Briefly | Charlotte Observer

UNC Charlotte

‘Violins of Hope’ published: HarperCollins has published a new book by Jay Grymes, interim chair of the Department of Music at UNCC, titled “Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour.” The book is receiving critical praise and should be in bookstores now. It tells the stories of seven violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust and restored to playing condition by Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein. Grymes was inspired to write the work when UNC Charlotte brought 18 Violins of Hope to Charlotte for a series of exhibitions and performances in April 2012.

UNCC, Meredith College partner: Starting this fall, Meredith College MBA students will have the option to earn a concentration in health informatics from UNC Charlotte through a partnership between the two institutions. UNCC, through its College of Computing and Informatics and its College of Health and Human Services, is educating students to leverage their knowledge of computer sciences and health care to evaluate, modify and implement medical information systems as well as educate others in their use, according to a news release.

Officials at Meredith College in Raleigh said the partnership with UNCC is a response to the demands of the workforce. Based upon feedback from Triangle-area employers, the college’s School of Business identified a high demand for graduates who knew the health industry and who could understand how to collect and use data to make informed decisions.

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Charlotte

Backcountry lifeways: The Charlotte Museum of History is featuring demonstrations of backcountry lifeways during “Backcountry Days,” a free event scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Sept. 6, at the museum, 3500 Shamrock Drive. Skills such as blacksmithing, pottery, tailoring, rifle making, basket weaving and foodways will be featured. Free ice cream, compliments of the Charlotte Folk Society, will be available, as well as craft-making opportunities for children. Charlotte Folk Society musicians will entertain visitors. Visitors also can take regularly scheduled, docent-led tours of the 239-year-old Hezekiah Alexander House, which houses the museum. For information, contact Lisa Jillani, backcountry lifeways and events coordinator, at Lisa@CharlotteMuseum.org.

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University City

Blood drives: The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas plans several blood drives in University City and nearby in coming weeks.

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 5, BB&T, 11425 Lawyers Road.

• 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 6, Stonebridge Church Community, 3700 Prosperity Church Road.

• 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 6, Muriel Magloire Student Drive, University City Seventh Day Adventist Church, 11431 University City Blvd.

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 8, Halton Arena, UNC Charlotte, 1901 University City Blvd. Free T-shirt.

For more public drives visit www.cbcc.us. CBCC has donation centers in Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia and Hickory; visit www.cbcc.us/about/donor-center-hours.php for center hours. Call 704-972-4700 or go to www.carolinadonor.org to make an appointment at any location. Donors must weigh at least 120 pounds.