Election Day Voting Bias in Charlotte – Election Official Op-Ed

Charlotte Stories
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Election Day Voting Bias in Charlotte – Election Official Op-Ed

This is a first hand account of working the 2020 election in Mecklenburg County of Charlotte, North Carolina.  

I applied online to participate as a volunteer at local precinct, precinct 080. I was contacted by a Senior Quality & Training Specialist, who asked me to submit my resume, I never submitted my resume, nor responded to that particular email. A few weeks later I receive a call from a Chief Judge in Mecklenburg County. She explained to me that there were two spots available for her precinct and that she had exhausted her contacts to fill the two remaining positions. The two positions remaining were Equipment Manager and Republican Judge. I asked which one would give me the most experience and engagement in the election process, she replied the Republican Judge.  I explained that I was not a registered Republican and instead registered as UNA. The Chief Judge expressed that this did not matter. I again asked if I was understanding correctly and she said that I did not have to be a Rep to the the Rep Judge. She even apologized that the “Rep” Judge was the only Judge position available…. I accepted the role.

Over the next month, I attended a two hour training session on October 7th, met the Democrat Judge, Chief Judge, and Equipment Manager for a walk through of the precinct on October 24th, and met the remaining poll workers on November 2nd to set-up the precinct.

On election day I arrived at precinct 080 at 5:40am.  In no particular order, here is a list of events worth noting.

1. A poll observer entered the precinct approximately 6:20am. The Chief Judge told him to leave the building and wait outside until the polls open at 6:30am. She then turned and said how she hated the observers and they were nothing but a**holes.

2. The church employee in charge of the building was told that due to Covid-19 that he could not be anywhere inside the church building and would have to stay in the parking lot.  ** This was an intentional LIE **. The Chief Judge mentioned during our walk through that she was planning to lie to the church employee to make sure that he would not be in the building.

3. Certain individuals were told by the Chief Judge that they were required to wear a mask to vote. In one particular incident an elderly woman had placed her mask over her mouth and was then instructed that the mask was required to cover the nose.  ** This is FALSE **. During our training, it was made clear that poll workers could ONLY ask individuals to wear a mask, however could NOT require any individual to wear a mask, as this constitutes voter suppression.

4. The Chief Judge allowed boxes of pizza to enter the precinct and be shared with poll workers, observers and third party organization workers outside the precinct (who WERE allowed to enter the polling location, however church staff was NOT allowed to).  This is in direct defiance of the Board of Elections Covid-19 protocol for polling locations. NO FOOD was to be shared by ANY STAFF or VOLUNTEERS, even with pizza being the example of what NOT to do.

***NOTE: I believe this important to note, because it shows how the Chief Judge was allowing Covid-19 to be the reason “certain” voters were required to wear a mask and “certain” individuals could not be inside the building because of Covid-19. However, boxes of pizza can be brought in and shared without concern and “certain”, non-approved third party workers, were allowed to enter the building.

5.  ALL workers belong to DEM or UNA parties.

ALL Judges – UNA or DEM
ALL Poll Workers – UNA or DEM
ALL Observers – UNA or DEM

The following is an email exchange between myself and Carolyn Mints, Senior Quality & Training Specialist with Board of Elections – Mecklenburg County. The email exchange is from Monday, November 9th.

EMAIL 1 

EMAIL 1 RESPONSE 

EMAIL 2 

EMAIL 2 RESPONSE

NOV. 3, 2020 – POLL WORKERS – PRECINCT 080 – MECKLENBURG COUNTY

6.  Most of the morning, I was outside attending to the curbside voters. The last step of the curbside process was to take the written ballot and insert it into the tabulator to be counted. Late in the morning, around 11am, the Regional Precinct Coordinator arrived. She noticed that I was about to enter a ballot into the tabulator and pointed out to the Chief Judge that ONLY JUDGES were allowed to insert the curbside ballots into the tabulator. The Chief Judge explained that I was a Judge. The Regional Precinct Coordinator then mentioned that another Judge was required to be present when any Judge was inserting ballots into the tabulator. The Chief Judge lied to the Regional Precinct Coordinator and said that the 3 of us (the Judges) had been watching each other each time. I was unaware of this regulation and had been inserting ballots without any other Judge present. The remainder of the day neither Judge made themselves aware of the ballots I was inserting and I had to track one of them down each time I had to insert a ballot into the tabulator. The Chief Judge deliberately LIED.

7.  Provisional ballots were cast the entire day and I, as Republican Judge, was never made aware of where they went after they were completed. I was not asked to confirm even ONE provisional ballot.

8.  One man was told that, because he was not registered, that he could NOT vote.  This is NOT True. He could have filled out a provisional ballot. I was only made aware of this situation after the fact. I was outside working curbside, when the outside observer asked “what did you say to get that man upset”? I explained that I was unaware of what he was talking about, I had been on curbside and not spoken to any voter inside the precinct. The observer went on to say the man wasn’t allowed to vote, but the observer didn’t know why. It wasn’t until after the man had left that the Chief Judge and I spoke to the observer. The Chief Judge said that the Provisional Transfer Assistant had turned the man away and should not have turned him away.

*** NOTE:  On November 4th, I reached out to the observer to ask if he knew any contact that I could report a few of my concerns to. I mentioned a few of the concerns I had and he defended each one. He then noted how he was a DEM and to be clear, the only incident he reported was when I turned the voter away because the voter was not registered. The observer said I was the only man working and when the upset voter came out and described to him what had happen. The voter said that the man inside “with the Bible name” was an a**hole and wouldn’t let him vote. I then reminded the observer that I was NOT the only man working, that the Provisional Transfer Assistant was a MAN named Abdulah, and he was who the voter had spoke with. The DEM observer however, reported me, the REP Judge, as turning away a voter that I never spoke a single word to.

9.  Just prior to the polls closing, the Chief Judge told me that if someone pulling into the parking lot, to go ahead and let them come in. POLLS CLOSE at 7:30pm in NC, not a few minutes later.

10. At the end of the night, the Chief Judge and the Equipment Manager printed out the results from the tabulator. The Chief Judge asked the poll workers if anyone would like to hear the results. She gathered everyone around and read out how Biden had beat Trump. The workers started cheering and then asked about Roy Cooper. The poll workers then cheered again. The Chief Judge went on to say how the bonds were passed which is “a really good thing, that’s a good thing.”

These are great concerns and I have shared these concerns with local and national media outlets.

Matthew Clum
Republican Judge
Precinct 080 of Mecklenburg County
Charlotte, NC

Colonial Pipeline Gas Spill In Huntersville Far Bigger Than Initial Estimates

Charlotte Stories
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Colonial Pipeline Gas Spill In Huntersville Far Bigger Than Initial Estimates

According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Colonial Pipeline spill in Huntersville is now turning out to be far bigger than the initial estimates predicted.

The spill was first detected on August 14th coming from a ruptured Colonial Pipeline gas line near Huntersville’s Oehler Nature Preserve. The liquid petroleum gas line that ruptured runs 5,550-miles from Texas, through the southern states, to New Jersey.

Colonial Pipeline said they believed 270,000 gallons of gasoline would eventually spill into the surrounding Mecklenburg County nature preserve.

Now, 3 months later, over 275,000 gallons of gas has been recovered, with an additional 3,000-5,000 gallons being removed every day. Officials now estimate this recovery rate will continue for at least another few months.

Colonial Pipeline’s most recent update states:

“As of Tuesday, November 3, 2020, Colonial had installed 100 monitoring and recovery wells at the site.  Sixty of those wells are monitoring wells, and 40 are recovery wells.  Neither monitoring nor recovery wells are used for potable water.  Residential water well sampling for homes within a 1,500-foot radius of the incident location, which is the monitoring radius established by NCDEQ, are completed weekly.  The samples are analyzed by an external laboratory, and there have been no detections of petroleum constituents in any of the samples taken from any of the residential water wells.”

While it’s unknown how far the gas spill has spread, DEQ officials have stated that no gasoline has been detected in any well water yet.

Governor Cooper Proclaims Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week in North Carolina

Charlotte Stories
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Governor Cooper Proclaims Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week in North Carolina

Cybersecurity professionals ensure that North Carolina’s most private and important information, and critical infrastructure is maintained and secured. Governor Cooper has proclaimed this week, November 9-14, as Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week in North Carolina to bring awareness to this profession.

