🌱 Top Wine Experts In Town + Lawmakers Go After CRT Again

Hello all. It's me, Alexis Goring, your host of the Charlotte Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town these days. Today you'll find these stories and more...

• The Charlotte Wine + Food week brings together leading wine industry experts from around the world and pairs them with Charlotte’s top chefs to celebrate.
• Students across the state are exploring professional careers before stepping onto high school campuses. It's part of the Career and Technical Education programs.
• North Carolina Republican lawmakers are hoping the second time’s a charm with rebooted anti-critical race theory legislation.

But first, today's weather:

An afternoon shower. High: 63 Low: 45.

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Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

1. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board Vice Chair Stephanie Sneed made the first comments in response to recent reports by two five-year-old girls that they were sexually assaulted by male classmates. The comments came at the end of Tuesday night’s board meeting, during a time for board members to speak on any topics they choose. Sneed was the only board member to address the recent reports and, to date, is the only board member to volunteer comments on the reports and how the school district handled the cases," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
2. "The Charlotte softball program starts its second Conference USA series of the year, as the team travels to Boca Raton, Florida to take on Florida Atlantic. In their first C-USA series of the season, the 49ers took two of three from FIU and are in a four-way tie for first place coming into the second week of C-USA action. The Niners come into this series with a 13-11, after splitting a pair of midweek games," Charlotte Athletics reports. (Charlotte Athletics)
3. "North Carolina Republican lawmakers are hoping the second time’s a charm with rebooted anti-critical race theory legislation. During last year’s legislative session, state Republicans pushed the Equality in Education Bill through the General Assembly’s House of Representatives and Senate, but once it landed on Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk he vetoed it, and lawmakers were sent back to the drawing board. Now legislators are once again trying to prohibit K-12 educators from teaching concepts from critical race theory," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
4. "The Charlotte Wine + Food week brings together leading wine industry experts from around the world and pairs them with Charlotte’s top chefs to celebrate and advance public knowledge of and appreciation for fine wine and food, while building community and making significant contributions to charitable organizations that benefit children and their families in the Charlotte community," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
5. "Students across the state are exploring professional careers before stepping onto high school campuses. It's part of the Career and Technical Education programs (CTE), giving students hands-on experiences in professions, like electronics and computer science. State leaders are awarding millions to modernize the CTE programs. The General Assembly recently allotted $3 million for State Superintendent Catherine Truitt to award funds to school districts via two grant programs," Spectrum News reports. (Spectrum News)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Pop Up Picnic Park Date for Couples at Park Road Park (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Weekend Live Music and Food Trucks at Blue Blaze Brewing (12:00 p.m.)
• Four Leaf Festival: St. Patrick's Day Celebration hosted by The Music Yard at SouthBound (5:00 p.m.)
• Sy Smith performance at Middle C Jazz (6:00 p.m.)
• Women in Jazz: Saxophonist Tia Fuller Quartet at Stage Door Theater (6:00 p.m.)
• Nate Randall at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts (6:00 p.m.)
• Charlotte Hornets vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center (7:00 p.m.)
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert at Belk Theater (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Sleep is vitally important (WCNC.com)
• ZARA to open a store in SouthPark mall by 2025 (WBTV)
• LOOK AT THE OLD TIMERS. If you didn't get to see Charlotte Fire antique apparatus during the St. Patrick's Day parade, then you have to take a look. (Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• Congratulations to our brilliant Math 1 scholars who were recognized at our board meeting for their outstanding achievements! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we couldn't be prouder! (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Sally Fanjoy (@fanjoylabrenz) is a visual artist working primarily in photography, videography, and light. She examines how it falls, reflects, transmits, and connects. Slowing down to capture the beauty and elegance...(ArtPop Street Gallery via Instagram)
• THIS WEEKEND: The original Star Wars trilogy comes to a dramatic conclusion at Return of the Jedi in Concert! Experience the film with John Williams’s epic score performed live at Belk Theater. Get tickets >> bit.ly/csojedi (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• #WomensHistoryMonth Spotlight: CSO Violinists Monica Boboc & Tatiana Karpova, & Cellist Marlene Ballena. Outside of the CSO, these ladies perform with Chamber Music for All, an ensemble co-founded by Monica. Learn more >> bit.ly/csomusic...(Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• On March 21, the Charlotte Symphony and JCSU Choir come together to perform an inspiring program, including James Weldon Johnson's Lift Every Voice and Sing, at Johnson C. Smith University. Get tickets >> bit.ly/cso-jcsu (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Partners with a Purpose: We are so grateful to have @modernsalonandspa partner with us for the upcoming Color It Blue campaign. With April just around the corner, don't forget to book an appointment with Modern Salon and Spa to get blue...(Brave Step via Facebook)
• Arabella Mansfield became the first woman to practice law in the United States when she was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1869. Three years later, Charlotte Ray became the first Black woman attorney...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg District Attorney's Office via Facebook)
• On April 11, Angela Jones, Levine Children's Hospital Resource Center Librarian will provide tips and resources to help parents and soon to be parents locate reliable information about their children's health. (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• The UNC Charlotte Race and Social Equity Academy (RASE) Spring Forum will focus on advancing inclusive practices, including anti-racism and equity practices for helping professionals. For more info visit go.charlotte.edu/RASEforumSP23 (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)
• Students, faculty, and staff are invited to a panel and conversation about freedom of expression rights, parameters, and support on campus. For more information, visit this link: freeexpression.charlotte.edu (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)

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That's it for today! See you all next Monday for another 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.

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