In order to share holiday joy with less-fortunate local youths, and reward positive study habits, sheriff’s officials handed out bicycles to local kids Thursday at Carolyn Rosas Park.

The children were selected from a group of more than 60 primarily low-income kids based on good grades, Sheriff’s Youth Activities League coordinator Deputy Gary Vargas said. Half a dozen bikes were distributed Thursday, with several more waiting for kids who couldn’t make it to the park Thursday.

“They were all excited,” Vargas said. “I hadn’t told them (about the bikes), I just told them to meet me at the park because I had a surprise for them.”