By Teresa Herriman
The Courier-Herald
More than 1,500 people attended the fourth annual Family Fun Day sponsored by Lakeridge Christian Center and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Games, presentations and information booths lined Allan Yorke Park Saturday, but the most popular place was home plate, where free hot dogs and nachos were served.
Music was provided by area Christian bands. Soul Deep, ARC Worship, Elite Stranger, As I Am and After the Earth played throughout the day.
Local churches including Bonney Lake Community Church, New Horizons, Our Redeemer Lutheran joined the sponsor churches in providing more than 50 volunteers for the event. Lakeridge Christian Center youth minister Keith O'Rourke served as master of ceremonies.
Trudy and Rodger Bleiler organized the festivities again this year, which included skateboard contest for the first time. The competition was sponsored by Boarders for Christ (BFC), a group of skateboarders, snowboarders and surfers who use board sports to share their message. Rainier Boards, of Bonney Lake, donated skateboards for prizes.
Skaters competed in three levels – beginners, intermediate and advanced. Prizes were also awarded for Best Tricks. Contestants had 45 seconds per run. Winners were chosen based on the best of two runs.
Tammy Young, who sat on the sidelines watching her son Patrick Whitney compete, had nothing but praise for the skate park.
"Before they built this park, he didn't have anything to do," she said.
"He's been here every day since."
According to O'Rourke, the purpose of Family Fun Days is to "provide something very youth and kid oriented."
Winners of the skateboard contest included:
Beginner:
1st: Jacob Tomchak
2nd: Billy Cruz
3rd: Kyle Mondry
Intermediate:
1st: Scott Peluso
2nd: Mike Krivanec
3rd: Nathan Kelso
Advanced:
1st: Brandon Smith
2nd: Mike Allen
3rd: Taylor Swoveland
Best Trick: Stairs and Rail
1st: Chris Williamson
2nd: Shawn Chapman
Best Trick: Bowl Launch
1st: Scotty Barber
2nd: Taylor Swoveland
Teresa Herriman can be reached at therriman@courierherald.com.
