The Matthews Road Wolves are certainly no ordinary motorcycle club – they are a passionate group of men who want to see their city change for the better.
This group of men, comprised mostly of police officers, has a passion for raising money for other charities in the community.
The best part? They get to raise money while feeling the wind on their faces!
Please share;
Levine Museum of the New South invites audiences to experience and help create #HomeCLT: People. Places. Promises. – a multilayered exhibit that explores Charlotte’s neighborhoods as they’ve grown and changed over time. Through the stories of people who have lived there, #HomeCLT is told in chapters and employs technology to augment reality and bring the stories of Charlotte’s neighborhoods alive. The exhibit is set to open on Feb. 27 with a member preview on Feb. 26.
“#HomeCLT honors Levine Museum’s commitment to use history to build community by giving voice to people who may not make headlines but whose stories reflect the issues, conflicts and triumphs of this growing, changing city,” said Museum President and CEO Kathryn Hill. “Because we’re experimenting with augmented reality as a way to add dimension to the stories and the history, we are launching this exhibit as a prototype, inviting audiences to explore, comment and contribute their own stories in the gallery.”
The first iteration of #HomeCLT, includes the stories of the Eastland Mall, Enderly Park, Hidden Valley, Dilworth, and Sedgefield neighborhoods. Through an augmented reality app developed by Dr. Ming-Chun Lee of UNC Charlotte’s School of Arts and Architecture, visitors will “see” the demographic changes in these neighborhoods occur over time as visuals and graphics are projected on their phones and other devices.
The exhibit includes a video recording booth where visitors can tell their own stories of the neighborhoods they have shaped and that have shaped them. It also features work by Charlotte photographer, Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr., and videographer, David Butler, and is made possible by generous support from lead sponsor, Crescent Communities.
“At a time when Charlotte is diving into the challenges that we face as a rapidly growing city, it’s important to take a meaningful look at the past,” said Todd Mansfield, CEO of Crescent Communities. “We carefully consider the unique story of each community we develop. With our legacy of building communities throughout the region since 1963, we have witnessed a great deal of the change highlighted by this exhibit, and we are inspired by the opportunity this exploration provides.”
Additional support from #HomeCLT is provided by Bank of America, Luquire George Andrews, Duke Energy, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Charlotte Observer, CLT 250, UNC Charlotte, and the Arts & Science Council. #HomeCLT is a long-term exhibit that will grow to include stories from a variety of new neighborhoods in coming months.
NC Governor Roy Cooper has just appointed our state’s first African-American woman to the position of Chief Justice of North Carolina’s Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Cheri Beasley became a District Court judge in 1999 and was elected to the 15-member intermediate-level Court of Appeals in 2008, and was appointed to the NC Supreme Court Governor Beverly Perdue in 2012. She was elected to a full eight-year term in 2014.
“Chief Justice Mark Martin has admirably served our state for years, and I wish him well in his new role,” said Gov. Cooper in a statement. “Justice Beasley is a well-respected jurist, and I know her to be fair and deeply committed to viewing all North Carolinians equally through the eyes of the law. I appreciate Justice Beasley’s willingness to serve the people of our state in this critical role.”
Governor Cooper’s decision to elevate Justice Beasley to the position of Chief Justice is now facing significant criticism from the right, as Justice Beasley is a registered Democrat, and currently sits 4th in level of seniority on the bench. This will be the second time in over 100 years that a governor elevated an Associate Justice who was not the ‘Senior’ Associate Justice (the only other time being when Republican Gov. Jim Martin elevated Associate Justice Rhoda Billings in 1986 after just 1 year on the court).
Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest (likely running against Cooper in 2020), called Cooper’s decision ‘disappointing’;
Paul Newby currently holds the title of ‘Senior Associate Justice’, having been first elected to the Supreme Court in 2004. Associate Justice Robin Hudson sits in the 3rd level of seniority, having been first elected in 2007;
Beasley’s appointment to Chief Justice will last through the end of 2020, at which point the position will be voted on for the following 8 years. Both Beasley and Newby (a registered Republican) have both stated that they intend to run for the Chief Justice position in 2020.
Justice Cheri Beasley thanked the governor yesterday morning on Twitter for the appointment;
I am grateful to @NC_Governor for appointing me to serve as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. I am truly honored by his confidence in my abilities to successfully lead the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch. pic.twitter.com/qe6jRVF7p5
— Cheri Beasley (@JusticeCBeasley) February 13, 2019Governoruote>
What do you think of Governor Cooper’s decision?
The Charlotte region is now ranked the 7th best metro in America for dating by ApartmentList.com.
The online apartment company asked 10,000 single individuals in 70 of the largest metro areas in America, “How would you rate your current city or neighborhood for opportunities to date and make friends?” Renters were able to respond with the following: Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neutral, Somewhat Unsatisfied, Very Unsatisfied.
The Carolinas make up almost half of the top 10 list, with 4 of our cities making the list;
| Rank | Best Metros for Dating | Share Satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison, WI | 63.0% |
| 2 | Charleston, SC | 60.0% |
| 3 | Denver, CO | 58.2% |
| 4 | Austin, TX | 56.6% |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | 55.6% |
| 6 | Washington, DC | 54.5% |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | 54.0% |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | 52.8% |
| 9 | Durham, NC | 52.3% |
| 10 | Palm Bay, FL | 52.0% |
Charlotte ranks even higher when the ranking is broken down by gender;
You can read more about their rankings here on ApartmentList.com
Do you think Charlotte is a good city for dating?
Let us know your experiences in the comments below:
A beach wedding is certainly the most romantic and unique concept ever. There is so much excitement that comes with the thought of it – flowery decor, dreamy beach wedding dresses, pearl tiara, sunset, cool breeze, and so much more. There are many surprises and benefits that come along with a beach wedding. Scroll down to discover 4 benefits of a beach wedding planning:
Along the beachside, you are already getting the sunset, the sea, and the greenery. You don’t need to think much about the decor for the wedding as it comes along naturally.
If you are getting married in a spring season, you will have most of the benefits then. Flowers bloom at its peak during this amazing season. You will get a variety of beautiful flowers like deep red roses, dreamy white lilies, soft pink peony, sweet pea, and many more. Imagine yourself in beach wedding dresses holding these beautiful flowers along the beach.
If you ever wanted a wedding full of romance and love around, a beach wedding is the one. It’s a romantic concept in itself. You can plan candlelight dinner after the sunset. Soothing music and dinner in the candlelight with your partner can be planned after the party. You can change the wedding outfits for this setup, ask your partner to wear informal shirt pants, and you too can wear mesmerizing beach gowns. You can get affordable yet stylish gowns at JJ’s House.
While in the daytime, you can place candles on every table and cover them up with glasses to make it more romantic. Decorate the tables with flower centerpieces and candles to go with the vibe.
You have to spend extra dollars to get that set up inside a ballroom or a wedding hall probably. Still, you won’t get these amazing pictures as you get alongside a beach. The setup in the beach wedding is created by nature itself. You can take advantage of natural sunlight and the blue sea. If your party continues till sunset, you can get your photographs clicked with the beauty of a sunset.
Your family and friends will thank you for their pictures in this beautiful background. Add some colors by holding flower bouquets in your hand, and a flowery setup. You can also get a dress with flower detailing on it to match the setup. Visit JJ’s house to explore some of the exquisite pieces.
If you are thinking of a beach wedding, you can think of saving money too. You end up spending a huge amount or even go beyond your budget while planning for a traditional wedding party. But a beach wedding demands minimal decor and simple setup. Nature itself will do the efforts to offer you a romantic and beautiful setup. You don’t need to worry about the expensive designer dresses. You can get economically cheap beach wedding dresses to cut down the costs. Also, it saves a lot of your efforts. You don’t need to book any wedding hall.
These were some of the benefits that eventually come along with a beach wedding. Have a romantic wedding along the deep blue sea and cherish it for a lifetime.
On Saturday, Feb. 23, the 19th Annual Art With Heart Auction will continue its tradition of showcasing some of the nation’s most talented artists while raising vital funds for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
WBTV News Anchor Maureen O’Boyle will be the auction emcee, and Jason Dolph will serve as auctioneer. The iconic auction will feature a silent and live auction with artwork donated by a variety of notable artists. As part of the auction, held 7-10 p.m. at the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art in Charlotte, there will be an annual juried art competition open to all artists who donate original artwork to Art With Heart. Juror Sybil Godwin of Shain Gallery will review donations in all media forms; the winner will be named at the Feb. 23 event.
Since its inception in 2000, Art With Heart has collaborated with galleries and artists locally and across the globe to raise more than $1.8 million for Safe Alliance. Every dollar raised provides hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault.
This year’s featured galleries include Allison Sprock Fine Art, Charlotte Fine Art, Elder Gallery and Shain Gallery. The Harvey B. Gantt Center is the Art With Heart museum partner.
See the list below for the 2019 Art With Heart sponsors:
Visit www.safealliance.org/artwithheart to purchase VIP tickets, view available pieces and learn more about the event. Contact Art With Heart Chairwoman Amanda Cannavo atacannavo@doziermillerlaw.com for information about featured artists and artwork.
Budget carrier Spirit Airlines has just announced plans to expand to Charlotte.
“The North Carolina economy continues to thrive, and we are thrilled to add the state’s largest city, Charlotte, to our route network,” John Kirby, Spirit’s vice president of network planning, said in a statement.
Kirby noted that Spirit will initially operate out of 1 gate of the newly renovated Charlotte Douglas Airport, increasing competition at the second-busiest hub for the world’s largest airline – American.
Like other low-cost airlines, Spirit offers a basic ‘no-frills’ flying experience, meaning they charge for most things – especially bags. The airline charges for not only checked bags, but also carry-on bags stowed in overhead bins. The only bags you can fly with for free are those that you can fit under your seat.
Spirit will initially offer flights to 17 locations throughout North America starting at $79 (currently the lowest cost flights out of Charlotte start at $95).
Starting on June 20th, they’ll offer direct flights to Baltimore/Washington, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Houston, San Jose (CR), Denver, Dallas, San Juan, Las Vegas, Panama City, Santo Domingo, Detroit, Aguadilla, San Pedro Sula, and Bogota.
Charlotte’s newest low-cost airline will now be directly competing with Southwest, Frontier, and Allegiant (out of the Concord airport).
Spirit will be the 9th airline serving The Charlotte Douglas Airport, joining American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Lufthansa, and Air Canada Jazz.
Whether you have lived in a neighborhood for a long time or are looking for a new home, it is important to know about the neighbors. People are often surprised by crimes that happen in their own neighborhood. There are several online tools you can use to find out more about the people that live near you. You can now look up information such as family members, public records, and criminal records with simple online tools. A people search site is a good place to start when trying to discretely find out about someone.
Name and Address
You can learn more than you think with only a name and address. You can use the basic lookup on a people search site to find out a few details. Simply enter the name and see what comes up. A list of names with addresses should be available for you to choose from. When you find the person that is in your neighborhood, you may be able to then see names of close friends and family. You can use these names to do a little research on the relatives or friends of your neighbors, as well. This can give you a better understanding of the people living near you.
Criminal Activity
It is easy to check the criminal activity in your area by checking police updates. This does not tell you about the individuals living next to you, however. It can be nice to make friends with your neighbors and spend time with them. Many people maintain lifelong friendships with their neighbors. It is a good idea to know who you are spending time with, however. You may have children that want to spend time at a neighbor’s house, for example. Use online people search sites to begin a criminal background check. This way you can be sure the people you spend time with are safe for your family.