“This week, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate the vital role that the cybersecurity workforce plays in our society. With technology improving every day, it is important to recognize the diverse, highly skilled individuals that enhance the state’s security and promote economic prosperity within the cybersecurity industry,” said Governor Roy Cooper.  “Throughout the week, we want to focus on educating the public on the demand, opportunities, and various careers available within the area of cybersecurity.”

During a pandemic, the cybersecurity workforce has been more critical to society than ever before, as residents are going online to work, learn and seek health care. This workforce is also instrumental in the protections of our state’s public safety networks, health systems, water, financial systems etc. A monthly report from NC Tech showed that the increased use of cloud technologies, as a result of remote working conditions related to COVID-19, has led to a significant increase in demand for cloud capabilities and the ability to demonstrate cybersecurity and data privacy capabilities to compete in today’s environment and gain consumers’ digital trust.

“We want to take this week to inspire and educate North Carolinians of all ages, educators, parents and employers on career opportunities in the field of cybersecurity,” said Thomas Parrish, IV, acting secretary and state chief information officer of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT).  “The flourishing industry will only continue to grow and offer more jobs and paths for the future professionals of North Carolina.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks information security analysts as one of its Five-Star Jobs, projecting it to experience significant net job growth of 36% over the 2018-2028 period. North Carolina currently has more than 20,000 listed cybersecurity jobs open.  A  cybersecurity workforce shortage is expected to continue to grow for the near future.  This deficit could be filled by local talent if exposed early to available educational resources for career entry. North Carolina is home to numerous colleges and universities that have met the rigorous criteria required to earn the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation for their various degree programs.  For a list of certified programs, visit https://www.caecommunity.org/content/cae-institution-map.

In addition to a variety of degree and certification programs at community colleges and universities throughout the state, NC Works, the state’s workforce system, has created various apprenticeships and training programs to prepare jobseekers for careers in cybersecurity.

As an example, the Cumberland County Workforce Development recently recognized graduates of a Cybersecurity Pre-Apprenticeship program for young adults ages 14 through 25. The Raleigh-based ISG Cybersecurity Talent Development teamed up with the Cumberland County Workforce Development to prepare and train cybersecurity professionals and help young adults establish a career path early in the IT industry. Currently, the Capital Area Workforce Development Board is recruiting candidates for its own ITAP (Information Technology Apprenticeship Program), with ISG Cybersecurity Talent Development. The program combines classroom learning with real-world experience, so students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful IT professionals. NCDIT has also partnered with ISG on a Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program specifically for disabled veterans.

Citizens interested in cybersecurity jobs can view current listings at www.ncworks.gov.

As part of the cybersecurity work that NCDIT conducts, the agency recently launched CyberSecureNC for Schools & Students, a website and educational effort dedicated to helping school administrators, teachers, students and parents with the transition to working and learning remotely and doing it in a safe and cybersecure way. This is a part of it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC, the agency’s statewide effort to promote being cybersafe as well as what to do if you become a victim of a cyberattack. Residents can also dial 211 if they suspect they are the victim of cybercrime and be put in contact with a trained specialist to assist them with best practices and support.

It is important to show cybersecurity is a job you can have as early as possible, especially when it comes to girls and women, who are historically underrepresented in STEM fields, specifically cybersecurity. To help reduce this gender gap, NCDIT supports Girls Go CyberStart, part of CyberStart America, a virtual, national competition for high school girls. Registration is now open for the 2021 competition.

For more information on Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week and the work at NCDIT, visit it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC. For more information about cybersecurity education and programs, please visit www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nice.

Too Hot to Handle: 5 Common Problems for Hot Water Systems

Roddy B
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Too Hot to Handle: 5 Common Problems for Hot Water Systems

With winter just around the corner, you must be able to keep your hot water systems in tip-top shape. Ensuring your hot water system is well maintained and functioning well will save you from the bone-chilling cold showers in winter. Most of the time, the hot water systems are the most underrated and often neglected appliance that we have in our homes.

Modern hot water systems can be used on both a seasonal and daily basis. Nothing beats a long, hot, and relaxing shower after a long day at work. In comparison, nothing is more frustrating than looking forward to a hot shower, and then you realize that your water heater system is busted. Like any other appliance, water heaters have common problems.

Leaking From the Bottom or Top

Having leaks coming from your hot water system is a pretty common problem. Leaks often happen at the base or bottom of your water heater. If left unattended, a leak can lead to more severe problems for your hot water system. Leaks can also be attributed to worn out valves or gaskets. These valves can be the T&P valve, pressure relief valve, or the drain valve.

In some cases, the actual tank may be the one that is leaking. If this happens, there is no other alternative but to cut your losses and replace hot water system in your house. A leaking tank can result from low maintenance wherein debris, and sediments build up inside the tank. This debris and sediments may lead to the tank rusting prematurely.

If your leak is coming from the top side, the best thing to do is find the leak source. The first thing to do is to turn off the power source for safety purposes. Next is to make sure that you have enough water pressure for you to find the leak. If you cannot visually find the leak, The next thing to do is to wrap the pipes in tissue paper and check the wet spots. 

Little To No Hot Water

Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for your water to warm up, and then when you turn the knob on, cold water comes streaming down. Before you scream in frustration, you need to check the power source first. For electric hot water systems, you will need to check the circuit breaker. For gas type hot water systems, proceed to check the thermostat.

The thermostat’s limiter might have been tripped because it is faulty, or the water might have been too hot. If the power source is not the culprit, this may indicate more severe problems. The problem may lie in the internal heating elements in your hot water systems. If this is the case, then it is time to replace that hot water system.

The Water is Too Hot

Being exposed to scalding hot water is dangerous. Not only will it lead to burns, but it can also cause frustration to the homeowner. But you need not worry as this problem has a simple and easy fix. You need to check the thermostat. The case may be that the thermostat is set too high. A simple adjustment on the thermostat knob might fix the problem.

If you already adjusted the thermostat and it did not fix the problem, then you might need to replace that faulty thermostat. In some cases, sediments can build up in your water tanks that may lead to thermostat malfunction. A simple fix to this problem is to clean your water tank and remove the sediments.

When checking the thermostat and other parts of your hot water system, safety is the utmost priority. You must turn off the power to avoid being electrocuted. After turning off the power, you can check the wirings using a non-contact voltage tester. Also, you need to inspect the safety guard and insulation. 

The Water Has Color and an Undesirable Odor

Seeing rust-colored running water can cause chills to run down your spine. The combination of rust-colored water and a foul smell is more disgusting. If you see that your running water is rusty colored, the problem may lie in the anode rod corroding and rusting away. The anode rod is responsible for making sure that rust does not build up in your tank.

In some cases, the tank itself may be rusting away. To avoid this problem, you must ensure that you periodically maintain your home’s hot water system. Ensuring that your hot water system is well maintained will save you money in the long run. If the rust and corrosion are left unchecked, this can result in replacing the whole system.

The Hot Water System is Making Odd Noises

Like any other household appliance, your hot water system can make noises. But what you need to know is what sound is typical, and what is unusual. If your hot water system frequently makes odd noises, this might be a sign of clogging. Once you hear banging and hissing sounds, you can contact your local plumber to inspect your hot water system.

Strange noises from your hot water system can also mean that debris and sediments have built up at the bottom of your tank. You can flush and replace the water in your tanks to clear the sediments out. 

Takeaway

As we all know, you need to take care of your hot water system if you want the most bang for your buck. A well maintained hot water system will have more longevity and will have fewer chances to fail. It is a must to invest in the maintenance of our household appliances.

Dental Appointment: What Are The Best Tools And Features?

Rose Blue
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As Amit Kalantri said, “Punctuality is not just limited to arriving at a place at the right time; it is also about taking action at the right time.” So, what are the right actions to do, what is the right time to follow? 

Punctuality is a person’s habit of arriving on time or happening at the time that has been set. Whether it is an appointment, an event, a meeting, deadline, a daily personal routine, or something called for a definite time, something is bound to be followed or started on time. 

Any appointment could be as necessary as any event. Any circumstances that would mess up your appointment would give a good deal of chaos and disorder, especially if it involves other than you, in this case, your patients or your clients.

Why Set An Appointment?

Making an appointment may not be equally important to everyone; however, some activities deem necessary to set an appointment before the said engagement.

In today’s circumstances, where the world is experiencing a global pandemic, it is of utmost importance that every activity or engagement involved with somebody has a set appointment. The appointment would give everyone to get organized and prepared for that meeting. Surprises are not in the options.

