The October County Service Area (CSA) 36 meeting was a backdrop to the introduction of Director GeGe Beagle’s recreation staff. In addition, Beagle described the future programs and the community response to the initial programs offered in August.
Beagle now has a preschool teacher, Rebecca Odum, and her aid, Kelly Wills, who continues on at Town Hall. Amy Righetti is Beagle’s assistant. After-school counselors are Susan Swanson and Kylie Fry. Directing the Town Hall sports programs, adult and youth, is Jeremy Teeguarden.
Participation in the initial field trips began with 42 children going to Medieval Times. A week later, more than 70 children went to The Cove Water Park. Beagle said the county needed two buses to accommodate all the children. Then, on Aug. 17, 111 children traveled to Knott’s Berry Farm, and three buses were needed to transport the kids and adults.
Total costs, including transportation, were greater than $12,000. However, Michael Franklin, CSA project manager for Riverside County Economic Development Agency, said he expected 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone would provide funding for these types of activities.
This Friday, Oct. 21, Beagle is offering “Date Night for Parents.” Parents can bring their children to Town Hall and then spend the next four hours enjoying the evening, perhaps at dinner, a movie or a coffee. Beagle said pizza, ice cream, games and Wii software will be available for the kids. The following Friday will be a free Halloween Teen Dance.
In November, adult and kids classes will begin, Beagle announced. These will include yoga, cooking, creative writing and many others.
In other business, Doris Telles shared the progress of the Senior Adult group and expressed her wish that a location other than Town Hall might be found for the group. She thought that they might shuffle some of the budget to help assist funding the rental of semi-permanent space for them.
CSA 36 Chair Carol McClintic asked about the use of Town Hall, but Telles explained that they needed a more comfortable space, “somewhere where they could settle in” — a place for social time without having to comply with a schedule, a place where they might leave puzzles out and games unattended.
