ECA 4-17 by Elizabeth Community

ECA Officers

ECA Board Members

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

Lauren Briggs Social Chair 847 530 9419 East Eighth Street lwendorf@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 Gregg Lockhart distribution czar 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, 2024 E. 7th St. – all are welcome. 2 THE PEOPLE PAGES

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 Kathy Kennedy-Miller Historian 704 614 1314 Clement Avenue kathykennedymiller77@gmail.com

On the cover During the holidays, one can’t help but marvel at the nighttime glow of the magnificent American holly near the corner of East 8th Street and Clement Avenue. What’s the story behind those lights? Look for Nancy Albert’s article elsewhere in this issue to find out. Photo courtesy of Catherine Karnes. Back cover The 2017 ECA Pumpkin Wall was another smashing success. The 13th edition of the wall was hosted by Hardin and Linda Minor on Clement Avenue, and assisted by a number of volunteers and carvers. The ECA bought a huge number of pumpkins, which after the festivities were donated to the happy pigs at Grateful Growers farm. Photo by John McBride.

John F. McBride Newsletter 704 375 8977 East Eighth Street john.f.mcb@gmail.com Claire M. Short Children’s Social 813 326 3223 Greenway Avenue claire.m.short@gmail.com Kris Solow Membership 704 806 4456 East Fifth Street ksolow@carolina.rr.com Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com

M VOLUNTEER M elizabethcommunityassociation @gmail.com

Little Greer Norman dressed as a deer for Halloween and attended the annual ECA Trunk or Treat event at upper Independence Park on Oct. 31. The ECA provided pizza and water for the event, which stands as a warm-up before the real work of house-to-house trick-or-treating. Photo by Kris Solow.

Team Elizabeth displays finesse but falters at Queen City Quiz Show Team Elizabeth may not have won the Queen City Quiz Show finals October 7 at Camp North End, but they put on a good show. Among the highlights: Former Charlotte mayor and state senator Dan Clodfetler (photo below right) showed his skillful dance moves with a member from the opposing from East Charlotte called Team E.A.S.T. Show co-host Tim Miner (with microphone, below) confirms another correct answer for Team Elizabeth, made up of Dan Clodfelter, Nancy Albert, Beth Haenni and Josh Barnhardt. After leading for most of the round, the Elizabethans lost on the last question. In June, Team Elizabeth won the qualifying round of the quiz show with an exciting comeback victory, and became one of four neighborhood teams that competed to win $5,000 for charity by answering questions about Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past and present. Although they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win the grand prize, they did win $500 that was split between Charlotte Bridge Home and TreesCharlotte. Queen City Quiz Show is a Knight Foundation-funded series of live game shows traveling across Charlotte hosted by Tim Miner and Matt Olin of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. Photos by Kris Solow.

contributors Nancy O. Albert Oakland Avenue noalbert@ carolina.rr.com

Beth Haenni Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@ gmail.com

Lauren Briggs East 8th Street lwendorf@gmail.com

Elizabeth Maddrey Clement Avenue elovemaddrey@ gmail.com

Larken Egleston Plaza Midwood larken@ votelarken.com

Winn Maddrey Clement Avenue wmaddrey@gmail.com

Juliann Sheldon CATS juliann.sheldon@ ci.charlotte.nc.us

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

Kris Solow East Fifth Street kjsolow@gmail.com

This could be you! To contribute a little of your time and talent to the ECA newsletter, write to john.f.mcb@ gmail.com THE PEOPLE PAGES

Greetings neighbors! September started the new year for our Elizabeth Community Association. Thanks to the many of you who attended our annual meeting on September 26. Our board of directors submitted a slate of nominees for the board and officer positions, which were then voted on by those members in attendance.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police response area coordinator officer David Padgett shows off the new Elizabeth water tower t-shirts at the ECA annual meeting in September. The shirts are sold exclusively at Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find, 417 Pecan Ave. Proceeds benefit the ECA. They make a perfect gift for the holidays! Also perfect for the holidays: Let Padgett know if you’re leaving town so he can schedule CMPD “zone checks” on your home. Email dpadgett@cmpd.org at least five days before you leave.

Please welcome Kelly Jaworski, Paul Freeman, Kathy KennedyMiller and, for another go-round, Diana Watson, as members of the ECA board.

