North Carolina Awarded $2 Million Emergency Grant For COVID-19 Behavioral Health

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina Awarded $2 Million Emergency Grant For COVID-19 Behavioral Health

North Carolina has just been awarded a massive $2,000,000 grant from the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in order to support our state’s behavioral health response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The new grant will go toward North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service’s (NCDHHS) work toward helping the increasing need of NC residents with mental health issues and substance abuse in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant is part of a larger program that now totals over $110 million awarded to states and federally recognized tribes and territories.

“A clear symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic is fear and anxiety caused by disruption in the lives of many North Carolinians — people have lost jobs, their daily routines and their sense of stability and belonging,” commented Kody H. Kinsley – North Carolina’s Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. “This funding is an important investment toward the response we must rally to support the behavioral health and wellness of every North Carolinian.”

The new funds will be used to strengthen the Hope4Healers helpline (919-226-2002), which connects health care workers and their families to licensed clinicians through telehealth and provides short-term support. The funds will also help fight North Carolina’s opioid epidemic by supporting access to Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in areas of the state particularly hard hit economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as additional supports for individuals transitioning from jails and prisons who have existing substance use disorders.

OMB Director Promoted to Mecklenburg Assistant County Manager

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OMB Director Promoted to Mecklenburg Assistant County Manager

Mecklenburg County’s Office of Management and Budget Director Michael A. Bryant has been promoted to Assistant County Manager. County Manager Dena R. Diorio announced the promotion during the April 22 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Bryant will replace Mark L. Foster. Foster, who served in the position for the last five years, is scheduled to retire in June.

As Assistant County Manager, Bryant will provide oversight for the following County departments: Financial Services Department, the Office of the Tax Collector, Information Technology, Human Resources, as well as the Office of Management and Budget.

Bryant will also be responsible for leading the County’s enterprise risk management strategy and for supervising financial planning and compliance throughout the organization.

Bryant, who has worked at Mecklenburg County since 2003, has extensive experience in local and state government. Bryant started his career with the County as a Management & Budget Analyst before climbing the ranks to Budget Manager, then Director of the Office of Management and Budget, before accepting his new role as Assistant County Manager.

Prior to Mecklenburg County, Bryant worked for The City of Durham, Duke University, Granville County and the Office of the Governor.

Bryant serves as a senior fellow with the Lee Institute’s American Leadership Forum and has participated in the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Executive Leadership Institute.

Also, beginning in May, Bryant will serve as the President Elect of the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The association consists of more than 20,000 members of federal, state, and local public finance officials who are deeply involved in planning, financing, and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions.

Bryant is the recipient of North Carolina Central University’s 40 Under 40 Award and the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bryant earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.

New Zealand Banking System: Top Banks on the Market

Robert Tilman
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New Zealand Banking System: Top Banks on the Market

The New Zealand banking system has created one of the best financial sectors providing high-quality services for Kiwis. The providers in this sector comprise of registered banks, insurance companies, non-bank lending institutions and other financial institutions. New Zealand has the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as its Central bank.

 The Central bank is responsible for creating monetary policies, ensuring there is a sound financial system that easily satisfies the currency needs of the general public. The Financial market Infrastructure is very essential as it provides safe routes through which different securities and payments together with other financial transactions can be made and recorded in a way of promoting economic growth and stability in matters of security.

Overview of the New Zealand Banking System

The major industry players are 26 registered banks together with four Australian-owned banks that provided almost $7.89 billion contributions to the New Zealand economy. The banks have played a vital role in providing financial services to its customers like for example the lending services where loans and advances account for 80% of the banking system assets. 

The banking systems here greatly depend on domestic deposits and other offshore countries for funds. The two play a vital role in the provision of lending services for the better provision of financial services.

Top Income Sources for NZ Banks

Banks greatly gain from different financial transactions in the following three main ways:

Loans

Loans have been identified as the greatest contributors to the genera income banks are able to receive. Loan services which accumulate some good amounts of interest to the banks make it able for the bank to use the profits received for other activities that may boost the general performance of the bank. Most citizens and other institutions greatly rely on lending or loan services to run their business or other forms of development.

