Children Given Awards in Earth Day Celebration

Young Earth Week celebrants and their parents gathered in the Levitas Performing Arts Center on Saturday morning to await the Mayor's announcement of the winner of SAVE's Shopping Bag Logo Contest.

Mayor Mark Epley was on hand with Trustee Richard Yastrzemski to present the top honors to six young students who were selected from several hundred participants representing school grades 1 through 12.  Parents and teachers were excited to see their children's work displayed on the walls of the auditorium.

A brief introduction was given by Roger Blaugh, SAVE's Co-chair, and Linda Talty, Co-chair of the Logo Contest.  Finally, the moment everyone waited for had arrived. Parents and children alike were sitting on the edge of their chairs as the Mayor gave out awards and cash prizes to the six finalists:

Juliana Stein of ,

Abbey Clemente of ,

Lindsay Wickershan of ,

Madison O'Connor of , 

Sophia Guillo of , and

Monika Santiago of SES.

The Grand Prize winner?  Monika Santiago of Southampton Elementary School. 

Monika's sister and mother were with her to accepted the top honor.  Her sister was speechless, her mother literally jumped from her seat ... a priceless moment that, for most, comes but once in a child's young life.  But wait; one more surprise for young Monika.

The Mayor revealed that Monika's winning logo had been placed upon the side of a beautiful royal blue shopping bag. The crowd cheered, mothers wept, fathers hugged their children and the earth was right again. (We were fresh out of leprechauns!)

Enjoy the photos ... it was great fun!