The avid readers of South Seneca Elementary School will be treated to an ice cream party, compliments of Assemblyman Phil Palmesano. Palmesano is rewarding the students for earning the highest participation rate in his 2013 Summer Reading Challenge. The party will be held this Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at South Seneca Elementary School.

“Congratulations to the students of South Seneca Elementary for all their hard work and to all the other kids throughout the 132nd Assembly District who participated in the Summer Reading Challenge! This program provides a great opportunity to encourage children to continue learning during the summer months,” said Palmesano. “While kids look forward to time off from school work, reading can keep their minds active and helps them prepare for the upcoming school year.”

“As always, we are extremely proud of our elementary students for winning Assemblyman Palmesano’s summer reading contest,” said South Seneca Central School District Superintendent Stephen Parker Zielinski. “Our school is dedicated to regular reading incentive days, and it is especially gratifying to see the commitment extend to the summer months. Special thanks go out to our library staff in Interlaken - Beth McCheyne and Jennifer Worrell - who do so much to organize the South Seneca effort!”

“I would also like to say a special thank you to Jeff Kostick and Cayuga Lake Creamery for partnering with me to provide this treat for our young champions,” said Palmesano.

“It was my pleasure to partner with Assemblyman Palmesano to provide the ice cream for this year’s Summer Reading celebration. Cayuga Lake Creamery looks forward to continuing our tradition of community outreach. Congratulations to the students of South Seneca Elementary!” said Jeff Kostick, owner of Cayuga Lake Creamery.

Palmesano also will host an ice cream party for the winner of this year’s “Read and Run” challenge. This year’s program pairs a commitment to exercise with the traditional reading pledge.

“It is critical to encourage the students in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions to keep their minds and bodies active during the summer. In this increasingly digital age, it is important to encourage kids to discover how much fun it can be to spend the day outside and play with their friends,” noted Palmesano.

To participate in this year’s challenge, parents or guardians mark the calendar on the Read and Run brochure provided to them at school for each day in July and August that the student reads and exercises. If they fulfill their fitness and reading goals, they earn a New York State Assembly Excellence in Reading and Fitness Certificate. Additional brochures are available from Assemblyman Palmesano’s district office by calling 607-776-9691.