Poli Online Transfers

This is yet another popular means the banks are using to generate income. The banks are able to charge some amount on any transfer made from one account to the other. This is usually common in gambling-related transactions where betting with Poli payment NZ casino is common to players enjoying different times of pokies and card games. 

The transfer mostly involves the transfer of money from one account to the other to enable a gaming activity. Most payments also accrue some charges that are yet another profit for the banks.

Deposits

The other form of income the banks are able to receive is from the deposits made for various transactions by the customers. Businesses in New Zealand are thriving day in day out, on that note most funds are deposited across the nation to enable the transactions thereby. 

As a result, the banks shall be able to charge some fee which turns to be another source of income to the bank. Online transactions with PayPal including betting or shopping online require that funds be deposited in the bank account to enable any form of business.

Top New Zealand Banks

New Zealand is well recognized for the vast financial system it has. The country which is of healthy financial status has top banks in the market which are greatly helping the natives solve their financial issues in a good and efficient manner. Below is an analysis of the top banks on the New Zealand financial market:

ANZ Bank New Zealand

The ANZ Bank was founded in 2004 and has from the remained a subsidiary of famous Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited. This is one of the great players in the entire banking sector as the 2016 reports indicate that the bank had $ 661 billion and was running a profit of over $ 4.13 billion. 

The bank offers a variety of services that include offering financial products across the country at different levels. It also has a good distribution of its network as 199 branch offices are strategically located in the country.

ASB Bank

This one of the oldest financial institutions around which was established in 1847 and has had its headquarters in Auckland city. The bank has a huge and reliable workforce of about 4900 employers who are on standby to provide you with the best of their services distributed across the 124 branches with over 600 ATMs across the country.

Bank of New Zealand

Bank of New Zealand was founded in 1861 and later on became the National Australia Bank with its own Board of Directors That had a mandate to oversee all the management and operation of the bank. The bank has a huge network of staff of about 5000 who are ready to provide you with the required financial service when need arise.

Kiwi Bank

Kiwi bank is a state-owned enterprise that provides retail banking and financial products to individuals and Small and Medium Enterprises. The bank has a huge number of employees of about 2500 who are keen to provide you with high-quality services.

Conclusion

The presence of the friendly financial conditions in New Zealand has made the country manage its financial status in a more easy and professional way hence attracting more investors.

Homemade Pizza Beats Closed Restaurants and Quarantine Boredom

Steve
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Homemade Pizza Beats Closed Restaurants and Quarantine Boredom

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, and it gets harder to find a way to take your mind off problems. If you don’t know what to do for the next evening, and you want some fresh impressions, cooking some pizza can be an excellent solution. At Pizzaovenradar.com, we decided to share some of our favorite pizza recipes to cheer you up. You can use your kitchen stove for baking, or try one of top rated countertop pizza ovens to have a more authentic experience. 

What About Dough?

You can either get readymade pizza dough in the nearest supermarket or make it yourself. It’s easy as ABC. Take simple bread flour and combine it with sugar, yeast, and salt. Don’t switch the mixer off and start adding water until the dough becomes sticky. If it looks too wet, add so more flour until you can make a soft ball that doesn’t stick to fingers. Finish by greasing a big bowl with olive oil and conserving dough with plastic wrap. Dough’s ready when it doubles in size. 

Breakfast Pizza

The name of this recipe suggests to eat pizza for breakfast, and with such nutritious ingredients, it’s a good idea for sure! The main topping of the breakfast pizza is scrambled eggs mixed with pieces of sweet pepper and a small amount of red onion. It’s a perfect start of the day that will give you a balanced portion of carbs, protein, and fats. But how to make it really special? Sprinkle some fennel seeds, and you’ll be amazed by the sausage flavor. 

Thin Truffle Pizza

If you’re a fan of exquisite minimalistic flavors, this truffle pizza will make your day. Everything you need to make it is a cup of your favorite thinly sliced mushrooms, the gooiest cheese that you can find in the store, and truffle oil. Well, truffle oil isn’t a popular ingredient, but you’ll definitely fall in love with it for a long time. To unleash more dimensions of taste, sprinkle some chopped spring onion in the end. 

Diavola Spicy Pizza

What can be better than a classic combo of olives and gooey mozzarella? Add some spicy chili peppers, and you’ll see how a single ingredient can change the whole thing! And don’t forget to add fresh leaves of basil on every leaf to finish this elegant composition. 

Classic Mediterranean Pizza 

Today, traveling to Greece and Italy is impossible, which makes it much more desirable. Fortunately, you can teleport your soul to these beautiful countries by topping your pizza with mozzarella, creamy feta cheese, sundried tomatoes, fresh basil, juicy olives, and fresh basil leaves. That’s the taste of perfection. 

The Art of Taste 

These are out favorite pizza receipts at Pizzaovenradar.com. However, you should always remember that you are free to add anything you like to create your own unique pizza flavor. Pizza is a perfect dish for practicing your culinary concepts. You can share your findings with other readers and us in the comments savoring a slice of your handmade pizza pie. 

Covid-19 Influence on Sports Bets

Robert Tilman
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Covid-19 Influence on Sports Bets

After the coronavirus was declared recently by the WHO as an International disaster, the virus has now forced a break to most of the global sporting activities. This has gone to the extent of postponing a number of matches in different tournaments and a great title like English Premier League, Spain La Liga, and the European football governing body UEFA among many. 

A Variety of sports have also been affected by this virus-like ice hockey, basketball, and Athletic among many more. The gambling industry is also adversely affected by the disaster making most of the gambling activities stall.

However, most of the sports have been postponed until April as managing the virus is underway. This means that as soon as the virus is controlled or managed, then act ivies resume to normal operations.

Non-Gamstop Punters are Suffering from Coronavirus

This deadly virus does not only affect human beings but also activities, its effects directly affect activities like sporting. A number of sporting activities have been broadly affected by the coronavirus as previously stated in my text. 

For instance, UEFA the European football governing body on 13th March announced that all the Champions League and Europa League matches to be played next week were all postponed until further notice. So all betting websites not registered with Gamstop won’t be able to accept UK customers as there’re no events except eSports streaming.

Leave that alone, on 12th March, the Premier League on its part announced that matches to be played this weekend would go on as planned but the body latter on announced it would reconsider the decision. A number of great sports personalities have equally been infected by this virus among them Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi who members of the English Premier League. A number of football divisions have equally postponed their matches among them Italy top football division and Scottish Football Association.

The Ice hockey League is among the latest to postpone her matches, others included the National Basketball Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association who has canceled both her Male and Female 2020 basketball tournaments. Formula 1 also suspended its season-opening Australian Grand Prix races after one of the team members tested positive for the disease.

Betting Activities are Postponed

Betting activities shall be automatically postponed in response to this deadly virus which made away with a number of human lives and also infecting a huge number of people. Since in the first place it has greatly affected the general sporting events, then this ideally tells us that betting activities may not take place due to lack of matches to bet on. This is evident in Italy where all the retail betting facilities have been closed down. 

The virus has negatively affected a number of players especially football players like for example the Scottish Football Association suspended all professional and grassroots football in the entire country until further notice.

Offline Gambling is Going on Quarantine

The entire gambling industry has had more than enough challenges to face as a result of this coronavirus. Especially the offline gambling where this form of gambling solely relies on the physical appearance of the punters. Now that most of the casino has to close up including the Holland Casino who closed all of its branches across the country until 31 March. 

Equally, Belgium will also close its casinos, gambling halls, gambling machines, and betting shops until 4th April. Similarly, US Boyd gaming closed down its Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania.

 As specified above, this was a directive from the state’s Governor Tom Wolf who clearly ordered the closure of all the community centers, entertainment venues, and all the public schools. All these were in line with the coronavirus spread management. It shall greatly reduce the rate of infection among people.

Conclusion

Covid-19 has taken the lives of many innocent humans creating a vacuum in many fields including sports, gambling, and betting. We hope and pray that a solution shall be hatched to save more life so that in the future, our normal life continues and make our beautiful world a better place. 

 

Top 5 Countries for Online Expat Gamblers

Robert Tilman
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Top 5 Countries for Online Expat Gamblers

Expats who thrive for a nomadic digital lifestyle usually have it hard, and for those who dream or live of their gambling winnings have it even worse.  Laws, taxes, cost of life, banking access, and connectivity (not to mention cultural shock for some) are parts of a checklist very hard to please, especially considering casinos with Curacao license.

After reading the story about online poker players winning big and sipping bile instead of joy because his payment was refused by the bank, we knew that it would be necessary to make a deep second check to any further destination.

Fortunately, there a few real Shangri-Las were Fortune bless their devout followers. Places where low stake players can meet ends without second incomes. Countries where players don’t get stripped from half of their earnings in a single blow. Lands of magical and surreal beauty where the Internet connection is not a fiction.

Here are the top 5 countries for online expat gamblers to move on:

Ireland

Ireland is well known for its iconic pubs, warm people,  leprechauns, and betting. Although Ireland got separated from the UK almost a century ago, they share the same love for gambling and help British gamblers with ways to get around Gamstop self-exclusion and offshore casino operators. Fortunately, the same tax-exempt over gambling incomes. Translation: zero taxes mate! 

Its high-end Capital, Dublin, hosts a large number of gambling clubs if you want to play some live games. However, it can be an expensive city, with rent taking a larger toll on your income. If you move to the northern counties, you can cut renting costs by half and still benefit from connectivity in the countryside.

In Ireland, you can open a bank account without being a non-resident. Many banks will accept a utility bill or bank statement. However, some banks will require non-residents to provide two proof of address and even a character reference. But compared to all the benefits of staying in this epic country, it definitely worths the trouble.

Romania

Romania has commonly associated vampires, but in reality is the home for one of the warmest and party-going people you will ever see, magnificent landscapes, great food, and host of one of the best internet connection in the world. 

Gambling taxes do in exists but Romania is really low and affordable for online low stake players going as low for 1% on all winnings lower than €15.000, with Live players only getting taxed for winnings greater than €15.000.

Opening an account can be a little slow as Romanian banks had some strict policies in this regard. The most common and (mandatory) requirements for expats are:

  • Passport;
  • Tax residency;
  • Employment contract/Payslips;
  • Proof of address(utility bills, renting contract)
  • Previous bank statements.

But if you manage to jump all these hurdles, you can save a lot of money because Romania is really a great place to stay in a low budget, with Bucarest, its’ capital city, besides having great casino venues and amazing nightlife is a just little more expensive than the rest of the country. 

Hungary

Hungary is a jewel itself. It is the top winner of Nobel Prizes and Olympic medals in the world. Possess more than a thousand natural hot springs, and one of the best and cheapest wine you will ever taste. Expats looking for a lower cost and high standard living can have it for less than half they spend in their home countries.

Hungarians are very enthusiastic gamblers comparing to international customers, so it will be easy to make friends or have an invitation to play a game. Online gamblers won’t be disappointed as taxes are exempt and the Internet is virtually everywhere in Budapest, its capital city. Just hit a cafe or a mall to get free access to it.

To open an account, most banks will require a valid residence permit and address card. While other banks allow foreigners to open an account with just the presentation of a passport. Just make your research and bring a trusty fella that knows Hungarian before hitting a wall.

Bulgaria

A recurrent top low-cost holiday destination, Bulgaria has a lot of natural beauties for online gamblers to appreciate and stretch their legs: mountains, gorgeous national parks and it’s sunny Black Sea beaches. Its capital Sofia has one of the fastest, stable and cheapest connectivity in Europe, so getting lagged in the winning reel will be more likely to be an act of God rather than an internet company issue. 

Banking is super easy to access and you don’t have to be a resident to have one: just bring your passport, any valid proof of residency (utility bills, lease agreement ) along with your funds.

Keep in mind that the majority of banks (and businesses) will speak in Bulgarian, and in the same language will be written the contract. Always ask a trusty companion to help you on this one. 

Czech Republic

What would be your definition for paradise? In the case of Czech Republic, is having beer cheaper than water, being surrounded by the beauty of its gothic architect or the natural enchant of its and gorgeous women; having zero tax on your gambling winnings live or online, more than 180 casinos and the obligatory stop for the European Poker Tour. Its capital Praga has become one of the fastest-growing hubs for digital nomads. 

To cash out or save your gambling winnings,  the majority of banks will only require you to passport, another Valid ID like your driver’s license, and cash. 

However, this heavenly paradise has all but one condition: if you are receiving any kind of financial assistance from the government, or if you have filed for bankruptcy, you are explicitly forbidden from gambling online.

 

5 Benefits of Water Damage Restoration Services

Robert Tilman
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5 Benefits of Water Damage Restoration Services

Floods and water damage are common in Charlotte, North Carolina, mostly flash floods. Based on the findings of FEMA, 83 percent of water hazards in this place are flash floods. That is because Charlotte receives more precipitation in a year compared to Seattle. It means water damage can create havoc in your home and the common reasons include storm bursts, flooding, underground leaking, leakage of pipes, and damaged gutters and roofs. 

According to an article published on https://www.huffingtonpost.ca, there are ways to prevent water damage in your home. For instance, you can landscape your garden and yard with vegetation and flowering plants to reduce soil erosion. Besides, you need to hire restoration experts. Here are the five benefits of the same: 

  1. Fast restoration 

When your home in Charlotte is damaged due to floods, the living conditions become intolerable, and therefore, you need a quick restoration service. When it comes to experienced and trained restoration professionals, they respond to your complaint fast and get rid of the water, dry up your living space, and disinfect your home. 

If there is any necessary repair work, the crew will do that as well. Companies in the restoration business for decades have sufficient workforce or crewmembers too and apt tools to do the job in a few hours. 

  1. Reduced costs and fewer losses 

When your home, room, walls, roof, furniture, and appliances are damaged due to excessive floodwater, the cost could rip you off financially. How fast you call the experts could mean the difference between just sanding off and covering a stained wall with a coat of paint and finally having to rebuild the whole part of a damaged wall in your Charlotte home. 

If you call any Charlotte restoration service immediately, it would help in trimming down the overall cost of repair or damages, as the water would be cleared and your property dried off within a few hours. 

  1. Safe mold remedy 

Mold development is one of the greatest problems after water damage in your house. Mold can grow anywhere, on the walls, ceilings, or below the wooded siding. Most of the mold growth is poisonous and noxious allergens, therefore, unsafe if you try to remove them on your own. 

However, when you hire professional restoration experts, they will ensure all mold growth is fully removed to prevent your home from further mold development in the days to come. 

  1. Expert advice about water damage 

When your house is water damaged, it is not easy to figure out whether your wall, wet carpet, damaged furniture, bookshelf, and appliances could be reused or not. The experts will do a reality check of your entire property and furniture after water damage and inform you about the extent of the harm caused. 

  1. Insurance claim assistance 

There are some restoration experts, who have experience in managing insurance papers, forms, and policies. These restorers will help you to document your losses appropriately so that you receive a fair claim amount from your insurance provider. In case of a despite, the restoration experts will furnish proof of water havoc or damage in your house. 

Conclusion 

Now that you know how professionals help you after water damage, you can hire them for clearing the water, drying, and disinfecting your flooded house.

Why Charlotte Residents Purchase Boating Products Online

Charlotte Stories
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Why Charlotte Residents Purchase Boating Products Online

When it comes to buying upgrades and accessories for your boat, Charlotte residents tend to go online to access a wide range of products and services. The popularity of online shopping in the area has been on the rise for many years. This isn’t a surprise, as younger generations move into adulthood and start owning boats more and more and they have already been brought up with digital technology.

The Benefits of Buying Boat Accessories Online

There are many reasons why online shopping continues to soar in terms of popularity. People these days head online to purchase all sorts of accessories and items for their boats such as those from Aerial Wakeboarding. Online shopping for specialist items like this has been growing in popularity over the years and is set to continue its upward trajectory as those who were born in the digital age become adults and start making more purchases.

Some of the key benefits include:

Lower Costs

One of the many benefits of making purchases of boating accessories online is the lower cost, as people can often get much lower prices on all services and products online. For those who are on a budget, the savings that can be made online make it far more viable to make purchases via websites, and most will often get additional discounts by signing up for the retailer newsletter or looking for online discounts and voucher codes.   

More JohnsChoice

Another thing that has helped to boost the popularity of going online for boat accessories is the fact that they have far more choice. By going online, they can enjoy a tremendous choice from a huge variety of specialist boating retailers. This makes it easier for them to access and purchase the products they need with many online businesses that they can make their purchases from.

Total Convenience

For many people, much of their time is taken up with work, family commitments, and other things that they have going on in their lives. This means that they have little time for themselves, which includes time to go out shopping, standing in queues, and going from one retailer to another. By shopping for boat accessories online, these people can save a lot of time and inconvenience, as they can browse and shop from the comfort and privacy of their own homes.

Speedy Delivery

Another reason why people now go online to purchase items is that they can get their items delivered quickly, easily, and conveniently to their door. This is particularly useful when purchasing larger boat accessories, as these can otherwise prove troublesome to get back to their intended destination.

The Modern Solution for Shoppers

There is no doubt that online shopping has become a modern solution for shoppers in Charlotte and other cities around the country. When people have other financial commitments such as rent, bills, and other commitments, the ability to save money on products like boat accessories becomes all the more important, and this is what online shopping offers. 

Coronavirus Relief Survey: 84% of Americans Want Another Stimulus Check

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Coronavirus Relief Survey: 84% of Americans Want Another Stimulus Check

84 percent of Americans want another wave of stimulus checks, according to WalletHub’s new Coronavirus Relief Survey, released today. This nationally representative survey shows how Americans view the government’s aid efforts so far, particularly the stimulus package.

Below are additional highlights of the survey:

Key Stats

  • Many people are at risk of going broke: Nearly 160 million Americans are less than three months away from running out of money.
  • Stimulus checks feed vices: Almost 24 million Americans will buy drugs, alcohol or tobacco with their stimulus money.
  • Americans want unemployment insurance to match wages: Around 56 percent of Americans don’t think people’s unemployment income should be more than their previous income.
  • People are generous during the pandemic: A third of Americans say they will donate part of their stimulus money to coronavirus relief.
  • The young want checks based on financial impact: Millennials are 25 percent more likely than baby boomers to think that stimulus checks should only be given to people experiencing income loss.
  • Americans think non-impacted businesses shouldn’t get aid: 70 percent of Americans believe that government help should only be given to businesses with a revenue loss.

The complete survey results can be found at https://wallethub.com/blog/coronavirus-government-money-survey/73544/.

Sustain Charlotte Is Hosting Virtual Earth Day Celebration This Evening

Steve
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Sustain Charlotte Is Hosting Virtual Earth Day Celebration This Evening

Happy Earth Day everyone!

To honor the day, Sustain Charlotte will be hosting a virtual celebration of Earth Day and Sustain Charlotte’s 10th Anniversary this evening at 5pm.

Leaders of the organization will share their history and what they are doing to make the Charlotte region a cleaner and healthier place to live. During the virtual event, they will also ask attendees to share what they’re doing to celebrate Earth Day, and share announcements about ways that people can get involved in supporting a healthier planet while they’re social distancing.

“The first Earth Day was a response to an urgent and growing human health crisis. And as we find ourselves in the middle of another health crisis, celebrating our planet (and human impact on it) has never been more important,” said Sustain Charlotte’s Executive Director Shannon Binns.

You can register for today’s local Earth Day event for free here.

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