New orthopaedic hospital in Elizabeth

Well, a replacement actually. Presbyterian Healthcare announced today it's going to ask the state to let it replace the existing orthopaedic hospital with an $84 million new one at the corner of 5th and Caswell. Presbyterian says the new facility will "have 64 acute care beds, 16 transitional care beds for skilled nursing care, 12 dedicated observation beds in a Universal Care Center, and 10 operating rooms." Subject to approval from the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation, of course.

Let's band together

The ECA writes:

Mark your calendars for tree banding materials!

When - Nov. 5, 9 a.m to 12 p.m.
Where - 2338 Greenway Ave.
Why? - Those pesky canker worms will start their ascent soon. Time to get the bands on!
More info - For $1 per foot, you will receive tanglefoot, spatula and gloves, batting and tar paper. We will also have staple guns you can borrow.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Britta Crandall at brittacrandall at yahoo.com

ALSO, if you haven't already done so, help the ECA earn $3,000 to help fund tree banding materials (if we get the grant, we can charge even less!). A quick signature stating that you'll spend at least a little time this fall banding trees will earn money for us. Sign-up sheets are posted at:

Hawthorne's Pizza
2338 Greenway
2319 Kenmore
2400 E. 5th street
1955 E. 8th St

Help clean up the park

Kristan Magas writes:

The park adoption program is in need of help!

Please consider signing up to volunteer at Independence Park on an upcoming Saturday. We need one or two people for each Saturday to do trash sweeps and then 5-10 people to help on Saturday, Oct. 8 (and every second Saturday of each month), from 9-12 to work with the parks and rec staff on a beautification project in the park. The trash sweeps are on your own and should not take more than an hour for each side of the park. It is a good way for kids to get involved and can be counted as community service for those in middle and high school. These sweeps are really a big help to parks and rec because they don't have the manpower to focus on the little stuff anymore.

This is a year-round project. Sign up for dates that suit you best.

Thank you!