May 7 is going to be a fun-filled day of educational safety activities in Carbon County.

County and state officials are finalizing plans for the annual Community Safety Day. It is hosted by state Sen. John T. Yudichak, the Carbon County commissioners, Kid Zone Blue Mountain Health System, Carbon Masonic Lodge 242 and the Nolan Ritchie Stay Afloat Foundation.The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, on the grounds of Mauch Chunk Lake Park and is free and open to all Carbon County families."It's a community event that promotes safety for everything from riding your bicycle, roller blading to boating," Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said. "There are numerous things to do, but it (the event) is also an opportunity for families and friends to get together and educate young children."Mindy Graver of Kid Zone and one of the main organizers of the event, added that there will be something for everyone that day, from smokehouses that teach children how to properly exit a building that is filled with smoke to dog tags being made by the Army.Agencies and organizations will be set up throughout the park to educate children and their parents about various safety issues, including water safety, animal safety, fire safety, bicycle safety, poison control and more.Agencies participating include state Rep. Doyle Heffley's office, SHINE, Pathstone Head Start, Blue Mountain Health System, Right From The Start, Carbon County Emergency Management Agency, the County Animal Response Team, CERT, Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, Family Promise, Carbon County Children's Team, Pennsylvania State Police, American Red Cross, Penn State Master Gardeners, New York Life, the Nolan Ritchie Stay Afloat Foundation, St. Luke's, WMGH Radio Station, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pre-K Counts, Carbon County Amateur Radio Club, the Pyramid, Carbon County Action Committee, Friends of Beltzville State Park, CareNet of Carbon County and Turn To Us.There will also be approximately 10 volunteer fire companies, two medical helicopters and other groups holding hands-on activities from face painting to child identification packets. The always popular coconut crusher, which teaches the importance of helmet safety, will also take place throughout the day with free helmet fittings to follow the demonstrations.Graver said that new this year will be the addition of a few obstacle courses."Kids won't just stand there and watch a demonstration, they will get to participate," she said.A special presentation honoring Carbon County's junior firefighters and youth volunteers of the fire departments will take place during the opening ceremony.In addition to activities, Graver said a number of bicycles and a wagon will be raffled off in a free giveaway. The bicycle team, The Jim Thorpers, through the Masons, donated $1,000 worth of bicycles for the giveaway in addition to the 12 bikes Graver purchased for the event.Food and light refreshments donated by Redner's Warehouse Markets, Stroehmann's Bakery, Hatfield Quality Meats, McDonald's, Hazle Park, Herr's, Zimmerman's Ice Tea and other area businesses, will also be available to families.Last year, more than 1,000 people attended the four-hour event.Volunteer groups are also welcome to put in service hours. For more information on volunteer opportunities, call Graver at 570-325-2788 or email

mjg26@psu.edu.The Carbon County Community Safety Day grew into what it is today through a joint collaboration between the Masonic Lodge, Carbon County Commissioners and the former Carbon County Safe Kids, now Kid Zone.The event was previously known as the Carbon County Fun-N-Safety Fair and held on Fifth Street in Jim Thorpe, but after a number of successful years, the event outgrew the location.In 2013, Yudichak partnered with the groups and the event was moved to its current location at the lake.Since 2013, the Community Safety Day has grown in size and popularity with families and is made possible through business donations and dozens of volunteers.