City of Charlotte offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thursday, November 27. No express bus service will operate on that day.

On Friday, November 28, 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.

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, November 27. Thursday customers will receive service on Friday, November 28 and Friday customers on Saturday, November 29. For information on how to properly prepare your materials for collection, visit http://curbit.charmeck.org.

Are you taking to the skies this holiday season? If so, you could be one of the 700,000 customers anticipated to travel through the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The airport and its parking areas will be congested, so plan ahead, park smart and pack properly. Travelers are reminded to be prepared: 

• Know the latest security regulations and pack accordingly
• Increased passenger volumes are expected, anticipate and plan for longer wait times at check-in and security checkpoints
• Allow more time to park

Stay Informed, know the parking ABC's …
A=Ample parking available
B=Be Prepared, allow time to park
C=Congested parking conditions, expect delays

For up-to-date parking conditions call 704-FLY-5555 and visit www.charlotteairport.com for the complete list of travel tips.

Keep a jar handy during holiday cooking to collect your kitchen grease and oils. Just fill it up, tighten the lid and toss it in the trash. You also can recycle grease at any of the four full-service recycling centers in Mecklenburg County. Keeping pipes clear of grease, paper, medications, diapers and other objects helps prevent sanitary sewer overflows and protects Charlotte's water.

For more information, visit www.cmutilities.com, or call 704-391-4685 to schedule a speaker.

Come out and support communities along the Beatties Ford corridor! Officers from CMPD, the Sheriff Department and CFD firefighters will host local youth in a basketball game at the West Charlotte Recreation Center.

Wednesday, December 10
4 – 6 p.m.
West Charlotte Recreation Center,
2401 Kendall Drive 

This is a fun, free event giving firefighters and local law enforcement the opportunity to restore and develop relationships with the Beatties Ford communities. For more information, contact Officer Mobley by phone at 704-336-8300 or e-mail kmobley@cmpd.org.

With autumn in full swing, it's time to get out those rakes and round up 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 collection.

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

Tip 1: Place leaves in untied plastic bags or uncovered trash cans
Tip 2: Cut limbs, logs, and brush to no more than 5 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter
Tip 3: Separate piles and stack to less than 4 feet high and 75 pounds
Tip 4: Do not place yard waste in the rollout cart 

After items are prepared, place them at the 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.

Nationwide, one vehicle is stolen every 20 seconds. In Mecklenburg County alone, 12 vehicles are stolen every day. Here are some tips to help you prevent car theft:

• Do not leave your vehicle unattended while running
• Don't start your car in the morning and go inside your residence while it warms up
• Never leave keys in your vehicle
• Never leave valuable items in your vehicle; remove phones, mp3 players, purses, briefcases, and GPS systems every time you leave your car
• Store gifts, packages and bags in the trunk of your vehicle

Vehicles that are unattended in public vehicular areas and running may be cited. Preventing the next crime is everybody's business. Visit the CMPD Crime Prevention Unit web site at www.cmpd.org for more safety tips.

The Government Channel brings you the latest City Source episode on Thursday, November 20 at 7 p.m. where you'll discover the Wesley Heights Historic neighborhood, and how to prevent electrical fires in your home. This episode also features local youth who won the CRC essay writing contest.

Tune in to CMPD Today on The Government Channel, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. this month as Deputy Chief Kerr Putney takes us inside the latest crime statistics. You'll also learn how to make your community safer through neighborhood watch programs and get an inside perspective on the Gang of One initiative.

CMPD Today is a television show that gives you an inside look at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

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.