Tuesday, February 2, 2010

11-15-09 Derita-Statesville Road Community Org. Newsletter

Monday, November 16th

Military Eat Free at Golden Corral Restaurants

Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on

Monday, November 16, from 5 to 9 pm at all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide.

The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever

served in the United States Military.

If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves,

you are invited to join us for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and

contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

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Monday, November 16 – Monday, November 23
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Relay Center
University City United Methodist Church will serve as a community drop-off
location for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Hours for drop-off are:
Monday - Friday, Nov. 16 – 20, Noon – 7:00pm
Saturday, Nov. 21, 10:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday, Nov. 22, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Monday, Nov. 23, 9:00am - Noon

3835 West WT Harris Blvd. (corner of WT Harris Blvd. and W. Sugar Creek Road)
704-369-8000 www.ucumc.org

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Saturday, November 21st

UMW Fall Bale Sale

8am - Noon, Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 6440 Old Statesville Rd

A wide variety of home-made baked goods just in time for your holiday meals.

Pies, Cookies & Snack Treats, Cakes & Cupcakes, Breads, even some great

casseroles. While you're here, enjoy a sausage biscuit with a coffee, milk or juice

Proceeds help sponsor projects of the United Methodist Women.

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Sunday, November 22nd

Community Thanksgiving Service

7 pm, Statesville Road Baptist Church

The churches of One Body invite everyone to a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday,

Nov. 22, 7 pm at Statesville Road Baptist Church, 4901 Statesville Road. It is

sure to be an evening of joyful thanksgiving and fellowship. Light refreshments will

be served.

One Body is an interdenominational cooperative of congregations in the Derita,

Nevin, and Beatties Ford Rd. communities striving for strengthened unity among

Christians and shared outreach to impact the world. The churches of One Body

include Arc de Salvacion Iglesia, Blessed Harvest Institute, Cole Memorial United

Methodist Church, Derita Baptist Church, Greater Deliverance Ministries,

Greater Faith Temple Ministries, Life Changing Church, Oak Grove United Methodist

Church, Statesville Road Baptist Church, Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church,

and we welcome other area churches to join us.

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Monday, November 23rd
Red Cross Blood Drive
2:30 – 7:00pm, University City United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall

3835 West WT Harris Blvd. (corner of WT Harris Blvd. and W. Sugar Creek Road)
704-369-8000 www.ucumc.org

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Wednesday, November 25th

Community Thanksgiving Service with Communion

Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church, 4700 Beatties Ford Road
704 392 8816

You are invited to join us for a Community Thanksgiving Service with Communion.

7pm. Nursery care will be provided.
Come Give Thanks to the Lord!

Peace, Rev. Carol Hassell http://www.williamsmemorialpc.org

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Thursday, December 3rd

Derita Area Business & Service Providers Meet

9am, Maria's Grill, West Sugar Creek Rd. Open to Everyone, business or not.

Find out about FREE Advertising, Cost-saving Cooperative Efforts, Local Networking

Opportunities. Together we are working to help local businesses grow despite the

tough economy. Got a business card? You'll want to pass some out and tell us

briefly about your business. Networking can lead to great referrals.

How long is this going take? We'll be done in under 60 minutes, that's the rule.

Even if you have to duck out early, it will be worth your time.

Last month several new businessmen introduced their companies and what they do

here. We exchanged business cards, heard from Alban Burney (Charlotte Small

Business Development Office) and discussed several marketing and promotion

ideas.

This meeting, we'll hear from Anthony Famularo (Catch NC) on how to recognize the

customer base most likely to use your business and how to target them so that

your advertising budget can be used most effectively. Plus more Networking to

help you enter 2010 with more folks on your side.

"Our Goal is to Promote Local Businesses and Service Professionals Serving Our Area."

--- DSRCO 704 806-3813 Leave Msg deritarep@aol.com

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Saturday, December 5th
Annual Cookie Walk
9am – Noon, University City United Methodist Church

Come purchase a box of homemade holiday treats!

All proceeds benefit a Youth Ministry mission project.

3835 West WT Harris Blvd. (corner of WT Harris Blvd. and W. Sugar Creek Road)
704-369-8000 www.ucumc.org

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Saturday & Sunday, December 5 & 6th

“The Spirit of Christmas”

Northside Baptist Church, 333 Jerimiah Drive

Come celebrate the "Spirit of Christmas" with the Adult Choir and Orchestra at

Northside as we journey in time to Bethlehem to view the birth of the Christ Child,

the greatest gift of all. Listen to songs of the season, both old and new, as sung

by the choir and praise team. See the wise men as they present their gifts to

the young child. Experience Christ’s death and glorious resurrection. Encounter

the Spirit of Christmas this year at Northside!

This Christmas event is free and open to the public. Groups welcome!

Performances: Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, December 6 at

10:30 am.

For more information, please contact Jennifer in the church music office at

704-596-4856, ext. 2291. Northside is located at I-85 and Sugar Creek Rd exit
============================================

Saturday, December 19th

The Mystery and the Majesty: a Worship Musical for Christmas

6:30 PM, University City United Methodist Church

The Celebration Choir, Psalm 150 Orchestra, Spirit Singers, Soloists, Exaltation

Ringers, Drama Ministry, Dance Ministry, Technical Team, and Narrators will

present this is a free concert and a love offering will be received. Half of the

offering will be donated to agencies helping to provide shelter for the homeless

people of Charlotte.

Childcare for ages 0-5 years is available upon request. To make childcare

reservations please call 704-369-8027 before Wednesday, December 16.

University City United Methodist Church is located at the intersection of West

WT Harris Blvd. and West Sugar Creek Rd. 704-369-8000 www.ucumc.org

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Allen Hills - Carrie Hills Neighborhood Association will meet Tuesday,

December 1st, 7-8pm at Family Missionary Baptist Church, corner of Allen Rd South

& East. Please plan to attend.

Poplar Springs Neighborhood Association will meet at
Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church the 3rd Saturday of each month at

12:15pm.

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What your Neighbors are saying

Fire Ants - Use Grits!

Okay, so Melvene Dowell, Cliff & Eric's Mom, frequently prints out a copy of our

Newsletter to share with friends at Derita Baptist Church. The notes recently

about how to deal with Fire Ants apparently was missing a sure-fire method of

dispatching the feisty little devils.

"Sprinkle dry grits all over the ant hill," said one fellow."They eat their fill and the

first time they drink some water, Poof! The grits expand and they explode."

I was telling the story during our Business Meeting the other day at Maria's Grill,

when a gentlemen sitting at another table with two friends spoke up. "It's true!"

he says. "I've used dry grits everywhere I had fire ant hills. Got rid of all of them."

So there's your confirmation, folks. He didn't say, but I'm assuming that he used

Self-Rising Grits, because it also has salt in it. I remembering writing about what

the salt did to my worm farm enterprise. The instruction book should have said,

"Feed the PLAIN Grits."

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Mt. Airy Election Results

Excuse me for keeping you on pins and needles. Meant to post a note in the last

newsletter about Paul Eich's campaign for Mayor of Mt. Airy. Not really your big

city campaign. Things are pretty laid-back in Mt. Airy. Some yard signs, a good

bit of hand-shaking. Don't know that the Candidates ever did a debate. It was just

a week or two before the Primary that they all appeared in the same room together.

Okay, enough with the suspense. The newcomers --- that being Paul (a resident

for only a couple of years) and another who had only lived in Mt. Airy for 18 years,

lost in the Primary. It was a good first showing.

==============================================================

Rain Totals

October rain totals 2.93 at CRN-54 Derita Alternative and

2.64 at CRN-58 Mallard Creek Elementary

--- Jack Brosch, Cell (704) 622-6995

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Mike Kleban's Christmas Appeal

Please allow me to introduce myself and what I am trying to accomplish

through this letter. My name is Mike Kleban and my associates are

Michelle Williams and Joni Lineberger. I am a member of Oak Grove

United Methodist Church and live in Harrisburg, NC. Previously, I

lived at 2701 Dellinger Circle for thirty-seven years and my three boys

attended Statesville Road Elementary and Ranson Middle School. My

wife currently works for Statesville Road Elementary.

