City Manager Appoints New Fire Chief
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City Manager Curt Walton announced today that Deputy Fire Chief Jon Hannan has been named Fire Chief for the City of Charlotte effective December 30. Hannan will replace Luther Fincher, who will retire on December 29 after 42 years with the City of Charlotte. In addition to responsibilities for all fire and emergency services for the City, the fire chief also directs the City's Homeland Security operations.
A twenty-eight year department veteran, Hannan currently manages day-to-day operations and works with staff to plan, organize and direct departmental activities. (Full Story)
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Countdown to Lynx Opening |
The countdown to opening of the Lynx Blue Line has begun. Passenger will ride free during the weekend of November 24th and 25th. On November 24, passengers will stop at every LYNX station, including FOUR CELEBRATION STATIONS at 7th Street, the Charlotte Transportation Center at Bobcats Arena, East/West Boulevard and Bland Street. There will be family-focused activities, sporting games, battle of the bands, food by restaurants along the LYNX line and more.
"We want the public to experience the LYNX Blue line during the grand opening," said Olaf Kinard, Marketing and Communications Manager for CATS. "Stations will be open for the public but activities at four main stations, CTC/Arena, 7th Street and in South End at Bland Street and East/West Blvd, will highlight all the entertainment, cultural, sports and retail available along the LYNX Blue Line." Regular fares will be charged beginning November 26th. For more information, visit www.experiencelynx.com.
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City of Charlotte offices will be closed on Thursday, November 22.
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thursday, November 22 and on a Saturday schedule on Friday, November 23. No express bus service will operate on Thursday, November 22. However, the 77x will resume service Friday, November 23 and run on a Saturday schedule.
Solid Waste Services will not collect on Thursday, November 22. Thursday customers will receive service on Friday, November 23; Friday customers will receive service on Saturday, November 24.
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Airport Anticipates Busy Holiday Travel
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Are you taking to the skies this holiday season? If so, you could be one of the many passengers using Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Travelers are reminded to:
Be Prepared: Allow more time to park
Stay Informed: Visit www.charlotteairport.com or call 704-FLY-5555 for current parking conditions (A=Ample Parking Available; B=Be Prepared, Allow Time to Park; C=Congested Parking Conditions, Expect Delays)
Follow the Lead: Follow directions of the airport parking attendants stationed in lots to assist parkers during peak usage times.
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During this time of year, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department would like to remind you of some helpful holiday shopping safety tips so that you may have a happy and safe holiday season.
Parking Lot Safety
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Park and walk in well-lit areas.
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Be aware of people around you, and know where you parked
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Always lock your car doors after leaving or entering
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Check the back seat before you get in
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Don't leave packages on the car seats
Shopping Safety
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Pay with checks or credit cards when possible
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Don't leave purchases or your purse unattended while shopping
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Try to carry as little as possible.
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Never leave your children alone.
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Call 911 to report all suspicious activity
For more information, visit www.cmpd.org or call the Crime Prevention Unit at 704-336-2310.
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Help Reduce Waste During the Holidays
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The holidays may be the most wonderful time of the year, but a not-too-wonderful by-product of all the celebrating is a mountain of waste. To help you reduce waste during the holidays, Solid Waste Services offers the following tips:
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Purchase your Thanksgiving cooking items in bulk quantities and use the extra for your Christmas menus. This eliminates extra trips to the grocery store and reduces excess packaging.
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Practice portion control when planning how much food to purchase. Learn more about portion control by calling the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-342-2383.
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When inviting guests to your Thanksgiving feast, ask them to bring reusable containers to take leftovers home. For other ways to reduce waste during the holidays, visit http://curbit.charmeck.org.
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Make your Thanksgiving meal special by using china and cloth napkins instead of disposal paper ones. Or borrow or rent dishes, napkins, cups and saucers, tablecloths and glasses. Make sure you recycle all eligible materials. For more a list of materials eligible for recycling in the CURB IT! residential recycling program, visit http://curbit.charmeck.org or call 311.
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Keep Your Holidays Grease Free
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As you prepare and enjoy favorite family recipes this holiday season, remember to dispose of grease properly by putting it in the trash. When residents pour grease down their drains or disposals, the grease accumulates in sewer pipes as it cools and can clog plumbing, which can lead to overflows from street manholes or backups into their homes.
Overflows can cause property damage and can pollute our creeks and streams, but they're preventable. Don't fall victim to these common myths about grease disposal:
- Running hot water with grease won't prevent it from clogging your pipes
- Disposing of grease in your garbage disposal also isn't safe
- Even if you don't cook with oils or grease, you still can have a grease problem. Foods such as bacon and poultry create their own grease while cooking, and this grease also needs proper disposal
Cool leftover fats, oil and grease in a lidded container, and throw it in the trash. If you see or suspect a sewer overflow, please report it to 311.
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