ECA 2-18 by Elizabeth Community

ECA Officers

ECA Board Members

Paul Shipley President 704 651 5897 Kenmore Avenue paul.d.shipley@gmail.com

West Bryant Communications Chair 704 898 5044 East Fifth Street west.bryant@gmail.com

Rusty Gibbs Vice President 704 345 8209 Pecan Avenue rusty@thenicholscompany.com

Paul Freeman Beautification & Trees 908 272 6465 East Fifth Street paul@ freemanlandscapearchitecture.com

Diana Watson Secretary 704 996 9776 Kenmore Avenue diana.watson3@gmail.com Kelly Jaworski Treasurer 828 446 0243 Clarice Avenue kellyruthanne92@gmail.com

The ECA Newsletter The ECA newsletter is published quarterly (March, June, September and December) and delivered to homes and businesses in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte. The production team: John McBride editor Rob Hall advertising czar Susan Green editorial assistant and proofreader Little Shiva designer Sir Speedy printer A. Carter Arey and Raj Natarajan distribution czars Story or photo idea? Email john.f.mcb@gmail.com. Want to buy an ad? Email rob@pridemoremail.com. ECA BOARD MEETINGS

When and where? 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at Studio K Gallery, E. 7th St. – all are welcome. THE PEOPLE PAGES 22024

Max Gilland Social Chair 704 458 9684 East Fifth Street maxgilland@gmail.com Beth Haenni Zoning & Real Estate 704 562 5152 Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@gmail.com Laina Kafiti Home Tour 216 577 7232 East Fifth Street lkafiti@cchrealtors.com Salim Kafiti Membership 216 346 3598 East Fifth Street skafiti@gmail.com Kathy Kennedy-Miller Historian 704 614 1314 Clement Avenue kathykennedymiller77@gmail.com John F. McBride Newsletter 980 254 7367 East Eighth Street john.f.mcb@gmail.com Claire M. Short Children’s Social 813 326 3223 Greenway Avenue claire.m.short@gmail.com Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com

On the cover Over the course of several weeks, the 1940s-era Martha Washington apartments at Dotger and Kenmore have been coming down. In March, Pulte Homes bought property for a reported $9.8 million. Plans call for 124 four-story townhouses to be built on the nearly 10-acre site. Before construction begins, expect to see the installation of drainage, removal of landscaping, protection for those trees being saved, removal of those trees not so lucky, installation of utilities and, finally, erosion control/seeding. Look for Elizabeth Community Association real estate and zoning chair Beth Haenni’s report on Martha Washington elsewhere in this issue. Photos by Beth Haenni.

contributors Donna Bise East Fifth Street donnabise@gmail.com

Jim Dimitrof Pecan Avenue jimdimitroff@ gmail.com On the back cover The 32nd annual Elizabeth 8K Road Race took place Mar. 24 and — thanks to street car construction on Hawthorne Lane — featured a new course layout. Jesse McEntire of Brevard was the overall winner and Alice Purser of Charlotte was first among women. (On the back page, McEntire is wearing bib 757 and Purser is at far right.) Proceeds from the race benefit the beautification of Elizabeth and $3,772 was donated to TreeCharlotte to help replenish the city’s tree canopy. Additionally, a food drive and collected 300 items and a raffle and silent auction raised $460 — all of which went directly to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Elsewhere in this issue, look for Lolo Pendergrast’s article on why runner Nathan Taylor of Elizabeth will never forget the 32nd 8K and a full-page ad thanking the sponsors, without whom there would be no race. A special thanks also to all of the 8K race volunteers and the race committee, which includes Josh Barnhardt, Tommy Franklin, Marshall Lindsay, David Miller, Brian Rubins and Rick Winiker. Photos by Jim Dimitroff.

Beth Haenni Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@ gmail.com

Lolo Pendergrast East Eighth Street lolopendergrast@ gmail.com

Debbie Rubenstein East Fifth Street debbie@ flynnonline.com

John Short East Fifth Street jwesleyshort@ gmail.com

Paul Shipley Kenmore Avenue paul.d.shipley@ gmail.com

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From the president: New faces on the board and urgent development issues by Paul Shipley

Our community had our first monthly meeting with Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) to keep up with the issues surrounding the Hawthorne Lane construction. Many thanks to Morgan Williams, Charis As spring turns into summer Wilson, Cassie Hatch and our neighborhood is full of Michael Adams for taking the activity. Whether it’s kids out time to meet and work with CATS playing, dogs walking their parents, neighbors taking a stroll, on this ongoing project. or homeowners working in the More real estate issues yard – Elizabeth is busy! the real estate and zoning committee are currently Your Elizabeth Community Association (ECA) board has also working on include continuing conversation with Faison been very busy on a number of concerning the Philosopher’s initiatives, and I’ll quickly run Stone redevelopment site, the through the highlights. proposed 20-story mixed use Sal Kafiti has agreed to serve office project along 3rd Street as our new membership chair, and Baldwin, and CPCC’s request and newcomer Max Gilland will to rezone land along Elizabeth take on the social chair duties. Avenue and Charlottetown. See Both Sal and Max live on 5th another article on these topics Street and bring new energy by Beth elsewhere in this issue. to these two very important The critical work this committees. They have already committee does today is brought thoughtful insight and incredibly important to all contributions to the big issues of Elizabeth’s residents as in front of the board right now. Give a big Elizabeth welcome to it will determine what our neighborhood looks and feels both Sal and Max. like over the next 50 years. Beth Haenni wrote a terrific Over the summer and early article discussing the Martha Washington re-development and fall, the county will also start work on planning the new the board’s continued efforts Memorial Stadium, and right to insure all of the developers working in Elizabeth understand after that, will engage landscape architects and designers for our commitment to protecting our neighborhood. This has been the Independence Park project. Be on the lookout for more a huge endeavor for our board information on this exciting set and Beth and her team on the real estate and zoning committee of county projects. have done great work. With all of the real estate and 4

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development issues going on at the same time, please keep up with the Elizabeth Families and Elizabeth Community Association Google Groups. Right now, that’s the quickest and most direct way for the ECA Board to communicate timely information to you concerning the major projects. However, speaking of communication, be on the lookout for a new, updated website and communication platform from the ECA. In the planning stages now, we hope to create a new platform to serve the neighborhood, making it easier to become a member, sign up to volunteer, answer surveys, provide feedback and of course provide timely information to the neighborhood. If you are not signed up for our email lists – and/or are not a member of the ECA – please reach out to any member of the board who can help you get connected. Our contact information is located on page two of this newsletter. As previously reported in one of our emails, we will not have a Progressive Dinner this year because our social chair moved and Max came aboard to late. But never fear: We’re planning another social event for this summer, with details coming soon. And we’ll bring back the Progressive Dinner next spring. Thanks again, and enjoy the summer.

As change comes to Martha Washington site, a neighborhood watches by Beth Haenni

told me he was born to a single mother who brought him home from the hospital to Martha Washington. Another neighbor remembered her parents relocating to Charlotte and settling into a Martha Washington apartment. One former Elizabeth resident came back to dig up some azaleas for his mountain house. The stories go on — it seems almost all native Charlotteans have a little connection to this special place.

Neighborhood photographer Kris Solow was too heartbroken in May to take photos of the Martha Washington Apartments site during demolition, and who can blame her? It is sad watching the earth-movers clear the landscape and bulldoze the hardy and “hearty” full masonry apartments. That pile Prior to construction, what of chimney rubbish today would you should expect to see in certainly cost $1 million! this current stage is more As the neighborhood liaison demolition, asbestos abatement, installation of drainage/ for the project, I have been detention pond, removal of onsite almost every day and landscaping, protection for I have met many neighbors those trees being saved, removal who are meandering through of those trees not so lucky, one last time, reminiscing about one memory or another. completion of demolition, installation of utilities and, Some of you thrifty neighbors finally, erosion control/seeding. have rescued mature plants; others relished small parts of Regarding builder Pulte’s the buildings, bricks, rocks, proposed development stepping stones, what-nots. Elizabeth Glen, we have heard Many of you claimed the from many residents who custom wrought-iron porch remain concerned about the brackets that the Elizabeth Community Association (ECA) project as well as those who support the project. Given salvaged. Regretfully, most of the concerns expressed the potential inside salvage about whether the project items were contaminated comports with the character with asbestos. (PS – I am of the neighborhood and the not encouraging anyone to impact it could have on future trespass!) developments in Elizabeth, the A local family-owned ECA felt it was important to business was hired to handle engage with Pulte regarding the demolition and utilities. some deed restrictions on the One of the machine operators Martha Washington parcels.

Therefore, in addition to sending a summary of concerns expressed by residents during the Feb. 15 community meeting, the ECA also sent an official letter regarding the deed restrictions on Apr. 18, 2018. We will keep you informed on Pulte’s response. In accordance with our purpose and governance, the ECA will continue to try to represent the best interests of the neighborhood to the best of our ability. From the zoning chair: Updates on development projects affecting Elizabeth by Beth Haenni 7th Street between Lamar and Clement Avenues: Over the course

of six years, an investor has been acquiring and assembling properties in the 1700 block of 7th Street between Lamar and Clement Avenues, from the former Korean church to Shine Salon. All businesses have either closed or will be relocating soon to other parts of Charlotte. Once Shine Salon relocates, the block will be vacant. Several years ago, the Elizabeth Community Association (ECA) met with the investor and reported on the potential for land assembly and development on this block. The ECA will be meeting with the new land owner in the near future. THE PEOPLE PAGES

Faison Development at Caswell and 7th Street: As

expected to begin construction this project due to its height, after completing the required which is in conflict with the we reported in March, Faison’s documents, permits, pricing, etc. Midtown, Morehead Cherry construction bids came back Plan. The other half of the higher than expected. The ECA site (Elizabeth Avenue and Meet ECA board and Faison have met twice Charlottetowne) will be used for volunteer Paul Freeman to discuss alterations to the the next three years as a staging building, including lowering area for various construction the number of units, lowering Editor’s note: Paul Freeman projects CPCC has planned the building height, removing recently became beautification for the Central Campus. After the office space, redesigning and trees chair for the Elizabeth that, CPCC stated that the site parking and investigating new Community Association. We asked will be planted with grass for building materials. him to tell us a little about himself. the next 12 to 15 years until CPCC determines a use for the Q: What do you do for a living? The next steps for this site and gets additional bond project would include A: I’m a landscape architect. presenting revised plans to the dollars to construct a building. Q: What do you do in your entire neighborhood during 3rd Street/4th Street/ spare time? a community meeting. At Baldwin Avenue: Caldwell publication time it’s not known Rose is the owner of this site. A: Gardening. But you can’t tell whether Faison may consider from our yard. We’re hoping City council hearing for this selling the property to another project was Apr. 16. Caldwell to do a little renovation on the buyer (in which case the house, so we’re waiting on the Rose has proposed building a conditional rezoning would go 300-foot tall office building garden until afterward. along with the sale) or whether with about 512,000 square Q: Tell us about your family. Faison may consider another feet of office space and 16,800 rezoning. If the property square feet of retail space. Also A: Husband John Hasouris were to be rezoned again, the and two rescue dogs. Luke, the included are a parking garage neighborhood would be part of and space for a 240-room hotel. 12-year-old golden retriever, the process. and Turner, the 8-month-old red The city’s zoning committee heeler terrier mix. (He found us meeting for this project was CPCC: Charlotte City Council deferred by Caldwell Rose from on the a ranch in Texas before approved the rezoning by Christmas.) May 1 to June 5. Central Piedmont Community Similar to the Elizabeth Area College (CPCC) for the Plan developed by Elizabeth property on Elizabeth Avenue, residents, Cherry residents Charlottetowne and 5th Street invested many months with (which includes the former stakeholders, the planning Double Door, Cuisine Malaya, department and other Delectables by Holly, bagel interested parties to develop shop). CPCC’s plans include the “Midtown Morehead Cherry construction of a building of Plan.” The ECA joins Cherry approximately 88,000 square and Myers Park neighborhood feet at the corner of 5th and associations in opposition to Charlottetowne. CPCC is 6

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Paul Freeman

Q: How long have you lived in Elizabeth? A: Since August, 2017. Q: From where did you move? A: Charleston, SC. Q: Why Elizabeth? A: Dumb luck. We were looking in Chantilly, Plaza Midwood and Sedgefield. Last day of looking our realtor mentioned a friend of his was putting her house on the market the next day. It was love at first sight. Q: How did you come to volunteer for the ECA?

The Elizabeth Community Association sponsored an Elizabeth egg hunt and festival in upper Independence Park on Mar. 31. There was face painting, balloon animals and of course a mad dash for eggs. Above right, Frankie powers (right) and Cooper Obleada display their new decorations. Above, with the Easter Bunny, are Austin Haenni (standing) and Maren Haenni (far right) and Kinsley and James Allen. Panoramic photo by Laura Gibbs, bunny photo by Elle Allen, Frankie and Cooper photo by Reena Powers. THE PEOPLE PAGES

A: I think they smelled fresh meat. for a long run, reading a book, And my cousin lives in Elizabeth walking my dog, drinking a Juicy Jay on Legion’s patio, and got me involved. riding my bike or heading to the Q: What do you think are the mountains, I love anything and three most important issues facing everything outdoors. Elizabeth today? A: Not sure, but it feels like a very Q: Tell us about your family.

throughout the world, which makes for some fun family trips!

special place and one we need to work hard to maintain.

A: I was born and raised in Hickory but came to the Charlotte region for undergrad. After college, my husband and I knew we wanted to establish roots in Charlotte. We briefly lived in Davidson before the I-77 commute became too much and we spontaneously put our Davidson apartment up for sublease and moved to Elizabeth!

Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment? A: Discovering croissants at the end of the trolley path. Q: One thing you wish everyone knew about you. A: They probably already know. For better or worse, I’m an open book.

A: My husband and I got married shortly after undergrad, and we’ve been married for a year and a half. He’s in graduate school at UNCC studying mathematical finance. We have a dog named Pickles who likes to say hello to every person and dog we meet, which has helped us get to know many of our neighbors. Beyond that, our family is scattered

Q: What do you do for a living? A: I am an accountant for a small consulting firm that helps public utilities achieve financial and organizational sustainability. Its offices are nationwide with its headquarters in Charlotte. Coincidentally, the controller and the CEO have both lived in Elizabeth, so it’s seemingly meant to be that I’d move here too.

Q: How did you come to volunteer for the ECA?

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

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Q: From where did you move?

A: Being close to Uptown was important for us after being scarred from the Davidson commute. We had a few neighborhoods in mind when we started looking that met our criteria of historical charm, walkability and beautiful trees. What elevated Elizabeth, though, was the down-to-earth vibe and familial community that makes Elizabeth so special. We knew it was the place for us after walking along the streets and saying hello to the neighbors on their front porches, so we made it our home!

Editor’s note: Kelly Jaworski recently became the treasurer of the Elizabeth Community Association. We asked her to tell us a little about herself.

A: A little over a year.

Q: Why Elizabeth?

Meet ECA board volunteer Kelly Jaworski

A: I get outside every chance I get. Whether that’s by going

Q: How long have you lived in Elizabeth?

