The Newcastle Community Activities Commission on March 12 reviewed its spring and summer recreation calendar, including a city recycling event set for April 19 and a town hall meeting scheduled for May 7, and said registration is filling quickly for several spring and summer programs.

In a staff report, Events and Recreation Coordinator Amy told commissioners, "The recycling event is set for Saturday, April 19 at Hazelwood Elementary School, and that went live on socials and is also, viewed on our website calendar" and urged residents to check the city calendar for accepted items and fees. She also said the town hall is set for Wednesday, May 7, at Risen Middle School, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting starting at 6:00 p.m.

Why it matters: the commission flagged registration deadlines and vendor bookings that affect program availability and neighborhood participation. "Summer events planning is well underway," Amy said, and commissioners were told the city aims to add non-sports camps and vendor-led programming to broaden options.

Most immediate items
- Recycling event: Amy asked residents to consult the city website for a list of accepted items and associated fees.
- Town hall: May 7, Risen Middle School, doors at 5:30 p.m.; meeting at 6:00 p.m.
- Registration: Spring Skyhawks, tennis and Soccer Tots were reported as "filling up fast," and staff urged early sign-up.

Summer program details
Amy outlined the summer schedule changes the city is pursuing. "The summer camp schedule is going to include not only Skyhawk sports, but also, some non sports summer camps," she said, naming plans to use Lakebourne Park Shelter 2 as an "outdoor classroom" for a one-week art day camp with AL Art Studio and a STEAM-based camp run by Challenge Island that will include a "slime camp." Staff also said other vendors have expressed interest for 2026 programming.

Volunteer and outreach items
Amy asked commissioners to send volunteer opportunities and ‘‘kudos’’ for the volunteer newsletter, which she said will go out the next Friday and requested submissions by March 20 for the organizational spotlight and volunteer recognition sections.

Commission discussion and next steps
Commissioners asked about vendor availability and deadlines; Amy said many vendors are already booked but that the city is still securing weeks the vendors might have left. Staff asked commissioners to share suggestions for programming and vendor contacts to help finalize bookings.

Ending
Staff asked commissioners to watch the city events calendar and register early for programs that were reported as near capacity. The commission did not take formal policy action on recreation programming during the meeting; staff will continue to finalize contracts and publicize registration windows.