Good morning! Today is Wednesday, October 28, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Hi readers, Lindsey here. Today’s newsletter has me wishing I didn’t live in an apartment. Writer Carroll Walton dives into the buzzing business of concierge beekeeping, which allows folks to harvest their own honey while avoiding the stings. Turns out, you can hire a company to take care of everything from installing hives to keeping the bees happy and healthy. Keep reading for the the sweet scoop.
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A ‘bee whisperer’ builds a growing business around helping homeowners and companies care for their hives; N.C. State grad is ‘very passionate about bees’
Justin Maness, founder of Buddha Bee Apiary, services beehives hosted on people’s personal property. (Photo by Rachelle Lerude)
by Carroll Walton
Tom Finnie and his wife, Aimee, took up beekeeping when the last of their four children left the house and the couple moved from Ballantyne to Belmont, looking for a new hobby.
They joined the local beekeeper association, read the books, bought the hive, protective gear and other equipment. The first season produced a great batch of honey. The second? A swarm — which is apiculture terminology for bees who flew the coop, leaving them with nothing to show for the nearly $1,000 they had spent.
“Our first year when we had such good success, we're like, ‘Oh, this is great,’” Finnie said.
Then he laughed, which he can do now, after he called in an expert for help. He now has two thriving hives, which he proudly calls his “apiary” to visiting friends and family.
Finnie is one of a growing number of people and businesses outsourcing at least some of the work to beekeeping pros — a niche business segment that seems to be thriving.
Finnie’s expert is Justin Maness, 36, founder of Buddha Bee Apiary, who expanded his turnkey beekeeping business last year from the Raleigh-Durham area to Charlotte.
How 6 major Charlotte employers fared in Q3
Several major Charlotte employers reported third-quarter earnings this month. Here’s a quick check-in on how the companies said they are doing:
Tree clearing in front of billboard upsets Plaza Midwood business owners: ‘Independence Boulevard has been revealed’
Alongside Independence Boulevard, trees in front of a Charlotte FC billboard owned by Adams Outdoor Advertising are being cleared. As of Tuesday morning, some trees remained, but it wasn’t certain how long they would stay. (Photo by Ashley Fahey/The Charlotte Ledger)
Shannon Binns was grabbing coffee at Undercurrent Coffee in Plaza Midwood on Monday when he heard loud noises behind the building. He walked around and saw heavy equipment clearing trees on a bank between Undercurrent and Independence Boulevard.
Binns, who is executive director of Charlotte nonprofit Sustain Charlotte, told The Ledger the trees were “the last remaining trees that form the vegetative buffer between [Highway] 74 and the Plaza Midwood business district.” He said crew members told him that Adams Outdoor Advertising had hired them to clear the trees in front of its billboard, an advertisement for Charlotte FC, which faces Independence Boulevard.
WAYS OF LIFE
Ways of Life is our obituaries newsletter honoring friends, neighbors and family members who made an impact on Charlotte through the ways they lived their lives.
Makayla Patience Bluefort died at 23 this past August, but as her mom notes, “How Makayla died will never become more important than how Makayla lived.” (Photo courtesy of the family)
Remembering Makayla Bluefort
Makayla Patience Bluefort’s mother, Layla Bluefort, said she was outspoken from a young age. “She just never had a filter,” Bluefort said. “You didn’t know what was going to come out of her mouth.” Makayla died Aug. 13 at 23.
🎃 What's Charlotte dressing up as for Halloween? Here's what's flying off store shelves
With Halloween just days away, Morris Costumes in Charlotte says to expect to see superheroes, horror movie villains and animated characters haunting the streets Saturday night.
Spider-Man and the Mario Brothers have been popular purchases this year, according to an employee at the longtime Charlotte costume shop, likely thanks to their recent appearances on the big screen. Meanwhile, others are turning to horror classics like Ghostface from the “Scream” franchise and Freddy Krueger from “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Minions and vampires are also popular requests.
And apparently, Charlotteans aren't ready to say goodbye to “KPop Demon Hunters” just yet. Costumes inspired by the Netflix sensation are still popular this Halloween, after The Ledger reported last year that they were the season's hottest pick.
