ECA 1-16 by Elizabeth Community

ECA Board Members

Paul Shipley President 704 651 5897 Kenmore Avenue Paul.Shipley@community1.com

Jim Belvin Zoning & Real Estate Committee 704 334 2611 Lamar Avenue j.belvin@bluewaterdb.com

Jenna Opiela Vice President 614 746 9506 Greenway Avenue jennaopiela@gmail.com

ECA Business Liaison position vacant

Secretary position vacant

Ladd Van Devender Treasurer 704 641 0480 Kenmore Avenue ladd.vandevender@gmail.com

ECA Special Projects Eric Davis Past President 704 776 3013 Greenway Avenue ericadavis0123@yahoo.com Susan Green Newsletter Editorial Assistant and Proofreader 704 806 0568 East Fifth Street Susangreen8@gmail.com Janet Karner Membership Clement Avenue janetk@caro.net

Officer Robert Sprague Neighborhood CMPD Liaison rsprague@cmpd.org

MARCH

3rd

ECA board meeting

Suzanne Henry Social Chair N. Dotger SuzkHenry@gmail.com

6:30 to 8 p.m. Studio K Gallery 2024 E. Seventh Street First Thursday of the month. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood. Everyone’s invited.

Kristan Magas Park & Recreation Liaison 704 488 0051 E. 5th Street kdm2201@gmail.com

Eighth Street extension meeting

3rd

John F. McBride Newsletter Editor 704 375 8977 East Eighth Street john.f.mcb@gmail.com Social Co-Chair #2 position vacant

Claire M. Short Communications 813 326 3223 Greenway Avenue claire.m.short@gmail.com Ric Solow Beautification & Trees Co-Chair 704 906 1967 E. 5th Street ric@solowdesigngroup.com

Ken Magas Website 704 877 7151 E. 5th Street ken@kenmagas.com

Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com

Beth Haenni Past President 704 562 5152 Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@gmail.com

ECA events spring 2016

Kris Solow Art Committee Co-Chair 704 806 4456 E. 5th Street ksolow@carolina.rr.com

is h t s n u r o Wh ay? w y n a e c pla

t you! We the people... and we wan THE PEOPLE PAGES

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Evans Hall, Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church The City of Charlotte wants to hear your opinion on a proposal to extend East Eighth Street to Bascom Street with a multi-use path. Everyone’s invited.

18th

N.C. Arbor Day

Plant – or at least hug – a tree. (National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April.)

19th

30th annual Elizabeth 8K

8a.m. Hawthorne Recreation Center Come early if you haven’t picked up your packet or if you want to watch the Big E Elvis hunt for a jelly doughnut.

cover photos by Ken Magas, Easter photo by John McBride, park playground photo courtesy of the Carolina Room/CMPL, and tree photo by Nancy O. Albert

ECA Officers

APRIL

7th

MAY

5th

ECA board meeting

6:30 to 8 p.m. Studio K Gallery 2024 E. Seventh Street First Thursday of the month. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood. Everyone’s invited.

M VOLUNTEER M elizabethcommunityassociation @gmail.com

5th

next newsletter deadline The Easter Bunny brings a smile to everyone.

19th

Elizabeth Easter Egg Hunt

This year’s hunt in Independence Park follows the 30th running of the Elizabeth 8K road race. Face painting, balloon animals and the Easter Bunny himself. And there’s still time to volunteer! Help is needed to stuff the eggs in the week prior to the hunt. Please email elizabethcommunityassociation@ gmail.com to help out.

21st

Seventh and Caswell rezoning presentation

Developer Faison presents its rezoning proposal to Charlotte City Council. Find out what they have in store for one of Elizabeth’s highest profile intersections. All residents are encouraged to attend.

historic shot of our park playground

Get your ads and articles in! Email the harried editor John McBride, john.f.mcb@gmail.com. Better yet, help John by volunteering to be the Elizabeth Community Association business liaison and/ or bookkeeper. Email John for more information.

22nd

Elizabeth history walk

Tour starts at 6 p.m. in front of Earl’s Grocery In partnership with the Charlotte Museum of History, Elizabeth resident and former ECA newsletter editor Nancy Albert will lead a walking tour through the historic Elizabeth neighborhood. More details to come.

29th

National Arbor Day

Plant another tree. THE PEOPLE PAGES

✒ John W. Short Greenway Avenue Come enjoy the 30th running of the Elizabeth 8K Road Race The 2016 running of the on some streets, like Greenway Elizabeth 8K will be Mar. 19 at 8 a.m. starting at the Hawthorne and Kenmore, where a lack of existing right-of-way meant Recreation Center. planting had to occur on private This year’s race is particularly property. notable as it marks the 30th Over the years, proceeds year of the race, making it the from the Elizabeth 8K race oldest road race in Charlotte. were funneled to this effort. During this 30-year span, the Continuing this tradition of race has come to mean more to our community than just fun neighborhood recreation – even though it certainly is that as well! Proceeds from the race continue to help replace Charlotte’s beloved tree canopy.

“racing for the trees,” for the fourth year in a row 10% of race profits will go to TreesCharlotte (treescharlotte.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Charlotte’s tree canopy and educating citizens on its importance. TreesCharlotte is a great fit as a charitable partner for the race since so much of the race’s history has been tied to the trees in the neighborhood. Even beyond the rich history of the race, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for this year’s edition. Here are three ways to participate and ensure you’re getting the most out of the Elizabeth 8K experience:

In 1989 Hurricane Hugo took out much of the tree canopy in Charlotte, and Elizabeth was hit particularly hard. Rather than accepting the loss of one of the signature aspects of our community, some enthusiastic and dedicated neighbors devoted themselves to replenishing the canopy. Tree surveys were done, plans were created and many people pitched in to start the planting. Trees were replaced throughout the neighborhood but special effort was needed 4

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race photo: Ken Magas / coach photo: John McBride

Here’s an all-too-brief summary of how that came to be:

Run We all know that the Elizabeth neighborhood is one of the best places to run in Charlotte, and the Elizabeth 8K course takes advantage of everything the neighborhood has to offer. The draw to participate as a runner isn’t limited to just running the race either. Before the race, you can enjoy Elizabeth’s own “Big E” Elvis (AKA Hardin Minor of Clement Avenue) offering encouragement while waving the Elizabeth flag at the starting line. You’ll also be treated to the vocal stylings of singers from Opera Carolina (operacarolina. org) who will kick off the race by singing the National Anthem.

over Charlotte to participate. We need to make sure that our guests visiting from other neighborhoods see the camaraderie and encouragement that Elizabeth is known for throughout the city. So if you’re going to be around, make it a point to head outside between 8 and 9 a.m. to cheer on the runners, greet your neighbors and celebrate what makes Elizabeth the best neighborhood in town!

You can get more details on the race at the website (elizabeth8k.com), to run, volunteer or check out the course map so you know where to come out and watch. Whichever way you Post-race, you can enjoy the choose to participate, I look sponsor festival in Independence forward to seeing everyone out Park by the finishing chute, on March 19! and once you’ve had your fill of free samples, follow the sound of precociously-performed rock hits over to Hawthorne’s Pizza where bands from the ✒ Jim Belvin School of Rock will lay down the Clement Avenue soundtrack as you enjoy a much deserved mid-morning drink. Next milestone for Volunteer Seventh and Caswell: If running this year’s race isn’t A public hearing at in the cards for you, pitch in by city council helping out with packet pickup, signing up runners the morning Since last April, when the of the race, handing out much- Elizabeth Community Assoneeded hydration at a water ciation first learned Faison was station, or guiding runners along seeking to rezone the property the course’s trickier corners. We at the corner of Seventh Street can never have enough helpers! and Caswell Road, we have been Watch This is one of Elizabeth’s signature community events, and people come from all

busy engaging the developer as well as the city planning and zoning departments in order to have input.

You never know who might show up at the Elizabeth 8K. Yes, that’s UNC men’s basketball coach Roy Williams strolling through Independence Park after the 2014 race.

In December, Faison held an informal presentation attended by approximately 50 people, followed by a community meeting on Jan. 25 attended by approximately 60 people. The community meeting is a Charlotte Planning Department requirement, and the developer must follow up with a formal report of concerns and comments made at that meeting. Following the meeting, the ECA emailed out a copy of the presentation to all subscribers of the Elizabeth neighborhood email list. During the Jan. 25 meeting, Faison presented an abbreviated traffic study of the impact of their proposed development. Many attendees were disappointed that the study did not take into account traffic THE PEOPLE PAGES

that will be generated by the 91 apartments currently under construction across the street.

The ECA continues to have concerns about the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impact on this important corner in our neighborhood. The ECA had not officially taken a stand for or against the rezoning as of the writing of this article. The ECA continues to engage with Faison. We hope for a great turnout of Elizabeth neighbors at the public hearing at city council chambers on Mar. 21. This public hearing will allow proponents and opponents of the rezoning to let their voices be heard. The actual vote by city council on the rezoning will occur in April. 6

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elevation and overview courtesy Faison

On Jan. 29, we received notice from John Carmichael, the attorney who is representing Faison, that the developer will defer the public hearing before city council until Mar. 21 due to a mistake in paperwork and to allow more time to gather input.

✒ John McBride East Eighth Street New proposal for 8th Street extension: Pedestrian path After a vigorous neighborhood meeting December 10 at Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, the idea of extending East Eighth Street to Bascom Street for vehicles is “off the table,” said Alan Goodwin of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department. Instead, the city will hold another meeting to hear what the neighborhood has to say about extending Eighth as a path for pedestrians and bicycles.

Instead, the city will hold another information meeting March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church to “hear what the neighborhood wants to do re the bike path. If there’s significant support, we’ll go that route,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin made sure to emphasize that no decision on the proposed extension has been made. “We got in trouble at the last meeting because… it seemed like a done deal. [...] The multi-use path is not a done deal either,” he said. “If the neighborhood doesn’t support it, it won’t happen. [...] The path or nothing – that’s the choice at this point. If the property is developed, rules may require the developer to build a street.” Money for the extension project comes from an area plan implementation fund that has been allocated for several years.

He specified that the path would most likely be 12 to 15 feet wide, made of asphalt and have bollards at both ends to keep vehicles out. “There will probably be some lighting but the details haven’t been worked out yet,” he added.

photo: John McBride

“We heard the concerns expressed at the last public

meeting December 10 about the proposal for the Eighth Street extension,” Goodwin said in February. Although all responses to the proposal – not just those given at the meeting – were “pretty equally divided,” the street option is no longer being considered, Goodwin said.

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✒ Lolo Pendergrast East Eighth Street

Many Elizabeth neighbors saw a derelict former rug cleaners and press-and-fold warehouse set back on a weeded lot on Eighth Street near Pecan Avenue. Kyle Short saw a vision of one family on one lot – with a whole lot that’s shiny, pricey and new. “I saw the shape of the building and the warehouse and thought it would be cool for a modern design,” said Short, 32, the property owner developing the site at 1928 E. Eighth St. “I try to be real creative and I enjoy that side of the business… I can see the vision in my head of what it’s going to look like when it comes together. The transformation.” The change hasn’t been entirely acceptable to all Elizabeth residents, some of whom say the construction isn’t in keeping with the historic look and size of the neighborhood’s residential properties. “It’s inappropriate for the neighborhood for its size and its mass,” said next-door neighbor Ken Davies. “It exploits the neighborhood. I don’t mind it being modern. It’s just too big and it’s obnoxious.” 8

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photos: John McBride

From warehouse to wowhouse: A cinderblock transformation

Since acquiring the property in 2014, Short, the owner of Rainier Builders in Charlotte, has turned the cinderblock cleaners and storage site into a 5,000-square-foot mini-mansion.

And it comes with a similarly rare price tag that Short will not divulge. He prefers not to discuss the costs of building.

He said the four-bedroom, five-bathroom home should be complete by spring. That’s Where there were metal barring any construction warehouse garage doors, he’s problems or delays like the code hung 20-by-10-foot cedar doors finished with four coats of enforcement violation that delayed work for almost more stain and varnish. The I-beams than four months in 2015. from the original structure form a front entry near the While the modern design may master suite, bath and steam be jarring among some centuryroom. Warehouse storage old bungalows and Craftsman once crowded the cinderblock homes that line Eighth and building’s interior; now it’s home nearby streets, Short said he’s to a smart-wired 12-person heard only a few complaints. capacity movie theater. “I did have someone put a Press-and-fold has given way painted toilet in front of it… to a kitchen complete with built- But I’ve had a lot of people say in coffee maker, steam oven and a lot of nice things to me and I walk-in wine cellar. The ground appreciate it. Some people like floor comes with hydronic modern and some people don’t.” radiant floor heat – hot water Davies, the next-door runs through tubing embedded neighbor, said the home was in the concrete slab. “gorgeous inside, but needed Wood reclaimed from the twice as much lot… It is warehouse and other Rainier just incompatible with the projects now graces a stairwell neighborhood.” where there once were no Neighbor Peter Minor, who stairs. “For a young guy, Kyle lives with wife Kay across the has good ideas. New ideas and street, said a recent trip to old ideas, a mix of ideas,” said Ballantyne made him put the Leo Hernandez, a framer at the new home in perspective. “I’d home. “He makes it work.” much rather live here and have The old driveway hosts a a house like this,” he said, “than swimming pool, spa, outdoor live in Ballantyne.” pizza oven, bar and sink with a Whether residents are “beverage center.” The waredelighted or scornful about house cinderblocks now are the the transformation, Short skeleton of a white retaining wall. said he might reach out to “It’s a one-of-a-kind project,” the neighborhood when his Short said. vision is complete. He said he’s

entertained some potential homebuyers and might consider an open house, if only to satisfy neighbors’ curiosity. He’d also consider placing the home on the Elizabeth Home Tour should the tour return in the future. “It’s better than what was there,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think that it was a win for the neighborhood – rather than its (previous) use.”

M VOLUNTEER M elizabethcommunityassociation @gmail.com

✒ Nancy O. Albert Oakland Avenue and Kris Solow East Fifth Street Elizabeth celebrates completion of public art project On a cold Saturday in December the Elizabeth community gathered together to celebrate the completion of the Neighborhoods in Creative pARTnership public art project that was awarded to Elizabeth in 2014 based on a grant proposal written by Elizabethan Sarah Gay. As most of you know, 22 city neighborhoods applied for public art projects to be funded by the city and the Arts and Science Council. Elizabeth was fortunate to be one of six selected. Our neighborhood was paired with Charlotte artists Amy Bagwell and Graham Carew THE PEOPLE PAGES

Perhaps the most visible of the project’s components is the 3-foot high metal structure with cutout letters erected on the roundabout at the corner of Lamar and East Eighth Street by Carew and a crew of CPCC welding students. Though the roundabout had been cleared of foliage for the construction, rose enthusiast Tom Thoune and landscape

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architect Ric Solow, both of the Elizabeth neighborhood, will be advising project artist/ landscaper Tim Shaeffer with planting in the spring.

