Friday, October 22, 2010

There will be two public meetings next week to discuss the development of the Comprehensive Recreation, Parks & Open Space Plan. The East Carolina University Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies will hold meetings on Tuesday, October 26 and Thursday, October 28 to gather input to use in the development of the plan that will guide the future of the Parks & Recreation Department. Both meetings are at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

The State of North Carolina, Department of Transportation, recently made the decision to temporarily close Battle Bridge Road that leads from Wendell Boulevard (US 64 Business) to Eagle Rock. This was an obvious surprise to the citizens of the community as well as the elected leaders of the Town of Wendell. None of us were given advance warning of this decision of inconvenience and inconsideration.

Representatives of the N.C. Department of Transportation were invited to attend a Board of Commissioners meeting and explain the reasons for their decision to close the road. They related it to the condition of the bridge and the costs estimated to repair and/or replace the bridge. They deemed it unsafe for trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles to cross. The Wendell Town Board took a strong stand of opposition to their decision.

Now a public information meeting is scheduled for area citizens on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 5:00 P.M. at Hephzibah Church to finally explain the state’s plans to permanently close Battle Bridge Road.

All citizens having an interest or who may be affected by this adverse decision should attend and share their concerns. This may be the last opportunity you have to try and persuade the state to make the bridge safe and re-open the road again. They will make the final decision after receiving your input.

The Wendell Police Department, in conjunction with other Wake County law enforcement agencies will sponsor a town-wide drug abuse prevention event named Operation Medicine Drop on October 30, 2010. This event specifically targets individuals who have expired, old, or unused prescription medications in their homes in Wendell. The event involves the voluntary turn-in of old or unneeded pharmaceutical drugs at Wendell Fire Department, located at 2960 Wendell Boulevard, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The police department hopes this event will help reduce a significant amount of controlled pharmaceuticals that could be diverted to an escalating illicit market. More importantly, the police department hopes to use the event to educate the public on the dangers of pharmaceutical drug abuse, accidental poisonings, as well as responsible handling, security and destruction of prescription medications.

To find out more, visit http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/SafeKids/sk_OperationMedicineDrop.asp

Since October is Energy Awareness Month, Progress Energy has special energy saving tips for businesses and homes at www.SaveTheWatts.com.

Progress Energy also wants customers on a Time-of-Use rate, to remember that on October 1, the on-peak hours changed to 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Monday - Friday. Weekends and holidays are considered off-peak. Holidays include Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. (Holidays falling on Saturdays will be off-peak on the Friday preceding the holiday.) Also, Daylight Saving Time ends November 7 at 2 a.m.

Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you. This way you can check for any problem candy.

Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.

Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.

Children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult.

Because of increased foot traffic and the many children out on Halloween, the potential for automobile related accidents with young pedestrians increases four times on this night according to a CDC (Center for Disease Control) study, so……

Pay extra attention, particularly to crosswalks, intersections and the side of the road. Kids tend to walk along the curbs, cutting across the street to get to other homes. Keep scanning all around you as you drive, whether as thru traffic or along with your kids as they trick-or-treat.

Drive below the posted speed limit in residential areas during trick-or-treating.

Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway, they could be dropping off children. This is more common in rural areas but can happen anywhere.

If you are dropping off or picking up your kids in an area, pull off the road into a safe spot and turn on your hazard lights to alert other motorists.

More tips can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

Eastern Wake CRIMESTOPPERS is offering $200 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect (s) involved in the damage to property that occurred in the Wendell’s Downtown Business District. If you have information or know anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest, please call 366-2746 (CRIME).

The Wendell Parks and Recreation Department has closed out a great fall baseball and softball season. As the kids are hanging up the cleats they are lacing up the high tops and heading to the Wendell Community Center to play in the youth basketball program. After closing out basketball registration we have more teams than we have ever had - 44 teams! We will have six 5-6 year old co-ed teams, ten 7-8 year old co-ed teams, eight 9-10 year old boys teams, eight 11-12 year old boys teams, six 13-14 year old boys teams, three 15-17 year old boys teams, one U10 girls team, one U12 girls team and one U15 girls team. This season all games and practices will be held in the Wendell Community Center, with the exception of away games for the ages that do travel.

Parks & Rec will be hold youth basketball drafts beginning Saturday, October 23. The following times are set for the drafts; 8:30am 9-10 boys, 11:00am 11-12 boys and 1:30pm 13-14 boys. Tuesday, October 26, 2010, the 7-8 co-ed draft will be held at 6:30pm. All drafts will be held at the Wendell Community Center.

The Wendell Community Center continued to host the Expressions of Worship Dance and Acro classes on Monday and Tuesday evenings. On Wednesday night the Wendell Community Center Gym was rented by a group for Electric Radio Controlled Airplanes. On Thursday, the Community Center hosted the Annual Ducks Unlimited Banquet.

In outdoor events, the Greater Neuse River Conference Cross Country Championship was held on Tuesday, October 19. West Johnston boys and girls swept the Greater Neuse River Conference Cross Country Team Championship for the fourth consecutive year and took individual honors as well. On October 30, 2010, the East Wake Warriors will conclude the season as they host the NCHSAA 4A Regional for the first time at Wendell Park. Leading up the regional, schools will be visiting the park in order to make practice runs in preparation for the meet. This Saturday morning, the girl’s team from Southview High School has requested a practice and will be visiting Wendell and the park.

At the Wendell Park tennis courts the balls kept bouncing as the kid’s continued with their weekly lessons on Tuesday and Thursday night offered by Kelley Connolly.

#1 Disciples

#2 Central Baptist

#3 Knightdale Baptist

#4 Zebulon Baptist

#5 Northside Community

#6 Green Pines

Monday, October 25, 2010

7:00pm Northside Community VS Zebulon Baptist

8:00pm Knightdale VS Green Pines

Thursday, October 28, 2010

6:30pm Disciples VS Winner of Northside/Zebulon Baptist
7:30pm Central Baptist VS Knightdale/Green Pines

ITEM 9. CHAMBER EVENTS

October 29 Wendell Baptist Church will host FestiFall from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

October 29, Ty Grey Consignment & Resale will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting at noon. The store is located at 16 East Third St.

November 5, The Kila Company will host Friday Night Jazz at 28 N. Main. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.

November 6 there will be a ribbon cutting at The Little Bakery & Café on Main Street at 11 a.m. Also that day from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wits End will hold its holiday open house. The Flower Shop is also scheduled to hold its open house that day.

November 9 is the Wendell Chamber Annual Banquet. The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Wendell Community Center. Call the chamber office for reservations.

November 10, Wendell Town Commissioner Christie Adams will speak for the Wendell Chamber Women in Business at El Cerro at noon.

Patrick Patelos of the Little Bakery on Main Street is showing his art work in the Wendell Chamber board room during October.

The Wendell Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Wendell Woman’s Club at the corner of West Third and Cypress Streets. October 30 will be the season’s closing date for the farmer’s market.

Wendell t-shirts and hoodies are available from the chamber. T-shirts are $15 and hoodies (with zipper) are $30.

ITEM 10. UPCOMING EVENTS

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

10/25 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/8 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/15 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

11/22 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

12/3 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

12/20 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

12/27 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

1/10/11 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

1/24/11 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall