Quincy, MA- The 21st annual Read to Ride summer reading program kicks off Thursday, May 16, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. at the Germantown Neighborhood Center in Quincy, MA.

Sponsored by Dependable Cleaners, The Patriot Ledger, Farina’s Bicycle Center, Giant Boston and Bikes Not Bombs, the program encourages students aged 5 to 15 to read during summer vacation, with an incentive of winning a bicycle and other prizes. Winners are drawn randomly and participants can increase their opportunity to win based on the number of books they read each week. The program runs from May 1st to Aug. 12, 2019. A winner is drawn weekly between June 4 and Aug. 12.

At the Quincy kick-off event, Plymouth author Mary Shields will do a presentation on her books, “Barnicle and Husk: The Adventure Begins,” and “Barnicle and Husk: The Beginning.” She will discuss how she came to write the books, from the initial idea to the process she took to write them. She will also read a chapter from the book and show a 10-minute animated storybook as part of the presentation. Shields, who is also the owner of Shields Design Studio (a preferred vendor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and WBENC Certified), will include the branding and promotion of the characters in her presentation. An opportunity to meet and mingle with Barnicle and Husk will follow the presentation!

Dependable Cleaners President Christa Hagearty, who started the program said, “In this age where children are glued to tablets and computers, I believe more than ever in encouraging reading and getting kids outside.” Mrs. Hagearty estimates that more than 80,000 books have been read by children who participated in Read to Ride over the past 20 years.

The weekly bicycle prize will be chosen at random on Mondays from May to August (except July 2), and winners may have their photo taken and the photo may be published in The Patriot Ledger. Entry forms and contest details will be available at local libraries, South Shore YMCAs, local Boys & Girls Clubs and at all Dependable Cleaners locations, as well as at DependableCleaners.com and ReadtoRideMA.com.