Top 10 Best Halloween Costumes in Charlotte For 2019

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Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

We’ve rounded up the best costumes we could find on Instagram that were posted in Charlotte over the past week.

Is your costume more creative than any of these?

#10 Cam Newton

 

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Halloween as Cam! #KEEPPOUNDING #Panthers #RBHALLOWEEN #RichAndBennett

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#9 Pee Wee Herman

#8 The Avengers

#7 The Incredibles

#6 The Joker (there were a lot of these this year)

 

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Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there? #richandbennett #rbhalloween

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#5 Mario Cart

 

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We were serving all the bananas on our scooters to Diplo

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#4 Spidermen

#3 Billy and Mrs. Wheeler (Netflix’s Stranger Things)

#2 Disney IRL

 

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Highlights from @richandbennett’s 19th Annual Halloween Pub Crawl! 👻🎃

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#1 Pennywise

 

UNC Charlotte Professor’s Startup Stratifyd Just Announced Major Expansion and 200 New Jobs

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Hundreds of new jobs are coming to Charlotte thanks to a rapidly growing startup founded by a UNC Charlotte professor and 2 of his students.

Stratifyd was first launched back in 2015 by former UNC Charlotte professor Derek Wang, PhD and his 2 students, Li Yu, PhD and Thomas Kraft, as government-funded research think tank focused on analyzing data from augmented and artificial intelligence systems. The company is now one of the fastest growing tech firms in Queen City, having doubled its number of employees just over the past 12 months.

According to a press release from the company, at least 200 jobs will be added once their new 30,000 square-foot headquarters in Charlotte’s FreeMoreWest neighborhood is constructed.

“It’s amazing to see the rapid growth of Charlotte, from my years of research at UNC Charlotte to now, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.” Stratifyd CEO Derek Wang said. “Our success is a true testament to our talented team, who are dedicated to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of technology.”

“The Charlotte region has become a hotbed of business technology and advancement, and we’ve seen how developing companies value what we have to offer,” said Mayor Vi Lyles. “Homegrown companies, like Stratifyd, have helped us to earn that reputation and I hope it continues to grow and prosper, while promoting our city in the process.”

Stratifyd currently has numerous job openings available on their website here.

NC Health Officials Report First Flu-Related Death As Flu Season Ramps Up In The Carolinas

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As soggy cold weather increases around our region, we’re now seeing the start of the 2019-20 flu season.

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health (NCDHHS) have announced the first reported flu-related death this season, involving an adult in the central part of the state. To protect the privacy of the family, the person’s location, age, and gender will not be released.

“We are very saddened by this death and send condolences to the loved ones of this person,” said State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., MPH. “Flu is a serious illness and in some cases can lead to complications and even result in death, which is why we strongly encourage people to get vaccinated every year.”

During the 2018-19 flu season, 208 flu deaths were reported in North Carolina, down from 391 deaths during the 2017-18 flu season. Of those 208 deaths, 133 were people age 65 and older and five were under the age of 18.

In addition to the flu shot, many Charlotteans are turning to alternative types of remedies to avoid the potentially deadly virus.

One of the most common alternative remedies that an increasing number of people are swearing by is essential oils, and especially essential oil blends that are specifically crafted to kill viruses and boost immune systems.

Others are turning to a more ancient fruit-derived remedy to fight the flu – Elderberry Syrup. One local resident has even started a new company, Sweet’s Syrup, bottling and selling her own brand of the stuff in shops all around the Queen City.

While most alternative remedies have been slow to find favor with the NCDHHS, NC Health officials do recommend taking extra vitamins, exercising, and eating healthier to strengthen your immune system as this year’s flu season ramps up.

UNC Charlotte Graduate and Sherrills Ford Native Assumes Command of US Navy Warship

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The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59) just held a change of command ceremony at the San Diego Naval Base. Cmdr. Matthew W. Foster turned over the role of commanding officer to North Carolina’s Commander Ryan K. Rogers.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve with the Sailors and Officers aboard Russell, and I am extremely humbled and proud of their accomplishments,” said Foster. “This has been my most rewarding tour. I am confident Commander Rogers will continue the valued traditions and operational excellence of USS Russell.”

