By Andrew Strecker, Senior Community Reporter
Westborough – Former Westborough Police Chief Alan Gordon continues to perform one of his favorite duties as a member of the Westborough Police Department — reading to Westborough Public School students on National Read Across America Day — and his successor, Chief Jeffrey Lourie, is carrying on the tradition, as well.
“This is a fun thing for me. I don’t ever want to give this up,” said Gordon about the annual event that celebrates reading on March 2, the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss.
Gordon said he has been reading at the annual event that brings guest readers from the community into classrooms for at least twenty years, beginning as a lieutenant.
“‘The Lorax’ was the hardest book,” said Gordon, thinking back. This year he was reading another Dr. Seuss favorite, “Green Eggs and Ham,” to a kindergarten class at the J. Harding Armstrong Elementary School.
Lourie read Dr. Seuss’ “And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street” to Susan Gordon’s Armstrong kindergarten class.
“I had the pleasure to read to children on numerous occasions in Uxbridge as chief of police,” said Lourie. “I can’t think of a better way to start the day than participating in events such as Read Across America.”
“The kids were so attentive, and their reactions were priceless. I will most definitely be back for years to come,” said the new chief.
The day was also celebrated at other Westborough schools. Annie E. Fales Elementary School invited readers including Westborough Assistant Superintendent of Schools Daniel Mayer, Westborough School Committee Member Sara Dullea and Westborough TV General Manager Karen Henderson, according to Beth Ramos, a reading specialist at Fales.
(Photos/Andrew Strecker)