Recommended reading — Cristina's picks
Ledger classics you might have missed
Hello friends! Cristina here. This week, our team is taking a little Ledger-look-back at some favorite stories we’ve written or edited for the newsletter. Whether you caught them the first time or became a Ledger reader after they published, I hope you enjoy today’s sampling of “Cristina’s picks” — pieces I enjoyed writing or editing. It’s a pretty eclectic mix: self-help, quirky stories, poignant profiles. You get the picture.
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I hope you enjoy these stories!
—Cristina Bolling, managing editor, The Charlotte Ledger
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➡️ “Ukraine gave them a son” As Russia was invading Ukraine in the spring of 2022, we brought readers the story of the Maddex family of Waxhaw, who have a special connection to Ukraine. Laurie and Bryan Maddex had three little boys when they adopted Zeke from a Ukrainian orphanage in 2011. The couple spent 11 weeks in Ukraine as the adoption was going through and forged a close relationship with the country and its people. This story will pull at your heartstrings, as the Maddexes describe what life is like in Ukraine for children like Zeke who have Down syndrome.
Zeke, 14, (far left) is the comedian of the Maddex family. “He’ll do anything if he thinks you’ll laugh at it,” says mom, Laurie (second from left), pictured with Gavin, 12; dad, Bryan; Chase, 14 and Ian, 17. (Photo by Leah Custer/Leah Custer Photography & Design)
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➡️ “I hate public speaking, so I called in the experts” Public speaking has always filled me with fear and dread, so on the hunch that I wasn’t alone, I sought the advice of local experts on how to improve. I sent tapes of a few of my public speaking appearances to experts ranging from communications consultant Lou Solomon to TV news hotshot Joe Bruno for advice, and guess what — my next speaking engagements went far more smoothly! If you have a speech coming up, check out the tips I collected from the pros.
TESTING, 1 … 2 … 3: Taking a quick jog around the block or pumping your fist in the air right before you speak in front of an audience will help get oxygen to your brain and disperse the adrenaline rush, experts say.
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➡️ “Suiting up with the help of Sue” I loved this piece by local writer Amber Veverka, who introduces us to Sue Chanthakhot, who for 22 years has been outfitting men in suits in Belk at SouthPark Mall. Sue is an institution — she’s the one moms of teen boys turn to when their sons need suits for prom, or that grown men visit when it’s time for a new interview suit or wedding attire. She has a compelling personal story — she and her family fled Laos in 1975 after the fall of Saigon and settled in the United States as refugees. With grit and hustle, she’s raised two girls and built a life to be proud of.
Sue Chanthakhot acts as a wise guide, helping men and teen boys through the journey of buying dress clothes at Belk in SouthPark Mall. Her own life’s journey has been a circuitous one since arriving in the U.S. as a refugee from Laos. (Photo by Amber Veverka)
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➡️ “Ways of Life: After 56 years of marriage, they died 3 days apart” Readers tell us they enjoy our Ways of Life obituaries highlighting the remarkable lives of everyday Charlotteans, and this story by frequent contributor Ken Garfield is a perfect example of why. Ken offers a poignant account of the lives of husband-and-wife pair Larry and Sue Breckenridge, who cared for each other through two very difficult diagnoses. After Sue passed away from melanoma, Larry, who had Alzheimer’s disease, stopped eating and died three days later. “He made it very clear. He couldn’t conceive of life without her,” said one of their sons.
Larry and Sue Breckenridge were not afraid to show their love. They often held hands and kissed hello and goodbye. (Photo courtesy of the family)
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➡️ “Inside the jury room of the CMS trial” One of the highest profile Charlotte court cases in recent years happened in January, when a former Myers Park High student who said she was sexually assaulted in the woods near the school sued Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the city’s police department over whether they appropriately handled her case. The case lasted four days, and the Ledger was the only media outlet that tracked down jurors afterward for a firsthand account of how they came to their decision to rule in favor of CMS and the city of Charlotte. They offered up lots of good details that showcase the drama behind their deliberations.
Judge Robert Conrad asks questions of prospective jurors in last week’s Myers Park High sexual assault trial. (Sketch by Jerry McJunkins)
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project