First Posted: 8/19/2014

Julia Pilch used her love of reading to complete her senior project. A soon-to-be senior at Lake-Lehman High School, Pilch volunteered to read to the 3-5 year olds in the Back Mountain Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Pilch and fellow Lake-Lehman senior Mandy Scavone attended to the ink chromatography display at the event. The two have been best friends since fifth grade. Scavone will participate in the Habitat for Humanity program for her senior project.

The summer reading program began on June 11 and held its end of summer party on Aug. 14. The outdoor party featured various stands offering refreshments, crafts, games and experiments, among other activities.

The program’s organizer, Janet Bauman, stated that “the students set their own reading goals” and that the program “has grown tremendously since 2000.”

Bauman added, “We have very responsible parents who are aware of the value of the summer reading program. Participation has been over the top because of the parents.”

Christine Brunn, of Dallas, is one of those parents. Her 7-year-old son Carter was a first-time participant with the program. Brunn stated that she was “very impressed with the set up” and that her son had a “positive experience with the program.”

“Carter asks to go to the library,” Brunn added Carter’s 4-year-old sister, Lucy, and 2 year old brother, Lincoln, will also attend the program in the future.

Linda Israel, a volunteer with the library for the past two years, was enjoying the day’s events while manning a stand. Israel retired from her position as a children’s librarian at Cornwall Public Library in Cornwall, New York, after 21 years of service. She will continue to volunteer with the Back Mountain Library, and is looking forward to next year’s summer reading program.

The summer reading program is open to ages 3-17 and students are grouped according to their age.

This year’s theme was “Fizz, Boom, Read!” Kathy Kelchner, of Kelchner Educational Consultants, hosted a mad scientist show at Frances Slocum State Park to collaborate with the program’s theme.

Bauman said all summer readers who constructed a robot to decorate the library may pick them up in the children’s room any time during regular hours.