Leather vs Fabric Sectional: Which One Is Right For Your Home

Sharon Anderson
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Leather vs Fabric Sectional: Which One Is Right For Your Home

Choosing whether to go for a leather or fabric sectional can be tricky. After all, sectionals are a major investment and often the most used piece of furniture in your living room. However, with so many factors to consider, there are several essential elements that you should keep in mind when deciding which type of sectional is right for you.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of choosing between a fabric or leather sectional, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of each material to help you make an informed and satisfying decision for your home.

  • Consider Household Allergens

Choosing the suitable material for your sectional is essential, not just for style but for health reasons too. If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies and sensitivities, opting for a hypoallergenic material like leather would be a wise choice. Leather looks upscale and elegant and is resistant to allergens such as dust, pet dander, and pollen, making it easy to clean and maintain. Investing in a leather sectional could be a simple solution for keeping your home healthy and avoiding allergy triggers.

  • Consider Durability vs. Affordability

Price is always a factor when choosing between a leather or fabric sectional. Fabric sectionals commonly have the advantage of being more affordable, but it’s important to remember that they may not last as long as leather. On the other hand, investing in a leather sectional may be more cost-effective in the long run. Not only can leather look luxurious and timeless, but it’s also more durable and easier to clean.

  • Cleaning Your New Sectional

Many factors come into play when choosing between a fabric or leather sectional. One of the most important considerations to keep in mind is cleaning. If you frequently have spills or stains, a leather sectional might be your best choice. Leather is a durable material that can be easily wiped down and is resistant to stains. This makes a leather sectional an excellent choice for families with kids or pets.

While the fabric is a bit more challenging to clean, it does come in a wide range of patterns, textures, and colors. Regardless of which material you choose, it’s always important to take proper care of your sectional to ensure its longevity.

  • Determining Your Style

Personal style is important when choosing between a fabric or leather sectional. Selecting a sectional that matches your style and suits your room is essential to create the perfect ambiance for your living area. Both leather and fabric offer distinct characteristics that can add to the overall appeal of the furniture.

A leather sectional can add an elegant, upscale touch to your space and is ideal for those who prefer a sophisticated, modern look. On the other hand, a fabric sectional is versatile and available in various colors and patterns. Ultimately, when choosing a sectional, it’s crucial to prioritize your personal style.

Wrap-Up: Consider These Tips When Searching For A Perfect Sectional

Choosing between a fabric or leather sectional depends on personal preference, lifestyle, and budget. Leather and fabric have benefits and drawbacks, and deciding which material will depend on your unique needs and style. When selecting a sectional, it’s essential to consider factors such as durability, allergies, cost, and the overall look of your living space.

A high-quality leather sectional can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home, while a fabric sectional offers greater versatility and comfort. By carefully weighing the pros and cons of each material and considering your personal style, you can find a functional, stylish, and perfect sectional for your home.

Cybercrime on the Rise in North Carolina: Understanding the Threat Landscape From a Business Point of View

Sharon Anderson
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North Carolina is at a crossroads when it comes to cybercrime. On the one hand, the state has seen some recent progress against cybercrime. For example, the North Carolina Cyber Crime Unit offers several resources and services to help businesses combat cyber threats.

On the other hand, NC is still seeing an increase in ransomware attacks and high-profile breaches, both of which can devastate businesses in our state and beyond. Recent data from Spectrum Local News shows that North Carolina businesses have reported around 19,000 security breaches to the state Department of Justice.

Current Cyber Threats Facing North Carolina Businesses

As a business owner in North Carolina, it’s essential to understand the threat landscape you operate in. Cybercrime is a natural and growing threat to businesses of all sizes. It’s also worth noting that while cybercrime has traditionally been seen as a problem primarily affecting large enterprises and government agencies, small-to-medium-sized companies (SMBs) are increasingly at risk from these types of incidents.

This is because SMBs often have less robust security infrastructure than larger organizations or government agencies. This means that when an attack does occur against an SMB, it can be more damaging than if it were targeted at another type of company.

Moreover, data from Info Security Magazine shows that around 57% of surveyed SMBs worry that their cybersecurity budget might reduce even more, and that too during the time of increasing ransomware attacks.

In addition, because many smaller companies tend not to invest enough resources into their cybersecurity programs or lack them altogether, the impact could be even more significant than if they had taken measures beforehand.

The Impact of Cybercrime on North Carolina Businesses

Cybercrime is a growing threat to North Carolina businesses, but the impact on your business depends on your industry and size. Cybercrime can impact any company, from small businesses to large enterprises, regardless of size or industry. 

The consequences of cyberattacks range from simple disruptions in operations and lost productivity to data breaches that expose sensitive information about customers or employees.

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated daily. They’re targeting smaller businesses because they are easier targets than larger ones and often lack adequate cybersecurity measures.

If you are faced with any such attack, quick disaster recovery is what you need. With an effective disaster recovery plan, you can bring your IT systems back to normal within no time, reducing the attack’s impact. There are many cybersecurity service providers offering disaster recovery.

You can look for a local service provider. For example, businesses in Charlotte are often a common target for cybercriminals. So if you operate in Charlotte, go for disaster recovery services in Charlotte, NC. Consider experience and testimonials as the most common factors when deciding on a service provider.

Many businesses hone their process over the years, which makes the experience a crucial factor. Net Effect Technologies, a managed IT services provider, has offered cybersecurity and disaster recovery for 9 years, as mentioned on its website. The website also has many testimonials from previous clients. One of the testimonials reads that the customer considers Net Effect Technologies’s engineers as a part of her team.

You can find such data on a service provider’s website and use it to decide. Compare multiple service providers and select the one that fits your needs.

Financial Costs of Cyberattacks

The financial costs of cyberattacks can be significant. According to IBM, the average data breach cost is $9.44 million in the US, and this figure doesn’t even include the reputational damage that often accompanies such incidents. To put it into North Carolina’s perspective, an FBI report shows that NC cybercrime victims lost $91M in 2021.

The costliest part? The loss of revenue is due to customers being wary about doing business with you again or switching providers altogether. In addition, businesses face higher insurance premiums and legal fees associated with investigations into cybercrimes like identity theft and fraud perpetrated by employees using company resources for personal gain.

Reputational Damages of Cyberattacks

Reputational damage is one of the most significant consequences of a cyberattack.

Your company’s reputation can be damaged in several ways, including:

  • The loss of customer trust and loyalty. Customers may choose not to do business with you because they feel unsafe doing so or think your security practices are weak and expose them to risk. They might also be reluctant to purchase products or services from other companies that share your infrastructure due to their experience with you.
  • In addition, when news breaks about an attack on one organization within an industry sector, for example, healthcare systems. Companies across that whole sector often experience negative publicity because they’re perceived as vulnerable too.

Legal Consequences of Cyberattacks

When it comes to the legal consequences of cyberattacks, a business owner can be held accountable in several ways, the most common including:

  • Loss of intellectual property (IP). If you lose your IP through a breach or theft, the person who uses it may be able to sue you for copyright infringement. This can happen even if they didn’t steal it directly from you. They might have gotten their hands on it from another source and used it in their work.
  • Loss of confidential information. Suppose someone steals confidential data from your company and uses that information against you or other companies somehow. In that case, this may constitute fraud or misrepresentation in court, depending on how much damage was caused by their actions and whether there was any criminal intent behind them.
  • Sensitive data loss could lead to lawsuits related to medical privacy issues if outsiders improperly accessed patients’ records without authorization.
  • Customer data loss could result in lawsuits based on privacy violations under certain circumstances. However, these types tend not to be very common because many businesses require customers to sign agreements stating they won’t share sensitive information before signing up.
  • Employee data leakage could lead again lead someone else to take advantage but also exposes employers’ liability insurance premiums rise due to increased risk factors associated.

