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Fun, Fun, Fun At The First Slice Of Summer
Author: mt43news staff reporter

MT43 News Staff Reporter

Volunteers from Rotary, Lions, Elk Horn Church and PTA outdid themselves this year with games, food and music at the first event of the year at Heritage Park last Thursday. Kids of all ages enjoyed themselves during free swimming at the pool and on three bouncy toys. Older boys and girls took a chance on the climbing wall provided by Elk Horn Church and Pat Plantenberg and Mary Mistek provided prizes in the sand pile for kids to find.

The genesis of Slice of Summer began with the complaint, “There’s nothing for kids to do in Townsend during the summer,” according to Ron Salladay.

Salladay explained he was on the Rotary Scholarship Committee and had interviewed high school students. He was aware of the Helena event “Alive at Five,” so he investigated the idea of organizing one in Townsend. He contacted various Townsend nonprofits. They contributed money to hire a band and manned food trucks. The program first began in 2010 and has grown every year since.

Rotary Chairman Doug Sitton explained they had a small blip this year – the band from Helena which he engaged for music, had a medical emergency – so he quickly called James Blythe, a DJ with Banshee Entertainment, who said he’d be right out with his equipment. Blythe saved the day.

Rotary Secretary Chrissy Ludricks explained the next Slice of Summer would be Wednesday, July 16, at Heritage Park with events and free swimming for kids, along with live music for everyone throughout the afternoon and evening.

Article Images

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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Kids wait in line for the bouncy water slide. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Lions Club members Joe Kondelik and Don Hanson flip the burgers and hot dogs at the year's first Slice of Summer. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 3 Caption: Elk Horn Church Pastor Eric Crusch mans the climbing wall. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer **Not enough space**
Image 4 Caption: Rotarian Pat Plantenberg salts the sand pile with quarters and trinkets. Kids wait patiently for a chance to dig in the pile. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer