Latest From The Scoop Network
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 Anyone that knows me knows I am always in search of a good deal. I clip coupons like they are going out of style. I live for Harris Teeter’s triples and superdoubles. We don’t eat out all that often, but some days I just don’t feel like cooking. My kids are just getting old enough to be interested in kids meals so I figured I should find out which restaurants will feed my kids for free or cheap if I buy a meal for myself.
I posted the question on Twitter and within minutes I got responses to get me started on my quest. One user @AngelEyezL suggested the website www.kidseatfor.com. Someone from that website also responded to me on twitter. They tweet with the username @kidseatfor if you’d like to follow them. She also suggested I follow @CLTEats, @CLTCheap and @SpecialsCLT. If you are on Twitter and want up to the date info, I highly suggest those. I also picked up a Kids Directory when I was at the library. I googled and found listings on sites such as Charlotte Smarty Pants and About.com.
My list of Kids Eat Free or Cheap
I am going to compile a list from all of these sources for us to share, because who doesn’t want yummy free food for their kids? It’s also a great way to get your kids to try new things without spending a ton of money. (Disclaimer: You may want to call to make sure the “kids eat free” offer is valid.)
Everyday or most everyday:
Charlotte Cafe – Children 2 and under get two free veggies includes macaroni and cheese. 8200 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)542-9006
Cici’s Pizza – Kids 3 and younger eat off the buffet for free and can purchase a drink for 99 cents Check www.cicispizza.com for participating locations.
IHOP – kids eat free from 4-10 pm check www.ihop.com for participating locations and details.
Sticky Fingers – kids eat free Monday-Thursday 12410 Johnston Road (704)926-3441
Monday:
Chick-Fil-A – Kids get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of a combo meal from 5-8pm. Check www.chickfila.com for participating locations.
Mexquite Mexican Eatery – Kids eat free with the purchase of a regular entree after 4 pm 16646 Hawfield Way Dr. Charlotte, NC 29277 (704)542-1344
Park Place Restaurant – Kids eat free with the purchase of a regular adult entree and drink (1 child per adult entree) 10517 Park Rd. Charlotte, NC 28210 (704)295-1588
Topz – Kids eat cheap. Buy one adult combo meal to receive up to 4 kids meals for $.99. Sunday’s Kidz (12 and under) get FREE sundaes with the purchase of a meal. 15025 Lancaster Hwy Ste. D-1 Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)542-9323
Tuesday:
Buona Vita – Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal on Tuesdays, 4-8pm. 3419 Toringdon Way, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)544-1011
Delancey Street Diner – Kids eat free all day 8145 Ardey Kell Rd. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)321-2324. They also give $5 off to their twitter followers.
Lone Star Steakhouse – Kids eat free all day 10610-A Centrum Parkway Pineville, NC 28134 (704)543-1922
McAlister’s Deli – I’m told that kids eat free, but call your location to be sure.
Mexquite Mexican Eatery – Kids eat free with the purchase of a regular entree after 4 pm 16646 Hawfield Way Dr. Charlotte, NC 29277 (704)542-1344
Tony Roma’s – Kids eat free 9920 Leitner Dr. Pineville, NC 28134 (704)544-3302 and other locations, but call to make sure.
Topz – Kids eat cheap. Buy one adult combo meal to receive up to 4 kids meals for $.99. Sunday’s Kidz (12 and under) get FREE sundaes with the purchase of a meal. 15025 Lancaster Hwy Ste. D-1 Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)542-9323
Wolfman Pizza – kids under 10 eat free after 4 pm, one free meal per adult purchase 10620 Providence Rd # A Charlotte, NC 28277 (704) 845-9888
Wednesday:
Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe – Kids eat free all day 14015 Conlan Cir. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)541-9055
Firehouse Subs – Kids eat free with the purchase of a combo after 4 pm. Check www.firehousesubs.com for participating locations.
