The first of this week is quite busy, but the rest is fairly light. I should have plenty of free time to rock and spoil and spoil a new granddaughter whenever she decides she's ready to join the world.
The first council meeting for August will actually be held on Monday, July 31 to avoid the annual conflict with National Night Out celebrations. This meeting has the potential to be a long one with a public hearing on the proposed bond referendum and several rezonings on the agenda. We will begin with a 4PM tour of the new Elon University Law School in downtown Greensboro and convene the meeting at the normal 5:30PM time. Assistant City Manager Bob Morgan will staff the meeting since Mitch is away on a well-deserved family vacation.
The length of the meeting could be determined by whether or not we agree to continue a requested rezoning on Pleasant Garden Road (items 25-28). Developer Roy Carroll is proposing to build a single-family subdivision and an apartment complex on either side of the road just south of the Urban Loop/I-85 bypass. Councilmembers have received a request from the Pleasant Garden Town Council to delay the case in order to talk with Mr. Carroll, and normally, such a request is granted the first time it is made. However, Mr. Carroll is contesting that delay and has documented that he will suffer significant financial costs if he cannot close on the property before August 14 (Problem: our next council meeting is on August 15). His offers to meet individually with the concerned folks have been turned down, according to the information we have received. So, there's likely to be lively debate about hearing the case at this meeting or not.
Tuesday, August 1 is clear except for the National Night Out activities. This night always poses a quandary for me. Most of the celebrations are scheduled during the same 2-3 hour time span, and there are 100+ different neighborhoods expecting us councilmembers to visit with them. If I try to spend any significant time in any one location, that means I don't have enough time to attend many others. On the other hand, I feel I owe my constituents my time and attention, more than just waving to them in passing before I dash off to the next neighborhood. So be patient with me, folks, I'll get to as many as I reasonably can!
The only other official meeting on my calendar is the Thursday, August 3 meeting of the War Memorial Commission (coliseum). I received an invitation and passes to the Market America convention that will be held in the coliseum Thursday-Saturday, so I may visit and view their proceedings after my meeting.
Otherwise, I'll be patiently awaiting "the big event!"
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Freaky veggies...
...or fruits, or whatever classification into which they belong.
Last fall, I purchased a knobby baseball-sized yellow and green squash/gourd from the bargain bin at the local grocery store to use in a fall table arrangement. I harvested some of the seeds when it was time to discard it and planted them in the Carmany garden this summer just for fun. Each of these odd-looking fruits/veggies grew on the same prolific vine that roams for several feet in all different directions in the garden -- no two are quite the same. They are fun to look at and I have plenty of choices for table arrangements from which to choose this year.
Last fall, I purchased a knobby baseball-sized yellow and green squash/gourd from the bargain bin at the local grocery store to use in a fall table arrangement. I harvested some of the seeds when it was time to discard it and planted them in the Carmany garden this summer just for fun. Each of these odd-looking fruits/veggies grew on the same prolific vine that roams for several feet in all different directions in the garden -- no two are quite the same. They are fun to look at and I have plenty of choices for table arrangements from which to choose this year.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Getting it right
Us politicos are quick to criticize the media when they get something wrong, so I want to publicly thank Jill McNeal of WFMY News2 for playing a key role in getting the correct information out there about A&T University's (non)participation in the new HEAT service.
Jill called me earlier this evening for an interview about A&T participating in HEAT after reading my blog post. She called back later to tell me that a university official whom she had just interviewed for the story had said the university was NOT participating. After a series of frantic calls to GTA staff and other councilmembers, this disappointing news was confirmed.
So thanks, Jill, for your work to find the right information and correct the city's misunderstanding!
Jill called me earlier this evening for an interview about A&T participating in HEAT after reading my blog post. She called back later to tell me that a university official whom she had just interviewed for the story had said the university was NOT participating. After a series of frantic calls to GTA staff and other councilmembers, this disappointing news was confirmed.
So thanks, Jill, for your work to find the right information and correct the city's misunderstanding!
Correction: A&T is NOT on board with HEAT
The announcement at the July 18 city council meeting that NC A&T University would be participating after all in the new HEAT service set to begin on August 8 was met with elation and celebration. This great news was based on understandings gained through conversations with various people associated with the university. The University Connector Steering Committee discussed and planned for this welcome development at its July 20 meeting, and I posted the good news on this blog.
It is with great consternation and disappointment that I now post this correction: A&T University is NOT going to participate in the new HEAT service for college and university students after all -- the previous information was incorrect and based on a misunderstanding between GTA and university officials. The official letter that arrived late last week merely restated the original reasons the university would not be participating and that they would gauge student interest in future participation once students return to campus in the fall.
Aggies will be the only college students in Greensboro who will have to pay to ride HEAT and GTA buses due to their university's decision. There will be no HEAT shuttle service for students residing in the off-campus housing areas.
That's a crying shame!
It is with great consternation and disappointment that I now post this correction: A&T University is NOT going to participate in the new HEAT service for college and university students after all -- the previous information was incorrect and based on a misunderstanding between GTA and university officials. The official letter that arrived late last week merely restated the original reasons the university would not be participating and that they would gauge student interest in future participation once students return to campus in the fall.
Aggies will be the only college students in Greensboro who will have to pay to ride HEAT and GTA buses due to their university's decision. There will be no HEAT shuttle service for students residing in the off-campus housing areas.
That's a crying shame!
The HEAT will soon be here
After three years of planning, HEAT (Higher Education Area Transit) will begin service on August 8 after a kick-off celebration the morning before at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot. Funding for this new service is being provided by a federal CMAQ grant (Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality) and matching funds from the colleges and universities. Information about HEAT is being shared with all students at orientations and as they return to campus.
The big news is that A&T State University WILL officially participate after all.That means that students at all seven {correction: six, I counted GTCC twice with two of their campuses} of Greensboro's colleges and universities will be able to ride the university connector service (and any GTA fixed route bus) by presenting their student IDs. A&T came on board too late to designate a stop within the campus so those students will access the service at an East Market Street stop until on-campus arrangements can be worked out.
Shuttle buses will also travel Spring Garden Street to bring off-campus students to UNCG, and this service will be expanded to off-campus students at A&T beginning in the spring 2007 semester. Late night service will be provided on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to and from the campuses to the downtown clubs and nightspots as well.
One minor adjustment was made for the Greensboro College stop, moving it from the back of the campus to the parking lot off West Market Street. Adjacent College Hill residents had voiced concerns about the buses traveling on a short section of an all-residential street so this concession was made "to keep the peace" with the neighborhood.
City residents will also be able to use HEAT by paying the normal GTA fare. Once patrons discover the western route will provide non-stop express service from the Depot to Friendly Shopping Center, I can see this becoming a very popular service for non-students as well.
The HEAT logo and buses were designed by a student at GTCC. I'm told the buses will be quite colorful and eye-catching.
Get ready to take the HEAT!
The big news is that A&T State University WILL officially participate after all.That means that students at all seven {correction: six, I counted GTCC twice with two of their campuses} of Greensboro's colleges and universities will be able to ride the university connector service (and any GTA fixed route bus) by presenting their student IDs. A&T came on board too late to designate a stop within the campus so those students will access the service at an East Market Street stop until on-campus arrangements can be worked out.
Shuttle buses will also travel Spring Garden Street to bring off-campus students to UNCG, and this service will be expanded to off-campus students at A&T beginning in the spring 2007 semester. Late night service will be provided on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to and from the campuses to the downtown clubs and nightspots as well.
One minor adjustment was made for the Greensboro College stop, moving it from the back of the campus to the parking lot off West Market Street. Adjacent College Hill residents had voiced concerns about the buses traveling on a short section of an all-residential street so this concession was made "to keep the peace" with the neighborhood.
City residents will also be able to use HEAT by paying the normal GTA fare. Once patrons discover the western route will provide non-stop express service from the Depot to Friendly Shopping Center, I can see this becoming a very popular service for non-students as well.
The HEAT logo and buses were designed by a student at GTCC. I'm told the buses will be quite colorful and eye-catching.
