Patton Township Children’s Safety Fair Offers a Day of Fun Activities

Bring the kids on Saturday for the Patton Township Children’s Safety Fair in the Target/Wegman’s parking lot at the Colonnade. There are plenty of activities planned for the whole family.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., activities that are just plain fun, like the inflatable obstacle course and the ladder truck rides, are interspersed with educational pieces such as internet safety for kids and for drug awareness. QWIK Rock 105.9 and Panko Wealth Management are sponsoring the Children’s Safety Fair.

“This fair has expanded each year with the addition of the bounce house, the climbing wall and the inflatable obstacle course,’ said David Panko, president of the Patton Township Business Association and owner of Panko Wealth Management. ‘The Alpha Fire Company provides the aerial bucket and that is a big hit with adults as well as children. When the firemen raise the bucket, the rider can view the entire downtown State College area.”

Sheriff Bryan Sampsel recently awarded certificates of appreciation to members of the Patton Township Business Association for rebuilding the department’s radio-controlled robotic car. Panko coordinated the project and Matt Patterson, owner of Jersey Mike’s Subs, donated $760 to pay for the new radio controller and electronic components.

Stephen Howell, Best Buy automotive technician, diagnosed the system and rebuilt the car and Sampsel awarded him a certificate to show the department’s appreciation. Sarah Hesbacker, Best Buy general manager, and Jen Eisenhower, Geek Squad manager, were recognized for the donation of Howell’s time and the use of Best Buy’s automotive center where the repairs were completed.

The sheriff’s department uses the remote-controlled car at events, such as the Children’s Safety Fair, to interact with children in the community.

“The helicopter that will be there on Saturday is provided by STAT MedEvac and children will be able to check out the inside of the unit which looks much like the interior of an ambulance,” Panko said.

Other activities include child safety seat inspections, build your own first aid kit, Pinewood Derby with Boy Scouts, make-and-take crafts, fun with police vehicles (Bellefonte police, Penn State police, Spring Township police and State College police), canine units and much more.

Food and drinks for the day are provided by Taproot Kitchen.