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Beth Haenni President 704 562 5152 Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@gmail.com Eric Davis Vice President 704 776 3013 Greenway Avenue ericadavis0123@yahoo.com Diana Watson Secretary 704 996 9776 Kenmore Avenue dianawatson3@gmail.com Paul Shipley Treasurer 704 651 5897 Kenmore Avenue shipley_paul@msn.com

Kristan Magas Park & Recreation Liaison 704 488 0051 E. 5th Street kdm2201@gmail.com

Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com

Stephanie McKee Social Co-Chair Kenmore Avenue 704 907 2872 smckee@theconecompany.com

Victoria Zabel ECA Business Liaison 704 441 2274 Pecan Avenue victoria.zabel@me.com

Kathy Kennedy-Miller Zoning & Real Estate Clement Avenue kkm@jmainteriors.com Monte Ritchey Past President 980 722 0922 Clement Avenue monteritchey@gmail.com

ECA Board Members

Melanie Sizemore Zoning & Real Estate Committee 704 375 3244 Vail Avenue msizemore@realindex.com

Nancy O. Albert Editor/Newsletter Chair 704 779 0932 Hawthorne Lane noalbert@carolina.rr.com

Tom Smith ECA Business Liaison 630 886 2039 Kenmore Avenue tom.smith@fedex.com

Sarah Bradley Communications/Social Media 704 491 3760 Laurel Avenue sarah@bluefeathermedia.com

Ric Solow Beautification & Trees 704 334 2986 E. 5th Street ric@solowdesigngroup.com

Ken Magas Website 704 877 7151 E. 5th Street ken@kenmagas.com

Andrew Woodruff Zoning & Real Estate Committee 704 953 5994 Greenway Avenue rawoodruff@carolina.rr.com

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S PA C E B OY S E Z

J O I N THE E C A It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.

– Albert Einstein

✤ The study of crime begins with the knowledge of oneself.

– Henry Miller, from “The AirConditioned Nightmare”, 1945

cover photos by Ken Magas, photo this page by Nancy O. Albert

ECA Officers

Note from the editor

by Nancy O. Albert

Note from the prez

by Beth Haenni

Welcome to the largest issue in the history of the ECA newsletter. It’s the culmination of much work by many and is full of news about the great community we live in. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

You’ve seen the signs: “Your tax dollars at work” along highways, planting beds, and bridges. If we had signs that read “Your ECA at work,” you’d see them everywhere around Elizabeth… not just dollars, but valuable time spent by ECA volunteers every day. Consider some of the ways your ECA membership and precious volunteer hours are at work this winter.

In this issue we look forward to the many events, like the 8K road race, coming up during the spring months.

We look back on our history, which sadly includes the loss of International House and Black Forest Books. We look up at our tree canopy, soon to be augmented with newly planted trees and we look down at our sidewalks, where intriguing messages seem to be everywhere.

We’d also like to look into the future to find out what’s going on in the heads of the next generation of Elizabethans.

I’m issuing a call to the Sons and Daughters of Elizabeth to add your voice to those of your parents and neighbors.

If you’re a young person, we want to hear from you. What’s it like growing up in Elizabeth?

What are your hopes and dreams? Send us your short essays: we’ll read them all and publish as many as possible in our Summer issue. Parents and teachers: spread the word!

Essays should be sent to me at noalbert@carolina.rr.com.

− Planting 33 trees in neighbor’s front yards – FREE! − Lobbying for new pedestrian crosswalk and reduced speed limit on 7th Street; − Supporting redevelopment in 7th Street business district in accordance with the Small Area Plan;

deadline summer 2013:

May 15th

editorial content:

noalbert@carolina.rr.com advertising: victoria.zabel@

me.com or tom.smith@fedex.com ------------------------------------full page ad

size: 6.53” x 7.53” (1306 x 1506 pixels) half page ad

size: 6.53” x 3.715” (1306 x 743 pixels) quarter page ad

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− Engaging our bustling social media community on Facebook and the ECA website;

biz card ad

− Donating up to 10% of profits from ECA’s major fundraisers to philanthropies;

classified ad

− Up-fitting lights along the trolley path;

specs: full size b&w jpeg or pdf, 200 dpi, NO WORD DOCS! to shivita@mac.com

− Partnering with local businesses to sponsor ECA’s first party in the park on March 9, a gathering to clean up the park, complete with pizza and beer;

size: 3.205” x 1.8065” (641 x 361 pixels) 1 column wide, 4 lines deep with 1 line bold, 3 regular

Ad placement is at the designer’s discretion.

