Ravalli Republic - = Bitterroot Valley News: Hamilton, Stevensville, Darby, Victor, = Florence

Sunday, August 03 2008

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Archived Story

Fun in the sun at Lake=20 Como
by JENNY HARRIS - = Ravalli=20 Republic

DARBY - If one did not believe creating=20 sandcastles and blowing bubbles are true arts, the Lake Como = beach=20 Tuesday would have proved naysayers wrong.

Nineteen = sand=20 castles that would have rivaled any Windsor castle, bubbles = to keep=20 three -year-olds occupied for five minutes, Smokey Bear's = shovel and=20 the juiciest grilled hot-dogs of the summer encompassed the = eighth=20 annual Lake Como Family Fun Day.

The sand and = sun-filled day,=20 which included waived recreation passes, was organized by = Kids=20 First, Retired Seniors Volunteer Projects, Head Start, = Literacy=20 Bitterroot, Healthy Families and the Bitterroot National = Forest=20 Service.

The coalition of local non-profit = organizations and=20 government agencies who work with families produces the = annual=20 family day to attract local people to resources available in = the=20 Valley. The family-centered day attracted more than 400 = hundred=20 people, as all but 130 hot dogs were left to be = grilled.=20

=93It's really just about = getting=20 Bitterroot families together, out in the sun on a beautiful = day,=94=20 said Allison Kinney, of Kids First. =93We've been heading = this for=20 four years and this year the participation has been much = larger than=20 previous years. Working with the Forest Service is great, as = they=20 waive the $2 fee for the day.=94

The beach boasted = several=20 activities throughout the day including free books donated = by=20 Literacy Bitterroot, bubble-blowing aided by RSVP = volunteers, and=20 free healthy foods organized by Healthy = Families.

Costco,=20 Albertsons and Wal-Mart donated tents and = food.

=93This is=20 really cool,=94 said 14-year-old Josh Everett, visiting from = Nevada.=20 =93We don't have any mountain lakes like this back home. = It's a neat=20 and organized day with so much to do.=94

While Valley = parents=20 hurriedly slathered sunscreen on their children, most of the = kids=20 ranging from ages three to16 seemed more interested in being = instructed by Darby firemen on how to spray the fire hose.=20 Naturally, Smokey Bear was not too far away. He also took = time away=20 from the busy fire season to lecture kids on the dangers of=20 summertime sparks.

Perhaps the most enthusiastic = volunteers=20 and most popular stand of the day was the bubble table. RSVP = volunteers helped families and kids to perfect the perfect = bubble,=20 while catching the wind.

=93We have over 212 senior = volunteers=20 and this might be the favorite volunteer day of the year,=94 = said RSVP=20 Director Derry Kempf. =93We just love it out here and we are = proud to=20 help out and soak up the sun.=94

Another popular = event of the=20 day was the ever-competitive sand castle competition, = sponsored by=20 Kids First, complete with top-of-the-line shovels and = buckets.=20 Dangerous motes occupied by stick figure crocodiles lined = the beach=20 with castle balconies speckled with white pebbles for the = Lake Como=20 castle princesses, according to three-year-old Jackie Kern. = This=20 year, 19 teams entered with only the top three winning = prizes,=20 although all entries received a consolation = prize.

With four=20 months of organization and scheduling donations, the annual = Lake=20 Como Fun Day was a big hit in the already heavily used Lake = Como=20 recreation area.

=93Apart from Fourth of July, this = is our most=20 popular summertime event,=94 said Bitterroot Forestry = Technician and=20 firefighter Casey Worth. =93The organization is really great = this=20 year, from the lifeguards to the food and events, it's just = a great=20 day and the kids seem like they are having a lot of = fun.=94

The=20 day provided a relaxing event-filled afternoon for local = families.=20 All sponsors agreed the focus was geared toward families and = local=20 opportunities. For instance, Head Start and Kids First = enrollment=20 applications on summer youth programs were available = alongside toys=20 and crafts.

=93The day has been a great success,=94 = said Paula=20 Wood of Kids First. =93We're proud of all the organization = that went=20 into this.=94

The annual Family Fun Day plans to take = place=20 next year, same place, same time - yet hopefully with fewer=20 sunburns.

Reporter Jenny Harris can be reached at = 363-3300 or=20 jharris@ravallirepublic.com

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