June 2014: Summer Night Lights Kicks Off

June 2014: Summer Night Lights Kicks Off in June
Editor's Note: Each month a member of the Board of Supervisors will be featured and deliver a personal note. This message is provided by District 2 Supervisor Pete Vander Poel.
 
Finding activities for your family during the summer months can be tough. Recreational activities, a visit to the movies, or planning a trip out of town can be time consuming and expensive. 
 
Fortunately, Tulare County has partnered with a variety of organizations to sponsor the Summer Night Lights program for a fourth year.
 
Summer Night Lights is a program that aims to provide free positive activities for youth and families in 11 Tulare County communities by keeping selected parks and recreational facilities open from June to August. Activities include game nights, movie nights, swim nights, resource fairs, team building exercises, carnivals, and barbecues, to name a few. 
 
I’m proud to announce that the community of Earlimart will kick off Summer Night Lights this week. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 4, the pool at Earlimart Middle School will be open to the public for a pool party. In addition to taking a dip in the pool, attendees will also be treated to snacks and drinks. This is one of four events scheduled for Earlimart this summer. 
 
In addition to Earlimart, the communities of Alpaugh, Allensworth, Cutler, Orosi, Dinuba, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, and Woodlake will participate in the program. 
 
In some communities, youth have many opportunities to participate in summer activities. For other communities, particularly in the rural unincorporated areas, this program may be the only option. Regardless of the community, here are a few reasons why residents should consider attending a Summer Night Lights program:
 
- Convenient: Parents usually cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure their children have something to do. With Summer Night Lights, the communities have pre-planned events that do not cost a dime. 
 
- Safety: Summer Night Lights is a safe option for your family. Each site has staff with adult supervision, including representatives from law enforcement. 
 
- Community: The importance of getting to know the people in your community should never be taken for granted. Meet your neighbors and develop relationships with them.
 
For a full list of Summer Night Lights events, please visit: http://stepuptc.co.tulare.ca.us/index.cfm/calendar/