We have an Outreach Ministry, focused on the Derita-Nevin-Beatties

Ford Road areas. Our mission is to provide gifts of mostly clothing and

some toys for underprivileged boys and girls at Christmas.

Our ministry is unique in that all the money collected goes directly to

the children and their families. There are no salaries or expenses incurred

by the organization. We all three volunteer our time. Wrapping paper,

cards, stamps, etc. if not donated; the expense generally comes out of our

own pockets.

Our contacts are Mr. Perry Owens (Statesville Road Elementary and

Ranson Middle School) and Mrs. McKinney and Ms. Morton at Winding

Springs Elementary. They identify families within their schools that are

in need of assistance or perhaps are suffering a crisis. Other families

come to us by word of mouth.

Our goal this year is to collect $10,000 and help at least 100 children.

It all started one cold 1990 December morning. While driving to work,

I spotted four boys and girls walking to Statesville Road Elementary

School with just shirts and sweaters on. I called the secretary at

Statesville Road and found out they were a needy family and lived about

two blocks from the school. I advised my fellow employees and we took

up a collection to buy each child clothes and one toy. The Paw Creek

American Legion donated food for the family. This ministry has grown

from one family with five children to last year’s total of 17 families that

included 53 boys and girls.

Christmas 2008 we received donations of $7,112. Michelle and Joni

bought and wrapped over 400 items. We gave cookies and candy to

each family for stocking gifts. We gave each child a $25 Food Lion gift

certificate from the donated money and Speedway Children’s Charity

donated NASCAR related racing items and Omega Tees and Printing of

Boone, NC donated tees and sweatshirts.

Tax-deductible checks can be made out to Oak Grove UMC (with

Mike Kleban Christmas Ministry) noted in memo line. Checks may be

mailed to Oak Grove UMC, 6440 Old Statesville Road, Charlotte, NC

28269 or directly to Mike Kleban, 317 Woodside Drive, Harrisburg, NC

28075.

No donation is too small! Please help us make a difference this Holiday

Season in the lives of 100 boys and girls. Thank you in advance and

may God Bless You! Mike, Michelle and Joni

============================================

2009 DERITA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TEAMS WIN TWO CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS!

MIDGETS MOVE ON TO NATIONALS IN FLORIDA!

Derita has two more reasons to be proud. It's Junior Midget and Midget football teams,

the two highest levels of Pop Warner play, have won the Pop Warner Lil' Panthers

championships. The Lil' Panthers cover a large area, from Weddington and Mint Hill,

to Steele Creek, Freedom Drive, and Coul-Oak, and up to Lake Norman.

The Midget team needs only to win a regional game on Nov. 28 before going

to Florida.

The Derita Midget team gets to move on to the national championships being held

at Disney World in the first week of December. What an accomplishment it would be

if this team could bring the national championship trophy to Derita! They have a good

shot at doing this.

Sending the team to Florida is a major financial challenge. The budget for this

competition is around $30, 000! The Athletic Association has begun submitting

funding proposals to the NFL and other groups. If you are interested in helping this

team, please contact Association President George Griffin at (704)575-7904.

As a side note, the Association's peer tutoring program is also booming, increasing

its services by nearly tenfold over last year. Derita Athletic has teamed with Boy Scout

Troop 13 to make this happen. The program has begun to generate some national

interest, recently receiving a major donation from Paradigm Publishing.

So, things are looking up at Derita Athletic!

Thanks,
Ron Cournoyer

===============================================================

A Note from John Lassiter

Dear Friends,

As I close this chapter of my public service, I want to share a few closing comments

as well as the video of my speech to friends and supporters Election Night.

We ran a campaign built on integrity and the issues facing this city. We never wavered

or compromised principle for political gain. With your help and support, we did

everything we planned last winter and a little more in the closing days, but in the end,

several factors were too much to overcome: a last minute infusion of funds from Raleigh

bolstering our opponent, a series of attacks on my record of service, lack of support

from the paper and an effective straight ticket effort in predominately Democratic precincts.

At the end of the day, the citizens of Charlotte made a choice, and I wish our new mayor

the very best in his service.

Beverly and I deeply appreciated your willingness to stand with us this week. I will look

back at the campaign and my public service with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

As I said Tuesday night, find your way to give back to this wonderful city that has been so

good to our family. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,
John Lassiter
===========================================

FREE Storm Damage Roof Inspection

This area has been declared a catastrophic area by the insurance companies, and

the 28269 zip code is a priority area for damage. Simply put, we help the homeowner

get their roof replaced by the insurance company under an act of God.

Several hail and wind storms recently struck the area and your roof may have sustained

damage. American Shingle can help. We are an insurance restoration company with

experience in the identification and restoration of damaged building materials, including

damage caused by storms and natural disasters. We have performed thousands of

property inspections and recovered settlements all across the country for homeowners

like you. Our staff has over 20 years experience in insurance, roofing, roofing construction

and home remediation.

As part of our service, American Shingle will:
- Have a certified inspector inspect your property
- Consult with your insurance company to determine scope and cost of repairs
- Meet your adjuster for the inspection to insure proper identification of the damages
- Prepare documentation, including photographs of damage for your insurance adjuster
- Replace your roof and restore it to its original condition

American Shingle is offering a
free inspection of your roof and the exterior of your home.

Call D.A. Hanks today for a free inspection at: 704-400-6280
============================================

The Derita Lions Club

meets the 2nd & 4th Monday of most months

Visitors & New Members Welcome

6:30 - 8 pm Maria’s Grill in Derita 2801 W. Sugar Creek Rd.

Our Fresh Fruit Boxes will soon be available for the holidays.

Fresh Fruit for your home. Even better as a Gift. --- And Each purchase

helps fund our Lions Charity Work.

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Kidshine Performing Arts Day Camp

Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church, 4700 Beatties Ford Road

For rising 3rd through 8th graders

June 14-18 from 9:00-3:00, with a performance on Friday night at 7:00

Cost and more details will be available soon.

Scholarships available

For information call 704 392 8816 or www.williamsmemorialpc.org

=======================================

As I Recall . . . memories of a growing up in Derita

Good Times --- Fred

Bernie, we have talked several times about how we made money as boys.

I remember washing windows, mowing lawns, yard work in general. We helped

farmers do whatever came along. We picked & sold berries & plums, carried

groceries home from the store for the older ladies. About every (3) weeks

I would clean-out & put down fresh shavings in the chicken coop for

Mr. T.D. Little, Sr.

One of the worse jobs that I recall was topping onions for Mr.B.J. Hunter.

He had pulled them up & threw them on the floor of an old smokehouse to dry.

You talk about STINK . . . now they did! My buddy, Billy Tarrant & I

tackled this job, but the first thing we did was to get those stinking onions out

in the yard.

The pig pen wasn't too far away, so there were plenty of flies around when

we started but those onions smelled so bad that the flies soon left. We spent

one afternoon & most of the next day topping those things & as I recall, Mr.
B.J. gave us each a quarter. But you know, that would buy the worlds' best

Hot Dog & a Pepsi-Cola down at Roys' Grill in Derita..

That was one hard way to earn a quarter but I found-out there was another

way too. Mr Young, who had the big farm way down the road behind Derita

School always raised cotton. The Mecklenburg Fair was to start in about a week

& I needed to make some fair money. Mr.Young said he would pay me a penny

a pound for all the cotton that I would pick. I thought, Heck that looks easy. I'll

pick a ton of that stuff. I told Mr.Young that I would start next morning.

When I got there he put this burlap bag with a strap sewed onto it, over my

shoulder & showed me where to start. Well I picked & picked & picked &

thought I never would get the bottom of my bag covered. At noon time it didn't

weigh any more than when I started & my back was killing me & I was hungry

because I ate my lunch earlier. I was having a hard time dragging that bag around.

It kept getting hung-up on the cotton stalks. All the other cotton pickers had their

bags full of white cotton. I stayed with it till time to weigh-in.

Mr. Young weighed my little flat bag & gave me a quarter. That made me mad &

I gave it back to him, jumped on my bike & went home. Mr. Young came to the
post office the next morning & gave my mother a half-dollar to give to me. He said:

"The boy really didn't pick the quarters' worth, but go ahead & give him that

anyway. --- Fred

======================================================

I remember listening to T.D. Little telling about his misspent youth --- growing up

in Derita. During the summer, he would earn up to 50 cents a day working in

the fields for a local farmer. He might be picking cotton or tending to vegetables,

whatever.

Well, word got around that another farmer was paying just a little bit more per day,
don't recall if it was a dime or a nickel. But T.D. felt he needed to check it out.

After all, business is business. Before long, he was back with the original farmer.

Sure, he was making less money working for this guy . . . But both jobs included

lunch, and T.D. said "the first farmer's wife was a much better cook than the

second." ---- Bernie Samonds

=======================================================

Roughing It in Derita

As you might imagine I was all over that upper part of Hunter Acres and there

was in fact another small lake over in that area where I used to go to pitch a

tent and spend the day there with some of my neighborhood friends. I remember

getting to that lake by going through the woods just above the earthen dam of

the Hunter Acres Lake. We followed a trail up through the woods that connected

to the dirt road.

Don't know if you remember or not but Mike Rodman's family also had a farm

on the other end of Gibbon Rd going toward Brockenborough Airport. We spent

many a Scouting weekend out in his woods behind the house and also riding his

mule --- which I got knocked off of one weekend by a tree limb. --- Rick Hyman

====================================
The second lake that you mentioned (closer to Derita & not far off Gibbon)

was probably on a dirt road called Lakeshore Dr.--- now inside a new gated
retirement community called the AME Zion Renaissance Center and controlled
by the A.M.E. Zion Church. They bought close to 100 acres starting on Nevin

Rd and backing up towards Hunter Acres. Moved part of their worldwide

offices here in a huge 3 story building on West Sugar Creek Rd. and there's

even a Farmers & Mechanics bank located on the site.

What most folks probably don't know is that the complex also has a beautiful

Banquet & Meeting Center that draws groups from all over and has kept the

place booked from almost the day it opened.

Yes, we camped behind the Rodman's once when Donnie Hudson (Frances

Hudson's son) was in Troop 14. We backpacked around a huge corn field

and off into the woods. Waded through honeysuckle and beggar lice until
we reached a dried up creek and followed it further into the deep woods to
a clearing. It was summer. Hot. No breeze. No water and the mosquitoes
almost ate us alive. Donnie said he and his friends used to camp there often.

It was a one time trip for us.

Usually we went away on our camping trips, though the boys did camp behind

my house a number of times. Usually just small groups. We had five acres of

woods along a small creek here in Allen Hills. Lots of gullies & ravines for

playing Army. Plenty of firewood down & standing. Old growth trees that

provided a high canopy and very little ground cover. . . Add to that, my folks

convenience store (The Cubbyhole Grocery) on the lot next door --- complete

with a slurppie machine and the most varied candy counter in Charlotte.

--- Bernie Samonds

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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

=============================================

Safe, Convenient Way To Dispose of Old Computers

Do you have an old computer stashed in your closet? What about an old cell phone,

radio, or printer? Chances are you’re keeping them around simply because you

don’t know what to do with them.

Now’s your chance to rid your home of the clutter, help the environment, and help

your friends and neighbors with the training they need to be successful in this tough

job market.

This past weekend, the Charlotte Junior Chamber & Goodwill Industries held an

City-wide Electronics Recycling Drive at all 20 Goodwill store and collection sites.

But you can still bring in items. Goodwill accepts: Monitors, Fax Machines, Printers,

Keyboards, Typewriters, Stereo Systems, VCRs, Photocopiers, Cell Phones. All

donations are tax deductible and all proceeds from donated items will help fund

Goodwill’s employment and training programs.

