The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services will provide garbage, recyclables, yard waste and bulky item collection services according to the normal schedule on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.

Residents are reminded of the following tips to ensure collection:

· Bag all garbage before placing it in the garbage rollout cart

· Please do not bag recyclables before placing them in the recycling rollout cart

· Trimmings from shrubs and trees must be no longer than 5 feet in length and no larger than 4 inches in diameter

· Yard waste should be separated in piles small enough for one person to carry

· Call 311 to schedule bulky items for collection

· Place collection materials curbside by 6:30 am on day of collection

· Place collection items within 2 feet of the curb. Please do not block the sidewalk

· Allow 3 feet between your garbage cart, recycling cart, yard waste, bulky items and obstacles such as vehicles, mailboxes, phone poles, etc.

For more information on the Curb It! program, please visit http://curbit.charlottenc.gov or call 311 (704.336.7600).

The Mint Museum and two of its uptown neighbors are joining Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,600 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel, including active Reserve and National Guard, and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2012.

All Blue Star Museums, including the Mint, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and Levine Museum of the New South, are offering free admission to all military ID holders and up to five family members. In addition, the Mint is offering free admission to any veteran with a Veterans Identification Card and up to five of their family members for the summer. The initiative applies to both Mint locations.

"We are happy to be able to offer ourselves as a resource to support military families and veterans this summer," said Hillary Cooper, director of communications and media relations at The Mint Museum. "We are an ideal family-friendly attraction and this initiative offers a chance to deepen and broaden our community connections."

The Mint recently acquired the work "Defiant Gardens" by Texas artist Dario Robleto, and the seven-foot-tall, five-foot-wide wreath-shaped sculpture has proven thought-provoking for veterans and military families because of its powerful themes of wartime memories. "Defiant Gardens" incorporates paper pulp made from American soldier's letters, Victorian hair flowers braided by war widows, dried flowers from various battlefields, and even tiny carrier-pigeon message capsules among its materials. The work was added to the museum's permanent collection through the generosity of the Mint Museum Auxiliary. The museum is inviting military families and veterans to experience the work along with its other collections and exhibitions, and plans to offer special programming incorporating "Defiant Gardens" later in the summer (details will be announced at a later date).

The Blue Star Museums initiative is just one part of the excitement going on this summer at the Mint. Spots are still open at the Mint's Summer Art Camps (see attachment for more information), and new exhibition openings, educational programs, celebrations, and more will continue while school is out. For more information, visit mintmuseum.org.

National Blue Star Museums announcement

The Mint's announcement follows a national announcement of the Blue Star Museums initiative in New York City on Tuesday. "Through Blue Star Museums, the arts community is extending a special invitation to military families to enjoy over 1,600 museums this summer," said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. "This is both an opportunity to thank military families for their service and sacrifice, as well as a chance to create connections between museums and these families that will continue throughout the year. Especially for families with limited time together, those on a limited budget, and ones that have to relocate frequently, Blue Star Museums offers an opportunity to enjoy one another and become more fully integrated into a community."

This year, more than 1,600 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.

FOLLOW: Blue Star Museums is on Twitter at @NEAarts, hashtag #bluestarmuse. To learn more about the White House's Joining Forces initiative visit JoiningForces.gov and follow on Twitter @JoiningForces and on Facebook. Follow Blue Star Families on Twitter, @BlueStarFamily, and on Facebook.

ABOUT BLUE STAR MUSEUMS

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,600 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 through Labor Day, September 3, 2012. The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their family members (military ID holder and up to five family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. To see which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

ABOUT BLUE STAR FAMILIES

Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable through programs and partnerships like Operation Honor Cards, MilKidz Club and Blue Star Museums. Membership includes military spouses, children and parents as well as service members, veterans and the civilians who strongly support them. To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit www.bluestarfam.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.

