Top Stories for Aug. 16

Back to school. Multiracial pupils of primary school near school bus. Happy children ready to study.

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and from the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. The agenda will be available here. View the meeting at Watch.MeckNC.gov.

1. Back to School Vaccinations: Classes begin in less than two weeks for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, so families need to ensure their students are up to date on immunizations. Public Health is offering free immunizations on Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Northwest Health Department’s clinic at 2845 Beatties Ford Road. Parents should call 704-336-6500 to make an appointment and remember to bring their child’s vaccination records.

2. Keeping It Cool: As summer temperatures continue to rise into the 90s, Mecklenburg County and its partners work together to support the needs of the community. Team members monitor the weather daily and are in regular communication with one another to address any needs. Many of the County’s designated cooling stations are available every day to help residents keep cool, such as libraries, recreation centers, and spraygrounds. Park and Recreation pools are open weekends through Labor Day. Plus, the Department of Social Services is offering free box fans to seniors and disabled residents.

3. Gun Lock Giveaway: It can happen in a moment. A child finds a gun that a parent believed was safely stored, followed by an unthinkable tragedy. Gun owners can reduce the risk of such a thing with a gun lock. The Child Fatality Prevention and Protection Team in partnership with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will host a gun lock and wheel lock giveaway event on Saturday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m. to noon. The event will take place at Project 658, 3646 Central Ave. inCharlotte.in Charlotte. Refreshments and additional community resource information will be provided.

4. Healthy Pride: The Charlotte Pride 2023 festival and parade is gearing up for a weekend of events that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Public Health will be there with important services and information. HIV and STD outreach teams will offer walk-up screenings, including HIV and syphilis testing. Attendees may also access free HIV home tests through the Let’s Get Checked initiative. Public Health teams will also offer information about tobacco-free living, eating nutritiously, and other health and wellness initiatives.