Meck Park & Rec Update

Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:
Ø Robert L. Smith: A substantial completion walk-thru meeting occurred on 12/27/07 for Robert L. Smith Park. It is anticipated that this new park will be 100% complete in early 2008.

Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø MeckTeens: MeckTeens web pages have gone live. A new series of web pages aimed at drawing teens to Park and Recreation programs have gone live. The web pages can be reached from the main Park and Recreation website and have links to a monthly teen program brochure and to the MeckTeens Myspace page. This new approach for Park and Recreation is specifically designed to appeal to the tech savvy teens who communicate through Myspace, text messages, Facebook and other web 2.0 platforms. To see these new pages, follow the link below:
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Inside+The+Department/Divisions/Therapeutics/Programs/MeckTeens.htm

Ø Basketball Skills Challenge: Youngsters with top flight basketball skills are invited to the Junior NBA/WNBA Skills Challenge sponsored by Singular. This event will be held locally at Amay James Recreation Center, Saturday, December 29, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This will be one of 250 competitions across the country this winter. Local winners may advance to the regional championships and national finals in Orlando, FL in May. To participate in this challenge is FREE. Boys and Girls ages 7 -14 compete separately. Every youngster has the opportunity to showcase his/her passing, dribbling and shooting skills.

Ø Youth & Teen Holiday Social: Albemarle Road Recreation Center hosted a holiday social on Friday, December 21, 2007 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Over fifty youth and teens from the eastside community attended the celebration. These individuals had the opportunity to participate in games and activities while socializing in a safe environment.

Ø Project Santa: The 5th Annual Project Santa of Albemarle Road Recreation Center was a huge success thanks to many community and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department sponsors. Eighteen families were served, totaling sixty-one people, and in-kind contributions totaled nearly $5,000. The Project Santa program's primary focus is to provide food, clothes, and toys at Christmas to disadvantage families in the community.

Ø The Nutcracker: The Merry Oaks Recreation Center, Communities In Schools and Greater Enrichment Program partnered with the North Carolina Dance Theatre's outreach program to present the production of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" to the children of Merry Oaks Elementary on Friday, December 14. The theatre brought the world of ballet to the students along with some show and tell and the creation of props and costume. The staff and children were very impressed with the presentation.

Canidate Forums & Chamber Transportation Needs

Recent reports in various media outlets have referenced the Charlotte Chamber's position on roads funding.
To clarify the Chamber's position, the Chamber is not advocating for Mecklenburg County to levy a quarter-cent sales tax or a land transfer tax. All North Carolina counties were given the authority by the legislature earlier this year to enact either tax. The Chamber has suggested that if Mecklenburg County officials pursue either new funding source, they should consider dedicating 100 percent of the proceeds to fund needed road projects.
The Charlotte Chamber will also continue to encourage the City of Charlotte and the State of North Carolina to look for ways to fund and expedite the completion of our transportation needs.
In partnership with the Regional Roads Committee, a consortium of 16 chambers of commerce in the Charlotte region, the Charlotte Chamber is participating in forums with each of the 2008 North Carolina gubernatorial candidates to hear their transportation platforms and plans to address our specific road needs. To register to attend these "Meet This Candidate" events, please visit www.charlottechamber.com/events.

Meet This Gubernatorial Candidate

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue
Thursday, January 17, 2008
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

State Senator Fred Smith
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
10 a.m. - Noon

State Treasurer Richard Moore
Friday, February 1, 2008
10 - 11:30 a.m.

Justice Bob Orr
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
10 a.m. - Noon

(A forum with candidate Bill Graham was previously held on November 15)

All forums will be held at:
Central Piedmont Community College, Central Campus
Tate Recital Hall, Overcash Building, 2nd Floor

Mid December Economic News

The consumer price index rose 0.8% in November, topping the 0.6% increase rise economists had expected, the Labor Department reported December 14. Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.3%, the biggest increase in 10 months.
The producer price index, which measures wholesale inflation, surged 3.2% in November, the largest monthly increase in 34 years, the Labor Department said December 13. Core wholesale prices, which strip out energy and food prices, rose 0.4%, double the number expected.
The U.S. trade deficit for October expanded to $57.8 billion, the highest level since July and 1.2% above the September imbalance, the Commerce Department reported December 12. Although U.S. exports of goods and services rose for an eighth consecutive month, the gain could not overcome a 1% rise in imports to $199.5 billion, also a record. The nation’s deficit with China leaped 9.1% to $25.9 billion, another monthly record.
More encouraging economic news came from the nation’s retailers, whose sales surged by 1.2% in November, double the 0.6% gain analysts had anticipated. Sales by department, general merchandise and specialty clothing stores all posted solid gains. Auto sales, however, fell by 1%.
The economy got a further boost from the nation’s factories, mines and utilities, as industrial production increased 0.3% increase in November, the Federal Reserve reported December 14. The modest gain followed a sharp 0.7% decline in October.
Long- and short-term mortgage rates reversed trend and rose for the week, Freddie Mac reported December 14. Meanwhile, mortgage applications increased 2.5% for the week ending Dec. 7, the Mortgage Bankers Association said December 12.
This week look for updates on housing starts and building permits on December 18.
Economic data compiled from reports published by msnbc.com, cnn.money.com and Yahoo! economic calendar.

Update From The Parks System

Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:
Ø Revolution Neighborhood Improvement Project: Staff is coordinating with various City Engineering departments on a new project that will provide better sidewalks, storm drainage upgrades, street improvements and traffic calming measures in the Revolution Neighborhood. Staff is coordinating with the City on how the projects can best interact with Revolution Park, the new Revolution Regional Sports and Learning Academy, the future greenway and the existing golf course.

Ø Auten Road: A meeting was held with the Charlotte Department of Transportation and City Engineering to discuss plans to extend Auten Road through Firestone Park. This was apparently a condition of future consideration when the County obtained the park.

Ø CMS: Staff met with CMS, Sycamore Partners and their respective legal advisors to discuss the proposed plan to build a mixed use condominium near 5th and Sycamore Streets. Items of discussion included an amendment to the current joint use agreement, timelines, exhibits and next steps.

Ø Davidson/Concord Rd. Stakeholders Committee Meeting: Staff attended the Davidson/Concord Rd (Hwy 73) Stakeholders Committee meeting to review consultant's preliminary ideas for the small area plan that the three towns are jointly developing.

Ø Greenprinting Seminar: Staff attended a greenprinting seminar with PROS Consulting and nationally renowned expert Peter Harnik from the Trust for Public Land.

Ø I-485/Albemarle Road Planning Initiative: Staff attended the Charlotte Planning Department Stakeholders committee meeting for the kick-off of the I-485/Albemarle road planning initiative.

Park Operations and Athletic Services:
Ø Bark in the Park: The Bark In the Park Committee is kicking off the 2008 Harris Teeter/Purina Bark In The Park planning process by hosting a kickoff meeting with Harris Teeter and Purina Representatives at W.R. Davie Park on Friday, December 14, at 2 p.m.
The event will be held at William R. Davie Park on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

Enterprise Services:
Ø Track and Field: Staff, along with its partners from the Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the Charlotte Flights Track and Field Club updated the USA Track and Field Executive Board (USATF) on the plans to host the USATF Youth Championships from June 24-29, 2008 in Mecklenburg County. Track facilities at University of North Carolina- Charlotte and Johnson C. Smith Universities will be used to host more than 8,000 youth participants and spectators from across the country.