The organized meeting gives no reason to mess up. When setting up an appointment, it is crucial to consider every detail that would get in the way. To do this, clients can use a manual calendar, a record, or a tool with an Automated Appointment Reminders feature.

Who Can Use The Appointment Schedulers?

Appointment scheduling tools are more useful for medical and dental practitioners. According to research, 41.4% of clients in the medical field prefer online scheduling through a patient scheduling software to lessen their frustrations in phone scheduling. 

Real-time scheduling is most patronized by healthcare providers and clients alike. The tool’s efficiency is one of the most common reasons that the tool is trendy, especially among doctors and dentists.

Disclosures and Privacy Accountability

There are several and attractive features that each software offers. However, using an appointment scheduling tool does not spare their accountability to clienteles’ privacy.

When using an appointment scheduling software, it is crucial to consider the clientele and patrons’ privacy. It is equally relevant to protect clients’ personal information, mainly including medical records and health aspects.

The software must be HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant. The act was created by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protect patients’ sensitive information and prohibits disclosure without the patients’ consent.

The Best Features Of An Appointment Scheduler

Many tools provide a practical and efficient experience. When face to face conduct is limited these days, the best help to set an appointment can be available online. Online appointment scheduling tools can provide efficient scheduling solutions straight into your calendars without the hassles of personally negotiating and manually booking. 

These are some of the features that both dentists and patients would enjoy in setting up appointments:

1.   Impressive Phone Transactions

You can upgrade your experience by using an updated phone system. These new phone systems can quickly identify new clients and even existing customers. These smart-systems help you impress your customers by providing immediate information that is readily actionable. 

Likewise, clients can receive a personalized and efficient delivery of information. This tool allows both the clinic and the clients to save time waiting and hang up calls that bring about unproductive idle time.

If you check out this dentist in Denison online, you’ll see that they’re reviews are full of positive feedback. Their updated phone system has helped them get good customer rating as it made their customer service more efficient.

2. Effective Scheduling

Customer service is one of the most valued and meaningful experiences a client will receive. If a customer is satisfied, it will give him more reasons to do business with you. 

Scheduling tools reduce no-show appointments; it prioritizes a task every day, gets it done accordingly, and most importantly, it saves the valued time of staff. This tool can accommodate more appointments and allows the business to reach new customers and gain a broader clientele. It’s all about impressing your client with the best customer service by way of effective scheduling.

3.Hassle Free Payments

Mobile payment is a $235 billion business in China alone. Mobile payment is already becoming very popular nowadays. It offers a lot of benefits; thus, it is valued by many around the globe. Online payment is hassle-free, effortless, and convenient done in less time. This payment tool offers contactless payment options accorded to the clients’ whims and wants anywhere and anytime. 

Takeaway

Nowadays, people are more into comfort and convenient transactions without discounting safety and security. Automated appointment tools or appointment scheduling platforms help boost efficiency in terms of appointments and schedules. It is beneficial among medical and dental service providers. It will increase business efficiency, and most of all, it provides ease and comfort among patients, clients, doctors, dentists, and business owners. However, useful as it may seem, it must be realized that privacy and personal information must be a priority and of utmost importance.

Herb, Spice, and Everything Nice: 10 Essential Kitchen Condiments

Richard Mack
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Herb, Spice, and Everything Nice: 10 Essential Kitchen Condiments

Thousand years ago, the Spice Trade was the world’s biggest industry that began in the Eastern expanse to the Western portion of the world. The herbs and spices were even weighed and priced, similar to gold. Thus, the quantity and quality of herb and spice possession determine the wealth, power, and influence of land or civilization. 

However, the price of the spices has declined throughout the years because the production has increased due to heightened demand. Therefore, the spices that are sold today are not priced similarly to gold and minerals before. Although it has lost its value in the market, the spices have found a greater purpose in the food industry, especially in the kitchen pantry.

Since herbs and spices have become essential in enriching the quality of taste of food, it’s important that you have a list of all culinary spices to add and replenish your cupboard—ready and available. 

