LANCASTER —Local residents looking for ways to stay out of the heat, while reducing their summer cooling bills, now have a place to cool down and enjoy a family friendly atmosphere. A cool center at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) will open on June 1 for use throughout the summer.
The cool center will be located at MOAH’s Hernando & Fran Marroquin Family Classroom, and will be available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Higher summer temperatures mean higher cooling costs for our residents,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris in a city news release. “The City of Lancaster’s Cool Center @ MOAH will provide a great downtown venue central to transportation, shopping, and dining for residents to enjoy while staying cool.”
“They can turn off their air conditioners, save money, conserve energy and come down and enjoy the fun of the games, arts and crafts and have some light refreshments as well,” said Brenda Gamlowski, management analyst with the Lancaster City Manager’s Office. “[Southern California] Edison is funding it for us, so it’s free to all the residents.”
The Cool Center @ MOAH will offer activities, including card and board games, arts and crafts, as well as water and light snacks.
Southern California Edison will also offer educational information regarding energy efficiency and other programs.
“Here in the Antelope Valley the temperatures get quite high and this is particularly stressful on our young people and also our elderly,” said Cathy Hart of Southern California Edison. “This is a great place to come and share camaraderie with your neighbors… it’s a great place to come and view some culture [and] some art in a lovely environment.”
Hart also offered these safety tips for residents to stay cool this summer:
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
- Use sunscreen when venturing out in the sun.
- Limit outdoor physical activities, particularly when temperatures are at their peak.
- Wear loose fitting clothing.
- Stay in air conditioned places like the cooling center at MOAH.
“Come on over to the MOAH and enjoy the cool air and also all the activities,” said Council Member Sandra Johnson. “Save some money on that electricity bill, and let’s spend it here on The BLVD and get some shopping done.”
The Lancaster Cool Center @ MOAH is free and open to all residents of Lancaster; children must be accompanied by an adult. The cool center will open on June 1 and will be available throughout the summer, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cool center will be located in the Hernando & Fran Marroquin Family Classroom at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH), 665 W. Lancaster Blvd. (corner of Ehrlich and The BLVD).
For more information, contact MOAH at (661) 723-6250 or email moah@cityoflancasterca.org.
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