On Saturday, lots of parents packed their kids in the car and said, “Let’s go to the hop!” They were referring to the Peters Township Community Recreation Center’s annual Bunny Hop. The event thrilled lots of area boys and girls with fun and games, and of course, the prerequisite visit from the big bunny himself. Droves of children rushed the community center where they threw balls, bowled and searched for special prizes hidden inside Easter eggs. The kids could also paint, color and glue all sorts of Easter-related crafts at several long tables filled with buttons, beads, crayons, markers, …

It’s hard to imagine that 18-year-old Ben Jagger has been teaching the sword-weilding sport of fencing for four years, considering the lad's age. At the Community Recreation Center, Jagger holds two classes on Wednesday nights, Beginning Fencing I at 6:30 and Beginning Fencing II at 7:30. Each one hour class teaches students how to thrust, parry, riposte and lunge (basic beginner fencing movements). Don’t let his young age fool you; Jagger has competed in local to national fencing tournaments. He is a member of the Three Rivers Fencing Center in Oakland. In 2007, Jagger won a scholarship from…

Dog trainers Deborah Miller-Gurchak and Kelly Pontiere are on a mission. They want to educate the public about dog safety to protect humans and dogs. Miller-Gurchak came to Peters Township 30 years ago. She trains Shetland sheepdogs in competitions and teaches obedience to all breeds. She stressed that it is a responsibility to be a good pet owner. “Dogs are not always easy, but most problems arise because pet owners don’t understand the dog they bought," she said. "Most pet owners buy a dog because they think it’s cute. Take a papillon for example. Adorable dog. Not good with kids, though. A…

The dinosaur may be extinct, but after a few million years, they’re hotter than ever. Kathy Heinz made the dinosaurs come alive with “Dinosaur Days” at the Peters Township Community Recreation Center. Heinz taught several area kids the fun facts about fossils. She created volcanoes, dinosaur eggs and a geyser. The class is geared for children between the ages of two to six. Heinz wants the kids to get the science bug early by offering up some cool, fun projects. The volcano is probably the most famous of the fun science projects, made with vinegar and baking soda. The boys and girls get a …

The most surprising thing about Thursday night's men’s volleyball at the Community Recreation Center is the amount of women that play with the guys. Pat Bartek has been playing with the boys for a long time. For 30 years, in Peters Township, to be exact. “We played at the high school, the middle school and eventually we moved here, back when it opened in 2004,” she said. The guys aren’t interested in running a he-man women haters club. It’s an egalitarian group. According to Stephen Campbell, “All the girls here can play competitively.” Stephanie Woodruff added, “The girls here can dish out …