More seniors are aging solo (free version)
Plus: Hospitality workers honored, including one requested by Snoop Dogg; More population growth forecast; Annie Leibovitz photo exhibition coming; Charlotte FC loses star player to Greece
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As a growing number of older adults are childless and live alone, there’s a rise in ‘solo agers’ who face unique planning challenges
Pat Arnold, shown here with her great-granddaughter Willow who lives in Louisiana, doesn’t have family nearby so she has set up a network of close friends who can help when needs arise. She’s part of a growing group that experts say must be more intentional about setting up support and plans as they grow older. (Photo courtesy of Pat Arnold)
by Cristina Bolling
Pat Arnold says she’s always had an independent spirit. She never remarried after her 1973 divorce, she moved to Charlotte in 1979 for work without knowing a soul, and she lives alone with her spunky 3-year-old calico cat named Callie, far from her son in Florida and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are scattered around the country.
Several years ago, while working with a lawyer on her will, she was confronted with the question: who could legally step in for her if one day she needed someone to act on her behalf?
She says she “thought and thought and thought,” and then set up a support team. Two close female friends from her church, Covenant Presbyterian, would serve as her medical powers of attorney. One of the friends’ husbands would be her financial power of attorney.
Arnold, 88, doesn’t drive, so one of her two friends takes her to important doctor appointments to provide a second set of ears. Her financial power of attorney joins Arnold for meetings with her financial advisor and is available whenever money related questions arise. She has lived at The Sharon at SouthPark retirement community since 2013, where she has access to friends, meals and activities all under the same roof.
She says her son called to check on her during a recent bout of Covid, and she assured him that she’d set herself up to be well taken care of.
“I told my son my independence story, and he was so proud of me,” Arnold said.
Arnold is part of a group that is on the rise, but is often overlooked: “solo agers,” or seniors who are growing older without close support from spouses, adult children or other relatives.
Charlotte hospitality workers — including one personally requested by Snoop Dogg — earn local tourism awards
Erin Mobley-McMillian (pictured in red pants) is the only hotel staff member rapper Snoop Dogg (left photo) requests to bring him breakfast when he stays in Charlotte. Mobley-McMillian was recognized by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority on Wednesday at the Partners in Tourism Awards breakfast. Mobley-McMillian was honored alongside Kenya Golden (pictured left to right), Yanira Colon, Antoine Sanders, Edgar Aguilar, Riziki Mastaki and Paul Manley. (Snoop Dogg photo by Ben Houdijk/Shutterstock.com)
When famous rapper Snoop Dogg performed in Charlotte last year, there was only one person on the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel staff who he wanted to deliver his breakfast the following morning.
That person was Erin Mobley-McMillian, director of sales for the hotel. She has a background in handling the entertainment market at hotels, and Snoop Dogg was her first client when she started working in the industry almost 35 years ago.
Who’s actually reading that college essay? UNC student newspaper breaks it down
Here’s something that will grab the attention of families awaiting college admissions results: a recent article in UNC Chapel Hill’s student newspaper describes how the university’s admissions office uses AI to assess college application essays, and how essays factor into admissions decisions.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events: Queen’s Feast, Jewish Film Festival, Civics 101
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THROUGH SUNDAY: “Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week.” Enjoy sweet deals and foodie thrills during Queen’s Feast, Jan. 17-26, as 100+ restaurants in 9 metro-area counties showcase their cuisine with 3-course prix fixe menus. Explore menus and make reservations at CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com. Price varies by restaurant.
JAN. 25 - FEB. 23: The 2025 Charlotte Jewish Film Festival takes place at the Levine Jewish Community Center, featuring 17 films from around the world that illuminate the global Jewish experience and culture. The acclaimed Kyra Sedgewick led comedy, “Bad Shabbos” (winner of the audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival) will debut in Charlotte on opening night with the film’s director/co-writer, Daniel Robbins and the film’s producer, Adam Miller scheduled to attend.
FEB. 19 - APRIL 2: Civics 101, 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Government Center, 600 E. 4th St. Room 280. Never before has it been so important to be informed about local government and to understand how it works in North Carolina. Join the League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg for Civics 101, a premier source of insight into the structures of governance in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. The program consists of seven evening sessions, one-evening-per-week. $50; free for students.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
✍️Today’s a great day to send in a nomination — or consider being a sponsor — for The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards!
