Posted on Sun, Mar. 30, 2008
http://www.charlotteobserver.com

AROUND THE REGION | KATHARINE DALE

Dance event help sought

Recruiting efforts are underway for the 2008 Bethlehem Center Carolina Challenge, scheduled for Sept. 6.

Carolina Challenge is a 12-hour dance event, modeled after dance marathons at colleges, that raises funds for children's programming at the Bethlehem Center.

Entertainment includes bands, inflatables, and theme-hours ranging from '80s hour to line-dancing.

Those interested in participating as a challenger, sponsor or committee member are asked to come to the Carolina Challenge Rally at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bethlehem Center of Charlotte, 2705 Baltimore Ave.

Founded in 1940, The Bethlehem Center helps improve the lives of children and developing youths who need additional support.

The center's programs include School Age Development, Teen Programs, Community Outreach, and Social Services.

Details: www.bethlehemcenter.org.

Environmentalist to speak at college

Environmental scientist and evangelical leader Calvin DeWitt will present "Science, Ethics, and Praxis: A Framework for Sustainability" at 8 p.m. Monday in the Haid Theatre Belmont Abbey College.During the lecture, DeWitt will address ecological sustainability, climate change and biodiversity from a grounding in science and biblical ethics.

DeWitt, a scientist with degrees in biology and zoology, spent more than 25 years as director of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, where he helped college students learn about Christian environmental stewardship alongside "hard science."

According to a news release, he's been one of the prime movers behind significant collaborations between evangelicals, scientists and politicians -- including the Evangelical Climate Initiative.

Reservations required.

Details: Kathy Shaw, 704-825-6728.

Knights hosting fan day Saturday

The Charlotte Knights are inviting fans to the stadium 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for Knights Fest.

Events include national anthem auditions, 10 a.m.-noon. (to audition, register at 9:30 a.m.); stadium tours; inflatables; batting practice noon-2 p.m.; and mingling with Homer the Dragon.

Free hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be served at the Hebrew National Grill, on the third-base side.

Individual game tickets for the 2008 season will be on sale.

Homer the Dragon will be out mixing and mingling with everyone.

This is a great time for season ticket holders to come pick up their tickets as well.

The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Details: 704-357-8071; www.charlotteknights.com.

Chocolate Drops concert Saturday

After touring internationally, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are performing in Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Northwest School of the Arts Auditorium, 1415 Beatties Ford Road.The band of three African-American musicians can be heard in the movie "The Great Debaters," starring and directed by Denzel Washington.

It worked under the tutelage of octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson, a North Carolinian said in a news release to be "America's last black traditional string band player."

General admission: $12 adults; $10 seniors (62 years and up); and $6 for students.

The Historic Excelsior Club, 921 Beatties Ford Road, will host a family fish fry 5:30-7:30 p.m., prior to the concert. Fish and "fixins" is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Details: Wanda Hubicki, 704-563-7080; or www.folksociety.org.

2 to compete in speaking contest

Robyn Benjamin and Kern Taylor will represent the Queen City Toastmasters on Tuesday at its next level of competition.

The competition will start at 5:45 p.m. in the Hall Building of Time Warner Telecom in Ballantyne.

Queen City Toastmasters is a public speaking club open to the public, ages 18 and up.

The following were winners from the club's annual International Speaking and Table Topics Contest March 11 at Cisco Systems:

• International Speech Contest: first place, Robyn Benjamin; second place, Rick Pasotto.

• Table Topics: first place, Kern Taylor; second place, Roger Pierce.

Peter Bolton was the Master of Ceremonies, and Robyn Benjamin was the Table Topics Presenter.

Details: 704-572-7709.

Woman-owned business honored

Matthews-based MirrorMate was recently certified as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Carolina's chapter of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.The organization is an advocate of woman-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations and the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States.

MirrorMate, founded by Lisa Huntting in 2004, makes custom frames for plate glass bathroom mirrors. The business employees 15 people.

Around the Region | Katharine Dale

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Katharine Dale, Neighbors of Southern Mecklenburg, mynews@charlotte observer.com; phone: 704-358-6045; fax: 704-358-6161.