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Sweet treats for bike safety
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Billy Graff (left) and Michael McGlone got celebratory ice cream for wearing their helmets when they ride their bikes as part of the Boardman Optimist Club's Sweet Citations on June 9.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Dairy Queen owner Dean Paidas and Boardman Optimist Club member Kathy Miller stood outside the Boardman Dairy Queen on June 9 for the kickoff of Sweet Citations.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Sweet Citations kicked off on June 9 at the Dairy Queen in Boardman as part of a safety initiative by the Boardman Optimist Club.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.The Boardman Optimist Club and Police Department have teamed up for another year to promote Sweet Citations, a safety initiative rewarding children who wear helmets while riding bicycles. Pictured, from left, are Dairy Queen owners Dean and Mary K. Paidas.
By amanda tonoli
On June 9, a bike helmet safety initiative kicked off with the start of the seventh annual Sweet Citation promotion. The Boardman Optimist Club, the Boardman Police Department and the Boardman Dairy Queen on Market Street were involved in this promotion.
Sweet Citations are citations given by members of the Boardman Police Department to children seen wearing helmets while riding their bikes.
“If they’re wearing a bicycle helmet and a police officer sees you he’ll give you one of these [a Sweet Citation],” said Boardman Optimist Club member Kathy Miller. “You know, the kids come and have a reason [to wear helmets] – to get a treat.”
Boardman police officer and Optimist Club president Chuck Hillman said he was excited the Dairy Queen in Boardman wanted to be a part of such a special community project.
Dean Paidas, one of the owners of the Boardman Dairy Queen for 38 years, said when he was asked if he wanted to participate in Sweet Citations he was happy to help out and give to the cause.
“It’s a good safety feature for kids,” Paidas said.
The citations are a reward for being safe. The reward is a small free ice cream cone at the participating Dairy Queen.
“It’s a nice promotion for community and Boardman police,” Miller said.