles remembering deyou they live overseas tails. for work or are a fre- ●• Never send money or sensitive personal information quent traveler. While to someone you’ve never the relationship may met in person. ● • Be suspicious of requests seem like it is head- to wire money or use a preing in the right direc- paid debit card. – BBB tion, after months of grooming their victims, sweetheart scammers will strike. They’ll claim they need money for made-up reason: • Airline tickets or documents to come to the U.S. • Bribes that must be paid before they can leave the country • Communication costs like a phone bill or Internet access They make promises to join you so they can start your future together. But once you send the money, they’ll come up with another reason that they need more money. Once you figure it out, they’ll disappear never to be heard from again. So please be careful with online relationships – the person on the other side of the screen might not be who they say they are. And if someone ever asks you for money online, it’s usually a scam. Josh Stein serves as attorney general for North Carolina.

Is your future CEO working in your firm now? Grow a CEO As companies face new challenges in a rapidly changing world, leadership has never been more important. Business owners and boards are looking for strong CEOs, but what’s the best way to find them? One study shows that CEOs hired from outside a company don’t perform as well, on average, as those who are internally promoted to the top spot. A benefit of grooming a CEO in-house are that person’s familiarity and alignment with the company’s culture and growth processes, but today’s demands and disruptions require special leadership qualities that need to be honed and observed at every step up the corporate ladder, says Benjamin Breier (www.benbreier.com), ForbesBooks author of Intentional Disruption: Leadership lessons in Healthcare, Busi-

ness, and Beyond. “Company owners and boards of directors can be ahead of the game if they grow and produce C-suite leaders, especially CEOs, from within,” says Breier, formerly CEO of Kindred Healthcare LLC. “Targeting that potential early on, providing the necessary experiences and promoting professional development leads to a CEO who can transition smoothly to what will be the company’s most challenging role. “Soft skills such as emotional intelligence, authenticity, communication, and empathy are paramount in today’s CEO. They have to figure out how to grow the business, how to be strategic, and how to mix the business with the mission.” Breier offers the following tips to business owners about grooming a CEO from within

the company: Challenge them in different roles. Breier says one way to identify and build high-potential leaders who can become CEOs is to challenge them with tough assignments in different jobs and give them minimal support. Those who produce consistent results will gain confidence and valuable experience. “Any young person with leadership aspirations has to be willing to perform any job that they as a leader might ask somebody to do,” Breier says. “No job should be beneath you. See what you can learn, how different jobs work, how to problem-solve, and what people in that space are going through.” The result, Breier says, is that when one who has traveled that path becomes CEO, “they can talk to anyone at any level and have credibility as a leader. They can relate to all employees

buying or selling?

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and make a connection.” Give rising leaders broad authority. “The buck stops with the CEO, so on the way up to that role, it’s important for the company to provide top managers who are CEO candidates with wide decision-making authority,” Breier says. “Create opportunities where your leaders oversee budgets, strategy and people. You want to breed leaders who are decisive. Encourage them to think like CEOs, with a strong focus on metrics and value creation.” Look for resilience. Climbing the corporate ladder virtually guarantees some falls along the way, Breier says, and owners or board members looking for strong leadership need to find people with resilience – a proven ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks.

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Page 2B • The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022

What to do if a holiday visit with an aging parent sparked concerns

Members of the Mecklenburg Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution enjoyed giving back to active and retire military. Photos courtesy of Linda Lemmons

Daughters of the American Revolution give back Members from the Mecklenburg County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met on Jan. 7 to fold pocket flags for active service members and to write Valentine’s Day cards for veterans at the Carriage Club. They folded 60 flags and wrote 60 cards, some of which were handmade. They dropped off the cards at the senior living community ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Author recounts road to healing Jason Fisher released his tribute memoir and testament to true love, “To Where You Are,” on Valentine’s Day through Charlotte-based Warren Publishing. The memoir details Fisher’s story of discovering unconditional love, dealing with grief and trauma after losing his wife and soulmate unexpectedly, becoming a single parent of a child with a rare disability, and forging a new path forward. “I spent many years summoning the emotional courage to write this book – our love story. It kept calling to me and I never gave up because it was a story worth telling,” Fisher said. “The memories that I made with my wife, particularly in the short time we were together with our daughter as a family, are priceless to me.” The heartache following his young wife’s sudden death led Fisher on a tumultuous journey as a widower and a single father to a 2-year-old daughter with special needs, requiring him to adapt to a world he had

never imagined facing. Through his grief and pain, Fisher is reminded of “how special my wife, Mandi, was as a person. She was the brightest star in my universe and taught me so much about the meaning of unconditional love.” “Life is unpredictable and can give you incredibly difficult challenges at times,” Fisher said. “The road to healing after facing a crisis is rarely straight or paved smoothly. Surrounding yourself with people who amplify the best version of yourself and give you that confidence boost when you need it most is paramount.” Now seeing the world through a different lens, Fisher committed himself to speaking out when he saw things that needed to change. As he realized the considerable support needed to work full-time and care for a child with a disability, Fisher began to see that changes were needed in government legislation to make a positive, more meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Adult children who spent time over the holidays with their aging parents may in some cases have returned home haunted by agonizing questions. Are their parents experiencing health problems? Are they still mentally on top of things? Is it time to start thinking about long-term care? “The holidays and their aftermath are the busiest time of year for long-term care admissions,” says Chris Orestis, president of Retirement Genius (www.retirementgenius.com) and an authority on retirement planning, long-term care and financial health. “Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, families got together and many were seeing Mom or Dad for the first time in months. Some discovered that their parent’s health has declined and he or she should not be left to live on their own any longer.” If you are concerned about aging parents, Orestis offers a few things you may have seen during that holiday visit that are worth following up on: • Physical deterioration. Was there any evidence of potential signs such as significant weight loss, balance issues and falling, and loss of strength and stamina? “You might also have seen loss in what is known as ADL – activities of daily living,” Orestis says. “That includes such things as the ability to dress, eat, shower or use the toilet independently.” • Mental deterioration. It’s easy and tempting to blow off loss of memory or confusion about names, dates and locations as just a “senior moment,” Orestis says. “But cognitive deterioration is an important warning sign that you should be on the lookout for dementia and Alzheimer’s,” he says. “These conditions can worsen quickly and can lead to many physical breakdowns and safety issues.” • Lifestyle deterioration. Maybe your parent was one of those sticklers for the adage “a place for everything and everything in its place,” but now the home isn’t kept so neatly. “You may even have encountered things that were oddly out of place, such as a house plant in the refrigerator or pots and pans in the bathtub,” Orestis says. “Even more concerning, you might have seen signs of physi-

cal damage because they crashed the car into a fence or the wall of the garage, or there were burn marks on the kitchen wall from a flash fire. It’s important to remember that longterm care is not only a matter of healthcare, but also a matter of safety.” Certainly, seniors want to remain independent as long as possible, and they don’t want to become a burden on their family, either physically or financially, Orestis says. As a result, they may try to avoid discussions about their health, mental capabilities and the possibility of the need for the assistance. Family members may be inclined to avoid these conversations as well. “For some people, the need for long-term care can be brought on from a sudden event such as a fall, stroke, advancing dementia, or other health-related malady,” he says. “For others, it can slowly creep up over time and without realizing it one or more loved ones have become caregivers. Confronting the fact that a person has transitioned in life from being independent to dependent in one way or another is difficult.” But eventually, if it becomes clear professional long-term care is needed, family members should discuss a plan for making that happen. After that, the conversation should take place with the loved one in question, who may be apprehensive or even resistant, Orestis says. “That conversation should be handled with compassion and delicacy,” he says. “Emphasize that not only will this move improve their health and safety, but there will be numerous opportunities for social activities, games, art, entertainment and great food. “The key is for the family to come together. Look for the signs that care is needed, formulate a plan, communicate effectively with your loved ones and change the perspective about long-term care from a negative to a safe, healthy and enriching experience in the continuing journey of life.” About Chris Orestis Chris Orestis is president of Retirement Genius and is a nationally recognized financial, health/LTC, and retirement issues expert.

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The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022 • Page 3B

Opinion

The real reasons food prices are increasing Editor’s note: This story was provided by the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. If you’ve gone to the grocery store lately and shopped for chicken wings or chips and salsa for your upcoming Super Bowl party, you may have noticed that food prices have increased tremendously over the past few months. There are many reasons why prices are going up which may not be readily apparent, but they become more evident when taking a closer look. Broadly speaking, economics and a changing marketplace are the culprits to the recent strain on your wallet in the checkout line at the grocery store. More specifically, there are several factors at play which have increased costs in nearly every aspect of the grocery industry and those in-

creased costs have resulted in higher prices on the shelves. In a Feb. 10 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The consumer price index rose 7.5% in the 12-months ending in January, not adjusted for seasonal swings. It was the steepest annual price increase since February 1982 and worse than economists had forecast.” In addition, the price of inputs used to produce food have increased. Many of the items like wheat, soybeans, and wholesale fats and oil were purchased in the 4th quarter of 2021 by food manufacturers, were then processed, and are now hitting the grocery shelves. This means the wheat that increased in price by over 40% has made crackers, bread etc. much more expensive. In November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s foodat-home-index, which includes

grocery store or supermarket food purchases, rose 6.4% over the previous year. According to the index, the price of meat, poultry, fish, and eggs increased by 12.8% “driven up by strong domestic and international demand, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and high feed and other input costs.” Container freight rates from the week of January 17, from the Freightos Baltic Index indicated a rise in freight costs which are also a factor in increased food prices. Global freight rates increased 1% which is 140% higher than this time last year. Asia-US West Coast rates increased 4% which is nearly 250% higher than this time last year and North Europe-US East Coast rates increased 5% which is nearly 274% higher than in January 2021 during the same week. The “great resignation” has also played a factor in increased food

prices. Manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers cannot find employees and, when they do, they must pay much higher wages than in years’ past. This ripples through the supply chain. Fewer workers at food manufacturing facilities, meat processing facilities, and distribution centers along with fewer workers at the retail level means less food is being produced, processed, and moved to the store. Energy prices are also on the rise which means there’s an increased cost to produce items like fertilizer used for growing crops. Maintaining part of a distribution center at -30 degrees to properly hold ice cream or frozen chicken uses a great deal of energy, an example of how rising energy prices cause a significant increase in the cost to operate food manufacturing facilities and distribution centers. Much like they did at the begin-

ning of the pandemic, consumers have shifted again to buying more groceries to cook at home because of COVID-19, but the supply chain is having a hard time keeping up with the increased demand. Food items are packaged differently for at-home consumption versus consumption at a restaurant, hotel, or venue so when there is a sizeable shift in purchasing, maintaining the supply chain becomes difficult. In addition, retailers have had to keep up with costly COVID-19 compliance mandates to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Two years of footing the cost of extra cleaning supplies to maintain their stores, providing masks to employees and customers, among many other things, have all added to the general cost of doing business, which are then relayed back to the consumer in the form of increased food costs.

DINING SCORES

RECIPE

Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants Feb. 3 to 10: Lowest Scores • Clean Juice, 2927 Selwyn Ave. – 87.5 Violations include: Certified person in charge wasn’t available; staffer turned off faucet with bare hands; blenders used to make smoothies weren’t washed every four hours; and opened soy milk on counter was over 41 degrees. • Zaxby’s, 8905 Albemarle Road – 90 Violations include: Staffer didn’t wash hands after touching phone; food prep table wasn’t cleaned properly; fried chicken wasn’t held hot enough; cheese, cut lettuce, dressing and cut tomatoes weren’t held cold enough; and disinfectant wasn’t used according to manufacturer’s label. All Scores

Bad Daddy’s is bringing back its popular Fried Mozzarella Burger through March 15. Photo courtesy of Bad Daddy’s

Charlotte (28209) • Brazwells Premium Pub, 1627 Montford Drive – 97.5 • Clean Juice, 2927 Selwyn Ave. – 87.5 • Harris Teeter (deli), 4101 Park Road – 96.5 • Harris Teeter (produce), 4101 Park Road – 98.5 • Harris Teeter (deli), 2717 South Blvd. – 99 • Lucky Lou’s Tavern, 5124 Park Road – 99.5 • Portofino Italian, 5126 Park Road – 96

Recipe & photo courtesy of YorkTest

Apple pie (gluten-free) Despite originating in England, this dish has come to represent the spirit of American pride. Few things can make you feel warmer than the aroma of fresh cut apples and cinnamon, evidenced by the soaps and candles which embody its scent. If you’re gluten-intolerant, don’t fear. YorkTest created a gluten-free alternative to enjoy: Ingredients Pastry 180g gluten free plain flour (Use one that is made up of potato, maize and rice flour for best results)* 1 tsp water 4o oz unsalted butter, cut into cubes 1 tsp of xanthan gum, (even when there is already some in your flour mix) 1 egg A pinch of salt A little golden caster sugar for a sweeter pastry (1-2 tbsp) *Using other single flours will not create the desired consistency for this traditional recipe. Filling 26 oz Bramley apples or other type of cooking apple 2 oz dark brown sugar 3 oz golden caster sugar 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 2 1/2 tbsp cornflour (important) 1 egg 2 tsp caster sugar 2 tsp lemon juice (optional) Recommended: 23-inch enamel round pie dish Rolling pin Foil or parchment paper

Serves 6 slices Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 35-40 mins Total time: 50-55 mins

Method 1. Combine the flour, salt, sugar and xanthan gum in a large mixing bowl and stir. 2. Add the cold, cubed butter into the bowl. Using your fingers, rub the mix together until you achieve a bread crumb consistency. 3. Crack egg into a mug and add the cold water. Whisk to combine. Add to the bowl mix and stir together. It will form a sticky, dough-like consistency. 4. Use your hands to bring the mixture together into a smooth dough type consistency. 5. Wrap dough in cling film and put in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. When the dough is chilled it will be easier to roll. 6. Peel/core apples. Slice them into 3-4mm thick chunks and put into a large bowl. Add the dark brown sugar, corn flour, caster sugar and cinnamon. Stir well. Set aside. 7. Preheat the oven to 350F. Split dough into two. Roll half of the chilled dough between floured cling film to 4-5mm thickness. Place the rolledout pastry over the pie dish and gently press it in. Trim the edges and prick the bottom of the pie dish pastry with a fork a few times. 8. Pour the apple onto the pastry, filing it evenly to the top of the dish. Brush the outer edge of the pie with a little bit of the beaten egg. 9. Get the remaining bit of pastry. Roll it out to 4mm thick. Place it over the top of the pie and use your fingers to press the edges. Trim any excess pastry and use a fork to press down the edge. 10. Cut a cross in the center of the pie and brush the top of the pie with a beaten egg. Scatter with caster sugar and bake in the oven for 40 minutes, until golden. 11. Cover with foil or parchment paper if the pastry starts to brown too much around the edge. 12. Serve with custard or ice cream of choice.

New Dishes

• Carrabba’s Italian Grill is rolling out new dishes for spring, including Champagne Pasta with Shrimp (left). • Metro Diner is rolling out a Fish Fridays promotion from March 2 to April 15 with seafood, fried shrimp, and fish and chips platters.

Photos courtesy of Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Metro Diner

Celebrate 2

2–202

• Subway, 308 Unionville Indian Trail Road – 99 Marshville • Bojangles, 6503 W. Marshville Blvd. – 93 • El Vallarta, 109 E. Union St. – 94.5 • SPI Express, 6706 E. Marshville Blvd. – 92.5 • Wendy’s, 6807 E. Marshville Blvd. – 92

Charlotte (29210) • Burger King, 4709 Sharon Road – 95 • Panera Bread, 5940 Fairview Road – 99 Charlotte (28211) • Chipotle Mexican Grill, 4400 Sharon Road – 98 • Nordstrom Marketplace Cafe, 4400 Sharon Road – 97.5 • Rollicious Ribs, 3500 Latrobe Drive – 97 • The Fresh Market (meat), 4207 Providence Road – 96.5 Charlotte (28226) • Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, 7814 Fairview Road – 89 • Fresh Market #19 Market, 7625 Pineville-Matthews Road – 95.5 • Hello Chicken, 8700 Pineville-Matthews Road – 99.5 • Its Just Great Food, 4519 Providence Road – 99 • Metro Diner, 8334 Pineville-Matthews Road – 97 • Queen City Tea Bar, 7510 Pineville-Matthews Road – 93 • Tavern 51, 8700 Pineville-Matthews Road – 97.5 Charlotte (28227) • Aggies Restaurant, 7209 E. W .T. Harris Blvd. – 95 • Zaxby’s, 8905 Albemarle Road – 90 Charlotte (28270) • New Zealand Cafe, 1717 Sardis Road N. – 96.5 Charlotte (28277) • 12th Man Sports Pub, 12206 Copper Way – 95.5 • Amazing Wok, 16049 Johnston Road – 97 • Another Broken Egg Cafe, 11324 N Community House Road – 98 • Antojitos Arroyo, 15105 John J Delaney Drive – 93.5 • Charlotte Cafe, 8200 Providence Road – 96 • Circle K, 15620 Don Lochman Lane – 98.5 • Harris Teeter (meat), 15007 John J. Delaney Drive – 100 • Harris Teeter (meat), 9720 Rea Road – 100 • Harris Teeter (bakery), 10616 Providence Road – 96.5 • Harris Teeter (meat), 10616 Providence Road – 99.5 • Harris Teeter (produce), 10616 Providence Road – 100 • Kung Fu Tea, 8200 Providence Road – 99.5 • Malaya Kitchen,8200 Providence Road – 96.5 • McAlisters Deli, 9864 Rea Road – 100 • Miro Spanish Grille, 12239 N Community House Road – 97.5 • Panera Bread, 14835 Ballantyne Village Way – 98 • Prime Fish, 11212 Providence Road W. – 100 • Room 18 Asian - Sushi Bar, 9935 Rea Road – 93.5 • Sabor Latin Street Grill, 14021 Conlan Circle – 98 • Shake Shack, 9824 Rea Road – 100 • Smoothie King, 9831 Rea Road – 98 Indian Trail • Arbys, 13866 74 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 98.5 • Harris Teeter (deli), l6610 Old Monroe Road – 98 • Harris Teeter (meat), 6610 Old Monroe Road – 98.5 • Nor’east Treats And Eats, 3307 Arbor Pointe Drive – 97 • Starbucks, 13731 E Independence Blvd. – 99

Matthews • Best Wok II, 1819 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 96.5 • Bonefish Grill, 10056 East Independence Blvd. – 93 • Char Bar No. 7, 3118 Fincher Farm Road – 95.5 • Chefs Catering, 1730 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 98.5 • Copan 2 Go, 11329 E Independence Blvd. – 94 • El Valle Mexican Restaurant, 305 W. John St. – 96.5 • Fujisan, 1801 Windsor Square Drive – 98 • Greco Fresh Grille, 3335 Siskey Pkwy. – 94 • Harris Teeter (meat), 3100 Weddington Road – 99 • Hinson’s Drive In, 2761 Cpcc Lane – 96.5 • Metro Diner, 10412 E. Independence Blvd. – 91 • Sam’s club (deli), 1801 Windsor Square Drive – 98.5 Mint Hill • Food Lion (deli), 8118 Blair Road – 97 • Food Lion (market), 8118 Blair Road – 99.5 Monroe • Birrias Y Tacos Casa Vieja, 723 N. Charlotte Ave. – 96 • Claws, 812 N. Charlotte Highway – 93.5 • Food Lion (deli), 801 E. Roosevelt Blvd. – 100 • Hampton Inn (breakfast Bar) 2368 Roland Drive – 97 • Jin Jin, 221 E. Franklin St – 100 • Jud’s Restaurant1603 W. Roosevelt Blvd – 94.5 • Pepperoni’’S Pizza, 6023 S. Rocky River Road – 93 • SPI Express1907 Old Charlotte Hwy – 96.5 • Subway, 1811 Dickerson Blvd. – 96 • T&M Food Mart, 2000 Lancaster Ave. – 95.5 • Taqueria Monarcas, 402 Patton Ave. – 97 Pineville • 7 Eleven, 105 S. Polk St. – 98 • Four Points By Sheraton, 9705 Leitner Drive – 97 • House Of Hettie Mae Cafe, 10725 Pineville Road – 99.5 • Kopper Kettle Family Restaurant, 11000 Nations Ford Road – 97.5 • Pineville Tavern, 314 N. Polk St. – 96 • Triveni Supermarket, 300 S Polk St. – 94.5 Stallings • Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 2945 Matthews-Weddington Road – 97 Waxhaw • Bistro D’ Antonio, 3909 Providence Road – 95 • Taqueria La Costena, 1998 Providence Road – 98.5 Wingate • Brothers Seafood, 3707 E. U.S. 74, – 98 • Burger King, 3018 Hwy 74 – 94 • Wingate University Starbucks, 211 E. Wilson St. – 99

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Decades of Educating Students in the Charlotte / Matthews / Mint Hill Area

SmallClass ClassSizes Sizes Small Class Sizes Small Small Class Sizes and Standard, Honors, andAP APClasses Classes Standard,Honors, Honors, and AP Classes Standard, Standard, Honors, and AP Classes OfferingBoth Both In-Person and OnlineInstruction Instruction Offering Both In-Person and Online Instruction Offering In-Person and Online Offering Both In-Person and Online DualEnrollment Enrollmentwith withCPCC: CPCC:Science, Science,Instruction Art, Engineering, Dual Enrollment with CPCC: Science, Art, Engineering, Engineering, and and CTE CTE Dual Art, and CTE Dual Enrollment with CPCC: Science, Art, Engineering, and CTE

WeeklyTours: Tours:Tuesdays Tuesdaysatatat10 1010 A.M. Weekly Tours: A.M. Weekly Tuesdays A.M. Monthly Open House: 2nd Tuesday 6:30 P.M. Monthly House: 2ndatTuesday Tuesday 6:30 P.M. Monthly 2nd 6:30 P.M. WeeklyOpen Tours:House: Tuesdays 10 A.M.atatat MonthlyGrant OpenHigh House: 2nd Tuesday at 6:30 P.M. Queen’s High School Queen’s Grant High School Queen’s Grant School 10323 Idlewild Road, Matthews 28105 10323 Idlewild Road, Matthews NCNC 28105 10323 Idlewild NC 28105 Queen’s GrantRoad, High Matthews School Phone: 704-545-0736 704-545-0738 Phone: |Fax: Fax:704-545-0738 704-545-0738 10323704-545-0736 Idlewild Road,| |Matthews NC 28105 Phone: 704-545-0736 Fax: admissions@queensgranthigh.org admissions@queensgranthigh.org Phone: 704-545-0736 | Fax: 704-545-0738 admissions@queensgranthigh.org See ourwebsite websitefor for details: www.queensgranthigh.org See our website www.queensgranthigh.org admissions@queensgranthigh.org See our fordetails: details: www.queensgranthigh.org

See our website| for details: www.queensgranthigh.org Facebook:@queensgranthighschool @queensgranthighschool | Twitter: Twitter: @queensgranthigh @gostallions Facebook: @queensgranthighschool |Twitter: @queensgranthigh |Instagram: Instagram: @gostallions Facebook: @queensgranthigh | |Instagram: @gostallions Facebook: @queensgranthighschool | Twitter: @queensgranthigh | Instagram: @gostallions

Page 4B • The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022

Kevin Hart bringing laughs to city LOUD&LIVE CHARLOTTE – Kevin Hart announced Feb. 14 his first Hart’s most recent global comedy tour sold out over 100 major tour in over four years. arenas around the world. More than one million tickets The Reality Check Tour, produced by Live Nation, be- were sold worldwide for his “Irresponsible “Tour.” gins this July and will bring the comedian to over 30 arenas across North America, including stops at PNC Arena in Other notable comedy shows Raleigh on Aug. 20 and Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Several big names are performing at the Comedy Zone Sept. 11. 900 NC Music Factory Blvd.) in the coming weeks: “There is nothing better than making people laugh,” •Damon Wayans Jr. (Feb. 17 to 19) Hart said. “I can feel the energy in the venues like caffeine • Luis Chataing (Feb. 20, Spanish only) pumping through my veins. I’ve been cooking up some• Myq Kaplan (Feb. 22) thing special and have thoughts I need to get off my chest.” • Mel Ratliff and Tim Counts (Feb. 23) The18 New York Syndication Corporation Tickets for the tour go on sale Feb. at 10 a.m.Times at Kev• FelipeSales Esparza (Feb. 24 to 26) 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 3 to 5) inHartNation.com. Fans will also have access to a special • Desi Banks (March For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 Live Nation presale beginning Feb. 16 at 10Release a.m. through •Leonard 27, Ouzts (March 6) For Friday, December 2019 Feb. 17 at 10 p.m. On the web: www.cltcomedyzone.com

Crossword ACROSS

Slice, for one 8 Where to find free spirits 15 Be cautious 16 Half of a former sitcom duo 17 Part of a militaristic “Star Trek” race 18 Social position 19 German automaker 20 Existed 21 Big export of Myanmar 22 Summa cum laude spoiler 24 They might make waves 25 Numismatist’s rating 26 Sports reporter Andrews 27 Paul McCartney and Elton John 1

29 31 32 35 36

38 40 41

42 43 44 45 46

Supports for a naval expedition Opaque Item worn diagonally Romantic gray area What most pop-ups are Restaurant listings are often organized by them Horror, e.g. Bad thing on a record You might get your mitts on this Renaissance Faire descriptor Subtle signals Traffic jam Tribute of a sort The stuff of legends

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE M A E S T R O P R A Y E R

A B A S H E S

S C R E E D S

S S N

R E P O GAP M A N

O X L I P

S T I L L

I E R A E S T T B I E E E I P A D A G E M I D T H E R I S M A R T S E C M A Y A C E T I C S I N O GAP A N T S N E V A D E I R I S E G A N M O T T R E S T P O S S

B A D GAP I D E A

E L I A S

A T T O R M A A C S T G P Y E S M E A N GAP O R E S S A H S K O P E E F R

T A C T I L E

R H Y M E S

C L A R I T Y

S Y N A P S E

50 53 54 55 56

Bad things on records, for short Animals whose name is derived from the Latin for “little thief” Having a bad trip, perhaps Mouse hole? “Almost finished!” Foils “Ghostbusters” co-star Rick