Best Practices for Protecting Your Business

While there is no way to eliminate the risk of cybercrime, you can take action to mitigate it. Here are some best practices for protecting your business:

  • Use strong passwords and use them consistently across all accounts.
  • Keep software up to date, particularly on computers used by employees with access to sensitive information or financial data.
  • Train employees about how best practices can help protect their computers from viruses and other types of malware that could lead users into compromising situations online if they fall victim to phishing scams or other social engineering attacks.

Even the government is playing its part in fighting cyberattacks. FBI’s Charlotte Field Office has recently launched cybersecurity awareness campaigns. The motive behind this is to educate people to stay safe online.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of the cyber threats facing North Carolina businesses and how they can be mitigated. As seen in the examples above, many types of cyberattacks can occur against a business, ranging from data breaches to ransomware attacks.

The good news is that there are several steps that every business can take to protect themselves against these threats, including implementing strong password policies, conducting employee training sessions on cybersecurity topics such as data backup policies or incident response plans, using anti-malware software on all devices connected to your network, etc.

From West Charlotte to the ACM Awards: Coyote Joe’s Earns Coveted Club of the Year Nomination

Charlotte Stories
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From West Charlotte to the ACM Awards: Coyote Joe’s Earns Coveted Club of the Year Nomination

West Charlotte’s Coyote Joe’s has just received a nomination from the Academy of Country Music for America’s ‘Club of the Year’.

With over three decades in operation, the country music bar boasts a rich history of hosting renowned artists such as Luke Combs, Garth Brooks, and Blake Shelton.

The venue announced the nomination on Facebook, saying they felt privileged to be in the company of “Billy Bob’s Texas, Grizzly Rose, Joe’s On Weed Street, and Gruene Hall”.

The highly-anticipated ACM Awards will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime on May 11, featuring hosts Garth Brooks along side Dolly Parton.

How to play Holy Priest class in World of Warcraft Dragonflight

Steve
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How to play Holy Priest class in World of Warcraft Dragonflight

Blizzard has been constantly working on strengthening and refining the World of Warcraft project for the past 20 years. Players again set off to conquer new lands and continents after the release of the Dragonflight update.

Some of the players returned from inactivation, while others did not leave the lands of Azeroth at all.

In general, players who now play World of Warcraft can be divided into three groups:

Active are the players who are the first to break into everything new in order to absorb as much unusual content as possible. Their goal is to enjoy the process of farming, PVP and professions. They easily change the main character if they are tired of it and constantly return to WoW when fun is planned and leave it again until new updates. So it was in Shadowlands, so it is in Dragonflight, and so it will be in subsequent updates.

Slow – such players have a strong desire to slowly and leisurely enjoy every minute of World of Warcraft. They will read guides to get the best result, and not engage in experiments – after all, there are already players who have gone through this path and are ready to share their experience. Such players often play in groups and gather more for socializing and monotonous progress rather than any ambition.

Investors – such players do not want to wait and farm, they came here for status and emotions, and they will not spare money for boosting and coaching services, raid carry and easily buy game gold from trusted services like Skycoach. They do not feel sorry for their investments, and they will easily leave the project if it ceases to bring them pleasure and emotions that affect the ego.

Who is a Light Healer

In World of Warcraft, Holy Priest is the most complete healer of all possible classes.

He combines a large number of skills and rotations for mass and single healing, resurrections, creating special healing zones.

A Holy Priest is indispensable in raids and dungeons, especially Mythic ones. They are hunted by all major guilds in order to attract them into their ranks. It is worth clarifying that we are talking about talented healers with a good reaction, and not just players with the ability to heal.

Large PvP don’t go without healing either, and often Priests are the number one target for enemy offensive classes of all kinds.

The healer cares about equipment, jewelry and enhancing effects on all types of protection, and not weapons. The staff will certainly help in pumping, but is not a priority investment.

You should also understand that it is difficult for a healer to level up alone and the harsh realities of any game work in such a way that you will start to find a good hunting group after level 30, since it is more profitable for many players to level up on their own without sharing experience. Why then are they then surprised that there are few healers at high lvl, we will miss of course.

