The Friday Letter | November 17, 2017

The

Accounting Tips for the week: Deposit ticket, Cash Receipt, and DRR should be sent to accounting for each deposit.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Winter Wildlife Now that the weather is getting colder, it is a good time to get outdoors and visit a nature preserve. Mecklenburg County is the home of many species of wildlife. Fall and winter is a great time to observe nature. While reptiles and amphibians will probably be taking cover and may not be seen much, other species are more visible. It may be a little cool to be on the water, but this is a great time to view our migratory waterfowl.

Many colorful ducks are in the area and may be observed on ponds or near the lakeshore. Wood ducks, mallards, Northern shovelers, Northern pintails are among the dabbling ducks you may see. Ringnecks, red heads and mergansers are some of the diving ducks that come through the area.

Remember winter safety and keep warm and dry, but do visit local water bodies and see how many birds you can find!

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Grand Opening of the Flat Branch Nature Preserve This past Wednesday, November 15, 2017, marked the Grand Opening of The Flat Branch Nature Preserve. This new asset is located in South Charlotte at 11833 Tom Short Road and boasts 42-acres of trails and beautiful green forests.

The wooden elevated trail allows patrons to explore the preserve without harming the indigenous wildlife. Several County and Park commissioners were on-site for the celebration.

For more information about this and other Nature Preserves, please visit our website www.parkandrec.com.

Community & Recreation Centers Methodist Home Recreation Center: After School Program The MHRC After School Program is still up and running! We are excited to continue working with our students. We place an importance on homework and academic excellence. We also like for our students to be able to participate in fun arts and crafts, like making slime, and also enjoy gym time.

For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities, contact MethodistHomeRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980-314-1123.

Community & Recreation Centers BAARN Presentation at Farm City Week Event!

On November 9th Mecklenburg County celebrated Farm City Week with a tour of the Westmoreland Farm followed by a farm to table luncheon. Over fifty participants came out to learn about the role that the agriculture industry plays in Mecklenburg County. Stephanie Frisbee, Facility Manger I of the Mallard Creek Recreation Center shared a brief presentation on the BAARN entrepreneurship program. BAARN which stands for Bringing Accessible Agriculture Recreationally Now, just finished up its first year as an entrepreneurship component of the Recreation Employment Corp Program. The two interns of the program learned about the agriculture industry in North Carolina and Mecklenburg County. They created a business plan based on market vegetable production while participating in all aspects of growing vegetables at the Mallard Creek Recreation Center. The program included research, field trips to farms, teaching and leading educational programs, and presentations on the BAARN program. Next year the BAARN program will continue to grow, employing five mentees.

For more information about the BAARN program or to get an application for the program, please contact the Mallard Creek Recreation Center at 980-314-1121 or MallardCreekRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Albemarle Road Recreation Center: History in the Making The Lady Rams of the Albemarle Road Recreation Center held their first official practice on Monday, October 13th. At first glance, they look very athletic. This is the first year Albemarle Road Recreation center has had an all-girls basketball team in the county wide winter league. Wallace Pruitt and Sugaw Creek Recreation Center get ready for the Mighty Rams of ARRC. For more information on youth programming at Albemarle Road Recreation contact 980-314-1101.

Community & Recreation Centers Sugaw Creek Recreation Center: Fall Sports Banquet Last Thursday, over 70 parents and junior athletes gathered to celebrate another excellent season at the Fall Youth Sports Banquet. Families and friends gathered to cheer on our youth soccer and flag football stars as they received their awards. This past season, Sugaw Creek Recreation competed in the Mecklenburg County league with 2 soccer teams and 1 flag football team. Our goal is to double the amount of participation for next season!

For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities please contact SugawCreekRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1124

Community & Recreation Centers Shamrock Senior Center: Nature Club Take a Field Trip to Reedy Creek Park The Nature Club at Shamrock had a great invitation to tour Reedy Creek Park and their nature museum last week. Laura Domingo, a naturalist at Reedy Creek Nature Center has been leading the nature club at Shamrock Senior Center and invited us to come visit her center. The participants bundled up and headed out to explore the gardens and wildlife that the beautiful facility has to offer. Many of the trees and plants reminded the seniors of their younger years, when they were children and explored the outdoors where they lived. After touring the gardens, Laura took the participants inside to tour the Nature Center to see the animals and explore The James F. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies. This was a great opportunity for the partakers at Shamrock to use another Park and Recreation facility for a learning opportunity.

For more information about upcoming programs and events contact us at 704.531.9101 or ShamrockSeniorCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Tyvola Senior Center: Veterans Day Breakfast Appreciation Veterans enjoyed a delicious breakfast as they shared their most memorable moments while they served during war time. It was an intimate time for the Veterans and their spouses to be acknowledged for their service to our country.

The Veterans were grateful for the partnership and sponsorship provided by Skyland Family Restaurant and Elmcroft of Little Avenue in making the breakfast a success.

For more information about upcoming programs at Tyvola Senior Center contact us at 980.314.1320 or TyvolaSeniorCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Tom Sykes Recreation Center: Volleyball Clinic This past weekend Tom Sykes Recreation Center hosted it’s second group volleyball clinic for the fall season. The girls worked hard as they persevered through a two-hour workout with ladders, hills, suicides and agility stations as well as a variety of volleyball drills. The second half of the day was used enhancing our volleyball skills with target serving, passing, setting as well as running plays with our outside, middle and right side hitters. Our strength and conditioning coach, Christine Velez, also came out to loosen up the girls with a variety of dynamic movements that in all decreases the chance for injuries. Two of our girls who attend our private and group clinics just recently tried out for the U15 National Team! We wish them luck!

To learn more about our group and/or private lessons, contact Tom Sykes Recreation Center at 980-314-1113 or email us at TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Jr. Chefs International Berewick started the second session of Jr. Chefs, but this time it is of international flare. The children get to prepare food and also learn about nutrition.

Each week the children make a different dish representing a country. Week one was Mexico in which we made tacos and nachos. Week 2 we made fried rice in a bowl! Week 3 and 4 will be Italian and American food, respectfully. With 15 participants, we are learning there is an interest in the culinary arts field, especially for children!

For more information about our programs, contact staff by coming to the office or at BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1102.

Community & Recreation Centers Winget Recreation Center: A Partnership for “Fit-N-Play�

Staff at the Winget Recreation Center has partnered with the CMS Afterschool Enrichment Program (ASEP) to conduct a weekly Fit-N-Play program for their students. Fit-N-Play is a co-ed program designed to promote participation in fun physical activities for elementary aged children afterschool. ASEP participants engage in fitness and exciting physical activities with their peers lead by Winget Recreation Staff in the gym during this time. This program is held twice weekly inside the Winget Gymnasium.

For more information regarding Winget program registration, contact Winget Recreation Center at (980) 314-1103 or email WingetRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Elon Recreation Center: Elon’s “Fall Awards Ceremony” Elon Recreation Center hosted their Fall Sport Trophy Ceremony on Wednesday Nov. 8th. The athletes had one final chance to play and have fun with their teammates before ending the season. Games like bowling, racing, and archery were all the activities kids got a chance to play prior to starting the ceremony.

Once the program started, kids waited patiently and quietly for their name to be called to receive their award. After the athletes received their reward, everyone said their last goodbyes and did one final breakdown before departing.

For more information regarding youth athletics and programming, contact Elon Recreation Center 980-314-1103 or email ElonRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS Friday Night Fights Live Professional Boxing returns to the Queen City this Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Grady Cole Center. Pretty Girl Promotions presents Friday Night Fights featuring Santario Harris, Jamaal Gregory, and making her professional boxing debut, TNA’s Lei'D Tapa. Doors open at 6 PM. For tickets and more information visit: http://prettygirlpromo.com/. For information on all upcoming events at the Grady Cole Center and American Legion Memorial Stadium, please visit us at: http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/ Facilities/EventFacilities/Pages/Events

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS Senior Games Southview Recreation Center was the place to be on Wednesday afternoon for many of the Park and Recreation Departments Recreation Specialists across the county. More than 35 Recreation Specialists were on hand to receive training for Senior Games events in basketball, football and cornhole.

For more information on Senior Games, visit www.parkandrec.com or connect with us by email at AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or phone at 980-314-1117.

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS Adult Softball It’s Championship Week in Adult Softball across Mecklenburg County. Tuesday at Berewick, 2nd-seeded Lazy Lab Brew Dogs defeated top-seeded Murphy’s by scoring the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning for the Men’s Division II Championship. Three championships were handed out at on Thursday. At Friendship, 2nd-seeded McKoys won the Men’s Division II title, 3rdseeded Straight Pimpin upended top-seeded Ramsay Law for the Co-Rec crown at Nevin and Worse News Bears claimed the Co-Rec Wells Fargo championship with a win at Berewick.

For more information on our Adult Leagues, visit www.parkandrec.com or connect with us by email at AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or phone at 980-314-1117.

Volunteer Services & Special Events BASKETBALL SEASON…Coaches, Coaches, Coaches!!!

Volunteer Services has place more than 100 Volunteer Basketball Coaches so far, with more coming in! We’re off to a GREAT start of the season!!

REMEMBER that ALL Coaches must enroll in the Volunteer Program!

Contact Lori Saylor, Karen Howard and Janet Whitley at VolunteerServices@MeckNC.gov

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (980) 314-1000

Recreate All Year!

Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter to learn of new and exciting way stop 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 7 • Issue 41 • November 17, 2017

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 Peter Cook, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources