The 3-27-2026 Edition of The Charlotte Weekly Union County
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
STALLINGS – The Stallings Town Council annexed 5.86 acres of Union County land at the roundabout at Matthews-Weddington Road and Chestnut Parkway on March 23 and rezoned it from residential to mixed-use.
is will pave the way for a commercial project with three buildings, ranging from 9,000 to 13,400 square feet, and a future developable area. e site, which is located on the southeast portion of the roundabout, will likely be developed for o ce, retail or restaurant uses.
Planning Director Max Hsiang told the council during the public hearing that the
project’s mixed-use designation is compatible with surrounding uses and ts with the future land use plans. One exception is the Chestnut Lane Small Area Plan, which calls for multi-family development in this area.
“Even though it is inconsistent with the Chestnut Lane Small Area Plan, it is reasonable due to the high-density residential already located in the area,” Hsiang told the council.
Steve Singleton, of Urban Design Partners, explained during the March 23 public hearing how the project ts with the vision for the Chestnut Lane Small Area Plan.
“It’s about activating the entirety of the corridor from Chestnut Lane at the roundabout
WINGATE – Newsweek has recognized Wingate University as one of the top colleges for women in North Carolina.
Wingate is ranked No. 179 in the nation and No. 4 in the state, trailing only Johnson C. Smith University, Meredith College and Winston-Salem State University.
Newsweek and Gender Fair, a gender-related ratings organization, rated 1,272 colleges and universities across the United States on four main criteria: leadership, pay and policy, safety and opportunity.
Wingate, which ranked among the top 15% overall, scored especially well on
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MONROE – The Union County Board of Commissioners took steps March 16 to protect agricultural land from development pressures driven by Charlotte.
The board approved the Union County Rural Land Use Plan and amended the Union County Land Use Map to re ect the approval.
e plan recommends a few strategies, including two that were addressed with the map amendment.
e rst supported strategy expands the rural area of the Land Use Map to include six square miles east of Rocky River all the way
leadership and safety.
Among full-time traditional Wingate students, 58% are female. Women make up 62% of the Wingate faculty.
“With close to 60% of Wingate students being female in any given year, I’m grateful to be part of a university that intentionally creates opportunities for both women and men to lead, whether in the classroom, across campus or in our professional roles,” said Heather Miller, who will be promoted to executive vice president and chief operating o cer on June 1. “I’ve bene ted from mentors and meaningful experiences here, and it’s
to Monroe, north of N.C. 75. e plan says this designation would reduce development impacts for new subdivisions in this area and incentivize developers to request annexation into a neighboring community.
“ e practical implication is that the 30% open space requirement would then apply for major subdivisions,” Senior Planner Bjorn Hansen told commissioners. “It would be something we would refer to as rezonings are submitted.”
The other supported strategy adds six rural centers to the Land Use Map. The plan describes rural centers as “clusters of low-density, non-residential uses located at a crossroads of two or more major or minor thoroughfares.” is would include uses like
Commercial project may create western gateway in Stallings
Wingate named a top college for women
gratifying to see that so many others have had the opportunity to do the same.”
Erika Niland was recently named vice president for academic systems and faculty a airs.
A biology professor during her nearly 16 years at Wingate, Niland joins an administration with several women in academic and non-academic leadership roles.
Newsweek and Gender Fair used two primary data sources, both from the U.S. Department of Education: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the Campus Safety and Security Database.
Union County takes steps to protect rural land
Senior Planner Bjorn Hansen created this exhibit for the Union County Rural Land Use Plan to illustrate two of the recommendations. The area in green is six square miles recommended for expansion into the rural area. The blue dots are six proposed rural centers. The gray represents municipal boundaries. Darker gray areas are part of the ETJ. Photo courtesy of Union County
Police find drone, drugs during Monroe traffic stop
MONROE – A traffic stop uncovered drugs and foiled an attempt to use drone technology to smuggle narcotics into a correctional facility, according to the Monroe Police Department.
An o cer stopped a vehicle around 9:30 a.m. March 17 near Hanover Drive and Williams Road after noticing it displayed a ctitious license plate. e occupants told police they were traveling from Ohio through Monroe on their way to South Carolina to go dolphin watching, police said.
As the investigation unfolded, the ocer found a large quantity of marijuana, THC crumble wax and a package near a drone and shing line inside the vehicle, police said.
Once the package was opened, o cers discovered additional individually wrapped bags of marijuana, cocaine-soaked cardstock paper, and a large baggie of fentanyl hidden inside the crumble wax, police said.
Investigators believe the materials and packaging are consistent with a tactic of using drones to drop contraband into prisons and correctional facilities.
Police arrested Dalontae Harris Spears, 31, of Ohio, and Myles Summerville, 33, of Ohio, on charges of felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, tra cking in fentanyl, tra cking in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police Chief Rhett Bolen said this case shows why proactive policing matters.
“Criminals use our roads every day to move drugs, weapons and other illegal items,” Bolen said. “In this case, a simple tra c stop prevented a large quantity of dangerous narcotics from potentially reaching a correctional facility, where the consequences could have been devastating to inmates and sta . Our o cers’ attention to detail and commitment to proactive enforcement helped stop something much bigger before it could happen.”
Women thrive at Wingate University, whether they are students or staff. Photo courtesy of Wingate University
The Monroe Police Department said it found drugs during a traffic stop. Photo courtesy of MPD Story continues, see MONROE page 3A
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Property tax reform on track for November referendum
By David Beasley Contributor
(The Center Square) – North Carolina voters could get the chance to vote in November on a constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature marching order to put the brakes on rising property taxes.
Dan Ettefagh, the director of the General Assembly’s bill drafting division, presented the proposed constitutional amendment to a committee in the House of Representatives on March 18.
It would “impose by a constitutional amendment on the General Assembly the duty to enact legislation that would limit future increases to the property tax levy,” Ettefagh told members of the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform.
Just exactly how the Legislature
would do that is not spelled out in the draft of the legislation, Ettefagh said. “ ose parameters or the limit of those parameters would be accomplished by statutor language that would implement this constitutional mandate,” he said.
If passed by the Legislature, the amendment would be on the ballot in November, Ettefagh said.
e committee did not vote on the legislation March 18 but could on April 15.
If the General Assembly imposed a property tax cap by legislation, a subsequent Legislature could vote to change the cap, Ettefagh said in a response to a question from a committee member.
Rep. Je Zenger, R-Forsyth, said the cap should limit the amount property taxes could be raised in a single year.
“I’ve got a letter right here in front
of me from a 72-year-old woman who is on a xed income who since 2010, her property taxes have gone up 146%,” Zenger said. “She’s lived in that house for decades. It’s going to cost her $790 a month to stay in the house that’s paid for.”
e legislator said his property taxes increased 52% this year.
Governments don’t want to cut spending, he told the committee.
“But guess what?” he said. “ is lady is going to have to. What does she do? Go to Meals on Wheels or stop taking medicine?”
Although some members of the committee expressed concern that caps would cause cuts in police and other services, Rep. Brian Echevarria, R-Cabarrus, disagreed.
“ is language is pretty clear,” he said. “It says a constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments. If a property tax increase limit is
put in, how does that a ect current spending, current law enforcement and all of that?”
Speaker Destin Hall praised the fact that the House is “actively exploring the proposed constitutional amendment."
"Property taxes are out of control,” he said in a statement. “Families are getting ripped o as some, but by no means all, local governments rake in billions more than in ation and population growth warrant. It’s time for real reform, which is why the House is pursuing solutions like levy limits to stop runaway property tax hikes and protect North Carolina taxpayers.”
Hall cited research by the John Locke Foundation that found nine of the state’s 10 largest counties by population have increased property taxes almost $3 billion more than justi ed by the growth in population and in ation.
(The Center Square) – Raleigh and Charlotte are soaking up a disproportionate share of North Carolina’s road construction funds, leaving other fast-growing parts of the state behind, legislators said March 19 at a committee meeting in the House of Representatives.
Counties in the eastern and western parts of the state “are not getting projects, even though their growth is exploding,” Rep. John Torbett, a Republican from Gaston County, said at a meeting of the Select Committee on North Carolina’s Transportation Future.
“It’s been – at least from a legislative perspective, 13 years since
BUSINESS BRIEFS
we’ve heard about how growth has impacted our transportation needs around the state,” the legislator said.
“What I’m hearing is that it’s time for a full and comprehensive study to show how growth has impacted and is currently impacted the state.”
There are more transportation projects needed than there are funds for many of them, Torbett said.
“Needless to say, if we had the funds to accommodate, we probably wouldn’t be having this committee,” he said. “We’d be moving at light speed down the road.”
Parts of eastern North Carolina are “busting at the seams,“ said Chairman Phil Shepard, R-Onslow.
“Our population in Onslaw County has increased 20,000 since last year due to the military moving MARSOC from San Diego,”
Medical students discover residency matches WINSTON-SALEM – Wake Forest
University School of Medicine students opened their Match Day envelopes to learn where they will begin their residency.
Graduating medical students receive sealed envelopes, all to be opened simultaneously at noon with other fourth-year medical students nationwide. e paper inside reveals where students will spend the next three to seven years of residency training.
e School of Medicine had 133 matches, across 23 specialties, with 29 students matching at Advocate Health locations across the Carolinas. Thirty-eight students stayed in North Carolina for their residencies.
“ e Class of 2026 has matched into premier residency programs across the nation, with many choosing to remain within our own Advocate Health footprint,” said Ebony Boulware, dean of the School of Medicine.
Advocate Health invests in education
CHARLOTTE – Advocate Health will award $200,000 in scholarships to students pursuing health care and STEM-related elds.
e program includes 40 scholarships valued at $5,000 each, with 20 designated for community members and dependents of teammates and 20 for eligible Advocate Health employees.
Eligible students must be enrolled at least part-time in a qualifying eld, meet GPA requirements and be U.S. citizens or
Shepard said. “So we are already behind the eight ball.”
MARSOC is the acronym for Marine Forces Special Operations Command.
Shepard said the state criteria for road project funding as currently written, “Doesn’t leave much hope for those of us in that particular area of southeastern North Carolina where the population is really booming.”
Legislators represent not only their particular districts but the entire state, Rep. Marita Cervania, D-Wake, told the committee.
“In my o ce, I say we represent everyone,” she said. “I do actually have constituents who either retire to the East but still think I’m their representative and we have people who have homes in both. So know
permanent residents living in Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina or Georgia.
“Investing in education is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen the future of health care,” said Michelle Smith, vice president of workforce development and career innovation.
Applications are due March 31. On the web: aah.awardspring.com
Storm Guard Roofing giving away a free roof to veteran
CHARLOTTE – Storm Guard Roo ng of Charlotte is launching a Memorial Day initiative to give a free roof replacement to a veteran homeowner in the greater Charlotte area.
e company is accepting nominations for veterans who own and occupy their home within its service area, including Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, Stanley, York, Lancaster, Gaston, Rowan and Lincoln counties. Nominations can be submitted through a form on the company’s website at stormguardrc.com/nc/charlotte/ veteran-roof-giveaways-lp/#nominate.
“Memorial Day is a time to re ect on the sacri ces made by those who served our country,” co-owner Stephanie White said. “ is is our way of giving back in a meaningful, lasting way by helping protect a veteran’s home and family.”
Nominations close May 5, with the recipient announced on Memorial Day.
Hazen and Sawyer signs lease at Whitehall
CHARLOTTE – Hazen and Sawyer has signed a new o ce lease at Whitehall Corporate Center. Known for its work in water and environmental engineering, Hazen and Sawyer continues to expand its presence in key growth markets.
e transaction is part of a cluster of recent leasing activity at the property that also includes Inland Technologies and FRM Inc.
“ ese recent leases re ect the continued appeal of Whitehall Corporate Center as companies evaluate where and how they want to work,” said Cooper Burton, executive vice president of commercial leasing at American Asset Corporation. “Tenants are prioritizing accessibility, amenities and an environment that supports both
that even though we have major pain points in Raleigh and Wake County, I want to get solutions in eastern, western, every part of the state.”
State Rep. Zach Hawkins, D-Durham, said the area he represents approved 18,000 new homes over a four-year-period in East Durham.
“For almost the rst two decades I lived in Durham, it was small roads and we only had one middle school,” he said. “For no one to think about the need for infrastructure on this side of town was just shortsighted. It is a tra c jam.”
He agreed that the eastern part of the state needs better roads.
“We have more and more people coming to the state,” said Hawkins
productivity and culture, and we continue to see strong alignment between those priorities and what the campus o ers.”
CMS wins communications awards
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools earned 10 Blue Ribbon Awards from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association for excellence in communications. e awards were presented March 6 in Greensboro and included ve Gold and two Silver for writing, one Gold for electronic media and two Silver for digital media engagement.
“ e Blue Ribbon Awards are a wonderful validation of the work our team does every day,” said Dr. Stephen Esposito, chief of strategic communications and engagement.
“Our work is key to building trust between our classrooms and our community.”
