Masons keep PCES students reading with Bikes for Books

GUILFORD — Students at Piscataquis Community Elementary School spent several months reading as many books as possible, not only for fun and to learn but for the opportunity to win a brand new bicycle and helmet.

Thanks to the Masons of Abner Wade Lodge #207 in Sangerville and Mt. Kineo Lodge #109 of Guilford students could place an entry into a bicycle drawing for every title they read in the Masons’ annual Bikes for Books program. Several grade winners were chosen from each K-8 level, as the younger and older students were split into a pair of assemblies on the morning of May 17.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
NEW BIKES FOR READERS — PCES first-grader Bailey Ames poses with her new bicycle and Anah Shrine Clown Diggah during the annual Bikes for Books drawing on May 17 at the Guilford school. Thanks to the Masons of Abner Wade Lodge #207 in Sangerville and Mt. Kineo Lodge #109 of Guilford, students could place an entry for every book they read into a drawing for a brand new bicycle and helmet.

“I want to make sure you realize where these bikes are coming from, the Masons are providing these bikes to acknowledge the hard work you have done reading,” Principal Anita Wright told the elementary students at the start of the presentation.

In addition to the Masons, Anah Shrine Clowns Diggah and Gizmo attended the 2019 Bikes for Books event. Despite being told to behave themselves and leave the bicycles alone, the two clowns failed to listen and first attempted and then got away with going for a brief ride — much to the students’ delight.

Two boys and two girls in kindergarten through grade 8 had their names drawn out of the box to receive a newly-assembled bicycle and accompanying helmet. After each grade-level winner was chosen, more slips were pulled out of the box to select a boy and girl in each grade to receive a Bikes for Books program T-shirt. All PCES students were given a bookmark from the Masonic lodges.

The Masons thank all the program sponsors and school staff for again allowing them to come into the building with Bikes for Books.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
READING FOR A TICKET TO RIDE — Kindergartener Hudson Daggett had his name drawn as one of several grade-level winners in the annual Bikes for Books program at PCES on May 17. Local Masons provided bicycles for boys and girls in each grade from K-8 at the Guilford school, and Anah Shrine Clowns Gizmo, pictured with Daggett, and Diggah were there to entertain and cause mischief at the program drawing.