4B
LIFE/ tC(e CliarlottE
Thursday, February 26, 2004
AIDS
Council
benefit
By Artellia Burch
artellia.burch@lhecharlotteposl.com
The AIDS Council of
Gastx)n County will hold its
annual ‘Taste of’ event Las
Vegas style. This year’s
event will celebrate Vegas
with casino-style games,
entertainment and food.
Visual arts will take cen
ter stage with dance, stand-
up comedy, a legends show
and silent auction of origi
nal works by regional
artists.
Guests will be able to
enjoy a sit down dinner
inside Rodi Restaurant Bar
and Bakery, which sup
ports the AIDS benefit
annually.
According to the U.S.
Centers of Disease Control
and Prevention, estimate
that 850,000 to 950,000
U.S. residents are living
with HIV, one quaiter of
whom are unaware of their
infection.
Approximately 40,000
new infections occur each
year in the U.S., about 70
percent among men. Of
newly infected men,
approximately 50 percent
are black and 64 percent of
newly infected women are
black.
Carla Pope and Traci
Smith owners of Rodi
Restaurant Bar and
Bakery donate the pro
ceeds of the dinner every
year since 1999 to support
the AIDS Council.
“If each person does
whatever they can, no mat
ter how great or small the
message that AIDS is pre
ventable will eventually
make a difference,” said
Pope.
If you’re interested in
purchasing a table for
Taste of Las Vegas or for
more information about the
party call (704) 853-5238.
Advance tickets are $30
and admission is $35 at the
door.
Friend or Foe-Choosing
Your Wedding Party
By Rob Stein
THE WASHINGTON POST
I attempted a few years
back to date a high-school
sweetheart. All I could think
about were the great times
that we had back then and a
part of me thought we could
recapture those special
moments too many years
later. Needless to say, it did
n’t work out.
Thoughts around choosing
your wedding party will often
take you back to your sandbox
days, little league baseball, or
some other memorable and
cherished moments. What fve
learned is, “people change”.
Many couples become disap
pointed over their choice of
wedding party members as
they delve into the finer details
of the impending wedding and
marriage.
One person (let’s call her
Ethel) put it so eloquently
when she was asked to be a
member of a particular cou
ple’s wedding party. Ethel
didn’t know the groom, so she
insisted that a “get-to-know-
the-groom” conversation take
place prior to her acceptance
of the bride’s invitation. The
groom declined and so did
Ethel. She took the position
Folk Arts Camp Offers Unique Encounter With Tradition
children ages 8-12 will make music, share stories, dance
and create traditional crafts under the leadership of
master musicians, dancers and artisans.
• luly 26-30 and August 2-6
• 8:30.'\M to 5:30PM
• St. .Andrew’s Episcopal Church
3601 Cientral .Ave., Charlotte
• S2 25 per week
• limited scholarships available
Contact Camp Director, junevtgfolkartscamp.org
or call (704) 491-5646.
SCIENCE
COUNCIL
CH.ARLOTTE
FOf.K SOCIETY
wiirw.foJk.soc‘if(y.or{j
the financial commitment
to be in the wedding?
3. Are you able to make
the time commitment to
our celebration?
4. What type of spiritual
support are you able to
provide to us as husband
and wife?
5. Can we rely on you dur
ing both the good times
and challenging moments
of our marriage? How
will you support us?
6. Can we rely on you for
prayerful advice?
7. What advice do you
have for us as we begin
our planning process?
Couples who take the time
to talk through the selection
of their wedding party and
reaching sound decisions
that will support their
impending marriage stand a
much better chance for ever
lasting love. When prayers
go up, blessings do come
down.
Written by Wialillicm Howard of
Wialillian & Company: Events,
Training & Consulting
Specialists. Contact her at: 704-
3 7 6 - 9 4 7 6 or
wiaandco ©yahoo, com
McCarrolVs Catering, Inc.
Betty McCarroli. Owner
P.O. Box 16382
2300 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28297
Phone: (704) 399-1887 or (704) 392-6234
A. Tyrone McCarroli
Phone: (704) 394-2733
Fax: (704) 392-1103
Wedding Receptions • Barbecues • Corporate Events
CURTIS WILSON
Photographer
Commercial
Weddings
Portraits
Fashion
Events
Office: 704-541-3487
cwilson4@carolina.rr.com
Palm
Reading
h
MS. GABRIELLE
Reader & Advisor
Tells Past, Present and Future
704-537-7518
Tarot
Reading
that being a member of the
wedding party bestowed a
responsibility far more reach
ing than wearing a pretty
dress and taking the wedding
snapshots. Ethel insisted she
was being asked to stand
before God and accept the
responsibility of witnessing a
spiritual union and making a
commitment to do whatever
necessary to help keep the
couple together “until death
due you part”.
Choosing your wedding
party should take on the same
spiritual commitment as
expressed by Ethel. Couples,
many times, choose their wed
ding party for reasons unrelat
ed to the sanctity of the com
mitment. Couples should sit
down together and determine
some very sound reasons for
choosing individuals, who will
witness their marriage. It will
be helpful for couples to deter
mine why they are considering
each person and be prepared to
share those reasons with them.
A set of expectations should be
developed and shared as well.
A list of questions for
prospective weddii^ party
members will be essential:
1. Are you in agreement
with our plans to marry?
2. Are you able to make
/
“He is a respectful and courteous chili. A pleasure to he around. ”
-Social Worker
About Patrick (DOB lOf 12/91):
• Enjoys football and basketball
. Ukes to draw and is very creative
• Participated in karate
• Has stated that he would love to have a parent to fish and play
sports with him
• Hopes to be the president of the USA
• Enjoys participating in church activities
• He needs a family that has lots of love and patience
Mecklenburg County
Youth & Family Services
For more information contact:
Joyce H. Sluhes 704-432-0660
stukejb@co.mecklenburg.nc.iis
:'1h
:-k:
Need a eollege savings plan for your grandehild?
North Carolina’s 529 plan.
Tax-Free. Flexible. Affordable.
North Carolina’i
800-600-3453 www.C FN C .org/Savings
O College Foundation, Inc. 2003
National College
Savings Program
College Foundation of North Carolina
Helping You Plan, Apply, and Pay for College