Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge students write essays to fight litter bugs

February 16, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Students are offering ideas on how to keep sidewalks litter-free. Eagle photo by Paula Katinas
Share this:

Brooklyn students will be using the power of the pen to wage a fight for clean sidewalks, and one local lawmaker is hoping their message gets across to adults.

State Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-Southwest Brooklyn) has announced that he and his committee have selected 21 finalists in the first annual “Don’t Drop It” Anti-Litter Essay Contest.

The finals will take place on Thursday, Feb. 25, at Xaverian High School, 7100 Shore Road, in Bay Ridge.

The finalists, all from grades three, four and five, represent a variety of local public, private and parochial schools in Golden’s Senate District, including P.S. 102, P.S. 104, P.S. 127, P.S. 176, P.S. 185, P.S. 186, P.S. 204, P.S. 264, Adelphi Academy, Holy Angels Catholic Academy, St. Patrick Catholic Academy and Visitation Academy.

Subscribe to our newsletters

The essay contest attracted submissions from more than 500 students, according to Golden, who said that based on the enthusiastic response, he has decided to expand the contest next year.

“Improving and maintaining the quality of life in our community has long been the cornerstone of my career in public service. That is why I sponsored this essay contest this year, in order to teach our students the need to keep our community and streets clean,” Golden said in a statement. “This contest is generating an important dialogue amongst our families, our schools and beyond, and I believe it will impact many of our residents to take greater pride in our neighborhood.  I look forward to the contest finals and thank all the schools who have participated in this civics lesson.”

The finalists will read aloud their essays before a panel of judges that will include Debra Barreto, deputy director of customer relations for the New York City Department of Sanitation; Josephine Beckmann, district manager of Community Board 10 (Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights); and Laurie Windsor, president of the School District 20 Community Education Council. 

The finalists are:

P.S. 102 – Devon Wong and Sarah Ibrahim

P.S. 104 – Rachael Mak

P.S. 127- Rita Filali, Mattao Gutierrez and Belal Hamed

P.S. 176 – Violeta Zani and Paola Vega

P.S. 185 – Luca Friedman

P.S.186 –  Diana Stoupakis

P.S. 204 – Nicholas Magenta

P.S. 264 – Rhianna Gonzalez, Damon Merazzi and Elexander Bawa

Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn – Timothy Chirkov

Holy Angels Catholic Academy – Andrew Stosko, Nolan Keegan and Sebastian Travers

St. Patrick Catholic Academy – Fiona Costello

Visitation Academy – Isabella Incata and Agnes Keough

 


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment