Nation’s Largest Boat Club Threw Massive Party For At-Risk Youth On Lake Norman

Steve
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Nation’s Largest Boat Club Threw Massive Party For At-Risk Youth On Lake Norman

The 14th Annual Big Day at the Lake on July 21 was a smashing success. The event, which was founded by Cornelius resident, Dave Yochum with the help of his friends, neighbors, and local businesses, benefits the non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Carolinas. The purpose is to share a fun and memorable day at the lake with at-risk children.

Freedom Boat Club, located in the Waterstreet Seaport Marina in Cornelius, provided 17 boats with captains for the Big Day at the Lake, including a double decker pontoon boat with slides, an annual favorite. About 125 children enjoyed fishing, tubing, sliding and swimming. “This is our sixth year participating in Big Day at the Lake,” says Freedom Boat Club LKN franchise co-owner, Jeff Weir. “We’re delighted to provide captained boats and make lasting memories for the children who would not normally have the opportunity to enjoy Lake Norman,” he adds.

The day concluded with a picnic and fun activities for more than 600 participants, including the Bigs, Littles and Volunteers, at the Duke Energy Explorium. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Carolinas serves close to 250 children in North Mecklenburg annually.

Freedom Boat Club is the nation’s oldest and largest boat club, with 160+ club locations operating in 29 states and Canada.

MLB Commissioner Once Again Names Charlotte As Potential City For New Expansion Team

Steve
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MLB Commissioner Once Again Names Charlotte As Potential City For New Expansion Team

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred just named the Queen City as one of the favorite cities for one of its newest teams.

“I hope I’m around long enough to see us expand,” Manfred told FS1 this past Tuesday. “I think 32 [teams] would be great for our sport.” He continued to talk about potential new cities “that I think are not only interested in having baseball, but are viable in terms of baseball,” naming “Portland, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Nashville in the United States, certainly Montreal, maybe Vancouver, in Canada. We think there’s places in Mexico we could go over the long haul.”

Starting at about the 1-minute mark in the following video:

Last year, Charlotte was also named as a possible MLB expansion city, but in a longer list. In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Manfred listed; Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Mexico City, Portland, Las Vegas, Montreal and San Antonio as possible MLB expansion cities.

The MLB has expanded since 1998 when the Tampa Bay Rays (originally the Devil Rays) and Arizona Diamondbacks first started. Given the growth of major league baseball’s popularity, and after almost 20 years of no activity, the jump from 30 teams to, say, 32 now seems overdue.

If (and when) Charlotte is chosen to host it’s own major league baseball team, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is where will the stadium be. The BB&T field in Uptown Charlotte was not designed to be retrofitted for major league standards, and city planners don’t think Uptown could handle the additional traffic and parking during the 81+ major league home games (many of which are on weekdays).

What do you think about a new MLB team in Charlotte?

Where do you think the new major league field should be built?

Dangerous New #InMyFeelings Dance Challenge Spreading Across Charlotte

Steve
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Dangerous New #InMyFeelings Dance Challenge Spreading Across Charlotte

A new viral dance challenge is spreading around the world, and in many cases, turning dangerous.

The new dance craze has now been done by tens of thousands of social media users (including tons of celebrities), in which dancers try to mimic the moves of Drake’s hit Scorpion song “In My Feelings.”

It all started with Instagram user theshiggyshow. On June 29, the comedian shared a video of himself dancing (or “doing the shiggy,” as it’s now called) in the street and using moves that perfectly synced up to Drake’s lyrics. When Drake sang, “Kiki, do you love me?” he made a heart gesture with his hands, and he made a driving motion with his arms for the “Are you riding?” line of the song.

Since that original video was posted, it spread like wildfire, including here in the Queen City.

Here’s a recent video from Charlotte of a girl being filmed doing the #inmyfeelings challenge;

Although that wasn’t nearly as dangerous as a lot of other videos that have been posted where the driver of a car will jump out and do the dance while the car is still moving, which has resulted in personal injury;

and even vehicle theft;

also, jumping out of your car and dancing while your vehicle is still moving is illegal, and you can be arrested for it.

What do you think of the new challenge?

Charlotte Ranked One Of The Most Racially Diverse Cities in America

Steve
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Charlotte Ranked One Of The Most Racially Diverse Cities in America

A new report by SmartAsset.com has just ranked Charlotte as one of the most racially diverse cities in America for STEM.

