In its third season, the Farmhouse Kids’ Club for children ages 3-12 was sponsored by First Commonwealth Bank and Drs. Abraham and Gill Pediatric Dentists and Orthodontists. 528 children visited the Farmhouse Kids’ Club 1059 times this summer, receiving 1014 tokens over 13 sessions. Being free to join, members participated in weekly activities such as produce sampling, scavenger hunts, flower planting, meeting live animals and more, consequently earning a wooden token worth $ 2.00 that could be spent with any of the Market vendors. The coin program at the Farmhouse Kids’ Club was again well-received by both the families and vendors, as it teaches money-management and healthy eating habits, and generated $ 1922.00 in revenue to our vendors! The Market will operate for its fifth season in 2018!
Murrysville Community Park hosted 5 local bands and thousands of guests at our first Concert in the Park in August! Delicious food vendors, community interest groups, games and activities filled the day, which was complete with a fabulous fireworks display provided by the Yant-Turner Family Fireworks Team! Thank you to all who attended and especially our sponsors who made the event possible. We are looking forward to our second annual Concert event in 2018!
The 5th annual PA Hometown Hero Walk team of supporters travelled 2.6 miles from the Veterans’ Memorial at Murrysville Community Park on Wiestertown Road to Hills Church Road, ending at Rivertowne Brewery, to support our Pennsylvania Veterans in need. This year’ s Walk had a close-to-home feel as the organization was able to provide a home in Trafford to 35-year-old Marine Corps veteran Eric Seitz, a Penn Hills native who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and in Iraq. The home was donated by Kirk Rettger of Choice Auto Sales, Murrysville. Funds raised by the organization remain in Pennsylvania to support local veterans in need. Details on the 2018 PA Hometown Hero Walk in Murrysville will be available soon, join us!
More than 30 chili recipes prepared by amateur cooks and local restaurants were sampled at the 10th annual ChiliOktoberfest, held in conjunction with the Murrysville-Export Rotary. Rivertowne beverages, hot dogs, the Jenkins and Crum band, cornhole, and kids’ activities were enjoyed by more than 350 hungry guests WHILE cash prizes were awarded to 1st and 2nd place in each category. Mark your calendar for next year’ s Chili Octoberfest, the hottest event in town!
The Christmas and holiday season was celebrated December 1 at Night of Lights at Town Square and 1st United Methodist Church. Mild temperatures brought record setting attendance for our gingerbread contest, performing groups, visits with Santa and St. Nicholas, the Historical Society’ s toy display, holiday stories, games and activities and, of course, delicious cookies and hot chocolate! This event grows each year and it wouldn’ t be a favorite without all of our businesses and organizations who participate to provide entertainment throughout the evening. Thank you to everyone!
The local business community and many individuals are continually supportive of our Department’ s events and programs by providing sponsorships to ensure their longevity and cost-effectiveness for participants. Thank you just isn’ t enough, but, thank you!
Recreation Programs:
Summer Recreation Programs remain popular, garnering 604 registrations for more than 50 programs for participants ages pre-K through adult. Programs
Department of Recreation
included: Safety City, Superhero Science Camp, Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Camps, Pioneer Living Camp, Fencing, Home Landscape Series with Plum Line Nursery, Minecraft, Ready-Set-Run 5K camp, Learn to Draw, Wildlife Explorers, the Playground Program and more. 59 children registered for the Playground Program and visited 415 times to five different parks over seven weeks. Guest presenters, animal demonstrations and fun games and activities were all included this year! The program is offered for four hours each day for $ 5.00 per visit and no pre-registration is required. It’ s a great way to have safe, supervised fun with friends in the summer!
Firetrucks, police cars, ambulances, school buses and big-wheel bicycles all came together to teach our youngest residents about citizen safety at our Safety Town program for children ages 4-8. Participants had the chance to meet our real local heroes, see their vehicles, ride on a school bus and ride big-wheels in our“ town” to learn about stop lights and traffic signs. Five camp days in our Safety City surely made them our safest young citizens!
Our bi-annual program guide, which includes details and registration information for all of our upcoming programs and events, is published in April and September and is available on our website, www. murrysvilleparecreation. com and is also mailed through the Penn Franklin newspaper. Copies are always available at our municipal offices.
Be an MVP!:
The Murrysville Volunteer Program offers a volunteer matchmaking program to increase volunteer awareness and engagement in both community and municipal roles and to establish a robust volunteer force to strengthen our community spirit and strength. Through this program volunteers and service organizations can connect both on the municipal website, http:// murrysville. com / volunteer-in-murrysville / and on the program’ s Facebook page, Murrysville Volunteer Program. Service organizations can share an immediate or ongoing need for volunteers while interested volunteers can find just the right organization with which to be involved. Volunteering can be fun and rewarding and does not have to become another full time job; an hour can make a world of difference; try it today! For more information, contact the Recreation Department at 724-327-2100 ext. 115.
Department Information:
Information regarding Murrysville Recreation Department Programs and Events can be found by visiting http:// murrysvilleparecreation. com /, in the Penn-Franklin Newspaper in our bi-annual supplement, or on Facebook at Murrysville Recreation Department. We can also be reached by phone during normal working hours at 724-327-2100 ext. 131 or ext. 115. urrysville MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE NEWS
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