Air Force One Bringing VP Mike Pence To Charlotte Today

Charlotte Stories
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Air Force One Bringing VP Mike Pence To Charlotte Today

Vice President Mike Pence will be flying to the Queen City today for an event that will focus on taxes and the mid-term elections.

The event was planned and promoted by America First Policies, a nonprofit focused on promoting President Trump’s campaign.

Today’s Charlotte stop is just one of many Mike Pence will be making as he crosses the country on his new tour called the “Tax Cuts to Put America First”.

Several other Republicans will be joining the Vice President on stage today, including U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, 9th District U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger and Lt. Governor Dan Forest. They’ll all speak together in a panel discussion on tax cuts and local businesses.

The event will start at 3:15 p.m. this afternoon at The Park Expo and Conference Center.

The Carolina Panthers Just Released Their 2018 Schedule

Charlotte Stories
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The Carolina Panthers Just Released Their 2018 Schedule

Carolina Panthers Playoffs 2016The 2018 Carolina Panthers schedule has just been released!

We’ll be kicking off the season at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 9th at 4:25pm. The new schedule includes 2 prime-time games – Thursday Night Football against the Steelers in Phili on Nov. 8th, and Monday Night Football against the Saints at home on Dec. 17th.

“Our coaching staff has already been hard at work preparing for our opponents, but it is always intriguing to find out when we’re playing the games. It will certainly be a challenge for us, and I’m looking forward to it,” commented coach Ron Rivera.

Yesterday they posted this creative video to announce their upcoming opponents;

Here is the complete 2018 Carolina Panthers schedule (and a link to tickets for each game):

What game are you most excited about?

Adidas Just Created Iconic Sneakers To Represent Each State – Here Are The Carolinas

Katherine Miele
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Adidas Just Created Iconic Sneakers To Represent Each State – Here Are The Carolinas

Adidas has just announced the release of one of their most unique collections of sneakers in the company’s history – 50 hand-designed Ultraboost X sneakers, 1 for each state in the nation.

The company hired 12 female artists to create each state’s sneaker, with the help of Refinery29 (an online media company focused on young women). Each artist used a variety of mediums and colors to recreate iconic, state-inspired concepts on the sneakers.

“As a brand that walks the line between sport and creativity, we saw the triple white silhouette as a blank canvas full of possibilities to collaborate with powerful and expressive women in a way that would celebrate differences and highlight the unique characteristics that unite us,” commented Alexa Andersen, U.S. category director for women’s running at Adidas.

Here are the designs for the Carolinas;

North Carolina – Artist: Jenny K.

“The Venus flytrap is North Carolina’s most famous natural legacy found in the subtropical wetlands.”

 

South Carolina – Artist: Lizzie Darden

“Using food as a uniting factor and symbol of community, I created this sneaker with South Carolina’s most famous cuisine in mind: shrimp and grits.”

The sneakers will be sold in an online auction from July 4 through July 11, with all proceeds going to Women Win, a charity devoted to advancing women’s leadership.

Non-customized Adidas UltraBOOST X range in price from $120 – $180 online and come in six different colors including triple white, mystery blue, trace pink, core black, clear grey and glow orange.

You can find out more about the US state-customized sneakers and see all the designs on Adidas’ website here.

Charlotte Race Fans Gearing Up For Pirelli World Challenge

Steve
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Charlotte Race Fans Gearing Up For Pirelli World Challenge

Next week the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) will be coming to our region for the second straight, welcoming back thrilling multi-class racing with top drivers in the hottest production-based cars, such as Porsches, McLarens, Bentleys and more.

The race will take place at the VIRginia International Raceway, about one and a half hours North East of Charlotte, it was recently named one of the top six road courses in North America by Car and Driver Magazine.

Ryan Eversley, who will be racing Nissan’s new NSX GT3, noted that the race will draw a huge number of fans from the Charlotte region, given our unique car culture. “Charlotte has one of the strongest sportscar cultures among major cities. With massive commmuter community and a motorsports degree at UNCC, a sprawling metropolis, and a rich history of NASCAR and racing culture, Charlotte’s racing fanbase is huge.”

PWC is North America’s top GT production car-based championship and will feature seven separate classes of competition. Weekend highlights at VIR include two 60-minute SprintX races featuring mandatory driver and tire changes, with the first race taking place Saturday, April 28 and the second Sunday, April 29. Reaching speeds of 130+ miles per hour, these drivers will take on VIR’s 3.27-mile historic full course, which has 17 turns and 130 feet of elevation changes that includes the “Climbing Esses,” a section of the course considered by many drivers as one of the most challenging and intimidating in North America.

“We are thrilled to have the excitement and adrenaline-pumping competition that PWC brings back at the track this year,” said Connie Nyholm, VIR owner and CEO. “It’s an incredible series that we’re honored to host for VIR fans, and we look forward to creating unforgettable memories for racers and spectators alike. The electrifying action of PWC is the first of our headlining events in 2018, and we couldn’t think of a better way to officially kick off VIR’s racing season with everyone this April.”

In addition to PWC racing, the weekend will feature support series, including Radical Cup North America and the F4 U.S. Championship season-opener. Also new this year, fans have the opportunity to experience the rush of these type of high-speed, open-cockpit racecars themselves. Formula Experiences is offering ride-alongs at speeds up to 140 miles per hour in real 2018 formula and prototype racecars, something previously only available in Europe, on all three days.

Advanced discount tickets for PWC weekend are $20 for Friday-only, $30 for Saturday-only, $40 for Sunday-only, $50 for a two-day Saturday and Sunday ticket, and $60 for a three-day ticket. All tickets will be an additional $10 if purchased at the gate. Children 16 and under are admitted free of charge with a paying adult and parking is also free. Active military are admitted free of charge and veterans receive a 50 percent discount with valid military ID.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.virnow.com or call (434) 822-TIKS.

Charlotte’s 24th Annual Gardeners’ Garden Tour Is Happening Next Month

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte’s 24th Annual Gardeners’ Garden Tour Is Happening Next Month

Wing Haven is celebrating its 24th Annual Gardeners’ Garden Tour on May 5-6, 2018, a Queen City tradition beloved by countless gardeners, green thumbs, and neighbors across our city.

“After almost a quarter of a century playing host to this glorious weekend during Charlotte’s breathtaking spring season, we invite you to visit these gifted local Charlotte gardeners as they open the gates to their private gardens. For two special days, members of the public enjoy the opportunity to find respite while enjoying magnificent properties that are otherwise only seen by their friends and family,” said Barrett Ranson, Executive Director, Wing Haven.

The self-guided tour is slated for Saturday, May 5 from 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday, May 6 from 1 – 5 pm. All participants will receive garden descriptions and directions to easily locate each garden as they enjoy a self-paced tour of the private gardens.

via Andrea Sprott

Docents and garden hosts will be present at each garden to guide tour-goers. From a lovely space created by a gardener who attended an invitation-only seminar last summer at Jefferson’s Monticello; to the gardens of a home on Belvedere previously owned by John Crosland and lovingly maintained and expanded upon by its current owner; to the garden named “The Laughing Garden” where the homeowner turned her interest in gardening into a passion reflected in her creative use of space; to another Southern garden with a clever use of the side garden space; to the charming garden of a local landscape designer — each stop embraces Charlotte’s rich growing seasons. This year’s tour offers something special for each and every participant.

Photo from the “Seasons of Winghaven” Project of 2004-2005

Garden tour proceeds help ensure that the Wing Haven and Elizabeth Lawrence gardens are maintained and accessible to all who want to visit. In addition, your support will help Wing Haven continue to expand its educational programs for children and adults and provide educational outreach to at-risk preschoolers in our community.

Advance discount tickets are $30 available online now at www.winghavengardens.org, during the Wing Haven Plant Sale April 4-7 (10 am – 5 pm daily), at the Wing Haven office located at 260 Ridgewood Ave, Charlotte, NC 28209, by phone 704.331.0664, or starting in April at Blackhawk Hardware located in the Park Road Shopping Center.

Day of tour tickets will be $35 per person. Children 10 and under are free.

The Gardeners’ Garden Tour is supported by these generous sponsors. Title Sponsor: Blackhawk Hardware. Silver Sponsors: Rountree Plantation, Shrub Doctor, Witherspoon Rose Culture. Affiliate Sponsors: Atlantic Landscape Supplies, Bartlett Tree Experts, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Lat Purser & Associates, Loftin & Company Printers, Soil3, Unit Paving, Inc., and Wildology at Waverly. Partners: Community School of the Arts, Pasta & Provisions.

For additional information, contact: Susan Little Evans, Wing Haven Development Director 704.331.0664 ext.108 or susan@winghavengardens.org, www.winghavengardens.org

Charlotte Woman Asking For Help In Finding Missing Service Dog

Steve
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Charlotte Woman Asking For Help In Finding Missing Service Dog

Rachel Feder is now asking everyone she can for help in finding her beloved service dog Bandit.

