Con A de Arte is a rich, cultural festival that spotlights the work of Latinx artists, writers, musicians and dancers, as well as the agencies that support Latinx art and culture in the city.  The festival was celebrated for the first time at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in 2003. Initially, the event began as "The Market Place," and grew so rapidly that it was passed on to other cultural institutions for sustainability reasons. The festival is now hosted by The Mint Museum and Queens College. 

Why is cultural represntation of Hispanic culture and influence so important to the Charlotte community? Keep reading as we take a closer look at Census Bureau data to further understand our diverse neighbors.

The Census Bureau began to record Hispanic or Latino origin among the “foreign-born” in the United States in 1980. At that time, 3,962 persons (less than one percent of Mecklenburg County’s total population) were of Hispanic or Latino origin. Little more than one percent of Mecklenburg residents had been born outside the United States.

Migrants from Mexico and Central America had only just begun to explore opportunities outside the Southwestern United States. The demand for labor in the Southeast attracted workers at a time when a lack of economic opportunity and, in some countries, political instability drove them from their homes.

The following decade saw civil war in Central America, as well as federal legislation on immigration. The 1990 Census figures reflected these factors. The increased number of persons fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras accounted for the greater portion of the pie chart devoted to “Other” countries of origin. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provided a temporary status for agricultural workers and a path to citizenship for those already in the country. It was followed by a 78% jump of Hispanic immigration to Mecklenburg County. 

The 1990s transformed the Hispanic and Latino presence in the United States. The languages, food, music and people of Latin America had long been part of border culture in the Southwest and port cities in the East. By the year 2000, the immigrant stream to the Southeastern United States had given a new look and new cultural connections to the Carolinas. The 2000 Census showed an increase of almost 600% led by a twelve-fold surge in immigrants from Mexico.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library recognized this new element of its customer base and changed collections, signage and programming to meet the needs of a diversifying community. The photograph below was taken in June 2009, at a Main Library "Con A de Arte” (A is for Art) event.

As of 2017, persons of Latino or Hispanic origin made up 12% of Mecklenburg County’s population. For them, and for all, the Library offers the chance to improve lives and build a stronger community.

 

This blog was written by Tom Cole of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room at Main Library, with additional information provided by Irania Patterson.

Sources:

US Census Bureau, American FactFinder

• 2000, 2010, and 2017 (Type in "Charlotte" or "Mecklenburg County" and select a year)

Publications of the United States Census Bureau

• 1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics: North Carolina,  1990, Table 5, p.22
• 1980 Census of Population, Vol. 1, Chapter B: General Population Characteristics, Part 35: North Carolina, U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census, 1980, Table 16, p.25

At the age of 60, Leslie Hooton's wish to be a published author came true. She is publishing her first novel, Before Anyone Else, with Turner Publishing. It was an accomplishment she dreamt of all her life. A childhood visit to the library with her mother was the start of her dream. In fact, the first memory Leslie recalls in her life is the smell of library books which developed into a life-long passion for reading those books. For Leslie, her library card was the equivalent to her passport to exciting books and adventures. 

Leslie grew up in a small Alabama town comparable to the setting of How to Kill A Mockingbird. A stroke at birth kept Leslie in a wheelchair for much of her childhood but a visit to the library and a library card changed everything. "The library was my happy and safe place," Leslie said. “When I would go it was like a passport to the world."  



The library was a place where Leslie could explore the world and experience things she didn’t think would happen in her real life. Being able to access the world was important to her. It allowed her to be independent and to connect with her thoughts. And it was something her local library gave her the chance to do. 

To Leslie, a fourth-generation attorney, the library was a comforting place; she’d grown up there. Both her mother and her aunt were librarians. In fact, Leslie would spend hours writing in her high school’s library which is also where her mother worked. "I was happiest when I was quiet and writing in the library. I would go to the library before anyone else would get there and smell the books. I wasn't alone." She’d found a sanctuary among books. 



And Leslie continues to read and write. An avid blogger, Leslie has found a way to marry both of her passions: through blogging. Her blog, What Dreams May Come, is about her love of libraries and why she enjoys writing.  

Leslie has been a resident of Charlotte for 30 years. Her favorite Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch, and the one she calls home, is the Myers Park Library. She says she would spend entire days there if she could. "It was like a full-time job,” she said. “I would go with my legal pad and sit at a certain desk. I would write until 1 p.m., eat lunch, and go back to writing." 



Leslie is a great friend of the Library and she is an inspiration to others. The theme of her personal life story and testimony is apparent: never give up on your dreams.  



Today, Leslie can say that she is a participating member at the Sewanee Writers Conference, a member of the Myers Park Library Board, a lifelong friend of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and, finally, she now calls herself an author. Her book, Before Anyone Else, is available through the Library. It is also available for purchase here through local Charlotte bookstore, Park Road Books.

This blog was written by Julia Zwetolitz, an intern with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Formed in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is today the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the Carolinas. Currently known as The Charlotte Symphony, this organization includes small ensembles of musicians such as the Flute Club and two Youth Orchestras, among others. These small ensembles perform outreach services to local hospitals, and organizations. 

  



Courtesy of Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Instagram (@cltsymphony)

Community service is very important to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. The Carolina Room’s manuscript collection describes, through newspaper articles, concert programs and other items, how the organization has been interwoven with the community since its beginning. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra used the auditoriums of Alexander Graham Junior High School, Myers Park High School, Mineral Springs High School and Piedmont Junior High School as concert venues before Ovens Auditorium was built. 







Sydnor Thompson, president of Charlotte Symphony Board of Directors,

being shown recordings by Joe Little at Joe Little Hi Fi and Records (126 W. 5^th St.), 1959.



Since the Orchestra's conception, the organization and its affiliates have performed at community locales such as Queens College's Dana Auditorium, the United States Naval Hospital, Davidson College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. While the full organization may not have participated, individual Orchestra conductors and Orchestral players have been participants in the Brevard Music Festival Orchestra and the Transylvania Music Camp. They have also performed during local church services including those held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Myers Park Presbyterian Church and Providence United Methodist Church.

Courtesy of Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Instagram (@cltsymphony)

Beyond performing in various locations throughout the region, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra--as an organization and some individual personnel--participated in collaborative efforts that allowed them to spread music beyond a season's regularly scheduled concerts. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra collaborated with such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, the Atlanta Ballet Company and the Carolina Ballet Company. The Orchestra also reached out to other musicians through smaller ensembles such as the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Charlotte Flute Club, the Mint Museum Ensemble and the Charlotte Chamber Music Players.

Joseph P. Little Obituary Photo, 2012.



Joseph Pritchard Little, one of the early members of the Orchestra and played the flute for over fifty years (1934-1989). He very kindly donated his collection of programs, articles, photographs and audio/visual materials to the Carolina Room in 2007.

Please visit us in the Carolina Room to enjoy the collection!

This blog was written by Sydney Carroll of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room.

Celebrate at the North County Regional Library Fall Fest and Grand Re-Opening on Saturday, October 26, 2019 with ribbon cutting at 10 a.m.!

Now that North County Regional Library is open, we’re ready to celebrate! Join us on Saturday, October 26, 2019 for a Fall Fest and Grand Re-Opening from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.*

Festivities include:

• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10 a.m.
• Tours inside the branch
• Outside activities - food truck, inflatable bouncy toys, community vehicles
  • Wrap'N' Roll Food Truck
  • Johnson & Wales University – sweet treats table
  • A Bounceable Time – jumbo soccer darts, foot darts & hoop zone Basketball toss
  • The Raptor Center w/ Raptors in Art: Visitors learn how raptors have inspired artists throughout the world in different cultures and time frames. They play a sorting game trying to figure out which artwork represents which kind of raptor. They also get to make owl sculptures using homemade play dough
  • Bailey Middle School Band
• Inside activities - local community partners, face painting and more
  • Storm troopers
  • Children's exploration map
  • Photo-op stations - including Queen Charlotte (#QueentakestheQueen)
  • Smart Start Dolly Parton cutout for Imagination Station project
  • Huntersville Park & Rec
  • Childrens' storytimes
  • makerspace
  • Adult Services' scavenger hunt

What to see?

