Adults must accompany children to the annual Keep It a Safe Summer (“KISS”) event at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, but they may be rewarded for keeping an eye on the kids.
Several prize packages will be awarded to adults, as well as to children who attend the event, which will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lyon County Fairgrounds.
KISS, which is funded by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2587, features free food, games, fun and prizes as families go through booths that explain local programs available to help keep kids safe and healthy this summer.
KISS is open to the public at no charge, with a goal of showing “exciting opportunities for family fun this summer in Emporia.”
The event is sponsored by Emporians for Drug Awareness and USD 253 Safe & Drug-Free Schools.
One lucky child will win the grand prize in the youth category — a Wii game system. Several other smaller children’s packages will be given away and can include food coupons, LCAT bus passes, summer movie passes, and movie rentals.
Among the prizes that will be given to adults are: two Emporia packages that include movie passes and a restaurant coupon, with one package containing a $100 Country Mart gift card and the other a $100 Walmart gift card; two Kansas City packages, one with Royals game passes, gas and food coupons and one with T-Bones game passes and food and gas coupons; a Wichita package with passes to the Sedgwick County Zoo and food and gas coupons; passes to an Emporia State University football game; and several restaurant certificates.
The fairgrounds will be a hive of activity, both outside and inside the Anderson Building.
Members of the Messiah Lutheran Church will make and distribute free sundaes. Free hot dogs, chips and cupcakes will be given away. McDonald’s restaurants will provide free beverages. Gambino’s Pizza will give away pizza slices to the first 200 children who come to its booth.
The Emporia-Lyon County Fire Department and Emporia Police Department will have equipment on display, with a special 911 hands-on education for youngsters who stop by the police dispatchers’ booth.
Local members of the Masonic Lodge will take fingerprints, mouth swabs and other information that will be put on a disc for families to take home as part of the Masons’ Child Identification project.
Representatives of a number of organizations and businesses that provide entertainment and hobbies for children also will be present, including: Camp Alexander, Community Theatre of Emporia, Emporia Aquatic Club, arts council, public library, recreation center, Girl Scouts of the Flint Hills, Family Martial Arts Center, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, Kansas Hunter Education, Emporia Chapter of Quails Unlimited, Ken Roper’s Golf Sales, Lyon County 4-H Ambassadors, Lyon County Historical Museum, Roller’s skating rink, Sherry’s Dance Workshop and Sunflower Gymnastics.
Emporia Zoo docents will have a display, as will the Christian Motorcyclist Association Youth Movement, ECKAN Head Start, Emporia Orthodontics, Family Resource Center, First Congregational Church, Flint Hills Community Health Center medical and dental units, Healthier Community Alliance, Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Transportation’s Operation Lifesaver, the Lyon County Sheriff’s office, Newman Medical Equipment and Supply, Sertoma Club, Shriners’ Cartoon Unit, SOS, the Social and Rehabilitation Services, Walgreen’s and YouthFriends, a group of adults that spends at least a half hour each week being a “lunch buddy” mentor or friend of students in elementary schools.
Midwest Life Team and its helicopter will be at the fairgrounds unless they have been called out on an emergency.
Also present will be representatives from the Kansas Natural Resources Advisory Board, Kansas Children’s Service League, American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Compeer Program of East Central Kansas, Family Resource Center, Flint Hills Adult Education and the First Congregational Church.
For information, call 341-2450.
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Will Ace Frehley be there?
May 21, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
no, but Ozzie is working the bat exhibit for the Emporia Zoo.
May 21, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
This sounds like a great "SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KIDS" event, and cheap also.
May 21, 2009 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
"Adults must accompany children to the annual Keep It a Safe Summer (“KISS”) event at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, but they may be rewarded for keeping an eye on the kids."
It seems we now own a society where organizations have to bribe parents to be responsible for their own children. I hope families that are available during these hours go, but I hope they aren't doing it for the material pay-off. And if they aren't able to go, I hope we expect them to still spend time with and closely supervise their children every time it's reasonably possible, even if it is inconvenient or difficult---I think that is the least we can expect from parents.
For me, the reward for keeping an eye on my kids only happens when I do it consistently and practically constantly. It is the reward of knowing that they were given every good opportunity (read:lesson) in life to become successful and happy adults.
May 21, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )