Banksy Bringing His World Renown Art to Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Banksy Bringing His World Renown Art to Charlotte

The most famous graffiti artist this world, who Time magazine included on its list of The 100 Most Influential People in the World, just announced plans to bring his legendary work to the Queen City.

The Art of Banksy show will include over 130 original works by the artist, including; Original Artworks, Prints on different kind of materials, photos, sculptures, installations, murals, and more. A video documentary gives visitors insights into his life and work.

Charlotte was selected as one of the handful of US cities the show will be coming to, along with Miami and Atlanta.

Prices start at $26.20.

Dates, times, and tickets will officially be released on Tuesday, June 29th at noon.

You can join the waiting list here.

NC-Based Health Care Provider Acquires Operations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin

Charlotte Stories
-
0
NC-Based Health Care Provider Acquires Operations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin
Broadstep Behavioral Health, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and severe persistent mental illness (SPMI), acquired Bethesda Lutheran Communities’ residential and support programs in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Broadstep is a portfolio company of Bain Capital’s Double Impact fund.
“We are pleased to welcome Bethesda team members and the individuals they serve into the Broadstep family,” said Lynn Mason, Broadstep’s President and CEO. “Together, we look forward to addressing the many challenges facing behavioral healthcare and continuing to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – a mission established by Bethesda almost 120-years ago.”
Bethesda Lutheran Communities (BLC) provides services and support for those diagnosed with I/DD through community-based homes, day programs, at-home life skills development, job placement, and behavioral support. By acquiring BLC homes in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, Broadstep continues its expansion of residential services in the Midwest, following on the heels of the acquisition of Good Hope Manor in Wisconsin in December.
The Case for Inclusion, released annually by the Ancor Foundation and United Cerebral Palsy, reveals a waiting list for housing and services of more than 26,000 people in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin ­– and more than 470,000 people nationwide. Rising costs, low medical reimbursements, reduced revenue from other sources, and the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted programs for individuals with I/DD.
According to a report by the KUNI Foundation published by Spectrum Life Magazine, “People with intellectual and developmental disabilities face a housing crisis.” Supply is not meeting demand in the United States.
“There are so many individuals that need help,” said Mason, named President and CEO of Broadstep in 2019. “Behavioral health is still a segment of the population that is largely forgotten. That’s not where they should be. Individuals with low IQs are not only challenged with their learning disability, many also struggle with behavioral health disorders that have never been addressed. At Broadstep, I believe we can build the right continuum of care and align with great community partners, health systems, and payers to help address these needs.”
According to Dr. Scott Huntington, Ph.D., Broadstep’s Chief Clinical Officer and former corrections system psychologist, undiagnosed and untreated behavioral health disabilities weigh heavily on the judicial system, with many individuals in prison. “Putting their quality of life in jail aside for a moment, the cost to keep and treat individuals in prison is three times the amount of those not incarcerated. This person, this child, this adult, is struggling, and we believe we have the opportunity within this healthcare system and with our partners to tackle these challenges. We want to make sure they can live a good quality, productive life and be an additive back to their communities.”
When access to care is provided to this population, the positive impact is undeniable. According to a recent study by the American Journal on Public Health, Americans living with disabilities with no home support system receive less preventive care, have a higher incidence of chronic conditions, and visit the hospital and emergency department more often — leading to much higher health care spending than for the average adult.

Duke Partnering With SC To Develop Massive New Whitewater Center For Charlotte Region

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Duke Partnering With SC To Develop Massive New Whitewater Center For Charlotte Region

The Charlotte region is about to boast another major whitewater recreation center to compliment the US National Whitewater Center.

Duke Energy’s new multi-million dollar project, called the Great Falls-Dearborn Development, will completely revision Dearborn Island, including building a massive pedestrian bridge to the 650-acre island, install three canoe and kayak launches, restructuring water channels into class 2,3 and 4 whitewater rapids, and partnering with South Carolina to develop an entirely new state park.

Duke Energy will be working with S2O Design, designer of Charlotte’s U.S. National Whitewater Center, and HDR Engineering to build 2 new bypass channels, with the longest one being about 1 1/2 miles. The new channels will gradually dissipate the reservoirs released energy using switchbacks and a series of progressively challenging waves. Each bypass will use notches and gates to regulate the water flow.

“If you came out here 200 years ago when the river was down, it’d likely look exactly as it is today,” said Tim Huffman, Duke Energy’s senior project manager charged with implementing the FERC agreement. “The reservoir now has very limited access. When the elements of the Catawba River agreement are put in place, not only will access be improved, the two dried out reaches will have their flows restored for recreational access as well as biological and habitat enhancement.”

Work is currently underway at the Nitrolee Access Area and construction on the short and long bypass is scheduled to begin later this year. The completed facilities are planned to be finished within the next two years.

Charlotte Passes New 2040 Plan To Transform City Into Network of ’10-Minute Neighborhoods’

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Charlotte Passes New 2040 Plan To Transform City Into Network of ’10-Minute Neighborhoods’

The Charlotte City Council has passed a sweeping new development plan for our city.

The new plan is called the ‘Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan‘ and includes a wide swath of measures, including zoning changes, development goals, and spending proposals.

One of the most significant, and most controversial, parts of the plan is to make every one of Charlotte’s neighborhoods a “10-minute neighborhood”.

According to the plan:

“All Charlotte households should have access to essential amenities, goods, and services within a comfortable, tree-shaded 10-minute walk, bike, or transit trip by 2040. Not all neighborhoods are expected to include every essential amenity, good, or service, but every resident should have access within a ½ mile walk or a 2-mile bike or transit trip.”

You can read the entire plan on the city’s new website, cltfuture2040.com.

What do you think about the new plan?

Duke Building Massive New 195 Acre Solar Farm in North Carolina

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Duke Building Massive New 195 Acre Solar Farm in North Carolina

Duke Energy continues to expand solar power in North Carolina with construction starting on its 22.6-megawatt (MW) Stony Knoll Solar power plant. Once completed, it will be the largest solar plant in Surry County.

The project will be owned and operated by Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions.* The project was selected as part of the competitive bidding process established by 2017’s solar legislation in North Carolina.

The solar plant will contain 76,600 Trina Solar bifacial modules with single-axis tracking. The plant will be located on 195 acres in Dobson, N.C. – near Rockford Road. The facility will power the equivalent of 5,000 homes. It is targeting commercial operation by the end of 2021.

“Duke Energy is bringing more carbon-free, renewable energy to customers in North Carolina. We’re pleased to add Surry County to our ever-growing list of solar locations as we significantly reduce carbon emissions on our path to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president.

Under North Carolina’s Competitive Procurement for Renewable Energy, proposed projects must be built where there is a need for energy capacity on the Duke Energy system in North Carolina or South Carolina. The bids can come from any company, including Duke Energy, and can be in the form of power purchase agreements (PPA), utility self-developed facilities or utility asset acquisitions.

“We’re pleased to continue to build upon the renewable energy resources in the state. The Stony Knoll solar project marks the third facility that we have announced in North Carolina this year and demonstrates our continued commitment to increasing clean energy generation in the state,” said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions.

During peak construction, Stony Knoll Solar will create about 70 jobs. Along with indirect economic benefits that accompany solar project development, such as increased local spending in the service and construction industries, Stony Knoll Solar will also have a positive economic impact on the local community by providing local tax revenues to the county and local school districts, as well as meaningful payments to the participating landowners.

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions also supports the communities where its facilities and team members are based through the efforts of the Duke Energy Foundation. In January, the company awarded $10,000 to Copeland Elementary School in Dobson to fund the purchase of Chromebooks for students.

The facility’s design, procurement of inverters, balance of plant systems and construction of the project will be performed by Swinerton Renewable Energy. The energy generated by Stony Knoll will be delivered through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas.

Charlotte Ranks Among The Top 20 for Amenity-Rich Rental Living

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Charlotte Ranks Among The Top 20 for Amenity-Rich Rental Living

Finding a place to live that incorporates green space and ample amenities is top of mind for everyone, in pandemic and non-pandemic times, with last year only serving as a reminder of how important home really is. We set out to identify where renters have the best chances to enjoy a premier renting experience, amenity-wise, in the hunt for the ideal pad.

Looking at more than 82,000 large-scale apartment buildings* across the country, Charlotte stands out as the 15th-best location that offers the ideal renting conditions for community amenities, while Raleigh ranks 16th.

Here are some of the most important highlights on NC’s rental scene:

  • 45% of Charlotte and Raleigh’s apartment properties are equipped with over-the-top community facilities.
  • The bounty of apartment amenities is likely due to the rental building boom in these two NC cities. There’s been a 30% increase in rental units built over the past decade in Charlotte and a 28% increase in Raleigh.
  • Almost all large-scale rental buildings in these cities boast a common outdoor space and parking spots, along with resort-style pools (88%), and 24hr fitness centers (81%).
  • Apartment buildings are particularly family-friendly here, with about 44% of rental communities offering playgrounds. 82% offer clubhouses for a plus of comfort and 58% have business centers.
  • In total, five NC cities made our list of top 100 cities by apartment community amenities – Durham ranked 26th, Greensboro 34th and Winston-Salem 46th.

Top 100 Cities by Community Amenities 

 

You can find the full report here: https://www.storagecafe.com/blog/best-cities-for-lifestyle-amenities/

A Handy Guide To Clergy Apparel

Sharon Anderson
-
0
A Handy Guide To Clergy Apparel

Clothing is paramount in most religious institutions as it signifies certain individuals’ roles within their chosen denomination. Also, there lies a great deal of history behind what male and female leaders wear inside a ministry. In this article, you’ll briefly learn about clergy apparel, who wears it, how it represents religious rankings, and how it’s worn.

What Is Clergy Apparel?

Clergy apparel refers to clothing worn by the members of a clergy or ministry. Also called clerical clothing, it’s the clergy’s daily uniform as required by their religious institution. However, most people confuse it with vestments, which are considered liturgical clothing, and you’ll learn more about their differences later.

Since your clergy wear is meant for everyday use, it’s vital to own pieces that are comfortable, particularly if you’re located in an area that experiences high temperatures and humidity. They should also fit you well and be made of strong materials so they’ll last you a long time.

Where To Find Clergy Apparel?

Although you might be thinking of getting clergy robes, shirts, or dresses directly from your institution, you can acquire those from retail businesses specializing in designing and producing clergy apparel.

Aside from buying ready-made clergy apparel, you can have your clerical wear customized for a better fit, which most clergy members opt for. Then, you can complete your attire by looking for clergy accessories such as clergy collars, cinctures, and collar buttons. 

When shopping for individual pieces of your clergy attire, keep in mind that accessories are just as important as the clothes themselves. For instance, wearing a collar emphasizes your religious calling and identity inside the community, and it’ll become a part of your daily wear both inside and outside your church.

Non-Liturgical Versus Liturgical Attire

Non-liturgical clothing is exclusively worn by the clergy. Compared to liturgical clothing, it’s not only used for special occasions but also as a clergy member’s everyday apparel.

Traditional Clerical Clothing 

On formal, non-liturgical occasions, priests wear a black robe called a cassock paired with a ferraiolone, which is a lightweight, ankle-length cape meant to be worn indoors. During less formal occasions, one can opt for a shorter cape known as a ferraiolo. The fabric type and color of their cape dictate the wearer’s rank in the church.

Moreover, this attire is usually worn on events that call for a black or white tie, including state dinners, banquets, acceptance of personal honors, and the like.


 Contemporary Clerical Clothing 

The traditional, more formal attire has become less common today as many clergymen prefer wearing contemporary clerical clothing. The cassock and ferraiolone have been replaced by a clerical vest complimented with a tuxedo or black suit, a collarless French cuff shirt, and a Roman collar called a gilet.

Meanwhile, during a mass, wedding, or funeral, you’ll notice that priests wear different types and colors of vestments. Those are classified as liturgical clothing since they’re used in the context of religious ceremonies and occasions.

To have a better idea of what priests wear on special occasions, take a look at the information below.

Vestments 

Essentially, vestments are worn by priests during Christian worship. Wearing the proper vestment is essential for priests before facing the members of their church, particularly those belonging to the younger generation whom they want to bring closer to God. Here are some common vestment pieces:

  • Alb: This vestment comes in a pure white color symbolizing the purity of the heart when priests bring themselves to the altar. The alb is the base layer of their attire.
  • Cincture: A cincture is a cord or rope tied over the alb to help keep it in place. It symbolizes the virtue of purity.
  • Stole: This is a cloth band placed around the neck and rests on the shoulders. It’s a symbol of the priestly power and authority.
  • Chasuble: As the final touch, the chasuble serves as the outer clothing that people see during a mass or the Eucharist, and it reflects the virtue of charity.

Liturgical Colors 

Depending on the time of the year and corresponding event, vestments vary in color. Colors are important because they carry symbolisms for every special occasion.

  • Green: Regularly worn throughout the liturgical calendar, this signifies hope.
  • Rose: This is worn on the Third Sunday of Advent and Fourth Sunday of Lent, and it symbolizes joy and love.
  • Red: Used during the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, and the Feasts of the Apostles and martyrs, this color reflects the fire of charity and bloodshed for Christ.
  • Purple: Worn during the Advent, Lent, and Requiem Masses, purple symbolizes repentance and humility.
  • White Or Gold: Both colors represent joy, innocence, glory, and the soul’s purity, and they’re worn on the Feasts of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary, and saints who weren’t martyred.


Takeaway

Religious groups wear what they wear to offer respect, support, and love to their communities and their beliefs. Regardless of the differences in clothing used by the clergy or ministry from various denominations, it’s crucial to maintain a high level of decency and properly carry out one’s solemn duties. Now that you know the basics of clergy apparel, you can fully prepare for your journey toward serving the Lord as well as the members of your church.

4 Ways to Make Your Kitchen More Eco-Friendly

Stella Sutkiewicz
-
0

When it comes to making your household more eco-friendly, this journey starts in the kitchen. There are numerous small but thoughtful changes you can make along with easy-to-adopt habits that can greatly impact your effect on the environment. 

Shopping Green

Shop seasonally and buy locally grown produce. Not only are these products more environmentally sustainable, but often fresher and cheaper too. Support community and local farmers’ markets. Buy in bulk to limit packaging and make fewer trips to the store which saves gas and time. Reusable canvas shopping bags are ideal, keep these in your car at all times. If you have to use paper or plastic ones, make sure to reuse them. Invest in some quality airtight containers to store bulk items and prevent food waste. Choose products with less packaging. 

Re-evaluate your family’s meat and dairy consumption. Raising and eating livestock pollutes the water, air, and soil, and is responsible for nearly 20% of global greenhouse emissions. Adopt a meatless Monday and try to go meatless for one meal daily. 

Buy Fairtrade certified coffee in 100 % compostable pods that are cheaper than branded capsules for your Nespresso machine. Should you enjoy a takeaway coffee from your favorite barrister on your morning commute, take along your reusable cup to prevent using a disposable one.

Make sure to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost. Compost bins, worm farms, and Bokashi buckets are just some of the solutions available. This not only reduces the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills but also keeps your garden healthy. Alternatively, some companies will collect your compost for use in other areas if you do not own a garden. 

Cleaning Green

Choose natural cleaning products that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and plant-based. Alternatively, you can make your own cleaning products from household ingredients like white vinegar, salt, baking soda, and lemons. This keeps harsh chemicals out of the waterways. Choose sustainable alternatives for sponges, scourers, and dishcloths that are made from renewable resources, natural fibers, and recycled materials. 

Using a dishwasher is more eco-friendly than hand washing, especially when set on the economy cycle option. Wait for a full load before setting it to start. Make sure to clean the coils on the back of your refrigerator. Dust on these coils significantly reduces the appliance’s energy efficiency.  

Cooking Green

Invest in long-lasting cookware like stainless steel or cast iron. These will result in fewer replacements over time, keeping discarded goods from the landfills. Cook smart by using smaller appliances whenever possible like the microwave, convection oven, toaster oven, air fryer, or slow cooker. Consider using a pressure cooker that greatly reduces cooking time. Keep a lid on your cooking. Cooking without lids uses up to three times more energy. Stop preheating the oven and use the stove efficiently by matching pot size to cooking plate size. Cook from scratch so you know what is going into your meals, and whenever possible eat raw.

Older appliances are known to be energy guzzlers so consider replacing these once you have found eco-friendly ways to dispose of the old ones. 

Living Green

Change to energy-efficient light bulbs and say no to disposable plates and cutlery including straws. Don’t use kitchen paper. Reuse parchment paper and aluminium foil. Save the water used for rinsing fruit and vegetables and use this for watering the garden. Cultivate a habit of using up what is in your fridge and freezer first before restocking. 

These tips will help you to become more eco-friendly, more energy-efficient, and less wasteful. From the kitchen, these good habits can then spread into the rest of the household to create a totally sustainable home.

Free Slot Machines You Must Try in 2021

Silvia Woolard
-
0
Free Slot Machines You Must Try in 2021

Online slots have been the most popular category of online casino games for quite some time now. Moreover, when certain websites started offering these games for free, the hype around web-based one-armed bandits became even greater.

And why wouldn’t free slots be extremely popular? After all, they give players a chance to enjoy hundreds of exciting titles absolutely free of charge whenever they feel like it. 

If you still don’t understand why so many people enjoy these games in particular, it only means you haven’t played them at all. That’s why we’ve handpicked some of the best free slot machines on the web and listed them below so that you could access them right away and discover all the perks of these free games.

Colossal Pigs

If you’re looking for some of the best free slot machines for the start of your online gaming journey, Colossal Pigs is a great choice. This free slot game features four jackpots and four mini-games, which give every spin a thrill. Also, pigs are known for being a great omen when it comes to coins, so you can expect to see them flying all over the place while playing this game.

The Hattress

The Hattress is organizing a tea party you don’t want to miss. This slot title is filled with free spins and sticky wilds that are more than enough to make your online gaming experience extremely exciting. Moreover, you’ll see how exhilarating it is when the Hattress herself lands on the grid and starts handing out some special perks.

Rise Of The Gladiator

Gladiator stories are never boring, especially when they come with a variety of free treats. If you’re a fan of expanding reels and up to five progressive jackpots triggered by some extra jackpot symbols, don’t miss out on the opportunity to test this slot game.

Frankenwins – Monsterpedia

This well-known monster is back and ready to leave you speechless with both its appearance and the rewards that it brings along. Aside from the regular features, this slot offers some additional in-play games that will bring the whole experience to the next level.

Queen of the Desert

Good old Egypt-themed slots are always popular in the iGaming industry. In case you’ve never visited one of the world’s oldest civilizations, this free slot will take you to the heart of the desert and show you all the hidden gems of this place. So, if you want to meet the queen of the desert, you must check Slotomania free slots — play free casino & slot games anywhere and anytime.

Giant Wolf

Although the majority of stories portray wolves as bad, the Giant Wolf slot will show you that the truth can be different. After only a couple of spins, you’ll learn that the wolf in this game is far from notorious. In fact, it comes bearing gifts in the form of bonuses and multipliers like no other slot characters before.

Clovers and Bells

Maybe slots and other online casino games have changed over time, but one thing never will — the lucky charm symbols coming from Ireland. So, if you feel like you are on a bad streak, maybe you should go with a free slot filled with objects known for bringing good luck. Look for some four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, Celtic harps, and lucky rainbows while enjoying this amazing slot game for free.

Kiss of the Vampire 

This list wouldn’t be complete without a vampire-themed slot game. Stacked symbols are those that make this slot game unique, while the wild comes in the shape of bold red lips no one has managed to resist so far.

Feel Free to Dig Deeper

Hopefully, the list we’ve created will be a good enough reason for you to start enjoying free slot games. However, don’t just stick to the titles we’ve chosen. Go a step further by exploring the libraries featuring these free games and create a new list of your personal favorites.

Online Gambling- Expert Insights into Legalization: Interview with Lucas Mollberg

Stacy Anderson
-
0
Online Gambling- Expert Insights into Legalization: Interview with Lucas Mollberg

Lockdowns caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic which has swept the world were difficult for everyone, with most social activities suspended for close to a whole year. Chained to our homes, we turned to all sorts of indoor activities, including binge watching Netflix, but also playing our favortie online games. 

Until very recently, real money gambling online was not legal in the USA, and was not an option for Americans. Yet, millions of people enjoyed social slots and other games like blackjack and roulette on social apps. Now, online gambling legalization has started across the USA, and we talked to industry insider Lucas Mollberg about this topic and how the process is going across the country. 

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us, Lucas. Before we go into any specifics, can you quickly introduce our readers to the legal situation of online gambling in the USA?

Thank you for having me here with you! The legal situation of online gambling in the USA is not defined on the federal level. Each state has the right to make its own laws, which wasn’t always the case. Today, some states like Pennsylvania or New Jersey offer licenses to operators who partner with local live casinos. This makes online poker, sports betting, and casino games perfectly possible in these states.

However, the process is relatively slow and there is a lot of pushback from different lobbies. Some states are working on bills to legalize some forms of online gambling as we speak, while others may never have online gambling. It’s quite likely that we won’t have legal online gambling on the federal level for a very long time, if ever.

You mentioned that online gambling is now legal in some of the states. Can you tell us a little about the operators that exist in the USA and how people can find them?

Of course! Numerous states have legalized online sports betting, and poker and casino games are also available in some. Potential players can find information about online operators at sites like BestBonus, along with information on online gambling in general. Keep in mind that players can only play on sites licensed in their own state. A site that’s licensed in the neighbouring state will not be available to you for real money play.

There are legal sites to play poker, casino games, and bet on sports, while daily fantasy sports are legal in nearly all states. These sites have to be in partnerships with American casinos such as MGM or Golden Nugget to get a license approved, which is the one unique thing about American gambling sites.

Why are online operators making such deals with the local live casinos? What made the government put forth such a requirement?

Well, the casino industry in the USA is pretty massive but mostly controlled by a handful of companies. When online gambling legalization was first proposed, they were the main opponents of it as they knew that online casinos and sportsbooks would surely drive traffic away from their casinos.

The compromise that was made is one where everyone is satisfied. The big casino companies form partnerships with major online gaming operators from the rest of the world. These operators already know how to run a good online gambling business, and the casinos get their share of the market they always held a sort of monopoly on. It’s hard to get gaming licenses in the USA and casino operators weren’t going to let their years of hard work get diminished.

Legalized or not, online gambling still represents one of the main industries and a perfect hobby for most people. We just have to enjoy it in our spare time.

1...708709710...1,317Page 709 of 1,317