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Hazleton Area does it again

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Wyoming Seminary faces tough foe Garnet Valley in PIAA girls lacrosse opener

<p>With area schools winding down and temperatures rising, families are looking for a respite from the heat and an opportunity for summer recreation.</p><p>Area swimming pools fit the bill, providing a chance for residents to gather with their families and their neighbors to enjoy the sunshine, get some exercise and make memories.</p><p>On the West Side, Kingston and Forty Fort operate swimming pools, complete with concession stands, swim lessons and special events.</p><p>Both pools have been popular for decades, with Kingston having recently completed an extensive upgrade and Forty Fort boasting excellent maintenance and community support.</p><p><strong>Kingston </strong></p><p>Kingston residents and municipal officials are celebrating the opening of their pool this year, complete with kid-friendly renovations, including a jumbo twister water slide, modernized diving boards and a children&#8217;s wading pool.</p><p>Ayman and Nicole Omar, Kingston, and their children, Abraham, 2, and Hope, 1, can&#8217;t wait.</p><p>&#8220;We love their swimming lessons and are looking forward to my son Abraham seeing his favorite lifeguard,&#8221; Nicole said. &#8220;It&#8217;s become a family tradition.&#8221;</p><p>According to councilman Robert Jacobs, the $ 1.2 million project was made possible by a $700,000 Local Share Account Grant, with the municipality responsible for the remainder.</p><p>&#8220;The pool has been completely resurfaced with new concrete and a new filtration system,&#8221; said Jacobs.</p><p>He credited municipal administrator Paul Keating with hard work that made the project possible.</p><p>&#8220;Without Paul, the borough wouldn&#8217;t have received the grant,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Jacobs was a member of the Kingston Pool Authority that oversaw pool activities for over 20 years.</p><p>Last year, the municipality voted to take over day-to-day operations of the pool.</p><p>&#8220;With the new renovations, there will be an increasing amount of work,&#8221; said Jacobs. &#8220;And volunteers only have a limited amount of time.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;The Kingston Pool is a great community asset,&#8221; said Mamie Phillips, a Luzerne County assistant district attorney. &#8220;I worked there for five summers from snack bar to office to lifeguard. I learned a great deal about the value of hard work and enjoyed dealing with so many families who truly loved spending their summers at the pool.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Forty Fort boasts rich history </strong></p><p>In October 1935, the Works Progress Administration approved the erection of &#8220;a pool 90 by 40 feet and two to eight feet deep,&#8221; in Forty Fort at a cost of about $25,000.</p><p>The rest, said current mayor Andy Tuzinski, has truly been history.</p><p>Tuzinski said the pool, soon to open for its 80th year, has succeeded because of the efforts of borough officials and residents.</p><p>&#8220;Just this morning, our council vice president Rick Kamus left his business in order to assist in fixing a valve,&#8221; said Tuzinski. &#8220;It demonstrates council&#8217;s commitment to the community.&#8221;</p><p>Borough president Jeff McLaughlin is also working with borough manager Bonnie Arnone to provide the opportunity for residents to use credit cards online to purchase memberships.</p><p>Tuzinski said the pool and its grounds go far beyond simply providing an area to swim during the summer.</p><p>&#8220;We offer swim lessons during the week before our regular hours,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And the pool is available to rent for private parties.&#8221;</p><p>Tuzinski said he is also proud of several events the pool offers during the season, including &#8220;Christmas in July&#8221; and a family night.</p><p>Last year, the borough council waived the rental fees for Little League players and Scout troops to enjoy the pool for a night and the mayor donated part of his salary to provide lifeguard protection for the events.</p><p>This year, Tuzinski said, 11 lifeguards have made it possible for the pool to stay open for 11 weeks as opposed to 10 weeks last year.</p><p>&#8220;It provides more opportunity for the children to enjoy the hot weather,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Tuzinski credited Mericle Construction with donating new fencing for a project that widened the pool area and providing a larger area for sun bathing at the deep end of the pool.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s also much safer,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I used to cringe when I saw little kids on that end of the pool coming close to the water.&#8221;</p><p>He also said 30 gallons of paint are donated annually to paint the inside of the pool.</p><p>Tuzinski said the borough is hoping that next year funding can be obtained to update the pool.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Forty Fort Borough swimming pool will open for the 80th time this year. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_fortyfortpool-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Forty Fort Borough swimming pool will open for the 80th time this year. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_kingstonnewpool-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Kingston Community Pool boats renovations this year. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_kingstonnewpool-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>The Kingston Community Pool boats renovations this year. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_FF-pool.CMK_-1.jpg">
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><em>&#8226; The Kingston Borough Pool will open June 11, following a ribbon cutting June 9. </em></p><p>Information on pool hours and activities is available on the borough&#8217;s website at <a href="http://kingstonpa.org/recreation/pool" target="_blank">http://kingstonpa.org/recreation/pool</a></p><p><em>&#8226; The Forty Fort Borough Pool will be the weekend of June 4 and 5, and then will reopen on June 11 for the season. </em></p><p>Information on pool hours, payment methods and activities can be accessed on the borough&#8217;s website at <a href="http://www.fortyfort.org/about_us/community_pool/pool.html" target="_blank">http://www.fortyfort.org/about_us/community_pool/pool.html</a></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Kingston, Forty Fort swimming pools provide respite from heat for community members