The "Sequim Earth Day 2009" poster contest may have produced better results than the national event’s official placard.
"At least these messages are very positive," said
Sequim Mayor Laura Dubois during the April 3 judging at the Sequim Transit Center meeting room.
The official Earth Day 2009 poster shows a polar bear cub clinging to a windmill on a shrinking ice floe, a reference to melting Arctic ice that has caused an increase in polar bear drownings.
Dubois and art teacher Carrie Rodlend organized the poster contest with the theme "Grow Your Own Food" to promote the 39th annual Earth Day on April 22.
Slogans included "Be Good 2 Our Earth," "Save The Earth And The Earth Will Save You," Growing Is Worth The Taste" and "Help Become An Earth Protector."
The 73 entries came from Helen Haller and Greywolf elementary schools as well as from Sequim students at Queen of Angels School in Port Angeles and from homeschooled students.
The winners:
• First place: 10-year-old Elizabeth Rosales from Greywolf Elementary whose poster featured carrots and a kitchen table in a farm field.
• Second place: 10-year-old Stephanie Grow from Helen Haller Elementary for her depiction of two young gardeners with their arms raised in triumph.
• Third place: 10-year-old Paula Roberts from Olympic Peninsula Academy whose work featured the "Save the Earth" slogan.
Entries were spread across three tables in the Sequim Transit Center room that serves as the city council chambers.
The judges – Sequim Police Chief Robert Spinks and Sequim High School art teacher Martha Rudersdorf – picked their 17 favorites in the first round, then the top three.
Laminated color copies of many posters – including the first-, second- and third-place winners – will be on display by April 18 at the Community Organic Garden of Sequim behind St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave.
That’s where Dubois will host a public groundbreaking of sorts from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, when some city councilors and other volunteers from city staff will turn over soil at their own garden plot.
Other posters will be displayed at City Hall and downtown businesses. The students will keep their original art work. Jan Zoeteman, owner of UPS Store at 1400 W. Washington St., has donated the color copies.
All the students received a packet of vegetable seeds donated by Roger and Ellie Schmidt of Sunny Farms Country Store. The top three artists will receive an additional prize from Dubois at the April 18 ceremony.
Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.
