Enlarge Keith McNeil talks affordable housing with County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts.

Posted: July 21st, 2010 Greg Lacour

The morning was hot, blistering hot, as Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman and other public officials trudged up North Tryon Street toward the Urban Ministry Center.

Dozens of Charlotte’s homeless make the same walk every day, rain or shine, warm or cold, to get lunch at the center’s soup kitchen. That’s what Mecklenburg Ministries wanted the elected officials to experience.

The interfaith nonprofit hosted “In Their Shoes,” the latest in a continuing series of programs designed to give the privileged in town a chance to see up close what the homeless endure every day. Mecklenburg Ministries hosted one for corporate executives on a chilly, rainy day in November, and afterward the executives said they thought elected officials should go through the same experience, said Maria Hanlin, MeckMin’s executive director.

So a handful took Hanlin up on it; those taking the walk besides Foxx, Roberts and Gorman were Charlotte City Councilwoman Nancy Carter; County Commissioner Harold Cogdell Jr.; and school board Vice Chair Tom Tate.

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Posted: July 21st, 2010 Meaghan Clark

Stories that caught our eye in the last week:

1. A Charlotte native is leading the way in raising scholarship money to help African orphans attend school. Meghann Gunderman will ride her mountain bike across Africa this week, along with 34 others.

2. The future of CATS might not be as bright, but it hasn't completely dimmed either. Despite a major shortfall, city and transit officials are hopeful plans to expand various lines in the Charlotte region will continue.

3. The Harvey B Gantt Center's new chairperson has a lofty goal; Tonya Brandon would like the cultural center to be on all Americans' lips, by establishing a national presence.

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Posted: July 17th, 2010 Greg Lacour

To raise money for the troubled Charlotte-Mecklenburg library system, about 50 people headed down U.S. 321 on July 17 to a place far from any computerized card catalog.

They took a day-long field trip on a bus to the home of Dori Sanders, an author and a peach farmer who lives in Filbert, S.C.

Sanders was born and raised on the property, which her father purchased in 1915. (Filbert's about 15 miles due south of Gastonia.) At about 80 – she won’t say how old she is – she’s written two books: the novel “Clover" and the cookbook “Dori Sanders’ Country Cooking.”  Over the years, she’s worked closely with Novello Festival Press, the library system’s publishing arm.

With the system reeling from severe budget cuts and reduced hours and staff, Friends of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library organized a trip to see Sanders’ farm, eat catered barbecue, stroll the grounds and sell Sanders’ and Novello Press books.

About 50 people paid $40, which covered the hourlong bus trip, lunch under a big tent and music, provided by Harry Taylor on banjo and Tom Hanchett of the Levine Museum of the New South on fiddle. All proceeds went to the libraries; the system’s development director, Dick Pahle, said he expected the trip to raise about $1,000.

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Posted: July 6th, 2010 Meaghan Clark

Stories that caught our eye in the last week:

1. Good news for Charlotte, considering our current air quality: The Environmental Protection Agency says it wants to get tough on coal-fired power plants, such as those in the Carolinas.

2. Local coach Michael Lawson is going global. The N.C. Central track and field coach will lead the U.S. team at an international competition in 2011.

3. Some folks are taking the Lynx Blue Line for a ride. Despite riders who avoid paying, the Charlotte Area Transit System says it won't install equipment to ensure payment.

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