The Friday Letter | September 16, 2016

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September 23-25, 2016 For over 50 years, the Festival in the Park in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been attracting an eclectic assortment of local artists across various media for a community gathering in the park. The two-day event features musical performances by a diverse lineup of talent, dance troupes, solo pieces and storytellers as well as one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. Kids can enjoy attractions like the Clown College, hands-on craft tables or performances by magicians, jugglers and acrobats.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Backyard Campout at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve: Last Friday families came out to Reedy Creek Nature Preserve to spend the night in nature. They roasted marshmallows, listened to nature stories by the campfire and went on a night hike. The next morning we started them early with a brisk hike through the preserve and coffee for the parents. Staff did a great job creating a safe environment for the families and hopefully they will spend more time in nature after this memorable experience.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Enhancing Wildlife Diversity through Forest Management Loblolly Pine plantations are a common sight in Mecklenburg County, but that wasn’t the case a few hundred years ago. The historic range of Loblolly Pine occurs just to the south and east of Charlotte. Before European settlement, scattered Loblolly Pine trees likely occurred in Mecklenburg County, but the pine stands we see today were planted here, largely for the purpose of timber production.

The Natural Resources Section has recently coordinated timber harvests within the nature preserves to remove a few of the Loblolly Pine plantations in our nature preserves and allow a natural community to become re-established. In some areas, the native Shortleaf Pine has been planted to help accelerate the process. In areas where erosion and other issues might occur as a result of harvesting a complete Loblolly Pine stand, the removal of only a portion of the trees in the stand (thinning) becomes a better option.

But how does wildlife respond to the thinning of a Loblolly Pine stand? In an effort to ensure that forest management efforts will benefit or enhance the biodiversity of our nature preserves , Natural Resources staff are conducting a three year study in Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge to document the diversity of wildlife in a Loblolly Pine stand in which a third of the trees were removed. The first year of data was collected before the trees were harvested and an additional two years of data will be collected post harvest.

The data is being collected each fall through various wildlife surveys, including point counts for birds, live trapping of small mammals and inventories of target insect groups. This September, in the first round of surveys after the harvest, a dramatic increase in wildlife abundance and diversity is already being observed.

White-footed Mouse

Measuring a Hispid Cotton Rat

Community & Recreation Centers Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center: Keeping it Fit! On Tuesday September 6th, the Seniors came together to participate in the Fit and Fun Seniors. While using weights, resistance bands, participants were able to get a full body workout. Some of the exercises included, shoulder raises, alphabet exercising for upper body strength, leg extensions and more! Gladly listening to the best of the 50’s and 60’s, the seniors were able to have fun, participate, and learn home exercises for daily routines.

For more information, call 980-314-1111, or email BetteRaeThomasRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers North Mecklenburg Senior Center - Lunch & Learn: Charlotte’s Role in the American Revolution: On Monday, September 12th, our Seniors enjoyed a “virtual walk” on Charlotte’s role in the American Revolution. Our presenter, Robert Ryals, owner of Walkin’ Talkin’ Tours LLC (walkintalkintours.com), focused on one section of the Liberty Walk in Uptown Charlotte. Some of the topics included, “the Significance of the Mecklenburg Declaration”, “the dramatic Summer of 1780”, and “the Significance of General Nathanial Greene”. Mr. Ryals demonstrated the procedures for priming, loading, and firing an 18th century flintlock (a non-firing musket).

This special presentation is part of our Lunch & Learn program. This program is held on select Mondays, for free! For Lunch & Learn, seniors are invited to bring a brown bag lunch to eat with friends, and then we learn a new topic presented by a guest speaker, or staff member! Previous topics have included, the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, The Walking Company, Charlotte Air Quality, The History of Coloring, The Life of the Monarch Butterfly and Pinterest. The next Lunch & Learn is scheduled for Monday, September 26th at 11am (presentation begins at 11:30am) with Charlotte Radiology presenting “A Discussion on Lung Cancer Screening.”

For more information about our programs and events, call 980-314-1127, or email NorthMecklenburgSeniorCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: Lil’ RAY Basketball Naomi Drenan Recreation Center is going into Week 1 in the Lil’ RAY Basketball League. The Lil’ RAY basketball league offers a safe, dynamic and competitive environment for young athletes ages 3 & 4. The league helps to discover and to develop the skills and techniques necessary to succeed on both offense and defense. Participants will also learn the basic rules, skills and teamwork involved with basketball. Athletes are sure to gain an understanding of the sport and further develop their technique and motor skills.

For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1100.

Community & Recreation Centers Tom Sykes Recreation Center: New Afterschool Program Tom Sykes Recreation Center is proud to introduce an all NEW Afterschool program by stepping “Into the Wild!� This program is designed to teach and familiarize kids with nature and to get them exploring the outdoor world. Into the Wild series lasts 10 weeks and is $6 per class. Each week participants create a variety of nature projects, explore the outdoors, draw or write inserts in their nature journals, learn basic knowledge of animals and plants and also learn an outdoor survival skill each week! A special thank you to Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center for allowing us to borrow life jackets to teach the importance of life jacket safety and how to properly wear one. Participants loved sharing stories and giving examples to when they wear a life jacket.

For more information about Tom Sykes Recreation Center programs, contact staff at (980) 314-1113 or email TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

INTO THE WILD

Community & Recreation Centers Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: Sport Fishing Naomi Drenan Recreation Center hosted its first “Sport Fishing� program in cooperation with Reedy Creek Nature Preserve. 10 participants ranging in age from 5-40 years of age embarked on a fishing trip from NDRC, leaving at 9:00AM from the center and fishing from 9:30AM-11:15AM. It was a challenge to keep all the young anglers from getting tangled and staying baited, but at the end of the program everyone had ample time to learn how to cast, reel, and bait the hook. Several of the participants started off the day scared of the worms, but overcame their fear to get a few bites from fish of their own. No official fish was reeled to shore, but several were on the line. Many of the kids enjoyed the hike to the lake as well, learning about the local beaver population as well as spotting some Anole lizards.

For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1100.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Afterschool Cheerleading Berewick Recreation Center started a new afterschool program- Cheerleadingthis fall with a full roster of 12 girls ages 5-11 years. With assistance from a volunteer coach, the girls are learning cheers and jumps. They even get to show them off to the afterschool basketball team. This 4-week program is a jumpstart for Berewick as we will offer Youth Cheerleading during the Youth Basketball season. Registration will begin October 1 for cheerleading and basketball.

For more information about more Berewick afterschool programs, contact us at: BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1102.

Community & Recreation Centers Albermarle Road Recreation Center: The Tortoise and the Hare “The Tortoise and The Hare” musical was performed at Albemarle Road Recreation Center. The wonderful acting cast from Opera Xpress performed in the middle of the week and closed out their dress rehearsals with a community performance on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. Opera Xpress presented the animated musical telling of “The Tortoise & The Hare”, which was adapted from Aesop’s classic fable and set to the music of Rossini. The 35-minute-long musical performance told the story that preparation and determination can overcome obstacles to the suitable audience of about 25 kids in grades K-5. Parents also stayed to enjoy the free performance. The actors even entertained a Questions and answers session at the end of their performances.

Don’t miss out on the returning Opera Xpress planned community performance in November 2016.

For more details about the upcoming musical performance at Albemarle Road Recreation Center please contact us at 980-314-1101 or email us at AlbermarleRoadRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Ivory Baker Recreation Center: Youth ‘N’ Motion: School is back and so is the Anita Stroud after school. Every Friday the kids are rewarded with games in the gym during Youth ‘N’ Motion. All of the children were taught games from Dr. Recess that are used for Achieve 225 program with CMS. Everyone enjoyed being active in a new way playing guard the cookie jar, crazy cones, and using their imaginary jump rope.

For more information: Call 980-314-1112 or e-mail IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Sugaw Creek Recreation Center: 3Rd Annual Sickle Cell Run/Walk On Saturday, August 27th Hidden Valley Optimist Club sponsored Cross Country for Youth from Sugaw Creek Recreation Center and Idlewild Elementary School to participate in the 3rd Annual Sickle Cell Run / Walk 3K. The event was held at S. Mint Street between Romare Bearden Park and BB & T Baseball stadium.

Community & Recreation Centers Hickory Grove Recreation Center: Charlotte Reach Reach is Charlotte Ballet’s nationally recognized outreach dance scholarship program. Reach is a community outreach need based dance scholarship program which makes quality dance training accessible twice a week, September– April, to students who demonstrate a natural talent for movement and the potential to be trained in dance. Reach is a three-year scholarship dance program that makes beginning level, quality dance training accessible to students who demonstrate a natural talent for movement and the potential to be trained in dance. The program affords children the opportunity to access quality dance training in their neighborhoods free of charge promoting self-esteem, discipline, a strong work ethic and an appreciation for the arts. September 8th will mark the 2nd year that Hickory Grove has hosted this successful program.

For more information on programs please contact us at 980-314-1122 or email us at HickoryGroveRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Sports & Fitness and GC/ALMS Youth Flag Football The 2016 youth flag football season started on a hot note - temperature and games! It was a full day at Veterans Park with 19 teams participating from age 5 to 10. Come and check it out- you may be watching the next Cam Newton, J Stew or Luke! Regular season play continues every Saturday until early November. Single elimination tournament play begins in November for the 9-10 league.

For more information, email YouthSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call Revolution Park Sports Academy at (980) 314-1116.

Sports & Fitness and GC/ALMS Youth Soccer The 2016 youth soccer season started on a hot note- temperature and games!

All 18 team ages 5 to 10 came out kicking! Come on out and catch a couple games! You may see a future USA soccer team member in the making! Games are on Saturday’s at Harrisburg Park and Berewick Park. Regular season play continues until early November. Single elimination tournament play begins in November for the 9-10 league.

For more information, email YouthSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call Revolution Park Sports Academy at (980) 314-1116.

Sports & Fitness and GC/ALMS Adult Men’s Basketball Men’s B summer league will be ending their regular season games this coming Tuesday September 20th. Playoff games will start on September 22nd.Games are played at Ivory Baker Recreation Center on Tuesday evenings starting at 7pm and at Tuckaseegee Recreation Center on Thursday evenings starting at 7pm. There is a total of five teams participating in the league this season.

For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, email AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.govor call us at 980-343-1117.

Sports & Fitness and GC/ALMS Adult Volleyball Co-Rec grass summer season came to an end on Tuesday September 13th.

Games were played at Nevins Park on Tuesday evenings starting at 6:30pm.

There was a total of ten teams that participated in the league this season. “Melissa/Andy� became the champions this season.

For more information on adult volleyball please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, email AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call us at 980-314-1356.

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (980) 314-1000

Recreate All Year!

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

The Friday Letter Volume 6 • Issue 35• September 16, 2016

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 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