The Friday Letter | May 8, 2015

The

NATIONAL BIKE MONTH May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.

Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.

Did you know that May is...

Mecklenburg County News Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is making sure that every child can swim by the 5th grade.

Through a partnership with Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation, the department will continue its free swim lessons program for youth, ages 3-12, at Ray’s Splash Planet, 215 N. Sycamore Street in uptown Charlotte.

Swim lessons are offered in monthly sessions and take place on Saturday mornings.

For a child to participate, he or she must attend a pre-registration event with a parent or guardian at Ray’s Splash Planet. Each registration session begins at 5:30 p.m.

Upcoming sessions:



April 28: Lessons take place on May 2, 9, 16 and 23 Applications will not be accepted after 6:30 p.m. on the day of registration. If applications exceed the number of available spots, a public lottery will be conducted.

For more information, visit www.parkandrec.com and click on the Ray's Splash Planet Web page.

Mecklenburg County News

‘Get Involved and Get Green’ for the Great American Cleanup Each spring, Mecklenburg County participates in the Great American Cleanup, a national movement that stresses environmental awareness through community-organized beautification projects.

Locally, thousands of volunteers work to clean and beautify parks, greenways, creeks and other areas throughout the County. You can view a schedule of upcoming events at www.wipeoutwaste.com.

Community & Recreation Center Services Berewick Recreation Center –Afterschool Projects Berewick Recreation Center After School is hands on with projects like arts & crafts and homework help . The staff at Bewerick and Mentee’s, Donavan and Kayla, work with the students from the CMS after school program by offering additional support to families in the community. This week the students made Mother’s Day cards. For more information, contact staff at 704-432-4934.

Cinco de Mayo!

On May the 5th 2015 we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with the Seniors at Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center. Charlotte Ballet, our partner, came and showed us salsa moves to get our hearts pumping before we dug into a great Mexican themed meal. We had tacos, rice and beans and lots of cheese! After all that food we finished off with some candy from our piñata that took quite a few tries to get open.

For more information contact us at 704.432.3048 or at BetteRaeThomasRecreation@mecklneburgcountync.gov

Community & Recreation Center Services A Little Salsa Seniors at Bette Rae Thomas kicked off Cinco De Mayo with a little salsa mix.

The group played instruments and danced for a themed cardio class. For more information about programs, please contact us at BetteRaeThomasRecreationCenter@Mecklenburg.CountyNC.gov or 704.432.3048.

Bid Whist Tournament The quarterly Bid Whist Tournament was held on April 28, 2015 at Bette Rae Thomas. A group of 32 came out to enjoy a time a fun, cards, and some food. The winners of this tournament were Charlie Page and Delano Rankin. For more information about programs, please contact us at 704.432.3048 or BetteRaeThomasRecreationCenter@Mecklenburg.CountyNC.gov

Community & Recreation Center Services Methodist Home Recreation Center – Career Day at the Park Expo Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation was on hand to talk with high school students from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System about pursuing a career in the Park and Recreation field. This, Charlotte Career Discovery Day, was initiated by the City of Charlotte’s Mayor’s Youth Employment Program. The students attended from local high schools and participated in a half-day interactive experiences that showcased career paths in various fields relevant to today’s job market. This event was held at the Park Expo and Conference Center on Wednesday, April 22. Over 4,000 students were welcomed into a general assembly where they experienced a “Dress for Success” fashion show before heading out to the career booths. Kelly Hawkins, Recreation Specialist – Methodist Home represented the Park and Recreation Department. Local government, health care professionals, finance, technology, and higher education were among the booths set up for students to visit. If you are interested in pursuing a career with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, contact your local recreation center to talk with a professional about your career path and volunteer opportunities. You can find a list of the recreation centers on www.parkandrec.com.

Community & Recreation Center Services Tot Olympics 2015 On Saturday, May 2, children ages 1-6 showed their athleticism. They participated in two circuits with ten or more Olympic Style activities: Running, Jumping, Tossing, and Flipping were just a few of their many actions. The parents, grandparents, siblings and friends watched with pride as they were honored with goodie bags and official medals.

For more information, contact ArborGlenOutreachCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-432-1531.

Community & Recreation Center Services Earth Day In celebration of Earth Day we had pour Krafty Kids create Chia pets out of stockings. We talked about how to plants turn carbon dioxide into oxygen and determined that the more plants we have the better our planet will be.

