Already in Fiscal Year 2008, CATS has seen a growth of over nine percent compared to the same time last year. To keep up with customer demand, CATS will implement several changes on Monday, February 25. Changes will affect bus routes and the LYNX Blue Line.

CATS will be adding morning and afternoon bus service to at least three of its regional express routes, moving services to new park and ride locations and extending bus and LYNX Blue Line services as well.

For the complete list of all schedule changes coming on February 25, log onto the CATS web site at www.ridetransit.org or call 704-336-RIDE.

City employees who have returned home from military service over the past year will be honored at the Blue Star Awards Ceremony during the City Council meeting on Monday, February 25.

The ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. however, the City Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Ten employees will be acknowledged for their military service.

As each City employee is deployed, a blue star is added to the Blue Star Flag hanging in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center lobby, and removed upon their return. Employees are then recognized for their service by City leaders during the annual event with a framed blue star.

The Blue Star Award Ceremony will air live on The Government Channel Cable-16 and stream on www.charmeck.org.

The Municipal Code Corporation (MCC) publishes and updates Codes of Ordinances, Land Use Codes and Charter's for local governments in a variety of formats. What does this mean for you?

This means that residents like you, can go to www.municode.com and look up any City ordinance you may have questions about. Simply navigate to the online library and click on the City of Charlotte's Code of Ordinances and find Codes concerning everything from fire prevention and protection to zoning and noise ordinances.

You can also find the City Code Book by visiting the City Clerk Department at www.charmeck.org.

This is a free, fun, family festival organized by City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County departments, local businesses and citizen advocates to raise awareness of the many ways residents can make a difference in preserving the environment.

Saturday, April 19
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ray's Splash Planet,
215 N. Sycamore Street

Highlights:

• Alternative fuel car displays
• Over 40 exhibitors
• Children's activities, including storytelling and crafts
• Face painting
• Musical entertainment
• Rain barrel sales (advance orders must be received by Friday, April 11 by calling CharMeck 311 or e-mail savetherain@yahoo.com)

Visit http://earthday.charmeck.org for more information.

Charlotte's Earth Day festival is sponsored in part by an operating grant from the Arts and Science Council.

Nominations are being accepted for the 29th annual Police Community Relations Award sponsored by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee (CRC).

The award recognizes officers and work teams from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) for building positive, problem-solving relationships with individual citizens and neighborhood groups.

Over the past 20 years, members from Charlotte-Mecklenburg communities have nominated more than 2,000 officers. Citizens in the CMPD patrol area, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School personnel, groups and individuals have until Tuesday, April 1 to submit their nominations to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee (CRC).

To nominate an officer call 704-336-3056 and request a nomination brochure, you can also mail nominations to the CRC or fill out a form at the CRC web site .

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee
600 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Officers selected will be honored at an awards ceremony on Friday, May 16 during Charlotte's Law Enforcement Week celebration.

Not sure what else you can do to conserve water? Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities can help. This week Utilities launched a new education campaign to encourage indoor conservation and provide practical tips that are easy and inexpensive to do. Just visit www.saveyourwater.org for a variety of tools. Quiz your conservation knowledge on the "Quiz Yourself" page, or learn how much water you really use each day using the "Water Use Report Card."

Enjoying your pool this summer may take a little extra effort—and elbow grease.

Current water restrictions prohibit the filling or re-filling of pools during the drought. Pool owners and operators can, however, top off pool water levels, so, CMU recommends cleaning the water still in pools as a means of cleaning and prepping for summer use.

Searching for ways to strengthen your neighborhood? Register for Community University, a training program with classes and course topics designed to increase your knowledge and skills of neighborhood organizations. Residents are encouraged to enroll in classes scheduled for Winter/Spring 2008.

For more information, including class descriptions, locations and registration forms, call 704-336-2061 or visit the Neighborhood Development or Community University web sites.

--Developing Leaders for Stronger Neighborhoods

Join neighbors from throughout the city for an enlightening and energizing day of community building at the 13th Annual Neighborhood Symposium:

Saturday, March 8
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. Tryon Street

The event provides opportunities for neighborhood leaders and residents to learn about resources, share ideas and network. Visit http://neighborhoods.charmeck.org for workshop descriptions and online registration. For more information, call 704-336-2061.