The Friday Letter | February 23, 2018

The

Accounting Tip for the week:

Make sure to use SharePoint to retrieve the most up-to-date contract templates.

Community & Recreation Centers Tyvola Senior Center’s Food Critics Gathering with rumbling stomachs and an eye for adventure on Valentine’s Day, participants at Tyvola Senior Center took a trip to Amelie’s for the launch of the newest program called Tyvola Senior Center’s Food Critics. This program is designed for participants to travel together and critique different restaurants in a variety of areas in the Charlotte, NC area. The first restaurant that was visited was Amelie’s French Bakery Café and it was a smashing hit. Participants rated Amelie’s as a five-star restaurant with an eccentric atmosphere, excellent food, and phenomenal customer service. Merci to Amelie’s for being the first visit of Tyvola Senior Center’s Food Critics and being a wonderful host to our participants.

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

Community & Recreation Centers Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services: Challenger Basketball - Youth Our Challenger Team is leaving it all on the basketball court! We’re learning and building the skills to play the game. Each week, players work on dribbling, shooting, passing, and working with teammates through active mini games and drills. As the program progresses, players scrimmage each week to put all their skills together as parents, friends, and volunteers cheer them on!

Danielle.Dobbs@MeckNC.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Shamrock Senior Center: Intergenerational Black History Stop Light Event In celebration of Black History Month, the seniors at Shamrock Senior Center hosted 13 children from Pride and Joy Daycare to learn about the history of stoplight. The seniors worked with the children to create different stoplights.

The first stoplight that was created was a paper stoplight. During this activity, the children learned about Garret Morgan, the American inventor and community leader who invented the first stoplight. After talking about Garret Morgan, the children got to get their hands a little messy and made edible stop lights.

They used graham crackers, icing, popsicle sticks and M&M’s to create the cutest snack! To finish the event, the seniors and children all played red-light green -light in the gym and got a lot of energy out. It was a great event that allowed the seniors interact with the children in our community and a great opportunity for the children to learn some important history.

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

Community & Recreation Centers Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: Valentine’s Day Dance This past Friday, a Valentine’s Day party was held for the local teens in the community. As the teens gathered in the multipurpose room, they were treated with pizza, drinks, and music. The teens had a great time enjoying the music and food. We are looking forward to making this an annual tradition moving forward.

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: Private Bike Lessons Staff at Tom Sykes Recreation Center want to keep the ball rolling on bike programs and advocacy in Charlotte… so we began offering bike lessons for any and all who are interested. Pictured below are two sisters who were taught to ride

by Gabe Hackney over the course of 2 hours at the new Bike Playground outside of Arbor Glen Outreach Center on Sunday Feb. 18th. After a short “strider bike” lesson with no pedals, the girls both successfully rode with pedals alone after a few minutes of building up their confidence! By the end of the lesson the girls were riding confidently and had mastered quick stops, avoidance weaving, and turn signals. The family came all the way from Lexington, NC to learn to ride and didn’t leave disappointed.

For more information about our programs here at Tom Sykes, call us at 980-314-1113 or email us at TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Tom Sykes Recreation Center: Fort Building!

Tom Sykes Recreation Center’s afterschool program has taken a creative route on education for kids during our Fort Building day. Our staff created lesson plans that detail and instruct kids through hands on activities by teaching kids about different types of structures and forts that they could encounter. This past week we learned about‌ TUNNELS! Participants created tunnels from many different materials and tested their strength by placing weights and sometimes kids on top and through them. The crowd favorite was the life-size tunnel from our large blocks and mats stretching across the room that saw kids get pushed through them on roller seats.

For more information about our programs here at Tom Sykes, call us at 980-314-1113 or email us at TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Little Tykes Art Classes The children that attend our Little Tykes Art classes are always creating various art & craft projects to take home. Last week, the children painted a special Valentine’s Day masterpiece to take home. The children painted a special watercolor painting of apples as well. Classes are on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 10am of each month. We are going to begin offering Little Tykes Art classes on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday evenings starting March 6th at 6pm.

For more information about our preschool programs at Berewick, call us at 980-314-1102 or email at BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Parent’s Night Out-Valentine’s Day Berewick Recreation Center held a Parent’s Night Out program specifically for Valentine’s Day evening. Parents were able to go out and celebrate Valentine’s day while their children could play, have fun with their peers in a safe environment. The participants enjoyed fresh popped popcorn for a snack. With Christian losing at board games to the kids and Darius showing no mercy on the Wii. Regardless, the children had a blast.

For more information about our preschool programs at Berewick, call us at 980-314-1102 or email at BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center: JAZZ FEST On Thursday, February 15 Bette Rae Thomas hosted “Love, Soul & Jazz” in conjuction with the Arts & Science Council. Over 70 spectators took part in the festivities which included the Dapper Street Jazz Band and special guest singing appearance by Nicci Canada. In addition to the music, the event allowed designated time for a community mingle between neighbors. Please note our spring sport registrations are all in progress until the end of February – so sign up now!!! More programs for youth, adults, and seniors are on the way!

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

Community & Recreation Centers Methodist Home Recreation Center: School Day Out @ Discovery Place This week our After School Program blasted off on its first School Day Out activity of the year! Our non-CMS After School Program participants didn’t have to make up a snow day and were able to join us for a fun-filled day at Discovery Place. We attended a few shows and even got to participate in the experiments! The adventures with the most buzz from the day were the hands-on opportunities they were able to get with the wildlife and seeing Wonders of The Artic in IMAX. For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities, contact MethodistHomeRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980-314-1123.

Community & Recreation Centers Hickory Grove Recreation Center: Girl Scouts Presented by the Hornets’ Nest This past Tuesday, we hosted our first Girl Scouts series called “Free Being Me.” The young girls were super excited to get to know more about the organization and the all the fun activities that they’ll get to do each other. Our leader, Ms. Donna said the girls really loved the activity they did and was able to share their thoughts with the other girls in the class.

After they were done sharing, Ms. Donna showed them how to do the girl scouts circle and the they absolutely loved it. We will continue this series for another 5 weeks and move on to another one such as STEM. So please be on the look out to see what new activities we will have at The Grove.

For more information, please contact the Hickory Grove Recreation Center at 980-314-1122 or send us a email at HickoryGroveRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov ; don’t forget to check out www.ParkAndRec.com for other more fun activities county wide.

Community & Recreation Centers Ivory/Baker Recreation Center: Tots At Play Education Let’s go and get fit! This past Wednesday our preschoolers got fit while moving their hips through an exciting obstacle course, where they hopped, crawled, and jumped! The obstacle course included a letter recognition component to help the participants learn their alphabet. The preschoolers loved this creative obstacle course! So next time, why don’t you get down, and try your luck in the “Alphabet Obstacle” course!!!

For more information about our programs, please call 980-314-1112 or email IvoryBakerRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Sugaw Creek Recreation Center: Black History Extravaganza Sugaw Creek Recreation Center just conducted their Annual Black History Extravaganza. Hidden Valley Community Leaders served as guest speakers which included CMPD Retiree Mr. Al Hamilton and SCRC Senior Club President Ms. Flo Walker. Mr. Hamilton presented historical photos, awards and history lessons of his career and family.

The remaining program activities consisted of black history quiz bowl, arts & crafts (Garrett Morgan stop lights with graham crackers, frosting & M & M’s), black history coloring sheet contest and playing African American games such as jump the broom, hula hoops and running contest For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities please contact SugawCreekRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1124

Community & Recreation Centers West Charlotte: Career Day at University Park Creative Arts School West Charlotte Recreation Center has continued its wonderful partnership with University Park Creative Arts School and attended their career day. Recreation Specialist Phylicia Reshard spoke with all of the first graders about the many different careers within Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.

The students asked some great questions and are very interested in what we have to offer! We played a couple of games and had a great time speaking with the students! We look forward to the next career day.

For more information about our programs here at West Charlotte Recreation Center, call us at 980-314-1120 or email us at WestCharlotteRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS Grady Cole Center On Sunday, February 25th, Miss Donna’s School of Dance will be back at the Grady Cole Center! They will be rehearsing for their upcoming regional competition. Miss Donna has been teaching and making dreams come true since 1956! The rehearsal will be closed to the public.

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS

Grady Cole Center and American Legion Memorial Stadium 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

Volunteer Services/Special Events Grand Opening at Jetton Park!

On February 20, Park & Recreation hosted a stellar gathering for the Grand Opening of the newly-renovated Waterfront Pavilion at Jetton Park! BOCC Chairperson Ella Scarborough, County Manager Dena Diorio, Assistant County Manager & Acting Park & Recreation Dept. Director Leslie Johnson and District 1 Commissioner Jim Puckett all presented their words and compliments. The ribbon-cutting ceremony also included: several representatives from CDesign, architects for the project; Park & Recreation Commissioner Sterling Martin, Commissioner Thurman Ross from the Town of Cornelius, Maintenance Supervisor Ann Moody and other Park & Recreation staff. During the event, a number of patrons of Jetton Park stopped by, and all were impressed by the beauty of this new facility, which in years past served as a “bike barn.� Residents will surely be eager to use the Pavilion for family reunions, wedding receptions, and other large parties and events!

Volunteer Services/Special Events Saturday and Weekday Projects Are Ready to Roll!

Projects in our beautiful Parks are very popular for community, school and corporate groups! Coming out to help with landscaping, mulching, tree-trimming, planting and general grounds maintenance gives these groups a chance to give back to their community in a BIG way! Volunteer groups are there to SUPPORT and SUPPLEMENT our staff and the work they do, and Volunteers help to accomplish projects that might not otherwise be completed. THANK YOU to Park & Recreation staff who create and supervise these projects, and who WELCOME groups of Volunteers on a regular basis from March through mid-November.

Coaches Continue To Register For Spring Sports!

Volunteer Services is receiving application approvals for Coaches for Indoor Soccer, Track & Field, Baseball and T-ball daily – THANK YOU to Park & Recreation staff who are keeping their Coach Requests updated! Please contact us anytime if you have questions about the application process – remember that ALL coaches MUST have a current, approved background check! Approvals are active for a full year.

If a coach was just approved in the fall or winter, he/she does NOT need to reapply.

If a coach’s approval will lapse during the season, have them renew NOW!

For more information on volunteering for any of our programs or projects, please contact: Lori Saylor at 980-314-1045 Lori.Saylor@MeckNC.gov Karen Howard at 980-314-1046 Karen.Howard@MeckNC.gov Janet Whitley at 980-314-1047 Janet.Whitley@MeckNC.gov Pamela Thomas at 980-314-1059 Pamela.Thomas@MeckNC.gov PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/adult who is at least 21 years old. *Volunteers working in the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Section must be at least 18 years old.

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 8 • Issue 08 • February 23, 2018

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 Leslie Johnson, Interim Director Michael Kirschman, Deputy Director Renea Barber, Human Resources Lorraine Bias, Sr. Fiscal Administrator Lee Jones, Capital Planning Terri Stowers, Community and Recreation Center Services Peter Cook, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources