Newsletter 4/15: An airport dress rehearsal for people with disabilities
Plus: Post soccer-game fight sends fan group president to hospital; Controversial Rea Farms-area rezoning looks like a go; Charlotte gets new oldest restaurant; Corporate relocations slow
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Air travel can be extra stressful for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so an airport program provides a practice run to learn the ropes
Lyla Isenhour (right) and her mother, Crystal (left), practiced going through security, finding their gate and boarding an airplane so that Lyla is ready for future trips with her family.
by Lindsey Banks
On Saturday, Lyla Isenhour swiftly kicked off her sneakers, placed her suitcase onto the TSA security belt and walked through the security screener at Checkpoint A of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Her mother, Crystal, followed close behind.
Lyla, 15, looked like a pro — someone who’s been through TSA dozens of times. But it was actually her first time at an airport. She has an auditory processing disorder, which makes it difficult to be in crowded and noisy places.
Lyla was one of 50 participants in Saturday’s Wings for All program, an annual event that gives people with intellectual disabilities and their families a chance to practice moving through the airport and even boarding a plane in preparation for a real trip. The program is in partnership with the Charlotte airport, Delta Airlines and The Arc, a non-profit organization that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wings for All has been offered at Charlotte Douglas for the past decade.
Airports are not generally considered relaxing or comfortable places, with their long lines, often-crowded walkways and occasional last-minute gate changes. But for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, they can be extra overwhelming because of loud noises, bright lights and tight spaces.
Having the opportunity to practice the process of moving through security, finding the gate and loading and exiting the plane during the Wings for All program has been a game-changer for many families who didn’t see traveling with their loved ones as a possibility, organizers said.
“You really feel all of the [senses] at TSA,” said Rebecca Levi, advocacy and outreach manager at The Arc of Union/Cabarrus County. “Not only is it a good practice for those with disabilities, but it’s also a good practice for the employees of the airport so they know what it’s like to work and help those with disabilities.”
Lyla and Crystal Isenhour don’t have any flights on the books, but they wanted to prepare ahead of time so they can be ready to fly to visit family in other cities. Some participants on Saturday already have flights booked for the near future.
“When we can give them the lights and repetition, when we can experience something more than once, when they can become familiar with ‘I know that sound, and that’s not a scary sound,’ then they can be excited about coming,” Crystal Isenhour said.
Lyla’s older sister, Sierra, went through the Wings for All program a couple of years ago after Crystal found out about the program on an autism resources website, Crystal said. Sierra, who is on the autism spectrum, has since traveled by herself, and Crystal hopes that Lyla will one day be able to fly by herself, too.
“When we get on [the plane], the engines will come on, and it’s actually quite scary,” Crystal said. “The airport, and just this amount of people, is quite scary. [Lyla] has an auditory processing disorder, and it’s very loud in the airport.” Crystal wanted Lyla to understand how to listen for intercom announcements and know what to do if she couldn’t hear them clearly.
Lyla, who said she was looking forward to getting on an airplane for the first time, prepared by watching TikToks and reading “Diary of Wimpy Kid” books related to airports. Crystal said she was surprised by how much Lyla already knew when they arrived on Saturday, like that they would be walking through the jet bridge to board the plane.
From TSA screening to chicken fingers at the gate: First, the participants, who ranged in age from 6 to their late 20s, went through airport security at Checkpoint A, accompanied by a parent or guardian. They each brought a book bag or suitcase for practice, many of which had tablets or phones that had to be taken out, and some wore headphones to help control the volume of the airport bustle.
They walked through the metal detector and picked up their items, many stopping to roll their hands along the collection belt.
Parents stopped to explain to their children the need for airport security to keep them safe. Some participants needed a little extra encouragement walking through the metal detector.
Next, the group joined the flow of foot traffic and walked to gate A21, where they were met with flight attendants, ground staff and their pilot for the evening. Participants mingled and asked questions, like what type of plane they would be getting on. (A Boeing 717, a flight attendant answered.)
A dinner of chicken fingers was provided as part of the experience, and the new flyers participated in a classic airport ritual: eating a meal at the gate while waiting to board.
Then, according to the guest boarding passes they were issued, participants and their flying partners were called by groups to board the plane. Most seemed at ease, but one or two participants became uncomfortable and needed to get off the plane shortly after boarding.
Once the plane was loaded, the pilot took the plane out for a ride, even pushing the speed to resemble takeoff. As they made their way back to the gate, two fire trucks flanked either side and sprayed water over the plane in celebration.
When the plane returned to the gate and passengers got off, most seemed at ease but a couple of participants seemed overwhelmed. From security to boarding, the entire process took 2 hours.
Other airport services geared toward people with special needs: Charlotte’s airport also offers other resources to make traveling more comfortable for those who may get overwhelmed.
Volunteer therapy dogs are available to schedule ahead of time if a flier needs a furry friend to de-stress. On Saturday, three pups — Parker, Church and Bibi — visited the group at the gate. (Airport staff even had trading cards of the pups, which were a big hit among the dog lovers in the group.)
The Charlotte airport also participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, for which Lyla came prepared. She sported a green wristband with sunflowers, a symbol that signifies hidden disabilities so airport staff knows she might need a little extra help. The program is recognized at airports around the world.
After exiting the flight, the excitement on Lyla’s face was undeniable. She grabbed her Delta goody bag, which was complete with a model airplane, and Lyla and her mother left with a newfound confidence in Lyla’s ability to navigate the airport.
“I’ve learned how to check in, I’ve learned where to go, I’ve learned where the signs are,” Lyla told The Ledger. “I learned when you have to go through security, you have to put your phone in there, too.”
Where to next? Lyla told The Ledger that she hopes to one day fly to France, Hawaii and Disney World.
Lindsey Banks is a staff reporter for The Ledger: lindsey@cltledger.com
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
Soccer violence: A fight between members of Charlotte FC fan groups sends 1 to the hospital with a bloody face after Saturday’s game
An argument between leaders of two Charlotte FC fan groups turned violent after Saturday night’s game at Bank of America Stadium, with the president of one of the groups taken to the hospital with a bloody face.
The two groups, Blue Furia and Carolina Hooliganz, traded accusations on Sunday over who was responsible for the fighting. A police report on the incident was not publicly available on Sunday. No arrests have been made.
Juliana Gregory, president of Charlotte FC fan group Blue Furia, was injured Saturday after the game during a confrontation with a member of fellow fan group Carolina Hooliganz. Witnesses said Gregory was taken to the hospital with a bloody face, and Blue Furia said Sunday she is recovering at home. (Photo courtesy of Blue Furia)
An eyewitness told The Ledger on Sunday that Blue Furia president Juliana Gregory and a woman from the Carolina Hooliganz first started arguing in the stadium during Saturday’s game over a racial comment. The two women came face-to-face outside of Clutch Kitchen & Pour House on Cedar Street after the game, around 10 p.m.
Photos shared with The Ledger and posted on social media appeared to show Gregory with cuts and bruises on her face, and witnesses observed her on a stretcher being wheeled to an ambulance. Blue Furia told its members on Sunday that Gregory was recovering at home.
Charlotte FC is known for its passionate fanbase despite being in just its third year in Major League Soccer. The club has six or seven so-called supporters groups, which are organizations of fans who gather to watch games together, march into the stadium, hold social and fundraising events and more. Carolina Hooliganz and Blue Furia include members of varying backgrounds but both have a majority of members from the Hispanic community.
A big rezoning near Rea Farms looks like it will get a green light, over objections of neighbors; 900+ new homes
The Charlotte City Council seems likely to approve a rezoning request tonight that would lead to 900+ homes and a new middle school off Providence Road south of I-485 — over objections of some neighbors who say nearby infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle it.
Developer Childress Klein and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have proposed 682 apartments, 211 townhomes and 24 single-family houses, plus a new middle school, on 125 acres known as the “Cato property” that is now woods and open space.
In January, The Ledger named the plan the No. 2 “hot rezoning to watch in 2024.”
Some residents in the nearby Stone Creek Ranch neighborhood have said they worried about the effect the new homes would have on traffic and stormwater runoff. At a public hearing last month, opponents said there are 15 zoning petitions in ZIP code 28277 totaling 6,204 residential units, which will account for more than 65,000 daily vehicle trips, as well as four schools within a mile and a half of the proposed development. They said traffic in the area is already “bumper-to-bumper at rush hour.”
A lawyer for the developers said they worked closely with neighbors to address some of the concerns, and that the project will be high-quality with plenty of open space.
City staff and a citizens advisory committee are recommending in favor of the plan, which almost always means the council will agree.
Nearby resident Marian Black said developers had reduced the number of units from 917 to 905, and that she is hoping the vote is postponed to address lingering concerns. City Council member Ed Driggs told The Ledger on Sunday night that the vote is going ahead, and he predicts it will pass. —TM
Related Ledger articles:
“Neighbors object to 900+ homes and a school near Rea Farms” (🔒, Dec. 15, 2023)
“6 hot rezonings 🔥 to watch in 2024” (🔒, Jan. 10, 2024)
With Green’s Lunch gone, Providence Road Sundries takes the title of Charlotte’s oldest restaurant
by Kathleen Purvis
If there’s one thing Charlotte diners are interested in more than new restaurants, it might be old restaurants.
For years, the reliable answer to the question “What’s Charlotte’s oldest restaurant?” was always Green’s Lunch, the classic hot dog place on 4th Street uptown. Opened by the Green family in 1926 and taken over by the Katopodis family in 1975, it was just three years shy of a century when it closed last year.
Since Green’s is no more, the question came up again on a Facebook group last week: What’s the oldest restaurant now?
Before I stepped down as The Charlotte Observer’s food editor in 2019, restaurant nostalgia was one of the things that brought me a reliable stream of emails and calls.
Living in Charlotte since 1985, I’ve had a courtside seat as restaurants have come and gone, some in a few months, some that hung on for a half-century or more. In 2017, before I left The Observer, I tackled the question of Charlotte classics by figuring out which restaurants were the oldest.
It was supposed to be a list of the 10 oldest, but nothing is ever that simple. Because of a tie between Gus’ Sir Beef and Philadelphia Deli (both opened in 1969), it ended up being 11 restaurants.
Sadly, five on that list have closed since 2017: Gus’ Sir Beef, Philadelphia Deli, Mr. K’s, Bill Spoon’s Barbecue and Price’s Chicken Coop. In 2021, my former colleague Melissa Oyler and Philip Freeman updated the list and took it to the 18 oldest.
So, according to my original list and their updated version, the oldest restaurant now is (seems like we need a drum roll or something here) …
Providence Road Sundries, built at 1522 Providence Road in 1933. There is some debate about when it became a restaurant. Originally opened as a drugstore, it did have a snack bar, although I was never able to get an answer on whether it was there at the beginning or was added later.
The next nine:
The Diamond, 1901 Commonwealth Ave., 1945.
Greystone Pub, 3029 South Blvd., 1947.
The Open Kitchen, 1318 W. Morehead St., 1952.
Tatsis Restaurant, 2328 N. Graham St., opened in 1954 as the Hutchison Avenue Grill.
Circle G, 4818 Rozzelles Ferry Road, 1954.
South 21 Drive-In, 3101 E. Independence Blvd. (original, on South Boulevard, opened in 1955; the current location opened in 1959).
Shuffletown Grill, 10220 Rozzelles Ferry Road, 1957.
Bar-B-Q King, 2900 Wilkinson Blvd., 1959.
Does a restaurant’s history count in its age? Very few restaurants get to 50 or 60 years without changes in addresses, names and owners. The original building for The Greystone, for instance, was torn down and replaced years ago, but it has been run by at least three generations of the Kanos and Koutsokalis families since 1947.
On the other hand, the Beef N Bottle, often named as one of the city’s oldest, has really been around only since 1978. The original owner, George Fine, had an earlier restaurant, The House of Steaks, that opened in 1958 and closed in the 1970s to make way for Discovery Place.
The owner might have been the same, but the name changed — and it no longer had dancing girls in cages when it moved to South Boulevard. If it were a baseball stat, it would have an asterisk by its name.
🎉 ON SALE: Join us on April 30 for the Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards celebration, presented by U.S. Bank. We’re honoring 40 people in the Charlotte region aged 40+ for their contributions to making our community a better place to live. Tickets on sale now!
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THURSDAY: SouthPark After 5, 5-9 p.m. at Symphony Park, Charlotte. Experience free live music, food trucks and interactive art experiences at SouthPark After 5 at Symphony Park. On April 18, expect music from Sol Fusion Band and free face painting. Free.
FRIDAY: The Collectors Gala & Live Auction, 6:30-10:00 p.m. at The Union at Station West, Charlotte. Targeting Charlotte Wine & Food’s most savvy patrons and wine collectors, the Collector’s Gala will feature a high-end wine and food tasting followed by a seated family-style meal and a robust and spirited live auction featuring the best lots from the Week! $500.
MAY 3: 'Chasing Away the Blues' Gala, 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Southern Pecan Gulf Coast Kitchen, Charlotte. A night of fun to raise awareness and funding to support NAMI: Charlotte’s free mental health programming which includes classes, support groups and community outreach. In addition, a live and silent auction will help advance our commitment to improving lives. $250.
MAY 9: Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards, 6-8:30 p.m. at The Revelry North End, Charlotte. The Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards celebrate Charlotte’s unique history and culture and honor projects that represent the best of historic preservation in the region. $175.
◼️ Check out the full Ledger events board.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Corporate relocations slow: The number of companies relocating to North Carolina or expanding here has slowed in the last few years. In 2023, there were 111 relocations or expansions, down from a recent peak of 174 in 2021. (Axios Charlotte)
Stabbing suspect released: A man with a long arrest history who was charged with an uptown stabbing earlier this month was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond. Shareef Sudan Thompson, 36, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon in connection with an unprovoked April 5 stabbing on East 7th Street, police said, but was released without putting up any money. (WSOC)
Mountain highway closed: U.S. 321 outside Blowing Rock is expected to be closed until Thursday because of a rockslide last week. (NCDOT)
Free Bojangles biscuit: To honor the University of South Carolina’s championship-winning women’s basketball team, Bojangles is offering free Cajun filet biscuits at locations in North and South Carolina. People interested in the free biscuit should download the Bojangles app, place the order and enter the code “Gamecocks.” The giveaway runs through April 30. (WSOC)
Business Journal shrinkage: In a note to readers, Charlotte Business Journal publisher T.J. McCullough said the publication is shrinking by 2 inches, a move he said was driven by a focus on “modernization, simplification, efficiency and timeliness.” It’s also changing its logo color to navy blue, from red. (Biz Journal)
Taking stock
Unless you are a day trader, checking your stocks daily is unhealthy. So how about weekly? How local stocks of note fared last week (through Friday’s close), and year to date:
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative