SIDNEY -- Legion Park will be busy with an activity on September 23. The event started from a desire to minimize the impact of bullying.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with bounce houses, "Sumo wrestling" suits, games, started as a collection of lots of people's concerns, says Jeff Klare. He said bullying is not just a Sidney problem. It is a society problem. 

"What we want to do is start a community conversation about how to eliminate a nationwide problem. This is not local to Sidney by any means. This is a problem that is permeating every school. But I've never seen a baby, born, that was a bully. They learn it from their environment. Children are like sponges. So when you're sitting at the kitchen table and you're telling everybody what your neighbor has done and what a bad person they are, the kid listens to it and goes to school the next day and says 'Johnny, your father is a jerk," said Klare.

Klare is the Economic Development Director for the City of Sidney and Cheyenne County. He and his wife have organized events for seven years in their hometown in Georgia. He said more than 1,000 people attended the 2022 event. 

He said the Sidney event will include the support of the Rotary Club. Partnering with the organization allows the event to feed 400 people. 

Sidney's event will include activities for kids, police and fire department representatives and opportunities for communities agencies and businesses to take part as well.

For more information, contact Klare at the City of Sidney Economic Development office, or call him at 917-941-6103.