Community Corner

Touch Trucks, Help Madison Library

Diggers, dump trucks, limousines, rescue trucks–even Batman and his Batmobile–will be on hand for the popular Touch A Truck fundraiser.

Madison children and families should get ready to put their imaginations into high gear because the much-loved Touch A Truck family event is coming back to the borough this summer, an announcement for the event says.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library in cooperation with the Madison Area YMCA and the Madison Rotary Club, the event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine and will offer families a day so packed with low-cost fun and entertainment, they’ll actually be glad they didn't hit the beach for the weekend.

Youngsters will not only be able to feast their eyes on dozens of trucks of all shapes, sizes, and functions, but they will be allowed to climb on and explore most of them to their hearts content. In addition to the exciting lineup of vehicles on display, including diggers, dump trucks, limousines, rescue trucks – even Batman and his Batmobile courtesy of Newark Police Department, Touch-A-Truck will keep families happily entertained with many other activities, such as a free “tumblebus” gym-on-wheels, a “ghostbustermobile,” free face painting and kids’ tattoos, live music, and a food court.

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Special features will be new and antique Madison Central Railroad memorabilia featuring working Lionel “O gauge” trains shown in an authentic 1928 baggage rail car, along with a 1928 safety training rail car and a working Morris & Essex diesel locomotive. In 2008, when the Library Friends first held Touch A Truck, about 500 people attended. The second event in 2010 saw the flow of attendees still coming in strong long after the last of 1,000 wristbands was sold.

Touch A Truck 2012 promises to deliver fantastic fun to all who attend.  Families might not beat the heat, but children are sure to feel super-cool for the day. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Madison Public Library. Admission will be $8 for advance purchases (postmarked by July 25 or in person at the library) for toddlers to age 12, and $10 for same day purchases. Tickets for teens and adults are $5. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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Tickets are on sale now at the , 39 Keep Street. Purchases may also be made through the mail, by sending name, address, telephone, email address, and check payable to the Friends of the Madison Public Library to the library, attention FMPL. No tickets will be mailed back; advance purchasers will check in at “Prepaid ticket” tables on August 4. Ticket forms can be printed from the Friends website at www.friends-mpl.net. Any questions, contact Sue Heffernan at 973-514-5969 or email fmplchair@rosenet.org.

Sponsors for Touch-A-Truck are still being sought. Anyone interested in sponsoring this event as a way of expressing a family’s or business’s support of the library should call the library at 973-377-7905.


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