Le Peep – kids eat free 8140-100 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)540-0470
Mexquite Mexican Eatery – Kids eat free with the purchase of a regular entree after 4 pm 16646 Hawfield Way Dr. Charlotte, NC 29277 (704)542-1344
Moe’s – kids eat free with paying adult 14825 John J. Delaney Dr. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704) 369-5020
Q-Shack – Kids eat for $1 and that includes a drink 10822 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)542-5959
The Flying Biscuit – kids under age 12 eat for $1.99 after 4 pm. No limit. 7930 A Rea Rd. Charlotte, NC 2827 (704) 295-4440
Thursday: Anyone have anything to add for Thursdays?
Friday:
Rullo di Pasta – kids eat free all day with purchase of adult entree 12206 Copper Way Suite 13 Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)543-6226
Saturday:
Amazing Wok – Kids 10 and under eat free from 4-10pm. Purchase 2 adult meals and drinks and get 1 kids meal free. Dine in only. 16049 Johnston Rd #L
Charlotte, NC 28277 (704) 759-8886
Salsarita’s – kids eat free 4-9 pm 10421 Conlan Cir. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)341-4464
Sunday:
Firehouse Subs – Kids eat free with the purchase of a combo after 4 pm. Check www.firehousesubs.com for participating locations.
Topz – Kids eat cheap. Buy one adult combo meal to receive up to 4 kids meals for $.99. Sunday’s Kidz (12 and under) get FREE sundaes with the purchase of a meal. 15025 Lancaster Hwy Ste. D-1 Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)542-9323 Hwy. Suite #D-1 Charlotte, NC 29277 (704)542-9323
Salsa’s at Carmel Commons – kids eat free all day 6676 Carmel Road Charlotte, NC 28226 (704)759 -9886
Zapata’s Mexican Cantina – Kids under 12 eat free with paying adult 15015 John J. Delaney Dr. Charlotte, NC 28277 (704)752-6889
Next time when you are trying to figure out where you want to eat, take a look at this list. If I’ve overlooked a deal, let me know!
Tina Roggenkamp
tina.roggenkamp@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter @bovinesituation
Check out Tina’s blog.
Brooklyn’s Finest Movie Review
Brooklyn’s Finest stars Richard Gere, Ethan Hawk and Don Cheatle. This movie was created by the same folks who gave us Training Days, the film that earned Denzel Washington his first Oscar.
The film follows the same path as Training Days with violence and profanity. It is the story of three cops. Richard Gere is depressed, suicidal and dating a prostitute. He is a week or so from retirement and is over due in hanging up his shield.
Ethan Hawk’s character is a messy unkempt detective who is having financial problems. He has six children, a wife expecting twins and they live in a three bedroom house. He is saving up for a bigger house by taking money when he partakes in a drug bust.
Don Cheatle is an undercover cop who has infiltrated the drug culture. He is basically a good guy and is trying to help a pal who was recently released from prison go straight.
Profanity rules. If the editors removed all of the “F” and “N” words the picture would be over in about 30 minutes. People are being shot and killed right and left. Rather than the old movie cliché of the gunman making a statement before plugging the victim these guys shoot first and ask questions later. Although the three main characters have no contact with one another, in a contrived finale their lives intertwine to end this bomb of a movie and bring on the credits. If this is what police life is all about, it a bad commentary on our society.
As an aside, I saw this film on a Saturday afternoon. There were at least three children under the age of six in the theater. What were their parents thinking? This movie is not for most adults and is definitely not for a child.
I rate Brooklyn’s Finest a 2 out of 5 for an action film.
bruce@kantorandassociates.com
Bruce Kantor owns Kantor & Associates in Matthews, NC.
2010 BallantyneScoop.com The Scoop Network
 Ballantyne, NC – Hawk Ridge Elementary School parents were informed that the school bell would now ring almost two hours earlier this fall. Currently the school located on Bryant Farms Road has a start time of 8:30, thus allowing for the school drop off time not to conflict with the rush hour traffic. With the new proposed start time set to be 7:30 , this will almost certainly complicate traffic in Ballantyne.
The school is located on the side of Bryant Farms where traffic routinely backs up during the morning rush hour.
CMS is facing a major budget shortfall and is looking to find ways to save money. The school system hopes that by shifting the start times it will allow a more efficient use of the busses by allowing up four schools to share busses. District 6 School Board Representative Tim Morgan has notified CMS of his concerns, including the ability for the busses to actually make the turn arounds between the schools. However, since this is an operational issue the school board does not get involved in the decisions.
caroline@ballantynescoop.com
2010 Ballantyne Scoop The Scoop Network
Ballantyne, NC – Last week, the Charlotte Observer and The Ballantyne Scoop sponsored a spelling bee contest at Dilworth Coffee in Ballantyne Village. Adults were asked to spell words from last years spelling bee under the added pressure of being in front of the The Scoop Network video camera.
Eric Frazier from the Charlotte Observer was the genial host and wordmaster. Eric’s general tactic was to be gentle and put the contestants at ease with an easy start. Just when the spellers felt comfortable, the Wordmaster would spring a word like “omnivorous” on the unsuspecting spelling victim. Eric’s devilish grin as he used the words in a sentence simply spelled “doom” for the spellers who began with confidence and ended with an “Oh, I am so sorry.”
It was great fun, a great venue and a lot of delicious coffee and pastries kept us all going at a rapid fire pace. Owner Betsy Mapes of Dilworth Coffee did not miss a single coffee related spelling word, which came as no surprise. Charlotte City Councilmen Warren Cooksey & Andy Dulin dropped by and competed head to head in Eric’s lightning round to end the contest. I think I heard a protest coming from Councilman Warren Cooksey as if we possibly rigged the contest against him in favor of Andy Dulin. There’s only one person who can answer that question. Eric, what say you? Watch the video and test your own abilities and decide if Mr. Cooksey has a valid case.
    
2010 BallantyneScoop.com The Scoop network
Several residential break-ins have occured within the past week that we believe the suspects are driving one of the below listed vehicles. These break-ins have occurred in the neighborhoods along Ardrey Kell, Community House, Providence Road West. We believe the Ford F-150 is the main vehicle, but also be on the look out for the others as well.
The suspects in these cases area entering open garage doors or forcing open the back door.
Be on the lookout for a Ford F-150 Blue in color with silver trim, according to the witness it’s a full size F-150.
Subjects’ could also be driving a Silver 2004 Nissan Maxima NC tag #YXM-8823, white Van unknown tag, make or model, and a blue Ford Expedition unknown tag, make or model.
Please be aware of these vehicles and if you see a vehicle matching these descriptions in a driveway that you’ve never seen before call 911.
If you have any additional information please call our team office, 704-544-4835 or send me an e-mail. Thanks.
Officer P.M. Grant, 1749
South Division Community Coordinator
Response Area 2
8050 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 100
Charlotte, NC, 28226
704-544-4835
pgrant@cmpd.org
2010 BallantyneScoop.com
Edge Of Darkness
Mel Gibson plays a Boston police detective. His daughter, an MIT graduate and a nuclear engineer, comes to visit. She is deathly ill. The cop decides to take her to the emergency room and when they open the front door of the house, a car passes by and shoots her with a shotgun. The police are trying to determine if the killer meant for the father rather than the daughter. The mystery evolves explaining how the daughter was trying to blow the whistle on her employer, a defense contractor working with super nuclear weapons.
This movie is a revenge shoot-em-up. There is no bad feelings for the bad guys getting killed as they deserved it. Mel Gibson has had a string of films where he is a suffering hero. Come on Mel, get a life. I enjoyed the film as I enjoy the action genre. No shortage of violence. I feel if a movie is enjoyable, it is a good film.
I rated Edge Of Darkness 4 out of 5 for an action film. Rated R
Dear John
Dear John, starring Channing Tatum, Amanda Sayfried and Richard Jenkins. An army soldier comes back to South Carolina on leave in early 2001. He is staying with his father, an autistic coin collector. John meets Savannah and there is an immediate attraction not love at first sight. She goes off to College of Charleston and he returns to his military duty. He agrees to write her and tell her of his daily life.
9-11 occurs and his unit decides to re-up their enlistments. They are given a few days off to visit their families. John returns to South Carolina and tells Savannah about his decision. She is unhappy but professes that she loves him. John returns to his unit and is assigned to Iraq. He receives and sends letters. The letters from his girl friend stop coming. A couple of weeks later he receives a “Dear John” letter saying she had to break off the relationship and that she was engaged. He is heart broken and stays away from the US for about six years. He is shot and while in the hospital learns his father had a massive stroke.
John returns to South Carolina and his father dies. After the funeral he goes by Savannah’s home to visit and tell her how much he was hurt. You are going to have to see the movie from this point on. The story is based on a book by Nicholas Sparks a writer from New Bern, North Carolina and the author of the book and then movie, The Note Book.
I found the movie to be a simple and believable love story. Although the story is simple-boy meets girl, girl dumps boy, they get together again and live happily ever after. The actors appeared to be real people not actors which is a plus. Good shots of South Carolina and Charleston. Bring along a box of Kleenex and enjoy this wonderful movie.
I rate Dear John a 4.5 out of 5
bruce@kantorandassociates.com
2010 The Scoop Network
 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nearly 20,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students were assigned to magnet programs during the first student-assignment lottery. Families will begin receiving notification letters this week. The letters inform parents of the school their child was placed in through the lottery process and how to ask for reassignment.
Questions to common student-assignment lottery questions.
How many families participated in the lottery?
CMS received more than 11,100 individual lottery applications through the online process, including 1,400 kindergarten lottery applications. After the lottery was finished, a total of 19,542 students were assigned to magnet programs – about 500 more than last year. That includes students who were already assigned to magnet schools and automatically continue in those programs. Click here to see the list of magnet programs by school, the number of seats filled, and the number of students in the wait pools.
What were the most popular programs this year?
Families showed strong interest in Montessori, International Baccalaureate, math and science, language and the Traditional programs. The five schools with the largest wait pools are: Piedmont IB Middle (361 students), Park Road Montessori (359 students), Myers Park Traditional (353 students), Elizabeth Traditional (343 students), and Morehead Elementary (294 students).
Why didn’t my child get any of her choices?
Placement through the lottery is not guaranteed. Some magnet programs have far more applicants than seats available. Students who do not receive their first choice for a magnet program are automatically placed in that program’s wait pool.
How does the wait pool work?
Right now, 3,438 students are assigned to magnet-school wait pools. When more students apply to magnet programs than there are available seats, the lottery establishes a wait pool made up of the remaining first-choice applicants. Schools can access their wait pools in July. If a seat becomes available, the school will contact the next person in the wait pool and offer them a seat. Students may accept or decline the placement. The school will continue to contact students until all available seats are filled.
What should I do if I’m not happy with my child’s assignment?
Families who are unhappy with their child’s placement have two options: request reassignment or apply to a magnet school with space (open-seat option). The reassignment period is open until March 26. New this year: the reassignment process is paperless. Families should fill out the request online.
Requests are considered for four reasons:
The student wishes to attend his/her home school (placement is guaranteed)
Child of CMS staff member (placement is not guaranteed)
Student’s medical and/or health condition (families must complete the CMS medical packet)
Extreme hardship, which are circumstances that affect a family’s ability to support the student’s educational success. Hardship requests require a written explanation and supporting documents.
The open-seat option is open to any current CMS student, including those who participated in the first lottery. The open-seat option is an opportunity to fill seats that are still available in magnet programs; click here for a list of those programs. The open-seat option begins on March 15 and runs through June 4. Families will be notified of their placement in June.
