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Belk unveils this year’s Charity Bear to Support the Troops

Posted on November 15, 2015 by

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The second annual Belkie Charity Bear, designed by an 11-year-old from South Carolina, was unveiled today at Belk’s SantaFest. Photo provided by Belk.
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The Belkie Charity Bear design was selected from more than 1,000 applicants. Five dollars from the sale of each bear will benefit the United Service Organizations (USO). Photo provided by Belk.
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The second annual Belkie Charity Bear, designed by an 11-year-old from South Carolina, was unveiled today at Belk’s SantaFest. Photo provided by Belk.
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The second annual Belkie Charity Bear, designed by an 11-year-old from South Carolina, was unveiled today at Belk’s SantaFest. Photo provided by Belk.
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The Belkie Charity Bear design was selected from more than 1,000 applicants. Five dollars from the sale of each bear will benefit the United Service Organizations (USO). Photo provided by Belk.
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The Belkie Charity Bear design was selected from more than 1,000 applicants. Five dollars from the sale of each bear will benefit the United Service Organizations (USO). Photo provided by Belk.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — An 11-year-old from South Carolina won the 2015 Belkie Bear design contest held at Belk’s SantaFest event last year. The bear was unveiled at Belk’s SantaFest today. Abigail’s design was selected from more than 1,000 applicants.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — An 11-year-old from South Carolina won the 2015 Belkie Bear design contest held at Belk’s SantaFest event last year. The bear was unveiled at Belk’s SantaFest today. Abigail’s design was selected from more than 1,000 applicants.

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As the grand prize winner of last year’s contest, Abigail’s design was used in creating a new Belkie Charity Bear, with $5 of the proceeds from the sale of the bear going to the United Service Organizations (USO). This charity was chosen by the winner’s response to the contest question, “I want my Belkie Bear to help…”

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As the grand prize winner of last year’s contest, Abigail’s design was used in creating a new Belkie Charity Bear, with $5 of the proceeds from the sale of the bear going to the United Service Organizations (USO). This charity was chosen by the winner’s response to the contest question, “I want my Belkie Bear to help…”

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Based on the judges’ selection, Abigail received 10 custom Belkie Charity Bears created based on her design, along with a $500 Belk shopping spree. A Belkie Bear and $500 Belk shopping spree were also awarded to finalist winners in each of the three age categories: 4 6; 7 9 and 10 11.

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Based on the judges’ selection, Abigail received 10 custom Belkie Charity Bears created based on her design, along with a $500 Belk shopping spree. A Belkie Bear and $500 Belk shopping spree were also awarded to finalist winners in each of the three age categories: 4 6; 7 9 and 10 11.

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The new 2015 Charity Bear will be available in most stores and online at www.belk.com. Kids are able to enter the contest to design the 2016 Belkie Charity Bear today at SantaFest from noon to 3 p.m. in all Belk stores.

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The new 2015 Charity Bear will be available in most stores and online at www.belk.com. Kids are able to enter the contest to design the 2016 Belkie Charity Bear today at SantaFest from noon to 3 p.m. in all Belk stores.

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About Belk, Inc.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation’s largest family owned and operated department store company with 296 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence. Its belk.com website offers a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, the company and its associates, customers and vendors donated more than $21.5 million to communities within Belk market areas.

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About Belk, Inc.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation’s largest family owned and operated department store company with 296 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence. Its belk.com website offers a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, the company and its associates, customers and vendors donated more than $21.5 million to communities within Belk market areas.

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About Belk, Inc.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation’s largest family owned and operated department store company with 296 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence. Its belk.com website offers a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, the company and its associates, customers and vendors donated more than $21.5 million to communities within Belk market areas.

Belk offers many ways to connect via digital and social media, including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google Plus, and provides exclusive offers, fashion updates, sales notifications and coupons via email or mobile phone text messages. Customers can also download the latest Belk mobile apps for the iPad, iPhone or Android.

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Belk offers many ways to connect via digital and social media, including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google Plus, and provides exclusive offers, fashion updates, sales notifications and coupons via email or mobile phone text messages. Customers can also download the latest Belk mobile apps for the iPad, iPhone or Android.

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About the USO
The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visituso.org.

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About the USO
The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visituso.org.

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About the USO
The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

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Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151113/287137

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Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151113/287136
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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/belk-unveils-this-years-charity-bear-to-support-the-troops-300178636.html

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SOURCE Belk, Inc.

Why Alabama is not in a New York state of mind when it comes to tourism

Posted on November 15, 2015 by

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Where are those Yankees? Not at Alabama’s sugar-white sand beaches.

Of the top 18 states who send tourists to coastal Alabama each summer, none are in New England. Only Pennsylvania is listed among the states that had a measurable number of visitors coming to Alabama, according to a 2014 Gulf Shores Orange Beach Tourism report.

“When I talk to them about Alabama they look at me funny, ‘Alabama? What’s in Alabama?'” said Kathy Hadley, an upstate New York resident who, along with her husband Pat, spend six months each year in Gulf Shores. “That’s the response I get from my New York friends who have been traveling down to Florida for years.”

And into Florida, those New Yorkers go.

According to 2013 statistics from the Emerald Coast’s Convention and Visitors Bureau – which represents Florida Panhandle coastal cities like Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island – New York is the No. 2 top domestic origin state for visitors to Florida. Only Georgia, just a short drive away, sends more folks to Florida.

Florida’s New York appeal isn’t affecting Alabama’s numbers. The state’s Gulf Coast recorded its fifth year in a row of record tourism since the 2010 BP oil spill disaster threatened to silence Alabama’s biggest tourism draw – the beach.

“To get to Florida, you have to drive a long way,” Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel Director Lee Sentell said. “So people who are going to vacations in Florida, it’s more of a considered purchase. When people go to Florida they stay longer. And (Florida travelers) … it’s Interstate 95 traffic. That’s a much more north-south drive market whereas Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are centrally located for the Deep South.”

With record tourism figures each of the last five years, Alabama’s Gulf Coast is capturing more Midwest visitors thanks largely to Interstate 65 – which runs south of Chicago, slicing through Indianapolis and Nashville before heading into Alabama.

“We are predominately a drive market,” said Herb Malone, president CEO of the Gulf Shores Orange Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have I-65 from the north and south and I-10 from the east-west. If you take a look at our core market – Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Louisiana. There is Arkansas, Missouri and on up to Minnesota east to Ohio and that pretty much defines our market.”

