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, [...]]]>

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.

Check out the Benevolent Beards Website.

2012 Ballantyne Scoop

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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 [...]]]>

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.

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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 [...]]]>

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.

You may reach them at 704-542-9997, or visit their website at www.spayneutercarolinas.com.

2011 Ballantyne Scoop

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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 [...]]]>

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

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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 [...]]]>

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.

2011 Ballantyne Scoop

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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. [...]]]>

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.)

For more information, visit www.nextsuperintendent.com.

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Ballantyne, NC – Tuesday, November 8th, from 5pm-9pm, South Charlotte Banquet Center, 9009 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.

Free parking, free admission.

Shop and buy beautiful jewelry to help a local non-profit animal rescue group!

For more info: Contact Roxanne Blake, 704-998-8372, or roxanne@pawbrokers.org.

2011 Ballantyne, NC

Ballantyne, NC – Santa’s Craft Shop – Holiday shop over 100 Master Craftsmen!

Saturday, Dec. 3rd from 8am to 4pm. St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28277.

Free parking, Free admission and a $100 cash Shopper’s Drawing!

Early Bird deals, Portraits with Santa by PortraitEFX and [...]]]>

Ballantyne, NC – Santa’s Craft Shop – Holiday shop over 100 Master Craftsmen!

Saturday, Dec. 3rd from 8am to 4pm. St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28277.

Free parking, Free admission and a $100 cash Shopper’s Drawing!

Early Bird deals, Portraits with Santa by PortraitEFX and much, much more!

For more information, please visit http://www.stmatthewcatholic.org/.

2011 Ballantyne Scoop

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I Don’t Know How She Does It

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 [...]]]>

I Don’t Know How She Does It

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.

We rated this 4 of 5 for a drama/comedy

bruce@kantorandassociates.com

2011 Ballantyne, NC

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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. [...]]]>

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.

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