Ø Revolution Public Golf Course: Staff and The First Tee of Charlotte have agreed to a plan that upgrades greens, tees and fairways, constructs a driving range for public use, constructs a greenway through the golf course and provides practice amenities needed by The First Tee of Charlotte,. Staff presented the plan to the Revolution Golf Course Advisory Council on December 13, 2007. The Council endorsed the plan unanimously and supported closure of the course to complete all construction at one time. Staff will submit a Request for Board Action to authorize the County Manager to negotiate a long term agreement with The First Tee of Charlotte.

Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø Youth Basketball: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation's youth basketball league kicked off last week with over 160 teams playing at 10 recreation centers Friday night and Saturday. The Jr. Bobcat teams, ages 4 to 18, displayed their new Bobcat uniforms with the Blue Cross Blue Shield logo as the new sponsor for youth sports.

Ø Holiday Events: The Recreation Centers will be hosting numerous holiday events, programs and activities during the children's holiday break from school. Events range from Holiday Basketball Camps to Holiday crafts and tree lighting. Below are highlights:

Ø Tree Lighting Ceremony: Naomi Drenan Recreation Center will be holding its inaugural tree lighting ceremony this Friday, December 14 from 5-6 p.m. The community is welcome to come and take part in this event with the opportunity to make decorations and sing Christmas carols. Light refreshments will be served.

Ø First Ward Holiday Celebration: First Ward Recreation Center is hosting the annual community holiday celebration with the First Ward Community Fund. All families and children from the First Ward community are invited for this celebration on Wednesday, December 19 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Ø 521 Recreation Center: Holiday programs are coming up at the 521 Recreation Center that includes gift card making with Santa’s Helpers on December 18 and Santa visits on December 20. The recreation center is also coordinating events and off-campus trips during the holiday break. They include Kate's Skating Rink, December 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and winter horseback riding at Latta Plantation, December 29.


Greenway Planning and Development:
Ø Greenway Signage System: Staff presented the final design for the greenway signage system to the Park and Recreation Commission at the December 11 meeting.

Ø CDOT Bicycle Master Plan: Staff participated in a stakeholder interview with CDOT’s consultant for the update to the Charlotte Bicycle Master Plan. Staff also attended the group stakeholder meeting held later that evening.
Ø In a Chicago State of Mind . . .: Gwen Cook attended the Mid America Greenways Conference in Chicago Sunday through Tuesday of this week. She has inspiring (but snowy) pictures to share of the Chicago River Walk, Grant Park and Millennium Park. The conference was attended by over 250 trail providers from 8 states throughout the Midwest. She got some ideas, shared some concerns and, as always, came away feeling good about our program.

Update From Mecklenburg County Park& Recreation - 12/07/07

Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:
Ø YMCA: Staff met with Michael Duval of the YMCA to discuss mutual long range planning goals and objectives with an emphasis on future partnership opportunities.

Ø Double Oaks/Anita Stroud Neighborhood: A meeting with the Charlotte Housing Partnership was held to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Double Oaks/Anita Stroud neighborhood.

Ø Joint Use Task Force Meeting: Staff attended the Joint Use Task Force Meeting to review and provide commentary on upcoming City, County, collegiate and Charlotte Mecklenburg School initiatives.

Ø Berewick: A meeting was held with CMS to review the joint use master plan for Berewick. Topics included connectivity, storm water management, grading, cost sharing and timelines.

Ø Romare Bearden and Second Ward Parks: Staff gave a presentation to the Charlotte Center City Partners Board of Directors on Romare Bearden and Second Ward parks.

Park Operations and Athletic Services
Ø Christmas Tree Lighting: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department along with the Art Institute of Charlotte presents the 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Toy/Clothing Drive at Freedom Park on December 8, 4 – 6 p.m. The trees will be lit at the band shell around 6 p.m. Guests are invited to bring and donate an ornament for the trees. Prior to the ceremony there will be musical entertainment, Santa’s workshop (crafts), face painting and hayrides around the lake and Santa will make an appearance along with our RAY. Limited refreshments will also be available. The toy/clothing drive will benefit the Salvation Army’s Center for Women and Children sponsored by the Art Institute of Charlotte. For additional information please contact Jackie Hemingway at 704-353-1246.

Enterprise Services:
Ø Grady Cole Center: On December 1 – 3, 2007 the Grady Cole Center was the location for the making of a Gillette commercial. WWE Professional Wrestler, John Sena along with NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and others were on the set to film various wrestling moves to promote the new Gillette Fusion product.

Ø The First Tee of Charlotte: Staff met with The First Tee of Charlotte (TFTC), Clyde Johnston Golf Architect Design, Inc. and Wirth & Associates on December 5 to assess the affect of the proposed changes to the Revolution Public Golf Course. The cost of all changes, potential timelines, permitting process and the grow-in season were discussed. A site visit at the golf course is scheduled on December 7 to view the actual alignment of the proposed changes. Staff requested a final site plan and a letter of commitment from TFTC to support all contract discussions.

Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø Adult/Senior Programming: Mallard Creek Recreation Center has tripled their fitness and trip participation for adults and seniors due to Erin Bayer, Recreation Fitness Specialist, and Caroline Carver, Recreation Specialist, implementing Yoga, Women/Men on Weights, trips around town and special events. Much work has gone into building up programming for this age group over the past six months and the response has been exciting.

Ø BRIDGE Jobs Program: The BRIDGE Jobs Program celebrated their 20th Anniversary this past Tuesday with an annual luncheon highlighted by guest speaker Jake Delhomme at Bank of America Stadium. The program provides classes and services to teens and adults that have dropped out of high school and includes G.E.D training, job placement and mentoring opportunities. BRIDGE utilizes the Greenville, West Charlotte and Merry Oaks Recreation Centers to help carry out its mission. The Centers have specifically hosted job fairs and served as sites to recruit potential clients that might need some assistance with G.E.D or High school completion.

Ø Toys for Tots: First Ward Recreation Center will be hosting Toys for Tots on Friday, December 14. Children of families from the St. Paul Ray of Hope Center, Greenville Recreation Center and First Ward Recreation Center will be provided with toys and coats for this holiday season. The families will take part in Christmas caroling, decoration making and a visit from Santa.