A native of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, Commander Rogers graduated from North Carolina State University in 2001 and received his Navy commission through the NROTC program. He later earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Since joining the Navy, Rogers has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and Craftmaster badge.

Rogers assumed command of Russell in accordance with the Navy’s Fleet-up Program after serving as Russell’s executive officer.

“It is a great honor to have the opportunity to lead the outstanding Officers and Crew of Russell,” said Rogers.

Commissioned in 1995, Russell is named for Rear Adm. John Henry Russell and his son, Commandant of the Marine Corps John Henry Russell, Jr. Assigned to Destroyer Squadron 23, Russell is homeported in San Diego.

Charlotte Knights’ Matt Parrott Wins ‘Sports Field Manager of The Year’ For 3rd Straight Year

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Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) just gave out the awards for America’s ‘Sports Field Managers of the Year’ for 2019.

Matt Parrott from the Charlotte Knights (International League) repeats for a third time as the Triple-A ‘Sports Field Manager of the Year’ award winner after receiving the honor in 2017 and 2018. He also won the award in the Double-A class in 2011 as a member of the Bowie Baysox (Eastern League). Parrott’s other accolades include winning the ‘Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year’ in 2011, 2014, and 2015.

The complete list of recipients include:

  • Triple-A – Matt Parrott, Charlotte Knights (Charlotte, N.C.)
  • Double-A – Brock Phipps, Springfield Cardinals (Springfield, Mo.)
  • Single-A – Mitch Hooten,  West Michigan Whitecaps (Comstock Park, MI.)
  • Short Season or Rookie – Ross Baron, Vancouver Canadians (Vancouver, B.C.)

“The stellar submissions for this year’s MiLB Sports Field Manager of the Year awards highlights the critical role that STMA members play in presenting first class venues for players, coaches and fans,” says Kim Heck, CAE, CEO of STMA. “We are proud to honor the widespread talent and tireless commitment to excellence of our Minor League Baseball sports field managers.”

Since 2000, STMA and MiLB have honored members who manage fields in Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A and Short Season or Rookie divisions. Winners are selected via a 12-member awards committee, compiled by STMA. Each nominee is independently scored on cultural practices, game day routine, resource utilization, staff management and the groundskeeper’s involvement and support of the sports field industry. Previous MiLB award winners can be found at stma.org/milb.

NC About To Fine I-77 Toll Lane Builders $30,000 Per Day For Delays Starting Tomorrow

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The Spanish Company hired by North Carolina to build the I-77 toll lanes is about to face some steep fines now that the state announced they will not grant another extension.

According to a spokesperson with Cintra, the company requested an extension earlier this month for their November 1st deadline. If the entire project was not completed by that date, they would face a $10,000-per-day-per-section fine. Currently there are 3 sections still unfinished, meaning they are about to be fined $30,000 per day starting tomorrow.

After weeks of speculation, State Senator Natasha Marcus just announced that North Carolina will not be granting the extension;

Over the past year, NCDOT officials have already granted Cintra several extensions, free of charge. The company had originally contracted to have the toll lane project finished by January 7th, 2019, then they promised the state it would be finished by the end of this summer, now they are asking for a new extension until the end of the year.

What do you think about NCDOT’s decision to not grant another extension? 

5 Tips to Help Get Your Kids to the Dentist for a Post-Halloween Check-up

Halloween Dental Tips for Trick-or-Treating in Charlotte, NC

Halloween is finally here and every parent knows what that means. Yes, you got it right. It spells, C-A-N-D-Y! And, of course, we know what candy turns out to be: CAVITIES! We know where cavities lead, a visit to the dentist’s office.

You’re probably already dreading the thought of taking your kids to the dentist for a post-Halloween check-up. If your kids are totally cool with seeing the dentist, then you are way better off than most parents. According to a recent study, out of the 240 children who were part of the study, 74.1% are found to have dental fear or dental anxiety and ranged from mild to severe anxiety.

Imagine if your kid is a part of that 74.1%. There are several ways you can help eliminate dental anxiety.

1. Start on their First Tooth

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, it’s better to start them young. It’s also important that they become familiar with their dentist in worcester as they grow up so do your research for good pediatric dentists in your area!

2. Save the Details

Kids don’t understand medical terms so avoid piquing their curiosity with technical terms! You’ll end up having a kid with never ending questions about what a dentist does! Keep it plain and simple.

3. Careful What You Say

As much as possible, do no associate a visit to the dentist with trigger words such as, ‘hurt’ or ‘pain’. That automatically registers to a kid’s mind to be related. Use positive words like, ‘healthy and clean teeth’.

4. Give Way to the Dental Staff

If you bring your kid to see a pediatric dentist, trust that the staff knows how to handle kids with dental anxiety. Friendly Dental Group of South Park dentists specialize in general and pediatric dentistry which means they are used to kids kicking up a fuss.

You might as well believe they have the best dentist in Charlotte, NC. Step aside for the staff to handle your kid but stay close enough in case you child needs you to hold his or her hand.

5. Make It a Habit

Kids are incredible at understanding what we say to our surprise. So, emphasize why oral hygiene is important. Make brushing at home fun.

Play dentist with them so they think it’s fun. Make it a habit. Take them in regularly so they get used to it. Pretty soon it’ll be part of their routine.

C‑SPAN Bus Coming To Charlotte On Battleground State Tour

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C-SPAN’s award-winning Bus will visit Charlotte on Friday, November 1 to engage students, teachers, community members and elected officials. The stop by the state-of-the-art, 45-foot customized mobile classroom and production studio is part of the Battleground States Tour, which includes some of the states that will play a pivotal role in the 2020 presidential election.

After kicking off in September in Iowa, where the first caucuses in the nation are held, the Bus traveled to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire and Tennessee. It continues the tour in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Maryland before ending in December in Washington, D.C.

In some cities along the tour, the Bus will host guests for live interviews during C-SPAN’s signature morning call-in program, Washington Journal. Guests will discuss the role these battleground states have in the upcoming election.

“These states will be among the key battlegrounds in the 2020 presidential race,” said Steve Scully, Political Editor for C-SPAN. “By visiting these communities, C-SPAN will provide another component to our extensive Campaign 2020 coverage and give our viewers an in-depth, unfiltered look at politics, from the early days on the campaign trail right up to Inauguration Day.”

Bus visitors will also be invited to share their thoughts on issues they want presidential candidates to address during the campaign as part of the “Voices from the Road” project. During the Battleground States Tour, students and educators will learn about C-SPAN’s national documentary competition, StudentCam. Awarding $100,000 in prize money annually, the competition challenges students to produce a 5-to-6-minute documentary using C-SPAN video to explore a local or national issue of importance. This year’s theme, “What’s Your Vision in 2020?,” asks students to explore the issue they most want presidential candidates to address during the campaign.

Through interactive kiosks and demonstrations aboard the Bus, visitors will learn about C-SPAN’s in-depth coverage of the American political process, Campaign 2020 programming and comprehensive online educational resources, including C-SPAN.org. The website includes an extensive video library containing over 252,000 hours of searchable content for viewing, research and education purposes.

“Spectrum is excited to bring the interactive C-SPAN Bus to North Carolina and continue our long-standing partnership with C-SPAN,” said Adam Falk, SVP, State Government Affairs for Charter Communications.  “We are proud to serve Charlotte by providing residents and local leaders the C-SPAN Networks and to share their robust educational and political resources with the community.”

