By DAVID BORAKS
CornelusNews.net

Cornelius’s 2013-14 budget is largely complete, holding taxes steady and including money for major projects including streets, sidewalks, and park improvements. But commissioners on Monday put off a final vote on the plan, waiting to hear about possible revenue losses when the county revises the 2011 property revaluation. Meanwhile, town officials said they’re also looking at a potential $20 million bond referendum, as early as this fall. Read the full story

Aerial view shows the location of Pender Pointe, off John Connor Road. Click for details.

Commissioners on Monday approved a rezoning for Pender Pointe, a single-family home to be built off John Connor Road in the Peninsula neighborhood. The board also held a public hearing on the 2014 budget – where only one resident spoke – and debated but took no action on two other hot local issues: I-77 widening and the empty Board of Commissioners seat. Read the full story

Developers Kevin Mahl and Jamie Rolewicz have formally begun construction on Hyde Park on Bailey, a complex of “upscale, spacious storage suites” at Cornelius Commerce Park, off Bailey Road.  They and local leaders celebrated with a groundbreaking Friday, May 17, at the site. Read more in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

The Cornelius Town Board is expected to vote Monday, May 20, on a rezoning to allow a single family home off John Connor Road. The board also plans a public hearing on the 2014 budget, and depending on public feedback, commissioners could decide to vote on the plan afterward. Read the full story

E3D organizer Pat Millen (fifth from left) received a check for $10,320 from Peninsula Community Foundation chair Todd Wiebusch. With them are others associated with both End Davidson’s Digital Divide and the foundation.

The Lake Norman community is responding to the technology challenge issued earlier this year by Davidson-based nonprofit E3D, which wants to put computers in the hands local schoolkids who lack them. Organizer Pat Millen says help is coming in big and small ways – from donors as large as the Peninsula Community Foundation to events like the Biggest Lemonade Stand Day Ever planned in Davidson Saturday.

The Peninsula Community Foundation recently presented E3D with a check for $10,320 to help fund the group’s goal of helping close the digital gap among families in local schools. Working with local social service and school leaders, E3D is identifying students at public schools in Cornelius and Davidson who lack computers and internet connections.

RELATED COVERAGE

May 17, 2013, DavidsonNews.net, “How to end the digital divide: lemonade stands and foundation grants”

Feb. 27, 2013, DavidsonNews.net, “E3D’s goal: Eliminate Davidson’s Digital Divide.”

A map last year provided the general outline of the Caldwell Station Greenway, with several route options. After months of work, consultants May 23 will present a proposed trail alignment. Click for the full map.

Consultants will present the proposed alignment for the Caldwell Station Creek Greenway at a public workshop Thursday, May 23. The $2 million, 2-mile greenway will link Bailey Road Park on NC 115 with US 21 near the Home Depot.

The meeting runs 6:30 to 8pm at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.

The project is the first since the town adopted a Pedestrian Master Plan last year, which envisions a variety of pedestrian and cycling paths in town. Troy Fitzsimmons, director of Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture (PARC), has said it could be the first in an eventual “emerald necklace” of paths around town. Read the full story

Ricky Overcash, Cornelius public works chief and a volunteer firefighter, visited the Katoomba station.

Firefighters are members of a global family. Whether a volunteer, or lucky enough to get paid; a youthful 18, or seasoned 55; and whether they’re supporting a small town on a lake in North Carolina, or an even smaller village in the Australian Outback, as a firefighter, one can visit any other station unannounced with the expectation of being treated like an honored guest.

Ricky Overcash, the Cornelius’ Public Works director by day and volunteer firefighter by night, made it a point to visit a fire station at each of the towns he visited during his recent exploration of Australia. Read the full story

Diners gathered around the Sunrise Grill & Sandwich Co. truck in the Oak St. Mill parking lot Wednesday. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Updated 4:08pm
Beginning this Wednesday and continuing every Wednesday indefinitely, the Cornelius Cultural Art Group will host “Food Truck Wednesdays – Lunch In The Lot” in downtown Cornelius. They’re planning a different food truck (or two) from 11am – 2pm. Read the full story