Fire safety contest sparks creativity in CR students
NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP – A spark of creativity was all that was needed for a dozen students from Northampton and Newtown townships to win the annual cire Safety in the Home contest.
Sponsored annually during cire Prevention Week by the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society (CPCU), the 29-year-old contest challenges students in the Council Rock School District to creDWH SRVWHUV DnG wULWH HVVDyV SURPRWLnJ fiUH safety and prevention.
“Our kids are our future and we are privileged this evening to honor the 12 winners in this year’s contest,” said Pete Palestina, who organizes the contest for the CPCU, a community of credentialed insurance professionals that promotes excellence through ethical behavior and continuing education.
Palestina made his remarks before the Northampton Township Board of Supervisors Wednesday night where the winners gathered to receive recognition for their creative accomplishments.
“Each year, hundreds of students parWLFLSDWH Ln WKH fiYH CRunFLO RRFN PunLFLpalities,” said Palestina. “That means that thousands of residents in our community KDYH JRnH WKURuJK WKLV fiUH VDIHWy HGuFDtional process during the last 29 years, and that has to make for a better and safer community, saving lives and property, and after all, that’s what it’s all about.”
The posters and essays were judged by Council Rock School Board member Bernadette Heenan, Newtown cire Marshal crank centon and former Northampton Township Supervisor Pete Palestina.
The students each received plaques and proclamations from Supervisor Chairman crank Rothermel, representing Northampton Township, and Newtown cire Chief dlenn corsyth, representing Newtown Township.
“vou can see from the children’s designs that they’ve done a great job. I’m actually learning a lot from their presentations,” said Rothermel.
On behalf of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, corsyth expressed “pride and pleasure” with the students’ accomplishments and commended them for their efforts.
The winners also received special gov- ernmental citations from State Rep. Scott Petri, also representing State Rep. Steve Santarsiero; Anthony Pontarelli, a legislative aide representing U.S. Congressman Mike citzpatrick; and Northampton Supervisor deorge homelasky, representing State Senators Robert Tomlinson and Chuck McIllhinney.
“sery, very few people ever receive a House citation,” said Petri, in making his presentation. “vou should feel extremely proud because you have educated people, LnFOuGLnJ PyVHOI, DERuW fiUH VDIHWy,” KH told the winners.
In addition to the House citations, Petri said their names would be read into the offiFLDO HRuVH UHFRUG.
homelasky praised the winners for doing something that even goes beyond getting citations and awards. “The work that you have done is hopefully something that will save lives and a life being saved is the most important thing that can be done.”
Larry White, the director of the Philadelphia Chapter of the CPCU Society, was given the honor of reading the names of the winners.
“These children are reminding us of the simple things we can do to be safer and make our homes and residences a safer place to be for everyone,” he said.
The Winners cirst and Second drade Winners: Tyler DHUEy, fiUVW SODFH, CKuUFKYLOOH (OHPHnWDUy, Mrs. Ream; Taylor Smith, second place, Churchville Elementary, Mrs. Ream; hamryn Purpura, third place, Churchville Elementary, Mrs. Ream; games Williams, fourth place, Welch Elementary, Mrs. Hughes.
Third and courth drade Winners: caith HDFN, fiUVW SODFH, HLOOFUHVW (OHPHnWDUy, Ms. Lenicky; Brooke May, second place, Sol ceinstone Elementary, Mrs. Rodgers; Erin voung, third place, Newtown Elementary, Mrs. crawley; and Taylor hredo, fourth place, Welch Elementary, Mrs. drissell.
cifth and Sixth drade Winners: Melissa :DJnHU, fiUVW SODFH, :HOFK (OHPHnWDUy, Mr. Dykty; Matt Menditto, second place, Rolling Hills Elementary, Mrs. Rice; Connor and Carli Dickel, third place, Hillcrest Elementary, Mrs. McCullough; and Sarah Porter, fourth place, doodnoe Elementary, Mrs. Molishus.