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WalkBikeBerks Leads Walk to
School
8
in Berks will lead children in Celebration of Safety and
Health during International Walk to School Month -- October
2010!
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Berks
County, Pennsylvania - October 5, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
8
Community Leaders in Berks County will celebrate safety and health
through Walk to School Month celebrations!
In
an effort to fight childhood obesity, the nonprofit WalkBikeBerks
will celebrate Walk or Bike (or Roll) to School Month throughout
October. The effort will also show parents and children how
physical activity can improve weight management and promote
transportation equity.
ANTIETAM: Michele Bleacher, Mt. Penn Elementary Center Assistant
Principal has been leading the Mount Penn Elementary Walking School Bus
for three years. Mrs. Bleacher says, "Mt Penn started The Walking
School Bus as part of a Safe Routes to School Grant. We never
thought we would encourage over 100 students and parents to walk to
school. The students find it fun, the parents love the excitement
the students show, and the teachers enjoy the chance to walk
through the community." Mount Penn Elementary Center's 3rd Annual
Walk To School Event will be October 6 at 7:45 AM beginning at
Redner's Market Warehouse, 801 Carsonia Ave, Reading,
PA.
Contacts: Bob
Hospidor, WalkBikeBerks Board member and BCTV Host -
bhospidor@walkbikeberks.org or Michele Bleacher, Assistant
Principal, Mount Penn Elementary -mbleacher@antietamsd.org For
Directions call (610) 779-3547
BOYERTOWN: "My own community,
Fairbrook, is celebrating simply," reports Michele Barrett, Founder
of WalkBikeBerks. Combined Gilbertsville and New Hanover
Elementary School Students in the Fairbrook Community of Boyertown
School District walk 7:30 AM - 7:55 AM; Fairbrook Community, 100
Fairbrook Dr., Gilbertsville, PA 19525-8671. "I am asking all of
my friends and neighbors and you to join me on the morning of
October 6 at 7:30 AM to walk with our own children safely to the
school bus stop -- an event very important to me. I began my
advocacy efforts because my children were not safe on 47th Street
in Exeter Township. We could not walk just a 1/2 suburban block to
a designated school bus stop because there were no accommodations
for pedestrians (young children in preschool and kindergarten)
along a very busy street. Contact: Michele
Barrett, WalkBikeBerks Safe Routes to School Coordinator
610-323-2999.
DANIEL BOONE: Birdsboro Elementary
Center will partner with WalkBikeBerks for their very first
International Walk To School Day event. Birdsboro Mayor Myers,
Interim Manager Aaron Durso, WalkBikeBerks President Nancy Kaufman,
Principal Mary Beth Kiesel, Physical Education Teacher Dee Stamy,
and parents will walk to school together for this special event.
"SRTS promotes a sense of community while at the same time it is a
healthy activity for our children, and it is good for the
environment by reducing emissions and traffic congestion. Besides
being an avid walker, I am walking to show my support for the
school and my community," answers Nancy Kauffman, Birdsboro
Councilwoman. Birdsboro's National Walk to School Day will be held
October 6 (rain date October 7), at 7:45. This Walking Route can
be found on this link http://www.dboone.k12.pa.us/News/Pages/09-27-10%20NationalWalktoSchoolDay.aspx:.
Contact:
Nancy Kauffman, WalkBikeBerks President at nkauffman@walkbikeberks.org,
610-582-6871.
EXETER TOWNSHIP: When asked why he
is leading an International WAlk to School Day celebration, Mr.
Mark A. Ricketts replies, "WALKING IS THE FIRST STEP TO HEALTHY
LIVING!" We couldn't agree more. Lorane Elementary School, Exeter
School District, 699 Rittenhouse Dr., will have activities
throughout the school day led by contact Mr. Mark
Ricketts- Physical Education- MARicketts@exeter.k12.pa.us or 610-582-8608 (ext. 4179
).
Some Exeter Township School District
parents have organized their own walk to school event for the
morning of October 6th. Jeremy Slonaker, who supports Safe Routes
to School feels that "Walking to school with our kids is a great
time to spend with our children. We also like it as it's teaching
them to be independent and that a motor vehicle isn't necessary for
every trip we take." Tracy Slonaker will walk from Prestwick Dr to
Lorane Elementary with her children and friends. To
view Walk To School, follow the link below: http://www.mapmyrun.com/view_route?r=971128623752731902 Contact:
Tracy Slonaker at tjslonaker@verizon.net.
On October 6, Christy Staudt
will do what we hope in the future becomes the new trend: She will
walk out her front door with her children and walk with them to
school. She has invited some of her friends and their children to
join her. Christy Staudt will walk from Farming Ridge Development
to Jacksonwald Elementary.
FLEETWOOD:
Willow Creek Elementary students, families, and teachers will
celebrate Walk to School Month with WalkBikeBerks during an Active
Assembly on October 13. School Nurse Julie Knabb explains, " For
several years we had many students walk in Walking School Bus
programs, but now with the new school being an added distance from
homes that has reduced that number to a handful, We want to
encourage more families to walk again because research shows that
regular exercise fuels the body and the brain, enabling students to
function better physically and mentally during their day.
'" Willow
Creek Elementary School, 605 Crisscross Road, Fleetwood will
celebrate Walk at School Day on October 13, 9:30-10:30AM. The
entire school of 500 plus will participate in an assembly and a
walk. Contact:
Julie Knabb, School Nurse: 610-944-8404 Fax 610-944-5341 or Lori M.
Koehler, Principal of Willow Creek Elementary or Michele Barrett,
WalkBikeBerks Safe Routes to School Coordinator
610-323-2999
Go
beyond your Walk to School event to support safe walking and
bicycling all year long with Safe Routes to School programs. New
Federal legislation has recognized the value of ongoing walking and
bicycling and is providing funding for states to establish
programs. To join kids and schools around the globe who are
walking and bicycling to school during International Walk to School
Month, visit http://www.walktoschool.org/. |
WalkBikeBerks is working to make
walking and bicycling safe, practical and convenient transportation
and recreation options for all citizens and visitors of Berks
County, PA.
We envision
an intermodal transportation system that enriches quality of life
and strengthens the community by providing mobility for all,
regardless of motor vehicle ownership, age or ability. Regional
planning that includes bicycle and pedestrian transportation spurs
community interaction while protecting the open spaces and unique
characteristics of this area for future generations.
Our positive partnerships with area
government entities and other organizations perpetuate on-going
bicycle and pedestrian improvements through engineering, education,
encouragement and enforcement
programs.
WalkBikeBerks is a 501(c)(3)
Non-Profit Charitable Member Organization. We are an organization
of volunteers working together to build a better Berks County.
Join us.
You can contact
WalkBikeBerk at:
PO Box 6795, Wyomissing, PA 19610
610-582-6871
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