For more details, contact: jcoates43@gmail.com or (540) 664-6469.

=============================================

Your Questions and Some Answers

Q. Bernie: Word on the street is the ACE Hardware at Sugar Creek/Cheshire has

gone out of business due to poor economy. I'm told the owner could not even hold

a clearance sale because he could not make payroll. The way the Dollar Store

people next door to ACE explained it, was the owner of ACE locked the doors and

mailed the keys to the ACE corporate and the owners of the building and then went

home. Shocking because the store is full of product! Please advise if you can get

more details or accurate details. This would be a shame. It was always easier

going there than to a big box store. --- Missing Them Already, A Customer

Can't confirm that keys were mailed to the Ace Corp. or anything about the Payroll.

But they have closed, at least for now.

We had received word from another repeat customer that she had been in the store

last Wednesday to pickup some items. It was then that she found out items were being

marked down 30-40% for a Clearance Sale and that Friday would be the last day the

store would be open. She emailed us on Thursday.

We circulated that information to our Crime Watch List (much smaller distribution than

our regular Newsletter email list). But we received an email from two folks on Friday

that the store did not open for the final day. UPS & Fedex tags were stuck to the front door,

and clerks next door said they did not believe the store was open on Thursday either.

Not sure if it was the economy. You remember Poole's ACE Hardware was forced to

close in this same shopping center several years back because Management had

drastically raised the rent. They were able to hold a sale, but wound up having to store

mdse in trailer trucks until they could finally sell it off.

Whatever, we are also sad to see another independent businessman forced out of

business. We all know what happens when a BIG BOX STORE thinks they can do better

elsewhere. They think nothing of closing the door and leaving their empty shell behind.

That's why Jack Brosch, DSRCO & I have struggled for the past year & a half to pull

together the Derita Businesses & Service Providers Group (a local Merchant's Assn.,

if you will, that includes Derita & the surrounding area.) We schedule Networking

opportunities, offer co-op marketing opportunities, and discuss inexpensive ways

to promote local businesses. There is NO membership fee. Our next meeting is on

Thursday, Dec. 3rd at Maria's Grill. (See the Calendar note above.)

====================================================================

Q. What happened to the printed DSRCO Newsletters we used to find at the

bank, Post Office and other places? Not everyone is on-line and has access

to it.

Other than meeting announcement cards and an occasional information sheet,

you're right. As dues contributions began to shrink, we moved toward an on-line

newsletter without the accompanying postage and printing costs. Several local

businesses (see their business cards here) stepped up to cover the internet fees

and we were able to reach nearly four times as many families (and growing).

With a much more diversified Newsletter twice each month, instead of once per

quarter, we found we could be more timely, present more information and be

more useful to the Community as an umbrella organization.

If you have neighbors who are not getting our Newsletter, we hope that you will

forward them a copy, or maybe invite them to get on our email list. It is Free!

And if they're not on-line, maybe you could print off a copy every so often. It's a

quite neighborly thing to do.

====================================================================

Q. Is there anyway to get the owners of the property on Oneida -- bought to

build condos --- to clean up the property. Obviously the project has been

delayed. The grass is growing out of control and mounds of dirt sit near

the curb. This semi-vacant property is an eyesore to the entrance of our

community. It is bad enough that they cut the trees down, destroying the

natural habitat for the wildlife. Now it has been sitting for months without

maintenance. --- Please Advise

"I read in one of your previous newsletters a complaint about high grass in an

unfinished development off Oneida Rd. After reading the complaint, I made contact

with the property owner and they remedied the problem. If any of your readers have

similar concerns, continue to direct them to Call 311 and I’ll be happy to follow up.

Thanks. --- Josh Myers, Code Enforcement - City of Charlotte

=============================================================

Q. A couple years ago we questioned when Gibbon Road would receive

sidewalks because of increased population. We were told that we had

moved up in priority and consideration for sidewalks, my question to

you is, have you heard anything recently?

All we hear is "light rail" and that of no help to us here in Derita. I myself

have had "close calls" at night when teens choose to wear all black &

hoodies; before you realize it, you have to move into (the lane of) oncoming

traffic to avoid hitting someone. --- Stephanie Walker,
Poplar Springs Neighborhood Association

Q. Something needs to be done about pedestrian and bicycle traffic on Gibbon

Road between Nevin and Crater Park. Someone is going to get killed. Have

you heard anything about any widening or sidewalks? --- Vickie Whitlow

There is nothing going on right now. Allison Brickley announced plans here a

few weeks ago to complete a few stretches of sidewalk around the proposed train

station at Gibbon & Nevin. Part of it has already been done by the current owners.

The City will just do fill-in work to provide better access to the CATS station.

No timeline.

A very distant (and expensive) plan could see a sidewalk extended from Nevin Rd.
to the Generals Pt.- Devongate. But that is only in discussion and we are talking

way, way down on the to do list. I'm sure they would want to see a lot more

development along that stretch of Gibbon Rd. first --- since any new businesses

or housing projects would be required to build sidewalks themselves, reducing

what the City has to build. Again, this is only discussion; no actual plans in the

works.
============================================================

Q. A guy who lives on Kendrick Avenue (off Statesville Rd) repossesses

cars. He has a lot of cars, up to 10 or more on the lot where his house is and

also on a lot next door most of the time. The cars are moved in and moved

out. Not sure how long they stay there.

A couple of weeks ago they started bulldozing another section of land,

clearing all the trees off the lot, except right in front beside the road. The

guy operating the bulldozer said they were clearing off the lot, going to

put a fence around it, and use it for the repossessed cars. Is this legal in a

residential zoned neighborhood?

I went out to the area and sure enough there are several cars on the property as

well as a wrecker parked on the street. Also, I spoke to a lady who was living

at the address and informed her that I had received a complaint about a wrecker

service and she stated that her son is the one running the company and that he

supposedly has papers to operate the business. I told her that she could not

store repossessed cars on residential property.

"Running a commercial repossession business with storage facility in a residential

area on a residentially zoned parcel is prohibited." A warning violation letter to the

owner of the property has been issued.

--- Josh Myers, Code Enforcement - City of Charlotte

=============================================================

Q. Can anyone attend the Derita Business Breakfast? I have a pressure
washing business, cleaning houses and vehicles.

Yes, you are definitely welcome. 9am, first Thursdays of each month at Maria's Grill

(West Sugar Creek @ Mallard Creek Rd,.) We are working on a variety of ways to

promote local businesses and service providers, but this is also a great networking

opportunity. Last time, someone asked for a referral to local plumber. A local realtor

was looking for a handyman or home improvement company that would handle small

jobs. An HOA was looking for someone to trim shrubbery and prune trees in their

common area.

============================================

Today's Funny Turned Out to be a Quiz.

OLDER THAN DIRT QUIZ . . .

Count all the ones that you remember, not the ones you were told about.

Ratings at the bottom.

Head lights dimmer switches on the floor.

Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.

Blackjack chewing gum

Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water

Candy cigarettes

Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles

Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes

Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers

Party lines on the telephone

Newsreels before the movie

P.F. Flyers

Butch wax

TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show

Peashooters

Howdy Doody

45 RPM records

S& H greenstamps

Hi-fi's

Metal ice trays with lever

Mimeograph paper

Blue flashbulb

Packards

Roller skate keys

Cork popguns

Drive-ins

Studebakers

Wash tub wringers

If you remembered 0-5 = You're still young

If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older

If you remembered 11-15 = Don't tell your age,

If you remembered 16-25 = You' re older than dirt!
--- submitted by John Tabor & David M.

Our Friday Morning Funny Mail (jokes, cartoons, funny pic, and Calendar Reminders

emails each week. It's FREE! Email me, if you'd like to have it sent to you.

deritarep@aol.com

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Wedding Invitations, Magnetic Signs, Banners, Rubber Stamps,

Raffle Tickets, Receipts, Advertising Fliers, Laminating

2600 Allen Road S 704.806.3813 Pls Lv Msg deritarep@aol.com

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