Kelly Jaworski

A: A family friend of ours has lived in Elizabeth for a couple decades. When we moved into the neighborhood, he knew that I was an accountant and was aware

that the ECA Board was looking for a treasurer. I went to graduate school for public administration, so the potential of being involved in grassroots civic and community engagement was especially exciting to me, and I couldn’t pass up the offer.

enough, the disruption caused by construction has had a big impact. We have some of the best local establishments in all of Charlotte right here in our backyard, and I encourage everybody to show our local businesses support.

Meet ECA board volunteer Salim Kafiti

Q: What do you think are the three most important issues facing Elizabeth today?

Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment?

Q: What do you do for a living?

A: The one that comes immediately to mind is the 2017 A: Community involvement: One Progressive Dinner. We had only been in the neighborhood for a of the cornerstones of the ECA couple months at that point, and is to be a concerted voice for friends invited us to the event. all Elizabethans. To accomplish It felt like the perfect get-tothis we need to know what know-your-neighborhood event, our fellow Elizabethans are and we were so touched by our thinking, feeling and needing. I new neighbors’ hospitality and think there is currently a bit of warmth. Not to mention the food a communication disconnect between neighbors and the ECA. was out of this world! I think it is imperative that we as Q: One thing you wish everyone a neighborhood figure out how knew about you. to fill that gap. A: I help coach Charlotte’s Development: It’s wonderful Special Olympics soccer team. that developers see Elizabeth I got involved years ago in as desirable as we do, and college, and it’s become such a it is exciting to be a part of big part of who I am. Through Charlotte’s growth. With that, volunteering with Special though, comes pressures that Olympics, I’ve come to learn what have the potential to make an I want my life’s contribution to impact on the neighborhood. be, and it’s to be a champion While it is nearly impossible to for those with intellectual stop development and growth, disabilities. My dream is to we can often have a significant open/operate some kind of say in what that impact might be. business that employs those with We need to know, understand intellectual disabilities. So, if you and be active as a community ever see me in the neighborhood about what kind of development feel free to stop me – I’d love is desirable and undesirable. to share my experience of coaching Special Olympics and/ Support local businesses: As if or brainstorm together about being a small, locally-owned business ideas! business wasn’t already hard

Editor’s note: Salim Kafiti recently became membership chair for the Elizabeth Community Association. We asked him to tell us a little about himself. A: For the past ten years, I have been corporate counsel for Electrolux Appliances North America. I manage a legal team responsible for commercial and transactional matters impacting the company’s businesses in the U.S., Canada and northern Mexico. Q: What do you do in your spare time? A: I spend way too much time watching NBA basketball. I like to read (mostly fiction), cycle and play card games. A couple of guys in the neighborhood know I’m always up for a game of table tennis. Q: Tell us about your family. A: Laina and I are married 17 years. She is organizing this year’s Elizabeth Home Tour. Our daughter Sophia is a sophomore at Myers Park High School with a flair for music and volleyball. Ava is an eighthgrader at Piedmont Middle School who stays active playing soccer and making us all laugh. Q: How long have you lived in Elizabeth? A: Seven years this July. And in THE PEOPLE PAGES

asking questions and attended several ECA board meetings to get more involved. When there was an opportunity to join ECA’s talented volunteer board, I committed to it. Q: What do you think are the three most important issues facing Elizabeth today?

Salim Kafiti

writing this I am reminded how quickly time goes by. Q: From where did you move? A: We moved from the west side of Cleveland. Go Browns! Q: Why Elizabeth? A: Laina and I lived in New York City and Brooklyn during the first four years of our marriage. Since then, we have sought to live in walkable, diverse and dynamic neighborhoods. During our scouting trips to Charlotte, Elizabeth grabbed us and pulled us in. It has been for us the perfect place to continue on our life journey and raise our girls. Q: How did you come to volunteer for the ECA? A: Like many in Elizabeth, I have wanted to find an avenue to contribute to the neighborhood in a meaningful way. When the Martha Washington apartments were vacated, I expressed some concern about how long they might remain uninhabited before demolition. I started 10

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A: An aging tree canopy, explosive growth in surrounding high-density development projects and housing affordability. Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment? A: I’ll give you my top two: Walking into the Hawthorne Recreation Center for the first time and realizing that there was a subculture of world-class table tennis players less not 10 blocks from my house, and my first Halloween in the neighborhood.

to the grassy strip. No pulse. No ability to respond. That’s when a life-saving team of fellow racers – three CPR-trained nurses, a CPRtrained off-duty medic, a CPRtrained fitness professional and a cellphone user – got involved and brought Taylor back. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a technique that uses chest compression and sometimes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to keep blood and oxygen flowing through a patient’s heart. Elaine Barnes, a cardiac rehabilitation nurse who works in Elizabeth, was first to rush over to help. “I’ve seen enough cardiac patients to know he was gone,” she said.

She enlisted a second runner, Carmel Country Club fitness Q: One thing you wish everyone director Jen Riordan, to get knew about you. Taylor on his back. She urged A: I’m a much better human race volunteer Anne Bragg being after my first cup of coffee. Warren to dial 911 for help. Barnes sent another person Team of fellow runners to find Taylor’s wife, the highsave Elizabeth man who fiving “woman in the Yale collapses during race sweatshirt” she remembered by Lolo Pendergrast some 300 feet back. Barnes started 30 chest For Nathan Taylor, the 32nd annual Elizabeth 8K Road Race compressions to keep the blood and oxygen flowing through turned into a race for his life. Taylor’s body. Then Riordan Taylor, 46, had just highjumped in, taking her turn with fived his family on Greenway 30 chest compressions. Avenue and was running near “I just knew he needed help,” Kenmore and Emerson on Mar. 24 when he veered off the route said Riordan, who has been and fell over apparently lifeless CPR-certified for 13 years. “It

was my gut instinct to make sure he was OK.”

Runner Nathan Taylor and cardiac rehabilitation nurse Elaine Barnes

Next, runners Jennifer Gossett, a second cardiac rehab nurse, and Christi Milledge, a pediatric nurse, joined in. They alternated, pumping Taylor’s chest to buy him time until help arrived. “I tend to run toward something like that, not away from it,” said Milledge. The off-duty medic, also running, rushed over and continued CPR. “The sooner you can get to someone the better their chances,” said Barnes. “We gave him life.” The group had already performed more than 180 chest compressions when first responders from Fire Station 6 arrived. “Their swift action saved him,” said Station 6 firefighter David Stewart.

photo: Donna Bise

Mecklenburg EMS medics followed and started intravenous fluids and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to shock and restart Taylor’s erratically-beating heart.

performed a single heart bypass on a 100% blocked artery. And in another twist to what Barnes called a “stars-in-alignment” story, Taylor started cardiac rehabilitation with Barnes at the Novant Health and Vascular Institute’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation center in Elizabeth, where she works.

Afterward Taylor said he remembered waking slightly, looking up through tree branches and seeing a red sky. “I remember someone saying, Taylor believes he’s alive ‘Is he going to be OK?’ And I because of the lifesaving remember wondering, ‘What TV knowledge of a group show am I watching?’” of strangers who were Medics took Taylor to Novant conscientious enough to get involved. “If you do not have Health Presbyterian Medical Center. Two days later, doctors what I had – people who were

prepared and could help keep my heart pumping – you will die. For it to happen out there with all these people is what made me survive.” Taylor said he has a new appreciation for CPR after his near-death ordeal. “I think I might describe it as an awakening,” he said. “To an extent I had any idea about whether CPR was effective, it has changed my opinion.” Contact the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross to find out how you can learn CPR. THE PEOPLE PAGES

Jack’s House: The new home of the Charlotte Independence by John Short The Charlotte Independence minor league soccer team has taken another step to make Elizabeth its permanent home ahead of their planned move to Memorial Stadium in 2021.

The space is named “Jack’s House” in honor of Captain James Jack, a figure from Charlotte’s revolutionary past who is featured prominently in the Independence team logo and whose statue stands in Little Sugar Creek Greenway’s Elizabeth Park at King’s Drive and East 4th Street.

Now on Elizabeth Avenue: The offices of the Charlotte’s minor league soccer team and its Major League Lacrosse team.

merchandise for sale, as well as a bar that serves a variety of local beer on a rotating tap.

soccer club supporter groups that need a place to gather for big matches.

Above the bar (which was left behind when the Spoke Easy moved across the street) sits a 75-inch television that will be the focal point for watching Independence matches as well as any other soccer games important enough to draw a crowd.

Ultimately, once the Independence is routinely playing their home matches at Memorial Stadium, the location will be used as a gathering place for Independence fans before games to congregate and get in the team spirit prior to a ceremonial march to the stadium for game time.

Jack’s House will be open during the club’s office hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but will also The new space at 1523 open outside those times for all Elizabeth Avenue features the Independence matches through Independence (and Charlotte Hounds Major League Lacrosse October, the upcoming World Cup, and for English Premiere team) sales and operational offices in the back, but the front League matches on weekend of the area is open to the public mornings. The space will also be available for rent from local and features a team shop with 12

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The team is excited to be a part of the Elizabeth neighborhood, and wants Jack’s House to be a soccer destination for Elizabeth families for years to come, so come stop in at 523 Elizabeth Ave. to have a look around and buy a souvenir or grab a drink and take in a soccer match.

Jack’s photo: John Short / ring photo: Debbie Rubenstein

When the team’s previous office space in the Epicentre in Uptown was up for renewal, they wanted to explore the prospect of moving closer to their new home stadium. The team happened to be looking at the right time to make such a move, as the Spoke Easy/Cluck Design recently decided to move across Elizabeth Avenue to their new space. To the Independence that recently vacated space felt like home.

You can also follow along with the events at Jack’s House on Twitter and Instagram via @JacksHouseCLT and online at www.jackshouseclt.com or email info@jackshouseclt.com for information on advance bookings for events. One ring lost, another found in another bungalow tale by Debbie Rubenstein Since moving into this neighborhood, I have been delighted by the many ways history and story knit us together. Fifteen years ago I learned from an original resident about why there is an “M” on the eave of a house on Fifth Street. Four years ago a woman who spent her childhood in our house shared photos and stories of the home in its youth. And this spring I uncovered a new page in the book of our home.

sank. I figured retrieving it would require a visit from a professional to disassemble the vent, a visit that would be expensive and frustrating.

owners of the ring. Within a day I was contacted with a confirmation. It might not have been my wedding ring but it was a wedding ring.

My husband, whose arms are much longer than mine, came to my aid. We removed the grille and he reached down deep into the vent and — miracle of miracles — felt a small metal ring. He raised it out of the vent in triumph but then we realized it wasn’t my ring. It was another small golden circle engraved with the initials “SMP * PCF.”

It belonged to Tricia and Sean Phelan who owned the home between 1993 and 2004. A mutual friend of ours was seeing Tricia the next weekend and brought the ring home to her. Sure enough, it was part of a twin wedding band that they lost long ago. Tricia had been using the remaining twin as her band so she gave the engraved We are fortunate to be only ring to her daughter who was the fifth owners of our 1935 delighted to reclaim it as a bungalow. The prior owners are family treasure. friends and the owners before that remain close to many My ring is still in the vents neighbors. but will be retrieved soon. In In a “hail Mary” move, I posted a note on the neighborhood list serve asking whether anyone knew the original

exchange, I have a new gift: A story of a ring, this house and the layers of stories that rest right behind these walls.

I was in the bathroom fixing my hair. My hair is unruly on a good day and so requires some form of goop like a gel, a mousse or a lotion. To protect my wedding band from the goo, I always remove it. On that morning as I pulled on the ring I had a sense that my hold was shaky. Just as the thought entered my head, I removed the ring, I lost hold and it rocketed across the bathroom — and into the air conditioning vent on the floor. My heart THE PEOPLE PAGES