| Did You Know? |
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Greensboro Parks & Recreation is taking reservations for the 2009 picnic shelter season at all regional and watershed parks including Bryant Park, Bur-Mill Park and Lake Higgins Watershed Park. To reserve a shelter, call the Shelter Reservation line at 373-5888 or 373-3805 (for Bur-Mil Park only). You can also reserve your shelter online now. The Greensboro Youth Council (GYC) will hold a Spring Membership Drive for Guilford County high school students now until March 30. Register weekdays from 9 am to 4pm at the GYC office, 501 Yanceyville St. Also, an orientation for interested students will be held at the GYC office on Thursday, March 26, from 6-6:30 pm. Get more information on joining GYC. Get your child involved in the arts with the Greensboro Children's Theatre. Open auditions will be held Saturday, March 28, from 1-4pm for "Short Tales 4," a series of one-act plays based on folktales from all over the world. Auditions will take place at the Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St., for boys and girls grades 4-9. No experience is necessary. Learn more. Learn about Scottish culture on National Tartan Day! Celebrate the event with bagpipers, haggis and Scottish displays on Saturday, April 4, from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Greensboro Historical Museum, 130 Summit Ave. It's free and open to the public. For more information, call the Historical Museum at 373-2043. Experience the richness of local pottery when the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market hosts its annual Spring Pottery Festival. The event will be held Sunday, April 5, from 11 am to 5 pm at the Farmers' Curb Market, 501 Yanceyville St. More than 70 potters will exhibit their own unique styles of handmade pottery, glazed earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Parking and admission are free. |
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| City Council Action Wrap-Up |
* Please note that the Council Briefing scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at 3 pm has been cancelled due to a number of Council members not being able to attend.
Council presses forward with search for new city manager.
At its meeting on Tuesday, March 17, City Council reaffirmed its commitment to searching for a new city manager. A request for proposal (RFP) has been made for an executive search firm to aid the City in finding suitable candidates. Proposals are due on April 5. Council expects to take about two weeks to select a firm to conduct the nationwide search. Council expressed the goal of filling the city manager position by August. Council also directed staff to organize a community town hall which would give residents the opportunity to provide feedback on what's needed in a new city manager. In the meantime, Bob Morgan will continue to serve as interim city manager and oversee the operations of the City.
At the meeting, Council also:
- Directed staff to schedule a special Council meeting for April 14 so Interim City Manager Bob Morgan could present the preliminary budget.
- Approved the addition of a traffic light and turn lane at the entrance of the new Gateway Gardens. The issue was brought up by residents' concerns over traffic safety along Lee Street.
- Called a public hearing for April 7 on the annexation of land into the corporate limits of Grandover Parkway from Groometown Road westward into the existing City limits.
To view the entire meeting or past meetings, visit City Council's video archive page. |
| Wade and Curry Given New Roles |
Internal employees use strengths and talents to fill vacant positions.
Interim City Manager Bob Morgan recently announced the selection of two employees to oversee the operations of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Parks and Recreation.
Dan Curry, deputy director and development manager for HCD, has been named Acting Director of HCD. Curry joined the City in 1973 as a planning technician for the Planning Department, before working his way up to his most recent position. He brings more than 30 years of experience working for the City in various positions to his new role. His current salary is $96,712.
Morgan also selected Dr. Anthony Wade, director of the City's Human Relations Department, as Interim Director of Parks and Recreation. Wade joined the City in 2007 as Director of Human Relations. He brings many years of experience working in government to his new role including serving as Manager of Employment, Compensation, Equal Opportunity and Community Outreach for the City of Denver and Director of Human Relations for New Hanover County. He will continue to oversee the operations of Human Relations while serving as Interim Director and will receive an annual salary of $113,514.
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| Economic Stimulus Funding Update |
City awarded stimulus funding.
Over the past few weeks, the City has learned that it has been awarded economic stimulus funding as part of the federal government's plan to keep America moving. The funds will go to:
- Housing and Community Development, which received $2.625 million for its Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The grant will be used to fund a four-point strategy to purchase foreclosed and abandoned homes and properties in priority areas.
- Greensboro Police Department, which was allocated more than $1.1 million as part of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant. The funds will be used to support a range of activities to prevent and control crime.
- The Workforce Development office, which has been informed that it will receive $2.7 million as part of economic stimulus funding targeted for Training and Employment Services. The Office of Workforce Development will be able to use the funding for youth programs and training and job search assistance for adults.
As more information regarding how to apply for economic stimulus funding is released by the federal government, more City departments will seek funding. Stay up-to-date with the City's economic stimulus plans. |
| What You're Saying about the City's Budget |
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Residents voice their opinions about the upcoming budget at community meetings.
City Council members have held public meetings in recent weeks to get input from residents on the City's upcoming budget. Council asked three basic questions: What services should the City offer that are not currently offered? What services could the City do without? And, what services should the City continue to provide?
Here's a sample of what your fellow residents had to say. These represent individual comments, not necessarily a trend.
- More sidewalks/crosswalks
- More activities for youth
- More public transportation
- Be more strategic about acquiring property
- Reestablish an affordable housing program (i.e. Greensboro Affordable Loan Initiative)
- Continue police patrols in neighborhoods
So far, residents have identified more programs to keep or start than to stop.
Now that you know what others are saying, what are your thoughts? Attend one of the final two public meetings:
Council District 4
Thursday, April 23, at 6 pm
Lindley Recreation Center, 2907 Springwood Dr.
Council District 5
Thursday, April 2, at 6 pm
Trotter Recreation Center, 3906 Bethula St.
Anyone having special needs should call 373-2723 at least five days before the meeting. Also, stay informed about the process by visiting the City's Budget Process page. |
| Tournaments Bring People, Money to Greensboro |
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Basketball tournaments bring a lot of fun and excitement to lovers of the sport. But for Greensboro, basketball tournaments bring more people and money into our city. The ACC Women's Basketball Tournament and NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament first and second rounds, both held in March, brought thousands of people to the Greensboro Coliseum and millions of dollars to our local economy. More than 73,000 people attended the ACC Tournament and more than 62,000 attended the NCAA Tournament. Combined, the ACC and NCAA tournaments pumped nearly $20 million into our economy; $5 million and $14.4 million, respectively. |
| April is Fair Housing Month |
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Know your rights.
The Fair Housing Act was signed into law in 1968 by former President Lyndon Johnson. As amended, this important legislation gives everyone the right to obtain a place to live without fear of being turned away because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin or disability. Unfortunately, cases of housing discrimination still occur. The City's Human Relations Department enforces the Fair Housing Ordinance, which protects people from discrimination in housing. With April being Fair Housing Month, the Human Relations Department wants you to know your rights. It is illegal for anyone to discriminate in any public or private residential real estate transaction including buying, selling, renting, financing and advertising. If you feel you have been a victim of housing discrimination, call the City's Human Relations Department at 373-2038. Get more information on fair housing and learn how the City can assist you. |
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