“She’s my service dog I need her ASAP she has a scar on belly from a surgery she had a few months ago and a jack skellington collar (nightmare before Christmas).” Feder also cautioned people to approach Bandit with care if spotted, “she’s a sweet dog but will run if she doesn’t know you…”

Bandit originally went missing on April 13th near Near Wallace Rd and Wallace Ln in South East Charlotte;

If you see Bandit, call animal control in Charlotte at (704) 336-7600.

Please help spread the word!

Circle K Donating Gas Proceeds To Charlotte-Area Schools This Afternoon 3-7pm

Steve
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Circle K Donating Gas Proceeds To Charlotte-Area Schools This Afternoon 3-7pm

Whether you still have a 3/4 tank full of gas or your gas light is now blinking – today’s the day to fill up!

Circle K has announced that they’ve teamed up several local school systems around the Charlotte area to as part of their annual ‘Fueling Our Schools’ campaign.

Between 3-7 pm today (April 19th), the following gas stations will be donating 10 cents from every gallon of gas sold to the following schools;

Circle K stop and partner school;

Charlotte’s First Emergency Pet Care Service Announcing Major Expansion

Steve
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Charlotte’s First Emergency Pet Care Service Announcing Major Expansion

Charlotte’s first emergency petcare service has just announced a major expansion across our region.

Over the past year, Provisional Petcare has built a sizable member-base to help hundreds of pets-in-crisis by partnering with apartment management companies to provide their service to residents as an amenity.

“I was asked countless times why we didn’t cover single-family homes,” said Provisional PetCare founder Aynsley Brockway. “It made sense, homeowners don’t have property managers to help them in an emergency, so we built up our infrastructure and are now ready to help prevent the suffering of all of Charlotte’s companion pets.”

via Heather Marie Photography

On the company’s website, they note that “nearly every year between 5 and 7 million companion animals are placed into shelters due to the death of their owners, and over half of these animals are killed due to insufficient pet planning coupled with overcapacity in existing shelters.”

They are now working to reduce that number by caring for pets when emergencies arise.

If members encounter a disaster, personal emergency, or a delayed flight, they can call an 800 number, and one of Provisional’s specialists will determine the nature of the emergency, and if their pet needs temporary care, or to be transported to your emergency caregiver.

“As a lifelong pet owner, it pains me to think about loving pets who are abandoned due to an owner’s emergency,” said Brockway. “All it takes is a simple plan and a compassionate group to carry out the pet owner’s wishes to better pet’s lives, and help overcrowded animal shelters.”

If you’d like to find out more, or sign up for a plan, check out their website at ProvisionalPetCare.com.

IRS Extends Tax Deadline After System Glitches

Steve
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IRS Extends Tax Deadline After System Glitches

Yesterday afternoon, after the government’s IRS website experienced some major glitches with it’s direct-pay system, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made the decision to extend the tax filing deadline from April 17th at midnight to April 18th at midnight.

The agency’s Direct Pay system lets people pay an estimate of taxes directly from their bank online without any fees.

“We’ll make sure taxpayers have extensions once the system comes up to make sure they can use it, and it in no way impacts people paying their taxes,” Mnuchin commented in a press release. “It was just a technical issue we’re working through.”

Are you finished with your taxes yet?

Starbucks Closing All 48 Charlotte-Area Stores For Racial-Bias Training

Steve
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Starbucks Closing All 48 Charlotte-Area Stores For Racial-Bias Training

Starbucks just announced that it will be closing 8,000 across the country next month to re-train all of their employees about racism and racial bias.

The decision came several days after a Philadelphia Starbucks manager called the police after 2 black men sat down in a store without buying anything.

Here is one of the cell phone videos showing the arrest;

The company-wide training will be given to over 175,000 employees on May 29th.

“I’ve spent the last few days in Philadelphia with my leadership team listening to the community, learning what we did wrong and the steps we need to take to fix it,” Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in a statement. “Closing our stores for racial bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities.”

The nationwide closing will include all 48 Charlotte area company-owned locations;

“We will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer,” Howard Schultz, Starbuck’s founder and executive chairman commented in a statement.

Starbucks corporate has partnered with Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative; Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Heather McGhee of Demos; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; and Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League to create and implement the new program.

Once the company-owned stores have completed their training, Starbucks will be making it available to its partners.

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