The Friday Letter | January 25, 2013

Volume 2 ISSUE

4

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK AND RECREATION

January 25 2013

DEPARTMENT

FridayLetter THE

this issue In The News:

Park News P.1

Our cover story continued...

Enterprise Services P.2 Nature Preserves & Natural Resources P.4 Community & Recreation Center Services P.5

Park and Recreation Commemorates the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Service Project MLK Volunteer Ops: cont’d Using tools such as loppers, pruning shears, and mattocks, students would cut off vines as high as they could reach and then follow the rest of the vine to the soil. After some persistent digging, they would find the vine attached to a root crown. Once the root crown was removed from the soil and all attachments severed, the remaining vine will die. These ‘Kudzu Warriors’ took great pride in a day of service to help McDowell Preserve and honor Martin Luther King, Jr. See back page for a closeup of the Kudzu removed in ‘Scenes from Events’

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources: Volunteer Ops On Monday, January 21st in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, over 40 volunteers from Queens University of Charlotte and Right Moves for Youth joined McDowell Nature Center staff for a day of service work. This energetic group was led by Gary Marshall, Natural Resources Coordinator, to stop Kudzu in its tracks at a playground within the preserve. Kudzu, an invasive plant that was brought to the United States for erosion control from Japan and China, is an extremely fast growing vine that quickly climbs over trees and shrubs. During the growing season, Kudzu vines can grow over a foot a day, making it a very difficult invasive to control. Gary introduced the students to a chemical-free control method that turned out to be a lot of fun for these volunteers.

Athletic Events: Queens University of Charlotte The Queens University of

Charlotte men’s and women’s teams were both victorious on Saturday January 19th against the visiting King Tornado. The women’s team rolled to a resounding 78-53 win behind four players who scored in double figures. The Royals’ high pressure defense forced King into 24 turnovers on the day, and the Tornado failed to get closer than 12 points in the second half.

The men’s team followed with a 66-54 victory behind Antonio Stabler’s 29 points and seven rebounds. The Royals’ stifling defense held the Tornado 25 points below their season average. Freshman Tre McLean added 12 points and eight rebounds to help the Royals establish a lead from the opening tip.

Despite a late push by King that brought the deficit to three, Queens held on for an exciting conference victory.

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Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center Charlotte Catholic, East Gaston, Olympic, Phillip O’ Berry, and West Mecklenburg High Schools participated in their conference championship swim meet from 6:30pm – 9:30pm at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on Friday, January 18th . One hundred sixty-six (166) swimmers participated in the swim meet. Charlotte Catholic won the conference championship.

Two hundred five (205) masters swimmers swam in the 39th Sunbelt Swimming Championship on January 19 and 20. U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) is a national organization that provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. The swim meet had swimmers from North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Georgia. The swim meet ran from 8:45 – 5:00pm on Saturday and from 8:45 – 2:00pm on Sunday.

Scenes from Events: (LEFT) Charlotte Mini-Com guests pause to be photographed by our staff. ________________________

American Legion Memorial Stadium On Saturday, the Grady Cole Center hosted the Charlotte Mini-Con Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find Comic Book Festival. Over 850 people attended over the course of the whole day, including many patrons who dressed as their favorite comic book characters. Every hour, door prizes were given away and a “best costume contest” was also held.

Comic books ranging from $0.50 all the way up to $12,000 were available for purchase as well as collectibles such as action figures and paintings.

The event also gave back to charity by taking donations for the Second Harvest Food

Scenes from Events: LEFT: Park and Recreation Employees pose with Imperial Storm Troopers ________________________

Super RAY!

Did You Know?

Vivariums A vivarium (Latin, literally for "place of life"; plural: vivaria or vivariums) is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research.

A vivarium may be small enough to sit on a desk or table, such as a terrarium or an aquarium, or may be a very large structure, possibly outdoors.

Miniature Gardens at Reedy Creek Nature Center Last Sunday visitors came to Reedy Creek Nature to learn about miniature gardens, using recycled materials like soda bottle everybody walked away with a “garden in a bottle�. This is a great idea to brighten the winter days and recycle materials along the way. The program was so successful that we are already planning on offering this program again.

