ECA 4-21 by Elizabeth Community

ECA Officers West Bryant President 704 898 5044 East Fifth Street west.bryant@gmail.com Evan Kettler Vice President 704 577 4901 North Laurel Avenue evan.kettler@gmail.com Lisa Yagla Secretary 704 807 1862 Pecan Avenue lyagla@gmail.com Danielle Kleinrichert Treasurer 704 804 1509 Pecan Avenue danielle@neatbooks.co Sarah Crowder Past President 704 502 7866 Greenway Avenue sarahcr@bellsouth.net Eric Davis Traffic Chair 704 776 3013 Greenway Avenue ericadavis0123@gmail.com

ECA Board Members Paul Freeman Beautification & Trees 704 491 5656 East Fifth Street / paul@ freemanlandscapearchitecture.com Lauren Gomez Membership Chair 704 728 2066 East 5th Street laurenmcjo@gmail.com Anne Lambert At-large 704 589 9146 Hawthorne Bridge Court chickspeare@hotmail.com John F. McBride Newsletter 980 254 7367 East Eighth Street john.f.mcb@gmail.com 2 THE PEOPLE PAGES

Marie McDaniel Social Chair 704 942 1971 Pecan Avenue Marie_McDaniel@PremierInc.com Regan Miller At-large 704 333 1700 East 8th Street regan.miller12@gmail.com Debbie Rubenstein Communications 704 998 9579 East Fifth Street debbie@flynnonline.com Cherie Swarthout At-Large 704 517 6582 Sunnyside Avenue swarthoutc@queens.edu

On the cover Last year the ECA sponsored the first Elizabeth Merry Meander walking holiday festival. Launched in the middle of a global pandemic, the event was designed to be a safe, socially distanced way to share holiday spirit in the neighborhood. The ECA is pleased to announce the event is back! On the back cover The CityLYNX Gold Line opened for passengers in August, and workers continued to add finishing touches along the route. Still, some things were overlooked. Photos by John McBride

Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com ***POSITION VACANT*** Business Liaison Officer L. Beimel CMPD neighborhood community coordinator 704 336 3054 lbeimel@cmpd.org

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 Jeremy Deese circulation czar Susan Green editorial assistant and proofreader Little Shiva designer Sir Speedy printer

ANNOUNCING THE SECOND ANNUAL

Elizabeth Merry Meander WALKING HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

Sunday, December 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. Mark your calendars! Grab your winter outdoor attire! Join the neighborhood for an evening of merry meandering with festive stops, joyful holiday tunes and decorations galore! Watch for an Elizabeth Families email for more information.

West Bryant East Fifth Street west.bryant@ gmail.com

Lauren Gomez East 5th Street laurenmcjo@ gmail.com

Michael DePalma North Dotger Avenue michaeldepalma@ hotmail.com

Evan Kettler Laurel Avenue evan.kettler@ gmail.com

Clifton Settlemyer Clement Avenue csettlemyer@ carolina.rr.com

Paul Freeman East Fifth Street paul@freeman landscape architecture.com

Winn Maddrey Clement Avenue winnmaddrey@ me.com

John Short East Fifth Street jwesleyshort@ gmail.com

contributors

From the Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall to creepy Rosemont Manor, Elizabeth takes Halloween fun seriously. Just ask these two skeletons in a Jeep on Greenway Avenue. Look for more Halloween coverage elsewhere in this issue, including John Short’s story on what happens to all those pumpkins after the wall comes down. Photo by John McBride THE PEOPLE PAGES

From the President: My first column by West Bryant

YouTube channel. Point your smartphone to the QR code at the end of this article.

In addition to committee reports, we were also fortunate to have reports and discussion with CMPD Officer Leila Beimel, councilperson Larken Egleston (accompanied by his canine companion), and Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood It was so wonderful to see the Foundation (HENF) President neighborhood buzzing over the Clif Settlemyer. Be sure to watch Halloween weekend. Elizabeth it when you can, or if you are like me give it a listen as you walk the was bumping on Halloween night! I couldn’t help but think neighborhood. that our ‘hood has become We welcomed two new “kind of a big deal” thanks to members to the board starting the Pumpkin Wall, Rosemont in October: Debbie Rubenstein Manor and all the other and Marie McDaniel. Debbie is infectious fun throughout the taking my former spot as our new neighborhood. communications chair, and has already hit the ground running It took an amazing amount with all the bits and bobs of of creativity, coordination email, social media and web. and hard work to create the Elizabeth Halloween experience, Marie has taken over as social and I couldn’t be more grateful chair. She has worked closely to see it return bigger than ever with her predecessor Lisa Yagla this year. to seamlessly transition during I penned this – my first column as president of the ECA – the week after Halloween. For those who were able to visit the Pumpkin Wall, the word this year was GRATITUDE. That seems like the best place to start for me as well.

Like most organizations during the pandemic, the ECA continues to navigate a responsible route toward whatever the new normal is. We had our Annual Meeting on September 30, and while we had hoped to have it in person this year, we opted for the virtual option due to the unwelcome resurgence of COVID in our area.

the busiest part of the social season, including the upcoming Merry Meander being planned for Dec. 19. I am certainly grateful for these two new members, their contributions, their ideas and their unique perspectives.

I feel very lucky that we have so many returning members to the board. Among this group are Lisa Yagla and Sarah If you missed the meeting, you Crowder. Lisa has contributed can catch the replay on the ECA’s so much both with her 4

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creativity, persistence and the sheer volume of good works she has accomplished. I have no idea how she manages to get so much done, but she may have some secret ability to bend time and space? Regardless, I am glad she is staying for another season – this time in the role of ECA secretary. This brings me to Sarah Crowder. As president, Sarah not only led the ECA and the neighborhood through the darkest days of the pandemic, she did it with poise, grace and grit. Her innate sense of working toward what is right coupled with her exceptional ability to empathize with others provided a stabilizing force as we navigated complex issues these past two years. I couldn’t have asked for a better president, and I hope you feel the same. I’m ecstatic that Sarah will continue to be part of the board – this year lending her time and wisdom in the role of past president. I’m particularly appreciative of all the assistance that Sarah, Evan Kettler and many other current and former members of the board have provided to me over these last months. Their coaching and support has allowed me to transition into my new role as smoothly as possible. I am grateful for the many conversations with neighbors that have been incredibly enlightening. Not only

the ECA notification list on our website. If you meet a new resident, make sure they sign up for notifications and So what are we going to work for the Elizabeth Families email group. How else will they on this year? The list is long! know who everyone’s favorite You will learn more details in plumber is or what odd this issue about work in flight, household items I’m giving but I did want to provide a away on my front lawn? couple of examples of where Let everyone know about the we are going and how I am thinking about the big picture. businesses in Elizabeth that are First, I strongly believe there so wonderful to have nearby. At the end of the day, I hope is a tremendous benefit to every person who lives, works, be gained from inclusivity in Elizabeth. This isn’t a new idea, or visits feels welcome and has a chance to become part of our but I want to double down. We have so many amazing new community. do I appreciate the feedback, but I love meeting those that I don’t already know in Elizabeth. Keep the feedback coming!

neighbors that have joined our community recently, and I want to involve them in our neighborhood and add their personalities to our culture. In addition to residents, wonderful people come to Elizabeth to work at Elizabeth businesses and play at our park every day. We can’t forget those who visit for our notoriously awesome social events like Halloween, Merry Meander and Elizabeth 8K. I am looking forward to continuing to enhance the inclusivity of everyone, and I think of it as a thread that runs through all the ECA’s projects. Whether you are new to the neighborhood or a grizzled Elizabethan, you can help with this effort too! Make sure you encourage all Elizabeth friends and neighbors to sign up for

Second, due to hard work over many decades, Elizabeth has created and sustained an incredible community. As we all continue this work, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to work for the benefit of all in our fair city.

impacts be on us and those that live in the neighborhoods around Elizabeth? The Transportation committee led by Eric Davis is working cooperatively with the city to make sure that Elizabeth’s concerns are addressed, and to ensure everyone considers the impact beyond our neighborhood’s borders. These are two examples of “thinking outside the neighborhood,” and I am excited about the potential benefit for us and all of Charlotte. We are trying to keep Elizabeth ahead of the game and help our neighboring communities do the same. We will all benefit in the end. The need for good works never ceases, and I can only express GRATITUDE to you and all of those who lend their time and talents to accomplish so much as a community of friends and neighbors.

