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EarthTalk: Could global warming really already be a factor in the evolution of wildlife species?
Dear EarthTalk: Could global warming really already be a factor in the evolution of wildlife species? — Vince Dominick, Camden, NJ No doubt the quickly changing climate is already triggering various evolutionary shifts in a wide range of species. And while we can’t be sure just how different wildlife species will adapt (or not), […]
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Dear EarthTalk: Could global warming really already be a factor in the evolution of wildlife species? — Vince Dominick, Camden, NJ No doubt the quickly changing climate is already triggering various evolutionary shifts in a wide range of species. And while we can’t be sure just how different wildlife species will adapt (or not), […]
Sept. 21. The Queen City Honor Flight, which flies its first mission Oct. 7, will take World War II, Korean War Vietnam War veterans, as well as those with a life-limiting illness, to visit their memorials in our nation’s capitol. Queen City Honor Flight is a member of the national Honor Flight Network, which has […]
Sept. 21. United Way of Central Carolinas brought together 377 Mooresville/Lake Norman-area residents to serve their neighbors from Wednesday to Saturday last week for the sixth annual Days of Caring. United Way’s celebration of service has grown considerably since 2012, when it was a single-day event, thanks to widespread community interest and key sponsors who […]
Sept. 21. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board will look into how to write a resolution in opposition to the Potts Street Development that straddles the Davidson town line near the YMCA. Although the Cornelius portion of the rezoning application from Crescent Communities for nine homes has been withdrawn, plans for a 295 unit complex […]
Sept. 19. By Dave Yochum. A 26-year-old Davidson man has confessed to defacing the Confederate Veterans Monument on Zion Street. The monument, erected in 1905 during the Jim Crow era, sits on Zion Avenue in Cornelius, almost directly across from Fire Station No. 1. Cornelius Police say Maxwell Montague Sommer was arrested by Davidson Police […]
Sept. 13. Crescent Acquisitions’ rezoning request to build nine homes in Cornelius was withdrawn at the Cornelius Planning Board’s Sept. 11 meeting. About 20 people, many from Davidson, were in attendance and applauded the news. For at least one Cornelius Commissioner, the 295-unit apartment project just over the town border is “a good example […]
The stage is set. Oct. 6. Eleven candidates. Town Hall. The Old Fashioned BBQ & Candidate Forum is a unique opportunity to hear what our 2018-2019 elected officials say about issues facing Cornelius. Buy tickets on EventBrite.com (search Cornelius NC). There will be a traditional pork barbecue with all the fixins, a blessing from Rev. Ellison Bowman, […]
Sept. 10. By Dave Yochum. Hurricane Irma is over the Florida Keys right now, forecast to head up the left coast and considerably more inland than originally thought. The National Weather Service says rain and breezy conditions are still expected in Cornelius from around noon Monday until about mid-day Tuesday. It looks like Diesel fuel is running low in Cornelius; at […]
Sept. 9. By Dave Yochum. About the worst we’re looking at are wind and rain Monday and Tuesday, but gas and water are drying up around Cornelius as people from Florida to North Carolina and Tennessee brace for Irma. Some pumps are out of fuel at the Circle K on West Catawba. Cashion’s on Hwy. […]
Dear EarthTalk: Since when did Michael Bloomberg become a great environmentalist? —Jackie Miller, New York, NY Michael Bloomberg was primarily known as a financier and media tycoon long before he became one of the most beloved mayors in New York City history. But what most people still don’t know about Bloomberg is that he is fast becoming […]
Sept. 8. It looks like Hurricane Irma will deal Cornelius a glancing blow late Monday and Tuesday. The center of the storm, which will turn north toward Florida tomorrow, is now likely to track about 100 miles west of Charlotte, according to new forecast. That’s farther than first thought and winds will likely not be […]
Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a State of Emergency for all 100 counties in North Carolina as Hurricane Irma prepares to bear down on the Florida Keys. How it tracks north is unclear, but it’s certain to track into North Carolina. If it leans toward us, the Charlotte region will be in for fierce weather […]
Sept. 6. By Dave Vieser. Sentencing is set for Monday Sept. 11 in the case of Greyson Ferrell, who shot Cornelius Police Lt. James Quattlebaum two years ago. As his trial date approached, Ferrell, now 19, pled guilty in late August to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and assault with […]
Sept. 6. Three men who burglarized The Range at Lake Norman have been sentenced to prison. Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said the business was targeted because a picture on its website showed it did not have bars on its windows. Maceo Royster, 20, Emmanuel Hargrove Guy, 19, and […]
FROM OUR ARCHIVES DEC. 6, 2016. By Dave Yochum. Some people say that the most segregated place in America is any given church on Sunday. So Union Bethel AME Zion on Catawba Avenue was a fitting place for a community forum on race relations in Cornelius. More than 100 people attended, sharing ideas and experiences that […]
Sept. 6. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board will borrow $2 million to finance the construction of a new public works facility. The vote was unanimous, and Garanco Construction of Pilot Mountain has already been selected to perform the work. The town issued an RFP last month to borrow $2 million to fund […]
LAST CALL: Cornelius Today will host a Newsmakers Breakfast discussion titled “Post-Charlottesville: Where Do We Go From Here?” Sept. 6 at The Peninsula Club. There will be informal give and take as well as questions from the audience, in the traditional Newsmakers Breakfast format. RSVP by calling 704-895-1335. The speakers are: Chaz Beasley, an African-American who […]
Sept. 5. By Dave Vieser. It looks like higher gas prices will be with us for a while in the wake of the devastation in Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey. The price of regular gasoline in the Lake Norman area has jumped from an average price of $2.16 on Aug. 28 to $2.60 or more, […]
Christina Britt Lewis, the co-founder of The Redesign Co. in Davidson, has learned how to live well and spend less. “We discovered that you don’t need much to make a beautiful life,” she said. The Redesign Co. specializes in uniting lifestyle with a contemporary design aesthetic. The results are cool and refreshing. It’s possible to […]
Sept. 2. It looks like the weather will be great for the long Labor Day weekend, but be forwarned: Police will be out on the roads and on the lake, with a particular eye on drunk drivers. There will be stepped-up patrols and DWI checkpoints throughout the state during the Labor Day holiday. More than […]
Was Hurricane Harvey caused by global warming? The short answer is no. No single hurricane or weather event can be directly linked to the general phenomena known as climate change. “Climate change does not cause things, because climate change is not a causal agent,” writes David Roberts on Vox.com. “‘Climate change’ is a descriptive term […]
Sept. 11. By Dave Vieser. The request from Crescent Acquisitions to have the Cornelius Planning Board make a fast decision on a plan to build nine homes in Cornelius will likely be delayed. It’s not just nine houses they’re talking about, this is part of a 295-unit development right next door in Davidson. Crescent asked […]
By Dave Vieser. With a hot local economy, local restaurateurs are expanding. Fresh Chef co-owner Mel Funk has opened his third location in the Cotswold neighborhood in Charlotte, taking out a 10-year lease on the old 2,600 square foot Block and Grinder space on Providence Road. Funk brought the Fresh Chef concept, which he launched […]
By Dave Yochum. He may not have met the late Rev. Didi Wayland, long-time pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church and a spiritual leader in Lake Norman for 50 years, but the incoming pastor, Thomas Boone, is a regular guy, highly educated, has a sense of humor and looks like he will follow in Wayland’s gregarious […]
Matthew “Austin” Lewis has won the 2017 Rotaract scholarship sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Mecklenburg. He was secretary of the Rotaract Club at the Merancas Campus of Central Piedmont Community College and maintained a 4.0 GPA. The son of Jamie and Angela Purvis, who live Mooresville, Austin will attend UNC-Chapel Hill. The purpose […]
The Aktion Club of Lake Norman, a group of committed special need adults, met with Principal Jaime Tecza of J.V. Washam Elementary School this past week and presented him and members of his staff with school supplies that the group collected in a special school drive over the past couple of months. Club members gathered pencils, […]
By Dave Vieser. One well-known toll lane opponent called it a “swing and a miss.” Another local official asked “where’s the beef?” Indeed, the reaction to the draft report from Mercator Advisors on the CINTRA I-77 toll lane contract was clearly not enthusiastic. Most who digested the report felt there was a disappointing lack […]
By Dave Vieser. During the next three or four years, major transportation projects as well as significant new buildings will have a profound effect on how we live, work and get where we’re going. One of the most significant new projects is at the corner of Main Street and Catawba Avenue where a dilapidated 80-year-old […]
It’s Back to School for thousands of kids across Cornelius. It’s an exciting day—the first day of school ever for some—and a day to pay attention to kids and cars. Police will be directing traffic on Bailey Road, Westmoreland and on School Street next to Cornelius Elementary. Of course, Alan Eakin, the crossing guard […]
