HOULTON, Maine — Students at Houlton Elementary School gathered in the gym for a special assembly June 7 to welcome members of the Masonic Lodge No. 96 and local law enforcement officers.
The Masons presented bikes to several Houlton Elementary School students for their participation in “Books for Bikes” program. The event began in 2011 when the Houlton chapter gave six bikes. This year they gave several dozen bikes, helmets and t-shirts to the winners at schools in and around the greater Houlton area.
In order to be eligible, younger students read books with an adult at home and submitted a coupon for each book read, while older students recorded minutes spent reading at home. Students winning bikes this year were: Emily Hagan, Silas Cook, Lydia Putnam, Kevin Rossignol, Joannie Hafford and Noah Weber. Hagan won a bike last year and donated her bike back to the school for an additional drawing.
Chairman David Rairdon made the presentations at the school assisted by Bryan Shaw and Lee Oliver. Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca and Officer Charlie Heath spoke on bike safety and the importance of wearing a helmet. They encouraged students to walk their bikes across roadways and always tell their parents where they intended to ride their bikes.
