Judith Ripka, known for her 18K gold and sterling silver luxury jewelry, is offering 50 to 70% off and sample sale prices in Charlotte, for the first time ever outside of New York City. WHEN: The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte: • Thursday, January 27, 2011 from 10am – 6pm • Friday, January 28, 2011 from 10am – 5pm Doubletree Guest Suites Charlotte Southpark: • Saturday, January 29, 2011 from 10am – 6pm • Sunday, January 30, 2011 from 10am – 6pm WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte 201 East Trade Street Charlotte, NC 28202 -and- Doubletree Guest Suites Charlotte Southpark 6300 Morrison Blvd. Charlotte,

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Fine art portraiture artists, Crider’s Photography, has partnered with Easter Seals UCP to create a 2011 Angels of Faith calendar featuring local children photographed as angels. The motivation behind this calendar is Ethan DeJarnette, who is ten years old and has cerebral palsy. He is the nephew of a Crider’s Photography employee. The calendar fundraiser has so far raised more than $9,000 for Easter Seals UCP, a nonprofit that serves children and adults with disabilities and mental health challenges. The fundraiser began in July when Crider’s photographed area children as angels and donated $50 from each portrait session to Easter

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Crosland, one of the Southeast’s leading diversified real estate firms, announces several new openings and tenant signings at various third-party managed and leased retail centers throughout the Charlotte area. Colony Shops Ruby’s Gift (1,323 sf) opened its doors at Colony Shops in early December. As the retailer’s third Charlotte location, Ruby’s Gift delivers to Charlotte customers one-of-a-kind creative gift options to meet everyone’s budget. Offering exquisite and unique jewelry and accessories, Ruby’s Gift is the perfect place to find a distinctive gift to celebrate a birthday, Christmas or special occasion. The Villa Om Spa Chiropractic & Wellness (3,048 sf) will

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Beginning in February, Leisure and Learn will be offered on the first and third Thursday of each month at Mallard Creek Recreation Center and William R. Davie Park. Each session cost $5. The series, which is offered for adults ages 50 – up, provides opportunities for participants to gain new experiences while spending time with others. Each session includes dynamic guest speakers, new and exciting workshops, and fantastic food. The first course is Thursday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Mallard Creek. The event will include a presentation from the Mecklenburg County Tax Office on property revaluation.

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For most of his adult life, Davidson physics professor Dan Boye has struck a perfect chord that harmonizes his dual passions of singing and science, bringing ovationsfrom opera lovers and physics students alike. Boye’s upcoming performance as Baron Douphol in Opera Carolina’s February production of La Traviata marks his 20-year anniversary and 27th mainstage role with the largest professional opera company in the Carolinas. The three performances at the Belk Theater, North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center are: Thurs., Feb. 3 – 7:30 p.m. / Sat., Feb. 5 – 8 p.m. / Sun., Feb. 6 – 2 p.m. For tickets,

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The Therapeutic Recreation Section invites the public to watch the gold medal winning US National Men’s Sled Hockey Team practice at the Extreme Ice Center, 4705 Indian Trail-Fairview Road, Indian Trail, NC on Saturday, January 29, 2011. The practice is at 4 p.m. followed by a “meet and greet” session at 5 p.m. The event is free to attend. Sled hockey was designed to allow participants who have a physical disability the chance to play ice hockey. The game adapts hockey using a sled with skates mounted under the seat and two modified sticks. The sport incorporates the same rules

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Professional Communications, a Matthews, N.C.-based video production agency, announced that it is holding a virtual casting call for a reality-style program titled “Health Crisis in Carolina: Real Families, Real Struggles, Real Solutions.” The agency is looking for interested families in the Charlotte metro region who are motivated to improve their health to participate in the project. Details about the virtual casting call are online at www.ProfessionalCommunications.com and the deadline for submissions is Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. Professional Communications has been awarded a contract to produce “Health Crisis in Carolina: Real Families, Real Struggles, Real Solutions” on behalf of the Physical

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Jacob’s Ladder Job Center, Inc. (Jacob’s Ladder) – a Charlotte non-profit organization that specializes in breaking the cycle of chronic unemployment through job readiness and related services – has announced that Jacob’s Ladder West has expanded to a new facility located at 2201 Caronia Street in West Charlotte. Jacob’s Ladder West is now the anchor tenant of the new Center for Employment Services (the Center) located in the Charlotte Housing Authority’s Arbor Glen community. The fully renovated facility includes classrooms, a clothing closet, administrative offices, meeting space and a state-of-the-art computer lab. “Expanding our agency has been an exciting opportunity,”

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Dance from North Carolina Dance Theatre and fashion from Neiman Marcus unite for the fourth annual Runway for the Ballet on Saturday, February 5, 2011. Runway for the Ballet is presented by Carolinas Medical Center, the exclusive healthcare sponsor. Runway for the Ballet moves from its previous location in the Booth Playhouse to North Carolina Dance Theatre’s new facility, the Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance on North Tryon Street in uptown Charlotte. The Center for Dance features a performance venue, providing an intimate space for Runway for the Ballet. The shows “Mid-Winter Night’s Dream” theme gives attendees

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More public meetings concerning Mecklenburg County property revaluation have been announced, and a meeting postponed by icy weather has been rescheduled. Revaluation is the process of reappraisal of all properties within the County for tax assessment purposes, and is required once at least every eight years by North Carolina law. The last reappraisal in Mecklenburg County was in 2003. Over time, the real estate market changes, and market prices deviate from the assessed values estimated during the previous reappraisal. A revaluation does two important things: 1) Brings assessed value estimates back to current market price levels, and 2) Clears up

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