School kids walk the neighborhood

Almost-finished first-graders from several classes at Merry Oaks Elementary walked the neighborhood to learn about homes -- for people and creatures like birds, squirrels, rabbits and insects.
Along the way, they learned about magnolia trees, gardenias, rosemary, pine cones and how to navigate the sidewalks on trash day.
Magnolia leaves make good bunny ears, some decided.
Some classes also got lessons in how to pour and smooth concrete from a crew repairing a sidewalk.
Kudos to all the teachers and assistants for walking on a hot morning. And thanks to all the neighborhood residents and workers who took a minute or two to stop and talk with the kids.
Thanks too to the garbage and recycling truck drivers for tooting their horns, waving and watching out for the groups of youngster as they traveled the streets.
More pictures at Merry View.

Crime note, Arnold and Draper
This place is not a crime blotter. You can go to Crime in Charlotte for that. But other places have mentioned this incident, so for those curious and as a caution to others, here's what happened May 24:

Police blotter:
"17:36
Eastway Division
2432 Arnold Drive
Victim was in her front yard looking at her flowers. Victim turned around and was confronted by a B/M, 6', slender, young, black mask, and had a small gold gun. Suspect took her purse and ran. No injuries."

More information from WSOC, excerpted here:
"A woman living in one of Charlotte’s oldest neighborhoods was checking on her garden after work Thursday when a masked man came out of the shadows, pointed a gun at her and stole her wallet....

“I had just gotten home. I’d gotten out of my car and I thought, ‘I’ll go take a look at the yard,” J.C. Honeycutt said.

Honeycutt was in her front yard in Merry Oaks, not far from the Charlotte Country Club in east Charlotte, when she saw the man in the shade.

“I saw first that somebody was standing in my yard; secondly that he was dressed in all black; third that he had a black mask on his face,” she said.

Then she saw the gun.

The man called her over and demanded her purse. He took her wallet with her cash and bank cards, and then took off....

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department shows few incidents have been reported in Merry Oaks since the beginning of the year, although plenty have happened along Eastway Drive and Central Avenue outside the neighborhood.

Briar Creek-Independence rezoning update

Here's an update from our neighbors in the Commonwealth neighborhood Google group. This is from a posting by Ted Cleary, about the May 21 rezoning hearing for development at Briar Creek and Independence Boulevard:

"There were several Commonwealth Park neighbors in attendance; one
spoke at the podium to express our consensus that we approved of the
project and its style, as shown in their architectural rendering and
especially based on the specified materials and details shown in the
construction drawing set they shared with us (which should eliminate
any down-grading in details due to 'value-engineering' that often
occurs in projects once construction begins). No neighbors, if any,
opposing the project had come forward in any lead-up meetings with
the developer, or at the re-zoning hearing last night.

The developer's attorney asked that Council approve the project last
night (rather than the normal procedure of a vote at next month's
meeting), due to delays already forced on him by incorrect
information from the Planning Dept.; one Councilmember expressed
concern about this break from procedure (perhaps because he wanted to
make sure nothing was being 'slipped by' them with a project he was
not fully familiar with); therefore, Council will vote next month
(approval is expected). You may begin to see marketing start before
then, but not construction till it's official."

Notes: Zoning committee is scheduled to meet at 4:30 on May 30 on the 8th floor of the Government Center to make a recommendation on the petition. That is not a public hearing, but the meeting is public. Full city coucil meets June 18 at 6 p.m. at the Government Center to vote on the petition, though that could always be delayed. Rezoning petition is at the rezoning site and it's Petition No. 2007-059.

Keeping connections strong
Listening to neighbors talking with neighbors through Google Groups is an amazing way to keep in touch with what's going on nearby.

It's almost as good as chatting with Mr. Bookout during his daily walks in Merry Oaks.

Smart politicians are active in these groups as well -- reading and posting as a way of staying in touch with local voters.

So the update: a German shepherd is roaming the Merry Oaks greenway, and neighbors are helping each other figure out whether the dog has an owner.

A zoning hearing on development at Briar Creek and Independence was scheduled Monday, May 21. At least one resident had signed up to speak in favor of residential condo development, but several residents are keeping an eye on the quality of the building plans.

