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Community Corner

🌱 Making Black-Owned Beverage Brands Mainstream + Mega Mommy March

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Charlotte.

Alexis Goring, Neighbor
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Good morning, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Charlotte Daily. Let's get this Friday started off right, with a quick guide to the most important things happening these days in town. In today's issue, you'll find news about...

  • Tigers and other local zoo animals want to sink their teeth into your Christmas trees.
  • Local mom organizes "Mega Mommy March" in response to the pain of her son's death.
  • "Sipping Black Only" is on a mission to make choosing beverage brands owned by African Americans mainstream.

But first, today's weather:

Some sun, then turning cloudy. High: 56 Low: 48.

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Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  1. "With the holiday season hitting the rearview mirror, there’s a unique way for used, recycled Christmas trees to become gifts of their own for local animals. Tiger World is a non-profit accredited zoo located in Rockwell, North Carolina that has been in operation for the past 14 years. For the past 12 years, tigers and other animals at the Rowan County zoo have experienced the thrill of sinking their instincts and senses into a special experience provided by living rooms from across the Carolinas," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
  2. "Charlotte has seen 109 homicides in 2022, as of December 29, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. ... With only a couple of days left in the year, families who are left grieving are trying to prevent more violence in the upcoming new year. Sevhn Robinson lost her 25-year-old son Kyyri Doggette in 2017 to a shooting on Independence Boulevard. Two years after he died, she organized the Mega Mommy March in hopes that others don’t have to feel her pain," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
  3. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are conducting a death investigation about half a mile away from the Bank of America Stadium. Officers announced the investigation Thursday afternoon after an adult woman was found dead near the train tracks off West Summit Avenue. Officers say the area isn’t well-known to the transient population. A worker with Norfolk Southern spotted the body and called for a welfare check," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
  4. "Supporting Black-owned businesses led Brandi Neloms and Demetra Harris to launch Sipping Black Only in 2021. ... Sipping Black Only is a community of Black-owned beverage brands committed to amplifying Blackness “one cork, one pour and one sip at a time” in Charlotte and beyond. The consulting company works with businesses who sell water, coffee, tea, wine, liquor, rum, spirits— you name it. ... Sipping Black Only advocates for brands and their founders to increase exposure, drive consumer demand and provide long-term support. Knowing that people of color are often missing out on economic opportunity, it hosts events, posts content and works with professionals across the wine industry. The ultimate mission is to make choosing beverage brands owned by African Americans mainstream," Charlotte Post reports. (Charlotte Post)
  5. "On Wednesday, our good friend and motivational fitness Coach Meghan Trainor joined us to talk Dancing With The Stars Charlotte. DWTS is raising money to help fight against breast cancer. This year Meghan is one of the dancers taking part in the big event. ... You can help support Trainor and her Dancing with the Stars Charlotte partner by making a donation through her page. The process is fast, easy and secure," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)

Today in Charlotte:

From my notebook:

  • Reset and Restart Healthy Habits in the new year (WCNC.com)
  • Healthy Headlines: Keeping Kids Healthy In 2023 (WCCB Charlotte)
  • It has been a year well spent here at CMLibrary, and the numbers don't lie. We are proud to say that over 1.4 million items were circulated throughout the system in 2022 and it's all thanks to YOU! (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
  • Still need plans for New Year's Eve? Festivities begin at 8:00 p.m. on South Tryon St. at Levine Avenue of the Arts! Expect live music, cool display...(Charlotte Center City via Facebook)
  • New Year’s resolution season is just around the corner, and we’re here with this reminder from #ArtPopCLT artist, Melissa Stutts (@melissastuttsart): just do your best! (ArtPop Street Gallery via Instagram)
  • As you are setting your New Year's resolutions, add Brave Step's Virtual Walk/Run (April 1-8) to the list. (Brave Step via Facebook)
  • A big thank you to everyone who has signed up as a new monthly member or made a one-time donation to help us meet our ambitious goal to raise $20,000 by Dec. 31! With your contributions that unlocked $10,000 in matching funds. (Sustain Charlotte via Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll see you again next Wednesday (Jan. 4, 2023). Have a Happy New Year!

— 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

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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