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INSIDE ▼ CMS responds to state-adopted budget
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PAGE 3A Friday, July 10, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 27
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NEWS BRIEFS
Storm Guard thanked Ken Turner (left) for his military service by giving him a new roof. Photo courtesy of Storm Guard
Army veteran receives a new roof MATTHEWS – Storm Guard of Charlotte installed a new roof on Ken Turner’s Matthews home on July 2 in gratitude of his military service. The install was part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, a nationwide effort to honor veterans who served our country. Storm Guard is an Owens Corning contractor. Turner, an Army veteran, was selected and approved as the recipient for the roof replacement through a partnership with Purple Heart Homes. More than 800 military members have received new roofs since the inception of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project in 2016. Learn more about the project at owenscorning.com/roofdeployment. On the web: stormguardrc.com/nc/ charlotte/
A mother guides her child through the puja ritual at the Shilanyas Mahotsav (foundation stone laying ceremony). Photos courtesy of BAPS
Spiritual home BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir set for 2027 completion MATTHEWS – Community leaders gathered May 31 for the Shilanyas Mahotsav (foundation stone laying ceremony) of the new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. The ceremony featured traditional Vedic rituals, sacred shlokas and prayers conducted in the presence of senior BAPS Swamis, consecrating the earth and marking the beginning of a new spiritual home for the Charlotte region. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj blessed the Charlotte community on two occasions: in 1996, when he personally inaugurated the current BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Matthews, and again in 2000, offering prayers for the peace and progress of the entire region. The community, which first took root here in the late 1970s, has since outgrown its current facility. Under the guidance of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of BAPS, the vision for a new, expanded Mandir has taken shape. The new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir will be a 72,000-square-foot, single-story building with traditional shikars and ghumtis crafted in India. The campus will include: • A main assembly hall seating about 1,000 people, with flexible space connecting to the dining hall
and gymnasium for larger events • 415 parking spaces and a fully gated, accessible campus • 16 classrooms for youth education, cultural learning and community activities • Dedicated spaces for daily darshan, arti, meditation and spiritual assemblies Site preparation began in July 2024, with vertical construction to follow. Construction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027 and will be open to all, welcoming people of every faith and background. Guided by Maharaj’s principle, “In the joy of others, lies our own,” BAPS volunteers in Matthews and Charlotte have served the community in many ways. Examples include: • Annual Walk | Run event benefiting local and national organizations, including Susan G. Komen and The Nature Conservancy • Blood drives, free health fairs and wellness screenings staffed by volunteer medical professionals • Food bank partnerships and hunger relief drives • Civic partnerships with the Levine Senior Center, Rotary Club of Matthews, Matthews Free Clinic and Kiwanis Club of Matthews • Youth programs focused on mental wellness, anti-addiction and character development
Family Fun Night returning to Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park MINT HILL – Vinyl Live will perform some of the greatest rock music of the last 50 years at Mint Hill’s next installment of Family Fun Night. The event also includes food trucks, inflatables and family games. Family Fun Night returns Saturday, July 18, at the soccer field at Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park. Family fun starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Events are free. There will be a variety of food vendors. Check out the menu for Dumpling Girls, Say Cheez 518, The Plated Palette, Sweet Frog, Even Layer Cakes and Boss Lady Lemonade. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and enjoy a variety of entertainment while supporting Mint Hill. Organizers ask that pets be left at home. Service animals are always welcome. The events are sponsored by Edifice Construction and Mint Hill Orthodontics. On the web: facebook.com/minthillevents
CMS launches enhanced bus app
The Shilanyas Mahotsav (foundation stone laying ceremony) marks the first step toward realizing a vision held by the BAPS community for many years. Guests commended the BAPS community’s longstanding contributions to the spiritual, cultural and civic life of Matthews and Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has launched a new iteration of AlphaPortal, an app that provides families with real time information on their student’s bus ride. CMS said some of the improvements include: • Real-time bus tracking on an interactive map • Automated alerts when buses are approaching designated stops • Notifications when a substitute bus or driver is assigned • Real-time updates on delays, traffic conditions or route changes Bus information will be available Aug. 18 and live tracking will be available starting Aug. 24. Families are being asked to delete the “Here Comes the Bus” app and download the AlphaPortal app no later than Aug. 25, the first day of the 2026-27 school year.
Panel to discuss changes in region's healthcare CHARLOTTE – South Charlotte Partners will explore the challenges, opportunities and rapid changes shaping healthcare across South Charlotte and the greater region at the next SCP Breakfast Club meeting. Kaycee Kalpin, chief marketing officer of Premier, will moderate a panel discussion with Seth Goldwire, president of Atrium Health Union West, and Zack Landry, president of Novant Health Matthews
Medical Center. Panelists will share insights on the current healthcare landscape in South Charlotte, including hospital expansion strategies, shifting healthcare policies, workforce development, access to care and the growing competition among healthcare providers. The conversation will also address the emergence of new healthcare organizations entering the market and what increased competition means for patients, employers and
communities throughout the region. “Healthcare is one of the most important issues impacting the quality of life and economic vitality of our region,” said Christina Thigpen, board chair of South Charlotte Partners. “South Charlotte continues to experience tremendous growth, and with that comes increased demand for healthcare services. This conversation will provide attendees with valuable
insight into how healthcare leaders are preparing for the future while addressing the needs of our rapidly growing community.” The meeting, “The State of Healthcare in South Charlotte,” will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. July 30 at Hestia Rooftop in Ballantyne. Tickets cost $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Register for the event at eventbrite.com.
Zack Landry, president and chief operating officer of Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, speaks during a Jan. 24, 2025, ribbon cutting. He'll participate in the South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club meeting. Photo courtesy of Novant Health