Wholesome family funs pays for itself in Lake Helen

PHOTO COURTESY PAT CHADWICK
Kickball — A boy takes his turn kicking the ball at Mitchell Brothers Sports Complex in Lake Helen during a recent game.

By Jennifer Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Sep 1, 2009 - 9:00:53am

Lake Helen's Parks and Recreation board kicked off the summer with an inexpensive way to have a lot of fun: kickball.

The idea spread quickly, and the city soon expanded the leagues to include an adult division.

With kickball season now coming to a close, Lake Helen's assistant Parks and Recreation director, teenager Sean Abshire, went before the City Commission to ask for money for the program.

"About $35 for cost of the ribbons, and then $25 setup," Abshire said. "I would also like to purchase a trophy for the winning team of the tournament games we will be having in September, which would then be displayed in City Hall."

Abshire asked commissioners for a total of $80.

But, he said receipts provided to the city show the first year of kickball brought in $107.

"Well, that's proof it's paying for itself, plus," Mayor Joan Duffy said.

Commissioners quickly approved Abshire's request.

"We hardly made him work for that at all," Commissioner Cameron Lane said.

"He worked getting the money," Commissioner Ann Robbins said.

Lane said he attended several of the kickball games, and noted Abshire did a lot of hard work under the hot sun.

"You did a nice job," Lane told Abshire. "A lot of good, wholesome, small-town fun. It was wonderful."

The last kickball game of the season will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, at Mitchell Brothers Sports Complex, 679 Pleasant St. in Lake Helen.

Abshire said the winter season of kickball will begin in December, and he hopes to have DeLand, Deltona, Orange City and DeBary as league participants.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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