Afternoon Observer | Long-vacant Dilworth property changes hands + houses of worship adjust spring holidays to COVID
Good afternoon, Charlotte! This is Kristen. If you discovered a shark off the North Carolina coast, what would you name it? When marine researchers ran into an 8 foot long, 338-pound shark in the Outer Banks’ Onslow Bay, they knew just what to name her: Charlotte. She is the second white shark tagged and released so far off the North Carolina coast during the researchers’ current expedition, which ends this week. Learn more about our large finned friend here with Mark Price.
1. Long-vacant Dilworth property changes hands
A long-vacant lot at the corner of East Boulevard and Scott Avenue has been purchased for $5.1 million. The move brings the site one step closer to redevelopment.
The details, with the Observer’s Danielle Chemtob:
Charlotte City Council approved plans late last year for either either 80,000 square feet of office space or 170 residential units to be built on the site.
The site was once home to the Epicurean Restaurant until it closed in the 1990s and was demolished.
More recently, pumpkin patches and Christmas tree farms and food trucks set up shop on the land.
Learn more about the deal here.
2. Charlotte houses of worship adjust spring holidays to COVID
It’s not the first year houses of worship have to change up the way they celebrate religious holidays (good riddance, 2020), but with the hope of vaccination on the horizon, things are looking a bit more hopeful this year. Churches are re-imagining Passover, Easter and Ramadan rituals with face masks, social distancing and hand sanitizer, and clergy say this year is more uplifting as vaccines inject congregations with a message of renewal.
Last year, lockdowns meant mostly virtual Zoom services, but this year, holidays will be celebrated at festive meals, drive-up ceremonies and even Mass on a high school football field, as reported by the Observer’s Alison Kuznitz.
”It’s going to be joyful. It’s going to be hopeful,” said Father Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte. “It’s going to be assuring that we’re reaching a different moment of this pandemic, and all of those themes align with the theme of Holy Week.”
3. An update on the storms moving into the Charlotte area
It looks like that rain is here to stay for the rest of the day — powerful storms are still expected to hit the Charlotte region this evening, and could spawn tornadoes and large hail, National Weather Service meteorologists say.
“Numerous” showers and thunderstorms are expected with a “strong cold front” moving into the area, according to a bulletin from the NWS.
The NWS on Twitter advises people to expect rainfall and wind, and says, “large hail and a brief, weak tornado spin-up or two cannot be ruled out.”
Storms should arrive in the region from Upstate South Carolina by 6 p.m.
Once the system clears out early Thursday, it’s going to get cold.
Get the complete weather update here with the Observer’s Joe Marusak.
Today’s sports dispatch: NFL, high school football, Talking Preps
Here’s what’s happening in Charlotte-area sports today:
Carolina Panthers mock draft 1.0: The NFL draft begins April 29. This is who Panthers reporter Jonathan Alexander thinks the team will pick.
‘We have lost a legend.’ Longtime Charlotte high school football coach Jim Oddo died Wednesday. Oddo started at Charlotte Catholic in 1973 and won 358 games.
On tonight’s episode of Talking Preps: Jim Oddo tribute, NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker and more. Learn more and find out how to watch here.
Find all of our sports coverage here.
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