This is particularly important Comments or questions? now with the Charlotte Please send me an email at Future 2040 Comprehensive president@elizabethcommunity. Plan taking shape. Not only com. See you in the neighborhood! is the ECA’s Land Use and Development team advocating for Elizabeth, but they are also speaking up for our peer communities that may not have the luxury of strong advocacy. The ECA is also thinking creatively and collaboratively about transportation in, through and around Elizabeth. Charlotte continues to grow at an astounding rate – a good problem to have. What will the THE PEOPLE PAGES

A Ford F-150 pickup truck came to rest just above the Lillian Arhelger Memorial in Independence Park after an accident at Hawthorne and 7th on October 24. The accident also severed a telephone pole, which was left dangling by its wires at the intersection. The accident involved two vehicles, but no more details are available because CMPD no longer provides accident reports to the public. Photos by John McBride

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From the LUD chair: Updates on projects and proposals by Evan Kettler Here are some updates regarding a number of projects and proposals on the agenda of the land use and development (LUD) committee of the ECA. I am writing this in early November – some things may have changed by the time you read this in December. Crescent Communities

Seventh mixed use project. Most of the brick work and tile work – we appreciate the green glazed tile as well as the wood details that have been added – should be complete when you read this. The ground floor perimeter and exterior hardscape should be underway. We look forward to learning about tenants and their plans for the building. About 12,000 square feet of retail space, including 8,000 square feet of food and beverage, is planned for the ground floor.

continues to make great progress Bourgeois McGinn with the new Elizabeth on Builders have completed

and occupied their attractive renovation and adaptive reuse of the former Foard property at the corner of Greenway and Caswell. They did what they said they would do – thank you! – and we look forward to them getting more involved with the community. We had previously shared news of the rezoning granted to

The Keith Corporation (TKC)

for a medical office building, parking deck and “stacked flats” residential building between 5th and Park Drive, with the residential component fronting

About 12,000 square feet of retail space, including 8,000 square feet of food and beverage, is planned for the ground floor of the Elizabeth on Seventh project. Photo by John McBride

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Independence Park. TKC is actively seeking tenants for the office building before starting construction.

early stages of evaluating this proposal and collaborating with the development group.

as they are and as we envision them in the future. We then plan to pursue “neighborhood character overlays” to address many of the legitimate concerns raised by members of our community.

Additionally, much of the LUD committee’s recent work Flagship Properties and has been focused on two OrthoCarolina received important and related issues: approval for their rezoning Consideration of historic district Elizabeth and Charlotte are petition on parcels located at designation and the 2040 growing. Our goal is to navigate Randolph, Colonial and Vail Comprehensive Plan. and channel that growth to our including the site of the current mutual benefit. In September, the ECA OrthoCarolina Spine Center. board voted not to pursue This project is currently on hold From the membership while costs and space needs are approval of a comprehensive chair: Changes for the historic district for the greater being evaluated. new year Elizabeth community. The vote by Lauren Gomez Circle G, LLC, working was not a vote against historic with Kristina Held at Insight preservation or a rejection For those who missed Architects, received approval for of the many beautiful and the annual ECA meeting in an infill project at the corner of historic homes that grace our September, the ECA has made 5th and Torrence. This will be neighborhoods. It was a vote a three-story, nine or ten “mifor the ECA to devote resources some important changes to the membership program: crounit” multifamily with office to a different set of strategies occupancy on the ground floor. to preserve and enhance the • Dues are increasing in 2022 Tribek Properties received beauty and quality of life in our to $30 from $20 for a household community. Advocates are still and from $10 to $15 for seniors. approval for rezoning the free to pursue historic district triangle parcel at 101 South • A new membership level has designation on a local level. Kings, currently the site of a been added: Young professional Truist branch. The parcel is The alternative strategies sup- membership, for those 25 and between Cherry and Elizabeth, ported by the ECA will largely be under is $15. Available now! officially in Midtown. The framed by the Charlotte Future • The ECA membership term rezoning petition called for 2040 Comprehensive Plan. is moving in 2022 to follow the an 890,000 square foot, up to calendar year – not the ECA The plan has been adopted 300-foot-tall tower. We have no fiscal year, which begins in by city council and will be the meaningful additional details. primary input to the 2040 Policy September. The project is “vested” for five years and could effectively start Map and Uniform Development • Memberships can be bought at any point in that time period. Ordinance. We have a working at any time, but will expire each group actively engaged with December. Blue Azalea has recently city staff and leadership in these filed a rezoning application for a • If your household joins before important foundational efforts. parcel at the northeast corner of Dec. 31, your membership is Weddington Avenue and Bascom good until the end of 2022 and At this stage, we are working Street. Their proposal calls for with staff to map our streets and you can join ahead of the dues 14-16 townhomes. We are in the the parcels that line them – both increase. As previously reported,

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• Unsure if your membership is current? Email membership@ elizabethcommunity.com Why should you join the ECA? Here are a few reasons:

• To help maintain the ECA as a strong liaison between our neighborhood and the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, other neighborhoods, businesses, developers and other entities with interest in our community. • Support the beautification of common areas such as the Trolley Path. • Invitation and support of social events held annually including the upcoming second annual Merry Meander and Easter Egg Hunt. • Support the quarterly ECA Newsletter, ECA website, ECA social networks and other communication channels meant to inform and foster community interaction within Elizabeth. To join, go to elizabethclt. myshopify.com or point your smart phone’s camera to the QR code below.

If you have joined since August 1, and would like a ELIZ sticker or magnet or an ECA window cling, please swing by 2304 E. 5th St. and grab one from the box on the front porch. Questions? Email Membership@ elizabethcommunity.com. ECA teams up with Charlotte to plant more trees in 2022 by Paul Freeman

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Thanks to all of you who have supported the Elizabeth tree fund in the past, and as a reminder all donations are welcome, no matter the amount. Contributions can be made to any board member, or dropped off at my house, 2228 E. 5th St.

I’m thrilled to announce this year’s tree planting will mostly happen on Fifth Street and begin to heal the tree canopy that was so badly lost. As usual, locations were allocated by the city, but this year we were able to select the species! There was a resounding urge for red maples by those residents adjacent to the spots. Acer x freemani or Freeman maple (no relation!) was selected for its positive attributes of both its native parents, the red maple and the sugar maple. This is a new to me tree, and I’m excited to see it perform. This also adds diversity to our canopy, so we will have less large scale loss of trees in the future. Elizabethan Nate Negrin with SouthernEez Landscaping has once again stepped up and offered to plant them at cost as he did last year. Please thank him when you see him next. We will be planting five trees

in total and the city will be planting eight more!

Meet ECA board volunteer Marie McDaniel Editor’s note: Marie McDaniel recently became social chairr for the Elizabeth Community Association. We asked her to tell us a little about herself. Q: What do you do for a living? A: I work for a company that helps hospitals lower costs and improve quality. My focus is in bringing healthcare professionals together at large conferences and meetings where I plan and execute all logistical aspects including contracting, venue management, food and beverage, production, hotel and

travel, graphics and structures, etc. All these conferences have been virtual since COVID started but we are slowly starting to meet face-to-face again.

dance now and hope to reach gold level in the next few years. Q: Tell us about your family.

A: I have a 17-year-old daughter who is a senior at Q: What do you do in your Myers Park High and a 14-yearspare time? old son who is an eighth-grader A: I play pickleball, practice yoga, at Alexander Graham. Many of you may have met my dog – a hike, ski, love running, and am Corgi named Callie – as we take on a ton of competitive USTA walks in the neighborhood. tennis leagues. I also started Well, I would not call them walks figure skating about 7 years since she sniffs and stops all the ago and besides winning a few competitions, I just passed one of time! We never get very far. the gold-level adult tests (MITF) Q: How long have you lived this past spring. Working on ice in Elizabeth?

A: I closed on my house right as the pandemic started – early March 2020 – and was lucky that I could get moved that month when everything shut down. Q: From where did you move? A: Georgia to Florida to Ballantyne to Beverly Woods to Myers Park to here. Q: Why Elizabeth? A: Location and curb appeal. The house I live in is perfect for me and my kids. Q: How did you come to volunteer

for the ECA?

The house at the corner of Weddington and Ranier avenues was torn down recently. Photo by Winn Maddrey

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A: My next door neighbor Lisa Association at the annual meeting Yagla, who is former social chair. Sept. 30. We asked her to tell us We talked about neighborhood a little about herself. events from the moment I moved in! Q: What do you do for a living? Q: What do you think are the A: I have been an impact three most important issues facing producer for documentaries, Elizabeth today? owned a thrift store that donated A: These are not the most its proceeds to public schools, important but these are issues worked to incubate other social I see from where I live in the entrepreneurs, worked on school neighborhood: 1-Population board campaigns, organized density; 2-Traffic and speeding; public campaigns around public 3-Protecting the environment school funding and generally and natural habitats around us. spent my time – sometimes for Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment? pay and sometimes for no pay – catalyzing people to take action A: Last year’s around issues that matter. Merry Meander evening. Q: One thing you wish everyone

Q: What do you do in your

knew about you.

spare time?

A: That even though I plan for the future as part of my job, I am a true believer of being present and living in the moment.

A: Sleep, read and cook Q: Tell us about your family. A: My husband David Flynn is a sexy hunk of IT/business intelligence and we have two daughters. Samantha is 19 and has been seduced by the Pacific Northwest where she attends the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. My daughter Rachel is 16, attends Myers Park High School and is an astonishingly accomplished cake baker and generally joyful and kind person. Q: How long have you lived

Meet ECA board volunteer in Elizabeth? Debbie Rubenstein A: Almost 20 years. Editor’s note: ebbie Rubenstein was elected communications chair for the Elizabeth Community 12

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Q: From where did you move? A: Maplewood NJ, just outside of New York City.

Q: Why Elizabeth? A: We were looking to be somewhere urban and welcoming. We looked for a neighborhood that had sidewalks, homes with front porches and small plots figuring that would mean a neighborly place. It has been. In fact, we used to live five houses away on our same block. We love the neighborhood so much we could never leave. Q: How did you come to volunteer

for the ECA?

A: Um... [ECA president] West [Bryant] asked me. Can you say no to him? Q: What do you think are the three most important issues facing Elizabeth today? A: So I have my opinions, but as the communications person, my job will be to ensure that our neighbors are connected and feel they know what the board is doing and the board knows what they are thinking so my three most important issues will be your three most important issues. Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment? A: I struggled with the move to Charlotte 20 years ago as it meant giving up a lot that was important to me. I wanted to make friends but that can be struggle when you are depressed and working from home with small children. The neighborhood itself gifted me with connections, however. We were invited to a great Halloween party by neighbors we had just

met and then to the Kenmore block party. I met so many people at those events that I knew would become my friends with time. When Joanne Robinson invited me to join her and another Elizabethan for dog walks at 6:30 am, that was a turning point for me and confirmation that I would find my place here.

Some readers may not be familiar with HENF. Per the HENF bylaws, our purpose is, “To improve, preserve and restore sites and buildings of historical interest.”

It was created by the ECA in the early 1990s to raise money and handle issues for the ECA to pursue LHD. The coordinated Q: One thing you wish everyone effort of these two groups drove knew about you. a successful effort to achieve LHD, only to lose it to a judge’s A: It is very important that you know that I am from New Orleans. ruling on a technicality shortly thereafter. For the past 30 It explains a lot about me – my food obsession, my florid cursing years the HENF and ECA have collaborated on many issues and my love of costumes and making a scene. And I love to talk facing the community. about it if you are heading that In addition to declining our way and need tips. offer, the ECA board issued a separate statement closing HENF votes to pursue the discussion on LHD. We are historic designation disappointed in these decisions for Elizabeth for two reasons. First, we think by Clifton Settlemyer there is strong evidence that Elizabeth citizens desire LHD. In the 26 years since LHD At the Annual ECA Meeting was lost, the interest in it has Sept. 30, I announced that the Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood remained strong among many. Furthermore, an informal survey Foundation (HENF) board had voted to execute on our own the conducted in the past year by a group of neighbors, led by Jared process we had outlined in a Rorrer, produced encouraging proposal to the ECA (published results that indicated the desire in the fall newsletter). for LHD persists. Certainly the Our hope was to partner energy around LHD is high. with the ECA to work on Local Second, we believe that LHD Historic Designation (LHD). The would be a valuable tool for purpose of the proposal had been Elizabeth. At the very least we to give the neighborhood the think it is time for a robust ultimate say on LHD. As reported debate engaging all of Elizabeth. in the fall 2021 newsletter, the Seven other Charlotte ECA Board voted to not accept communities have achieved LHD our offer.

status, driven by concerns over the accommodation of capitalfocused development chipping away at the fabric of neighborhoods that define our city. Elizabeth residents have consistently voiced concerns over the impacts of the size and nature of new projects. We feel LHD would provide an additional tool for the ECA Land Use and Development (LUD) committee beyond what is offered in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. There is legitimate concern the framework of the 2040 plan may not provide adequate protection for the community. As the LUD is “guiding development,” it could also leverage LHD, a recognized mechanism, for preserving what we already have. As the HENF moves forward with LHD, we are proceeding with respect for everyone’s opinion. Our proposal includes an education program where LHD impacts will be reviewed impartially. Our goal is to reach as many residents as possible before surveying the community for a measure of support. We believe there is ample opportunity and common goals within the neighborhood and are looking forward to ongoing engagement within the community and with the ECA. HENF’s complete proposal is as follows:

1. HENF will contract with a provider to produce a survey THE PEOPLE PAGES

of properties in the Elizabeth neighborhood to verify those that are historic. 2. HENF will lead the effort to determine the boundaries of the proposed Historic District. All stakeholders that can be identified will be sought out to provide input. 3. HENF will partner to conduct an education program to explain how LHD will impact all landowners in the proposed district. Meetings will be held with the goal of reaching every landowner possible. 4. HENF will contract with a provider to conduct a survey of all landowners in the proposed district to determine the level of support.

The committee is nine people strong, with each person offering unique perspectives to meet the goals of the committee. Danielle reached out to each member and an initial list of potential programs was generated: • Using this newsletter to offer communication around environmental stewardship and upcoming events that can benefit the neighborhood’s environmental efforts. • How to recycle right. • Host a neighborhood movie night and show a relevant documentary or “based-on-trueevents” movie that may educate and foster discussion around actual vs. perceived environmental conditions in our world.

• Get more neighbors involved to act as trash ambassadors (program to be rolled out in February). The committee is open to other ideas that the neighborhood would like to see considered. Please reach out to Danielle with your suggestions! Meanwhile, we can all get involved before the start of any official committee activities. While walking in our neighborhood, each of us can be prepared to pick up pieces of trash, or the bottles and cans that end up along the roadway, and get them into a proper waste container. This keeps Elizabeth looking beautiful, as well as reducing the potential for trash to enter the storm sewers and clog drains.

Are you sure you place only recyclable materials into your green bins? Do you wonder how the city manages our wastes once you roll your bins out each week? Are you curious about actions you can take in everyday living that can improve resource sustainability?

• Friendly trash pick-up Recycling within Charlottecompetition between Elizabeth Mecklenburg has undergone and our adjacent neighborhoods. considerable change in the last • Engage with city waste year. Despite the numbering management leaders to provide on plastic, a good rule of thumb up-to-date news and rules to assure the packaging can be around trash management – and accepted for recycling to include maybe visit the Mecklenburg only plastic containers that have Recycling Center. a neck, such as a soda bottle or milk jug. This excludes several • Create a family/kid centered items with the otherwise usually activity (parade was suggested) accepted No. 1 and No. 2 plastic to show how everyone can get identifier. involved in environmental stewardship! Cardboard, glass and metal

The ECA has formed an environmental committee, chaired by Danielle Kleinrichert, to explore and implement ideas around the topics of waste management, environmental education and sustainable practices.

• Hold a swap party for neighbors to drop off/pick up household items that may have use to someone else, or otherwise find outlets for repurposing items that would otherwise be thrown away. Perhaps make art from trash?!

New environmental committee looking for ideas and volunteers by Michael DePalma

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containers remain recyclable. Finally, bring re-useable bags to the grocery store to reduce the need to produce and dispose store-provided plastic bags. Our actions reflect much more than our words in what we

believe about environmental stewardship.

The answer is a delightfully sustainable win/win situation, where ultimately, the postholiday jack-o-lanterns are fed to the pigs.

Do you want to volunteer or learn about the environmental committee? Contact Danielle Kleinrichert at 704-804-1509 For the past few years, or email: dkeinrichert@gmail.com. Elizabethan Kathy Donner has put the Pumpkin Wall crew in Michael DePalma is a licensed touch with Greg Morgan, one professional engineer and has spent much of his career focused on of the vendors at Simpson’s Farmers’ Market on Kings environmental health and safety Drive. Each year, they pick up management. He currently works the discarded pumpkins from for a non-utility power generation the wall and take them back to company, leading its compliance Morgans Cove Farm north of and government afairs programs. Charlotte where they give them His wife Alicia also is on the environmental committee. They live to the Morgans’ drove of pigs. on North Dotger Avenue. The pumpkins are a real When the Pumpkin Wall comes down, the pigs rejoice by John Short The 17th annual Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall was once again a success, standing festively at the corner of Greenway and Laurel for the second straight year.

treat for the pigs, who eat them stems and all. The pumpkins are actually somewhat healthy pig food, aiding in digestion and serving as a natural de-wormer for the animals. The free-range pigs think they are the best things since, well … sliced pumpkin. (If you’re interested in some of his fabulous pork, go to

morganscovefarm.com to check it out – and he delivers.) So, next time you’re at the wall and hear someone wondering aloud, “Hey, I wonder where all these pumpkins go,” you can tell them this is all just an elaborate way to prep the pigs’ dinner. Thanks to everyone in the neighborhood who participated in the Pumpkin Wall this year. Whether you built the wall, carved a pumpkin, or visited during Halloween weekend, you joined hundreds of people that enjoyed the lights, festivities and picture taking. Special thanks to the group of dedicated volunteers that put up the wall and took it down. A prize winning pumpkin-size thank you goes out to: Julie Bolt, Caleb Newcomb, Lindsay Yingling, Thayer Moeller, Marie McDaniel, Lisa Yagla, Neil Menefee, Hardin Minor, Teddy Koch, Mel Sizemore, Paul Shipley and the Mallos Family.

The lighting ceremony was well attended and featured Pumpkin Wall MC emeritus Hardin Minor playing the role of the Great Pumpkin and kicking off a busy Halloween weekend for Elizabeth in style. With the ECA providing nearly 150 pumpkins, an obvious question that often comes up around the wall is, “Hey, where do all these pumpkins go after Halloween?”

A choice selection of herbs was available at the annual Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs plant and yard sale Oct. 29 and 30. Other items at the sale were perennials and planters, home and garden tools, home décor, books, art and craft supplies and collectibles. The Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs is at the Betty Little House, 1820 E. 7th Street. by JohnPAGES McBride 15 THEPhoto PEOPLE

Elizabeth celebrates Halloween 2021. Photos by John McBride

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POLITICS THE BUSINESS 2017 –SECTION GET INVOLVED!