THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 9, 2024 Page 9 Read, Renew, Repeat! Saugus Public Library’s Kids 2024 Summer reading Program (Editor’s Note: This info is from a press release recently issued by the Saugus Public Library.) H ey, Saugus parents of school-age children! If you’re looking for fun, educational activities, and summer programming to support your kids’ learning, stop by the Saugus Public Library if you haven’t already participated in “Read, Renew, Repeat!” – the 2024 Summer Reading program – which runs through Aug. 23. That’s still enough time to accumulate 25 hours of reading and cash in on some neat prizes. Activities include literacy support, story times, discounted museum passes, Massachusetts park passes and take & make crafts. Families are encouraged to register their kids for the program using the Beanstack app. It’s easy – just download the Beanstack app, register under the Saugus Public Library and you’re on your way. For more information, or to register in person, stop by the Children’s Room at the library or visit the Kids’ Summer Reading page on the library’s website. PATROLLING| FROM PAGE 8 bicyclists crossing the street. “I’m sure there have been incidents of pedestrians and motor vehicles and bicycles and motor vehicles,” Giorgetti said. “No fatalities that I know of,” he said. Police and town officials have done as much as they can to make the intersections as safe as possible, according to Chief Ricciardelli. “You are supposed to turn the light on when you want to cross,” the chief said. “I don’t know what else we can do. Driving into traffic is on them,” the chief said of bicyclists not activating the flashing lights before crossing. “Shame on them for not using it [the warning button],” he said. At the same time, pedestrians and bicyclists using the trail still need to be cautious when the flashing light is on, because some motorists may drive right over the crosswalk without stopping, the chief added. Use of the rail trail continues to increase with a mix of for up-to-date information. The library is here to help families create a summer reading routine that is fun for kids and their families. Turn off the media before bedtime, sit with a child, share a book or read alongside them. Ask them questions, but above all, make it fun! Research shows that chilThe Saugus Public Schools recommend that students read at least 20 minutes a day this summer. The program is open to preschoolers through sixth-graders. We’ll have their favorite titles, plus free e-books, audio books, comics, magazines and music you can download using the hoopla and Libby digital collections. Did we mention prizes? We’ve once again partnered with local businesses to reward summer reading. Many thanks to those busiusers, including walkers, runners, family members with baby strollers, people walking their dogs, people using skateboards, electric bicycles and electric skateboards. Many are out-of-towners passing through Saugus on their way to another community connected by the rail trail. Issues and problems occasionally surface, according to Giorgetti. But nothing serious so far. “I think overall, most people are respectful of one-another, “ the assistant chief said. A recent car incident Every responsible person who is knowledgeable of the rules of the road knows that cars are banned from the rail trail, according to Chief Ricciardelli. But at least one person deliberately violated that rule, according to the chief. Police are investigating an incident in which the driver of a car posted a video of the incident on the Internet last month. “We’re trying to figure out who it is,” said the chief, who PATROLLING | SEE PAGE 10 nesses who have generously donated! We’ll have a full prize cart plus free books to give away. In addition, we’ll run drawings for ice cream, donuts, cookies, pizza, roller skating, bowling, mini golf, sports merch and grand prize drawings for tickets to Canobie Lake Park and North Shore Music Theatre’s production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” – and more! In addition, there will be special visits by Wildlife Encounters, Vinny the Bubble Guy, the Saugus Fire & Police Departments, Star Wars characters and Toe Jam Puppet Band – and bubble, magic and puppet shows. Check out the Library’s online event calendar dren who read during the summer months maintain literacy skills that they’ve worked hard to build during the school year. According to Reading Rockets.org, research with 116 first-, second- and third-graders in a school in a middle-class neighborhood found that the decoding skills of nearly 45% of the participants and the fluency of 25% declined between May and September. So, stay smart! Have fun! Stop by the library to register for summer reading, or to find a just-right book for your child. It’s all free, all summer, at the Saugus Public Library!
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