A New Virtual Concert Series For and By the Charlotte Music Community Is Here

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With concerts and events being canceled all over the world due to the coronavirus, the vibrant live music community in Charlotte has been busy live streaming shows and accepting virtual tips to try and recoup lost income and stay creative. Together with the local music community, Music Everywhere CLT has created a home for all these virtual shows: Music Anywhere CLT: A Virtual Music Series for and by the Charlotte Music Community.

The goal of Music Anywhere CLT is to offer a positive outlet for musicians, provide an easy way for audiences to support the local music community, and show the diversity and strength of Charlotte’s music scene and community. Through Music Anywhere CLT, Music Everywhere CLT will promote all Charlotte-area concert live streams on its Facebook page as well as list them on the Music Everywhere CLT website.

It’s not just the lost income that will be detrimental to these musicians. “I firmly believe that when you take creative people, cut off their ability to express themselves or reach an audience, combine that with isolation, bad things will happen both emotionally and physically,” says Eddie Z, owner of The Playroom Rehearsal and Recording Facility. “We want to prevent as much of that as possible.” The Playroom is planning a livestream series that will be promoted through Music Anywhere CLT.

“It has been amazing to see how quickly and urgently the Charlotte music community has responded to this crisis,” says Music Everywhere CLT’s Rick Thurmond. “Music Everywhere is committed to supporting the community’s efforts however we can. Helping to organize all of the local live streams is just the first step, but an important one. We want these live streams to reach as many people as possible in order to help artists and venues replace lost income and also offer a creative outlet.”

Charlotte musician and songwriter Harvey Cummings and singer/songwriter Dane Page are optimistic about the success of the live streams. “Hopefully, this virtual experience can bring the city together while showing off the vibrancy of the Charlotte music scene,” says Cummings. Page adds, “These virtual concerts might be the primary medium for seeing live music this year, so I hope people lean into it, and support local artists and local venues so the scene can remain alive and well.” Page is planning a series of virtual songwriter-in-the-rounds to benefit local venues.

If you’re a Charlotte musician you can select them as a co-host on your next live stream or tag them to help spread the word about your next virtual performance.

City of Lowell Rushes Rezoning Vote To Build Massive 300 Acre Industrial Development

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Last night, the Lowell City Council rushed through a rezoning vote to pave the way for a massive 300 acre industrial development that will drastically change the landscape of the area.

After hearing comments from 2 local residents, the city council voted 3-1 to rezone the currently wooded 81.99 acre parcel #127779 and the 14.32 acre parcel #127822 from C-2 Commercial (office, retail, etc) to I-2 Heavy Industrial (factories, distribution hubs, etc).

According to Lowell’s city zoning ordinance, I-2 Industrial zoning differs from I-1 Industrial (light industrial), in that it allows for much higher noise, light, and air polluting facilities.

Specifically, Lowell’s UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) states that, “the I-2 district is established in order to provide sites for activities that involve major transportation terminals, and manufacturing facilities that have a greater impact on the surrounding area than industries found in the I-1 district. I-2 districts shall generally not be located adjacent to any property that is zoned for residential use”.

Those who voted in favor of the rezoning included council members Phil Bonham (philbonham@ymail.com – 704-674-1452) and Ken Ervin (ervinkd@gmail.com – 704-813-1586), and Thomas Gillespie (thomasgillespie1@att.net – 704-824-1249). Council member Candy Funderburk (candacefuderburkcf@gmail.com – 704-678-0292) voted against the rezoning, saying it would cause too much heavy traffic through downtown Lowell. Council member Shane Robinson (srobinson.lowell@att.net – 704-898-4796) was not present during yesterday’s meeting and did not cast a vote.

The proposed development also includes roughly 200 acres in the city of Gastonia, making the whole industrial complex roughly 1/3 the size of the entire city of Lowell:

Traffic from 3.8 million square feet of industrial facilities would be funneled out through Aberdeen onto Cox Road and up Lineberger Rd onto West 1st Street:

The new project is being spearheaded by Missouri-based NorthPoint Development (NPD), a large-scale developer who described themselves in their proposal as being “one of the most active owners of industrial space in the country”.