Dear EarthTalk: Why do antibacterial soaps and other products with triclosan get such a bad rap from health and environmental advocates? — Wanda Caravan, Hartford, CT Antibacterial soap products aid in killing bacteria. But rumors that they are no more effective in doing so than traditional soap and water, coupled with concerns that such products […]
Aug. 25. By Marco Wertheimer. Thousands of public school school children from across Cornelius will return to class Aug. 28. Cornelius Police are suggesting kids and parents alike get an early start to beat traffic and arrive safely. Cpl. E.R Watts says to expect delays. Police will be directing traffic on Bailey Road, Westmoreland […]
In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and vandalism at the Confederate Soldiers Monument in Cornelius, hundreds of people attended a prayer vigil Aug. 23 on the Davidson Village Green. It was a time for prayer, grieving and looking for solutions to strife that should have ended years ago. Jews and Christians participated […]
Aug. 23. A prayer vigil at 7:30 pm this evening on the Davidson Village Green will give the community a chance to grieve in the wake of the violence that took place in Charlottesville, Va., almost two weeks ago. The gathering, organized by clergy in Cornelius and Davidson, is not a protest. “This is a time for […]
Aug. 22. Cornelius commissioners unanimously approved rules calling for a new public hearing during the town’s conditional zoning approval process. The new hearing will come early in the process, within the 30-day waiting period after the applicant completes the required community meeting. The effect is more public input before new developments get under way. “This […]
Aug. 22. From 7 pm to midnight on Saturday, the Cornelius Police conducted a Multi-Agency DWI checkpoint in the area of W. Catawba Avenue and Nantz Road. Fifteen officers from the Cornelius Police Department, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department, Davidson Police Department, Huntersville Police Department and Pineville Police Department assisted with the checkpoint. A number of residents […]
Aug. 21. By Dave Vieser. With a spirited race for Town Board around the corner, Cornelius officials are in the process of changing local rules on political signs so they are the same as the state. The new rules would give candidates two extra weeks to display political signs, changing the start date to 30 days prior to the […]
Dear EarthTalk: How does Canada’s newly released “Food Guide” differ from the food recommendations offered up by the U.S. government? — J. Wheeler, Albany, NY These days, many countries around the world produce food guidelines periodically to help improve nutrition and encourage healthy lifestyles among their populaces. The most recent update for Americans came in […]
Aug. 18. While solar panel sales people will have a really tough time for about two and a half minutes on Monday, it may be a lot worse for motorists. The number of travelers headed to South Carolina is estimated at 2.1 million, with plenty coming through North Carolina on I-77 and other highways. Traffic […]
Aug. 18. It looks like the Cornelius Animal Shelter is known far and wide among young animal advocates. Four Lake Norman kids, ages 3-6, helped raise $150 for CAS by selling lemonade and muffins on Faith Road in Mooreseville. Target in Huntersville chipped in $150 as well and the kids embarked on a pet care […]
Aug. 17. UPDATE/1:00 PM. By Dave Yochum. In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and vandalism at the Confederate soldiers’ monument in Cornelius, clergy in Davidson and Cornelius are organizing a prayer vigil Wednesday, Aug. 23 on the Davidson Village Green. Clergy members said the gathering, which begins at 7:30 pm, is not a […]
Eleven candidates for the Cornelius Town Board will be in the collective hot seat Oct. 6 for the Old Fashioned BBQ & Candidate Forum in the Community Room at Town Hall. The event, which is hosted by Cornelius Today, costs $9 to attend. The price includes a traditional pork barbecue lunch, complete with cole slaw, beans, cookies […]
Aug. 14. By Dave Yochum. A national debate over Confederate monuments is unfolding again in Cornelius where it emerged two years ago during a wave of vandalism. The Confederate Veterans Monument on Zion Avenue has been spray painted with a bright blue “X” through the words Confederate Soldiers carved in stone 107 years ago. On […]
ARCHIVES…Aug. 7, 2015. By Dave Yochum. The last official Confederate Reunion may have been held more than 65 years ago in Cornelius, but the Civil War and how its dead are remembered is still the subject of discussion. Volunteers and trustees of the Mt. Zion Monument Association took scrub brushes and power washers in hand […]
A landmark—but dilapidated—80-year-old building near the corner of North Main and Catawba downtown will be demolished to make way for a mixed-use project that will likely include a restaurant. The property, which was once a pawn shop and is the home of the Blumengarten florist shop for one more week, was purchased by Legacy Pointe […]
Aug. 13. By Dave Vieser. Quantum Technology LLC, a defense contractor which specializes in IT projects, will build a three-story building at the intersection of Bethel Church Road and Jetton Road Extension. The company currently operate out of smaller quarters on West Catawba Avenue, south of Nantz Road. “With the town’s approval, we are aiming […]
Dear EarthTalk: What exactly is Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and how does it work to train activists? — Kelly G., Washington, DC The Climate Reality Project (CRP) is a non-profit launched in 2011 by Nobel laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to address climate change following up on the release of […]
Aug. 10. It’s been almost a year and a half since the NCDOT asked towns like Cornelius and Huntersville to outline suggested changes in the 50-year CINTRA I-77 toll lane contract. To date, they have received no response from the state and that has elected officials extremely concerned especially since a decision on the future […]
By Dave Vieser. When conversation in the Golden Crescent—the motorsports region from Lake Norman to Cabarrus—turns to traffic, I-77 is normally front and center. However, there’s another traffic corridor that is getting a significant amount of attention: Hwy. 73. A 35-mile stretch from Lincoln County on the west to Concord eastward is like a Main […]
Aug. 10. By Dave Vieser. A community meeting at Cornelius Town Hall last night brought out way more Davidson residents than Cornelius residents, but they seemed equally concerned. The vast majority of the project—nearly 300 apartments and townhomes—is located in Davidson where residents have been up in arms about Crescent Acquisitions’ proposal. Crescent is one of the top […]
Aug. 9. By Dave Vieser. The required community meeting to discuss nine new homes in Cornelius—they’re part of an adjoining 295-unit development in Davidson near the YMCA—has generated a fair share of controversy...and it hasn’t even occurred yet. The meeting, at 6 pm this evening at Town Hall, will focus on only the Cornelius portion […]
By Dave Vieser. What a difference a year can make. That’s certainly true when it comes to Lake Norman this summer. It’s the amount of precipitation our area has experienced which has made the difference. WeatherUnderground says we are more than five inches above average for rainfall through Aug. 6. You can see it in lake levels. […]
Aug. 7. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board unanimously approved plans for a new Mama’s Pizza building, more than twice the size of the existing facility. Business owner Frank Manis, a Cornelius resident, plans to erect a good-looking, 5,250-square-foot structure on the land behind the current restaurant, which will eventually be demolished. The […]
Aug. 7. By Dave Vieser. If all goes as planned, there will be a new home for Mama’s Pizza on South Main Street by Labor Day of next year. Owner Frank Manis will present his plans to the town board tonight, and if approved, the new facility should be open in about a year. Manis plans to erect […]
By Dave Vieser. Crescent Acquisitions’ plan to build nine homes in Cornelius as part of an adjoining 295-unit development in Davidson hit an unanticipated bump in the road in July when town officials notified them that the location for a future traffic circle/roundabout had been moved westward, thereby slicing off some of the property within their […]
When Sue Beard tells you about her favorite recipe, the aroma from days long past comes back. “I like sharing this recipe not only because it is such a traditional southern dessert but primarily because it brings back so many wonderful family times and aromas from my grandmother’s kitchen in Alabama that I remember as […]
Aug. 4. Cornelius Police have released the name of the 29-year-old Cornelius man who came into the lobby of police headquarters, asked to speak to officers and show them his car which “contained various ingredients that could cause an explosion.” John Patrick Rees, of 20803 Sterling Bay Lane E Apt B, was still being interviewed […]
UPDATE 5 pm. There were apparently almost all the makings of a credible bomb in the dark Mercedes Benz parked in front of the Cornelius Police Station Friday afternoon. Police say a 29-year-old Cornelius man walked in the station before noon today and explained he had the materials for a bomb outside in the […]
UPDATE—There were apparently the makings of a credible bomb in a Mercedes Benz parked in front of the Cornelius Police Station Friday afternoon. The situation began around 1 pm, according to police officers, who at the time thought there could be a bomb the four-door sedan parked opposite Town Hall, which was soon evacuated. A […]
By Dave Vieser. There has been a 58 percent reduction in accidents at the Exit 28 interchange in Cornelius since the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) opened in 2014. Our stats tend to mirror those from other parts of the country where the innovative interchange has been implemented. Cornelius was the first in the state. It’s […]
Aug. 4. By Dave Vieser. When some local governments are under fire for not providing enough opportunities for citizen input on new development projects, Cornelius officials are considering an additional public hearing near the start of the conditional zoning approval process. If it all sounds technical, it’s not. Right now big projects can move forward […]
Aug.1. By Marco Wertheimer. Hundreds of residents—and plenty of political candidates—turned out for National Night Out at Smithville Park Tuesday and were treated to free hot dogs, snow cones and chips. Hosted by the Cornelius Police and the Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture department, the event was one of thousands held nationwide on the first […]
By Dave Yochum. NC Sen. Jeff Tarte attended the Executive Education program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University for senior government executives in July. Tarte, the former mayor of Cornelius, landed a $13,000 scholarship to attend the $14,000 program. The scholarship was funded by venture capitalist Charles Kahn whose plan is […]
By Dave Yochum. When he officially takes office in December, Woody Washam will bring a sense of old and new as well as east and west to the center seat at the dais in Town Hall. He was born and raised here and vividly remembers the way Cornelius was: From Mrs. Harrill’s five and dime […]
The Cornelius Police and the Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department (PARC) are hosting “National Night Out” this evening at Smithville Community Park. The event, which runs from 6 pm to 8 pm, is free. The focus is on building and maintaining relations between the police and the community. The annual event has fun […]
July 31. By Dave Yochum. The Cornelius Police Department has installed carbon monoxide detectors in 18 Ford Explorers after nationwide reports of potentially dangerous levels of CO in the popular police vehicles. Austin, Texas, pulled more than 400 Ford Explorers from its fleet last week. The 18 Ford Explorers represent 25 percent of the town’s […]
By Marco Wertheimer. The candidate pool for the upcoming Cornelius Town Board election is set. With a record 11 candidates vying for five spots on the town board, the election Nov. 7 looks like it will be a horse race. There were 10 candidates in 2013, a record at the time. Among the more remarkable […]
July 25. By Dave Vieser. Real estate developer Charter Realty & Development has begun marketing a retail project on 11 acres between West Catawba and Knox Road, suggesting the town at some point will enable the development to move forward. Signs have been erected during the past week stating “shopping center coming soon.” Charter Cornelius, a division […]
July 26. There’s a young man on Shevington Drive who has a very green thumb. Eight-year-old Andrew Tarkovich is growing tomato plants that are almost seven feet tall and it’s not even August. His plants are tall enough for a photo spread in National Tomato Journal. Andrew has already been harvesting vegetables since March. His […]
July 21. Woodrow Washam Jr. will be the next mayor of Cornelius. As of noon today, no one else has filed to run against the long-time community leader, two-term town commissioner, banker and church organist. He has strong ties to the east side of town, where he was born and raised, and the west side […]
July 21. And…it looks like there will be 11 candidates for the five-member Cornelius Town Commission on the November ballot. “Anti toll conservative” business leader Tricia Sisson filed yesterday to run for the non-partisan governing board. And Magnolia Estates resident Richard Stillwell, who ran for mayor back in 2007, says he will file to run […]
By Dave Yochum. While the Town of Cornelius has decided it can regulate how people can store boats in their yards—we can, but we’ll be fined—the town can’t seem to do anything about a hulking brick ruin of a house on Bethel Church Road. It sits like a monster in a nightmare, but one that’s […]
July 17. Combine breakfast and lunch and you get brunch. Starting Sunday, you can also get adult beverages at Cornelius restaurants, starting at 10 am. Cornelius commissioners approved the so-called “brunch bill” at their Monday July 17 meeting. The law was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 30. However, local towns and cities must […]
Dear EarthTalk: What are some ways companies are using plastic waste from the ocean in their products to take a stand for the environment? —Simone LaTourneau, Boston, MA A recent study published in the journal Science estimates that there are some 86 million metric tons of plastic in the world’s oceans today—and that every year […]
July 15. UPDATED. By Marco Wertheimer. Three more candidates filed Friday to run for the Cornelius town board at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. The new candidates, Kurt Naas, Michelle Ferlauto, and William J Rakatansky, have deep roots in the anti-toll movement. Dr. Michael Miltich, an incumbent with anti-toll street cred, filed for re-election […]
July 14. It won’t be until Monday that Cornelius commissioners will consider the so-called “brunch bill” which, if approved, would permit businesses that sell alcohol to be begin selling beer, wine, and distilled spirits at 10 am on Sundays, rather than noon. The law was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 30. However, local […]
July 12 UPDATED. Cornelius Mayor Pro-Tem Woody Washam officially filed Friday with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections to run for mayor in November. The week after Washam filed, Mayor Chuck Travis said he will not seek re-election. “As mayor, my No. 1 priority will be to serve as a strong voice for my […]
July 11. By Dave Vieser. [Updated 3 pm] A prime 11-acre development site on West Catawba, once slated to be a Food Lion, looks like it will be developed under a proposal submitted by the owner, Charter Cornelius. “Catawba at Knox” will be discussed in detail at a Pre-Development Meeting in Town Hall on Thursday. […]
July 10. Arts, culture and food will come together in a big way Sept. 8 when the Arts & Science Council hosts the Culture Feast in downtown Cornelius at the same time it’s held in the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza in Uptown Charlotte. “We have seen how people from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, socio-economic levels, […]
Dear EarthTalk: Does Volvo’s embrace of electric cars signal the beginning of the end of the gas-powered internal combustion engine? – Macy Vigneault, New Orleans, LA Volvo has announced that it will only sell hybrid and electric cars beginning in 2019, signaling a shift in the auto industry as a whole toward more fuel-efficient […]
By Dave Yochum. Justin Dionne has been cast in the role of a lifetime. At age 32, he is the new executive director of the Cornelius Arts Center. The multimillion-dollar facility will be built in the center of town, just to the west of the Police Station. He’s played this part before: Dionne was the […]
July 12 UPDATE. Cornelius Mayor Pro-Tem Woody Washam has officially filed with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections to run for mayor in November. Shortly after Washam filed, Mayor Chuck Travis said he will not seek re-election. “After being asked and encouraged to run by many community and business leaders, I’ve now decided to step […]
July 6. Lake Norman is hosting the NC Little League 8-10 Year Old Softball State Championship at North Mecklenburg Park beginning July 7. Lake Norman Little League is sending four All-Star teams to the championships. In addition to Lake Norman’s 8-10 year-old All-Star softball team advancing directly to the state tournament, three baseball All-Star teams brought […]
July 6. Tonya Rivens, one of the most well-known products of Smithville and Cornelius, is the new co-host of the 8 am “couch chat” on WCCB’s News Rising morning show. WCCB is part of The CW Television Network, commonly referred to as The CW. It’s a limited liability joint venture between CBS, the former owners of United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. The former on-air […]
Dear EarthTalk: Is the federal government’s decision to take Yellowstone’s grizzlies off of the endangered species list good news or bad news for the iconic bear? — Jeffrey Elder, Los Angeles, CA It depends who you ask. The majority of environmental and wildlife advocates would prefer to keep endangered species protections in place for Yellowstone’s […]
June 30. If you were planning a wedding or special event at The Pearl, you better look for another venue. The Pearl has closed after almost four years in the colorful Lakeshore Marketplace mixed-use project on West Catawba. The web site has been taken down, the furnishings removed and the front door displays a […]
June 28. By Dave Yochum. The Cornelius Arts Center, with $100,000 fresh under its belt thanks to NC Rep. John Bradford and the NC Legislature, will soon take on the task of selecting an architect for the multimillion-dollar project. It’s possible one will be selected as early as August, according to Justin Dionne, the new […]
June 27. Three more Cornelius residents, all with strong ties to the anti-toll movement, say they will run for the Cornelius Town Board. There are now 10 people who say they will file in July to get on the November ballot. There are only five seats on the non-partisan board. A current commissioner, Mayor Pro Tem […]
June 24. NC Sen. Jeff Tarte, the former mayor of Cornelius, has secured $200,000 in discretionary money for Charlotte-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas. The funding was announced at a Big Day at the Lake reception last night. On hand were Cornelius Commissioners Thurman Ross and Jim Duke, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham, NC Rep. […]
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest in greener booze? Are there any good organic beers, wines or liquors out there? Perhaps no other industry has responded to the greening of consumer preferences quite like beverage producers. From wine to beer to spirits, greener choices made from local and organic ingredients and packaged in lighter-weight containers […]
June 23. The grand opening of the new Charlotte Area Transportation System Park and Ride lot on Sefton Park Road, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed due to the weather, but snazzy new buses are already in service. CATS has 11 “luxury” buses to supplement the express route fleet and enhance trip comfort. The […]
June 21. Mecklenburg County Commissioners have eliminated the weekend entrance fees at Jetton Park. The unanimous vote followed a brief discussion with the head of the county parks system, James Garges, who said the only other park which had entrance fees was McDowell Park, but they had been eliminated about eight years ago. Ramsey Creek Park […]
June 21. If you ever wonder if you moved to the right town, worry no more. MSN/Lifestyle puts Cornelius at No. 5 on the list of 10 best lake towns in the United States. MSN Reporter Clara Appelbaum says Cornelius is an “awesome: lake town: “For city slickers, Cornelius, North Carolina, is the perfect town to […]
June 19. By Dave Vieser. It will be easier to commute to jobs in Charlotte when the new Charlotte Area Transportation System Park and Ride lot opens on Sefton Park Road on Friday. The mayors of Cornelius and Davidson will officiate at the ribbon cutting at 10 am which heralds changes in routes and schedules, including […]
June 16. There was a packed house last night for Susan Tillis’ third annual Red, White and Bundled Baby Shower at Cornelius Town Hall. People came from Cornelius, Huntersville and Davidson, and from far and wide, to bring baby items and welcome home packages for newborns of junior enlisted at Fort Bragg. The annual income for the recipient families is approximately […]
June 15. United Way of Central Carolinas will contribute $340,785 to Ada Jenkins in Davidson, as part of a strategy focused on building stronger neighborhoods, improving the systems that serve children and families, and providing basic needs support across our region. The targeted approach will be fueled by broad civic engagement that brings together the […]
By Kate Stevens. Mayoral candidate Laurie Venzon feels it is time for new leadership to guide future growth in Davidson, a town facing increasing pressure to develop at a rate she says many residents are unhappy with. “It’s important that we can re-establish trust with the residents and the citizen survey indicated not only […]
June 12. Tricia Sisson, the Lake Norman Chamber Board’s membership services chair, has announced her candidacy for Town Commissioner in Cornelius. As of right now, there are at least seven candidates for the five open seats on the Town Board. “Cornelius needs a collective voice in the Lake Norman community, and a strong leader who […]
June 13. Paddleboard entrepreneur Rob Bennett has a new business that will enable more people to get out on Lake Norman for fun, with or without a beer in their hand. Bennett, the owner of My Aloha Paddle and Surf, is the member/organizer of Charlotte Cycleboats, a water-based spinoff of land-based pedaling party pubs. “Cycleboats provide […]
Dear EarthTalk: How are farms and farmers dealing with climate change? —Michael Harris, Lorton, VA Agriculture may well be one of the industries hardest hit by the effects of global warming. The non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a leading environmental advocacy group, reports that warming-related drought and flooding is already behind tens of billions […]
June 6. By a 4-1 vote, the Cornelius Town Board adopted the 2017-2018 budget at their Monday June 5 meeting. The $22.5 million spending plan retains property taxes at the current tax rate of 25.5 cents/$100 assessed tax value, the lowest town tax rate in the region. Prior to the vote, four residents spoke, all generally in […]
June 5. By Dave Vieser. Despite the fact that it passed unanimously on May 15, an ordinance governing outdoor storage rules—it puts new limits on the size and quantity of cars, boats and trailers in yards—will be debated by Cornelius commissioners again tonight. “Our town attorney is just erring on the side of caution to make sure the language […]
It looks like Cornelius commissioners will officially ask Mecklenburg County to eliminate entrance fees at Jetton Park. The resolution mirrors a motion adopted last month by the town’s Parks Arts Recreation & Culture Department board. Among the hundreds of parks run by the county, Jetton Park is the only park other than Ramsey Creek, where an entrance […]
May 30. A touching Memorial Day service on the lawn at Town Hall yesterday focused on America’s fallen soldiers dating back to the Revolutionary War. The event was hosted by American Legion Post 86, which also provided the 21-gun salute, a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Keynote speaker Lt. Col. Shawn Cowley, a retired […]
May 25. Good old Cornelius has placed in the top 100 best small-sized cities in the United States to start a business, according to a personal finance web site study released in April. Cornelius ranked 80th out of more than 1,200 U.S. cities in an economic analysis for start-ups conducted by WalletHub.com. To determine the rankings, […]
