Labor Day festivities in Frenchtown were no competition for the attention of 9-year-old LaAsia Campbell, who clearly preferred the company of her brand new scooter.
Campbell returned Sunday from a New York City vacation and brought the newest urban transportation rage back with her. The scooters were popularized earlier this year when Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey was shown riding one through Manhattan in a segment of "60 Minutes."
Though the scooters are popping up here and there on the island, Campbell appears to be the first in her block, and probably the first in Frenchtown, with the shiny little scooter. She is taking obvious delight in her new wheels.
"They're sort of like a skateboard, but with handles," she said.
The front wheel is tiny, about 5 inches in diameter, with a larger rear wheel. It's a Ydaah model and is known in scooter circles as the "razor."
Will she ride it to All Saints Cathedral School where she starts the fourth grade on Tuesday?
"Oh, I don't know. I don't think so," she said with a big grin.
Campbell is the granddaughter of Gladys Lake, who runs the senior citizens program at the Frenchtown Community Center and who might take a dim view of Campbell riding her new toy to school. Then again, with the school bus situation, who's to say?