On the morning of June 13^th, students from grades K-8 gathered into the gymnasium of Rangeley Lakes Regional School (RLRS) to see which lucky and hard-working students would win the prize of a brand new bicycle, courtesy of Kemankeag Lodge #213, also known as the Rangeley Masons.

Each year the students earn one entry in a raffle for every 20 minutes of reading in the month of May.

Kayla Brewer gets a congratulations from Matt Clark for winning a brand new fat bike in the Rangeley Masons annual Bike for Books event. Stephanie Dellavalle

So for this year, between May 1 to May 31s, RLRS students in K-8 logged a combined total of 28,020 minutes or 467 hours.

Matt Clark high fives Ava Knight for winning a bike in the annual Rangeley Mason Bike for Book event. Stephanie Dellavalle

Winners of this year’s raffle are as follows:

PreK: Mia Dutile, Mason Keene
K: Declan Duquette, Ava Knight
1: Kayson Sherrer, Clara Gurney2: Cooper Keene, Bella Dutile
3 – 5: Brooks Knight, Kiley Quimby
6 – 8: Kayla Brewer, Zander Champagne

Cooper Keene and Bella Dutile, 2nd grade happy winners in the Rangeley Mason annual Bike for Books event. Stephanie Dellavalle

Ten members of Kemankeag Lodge were on hand to help bring in the bikes and take part in what really was a festive occasion. School was winding down and the new bikes had several of the winning children literally jumping for joy.

It’s a great annual event by a generous group of people.

Members of Kemankeag Lodge #213, locally known as Rangeley Masons. Stephanie Dellavalle

RANGELEY MASONS NEED YOUR HELP

You probably know one or several of the masons and you might have also heard about the struggle they are currently facing regarding their building on Richardson Street.

In part, due to its location abutting Haley Pond Stream, it is not surprising it is in need of serious repair. It’s basically sinking to the ground, and the group is on the verge of losing the entire building unless they come up with the funds necessary to jack it out of its foundation in order to put in full concrete footing under it.

The building has a long and important history in the community and is overflowing with memories of public dinners, after school events, craft fairs and even dances back in the day.

Hamm Garage Company deeded the building over to the Knights of Pythias 100 years ago in 1923. In 1981 the Rangeley Masons took ownership with the agreement that they share it with the Pythian Sisters and Oddfellows organizations. In addition to being home to the Rangeley Masons, their subsidiaries include the Western Maine Shrine Club and Widows Sons Mountain Chapter.

As part of the worldwide fraternity that finds its origins thousands of years ago, their charitable organization focuses on improvements on both themselves and in their community.

As a non-profit, they really need your help in order to reach the estimated cost of repair of $185,000.

If you are able to help in any way, please contact them at Kemankeag Building Association, PO Box 889, Rangeley Maine 04970.

Members of Kemankeag Lodge #213, locally known as Rangeley Masons. Stephanie Dellavalle