Maine Freemasons sponsor the “Bikes for Books” program to encourage students to read. This year some 90 Masonic Lodges throughout Maine will present nearly 1,000 bicycles to children participating in reading programs in local schools and public libraries. Evidence shows that schools participating in the program are witnessing improved reading scores among their students.

Reading can be a pleasurable lifelong journey; from parents and grandparents reading picture books to toddlers, to seniors sitting in their favorite chairs curled up with a good book. Books enlighten, inspire, bring happiness and success, challenge our perspectives and provide comfort at difficult times in our lives.

It’s essential to establish a love for reading early in life. Towards that end, the Boothbay Region Elementary School is pleased to join with Bay View Masonic Lodge to bring the “Bikes for Books” program to students in grades three through six. The objectives of the program are threefold: first, to increase student reading and comprehension skills; second, to recognize positive student achievements; and third, to provide an attainable goal, with life enhancing results.

Students are invited to participate in the program, and each time they read an age appropriate book, their name will go into the drawing; the more they read, the better their chances of earning a bike and safety helmet, which will be presented before the school closes for the summer.

Bay View Masonic Lodge pledges to fund 10-15 bicycles and Crescent Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star is helping to purchase safety helmets for students earning bikes. The Lodge and Eastern Star Chapter welcome contributions to purchase additional bikes and helmets. Two helmets can be purchased for $25 and a brand new Huffy bicycle can be purchased for $50, plus shipping.

Contributions payable to Bay View Masonic Lodge may be mailed to the lodge at P.O. Box 364, East Boothbay, ME 04544. For more information on this program, please contact either Tom Pulkkinen of Bay View Lodge at 207-633-7167 or tepulkkinen@aol.com, or Assistant Principal Brandon Ward at 207-633-597 or bward@csd3-bres.org.