EVENTS :

Friday, November 1

7:30AM-9:30AM                West Charlotte High School- Lift Academy

                                              1400 North Graham Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

                                                   Bus will be parked in front of school

 

11AM-1PM                          Johnson C. Smith University

                                                  Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216

                                                  (The bus will be in front of Biddle Hall next to an area called the block)

Top 10 Places To Get Free Food on Halloween

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Happy Halloween everyone!

If you have kids, this might be one of the cheapest days of the year for you – free snacks and entertainment at night, and now more an more restaurants are offering free food during the day.

Here are the top 10 best Halloween deals we could find:

#1 Free Krispy Kreme Donut

Krispy Kreme is offering a free donut to anyone who dresses up for Halloween. You must be inside the store with your costume on to get a free donut.

#2 Free Pancake at IHOP

12 Places to Get Free Food on Halloween

Via IHOP

Any kids 12 and under can get a free ‘scary-pancake’ at IHOP – even without a costume. There’s no limit on the amount of children you can bring – they all get a free pancake.

#3 Free Dessert at Outback Steakhouse

On October 31st your kids can enjoy a free dirt cup dessert with a purchase of a Joey Meal.

#4 Free Smoothie at Jamba Juice

Today from 2-7pm, kids can get a free smoothie at Jamba Juice.

#5 $3 Meal at Chipotle (burrito, bowl, salad, or tacos)

12 Places to Get Free Food on Halloween

Via Chipotle

Anyone in costume can get a $3 tex-mex meal during today’s Chipotle’s Boorito event. Also, if you text BOORITO to 888222 you’ll be entered for the chance to win free burritos for a year.

#6 $1.50 Ice Cream Cones at Baskin Robbins

All day today, Baskin Robbins is offering $1.50 scoops of ice cream (reg $2.79).

#7 $0.50 Corn Dogs at Sonic

Via Sonic

Anyone can enjoy $0.50 corn dogs all day on Halloween at Sonic.

#8 Free Photos at Bass Pro Shop

Ok, this isn’t ‘technically’ food, but if you go to the Bass Pro Shop in Concord Mills, you can get a free professional photo taken of your kids.

#9  25% off Pizza Hut Pizza

Via @pizzahut

On all take-out and delivery orders, you can use code SCARYGOOD25 to get 25%-off your Pizza Hut pizza – no child required.

#10 Free Pizza at Cici’s

Via Cicis

Kid’s 10 years and under can eat unlimited free pizza all day today with the purchase of an adult buffet and a costume.

7 Tips to Save Money When Remodelling Your Kitchen

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Are you bored of your kitchen? Are you thinking of remodeling it to give it a fresher, more modern look?

According to a study, the average American spends 27 minutes a day in the kitchen. That’s a significant chunk of our lives spent either preparing, cooking or eating in the same room. 

A kitchen remodeling company can bring about a lot of overwhelming decisions to make, but we are here to help. You can lean on our decades of experience to help you design every detail of your new kitchen, from the flooring and cabinetry, to appliances and every single lighting and plumbing fixture.

When you consider how much time you spend in the kitchen even when you’re not eating, you realize how important it is that you enjoy this space. That its a place that makes you feel safe, comfortable and content. 

However, we realize that not everyone has huge amounts of money to throw around on renovations.  Luckily, we have some tips for you to help you save money when remodeling your old kitchen. 

 

  • Start With a Plan

 

First of all, you need to have a plan of what you want your remodeled kitchen to look like. Mark out the areas you don’t like, and leave the areas you’re happy with. 

Do plenty of research. Think about the areas you’d like to change. Getting some help from interior design websites and apps like Instagram and Pinterest can give you a few ideas to work with. 

Once you’ve picked out several pictures of the design you want, you need to price it. Compare the prices on different websites, and consult with an interior design specialist. If you have a friend who has recently renovated their house, chat to them as they’ll likely have a few tips and tricks to share. 

 

  • Consider the Decor

 

Some kitchens don’t require drastic transformations. They simply need a change of appliances, fixtures, and miscellaneous tools. 

