It’s game on in Sun City
Plus: Apple plans 3,000 jobs in Triangle; Should 2040 plan be shortened?; Ballantyne movie theater quiet on reopening night; Sizing up N.C.'s Covid numbers; Nextdoor debates Nerf gun attack
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With widespread vaccinations among active seniors, softball is going strong and ‘Saturday Night Dance Fever’ is hopping; ‘Everybody is smiling again’
Friends (l-r) Karen McDonald, Wally Poole, Emily Hoffman and Mike McDonald play pickleball at Sun City on a Wednesday afternoon. “We play pickleball. Who cares? We stink,” laughed Poole. “To socialize for 45 or 60 minutes is important — to get out of the house. Even though the clogging and the lifelong learning and the softball and everything else is important, socializing is more important.”
by Cristina Bolling
It’s been a long year at Sun City Carolina Lakes, a community of 5,000 active seniors just over the border in Indian Land, S.C., that until Covid was an energetic hotspot with Saturday night dance parties, cooking demonstrations, clogging clubs and tai chi.
Covid brought much of that to a screeching halt last spring, but in the last few weeks, residents say, something remarkable has happened — life as they used to know it has started to reemerge.
The popular Cellar Dwellers wine club is pouring indoors again, with face masks and limited reservations. The clogging club is tap-tap-tapping on a concrete patio outside The Lodge in the center of the community, and the 100-player softball league is five games into its season.
Last Wednesday, Sun City welcomed back live music, with concerts at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. featuring the dance band BackLine.
And two Saturdays ago, the first post-Covid Saturday Night Dance Fever had more than 100 residents working up a sweat to hits from the ’60s on an outdoor gathering space, complete with a DJ and line dancing.
“Everybody is smiling again because they’re starting to get back into the routine of things here,” said Fran Hohenberger, who moved to Sun City from Long Island with her husband, Bob, five years ago to be near her son and daughter-in-law and two granddaughters who live in nearby Ballantyne.
Hohenberger was thrilled to be in the audience two Fridays ago for one of the first post-Covid Sun City shows, featuring a professional ventriloquist. Everyone wore masks and was spaced out at tables, but the excitement was palpable, she said.
“You could just see life come back into people,” she said.
Race for the vaccine: Indoor gatherings in homes are happening again among close friends who have all been vaccinated, Hohenberger said. One of her friends got a new drink machine the other day, and six vaccinated friends gathered to try it out.
“If we know a friend who hasn’t had their shots, we don’t care to meet with them indoors. We are extra careful, being the age that we are.”
For the last year, there has been reason to be extra careful.
Sun City’s residents have been the population most vulnerable for falling seriously ill with coronavirus. Across North Carolina, more than 80% of Covid deaths have occurred in patients aged 65 and older.
But that age group has also been getting immunized in high numbers. In North Carolina, some 71% of people ages 65 and up have been fully vaccinated.
Hohenberger is the assistant neighborhood rep for her 216-home section, called “Pod Z,” so when people ages 65 and older became eligible for the vaccine, she played the role of vaccine hunter and communicator, shooting emails to residents of her pod about where she’d learned there were shots and how to get them.
“As soon as I got any information as far as how, where and when (to get shots), I sent it out immediately,” she said.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way: As you’d see with any big group, there’s a mix of opinions among Sun City residents about just how active people should be right now.
“Some people are chomping (at the bit), some people have gotten into new behaviors, some people are still being cave dwellers and they’re not leaving their home because they’re still scared,” said Wally Poole, a leader of the community’s Lifelong Learners program.
Some clubs, like table tennis and pottery, still can’t meet in person because a portion of Sun City’s main clubhouse is in the middle of a big renovation that residents say might take until July.
For months, the gym was closed due to both Covid and the renovation, so lots of Sun City residents started going to the new Indian Land YMCA, which is free for those enrolled in the Medicare “SilverSneakers” program.
Poole and three pickleball buddies, Karen and Mike McDonald and Emily Hoffman, sat in the sunshine last Wednesday while waiting for the wind to die down so they could resume their game. They’ve kept playing pickleball as much as possible throughout the pandemic and searched out other ways to stay active and social.
Karen McDonald figures she walked seven or eight miles a day on the Sun City trails on the months when the lockdown was the tightest. Her husband, Mike, sought refuge by fishing in Sun City’s lakes and doing tai chi sessions along with an instructor on YouTube.
Now, Karen McDonald swims every morning and takes a Zumba class at the Y, then practices her clogging. “I have so much to do, I don’t think I could put another thing on my schedule,” she said.
“We’re active adults. I’m not going to just sit in the house. I can’t. It’s not possible to tie me down,” she said. “It’s like anything. You can find a way to do whatever you want to do.”