A Terrarium, simulating a dry habitat, for instance desert or savannah, can also be formed to create a temperate woodland habitat, and even a jungle-like habitat. This can be created with pebbles, leaf litter and soil. By misting the terrarium, a natural water cycle occurs within the environment by condensation forming on the lid causing precipitation. Many kinds of plants are suitable for these habitats, including bromeliads, African Violets and Crassulaceae.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities 4H Theatre Arts at Ivory/Baker Recreation Center Fifteen youth are participating in 4-H Theatre Arts at Ivory/Baker Recreation Center. This three week program consists of acting, puppetry, and stagecraft.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities The Martin Luther King "A Day of Service" On Monday, January 21, Queens University, Right Moves For Youth, Carolina Support Services and the KinderCare Learning Center – W.T. Harris location) partnered with Sugaw Creek Recreation Center to conduct the event for over fifty (50) students ages 7-14 years old. They were empowered with various activities: opening ceremony, team building, Black History Quiz Bowl, sports stations, African Art, music, Black Inventions and cooking activities. The students learned about famous African American’s contributions to the community and they were excited during discussions surrounding President Obama’s Inauguration. Participants enjoyed healthy snacks and a nutritional lunch. Volunteer Services provided outstanding volunteers from Queens University and Right Moves for Youth Organization.

MeckTeens Joint Ski Trip On Monday, January 21, Outdoor Recreation Staff, Albemarle Road Recreation Center and Methodist Home Recreation Center Staff took forty-five [45] teens skiing and snowboarding in the Appalachian Mountains. Teens were able to participate in a unique fitness day while enjoying the great outdoors.

Sugaw Creek Recreation Center For more information about programs contact the Sugaw Creek Recreation Center at (704) 3367655 or IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Teens from Burma Visit Ivory/Baker Recreation Center Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department teamed up with North Carolina AAU to provide basketball training for International Athletes with the U.S. State Department Sports Visitors program. Six boys and six girls from Burma were in Charlotte, NC sponsored by the U.S. State Dept. The athletes ranged from ages 14- 17 years old and were selected by the U.S. Embassy for the trip. The program’s intent is to train young athletes who are encouraged to return home and conduct in-country clinics with their newly learned skills. The visitors participated in clinics and scrimmages side by side with local youth at Ivory/Baker Recreation Center.

Ivory/Baker Recreation Center For more information about programs contact the Ivory/Baker Recreation Center at 704-432-4580 or IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: National Service Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities NCDT After School Remembers MLK! Tom Sykes College Tour: Davidson College and UNCC On Tuesday January 22, Tom Sykes Recreation Center took 20 students representing 4 High Schools and 3 Middle Schools on a college tour! They visited Davidson College where they received a guided tour and met with admissions staff. At UNCC participants ate lunch with the college students and toured the campus. Tom Sykes Recreation Center will be offering another college tour February 18.

King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986.

Tom Sykes Recreation Center

The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was For more information, contact TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or started by former Pennsyl704.432.4803. vania U.S. Senator Harris Wof- . ford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of Dr. King.

The federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 23, 1994. _______________________

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Start Smart Basketball Arbor Glen Outreach Center held its first NAYS Start Smart program for 12 participants on December 4-January 15, 2013. Start Smart Basketball teaches children (ages 3-5) the basic motor skills necessary to play organized basketball while they work one-on-one and spend quality time with their parents. The program focuses on teaching children and their parents skills in dribbling/ ball handling, passing/catching, shooting and running/agility without the threat of competition or the fear of getting hurt.

Arbor Glen Recreation Center For more information about programs at Arbor Glen, contact (704) 432-1531 or email ArborGlenOutreachCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

MeckSeniors: January Leisure and Learn Senior Citizens from across Mecklenburg County participated in the January 17th session of Leisure and Learn at William R. Davie Conference Room. Charlenea Duncan with the City of Charlotte presented information about the Low Income Energy Assistance Program(LIEAP). Seniors that qualified for the program were given the opportunity to apply for funding assistance paying their heating costs. The seniors also enjoyed a presentation in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. The next MeckSeniors Leisure and Learn is Thursday, February 21 from 9:30am-2:00pm at William R. Davie Conference Room. This program has been themed “Happy Healthy Hearts” and will feature presenters and information in observance of Heart Disease Awareness Month.

For more information on MeckSeniors programs email MeckSeniors@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.336.8105.

MeckDSS

The Start Smart Sports Development Programs The Right Start…Start Smart Start Smart Programs, created by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, help kids get ready for sports…and succeed in life.

It is an innovative step-bystep approach that builds confidence and self-esteem in a fun and safe sports environment.

Start Smart offers two distinct types of programming with curriculum specifically designed for the following groups: Recreation Agencies: Start Smart Sports Development Programs provide recreation agencies with a comprehensive motor skill development program that can be implemented easily. Programs include Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis and a general skill development program.

Park and Recreation News: 5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

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Please submit all news for the Friday Letter to your Division Director for review and routing.

Park Partners may contact Kesha Meads at Kesha.Meads@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 2 • Issue 4• January 25, 2013

Scenes from Events:

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Senior Leadership Team Jim Garges, Director Michael Kirschman, Deputy Director James Alsop, Enterprise Services Renea Barber, Human Resources Mario Chang, Budget Administration Lee Jones, Capital Planning Lola Massad, Community Services and Recreation Centers Jeff Robinson, Park Operations