New Faces Join the 2016 Intimidators
MARCH 2016
Fans of the Kannapolis Intimidators are going to see some new faces in the dugout this season. With a new coaching staff in place and plenty of programs for fans, Intimidators General Manager Randy Long says fans should be excited about the 2016 season. The Intimidators new coaching staff includes Manager Cole Armstrong. He becomes the 11th manager of the Intimidators. “We look forward to Cole Armstrong and his staff fielding a competitive team while serving as an important member of our community throughout the season,” Long says. Armstrong will be joined by second-year hitting coach and former Intimidators player, Justin Jirschele. He joins the Intimidators coaching staff three years after playing for Kannapolis. He began the 2015 season as a player in the White Sox system before joining the player development staff as the Great Falls Voyagers (Montana) hitting coach. Jirschele is the son of Kansas City Royals third base coach, Mike Jirschele. Brian Drahman takes over as pitching coach. He enters his ninth season with the White Sox and first in Kannapolis. Joe Geck will serve as the head trainer, his 24th season in the White Sox organization and his first with the Intimidators. Bret Kelly rounds out of the Intimidators’ field staff as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. He is in his second season with the White Sox and first with Kannapolis. Tickets for the 2016 Intimidators home games – which start April 7 – are on sale at the box office. For more information, visit intimidatorsbaseball.com or call 704-932-FANS (3267).
Volunteers Needed for Kannapolis Kares Day! Kannapolis Kares Day falls on April 23 and is now part of I Love My City weekend, a countywide initiative that promotes unity through outreach. You are invited to make an impact on the community and improve the quality of life for all in Kannapolis. Event coordinators are looking for volunteers and service projects to benefit the Kannapolis community. Kannapolis Kares Day is a citywide event held to inspire and mobilize residents, connecting them to volunteer opportunities. Individuals and groups can register to join projects with nonprofits, schools, churches and other organizations. However, there’s no limit to how you can give back. If you do not see a project you’d like to join, create your own! Volunteering is vital to creating a strong community, so please join us in this special initiative. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 23, and be sure to register at ilovemycityproject.com or for more information contact Sharnelle Simpson at ssimpson@kannapolisnc. gov or call 704-920-4219. Together, we can show how much Kannaplis Kares!
City Honors 2015 Run Kannapolis Participants
T
he City recently honored the 2015 Run Kannapolis participants during a special ceremony. A total of 1,016 people ran at least one race in 2015: 87 ran in two races; 36 in three races; 28 in four races; 14 in five races; nine in six races and 15 people completed all seven races. Run Kannapolis – one of the City’s premier health initiatives – is part of the City’s Discover a Healthy Life brand. This year there will be eight 5K walks/runs in the city as Carolinas Healthcare System joins the effort as the 2016 event partner of Run Kannapolis. The new event – the Duke Dash 5K
Congratulations to David Baucom, Keith Eagle, Sarah Edwards, Jay Evans, Brandon Farabee, Tucker Farabee, Christine Hall, Hayden Hamlin, Earl Lentz, Lisa Lentz, Zach Martin, Sherri Prescott, Tim Roth, Kevin Stegall and Kim Wagner
& Health Fest – will be hosted by Duke University’s MURDOCK Study on September 24. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in these
walk/run events. Series awards will be provided to those who finish at least five events. For those who participate and finish all eight events, there will be special continued on page 2
Important Information Regarding Paying Your Utility Bill The City of Kannapolis 401 Laureate Way | Kannapolis, NC 28081 704.920.4300 | www.kannapolisnc.gov
Follow the City on Facebook (facebook.com/cityofkannapolis) and Twitter (twitter.com#Kannapolis) for regular updates and more ideas for fun.
Beginning March 21, if you want to pay your utility bill in person, please go to our new Customer Service location in the new City Hall – Police Headquarters at 401 Laureate Way, Kannapolis. You can also pay your utility bill online at www.kannapolisnc.gov or by mailing it to P.O. 1190, Kannapolis, NC 28108.
Let’s Celebrate Earth Day! This April 22, you can do small, super-convenient things that won’t cost you much time but will make a big difference in protecting the environment. And if they inspire you to be eco-friendly all year-round, then we’ve done our job. Here are some ways you can celebrate Earth Day right here in Kannapolis: • We will be hosting the Earth Day Shredding Event on April 23, from 10 am to 12 pm, at Village Park. The event is FREE to the community. Residents can bring up to five average-sized file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled. Or residents can drop off documents in a secured drop box at Village Park as early as Monday, April 18. Think before you shred! Shred only documents with sensitive information. Improve recycling by
putting all other papers straight into the recycle bin! No matter what you do to preserve our planet, remember that every little bit counts! • Recycle Electronic Waste: This Earth Day, help make sure those outdated and obsolete electronics end up properly recycled instead of taking up space or leaching toxins in a landfill. The City offers an electronics recycling drop-off facility at 1401 Bethpage Road. The facility is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-3 pm with assistance available for heavier items on Fridays (by appointment only). Call 704-9204200 for more information. • Recycle More: The City’s curbside, single stream recycling program is easy and convenient because it allows all recyclables to be placed in one recycling cart. This Earth Day, take a look at what you’re throwing in the garbage and determine if it can be recycled instead. For information on what materials can be recycled, please visit www.kannapolisnc.gov. • Clean Up Litter: Participate in a roadside or stream cleanup. E-mail ssimpson@kannapolisnc.gov for cleanup supplies. Help Kannapolis become a greener city on Earth Day and every day!
Become a Member of the Environmental Stewardship Commission Are you interested in creating a greener, more sustainable Kannapolis? Then the Environmental Stewardship Commission needs you! Duties include attending quarterly meetings and planning, promoting and participating in environmental events. We would love to work with you! If you’re interested, please e-mail ssimpson@kannapolisnc.gov.
continued from page 1
recognition after the last event in January 2017. There is no fee for Run Kannapolis. Your entry into the individual races listed will be used to track your participation. You simply pay the entry fee for each individual event that you want to compete in. For more information on Run Kannapolis, please visit www.runkannapolis.com. The eight 5K events in 2016 are: March 19 Spring It On 5K (Kannapolis City Schools) April 9 Feeding Frenzy 5K (Main Street Mission/ Compassion International) April 23 Strides for Stroke 5K (CHS-NorthEast) May 3 Jiggy with the Piggy 5K (Kannapolis Parks & Recreation) May 14 Rhythm & Run 5K (NC Music Hall of Fame) September 24 Duke Dash & 3rd Annual Healthfest (Duke Univ.’s MURDOCK Study) November 12 Nutrithon 5K (Kannapolis Rotary Club) December 17 Frostbite 5K (Cannon Memorial YMCA Kannapolis Branch)
Community Development Grants Available The City is seeking applications from non-profits with programs that would qualify for its 2015-2016 Community Development Block Grant fund allocation. Funds are designated for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income residents in the city.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 31 at 5 pm. Eligible activities include: • Employment services • Crime prevention and public safety • Child care • Health services • Substance abuse services • Fair housing counseling • Education programs • Energy conservation • Services for senior citizens • Services for homeless persons • Welfare services (excluding income payments) • Homebuyer down payment assistance • Recreational services Applications will be reviewed by the Community Development Commission and by City staff. This year the total grant allocation is estimated to be $48,000. Multiple small grants up to $5,000 will be awarded to support existing program operations. One or two larger grants of $15,000 will be awarded for new programs and/or new agencies. Applicants may apply for both types of grant but will only be awarded one grant. For more information or to request an application, contact the City’s Community Development Program Administrator Sherry Gordon at sgordonkannapolisnc.gov or call 704-920-4332. Applications are also available at www.kannapolisnc.gov.
