ADMINISTRATION. COLUMBUS, GEORGIA Parks and Recreation Department MEMORANDUM

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1 COLUMBUS, GEORGIA Parks and Recreation Department MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Mayor Teresa Tomlinson City Manager Isaiah Hugley Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin Deputy City Manager David Arrington City Councilors Parks and Recreation Employees Recreation Advisory Council Members James D. Worsley, Director DATE: March 16, 2012 SUBJECT: Friday Letter ADMINISTRATION On Tuesday, March 13 th, we were joined by two members of the Harlem globetrotters, Handles Franklin and Scooter Christensen, to present the globetrotter organization with a proclamation from the Mayor and council. The proclamation was presented to commend Buckets Blakes of the globetrotters for a job well done with reaching out to the children by presenting the C.H.E.E.R for character program. The interactive program showed the children how to use cooperation, healthy mind & body, effort, enthusiasm and responsibility. 1

2 EDGEWOOD SENIOR CENTER RECREATION CENTER SERVICES On Mondays, Edgewood Seniors really look forward to Bible study after breakfast. This week they received a treat as Mrs. Cora delighted the group by playing along on the piano as they lifted their voices together in song. They enjoyed the music so much; they end up singing an extra song as she played! Music calms the soul so, keep playing Mrs. Cora! The group also did another song, Happy Birthday, in recognition of the study leader, Rev. Jack Kinley who celebrated his birthday on the 8 th. They also surprised Rev. Kinley with a cake and a card filled with love and gifts for him to enjoy his birthday! Rev. Kinley is really dedicated to having the study and Edgewood really appreciates his commitment. Look forward to our newsletters for a special addition from the director assisted by Rev. Kinley. This Thursday at Edgewood Senior Center was a real treat for our seniors. They were able to celebrate St. Patrick s Day Edgewood style. Many came dressed in green attire, and the seniors were able to enjoy a great lunch of corn beef, cabbage, baked potatoes with the trimmings and bread. The lunch was completed with surprise desserts of cup cakes topped with green icing and chocolate green mint ice cream. Staff encouraged the seniors to find the rainbow that led to the pot of gold left by the leprechaun filled with another treat. The seniors all spoke highly of the festivity and we even seen a member in shamrock shades for good luck at the bingo game following lunch! 2

3 FOX SENIOR CENTER On Monday, March 12, 2012 seniors from The Fox Community Center joined homeschooled children and their families out at Northside Super Center for a tree planting ceremony. This was an Arbor Day event from February that was rescheduled due to inclement weather. The children and seniors had wonderful fellowship, as they introduced themselves to each other and discussed Arbor Day and what subjects this event entailed. Fox Community Center would like to graciously thank Trees Columbus for donating the beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree! We look forward to returning to Northside Super Center in the future for a picnic by the tree! FRANK CHESTER SENIOR CENTER This week s highlight is our Grannies Babies Doll Club. This talented group of ladies has come up with yet another unique way to appreciate their members. One of their newer members Diane, who introduced them to a whole new way to do crafts by using computerized embroidery machines, has come up with yet another idea. Beginning with the March birthday members, the ladies not celebrating a birthday that month will wait on the birthday girls hand and foot on their meeting day. The birthday ladies will wear pink boas, be seated at a beautifully decorated table with cupcake tablecloths, and cupcake placemats and cupcake tableware to match. They will receive a homemade gift for their birthday, as well as a birthday cake made by the other members. The Birthday ladies were given homemade pincushions, using needle punch techniques to decorate the tops. Chicken salad on toast, pickles and chips were served for lunch. Strawberry cake was passed out for dessert, with a cup of coffee. The birthday ladies were tickled to death about being pampered on their special day. Staff took pictures for them, so they could look back and reflect on their special time together. This group has been together for many years and look forward to having new people join them and help expand their talents into areas outside doll making. If you would be interested in joining this fun group, they meet every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Doll Room. 3

4 GALLOPS SENIOR CENTER We are officially back open. Come enjoy bingo, line dancing, ceramics, exercise, square dancing, Tai Chi, hula, billiards, karaoke, and card games and don t forget about our Friday Night Dance with a live band performing every week. We are open Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2p.m. This week we feature our Karaoke group. Come out and have some fun with us! NORTHSIDE RECREATION CENTER On an overcast day, the Amazing Monday Home School Kids from Northside and the seniors from Fox had fun planting a Crape Myrtle tree. It was a day of rain + dirt = mud; mud + kids = dirty kids & clothes. Mrs. Nikki also quizzed the kids on the history and type of tree they were planting. They passed with flying colors. As a growing effort to bridge kids with seniors, we will continue to do projects with each other. 4

