Local Students Win Top Awards at Junior National Theater Festival

Sharon Anderson
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Local Students Win Top Awards at Junior National Theater Festival
Students representing Innovation Drama Academy in Monroe, Spotlight Players in Mint Hill and Academy Team Rock Hill and Showtime Theatre Company in Rock Hill (SC) won national awards and earned other recognition at the 2022 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta (JTF Atlanta). The monumental weekend dedicated to rewarding and celebrating student-driven musical theater programs happened online and in-person January 14-16, 2022, in Atlanta.
Awards
Academy Team Rock Hill won a Freddie G award for Excellence in Ensemble Work and student Sophie Heffernan won a Freddie G award for Outstanding Performance by an Individual.
Showtime Theatre Company won a Freddie G award for Excellence in Acting.
Spotlight Players won a Freddie G award for Excellence in Acting.
Adjudication and Adjudicator Feedback
At the festival, each group performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior® musical for adjudicators.
Academy Team Rock Hill presented Seussical KIDS to director Lotte Wakeham (Associate Director: Matilda the Musical – West End and Broadway); actor Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton, Once On This Island 2017 Revival); and Cindy Ripley, senior education consultant at iTheatrics.
Said Wakeham, “This performance was utterly charming. It was clear that the students were working as a team and supporting each other. The staging was fluid and exciting, and it was wonderful to watch the students use their physicality to create so many different animals. They also displayed strong comic talent. Bravo!” She added, “The staff and students should be incredibly proud of their hard work. They have achieved a huge amount in this performance, and I am excited for what these very talented young performers will do next.”
Added Yearwood, “From the first down beat Sophie Heffernan took over the entire space with leadership, poise, and a joy that lit up the entire room. She led the incredible Academy Team Rock Hill ensemble with excellence as they displayed a true sense of earnest pride in storytelling. For those who may not know, Suessical is a show that centers around the Dr. Seuss book ‘Horton Hears a Who’. From the narration so exquisitely executed by Sophie to the ever-present energy of each ensemble member you’d never have to read the book to understand every facet of the story.
Jordyn Petty shined as Gertrude with a sensibility and gentleness that warmed every heart. In terms of the technical aspects of the production, there were intricate lifts that lit up our eyes and vocals that blew us away. We enjoyed harmonies that blended beautifully and vocal choices that had us chucking through the entire presentation. To top it off, Brady Bass’s Horton and Nyla Clubreath’s JoJo had a connection that warmed our hearts. They kept us laughing at the extravagant nature of their relationship, yet reminded us of the true lesson of respect and recognition of one another.”
Said Ripley, “Academy Team Rock Hill is such a multi talented group and . They work together as an incredible team!”
Innovation Drama Academy presented Singin’ in the Rain JR. for Broadway Actor Krystina Alabado (Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls, American Idiot); Kenny Shepard (Professor, Musical Theatre and Dance Departments: Ball State and Anderson University and Choreographer for The Children’s Museum’s Lilly Theatre/Indianapolis), and Bradford Theatre educator and director Holly Stanfield (national student premieres of Aida School Edition, Thoroughly Modern Millie School Edition and Rent School Edition).
Alabado said, “Innovation Drama Academy had so much fun telling this story!! The young man who played Don was a standout and a clearly respected leader!” Shepard added, “Omari Cupid as Don Lockwood is a talented force and skillfully led this ensemble to success. Anayiah Bivens was also a standout as Lina Lamont. The entire company worked well with me and fellow adjudicators developing skills and fine tuning details of this engaging show.” Said Stanfield, “Singin’ In the Rain JR. stole our hearts this morning. The commitment to their story, and the joy and confidence they exuded really entertained the audience at JTF’s Silver Pod.”
The adjudicators also shared further thoughts about how the students’ performance reflected on Innovation Drama Academy. Alabado said, “It is clear that the teachers and directors here care very much about these young artists!” Added Shepard, “Innovation Drama Academy’s Singin’ in the Rain JR. showed the strength of this program as they brought this classic musical theater piece to life. The audience and I saw storytellers and developing artists at their finest!” Said Stanfield, “This production of Singin’ In the Rain JR. featured many very gifted young performers. It is obvious that they are learning great acting, singing and dancing skills in their work with Innovation Drama Academy. You need all of these skills to tell this story.”
Showtime Theatre Company presented Disney’s Frozen JR. and Spotlight Players presented Guys and Dolls JR. to Director of Teaching & Learning (Roundabout Theatre Company) Paul Brewster McGinley; performer, director and choreographer Carol Worcel (Anything Goes, Broadway National Tour), and Actor Michael Wordly (The Color Purple, US Tour).
Brewster McGinley said of Showtime Theatre Company, “This high energy cast was clearly a supportive and collaborative team. The whole ensemble showed off their acting, singing and dancing skills to bring us on the epic story of Disney’s Frozen JR.”
Brewster McGinley said of Spotlight Players, “This presentation showcased a small and mighty ensemble that is student driven, showcasing creative ideas from the talented and hysterical Izzy Meltzer (Miss Adelaide/Student Director) and dynamic Jessica Dockrill (Harry the Horse/Student Choreographer). This is a very committed and bonded group of young people. The program seems to value both process and product. There was a lot of young artist participation, not only the performing but also the creating of the performance including collaboration skills, feedback, taking notes from one another, negotiation and conflict resolution.” Worcel added, “This group is small but mighty and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. They demonstrated cleverness in staging this piece with a limited number of actors. Shout out to the student choreographer on her first endeavor.”
Additional Recognition at the Festival
Showtime Theatre Company students Angelina Hovey, Cameron Mills, and Sarah Willoughby made it to the callback for future video shoots for “how-to” choreography videos.
The following students were distinguished as All-Stars, an outstanding group of young performers at the festival: Academy Team Rock Hill students Nyla Clubreath and Anna Wall, Innovation Drama Academy students Anaiyah Bivens and Omari Cupid, Showtime Theatre Company students Cate Jambe and Sarah Willoughby and Spotlight Players students Jaylen Dickerson and Izzy Meltzer.
About The 2022 JTF Atlanta
Called a “rousing celebration of theatre” by the New York Times, the Junior Theater Festival applauds and empowers young people and educators creating student-driven musical theater around the globe.
The 2022 JTF Atlanta was an incredible and safe weekend of singing, dancing, acting, and learning. The festival worked with experts to modify the event to meet and exceed local, state, and federal safety guidelines. Festival policies included implementing mandatory masking and authenticating vaccinations or negative COVID test results for all attendees.
Tony Award winning actor Ali Stroker performed the headlining concert. Actors Tommy Bracco (Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical) and Kara Lindsay (Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical) took part in a special Newsies panel via video.
Additional talent appearing at the festival and cheering the young artists were actor Krystina Alabado (Mean Girls, Broadway), actor McKenna Michael Bisaha (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical tour), actor Katy Geraghty (Groundhog Day!, Broadway), actor Jake David Smith (Disney’s Frozen on Broadway), actor Daniel J. Mertzlufft (Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical), actor Luca Padovan (Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical), author and playwright Jodi Picoult (Wish You Were Here, Breathe), screenwriter, songwriter and novelist Dean Pitchford (Footloose, Broadway), music orchestrator Macy Schmidt (founder of The Broadway Sinfonietta), Michael Wordly (The Color Purple, US Tour), and actor Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton).
Groups enjoyed a New Works Showcase of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior® musicals presented by JTF groups, and other mainstage performances featuring powerhouse Broadway guests and took part in workshops.
For bios on Academy Team Rock Hill, Innovation Drama Academy, Showtime Theatre Company and Spotlight Players, click here.

Surrogacy Agency in Thailand: All You Need to Know

Sharon Anderson
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Surrogacy Agency in Thailand: All You Need to Know

Single mothers, surrogate mothers, gay/lesbian parents… Reproductive technologies have changed our understanding of family relationships. The World Center of Baby surrogacy in Thailand proves that. When they say that the possibilities of assisted reproductive technologies are almost limitless, this is not an exaggeration. It is possible to overcome infertility even in situations where a person is physically unable to conceive and bear a child for various reasons. For this purpose, the technology of surrogate motherhood is used.

The essence of surrogate motherhood is the egg fertilization of a genetic mother with the sperm of a man or a donor as part of IVF, with further implantation of the fetal egg into the uterine cavity of the surrogate mother. She bears the pregnancy and gives birth to a baby. Then she passes on a baby to genetic parents. A preliminary contract secures all the nuances of the procedure.

Is Surrogacy in Thailand Legal?

In many countries, the law doesn’t allow commercial surrogacy. Therefore, couples dreaming of a baby traveled to Mexico, India, or Thailand. But recently, Thailand dropped out of this list. This is because the authorities have decided to ban commercial surrogacy. The last two scandals played a decisive role in this. Once, an Australian couple abandoned a child with Down syndrome, born from a surrogate mother. In another case, a Japanese man was accused of fathering 15 babies.

As the World Center of Baby agency says, new legislation of Thailand prohibits surrogacy for foreign and same-sex couples. There is no working surrogacy agency in Thailand. The exception is traditional couples where one of the spouses has local citizenship. For them, the cost of surrogacy in Thailand is approximately $60,000. Those who intend to use surrogacy services will now prove they can’t have children. Violation of surrogacy laws is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Can a Surrogacy Agency Help?

Even though surrogacy in Thailand is prohibited, there are many other countries where it is allowed. First, you need to find a perfect agency that can help you. For example, you can turn to the World Center of Baby. You shouldn’t search for a surrogate mother on the Internet and rely entirely on the search results. Scammers often offer their services for a low price. It is best to focus on the base of women that the agency or clinic recommends, but you need to check a specific candidate yourself. As a rule, any agency has a database and “black lists” that include all unscrupulous gestational couriers.

Of course, entrusting the search for a surrogate mother to the World Center of Baby agency is the preferable option. However, in this case, the cost for participation in the program will be higher. Still, the advantage is that professionals will handle all the paperwork. They will also carry out the transaction from beginning to end, which guarantees the family’s protection in the future.

There are many supporters of surrogate motherhood, and they believe that no one forces a woman to become the mother of someone else’s child. She makes such a decision consciously and independently. Then, future parents just “adopt” their babies. 

Tips to Finding a Cost-Effective and Reliable HVAC System

Sharon Anderson
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Tips to Finding a Cost-Effective and Reliable HVAC System

Are you looking for the best heating, ventilation, and cooling system (HVAC)? Fret no more. Go for the most reliable and cost-effective model in the market. 

An energy-efficient HVAC system is consistently good in performance, quality, trustworthiness, and worth the money you spend. With the high demand for heating and cooling systems, you have to be cautious when looking for the best. 

It can be a daunting and frustrating experience if doing it for the first time. But you can still achieve your goals if you don’t give up. Here are tips to guide you in your undertakings.

Recommendation

Recommendations are always a great way to seek guidance or advice concerning a particular issue. When looking for an HVAC system, it is wise to talk to friends, family members, colleagues, or anyone you know owns such a system.

These are the best individuals to talk to because they have previously invested in such a system. They know how the best HVAC system works, key features to look at and what makes a specific brand stand out.

Through recommendations, you will know where to get your HVAC. The individuals you talk to will also give you rough estimates of the prices of the different brands in the market.

Research Extensively

Research helps know whether the HVAC system you are looking for is available. You will also know whether it is a system that will fit into your budget and be reliable for day-to-day use before making a purchase.

The internet is the best place to gather vital information about HVAC systems. Many manufacturers and businesses have websites to post and update every detail about their products on sale or offer.

Visit reputable websites and find out more about the systems they offer. Check the brands the websites offer and compare their prices.

Use customer comments to source ideas of the best HVAC system on sale and find out what they say. From these comments, you will know whether you are getting the right heating and cooling system.

Online Reviews

One straightforward way to zero in on the best HVAC systems is by analyzing customer reviews. Visit different online stores and look out for unsatisfied customers.

Unsatisfied customers are fruits of ideas and will tell exactly what they want. Look out for disappointing or pain points of purchase on a heating and cooling system a customer bought.

The HVAC system you find will tell you what customers experience are raving about such a product. It doesn’t have to be a one-star review on the product. Even HVAC systems with four or five stars will tell you something.

Reviews also solve the issue of authenticity. Some sites that offer heating, ventilation and cooling systems have genuine reviews that are not skeptical about the brands on sale.

Seek Professional Assistance

If you don’t know where to start and find a cost-effective and reliable HVAC system, try and talk to professionals in the field. These individuals have used these systems before and will provide you with the necessary information you need.

They will help you make the right decision before you make a purchase. Visit a specific website that offers these systems and live chat them. Talking to a sales assistant will instill the confidence you want to choose a particular HVAC from a top-notch brand.

