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INSIDE ▼ See how local reps voted on state budget
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PAGE 2A Friday, July 10, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 27
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Panel to discuss changes in healthcare CHARLOTTE – South Charlotte Partners will explore the challenges, opportunities and rapid changes shaping healthcare across the 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. They'll share insights on the 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. “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 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. Photo courtesy of Novant Health
Friday Table builds community
moe. has been jamming for more than 35 years. They're scheduled to perform July 10 at TD Amp Ballantyne. Photo courtesy of moe.
Jam bands to rock TD AMP
moe. plays by key rule: Don't repeat the set by Bill Forman Contributor
For more than three decades, the band moe. has managed a unique balancing act. In the studio, the band members are meticulous craftsmen of concise, meaningful songs. But when they take to the concert circuit, they embark on wideopen explorations that showcase their signature improvisational skills without giving in to the temptation of aimless meandering. On tour, moe. finds a sweet spot in the middle that can appeal to hardcore fans and newcomers alike. “Live is different because the band is so improvisational and in the moment, so you just have to be on your toes,” said relative newcomer Nate Wilson of the original members’ decades of developing a shared musical vocabulary that enables the band to shift directions on a dime. “You have to listen and react and not have an ego about things or try to push things in certain ways.” While he is the newest face in the core lineup, Wilson’s history with the group stretches back to the late 1990s, evolving from a young admirer to a central creative force. His journey culminates in “Circle of Giants,”
the band’s 14th studio album that was released on Jan. 31, 2025, just in time for moe.’s 35th anniversary. The first studio album to feature Wilson, he plays keyboards and flute. “Circle of Giants” also includes three songs he wrote and sings. The album’s centerpiece is an eight-minute track called “Giants” that has been likened to Pink Floyd. Since forming at the University at Buffalo in 1989, moe. has built a legacy on the road, merging the complex, technical oddities of Frank Zappa with the earthy, rootsy vibe of American rock. Their 1996 breakthrough “No Doy” cemented their place in the jam band pantheon, while their self-run festival, moe.down has drawn international audiences with its downhome vibe and diverse performers. The band faced its greatest challenge in 2021 when guitarist Chuck Garvey suffered a stroke, but his triumphant return to the stage in 2022 – and full reintegration since – has galvanized the group, sparking a renaissance that now includes Wilson as a permanent fixture. For Wilson, that journey to the center of the moe. universe
Umphrey’s McGee will join moe. in concert July 10 at TD Amp Ballantyne. Rahm Carrington photo
Umphrey's McGee embraces improvisation by Bill Forman Contributor
Over the course of their 25-year career, Umphrey’s McGee’s praises have been sung by countless critics and musicians. But few have been as dear to the Indiana improv-rock group’s heart as those of Phil Lesh, the Grateful Dead co-founder who took the band under his wing early on. “Phil was a creative genius, somebody we looked up to,” Umphrey’s keyboardist Joel Cummins said of their musical mentor, who passed away in October 2024. “He kind of embraced us, and not only sat see McGee, Page 3A
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CHARLOTTE – The Friday Table welcomed more than 40 guests to its monthly community dinner June 26 at Brewers at 4001 Yancey, where founders announced the launch of the Confetti Membership. The seasonal offer is designed to help people build community, creativity and meaningful relationships. The Friday Table is a Charlotte-based network that brings people together through curated dinner series, workshops, corporate engagements and brand activations. Guided by its core values (Gather Intentionally, Build in Good Company and Make Cool Stuff), the organization creates experiences that connect creatives, entrepreneurs, community partners and neighbors through food, conversation and collaboration. Best known for its monthly dinner series, each gathering features curated seating, family-style meals and a rotating format that spotlights a host venue, artist and chef. “In a city growing as quickly as Charlotte, people are looking for new ways to connect and belong,” co-founder Danielle Rubin said. “When we share a meal, conversations deepen, ideas develop, businesses begin, artists are discovered and strangers become friends.” The Friday Table began in spring 2025 with an intimate apartment dinner party hosted in the South Charlotte area. Initially designed as a gathering for friends, colleagues and creative partners, the dinners evolved into a community experience that helps people build meaningful relationships. The company’s latest gathering, on June 26, featured three community spotlights. Brewers at 4001 Yancey was the host venue. Photographer Mase Crawford was the featured creative. Chef Joanna Adduci Reed, of The Garden Party Charlotte, was the featured chef. “This is my first time at The Friday Table, and I am truly grateful for this moment and to be here,” Crawford said. “I believe my background has influenced my work, and in each piece you can see the contrast, the emotion and the energy that inspires my photography.” Chef Adduci Reed presented a seasonal menu inspired by local ingredients, fresh stone fruit and regional influences inspired by her culinary travels in Portugal and other countries, as well as relationships with 30 North Carolina farms. The evening concluded with an announcement of the Confetti Membership, which includes curated dinners, local partner perks, companion invitations, members-only experiences and access to The Table After Dark. “The dinner ends, but the community doesn’t,” co-founder Ani Asanga said. “The Confetti Membership was created for people who want more than a seat for one evening. It’s an invitation to belong, build relationships and continue gathering long after dessert is served.” On the web: TheFridayTable.org