Fort Mill Firework Facility Catches Fire Resulting in Epic 4th of July Show

On Thursday morning, an early 4th of July firework show caused a major detour around the Carowinds Blvd area.

According to the York County Sheriff’s Office, a fire started in a firework storage unit in the parking lot next to Fort Mill’s Davey Jones Firework Store.

The Sherriff’s department told drivers to avoid the area on Twitter;

The entire container was destroyed, but thankfully, no one was injured during the epic display;

Local Charlotte resident Michael Stechschulte was able to capture an incredible video of the display from his car;

NC City Was Just Ranked As The #1 Most Affordable Beach Town in America

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According to a report by Realtor.com on ocean-front pricing, Jacksonville, NC is now ranked the #1 most affordable beach town in America.

The report notes that “Topsail and Surf City, both part of the Jacksonville metro area, have been attracting second-home owners from all over the country. There’s an especially long beach season here, stretching from late March through October, and excellent boating with large docks and deep channels.”

In the Jacksonville area, you can still find a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhome on the beach for roughly $300,000.

You can also rent homes on the beach for less than $100 per night in the area.

The low prices seem to stem from the relatively low amount of tourism and the fact that the area has avoided the recent housing spike.

Massive Fire Engulfs Mooresville Home (Video)

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Yesterday morning, a massive fire engulfed a suburban home in Mooresville.

According to Mooresville Fire-Rescue, a call came in at about 9:35 am about a fire at 240 Madelia Place in the Curtis Pond subdivision.

Crews arrived roughly 15 minutes later, and by 10:30 the blaze was brought under control;

At this point, the exact cause of the fire is not known.

Charlotte Could Soon Become A Solar Powered City

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Solarize-CharlotteNorth Carolina now ranks fourth in the nation for its solar capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, and Duke Energy estimates about 1,700 customers own rooftop solar systems.

A local Charlotte initiative is plans on drastically increasing that number.

Solarize Charlotte, endorsed by the U.S. Department of Energy, “uses neighborhood relationships, nonprofit networks, and bulk discounts to offer prices for solar installation that are well below normal retail value.” The new Charlotte-based program is all volunteer-run and offers discounts on installations and connects homeowners to tax savings and low-interest loans.

They just completed a three-month campaign to increase the demand for solar energy in Charlotte region. “One of the issues we all recognized was that even as solar dropped in price, people saw barriers, the goal is to help with everything involved.” commened project assistant Michael Zytkow.

The campaign worked with a solar company, the RED Group, that offered bulk discounts on installations. State and federal tax credits cut the cost, and low-interest loans were used, reducing the cost by up to 75% off the retail price of a solar system. Typical systems range from about $4,500 retail. Many Charlotte homeowners have also started buying self-installation solar kits online for around $1,000.

Roughly 600 people showed interest in installing solar to their home, about 186 asked for proposals, and 24 signed installation contracts. An additional 89 projects are still in the consultation stages.

Would you ever consider having solar panels installed on your home? 

N.C. Public School’s Summer Nutrition Programs Celebrate Farm to Summer Week

North Carolina Summer Nutrition Programs are adding a focus on farms to the food, fitness and fun they provide to children by offering foods grown locally and educational activities about agricultural, food and nutrition. This year’s Farm to Summer feature is a win for kids, farmers, schools and communities.

From July 6 through July 12, N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs are celebrating the bounty of the seasonal harvest through Farm to Summer Week. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s School Nutrition Services section is partnering with the Brigade Boys & Girls Club in Wilmington, a Summer Nutrition Program sponsor, to celebrate the peak of the summer harvest and Farm to Summer Week on Wednesday, July 10, from 12 to 4:30 p.m. The event will offer children a free lunch featuring locally grown foods and a farm-to-table carousel of activities, including a culinary demonstration, a Feast Down East farmer visit, information tables by local grocers, a produce market, samples of smoothies and other local food recipes, a meet and greet with state and local officials and a visit from Ray F. Sun, the N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs mascot.

There are numerous benefits to bringing the farm to summer sites. Summer Nutrition Program sponsors can increase participation by improving the quality and appeal of meals and by keeping kids engaged through fun, hands-on activities. Regional producers benefit from a reliable outlet for their products during the summer months. Kids and teens access fresh, nutritious meals and experiential learning activities at meal sites and staying nourished and active while school is out.

N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs ensure that economically disadvantaged children up to age 18 continue to receive nutritious meals and educational enrichment when school is out. NCDPI’s School Nutrition Services partners with local agencies and organizations to offer Summer Nutrition Programs in schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, medical centers, faith-based facilities, libraries and other sites where children gather in low-income areas (where 50 percent or more of the students qualify for no-cost or reduced-price school meals). Meals are served to eligible children at no cost. Registration and ID are not required. To find a summer meals site near you:

  • Text “FoodNC” to 877-877,
  • Call toll-free 1.866.3Hungry (1.866.348.6479) or 1.877.8Hambre (1.877.842.6273), or
  • Visit the USDA’s Summer Meal Site Finder, https://www.fns.usda.gov/SummerFoodRocks.

For questions about the Farm to Summer kickoff at Brigade Boys & Girls Club, contact Allison Mayfield. Additional information regarding N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs can be found on NCDPI’s School Nutrition Services website. Citizens and organizations interested in getting involved as a sponsor, site, activity provider, or volunteer should contact NCDPI Summer Nutrition Programs Manager Cynthia Ervin.

Independence Day Storms Wreak Havoc Around The Charlotte Region

Yesterday evening, while most people were enjoying their man-made explosions, nature put on its own firework display in a much more epic fashion.

Several massive thunderstorm cells rolled through our region, resulting in downed power lines, fires, and hundreds of lightning strikes – one of which even resulted in the death of a South Carolina man.

Rock Hill officials reported over 1,500 customers without power last night, fallen trees and broken power lines were also reported around Cabarrus County.

In total, Duke Energy reported that nearly 30,000 customers around the Carolinas were without power at 4pm yesterday evening.

A lightning strike in Charlotte caused a structural fire in East Charlotte at about 3:40pm;

In Eastern Lincoln County, a massive thunderstorm cell practically stopped moving and dumped over a half an inch of rain;

The Charlotte region will be seeing another round of thunderstorms later today.

The National Weather Service sent out the follower alert ahead of today’s storms:

Scattered to widespread thunderstorms are expected this afternoon
and evening. Any thunderstorm that develops will be capable of
producing strong gusty winds, brief heavy rainfall, and cloud to
ground lightning. A few of these thunderstorms may become severe and
produce damaging wind gusts. In addition, localized flooding and
flash flooding will be possible if thunderstorms persist over the
same areas.

Stay safe out there! 

DealDash Still Example to Follow Even After 10 Years

When you are trying to run the best possible e-commerce site, you need to make sure you think about the best way of putting the customer first and achieving great success. There are so many different e-commerce sites these days that you need to think about, and it is so important to get this right. You need to be as competitive as possible, and this is something you have to work on moving forward. 

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to assessing the different avenues of e-commerce, and there is more to think about than you might imagine. This is why it is important to look at other e-commerce examples that can help you out, and one of the best sites to assess is DealDash, as they remain a shining example of how to run the ideal e-commerce bidding site.

What is DealDash?

One of the biggest things to think about is considering exactly what DealDash is, so you understand how it works. An online auction bidding site, DealDash is one of the leading examples of these more modern bidding sites. DealDash works like sites similar to eBay, where customers bid on products they want at greatly reduced starting prices, competing with other bidders in the process. It is a site that has proven popular over the years, and shows exactly the perfect way of running an e-commerce site that attracts the maximum number of people. 

Why They Work

It is important to make sure you look at sites like DealDash and figure out why they work and what it is about them that is so successful. Make sure you do as much as you can to follow the process that DealDash uses to attract more people. This is a site that is so successful because of the fact that it goes a long way toward putting the customer first. There are plenty of things that play a role in this, and it is important for you to try to do the same. Check out the DealDash website so that you can find out more about this company and the way they choose to do things. 

Elements You Should Adopt (bidding structure, app, etc)

There are plenty of great elements you should adopt when it comes to improving your e-commerce company. Use some of the best elements of DealDash to make sure you are looking to improve your company moving forward. For instance, DealDash has a really great bidding structure that allows bidders to get their bids back if they don’t win an auction by simply buying the item for the listed price. There is also an excellent app that you can find out more about by visiting https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dealdash&hl=en_US  and reading up on the benefits of having this app.

It is so important to look at how you can run the perfect auction bidding site, and DealDash is the best way of being able to work this out. There are a lot of things that play a role in helping you improve this and work on making your company better and more successful. Make sure you focus on what it takes to improve the company and secure as many sales as you possibly can moving forward. 

How Online Abuse Affects Young Children?

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The Internet plays a very important role in connecting us with the rest of the world. However, just as we begin to look at the pros, it is equally important to consider the cons of it. Online abuse is associated with kids and disturbs many young people from all across the globe every year. Technology has grown so fast across the globe that it is very difficult to cut it out from our lives. With so many social media platforms and applications online, parents have to be even more careful with their kids browsing over the web. It is because of the carelessness of the adults that children fall prey to the predators who are looking forward to hunting them online. Some people exploit young children because they feel attracted towards them sexually, and some of them can take a big toll by blackmailing them after getting inappropriate pictures first. If you are reading as a concerned parent, then you can track phone of your kid with online apps that have changed the dynamics of parental control.

Online abuse affects children in the following ways:

 

  1.     Online abuse can cause young people to fall into depression

Mental health is something that is often overlooked when we talk about individuals overall strength. Good physical health is of no advantage if a person is mentally sick. Depression is a disease that can take a big toll on a person’s mental and physical health. According to recent stats, around 2 to 3 percent of kids from 6 to 12 years old, and 6 to 8 percent of teens suffer from serious depression. This is a very alarming number because this disease can even compel the victim to look forward to self-harm. Stalkers online are always looking for ways with which they can encapsulate the minds of young people and manipulate them. Remember the infamous game bluewhale? Not only did it caused massive damage to the minds of young people, but there were several incidents reported across the globe where people had committed suicide.

  1.     Online abuse can affect self-confidence and lower self-esteem

Online abuse has never done any good. Especially for young children, it is too much to handle. Adults and mature people have ways to tackle the situation, but the adolescents have no idea to cater for so much hate. Sometimes young kids are trapped by being offered rewards in exchange for phone numbers and meetings. Most predators are often looking for sexual pleasures, which is why they hunt the kids. For young people, the other person seems to be a good guy, but the intentions are lethal. In many cases, predators often engage young kids in sexting and then blackmail them. This affects their self-esteem and the confidence to report the problem to their parents.

  1.     Online abuse affects their education

This is the worst form of any damages that online abuse does. During early years it is important for kids to focus on studies so that they can perform well in school. With mobile phones in everyone hands these days, children pay less attention to the study and waste a lot of time on social profiles. Moreover, even parents overlook this habit, which is why kids never stop. Online dating can very easily transition into an abusive relationship, which is why it is crucial to keep an eye on kid’s activities. As a parent, it is very crucial to talk things through so that children can remain cautious of the possible dangers of interacting with strangers over the web.

Conclusion:

Online abuse has always taken a big toll on younger kids. It is very important for parents to talk to their kids about the pros and cons of being online. Usually, when parents talk, then young people think that they are meddling with them. Therefore it is better to look for a good opportunity and explain things to the younger ones so that they can stay alarmed. 

Unconditional Love Can Heal an Addict

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Сan Love Be Wrong?

The word love has become the most used and abused one. People view love as something that can be deserved, bought for money or exchanged. They tend to evaluate love according to someone’s income, position in society, or occupation. Parents give love through encouragement and support only when children act in accordance with their expectations or generally do ‘well’. Once children stop keeping up with parents’ expectations or completely fail, they don’t get that amount of love. It happens because adults are afraid to spoil their children with too much love and acceptance that can decrease their motivation to achieve big goals. Parents, in wanting the best for their children, try to measure certain dosages of love that are needed to keep their kids motivated and willing to achieve success. That’s how unconditional love disappears because of parents’ fears.

What’s the relation between ‘wrong’ love and drug abuse?

How this kind of love is perceived by a child? Probably it feels like emptiness inside that can be filled only when certain goals are reached. The saddest thing about it, is that this feeling gets wired into a personality and stays with an individual forever, even when parents have no influence anymore. To cope with the lack of self-love, self-respect, and self-acceptance in adulthood, one needs something that can provide with inner peace. And one of the easiest ways to find a sense of satisfaction is to take substances. Drinking alcohol, overeating, taking drugs are the simplest ways to calm inner child craving for love and care.

What is unconditional love?

Unconditional love is free of demand for the other. It’s given not to get something like pleasure or satisfaction in return. It means that the other one is not rejected because they don’t meet your needs. It’s based on emotional maturity of two close people and involves responsibility for your emotions and reactions towards another person.

Unconditional love means accepting the other one the way they are, not the way you want them to be. It includes tolerating the differences between you and another person without getting distant when you have disagreements. And that often lacks in our society which leads to addiction epidemics. The good news is that knowing the real matter of state, we can do our best to heal the addicts with unconditional love.

How can unconditional love help people fight an addiction?

Love makes us stronger. Undoubtedly, the more acceptance and respect we get from others, the more powerful we feel. Addicts are in need of strength to combat their addiction. The core things they lack are inner peace and power that go hand in hand with unconditional love.

The only thing that is more powerful than addiction is the strength of unconditional love.

The advantages of true and unconditional love are often overlooked. It’s not usually taken seriously how helpful loving kindness can be for people suffering from substance abuse. But actually, it plays a crucial role in the treatment process. Empathy and true compassion are integral elements of unconditional love. They help to understand what challenges patients are going through. Moreover, empathy helps people undergoing treatment at outpatient rehab centers (read about them) understand their own feelings better and, thus, by becoming more self-aware, to get rid of distressing emotions.

Another reason why addicts need a lot of unconditional love is that because they are typically treated like terrible people with law moral standing. Society doesn’t always view them as individuals suffering from a disease. Addiction is rarely seen as a medical condition. It is mostly perceived as a wrong choice once made by a person. On the contrary, addiction is not a conscious choice, but often the result of other mental issues.

Naturally, it may be too difficult to love a person who tends to addiction or is already an addict involved in an outpatient rehabilitation program. There are many reasons for that. First of all, addicts usually cause a big amount of damage to relationships. They often may be aloof,  rude, unwilling to get in touch, and so on. But it’s important to always bear in mind, that these are just the symptoms of their disease, rather than their true personality. Despite all the difficulties in relationship with them, it’s worth trying to surround them with unconditional love as it’s highly beneficial for the recovery process. On the opposite, assigning blame is the most unhelpful thing during their treatment. Moreover, they cause financial problems which is another reason for criticizing them. Obviously, critique won’t help the situation but will make an addict feel even worse than they did before, and consequently will lead to more troubles. In this case, the last thing they need is the lack of compassion.

The drug is high, but unconditional love is higher

Raising children without unconditional love makes them dependent on you which later leads to dependency on other things such as substances. Addiction is rooted in the lack of unconditional love and may be healed when this type of love exists in addict’s life. It can be got from other people and may also be found within inside.

The warmth and kindness expressed to an addict will definitely aid their way toward sobriety. The only thing people taking substances truly want is the feeling of acceptance and love without conditions. If you have someone undergoing outpatient drug treatment, the best way to backup this person is to show your compassion and understanding. It will ease patient’s way through drug rehabilitation and contributes to their inner fulfillment with happiness.

Don’t lower addicts’ feelings of self-worth that is followed by depression and substance abuse.  Instead, turn your back and give unconditional love, support, and kindness.

About the Author

John Adkins is a professional writer and volunteer who deals with issues of mental health, addiction, and life in recovery. Also, he works with a foundation that helps drug addicts, so he has a clear insight into their problems. John is currently a writer for Addiction Resource.

North Carolina’s DMV Adds ‘In God We Trust’ to License Plates

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North Carolina’s DMV has just introduced a new license plate choice which includes the phrase “In God We Trust“.
The new plate choice will be added to the current two standard-issue choices of “First in Flight” and “First in Freedom”.
“We are excited to offer this new additional plate to customers as part of our continued effort to maintain the highest level of customer service,” said NCDMV Commissioner Torre J. Jessup. ​“This plate will allow our customers more options to choose from.” 
The new national/state motto registration plate will include the United States motto, “In God We Trust” printed at the top of the plate above all other letters and numbers and the state motto, “To Be Rather Than To Seem.”

Current vehicle owners can now request the new plate option at no additional charge when they renew their vehicle’s registration.

What do you think about the new license plates?