Party time!

A few reminders for the annual Elizabeth Holiday Party tomorrow night:

• Please bring comfy socks or slippers, as we will all remove our shoes while inside this beautiful, new home.
• Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.  Don't forget your serving utensil.  Disposable dishes are easiest, if possible.
• As always, we thank the ECA for providing the ham and beverages.
• You can still RSVP by emailing:  elizabethparty@gmail.com.

Life on Elizabeth

Welcome to the 'hood, Paul Mitchell The School. Here's hoping you sign up lots of students and can make a solid business at 1516 Elizabeth Avenue. Your contractors did a nice job renovating that old building, but let's face it, the newness sticks out in contrast to what's around it: Next to nothing. Whatever the reason, much of Elizabeth Avenue between CPCC and Presbyterian Hospital has become a desolate embarrassment. Yes, we can still give thanks for Carpe Diem, Customshop, the Visualite and a few others. But really. Does anyone think the empty buildings and gravel lots are better than what was there before?

Notice the buses?

In case you're wondering what all the tour buses are doing around Presbyterian Hosptial, they're driving hospital employees to and from the Blake Hotel downtown where the employees are parking their cars. Seems the employee parking deck at Caswell and 5th may have some structural issues, and until they can be identified and corrected, no parking at the deck. The buses are running every 10 minutes or so all day long.

Dig deeper

Thoughtful look at the CMS situation from Elizabethan John Cleghorn, pastor of Elizabeth's Caldwell Presbyterian Church. The full sermon is available if you'd like to read more (PDF).

Holiday cheer

Here are the details for the Elizabeth Holiday Party. As Maya Packard notes, this is an adult party, so reserve your baby sitter early.

RSVP to: elizabethparty@gmail.com
Saturday, December 11
Drop-in from 7-11 pm
2125 Greenway Avenue
At the home of Kim and Harris Lineberger
ECA will provide drinks and ham.
Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

Sincerest form of flattery?

Belated welcome to a pair of Under the Water Towers, one for Lovilla, Iowa, and one -- well I'm not sure exactly where to place it. Somewhere not too far from Philadelphia, I believe. Anyway, welcome.

Kennedy's was hopping

The grand opening last night at Kennedy's Premium Bar and Grill, the new entry in the fight to stay alive as a business at 366 N. Caswell Rd., was festive, at least for the short time we were there. Patsy Kinsey was among the honored guests, although I couldn't be sure if she was politiking or just checking out the noise level. It certainly was loud, kind of midnight loud at 6 p.m., but I guess that's just me getting old.

The menu featured a very nice selection of draft beers, which is always welcome. Nobody should ever make lasting decisions on a place based on opening night, but I'll offer my thoughts anyway. We had shepherds pie, fried goat cheese salad and fish and chips at our table in a kind of good news, bad news affair. The bad news was the fish and chips: They've got a long way to go to be only as good as the fish and chips at Whiskey Warehouse. The good news: The salad was quite yummy (yes, even thought it came to the table sans dressing). Better than that was the shepherds pie, which could have made the ranks of Best Ever if someone in the kitchen held a firmer hand over the saline drip -- there was enough salt in our serving to pay a Roman army.

Overall it was certainly worth another trip, and I hope the new place can stick around longer than previous tenants. One Kennedy's guest last night suggested an excellent Elizabeth trivia question: Name all the restaurants that have graced that building in the last few years. Anyone?

VisArt in jeopardy?

I guess at some point people will have been shopping online for so long that they won't miss the tactile benefits of walking into a well-managed store. They won't miss what an engaged employee can offer. They won't feel the serendipitous buzz of walking out with something sharper than what they came in for. No, the online-only shopper won't miss a place like VisArt Video, but that's his problem. Because right now, VisArt still rocks. (Netflix just lies there.) But how much longer will we be fed by the area's only independent video store? The parent company wants out. Can the employees save the store? VisArt feels so right in Elizabeth. Let's hope so.

Christmas? Really?

Had lunch at Camille's (mostly because I needed wi-fi and had just recently eaten at Sub Station II.) And what to my wonderous ears should appear? Christmas music. Yes, really. Sorry, Camille. Nov. 4 is just too early.

Elizabeth holiday party

Maya Packard writes:

Save the date: Saturday, Dec. 11, for the Elizabeth holiday party, 7-11 p.m. at the home of Kim and Harris Lineberger, 2125 Greenway Ave. More details to follow. 

Rev. Clodfelter in the house!

The highlight of the ECA Annual Dinner was an impassioned "sermon" by Elizabeth's own Rep. Dan Clodfelter on the importance of the Elizabeth Area Plan. I wish I had recorded it! The message was clear: If you think the details of the Area Plan are unimportant or if you think the details can be easily worked out -- or if you think the quality of our neighborhood is not in jeopardy -- you are mistaken.  If and when an Elizabeth Area Plan is approved, it will have a profound affect on just about every parcel in the 'hood. We can't afford to settle for anything less than the best. Brother Dan was inspiring.

In other business, Monte Ritchey was elected ECA president and Beth Haenni was elected vice-president. Oh, and the food was pretty good too.

Josephine Hicks writes:

Dear Elizabeth Neighbors,

I want to invite you to a special new fundraiser called Spell the End to Cancer.  Please save the evening of Sat., Nov. 6 to join us for an evening of Scrabble, other word games, good company and good food to benefit Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C). This event was conceived when we lost our neighbor and friend Ann Brewster Jones to pancreatic cancer this February, and a group of us decided to take action – to honor her memory, and to make a real contribution to groundbreaking research that will help end this terrible disease as quickly as possible.

SU2C supports a new model for funding research into all types of cancer. Their unique funding model encourages innovation by funding multi-institutional, collaborative groups of scientists working together instead of in competition.

We’ll have both social and competitive Scrabble, other games, and prizes – some for winning a game, and some as part of a door prize drawing. The cost is $25 per person, which will go directly to Stand Up to Cancer. Donate now directly to our team or pay at the door.

Please respond to spelltheendofcancer@gmail.com to let us know if you plan to attend. In your e-mail, let us know how many are in your party, and whether you plan to play competitive Scrabble, social Scrabble, other games or just hang out. You are welcome to adjust your plans once you arrive.

What's wrong with this picture?

 

Find out tomorrow when Andy Misiaveg gives an update on the Elizabeth Area Plan at the ECA Annual Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in Broach Hall at St. John’s Baptist Church.

Meet and eat

Maya Packard (she sure is busy!) writes:

Please plan to join your neighbors for the annual meeting of the Elizabeth Community Association Oct 25 at 6:30 p.m. at St. John's Baptist Church. Please bring something to share for the Potluck Dinner.

• Learn what's been going on in the neighborhood
• Meet local politicians
• Hear from our neighborhood's police officers
• Get involved with upcoming projects
  Join the ECA
• Vote for ECA leadership positions (If you'd like to be on the ballot, or to find out what openings are available, please contact current president Matt Nurkin at mnurkin@gmail.com.)

Nab those worms

Maya Packard writes:

Thanks to the Elizabeth Community Association, tree banding kits are available to ECA residents at a fraction of what they would cost at a hardware store. The cost for supplies through the ECA is $1 per foot. The price includes roofing paper, batting, Tanglefoot and wrapping supplies. This year, The ECA tree banding materials will be sold on Oct. 30 at 2217 E. 5th St. Cash and checks will be accepted. Please make checks out to the ECA.

If you cannot pick up your supplies on this date or if you miss the deadline, email  trees4elizabeth@Gmail.com.

To find out more about the cankerworm and to get detailed instructions on how to properly band a tree please visit: http://www.elizabethcommunity.com/cankerworm.htm or email trees4elizabeth@gmail.com.

Big donation to Freedom School Partners

If you see Mary Nell McPherson walking her dog in the 'hood, check to see if she has an extra bounce in her step. Her group, Freedom School Partners, is getting a well-deserved $200,000 donation from Bank of America. According to the Charlotte Observer:

Freedom School Partners said the bank foundation's money represents one of the largest gifts it has received. The organization was launched in 2004 as a summer literacy program for children in the area of the now-demolished Piedmont Courts public housing complex. This summer, it grew to 10 sites and helped 600 at-risk children, officials said.
Its plan next summer is to serve 1,000 children at up to 16 sites, and the bank donation will help by strengthening the organization's ability to grow, McPherson said.

 We've got lots of good eggs in Elizabeth. Mary Nell is among the goodest. You can donate to Freedom School Partners too.

Wall o' pumpkin

Yes, it shall rise again. The Woodpeckers will begin construction on the Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall soon. How soon? I don't know. Stop by Starbucks some Saturday morning and they'll be there and you can ask them yourself. What I do know is that carving starts Oct. 24 at the corner of Clement Avenue and East 8th Street. The lighting ceremony will be Oct. 29 at dusk. Sharpen your knives and your wit and come on down. 

All that junk in that trunk

Brendan Walsh writes:

St. Martin's Episcopal Preschool is having a Junk in the Trunk sale Oct. 2 in the church parking lot from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Start saving those items  you want to sell that day, all out of the back of your car or truck (or small table). We are selling parking spots for $20. If you would like to use the whole parking spot to sell your items and park across the street, you are welcome to do so. Have items you want to get rid of but don't want to stick around and sell them? Think about donating them. All proceeds will go to the preschool. Call Stacy Dugan at St. Martin's to reserve a spot: 704-376-8441.

Incident in grocery store parking log

The Crime Dudette writes:

On Sunday evening an incident occurred at our local Harris-Teeter at Central and The Plaza. One of our neighbors went into the store. One of the locks on the car was broken, so she was unable to fully lock her car.  When she came back and got in, she was surprised by a man in the back -- with a gun. The assailant made her drive to the bank to withdraw money, and THANKFULLY, let her go unharmed. His image has been captured on the HT video cameras.

These are photos of the suspect CMPD is looking for in the Harris Teeter incident. They are also looking for this vehicle: 1998 Black Jeep Cherokee displaying NC Tag YRY-7138 

Volunteers needed for Home Tour

Maya Packard writes:

We are 10 days from the Elizabeth Home Tour (Oct. 2-3) and need about 20 more volunteers to help staff the great homes and gardens on this year's tour. Volunteering is easy. You're in a beautiful home (or garden) for two hours (four hours if you'd like a free ticket to see all the great homes) to greet neighbors and tour-goers. It's a great way to see or meet neighbors and make new friends. If you have volunteered, a big thank you! This is a huge fundraiser for our neighborhood so we need a lot of volunteers. To volunteer, simply contact tammyh@carolina.rr.com.

 Also:

We had a major computer malfunction and unfortunately two of the home tour spreadsheets with volunteer information were lost for good. If you volunteered for the Garden Trio (E 5th Street) and/or the McThenia/Adams home (2220 E 8th St), please contact tammyh@carolina.rr.com with your scheduled time and day. Sorry for the inconvenience--but the computer crashed, we've tried to reconstruct as much as possible but need your help!