Parks & Rec has several fall events

The summer months are over but the recreational activities in the town of Malta are warming up as the Malta Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting several events this fall.

Included with this Fall's events is Ultimate Dodgeball, an event that takes place on Thursday afternoons, starting at 3:30 p.m. Close to ninety students have signed up to play.

The weekly recreational event is not in a league format, but rather just a time where youth group from Kindergarten to second grade, third grade to fifth grade, and sixth grade to eighth, can come and play co-ed dodgeball.

The format has remained the same it has been in previous years, but the newest improvement to the event is the addition of bus rides by the Phillips Transit Authority for youth that attend the Malta Boys and Girls Club.

"They can go into the Boys and Girls Club, grab a snack, then get on the transit bus, come over, and then when they are done the transit takes them back," Co-director Julia Tatafu said. "That's really nice for parents."

According to a bus schedule posted on the Malta Parks and Recreation Facebook Page, the bus picks up third through fifth-grade kids at the Boys and Girls Club at 4:10 p.m. and then drops them off at the City Hall. At 4:15 p.m. the transit bus will then take Kindergarten through second-grade students to the Boys and Girls from the City Hall.

Games for the Junior Division (Kindergarten to second grade) go from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The games for the Intermediate Division (third grade to fifth grade) go from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Games for the Senior Division (sixth grade to eighth) go from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

The cost to play dodgeball is a one time charge of $15 per child.

Adult Tap Dancing classes led by Sheena Dorak started on Wednesday, November 7, at Malta's City Hall dance room.

The class is a five-week beginners course for anyone who has ever wanted to tap or have some fun exercise. The class will take place every Wednesday, until December 5, from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The course is $40 to attend every event or $9 per class.

While tap shoes are encouraged, they are not mandatory. For more information call Julia Tatafu at 654-4178.

Dorak has also collaborated with Parks and Rec. for Youth Cheerleading, a new event, that started on Tuesday, November 6. Also teaching in the class is current Malta Cheerleader Shelby Jones, a senior at Malta High School.

The idea for these classes was thought of when Dorak made an observation at a local sporting event.

"Sheena approached me and said, 'I see so many little girls doing the cheering and following along with the cheerleaders at all of these sporting events, so what do you think of this," Tatafu said.

Cheer classes, for participants seven years old and up, will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. until December 4. The cost for the event will be $30 per child. The class scheduled was located at the City Hall Dance Room, but sometimes things don't go according to plan.

"We had to have it in the gym because so many girls signed up," Tatafu said. "We had thirty girls sign up."

Tatafu also reiterated that if previous classes were missed, students can join in any future classes.

"You can join at any time," Tatafu said. "If you forgot about it last week, you can join up next week."

According to the flyer, girls will focus on the fundamentals of cheer leading including cheers, motions, chants, jumps, and beginner stunts.

Fall Yoga started up on Tuesday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m. Yoga classes will be held on Tuesday evenings until December 4. The classes are taught by certified Yoga Instructor Fallon Handley in the City Hall Dance Room.

Parks and Rec. is also running their Tiny Tots Recreation hour which takes place from 10:30 a.m to 11:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the City Hall Gym Dance Room. Punch cards for Tiny Tots $20 for 8 times.