ECA 3-14

2 THE PEOPLE PAGES

Reflections from our Prez A conversation between Diana Watson, ECA Secretary and Eric Davis about his first year as President of our community association and his thoughts on the upcoming year.

Diana: Eric, you are now coming up on one year as the Elizabeth Community Association President: what are your reflections on the past twelve months?

Eric: First and foremost, I’m impressed by the connections and collaborations between

the residents, businesses, institutions and government stakeholders within Elizabeth. Often these collaborations result in tangible benefits such as opening the tunnel at Memorial Stadium to connect Elizabeth to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, installing a four-way stop at Clement and 8th to improve the safety of residents, sponsoring a holiday toy drive to benefit the Children’s Home Society or drastically reducing crime in the neighborhood through partnerships between CMPD, businesses and residents.

Just as important as these tangible results, though, is building the long-term relationships that are so important as Elizabeth

navigates the opportunities and challenges of the future. It’s an exciting time and I’m glad to have the opportunity to be part of it.

Diana: Speaking of opportunity, the theme for this newsletter is Opportunity: Elizabeth. What do you

view as the opportunities within Elizabeth?

Eric: I think Elizabeth has some obvious strengths that provide this neighborhood with unique opportunities. One of these is the social connections that are facilitated by the ECA events. There’s literally something for everyone: the ECA sponsors activities for all ages and interests.

I also think the mix of uses in our neighborhood provides Elizabeth unique opportunities. Within a short walk, you can meet your friends for a meal, pick up last minute items for your home, take a music lesson and volunteer at a charitable organization. This makes our beautiful neighborhood highly desirable for both residents and business.

Diana: You’ve talked about the opportunities within Elizabeth. What do you see as the challenges that we will need to address?

Would you like to be part of our newsletter team? We need block captains to deliver newsletters to homes and businesses along 7th Street and Elizabeth Avenue. We’re also looking for an Assistant Business Liaison. If interested, please contact Tom Smith at [email protected] or Gregg Lockhart at [email protected].

Vice President: helps with ECA operations, attends monthly meetings and occasional government meetings, oversees certain ECA committees, may matriculate to President if so desired and elected.

Treasurer: keeps ECA books and provides monthly report, manages reimbursements, deals with the bank, helps set annual budget.

Social Committee/Children’s Social Committee: oversees each major ECA event and recruits volunteers to staff events, gets to meet almost everyone in the neighborhood!

Zoning and Real Estate: reviews all zoning matters, including rezoning requests and petitions, deals with proposed new developments.

Legal: provides simple legal expertise and oversight for occasional real estate related matters (e.g., easements, alleys, trolley path, etc.)

Membership: recruits & encourages ECA involvement and membership, manages annual membership campaign.

J O I N T H E E C A

Eric Davis

Diana Watson

THE PEOPLE PAGES THE PEOPLE PAGES 3

ECA Officers

Eric DavisPresident704 776 3013Greenway Avenue [email protected]

(vacant)Vice President

Diana WatsonSecretary704 996 9776Kenmore Avenue [email protected]

Paul ShipleyTreasurer704 651 5897Kenmore Avenue [email protected]

ECA Special Projects

Bryan RifeMembership980 228 19212616 E. 5th Street [email protected]

Ken MagasWebsite704 877 7151E. 5th Street [email protected]

Robert ZabelElizabeth 8K Road Race Chair917 873 8028Pecan Avenue [email protected]

ECA Board Members

Nancy O. AlbertEditor/Newsletter Beautification/Art Chair704 779 0932Elizabeth Village [email protected]

Elle AllenSocial Chair/Children’s Events704 502 9101Greenway Avenue [email protected]

Sarah BradleyCommunications/Social Media704 491 3760Laurel Avenue [email protected]

Beth HaenniPast President704 562 5152Greenway Avenue [email protected]

Kristan MagasPark & Recreation Liaison704 488 0051E. 5th Street [email protected]

Tom SmithECA Business Liaison/Ad Czar630 886 2039Kenmore Avenue [email protected]

Ric SolowBeautification/Trees704 334 2986E. 5th Street [email protected]

Jen TowellSocial Co-Chair704 258 0983Clarice Avenue [email protected]

deadline winter 2014:

Nov. 15theditorial content: [email protected]

advertising: [email protected] page ad size: 6.53” x 7.53” (1306 x 1506 pixels)

half page ad size: 6.53” x 3.715” (1306 x 743 pixels)

quarter page ad size: 3.205” x 3.715” (641 x 743 pixels)

biz card ad size: 3.205” x 1.8065” (641 x 361 pixels)

classified ad 1 column wide, 4 lines deep with 1 line bold, 3 regular

specs: full size b&w jpeg or pdf, 200 dpi, NO WORD DOCS!

Ad placement is at the designer’s discretion.

