The avid readers of South Seneca Elementary School were treated to an ice cream party, compliments of Assemblyman Phil Palmesano and Jeff Kostick, owner of Cayuga Lake Creamery. Palmesano rewarded the students for earning the highest participation rate in his 2013 Summer Reading Challenge. The event doubled as the launch party for the 2014 Read and Run Marathon.

“Today was a fun day as I kicked off my 2014 Read & Run Marathon,” Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said.

“Approximately 400 South Seneca Elementary School students, who won last year's reading challenge, were treated to ice cream served up by Jeff Kostick of the Cayuga Lake Creamery as a reward for meeting my reading challenge,” said Palmesano.

“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!”

“We are extremely excited and honored to be rewarded with an ice cream party for our student’s commitment to reading by winning Assemblyman Palmesano's summer reading contest! Special thanks go out to Mrs. McCheyene and Mrs. Worrell in the Library for promoting reading throughout the entire year, as well as to Assemblyman Palmesano for both offering this great contest and rewarding our students for their efforts! This is one of the many reasons that I am proud to be a Falcon!” said South Seneca Elementary Principal Adam Rundell.

“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.

“This is a great opportunity for kids to read and exercise every day during the summer to be prepared this fall to return to school,” Palmesano noted.

The assemblyman will host an ice cream party for the school which wins this year's reading and exercise challenge. “I encourage all of the students from around the 132nd Assembly District to participate in this year’s challenge,” added Palmesano.