BLOGSUNNYSIDE’S T-Ball Twittering Scandal

Earlier today (Tuesday) my wife came to me and was very upset because she could not find any information about T-Ball in Sunnyside on-line.  She said that the City has cut Parks and Recreation this year.  (Very true, and also sad.)

I explained to her (she is not a news junkie like I am), that the City had cut Parks and Recreation, as well as other “optional” services in order to fund pay raises and increased vacation hours for City employees.  Naturally, she was upset, and I made an update on my Twitter account mentioning the fact the budget was cut for certain programs in order to pay for the priorities the current City Council set.

As luck would have it, I was out of town today, and not able to follow up with much on-line.  However, and I may live to regret mentioning this, the e-mail for this blog gets forwarded to my cell phone.  After making my Twitter update, I received an e-mail from Council Member Carol Stone informing me that the Cal Ripken league has picked up T-ball this year, and that the program continues under their league, but not the City.  Ms. Stone also mentioned that other activities are available, such as Art in the Park held on Tuesdays; and that swimming lessons are available at the pool as well.

She gave me the contact phone number for Lisa Fairbairn, with Sunnyside’s Promise, (509.836.8417) for more information.  At one point I did attempt to contact her today, but got her voice mail.  I was busy and did not not get another chance to call back.  In fairness to Ms. Fairbairn, I did not leave a message, thinking I could call later.  However, my schedule did not allow for that after all.

Ms. Fairbairn also sent me some information by e-mail.  She sent me some attachments as well, which my phone can not view, but I have reviewed them after getting back home.  She says that the T-ball is in its third week of the season, and that Cal Ripken baseball picked it up in order to spare the kids from the Sunnyside Council’s budget cuts.  She said that it is a good fit for the baseball league, and that they have 70 youth in the T-ball, and another 130 in the baseball leagues.  Ms. Fairbairn also said that they are working with the City to get their league information posted on the City’s website.  Registration for the baseball leagues starts in February each year and includes children ages 5-13.

This answers the question my wife was originally searching to answer.  Our son is four, and we did not know if he could be involved in T-ball or not.  (Or if it still was available in Sunnyside.)

I received some additional replies on my Twitter account informing me that an announcement was published in the SCS Newsletter, (I am assuming that is Sunnyside Christian School), and also from John Fannin, of the Daily Sun News, who mentioned that he was taking pictures of T-ball for the DSN.  Mr. Fannin also mentioned that T-ball takes place at South Hill Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

What started out as a simple Twitter update turned into quite an educational experience, with several responses by various mediums.  Thanks to everyone that shared their information with me.  Hopefully, we can get a link to the Cal Ripken league on the City’s website, or at least some more detailed information listed there.

My thanks also go out to the Cal Ripken league for picking up the slack, and taking over this activity.

And so ends the great T-Ball Twittering Scandal of Tuesday.  I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow!