The Friday Letter | February 21, 2014

THE

myTotalHealth Wants You To Know Your Numbers in 2014 Could you have an undiagnosed health risk?

Knowing your health risks is the first step in taking action to help reduce these risks. That’s why Mecklenburg County will offer free, confidential health and wellness screenings at various county buildings February 11 - February 25.

Receive a $25.00 gift card by participating in the Biometric Screening and Health Assessment. Click here for more information, eligibility and registration links.

Park News

Employee Health and Wellness Programs Cigna, the county's health insurance provider, has a variety of programs that are easy, convenient and free ways to manage your health.

Lifestyle Management Programs are available for weight management, tobacco cessation and stress management. (Available to all Cigna members beginning January 1, 2014) Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies program will get you and your baby on a healthy path from the start.

Healthy Rewards program offers discounts on a variety of health & wellness programs and services.

Check out these programs today and get healthy!

(Cigna programs are available to Cigna members)

Athletics

Spring 2014 Get Going Guide Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department is YOUR department. This Get Going Guide will help YOU visit and enjoy our many facilities and programs. Walk or ride a bike on our greenways.

Come to a nature preserve and see the wildlife.

Try a sport or activity you've never done before.

Take your children to a recreation center. Our slogan "the natural place to be" means the natural place for YOU to be.

We have a wonderful staff and thousands of volunteers dedicated helping YOU have fun and good health.

View all Spring programs and activities here

Men's B Basketball League: Men’s B Basketball League started the Winter season on February 18. Games are played on Tuesday evenings at the Grady Cole Center. There are a total of 6 teams participating this season.

Softball: Softball Registration for the Spring season began on Monday February 17. Games will be played at Renaissance Softball Complex and Nevin Community Park. The season will start Monday March 17.

Annual “U Got Game” Adult Basketball Tournament : Registration for the 19th Annual “U Got Game” Adult Basketball Tournament has begun. The tournament will be the weekend of March 7th-9th. Game will be played at Bette Rae Recreation Center, Ivory Baker Recreation Center, Hickory Grove Recreation Center, and the Grady Cole Center.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources

Second Annual Plant Sale

Disappearing Frog Project In the “Disappearing Frogs Project” Art is the chosen medium to tell the tragic, but also hope-filled story of the plight of frogs worldwide. The multi-media art installation is on display the entire month of February at the Charlotte Art League Gallery, 1517 Camden Rd in Charlotte, NC. Along with the art show a panel discussion was held on February 15 th on the plight of frogs and what is being done to protect them and the ecosystems they are found in. One of the panelist, Stephen Hutchinson the Nature Center Manager for Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, spoke about populations of frogs in Mecklenburg County and what the Division of Nature Preserves and Natural Resources is doing to protect frog species and educate the public about the importance of protecting the natural areas they are found in. For more information on the “Disappearing Frog Project” go to http://terrythirion.com/disappearing-frogs-project/.

The Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Division and MeckTeens are accepting pre-orders through March 29 for their 2nd annual plant sale benefiting youth outdoor programs.

Basil, Herbs, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme, Peppers, Red Bell, Jalapeño, Tomatoes, Brandywine, German Johnson, Cherokee Purple, Golden Nugget, Black Cherry, Squash Varieties, Pickling Cuckes, Zucchini and more!

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

Need for Trees No matter in what neighborhood you live, it’s hard to imagine Mecklenburg County without trees.

What would Freedom Park be like without mature trees to provide shade in the summer?

Where would the thousands of animals in Reedy Creek Nature Preserve live without the mixed pine and hardwood forests? And how would we prevent flooding at the many lakes, streams and creeks in our area without trees to hold on to water and soil? Life in our County would be very different, that’s for sure.

Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District and Charlotte Storm Water Services are teaming up again for their annual tree seedling and rain barrel sale.

Seedlings and rain barrels will be available for purchase Saturday, February 22, 2014, 9 a.m. - noon. at Hal Marshall County Services Center, 700 North Tryon Street.

