It’s a crazy, hectic time of year for Weehawken Recreation Director Chuck Barone, but in Barone’s eyes, it’s also a fun time of year.
Summer is always the busiest time for the township’s tireless recreation department, offering a wide variety of events for kids from 6 to 60.
"We definitely try to offer a little bit of everything for everyone," said Barone, who watched his summer recreation program kick off last week, with daily events at the town’s four park sites. "We try as best as we can to keep everyone happy."
Each of the town’s parks is offering arts and crafts and other fun activities each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is plenty of adult supervision at each site and free lunches are also provided daily.
"There is also the shower at each park for the kids to play in and keep cool," Barone said. "The games and arts and crafts stop at 3 p.m., but we can keep the showers open an extra hour or two, depending on the hot weather."
While the old standards, like the popular eating contests, such as watermelon eating (July 23 at Weehawken Stadium at 6:30 p.m. for kids ages three through 12), pie-eating (July 30, same site, time and ages) and hot dog-eating frenzy (August 7, at 7 p.m. for kids 10-15), remain on the schedule, Barone’s staff has introduced new programs that are bound to attract more youngsters.
Beginning this year, golf clinics are being offered for youngsters ages 11 through 15. The two-week sessions, taught by Weehawken High School golf coaches Carnig Nersessian and Bob Zucconi, are held at the Edgewater Driving Range on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two weeks, beginning July 22.
The two-hour sessions (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.) are designed to help youngsters learn more about golf. Transportation to and from the driving range is provided.
"Since the high school started a varsity golf team this year, we wanted to do something to encourage younger kids to want to learn how to golf," Barone said. "This way, if the kids are taught how to properly play during the summer, then they will perhaps get interested in playing more and be able to play for the high school team in the future."
Also for the first time, there are girls’ soccer clinics, also to coincide with the initiation of girls’ soccer on the high school varsity level. The clinics, taught by WHS girls’ soccer coach Cecily Hug, began last week at Arricale Field for girls ages 8 through 12 to a fine turnout.
"We had a pretty decent turnout for a first-time event," Barone said.
The soccer clinics will continue Monday for older girls, ages 13 and older, at Weehawken Stadium.
"We’re trying to draw some interest in girls’ soccer as well to help the high school team in the future," Barone said.
Also, for the first time, the township has worked out a deal with both Secaucus and Palisades Park for residents to be able to use the municipal pools in both towns at reduced rates.
Residents of Weehawken can now use either the Secaucus pool or the Palisades Park pool for the summer at rates lower than what those pools normally charge for non-residents.
"I spoke with the mayors of both towns, after we received tremendous interest from our residents," Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said. "Many residents came to me and asked if we could do something with reduced rates at those pools. They knew that those pools had similar reduced rate plans with other towns [North Bergen]."
Residents can receive as much as a 30-to-40 percent savings at both pools.
"However, if residents are interested in participating in the reduced rates, they must register at Town Hall and not at the pools," Turner said. "Both municipalities did not want to handle the paperwork involved with registration, so we will do that."
Youngsters can also go to the West New York municipal pool, free of charge, as part of the Weehawken Recreation program. The youngsters are transported to the pool several times during the week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There are also the typical recreation events, like basketball leagues for boys, girls and men. There will also be basketball clinics and contests throughout the summer.
Lots of contests
There will also be contests for those who are not athletically inclined, like the model car contest (Aug. 4), the jigsaw puzzle (July 29) and the amateur photo contest (Aug. 12), all of which are held at the Weehawken Free Public Library.
The recreation department has also scheduled a series of day trips: to the Battleship New Jersey, to the Bronx Zoo (July 16 and Aug. 27), Swartswood State Park (July 22), Island Beach (July 28), the Aviation Hall of Fame (Aug. 5) and High Point State Park (Aug. 14). All of those aforementioned trips are free of charge.
There are also trips to certain fun spots that require a co-payment, like the New York Aquarium (July 30), Tomahawk Lake (Aug. 6), Point Pleasant Beach and Boardwalk (Aug. 13), Wild West City (Aug. 20). All those trips require a $5 payment.
The department is also organizing a trip to the Mountain Creek amusement park for kids ages 15-18, and that trip requires a $19 co-pay.
For adults, the town offers yoga and tai-chi classes, as well as open gym and open weight room sessions at the high school.
There is also the Sunday summer concert series at various park sites. The series opened last Sunday at Hamilton Plaza, with Weehawken music teacher Piero Romano’s Class Jazz Quartet performing.
This Sunday, it will be the Gordon James Orchestra at Old Glory Park on Boulevard East, followed in succession by the Muzzy Band on July 20 at the senior citizen complex at 525 Gregory Avenue, the Richard Reiter Group at Hamilton Plaza on July 27, the Carrie Jackson Show at Old Glory Park on Aug. 3, the Grady Stone Quartet on Aug. 10 at 525 Gregory and finishing with the Fernando Mercado Band on Aug. 17 at Hamilton Plaza.
All of the Sunday shows begin at 6 p.m.
In August, the Thursday concerts at Lincoln Harbor Plaza will begin, running this year in cooperation with the new Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center.
The summer fun will come to an unofficial close on Wednesday, Aug. 27, when the third annual Summer of the Century Field Day takes place, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., complete with tons of games, like a water balloon toss and a super soaker shooting contest, as well as free food and refreshments. Nearly 600 youngsters attended the event last year.
"We offer a full slate of activities throughout the summer and it culminates with that Field Day," Barone said. "It’s a good way for the summer to draw to a close."
And most of the activities and events, other than the field trips, are free of charge.
"We try to cover everyone and offer something for everyone," Barone said.
"We offer a broad range of activities, from children through adults," Turner said. "I think we offer the largest variety of events and activities than any other town that I’m familiar with. We have a well rounded department and everything is well organized. Not only are our programs fun, but they’re also safe."
Which is what everyone wants for the summer months ahead.