ORGANIZATION: Charlotte Dance Festival

TIMES: Sat, July 31

COST: Free

For National Dance Day Open Door Studios, Caroline Calouche & CO and Create Don't Hate productions are offering free classes and a hip- hop jam! Open Door Studios is hosting a free ballet class starting at 10 AM. At Carolina Stars Caroline Calouche & Co is giving a free youth dance class starting at 9 for ages 4-9 and a free aerial class for teens and adults at 11. There is also a free aerial class at inner peaks at the same time. And to cap it all of Create Don't Hate Productions is dancing in the streets with a hip-hop jam, located behind the alley way of Story Book in front of Actor's Theatre.

Open Door Studios, Inner Peaks, Carolina Stars, Actors Theatre 1318-D1 Central Ave, Clt, NC 28205/9535 Monroe Rd. Clt NC 28270/ 4201 Pleasant Rd Fort Mill SC 29708/ 650 East Stonewall St. 28202 charlotte, NC 28226 704 804 2731

Charlotte Dance Festival
10515 Hawick Ct
Charlotte, NC 28226
702-804-2731

AOMY Family FUN Day Fundraiser

Freedom Park

ORGANIZATION: All Of Me and You

TIMES: Sat, July 31 11:00am - 4:00pm

COST: $0 - $5

Come to Freedom Park for a day of Family FUN.

There will be food, games,raffles, family and fun.

Come find out about our new organization All Of Me and You whose purpose is to cultivate an appreciation for education, good character and etiquette while developing well- rounded, well-informed, well- prepared individuals.

We're not only committed to the youth we serve but to the families and communities they're a part of. Our character building and etiqutte training classes are designed to help our youth be productive members of their families and positive influences in their communities.

So come on down to Freedom Park and be ready for an awesome day full of family and fellowship.

Freedom Park
1900 East Blvd
Charlotte, NC

1st Annual Vacation Bible School

The Final Harvest Ministries, Inc.

ORGANIZATION: The Final Harvest Ministries, Inc.

TIMES: Mon, July 26 - Sat,
July 31 6:30pm- 8:00pm

COST: FREE

Theme: "2010 Lets all Win" which is encouraging the youth to make the right choices. The children will engage in activites, arts and crafts as well as fun games in a safe environment.

The Final Harvest
Ministries, Inc.
1200 Alleghany Street
Charlotte, NC 28208
704-499-2424

Realtors - Don't be afraid of the "Big Bad Short Sale"

Superior School of Real Estate

ORGANIZATION: Fifth Third Bank

TIMES: Mon, Aug. 2 9:00 AM - 10:00AM

COST: Free

This is a free event to teach real estate agents how to handle the short sale transaction as well as how to assist homebuyers through the renovations on these homes.

Superior School of Real Estate
14825 Ballantyne Village Way
Suite 240-15
Charlotte , NC 28277
704-944-4260

Fifth Third Bank
6310 Fairview Rd
Charlotte , NC 28210
704-554-2456

Vacation Bible School - High Seas Expedition

Aldersgate United Methodist Church

TIMES: Sun, Aug. 1 - Tue, Aug. 3 6PM-8:30PM

COST: Free

Dinner, crafts, games, Bible stories, and more!

Aldersgate United Methodist Church
5338 Nations Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28217

Below are some upcoming street closures:

Johnson Street: July 7, 2010 - August 5, 2010

Johnson St. between Brookshire Blvd. and Seaboard St. closed 7:00 a.m. 7/7/2010

Detour using Seaboard St., Hamilton Street and Polk St. Local access will be maintained

CATS will NOT be affected Re-opens 5:00 p.m. 8/5/2010

Q? Contact David Honeycutt at 704-336-2291

Euclid Avenue: July 6, 2010 - August 4, 2010

Euclid Ave. between Tremont Ave. and McDonald Ave. closed 9:00 a.m. 7/6/2010 Detour using McDonald Ave., Lyndhurst Ave. and Tremont Ave.

Local Access will be maintained CATS will NOT be affected Re-opens 5:00 p.m. 8/4/2010 Closed for storm drain work Q? Contact Scott Hudson at 704-336-3611

You are subscribed to Street Closings for CharMeck.org. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
Charlotte Department of Transportation

Road Closures: Hawthorne Lane and Shasta Lane

Hawthorne Lane: July 22, 2010 - August 6, 2010

CSX Railroad will close the 1000 block of Hawthorne Lane between Central Avenue and Parkwood Avenue daily from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. beginning 7/22/2010
Detour by following signs along Central Ave., The Plaza and Parkwood Ave. Local access to businesses will be maintained Congestion and delays are expected. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

CATS will not be affected Closure expected to end 4:00 p.m. 8/6/2010 Closed for railroad bridge repairs
Q? Contact Jimmy Rhyne at 704-336-3905
Shasta Lane: July 26, 2010 - August 9, 2010

Shasta Ln. between Nottingham Dr. and King Owen Court closes 9:00 a.m. 7/26/2010

Signs will be posted indicating the road is closed to through traffic Access to homes and businesses will be maintained, however there will be no through access on Shasta Ln. at approximately 350 Shasta Ln.

CATS will not be affected Re-opens 4:00 p.m. 8/9/2010 Closed for storm drain work associated with the Shasta Lane Sidewalk Project Q? Contact Angela Berry at aberry@charlottenc.gov or at 704-432-5259

North Carolina's Tax Free

G.S. 105-164.13C provides for a sales tax holiday on certain types of personal property sold between 12:01 A.M. on the first Friday in August and 11:59 P.M. the following Sunday.

Weekend: Aug. 6-8, 2010
Applies to:

"Clothing, footwear, and school supplies under $100

"Sports and recreation equipment under $50

"Computers under $3,500

"Computer equipment under $250

N.C. Health Leaders Promote Testing to Stop Spread of HIV and STDS

RALEIGH - Several counties in North Carolina are seeing a significant increase in sexually transmitted diseases, particularly syphilis. In Forsyth, Wake, Wayne and Mecklenburg counties the number of syphilis cases from January through September 2009 was at least double the number in the same time period in 2008, according to the latest quarterly North Carolina HIV/STD Surveillance Report from the states Division of Public Health.

In an effort to combat this increase, the state is redoubling its efforts to increase education, outreach and testing.

Statewide, a total of 684 cases of early (infectious) syphilis were reported in the state for the first nine months of 2009, nearly twice the number in the same time period last year. From January through September 2008, 359 cases of early syphilis were reported in North Carolina.

"We are very concerned about this serious increase in early infectious syphilis," said Evelyn Foust, director of the N.C. Communicable Disease Branch. "We want persons who are sexually active to be tested and to respond to possible symptoms by going to the doctor earlier, rather than later."

The Division of Public Health has partnered with local health departments to offer free testing for sexually transmitted diseases. Health teams comprised of staff from the local health departments and the Communicable Disease Branch are offering testing at stationary locations and are going door-to-door in communities across the state. Health educators are also conducting outreach events to educate the public on sexually transmitted diseases, particularly in areas with substantial increases in sexually transmitted diseases.

Large-scale testing events are also being held. In August, Forsyth County had a large-scale door-to-door community testing effort during which more than 600 people were tested. A large testing event is planned in Wayne County for Friday, Nov. 6.

The Communicable Disease Branch has sent a Public Health Alert about the increase in syphilis to local health directors and health care providers. One key message is that people who contract syphilis, which is a preventable and easily treatable STD, are at increased risk of getting HIV. To help reverse the current disease trends, health providers and clinicians are being asked to increase their screening efforts to assure that people with HIV and or syphilis are diagnosed and treated early in their disease.

"Sexually transmitted diseases are not affecting one specific group of people," said Foust. "It is important that anyone who is sexually active know their HIV and STD status in order to protect their health and the health of their partner. If you have not been tested for HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, contact your health care provider or your local health department and ask for a test," she said.

The quarterly North Carolina HIV/STD Surveillance Report contains the most recent case statistics about syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and AIDS for each quarter in the current year. It has statewide summaries of reports with breakdowns by sex, age group and race/ethnicity, as well as summaries of reports for each county. To view the report, visit www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/hiv/s tats.html. To get information on testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, visit www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/hiv/p roviders.html.
Contact: Carol Schriber, DHHS Public Affairs Office, 919-733-9190

College Students Urged to Get H1N1 Vaccination

RALEIGH  State Health Director Jeffrey Engel strongly urges young adults, including college students and teens, to get their H1N1 vaccinations before returning to campus from the winter break. According to statistics gathered by the N.C. Division of Public Health, people of college age are the least likely to be immunized against H1N1.

More than 495,000 students are enrolled in colleges in North Carolina. Vaccination efforts to date have reached just over 60,000 people between 19 years old and 24 years old statewide. Campus immunization campaigns appear to have reached just a fraction of that number. The latest estimates indicate that fewer than 13 percent of the H1N1 vaccine doses provided by the state went to traditional college- age students.

Our young people are our greatest resource, and we want to make sure they remain healthy, Dr. Engel said. The holidays are a perfect time for parents to ensure that their teens and college students are vaccinated against H1N1.

As of Dec. 15, North Carolina had reported 76 deaths from H1N1. While pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and young children are most at risk for complications, this strain of flu has had a disproportionate impact on young, healthy people.

We have good supplies of H1N1 vaccine on hand, Engel said. The peak of seasonal flu is approaching in late January. Getting both vaccinations now is the best way to protect yourself and your family against both seasonal and the H1N1 virus.

For updated information on vaccination clinics near you, visit flu.nc.gov.

N.C. Public Health receives funds for worksite wellness and tobacco cessation

RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $5.4 million to North Carolina to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health.

Making North Carolina a healthier state is a priority for Gov. Bev Perdue, in terms of both quality of life and from a statewide economic standpoint.

Having healthy, well- educated people will lower health care costs, increase productivity, and provide the best workforce in the country, said Gov. Perdue. All of those things are the best incentives to attract new and relocating businesses to North Carolina, Perdue said.

The award to North Carolina is part of $119.5 million going to the states as the first of several initiatives that make up the comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, which is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

North Carolina will be allotted $3.8 million over two years to reduce and prevent obesity across the state by improving opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy foods. Another $1.6 million is to be used for the N.C. Quitline telephone service, tobacco use prevention, and other programs to help people quit tobacco.

A focus of the funding is creating sustainable changes in work and community environments to support healthy lifestyles. North Carolina's efforts will involve many public and private partners at the state and local levels. A statewide worksite wellness initiative will encourage employers to make sustainable changes, such as establishing employee wellness policies to support healthy behaviors. Wellness experts from the public and private sectors will be part of a statewide Worksite Wellness Collaborative that promotes best practices and supports North Carolina employers in implementing comprehensive wellness programs.

The grants couldn't have come at a more critical time. In North Carolina, more than half of all deaths occur earlier than expected. Many of these premature deaths are related to chronic diseases that can be prevented or managed through physical activity, healthy eating, and avoiding tobacco use and exposure.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in North Carolina. An estimated 13,000 North Carolinians ages 35 years or older die each year from smoking-related causes. Poor nutrition and lack of adequate physical activity comprise the second leading preventable cause of death in the state. Two-thirds of North Carolina adults and one-third of our children are overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk of illness and death from coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, and several forms of cancer.

Poor eating habits and inactive lifestyles are at the root of so many of our health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer even arthritis and injuries, said State Health Director Jeff Engel, MD. These problems are largely preventable. We as a state must make it easier for people to eat smart and move more. The ARRA grants will allow North Carolina to continue its momentum in addressing tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and reducing obesity.
Contacts: Carol Schriber, N.C. DHHS Public Affairs Office, 919-733-9190