Community & Recreation Center Services Methodist Home Recreation Center: Princesses of Love The Princesses of Love is a group of young ladies ages 6 years and older that come together several times a month for meetings and community events at Methodist Home Recreation Center. Their activities and meetings are based on the ideas of fostering education and making a positive impact in the lives of young women in the Shamrock Garden community. They have volunteered for events at the Shamrock Senior Center and the Fall and Spring Fests held at Methodist Home Recreation Center. The program mission is to teach love of self and the community and to break new barriers so the ladies can gain positive self worth. This program has given young girls in the area a place to voice their opinions and gain respect from their peers. For more information, contact Kelly.Hawkins@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-432-6455.

Special Recognition “Glowing the Dream”: Calandra Barnes Calandra Barnes, Facility Manager at West Charlotte Recreation Center, was recognized and received an award at the” 2014 Growing the Dream Award Luncheon” held at Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday, January 18. Mrs. Barnes was presented with this award by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the West Learning Community for her achievements and outreach in the West Charlotte community. She was admired as an individual that constantly gives unselfishly and makes a difference in the community every day. She is a tremendous asset to our department, Mecklenburg County and is well respected for her hard work, dedication, leadership and quality service she provides for her staff and the residents of Mecklenburg County. Congratulations and Thank you!

Community & Recreation Center Services Albemarle Road Recreation Center: “See Charlotte” On February 18th, seniors from Albemarle Road Recreation Center attended Jerusalem, a show at the IMAX Theater. Jerusalem, produced by Cosmic Pictures and Arcane Pictures and distributed by National Geographic Cinema Ventures, is a documentary film about the ancient city of Jerusalem. The seniors enjoyed the show, learning the history of the city and lunch at K&W Cafeteria. “See Charlotte” is a monthly program for seniors designed to get them out to local attractions for fellowship and fun. For more information on this or other programs, contact Ivan.Jones@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-5671941.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness : On February 11th, the teams at Marion Diehl Recreation Center and AOB wore orange to show their support for Teen Dating Violence Awareness. February has been designated as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, to bring light to the issue that one in three teens is victim to relationship abuse. Thank you to everyone who participated by wearing orange.

Trees cont.…

Seedlings are $2.00 each and include a choice of Beautyberry, Buttonbush, Hazelnut, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Spicebush, Chickasaw Plum, Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, Shadblow Serviceberry, Sweetbay Magnolia, Pecan, Red Maple, Sassafras and Waxmyrtle.

Eastern Red Cedar seedlings are also available for $1.00 each.

In addition to planting more trees, consider saving water to use for your plants and gardens during the next dry spell by purchasing a rain barrel. Two sizes are available: a 60-gallon barrel for $95.00 and an 80gallon barrel for $110.00.

For more information about the seedling and rain barrel sale, including conservation tips visit: www.MecklenburgCons ervation.com or call 704336-2455

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

Recreate All Year!

Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter to learn of new and exciting way sto continue recreating during the spring and summer months. Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter to stay up to date on activities that may be available to you.

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

Park Partners may contact The Friday Letter Team at Kier. Harrison @MecklenburgCountyNC.gov for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 3 • Issue 7• February 21, 2014

County Staff Wear Orange in Support of Teen Dating Violence Prevention Awareness When Community Support Services Director Stacy Lowry sent out the word asking

some of her fellow County department and agency directors to consider wearing the color orange – and to ask their staff to do the same – in support of bringing awareness to preventing Teen Dating Violence, they embraced the idea.

On Feb. 11, 2014 – the official Wear Orange Day designated by the National Youth Advisory Board – several County staff participated. February is the national observance of Teen Dating Violence Awareness. The CSS Women’s Commission Division is leading the information education and awareness campaign for the County, along with several community partners and organizations.

Take a look at the County’s official Flickr site to see some of the County employees who wore orange on Feb. 11.

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

Program supporters say one in three teens has experienced teen dating violence.

For all who participated – those pictured and the others who aren’t – a big “thank you” for supporting the prevention campaign and bringing attention to this important community concern.

Lee Jones, Capital Planning Lola Massad, Community and Recreation Center Services Jeff Robinson, Park Operations