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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 […]
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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 […]
The Cornelius Police and the Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department (PARC) will host a National Night Out Celebration Aug. 1 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 […]
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 […]
July 23. Aquesta Financial Holdings reported unaudited net income during the second quarter of 2017 fell to $482,000 (15 cents per share) compared to second quarter of 2016 net income of $623,000 (20 cents per share). Total assets were $356.6 million at the end of the second quarter vs. $353.1 million at year-end. “The primary […]
The Davidson Police Department in partnership with the Davidson Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Lake Davidson Clean Up 8:30 am to noon this Saturday. Volunteers will meet at the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve entrance and will divide into teams to go from there. Volunteers will be provided with rubber gloves, trash bags, and litter […]
Richard Lubold, 87
