Third annual safety fair scheduled for Saturday

By SUMMER WALLACE-MINGER, Staff writer
BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. — The third annual Safety Fair and Bicycle Derby will be held between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Post-Gazette Pavilion VIP parking lot.

The event is hosted by the Hanover Township Police Department. Police Chief James Geho said the event was a valuable opportunity both to stress bicycle safety to children and to allow them to interact with police officers and emergency personnel.

The event will include a bicycle derby where officer volunteers assist children in maneuvering through turns and stops.

“There are certain skills for the bike rodeo,” said Geho. “Stopping and turning in different situations.”

Geho added approximately 20 officers, both township and seasonal, are volunteering for the event.

Several events will be taking place throughout the day, including the Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Department demonstrating an emergency extraction and having their smoke trailer on hand; Stat MedEvac will be landing a helicopter during the day; and Ambulance and Chair Service will have an ambulance at the event, according to Geho.

“I did it in Bridgeville, and I brought the event with me,” said Geho. “It works out well. It’s a good way for children to interact with police officers and emergency services and see what we do. A lot of children die in bike-related injuries, and they are usually killed by head injuries, so we really want to stress the importance of wearing a helmet.”

A drawing will be held for two boys’ bikes and two girls’ bikes, and free bicycle helmets and car seats will be distributed, and there will be several giveaways, said Geho. Also during the event, free food will be distributed by McDonald’s, Krispy Kreme and Horseman’s Concessions.

Geho said the event had been made possible through donations, sponsors and grants through State Farm Insurance and the Pennsylvania Safe Kids Coalition.

Sponsors include Douglas Bentrem State Farm, Lanxess, Maxwell Welding and Machine, Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse, Stark Van Lines, Bavington Inn, AAA, Hill Top Animal Hospital, Martha Sarish Airport Realty, Hanover Volunteer Fire Department, Davita Dialysis, Ambulance and Chair Service, Kwik Stop, Custom Paint and Panel, Myers Auto Service, Sabatasse Meat Market, Hanover Printing and Graphics, Volvo Rents, Victory Lounge, The Farm, R&B Screen Printing, Stephen Kladakis Agency, Trek Bicycle Store, Molly’s Hair Salon, Tracey Ward’s Hair Salon, Stat MedEvac, Co-Go’s, Curves, Iannetti's Garden Center and LLC.

Admission is free.



(Wallace-Minger can be contacted at swallace@pafocus.com)