Masons help keep PCES students on the reading path

GUILFORD — Students at Piscataquis Community Elementary School, including seventh- and eighth-graders for the first time since these grades moved up Campus Drive for 2017-18, spent several months reading as many books as possible in hopes of winning 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 bike drawing for every title they read in the Masons’ annual Bikes for Books program. This year the Masons had a record 40 bikes to present at PCES.

On the morning of May 11 the student body gathered in the gymnasium for the Bikes for Books drawing, joined by Masons and Anah Shrine Clowns Diggah and Gizmo. Despite being told several times by Principal Anita Wright not to ride the bikes, the two clowns did not listen and the pair ended up in timeout on the center of the gym floor. The clowns snuck away when Wright’s back was turned, 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 Huffy bike 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.

After a pair of boys and girls and each grade were presented with a bike, Diggah and Gizmo went looking in the corner and the clowns were able to find four extra smaller bikes. The drawing continued as two more kindergarteners and a pair of first-graders received a new bike for the reading they have done.

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
BIKES FOR BOOKS — PCES second-grader Ryan Gaetzke takes a seat on his brand new bicycle with Anah Shrine Clowns Diggah and Gizmo during the annual Bikes for Books drawing on May 11 at the Guilford school. Thanks to the 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 and helmet.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
READING FOR A TICKET TO RIDE — First-grader Alexis Ames had her name drawn as one of two grade 1 girls winners in the annual Bikes for Books program at PCES. This year local Masons provided a record 40 bikes for K-8 students at the school in Guilford, and Anah Shrine Clowns Diggah and Gizmo were there to entertain and cause mischief at the program drawing.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BRAND NEW BIKE — Breelyn Gaw was a grade 2 Bikes for Books winner on May 11. Guilford and Sangerville Masons provided enough bikes for two girls and two boys in each of nine grades at PCES in Guilford to win through the Bikes for Books program.