5-19-09 DSRCO NEWSLETTER

DSRCO
PO Box 26382
CHARLOTTE, NC 28221

Your Voluntary Annual Membership ($10 for families; $20 for businesses, groups, neighborhoods)helps make our work possible. We are grateful to the many individuals, families, neighborhoods,HOA's, businesses, churches, and groups who provided us with operating funds this past year. We invite you to renew your 2009 Membership now, as these folks did:

B.L. Payne
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DSRCO Community Calendar

Saturday May 23rd
A Concert of Gospel Music
7:00 pm, Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church -- Fellowship Hall

Featuring:Charlotte Harmony Choir (Togolese Choir of Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church)Sing With Us Choir (Togolese Choir from Washington DC area)Chancel Choir (Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church)Heavenly Choir (of the Ghana United Methodist Church, Charlotte)

For more info, call Joel: 704.449.3455, Church Office: 704.596.4466
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Friday, May 30 at 8 pm & May 31 at 3 pm
The North Mecklenburg Community Chorus
will present “There’s No Place Like Home,” their annual spring musical at Davidson College.

Songs like “Ease on Down the Road” from The Wiz,“Consider Yourself (at Home)” from Oliver, and a medley of songs from“Mamma Mia,” as well as many others from Broadway musicals, movies and television. Tickets are $15 each. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more. Call 704.875.1471 or 704.966.0528.===========================================Saturday, May 31stGovernor's Village Carnival Day11am-5pm, Vance High School Football Stadium, 7600 IBM DriveParticipating schools will be presenting a fun-filled day of Carnival Games, Food,Face Painting, Teacher Dunk Booth, Bounce House, Obstacle Course, Wall Climb,Video Games, Cotton Candy & More. Make plans now to bring the Family!!!!==================================

Monday, June 1st
Community Meeting --- New Plans for Metrolina Expo property
7pm: Oak Grove Methodist Church, 6440 Old Statesville Rd.

Important News about a major new Development Plan for the Metrolina Expo property will be discussed. Planners will offer details, will present maps & drawings of the huge 140+ acre make-over, and will respond to questions fromthe Community.


Can't say more about it at this time; but trust us, this will have a huge economic impact on our whole area and will be a catalyst for growth and redevelopment along the Hwy 21-115 corridors. You need to make plans to attend this meeting.
--- Bernie Samonds, DSRCO President
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Tuesday, June 2nd
District 2 Town Hall Meeting
6pm, East Stonewall AME Zion Church, 1729 Griers Grove Road
Contact Council Mitchell for details. jamesdistrict2@aol.com ===========================================

Saturday, June 13th
Newell Farmers Market Re-Opens
8am - 2pm, 1749 Rocky River Road (One block from the intersection of WT Harris & Rocky River Rd. Turn West on Rocky River Rd at the intersection)

GARDEN FRESH TO YOUR TABLE -- Have extra veggies in your garden and want to make a little extra money while sharing with your neighbors?

Contact: Nancy 704 578-1415 or Debbie 704 614-2363
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Neighborhood Meetings

Allen Hills - Carrie Hills Neighborhood
Tuesday, June 2 at 7pm. Christian Family Missionary Baptist, Allen Road South

Farmington
Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30pm, University City United Methodist, W Sugar Creek Rd
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What your Neighbors are saying:

Re: VFD Properties
Thanks for the excellent newsletter this month. Great job, as usual. And thanks for responding and explaining to the inquiry about the VFD properties.
--- John Whitlow, Nevin Community
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Patting Ourselves on the back
I'm really enjoying getting the monthly newsletter and have learned a great deal about the surrounding community from it. I'm grateful to be on the mailing list to receive it.
-- Patty Galloway
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Thank you so much for keeping us all updated on what is happening. You do such a great job!
--- Nancy Newton, Newell Association
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Recycling Your Old Computer
Thanks for all the terrific tidbits of information. I know there are many of us who really appreciate your hard work.

Wanted to share something that might be helpful to your readers. I had an "Old" computer that I wanted to donate. I learned that in order to donate a computer, most places require it to be no more than one operating system behind the most current. My little gem had Windows Millennium (haha) which I think is at least 4 systems back.

I stumbled across the fact that Best Buy will accept computers for recycling. In my case, the central processing unit was free and the old CRT monitor was $10 ---- I then received a $10 Best Buy gift card.

Simply take your components to the customer service desk - not the Geek Squad. Thought this might be a nice bit of info to share to help prevent these items from going into our landfills....
--- Jenny Day, Farmington Resident
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A Little Clean-Up is needed
I have noticed recently that there is very excessive trash in the overgrown grass and elsewhere in front of the Food Mart next to the Chilly Moose Restaurant. It looks terrible and is a definite blight on the Derita area. Any possibility there can be pressure be put on this business to clean up their act?

I think they could and should pay a young boy $5.00 – $10.00 a week to insure the area is clean.
--- Forest Pond resident
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The Derita Lions Club
meets the 2nd & 4th Monday of each month
Visitors & New Members Welcome
6:30 - 8 pm, Maria’s Grill in Derita, 2801 W. Sugar Creek Rd.

Lion FRED JONES ( 704 596-4015 ) will chair this year's Annual Vidalia Onion Sale. Orders can be placed with him or any of our Lion Club members. Proceeds help support our Lion Charity Work throughout the year.

The Lions will not meet on Monday, May 25th (Memorial Day), but will meet on June 8th. New Officers for the Year will be installed on Monday, June 22nd.

The winner of the Camp Dogwood raffle tickets car held in Raleigh was Millard Martin President of the Arcadia Lions Club in District 31-E. He was present or the drawing.

Lion Theresa Munyon, a VIP member of the Denton Lions Club drew the ticket.She was given the honor because she sold 203 books and 1 ticket. Proceeds from these sales help provide scholarships and offset operating expenses for Camp Dogwood --- our Summer Camp program for the visually impaired.
----- Allen Cameron, President, Derita Lions Club
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Planning for Summer for Kids…

Derita Presbyterian Church
Summer Camp
2230 West Sugar Creek Rd. For details, call 704 597-1122

June 11 - August 24th---- Ages 5 - 13,
$60 Registration Fee includes swimming fee, major field trips, insurance, supplies and transportation.

---- Weekly tuition: one child $85, two children $140., three children $180
---- Hot Breakfast and Lunch
---- Field Trips: NASCAR Speed Park (all), Lazy 5 Ranch (younger), Zuma Fun Center (all), LazerQuest (older)
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University City United Methodist Church
3835 West WT Harris Blvd. (corner of West Sugar Creek Rd.)
704-369-8000 http://www.ucumc.org/

Winshape Camp June 29 - July 3
Mon. - Thu. - 7:45AM - 5:00PM
Fri. - 7:45AM - 12:45PM
Rising 2nd - 7th Grade
Cost: $169 per camper
Register: http://www.winshapecamps.org/

Vacation Bible School July 20 - 24,
9:00AM - Noon
Rising 4-year-olds - 5th Grade
Cost: $10 per childRegistration begins May 17
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Derita Athletic Association Youth Football Camp ---
Football & Cheerleading Ages : 7 - 15
Place : Derita Football Field, 4920 W. Sugar Creek Road
Dates : May 30th June 13th June 20th June 27
Time : 9am - 1pm
Fee : Free !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Contact Mike Hamilton (980) 297-0265 or Cartina Belin (704) 299-6239
for Football
Jennifer Whitener (704) 258-9456 for Cheerleading

Camp Highlights :
- Superior Football Instruction
- Players Carefully Grouped by age & ability
- Skill Development Drills with Qualified Staff

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Football and Cheerleading Sign-Ups
The Derita Bulldogs Sports Ministry ("Mentoring Leaders of Tomorrow")
is now holding football and cheerleading sign-ups for girls and boys ages 5-16.

Limited spaces available.

Sign-ups are Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm at Nevin Family Barber & Beauty located at 5400-B Nevin Road. Training camp starts on Saturday, May 9th, 9 am -1pm at the Derita Presbyterian Church (2230 W. Sugar Creek Road).

Contact Lorenzo McDowell for information about sign-ups and registration by phone at 704.512.1806, by email at lorenzodriven@yahoo.com

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at the Local Parks

The Nevin Park Spray Ground is now open 7 days a week, 7am - 10pm. It's Free. Located just to the left at the Statesville Rd. entrance to Nevin Park.

Public Pools (Cordelia Park is closest to us) are now open on weekends. $1 per day. They will be open daily after school summer vacation begins. For more info on either of these, dial 311.
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at the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve.
Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

This Wednesday, May 20, we have two sunset programs available. Both run from 5-8 p.m. The Sunset Segway Adventure Tour ($35/person), still has 4 spots available. The Sunset Kayak Tour on Mountain Island Lake, has all 6 spots still available, with a cost of $16 for adult and $11 for youth.

Saturday May 23, we have two kayak tours with availability. The morning tour, 9pm.-12 Noon, has 2 spots remaining. The afternoon tour, 1-4 pm also has two spots remaining. The cost being $16 for adult and $11 for youth.

Sunday May 24, all 6 spots are available for the afternoon kayaking tour from 1-4 pm. Also on May 24, we have the high tech treasure hunt game, known as Geocaching, with 8 spots open at a small fee of $8 for adult and $6 for youth.

Our kayaking tours and our Geocaching Adventure are also available May 30, with plenty of availability.

Kevin A. Pimentel
Outdoor Recreation Specialist
(W) 704-875-1392 Nextel - 980-721-3117
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HOT DOGS EVERY THURSDAY
Oak Grove United Methodist Church 6440 Old Statesville Road,
11am - 2pm

Fix'em the way you like'em, Eat In or Take Out

Not a Hot Dog fan? Skip the dogs, choose the Homemade Soup & muffin or Pinto Beans and cornbread (ketchup & onions available)

Warm friendly atmosphere. Wonderful conversation readily available
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Need Extra Tables & Chairs for
Family Gatherings & Yard Sales?

Contact Bernie Samonds (704 806-3813 deritarep@aol.com )
8ft. folding tables, $5 available to rent. Folding metal chairs, 50 cents each.
Call now to reserve them. Liberal pickup and return availability.
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Funding to help implement your neighborhood project?
Want to know how the City of Charlotte can help?

If so, please join us Wednesday, May 20th from 6pm-8:30 pm at Old City Hall located at 600 East Trade Street for our Neighborhood Matching Grant pre-application workshop.

During this workshop, you will learn about:
The basics of the program
Tips for completing the application
How the application is scored And more!

The workshop is free and open to all eligible neighborhoods.
Established neighborhood organizations may be eligible if located in an area with a median household income up to $64,219.00.

To find out more click here or call us at 704-336-2061.
Pre-registration is not required.

Jean Love
Neighborhood & Business Services
(o) 704-336-4161 / (f) 704-336-3959 http://neighborhoods.charmeck.org/
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Your Questions and Some Answers

Q. I read your last Q & A about people going house to house, knocking ondoors & ringing doorbells with interest. I'm a single Mom and sometimes my Kids get home from School before I get in from work. I have told them to stay in the house, keep the door locked, and don't open the door to strangers.You said they SHOULD answer the door?

ANSWER, but NOT OPEN the door is what CMPD said. Then call 911 to report strangers possibly canvassing homes in the neighborhood.

Some areas of town have experienced this home break-in tactic, where the bad guys knock or ring to see if there is anyone at home. Not wanting to provoke a confrontation, the bad guys will usually move on to another house if they get any type of response at all. Alerting 911 gives Police Officers a quick alert sothey can swing by and check out possible culprits.Okay, so what should my kids say through the closed door?

We suggest: "Come back later, Mom's cooking dinner!" or just "Go Away!"

Officer Amanda Giannini suggests “Mom’s in the shower….taking a nap….on thephone…etc.” Parents need to explain that it is okay to “tell a little lie” under these circumstances.

She also reminds you, if you have a "Latch Key Kid" it's a good to have them phone you (or a friend, if you can't take calls at work) to let you know that they have arrived home safely.
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Q. The news media frequently refers to "the decades old Connector Road"plan (Graham St. Connector, aka Mallard Creek Rd Realignment project. So how come I only heard about it a year or so ago?

Some folks don't pay attention future plans until they find a project plopped right into their own backyard. Then it becomes personal.

This story goes back nearly 30 years. Traffic in Derita was not so bad back then, but area leaders could seewhat was coming. Graham Street -- the one-time two lane country road known as Derita Rd -- was being widened to four lanes, as was another narrow two-lane road from Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church at North Tryon St. . . That means eight lanes of traffic would be soon reduced to 2 lanes in front of Derita School and though it all, new houses were going up along Mallard Creek Rd, Hubbard Rd, Brown Rd. and all over the place.

Rep. John McLaughlin, the veteran Postmaster of Newell, NC, was serving as our N.C. State Representative and he was meeting with a State Road engineer and Derita leaders like the late John Mitzell (a former Derita VFD Chief & Past President of the Derita Men's Club). They were having lunch as one of the men sketched out "The Derita By-Pass" on the back side of a dinner napkin.

With the railroad firmly entrenched on one side and businesses with barely a car-length of parking on the other side, they knew there was no way to widen West Sugar Creek Rd. A new road was needed to extend from Graham St, swing wide to the right of the Derita business area and connect further down Mallard Creek Rd.

That's what they decided and the State Engineer took the suggestion back to his office for study. The State came up with three workable routes, but one by one they were eliminated as developers constructed subdivisions in their paths.

Forest Pond sits astride the last remaining route. Developers there included awide right-of-way corridor in their site plan. But as we have learned in recent months, it was planned for a two lane road, not four. . . The best laid plans. . .

Through it all, the leaders at DSRCO have tried our best to keep folks aware of the road and the State's commitment to help us resolve the traffic nightmare that continues to grow with each passing year and every new rooftop.
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Q. We moved into Hubbard Glen last Fall and I recently began receiving your newsletter. I know there is a Hubbard Falls subdivision, but is there actually a "Hubbard Falls" ?

Yes, there is, but probably not what you are thinking. Here in the south, we often refer to "cascades" as "Falls." That's where usually shallow water races over a rock outcropping churning up a little whitewater as it goes. There is such a spot just upstream from the bridge on Hubbard Rd. When we have substantial rain, longtime residents tells us it creates a quite impressive sight.

And yes, we would truly love to see some actual photos of Hubbard Falls that we could include in an upcoming Newsletter and maybe post on-line in our new Derita Historical Archive. http://deritahistoricalarchive.blogspot.com/
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Q. Re: Griffin's Fish Camp --- From what you've written, I take it that this is some sort of Seafood Restaurant, but I don't think we have anything like that where we came from.

Probably not. It's a "Southern" institution. Looked it up on the internet for you.
"What exactly IS a Fish Camp? Fish camp --- seafood restaurant, Southern style.Usually on the menu will be fried flounder, fried catfish, fish stew, fried shrimp and sometimes you can still get fried frogs legs as a main course.

"If you ain't up for fish, calabash chicken is an option. The sides will always be a baked tater or fries, salad or cole slaw, and hush puppies. Of course, your beverage is iced tea -- and if you don't want it sweet, you order unsweetened ice tea. Then, of course, everyone will begin to wonder if you're truly a Southerner. If you're dieting, we'll let you slide getting unsweetened iced tea, then putting Sweet N' Low in it.

"Of course, if you're dieting and at a fish camp, something went wrong somewhere or you ain't got the sense God gave a billy goat."
( http://tracihill.com/southernslang2.html )============================================================

Q. I have been reading the announcements for your Derita Area Business Group. Are there ever any meetings during the evening for people who have a business but also work a full time job? I just can't make it to the 9am meeting.

During the past year we have tried early morning, brunch, and our traditional 7pm meetings. There is a small core group that will make either, but our largest participation has been during the 9am brunch. We will be happy to share some of the same information at our third Thursday evening meeting (Derita PresbyterianChurch).

We firmly believe that Derita needs to have a strong business cooperative to revitalize our central business district. We need to reach out to the many small and home-based businesses as well. There are many talented folks who live within our boundaries. By networking, we can let all of our neighbors know what services are available and take advantage of some of the exceptional bargains that created when folks shop close to home.
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Q. Who is our (Slater Rd area) police contact? We have a kid that rides his dirt bike every day up and down Slater Rd going super fast, probably 50 - 60 mph. (The speed limit is 35 and these bikes are not allowed on the street.) I look for him to get squashed everyday as he screams up and down the road.I know that the police have been out one time to approach him, my neighbor saw them stopping him. I do not want to call 911 when he does this, because it is taking valuable time away from our officers. I had all the info one time that you printed in one of your newsletters. Thanks. --- Concerned

The RAC (Response Area Commander) for Slater Road (the 2 response area) is gt. Huber. Right now there is only one coordinator assigned to that area because orth Division has not filled the other position. Ofc Justin Thornton is the coordinator ssigned. His email is jthornton1@cmpd.org

Meanwhile, I will pass this information along to the HITS officer assigned to our district. I would also ask that if you see this individual driving the bike on the road call 911 and have an officer dispatched. If they catch him on the road they can take the appropriate action.
--- Officer Amanda Giannini, Response Area 3

Ofc. Giannini is absolutely correct. You didn't want to bother Officers on Patrol, but just imagine if this kid gets "Squashed" or slams into someone. How many Officers & others will be called to the scene of an accident? How many will be involved in the reconstruction of the accident, the paperwork, notifying the next of kin? Please Call 911, it's the best thing you can possibly do . . . for everyone.

In the DSRCO Area

Statesville Rd to Beatties Ford, including Slater Rd.
Ofc. Justin Thornton jthornton1@cmpd.org.


Nevin, Derita, Gibbon Rd, Crater Park, Devongate, Poplar Springs, Oakbrooke, General's Pointe, Hunter Acres, Allen Hills, Cardinal Glen, Grenelefe, Scotsborough, Thompson Glen, Deritawoods/Tanglewoods
Officers Amanda Giannini & Mike Travis, Sgt. Jim Wilson
North Division Response Area 3 Coordinators 704 432-3824
agiannini@cmpd.org mtravis@cmpd.org jwilson1@cmpd.org


Royal Oaks
Ofc. T.S. Price- tprice@cmpd.org
Ofc. R. Quiles- rquiles@cmpd.org
704-336-8398 North Tryon Division


Sugar Springs. Great Oaks, Forest Pond. Kelsey Glen, Farmington, Hubbard Glen, Harrington Woods, Brookstone, Neal Rd., etc.
jmcgraw@cmpd.org, awatts@cmpd.org
University City Division
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Today's Funny:
(From our FREE Friday Funny E-Mail Send us an email if you'd like to receive it.)

Airplane!

While cruising at 40,000 feet, the airplane shuddered and Mr. Benson looked out the window. "Goodness!" he screamed, "one of the engines just blew up!"

Other passengers left their seats and came running over; suddenly the aircraftwas rocked by a second blast as yet another engine exploded on the other side.The passengers were in a panic now, and even the stewardesses couldn't maintain order.

Just then, standing tall and smiling confidently, the pilot strode from the cockpit and assured everyone that there was nothing to worry about. His words and his demeanor seemed to make most of the passengers feel better, and they sat down as the pilot calmly walked to the door of the aircraft. There, he grabbed several packages from under the seats and began handing them to the flight attendants.Each crew member attached the package to their backs.

"Say," spoke up an alert passenger, "aren't those parachutes?"

The pilot said they were. The passenger went on, "But I thought you said there was nothing to worry about?"

"There isn't," replied the pilot as a third engine exploded. "We're goingto get help."
--- submitted by Deborah Rowe ================================================================

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