Kids Derby Day Next Saturday

The Bradford Area Public Library is sponsoring Kids Derby Day, the first event of the Triple Crown leading up to the annual Derby Gala 2010. This free event is to provide a wholesome experience for our community children, while they enjoy the opportunities our public library offers.

On Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 1:00 – 3:00p, Kids Derby Day will be held as a free event for our area youth. Organizers have lots of fun activities for kids to participate in. One series of events planned include horse games, facilitated by Lorraine Jacobs. Ms. Jacobs is affiliated with the Penn State Cooperative Extension of McKean County. She is the Youth Development Educator in Environment for Forestry and Natural Resources, and will be gearing her games around horse breeds.

Additional fun activities include cookie decorating, story time, and a horse sticker craft. To highlight the afternoon, Missy, a Welsh / Haflinger pony will visit the library. Kristen Matheson, with Dun Dreamin’ Stables, has volunteered to bring Missy to the Bradford Area Public Library where children will be allowed to pet and brush her. A derby mural photo opportunity will be available. A mural has been painted specifically for Kids Derby Day by University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Art Club students, overseen by Kong Ho, Associate Professor of Art. Parents are advised to bring their own cameras.

“Kids Derby Day originated when the Derby Steering Committee wanted to offer more options for children to participate in the festivities.” remarked Stephanie Parsons when asked how Kids Derby Day was considered. “The library had just finished a Children's Safety Fair, and the Derby Steering Committee liked how that type of program would accommodate large numbers of families.” Additional activities Mrs. Parson’s oversees at the Bradford Area Public Library include a weekly Preschool Story Hour on Fridays at 10:30am and a Children’s Program on Saturday mornings at 10:30am. Both are open to the public and free of charge.

Kids Derby Day will bring an awareness to support the BAPL Endowment Fund established in 1984. In 2009, the Derby Gala held its inaugural fundraiser on May 1. The auction and sponsors generated funds for the Endowment Fund, whose income the library uses to support day to day expenses. With state funding declining, the success of events such as these will continue to allow the Endowment Fund to support the library as originally intended.

Kids Derby Day has been organized by Stephanie Parsons, Children’s Program Coordinator for the library. She'll be a guest on WESB's LiveLine on Monday, February 1.

Pictured, Andy Hilzinger, a second grade student from GGB Elementary School, Jack Hilzinger, a preschooler at The Learning Center, and Payton Morgan, a preschooler from St Bernard’s School, help sort through materials for the upcoming Kids Derby Day to be held February 6, 2010. Behind them is a mural painted by University of Pittsburgh Bradford Art Club students. The open-faced mural will allow children to have their fun photo taken at the derby.
(Photo contributed by Glenn Melvin)