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Heat Doesnt Stop Kids Fun At Farmers Market Safety Faire
BIKE 1
Officers from Riverbank Police Services start Ember Brown out in the bicycle safety course at last Fridays Farmers Market, while her mother, Sammie Ball looks on at left. Ember learned a lot about navigating on her bicycle in the course, which she can put to good use on the new bike she won later in the evening. Ric McGinnis/The News

Even 102-degree heat this past Friday couldn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm of the youngsters and their families who came out for the Bicycle Rodeo and Kids Safety Fair activities.

The annual event is part of the Concerts in the Park/Family Night Out/Certified Farmers Market, put on through the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce, with the rodeo and safety activities co-sponsored by Riverbank Police Services and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department.

Starting slowly, in the heat, attendance picked up as the evening wore on, temperatures lowered and parents got off work, becoming available to bring their families. The shady east end of the park was conducive to the many community organizations that came out to provide activities and information to those in attendance, and a bit of a breeze helped make the weather more bearable.

In addition to the Bike Rodeo, Police Services officers and staff gave away free bicycle helmets to youngsters. Also, they registered bicycles that were brought out to the park, assisting with the paperwork and waiving fees.

The smaller bikes given away were provided by RPS through donations from the Kohl’s Department Store in Crossroads. The full-sized bikes were donated by the Central Valley Resource Center.

Community organizations provided activities and information in the shady areas of the park for participants. Groups such as the Oakdale Pet Alliance, Riverbank Federated Women’s Club, Riverbank Kiwanis Club, the city Recreation and Parks Department were on hand, along with the Resource Center and the Kettle Korn booths making food available to patrons and a few other vendors were on hand.

Other free activities included music performed by singer/guitarist Brad Brown, who returned after performing at the event a few weeks earlier. A free swim was scheduled that evening at the Community Pool.

Missing from the lineup was the free Bounce House that has been a staple of Friday evenings this summer.

The small group of classic car enthusiasts was also on hand, at the north edge of the park, on the Stanislaus Street side, vying to be chosen ‘Fan Favorite’ when the ongoing voting is complete, with the announcement being made on the last night of the markets, Friday, July 28.

Scheduled to perform this week on stage, July 14, will be singer/guitarist Patty Castillo Davis, the Bounce House is expected to return and Movie Night is to feature The Secret Life of Pets.