Statistics show the trend. The CVB’s profile of winter visitors – composed mostly of retirees affectionately referred to as “snow birds” for their three-month visits from January to March each year – shows that behind Alabama and Mississippi, off-season visitors to Alabama’s Gulf Coast are mostly coming from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Only three eastern states – North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Maryland – are represented among the top 18 states visiting coastal Alabama during the winter months.

Summer visitors largely flood in from the South, CVB data shows. Out-of-state visitors flocking to Alabama’s beaches during its busiest season are coming from Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Georgia and Arkansas.

The farthest state to the east, North Carolina, is statistically listed among the states with visitors coming during peak summer season.

“We have some people who come in from upstate New York (during the winter season), but in the spring and summer season, most of our Northeast markets … they gravitate straight down the East Coast to the Carolinas or to the East Coast beaches,” Malone said.

Said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft, “It’s really an uphill battle to get them here. It’s so much easier to get (Northeast visitors) to the East Coast … North Carolina and South Carolina and into the east coast of Florida. It’s so much easier for them to get there than here.”

Marketing Alabama’s beaches, as a result, is focused more on states to the west – Texas and Louisiana, in particular – and along the I-65 corridor.

“Dauphin Island and then Gulf Shores are the western-most white sand beaches in the country,” Sentell said. “People in Houston think of Gulf Shores as their beach. People in Missouri and Oklahoma think of Gulf Shores as their sand. Because Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are within a day’s drive of so much of the Deep South, someone can make a decision on Wednesday, book a condo at Alabama’s beaches and be there on Friday night. You are not going to do that in the eastern coast of Florida because it’s a long drive.”

Meanwhile, the entire state of Florida relies heavily on New York visitors. New York City trails only Atlanta among the top origin designated markets for Florida visitors.

New Yorkers are also making their way to Destin, Okaloosa Island and Fort Walton Beach. According to Emerald Coast CVB statistics, New York ranks 10^th among visitors to a region that is about a two-hour drive east from Mobile.

“The Northeast is an obstacle that is lower on our list of audiences we want to attract, but it’s not completely forgotten,” Craft said.

Sentell said the biggest hurdle is marketing costs. Whereas state tourism is allowed free airtime on Montgomery-based Raycom Media stations that extend into the Midwest, there is no such arrangement with a TV station east of Richmond, Va.

“The Northeast is such an expensive media market,” Sentell said.

Ironically, it was a BP advertisement four years ago encouraging Americans to visit the Gulf Coast’s beaches that drew the Hadley’s to Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

“Pat didn’t want to go to Florida, too far south and too commercial,” Kathy Hadley said. “Then we started looking at Atlantic Coast and looking at statistics. The Atlantic ocean is cold. That, again, is priced too expensive. We kept looking and I said, ‘What about Alabama?’ We keep hearing these (BP) commercials.”

In 2012, the Hadley’s moved South to vacation in Gulf Shores. They met and friended neighbors and fell in love with the scenery and relative quietness of the area.

But the Hadley’s are an anomaly. Every year, when the snow birds flock to coastal Alabama for summer, they will gather up into groups separated by the states in which they live. Wisconsin, Missouri, and Illinois’ snow bird clubs are all well-represented during weekly or bi-weekly meetings, coffee hours and events.

New York? “There are only 80 of us,” Hadley said, noting that the small club will get together for trivial pursuit games, golf outings and low country boils.

“What Alabama has to do is promote not just the beach, but the history and the remoteness and quietness of it and the people who want to get back to nature and the fact that there is great fishing in Alabama (other than the Gulf),” she said.

“(New Yorkers) don’t know that Alabama has 60 miles of gorgeous beachfront,” she added. “Everyone thinks of it as Birmingham and Montgomery. It’s like when I talk to people (from Alabama about) New York and all they think about is New York City. There is a whole other state out there.”

Tagged with: North Carolina

‘Silver tsunami’ of retirees set to change Asheville – Asheville Citizen

Posted on November 15, 2015 by

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ASHEVILLE – Patty Mewborne Head still gets together with high school friends to ride by her old West Asheville haunts from time to time.

They joyride past the Malvern Hills Pool and the teen center — two places where Head can still remember dancing to jukebox hits and playing ping-pong with the “good-lookin’ boys from Arden and Valley Springs.”

That was a different time and era in Asheville.

It was the ’50s and ’60s, and Head could walk anywhere and everywhere — from her daddy’s store on Haywood Road all the way down to Hall Fletcher to watch the boys play a pick-up game of baseball. One ride around West Asheville takes the 70-year-old right back to those days.

“You could go down there and fall in love 12 times before school started again,” Head chuckled. “It was the greatest place in the world to grow up.”

Now, for Head and the thousands like her, the Asheville area is becoming the greatest place in the world to retire. Her generation is set to change Asheville in many ways — some good, some not so great.

While all of Asheville’s age segments are expected to grow in the next five years, a report released in January shows the greatest growth by far will happen among people between the ages of 65 and 74. That population segment is projected to grow an estimated 21 percent by 2020.

The report, conducted by Ohio-based Bowen National Research, a real estate market consulting firm, used U.S. Census data to make its projections.

The next fastest growing age segment in Asheville is among people older than 75. That population is projected to grow by about 15 percent in the next five years.

The aging trend exists beyond Asheville’s city limits.

The Buncombe County Aging Plan for January 2013-December 2017 estimates the number of individuals age 60 and older are expected to nearly double in Buncombe County during that time.

Head’s generation will make housing harder to come by for others – and the generation will be in need of housing.

They will offer Asheville economic promise, but will also put a strain on services.

Her generation will help the community tackle issues head-on, but it will also find itself struggling to belong.

“There’s not just one picture of retirement or aging, and that’s what makes it challenging,” said Don Bradley, an associate professor at Samford University whose research centers on why people move later in life. “There’s been this idea that older migrants coming into a community are an unadulterated good thing for the economy, but it’s just so much more complicated than that.”

With the issue of housing, for example, retirees have been shaping Asheville home prices by buying second-homes at prices locals cannot afford. At the same time, the retirement-aged population is also one of the most vulnerable communities impacted by rising housing costs.

After working in the real estate business for 35 years in Florida, Head decided about 10 years ago that the time had come to retire. She knew where she wanted to be: Back in West Asheville. However, when she began looking for places to live, the prices were just too high for her.

Today, they’re even higher.

Instead of a house in West Asheville, Head purchased a townhouse in Fletcher.

“It’s kind of like coming home,” she said.

But when she returns home to the mountains, she is also returning to her second home.

Head splits her year between Asheville and Naples, Florida.

She’s a second-home owner — a term many Asheville residents use interchangeably with negative nouns like “out-of-towner” and “snowbird.”

It’s an indictment that gives Head pause as someone who grew up in the mountains.

“I wanted to come back to the area even though I’ve been away for 48 years,” she said. “I worked hard to do this, and I had to give up a lot of other things to make it happen. I’ve never really traveled or done a lot of other things that other people my age have been able to do. To me, it’s a matter of choices, and different people make different choices. I chose Asheville.”

According to the most recent data available through the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey, about 4,400 people chose to move to Asheville from another state in 2013 — a figure that accounts for just shy of half of one percent of the city’s total population.

Don Davies, founder of Realsearch, an Asheville company that researches real estate trends, said the impact these older adults are having on the housing market is hard to miss.

Real estate research does not track home ownership rates by age, but Davies keeps hearing a common narrative from the people he hikes with on a regular basis. Unlike Davies, who has lived in Buncombe County for more than 30 years, his fellow hikers are new to town, usually retired and have moved to the area from a more expensive city.

“In Buncombe County, our average housing price is more than $500,000. Couple that with the fact that we have the lowest number of houses on the market in Buncombe County in the last 12 years, and the majority of youngish working people cannot afford it. They are beginning to get priced out,” Davies said.

“Where these folks come from, places like New York, D.C., Los Angeles and some parts of Florida, they come here and still think we’re a bargain even though we, the local people, think it’s getting too high. When I said that our house prices are getting really high, they will just laugh at you because $500,000 for a home is nothing compared to where they used to live.”

The median asking price of residences in Buncombe reached $330,000 in March, which means the number of houses costing more than $330,000 was the same as the number of houses costing less than that.

Skip Dillingham, managing broker at Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles real estate agency, said it makes sense that an area that is in demand has higher home costs.

“I’ve always said it costs to live in heaven, and we have a little piece of heaven here in Asheville,” Dillingham said.

While Head chose to retire in Asheville largely because of her childhood ties to the region, others are drawn to the mountain city first as tourists.

In fact, many retirement destinations begin as tourism hubs. Florida’s status as a retirement mecca can be traced back to the 19th century, when New Yorkers would flock to the state to escape their state’s harsh winter months, Bradley said.

“If you have a tourism economy, you bring people there and they have good memories of times spent with their families,” Bradley said. “When those people then reach retirement age, and if they are considering making a retirement move, they may have a limited number of destinations where they can imagine living. Among those places will be areas that they have visited and vacationed.”

But for other older adults coming to the region or aging in the region, their pockets are not always lined with the security of 401(k) plans or a large amount of discretionary spending.

“We hear stories so often about people who are drawn here by the arts and the reputation that Asheville has but it just doesn’t pan out for them or they don’t have a job. That happens with older people, too,” said Wendy Marsh, executive director of the Council on Aging of Buncombe County. “Not everybody who moves here is wealthy.”

According to a market feasibility analysis study conducted in April by Bowen National Research on behalf of Asheville’s Givens Estates Retirement Community, six low-income housing tax credit properties in Asheville have significant wait lists.

At Battery Park Apartments, a 121-unit apartment building in downtown Asheville for adults 62 and older, for disabled individuals and for people that qualify for Section 8 housing, about 150 households were on the waiting list in the spring.

Givens’ Affordable Housing Director Teresa Stephens said these needs are what is driving the development of Givens Gerber Park. The project in South Asheville aims to create 262 units of senior housing, of which 202 will be designed as affordable units for seniors who earn 60 percent or less of the average median income, or less than $26,000 annually. The remaining 60 units will be “workforce housing” for senior households that earn 61-100 percent of the average median income, or roughly between $26,000 and $45,000.

Stephens said there are also plans for offering supportive services at the housing development, including having an onsite primary care office, a community nurse and social worker available and a café where seniors can gather to socialize and also to work if they so desire.

“As more people age, we’re going to need more resources for them, more services, more housing,” Stephens said. “To me, developing a project like this is just common sense. Not all folks are ready for assisted living and not everyone can afford assisted living. When you read about demand here, the need is truly great and it’s only going to get greater.”

According to the Pew Research Center, nationwide, roughly 10,000 boomers will turn 65 every day until the year 2030.

That fact is one that Marsh, executive director at the Council on Aging of Buncombe County, recognizes.

The Council on Aging of Buncombe County is a nonprofit that works to provide services to individuals 60 and older. Marsh said the organization served 8,000 people during its most recent fiscal year, and has seen a 27 percent increase in people accessing them for help in the past three years.

“The older you get, the more opportunity you have to be poor and alone,” Marsh said.

However, on the other side of the picture, older adults can also provide a positive impact on the economy as well — especially in a tourist town like Asheville.

Bradley said older adults who are able to relocate to another city later in life, generally, tend to be more affluent and, by proxy, tend to contribute significant dollars to the local economy.

“Kind of a rule of thumb is that every two migrants to a community generates one job,” Bradley said. “They spend money locally, and it should stimulate the local economy, but that all depends on the local economy’s ability to capture that spending.”

In tourism-based economies, Bradley said, senior spending can actually help to counter a tourism destination’s seasonal economy by spending year-round and stabilizing the market. When the tourists leave, the seniors stay.

Before accepting a position at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, Bradley was an associate professor at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. There, he studied how North Carolina was affected by people who moved to the state later in life.

Between 1995 and 2000, Bradley said North Carolina saw a net income transfer of $1.1 billion solely due to the influx of older adults migrating to the Tar Heel State.

“And North Carolina should continue to attract a fairly large number of older migrants. It’s a favored destination state, from the mountains to the coast and all the urban areas in between,” he said.

But while this population can sometimes sustain a local economy, it can also strain it.

“The problem is if older adults remain in one place once their resources run out or if they become dependent on Medicaid, Medicare or some other state or locally funded program,” Bradley said.

Medicaid, a federal-state program, helps pay for health care for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, as well as for low-income families with children. Medicare, on the other hand, is a federal health care insurance program for people older than 65 and for the disabled.

According to a 2013 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, half of all people on Medicare had incomes less than $23,500, which is equivalent to 200 percent of poverty for a single-person household in 2015.