Public Records
At times, you may simply want to verify information about the people you meet. People are often untruthful about things like marital status or other personal information. They may want to hide things. A search site can help you find out if people are being honest about who they are and their life’s details. It is worth it to pay a little money to find out about your neighbors. You can enjoy your living situation much better when you are confident about your safety. It only takes a few minutes online to find out everything you need to know.
It is incredibly easy to find out personal information with online access. Special sites that offer phone number, address, and public record searches are a great help for families everywhere. It can be difficult to make friends in modern times. You may have many unanswered questions about the background of new acquaintances or your own neighbors. Look up basic information or complete a background check to put your mind at ease. People searches are a popular tool used for these instances.
Over 150,000 fans are expected to flock to Charlotte for one of the biggest sporting events in our city’s history.
Starting this coming Thursday, NBA’s brightest stars will be showcasing their talent throughout a week full of games and events.
Here are a few things to know for the NBA All-Star Weekend:
1. The Transit Center will temporarily relocate to the surface lot across from the LYNX 7th Street parking deck.
2. All bags will be prohibited from entering the Spectrum Center.
3. Heavy pedestrian traffic is expected in Uptown, with road closures around Spectrum Center. If you don’t need to travel to Uptown during this time, please avoid the area. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid Independence Boulevard and the Bojangles’ Coliseum area on Friday afternoon, and parking around the AvidXchange Music Factory will be limited.
4. Parking will be impacted in Uptown: many garages and on-street spaces will be full or unavailable, and valet parking will be disbanded.
5. The LYNX Blue Line will operate during the weekend with additional security measures. Bags and bulky items will not be allowed on board or on station platforms beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. Learn more here.
6. Pickup and drop-off for rideshare services will be limited, and e-scooters and bicycles will not be allowed in areas around Spectrum Center.
You can learn more at http://www.charlottenc.gov/nba to see road closure maps and additional information.
During this year’s annual Carolina Coyote Classic coyote hunting tournament, a few extremely rare black coyote “devil dogs” were found just outside of Charlotte.
According to organizers, over 100 hunters participated in this year’s tournament, bringing in a total of 149 coyotes (almost tripling last year’s total of 51), including 3 of the extremely rare black coyotes.
The first place winners this year got a total of 17 coyotes – 2 of them were the infamous “devil dogs”;
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, black coyotes are a very uncommon mix between wild coyotes and domestic dogs.
“The black color comes from dog genes that moved into the coyote population through some hybridization event 50 years ago,” says Candid Critters on Facebook. “Coyotes aren’t known to hybridize with dogs today, but still carry the genetic legacy of this historic cross breeding.”
Black coyotes are typically larger, more aggressive, and have a much stronger bite than purebred coyotes.
This video shows how much more aggressive black coyotes can be from regular coyotes;
Coyotes are considered a dangerous invasive species in North Carolina and their population has been continuing to increase around our area.
We recently reported about a coyote attacking a 7-year-old girl, a pack of coyotes killing a man’s 2 dogs in the front yard of his Iredell County home, and a German Shepherd therapy dog being attacked by a pack of coyotes in Weddington.
Since coyotes are not a native animal, they can be hunted year-round, even at night using flashlights – they can also be legally trapped from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
Some residents are now equipping their yards with flashing light coyote deterrents, and ultrasonic pest repellers, both of which work on solar power and are motion sensitive.
Officials with the animal control recommend:
Keeping your yard free of any garbage or lingering food smells.
Keep dogs on leashes when walking them, as coyotes are much less likely to approach if a person is nearby.
Look around your backyard for the animals before you let the dogs out.
If you encounter a coyote, back away slowly while yelling and waving your arms. Don’t run.
Call 911 if you are being threatened by coyotes or other animals.
Have you seen any coyotes around your property?