Your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is much more than a place to check out books. It’s one of America’s leading urban public libraries with a wealth of programs and digital content. And now, it’s easier than ever to join. Here’s what you need to know about getting a library card and what it offers.
Another opioid related headline. News of another opioid related death. It almost seems never-ending. And just as my heart was beginning to heal from the devastation I felt after losing my musical icon Prince last April, the latest headline linking an exorbitant amount of Fentanyl to his death, reopened the wound yet again. Another loss due to an opioid addiction.
According to the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, there were 121 opioid overdose deaths in 2016, that’s up from 61 in the previous year. That’s an alarming figure – all tied to one class of drugs. And while the data is alarming, it’s difficult to comprehend the impact the epidemic is having without examining all the facets of a community that the addiction tends to affect.
Updated 3/23/22
Would you be surprised to learn that more than 3 tons of trash can be found in our local waterways? We might be if Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services volunteers hadn’t picked up that much trash during the 2017 Big Spring Clean. The number was even higher in 2019… 11.24 tons of trash! It’s sad to think about that much pollution in our waterways, degrading our recreation areas and harming our wildlife. Not to mention, it’s just not a great look for our community.
Pet owner or not, seeing a stray animal can tug at the heart strings. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear if most of you reading this have tried to help a stray animal before or are trying to right now! (Did you know that Animal Care & Control received 33,781 calls for service in 2017?) But since it’s important to make sure that both you and the animal stay safe in your attempts, we talked with our friends over at CMPD Animal Care & Control to find out what you should do if you come across a stray. Here’s what we learned.
You can’t turn on the news or look at social media lately without seeing something about the opioid epidemic – deaths are on the rise nationwide, and Mecklenburg County isn’t immune. Over the last ten years, opioid-related deaths in the County have increased by 134 percent – from 26 in 2005 to 61 in 2015.
Most of Black History Month is devoted to recognizing historical figures, but you can’t forget about the historic sites in a County that is famous for remaking itself in the name of progress. This is particularly true now, when historically black neighborhoods are seeing aggressive gentrification and redevelopment.
There are an endless number of possibilities when it comes to the ways you can “give back.” For some, it is volunteering with schools, helping the homeless, or working with animal shelters. For others, it is in the form of a donation to a charity or organization that is close to heart. But then there is another opportunity that the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services is involved with every day – helping local children find safe, secure, and loving homes.
I think I have many talents. As much as I would like to say that artistic abilities are at the top of the list, I would be telling a tall tale. The only thing I can do with a pencil is write, and my only connection to a paintbrush is the one time, several years ago, when I attempted to paint my bedroom. Picasso, I am not.
I envy those with a talented eye – those who can see beauty and dimension in the simplest things like flowers, the ocean or a child playing in the sand. I envy people who can make textures come to life – those with the ability to take something so minute and create greatness. Those who can convey a message through fine strokes of color or capture the essence of life through the lens of a camera. That’s true art in my opinion. That’s what I saw at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center during the opening reception of the 18th annual National Arts Program.
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