{"id":4219,"date":"2013-03-02T10:51:43","date_gmt":"2013-03-02T15:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=4219"},"modified":"2013-03-02T14:21:11","modified_gmt":"2013-03-02T19:21:11","slug":"cat-in-the-hat-comes-back-to-coatesville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=4219","title":{"rendered":"‘Cat in the Hat’ comes back to captivate Coatesville"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hundreds converge on high school to celebrate reading<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

By Kathleen Brady Shea<\/span><\/strong>, Managing Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\""Reading<\/a>

“Reading Across America” organizers Michele Ollis (left) and Traci Tury demonstrate one of the photo opportunities for participants.<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite a heavy police presence, the mood was positively giddy Friday night at Coatesville Area Senior High School Friday, where hundreds of people of all ages gathered for the school district\u2019s \u201cRead Across America\u201d program.<\/p>\n

One youngster, after glimpsing a sea of blue inside one of the \u201ccelebrity\u201d reading rooms, wasn\u2019t sure he wanted to venture inside. \u201cI don\u2019t want to get arrested,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

He had no reason to fear: The officers, who included Coatesville\u2019s Rodger Ollis, Caln Township Sgt. Christine Cusick, and Coatesville Schools Officer Claire Lang, were far too busy trying to figure out which Dr. Seuss book they could read without risk of severe tongue-twisting.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Seven-year-old<\/a>

Seven-year-old Faith Munn, a student at King’s Elementary, poses with Clifford, the big red dog.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHe took my book,\u201d lamented West Caln Police Chief Curt Martinez as state Sen. Andy Dinniman plopped himself on the floor with a rapt, young audience and began reciting Hop on Pop<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet used to it. That\u2019s what happens in Harrisburg,\u201d quipped state Rep. Tim Hennessey, who was waiting to read Horton Hatches the Egg<\/em>. \u201cI picked this book because it matches my physique,\u201d he joked later after Horton the elephant exclaimed: \u201cI weigh a ton.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coatesville Police Sgt. James Audette said he also selected a title that resonated for him, I Am Not Going to Get Up Today<\/em>. Don\u2019t you sometimes feel that way, he asked with an impish grin? \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

While waiting for his turn to read, Valley Township Police Chief Joseph Friel made sure that no other young visitors were intimidated by the uniforms: He handed out yellow rubber duckies \u2013 wearing police hats.<\/p>\n

\"State<\/a>

State Sen. Andy Dinniman presents a dramatic rendition of Dr. Seuss’ Hop on Pop<\/em>. “We’re here because we like to read,” he said.<\/p><\/div>\n

The energy in the reading room represented only a fraction of the hubbub throughout the elaborately decorated school, dominated by a Dr. Seuss motif. Replicas of book jackets and images from his signature rhymes dotted the walls; even the baked goods, such as a Lorax cupcake, paid homage.<\/p>\n

The program, an offshoot of a national initiative, began in 1997 when the National Education Association (NEA) decided to create a day to celebrate reading in honor of one of children\u2019s most beloved authors. Ever since, the event occurs on or near his March 2 birthday.<\/p>\n

Participants were treated to a dizzying array of options. In addition to reading rooms with police, firefighters, and award-winning authors such as Linda Oatman\u00a0High and Marty Crisp, crafts, coloring, face-painting and games abounded. Getting from one choice to another virtually guaranteed delays, however, as a host of delightful distractions lined every hallway.<\/p>\n

\"Coatesville<\/a>

Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer takes his turn reading. Seated on the floor with a youngster in her lap is his daughter, Lauren Laufer, who teaches in North Philadelphia.<\/p><\/div>\n

Faith Munn, a 7-year-old King\u2019s Elementary student, enjoyed posing for a photo with Clifford, the big red dog, one of several storybook characters working the crowd. \u201cShe loves this,\u201d said her grandmother, Debbie Munn.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n

Sandy Showalter, a retired teacher from Phoenixville, un-retired her Eeyore costume, a treat for fans of Winnie the Pooh. Showalter explained that she got pulled into the festivities because she volunteers at the King\u2019s Elementary kindergarten class of her grandson, Hunter Shurak.<\/p>\n

Another participant who got drafted by association was Lauren Laufer, the daughter of Jack Laufer, Coatesville\u2019s new police chief.\u00a0 As her father read The Cat in the Hat Comes Back<\/em>, Lauren Laufer, who teaches in North Philadelphia, sat on the floor surrounded by pint-sized reading enthusiasts, one of whom decided that the most comfortable seat was Lauren Laufer\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/a>

Kevin Fitzpatrick of West Chester demonstrates his juggling skills to an appreciative audience. Displayed on the glass wall behind him are the names of the event’s numerous sponsors.<\/p><\/div>\n

Outside the reading rooms, Kevin Fitzpatrick, a juggler from West Chester, captivated a small, wide-eyed crowd. Nearby, another group gathered as storyteller Deb Pieri launched into a mesmerizing tale. And across the hall, a pocket of participants congregated in the auditorium, where Dr. Seuss movies were displayed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love seeing everyone having such a good time,\u201d said Traci Tury, who co-chaired the event with Michele Ollis, a fellow teacher in the district. \u201cIt\u2019s super exciting to see it flourishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both teachers acknowledged that the two-hour program requires extra work that far surpasses Horton the elephant\u2019s weight of a ton, but the results justified it. They said they were grateful for the assistance they received from multiple sources, including the school district, the Coatesville Community Education Foundation, the Coatesville Library, the city\u2019s Parks and Recreation Commission, Chester County Futures, the ROTC, and dozens of individuals.<\/p>\n

\"Chaya<\/a>

Chaya Scott (right), who heads the Coatesville Youth Initiative, is surrounded by enthusiastic program participants: Samaria Turner (from left), 15; Scott’s son, Amon Scott Hicks, 9; and Nelson Negron, 14.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt was a very successful event,\u201d said John Hall, vice president of the Coatesville Community Education Foundation. He presided over a display of the foundation\u2019s literature, answering parents\u2019 questions about some of the student programs the foundation sponsors.<\/p>\n

Tury said the \u201cReading Across America\u201d event gets funding from a variety of sources, including grants and a district dress-down day sponsored by the teachers\u2019 union. She said organizers hoped to distribute any money raised, such as through the raffles of more than 20 gift baskets, to the Coatesville Library, the Coatesville Community Education Program, and Chester County Futures, all of which promote youth programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful event,\u201d said Patty Andrey, who attended with her husband, Art, and two children: Allison, 9, and Stephen, 6. \u201cThe district is really to be commended for the work, the planning, and the organization. There\u2019s something for everyone. Not only does it promote reading, but it\u2019s a nice family event as well as a community event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrey said she thought the 2013 program exceeded last year\u2019s. \u201cIt keeps getting better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Another parent, Nolan Meeks, smiled as he watched his 4-year-old daughter, Alani, select a new, free book and hand-crafted bookmark from an array of titles arranged on a long table near the exit. \u201cThis is a great way to encourage reading,\u201d he said, adding that Alani was just starting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hundreds converge on high school to celebrate reading By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Despite a heavy police presence, the mood was positively giddy Friday night at Coatesville Area Senior High School Friday, where hundreds of people of all ages gathered for the school district\u2019s \u201cRead Across America\u201d program. One youngster, after glimpsing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,1],"tags":[1655,1654,34,29,995,1653,1657,1606,418,1659,766,1658,1656,1652],"class_list":["post-4219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-featured","category-uncategorized","tag-read-across-america","tag-caln-township-sgt-christine-cusick","tag-chester-county-futures","tag-coatesville-area-school-district","tag-coatesville-community-education-foundation","tag-coatesville-police-sgt-james-audette","tag-michelle-ollis","tag-national-education-association","tag-rodger-ollis","tag-state-rep-tim-hennessey","tag-state-sen-andy-dinniman","tag-traci-tury","tag-valley-township-police-chief-joseph-friel","tag-west-caln-police-chief-curt-martinez"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}