Jack Rogers to Open First North Carolina Store in SouthPark

Charlotte Stories
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Jack Rogers to Open First North Carolina Store in SouthPark

SouthPark, the largest shopping center between Atlanta and Washington D.C., announced today Jack Rogers is set to open this month. The market exclusive shoe and accessory boutique will mark the brand’s third dedicated brick-and-mortar storefront.

Slated for an 800 square-foot store near Sur La Table, Jack Rogers specializes in sandals, flats, sneakers, boots and booties, as well as kids’ shoes and accessories. The “Classic Jack,” a flat sandal that features whipstitched leather trim and an iconic Rondelle design, is inspired by a shoe that Jackie Kennedy brought back from Capri in the 1960s. The SouthPark boutique will also offer monograms and custom designs.

“SouthPark shoppers have access to many of the world’s best brands, and Jack Rogers is no exception,” said the center’s director of marketing and business development Holly Roberson. “Opening just in time for spring, the store offers shoes and accessories characterized by unmistakable ease and effortless style, sure to complement any wardrobe.”

Jack Rogers joins a robust roster of top brands, including recently opened Trina Turk, Arhaus, Nespresso, Tommy John and Peloton, as well as dining options Bulla Gastrobar and Gusto Farm to Street.

Charlotte Might Soon Become The World’s First 5G City

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Might Soon Become The World’s First 5G City

Charlotte city leaders are now pushing to make the Queen City the world’s first fully integrated ‘5G Smart City’.

According to Verizon, the fifth generation of their wireless technology, or ‘5G’, will allow much more advanced innovations, including; reliable self-driving cars, integrated city streets with automated traffic flow, as well as incredibly fast internet speeds.

The Consumer Technology Association recently reported that a person could download a two-hour movie in 3.6 seconds on a 5G network compared to 6 minutes on a 4G network or 26 hours on a 3G network. In a demonstration of a prototype 5G device, Verizon was able to transfer a gigabyte worth of data in just 17 seconds.

Earlier this week, Charlotte City Councilman and Fintech co-founder Tariq Bokhari showed how the new 5G technology could change driver safety if Charlotte becomes the world’s first ‘5g Smart City’;

Charlotte city leaders are now working on federal grants to help possibly fund the historic upgrade.

What do you think about Charlotte becoming the world’s first 5G city?

Making Your Home Move Easier

Sarah.blaine
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Making Your Home Move Easier

There are many people who have experienced the stress of a house move, and this has become known as one of the most stressful experiences that people go through. However, it doesn’t have to be like that, as there are steps you can take in order to make your home move much easier. If you are planning to move home and you want to reduce stress levels, making sure you do some forward planning can be a huge help.

You will find that there are lots of things to sort out when moving, especially when you take into consideration the finer details such as getting your address changed with the post office and contacting all your suppliers, creditors, and other companies you deal with such as bank and insurance companies. So, making sure you do some forward planning can go a long way toward helping.

Creating Your Checklist

So, what should you add to your checklist in order to make your house move easier? Well, there are various arrangements that need to be made, so you should add the following along with dates by which you need to get them done. This will help to keep you far more organized.

  • Arranging your removals company: This is a task that you should aim to do sooner rather than later, as otherwise, you could miss out on the most reputable removals firms. If you are moving in the summer or spring, they can get extremely busy and booked up quickly, so make sure you book as far ahead as possible.
  • Booking storage: You may have items that you need to put into storage during the moving process, and if so, you also need to book storage units in Santa Ana. As with removals, you are better to book these well ahead, particularly if you are moving during the peak periods of spring and summer.
  • Setting up a PO box: If you won’t be moving directly into your new home or if you want to ensure any stray post is re-directed to you, it is worth setting up a PO Box with the post office on a temporary basis while you get yourself sorted out.
  • Ordering packing supplies: You need to make sure you order the right packing supplies and that you order them in plenty of time. This will enable you to start packing on time and means you have one less thing to worry about when you get closer to your move.
  • Getting your packing done: The dreaded task of packing can be a nightmare. However, do it a bit at a time, starting with the items you do not use or need to use regularly. You can then leave essentials until last, but at least you will have far less to pack when moving time comes around if you do it in stages.