Ø Junior NBA/WNBA Skills Challenge: Amay James Recreation Center will be hosting the Junior-NBA/WNBA Skills Challenge sponsored by SINGULAIR which is open for youngsters to showcase their passing, dribbling and shooting skills. This event will be held on December 29 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This will be one of 250 competitions across the country this winter. Local winners may advance to the regional championships and national finals in Orlando, FL in May. To participate in this challenge is FREE. Boys and Girls ages 7 -14 compete separately.
Ø Youth Basketyball: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation's Youth Basketball League will kick off this weekend at our Recreation Centers. We have over 1600 children on over 150 teams registered to play in our Jr. Bobcats league. Our certified volunteer coaches, parents, staff and these great youngsters are ready to start play with sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork skills that they have been practicing over the past month. If you're looking for a fun time, please stop in at your local recreation center and cheer for the Jr. Bobcats.
Ø Reorganization: The Community and Recreation Center Services Division and The Park Operations and Athletic Services Division have recently been reorganized. All of the six Recreation Coordinators in the park districts will move into one of the two new sections created in Community and Recreation Center Services, Recreation Programming and Special Events section. A more structured strategic approach will be made in recreation program areas and special events with this new organization structure. These core program areas will fall under the Recreation Programming section, Cultural Arts, Fitness, Senior Citizens and 4-H. The Special Events section will oversee all county and district wide special events and grand opening and special dedication events.

With this reorganization a Recreation Program Manager position will be available and posted in the county's vacancy listing. This position will oversee and supervise the Recreation Programming section and plan and develop program standards, strategic plan and program development for these program areas. This position will be posted and available to apply for immediately and open through mid December. Once the interviews have been concluded and the candidate selected and has started then the existing six Recreation Coordinators will roll into the new sections in their new role. All of the existing programming and special events in the park districts will continue but under this new structure

Greenway Planning and Development:
Ø Irwin Creek Greenway: The first step of the reconstruction of Irwin Creek Greenway from Frazier Park to Summit Ave. is now complete. An asphalt greenway crossing was installed across the railroad at the southern end of Frazier Park near the I-77 underpass. The greenway, which was moved off of the abandoned railroad per NCDOT-Rail Division’s request, will instead run parallel to the rail and will be reconstructed by the Greenway Maintenance and Operations team.
Ø Little Sugar Creek Greenway: Po Shu Wang, one of the two artists selected to produce artwork for Little Sugar Creek Greenway, visited Charlotte to learn more about the plans for Little Sugar Creek Greenway. He toured the future greenway between 7th St and Morehead St. with staff on Monday afternoon and met with the Greenway Advisory Council Monday night. Po Shu’s work will likely be located somewhere between Elizabeth Ave and Charlottetowne Ave. He is very interested in the study of physics and the natural world. His art is often interactive and engages the mind. We look forward to seeing his creations.

Park & Recreation Udate - November 30, 2007

Deputy Director
Ø Master Plan Update: Leon Younger, Master Plan Consultant, is working on the input received from the public workshops, focus groups, key leadership interviews and a citizen household mail survey that went out in November. Findings and Key recommendations will be the result of all the input received.

January 2008: The following portions of the Master Plan will be completed by the end of January
· Greenway Plan
· Nature Preserve plan
· Program Plan
· Update to the City Council on preliminary findings

February 2008: The following portions of the Master Plan will be completed by the end of February
· Sports and Tourism (athletic fields/economic impact study)
· A 2 day work session will be held with staff, the PRC, representatives from the towns, and other agencies (Storm Water, Real Estate Services, etc.). At these sessions, preliminary findings and key recommendations will be presented.
· February 25, 26, 27 – Public workshops will be held to provide the public an overview of all findings and recommendations.

March 2008: To be completed by mid-March
· Green Printing (Land Acquisition) and Capital Improvement Plan
· Meetings with the town boards will be scheduled for presentation of Preliminary findings and key recommendations.
· Leon will submit a major draft of the final plan to Park and Recreation on March 21, 2008
· Staff will review/revise and send back to the consultant on March 29.

April 2008: To be completed in April
· A final draft from PROS will be delivered to Park and Recreation by April 4, 2008
· April 15, 2008 – The final plan will be presented to the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners for approval.
May 2008
· Presentation to Citizens Capital Budget Advisory Board

Capital Planning and Alliance Development Services:
Ø Stream Restoration – Westerly Hills Park: Staff is coordinating with City Storm Water Services on the stream restoration project through Westerly Hills Park. Construction will start the week of December 12 and continue through the spring. City Storm Water has worked with Park and Recreation to redesign the original plans to save many of the existing trees along the stream bank.

Ø Revolution Sports and Learning Academy: Staff is coordinating with the designers on final material and finish selections. The construction drawings should be finalized by the end of the year, with construction starting in the spring.

Ø Pine Valley: A meeting with the Pine Valley neighborhood was held on Monday, November 26 to discuss site characteristics for the location of a playground. Coordination is underway to have the neighborhood select playground equipment and color preferences.

Ø Hwy 521: A pre-construction meeting was held on Wednesday, November 28. Construction of four (4) synthetic turf soccer fields is scheduled to start December 3 and projected to open in the fall of 2008.

Ø Evergreen Nature Preserve Master Plan Workshop: The Evergreen Nature Preserve Master Plan Workshop was held on Wednesday, November 28. Approximately 30 citizens were in attendance and all provided great comments and suggestions on enhancing the nature preserve.

Ø Park Master Plan – Urban Parks: A conference call was conducted with Charlotte Center City Partners, Pro's Consulting and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department to discuss the scope, methodology, theme and process for the Urban Park component of the Comprehensive Parks Master Plan. Leon Younger will provide a revised guideline to complete this



Park Operations and Athletic Services
Ø Foot Locker Race at McAlpine: Last weekend approximately 2200 runners and 1100 spectators participated in the annual Foot Locker 5K at McAlpine Park. Runners from all parts of the southeast region, ranging in ages from 12 to 50 participated.

Ø Park Operations & Athletic Services Division Changes: The Park Operations & Athletic Services Division will be transitioning into a new look in early 2008. A new manager over Park Watch has been hired and will begin employment with Mecklenburg County on December 5. PJ Hamilton joins the Department from the Vanderbilt University Police Department. Centralizing all the Park Watch Coordinators under one unit will allow us to develop a more consistent Park Watch program emphasizing customer service through visibility and interaction with customers. This will also provide a better management structure to coordinate off and on duty requests with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Another change in early 2008 will be a new athletic section. All 10 of the current athletic coordinators will be centralized into an athletic section as opposed to being tied to a specific district. Athletic services are a county-wide function that will be better served as a centralized unit. The new athletic section will look at streamlining the field reservation process, better field utilization rates and increased programming opportunities.

Ø Santa and Ray Help Light Community Christmas Tree in Freedom Park on December 8:
Get a great start on the holiday season with the third annual Christmas Tree Lighting and toy/clothing drive on Saturday, December 8, 4 – 6 p.m. at Freedom Park, 1900 East Boulevard.

The trees will be lighted around the “band shell” beside the lake at about 6 p.m. Guests are invited to bring and donate an ornament for the trees. This event is sponsored by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department along with the Art Institute of Charlotte.

Before the ceremony, from 4 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., there will be musical entertainment and caroling, Santa’s workshop (crafts), face painting and hayrides around the lake. Santa will make an appearance and greet children along with RAY, the Park and Recreation mascot, whose name means “Recreate All Year.” Limited refreshments will be available. The toy/clothing drive will benefit the Salvation Army’s Center for Women and Children sponsored by the Art Institute of Charlotte. For more information please contact Jackie Hemingway at 704-353-1246.

Administration:
Ø Budget: Division Directors' FY09 budget request presentations to the Department Director will begin next week. Significant matters will include ONA for new facilities, Department Strategic Plan, more program services, and improved security for employees and customer safety and equipment.

Enterprise Services:
Ø Memorial Stadium:
November 30, 2007: West Charlotte High School will play Independence High School in the 4AA Western Regional Football Championship game. The winner advances to the NC 4AA State Championship game. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

December 1, 2007: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation presents Central Park District II Fall Season Adult 9-man Flag Football Championships at Memorial Stadium.
The B-Division game between the Quiet Storm and Muszak starts at 11 a.m. and the A- Division game starts at 12 noon between the Carolina All-stars and Carolina Connections. Trophies will be awarded after each game. At halftime a raffle ticket drawing will take place with gift certificate giveaways.

Ø Latta Equestrian Center: Visit Santa in his workshop every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. starting December 1. Santa’s elves will take kids on pony rides to visit with Santa. Photos with Santa will be offered on pony rides with Santa. Hayrides, horse drawn carriage and wagon rides are available to the Christmas Tree Farm to purchase your Frasier fur. For more information, call the Latta Equestrian Center Office at 704-992-1550.

Ø Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center: Staff will host the New South Swimming (NSS) regional swim meet at the Aquatic Center from November 30 – December 2. Four to five hundred 13-18 year old swimmers from North Carolina will compete in timed trials over the three day period. During the swim meet, regular aquatic center pass holders will have access to all YMCA facilities with swimming pools, Ray’s Splash Planet and the First Ward Recreation Center for their aquatic and fitness workouts.

Community and Recreation Center Services:
Ø Young at Heart: The Sugaw Creek Recreation Center “Young at Heart” seniors attended the annual North Carolina Association of Senior Citizen Conference (NCASCC). The conference was held October 31 - November 2 in Brownsville, NC. The seniors enjoyed guest speakers, trips, entertainment, food, games, and activities. Congratulations are in order to the Sugaw Creek “Young at Heart” seniors for winning 4th Place in the scrapbook competition.

Ø Carolina Thanksgiving Parade: The Sugaw Creek Recreation Center Cheerleaders marched in the Annual Carolinas Thanksgiving Parade on November 22. These young ladies between the ages of 3 and 12 chanted cheers and performed a dance routine during the parade. They received a nice ovation from the crowd. The Charlotte Flights Track & Field Club provided their bus for transportation. Several parents walked in the parade and assisted staff with the event.

Ø Cross Country Program: The Sugaw Creek Recreation Center conducted its first Cross Country program for youth. Cynthia Smith Perkins partnered with Mr. Reggie MacAfee and the Cross Country for Youth Program. The program featured a character education component, team building and skill development. Although the enrollment was low, the participants worked diligently and completed the program. These elementary school participants practiced once a week. They competed in (2) Cross Country Meets and ran extremely well against middle school student athletes. Ms. Chanin Scott received a 12th place medal for her outstanding efforts in the 10 and Under Girls Division of the Footlocker South Regional Cross Country Meet held on Saturday, November 24 at McAlpine Park.

Ø “Giving Thanks” Service Project: The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Nu Lambda Chapter partnered with Albemarle Road Recreation Center to implement the "Giving Thanks" Service Project. The holiday service project blessed seven families with groceries. More than $1,000 of in-kind donations from the Beta Nu Lambda Chapter and angel investors made this program possible.

Ø Holiday Food Drive: The Merry Oaks Recreation Center staff along with the students, teachers and parents participated in their annual holiday food drive. Over 2,000 can goods were collected. As part of the drive, each class participated in a "pretty box" contest. The winning box was used to deliver the food to the families. Park and Recreation staff acted as judges for the contest with the winning class being awarded a pizza party.

Ø Holiday Coat Drive: The Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center is conducting a Holiday Coat Drive, December 1 - January 1. New or gently used coats dropped off at the center will be distributed to families in need.

Ø Basketball Skills Camp: The Amay James Recreation Center is offering a "Basketball & Beyond" basketball skills camp for boys and girls during the holiday break the week of December 24 - 30. Registration deadline is December 21. This is a great camp for enhancing basketball skills while enjoying fellowship and fun during the holiday break.

Ø Homeless Awareness Walk: On Saturday, November 17, the Therapeutic Recreation Division partnered with Away Home for the provision of activities and events held during the Homeless Awareness Walk. Activities to raise awareness about homelessness were made available to all who attended.

Greenway Planning and Development:
Ø McDowell Creek Greenway: A meeting was held between County and Town of Cornelius staff to discuss the McDowell Creek Greenway timeline and grant coordination for the section between Westmoreland Road and Sam Furr Road in Cornelius. Bid documents have been completed and the permits are in hand. The Town and County will be working out the details of the supplemental grant and interlocal agreements by the middle of next month, and the Robbins Park land exchange should be completed by the end of the year. It is anticipated that bidding will start in January.
Ø Torrence Creek Greenway: A meeting was held between County and Town of Huntersville staff to discuss the Torrence and Lower McDowell Creek Greenway projects; specifically grant issues, acquisition issues, permitting and schedules. 100% construction documents were submitted for review by the consultant. It is expected that the consultant will submit for permits by mid-January. It is anticipated that bidding will start sometime between April and June of 2008. The Town of Huntersville will be requesting a grant deadline extension from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Ø Long Creek Greenway: Staff attended the fourth stakeholder meeting held by Charlotte Mecklenburg Utility Department (CMUD) for the proposed Long Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion. The plant is located north and immediately adjacent to the Whitewater Center. Results of the Environmental Impact Statement, alignment options, direct and secondary impacts, and sustainable design solutions were presented. It was mentioned that Long Creek Greenway is a priority for the area, and the opportunity to connect to the Mount Holly Greenway system on the other side of the Catawba River, which is also part of the future Carolina Thread Trail alignment.
Ø Master Plan Update: Staff met with Land Design, Inc. and Greenways Inc. to review documents for the update to the greenway master plan.

Update From The Charlotte Chamber

**Is the Uptown Condo Market Overbuilt? Find out at the next Center City Chapter meeting on October 23rd, featuring an expert panel moderated by Michael Smith, Charlotte Center City Partners. Participants include: Maia Williams, BSI; Jim Donnelly, Emerson Joseph; and Tony Skillbeck, Novare Carolina Group. Register online today at www.charlottechamber.com/events.

**The last few weeks of the campaign are critical and your support is needed to get the vote out! Now you can help support the Vote Yes for Bonds Campaign with a donation online to help push for passage of the three county bonds on the ballot. Just go to www.meckbonds2007.com and click on the "Support/Contact" tab. The "Donate" button is located at the bottom of the page.

**Please join the North Carolina Chamber at one of the Grassroots Network Area Meetings to let them know what matters most to you and your business. The Charlotte reception will be held on October 23 at the Charlotte City Club from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information or free registration online, visit www.ncchamber.net/areameetings. For a list of all of the area meetings, click here.

**The Committee for Economic Development, Smart Start, and the Charlotte Chamber invite you to a business-led forum on the economic promise of investing in early education for all children. The forum is free and will be held on Friday, October 26, at the Marriott Center City from noon to 2 p.m. Featured speakers include Robert Greczyn, Blue Cross Blue Shield; Ashley Thrift, Smart Start; Louise Stoney, Early Childhood Finance; Ronnie Bryant, Charlotte Regional Partnership; Kit Cramer, Charlotte Chamber; and Jocelyn Sargent, W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information or to register, contact Laura Oldanie at laura.oldanie@ced.org.

**Charlotte will once again be in the national spotlight when Dave Price of the CBS Early Show broadcasts live tomorrow morning from the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Come join in on the fun. The broadcast begins at 7 a.m.; suggested arrival time is 6:15 a.m. If you are interested in participating in this exciting Early Show series event, please RSVP to reserve your spot at: cbsallaccesscharlotte@gmail.com.



**What does it take to be a best place to work? Find out November 1st at the Charlotte Business Journal's Best Places to Work Celebration at the Charlotte Convention Center. This event brings together a mix of the area's top companies in many different industries. For tickets visit www.charlottebusinessjournal.com or call 704.973.1143.



DID YOU KNOW???



By 2017, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools must build 41 elementary schools, 14 middle schools and 13 high schools to accommodate growth and eliminate portable (mobile) classrooms.

71% of the transit tax revenue is allocated to the bus system, with 14% for rail and 15% for other transit improvements. No rail system can efficiently operate without working in tandem with a solid bus system - just like an urban freeway system doesn't work without local streets. The bus system does now and will continue to benefit greatly from the transit tax.

ABC NEWS: The Real Estate Market In Charlotte, NC

Check out this link. Everyone is talking about it!

www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3272735

Update From The Charlotte Chamber

** Need products or services? Get competitive bids here! The Charlotte Chamber’s online MarketPlace simplifies the sometimes laborious procurement process. With nearly 4,000 members offering more than 400 different types of products and services, the Charlotte Chamber’s membership base has everything your organization needs – at competitive prices. Visit www.charlottechamber.com/marketplace to submit a request for proposal, qualifications or information, and vendors will respond through Marketplace’s automated, user-friendly system. No legwork. No hassle. Simple. Free.




** The Charlotte Post Foundation will honor Charlotte architect and former mayor Harvey Gantt with its “Luminary – Lifetime Achievement” award at the Charlotte Post Best banquet on Saturday, September 22. Honorary chair is Cynthia Marshall, president of AT&T North Carolina. The 11th annual banquet will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Center City at 6:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit www.thecharlottepost.com.

** Congratulations to Jim Carpenter, president of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. He has been selected as the president of the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for this upcoming year. ** The Chamber will combine the Newcomer Resource and Business & Leadership Directory into one comprehensive publication for 2008. Atlantic Publication Group, our publishing partner, will conduct phone verifications to make sure your information is up–to-date. Print and online advertising opportunities are available. Read more…

** The Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Police Athletic League’s (PAL) 3rd Annual Oyster Roast and Barbecue is Saturday, September 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. Come enjoy the live calypso and reggae sounds of Donald Baptiste at The Gateway Village Promenade while you eat Sonny’s pulled pork barbeque, side fixin’s and freshly steamed oysters. All you can eat for a $20 donation! Proceeds will benefit PAL’s athletic and academic programming. For advance tickets call 704.336.5290.
Featured Member Discount: McLaughlin Young Group offers Chamber members a 10 percent discount on coaching, training, assessment and consulting services.



DID YOU KNOW???
In 2007-2008, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools expects to have 25,360 students in portable classrooms. If all of those students were in elementary school, that’s close to 30 elementary schools.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had 1,139 portables in use during the 2006-2007 school year.

Of those, 170 are more than 40 years old – they were purchased between 1963 and 1966. Another 48 were bought in 1969 and 1970.

This is extensive use of “temporary” facilities.

News From Charlotte Chamber

Mecklenburg County has ranked as the top large county for recuritment and attraction in Expansion Management magazine, one of the leading publications dedicated to corporate relocations. The magazine recently completed a study with the National Policy Research Council that looks at the success that communities have had in attracting corporate locations and expansions. A database of some 19 million companies was analyzed to determine where the companies are locating and Mecklenburg County topped the list. To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Charlotte School of Law (CharlotteLaw) has chosen its permanent location, at the intersection of Suttle Avenue and Wilkinson Boulevard. The location is next to historic Bryant Park at the Western gateway to Charlotte's Center City District and will serve as an anchor for future development of Charlotte's west side. The new building is expected to be completed in August of 2008. Read more.
Don't miss the Chamber's 4th Transit Summit this Friday, June 29, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Westin Charlotte. Featured panelists will address "Why Transit Matters" and "A View from the Corridors." A keynote luncheon address from Senator Dan Clodfelter will be followed by a guided tour and LYNX train ride for participants. Tickets are $40 each and a table of eight is $300. Register today.

The Charlotte Business Journal's 11th Annual Women in Business Achievement Awards luncheon will honor 25 Charlotte women for their ingenuity and success. The luncheon will be held Monday, July 16, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center. Ruth Shaw, recently retired executive advisor to the chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy, will be presented the third annual Wachovia Lifetime Achievement Award and will also be the event's keynote speaker. For more information, visit www.charlotte.bizjournals.com.

Sign up for CulturePicks! at http://www.charlottecultureguide.com and enter to win two free tickets to see BODY WORLDS at Discovery Place. CulturePicks! are weekly emails from charlottecultureguide.com highlighting events in the Charlotte region. BODY WORLDS offers visitors a rare opportunity to see the complexity of human anatomy and physiology. Those who embark on this amazing journey below the skin's surface will view an extensive collection including more than 200 authentic organs, systems and whole-body displays.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has received a $1.9 million federal grant to launch a pilot pay-for-performance program, that will link student achievement to teacher and principal pay. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Education, will be used to increase student achievement by piloting pay-for-performance compensation at six test schools in CMS next year. The test schools include Billingsville Elementary, Wilson Middle, E.E. Waddell, Garinger, West Charlotte and West Mecklenburg high schools. Read more.

News From The Charlotte Chamber

** ALL ABOARD - THE BUS IS HEADED TO RALEIGH. Please join the Charlotte Chamber's Education Committee for its annual trip to Raleigh on June 27, 2007 to talk with our elected officials. We will be working to educate the elected officials on our 2007 legislative agenda as it relates to Education and Workforce Development and engage in a panel discussion regarding the need for lateral entry teachers, competitive salaries and merit-based pay. The bus trip is from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and includes breakfast, lunch and snacks on the way back. The cost is $40 per person. Click here to register online.Contact Stacey Randall at srandall@charlottechamber.com or 704.378.1311 for further details.

** The Chamber is launching free Lunch & Learn programs. The first focuses on how you can make the road to success a lot less painful when you stop shooting yourself in the foot. Join us for an informative, eye-opening, introduction to iMAGE RISK management tm. Learn how to significantly improve your business with minimal cost and essentially no risk. Take control of 5 points of contact and you will enjoy greater profits, longer lasting relationships, and a stronger competitive position. Remember, it's not what you think but what they believe that counts. Bring your bagged lunch and join us for this free presentation on Wednesday, June 13 from noon-1 p.m. at the [O]-Zone Training Center, 511 Enterprise Drive, Charlotte, NC 28206. RSVP online.
** In an upcoming issue of Expansion Management magazine, Mecklenburg County is ranked the number one large county in the nation for business recruitment and the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill MSA is ranked the number two large metro for Recruitment and Attraction. There are 3,141 counties in the U.S., so making the top 20 list means Mecklenburg County is in the top half of 1 percent of all counties in the U.S.!
** The Mayor's Youth Employment Program (MYEP) is gearing up for another awesome summer! Initially started in 1986, the MYEP aims to provide meaningful employment opportunities for Charlotte area youth to gain a greater understanding of career demands, skills sets and qualifications for employment in business, industry and local government. The City is seeking employers interested in hosting an intern for 8 weeks (minimum 20 hours a week) for summer 2007. If you are interested, please contact the MYEP Manager Alicia Jolla at (704) 336-2116, ajolla@ci.charlotte.nc.us. For more information, please visit:
CPCC Summer Theatre 2007 Season-single tickets are now on sale. CPCC Summer Theatre has been a fixture in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg scene for 34 years. Providing the best in Broadway entertainment for the entire family at affordable prices, CPCC Summer Theatre is the place to be in the summer time. Now located in the new Dale F. Halton Theater on the Central Campus, Central Piedmont Community College, CPCC Summer Theatre brings together the finest talent in the region for your entertainment. Visit their website for up-to-the-minute information.
Enjoy All Things AsianYou are cordially invited to a day of total immersion in all things Asian at the Dragon Boat Festival and Asian Festival on June 9, 2007, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Ramsey Creek Park, Cornelius (I-77 North exit 28). Event Parking is available at Kenton Place/Palace Theatre, West Catawba Blvd. For more information, call Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce at 704-583-9421 or 704-588-4288 or visit http://www.caacc.com/ and http://www.charlottedragonboat.com/.
Join Walk Chair Tom Wurtz (CFO, Wachovia) on June 3, 2007 for Charlotte Walks Together, a fundraising walk-a-thon benefiting youth leadership programs of the Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice (formerly NCCJ). The Walk unites corporate, family, faith and school teams from all walks of life to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion and social justice in the Charlotte region. For team recruitment information, contact Beth Walker at bethwalker@earthlink.net or 704.535.9220. http://www.charlottecoalition.org/.


Featured Member Discount: Training Matters, Inc. 10% discount on program facilitation fees.

Transportation, Green Conference, NASCAR - News From The Chamber

** UNC Charlotte's Center for Transportation Policy Studies, headed by Dr. Edd Hauser, has released a report describing CATS transit operations and the development of the South Corridor light rail line. Among other things, the report compares CATS' operations and construction costs with comparable cities, including four in North Carolina. To read the study in its entirety, visit http://www.transpol.uncc.edu/.

** On Thursday, May 17, the Chamber's Green Transformation Conference will highlight the unique nature of Northwest Mecklenburg, Mountain Island Lake, Upper Lake Wylie, Mount Holly & Belmont and determine the best way to coordinate efforts to brand this special area as a unique eco-sensitive region. The conference will be held at the Pine Island Country Club and will be followed by a boat tour. To register, click here.

** Recognize the successes of the Charlotte region's women in business by submitting a nomination for the 11th annual Women In Business Achievement Awards. The 25 winners will be recognized in a special publication in the July 20, 2007, Charlotte Business Journal and at an awards luncheon on Monday, July 16. To nominate a woman business leader with a strong record of innovation or outstanding business performance in her for-profit or non-profit business, click here.
** Need to know how many people live in zip code 28216, what the total retail sales in Pineville are or the projected growth for an area of Charlotte? The Chamber's zip code demographics can provide you with detailed data for all zip codes within Mecklenburg County. Click here for zip code demographics.


** United Way of Central Carolinas' Young Leaders present "The State of Education in Charlotte" on Thursday, May 24, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The panel discussion luncheon will feature Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson, North Carolina State Superintendent; Dr. Phil Dubois, UNC Charlotte; Maurice Green, CMS; and Dr. Tony Zeiss, CPCC. To purchase tickets or for more information, click here.

** Get your tickets today for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 19. More info.

** Inc. Magazine is expanding its acclaimed Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States to include 5,000 dynamic businesses. The new list will be called the Inc. 5,000. Not only will companies that apply get a chance to rank in the Inc. 5,000, they'll also have the opportunity to rank in top 100 lists in region and industry categories. The application takes only a few minutes, and there are no fees to apply or qualify. Go to http://www.inc.com/inc5000?partner=5000assoc to apply before the May 15 deadline.

** Find out how you can keep your organization's financial operations and performance on track at a price you can afford using OmniVue's PROFITPOINT, built on Microsoft Dynamics GP, at a free event on Tuesday, May 22. Read more...

"Street Skills For Cyclists" Class Offered In Charlotte, May 30th and June 6th

B.I.K.E.S. of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, announced that it will offer a classs where bicycle owners can learn the essentials of safe, confident and legal travel for the enjoyable cycling on Charlotte streets. Send me an email with your fax number and I will forward you the press release that I recieved.

BIKE CHARLOTTE WEEK, May 4th- 13th

Recently, a hard working member of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Greenway Trails Advisory Council sent me an email regarding Bike Charlotte Week. The week's festivities includes a Bike Commuter Challenge which is sponsored by the Bike Mentor Program. Basically work, neighborhood and other social groups form teams of people who already or are willing to commute to and from work any or all of the days during Bike Week.

There are prizes and recognition for teams with the highest participation and for miles ridden. The primary purpose of the even is to expose people and the community to the fun and challenges of bike communting in a city that is working towards becoming more bike and pedestrian friendly.

For more information, you can contact: Dick Winters @ 704-544-2046

GREEN TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE

May 17th, 2007 - 9 until 1 - Pine Island Country Club

An effort is underway to highlight the unique nature of Northwest Mecklenburg, Mountain Island Lake, Upper Lake Wylie, Mount Holly and Belmont in eastern Gaston County; and determine the best way to coordinate efforts to brand this special area as a unique eco-sensitive region.

Networking and registration followed by a theatre-style conference will include a continental breakfast, bar-b-que lunch and boat tour of Mountain Island Lake. For registration information contact Cherise Walker @ The Charlotte Chamber (704) 378-4106.

Update From Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department - April, 2007

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation staff represented the department at the U.S. National Whitewater Center news conference April 26 for designation of the center as an official U.S. Olympic Committee Training Site. World class Olympic kayaking athletes were on hand from the United States and Canada for a preliminary 2008 Olympic Trials event this weekend at Whitewater and our Historic Tuckaseegee Ford Park.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation staff met with a design consultant to begin planning the new Berewick District Park in southwest Mecklenburg County. This site is intended to be a sportsplex, and staff is also working with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to site an elementary school on the park property.

