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14FOCUS-JUNE2013schoolstudentsassheescortsthemacrossthebusystreetbeforeandafterschoolandduringlunchhour.SafetypatrolisagoodexcusetogetoutsidesaidJacquelinewhoalsoenjoysoutdooractivi-tiessuchascampingandcanoeing.Shereallylayersuptokeepwarminthewinterthough.Sometimescarsgothroughthecrosswalkshesaysbutthankfullytherehavenotbeenanytragicincidents.Theglareofthesunfromthewestcanmakevisibilitytrickyandsomevehiclesracethroughtheschoolzoneeventhoughthespeedlimitisclearlypostedat40km.JacquelinewishesthateverydriverwouldconcentrateonlookingoutofthefrontwindowinsteadofatacellphoneoraGPS.Itsahugedistractionshefeels.Butmostdriversaregoodsheaddedandallthekidsareawesome.Igetspoiled.Jacquelinesaid.Itmeltedherheartwhenalittlechildrecentlypickedherabouquetofdandelions.Specialoccasionsseelotsoflittlegiftscomeherway.Jacquelinegivesback.Notonlydoesshemakesurethatthekidssafelycrossthebusyresiden-tialstreetyouneverknowwhensheisgoingtohandoutpopsiclesorchipstoheryoungcharges.Asaparentsheabsolutelyfeltbetterknow-ingthattherewerecrossingguardstoensurethathersonnow26hadtheservicesofacross-ingguardwhenheattendedPortPerryHighSchool.BothJacquelineandAlbertsaidthattheyre-allyfeelappreciatedfortheworktheydo.Albertreportedthatasurveyshowedthatthereareupto2000carsanhourtravellingthroughthebusyintersectionhemansatthecornerofOldSimcoeRoadandReachStreet.HisresponsibilityasacrossingguardincludesstudentsfromS.A.CawkertheGoodShepherdCatholicSchoolandPortPerryHighSchool.Duringlunchhourupto60studentsvisittheTimHortonsonhiscorneranditshisjobtoseethemsafelytoandfro.AtChristmasAlbertreceived40worthofTimmiesgiftcardsandsometimesinthewintersomeonewillbringhimahotchocolatewhichisnice.IenjoythisjobsomuchcommentedthefriendlyLiverpoolbornseniorcitizen.HelivedallovertheworldincludingSouthAfricaChinaandEgyptbeforecomingtoCanadain1974.IlikethekiddiesaddsAlbert.Andyouvegottokeepthemsafe.Duringhis14yearcareerasacrossingguardAlbertsayshehasbeenbumpedbycarsacoupleoftimesbuthebrushesitoff.ThingsAlbertPennhasbeenacrossingguardatOldSimcoeandReachRoadsforthepast14yearsandloveseveryminute.haveimprovedsincethestoplightswereinstalledatthisinter-sectionhesays.AnavidshermanAlbertsaidhewasappalledwhentheOutdoorClubfromalocalschoolcamethroughhiscrosswalkheadingforashingtripandtherewereonlythreeshingrodsforthebiggrouptoshare.CaringAlbertwentaroundtoyardsalesandboughtupmoreshingrodstodonatetothestudents.ItsallaboutthekiddiesAlbertsays.TryingtotakeaphotographofAlbertischallenging.Hesoffdutybutstillonhiscornersportinghisbrightorangecrossingguardvest.Hekeepsmovingsmilingandwavingatallofthedriversinpassingcarswhorecognizehimandhonkorwaveastheypassby.IgetonwiththekiddiesandparentsverywellsmilesAlbert.TheresnoplaceIwouldratherbe.Albertsaystherehasonlybeenonenastyincidentinallofhisyearsonsafetypatrol.Onedayanolderwomanyelledoutaquestionfromhercar.SheaskedAlbertifheknewhowmuchmoneythetownshipcouldsaveiftherewerenocrossingguardsandtheparentstaughttheirchildrenhowtocrossthestreetbythemselvesinsteadYoucantteachafour-year-oldkiddiehowtogetacrossanintersectionlikethisalonesaidAlbertshakinghishead.ThecaringScugogtownshipcrossingguardsaretheeyesandearsforlocalchildrenofallagesmakingsurethattheirwalkisasafeone.CrossingguardsprovideavaluableserviceChrisGoodeconcluded.ByLynnCampbellFocusonScugogContinuedfrompage13