Education

Southold Town’s student arborists honored in poster contest

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At Tuesday night’s Town Board meeting, Southold’s tree committee announced the winners of its annual Arbor Day poster contest, for which local students design and draw posters and fliers promoting conservation.

The winning poster was created by Hannah Taggart, a sixth-grader at Southold Elementary School.

Honorable mentions were awarded to New Suffolk sixth-grader Robert Cooper, Oysterponds fifth-grader Skylar Mysliborski, fifth-grader Claire Paetzel from Cutchogue East and Mary Surprenant, a fifth-grader on Fishers Island.

The poster contest was started years ago to teach children “how important it is to keep our community green,” said committee chairman David Cichanowicz.

Established in 1978, the Southold tree committee works to keep trees along streets and on public grounds to “preserve and enhance the beauty of the environment for the benefit of its citizens and future generations.”

Each of the winners received a gift card and a Town Board certificate.

“The entire community greatly appreciates your efforts to inspire others to plant, nurture and celebrate trees in Southold Town,” said Town Board member Jill Doherty, tree committee liaison.

Mr. Cichanowicz said a tree would be planted in Hannah’s honor at her school on Friday.

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