Thirty-one readers took part in our “Make a Splash–READ” summer reading program. Children, teens, and adults together read 656 books, 13% more books than last year with fewer readers.
We celebrated in true “make a splash” fashion at the Old Home Week beach party on Sunday, August 8. Prizes were awarded to each child, teen, and adult who completed the program, special prizes were awarded to high achievers, and then we all enjoyed a fabulous cake made by Jennifer Sias, one of our adult summer readers. At least 60 people (we stopped counting) enjoyed a piece of the book-shaped yellow and chocolate cake complete with a reading moose floating in a marshmallow fondant inner tube.
We thank everyone who took part in our summer reading program, and congratulate the following readers:
Read to me category: Hunter Sias, Aiden Parsons, Maisie Brown (1st place with 88 books read), Ashley Garside, Catherine Shackford, and Kendyl Shackford
Read along and alone: Ava Jarell, Ella Dunker-Bendigo, Molly Arnold, Emma Arnold, Purlin Twigg-Smith, Madison Garside (1st place with 43 books read), Sierra Parsons
Read solo: Grace Jarell, Patrick Mulhern, Mark Mulhern, Eli Dunker-Bendigo, Kaeli Twigg-Smith, Minnie Brown, Tait Dickinson, and Gabby Ames (1st place with 32 books read)
Teens and adults: Kim Hamilton (1st in teen category with 9 books read), Marcie Shackford, Susan Dunker-Bendigo, Deb Parsons, Hazel Varella (2nd in adult category with 15 books), Betsy Hatton Wood, Lynn Brown (3rd in adult category with 13 books), Jennifer Sias, Anne Roser, and Becca Frazel (1st in adult category with 99 books).
All of the prizes were donated by the following generous local businesses; be sure to give them a “thank you” when you visit them: Yankee Smokehouse, Story Land, White Lake Speedway, Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, Conway Scenic Railroad, Settlers’ Green Outlet Village, White Mountain Hotel & Resort, Portland Sea Dogs, and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.