School’s Out, Safety’s In

The kids are all out! Special artworks that adorned school hallways were carried home to take new pride of place. Those old worksheets stuffed in the backpacks are now crumpled under beach towels, all freshly smudged with sunscreen. And, best of all, the bike helmets are at the ready, for students with free time to be freewheeling on two wheels.

Kids remind us what summer is all about, especially here on the Vineyard where summer also involves a rush of activity and a sometimes frustrating crush of traffic. When you’re in traffic, try to recapture your childlike sense of time and not let it get to you. When you are anywhere on the roads, remember that children are out around Island roadsides, on bikes, chasing balls, everywhere at play. Keep them safe.

As the old bumper sticker says: Slow down, you’re not off-Island anymore. It will go a long way toward making sure the kids are all right.