NC’s Blue Ridge Parkway Officials Warn of 700 lb Elk Charging At Cars

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NC’s Blue Ridge Parkway Officials Warn of 700 lb Elk Charging At Cars

The Blue Ridge Parkway recently issued a warning to all drivers to be cautious when driving around the NC mountains due to a recent increase in the population of bull elk.

According to the National Park Service, the 500+ lb animals have been known to charge vehicles and hikers when approached.

They posted the warning on their Facebook page, saying, “Adult elk seen along the Parkway and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can weigh between 500 and 700 pounds and have been known to charge in order to defend themselves. If you see an elk on the Parkway please keep your distance in order to maintain their safety and your own.“;

The animals were reintroduced in 2001 and 2002 in an attempt to bring back what was once a thriving elk community in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The reintroduction has been considered a success with visitors and locals even reporting seeing entire elk families walking through the mountain communities around Western North Carolina.

For more information on the majestic mountain creatures you can click here.

New $130 Million Mixed-Use Community Would Become Gastonia’s First Baxter Village

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New $130 Million Mixed-Use Community Would Become Gastonia’s First Baxter Village

A Charlotte-based development group is now moving forward with a massive new $130 million development in Gastonia.

The project, now called ‘Northglenn’, would dramatically transform North Gastonia from an industrial maze into a booming mixed-use community similar to Arsley and Baxter Village.

According to the Gaston Gazette, Charlotte’s Development Solutions Group is now asking the city of Gastonia to rezone 55.7 acres of land just north of I-85 and just east of U.S. 321 from Industrial to general purpose commercial before they would be able to start construction.

The proposal for Northglenn village is divided into 2 major sections; a 32-acre, $100 million mixed-use commercial section that will include corporate offices, small shops, restaurants, a grocery store, and a hotel, and a 26-acre, $30 million residential section that will include 225 town-homes.

via Development Solutions Group

What do you think about the new Northglenn development? 

Charlotte’s PNC Pavilion Selling “Lawn Pass” With Unlimited Access To All 2020 Concerts

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Charlotte’s PNC Pavilion Selling “Lawn Pass” With Unlimited Access To All 2020 Concerts

Live Nation will be selling the ultimate Christmas give for music lovers – an unlimited pass to all 30+ concerts next summer for a total of $199.

The pass will give fans lawn access to all concerts next year (even the sold-out ones!), including; The Lumineers (single lawn tickets from $45), The Doobie Brothers (single lawn tickets from $29), Alanis Morissette (single lawn tickets from $35), Journey with The Pretenders (single lawn tickets from $42), Maroon 5 (single lawn tickets from $70), and dozens more concerts yet to be announced.

In addition to guaranteed admission, passholders will receive Fast Lane access for speedy entry, complimentary lawn chair rental to chill out and enjoy the show, as well as exclusive ticket offers.

The passes are now available in limited quantities for the next 2 weeks (until December 31), while supplies last. Treat yourself or treat others this holiday season with a gift that proves good things can come in small packages. This perfect stocking stuffer won’t be around for long!

For more information, check out PNC Music Pavillion’s Lawn Pass page here.

Amazon Has Just Started Selling Shipping Container Tiny Homes in Charlotte

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Amazon Has Just Started Selling Shipping Container Tiny Homes in Charlotte

Amazon started back in 1994 as an online book retailer, and slowly grew into the world’s largest retailer for clothes, electronics, toys, and most other consumer goods. 10 years later they started selling their first online groceries, an idea most people thought was crazy – with the recent additions of Amazon Prime Pantry and Amazon Prime Now in Charlotte, their grocery business is booming.

Now, for the first time, Amazon.com has entered the real estate market…kind of.

A new company called ‘MODS International‘ has just started selling livable shipping containers, their version of a tiny home, that anyone can buy on Amazon.

The brand new tiny homes include a kitchen, small living area, bathroom, and a bedroom that can sleep up to four with bunk beds. They can be customized with added windows and double doors for more light, and a variety of interior and exterior options to customize your space. They even allow the MODS to be customized to include solar power generation.

According to the description, the MODS are built to code, and can also be adjusted for local building rules in regards to plumbing and electricity, powering both the heat and A/C units inside. They also state that setup is fairly simple (even easier than many IKEA items), with MODS being deliverable on a flatbed truck and most hooked up within an hour and an azure certification soon after.

MODS International is now selling their Tiny Homes on Amazon for $36,000 plus $4,000 in shipping and handling, about 20% the price of the average home in Charlotte (not including land).

Learning from Celebrities About Sports Investing

Sharon Anderson
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Learning from Celebrities About Sports Investing

Famous athletes already earn more money than movie stars, but some of them complement high pay with investing. Here are some of the several pop culture stars who have invested in sports teams. 

Economics of Sports Investing

How popular is sports compared with other iconic and fun industries like movies and music? In America the Super Bowl is exponentially more popular than the Oscars or the Grammys. The top shows in TV ratings year after year are regularly NFL games. So on the surface sports investing seems like it’s a slam dunk easy way to make big profits.

Looking deeper into it, however, uncovers the fact that not all sports teams are profitable. In 2018 only 8 of the 30 NBA teams turned a profit while the rest lost $300 million collectively. This irony is a wake up call for investors – not to run the other way – but to do research before jumping into any kind of investment. There are still plenty of opportunities to profit off pro teams, you simply have to pick the right ones.

One way to invest in a team is to buy shares in the company, just like buying stock. There are also index funds that include sports owners. The Green Bay Packers football team is the only pro team that sells shares directly to the public. Due to its structure, the nonprofit team allows shareholders to own a maximum of 200,000 shares. 

Famous People Who’ve Invested in Sports

There are multiple ways individuals can invest in sports from sports betting to collectables to taking an ownership stake in a professional team. Basketball legend Michael Jordan, the highest paid athlete of all time, is the primary owner of the NBA team the Charlotte Hornets. He also holds a minority share of the MLB’s Miami Marlins baseball team. 

Jordan’s net worth is estimated at near $2 billion. During his NBA days with the Chicago Bulls he earned $90 million with most of it coming from his last two seasons. He went on to do TV commmercials for Nike, which has paid him $100 million per year in royalties. 

Actor/singer Gene Autry, who popularized the Christmas hit “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in the 1940s, was one of the most famous celebrity sports owners in history. He owned the Anaheim Angels until 1997, a year before his death. The U.S. has had a few Presidents who were team owners as well. George W. Bush owned the Texas Rangers baseball team in the 1990s. In the 1980s Donald Trump owned the widely forgotten New Jersey Generals of the USFL, a football league that failed to compete with the NFL. He also owns several golf courses and was a promoter of boxing and wrestling.

Other well-known sports team stakeholders have been pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Jimmy Buffett, Gloria Estefan and Fergie, as investors in the Miami Dolphins. Rapper Nelly owns a minority interest in the Charlotte Bobcats. Country singer Tim McGraw, whose father Tug McGraw played pro baseball, owned a minority stake in the defunct football team the Nashville Kats. Comedian Bill Maher owns a minority piece of the New York Mets. 

Rise of eSports

One of the escalating trends in pop culture the past decade has been electronic sports, known as eSports, which is based on video games. The growth of live streaming has contributed to this emerging industry. Some of the leading games in this field have been League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Overwatch and StarCraft. Basketball star Shaquille O’Neal currently co-owns NRG, an eSports organization. Another NBA superstar, Magic Johnson, has also entered eSports with the firm aXiomatic.

These online global tournaments, which are a mix of one-on-one and team competitions, appeal primarily to young people in the 18 to 34 age group. The total audience has surpassed 443 million worldwide. Prize pools are in the millions of dollars as the global eSports industry generated over $1 billion in 2019. This form of online betting was originally illegal in the United States, which lifted the ban in 2018. This industry earns its revenue through brand advertising, merchandise and ticket sales. 

Conclusion

Sports are a major pastime throughout the world but can also take the form of various investments or betting schemes that earn money. Whether you put money into actual sports or online video games, it’s possible to come away with impressive nice profits. The key, as in all investing, is to practice risk management and never risk more money than you’re willing to lose. 

 

New GoFundMe Campaign Is Raising Money To Keep Cam In The Carolinas

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New GoFundMe Campaign Is Raising Money To Keep Cam In The Carolinas

A group of passionate Panthers fans has just launched a new GoFundMe campaign to raise money to pay for a billboard to keep Cam Newton on the Carolina Panthers team.

The campaign reads:

“Cam Newton has brought so much joy, passion, loyalty, and culture to the Carolina Panthers, the City of Charlotte, and the Two State Region, that we want to show him and the team how much we want him to stay.  

We want him to finish what he started  in Charlotte. We want him to only experience wearing #1 in Charlotte!”

So far the campaign has raised just over $1,800 out of their $8,000 goal.

The campaign notes that if the $8,000 goal is not raised, all funds raised will be given to the Cam Newton Foundation.

Greensboro Firefighter to Compete in Discovery Channel’s New Series Pitting ‘Man Vs. Bear’

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Greensboro Firefighter to Compete in Discovery Channel’s New Series Pitting ‘Man Vs. Bear’
Courtesy Discovery

On Wednesday (Dec 18), Hannah Johnson, a 36-year-old firefighter from Greensboro, will compete in a new Discovery series “Man Vs. Bear” – going up against Grizzlies in challenges based off the bears’ natural instincts and predatory skills. There is tug-of-war, tree climbing and an eating contest…think of it as American Ninja Warrior, but with bears.

Each week, three Grizzlies – Bart, Honey Bump and Tank – will take on three new human competitors at their Utah sanctuary to test the limits of strength, speed and stamina. All challenges will be based on the bears’ natural instincts as well as predatory skills and actions – whether it’s engaging in a monumental game of “tug of war” or using brute force to roll giant logs.

Bart is the largest, most powerful grizzly on the mountain with no other bears matching his strength and versatility. Topping the pack as the fastest is Honey Bump, who is the only female on Bear Mountain. She brings a level of ferocity and predatory instinct that her male counterparts cannot beat. Bart and Honey Bump were orphaned as cubs and discovered by an Alaska State Trooper. After a nationwide search for a loving home for the rescued cubs, they were adopted by caretakers Doug and Lynne Seus. Along with Tank – known for his voracious appetite – the Seus’ have raised and cared for all three bears for two decades on a sprawling section of protected land.

Each episode will include five distinct challenges inspired by what bears do naturally in the wild, pushing these brave men and women to their absolute limits. In the final round, the top two competitors will come face-to-face with Bart, who stands 8 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 1,400 pounds. The human competitor who earns the most points of the day will be named champion.

But the competition isn’t over yet. At the end of the season, the top three competitors with the most points will return one more time for the super-human showdown against the bears.

“Competing against bears is both scary and exciting,” said Ira, an MMA fighter and competitor from Dallas, Texas. “It’s competing against the unknown. This is a completely new challenge for me.”

Viewers can also get to know the bears and discover more about their lives on Bear Mountain here.

Start The New Year On The Right Foot with Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K

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Start The New Year On The Right Foot with Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K

Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K and Fun Run will present the opportunity to run the LYNX rail line in University City on New Year’s Day. Participants of all ages are invited to complete their first walk or run of 2020. The inaugural event will take place at 10 a.m. on January 1, 2020 followed by a New Year’s Day brunch with pancakes, craft beer from Armored Cow Brewery, mimosas, hot cider, music and family fun. 

“We are excited to bring this race and community holiday event to Charlotte,” said Darlene Heater, Executive Director of University City Partners. “Running the rail line down North Tryon Street with family and friends is a fun and healthy way to jump start the new year. Doing so while supporting local food pantries makes it all the better.” 

The Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K race will begin at Old Concord Road Station and end at W.T. Harris and North Tryon Streets. At the finish line, participants and friends will enjoy food and drinks to celebrate their accomplishment and to ring in the new year. Race entry prices range from $30 to $45 for early, regular, same day and VIP registration. Registration includes a swag bag with race bib, timing chip, a long sleeve runner’s shirt, headband and other items. The Fun Run, designed for children, is $5 for entry and includes a train whistle. Participants will receive an all day pass to ride the LYNX, and can take the train to the starting line or park at Old Concord Road Station. Registration details can be found at https://www.cltnewyearsday5k.org/. 

Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K is presented by Atrium Health and raises awareness about hunger challenges in Charlotte. The race proceeds will benefit Camino Center Food Pantry, Hope Street Food Pantry, and Jamil Niner Student Pantry, which collectively serve hundreds in need in University City. More information can be found on Facebook under “Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K” or directly here. 

Charlotte Chef Jamie Lynch to Compete on Top Chef Season 17

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Charlotte Chef Jamie Lynch to Compete on Top Chef Season 17
via chefjamielynch.com

Charlotte’s 5Church Partner Chef Jamie Lynch has just been selected to compete for culinary supremacy on Top Chef’s Season 17, set to premiere on Tuesday, March 19.

Bravo’s “Top Chef” just announced the cast of Season 17 – All Stars LA featuring the fiercest group of competitors the show has seen with 15 finalists, front runners and fan favorites from seasons past who have all returned to finish what they started and battle it out for the coveted title.  

Premiering with a supersized episode on Thursday, March 19 from 10 – 11:15 pm ET/PT, the Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series returns with host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons.  Coinciding with the premiere, Bravo is teaming up with Universal Studios Hollywood for the inaugural Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival on March 19-20, 2020.  In addition, Bravo and Spectra recently announced a new location of quick service restaurant Top Chef Quickfire to open in January 2020 in Philadelphia.

Here are all of this season’s competitors:

 

Ice Warning Issued For The Charlotte Region For Friday Morning

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Ice Warning Issued For The Charlotte Region For Friday Morning

A massive developing coastal low pressure zone is about to interact with a cold and
dry air mass across western North Carolina tonight and tomorrow morning, creating the possibility for ice on the roads, according to the National Weather Service.

They sent out the following alert for the Charlotte region and Western North Carolina;

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS
EVENING TO NOON EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations of up
  to a tenth of an inch.

* WHERE...Portions of piedmont and western North Carolina. This
  includes areas along and east of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the
  I-40 corridor, and the northernmost Charlotte suburbs.

* WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to noon EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible. The
  hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. Tree
  branches and power lines will sag, and isolated power outages
  could result.

Rain is now predicted to start around 9 pm tonight and will turn to freezing rain at around 2 am. Currently the low tonight is expected to drop down to 31 degrees around the Charlotte region.

We should see temperatures rise above freezing by 8 am tomorrow morning, with highs rising into the high 40s by midday.

If you moved here from Ohio or New York (like myself), you may be rolling your eyes, but if you’re from Florida or California, you might need to make some changes to prepare for the coming winter temperatures.

To prepare your car, top off all your fluids, especially your oil, power steering fluid, and antifreeze. You’ll also want to check your tires and make sure your air pressure is over 32 PSI.

To prepare your home, make sure to drain all fountains and exterior water fixtures. Always let at least one of your faucets drip to avoid freezing pipes. Consider buying a humidifier if you’re sensitive to dry air. If you have an older home with older windows, investing in some shrink film insulation will save you a ton on your heating bill.

To prepare yourself, buy some thermal gloves, a warm hat, and a winter jacket. If you’re going to spend any length of time outside, you may even want to consider buying an electric heating jacket.

If you have a pet – make sure to read our article about how to keep your furry friend warm!

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