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Halloween carnival, Smart Moves coming up soon
BG-CLUB-FBALL1-10-11-09
Game action Saturday in the Manteca Boys & Girls Club flag football 7 to 14 age division at Bay Meadows Park featured the Dragons battling the Running Rebels. - photo by HIME ROMERO

FAST FACTS

• WHAT: Manteca Boys & Girls Club
• WHERE: 545 W. Alameda St.
• WHEN: Monday through Friday from 3 to 8 p.m.
• COST: $24 a year
• MORE INFO: Call 239-KIDS

One of Manteca’s longest running Halloween traditions – the Boys & Girls Club Halloween Haunted House & Carnival – takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, at the clubhouse at 545 W. Alameda St.

The event is staged with the help of the Manteca Parks & Recreation Department and the Manteca Kiwanis. It is open to all youth. The event also includes a costume contest and takes place from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Smart Moves starts Oct. 20
The SMART Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) prevention/education program starts Tuesday. Oct. 20.

It addresses problems such as drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity. The program uses a team approach involving club staff, peer leaders, parents and community representatives. More than simply emphasizing just a ”say no” message, the program teaches young people ages 6-15 how to say no by involving them in discussion and role-playing, practicing resistance and refusal skills, developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and analyzing media and peer influence. The ultimate goal: to promote abstinence from substance abuse and adolescent sexual involvement through the practice of responsible behavior.

It takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for ages 6 thru 9 and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 10 thru 12.

Membership is $24 a year
Where can you get a year’s worth of karate lessons, play in flag football and basketball leagues, have a safe place to hang out after school until as late as 8 p.m. with friends, play and do your homework for just $24 a year?

The Manteca/Lathrop Boys & Girls Club is where you can get all that and more for just $24 a year.

The price does reflect the first increase in almost 16 years doubling from the previous $12 per kid. The $24 fee also includes Boys &Girls Club T-shirt. There is a break for families that have more than two children that would cost $48. After that, each additional child is $12 a year.

It costs just over $350 a year to provide services per club member. There are nearly 1,500 members between two sites.

School year hours are 3 to 8 p.m. at the main site at 545 W. Alameda St. and 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lathrop School site. On school year holidays, the hours are 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.

The club offers homework assistance, computers for doing school work, and various character building programs. It also offers a variety of recreation games, sports leagues, arts classes, or simply a safe place to spend time with friends.

For more information, call the club at 239-KIDS.