Pride Magazine announces 2026 awards
CHARLOTTE – Pride Magazine will host the 2026 Pride Awards with the theme “Future Forward with AI,” highlighting how the tool is a ecting business.
Dr. Sunil Erevelles of UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business will serve as keynote speaker. e event will spotlight innovators and explore opportunities and challenges tied to AI, according to CEO Dee Dixon.
e 2026 Pride Awards will be held at noon July 10 at e Ritz-Carlton. Truist Bank returns as title sponsor. Visit pridemagazineonline.com for tickets to the lunch and the program.
Quick Hits
• Alexis Lauren, a medspa brand focused on personalized aesthetic treatments, is seeking franchise partners for an expansion into the Carolinas, targeting Charlotte, Raleigh and Charleston. Learn more at alexislauren.com.
• SCORE Charlotte is accepting registration for e Big Mixer: Business Plan Come Alive, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 9 at Calvary Christian Church, 3001 Kilbourne Drive, Charlotte.
• Scooter's Co ee is o ering a Fudgy Bunny for spring. The new blended non-espresso beverage is inspired by chocolate bunnies.
Match Day is the milestone that Wake Forest University School of Medicine students share with family, friends and faculty members. Students learn where they will begin residency. Photos courtesy of Advocate Health
Sustain Charlotte launches challenge to reimagine I-77 South
CHARLOTTE – Sustain Charlotte has launched a public design challenge to imagine new possibilities for the I-77 corridor through Charlotte.
“Reimagining 77 South: A Vision for Repairing and Reconnecting Charlotte” is intended to spark ideas about how the corridor could reconnect neighborhoods, improve mobility for all and create healthier public spaces. e initiative comes as the proposed I-77 South toll lane project has been temporarily paused.
Community members are invited to submit visual concepts showing how the corridor could better serve Charlotte’s neighborhoods, environment and future growth.
Ideas may include freeway caps or tunnels, parks and greenways, new walking and biking connections, restored waterways or other approaches that reconnect communities and improve quality of life.
“For decades, highways built through cities
divided neighborhoods and limited opportunity,” said Shannon Binns, founder and executive director of Sustain Charlotte. “ is challenge invites local residents to imagine what it could look like to repair past harm and reconnect our communities, as so many other cities have already begun to do.”
Selected submissions will be displayed at a free public exhibit on April 13 at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, as part of a free public event called “How the Cities
We Build Shape How We Live,” featuring “Happy City” author Charles Montgomery. Sustain Charlotte encourages submissions from professional and amateur designers, students, classrooms, artists and community members. Professional experience is not required. Hand-drawn sketches are welcome. e submission deadline is April 6. Visit sustaincharlotte.org/reimagining-i77-south-charlotte/ for submission details.
Severe weather piled into an already taxed airport issue with missing TSA workers March 16, causing North America’s seventh busiest airport to nearly double flight cancellations of the previous seven days.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport had 433 cancellations and 663 delays on March 16. The airport, like many across the country, is battling having enough Transportation Security Administration personnel, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security working without pay during the partial government shutdown. At one point during the storm in the morning, a ground stop was ordered for safety reasons. Power outages were multiple in the area, and an EF-0 tornado was con rmed.
The combination was tough on travelers. Nationwide, estimates are 1 in 10 not showing up. Several reports include former TSA workers saying they had to nd other permanent work.
The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after a Jan. 30 deadline was not
convenience stores, restaurants or civic buildings.
e six rural centers would be located at:
• South Providence Road and N.C. 200.
• South Rocky River Road, Parkwood School Road and N.C. 200.
• Plyler Mill and Gri th Roads.
• New Salem Road, Carl Polk Road, and Sugar and Wine Road.
• Love Mill Road and N.C. 218.
• Lawyers Road and Mill Grove Road.
“This is going to allow smallscale commercial opportunities,” Commissioner Brian Helms said. “Hopefully, we get more restaurants and gas stations. I think we’ve got probably enough gas stations for right now, but when you’re 90% residential, I think this is an important strategy to have because this board has been committed to trying to grow that other 10%. is is a way to maybe accomplish that, and commercial has no impact on schools.”
e plan has other strategies that Hansen said could be implemented through Uni ed Development Ordinance amendments or board policy.
One of those strategies involves expressing concern over impacts from bypasses.
“Union County has experienced signi cant development pressures along the Monroe Expressway in recent years,” according to the plan. “ ere are several proposed bypasses that extend into the rural parts of Union County and the committee felt these bypasses could have similar impacts on development patterns.
e committee has concerns about ease of development in rural areas if the southern Waxhaw and Monroe bypasses are built.”
The plan suggests the county work with a ected communities, the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization to work out these concerns.
Hansen said the plan took about 17 months to develop. He credited members of the steering committee, which included Allan Baucom, James Austin, Danyelle Crum, Mick Noel, Nick Long, Jared Steele and Laura Varela. They worked with sta , commissioners and the county land use board to develop the plan.
met and an extension was given, impacting thousands of Transportation Security Administration personnel. TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, the 1/12th of the congressional budget yet to be funded.
For context between the politicians’ polar opposite blame, Democrats have
demands for reforms on immigration enforcement, a desire to separate agencies within Homeland Security, and accountability. Republicans believe the department as constructed for cohesive consideration of national threats does not need changing, and the House of Representatives has already passed bipartisan
funding that isn’t able to get past Senate Democrats.
Charlotte Douglas had 244 cancellations and 2,853 delays over the seven days ending March 15, according to tracking platform FlightAware. e last time the airport had so many cancellations in a single day was Jan. 25-26, when more than 1,600
over two days were halted by a major winter snowstorm. Numbers were not as high though similar impact was evident at Raleigh-Durham International and Piedmont Triad International in Greensboro. RDU had 85 cancellations and 216 delays; Greensboro had 29 and 45, respectively.
Chaplains deploy to Indiana, Illinois after tornadoes
CHARLOTTE – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying crisis-trained chaplains to Illinois and Indiana after deadly tornadoes swept through parts of the Midwest.
e storm system spawned tornadoes across several states, killing an elderly couple in the Indiana community of Lake Village and injuring others.
from 1A
down through to Antioch Church Road,” Singleton said.
He believes the project combined with Chestnut Farm Apartments and the future Cottage Green project, creates a western gateway into Stallings. Singleton said his project will incorporate the architectural character from Chestnut Farm Apartments to create a cohesive look at the roundabout.
“We believe it’s a strong t for the Town of Stallings,” Singleton said. “It certainly supports the town vision for the Chestnut Lane Small Area Plan. It activates the western gateway.”
e project also brings to life an idea from the Greenway Master Plan of a Suburban Spine Trail along Chestnut Lane and Matthews-Weddington Road. is is done through a 12-foot-wide greenway connection.
“I appreciate, number one, that this is unincorporated now and came to the Town of Stallings for consideration and embraced sort of the community plan,” said Mayor Pro Tem Brad Richardson, who represents the area on council. Richardson also credited the developer for coordinating a look and approaching the roundabout with greenspace, trees and sidewalk.
Graham Hall, who represents District 1 on the council, asked sta about drive-throughs not being permitted in the site plan except for the area designated as “future
Chaplains will go to some of the hardest-hit areas, including Kankakee County, Illinois and Newton County, Indiana, to provide emotional and spiritual care.
Chaplains were also deployed earlier to communities in Michigan after the same storm system caused widespread damage there, killing four people and injuring more than a dozen others.
“Storms like these leave more
than physical damage. ey leave people grieving and searching for hope,” said Josh Holland, vice president of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. “Our chaplains are there to walk alongside those who are hurting, o ering prayer and sharing the comfort that comes from Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of life’s storms, we want people to know that God is a refuge and shelter for those who turn
to Him, and that they are not facing this di cult time alone.” Chaplains continue to minister to families a ected by recent winter storms in Corinth, Oxford, and New Albany, Mississippi, and West Monroe, Louisiana. e Billy Graham Rapid Response Team also continues to o er emotional and spiritual care to families who have been forced to ee their homes in war-torn Ukraine.
developable area.” Auto-oriented uses, like drive-throughs, are only allowed in the future developable area.
Hsiang said the developer could move forward with any use permitted in Mixed Use 2 zoning and have it reviewed administratively without going before the council.
The developer would still be prevented from adding vape shops, tobacco sales establishments, CBD retailers, hookah lounges and companies primarily engaged in the sale or consumption of tobacco, nicotine or cannabinoid-based products.
Laurie Wojtowicz, who represents District 4 on the council, o ered critiques of the at roofs and windows but said she loved that parking was going to go behind the buildings.
“ at’s a planner’s dream just trying to get people to do that,” she said. “I do have a little bit of a concern about the parking. It just seems like it may not be enough depending on what you have in those buildings.”
Singleton said the project exceeds local parking requirements. e project’s greenways also encourage walkability.
STALLINGS
Steve Singleton, of Urban Design Partners, showed this image to demonstrate how the site, outlined in black, creates a western gateway into town. Photo courtesy of Town of Stallings. Photo courtesy of Town of Stallings
MONROE from 1A
Leaders JD Mazuera Arias and the Rev. Rodney Sadler joined airport
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REGIONAL
Summer Pops to precede America 250, Symphony Park upgrades
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Pops series returns to Symphony Park for four weekends in June leading up to America’s 250th anniversary.
Led by Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees, this year’s Sunday evening concerts spotlight American Classics, Best of Broadway, Hollywood Hits and the annual Celebrate America nale with reworks.
Summer Pops has been bringing thousands together to share food, great music and reworks under the stars for 43 years. is season will mark the nal major events at Symphony Park before planned renovations to the venue.
“Summer Pops is always a highlight of the season for us,” Lees said. “As we mark America 250, these programs celebrate how
creativity, hope and the spirit of imagination have shaped one inclusive American story from the concert hall to Broadway and the big screen.”
Summer Pops 2026 lineup
• June 7: American Classics – Summer Pops kicks o with a tribute to America’s distinctive musical voice featuring popular works by composers from across the United States. For the second half, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is joined by the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra for a sideby-side performance.
• June 14: Best of Broadway – From beloved showstoppers of the Golden Age of Broadway to the smash hits of today, this program showcases the best music to hit
America’s famous stages.
• June 21: Hollywood Hits – Cinematic scores from iconic movies take us right into the action of our favorite moments in American lm. Hear the music that underscored moments of wonder and heart-pounding adventure, including the music of legendary composers like John Williams.
• June 28: Celebrate America – Celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday with a rousing evening of American music that re ects the hopes, dreams and traditions that shape the American experience. It includes a reworks nale.
Tickets and other information
Each concert will feature a prelude performance by local musicians beginning at 7 p.m., a variety of food trucks from across the
Charlotte area and a local personality as emcee. e Charlotte Symphony takes the stage at 8:15 p.m. Concerts are held at Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road. Gates open at 5 p.m. Parking is free. Tickets for Summer Pops will go on sale at 11 a.m. March 19 at charlottesymphony.org. Advance general admission tickets for American Classics, Best of Broadway and Hollywood Hits cost $15 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 13–18). Celebrate America costs $18 for adults and $5 for youth. Children 12 and younger get in free but will need a ticket to attend. Prices increase for day-of purchases.
Subscriptions to all four Summer Pops concerts are available and include premium reserved spaces on the lawn.
24,000 Meter Row pulls in more than $90,000
– The seventh annual
CHARLOTTE
Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row raised more than $90,000 to support people affected by cancer.
Fifty teams and 190 participants collectively rowed more than 1.1 million meters March 7 at Sugar Creek Brewing Company.
“We are grateful to everyone who showed up to row, donate, volunteer and sponsor the event,” said Joe Vogelbacher, co-founder of Sugar Creek Brewing Company. Vogelbacher founded the 24,000 Meter
Row in memory of his sister, Michelle, who passed away from a rare form of liver cancer.
“This amazing community powers Michelle’s Mighty Mission,” he said. “It is inspiring to see so many people come together to honor my sister’s legacy while making a real di erence for others facing cancer.”
Sugar Creek Brewing Company hosted the event with CrossFit Mecklenburg and 24 Foundation.
The event featured food, drinks, a DJ and a festive atmosphere as teams rotated
through rowing sessions in both competitive or non-competitive divisions.
Participants of all ages and tness levels formed teams as competitive pairs or “party boat” groups of two to four people. Each team completed a combined total of 24,000 meters.
Proceeds from the event support 24 Foundation.
“We are so thankful for the incredible support behind Michelle’s Mighty Mission,” said Katherine Murphy, executive director of
24 Foundation. “ rough this event and the generous participants and supporters, we are able to turn moments like this into meaningful impact for individuals and families navigating cancer right here in our community.” Presented by MirrorMate, other partners for Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row included: Artisanal Brewing Ventures, Charlotte Checkers, Charlotte Youth Rowing, Celsius, CrossFit Mecklenburg, LendScout, Leroy Fox and Sugar Creek Brewing Company.
