On Monday night, the Verona Environmental Commission honored the winners of this year’s VEC poster contest at the Town Council meeting.
Hunter Gruchacz of Brookdale Avenue Elementary School won for the poster “Bike in the Future,” Jaden Zhang of Laning Avenue won for “Plastic Eliminator,” Leo LaRosa of Forest Avenue won for “Stop Air Pollution” and Erin Fricke of F.N. Brown won for “Keep the Galaxy Clean.” Each of the winners received a certificate of recognition and $50. Because so many students from F.N. Brown submitted posters for the contest, the VEC also gave honorable mention honors to two students: Katherine Evans for “Pick Up What People Put Down” and Michael Passero for “Recycle.” You can see all of the entries in the video below.
Separately, Grace Matteo from Verona took first place in the pre-K to 2nd grade category in the annual Essex County G’ART’bage Contest at the Essex County Environmental Center and Nico Spatz took third place. The contest challenges kids in elementary school through high school to make a piece of art from plastics that can’t be recycled. The children had their picture taken with Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Parks Director Dan Salvante, Staff Naturalist David Alexander and Environmental Center Director Tara Casella. The winning entries were displayed on the grounds of the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland during the week of Earth Day.
