Demand is growing in the Charlotte region for a new program teaching kids how to fix their own healthy foods – requests are now coming from organizations serving adults with developmental disabilities and pediatric cardiology patients. Kids Heart Felt Health uses high school honor students to teach elementary and middle school students how to fix their own favorite foods such as pizza in a fun, heart-healthy manner. The program was begun by Claudine Lovitt after her own daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. “After a recent article about our program appeared in the media, I was contacted by the

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Worms aren’t just for bait anymore. With a little encouragement, they can help make your yard the envy of the block. “Compost Camp” is a special composting how-to workshop that includes special instruction on how earthworms can be added to compost to make it even better for fertilizing your landscape. (Compost that has been helped along by earthworms has even been shown to help in warding off common garden pests, like the pesky horned tomato worm.) Of course, we can also show you how to make the compost. It’s cheap, and it’s easy to do. Compost Camp is offered in

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The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is expanding its annual “Students Saving Summer Scholarship” program. Students who organize and host a successful blood drive with CBCC between the months of June and September 2011 have the chance to earn scholarship money for college. The students who hold the top-five-producing blood drives will each earn a $1,000 scholarship for their post-secondary education. There will be a total of five $1,000 scholarships awarded from CBCC instead of the three offered in past years. “School breaks and family vacations make the summer months a challenging time for blood collection,” said Martin

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Between April 14-30, 2011, customers who donate a gently used pair of men’s or women’s shoes to either Paul Simon Co. men’s store in Myers Park (1027 Providence Road) and The Village at SouthPark (4300 Sharon Road) will receive $35 off a new pair of Allen Edmonds shoes purchased at these locations. For information on store hours and inventory, call Paul Simon Co. at 704-372-6824 (Myers Park) and at 704-366-4523 (The Village at SouthPark). For questions about the program, call Elizabeth Hyland at 704-332-5822, x223. All donated shoes will be contributed to Jacob’s Ladder’s – a Charlotte non-profit organization that

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Bank of America has just announced a 100 million yen ($1.22 million) commitment to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. This includes a 50 million yen grant to the American Red Cross (ARC), which is partnering with the Japanese Red Cross Society to help meet the immediate needs of survivors. “We are determined to do our part in ensuring that the communities affected by this tragedy receive relief and refuge as soon as possible,” said Brian T. Moynihan, president and chief executive officer of Bank of America. “We are coordinating with employees in Japan and across the

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Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg ADW Unit have arrested Casey Rhyne, DOB: 09/24/1980, and charged him with (Felony) Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury, in reference to an assault which took place at 210 East Trade Street, on December 20, 2010. The victim in this incident, Yacine Moudarrir, is still receiving rehabilitation for the brain injury caused by the assault. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact ADW Detective Brandy Lingle at 704 432-3427. For further information on this incident, reference CMPD complaint number 2010-1220-021800.

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On Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 7:20 a.m., Patrol Officer Jeff Templeton with the Central Division responded to a disabled vehicle, a Chevy Impala, on the outer loop of I-277 approaching Carson Boulevard. The disabled vehicle, occupied by a driver and two passengers, was parked on the left side of the roadway in the breakdown lane, out of the travel lanes. Officer Templeton exited his vehicle and began to assist the motorist. Moments later, a Toyota Camry crashed into the rear of Officer Templeton’s marked CMPD cruiser; Officer Templeton was outside the vehicle at the time of the crash. The

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Cannon Memorial YMCA’s three branches, West Cabarrus, Kannapolis, and Harrisburg, offer children the opportunity to experience hands on indoor and outdoor camp fun, keep kids active and excited rather than spending too much time watching TV and playing video games. They will enjoy a variety of summer activities with their friends during each camp session. Weekly themes create an atmosphere of fun and learning at the same time. The themes guide the weekly activities like arts and crafts, nature activities, games, contests and team building games. Please note that the themes and activities will vary by branch and are subject

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Three Charlotte-area health facilities will be hosting a video casting call for families who are interested in participating in a new educational documentary program for North Carolina. The casting calls will take place at the following locations: • Levine Jewish Community Center of Charlotte (Levine JCC) located at 5007 Providence Road will host casting calls Sunday, March 6, 11am-2pm and Wednesday, March 9, 6:15pm-8:15pm. • University City YMCA located at 8100 Old Mallard Creek Road will host casting calls on Thursday, March 10, 6pm-8pm and Saturday, March 12, 10am-Noon • Lifestyle Family Fitness Center located at 9915 E. Independence Blvd.

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Australian rockers Sick Puppies and former “American Idol” contestant Kimberly Caldwell will headline the third annual Green Party presented by Kiss 95.1 at the Bud Light Pavilion on Saturday, March 12 at 5 p.m. Sick Puppies’ initial success came on the back of the 2006 single “All the Same” off their sophomore album Dressed Up as Life, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The trio’s popularity grew with the release of 2009’s Tri-Polar, which spawned the singles “You’re Going Down” and “Odd One,” which both entered the top 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The

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