J

J O I N T H E E C A

4 THE PEOPLE PAGES

Eric: Actually, to a large extent, I think the challenges mirror the opportunities. For instance, all of the events sponsored by the ECA take a tremendous amount of volunteers to coordinate and execute. The ECA needs to tap into the contribution of more Elizabeth residents to continue putting on these great activities. A very specific example is our Social Committee. Our Co-Chairs, Stephanie McKee and Jen Towell, are stepping down after coordinating countless wonderful events for the community. We currently don’t have volunteers to replace Stephanie and Jen, so we’re actively looking for neighbors to step up and continue the great traditions we love.

Another example is the mix of uses in our neighborhood. With residential, entertainment, recreational, business and institutional uses in a small area, occasionally friction, such as parking, traffic or noise arises. Another aspect of mix of uses is the need for Elizabeth to protect the edges of our residential district from erosion as businesses and institutions grow. Preserving the residential character of Elizabeth has been a struggle for at least 60 years. Our key challenge is to balance these competing uses and fight to preserve the essential character of our neighborhood.

The desirability of Elizabeth also comes with challenges. As Elizabeth continues to grow,

transportation planning and zoning/land use policies are the two most critical considerations for the long-term health of Elizabeth. The Small Area Plan that was adopted in 2011 provides guidelines for future development decisions, but each development opportunity is unique and must be evaluated critically to determine if and how it contributes to the overall success of our community.

Diana: Eric, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and visions for our neighborhood. I look forward to seeing you at the Elizabeth Community Annual Dinner Meeting. I encourage everyone to get involved! Please attend our annual meeting on Monday, September 22 at St. John’s Baptist Church. You can “like” us on Facebook to stay updated electronically. You can find tons of information at www.ElizabethCommunity.com where you can also sign up for our ECA, Elizabeth Families and Elizabeth Crime Watch groups.

OPPORTUNITY: Elizabeth! by Melissa Strahley

Hmmm. Ok. Catchy little phrase, but what is it supposed to mean, exactly? Here’s the deal: it’s an initiative borrowed shamelessly from the proud city of Detroit, and it represents not only the multitude of opportunities that we have to enjoy in our ‘hood, but the many opportunities in our midst that allow us to be

able to actively support our community as well.

From education to retail, restaurants to hospitals, we kinda-sorta have it all, and it’s pretty much right here in our own backyards. It’s what makes Elizabeth so special, so unique, and it’s our duty – no, it’s our privilege – to not only be able to enjoy the offerings of all the stores, eateries, and independent businesses, but also to be able support the many non-profits, parks, churches and hospitals nearby. Think of it as you will: yin-and-yang, give-and-take, alignment-of-the-stars, paying forward, karma. In Elizabeth, it’s all ours for the taking – and the giving back. Hey, if a beleaguered city like Detroit can look inward and still find plenty of opportunities to celebrate, then so, too, should we. As we all know, there, but for grace, might it have been our city or neighborhood . . .

The American Dream is still alive by Joseph Huang

In 1975 my parents, older brother Winston and I came to America from Taiwan to live with my grandparents in NYC. I was 7 months old. Dad (Benjamin) and grandpa were both Presbyterian pastors. Mom (Judy) had a 6th grade education (as she reminded us often growing up). “Don’t waste your time, Joseph” or “try your best,” mom said. We always


just responded, “ok, ok mom.” Neither parent spoke English at first. They worked long hours in low paying jobs, so Winston and I were raised mostly by my grandparents.

I felt poor growing up. I received free lunch in elementary school, and kids teased me for being poor. Hand-me-downs from cousins never fit correctly, and I wore mostly the same clothes to school every day. I remember having to buy sneakers from a huge bin in a local grocery store. You had to match two sneakers of the same size to make a pair. That’s what we could afford.

Looking back at my childhood with 39-year-old eyes, I was extremely lucky. I had shoes. We had a home. I had loving parents. I received a quality education. Most importantly,

I had the opportunity to achieve goals that aren’t available to everyone. I am grateful.

I was destined to go to culinary school before I understood what a culinary school was. The typical Asian path would have been law school, medical school, accounting or engineering school. No Asian parents wished for their kids to become cooks. I was lucky to have parents that supported me whether or not my aspirations fit their mold of what was typical. I love my parents.

After high school and after several failed attempts at taking the typical path, I enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York. After four of some of the greatest, most life-changing years of my life, I graduated from the CIA in 2000. I worked

in several restaurants in NYC, including my hospitality idol Danny Meyer’s sixth restaurant, Blue Smoke. That experience ingrained into my psyche the undeniable power hospitality, kindness and great food has to make others happy.

This past November of 2013, I opened Bang Bang Burgers, my first restaurant. It was the most challenging, stressful, and rewarding endeavor of my life. My parents came to America with nothing and within one generation, my older brother graduated with a degree in economics from CUNY and works in banking. My younger brother earned a degree in computer science from Rutgers University and I opened Bang Bang Burgers.

