The

Solid Waste is sponsoring a booth at The Southern Spring show Feb. 20-21 and Feb. 27-Mar 1. The booth times and shifts for both weekends are: Friday: 9:30 a.m.-8p.m. Volunteer shifts are 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m.; 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m., 1:30p.m.-3:30p.m.; 3:30p.m.-5:30p.m.; 5:30p.m.-8p.m.

Saturday: 9:30a.m.-7p.m. Volunteer shifts are 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m.; 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m., 1:30p.m. - 3:30p.m.; 3:30-5:30p.m.; 5:30p.m.-7p.m.

Sunday: 9:30a.m.-5p.m. Volunteer shifts are 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m.; 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m., 1:30p.m.-3:30p.m.; 3:30p.m.-5p.m.

In exchange for your time, you’ll get free admission to the show after your shift (that’s the big perk), and credit toward vacation hours under the County’s Green Guardian program. If you are interested in vol-unteering to staff the booth please contact Nadine Ford by Friday, Feb. 6 with your availability.

Mecklenburg County News

In case of a power outage, please print out this printable emergency contact list.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Emergency Management

With predictions of cold, wintry weather right around the corner, Mecklenburg County residents are

encouraged to practice the following winter safety tips:

At Home

Keep alternative heating sources prepared. If you have a fireplace, store a good supply of dry, sea-

soned wood. Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your family knows how to use them.

Make sure to turn off alternative heating sources when leaving the home.

Properly vent kerosene heaters and keep any electric generators OUTSIDE and away from any

open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, do not burn charcoal indoors.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from charcoal fumes indoors.

Keep fresh batteries on hand to use with flashlights and weather radios.

Always keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food in your home.

If your pipes are vulnerable to freezing, i.e., they run through an unheated or unprotected space,

consider keeping your faucet at a slow drip when extremely cold temperatures are predicted. Keep a supply of candles available in the event of a power outage. Make sure to keep candles away from flammable objects, such as curtains, and out of the reach of children. Find more tips and information here.

Helpful links

Charlotte area forecast and weather advisories

American Red Cross - Charlotte

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Flood safety tips

CATS Rider Alerts

Mecklenburg County updates

Traffic accidents

Mecklenburg County News

A Little ‘Healthy’ Competition Helps Lead to a Healthier Lifestyle Almost 500 employees committed to focusing on nutrition, activity, hydration, well-being and sleep as part of the 30 Day Lifestyle Challenge during September. They tracked their habits daily and used healthy recipes and weekly “get fit tips” along with some healthy competition to create a healthier life-style. Congratulations to the grand prize Inspiration Award winner, Savannah Anderson, Health Department nurse case manager. Savannah showed an extraordinary commitment to the Challenge and went above and beyond by encouraging and motivating her team members and serving as an example by preparing a healthy lunch to bring to work every day. More information about the County’s employee wellness program offerings is available here.

It’s Not Too Late To Vaccinate: Good Reasons to Get a Flu Shot Flu season is in full swing and by now, chances are you’ve been asked “Have you had your flu shot?” countless times. But there’s good reason for the hype. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over the past few years, the influenza vaccine has prevented millions of flu cases and tens of thousands of related hospitalizations. Flu season generally runs from October through April and getting a flu shot -- along with frequent hand-washing, covering your cough and staying home when you’re sick -- is the best defense against getting the flu. If you’re still not convinced, click here for five reasons why you should get vaccinated.

More information on flu prevention is available here.

Aquatics

One hundred two (102) swimmers competed in a dual swim meet on Wednesday, January 21st from 12pm – 3pm. Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge, Sun Valley, and Weddington High Schools competed.

The South Carolina Conference Champi-onship was held from 11am – 3pm on Monday, January 26. Swimmers were competing for a chance to swim at NC Regionals held at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on Saturday, Feb-ruary 7. Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge, Piedmont, Sun Valley, and Weddington high schools attended.

SPEED-OH! Team Charlotte Swimming hosted the Speedo Western Open this past week-end at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. Swim meet started at 4:30pm on Friday, January 23rd and ran through Sunday, January 25th. The meet is designed as a last chance state qualifying meet for swimmers that have not yet achieved state cuts. Teams from the western part of North Carolina gave their athletes the op-portunity to make a State Meet time. Eight hundred fifty-seven (857) swim-mers took part in this year’s swim meet.

Aquatics

One hundred thirty-two (132) middle school swimmers raced in their conference championship swim meet on Wednesday, January 28 from 12 - 3pm. Participating teams were: Cannon, Charlotte Country Day, Charlotte Latin, Providence Day, and Charlotte Christian.

Community & Recreation Center Services

Ray’s Playhouse at Berewick: Berewick Recreation Center had some special visitors at Ray’s Playhouse this past Saturday. The kids enjoyed the time with their new friends! Ray’s Playhouse is available for various activities and programs. For more information about programs, activities or renting the facility, contact BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov 704-432-4934.

Nature Preserves & Natural Resources

Get Twiggy with it: Last week, staff from the McDowell and Latta Plantation Nature Centers got “twiggy with it” as they learned to identify winter trees and leafless twigs. The lesson included a chilly hike through McDowell Nature Pre-serve, during which Lenny Lampel from Natural Resources helped the staff classify different trees along the trail. The Nature Preserves are open all year long and the Nature Center staff are always happy to share infor-mation about the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit our region.

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

Kier. Harrison

@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 3 • Issue 53 • January 30, 2015

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 Recrea-

tion Center Services

Jeff Robinson, Park Operations

Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and

Natural Resources

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

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, work-place or other points of interest—anywhere in Mecklenburg Coun-ty. Sign up here or call CharMeck 311. To receive CDOT-specific alerts, you must sign up for that item in the list.