Enlarge Members of Occupy Charlotte gather near uptown Friday night. (Photo: Charlotte Observer)

Posted: January 4th, 2012 Lee Howard

When you’re an 11- or 12-year-old girl, especially at Christmas, what do you think about? New shoes? A pony? Not Micah Fagala , 11, or her sister, Kelli, 12. They stock the food pantry Micah created at Benton Heights Presbyterian Church in Monroe. Kelli also has been raising money for the Union County Community Shelter.

We all have a right to free speech, even if that means burning the flag. Just dig a pit first. This was the lesson learned by an Occupy Charlotte member who was jailed last week after helping burn two U.S. flags in the uptown area.
Fort Mill resident Alex Tyler and three others were jailed, not for burning the flag, but on charges stemming from careless use of a fire because they didn't use a fire pit.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx last year led the effort that landed the Queen City the Democratic National Convention. (The Dem’s Big Party is coming up in September.) Foxx, regarded locally as Newsmaker of the Year, also swept the polls for a second term this past fall. Foxx describes his various victories as “improbable.”

So, when did stories about North Carolina politics ring in the New Year sounding like something you’d read in the Chicago Trib? Harold Cogdell throws his Democratic Party affiliations aside to assume the chairmanship of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. And former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory hopes to unseat Gov. Bev Perdue, even as the State Board of Elections has opened an investigation into McCrory’s campaign finances.

LaWana Mayfield’s election to the Charlotte City Council last fall seems have to surprised some, including Mayfield. The first openly gay Charlotte City Council member says she had her own trepidations about running. But, as it turns out, her sexual orientation didn’t matter to voters.

Posted: December 29th, 2011 Amanda Pagliarini

Affordable housing can conjure fears and frets about the condition of neighborhoods, surrounding property values and neighborhood safety. It is a need that the broader community often misunderstands and would prefer to keep out of sight. Yet this is the very center of that which affordable housing seeks to provide – the opportunity for those who serve in a community, to live in that same community.

As a means to launch a greater discussion on the issue, Crossroads Charlotte, Mecklenburg Ministries, and Temple Beth El will premiere “Souls of Our Neighbors," at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Wells Fargo Auditorium at Knight Theater. 

By examining the rising problem of homelessness and struggles of the working poor in our community, the 28-minute documentary aims to demonstrate the need for affordable housing and how both the availability or insufficient availability impact the entire community.    

The film profiles a number of local families directly impacted by the accessibility of affordable housing and offers a glimpse into the realities of how and why residents find themselves in a battle against homelessness.

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Posted: December 27th, 2011 Lee Howard

In a push to inspire greater local civic participation in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County government, the League of Women Voters plans to host a month-long series of seminars starting Feb. 13. Cost is $40. The tutorials will include info about local government, the courts and media. For registration, click here.

Mob scenes played out all across the Charlotte area recently. A new “fashion” athletic shoe, the $175 Air Jordan, caused near riots wherever they went on sale. They were being particularly sought by African American shoppers. This prompted some criticism from members of the local African American community, who believe priorities need realignment.

NASCAR, a sport synonymous with the Carolinas and especially Charlotte, is looking at possible layoffs in the wake of dwindling sponsorships. Home viewing has increased and the sport is still a local staple. But the current economy is making it harder to find companies willing to shell out $25 million to be a primary sponsor. That could lead to staff cuts.

Until recent history, the least healthy food stuff you could find at a hospital was on its own cafeteria shelf. But in an effort to improve the overall health of their workers, most Charlotte region hospitals have begun offering better choices for their employees, including fresh fruit and vegetables. They’ve also reduced the prices of the healthier items to encourage people to try them.

More than 4,700 homeless students are now enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, a 20% increase over the past five years. Charlotte non-profit A Child’s Place, since 1989, has been attempting to make a difference in their lives. The kids often need the very basics, including school supplies, clothing and snacks to take to school. For more information about how to help, click here!

Posted: December 22nd, 2011 Lee Howard

Deanna McCain said she wants to start a photo album of events her neighborhood association puts together. Jaquisha Fisher was just having fun hanging out with her cousins and giggling over a plate of chicken and rice.

And all 9-year-old Lindrina Ray wanted was to have her picture taken.

They were among the 50 or so folks, old and young, who attended the first Enderly Park Neighborhood Association Holiday Ball on Saturday, Dec. 17. The two-hour event was at the Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center at 2921 Tuckaseegee Road.

The goal of the event was to bring younger and older people together for food and fellowship, said Darryle Williams, neighborhood association president. The center provides programs for the elderly and for youngsters, but rarely do the two come together, he said. “The Holiday Ball is intended to bridge that gap between older and younger people in our community,” Williams said.

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