January 2019 Newsletter
New Program!
Who likes art?
On January 24, Timea Gorgey will be beginning the first of two 6 week sessions of project-based art classes for students 5 and up. Classes will be on Thursdays:
3:30-4:45 pm for ages 5-9
5:00-6:30 pm for ages 10+
Each session will be $60 + $10 material fee for the first child, and siblings will be $48 + $10 material fee.

Please email Timea ( [email protected]) or Laura ( [email protected]) if your child is interested. Participation is limited to 15 students per age group each session. The second session will begin March 7. Due to the small art room size, parents are welcome to wait in the gym.
Program Updates
What a show!
Twelve cast members performed "The Jungle Book" for family and friends on December 5 at Sunny View Elementary. The next KidStage session will begin in February, with details to be announced soon! Please email Laura ( [email protected]) if your child is interested in participating.

REFIT ® is now Total Body Fitness!

exercise-outfit-woman.jpg
Join Debbi Ware and s trengthen, tone and improve flexibility for better health and fitness in this fun and personally challenging group fitness class. Resistance bands and your own body weight will be used as we complete a variety of high repetition exercises.  Designed to be safe for all ages and abilities, yet effective in making you stronger, fitter, and healthier!  Free!

Classes are Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM. All ages are welcome. The first class of the new year is Wednesday, January 23.
We're having fun with our homeschoolers!

We have played soccer, basketball, pickleball, and winter games, not to mention countless versions of tag and dodgeball!

Join us at one of our next free gym meetups for homeschool families!

Tuesday afternoons (5 years old and up) 1 pm - 3 pm
Thursday mornings (5 years old and under) 10 am - 11 am

STARTING IN FEBRUARY, THE 5 & UNDER MEETUP WILL BE FROM 9 am - 10 am!

Come to one or both! 
Contact  Laura Baird for more information!
Family Dance Party

Join us at  Columbus Library on Tuesday, January 22 or  Saluda Library  on  Wednesday ,  February 13 , at 10:30 am, for our next  Family Dance Parties! Aimed at our youngest community members (ages 5 and under) and their parents & guardians, this hour of fun will include stories, music, dancing, and musical games! Dance parties will be at Saluda Library on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and at Columbus Library on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
Polk Enrichment Academy for Kids

The Polk County Afterschool PEAK Program is really taking off! So far this year, we have harvested and cooked food from our gardens, winter veggies, learned all about fish, made birdhouses, explored the schoolyard, and created cat toys with catnip we grew at Saluda Elementary!

Click below for more pictures of our Garden Guardians and Junior Adventurers:
Facility Updates
New lights at Searcy Field!
New lights have been installed at Searcy Field. Once the lights have power, we will be ready to host evening youth sports practices, area club sports meetings, and more!
The fish feeder is back online!
Thank you to the good folks from NC Wildlife, the fish feeder is back in place and operational at Laughter Pond! Feeder comes on twice a day (9am and 6pm).
Sports Updates
Basketball is ready to roll!
Basketball season is back and off to an awesome start! We have over 200 players signed up across 7 different leagues, and it has all the makings of another fantastic season. Swing by Stearns Gym or PCMS to check out the action! If you have registered but have not heard from a coach, please call Latoya: 828-894-8199.

For all current basketball league information, including standings and schedules, click here.
Spring Volleyball Registration Is Now Open!

The cost to register is $40 per player, and registration will be open until Monday, February 4. Make sure you get signed up before it is too late!

Youth Baseball/Softball Update

Registration for the 2019 Spring Baseball/Softball season will open this week! The cost to register is $70 per player. 

Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of this exciting season!

Trails Update

January Work Days for the Recreation Complex Trail:
Saturday, January 26th @ 9:30 am
Thursday, January 31st @ 9:30 am

*Contingent on weather*

MOUNTAIN BIKING MEETING
There will be a meeting Saturday, January 28th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM to discuss mountain biking.

It will be held at Saluda Outfitters (435 E Main St, Saluda, NC 28773)

6:30-7:00 PM is slotted for networking and social time.
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM will have a presentation on future mountain bike trails and provide time for an open discussion about mountain biking in Polk County.

This meeting will be replacing January's normal trails committee meeting.

We hope to see you there!

Thank you to everyone who came out to help build trail in 2018!
Since January, dozens of volunteers have dedicated numerous hours to build over a mile total of natural surface trail at the Rec Complex and Alexander's Ford!

Polk County Parks and Recreation | [email protected] | 828.894.8199 | Visit our website
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