Port Charlotte father dedicates time to keep children safe after school

A father is dedicating his time to keep children safe on their way to school. He decided to take matters into his own hands after the death of an 8-year-old girl waiting for the school bus at her bus stop.

When drivers pass near Peace River Elementary School in Port Charlotte at the end of the school day, they will see Chris Analetto walk back and forth on Beaver Lane with a sign in his hand.

“They’re just speeding in a school zone,” Analetto said. “They don’t really realize what’s going on.”

Analetto stands at that spot every day at 2:30 p.m. when road sign light starts blinking yellow, and the speed limit is reduced to 15 miles per hour.

“I like to hold my sign up and say, ‘Hey, slow down a little bit,’” Analetto said.

Analetto said drivers always seem to rush through the school zone, so he decided to do something about it. But getting to this spot to rally for change isn’t easy. Analetto has physical complications from diabetes.

“Some days are better than others,” Analetto said. “So I just come out and do what I can.”

Analetto said he doesn’t want to have to bury his son or any of his classmates, especially after the recent hit-and-run that killed Layla Aiken at a Cape Coral bus stop nearly four weeks ago.

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A large group of parents will join Analetto Monday at 2:40 p.m. to all push for child safety.

“If I could stop that or prevent that from happening to another family just by standing out here with a sign, then, yeah, why not?” Analetto said.