Art breaks out on Elizabeth Avenue

Suddenly, in the vast, cavernous space of upper Elizabeth Avenue there is art outdoors -- thanks to Red Sky Gallery. The new location at 1523 Elizabeth Ave. opened March 25. There is another Red Sky Gallery downtown in the EpiCenter. Welcome Red Sky. I hope your presence helps reinvigorate the area. 

Get your motor running

Progressive Dinner gets its Greek on

The Progressive Dinner Committee writes:

We are so excited in anticipation of Elizabeth's favored neighborhood event: the Annual Progressive Dinner!

On Saturday, April 30, we will celebrate in Greek style!

This is a great opportunity to meet your new neighbors and spend time with your dear friends.  Join us for fabulous food, fun, and laughter!

Please RSVP by April 20th to elizabethdinner AT yahoo.com. Include your name, guest's name, address, and phone number.

We will send more details closer to the event, including times & locations.  Thanks in advance to Elaine Scott and Jerry Tylman for hosting appetizers and to Jessica and Monte Ritchey for hosting desserts.

We are seeking a few more host houses to seat 8-12 people for the dinner portion.  Please consider hosting this year -- it is so easy!  Your guests bring all the food, and you just provide beverages and bread.

Looking forward to seeing you there!  Yassou!

Chip and Lauren Jetton, Chairs
Lydia Arnold
Beth Haenni
Cheryl Smith
Diana Watson
Amy Williams

Put your home on the tour

Diana Watson writes:

Home Tour 2011 will once again share our neighborhood beauty with the greater Charlotte community next October (exact weekend depends on forthcoming Panthers schedule).   The home tour is one of the largest fundraisers for the Elizabeth Community Association and also a great way to visit with all your neighbors. We currently have four solid commitments on homes and three thinking. If you would like us to consider your home or garden for the tour or if you have any recommendations, I would love to hear from you. 

There are other ways to participate as well; we always need volunteers to staff the houses/gardens and always welcome any sponsorships. We have a great mix of homes now on Greenway, Vail, 5th and 9th; we could use some homes or gardens on the east side of 7th.

Diana Watson
Home Committee Chair
diana.watson3 AT gmail.com

A Forum on the Future of Our Children

From the Elizabeth Communities of Faith:

Charlotte and North Carolina face unprecedented and inevitably painful decisions in the coming months that will shape the future for millions of children. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board must cut education funding 5% to 15%, or about $100 million. The budget reductions will return the CMS budget to 2001-2003 levels. Children at every level of education will be affected, including those in vitally important pre-kindergarten programs.

What trade-offs are involved in these high-impact choices?

What factors should the school board consider in making these difficult decisions?

How can parents and students have their voices heard at the local and state levels?

These and other questions will be discussed at a community event on Sunday, April 3, at 7 p.m. at Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church. The event will have two parts. An information forum, featuring:

·      N.C. Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D), an Elizabeth resident and veteran state legislator
·      Bill Anderson, Ed. D, Executive Director, Meck Ed
·      Liz Clasen-Kelly, Director of Strategy and Planning, The Larry King Center, Council for Children’s Rights
·      Barbara Cantisano, Executive Director, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool.

Those interested are invited to remain after the forum to discuss options for advocacy.

An Elizabeth Communities of Faith Forum
Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church
1609 East 5th Street in the Sanctuary