Local kids try walking to school

The city of Calabasas Traffic & Transportation Department in conjunction with the School Area Safety Committee and the Las Virgenes Unified School District will host a Walk to School Day at local elementary schools on Wed., Oct. 8.

The idea behind the national event is for students, parents and community leaders to walk to school together to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.

About 1,000 students from Calabasas elementary schools will kick off the event at 7:30 a.m. joined by the mayor, city council members and commissioners and students from the Pepperdine University Women in Public Policy Organization.

During the walk, volunteers will be distributing gifts and prizes to participants in the walk. Other special activities will include morning assemblies and rallies at each of the schools. For more information or to volunteer, please call Jaimi Garcia at (818) 878-4242, ext. 289.

Lang Ranch Elementary School in Thousand Oaks will also participate in the Walk to School Day event. They will walk along with their parents, teachers and administrators. As they arrive at school, Pat Phelps, a local school board member, will greet participants. Local police and firefighters have also agreed to attend and welcome the children and present them with a charm identifying them as having taken part in the event. Refreshments will be served to participants.

For more information, reach co-organizer Tracy Hannel at tfhannel@yahoo.com.