Elizabeth holiday party Come celebrate the season with a night of eating, drinking and merrymaking with your neighbors at the annual Elizabeth Holiday Party. Sat., Dec. 9. 7-11 p.m. The home of Jerry Tylman and Elaine Scott, 2400 Kenmore Ave. Thanks to Jerry and Elaine for graciously hosting this year’s festivities. 4

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our neighborhood restaurants for our annual meeting. (Look for her story on how she did this elsewhere in this issue.) The day-to-day work that these generous neighbors do contributes to what makes Elizabeth special to all of us. I also wanted to take a moment to recognize departing board members Jerry Tylman and Ladd Van Devender as well as give a special thank you to Jim Belvin and Ric Solow, both of whom have provided extraordinary service to Elizabeth for many years. Thanks to you all. Thanks to Hardin and Linda Minor for hosting the Pumpkin Wall again this year, and thanks to John Short and his troop of volunteers for again taking on this giant project.

Real estate and zoning are always hot topics in our Also, say hello again to neighborhood, so look for returning board members Paul Beth Haenni’s terrific article Shipley, Beth Haenni, Kris Solow, updating the many projects we Rob Zabel, John McBride and are watching closely. Keep an eye Rusty Gibbs. on the many changes coming to Independence Park next year, Several committees will and as always, we will work to have new leadership this provide timely information on year, including Paul Freeman these projects. (beautification), Liana Kafiti (home tour – watch for it next To stay informed, it is fall), Claire Short (children’s imperative that you sign up for social), Beth Haenni (zoning and the Elizabeth Google Groups real estate) and Kathy Kennedy- and follow us on all your favorite Miller (historian). social media. Again, have a great Many thanks to new social chair Lauren Briggs who organized a great mix of menus from

fall and winter, happy holidays and thanks for being part of Elizabeth.

Santa photo: John McBride / Officer Padgett photo: Beth Haenni

Welcome new and returning ECA board members by Paul Shipley

Elizabeth precincts vote totals Charlotte mayor general election, November 7 Precinct Status

Vi Lyles

Kenny Smith

Write-In

Unofficial

605

284

109

Unofficial

562

214

City Council District 1 primary, September 12 Precinct Reporting Status L. Egleston

P. Kinsey

R. Mitchell

Official

158

212

109

Official

217

105

I have previously served as a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Carolinas Chapter board of directors and vice president of the Johnson & Wales Charlotte Campus Alumni Association. I am an alumnus of Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte campus) and Appalachian State University.

I’m 35 and work in sales for Republic National Distributing Company. I live in Plaza Midwood Elizabeth, meet your new distribution of affordable with my wife Lauren and our city council District 1 housing, expanded and improved dog Jake. I look forward to representative transportation systems and working for you, and working community safety. by Larken Egleston with you, to preserve what makes our community great, to make My political experience I am humbled and honored to includes serving as the immedi- progress in areas we need to introduce myself to the residents ate past president of the Young improve, and to make sure all our neighbors feel as lucky to live of the Elizabeth community as Democrats of Mecklenburg in Charlotte as I do. Please do your city council member-elect County, a member of the NC not hesitate to reach out to me for District 1. I have big shoes to Democratic Party’s State Exwith any questions or concerns fill in this role and am incredibly ecutive Committee, the Meckyou have now or in the future: grateful for the opportunity to lenburg Democratic chair of Larken@VoteLarken.com – and help lead our amazing city and Precinct 15, and a 2016 delethe most dynamic district in it. gate to the Democratic National thank you for the opportunity to represent you and your I moved to Charlotte 13 years Convention. wonderful neighborhood. ago and immediately fell in love Currently, I am vice chair with this city. Even back then, Zoning committee report: of the Historic Landmarks the city was growing and shapAs Elizabeth changes, Commission and a member of ing its identity. I’m a native of we’re keeping an eye on several boards including the Winston-Salem, but I wanted to several projects Plaza Midwood Neighborhood be part of Charlotte’s future, so by Beth Haenni Association, Central Piedmont I got involved. Community College’s Culinary Our neighborhood is Arts program, and Charlotte I will work hard to make changing rapidly, which means historic preservation (including Taste of the Nation/Share Our it’s a busy time for the ECA real neighborhoods and landmarks) Strength. I am a member and estate and zoning committee. former chair of the city council’s a priority for the city. I am Charlotte International Cabinet While we continue to work also committed to ensuring all and a volunteer firefighter for with developers to negotiate the neighborhoods in District 1 the Long Creek Volunteer Fire best “package” for Elizabeth, it’s are engaged and represented. Department. important to understand that I will work for the equitable THE PEOPLE PAGES

any influence we have depends on the existing zoning rules for each parcel. We have the most leverage during a re-zoning when a developer is seeking a modification to existing rules. (Even then we have limited influence.) Typically, we have the least influence on a project that is being developed “by right,” meaning it is built within the existing zoning confines/rules. A few projects of interest: Draper Place at Randolph/Dotger/Vail Prepare for change here. This is a by-right development, meaning the project conforms to existing zoning. Therefore the developer is not required to negotiate with the neighborhood. In other words, what will be, will be. On the Randolph/Dotger corner, SunCap is building a four-story, 47-unit, luxury apartment building geared toward baby boomers. It will rent in the $3,400 range per month. Units will be two- and three-bedrooms with formal areas such as foyers. Parking is more than one space per bedroom.

will each have a two-car garage and two-car parking pad. You may have noticed the trees in the planting strip along Vail that were clear cut. The developer paid approximately $42,000 to the city’s urban forest fund to cut the trees rather than save them. The city allows this — even if we in Elizabeth do not like it! We have negotiated with the developer to replant larger-than-required, four-inch caliper, Shumard oaks along Vail. They will enlarge the planting strip to eight feet and the sidewalk to five feet, creating a nicer walking path on Vail that also incorporates a pedestrian and pet fountain. Martha Washington Apartments It’s not a rumor, folks. The Martha Washington apartments are going bye-bye. I am personally disheartened by this news and hate to say goodbye to our many Martha Washington friends and neighbors, some who have lived there for decades.

Here is what we know. The land is under contract by Pulte. Residents were incentivized to leave by Oct. 31. The land has SunCap is partnering with been surveyed and has some Alan Simonini of Charlotte topography issues related to to build seven or eight town flooding/water buffers, which homes on the Vail side that will will influence what will be built be 3,000-plus square feet and sell for upwards of $1.1 million. there. The parcel is currently zoned for 22 multifamily units These will be modeled after the Simonini town homes on Huntley per acre. This is about twice Place, across from the Myers Park the density of what is presently there. However, in the Elizabeth Harris Teeter. The town homes 6

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Small Area Plan, this parcel was suggested to be down-zoned to eight dwelling units per acre. The ECA has not been approached by Pulte yet, but we will be meeting with them in the future. The city planning department also has not been approached for a rezoning. Therefore, we cannot report what will be built there, what it will look like, how dense it will be nor what will happen with the beautiful, mature tree canopy. We know there are great concerns over this change, and we are monitoring the situation. Writing in early November, we have more questions than answers but promise to keep you updated. Faison development at Caswell/7th Take a walk by the site, and you will see the demolition is nearly complete. We understand from Faison that building should begin in early 2018 and should take up to 20 months. As a reminder, Faison received a conditional re-zoning to build a 60-unit luxury apartment building. The average unit is 1,300 square feet, with most having two bedrooms. Much of the parking will be underground. The complex is also geared toward baby boomers. There will be two buildings, both with retail along the bottom floor, with a restaurant planned for the corner of Caswell and 7th.

photo: Lauren Briggs

Dollar General shopping center at 7th/Pecan One place we might be willing to accept some change is at the Dollar General shopping center. Asana Partners has purchased the property for $2.4 million (according to the Charlotte Business Journal) and is responsible for the facelift you are witnessing. Our understanding is that Heritage restaurant will locate in the former Crisp location and a Gary Crunkleton (from Chapel Hill) concept will be in the former Heroes location. (We’re happy that Heroes didn’t relocate to NoDa as planned and instead purchased the building around the corner on Pecan Avenue as its permanent home. One of the employees told me, “No one will ever make us move again!”) Your homework Take a field trip to the Heroes store, go inside, and look up! The owner discovered and restored a hardwood barrel vaulted ceiling hidden by a commercial dropped ceiling. What a great, surprise ending to the story. Stroll around, and you might find some other surprises, like the drinking fountain and seating wall in front of the new Langston building along 7th. Or check out the awesome bike path from 8th Street towards Chantilly. Or pause at Studio K and ponder the wall “Now Is Fireworks.” Change in Elizabeth is real. Together, let’s try to find the opportunities.

Greg Godley of Clement Avenue offers up a huge portion of BOO at Hoodstock 2017, Clement Avenue’s third annual fall block party on Oct. 14. About 150 neighbors turned out to enjoy live music, food and fun. THE PEOPLE PAGES

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Hawthorne Bridge Update: New ECA committee formed by Beth Haenni Yes, it’s a nightmare! Especially if the Hawthorne Bridge was your commute or connector to the rest of Charlotte. Especially if you live nearby. Especially if you own a business nearby. Especially if you can hear the construction noise at night and feel the vibrations of heavy machinery at 3 a.m. Especially if you have to negotiate the construction every time you come and go from your home. We understand the frustration and the disconnect between what was expected pre-construction and the harsh reality. The ECA has tapped Morgan Williams and Charis Wilson to head an ad hoc committee to work with the city to ensure better construction conditions and help solve livability issues. Several meetings in November will hopefully yield positive results. Please reach out to Morgan (morganwilliams28220@ yahoo.com) or Charis (charisw@ mindspring.com) if you wish to join the efforts or if you need to voice a concern or idea.

Taste of Elizabeth brings folks out to annual ECA meeting by Lauren Briggs

changes that are happening in our community.

I needed a way to draw more people to this meeting, which I can admit, has not been the Editor’s note: The ECA’s annual most exciting event in years past. meeting was held Sept. 26 at St. That’s when I started brainJohn’s Baptist Church and this storming. What draws people year featured a “Taste of Elizabeth to these neighborhood events? Dinner” to complement the meeting. An opportunity to meet, hang The new approach was a huge hit, out with and socialize with their so we asked ECA social chair Lauren neighbors? If enough people Briggs to tell us how she came up with attend the annual meeting, we the idea. have this box checked. The next thought was free booze (because When my family and I moved come on, who doesn’t love a free from Chicago and chose to live drink). But I didn’t think booze in Elizabeth, three attributes of in a church would work and a this neighborhood that played venue change was not in the into that decision were the ECA budget. Then I thought: active community association, Free food! Everyone loves free neighborhood social events food, especially after a long day and walkability to great local at work! businesses. When I became chair of the ECA’s social committee In the past there has always this year, I wanted to expand been free food from Hawthorne’s and improve on these amazing Pizza combined with a pot-luck characteristics that drew me style dinner. The pot luck is here. Additionally, I wanted to great for some people, but on a contribute to the ECA goal of weeknight, it can be really hard supporting and involving local for others. I remember last year businesses in our community. I almost didn’t attend because I didn’t have time to make a dish! The ECA annual meeting was I couldn’t be the only one that my first event in my new role. I felt this way. had attended the previous two Food events. Food. I immemeetings and to be honest I was diately started thinking of my shocked at the low turnout. So hometown of Chicago, a city many residents attended the known for its food and summer Holiday Party and Progressive festivals, and one of my favorDinner, but it seemed half that ite summer events: The Taste number attended the annual of Chicago. That’s it! We could meeting. This meeting is always important, but it was particularly combine the annual meeting with a Taste of Elizabeth Dinner! important this year with all the THE PEOPLE PAGES

We have so many tasty restaurants in this neighborhood with a variety of food types. Plus, this could be an excellent way to support and showcase our outstanding local restaurants!

This year’s participating restaurants included Earl’s Grocery, Hawthorne’s Pizza, Sabor, Sunflower Bakery and Viva Chicken. For dinner, residents had the opportunity to enjoy Peruvian rotisserie chicken with cilantro infused rice and green beans from Viva Chicken, a variety of salads and pizzas from Hawthorne’s and a shredded chicken and ground beef taco and nacho bar from Sabor. For those that saved room for dessert, both Earl’s and Sunflower provided beautiful dessert platters with a variety of tasting portions of their scrumptious desserts. Earl’s Grocery was among several Elizabeth restaurants providing tasty treats for the ECA annual meeting. 10

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The plan seemed to work! We had more than 100 residents attend, which is a huge jump from last year’s 60 attendees. Many neighbors came up to

photos: Lauren Briggs

I started making phone calls and the owners were just as excited as I was about this event. Each restaurant worked hard to provide a tasting portion of the food that best represents them and generously discounted the food to make this event more affordable and possible. Many restaurants even provided complimentary delivery/set up and even made special signage or table décor for the event.