Thrown Together Potters prepares for 2026 Spring Sale
CHARLOTTE – Thrown Together Potters invites the public to explore a selection of handcrafted pottery and original artwork created by some of North Carolina’s most talented artists through its 2026 Spring Sale e sale o ers an opportunity to start or grow your pottery and art collection while supporting local makers. Organizers say the work appeals to seasoned collectors, rst-time buyers or people looking for gifts.
“Our Spring Sale is a celebration of community, collaboration and creativity,” said Ron Philbeck, a member of rown Together Potters. “We love welcoming guests into this space to connect with artists directly, learn about the creative process and nd pieces that become part of their everyday lives.”
e sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 at 1225 Dade St. Admission is free and open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged through Eventbrite at ThrownTogetherPottersSpringSale.eventbrite.com.
rown Together Potters is a collaborative art group o ering creative and professional support to its six members from Western North Carolina, the Charlotte region and the Triad. Together, they host spring and fall sales in Charlotte each year, cross-promote one another’s work, and foster a spirit of artistic collaboration and community.
e six core members of rown Together Potters include Mike Hamlin, Phil Haralam, Jen Mecca, Ron Philbeck, Charlie Te t and Julie Wiggins. e Spring Sale will also feature special guest artists: Barry Rhodes (pottery), Sarah Vaughn (glass), Duy Huynh (painter) and Joy Tanner (pottery).
In addition to discovering handcrafted work, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists, hear the stories behind the pieces and gain insight into the techniques and inspiration that shape each collection.
On the web: throwntogetherpotters.com
Participants in Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row cheered each other on during the fundraiser. Photos courtesy of 24 Foundation
Proceeds from Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row support 24 Foundation.
Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row took place March 7 at Sugar Creek Brewing Company.
Shoppers can expect a wide range of functional and decorative pottery, including mugs, bowls, serving pieces, vases, sculptural works and unique statement pieces. There will also be paintings and glass art. Photos courtesy of Thrown Together Potters
Each artist brings a distinct style and perspective, resulting in a diverse and dynamic showcase of craftsmanship and creativity.
CHARLOTTE – In celebration of its 35th anniversary this year, Levine Museum of the New South will hold Catalyst 2026: Taste of the New South, on April 16 at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Uptown Charlotte.
Catalyst is the museum’s signature annual fundraising event.
is year’s theme, Taste of the New South, focuses on the power of food as a tradition and a force of transformation. Southern food carries traditions shaped by migration, entrepreneurship and resilience, o ering insight into the people, cultures and histories that de ne the South.
e event will feature Southern food voices, including culinary historian David Borghesani, author Adrian Miller, chef Reyaña Radcli and Hanna Raskin, founder of e Food Section.
“Our goal has always been to deepen understanding, foster empathy and inspire action toward a better future,” said Richard Cooper, president and CEO of the museum. “ rough Catalyst and this year’s Taste of the New South theme, we’re using food as a lens to explore the stories that shape our region
while celebrating the collective impact we’ve made together and looking ahead to our new building and the next 35 years of building a just and equitable community.”
e evening will open with a cocktail reception featuring Levine Museum’s Catalyst Fellows, a college leadership and history program funded by proceeds from Catalyst 2025. Fellows will share their year-long projects and experiences.
A seated dinner prepared by the culinary team at the Grand Bohemian Hotel will follow. e upscale Southern menu was designed to spark guided table conversations, with prompts encouraging guests to re ect on the stories behind food and the connections it creates.
e highlight of the evening will be a panel of culinary experts exploring the evolving story of Southern food, from its traditions and innovations to the ways it shapes identity and community.
WBTV anchors Alex Giles and Natisha Lance will serve as hosts for the evening. Proceeds from the event will support the museum’s e orts to deepen understanding, foster empathy and inspire civic engagement
April 16 at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, 201 W. Trade St. Tickets cost $225 at museumofthenewsouth.org/support/catalyst/. Sponsorships range from $1,800 to $25,000 and include event recognition and guest seating.
• Mean Mug Coffee Company, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 98.5
Stallings • Chabelita’s (mobile food), 409 Spring Hill Road – 97.5 • China Cafe, 15080 Idlewild Road – 95.5 • Domino’s Pizza, 7900K Stevens Mill Road – 100
Teeter (Starbucks), 1351
2935 Weddington-Matthews Road – 97.5 Waxhaw
Italian Markets, 1526 S.
Grill, 3913 S. Providence Road
(deli), 13639 Providence Road – 100
Teeter (produce), 13639
Road – 100
Teeter (seafood), 13639
Teeter (Starbucks), 13639
Teeter (meat market), 13639
FOOD BRIEFS
Bojangles adds a new biscuit to the menu
CHARLOTTE – Bojangles has introduced two new menu items: the limited-time Triple Double Biscuit and a permanent Iced Co ee.
e Triple Double Biscuit features bacon, eggs, sausage and American cheese on a buttermilk biscuit. e Iced Co ee, available in French Vanilla and Salted Caramel, will be o ered year-round.
“What better way to celebrate the action of March Madness than with an action-packed breakfast sandwich,” said Marshall Scarborough, vice president of menu and culinary innovation. “ e Triple Double Biscuit is a slam dunk, and it pairs perfectly with the new Iced Co ee.”
e biscuit is available for a limited time, while Iced Co ee will remain on the menu at participating locations.
There’s a lot cooking at Optimist Hall
CHARLOTTE – Tenants at Optimist Hall are highlighting avors and dishes this month:
• AVA Pizzeria has designated Bacon Barnyard as Pizza of the Month. It features a ranch base topped with mozzarella, grilled chicken, bacon, scallions and a ranch drizzle.
• Honeysuckle Gelato’s new spring menu features avors like Honey Lavender, Lemon Bar, Strawberry Shortcake and Irish Cream.
• Papi Queso is showcasing Crispy Mozzarella Caprese Melt as its Melt of the Month.
e dish features fried mozzarella, basil pesto, tomato jam, roasted peppers, arugula and balsamic stacked between butter-toasted sourdough.
• Suárez Bakery has added Almond Amaretto as a new avor. It’s an almond cupcake lled with amaretto diplomat cream and topped with almond cream cheese icing, toasted almonds and powdered sugar.
Optimist Hall has been nominated for Best Food Hall in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once daily through noon April 13 at https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-food-hall/.
The Market at 7th Street up for award
CHARLOTTE – e Market at 7th Street has been nominated for Best Food Hall in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Public voting is open through April 13, with supporters able to vote once per day at 10best.usatoday.com.
Located in Uptown, the nonpro t food hall serves as a culinary incubator for local entrepreneurs and is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026. It has supported more than 75 small businesses through a ordable space and business resources.
“From the beginning, The Market and our sponsors have been focused on lowering economic barriers to entry for local entrepreneurs who have the talent, the vision and the drive, but not always the capital or the platform,” Executive Director Salem R. Suber said. “ is nomination is a testament to the creativity and determination of the chefs and
makers who have built their businesses here.”
Thoughtful Baking taking orders for Easter
CHARLOTTE – oughtful Baking Co. is o ering an Easter menu through pre-orders and a Farm-to-Fridge vending machine.
Pre-orders opened March 16 and include a $75 brunch package with lemon poppy pound cake, a choice of quiche and dessert pie. À la carte items include biscuits, pound cake and cinnamon rolls. Orders will be available for pickup at Charlotte Regional, Matthews Community and Uptown farmers markets.
Pre-orders close April 2 or when sold out.
Some of the flavors available at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Photo courtesy of Jeni’s Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams scoops out Spring Collection
CHARLOTTE – Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will launch its new Spring Collection on March 26 at shops across Charlotte.
e lineup includes Basque Cheesecake with Brambleberry Jam, Black Tie Tiramisu and Key Lime Pie, each reimagining traditional desserts in ice cream form.
The collection draws inspiration from
nostalgic, sit-down restaurant desserts, o ering avors that blend rich, creamy textures with familiar pro les like cheesecake, tiramisu and citrus pie.
Ruby Sunshine offers new cocktail lineup
NEW ORLEANS – Ruby Sunshine is welcoming spring with a new lineup of brunch cocktails.
The limited-time menu features floral, tropical and co ee-inspired drinks designed to complement the restaurant’s New Orleans-style brunch.
New o erings include the Lavender 75, Mardi Gras Punch, Whipped Pineapple Mimosa, Rise & Grind, Morning Mule and Summer Sangria. e Taste of Ruby Flight includes a sampling of signature drinks such as a Ruby Mimosa, Morning Margarita, Bacon Bloody Mary and Boozy Iced Co ee.
The Taste of Ruby Flight includes a Bacon Bloody Mary and Boozy Iced Coffee. Photo courtesy of Ruby Sunshine
Triple Double Biscuit is available for a limited time. Photo courtesy of Bojangles
