Skates, Treats and Safety: Warren County Sheriff’s Office Foundation Pack October with Community Events

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office Foundation and its Police Athletic League are heading into a busy fall with new activities for children, a Halloween event, a car-seat safety initiative, and programs supporting local businesses and seniors.

Krista Beahm, who works with the PAL program, and Bob Battani of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Foundation recently shared details about the growing list of activities, including a new partnership that will give children ages 5 to 12 a chance to skate for free each month.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 2, PAL will hold a free skate night at Mac’s Roller Rink from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The program is planned for the first Friday of each month.

The rink, which recently reopened under new ownership following renovations, is partnering with PAL to provide the skating opportunity.

“We’re also going to offer pizza too,” Beahm said. “So skating and pizza, you can’t beat it.”

Parents don’t have to stay at the rink during the PAL session. Those who want to drop off their children can complete a form allowing them to stay with program staff.

Monthly skate night is one of several ways PAL is keeping children active and connected.

Over the summer, the program offered fishing days, open gym activities, and water fun days at the Student Union. PAL also partnered with Warren County Fire and Rescue for a water safety program that took children onto the river in canoes and taught them what to do if they fall from a canoe or encounter rapids.

Trunk-or-Treat Planned for Oct. 27

Another new event is coming to the Crooked Run area later in October.

PAL is partnering with TGI Fridays for a trunk-or-treat on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Plans include decorated vehicles, a costume contest, face painting and Halloween music. Beahm said the restaurant’s regular Tuesday promotion, which allows children to eat free, will also be available.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office Foundation plans to participate, and the Front Royal Moose Lodge has expressed interest in helping. Organizers also hope other businesses in the Crooked Run Plaza area will join.

Battani said the Foundation has also been looking for more opportunities to hold activities in Riverton and northern Warren County.

“There are so many activities in Warren County that are town-oriented, which is great,” Battani said. “But I think that sometimes I feel like Riverton and that area kind of get neglected because they’re out there on the north end.”

The goal, he said, is to work with businesses in that part of the county that want to become more involved with community activities.

Car-Seat Safety Takes Center Stage

The Foundation will also participate in the Warren Coalition’s Celebrate Kids Day on Sunday, Sept. 27, with a new focus on child passenger safety.

Car seats will be raffled during the event, with donations from Marlow Motor Company and Lindsay Chevrolet helping the Foundation obtain the seats.

A certified Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputy will also be available to demonstrate proper car-seat installation.

Beahm noted that car seats are not all installed the same way, so parents need to understand how their particular seat should be secured.

Battani said he was surprised to learn how extensive the certification process is for someone teaching car-seat installation.

The training for the certified deputy involved 40 hours, he said.

The Foundation also learned more about the different stages of child passenger restraints while researching the program, from infant seats through booster seats as children grow.

The Foundation will have information and car-seat activities available at its Celebrate Kids Day booth.

Senior Expo Draws More Than 160

The Foundation is also continuing programs aimed at older residents.

Battani said a recent TRIAD expo drew more than 160 seniors and approximately two dozen vendors, including a group that traveled from Page County.

Fraud and scam prevention was again among the topics.

This year’s presentation covered QR-code scams and potential risks when using payment cards at gas pumps. Previous presentations have covered other changing forms of fraud, including scams involving artificial intelligence.

Commonwealth Senior Living provided food for the event and also transported a group of its residents to attend.

Battani said the turnout has continued to grow, raising the possibility that organizers may eventually need a larger location.

‘Hunger Games’ Supports Local Restaurants

The WC Sheriff’s Office Foundation has also launched another round of its Hunger Games restaurant program.

The program uses vouchers offering a buy-one, get-one-free entrée at participating restaurants.

Battani identified five participating businesses: On Cue, Brick House, C&C Frozen Treats, Hibachi Fresh and Spelunker’s.

The program will continue through Halloween, when organizers plan to announce a winner during the downtown Halloween event.

Vouchers will also be available at the Foundation’s booth during Celebrate Kids Day.

The idea is to encourage residents to try local restaurants while creating a friendly competition among participating businesses.

The Hunger Games follows the Foundation’s recent Battle of the Bites event in the Riverton area, another effort to connect community activities with local businesses.

Battani said the Foundation is approaching its first anniversary and has seen growing recognition and support throughout Warren County.

For Beahm, the PAL activities are another part of that community effort, with programs aimed specifically at giving children positive ways to spend their time.

With free skating beginning Oct. 2, Celebrate Kids Day on Sept. 27, and the Oct. 27 trunk-or-treat ahead, both organizations expect a busy start to fall.

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