Even with Charlotte's best efforts to control the fall cankerworm with our tree banding program, the population is still high enough to endanger our trees. With the support of City Council, the City recommends a second step to defend cankerworm infested areas – aerial spraying.

The product used in the aerial spraying is Foray 48B. This is not a chemical insecticide. It does contain Bt, a naturally occurring substance used by organic farmers and gardeners for decades. This natural control has no adverse affects on humans, honey bees, pets, birds, wildlife, fish or groundwater. In order to be effective, Bt must be ingested by the caterpillars. The specific enzymes necessary to activate Bt are only found in the digestive system of caterpillars.

Documented studies of Bt have found no adverse affect on humans, plants, water supplies or other organisms. We have links to several of these studies on our website.

The City is projecting the spraying to begin Monday, April 7. Spraying will last for approximately four days. During this time, low flying aircraft will be applying the spray in the early morning hours. Because dates and times are determined by local weather conditions and the hatching of the cankerworms, exact dates are not known at this time. A map of the spray zone is located on our website.

In response to requests to clean off residue from the cankerworm spraying program, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will temporarily suspend the water use restriction on residential car washing for seven days following the end of the spraying. There are no other changes to the water restrictions at this time.

The City will continue to work with local media to notify residents when the spraying will occur. Residents will also be notified by phone, using the GEO Notify System.

To receive cankerworm updates, visit cankerworm.charmeck.org and sign up for the Notify Me service. You will then receive an e-mail when the website is updated.

As we get closer to April 7, residents can also call 311 for more specific spraying dates and locations.

Make room in your calendar for the annual neighborhood Spring Fling festival hosted by Vision Charlotte and the Wingate Neighborhood Association. Participants will receive information from vendors, including college and trade providers, health and wellness and career experts. There will be a cookout, raffle prizes, music and fun activities for children.

Saturday, April 19
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wingate Resource Center/Park,
2701 Mayfair Avenue

For more information visit Neighborhood Development's Vision Charlotte web site.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is looking for a few good teens...to participate in a one-week, hands-on course for young people interested in a career in law enforcement or students who would like to find out more about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The next Academy will be held:

Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 11
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Police Training Academy,
1770 Shopton Road

The application deadline is Monday, May 19.

For more information and an application, visit CMPD's High School Academy web site.

Your neighborhood may be eligible to receive funding through the City's Neighborhood Matching Grants Program. Grants up to $25,000 are awarded to eligible neighborhood organizations and business associations for certain projects. The next application deadline is Monday, June 16. To apply, a representative from the organization must attend a pre-application workshop.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities recognizes outstanding efforts by special customers every year as our communities' Water Stars. Maybe this year it's you.

Tell us what you do to conserve water and the changes you've made to help out during the drought. Last year's winner designed and built a system to capture rain water and distribute the water to his garden.  

Winners will receive a gift bag and be featured in an upcoming water bill insert and on the CMU web site.

Applications are available at www.cmutilities.com. So fill it out, fax or mail it in and maybe you will be named the 2008 Water Star.

With schools going on spring break soon, CMPD offers safety tips parents should know to keep their children safe.

All children should be taught:

• Never to answer the door or announce on the telephone that they are home alone.
• It is ok to say no to an adult. For example, if someone shows up claiming you sent them to pick him/her up and take them somewhere.
• If someone is following them, go to a populated area, yell for help, and make people aware that they are in trouble.
• They can reach out to you at any time and you will pick them up wherever they are.
• To stay far away from anyone speaking to them from a vehicle.

What you as a parent can do to keep your children safe:

• Discuss with your children what to do if they are separated from you.
• Reinforce that not all "bad" people look bad.
• Teach your children emergency telephone numbers.
• Know where your children are and what time they will be home.
• Keep a list of their friend's phone numbers, addresses, and parent's names.

For the complete list of safety tips go to www.cmpd.org or call the Crime Prevention Unit at 704-336-2310.

Tune in this week to hear about the 2008 Neighborhood Youth award winner, Xavier Jeffries, increasing security efforts at the Government Center and the upcoming CATS Bus Roadeo.