ECA 3-13 by Elizabeth Community

Beth Haenni President 704 562 5152 Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@gmail.com Eric Davis President-elect 704 776 3013 Greenway Avenue ericadavis0123@yahoo.com Diana Watson Secretary 704 996 9776 Kenmore Avenue dianawatson3@gmail.com Paul Shipley Treasurer 704 651 5897 Kenmore Avenue shipley_paul@msn.com

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

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

Stephanie McKee Social Co-Chair Kenmore Avenue 704 907 2872 smckee@theconecompany.com

We always hear about the rights of democracy, but the major responsibility of it is participation. —Wynton Marsalis

Kathy Kennedy-Miller Zoning & Real Estate Clement Avenue kkm@jmainteriors.com Monte Ritchey Past President 980 722 0922 Clement Avenue monteritchey@gmail.com

ECA Board Members

Melanie Sizemore Zoning & Real Estate Committee 704 375 3244 Vail Avenue msizemore@realindex.com

Nancy O. Albert Editor/Newsletter Chair 704 779 0932 Hawthorne Lane noalbert@carolina.rr.com

Tom Smith ECA Business Liaison (Ad Czar) 630 886 2039 Kenmore Avenue tom.smith@fedex.com

Sarah Bradley Communications/Social Media 704 491 3760 Laurel Avenue sarah@bluefeathermedia.com

Ric Solow Beautification & Trees 704 334 2986 E. 5th Street ric@solowdesigngroup.com

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

Andrew Woodruff Zoning & Real Estate Committee 704 953 5994 Greenway Avenue rawoodruff@carolina.rr.com

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S PA C E B OY S E Z

J O I N THE E C A Save the Date Elizabeth Community Association annual meeting Monday, September 23 6-8 p.m. St. John’s Baptist Church, Broach Hall Main dish and drinks provided Please bring a covered dish.

cover photos and photo this page by Nancy O. Albert

ECA Officers

Notes from the prez by Beth Haenni Thank you for allowing me to serve you as ECA President this past year. As I reflect on 8 years of ECA board service, and as I usher in our ECA presidentelect Eric Davis, I am struck by quite a few amazing things about Elizabeth. Aside from the gorgeous homes and tree canopy, awesome restaurants and shops, and convenience to everywhere in Charlotte, what really makes Elizabeth special is the people. Elizabeth finds itself at a unique point in its history where we’re welcoming many new, young families (my street alone, Greenway, has more than 50 young children). This influx of young families is coupled with a retention of long-time residents, many of whom are reaching retirement age. Unlike many neighborhoods, Elizabeth is so cool, our retirees are not exiting or downsizing; rather, they are staying!

like in the 1970s or ask what dreams the millenials have for our neighborhood into the 21st century. I ask the long-timers to be open minded to change in Elizabeth, and I ask the young people to affect change in a way that preserves the delicate history and character that makes Elizabeth so desirable. Let’s give back to Elizabeth what it’s given us for more than 100 years. Let’s progress with the spirit of 1910 in mind: “The breezes of heaven blow their freshest, the light of the sun is at its brightest in this favored neighborhood.” —Charlotte Evening Chronicle, April 16, 1910. Giving back by Nancy O. Albert

For the summer issue of the ECA Newsletter we tried something new. Besides all of our regular features we added a cluster of articles built around a specific theme. The “Creativity” issue was a I point out this delicate big success – I’ve had nothing balance of “younger” and but positive feedback. So “older” neighbors because we we’re going to try it again. If have an amazing opportunity creativity is a characteristic of to befriend each other cross our neighborhood, an equally generationally and benefit from prominent one is the spirit of each other’s life experiences. volunteering and caring for I encourage folks to say hello and about our community. to their neighbors who may be The theme of our fall issue decades older or younger: find is “Giving Back” and it will out what Elizabeth used to be celebrate the many ways we

deadline winter 2013:

Nov. 15th

editorial content:

