WILMORE NEWS VOLUME TEN, ISSUE TWO JUNE 2016without a vision, the people perish

WILMORE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2016

WILMORE NEIGHBORHOOD

ASSOCIATIONPO BOX 33672

CHARLOTTE NC 28233

NEWS FROM CALVARY UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

A welcoming community of open hearts, open minds, and open doors!

CHILDREN’S LUNCHEON ON JUNE 12TH

Children’s Luncheon on June 12: Kids’ Luncheon will have a Memorial Day/military theme to honor those who have been in or are still in the military. If you have any military items, we can use them as props or center pieces. Lunch tickets can be purchased at the door on June 12, 12:10pm.

KIDS SUMMER OUTING, KIDS COOK OFF

Calvary’s children and youth are planning to go to Ray Splash in July right after our Sunday worship service. In August, we will have First Annual Calvary Kids’ CooK Off. Judges and parents will evaluate kids’ food for prizes! Please stay

tuned to the upcoming information!

EASTER CELEBRATION

Calvary UMC received four new church members on Easter Sunday. Welcome, Jade, Jamie, Jessica, and Justin to Calvary and Wilmore Community!

YOUNG ADULT INITIATIVE

Calvary UMC begins a new ministry of “Young Christian Fellowship” which will connect young adult Christians and develop their relationships in Wilmore Community. If you are interested in knowing or joining the YCF, please contact Pastor Jae Lee at jlee@wnccumc.net.

YARD OF THE MONTHGET YOUR #YOTM ON

Congratulations to Sally McCauley and Amy Newton at 1549 Wilmore Drive for locking

up the April YOTM honors.

Just a really solid effort here. We dropped by, tried to find some weeds, couldn’t do it. Good symmetry, some patriotism; a well rounded effort.

Know someone else with a green thumb? Make sure to let your board know!

LETTER FROMTHE PRESIDENT Neighbors, The year is flying by! How is summer upon us already? The good news is that we have been able to enjoy Springtime in our local community! Happy Hours continue, Friday Night Festivals began, and local/nearby restaurants/ breweries are getting more foot traffic, and even more are on the horizon. We are also enjoying the benefits of an increase in historic renovation projects and other demonstrations of community pride.

All of that said - we are continuing our path forward for branding and beautification efforts along with protecting Wilmore’s edge (i.e. railcar facility, etc). Please be sure to come out to the community meeting on June 6th.

Warmest regards, Justin P. Lane

Historic WNA President

WILMORE COMMUNITY MEETING MONDAY JUNE 6TH AT 7PM Join your neighbors on June 7th for the spring community meeting to discuss some of the neighborhood-focused initiatives the WNA board has been working on. CMPD UPDATEOfficers Franklin and King will update the neighborhood on their community focused approach to policing, crime trends to be aware of, and to take questions from the neighborhood. AMTRACK LOCOMOTIVE AND RAILCAR MAINTENANCE FACILITYNCDOT Rail Division was in Wilmore on May 16th to share plans for Phase 1A of the Locomotive and Railcar Maintenance Facility. Get an update on the latest news. NEIGHBORHOOD BRANDINGAn update on the neighborhood branding effort to come up with a design to use for “Historic Wilmore” street sign toppers. These will go on top of street signs in intersections throughout the neighborhood.Once complete, design options will be shared with the community for feedback, so that the chosen designs will have neighborhood support. The board welcomes suggestions or ideas from fellow neighbors.

STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENTSAn update on street light improvement efforts as well as the Wilmore Night Light program, which encourages neighbors to leave their porch lights on at night, is tremendously helpful for lighting up the street and making the neighborhood more walkable at night.

311/HISTORIC DISTRICTThe latest efforts by the WNA and the community to help residents navigate the HDC process.

WILMORE HAPPY HOUR

Join your neighbors for some suds and grub at 6:30 on Thursday, June 2nd at Phat Burrito in South End.

The Wilmore Happy hour will take its annual summer break in July for some much needed R&R, but will be refreshed and back at it at da Phat on August 4th.

WILMORE COMMUNITY CENTER WILMORE EXERCISE CLASSFree adult class offered every Tuesday & Thursday from 9:00am to 10:00am. More information below.

YOUNG AT HEARTEvery 2nd Thursday from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Wilmore Seniors (over 55) enjoy arts and crafts.

MAKE YOUR MARK PANCAKE BREAKFASTEvery 3rd Saturday from 9 am to noon, for all Wilmore youth.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE WILMORE NEWS Your old neighborhood newsletter is always looking for help. We like to provide the community with news and information that goes a bit deeper than the announcements and communications found on Nextdoor and Facebook.

In addition to notifying residents of initiatives being advanced by the Wilmore Neighborhood Association, we like to tell stories about members of the community doing interesting things.

If you know someone who’s work deserves recognition or know of an issue you would like to highlight, please let us know. We would love to hear from you.

Suggestions can be sent to sethsowash@gmail.com or any member of the WNA board.

ON THE COVER Plants at the Charlotte Green John T. Sullivan Wilmore Garden. The garden is located behind the Wilmore Community Center and run by Charlotte Green.

AMTRACKPHASE 1ARepresentatives from the NCDOT Rail Division were in Wilmore on May 16th to share plans for Phase 1A of the Locomotive and Railcar Maintenance Facility. The project is being constructed adjacent to the Norfolk Southern Mainline rail that crosses Summit Avenue just north of Wilmore.

Phase 1A is scheduled to begin in mid 2016 and complete in mid 2017, and will consist of an office building on the eastern side of the project (at Graham and Palmer Streets) and two siding rails extending from the east side of Summit Avenue and connecting to the Norfolk Southern Mainline. Neighborhood residents have voiced concern over noise and light pollution, as well as a detention pond to be built north of Merriman Avenue.

A number of Wilmore residents attended the drop-in presentation and continued to voice their

concerns about the project, but received little new information from the NCDOT representatives.

The primary concern of those in attendance was noise, both from the maintenance facility itself and increased horn blasts from trains crossing Summit Avenue on the additional tracks. In the past, the neighborhood has inquired about a Quiet Zone at Summit and about screening along Summit and Merriman Avenues.

However, according to the NCDOT representatives at the meeting, because the siding tracks constructed in Phase 1A will not cross Summit Avenue, they were not prepared to discuss improvements to the western side of Summit Avenue where the project is adjacent to Wilmore.

If you have questions concerning the project or the neighborhood’s involvement, please contact a Wilmore Neighborhood association board member for details.

CORRIDOR STUDYThe Charlotte Department of Transportation recently completed a four-day corridor study of sections of South Boulevard and South Tryon Street running through South End and past Wilmore. The study included a public charrette at Charlotte Trolley where residents were welcome to stop by and share ideas on how to make South Boulevard and Tryon Street friendlier to bicycles and pedestrians.

The rate of development along the LYNX Blue Line and the fact that some portions of South End are becoming more urban than parts of Uptown provided the impetus for the study.

CDOT staff worked out in the open and posted their day’s work at 5pm for the public to review. The goal was to allow instant feedback from citizens while planners sketched out solutions.

According to Scott Curry of CDOT, the goal is to identify both short and long term recommendations on how to make these vehicle heavy streets better for bicycles and pedestrians. After the public charrette wraps up, the team will distill the information and provide recommendations to CDOT with rough cost estimates to allow city planners to decide what ideas can be implemented in the short term with the current

funding, and what projects will be completed at a later date.

The corridor study also helps city planners decide what street improvements should be required of developers when new projects are built along these streets.

KINGSTON &TRYON STREETHOTELIn their May zoning meeting, City Council gave the green light to a proposed hotel project on the corner of West Kingston and South Tryon Street, right across Tryon from Wilmore.

The community meeting portion of the rezoning process was completed in March, where the developer’s lawyer and architect presented their plan to the community to gather feedback. Much of what the community had to say had already reached the design team, however, because preliminary plans published in a local daily online publication ahead of a prior preliminary meeting had attracted a lot of feedback.

Those growing weary of continued development in South End were quick to voice their opinion over the lack of street level pedestrian amenities in the initial hotel proposal. The developer and design team were quick to revisit the design and address some of the communities concerns, perhaps cognizant of the negative response to the initial design of the proposed DFA project a few blocks away.

The designers shifted the garage entrance, added street level retail along Kingston Avenue, and reduced the visibility of the parking garage among other changes.

No brand has been announced, but the hotel will have 120 rooms priced between $125 and $150 per night, and should break ground in late 2016.

ALMA ADAMS - D

The incumbant moved from Greensboro to 4th Ward in April after the 12th was redrawn. She was elected in 2014 and is currently serving her first full term. She is a former Professor of Art at Bennett College in Greensboro.

TRICIA COTHAM - D

Charlotte native currently serving in the NC House, she was appointed in 2007 and elected in 2008. Previously an assistant principal at East Mecklenburg High, currently runs a child care center.

MALCOLM GRAHAM - D

Charlotte City Council member from 1999-2005, NC State Senator 2004-2014, runs the Center for Supplier Diversity. The Johnson C. Smith graduate won Mecklenburg county two years ago but finished second overall to Adams.

CARLA CUNNINGHAM - D

Elected in 2013 to the North Carolina House District 106. A graduate of CPCC in 1981, Gaston College in 1996, and Winston Salem State University in 2009. Currently a Nurse Consultant.

JUNE 7THPRIMARYThe sencond half of the U.S. House of Representatives primary is on June 7th.

Six democrats and three republicans are challenging incumbant Alma Adams to represent North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District, which used to extend from Charlotte to Greensboro and over to Winston Salem, but was redrawn earlier this year to be entirely within Mecklenburg County.

Wilmore residents will again vote at Greater Galilee Church at 501 West Blvd.

Remember that the NC Voter ID Law now requires voters to present an acceptable photo ID in order to vote.

WILMORE COMMUNITY GARDENSeth Sowash

A memorial paying homage to gardeners who have passed on is just a hint of the impressive history of the Wilmore Community Garden.

The Charlotte Green of Mecklenburg County, a group that organizes and cultivates gardens on vacant urban lots, runs the garden. Their mission is to bring neighborhoods together through gardening while beautifying vacant and neglected lots. Cissy Shull oversees the organization, which she founded twenty-five years ago.

I met with Cissy in the garden along with fellow gardeners Daisy Dunlap and Jessica Barnwell to talk

about what the garden - the oldest community garden in Charlotte, its staying power, and what it means to the community.

A member of Cissy’s church once asked her “Why doesn’t it fold? What’s the glue?” The glue is most definitely the gardeners. “We love each other, that’s one thing, the new ones come, we hug them too” said Mrs. Daisy Dunlap, who started gardening here in 1993. She walks down to the garden from her house. This year she has flowers, white potatoes, squash, and peppers planted. Elsewhere in the garden I notice corn, okra, tomatoes, collard greens, and herbs. Blackberries grow behind the garden, which Mrs. Jessica made into three cobblers last year.

The history of the Charlotte Green begins when Cissy was visiting the Philadelphia Flower Show with her mother. She was introduced to the Philadelphia Green Project, an urban greening program started

by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society in 1974 to take abandoned inner city lots and turn them into vibrant community gardens.

Cissy was impressed with the program and, after a chance meeting with the city horticulturist at a garden tour back home in Charlotte, decided to replicate the program here. Looking for a sponsor, Cissy went to the board of the Myers Park Methodist Church and asked for “$350 bucks and a tiller”, which she got.

The Philadelphia Green recommended looking for vacant lots in neighborhoods with neighborhood associations, so Cissy, along with the city horticulturist, came to one of Wilmore’s community meetings - then held at Greater Galilee Baptist Church - and found eight interested gardeners. Greater Galilee offered to let her use an empty lot off of Wilmore Drive, and so in 1991, the Charlotte Green got its start. Since

then, the Green has grown to nine gardens in seven neighborhoods in Charlotte.

Charlotte Green does not own the land they use, so when the land they cultivate is bought or sold, they occasionally have to move, which is how, in 1995 after a couple stops, the Wilmore garden landed on South Mint Street next to the community center.

