Above: Kiwanians are shown with youngsters who attended a recent bike safety event at Marjorie Post Park Carolyn James/Herald
When Buddy Antonelli was a teenager, he was struck by a car while riding his bike. While he did not sustain any major injuries, the memory of that event remains in his mind even today, decades later.
“It is something that you never forget,” Antonelli said.
That memory helped inspire Antonelli and fellow members of the Massapequa Kiwanis Club to host a Kids Bicycle Safety Day at Marjorie Post Park last month. The event drew dozens of children, who brought their bikes for inspections and learned key safety practices.
The program was held in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department’s Community Affairs Unit. Officer Daniel Capellan checked each bicycle to ensure brakes were functioning properly, tires were adequately inflated, and riders had helmets.
“We wanted to inform our youth about safe ways to ride their bicycles to help prevent accidents,” said Jim Taratunio, vice president of the Massapequa Kiwanis Club.
Parents said the event offered a timely opportunity to reinforce safety habits.
“He is learning to ride his bike, and I thought getting some safety lessons would be good,” said Jenna Emerson of Massapequa, who attended with her son, Douglas. “This is a perfect time.”
For more information about the Massapequa Kiwanis Club, visit the Kiwanis Club of Massapequa on Facebook or email [email protected].
Source: Massapequa Post
