Post on 11-Mar-2016
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In The News: Park Vol-Ops
This past week provided for
beneficial volunteer work
in the parks and for great
volunteer opportunities.
Vance High School students
worked hard to clear out
the planter beds from the
summer plantings at
Mallard Creek Recreation
Center.
Ardrey Kell High School
students raked leaves and
picked up sticks at Elon Rec‐
reation Center.
Garringer High School
helped out at the Mecklen‐
burg County cemetery by
cleaning up limb debris.
Vanguard Investment
employees cleared a large
amount of invasives and
underbrush along the front
of Boyce Park.
Thank‐you very much,
volunteers!
See Park Scenes on back
page for picture.
World-Renowned Public Garden Designer to Visit Charlotte
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation will welcome Lynden Miller, a world‐renowned pub‐
lic garden designer, to Charlotte to speak about the importance of preserving open space and
making places memorable.
The event, which is open to the public, will take place Oct. 25, at
6 p.m., in Tate Hall (inside the Overcash Building), on
the campus of Central Piedmont Community College. Parking is
available at the Student/Faculty deck off 4th Street.
this issue Park News P.1
Enterprise Services P.2
Nature Preserves & Natural Resources P.3
Community & Recreation Center Services P.4
I S S U E
S e p t e m b e r 2 8 2 0 1 2
54 WEEKLY
NEWSLETTER OF THE
PARK AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT FridayFridayLetterLetter THE
Play in the 2012 Fall Men’s A and Men’s B Basketball Leagues has started. Games are played every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Grady Cole Center. Regular season basketball play continues in the Men’s 40+ and Women’s League, however both leagues are nearing the end of the season then the playoffs will begin. The Men’s 30+ basketball fall league will begin October 7th at the Better Rae Thomas Center. Weekly volleyball leagues are currently being played at the Tom Sykes, Wallace Pruitt, and West Charlotte Recreation Centers. On Thursday, September 27th the Co‐Rec AA League which is the most competitive volleyball started league at the Better Rae Thomas Center. In addition to the volleyball, flag football and basketball leagues, fall softball games are being played at Renaissance Park and Nevin Park each Monday through Thursday. On October 6th a 7v7 and 11v11 Men’s Soccer League will start play at Elon Park.
Adult Athletics News
Open Enrollment & Charitable Giving The end of the year is approaching and that means it's time to start thinking about Open Enrollment, that one time of year when we make our decisions about health care benefits for next year. First, the good news. Mecklenburg County will be staying with Cigna in 2013 and you will see no increase in your premiums. All of Cigna’s medical and dental options remain available to you next year. There are two changes worth noting, both are brought about because of federal health care reform. There will be additional preventive care for women including an annual “well woman” visit and multiple screening and counseling options. Second is a change in the limit for Flex Spending accounts. The $4,000 limit has been reduced to $2,500 per employee. You can get additional details on MeckWeb. Online Open Enrollment runs November 5 through November 16. If you do not enroll during that time, you will not have insurance coverage next year. We’ll remind you via email again as we get closer to the sign‐up date. Supplemental insurance options are being offered again this year and the Pierce Group will once again be offering information sessions starting October 4. Sign‐up is available right now through myHR.
Just a Reminder...
Eagle Scouts (Boy Scouts of America) Eagle Scout is the highest
rank attainable in the Boy
Scouting program of the Boy
Scouts of America (BSA). A
Scout who attains this rank
is called an Eagle Scout or
Eagle. Since its introduction
in 1911, the Eagle Scout
rank has been earned by
more than 2 million young
men. The title of Eagle Scout
is held for life, thus giving
rise to the phrase "Once an
Eagle, always an Eagle."
Requirements include earn‐
ing at least 21 merit badges
and demonstrating Scout
Spirit through the Boy Scout
Oath and Law, service, and
leadership. This includes an
extensive service project
that the Scout plans, organ‐
izes, leads, and manages.
Eagle Scouts are presented
with a medal and a badge
that visibly recognizes the
accomplishments of the
Scout. Additional recogni‐
tion can be earned through
Eagle Palms, awarded for
completing additional ten‐
ure, leadership, and merit
badge requirements.
Eagle Scout Project at Reedy Creek Last weekend Phong Dinh completed his eagle scout project at Reedy Creek Nature Center. In the past, the Nature Center experienced problems with mud washing down onto an adjoining sidewalk. Phong Dinh demonstrated leadership and initiative in raising funds for this project as well as installing the new retaining wall pictured below. Phong and his crew did a fantastic job and now the site is ready for new native plants that will go in the ground next week.
Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities
After School Youth Basketball League Tom Sykes Recreation Center just began its after school basketball league. The center is part‐nering with Dilworth Elementary School to offer a basketball program for 7‐10 year olds. The school offered scholarships for families that needed assistance. 21 kids are participating and 9 kids took advantage of the scholarships. The program is six weeks long and the kids will have four games and have received a jersey. Staff would like to thank Principal Terry Hall and her staff for their assistance with this program.
Tom Sykes Recreation Center For more information about programs at Tom Sykes Recreation Center, contact TomSykesRec‐reationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 704.432.4803
Arbor Glen Mural Comes to Life On Saturday, September 22, 2012 Arbor Glen Outreach Center partnered with The Mission Continues, City Dive Outreach Center, and over 40 youth, teen, and adult volunteers to create a beautiful mural. This project outlined programs within the center supported by the commu‐nity including Karate, the Korean Senior Center, Youth Sports, Mini‐Chef and so much more. This allowed the children to engage in cultural arts and gave everyone involved an opportunity to work together.
Did You Know ~ What’s a Mural?What’s a Mural?
A mural is any piece of art‐work painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent sur‐face. A particularly distin‐guishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmo‐niously incorporated into the picture. Murals are important in that they bring art into the public sphere.
“...murals are a lasting work of art for the commu‐nity and a source of pride and accomplishment for the young people who cre‐ate it.”
Scenes from events: Arbor Glen Recreation Center Youth partici‐pating in the Mural Comes to Life and Community Plants Garden.
Mecklenburg County Heart Walk On Saturday September 22, 2012, Mecklenburg County developed a program to allow all depart‐ments to help raise awareness for heart disease and to get donations. The money was raised for the American Heart Association that will be used for research that will continue to help educate our communities so we can prevent heart attacks or allow those to be treated for heart dis‐ease. Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center formed “Team BRT” to support anyone living with heart disease, those that survived and in remembrance of people we’ve lost. The team goal was $300 but they were able to exceed their goal with little over $400!!!! Go Team BRT!! Mecklen‐burg County is on track to meet the overall of $11,000. Thanks again our wonderful team.
Community Plants Garden at Arbor Glen Youth and adults contributed their time, strength and excitement to planting a floral garden at the Arbor Glen Outreach Center on Saturday, September 22, 2012.
Arbor Glen Recreation Center For more information on programs and events at Arbor Glen Recreation Center, please email ArborGlenOutreachCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 704.432.1531.
Bette Rae Thomas Recreation offers Jump Rope X‐treme
Participants get it jumping with Jump X‐treme!!!! Jump X‐treme offers participants the op‐portunity to get fit, learn double dutch & jump rope techniques while having fun. Classes are beginning now!!! Scholarships are available. For more information con‐tact BetteRaeThomasRec‐reationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or 705.432.3048.
Fun Facts: The number of calories burned jumping rope amazes everyone, who is trying to become fit with this readily handy item (a jump rope). On average, it burns about 12 calories per minute, but in‐creasing the intensity of the performed jumps, you can increase the calories up to 20 per one minute.
Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities
Recreational News from Mecklenburg Communities NEMO Basketball and Cheerleading Arbor Glen launched the 2nd season of NEMO (3&4) basketball and 1st Cheerleading Squad on Saturday, September 22, 2012. Teams from Arbor Glen, Methodist Homes, and Ivory Baker will participate in fun and non‐competitive games over the next 6 weeks. The NEMO sports program is designed to give 3‐4 year olds an opportunity to learn basic sports fundamentals in a team environment while encouraging social and team building skills.
Did You Know ~ Cheerleading is Cheerleading is Exercise!Exercise! With cheerleading you will have a mix of dedication, strength, and talent. It's sport and art wrapped into one package, and any per‐formance is a product of practice, ingenuity, comrade‐ship, and then more practice‐and it's a lot of fun! Cheerleading is a sport for both men and women that emphasis team effort, per‐sonal discipline and nutrition. Check out the Fall 2012 Get Going Guide for more infor‐mation on cheering opportu‐nities in your community!
County B-Cyclers: Be Sure to Wear Your Helmets
On August 1, 2012, a bike‐sharing program began service in Charlotte. Called B‐Cycle, the program allows people to rent bikes from 20 stations throughout Uptown and other areas. Charlotte B‐Cycle was made possible through the collaboration of a public/private partner‐ship that includes BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina, Carolinas Healthcare System, Verizon, the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Charlotte Center City Partners Community Trust. Charlotte B‐Cycle is not controlled or operated by Mecklenburg County. However, some of the B‐Cycle stations are located in or convenient to County facilities. In accordance with OSHA regulation, County employees who participate in the B‐Cycle program or otherwise voluntarily use a bicycle during their workday must wear a bicycle helmet. To learn more about Charlotte B‐Cycle, visit Charlotte.bcycle.com.
It’s All About INVOLVEMENT.
The Therapeutic Recreation vi-
sion is ...
To provide therapeutic recrea‐
tion services for individuals who
have disabilities that focus on
abilities, rather than disabilities
and encourage people to attain
their highest level of independ‐
ent leisure functioning by in‐
creasing leisure skills, improving
social and communication skills,
increasing independent living
skills and increasing their aware‐
ness of and involvement in com‐
munity recreational activities; to
advocate for and ensure inclu‐
sive opportunities in all program
services; to act as advocates for
individuals with disabilities by
promoting accessibility at all
Department parks, facilities,
programs, special events and
classes.
Don’t Forget to… MAKE CHILDREN SMILE.
Go the extra mile, with a smile!
The Gifted Gardeners prepare for voters… Since the Marion Diehl Recreation Center will be used as a polling place for early voting as well as on Election Day, the Gifted Gar‐deners wanted to do their part to help the Center look its best! During their class on Tues‐day, September 25, these dedicated horticulture students who have disabilities prepared the “wall pockets” for this all‐American occasion by planting red, white and blue pansies, along with many other attractive herbs and fall vegetable plants. For more information, contact Karen Howard with the Therapeutic Recreation Section, 704‐432‐0237.
Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation Adult Weekday Participant— Gifted Gardeners
Recreate All Year!
Park and Recreation News:
Submissions for the Newsletter
Please submit all news for the
Friday Letter to your Division
Director for review and routing.
Park Partners may contact
Kesha Meads at
Kesha.Meads@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
for publication assistance.
The Friday Letter Issue 54 September 28, 2012
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
Lola Massad, Community Services and
Recreation Centers
Jeff Robinson, Park Operations
5841 Brookshire Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840
It all happens on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Freedom Park. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and transporta‐tion will be provided from several County facilities if you indicate that you need it on your RSVP.
Vance High School students worked hard to clear out the planter beds from the sum‐
mer plantings at Mallard Creek Recreation Center.