The Outdoor Recreation Section concluded The Bass Federation National Championship Tournament April 17-24 at McDowell Nature Preserve/Copperhead Island. The tournament was a huge success and will be televised on Fox Sports Network May 26. It is a credit to the Department and Mecklenburg County to be chosen to partner and host such a national event.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation staff met with the Local Organizing Committee of the 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships April 25. Committee assignments were made and Anthony James, Recreation Specialist, will serve as Meet Director. More than 10,000 athletes and spectators are expected to attend the event June 24-29, 2008. The Charlotte Regional Visitor Authority, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte Flight Track and Field Club, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, Charlotte Regional Sports Commission, CMS-Vance High School, Hilton University and the USATF-NC have partnered to host the event in Mecklenburg County.

Update From Charlotte Chamber

** Does your business have a plan for reacting to a major disaster, pandemic flu or terrorist attack? If not, please plan to attend the Ready Business Summit, a free seminar hosted by the Charlotte Chamber, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Health Department in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, May 22 in the McKnight Hall, Cone Center at UNC Charlotte. To learn more, visit http://www.charlottechamber.com/summit To register for this event, click here.

** Celebrate NASCAR Day on Friday, May 18, and make a difference in the lives of those who need it the most. NASCAR fans, corporations, schools and organizations across the country are encouraged to donate $5 and all participants will receive a collectible 2007 NASCAR Day lapel pin for their donation. Proceeds benefit the NASCAR Foundation Family of Charities and the United Way of Central Carolinas. Visit www.nascar.com/nascarday to get involved and be sure to enter "UWCC" as the promotion code.

** On Tuesday, May 8, escape those lunchtime doldrums and enjoy a "Picnic in Paradise" as the Charlotte Chamber SouthPark Chapter presents its 7th Annual Picnic at SouthPark. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pavilion at Symphony Park and will feature food from local restaurants, live entertainment from a steel drum band and giveaways. To purchase your tickets, click here.

** Mayor Pat McCrory will honor corporate philanthropy and volunteerism of global companies and individuals at the Mayor's International Cabinet Community Awards Gala on Thursday, May 17. Seating for the event, which will be held at the Westin, is limited. For ticket information, call (704) 336-2174 or click here for more information.

** Ever need a one-page summary of what makes Charlotte a great place to be? A rich history, exceptional market access, financial powerhouse, manufacturing center, superior education and growing international community can all be summed up in the Chamber's Components of Success fact sheet. Click here for a PDF version.

** Join Walk Chair Tom Wurtz (CFO, Wachovia) on June 3, 2007 for Charlotte Walks Together, a fundraising walk-a-thon benefiting youth leadership programs of the Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice (formerly NCCJ). The Walk unites corporate, family, faith and school teams from all walks of life to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion and social justice in the Charlotte region. For team recruitment information, visit http://www.charlottecoalition.org/ or contact Beth Walker at bethwalker@earthlink.net or (704) 535-9220.

Dogs, Fish and The Movies

Ø The Harris Teeter/Purina Bark in the Park third annual event is Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at William R. Davie Park, located at 4635 Pineville Matthews Road. The event includes the top dog contest, a pooch parade, pet/owner look a like contest, the Ultimate Air Dog show presented by Purina, a variety of vendors and much more.

Ø Forrest L. Woods (FLW) fishing tournament, named for the maker of Ranger Boats will be April 26-29, launching from Ramsey Creek Park. This tour is similar in size to the BASS Masters, with 400 anglers and 200 boats launching on April 26 and 27.

Ø Memorial Stadium has been transformed into two different football stadium sets. Filming of the Leatherheads movie at Memorial Stadium continued from April 16 - 20. Filming will continue on April 23 and conclude on April 24. WBTV-3 interviewed location scout Beth Petty and several businesses adjacent to Memorial Stadium and noted the economic impact of heads in beds, food and beverages. Staff has received an inquiry from a motion picture firm to film a civil war movie at the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. Additional details will be provided.

READER SAYS DO-IT-YOURSELF SELLERS ARE NOT "GREEDY"

Recently, I saw this response to a question that realtors often receive regarding a "for sale by owner" and a buyer's agent. I think its a little agressive but my local experience has shown that often seller's will work with a buyers agent.

DEAR BOB: I usually agree with 95 percent of your excellent advice. However, I strongly disagree with your recent item where you said a home buyer might have to pay his or her buyer's agent if a home is purchased from a "greedy" do-it-yourself home seller who refuses to pay the agent half of the customary sales commission. Home sellers have the right to sell their homes alone without having to pay a sales commission. Why don't you mention the "greedy agents" who charge a 6 or 7 percent sales commission just for filling in a few blanks on a sales contract? --Zygmont C.

DEAR ZYGMONT: Most "for sale by owner" (FSBO) house and condo sellers are only too happy to pay a sales agent who produces an acceptable buyer 50 percent of the customary sales commission, usually 3 percent of the sales price.
However, some "greedy sellers" don't understand the benefits of having a buyer's agent represent the buyer. Those buyers' agents do double-duty of guiding the FSBO sale to a successful completion. Yet, some FSBO sellers stubbornly refuse to pay the buyer's agent even half of a normal commission, so then the buyer might become obligated to pay his or her buyer's agent.
As for your comment about "greedy agents" who charge 6 percent or 7 percent sales commissions, are you aware how sales commissions are split among sales agents and their brokerages?
Usually, the listing agent and the buyer's agent receive half of the gross sales commission. Then half of that portion of the commission goes to the brokerage. Of course, the exact split of the sales commission depends on each agent's agreement with their brokerage.
The result is what seems to you like a huge sales commission is split four ways and the agents really aren't as "greedy" as you might think.

Long Creek Greenway - Update

The Long Creek Greenway will eventually connect the Northlake Business Park to the new Whitewater Center. Various sections are in the long-range plans for the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department.

* The section from I-77 to Beatties Ford Road is currently listed in the county's 10 Year Capital Needs Assessment. This section is about 2.3 miles and will connect several single family and multi-family residential neighborhoods. Access to the business park and mall will be provided through their respective sidewalk systems.

* The section from Beatties Ford Road to Oakdale Road is in the county's 20 Year Capital Needs Assessment. The biggest challege in this section will be how to work with NC Department of Transportation and private land owners to secure easements.

* The Shuffletown Park Project will provide land for the next major section. Working with Trust for Public Lands and developers in the area will help in providing necessary conservation easements as the county moves forward.

Continue to visit this website for updates as plans and developments progress. If you wish additional information as to future community meetings regarding these projects and others send me an e-mail at scottmcclure@carolina.rr.com. Thanks!

Carolina Raptor Center To Release Rehabilitated Bald Eagle

Huntersville, North Carolina: In celebration of Earth Day, Carolina Raptor Center will release an eagle at Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, April 21st at 9:00 AM.

The event is open to the public.
We suggest allowing plenty of time due to busy traffic at Historic Rural Hill as they present The Loch Norman Games. http://www.ruralhillfarm.org/

Plan on arriving by 8:30 AM.
The release location is Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge at 2329 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC. Directions can be found on the Park and Recreation website: www.parkandrec.com. Then under “Quick Links” select “Nature Preserves” and then under “other preserves” select “Cowan’s Ford”.