STEM jobs are occupations requiring a focused education in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics – jobs which currently offer some of the highest salaries and best benefits.

The Queen City ranked #2 in the nation, just behind Philadelphia at #1 and just ahead of Sacramento at #3.

According to the report, “Charlotte has the most racially diverse STEM workforce. About 19% of STEM workers in Charlotte are black and 28% are Asian. Men dominate the tech scene in Charlotte which hurts this city’s gender diversity score. About 73% of the STEM workforce here is male.”

To compile their ranking, SmartAsset analyzed data for the 50 cities with the largest STEM workforce to see who had the biggest racial diversity and gender diversity.

To find out more about the study or the methodology, check out the full report here.

The North Carolina Zoo Needs Help Naming Their New Baby Rhino

Steve
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The North Carolina Zoo Needs Help Naming Their New Baby Rhino

A tiny baby rhino was just born at the North Carolina Zoo (the largest zoo in the world), and they are now asking for help in naming her.

They announced the new naming contest through their newsletter and on social media;

According to the Zoo, the name choices include;

  • Boadicea, a Celtic warrior queen
  • Diana, goddess of wild animals in Roman mythology
  • Grace O’Malley, Irish queen and naval captain
  • Mamba, an all-female group of anti-poaching advocates in Africa
  • Nandi, Queen of the Zulus and mother of Shaka Zulu
  • Penelope, Queen of Ithaca and wife of Odysseus in Greek mythology, who also symbolizes family and fidelity
  • Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands who fought against Nazi occupation during World War II

Voting started yesterday at noon and will close on July 24 at 5 p.m.

You can now vote for your favorite name at the NC Zoo’s website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts.

Charlotte Thieves Are Now Waiting For Packages After Historic Amazon Prime Day

Steve
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Charlotte Thieves Are Now Waiting For Packages After Historic Amazon Prime Day

This week’s 36-hour-long Prime Day turned out to be Amazon’s biggest shopping event in the history of the company.

They sold more during the event than last year’s Cyber Monday and Black Friday combined.

If you took part in the massive online savings thousands of companies offered during the sale, you’ll likely be on the lookout for your package…and so will package thieves. CMPD says that package thefts have been on the rise over the past few years, and with the record sales of Prime Day, they’re now preparing for an anticipated spike in thefts by increasing patrols and warning residents.

Here are the top new ways online shoppers are fighting back against package thieves;

#1 Changing Delivery Address

Many people are now choosing the have their packages delivered to an alternate address where they know someone will be there to receive it. Many people are now changing their delivery address to the home of a retired relative or neighbor, or to someone they know works from home – some are even having their packages delivered to their offices.

#2 Amazon Lockers

Amazon Lockers were installed around the Charlotte region about a year ago.

According to their website, “To use an Amazon Locker as your shipping destination, find a Locker and add it to your Amazon address book. Then, during checkout, select the Locker as your shipping address. Once your package has been delivered, we will email you a unique 6 digit code. Simply visit your selected Locker and enter the code on the Locker’s touchscreen, then remove your package after the Locker’s door opens.”

Charlotte is now home to 20 ‘Amazon Lockers’ than any Amazon customer can use for free;

#3 Install an Outdoor Security Cam

Many companies like Canary, Nest, and Blanche are now selling outdoor wifi-enabled security cameras that allow homeowners to record or monitor their porches in real-time from their smartphones.

While these may not stop a thief, they do let you know the exact moment your package is delivered, allowing you to run home and grab it or ask one of your neighbors to bring it inside.

Have you ever had a package stolen? 

Let us know how you keep your packages safe in the comments below; 

Charlotte Officially Selected To Host The 2020 RNC

Steve
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Charlotte Officially Selected To Host The 2020 RNC

Yesterday the Republican National Committee voted to select Charlotte as the official site for the 2020 GOP Convention, where Donald Trump is expected to be nominated to run for his second term.

The nomination ceremony will likely take place in Spectrum Center, where 6 years ago, Barack Obama also accepted the nomination for his second term during the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

The official selection by the RNC came just 2 days after the Charlotte City Council narrowly voted 6-5 to allow the RNC to come to Charlotte, if we were selected.

After eliminating the potential host cities of Dallas, Nashville, and Milwaukee, the RNC’s two final choices were between Las Vegas and Charlotte.

The committee cited Charlotte’s abundant hotel access, proximity to a major airport, and our proven political convention track record as deciding factors in selecting the Queen City.

The RNC has yet to set a date for the convention.

The ‘Uber for Babysitting’ is Coming To Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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The ‘Uber for Babysitting’ is Coming To Charlotte

Raleigh’s beloved app-based babysitting service recently announced its expansion to Charlotte.

The company is called ‘PlatinumSitters’, and it’s basically like a combination of Uber, HomeAway, and traditional babysitting.

Stephanie Keefer, who quit her full-time financial analyst career to become a stay-at-home-mom and entrepreneur initially launched her online babysitting company in Raleigh back in 2016;

Her company does comprehensive background checks and in-person interviews with new babysitters, then allows approved babysitters to set their preferences such as multiple kids, active kids, or transporting kids.

Families looking for a sitter simply log onto their app, enter their detailed request (how many kids, how long, location, etc), and they are instantly matched with the best possible sitter (parents can then review that sitter’s profile, ratings, and feedback before accepting them).

Parents are charged a flat rate of $14 for one child, and $2 more for each additional child.

If you’re a babysitter in Charlotte and you’d like to work for PlatinumSitters, you can now apply for their Charlotte positions on Zip Recruiter here.

If you’re a parent looking for a sitter, you can register on their website here to stay up to date on their progress in Charlotte.

Charlotte Joins National Movement To End Prostate Cancer

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Joins National Movement To End Prostate Cancer

The End of Prostate Cancer joins Urology Specialists of the Carolinas to host the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk this September. The goal is to create Generation ZERO – the first generation of men free of prostate cancer. Participants from the Charlotte area will run and walk together on September 15 to fight a disease that takes the life of an American man every 18 minutes.

Charlotte joins 40+ communities across the nation as part of the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk series. The Run/Walk promotes awareness for prostate cancer and encourages men to be informed about their risk. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month brings the national spotlight to prostate cancer, encouraging this vital and necessary awareness on both a national and local level. More than 5,580 men in North Carolina will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.

“The ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk rallies communities and gives participants a voice in the fight to end prostate cancer,” said ZERO CEO Jamie Bearse. “We’re making prostate cancer a national priority. The Run/Walk series is a way to mobilize the prostate cancer community and raise funds for patient support programs to ensure that no man has to face prostate cancer alone.”

Run/Walk participants will receive tech shirts, free food and prizes, and the opportunity to connect with others who are impacted by prostate cancer. Funds raised for this year’s Run/Walk event will go toward local and national efforts to provide research for new treatments, to enhance patient support resources, and to educate men and families about prostate cancer.

The race will take place at TBD. For more information, visit www.zeroprostatecancerrun.org/charlotte.

Social Media Ablaze Over Picture Of Unmarked Mustang Pulling Over Charlotte Resident

Charlotte Stories
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Social Media Ablaze Over Picture Of Unmarked Mustang Pulling Over Charlotte Resident

An unmarked Mustang is now making waves on social media after someone snapped a picture of the car with temporary plates pulling over a Charlotte SUV.

The picture was first uploaded by John Tsioumas this past Saturday with the caption;

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL MY CHARLOTTE PEOPLE..!!!!

Y’ALL BE CAREFUL IN THEM STREETS .. DEM BOYZ CREEPING IN 30 DAY TAGS….!!!

Photo taken at Donald Ross Road and Wilkinson heading towards West Boulevard & Clanton rd..!!

*SHARE *SHARE *

It’s already been shared over 5,000 times;

NBC Charlotte has confirmed that the vehicle in the photo is a legitimate Mecklenburg County ABC unit vehicle. They noted that ABC Chief Crowley said that his department rarely pulls people over, but they can and will if they suspect someone driving under the influence.

Police impersonators have been making the news recently for pulling people over and either robbing, assaulting, or kidnapping them. If you ever feel uneasy after being pulled over by an unmarked car, call 911 immediately to confirm if it’s a government agent.  You are allowed to keep your door locked, your window cracked, and ask anyone approaching your vehicle for official ID. By law, all government officials are required to present it upon request.

Please help spread the word.

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