5 SHIRLEY WINSTON RECREATION CENTER National Sportsmanship Day was founded by the Institute for International Sport in The program has helped to promote ethics, honesty, and fair play in athletics and society through education and sport. On Thursday, March 8, 2012 the Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center hosted its 1st National Sportsmanship Day with the student-athletes of the 2012 CYB teams, coaches, staff and parents to engage in thoughtful and reasoned discussion about the role of sportsmanship. By engaging athletes and other community members in thoughtful discussions such as these and developing well-organized activities that touch on the concepts of sportsmanship and ethical conduct, National Sportsmanship Day is enabling sports to reach its full potential as a positive force in society. The Parks & Recreation Centers and other athletic organizations are participating and hoping to become a template to successfully celebrate the day with sportsmanship themed activities, discussion topics, etc., they are striving to make participation in National Sportsmanship Day an anchor event that fosters good sportsmanship on a year-round basis. HAYGOOD BOXING GYM The Columbus Boxing Club will be boxing on March 17 th & 18 th for the Golden Gloves and Junior Olympic Tournament in Marietta, GA. The show starts at 1:00 p.m. both days. We have 10 boxers going; Damion Ogletree 100lbs., Rackwoon Johnson 106lbs., Travis Kent 110lbs., Money Powell IV 125lbs.,Michael Kent 132lbs.,Dejonta Gomes 145lbs.., Thomas Bruce 152lbs., Taylor Sheppard 152lbs., Joshua McGahee 152., and Linden Thomas 178lbs. Come and support your Columbus team. The boxers have trained very hard for this tournament. 5

6 CULTURAL ARTS Cultural Arts is made up of 3 studios Britt David Cultural Arts Studio, Psalmond Road Pottery Studio, and Northside Pottery Studio. This week we are highlighting our Northside Pottery Studio. Kathy Frost is the staff instructor. This week she is offering Flower Tile Children s One Day Pottery Class Children s Wheel Throwing Pottery Clay Babies Cat Tile Classes are taught year around for ages 5 and up, and adults of all ages. Call the studio at for more details. 6

7 THERAPEUTICS RECREATION On Wednesday March 7th, TR participants traveled to Frank Chester Recreation Center to watch Anthony "Buckets" Blakes of the Harlem Globetrotters do an interview for a local news station. TR participants along with seniors from South Columbus Senior Center, and students from Carver High School watched on as Blakes demonstrated a few of the tricks that the team would pull off in the show that was scheduled to be held at the Civic Center on March 13th. Participants were so excited to have the opportunity to meet Blakes, and even made a "Welcome" banner for him to take. On March 13th, several of the TR participants, along with family members and staff also had the opportunity to attend the Harlem Globetrotters game at the Civic Center. Everyone enjoyed the very entertaining show and had a great time! On Monday March 12 th we gathered to celebrate birthdays from January to March. Each participant brought a dish and we enjoyed music, sandwiches, and cake as we wished our participants and a staff member Happy Birthday! 7

8 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM Site Highlight Each week we highlight a different after school site to acknowledge the different activities the students are being offered. This week we would like to highlight all staff that attended the Outdoor Safety and Outdoor Afterschool Activities Training, which was held at the Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center. During this training staff gained additional knowledge on potential hazard areas to look for while on the playground or planning outdoor activities. The staff at Community Schools enjoyed and valued the training because it will allow them to incorporate the information they gained into our afterschool programs. 8

9 ATHLETICS DIVISION PARK OPERATIONS/ATHLETIC SERVICES Adult Spring Softball League: The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department Spring Softball League will begin on Monday, March 19, Men s Open Divisions will play on Monday and Wednesday nights, Men s Church will play on Tuesday and Thursday nights, Coed Church will play on Monday nights, and Coed Open will play on Thursday nights. Games will be played at 7:00pm, 8:15pm, and 9:30 each night. Most games will be played at South Commons Softball Complex. A copy of schedules is located on the Athletics webpage. American Cancer Society Bark For Life: The American Cancer Society will be hosting their 4 th Annual Bark for Life event at the Britt David Park Football Field on March 24, 2012 from 8:30am 1:30pm. Information about this event can be found at Athletics Webpage: COOPER CREEK TENNIS 10 & Under Play Day Corta will be hosting a 10 & under play day at Lakebottom tennis courts on Saturday, March 17 th from 9:00am to 12:00pm. The event is FREE and designed to introduce kids 10 & under to the game of tennis. The Quickstart tennis format will be used to scale down the court, racquet and ball to appropriate levels for the age, size, and ability of the participants. This is a great way to start your kids in tennis!! Adult and Senior Spring Season The 2012 Spring USTA adult and senior seasons are in their final weeks. In the current standings, a Cooper Creek team is in 1 st Place in 18 of the 22 men s and women s divisions being contested. The winning teams will represent Columbus in various state tournaments held throughout Georgia in May and June. High School Tennis Hardaway, Northside, Shaw, Pacelli, and Calvary Christian all call Cooper Creek home for matches. Monday through Thursday there is anywhere from 12 to 15 courts being used for high school matches or practices. Come on out and support your favorite school. Next week s matches: Monday, March 19 th Calvary vs. Westfield Shaw vs. Columbus Tuesday, March 20 th Shaw vs. Callaway Northside vs. Northside WR Calvary vs. Trinity 9

10 Wednesday, March 21 st Hardaway vs. Marion County Thursday, March 22 nd Shaw vs. Haralson Northside vs. Warner Robins USTA Jr. Team Tennis The USTA Jr. Team Tennis league is held on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Players ages are introduced to competitive team tennis. Teams are grouped based on age and NTRP ability levels The program focuses on fun, fitness and the social benefits of tennis. All participants receive a Nike dri-fit t-shirt and awards are given for first and second place teams in each division. All the teams playing in the USTA Jr. Team Tennis league this spring are trying to qualify for the District Championships in Macon in July. 10