Elizabeth’s best kept secrets, serving the community for 19 years at 2036 E. 7th St. Why has it perhaps slipped your notice? Because it’s tucked away in a beautiful antebellum-style house with four huge columns, making The biggest success of all was it look more like a home. And, as having so many residents present the ladies of Elizabeth discovered, it felt like home as well. for this important annual ECA meeting. We heard a report from Upon arrival, attendees our president, Paul Shipley, were able to grab a drink at the as well as reports from our mimosa bar and a bite to eat at committees and a CMPD report the refreshments table while from Officer David Padgett. We they socialized and got to know had the opportunity to discuss their neighbors on the large new issues facing the community front porch. Two floors and and have an open forum to hear nine treatment cabins allowed people’s concerns, ideas and the ladies to enjoy, investigate opinions. Everyone had the and explore after signing up for opportunity to renew their ECA private complimentary chair memberships and sign up to massages, mini hand facials, volunteer for committees and skin analysis with professional any open board positions. This recommendations and reiki event allowed Elizabeth residents energy sessions with their own to enjoy a tasty dinner while personal licensed esthetician socializing, supporting local and massage therapist. businesses and being involved in Every half-hour a gift basket current community issues. or gift card was given to those whose names were drawn in the Social Corner: raffle. At the end of the night ‘Ladies of Elizabeth’ everyone felt like a winner when hit the spa at Oasis they received a lovely gift bag by Lauren Briggs filled with lavender bath salts, and Roberta Johnson Orange Bliss Body Balm, fragrant tea light candles, samples from The first “Ladies of Elizabeth the PCA Clinical Skin Care Line, Spa Night” took place on the coupons and breast cancer evening of Oct. 19 at Oasis Spa awareness information. on 7th Street. About 40 lucky ladies were able to participate in The ECA and ladies of Elizaa fabulous event. beth want to thank Oasis Day me at the event to express how much they enjoyed the dinner. Additionally, I had positive feedback from the restaurants, many of whom already expressed interest in participating in the event again next year.

For those who have never been to Oasis Day Spa, it is one

Spa’s owners Roberta Johnson and Juanita Walton, as well as

their gracious support staff for treating the ladies to such a special night. Oasis Day Spa would like to thank all the ladies who attended, as well as Lauren Briggs for planning the event. Additionally, Oasis would like to offer all ladies who were unable to attend – as well as all gentlemen in the neighborhood – a 20% discount on any reservation made between now and December 30 when a copy of this article is brought to the appointment. This discount includes all modalities of massage therapy, all facial services, treatments and resurfacing sessions, body treatments and waxing.

Kelly Barnhardt was one of the lucky winners of a gift basket. THE PEOPLE PAGES

Pleasant surprises in our P.S.: A birdie told us the owner neighborhood not so hard lives on 5th Street, but note to find after all this is just an anecdotal story. We purposely didn’t interview by Elizabeth and Winn Maddrey anyone, knowing there is more to the back story than meets the On a recent Saturday morning, we were walking home from eye. We just wanted to say we love living here, especially when Sunflour Bakery along Pecan when we noticed activity behind the unexpected surprises you. And maybe we’ll even get hooked. the windows of the gray cinder block building. We are not comic book people and yet we got so excited we pranced inside. We wanted to tell the owner how happy we were to see his business still thriving and that we thought the new location even more fitting than its previous spot next to Starbucks on 7th.

TEDxCharlotte finds a home in Elizabeth’s Halton Theater

Q: Where is the event held? A: We have been in multiple venues over our eight events, yet in 2016 we moved to Halton Theatre on Elizabeth Avenue. This theatre is very intimate, comfortable and has a nice vibe. I would like to think that we have found a good home for TEDxCharlotte. Q: How is this event aligned with the neighborhood?

A: Other than the being held at the theatre, we have Editor’s note: On Oct. 13, partnered with Visulite Theatre at CPCC’s Halton Theatre, and Earl’s Grocery for post-event TEDxCharlotte convened for the receptions, held meetings at eighth time and for the second Cluck Design and Earl’s and used time, the annual event was held local area vendors for support. in the Elizabeth neighborhood. In full disclosure, we were This year, we had a speaker from disappointed in 2002 when they Licensed by Elizabeth resident Winn the neighborhood, Scott Hofert Maddrey and organized by a team moved in. We assumed a comic from ColsonKeane Leather on book store wouldn’t add much to of volunteers, TEDxCharlotte, is an independently produced event which 7th Street. His talk was titled our lives. But over the years we showcases local/regional speakers in “The Boredom and Creativity have purchased small things as Kinship.” our two sons navigated birthday a TED Talks format. We caught up with Winn to ask him some questions parties and secret Santas. And Q: How do you choose about TEDxCharlotte. we have liked the open market the speakers? discount finds and the interestQ: How is TEDxCharlotte A: We have an open ing people waiting in line. But produced? submission/nomination process no, we were never hooked. A: We operate TEDxCharlotte from mid-January to March. Then That Saturday, we felt an under a license from TED, which we select a subset of applicants/ nominees to audition roughly unexpected appreciation for is a series of conferences and six weeks later in early May. This the rebirth of the gray cinder is an acronym for Technology block building, now brightly Entertainment and Design. TED five-minute audition gives the selection team a glimpse of each lit, with people drifting in and Talks are posted free online speaker’s idea and presentation out. One irony is the familiar with the slogan, “ideas worth sign on the side, “Heroes Aren’t spreading.” I hold the license to skills as well as how the talks Hard to Find.” A cozy nook produce one event per year here might fit together. We announce more appropriate to its identity, in Charlotte, typically held in the the finalists in early June. We hold a final audition two weeks bringing new light to a (formerly) fall. We seek to highlight local from the actual event, when we dark corner of our burgeoning, speakers who have an idea that wonderful neighborhood. they will share with our audience. select who will make it on stage. 12

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Q: How do you ensure a quality performance? A: First of all, that is reliant on the speakers. What we do on the organizing committee is offer regular practice sessions and coaching. We conducted a mid-August session for speakers to be on stage to practice their talks. From that time until midOctober, we had weekly coaching sessions for the speaker finalists to test and revise their talks until they became comfortable with their ideas. We work with the speakers to allow them to find themselves in their talk. We do not edit them and tell them what to say.

photo: John McBride

Q: What makes a good idea? A: That is a question we get often and where TED has shared several points of view. First, an idea in general — as defined by TED — needs to offer a distinct point-of-view and seem like a thesis. It is not a matter of good vs. bad. A speaker needs to come forward and put a stake in the ground about an idea with which they have conviction. An idea that can go on stage provides a clear argument and pushes the listener to think. Three of this year’s talks were: “An Identity For Our City,” “How to Pay Our Teachers More,” and “Shed Sexual Shame.” Q: What makes a bad idea? A: We are not assessing good vs. bad ideas, rather whether a speaker’s talk aligns with TED’s

notion of an idea. If pressed to answer this, a bad idea sounds like a topic or an answer, such as, “the five ways to ensure success,” or “the impact of positive thinking.” The ideas that make it on stage are a combination of talks that present an idea and a presenter who commands the stage. Q: How did you get involved?

Q: If someone wants to be a speaker, or nominate a speaker, at TEDxCharlotte, what advice can you share? A: We are seeking speakers who are passionate about their ideas and who are willing to stand on stage and share their perspective. Be willing to share your unique point-of-view and insights. Be vulnerable. The TEDxCharlotte audience is an open-minded, engaged cohort that is there for the speakers.

A: When Candice Langston brought the TEDxCharlotte event to town in 2009, I volunteered to be a part of the Q: How can we learn more? speaker selection process. In the years since, I worked in a number A: Visit www.tedxcharlotte. of roles before receiving the com. In upcoming weeks, the license in 2013. 2017 videos and photos will be available.

