Area preschoolers spent a week this summer in the annual Rossford Safety Town program receiving helpful advice such as safe places in the neighborhood, wearing a seatbelt in the car, and how to deal with strangers, among other practices.

The program was coordinated this year by Officer Jodi Johnson and Officer Wes Socie, school resource officers of the Rossford Police Department.

“This is a great opportunity for children to learn about safety–not only in the summertime–but also for beginning their lives in school,” Officer Johnson explained.

Officer Socie agreed, adding “these young students are beginning to venture out a little more independently, and they need the guidance to ensure they do it safely. Along with the teachers and student helpers, we are more than excited to help the kids with this.”

Speakers for the week included Fire Chief Josh Drouard and his firefighters, Rossford Schools transportation staff, Kevin Darr of Norfolk Southern Railroad and Rossford Schools nurse Tammy Myers.

Other participating agencies were Toledo Children’s Hospital, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Wood County sheriff’s special response team, Wood County Recycling, Safe Communities Wood County and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

This year’s Safety Town participants were:

Yellow Group–Regan Cobb, Oakley Holland, Chloe Gutierrez, Michael Lis, Brody Maas, Caroline Pape, Noah Tietje, Carter VanCalster and Eliana (Ellie) Wilson.

Green Group–Maeleigh Brown, Colin Jarrett, Delaney Kern, Liam McCormick, Drake Mochon, Ariana Roberts, Killian Romanowicz, Eloise Scholz and Vivian Sutter.

Red Group–Claire Bosch, Oliver Castilleja, Berkley Critton, Shaun Csortos, Elise Compton, Archer Hammond, Grace Parsson and Michael Zam.

The Safety Town teachers were Kristen Vargo, Laren Cox and Becky Schardt.

Volunteers who helped at the program were Bailey Myers, Max Pheifer, Meghan Johnson, Brandon Baum, Gracie Gordon, Carter Matthew and Mackenzie Pape.