Please note that there are no restroom facilities or drinking water at the site.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: As a boy, growing up in North Mecklenburg, I have many fond memories of Sample Farm (now Latta Nature Preserve). We would camp and explore this property for entire week-ends. Once my wife and I had the opportunity to build our home, there was no better choice than the banks of Mt. Island Lake, just minutes from Latta. Enjoy this story and visit us soon!

History:
This eagle was found August 22, 2004 in Valdez, Alaska with damage to one toe on each foot. Anticipating limited use of its feet – the primary method of catching its food - the recovery team in Alaska determined that the eagle would not be able to survive if released. Carolina Raptor Center was seeking a non-releasable eagle that was still capable of flight for use as an education bird and the eagle was shipped to NC. After several months at Carolina Raptor Center, it was obvious that this bird had a lot of spirit, was not comfortable around people and would not be suitable as an education bird. These characteristics are not always evident during the rehabilitation process.

Carolina Raptor Center’s rehabilitation staff noticed that the eagle still had incredible strength in its feet. The eagle was placed in a 100 foot long flight cage. Mathias Engelmann, Director of Rehabilitation noted, “This eagle demonstrated excellent agility and foot strength as it successfully caught rabbits and ducks.” This was valuable information as both are natural food sources. The eagle was placed on a regiment designed to strengthen is flight muscles and other skills. Our final concerns involved the ability of an Alaskan eagle to resist parasites and diseases in the eastern part of the US.
To improve the odds for this eagle, Carolina Raptor Center has engaged this eagle in flight training and prey capture for the last two years. The eagle has remained healthy and is considered to be properly acclimated. Mathias Engelmann stated, “Based on the tracking of the 2006 eaglets (http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/eagle_journeys.php) we feel confident that this eagle will do fine.” President/CEO Alan Barnhardt noted, “We would like to place a transmitter on this eagle like we did for the eaglets born at our site in 2006. This would provide a way for the public to track its progress and enjoy its future journeys. Unfortunately, we have not been successful in identifying a sponsor to underwrite the cost of a transmitter and tracking during the coming years.”

In collaboration with Mecklenburg County’s Park and Recreation department Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge has been identified as a perfect site for the release. Michael Kirschman, Division Director of Stewardship Services for Mecklenburg County said, “We are excited to continue our relationship with Carolina Raptor Center in educating the public about the importance of the conservation of wildlife and our natural resources.”

Representative Martha Alexander, a member of the NC General Assembly and long-time friend of Carolina Raptor Center, will release the eagle. While hundreds of raptors are rehabilitated and released by CRC each year, only thirty-two eagles have been released since 1979. Representative Alexander said, “This will be a unique experience and I’m honored to be a part of the return of this magnificent creature to the wild.”

Bald eagles are still recovering from their status as an endangered species. While some areas of the country have fully recovered, North Carolina is home to only about 50 nesting pairs. Carolina Raptor Center has received over 63 bald eagles since 1987, releasing 32 back to the wild. Over 350 hawks, owls, vultures, falcons and eagles were released by CRC last year.

Founded in 1979, Carolina Raptor Center (CRC) is dedicated to environmental education and conservation of birds of prey through public education, rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors, and research. More than 12,000 injured and orphaned raptors have come to CRC since its inception and last year more than 63 percent of birds that survived the first 24 hours were released back into the wild. More than 100 non-releasable raptors, whose injuries make it impossible to survive in the wild, are permanent residents of CRC and educate the public as ambassadors for their species. Last year outreach exhibitions taught more than 100,000 people about raptors and their importance to the environment, “Wild Wings” educated more than 36,000 children in North and South Carolina communities and more than 32,000 people visited CRC.
Carolina Raptor Center, located in Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville, is dedicated to environmental education and the conservation of birds of prey through public education, the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors and research.

Horse Lovers Work For Expanded NW Facility at Latta Nature Preserve

Mecklenburg County is one of the largest counties in terms of population in the state. Also Mecklenburg County and its immediate surrounding counties have the largest equine population in the state.

We all know that there are two or three privately owned equine show facilities combined in these counties, but none of these have all the amenities that we have here at Latta. Straight from the horse's mouth this is why the show promoters want to come here. Latta Equestrian Center offers 192 stalls, two show arenas, two warm-up arenas, 26 RV sites with eletric and water, restroom and shower facility, mutipurpose building for meetings and small events, and a general store.

For the general public Latta offers daily trail rides, arena rides, carriage rides, pony ride birthday parties, and all types of special events. There is no other equine facility that offers all of these services at one location.

There is still one problem that is faced here at Latta. We are limited to the quality of these services by not having a covered arena. As far as the horse shows there are a lot of show promoters that will not book at a venue that does not offer a covered arena. The contestants spend a lot of time and money to get to a show for it to be rained out. Without a covered arena the show usually has to stop if it rains hard before or during the show. Also in July and August it is limited on what can be booked because of extreme heat. A cover would prevent this. Also birthday parties, arena rides and summer horse camps have to be cancelled because of rain or extreme heat when there is no covered arena.

This issue of a covered arena here at Latta has come up several times in the last fifteen years with no apparent success. The current operators of the equestrian center, Country Time Carriages LLC, along with Mecklenburg County Park and Rec have come up with a plan to try and raise $250,000 to contruct a metal roof to cover one of the arenas. A kickoff party will be held to recruit interested people to serve on a steering committee this year to get the fundraising campaign underway. Please send an e-mail to scottmcclure@carolina.rr.com to be kept informed of these events.

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Commission Moves On Haymarket

The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Commission (MCPRC) unanimously approved the Haymarket property as a nature preserve.

At the April 10th meeting of the MCPRC, Mr. Michael Kirschman, Division Director for Stewardship Services requested the the board approve the dedication of the 100 acre Haymarket property to be classified as a nature preserve. The property would be granted all of the protections, permitted passive recreation uses, and scientific management as a nature preserve and would be developed for public and educational passive use. Located on Mt. Island Lake, near the intersection of Nance Cove Road and Hwy. 16, the property sits directly across from the entrance to the Mt. Isle Harbor neighborhood.

This property includes over one mile of shoreline on the lake which serves as the drinking water supply for Mecklenburg and Gaston counties. It was purchased in December of 2000 by Mecklenburg County at a price of three million with one million coming from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF). The CWMTF adds strict easements for the property including a 300 ft shoreline buffer. Dating back to its creation the Mt. Island Lake Marine Commission (MILMC) had sited a history of illeagal uses including camping, fires and tree removal. In an initial biodiversity assessment dated April, 2002, Sudie Daves noted deer hunting and atv use on the property.

Prior to the MCPRC action, the Park and Recreation Northwest Advisory Council and the Stewardship Advisory Council had approved the recommendation. After MCPRC approval, the issue will move to the agenda for the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners.

(Fact: Residential Property values increase 18-20% when found in close proximity to parks and other publically held and managed open space.)

Scott McClure, Your Charlotte Agent has served of the Mt Island Lake Marine Commission for a period from 1995 - 2002. He has now served on the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Commission for three years.