I have finally arrived.  No... I mean it... I. Am. Somebody.

In the mail today I received an invitation... no, make that a magnanimous gesture, from the folks at Action Greensboro....

Dear David,

Action Greensboro is hosting a daylong trip to Greenville, SC.... We want to take business, civic and local government leaders to Greenville to see how the community has revitalized its Center City and to learn from the implementers how they funded and led these initiatives.  We hope you can join us as our guest....  In return for your participation we ask that you commit to working with Action Greensboro on initiatives to revitalize Greensboro's Center City...

The letter goes on to talk about the fact that Greenville's mayor, Knox White, came to Greensboro to make a presentation to AG's 'Groundbreakers' (aka volunteers).  During the visit, Mayor Knox invited AG to send a delegation to his city to get the skinny on what's happening down there and, according to the itinerary, there's a lot to see.

The last time AG took such a road trip, they (curiously) visited cities that had recently acquired a minor league baseball stadium in their downtowns.   Next thing we know... poof... we got us one of them stadiums of our own right smack downtown.  Call me curiously cautious, but I can't help but wonder what Greenville has that AG's esteemed leadership now wants to copy for our fair city?

I'm going to accept their gracious invitation and go with them to Greenville on September 29th to find out what's up.  In addition, per their condition of attendance, I will commit to work with AG on initiatives to revitalize downtown... that is, if I agree with the initiatives and the impact they might hold for all of Greensboro.   

I'll undertake this strange-bedfellows endeavor with an open mind... but the folks at Action Greensboro have to know I also possess a somewhat jaundiced eye.  I'll keep you posted.

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Aycock's National Night Out was a rousing success.  Over the years we have become know as THE place for Greensboro's finest to visit on their obligitory rounds of participating neighborhoods, because in their words, "Hot dogs and hamburges are OK - but you guys have barbeque..."  I think we had 20 or 25 uniforms show up including the 'bomb squad' truck and a couple of canine units.

In addition, we also were graced by the presence of our interim City Manager Mitch Johnson who was shaking hands like a politician and Diane Davis who says she is going to file for an at-large seat on the City Council before Friday.

A good time was had by all but my brother Keith reports that in Louisville, NNO had a different result.

Back on the homefront, the whole NNO thing is about neighborhoods building relationships with the local police and we have always enjoyed close communication and pretty swift responses from the department.  With that in mind, it might not be a good idea for homeless types to be sleeping in the very park in which we held Tuesday night's event... we have cameras, an active neighborhood watch program, email notification and early rising photographers.  One of them snapped this picture and forwarded it to the neighborhood last night as well as to our barbeque loving police force.

Attached was this note to the police...

"Can you step up the patrolling of Sternberger Park at night, even by doing a cruise-through and shining lights into the park interior? Hours after the NNO, I found 2 homeless men sleeping with packs and bedding near the pergula. This is the second time I have observed someone sleeping in the park THIS WEEK (they seem to favor that evergreen tree). They left when I confronted them, so I didn't call 911.

Many of us on this end of Fifth have seen homeless activity in the park, and have found bedding, clothing and supplies. We also throw away plenty of the other things park residents leave behind--liquor bottles, papers and empty food containers."

I'll bet they are gone by tonight, either that, or no more Boston Butts for Greensboro's finest next year.  Everything has strings attached, you know.

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