🌱 YMCA Creates Community For Immigrants + Local Blvd. Partly Closed

Hello, neighbors. It's me, Alexis Goring, your host of the Charlotte Daily — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in our community. Including news about:

• YMCA program for Latino immigrant families creates a sense of community.
• The Good Samaritan Law provides legal protections for people calling 911 to report an overdose.
• Part of Brookshire Boulevard will close today for scheduled railroad maintenance.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 57 Low: 35.

Here are the top five stories in Charlotte today:

1. "Paul Silas, a member of three NBA championship teams as a player and LeBron James’ first coach in the league, has died, his family announced Sunday. He was 79. ... Silas began his career as a head coach with a three-year stint leading the then-San Diego Clippers starting in 1980. After spending more than a decade as an assistant, he returned to being a head coach and spent time with the Charlotte Hornets, the New Orleans Hornets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Bobcats. He took four of those teams to the playoffs, winning exactly 400 games," News 10 NBC reports. (News10NBC)
2. "Bill Diehl, a longtime high-profile North Carolina attorney whose family and friends recalled his passion as a legal advocate and in life, has died at age 78. ... Diehl had been in mostly declining health since he retired from his law practice in 2016. Known for his shoulder-length, reddish-blonde hair, Diehl represented a number of well-known clients in criminal, civil or divorce proceedings. They included NASCAR team owner and car dealer Rick Hendrick, former Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn and speedway track owner Bruton Smith," WFAE reports. (WFAE)
3. "When Maria Belen Mendieta first moved to Charlotte from Ecuador in 2015, she longed for a sense of community. While researching English speaking classes at Central Piedmont Community College, a parent told her about the Harris YMCA’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) program. The program is only one aspect of the Y’s South Boulevard initiative, a collaborative effort with Forest Hills Church to bring programs to that corridor where many Latino families live. The South Boulevard initiative has provided a holistic way to help acclimate new Latino immigrant families to Charlotte," according to U.S. News & World Report. (U.S. News & World Report)
4. "Part of Brookshire Boulevard, or NC 16, will close today for scheduled railroad maintenance. NCDOT says CSX Railroad crews will close the road at the railroad crossing near Lawton Road in Northwest Charlotte on Dec. 12 for 24 hours. Crews will be replacing railroad ties at the crossing, then resurfacing the road. The closure will start at 7 a.m. and last until 7 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting. Southbound drivers will be detoured from NC 16 to Lawton, Rozzelles Ferry and North Hawkins Roads. Northbound drivers will follow this detour in reverse," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)
5. "The Good Samaritan Law in North Carolina provides legal protections for people calling 911 to report an overdose. However, hundreds of families and faith leaders say this state version falls short. Overdoses are spiking in North Carolina — the latest data from the state Department of Health and Human Services shows that in 2020 an average of nine North Carolinians died every day from an overdose. Now, families and faith leaders are petitioning for the expansion of the Good Samaritan law to help save lives. The law aims to remove the fear of getting in trouble, so someone is more likely to call 911," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)

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Today in Charlotte:

• Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne Benefitting Levine Childrens Hospital (11:00 a.m.)
• French for Beginners Conversation Club | Virtual event (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
• Carolina Holiday Lights in Ballantyne's Backyard (5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Independence Regional English Learners Book Club | Virtual event (6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
• JAZZ ROOM Holiday Edition: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Swing at Belk Theater (6:30 p.m.)
• Leslie Odom Jr: The Christmas Tour at Belk Theater (7:30 p.m.)
• Find Your Muse Open Mic at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Do you have your own #CMLibrary card? Consider getting one for you or a loved one this holiday season. The gift of reading is the gift that keeps on giving! (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• No power, no problem! Our volunteers are pulling HEROIC last minute efforts to get supplies to our teachers no matter what. Stay safe out there West Charlotte! (Classroom Central via Facebook)
• We will celebrate where it all began with the return of cast members from previous seasons for a special reunion show. Get your tickets for Dec 16 at 7:30 p.m.— our biggest show yet! (Children's Theatre of 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)
• The holidays are upon us! Check out our 2022 Gift Guide to find something special for the music lover in your life. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Need a guide to success? Search through our subject guides to get what you need. https://bit.ly/3tId6q0 (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)

Featured businesses:

• 24hourgutters.com — (Visit website)
• Rosensteel Fleishman, PLLC — (Visit Website)
• CyberMax iPhone Repair — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• ACT Master Strategies In-Person Class (January 1)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— 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