Article by Parks and Recreation Department

The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 3 was a great success!

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in style on the Harrisburg fire truck to get things started. While families took photos with Santa, local performers entertained the crowd. Mayor Tim Hagler led the chant to light the tree and the Hickory Ridge High School and Middle School bands performed Christmas music for the crowd. As families partook in the horse-drawn carriage rides, others enjoyed the warmth of a cup of hot chocolate. The night ended with a community sing-a-long led by the children of Next Step Dance Studio. If you missed the tree lighting, you can still come by Town Hall to enjoy the tree for the remainder of the holiday season!

I appreciate everyone participating in our communications initiatives by accepting and reading our first 2010 newsletter. We now have a few thousand people that have signed up to receive email information and we are hoping for many more. Our goal is to keep residents and others updated on current and planned issues of the Town. It is my greatest honor to find and support new and improved services for the Town of Harrisburg. The sun is truly shining on our community and it is a wonderful place to live and play. Please visit our website, Twitter, and Facebook sites for more interesting information, schedules, announcements, and an opportunity to leave your feedback. I hope that you find this and other communications useful and informative. If you have any suggestions, please let us know. Look for our next issue of the newsletter.

We have some exciting projects in the works, including reactivating the water wells across town. The Finance Department is in discussions to obtain the necessary financing to pay for this project. The annual audit has been recently accepted by the State and will be presented to the Town Council at their December meeting. The Town received an unqualified "clean" opinion, which is the highest level of assurance an external audit firm can place on the financial statements. We are also entertaining and evaluating proposals for a comprehensive Information Technology Master Plan, which will ultimately electronically bridge all of the Town governmental offices together, while strengthening existing controls and procedures.

Todd Taylor, Public Works Director
ttaylor@harrisburgnc.org

As part of an ongoing effort to improve pedestrian safety and access throughout the Town, construction began November 1 on improvements to the sidewalks along Highway 49. Work will be concentrated in the area of Highway 49 between Robinson Church Road and Main Street and is scheduled to last 75 days, through January 15. The purpose of the project is to "fill in gaps" where sidewalk is not currently installed along this heavily traveled business corridor. 8 Star Construction located in Pineville, NC was awarded the contract and is performing the work. The project is being funded through the Town's annual Powell Bill allotment from the State of North Carolina. Harrisburg's Public Works Department is overseeing the construction in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Derek Slocum, Town Engineer, is the primary contact person for the project -- (704) 455-4758 -- and Donald Griffith is the contact person for the NCDOT, (704) 982-1998.

Motorists on Highway 49 should use caution when traveling in the construction area for the duration of this project as temporary lane closures are anticipated to provide a safe work environment for the construction crews. Signs, flaggers and other traffic control devices will warn drivers prior to entering these work zones. However, the Town and NCDOT note only slight inconveniences to residents, passers through and local businesses due to the fact that construction will be limited to the hours between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Joshua Watkins, Planning Director
jwatkins@harrisburgnc.org

Winter is upon us and our youth basketball season is underway. There are currently 500 participants in this year's program. Games will begin Dec. 18 and run through the last week of February. Participants will play among five gyms in the area (Rocky River Elementary, Harrisburg Elementary, Pitts School Road Elementary, Hickory Ridge Middle, and Patriots Elementary).

As the New Year approaches, we will begin preparing for spring athletics. Spring sports for youth include baseball, softball, soccer, and t-ball for ages 3-15 years. Registration will begin Jan. 10 and run through Jan. 28. Participants may register online at www.harrisburgnc.org or in person at our Stallings Road Park location (4088 Stallings Rd.) during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed 12:30-1:30 p.m.).

The Parks and Recreation Department will be offering a new quilting class beginning in January. The class is scheduled to start on Jan. 13 and will be held every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon for six weeks in the Harrisburg Town Hall Municipal Complex located at 4100 Main St. The class -- taught by Libby Toller, an experienced quilter -- will teach the basics of quilting. Students will have the opportunity to complete a small quilting project. The cost of the class is $35 plus the additional supplies each student is required to bring. Participants must be 16 or older and pre-register. Participants may register by visiting www.harrisburgnc.org or calling 704-455-7275. Also, don't forget about our regularly scheduled yoga and bridge classes. For more information on these and other programs, please visit our website.

Remember, just because it's chilly outside doesn't mean you can't enjoy the parks! Take advantage of our walking and nature trails over at Pharr Mill Road Park (6775 Pharr Mill Rd.) or the horse shoe pits at Harrisburg Park (191 Sims Parkway). Recreational activity benefits us not only physically, but also socially and psychologically. It's important to continue activity through the winter months in order to sustain your health and help improve your quality of life.

"Put a freeze on Winter and Holiday fires."

Don't become a victim to the devastation of a home fire this winter. Below is a list of reminders of how to stay safe this holiday season:

• Use candles with caution. Always ensure candle-burning is monitored by an adult.
• Maintain a minimum of three feet between combustibles and ignition sources.
• Do not cook or fry inside structures or on decks/patios.
• If you use a live Christmas tree, keep it watered and monitor the tree for excessive dryness.

Have a safe winter and holiday season.

Every employee with the Town of Harrisburg is customer-service oriented. We have a dedication to our Town, customers, residents, and co-workers to make their experience with us pleasurable. The Customer Service Department is the first face you see when you enter Harrisburg Town Hall, and the gateway to our other departments. We greet you with a smile, and offer our assistance during your visit. You will always be assisted in a timely manner, and provided useful advice at Harrisburg Town Hall. We offer maps, meeting agendas, and literature on upcoming events to our customers. Our goal is to make our customers happy, and we will go the extra mile to do so. We promise service consistently delivered with "P.R.I.D.E."

Professional - Respect - Integrity - Duty - Excellence

To learn about Harrisburg's Customer Service Team, visit the "Customer Service" tab under "Departments - Administration" at www.harrisburgnc.org.