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INSIDE ▼ Breakfast club to discuss safety
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PAGE 2A Friday, February 6, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 5
thecharlotteweekly.com
Run Jen Run 5K and Festival returning to SouthPark
@southcltweekly
Charters renewed for 37 North Carolina public schools By David Beasley Contributor
(The Center Square) – North Carolina’s Charter School Review Board recently renewed charters for 37 schools.
The Run Jen Run 5K & Festival is the signature fundraiser for the Go Jen Go Foundation, which supports families facing the financial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis. Photos courtesy of Go Jen Go
CHARLOTTE – The Go Jen Go Foundation has opened registration for the Run Jen Run 5K & Festival.
The 14th annual fundraiser takes place from 7 to 10 a.m. March 21 at TowneBank Symphony Park in SouthPark. It will feature a 5K, Fun Run, festival with music and family fun zone with games and bounce houses. There will also be food vendors and sponsors showcasing their businesses. Consolidated Planning is returning as title sponsor. Presenting sponsors are Coastal Bridge Advisors and Smiley’s 4 C’s Charitable Endowment. Participants can register to run or walk individually or as a team. There is also a Sleep In Supporter/Virtual option for those unable to attend in person. Race-day registration fees on March 21 are $45 for the 5K, $30 for the Fun Run and $40 for Sleep In Supporter/Virtual. Get $5 off if registered between Feb. 4 and March 20. There is no charge for breast cancer fighters, survivors or thrivers to participate but registration is required. Visit runjenrun5K.com for details and to sign up as a participant or volunteer. Signs of Hope can be purchased in honor of loved ones who are battling breast cancer or are in remission. They can also be purchased in memory of those who have passed away. The event will feature Hope Village for breast
cancer patients to be celebrated and enjoy a space to relax, feel supported and connect with one another. Proceeds go to The Go Jen Go Foundation, which supports families in the greater Charlotte area facing the financial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis. The nonprofit supports more than 110 families per month.
Its patient assistance program helps cover household expenses, including housing, utilities, transportation and groceries/necessities while a patient undergoes breast cancer treatment. There are also programs that provide camp opportunities for our grantees’ children and deliver gifts during the holidays. On the web: gojengo.org
Gynecology firm serves women at every stage of life CHARLOTTE – E. Nicole Parson and Tiffany Bates opened Femwell Gynecology & Wellness last year in South Charlotte to address concerns they have each had as providers and as patients.
After working in large healthcare systems throughout their careers, the longtime friends hoped Femwell could take a slower, more focused approach to women's health while integrating traditional gynecological services with lifestyle medicine and mental health support. They focus on prevention, wellness and treating root causes. “Women’s wellness is at the core of what we do, and we know that we must empower them through holistic care, education and advocacy,” Parson said. “As a new gynecology practice with an innovative approach in the Charlotte community, we are looking forward to educating
women about their health and making positive change.” Parson brings expertise in gynecologic care and lifestyle medicine. An expert in treating fibroids, she offers a full spectrum of treatments, including incision-free and minimally invasive surgical options. Parson also empowers women to make informed choices about their health through personalized contraception counseling and weight management programs. Bates specializes in full-scope gynecologic care and obesity medicine, addressing reproductive, hormonal and wellness concerns using natural methods, medical management and surgical intervention when needed. Whether helping patients address complex gynecologic issues or ensuring their wellness needs are up to date, Bates takes an individualized
approach that treats the whole person. Femwell Gynecology & Wellness observed Maternal Health Awareness Day on Jan. 23. The campaign helps educate the public, advocate for policy and raise awareness about preventable maternal deaths and disparities, focusing on issues like cardiac conditions, mental health and postpartum care. Both doctors believe women can start to take control of their health by following some simple steps, including: • Seek mental health support: Leaning on friends, family and other women is always important, but mental health is at the core of Femwell’s practice. Seeking out therapists, especially those who specialize in women’s and postpartum care, is a great idea if you have concerns and Story continues, see GYNECOLOGY page 3A
The renewals of three to seven years each came after a lengthy review process and presentations before the board. There were no rejections. Two additional schools will be up for renewal at the board’s February meeting. “Our state has a very rigorous and thorough review process that in general the public may not be aware of,” said Ashley Logue, executive director of the Office of Charter Schools. “I think there is a misconception that charter schools can do what they want and that there’s nobody holding them accountable.” The review process for the state’s 210 charter schools involves submission of documents and examination of student performance data and other information for a “deep dive” into how the school is performing, Logue said. Site visits to the charter schools, review of their governance practices such as regular meetings of the board of directors and adherence to open meetings laws, are also reviewed. Charter schools are also required to submit annual financial audits. Schools in Mecklenburg and Union counties that received renewals included: • 3-year renewal: ALA – Charlotte • 5-year renewal: Union Day School • 10-year renewal: Bradford Preparatory School, Commonwealth High School, Pioneer Springs Community School, Telra Institute and Unity Classical Charter School Typically, a charter would be considered for nonrenewal if it is not growing and has consistently low student academic performance, Logue said. There are also noncharter schools that are low performing and don’t undergo the scrutiny that charter schools have when their charters are up for renewal, Logue added. “Every school has to have a full review,” she said. “That review takes two years.” The review board renewed the charters of two virtual charter schools, NC Cyber Academy and Story continues, see CAROLINA page 3A
Charlotte updates 2026 holiday trash collection schedule CHARLOTTE – The City of Charlotte’s Solid Waste Services has announced its 2026 holiday collection schedule.
Memorial Day and Labor Day will follow an updated collection pattern: • There will be no collection on the holiday (Monday). • Crews will begin service on Tuesday and work through Friday to complete all routes. • No Saturday collection will occur during these holiday weeks. • No yard waste will be collected during these weeks so crews can focus on completing garbage and recycling routes.
Residents should set their carts out on their normal collection day and leave them at the curb until they are collected. Pickup may occur later in the week than usual. If your collection hasn’t occurred within 48 hours of your normal scheduled collection day, call 311 or 704-336-7600 to report a missed pickup. Thanksgiving and Christmas will continue to operate on a one-day delay, consistent with previous years: • During Thanksgiving week, Thursday collection will be serviced Friday and Friday collection will be serviced Saturday.
• During Christmas week, Friday collection will be serviced Saturday. New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Veterans Day fall on weekdays in 2026. There will be no delay or service change during those weeks. The city said the updated holiday schedule helps Solid Waste Services support employee work-life balance, use taxpayer resources responsibly and maintain reliable, high-quality service for all residents. Find your collection day by visiting the city’s property tool, My Charlotte Lookup.
Type in your address to be reminded of what day of the week you receive service and if you are an orange or green recycling week. Solid Waste Services offers text alerts for collection updates, service disruptions, recycling and waste preparation tips, quick surveys and other city service information. Residents who would like to receive updates can text their day of service to 73224. For example, if their collection day is Thursday, they would text “Thursday” to 73224. On the web: charlottenc.gov/Services/ Trash-and-Recycling