− Stuffing thousands of eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 23 that draws families from across Charlotte; the people pages

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− Working around the clock organizing Charlotte’s oldest 8k, the Elizabeth 8k on April 20, which raises money for neighborhood beautification − Prepping the annual Elizabeth Recycles Day on April 27; − Gathering recipes for the annual Progressive Dinner on May 4; and... − Crafting this very newsletter for your enjoyment.

Hope to see everyone out and about as the weather warms!

Countdown to the 2013 Elizabeth 8K Road Race: April 20, 2013

by Robert Zabel The 2013 Elizabeth 8K Road Race, presented by Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar, and Harris Teeter will hit the streets on Saturday, April 20 and we’re calling on the entire Elizabeth Community to come out and participate.

The event begins and ends near Independence Park and Hawthorne Recreation Center and has something for everyone, including: An 8K timed race for the competitive type

This is Charlotte’s oldest 8K road race, and this year marks its 27th edition. The Elizabeth 8K Road Race features a USATF-certified course and a fantastic tour of the scenic residential streets of the Elizabeth neighborhood.

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A 1.5M untimed run/walk for the casual participants

Elizabeth Neighborhood and the replenishing of our Join your neighbors for a community’s tree canopy. refreshing stroll, go for a In addition to free t-shirts and jog with your kids, or just entertainment from our very get outdoors for a nice walk own Elvis, participants and through the neighborhood with volunteers can enjoy our postyour morning coffee. race party that includes live music, food, beverages, awards, The Liz Kids’ Fun Run and much more. To learn more for the little ones about the race, register, or Even the little ones can get in on the action with this free run sign up to volunteer, please inside Independence Park. It’s visit elizabeth8k.com. For any additional questions please for kids six years of age and email Robert Zabel: nycrcz@ younger. yahoo.com.

Runners and walkers are Do yourself, your health and delighted year after year with your neighborhood a favor: get the scenic course through the outdoors and run, and become Elizabeth neighborhood as a part of our annual tradition! well as by the hospitality of our community. The fun and We ❤ our sponsors! excitement of the Elizabeth 8K Title Sponsors Road Race is generated not Presbyterian Orthopaedic only by the race participants, Hospital but also by the many generous neighborhood volunteers who Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar work so hard to make this a Harris Teeter wonderful community event.

If you’re interested in being a Gold Sponsors volunteer and assisting with Charlotte Rolfing registration, course monitoring, The Davey Tree Expert water stops, finish line, etc., Company please visit the “Volunteers” section at Elizabeth8k.com or Dickens Mitchener email Amanda Loftus Beacham: & Associates aemloftus@yahoo.com.

Law Office of Annemarie If running, walking or Pantazis volunteering isn’t your thing, Ken Magas Design get out on the course route and cheer on your neighbors, to McKnight Law Firm PLLC show the participants Elizabeth’s Swooz Hair and Makeup Salon true community spirit.

T.R. Lawing Realty, Inc. Proceeds benefit the Winiker Law Firm, PLLC. beautification of the Historic

Ben ❤ Abby as imagined by Jennifer Monroe Walk long enough through the shady streets of Elizabeth and it will begin adding up: the many instances of “Ben ❤ Abby” etched upon our sidewalks.

But who is Ben? And how, we wonder, does Abby feel?

It began the evening Ben had dinner at Jackalope Jacks.

Having recently arrived from Durham to complete his surgical residency at Carolinas, he’d rented a small walkup on Lamar Street and didn’t know a soul in all of Charlotte.

But on this evening, the moment she rounded the corner with her pad in hand, Ben fell instantly, and irrevocably in love. Her name tag read “Abby.”

A tiny heart sticker pressed beside her name was faded and peeling. When she smiled, he could see the lines framing her eyes and knew she had 10 years on him, probably more.

But beyond her physical beauty, there was a radiance emanating from her that told him all he needed to know.

For weeks, he dined in her section before finally working up the nerve to ask her out.

She smiled and agreed to let him walk her home that night.

He was unusually nervous, all starched shirt to her messy bohemian braids. She had an easy way about her, and the more she said, the deeper he longed for her. She loved art, twentieth century literature the people pages

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The next morning he walked to work in a state of blissful elation. His mind was racing with thoughts of Abby. While visions of their future played out before him, he failed to notice the wet sidewalk in front of him and nearly tripped into it. If love brings out our most juvenile inclinations, it fully seized Ben at that moment.

