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INSIDE ▼ South Piedmont reveals new mascot PAGE 3A Friday, August 29, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 35
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All Saints Anglican Church welcomes new rector WEDDINGTON – All Saints Anglican Church has formally installed The Rev. Duncan J. Bell as its new rector.
Bishop Terrell Glenn presided over the installation service. More than 350 members and guests attended the Aug. 23 event. Bell joined the All Saints staff at the start of 2023, bringing his rich
pastoral experience and warm character across the Atlantic from "England's green and pleasant land." He grew up in a devout Christian home, with a lifelong passion for following Jesus. His academic journey led him to earn a PhD at the University of Sheffield in England, focusing on advancing fingerprint-matching techniques for
forensic science. Feeling a call to ordained ministry, he and his wife, Rebecca, relocated to London for seminary training. He was ordained in Sheffield and served congregations there and in Lancashire before moving to the United States. Bell and his wife, Rebecca, who was born in the Charlotte area, have four young children. They enjoy
family hikes through the countryside. Bell also enjoys teaching his children to play the piano. Since its inception, All Saints Anglican Church in Weddington has blended Anglican tradition with contemporary mission, making it a welcoming and mission-focused community for newcomers and longtime members alike.
Longtime founding rector Father Filmore Strunk retired and passed the mantle to Bell, who had been serving as rector coadjutor. The church believes Bell’s installation signifies a fresh season of faithful leadership and vibrant community life for All Saints. On the web: allsaintsweddington.org
State officials urge people Theater groups not to drink and drive
using grants for outreach
UNION COUNTY – Foundation For The Carolinas has awarded $20,000 in 2025 Community Impact Fund grants to two Union County nonprofits that are bringing inclusive, accessible arts experiences to children and families. Law enforcement officers will step up patrols now through Labor Day weekend. Photos by David Flower/City of Charlotte
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – Law enforcement agencies across the state will be increasing patrols and checkpoints from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7 as part of the state’s Booze It & Lose It campaign.
Mark Ezzell, director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program, said the Booze It & Lose It campaign is designed to send the message that impaired driving will not be tolerated. “We know that addressing impaired driving isn’t just an enforcement issue but you cannot do it without strong law enforcement involvement,” he said. “These officers play a vital role in maintaining safe environments across North Carolina and preventing future tragedies from happening.” Law enforcement officers will take impaired drivers into Breath Alcohol Testing units known as BATmobiles. “This is essentially a roving magistrate’s office and jail on wheels that allows law enforcement officers to take someone they have stopped and immediately begin the process to have them go through the criminal justice system,” Ezzell said. “We want this campaign to serve as a reminder to all drivers to continue to pay close attention to driving.” The campaign’s goal is to reduce alcohol-related crashes. Ezzell said there were 353 alcohol-related crash fatalities last year in North Carolina. So far this year, there have been 185. Tony Lathrop, chair of the N.C. Board of Transportation, also shared some sobering statewide and local crash data. North Carolina tallied 11,399 alcohol-involved crashes last year, including 944 in Charlotte, according to Lathrop. He added that 38
Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor’s High Safety Program, visited Charlotte on Aug. 20 to explain the Booze It & Lose It campaign. He explained how partnerships are helping reduce traffic injuries and fatilities across the state.
Tony Lathrop, chair of the N.C. Board of Transportation, asked for a commitment from everyone in the public to be safe on the roads. “It can’t be said enough: don’t speed, avoid distractions, wear seat belts, and of course never drink and drive,” he said.
of the 111 traffic deaths in Charlotte last year were alcohol-related. Lathrop said the N.C. Department of Transportation strives to keep motorists safe. “We're building roads now all over the state with new technology, new designs and management tools that have been proven by research to significantly reduce crashes,” he said. “You also need a strong public outreach effort like those that our agency is working on with partners like the City of Charlotte and AAA.” Tiffany Wright, public affairs director for AAA Auto Club Group, said her company is also committed to safety. “Whether you’re stranded with a flat tire or a dead battery alongside the road, AAA is going to be there,” Wright said. “Last year during the
Labor Day holiday alone, we rescued 380,000 motorists nationwide.” Wright also co-chairs the North Carolina Alliance for Safe Transportation. The nonprofit promotes safe driving behaviors across the state. She said the four leading contributors to traffic injuries and fatalities are preventable. Those are impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and not wearing a seat belt. She said designated drivers, ride shares and AAA can prevent impaired driving. In the Charlotte area, AAA offers a service to pick up drivers if they’ve had too much to drink and tow their vehicle home. “We're your last line of defense because again, there's just no excuse to get behind the wheel impaired,” Wright said.
Monroe presents incentive payment to Greiner Bio-One MONROE – The City of Monroe presented an economic development incentive check for $58,650 to Greiner Bio-One North America Inc., recognizing the company’s continued investment in its Monroe location.
This marked the fourth of five payments under an ongoing economic development agreement with the city. “Greiner Bio-One is one of Monroe's economic anchors and a global leader,” City Manager Mark Watson said. “I appreciate the company’s commitment here in the city, creating quality jobs in technology. It's a big impact." Greiner Bio-One North America Inc., headquartered in Austria, manufactures a wide variety of high-quality plastic products for medical technology and laboratory applications. Their products are used in clinical diagnostics,
life science research, drug discovery and the sterilization of medical devices. The company has manufacturing facilities in Europe, Asia, South America and Monroe’s Corporate Center. Under its economic development agreement with the city, approved in April 2019, Greiner committed to invest an estimated $12.75 million, but no less than $2 million, in new taxable building improvements, machinery and equipment over five years. The incentive grant is capped at $293,250, distributed over five years beginning in fiscal year 2022. Each annual payment is based on proof of qualifying investments made in the preceding year. With over $10 million in verified investments in 2024, the city issued this fourth annual payment. Since the agreement was signed, Greiner has met the requirement
Mayor Robert Burns, City Manager Mark Watson, Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell, and Strategic Projects Manager Teresa Campo met with Greiner Bio-One Senior Manager Engineering and Project Management Eric Paszkowski and Head of Controlling and Financial Accounting Desdemona Thompson Sesay to present the check and acknowledge Greiner’s role in Monroe’s economy. Photo courtesy of City of Monroe
each year, reporting nearly $40 million in investments in fiscal year 2025 alone. “Their investment bolsters our local economy, generates employment opportunities for our residents and embodies genuine partnership,” Mayor Robert Burns said.
Grants were awarded to Lanti Foundation and Union County Playmakers to support live theater and music programming that promotes creativity, confidence and connection. The Community Impact Fund grants are made possible by donors who entrust Foundation For The Carolinas with discretionary resources to meet evolving needs and invest in community-driven solutions across its 13-county region. “Both of these organizations are using the arts to create meaningful connections and expand access for families across Union County,” said Laura Clark, president of Foundation For The Carolinas. “This is exactly the kind of community impact our donors make possible through these funds.” Lanti Foundation received $10,000 to support Curtains Up, Community In, an arts outreach program that expands access to music and theater for young people across Union County. The initiative aims to remove barriers to participation and build a stronger sense of belonging through the arts. Sarah Lantigua, executive director of Lanti Foundation, said the grant affirms that the arts change lives. “With this support, we’ll be able to bring music and theater to even more children, teens and families, and create new opportunities for our community to come together — to engage, to express, to feel connected,” Lantigua said. “The arts strengthen a community from the inside out, and we’re so proud to be part of that growth.” Union County Playmakers received $10,000 to produce “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” a bilingual holiday production at the Dowd Center Theatre in downtown Monroe. The event will feature both children and adults in the cast, with performances in both English and Spanish. The production is free for children under 18 and $3 for adults. “Playmakers is so thankful for this year’s grant to support our fourth year of the children’s Christmas play,” said Gay Clyburn, executive board president. “These funds directly address our mission to provide theater experiences and education to all citizens of Union County. With this year’s Charlie Brown Christmas, we are able to again provide an inclusive theater experience on and off the stage.” On the web: fftc.org/ CommunityImpactFunds