YOUNG SAND LAKE READER VISITS CAPITOL

Katarina Michnick and her family spent a day learning about the Michigan Capitol and the state Legislature with Rep. Tom Pearce as the winner of the lawmaker's third annual reading program in conjunction with local libraries.

Children who participated in their local summer reading program were able to enter their names in a random drawing, with each library forwarding a semi-finalist to Pearce. The Rockford lawmaker then drew the winner from those names.

"Reading during the summer is a great way for young people to continue to build and maintain their skills so they are ready for school to start," Pearce said. "Reading is a key to success in all aspects of your life, as well as an enjoyable activity that can lead to enrichment as well as learning.
"I thank all the parents, librarians and teachers who help promote the importance and excitement of reading."

Katarina, 8, her mother and father Mary and Gregory, and her brother Alexander, toured the Capitol building, went on the House floor, attended a House committee session and visited the Michigan Historical Museum, along with being treated to lunch with Pearce.

"I liked the chandeliers in the hallways with the deer and elk on them and the big door hinges with the state Seal," Katarina said of her first visit to the Capitol building. "It was also neat when Rep. Pearce told us about the first elevators working with water buckets as weight."

The home school family was happy to add the Lansing visit to lessons on government learned while closely following the 2008 presidential election and inauguration. Even though Katarina is currently focusing her future on horse riding and ballerina training, she got in some legislative experience while with Pearce by discussing her views against abortion with the lawmaker.

Katarina and Alexander each participated in the contest through the Sand Lake Library.

Pearce's reading program was available at Plainfield Township Library, Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library, Spencer Township Library, Tyrone Township Library, Krause Memorial Library, Comstock Park Library, Sparta Carnegie Township Library and Cedar Springs Library.