Wellsville Newsletter!

Summer Play for Your Kids and You!

With gasoline prices higher than last year, most families are scaling back on their summer vacation plans. But that doesn’t mean you need to scale back on your fun. There are plenty of things to do without going far and without spending any money. Here are a few ideas:

1. Head to the local playground. Most cities and small towns have some sort of play area for kids and youth. Swings require exertion to keep them moving, as do teeter-totters, sliding boards, and monkey bars. You and your child alike can have a blast by just taking in the various activities at your local playground. You could even make a game of it by seeing how many times you can slide down the slide in a minute. Or, how fast you can swing across the monkey bars with control. A game of friendly competition makes the playground a little different each day and provides a great way to stay fit and active.

2. Take a family walk. Walking routes are common in most areas…even if they aren’t laid out on a designated walking path. Some cities provide downtown walking routes and maps that take in historical sites and unique views of the city. More rural areas may have transformed a former railroad bed into a rails-to-trails route. Find out what’s available in your neighborhood and investigate it together as a family.

3. Play some old-fashioned street games. Hopscotch and kickball are still fun games to play in your neighborhood. If you live on a busy street, find a stretch of sidewalk and draw out a hopscotch board for you and your children and their friends. Residential neighborhoods might provide a place to play kickball on a cul-de-sac or a field nearby. Grab the neighbors and pull a team together. Tossing a Frisbee around is always a favorite too!

4. Head to the local library or museum. Most libraries or museums offer free children’s programs and many museums offer free admission for children. Not only will you be saving a bit of money, you’ll be providing a bit of education during your child’s summer vacation.

5. Go to the beach. Many areas have small lakes with beaches or rivers with safe and free beach access. Look at what’s available in your area within a short drive so you can spend the day on the beach instead of in the car. Take a healthy picnic lunch and stay the afternoon. Splash around in the water or build a sandcastle with your child. It’s a great way to be outdoors and save a bit of money!

There are plenty of free things to do this summer. Check with your local visitor’s bureau for activities that may be happening in your area. There are plenty of free things to do this summer. Don’t let your staycation become stale. Get out and move! Enjoy! And remember to join us every Saturday morning at 8 a.m. on Fox 66!

Fun Facts About Summer

1. The Dog Days of Summer are named after Sirius, the Dog Star, in the constellation Canis Major, which shines most brightly during this period (July 3 through August 11). The ancient Greeks and Romans believed the star was responsible for the heat and blamed it for periods of drought, sickness, and discomfort, or as we know them, bad hair days.

2. Kangaroos lick their forearms to keep cool.

3. 15 pounds of watermelon are eaten per person each year in the U.S.

4. Count the number of cricket chirps in 15 seconds, add 37 and you get the air temperature (in Fahrenheit).

5. 808,897 is the US Patent number granted to inventor Willis Haviland Carrier in 1906 for his "Apparatus for Treating Air", a.k.a. the first air conditioner. Yay for Willis!

(Information obtained from: The Blizzard of Odd Blog)

Recipe of the month -- Ants on a Log!