The Silver Spring Penguin

Cool weather and kids spazzing over their new lunch boxes means only one thing: It’s the first day of public school in Montgomery County.

So it’s no coincidence that MoCo’s fire and rescue services posted a few road rules to keep the kiddies safe:

• Ease off the accelerator near school and residential areas.
• Keep the headlights on, even during the day. It lets the kiddies (and other drivers) spot your slow-moving ass.
• Let crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds clue you into the presence of kids.
• Stop for school buses when they load or unload students. Seriously, cut the kids a break.
• Route your calls to voicemail. Tweet your peeps later. Deal with that crappy song on the radio. Bottom line: Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.
• Scan between parked cars for kids who might dart after that ball in the road.

It’s that easy.

As far as events in downtown Silver Spring go, this week is going to be yet another quiet one. Our Penguin intern, who resumed his school schedule two weeks ago, is compiling September’s event calendar. Stay tuned for more info.