CMS will provide free computer access at the Family Application Center (700 Marsh Rd.) and at all learning-community offices. Computers at these locations will be available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CMS information hotline is open to handle calls and questions about the student-assignment lottery. The phone number is 980-343-5335. Customer-service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Bilingual customer-service representatives are also available. The hotline will be open until March 12.
For more information about the lottery, or student placement in general, click here.
2010 BallantyneScoop.com The Scoop Network
 Every year, the Observer hosts a spelling bee for local students.
We thought it would be fun to let adults try some of the words the students might be asked to spell. Steve Sherron & Caroline Adams from The Ballantyne Scoop will be videotaping people spelling away on Thursday, March 4, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Dilworth Coffee in Ballantyne Village.
Drop by at any point and we’ll put you on camera to test your skills. Some spellers will end up on charlotteobserver.com. I’ll be your genial host and wordmaster, and I’m looking forward to meeting you. An Observer editor will be on hand to talk to you, too.
See ya there!
Eric Frazier
Charlotte Observer | Scoop Network News Partner
 Charlotte, NC – County Commissioner Bill James has filed for re-election for county district seat 6. In a recent interview James spoke about what he considers being his greatest accomplishment over the past 14 years mentioning his role in changing the policy of CMS busing plan. This issue took place during his early days as an elected official.
James was first elected in to office in 1996 after two failed bids for City Council. In a mostly republican district he describes himself as a conservative working to promote fiscal responsibility for the county. When asked what is the most important issue facing Char-Meck in this current election he stated
He also states that the board that is to be elected during this political cycle will be responsible for the redrawing of the new district lines that is required every ten years.
James played a major role in the decision of putting the county on a “debt diet” by writing letters to the national credit reporting agencies that assign credit scores to municipalities. According to James, the credit scoring agencies threatened to downgrade Mecklenburg County’s credit score by several levels if they did not reign in their spending.
The county commissioners are responsible for allocating money to CMS (approx 1/3 of their annual budget), public libraries, parks and recreation, CPCC and the building of a new jail on Spector Drive. The changes on the bond allowances will force the elimination of as much as 75% of the CMS projects currently in their 10-year plan. The financing of the new jail expansion is expected to cost around $220 million over four years.
“Char-Meck has been fiscally irresponsible over the past decade that they are going to face a hangover for many years to come”.
- Bill James, Charlotte City Council
Commissioner James is a CPA by trade but no longer has an active license in North Carolina. He is the father of four children ranging in age from 11 to 22. He has been a critic of the CMS system stating that they are not good stewards of their finances. He made reference to the $16 million that was allocated to Marie G. Davis school for improvements. The school had few students and has since been converted into a military leadership school. James feels that CMS allocated monies to inner city schools in order to placate the districts stating that “politicians want to keep everyone happy”.
Commissioner James was recently involved in a controversy surrounding the debate on domestic partnership benefits debate. He was overheard asking fellow commissioner Vilma Leake if her son, who had dies of AIDS, was a “homo.” James felt it was unnecessary to apologize for something that was not meant with ill intent. He says he was just using the term for homosexuals that he was familiar with. James is opposed to offering county employees domestic partner benefits due to the fact that in North Carolina engaging in homosexual sex is still considered a crime.
The implementation of the domestic partner benefits program according to James would cost the county around $500,000 a year and during this economic environment this is not the time to add cost. He also feels that the way the policy is structured it is open to abuse. When pressed on the issue of whether or not abuse is also an issue in traditional marriages he admitted that yes there will be people that take advantage of any thing.
On the last topic of conversation, what did James think about public officials tweeting, texting or emailing during sessions? While he did not say it was wrong, he did feel it was open to misinterpretation and that he does not engage in it.
caroline@ballantynescoop.com
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Charlotte, NC – Members of the Charlotte Tweetup group met on March 10 at Lebowski’s Grill and Pub on East Blvd. for their monthly “tweet up,” a gathering of people from the social media website Twitter.com.