North County Regional Library increased by 1,860 square feet to nearly 24,860 square feet. You can tour all the redesigned spaces for children and teens including a new Teen Loft, a makerspace room, an expanded community room, individual and group study rooms and collaborative spaces, a vending café, and a patio and terrace. New features include free Wi Fi, audio-visual capabilities and a public computer lab. A new exterior book/materials drop is part of the new traffic flow in the parking lot. The North County Regional Library is also updated with an efficient checkout system using radio frequency identification (RFID) and an automated materials handling (AMH) unit.

Library hours

Starting October 7, North County Regional Library will resume normal operating hours. The Library will be open Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sundays 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Hours may vary in summer. 

See you at North County Regional soon!

*The branch will be open on Saturday, October 26, 2019 for regular operating hours from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

On November 3, 2019 at 5 p.m., South County Regional Library closed to the public. We anticipate reopening in early 2021 with a refreshed library. In the meantime, we know that this closure may impact customer use of the library. Renovations allow us to serve customers and Mecklenburg County in even better ways. We are bringing these changes based on customer feedback, and with funding from Mecklenburg County.

Please know that we are doing everything we can to bring customers convenient library access through our other 19 locations, programs at alternate venue locations, and a growing digital collection that includes books, music, videos, and research resources. We hope this information helps customers understand service options during the closure and keeps customers engaged with the library. The patronage of our customers is vitally important, so please read on for important information as well as other useful updates.

During the closure, we hope you will continue to use your library services by connecting with another branch for browsing, borrowing, classes/workshops, children's storytimes, and the many other ways you use us, or by using our online services at cmlibrary.org.

Other local branches to the South Mecklenburg County area

There are other branches local to the South Mecklenburg County area that continue to offer children's storytimes, programs and services. We encourage South County Regional customers to explore the option closest to them and to continue their library experiences at:

• Morrison Regional Library - 7015 Morrison Boulevard, Charlotte 28211 704-416-5400
• Matthews Library - 230 Matthews Station Street, Matthews 28105 704-416-5000
• Steele Creek Library -13620 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte  28273 704-416-6800
• Independence Regional Library - 6000 Conference Drive, Charlotte 28212 704-416-4800

Library Holds and Pick-ups

As of October 21, Morrison Regional Library automatically became the ‘home’ location on South County Regional Library accounts. Since Morrison Regional Library is the closest library to South County Regional, it has been identified as the interim holds pick-up location during renovation. We are doing this to make it easier for customers because, as of October 21, South County Regional no longer received or distributed reserved items.

Customers who wish to choose an alternate ‘home’ location for their holds pick-up location other than Morrison Regional Library, can do so in the following two ways:

1. Request assistance from any Library staff at South County or any Charlotte Mecklenburg Library location; or
2. Call the Library at 704-416-0100

Or, when in Bibliocommons reserving an item, customers can choose a location from the drop-down list -- but remember South County was removed as an option on October 21. (Note: changing this is in Bibliocommons will not permanently update the ‘home’ location in customer accounts.)

Attending Children's Storytimes

Children’s storytimes will continue at nearby community locations, including Gymboree Play & Music, the Morrison Family YMCA and Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. Other family storytimes are offered at various times at our 19 other Library locations (visit cmlibrary.org and search the calendar). Please look for additional details regarding times and locations for children's storytimes.

Returning Books and Materials to the South County Book-drop

Please note that South County Regional is no longer a book drop location and the drop-off receptacle has been removed. Customers can drop off items at any of our other 19 Library locations.

For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

Want to learn more about our Building Projects? Click here.

Thank you for your patience during our renovation. We encourage customers to continue using the Library – both at another location or online at cmlibrary.org. We value all of our customers and look forward to welcoming South County Regional customers back to an exciting, newly renovated library in early 2021!

South County Regional Library is located at 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, 28277. For information on all branch locations, click here. 

We missed you, too!

North County Regional Library is now open and ready for business! Customers and community members will love the incredible upgrades to the building – there is so much to see and do. Here’s a run-down of all that is new:

Starting on the third floor of the Library, customers and community members will find a new Teen Loft purposed to serve children and teens ages 10-18. The Teen Loft is equipped with young adult fiction, graphic novels, computers, playaways, board games and space just for teens. In addition to the Teen Loft, branch visitors will also find a Calming Room. The Calming Room is a space for anyone who needs a peaceful space such as nursing mothers, those who may experience sensory overload and more.

Perhaps one of the most exciting new spaces on the third floor of North County–and entirely new to the branch—is its makerspace! A makerspace is a place to explore and create with some of the latest emerging technology. The makerspace at North County is equipped with 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, a Carvey (wood cutter), a sound booth with audio recording equipment, virtual reality equipment and has design and editing software available.

Just want to stop by and play with some fun technology? The third floor is also home to the childrens area, which includes a large space for programs.  Upon request, customers and community members can borrow Makey Makey and littleBits kits to help them explore the space further. Makey Makey kits are an electronic invention kit that connect everyday objects to computer programs, while littleBits is composed of electronic building “bits” that snap together that allows anyone to create with technology. The hours of operation for the Makerspace may vary so please contact the branch for information regarding accessibility.

Venturing down to the ground floor, customers and community members will discover an expanded Community Room that can be partitioned into two separate rooms. They will also find a conference room, two study rooms and an additional restroom. When customers enter the Library on the main floor (the building also features a more accessible path to the building entrance), they will find an additional stairwell, a vending café, an outdoor lounge area, the holds and pickups area, and self check-outs. The vending café is equipped with snack and drink machines for customers to enjoy at their leisure.

In addition to all of the wonderful upgrades mentioned above, North County Regional Library also has a new exterior book/materials drop as part of the new traffic flow in the parking lot, an efficient checkout system using radio frequency identification (RFID) and a new automated materials handling unit. Customers and community members will also find a beautiful piece of public art on display. The art, donated by the Arts & Science Council, furthers the ASC mission of “ensuring access to an excellent, relevant, and sustainable cultural community for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Region.”

The entire location has been refurbished and reorganized to fit the needs of a growing community. The Library is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sundays 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Hours may vary in summer.

New customers are encouraged to sign-up for a Library card on-line or at the branch. Come by and check it out!

As Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) comes to a close, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library customers can continue the celebration in a fun and mysterious way. The popular genre of mystery and detective fiction offers literature, highlighting Hispanic detectives,  all year long.  With titles available in print and e-books, and Hispanic detectives spanning California to New York, the Library has the genre covered.

Two writers in particular, Suzanne Chazin and Rudolfo Anaya, have the most material with four novels each. Chazin's detective stories are currently ongoing with a new novel scheduled for release next year. 

Chazin’s mystery series features a Puerto Rican police detective working in upstate New York named Jimmy Vega. Her novels are set in Lake Holly, NY, which typically has peaceful race relations, but draws Jimmy into volatile cases among undocumented immigrants within its Latino community. The crimes are viewed from varying perspectives as Jimmy, on occasion, is pitted against his girlfriend, Adele, former lawyer and the director of the local Latino community center. 

Described as intricately plotted and issue-oriented stories by Novelist Plus, a comprehensive reader’s advice resource, Chazin’s website states her immigrant background inspired her to create the Jimmy Vega series. The writer, the daughter of immigrans, has a Russian father and English mother, but has volunteered for several years at an immigrant outreach center near her home.           

Anaya’s books comprise another suspenseful series, but markedly differ from Chazin's with his lush and lyrical writing style according to Novelist Plus. Most of his detective stories were published in the 1990s, with the last released in 2005. The stories feature Chicano private investigator, Sonny Baca. Set in Albequerque, New Mexico, the novels have elements of crime, murder and spirituality as Sonny experiences dreams which guide him as a detective. Novelist Plus also notes that Anaya’s writings feature literal and symbolic journeys, with blurred lines between what is real and imaginary -- as seen in the Sonny Baca series.

Those Hispanic mysteries, however, do not stop with books by Chazin and Anaya. For a broader examination of mysteries featuring Hispanic characters, explore this list of 12 novels. Options for teens are also available. Find mystery fiction in the form of short stories with You Don’t Have a Clue: Latino Mystery Stories for Teens.

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This blog was written by Lawrence Turner, librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Indigenous people, including Native Americans, have a complex and often misunderstood history in North America. As a trusted, community resource, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library wants to share important resources and materials that celebrate the cultural diversity of indigenous groups in the United States, especially in the state of North Carolina. 

The State of North Carolina officially recognizes eight tribes, and the federal government recognizes the Eastern Cherokee tribe. Learn more about North Carolina’s tribes in Dennis Isenbarger’s Native Americans in Early North Carolina or spend an afternoon exploring our extensive collection of Native American materials, only available at the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room. Visit any Library location to explore your potential Native American roots on Ancestry Library Edition. If you have a mobile device or computer, you can even access Mango Languages to learn the Cherokee language.

For our younger audiences, our Myers Park location offers Story Explorers: Native American Heritage Month Monday, November 25, 2019 at 6:15 p.m. 

To learn more about Native American culture, check out the following resources and materials: 

• Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz' 2015 An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States and All the Real Indians Died Off give a Native American perspective of North American history and dispel myths.   
• Cook authentic Sioux recipes like wild rice cakes and sweet corn sorbet from Shawn Sherman’s The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen.
• Listen to Apache-Filipino folk musician Nahko.  
• Stream acclaimed Native American films and documentaries like Winter in the Blood and Reel Injun through Kanopy.

• Tommy Orange’s critically acclaimed 2018 There There features a rotating cast of characters and viewpoints of twelve Native Americans traveling to a Bay Area powwow. 
• LeAnne Howe’s Savage Conversations explores the link between Mary Todd Lincoln, her stay in an asylum, and the massacre of 38 Dakota members. 
• Brandon Hobson’s Where the Dead Sit Talking is a coming-of-age story about a Cherokee teen living in foster care and a 2018 National Book Award finalist,  
• Try a collection of short stories or essays such as “Spider Woman's Granddaughters,” “Grandmothers of the Light” and “#NotYourPrincess.”
• Try works by other Native American authors like Sherman Alexie, Paula Gunn Allen, and Leslie Silko.
• Find children’s materials from these library staff reading lists. 

Audiences of all ages are encouraged to learn more about Native American culture by visiting the American Indian Library Association, American Indian Center and North Carolina tribal resources such as the Eastern Band of Cherokee.

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This blog post was written by Kristi Atkins, librarian, of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library continuously strives to offer a diverse and popular collection of materials to our community. One way we do this is through a catalog of thousands of e-books available to our Library cardholders for free to checkout and read on their digital devices. This collection is so popular that last year we had more than 1.7 million checkouts of downloadable books and audiobooks. The popularity of our digital collections is exciting, however access to these items is now being threatened by rising pricing models for public libraries and new restrictive policies.

Beginning November 1, 2019 one of the largest publishers, Macmillan, is instituting an eight-week embargo against all public libraries on all new ebook titles. This means that when a new book is released, public libraries will be limited to only one e-book copy and will not be allowed to purchase additional digital versions to meet the demand of their communities until the eight-week time limit expires. Our community members, used to being able to place holds on new items and check them out on their digital devices, will no longer have readily available new releases of items published under the Macmillan umbrella. Wait times will be long for digital versions of popular authors like Nora Roberts, Phillip Margolin and Tomi Adeyemi.       

Access is very important to libraries. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library opposes this new policy. These embargos are hurtful to the reading public and could jeopardize the future of access to e-books in libraries. This change limits access of popular e-books to only those customers able to purchase these titles, bringing the greatest negative impacts to those the Library serves with free access. The Library budget, stressed by competing priorities and the growing needs within our community, will be stretched further as publishers add restrictions and raise prices on digital sales to libraries across the country, resulting in limited offerings and increased wait times for our community members.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library supports industry efforts to combat these changes.  To express displeasure for Macmillan’s new e-book policies, please email Macmillan at [email protected].  You can also add your name to the growing list of readers who have signed a petition launched by the American Library Association at eBooksForAll.org.

Thank you for lending your voice to support Charlotte Mecklenburg Library as well as public libraries across the country.

Respectfully, 

To learn more about these changes and the impact to public libraries, please visit:

• Panorama Project - A cross-industry, collaborative research initiative dedicated to using data to measure the impact libraries have on developing readers, driving book discovery, and generating book sales in their local communities and beyond.
• Press Release from American Library Association
• Resource Page from Urban Libraries Council

The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room is getting into the spirit of Halloween by uncovering ghost stories found in our collection. Keep reading for something spooky...if you dare.  

A Stroll Around the Neighborhood 

Have you ever taken a stroll around your neighborhood only to realize that all your neighbors and friends ignored you, despite your best efforts to get their attention?  

This very occurrence happened to Mr. Tolson on a crisp morning when he realized his newspaper had not yet been delivered to his home in Fourth Ward. Typically, his paper was left at the end of his rocky driveway at the same time each morning. Anxious to read the latest news on the Voynich Manuscript, he lit a cigarette, put on his cap and took a walk with the hope that the paper boy would deliver his newspaper by the time he returned. 

As he strolled leisurely around the neighborhood, he smiled and waved at familiar faces. Without anyone responding, he figured they were preoccupied with shoveling the freshly fallen snow from their driveways or hastily escaping the bitter wind.  

Mr. Tolson found a bench in the park where he sat peacefully to watch children, bundled up, playing in the snow. 

Soon after he sat down, two children and their parents sat on the bench next to him. He was so excited to finally talk to someone, but to his dismay, these people acted like he wasn’t there, just like those he saw earlier that morning. These were people he knew all his life. How could they just ignore him? 

At that moment, Mr. Tolson grew extremely concerned. Did people not recognize him? What was happening? It was like he didn’t exist. Even beggars on the street didn’t accept his change. 

For the first time that morning, he started to feel faint. A cold chill crept up his neck. He pulled his coat collar tighter as he made his way out of the park toward home. Feeling faint, he leaned all his body weight on the park gate for support. He was in tears and desperately tried to talk to the next person he saw. 

He saw a man of similar size and stature in the distance walking silently along the path. Mr. Tolson cried out, “Help! I feel faint! Can you help me home?” The man hurried over to his rescue. The two men walked through Fourth Ward together like they were old friends. 

As they walked, Mr. Tolson spoke of his business achievements, the weather, politics and old memories he had made at various places throughout Fourth Ward. They came across an old couple who warmly greeted him and his new friend.  

When they finally got back to his beloved home, he saw the newspaper sitting in its usual spot. He picked it up and brought it back inside. He started calling for his wife, but she didn’t answer. This didn’t concern him, as their house was fairly large, and she was likely upstairs in their room.  

He strolled down the hall to surprisingly find his wife crying with her head down on the kitchen table. He put the newspaper in front of her. His wife screamed to the butler wondering where the newspaper came from. The butler was puzzled, also unsure of where it had come from. 

Immediately after he put the paper down, Mr. Tolson read the front-page headline: “John Tolson, local businessman, found murdered! Police baffled.” 

For more haunted ghosts, goblins and haunted houses, visit the Carolina Room on the third floor of Main Library to read through our spooky collection --> bit.ly/2oN32y7 

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"A Stroll Around the Neighborhood” was adapted from Roy Heizer’s book, Haunted Charlotte: Supernatural Stories from the Queen City. This blog was written by Julia Zwetolitz and is brought to you by the Carolina Room.