Hawthorne parents leading walk-to-school brigades

A few families take in some bright fall sunshine on a 15-minute walk to from Empire Espresso to Hawthorne.

Did you know that October is International Walk to School Month?

Friday mornings in October, Hawthorne parents will be leading groups of walkers from two locations: Empire Espresso (3829A S. Edmunds St.) and Both Ways Café (4922 S. Genesee St.).

Join a group or drop of your kid(s). It's a great, good-for-the-planet way to start the day. Take a few extra minutes and connect with other Hawthorne families. It's more fun than driving, driving, driving and wondering why there aren't more parking spots closer to school, right?

Walk-to-school brigades will leave from Empire and Both Ways a little after 8 a.m. on the following Fridays: October 3, 17, 24 and 31. (No school on October 10, a teacher training day.)

If your kid(s) would like to bike to school, they're welcome — as long as you or another grown-up can ride with them.*

Any questions? Email walk-to-school brigade leaders Kristin Mehus-Roe (Both Ways, kristinmehusroe@gmail.com) and Liz Gillespie (Empire, elizabethmgillespie@gmail.com).

The folks with Cascade Bicycle Club, who helped us organize Hike and Bike Fridays in October and May during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, advise that it's best for kiddos to wait until they're in 2nd grade before biking on streets — even when supervised by adults.