Maine’s first lady to visit, read to students
By Jim Smedley
Staff Writer

NORWAY – Maine’s first lady and the Cat-in-the-Hat will help children at the Guy E. Rowe Elementary School celebrate Read Across America Week and Dr. Seuss’ birthday beginning Monday.

The Cat in the Hat will greet the children as they hop off the buses for Monday classes.

He will also read to children on Tuesday as will Karen Baldacci.

Baldacci will read to three assemblies of students covering all Kindergarten through grade-six classes.

Also on Tuesday the Norway postmaster will be bringing a sheet of the new issue Dr. Seuss stamps to give to the school.

Karen Ellis, a second-grade teacher who has led a committee of eight educators organizing the event, said the school would also be belatedly celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss, beloved children’s author.

She explained that his birthday is actually on March 2, but the children could not note it because the fourth-grade class was involved in taking Maine Educational Assessment testing.

Community members will also be involved in reading to the children throughout the week.

Ellis said that four beauticians from Hair & Co. in Norway would read on Monday and Tuesday for the sixth consecutive year.

Town officials including Town Manager David Holt, Assessor Jodi Keniston and Recreation Director Debra Partridge will read at selected times during the week.

Post Office workers will also help out with readings as will John Williams and Bruce Little from the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Ellis said that Art and Joyce Gouin and Leslie Gouin of L.F. Pike & Son and some retired teachers would be reading during the week.

“The children really, really like it,” Ellis said. “The first year was only one day and from then, each year has gained a little bit.”

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