Volunteers pitch in to "Read Aloud"

Local volunteers turned out to read to Sisters Elementary School students at the Sisters Library as part of National Library week celebrations.

The library has participated in the Great American Read Aloud for the past eight years. This year the event was expanded to two days of reading, Wednesday and Thursday April 23-24.

The reading event focuses attention on the importance of literacy and emphasizes the enjoyment reading can bring to both reader and listener.

State Representative Ben Westlund was one of the invited readers.

Westlund delivered energetic readings of two children's' stories to an enthusiastic audience of Mrs. Pledger's fourth and fifth graders.

"I get pretty animated," Westlund said.

Westlund said that the most difficult part of his job is being separated from his family when the legislature is in session. While out of town he reads to his children over the telephone in the evening. Westlund has a son, DJ, nine, and a daughter Taylor, five.

The students took advantage of their opportunity to quiz their state representative.

Student Brandon Page asked Westlund for the name of the second U.S. president. An amused Westlund appeared stumped for a few moments and then delivered the correct answer: John Adams.

"Right now we're studying the paths of history," Pledger said. "My kids are real focused into who our politicians are. It's kind of fun for them to see one come to life and to be a normal person."