12-15-09 Derita-Statesville Road Community Org. Newsletter

Thursday, Dec. 17th
Monthly Derita-Statesville Rd. Community Org Meeting
7pm, Derita Presbyterian Church, W.Sugar Creek Rd.

The DSRCO Board, Neighborhood Leaders and interested residents will meet to
discuss issues, needs of the community, re-zoning requests, area crime and
programs to create a better Quality of Life for families in our area. We will review
actions taken since our last meeting, and discuss plans for upcoming decisions.
This is an Open Meetng, everyone is invited.
This group not only serves as Omsbudsmen for our area, but maintains this twice
monthly newsletter as way to keep everyone informed of current and future plans.
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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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Sunday, December 20thChristmas Musical at Oak Grove UMC
6 pm., Oak Grove United Methodist Church. 6440 Old Statesville Rd.

Our Choir and Children's Dept. will present this special program filled with
Christmas musc. We invite you to share in the moment, then stay and join us
for refreshments and a visit from Santa.
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Thursday, December 24th
Christmas Eve Worship Services
University City United Methodist Church 3835 West WT Harris Blvd.
located at the intersection of West WT Harris Blvd. and West Sugar Creek Rd.
704-369-8000 www.ucumc.org

4:00pm Children and Family Worship with Communion
6:00PM Candlelight Communion Worship with Choir
8:00pm Candlelight Communion Worship with Band
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Thursday, December 24th
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
4pm., Derita Baptist Church. West Sugar Creek Rd.

We welcome you to join us for a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and
to Celebrate THE LORD'S Supper. We welcome everyone.
Thanks, Tom Daigle, Pastor
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Thursday, December 24th
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
4 pm., Oak Grove United Methodist Church. 6440 Old Statesville Rd.
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Thursday, Dec. 24th
Candlelight Communion Service
5pm., Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church
invites you to join us on Christmas Eve at 5 pm. for a candlelight communion
service. Our service is for ALL ages! Call 704 392 8816 for directions or more
information. Or check out our website at www.wmpc.info. We are at 4700
Beatties Ford Road near the intersection of Beatties Ford and Sunset.


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What your Neighbors are saying

Derita Midgets
Alas, Derita Athletic Midget team's attempt to go the Pop Warner national champion-
ship fell short. Last month, after taking the City Championship, they advanced to
the Regional on Nov. 28th. They fought evenly early on with the High Point Lions
in a scoreless first half. High Point took control from then on, winning 21-6.

On behalf of everyone at Derita Athletic, I thank you for the attention you gave our
Association and we look forward to even more success in the new year.
--- Ron C
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Loaves & Fishes needs your help
A reminder, that as you enjoy your Christmas Dinner with family and friends, many
folks are relying on our food bank to see them through the winter. We receive lots of
canned vegetables and soups, but we could use canned meats, stew, chili beans,
jars of peanut butter, boxes of cereal and oatmeal, dried beans and other items. All
can be dropped off Tuesday & Thursday mornings at Statesville Ave. Presbyterian
Church on Nevn Rd. Enter the parking lot on the Statesville Rd. side for easy access.
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DSRCO Newsletter
I am very impressed with the community newsletter. The ones that I have received
are very informative. I feel your Homeowner's Association is doing an outstanding
job in getting important information out to the communities. Thanks so much for
sharing the community newsletters with me.
God Bless,
Sheila Cummings
Public Relations Coordinator
MT. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church
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Tomorrow at church I'll talk with our pastor and see about putting an e.mail sign up
sheet in the foyer of the sanctuary for the next few Sundays and once we have a
good list compiled send it to you. I think it'd be a great way for some of the members
to re-connect with the community, personally my mother's side comes from the Nevin
Community so Derita and surrounding areas have always been a part of our lives.
Thank you for getting in touch with me, I'm sure we'll be talking again shortly. - Brittany
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Keep Pets Safe During the Holidays
As your family gathers to celebrate the upcoming holidays, keep in mind the dangers
that could potentially exist:
Decorations – including tinsel, ribbon, ornaments, electric lights and cords.
Food – Chocolate is toxic to some animals, candy wrappers, poinsettias, table scraps.
For a complete set of tips you can visit www.cmpd.org and click on the Animal Care &
Control link. --- submitted by Deborah Rowe
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A Few Words from Mayor Pat McCrory