K Gallery on East Seventh Street. A Time Warner Cable News crew showed up and interviewed Bagwell, Carew and ECA representatives Kris Solow and Nancy Albert. Coffee A second component is and pastries were served and a series of bird images that everyone bundled up to walk emerge, along with the words toward the water tower. We then “LOOK AT ME,” on the fence moved on to walk the route of around the water tower. These the wordhouses. Mayor Jennifer are based on paintings by Roberts joined the group when Carew. The third component it passed her house on Clement of the project, bright blue Avenue. The procession ended “wordhouses” created by at the roundabout. The video Bagwell, was hung from trees along a .6 mile meandering path produced by Time-Warner, which includes portions of the through the neighborhood. Three-dimensional collages of a interviews and the walk, can sort, each wordhouse includes a be seen at https://youtu.be/ XmQ7soqoJW0. segment of the poem. The December19 completion ceremony began at Studio

M VOLUNTEER M elizabethcommunityassociation @gmail.com

photo this page: Ken Magas / wordhouse photo: Nancy O. Albert / mural photo: ???

of Wall Poems of Charlotte, and over the course of several months public meetings were held as the design evolved. As part of the project, Bagwell composed a poem about our neighborhood, “Now is Fireworks,” segments of which can be seen on installations throughout Elizabeth.

Bright blue “wordhouses” have been hung from trees along a .6-mile meandering path through the neighborhood.

A wall painting, which will include the entire poem and another of Carew’s birds, will be painted on the side of Studio K, where it will be visible from East Seventh Street. Funds for this portion of the project were raised by the ECA art committee because the mural will be on private property. Our public art project also received recognition on WFAE’s “Charlotte Talks” on Jan. 29. It was part of the show’s exploration into public art installations around Charlotte. ASC program director Todd Stewart, Bagwell, Carew and artist Amy Herman were interviewed. You can read more and then click on “Listen” for the podcast “Art in Unexpected Places”: www.wfae.org/post/artunexpected-places.

More public art in Elizabeth is on its way. Muralists Matt Moore and Matt Hooker have designed this mural on the two-story brick building at 347 N. Caswell Rd. The artists are responsible for several murals around Charlotte.

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✒ Katy Hill Former Elizabethan Caldwell Presby sows and reaps in garden out back

During that time, my children grew up and fled the nest. The Penelope Fergusson last property tax bump was the final impetus needed to Our garden is a ground-level downsize, simplify and cash in extension of Caldwell’s ministry on a nice little nest egg. and outreach. Good hands — I didn’t move far, just a and hearts — toil the good earth few miles east to Country to reap the harvest and share the Club Heights, just past Plaza bounty, feeding gardener and Midwood. My stomping recipient alike, in body and in grounds remain much the spirit. same, broadened a bit, and still Plot by plot, we make a include Elizabeth. Most of all, I remain firmly rooted at Caldwell difference for those in need. Caldwell’s urban gardening, on a Presbyterian Church, in our parcel of land that had long lain richly diverse community of faith and in our jewel of a garden in disuse, reminds us that what out back. (Caldwell’s “backyard” can be sown can also be shared. is along Park Drive, across from Caldwell Garden is one the Elizabeth Traditional School of more than 90 community parking lot.) gardens that comprise the Caldwell is home to a diverse, urban community of seekers — young and old, gay and straight, rich and poor, all races and ethnicities. We are a community “animated by joyful worship and called forth into social action for service to the greater good.” 12

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Friendship Gardens network. Caldwell gardeners are encouraged to donate a portion of their harvest to Friendship Trays, our local meals-on-wheels organization, which delivers 750 meals every weekday to people in need.

Rev. John Cleghorn, another former Elizabethan, maintains a firm foothold in Elizabeth by leading the Caldwell flock, both on the home front and in the wider community. For many growing seasons, longtime Lamar Avenue resident Ann Baldwin dug her green thumbs into the dirt of the Covenant Presbyterian plot, gracing our front corner with colorful zinnias. And Kenmore Avenue’s Will Morrill, along with the help of a group of folks known as the Woodpeckers (of Pumpkin Wall fame), poured Eagle Scout sweat equity into building a storage shed for a host of gardening implements. I serve as co-coordinator for Caldwell Garden, along with Merritt Tracy, a Chantilly resident and the Gardening Chair at Chantilly Montessori.

Caldwell garden photos by Katy Hill, Independence Park photos by Kristan Magas

I am an Elizabeth expat but I still have a solid foothold in the old ‘hood. I lived in a muchloved Fifth Street bungalow between Laurel and Cameron for 25 years.

Merritt is the gardening expert; I am the gardener wannabe. My role entails getting the word out, and this year that includes opening up our garden to the Elizabeth community. Contact Katy Hill at catharine.hill@gmail.com or 704-335-1510 if you would like to sign up for a plot of your own. Responsible stewardship and a willingness to share are all that we require. Other than that, a donation to help cover the cost of water is much appreciated. A spring workday is scheduled for March 5 from 9 am to noon, when we will team up to till the soil and literally move mountains. Mountains of compost and mulch.

✒ Kristan Magas East Fifth Street New trees for Independence Park Charlotte Park and Recreation recently planted 17 trees in lower Independence Park Look for 10 new Forest Pansy Redbud in the park and seven multistem Magnolia “Ann” trees along Park Drive by the baseball field. According to N.C. State University, the Magnolia “Ann” flowers are deep purple-red and open before the leaves. Sporadic flowers occur throughout the summer. Clemson University says the Forest Pansy Redbud THE PEOPLE PAGES

has “deep burgundy foliage that loses its intense color in the heat of summer, becoming almost dark green.”

stats. Much of the increase was Sprague also recommends from stolen bicycles and from keeping track of serial numbers cars that were left unlocked, said from electronics and bicycles. Officer Robert Sprague. “CMPD recovers a large “Out of the 56 vehicles that amount of property each year we had entered, 41 of them were but is unable to return it to the unlocked and 15 locked,” Sprague owner without proper documensaid. He added that many of the tation of the serial number or ✒ Officer Sprague residential burglaries happened some other unique identifying in attached garages, enclosed CMPD feature,” Sprague said. porches or patios that are conOfficial CMPD crime stats sidered part of the residential structure. for 2015 Although the Elizabeth neighborhood saw an increase in some crime categories last year, the neighborhood is still very safe, CharlotteMecklenburg Police say. Larceny and residential burglary were up in 2015 compared to 2014, according to the official crime Incident type

“The Elizabeth neighborhood is a very safe neighborhood that has very low crime compared to similarly sized neighborhoods. We could greatly reduce the number of incidents if we utilize good crime prevention tactics such as locking vehicles, taking items of value out of the vehicle and locking up bicycles.” 2014

2015

Difference

Percent Change

Larceny-other

16 40 24 150%

Larceny from auto

55.56%

Residential burglary

200%

Aggravated assault — other weapon

Armed robbery

Larceny of bicycle

16.67%

Larceny — pocket picking

Residential burglary — storage bldg.

Aggravated assault — gun

-1

-100%

Commercial burglary

-1

-16.67%

Larceny — purse snatching

-1

-100%

Strong-arm robbery

-1

-100%

Larceny — shoplifting

-2

-100%

Rape

-2 -66.67%

Auto theft

-4

-50%

Larceny from building

-8

-88.89%

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✒ Elaine Scott Kenmore Avenue

volunteers will assist you in unloading your vehicles. This is or residents only, not for businesses or businesses run from a residence.

Not all plastics are created equal

Residents can drop off old paint, oil, fertilizers, household How do you know if your cleaners, compact fluorescents plastic is recyclable? Look for (not incandescents), batteries, I think of myself as a savvy the triangular Recycle symbol electronic equipment (small recycler. Little did I know how with a number inside. Plastic #6 computers, small TVs, cell much I didn’t know about our is not accepted. phones, etc.), metal clothes curbside pick-up. I’ve included a hangers, ink cartridges, eye sampling of what I learned, but I glasses, art & craft supplies, encourage everyone to visit the soft old blankets, corks, books. Charmeck.org website. Nothing bulky, heavy, or leaky. Plastic bottles lids: The A couple of things have county now accepts lids. The changed since last year. catch: empty the container and Magazines can be put in your keep the lid on the bottle. Lids recycle bin or repurposed to by themselves are too small for an assisted living center, gym, the machinery to process. doctors office or donated to an Pizza boxes: The boxes art teacher for craft projects. should be empty, but the greasy Also, curbside recycling now boxes can be included in your accepts caps and lids when recycling. put back on empty plastic bottles and containers. Paperback books: I’m all Separated caps can jam the for passing along used books via recycling equipment. For the neighborhood’s Little Free more information, visit www. Library on Kenmore or used ✒ Kris Solow wipeoutwaste.com bookstores. But when a book East Fifth Street no longer finds an interested reader, it can be recycled into Elizabeth Recycles Day something new. is May 21 at Independence Park Rigid plastics: This includes children’s toys and buckets. Every year the Elizabeth Recycles Day takes in more and Juice Boxes: This includes more items to repurpose, reuse paper milk and juice cartons, or recycle for our neighbors. The and small juice boxes. ninth annual Elizabeth Recycles The county doesn’t accept Day will be May 21. We will set everything at curbside. up in the parking lot at the Rose No plastic bags: This Garden at Independence Park includes garbage bags, Ziploc from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. where Charlotte curbside recycling 101

photos: Kris Solow

bags and grocery bags. Bags wrap around the machinery and clog screens. Grocery and newspaper plastic bags are collected at many grocery stores.

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We received questions on where to take unused medicines. The Matthews Police Department has a metal drop box in its lobby at 1201 Crews Rd., or wait for an Operation Medicine Drop event.

Cell phones:

Battered Women’s Shelter, Best Buy, or Cell Phones for Soldiers Ceramics:

Find an artist who does mosaics by contacting the ASC

CDs and DVDs:

We looked into a paper shredding truck, but at $200 per hour with a minimum of two hours, it was too expensive. Look online for free paper shredding events or ask stores if they accept paper with their recycling program.

Salvation Army

Large items such as appliances, furniture and tires can be put curbside. Call Charlotte-Mecklenburg 311 to schedule a bulky item pick up. Or consider giving to charitable organizations like Crisis Assistance Ministry (crisisassistance. org), 704-522-4978 or the Salvation Army 800-7287825. Crisis gives what is donated straight to families in need. Or post on Elizabeth Families (elizabethfamilies@ googlegroups.com), Nextdoor or Craigslist.

Earthfare, art teachers

Some items and examples of where to recycle/ repurpose/donate: Art and craft supplies:

Art teachers

Batteries and battery chargers:

Recycling centers, Home Depot Books: Julia’s Café and Books Cameras and camcorders:

Biggs Camera, Best Buy 16

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Clothing:

Crisis Assistance Ministry, Salvation Army

Construction materials:

Habitat ReStore

Corks:

✒ Frances L. D’Amato Former Elizabethan Art instruction for home scholars Most of us know there is a trend toward home schooling elementary children. I’m not here to argue the merits or demerits of such programs. However, I would like to share the joys of teaching art to such students.

Desktop computers, Mint Hill Arts, an information monitors, electronic and support network for local devices, printers, scanners, artists, revised a Home School gaming devices, hair dryers: Arts program in September to

Best Buy

Eyeglasses: The Lions Club Household items: Crisis

accommodate children who have a desire to express themselves through art.

I was one of the pioneering art instructors who participated. The classes were an hour long Ink cartridges and toners: for six-weeks each session. I Office supply stores focused on the works of famous LED, CFL, halogen light bulbs: artists and their biographies. We Home Depot then created original work that was in keeping with the spirit of Metal clothes hangers: the work of the artist. 2001 Cleaners Assistance Ministry, Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore

Plastic shopping bags:

Take back to store Soft blankets:

Animal hospitals for convalescing animals If you plan to be out of town the day of the event and would like to arrange a drop-off, or if you want to volunteer, contact Kris Solow at (704) 806-4456 or ksolow@carolina.rr.com

We started with Matisse. Later in life, the Impressionist leader took to making cutouts. The cutouts allowed him to continue creating long after arthritis took away his ability to paint. Instead he would ask his assistants to place cutouts on large walls to create some of his most dramatic pieces like “The Dancers.” We used some of his shapes to create collages and

the children were delighted with the outcome.