The American Dream is real, but it doesn’t come without sacrifice and some hardship. This past February, my mom was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. There is no cure. She is conscious but can no longer move or speak. I Skype with her in Taiwan every Saturday with the help of my dad and sister-in-law. Recently, I spoke to her. “Mom,” I said, “it’s me Joseph. We have 11 employees now and business is improving because we try hard to make people happy. I think about you every day. I wish you could be here because I know you would be proud.”

Bang Bang Burgers is located at 2001 E. 7th Street. fr

ont a

nd b

ack

cove

r ph

otos

and

pho

to th

is p

age:

Nan

cy O

. Alb

ert

6 THE PEOPLE PAGES

The Art of The Violin Shoppe open house and gallery reception Wednesday Sept. 3, 2014 by Amelia Osborne

The Violin Shoppe, located at 2112 East 7th Street, launched a fine art gallery space in its main hall this past May. On Wednesday September 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., The Violin Shoppe and the gallery will host a reception to kick off their newest exhibit featuring original pieces and limited-edition framed prints representing nearly a dozen Charlotte-area artists. All paintings, photography, and sculpture on display will be available for purchase.

The evening will be a family-friendly event with refreshments, kids activities, and vintage swing music provided by the shop’s own Little Big String Band. Shop co-owner David McGuirt said the reception was planned as area students return to school, in part as a thank-

you to all who come to The Violin Shoppe for instrument rentals and purchases as well as lessons, accessories and repairs. “Additionally,” McGuirt says, “we added the gallery to beautify our space and to provide a venue to showcase some of the wonderful creative output of the Charlotte art community for all to enjoy.”

Much of the work displayed at The Art of The Violin Shoppe is music-themed and/or music inspired. Gallery coordinator and in-house artist Amelia Osborne has mounted an eclectic show featuring photographers and artists working in a number of media from acrylic to charcoal. Some of her own work will be on display including sculptural pieces fashioned from repurposed broken instruments from the shop.

For more information, please contact Gallery Coordinator Amelia Osborne: [email protected] or phone 704-373-0551.

CPCC Ross Gallery to feature works by painter Seth Rouser by Grace Cote

Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) will host the exhibition “Seth Rouser: Hands Held to Empyrean,” Aug. 18 through Oct. 9 in its Ross Gallery. The exhibit will feature original works by the painter.

Rouser’s paintings depict cloudscapes overlaid with gestural marks and emotive color. These paintings are a manifestation of the artist’s thoughts on time, change and the human experience. Rouser uses his clouds to symbolize and confront existential issues and the significance of being.

“I am intrigued by the inherent ability of clouds to represent constant change, while simultaneously evoking a sense of timelessness,” said Rouser. “A cloud accumulates, dissipates and is moved by unseen forces, much like a human life. In viewing clouds, one can read them as tranquil


or tumultuous, depending on their qualities. I find this constant flux of the sky parallel to the human experience. The mind and the body are always changing and yet there is a sense of a continuous self, or being.”

Rouser is an Assistant Professor of Fine Arts in Foundations at Winthrop University and teaches design, drawing, painting and illustration. He received an MFA from East Carolina University and a BFA from Winthrop University.

when: Aug. 18 – Oct. 9, 2014

10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mon. – Thurs.

Artist reception: September 4 from 5 – 7 p.m. in Ross Gallery

Artist lecture: September 18 at 2 p.m. in Tate Hall

where: Ross Gallery, CPCC Central Campus

contact: for more information, please contact Grace Cote at 704.330.6211 or at [email protected].

Studio K November invitational exhibition by Kate Vasseur

The opening reception is on Friday November 7th, closing reception on Friday, December 5th. For more information contact Kate Vasseur, Studio K, 2024 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204 or visit us online at www.facebook.com/StudioKArt.

Elizabeth public art project update by Amy Bagwell

Sharon Dowell, Graham Carew and I are thrilled to be creating this multi-component, text-based installation for Elizabeth, which we designed after gathering input at the first neighborhood meeting with us and Arts and Science Council, which was held in May. Graham and I direct The Wall Poems of Charlotte, and, while there are no walls to work with for this project due to city limitations on the use of funds, we are adapting our approach very specifically for this project – and it’s been very exciting, not least of which has been collaborating with Sharon.

As the neighbors who came to the second meeting a few weeks ago know, we’re working with the theme of traces. Bits of neighborhood history play roles in this in the sense that traces of them remain, either visibly or in the written record or memories. These include

gone elements: the demolished slave cemetery, the former reservoir, the rose garden that was destroyed to make way for Independence Boulevard. They also include living pieces, from the lovely trees that line the streets to the water in the tower and in the park. The word “trace” also means path or road, of course, and that ties in.

We see this having three components of varying degrees of permanence and interactivity, leading viewers from the water tower through to the roundabout and on to the park.

1. Fence scenes We would like to create a series of lenticular images using adhesive printed vinyl attached to the inner faces of the railings of the fence around the water tower. These images will come together from a distance and at the correct angle, disappearing slowly into ghosts as that distance and angle change, but leading the viewer to the next image in the ph

oto:

Nan

cy O

. Alb

ert

8 THE PEOPLE PAGES

scene, which begins to take shape as the viewer proceeds down the road or sidewalk. Different images will be seen from the opposite direction. All the images come from the poem which I have written for the neighborhood, are related, and tie to the other components of the project. The printed vinyl is warranted to last at least three years. We would like to remove some of the existing bushes/trees and plant heirloom roses or something similar to bring forward the gone rose garden and give us strategic visual openings to the fence.

2. Wordhouses We would like to pull people through the neighborhood with a series of 35 lightweight, shallow box-like assemblages suspended from city tree branches between the sidewalk and the road at eye level, each with text and image and even objects inside that play on the text and reiterate/ further express the images on the fence. These boxes will face the sidewalk. In each box is one line from the poem, which can be read sequentially as the viewer progresses. These will be mapped on-line and numbered on the bottom. They will share a uniform outside (street-side) color or similar visual tie that will be obvious from a distance.

3. Roundabout This is on E. 8th Street. Here, we see removing the bushes and constructing a permanent, round metal piece lit from

within by gentle spotlights powered by a solar panel mounted near the treetop. We envision a few large words excerpted from the poem and images on or cut from the metal, which, again, repeat/ reinterpret those on the fence and in the boxes. We would also like to plant roses (heirloom perhaps) at the long ends of the oval roundabout to call forward

the old rose garden, as with the fence. We are collaborating with CPCC’s welding, construction, and photovoltaic programs on this.

As I write this, we are working toward presenting a detailed overview of our concept to the Public Art Commission for approval, and we will definitely keep everyone posted!


Festival in the Park Returns in September for its 50th anniversary by Kara Judd

Since 1964, Festival in the Park has brought great music, great art, and great times to Charlotteans and visitors alike. Enjoy the sounds of big band music drifting across the lake at Freedom Park while you partake in a wide variety of food, art, and activities.

A sampling of participating organizations includes Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Carolina Clowns, Carolina Raptor Center, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and the Magician’s Stage. Over 180 artists and nearly a thousand entertainers provide free performances at the main bandshell and many stages throughout the park. The festival has been selected as by Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 event!

hours: Fri. Sept. 19, 4-9:30pm; Sat. Sept. 20, 10am-9:30 pm; Sun. Sept. 21, 11am-6pm

Festival in the Park was made possible, in part, with funding from the Arts & Science Council, the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

www.festivalinthepark.org Freedom Park 1900 East Boulevard

The Light Factory: volunteerism that really makes a difference by Byron Baldwin

Editor’s Note: The Light Factory’s new home in the old Midwood School is not technically in our neighborhood, but right on its edge. Brought back from near death by a tremendous volunteer effort and a successful Kickstarter campaign, it is an institution close to my heart. Many of the volunteers who saved it have ties to Elizabeth, including photographers Raymond Grubb and Byron Baldwin, longtime resident and chronicler of our history. I am also a Light Factory member and currently oversee open hours for students in the

darkroom built by Byron and his all-volunteer crew.

With a forty plus year history, The Light Factory has grown into a local, regional and national hub of creativity. Through exhibitions, lectures, classes and workshops, we bring important contemporary issues to the region and beyond. Newly located in the heart of the thriving Plaza-Midwood neighborhood, The Light Factory is renovating its new space to provide a traditional darkroom, digital darkroom, classroom, two galleries and office spaces. Even as it reaches a national audience, the Light Factory also reaches into the hearts

phot

o: R

icha

rd R

enal

di

10 THE PEOPLE PAGES

phot

os: N

ancy

O. A

lber

t

of its participants providing a sense of community.

Believing that art can change lives, The Light Factory offers an extensive community outreach program. Participants, having been successful in our programs by accomplishing goals for their artistic vision, develop and enhance their creative thought process, and find renewed interest in other areas of their lives. Our outreach students are learning to see the beauty of their world and becoming more confident in trusting their imaginations.

In addition to Outreach, we also offer extensive classes on Photography and Film, ranging from the technical to the visual

for all levels of participants. But our exhibitions are what make made the National Endowment for the Arts call us “A catalyst for the arts in the Southeast.” Please stop by to see us when we have completed our renovation and see what we are all about.

The Light Factory fall offerings by Kay Tuttle

lecture Richard Renaldi: Crossing from Safety Friday, October 3rd 6:30 – 8pm

workshop Strangers in Charlotte: Photographing People

Saturday, October 4th and Sunday October 5th 10am – 5pm

exhibition Touching Strangers

All these events take place at The Light Factory 1817 Central Avenue Charlotte, NC 28205

Rusty Rabbit by Shameem Ravelli

Editors note: The purple house on Seventh St. that most recently was home to Black Forrest Books and Toys has new tenants. I stopped by recently and encountered a young woman hard at work on a vintage table with a happy-looking baby perched nearby. They were soon


joined by husband/father John. We talked a bit about the ECA and the newsletter and I asked if they could tell me a bit more about their background. Here’s what they sent:

Our names are John and Shameem Ravelli and our business is Rusty Rabbit Design. We started Rusty Rabbit in April of 2013 in Noda. Our original store was in a 1903 mill house we own and renovated and that was slated for demolition at the time we purchased it. Rusty Rabbit has made a name for itself by offering unique salvaged architectural pieces and shabby chic furniture, mixing old and new with industrial and salvage to create unique looks for people’s homes. We appreciate timeless pieces and the patina that can only be created by decades of love, paint and life.

