By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
On Friday, June 3, members of the Caribou Rotary Club and staff members from the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department once again presented bicycle helmets to second-graders at the Hilltop Elementary School and also grade-two students from New Sweden, Stockholm, Woodland and Connor.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
The second-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School in Caribou were recently presented with their brand-new bicycle helmets, donated by the Caribou Rotary Club. The local civic group has worked closely with the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department promoting bicycle safety to area youths for the past 18 years. Standing in back of the young cyclists, from left, are Caribou Rotarians Patrick Bennett, Troy Heald, Mark Drapper, Pam Buck, Frank McElwain and Robert Sprague.
The Rotary Club, once again joining forces with the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department in sponsoring their annual Bicycle Helmet Safety Program, this year distributed more than 115 helmets to the area second-grade students. This marks the 18th year the Caribou Rotary has been involved with this program and to date Rotarians have distributed 2,574 helmets to area youth.
Bicycling presents hazards to all participants and a few simple precautions can make a difference. Nearly 80 percent of all bicyclists’ deaths each year result from head injuries. Many other cyclists are permanently impaired from traumatic head injuries suffered as a result of falls from bicycles. Bicycle helmets are required by law in the state of Maine for anyone under the age of 16; but all cyclists, including moms and dads, should wear a helmet.
Parents are also reminded that should a child’s helmet suffer a crack or dent while in use, the item should be discarded and replaced.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Kathy Mazzuchelli demonstrates the proper way to wear a bicycle helmet. The Caribou Parks and Recreation Department work closely with the Caribou Rotary Club (which has donated helmets to second-grade students in the surrounding communities for the past 18 years) in promoting bicycle safety.
Contributed photo
At right, Kacie Haney, left and Chris St. Peter, second-grade students at Connor School were very happy to receive new bicycle helmets presented to them last week by the Caribou Rotary Club.
Contributed photo
The second-grade class at the New Sweden School isn’t large, however the Caribou RotaryClub recently presented bike helmets to the two students who make up the class roster, Angela Butterfield and Riley Bouchard. The safety helmets are part of the Rotarians’ annual bicycle safety program.
