🌱 Graze Craze Charcuterie Comes To Charlotte + Community Facelift

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through all the most important things happening in Charlotte today. In today's Daily, you'll find news about these stories and more:

• Artfully designed, hand-crafted charcuterie boards by Graze Craze coming to Charlotte.
• A community south of Uptown Charlotte gets a facelift.
• The Actor's Theatre of Charlotte is auctioning equipment used to put on shows.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler with showers around. High: 56 Low: 44.

Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

1. "The defense and prosecution teams offered their opening statements on Thursday morning in the first trial that involves a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officer in years. During the early morning hours of July 8, 2017, Officer Phillip Barker allegedly hit and killed 28-year-old James Short with his patrol car in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood. Short, who had been a Central Piedmont Community College student, was walking across Morehead Street near the Dilworth Neighborhood Grille around 3:30 a.m. against the traffic light when the crash happened," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
2. "Residents of the Oakhurst community in Charlotte say their neighborhood is changing quickly. The neighborhood, just south of Uptown Charlotte, is a rapidly growing residential community, with new townhome developments and homes priced in the high six figures, popping up across the area. The area is also set to get a facelift from the government, with a new streetscape plan being implemented among the area’s main thoroughfare, Monroe Road. Not to mention, a long discussed expansion to the city’s light rail line would bring a major connective public transportation option running parallel to Independence Boulevard," Spectrum News reports. (Spectrum News)
3. Graze Craze is coming to Charlotte! It is a food company that "specializes in artfully designed, hand-crafted charcuterie boards and boxes featuring high-quality foods arranged perfectly for nibbling or hearty graze-style meals — including gourmet meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, artisanal sweets and more," Restaurant News reports. (RestaurantNews.com)
4. "Weeks after closing permanently, the Actor's Theatre of Charlotte is auctioning equipment used to put on shows at the former Queen City staple. Iron Horse Auction Company is handling the sale, which includes props, lights, video equipment and other stage equipment. The auction runs online from Dec. 8 through 2 p.m. on Dec. 15. All equipment is sold in as-is condition. Actor's Theatre of Charlotte ceased production at the end of October, 33 years after opening in 1989," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
5. "The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has arrested and charged a man that they say impersonated a police officer in the Charlotte area. During a press briefing on Thursday afternoon, police identified the man as 29-year-old Stephen Burke Bridges. Police said that Bridges was employed as a security guard at a bar in the South End area, but never worked for CMPD. Bridges allegedly touted a stolen CMPD badge, which was reported missing by its owner," WBTV reports. (WBTV)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne Benefitting Levine Childrens Hospital (11:00 a.m.)
• 11th Annual Christmas Market | Sweet & Cozy Bakery at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten (4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
• Winterfest at Carowinds (5:00 p.m.)
• The "Where Should We Vegan?" Dinner Tour at Camp North End (6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
• More than Coffee: History and Legacy with Archive CLT at Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (6:30 p.m.)
• JAZZ ROOM Holiday Edition: Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Swing at Stage Door Theater (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Healthy Headlines: How To Manage Or Prevent Holiday Headaches (WCCB Charlotte)
• North Carolina These Best And Worst Items To Purchase In December (K104.7)
• Spice up your dates in December (WCNC.com)
• Community police officers emphasized the importance of reading during a Bears Behind the Badge storytime session with the kindergartners of Parkside Elementary School. We are grateful for this incredible learning opportunity! (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• About 4,500 CMS students received holiday gifts of toiletries, socks, school supplies and apples from Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, in partnership with Walmart, this week. Gifts were delivered...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Please join us in congratulating our Hopewell Titans engineers, who competed in the Stadium of the Future Solar Design Challenge, hosted by the Carolina Panthers and Trane Technologies. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Let's all give Risa Brandon, our Volunteer Coordinator, a round of applause for 11 years at Classroom Central today! You're the best, Risa! (Classroom Central via Facebook)
• Company Dancers Maurice Mouzon Jr. and Sarah Hayes Harkins shared what makes Nutcracker so special to them and audiences year after year. You can watch the full interview with WSOC-TV below! (Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• Ever wonder what it's like to take Company class at Charlotte Ballet? Lauren McDonald from WCCB Charlotte's CW got to experience it firsthand a few weeks ago in the midst of Nutcracker season! Watch the full "Do My Job" segment...(Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• Join the Charlotte Symphony for a high-voltage holiday extravaganza with festive music, falling snow, and shenanigans with Santa at Holiday Pops. Dec. 16 to Dec. 18 at Knight Theater. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Need a gift for someone who loves experiences? Give them an evening with the Symphony! From movies in concert and pop hits to classical masterworks and more, a CSO gift certificate guarantees a unique concert experience. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• The magic of cirque meets the concert hall! Cirque de Noël is an exciting adaptation of spectacular cirque acts performed on stage with the Charlotte Symphony, Dec. 21 to Dec. 23 at Knight Theater. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• What better way to spread joy and love this holiday season than by making a donation to RMHC of GC in honor of someone special? (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)
• Our next to last 2022 Changemaker Award winner has written himself into the Brave Step history books. As a founding member of the advisory board, Dr. Michael Yonkovig has given eight years of service to Brave Step...(Brave Step via Facebook)
• We are saddened by the news of the passing of Robert Busch. He was a passionate fan of dance, attending all of our performances, and a wonderful program partner for years. Above all, he was a universally loved Charlottean. (Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• Don't worry, we have you covered during exams. Atkins Library has planned a number of events to help you de-stress, take a break, and relax. Check the schedule for details https://library.charlotte.edu/... (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)
• Join us for a coffee and donut break at 8:00 p.m. next Tuesday (Dec. 13). (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon.

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm an East Coast Girl with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Charlotte Daily? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com