The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) will offer free informational sessions to provide you an opportunity to learn more about CMPD, its policies, practices and personnel.

Register by filling out a registration form online or you can contact Officer Tom Allen at 704-432-0432 or tallen1@cmpd.org.

Selecting and Training CMPD Officers
Thursday, October 22
6 p.m.
Police & Fire Training Academy
1770 Shopton Road 

For a complete list of courses visit www.cmpd.org. Participants are not required to take all courses in the series. Courses can be taken individually or as part of the comprehensive Citizen's Academy.

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual Runway 5K Run/Walk, hosted by the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Saturday, October 31 beginning at 8 a.m. The Runway 5K will take place at one of the nation's most unique locations and busiest airports.

Register online at www.charlotteairport.com.

Last year's event raised more than $10,000 for LifeSpan's Community Activities Employment Transition Program (CAET). LifeSpan transforms the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities by providing education, employment and enrichment opportunities.

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (551 S. Tryon Street) will officially open its doors to the public Saturday, October 24. A free open house will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 a.m. the following day. Scheduled activities include:

       The official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
       The Women Who Raised Me book signing by Victoria Rowell at 1 p.m.
       The Art of Collecting book signing by Vivian Hewitt at 2 p.m.
       Artist commentary by Radcliffe Bailey at 3 p.m. 

Performances by Shade Family Puppeteers, Miles & Coltrane, Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble and other diverse artistic offerings.

Extremely heavy uptown traffic is expected 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 29 due to an event that will take place at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Visitors and attendees are advised to locate parking facilities in advance.

Uptown commuters are advised to carpool, telecommute or utilize Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) services including the LYNX Light Rail, buses and vanpools. For more information visit www.ridetransit.org or call 704-336-RIDE.

Community University's (CU) fall and winter class schedule is now available. All workshops are free and open to Charlotte residents. To register, visit neighborhoods.charmeck.org and click on the CU icon, e-mail neighservs@ci.charlotte.nc.us or call 704-336-2061.

Each month there will be a specific theme with four workshops addressing that theme. Residents are encouraged to participate in all classes for the month, but may attend individual workshops if preferred. 

October: Building Neighborhood Organizations
6 – 8 p.m.
Albemarle Road Recreation Center
5027 N. Idlewild Road

Wednesday, October 14 – Defining Organizational Identity
Learn how to define and promote your organization by examining assets, strengths and opportunities.
 
Thursday, October 22 – Stop the Madness: Making Meetings Work
Examine ways to hold effective meetings for any level, including facilitation basics and guidelines for parliamentary procedure.

Tuesday, October 27 – Getting Things Done...By More Than One!
Learn how to be a more effective organization by understanding roles and responsibilities, delegating tasks, and developing future leaders.
 
To register online, click here. Visit the CU web site for the complete schedule of courses.

CU is the City of Charlotte's neighborhood training program dedicated to providing high quality training to Charlotte residents to improve the strength and vitality of neighborhood organizations and the overall quality of community life. Courses are intended to engage, inform and equip participants with the training and assistance needed to help them improve and maintain their communities.

Children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween as any other night of the year. Here are some tips to keep everyone safe this Halloween:

• Safely cross streets, don't cross between parked cars.
• Walk on sidewalks or paths, children under the age of 12 should always trick or treat with adult supervision.
• Carry flashlights and wear reflective items if you will be trick-or-treating in the dark.

For a complete list of Halloween safety tips, visit the Safe Kids web site www.safekidscharmeck.org.

Development of the City's Energy Strategy is on-track to meet the deadline to receive the first installment of Federal funding from the Energy Efficiency and Community Block Grant (EECBG) stimulus program. The Energy Strategy Team has completed the City and the Community Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories, and has reviewed survey results and project ideas from Charlotte residents, business owners, environmental and transportation advocates and others.

Greenhouse gas inventory results show that Charlotte's emissions reflect a typical breakdown for local government and community energy use. Transportation emissions, such as from personal cars and business fleets, are the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions while energy use in buildings is the largest combined emissions source.

The Energy Strategy Team is also currently reviewing all project ideas for compliance with Department of Energy requirements and consistency with criteria that team members and Charlotte citizens selected as most important to our community. The next step will be development of a draft plan for review by both the City Council and public meeting on Thursday, November 12.

With autumn in full swing, it's time to get out those rakes and round up the fallen leaves that blanket your yard. Wondering when they'll be collected? The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services collects leaves and other yard waste for all City residents on the same day as your garbage and recyclable collection.

Please use the following tips to properly prepare yard waste for collection:

• Place leaves in untied plastic bags or uncovered trash cans
• Cut limbs, logs, and brush to no more than 5 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter
• Separate piles and stack to less than 4 feet high and 75 pounds
• Do not place yard waste in the garbage rollout cart

After items are prepared, place them curbside no later than 6:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.

Want more information on how to Prep It? Visit http://curbit.charmeck.org.

Attend an informal open house Tuesday, November 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and learn how to properly dispose of cooking grease and oils. You'll see how actions at your kitchen sink affect Charlotte's water quality and how to protect your neighborhood, apartment or business from sewer backups and overflows. Drop by Hickory Grove Branch Library, for free prizes and a chance to win $25 grocery gift cards from Food Lion and Compare Foods.

Tuesday, November 10
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Hickory Grove Branch Library
7209 E. W.T. Harris Boulevard 

The program is hosted by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities and will be available in English and Spanish. Visit www.cmutilities.com for Grease Free tips.

The GOV Channel brings you the latest City Source episode on Thursday, October 15 at 7 p.m. The episode will give you an in-depth look at Solid Waste Service's new recycling program outside Bank of America Stadium at Panther tailgate parties. You'll also hear the results of a recent survey of Charlotte Douglas International Airport passengers and get a look at the new Metro Police Division building as well.

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