By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
Donald Byerly was taking his 9-year-old son, D.J., to Rowan Public Library Wednesday afternoon when he saw a line of children and parents snaking out from the building.
Byerly didn’t realize he and his son had hit the mother lode.
When they asked, they were told the crowd was gathering for Read to Your Child Days, an event sponsored by Salisbury and Rowan County, with support from municipalities throughout the county.
“We just stopped and saw the line,” Byerly said. “I didn’t have any idea what was going on until I asked one of the firemen.”
Wednesday’s event drew about 400 children and 250 parents, a number that pleased the event’s organizers.”We’re excited about the turnout,” said Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz, who moved the outing along with a number of other city and county leaders. “Of course I’m an optimistic type. I was expecting a big turnout.”
Wednesday’s event was just the beginning of Read to Your Child Days, with other towns throughout the county getting in on the act in weeks to come. Each session will last from 5 to 7 p.m. Here’s the schedule and locations for the remainder:
– July 22, Spencer Library Park, Fourth Street, Spencer.
– July 29, South Rowan Branch Library, 920 Kimball Road.
– Aug. 5, East Rowan Branch Library, 110 Broad St., Rockwell.
– Aug. 12, Cleveland Town Hall, 302 E. Main St., Cleveland.
Wednesday’s kickoff drew city and county leaders to read to the children. Each child received a book of his or her choosing, plus refreshments. A police car, a firetruck, a recycling truck and Parks and Recreation games and information booths were on site.
Crystal Cornelison, a teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School, brought her 3-year-old son, Soyer, to the big event.
“He wanted to come see McGruff” the crime-fighting dog, Cornelison said of her son.
Then she turned to survey all that was taking place in the parking lot behind the library.
“This is a great program,” Cornelison finally decided.
The big prize that was given away Wednesday was a $249 Wii play system. Tywun Rivens was the lucky winner.
To receive a book, children had to register for a library card or bring their library cards with them. The library cards served as registrations for the door prizes.
Kluttz said city and county officials are hoping Read to Your Child Days can turn into an even bigger event in years to come.The program came about as a result of a February retreat where Dr. Suzanne Morse, author of “Smart Communities,” warned Salisbury City Council members that children not reading at the appropriate level by the third grade have a strong potential to become high school dropouts.City and county leaders met in May with members of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to outline an initial program focused on reading.
Read to Your Child Days was the result.
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Mark Wineka contributed to this story.