Kids bored over break? Old Mill has options

Christmas may be over, but it does not feel that way in the Old Mill District in Bend .

While kids are still on winter break, the Old Mill is offering them some neat activities.

At the Santa Land space next to Jimmy Johns, kids can take art classes — making paper dragons and cardboard creatures.

And kids can also enjoy a reading during story time, provided by the Deschutes Public Library.

For children on hand Saturday, they were treated to some time with a special local celebrity, gold medal decathlete Ashton Eaton.

Eaton’s mom read, while he sat along with the children to listen.

It’s all an effort to promote the importance of reading.

“It’s really important, mainly to continue the reading, and the season just helps out,” said Todd Dunkelberg, director of the Deschutes Public Library. “There’s not much to do — school’s out, there’s not a lot of activities going on, so we are trying to supplement that for people.”

Dunkelberg said having local celebrities read to children is all part of the governor’s 40-40-20 plan. That plan calls for 40 percent of adults having a bachelor’s degree, 40 percent having an associates degree and all adults to hold a high school diploma by 2025.

Story time will continue next Wednesday January 2nd through Friday January 4th.