| Did You Know? |
|
The Greensboro City Council will hold a
special meeting Tuesday, January 27,
beginning at 5 pm in the Council Chamber of the
Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W.
Washington St., Greensboro. The purpose of the
meeting is to consider a resolution in
support of Lindbrook Development Services' request
for an economic development incentive grant and
property conveyance on S. Elm
Street.
Are you an active
senior with a competitive spirit? Register for the
Greater Greensboro Senior Games and SilverArts
Competition. The event, which will be held in
April and May, gives area athletes and artists,
ages 55 and better, an opportunity to showcase
their talents in a variety of events including
swimming, dance and jewelry making.
Registration runs from February 1- March 18.
Sign-up at the Smith Senior Center, 2401 Fairview
St. or call 375-2237 for more
information.
Interested in starting
your own business? Join fellow entrepreneurs for a
lesson in how to write a business plan on Tuesday,
January 27, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Central
Library, 219 N. Church St. You'll learn the major
parts of a business plan and how to make an
effective document for securing a loan. Call
373-2471 for more information.
In
honor of Black History Month, the Greensboro
Historical Museum will present "The Legacy of the
Buffalo Soldiers with Ernest Hooker," on Saturday,
February 7, at 2 pm. The event will feature
inspirational stories of legendary
African-American soldiers. It will be held at the
Historical Museum, 130 Summit Ave. Admission is
$2. For more information call
373-2043. |
 | | |
| City
Council Action Wrap-Up |
|
Right to protest petition could be
reinstated.
Greensboro residents' exemption from the
right to file protest petitions over rezoning
issues has caused much debate in our community. At
its meeting on Wednesday, January 21, City Council
discussed the issue in depth and agreed to
consider adding that issue to the legislative
agenda.
The protest petition provides that
five percent of property owners in an area can
protest a rezoning on nearby property. When that
occurs, a supermajority of Council must vote in
favor of the rezoning if it is to occur.
Greensboro was exempted from the law in
1971.
The protest petition, which
is granted under state law, says if
five percent of property owners in an area sign a
rezoning petition, a supermajority of Council must
say yes to approve it. Greensboro was exempted
from the law in 1971.
To get the ball
rolling on restoring the petition, Council
requested that the Greensboro Neighborhood
Congress and real estate industry representatives
develop a compromise version of the petition for
consideration in February. If Council approves
that version, it will be sent to the state
legislature as part of the City's legislative
agenda.
At its meeting, Council
also:
- Voted to delay a decision on a proposed
five-story, $3.6 million building at 324 S. Elm
St. until its February 3 meeting. The project,
which is proposed by LindBrook Development
Services, met strong opposition from other
downtown businesses because the developer wants
to lease part of a City parking lot for outdoor
dining. Current business owners say they can't
afford to lose any parking. Council
will hold a special meeting on the issue on
Tuesday, January 27, at 5 pm (see "Did
You Know" on right for more
details).
- Voted to continue a rezoning request for a
new self-storage facility on Fleming Road.
Residents in that area oppose the request
because it would place the facility in the
middle of a single-family home neighborhood.
Council directed the developer to meet with
residents to resolve issues before a decision is
made on the matter.
To view the entire meeting or past meetings,
visit City Council's video archive
page. |
| Greensboro's
Finest Play Important Role in Obama's
Inauguration |
GPD served as
security during historic event.
While we watched with eager anticipation as
history was made with the inauguration of Barack
Obama as the first African-American president of
our nation on January 20, 50 of Greensboro's
finest were experiencing it up close and
personal.
The Greensboro Police
Department was one of only a few police
departments across the country chosen to provide
security assistance during the Presidential
Inauguration. Even though it was a history-making
moment, GPD didn't get distracted. "I didn't think
about the historic significance because I was
doing my job," said Corporal Steve Evans. "But
later it hit me. I was actually
there."
GPD was charged with
providing security along the parade route and
being on the lookout for any dangerous situations.
It was a big job, but the officers were glad to be
a part of it. "It was a great experience," said
Officer Trent Walker. "We really represented the
city. I think Greensboro residents would be
proud."
This marked the second time
that GPD participated in a presidential
inauguration. "To be chosen twice for such an
honor really speaks volumes about the caliber of
officers we have on our force," said GPD Chief Tim
Bellamy.
All expenses for this trip were paid for by
the Inaugural
Committee. |
| The Big
Freeze |
|
![frozen water fountain]()
The winter storm that hit our area Monday
night, January 19, into Tuesday morning, January
20, left our city looking like a winter
wonderland. The Center City Park water fountain
(above) was frozen solid during the big
freeze. |
| New Loading
Zone Ordinance in Effect |
|
Law establishes two new loading
zones.
Starting Monday, January 26, the Greensboro
Police Department will begin enforcing a new
loading zone ordinance. The ordinance, which was
revised by the Greensboro City Council in
November, names two new loading zones:
- a 60-minute zone for commercial trucks
weighing 15,000 pounds or more, and
- a 30-minute zone for vehicles that are
loading and unloading
The ordinance was designed to provide parking
for large commercial delivery trucks to prevent
them from parking in the middle of the streets,
causing safety and traffic hazards. Violators will
have their vehicles ticketed or towed at their
expense. |
| See Graffiti?
Report it to 373-CITY |
Do your part to
keep Greensboro beautiful.
The City of Greensboro is streamlining its
approach to eliminating graffiti in an effort to
remove it quickly and wants you to help. Don't
worry, the City's not asking you to pull out your
gloves and paint remover. It's asking you to help
by making a simple phone call.
Graffiti on public and private property
without permission is illegal. If you see
graffiti, even gang graffiti, report it to the
City's Contact Center at 373-CITY (2489). The only
time graffiti should be reported to the Greensboro
Police Department is if it is an act in
progress.
The City is asking the public to get involved
in cleaning up graffiti because the presence of it
in the community sends the message that nobody
cares. It can attract other forms of crime and
street delinquency, drain tax dollars for clean up
and decrease property value.
| |
| |
