City of Charlotte offices will be closed on Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26 and Thursday, January 1.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thursday, December 25. No express bus service will operate on that day.

On Friday, December 26, CATS will operate according to its Saturday schedule. No express service will operate on that day except for the 77X North Mecklenburg express which will operate according to its Saturday schedule.

CATS will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Wednesday, December 31, however LYNX Blue Line operations will be extended.

On Thursday, January 1, 2009, CATS will operate on a Sunday Schedule.

For more information please contact CATS Customer Service at 704-336-RIDE or visit www.ridetransit.org.

Solid Waste Services will not provide residential garbage, recyclable, yard waste or bulky item collection on Thursday, December 25. Collection will operate on a one-day delay with Friday customers receiving service on Saturday, December 27. Regular collection schedule will resume on Thursday, January 1, 2009.

Beginning Friday, January 2, Solid Waste Services will collect natural Christmas trees. Please remove decorations from all trees and place them curbside by 6:30 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.

Artificial trees must be scheduled for bulky item collection by calling 311 or visiting http://curbit.charmeck.org.

Need an item-prep refresher? Visit http://curbit.charmeck.org, and click CURB IT.

The holiday season can increase opportunities for criminal activity; here are some tips from CMPD to keep you safe:

• Do your homework before donating to charities; call the Secretary of State's office or the charity's main office.
• When shopping online, only purchase from secure web sites.
• If you are traveling, use timers for lights and radios while you are away. Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to watch your home.
• Don't forget to prepare for winter driving conditions and equip your vehicle with cold weather emergency supplies.

For a complete list of safety tips visit the CMPD Crime Prevention Unit web site at www.cmpd.org.

Burst pipes can quickly lead to property damage, significant water loss and subsequent high bills. Save money this winter, take the time to protect your plumbing using these cold weather tips from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities:

• At night, open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate around plumbing.
• Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your home. Save on energy costs by insulating your hot water heater.
• Turn off automatic lawn sprinkler systems!

Visit www.cmutilities.com for additional tips or for more information about being WaterSmart.

The Government Channel brings you the latest City Source episode on Thursday, December 18 at 7 p.m. where you'll discover the Wesley Heights Historic neighborhood, and how to care for family pets over the holiday season.

Tune in to CMPD Today on The Government Channel, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. for an inside look at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. This month's show features a collection of the best stories from this past year.

For your convenience, you can view episodes of CMPD Today and City Source online at www.charmeck.org by clicking on The Government Channel logo.