Local children plan to join effort by walking to school

LEWISTON – Nearly 1,000 children in Lewiston and Auburn plan to join children across Maine on Friday in walking to school.

The goal: a lesson in exercise and safety.

In most cases, children will be picked up at their normal locations but dropped off just shy of their school, where they will be met by teachers and other school staff.

For all 384 kids at Sherwood Heights Elementary School in Auburn, the meeting will happen at Pulsifer Field, about half a mile from the school’s entrance.

“It’s about fitness,” said secretary Kiaya Berube, who plans to join the young walkers as they make their short trek just after 8 a.m.

At Auburn’s new elementary school on Park Avenue, the aim is both fitness and security. Kids will meet at Orchard and Granite streets. From there, staffers plan to escort them into the rear entrance of the new school, up the slope through the playground.

“We want kids to be safe while they walk to school,” secretary Cathy Vielleux said.

Similar exercises are planned all over the state during Maine Walk and Bike to School Month.

Other towns with scheduled walks are Andover, Augusta, Windham and Mechanic Falls.

The event is also wrapped into an international observance in 36 countries. An estimated 3 million people plan to take part this year, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.

Across the United States, about 3,000 schools plan to participate. Maine has been part of the walks since 2003.

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