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An Old Specimen becomes a New State Record The herbarium collection housed in the James F. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies at the Reedy Creek Nature Center protects almost 46,000 preserved plant specimens. The collection includes plants from every county in North Carolina, nearly every state in the country and various parts of the world. As botanists try to better understand the status and distribution of plant species, they often turn to herbarium collections to learn more. SERNEC (the Southeast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections) is a network of over 200 herbarium collections in the southeastern United States. Images of herbarium specimens from these various collections can be viewed online on the SERNEC data portal. Through the efforts of staff, interns and volunteers, nearly three-fourths of the Mecklenburg County herbarium has been imaged over the last several years and those images are now in the process of being uploaded onto the SERNEC portal, where botanists, researchers and scientists can access the images and information. Recently, a botanist trying to learn more about the distribution of Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis) searched the SERNEC portal and found four overlooked records for North Carolina, a state in which this species had never been formally documented. After careful review, it turned out that three of the four records were misidentified, however the one correct record happens to be a specimen that is housed in the Mecklenburg County herbarium. This specimen, collected in 1991 in Brunswick County, is the only documented occurrence of Aquatic Milkweed in North Carolina and now becomes a new state record. The image was recently uploaded to SERNEC by Charlotte Cadieux, a graduate of MCPR’s Central Carolinas Master Naturalist Program. Charlotte was fulfilling service hours required through the program by volunteering at the herbarium, where she spent numerous hours skeletal databasing, a process in which basic or “bare bones” information is added to images on the SERNEC portal. Her efforts in the herbarium have now played a significant role in adding a new species to the known diversity of plant life in North Carolina.
Historic Latta Plantation: Victorian Christmas November 23-24, 2018 (10am-5pm) Step back in time and experience early holiday traditions including open hearth cooking, decorations, Victorian carolers and more! Make a Christmas craft, toast s'mores around the bonfire, and pose for pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Guest interpreter Dontavius Williams, creator of “The Chronicles of Adam”, and Rhianna Green will be on site for a special presentation of “Christmas in the Quarters.” They will discuss the way the enslaved community celebrated Christmas during the Victorian Era. Ole Buddy’s BBQ and Anna’s Sweet Treats will be selling food and treats, and don't miss free samples of Mrs. Latta's 19th century gingercake recipe! Skip the mall crowds and shop the local artisan market for unique gifts including art, photography, jewelry, pottery, ironworks, soap, quilts, stained glass, plus beeswax candles and honey. Admission at the door is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students. Under 5 and members admitted free Historic Latta Plantation is located within Latta Nature Preserve, at 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville. For more information visit www.lattaplantation.org/events/
Adventure Club and Outdoor Club Team Up This week our Girls Outdoor Club and After School Adventure Club joined forces to take one more paddle around Mountain Island Lake before it gets too chilly. These two semester long programs encourage outdoor experiences after school to 4th and 5th grade students in Mecklenburg County by allowing students to dedicate one day a week to enjoying the great outdoors. On this day, participants learned effective ways to paddle and how to work as a team, even with other kids you’ve just met!
Community & Recreation Centers Intergenerational Thanksgiving Craft What a fun morning our seniors shared with children from New Beginners Day care as well as undergraduate Africana Studies students from UNC Charlotte. Together, the participants created their very own Thanksgiving turkeys. With the help of the seniors and students, the children’s hands were traced onto colored paper and cut out to create the feathers for their turkeys. The children then glued their handprints onto the body of the turkey and were able to decorate the face of the turkey and add their clothes-pin feet. The excitement of the young children always bring happiness to our Shamrock seniors, and as always we thank New Beginners Day Care for joining us. For more information about upcoming programs and events contact us at 980-314-1175 or ShamrockSeniorCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Community & Recreation Centers Tyvola Senior Center goes to the Southern Christmas Show Participants attended the Southern Christmas Show where they got a kick start to purchasing holiday decor and gifts for the upcoming holidays. It was a fun and unique way to shop for family and friends and explore new ideas on ways to decorate the home this joyful season. Check out more upcoming holiday festivities at Tyvola Senior Center this year! For more information, contact Tyvola Senior Center at 980-314-1320 or TyvolaSeniorCenter@MeckNC.gov.
5841 Brookshire Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28216 (980) 314-1000
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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 FridayLetterTeam@MecklenburgCountyN C.gov for publication assistance.
The Friday Letter Volume 8 • Issue 45• November 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 Lee Jones, Director Peter Cook, Deputy Director Renea Barber, Human Resources Liz Morrell, Strategic Planning and Evaluation Lorraine Bias, Budget Administration Vacant, Capital Planning Terri Stowers, Community and Recreation Center Services Vacant, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources