Capturing young readers

Mariah Parrish tries on a knight's helmet Tuesday morning after seeing a demonstration by the Knights of Arador. The presentation was part of the Moses Lake Public Library Summer Reading program.<br>Pam Robel/Columbia Basin Herald

by Pam Robel<br>Herald Staff Writer
| August 10, 2005 9:00 PM

Summer reading finale is a hit

MOSES LAKE — It is just starting to get hot in the park behind the Moses Lake Public Library when two tuniced men begin to enthrall a horde of young readers Tuesday morning.

The Knights of Arador, a local group interested in historical sword play, put on a presentation including chain mail, armor and drama. Between "fights" the presenters, Eric Slyter and Seth Woodworth, explained the various parts of sword fighting and answered questions from the audience.

Among the more difficult questions to answer was, "Are you afraid of monsters?"

Eric Slyter has been working with swords in some capacity for 10 years; first as a renaissance fair participant, then as a member of the Seattle Knights and lately for the local Knights of Arador. Slyter has been helping put on presentations like this for the last five years.

This year's summer reading program was spiced up with the donation of four bicycles. The bikes were made available for summer readers who had spent 10 hours or more behind a book this summer.

Two of the bikes were donated by the local Masonic Lodge in an effort to boost interest in youth literacy.

"I got the idea from the lodge in Brewster," said Marion Rice, a Masons member who was on hand to draw the names of the prize winners. "I think it went really good. We're hoping to get more kids coming."

Bikes for Books was proposed through the summer reading program rather than the school district because of the limited availability for the first year of the program. Rice said the local Masonic Lodge hoped to keep the program going in the future and possibly expand it.

Two other bikes were donated by an anonymous source. The donor has been dubbed Prince Charming by the library staff.

"This year's program has been fantastic. We've had a large turnout," said Barbara Galloway, a library staff member, as she handed out popsicles to those in attendance.

This year's bike winners were: Blu Xiong, Elinor Cash, Nathan Bushman and Erica Bowen.