Edwards Delivers Bike to Winner

Dunkirk: At the corner of Central Avenue and 5th Street in Dunkirk, there stands a church that is home to a not-for-profit organization that recycles donated and discarded bikes, and makes them available to community members in need of two-wheel transportation.

The Spoke Folk Community Bicycle Project, located in the lower level of Iglesia Getsemani, is a volunteer organization dedicated to "Building a Healthier Community One Bicycle at a Time."

Spoke Folk and its director Richard Goodman, teach bicycle safety, maintenance and repair for all age groups.

Goodman and his group teach youngsters life skills by providing them with an opportunity to "Earn a Bike" by learning about history, technology, basic business principles and the importance of community service.

To that end, Spoke Folk donated a refurbished a bicycle for the 2008 Chautauqua County Fair and the Bike Raffle held at the County Government tent inside the main gate.

The winner of that bike was 13 year old Trevor Cole of Silver Creek, who joined Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards, County Youth Services Director Steve Purol, Goodman and a couple of volunteers from Spoke Folk in Dunkirk Tuesday evening.

Trevor and his parents, Judy and Greg Cole, were thrilled when they saw the bike they had won, and thanked Goodman and the "Spoke Folk" volunteers for all their hard work.

Edwards says that two of the young volunteers on hand confirmed how important the program has been to them and to other people in the community.

"These two teens are getting invaluable experience through Spoke Folk, and doing so in a positive environment," Edwards commented.

Edwards plans to deliver the second bike that was donated by Hollyloft in Jamestown for the Bike Raffle to its winner, Baylee Gloss, later this month.

(Photo by Joel Keefer)