Bicycle theft prevention

That led us to the works of Romare Bearden, a Charlotte native, who used collage as a basis of his work. Here the children used magazine pictures to create scenes that recalled the black experience in Charlotte.

The Providence Division of the CMPD has seen an increase in the number of bicycles being stolen. With a couple precautions, you can significantly decrease the chance of someone stealing your bicycle. Here’s how.

We also studied the work of Miro and the children took an image from Miro’s show at Duke to create their versions. For Alexander Calder, we made stabiles using leaves and other natural materials and suspended them from tree limbs. We experimented with pastels to create images of flowers in vases as Van Gogh had done with “Sunflowers.” Children were able to create the image with harsh bold strokes. They recreated the textures that made Van Gogh’s work so fantastic. We also used watercolor to create soft images of landscapes like those of Manet. The students enjoyed their exploration of art history and modern day interpretation of the masters. If you are a home school parent and would like information on the spring classes at Mint Hill arts, visit the website minthillarts.org.

Find your serial number*

Record your serial number at www. nationalbikeregistry.com. The NBR will send you a tamper-resistant ID label.

Always lock your bike, even in places like your backyard, the hallway of your apartment building, or your porch. A locked bike has less chance of being stolen. And don’t forget to lock it to something solid.

* Serial numbers are commonly found across the top bar, on the seat post mast, on the lower bar, on the hanger crank near the sprocket, on one of the rear forks (left or right), or on one of the rear stays (left or right). THE PEOPLE PAGES

The ECA and the Elizabeth8K Road Race would like to acknowledge and thank the following companies and organizations for their tremendous support of this year’s race, without which this race would not be possible.

Presenting Sponsors —Harris Teeter —Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar —Novant Health Platinum Sponsors —Charlotte Bridge Home —Jones Dry Cleaning —Lineberger Dentistry —Recover Brands —Winiker Law Firms, PLLC Gold Sponsors —Burn Bootcamp — Catalyst Financial Group/ Ameriprise — Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church —Iron Butterfly Pilates —Ken Magas Design —Leroy Fox —Open Door Studios —Opera Carolina —Pantazis Law Firm —School of Rock —St. John’s Baptist Church —Sunflour Baking Company —TR Lawing Realty, Inc. —USNWC —Zia Pia imports Partners — Charlotte Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation —Jones Racing Company —TreesCharlotte

THE BUSINESS SECTION

Big E Elvis and the gang will see you at the Elizabeth 8K on March 19.

photos by Ken Magas 20

THE PEOPLE PAGES

HELP WANTED Clever, capable Business Liaison needed for thriving, energetic neighborhood newsletter The Elizabeth Community Association newsletter seeks a part-time, volunteer go-getter to help Elizabeth neighborhood businesses reach customers in their own backyard. Candidates should enjoy frequenting Elizabeth area businesses and meeting their neighbors. The ECA newsletter is published four times a year and features articles by and about the best neighborhood in Charlotte. Join our team. Interested? Contact ECA president Paul Shipley, paul.d.shipley@gmail.com, or newsletter editor John McBride, john.f.mcb@gmail.com.

THE BUSINESS SECTION

HELP WANTED Clever, capable Business Bookkeeper needed for thriving, energetic neighborhood newsletter The Elizabeth Community Association newsletter seeks a parttime, volunteer go-getter to help the newsletter team maintain financial records. Experience with QuckBooks a plus. Candidates should enjoy frequenting Elizabeth area businesses and meeting their neighbors. The ECA newsletter is published four times a year and features articles by, for and about the best neighborhood in Charlotte. Join our team. Interested? Contact ECA president Paul Shipley, paul.d.shipley@gmail. com, or newsletter editor John McBride, john.f.mcb@gmail.com.

THE BUSINESS SECTION