We also spoke about water conservation after we decided to use used platic bottles as the home for our chia pets. , For more information contact us at 704.432.3048 or at BetteRaeThomasRecreation@mecklneburgcountync.gov

Cinco De Mayo at Mallard Creek: Seniors from the Mallard Creek Senior Nutrition Program celebrated Cinco De Mayo with their own fiesta this week! They enjoyed meatless taco salad which included fresh tomatoes, lettuce, olives, refried beans, guacamole, taco boats, salsa, and cheese. This daily program is a partnership between Mallard Creek Recreation Center and the Mecklenburg County Senior Citizens Nutrition Program. For more information, contact MallardCreekRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-548-8234.

Community & Recreation Center Services Charlotte Ballet REACH Program Ends for 2014-2015 Season: At the Ivory/Baker Recreation Center, the Charlotte Ballet REACH program ended this past Sunday with an end-of-the-year student performance. The students practiced very hard during the 7 month program. We are proud to learn that Kimberly Thompson will be moving up to become a teacher’s assistant next season and Ja’Moya Blue and Preston Sims were each awarded a scholarship to continue their ballet training at the Charlotte Ballet Academy this summer. Perfect attendance certificates were given to Preston Sims and Maison Morris.

Congratulations to these remarkable students! For more information about Charlotte Ballet REACH program at Ivory Baker Recreation Center , contact IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@Mecklenburgcountync.gov or 704-432-4580 .

There will be auditions for next season starting in August.

Community & Recreation Center Services Winget Recreation Center – 4th Annual Basketball Tournament Basketball fans here it comes, “ The Fourth Annual Summer Basketball Clinic” at Winget Recreation Site. This special event is scheduled for June 15th –June 19th and June 22_ June 28, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm.The ages are 10-15 year old girls and boys. The basketball enthusiasts train on enhancing their basketball skills by conditioning and performing rigorous basketball drills. Come on out and work on your basic fundamentals. Preregistration is required for this event, so get your athlete registered early. For more information on registration contact staff at 704-432-4934.

Tom Sykes Recreation Center REC Mentee Goes To Work This was an exciting past weekend for REC Mentee, Tyreece Gray. Many of the REC Mentees volunteered for their first large event, “Bark In The Park”, on Saturday April 25. Tyreece assisted visitors of the event with special treats for their pets. He enjoyed watching all of the animals run around in the rain while the weather outside had a different agenda. The dogs had fun meeting and greeting other canine friends. REC Mentor, Andrea Cummings worked alongside Tyreece showing him how you really get your hands dirty. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit www.parkandrec.com

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Tom Sykes Flash Track Team- Flash Make A Run for the Finish Line Tom Sykes Flash Track team is gearing up for the final track meet. Although the AAU Flight Developmental Meet has been cancelled as an opportunity to race against competitive children many of the children are looking forward to continuing their development. The final track meet will be on Saturday April 30, 2015 at JCSU. The team has improved each weekend and the children have personal records in different events. The team has grown and the parents really enjoyed the season. The coaches have been great leaders in each age division. Tom Sykes Flash track team has focused on age groups ranging from 5-14 years of age. For more information contact Tom Sykes Recreation Center at 704-4324803.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA

MLB Pitch, Hit, and Run at Sugaw Creek: On Sunday April 26, youth baseball participants from Sugaw Creek Recreation Center competed in the local MLB Pitch, Hit and Run event. The competition tests the fundamental skills of the game of baseball including throwing for strikes, hitting a ball off of a tee for distance and accuracy, and finally a timed run from second to home. Each skill is given an individual score. Overall champions are awarded in each age division for boys and girls. Individual skill champions as well as the overall champions will move on to compete at the sectional competition to be held Sunday, May 17th at Renaissance Park. For more information please contact : SugawCreekRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704-336-7655.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA

Youth Track and Field Season Reaching the Finish Line: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department’s youth track and field season has one meet remaining on May 30th at Johnson C. Smith University’s Irwin Belk Complex. Twelve recreation centers, Ray’s Splash Planet, and Idlewild Elementary School have entered over 350 participants aged 4-18 in each meet competing in numerous disciplines that test athletes running, jumping, and throwing abilities. The meet on May 30th begins at 9am sharp. For more information about youth sports, please visit : www.ParkandRec.com or call 704-432-4963.

Adult Women's Basketball: Women’s Basketball started their spring season this past Sunday, May 3rd. Games are played on Sunday afternoons starting at 2pm at the Tuckaseegee Recreation Center. There is a total of 9 teams participating in the league this season. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-432-3095 or 704-336-7639.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Adult Basketball: Men 40 & Over played the final game of their spring playoff season this past Sunday, May 3rd. Games were played on Sunday afternoons at Tuckaseegee Recreation Center starting at 2pm. There was a total of 6 teams that participated in the league this season. For more information on upcoming adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-4323095 or 704-336-7639.

Pickleball: On Saturday, May 2nd, the Adult Sports hosted a spring pickleball tournament at Jeff Adams Tennis Center for adults, and seniors. There was a men’s open double division, men’s senior double division, mixed open doubles division, and mixed seniors division. 18 teams registered to play in the tournament this weekend. The tournament will started at 9am that morning. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-432-3095 or 704-3367639. What is Pickleball? Pickleball is a sport in which two, three, or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball, over a net. The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules similar to tennis, with a few modifications. Pickleball was invented in the mid-1960s as a children's backyard pastime but quickly became popular among adults as a fun game for players of all levels.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Revolution Park Sports Academy’s own Charlotte RIPS place in the Charlotte Cup: The Charlotte RIPS (Resistant Interval Progressive System) personal training group located at the Revolution Park Sports Academy competed in the Charlotte Cup 2015 National Physique Committee Bodybuilding Championship.

These athletes trained for months to achieve their goals by being dedicated to their diet and workout plan. Cameron Dayne placed 1st novice, 1st overall in novice and 4th in open class. Brittany Cobb placed 2nd novice, and 3rd in open women’s bikini. Nicole Brown placed 2th in Women’s Jr. figure, and 3rd open novice. Jameka Ford placed 3rd in master women’s bikini. For more information on Charlotte RIPS contact Vito Steel at 678-900-7104 or absvitosteel@gmail.com.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA

Grady Cole Center Roller Derby Come out Saturday, May 9th to see the Charlotte Roller Girls “B-Dazzlers� take on the Star City Roller Girls from Virginia. The theme for the night is Star Wars and costumes are encouraged. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the bout starts at 6 pm.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA American Legion Memorial Stadium: Major League Lacrosse On Sunday, May 10th at 1:00pm Charlotte Hounds take on the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Gates open at 12 noon and faceoff is scheduled for 1:05pm.

Cooperative Extension Services 4-H Presentation Competition Four Mecklenburg County 4-H'ers participated in 4-H Presentation competition at South Central District 4-H Activity Day last Saturday, May 2, at Cox Mill High School in Cabarrus County. 4-H Presentations are a formal show and tell competition where the youth share information before an audience. Youth participating in 4-H Presentations not only learn about speaking before a group, but they learn to research a topic that interests them, to select the best information from reliable sources, and to organize their talk in a logical sequence.

Joshua Broome received a Gold Medal for his presentation on "How to Choose a Car" and Hannah Broome received a Gold Medal for her presentation on "How Smart are Horses?" As District Winners, both Joshua and Hannah will participate in State Presentation Finals July 18 on the campus of NC State University in Raleigh. In addition, Kenya Crawford received a Bronze medal (third place) for her presentation on "The Life of Seahorses".

Kevin Metcalf I have, since I was a child, had a passion for learning about and protecting wildlife and wild places. This is what lead me to the Park and Recreation profession. After graduating from Miami University, I enjoyed working as a field biologist in California and Michigan, and eventually becoming a naturalist for Cleveland Metro Parks in Cleveland, Ohio. I did that for 15 years before coming to Charlotte to become and Park and Recreation Manager in the nature preserves.

What I love about my career in Park and Recreation is that I feel I can make a difference in the things that I have always loved. The Nature Preserves help protect not only habitats for our native plants and animals, but I believe they are helping preserve our future. Protecting open spaces – forests, fields, wetlands, rivers and streams – helps preserve our quality of life, our health, and allows people to reconnect with the larger world that we are ultimately dependent on.

When I am not working I am still focused on learning about and exploring the outdoors. I am an avid birder and have traveled around most of the United States - and to some other countries tracking down rare and unusual wildlife. One of the most thrilling experiences I have had was riding on elephant-back in India and coming upon tigers in the wild. That was fantastic! But, I also find it exciting to discover, and help protect, the natural wonders right here in Charlotte.

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 Richard . McNeill @MecklenburgCountyNC.gov for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 3 • Issue 66 • May 8, 2015

CHARMECK ALERTS The CharMeck Alerts Notification System relays accurate and timely emergency notifications. You control how you’re contacted— whether it’s on your cell, work or home phone, via text, email or voice message. You can receive up-to-the-minute notifications about events and emergencies that may affect your home, workplace or other points of interest—anywhere in Mecklenburg County. Sign up here or call CharMeck 311. To receive CDOT-specific alerts, you must sign up for that item in the list.

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 Terri Stowers, Community and Recreation Center Services Jeff Robinson, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources