Elizabeth Doney Havre Daily News edoney@havredailynews.com
Anyone looking for some good old-fashioned family fun should attend the carnival hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. The carnival will help staff and members celebrate National Boys and Girls Club Week and is also a family plus activity that is part of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation grant. A Taco John’s cart dinner, with tacos and all the works, soda, ice cream and cookies will kick-off the carnival with games and a three-on-three b a s k e t b a l l Tourney to begin at 6:30 p.m. Community groups such as the Rotary Club, Elk’s Club, Northern Montana Hospital, 4-H and the Bullhook Bottoms Barbershop Chorus will be hosting booths with fun games that parents and children can enjoy together like fishing, basketball, a bean bag toss, target shoot, pop the balloon, a cake walk and piata. “It’s springtime and we thought a carnival would be a good way for families to get out and have fun together,” Paula Beilke, carnival coordinator said. “Our staff is very dedicated and caring about the kids and their well being and we want parents to see that.” With no charge for the event, dinner, basketball, games and six “fun” basket drawings from tickets received for filling out an evaluation sheet, the whole family is sure to enjoy themselves at the carnival. A group of teens called “reACT!” against corporate tobacco will handing out flower seeds and certificates in memory of a friend or relative that has died from a tobacco related illness. People are encouraged to remember a loved one for this event. A memorial wall will be created with the certificates. A time of sharing stories will be held from 7 to 7:30 p.m. “Although this is a serious event amid the fun events of the carnival, it is still an important issue,” Beilke said of the memorial that has been worked into the carnival program. “The reACT teens dislike feeling manipulated by corporate tobacco companies and are empowering themselves to take action.” The Boys & Girls Club plans on 250 people to attend the family carnival and upcoming Family Plus events include a healthy relationship training with domestic violence topics in April and speakers and an adult technology class yet to be scheduled. “We just want everyone to have a great time with good food, fun games and each other,” Beilke said. “We also hope that there will be increased awareness of the afterschool programs that the Boys & Girls Club has to offer.” Some of those programs include Power Hour homework room, health and fitness, arts and crafts, computer technology, games, teen center and snacks are provided each day. The Boys & Girls Club after school activity attendance averages around 185 students a day with over 600 registered members. For more information or to enroll your child in the Boys & Girls Club, call 265-6206. Membership is $10 and includes a free T-shirt and McGruff free activities throughout each week.
