Safety Optimist Style to entertain, inform families
Madison police officers will be among first responders at Safety Optimist Style (SOS). (PHOTO / MADISON RECORD)
MADISON – Keeping children safe, along with family fun, will be in focus at Safety Optimist Style (SOS), Madison Optimist Club’s annual safety exposition.
SOS will be held on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kids’ Kingdom in Dublin Park. Madison Optimists, led by Jane Dow, organized SOS 14 years ago.
Numerous Tennessee Valley safety and security organizations will attend. Madison police and Madison County sheriff’s officers will open patrol cars for inspection. Children can meet dogs with the K-9 unit.
Madison Fire and Rescue firefighters will explain a fire truck’s equipment. Weather permitting, MedFlight will land a helicopter. Alabama Marine Police will display a boat and discuss water safeguards.
AlaBike will sponsor a bike rodeo. American Red Cross personnel and therapy dogs will visit. Children can shake hands with Smokey the Bear from the Alabama Forestry Commission, Safety Squirrel and Sparky the Firehouse Dog.
Domino’s, Playmor Lanes, Carousel Skate Center, Wendy’s, Madison Recreation Center and Chick-fil-A have donated coupon packets with free items. Hunter Homes, PNC Bank, Blue Bell, Publix, Lovelace Services and Buffalo Rock Pepsi will serve free hot dogs, popcorn, cookies, popsicles and beverages.
“Be entertained by Doctor Osborn’s Magic and Balloons with magician Darrell Osborn,” city events coordinator Gayle Milam said. “We’ll have demos from the rescue dogs and a storyteller.”
Prize drawings for sixth-graders and younger will start at 12:30 p.m. Children must be present to win. “Wal-Mart donated two bikes with helmets, Huntsville Independent Insurance Agents and Associates have donated bike helmets and local restaurants and attractions have donated gift cards and tickets,” Milam said.
Optimist officers are president Jim Gilchrist, vice presidents William Thomas and Mike Doyle, secretary Mike Doyle and treasurer Bill Oetjen. Board of directors members are Vic van Leeuwen, Tom Carter, Herschel Jordan, Tony Miele, Richard Cooper and David Willsey.
Madison Optimist Club meets monthly on the first and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Port of Madison. For more information, call 256-772-8148 or 256-461-8787.