To Sum Up

A cost-effective and reliable HVAC system will satisfy your needs. You will have differentiated between your wants and needs. As you find the best system, feel free to seek recommendations, research widely, read online reviews or comments and seek help if stuck. With this information, go ahead and pick the best and most advanced air conditioning system from reputable dealers and manufacturers.

World-Famous Singers Who Graduated With Honors

Sharon Anderson
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World-Famous Singers Who Graduated With Honors

Popular singers are not likely to get honors degrees because of extremely active concert activity. They just don’t have enough time for learning. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Discover the list of celebrities who graduated with honors below.

Before You Start 

Learning has never been easy. If you feel extremely tired from dozens of academic assignments and look for inspiration by reading the info about popular singers, it might be good to take a short break. The reason is that sometimes you need to have a rest to become more productive and get high grades. 

But what about completing your academic assignments? Who can do your essay for you? The good news is that there are dozens of websites that provide academic assistance for reasonable money. However, you shouldn’t trust the first one you find online. If you would like to get a flawless paper done by a truly professional writer, it might be good to read the reviews for different writing sites shared by experienced learners. 

For example, you can explore the latest Domyessay.net reviews, read more paperduenow.com reviews, and discover some fresh facts from this buyessay review. This easy trick will allow you to choose the most reputable solution and receive a perfectly done paper right on time. You’ll study with no hustle and graduate with honors with no stress. So, what are the most well-known people who graduated with honors? Maybe, they also benefited from the hack we’ve mentioned. Let’s find out a list of the popular singers!

Kanye West 

There is a common myth that all popular rappers lack education. Many people still think that all of these singers lived in dangerous districts and truanted school. However, Kanye West is here to unveil the secret truth. Many rappers are well-educated people. Moreover, some of them have an honors degree! Kanye West is one of them.

The popular singer received an honors degree at the School Of Art Institute Of Chicago. Moreover, he has got an honorary doctorate! Moreover, Kanye West was a lecturer at Oxford University. Being a popular and successful musician still allowed Kanye West to receive a degree. 

John Legend 

This outstanding personality is a popular singer, producer, and songwriter. You will be amazed to discover that John also received an honors degree at the University of Pennsylvania. His main area of study was English, with a focus on African-American literature. 

According to John, his learning path was not easy. However, he tried to do his best in order to achieve all his academic goals and become a brilliant student. 

Bono 

Bono is a true start on the world’s music horizon. Being a popular singer, songwriter, venture capitalist, businessman, and philanthropist, he can also boast of having an honors degree. Moreover, his major area of study is one of the most challenging ones – he studied law at the University of Pennsylvania. 

It is also worth mentioning that this world-famous singer received a degree at the peak of his musical career. Despite all the scandals related to this celebrity, he truly deserves respect and honor. 

Aretha Franklin

This American pianist, singer, and songwriter is also known as the “Queen of Soul” because of her outstanding vocal talents. Although Aretha dedicated all her life to music and songwriting, she also received an honors degree. She was a doctor of arts and graduated from Harvard University.

Being a unique artist, Aretha Franklin will remain in the hearts of millions of fans all over the world for years. This brilliant lady was incredibly hard-working, persistent, and diligent. She could be a perfect role model for many modern singers, bloggers, and other celebrities. 

Sean Combs, aka Puff Daddy

Sean Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, remains one of the most popular rappers in the world. Not only is he a top singer, but also a producer, record executive, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Puff Daddy is also one of those celebrities who breaks the myth about poorly-educated popular singers. 

Sean Combs dropped out of the university in the early 90s because of building a head-dizzying career as a singer. He gave hundreds of concerts, visited numerous countries, and took part in hundreds of shows. Although Puff Daddy remained popular for over a decade, he still decided to continue his studies and return to the university. After a long, 25-years break, he received an honorary degree in humanities. Sean Combs successfully graduated from Howard University in 2014. His major focus was the humanities. 

The list of celebrities who graduated with honors is surely not completed. There are hundreds of other popular singers and musicians who can boast of having an honors degree. These are people, whom you have definitely heard of. For example, Rihanna, Willie Nelson, Ed Sheeran, Johnny Cash, Chance The Rapper, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Lucinda Williams, Steven Tyler, Dolly Parton, Gregg Allman, and many others.  

