While the annual Keep it a Safe Summer event may have skipped a year, it sure did not skip a beat, as evident by the turnout for the event Thursday evening.
Once again, the Lyon County Fairgrounds played host to the informational activity-filled happening, which saw an estimated 900 individuals and nearly 40 different vendors in attendance. Organizer Loni Heinen of the Emporia Community Foundation says she was blown away by the turnout.
The purpose of the event is to provide information to families and children as to the plethora of safe and friendly activities available throughout the summer months, both in and around the Emporia community. The lengthy list of vendors on Thursday included Lyon Gymnastics, represented by Macy Martin, who was attending KISS for the first time.
Following the event, Martin spoke with KVOE News and said it was a very enjoyable and well-balanced experience.
Also attending KISS for the first time as both a vendor and organizer was Emporia Public Library Director Pauline Stacchini. While speaking with KVOE News, Stacchini stated she was very impressed by the level of collaboration and communication among the various agencies involved with the event.
On top of the information and activities provided, the event also saw several prizes given away, including new bikes, packages, gift certificates and of course, 500 new bike helmets. Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch says providing those helmets is and always has been a key piece of the event.
Thursday’s event, as mentioned earlier, was a return after it took a short break last year and also came a month earlier than normal, as it had previously been held on the last day of school.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News.
