Non-compliant sex offenders

That's William Anthony Swinton on the left and Roderick Dale Freeman on the right, a pair of local sex offenders who are "non-compliant" according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff. My understanding is that means the cops don't know where these guys are -- and they're supposed to. Swinton's last known address was 2512 McClintock Rd., Apt 2. Freeman's was 229 N. Torrence St. These are just two of at least 22 convicted sex offenders in Mecklenburg County and hundreds more across the Carolinas, exposing gaps in the states' sex-offender registry laws, according to the Observer.

Again with the ha-ha

Who doesn't need a good laugh these days? The Yoga Center on 8th Street is trying again to hold a free Laughter Yoga class. I think the last one got rained out, so they're moving it inside at the center on Sunday, June 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The class will be facilitated by Phyllis Rollins, Charlotte’s only Laughter Yoga leader. From the press release: "Laughter Yoga is supported by powerful tools derived from the Western psycho analytical methods as well as Eastern spiritual laws. It will help you to stay in high spirits when life throws up challenges. It will enhance your ability to laugh and smile when dealing with negative emotions, situations and negative or difficult people."

Pearl of Elizabeth

Hope you got to see the article about Penny Craver that ran in the Observer recently. Craver, co-owner of Dish in Plaza-Midwood and former owner of Tremont Music Hall in Dilworth, is the force behind the Pearl restaurant, where Ethan's used to be. I've yet to eat at Pearl, but I love Dish. Anyone have an opinion on Pearl?

2500 block of 7th

Anonymous reports:

I'm following up on the question about what's going on on the 2500 block of 7th street where it's been bulldozed.

For whatever reason, even though there's a "financed by Wachovia" sign in the middle of the land, most of the people I've called have tried to say as little as possible. I was told the "official release" will be in a couple of months. I called around and was able to get this info:

-The plans are for 45 townhomes
-3 stories
-They will be 1700 to 1800 sq/ft
-The avg townhome will have 3 bedrooms and if I understood correctly, 3.5 baths.
-They will have a 1.5 car garage
-The pre-construction prices will be "in the low 2's". I asked what they meant and was told "215-220".
-They are being built by gateway homes

There are several condemed and nearly condemed properties on that block and right next to the soon-to-be-built townhomes, but the demolition for this project is complete. I was told they woul "probably look similar to the homes ate www.PrestonTownHomes.com", although they don't know if they'll be brick or not.

one more thing: completion of the project will be 14 months from now.

Conformity on Seventh

The secret is out. Plans are underway to develop the Roy White property on Seventh. Monte Ritchey may have been playing coy with the Business Journal, but he made a presentation to the ECA meeting Tuesday night. Let's hope he can do something good for the neighborhood with that property and end the long-running saga.

Relive the PD

Download the Progressive Dinner recipes here. Enjoy.

Progressively fuller

At our Progressive Dinner house on Greenway, hosts Beth and Scott Haenni went beyond the call by also preparing warm goat cheese salsa and fresh guacamole. (That's Scott in the back in black t-shirt; Beth at far left, also in black.) So I ate some. It was really good. Just before that, at the appetizers house, I nibbled on various things while never straying far from the two frozen margarita machines. So when it came time to actually eat dinner, I was already fat. That I did not join the clean plate club was no reflection on the meal. Maya and company, you did a great job choosing the menu -- again. Afterward, the desert house on Bay Street made up for the dearth of sweets last year with an overload this year. All in all, an excellent Progressive Dinner -- again. If you didn't make it -- and we know who you are 9th Street -- rest assured we talked about you.

Seis de Mayo

When you attend the Progressive Dinner Saturday night, I encourage you to eat too much, drink too much and misbehave. I don't want to be the only one. One warning, like last year, I'll have my camera. If you act up, I'll snap your picture. If you've never been to the Elizabeth PD, you ought to go. It's one of the best things our neighborhood does. Maya says she has space for five more people if you forgot to sign up. And the correct starting time is 6:30 p.m., even if you see a flyer that says 6.

Whole year wait

Bummer. Looks like Whole Foods won't open on Elizabeth Avenue until 2008, not next year as originally planned. I'm looking forward to the gluten-free bakery.

Bulls eye

I'm not a huge Target shopper. But when I heard they were building one on the site of the old Charlottetown Cinemas I thought, "Sure would be nice to have a movie theater there." And then I thought, "But a Target and Home Depot won't be bad" -- especially since we're supposed to get up to eight screens at the Elizabeth Avenue redevelopment project. I resent the heck out of having to drive out to the suburbs for shopping and entertainment. I'm glad our fair city is getting the density needed to bring these businesses back into town.

Table turnover

So long Ethan's. So long Schlotzsky's. Seems like we hardly knew you. Hello Pearl of Elizabeth and the Corner Place. We are to expect American cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood at Pearl of Elizabeth. I'm not sure what to expect from the Corner Place, but it's open, so stop in. Apparently the Pearl is open too, as they get ready for a grand opening on May 5.

Help wanted

The Elizabeth Community Association needs a secretary. The pay is lousy and the hours are bad. But you get to hang out with some really cool people who care deeply about their favorite neighborhood.

Reading benches

As promised, here's some pictures from the new reading garden at Independence Park. I still can't get over how the benches are not bolted down. How long until they walk away? Wouldn't it be nice if they stayed there forever, unmolested and useful? Also, did you see the beautiful mallard who has been swimming in Lake Arheleger?

Sex offender update

That's Kevin Clark Shikany on the left and Charles Edward Hinton on the right, a pair of sex offenders who live in our area. Shikany lives at 2029 E. 7th Street and Hinton at 1023 Central Ave. You can search for known sex offenders within a mile of your home here.

Independence improvement

If you haven't seen the amazing improvements to Independence park near 7th and Hawthorne, you need to go take a look. New shrubs, trees, flowers, benches, mulch -- it doesn't look like the old Indy. It's called a Reading Garden, sponsored by Troy-Bilt, and it's supposed to be an "oasis of calm and beauty, where people can sit back with a good book and take in the outdoors." Charlotte was one of nine cities to get a Reading Garden. I've got to get a picture soon. I'm afraid it won't last. The benches look especially susceptible. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all keep an eye on the Reading Garden and make it last?

Signs could be better

Get in your car, and proceed toward Commonwealth Avenue from The Plaza. Turn right at the stop sign, toward Pecan. A few yards after you do you’ll see a speed limit sign: 30 mph. Now between The Plaza and Pecan on Commonwealth is about one-tenth of a mile. You certainly can reach 30 mph on that stretch, but why would you?
Now turn left from Commonwealth onto Pecan, toward our fair neighborhood. You’ll go almost three-tenths of a mile before you see the first speed limit sign: 25 mph sign.
I am glad Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are targeting speeders on this street. People drive way too fast on Pecan -- you know who you are. But I do think another sign is in order for the people coming off Commonwealth who might think the speed limit is 30, as it is on Commonwealth, or 35, which I believe is the city-wide speed limit (unless otherwise posted). I assume police aren’t stopping folks doing 30 mph. I assume they have enough business nabbing the leadfoots. But the proper speed limits here could be better displayed.
And no, I haven't been stopped.

Map of the future

Don't you just love these stylized mass transit maps? As if the Government Center, CPCC, Pecan Avenue and Briar Creek were on a straight line. I guess since they don't know exactly where things are going on the Silver Line everything is just an approximation anyway. If you've been down South Boulevard lately, you've seen the reality of the Blue Line construction. We're next.

Common sense for master keys

This question was in the latest Elizabeth Crime Notification email (the work of Brad Miller). It was asked by an Elizabethan at a recent ECA board meeting:

I heard there is a master key available on the Internet for The Club. Is this true?
Officer Laura Nelson (the Elizabeth community police liaison): I have spoken with several officers in the district about a master key for The Club. We all agreed that if it’s possible to purchase a master key for a car, it’s probably possible to buy a master key for The Club.

Ok, it makes no sense to buy The Club if there is a readily-available master key that makes it useless. But how many of the clowns stealing cars are smart enough to get the key -- let alone use it? The jerks stealing our cars aren't shopping for master keys on the Internet. They're helping themselves to the low-hanging fruit we're leaving for them. If they want to get around The Club, they'll cut the steering wheel and remove it that way. The Club won't stop the serious thief. But if two cars are otherwise similar and one has The Club and the other doesn't -- which car gets taken?

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police there were 52 crime calls in Elizabeth in February. Exactly half, 26, involved automobiles:

Larceny from auto	10
Hit and run	7
Auto theft	5
Vandalism-vehicle	4

Last Wednesday night there were four reports of someone rummaging through cars on Laurel, Greenway, Fifth and Clement streets. At least three of those incidents apparently happened to unlocked cars.

Help the tour

The neighborhood's largest fundraiser is still the Homes Tour. Show off your home or volunteer to help make the 2006 tour as good or better than last year's. Email Terry Lett, Elizabeth Homes Tour coordinator, if you'd like to help.