These tips can help you to enjoy a far less stressful moving experience, and means you can look forward to moving into your new home without the panic beforehand.

Octavia Seawell Named Charlotte’s Woman of the Year

Charlotte Stories
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Octavia Seawell Named Charlotte’s Woman of the Year

Octavia Seawell, a Charlotte leader who has focused on community and organizational change, leadership development, and building access, inclusion, and equity during her multi-decade career, has been named the 2018 Charlotte Woman of the Year.

This prestigious award, now in its 63rd year, is given for exceptional community service and exemplary leadership. Seawell will receive the award at a private luncheon on March 20th at The Duke Mansion.

“Octavia has been a force in creating learning opportunities and facilitating conversations in our community around inclusion, race and racial equity,” says Charlotte Women of the Year President Cyndee Patterson.  “The Women of the Year are pleased to recognize and honor her work and leadership as a teacher and guide in addressing issues of access, inclusion, equity and trust in Charlotte/Mecklenburg.”

Octavia Seawell has been a process and organization development consultant for more than 30 years working with nonprofit, public and corporate sector clients supporting systemic and culture change work.

“I cannot think of a more deserving individual for this recognition,” says Robert Bush, president of the Arts & Science Council (ASC), who nominated her for the honor.  “It is impossible to narrow the impact of Octavia Seawell on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community to just one year. She has been a force to be reckoned with in Charlotte for over two decades. Octavia’s energy and passion have inspired us. Her love of this community and commitment to making this a better place for all to live, work and play is evidenced across numerous local nonprofits, corporations and public-sector organizations. Before “opportunity” was a topic at almost every public forum, she asked the tough questions about access, inclusion, equity and trust.”

Seawell’s company, OZS Consulting, offers services in strategic planning, process design and change initiatives for organizations and communities. Clients have included a variety of organizations, including national as well as Charlotte-based non-profit, public and business organizations.

She is a culture change consultant with a number of key Charlotte organizations in strengthening their commitment to systemic change internally and in their work in the community. She is intentional about addressing equity in varied aspects of diversity….race, gender, LGBT, age, national origin, economic status and others.

Become A Millionaire Using Davidson Professor’s “March Mathness” Prediction System

Steve
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Become A Millionaire Using Davidson Professor’s “March Mathness” Prediction System

One North Carolina professor is going viral once again for his revolutionary “March Mathness” website.

The site automatically calculates an insanely deep set of formulas to determine the best possible March Madness bracket.

Davidson College Math Professor Dr. Tim Chartier first created the equations in 2009, and after continually placing high in bracket challenges, he started to make headlines around the country.

You can now use his formulas to make your own bracket, and potentially win over a million dollars.

Simply go to marchmathness.davidson.edu and follow the instructions.

I used the Colley Ranking on March Mathness, giving a higher weight to home and neutral games than to away games.

Here’s the bracket it calculated for me;

You can now use the site to give yourself a winning edge on several free bracket contests (become a millionaire by winning either of Yahoo or Fox Sport’s contests);

Happy bracketing! 

One of America’s Best Hotels Is Opening In The Heart of Uptown – The Grand Bohemian Charlotte

Steve
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One of America’s Best Hotels Is Opening In The Heart of Uptown – The Grand Bohemian Charlotte

One of the best hotels in America (as ranked by US News and World Report’s 2019 Hotel Rankings) is now under constrution in the heart of our city.

Yesterday the Grand Bohemian Charlotte celebrated their official ‘topping off’ ceremony with several top executives from the Kessler Collection;

The 16-story boutique hotel, which sits at the corner of Church and Trade, will include 254 Argentinian-inspired rooms, a full art gallery, the luxe Poseidon Spa, a high-tech fitness facility, signature wine-blending classes, and a rooftop bar that will blend nature with modern artistry.

Even the carpet will feature a one-of-a-kind oriental weave;

The new luxury hotel is now slated to open in early 2020.

SC Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Case Over Morningstar Church’s 21-Story Tower in Fort Mill

Charlotte Stories
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SC Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Case Over Morningstar Church’s 21-Story Tower in Fort Mill

A major legal battle over York County’s tallest building is now heading for South Carolina’s Supreme Court.

The 21-story tower is currently owned by MorningStar Fellowship Church. York County is wanting the building torn down, as many area residents have complained that it’s an eyesore, but Morningstar argues that the town has put unjust financial burdens on them due to permit delays.

The battle began in 2008 when the county refused any more permits, saying that MorningStar violated their development agreement by failing to disclose the specific financing for the project and a realistic timetable for its completion.

Morningstar filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the county in 2013 and the legal fight has been escalating ever since (you can read the court documents from the past 6 years here).

The South Carolina Supreme Court has now agreed to hear arguments regarding whether or not the site should be allowed to be redeveloped into a $35 million active-adult mid-rise community.

The court will seek to conclude how much cost Morningstar incurred during its redevelopment and what the current value of the incomplete tower is.

The tower and surrounding property was originally purchased by Morningstar in 2004 after it sat vacant for almost 20 years.

The tower was part of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s vision for a massive Christian theme park and global media facility. The Bakker’s entire PTL ministry collapsed in the late 1980s amid a sex scandal and criminal charges that sent Jim Bakker to prison.

Charlotte’s $683 Million ‘Brooklyn Village’ Development Given Final Approval By Commissioners

Steve
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Charlotte’s $683 Million ‘Brooklyn Village’ Development Given Final Approval By Commissioners

Last night, Mecklenburg County commissioners met together to read over the finalized documents regarding the leveling and redevelopment of Marshall Park as part of the highly anticipated half-billion-dollar ‘Brooklyn Village’ development.

The commissioners gave the green light to developers to move forward with the massive Uptown Charlotte project.

The $683 million plan calls for BK Partners to re-develop the former African-American neighborhood of Brooklyn Village in Uptown Charlotte’s Second Ward.

Second Ward’s historically African-American Brooklyn Village was demolished in the 1960s in a wave of “urban renewal,” and is now largely dominated by the city’s government quarter, sterile municipal buildings, empty plazas, and the largely unused Marshall Park.

Three years ago, the city chose BK Partners to redevelop the site when they agreed to pay $33.7 million for the land, and investing a total of $683 million for the entire development, to include;

1,243 homes — 85% apartments (w/ 107 affordable apartments) – 15% condos, totaling 1,187,000 square feet (51%)

680,700 square feet of office (29%) – including “iconic” 22-story office tower

252,100 square feet of retail (11%)

185,500 square feet of hotels (8%)

3,700 square feet of cultural (0.16%)

1.9 acres of park and open space

2,312 parking spaces

Here are some renderings of the finished development:

new uptown charlotte development2

brooklyn village conformity2

charlotte brooklyn village conformity corp

new uptown charlotte development3

If you’d like to read over the detailed plans BK Partner’s new Second Ward development, here is the full PDF of their proposal.

North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of Chimpanzee – Boost for Conservation Efforts

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North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of Chimpanzee – Boost for Conservation Efforts

The North Carolina Zoo (now the largest zoo in the world) today announced a new addition to the chimpanzee troop. On Monday, March 18, 2019, a healthy baby was born to chimp Gerre. Both mother and baby are doing well, and the baby started nursing quickly. The gender of the baby has not been determined yet.

It is an important birth as there have only been two other successful chimp births at Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos in the past two years.

The North Carolina Zoo is one of the most successful zoos for breeding chimps. Before Monday’s birth, three infants have been born at the Zoo since 2010: females Nori and Ebi and male Gus.

Gerre (Zha’-ree) who is around 20 years old, is an experienced mother and very protective of her young. She is the mother of Genie, who was born on August 25, 2011, at the Dallas Zoo. Both Gerre and Genie came to the North Carolina Zoo from the Dallas Zoo on November 14, 2012. The gestation period for chimpanzees is 230 days. Chimps have an average life span of 35-40 years under human care.

The Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP), managed by the AZA, recommended this planned birth. The Zoo’s Curator of Mammals, Jennifer Ireland, is the Vice Program Leader of the Chimpanzee SSP. The Zoo’s chimpanzee troop is one of the larger troops in AZA-accredited zoos in the United States.

According to Curator Ireland, the troop is very curious about the young baby. The last birth at the Zoo, a male named Gus, was on May 14, 2014. The adult male chimpanzees in this troop are known for being gentle and playful with younger chimps.