It’s Friday, and there’s no better day to nominate someone you admire for The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards, Presented by U.S. Bank!
Now in its sixth year, the 40 Over 40 Awards recognize difference-makers in our community who are in their 40s and beyond. You’re welcome to submit as many nominations as you’d like. Nominations close Feb. 17.
We’ll celebrate our winners with a lively event May 8 (mark your calendars!) and sponsorship opportunities are still available at a variety of levels.
A warm Ledger thank you to our valued sponsors who’ve already signed on, including U.S. Bank, residential real estate broker Ducie Stark of Dickens Mitchener and Amy George of By George Communications.
Interested in sponsorship? Get in touch.
In brief
Yep, more growth ahead: The population of the Charlotte region is expected to grow by about 50% in the next 25 years, according to a projection by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. It forecasts that Mecklenburg will add 600,000 residents by 2050, to 1.7 million in population (+42%). The highest percentage growth is predicted to be in Lancaster (+71%), Union (+60%), Iredell (+58%) and York (+54%) counties. (Charlotte Regional Business Alliance)
DoorDash driver charged in shooting death: A DoorDash delivery driver was charged with murder after shooting to death a teen during a confrontation uptown on Wednesday. The driver, Keshawn Boyd, told police that he saw two men trying to steal his car uptown as he delivered an order. Police said 15-year-old Matthias Crockett was killed in the 400 block of 8th Street. (WSOC)
2 N.C. agency heads move to end DEI: N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley and State Auditor Dave Boliek announced Thursday that their agencies would stop using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, following a similar move by President Donald Trump at the federal level. Farley and Boliek, both Republicans, were elected in November. (The Center Square)
Man found dead during homelessness count: A homeless man was found dead early Thursday during Mecklenburg County’s annual count of the homeless population, county officials said. The man, whose identity has not been released, was found by a group led by Liz Clasen-Kelly, CEO of Roof Above, a Charlotte charity that combats homelessness. A cause of death has not been determined. (Observer)
CMS adds high school testing day on Monday: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education approved a small change to this year’s calendar because of missed testing with Wednesday’s snow day. Monday will be a “Day 5/Make-Up Day,” with high schools running on an exam schedule and dismissing at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday will be the first day of the third quarter/second semester. Instructional time for Wednesday’s weather-related closure will not be made up.
Trump calls out BofA CEO: President Donald Trump on Thursday chastised Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, saying that he has heard complaints that the bank mistreats conservative customers. “I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives because many conservatives complain that the banks are not allowing them to do business within the bank, and that included a place called Bank of America,” said Trump, speaking via video to an economic forum. Moynihan didn’t directly reply. A bank spokesman later said: “We welcome conservatives and have no political litmus test.” (CNBC)
Big photography exhibit coming: The work of renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz is headed to the Mint Museum Uptown in an exhibit opening April 27, the Mint said in a press release. She took photographs for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue and became known “as the definitive portraitist of the world’s most fascinating figures,” the museum said. (Mint Museum)
Hornets want out of suit against LaMelo: The Charlotte Hornets have asked a judge to be removed from a lawsuit from a fan against star LaMelo Ball, saying that the team had nothing to do with an October 2023 incident in which the point guard is alleged to have run over a 12-year-old’s foot while leaving a Spectrum Center scrimmage. (Observer)
Swiderski departs Charlotte FC: Charlotte FC’s first star player and top goal scorer, Karol Swiderski, is leaving the club to play in Greece. Swiderski played in each of Charlotte FC’s three seasons. The team has been retooling its roster ahead of its fourth season, which starts next month. (Charlotte FC)
Ally sells card unit: Ally Financial is getting out of the credit card business. It announced it is selling its card portfolio to payments firm CardWorks. (Reuters)
Hot new bookstore: A new bookstore specializing in romance novels is opening on March 1 in Plaza Midwood. Owner Katie Mitchell has operated a mobile bookstore called Trope Bookshop out of a rehabbed bus since 2023. (CLT Today)
Humpty Dumpty to be reconstituted in Cornelius: The town of Cornelius is working with a North Carolina artist to replace a Humpty Dumpty statue that went missing in 2023. Some 63 donors contributed a total of $2,700 to rebuild a Humpty sculpture made of aluminum, bronze, steel and cement. The new sculpture in front of Cornelius Elementary School should be ready by April 1. (Fox 46)
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