We filed today!

The McFarlane for Mayor campaign is now officially underway! Earlier this afternoon, I filed papers to become Raleigh's next mayor. I was joined by family, supporters and friends.

I'm proud to have been a part of the team that has helped make Raleigh the great place to live and work that it is. And as Mayor, I will continue to build on our accomplishments and keep Raleigh moving forward.

I hope you'll join me over the next few months as I visit neighborhoods across city. I am eager to hear your thoughts and ideas on how we can make our city even better. If you'd like me to knock on your door, please email rsvp.nancymcfarlane@gmail.com or visit my website.

Hope to see you out on the campaign trail!

--Nancy

Neighborhood Tour- Weathersfield Place

This morning we braved the heat to talk to some of the residents in Weathersfield Place, a beautiful neighborhood in North Raleigh. As their City Councilor I have visited this neighborhood in the past to discuss the residents' concerns over safety and traffic issues. I am happy to have helped my constituents successfully mediate issues with the city. On this trip I was looking forward to checking in with some of the people I met and to meet many others!

During this visit, I spoke with residents regarding Raleigh's growth and development, and specifically how we can retain Raleigh's charm while we manage our growth. I shared with small business owners my recent City Council proposal to establish a streamlined Small Business Initiative; this service would provide a one-stop shop for people seeking advice and support while starting and operating small businesses, a clear way to help us develop Raleigh's local talent, create jobs, and grow our economy.

Thanks you to the residents of Weathersfield Place for taking the time to talk about local issues!

Neighborhood Tour Stop #2

For the second stop on the Neighborhood Tour I visited Yorkshire Downs, a neighborhood adjacent to the second place my family called home in Raleigh.  Our backyards shared a ravine, so it was fitting that we were there to talk about stormwater issues. 

The neighbors contacted me to discuss their concerns about a city stormwater project. I have extensive experience with stormwater issues and projects so I was happy to listen and respond to their concerns.  The primary  intention of stormwater management projects are to control runoff for road safety, keep it out of people's backyards and to protect the health of the waterways.  However, I do also agree that any work the City does involving easement rights should end up increasing property values and not decreasing them - as is the concern here.  There has to be an on-going effort to balance development, environmental protection and neighborhood rights.  As Mayor I will continue to prioritize this balance, just as I have for years on the City Council

Raleigh Earns Two Honors from Forbes in One Week!

Raleigh has been named the "Next Big Boom Town" by Forbes.com:

• One-third of the criteria was job growth, both over the past decade and over the past two years.
• Two-thirds was a range of demographic factors including family formation, growth in educated migration, population growth, cultural amenities, employment opportunities and ease of starting businesses.
• Raleigh has experienced the second highest overall population increase.
• Raleigh has the third highest job growth over the past two decades. 

                                                                

Photo courtesy of RaleighSkyline

Raleigh was also named the "Best Town for Young Professionals:"

• Chosen from the 100 largest U.S. cities
• Forbes.com wrote: "The college town turned boom town, which tops our Best Places for Business and Careers list this year, has the fourth best job growth outlook of the cities we studied and 7.9 percent unemployment rate that is well below the national average."
• Raleigh received major praise for our institutes of higher learning and RTP, calling Raleigh "the most educated of the cities we looked at.

First stop on the neighborhood tour!

Over the weekend I kicked off my Neighborhood Tour with a stop in Brentwood. This was the first place my husband and I moved when we relocated to Raleigh almost 30 years ago. So it was very neat to come back to this community as I begin working my way through neighborhoods across Raleigh to learn about their individuality and strengths, needs and concerns.

I learned that Brentwood residents consider themselves "BTB" - between the beltlines! It really is a centrally located neighborhood with great access to both downtown and north Raleigh. People spoke highly of the quiet and safe neighborhood, clean streets, big shade trees, affordability and friendly neighbors.  The diversity of the community is also a strength that many neighbors appreciate. 

Thank you Brentwood for welcoming me into your homes and backyards and for your encouragement of my campaign for Mayor!  

Announcing Nancy's Neighborhood Tour!

 You can sign up to have me knock on YOUR door!

Today, the Nancy McFalane Campaign announces "Nancy's Neighborhood Tour" where I will knock on doors in 50 neighborhoods in 12 weeks.  

I am going to kickoff the Tour this weekend in the Brentwood Neighborhood where my husband Ron and I first lived when we moved to Raleigh 27 years ago with our 1 year old daughter.  Constructed in the 1960's, Brentwood is a community of single-family homes, and multi-family dwellings.  Mature trees and neighborhood recreation amenities like Brentwood Park offer a high quality that has attracted a diverse community of residents. 

The campaign will meet Saturday at  9:30AM at the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot if you would like to join Nancy's Neighborhood Tour this weekend in Brentwood.

"The strength of our neighborhoods is the cornerstone to what makes Raleigh a great place to live and work.  I am committed to getting out across our wonderful city and hear directly from voters their concerns and hopes for Raleigh's future." 

The campaign is encouraging voters to sign up for a chance to have me knock on their door by sending an email request to rsvp.nancymcfarlane@gmail.com.

"This is a great way to engage citizens to get involved in local government, which has such a large impact on our daily lives.  It is not everyday you have an opportunity to get the next Mayor to knock on your door," said Campaign Manager Sagar Sane.    

July 4th

University Park Parade

I spent the 4th of July celebrating Independence Day with communities across Raleigh!

One of my favorite things about Raleigh is the diversity and strength of the many different neighborhoods. I visited three communities who celebrated in their own special way.

From little kids to long-time Raleigh residents,

each person contributed something unique to the big celebration!

Cameron Park Picnic

Oakwood Parade

Thanks so much for inviting me to participate!

Happy 4th of July!!

Small Business Initiative

Currently potential small business owners must submit information to several different departments within the City of Raleigh in order to meet the requirements necessary to open their doors for business. Streamlining these steps will not only help small business owners get their companies up and running more quickly and efficiently, but it will also create local jobs for Raleigh’s citizens.

So today at City Counci (watch the video at 1:36), I introduced the following "Small Business Initiative" which was well-received by the Council and will be voted on next week. In light of the upcoming thousands of lay-offs from the State, now is the time for the City to make sure that we are making the process of opening a new business accessible, simplified and as hassle-free as is safely possible. People need to know that Raleigh is open for business!

I. Establish a Small Business Office within City Government

Navigating what is required to open a small business in Raleigh can be confusing and frustrating. There needs to be a place in City Government where small business owners can go and have an advocate. A single point of contact where they can go to learn all they need to do, coordinate inspections, and streamline the permitting process necessary to open and expand a small business in Raleigh.

II. Establish a Small Business Commission

A nine member Commission made up of small business owners and those who assist small businesses. Their charge will include identifying issues, challenges, and problems facing small business in dealing with the City, to mentor prospective small business, and give direction to the City’s Small Business Office.

III. Engage Citizens and Coordinate Private Small Business Assistance.

Some of the smartest people in the world have chosen to make Raleigh their home, and we have a number of non profit organizations dedicated to assisting small business. The City should do more to engage the enormous talent we have here and help coordinate all the private assistance available to small businesses.

Water Conservation and Efficiency Fair

Next week, the City's Public Utilities Department will host the first Water Conservation and Efficiency Fair. The event will take place at Nash Square on Wednesday and Thursday, the 22nd and 23rd from 10am-3pm, and will be free of charge and open to the public.

The event will feature product demonstrations, information of local water conservation issues, and product giveaways. There will also be booths set up to distribute information on high-efficiency products that are new to the marketplace, as well as water conservation tips.

In the event of rain, the fair will be moved inside of the Avery C. Upchurch Complex at 222 W. Hargett Street! For more information, plase contact the city's Public Utilities Department.

President Obama's Visit Today!

Today I am honored to represent the City of Raleigh during President Obama's visit to Cree to discuss job creation, economic growth and the role of energy-efficiency technologies. The president will also meet with his Jobs and Competitiveness Council to discuss ways that the government and businesses can work together to create jobs and spur the economy.

In 2010, Cree was awarded $39 million to purchase new equipment to add capacity and capability to lower production costs of LED chips and fixtures.

President Obama has said that building a rosbust clean energy sector is how we will create the jobs of the future. I couldn't agree more, and I am so excited to see our region be a leader in that process!

A Great Weekend in Raleigh!

What a great weekend in Raleigh! As all of you know, this was a big and busy weekend for Raleigh. Rise Up Raleigh was held Friday night, and turned out to be a huge success! Thank you to all of those who attended and made a donation, and thanks to all of the sponsors and musicians who put together such a great evening. More than $21,000 has been raised for the victims of the April 16 tornadoes, and donations will be taken until June 9. It has been very impressive, and also very touching, to see our community come together to help those in need. Rise Up Raleigh did a fantastic job of celebrating that effort and community spirit!

Also this weekend, CityCamp was held. It too was a huge success! What I enjoyed most about CityCamp was working in small groups to discuss using technology as a tool for governments. The potential is unlimited! We are very fortunate to have such a strong foundation for an emerging technology industry in the region. I hope that Raleigh will continue to explore the potential for technology as a tool, and continue to lead the way in innovation! CityCamp was a great way to encourage that process. Thanks to everyone who made CityCamp happen!

I hope everyone enjoyed the busy weekend as much as I did!

Memorial Day!

This Memorial Day, I was able to join Summerfield North again for their great Memorial Day parade! I had a great time! Summerfield North is a great North Raleigh neighborhood, with more than 500 homes. Each year, they do a wonderful Memorial Day Celebration with special guests like McGruff the Crime Dog and Muddy the Mudcat (among others)! A special thanks to Mike Hicks, neighborhood president, and Meredith Thorpe for inviting me to participate.

Also, in the spirit of Memorial Day, thank you to all of our troops, armed forces personnel, and their families for your incredible sacrifices and commitment to our country.

New Business in Raleigh!

Downtown Raleigh welcomed nine new street-level businesses in the first quarter of 2011! These new businesses are a range of cafes and restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Dozens of jobs have been created, and downtown's vibrance is continuing to grow!

Three new restaurants have opened:

• Brewmasters Bar and Grill
• Chris London's Backstage
• Fai Thai
  

Several galleries have also opened at Blake Street Studios in City Market:

• Emerge Fine Art
• African Beauty Jewelry and Artifacts
• Victoria Powers Studio Ten

Gypsy Jule is a new women's clothing and accessories boutique in the Glenwood South District. Also, Designbox Shop and a second location of Crema at City Plaza opened downtown.

This is a great sign of Raleigh's economic stability, I hope the second quarter will yield equally impressive results!

New CAT Facility!

Last week, Capital Area Transit unveiled a new operations and maintenance facility! Capital Area Transit operates forty public transit routes in Raleigh, and also operates three additional routes for Triangle Transit, providing transportation for more than 20,000 people daily.

The new facility covers a little more than 23 acres, with room to service up to 125 buses. Also, this new facility replaces the thirty-year-old 4 acre facility on Wilmington Street. CAT's passenger trips have grown by 87% in the last ten years, and that growth is expected to increase even more in the next ten years. This wonderful new facility should help to meet the continually growing demand for transportation options in Raleigh!

This facility is the newest in Raleigh that is expected to receive LEED certification. This facility was designed and built to incorporate as many sustainable features as possible, and is expected to receive LEED Platinum certification. The facility includes a geothermal heating and cooling system, radiant floor heating, reflective roof membranes, natural lighting, occupancy and photo sensors, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and a rainwater cistern!

Several folks were on hand for the grand opening of this facility - Representatives Brad Miller and David Price, along with Bob Etheridge, Jim Westmoreland, Tom Thompson, and Mayor Meeker. A special thanks to CAT for inviting all of us to participate in the Grand Opening!

Rise Up Raleigh Benefit Concert

June 3 is going to be a great night in downtown Raleigh! Several groups have come together to organize the Rise Up Raleigh Benefit Concert and Celebration. The Celebration will feature concerts from 11 awesome bands at the Raleigh Amphiteater as well as street performers and vendors along the blocks leading to and from the facility at Lenoir and Cabarrus streets.

In addition to raising funds and support for the victims of the April 16 tornadoes, this event will celebrate all of those who have given their time and energy to help those who suffered damages in the storm. The event will also celebrate the general spirit of community and togetherness that we are so fortunate to have in Raleigh.

While the City is hosting and organizing the event, several organizations have come together to make this happen. A special thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the Carolina Hurricanes, and Rex Healthcare for sponsoring the event. Another big thanks to the bands participating!

While the event is free and open to the public, those attending are encouraged to bring a donation that will go to charities aiding in the recovery efforts. The charities that will receive proceeds from the event are the Salvation Army of Wake County, Centro Internacional de Raleigh, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and the Helping Hand Mission.

Please visit Rise Up Raleigh to stay current on the celebration, it is growing daily!

Prescription Pill Drop-Off

The City's Substance Abuse and Advisory Commission is hosting its third annual Pill Drop-Off event this Saturday! These events have been a tremendous success in the past, and I imagine this will be no exception. All prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted, with no questions asked.

The Drop-Off is a joint effor between the Substance Abuse Advisory Commission, Raleigh Police Department, and our Community Services Department. The event is part of an effort to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs and the harmful environmental affects of improper disposal of medications.

The following Food Lions will participate, and there will be a Police Officer and Pharmacist on hand to accept the medications.

13200 New Falls of Neuse Road, at Wakefield Crossing
5633 Creedmoor Road, at Millbrook Crossing
2420 Wycliff Road, at Meredith Park Commons
1601 Cross Link Road

It is recommended that everyone dropping of medications should remove any personal information, either by removing the label from the bottle or marking through any personal information.

CityCamp Raleigh!

June 3-5, Raleigh will host our first ever CityCamp! CityCamp will bring together government, business, neighborhood, non-profit, and academic affiliates to work together toward next generation solutions for Raleigh! The event is the only one of it's kind, a City-focused "unconference."

Admission is free and open to the public, but space is limited! The event will include speaker presentations, workshop sessions, and breakout sessions. Some of the topics that will be included are crime, trash, water/sewer, property taxes, street maintenance and traffic, parks and recreation, storm water management, and transit!

Even if you can't attend, you can participate! Citizens are encouraged to submit ideas, suggestions, and discussion topics on CityCamp's website. The sessions on Friday and Saturday will be held at Vintage 21, Sunday's sessions will take place at The Stockroom.

Grand Openings!

Over the last few weeks, I have been able to attend two wonderful grand opening celebrations! The first was to celebrate the opening of the Wilmoore Cafe, a great new restaurant downtown. The Wilmoore Cafe is located at 223 S. Wilmington Street, and is another great addition to downtown!

The second grand opening celebration was for the Contemporary Art Museum! This is another great addition to our downtown. It is a wonderful facility, unlike anything else we have to offer in the triangle. The Contemporary Art Museum is located at 409 W. Martin Street.

RPFFA Fundraising Concert

This November, the Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association (RPFFA), will bring back their annual fundraising concerts! The first concert will be held on November 18, at Dorton Arena. Country music legend John Anderson will perform with Briana Dean.

Proceeds from this concert, along with others in the future, will benefit several local charities and community programs. Camp Celebrate is one of the programs that the RPFFA supports. Camp Celebrate is a weekend camp for children ages 7-15 who have suffered major burn injuries. The RPFFA also works to provide and install smoke detectors for families who cannot afford them. Proceeds will also be used to support the Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospital, the Salvation Army, Helping Hands, and local youth athletic programs.

More information is available here or by calling 919-714-7944.

The RPFFA is a registered 501(c)(5) non-profit.

An Update or Tornado Response Efforts

It has been just two short weeks since Raleigh experienced the devastating storms. In that time, a tremendous amount of work has been done. Raleigh suffered more than $115 million in damage. 138 homes were destroyed, along with 8 businesses. Many roads were closed, and thousands of residents went several days without power, cable, or telephone.

Also, four young lives were lost as a result of the storms. I extend my sincere condolences to the families and friends of these four children.

Citizens of Raleigh have done an outstanding job in the recovery efforts since the storm. Neighbors have worked together, various volunteer groups have formed, and the City has put together more than 25 cleanup crews. More than 100,000 cubic yards of debris have been collected. In just two short weeks, many places are nearing normalcy.

For those who still have work to be done, please contact the City. There are several groups prepared and waiting to help! Also, the City's Yard Waste Center is waiving the standard fee for Raleigh home owners.

The City is also hosting a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the Chavis Park Community Center. Staff is available for assistance seven days a week, from 7am-7pm. For more information please send an email to stormrecovery@raleighnc.gov.

My Candidacy for Mayor of Raleigh!

This morning, I announced my candidacy for Mayor of Raleigh!



I have lived in Raleigh for 27 years. I have raised a family, and started and grown a business here. During that time, Raleigh has experienced a lot of growth and change. We have seen Raleigh emerge as a place that consistently tops the rankings of "Best Places to Live," "Best Places for Business," and "Best Places to Raise a Family."

What sets our city apart is a tremendous collaborative spirit that unites our diverse interests to create this outstanding community. But even as great as we are, we can be even better! We are not the incredible city we are today by accident. It was careful planning that brought us here.

As we grow, we will face challenges. It is important that we plan carefully to accommodate our expected growth, so that we continue to enjoy the safe, beautiful, prosperous city that we love.

I have a vision for Raleigh as a true world class city that provides choices as to how we live, work, and play. I want to make sure that we always retain the beauty and charm that makes us Raleigh! I am ready to lead Raleigh and chart a successful course for tomorrow and the next twenty years.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Raleigh. I am proud of what Raleigh has become, and I am excited to lead Raleigh into the future!

Recognizing Raleigh!

In the last few weeks, our City has received two awards that I wanted to share with you all! The first I would like to share with you came from the United States Chamber of Commerce. Raleigh has been recognized as the 2011 Siemens Sustainable Mid-Size Community of the Year! The award recognizes a commitment to cultivating a green economy. US Chamber Executive Vice President, David Chavern was on hand, along with Alison Taylor, Vice President of Sustainability to present the award to Mayor Meeker, and Harvey Schmitt of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. This award is a great honor to our community!

From left to right: Julian Prosser, assistant City manager, Mayor Meeker, Harvey Schmitt, Paula Thomas, the City's sustainability manager

Raleigh has also been recognized for our Petro Reduction Policy. The award was presented as part of the fifth annual North Carolina Mobile Clean Air Renewable Energy (CARE) Awards. The CARE Awards recognize transportation emission reduction efforts that are advancing alternative fuel and transportation technology activities in our state. In 2008, Raleigh passed a resolution mandating a reduction in consumption and put into place a fuel consumption budget. The City has also done a great job of encouraging and facilitating the use of electric vehicles.

I am happy to be a part of a community with such a focus on sustainable initiatives, within our local economy and energy consumption policies!

This Weekend's Tornadoes

Raleigh City Staff has recovery efforts well under way after the tornadoes over the weekend, and lots of progress has already been made. If you would like to help, please click here to find out more about various volunteer opportunities going on throughout our area.

My thoughts are with all of those who have been affected by the storms. Thank you to everyone who has already pitched in to help neighbors and friends with damage!

Dream Big, Little Pig!

This week, I was invited to the Guilded Lily Gift Shop at Duke Raleigh Hospital for Kristi Yamaguchi's book signing. Kristi recently released her first children's book: Dream Big, Little Pig. The book tells the delightful story of Poppy the Pig, who is chasing her dreams of being a ballerina, singer, and model! It was a pleasure to meet Kristi, and it was great to see so many families enjoying her book!

A special thanks to Laura Raynor for putting the event together!

Upcoming Events!

There are several exciting events coming up around Raleigh that I wanted to let everyone know about!

The first is the Viva Raleigh Festival, taking place this Saturday at the Spring Forest Road Park. The Viva Raleigh Festival intends to connect local Spanish-speaking residents with public programs and services. There will members of the City's Community Services Department on hand, along with representatives from more than fifty local non-profit organizations. There will also be live music and plenty of activities for children! For more information, please contact Aracelys Torrez in the Community Services Department at 996-5717. Another upcoming event that I wanted to let you all know about is the WakeUp Wake County Forum being held on Thursday, April 14 at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. The forum centers around Wake County's water and sewer needs as the County continues to grow. There will be several staff members from the City and County on hand to answer questions and discuss the future of Wake County's water supply. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the challenges and complexities of maintaining a high-quality water and sewer system in a rapidly growing community. In July, Raleigh will host the Plug-In 2011 Conference and Exposition. This is the first time that the conference is not being held in California, and we are thrilled that they are coming east! The conference is being held at the Convention Center, July 18-21. It will include four plenary sessions, sessions on component and infrastructure technologies, pilot programs, PEV/PHEV readiness plans, and discussion of future opportunities for the plug-in industry. Raleigh has been recognized as a national leader in preparation for PEV/PEHV vehicles, and I am excited to learn more about how we can continue on the same path!

DWWC Luncheon

This week, I had the opportunity to join the Democratic Women of Wake County for lunch. I was invited to be part of a panel, along with fellow Councilor Mary-Ann Baldwin and former Councilor James West, to discuss the future of the Triangle region.

It was a great discussion, with lots of fantastic questions and input! Thanks again to the DWWC for inviting me to join you, I enjoyed it very much!

Blue Ridge Corridor Study

This Saturday, April 2, the City will host a public workshop as a part of the Blue Ridge Road Corridor Study. The workshop will take place at 10am, in the Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road.

Discussion will center around the emerging vision for the Blue Ridge Road corridor, it's current conditions, existing plans for properties along the corridor, and the scope of the study. Also, participants will be able to ask any questions they may have.

The workshop is free and open to the public. More information is available by calling 807-8479 or visiting the Urban Design Center.

Hope to see you there on Saturday!

Crabtree Rotary Club!

Today, I had the pleasure of joining the Crabtree Rotary Clubfor lunch! It was a great opportunity to talk to some Raleighites about our recent successes, upcoming challenges, and the experience of being a City Councilor. The Crabtree Rotary Club is a huge part of the Holiday Express Celebration, which kicks off the Holidays each year at Pullen Park. I have enjoyed attending the last few years, and look forward to it again in December!

A special thanks to Jeffery Hobart for the invitation to come speak to the CRC, I had a great time!

Another Busy Week!

This has been a great week in Raleigh! It started off with the State of the City Address on Monday. This year, the Mayor's annual address focused on the City's sustainable initiatives and the success of those already implemented. Mayor Meeker also discussed the state of the economy in Raleigh and the triangle. We are fortunate to have the resources to be well-positioned to move out of the reccession much sooner than many other cities our size.

Tuesday afternoon we had Council, and Tuesday evening I attended the Sister Cities Annual Meeting. Sister Cities is a great organization, that is a part of Raleigh's International Affairs Council. 2010 was a great year for Sister Cities, and 2011 is on course to be even better!

Wednesday was a big day for District A, as we officially welcomed Whole Foods to the neighborhood! It is a great facility, and I know that Whole Foods will be an asset to our community. I am thrilled to have them in North Raleigh!

Wednesday afternoon, I celebrated the 200 Club's tenth anniversary! The 200 Club is a phenomenal organization that provides support to the families of fallen public safety officers. For ten years, they have shown outstanding support of public safety community in Wake County, and it was great to celebrate ten years of success!

This morning, Advocates for Health in Action hosted a breakfast and screened a great documentary on community gardening. I am extremely hopeful that we will begin to see more an more community gardens in Raleigh in the coming months and years. Community gardening not only encourages healthy eating habits, but is also a great educational and community development tool.

It has been a wonderful week, and a great way to kick-off Spring! Thank you to everyone who helped put together the wonderful events I was able to attend this week.

Women in Construction

This week, March 7-13, celebrates Women in Construction! Women in Construction week brings together all of the 5,500 women that are a part of the National Association for Women in Construction to raise awareness about the opportunities for women in the construction field. I was able to be on hand to present the proclamation the Raleigh Chapter of NAWIC.

Presenting the proclamation to Raleigh NAWIC President Darline Johnson

Currently, women make up only 10% of the construction industry in the United States, but that number has been steadily rising each year for the past decade. It is great to see so many intelligent women celebrating their emerging force in the industry, and I was happy to be invited to share in the fun!

Read Across America Day!

As many of you know, March 2 is Read Across America Day! It is also Dr. Suess's birthday, and one of my favorite days of the year to be a City Councillor! The last several of years, I have been able to participate in Read Across America Day with several different schools and organizations in the triangle.

This year, I had the pleasure of spending my morning with Ms. Best's kindergarten class at East Garner Elementary! I had a great time visiting their classroom and school, and sharing a story with them. It is always refreshing to spend some time with little ones!