What has changed for the healer of light in the Dragonflight update

After the release of the Dragonflight update, the developers have greatly revised the talent systems, giving players the opportunity to combine any skills and cooldowns to create unique and interesting builds at their discretion.

The healer class has received a buff to their primary healing skills, which now restore more and cooldown faster.

A Divine image has appeared – this is a chance when using healing magic to summon the image of a saint, which will repeat all your positive effects for 9 seconds.

Of the cardinal changes, you can also notice the ability to deal more damage and the strengthening of auxiliary buffs, which give more help to your allies.

The damage has also been increased to make it easier to level at the initial levels.

Benefits of the Light Healer Class in the Dragoflight Update for World of Warcraft

  • The ability to quickly restore a large amount of health and impose strong regeneration.
  • Unique cooldowns only available in the Light specialization.
  • Many AoE skills that increase incoming healing, remove debuffs, and heal large groups of players.
  • Unique abilities for raids – the ability to cancel the strengthening effect from the enemy, massively remove negative effects, deprive the enemy of aggression to attack, pull an ally towards you and heal, apply an acceleration effect.
  • The ability to deal good damage to a single target in between healing.

Disadvantages of the light healer class in the dragonflight update for World of Warcraft

  • There are quite a few skills with a short cooldown that you need to keep an eye on for effective rotations. Can be tricky for beginners as speed and reaction are required.
  • The overall healing depends on the available non-cooldown skills, especially for single target healing.
  • Allies don’t receive chain healing, but zone healing, so you need to find the perfect position or command everyone to stick together.
  • Virtually no massive damage to the enemy.
  • There is no way to interrupt the casting of enemy spells.

The main characteristics that you should pay attention to for the healer of light in World of Warcraft Dragonflight

Each character in World of Warcraft has its own characteristics that affect its capabilities in combat and leveling, but they are different for everyone and can be radically different.

  • Intelligence
  • Speed
  • Critical hit
  • Mastery

Intelligence

Intelligence is a basic characteristic for all representatives of magic, regardless of the direction and types of attacks.

The higher the intelligence score, the stronger the damage will be, the greater the total mana and the effectiveness of all skills related to magic.

Speed

Healer is not only about healing magic, but also about survival. Healers are often the number one target for enemies, and so he must be able to move quickly and use magic as quickly as possible. This parameter is responsible for the parameter of running speed and reading magic.

Critical hit

Critical Chance is the ability to deal increased damage, but it doesn’t just work on offensive skills. The chance that your skill will proc with double the power is worthy of you paying attention to the critical hit stat. It also affects offensive magic skills.

Mastery

Mastery is the effectiveness of the use of magic. Affects the chance of passing magical curses, the strength of healing and the time for which a positive effect can be applied.

Red Slaw and Blackjack — Comfort Food in Las Vegas

Sharon Anderson
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Red Slaw and Blackjack — Comfort Food in Las Vegas

From the Eiffel Tower and the canals of Venice to the Pyramids and Sphinx of Ancient Egypt, you can travel across the world without leaving the Las Vegas strip. Sin City is determined to cater for all tastes, and that goes for its food too.

The casinos contain restaurants run by some of the world’s top chefs, and host no less than ten Michelin-starred restaurants, including Joel Robuchon, which holds three of the coveted stars. But many Vegas visitors fancy a taste of home between stints at the slot machines, and the city caters for all tastes, just about. Fancy North Carolina BBQ, shepherd’s pie, or a taste of West Africa? Read on. 

British pubs

Brits abroad seem to be fitted with homing beacons, designed to lead them towards ale pumps and pub grub, and Las Vegas doesn’t disappoint.  Pubs such as the Crown and Anchor and the Royal Britannia offer fish’ n chips, bangers and mash, delicious pies, and show Premier League football. While it may seem strange to sip a pint of English ale in the Venetian, sometimes home comforts are important. Of course, Brits needn’t go all the way to Nevada, with so many slots online UK residents could just stay in their local for their casino fix—as long as they don’t mind missing Katy Perry or Donny Osmond in the theaters.

North Carolina BBQ

BBQ is a serious business in the Southern United States, and North Carolina may be the very root of the entire diaspora, despite objections from the south. Las Vegas is full of BBQ joints, all offering their take on different styles of low-and-slow cooking. Die-hard connoisseurs may blanche at some of the menu items, but Jessie Rae’s BBQ has plenty of red slaw, Brunswick stew, and Carolinian-inspired sauce to sate NC visitors. Rollin’ Smoke and Wild Fig are two more highly rated spots for pit-style cooking to fuel gamblers from the Tar Heel State. 

West African eats

Folks from all over the world visit Sin City, so it’s no surprise to see catering options from far-flung regions. Nigerian food is delicious, and tourists can be found tucking into okra soup with beef and fufu, pounded yam, and the country’s favourite comfort food, Jollof rice at Nigerian Food Las Vegas. Goat pepper soup, cassava leaf stew, and yassa (char-grilled meat) can be found over at Las Gidi African Kitchen, as well as a large selection of West African soft drinks. 

A taste of the islands

Caribbean food is delicious, spicy, and hearty, ideal fuel for a fun day in the gaming halls. Las Vegas plays host to myriad restaurants, representing Jamaica and the Leeward Islands, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. Visitors from the region can find delicious, juicy jerk chicken, fried plantain, ackee & saltfish, red snapper, and oxtail for a comforting taste of home. Some restaurants, such as Bodeau’s Caribbean Cuisine, also serve Asian-inspired fusion dishes, as well as burgers and chicken. 

Las Vegas plays host to restaurants serving cuisine from all over the globe. And while Michelin-starred taster menus, pan-Asian fusion, and Korean burritos are all well and good, sometimes a plate of something Mom used to make hits the spot like nothing else. 

Earthquake Strikes 40 Miles West of Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Earthquake Strikes 40 Miles West of Charlotte

Last night at 9:35pm, a magnitude 1.8 earthquake struck near Old Fort, NC, about 40 miles West of Charlotte.

According to the USGS, the quake had specific coordinates of 35°44’27.6″N 82°10’51.6″W and a specific depth of 5.4 km.

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we experienced the largest earthquake in over 100 years when a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle our state.

According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel last night’s quake? 

Married North Carolina couples are the 8th most happily married in America, finds survey

Sharon Anderson
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Married North Carolina couples are the 8th most happily married in America, finds survey

Movies and fairytales tend to teach us that once those wedding bells have run, it’s happily ever after for the couple. However, it turns out that it’s not just a fantasy – according to a survey carried out by QuestionPro, 88% of married couples in Minnesots reported being blissfully happy in their relationships.

The photo books company studied Census data to identify the number of married people in each state, and then surveyed 3,000 married people, asking them how many were actually happy in their relationships. This enabled them to provide an absolute number of happily married people in each state.

And it was found that 3,248,897 North Carolinians (82% of married couples here), said they are indeed happily married! When compared to other states, couples here came in 8th position overall, placing them among the happiest in America.

And the best chance you have of a successful marriage, when the results were broken down by state, is in West Virginia – 90% of married couples here, or around 635,000 people, are still head over heels in love with their partner. Things aren’t as cheerful in North Dakota or Montana, where only 1 in 3 (142k in Montana, and 97k in North Dakota) said they are happily married.

The Top 5 Most Happily Married States

West Virginia (90%); 635,636 couples
Minnesota (88%); 1,927,563 couples
Colorado (86%); 1,950,615 couples
Indiana (86%); 2,194,335 couples
Kentucky (84%); 1,426,113 couples

However, two-thirds (66%) of North Carolina couples admitted that marriage doesn’t just ‘flow’, and that they have to work on it to keep it a happy one. A bold 53% favor taking the lead of various celebrities i.e. the semi-separation model, believing that married couples can live separately from each other and still be happy! For example, Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk waited over a year after their wedding before they finally moved in together.

Finally, over a quarter of those who are married compare themselves to other married couples, which is perhaps unrealistic.

Panthers Legend Greg Olsen Has Just Been Nominated For An Emmy

Charlotte Stories
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Panthers Legend Greg Olsen Has Just Been Nominated For An Emmy

After retiring with a record number of awards and on-field achievements, beloved Panthers star Greg Olsen is continuing to impress off the field.

Olsen, who has become Fox Network’s top game analyst, was one of five nominees in the outstanding personality/emerging on-air talent category, according to a press release from the Panthers.

While still an active player, Olsen began his broadcasting career during bye weeks. In 2021, he and Kevin Burkhardt climbed to the top of Fox’s broadcasting ranks, as noted by the Panthers. The pair notably covered Super Bowl LVII last year.

Over his 14-year playing career, including nine seasons with the Panthers, Olsen recorded 742 receptions for 8,683 yards and 60 touchdowns. Between 2014 and 2016, he made history as the first NFL tight end to achieve 1,000 receiving yards per season for three consecutive years. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Olsen remains committed to the Charlotte community through his family’s Heartest Yard foundation since retiring.

The 44th Annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony is set to take place at Lincoln Center in New York on Monday, May 22.

Australian Environmental Engineering Company Building First US Headquarters in Iredell County

Charlotte Stories
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Australian Environmental Engineering Company Building First US Headquarters in Iredell County

Governor Roy Cooper has just announced plans for a first-of-its-kind development in our region -EPOC Enviro, a cutting-edge environmental engineering company, will be spending $5.72 milling to build their first US headquarters in Iredell County, creating 226 new high-paying jobs in the process.

EPOC Enviro, a subsidiary of OPEC Systems, is an Australian research and development firm with over 30 years of environmental engineering experience. The company has developed unique technology called SAFF (Surface Active Foam Fractionation), which removes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, soil, and industrial systems. With the opening of their new American headquarters, this process will soon be available right here in our region.

“It’s great to welcome EPOC Enviro to Iredell County in the nationally recognized top state for business with the best workers in the world,” Governor Cooper said in a press release. “Our fight against polluted water and climate change will be bolstered by this company’s innovative products and its commitment to sustainability.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce played a pivotal role in bringing EPOC Enviro to the state. With the new facility in Statesville, positions such as electricians, engineers, fitters, managers, technicians, and administrative personnel will be created, offering an average annual salary of $64,464, which surpasses the Iredell County average wage. The project has the potential to generate an annual payroll impact of over $14.5 million per year for the region.

“After looking at possible sites all over America we are delighted to have settled on North Carolina as the hub for our U.S. business activities,” said Peter Murphy, President of EPOC Enviro. “Statesville is perfectly situated in a beautiful corner of the country, and it is exactly the kind of community we were hoping to become an integral part of.”

EPOC’s commitment to Iredell County is a promising sign for the region’s future, with an influx of jobs, economic growth, and a positive environmental impact. The company’s arrival will benefit not only Iredell County but also the entire state of North Carolina, as funds from the JDIG agreement are allocated to support rural communities in financing necessary infrastructure upgrades.

What do you think about EPOC moving to our region? 

$10,000 Reward Offered For Information About Dog Torture Incident Near UNC Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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$10,000 Reward Offered For Information About Dog Torture Incident Near UNC Charlotte

There is now a $10,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for torturing a dog and leaving him tied up by a necktie inside an apartment complex dumpster near UNC Charlotte.

The total reward is a combination of $8,000 from PETA and $2,000 from the local animal rescue group currently caring for the dog.

The tan-and-white pit bull, approximately 2 years old and now named Joey, was discovered at around 2:45 p.m. on February 5. He’s now safe and receiving medical treatment, but exams revealed that he’d been violently abused over a prolonged period, with evidence of many broken bones and a reported loss of vision in one eye due to repeated beatings.

Anyone with information should contact Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control at 704-336-7600.

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