News About Town: Tonight the Board of Commissioners will consider entering into contract with Bloc Design for streetscape improvement design work for the downtown portion of Trade Street through North End and a portion of the downtown area of John Street. The cost for design work has been estimated by Bloc Design at $37,000 and, if approved, may not exceed $41,250. Their suggestions might include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming measures, and a cohesive design. The planned design will function as a schematic for future reconstruction of sidewalks and aesthetics within the study area. 

Previously the Board hired McGill Associates for a streetscape design. The 2016 renderings and document detailed designs and improvements that projected up to twenty years in the future. (Edited for clarification) This new streetscape plan will include more detailed sidewalk designs.

News Around Town: The National Theater for Children will be performing at Crown Point Elementary,  Matthews Elementary, and Mint Hill Middle Schools to teach the students ways to conserve natural resources. If you have a Duke Energy account and a child at any of these schools, you are eligible for a free Energy Savings Kit. Each kit contains items (LED light bulbs, faucet aerators, etc.), to put into practice simple efforts for resource conservation.

One Good Thing: Once again, Pet Stop Clinic will be at Neighborhood Feed to host an affordable pet vaccine clinic, Sunday, February 17, from 12 to 1 p.m. The clinic will offer standard vaccines for dogs and cats, as well as other services including heartworm testing, wellness services, and a discount pet pharmacy.