Thank you to East Garner Elementary and Ms. Best for inviting me to share the day with you, I had a great time!

New Bern Avenue Corridor Study

The second workshop on the New Bern Avenue Corridor Study will be held on March 3rd from 6-9pm at Milner Memorial Presbyterian Church. Local residents are invited to attend and share ideas and visions for updating the corridor.

The Corridor Study is focused on the area between Swain Street and Wake Medical Center. The second workshop will primarily center on streetscapes and urban design, multi-modal transportation, environmental considerations, public safety, historic and cultural heritage, and land use and economic development.

For more information, contact Dhanya Sandeep in the City of Raleigh Planning Department at dhanya.dandeep@raleighnc.gov or visit the City's website and search for "New Bern Avenue Corridor Study."

North Carolina GIS Conference

The annual North Carolina GIS Conference returned to Raleigh this year, and I was honored to be on hand to bring greetings. The Conference took place February 17 and 18 at the Convention Center, and was the biggest NC GIS Conference to date, with about 1,000 attendees. North Carolina has one of the biggest GIS networks in the country, and is a consistent industry leader! It was a great learning experience for me, and I really enjoyed seeing all of the different uses of Geographic Information Systems.

The GIS field has experienced an industry boom in the last decade, and it is very exciting to see so many new mapping applications becoming more and more popular!

A special thanks to Mr. Tim Johnson, Director of the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis for including me in the Conference!

Mr. Tim Johnson, Director of the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Bringing greetings to the 1,000 geographers in attendance

Exciting New Partnership!

The City of Raleigh has teamed up with the American Cancer Society to offer special edition pink garbage carts! Five dollars of the sale of every pink cart goes to support the Society's breast cancer awareness programs. The carts are available in three sizes: 35, 64, and 96 gallons. The City currently uses 96 gallon carts, and can only provide full service to the 64 and 96 gallon sizes.

For more information on how to acquire a pink garbage cart, please click here. For more information on Raleigh's Solid Waste Services department, please click here.

New Art at RDU!

Last Thursday, I was thrilled to be on hand for the unveiling of the Sister Cities' commissioned mural, Friendly Folks, at RDU! Chapel Hill artist Jane Filer did an outstanding job incorporating the Sister Cities theme: "World Peace: One Friendship and One Community at a Time."

The Triangle-area Sister Cities has thirteen international partner cities, all depicted in the mural. Flier's mural measures 45 feet long, and is in the International Baggage Claim in Terminal 2.

We were fortunate to have such a great turnout for the unveiling, and I was honored to greet everyone. The Sister Cities Organization is something that I have been involved in for several years, and I was happy to be on hand to see this project come to fruition! The mural is beautiful, and definitely worth a visit next time you are at RDU!

The City's First Teen Center!

On Friday, the City will hold the dedication ceremony for Saint Monica's Teen Center! This will be the first teen center in Raleigh operated by the City. Saint Monica's Teen Center is located at 15 North Tarboro Street, and is a great addition to the list of community resources available to the citizens of Raleigh! In the past, Saint Monica's served as a Catholic school and has most recently housed New Bern Avenue Day Care, a non-profit organization.

As a teen center, Saint Monica's will be the home to Digital Connectors, a new, national training program! Through a community partnership, the Center will feature an interactive learning lab. The Digital Connectors Program provides the opportunity for young people to become more familiar with computer programs and software, preparing them for success in the workplace! Students will develop computer networking skills, ability to connect wireless access points, and the ability to create video documentaries. Saint Monica's will also feature recreational, social, and fitness programming and will have a lounge and study room.

I am so pleased about this new addition to our City! What an excellent resource for our youth!

For more information, please contact Raleigh's Parks and Recreation Department. The Center will be open every day of the week, 2-8pm Monday through Friday, 1-8pm on Saturdays, and 1-6pm on Sundays. The dedication ceremony will take place Friday at 3pm, with the Center open afterwards for touring!

Moore Square Master Plan

The Draft Moore Square Master Plan and Report will be presented for public review at the Parks, Recreation, and Greenway Advisory Board Meeting on Thursday, February 17 at 5:30 PM at the Chavis Community Center.

Also, the Report is now available for Public Review on the City's website.

NHL All-Star Wide Open!

The upcoming NHL All-Star Game and related festivities on January 28-30 will be our chance to showcase two of our favorite things - the Carolina Hurricanes and the City of Raleigh. Let the world know what we already know - this is a great place to live, work, and play.

NHL All-Star Wide Open will feature activities for the whole family. Music, street performers, skating, hot food and drink to take the chill off of January. And of course, the NHL Fan Fair.

So, grab your family and friends, enjoy the fun and show the world our true hospitality and spirit. I hope to see you there. Go Raleigh!!!

Remember to visit http://www.nhlallstarwideopen.com/ for a full list of events for the weekend!

Also, six of the parking decks downtown will have special rates this weekend for all of the events! Fore complete information, click here.

Terminal 2 at RDU

This morning, I was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony for Concourse D in Terminal 2 at RDU Airport! The ribbon cutting comes just in time for NHL All-Star weekend!

The new terminal will be home to US Airways, Continental Airlines, and United Airlines. It is expected to boost revenue by $3M a year, which is about 3.5 percent of their annual operating budget.

I was happy to be on hand for the ceremony, and have continued to be impressed with RDU's expansion!

A Busy Few Days...

This has been a great week! I started my day Monday celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. It was a great event, and a wonderful way to start the week. Later that day, I also attended the YWCA's Day On Celebration. This was another great interfaith gathering centered on continuing to promote equity and justice for everyone. The Day On celebration was also a launch of three Study Circles on community race relations. More information about the study circles is available here, anyone can join!

Tuesday, I started the day with the NC Department of Commerce and Governor Purdue as they welcomed Wang Chao, the Vice Minister of Commerce of China. Minister Chao was in the triangle for the North Carolina China Trade and Investment Seminar. From the Trade and Investment Seminar, I went to Council meetings, with a public hearing in the evening. We continued our discussion of banning smoking in city parks, and heard from residents regarding the Crabtree Quarry's expansion proposal. There were over 400 people in attendance Tuesday night! It is great to see so many citizens engaged and active in their communities. I urge everyone to come to Council meetings anytime you are able!

Although it was a busy start to the week, it was an energizing one! Have a great weekend!

Citizen Leadership Academy

Twice a year, the City of Raleigh offers a Citizens' Leadership Academy. It is a free series of educational courses, designed to teach leadership skills. The Academy is offered by our Community Services Department. The series is taught in three separate modules, each containing four sets of classes.

The classes are held on Thursdays, from 6 to 8pm at the Municipal Building.

The first of the three modules is centered on Leadership Development, and will begin February 3rd and conclude on February 24th. This module integrates personal and group leadership dynamics by focusing on leadership style, facilitation, and group dynamics.

The second of the three modules will focus on Communication Dynamics. These four classes will explore techniques for effectively communicating with both individuals and groups. These classes will begin on March 3rd and conclude on March 24th.

The third, and final, module will teach Asset-Based Community Development. These classes will explore a neighborhood-based organizing plan. The Asset-Based Community Development Module engages the talents and skills of neighborhood residents and groups to improve their quality of life through civic programs and partnerships.

Before each class, a complimentary, light dinner will be served. A certificate of completion will be issued upon completion of each module. If all three modules are completed, a plaque will be given. Class size is limited to 25 people, to encourage lively discussion, interaction, and team building.

You may apply for the program online. For more information, please contact Charlene Willard at 996-6100 or by email, charlene.willard@raleighnc.gov. This is a great opportunity to develop some extraordinary skills, with no cost to you!

Temporary Road Closing

Beginning tomorrow, January 10, a short section of Harps Mill Road will be closed to traffic. The section of Harps Mill at Haymarket Lane in North Ridge will be closed for about a month. Work is being done on the first phase of the City's Harps Mill/Haymarket Lane stormwater drainage improvement project.

This will be a major upgrade for the North Ridge stormwater drainage system. New sanitary sewer lines will be put into place, water and gas lines will be relocated, and the area will be repaved.

There will be detour signs posted directed traffic around the construction. For more information, please contact the City's Stormwater Utility Division at 996-3940.

Council Meeting Today!

Council Meetings today! The meeting agenda is available here.