Dear Friends:
Today as I mark my last day as Mayor, I want to thank you for giving me the privilege
to have served as the Mayor of the great City of Charlotte for the past 14 years. I
will still be very much involved in local, state, and national issues and hope that our
paths will cross often. I appreciate the teamwork that has helped to make Charlotte
a great place in which to live, work, and raise a family.

I get sentimental thinking about all that has been accomplished and everyone that I
have had the pleasure to work with, so I will close by attaching the editorial I wrote
for the Charlotte Observer this past Friday.

My new contact email is pat@patmccrory.com. I look forward to keeping in touch
with you and will soon update you on some exciting news about my activities in both
the public and private sector.

God bless you and this great City.
Mayor Pat
www.patmccrory.com


“We must walk the fine line between growth and the preservation of the values
which brought many of us here.”

This comes from a 1961 political brochure of my Dad’s when he successfully
ran for City Council in Ohio. Although my dad passed away a few days before
I was sworn in as Mayor, his quote has been my creed and focus during my 14
years as Mayor -- always wanting Charlotte to have big city opportunities,
while retaining small town values and quality of life.

Due to the incredible teamwork of leaders and citizens throughout this community,
Charlotte has changed a great deal to address our rapid growth and I believe we
have taken my dad’s advice and accomplished:

Center City becoming a vibrant area with over 10,000 residents, a Ritz Carlton
and Westin Hotel, Time Warner Cable Arena, two grocery stores, incredible
restaurants, a bowling alley, movie theaters and nightlife, as well as Johnson &
Wales University and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The rebuilding of Earl Village, Dalton Village, Fairview Homes, and Piedmont
Courts to make these housing developments viable neighborhoods that are safe
for children and places where families can prosper.

Charlotte becoming a major economic hub attracting 18,697 new businesses
and 257,000 jobs with newly located companies such as General Dynamics
Armament, TIAA-CREF, Goodrich, Premier Health Services, and Shaw Group.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport becoming one of the busiest airports in
the world with an international concourse that supports 2.1 million passengers
and direct flights to 28 international destinations, with a third parallel runway.

Achieving one of the lowest homicide rates in Charlotte’s modern history, with
51 through November 2009.

Charlotte being recognized as one of the “Most Livable Cities” in America due
to tree preservation, pedestrian-friendly roadways, and bike lanes.

South End, NoDa, Plaza-Midwood, and Wesley Heights being revitalized and
emerging as highly desirable neighborhoods to work and raise a family.

Charlotteans being engaged through the Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance to get
adults involved in the lives of our youth through mentoring

The funding and implementation of a 25-year transit plan that is a model for
other cities and regions.

Beyond addressing growth, we have also worked to prepare this City for the
next generation, through major infrastructure investment, such as water and
sewer upgrades, and protecting our financial health. I vetoed many items I
thought would bring fiscal harm to the city. Of my 24 vetoes, 16 were related
to promoting fiscal responsibility. Now even during tough economic times,
the City’s budget remains on sound footing.

Over the past decade, we not only addressed the impact of 9-11, but we
successfully recovered from the 100-year ice storm, the 100-year drought,
the 100 year-flood, and supporting Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New
Orleans.

Two of the most poignant moments during my term as Mayor was to see
the throngs of citizens who reverently lined the streets of the funeral route to
honor police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton, as well as the community’s
effort to support the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. Through these events
I got to see the best of Charlotte and its citizens. More importantly, these
events made us a better city because we pulled together to help each other.

Looking to the future, I remain very bullish about our great City. Charlotte is
emerging as the “new energy capital of the U.S.” and is still very competitive in
recruiting new jobs with our diverse economy of manufacturing, finance, health
care, and transportation. Further, young talented entrepreneurs want to make
Charlotte their home, giving us another competitive edge.

As I leave office, I will work with all citizens to ensure that Charlotte’s reputation for clean, ethical and efficient government continues. In the private sector, I will also remain engaged in issues of importance to our city, state, and nation.

Looking back at how much Charlotte has changed over the past 14 years, I
believe my dad would be amazed, but more importantly proud, to see that
Charlotte has continued its economic vitality while retaining its values for the
benefit of generations to come. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to
serve as the Mayor of Charlotte and I want to simply say thank you.

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Correction --- Special Needs Program

Bernie--

Please allow me to correct inaccurate information in the recent DSRCO newsletter.
A concerned aunt wondered why a what she described as a "potentially dangerous child"
was allowed to attend public school. You replied that this was due to the No Child Left
Behind act.

That is not accurate. The law that puts most special education students in regular
classrooms the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or "IDEA." It spells out
students' rights and schools' responsibilities for educating children who meet the specific
federal, state and local criteria for special education.

The original special education law was the "Education for All Handicapped Children Act"
first passed in 1975. It was the first to include the phrase "free appropriate public education"
for the disabled. This law also mandated that school districts must provide education to
disabled students in the "least restrictive environment." In other words, special education
students should be educated with neurotypical and nonimpaired students whenever possible.
Under this law, self-contained (SpEd only) classrooms were to be the last option considered
by the school and parents, not the first.

The law was revised in 1983. In 1990, it was reauthorized as IDEA. IDEA was last updated
in 2004. All versions of the law mandate "free appropriate public education" for students
with disabilities in the "least restrictive environment." Students with disabilties can be
and are punished for inappropriate or dangerous behavior, and can be suspended or
expelled from school.

Many of today's adults were educated after these laws were passed and took full effect.
Many people my age didn't go to class with "disabled" students and don't understand the
reasons for special education laws. Making it worse--most colleges do not require most
regular education teachers to take any courses about students with special learning needs.
These kind-hearted teachers may never have learned about proven methods for educating
and disciplining special needs students. And a startling high percentage of students have
special needs.

About 12% of all public education students qualify for specialized instruction under the strict
eligibility requirements of IDEA. Most are not mentally retarded. Instead, these students
have average or above average IQs but their inborn brain wiring makes it difficult to learn
and apply essential skills such as reading or math reasoning. Or they have diagnosed
medical conditions from epilepsy to asthma to ADHD that impede their learning.

Another 8% do not qualify under IDEA, but qualify for special services at school under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which also gave our society handicapped parking
and handicapped-accessible public restrooms.

That's why the child with autism is in a regular classroom.

Given the description of the child's behavior, I assume that student should have an active
Behavior Intervention Plan. BIPs are explained in federal law. Many children on the Autism
Spectrum have difficulty taking information from one situation and applying it to another.
So punishing a child on the Autism Spectrum may not "teach" him to avoid that behavior
the next day. That's not how people on the Spectrum learn appropriate behavior. Also,
people on the Autism Spectrum often struggle with sensory overload. Think how over-
whelmed your senses feel if you're at the shopping mall on the day after Thanksgiving.
Many people on the Spectrum feel that way with just typical playground noise or typical
flourescent light in the classroom.

When a student has these invisible disabilities, a Behavior Intervention Plan helps tailor
a strategy to help the student learn appropriate behavior and better understand the
consequences of their behaviors. The BIP helps staff apply appropriate interventions
and, yes, punishments, that actually help that particular student to learn how to behave,
not just get overwhelmed or angry. BIPs are not magic--they take time and a lot of effort.

It's possible the teacher or aide is not applying the BIP consistently. Or that they don't
have enough staff to assist all students in the class, disabled or not. Or that they do not
understand the baffling and often contradictory traits that make up the Autism Spectrum.
In any case, it sounds like the child with Autism needs additional assistance to help him
be successful and to ensure that his classmates have a safe place to receive a quality
education.

IDEA is not supposed to be either/or. It's not supposed to protect the rights of the disabled
at the expense of the nondisabled. The rights of both groups are to be protected. If the
aunt is concerned, she needs to express those concerns to the school's principal, who
should take the concerns to the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP)team. All SpEd
students must have an IEP updated annually, and a team of educators and parents who
decides what's written into the Plan.

I speak as the mother of two college students, both of whom had IEPs in Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools. One has dyslexia. The other has ADHD-inattentive (formerly called
ADD) and math learning disability. They attended Regular and Honors classes in CMS,
and never attended SpEd-only classes. For six years now, I have served on the Board of
Directors of North Carolina's Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC.) Located
in Davidson, it provides information to parents, teachers, and disabled students across
the entire state.

The biggest obstacles disabled children face are lack of accurate information by the
general public and fear. It's my humble goal to help others understand the challenges
faced by bright students who learn differently, and help all God's children be the people
they were created to be.

Thanks for your time.

Sharon Foote
Charlotte
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The Derita Lions Club
would like to
Thank the Community for your Support this year
and All of our Lions would like to wish you a
Very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
--- Howard Blackwelder, President
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The NorthEast Coalition Reminds You
It's time to renew your membership with the NorthEast Coalition (NEC). Please
email our treasurer, Mike Aufrecht @ mbkaufrecht@aol.com for more details.
Clair Lane
Secretary (NEC)
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Willing to serve of a City-Appointed Board?
List of Position Openings at the bottom of the page.
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Have You Been to Community University?
Community University's (CU) fall and winter class schedule is now available nearby.
Sessions are now being held at the University City branch library on WT Harris Blvd.
6:30 - 8pm, 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.

Thursday, January 7 – Partnering for Progress
Learn basic partnership components, as well as steps to forming and managing
these relationships.

Wednesday, January 13 – Partner Networking Extravaganza
Experience an opportunity to network with representatives from City and County
departments and other agencies.

Some new abbreviated Self-Study programs are also now available on-line.


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

A New Bicycle for Christmas

Santa Clause must have had a hard time getting around Christmas 1947. The
weather in Derita was blah!! I remember looking out & everything was sorta
white & wet. It was both snowing & raining & the temperature must have been
right at freezing because ice on the trees & things would build-up & then big
chunks would fall off. We all wanted it to quit raining and turn to snow so badly,
but it just didn't happen.

Santa may have had a bad night for traveling, but somehow he made it to our
house. We lived, at that time right in the curve where Hewitt Dr. & Derita Ave join.
We kids were all up before daylight, hunting gifts, opening presents, running,
jumping & awakened mom & daddy, of course.

Ann got her favorite doll with all the trimmings. Buckwheat got his cowboy outfit
with cap pistol & enough caps to torment all of us. We all got our stockings filled
with all kinds of fruit, nuts, candy & as usual, a surprise that we didn't expect.

Bobby got a nice archery set & some knives. I had a paper route, carrying the
Charlotte Observer at that time and my bike was worn out. Don't you know that
I was one happy young'un when I found that shiney, new Schwinn hid behind the
Christmas tree.

Now here I am with a brand new shiney bicycle, that I can't wait to ride. It is now
raining real hard and I can't even take it out to show it off. Well, I toughed it out
Christmas day, but the following morning it had finally quit raining, though still very
cold & wet outside. Anyway, I got my coat, and while no one was watching, I
grabbed the bike and rode out the driveway. Hewitt Rd. wasn't paved at that time
and was pretty muddy. I had a buddy, W.C. Staton, who lived on Eargle Rd.
and I sure did want him to see this new bike. Well, I headed that way, but the road
sure was muddy and not easy to ride on.

I did ok till I got beyond Mr. TD Little's house. There, the road changed from mud
to red clay and on top of that it was a pretty steep hill to climb. I pedaled as far as
I could, but soon had to get off & push the bike.

That wasn't easily done because the shoes I had on were leather soles and did not
grip that red mud. I thought that was bad enough, but then the red clay started to
stick to the tires and it built-up on them until the mud dragged inside the fenders
and soon the wheels were sliding, too. Oh! what I would give now to be back
home and eating some of Mom's left-over Christmas dinner!!

