Karen Bentley, Mecklenburg County Commissioner for District 1, will be the guest speaker at the next Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Focus Friday issues session this Friday, June 21. Bentley will give an update on Mecklenburg County issues, including the status of a possible re-do of the 2011 property revaluation, the search for a new County Manager, Public Access Swimming, and the County Budget.

The monthly Focus Friday meetings are open to all chamber members and guests and include a question-and-answer session. The program is sponsored by DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net. Read the full story

State Rep. Charles Jeter (R-Huntersville) will offer an update on the 2013 state legislative session at the next Focus Friday issues forum on Friday morning at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. Read the full story

Local officials and opponents of toll lanes on I-77 are continuing to battle it out this week over the N.C. DOT’s plans for widening the congested highway. A public forum on Friday at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will include remarks by the leader of the anti-toll group Widen I-77 and the director of the Lake Norman Transportation Commission, which previously has endorsed the DOT plan.

Meanwhile, a group claiming to represent more than 60 property owners in the Northcross area, off I-77 Exit 25, issued a statement condemning the plan last week. Later, one of its leaders acknowledged that the statement only represented the views of the group’s five-person board, not individual members.

Also this week, state officials have posted a new website at http://fix77now.blogspot.com/ offering background information and documents about the I-77 HOT lanes project. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Chamber calendar this week has a couple of big events. On Thursday, the chamber celebrates its 25th anniversary and hands out its annual awards at its annual meeting and awards banquet. Then on Friday morning, business people are invited to get the scoop on coming changes in business health care rules at the next Focus Friday issues session, at the chamber. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Chamber’s monthly Focus Friday issues session this Friday, Oct. 26, will provide an update on progress at the Langtree at the Lake development, off I-77 Exit 31. Steve Welly, president and chief operating officer of RL West and Langtree Development, will talk about the mixed-use project, where four of the first seven planned buildings are now under construction. Read the full story

Federal health care reforms will bring insurance coverage to than 32 million uninsured, but could cost some businesses more money, health care and insurance experts said during a panel discussion Friday at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. About 30 people gathered at the monthly “Focus Friday” issues session examining the effects of federal health care reforms on businesses. Story in HEALTH & FITNESS»

The Lake Norman Chamber’s Focus Friday issues session this month will examine the $29.5 million bond referendum on the ballot in November for Huntersville voters. Town officials and Commissioner Charles Jeter will discuss the referendum Friday, July 27, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the chamber’s Randy Marion Conference Room, 19900 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius Read the full story

At the Lake Norman Chamber’s Focus Friday event May 18, commercial property owners will learn how to properly prepare for a revaluation appeal hearing.

Former chamber chairman John Hettwer, president of Payroll Plus, and Robbie Lowrance of Merit Properties Commercial Real Estate will discuss the appeals process and the steps commercial property owners should take in advance of their hearings. Read the full story