October 6, 2008
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

It's fun, healthy and promotes safe pedestrian habits. It's Walk to School Day, and local educators and law enforcement officials, including Sheriff Ben Johnson, will mark the annual day on Wednesday with dual events on both sides of Volusia County . Part of an international movement, the local events are being hosted by Volusia’s two Community Traffic Safety Teams. Both events -- one at Westside Elementary School in Daytona Beach and the other at Timbercrest Elementary School in Deltona -- will get under way at about 7 a.m.

The specifics are as follows:

Westside Elementary: Staging will be at Jimmy Ann Drive and 3rd Street . Participants should arrive no later than 7 a.m., and the public is invited to join in. By 7:15 a.m. the group will depart en-masse for a stroll to the school, where members of the East Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team will distribute safety education materials.

Timbercrest Elementary: Participants, including members of the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team, will meet in front of the school ( 2401 Eustace Ave. ) at 7 a.m., greet walkers as they arrive on campus and discuss pedestrian safety. (Sheriff Johnson will be attending this event.)

Established in 1997 by The Partnership for a Walkable America, this annual event is designed to promote physical fitness and pedestrian safety by reinforcing the do's and don'ts of walking and riding a bike to school. Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover Wednesday’s events and help us promote public/pedestrian safety in our community.