The PACES Summer Program combined their annual Fire Safety Day and Bike Safety Day into one big event Wednesday afternoon at the Perry Elementary School.
Perry Police Department Sgt. Alex Lott led about two dozen PACES students in a bike rodeo, showing the young riders how to choose the proper gear and use hand signals.
Firefighters Andy Modlin, Matt Hix and Dave Barkley were among the leaders of the Perry Volunteer Fire Department who led a short course in the properties of fire and the ins and outs of firefighting.
The Blank Children’s Hospital Unity Point Fire Safety House was also on hand to fill out the exercise in public education and outreach to the PACES classes.
PACES, which stands for Perry Academic Cultural and Enrichment Services, is a before- and after-school program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The summer programming is as popular and in demand as the school-year activities, according to Mary Hillman, longtime director of the successful program.