Cristina Bolling is managing editor of The Ledger: cristina@cltledger.com
Related Ledger articles:
“In Sun City, golf cart cruising is the new canasta,” (April 16, 2020)
“As vaccine arrives, ‘we’ll be freer,’” (Jan. 11, 2021)
“Charlotte’s 55+ communities are staying active,” (Sept. 28, 2020)
“Pickleball is the hottest Charlotte sport you’ve never heard of,” (Jan. 13, 2020)
Today’s supporting sponsor is T.R. Lawing Realty:
Huge Apple tech campus headed to Triangle
Apple is planning to build a new $1B+ technology campus in Wake County with 3,000 jobs, which would make it among the biggest job announcements in N.C. history.
The plans, announced Monday morning, are aided by tax incentives worth more than $845M over 39 years. The jobs will be in areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning and software engineering. A Raleigh TV station described it as “the company's first major East Coast footprint.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement: “At this moment of recovery and rebuilding, Apple is doubling down on our commitment to US innovation and manufacturing with a generational investment reaching communities across all 50 states.”
The state’s biggest job announcement was the 3,200+ jobs from Centene announced last year for University City in Charlotte.
Rumored for years: Reports of a big Apple campus in the Triangle have been rumored for years. An entity linked to Apple bought 280 acres in Wake County in 2018. The state had also refused to release public records related to earlier courtships of Apple because it said the effort — codenamed “Project Bear” — was still active.
For more info, the most complete articles so far this morning have been by Triangle TV stations ABC11 and CBS17. —TM
Is the proposed 2040 Plan too long and detailed?
As city leaders continue to debate a plan to guide Charlotte’s growth in the next 20 years, some are starting to make noises that the current draft is too long and contains too many specifics.
In the last couple months, two major sticking points over the 2040 Comprehensive Plan have popped up: Concerns from neighborhood leaders over a provision that encourages duplexes and triplexes to be built in single-family areas, and concerns from developers and buildings over language that advocates for impact fees and additional regulations.
Although those two issues have consumed most of the recent debate over the 320-page plan, neither is a major element of it. The existing draft, released in October after years of work and community input, lists 10 big-picture goals that are noncontroversial, such as “safe and equitable mobility,” “housing access for all” and establishing neighborhoods with nearby access to essential services. It also lists about 100 objectives and about 300 policy ideas, a few of which have been lightning rods for criticism.
Now, some are starting to wonder whether those 320 pages with detailed policy prescriptions should be slimmed down into more general language that is less controversial and that a majority of the City Council can support.
At a meeting on Thursday night, planning director Taiwo Jaiyeoba seemed to lend some credence to the idea of a leaner 2040 Plan, saying:
We will make sure that what is eventually reviewed and adopted by Council will not be this document. It will be a streamlined version of that.
He said that the next draft, expected within a few weeks, would be released with a “track changes” feature so people can compare the original with the revised plan.
In response, council member Tariq Bokhari said:
The devil will be in the details on the next step. … It isn’t ruling anything out. It’s simply scoping it in a different way for where we go next. … That seems like we’re on a very promising track.
At a meeting a few days before, other council members seemed to rally around the idea of new language mentioned by Jaiyeoba that could allay concerns on duplexes and triplexes, and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt said separately there’s language in the works designed to address developer concerns about regulations, as The Ledger reported last week (🔒).
At Thursday’s meeting, developers Stuart Proffitt and Peter A. Pappas expressed concerns about regulations mentioned in the plan that might not be legal under state law. And several community leaders spoke in favor of a provision that would encourage agreements between neighborhoods and developers over growth plans to help guide new construction.
The city is hoping to approve a plan by June 30. —TM
Related Ledger articles:
“Compromises proposed on 2040 plan,” (🔒 ) (April 21)
“Debating Charlotte’s 2040 plan,” (March 8)
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A slow post-Covid debut at Regal Stonecrest
QUIET DEBUT AT THE MOVIES: Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen flipped its projectors back on Friday after being closed for most of the past year due to Covid, but crowds were thin when The Ledger checked in at 7:15 p.m. Featured flicks included “Mortal Kombat,” “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Tom & Jerry.” The reopening coincided with a big weekend for cinema — the Oscars were handed out Sunday night.
Fact check: How well did N.C. do during the pandemic?
Claim: “North Carolina’s strong safety protocols and actions to slow the spread are why we have been able to avoid a surge in cases overwhelming our hospitals, and our careful, reasoned approach has worked, striking the right balance. Numbers released from the CDC and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show North Carolina is among the states with the fewest deaths and the fewest job losses per capita.” — Gov. Roy Cooper, news conference, April 21
Facts: Is that really true? Did North Carolina manage to have among the fewest deaths and the best economy? Is Cooper’s “dimmer switch” approach to Covid regulations vindicated?
Here’s what the numbers show:
Deaths—N.C. is 12th best: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina has had 118 Covid deaths per 100,000 residents since the start of the pandemic. That’s the 12th-lowest per capita Covid death rate in the country. The states with the best numbers are Hawaii, Vermont and Alaska; the worst numbers are in New York City, New Jersey and Massachusetts. (New York City is obviously not a state, but the CDC includes it in its figures.)
Job losses—N.C. is 9th best: According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people employed in North Carolina last month is 129,000 fewer than in March 2020, or 2.8% lower. That’s the ninth-lowest job decline in the country. Idaho, Utah and South Dakota have done the best. States with the largest job losses per capita are Hawaii, Nevada and New York.
Analysis: Compared with other states, North Carolina is in the top 20-25% on job losses and Covid deaths per capita. Public policy plays a role, but it’s not the only factor. If it were, everybody should be heaping accolades on the governor of Utah, whose state had the 6th-lowest number of Covid deaths per capita and has actually gained 14,000 jobs in the last year (2nd-best in the nation). Is that because Utah’s governor is wiser than Roy Cooper? Or is it that because Utah has the lowest share of residents aged 65+ in the country, people who are most vulnerable to Covid, and has less of a tourist industry than states with the biggest job losses?
It’s complicated. Academics will be studying this issue and debating it for years, probably. —TM
Survey asking parents about schools is making the rounds of CMS families – but is it from CMS?
An email survey has been landing in the inboxes of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools parents in recent days, asking about their history with the district and whether they plan to stay in CMS schools for the coming year.
But some families said the email containing the survey seemed suspicious and they were confused about whether the survey, which was sent from a company called AC&M Group, was actually commissioned by CMS, as it says it was.
Turns out, it was indeed conducted “at the direction of CMS,” school board member Margaret Marshall confirmed to The Ledger on Sunday night. She referred other questions about the survey to the district’s media relations team, which didn’t immediately answer questions about the survey Sunday.
According to its website, AC&M is a Charlotte-based “full-service marketing agency that connects brands with consumers using cultural insights.”
Typically, CMS notifies families when a widespread survey is being circulated, as it did last fall when it asked parents to say whether their children needed bus service.
Parents told The Ledger they started seeing this survey as early as last Wednesday, and some reported that their emails included a broken link. Others said they didn’t click on the link because the body of the email had red flags that made them suspicious it was spam.
The email with the survey link started out:
“Hello, AC&M Group is assisting Charlotte-Mecklenburg county school system (CMS) with identifying ways to better meet the needs of parents and children who live in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.”
The email containing the survey link said that “For your participation, you will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win one of two $500.00 Visa Gift Cards.”
The survey asked questions including how many children in the family attend CMS, whether families plan to attend a CMS school or non-CMS school next year, and during what grade the family unenrolled a child from CMS (if applicable).
It didn’t ask for names or addresses, but it did ask what area of the district respondents live in, their race/ethnicity and their income level.
It’s interesting but maybe not surprising that in a year when many families have opted out of CMS because of how it has handled the Covid crisis, the district appears to be seeking clarity on who’s staying and who’s going. We’ll keep an eye on this one. — CB
Best of Charlotte Nextdoor: Teen Nerf gun snipers in SouthPark
Replies poured in, including:
Amy from Montclaire: “Nerf guns … the gateway weapon.”
Brad from SouthPark: “I’ve heard about this gang of outlaws … it’s dangerous out on the streets of SouthPark.”
Jere from Barclay Downs: “That’s it. I’m done. First the coyotes, then the cicadas, then Plan 2040. Now ruffians with nerf guns. I’m pulling up and moving to Iowa.”
Karen from Madison Park: “Why does everyone have to be so hateful and dismissive when somebody only tries to alert others to dangerous or inappropriate behavior that could affect others? Yes, no one was hurt. But teens shouldn’t be doing things like this while driving, and they shouldn’t be aiming even a pretend gun at anyone these days — pedestrians or other cars.” — CB
Possibly related Ledger article:
“Are cheese-throwing bandits on the loose in south Charlotte?” (Nov. 18, 2020)
In brief:
Mecklenburg’s vaccination rate: Mecklenburg County’s vaccination rate lags behind the state average and behind similar-sized counties. County officials say people from outside Charlotte have gotten vaccinated here, which doesn’t count toward Mecklenburg’s numbers, and they’re having a hard time filling available appointments. (Observer)
Restaurant staffing struggles: An Arby’s in Concord has a sign on its door that says it’s closing on Sundays because of staffing shortages. Restaurants are having a hard time hiring enough workers. (WSOC)
Business incentives: At a meeting tonight, the City Council is expected to approve a business incentive grant for $657,000 to Arrival Automotive USA, which is building an electric-van factory in west Charlotte with 281 jobs.
Chicken wing shortage: The cost of chicken wings is soaring as diners return to restaurants and suppliers are having a hard time keeping pace. The owner of Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack in Asheville says chicken wing costs spiked 56% last quarter. The owner of another wing place, One Stop, said he sometimes runs out and that wholesale prices are “absolutely ridiculous.” (AP/WFAE)
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; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Reporting intern: David Griffith