Kowabunga dude! Something new to do next weekend...

Dude! Where's your helmet? Well, go find it so we can go to the new skate park! It's on Beal Street, just off of Wendover. Follow the link below for more info.

Grayson Skate Park
Extreme Grand Opening of Grayson SkatePark is Saturday, October 1, 2005 from 10am to 4pm and Sunday, October 2, 2005 from 2pm to 5pm. Join the fun of demos, music, giveaways, and more! PLUS for the weekend it's FREE!

This $632,000 state-of-the-art facility is a new, hip recreational venue provided by the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. Built with bond funds, the Skatepark has a 1,300 square foot concrete course for skate boarders and in-line skaters. It caters to a full range of users from beginners to the experienced vert crowd, with features including:
Street Course, Banks, Transitions, Corners, Rails, and ledges. Multi bowl ranging from 5-1/2 to 10-1/2 feet. Instead of cutting a ribbon, County Commissioner Dan Bishop and Park and Recreation Commissioner Larry Huelsman will lead the ceremonial cutting of a chain with bolt cutters ("It's more extreme, man") to officially open the facility. The ceremony will also include music, giveaways of skating equipment, and demonstrations by championship skaters from Charlotte, Charleston and Atlanta: Dave "Science Fair" Maxwell, A.J. Chase, Chuck Powell, Mark "Otis" Smith, Chris "the Keith Richards of Skateboarding" Collette, David "Malachi" Smith, Ray Fannessey, and more. The presenting sponsor of the grand opening is Streamline General Contractors, which built the Grayson facility in special consultation with John Woodstock Design and California Skateparks, industry leaders is skatepark design.

Grayson SkatePark will be open seven days a week:
Mondays - Saturdays, 10 a.m. to sunset Sundays, 2 p.m. to sunset. Admission charge is $1 per visit to skate as long as you want. A 3-month pass is $20 and an annual pass is $40.
All skaters/skateboarders must sign a release. Those younger than age 18 must have a notarized permission form from parent or guardian. Forms are available on http://www.parkandrec.com/ or at the adjacent Naomi Drenan Recreation Center.

Scam Artist on the Loose. BEWARE!

Wednesday evening a tall, white male teen-aged boy rang our bell and knocked loudly. He was a big boy, about 6 ft. and wearing an athletic jersey of some sort. I first refused to open the door but he (very easily) convinced me he was the son of a neighbor. He said he was selling books to raise money for his baseball team. He had no order forms or books, and he was looking all around while he was talking to me, behind him, off to the side...of course I told him no. Apparently he has been all over the neighborhood, as those of you receiving e-mail bulletins already know. His stories range from raising money so his team (sometimes it's basketball) can go to the play-offs in Maui, to "could you just give me $20?" So, considering the previous incidents, please remember to keep your cars locked, as well as your windows and doors, and most importantly, DO NOT open the door to strangers. Even to innocent looking young people who might, or more likely might NOT be the child of your neighbors. That's why it's so important for us all to get out and meet one another! Know who your neighbors are.

Useful Numbers:
EMERGENCY – 911
NON-EMERGENCY POLICE SERVICE – (704) 353-1000
CRIME STOPPERS – (704) 334-1600
VICE HOTLINE – (704) 336-8423

Recent Break-in on Beverly

Sometime during the weekend of August 26th (either Friday or Sat night), a neighbor on Beverly (between Portland and Rensford) had their house broken into. Apparently, the intruders came in through an unlocked kitchen window. The alarm was not activated. Lights outside were on but there no motion sensors. Both cars were gone. Items taken were small electronic equipment which led police to suspect teenagers. Additionally, this home is near a construction site which police also noted tends to increase crime in the area.

Lost German Shepherd

Some neighbors on Hungerford have lost their German Shepherd doggie. Let us hope that this beloved family pet has not run away to Hollywood, lured by false promises of a part in Will Ferrell's movie and a starring role in a dog food commercial. Please get in touch with me if you have seen a German Shepherd (this is a generic photo, not a photo of the lost dog) wandering around, and I will give you the contact info or I will contact the owners for you.

Thanks!

Mosquito Control Part Z

Knock knock! Who's there? Amos! Amos who? A mosquito...

Mrs Z. On upper Scotland recommends Vicks Vapor Rub on pulse points to repel mosquitoes! Vicks is great for bite relief, but I did not know it had repellent properties. The mosquitoes seem to be thriving again right now. Those pesky [bleep]s knew I wasn't wearing any Vicks Vapor Rub today the way they were snacking on me. Thanks for the tip Mrs. Z! I'm trying that tomorrow.

Q. How are mosquitoes like tomatoes?

A.The singular does not end with an e.

Avast! Did ye know September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day?

Ahoy there neighbors! Having a special place in me heart for pirates (Not the Country Day variety, but nothing special against them either) I must promote International Talk Like a Pirate Day. (This is NOT an endorsement of the book.) So, come out and say things to your neighbors like "shiver me timbers! Ye scurvy dogs!Shake yer booty!" Actually, that last line would be disco pirate talk. And that would be another holiday. Arrgh!

The flag pictured above be known as a Jolly Roger. If the crossed bones were replaced by crossed cutlasses, t'would be a John or Jack Rackham flag.

For more info on how to talk like a pirate and International Talk Like a Pirate Day,
check out these links...

Talk Like a Pirate

Evil Stevie's Pirate Glossary

More Pirate Talk