“Congratulations to the North Carolina Zoo for the new baby chimp,” said Susi H. Hamilton, secretary of the N.C. Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources. “Today is a cause for celebration at the North Carolina Zoo as well as a critical moment in the conservation world.”

“Every birth is special to us,” said Zoo Director Pat Simmons. “We are thrilled to have this new addition! We hope our guests see the baby as a symbol of how important it is to save chimpanzees in the wild.”

The North Carolina Zoo has been actively involved in wild chimpanzee conservation for more than 15 years in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, which boasts the largest chimpanzee population in East Africa. The Zoo’s program, UNITE for the Environment works in partnership with area schools to improve teaching methods, enable teachers to incorporate more environmental topics into the classroom, and help the local community find ways to reduce their impact on Kibale National Park.

Chimps are endangered in the wild because of habitat destruction of the forests of central Africa and populations have steadily declined over the years. Although numbers are difficult to estimate, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) believes there are 172,000 – 299,000 left in the wild.

Chimps are one of the five types of great apes along with gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and humans. They are well-known for their intelligence, tool-use, complex social structures and communication through vocalizations, gestures and body posture and facial expressions that convey emotions such as happiness, anger, depression and fear.

With the new baby, the Zoo’s troop now consists of 16 chimpanzees – 10 females –Gerre & baby (sex T.B.D.), Amy, Ebi, Gari, Genie, Gigi, Maggie, Nori, Ruby and Tammy, and five males – Gus, Kendall, Jonathan, Lance and Sokoto. The Zoo recently lost one of its oldest female chimps, Ruthie, 47, in December of 2018.

North Carolina Wants To Turn The Oldest Cypress Swamp In The World Into A State Park

Steve
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North Carolina Wants To Turn The Oldest Cypress Swamp In The World Into A State Park

The 1,000+ year old trees along North Carolina’s Black River (currently thought to be the oldest trees in the Eastern United States) might soon become part of a new state park if newly proposed legislation goes through.

House Bill 353, introduced by Reps. William Brisson of Duplin and Brenden Jones, would authorize one state park and three state natural areas to be acquired and set aside for public enjoyment by the state, including:

three-sisters-swamp-north-carolinaBlack River State Park: About 2,600 acres in Bladen, Pender and Sampson counties. Major attractions would include cypress trees more than 1,600 years old and paddling.

Bob’s Pocket State Natural Area: About 2,900 acres in McDowell County. Sheltered coves and ravines with unusual rock formations and rare plants, could support recreational uses and trail connections.

Salmon Creek State Natural Area: About 1,000 acres in Bertie County, including cypress-gum swamp, marshes and tidal swamps. Site also includes 18 archaeological sites and one Indian occupation site that may be linked to the “Lost Colony.”

Warwick Mill Bay State Natural Area: About 1,000 acres in Robeson County, including one of the state’s largest inland rookeries. Could include opportunities for bird conservation, birdwatching and wildlife observation.

If the bill passes, the initial land acquisition would cost between $1 million to $2 million, and it would take about two to three years before the park could open.

The biggest bald cypresses in the region are in the Three Sisters Swamp, which is officially the oldest cypress swamp in the world. One of the trees, named Methuselah, has even been dated to 364 AD, meaning the 1,650-year-old started growing during the height of the Roman Empire.

black-river-state-park-map

Somewhere in the #ThreeSistersSwamp in the #BlackRiver north of #Wilmington NC stands the “Methuselah Tree,” a #baldcypress “at least” 1600 years old, cored and tagged as “BLK69” by a team of researchers in the mid-80. But don’t bother looking for it – the tag has long since fallen off. Besides, they suspect there were probably hundreds of much older trees there that can’t be aged as their cores have long since rotted out, leaving them hollow but still alive. These are the oldest trees east of the Rockies, and the oldest bald cypress forest in the world. 📷 Seeking shelter from a downpour, Zachary West of @tnc_nc enters a still-growing giant. For @ourstatemag Sept 16, “Giants of the Forest” #forests #oldgrowth #northcarolina #conservation #paddling #primeval #rivers #nikond810

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What are your thoughts?

Do you think the region around the Three Sisters Swamp should become a state park?

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