| Did You Know? |
|
City of Greensboro offices will be closed Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, in observance of Thanksgiving. Here's a complete list of affected services. Spread a little holiday cheer to families in need by participating in the Greensboro Youth Council's "Santa's Workshop" toy drive. The toy drive is going on now and will run through December 8. You can donate new or gently used toys at any city recreation center. Or, if you prefer, you can make a cash donation at any Sun Trust bank or at the GYC office, 501 Yanceyville St. Get more information here. Parks and Recreation's Singing Senior Ambassadors will hold their annual Holiday Concert, Thursday, December 18, at 10 am and 7:30 pm at St. John's United Methodist Church, 1304 Merritt Dr. The concerts are free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food donations to benefit the Greensboro Urban Ministry. For more information, call 375-2237. The City was recently honored with two national marketing awards for its "Conserve Water Now" campaign. The campaign, which encouraged water conservation during the exceptional drought of 2007 and early 2008, was recognized by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association. The National Association of Town Watch has once again selected Greensboro as a National Award Winner for the City's participation in the 25th annual National Night Out (NNO). The Police Department has served as the area's organizer of NNO activities since the inception of the program in 1984. The City was also honored by the association as a National Award Winner last year. Two Parks and Recreation programs, "Living the Wild Life" and "Growing the Green Way," were featured at the National League of Cities' Congress of Cities Conference. The programs, which are part of Parks and Recreation's environmental education series, were recognized during the City Showcase, an exhibition of successful and creative programs from cities and towns across the country. |
 |
|
|
| City Council Action Wrap-Up |
Council approves purchase of two properties on High Point Road.
At City Council's November 18 meeting, members voted to approve the purchase of the Canada Dry and Coliseum Inn properties on High Point Road. The vote allows the City to buy the Canada Dry building for $3.2 million and the Coliseum Inn for $2.1 million.
The City was interested in purchasing the properties as a way to revitalize the area. Once it owns the properties, the City plans to demolish the Coliseum Inn, which has been the site of numerous nuisance incidences, and possibly expand the Greensboro Coliseum Complex onto the Canada Dry property.
In other business, City Council approved a $255,000 economic incentive package for ConvaTec, a medical device manufacturer. ConvaTec plans to expand its Greensboro plant and add 30 new jobs.
Council also voted to approve an amendment to the City's rental unit certificate of occupancy statute. City inspectors are now required to perform interior inspections on 2 percent of rental properties annually. Under the amendment, tenants can also be fined for violations. The amendment will allow the City to focus its resources to solve issues with the area's worst rental properties. |
| City Grants Parking Ticket Amnesty |
Late fees will be dropped if you pay old tickets in December.
The City is giving parking violators a free pass on paying any late fees. The Parking Ticket Amnesty program, which Council approved on November 18, allows drivers to pay all outstanding parking tickets minus the burden of the late fee if they pay between December 1 and December 31.  Most tickets start at $5, but a $25 fee is added if the ticket isn't paid within 45 days. Multiply that by numerous tickets and violators could have a hefty fee to pay. Beginning January 1, the Greensboro Police Department will start towing cars that have at least three tickets more than 90 days overdue. Drivers won't be able to collect their cars until the fees are paid. For more information on the Parking Ticket Amnesty program, call 373-2496. |
| Kick Your Leaves to the Curb |
It's not too late to participate in the Loose Leaf Collection Program.
The City's annual Loose Leaf Collection Program is underway. Rake your leaves to the curb by December 8, and they will be picked up by January 16.
It's easy to participate, all you have to do is:
- Rake leaves to the edge of your yard behind the curb - not in the street.
- Remove sticks, rocks and other debris which can damage the City's equipment.
- Do not park vehicles on, in front of or near your leaves.
The Loose Leaf Collection Program helps keep leaves from blocking storm drains and prevents decaying leaves from polluting our lakes and streams. The collected leaves are made into compost to fertilize City gardens and landscaped areas. Residents may purchase the compost at the White Street Landfill, 2503 White Street. Call 373-2489 for more information.
The loose leaf collection schedule may change due to inclement weather. The program is not offered to residents who live on private streets. |
| Get in the Holiday Spirit with Festival of Lights |
Annual celebration promises fun for all ages.
 Kick off your holiday season with the Festival of Lights, on Friday, December 5, from 5:45-9 pm in downtown Greensboro. The event will feature a musical stroll along Elm Street showcasing more than 20 different performance groups, a "Winter Wonderland" in Hamburger Square Park, a reading of classic holiday stories by Greensboro Public Library's staff, and a special visit from Santa. Shops, art galleries, antique stores and restaurants will be decorated in their holiday best and open late for the event. Also, the United Arts Council and Downtown Greensboro Inc. will host a cider tent at the corner of South Elm and Lewis streets and are planning a horse and carriage ride that will tour through the arts district in Old Greensborough. For more information about the Festival of Lights, visit www.FestivalOfLightsGso.org or call (336) 274-4595. | |
|
|
|