Local Artist Gallery Opens at Rock Hill’s Center for the Arts

Charlotte Stories
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Local Artist Gallery Opens at Rock Hill’s Center for the Arts

The Arts Council of York County presents ACYC Members Show, works by members of the Arts Council of York County in the Dalton and Perimeter Galleries at the Center for the Arts, 121 East Main Street, Rock Hill, SC from January 7 – 28, 2022.

The Arts Council’s Members Show features bold, new works of art by regional artists who are members of the Arts Council of York County. The works on display are as diverse as the artists themselves with paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed media pieces gracing the walls of the Dalton Gallery. Artist members range from internationally recognized professionals to student and emerging artists.

It is through the support of its members that the Arts Council of York County is able to fulfill its mission to create arts programming that encourages education, economic development and arts advocacy through unique art experiences that engage the community to make York County a regional arts destination.

Also on display at the Center for the Arts | Crafting the Cans: Designs by Matt Poston
EXHIBITION | January 12 – 28, 2022
RECEPTION | Thursday, January 13, 2022 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Matt Poston’s playful designs make Slow Play Brewing’s craft beer cans pop!

Having grown up in Charleston, SC, Matt Poston attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts 1991 summer program at Furman University focusing on visual arts, and moved to Rock Hill in the Fall of 1992 to attend Winthrop University pursuing a BA in Graphic Design. While only partially completing this degree program, Matt returned to Winthrop in the Spring of 2009 to pursue a BS in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting, graduating in December 2011. Over the next few years, he helped develop the business plan and designed the logo for the poker-themed Slow Play Brewing, which opened in Rock Hill in November 2018. There, he creates all the artwork for the brewery including hand drawing the chalkboard tap list signs, creating event posters, and designing the can labels, as well as the day-to-day bookkeeping functions.

For more information about the exhibits in the galleries at the Center for the Arts, visit https://www.yorkcountyarts.org/2022membersshow.

COVID-19 Visitation Guidelines | https://www.yorkcountyarts.org/visit
In adherence with CDC recommendations and in consideration of the surge of the Omicron variant, face masks are required for all those visiting the Center for the Arts and the offices at the Tom S. Gettys Center, regardless of vaccination status. Social distancing is encouraged. This policy may be revised as CDC guidelines change.

The Center for the Arts is located at 121 East Main Street, in the Cultural District of Downtown Rock Hill. All three galleries at the Center for the Arts are open Monday through Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM, and the second and fourth weekends of each month, Saturday from 10 AM – 2 PM, and Sunday from 2 – 4 PM.

4 Online Slots Based on Hollywood Blockbusters

Charlotte Stories
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4 Online Slots Based on Hollywood Blockbusters

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused businesses to shut down. However, Charlotte has slowly been reopening by implementing a three-phase plan. It’s only in Phases 2 and 3 that we see an opening of restaurants, fitness centers, and entertainment venues, like casinos, to operate at limited capacities. However, another spike in infections will result in the tightening of restrictions.

With the uncertainty the pandemic brings, avid gamers can look to online casinos to minimize the chances of exposure to the virus. Yahoo Finance reports that the online gaming market has boomed during the pandemic, and it’s expected to grow by 11.49% by 2026. Among the casino games, slots are perhaps the easiest to get the hang of — not to mention they feature different themes and stories that are extremely immersive, like Hollywood films. There are several great Hollywood-themed online slot machines, and below are a few that you need to try:

Terminator 2


Terminator 2 is a 1991 sci-fi film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that became a cult favorite, gaining recognition even years after it was released — including ranking eighth in the 2008 AFI’s 10 Top 10 for sci-fi. Opening day saw a gross of $11.66 million, an impressive feat for a Wednesday opener. Created by Microgaming, the Terminator 2 video-slot has great graphics and animations. It has five reels and 243 pay-lines in standard mode, which increases to 1024 in the Free Spin bonus mode. And when you score a winning combination of symbols, a short clip from the original movie is part of the celebration animations.

Gladiator


The 2000 film Gladiator topped the box office in its opening weekend, earning $34.8 million. The film also caused what was called the “Gladiator Effect,” an increased interest in Roman and classical history in the U.S. Even translated Roman works like Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations saw a spike in sales. It also inspired games, both for consoles and casinos. Gala Casino has several slots based on the Gladiator film that allow players to embrace their inner warriors, with graphics that take you back to Ancient Rome. The official tie-in includes video sequences and the soundtrack from the film. It’s a 25-line game where you can win cash prizes for gold, silver, and bronze helmets in the Gladiator Bonus.

The Mummy


Another iconic Hollywood movie is the horror-comedy-adventure film The Mummy. It’s tightly written, being able to perfectly balance horror and goofy comedy. The combination of timing and skill also keeps the film exciting no matter how many times you watch it. It grossed $43 million on opening weekend and was also a huge success on home video. And when Playtech made the movie into a video-slot, it was very successful as well. It’s made of five reels and 25 pay-lines. The slots capture the adventure aspect of the film with the main feature, the Lost City Adventure Bonus. This is triggered randomly throughout the game where players open treasure chests to reveal prizes and unlock additional game features.

Jurassic World


Jurassic World is already the fourth installment of the wildly successful Jurassic Park franchise, but it didn’t make people any less excited about it. In fact, during its opening weekend, it became the first film to collect at least $500 million in one weekend. As slots, the Jurassic Park franchise has been a massive hit as well, and Jurassic World isn’t any different. There are five reels and 243 pay-lines and random boost on wins in the base game. You can even get up to multipliers up to 7x during Free Spins.

Slots are certainly easy and fun to try. There are many other online Hollywood-themed slots you can try, but you can begin by checking the above titles. For more local news, check our blog here on Charlotte Stories.

Jason Momoa Spotted in The Charlotte Region

Charlotte Stories
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Jason Momoa Spotted in The Charlotte Region

Game Of Thrones, Aquaman, and Sugar Mountain Star and general Hollywood hunk Jason Momoa has just been spotted in the Charlotte region.

Yesterday afternoon, the Rowan County Museum posted a picture of Momoa in front of the grand building in downtown Salisbury (about 30 miles north of Charlotte).

The museum is located at 202 N Main St, Salisbury, NC:

While it’s unlikely that Momoa is still there, we can’t say for certain that he’s NOT still there…

Mecklenburg’s Housing Report Released – Avg Home Price Now $471k With Record Low Inventory

Charlotte Stories
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Mecklenburg’s Housing Report Released – Avg Home Price Now $471k With Record Low Inventory

Mecklenburg County just released their year ending Residential Housing Market Report for 2021, showing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase in average home prices in the county, as well as far fewer listings and more sales than in 2020.

The report was compiled with data from the Canopy MLS, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis by Mecklenburg County’s Economist Michael B. Simmons.

The following are the key takeaways from the report:

  • The Housing market in Mecklenburg finished the year with home prices averaging $471,086, a 19.8% increase from last December. Home prices should continue to increase in the coming months as there is a very limited number of homes available and overwhelming demand for the area.
  • Mecklenburg County’s year-over-year home sales in December decreased 7.7%, with 1,844 properties sold compared to 1,997 properties over the same period last year.
  • Pending sales were up 5.2% for the month with 1,499 this year compared to 1,425 in the previous year.
  • New listings year-over-year were down 0.7% with 1,352 properties up for sale compared to 1,361 properties up for sale over the same period last year.
  • The average home price year-to-date through December for the County is up 17.4% at $440,275 compared to $375,062 during the same year-to-date period last year.
  • The inventory of available homes for sale in December is down 50.0% with 1,011 homes available compared to 1,925 last year. The current month’s supply of housing in County decreased to 0.5 months.

In the report, Simmons also noted that due to the record low level of inventory last year, we’ve now started this year with an even larger supply/demand imbalance than the beginning of 2021, implying that prices will likely continue to increase.

It’s likely that the fed will begin to increase interest rates in an attempt to calm inflation numbers, but it’s unclear how much this might affect home prices over the next year.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Mecklenburg County, let us connect you with a top real estate agent in your area by filling out the form below:

    Elementor WordPress Themes: How They Changed Your Site Building Experience

    Sharon Anderson
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    Elementor WordPress Themes: How They Changed Your Site Building Experience

    Why Should You Consider Elementor?

    Is it worth introducing such a well-known website builder as Elementor? OK, briefly, with Elementor, you can create any website without knowing any code. All you have to do is drag and drop the modules you need. It’s perfect for designers, marketers, and entrepreneurs who want to create a cutting-edge web resource without any tech skills. It can be a blog, a portfolio, or an online store. Thus, Elementor has been gaining popularity in recent years because of its user-friendly interface, amazing features, and, most importantly, pre-designed WordPress templates. Yes, some good Elementor WordPress themes are available on WordPress.org, where you can find different styles to suit your needs. However, those who want to access premium web designs often purchase them from third-party websites like TemplateMonster.

    Such sought-after marketplaces are great places to find stylish templates for business and personal use alike. Additionally, they provide an array of other top-notch web assets like plugins, graphics, effects, etc. In a word, all in one place.

    How to Use Elementor WordPress Themes for Your Projects?

    Third-party marketplaces are so popular because they offer various templates for different purposes. Whether you are looking for a responsive design, blog section, cross-browser compatibility, or social media integration, you’ll find it all. In addition to that, customers get lifetime support on purchased products, which means you can get help at any time with any aspect of your web design.

    Let’s Talk in Detail About All Pre-Made Template Features

    • Fully responsive and mobile-friendly.

    Responsive design is a technique used to make a website look good on any device. In other words, a template-based website accommodates various screen sizes and makes it easy to use on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops

    • Search engine friendly.

    The key to ranking higher in Google is to have an SEO-friendly site. Thus, you can dominate the competition with WordPress themes and drive more traffic.

    • Dropdown menu.

    A dropdown menu is a useful, unobtrusive navigation tool. Besides, dropdowns are easy to use on mobile devices and provide an efficient way for users to find what they’re looking for.

    • Blog.

    It is a must-have site section to share your thoughts and opinions on newsworthy topics.

    • Parallax effect.

    The parallax effect is created by using the scroll action of the browser to give an illusion of depth. As a result, this creates a more immersive and engaging browsing experience for users, increasing your chances of getting them to spend more time on your site.

    • Retina-ready.

    The world of high-resolution screens is here. Retina ready provides optimized images for high-resolution screens, making them easier to read and navigate.

    • RTL support.

    Traditionally, sites use the left-to-right (LTR) writing format, which is more familiar to Western cultures. However, RTL (right-to-left) support provides the option to display text on the right side of the screen. This format is used to write languages like Arabic and Hebrew.

    • Cross-browser.

    Cross-browser design is essential to ensure your website is functional and accessible across all platforms. It ensures that the functionality and aesthetic of your website are optimized for Chrome, Opera, Safari, Firefox, etc.

    Unlimited Themes for Your Creative Projects

    Marketplaces like TemplateMonster benefit not only from quality products but also from great deals. And some of them are for life.

    One of such deals is MonsterONE, a subscription service for digital creatives. It gives you unlimited downloads of high-quality graphics, templates, plugins, etc. It also provides new products weekly to help you stay on top of the latest trends in design.

    You may ask, why subscribe to some program when I can still download products? The point is that if you need to download different designs for your projects frequently, it will be very expensive. And with a WordPress subscription, you won’t need to pay for each new product. You just download unlimited items as part of your subscription.

    Compare for yourself:

    • CREATIVE plan: $7.4/mo or $89/year; it includes graphics, presentations, multimedia assets, 3D models
    • ALL-IN-ONE plan: $14.1/mo or $169/year; includes all the same as the previous plan plus website templates and plugins
    • LIFETIME plan: $599 one-time fee; besides all the benefits mentioned above, it also provides lifetime options such as customer support, product licenses, and access to products.

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    Start Using Elementor WordPress Templates Today to Supercharge Your Website Design Process

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    Is There Mail Delivery Today: USPS Schedules For 2022

    Steve
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    Is There Mail Delivery Today: USPS Schedules For 2022

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent Federal agency that’s responsible for offering mail delivery services across the United States (U.S). USPS is also known as postal service, U.S. mail, or the post office. This department was founded in 1792 under the leadership of Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general.  

    In 1872 the department was promoted to a cabinet, and it later transformed into an independent agency in 1970 following the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. Since then, USPS has been growing and has become a source of income for many citizens. Although digital services briefly disrupted employment in the Postal Office, the agency still offers employment to 516,500 people as of 2021.

    Like regular employees, these people have day-offs, and they celebrate holidays. The postal services may not be available to serve you during these days, but it’s nothing you can’t wait. For that reason, it helps when you understand the working schedule of USPS. What are their operating hours? Are they open on holidays? Is there a mail delivery today? This article will not only answer these questions but will discuss other information concerning the post office.  

    Is There Mail Delivery Today? 

    Whether you’re a seller, buyer, or regular person sending a package, you want to ensure that the delivery will make it on time. That’s why the answer to the question, “Is there mail delivery today?” is very important before you send out a package. 

    You first need to know the USPS delivery schedule to answer that question. Luckily, all post offices, local or national run-on standard business hours. Therefore, expect the office to be open between 9 am to 7 pm local time, every Monday to Friday.  

    Although the post office strives to ensure all its deliveries are on time, there’s no specific delivery time. When would your package be delivered depends on several factors, such as:

    • How many items were dispatched that day? The higher the volume of packages for dispatch, equates to the time the delivery will take.  
    • The specific day it was dispatched. 
    • The location where it was stored before delivering 
    • The location of the warehouse where it’ll be picked  
    • Extreme weather conditions- just like any other logistic task, mail delivery can be hindered by extreme weather conditions like storms, hurricanes, and snowstorms. For example, if a snowstorm forces transportation to stop, expect your delivery to delay significantly.  
    • Other factors that can delay delivery include a power outage, sudden illness or accidents, and transportation mechanical problems, to mention a few.  

    That being the case, you have to wait for the notification to pick up your package. There are days when USPS services aren’t available such as during federal holidays. Here’s the USPS 2022 holiday schedule for your reference: 

    • January 17 – Martin Luther King Jr.   
    • February 15 – Presidents’ Day  
    • February 21 – Washington’s Birthday:  
    • May 30 – Memorial Day:   
    • June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day. Monday, July 4- Independence Day  
    • September 5 – Labor Day:  
    • October 10 – Columbus Day:  
    • November 11 – Veterans Day  
    • November 24 – Thanksgiving  
    • December 25 – Christmas Day. 
    • December 31 – New Year’s Day   

    As mentioned before, during the holidays listed above, mail delivery services aren’t available. However, in some offices, the services are available for only a few hours before the workers close for the holiday. It’s advisable to check with your local office to be sure if USPS services are running on that given holiday.  

    Christmas holidays are the busiest time of year for USPS, they usually extend working hours due to the bulk of packages needed to be delivered right in time for Christmas. On the other hand, some offices with lesser workload may decide to have limited hours during the Christmas holidays. However, every local post office is required to post its Christmas schedule earlier for people to have a reference regarding their working hours. So, make it a point to check your local post office Christmas schedule.

    Alternatively, you can check on your local post office working hours during the Christmas holidays by using the Find USPS location and entering your area zip code online. 

    What Is A Priority Mail?  

    A priority mail is part of the USPS classes of mail. As the name suggests, these kinds of mail are prioritized in delivery. It only takes one to three business days for it to be delivered. They also allow to prioritize the delivery of heavier packages of a maximum weight of 70 pounds.

    Due to the speed of delivery and associated weight, this type of mail is expensive to send. However, it’s suitable for people who need to send and receive their shipments immediately. Moreover, due to the level of urgency for fast delivery, priority mails are delivered even during weekends and on holidays.   

    Does USPS Work On Weekends?  

    Yes, there are mail delivery services on weekends, although weekends refer to only Saturdays. Sunday is considered rest day even though there’s a category of mails that are delivered on this day which will be discussed later on. 

    Even with the availability of USPS on Saturday, there’s an exemption. The types of mails delivered on Saturday usually depend on their category. For example, priority mails and priority mail express may be delivered on a Saturday while first-class mail, standard post, and medial mail products will not.  

    What About Sunday? 

    The only types of mails delivered on Sunday are amazon packages and priority mails. The move to authorize deliveries on weekends was made in a bid to save the dwindling USPS service industry. Due to technology, people have found faster means to communicate and send packages. As a result, most people stopped using the post office, which led to a loss of income for the industry. 

    While the option would have been to close down the USPS services, it wasn’t possible since a few people still use it to run their businesses and personal life. Therefore, to boost income generated from the delivery of U.S. mails and packages, the government allowed deliveries of even on weekends.  

    During this time (2013), USPS and Amazon struck a deal that postal services would deliver Amazon packages. The condition is that the deliveries will be done every Monday to Sunday. Since then, USPS has been delivering amazon packages to Phoenix, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York.  

    To Sum It Up 

    USPS services are available on weekdays from 9 am to 7 pm. Priority mails and priority express mails are more likely to be delivered on a Saturday than other types of mails. Make this article your guide with regards to the USPS working days and schedule, plus, their holiday breaks. It pays to know this information to save you time and effort.

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