Kids plus summer equals fun

What a turnout!

With 80 entries online and a bunch on the Life&Work pages, readers really pitched in to show how people in the Valley enjoyed themselves this summer.

Sure, gas prices climbed. Sure, the economy tanked.

But fun is a state of mind, and folks here found ways to share that state of mind, especially when it came to the younger set.

Adventures at the beach or in the yard kept young minds active and older ones amused.

Our editor’s choice picture is a simple but delightful shot of what can happen when an adult takes the time to appreciate the creativity of his offspring. (And when the offspring is engaged enough with the parent to interact in a lively fashion.)

So, let’s hear it for those hardy souls who created a hearty spirit of fun this summer.

Next Month

Oh, gourd! This month is Halloween, and next month is Thanksgiving, both times for pumpkins to come to the fore.

Show us your fun with pumpkins, squash and other gourds.

Carve them, smash them, mash them or cook them. Eat them, juggle them or make up your own games with them.

Electronically, we need the pictures by e-mail. Attach a large jpeg file to your e-mail, so it’ll be big enough for us to use in the paper. Send the pictures to us at features@vindy.com. Be sure to put Snapz in the subject line.

By mail, we need to have good prints on smooth paper. Inkjet prints don’t work as well as those on regular photo paper. Send prints to Snapz, The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown, OH 44501 by Nov. 3.