Life! The Charlotte Post THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014 SECTION B RECIPE OF THE WEEK Homemade Sriracha BBQ Enjoy a family adventure before Sauce summer ends FAMILY FEATURES Sriracha barbecue sauce adds a sweet and spicy flavor to backyard grilling PHOTOS BY MICHAELA L. DUCKETT FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST The spectacular view from a suspension bridge atop Grandfather Mountain. Below: A dinosaur exhibit at the Nature Research Center in Raleigh, FAMLIY FEATURES “Chilies are a really exciting spice,” said Silvia King, a sensory scientist at McCormick. “That delicious burning sensation in your mouth prompts warm, energetic, adventurous feelings and all sorts of positive emotions. That’s why chile fans love them so much, and why they’re always seeking out that next chile thrill.”Sriracha, a Thai hot sauce made from fresh red chilies, has become a new obsession throughout the nation as Americans crave heat in a big way. The following recipe for homemade Sriracha, a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, is a great way to add exciting flavor to backyard barbecues. It’s the perfect complement to Memphis spice-rubbed and grilled pork ribs, providing a nice combination of heat and sweet. It’s also versatile enough to be used with other grilled meats like chicken wings, pulled pork and even as a hamburger condiment. Homemade Sriracha BBQ Sauce (Makes 1 1/4 cups sauce) Ingredients: 3/4 pound fresh Fresno chilies, stemmed and coarsely chopped, do not remove seeds 4 cloves fresh garlic 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup molasses 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 teaspoon McCormick Smoked Paprika 1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt Preparation: 1. Mix all ingredients in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature. 3. Spoon mixture into blender container; cover. Blend on medium speed 2 minutes or until smooth. May also use hand blender to puree in saucepan. Strain through sieve to remove seeds. Tips: * Fresno chilies can be replaced with red jalapeno or serrano chilies. * For less heat in sauce, remove seeds from chilies before chopping. * Chilies contain capsaicin, which can burn your skin. After chopping chilies, wash hands and cutting board thoroughly with warm soapy water. Or, wear rubber gloves when handling chilies. Get more “grate” inspiration at grillingflavorforecast.com, and visit McCormick.com for more homemade Sriracha BBQ sauce recipes, including Cajun-Style, Mango Ginger, Moroccan-Inspired, Mesquite and Old Bay. How to grow your business online STATEPOINT If you own a small business, you know that online visibility is one of the keys to success. These days, harnessing the Web is crucial to any marketing plan. “While most small business owners know they need a strong Web presence, many of them are not taking enough action to build and maintain it,” said Tim Carroll, vice president of Small Business Engagement at Deluxe Corp., a provider of marketing services and products for small businesses. In fact, of those small business owners who put a high level of importance on Web presence, 70 percent spend less than one hour a week maintaining it, according to a new Deluxe study. In contrast, only 1.2 percent spend 10 or more hours each week on their Web maintenance. It’s important to learn how to use the Internet to keep your business top of mind with prospective customers, said Carroll. He offers some top tips for maximizing your company’s presence online. Please see GROW/2B Choose a destination, plan a trip, and go By Michaela L. Duckett [email protected] Even though it’s already time to start preparing for back to school and getting the kids off to college, summer isn’t officially over for another eight weeks. That means you still have time to take a family vacation, but before the journey can begin, you must first decide where to go. From beach hopping down the Carolina coast and diving for buried treasures to sipping wine and feasting on fine cuisine, here are a few exciting adventures to consider. Just pick a destination, plan your trip and go! Take in the view from Blowing Rock Taking on Big Momma – the 300-foot high, 1,600-foot long zip line at Sky Valley Zip Tours (www.skyvalleyziptours.com) in Blowing Rock – is an exhilarating experience you will not soon forget. The fourth zip on Sky Valley’s 10zip canopy tour, Big Momma soars high above the tree canopy reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Not only does it provide a highoctane adrenaline rush, it offers one of the most breathtaking views you can have of the N.C. High Country. TRAVEL TIP: Just a twohour drive from Charlotte, Blowing Rock is a great destination for a day trip. Before leaving, be sure to visit The Blowing Rock (www.TheBlowingRock.com), North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction. Known for being “the only place in the world where snow falls upside down,” The Blowing Rock is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level that overhangs Johns River Gorge. From the observation deck you can see the vistas of Hawksbill Mountain, Table Rock, Grandfather Mountain (the highest peak of the Blue Ridge chain) and Mount Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Rockies). Kiss the sky from Grandfather Mountain Take a CD-guided tour to the top of Grandfather Mountain (www.grandfather.com), and gaze down upon the lush valleys below the famous 228-foot long Mile High Swinging Bridge. Located one mile above sea level, the bridge is America’s highest suspension footbridge. It sways and sings like a harmonica when the wind blows. Don’t let the adventure end there, get out and explore the mountain by foot on one of the 11 hiking trails, which range from leisurely walks to heartpounding, lung-busting alpine adventures. TRAVEL TIP: Visit the nature habitats for up-close encounters with animals you might not normally see (or may not want to encounter) GX 460 makes price seem reasonable Please see LATE-SUMMER/2B CAR REVIEW Lexus’ luxury sport utility vehicle has plenty of off-road capability By Frank S. Washington NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION DETROIT – The Lexus GX 460 pulls double duty as a luxurious on-road sport utility with full off road capability. Almost as big as a full-size sport utility, the test vehicle was equipped with three rows of seats. The third row would power fold away creating a flatfloored cargo space while the second row seats were both heated and cooled. So were the front seats. The maximum cargo space in the sport-utility was 64.7 cubic feet. For 2014, the GX 460 received the Lexus spindle grille, an eight-inch touch screen display screen with real time traffic and weather, full-time four-wheel-drive with center differential and a bunch of off-road chassis control systems. The on-road performance was impressive. Powered by a 4.6-liter V8 that made 301 horsepower and 328 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm, the 2014 had some pep. But at 5,340 pounds, it wasn’t creating a bunch of G-force. Still, the SUV had a good bit of towing power, the maximum being 6,500 pounds. Even though the Lexus GX 460 featured body on frame construction, there wasn’t a lot of body roll when turning. Lexus said that was because of its standard “Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System” that omitted the need for stiffer springs and dampers. On road features also included ride selection of normal, sport or comfort with an adaptable variable suspension system that electronically controlled the dampers. For this test drive, the vehicle stayed in normal most of the time. One thing was missing; a lane change signal. When driving more than two and a half tons of vehicle, the more attention focused on the road and the less on the turn signal the better. We didn’t get the chance to go sloshing through the woods with the 2014 Lexus GX 460 but it came ready for the task. Its full-time, allwheel-drive system distributed power 40-60 to the rear wheels during normal driving conditions but it could change the ratio based on wheel slippage. It had a low range for off road driving and the center differential could be electronically locked. That was supplemented with the optional crawl control, downhill assist control; active traction control provided the traction benefits of having locking front and rear differentials, and vehicle stability 2014 Lexus GX 460 control. For serious off-roading, a steering angle indicator in the instrument gauge panel showed the driver which direction the front wheels were pointing, which as any off-roader knows is useful for situations where this can be difficult to discern. Through curves the system could change the torque split to 30-70 rear-wheel biased and it could set distribute torque 50-50 to help control slippage. All of that was done automatically depending on the grip of the wheels. The 2014 Lexus GX 460 Luxury had creature com- forts galore, including a 17speaker 330 watt Mark Levinson sound system. There was a backup camera with cross traffic alert and intuitive parking assist, satellite radio, a smart key, power reclining second row seats, a heated mahogany steering wheel, LED headlights and more. It had so many features wrapped in an elegant package that $62,770 as tested for the 2014 Lexus GX 460 seemed reasonable. Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com Late-summer Grow your business online by making it more interactive road trips 2B Continued from page 1B in the wild – such as bears, white-tailed deer, cougars, bald eagles and river otters. The best time to go is early morning when the animals are most active. Don’t leave without paying a visit to the fudge shop for a treat. Trust us, it’s some of the best fudge you’ve ever tasted. Affordable family fun in Raleigh Whether your passion is art, science, history or music, Raleigh is a treasure trove of fun and “edu-taining” adventures. Learn about animals past and present at the Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org). The natural history museum is the Southeast’s largest and includes the rare Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur. Visitors can conduct experiments and interact with scientists in the Nature Research Center. Admission to the museum is free. Other free attractions include the N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org) and North Carolina Museum of Art (www.ncartmuseum.org), which is home to a world-class art collection that includes over 30 Rodin sculptures on display. With over 80 concert venues, Raleigh is also known as the place to be for live music. Log onto www.visitraleigh.com for listings. TRAVEL TIP: Don’t miss out on Raleigh’s thriving culinary scene. For a big southern breakfast head downtown to Big Ed’s (www.bigedcitymarket). Craving a slab of barbeque ribs or in the mood for flavorful Texas-style brisket? Get a table at The Pit Authentic Barbecue (www.thepit-raleigh.com) for dinner, or dine with the locals at Poole’s Downtown Diner (www.acrestaurants.com/pooles), and be sure to order the macaroni and cheese. Road trip down the Crystal Coast Dig for buried treasure and dine on fresh seafood along the North Carolina’s Crystal Coast (www.crystalcoastnc.org) featuring 85 miles of silken shoreline and the colorful seaside communities of Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Beaufort and Cape Lookout. Stop in Beaufort, where the infamous pirate Blackbeard roamed, and take a tour of the historic Fort Macon. Fish in the Gulf Stream waters of Morehead City, tour Shackleford Banks and discover wild horses roaming free or visit the Olympus Dive Center to wreck dive in a German U-352 submarine. Thursday, July 31, 2014 The Charlotte Post LIFE/The Continued from page 1B • Interact: Since current and prospective consumers use social media, you can’t neglect this marketing approach. Social media marketing isn’t just about gaining followers. It becomes a vehicle for sharing your company’s message as well as driving traffic to your website. Don’t be afraid to use Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites to ask customers for feedback and show your personality. Use calls to action to acquire new followers, engage them further and encourage reviews of your services. Many small businesses turn to consultants or social media services for help developing and executing a social media strategy. When effective, these efforts will place a brand in front of its target audience. Small business owners should look for a service that also tracks results in order to gain insight into how its customers engage online. • Website: “Today, a business without a website is a business without a face,” said Carroll. “A clean, easy-to-navigate, and mobile-friendly online presence is one your customers will remember.” Unfortunately, less than a third of small business owners think they are proficient or extremely proficient at maintaining their individual company websites, which is why many seek outside help developing a site and building content. • Search engines: With 91 percent of Internet users utilizing search engines, according to the Deluxe-commissioned study, search engine optimization can be your key to better visibility online. After all, a website is hardly useful if no one can find it. Additionally, consider search engine marketing services to help your online advertising and to make use of local searches by more effectively targeting your customer audi- ence. • Email marketing: Small business email marketing is the centerpiece of any effort to stay in touch with existing customers, while reaching out and finding new ones. Use it to promote new items and offer special discounts to loyal customers or simply to keep in touch. Small business owners know they need to be online. It just takes commitment and the right tools to capitalize on the potential. More tips, strategies and information about marketing your business online can be found at www.Deluxe.com. If not treated through a change in eyeglass prescription or surgery, cataracts, which affect more than half of all Americans by age 80, can increase risk of permanent blindness. To help clear up the facts about this lens-clouding eye condition ophthalmologists, medical doctors specializing in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases and conditions, who are members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, have responded to hundreds of queries about cataracts submitted by the public through the Ask an Eye M.D. portal on GetEyeSmart.org. These six questions and answers about cataracts are a small sampling of what is available for public reference on the website: Can you have 20/20 vision and still be diagnosed with Clearing up facts about cataracts BRANDPOINT Cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Approximately 24.5 million Americans have the lens-clouding eye condition, and the incidence is set to grow 50 percent by 2050, according to the National Eye Institute. Please see CLEARING/3B z11 Week of 07/30/14 – 08/05/14 $ 99 lb. 7 Value Pack Boneless New York York Strip Steak Without MVP Card $10.49 LB 25 All Varieties Varieties - All Natural Nature's Place Hand Trimmed Chicken Without MVP Card Regular Retail $ 99 lb. 2 % off Boneless Pork Loin Without MVP Card $3.49 LB TRAVEL TIP: A day of wreck diving and surf fishing can easily work up an appetite. From down home cooking to delicious seafood shacks and drive-in cheeseburger stands, practically every restaurant in the area has fresh seafood on the menu. However, not all dining experiences are created equal. Take caution particularly at seafood buffets, where quality can be compromised. For the best chance of a favorable dining experience, ask locals for recommendations on where to eat. A heritage tour of Tallahassee Venture south to Florida and explore the deep-rooted heritage and culture of Tallahassee. Florida’s capital city features some of the state’s most significant AfricanAmerican historic sites – ranging from early homes, schools and churches to Leon County’s new Civil Rights Heritage Walk. Tour Florida A & M University (www.famu.edu), the oldest black college in the nation, and see the Black Archives. This collection of AfricanAmerican artifacts is one of the most extensive in the nation. It houses more than half a million documents and thousands of artifacts from all over the world including a 500-piece Ethiopian cross collection and rare African books and maps, some dating back to the 1700s. Another popular stop is the John G. Riley House Museum (www.rileymuseum.org), a historical landmark and the second home in Florida to be owned by a black person. Find more information on African-American heritage in Florida’s capital and sample itineraries at www.visittallahassee.com. TRAVEL TIP: For a memorable experience and down home good time, step off the beaten path and in to the Bradfordville Blues Club (ww.bradfordvilleblues.com), an authentic chittlin’ circuit stop, designated with a National Blues Trail marker. This iconic blues club may be considered a whole in the wall in comparison to more contemporary venues but delivers the best in live blues every Friday and Saturday night. Percy Sledge, Johnny Rawls, E.C. Scott and Johnny Marshall have all graced the stage. Relax and sip in the Yadkin Valley Home to over 30 wineries, the Yadkin Valley is known as North Carolina’s Wine Country. Visit McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks (www.mcritchiewine.com) in Thurmond, where you can not only sample wines but also sip hard cider and learn about their sustainable methods of working on the land. Spend a lazy summer afternoon lounging on the “Crush Pad” or spacious patio at Round Peak Vineyards (www.roundpeak.com) in Mt. Airy, where you can sip wine and watch the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. If wine is not your drink of choice, order a craft beer. Round Peak recently opened an onsite brewery. TRAVEL TIP: If you visit the second weekend of August, check out the annual Vine & Dine Gala of the Very Surry Wineries August 9 at Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery (www.grassycreekvineyard.com). It’s a relaxing evening under the stars featuring fine food, wine and live music. The event, a collaborative effort of 10 wineries, begins with a wine tasting from 6-7:30 p.m. followed by dinner, courtesy of Heaven’s Scent restaurant in downtown Elkin. Rental cabins are available for the evening. Visit www.surrywineries.com for more information. $ 99 1 1 Lb. Container Strawberries Without MVP Card $2.29 EA ea. $ 99 ea. Pint Container Blueberries 1 Without MVP Card $2.99 EA 99¢ Hass Avocados ea. Without MVP Card $1.39 EA In the DELI $ 99 ea. 2/$5 5 2/$5 $ 99 ea. 2 Food Lion 14-16 Oz. 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So it’s no wonder that many of us are feeling a little more self-conscious about our bodies and flocking to the nearest gym, sweating it out with a personal trainer or taking a few extra laps around the block at home so that we too can be “beach ready.” I’m all for people setting fitness goals to look and feel good in their skin. However, I don’t understand the idea of working hard to look good for a particular season only to ta- per off your fitness efforts as summer ends and autumn gives way to winter and the holiday season. It’s a vicious cycle. What inevitably begins to set in are those dreaded holiday blues. All of the food that we consume during the holidays begins to weigh in on us, literally. On New Year’s Eve the cycle starts again as we make those resolutions to eat less and work out more to get our bodies back in shape for spring and summer. I’ve seen this pattern many times, and I didn’t understand from where it derived. How do we get caught in such a vicious cycle? Is a fit body only a summer accessory? In the winter, is it OK to have a little fluff because you’re covered up in more clothing? We are aware of what needs to be done in order to look and feel good in our bodies. So why can’t the goals we set for ourselves in the summertime be the same goals we set year round? Why not feel good in your skin all the time? I witnessed many clients in and out of my gym sticking with their fitness goals for only a period of time and then “taking a break.” Perhaps the summer slim down simply gives us an excuse to let up on our goals during the winter, but if we want to look and feel great all the time, then we have to put in the work on a consistent basis. The only person that can make it work is you. If you have spent the last few weeks focused on maintaining or achieving your “summer body,” I challenge you to make yearly fitness goals and stick to them. Create a new cycle. Andrea Royal is a Charlottebased bikini fitness model. On her blog, “The Royal Truth: A By Valencia Mohammed Fitness Model’s Story,” the self- AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER described shy, awkward, goofy The U.S. Census Bureau is girl from New York chronicles collecting data about currently her journey breaking into the tobacco use as a voluntary supworld of bodybuilding. Visit her plement to its monthly July online at qcfitnessmodeling. 2014 Current Population Surblogspot.com or follow her on vey. Twitter @a_royalfit. Scientifically selected households will be questioned about smoking habits regarding cigarettes, tobacco products other than cigarettes and electronic smoking devices. The tobacco supplement, typically conducted every three to four years, provides data for people 15 years and older on current and former projects outlined in the tobacco products use patterns, Roadmap. Likewise, the Brook- restrictions on smoking at dale Center for Healthy Aging home and in the workplace, at Hunter College, The Harry smoking cessation advice oband Jeannette Weinberg Center tained from a clinician, perfor Elder Abuse Prevention at sonal attitudes toward smokthe Hebrew Home at Riverdale, ing and emerging tobacco conand the New York City Elder trol topics. “You don’t have to be a deAbuse Center will be co-sponsoring a symposium in Sep- mographer to know what is gotember 2014 focusing on inno- ing on, but I welcome the fact vations and challenges related that the survey is being done to elder abuse multidiscipli- and encourage [participation],” nary teams, a priority area said Philip Pannell, executive director of the Anacostia Cooridentified in the Roadmap. “While federal and state gov- dinating Council in southeast ernments certainly have criti- Washington. “The black comcal roles to play, the battle munity is saturated with cigaagainst elder abuse can only be rette advertisements to prowon with grassroots action at mote smoking unlike the nonthe community and individual black areas... For years, I have level,” said Greenlee. “Turning talked about why more acthe tide against elder abuse re- tivists have not stepped up to quires much greater public fight this menace.” According to the National commitment, so every American will recognize elder abuse Cancer Institute, tobacco use is when they see it and know the leading cause of preventawhat to do if they encounter it.” ble illness and death in the U.S. Two steps local communi- It causes varied cancers as well ties, families, and individuals as chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis, can take are: * Learn the signs of elder abuse. The National Center on Elder Abuse, a program of the Administration on Aging at ACL, has developed a helpful Red Flags of Abuse Factsheet (PDF) that lists the signs of and risk factors for abuse and neglect. Continued from page 2B * Report suspected abuse when you see it. Contact your cataract? “Yes, you can,” said Dr. local adult protective services agency. Phone numbers for Jeffrey Whitman. “Having a state or local offices can be cataract just means that the found at the National Center lens of your eye has become for Elder Abuse website, or call cloudy and hardened - a 1-800-677-1116. process that begins at around “We must take a stand to en- 50 years of age and does not sure that older Americans are preclude 20/20 vision. It is safe from harm and neglect. only when it becomes visually For their contributions to our significant - that is, when it nation, to our society, and to degrades your vision, changes our lives, we owe them noth- color perception, or causes ing less,” said Associate Attor- glare at nighttime - that it ney General West. requires surgical care.” The Elder Justice Roadmap How are cataracts diagand accompanying materials nosed? are at: http://ncea.acl.gov/LiCataracts can be diagnosed brary/Gov_Report/index.aspx. through a comprehensive eye Free online training for attor- exam. Seniors who have not neys is at: https://www.ovcthad an eye exam in the last tac.gov/views/dspLegalAssistance.cfm?tab=1#onlinetraining. Addressing the abuse of vulnerable older Americans STAFF REPORTS Research suggests that 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced elder abuse or neglect, and that people with dementia are at higher risk for abuse. Leaders in the fight against this serious society problem recently announced a new framework for tackling the highest priority challenges to prevention and prosecution. Leaders are also calling on all Americans to take a stand against elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Supported by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, The Elder Justice Roadmap was developed by harnessing the expertise of hundreds of public and private stakeholders from across the country and by gathering their input. The goal of these expert summits was to identify the most critical priorities and concrete opportunities for greater public and private investment and engagement in elder abuse issues. The Elder Justice Roadmap, published July 10, reflects the knowledge and perspectives of these experts in the field and will be considered by the Elder Justice Coordinating Council and others in developing their own strategic plans to prevent and combat elder abuse. “The Roadmap Project is an important milestone for elder justice,” Associate Attorney General Tony West said. “Elder abuse is a problem that has gone on too long, but the Roadmap report… can change this trajectory by offering comprehensive and concrete action items for all of the stakeholders dedicated to combating the multi-faceted dimensions of elder abuse and financial exploitation. While we have taken some important steps in the right direction, we must do more to prevent elder abuse from occurring in the first place and face it head-on when it occurs.” The fastest-growing population in the United States is people age 85 or older. “From now until 2030, every Tobacco use is the target of U.S. government surveys Thursday, July 31, 2014 The Charlotte Post LIFE/The day, about 10,000 baby boomers will celebrate their 65th birthday,” said Kathy Greenlee, HHS assistant secretary for aging and administrator of the Administration for Community Living. “Stemming the tide of abuse will require individuals, neighbors, communities, and public and private entities to take a hard look at how each of us encounters elder abuse – and commit to combat it.” To support the mission of elder abuse prevention and prosecution, DOJ has developed an interactive, online curriculum to teach legal aid and other civil attorneys to identify and respond to elder abuse. The first three modules of the training cover what lawyers should know about elder abuse; practical and ethical strategies to use when facing challenges in this area, and a primer on domestic violence and sexual assault. This training will expand to include six one-hour modules covering issues relevant to attorneys who may encounter elder abuse victims in the course of their practice. HHS is supporting the mission by developing a voluntary national adult protective services data system. Collecting national data on adult mistreatment will help to identify and address many gaps about the number and characteristics of adults who are the victims of maltreatment and the nature of services that are provided by APS agencies to protect these vulnerable adults. In addition, the data will better inform the development of improved, more targeted policy and programmatic interventions. In addition to informing federal elder justice efforts, the Roadmap has already inspired private stakeholders to take action. For example, as a result of the Roadmap, the Archstone Foundation has funded a project at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California to develop a national training initiative, while other funders, such as the Weinberg Foundation, have begun to consider inquiries and and heart disease. Cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 deaths each year, including approximately 49,000 deaths due to exposure to secondhand smoke. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States, and 90 percent of lung cancer deaths among men and approximately 80 percent of lung cancer deaths among women are due to smoking. In addition to lung cancer, smoking causes cancers of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also causes most cases of chronic lung disease. In 2011, an estimated 19 percent of U.S. adults and nearly 16 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes according to the Center for Disease Control. On July 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched hard-hitting ads for its 2014 “Tips From Former Smokers” campaign. The Tips national tobacco education campaign began in 2012 and returns this year with new ad participants living with the devastating effects of smokingrelated diseases. “These new ads are powerful,” wrote CDC Director Tom Frieden in a statement. “They highlight illnesses and suffering caused by smoking that people don’t commonly associate with cigarette use. Smokers have told us these ads help them quit by showing what it’s like to live every day with disability and disfigurement from smoking.” Healthy People 2020, a framework for action to reduce tobacco use to the point that it is no longer a public health problem for the nation, identified a number of effective strategies that will contribute to ending the tobacco use epidemic. Based on more than 45 years of evidence, it is clear that the toll tobacco use takes on families and communities can be significantly reduced by fully funding tobacco control programs, increasing the price of tobacco products, enacting comprehensive smoke-free policies, controlling access to tobacco products, reducing tobacco advertising and promotion, implementing anti-tobacco media campaigns, and encouraging and assisting tobacco users to quit. The Healthy People 2020 Tobacco Use objectives are organized into three key areas: - Tobacco Use Prevalence: Implementing policies to reduce tobacco use and initiation among youth and adults. - Health System Changes: Adopting policies and strategies to increase access, affordability, and use of smoking cessation services and treatments. - Social and Environmental Changes: Establishing policies to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, increase the cost of tobacco, restrict tobacco advertising, and reduce illegal sales to minors. three years and for whom cost is a concern may qualify for EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which provides eye exams and care at no out-of-pocket cost for eligible seniors age 65 and older through its network of more than 6,000 volunteer ophthalmologists. Visit www.eyecareamerica.org for more information on eligibility. Do cataracts cause eye pain? “Cataracts do not cause pain except if they have been allowed to remain untreated for too long,” said Dr. Wayne Bizer. “In this case they cause a lot of pain and light sensitivity. Consult your ophthalmol- ogist immediately if you are having eye pain.” Why do I need to stop wearing my contact lenses before cataract surgery? “Before cataract surgery, important measurements of the surface of your eye must be taken,” said Dr. W. Barry Lee. “Contact lenses alter the shape of the eye’s surface, which can make the measurements inaccurate and lead to poor vision after the surgery. The length of time you must not wear contact lenses prior to your cataract surgery varies depending on the type of contact lenses you wear, so listen to your ophthalmologist’s instructions carefully.” Clearing up the facts about cataracts and their treatment Born again. Is it really true? Baptist youth conference 4B Thursday, July 31, 2014 The Charlotte Post LIFE/The WORSHIP BRIEFS By James Washington July 31 – August 2 The 10th annual National Baptist Convention USA Inc. Southeast Region Youth Conference will be held at Silver Mount Baptist Church, located at 50 West Arrowood Road. This will be the first time in a decade that the conference has been held in Charlotte. In addition to youth from North Carolina, the conference also attracts young people from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Visit www.nationalbaptist.com or contact Chandler Sanders at (704) 522-1528 for more information. August 2 The Torrence Grove AME Zion Church is sponsoring a program titled “Ministers: Deliver the Gospel in Song” featuring ministers from the Charlotte area singing to the glory of God at 6 p.m. The church is located at 1200 Torrence Grove Church Road. Dinners will be sold prior to the program. Contact Ada M. Gaston at (704) 536-8313 for more information. August 4-8 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, located at 517 Baldwin Avenue, is hosting its Annual Revival. Services begin nightly at 7:30 p.m. Rev. McKinley Jackson from Greater Mills Baptist Church in Fort Worth Texas is the featured speaker of the week. Call the church at (704) 376-1201 for more information. August 9 Faith Church of God in partnership with Jess & Company presents The Giving, Saving and Investing Conference, with the purpose of teaching God’s principles for managing your money. Attendees will learn how to reach the goal of debt freedom. The conference is free of charge and will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Refreshments will be served. First Ward Elementary School Gym is located at 715 N. Caldwell St. Seating is limited. Register by phone at (704) 535-4404 or online at [email protected] by August 3. September 17-19 Chappell Memorial Baptist Church, located at 110 Bradford Drive, is hosting its 2014 Fall Revival. Rev. Jerry Black, pastor at Beulah Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga., will bring a message each night at 7 p.m. Attire is business casual. Visit chappellmbc.org or contact Emily Nesbit at (704) 394-5615 or email [email protected] for more information. To submit your announcements, email the information in text format without attachments to michaela.duckett @thecharlottepost.com. Weekly deadline is 12 p.m. Monday. This week, I’m sharing Les Brown’s third principle, which says: “Each of us must take responsibility for our actions, our well-being and the attainment of our maximum potential.” Romans 12:1 reminds us that our bodies are to be sacrificed for the good we can bring to this earth by helping others; we are to be busy doing what we were sent to this earth to do. Our bodies are not our own. We are to sacrifice it by taking responsibility for our actions. We are to eat healthy and LYNDIA exercise daily to GRANT do as scripture reminds us to do when it says, “Treat our bodies like the temple that it is.” Wayne Dyer, Ph.D., a renowned author and selfdevelopment speaker shared this story during his PBS special about the Monarch butterfly. In essence, here’s what he said: The Monarch butterfly only lives up to six months, but flies 3,000 miles each year, even though their tiny little wings and bodies seem so fragile. Talking about maximum potential. This should astound us, to ask, what we too could do that is extraordinary. The Viceroy is another type butterfly, but it looks remarkably like the Monarch butterfly. Monarch’s are poisonous and make birds and other predators become sick when they eat one. When birds, frogs, and lizards eat a monarch, if they have not encountered one before, they have a severe reaction that causes them to lose their lunch (quite literally), vomiting everywhere. This experience is remembered, and the predators learn to not eat Monarchs again. The Viceroy butterfly, on the other hand, is more palatable, but in nature it looks so much like the Monarch that predators treat it as if it is equally as toxic. Birds, frogs, and lizards will leave a Viceroy alone if they have ever tasted the Monarch because they don’t want that horrible experience ever again. Monarchs and Viceroys are two entirely different species, yet they look so much alike, that you cannot tell the difference by looking at them. So what’s the butterfly metaphor? How does it pertain to this column? Let’s review the question. Each of us must take responsibility for our actions, our wellbeing and the attainment of our maximum potential. The butterfly metaphor is this: For the sake of this column, let’s just say the Monarchs, the poisonous ones, look beautiful, and like me, 40 years ago, when I was unhappily married and used my personal appearance to make myself feel better. I never missed spending a payday out shopping and would put expensive suits on layaway. One day when I was a secretary at Children’s Hospital Oakland, I remember coming to work, walking toward my office, and one of the male employees said to me, “You look like you just stepped off a plane from attending an important business meeting in New York.” I was flattered. I looked really corporate, but inwardly, I was broken and suffering domestic violence, financial burdens and pure misery. I was unhappy. I didn’t have a church home at the time. My outer appearance and my work were all I had to make myself feel better, a Monarch. I cried, complained, shopped and wasn’t good company. Like Paul said, “O wretched man was I!” Today, my inner-self is much more important to me than my outer appearance. Shopping is irrelevant and done only when absolutely necessary. Here’s another true story about twins raised by an alcoholic father. It shows how each turned out differently as an adult. One became an alcoholic. When asked why, he said, “I was raised by an alcoholic.” The other brother wouldn’t touch alcohol. When asked why, he too said, “I was raised by an alcoholic.” The choice is yours, good or bad, take responsibility for your actions and work toward being all that you can be. Are you a Monarch or a Viceroy? Lyndia Grant is a radio talk show host in Washington, D.C. Visit her website at www.lyndiagrant.com, call her at (202) 518-3192 or email [email protected]. Sacrifice for greater good Helping You Find The Right Church For Your Faith Journey BAPTIST THE HOUSTON FORWARD TIMES From time to time, I rethink or feel a little déjà vu regarding the subject of “born again,” particularly my own. I am reminded at times about how that