This is the latest NEA program to bring quality arts programs to the military, veterans, and their families. Other NEA programs for the military have included Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience; Great American Voices Military Base Tour; and Shakespeare in American Communities Military Base Tour.

ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM

As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte's Eastover neighborhood as the state's first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org.

The special exhibitions presented by Discovery Place during the past five years have contributed $27.2 million in tourism economic impact to the local economy. The blockbusters BODY WORLDS, A Day in Pompeii and most recently Mummies of the World were visited by a combined 562,000 people, more than half of whom lived outside of Mecklenburg County. Mummies of the World, which closed April 8, 2012 was responsible for $6.6 million of economic impact plus an additional $2.2 million in discretionary spending by local residents that was retained in Mecklenburg County.

"The world class exhibitions that Discovery Place has invested in developing and bringing to Charlotte help build the cultural and educational life of our community," said John Mackay, president and CEO, Discovery Place. "But these studies show that they also contribute to the economic well-being of the region in a meaningful way, and we plan to continue to offer these one-of-a-kind opportunities to the community in future years."

The BODY WORLDS exhibition was presented at Discovery Place for 6 months in 2007 through 2008 and generated $12.6 million in economic impact while A Day in Pompeii was presented for 6 months in 2008 through 2009 and generated $8.0 million in economic impact. The studies measure the spending only of people who do not live in Mecklenburg County but travel into the region to visit the Museum for the exhibition.

Discovery Place partnered with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to conduct economic impact studies of its recent exhibitions in order to measure the contributions to the development of the community. The surveys were conducted online and through the mail and data was analyzed using the Mecklenburg County Tourism Impact Model by Elliot D. Pollack & Co.

During the prior five-year period, Discovery Place produced and hosted The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition. The economic output impact of this exhibition was $19.2 million according to a study conducted by John Connaughton, Ph.D. using methodology developed by the U.S. government and maintained by the Minnesota IMPLAN Group.

About Discovery Place
One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that engage people in the active exploration of science and nature. The Museum brings relevant, contemporary science to life through groundbreaking exhibitions, interactive educational programming and hands-on activities. Nearly a half-million people from all over the United States engage with Discovery Place and its IMAX Dome Theatre each year.

Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the Museum's parking deck – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets. For more information about Discovery Place, call 704-372-6261, visit www.discoveryplace.org or connect with Discovery Place on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Discovery Place Inc. owns and operates Discovery Place, Charlotte Nature Museum and Discovery Place KIDS and is supported, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council.

Mecklenburg County government offices and agencies will be closed on Monday, May 28, 2012 for the Memorial Day holiday. This includes all units of the Department of Social Services, the Tax Office, Elections Office, the Register of Deeds Office, and the Land Use and Environmental Services Office.

Mecklenburg County Substance Abuse Center (Detox) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Department of Social Services Care Line (704-336-CARE or 704-336-2773) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or disabled adults.

The Health Department will be closed on Monday, May 28. The Main Library and all library branches will be closed on Monday, May 28.

All Solid Waste administrative offices and facilities, except Compost Central, will be closed on Memorial Day, May 28. Compost Central will operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m

Park and Recreation administrative offices and all Recreation Centers will be closed on Monday, May 28.

As a reminder, CharMeck 311 remains open and available to the public on holidays and weekends.

Enjoy your holiday!

From now through June 8, you can help rally the citizens of Charlotte to support the Urban Ministry Center for the opportunity to win up to $50,000 in renovations, courtesy of Maxwell House. The Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte offers basic services such as a soup kitchen, showers and laundry, while also providing temporary shelter, substance abuse treatment and education to the community in hopes of uniting the people of Charlotte ending homelessness.

With a history of brewing good deeds, Maxwell House is kicking-off year two of Drops of Good: The Maxwell House Community Project to bring change to communities in need and inspire hope from the ground up. In partnership with Rebuilding Together and country music superstar, Trace Adkins, Drops of Good will revitalize communities from coast to coast.

At MaxwellHouse.com, you can vote for one of 10 community centers and the top three will receive the makeover of a lifetime. They can also find volunteer opportunities in Charlotte at MaxwellHouse.com.

With nearly 50% of Americans receiving some form of government aid, more families than ever before are in need and relying on local community centers for vital support. To inspire hope and bring change to struggling communities, Maxwell House is launching the second year of "Drops of Good: The Maxwell House Community Project" to help revitalize these crucial community centers.

In partnership with Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to safe, healthy homes and communities, and multi-platinum recording artist, Trace Adkins, Maxwell House is hitting the road in a specially equipped truck to revitalize community centers and deliver grants from coast to coast. Building off the momentum of last year's success, "Drops of Good" will:

· Ask Americans to go online to select three of 10 deserving community centers to receive up to $50,000 each in renovations

· Provide a $5,000 grant to each remaining community center

· Deliver ten surprise "Drops of Good" grants to non-profit organizations across the country

· Enlist Americans to volunteer at "Drops of Good" renovation events or with Rebuilding Together in their local community

"While touring the country, I've seen how communities are struggling in the current economy, and no matter what zip code I'm in, I feel the need to help out where I can," said Trace Adkins. "I'm proud to be a part of 'Drops of Good' because it is the perfect opportunity to roll up my sleeves and help communities in need."

"Maxwell House is serious about giving back and encouraging volunteerism, that's why we're excited to kick-off year two of 'Drops of Good,'" said Corey Provine, Maxwell House Senior Brand Manager. "We believe everyone can make a difference in their local communities and it's the simple things in life that can often have the most impact on those in need."

Owners of electric vehicles who are members of the Chargepoint Network can still re-charge their cars for free at charging stations owned and operated by the City of Charlotte. As an investment in supporting the use of electric vehicles, the City will not be charging users at City-owned stations for a limited time, as it is covered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Motorists using the charging stations can also subscribe to the ChargePoint network to reserve or check the availability of the stations. Chargepoint is the primary network providing charging station location and availability for drivers of electric cars.

City of Charlotte charging stations are housed at the following locations:
6 stations at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Parking Deck
5 stations at CATS I-485 Station Park & Ride Parking Deck
5 stations at CATS Mallard Creek Park & Ride
4 stations at CATS Huntersville Gateway Park & Ride
2 stations on North Tryon Street near The Square (in front of Starbucks)
2 stations on South Tryon Street near the Mint Museum
2 stations on South Blvd in front of the Circle at South End Apartments
Charging station sites located on City-owned property each include one handicapped-accessible charging station space.

In addition to charging station locations owned and operated by the City, charging station locations that are privately operated include:
Bank of America, 750 W. Trade St
Ritz Carlton Hotel, 201 E. Trade St
Wells Fargo Parking Garage (at the Green), 435 S. Tryon St.
Bank of America, 111 E. 7th St
Duke Energy - Mint Street Parking Deck R1-R5, 404 S. Mint St
Duke Energy - Mint Street Parking Deck L1-L6, 410 S. Mint St

The electric vehicle charging stations went online in April, in concert with the debut of the City's electric vehicle fleet, which includes Chevrolet Volts and Nissan Leafs. Area Chevrolet and Nissan dealerships have partnered with the City in the Power2 Charlotte campaign, helping to educate electric vehicle owners and the public about the availability of the charging stations and electric vehicle technology. Dealerships joining in the effort include City Chevrolet, Parks Chevrolet, Steve Moore Chevrolet, East Charlotte Nissan, Modern Nissan of Lake Norman, and South Charlotte Nissan.

To learn more about electric vehicles and the free re-charge program, visit www.power2charlotte.com.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) will be kicking off its "Students Saving Summer Scholarship" program on Friday, June 1. Area high school and college students who organize and host a successful blood drive with CBCC between June and September have the chance to earn scholarship money for their secondary education. CBCC will award five (5) $1,000 scholarships to the students who hold the top-producing blood drives.

"Students make up a large part of our donor base so this is a great opportunity to keep them engaged in the summer months when blood supplies tend to drop because of school breaks and family vacations," said Martin Grable, president and CEO of Community Blood Center of the Carolinas . "We look forward to recognizing deserving students with scholarships for their efforts in helping stock our summer blood supply and supporting local patients."

Participating students must hold their blood drive between June 1 and September 30, 2012; select a location; recruit donors; and collect a minimum of 25 units of blood to be eligible for the scholarship. Each student will be paired up with a CBCCrepresentative who will provide assistance with planning the blood drive. The CBCC scholarship donation must be directly transferred to the college, university or other learning establishment of each winner's choice.

For more information or to register for the "Saving Summer Scholarship" program, contact Kim Jones at 704-972-4727 or atKLJones@cbcc.us.

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 21 regional hospitals, serving 16 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties. CBCC focuses exclusively on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives – every drop of blood collected remains here to help people in the Carolinas. CBCC is a member of America's Blood Centers, North America's largest network of community-based, independent blood centers providing more than 50% of the nation's blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

Follow the Community Blood center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter and on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park's climbing tower on the Meadows will be open to guests, weather permitting, for a free climb Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. with paid Park admission. Check out the new, stunning elevated views on the rebuilt Outcroppings trail to the Chimney, now easier to hike with a gentler slope and more places to rest.

Enjoy a family picnic at the Park with a $6 special (plus tax) for a grilled hot dog, bag of chips and 20-oz. soft drink or bottled water in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts over the three-day weekend. Park musician John Mason will be playing music from old time to ragtime on a hammered dulcimer, weather permitting. The Park elevator and Sky Lounge are expected to open by mid-June. Chimney Rock is open every day 8:30am to 7pm; Ticket Plaza closes at 5:30pm. Admission is $12/adults, $5/youth ages 6-15 and children under six are admitted free.

Get a Taste of Rock Climbing. Climbers who want a taste of real rock climbing can head to the top parking lot and climb below the Chimney with the expertise of Fox Mountain Guides, who offer the only AMGA-Certified program in the Southeast. The 15-minute "tasters" cost $20 per person, no experience necessary. Two-hour climbing clinics and half- and full-day climbs with Fox Mountain are available by appointment. Get more information at (888) 284-8433 or chimneyrockpark.com.

Live Critters Make for Family Fun. Chimney Rock was named one of the top 5 "best summer activities for families" in North Carolina by GeoParent last year. The Park's Memorial Day weekend offers great hiking and activities for kids. While in the Meadows, families will enjoy Grady's Animal Discovery Den, where children can meet Grady the Groundhog, the Park's animal ambassador, and have fun eyeing live critters such as turtles, snakes and an opossum. These critters are stars in some of the Park's education programs for schools, homeschoolers and scouts. The adjacent Great Woodland Adventure offers an easy 0.6-mile winding hike with 13 interactive discovery stations, where Grady illustrates how his forest friends live, including chipmunks, frogs, owls and butterflies. Larger-than-life wood and metal sculptures bring to life the nation's second TRACK Trail (Trails, Ridges and Active Caring Kids), created in collaboration with Kids in Parks, an initiative of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. TRACK Trail adventures are designed to help kids explore nature through the use of self-guided brochures.

About Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is a developing international outdoor attraction located 25 miles southeast of Asheville on Highway 64/74A in Chimney Rock, N.C. It has been recognized as one of the Southeast's most iconic and popular travel destinations for more than 100 years. In 2012, the Park is celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the release of The Last of the Mohicans, which was filmed in Chimney Rock. The Park's 535-million-year-old monolith called Chimney Rock offers guests 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. The Park features one of the highest waterfalls of its kind east of the Mississippi River, Hickory Nut Falls, at 404 feet. A destination for travel groups, weddings and special events, the Park also hosts innovative educational programs for schools, homeschoolers, scouts and summer camps. Visit Chimney Rock's website at chimneyrockpark.com. More information on current Capital Improvement projects at chimneyrockpark.com/progress or by calling 800-277-9611.

Easter Seals UCP, a leading provider of services for people managing disabilities and mental health challenges, has just opened an adult mental health treatment services office to treat mental health issues in Mecklenburg County. The Easter Seals UCP Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) will help fill a growing need for services to help treat adults with severe and persistent mental health challenges. The new office is located in the University area at 8430 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28262.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health problems affect one in five American families. In Mecklenburg County, despite growing mental health needs, state funding cuts have caused many mental health service providers to shutter.

Easter Seals UCP's ACTT is a full spectrum, long-term community-based treatment model for adults with severe and persistent mental needs that have not been adequately treated by traditional treatments. The team consists of a team leader, psychiatrist, nurse, therapist, vocational specialist, substance abuse specialist and housing specialist to help manage each individual's treatment plan. The goal is to help individuals manage their mental health challenges and live more self-sufficient lives.

This is Easter Seals UCP's first adult mental health service for Mecklenburg County, but marks their 14th ACTT team in North Carolina allowing the organization to offer the most complete mental health coverage across the state.

"Mental health disorders account for four out of ten leading causes of disability," said Willie Walker, Easter Seals UCP's adult mental health manager for Mecklenburg County. "ACTT provides a team of experts approach to address the identified needs of an individual with persistent mental health issues that require intensive interventions to remain stable in the community. This sets us apart from other mental health service providers and improves patient outcomes."

Easter Seals UCP's mental health team will host an open house on Thursday, May 24th from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. for other mental health providers to learn more about the nonprofit's services and network with other mental health service providers. R.S.V.P at (704) 295-4955.

The typical outcomes found in individuals served by Easter Seals UCP's ACTT are fewer hospitalizations, stable housing, effective medication management, gains in educational and vocational goals and an improved support system.

For more information on Easter Seals UCP's ACTT services, visit EasterSealsUCP.com or call (704) 295-4955.

About Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia
With programs and services throughout North Carolina and Virginia, Easter Seals UCP is a lifelong partner to families managing disabilities and mental health challenges. The nonprofit serves more than 20,000 individuals and their families annually through an array of services. Easter Seals UCP enhances the quality of life for individuals and maximizes their potential for engaging in their communities. For more information on Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia, please visit www.eastersealsucp.com.

Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte has been confused in the media recently due to the similarity of its name with Providence Baptist Road Church of Maiden, N.C. A video about the Maiden church's pastor making statements derogatory of gays and lesbians has gone viral after being posted on YouTube, headlined by CNN, and reported through many news media nationwide.

As a result, Dr. Al Cadenhead, Senior Pastor of Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte, and other members of the church staff have received angry emails, phone calls and other messages from people confusing the two churches. Today (May 22), Cadenhead made the following statement for the media and the public:

"In recent hours we have been incorrectly identified as the church in another town where hatred and violence have been advocated from the pulpit. First of all, we are genuinely Baptist in that we recognize the right of every church to reach out or not to reach out as that church deems itself to be led. Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte believes in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our model for living and His presence is our source of strength for life. Jesus preached a Gospel of love. So do we. Jesus preached that we love our neighbor, whether that neighbor is like us or not.

"The Bible is our guide for daily life and makes it clear that all people, all of us, have sinned and fallen short of God's expectation. And the reason we can claim our place as children of God is a result of grace, mercy and love extended to all people. That love is best demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As Providence Baptist Church we believe that we are to offer that same grace, mercy and love to all people."

Providence Baptist Church at 4921 Randolph Rd. in Charlotte is a "moderate" Cooperative Baptist Fellowship congregation of approximately 2,000 active members, founded in 1954. For more information about the church, visit www.providencebc.org or call the church office at 704-366-2784.