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United skates: Childhood staple still a blast for families

After some continued nagging (I mean, “polite asking”) from my son last month— and in a throwback to a staple from my childhood and that of many parents in the Valley—we went to Skateland for the ﬁrst time.

Like its Mesa location at 7 E. Southern Ave., Skateland Chandler at 1011 W. Ray Rd. offers regular family skate sessions on various days of the week—from times for younger kids and a chance to meet “Frozen’s” Elsa and Olaf to family skate, lightsout and late-night skating sessions.

We chose a weekend family skate session, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. As we entered, we paid admission and purchased tickets to take to the rental counter for skates. Admission varies depending on the session; we paid $6.50 each. Roller skate rental is separate; skates are $3.50 while inline skates are $4 to $4.50 to rent. Because you buy the tickets at the admission window, it’s a good idea to know up front what you’re renting unless you want to make another trip through the front line.

After renting our skates (it had been years for me and never for him, so we figured starting with inline skates might be pushing it), and taking a kid-appropriate amount of time to lace them up (read: forever), we finally hit the skating floor.

My son is many things, but he’s not graceful. He teetered, shufﬂed and slowly rolled forward.

“Bend your knees,” I told him. No dice. I zoomed past him, lapping him half a dozen times. (Waiting for him was too babyish, he said.)

“Seriously, David. Lean a little forward, see, and bend your knees while you skate.”

was smiles. It’s a little hard to stay sad when you’re zipping around with your friends, under colored lights and walls with blacklight murals, rocking out to “Let it Go.”

My son, for his part, eventually started gliding—actually skating—around the rink. Awesome! Able to skate beside him and actually move forward, I asked him what made the difference.

“See that lady over there?” he said, pointing to a skater who skated as though she was—and may have been—training for roller derby. “She told me to bend my knees.”

Sigh. Fine. As long as he gets it.

We skated a few more rounds, together this time. He turned out to be great at turns, and I “impressed” him by skate dancing to Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk”—right before pinwheeling my arms and almost falling on my rear end. Dignity had nothing to do with it when my school trip skating partner accidentally ran me over, and dignity has nothing to do with it now. I think that might be how it always goes, when you’re renting footwear.

Still nothing.

I skated what seemed like 100 laps, but was probably only 15 or 20. Turns out I can literally skate laps around the average 10-year-old skater, even if it did take me until my mid-30s. I seem to remember 10-year-old me spending an awful lot of time on the rink ﬂoor.

And most of these kids did too. Everyone fell at least a couple times, except the few experts who shame us all, and all I saw

So fun, in fact, that we decided to pay for the next session, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. In between, we hit Skateland’s arcade. The only downside we encountered was that about half the machines were out of order, but workers were happy to refund eaten tokens, and we were all over a skeeball game and a “ticket jackpot” machine that paid off big-time for my son. Giant wad of tickets in hand, he hit the prize counter, where the medium- to higher-ticket prizes are actually decent, and collected his bounty just in time to start the next session.

This one was much like the last, but with younger kids, and that was because of the theme. “Let it Go,” “Fixer Upper” and... “Mom, is that a dubstep of ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman?’”

I believe it was. Yep, “Frozen” was the theme of the session, complete with an appearance by Elsa and Olaf, who strolled around and posed enthusiastically with the kids, especially a couple birthday parties there especially for the theme and occasion.

Birthday packages include a party host, admission, a trip to the DJ booth and moment at the mic for the birthday kid, pizza, soda, tokens and more.

Skateland accommodates a wide range of ages, from slightly older geared parties for younger teens, to “Skate Mates” (available for rent for $5), skating aids for younger skaters new to the activity. Parents might have been a little worn out, but every child I saw, of any age, was having a blast. Yep, this is the Skateland I remember. The only difference was the songs, but I guess I have to get with the times.

Skateland has locations in Chandler and Mesa, and their schedules are available online, including open skate sessions and special events. Skateland also offers lessons and special sessions for homeschooled students, adults and church groups and more.

Kimberly Hosey is a freelancer

Roller skates and inline skates are available for rental at Skateland’s Mesa and Chandler locations.

David Hosey, 12, shows off tickets he won in the arcade at Skateland Chandler.

Skateland offers several birthday packages, with paper goods, pizza, soda, tokens, skating admission, a host, a trip to the DJ booth and more. Photo by Skateland Chandler

Story and photos by Kimberly Hosey

SRC Kids Clubhouse Easter Extravaganza, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Need a little extra time to help the Easter Bunny get ready for his big day? Drop off the kiddos at the SRC Kids Clubhouse for fun and games, while you ﬁnish up getting ready for Easter. Children must be potty trained and 3 to 12 years old. Snedigar Recreation Center, 4500 S. Basha Rd., Chandler. $14. Registration required. (480) 782-2640, www.chandleraz.gov.

Meet the Creature Bunches of Bunnies! 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Get excited about making a bunch of new fuzzy friends. Bunnies of all sizes and breeds will be ready for photos. All ages. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

4 Fishing Lessons, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn to ﬁsh at Veterans Oasis Park. Participants will learn how to bait and cast a line, along with other basics of ﬁshing. Fishing licenses required for all participants ages 10 and older. Supplies, including rods and bait, are provided. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $12. (480) 782-2890, www. chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

5 Happy Easter!

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Minecraft Mondays, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join the group to explore Minecraft every week. No registration required, ages 6-18. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

6 High Five Read and Play Group, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join this group and play with your child to help them to develop key literacy, social, and cognitive skills. Read & Play Group gives you the time, books, space and toys to explore and play with your kids. While you’re here, take the opportunity to network with other parents. Staff will be available to cover information on the ﬁve early literacy practices. Up to 5 years. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary. org.

7, 14, 21, 28

Minecraft, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Join the group every Tuesday to play Minecraft. Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www. chandlerlibrary.org.

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Mommy and Me Pottery, 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Spend quality time with your child in this creative class making handmade pottery and learning about the art of ceramics. Create art together that both you and your child will cherish for years. Children 3 to 5 years old. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $18. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/ tumbleweed.

7 Art Canvas Creativity, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. In this class you will create your own 8 by 10-inch canvas wall art with Julie Wafting. You will use stamps, die cuts and add bits of jewelry to personalize your canvas, giving it an extra special ﬂair. 10-12 years. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $12. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

8 Mommy and Me—Puzzle Picture Frame, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Make a unique picture frame out of puzzle pieces with the help of your child. A magnet will be included to attach to the back of the frame. Children 3 to 5 years old. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $9. (480) 782-2900, www. chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

8, 15, 22, 29

Lapsit Babytime, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Join the group for a 40-minute High Five Program with songs, puppets, ﬁngerplays and books for this community playtime. Activities featured during this time are appropriate for infants up to 16 months. A 1-to-1 ratio is encouraged. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

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STEAM Club, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hang out with other kids while exploring science, technology, engineering, art and math. Play games, dig up dinos, play with LEGO and win prizes. Ages 6 to 11 years. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www. chandlerlibrary.org.

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Upcycle Headbands, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you have a T-shirt you can no long wear, consider bringing it to this event. Learn to upcycle two headbands using a Celtic knot and a ﬁve-strand braid. Bring at least one shirt and a pair of scissors for this one-hour class. Ages 8 to 12 years. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $6. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/ tumbleweed.

Discovering Outer Space, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Take a journey through space with this introduction to astronomy, led by an amateur astrophysicist. Enjoy a walk through Veterans Oasis Park and explore the immense solar system surrounding Earth. Wrap up this night of exploring the stars with a telescopic viewing of the beautiful night sky. Children ages 6 and older. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/ veterans-oasis.

Butterfly Ballerinas, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ballet shoes and a love for butterflies are encouraged for this activity. Participants will get their own set of wings to decorate, wear and keep. This class will explores the lifecycle of butterflies and butterfly behavior. Ages 3 to 6 years. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/ veterans-oasis.

Kitt Peak National Observatory Night

Excursion, 1 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Enjoy a night under the stars like never before seen. This excursion features a guided tour of astronomy by reviewing the most recent advances in astronomy. Participants can bring sealed water bottles. A light deli sandwich meal is included in the tour. Fee includes transportation, sandwich and tour admission. Participants 8 to17 years old must accompanied by an adult. Snedigar Recreation Center, 4500 S. Basha Rd., Chandler. $45. Registration required. (480) 782-2640, www.chandleraz.gov.

Water World, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explore the world of water with these hands-on experiments. Collect and compare water samples. Design your own water ﬁltration system. Children ages 7 to 12 years old. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

Preschool Storytime, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Get your little one all prepped for kindergarten with this 30-minute High Five program, featuring songs, books, puppets, ﬂannelboards and more. Ages 3 to 5 years. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Family Book Club, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bring the whole family for this interactive book club. Free books, snack and even games with prizes you can win. Registration is limited to 20 families. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Night of Scrapbooking, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Come with your friends and scrapbooking supplies to spend the evening creating and having fun. Drinks, chips, and sandwiches will be supplied. Participants should be at least 13 years old. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $18. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

Family Night at the TRC: “Everything Sprouts in Spring,” 5:30 to 7 p.m. Each week features different recreational activities and entertainment for the entire family. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2900, www. chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

Outdoor Pizza Party, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Don’t miss out on this pizza party. Learn how to cook a pizza in a Dutch oven and enjoy it while watching a movie. Ages 9 to 11 years. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $12. (480) 7822890, www.chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

Come Alive Story Time with Ms. Diana— Nature Edition, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Music and stories play a crucial part in shaping a child’s life. Enjoy story time with interactive stories, games, music, and drama all the while building positive attitudes. Feel free to drop your children off and enjoy the features of the Veterans Oasis Park. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

Create-Play-Learn, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join us for STEAM-related activities for younger kids. Exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math concepts through hands-on activities designed for 2 to 5 year olds. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www. chandlerlibrary.org.

Sock Hop ‘50s Dance sponsored by RAD, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get your groove on at this 1950s-themed dance. Bring your poodle skirts and slick back your hair to enjoy a blast from the past. Ages 16 and older. Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $5. (480) 7822727, www.chandleraz.gov/community-center.

Health Connect, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. A family-friendly event with dozens of health-conscious vendors, ﬁtness and cooking demonstrations, speakers and giveaways. There will also be a racquetball tournament and a cycling class in the courtyard. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

Prettie Girl “Discover Your Dreams” Workshop, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. This workshop teaches girls how to take charge of their own world through entrepreneurial avenues. Girls will discover their passion, create their vision, and realize their destiny. This event exposes girls early to a world of limitless possibilities. Speakers include girls who have their own business. Ages 9 to 12 years old. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $8. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

Play-Well Teknologies—Bash ‘em Bots Using LEGO, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn how to make a massive motorized LEGO machine. Instructors will guide students in this advanced Play-Well engineering class, as they re-engineer standard LEGO vehicles into mechanized machines, battle against fellow bots, and take on PlayWell instructors’ colossal creations. Ages 8 to 12 years old. Snedigar Recreation Center, 4500 S. Basha Rd., Chandler. $7. Registration required. (480) 782-2640, www.chandleraz.gov.

Ring Making with Burst of Butterﬂies, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Burst of Butterﬂies is coming to the library to help kids make their own polymer ring. Ages 6 to 8 years old. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www. chandlerlibrary.org.

