Summer Reading Program comes to an end

Submitted by tonia on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 10:09

Society

From left, Raven Green, Alaina Duran, Madison Grace, Bryson Sepulvado, Tyson Sepulvado, Allie Kate Payne and Lily Luneau.

Deputy James Campbell and Terra, center, of the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department Canine Unit visited children at the library.

The Sabine Parish Library’s 2010 Summer Reading Program, “Make a Splash - Read,” drew to an end with over 240 children registering and over 1,600 children and adults attending programs.

Thanks to a generous contributions of AT&T, Atmos Energy, and CLECO, children reading the required number of books and attending at least three programs were rewarded with a water fun day with an 18’ water slide, a bounce house/water slide combo, and a 32’ slip-n-slide on July 16. Over 100 children and adults made a splash and enjoyed the water fun day. Special thanks to Max Lecomte and the Coordinating & Development Corporation for allowing the use of their water and electricity for this event.

From the kick-off party featuring award-winning singer and song-writer, Johnette Downing, on June 4, to the water fun finale on July 16, the summer reading program has been extremely successful, and programs have been well-attended. Story hours were held each week for children of all ages at the Converse, Pleasant Hill, Toledo, and Zwolle Branch Libraries. Weekly story times for ages two - four, and five and seven and age-appropriate programs for children eight - 12 and teens 13 - 16 were held at the main branch in Many. Children eight - 12 and teens 13 - 17 enjoyed programs provided by local organizations and community volunteers. Special guests included David Davis, Sabine Parish Homeland Security; Gloria Thompson, Water’s Edge Nursery and Landscape; Judy Wong, professional angler; Quentin Morris, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries; and Deputy James Campbell and Terra, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department Canine Unit.

Johnette Downing’s performances were made possible by a grant from the Louisiana Arts Council, the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. The summer reading program was also supported through contributions from Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Nichols, Pizza Hut, Rotary Club, Sonic, and WalMart all of Many; Dairy Delight of Pleasant Hill; and Tanya Sepulvado and Kwik-Trip of Zwolle.