The Delaware Optimist Club s PO Box 312 s Delaware, OH  43015
Summit Martial Arts 425 S. Sandusky St. Delaware, OH 43015

CONTACT
Missy Stevens
(740) 362-9529

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2006

Local Optimist Club,
Summit Martial Arts,

The Delaware City Police Department    and The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Promotes Youth Safety

Delaware, Ohio – The Optimist Club of Delaware, Summit Martial Arts, the Delaware City Police Department and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office would like to make sure the children of the community are a little safer this year by addressing Stranger Awareness.

The Optimist Club, Summit Martial Arts, the Delaware City Police Department and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office held its first Stranger Awareness and Safety Seminar on Saturday, April 15, 2006 at the Summit Martial Arts Dojo at  425  S. Sandusky Street.  The seminar was free to any Delaware County child age 4 and up. 

Summit Martial Arts provided demonstrations on common lures, self-defense, at-home safety as well as safety in public places.  Officer Rita Mendel with the assistance of Citizens Patrol provided child ID and fingerprinting and information on at-home safety.  Deputy Doug Simila of the Delaware County Sheriff’s office provided helpful information on staying safe in public areas and the safest method for getting help when becoming lost or separated from your group in public.

“In many ways it takes an entire community to make sure our children grow up in a safe environment,” Club President Hank Nichols said. “With this program, we hope to do our part in ensuring that local children grow up safely.”

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 120,000 adult and youth members in 3,800 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. Youth safety is a popular focus for Optimist Clubs, with more than 1,400 clubs participating in safety activities annually. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year.

Another seminar is tentatively planned for June 10, 2006.  To learn more about this or any other program with the Delaware Optimist Club, please contact Hank Nichols at (740) 362-1075 or Missy Stevens at (740) 362-9529.

Sensei Charles Riedmiller 740-362-2222