In order to save money on remodeling your kitchen entirely, look up the items you want to change on the internet or by visiting local stores near you. Before you buy anything, make sure it will fit in with the color, texture, and overall look of the final kitchen. 

For example, you can transform your kitchen by simply replacing your white goods and kitchen table in a different color scheme. When everything matches, it makes your kitchen look a lot more modern!

 

  • Get Painting! 

 

You can transform your kitchen by changing the color of the decor. Paint one of the walls a bright new color, or give your kitchen cabinets, window panes, chairs, tables, and drawers a new lick of paint.

Bear in mind that hiring a professional painter will be costly, compared to a DIY attempt made by you. You can find plenty of videos on YouTube demonstrating how you can paint practically anything with a little guidance, and the results are outstanding. 

What’s more, the paint, brushes, rollers, and other tools won’t cost as much as getting expert help. You just have to prepare to give your time and attention to the task at hand. 

 

  • Maximize Your Storage Space

 

By maximizing the storage space in your kitchen, you’re creating more space and allowing more light to illuminate the room. There are a few techniques that you can apply to store utility items without losing the aesthetics of the overall kitchen. 

Compartmentalize everything according to type, color, and usage, and make sure they are all stored out of sight, such as inside cabinets or drawers. The fewer objects you keep on the surfaces, the more spacious and visually appealing your kitchen will look. 

Be ruthless when you consider the items in your kitchen. Don’t hold onto anything you haven’t used for a very long time. Clear the space by donating those items to people who need them. 

 

  • Spray Paint Small Commodities

 

Another way you can redecorate your kitchen without spending too much is by spray painting small commodities, such as cabinet knobs, drawer handles, and the faucet. 

You can spray paint any object you want, as long as you stick to the color scheme. For instance, if your cabinets are white, spray paint your windowsills in white as well. 

A good rule of thumb is to not use more than two shades of color in the kitchen otherwise it can dominate the aesthetics. 

 

  • Donate What You Don’t Need

 

We are all guilty of keeping unnecessary items in the house that we simply don’t use. The same goes for kitchen appliances. 

By selling or donating these items to others in need, you’re freeing your kitchen from clutter. You’re also able to make a bit of money that you can put back into your new kitchen, or in the case of donating, giving back to the community. 

So, get rid of anything you don’t need from your kitchen and you’ll be surprised at how it transforms the space. 

 

  • Buy Eco-friendly Materials

 

If you have broken chairs, cabinet doors, or fixtures that need to be replaced, save yourself some cash by purchasing eco-friendly materials. For instance, you will profit from replacing your countertops with green, recyclable materials, like glass slab, paper composite, wood, bamboo, glass tile, or aluminum. 

Likewise, if you need to replace old or broken cabinets, you can invest in green, non-toxic materials, such as lyptus or wood cabinets, formaldehyde-free cabinets that are free of carcinogen, FSC and ESP certified cabinets or bamboo cabinets. 

Environmentally-friendly materials are natural, recyclable, and biodegradable. So, not only will you be making a difference to your home, but also to the environment. It’s a win-win!

  1. Upgrade Kitchen Appliances

If you are still using old appliances, your kitchen won’t look much different after renovation. So instead, also consider upgrading the old appliances that

you have for more advanced ones!

A few of the essentials a kitchen must-have are:

These and a few other interesting devices that will enhance your overall

kitchen experience.

That’s It

Remodeling your kitchen on a budget is not only possible but fun too! You can add your own personality into the room by recycling old furniture and giving it a fresh lick of paint. Not everything has to be brand new to look good. 

Don’t go with a professional unless you have the budget to allow for it. It’s much more affordable to do the work yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it for you.

Always do plenty of research before you begin your kitchen renovations so you don’t have to dig into all of your savings. There are all sorts of ways you can save money. 

Once the job is complete, you can use your newfound knowledge to help others renovate their kitchen. Who knows, you may have found your true calling!