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give. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to give with our pocketbooks. Many more of us give of our time and energy. We care about others and about the future and show this in many ways. The ECA board members give hours of time – working on committees, planning events like the Homes Tour and the Road Race. The newsletter is my particular labor of love. Some of us plant trees, some of us help keep our historic park looking great. We build birdhouses and a tiny library, we tutor and read, volunteer at soup kitchens or try to brighten the lives of hospice patients. We encourage our children to think about those who are not as fortunate as we are. So please enjoy this issue: it’s a celebration of the many who give back so much to Elizabeth. A special giving back by John Albert As I am sure you’re all aware, my wife has given back to the community with all her work as editor of the ECA newsletter. What you may not be aware of is that she is a black and white documentary photographer who has tirelessly pursued her work for 30 years. Most of her earlier work was photographing the vanishing textile mills in New England. Her photographs portray a beauty in the early mill towns that were abandoned but still elegant, which her darkroom work 4

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reveals. She documented their deterioration, destruction by fire and reclamation by nature. Some have been repurposed, but most are now gone and only photographs remain as evidence. Nancy also photographed extensively in Europe and once we relocated to North Carolina she used Catherine Bisher’s North Carolina Architecture as a guide and set about in search

of disappearing Carolinas, including old crossroads stores in places like Paint Gap and Big Sandy Mush, NC. While some of her work is already in other archives, most of it is still with us. Though she has had many exhibitions and shows, she recently cast out feelers for any institution that might want to house the collection.

She immediately received an offer from Wesleyan University, where we both received our Master’s, to accept her entire collection at Wesleyan’s Special Collections and Archives, including the Carolina work which they would will share with sister institutions in NC.

p4: Baltic Mill – photos: Nancy O. Albert www.noalbert.com / p5 photos: Beth Haenni

It is a special giving back that that will make the work available to scholars and students.

How a few good friends made a difference by Kathryn H., 5th grader at Myers Park Traditional School

homemade cookies and then we made the lemonade, pink and yellow! Our first customer was a neighbor on his bike coming home from work. We This summer, my friends gave him raspberry lemonade Lexi and Claire and I had a and two cookies for a total of lemonade stand on Greenway $1.50. After our first customer, Avenue. We raised money for we had many more, probably the organization Time Out Youth, 100 Elizabethans. 99% of our which helps kids who are gay, customers gave donations to bullied, and need a safe place Time Out Youth. It was amazing! to be themselves. We learned My friends and I even made a about Time Out Youth from donation ourselves. our neighbor across the street, Jason Boone, who After the lemonade stand, we has an annual mimosa cleaned up our front yard and party fundraiser for Time went indoors. Lexi, Claire and Out Youth during the I were very excited to count Elizabeth 8k Race. the money we had raised! Once we were sitting at my dining We had a lot of fun at our room table, we dumped the lemonade stand. whole donation jar out on the We spent two days baking table and started to count:

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The reason I wrote this article was to inspire people and to tell them that no matter what your size, shape, or age, you can make a difference, and that can start with only a little smile. Like some people say, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Thanks, Elizabeth, for helping us give back.

Friends of the library rock & read by Jillian Shue The Friends of the Library, a component of the new Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, announced the location for its fourth annual Rock & Read 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, September 14, 2013. The group will host the race in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood with a 1-mile Fun Run/Walk and a Kids’ Dash featuring Chubby of the Charlotte Checkers. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The Rock & Read 5K will kick off and finish at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Plaza Midwood branch. Participants and spectators will enjoy music at every mile of the race and a festival atmosphere following the event including live music, food and drinks. To learn more or register for the race, visit www. cmlibraryfriends.org and click on Rock & Read 5K. Can’t participate in the event this year? Community members can click on the link and still donate to the cause. About the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation

Created in 2012, wi-th support from Foundation for the Carolinas, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library 6

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p6 Little Library photo: Nancy O. Albert / p7 photo: Karen Lockhart

1… 2… skip a few… 99… 400 dollars! Later, my mom and I went to the Time Out Youth headquarters, where we delivered a big stack of bills. The director told us that my friends and I had made a huge difference; we had paid the rent for one whole month!

Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 organization (EIN: 461172548) that supports the Library’s programs and services through advocacy, fundraising and building relationships with others who share a passion for the Library’s work. The existing Friends of the Library have joined with this effort, creating a new and stronger private support network for the libraries in our community. It is comprised of citizens who believe that free and open access to information can change lives for the better, and build a brighter future for our community. Together we’re working to provide valuable literacy, educational success, and workforce development resources for our community. The Elizabeth community has a Little Free Library by Karen & Gregg Lockhart On the corner of Laurel and Kenmore, you’ll find a bright pink box. What is it? A birdhouse? A mailbox? A fancy real estate sign? Nope. It’s a Little Free Library!

3) Give a book: bring books to share to the library. Add a bookplate with your recommendation if you’d like (you can find blank bookplates in the library box).

Kenmore LFL on July 23, and we’re thrilled by how quickly the neighborhood embraced it. Within minutes, people were stopping to ask about it. Within hours, books had been donated. Within days, the book inventory The Little Free Library is a had completely changed over. movement started in 2010 To date, well over 200 books by Tod Bol and Rick Brooks in Wisconsin that has grown have been shared and the to more than 7300 libraries library has never been empty! worldwide over the past three The new Little Free Library has years. The mission is twofold: become a destination to visit to promote literacy and the on a walk or bike ride, and it’s love of reading by building free been truly heart-warming to book exchanges worldwide, and watch families make a special to foster a sense of community trip to visit the library with and connection as we share their kids. skills, creativity and wisdom across generations. The Elizabeth Community is special because of the people We found the idea on the who live and work here, and we internet (www.littlefreelibrary. love being able to contribute org) and thought a Little Free our corner to the mission of Library would be perfect for the Little Free Library. We hope Elizabeth. The library turned out to be a great project for us that everyone will continue to and Karen’s mom, Ann Zasadny, visit the library to connect with who came for a visit at just the each other, and share great right time. We installed the things to read!

The new library is for the benefit of everyone in the Elizabeth community. The concept is simple: 1) Take a book: if you see something you would like to read, take it. 2) Share a book: when you’re done, return it to the Little Library or pass it on to a friend. the people pages

CMC-Mercy Hospital is looking for Volunteers by Jill Aleong

Become a Mint Museum docent! Docents play a dynamic role by conducting conversation-based tours with visitors of all ages. To become a volunteer docent at The Mint Museum, candidates must make a one year commitment to training and touring. An enthusiasm for art, a friendly attitude and ability to communicate with groups will qualify you to become a docent. For an application form and more information please contact Kathleen Collier at kathleen.collier@mintmuseum. org or 704.337.2098.

At Carolinas Medical CenterMercy we are committed to enhancing healthcare from a patient’s perspective. Through special attention to emotional and spiritual needs as well as the patients’ physical condition, we deliver kindness, compassion and expertise.

The community’s volunteer contributions are immeasurable. The quality of care is so vastly improved by ones willingness to be here and give of yourself. By sharing your time and skills, meeting new friends and giving back to your community, your own life will Open hearts, open be enhanced. CMC-Mercy has minds, open doors many diverse volunteer by Hawthorne Lane United placements available. Please Methodist Church contact Jill Aleong at 704-304Hawthorne Lane United 5806 or jill.aleong@carolinas. Methodist Church has been org for more information and giving back and reaching out in an application. the Elizabeth Community since 1915; we honor our past and Flowers for giving back rejoice in our future. Check out by Frances L. D’Amato our new logo and new website, In Charlotte there are many and join us in giving back to ways we can give back to our the community. community. One I’ve chosen Missions in service: uses my skills as an artist to opportunities are open to help ease the pain and suffering all. Fall programs begin in of both hospice patients and September. the family of those that are in the end-of-life process. Annual fall BBQ/bake sale and children’s festival:

check the church yard banner or the website for time & dates of special events. 704-3328131 www.hlumc.org 8

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Thanks to my friend and Elizabeth neighbor Pam Paterson Mc Allister, I’m able to arrange flowers every Wednesday at Novant Health

Hospice and Palliative Care on McDowell Street. One day when Pam was visiting she told me about her new volunteer opportunity. I said that sounds like something I’d like to do too. She called Lorri Bland, the Novant Hospice volunteer coordinator, and asked if I could come to the next Wednesday session. Lorri graciously said yes and that’s how my volunteering began. My group is called Giving Gardens and we are responsible for arranging bouquets of flowers that are delivered to Hospice patients every Wednesday. We place flowers in each of the rooms at Harris Hospice Unit. Patients usually stay no more than seven days in the hospital. The reason is that patients come to the hospital for 24-hour observation and stabilization of their medications. Once that’s complete and provisions are p8 photo: Lorri Montano / p9 photo: Ally Magas

Call for Mint Museum docents by Kathleen Collier

made for care at home, the patient is discharged from the unit. The team of hospice professionals and volunteers begin the care until the patient departs this world. The Giving Gardens group has many volunteers that do different things to make the process work. Sharon, a retired teacher from Boston, gets to Hospice early and washes and prepares all the vases. Eight are to be placed in the rooms at the Harris Hospice unit and usually about eighteen to be delivered to the homes of hospice patients. Volunteer members of our group pick up donated “last week’s” flowers from Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter, and Fresh Market stores and bring them to the McDowell location. We open each batch of flowers and discard the tired ones, trim those that look like they have at least another week’s life, and put them in black buckets. When the culling process is complete, we begin to make our bouquets. My fellow volunteers have varying skills in flower arranging and Lorri provides some opportunities to increase our skills by inviting local flower shop owners to demonstrate several ways to arrange flowers. To become a Novant Hospice and Palliative Care volunteer, one needs to attend a twelvehour program. Professionals

from the Hospice team inform us all the disciplines of hospice care. We’re trained in how to approach a Hospice patient when visiting the home or hospital unit. We also are required to be fingerprinted, get a TB test, have a flu vaccine, and agree to a background check. When both education and requirements are complete we are certified as a volunteer. While our group has enough volunteers, Hospice really needs volunteers to deliver our bouquets. The reward for this is seeing the joy in the face of the patient as well as the family. Being a witness to the end of life journey is a gift so please call Lori Bland and find out about opportunities to become a member of the team. This opportunity to give back is very rewarding. I encourage

you, our Elizabeth neighbors, who have time and talent to give it a try. Please call Lorri Bland @ 704.384.9488 324 N McDowell Street, Charlotte 28233 Leave a legacy with the memorial bench and tree program by Kristan Magas Many of you may not be aware that benches and trees can be purchased to memorialize someone or something special. These can be specified for Independence Park or other parks of choice. Benches cost $400 and trees are $250 and each comes with a personalized engraved brick. More information can be found on the county parks and rec website under ‘parks’ then navigate to ’park services’. the people pages

2013 Elizabeth Home impress any designer, this and Garden Tour preview home was recently featured in by Ashley Nurkin Charlotte Home Magazine; Mark your calendars for the second weekend in October and plan to celebrate the beauty of our neighborhood. The tour showcases the unique diversity and style of our Elizabeth neighborhood. This year’s tour features six homes, three gardens, and the Mecklenburg County Master Display Garden. Whether you are interested in historical, modern, contemporary or artsy residences, the tour has something for everyone this year, including:

Sponsorship Chair:

Jessica Wilfong jessica.mauch@gmail.com • A minimalist’s dream in a recently renovated single family If you have an interest home with an ultra-modern in staffing a tour home kitchen; or contacting area businesses for a sponsorship, please • An updated brick bungalow contact Ashley, Kim or that features a floor to ceiling Amy. The Elizabeth Home tiled fireplace, renovated and Garden Tour relies kitchen and striking dining room painted in midnight blue. heavily on the generosity of volunteers. To review volunteer Tour Chairs: opportunities and sign up, Ashley Nurkin please visit our Home and mallonee28@yahoo.com Garden Tour volunteer page Kim Lineberger at www.elizabethcommunity.com/ kimlineberger@gmail.com volunteer/home-tour Volunteers to staff the tour homes:

Amy Williams

We wish to thank those who are graciously sharing their homes and gardens this fall:

p10 photo: Ken Magas / p11 photo: Nancy O. Albert

• A newly remodeled vintage 1930’s bungalow to

amybraswill@yahoo.com

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Eric & Jennifer Horsley

2062 Greenway Avenue Babek & Bonnie Emadi

725 Clement Avenue Roger Lovell

531 Lamar Avenue Angela Jones

2313 E. 5th Street Matthew & Kristin Clark

2130 E. 5th Street Cameron & Mollie Cooke

620 Louise Avenue Craig & Stephanie McKee

2228 Kenmore Avenue Master Gardeners of Mecklenburg County

1418 Armory Drive Melissa Strahley

2301 E. 5th Street October 12: 11am-5pm October 13: 1pm-5pm Tickets can be purchased at Royal Gardens and Red Sky Gallery. They cost $12 in advance and $15 the days of the home tour. Tickets can be purchased on Sunday October 13th at The Council House of Garden Clubs, 1820 East 7th Street. Cloning around with plants by Reid Watson Have you ever said, “Oh my, what a beautiful plant/tree/ shrub!”? If so, you can easily have one just like it if the owner gives permission to take a small cutting. One can

easily duplicate most plants by cloning, aka “rooting a stem” before genetics buzz words came into vogue. When propagated by rooting a stem an identical plant is reproduced, so be sure to choose one with the traits you desire. For example, a treasured tree uprooted by storms or one living past its prime – a genetically identical tree can be reproduced by rooting of stem cuttings. Although genetically alike, other factors can create some differences (as is the case with identical twins), but cloning removes most unknowns, because if a seed from the same plant is used, there is the contribution from the pollinator that may change the characteristics. There are many resources that detail best methods and timing

for successful propagation such as state university websites and regional/local extension service departments. The Elizabeth Community’s Master Gardeners group may be a good resource as well. A general summary of the basic steps is offered below. Older neighborhoods like ours are a great place to spot established thriving native specimen plants that do well here year after year. If you are inclined (and have the patience) to develop your landscaping in the style of a mature neighborhood like Elizabeth, you should give stem cuttings a try. However, pot several of each cutting because the success rate is only about 50% on average for the novice. When my attempts fail, I simply recall my mother’s advice: “It dies because it’s weak and the ones that survive are the stronger.” the people pages

Basic steps for cutting propagation

Cuttings can be successfully rooted in any medium that drains well without becoming soggy. Commonly used media contain about half peat and other ingredients like sand and/or perlite for good drainage and minimal compaction. Rooting container: the type

or size of the container is not very important, but peat moss cups work well. Handling/preparation: cut

Prepare the cuttings for rooting hormone by removing a thin layer of bark on bottom on two sides about one inch in length. Apply rooting hormone:

Make a hole in the peat mixture so rooting hormone compound wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rub off while inserting the cutting into the peat mixture. Place in indirect sunlight and keep the cutting moist but not soggy. Roots should develop in 6 to 8 weeks (for spring and summer cuttings) or the following spring for fall/winter cuttings, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow the new cuttings to freeze during their first winter. Enjoy and best of luck! 12

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photo of a Lisbon street: Nancy O. Albert / p13 photo: Ric Solow

each stem clean with sharp clipper/razor/knife for a fresh angled cut. Including at least one node in the medium is recommended. Use cuttings about 6 inches long and 1/8 to 1/4-inch diameter.

First ever ECA travel book club embarking in September by Jennifer Monroe Get your passports ready and hop onboard with us for an adventurous reading getaway! This will be a once a month affair. A few short trips down literature lane without paying a single baggage fee! We might spend autumn in Brazil, or springtime journeying along the Baltic Sea. Yes, we will be “on the road”, as they say, with terrific authors ferrying us from one exotic locale to the next.

All are welcome... so won’t you please join us? Please reply to: savvyjennifer@me.com or noalbert@carolina.rr.com. Once the size of our group comes together, we’ll solidify dates and host locations. Mulching street trees

by Ric Solow

I’ve noticed during my walks around the neighborhood that several street trees plantedover the past few years are declining or dead from apparent damage to the bark at the base of the tree. This damage, typically from lawn mowers and string Rest assured, there will be many trimmers, interrupts the flow genres represented; fiction, of nutrients to the top of the mystery, biography and much tree. The simple solution to this more. Each taking us to a situation is to create a mulched distant locale, and all selected ring around the base of the with group participation. Each tree. This can be accomplished tale will whisk us far away to another part of the globe, exploring people and places, and sometimes merely enjoying the magic of the journey.

by removing the grass by as much as a two to three foot radius around the base of a small tree and replacing the grass with mulch, either shredded hardwood or pine needles. This will keep lawn mowers and string trimmers away from the base of the tree. A secondary benefit is that because grass is a fierce competitor for moisture and nutrients, a mulched tree will display more vigor than an unmulched tree. If you have a tree in your front yard or in the median between your sidewalk and the street, take ownership of these trees. Mulch them, water them and reap the benefits of a strong healthy tree for years to come.

A world apart from your average book club, we will focus our conversations on where the author has taken us, both metaphorically and literally. Many of us will have fabulous travel tales that will surely lend themselves to the compelling stories surrounding our vicarious excursions. Whether it’s the journey or the destination, you’ll have the opportunity to get away from it all with your friends and neighbors here in Elizabeth. Our adventures await! the people pages

establishments, not the retail tenants in those buildings. This decision was in response to a number of events. The “paid parking lot” at the former Roy White Flower shop resulted in people electing to park in other spaces even if they were not patronizing the businesses associated with those spaces. As a result, legitimate customers to these retail establishments were unable to find parking. Another factor was the death of Larry Major in October of 2012. People were parking in lots on one side of 7th Street and then crossing the street (not at the crosswalks) to patronize other establishments. As some would contend that this was a potential liability for the property owners, the property managers of the buildings determined that this parking enforcement was one way in which they may eliminate the potential liability.

Notice the “No Parking” signs? Better pay attention. Signs have gone up in the parking lots at Pecan Point, Philosopher’s Stone, Visart, Starbucks, Crisp, etc., restricting parking only for the customers of the retail establishments at those locations. Some of the parking warnings are located at every 14

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space, others are located at the entrances to the parking lots. Regardless, if you ignore these signs and park in these lots to visit another location that is not one of the named retail tenants, you will find your car booted or towed. And the cost to release your car is at least $50. This parking enforcement was instituted by the property managers of the various

Join us November 2nd for the next Elizabeth Park Day! by Kristan Magus The 1st Elizabeth Park Day was a great success! On March 9th, over 45 volunteers came together to work in Independence Park for our first bi-annual event. With the guidance of Mecklenburg

p 14-15 photos: Nancy O. Albert

Better pay attention by Melanie Sizemore

So, check the signs at the lot entrances and spaces before you park or else you will have a very expensive trip.

County Parks and Rec, an amazing amount of work went into beautifying the park. Planting beds were maintained, mulch was spread, new plants were established and trees and bushes pruned. Our Parks and Rec district has only two landscape employees – grass mowing is contracted out. Those two employees are responsible for landscaping eighty county parks, buildings and recreation centers. They’re only able to get by each park or facility once every six weeks and really appreciate our help! All the volunteers were treated to coffee and pastries compliments of The Golden Living Center, and following the event, some welldeserved pizza and beer from Hawthorne’s Pizza. They were also very generous in providing numerous volunteers. Thank you to everyone who joined us! The next Elizabeth Park Day will be November 2. Look for more info in this newsletter or on the elizabethcommunity.com website.

to haul. We pay ‘em to take it away, then purchase it later from Compost Central, in a new form. Black Gold. Rarely viewed as a chore, my gardening endeavors seem to have created, over time, a few spiritual fruits, if you will. Recognizing long ago how lucky one is when work and the joy of doing flow together, gratitude comes easier. Maturing Japanese maples,

a rotating color wheel of seasonal and perennial flowers, abundant herbs – all are tangible fruits here at Minor Manor. A feast for your eyes, so to speak. But at the end of a day, when activity subsides, and stillness settles on my front porch, the true gift is a feeling of peace. Often subtle, occasionally profound. One life emanating contentment to all life.

Yard Yak by Kay Minor What will you remember most about this summer? Nature’s copious irrigation, I suspect. Beats the alternative. Energy saved not watering is balanced by the endless pruning. Debris day, I steer clear of the pick up crews, avoiding the tired faces. Another mountain of a mess the people pages

During the past month, three neighbors have experienced tree vandalism of street trees in front of their homes. It has been assumed that the perpetrator is a vigilante of sorts disfiguring trees that (he) sees as visual impediments on the approach to stop signs. Instead of consulting with

the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) or bringing the matter to the attention of the adjoining property owner or the Elizabeth Community Association (ECA), this individual has taken the matter into his own hands and butchered three trees so far. One on Greenway Avenue at N. Laurel Avenue was hacked in broad daylight in the early

afternoon around 2-3 pm. There was no sawdust at any of the locations indicating that the limbs had been hand sawn and the branches left piled by the roadside. This was done quickly, passionately, and with purpose. Don McSween, director of the Landscape Management Department with CDOT, said these acts were NOT done by his department. After I talked with him about the tree on Greenway Avenue, he sent a crew out to clean up the mess and then alerted me that the tree was too far gone to be limbed up and was taken down completely. In an email to me about the vandalism on Ridgeway Avenue at E. 5th Street, he said, “We did not do this cutting. We always notify adjoining property owners before removing a tree. All of our trucks have chippers. We chip the brush as we do the work. The only time we would leave brush is in emergency storm work. Then, we return and clean up later.” He immediately sent a crew out to clean up the debris. The third act of vandalism occurred on a tree on Ridgeway Avenue as you come from E. 7th Street, at the first stop sign at Greenway Avenue. Luckily, this tree was only hit on one side and it will be ok. If you know anything about these incidents, please let a board member know so it can

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p16 photo: Kris Solow

Tree vandalism by Kris Solow

be reported and investigated. This person(s) has the tools to do this kind of work, so to a passerby, this work may have looked legitimate. We are urging everyone to be alert. If you hear any sounds out of the ordinary, especially during the day, please look out your window, and if you see a tree being pruned as shown in the photos below, call the police immediately at 911. While you wait, take pictures or video with your phone, and if possible get a vehicle plate number. Or simply write the description of the person(s), what they are wearing, the vehicle they’re driving and license plate number.

When using your smartphone in public:

Call 911 to make a report.

In closing, if you see a sight obstruction at an intersection caused by a tree or large shrub, call 311 and tell them to alert Landscape Management.

Register your Smartphone with tracking apps. (Example: iPhone users - “Find My iPhone”, Android users “Where’s My Droid”, and “Look Out”) antitheft apps allow you to remotely lock your phone, wipe it clean of sensitive information and even remotely set off a high-pitched phone alarm.

Have the cell provider, make, model, phone number and serial number ready.

Safeguard your phone by Officer Robert Sprague Smartphone thefts have increased sharply in recent years in Charlotte due to their popularity around the city, the country, and the world. Smartphones are in high demand whether they’re new or old and the high monetary return makes them especially appealing to thieves. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department offers detailed steps you can take and use to outsmart a smartphone thief.

Stay alert when using your phone; others may be watching you to see what you do with your phone after you’re done using it. Avoid leaving your phone on the table at restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Avoid leaving your phone in an open handbag and never hang the bag over the back of a chair when at a store or café. Do not call attention to yourself by walking with your smartphone in hand when not in use.

and International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) number. Save these numbers where you can easily retrieve them F.C.C. maintains a full list of carrier contacts for reporting stolen phones: AT&T customers call 1-800-3310500; Verizon, call 1-800922-0204; Sprint, call 1-888211-4727; and T-Mobile, call 1-800-937-8997. What to do if your phone IS stolen:

Once you realize it is stolen use the above information to lock your phone.

Test the app and carry your logon information with you. (iTunes for apple) Passwords protect your smartphone. Know your numbers

Smartphone model number, serial number the people pages

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Canine laundress by Kay Minor Her tiny head pokes comically through one leg of Peter’s just laundered boxer shorts, the soft, blue Patagonia ones decorated with waves and fish. “We’re done”, I say. Our daily ritual completed, I pick Rosie up and cuddle her, silky soft fur tickling my neck. The musical notes of our dryer bell are her cue. Fringed ears alert, she scampers like Roadrunner to her stage, a low twin bed in the guest room. I toss, she catches. Momentarily transformed, part Mighty Mouse, part Tasmanian Devil, she’s a one hundred percent super hero. Able to fetch flying underwear in a single bound. A nine pound canine tornado of fabric and fur. One strategically aimed index finger later, my shy and timid aristocratic lap dog returns. My Budda. Her dark zen filled eyes pleading to continue. “We‘re done”, I say and gently lift her to my chest to cuddle. Charlotte cracks down on roll-out bin locations by Elisabeth Arriero (reprinted from The Charlotte Observer) Motivated in part by the bicycle traffic death of a Myers Park student last year, Charlotte City Council updated an ordinance recently that stipulates where residents can put roll-out bins. Per the revision, residents must

place roll-out containers at ground level and within 6 feet of the curb. The containers can’t be in or on the roadway and not on the sidewalk. The containers also have to be at least 3 feet away from each other as well as other obstacles like mailboxes, telephone poles, automobiles and other items. The city’s Solid Waste Services department is responsible for garbage, recycling and yard waste at 210,000 single-family households. “A customer should use reasonable care and caution when placing a rollout container along the curb and should avoid interfering with the access to or denying the use of a sidewalk by others,” the ordinance reads in part. The updated ordinance is part of a larger movement within the city to keep sidewalks unobstructed and safe. In May 2012, Myers Park freshman Andrew Wright was fatally struck while riding his bicycle along Sharon Lane. Wright had missed his bus and opted to ride his bicycle for the 5-mile ride to the high school. About halfway into the trip, Andrew tried to weave around rollout trash bins on a Sharon Lane sidewalk,

but he lost control and his bike clipped a bin. Andrew was flung into the road just as a tractor-trailer came by. The impact killed him. “That incident definitely helped underscore the importance of keeping sidewalks clean and clear,” said Kim McMillan, a spokeswoman for the city of Charlotte. “Anything we can do to prevent a future situation or unfortunate circumstance like that, we will do.” In June, city council referred to the environmental committee to study sidewalk obstructions. By January, the city had launched a public awareness campaign for sidewalk safety. As part of that larger effort that began in February, the city’s campaign also seeks to educate residents on common obstruction violations, pedestrian safety and yard debris. McMillan said the city wants residents to “perceive the sidewalk differently.” Jessica Lawrence, a spokeswoman with CMPD, said in a statement that the department supports the new ordinance. “The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department is always in support of changes that preserve the safety of our community,” she said. the people pages

True generosity consists precisely in fighting to

False charity constrains the fearful and subdued hands. True generosity lies in striving so that

peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;need be extended less and less in sup

human hands which work and, working, transfor 20

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o destroy the causes which nourish false charity.

d, the “rejects of life,” to extend their trembling these hands–whether of individuals or entire

pplication, so that more and more they become

rm the world. –Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed the people pages

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