Check out the latest from the Campus

Check out this video for the latest research happening at the NC State Plants for Human Health Institute at the North Carolina Research Campus. 

Congratulations to the KFD

Big news this week. The Kannapolis Fire Department landed yet another grant from FEMA.  The $368,820 grant from FEMA will  replace the department’s existing records management system as well as install mobile data terminals in all apparatus and vehicles. The City will match $40,980, bringing the total investment in new equipment and software to $409,800.

The new records management software will better integrate with the software used by the Kannapolis Police Department. The mobile data terminals also help enhance communication between fire apparatus, police vehicles and the 911-dispatch center.

What does this mean for you? Improved firefighter knowledge in the field, better response times, and more emphasis on strategy versus communication. To read the press release, click here.

Kannapolis Moving to New Facebook Page

Here’s some news on the Kannapolis Facebook front. After more than two years set up as a person, we’re making the move to set up the City’s Facebook account as a page. For those that are our friends (thanks!), that means that after March 9 the only place to keep in touch with the City via Facebook is on the new page.

We have decided to move in order to bring you additional features, and we hope that you will join us on our new page. In order to do this, please click here and click the “Like” button at the top of the page. We hope to see you there soon!

Gingerbread House Workshop!

Sweet Pickle Bakery and Deli has partnered with the Kannapolis Parks & Rec department to offer a gingerbread house building workshop on Saturday, November 20.

The workshop, which costs $20, is open to all ages. People can build a gingerbread house for fun, or enter their creation in the Gingerbread House contest at the Kannapolis Christmas Festival. Sweet Pickle will be providing fresh-baked, homemade gingerbread, icing made from scratch & all the supplies required for making a Gingerbread House.

The workshop is from 10 a.m. to noon. Register by November 16 by calling the Parks & Rec Department at 704-920-4343.  Click here to check out a flyer.

Fall Back and Change Your Smoke Detector Batteries

Here’s some great information from Safe Kids USA about changing your smoke detector batteries this weekend.

When it’s time to “fall back” and change the clocks on Sunday, Nov. 7, make sure to check the batteries in all of your smoke alarms – it could save your life.

Did you know that having a working smoke alarm reduces a person’s chance of dying in a fire by half? For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside every sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings, and tested monthly.

It’s important to replace smoke alarm batteries once a year, unless they’re 10-year lithium batteries. Even if your smoke alarms are hardwired, replace the batteries in case of a power outage.

To learn more, visit our Fire Safety page.

Lights, Camera, Action…

Over the last several months we’ve been working very hard on a new communications  initiative for Kannapolis — a YouTube channel.

The plan? Show off Kannapolis. From taking our cameras inside NC Research Campus labs to share what’s happening right here in our City to capturing Parks & Rec and other events, the channel will evolve over time.  We’ll try to keep boring city government stuff to a minimum.

We hope you like it, and please, let us know what types of things you would like to see and learn about.

You can find us at www.youtube.com/cityofkannapolis.

Intimidators Launch Charity Spotlight

As I was scanning my Facebook news feed the other day, I came across a fantastic new program from the Kannapolis Intimidators. Already heavily involved in and supportive of local non-profits, the team is going even further to help out these critically important and vitally needed community institutions.

Here’s the announcement:

The Intimidators are proud to announce a special community outreach initiative for the 2011 season called Charity Spotlight for each Wednesday home game. If you are involved with or work for a charitable organization, would like to raise funds for your charity,and have your charity featured as one of the Intimidators spotlight charities, then contact us at 704-932-3267 or at info@intimidatorsbaseball.com.

Update on Integra Springs at Kellswater

Here’s some good news on the housing front in Kannapolis. Integra Springs at Kellswater, a 312-unit apartment complex on the Kannapolis Parkway, is holding its Grand Opening at 5 p.m. on the 20th.

If you will recall, high-quality apartment housing was an area where Kannapolis fell short of its comparison communities in the SWOT analysis conducted in 2006. (For more on that study, click here.) So seeing movement on this front is good news for the overall housing picture for the city.

The total investment for the project is $35 million, and apartments range from 900 to 1395 square feet. For more information, check out their website or visit the open house Wednesday afternoon.

 

KPD Annual Report

The annual report from the KPD is out, and details activities between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.

This year’s highlights include maintaining a crime rate of 55 percent below state average for comparable cities, continued success in winning grants to pay for equipment, and maintaining staffing levels during hiring freezes.

“This was a challenging year fiscally for our department and the city as a whole,” said Kannapolis Police Chief Woody Chavis.  “Despite the challenges our members have risen to the challenge and continue to exemplify a true commitment to the City’s core values of excellence, pride, integrity and stewardship. During the year we were able to control our operational costs and enhance our efficiency. Going forward, our largest challenge remains the need for an adequately sized, modern police department facility.”

With a FY2010 budget of $7,736,059 Kannapolis maintained a very low per capita cost of $182 per citizen. During FY2010, there were 1295 crimes — 135 violent crimes and 1295 property crimes. In FY2009 there were 1335 total crimes, 166 of which were violent.

Those that would like to read the full report can download it from the City website.

Two Cool Events Coming up at the Library

The Cabarrus County Public Library -Kannapolis Branch has two interesting events coming up. For more information on both, contact Terry Prather at the library or call 04-920-1180.

Ghost Hunters
Join local paranormal researchers and investigators from The Charlotte Area Paranormal Society (CAPS) as they teach “Ghost Hunters 101” at the Kannapolis Branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library on Thursday, October 7^th at 5:30pm.  Participate in the Question and Answer session to find out what it means to be a real ghost hunter.  The Society will also share local ghost stories of our area.  Also check the displayed books about ghosts and ghost stories for the young and old.  For more information, call the library at 704-920-1180.

Beginning Composting From Kitchen to Garden and Back
The Cabarrus County Public Library – Kannapolis Branch is presenting a program on composting and turning your kitchen scraps, junk mail, plant trimmings, and other materials into excellent plant food on Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m. Different methods will be discussed including hot composting, cold composting, vericycling, and bokaski.  Stephen Price of Carolina Organic Depot will be presenting the program.  Come check out books on these methods.  The Friends of the Library are sponsoring the program and a chance to win composting door prizes.  For more information call the library at 704-920-1180.