The fourth year of the Rogers City Masons’ Bikes for Books program began March 1, in conjunction with National Reading Month, and will end on April 30.

This year, two girls’ and two boys’ bicycles and four helmets will be awarded to students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades of the four Rogers City elementary schools, as well as home-schooled students.

Students will be able to enter by reading a book, then putting their name and the name of the book read on an entry form and putting the form into the appropriate box in the principal’s office.

The Rogers City branch of the Presque Isle District Library will cooperate in the program as home-school as well as other entries can be be deposited there. A random drawing to determine the winners will be held on May 7 and winners will be notified at their school during the following week.

Girls read 277 books last year and boys read 250. Principals at all of the schools were pleased to be able to encourage a program that promotes reading and hope that more books will be read this year.

The program is co-funded by local Masonic Lodge #493 and the Michigan Grand Lodge Charitable Foundation, and is part of a statewide Masonic program to encourage student reading.

Boyd Haut, Master of the local Lodge, commented, “We really appreciate the assistance the principals, their office staff, and the teachers at each of the schools, and also of the staff at the library. Without their help, the Bikes for Books program wouldn’t be possible.”