LIVING IN MANVILLE
By:Mary Ellen Zangara
School ends tomorrow so what are you going to do to keep the kids busy all summer long? There are plenty of things to do in Manville and around the county for a summer time of fun.
The local pools open Friday beginning at noon. Both Memorial and Cooper pool will be open from noon to 7 p.m. everyday. Day badges are available for $5 and season badges are $30 ($15 for senior citizens), and can be purchased Monday-Friday from 11-4 at the recreation building.
There will be swimming lessons offered for ages 4 and older for $40 and senior aqua aerobics for $10.
The summer pool activities start on July 2nd with a coin dive. Other activities include the special Frisbee toss (July 9), tube spectacular (July 16), wacky watermelon (July 18), fun day (July 30), and the goldfish dive (Aug. 1). A peanut scramble is scheduled for Aug. 6, water games on Aug. 13, tube spectacular on Aug. 15, hat day Aug. 20, the bubble gum contest on Aug. 22, and the ice cream day will be Aug. 27.
All of the activities are at Memorial pool and begin at 1 p.m.
The recreation commission is also sponsoring some upcoming events. A bus trip to Camel back water park is scheduled for July 23. The cost is $32 per person and includes the bus, entrance ticket into the water park and a barbeque.
Information will be posted on flyers at the pools so check the bulletin boards.
If you are looking for something to do before going to the pools, you can let the kids be creative and take them to "Camp Rags" the summer craft program for kids ages 6-12. The classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10-11:30 at the Rag Shop.
Eight weeks of crafts include making a foam windsock on June 23, a blue jay house (June 25), denim tote (June 27), a Fourth of July star decoration (June 30), and model magic friends on July 7.
You can also make magic power balls on July 9, a terra cotta turtle July 11, a CD storage crate on July 14, a mini-fabric photo album on July 16, a hand-sewn pillow on July 18, peg coat rack on July 21, or tie dye a T-shirt on July 23.
Make lace zipper pulls on July 25, a foam candy dish-July28, and a bulletin board on July 30.
For the month of August, the crafts include a rainbow pencil on Aug. 1, a painted piggy bank on Aug. 4, and a back to school bookmarker on Aug. 6. Greeting cards on are the Aug. 8 agenda, a back to school scrapbook on Aug. 11, design your own T-shirt on Aug. 13, and the last craft is to decorate a book sock on Aug. 15.
There is even a "Camp Rags Jr." for the younger crafters ages 3-5. The junior classes will be held in the morning or afternoon. The little ones will make a button frame on June 24, a butterfly June 26, chalkboard July 15, a tic tac tote on July 16, treasure box July 22 and a Blue’s Clues tote bag on July 23.
They will also make a foam scrapbook on July 30, a T-shirt on July 31, a Dalmatian pot on Aug. 6, star hanger on Aug. 7, a painted box on Aug. 12 and decorate a Sesame Street container .
All of the classes require pre-registration and there is a class fee. You can sign up or get more information about the times or projects by stopping by the Rag Shop. You can also have your summer birthday there, too!
So you’re not into crafts but you like to spend times at the movies. Take the kids to the Reading Cinemas for the latest movies. Right now the "Rugrats Go Wild" and "Finding Nemo.
Or you can travel to the Bridgewater Commons for their summer movie camp. The camp is held on Wednesdays with films starting at 10:30 a.m. For just $3 per person, you can get your movie ticket, and a free kids pack with every ticket.
The movies scheduled for the 10 weeks (which started yesterday) include "The Master of Disguise" (June25), "Scooby Doo" (July 9), "Spirit" (July16), "Jimmy Neutron" (July 23), and "The Wild Thornberry’s" on July 30.
For August, the movies are "Hey Arnold" (Aug. 6), "Rugrats in Paris" (Aug. 13), "Jonah" (Aug. 20) and the last movie is "Harriet the Spy" on Aug. 27.
Another camp that is new this year is "Camp Geoffrey" at Toys r Us. Starting June 17 and running to July 24, this camp is held for three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. The June activities include Timex kids today, the Hulk (June 24), Fisher-Price stars on Broadway (June 25), and Mega bloks on June 26.
In July, the activities are story time with Raggedy Ann and Andy (July 1), Sponge Bob trading card game party (July 2), creative play with Bob the Builder colorforms (July 3), Nak Nak activity (July 8) and a design your own Madeline Dress on July 9.
On July 10, it’s all aboard the "Thomas and Friends" track, build a buddy with Kid K’Nex (July 15), Geomag constructing with magnets (July16), make your own Little Golden book (July 17), a Cabbage Patch kids coloring and activity on July 22, Swan Lake and Hot Wheels movie, poster and coloring fun (July 23), and the last activity for Camp Geoffrey is a Crayola Piglet coloring activity and movie day.
All of the activities are free for children ages 3 and up along with a parent or guardian and the activity is repeated every 30 minutes during the two hour time period.
Besides all the camp activities, check out the programs and books at the Manville Public Library. The summer reading and Music with Marge programs require registrations. Stop by for more details.
Don’t forget the Somerset County 4H fair on Aug. 13, 14, and 15 at North Branch Park on Milltown Road. The fair runs from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. each day. There is a lot to see, learn and eat.
You can enjoy some summer time treats at our local ice cream shops, visit a park or just relax read a book with your children. Whatever you plan on doing with your children, enjoy the time spent with them.
Remember school starts in only 76 days!
Mary Ellen Zangara is a lifelong resident of Manville.