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Stuff The Bus
Boone County Schools: 2,426 items collected
Kenton County Schools: 2,069 items collected
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A Game Changer for Cycling in Northern Kentucky
Boone County Schools pilot project: Ride With Us
A pilot program this summer provided 20 students from the Burlington Campus of the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky with an educational experience on the process of bike repair. They also learned expert bike riding tips at a special new bike park. Ride With Us is a service/project based learning opportunity between the Boone County Schools Conner Campus, Master Provisions, and Riding Forward and supported by several community organizations.
Riding Forward is an organization devoted to youth development and getting kids out on bikes. Program Director Brady DeLong says kids are learning the process of repairing a broken bike and through that process they find out how this new skill can benefit their life.
Riding Forward working with Boone County officials have nearly completed the construction of a new, one of a kind bike park at England Idlewild Park. Christopher Jett, also with Riding Forward designed the track, "This is a three-phase bike park with a beginner, intermediate, and expert pump track. It has a dual slalom bike course and three jump lines. A pump track is a track consisting of rollers and berms and the object is to maintain momentum by pumping between the rollers without pedaling. You maintain the momentum for as many laps as you can." According to Jett, this bike park is the first in the region in a park setting and one of only four in the nation.
 
After a few lessons the students were allowed to have a go of the pump tracks. The students were excited about the progress they had made in refurbishing their own bikes. Student Ralph Hartman said he liked that "Ride With Us" was supporting the boys from the Children's Home and, "It makes me feel like there are people who really do care for us." Student Jordan Wagner said he was grateful to Kathy Reutman, Executive Director of Student Services at Boone County Schools, and track designer Christopher Jett for making this happen for them. "It's something that I've never done before and now I've learned how to build a bike."
Each student gets to keep the bike they rebuilt and was given a new helmet courtesy of Bridges.
 
The bicycles were provided by Master Provisions. The helmets were provided by Bridges. BRIDGES is a Northern Kentucky Brain Injury Support Group established in April 2004 at the request of numerous brain injured survivors and their families searching for support, education and resources. The acronym of BRIDGES means BRain Injury Demands Guidance Education. Goodridge Elementary School put the finishing touches on the bicycles. And the Boone County Area Technical School will be involved in refurbishing used bicycles in the future.
Christopher Jett says, "We made this track so that everyone can enjoy it. It's not just for one age group or one level of skill. Many parents and children of all ages are already enjoying the tracks. It's a game changer for the cycling community of Northern Kentucky." Look for more information about RIDE WITH US in future newsletters.
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| | Claire E. Parsons & husband Brian Horne |
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Boone County School Board attorney Claire Parsons who was presented with Legacy's Next Generation Leader Award in the Business, Financial, and Legal Services Category. The Next Generation Leader Awards are designed to salute the region's young professionals under the age of 40 for significant accomplishments in their chosen professional field, demonstrated leadership, as well as their contribution to the community.
This award came on the heels of another recent honor bestowed to Claire. In April, Claire was named as one of two Emerging Leaders at the Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky luncheon. The Outstanding Women of NKY celebrate women who have demonstrated leadership in their home, their profession, or in their community. The women represent the great diversity and extraordinary accomplishments of today's women. |
