Inside High Point - November

INSIDE HIGH POINT NOVEMBER 2021

IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON! THE ROCKERS HOSTED THE FIRST ANNUAL HIGH POINT HOLIDAY PARTY

CONTENTS Welcome to Inside High Point, the newsletter that covers everything going on within the City of High Point and its various departments. If you have news, photos, questions or suggestions for what you would like to see featured, please email us at PIO@highpointnc.gov.

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GREENWAY GRANT FUNDING

EDC ANNUAL MEETING

911'S NEW DIGS

Find out how $19.8 million will be used to improve our city.

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Inside High Point

Read about Economic Development's big wins in 2021!

Check out the new High Point 911 dispatch center.

CITY COUNCIL City Council meets the first and third Monday of each month. You can find their meeting schedule HERE. Mayor - Jay Wagner

Jay.Wagner@highpointnc.gov 336.883.3305

Member at Large, Mayor Pro Tem - Britt Moore

Britt.Moore@highpointnc.gov 336.687.2200

Member at Large - Tyrone E. Johnson

Tyrone.Johnson@highpointnc.gov 336.307.8261

Ward 1 - Cyril Jefferson

Cyril.Jefferson@highpointnc.gov

Ward 2 - Chris Williams

Chris.Williams@highpointnc.gov 336.883.1736

Ward 3 - Monica Peters

Monica.Peters@highpointnc.gov 336.906.7328

Ward 4 - Wesley Hudson

Wesley.Hudson@highpointnc.gov 336.655.5880

Ward 5 - Victor Jones

Victor.Jones@highpointnc.gov 336.899.7777

Ward 6 - Michael Holmes

Michael.Holmes@highpointnc.gov

www.highpointnc.gov

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GRANT FUNDING PUTS HIGH POINT ON THE RISE The City of High Point has been awarded a $19.8 million federal grant to develop 4.8 miles of walking and bicycling paths and other improvements in the downtown and southwest areas.

The City, with the support of Senator Thom Tillis, applied for The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in July. On Nov. 16, 2021, Senator Tillis announced that funding would be given to High Point, Durham and Charlotte.

The grant funds will be used to build three projects over the next five years: a 3.5-mile expansion of the Southwest Heritage Greenway and "complete streets" improvements on portions of N. Elm Street and the segment of Montlieu Avenue near downtown.

The City has dubbed the grant project "High Point on the RISE: Reimagining Infrastructure for Sustainability and Equity." Its main goal is "to improve connectivity for the city's low-income, historically underserved urban neighborhoods," the City's grant application stated.

It will also improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

The $8.3 million greenway project begins and ends at the mass transit hub downtown and forms a loop through the historic 4

Inside High Point Source: Pat Kimbrough, High Point Enterprise

industrial corridor of the city and five residential neighborhoods to the southwest.

The first phase of it has been slated for a $4 million federal earmark, which could offset part of the cost.

The $14.1 million North Elm Street project would "road diet" a 0.8-mile segment from Sunset Drive to Commerce Avenue, creating wide sidewalks and a separated bikeway while slowing vehicle traffic, according to the City. The project will include updates to aging water and sewer infrastructure.

This segment connects the transit hub with Truist Point stadium, Wake Forest Baptist Health High Point Medical Center, the High Point Public Library and other sites.

The other connector project will add a 10-foot-wide walking and biking path on the north side of Montlieu Avenue between North Hamilton and Blain streets. It includes a two-block stretch of Blain Street to connect the new path with the city's existing greenway at Armstrong Park.

The $5.3 million project incorporates the replacement of aging water and sewer infrastructure.

It ties in with a major upgrade the City is planning on Montlieu Avenue from North Main to North Centennial streets.

The grant requires an $8 million local match. The City will cover $6.9 million of this, with the Southwest Renewal Foundation ($900,000) and the N.C. Department of Transportation ($200,000) slated to fund the rest.

For more information on the High Point on the RISE project, click here. www.highpointnc.gov

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HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOSTS LONGRIFLE EXPERT The High Point Historical Society Monthly Program Series hosted a discussion by Greensboro-native Michael Briggs on The Longrifle Makers of the Davidson School on Nov. 17, 2021.

