KINSMAN Event promotes safety for kids
Besides having a lot of fun and learning about safety, every child will leave with a gift.
BY REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
KINSMAN -- Kids and parents, get ready. Kinsman's sixth annual Safety Force Day is set for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 16 in the township park on Burnett Road East.
The day will start with a bike rodeo for children ages 5 to 12. Kids will practice maneuvering and learn hand and arm signals while competing for honorary plaques. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the event gets under way at 9:30. Children should bring their bikes and safety gear such as helmets and kneepads. Last year, about 40 kids participated.
Life Flight helicopter: When the bike rodeo concludes at 11:30 a.m., a STAT Medivac Life Flight helicopter from Greenville, Pa., will land at the park and open its doors to interested onlookers. The helicopter will be grounded until around noon.
From noon until 1 p.m., Just Friends Barbershop Quartet of Warren will sing tunes while lunch is served by members of the fire department auxiliary. Hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks are on the menu. Although there is no admission, there will be a charge for food and beverages. Members of the local band Lakeland's Bridge will also perform oldies.
At 1 p.m., post office employees will talk to children about vehicle safety and explain why it's important not to play or ride bikes too close to postal vehicles.
Fire safety: At 1:30 p.m., the fire department will talk to kids about fire safety in the home and demonstrate how the Jaws of Life equipment is used to free someone from wreckage. Water battles and other fun demonstrations are also planned.
Drug-detecting dogs from the Warren Police Department and the Ashtabula and Trumbull county sheriff departments will take center stage at 3 p.m. to demonstrate drug searches and arrest techniques.
At 4 p.m., names will be drawn and items ranging from bicycles to restaurant gift certificates to Mahoning Valley Scrappers tickets will be given away. Greg Leonhard of the police department said every child will walk away with a prize.
The event will take place rain or shine. Antique cars and fire and police vehicles also will be on display.
XFor more information, call the police department at (330) 876-7403.