N.M.’s First Gentleman to attend literacy fair

Submitted to the Optic

Courtesy photo

A young attendee at last year’s literacy fair is all smiles with a floor puzzle. This year’s event is from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Abe Montoya Recreation Center gymnasium. First Gentleman Chuck Franco is scheduled to attend.

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The Literacy Council of  Northeastern New Mexico, a division of the Las Vegas Arts Council, will host the fourth annual Literacy Fair from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Abe Montoya Recreation Center gymnasium. The theme for this year’s event is “Reach for the Stars:  Read, Read, Read.”

Participants include the Las Vegas City Schools, West Las Vegas Schools, New Mexico Highlands University, United World College, Luna Community College and various service organizations dedicated to promoting literacy.

The activities will in-clude creating your own comic strips, playing haiku games, learning about writing through the ages and various other craft activities.  

The Lions Club will offer free eye testing. Those attending can receive information on numerous programs, such as WLVS’s Head Start, LVCS’s Title I, LCC’s GED and Highland’s Summer Science Program.

A special guest will be Chuck Franco, the First Gentleman.

He is an honorary member of the board of the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy and is an active advocate for improving literacy.

Free books for children and adults will be distributed.  

A snack bar and free popcorn will be available. Admission is free, and people of all ages are encouraged to attend.