Pinwheels & Paper Planes, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Make and decorate a paper plane and you’re a pinwheel. Everyone will get to ﬂy their plane at the end. Ages 3 to 5 years. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Call for charge. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

Bilingual Storytime, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stories and song in English and Spanish. Enjoy 20 minutes while learning new words. Up to 5 years old. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Meet the Creature, 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. In this interactive program, children will get up close and personal with live animals while learning about wildlife rescue and conservation. Each program features different animals from around the world. Children 2 years old and older. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6 to $9 (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

Art In The Park, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Express your creativity in the second half of this two-part family series. This class is all about gardens. Learn what to plant for the spring and create garden markers using recyclable items. Children ages 6 to 8 years old. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6 (480) 782-2890, www. chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

Celebrate Nature at Veterans Oasis Park, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Experience desert riparian areas in the city with this guided tour at the Veterans Oasis Park. Learn about the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. Enjoy nature with this slow-paced walk and easy terrain. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. Program may be canceled due to inclement weather. Children ages 7 and older. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $7. (480) 782-2890, www. chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.

Toddlertime, 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Join in on this 20-minute High Five program with action songs, puppets, ﬁngerplays, book and ﬂannel boards. Featuring activities appropriate for children 14 months to 36 months. Downtown Library, Cactus Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Create-Play-Learn, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join us for STEAM-related activities for younger kids. Exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math concepts through hands-on activities designed for 2 to 5 year olds. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Creative Watercolor Cards, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Watercoloring on cards is a popular trend right now. This class focuses on various watercolor techniques used to create three fun cards with stamping and die cutting. No experience required. All supplies, adhesive and envelopes are provided. Ages 13 and up. Snedigar Recreation Center, 4500 S. Basha Rd., Chandler. Call for charge. (480) 782-2640, www.chandleraz.gov.

Celebrate the ‘50s with the RAD sock hop

By Meghan McCoy

Chandler residents with disabilities are invited to don their best ‘50s garb for the annual sock hop dance party at the Chandler Community Center.

It is set for 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 17, at the center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave. The event is free to disabled folks who are age 16 and older.

“This really is a great event for socialization, good memories, an enjoyable leisure option and community outing for individuals who have developmental disabilities,” said Collette Prather, City of Chandler recreation coordinator. “We welcome all to attend.”

Registration is not required, but potential attendees are encouraged to do so by visiting www.chandleraz.gov/therapeutic. The annual affair, which is sponsored by

Recreation and Athletic for the Disabled (RAD), is put on by the City of Chandler Therapeutic Recreation program and the City of Mesa. Prather said RAD’s slogan is “RAD pays, so others can play.”

The annual spring event offers a live DJ, river ﬂoats and a photo area for takehome pictures.

“They love to dress up,” she said of the attendees, which usually hovers around 250 people.

The City of Chandler Therapeutic Recreation Program offers socials, sports, classes and year-round programming. Prather said

Beginner through advanced lessons for all ages. Lesson horses available.

the City also offers summer day camp programs Monday through Thursday, and

“anything that helps individuals with disabilities to become more independent and enhance the quality of life.”

Prather said the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities offers scholarships for classes, education and employment support. The scholarship applications, as well as newsletters and information about the program, can be found at www.chandleraz.gov/therapeutic.

“In the therapeutic recreation program, we strive to facilitate the development, maintenance and expression of an appropriate leisure lifestyle for individuals with developmental disabilities,” Prather said.

Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors, Spirituality, Arts and Youth section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.

The annual sock hop dance will be held Friday, April 17, for disabled folks who are age 16 and older. Submitted photo

We offer hundreds of opportunities for you and your family to discover hidden talents, develop new skills and have fun through our classes, programs and events. For a complete listing of upcoming activities or for more information on programs highlighted below pick up Break Time magazine at Chandler facilities, visit www.chandleraz.gov/registration or call 480-782-2727.

Recreational SWIM TEAMS

REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 6

This program is designed to teach basic competitive swimming skills, build self esteem, and improve strokes. It’s a great way to meet new friends, keep your kids active, and introduce them to a swim team program. We o er one morning and three evening programs. For more information please call 480-782-2756.

Leaders in Training!

The Leaders In Training program places youth in a work environment within the City of Chandler over the summer where they learn about real jobs and gain great experience! Hours can be used towards scholarships and looks great on resumes. Contact Tony Baumann at 480-782-2710 for more information. Registration is $17 residents / $23 Non-residents.