phrase gets associated with everything but its biblical intent. It is my opinion and referencing my personal history that I suggest to you that I could not and certainly not willingly, fit into the category of a “born again Christian.” At the time I could not subscribe to what my definition of that meant. Today, a born again Christian is an enigma more closely associated with a holier-than-thou religious zealot with a rather conservative political agenda, as opposed to simply a true believer (my term). Then something happened on the way to the ranch and yep, I got saved. Then I began to understand those things about faith that would indicate a new me. Now, I can easily profess a clearer understanding of this born again thing. Quite to my surprise, born again defines me pretty well, biblically speaking that is. “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh but spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying you must be born again.’” John 3:5-7. Rather than think born again is some kind of right wing conservative political movement, this passage lets us know that being born again relates to an awakening in each and every one of us to the real presence of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. It just makes sense to me because you do begin see yourself as a new creature operating with a new lease on life (and it is a lease). I defy anyone who comes this way not to see life itself from a new, renewed perspective. “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart. For you have been born again, not perishable seed, but imperishable (seed), through the living and enduring Word of God.” Peter 1: 22-23. My bible explains it to me this way: This imperishable seed, the seed of the Word of God, planted and accepted in a person’s soul, is eternal because God’s Word is eternal. By becoming good soil, by being spiritually involved in the whole process of your own salvation, a new eternal life is born. Therefore, the life you live, once you’ve acknowledged your faith, is a new life given in the service of the Almighty, hence “born again.” Personally, my rebirth has been and continues to be, remarkable if, to nobody else but me. I cannot view myself as the same person I once was. Those who were around me then and are around me now might agree that there is a discernible difference. See me? See my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Talk to me, hear Him. Understand me? Understand my faith walk in the name of the Almighty. Believe me. I know I have a long ways to go. But I know I’m travelling these days in the right direction, one foot in front of the other; blessed in the knowledge of the truth, free in the hope of the same for you. the African-American community with the Negro Project of 1939, enlisting black leaders to promote birth control among blacks as family planning. In reality, Culbreath said, she was promoting eugenics and selective reproduction. Sanger founded in 1921 The American Birth Control League, which became Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, the largest birth control provider in the United States, has located 62.5 percent of its clinics within a two-mile radius of neighborhoods where blacks and Hispanics make up the majority of residents, according to Life Issues research. The organization denies the charge, citing statistics updated in June from the Guttmacher Institute. The group contends 60 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics are located in majority white neighborhoods. “The Guttmacher Institute is a leading, independent, nationally recognized reproductive health research and policy organization, and we appreciate its unbiased findings that debunk the claim that a majority of abortion providers are located in black neighborhoods,” Vanessa Cullins, Planned Parenthood Federation of America vice president of external medical affairs, said in an email. Undisputed are statistics showing that AfricanAmericans account for a disproportionate percentage of abortions. In 2011, black women accounted for 30 percent of abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, when blacks numbered only 12.5 percent of the population, U.S. Census figures show. Fighting black abortions By Diana Chandler BAPTIST PRESS NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The abortion industry has infiltrated the African-American community by cloaking the procedure as a woman’s civil right and embedding the issue into politics, black pro-life advocate Arnold Culbreath told Baptist Press. “The abortion industry shamelessly slithered into the black American community on the heels of the ‘free love’ movement, soon after Woodstock, and at the outset of the civil rights movement,” said Culbreath, urban outreach director for Protecting Black Life, an affiliate of the Life Issues Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, working to end abortion through education. The abortion industry “duped black women into believing that abortion was their civil right,” Culbreath said. “Not only was this misguided ideology deeply imbedded into the fabric of our community then, but we are still working to dispel the deception of this deadly dogma today.” The industry’s tactic is one reason abortion is the leading cause of death among AfricanAmericans, Culbreath said. “Nearly 1,000 black babies die by abortion every day,” he continued. “My passion stems from a God-given burden to see this genocide ended.” Margaret Sanger targeted C.M.E. PARKWOOD INSTITUTIONAL Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 802 Tom Hunter Road • Charlotte, NC 28213 704-921-4915 (Ph) • 704-921-4917 (Fax) Website: www.parkwoodcme.org Sunday Worship 8:00 & 11:00 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Bible Study Wednesday 12 Noon Thursday 6:30 PM TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE Dr. Cathy C. Jones Reverend The Prophet’s Column 6183 NC Highway 109 South, Wadesboro, NC 28170 The Books Were Opened (Part 2) When the books are opened, you'll see everything you did on the earth. It around here years ago; 'when you die you won't know anything about it." Hold your seats now! "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abram's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he (the rich man) lift up his eyes, Being in torments,..." (Lk. 16:22-23) We see two men who lived on this earth. You who say this story is a parable are sadly mistaken. One was saved and the other was lost. Right now, as you read this study, you are saved or lost. Which are you? You may say it is none of that Bible teacher's business. A young man was by the house when I lived in Charlotte. I was telling him how God saves a sinner. He asked me; "why are you telling me these things?" I replied; "so your blood won't be on my hands." That young man replied; "the 'god' I know would not put my blood on my hands." He was right. The 'god' he knows is not the God of the Bible. He just had not read his Bible. The multitudes of mankind don't believe they are eternity-bound. But you are deceived, just like this rich man. You have plenty to eat and wear fine clothes. You are increased with goods and think you have need of nothing. Not knowing all the while that you are; miserable, poor, blind and naked. This rich man thought the same. But the Lord said the rich man "... lift up his eyes in hell." When the rich man in Hell saw Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, what did he do? Hold it! The rich man cried unto Abraham; "...send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Lk. 16:24) It was certain that both men were to go out into eternity. It is certain that you are going out into eternity. Where will you spend eternity? What was Abraham's response to the rich man's cry for mercy? Abraham told the rich man; 'Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:..." We see that death did not destroy the memory of the rich man. Death will not destroy your memory, either. Everything you think, say, and do are all being recorded in your memory, as we said earlier in this study. My big bosses in the agency used to love to go behind closed doors and berate me. All their harsh statements were recorded. Some of them are looking back from Hell. What can they do about now? Not one thing, but just burn in Hell. When I make statements like that, unsaved religionists will cry out; "Bro. Little is glad his enemies are in Hell.” Friend, I take no delight in the fact that souls are in Hell. Your Gospel Editor and Teacher, J.M. Little Advertisement a&e The Charlotte Post Author dishes on stories and message THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014 PAGE 5B By Michaela L. Duckett [email protected] Friendship, betrayal, trust and redemption are all elements of ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s new novel “What’s Done in the Dark.” It’s a story about a woman who cheats on her husband with her best friend’s husband. Billingsley, a Houston-based nationally bestselling author and NAACP Image Award winner, will be in the Charlotte area July 31 to sign copies of her latest book at Barnes & Noble in Pineville. In the following Q&A, she dishes on how family members feel when their personal situations show up in her novels, the message behind her juicy stories and having one of her books made into a BET movie. TCP: Where do you find inspiration for your characters and stories? Is it just pure imagination or do you get ideas from your real life. RTB: It’s a combination. There is a joke in my family: “Don’t say Billingsley anything around ReShonda unless you want it in a book.” (Laughter). Because I do take my inspiration from day-to-day happenings, real-life things that are going on and some good gossip that they tell me. And then I let my imagination take over from there. TCP: Has anyone ever gotten upset about a character or situation in one of your books being based on their life? RTB: I’ve been lucky. Nobody has gotten upset. Everybody thinks it’s them. I don’t admit to anything. I’m like, “I write fiction, and I have no idea what you’re talking about.” It’s kind of funny with my family because they try to do the guessing game like, “I know that’s Aunt Martha or I know that’s so and so…” TCP: When you write, do you just write to entertain your readers, or is there a message or overall meaning behind your stories? RTB: I always have some type of message. I do write to entertain, but I want them to walk away with something. So I deal with issues of forgiveness, of redemption, and so those two [purposes] are intertwined. TCP: Speaking of redemption and forgiveness, your latest novel, “What’s Done in the Dark,” is about a woman who cheats on her husband with her best friend’s husband. What’s the message behind this tale? RTB: It’s about how one bad decision can affect the rest of your life. She’s a good person that made one bad decision, and it’s really altered the course of her life. I wouldn’t write a book that’s just about cheating because I don’t think that anybody just cheats for the sake of it. There is a motivation behind most of what people do, and as a writer, my job is to explore that motivation. TCP: As you explore more about your characters, does it cause you to self-reflect and learn new things about yourself? RTB: Absolutely. As I was writing about forgiveness, I had to take a look at my own life. I’m going through some things with my mother. She has taken ill, and my sister and I are her caregivers. We don’t have the support system that we used to have, and I was bitter about it for some time. So writing about forgiveness helps me heal and take a look at myself and that I need to forgive all those friends and family members that I felt should have been there for her. TCP: Your next book, “Amos,” which will be released in December, tells the story of a family dealing with having a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s disease. With the illness of your mother, did writing that storyline hit close to home in any way? RTB: It definitely did. When I first started writing, my mother wasn’t sick, and she fell ill during the course of it. Just seeing the deterioration of this strong person that you know and love has a [profound affect on you]… I channeled some of that – some of the feelings I had going in there. TCP: One of your most popular characters, Rachel Jackson, is going to be the star of a new BET movie to be released next year summer titled “Let the Church Say Amen.” What can you tell us about this project? RTB: Regina King directed “Let the Church Say Amen.” Queen Latifah’s [production company] Flavor Unit [Entertainment] is among the producers… It’s so pleasant in that regard because it’s an author’s dream to see their work come alive on the screen. I was so pleased with the final product now that it’s wrapped up. To see the production and have the actors you know and love come up to you and say they hope they are doing your character justice and are committed to telling your story feels great. We did the premiere at T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest, and we had standing room only. We had to turn people away. It was just a phenomenal experience. So the movie is done, but Hollywood is slow, so it won’t release until next year. TCP: Who are some of the cast members in this film? RTB: Steve Harris, who played in “Private Practice” and “Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” plays Simon the pastor. Naturi Naughton plays Rachel. Hosea Sanchez, Malik from “The Game,” is in it as well. Godfather’s soul power UNIVERSAL PICTURES Chadwick Boseman (right) portrays the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, in “Get on Up,” which debuts Friday across the U.S. The project was shepherded by Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger at the request of Brown’s family. ‘Get on Up’ meanders, but James Brown’s music and acting keep the beat By Dwight Brown NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION This much-awaited bio-film tells you some things you already knew: James Brown could sing the funk out of a song. It also shows you some things you might not have grasped: troubled boys grow up to be troubled men. Warts and all, in fits and starts, finally the “Hardest Working Man in Show Business” gets his story told. This project had been in development for years. It took on new momentum when Brown’s family approached Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones about shepherding the production, which he did with producer Brian Grazer (“American Gangster,” Frost/Nixon”); the Stones and James Brown once toured together. The producers hired director Tate Taylor, who made the politically incorrect and historically inept “The Help” but also the strong drama “Winter’s Bone.” Taylor reassembled his tech crew from “The Help,” which included: the ingenious costume designer Sharen Davis (“Dreamgirls”), director of photography Stephen Goldblatt (“Angels in America”), production designer Mark Ricker (“Julie & Julia”), with the new addition of editor Michael McCusker (“The Amazing Spider Man”). The technical credits for the movie are solid, with the costumes and set design standing out. As the film unfolds, a young James Brown (Jordan and Jamarion Scott) lives with his mother Susie (Viola Davis) and his father Joe (Lennie James, “Snatch”) in a shack in backwoods South Carolina. Mom and dad have a torrid and abusive relationship. At a tender age, she abandons James. One day, dad drops him off at his Aunt Honey’s (Octavia Spencer) whorehouse. James becomes a barker, driving customers to Honey’s house of prostitution. James can’t stay out of a trouble as a kid and Grigsby remembered, ‘Inequality for All,’ River Jam By Michaela L. Duckett [email protected] It’s all about art, social justice and culture this week in Charlotte. Renowned art collector Vivian D. Hewitt will be at the Gantt Center Thursday to attend a tribute to artist J. Eugene Grigsby. The N.C. Moral Movies Film Series is highlighting the impact of America’s widening income gap. The River Jam Series continues at the U.S. National Whitewater Center and Emmet D. Carson is giving a speech at Bank of America Auditorium. Here’s a glimpse of what’s happening around town this week. For more events, visit us online at www.thecharlotteost.com. J. Eugene Grigsby Jr. Remembered @ The Harvey B. Gantt Center, July 31: At 7 p.m., the Gantt Center will host an intimate evening of conversation and celebration in honor of J. Eugene Grigsby Jr.’s work. Visit with collectors and Gantt supporters. Join Grigsby’s niece Pat Bates; his cousin and art collector Vivian Davidson Hewitt and son Marshall Grigsby as they share memories from the artist and educator’s life and work. Admission is $10 for nonmembers. Visit www.ganttcenter.org for more information. ‘Inequality for All’ @ Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, July 31: The N.C. Moral Movies Film Series will present a screening at 7 p.m. of the acclaimed documentary, “Inequality for All.” The film features Robert Reich – professor, best-selling author and Clinton cabinet member – as as a teen (Chadwick Boseman, “42”) his lawbreaking ways get him a prison sentence. Behind bars, he meets a gospel group headed by Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis, “True Blood”). Before you can count, a-one-and-atwo, Brown is paroled into Byrd’s home and he becomes the lead singer of gospelturned-soul group called The Flames. That chance meeting turns Brown’s life around. Screenwriters Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (“Edge of Tomorrow”) with the help of a story by Steven Baigelman (“Feeling Minnesota”) infuse a lot of facts, events, tragedy, family drama and music group dynamics into the storyline. You learn a lot about the psyche of a world-renown musician, who, even after so much success, got arrested and imprisoned in 1988 for leading South Carolina police on a PCP-induced car chase. Between director Tate Taylor, the writers and the editor Michael McCusker, someone made the misguided decision to tell this story not as a straightforward bio film but as a disconcerting series of flashbacks, that feel more random than rhythmic. Long after Brown is a full-grown man, there are clips of him interspersed as a kid, as if his childhood haunted him into his later years. Once you see young James pulling the shoes of a lynched man and saving them for himself, you know he has a tortured soul. You don’t have to be beaten over the head, for 133 minutes, with flashbacks. No good deed goes unpunished. Bobby Byrd should not have been surprised the day Brown and his manager Ben Bart (Dan Aykroyd) told the group that their name was changing from the Famous Flames to James Brown and the Famous Flames. Disenchanted, the guys left him. But Brown found and assembled another backup group as he pushed his career forward with hits like “It’s a Man’s World,” “Payback,” “Sex Machine,” “I Got You,” and THE AGENDA he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy. The event will spotlight the threat of income inequality on the viability of the workforce in North Carolina. A community discussion will follow to involve audiences in dialogue and action to address economic inequality. Admission is free. River Jam Concert Series @ US National Whitewater Center, July 31: The River Jam Concert Series takes place every Thursday from 7 – 10 p.m., May through September. This week’s performance is by The Dirty Beggars of Central Scotland. Call (704) 3913900 or visit www.usnwc.org for more information. Jazz @ The Bechtler, August 1: Kick off the weekend with the Ziad Jazz Quartet paying tribute to acclaimed trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. In the pantheon of jazz trumpeters, Hubbard (1938-2008) stands out as one of the boldest and most inventive artists of the bop, hard-bop and post-bop eras. Although influenced by titans such as Miles Davis and Clifford Brown, Hubbard ultimately forged his own sound. Concerts are performed at 6 and 8:15 p.m. with no intermissions. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. concert and 7:45 p.m. for the 8:15 p.m. concert. General seating is first come, first served. Standing room only is available after all seats are claimed. Tickets for each concert are sold separately. Tickets are $8 for museum members and $14 for non-members. Purchase tickets online, in person at the box office or by phone at (704) 353-9200. Family First: Writing Workshop With Kwame Alexander @ The Gantt, August 2: Meet nationally acclaimed author Kwame Alexander and participate in a special poetry writing program for young people ages 12 and older. Parents and children are invited to learn about his experience as a writer, have their books signed and explore the importance of diverse books. Kids 12 and under can participate in a spe- “Get Up Offa That Thing.” And, he had his share of women, wives (Jill Scott, Jacinte Blankenship) and children, too. The over-complicated storytelling wreaks havoc on the momentum. The heavy-handed imagery will make you yawn. The film’s girth may have you checking your watch. What saves this movie from itself is a tourde-force by Boseman that figuratively pulls Brown out of the grave to do one more performance. With the aide of key hair stylist Shannon Bakeman and top-notch make-up artists, Boseman becomes Brown as much as Meryl Streep became Margaret Thatcher. The gestures, voice, inflections, movement, dancing and bravado are so James Brown: “You might not have bought my record, but every record you got has a piece of me in it.” Boseman’s efforts are helped greatly by strong, emotional supporting performances by Davis, Aykroyd, Spencer, Ellis, James, Scott and Craig Robinson as sax player Maceo Parker. The costumes, set design and acting would be empty gestures without the music. James Brown died December 25, 2006. But his music, spirit, black power consciousness and a six-decade career with powerful songs and unforgettable concerts (from the Apollo Theater to the riot-soothing 1968 concert at the Boston Garden) remain imbedded in music history and American culture. Seeing “Get On Up” is like attending a longwinded memorial service. You know you need to go. You know you need to be respectful. Even if the deacons of the church didn’t assemble the best program, it’s not about the incidentals. It’s about sharing and reclaiming the memory of the “Godfather of Soul”—the man whose music put a smile on your face and a kick in your step. Visit NNPA film critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com cial book making workshop while their older siblings explore their own creative writing with the author. Admission is included with museum entry, but space is limited. Early sign up for the poetry workshop is encouraged. Visit www.GantCenter.org for more details. Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum @ West Charlotte Recreation Center, August 5: The Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum meets most Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. The weekly forum features guest speakers highlighting issues and concerns relevant to Charlotte’s African-American community. Doors open at 8 a.m. Coffee is available. After the speaker’s address, a question-andanswer session follows. In an open forum, attendees are welcome to share information about upcoming community events and milestones. Visit www.tuesdayforumcharlotte.org for more information. Forum For Civic Leadership @ Bank of America Auditorium, August 5: New Generation of African American Philanthropists will host a community forum beginning at 6 p.m. in observance of Black Philanthropy Month 2014. The guest speaker is Emmet D. Carson Ph.D., CEO and president of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Join multiple generations of new and seasoned leaders with interests in philanthropy and the nonprofit realm to probe the question: What’s community got to do with it? Attendees can expect to hear bold ideas, engage in conversation and gain new insight and inspiration toward making a positive and lasting impact on the community. Tickets are $16 and available on Eventbrite.com. Micro Brews Tours @ US National Whitewater Center, August 6: Enjoy a sunset paddle along the Catawba River followed by a chef-prepared fireside dinner and craft beer tasting on Hawk Island. Wednesday’s featured brewery is Bell’s Brewery. Visit www.usnwc.org for more information. Classified The Charlotte Post ANNOUNCEMENTS Black Woman Hoping to Adopt Baby. Loving Home/Top Schools. Exp. Paid. Txt 917-494-3968. Feliciaadopts.com APARTMENTS LITTLE ROCK APARTMENTS Accepting applications for 1, 3 & 4 bedrooms We accept applications Monday thru Thursday 9-11:00 am and 2:00-4:00 pm. For more information, contact Gwen Perry at 704-394-9394 ext 13. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY NATIONAL HOME SERVICE FRANCHISE FOR SALE. ACT NOW! Have You Always wanted to be your Own Boss? Tired of working for someone else? Stop WAITING! Make It Happen For Yourself! Become a part of a Growing Industry that is Recession Resistant, offers a Fast Ramp-Up, and GREAT CASH FLOW. CALL NOW! To take advantage of this opportunity that already has a Developed Book of Business and is being offered at a great price from a VERY MOTIVATED SELLER! This offer is available immediately! This is a proven system for you to follow, leading to your SUCCESS! “BE YOUR OWN BOSS, BE YOUR OWN DECISION MAKER” CALL NOW 980-221-2806 EMPLOYMENT BANKING VP; Consultant - Applications Programmer sought by Bank of America. Reqs: BS & 8 yrs exp; & exp w/ Java/J2EE devmt, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), internet, client/server tech using Java/J2EE (JSP, Servlets, JDBC, JNDI, EJB, HTML, DHTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX, & XML), Web/App servers (IBM Websphere), open source frameworks & tools (Struts, Spring, Hibernate, Log4J, SLF4J, AJAX, Ant.), Scheduling tools (Autosys), IBM MQ Series, i2 Framework, IDE's, Eclipse, & IBM RAD, writing SQL Statements, Triggers, and Stored procedures for DB transactions, working w/ different OS (Windows, AIX, and Linux), handling critical business app issues & failure recoveries, & troubleshooting various pre and post implementation issues. Job site: Charlotte, NC. Reference #9FE6FB & submit resume to Bank of America HR Box 02, 161 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040. No phone calls or e-mails. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. w/o sponsorship. EOE. VP; Tech Manager - Apps Prog. sought by Bank of America. Reqs: BS & 5 yrs exp; & at least 4 yrs exp w/ SAP BI/BW, BPC, SAP Solution Manager, & Autosys; exp in prod supp w/ the SAP BI/BW Tool; Business Warehouse Accelerator; Ledger, Accounts Payable/Fixed Assets SAP modules as well as Planning and Forecasting and Consolidations (BPC) modules; Writing ABAP programs/BI routines, Extraction prog, & Function Modules; & Sap Bank Analyzer & Profitability modules. Job site: Charlotte, NC. Reference #9FTVXX & submit resume to Bank of America HR Box 02, 161 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040. No phone calls or e-mails. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. w/o sponsorship. EOE. BIDS The Lane Construction Corporation 6125 Tyvola Centre Drive – Charlotte, NC 28217 704-553-6500 (PH) – 704-553-6548 (FX) City of Concord – Concord Regional Airport “Expand South Apron” Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Attention Subcontractors - Invitation to Bid: The Lane Construction Corporation is bidding on the Concord Regional Airport – “Expand South Apron” project – TBE No. 2203 1202 Description: Expanding the southern apron of the Concord Regional Airport Subcontracting Opportunities: Trucking/Hauling, Clearing, Borrow, Grading/Excavation, Erosion Control, Removal Items, ABC, Striping, Drainage and Drainage Structures, Seeding, Fencing, DIP pipe and fire hydrant, Installation of Lighting/Conduit and Removal of Lighting/Electrical items. Lane Construction encourages interested certified NCDOT DBE subcontractors to quote this project. If you are interested in quoting this project and would like to receive a formal solicitation and bid items, please contact Wes Peace at [email protected] | (704) 679-0542. DBE BID SOLICITATION DeVere Construction Company, Inc. is currently soliciting quotes from interested DBE subcontractors and suppliers for the following project bidding on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 @ 2:00 PM. Please submit prices to [email protected] or Fax to 989-356-1198 no later than 12:00 noon on bid day. Project: Myrtle School Road Widening Project, City of Gastonia, NC Scopes: Hauling, grading, excavation, aggregates, fencing, asphalt paving, erosion control, traffic control, incidental concrete, pavement marking, milling, erosion control and curb & gutter. Plans, specs and detailed bidding requirements can be viewed at the following: DeVere field office at 6711 City View Dr., Charlotte, NC 28212 TGS Engineers, 804C North Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC 28150 Quest CDN at https://www.questcdn.com/questcdn/action/questlogin - Doc. #3412760 Devere FTP site online at www.deverecc.us/bid , Password: MSROAD For more information or to quote prices contact Joe Coleman (Estimator) @ 919-624-4216 DEVERE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, SEX, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE OR DISABILITY. Thursday July 31, 2014 BIDS PAGE 6B ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Balfour Beatty Construction invites you to provide all inclusive pricing on the GMP drawings for 10th Street Apartments and Parking Deck a six story, 260 unit, type III-A wood framed building with a 9 level poured in place parking deck with 1,387 spaces. The project is located at the corner of East 10th and Brevard st in Charlotte, NC. Project duration is approximately 22 months with a September 2014 start. Seperate pricing for Parking Deck and 10th Street Extension is required. The parking deck carries a MWSBE participation goal of 8%. We are also asking for seperate pricing for the extension of 10th street along the south west side of the project. The 10th street extension is identified in the civil drawings atteched. The building pricing will include all site work (excluding the 10th street extension), all landscapeing & hardscape, and all 16 divisions of the CSI format as depicted in the drawings provided. This is a Balfour Beatty Project. Balfour Beatty Construction is exclusively negotiating this project with the owner. IMPORTANT BID INSTRUCTIONS: All Prices need to be separated into the following three sections: 1) PARKING DECK 2) APARTMENT BUILDING (Including Leasing Center, Fitness, Club) and 3) 10TH STREET EXTENSION. Sealed proposals will be received until 5:00 PM on August 12th, 2014 via email or at 1930 Camden Road Suite 280, Charlotte, NC 28203. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on, August 8th, 2014 at 2:00 PM at 1930 Camden Road Suite 280, Charlotte, NC 28203. The prebid is not mandatory but attendance is highly encouraged. Balfour Beatty Construction has an affirmative policy of fostering, promoting and conducting business with Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprises (MWSBEs). Charlotte Business INClusion will enhance competition in City contracting and procurement opportunities for Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprises (MWSBEs) headquartered in the Charlotte Combined Statistical Area. MWSBEs contractors are highly encouraged to participate in the bid process. All Bidders are strongly encouraged to include opportunities for MWSBE participation wherever possible in their respective bid submission. Subcontractors can purchase plans on their own from Richa Graphics noted below. Other interested 2nd and 3rd tier subcontractors and suppliers are still encouraged to quote work to the Pre-Qualified trade contractors. Documents may be obtained through Balfour Beatty Construction – Contact Steve Young @ 678-921-6800 or [email protected] Complete plans, specifications and contract documents will be open for inspection in the offices of Balfour Beatty Construction’s office, 1930 Camden Road, Suite 280, Charlotte NC 28203 and in the plan rooms of the Associated General Contractors, Carolinas Branch, Charlotte NC, in the local North Carolina offices of McGraw-Hill Dodge Corporation, and in the Eastern Regional Office of Reed Construction Data in Norcross, GA and in the following Minority Plan Rooms: HCAC Plan Room, 29233 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-331-3000, [email protected]; and Metrolina Minority Contractors Association (MMCA), 2848 Queen City Drive, Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28208, 704-332-5746, [email protected] Copies of Plans may be received from the following location (at subcontractor’s own expense): Richa Graphics, 800 North College Street, Charlotte, NC 28206, Toll Free: 855.880.3998. The plans, specifications, and contract documents are also available at the following link. https://secure.smartbidnet.com/External/PublicPlanRoom.aspx?I d=133987&i=1 The CM and Owner reserve the unqualified right to reject any and all proposals. DBE BID SOLICITATION DeVere Construction Company, Inc. is currently soliciting quotes from interested DBE subcontractors and suppliers for the following project bidding on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 @ 2:30 PM. Please submit prices to [email protected] or Fax to 989-356-1198 on or before August 4. PUBLIC NOTICE U-Haul Co. of Charlotte Place of sale:Ashley Road Rental - 59 1530 Ashley Rd., Charlotte, NC 28208 Date of sale : 08/12/14 Time of sale: 11:00am Customer's Name: Auby Brinson Last Known Address: 2833 West Point Rd Charlotte NC, 28208 Room Number: 0113 Customer's Name: Tarah Gilcreast Last Known Address: 2321 Tate St Charlotte, NC 28216 Room Number: 0308 Customer's Name: Amicke Adams Last Known Address:1808 Village Lake Dr Charlotte, NC 28212 Room Number: 0629 Customer's Name: Corina Mitrov Last Known Address: 4410 Rose Thorn Pl Charlotte, NC 28217 Room Number: 0705 Customer's Name: Lennie Rodrigues Last Known Address: 4513 Perth Ct Charlotte NC, 28215 Room Number: 1045 Customer's Name: Tafari Higgins Last Known Address: 1924 Prospect Dr Charlotte, NC 28213 Room Number: 1062 Customer's Name: Phyllis Phillips Last Known Address: 10120 Baxter Caldwell Dr Charlotte NC, 28213 Room Number: 1078 Customer's Name: Mary McNeil Last Known Address: 3300 Sutton Dr Charlotte, NC 28216 Room Number: 1093-95 Customer's Name: Freda Day Last Known Address:1416 Kenilworth Ave Charlotte, NC 28203 Room Number: 1203 Customer's Name: Desiree Short Last Known Address: 4600 Sampson St Charlotte, NC 28208 Room Number: 1301 Customer's Name: Kristian Wilson Last Known Address: 3 Cobb Paul Ct Columbia SC, 29223 Room Number: 1325 Customer's Name: Thomas Massey Last Known Address: 1929 Crestdale Dr Charlotte, NC 28216 Room Number: 1326 Customer's Name: Jarett Gates Last Known Address: 2830 16th St NE Hickory NC, 28601 Room Number: 1350 Customer's Name: Anthony Alexander Last Known Address: 905 Hoover Ave Apt K Charlotte, NC 28208 Room Number: 1364 Customer's Name: Angela Flowers Last Known Address: 5113 Elizabeth Rd Charlotte, NC 28269 Room Number: 1403 Customer's Name:Jimmy Presley Last Known Address:730 Marboro St Charlotte, NC 28208 Room Number: 1418 Customer's Name: Jeffery Clayburn Last Known Address: 3808 Annina Ct Apt 3 Charlotte, NC 28208 Room Number: 2007 Customer's Name:Fenelle Hayes Last Known Address: 6209 Dovetree Ln Charlotte, NC 28213 Room Number: 2021 Customer's Name:Sephora Bloomfield Last Known Address: 3014 Filendrum Ln Charlotte NC, 28216 Room Number: 2101-05 Customer's Name:Tina Rivers Last Known Address: 5420 Rose Ridge Apt 7 Charlotte NC, 28217 Room Number: 2257 Project: High Speed Exit Taxiway, Project No. AF13-017, City of Charlotte, NC Customer's Name: Myeisha Turner Last Known Address:3300 N Elm Street Greensboro NC, 27405 Room Number: 2264 Plans, specs and detailed bidding requirements can be viewed at the DeVere field office at 6711 City View Dr., Charlotte, NC 28212 Customer's Name: Scott Stottlemyre Last Known Address: 636 Tipley Charlotte NC, 28205 Room Number: 2401 DEVERE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, SEX, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE OR DISABILITY. Customer's Name: Treasure Warren Last Known Address: 5186 Brooktree Dr Charlotte NC, 28208 Room Number: 2513 Scopes: Hauling, grading, excavation, aggregates, milling, asphalt paving, erosion control, pavement marking, runway signage, retaining wall and curb & gutter. Customer's Name:Quintise Green Last Known Address: 315-5 Blackhawk Rd Charlotte, NC 28218 Room Number: 2272 For more information or to quote prices contact Joe Coleman (Estimator) @ 919-624-4216 Customer's Name:Gloria Liverman Last Known Address: 500 Wearn Ct Charlotte, NC 28206 Room Number: 2501 REAL ESTATE WANTED TO BUY I Will Buy or Lease your Apartment Building in 48 Hours. Charlotte area only. 704-615-3211. PUBLIC NOTICE U-Haul Co. of Charlotte Place of sale: Wilkinson Blvd Rental - 65 9136 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28214 Date of sale : 08/12/14 Time of sale: 1:00pm Customer's Name: Altavia Gill Last Known Address: 1908 Nigel Court Charlotte NC, 28213 Room Number: 1280 Customer's Name: Tara Morrison Last Known Address: 511 Tansy Drive Charlotte NC, 28214 Room Number: 1330 Customer's Name: William Beebe Jr Last Known Address: 819 Carrington Dr Charlotte NC, 28214 Room Number: 1425 Customer's Name: Darrell Whitehurst Last Known Address: 2111 Lauren Elizabeth Ct Charlotte NC, 28214 Room Number: 1806 Customer's Name:Van Teague Last Known Address: 1101 Moretz Ave Charlotte NC, 28206 Room Number: 2025 Customer's Name:Damanique Nesbitt Last Known Address: 2948 Cross Roads Pl Apt 106 Charlotte, NC 28208 Room Number: 2518 U-Haul Co. of Charlotte Place of sale: North Tryon Rental - 52 1224 North Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28206 Date of sale : 08/12/14 Time of sale: 10:00am Customer's Name: Wayne Talley Last Known Address: 3315 Erskin Dr Charlotte NC, 28205 Room Number: 122 Customer's Name: Yolanda Hickman Last Known Address: 945 College St Charlotte, NC 28206 Room Number: 334 Customer's Name: Marshal Richardson Last Known Address: 945 N College St Charlotte, NC28208 Room Number: 337 Customer's Name: Betty Porter Last Known Address: 6414 Yakswood Dr Charlotte, NC 28212 Room Number: 505 Customer's Name: Detrick Booker Last Known Address:1727 Harlan St Charlotte, NC 28216 Room Number: 511 Customer's Name:Sabrina Washington Last Known Address: 411411 Smith St Anderson NC, 29624 Room Number: 606 Customer's Name:Juanita Jnrette Last Known Address: 3632 Conervy Ct Charlotte NC, 28269 Room Number: 609 Customer's Name:Jake Russell Last Known Address:945 N College Charlotte, NC 28206 Room Number: 701
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