Well, I found a stick and cleaned off the tires so they would roll. I would go a short
distance and have to clean again. I finally got to the Staton's and would you believe it
---------WC was not at home. He and his dad were off somewhere.

What a morning !! And I still had to face my daddy for taking the bike off in the
first place. I took the long route home, by way of Eargle Rd. to Nevins Rd. to
Gibbon Rd., Etc. Needless to say, Daddy didn't have too many kind words for
me when he saw the bike, and it did look pretty bad until I got it all cleaned-up
again. . . . And to quote Forest Gump: "That's all I have to say about that."
MERRY CHRISTMAS --- Fred



Moonshine & Home Brew

Don't know that there were ever any moonshine stills in Derita, but if I were a
betting man . . . I'd guess that my Mom wasn't the only person to ferment some
Scuppernong wine in her basement.

Now what does a young Grocer's kid know about moonshining and homebrew,
you ask? Just what I've picked up here and there, I'll tell you. Picked up from
Church Camp where the guys in the cabin next to mine spiked a jug of apple
cider with two packages of yeast and simmered under a hot shower all afternoon.
They staggered a bit, forgot the words to the spiritual trail songs we learned
and never made it up the hill that night to the Cross at Lake Junaluska.

There was Mrs. Ona Puckett who introduced me to Locust Beer ---- fermented
persimmon pits and beans from the thorny Locust tree. One barrel used sugar
and the good stuff had a packet of yeast, I'm told. And there was my cousin
from Pickens County who made frequent trips to Charlotte and one afternoon
dropped off a quart of red cherries as a gift for my Mom. Now my sister Betty
could as well eat a jar of olives as just one, and I was the same way about red
marischino cherries. I snuck a couple out of Mom's jar, and I'm here to tell you,
it was like no store-bought cherry I had ever eaten before. The word "Fire"
comes to mind. "Liquid Fire." I stuck it in my mouth and it burned all of the way
down.

But enough of that. I should tell you that as a young stockboy, I shelved a lot
of Malt Extract and pure cane sugar as a kid. Never understood why we sold
so much of it until I started delivering groceries on the bicycle. Seems there
was more going on in the bath tubs on Saturday night than people taking baths.
Mostly the older folks who still remembered how it was done back during the
Prohibition. There were some houses I wasn't allowed to deliver to. "Liquor
Houses," the other drayboys told me. Said they sold bootleg whiskey and
Moonshine by the drink. "Best to stay away, 'cause you never knew when there
might be trouble."

Now Mom & Dad's store had a Beer & Wine permit, like most of the groceries
on Beatties Ford Rd. back then. Strictly above board & legit, except for the part-
time butcher Dad had to fire. Turns out he had been quietly drinking up all of the
Sauers Vanilla Extract we had on the shelf and in the storage room. Dad didn't
catch on until customers complained of empty bottles. By then the guy was loaded
and we probably didn't have a half-dozen full bottles in cartons on the shelf.

But I digress. I was trying to get to the point where the ABC Officers ("Revenuers,
to you) stopped by the store to post signs in our front window and even stapled
a couple to the utility poles outside the store. It was a warning that some Moon-
shiners were cooking up bad stuff --- either using lead tubing or bad ingredients
--- resulting in their end customers dying or going blind. I asked Dad about it,
and he was able to give me the short explanation, as he had actually worked in
a legal brewery as a young man.

But I got my real edu-my-cation, as they say, from sitting through a good half-dozen
screenings of Robert Mitchum in the movie "Thunder Road."


Mitchum & his his real-life son (who also drove in the movie)

For those of you too young to recall, it's the story of Lucas Doolin's moonshine
tank car (a car with an extra tank for holding homemade hooch), and the law-car
that ran him off the road and into folklore. . . Pardon me, if I borrow directly from
the website, as it reads so well ----

"Don't know the story? Well, actor Robert Mitchum co-wrote and recorded
"The Ballad of Thunder Road," a minor Billboard Top Pops Singles hit in 1958
and again in 1962, that sums up the movie nicely:

"Let me tell the story, I can tell it all
About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol
His daddy made the whiskey, son, he drove the load
When his engine roared, they called the highway Thunder Road.

