The Friday Letter | May 22, 2015

The

Memorial Day honors those who lost their lives while in the military service.

It is traditional to fly the American flag at half mast.

Many people visit national cemeteries where volunteers will place the American flag on each grave.

Memorials are attended as well.

It is a day that marks the start of summer and vacation season.

People will attend picnics, BBQs, sporting events, and spending time with family.

2015

Mecklenburg County News

Park and Recreation Commission Vacancies Effective June 9, the Park and Recreation Commission (PRC) will have 6 vacancies and we are looking for folk to apply that would be strong advocates for all things Park and Recreation! The Park and Recreation Commission is a BOCC appointed board and acts as an advisory council to the Park and Recreation Department. Duties include but are not limited to monthly PRC meetings, leadership on Park and Recreation Citizen Advisory Councils, attendance and participation in Park and Recreation events, ground breakings and grand openings. PRC members advise and advocate for the Department’s master plans, budget requests, park naming petitions, fees and charges and strategic planning and long range financing.

If you know of someone that would be a great fit for the PRC, please ask them to go to the link below and complete an application. Vacancies are in the following park regions:

At Large (2 vacancies) South Region 3 Central Region 2 Central Region 3 North Region 2 http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/CountyManagersOffice/BOCC/AdvisoryBoards/Pages/BoardApplication.aspx

Mecklenburg County News 6 Vacancies as of June 9, 2016 South 3 Central 2 Central 3 North 2 At Large (2)

Aquatics Arena Grand Prix Series: 690 of the best swimmers competed in the Arena Grand Prix Series at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, May 14 – May 17. Michael Phelps, Alison Schmitt, Cullen Jones, Anthony Ervin, and Ryan Lochte were just some of the elite swimmers at the event. This is one of 6 Grand Prix events held each year in the United States.

Nature Preserves & Natural Resources

Community & Recreation Center Services Pee Wee Tee Ball: We wrapped up our Pee Wee T-ball program this past Saturday, May 16. We had 5 weeks full of active fun, with children ages 2-6 with disabilities learning the basics of T-ball, and working on improving gross motor skills. This activity was very parent-involved, and we had a lot of fun!

Community & Recreation Center Services Adaptive Baseball: The Therapeutic Recreation Section closed its latest season of Adaptive Baseball for youth and teens ages 6-21l! Youth and Teen teams gathered at the Adaptive Field at Marion Diehl for baseball every Saturday and Wednesday throughout March-May. The Nationals and The Royals always put on a good game for their fans by shagging ground balls, ripping line drives, and cheering on their teammates.

Community & Recreation Center Services Adaptive Lacrosse: The Therapeutic Recreation section has a new sport in its arsenal; adaptive lacrosse! With the help of a volunteer coach from 1sTouch Youth Development, participants of the TR Section were able to learn the basic skills of lacrosse and are excited for another season!

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Little League Urban Initiative: Myers Park Little League will host the Little League Urban Initiative Jamboree for North Carolina at Randolph Road Park Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2015.

The Little League速 Urban Initiative builds civic pride and social awareness through the sports of baseball and softball. Its main goal is to bring the benefits of Little League to boys and girls in urban neighborhoods and to help community leaders demonstrate the positive influences of citizenship, friendship, teamwork, and physical well-being.

The Little League Urban Initiative Jamboree events welcome regular-season Little League teams from urban communities and neighborhoods to participate in a weekend of fun games, instruction, and other special events, at no cost to their local league. At the end of the weekend, all of the Jamboree participants go home with memories that will last them a lifetime, with one team being crowned as the Jamboree champion. The Little League Urban Initiative is now operating with more than 200 leagues in nearly 85 cities in the United States.

Through the 2014 Little League season, the Little League Urban Initiative has stimulated the participation of 4,000 teams, which equals out to approximately 52,000 players, and has participated in nearly thirty field renovation/ development projects.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA American Legion Memorial Stadium: This Saturday, May 23rd, the Charlotte Hounds professional lacrosse team clashes with the Boston Cannons at 7:00PM. Stick around post-game for a fireworks presentation! For ticket information, visit the Hounds official site at www.charlottehounds.com For more information other exciting upcoming events, email us at GradyCole-MemorialStadium@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Grady Cole Center: The Head2Head Hair Show Battle came to the Queen City this past Saturday.

The event was hosted by Power 98’s Yasmin Young and included a barber and make-up battle, vendor tables, performances, and culminated in the Free Style Fantasy Hair Show. For more information on the show, www.head2headhairbattle.com

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA MLB Pitch, Hit, & Run Sectional Competition: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department hosted the Sectional Competition of MLB Pitch, Hit, & Run event on Sunday, May 17th at Renaissance Park. Boys and Girls ages 7-14 competed in three aspects of baseball/softball: pitching, hitting, and running. This sectional event brings together winners of the local competitions that were held in March – early May in communities of Western North Carolina. For more information about youth sports programs in Mecklenburg County, please visit our website at www.ParkandRec.com, call 704 -432-4963 or email us at YouthSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Adult Women's Volleyball: Women’s volleyball is finishing up their spring regular season with only two games left. Games are played on Thursday evenings at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center starting at 6:30pm. There are a total of 6 teams in the league this season. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-4323095 or 704-336-7639.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Adult Softball: Spring softball leagues are coming to the end of the regular season games.

Games are played Monday-Thursday at Renaissance Park and Co-Rec plays on Thursdays at Nevin Park. There are a total of 94 teams that are participating in the league this season. Playoff games will begin the week after the last regular season game. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-432-3095 or 704-336-7639.

Adult Kickball Tournament: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department recently hosted a spring kickball tournament at Renaissance Park for adults. A total of 6 teams participated in the tournament. For more information on adult leagues and tournaments please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-4323095 or 704-336-7639

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Adult Kickball Tournament: This past Saturday May 9th we hosted our first spring “Let’s Kick It” Kickball tournament at Renaissance Park for adults. There were a total of 5 teams that participated in the tournament. Team MavKicks became the champions of the tournament. For more information on adult leagues and tournaments please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-432-3095 or 704-336-7639.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA Adult Pickleball Tournament: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department recently hosted a spring Pickleball tournament at Jeff Adams Tennis Center for adults, and seniors. There were men’s open double division with Rodney Alman/Ed Bailey taking the gold, men’s senior double division with Robert Thomas/Rod Riegle taking the Gold, mixed open doubles division with Sandra Stewart/Marcus Luke taking the Gold, and mixed seniors division with Valarie Marott/Andy Bailey taking the Gold. We had 18 teams participate in the tournament this weekend. For more information on adult leagues and tournaments please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-432-3095 or 704-336-7639.

GC/MS, Youth & Adult Athletics, RPSA A Day At The Beach: The 5th Annual Jennifer Roberts Volleyball Festival, to benefit Victims of Domestic Violence, was held on Saturday, May 9, at Jeff Adams Tennis Center.

Teams came from throughout the Carolina to play on the beach volleyball courts and show their support. Magic Mike’s BBQ provided lunch for everyone, and Charlotte’s Amy Broome entertained on acoustic guitar during the games.

Proceeds from the Festival benefitted the Safe Alliance domestic violence shelter and the Women’s Commission, Mecklenburg County’s Domestic Violence & Violence Prevention Services for adults and children.

Cooperative Extension Two Mecklenburg County 4-Hers were recently given the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Aliyah Tuckman and Hannah Tuckman were both recognized for their their outstanding community service. They are both busy high school students with jobs, yet they still find time to do what they feel is important - give back to their community through community service.

Hannah and Aliyah are both active Teen Leaders in 4-H and have led workshops for younger youth. In addition to 4-H, they are also active with their religious youth group and school clubs and they have organized and assisted with community service projects with all of these organizations.

Aliyah was also recognized by President Obama with the President's Volunteer Service Award for giving over 100 hours of volunteer time in the past year.

The Prudential Spirit of Community's goals are to applaud young people who already are making a positive difference in their towns and neighborhoods, and to inspire others to think about how they might contribute to their communities.

Let's applaud Aliyah and Hannah on a job well done!

Tari Cottman originally from Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, with a BS in Therapeutic Recreation. She's been with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department for eight years.

She has worked in numerous areas of the department including Teen Programming, Therapeutic Recreation and recently has been promoted to Facility Manager I at West Charlotte Recreation Center. She is newly married and enjoying spending her time with her soul mate, hiking, traveling, cooking, and exploring different restaurants in the Charlotte area. She enjoys working with the department and the community. Believe it or not, one of her first jobs was in sales- Shoe Sales that is! It was the start of her love for shoes .

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 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 3 • Issue 68 • May 22, 2015

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 James Alsop, Enterprise Services 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