Work has begun on what will become Central Piedmont Community College’s largest building, the 154,100-square-foot North Classroom building in Elizabeth. The six-floor building will include 52 classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium, six labs and faculty and staff offices. The $56.1 million project is expected to be complete in early 2020. Currently, the Overcash building at Kings Drive and Elizabeth Avenue is CPCC’s largest at 128,304 sq. ft. THE PEOPLE PAGES

The story behind Elizabeth’s tree of ten thousand lights by Nancy O. Albert For the past 24 years Catherine Karns has lived in the historic John Baxter Alexander house on the corner of Clement and East 8th. Not far from her wrap-around porch grows a magnificent American holly tree which is now over 60 feet tall. Every December when the tree’s thousands of lights are turned on it becomes a beloved neighborhood beacon. People photograph each other in front of it and slip thank-you notes under Catherine’s door. But most of us do not know the story behind the tree. Catherine’s sister Janet was a graphic artist who lived and worked in New York City. Successful in her career, she was able to plan an early retirement. She bought property near an active volcano in Colima, Mexico, a sugar producing area, and began planning her house. She lived in her guest house while the main house was being constructed. One of her most ambitious plans was for an extensive tropical garden, and she began installing a watering system for it.

But the tree keeps growing, and now is probably 10 feet taller than it was then. When there is limb damage, the lighting becomes spotty, so Catherine contacts the company again. The men have come back twice since that first time, most recently in the fall of 2016. She now estimates there are tens of thousands of lights on the tree.

The American holly was already a large tree when Catherine moved in and she always planned to do something special with it. When her sister died 11 years ago she decided that she would begin a lighting project in her sister’s memory, a way of honoring her dream of a garden she never lived to see.

Catherine contacted the company she had seen decorating the large Christmas tree at South Park Mall. They are based in Newland, NC and come to Charlotte every year to decorate the tree at Bank of America Stadium. Eleven years ago they arrived in Elizabeth with heavy gloves (holly leaves are quite prickly) and a cherry picker and strung thousands of lights. They said it was the biggest holly they had ever seen. Sadly Janet died unexpectedly In fact the tree was so large they kept running out of lights, and of a heart-attack at age 65 and depleted supplies at nearby never saw her dream garden Lowe’s and Home Depot stores. realized. Everything she had The work took a whole week. came to Catherine. 14

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In early December she flips a timer switch and the lights come on. Neighbors gather to watch the lighting, bring children and dogs, and cheer when the lights come on. Of her sister Janet, Catherine says: “She’s paid for it and this is her treat. She was smart, she saved and she never got to enjoy it.” Catherine feels it is worth all the time and effort and everyone in Elizabeth will surely agree. Meet singer-songwriter Lucinda Lucas of Elizabeth by Kris Solow Q: How long have you lived in Elizabeth and what brought you here? A: I moved in in September 2012. I had been trying to decide between Dilworth or Elizabeth. A friend of mine asked me to bring some food over. Her mother-in-law had passed away. I walked in the door of 704 Clement Ave. and when I walked back out I thought, “Oh, my goodness! I had literally and

front cover photo courtesy of Catherine Karnes / photo of Catherine: Nancy O. Albert / photo of Lucinda: Matt Martino

Clement Avenueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lucinda Lucas performs in front of her house during Hoodstock 2017 on October 14.

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mentally had that house in my head!” I’d only been in the house once but the feel of it, the size of it, was exactly what my mind had conjured up. I told the family that when they get ready, I would love to talk to them about buying the house. That was Kassie Minor’s house. It was really traumatic leaving my other house of 30 years, but when the movers had gone and I sat down for the first time on the deck I didn’t look back. At the old house, I would sit on my back patio, build a fire in the chiminey, and watch the planes, stars and satellites. One of the things I lamented about moving near uptown was that I wouldn’t see that much in the night sky. So I’m sitting on my deck several days after I’ve moved in, by myself, looking up at the big oak tree next door, and I see a meteor! And it was like, “What? That is so unbelievably awesome!” Fifteen minutes later, I saw a second one! Two meteors in one evening in Elizabeth! I thought, “Well Kassie, thank you very much! You must have thrown those stars at me!”

had spotted a ukulele in a music store in Charlottetown Mall (now the Metropolitan). I was sick in bed with the mumps and here he comes and hands me that ukulele. They let me bring it on that trip. There was a little sheet of paper with the fingerings, so all across the West in the rental car, I played this ukulele. That’s how I started playing.