Similar developments NPD has recently built include the 2.5 million square foot Riverside Horizons industrial complex in Riverside Missouri:

and the 3.8 million square foot Dallas Global Industrial Center in Dallas, TX:

There is now an online Change.org petition to stop the industrial complex from coming to Lowell.

What are your thoughts on Lowell’s new industrial complex?

4 North Carolina Towns Landed Among The Top 25 Places In America For Opioid Abuse

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A report conducted by the Castlight Health Group ranked the top 25 worst towns in America for opioid abuse and 4 North Carolina towns showed up on the list – Wilmington ranked #1, Hickory ranked #5, Jacksonville ranked #12, and Fayetteville ranked #18.

Castlight analyzed health data from a randomized selection of almost 1 million people across the country to determine national usage rates and new trends. “The use and abuse of prescription opioids continues to be a challenging and costly crisis for the U.S. The facts underscore the severity of this crisis:

• Nearly 2 million Americans are abusing prescription opioids

• 16,000 people die every year from prescription opioid overdoses

• Opioid abuse costs the U.S. economy nearly $56 billion

• Opioid abuse costs employers approximate”

opioi-use-in-america

They also discovered that roughly 1 out of 3 opioid prescriptions, insured by employers, is currently being abused.

What do you think should be done about opioid abuse here in North Carolina?

Save Your Business From Unknown Financial Losses With Public Liability Insurance

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As business professionals, we come across several visitors, also known as third-party, on our premises daily. Many times, it happens that because of ill fate or just a bad day, they suffer because of your business activities.

  1. What to do in such a scenario? Do we need to bear all the medical expenses?
  2. What about the unwanted legal claims?
  3. Is there any way to get away from the approaching financial loss because of such mishappenings?

The answer to all your questions is public liability insurance. Websites like Bizcover Australia give a detailed understanding of this insurance coverage and varieties.

But, what is Public Liability Insurance?

If you never heard of this policy before, it’s okay. This reading will give a lot of useful information without even stepping out.

Public liability insurance protects you if someone faces a bodily injury or damage to the property, impacting your business finances with compensation or legal claim.

It provides you coverage in cases where a member of the public faces injuries on your company’s premises or damages someone’s property. At the same time, you work publicly or at sites. Owners are responsible for public safety when they carry out any activity on their premises that usually consists of workers, customers, and trespassers. Workers have their contracts to carry their respective jobs on your premises.

Customers are sometimes frequent visitors, and other times you invite them to your outlet, and trespassers are the miscellaneous individuals who enter your business door without permission. Websites like Bizcover Australia provide a detailed description of all the coverage plans that you should add to your company’s financial covers.

What If I Don’t Purchase A Public Liability Insurance? What Could Be The Immediate Consequences Of Not Having A Public Liability Insurance?

A widespread doubt that you will come across is why you should purchase public liability insurance!

Let’s clear this query first by taking an example!

Consider a worker in your premises who suffered a neck injury because of the paintwork taking place in your outlet. Now without any public liability insurance policy, if the victim decides to claim some compensation, it could cost you substantial legal fees, medical bills, repairs, and loss of finances.

But at that moment, think if you had public liability insurance in place that covers all these losses, you could quickly pay off such expenses. Therefore, explore what the insurance policy refers to safeguard your business in the public sphere.

It might sound like a confusing concept initially. Still, public liability insurance is the most common type of insurance opted by small and large scale businesses, with a wide range of cover options. Research precisely about the coverage from platforms such as Bizcover Australia before purchasing one to determine how much cover you should invest in keeping your business away from risk. Usually, public liability insurance covers you and your company in the event of an accident in your premises or any third party body injury and damage to the property.

CONCLUSION

Speculating that you would be safe without public liability insurance just because you don’t have a large business or don’t deliver any goods won’t give you any financial freedom.

Something as minor as tea spillage or losing teeth, causing a visitor to trip on our business premises, could cost you massive financial loss if you’re uninsured. Consider purchasing a public liability insurance policy, and it is going to prove one of the wisest decisions for your business.

CMS Announces Plan To Keep Charlotte Children Fed Learning At Home During Pandemic

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has just announced a new program to keep students fed while learning from home during the pandemic.

The new “CMS Eats” prorgram will feature 40 pick-up sites across our city (click here to view a map of all the sites) as well as deliveries to designated bus stops.

Meals bundles will be free or reduced in price for students who qualify, and $15 for all others.

Meal bundles will include boxes of 5 breakfasts and lunches.

Here is the full menu of what meals will be available:

CMS Eats at Home meal bundles will be available the week of September 1.

Charlotte’s Levine Museum To Host CNN Commentator Bakari for Conversation on Social Justice

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CNN commentator and former South Carolina state representative Bakari Sellers – who became the youngest African American elected official in United States history at age 22 – will join Levine Museum Thursday for a conversation on the region’s history of racial inequity and how to create tangible change.

In a conversation series called “What’s it going to take?” moderated by Urban League of the Central Carolinas President William “Teddy” McDaniel, III, Sellers will discuss the current social justice landscape  and the role elected officials – and those vying for office – can play in furthering racial justice.

Sellers will discuss his personal experiences – and those of his father growing up in the rural southern Black Belt, which Sellers outlines in his memoir My Vanishing Country – to discuss how racial discrimination has shaped the identity of the South.

Bakari Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent state representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. In 2010 he was named to TIME’s “40 Under 40” list and in 2014 and 2015 he was named to The Root’s 100 “Most Influential African Americans” list. Sellers practices law with the Strom Law Firm, LLC in Columbia, South Carolina and is a political commentator at CNN.

Levine Museum will livestream the event on its Facebook page (@levinemuseum), YouTube (Levine Museum of the New South) and website on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit www.museumofthenewsouth.org.

North Carolina Is The State with the 3rd Most Coronavirus Restrictions in America

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With many states delaying the later phases of their reopening or even bringing back restrictions they already lifted due to spikes in COVID-19, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions.

To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, the site compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 19 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether the state has any penalties for non-compliance with COVID-19 legislation to whether the state has required face masks in public and health checks at restaurants. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.

Coronavirus Restrictions in North Carolina (1=Fewest, 25=Avg.):

  • 18th – Requirement to Wear a Face Mask in Public
  • 31st – Reopening of Child-Care Programs
  • 15th – Travel Restrictions
  • 43rd – Large Gatherings Restrictions
  • 22nd – Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses
  • 45th – Reopening of Restaurants and Bars
  • 16th – Working from Home Requirements/Recommendations

The only states with stricter restrictions is Pennsalvania and California.

States with the Fewest COVID-19 Restrictions

Overall Rank State Total Score Delta in Overall Rank vs. July 21
1 South Dakota 87.38 0
2 Utah 76.23 2
3 Oklahoma 71.23 0
4 Idaho 67.27 2
4 Wyoming 67.27 2
6 Iowa 66.50 -1
7 Wisconsin 64.59 -5
8 North Dakota 63.74 2
9 Arkansas 63.06 0
10 Georgia 60.98 4
11 Nebraska 59.26 2
12 Missouri 58.69 -1
13 Alabama 56.07 2
14 Nevada 54.81 10
15 South Carolina 54.67 -7
16 Tennessee 53.99 0
17 Alaska 52.02 2
18 Florida 51.15 3
19 Mississippi 50.44 -7
20 Kansas 50.38 -3
21 Indiana 48.25 -3
22 Louisiana 47.27 -2
23 Ohio 47.08 0
24 Montana 46.04 -2
25 Illinois 43.36 2
26 District of Columbia 41.80 3
27 Maine 41.37 5
28 Minnesota 40.71 -2
29 New York 40.33 0
30 Washington 39.86 1
31 West Virginia 39.73 3
32 Maryland 39.56 7
33 New Hampshire 37.49 2
34 New Mexico 37.24 8
35 Michigan 36.31 -7
36 Connecticut 36.28 0
37 Hawaii 35.63 1
38 Kentucky 35.38 -13
39 Delaware 34.59 2
40 Rhode Island 33.83 -3
41 Virginia 33.61 -1
42 Colorado 33.28 5
43 Arizona 32.38 1
44 Vermont 32.08 -1
45 Oregon 31.80 -12
46 Texas 31.56 0
47 New Jersey 30.85 3
48 Massachusetts 30.38 0
49 North Carolina 30.11 -4
50 Pennsylvania 29.89 -1
51 California 21.59 0

 

Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, August 10, 2020.

For the full report, you can visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-coronavirus-restrictions/73818/

Why should you keep the gutter systems clean?

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Everyone wants to relax during weekends! But at times, there are essential household chores that you need to accomplish to keep your home and roof secure. Homeowners don’t have to procrastinate when it comes to cleaning the gutters. There are multiple issues that build-up debris can create. Most homeowners don’t consider cleaning the gutter systems, till such time a significant problem occurs. When there’s a hindrance in water flowing from the house, you can expect damage from the roof to the foundation. Hence, it is necessary to keep the gutters clean.

Professional gutter cleaning services

If you don’t feel confident to clean the gutters yourself, you should get in touch with an expert professional service provider. To know more about this, you can check out charlotte gutter cleaners.

Usually, professional gutter cleaning services c

an help to:

Ensure that when you are speaking with a professional gutter cleaning service provider, these areas are covered.

Reasons to keep gutters clean

Are you in two minds about keeping gutters clean and getting proactive about gutter maintenance? If yes, the pointers below will help you decide better.

  1. Roof damage

When debris and leaves clog the gutter systems resulting in water flooding, you will experience roofing issues. It can make your roof unnecessarily burdensome and can also create an unsafe condition for the family members. It is necessary to keep clean it, especially after a storm or rainfall.

  1. Fascia damage

Fascia is the board that runs behind the gutter. When water overflows, it can ultimately damage this essential element of the gutter system and create further issues.

  1. To keep pests away

When the roof gutters are clogged, it can be a breeding ground for critters and other insects. You will find it to be a nesting site for birds, mosquitoes, and other pests. Hence, it is necessary to get rid of the heap of damp leaves and keep the gutters clean.

  1. Garden beds getting overwatered

At times, the gutter systems become completely clogged that it leads to water spilling on the side and directly to the garden bed. When that happens, the plant’s health is at risk, and it can create other problematic situations. Overwatering can create severe issues as inadequate watering.

  1. Bracket damage

The clogged gutters hold excess weight, which can damage the brackets.

  1. Foundation cracks

At times the water flows and accumulates along the home foundation. It can result in freezing, which in turn can expand and create foundation cracks.

These are some of the problems that no homeowner wants to face. Hence, cleaning the gutter systems is imperative. When you join hands with an expert service provider, the entire process can take about an hour or two, based on the gutter condition and home size. You don’t have to stay present while the cleaning process is on. Before or after the cleaning, you can ask the service providers the necessary questions for gutter system maintenance and upkeep.

 

How and Where to Report Spam Email

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Most Internet users have at least one mailbox, which they use to register on social networks, buy goods, or exchange letters. However, almost every person has been a target for spamming, which is quite annoying and pitiful. Today we will talk about the ways how and where you can report unwanted emails. Let’s start with the first question.

How to Report Spam Legally?

The spam message can be simply deleted. However, when you make an official complaint – you protect yourself and other users from it. To do that, you can use the following options:

1)    Use the Anti-spam Program

Antispam programs work as antiviruses – they additionally filter suspicious messages in your mailbox. It usually reduces the load on corporate mail servers and gives you an opportunity to report spam directly to the software developer, so they could blacklist the sender’s email or IP. For instance, you can report IP address on https://cleantalk.org/blacklists/report-ip for it to be included in the blacklist.

2)    Report to the Mailing Service

Gmail users can report a suspicious or unwanted message using the service menu. There are three ways to respond to unwanted letters:

  • Block user – by this action, you say: “I do not consider the letter to be spam, but I do not want to receive new letters from this user.” This will not affect other users. No sanctions will be applied to the sender.
  • In spam – this option says: “I did not give my consent to the mailing, the sender violates my rights.” If the same complaints come from other users as well, the sender will be added to the blacklist.
  • Report phishing – by selecting this option, you report: “The letter contains suspicious content.” Suspicious content is, for example, a password entry form.

The same actions can be taken by the clients of other mailing services, so it is usually a reliable way to report spam.

Where to Report Spam Officially

There are quite many world associations and coalitions that help fighting spam. CAUCE, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail, fights unwanted letters in the United States and Canada. You can easily send your complaint to their support service. There is also Federal Trade Commission in the United States, which accepts spam reports by email to spam@uce.gov or via a form on the FTC website.

Unwanted messages in the European Union must be sent to each country’s organization individually:

  • Norway – Police Economic Crime Unit;
  • United Kingdom – Metropolitan Police;
  • Ireland – Ireland’s National Police and Security Service;
  • Belgium – FGov.be.
  • Denmark – ICO – Information Commissioner’s Offices.

We hope this information will help you protect your rights and report email spam. If you suddenly receive intrusive or unsafe emails, you will know where to complain about spam and how to defend your rights. Good luck!

What are the three benefits of professional carpet cleaning services?

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Today, most homeowners want a comfortable and well-decorated home interior. It gives them the reason to come back to their home after a day’s work. Perhaps that is why most homeowners install a carpet in the living room and other rooms. Do you resonate with that? If yes, then it is necessary to ensure that the carpets are well maintained and clean.

You must be doing the regular spot cleaning and vacuuming. That is not sufficient! Your carpet absorbs the invisible dirt from your feet and the ones present in the air particles. Also, your pet might be adding to the carpet dirt and debris as well. Furthermore, the carpet fabric might require careful cleaning, which only a professional service provider can offer. To know more about this, you can check out Fayetteville carpet cleaning.

The benefits of professional carpet cleaning

There are several benefits of professional carpet cleaning services. The three crucial ones are:

  1. Improved health

Usually, carpets are the breeding ground for bacteria, dust particles, and allergens when left unclean for a long time. Do you or anyone in your house suffer from minor or significant breathing issues? Or is your skin sensitive to allergies? If yes, then the contaminants inside the carpets can create a wide range of health issues. The elderly and children are often vulnerable to these health issues.

Vacuuming can’t remove the bacteria, dirt, and dust mites. It cleans the carpet only at a superficial level. And that can increase the chances of various health issues. When you join hands with a professional carpet cleaning service provider in Austin, you can keep your designer carpet clean and ensure there are no health issues because of carpet allergens.

  1. Good airflow

A dirty carpet can affect the home air flow. When the rug gets filled with debris, dirt, and dust, the airflow isn’t fresh, especially along the home walls that need maximum airflow. And this makes the rooms stuffy and unpleasant as well. If you hand over the carpet cleaning job to a generic service provider, they might not do justice to the carpet fabric and use toxic cleaning solutions. On the other hand, a professional carpet cleaning service understands the need of the hour and the carpet fabric requirements. It helps to improve the air quality, airflow, and also maintain the carpet fabric quality.

  1. Enhanced look and feel

Cleaning carpet stains is not an easy task! Opt-in for a professional carpet cleaning service, to enhance the look of the carpet. The dust particles hidden in the fibers can make your carpet look old, dirty, and weathered. It might take away the external shine and smoothness. By joining hands with an expert carpet cleaning service, you can prevent the carpet fabric from becoming rough and torn. It adds more years to the carpet’s life and makes your living room look clean, tidy, and stylish.

You have to invest the right amount with a carpet installation at home. Hence, it’s necessary to secure this investment by implementing correct cleaning services. A professional carpet cleaning service will keep the carpets tidy and ensure your home is hygienic and fresh.