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Here’s How To Honor Veterans In Mecklenburg County

JD inspiration
Author JD Diva

MeThis weekend marks a day to honor those who serve or have served in the military for our country. Saturday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day. Community members in Charlotte-Mecklenburg can support veterans by shining a green light at their homes.

It’s all a part of Operation Green Light. It’s a national initiative to support military veterans and raise awareness of their unique challenges. To further support veterans, the Mecklenburg County Veterans Services and other local, state, and national partners have created a number of resources available to veterans and their families.

Meanwhile, in Charlotte, Veteran’s Day and the days leading up to it will shine in ‘green.’ That is thanks to the Mecklenburg County Veterans Services,  Charlotte Center City Partners , and the Wells Fargo lighting program. Uptown will be a sea of green. The goal is to light up Charlotte’s skyline on Veterans Day for Operation Green Light. The county encourages other businesses and residents to participate by simply changing one light bulb in their home or property to a green bulb.

Whether you shine your bulb on the exterior for neighbors and passersby to see or the interior that may spark a conversation, the main goal is to shine light and awareness on veterans. Organizers say Operation Green Light is not just focused on Veterans Day — the community is encouraged to shine the light year-round. Residents can take photos and share them on social media using the hashtag #OperationGreenLight.

For more information on Operation Green Light or services available to veterans in Mecklenburg County, visit Veterans.MeckNC.gov. 

Janine “JD” Davis: JD The Diva is the spicy, bold, and highly energetic radio and TV personality you hear hosting the midday shift (10 am till 3 pm) each weekday at V 101.9. An award-winning 30-year radio and news journalist, Janine brings her unique style of delivering entertainment, news, and inspiration to the airwaves. From her quick-witted ‘dirt’ on celebrities to the live Facebook mix show featuring JD and her best dance moves to JD’s Inspirational Moments where she shares personal battles and triumphs, JD keeps listeners engaged and entertained. When she’s not on air, you can find JD getting involved in the community and embracing Black-owned businesses and stories online. She enjoys writing about small Black-owned businesses, our HBCUs as a grad herself, and all things supporting women.

8 Places It's Illegal To Park In Charlotte, North Carolina

More and more events are happening in the Queen City, but there are fewer and fewer places to park. Some drivers are finding it difficult to know just where to park to avoid getting a ticket or getting towed.

I know firsthand the challenges of parking in uptown Charlotte. The signage could be confusing. While it’s okay to park on some streets during the work week, but there are some exceptions to even those. For example, during the week, drivers can park on some streets for a fee and in that space up to a certain time.

And there is always the issue of parking in areas that don’t offer paid parking, like a nearby park or neighborhood. There you may be forced to park on someone’s lawn or in an empty field. So therein lies the question. Is it even legal to park on someone’s lawn or an empty field? Where can you park when there’s little or no parking? Better yet, where CAN’T you park in Charlotte?

I did a little homework to find out the answer.

  • In a metered space without paying.
  • In front of or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
  • Within 20 feet of a driveway entrance to a fire station.
  • In a fire lane.
  • In front of a public or private driveway.
  • On a sidewalk or crosswalk.
  • On a bridge.
  • On a median.

Drivers who park their cars illegally could receive citations with fines ranging from $25-$100 depending on the infraction, according to the City of Charlotte website.

Source: Charlotte City Code, Charlotte Observer

  • Metered space

    Parking meter

    Park at a metered space and NOT pay, will get you a ticket from the city. Tickets can range from $25-$100 depending upon infraction.

  • Fire hydrant

    Fire hydrant

    Parking in front of or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant is illegal in most cities and Charlotte is no exception. Doing so, will get you a ticket or possible towed.

  • Fire lane

    fire lane

    There are times when going through the hassle of trying to find a parking space is a pain, especially when you only plan to run in a store and right back out. So, you park in the fire lane — with your hazards on, of course. NO! Parking in a fire lane even for a few seconds is illegal. It’s a fire lane for a reason. You are hindering emergency vehicles (fire truck, ambulance).

  • Public or private driveway

    Car in driveway

    Though this seems obvious, drivers cannot park in front of a public or private driveway. This is illegal in the city of Charlotte and could get you a ticket.

     

  • Sidewalk or crosswalk

    Despite what you may have seen, you cannot park on a sidewalk or crosswalk. It is illegal in the city of Charlotte. Many different cities also do not allow this, because you are limiting where people are able to easily walk in the cities.

  • Bridge

    Grandfather Glows

    The Mile-High Swinging Bridge in fog, at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina.

    Not sure how this would even be a thought, but it is absolutely illegal to park on a bridge in the city of Charlotte.

     

  • Median

    Median

     

  • Driveway entrance to fire station

    Fire station

    You cannot park within 20 feet of a driveway entrance to a fire station. This can be a dangerous hazard, because it blocks where firefighters can go in case of an emergency.

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JD inspiration
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