Details at the Google groups for Merry Oaks and Commonwealth Park. The links were broken for awhile, but should be fixed. Please let me know if something does not work -- the tools can be hinky, to use a technical term.

And if you want to travel further away, check out a newsy blog by David Boraks for Davidson.

Closer to home, it's always good to check in periodically with John McBride at Under the Water Tower for Elizabeth news. You might find some local ice cream.

More places to walk
The trails at Merry Oaks Elementary School are finished and open to walkers.
One trail loops around the field, dipping briefly into the woods. Six trail markers help keep track of your distance: one loop is .31 miles, or 550 yards.
Another trail connects Merry Oaks Road with the community woodland garden area of school property. It ends in a water spigot, a great place for dogs and people to take a break.
The project was a partnership of Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and the school system. Community residents are welcome to take advantage of the planting space in the woodland garden area.
For more photos, go to Flickr.

Briar Creek condo update

From a neighborhood Google Group member, who attended the open house for the condos at Briar Creek:

The condos are 3 story walk-ups, ranging in size from about 700 sq. ft to 975 sq. ft., and ranging in price from $120,000 and up. And, it has one of the ugliest roof lines I've ever seen.

Briar Creek condos:

Community meeting with developers to discuss site plan for the rezoning of the
property at Briar Creek Road and Independence Boulevard.

Wednesday, May 2, 7 p.m., at WTVI, 3242 Commonwealth Ave.

The site is on your right when you're on Briar Creek, traveling from Central Avenue and before you hit the entrance ramp to go downtown.
Developers plan to build 28 residential condos. Current zoning
is for 16,000 feet of commercial use.

Site plan and other info available at Charlotte rezoning website.

Wild school at Merry Oaks

Merry Oaks Elementary received its designation as a wildlife habitat from the National Wildlife Federation.
The designation certifies that the school provides wildlife habitats on school grounds, provides educational material and encouragement to students. The Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association helped with planting and cleaning up during the April Hands on Merry Oaks Day.
If anyone wants to build and hang bluebird houses, send a message to the Merry Oaks Google group.

A week after a 69-year-old pedestrian was killed while trying to cross Central Avenue, area residents have a chance to learn about how we can redesign our area to make it easier to age in place.
Two opportunities:
Civic By Design Forum
Tuesday, March 13, 2007, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Levine Museum of the New South
200 East Seventh Street
Free parking at 7th street parking garage
Invited speakers:
Dr. Bill McCoy, Retired Director of UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
John Highfilll, Steering Committee Member
The Status of Seniors Initiative (SOSI)
Gayla Woody, Director, Area Agency on Aging
Rhonda Deitch, Associate State Director, AARP
Marsha Ghent, Caregiver Specialist, Services For Adults Division, DSS

Second opportunity:
Wednesday evening, March 14, St. John's Baptist Church on Hawthorne Lane. 6:45 p.m. McCoy, Highfill and others speak on the same topic. Details by calling church office, 704.333.5428.

Aging in place
A new Wednesday night series on aging in place and school design alternatives is planned at St. John's Baptist on Hawthorne Lane at Fifth Street. Program at 6:45 p.m. Details by calling church office, 704.333.5428.

Schedule:

March 7 - PREPARING FOR THE AGE WAVE
Fostering a senior-friendly community that values dignity and independence for all older adults

Speaker
Gayla Woody, Director, Area Agency on Aging
Rhonda Deitch, Associate State Director, AARP
Marsha Ghent, Caregiver Specialist, Services For Adults Division, DSS


March 14 - AGING IN PLACE
Physical Environment Implementation Workshop
Development principles to support “aging in place” for seniors and baby boomers (our future seniors).

Information:
--Maps showing neighborhoods with projected high concentrations of seniors and how they are useful to private and public decision makers.
* Recommendations, although directed toward the senior populations, serve to also preserve and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
--Recommendations may serve the goal of bringing about changes to residential, commercial and infrastructure construction by educating the broader community about development that is more "senior-friendly" - for seniors and baby boomers.

Speakers:
Dr. Bill McCoy, Retired Director of UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
John Highfilll, Steering Committee Member
The Status of Seniors Initiative (SOSI)


March 21 - SCHOOL DESIGN
Inspiration from Katrina
Learn about the pilot program being launched by Charlotte-Mecklenburg School (CMS) system to test the Hurricane Katrina-inspired Learning Cottage as an alternative to the mobile trailer-style classroom and a new approach to school campus design.

Speaker
Tom Low, Director
DPZ Architects and Town Planners

Loving The Penguin
People in the know loved The Penguin long before "Happy Feet."
The greasy spoon (and glass) in Plaza Midwood has a loyal following.
For a history lesson on one of the people behind a Charlotte landmark, see an obituary of Jim Ballentine at charlotte.com
For a look at the Penguin's brand and sign, see this.

Artists in the 'hood
New links here for artists in the 'hood. Inspired by a conversation at the grocery, and talk previously of profiling artists in the printed neighborhood newsletter.
I know there are more of you; if you're ready to go public, post your links in comments.

DSL or wireless in the 'hood
Some neighbors on the Merry Oaks Google group had questions about cable and DSL access.
Two notes:
1. Lots of political attention nationally has been on providing rural high-speed access, but the flip side could be reliable convenient urban access in not-so-wealthy areas, just where students need it most;
2. David Mildenberg of the Charlotte Business Journal seems to follow news about this issue closely.

Some background links:
A wireless alternative? Mildenberg in the Business Journal in November 2006
An alternative involving Duke Power
Rivalries, from Mildenberg
Taking care of suburban institutions
Access nationally, with diversity implications. Go to "Research and reports" on the right and click on "Are We Really A Nation Online?" for an in-depth .pdf document.

The fancy cankerworm traps done by professionals are catching the wingless moths that crawl into the trees and lay cankerworm eggs.
If you don't have fancy traps already, drag out something sticky -- holiday packing tape, duct tape, whatever -- and please wrap your trees. There's still time to catch more of these lovely bugs.
The moths are climbing wild cherry trees in addition to willow oaks. No sign of them climbing dogwoods or a maple. How about your trees? And has anyone heard official counts of the number of bugs this year compared to prior years?

Try this new toy for local information here . It was featured in the new Time issue about the person of the year being you.
I think it still has some issues, beyond bugs. Mainly, any aggregator is only as good as the information it aggregates, and Charlotte's bloggers haven't reached critical mass yet when it comes to information. You can get plenty of opinions everywhere, but actual news and information are hard to come by, except from charlotte.com
And if the Observer doesn't cover it, did it really happen? Of course it did, but only if someone reports it, and someone "tags" it so it can be found. And will people really do that well, for free?

Merry Oaks residents on their Google group are sharing sitings of blue herons and even a deer!
Two people spotted a deer with antlers near the 2600 block of Arnold Drive the morning of Dec. 13.
From Tom Poston: "It skittered across Arnold down to the wild area along
the tributary running into the country club and off into the woods.
In fifteen years of living here I've never seen a deer in the
neighborhood, although I could see how one or more could survive in
the woods along the edge of the school and in the country club
property."
The heron or herons are visiting Briar Creek Greenway and Covington Oaks. One was hunting in my front yard about a month ago.
Drive, walk or bike with eyes wide open. Tell your neighbors -- even those in Country Club, Plaza Midwood and Commonwealth Park -- to do the same.

Photo credits: little blue heron courtesy of William Klos via Flickr.com with Creative Commons licensing.
deer courtesy of Aileen via Flickr.com with Creative Commons licensing.

A link to a long post of inspiration on how to be creative, at any age, from a cartoonist and advertising industry worker: carve out some thinking time before clicking this. And yes, there may be some offensive language, and some British slang.

If you just don't have enough to do this season, check out this site for information and shopping "inside the four."
Route 4 is Charlotte's old "inner belt," including Eastway, Wendover and I think Woodlawn on the south side, though I'm a bit fuzzy on that. The website has links to neighborhood information and blogs about events and shopping in the center city. Save gas, plan your trips, or just make virtual connections with Charlotte's best neighborhoods.

Reminder: band your trees to fight cankerworms. Advice varies whether you should do trees other than willow oaks. This picture shows what the worms can do to a dogwood, though, if the worms manage to reproduce on your oaks and then move to other food sources.

Nearby North Carolina at Thanksgiving.