Our new larger location will allow us to display French country upholstered pieces we previously had no room for. We will have carved wood sofas, chairs and benches upholstered in linen and leather and whatever else catches our eye. It will also allow us to offer space for local artists and vendors on the second floor.

My background (Shameem) is in psychology, architecture and design. My mother was an artist and teacher and my father was involved in the construction and renovation of glass buildings; my interests seem to have fallen between the middle

of the two. I have been making custom pieces (furniture, floor cloths, salvage art) for about 15 years, it’s what I love to do!

John’s background is in economics but, like myself, he grew up renovating historic homes. He continues to manage and renovate properties but has taken a large role in Rusty Rabbit. He reclaims many of the architectural elements and builds many of the pieces found in the store.

Our baby is Sydney and she is 4 months old! She is already used to trips through old barns looking for forgotten treasures.

We are very excited about our move to Elizabeth and hope to make it our home soon too! We are looking for a lot to move a house onto or a fixer-upper. We love the community and see it as a place we would stay. By the time this newsletter is out we will be open and look forward to meeting people from the community!

The Royal Gardens by Andrea R. Sweet and Nancy O. Albert

The Royal Gardens is truly a family business. The landscaping division is headed by Jared Sweet, horticulturist and Garth Sweet oversees maintenance. Andrea & Larrie Sweet, with daughter Lara Barnett, run the shop. Andrea and Larrie first came to Charlotte from Niagara Falls in 1977 where, as Andrea

remembers we “froze our arses”. They left for a while in 1984, settling in Louisiana until 1993. Andrea commented, “that’s where the boys went to college.”

In 1993 they decided to open the Royal Gardens in the 100 year old house on the corner of Lamar and Seventh Street. Andrea believes the house was built from a Sears Roebuck kit. The large oaks and Camilla in the front yard are probably as old as the house. Jared started

his landscaping business and Andrea joined him to do the bills and books. Later on Garth joined and then Larrie. In the meantime Lara went to UNC Ashville and soon joined the family business as well. When The Royal Gardens opened they

12 THE PEOPLE PAGES

ran into difficulties with City inspectors over many issues, including numbers of parking spaces. “We were helped by the ECA board, especially Worth Madry, Haywood Bush and John Fazzi, who intervened on our behalf. They felt we were exactly the kind of business Elizabeth needed. We would not be here without the ECA.”

Since then they have been continuously involved with the neighborhood, and for years have sold tickets for the ECA Home’s Tour. They will be selling them again this year. Their colorful and eclectically stocked back area is a treat for the eyes of everyone who passes by. Says Andrea “We have grown with the neighborhood ... bloom where you’re planted.”

The Charlotte Herb Guild by Ann Baldwin

Owned by the Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs, the house at 1820 East Seventh Street has proven to be an asset to the Elizabeth neighborhood. Several times the house has been on the Elizabeth Home Tour, and routinely it has been a destination for ticket purchase. Recently the garden in front of the house has been redesigned to serve as a teaching garden.

Quadrants feature Asian, southern, butterfly, and succulent gardens. In addition, there is an herb garden, planted and maintained by The Charlotte Herb Guild.

On the second Tuesday of each month at 7:15, the Guild meets at the Council House, a meeting site available to any club that joins the Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs. Do you grow basil, thyme, or chives? These herbs and others are widely used today and appear in all recipes in the cookbook prepared and sold by The Charlotte Herb Guild, whose mission is to promote interest in the growing and use of herbs. The monthly programs vary, but the refreshments always include herbal treats served by the members. A typical menu might include sage cheddar spread with crackers, rosemary scones, cucumber dill sandwiches, lemon verbena tea cakes, and mint lemonade. To give you

an idea of the type programs offered, here’s a sampling of 2014 activities: an annual trip to purchase herbs from the greenhouses at Adventures in Herbs in Indian Trail, a member exchange of herbs and information about them, and a visit to the Mills Garden Herb Farm in Statesville. Some members also chose to visit La Bastide des Lavandes, a lavender farm in York. In August the group will learn more about bees and their role in the environment, and in September the Guild will host an herbal garden party at the Museum of History.

An active group, the Guild restored and maintains the herb garden beside the Hezekiah Alexander House at the Museum of History and plants herbs at the Friendship Trays garden. Each year members hold a fundraiser, which took place this year in May at the Matthews Farmers Market, where they sold plants, food, and herbal crafts. Also each year members enjoy a potluck dinner as they set the table with old and new dishes featuring herbs from their gardens.

Members of the Charlotte Herb Guild are an enthusiastic group and welcome visitors to their meetings as well as new members who grow herbs, use herbs, or want to learn more about them. For residents of the Elizabeth neighborhood the meeting site is close by and already part of the community.


Yard Yak by Kay Minor

Does anyone else besides me use the fenced baseball area in Independence Park as a walking path? If so, you would have noticed the recent annoying, waist-high metal signs erected in strategic spots. “This field is under contract at all times. Please keep off.” Good thing my papillons can’t read. Every a.m., weather permitting, our mostly canine entourage assembles for a two-minute motor towards the green space behind St. Martin’s Church.

Year-round, in fifteen minutes or less, we take in all the

comings and goings of daily life in Elizabeth’s urban ballpark. Early spring brings the bluebirds. Perfect habitat. Wide open low grassy fields teeming with insects. Low lying spots hold essential water. Later, swallowtails appear. Mesmerizing masters of movement. Daring devils of the swift dive. Fearlessly swooping close by, teasing Mad Maddie to no end. Above the towering light posts, dueling redheaded woodpeckers hammer with purpose, aluminum light covers reverberating. From the pitcher’s mound, on windy days, a clear view of Old Glory rises above the Boy Scouts of

America building on Seventh Street, inspiring us to trudge onward, as doody calls...

Occasionally, the homeless seek shelter in a low rocky dugout facing the chain link fence that surrounds the vast field. The accoutrements of mobility scattered nearby. Gypsies, reminding me of a bumper sticker: “not all who wander are lost.” An idea blossoms. Portable hostels. Movable ergonomic tents. A yurt for the hurt, so to speak. A place for the weary wanderer to recharge, plug in with others. Apparently, young adults leaving the nest nowadays are trending in a different direction regarding homeownership. Renting gives the young more flexibility, more wiggle room (pun intended). The idea of “home” itself could be evolving, a take it with you approach. Snail-like, in a way, with less physical baggage to attend. Sharing spaces. The new normal.

As a general rule, in my generation, the first part of our lives were spent acquiring stuff, the second part was spent dusting it, and the third bit, giving it all away. Come September, I turn sixty. With luck, my dusting days will lessen. Good. Because every a.m., before it gets too hot in the summer, and after it warms up a bit in the winter, you’ll find our papillon parade heading westward. To the bark, uh... park. Taking it all in, one day at a time.ph

oto:

Kay

Min

or

14 THE PEOPLE PAGES

“Adventures in Storytime” at Golden Living Center by Michele Davis

It’s 6:30 pm on the first Monday of the month. Do you know where your child is? Hopefully they are at the Golden Living Center participating in “Adventures in Storytime”, an event for the Elizabeth Kids and the residents at the Golden Living Center. On this particular night, a crowd slowly gathers. One man finds a seat at a table and sits there very quietly; a woman enters the room clapping her hands with excitement; another woman is pushed in in a wheelchair, giving instructions to push her “right up to the front”. A princess walks in and there are lots of “oohs” and “aahs”

about how beautiful she is. She is followed by two boys who are rough-housing, but settle down quickly when they see all of the people waiting in the room. An older girl comes in with a bagful of books. She is not afraid of the crowd and confidently pulls a chair into the center of the room. She begins rummaging through her bag until she finds the book she is looking for. A blanket is thrown out on the ground and the princess (Erica Rose Davis) crawls into her mom’s lap and snuggles in, ready for storytime to begin. More Golden Living Center residents join the group and all lean in closer, “Adventures in Storytime” is about to begin.

Hadley Smith, a rising 3rd grader, starts us off. She is excited to be there because,

“they are a fun group of people” and “they are happy to see us!” Her voice is strong and confident. She reads a page, shows the residents the picture, and reads another page. Not only is she entertaining the residents, she is teaching the younger kids how it’s done. Cole Rubins, a rising 1st grader, reads next. His voice quivers a little, but he proudly reads his book and gives his friend, Cameron Davis, also a rising 1st grader, the confidence to try it too. Cameron’s book is a bit simpler than the others, but no one cares. He has been practicing his reading and chose this book specifically to read tonight. This event is as much for the kids as it is for the residents. Reading out loud for a group is not something that most elementary school kids do. Having fun and laughing with residents at an assisted living center, is also not something that most kids do, yet it is something that the kids in our neighborhood do every month.

After the stories are over it is time to begin the games. Tonight the game is Domino’s and a fierce competition quickly breaks out between residents, kids and staff. Who won? Everyone in attendance. The smiles on their faces and the heartfelt goodbye’s at the end of the evening reveal the fun that was had by all.

The Golden Living Center has many events and activities ph

otos

: Tom

Sm

ith


planned for the residents every day. They welcome participation and visits from Elizabeth kids and adults of all ages. Feel free to stop by or contact them directly to find the activity that best fits your schedule. Need service hours for school? Your time spent at the Golden Living Center can count toward that goal, too.

Volunteer opportunities at Golden Living Center by Bryan Rife

Pilots of planes from the Korean War, WWII Veterans, people from the Great Depression, and grandmothers

who make a mean biscuit. These people have lived the history we learned about in school – and these are the people you can meet while working as a nursing home volunteer. There are also other types of residents that live in nursing homes, those that are middle aged and even younger.

There is an unfair stigma about what goes on in nursing homes. The title “nursing home” correctly implies that the people who live in these homes will be provided with a nurse’s care, but nurses aren’t the only caregivers. Besides the obvious medical care,

nursing home residents also need mental stimulation to keep their minds healthy. This stimulation comes in the form of games and activities – and this is where the fun comes in.

Nursing homes rely on volunteers to interact with their residents. They need volunteers to provide company for residents and assist in hosting dances, card games and bingo nights. Activities run by volunteers are an integral part of bringing the feeling of home to the nursing home. If you have an outgoing personality and enjoy interacting with people

16 THE PEOPLE PAGES

a generation or two older than yourself, you might try volunteering in a nursing home. You might not think that volunteering at a nursing home would be all fun and games – but it actually can be.

Golden Living Center on 5th Street has many unique opportunities for you to volunteer. Opportunities such as assisting writing letters, sitting with someone outside, watering flowers, feeding birds or playing a game with one of

the younger residents are just a few. Golden Living Center realizes that most high school students are required to do community services hours to graduate. Upon completion of the volunteer service, the Activity Department will

phot

os: N

ancy

O. A

lber

t


compose an official letter for the student explaining the volunteer services that were provided and the number of hours.

Please contact the Activity Department at 704-350-9209 if you would like to schedule a time to discuss these opportunities!

Pet Palooza by Rebecca Stoddard

Imagine going for a walk on a crisp spring morning, then relaxing outside with your friends, soaking up the sun, enjoying a local craft beer and listening to live music while surrounded by dogs. Several hundred dogs. And the people who love them. Utopia? Yes, please.

This is the scene at Independence Park each spring as Pet Palooza, the Humane Society of Charlotte’s largest outdoor fundraiser, brings together animal lovers and dogs to enjoy a 2K walk followed by an outdoor festival. This past year’s event on April 5 attracted roughly 4,000 people and raised over $116,000 to help homeless and at-need pets. I was fortunate enough to co-chair this year’s event after volunteering on the planning committee in some capacity over the last five years. As a huge dog lover, it brings me so much happiness to support the Humane Society of Charlotte

and their mission to improve the lives of companion animals through adoption, spay/neuter and education. I wish I could volunteer at their actual shelter, but that would likely result with me owning way too many dogs. Instead, I do my part by helping with their fundraisers and Pet Palooza is my favorite!

Whether you’re a single guy thinking about getting a dog, a single lady with an attention-loving puppy, a couple with your own herd of dogs or a

family of five itching to add a four legged member to your brood, Pet Palooza has something for everyone. I have found that there is no better ice breaker than dogs, and my 100 pound Doberman wants to meet everyone so we always have a great time at Pet Palooza. The event kicks off with a 2K walk that ends inside the park where walkers are greeted by over 80 animal-friendly vendors, food trucks, a craft beer garden, live music, agility demonstrations, dog

18 THE PEOPLE PAGES

fashions shows, contests, paw print painting, dog massages and more. For the first time, this year’s event included “rescue row”, a group of six rescue organizations offering dogs off all ages for adoption. There’s nothing cuter than watching a litter of puppies play and roughhouse, only to fall asleep minutes later piled on top of one another!

The money raised at Pet Palooza helps the Humane Society of Charlotte operate throughout the year, as they

do not receive any federal, state or local funding and rely solely on private donations and foundation grants. Of course you can adopt a dog or cat from their shelter, but they also offer services like low cost spay/neuter surgeries and “superdog” training, which my Rottweiler puppy graduated from!

Mark your calendar for Spring 2015 as Pet Palooza will be back at Independence Park. Next year promises to be bigger and better than ever as

the committee continues to expand event day offerings and improve the experience. We look forward to seeing you in the spring!

SHARE Charlotte — connecting neighbors and non-profits by he Arts and Science Council

SHARE Charlotte is a free, easy and local marketing tool that helps you connect with volunteers, supporters and donors (our neighbors) in a new, exciting way. By

phot

o: N

ancy

O. A

lber

t


creating a brief profile on sharecharlotte.com you’ll reach a new audience interested in supporting your cause. SHARE Charlotte is open to 501(c)3 organizations in and serving Mecklenburg County. Please note it is currently not available to churches, schools and clubs.

A loss by Nancy O. Albert

The art deco-style Grand Central building, on the side of which this jazz mural was painted, was torn down days after I took the photograph. It and several neighboring buildings on Central Avenue near 10th Street were bulldozed and to make way for yet another apartment complex.

The Grand Central was run as an event facility and was the site of countless wedding receptions and other celebrations. On the first Thursday of each month Bill Hanna and his 20 piece Big Band played. Also lost in the demolition were the famed Reflection Sound Studios, which closed in June.

Some of the history of Reflection Sound Studios can be found in this Charlotte Observer article (5/20/14) by Courtney Devores excerpted below.

“Through its 45 years, major artists Whitney Houston, James Brown, Joe Walsh and

Robert Plant recorded at Reflection. So did a slew of gospel greats, alternative and indie-rock artists, and award-winning soul and R&B singers Fantasia, Calvin Richardson and Anthony Hamilton. .. Don Dixon – an artist in his own right and one of the co-producers for R.E.M. says Reflection is “my favorite studio in the world,” and that’s saying something, considering he has worked in some of the most famous studios on the planet. He estimates he participated in more than 50 projects at Reflection.

“We wanted to be the last ones in there before they start ripping out the paneling and tearing out the wire,” he says, calling from his home in Ohio. “I worked in more famous studios that were great, but there is still something about that room that I particularly like. Part of it may be that I worked there so much, but something about Reflection was just optimal.”

Part of its charm, especially before the gentrification of the neighborhood, was its nondescript location. Famous faces could pop in undetected. When Joe Walsh of the Eagles recorded with producer Bill Szymczyk, the staff was instructed to tell people “a local band” was recording there, said mixing engineer Mark Williams, who worked at Reflection for nearly 18 years. Another attraction for foreign

bands was the proximity to the Salvation Army store and a long-gone Krispy Kreme.

“Across the street at the Salvation Army salvage store was where (guitarist) Peter (Buck) bought the two plastic dinosaurs, Left and Right, that sat on the studio speakers of ‘Murmur’ and every record we made after that,” recalls R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills via email. “Murmur” in 1983 and its follow-up “Reckoning” in 1984 became calling cards for the studio and for Charlotte.

“Reflection was one of the last of the general-purpose studios,” Easter said. “They did voice-over and commercials, radio ads, and all that is gone now. It was sort of a classic Southern studio in the sense that it had a nice Hammond organ and a nice piano and some nice amps. …The music industry was a different place when those albums were recorded.”

Elizabeth community annual dinner meeting by Diana Watson

Would you like to visit with neighbors and get updates on community activities, or maybe volunteer and meet our politicians? Please join us on Monday, September 22nd from 6 to 8pm at St. John’s Baptist Church on Hawthorne Lane.

A main dish and drinks will be provided – please bring a dessert or side dish.

20 THE PEOPLE PAGES

Dagenhart homephoto: Ken Magas

22 THE PEOPLE PAGES

Sneak Peak of the Home and Garden Tour, October 11 and 12 by Suzanne Henry

The 2014 Home and Garden Tour scheduled for Oct. 11 and 12 will showcase five Elizabeth homes, two residential gardens, the gardens at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and the Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs. Tour participants will delight in seeing a wide variety of styles, exemplary of the diversity that makes our neighborhood so unique. Here’s a sneak peak into a few of the homes that you won’t want to miss.

— A twice award-winning, eco-friendly renovation brimming with beautiful carpentry, tiling and design details, all hand-crafted by the owners

— A 1930’s home filled with period-appropriate pieces that recently served as a character’s

residence in a major film, set to open in 2015

— An impeccably appointed yet cozy bungalow, whose stunning design details are soon to be featured in Urban Home Magazine

Please help us make this year’s tour a great success by becoming a volunteer or sponsor. To review volunteer opportunities and sign up, please visit the Home and Garden Tour page, under the Volunteer tab at www.elizabethcommunity.com/volunteer/home-tour.

Volunteers who sign up for two or more shifts receive one free tour ticket. For additional information on volunteering, contact Michael DePalma at [email protected] and for sponsorship inquiries, contact Victoria Gabbard at [email protected] or tour chair Colleen Plott at [email protected].

We are so grateful to the following neighbors who are graciously sharing their homes and gardens with us this fall:

Holly and Bryan Adams 538 Lamar Avenue

Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs 1820 E. 7th Street

Eric & Michelle Dagenhart 2134 Greenway Avenue

Greg Godley 701 Clement Avenue

Rodney Hines and Mark Puckett 708 Oakland Avenue

Meghan Scannell 400 Clarice Avenue #145

Elaine Scott and Jerry Tylman 2400 Kenmore Avenue

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 1510 E. 7th Street

Diana and Reid Watson 2404 Kenmore Avenue

THE PEOPLE PAGES THE BUSINESS SECTION 23

Home and Garden Tour hours: Saturday Oct. 11: 11am-5pm Sunday Oct. 12: 1pm-5pm Tickets can be purchased at Royal Gardens through October 11 and at Savvy & Co. through October 12 for $12 in advance, $15 during the tour weekend.

24 THE BUSINESS SEC TION

THE BUSINESS SEC TION THE BUSINESS SECTION 25

ECA 3-14

Documents

Transcript of ECA 3-14