Caught at the Crossroads

Maine's First Lady at Memorial School

First Lady Karen Baldacci Participates in Scholastic Read for 2006 Event

First Lady Karen Baldacci read to kindergarten through second grade students at the Memorial Elementary School in New Gloucester on, Friday, December 2. Her participation was part of a nationwide seventh annual reading initiative created by Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education, and media company.

This read-a-thon encourages children, parents, and teachers to read for 2,006 seconds (approximately 33 1/2 minutes), to celebrate the importance and joy of reading on this day and throughout the new year. Last year, over one million children in 24,000 classrooms spanning 34 countries joined together to celebrate their love of books. This year, a record number of Gubernatorial Spouses have signed on to participate as Scholastic Read For 2006 "Ambassadors of Reading."

Principal Donna Beeley welcomed the First Lady and on hand were the Teachers, Superintendent Victoria Burns and SAD 15 (Gray and New Gloucester) Board member Sandy MacDonald.