The Masonic Hall in East Boothbay took on a youthful appearance Saturday, March 16 as 21 boys and girls were each given a shiny new bicycle and a safety helmet.

After treating the youngsters and their parents to cake and ice cream in the basement of the hall, everyone went upstairs for the Bikes for Books presentation.

Bikes for Books is a statewide Masonic program begun five years ago to encourage summer reading. This past summer, local Masons of Bay View Lodge and Seaside Lodge, as well as the Eastern Star chapter, implemented the program with the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library's annual summer reading program. Children in kindergarten through grade six participated in the summer reading program.

“Statewide, over $75,000 was committed for the program this year and over 1,000 bikes will be given away,” said Tom Pulkkinen, program director for Bay View Lodge. “Getting children to read during the summer is important. The children go back to school in the fall reading better and writing better.”

“When the Masons came to us with the program, I was so excited,” said Mary Pinkham, children's librarian at the Memorial Library. “I haven't stopped being excited.” Pulkkinen told the story of how Pinkham asked that the girls' bikes be of her favorite color: turquoise. Pinkham even showed off her turquoise colored socks during the event.

Librarian Tim McFadden said he has been impressed, since taking over the position last year, with the cohesiveness of the Boothbay region and how organizations come together to help others. He thanked the Masons and Eastern Star for stepping forward for the children.

Each child had provided the library with their height so the Masons could order the correct sized bicycles and there were various sized helmets available.

As the children waited patiently to get their hands on the handle bars of their new bike, Pulkkinen and Pinkham finally read each child's name as they came to the front of the room to pick up their prize. Smiles beamed on their faces as they wheeled the bikes to their parents. Mom or Dad then affixed the helmet on their child's head to make sure they had the right sized protective gear. As the event drew to a close, most parents and their children came forward to thank the various Masons in attendance for the new bicycles.

The parking lot at the hall then became a great place to try out the bikes as several of the children strapped on their helmets and took their bike for a ride.

Click here for more photos of the event.