Join the Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) in recognizing National Fire Prevention Week, October 4 – 10. This year's national theme is "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned."  CFD will be hosting activities throughout Fire Prevention Week and the month of October including:

Tuesday, October 6 – Charlotte Fire Department Awards Ceremony
Honors CFD personnel who go beyond the call of duty.
7 p.m.
Police & Fire Training Academy
1770 Shopton Road

Thursday, October 8 – Annual Firefighters Burned Children's Fund Scholarship Awards
Each year the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Firefighters Burned Children's Fund awards college scholarships to burn survivors and/or students studying burn healthcare.
10 a.m.
228 E. Ninth Street 

Throughout October – Smoke Alarm Hotline
Call the CFD Smoke Alarm Hotline at 704-336-2697 to see if you qualify to receive a free smoke alarm and fire safety information.  

For more information about CFD's Fire Prevention Week activities visit www.charlottefire.org or call Fire and Life Safety Education at 704-336-3970.

For more information about National Fire Prevention week, visit www.nfpa.org or www.firepreventionweek.org.

The City of Charlotte will become eligible to receive more than $6.4 million over three years to support area energy efficiency and conservation programs through the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program. To become eligible to receive the first half of the grant's funding, the City must submit an Energy Strategy to the DOE.

The City is currently evaluating the programs and projects that will make up its Energy Strategy and needs your feedback to ensure the Strategy meets the community's interests.

Fill out the survey at www.charlottenc.gov by clicking on City Energy Strategy. Responses are due Monday, October 5 at midnight.

Beginning Tuesday, October 13, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) will offer free informational sessions to provide you an opportunity to learn more about CMPD, its policies, practices and personnel.

Register by Tuesday, October 6 at http://ww.charmeck.org/cm/police/request/request2.html or you can contact Officer Tom Allen at 704-432-0432 or tallen1@cmpd.org.

History of CMPD, Department Mission and Patrol Districts/Organization

Tuesday, October 13
6 p.m.
Police & Fire Training Academy
1770 Shopton Road

Selecting and Training CMPD Officers
Thursday, October 22
6 p.m.
Police & Fire Training Academy
1770 Shopton Road

For a complete list of courses visit www.cmpd.org. Participants are not required to take all courses in the series. Courses can be taken individually or as part of the comprehensive Citizen's Academy.

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual Runway 5K Run/Walk, hosted by the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Saturday, October 31 beginning at 8 a.m. The Runway 5K will take place at one of the nation's most unique locations and busiest airports.

Pre-register now to receive a reduced rate. You can register online at www.charlotteairport.com.

Last year's event drew close to 600 runners and walkers and raised more than $10,000 for LifeSpan's Community Activities Employment Transition Program (CAET). LifeSpan transforms the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities by providing education, employment and enrichment opportunities.

Community University's (CU) fall and winter class schedule is now available. All workshops are free and open to Charlotte residents. To register, visit neighborhoods.charmeck.org and click on the CU icon, e-mail neighservs@ci.charlotte.nc.us or call 704-336-2061.

Each month there will be a specific theme with four workshops addressing that theme. Residents are encouraged to participate in all classes for the month, but may attend individual workshops if preferred.

October: Building Neighborhood Organizations
6 – 8 p.m.
Albemarle Road Recreation Center
5027 N. Idlewild Road

Tuesday, October 6 – Anatomy of a Neighborhood
Discuss the basic components, standards and elements of a neighborhood, including neighborhood organizations and HOAs.

Wednesday, October 14 – Defining Organizational Identity
Learn how to define and promote your organization by examining assets, strengths and opportunities.
 
Thursday, October 22 – Stop the Madness: Making Meetings Work
Examine ways to hold effective meetings for any level, including facilitation basics and guidelines for parliamentary procedure.
 
To register online, click here. Visit the CU web site for the complete schedule of courses.

CU is the City of Charlotte's neighborhood training 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.

Since the early 1990s North Carolina has banned certain solid waste items from the landfill. Banned items include:

• Aluminum cans
• Antifreeze
• Appliances
• Lead-acid batteries
• Used motor oil
• Oyster shells
• Scrap tires
• Yard waste (leaves and grass clippings generated from home yard maintenance)

Beginning October 1, the following items will also be banned:

• Plastic bottles
• Motor oil filters
• Wooden pallets 

The statewide ban is designed to reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to save landfill space and reduce litter.

Wondering how to dispose of the banned materials?

• Solid Waste Services currently accepts aluminum cans and plastics 1 & 2 (such as water and soda bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles) in the CURB IT! Residential Recycling Program. 
• Yard waste is collected weekly at curbside on the same day that garbage is collected. 
• Scrap tires and appliances can be scheduled for a bulky item collection by calling 311 or 704.336.7600 or by logging on to http://curbit.charmeck.org.
• Used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze and wooden pallets can be recycled at one of Mecklenburg County's full service recycling centers.

For more information, visit http://curbit.charmeck.org.

The GOV Channel brings you the latest City Source episode on Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m. The episode will give you an in-depth look at the CMPD South Division Reorganization. You'll also learn more about additional CATS services connecting you to the Airport and navigating through the City's rezoning process.

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

If you know someone who would be interested in reading CMail, please forward it to them!