Then there's a verse about how the revenuers couldn't catch him.
Then comes the chorus:

"And there was thunder, thunder over Thunder Road
Thunder was his engine, and white lightning was his load
There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the Devil's thirst
The law they swore they'd get him, but the Devil got him first."

Yeah, it was a cool movie for its day. Can't believe that I sat through a black
& white film six times, or that I stood in line twice for an hour each time to take
the Thunder Road action theater ride at Dollywood, and lingered behind to
get a closer look at the actual moonshine still at Lost Sea Caverns. If I'm not
mistaken, even Burt Reynolds & Jerry Reed even had a run-in with the movie
lawmen, as would-be bootleggers, too. And isn't there still an old Moonshine
Still sitting outside the runaway Mine Train ride at Carowinds?

I quess what brought all of these thoughts back to my mind was the news story
about former hard-charging Moonshiners & Revenue Agents meeting up behind
the old Benny Parson homeplace in North Wilkesboro recently to talk about
those good old days. I didn't hear about it until well afterwards, but would truly
have loved to have been a fly on the wall.

I can still recall my fifth grade N.C. History teacher explaining the line in our text
book that read, "the farmers found it was much easier to get their corn to market
in a jug than by wagon." How true. How true. Terrible shame that I wasn't reading
Time Mazagine back then, or likely as not I'd have a real collector's edition ---
that copy with one-time Moonshiner Junior Johnson on the front cover. Inside, he
described how NASCAR recruited some of the best of the Bootleggers and their
souped-up hot rods into auto racing.

Mitchum's son (above) owns the rights to "Thunder Road" and intends to
produce a contemporary re-make of the film. He says moonshining is as big a
business today as it ever was, except now the white lightning is delivered to
labs where it is turned into copies of name-brand liquors and transferred into
counterfeit bottles. --- Bernie Samonds

Got a Derita Moonshine story, I'd love to hear it.

We're also gathering comments right now from folks hereabouts who lived
through the 1970's Gas Shortage. Drop me a line at deritarep@aol.com

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Your Questions and Some Answers

Q. Who do we contact about the sidewalk on Hubbard Rd. which stops about
50 ft. short of reaching Mallard Creek Rd. It creates a giant patch of mud
every time it rains and folks hoping to reach the CATS bus stop have to walk
in the street on Hubbard to get there. --- Joseph Smith

That intersection is one that will be modified by the widening of Mallard Creek Rd (Graham
Street Extension), so it was left in limbo while the State project was on the "fast track.
Thanks for pointing out the problem. Planners from CDOT & CATS studied the situartion
and have decided to act now, rather than asking you to live with the delay.

Their plan calls for the CATS bus stop (currently about 80 ft. away) to be moved closer
to Hubbard Rd. and for the sidewalk to be completed to the bus stop. A ridership count will
also be made to determine if they can place a shelter at the location.

The project could take up to eight months to complete, allowing them time to acquire
the real estate needed for the sidewalk and bus stop. And we should also give credit
where due to Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess, who gave this project a little nudge after
reading of your concerns.

Re: The other part of your question, CATS service for Hubbard Rd.
That's not in the cards right now. DSRCO has suggested a commuter route up West
Sugar Creek to WT Harris -- servicing Hemphill Heights, Hunter Acres, Potter's Glen,
Lynn Lee Circle & other subdivision, but it becomes a question of being able to sustain
the service throughout the day. A Hubbard Rd. route with peak traffic in the morning
and afternoon falls into much the same category.. Again, thanks for asking. Each new
ping keeps us on CATS radar.
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Q. I might have missed it, but when do we need to band our trees for the spring
cankerworm? I haven't noticed any banding in our neighborhood yet & thought
November/December was when it needed to be done. --- Shelly Hoag

Banding is most effective in early November just as the temperature dips and the
worms start their climb to the tree tops where they will "slumber" until Spring before
descending en masse.

If people want to band their own trees, it was suggested at a City meeting that they
do it around Thanksgiving that way all the leaves would be off the trees and less chance
of your Tangle Foot (the sticky stuff) being littered with falling leaves. So, now is still
a great time for each house to band their own trees.
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Q. Bernie, Could you recommend someone to fix a garbage disposal?
--- Thanks, Michael Gardner

Did a quick check in our Derita Business Card Directory. No one listed, yet. I would
suggest Dave's Appliance Service (704 532-0989). He's always done good work on
my frig and home dryer & washing machine. Disposals are listed on his business card.
====================================================================

Q. Has there been any word on the cause of the big fire at the corner of Hubbard
Rd and Sugar Creek on Saturday Night 12/12 ? The only report so far was one
occupant was injured. The house is a total loss, the house though not very big
apparently was very intense and gave the fireman a good fight. Sugar Creek was
blocked both ways Saturday night for about two or three hours. Just curious if the
cause is yet known. --- Richard Scercy

Arson investigators did determine the fire was deliberately set by one of the three
roommates who was found outside the house in a highly intoxicated state. We’ve
haven’t received any drug complaints about this residence. --- Ofc. D.J. Johnson
University City Division

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Q. There is a soiled, torn and tattered American flag hanging at the
intersection of Rumple Rd. & West Sugar Creek Rd. Can someone either
remove it or replace it? ---- Susan Donnelly

Sorry. When the Derita Post No. 345 American Legionaries were replacing worn
flags the other day, they ran out and had to re-order more. This particular spot
is a tough one because of the heavy traffic and the way wind from the trucks and
buses whip the flags around. . . But it had already been replaced before I was
able to get my call through to the right person.
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Today's Funny

Have You Ever Considered?

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture most people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering,
'What the heck happened?'

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until
you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos.
What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.
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City Appointive Positions Available

Several vacancies exist on the following boards and committees to which Charlotte
City Council makes appointments. These are volunteer positions on a wide variety
of boards with differing time commitments. All applicants must be registered to vote
in Mecklenburg County.

VACANCIES ON CITY COUNCIL BOARDS

On Monday, January 11, 2010, City Council will make nominations to fill vacant
positions on the following boards and committees:

FIREMEN’S RELIEF BOARD OF TRUSTEES*
One appointment for a two year term beginning January 19, 2010. Henry Donaghy
has completed his second term of service and is thus not eligible to be reappointed.
Time commitment: 3 hours/quarter. Meets quarterly at locations to be announced.

PRIVATIZATION/COMPETITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE*
Three appointments for two year terms beginning March 2, 2010. Collette Alston
and Trent Gustafson are eligible and would like to be reappointed. David Cordes
has completed his second term of service and is thus not eligible to be reappointed.
Time commitment: 4-5 hours/month. Meets 2nd Thursday, 7:30 AM, CMGC, 600 E. 4th.

TRANSIT SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
One appointment for a local or express service transit passenger for a three year term
beginning February 1, 2010. Anthony Wesley is eligible and would like to be reappointed.
Time commitment: 2 hours/bi-monthly. Meets 2nd Thursday, 4:00 PM, CMGC, 600 E. 4th.

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
One appointment for a three year term beginning January 31, 2010. Randall Dean Fink
is eligible and would like to be reappointed.
Time Commitment: 9 hours/month. Meets last Tuesday, 9:00 AM, CMGC, 600 E. 4th.

*These boards/committees have vacancies in which the incumbent is not eligible for
reappointment. Therefore, a new member will be appointed; the other boards have
incumbents who may be reappointed to their position.

All applicants must be registered voters in Mecklenburg County.
Applications are kept on file for one year. Please call Jeanne Peek at 704-336-7494
if you wish further information.
Appointees serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Applications may be obtained by calling the City Clerk's Office
at 704-336-7494, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Applications are also on the Internet:
www.charmeck.org: Departments, City Clerk, Boards & Commissions, application.

All applications must be completed with signature and returned to the City Clerk’s
Office by Wednesday, December 30, 2010, 5:00 PM.