The 28 books Edgecomb Eddy fourth grader Matthew Ward read this school year really paid off for him. Ward read the most books in the Bayview Masonic Lodge’s Bikes for Books competition and he was one of 13 students who received a brand new bike.

Twenty-three Edgecomb Eddy School students participated in the Bikes for Books competition. The students read books, performed an activity and kept a journal. The students earned a ticket for each book read. On June 3, a drawing was held and 13 students received new bicycles. The 28 participating students read 193 books this school year, according to Principal Lisa Clarke.

Maine Mason Deputy Grandmaster and Bayview Lodge Secretary Thomas Pulkkinen presented ten 15-speed and three 20-inch bicycles to the winners. The 12 other recipients were Bella Morton, Zander Blake, Allister Edgecomb, Finn Gaffney, William Clifford, Emily Gosselin, Kathryn Hibbard, Madison Phelps, Vanessa Schooley, Haley Clifford, Owen Barter and Ava Carmolli.

According to Pulkkinen, Maine Masons contributed over 1,600 bicycles statewide to the contest. The Bayview Lodge began the program locally in 2013 as part of the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library Summer Reading Program.

In 2014, the Bayview Mason’s sponsored a Bikes for Books contest at Boothbay Region Elementary School. And this, year the local Masons added the Edgecomb Eddy and Southport Elementary schools.

The Bayview Lodge will award 12 bikes to Southport Elementary and 28 bikes and two alternate gifts to Boothbay Region Elementary students later this month.