The Friday Letter | March 15, 2013

Volume 2 ISSUE WEEKLY

9

NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

March 15 2013

FridayLetter THE

this issue In The News:

Park News P.1 Enterprise Services P.2

Nature Preserves and Natu-

Nature Preserves & Natural Resources P.4

ral Resources Division Now

Community & Recreation Center Services P.6

Accepting Orders for 2nd Annual Plant Sale The Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Division and MeckTeens are accepting

pre-orders

Park and Recreation— Park and Recreation Commission

through

March 29 for their 2nd annual plant sale benefiting youth outdoor programs.

Citizens & the public will be able to place an order and pick up at Latta Plantation Nature Center, McDowell Nature Center or Reedy Creek Nature Center. Plants will be available April 8-12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The public sale will take place at Yorkmont Farmer's Market,

Park News The Park and Recreation Commission welcomed on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 three newly seated Commissioners: Travis Dancy (Northern Towns), Jude Harding (North— N2) and Tristan McMannis (Southern Towns).

Park and Recreation Commissioners are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and provide joint leadership to the Park and Recreation Advisory Councils, which consist of citizens, and serve as a liaison between the Park and Recreation Department and Citizens of the County.

All councils report to the Park and Recreation Commission. The councils consult with and advise in matters affecting recreation promotion, marketing, membership, programming, planning and other leisure services related to the County Park and Recreation program, and to input its long-range planning for resources for capital projects for rehabilitation, design and/or development for indoor/outdoor recreation.

1801 Yorkmont Road, on April 13 and 20, from 8 a.m. 4 p.m.

Click here for a listing of plants and vegetables available.

Park Ops Weekly Minute The Park Ops weekly minute will return on next Friday. Until then, catch up on our archived “ Weekly Minutes” by clicking the icons below.

Park Operations Jeff Robinson, Division Director Greg Clemmer, Park Superintendent Chris Hunter, North Park Region Manager Michael Campbell, Central Park Region Manager Patricia Poteat, South Park Region Manager

Mecklenburg County Races Grady Cole Center Event Highlights: On Thursday, March 7th, Grady Cole Center hosted the 25th annual CPCC Career Fair.

With graduation just around the corner in May, representatives from 93 different employers were in attendance to talk with students, graduates and Charlotte area job seekers about potential opportunities. Local working professionals were able to connect with business leaders representing a variety of industries, including automotive, manufacturing and real estate. Our Park and Recreation Department sponsored a booth and collected applications for various temp position vacancies throughout the department.

The event, which is one of the largest hiring events in Charlotte, has been held every year since 1989. Over 1,600 people attended the career fair, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Run Jen Run – McAlpine Creek Park On Saturday March 2nd, 2013, the McAlpine Creek Park hosted the Inaugural Run Jen Run 5k.

The race benefited the GoJenGo Foundation which assists people fighting breast cancer. Over 900 runners registered for the 5k and Fun Run, and 523 finished the race in the frigid and snowy weather conditions. Andrew Garcia led the way with a 5k time of 17:23 and Anna Donlan was the first female to finish in a time of 19:41. The event was very successful in its first year by raising over $60,000 for the GoJenGo Foundation. To learn more about the GoJenGo Foundation please visit gojengo.org.

For more information on upcoming races please visit the Mecklenburg County Races Page.

Mecklenburg County Races Get Your Rear In Gear – March 9, 2013 On Saturday March 9th, nearly 2000 individuals participated in a 5K at Independence Park near Uptown. The event benefited the Colon Cancer Coalition and raised thousands of dollars for their cause. Participants were able to enjoy a live DJ with food and refreshments under the 60 degree blue sky. Top male, Lance Iannucci, completed the course in 18:39 and top female, Meghan Fillnow, crossed the line at19:17.

For complete results please visit: http://edge.raceresults360.com/queencity/kJBGXh/results#/ results::13631909877610 For additional Information on upcoming races please visit the adult running webpage or contact Preston Buckman at Preston.Buckman@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

River Bound 5K/8K – March 9, 2013 The 1st race of the River Bound Race Series was held on Saturday, March 9th, at Renaissance Park. The event saw 194 participants who either completed a 5K or 8K through the wooded mountain bike trails. Top male and female 5K runners were Ray Morrison and Andrea Hilderbrand. The top 8K participants were Aaron Saft and Bath Saft.

For complete results please visit here.

For additional Information on upcoming races please visit the adult running webpage or contact Preston Buckman .

Aquatics The Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center hosted the Hornet’s Nest Swimming Championship March 1 - 2. The Hornets Nest League is made up of 14 teams that include: Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, Marion Diehl Pool, Charlotte Christian, Fort Mill Dolphins, Fort Mill Sharks, Harris YMCA, McCrorey YMCA, University City YMCA, Lake Norman YMCA, Simmons YMCA, Jewish Community Center, Lowes YMCA, Johnston YMCA, and the YWCA. The 11 and overs swam Friday night from 6:30pm – 10:30pm. The 10 and unders swam Saturday from 12 – 5pm. The Hornets Nest Swim League is a non-competitive swim team that helps introduce children into swimming. 1130 swimmers participated in the 2 day event.

Event Highlights: Get Your Rear in Gear runner Lance Iannucci completes the race with a time of 18:39

Event Highlights: Log Cabin within a House Discovered From the outside, it looks like a run-down old tenant house or summer cottage. Inside, however, the walls have kept a secret hidden for decades, as the building is in fact one of the few remaining log cabins left in Mecklenburg County. The logs were covered up with siding and paneling over the years, but the log heart of the building was recently re-discovered.

The log cabin, located in one of Mecklenburg County’s Nature Preserves, might have even more stories to tell, as a former landowner said that the information handed down over generations is that this was a slave cabin. Although this can’t yet be verified, the possibility is intriguing, as there might only be one other such cabin remaining in the County.

Park and Recreation staff will try to protect the building from further deterioration in the short term, while looking for a long term strategy for preserving this significant find.

Weekday Wanderers: Weymouth Woods Last Friday was the kickoff for this weekday series hike, participants went to the unique sand hills ecosystem where the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker can be spotted if you are lucky. Our group was very fortunate to spot one of the birds and enjoy a perfect winter day outdoors.

Hiking Club Helps Nature Preserves Remove Hazardous Building On Saturday, March 9, thirteen volunteers assisted Park and Recreation’s Division of Nature Preserves in removing an old horse barn at a property called Berryhill Nature Preserve, located on Paw Creek Cove. The building site was attracting nuisance activity such as trash dumping and drinking. The building was dismantled and loaded into a dumpster, with recyclable material separated out.

Nature Preserves & Natural Resources Scenes from Events: (Pictured Left) the barn before demolition (Pictured Next) Volunteers help to remove and dissemble the barn

(Left) Volunteers work to clean and clear materials for recycling and removal

Scenes from Events: “Say Cheese” - Our volunteers will always find themselves in the Natural Place to Be…

________________________

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Naomi Drenan Recreation Center Step/Drill Team is BACK!!!: During Read Across America week, Methodist Home Recreation Center staff took time to read to (3) three classes of animated 3rd grade students at Shamrock Gardens Elementary School.

On March 2nd, Naomi Drenan Recreation Center welcomed back the Sky Hy Step/Drill team for a round 1 of auditions. We are super excited to see what this year has in store for all of these talented young men and women that will transform as they perform on the “big stage”. From the community, to the big stage, to the streets for various parades, the Sky Hy Steppers/Drill Team will be ready to perform for everyone.

Naomi Drenan Recreation Center Sports Talk 101:

On February 25, 2013 over 12 teens experience a behind the scenes look into the sports world. They learned there are few spots for professional athletes but there are many opportunities working with both amateur and professional athletes such as coaching, officiating, training, weight training, sports agent, and athletic trainer/medical careers. Youth were The week ended with a Dr. intrigued as they watched videos and Seuss Birthday Party held at discussed broadcast and print media the center with a group of opportunities in sports coverage. Following this program each teen received a survey asking, lively pre-school kids, who “What did you learn from program?” One eagerly wrote, “I learned that you can do other things had the pleasure of particithat involve sports if you don’t make it to the NBA or NFL, and I also learned that Coach Foster, pating in activities, making said me and my brother have a lot of heart. I didn’t realize anyone ever noticed that I try my their own hats, coloring picbest.” This teen participated for the first time as a dedicated member of the 16U NDRC baskettures from the Lorax and ball team. Teaching sportsmanship and hard work by coaches and staff, this team couldn’t seem singing happy birthday to Dr. to win a game or come close in winning this basketball season. However, the most important Seuss. lesson learned through this program was the impact Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation play in the lives of our youth and community.

Naomi Drenan Recreation Center For more information, contact NaomiDrenanRecreation Center@ MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.432.5231.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities

Teen Mentoring Scenes From Events:

Teen Mentoring at Albemarle Road Recreation Center: Albemarle Road Recreation Center is now offering a new teen mentoring called Young Achievers. The objective of the program is to prepare students for success after high school. On February 28th, teens from Albemarle Road went to Johnson C. Smith University to hear an empowering message from Kemba Smith, who went from college student to drug dealer’s girl friend to domestic violence victim to federal prisoner. Her story has been featured on several national TV shows. At the end of the presentation, the teenagers were given an opportunity to meet and take a picture with Ms. Smith.

Albermarle Road Recreation Center Teen Mentoring Program participants and National Public Speaker Kemba Smith.

For more information about the Young Achievers mentoring program please contact 704.567.1941 or Ivan.Jones@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Youth Sports at Albemarle Road Recreation Center On March 9th, the Albemarle Road 12U Celtics basketball team competed in and won the 12 & Under Countywide Championship game. The team entered the tournament with a regular season record of 8-0. The championship game was held at Methodist Home Recreation Center. The team exhibited great sportsmanship and had a lot of fun.

Kemba Smith

Albermarle Road Recreation Center For more information about programming please contact us at 704.567.1941 or AlbemarleRoadRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities African Drummers and Spiritual Dancers at Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center Our guest drummers and dancers performed traditional hems while dressed in authentic African attire. The seniors enjoyed the performance and showed off their African attire and various artifacts and paintings. Food was donated by Creative catering which highlighted traditional African flavors.

________________ North Carolina Dance Theater Dress Rehearsal Performance of Peter Pan MeckSeniors in partnership with the North Carolina Dance Theater hosted of Dress Rehearsal Performance of Peter Pan on March 6 at the Knight Theater. 370 senior adults from across Mecklenburg and surrounding counties enjoyed a preview of the Ballet that runs from March 7 – 17. A special thank you to all the staff that volunteered to help with the performance and the drivers that transported the seniors to and from this event. For more information email MeckSeniors@Meckle nburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.336.8105. _______________________

Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center For more information call 704.432.3048 or email BetteRaeThomasRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov.

4H Wireless Communication at Six Recreation Centers Funded by a Cultural Projects Grant from the Arts and Science Council, six Recreation Centers are offering the Tech-Xcite Wireless Transmission: Burglar Alarm curriculum. This 4-H Curriculum introduces students ages 8 to 12 to the fascinating technology of signal transmission. It is an interdisciplinary engineering project for students to build an alarm system that could be used in their own rooms. The students build a simple circuit using a breadboard, amplify sound, and build a wireless music transmitter and receiver.

For more information on 4-H Programs call 704.336.2082.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Korean Mask Dinner Theater at Arbor Glen Outreach Center On Sunday, February 24th the Korean Senior Center put on a show that was Broadway worthy.

The program included an Instrumental Band with participants from the Korean Music Association and a well known Korean Saxophonist. The stars of the show were members of the Korean Senior Center with an average age of 72 dancing with their colorful traditional attire and original Masks from Korea. The meal was Asian inspired and delicious. The evening concluded with the audience dancing to the instrumental music.

Snacks with Scooby Doo at Tom Sykes Recreation Center Scooby Doo stopped by Tom Sykes Recreation Center on February 28th and enjoyed healthy snacks with preschoolers. The participants also enjoy story time, a special arts & crafts project and had their pictures taken with Scooby.

For more information about upcoming preschool programs, contact TomSykesRecreationCenter@Mecklen burgCountyNC.gov or 704432-4803.

Lovely Ladies Teen Club at Arbor Glen Outreach Center Arbor Glen Outreach Center’s Lovely Ladies Teen Club, lead by REC Employee De’Ajia Austin, taught the 4-H curriculum, “Away with Germs”, to youth ages 6 -12 on Wednesday, February 29, 2013. The activity included information about the importance of correct hand washing for preventing the spread of germs and disease.

Arbor Glen Center For other upcoming events contact 704-432-1531 or ArborGlenOutreachCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Youth Fun Time at Ivory/Baker Recreation Center Students from the Anita Stroud After school program participated in the Youth Fun Time program at Ivory/Baker Recreation Center where they made Pinecone Bird Feeders. Students learned about the important of feeding birds during the winter months.

For more information on programs at Ivory/Baker Rec. Center call 704-4324580 or email IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@Mecklen burgCountyNC.gov.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities Senior Mardi Gras 2013 Arbor Glen Outreach Center hosted its 2nd Annual Senior Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 26, 2013. Over 170 seniors participated in mask making, bingo and dancing. Members of the Senior Advisory Council also attended the function.

