SOURCE: Mecklenburg County
Should recycling be mandatory? What’s the plan for the local landfill 5, 10, 15 years down the road? These are the questions that may be asked during an upcoming series of public forums hosted by the Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Department. Read the full story

The head of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce said this week the chamber supports the idea of a rail line north of Charlotte, though current plans to pay for the line require “proper analysis.” Chamber members will get a closer look at the $452 million Red Line Regional Rail Project during the next Focus Friday issues session on Jan 27.

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Local musicians and Davidson basketball highlight the weekend schedule around the area. The lineup includes an appearance Thursday by Summit Coffee’s songwriter of the year Jackie Moseley and a special After Holiday Jam at The Birdsnest, both in Davidson. Meanwhile, Davidson College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have home games this weekend. And the North Meck Soccer Club hosts the 2012 VisitLakeNorman.org Soccer Series, the first of three weekends of soccer events in the region. Plan your weekend with our Weekend Calendar, in The Guide.

Plan your weekend with our Weekend Calendar, which has listings for Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. free production of “Wind in the Willows,” Davidson basketball games, the Cornelius YMCA Polar Bear Plunge, and the Rocky River Road Club’s Polar Bear ride this weekend. And more! In THE GUIDE»

Davidson College plans two days of public events, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 16-17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. They range from Monday’s King Day for Kids to lectures and discussions to a poetry performance.

The list of events is below. For more information on any of these activities, call 704-894-2225. Read the full story

Hundreds of cyclists are expected for Lake Norman’s 14th annual Polar Bear Ride on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Davidson. The Rocky River Road Club sponsors the half and full metric century bicycle rides through the North Mecklenburg/Lake Norman area, as a fundraiser for Davidson’s Ada Jenkins Center. Read the full story and find out how to register in HEALTH & FITNESS»

HUNTERSVILLE – Duke Energy and county officials will conduct a quarterly test of sirens around McGuire Nuclear Station on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at approximately 11:50 a.m. Read the full story

New Year’s Day will bring dozens of swimmers to Lake Norman for the 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge lake swim and party, a fund-raiser for child-abuse prevention.

This year may not present much of a challenge to local winter swimmers: The forecast calls for partly sunny skies and a high of 60 on New Year’s Day.

The plunge takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Point Lake & Golf Club, off Brawley School Road, Mooresville. The event includes music, spirits, prizes for best costumes and hats. The party continues from 4-11 p.m. at Lake Norman Tavern. Read the full story