Making a splash: Aquatic center hosts family event
BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 months AGO
Lake Monsters swim team member Zada Dumouchel enjoys some cotton candy with a side of snowcone at MVAF's Family Fun Day. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Joe Munoz, Jr., and a student demonstrate some Korean karate at MVAF's Family Fun Day. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Members of Mission Valley Aquatics and Fitness gave away free books during Family Fun Day. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. | August 28, 2025 12:00 AM
The pool was full of swimmers, splashing, floating, and diving; and the lawn in front of Mission Valley Aquatics was loaded with fun things for kids and adults during last Saturday’s Family Fun Day.
Members of the Lake Monsters Swim Team were selling raffle tickets for a year’s free membership to the pool, according to Pat Gilmartin, swim coach for the Monsters.
Team members were providing information about the pool, such as the temperature (82 degrees). The therapy pool is warmer (95 degrees), something to think about on a cold, grey December day.
Games were scattered across the lawn, including giant Jenga blocks, a bounce house, a putting green, a short net and plastic balls, paddles and golf clubs for small children. Chalk was provided for chalk art on the sidewalks.
For older youth or adults, Joe Munoz Jr. and one of his students were on site with a mat and other equipment to demonstrate Korean karate. Munoz is a third-degree black belt and hopes to get a group of interested students started learning the sport.
The membership at Mission Valley Aquatics had donated books so each child could take one home. Inside the building was a station for creating books marks, complete with markers, stickers, crayons and scissors.
Using pretty colors, makeup pens, and lots of glitter, the resident face painter created butterflies, tigers, and other creatures on children’s faces.
The weather was great, according to Rayanne Crick, MVA executive director. Last year, a storm blew through the day before the event, but this year was all blue skies and sunshine. MVA offered 20 percent off a member’s first month plus no fees for those who joined on Family Fun Day.
And it wouldn’t be fun without cotton candy offered by food trucks, as well as snow cones, street tacos, hot dogs and cold drinks.
For more information on the aquatic and fitness center’s offerings, visit mvaquaticsfitness.com.
Joe Munoz, Jr., and a student demonstrate some Korean karate at MVAF's Family Fun Day. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Members of Mission Valley Aquatics and Fitness gave away free books during Family Fun Day. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS
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