CHARLOTTE – While no one spoke against the redevelopment of Manor Theatre during an April 20 public hearing, Charlotte City Council Member Kimberly Owens said she has heard concerns from neighbors.
Plans are to develop buildings with residential uses on top of ground-floor retail.
“The neighbors that I’ve talked to are very concerned about this project and about it setting the standard for what else happens on
by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
CHARLOTTE – Police Chief
Estella Patterson points to an assault investigation last month in the Cotswold area to convey how collaboration helps keep the community safe.
Officers with the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department responded to a call in the 100 block of South Sharon Amity Road, where they found a woman who had been stabbed in a grocery store parking lot.
CMPD asked for the community’s help in identifying the suspect from surveillance. Tips led to the arrest of Marvina Marie Hardy, who is awaiting extradition to face charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury and battery of an unborn child.
“It really demonstrates the power of true community collaboration,” Patterson said.
Such collaboration has contributed to lower first-quarter crime statistics. The
Providence Road,” Owens said.
City council is only able to review a portion of the project.
The parking lot behind the Manor Theatre is zoned differently from the rest of the property, so developers are trying to rezone it so they can incorporate more “unified, higher-level design standards across the site,” according to Bridget Grant, land consultant with Moore & Van Allen.
“By rezoning our back portion of the site to (Neighborhood Center), we’re able to put residential units where there
quarter spans from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Staying visible, proactive
Patterson said she was encouraged by reductions in key crime areas, including a 23% reduction in overall crime, in year-over-year comparisons. CMPD is also reporting decreases in violent crime, property crime, robberies, burglaries, aggravated assaults, vehicle thefts and larceny from autos.
“These reductions are only made possible by the collective efforts of proactive policing strategies and also daily engagement of our residents, businesses and organizations who work alongside us,” Patterson said.
One notable concern was the number of homicides increasing from 16 in the first quarter of 2025 to 22 in the first quarter of 2026. Patterson said 11 were situations where the suspect knew the victim. The relationship was unknown in four cases. Two cases were traffic-related.
“It is important that we acknowledge that these homicides are not just numbers,” Patterson said. “They represent lives
Crime Data
Part of Manor Theatre redevelopment reaches city council
is currently only allowed to be parking for residential uses,” Grant told the council.
Parking would be at ground or subterranean levels.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Historic Landmarks left feedback on the proposal, given the historic significance of Manor Theatre.
The movie theater operated for seven decades before closing during the pandemic.
The historic group recommended the petitioner include the entire parcel in the rezoning so the redevelopment could be considered holistically.
Owens asked Grant if there was any appetite for doing that. Grant replied that the UDO increased design standards significantly and they were relying on the strength of the UDO.
Grant later explained that the development team already has the zoning in place to build a mix of residential buildings with groundfloor retail. The current zoning of the back lot also allows for structured parking.
“We believe it’s better for us to have residential units with atgrade or subterranean parking in that location, in proximity to the
adjacent residential that’s there,” Grant told the council.
Owens relayed concerns she had heard from neighbors about how future widening of Providence Road will affect Squirrel Park across the street from the project.
“I think there’s a deep appreciation for the fact that Providence Road, an NCDOT road, is not really a great commute experience for many folks,” Owens said. “I am unaware of any immediate plans to widen it, but the concern that has been
Concert Series
Towns
Police Chief Estella Patterson said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will coordinate with city and county departments, businesses, property owners and event organizers to ensure officers are visible in public spaces in the
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Lawmakers discuss rising property taxes
by David Beasley Contributor
(The Center Square) – Limits on the future increases of property tax levies through a constitutional amendment took a step April 15, gaining the approval of a committee in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
The amendment does not specify exactly how the Legislature would limit property tax hikes. It would be determined by legislators if the amendment is approved.
“Over the last decade, homeowners across our state have been confronted with significant increases in property tax bills,” Rep. Brian Echevarria, a Republican from Cabarrus County, told the Select Committee on Property Tax
Reduction and Reform. “The trend of increased property tax bills has continued and our people are anxious about it. Our neighbors need our advocacy here.”