Edited by Will Shortz 1

18 19

14 Monday Feb Feb. 14 Evening Muse: Open mic

33 35

40 43

41 44

Big ___ 45 46 47 2 Attraction at un zoológico 48 49 50 51 52 3 Smashing good 53 54 time 4 Some 55 56 needlework 5 Hardly PUZZLE BY EMILY CARROLL measures up 6 Spoken 24 Maserati’s 46 Sainted fifth34 Equal parent company century pope 7 Pig’s place who met with 37 “Black 25 Many a Vogue 8 Mary-Kate and Attila the Hun Jeopardy!” subscriber Ashley show, for short 47 Actor Paul of 9 Spreads out on 27 Some of them “There Will Be are described 38 Stupid person, the table Blood” as red and in slang 10 Broadway’s yellow, but not 49 45 or 78, for “Dear ___ orange 39 First in line short Hansen” 28 Midnight ___ 40 Razzie Award 11 Get in the end 50 Dot follower 30 Troubadour’s winners 12 1960s cultural accompaniment 51 Pixar specialty, phenomenon 43 Dame lead-in in brief 31 Classic editing 13 Apply oil to room sound 44 Having fewer 52 Some M.M.A. 14 City in NW reservations victories 33 Not just for me France 20 Block off Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). 22 Big ___ Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. 23 All those in favor 1

12 Saturday Feb.Feb. 12 Amos’ Southend: Big Empty Evening Muse: Matt Walden Fillmore: Circa Survive Hickory Tavern (Sun Valley): CZNS Home Brew: Southern Songwriters Showcase Middle C Jazz: Noel & Maria Moochies Tavern: Living Temtation Neighborhood Theatre: The Hamiltones Pineville Tavern: Back in Action QC Social: Cristoph Southern Range: Anne Haden Stooges Pub: Dangerous Ways Trail House: Next-O-Kin Waxhaw Taphouse: Smokin’ Gunn Home Brew: Danielle Hewitt Middle C Jazz: Noel & Maria

Amos’ Southend: Rev On Bradshaw Social House: Sweetleaf CharBar No. 7: Rusty Pilot Acoustic Evening Muse: Jim Avett Knight Theatre: Pat Metheny Middle C Jazz: Gerald Albright Moochies Tavern: Kindred Cult Neighborhood Theatre: Scowl Brow Pineville Tavern: Dusk Till Dawn Southern Range: Bradley Wik Steady Eddy’s: Birds of a Feather Stooges Pub: Action Jaxxon Tap and Vine: Sticks & Stones Trail House: Exit 85 Two Buck Saloon: Kris Atom Visulite: Harvest Moon

Feb. 13 Sunday Feb. 13

DOWN

No. 1122

Feb. 11

15 Tuesday Feb Feb. 15 Evening Muse: William Hinson Band Fillmore: Dillon Francis Zee’s Tavern: Shannon’s Jam

Visulite: Tribute

Feb. 20 Sunday Feb 20 Home Brew: Vincent Rivers Middle C Jazz: Made in Brazil Venues Charlotte Amos’ Southend: 1423 S Tryon St. Bradshaw Social House: 8440 Rea Road Evening Muse: 3227 N. Davidson St. Fillmore: 820 Hamilton St. Hickory Tavern (Copper): 12210 Copper Way Hickory Tavern (Providnece): 11504 Providence Road Knight Theatre: 430 S. Tryon St. Middle C Jazz: 300 S. Brevard St. Neighborhood Theatre: 511 E 36th St. Ovens Auditorium: 2700 E. Independence Blvd. QC Social: 300 N. College St. Spectrum Center: 333 E. Trade St. Two Buck Saloon: 1113 Hawthorne Lane Visulite: 1615 Elizabeth Ave. Indian Trail Hickory Tavern (Sun Valley): Sweet Union: Tap and Vine: 6443 Old Monroe Road Trail House: 6751 Old Monroe Road Matthews Matthews Wine Cellar: 131 Matthews Station St. Steady Eddy’s: 2216 E. John St. Stumptown Station: 107 N. Trade St. Mint Hill CharBar No. 7: 7312 Town View Drive Pour 64: 4410 Mint Hill Village Stooges Pub: 13230 Albemarle Road Vintner’s Hill: 7427 Matthews-Mint Hill road

Feb. Wednesday Feb 16 16 Evening Muse: Jill Sobule and Jess Klein Fillmore: Clairo with Arlo Parks Middle C Jazz: Paul Dozier Neighborhood Theatre: Sun June Pour 64: Music Bingo Spectrum Center: Dua Lipa Trail House: Rusty Pilot Acoustic

Monroe Home Brew: 215 S. Main St. Southern Range: 151 S. Stewart St. Treehouse Vineyards: 301 Bay St.