In addition to maintaining community gardens across the city, the Charlotte Green has a garden club, which meets monthly to socialize and educate the gardeners on a range of topics. Long time Wilmore resident Jessica Barnwell is the president. “My life has just blossomed since joining” she says to Cissy. “Can you imagine her life blossoming any more that it already has?” “I know!” says Jessica, “I didn’t think I could bloom anymore!”

The garden’s popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years. In the early 2000’s the kids in the neighborhood became interested and started a children’s garden, “They’ve grown up now, of course, and lost interest” says Cissy, but in the last few years the garden has seen increased interest. After visiting the

community meeting in March to celebrate the garden’s twenty-fifth anniversary, Cissy has received multiple inquires about open plots. The garden is full at the moment, but Cissy says they are getting rid of one of the hospice gardens next year, so a plot will open up.

Stop in to meet some of the gardeners and admire the crop this summer as you walk by. The Wilmore garden is a great place to find knowledge, history and friendship.

NEXTDOORGarrett Philbrick

Nextdoor is the private social network for your neighborhood. It is the best way to stay in the know about what’s going on in your neighborhood, whether it’s finding a last-minute babysitter, learning about an upcoming block party, or hearing about a rash of car break-ins. There are so many ways our neighbors can help us, we just need an easier way to connect with them.

That was the website’s own words to describe Nextdoor, but it is so

much more than that. When I first downloaded the Nextdoor app, there were only about 15 or so of us on it, and we were trying to reach that magic number to make Wilmore a permanent member of the Nextdoor community. Now Wilmore has over 300 neighbors, and the surrounding neighborhoods bring the total to a whopping 2581 of us.

If you haven’t heard of Nextdoor yet or simply haven’t gotten around to signing up you are missing out on a whole other level of neighborhood information. From Wesley Heights to Dilworth West to Third Ward to South End this network ties us all together.

There are many ways to send messages to the community or privately to an individual. Below are some of the most useful ones.

First, if something is happening that is a danger to the community, or if time is of the essence, use the Urgent Alert notification. Urgent Alert is separate from messages and will be sent out to everyone immediately on every system possible; Nextdoor message, text message, email, etc. It is very important to know that this is not 911, so please still call the police if something dangerous is happening.

Other messages are categorized into one of six groups:

Classifieds; for items you would like to sell (crockpot on here for $10 with insulated cover!) Pictures are always a plus here and putting the price somewhere easy to find will help stop any confusions from occurring.

Crime & Safety; for suspicious activities, flooding, loose animals, car/house break-ins, etc.

Free Items; (my favorite category) this is self-explanatory. Anything you don’t want anymore but can’t sell or want to donate.

General; is anything else that doesn’t fit into a category.

Lost & Found; if you lost your dog or found a dog, etc.

Recommendations; I use this one for restaurant recommendations, but others use it to ask for lawn care services, dog walkers, house sitters etc.

There are other uses for Nextdoor so download the app today and have fun exploring what you can do with it. The more of us that are on here the informed, friendly & safer Wilmore will be.

RICK MILLER - D

Summerfield resident (north of Greensboro). Former pilot, electrical contractor, now with the High Point Housing Authority. Ran in the NC 6th District in 2004 and 2006.

GARDENIA HENLEY - D

The Winston-Salem resident ran unsucessfully for Congress in 2014, mayor of Winston-Salem in 2013, governor in 2012 and N.C. House in 2010. The former federal inspector general retured in 2005.

RYAN DUFFIE - R

Moved from Boston to Charlotte in 2010 and works in the financial industry. Diffie is making his first run for office.

PAUL WRIGHT - R

Resident of Mount Olive (180 miles east of Charlotte). Ran for governor in 2012, Congress in 2014 and U.S. Senate this year. Former assistant district attorney, law instructor, and NC District and NC Supreme court judge.

LEON THREATT - R

Matthrews resident, born in Monroe. He ran unsucessfully in the 12th District in 2014. A former Charlotte police officer and a preacher at Christian Faith Assembly.

WHAT IS THE WILMORE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION?The Wilmore Neighborhood Association (WNA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization comprised of home and property owners in the Wilmore neighborhood, and renters who have lived in Wilmore for more than 6 months.

It costs $20 for an annual membership to the Wilmore Neighborhood Association. The funds are used to provide annual scholarships to Wilmore area students, help pay for Wilmore Day festivities, and fund other neighborhood events and programs.

HOW CAN I JOIN THE WILMORE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION?You can send a check for $20 to the Wilmore Neighborhood Association, PO Box 33672, Charlotte, NC 28233. Include your name, address, email address, and phone number.

WHEN ARE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS?Our neighborhood meetings are held quarterly in March, June, September and December on the first Monday of the month. (If there is a holiday on the first Monday of the month, like Labor Day in September, then it will be held the following Monday.) Meetings start at 7 pm, and take place at the Community Center at 501 West Blvd.

HOW CAN I KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH NEWS IN WILMORE?Join the Wilmore community Nextdoor and follow us on Facebook.

HOW DO I MAKE A CHANGE TO MY STREET PARKING?The City of Charlotte will not make changes to parking or speed hump regulation in the Wilmore neighborhood without approval from the Wilmore Neighborhood Association (WNA). If you want to make a change to parking on your street, the WNA Board requires signatures from three-quarters (3/4) of all property owners along the street with a proposed change. The WNA will then write a letter of support for that change to the city. Be advised that support from the board does not guarantee that the city will approve the change.

CMPD COMMUNITY COORDINATOR OFFICERSOfficer Franklin - Jfranklin1@cmpd.org Officer King - Mking@cmpd.org

311 INFORMATION HOTLINEAccess a wide variety of public services including bulk trash pickup and recycling information, animal reports, code violations and nuisance reports, and bill payment. Call 311 or visit charmeck.org/services

CRIMESTOPPERSCrime Stoppers is an identity-protected means of reporting information regarding a crime that rewards citizens whose tips result in an arrest. The person reporting information is then eligible for a cash reward.

Download the Crimestoppers app on iTunes or Google Play or call use hot line - 704-334-1600. More information at charlottecrimestoppers.com

ADVERTISINGThe newsletter is a free publication issued quarterly in March, June, September, and December to more than 800 residents and businesses in the Wilmore and South End 28203 zip code.

For advertisement rates, sizes, and formats, email Emily Sowash at emilysowash@gmail.com

WN CONTRIBUTIONSThe Wilmore News welcomes contributions from our fellow neighbors. We’re always looking for suggestions, articles, photography, recipes, or anything else!

JOIN THE BOARDThe Wilmore Neighborhood Association (WNA) currently has several open Board member positions, and are looking for passionate, motivated neighbors looking to get involved in making Wilmore an even better place to live. Board positions are open to property owners, as well as renters who have lived in the neighborhood for at least 6 months.

If you are interested, please send a resume (or a paragraph about yourself) to Justin Lane and include in your email an explanation of how long you’ve lived in Wilmore and why you’re interested in joining the board.

FAQ

SETH SOWASH - EDITORsethsowash@gmail.com

EMILY SOWASH - ADVERTISING emilysowash@gmail.com

MISSY EPPES - FOUNDER JULIE KNUTSON - EDITOR EMERITUS

WN STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

ADAM BURGNATHAN GRAYBRIE GRAYADAM MARTIN

ERIK MULZETGARRETT PHILBRICKDOROTHY PHILBRICKERIN STEELE

JUSTIN LANE PRESIDENT 704-929-0513 justin.p.lane@bankofamerica.com

NATHAN GRAY VICE PRESIDENT 336-575-7327 graynw0@gmail.com

SHARAI LAVOIE TREASURER 704-562-0777 slavoie@lavoiepllc.com

ADAM BURG SECRETARY aburg2011@gmail.com

MISSY EPPES PARLIAMENTARIAN 704-393-7096 meppes@uncc.edu

WNA OFFICERS

WNA BOARD MEMBERSJESSICA BARNWELL 704-375-4501

DAISY DUNLAP704-347-2553

DENISE MOSEMAN704-281-3648 dmoseman@gmail.com

JEREMY RAILTONSARAH SINGLETARYJACK WILLIAMSKAT WILSONkgedge303@gmail.com