November 1st 2006

View Charlotte's proposed Bond Projects for 2006. No future tax increase is needed to fund the bonds. Find out additional details on what specific items the bonds will fund for each project.

Let's Band Together

Did you know that one of the fastest growing segments of our local community is the Fall Cankerworm? With autumn in full swing, it's time to band together to help control the cankerworm population.

Your neighborhood organization may be eligible for a special Neighborhood Matching Grant, if your neighborhood is in the identified target area of the cankerworm infestation problem area.

Organizations interested in receiving funding should attend one of the scheduled pre-application workshops. The application deadline is Friday, November 3.

For more details, including grant guidelines and workshop schedules, call 704-336-3385.

Eastland Mall Community Transit Center Opens

Commuters now have more transportation choices with access to and from the Eastland Mall Community Transit Center. On Saturday, October 28, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) held the grand opening celebration for the new transit center.

The new facility features an open-air plaza, covered passenger waiting areas, bicycle lockers and racks, schedule information, on-site surveillance and security during hours of operation and a pedestrian pathway that connects the facility to Eastland Mall.

The facility's design also includes public art from CATS' Art-In-Transit artist Elizabeth Indianos. Indianos integrated swirls of color into the pedestrian pathway to reflect the diverse culture of the Eastland community.

For more information, call 704-336-RIDE or visit www.ridetransit.org.

Know Gangs - A Community Workshop

Is your child at risk of joining a gang? Are they already in one? How do you know? What can you do? Make plans to attend an important two-part community workshop to find out what you can do to protect your child from gangs:

November 2 & 9
7 � 8:30 pm
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
1430 Alleghany St.

For more information, call 704-432-2459.

Help Improve City Pedestrian Conditions

The Charlotte Department of Transportation needs your feedback on the City's current walkability and what can be done to make Charlotte a more pedestrian-friendly city. Take a quick Pedestrian Survey. The survey will be available through November 24.

Survey feedback will help build the foundation of a Pedestrian Master Plan that will serve as a guide for providing pedestrian facilities throughout Charlotte. To learn more about these efforts, contact Vivian Coleman at 704-353-0481 or visit http://walkcharlotte.charmeck.org.

Pucks For Pooches - Pet Adoption Event

Join the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Animal Control Bureau and the Charlotte Checkers for a night of hockey, along with the opportunity to add a furry member to your home team:

Pucks For Pooches
Saturday, November 18 at 6 pm
Charlotte Bobcats Arena

A portion of the game ticket proceeds will sponsor public spay/neuter clinics. To purchase advance tickets, visit www.gocheckers.com. Click on the Promotions Code icon and enter CMPDACB.

2030 Plan Public Hearing Update

The public hearing on the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan which was planned for October 25, has been rescheduled for:

Wednesday, November 15 at 5 pm
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, Council Chamber
600 E. 4th St.

The 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan is an update to the original 2025 Plan, which has been pushed forward five years because of rising construction costs and competition for federal money.

The meeting will be televised live on The Government Channel � Cable 16 and streamed live via the internet. For more information, visit www.ridetransit.org.

Email Offers False Security Information

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) wants to warn everyone about an email hoax that's providing false security to some victims of crime. The email states if you're ever forced to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can automatically notify the police by entering your PIN number in reverse.

This is not true. Such a system is being developed, but hasn't been perfected yet. CMPD offers the following tips to protect yourself when using an ATM:

Check out your surroundings and have your card ready before approaching an ATM
Remain observant and continue to observe your surroundings while using the ATM
When finished, leave the ATM area quickly
If someone approaches you at an ATM, drive away immediately and call 911.

Keep Your Holidays Grease Free

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 container, and throw it in the trash. If you see or suspect a sewer overflow, please report it to 311.

Worth Watching

Tune in to The Government Channel � Cable 16 for the latest government news and information.

City Source � Thursday, November 2 at 7 pm
Receive an update on the NASCAR Hall of fame. Also, take a look as the Answer Guy tracks down a special agent who can put him on the Light Rail straight and narrow.