Due to recent inclement weather, Solid Waste Services will be delayed and not able to service all Wednesday customers today, February 4. Residents are asked to leave items curbside until they are collected.

To ensure garbage collection, residents are asked to:

• Place collection materials curbside by 6:30 a.m. on collection day
• Bag all garbage before placing it in the rollout cart
• Allow 3 feet between the rollout cart, trees, parked cars and other obstacles

For up-to-the minute information on the CURB IT! collection schedule, residents are advised to call 311, check local media listings, The Government Channel (Channel 16) and the Solid Waste Services web site at http://curbit.charmeck.org.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) service changes go into effect Monday, March 2. CATS will host two informational sessions to educate customers about the changes and give them an opportunity to ask questions.

Customer Information Day
Thursday, February 5
7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Charlotte Transportation Center, Pavilion B
310 E. Trade Street 

Open House
Tuesday, February 10
4 – 6 p.m.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, Room 270
600 E. Fourth Street 

You can view the information online by visiting www.ridetransit.org and clicking on Service Change. You may also call CATS Customer Service at 704-336-RIDE.

The Charlotte Fire Department is hosting its 4th Recruitment Open House for anyone interested in learning more about firefighter and support positions with the CFD. There will be an opportunity to participate in sample physical activity test events, including the stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry and rescue. Firefighters and personnel will be available to answer questions.

Those interested in registering for the Saturday, March 14 written exam can register on-site as well.

Saturday, February 14
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Station 10
2810 Wilkinson Boulevard

Members of the Fire Explorers program (for youth aged 14 – 20) will also be available to answer questions.

Light food and refreshments will be provided. If you have any questions regarding the 2009 firefighter hiring process or the open house, contact the CFD Recruitment Office at cfdrecruitment@ci.charlotte.nc.us or call 704-336-2979.

Submit your nominations for the 30th Annual Police Community Relations Awards. The award recognizes officers and work teams from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of police and community relations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.

Officers will be judged on their involvement in helping the community understand the police function and the citizen's role. Officers will also be considered if they have demonstrated extraordinary efforts in the area of crime prevention and their involvement in aiding neighborhoods in handling their special problems.

To nominate an officer you can complete an online form at www.charmeck.org. Submissions are due Wednesday, April 1.

The awards ceremony will be held in May 2009. Contact Donna F. Sullivan for more information at dsullivan@ci.charlotte.nc.us or call 704-336-3056.

The Neighborhood Matching Grants program awards funds up to $25,000 to eligible neighborhood organizations to help support projects that improve neighborhoods. Project categories are: neighborhood improvement; crime and public safety; organizational development; and educational, recreational and cultural initiatives.

The next Neighborhood Matching Grants program application deadline is Monday, March 16. Interested organizations must send a representative to one of the pre-application workshops listed below.

Wednesday, February 4
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Sugar Creek Library,
4045 N. Tryon Street

Saturday, February 7
9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Morrison Regional Library,
7015 Morrison Boulevard
 
Thursday, February 12
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Methodist Home Recreation Center,
3200 Shamrock Drive

For more information on the Neighborhood Matching Grants program, call 704-336-2061 or visit http://neighborhoods.charmeck.org.

Eligible organizations include neighborhood associations, business associations and neighborhood-based community development corporations that have been organized for at least six months and are in neighborhood statistical areas with median household income not exceeding $64,219.

Workshop opportunities will be offered by City of Charlotte Neighborhood Development Department's Community University during February. All workshops are free and open to Charlotte residents.  To register, visit neighborhoods.charmeck.org and click on the CU icon or e-mail neighservs@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

Henry L. McCrorey YMCA
3801 Beatties Ford Road
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday, February 11 – Developing Our Future: Mobilizing Youth for Neighborhoods
Thursday, February 19 – Technology Tools for Your Neighborhood

Community University is a neighborhood capacity building program dedicated to providing high quality training to Charlotte residents to improve the strength and vitality of neighborhood organizations and the overall quality of community life. Courses are intended to engage, inform and equip participants with the training and assistance needed to help them improve and maintain their communities.

Customized training
If your neighborhood has a specific need, e-mail neighservs@ci.charlotte.nc.us to arrange for a customized training workshop. To see a list of topics, visit neighborhoods.charmeck.org. Please note that a minimum of 10 participants is needed for a customized training.

The Government Channel brings you the latest City Source episode on Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m. which will bring you highlights from the annual City Council retreat. You'll also learn about the volunteer program at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and about the City's new partnership with Coca-Cola. This will be the first episode to air after the DTV conversion and you'll learn how to recycle your old TV.

For your convenience, you can view episodes of City Source online at www.charmeck.org by clicking on The Government Channel logo.