Mecklenburg County Blog

Health and Safety

Grill Safe or Grill Sorry

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4 min read

Summer is here and you know what that means – outdoor cooking! Ain’t nothing like the smell of grilled chicken, smoked brisket and pulled pork! Disagree? You’re weird. That’s right. I said it. I’m a southern boy and the only thing better than good barbecue is good barbecue served with a cold glass of sweet tea. Whether you like barbecue or not, we can all agree that the only thing worse than burnt meat is a burnt chef (or the chef’s house).  
 
Grilling is fun, but it can also be very dangerous if you’re not safe. According to the National Fire Protection Association, July is the peak month for grill fires. So before you grab your apron, spatula, tongs, charcoal, wood and propane tanks, check out these safety tips. 

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Animals and Wildlife Around Town Recreation

Latta Nature Preserve: What’s There to Do? (A Lotta!)

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3 min read

Get it? Latta, a lotta? 

The real story is not about my bad pun but how many fun activities there are available at Latta Nature Preserve in Huntersville. It’s actually one of my favorite nature preserves in the County. Warning: Siri or Google Maps may try to trick you. When you get there, you want to go through the big gate, not the private drive.  

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Recreation

Five Things to Do Instead of Your Own Fireworks

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2 min read

It’s that time of the year again… Independence Day, July 4th… and who doesn’t love a good fireworks show? 

But if you can’t make it to one of the many professional shows in the area or don’t feel safe in crowds just yet, there are still some options. 

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Animals and Wildlife

A Very Big Snake Misunderstanding

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4 min read

Wildlife. We all play a role in its preservation and protection. And sometimes that means protecting things we may not be really crazy about. Can you think of an animal or insect you’d rather not come across on one of our trails? For me, there are a few. But, there’s one answer we hear a lot: SNAKES!

Snakes, birds, bugs, and plants are just some of the wildlife you’ll come across in one of our nature preserves. Sometimes, that even means you’ll see them on the trails. And it’s all by design! Unlike parks, which focus primarily on recreation, nature preserves help promote natural areas within city limits. This is great for us humans. It means we don’t have to travel outside of our city and towns to have access to nature. But, it also helps to protect our wildlife and the natural biodiversity in the area. And that’s important for a rich, functional ecosystem.

So how do we respect snakes AND stay safe on the trails?

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Environment

Saving Gas, Money & the Earth!

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3 min read

2021 just won’t quit! A gas shortage in our area really got us thinking about other ways to save gas. Because, a gas shortage certainly isn’t the only reason to think about ways to use less fuel. The environment is a great one, too. And of course, saving money! 

I know what you avid readers of this blog are thinking, “Wait, we just talked about sustainability like two weeks ago.” True! AND, believe it or not, we have even more tips, JUST about saving gas. 

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Environment

Go Green at Work

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5 min read

When you think about sustainability and going green at work, your first thought might be, “Aha! It is time to build a brand new energy-efficient building.” To that, I say, slow down. That might be the right move for some companies but maybe your company can’t do anything that big and expensive. That doesn’t mean you’re locked out of taking action. Smaller steps are important, too! 

And according to N.C. State’s sustainability program, “Sustainability isn’t just about the health and well-being of the planet; it’s about the health and well-being of people. From the air we breathe to the food and water we consume, the environment impacts human health.” So let’s tackle this idea of sustainability from a few angles to give you some new ideas.  

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Health and Human Services Resources

Teamwork to Transform Crisis Interventions

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4 min read

The eyes of the world are on police interactions with communities across the United States. So what’s Mecklenburg County doing about it? Since 2008, the County has been a part of the Crisis Intervention Team program, or CIT. The program better prepares officers to respond to people in crisis with a serious mental illness.  

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Health and Human Services

Public Health For a Better Community

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7 min read

Recently, Public Health professionals have been in the spotlight for their work around the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve heard all about the testing sites, call centers, and vaccination clinics. They’re also the ones on the other end of the phone (or screen) answering your questions about the virus – how can I protect myself? What should I do if I think I have COVID-19? Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? (Yes, it’s safe and effective! Learn more here.) They are real life HEROS, and our community owes them all a huge THANK YOU!

The reality is, Public Health professionals track epidemics every day, and while the job isn’t always as glamorous as Hollywood would suggest (have you seen Contagion!?), it is an essential public health service. It’s one of 10 essential services, in fact.

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Around Town Arts & Culture Environment Give Back Recreation Resources

Staycation Activated

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6 min read

Written with contributions from the Public Information Department 

staycation  

n. a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. 

I know what you’re thinking. “I’ve avoided travel for a year and I’m ready to GO!” Me too, reader. Me too. BUT if we’re going to be here, let’s make the most of it. I’ll give you a money back guarantee right here, right now if you’ve done everything on this list.* 

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