Earth Day contest winners named

    Maine Public Service awarded five students $100 savings bonds for first-place Earth Day essays and posters, created to identify the theme: “Think of what you can do on a regular basis to help protect Aroostook County’s beauty and preserve its natural resources. Include a description of changes you have made in your own life that have enabled you or your family to make a difference.”
    The winners were announced in honor of Earth Day, April 22. First-place winners receive a recognition plaque, $100 savings bond and a gift certificate donated by Maine Potato Growers. Teachers of the first-place winners receive an environment book. Second-place winners receive a plaque and $75 savings bonds. Third-place winners receive a plaque and $50 savings bonds. All winners receive an Earth Day T-shirt and all participants receive Earth Day certificates of achievement.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
TAKING CARE OF THE EARTH — Maine Public Service awarded students on their Earth Day essays and posters. Houlton Southside student Caroline Woods, daughter of Bill and Cintia Woods, finished third in the contest and received a $25 gift card.
    Caroline Woods, grade 5, Houlton Southside School, took third place in the 3-5 grade category for winning essays. Honorable mention was awarded to Alora Walker, grade 4, of Katahdin Elementary School.
    Shelby Cummings, grade 10, Southern Aroostook Community School, Dyer Brook was the first place essayist for the grade 9-10 division.
    April 22, marked the 42nd anniversary of the original Earth Day. The international focus on Earth Day reflects the global scope of all major environmental issues, including global warming, deforestation, ozone depletion, the rain forest, renewable energy resources, energy conservation, and hazardous, toxic wastes.
    Roxanne Smith, Lucas Ireland, Gina LeBlanc-Eggert and Nancy Chandler from Maine Public Service Company judged the Earth Day entries.
    Pleased with the huge number of participants in the contest, MPS Supervisor of Conservation and Education Services Chandler said, “This year we received more than 400 original ideas from writers and artists. Creative ways of celebrating Earth Day’s 42nd anniversary and keeping Aroostook County pristine ranged from picking up trash left by others, using lower emission tractors on the farm and turning off unnecessary electronics when not in use.”