Students from seven Utica schools cheered on about 60 bike riders Friday as they rode through the city to encourage healthy living. The riders — including teachers, parents and community leaders — rode 11.2 miles from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The path also took them by other schools. Children had signs encouraging the riders, and King students even performed a rap song. This was the fifth year for the ride. “We just wanted to take a morning for the district to recognize being healthy and physically active and being in a good state of mind,” event coordinator and King physical education teacher Kristen Lutz said. Students had a shorter route to ride, joining the group for the last mile between Watson Williams Elementary School and King. “It was fun, but short,” Hugh R. Jones Elementary School fifth-grader Dominic Facciolo said. King third-grader Courtney Andrews said the ride was easy, especially compared to last year’s. “Last year, it was horrible,” Andrews said. “It rained the whole time. This year was a lot more fun.” Martin Nemecek, district director of physical education and athletics, said he enjoyed the ride. “All but that hill up Hughes,” he joked. “Next year, let’s go down it.” New Hartford resident Bruce Iffert also joined the ride, wanting to encourage children to ride their bikes. “I think it’s great fun and hope more kids can do it,” Iffert said. ...
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Students from seven Utica schools cheered on about 60 bike riders Friday as they rode through the city to encourage healthy living. The riders — including teachers, parents and community leaders — rode 11.2 miles from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The path also took them by other schools. Children had signs encouraging the riders, and King students even performed a rap song. This was the fifth year for the ride. “We just wanted to take a morning for the district to recognize being healthy and physically active and being in a good state of mind,” event coordinator and King physical education teacher Kristen Lutz said. Students had a shorter route to ride, joining the group for the last mile between Watson Williams Elementary School and King. “It was fun, but short,” Hugh R. Jones Elementary School fifth-grader Dominic Facciolo said. King third-grader Courtney Andrews said the ride was easy, especially compared to last year’s. “Last year, it was horrible,” Andrews said. “It rained the whole time. This year was a lot more fun.” Martin Nemecek, district director of physical education and athletics, said he enjoyed the ride. “All but that hill up Hughes,” he joked. “Next year, let’s go down it.” New Hartford resident Bruce Iffert also joined the ride, wanting to encourage children to ride their bikes. “I think it’s great fun and hope more kids can do it,” Iffert said. ...