Mecklenburg County government offices and agencies will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26, 2010 for the Thanksgiving holiday. This includes all units of the Department of Social Services, the Tax Office, Elections Office, the Register of Deeds Office, and the Land Use and Environmental Services Office. Mecklenburg County Substance Abuse Center (Detox) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Department of Social Services Care Line (704-336-CARE or 704-336-2773) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or disabled adults.

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Certified athletic trainers will be placed in all Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CMS) high schools over the next five years under an agreement announced today between CMS and Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS). The athletic trainers, who will be CHS employees, will be nationally certified and state licensed, and will direct efforts to protect the health and safety of student athletes in all sports. The action follows growing concern nationwide about athletic injuries, especially concussions sustained by football players and sudden cardiac deaths. “This is a remarkable opportunity for us to ensure that our student-athletes are receiving the best care while they take part

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The School Nurses Association of North Carolina (SNANC) is urging all Charlotte parents to have their preteen and teenage children vaccinated against meningococcal disease now that school is back in session. Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and take the life of a child in just a single day. Public health officials recommend meningococcal vaccination for preteens and teens; however, a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey found that in North Carolina, less than half of adolescents 13 through 17 years of age have been vaccinated against the disease. This

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit Detectives are conducting a homicide investigation into a shooting death at the Silver Fox club, 3935 Statesville Avenue. The victim was identified as Juquina Harris, age 28. Metro Division officers responded to a call for service which came in as a shooting in the parking lot of club Silver Fox. When officers arrived on scene, they found a female lying on the ground outside the club suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by Medic at 2:13 a.m. Initial statements from witnesses in the parking lot area are that

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Union Presbyterian Seminary announces the launch of Union Live. Union Live is the seminary’s new communication channel which utilizes webcast technology to provide interactive learning opportunities. Now online audiences have the ability to participate in book lectures, guest speaker presentations and training classes no matter where they are physically located. Union Live presentations are offered at no charge to the participants as a resource for the church and anyone interested in theological education. The first presentation of Union Live was The Dean’s Forum on Faculty Research which featured the recently published book by Professor Mark Valeri, Heavenly Merchandize: How Religion

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The Mecklenburg County Tax Collector reminds property owners that if they have not yet paid their real estate, individual personal property, and vehicle taxes for the year, their tax bills will go to the North Carolina State Department of Revenue for collection. The Debt Setoff Collection Act allows for the County to notify the State of delinquent taxes. Any state income tax refund due the taxpayer may be applied to the debt. A $15.00 collection fee will be added to the bill if it is submitted for setoff. To avoid collection action, the property owner must pay the bill immediately

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Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association reports on the residential real estate market in this region based on Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CMLS) data. The number of closings for October 2010 (1,695) decreased 23.3 percent compared to October 2009 when closings totaled 2,210. Compared to September 2010, closings increased 2.2 percent. The average sales price for October 2010 ($202,840) is up 3.4 percent over October 2009 ($196,204), but was down slightly, 0.5 percent, over the September 2010 average sales price ($203,799). The average listing price of homes sold in October 2010 ($231,491) was up 6.2 percent compared to October 2009 ($218,050),

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Mecklenburg County Wipe Out Waste Day will be held Saturday, November 13, 9:00 a.m. – Noon; at all 4 Mecklenburg County Recycling Centers. County Full-Service Recycling Centers are located at: North Mecklenburg Recycling Center and Yard Waste 12300 N. Statesville Rd. West Mecklenburg Recycling Center 8440 Byrum Dr. Foxhole Recycling Center and Yard Waste 17131 Lancaster Hwy. In the new era where protecting personal information and the environment is equally important, there is a much better solution to getting rid of that dangerous stuff, and on the upcoming Wipe Out Waste (WOW) Day, residents can do it safely and for

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Charlotte – What are the most promising therapies to treat Parkinson’s disease? Dr. Danielle Englert, neurologist with Carolinas Center for Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders, will give a free talk on the latest treatments for Parkinson’s, including deep brain stimulation. The free presentation is on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 5 pm, at The Ivey, 6030 Park South Drive in Charlotte. Reservations are requested at 704/909-2070. This event is part of a regular support group for people with Parkinson’s and their families. The group meets at The Ivey on the third Tuesday of each month. Newcomers are welcome to join the support

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A coalition of organizations, including Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services’ Women’s Commission, is seeking to increase the collective voice of women and women’s rights advocates in the North Carolina legislature. On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Women’s Agenda Assembly will be held to discuss recommendations for changing public policies to better meet the needs of women and their communities. The assembly begins at 5:30 p.m. Community Support Services’ Women’s Commission is a local partner along with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Women’s Summit, UNCC Women’s & Gender Studies Program the Women’s Advisory Board and North Carolina Council for Women. The Women’s Agenda

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