17 Thursday FebFeb. 17 DreamChaser’s Brewery: Open Mic Evening Muse: Dry Reef Middle C Jazz: Sol Fusion Band Middle James: Music Bingo Trail House: Music Bingo

Stallings Moochies Tavern: 15060 Idlewild Road

Friday Feb. 18Feb. 18 Evening Muse: Pony Bradshaw Middle C Jazz: Ede Wright Moochies Tavern: High Fidelity Neighborhood Theatre: Frute With By George & The Knotty Gs Pour 64: Analog Crash Stooges Pub: Black Glass Sweet Union: Rodney Caillouet

19 Saturday Feb.Feb. 19 Amos’ Southend: Excitable Evening Muse: Desmond Myers Hickory Tavern (Providence): Coconut Groove Middle C Jazz: Robyn Springer Moochies Tavern: Big City Neighborhood Theatre: Brian Fallon Southern Range: Nate Randall Stooges Pub: Bad Romeo Trail House: Ultimate Rock Machine

Pineville Middle James: 400 N. Polk St. Pineville Tavern: 314 N. Polk St. Zee’s Tavern: 10403 Park Road

Waxhaw DreamChaser’s: 115 E. North Main St. Waxhaw Taphouse: 110 McDonald St.

Just Announced All board: Train is approaching • Train will pull into Charlotte on June 30 for a show at PNC Music Pavilion. The Grammy Award-winning band will be promoting their 11th studio album, “AM Gold.” Jewel, Blues Traveler, Thunderstorm and Will Anderson will perform at shows throughout the tour. Jazz great reschedules concerts •Diana Krall visits Charlotte for an April 19 performance at Belk Theater. It’s part of the jazz singer’s 36city tour. She has eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Album chart, putting her in uncharted territory in her genre.

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The Weekly • Feb. 18, 2022 • Page 5B

Wanting to run a classified ad? CALL 704-849-2261 Monday - Thursday. We accept credit cards. HELP WANTED SOFTWARE ENGINEER II, F/T, AT TRUIST (CHARLOTTE, NC) (MULTIPLE OPENINGS) Deliver technically complex solutions. Perform system integration support for all project work. Consult & partner w/ the business product owners to understand the end goal & offer solutions & recommendations during the dsgn. Must have Bach’s deg in Comp Sci, Comp Engg, or related tech’l field. Must have 4 yrs of exp in s/ware engg or IT consulting positions performing/utilizing the following: applying in-depth knowl in info systems & ability to identify, apply, & implmt IT best practices; understanding of key business processes & competitive strategies related to the IT function; planning & managing projects & solving complex problems by applying best practices; providing direction & mentoring less exp’d teammates; & utilizing exp w/: Rally; Visio; GIT; Maven; Jenkins; JavaScript/Angular; HTML; Java; & SpringBoot. Email resume w/ cvr ltr to: Paige Whitesell, Paige.Whitesell@Truist.com. (Ref. Job No. R0053687) INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER- MHW. CLARIANT CORPORATION, MT. HOLLY, NC. Ops mgt across plants, utilities & WWTP to fulfill prod sched & cust needs. Supervises 40. Req Bach in Chem/Indus/Mfg/Mech Engg / rel / equiv. Reqs 5yrs proj mgt exp in mfg env w/ in chem ind. In lieu of Bach & 5yrs, will accept 7yrs proj mgt exp in mfg env w/in chem ind incl 5yrs: serve in mgt / ldrshp roles; bus proc, mfg tech & sys; cont improve tech incl Lean Mfg & Six Sigma; coord & execute across funct areas, sites & proc; & run multi initiatives simultaneous. On call 24/7. Reqs 10-20% US & intl trvl. Send resume: Hannah. andrepont@clariant.com Ref: #109059. By submitting your resume to hannah.andrepont @clariant.com, you are agreeing that the information you submit may be used by Clariant Corporation, its affiliates and third-party professionals to evaluate your compatibility with this or any other position we post SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER SOUGHT BY MUFG UNION BANK, N.A. IN CHARLOTTE, NC to support Americas Fin’l Crimes Compliance by dsgng & dvlpg data processing solutions using SAS, Informatica ETL, Oracle PL/SQL, Transact SQL, & scripting langs incl Unix shell scripting & Python. Req. Bach’s Deg in Comp Sci, Comp Engg, Info Systems, or rel or foreign equiv deg + 5 yrs tech exp building & supporting Enterprise Data Platforms using Informatica ETL w/ D/bases (Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server & Greenplum); dvlpg ETL using file formats (Mainframe

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