May 21. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board has approved a zoning amendment tthat makes life a little easier for homeowners who live next to a prospective development site. Developers must either deactivate conditional zoning applications if there’s no activity after six months. It means developments that have stalled for one reason or another […]
Why do rooftop solar panels have to be so big and unsightly? Are there any better-looking alternatives out there? — Maise Lipscomb, Helena, MT If aesthetics is the reason you’ve been holding off on converting your home to solar power, 2017 just might be the year for you to take the renewables leap. For starters, […]
May 19. Saying that she will “meet the challenge of balanced growth, low taxes and creative solutions, family literacy advocate and community volunteer Ava Callender has declared her candidacy for Cornelius Town Board. If elected, she would be the first woman on the town board since 2009 and 2011 when Lynette Rinker was elected. She […]
May 17. By Dave Yochum. Cornelius is one of those places where some people get their boats detailed as often as their cars. And some don’t. It’s also the kind of place where homeowners’ associations keep things in their neighborhood nice and tidy. And a place where plenty of others yearn to be free of […]
May 16. By Dave Vieser. Less than a month after loose steel reflectors became a critical safety issue in the I-77 construction zone, it turns out a dump truck being operated by a Cintra sub-contractor caused massive gridlock in Cornelius and on the interstate last Friday May 12. The accident happened around 12:30 am in […]
May 16. By Dave Yochum. On Monday night, Mecklenburg County Park Director Jim Garges let the Town Board know there are 50 new parking spaces, new signs and surveillance cameras wired directly to the Police Station as well as a variety of new procedures at Ramsey Creek Park. Whether Nantz Road residents will be happy […]
May 15. Dave Vieser. Local education leaders are launching a new private school called the K-2 Academy with its first campus to be in Davidson. K-2 is currently enrolling their inaugural class of 20 lower elementary students from Kindergarten through second grade for the 2017-2018 school year. They will add upper elementary level students in the 2018-2019 […]
By Allen T. Gunn. “Allen’s gift for Mother’s Day is cleaning out the storage unit.” Simple words said by a mother with such excitement. A simple gesture that means the world. I shrug my shoulders and responded, “If that’s all you want.” Mother’s Day shouldn’t be complicated, even though I have two mothers. It doesn’t take much […]
Fundraisers for research are June 4th & 5th Allison and Jon Cowherd are doing something about childhood cancer: They’re organizing the Pound Out Pediatric Cancer Community Event Sunday June 4 at Oak Street Mill. And they’re also running the Pounding for Parker Golf Tournament June 5 at Northstone Country Club. Proceeds from both events will […]
Is it true that fuel cell cars are finally available for mainstream drivers in the U.S.? — Jack Mixson, Wilmington, DE For years, green car enthusiasts have been heralding the dawn of a new era of pollution-free driving powered by fuel cells, which combine readily available hydrogen with oxygen to fire up […]
May 12. It looks like it was near gridlock at times this morning on West Catawba as repairs to a sign on I-77 apparently snarled traffic from I-485 all the way north to Langtree Road/Exit 31. Congestion is so bad that motorists have diverted to other routes causing much heavier traffic on Catawba Avenue through […]
Instagram, the photo-based social network which Facebook bought in 2012 for a cool $1 billion, continues to rack up new users, doubling its base to 700 million monthly active users over the last two years. Environmental groups, activists and photographers have realized that they can get their messages out more effectively by embracing this newfangled […]
High on a mountain in northern Vietnam, the fertile wealth of forests and paddies belies the poverty of the people who live among them. Most houses are thin screens of wood with mud floors and no doors. Chickens and pigs wander in and out of the kitchens, and outhouses—when they exist—are often positioned directly over […]
These corporations have registered with the N.C. Secretary of State. Davidson Records 8/17/17 Famous Toastery of Matthews LLC, Richard J. Kline, 215 South Main St., Ste. 301, Davidson 8/17/17 Mainely Ventures Inc., Scott Harrison, 155 Logan Crossing Dr., Davidson 8/17/17 Meili Properties Ltd. LLC, Felipe Navarro, 13333 Robert Walker Dr., Davidson 8/17/17 Nicolle Anderson Properties […]
These corporations have registered with the N.C. Secretary of State. Cornelius Records 8/14/17 Tailored Home Care II Inc., Emily Anne Cosgrove, 19109 West Catawba Ave., Ste. 200, Cornelius 8/14/17 Whole Healthy Well by Mel LLC, Melanie Van Heel, 20730 Waters Edge Ct., Cornelius 8/15/17 Brother Tucker LLC, Andrew Tucker, 11410 Potters Row, Cornelius 8/15/17 JAZZ […]
Joseph Richards Shelton Jr., 96