Get ready to take the HEAT!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Weekly Schedule
Things are starting to get a bit busier officially this week -- and potentially family-wise as well as grandchild # eight is due to arrive.
Monday, July 24 began with an early morning meeting with some of the officials of the Greensboro Partnership to discuss a number of items pertaining to the upcoming bond referendum and other initiatives. I have a conference with City Manager Mitchell Johnson later this afternoon.
The regular monthly council briefing session will begin at 8:30AM on Tuesday, July 25. Items on the agenda include an update on the Land Development Ordinance and receipt of the annual reports from the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy (RUCO), Greensboro Economic Development Partnership (now "Alliance"), and Downtown Greensboro.
The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) will meet on Wednesday, July 26. That agenda includes approval of the TAC's bylaws, a report on PART's air quality program, and a number of other updates.
I have a meeting about transportation plans for High Point's International Home Furnishings Market on Thursday, July 27. PART is the "flow through" mechanism for the state money for transportation for market attendees.
Members of the Heart of the Triad steering committee, PART board members and other interested persons have been invited to travel to Charlotte on Friday, July 28 to see the progress of their light rail line and other transit-oriented development there. I do not plan to participate due to being on "baby stand-by" and the fact that I participated in a similar excursion in April 2005.
Monday, July 24 began with an early morning meeting with some of the officials of the Greensboro Partnership to discuss a number of items pertaining to the upcoming bond referendum and other initiatives. I have a conference with City Manager Mitchell Johnson later this afternoon.
The regular monthly council briefing session will begin at 8:30AM on Tuesday, July 25. Items on the agenda include an update on the Land Development Ordinance and receipt of the annual reports from the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy (RUCO), Greensboro Economic Development Partnership (now "Alliance"), and Downtown Greensboro.
The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) will meet on Wednesday, July 26. That agenda includes approval of the TAC's bylaws, a report on PART's air quality program, and a number of other updates.
I have a meeting about transportation plans for High Point's International Home Furnishings Market on Thursday, July 27. PART is the "flow through" mechanism for the state money for transportation for market attendees.
Members of the Heart of the Triad steering committee, PART board members and other interested persons have been invited to travel to Charlotte on Friday, July 28 to see the progress of their light rail line and other transit-oriented development there. I do not plan to participate due to being on "baby stand-by" and the fact that I participated in a similar excursion in April 2005.
City Connections
This week's edition of City Connections has a good summary of the items on the upcoming bond referendum in November.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Designing a new recreation center
Turnout at last night's workshop to gather community input into the programming and design of the new Southwest Recreation Center was considerably smaller than what we had hoped, but the strong thunderstorm that passed through right at the planned starting time with its abundant rain and hail may have discouraged some interested folks from attending. The twenty or so citizens who did attend had a great opportunity to tell the design consultant and Parks & Recreation staff and commission members which features and programs they were most interested in seeing included in this new facility to be located adjacent to Adams Farm off Hilltop Road.
Attendees learned that this 34+ acre site would be planned as a "community park" intended to serve mainly residents within a 2-mile radius. The recreation center building itself plus adequate parking and street access will cover approximately four acres of the site, so there will be plenty of space left for outdoor recreational activities. Placement of the building will be guided by the topography of the site which contains several steep slopes, a creek running the width of the property, and the desire to leave mature stands of trees untouched as possible. Phase I of the project will consist only of the building, parking lot and access road and should be complete by the summer of 2008. Additional amenities such as athletic fields will be included in Phase II once funding is approved, hopefully in the Parks and Recreation bond included in November's upcoming referendum.
After reviewing various definitions and options for "recreation," participants expressed their personal preferences by placing blue dots on a list of various activities for both indoors and outdoors. The most mentioned options included a fitness center, indoor jogging track, meeting/crafts/arts space, basketball court and a climbing wall for the inside and nature trails, dog park, playground, horseshoe pits, multi-purpose athletic fields and outdoor fitness trail on the outside. Participants agreed that they wanted the park to be environmentally sensitive and friendly, non-institutional, safe and secure, and not intrude on the adjacent neighborhood and neighbors (including any outdoor lighting and operational hours). The park planners will take all this information and create a draft plan incorporating these ideas; this plan will be brought back at a second workshop (date unknown at this time) for feedback and revision as needed.
This meeting was a good beginning to FINALLY making the long-delayed Southwest Recreation Center a reality.
Attendees learned that this 34+ acre site would be planned as a "community park" intended to serve mainly residents within a 2-mile radius. The recreation center building itself plus adequate parking and street access will cover approximately four acres of the site, so there will be plenty of space left for outdoor recreational activities. Placement of the building will be guided by the topography of the site which contains several steep slopes, a creek running the width of the property, and the desire to leave mature stands of trees untouched as possible. Phase I of the project will consist only of the building, parking lot and access road and should be complete by the summer of 2008. Additional amenities such as athletic fields will be included in Phase II once funding is approved, hopefully in the Parks and Recreation bond included in November's upcoming referendum.
After reviewing various definitions and options for "recreation," participants expressed their personal preferences by placing blue dots on a list of various activities for both indoors and outdoors. The most mentioned options included a fitness center, indoor jogging track, meeting/crafts/arts space, basketball court and a climbing wall for the inside and nature trails, dog park, playground, horseshoe pits, multi-purpose athletic fields and outdoor fitness trail on the outside. Participants agreed that they wanted the park to be environmentally sensitive and friendly, non-institutional, safe and secure, and not intrude on the adjacent neighborhood and neighbors (including any outdoor lighting and operational hours). The park planners will take all this information and create a draft plan incorporating these ideas; this plan will be brought back at a second workshop (date unknown at this time) for feedback and revision as needed.
This meeting was a good beginning to FINALLY making the long-delayed Southwest Recreation Center a reality.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Weekly schedule
The "summer slow-down" is still in effect so I don't have too many official responsibilities this week. However, I have plenty of "grandmother duty" scheduled while my son continues physical therapy on his knee.
The regular city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 18 beginning with a 4:00PM discussion of the Truth and Reconciliation report in the Plaza Level Conference Room (not televised). Despite being omitted from the attendance list in today's newspaper article, I do plan to go and participate.
Items of interest on the regular meeting agenda for the 5:30PM meeting is the consideration of a special use permit for a salvage yard on Holts Chapel Road, the awarding of the contract to transport solid waste from the new transfer station to the landfill, and finalization of the proposed November bond referendum.
Wednesday, July 19 begins with the graduation exercises for the Greensboro Police Department's 85th Academy Class at 10:00AM at the Bryan Enrichment Center. At 2:00PM I will be taping a short segment about PART at the WXLV ABC45 studio with Jim Longworth. I will also attend and listen to comments at the public meeting being held from 6:00-7:30PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5603 Hilltop Road, to gather community ideas for programming of the new Southwest Recreation Center that is to be built soon.
The steering committee for the University Connector Service (HEAT) will meet again at 10AM on Thursday, July 20 for a last minute update before the service begins on August 1. Some residents in the College Hill neighborhood have requested that we not route the buses on their residential streets.
I'm looking forward to attending an outdoor dinner reception and concert hosted by the United Arts Council and Eastern Music Festival on Friday evening, July 21 at Dana Auditorium on the Guilford College campus. Please, Mother Nature, don't schedule any evening thunderstorms for this day!
The regular city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 18 beginning with a 4:00PM discussion of the Truth and Reconciliation report in the Plaza Level Conference Room (not televised). Despite being omitted from the attendance list in today's newspaper article, I do plan to go and participate.
Items of interest on the regular meeting agenda for the 5:30PM meeting is the consideration of a special use permit for a salvage yard on Holts Chapel Road, the awarding of the contract to transport solid waste from the new transfer station to the landfill, and finalization of the proposed November bond referendum.
Wednesday, July 19 begins with the graduation exercises for the Greensboro Police Department's 85th Academy Class at 10:00AM at the Bryan Enrichment Center. At 2:00PM I will be taping a short segment about PART at the WXLV ABC45 studio with Jim Longworth. I will also attend and listen to comments at the public meeting being held from 6:00-7:30PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5603 Hilltop Road, to gather community ideas for programming of the new Southwest Recreation Center that is to be built soon.
The steering committee for the University Connector Service (HEAT) will meet again at 10AM on Thursday, July 20 for a last minute update before the service begins on August 1. Some residents in the College Hill neighborhood have requested that we not route the buses on their residential streets.
I'm looking forward to attending an outdoor dinner reception and concert hosted by the United Arts Council and Eastern Music Festival on Friday evening, July 21 at Dana Auditorium on the Guilford College campus. Please, Mother Nature, don't schedule any evening thunderstorms for this day!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Technology where you least expect it
City councilmembers seem to be on every imaginable mailing list so we receive a constant deluge of materials from a wide range of sources. During my lunch today, I was glancing through "VanGuard," the company magazine for Vecillio & Grogan, the contractor currently doing the grading and highway work for the FedEx project and I-540 (Painter Blvd.). In it was an article discussing how the company uses global positioning system technology (GPS) on their dozers and motor graders to perform such precise grading that they often don't even need to use stakes to mark boundaries. (Luckily the article was online as well so I can share it with you.)
Amazing! I would never have thought that computers and satellites played such a big role in moving dirt around on a construction site.
Amazing! I would never have thought that computers and satellites played such a big role in moving dirt around on a construction site.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
New buses for PART
Participants at today's ribbon-cutting event in Pilot Mountain had the opportunity to explore and ride on PART's newest bus that was on display for this ceremony. It provided a cool retreat from the hot temperatures outside. These buses are replacing the ones we currently lease, and you will soon see them traveling on PART's exisiting routes.
The interior is spacious and roomy, seats 31 passengers, and includes two postions for wheelchairs. A larger model will seat 40 riders. The decor is attractive, and riders will have a first-class ride. The possibility of making the buses WiFi "hotspots" is being explored as an amenity for our business customers.
These buses were purchased with a federal grant and operate on super low-sulfur diesel fuel. This is great news for our environment and air quality, but it's a real challenge to obtain the fuel at the moment because the federal requirements for its use do not take effect for another year. We're having to truck in our own supply from Charlotte until it becomes locally available.
I hope YOU will take the opportunity to ride PART and enjoy our new buses! The fares and operating schedules are available here.
The interior is spacious and roomy, seats 31 passengers, and includes two postions for wheelchairs. A larger model will seat 40 riders. The decor is attractive, and riders will have a first-class ride. The possibility of making the buses WiFi "hotspots" is being explored as an amenity for our business customers.
These buses were purchased with a federal grant and operate on super low-sulfur diesel fuel. This is great news for our environment and air quality, but it's a real challenge to obtain the fuel at the moment because the federal requirements for its use do not take effect for another year. We're having to truck in our own supply from Charlotte until it becomes locally available.
I hope YOU will take the opportunity to ride PART and enjoy our new buses! The fares and operating schedules are available here.
PART's newest park-and-ride lot
Today I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for PART's newest park-and-ride lot located on Golf Course Road in Pilot Mountain in Surry County, one of PART's newer member counties. The new lot is conveniently located just off Highway 52, and in addition to a new community service, provides a scenic view of one of North Carolina's natural wonders, Pilot Mountain.
Elected officials from the city council were present as well as the city and county managers -- all were thrilled with this new partnership that will provide PART Express service from Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain to Winston-Salem's transportation center, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Forsyth Hospital, and Hanes Mall. The early morning runs are expected to serve Surry County residents who work in the medical centers. Several of the locals who attended were excited about the possibility of traveling to Hanes Mall without having to deal with traffic and/or parking challenges.
After the ceremony, we were guests of Gary and Charlotte York for a delightful lunch at Flippin's Bed and Breakfast which they own, a beautifully restored old home in Pilot Mountain.
Elected officials from the city council were present as well as the city and county managers -- all were thrilled with this new partnership that will provide PART Express service from Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain to Winston-Salem's transportation center, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Forsyth Hospital, and Hanes Mall. The early morning runs are expected to serve Surry County residents who work in the medical centers. Several of the locals who attended were excited about the possibility of traveling to Hanes Mall without having to deal with traffic and/or parking challenges.
After the ceremony, we were guests of Gary and Charlotte York for a delightful lunch at Flippin's Bed and Breakfast which they own, a beautifully restored old home in Pilot Mountain.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Backyard scenes
I took these photos in our backyard in all its summer splendor.
The coleus and caladiums are thriving now that the rabbits have quit nibbling on them (thanks again to all who contributed to that effort).
The daisies have been blooming abundantly for weeks and don't show any sign of stopping.
Our four fig bushes have grown tremendously and all are loaded with figs -- some we picked last week were almost the size of tennis balls. There's no way we will ever use all of them, so if anyone would like some, just let me know and we'll be happy to give you some. (We're also buried in zucchini and are pushing those off on anyone who will take them -- ask and ye shall receive!)
The coleus and caladiums are thriving now that the rabbits have quit nibbling on them (thanks again to all who contributed to that effort).
The daisies have been blooming abundantly for weeks and don't show any sign of stopping.
Our four fig bushes have grown tremendously and all are loaded with figs -- some we picked last week were almost the size of tennis balls. There's no way we will ever use all of them, so if anyone would like some, just let me know and we'll be happy to give you some. (We're also buried in zucchini and are pushing those off on anyone who will take them -- ask and ye shall receive!)
Back to "official-dom"
This past week was a welcome respite from city council meetings with no "official" duties unless you count participating in the Fun Fourth parade on Tuesday and a short round with John Hammer on the Dusty Dunn radio show Friday morning. I used the free time to finish up my "spring cleaning" a couple of months late -- washed windows, painted shutters and doors -- and reclaimed a large portion of the Carmany garden from the weeds that had taken over. Now its' time to get back to city council work.
On Monday evening, July 10, I will be attending the Asbury Community Watch to hear community concerns and bring an update on city happenings.
I'll be attending a luncheon with Professor John Nalbandian of the University of Kansas at noon on Tuesday, July 11 after which I will attend a meeting of the Sister Cities board.
It's off to Raleigh on Wednesday, July 12 for a policy committee meeting at the NC League of Municipalities.
On Thursday, July 13 I will be traveling to Pilot Mountain to participate in the official ribboncutting for PART's new park-and-ride lot there. PART Express will begin service to Winston-Salem from this location beginning on July 31.
Hopefully this will be a fairly easy week.
On Monday evening, July 10, I will be attending the Asbury Community Watch to hear community concerns and bring an update on city happenings.
I'll be attending a luncheon with Professor John Nalbandian of the University of Kansas at noon on Tuesday, July 11 after which I will attend a meeting of the Sister Cities board.
It's off to Raleigh on Wednesday, July 12 for a policy committee meeting at the NC League of Municipalities.
On Thursday, July 13 I will be traveling to Pilot Mountain to participate in the official ribboncutting for PART's new park-and-ride lot there. PART Express will begin service to Winston-Salem from this location beginning on July 31.
Hopefully this will be a fairly easy week.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Keeping up with retirees
Retired city employees really have it rough, don't they! {smile}
Former city employee Laddie Wuchae retired to the Southport area and reads my blog to keep up with Greensboro happenings. He occasionally communicates with me and shared this newspaper clipping of a recent successful fishing excursion. The young girl is one of his son's students.
Former city employee Laddie Wuchae retired to the Southport area and reads my blog to keep up with Greensboro happenings. He occasionally communicates with me and shared this newspaper clipping of a recent successful fishing excursion. The young girl is one of his son's students.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Another plus for blogs
I received the following email this morning in response to my recent post on some pressing needs in Moldova that highlights another plus for blogs -- the ability to reach people all over the world who are able to assist with a particular need.
I have responded with Major Carver's contact information so that Serghei can assist with this project in his own country.
Dear Sandy,
Recently I found you blog on the Internet talking about humanitarian needs in Moldova
http://sandycarmany.blogspot.com/2006/07/humanitarian-needs-in-moldova.html
I am running a small business in Chisinau and I would like to make my contribution to Donduseni project.
However the way to make a contribution by writing a check is not accessible to me in Moldova, I'd prefer to make a local wire transfer or just to hand the cash to the responsible person. Could you give me e-mail or some other type of contact of Robert Carver or someone else responsible on the ground, so that we could organize the donation?
I know it's weird that I want to donate through US organization, but this way I just have more confidence that my help will serve the right purpose.
I would like to thank you very much for all that city of Greensboro and State of North Carolina does in Moldova.
Best Regards,
Serghei Zagaiciuc
I have responded with Major Carver's contact information so that Serghei can assist with this project in his own country.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Tournament Town -- here we go again!
It's official -- the NCAA has selected the Greensboro Coliseum to host the 2009 Men's Basketball Tournament regional 1st and 2nd rounds! Congratulations to Matt Brown and the hardworking coliseum staff for landing another big one!
Humanitarian needs in Moldova
Below are excerpts from an email plea from Major Robert Carver of the NC National Guard, Chief of the Bilateral Affairs Office in Moldova, who is in charge the NC National Guard's activities in its Partnership for Peace activities in Moldova. North Carolina has a formal partnership with Moldova (the Bilateral Committee) and Greensboro has a Sister City relationship with Buiucani, a sector of the capital city of Chisinau.
A similar plea arrived from Joanna Kelly, a Peace Corps volunteer from Winston-Salem.
On the theory that many hands make light work, I'm coming back to the well, begging again with hat in hand, to you folks who helped provide heat to the hospice during the dead of winter.Ray West who managed U.S. European Command humanitarian assistance projects in Moldova from 1997 to 2002 is the head of Moldova World Children's Fund, a 501-c-3 organization that is doing a lot of wonderful work in Moldova. Ray has agreed to funnel the money through his organization. This will both expedite the process and give donors a tax deductible contribution. Anyone wishing to contribute may write checks payable to: "Moldova World Children's Fund" specifying that the gift is for : "Donduseni Hospital boiler"and mail it to: Moldova World Children's Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 548, Hendersonville, NC 28793-0548
This issue is also fairly modest, but vitally important. The hospital in Donduseni, which serves 50,000 people, has no boiler for hot water to serve the building. That means, with the exception of one bathroom on one floor, there is no hot water in this hospital.
A 500-liter boiler is needed that would do many things...provide hot water to all five floors of the facility and provide hot water to the physical therapy baths, which have been out of use for some time due to this need.The boiler cost is fairly modest - $1300 USD - and is available from a dealer in Chisinau. The dealer has submitted a price already. Plumbing, etc, is already installed, so only the boiler is needed. The [Moldovan] government is not meeting the need.
Obviously, the physical therapy baths aside, this is a critical need before winter hits. So, far, I've put in $250 of my own and raised another $250. Like before with the heating help, I'll purchase the boiler. This will go a long way to making life better at this hospital.
Thanks!
Major Robert Carver
A similar plea arrived from Joanna Kelly, a Peace Corps volunteer from Winston-Salem.
I am writing to you as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova and as a fellow North Carolinian (from Winston-Salem). I met several of you at the NC-Moldova Bilateral Affairs Committee meeting in April. There, I mentioned a school heat project that I am involved with in my village in the south of Moldova. I said I would let you know when this project was accepting donations. That time has finally arrived. Below is additional information about the project and how to donate. I appreciate any support you are able to offer.
Project Summary
This project will provide for the renovation of the local high school heating system in the village of Zirnesti. The current system was installed when the school was built during the Soviet era in 1968. The system is inadequate and costly because of extended overuse, the distance of the boiler room from the school, and the re-equipment of the boiler room to accommodate carbon [coal] rather than gas. In the winter the average temperature on the first floor of the school is 12-13 degrees C (55 degrees F). The temperature on the second and third floors is 9-10 degrees C (48-50 degrees F). During the 2004-2005 school year there were 3500 student absences, and 260 students (out of 330) visited the village Family Medical Center. When the temperature is very low in the classrooms, classes are shortened, or even cancelled, as was the case this past winter during the "big freeze." Every winter these factors negatively impact the motivation, enthusiasm and the process of instruction and education for more than 330 students and 60 teachers and support staff at the school.
Your financial contribution would enable the high school to relocate the boiler room inside the school, install new boiler room equipment and renovate the radiator system, vastly improving the quality of education and instruction for the students and staff. The total cost of the project is $54,830. We have currently raised over 80% of the costs through two major donors and community contributions. The total amount remaining is $9,370.
The goal of one of the major donors is to encourage a change of mentality where communities learn to identify and solve problems on their own. Thus, this project not only meets a critical community need, but also, through strong community participation and education, attempts to address underlying attitudes and behaviors. The community will provide all labor necessary for the relocation and equipment installation of the boiler room, the transportation costs of materials and the community education costs.
The result of the total amount remaining ($9,370) divided by the number of students (330) is $28 per student. Your individual contribution of $28 or more, an amount that may seem insignificant to you, would have a vital and lasting impact on the life of a child. Certainly, if you were able to make a larger contribution, it would be greatly appreciated, for at this rate I would need 330 people to donate.
We are trying to complete this project before the end of my service in November, hence, we would like to complete fundraising by August 31. (However, work will begin the end of July, using the other funds collected to date). You can help me by spreading the word about this project to as many of your associates as possible - friends, family, organizations, etc.
Thank you so much!
Joanna Kelly Peace Corp Volunteer
Moldova World Children's Fund is also processing tax-deductible donations for this project. Make checks payable to: Moldova World Children's Fund, Inc. specifying "Zirnesti/Moldova heating project" and mail them to: Moldova World Children's Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 548,Hendersonville, NC 28793-0548
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The REAL celebrity
With all the dignitaries present for today's Fun Fourth festivities, of course the REAL celebrtiy was Uncle Sam.
Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam!
"Celebrities" at Greensboro's Fun Fourth
There were numerous familiar faces in downtown Greensboro today for the Fun Fourth festivities.
Olympic champion Joey Cheek served as the grand marshall for the parade and appeared on several of the performance stages as well as speaking and posing for photots at the Sponsor's Luncheon.
Politicians were in abundance, including US Congressman Howard Coble,
US Congressman Brad Miller,
Guilford County Commissioner John Parks,
and me holding THE silver medal.
Mayor Keith Holliday was in the very first photo. Also present but not captured on my camera were NC Senator Katie Dorsett, NC Representative Maggie Jeffus, and Councilwoman Yvonne Johnson.
Fox8's Caron Myers and her cameraman (better known as FTOJRLST to bloggers) were obviously enjoying their assignment for the day.
Olympic champion Joey Cheek served as the grand marshall for the parade and appeared on several of the performance stages as well as speaking and posing for photots at the Sponsor's Luncheon.
Politicians were in abundance, including US Congressman Howard Coble,
US Congressman Brad Miller,
Guilford County Commissioner John Parks,
Greensboro City Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small,
and me holding THE silver medal.
Mayor Keith Holliday was in the very first photo. Also present but not captured on my camera were NC Senator Katie Dorsett, NC Representative Maggie Jeffus, and Councilwoman Yvonne Johnson.
Fox8's Caron Myers and her cameraman (better known as FTOJRLST to bloggers) were obviously enjoying their assignment for the day.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Red Robin opens
One of the "perks" councilmembers often receive are invitations to the openings of new businesses in Greensboro. Such was the case today for an invitation-only preview for the new Red Robin restaurant on Highwoods Boulevard in the expanding development at Bryan Boulevard and New Garden Road. My husband, one of our sons and his wife, and I enjoyed a free lunch of burgers, soups, salads, and sandwiches in return for being "guinea pigs" as the new staff trained and practiced for their grand opening on Monday, July 3. The food was excellent, the service was friendly and efficient, and we enjoyed the bright colorful decor. I predict much success for Greensboro's newest restaurant.
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