“Washdown” Ceremony Held for New Engine The Kannapolis Fire Department placed a new engine into service at Fire Station 1 with a traditional washdown ceremony. This event is the first held this year to celebrate the department’s 100th Anniversary. The washdown ceremony involves firefighters wetting down the new truck with water, backing the new engine into the station and then everyone drying off the new truck. A blessing for the firefighters and the truck is also part of the ceremony. This tradition began in the late 1880s when horses pulled pumpers to the scene of fires. When the horses were returned to the station, they and the pumpers were backed into the station and the horses and pumpers were washed down and readied for the next emergency. The new fire truck, Engine 11, will replace a 1989 pumper. The new fire truck holds six firefighters and can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute. The Kannapolis Fire Department recently presented their annual awards. This year Senior Captain Brian Smith was named the Larry C. Phillips Fire Officer of the Year and Firefighter Don Capt. Brian Smith (left) and Don Gray Gray received the Danny E. Scott Firefighter of the Year Award. Scott Smith received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6480 Public Servant Award. He is a 13-year veteran of the fire department and serves as the Lead Explorer Post 1 Advisor and a member of the Honor Guard. Scott Smith
Let’s Celebrate Earth Day! This April 22, you can do small, super-convenient things that won’t cost you much time but will make a big difference in protecting the environment. And if they inspire you to be eco-friendly all year-round, then we’ve done our job. Here are some ways you can celebrate Earth Day right here in Kannapolis: • We will be hosting the Earth Day Shredding Event on April 23, from 10 am to 12 pm, at Village Park. The event is FREE to the community. Residents can bring up to five average-sized file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled. Or residents can drop off documents in a secured drop box at Village Park as early as Monday, April 18. Think before you shred! Shred only documents with sensitive information. Improve recycling by
putting all other papers straight into the recycle bin! No matter what you do to preserve our planet, remember that every little bit counts! • Recycle Electronic Waste: This Earth Day, help make sure those outdated and obsolete electronics end up properly recycled instead of taking up space or leaching toxins in a landfill. The City offers an electronics recycling drop-off facility at 1401 Bethpage Road. The facility is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-3 pm with assistance available for heavier items on Fridays (by appointment only). Call 704-9204200 for more information. • Recycle More: The City’s curbside, single stream recycling program is easy and convenient because it allows all recyclables to be placed in one recycling cart. This Earth Day, take a look at what you’re throwing in the garbage and determine if it can be recycled instead. For information on what materials can be recycled, please visit www.kannapolisnc.gov. • Clean Up Litter: Participate in a roadside or stream cleanup. E-mail ssimpson@kannapolisnc.gov for cleanup supplies. Help Kannapolis become a greener city on Earth Day and every day!
Become a Member of the Environmental Stewardship Commission Are you interested in creating a greener, more sustainable Kannapolis? Then the Environmental Stewardship Commission needs you! Duties include attending quarterly meetings and planning, promoting and participating in environmental events. We would love to work with you! If you’re interested, please e-mail ssimpson@kannapolisnc.gov.
continued from page 1
recognition after the last event in January 2017. There is no fee for Run Kannapolis. Your entry into the individual races listed will be used to track your participation. You simply pay the entry fee for each individual event that you want to compete in. For more information on Run Kannapolis, please visit www.runkannapolis.com. The eight 5K events in 2016 are: March 19 Spring It On 5K (Kannapolis City Schools) April 9 Feeding Frenzy 5K (Main Street Mission/ Compassion International) April 23 Strides for Stroke 5K (CHS-NorthEast) May 3 Jiggy with the Piggy 5K (Kannapolis Parks & Recreation) May 14 Rhythm & Run 5K (NC Music Hall of Fame) September 24 Duke Dash & 3rd Annual Healthfest (Duke Univ.’s MURDOCK Study) November 12 Nutrithon 5K (Kannapolis Rotary Club) December 17 Frostbite 5K (Cannon Memorial YMCA Kannapolis Branch)
Community Development Grants Available The City is seeking applications from non-profits with programs that would qualify for its 2015-2016 Community Development Block Grant fund allocation. Funds are designated for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income residents in the city.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 31 at 5 pm. Eligible activities include: • Employment services • Crime prevention and public safety • Child care • Health services • Substance abuse services • Fair housing counseling • Education programs • Energy conservation • Services for senior citizens • Services for homeless persons • Welfare services (excluding income payments) • Homebuyer down payment assistance • Recreational services Applications will be reviewed by the Community Development Commission and by City staff. This year the total grant allocation is estimated to be $48,000. Multiple small grants up to $5,000 will be awarded to support existing program operations. One or two larger grants of $15,000 will be awarded for new programs and/or new agencies. Applicants may apply for both types of grant but will only be awarded one grant. For more information or to request an application, contact the City’s Community Development Program Administrator Sherry Gordon at sgordonkannapolisnc.gov or call 704-920-4332. Applications are also available at www.kannapolisnc.gov.
“Washdown” Ceremony Held for New Engine The Kannapolis Fire Department placed a new engine into service at Fire Station 1 with a traditional washdown ceremony. This event is the first held this year to celebrate the department’s 100th Anniversary. The washdown ceremony involves firefighters wetting down the new truck with water, backing the new engine into the station and then everyone drying off the new truck. A blessing for the firefighters and the truck is also part of the ceremony. This tradition began in the late 1880s when horses pulled pumpers to the scene of fires. When the horses were returned to the station, they and the pumpers were backed into the station and the horses and pumpers were washed down and readied for the next emergency. The new fire truck, Engine 11, will replace a 1989 pumper. The new fire truck holds six firefighters and can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute. The Kannapolis Fire Department recently presented their annual awards. This year Senior Captain Brian Smith was named the Larry C. Phillips Fire Officer of the Year and Firefighter Don Capt. Brian Smith (left) and Don Gray Gray received the Danny E. Scott Firefighter of the Year Award. Scott Smith received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6480 Public Servant Award. He is a 13-year veteran of the fire department and serves as the Lead Explorer Post 1 Advisor and a member of the Honor Guard. Scott Smith
New Faces Join the 2016 Intimidators
MARCH 2016
Fans of the Kannapolis Intimidators are going to see some new faces in the dugout this season. With a new coaching staff in place and plenty of programs for fans, Intimidators General Manager Randy Long says fans should be excited about the 2016 season. The Intimidators new coaching staff includes Manager Cole Armstrong. He becomes the 11th manager of the Intimidators. “We look forward to Cole Armstrong and his staff fielding a competitive team while serving as an important member of our community throughout the season,” Long says. Armstrong will be joined by second-year hitting coach and former Intimidators player, Justin Jirschele. He joins the Intimidators coaching staff three years after playing for Kannapolis. He began the 2015 season as a player in the White Sox system before joining the player development staff as the Great Falls Voyagers (Montana) hitting coach. Jirschele is the son of Kansas City Royals third base coach, Mike Jirschele. Brian Drahman takes over as pitching coach. He enters his ninth season with the White Sox and first in Kannapolis. Joe Geck will serve as the head trainer, his 24th season in the White Sox organization and his first with the Intimidators. Bret Kelly rounds out of the Intimidators’ field staff as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. He is in his second season with the White Sox and first with Kannapolis. Tickets for the 2016 Intimidators home games – which start April 7 – are on sale at the box office. For more information, visit intimidatorsbaseball.com or call 704-932-FANS (3267).
Volunteers Needed for Kannapolis Kares Day! Kannapolis Kares Day falls on April 23 and is now part of I Love My City weekend, a countywide initiative that promotes unity through outreach. You are invited to make an impact on the community and improve the quality of life for all in Kannapolis. Event coordinators are looking for volunteers and service projects to benefit the Kannapolis community. Kannapolis Kares Day is a citywide event held to inspire and mobilize residents, connecting them to volunteer opportunities. Individuals and groups can register to join projects with nonprofits, schools, churches and other organizations. However, there’s no limit to how you can give back. If you do not see a project you’d like to join, create your own! Volunteering is vital to creating a strong community, so please join us in this special initiative. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 23, and be sure to register at ilovemycityproject.com or for more information contact Sharnelle Simpson at ssimpson@kannapolisnc. gov or call 704-920-4219. Together, we can show how much Kannaplis Kares!
City Honors 2015 Run Kannapolis Participants
T
he City recently honored the 2015 Run Kannapolis participants during a special ceremony. A total of 1,016 people ran at least one race in 2015: 87 ran in two races; 36 in three races; 28 in four races; 14 in five races; nine in six races and 15 people completed all seven races. Run Kannapolis – one of the City’s premier health initiatives – is part of the City’s Discover a Healthy Life brand. This year there will be eight 5K walks/runs in the city as Carolinas Healthcare System joins the effort as the 2016 event partner of Run Kannapolis. The new event – the Duke Dash 5K
Congratulations to David Baucom, Keith Eagle, Sarah Edwards, Jay Evans, Brandon Farabee, Tucker Farabee, Christine Hall, Hayden Hamlin, Earl Lentz, Lisa Lentz, Zach Martin, Sherri Prescott, Tim Roth, Kevin Stegall and Kim Wagner
& Health Fest – will be hosted by Duke University’s MURDOCK Study on September 24. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in these
walk/run events. Series awards will be provided to those who finish at least five events. For those who participate and finish all eight events, there will be special continued on page 2
Important Information Regarding Paying Your Utility Bill The City of Kannapolis 401 Laureate Way | Kannapolis, NC 28081 704.920.4300 | www.kannapolisnc.gov
Follow the City on Facebook (facebook.com/cityofkannapolis) and Twitter (twitter.com#Kannapolis) for regular updates and more ideas for fun.
Beginning March 21, if you want to pay your utility bill in person, please go to our new Customer Service location in the new City Hall – Police Headquarters at 401 Laureate Way, Kannapolis. You can also pay your utility bill online at www.kannapolisnc.gov or by mailing it to P.O. 1190, Kannapolis, NC 28108.