For more information, contact ArborGlenOutreachCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.432.1531.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Seniors Games Practice Day MeckSeniors hosted its second Senior Games Practice Day on Friday, March 1 at the Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center. Senior participants in the DSS Senior Nutrition Program and the “Feeling Fine after 59” Fitness programs participated in a variety of Senior Games offered competitions. The games included: Pickleball, Football Toss, Basketball Shoot, Shuffleboard, and Cornhole. Seniors kept score based off of participation in the games. Afterward, prizes for participation were given away. Senior Games Ambassador Carol Remly was there to excite the crowd, promote the games, and give a way door prizes. The final Senior Games Practice Day is March 15 at the Mallard Creek Recreation Center from 10am-12pm. Registration for this year’s games ends on March 15th, for more information on Senior Games visit www.cmseniorgames.org or call 704.332.4020.

Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities

Revolution Park— Boxing Program:

The Charlotte Boxing Academy (CBA) and Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department joined together to host the 2013 State Golden Gloves on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at the Sugaw Creek Recreation Center. About 14 boxing teams and 15 un2013 Statewide Athletics Committee (SWAC) Basketball Tournaments attached boxers Mecklenburg County hosted the SWAC Boy’s 14U and 16U West Sectional Basketball Tournawithin NC attended the ments this past Saturday 3/9 at Bette Rae Thomas and Tuckaseegee Recreation Centers. Meckevent. There were 19 bouts lenburg County’s very own Southview Bees have advanced to the 16U State Finals to be held this Friday night and 14 bouts Saturday and Sunday at the Grady Cole Center. Come on out and show your support!

Saturday which were all action packed. There was an For more information about the tournament or other youth sports leagues, email Youthestimated 350 spectators Sports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call Revolution Park Sports Academy at (704) 432-4963. cheering each night of the event. Ten boxers from CBA Countywide Basketball Tournament Results: won their event but only 8 of 100 teams started the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation them are able to move on to Department’s countywide tournaments in the 8U-16U age divithe Regional Golden Gloves sions in both Recreation and Open Leagues. Eight of the teams to be held April 10–14 in can proclaim to be Champions. In the 8U-Rec, the Police Activi- Knoxville, Tennessee. Good ties League (PAL)-1 defeated the Hickory Grove Erby-Clark, 8Uluck to the team!

Open, the Tuckaseegee Bobcats-4 defeated the Hickory Grove McFadden, 10U-Rec, the Martin Luther King Heat were awarded the championship from the MarFor more information on this tin Luther King Future-2, 10U-Open, the Tuckaseegee Bobcats-4 defeated the Ivory Baker Assault, and other boxing programs, 12U-Rec, the Albemarle Rd. Celtics defeated the Martin Luther King Luster, 12U-Open, the Ray’s please stop by (1225 ReSplash Planet-QC Thunder defeated the Naomi Drenan Rivals, 14U-Open, the Ivory Baker-Got Talmount Road) or call ent defeated the RSP-QC Thunder & in the 16U-Open, the Southview Bees defeated the Bette Rae the Revolution Park Sports Thomas Hill Bobcats-White. For more information on youth sports leagues, email YouthAcademy 704.432.4963 or Sports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call Revolution Park Sports Academy at (704) 432-4963. visit www.parkandrec.com. (page 10 column article) _______________________

Park and Recreation News: 5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

Submissions for the Newsletter

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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 9• March 15, 2013

Upcoming Events: Powerade State Games of NC February Update The Powerade State Games is returning to the Charlotte region in 2013 and we want YOU to be a part of the largest sports festival in North Carolina! Held throughout the month of June, the Powerade State Games will feature over 12,000 athletes participating in 19 different sports across more than 30 venues in a true Olympic-style sporting event. Please read this information carefully to ensure you won't miss out on all the FUN in Charlotte this June!

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Senior Leadership Team Jim Garges, Director

Online registration for the Powerade State Games is open for most sports at www.ncsports.org. You can save up to $20 on registration fees by registering online through the step-by-step Powerade State Games registration system.

Michael Kirschman, Deputy Director James Alsop, Enterprise Services Renea Barber, Human Resources Mario Chang, Budget Administration Lee Jones, Capital Planning Lola Massad, Community and Recreation Center Services Jeff Robinson, Park Operations