Rebecca Chaplain, an aging and disabilities specialist at the Area Agency on Aging at Land of Sky Regional Council was one of the 13 people who served on the Planning Committee of the Buncombe County Aging Coordinating Consortium. The committee authored the Buncombe County Aging Plan for January 2013-December 2017.

She said she is already seeing the impact of the silver tsunami as boomers begin taking care of their parents.

“So many of our staff here are also caregivers. It affects everything from work performance to quality of life. With the boomer generation caring for their parents, they’re usually the invisible patient,” Chaplain said.

Feeling invisible is something that can also happen to people who move to cities later in life, especially if these cities are quick to judge their newfound residents.

However, the way these adults are able to mobilize in communities can pay dividends and can even do things that an area’s locals may not be able to do.

When John Wingerter and his wife, Edythe, looked for places to retire, Asheville represented an eclectic, intellectual and vibrant arts community where they wanted to be during their golden years. In 2006, after 25 years in Toledo, Ohio, the couple moved to Asheville.

However, about six years into his job-free life, Wingerter realized he was not ready to stop working. He sought purpose and he wanted to contribute to his new community.

“I tried retirement, and I decided I didn’t like it at all,” Wingerter said. “I just have to feel productive. I just wanted to do something more, and this opportunity presented itself.”

With 40 years of work history in the insurance business, Wingerter decided to put his skills to use and started volunteering at the Council on Aging of Buncombe County. Now, he helps his peers navigate the challenges of health care insurance as the nonprofit’s director of insurance services.

Wingerter estimates about 22 volunteers are currently helping the nonprofit with Medicare counseling sessions. Almost all of them are retirees. Almost all of them moved to Asheville from somewhere else.

“A lot of folks who retire here are very well-educated folks and they know how to express themselves, make themselves known and make their views known. They’re writing letters to the editor, doing community activities, volunteering with us and places like MANNA FoodBank, Meals on Wheels and others,” Wingerter said. “If it wasn’t for their contributions, the city would be a much poorer place.”

At Meals on Wheels, for example, about 38 drivers are needed every day to bring warm meals to local people in need. Many of the volunteers are retirees.

Catherine Frank, executive director at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, said this volunteerism makes sense because the types of seniors who are drawn to Asheville are not the people that want to sit around knitting on a front porch all day.

They may knit, but they may also kayak.

“So many of our members want to begin their retirement years with hiking, kayaking and biking,” Frank said. “Asheville is like a college town with UNC Asheville here, but it’s also a small city with some big city amenities that still has an intimacy you can capture. If you go to the Asheville Symphony, there’s not a bad seat in the house. In contrast to trying to see a symphony performance in Manhattan, it’s incredibly affordable.”

In 1988, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute — then called the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement — was founded on UNCA’s campus to help people “thrive in life’s second half.” Classes and lectures are given on a variety of topics, from acoustic music to stargazing. The most popular class, Frank said, is on Appalachian history.

Today, 60 percent of OLLI’s members say the existence of the center is among one of the primary reasons why they decided to retire in Asheville.

“They are here because they want to be engaged,” Frank said.

But sometimes that can be easier said than done.

When an individual moves to another city later in life, they are sometimes leaving behind vital support systems and relationships.

“There’s a social division that can occur, and older migrants, generally, do not tend to integrate effectively into their receiving communities,” Bradley said. “When you move into a community as a working-aged adult, there are a couple of key mechanisms that exist. If you have children in schools, you get to know other people that way. If you’re at work, you get to know people through those kinds of connections. Older adults don’t have those avenues open to them. They have to rely on other types of social structures, like church groups or clubs. And if they’re coming from a different region or social class, it only makes integration that much more difficult.”

Sometimes older adults can mean well, but their wants can have negative impacts on a city’s physical environment.

In mountain communities, Bradley said, retirees want beautiful mountain views. But with limited land options, the desires of this population can contribute to sprawl or building homes on mountainsides.

“If you think about a typical housing development aimed at active older adult communities, they are usually designed with golf courses and hiking trails,” he said. “Generally, these developments are located on the furthest outreaches of metropolitan areas.”

However, this population might also be the ones volunteering their time to preserve trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Growing as a city with a large senior population can be a delicate balancing act, Bradley said. For example, ageism might rear its head more in community debates even if seniors’ concerns are well-founded.

“If you look at places like Florida, there’s a lot of tension and push-back against older migrants there, and just the number of older adults in Florida in general,” he said. “I was reading through a story in Sarasota (about this issue) and the comments section of the article was brutal. There were plenty of ‘send them back’ and ‘we don’t need them’ sentiments. They can be an easy target.”

As a West Asheville native and a second-home owner for 10 years, Head recognizes the duality of her presence and what the growing population of retirees could mean for her hometown.

Though she lives here six months out of the year, she volunteers at Haywood Street Ministries every Wednesday when she is in Asheville.

“I can’t say I feel guilt for being here. I feel blessed and gratitude more than any other emotion,” she said. “This is home. Florida is home, too. I try to give back. I try to be a good neighbor.”

CITIZEN TIMES

Special report: Growing pains shaping Asheville’s future

Tagged with: Asheville

New York, Milan link in tourism bid – Honolulu Star

Posted on November 15, 2015 by

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NEW YORK New York and Milan are starting a two-year tourism partnership to encourage travel between the two destinations.

New York tourism officials are in Milan to announce the initiative Monday.

CEO Fred Dixon of NYC Co., New York’s tourism agency, says the two cities are both centers of business and innovation, and are “perfectly suited” to be partners. The partnership will include promotions in both cities.

About 700 posters promoting New York in winter began appearing in Milan on Friday. Bus shelters promoting Milan will appear throughout New York starting in mid-February.

Museum show spotlights Graham

RALEIGH, N.C. A new exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History chronicles the life of the Rev. Billy Graham in time to celebrate a milestone.

The exhibit, “North Carolina’s Favorite Son: Billy Graham and His Remarkable Journey of Faith,” opens Friday in Raleigh, one day before Graham celebrates his 97th birthday.

The 5,000-square-foot exhibit explores his life as well as a ministry that spanned seven decades. It includes personal memorabilia, interactive displays and multimedia that help bring Graham’s story to life.

Scientists unveil new fossil find

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Paleontologists with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science on Thursday unveiled the first baby Pentaceratops skull ever discovered as hundreds of people lined up to get a look.

Scientists had cut open the giant plaster jacket that protected the skull as it was airlifted out of the desert badlands of northwestern New Mexico and trucked to the museum.

They revealed the shieldlike part of the dinosaur’s skull, some teeth, an arm bone, a rib and what looked like a vertebrae, but museum curator Spencer Lucas said there’s still much work to be done. Now technicians will begin the painstaking work of digging out the fossils from the rock in which they have been encased for some 70 million years.

The process will take many months, but the public will be able to watch from windows that offer a view into the museum’s preparation room.

Hundreds of people, including parents with their children, lined up along the windows during a free public viewing Thursday evening.

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Star-Advertiser news services

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Vernon Grant holiday card and ornament debuts Thursday

Posted on November 15, 2015 by

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The 2015 Vernon Grant holiday card and ornament will debut at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Museum of York County marking the 29th holiday ornament and the 37th edition of the holiday card.

From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. is the Vernon GrantSwap Meet that presents an opportunity for guests to trade, swap, barter, sell and buy Grant memorabilia. The Museum Store will host a holiday open house, 5-7 p.m. offering store specials and door prizes. The events are free and open to the public.

“Wintertime,” a new exhibit at the Museum of York County highlighting Vernon Grant’s original and published winter-themed illustration, opens Thursday and runs through Feb. 14. It features a variety of illustrations with skiers, ice skaters, snowmen, and gnomes, showcased along with a selection of Grant’s holiday scenes and the Santas that inspired this year’s Christmas card and ornament.

Special events

▪ “Stories of the Stones,” Rose Hill Cemetery Tour, has been rescheduled for 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the cemetery, 229 E. Liberty St., York. Admission: $5. Children and students grades 1-12 free. Handicap assistance available if requested. Re-enactors dress in period costumes and tell the stories of the lives of residents who have shaped the community. Sponsored by the Yorkville Historical Society. For more information, call Jan Ramsey at 803-684-3844.

▪ An evening of visual and performing arts hosted by the Therapeutic Arts Programming (TAP) Committee will be 6:30-8 p.m. Friday at the Community Performance Center, 249 E. Main St., Rock Hill. “TAP Into the Arts” will highlight art from area youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. Artists will display their works in watercolor, photography, pottery and other handmade items. Select items will be for sale. The Praise Dance Troupe will perform at 7 p.m. The free event is presented by Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism. For information, call Wendy Waddle at 803-329-5659.

▪ The Clemson Extension Service in Chester County is hosting a positive youth development workshop, 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the extension office. The workshop will include positive behavior tips and tools, strategies and activities for clubs, classrooms and youth meeting and a roundtable discussion. Register by Monday by calling 803-385-6181 ext. 114 or email rcrrnc@clemson.edu.

▪ Holly Glasscock Fine Arts will have its holiday sale, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 5 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Kinch’s Restaurant, 123 Elk Ave. Art work begins at $20.

▪ The Woman’s Club of Rock Hill is taking reservations for its Victorian Teas, which are ChristmasVille events. Teas will be at noon Dec. 4 and 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the historic Armstrong-Mauldin House, 607 Aiken Ave. Traditional English savories, scones, and a variety of sweet treats will be served. Cost is $20. The event includes carolers and servers in Victorian attire and musical interludes. The Sugar Plum Boutique will feature some new vendors showing Christmas themed gifts, decorations and home-made holiday treats. The club’s cookbook, “Traditional Tea Time Favorites,” will be available. A Children’s Tea with Mrs. Claus will be 11:30 a.m. Dec. 5. Cost is $20. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For reservations call Betty at 803-415-7278 or the clubhouse at 803-328-8888 and leave a message. Your call will be returned.

Fundraisers

▪ India Hook United Methodist Women’s Vendor’s Market will be 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday in the family life center. Vendors will sell jewelry, crafts, Christmas decorations, candles, Pampered Chef, Thirty-One Tupperware, and baked goods. There will be a silent auction, door prizes and tickets for a chance to win a Dooney Bourke purse wallet. Breakfast will be served from 9-11a.m. and lunch with soup and chili served from 11-1 p.m.

▪ Pilgrims’ Inn “Adopt a Family” for Christmas program has begun. For information, call 803-327-4227 ext. 230 or email cdixon@pilgrimsinn.org. Donations are tax deductible.

Entertainment

▪ Allison Creek Bluegrass will host “Bluegrass Travelers” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Allison Creek Presbyterian Church at S.C. 272 and Allison Creek Road, York. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concessions with hot dogs and hamburgers at 6:30. Admission is free. Love offering taken.

▪ The Greenville Symphony will perform at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cultural Arts Center in Lancaster, 307 W. Gay St. Free admission.

Christmas parades

▪ The town of Fort Lawn is accepting entries for its annual Christmas Parade, 2 p.m. Dec. 12. Rain date, 3 p.m. Dec. 13. For information, call Town Hall at 803-872-4724, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. No fee. Entries are due Nov. 25. Floats will be judged and cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners.

Meetings

▪ Keystone board of directors will meet 6 p.m. Monday at the Keystone Prevention Center, 1600 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill. Open to the public. For information, call 803-324-4118.

▪ The Catawba Chapter of the DAR will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the church parlor of Ebenezer ARP Church. Wade Fairey will present ‘Our Roots.’

▪ The Relay for Life 2016 leadership meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Woodland United Methodist Church, 180 Cherry Rd., Rock Hill. Team captains will meet at 6:30. Relay for Life 2016 will be 2-10 p.m. May 14 at Dutchman Creek Middle School. Teams can be registered for this event at relayforlife.org/yorkeastsc. For information, email Dian McDermott at diandmcdermott@aol.com.

▪ The Western York County Branch of the NAACP will meet 6 p.m. at the Greater York Chamber of Commerce. For information, call Wanda Simril at 803-684-6200.

▪ The Catawba Council of the South Carolina Silver Haired Legislature will meet 11 a.m. Wednesday at Highland Park Senior Center, 917 Standard St., Rock Hill.

▪ Commissioners of the York Soil and Water Conservation District will meet 5 p.m. Thursday at the USDA Service Center, 1460 E. Alexander Love Highway, York. Open to the public. For information, call Barbara O’Connell, district coordinator at 803-684-3137 ext. 101.

Clubs

▪ The York County Quilt Guild will meet 7 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, 426 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill. The guild will give more than 100 quilts to the Department of Social Services for children in its program. A speaker from DSS will discuss the program for children.

▪ Rock Hill Area Shag Club will have its re-up party, 8 p.m. Friday at Celebrations at Ramada Inn, Cherry Road. Dinner provided. Guests, $5.

▪ The Vintage Club of Tega Cay monthly dinner and entertainment will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Phil Glennon Community Center. Cocktails at 6 p.m.

▪ Lake Wylie Shag Club hosts “Shag Time” each Tuesday at the Fort Mill Moose Lodge, 1676 Harris Road. Line dance lessons, 6-7:30 p.m. Shag lessons, 7:30-8 p.m. Open dance floor for all dancers at 8 p.m. Cover charge $1.

▪ The Ballroom Dance Club will meet 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Oak Room of the Fort Mill Golf Course, 101 Country Club Drive. Guest admission is $15, couples, $7.50, singles and includes a free dance lesson. Dances include swing and shag. No alcohol; light refreshments provided. Dressy casual. All skill levels are welcome. For information call Bob at 803-329-5764, 9 a.m.-to 9 p.m.

4-H

▪ Clemson Extension Service and the city of Rock Hill will host the Great Outdoors Adventure for homeschooled youth February through May for age 5-15. Programs will be at various locations, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. one day each month. Cost is $65 for ages 5-9 and $75, ages 10-15. Deadline to register is Jan. 29. For information, call 803-684-9919 ext 113 or email fisreal@clemson.edu.

Recreation

▪ York Parks and Recreation Department will have a free movie night 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at the York Recreation Center, 21 White Rose Lane. “We Are Marshall” will be shown in the gym. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For information, call 803-684-3742.

▪ The Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department’s Happy Travelers trip to the Islands of New England will be June 3-10. Adults of all ages are welcome; participants do not have to be a member of the group to travel. Travelers will visit Providence, Newport, Boston, Plymouth Rock, Plimoth Plantation, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Hyannis and Provincetown. Cost is $2,750 ($3,150 single occupancy) and includes airfare, motorcoach transportation, sites of interest, lodging and some meals and taxes and gratuities. Cancellation insurance is available. A $250 deposit is due by Dec. 1. The balance is due by March 25. Registration and payment is taken at the PRT Office at City Hall 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays or online at www.cityofrockhill.com/prt. Fees can also be mailed to City of Rock Hill, Katie Conley, PO Box 11706, Rock Hill, SC 29731. For space availability, call Katie at 803-329-5626. For details go to www.cityofrockhill.com/owls.

▪ The Upper Palmetto YMCA is planning its annual ski trip to Aspen/Snowmass, Colo. Feb. 20-25 (or if you’d like to stay longer, we can easily make those accommodations for you). Cost includes lodging, equipment rentals, ski school (if needed), transfers, tips, taxes, lift tickets, two “get acquainted” dinners. One-, two- and three-bedroom units are available. For information, contact Jimmy Johnson at 803-324-9622, ext. 228, or jimmyjohnson@upymca.org, or go to upymca.org.

Volunteers

▪ The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program needs volunteers to help low-income, elderly and handicapped taxpayers prepare income tax returns. Volunteers will be trained by the Internal Revenue Service, N.C. and S.C. Departments of Revenue to prepare basic tax returns. Training is free and is offered to volunteers who are willing to learn to prepare 1040A, 1040EZ, and the basic 1040 forms with schedule A and B. Training will include filing on computers. Training will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 11-15 at Rock Hill City Hall in the wellness center on the first floor. Volunteers can choose hours and days they wish to work. For information, call Bill Perry, York County coordinator, at 803-322-4195.

▪ The nonprofit Friends of the York County Animal Shelter needs volunteers to help bathe, groom, exercise, socialize, train and provide adoption information for the animals, as well as assist in follow-ups, publicity, marketing and other jobs at the shelter. Time and mileage may be tax-deductible. Volunteers must be 18 or older; orientation and training required. For information, call 803-818-6485 or go to the shelter at 713 Justice Blvd., York.

Reunions

▪ Lewisville High School class of 1971 will have a reunion planning meeting at 3 p.m. Nov. 21 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church fellowship hall. For information, call James Harris, 803-374-0800.

▪ Finley High School class of 1964 will meet noon Saturday at the Golden Corral, 1031 North Anderson Road, Rock Hill. All classmates are encouraged to attend. For information contact Charlie M. Robinson at 803-327-4547, James Mayfield at 803-374-1090 or Kater Wylie Cornwell at 704-661-7701.

Support groups

▪ A Parkinson’s support group will meet 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Westminster Towers Community Room, 1330 India Hook Road, Rock Hill. For information, call 803-328-5231.

▪ Alateen meets 8-9 p.m. Thursdays at Zoar Road Club, 14701 Thomas Road, Charlotte. Meetings are for two age groups: 6-12 and 13 and older. For information, call 803-547-2124 or 704-904-7834.

▪ Al-Anon meets at 8 p.m. Mondays at Serenity Club, 209 Grayson Road, Rock Hill; at noon Tuesdays upstairs at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill; at 8 p.m. Mondays at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2955 S.C. 160, Fort Mill; and at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the house beside First Baptist Church, 121 Monroe White St., Fort Mill.

Send Community News items to communitynews@heraldonline.com or to 132 W. Main St., Rock Hill, SC 29730.

Deadline for the Thursday column is 5 p.m. Monday. Deadline for the Sunday column is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Tagged with: Charlotte

Andromeda Galaxy Highlights Town Creek Under the Stars November 14

Posted on November 14, 2015 by

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ScienceNOW

stars-galaxy.jpg

The night sky

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2015 12:16 pm

Andromeda Galaxy Highlights Town Creek Under the Stars November 14

Posted on Nov 13, 2015

by

Sandy Selvy-Mullis

The days are getting shorter and the nights longer offering plenty of dark sky viewing at Town Creek Under the Stars on Saturday, November 14 from 6 to 10 pm. The highlight of this night will be the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest neighboring galaxy to our home the Milky Way, located 2.5 million light years from Earth. This massive spiral galaxy is also believed to contain one trillion stars.

“Skywatchers may also get an opportunity to view a few stray Leonids before the peak of the Leonid Meteor Shower occurs overnight November 17 – 18,” says Site Manager Rich Thompson.

Interested stargazers are encouraged to dress for the weather. Participants may also bring binoculars and telescopes. The staff will have a scope available if you do not have one. Advanced registration is requested by calling or emailing the site. This event is free and open to the public but donations are welcome. Please contact the site at 910-439-6802 or attowncreek@ncdcr.gov to register.

For more than 1,000 years, American Indians farmed lands later known as North Carolina. Around A.D. 1000, a new cultural tradition arrived in the Pee Dee River Valley. Throughout Georgia, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and western and southern Piedmont North Carolina, inhabitants built earthen mounds for their leaders, engaged in widespread trade, supported craftspeople, and celebrated a new religion.

The mission of Town Creek is to interpret the history of the American Indians who once lived here. The visitor center features interpretive exhibits and audiovisual displays. A national historic landmark, Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site is North Carolina’s only state historic site dedicated to American Indian heritage. Tour groups are welcome and encouraged. The site is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. It is closed to the public Mondays and most major holidays.

The historic site is within the Division of State Historic Sites and located at 509 Town Creek Mound Road, Mount Gilead, N.C, 27306. For more information on Town Creek, visitwww.towncreekindianmound.com.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.

Sandy Selvy-Mullis is publisher of The Stanly News Press. Contact her at (704) 982-2121 ext. 27, sselvy@cnhi.com or PO Box 488, Albemarle, NC 28002.

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UTC Aerospace Systems donates $100000 to help support wounded service members …

Posted on November 14, 2015 by

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ –UTC Aerospace Systems is proud to support the nation’s veterans with the donation of $100,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) through its ISR Space Systems business. This is the sixth consecutive year that UTC Aerospace Systems has supported Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ –UTC Aerospace Systems is proud to support the nation’s veterans with the donation of $100,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) through its ISR Space Systems business. This is the sixth consecutive year that UTC Aerospace Systems has supported Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — UTC Aerospace Systems is proud to support the nation’s veterans with the donation of $100,000 to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) through its ISR Space Systems business. This is the sixth consecutive year that UTC Aerospace Systems has supported Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

$100,000 donation will be designated for the WWP Warriors to Work program, which offers career guidance and support services to veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce, and partners with employers by connecting them with qualified candidates, educating them about combat-related injuries, facilitating the onboarding process and developing a long-lasting relationship throughout the life cycle of employment.

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$100,000 donation will be designated for the WWP Warriors to Work program, which offers career guidance and support services to veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce, and partners with employers by connecting them with qualified candidates, educating them about combat-related injuries, facilitating the onboarding process and developing a long-lasting relationship throughout the life cycle of employment.

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The $100,000 donation will be designated for the WWP Warriors to Work program, which offers career guidance and support services to veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce, and partners with employers by connecting them with qualified candidates, educating them about combat-related injuries, facilitating the onboarding process and developing a long-lasting relationship throughout the life cycle of employment.

Tom Bergeron, president, ISR Space Systems. “We are committed to the warfighters on and off the battlefield, and know that many face significant challenges in preparing to enter the workforce. This year we are proud that our funds will go directly to helping returning service personnel overcome any obstacles they may have in finding meaningful employment.”

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Tom Bergeron, president, ISR Space Systems. “We are committed to the warfighters on and off the battlefield, and know that many face significant challenges in preparing to enter the workforce. This year we are proud that our funds will go directly to helping returning service personnel overcome any obstacles they may have in finding meaningful employment.”

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“At ISR Space Systems, supporting the warfighter is core to what we do every day, providing our customers with technology and advanced tools that enable mission success,” said Tom Bergeron, president, ISR Space Systems. “We are committed to the warfighters on and off the battlefield, and know that many face significant challenges in preparing to enter the workforce. This year we are proud that our funds will go directly to helping returning service personnel overcome any obstacles they may have in finding meaningful employment.”

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During Veterans Week, the ISR Space Systems business also invited injured veterans to share their stories at eight of its facilities, which also held a variety of events to raise money for Wounded Warrior Project and to recognize local veterans.

Adam Silva, chief program officer at WWP. “With their designation to the Warriors to Work program, UTC Aerospace Systems is helping our returning warriors overcome obstacles big and small as they make career changes. Many of our service personnel entered into the military right out of high school and don’t have experience preparing for careers in the civilian world. Add to that the physical and psychological trauma many come home with, and the barriers can seem insurmountable. The UTC Aerospace Systems donation will help us continue to assist veterans on their road to economic empowerment.”

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Adam Silva, chief program officer at WWP. “With their designation to the Warriors to Work program, UTC Aerospace Systems is helping our returning warriors overcome obstacles big and small as they make career changes. Many of our service personnel entered into the military right out of high school and don’t have experience preparing for careers in the civilian world. Add to that the physical and psychological trauma many come home with, and the barriers can seem insurmountable. The UTC Aerospace Systems donation will help us continue to assist veterans on their road to economic empowerment.”

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“We are grateful for the support UTC Aerospace Systems is providing to help Wounded Warrior Project’s programs and services,” said Adam Silva, chief program officer at WWP. “With their designation to the Warriors to Work program, UTC Aerospace Systems is helping our returning warriors overcome obstacles big and small as they make career changes. Many of our service personnel entered into the military right out of high school and don’t have experience preparing for careers in the civilian world. Add to that the physical and psychological trauma many come home with, and the barriers can seem insurmountable. The UTC Aerospace Systems donation will help us continue to assist veterans on their road to economic empowerment.”

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According to the Wounded Warrior Project, 52,000 servicemen and women have been physically injured in the recent military conflicts. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Another 320,000 are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment.

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UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base, with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

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Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

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United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women to aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

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About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women to aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

–>

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women to aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utc-aerospace-systems-donates-100000-to-help-support-wounded-service-members-through-wounded-warrior-project-300177047.html

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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utc-aerospace-systems-donates-100000-to-help-support-wounded-service-members-through-wounded-warrior-project-300177047.html

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SOURCE UTC Aerospace Systems

Tagged with: Charlotte

Gary Greene hired as Hamlet museum director

Posted on November 14, 2015 by

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First Posted: 6:29 pm – November 13th, 2015

Staff reports

Greene

Email–>
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HAMLET — Nonprofit director, former journalist and spokesman Gary Greene will return to Richmond County to serve as Hamlet’s museum manager and downtown coordinator, City Manager Marcus Abernethy said Friday.

Greene will begin managing the Hamlet Depot and Museums’ programs on Dec. 11 and will work with the Hamlet Business Development Association to help promote and revitalize downtown Hamlet.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to build on the great reputation of the Hamlet Depot and Museums as well as the downtown area,” Greene said in a statement. “I welcome the creative ideas and positive energy many have invested into this community. My hope is to fully embrace the history of Hamlet. I have a number of ideas, which include enhanced outreach to area youth, an expanded presence for our railroad history, and a possible literary series named for native son Tom Wicker.”

Greene is no stranger to the community, having lived in Richmond County for a large portion of his life. He has worked as a reporter at the Richmond County Daily Journal and formerly served as communications director for St. Andrews University and a community relations director for FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Richmond and Moore counties.

He is currently employed as civic clubs director for the Boys Girls Homes of North Carolina in Lake Waccamaw.

Greene has a master’s degree in business administration from Fayetteville State University and a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Hamlet’s city manager said he’s excited to bring Greene on board.

“Gary’s performance in the selection process as well as his education and experience made him stand out amongst the rest of the applicants,” Abernethy said in a statement. “I think his marketing and community relations background will assist in promoting the Hamlet Depot and Museums. His ability to build interpersonal relationships also give him the right demeanor for the position. He is also a leader among various civic groups.

“I am excited to have someone like Gary working with us here in Hamlet. I would like to thank my staff, and staff from the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, the city of Rockingham and the Richmond County Historical Society for assisting in evaluating candidates through an assessment center process. I appreciate the input greatly.”

Greene succeeds Chuck McShane, who started work Jan. 21 as museum director and downtown coordinator and resigned May 5 to accept a job as director of research at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

Staff reports

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Tagged with: North Carolina

UTC Aerospace Systems Features Business Aircraft Systems and Cabin Interiors …

Posted on November 14, 2015 by See Article Source Posted in Tourism — No Comments ↓

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ –UTC Aerospace Systems will display a range of capabilities in the business aircraft segment at its exhibit during the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Business Aircraft Conference and Exhibition, which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 17 – 19. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ –UTC Aerospace Systems will display a range of capabilities in the business aircraft segment at its exhibit during the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Business Aircraft Conference and Exhibition, which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 17 – 19. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — UTC Aerospace Systems will display a range of capabilities in the business aircraft segment at its exhibit during the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Business Aircraft Conference and Exhibition, which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 17 – 19. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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The UTC Aerospace Systems exhibit, located at booth C8107, will feature cabin interior products such as the Ascension™ Seating Series. Offered in both full power and electrical assist options, the Ascension™ Seating Series improves passenger experience and seat styling while also offering easy-to-use, customizable controls. Also on display are Booth Veneers products, which are created by highly skilled artisans and feature exclusive designs and patterns crafted from rare and prized woods. The UTC Aerospace Systems booth will showcase its LED lighting systems, with capabilities in cabin wash lighting, reading lights, lavatory, indicator and exit lights.

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UTC Aerospace Systems will also highlight its SmartProbe® air data sensors, SILVERboot™ de-icing systems, WINSLOW life rafts, electronic flight bags and landing systems capabilities.

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UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base, with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

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Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

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United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

www.utcaerospacesystems.com
@utcaerosystems

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www.utcaerospacesystems.com
@utcaerosystems

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www.utcaerospacesystems.com
@utcaerosystems

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utc-aerospace-systems-features-business-aircraft-systems-and-cabin-interiors-products-at-nbaa-2015-300178595.html

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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utc-aerospace-systems-features-business-aircraft-systems-and-cabin-interiors-products-at-nbaa-2015-300178595.html

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SOURCE UTC Aerospace Systems

RELATED LINKS
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Tagged with: Charlotte

Final Four star Allen scores 26, No. 5 Duke tops Siena 92-74

Posted on November 14, 2015 by See Article Source Posted in Tourism — No Comments ↓

Grayson Allen picked up right where he left off.

The breakout star of Duke’s Final Four run scored 20 of his 26 points in the first half to lead the fifth-ranked Blue Devils past Siena 92-74 on Friday night in the first round of the 2K Classic.

“I’m not saying he can do that every game,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, “but that shouldn’t be a surprise.”

Amile Jefferson matched a career high with 19 points and added 12 rebounds to help the Blue Devils open their latest reign as national champions with a lopsided victory.

Freshman Brandon Ingram had 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting in his college debut for Duke while Matt Jones added 10.

The Blue Devils shot 45.5 percent, forced 17 turnovers, trailed for just 10 seconds early and never allowed Siena to get closer than 17 in the second half.

Marquis Wright had 20 points for Siena.

Allen — whose hustle Krzyzewski has often credited for sparking the title-game victory over Wisconsin — put on a one-man show in the opener.

He hit 8 of 13 shots with most coming on aggressive moves to the rim while threatening the high of 27 points he set in his last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium — a rout of Wake Forest in the 2014-15 home finale.

“That’s something that I’m always going to look to do, is attack,” Allen said. “Tonight I was given open lanes to get all the way to the rim.”

Aside from Allen and Jefferson, these Blue Devils hardly resemble the group that cut the nets down in Indianapolis seven months ago.

Duke lost 76 percent of its scoring and 68 percent of its rebounding from that team, which was carried by three freshmen-turned-first-round picks — most notably 6-foot-11 Jahlil Okafor, now of the Philadelphia 76ers.

They don’t have that kind of dominant big man this year, so the Blue Devils — who still have seven McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster, the most in the nation — are counting on their perimeter to carry them.

“If you think I wanted Okafor and those guys, the answer was no,” Siena coach Jimmy Patsos said with a smile. “I could adjust to the film without those three.”

Some spotty outside shooting — they missed 12 of their first 15 attempts from 3-point range — was balanced by that steady diet of drives from Allen, the only member of that freshman class who didn’t turn pro early.

His best might have come midway through the first half, when he grabbed Javion Ogunyemi’s missed layup, took it coast to coast and finished with a swooping one-handed dunk.

“We wanted to drive the ball,” Krzyzewski said, “and Grayson was spectacular driving.”

TOUGH ROAD

Siena is the first team since at least 1985 to open the season against both the defending NCAA Tournament champion and runner-up. The Saints visit No. 17 Wisconsin on Sunday night looking for the first road win against a Top 25 opponent since moving to Division I in 1976.

TIP-INS

Siena: The Saints have a couple of ties to the North Carolina Triangle with them. Sophomore G Cameron Gottfried is the son of N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried. Director of basketball operations Ben Asher was on the Wolfpack’s staff last year.

Duke: The Blue Devils extended their nonconference winning streak at Cameron to 117. They haven’t lost to a non-ACC team here since 2000 (St. John’s).

UP NEXT:

Siena is at No. 17 Wisconsin on Sunday night.

Duke hosts Bryant on Saturday night.

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Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joedy-mccreary

Tagged with: North Carolina

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