  • Salt

Without a pinch of salt, the food becomes bland and unappetizing. In fact, it’s one of the primary culinary condiments that every kitchen should have. But, there’s more to salt than the lies in it; it acts as a preservative that prolongs the shelf life of perishable and semi-perishable goods. The substances in the salt contain microbial-killing agents.

  • Pepper

Before peppers are stored in containers and packs, it first undergoes drying to extract most of its flavor. Typically, you can select and buy two types of peppers in the market, the whole and ground pepper. Furthermore, peppers come in various colors and intensity, such as black and white. The black pepper is used as a seasoning for grilled steak because of its mild heat. Meanwhile, the white pepper is incorporated in white sauces to make it flawless-looking. 

  • Oregano

Oregano is an essential culinary condiment in the Mediterranean and Eurasian cuisines. This herb is even regarded as a primary ingredient in most Italian dishes. In cooking, you can either use freshly-picked or dried oregano depending on the food you’re cooking. You can use fresh oregano if you’re preparing a salad or dressing and a dried one if you’re roasting or pan-frying chicken, fish, or lamb.

  • Thyme

The thyme is a member of the mint family that has a lemony and minty flavor. It is commonly used in French, Italian, Meditteranean, and American cuisines. When you want to uplift the taste of your plain chicken breast, you can add a dash of ground thyme. It also gives a delicate flavor to soups and sauces, which exudes a warm and hearty sensation.

  • Rosemary

The rosemary is a native Mediterranean herb that can either be used as ground and fresh. Dried and ground rosemary pleasantly provides herbal flavor, which amplifies the meat’s taste when used as a seasoning. Meanwhile, the fresh rosemary is a great addition to desserts, such as strawberry tarts, because it intensifies and gives a distinct taste. 

  • Cumin

Cumin is one of the primary ingredients in making curry powder or mixture. It’s an herb that’s widely used in Mediterranean and Indian cuisine. Commonly, this spice is used as a seasoning for grilled chicken and lamb. If you love cauliflower, you can coat it with cumin, salt, and pepper, and then roast it for an intensified taste.

  • Paprika

Paprika is a ground spice from dried fruits like sweet peppers, bell peppers, and tomato peppers. Although it has an intense ruby-red color, most paprika has a milder, subtle, and sweet taste. It’s used in making sausages, soups, rice pilafs, and stews because it adds a savory taste. You can observe that this ground spice is used in Thai, Mexican, and Hungarian cuisines. 

  • Allspice

The allspice is a dried and ground spice from the berries of Pimenta dioica, a native tree in the Caribbean region. Besides, it’s one of the ingredients when making a curry paste or powder. Since it also has a sweet taste, this spice is used in baking and desserts. In fact, the combination of banana and allspice in muffins or bread is a match made in heaven. 

  • Star Anise

Star anise is a star-shaped fruit pod that’s native in Asian countries like China, Vietnam, and Thailand. It has a sweet, peppery, and licorice-like flavor, which adds depth to stews and marinades. The star anise is also used to add flavors in fruit preserves like jackfruit, strawberry, and mango preserves. 

  • Saffron

Saffron is currently the most expensive spice in the market and is native to the Mediterranean region. The dried stigmas are made into threads to use in various foods. Saffron has a subtle floral flavor and a vibrant color that makes the food visually appealing and tasty. It’s usually incorporated in risottos, rice, seafood, meat, and poultry. 

Takeaway

Although the price of these herbs and spices has declined, these condiments have regained their value and made an impact in the culinary world. These condiments might not produce power and money, but the lasting flavor they exude and explode in the palate remains, adding a value greater than wealth.

York County Just Announced The 2020 ACYC Literary Competition Awards

Charlotte Stories
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York County Just Announced The 2020 ACYC Literary Competition Awards
The Arts Council of York County presented the awards for the 17th Annual Literary Competition and the 9th Annual Youth Literary Competition at a virtual reception that honored the awards recipients and participants and celebrating National Family Literacy Month and National Novel Writing Month on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 5:30 PM. Many of the winning works will be published in the annual Cotton Alley Writers’ Review, which will be available online at yorkcountyarts.org/litcompetitions.
Rock Hill Poet Laureate Angelo Geter feels that “The Arts Council’s Literary Competition is a great platform to highlight and showcase the importance of writing and storytelling in our community. The art of self-expression is an important tool that can be used to chronicle life’s most important moments. This is especially relevant in today’s social, political and economic climate. In particular, it’s always great to read the poems from the youth as their experiences guide and shape the future of our world.  York County and the Southeast are fortunate to have such gifted writers.”
The Annual Literary Competitions include two categories – short story and poetry. Authors were eligible to enter both the short story and the poetry competitions, and entries were eligible to win an award in each category. Independent jurors were Wendy Kidd (Perihelion Book Club), Lucille Harper (retired teacher), Angelo Geter (Rock Hill Poet Laureate), and Winthrop University faculty: Melissa McArthur Gilbert (Adjunct Faculty) and Mary Martin (Instructor of English).
17th Annual Literary Competition Awards
Poetry 
1st Place – “What We Got to Be Scared Of” by Jessica Mueller, Rock Hill, SC
2nd Place – “Old Frog” by Bonnie Stanard, Lexington, SC
3rd Place – “A Real Life” by Dawn Woods, Charlotte, NC
Honorable Mention – “I Ran My Cursor Over Your Name” by John M. Starino, Lexington, SC
Honorable Mention – “Cleaning House” by Joy Colter, Rock Hill, SC
Short Story
1st Place – “Joey’s Gift” by Joseph C. Shields, Aiken, SC
2nd Place – “Melting” by Julia Brietkreutz, Rock Hill, SC
3rd Place – “The Ground Before Zero” by Craig S. Faris, Rock Hill, SC
Honorable Mention – “Sugar Magnolia” by Susan Demchak, Rock Hill, SC
Honorable Mention – “Call Me Old-Fashioned” by Leslie A. Patterson, Aiken, SC
9th Annual Youth Literary Competition Awards 
Poetry
1st Place – “Whatever Happened to Yesteryear” by Margaret L. Rosinski, Fort Mill, SC
2nd Place – “In His Accord” by Madeleine Jones, Rock Hill, SC
3rd Place – “The Death of George Floyd” by Jaelyn LaSalle, Rock Hill, SC
Honorable Mention – “To All the Bullies” by Lilliana Albert, Fort Mill, SC
Honorable Mention – “Moments” by Harlen Rembert, Fort Mill, SC
Short Story
1st Place – “Alien Brain, Human Heart: My Life with Eddie Venus | Excerpts from the Entirely True Memoir of Astrid Doyle” by Jessica Branham, Rock Hill, SC
2nd Place – “Companions” by Emily Rushing, Fort Mill, SC
3rd Place – “Fish” by Megan Andrews, Fort Mill, SC
Honorable Mention – “Control” by Layla Brindisi, Fort Mill, SC
Honorable Mention – “Tales from Little Man Island” by Ashley Donaldson, Rock Hill, SC
Prizes and awards for the 17th Annual Literary Competition were underwritten by the Perihelion Club. The Perihelion Club, as a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, began in 1898 as a literary and social club in Rock Hill. Over the years, club members, individually and as a club, have supported literacy in the community in a variety of ways – by conducting story hour at elementary schools, purchasing books for school libraries and funding a scholarship at Winthrop University. Today its members continue to share their love of literature with each other and to eagerly support literacy efforts in the community by raising funds at an auction held annually at its December meeting. The Perihelion Club is very proud to encourage writers of short stories and poetry by funding prizes for this competition.
The Arts Council is headquartered in downtown Rock Hill, a state-recognized cultural district. For more information on Arts Council events, contact the Arts Council of York County at (803)328-2787, by email at arts@yorkcountyarts.org, or visit our webpage at http://www.yorkcountyarts.org.

NC Continues To Shake From Aftershocks of August’s Historic 5.1 Magnitude Quake

Charlotte Stories
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NC Continues To Shake From Aftershocks of August’s Historic 5.1 Magnitude Quake

About 3 months after the little town of Sparta, NC was hit by the biggest earthquake North Carolina has seen in over a century, the area continues to be rocked by aftershocks.

There have now been over 250 earthquakes since the big one struck in the beginning of August, including 41 over the past 30 days, and 1 today.

According to the USGS, the historic magnitude 5.1 earthquake just struck on August 9th, 2020 at 8:07 AM, located 3 KM southeast of Sparta, NC, and about 80 miles north of Charlotte. The Quake had a depth of 9.2 KM and an epicenter of 36.479°N 81.098°W.

The USGS’s ‘Shake Map’, which pulls data from hundreds of seismographs throughout our region, shows that the earthquake was detected far away as Washington, DC. The quake rippled North Carolina’s fault line so hard, the Charlotte region experienced what felt like a direct magnitude 4 quake.

The USGS’s ‘Did You Feel It’ map shows that people have now reported feeling the quake as far away as Alabama and Pennsylvania:

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we saw a 4.4 magnitude quake hit Decatur, TN, and a couple months ago, a 2.6 magnitude quake rocked a small town just north of Charlotte.

According to USGS.gov, “The largest earthquake in the area (magnitude 5.1) occurred in 1916. Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Top 10 Affordable Neighborhoods For Renters in Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Top 10 Affordable Neighborhoods For Renters in Charlotte
Millions of renters are looking for a new place to live, even more than before the start of the pandemic. In fact, 40% of renters plan to move in the next six months although 23% of these renters did not plan to move before COVID-19.
Apartments.com just took a deep dive into apartment rents leveraging its unmatched data to reveal the most affordable neighborhoods in Charlotte.
 
For those wanting to live near South Park, neighborhoods like Grier Heights give renters the biggest bang for their buck (albeit with slightly higher crime stats than the surrounding area).

Retail Space For Lease Merced CA: Building Business During Pandemic

Steve
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Retail Space For Lease Merced CA: Building Business During Pandemic

Many people have been trying to establish their business for the past few years. You might be one of them, grinding and working hard for your establishment to succeed. The profit might be slow now, or you are already finding the success you have worked hard for. No matter what happens, it seems that the only way for you is up and nowhere else. Everyone has been confident when this year started, as seen on this website, thinking that everything will be better this year.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened, and it has upended the world in its rapid spread. In just a span of a few months, it has affected the world as a whole. It is way worse for the record than the last pandemic that we have encountered as a species. As the number of deaths creeps to the million, people seem to be losing hope about the economy. Many questions are surrounding the viability of having a business in the middle of a pandemic.

Start Now Or Regret Later

However, we argue that there is no perfect time to start a business. Yes, we are in the middle of the pandemic, but there are times when the opportunity arrives. It is up to us to grab and make use of the opportunity. For example, you may have seen a retail space for lease in Merced, CA, for a low price. If you already have the idea, then why not take the plunge? Business is all about risk after all, and establishing a place this time might be the riskiest moment.

You might still be apprehensive about this idea as you might have seen what is going on with our country right now. Merced, CA, might be one of the more lucrative areas in the state, but it was before the COVID crisis. With the elections looming in addition to the pandemic, everyone seems to be on edge like never before. However, if you are not going to start now, then when is the right time?

Tips And Suggestions For Establishing A Business

  1. Basic Preparations

Before looking for the establishment areas, you must already have started planning on what you want to do. A business strategy, products, and services offered, pricing, marketing are just some of the things you should already know about them. Your capital also matters as it will be your driving force to build the commercial place you want.

2. Take a Look at the Trends

If you are still confused about what you want to sell, you can take a look online and see what is trending. Food businesses seem to be thriving these days, and deliveries made it happen. You can also take a look at other retail options like clothes or other items. In this way, conceptualizing your idea makes it much more comfortable as you already know what currently sells. However, it would help if you also looked at your products and services’ longevity as some of the trends now might be fads.

3. Scout the Area

Another aspect that you need to look into is the area itself. Visiting the place yourself or through maps provides you with insight into what would “click” in those areas. The demographic can influence what you want to sell and the personality of the space itself. Scouting is also an effective way of seeing your possible competitors in the same area.

4. Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Once you have already achieved most of the previous steps, then it is time to take your product or service to the world. Fortunately, we live in the modern world, and it is easy to advertise through social media. With just one post and a boost, you can reach audiences that you may never have encountered before, as this link says: https://www.business.com/articles/boost-facebook-engagement-social-media-marketing/. 

You can also establish an online presence and have content that is relatable and engaging to the masses. If you are planning to open this pandemic, make sure to follow the state’s social distancing rules. Always wear face masks when you go out, and don’t freak out at the people who are checking your temperatures. These acts are for their excellent, and we should be thankful for that as well. 

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