Looking around and seeing no one, he broke off a small branch and to his own surprise, found himself engraving the iconic sentiment we know so well. It was only the beginning.

As time passed, every encounter with her became a mini travelogue. She enchanted him with strange and wondrous tales, pulling him further into her mystical allure. The waitressing gig, he learned, was merely a means to gather enough money to book passage on her next sojourn. For all of his professional focus, he failed to understand why she lacked a desire for a real home.

Because home, she said, was a one-way ticket to her next destination. Home was always far enough away that she couldn’t see behind her. For Ben though, her home had found it’s place: forever and indelibly etched upon his heart.

And there it remains, even as she boards her next plane.

principals of scarcity and demand determine the value.

As I write this article, the current absorption rate in Elizabeth is 4 months. 6 months is considered a stable market. Anything less than 6 months is a seller’s market and anything greater a buyer’s market. Surrounding area Abby is in India. But when she neighborhoods are very similar: returns, one short walk and she Chantilly at 3.5 months and will know. And Ben, well, Ben is Eastover at 4.5 months. just waiting.

If a seller’s market persists in If the real Ben and Abby are out there Elizabeth, prices will continue we’d love to hear from them. (ed.) to rise. Here’s what’s happened over the last several years: in A seller’s market?* 2010 there were 17 Single

by Genevieve Williams Family Residence (SFR) homes that sold in Elizabeth averaging As a good homeowner, you 3 beds 2.5 baths, 2400 sqft probably try to keep yourself and a sales price of $405k. In somewhat informed of what’s happening with the real estate 2011 there were 25 homes that sold in Elizabeth averaging 3 values in your neighborhood. beds 2.5 baths, 2350 sqft and a We all know it’s been a few years since the “crash”, but you sales price of $430k. Last year there were 28 homes that sold may now be hearing that not averaging 4 beds 2.5 baths, all neighborhoods are still a buyer’s market. So what’s going 2500 sqft and a sales price of $477k. That’s a 17% increase on in Elizabeth? in price over the last 2 years.

Elizabeth is a seller’s market.

Current trends in the Elizabeth, Prices are still down from Chantilly and Eastover the 2006-07 peak, but the neighborhoods are showing absorption rate of inventory a huge shortage of inventory, dictates a seller’s or buyer’s much more so than in 2012. market. Simple economic Homes seem to be selling quickly and sometimes bringing multiple offers. Activity like this will continue to drive the prices back up. Here’s to a seller’s spring market! * All data taken from sold homes in the Carolinas Multiple Listing Service.

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photo by Nancy O. Albert

and the salty ocean air.

Whereas his own life had been artistically anemic for longer than he cared to remember, she provided him a much needed transfusion.

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Another loss

by Nancy O. Albert

church needed space to create additional parking.

At the end of last year International House moved from 322 Hawthorne Lane, their home of almost 30 years, because the building, which had been leased from St. John’s Baptist Church, is scheduled to be demolished. It was in need of extensive work and the

Past ECA President Monte Ritchey had been trying to arrange to have the historic building moved, but his efforts proved unsuccessful.

International House has relocated to the former Midwood High School at 1817 Central Avenue. They

plan to transform the empty school into a cultural hub and continue to provide programs and services to immigrants and internationals needing assistance. When I recently walked by the old building, a visual standout because of its massive Corinthian columns, I saw that it is being stripped of trim and made ready for the wrecking ball.

“With the construction of Independence Park, the two blocks of Hawthorne Lane between it and Elizabeth Avenue became some of Charlotte’s most desirable residential real estate. The street already commanded an impressive vista down Elizabeth Hill toward town, and it was adjacent to the tennis courts, landscaped lawns, and frequent concerts of Elizabeth College.

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photo by Nancy O. Albert

I wondered about the history of the soon to be demolished structure and turned to Charlotte’s resident historian Dr. Tom Hanchett. In the 1980’s Hanchett compiled an architectural history of the Elizabeth neighborhood as part a Historic Landmarks survey.

The neighborhood histories, which I have turned to in the past for information about our neighborhood, are available online: http://cmhpf.org/ educationhistlistelizabeth.htm.

Dr. Hanchett confirmed for me that the house referred to in this excerpt is indeed the one occupied until recently

by International House.

The location attracted such affluent citizens as James Staten, a real estate man and manager of the LittleLong dry goods store. Staten commissioned local architect Franklin Gordon to design a white- columned Neo-Classical house at Hawthorne Lane and Park Drive overlooking the park in 1914.”

you walk underneath.” While walking yesterday, I noticed the dead plant remains against the arbor. Nature will, in due course remove it eventually, opening a space for something new. Excavate or wait, but an opportunity is born for a fresh idea in the garden.

Elizabeth Happy Hour: a quarterly event

by Stephanie McKee The socials are back! Catch up with your neighbors at one of our many local restaurants or pubs each quarter. We live in such a great area and want to support our local businesses as much as possible. A social was held in the upstairs bar area of the Cajun Queen on Thursday, February 28th. Check out the ECA website and Facebook page each quarter to find out when and where the next Happy Hour will be.

It’s late January, and the pale colored species crocus Sadly, by the time you read this I planted under my soft gray Patti Faye cedar are blooming, article the building will most likely be gone, another lost link just as I had envisioned.

Later today, I will call around to our past. for a smallish plastic kiddie pool to plant greens in for Yard Yak: letting go spring. Perched on the slowly

by Kay Minor disintegrating willow oak stump Progressive Dinner It’s puzzling why folks get so out front, it’ll get just the right Mark your calendars for the upset when plants die. As a evening of May 4th, 2013, amount of sun. garden consultant, there’s as the Progressive Dinner is a certain pressure I feel, an always a favorite social event Goodwill collection obligation almost, to explain in Elizabeth. It’s a great way

by Ashley Nurkin why. The host of questions will to meet your neighbors, enjoy be asked. Did you underwater? The Elizabeth neighborhood eclectic food, and conversation. continued to show its Did you overwater? Check The evening begins over drinks/ generosity by filling another for pests and disease before appetizers while socializing in Goodwill trailer. 75 families the plant died? Most times, a neighbor’s yard, then dinner brought 2,350 items worth we don’t know why. Educated at a host house with each of the more than $9,000! A special guesses are the best we can guests bringing a course of the do. Of course, good gardening thank you to Harris and Taylor meal, then off to a dessert house Nurkin and Kathryn and Austin for more socializing, sweets practices: placing right plant in right spot, knowing its basic Haenni for volunteering their and drinks. The committee time Saturday and Sunday requirements, etc. are always could use some volunteers to assisting with the donation helpful. But plants do often help with the planning. We collections. Krispy Kreme die in spite of conscious care, also need dinner host houses donuts and Starbucks coffee nothing personal involved. that can provide seating for were enjoyed by all who 8+ people. If interested or My friend June, near the water dropped off donations. The have questions, please contact tower on East 8th St, asked award for most items donated Stephanie McKee at smckee@ why her pyracantha on an goes to the Poole family: theconegroup.com or Jen Towell arbor died a few years ago. “I Thanks, Ashley Poole! Our at jennifer.towell@rht.com. don’t know” I replied. “Plant neighborhood continues to something else, maybe a vine And a final note: volunteers are shine with its generosity and with no thorns on it, since kindness. Thanks, neighbors! needed for Egg Stuffing Party at the people pages

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Nurkin’s Home on March 20th at 6:30 and for the day of Egg Hunt to meet at 8:30am to hide eggs. Please contact jlroan@ yahoo.com if you can help out.

Spring is blooming!

by Frances L. D’Amato

white and yellow ones. Some are tall and full others are small but seem to have a deeper color.

Much latter and all through the summer the day lilies bloom in a wide variety.

The forsythia bushes line Seventh Street and are an early Do you ever walk through the sign of spring. When I was Elizabeth community and know growing up in New York one how lucky you are to live here? side of our driveway was lined with forsythia bushes. I planted Spring is my favorite season. one bush in my front garden What about you? and the yellow blooms are If you choose to walk on your reminding me of days gone by own block look for crocuses, as well as the joy of this signal daffodils and tulips. Enjoy the of spring. Camilla bushes sport color and markings on each flowers in different colors, some one. I remember seeing the variegated and other solid. See crocuses peeking through the how many variations you can snow. Now they just greet me find. Roses are the most giving along the border of my garden. plant. My roses begin blooming I have solid yellow daffodils and in spring and continue through

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fall. Look up and see the blossoms on the cherry and pear trees. We also have some redbud trees that seem to be bushes covered with little red flowers. I love the raining pear petals. This is one sign of spring that I always treasure.

This spring treat yourself to an hour of peace and joy and walk along the trail in Independence Park. Be sure to take your walk when the azalea bushes are in bloom. Take in the beauty of the color and be grateful. Try to get a friend or neighbor to join you for an extra special treat. I like to walk and then sit on a bench and just take in the color before I walk again.

