The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
60th Safety Town begins soon for youngsters
Safety Town again will offer safety lessons to youngsters during its 60th anniversary in Elyria this year.
Sessions for little drivers, who are entering kindergarten in the fall, will begin June 18 and continue until mid-July.
Northwood Middle School, 700 Gulf Road, is the site for the safety sessions.
Elyria parks and recreation and Elyria police departments are collaborating the program.
The Elyria Kiwanis Club is sponsoring Safety Town.
Youngsters will have a hands-on experience in the realistic, child-sized town which includes working traffic signals, miniature buildings, crosswalks and traffic provided by the children on tractors.
Safety Town focuses on teaching children safe practices, both at school and at home, according to the city’s website.
The youngsters are instructed on when, where and how to cross the street, the website says.
Children also will learn bike, pedestrian, school bus, fire and seat belt safety, as well as 911 emergency calls, stranger danger and what to do if they find a gun.
The program is geared toward getting children to be comfortable around law enforcement and other important
agencies and what the many different uniforms and cars look like.
Children also will learn proper safety techniques to avoid accidents on the road, the website says.
Mayor Holly Brinda recalled when she participated in Elyria’s Safety Town in 1962.
Brinda said it’s amazing the community program has been in Elyria for 60 years
She said she remembers going through the little town at a different location and being a bit timid at her young age.
Volunteers, or “buddies,” didn’t stand beside the young drivers then like they do today, the mayor said.
“Some of these children, it’s the first time they’ve been handed off with other
people,” Brinda said. “It’s neat to see the relationships made between older and younger kids.”
She said the relationships are nice to build before youngsters begin kindergarten if they weren’t exposed to other adults or children.
Brinda said those enrolled in the program this year also will get a look at the some of the buildings built last year by students at Lorain County Joint Vocational School.
“Safety Town is a wonderful tradition in the Elyria community,” she said. “Our safety forces and parks and recreation department provide an informal opportunity to learn about fire and police safety and become familiar in a friendly and fun way.”
To register, visit www. cityofelyria.org/department/parks. There is a $15 enrollment fee.
Safety Town sessions will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. in three different weeks.
The first session runs from June 18-22; the second session from June 2529; and the third session from July 9-13.
A graduation ceremony begins at 9 a.m., Fridays.
Parents are asked to have their children at Northwood Middle by 9 a.m. for roll call and other special events prior to classes starting.
Elyria City Schools will provide a light breakfast in Northwood’s cafeteria from 8:30-9 a.m.
“Safety Town is a wonderful tradition in the Elyria community. Our safety forces and parks and recreation department provide an informal opportunity to learn about fire and police safety and become familiar in a friendly and fun way.”
— Mayor Holly Brinda