Benevolent Beards is a fundraising event sponsored by The Remi Group to benefit Levine Children’s Hospital’s “Nephrology Special Needs Fund” to help pediatric patients with kidney disorders.
As of this writing, The Remi Group has raised over $4100 with their Benevolent Beards fundraising event.
Levine Children’s Hospital, located in Charlotte, NC, has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as being among the Top 50 “Best Children’s Hospitals” in the nation for care in pediatric nephrology (kidney disorders) for 2011-2012.
Children with kidney disorders are often required to undergo kidney dialysis, which is a life-support procedure that is initiated when the kidneys fail. It involves the removal of extra body fluids and/or waste products from the blood using an artificial kidney.
Intermittent treatments are provided for a few hours every day or every 2-3 days; continuous methods provide slow, constant dialysis on a 24-hour per day basis.
As one can imagine, pediatric kidney disorders place tremendous emotional, physical, and financial stress on families. Work schedules are interrupted as days or weeks are spent with the child in the hospital or traveling to various doctor’s appointments.
The financial burden is huge and difficult to measure as only certain costs are covered by medical insurance.
The Nephrology Special Needs Fund was created by the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation to relieve some of the financial burden families are currently experiencing while their child undergoes kidney dialysis.
The Remi Group’s Benevolent Beards participants ended November 2011 without any, or very little, facial hair.
They will spend December 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 growing the best looking beard in an effort to raise as much money as possible for Levin Children’s Hospital.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Daugherty at jdaugherty@theremigroup.com.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 5, 2012 –A United Methodist minister who is also a Pineville Elementary parent was tapped by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education to fill the District 6 vacancy.
Board members cited her passion and concern for all children in CMS as reasons they supported the Rev. Amelia Stinson-Wesley to fill the vacancy created by the November 2011 election of Tim Morgan to an at-large seat.
“I am committed to public education,” she said in her application. “I believe that our schools, particularly public ones, are where basic citizenship is fostered.”
Stinson-Wesley, a Pineville resident, founded World Connections for Women in 1998 and serves as its director. She holds a master of divinity from Duke University and a bachelor of arts degree from Meredith College.
Stinson-Wesley will be sworn in at the Jan. 10 Board of Education meeting.
Ballantyne, NC - A new veterinary clinic in South Charlotte is offering affordable reduced cost spays and neuters for dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas, in the Arboretum Office Park, is now open for business .
Owner Dr. Michelle Hays is excited to practice in her own neighborhood. “I wanted to open a spay/neuter clinic that would be very convenient for southeast area pet owners and rescue groups. “
In addition to routine spays and neuters, Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas will offer other services on the day of surgery only .
Clinic manager Tammy Cornell says, “On your pet’s surgery day, Dr. Hays can also vaccinate your pet if needed, perform a stool check for intestinal worms, do a heartworm test or Feline Leukemia test, and treat for fleas. “ Dr. Hays adds, “And there are a few other things I’m always on the lookout for during a spay or neuter. Removing rear dewclaws or retained baby teeth or repairing an umbilical hernia are easy to add on the day of surgery and will prevent your pet from needing an additional anesthesia and procedure down the line.”
Dr. Hays brings 24 years of experience to her new clinic. She has performed over 10,000 spays and neuters over the last 10 years, and has also worked in emergency clinics and daytime practices.
Dr. Michelle Hays and one of her patients.
Her staff is equally experienced. “My manager Tammy and I have worked together for over 11 years, and she’s the best,” says Dr. Hays. “We have handpicked our staff to find people who not only are great technicians and assistants, but also just love animals.”
The Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas is now taking appointments.
Charlotte, NC – Urban Active continues its humanitarian efforts this holiday season by conducting its Fourth Annual Holiday Toy Drive starting today through December 22nd.
Urban Active is partnering with Toys For Tots and Charlotte Fire Department Fire Station #32 to provide gifts to needy children and their families just in time for Christmas.
Local Urban Active members and non-members who donate one new unwrapped toy for children from infant to 18 years old, will receive the choice of one of the following: a personal training session, a 14-day buddy pass, a free tan/upgrade or a small smoothie, as a Holiday gift from Urban Active for their contribution.
“Our mission is to bring joy to thousands of children during this Christmas holiday season,” says Urban Active CEO Royce Pulliam. “I am so proud to have an incredibly compassionate team at Urban Active and very loyal members who have the same vision as we do, which is helping those less fortunate.”
Now in its 65th year, The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas holiday season.
Their gifts offer these children hope, recognition, and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the books, games and sports equipment that they provide as gifts make a significant contribution to the educational, social and physical development of these children.
In 2010, Marines distributed toys to more than 7.2 million children who might now have otherwise experienced the magic of the Christmas holiday season.
With 2012 right around the corner, this is a perfect opportunity to kick start the New Year’s Resolution to get fit and healthy while bringing joy to many needy children and families.
Urban Active is hosting its Fourth Annual Holiday Toy Drive at all their 36 locations in 7 states.
For more information, visit Urban Active, or call 704-247-9090
Arborbrook Christian Academy will host an Open House for its Upper School — 9 – 12th Grade — on Tuesday, November 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at 3002 Tilley-Morris Rd., Matthews, on the campus of Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Parents and students looking for a warm atmosphere, small class sizes and engaging college-preparatory education are invited to attend.
The Open House will begin with an informational meeting and question and answer session, followed by a tour of the school and opportunity to meet teachers.
Hear about Arborbrook’s engaged approach to education, which includes a 4-day class week, biblical emphasis, internship requirements, service project and mission trip experiences, and opportunities to participate in athletics, the arts and outdoor education.
For more information about Arborbrook’s Open House contact Venus McCrorey, Admissions Counselor, admissions@arborbrook.org or visit our website www.arborbrookhighschool.org.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 16, 2011 –Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will begin the second phase of its superintendent search process with a series of community meetings. The district will hold six meetings Dec. 5 – 8 and community members will have an opportunity to discuss criteria for the new leader through structured, small-group discussions.
The public engagement phase began in October with the launch of www.nextsuperintendent.com and an online survey that was available in English and Spanish. Nearly 9,300 community members completed the survey which asked questions about the importance of leadership traits, skills and abilities for the next superintendent. In addition, approximately 500 students provided input through an online high school version of the survey.
“More than 9,000 people participated in the survey, but we want to hear from more community members,” said Board Chair Eric C. Davis. “The community’s input is critical in this process as we search for the next superintendent of CMS.”
At the conclusion of the community engagement phase, the Board of Education will receive a report of the results in December.
The community meeting schedule is below. All meeting times are 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 5: Johnson C. Smith University (Biddle Hall)
Butler High (1810 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd.)
Dec. 6: Myers Park High (2400 Colony Rd.)
Albemarle Road Middle (6900 Democracy Dr.)
Dec. 8: Vance High (7600 IBM Dr.)
North Mecklenburg High (11201 Old Statesville Rd.)
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kenear, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer. Women do not have it fairly in life. No one thinks much if a man is a professional and a father but more is expected of a woman. Sara plays Kate a woman who is an aspiring financial analyst married to an aspiring architect living in Boston. She is required to take off an a moments notice and fly to New York, Cincinnati or God knows where. Her children feel the pressure of not always having the mom around and the mom feels guilty for missing out on her little son’s first haircut gotten by their nanny.
The story accurately portrays this stressful life. The movie is well cast. Kelsey Grammer plays the gruff boss. Greg Kenear is well cast as the husband who is excited when he lands his first big job which is a feat for any architect today. Sara Parker is cast as Kari Bradshaw (Sex In The City) with a family. Pierce Brosnan is the big client. The story is told with the actors talking to the camera for good affect.
We enjoyed this little film. It is a sweet way to spend an evening munching popcorn. Rated 3 3/4 out of 5 for a romantic comedy. Really worth seeing. Take a sneak peek here….
Contagion
Nothing is more frightening than a real life pandemic. Director Steve Soderbergh weaves a tale of a pandemic running amok around the world. A woman, Gwyneth Paltrow returns from a business trip to the orient with a severe cold or perhaps the flu. Here symptoms worsen and she dies. Her husband Matt Damon who was exposed was okay. Soon their young son dies and suddenly people are dying around the world at record rates. The Center for Disease Control department headed by a doctor played by Laurence Fishman send a field investigator doctor played by Kate Winslet to Minnesota to check this out. The disease is spreading worldwide.
Politics get involved with the World Health Organization getting involved. Some people feel that the CDC is creating hysteria similar to the Bird Flu scare of 2010. Other people start to riot and raid food stores for food and water. The scientists isolate the virus and discover it is from a bat and pig. They try to locate the origin and to create a vaccine to prevent it. It is mentioned in the film that the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1928 killed 50 million people and infected every continent on earth. More people died from flu than all the wars of the 20th century.
Rated 4 ½ of 5 for a drama 9/10/2011
50/50
Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a young man working as a reporter for a television station in Seattle. He discovers the source of his back pains is a serious and rare form of cancer. His close friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) supports him emotionally while trying to make light of a serious condition. Adam goes to a young psychologist, Katie (Anna Kendrick) who is counseling him on how to deal with the disease.
This film is a drama but is also a comedy without trivializing the cancer. Seth Rogen does a good job as the friend Kyle but would be more enjoyable if he expanded his vocabulary to words with more than four letters. Gordon-Levitt is believable as he goes through the trauma and finally acceptance of the disease. 50-50 refers to the odds he has of making it. I attended with a friend who lost his wife to cancer and he felt aside from some of the raw language, it was an accurate portrayal of a serious topic handled with sensitivity. Well done film.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sept. 13, 2011—The average SAT scores for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools declined slightly in 2011, according to a report released today by the College Board. The district average for 2011 was 1002, compared to 1015 in 2010.
The significance of the decline will not be clear for a while. SAT data was reported differently this year than in years past. The current scores included three additional months of test- taking, which means this year’s results cannot be validly compared to results in earlier years. The College Board is working to recalculate the numbers so that year-to-year comparison will be valid.
Participation rates are up in CMS. Nearly 5,240 students, or 68.5 percent of eligible students, took the SAT, up from 5,008 in 2010. The statewide participation rate is 67 percent.
“We are concerned about the slight decline, but we continue to take pride in how many of our students take the SAT,” said Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh. “We think access is important, because it creates high expectations for academic success and for post-secondary training.”
Despite the decline, CMS still outperformed North Carolina, which had an average score of 1001. The district did not surpass the national average.
The SAT is divided into three sections: critical reading, math and writing. In North Carolina, critical reading scores decreased by two points to 493 while math scores declined by one point to 508. The average writing score in 2011 was 474 – a drop of two points from 2010. For the nation, critical reading decreased three points to 497, math declined one point to 514, and writing dropped two points to 489. This was a decrease of three points from the 2010 scores. The combined national average for critical reading and math was 1011, a decline of four points from the 2010.
The Matthews Chamber of Commerce and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews are proud to present the 26th Annual ArtFest of Matthews to be held on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, Oct. 2 from noon to 5pm in Historic Downtown Matthews on the Village Green on Matthews Station Street.
Over 50 fine artists and master craftsmen will display and sell their artwork for the two-day juried show. The artists come from all over the Southeast to take part in this prestigious show.
This family event will feature a children’s hands-on-art area with pottery lessons, a high school art scholarship competition in the train station, live music and local restaurant specials!
This event is FREE and Open to the Public.
For additional information contact the Matthews Chamber of Commerce at 704-847-3649 or visit the Chamber website at www.matthewschamber.org.
The Ballantyne Country Club Swim Team (Barracudas) finished the 2011 swim season by winning the Greater Charlotte Swim League (GCSL), Division 1, All-Star Meet held on July 11 at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. The Greater Charlotte Swim League has a total of six divisions, with a total of 43 teams from around the Charlotte area participating. Division One is highest Division in the League.
The teams participating in Division 1 are Ballantyne Country Club, Providence Plantation (second place winners at the All Star Meet), Olde George Towne, Sardis, Somerset, Hunter Oaks and Weddington.
The team was lead by individual event champions
Connor Long (50 Backstroke, 100 IM, 50 Butterfly)
Lindsay Bosek (50 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly)
Shannon Foreman (50 Backstroke)
Grant Murchison (50 Freestyle)
Libby Weeks (50 Backstroke)
Jake Cunningham (25 Breaststroke)
Jackson Dickey (50 Breaststroke).
Relay event champions:
13-14 Boys Medley and Freestyle relays (Grant Murchison, Trevor Sproule, Jackson Dickey, Connor Long),
15-18 Girls Medley and Freestyle relays (Samantha Teague, Sydney Foreman, Abigail Black, Lindsay Bosek, Shannon Foreman).
Three (3) New All-Star Meet Records:
Jake Cunningham broke the 9-10 Boys 25 Yard Breaststroke Record with a time of 20.02. The 13-14 Boys Freestyle Relay of Jackson Dickey, Trevor Sproule, Grant Murchison, and Connor Long broke the record with a time of 1:39.99. Additionally, Connor Long broke the 13-14 Boys 50 Yard Butterfly record, previously held by 2008 Beijing gold medalist Ricky Berens, with a time of 24.74.
Final Destination 5: Written by Eric Heisserer and starring a cast of B list actors. The premise of this horror film is that once it is destined you are going to die, there is not getting out of it. A group of people are in a bus heading to a company retreat. The bus stops on a bridge undergoing renovation. One man has a graphic premonition of the bridge falling with a large number of people dying. When his mind clears he has a panic attack and yells for everyone off the bus. His premonition comes true and only six people are saved. At the funeral of the late employees, a mysterious stranger approaches the young people telling them the fact that one cannot cheat death. One by one these people die violent convoluted deaths. They run into the mysterious stranger again and discover he is the coroner. He tells them that if each could kill another person, he would assume the deceased mortality and would live. The idea is not appealing to them,
The pluses of the film are the special effects. The bridge scenes are quite realistic and frightening. The death scenes are bloody and grisly. An example of the deaths is when one of the survivors goes through the desk of a departed employee. He finds a gift certificate for a massage. He goes to the place, and is led into a room. He admires a couple of metal Buddha’s on a shelf. The masseuse covers him with acupuncture needles and leaves him in the room to relax. She lights incense sticks as well as candles. A piece of incense falls on a towel causing the beginning of a fire. He rolls over to put out the fire and knocks over a bottle of alcohol spilling it on the floor. His cell phone on the shelf next to a candle starts to vibrate knocking it off the shelf starting a fire in the alcohol. He falls off the table forcing the needles deep into his body. He rolls over to a safe place to avoid the fire. The Buddha falls hitting him in the head squashing it like a watermelon. Rube Goldberg writes a horror film.
On the plus side, if you want to be frightened, this is your film. On the negative side, the acting is lame and sophomoric. The plot is something which could be dreamed up by the average 9th grader. We found the movie fun and even though we knew it was a film, we had to turn away during some of the gore. Rated 2 ½ of 5 for a horror film. Wait until it comes out on Red Box.
Parents are busy getting their kids ready for school. Don’t forget the most important requirement: students’ shots/immunizations and physicals. Schools need to have updated records on the first day of school.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Aug. 10, 2011 – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is working with the Mecklenburg County Health Department and other community partners to make sure students have the required immunizations before school starts on Aug. 25. The state changed immunization requirements in the 2008-2009 school year. A booster shot called Tdap is now required for all students who enter the sixth grade and have not had a booster shot in the past five years. The Tdap vaccine provides protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (also known as whooping cough).
“Students who are new to CMS must show proof they are current on their immunizations on the first day of school,” said Nancy Langenfeld, director of coordinated health services for CMS. “In addition, students who are entering the sixth grade must show proof they have received the Tdap booster.”
Parents are advised to contact their child’s physician or health care or contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department at 704-336-3500 for an appointment.
Parents who do not provide proof of immunizations and physical exams for kindergarten students on the first day of school will have until Friday, Sept. 23 to comply. Students without required documentation will not be allowed to attend school on Monday, Sept. 26 or until proof of immunizations and kindergarten physicals are presented. A list of school entry requirements and back to school information is located on the CMS website.
CMS and its community partners have arranged a variety of clinics to help parents. On Saturday, Aug. 27, nurses from the Mecklenburg County Health Department will have Kids Health Link providing immunizations and physical exams. Kids Health Link and Big Shot Saturdays are sponsored by the Junior League of Charlotte and provide required vaccinations to children age two to 12. Parents must bring student’s original or a certified copy of the vaccination record and insurance information, it applicable. Due to changes in funding for vaccinations a charge may apply in some cases.
Below is a list of upcoming opportunities for immunizations and physicals.
Big Shot Saturdays:
(Immunizations only)
September 10
Billingsley Road Health Department
249 Billingsley Road
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
September 24
Beatties Ford Road Health Department
2845 Beatties Ford Road
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Kids Health Link Saturdays
(Immunizations, physicals, screenings):
August 27
Phillip O. Berry HS
1430 Alleghany Street
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
.
Sept. 17
Phillip O. Berry HS
1430 Alleghany Street
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
French film with some English. Mostly subtitled staring Kristen Scott Thomas. An American journalist living in Paris moves into an apartment which she discovers was owned by a Jewish family captured by the Nazis in 1942. She seeks to find the story of the family and a mystery surrounding the apartment. Sarah, a young girl, locks her little brother in a closet to keep him from the police rounding up Jews to turn over to the Nazis. She tells him to be quiet and that she will be right back soon to get him. Sarah and her family are taken to a disgusting holding center in a sports stadium which held thousands of people without food, water or sanitary facilities. They are then taken to a camp where Sarah escapes and makes her way back to Paris. She discovers her brother had died in the closet. She obsesses about his death the rest of her life.
This is a well done film and is heart wrenching. It is a sad commentary on a shameful era in world history. Rated this a 4 1⁄2 of 5 for a drama.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Stars James Franco, Andy Serkis and Feida Pinto. A scientist working in a lab with apes takes home a baby chimp whose mother dies. He raises the chimp as he would a child. The lab is experimenting with a substance which would lead to a cure to Alzheimer’s as well as raising intellect. They discover that the chimp is learning skills at a rapid pace. Things start to fall apart when the chimp reaches maturity. Apes escape from a test facility and a melee ensues with ape and man vying for superiority. This film is nothing like the original Charleston Heston Planet of the Apes. It is social commentary on animal cruelty and a dooms day scenario. I found it an enjoyable film however the apes did a better job of acting than did their human counterparts. The special effects are wonderful. Rated 3 3⁄4 of 5 for an sci fi action film.
Charlotte, NC – Urban Active continues its humanitarian efforts this holiday season by conducting its Fourth Annual Holiday Toy Drive starting today through December 22nd.