Briggs was educated at Ben L. Smith High School and Rockingham Community College.

He is the President & C.E.O. of Call Coverage, Inc, a 45-year-old business that specializes in Unified Communications Technology.

Briggs has been interested in history since he was fourteen years old and is the founder of two local historical organizations, The Col. John Sloan Camp, 1290, Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Sitting Bull Society. He is the former president of the North Carolina Civil War Round Table.

Briggs is a member of the Historical Arms Collectors of the Southeast, the Kentucky Rifle Association and the American Society of Arms Collectors. He has been a collector and student of Piedmont North Carolina Decorative Arts, including longrifles, powder horns, furniture, North Carolina-made Civil War items and local history for over 40 years.

He is also the author of seven books, including "The Longrifle Makers of Guilford County,” "The Longrifle Makers of the Rowan School" and "The Longrifle Makers of the Davidson School."

Watch the full program at the following link: https://youtu.be/_97bmbri47M. 6

Inside High Point

www.highpointnc.gov

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HALLOWEEN AT THE LIBRARY! The library's amazing children's services staff made Halloween a treat for the community! On Thursday, 225 kids came to a trunk-or-treat for preschools and daycares in High Point. On Friday, 800 kids came to the public trunk-or-treat.

At the farmers market on Saturday, staff ran a craft table with mini pumpkins for kids to decorate and take home. Finally, on Saturday afternoon, 500 kids came to the Spooky Science Fair event provided by HPU faculty and students. There was no cost for this, but the library did ask for donations of children's books for their outreach programs and received over 200.

The public was thrilled and appreciative with lots of positive comments about the events. Great work, everyone!

Library staff also held a pumpkin decorating contest and costume contest!

Out of 300 votes, the winners for the pumpkin contest are: Funniest: Orange is the New Black by Pam Lyon Scariest: Pennywise from It by Stephanie Conover Most Adorable: BB-8 from Star Wars by Megan Bowers Most Creative: The Secret World of Arrietty by Jennifer Ray Overall: 3rd Place: The Mario Plant by Leslie Tompkins 2nd Place: Oscar by Christina Adams 1st Place: Lady and the Tramp by Sara Blanchett Out of 727 votes, the winners for the costume contest are: Disney Day: Minnie Mouse (Christina Adams) Book Day: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (Stephen Rantz) Movie Day: Marty McFly (Ben Hatfield) Superhero Day: Punisher (Marcellaus Joiner) Overall: 3rd Place: Ms. Frizzle (Leslie Tompkins) 2nd Place: Paddington Bear (Day McCarthy) 1st Place: Cruella de Vil (Teiji Williams) Thanks so much to all who participated and to Christina Adams, Rebecca Johnson and Leslie Tompkins for putting together such a fun way to celebrate Halloween.

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Funniest

Scariest

Most Adorable

Most Creative

Disney Day

Book Day

Movie Day

Superhero Day

FLEET AND PUBLIC SERVICES ATTEND APPRENTICE EVENT The High Point Public Services and Fleet Services departments attended the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners community night event on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Coliseum in Greensboro.

Pictured in the photo (left to right) are Kevin Rogers of Fleets Services, Robbie Stone, Melanie Bruton, Derrick Boone and Peter Lavigne of Public Services.

GAP is a public-private partnership offering high school students an alternative path to attaining a college education for free while also obtaining paid, on-thejob training.

At the event, potential apprentices met GAP employers like the City of High Point and learned first-hand about apprenticeship opportunities in Guilford County for high school students.

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Inside High Point

Public Services Marches in Parade!

Keep High Point Beautiful and City of High Point Stormwater Division marched in the High Point Holiday Parade!

COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT City Hosts Community Conversation for ARPA Funding On Tuesday, Nov. 16, and Thursday, Nov. 18, the Communications and Public Engagement Department hosted community conversations to receive feedback from residents concerning the uses of ARPA funding.

The meeting format allowed for an overview of ARPA funding and its permitted uses and residents' specific reactions and input concerning COVID's negative impacts, funding for water and sewer infrastructure, government services and neighborhood improvement projects.

Managing Director Jeron Hollis facilitated both meetings in partnership with Public Participation Partners (P3), a public engagement and communications consulting firm.

City Manager Tasha Logan Ford, Assistant City Manager Eric Olmedo, along with several department heads, were in attendance and helped answer questions from the audience.

Both meetings were livedstreamed to allow for remote participation. Residents 12

Inside High Point

were able to watch the meetings on High Point's YouTube Live and can submit comments via an online survey until Dec. 3, 2021.

The majority of residents' feedback focused on funding for nonprofit organizations and addressing education, food deserts and childcare.

The community feedback received at these meetings and the survey results will be compiled and presented to City Council.

The videos for both meetings can be found on the City of High Point’s YouTube page, and the online survey is available at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HighPointCC. Special thanks to Communications Specialist Brandon Cook, who set up the livestreaming equipment and transformed the library and museum meeting rooms into state-of-the-art studios. Thank you also to the library and museum staff for their help with setup and for the use of their space after hours!

www.highpointnc.gov

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Nine Electrical Safety Tips for Holidays According to the U.S. Fire Administration, one in three home Holiday tree fires are caused by electrical problems. While you can save energy and have a safer Holiday by skipping all the lights this year, it just wouldn’t be the holidays without a few twinkling lights. Fortunately, you can still have the festive decorations and stay safe by following these nine tips.

1.

Buy a fire-resistant tree. If you’re shopping for an artificial tree this year, make sure you

purchase one labeled “fire-retardant.” This doesn’t mean the tree won’t catch fire, but it will resist burning and can be extinguished quickly if it catches fire.

2.

Find the freshest tree. If you’re using a real tree, make sure you find one that’s fresh. It

should be green with needles that are hard to pull from the branch and bend instead of breaking. Once you’ve got your tree home, cut the bottom at a 45-degree angle, and stick it in water to keep it fresh. Allowing your tree to dry out makes it more likely to catch fire from electrical sparks.

3.

Place only outdoor lights outdoors. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but if you plan to

hang lights outside, they need to be designed specifically for the outdoors. Retailers sell lights designed to handle inclement weather outdoors, while indoor lights could be damaged by snow or rain and pose an electrical hazard if used outside.

4.

Use insulated hooks. Hanging lights with nails, tacks, screws and staple guns could pierce

the cable on a string of lights. Instead, hang your lights with insulated hooks to avoid any electrical emergencies.

5.

Check your lights. Before you string lights up on your tree or in your yard, make sure they

are functioning properly. Plug them in to see if all the lights turn on. If not, unplug the strand and replace the broken bulbs. Make sure you look for frayed wires or cracked cords. If you find that your lights have some damage, toss them out. You don’t want your lights to short and cause a fire.

6.

Examine labels. Holiday lights should be tested and verified by third-party laboratory

Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL ensures products meet safety requirements for risks such as electrical problems and fire. Before you buy a box of new bulbs, make sure they meet this 14

Inside High Point

standard and have a UL label. A set of indoor lights will have a green holographic UL sticker on the cord, while indoor/outdoor lights will have a red sticker.

7.

Keep an eye on extension cords. Make sure your extension cords don’t overheat. Every

once in a while, just touch the cord to measure its temperature. If it’s hot, unplug it. Also, ensure that any connector pieces are off the ground with a brick or rock. If the connector piece is left on the ground, snow, rain or dirt can find its way into the plug, creating a hazard.

8.

Don’t overload the number of strands of lights. If you put up a lot of lights each year,

it’s important to distribute your light strands among multiple extensions cords. Each extension cord comes with a wattage rating. If the combined wattage of your lights exceeds that of your cord, it can overheat. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends linking no more than three strands of lights. However, if you’re using energy-saving LEDs, the U.S. Department of Energy says it’s safe to connect 25 strands end to end.

9.

Turn off the lights. You shouldn’t leave your holiday lights on all the time. Not only

does it add up on your electricity bill, but it’s also a safety issue. This holiday season, make sure you unplug the lights whenever you’re not home or sleeping.

WISHING YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, SAFETY, HEALTH, & WELLNESS CLINIC

www.highpointnc.gov

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT High Point EDC Celebrates 2021 in Annual Meeting & Sets Sites on Future With eight major project announcements and numerous additional office, industrial, retail and private revitalization efforts, 2021 was a tremendous year for economic development. All of this was celebrated at the 2021 High Point Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting, which was held on Nov. 3, to a record crowd of 165 at the new Qubein Arena & Conference Center on the campus of High Point University. This year, High Point EDC announced the following projects: 1. Hot Shots Distributing, Inc. locates to High Point from Charlotte 2. Puroast Coffee locates to High Point from California 3. DC Blox to open Tier III data center in High Point 4. Fitesa to expand operations in High Point 5. Stuart & Leyla Gans locate their three businesses to High Point 6. RUD Fleet to locate in downtown High Point from Eastchester Drive 7. Key Risk, a Berkley Co., to anchor 275 N. Elm at The Outfields 8. Cambrex to expand operations in High Point 16

Inside High Point

The event also included a special surprise for one very special guest. Past High Point EDC President Loren Hill was honored by Mayor Jay Wagner with a key to the city in recognition of his years of service through economic development to the City of High Point. Attendees honored Hill with a standing ovation.

With five sites primed for development and an additional two coming to market, High Point EDC is ready to welcome many more companies as they select to locate or expand in this great city in 2022 and beyond.

The event also included a special surprise for one very special guest. Past High Point EDC President Loren Hill was honored by Mayor Jay Wagner with a key to the city in recognition of his years of service through economic development to the City of High Point. Attendees honored Hill with a standing ovation.

Learn more about this year’s projects, initiatives and future plans here, and be sure to check out this video featuring the executives of this year’s major project announcements sharing why they chose High Point, Guilford County & North Carolina!

As always, keep up with the latest from High Point EDC by following on Instagram @ highpointedc. www.highpointnc.gov

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HIGH POINT 911 911 Moves to New Location High Point 911 moved the current operation on Oct. 19, 2021, to a new state-ofthe-art 911 and dispatch facility. The new location has been fitted with furniture specifically designed for 9-1-1 centers to aid personnel in their duties.

An increase in the number of workstations will provide space for additional personnel to staff the center in cases of emergency events or handle additional growth if needed as the city continues to increase in size. Additional space is now available to store items needed for operations without crowding employees and a self-sustainable kitchen area for extended operations.

The employees enjoy having exterior windows to watch sunrises and sunsets. The previous location was not capable of expansion.

High Point has maintained a fully functional state-of-the-art 9-1-1 and dispatch center since 1984. The former facility has been in service continuously since its

inception. Through the years, High Point police, High Point Fire, and High Point Parks and Recreation Ranger dispatch operations were consolidated into one operation to serve High Point and the public passing through the city borders.

On average, High Point 9-1-1 dispatches 160,000 or more calls in the computeraided dispatch system. Annually the center answers an average of a quarter of a million calls for emergency and non-emergency requests.

Leaving the Old Center (opposite page): The longest continual serving High Point 911 personnel were able to be the last to leave the old center on Oct. 19, 2021, during the transition. Pictured are (L to R) Supervisor Joe Meservey serving since 2004, Master Telecommunicator Julie Smith serving since 1998 and Master Telecommunicator Portia Clowdis serving since 1998.

New Center (below): One area of the upgraded center dispatch position showing additional spacing to minimize noise pollution from other dispatch positions.

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS DECEMBER EMPLOYEE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES Dec. 1-15

2022 FITNESS CENTER REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM OPEN ENROLLMENTENROLLMENT -CONTACT KRISIT WALLACE FOR DETAILS

Dec. 8

DECEMBER 2021 WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEETING

Dec. 14

PERSONAL FINANCIAL CHECK-UP

Dec. 14

FINANCIAL SEMINAR: IDENTITY THEFT, HOLIDAY EDITION

3:30 P.M.

- LINK: WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEETING

8 A.M. - 6 P.M.

- SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT HERE: PERSONAL FINANCIAL CHECK-UP

9 A.M.

- LINK: IDENTITY THEFT, HOLIDAY EDITION

Dec. 15

WEDNESDAY WELLNESS CHAT: OVERALL WELLNESS

Dec. 23

NUTRITION SEMINAR: SNACK SCIENCE

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Inside High Point

- LINK: WEDNESDAY WELLNESS CHAT

- LINK: NUTRITION SEMINAR: SNACK SCIENCE

10 A.M.

3:30 P.M.

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS ONGOING EMPLOYEE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES $360 FROM CIGNA WALKING GROUP

Earn your $360 from CIGNA by Dec. 31, 2021 Monday, Wednesday, Friday from City Hall Contact: Kristi Wallace to join Southside Recreation Center

SMALL GROUP PERSONAL

RSVP Required (Kristi Wallace: kristi.wallace@highpointnc.gov or

TRAINING

336.822.4785)

DAILY WELLNESS TEXT

Text ‘DailyWellnessText’ to 833.744.0553 to opt-in

VIRTUAL 5-MIN WORK BREAKS & 30-MIN WORKOUTS

Access Here: Employee Wellness Channel

FREE HOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Contact Kristi Wallace for details

INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE PRESCRIPTIONS

Contact Kristi Wallace for details

VIRTUAL/TELEPHONIC/ IN-PERSON HEALTH COACHING

Contact Kristi Wallace to schedule

(Kristi Wallace: kristi.wallace@highpointnc.gov or 336.822.4785)

www.highpointnc.gov

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Fall Into Fitness!

Congrats to all employees who completed the Fall Into Fitness Challenge this year!

(Pictured below: Lamar Lee and Carrie Council

TRANSPORTATION

Washington Street Project COMMUNITY MEETING

The City of High Point will host a community meeting on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Morehead Recreation Center on Price Street, from 5 – 7 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to update area residents and other interested citizens on the status of the Washington Street Relocation Project. This will be an informal ‘drop-in’ session; residents and citizens may attend at their convenience.

Representatives from several City departments, including transportation, engineering services, public services, and electric, will be available to answer questions. In addition, the City’s project consultant team from STV Engineers will be present to review and explain the street relocation construction plans and impacts to properties along the route. Preliminary plans are also posted on our website, https://www.highpointnc.gov/186/Transportation for preview prior to the meeting date.

If you are unable to attend this community meeting and want to know more about the project, please do not hesitate to call the City of High Point Transportation Department at 336.883.3225, or stop by the office in City Hall, 211 S. Hamilton St., Room 210. Staff is available to assist you weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PARKS & RECREATION Parks & Recreation Commission Chair Wins Volunteer Award Marshall Newsome, High Point resident and chair of the High Point Parks & Recreation Commission, was honored with the NC Recreation and Parks Association's highest volunteer award at a statewide meeting in Winston-Salem on Oct. 27. He is shown here following the High Point City Council meeting on Nov. 1, where he was recognized.

Newsome was awarded the Raburn "Rip" Jackson Award, nominated by High Point Parks & Recreation and bestowed by NCRPA. He has served on the High Point Parks & Recreation Commission for five consecutive terms, starting in 2006, and in the Chairman's role since 2009.

The nomination read, in part, "(Marshall Newsome) represents High Point residents with the highest level of commitment, focusing on the entirety of the city's needs and best interests. He is a hands-on and communicative volunteer and leads by example, making a sincere effort to know and engage both his fellow Commission members and department staff, and to thank them for their work.

Marshall is also a great champion of our community partnerships and relationships across our community, speaking eloquently and often of the benefits we gain from them."

"As our strong advocate, Marshall is aware of the parks and recreation's impact on the community as a whole and encourages holistic decisions that support it. Above all else, he is the most genuine, committed and engaging of community leaders. High Point Parks & Recreation is fortunate to have him in the highest volunteer leadership role in our department and we are most grateful for his longtime service to the City of High Point."

Top Two Again!

Congratulations to High Point Parks & Recreation's repeat Fall Adult Softball Champion Elite Heat and the repeat runner-ups HTV4545.COM!

Broncos Runner-up in R.E.D. Zone League!

High Point Parks & Recreation is so proud of our Varsity (12U) Broncos, runner-up team in the 2021 R.E.D. Zone Parks & Recreation Youth Football League! For more information on youth athletics, please visit www.highpointnc.gov/pr or call 336.883.3480.

PARKS & RECREATION Upcoming Events

INSIDE HIGH POINT Brought to you by: City of High Point Communications and Public Engagement Department High Point, N.C. 27260 336.883.3288 Noelle.Varga@HighPointNC.gov