Talking and walking with a friend turns a lovely walk into a memorable event.

Many of us will also like to go to garden shops and purchase annuals to bring more color to our gardens and flowering hanging baskets. Let’s welcome spring with a great Elizabeth cheer!

How did the stroller cross the road?

by Eric Davis This sounds like the set-up for a kid’s joke, but is really a serious question that the Elizabeth Community Association wrestles with to ensure that it is safe, convenient and enjoyable to move around Elizabeth for our residents, students, customers and visitors.

To achieve this goal, the ECA is engaged in a long-term dialog with representatives from Charlotte’s Planning Department, Department of Transportation and the Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood Foundation to evaluate and implement a variety of short- and long-term transportation improvements.

This stakeholder group meets bi-monthly to discuss opportunities, status and concerns.

The Elizabeth Small Area Plan, as well as the recent pedestrian accidents on 7th Street, have been catalysts for our recent discussions and have helped shape the priorities of our current list of improvement options being evaluated: – Creating an additional

pedestrian crossing of 7th Street between Hawthorne Ave. and Pecan Ave.

without the holiday social committee, Karen Lockhart, Jen Towell, Jessica Walker, and Diana Watson – thank you so much for taking the time and initiative to help out.

– Developing pedestrian and bicycle connections between area parks and the Little Sugar It’s only February, but the Creek Greenway holidays will be here before – Opening and upfitting the we know it again. If you have pedestrian tunnel under interest in hosting the holiday Charlottetowne Ave. at party in 2013, please contact Memorial Stadium Stephanie McKee at smckee@ theconegroup.com.

– Installing new sidewalks to complete our sidewalk CMC Mercy Community network in Elizabeth free wellness seminars – Implementing way finding

by Lisa Duffy, RN signage to guide pedestrians Taking care of yourself feels to area amenities great! To register for any of the Throughout this ongoing seminars call 704-304-5192. process, the ECA will continue Acupuncture and stress to provide status updates Tuesday, April 2, 6 to 7:30pm through this newsletter, our monthly ECA meetings and the Mercy Auditorium at Carolinas ECA Facebook page.

Medical Center-Mercy Do you have something to say? Jon Polsky MS, Licensed Email your input regarding Acupuncturist, demonstrates transportation concerns and/ the effectiveness of or opportunities that you acupuncture for stress would like considered to: management. A complimentary ElizabethTraffic@gmail.com. meal will be provided. Please RSVP by March 29.

Holiday Party 2012 Self-hypnosis for thank-you weight loss

by Stephanie McKee Wednesday April 3, noon to Special thanks go out to Beth 1:30pm and Scott Haenni for hosting Sycamore Conference Room the Holiday party last year.

(3rd floor) in the Medical Office Celebrating the holidays with Building at Carolinas Medical 140 of our neighbors is always Center-Mercy a fun time. The party was a huge success with lots of wonderful Barbara Birge, PhD, LPC, food, spirits, and conversation. describes how self-hypnosis can help us manage triggers We could not have done this the people pages

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and ignore urges that put on unwanted pounds. A complimentary calorie-smart lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by Friday, March 29.

Trader Joe’s grocery store tour

Thursday April 18th, 9:30am Alicia Fogarty MS, RD, LDN, presents how to navigating the grocery store for healthy cooking and eating. Please RSVP by April 15.

Living with chronic illness

6-week series beginning Tues, April 30 from 2 to 4:30pm Mercy Auditorium at Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy

as well as consultants from Artistry skincare arriving to begin pampering our beautiful ladies. After their make-up and hairstyles were taken care of, we welcomed family and friends for our 3rd Annual Queen of Hearts Beauty Pageant. This year’s event was hosted by Dion Lim from WCNC and consisted of ten contestants, each sponsored by a staff member. They were escorted into the guest-filled dining hall by a member of the ROTC from Harding University High School. Their sponsors joined them and they were

able to share a dance and a short biography. Judges were professionals from the community as well as a local beauty Queen. There were so many magical moments such as a husband of 62 years, surprising his lovely bride (a contestant), by getting down on one knee with a single red rose as she was being escorted to her sponsor. Our Executive Director, Scott Royer showcased his Michael Jackson moves with his contestant, just to be able to make her smile. Several professional photographers were on hand

Presented by Centralina Area Agency on Aging. Please RSVP

by March 29.

How to neutralize your body’s response to stress

Tuesday May 8 from 6 to 7:30pm Mercy Auditorium at Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy

Valentine’s Day at Golden Living Center

by Melanie Evans February 14th was an event-filled day at Golden LivingCenter on 5th Street.

The day began with students from Aveda Beauty Institute 12

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photo by Dia Dilin Photography

Dr Dael Waxman, MD with CMC-Elizabeth Family Medicine. A complimentary meal will be provided. Please RSVP by May 4.

photo by Ric Solow

to help to capture the event for our residents. When the envelope was delivered, Debra Huntley was crowned Ms. Congeniality. The “Diva” award went to Brenda Dillard. Our 2012 Queen Karen Gulley assisted Miss Majestic Heritage Queen, Carson Yow with crowning Ms. Mary Lewis the 2013 Queen of Hearts!

by the GLC dining services director. Congratulations to Mr. And Mrs. David and Joan Hildreth!

It was a real privilege for our staff to be able to play a part in such a beautiful day all around for all of our residents and guests. Feel free to stop by and say hello – we’d love to show you around the Golden Living Center and show you what we Just 45 minutes after the crowning of our Queen, it was have to offer, as well as tell you time for a little more of Cupid’s about the many exciting events magic. Back in August of 2012, we have to come this year. there was a chance meeting between two of our residents in One tree at a time: our courtyard. The gentleman restoring Elizabeth’s tree canopy approached a new lady to our

by Ric Solow facility. He said, “Let’s get married.” She laughed and Trees4Elizabeth, our responded, “OK.” Little did community’s 2012-13 tree they realize that just 3 months program, will see 21 new trees later, he would be proposing planted in the next few weeks in and that on Valentine’s Day, yards throughout Elizabeth. they would say ‘I do” in our The cost of this year’s trees is dining hall in front of family, being covered in full with a friends and staff. That’s exactly special fund created by the ECA what took place! With just 13 from a portion of proceeds days to prepare, staff members from the Elizabeth 8K. put out a call using social media and had a tux, wedding The origin of our tree program began in 2006 as an effort dress, rings, cake, flowers, to replace the more than pictures, and everything you sixty trees on Greenway would need for a perfect wedding donated.Cards flowed Avenue destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo. That project in from across the country resulted in the planting of from well-wishers, even from residents at other facilities who 15 red maples. By 2008 the program was expanded to had heard this amazing love story! After a ceremony that the include the entire Elizabeth bride said “she never imagined neighborhood and since then more than 115 trees have could be so beautiful,” the been planted in our yards and couple was treated to an amazing steak dinner prepared along our streets. In addition

to the commitment of our community, we have provided input and support to the city’s tree replacement program.

In the past two years the city has planted over 80 trees in Elizabeth and will likely plant more this year as their planting season begins.

If you missed the opportunity to participate in this years’ tree program, watch for information in next fall’s newsletter for the 2013-14 season. Our goal is to restore the heritage of Elizabeth’s tree canopy.

None of this would have been possible without our tree committee and volunteers, Ric Solow, Eric Davis, Kristan Magus, and Kris Solow, and the hard work of the Maplewood Company.

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Elizabeth Recycles Day

by Craig Miller The fifth annual Elizabeth Recycles Day will be held on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to noon in upper Independence Park (near the rose garden).

Elizabeth residents can drop off their old paint, pesticides, and miscellaneous household hazardous waste; electronic equipment such as TVs, computers, DVD players, and associated cords and remotes; cell phones; hangers; compact fluorescent lights; ink cartridges; eyeglasses; batteries; blankets and throws; and arts and crafts items. All items will be brought to various endpoints to either be reused or recycled.

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Please, no items from businesses and no very large, heavy items. All containers with liquids must not be leaking. The recycling area will be treated as a Free Store, meaning residents may take items that have been brought by others for recycling as long as they promise to use them.

New this year will be a Swap Shop where people can bring anything they want to swap or give away to others. This helps items to have a longer life and keep waste out of our landfills. Anyone who brings stuff to swap or give away must remain with their items and take anything leftover with them when they leave. Also new this year will

be an Upcycling Showcase.

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or old, unwanted items into new materials or products of better quality or a higher value. The upcycling component has not yet been fully developed, but at a minimum it will feature a display of upcycled items

by Upcycle Revelry, a local business. Other ideas that may be included are upcycling demonstrations, a contest for best upcycled item, and a raffle.

If you’d like to volunteer before or during the event, or have a pickup truck you can lend for transporting items, please contact Craig Miller at 704 351 5472 or craigmmiller @hotmail.com.

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