Nancy Bruss of Charlotte is one of the 150-word life stories being considered for publication in an upcoming issue of Reader’s Digest magazine. Bruss’ story is available for viewing at facebook.com/ReadersDigest. Locals can also show support by voting for Bruss’ story or any others they like at facebook.com/ReadersDigest. Her story: “Happy Mommy’s Day” by Nancy Bruss Happy Mommy’s Day! When one of my twin boys, David, was in kindergarten, they had to write a book about their Mommy to give to us as a surprise for Mother’s Day. I was surprised and thrilled when I received my gift that year

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Poisoned Pen Press announces the upcoming release of The Sandburg Connection by Charlotte novelist Mark de Castrique. The Sandburg Connection (Category: Mystery. Hardcover, ISBN: 978-1-59058-941-0, $24.95, 298 pages/Trade Paper, ISBN: 978-1-59058-943-4, 298 pages, $14.95/Large Print Trade Paper, ISBN: 978-1-59058-942-7, $22.95, 420 pages) will be available wherever fine books are sold on October 4, 2011. In a pre-publication Starred review, Publishers Weekly (July 29, 2011) calls The Sandburg Connection “Stellar… a marvelous blend of history and mystery. This strong regional mystery should resonate with a much wider audience.” Novelist Mark de Castrique has earned high praise from a variety of critics.

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For decades the Smith name has been associated with spectacular, one-of-a-kind pre-race shows at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but the stunt scheduled for the Oct. 15 Bank of America 500 will send Smith soaring skyward to new heights. In a first-of-its-kind attempt, Smith will try to set a Guinness World Record for the highest recorded human cannonball shot. Will it be Bruton Smith? Will it be Marcus Smith? Well, no. It will be world-renowned human cannonball David “The Bullet” Smith who will attempt to soar 90 feet in the air before the green flag flies on the only Saturday night race

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Sheriff Phillip Redmond of Iredell County is cleaning up the community in an unconventional way. His office recently converted 13 out of 150 Crown Vics to run on clean-burning, domestically produced propane autogas thanks in part to illegal activity – confiscated drug money. The Sheriff’s Office used Drug Interdiction Funds from seizures to match grant funding for the autogas conversions, which were administered by nationwide network Alliance AutoGas. Captain Mike Phillips estimates the autogas conversions will save the county about 40 percent in fuel costs, in addition to reduced maintenance costs like fewer oil changes. “Running our fleet on propane

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Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon is currently recruiting volunteers for this year’s race scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12. The following volunteer positions are needed from Tuesday, Nov. 8 through Saturday, Nov. 12: Expo Support, Information Kiosks, Packet Distribution, Registration, Course Monitors, Signage Help on Course, T-shirt Distribution, Baggage Area, Start Line Assistant, Finish Line Support, Lead Bike Escort, and Driver Assistance. For those interested in volunteering for the race and expo area, can register online at: http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer2/jobs-by-date.tcl?event_id=185928. There is also an opportunity for non-profit organizations to volunteer as a group and receive a charitable contribution for their team’s efforts. For questions

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Whether in need of a carpenter or unique plants for the garden, residents of Charlotte can find everything they are looking for at Blackhawk Ace Hardware. For offering these unique services and more, Ace Hardware Corporation has recognized the store with a 2011 “Coolest Hardware Store” award. Of 4,500 locally-owned and operated Ace Hardware stores worldwide, Blackhawk Ace Hardware is one of just four stores honored with the 2011 award. “With our diverse products and services, we aim to surprise our customers every time they walk in the store,” said Jim Wilkerson, owner of Blackhawk Ace Hardware. “Our customers have

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The Catawba River District will be holding the RiverTime Ride and Safety Rodeo, a community bike ride and safety rodeo in Mount Holly’s Tuckaseege Park, from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 24. Bike riders of all ages will participate in this leisurely 2.6 mile ride to Mount Holly Middle School and returning to Tuckaseege Park. Registration for the ride will start at 8am and the ride will begin at 8:45. The Safety Rodeo orchestrated by Crumley Roberts LLP will be held concurrent with the ride and will allow young cyclists to get safety tips and bike helmets while supplies last.

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Fans who attend the Oct. 14 Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage at Charlotte Motor Speedway will have a unique opportunity to think pink and join the fight against breast cancer. In conjunction with October’s recognition as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dollar General, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Speedway Children’s Charities are working together to increase awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research. Fans are encouraged to wear pink for the Friday night NASCAR Nationwide Series race and Charlotte Motor Speedway is offering special breast cancer awareness ticket packages for the Dollar General 300

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Davidson College invites the public on Monday, September 19, to hear a talk by Holocaust survivor Susan Cernyak-Spatz of Charlotte. Cernyak-Spatz, a Professor Emerita of German literature at UNC Charlotte, will speak about her suffering at the hands of the Nazi regime in a talk titled, “The Perpetrators of the Holocaust Through the Eyes of the Victims.” It will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Chambers Building room 2164, and there is no charge to attend. For more information, call 704-894-2284. Cernyak-Spatz was born into a middle-class Jewish family in Vienna during the interwar period. In 1929, the family moved to

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Warranty Direct (www.warrantydirect.com), a leading provider of extended vehicle service contracts, has announced expanded coverage for its major policies at no additional cost, in response to customer requests. “We are increasing the coverage for our most popular contracts by a whole year, and providing additional options for others, to make our coverage an even better value in the current economy,” said Tara Williams, Executive Vice President of Warranty Direct in Charlotte. “We have had numerous customer requests for these options, and we are very pleased to make them available, effective Sept. 12.” “With several comprehensive policy options, coverage for new

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