know how to go about making it a profession then. About 1998 we had become members of Christ Episcopal Church. I had a friend who found out I could play the guitar and she encouraged me to help her with a family retreat. That’s what got me back into playing the guitar. I wrote a couple of songs then, but the real turning point was the song I wrote that was my Singing has been a part of my catharsis after the 911 attacks family’s life because mom and called “Dust.” I’ve written in dad sang in the choir. Dad had a excess of 30 since then. I have nice bass, but mom had an alto two albums, “The Maze” and voice and I learned alto standing “Sixty,” my new album, released beside her in church. Mom tells this July, 2017. I was recording the story of when my elementary my first album, “The Maze,” in teacher told mom that she kept a studio off Distribution Street hearing this different sound and one summer evening I leave out of the children singing and the studio, it’s been raining, finally figured out that I was I’m going down Ideal Way singing alto and harmony with and there’s a Native American the children because that’s what man walking his dog. He was I was used to. I had it by ear early. very handsome with very long I’ve been singing all my life. hair, but he looked sad, down, Q: How did the playing and and in my mind, out of place. the singing come together as your I felt like this beautiful, proud profession? Native American man should be somewhere besides a wet A: It’s never been a profession. city street. He should be riding I wish it had been. It came a horse somewhere. “Beautiful Q: When did you first discover the together because I love the Man” is one of 13 songs on Beatles and the stories I heard guitar and that you could sing and “Sixty” and is an appreciation of from the Beatles and other artists write songs? the heritage of all things Native from that time. I tried my hand American and juxtaposes what I A: I didn’t discover the guitar. I at writing from middle school was seeing with what he should discovered the ukulele. My father through college and played in a be doing. So many of my songs took the family on some really little band in middle school and are stories about an experience extraordinary trips and one was coffee houses but nothing really that I have had. this two-and-a-half week odyssey major took off. When I graduated trip. I was just out of third grade, college and got married, I put Q: I hear you have concerts in came down with mumps and my guitar down for 20 years. It your back yard. That’s one venue. put the trip in limbo. Earlier, I just wasn’t part of my life. I didn’t What’s next for you? 16

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A: I played at a little place off of South Boulevard but at this point in my life, I don’t have a desire to start a show at 10 o’clock at night! I’ve missed and regret that period because I know that that would’ve been such a growing experience to actually tour, but I am past that and have to make it myself now. That’s why the idea of having a house concert came to mind. When I renovated my back yard, I renovated with three purposes and one was a house concert. My patio with the fireplace is actually big enough for several people to be on stage looking back toward the house and then there’s the lawn and the deck. The idea I came up with is “Cocktail Hour Concert” from 5 p.m to 7 p.m., you bring your own chair and drink. About 40 people show up. I put it out to Eliz Families. I do ask for contributions because I invite guest musicians to join me. It’s a fun time and after listening to me you can go out to dinner!

New half-day preschool opens on Caswell A new preschool has opened in Elizabeth: Ivybrook Academy. The school is on the bottom floor of the LIneberger Dentistry building on N. Caswell Road near 7th St. Ivybrook is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offers morning and afternoon classes for children ages 18 months to 5 years. Sessions are just under 4 hours each. Ivybrook also has schools in Weddington, Cary and Fort Mill, S.C. Owner and principal Sandy Patterson says the school is excited to be in the neighborhood. “Elizabeth is a beautiful community, diverse and engaging,” she said. “We are both honored and excited to be a part of the Elizabeth community.”

Ivybrook has been voted Charlotte’s favorite half-day preschool by readers of Charlotte Parent Magazine from 2009 to 2017. The preschool offers “a hybrid curriculum that combines progressive approaches to early childhood education including the individualized learning approach of Montessori.” Jessica Masanotti, whose daughter Amelia, 2, attends the school, said, “We wanted a place that would provide the scaffolding needed as our daughter discovers who she is and her place in the world, even at 2 years old. We love the developmentally-appropriate curriculum and thoughtful opportunities provided for Amelia to engage the world around her.” ivybrookacademy.com

Charlie Powers (left), Frank Powers and Turtle Ty Short enjoy Trunk or Treat at upper Independence Park on Oct. 31.

photo: Kris Solow

Hear Lucas’s music at www. lucindalucas.com.

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