But one thing might be losing some of its magic: couples costumes.
The Morris employee said the store hasn't seen as much demand for matching costumes this year. Typically popular pairings like Beetlejuice and Lydia or Morticia and Gomez Addams haven't been selling as well as usual.
Happy Hallo-week, Ledger readers! —Lindsey Banks
🎧 THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER PODCAST
Nourish your brain with the latest episodes of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other pod platforms:
The 2026 election ballot contains races for Congress, the N.C. Supreme Court, the state legislature and local offices — plus three proposed constitutional amendments and $425M in Charlotte bond referendums.
In this 11-minute episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, the nonpartisan Election Hub breaks down some of the lesser-known races and ballot questions that voters might overlook.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
NOVEMBER 3: “Yoga at the Mint,” 5:15-6:15 p.m., at Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. Participate in a one-hour yoga class with Dancing Lotus Yoga + Arts every Tuesday. Registration required. Free for Mint members. $10 for non-members.
NOVEMBER 5: “Connect After 5,” 5-7 p.m., at Adler Montford Park, 1351 E. Woodlawn Rd. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for its Connect After 5 event. This mixer is the perfect opportunity for professionals across various industries to come together, share insights and forge new business relationships. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a budding entrepreneur, you'll find value in the diverse interactions and potential collaborations that await. Free for members. $25 for non-members.
NOVEMBER 12: “Topgolf Tournament & Fundraiser,” 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Topgolf Charlotte University, 9110 Drivers Way. Are you looking for a great way to network and build relationships? Look no further — the Charlotte Area Chamber Topgolf Tournament and Fundraiser is just the event for you! Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, November 12th, for a day filled with networking, food, drinks and fun! $125 Individual. $700 Team of 6.
In brief
200 jobs coming to Charlotte: New York-based payments company The Clearing House will open a new Charlotte office and add 200 jobs between 2028 and 2032 as part of an $11.5M investment. Positions are expected to average about $162,000 a year, with the project supported by more than $2.4M in state and local incentives. (Ledger Breaking News)
Atrium, State Health Plan strike a deal after public fight: After months of contentious negotiations, Atrium Health and the N.C. State Health Plan have reached a deal allowing state employees, retirees and their families to continue seeing Atrium doctors in 2027 at roughly the same out-of-pocket costs. The agreement comes after the state threatened to move most Atrium providers out of network, prompting the hospital system to offer better rates. (Ledger/NC Health News)
Magazine to close after 33 years: Charlotte’s Pride Magazine, which has celebrated achievements in the African American community since 1993, will cease publication after 33 years, with publisher Dee Dixon announcing that its January/February 2027 issue will be its last.
Data moratorium extended: On Monday, the Charlotte City Council unanimously voted to keep its pause on new data center permits in place through Oct. 18, 2027, while officials wait for possible changes to state law. (WFAE)
CMS superintendent search committee begins work: A four-member committee led by board member Anna London met Tuesday to set the process and timeline for choosing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ next superintendent. Members plan to gather input from staff, parents and students and will likely hire a search firm to help identify candidates. (WFAE)
CATS considers new name for Red Line: The Charlotte Area Transit System is seeking community input on whether to rename the planned 24-mile commuter rail line from Charlotte to Davidson, with officials noting concerns about the term “redlining.” The project is currently expected to begin service in roughly eight to 10 years, though CATS says the timeline could be accelerated. (Queen City News)
Teen charged in fatal hit-and-run: Charlotte police charged a 17-year-old with a felony hit-and-run resulting in death after a 6-year-old girl was struck near her school bus stop in east Charlotte. Court documents say the teen did not have a valid driver’s license and left the scene without contacting police. (WBTV)
🏀 Hornets retire legend’s jersey: The Charlotte Hornets will retire franchise legend Muggsy Bogues’ No. 1 jersey during halftime of their Feb. 11 game against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to a press release Tuesday. At 5 feet, 3 inches, Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history and the Hornets’ all-time leader in assists and steals. He’s the third player in franchise history to have his jersey retired.
