Kids bike helmets bound for Montpelier school land in Waterbury

June 5, 2021 | By Waterbury Roundabout 

Thatcher Brook Primary School students get outside for some two-wheeled fun during PE class. Bikes and scooters are on loan from Local Motion with a storage trailer sponsored by Kohl’s. The school recently received 75 new helmets for primary school cyclists through Local Motion as well. Photo by Gordon Miller

Eric Weeber (right) and physical education teacher Carol Baitz (left) unpack new bike helmets donated to Thatcher Brook Primary School students through Local Motion. Courtesy photo

Primary school physical education teacher Carol Baitz accepted a surprise donation of 75 kids bike helmets recently after a shipment headed to Montpelier took a detour to Waterbury. 

Waterbury resident Eric Weeber from The New School of Montpelier and Mary-Catherine Graziano of the nonprofit Local Motion presented the brand-new helmets to Baitz who will share them with students just in time for summer vacation. 

The helmets came to Thatcher Brook Primary School on May 26 after Local Motion sent them to The New School as part of a grant, Weeber explained. The helmets were sized for kids ages 5-8 -- too small for students at The New School. 

Local Motion has since gotten appropriate-sized ones for the Montpelier school and it agreed to send the smaller ones to a primary school. Weeber suggested Thatcher Brook. 

The New School of Montpelier is an independent, employee-owned cooperative school. Based in Burlington, Local Motion is a statewide advocate for increased biking and walking activity and infrastructure.