It is the Legislature’s duty to put “guardrails” in place to stop spiraling property taxes, he added.
Property tax increases since 2020 have been nearly double the overall rate of inflation, the legislator said.
“The key policy question before us is not whether local governments need revenue – they do, and that is not in dispute,” Echevarria said. “We all know fire trucks do not run on goodwill.
We also know that the current property tax structure allows property tax increases to become disconnected from taxpayers’ capacity and predictability.
The question this committee is answering is whether North Carolinians should be protected from continual, unsustainable, unpredictable property tax increases.”
Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford, questioned why the proposed amendment doesn’t compel the Legislature to impose a cap on property taxes instead of just limiting future increases.
“That to me is saying it’s always going to be an increase,” he said. “It’s just going to make the increases go a little slower.”
In some counties, the increases “have almost gotten out of control,” the legislator said.
“A cap keeps it from getting even worse,” he said. “I do think we should not be signaling that you can always increase, because that just gets you to a horrible situation slower. I think we need
an overall cap, like we have for the income tax, a constitutional cap that says this is the most this municipality or county can milk this one tax source.”
Homeowners who purchased their houses decades ago have property tax bills soaring. The equity in their homes is not liquid – meaning it can be easily withdrawn and spent on something else, Blust said. Property taxes, on the other hand, have to be paid each year in cash.
“They are being taxed basically on a long-term capital gain, a lot which was inflationary,” Blust said. “We need to think of them first. I understand the counties and municipalities need revenue. But people should be secure in their houses. That’s as basic American Dream as it gets.”
Injunction halts TV station merger Agreement
by Alan Wooten Contributor
would have affected Charlotte channels WCNC, WJZY
(The Center Square) –Acquisition by Nexstar of Tegna involving television affiliates in the Charlotte, Greensboro and Virginia Tidewater market stretching into eight northeastern North Carolina counties will remain on hold and in litigation in part pursued by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
A $6.2 billion acquisition set to take effect this month, already approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice last month, was stopped by a preliminary injunction. The April 17 ruling from Chief District Judge Troy Nunley in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of California in Sacramento is being appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco by litigators for Nexstar and joint defendant Tegna. Nunley reasons the merger could reduce competition in dozens of local markets. And, retransmission fees for consumers could rise.
Nexstar would add NBC affiliate WCNC in the Charlotte market to already owning Fox affiliate WJZY and add CBS affiliate WFMY in the Greensboro/High Point/ Winston-Salem market to already owning Fox affiliate WGHP.
“This is another big antimonopoly win, coming right on the heels of our Ticketmaster win,” Jackson said. “We sued
to stop this merger because it would hand one company 228 television stations reaching roughly 80% of American households, more than double the FCC’s 39% national ownership cap. You can’t concentrate that much media power in one company.
“This ruling freezes Nexstar and Tegna as separate companies, with separate management and separate newsrooms, while the court hears our full case.”
He says by owning two stations in the market, “it can threaten to black out two of your four major channels at once if your provider won’t pay the new price. Your cable or satellite company will have no real choice but to pay. That cost goes directly onto your monthly bill.”
3 REASONS
of
and additional
Jackson cites an example in Indianapolis to make the point of reduced newsrooms. There, the Fox and CBS affiliates are owned by Nexstar, and those two stations share anchors, reporters, new directors and websites.
“That pattern is central to the deal’s economics,” Jackson says. “Nexstar’s chief financial officer told investors the overlap stations are ‘an area where there’s a significant portion of those synergies.’ The synergies are valued at about $300 million.”
Plaintiffs are DirecTV and the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Oregon and Virginia in addition to North Carolina. Nexstar Media Group and Tegna are defendants.
Drought worsens in North Carolina
(The Center Square) – Four of 554 wildfires starting since a statewide burn ban went into effect were the result of lightning strikes, says the North Carolina agriculture commissioner. The state’s drought is expected to continue through the bulk of April. In the most recent update, all 100 counties are minimum in a moderate drought with extreme or exceptional drought in 16.7% of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
That’s up from 9.6% a week earlier on March 31. Preliminary data indicates 152 of the 554 wildfires were caused by human activity. The state has issued 150 citations for illegal burning.
– Alan Wooten
(continued
that are lost, families that are grieving and communities that will forever be impacted.
“I want you, the public, to know that we approach this challenge with urgency, with transparency and a commitment to utilizing every single tool we have in our toolbox to help prevent violence from happening. Relying on the community is one of the most impactful tools that we have in law enforcement.”
As far as proactive policing, CMPD has used the Queen City Safe initiative to target areas with heavier crime activity and quality-of-life concerns. Three operations this quarter have led to 425 traffic stops, 139 citations, 70 arrests, 33 seized firearms and about 3,317 grams of suspected illegal narcotics recovered.
There’s also been an increased focus on the Charlotte Area Transit System. Off-duty CMPD officers have staffed 3,741 shifts on CATS transportation. CMPD reports crimes on the CATS Blue Line have decreased by 69% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year.
“Increased off-duty staffing, dedicated hire-backs, and quicker response times have contributed to a noticeable
decrease in crime on transit,” she said.
CMPD is expanding its Community Policing Crisis Response Team. This would add clinicians to walking patrols in the Central Division to help people experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues.
“We believe that these efforts will reduce repeat calls for service by connecting these individuals to long-term support,” she said. “It also embodies our commitment to compassionate, communitydriven policing.”
Keeping Uptown safe
Sgt. Edwin Morales attributed year-over-year declines in violent and property crimes in the Central Division to realigning resources, refining deployment and strengthening proactive policing models in high-demand areas.
CMPD launched its Entertainment District Unit in October 2025.
“This specialized unit enhances safety in Uptown and South End nightlife corridors through high visibility, early intervention and strong collaboration with our nightlife operators,” Morales said.
The Entertainment District Unit tallied 874 traffic stops, 157 arrests, 93 seized firearms
and about 2,896 grams of suspected illegal narcotics recovered during the first quarter of 2026.
Morales points to one instance in January when officers spotted a vehicle with a fictitious license plate in an area known for high narcotics activity. They made contact with the driver, learning he had an outstanding warrant. While he was in custody, officers discovered he was also a suspect in a homicide case.
“The strategic deployment of EDU continues to enhance safety in high-traffic entertainment districts, protecting patrons and effectively diffusing potential volatile situations,” Morales said. In March, officers located an armed subject amid large
crowds gathered for a Charlotte FC soccer match. After a brief foot chase, officers apprehended the suspect without incident and found a stolen firearm and illegal narcotics.
“This incident highlights how proactive presence and rapid response and the professionalism of EDU officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation in a densely populated area,” Morales said.
CMPD has also seen progress with the CROWN Culture Initiative launched last quarter.
CROWN stands for Center City’s Restoration of Order, Wellness and Nonviolence.
“CROWN is a focused, high-impact effort centered on restoring order and improving quality of life through elevated police presence, strict enforcement and close collaboration with our community partners,” Morales said. “The CROWN approach balances accountability with compassion.”
This initiative involves officers enforcing illegal street vending, disorderly conduct and public disturbances within a half-mile radius of Trade and Tryon streets.
The CROWN Culture Initiative resulted in 1,457 traffic stops, 288 arrests, 102 seized firearms and about 3,489 grams of suspected illegal narcotics recovered in the first quarter of 2026.
THEATER
(continued from page 1A)
expressed to me is around the balance of this construction.”
While Owens acknowledged the application was for split zoning and more about the back part, she wanted to hear Grant’s thoughts on the potential of road widening taking a large portion out of Squirrel Park.
“We’ve been collaborating with both CDOT and NCDOT as part of this preliminary process,” Grant said. “We’re going to continue to collaborate with the representatives for Squirrel Park as well.”
Owens has also heard concerns about the character of the building and façade and asked about the applicant’s intentions around what this project will look like. Another suggestion from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks is that if the buildings are demolished for redevelopment, the petitioner should work with the group to incorporate historic elements into the architectural notes.
“We’ve spent a good bit of time with our architecture and design team talking about elements, and I believe you may have received an updated letter from Stuart Gray (of CharlotteMecklenburg Historic Landmarks) with some of the considerations we’re looking into as we look at the overall architectural character and how we can incorporate some of the site’s history into future redevelopment of the site,” Grant told Owens. “That’s going to continue to evolve as we navigate through both this rezoning process and the land development process.” Neighbors have also shared concerns with Owens about the impact the project will have on traffic. She asked Grant about road access to the project.
“Anyone who has been to this site or any part of the site knows that there are about 11 curb cuts into the site,” Grant said. “It’s kind of hard to distinguish what’s a curb cut and what’s not when you’re trying to get onto Providence Road.
“We’re going to be reducing the number of curb cuts and access onto Providence, potentially looking at one access point off of Providence, and our other access points will be off of Fenton and Cherokee."
Photo courtesy of CMPD
Graphic courtesy of CMPD
CALENDAR
April 24
Family Storytime
Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at South County Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/locations/southcounty-regional
10-10:30 a.m.; 5801 Rea Road
April 25
Family Storytime
Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional
10:15-10:45 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Author Event
JL Kirby reads from Kirby’s picture book, “DJ the Scratchy Cat,” at Park Road Books. parkroadbooks.com
10:30-11:30 a.m.; 4139 Park Road
Paws to Read
Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog for 15 minutes during Paws to Read at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/SouthPark-Regional
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Author Event Shanna Ngetich reads from her book, “Transformed” at Park Road Books. parkroadbooks.com
2-3 p.m.; 4139 Park Road
Rhythms of India Pineville Library hosts Rhythms of India: A 4-Part Dance Series for teens and adults. This session will focus on Odissi dance. Future sessions will be held May 30 and June 27. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/Pineville.
2-3 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Puzzle Swap South Park Regional Library hosts a puzzle swap. Trade in puzzles with at least 100 pieces. Make sure your puzzle has no missing pieces. cmlibrary.org/locations/ SouthPark-Regional
2-3 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Paws to Read Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog during Paws to Read at South County Regional Library. Kids read for 15 minutes. Register in advance at cmlibrary.
org/locations/south-countyregional.
2-3 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road
April 26
Book Group The Short of It Book Group discusses Ron Rash’s “Hard Times” and Julia Elliott’s “Hellion” at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/SouthPark-Regional.
1-2:30 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Ballet Production World Ballet Company brings its touring production of “Swan Lake” to Ovens Auditorium. The event features a live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s score, along with original choreography, handsewn costumes and multimedia staging. Tickets range from $75.38 to $152.43 and are available worldballetcompany.com/ charlotte1. The show runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission. It is recommended for ages 5 and older.
6 p.m.; 2700 E. Independence Blvd.
April 27 Family Storytime
Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at Pineville Library. Get a ticket at the front desk 15 minutes before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Pineville
10-10:30 a.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Family Storytime Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at South County Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/locations/southcounty-regional
10-10:30 or 11-11:30 a.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Family Storytime Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional
10:15-10:45 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Conversation Club Adults practice their speaking and listening skills during Beginner English Conversation Club at South County Regional Library. cmlibrary.
org/locations/south-countyregional
1-2:30 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Cultural Exploration
Resound Future Bilingual
Educators Network presents Cultural Exploration: Learn and Play French at Pineville Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/ locations/Pineville.
4:30-5:15 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
My Next Step Pineville Library hosts My Next Step for Teens, a College & Career Connections program that helps teens excel in college applications and essays. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/Pineville.
5-6 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Roots Remix
Children ages 10-18 learn about family trees while exploring “Esperanza Rising” during Roots Remix at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/SouthPark-Regional.
5-6 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
K-Pop Trivia South County Regional Library hosts the third installment of K-Pop Trivia: Concept Showdown. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/ locations/south-county-regional.
6-7 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road
April 28
Family Storytime
Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at South County Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/locations/southcounty-regional
10-10:30 a.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Conversation Club
Adults practice their speaking and listening skills during Portuguese English Conversation Club at South County Regional Library. cmlibrary. org/locations/south-countyregional
10-11 a.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Family Storytime Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional
10:15-10:45 or 11-11:30 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Park Storytime Children ages 0-5 listen to stories during Storytime in the Park at Jack D. Hughes Park. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Pineville
10:30-11 a.m.; 513 Main St., Pineville
Story Explorers Preschoolers explore stories during a storytime at South County Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/ locations/south-county-regional
2-2:45 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road, Learn, Connect, Play
Preschool-age children learn through play during Learn, Connect, Play: Move & Groove at Pineville Library. Get a storytime ticket 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/locations/Pineville
2-2:45 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Jewelry Making
Adults make squiggle earrings during Jewelry Makings at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/SouthPark-Regional.
5:30-6:30 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Trivia Night MOR Events & Entertainment presents a "Devil Wears Prada"themed trivia night at Middle James Brewing. middlejamesbrewing.com
7-9 p.m.; 400 N. Polk St., Pineville
April 29 Park Storytime Children ages 0-5 listen to stories at Lake Park. cmlibrary.org/ locations/south-county-regional
9:30-10 a.m.; 909 Lakeview Drive, Pineville
Family Storytime Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional
10:15-10:45 or 11-11:30 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
April 30
Family Storytime
Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at Pineville Library. Get a ticket at the front desk 15 minutes before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/Pineville
9:30-10 a.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Family Storytime Families engage in literacy activities during Family Storytime at South County Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk 15 minutes before the program. cmlibrary.org/locations/southcounty-regional 10-10:30 a.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Family Storytime Families engage in stories and songs during Family Storytime at SouthPark Regional Library. Get a ticket at the children’s desk before the program starts. cmlibrary.org/ locations/SouthPark-Regional 10:15-10:45 a.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Conversation Club Adults practice speaking and listening during the Intermediate/ Advanced Spanish Conversation Club (11 a.m.) and Intermediate/ Advanced Spanish Conversation Club (noon) at South County Regional Library. cmlibrary.org/ locations/south-county-regional. 11 a.m.-noon or noon-1 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Conversation Club People practice their speaking and listening skills during the English Conversation Club at Pineville Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary.org/locations/Pineville. 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.; 505 Main St., Pineville
Paws to Read Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog for 15 minutes during Paws to Read at SouthPark Regional Library. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/SouthPark-Regional 5-6 p.m.; 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Paws to Read
Children ages 5-11 read to a volunteer therapy dog during Paws to Read at South County Regional Library. Kids read for 15 minutes. Register in advance at cmlibrary. org/locations/south-countyregional 5-6 p.m.; 5801 Rea Road
Music Bingo MOR Events & Entertainment presents Music Bingo at Middle James Brewing. Get tickets at eventbrite.com. middlejamesbrewing.com 7-9 p.m.; 400 N. Polk St., Pineville
DINING SCORES
FEATURE IMPACT
Making health-conscious decisions with your at-home menu doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require commitment and a little more foresight at the grocery store. Simple adjustments to overall eating patterns, like building your plate around produce, powerful proteins and whole grains, can encourage better health.
Nutritious meal-planning can be easy, affordable and delicious – and it all starts with a little balance. Consider this advice from the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative, nationally sponsored by the Egg Nutrition Center, to adequately round out a healthy plate.
Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits and Veggies Loaded with nutrients, fresh produce is a perfect place to start each plate. Fill about half your plate with combinations of bananas, strawberries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots and more of your favorites. To boost variety with each meal, look for fruit and veggie blends or step out of your usual routine and try something new.
Grocery tip: Frozen fruits and veggies are often cheaper and just as delicious as their fresh counterparts. It’s frozen right after it’s picked, locking in freshness for a longer shelf life. Just be sure to avoid products with added salt or sugar.
Carve Out a Quarter of the Plate for Powerful Proteins
Healthy food isn’t just fuel. It should be easy and nourish you, too. Look for versatile solutions that provide a protein power-up like skinless chicken breast, no-salt-added beans, low-sodium tuna, tofu or eggs.
High-quality protein from foods, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help support the muscles in your body. Eggs are an example, along with lean animal protein and some plant-based proteins. According to the American Heart Association’s guidelines, healthy people can include up to one whole egg daily, and up to seven per week, as
Photo courtesy of
Towns offer outdoor concerts
Towns across Mecklenburg and Union counties have started offering free concerts that will continue through the summer. Here is a roundup of the concerts:
Matthews: Beats n’ Bites
Beats ‘n Bites combines music and food trucks into spring and fall community events at Stumptown Park. The park opens for the event from 5 p.m. to about 8:45 p.m. Music starts at 6 p.m.
Unlike the other concerts highlighted here, Fullwood Amp’d is an indoor experience that charges for tickets, but it is a unique offering for a town. This used to be known as the Color of Jazz series. Concerts start at 7 p.m. at the Matthews Community Center. Tickets cost $15.
• June 5: Petty Rewind (Tom Petty tribute)
• Aug. 14: REO Survivor (REO Speedwagon, Survivor and Loverboy tribute)
Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park is the place to catch concerts held during Family Fun Nights and Music & Brews. Family Fun Nights will include a children’s zone, food trucks and games on June 20, July 18 and Aug. 15. There are two Music & Brews concerts on May 16 and Sept. 19 that allow concert-goers to buy beer with ID. All events take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• June 20: Bailey Marie Band
• July 18: Vinyl Live
• Aug. 15: Crystal Aria
• May 16: Pluto for Planet
• Sept. 19: Unknown Artist
Details: minthillevents.org
Monroe: Music on Main
The City of Monroe has booked regional touring bands like The Legacy Motown
Review and The Catalinas to perform at its Music on Main series. Concerts take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Main Street. Bring a chair or blanket.
Pineville Parks & Recreation has launched the latest season of Music on Main. Catch the concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pineville Town Hall lawn.
April 30: Nate Randall
May 7: Dustin Yager
• May 14: Matthew Church
May 21: Scoot Pittman
May 28: Lisa DeNovo
Details: pinevillenc.gov
Pineville: Rock’n & Reel’n
The Town of Pineville presents a Rock’n & Reel’n series that alternates between a concert and outdoor movie screening. Most concerts start at 7 p.m. at Pineville Lake Park. The Charlotte Symphony performs at 8:30 p.m. June 25.
• June 12: Face 2 Face (Billy Joel/Elton John tribute)
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Retired pastor compares God’s love to a hug
CHARLOTTE – Retired pastor Gus Succop’s children’s book, “The Easter Hug,” shows readers the many ways God’s love is expressed and how it compares to how we show love to one another.
The book follows siblings Anna and Charlie as they develop an ageappropriate understanding of Easter and its meaning. In Sunday school, they learn that the many things we experience every day, like the sun or the blue sky, are exemplary of God’s love. God’s divine love for the world is everywhere we look, which Anna imagines as God giving the world a giant hug.
As a retired Presbyterian pastor, Succop’s experience has helped him understand that expressing weighty theological concepts such as the Resurrection without mentioning God’s love can be complex for children.
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Jurors find Ticketmaster, Live Nation guilty of monopoly
by Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Jurors on April 15 found Live Nation and subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty of illegal monopoly in North Carolina and other states.
“This was one of the biggest antitrust cases in years,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson, successor to former Attorney General Josh Stein who joined the state into a litigation with more than 30 other prosecutors. “When the United States Department of Justice announced in March that it had cut a deal with Live Nation and Ticketmaster behind the backs of the attorneys general, I rejected their secret deal because it failed to address sky-high ticket prices for concertgoers. We wanted the jury to hear the evidence and see what consumers have known for years.
“Every fan who’s watched prices pile up on a concert ticket just got proof they were
LOUD & LIVE
right to feel mistreated by a monopoly. That’s exactly what was happening.”
Officially known as United States v. Live Nation Entertainment and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, plaintiffs told Judge Arun Subramanian anticompetitive practices involved the venues, retaliation threats and market dominance. The trial was six weeks and went forward even after the Justice Department blindsided fellow plaintiffs with a settlement that states, including North Carolina, rejected.
“Today’s verdict confirms that Live Nation has been running an illegal monopoly in the ticket market, abusing concertgoers and artists,” Jackson said.
“The case will now head to a second phase where the judge will decide the appropriate remedies to break Live Nation’s hold on the live entertainment industry and restore competition, and our office will stay on the side of bringing prices down for consumers.”
CHARLOTTE – Debut
author Lauren Griffin ties together the themes of heartache, treasured memories and healing in her poetry collection “Nocturnes and Saudade.”
Griffin describes the collection as “a compilation of seven years’ worth of my personal endeavor to name and process life’s seasons of grief and upheaval.”
Separated into three parts, the collection first walks through the past and the anguish memories can bring, before transitioning into fond recollection. Finally, Griffin looks forward to the peace of dreams and the promises of
Poetry collection explores grief
healing.
The title has roots in both Middle English, with nocturnes meaning “of the night,” and Portuguese, with saudade meaning “indolent; dreaming wistfulness.”
“My favorite parts of the writing process were the moments when the words and phrases simply cascaded from the overflow of my heart,” Griffin said. “There was, in those moments, a true sense of emotional release and catharsis.”
Griffin lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where she works as a nurse practitioner in pediatrics. Poetry, for her, is a way to name and honor those turbulent feelings and to transform them into something beautiful.
Griffin hopes “Nocturnes and Saudade” will offer understanding to those in
the same place of sorrow. “I desire that readers will find solace in knowing that they are not alone in the most painful places and have freedom to experience every emotion as deeply and for as long as is necessary to be carried gently into whatever is to come,” she said.
By “offering a vocabulary for [her] wounds,” and “creating story out of brokenness,” Griffin reworks the lessons of her personal narrative, exemplifying how the storms of our hearts – when brought to life through poetry – can provide both understanding and healing to ourselves and others. Released by Warren Publishing, “Nocturnes and Saudade” can be ordered at warrenpublishing.net as well as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and bookshop.org.
Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce members have much to do this week
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Coffee with the Chamber, a Public Policy Meeting and a ribbon cutting.
• Members mingle during Coffee with the Chamber from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. April 28 at The Place UMC, 6729 Old Mount Holly Road, Charlotte. Register in advance.
• David Howard, chair of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, talks about the organization’s role in planning future transportation initiatives during the
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chamber’s Public Policy Meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 28 at Envision Charlotte, 932 Seigle Ave., Charlotte. Register in advance.
Members celebrate the grand opening of The Magnolia Assisted Living & Memory Care with a ribbon cutting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29 at 7416 Quail Ridge Drive, Charlotte. The ribbon cutting starts at 12:30 p.m. Register in advance. Visit charlotteareachamber.com to learn more about the chamber and its events.
s you get older, your risk for some eye diseases may increase. However, there are steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy – and it starts with taking care of your overall health.
Set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing your best with these eight tips from the experts at the National Eye Institute in honor of Healthy Vision Month:
1. Find an eye doctor you trust. Many eye diseases don’t have any early symptoms, so you could have a problem and not know it. An eye doctor can help you stay on top of your eye health. Find an eye doctor you trust by asking friends and family if they like their doctors. You can also check with your health insurance plan to find eye doctors near you.
2. Ask how often you need a dilated eye exam.
Getting a dilated eye exam is the single best thing you can do for your eye health. It’s the only way to find eye diseases early, when they’re easier to treat – and before they cause vision loss. Your eye doctor will decide how often you need an exam based on your risk for eye diseases.
3. Add more movement to your day. Physical activity can lower your risk for health conditions that can affect your vision, like diabetes and high blood pressure. If you have trouble finding time for physical activity, try building it into other activities. Walk around while you’re on the phone, do push-ups or stretch while you watch TV or dance while you’re doing chores. Anything that gets your heart pumping counts.
4. Get your family talking about eye health history. Some eye diseases – like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration – can run in families. While it may not be the most exciting topic of conversation, talking about your family health history can help everyone stay healthy. The next time you’re chatting with relatives, ask if anyone knows about eye problems in your family. Be sure to share what you learn with your
