Bay Ridge

Students share ideas on how to stop littering

Golden announces finalists in essay contest

April 13, 2018 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Local kids will be offering their written suggestions on getting New Yorkers to stop littering. Eagle photo by Paula Katinas
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Twenty-one students from Southeast Brooklyn elementary schools will get the chance to offer their ideas on how to reduce litter on city sidewalks when they present essays they have written for a contest sponsored by a local lawmaker.

The 21 youngsters are finalists in state Sen. Martin Golden’s third annual “Don’t Drop It” anti-litter essay contest.

The finals, which will feature the youngsters reading their essays aloud, will take place on Thursday, April 19, at the Shore Hill Housing Community Room, 9000 Shore Road in Bay Ridge, at 6:30 p.m. 

The finalists include Ethan Valentin, Holy Angels Catholic Academy; Riley Rosario, P.S. 222; Jackie Huang, P.S. 102; Ava Raimondo, Leif Erikson Day School; Faith Lopez, P.S. 102; Rafaella Aguayo, Leif Erikson Day School; Kevin Collins, Good Shepherd Catholic Academy; Maya Shea, P.S. 222; Molly Fox, Holy Angels Catholic Academy; Gianna Gambino, P.S. 222; Christian Zisa, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy; Adrianna Lynch, P.S. 277; Keira Knudsen, P.S. 185; and Ian Carswell, P.S. 222.

The list of finalists also includes Jun Chen, Holy Angels Catholic Academy; Devin Wong, P.S. 102; Joseph Cerulli, Holy Angels Catholic Academy; Khadijah Rahman, P.S. 102; Sasha Vaskovich, P.S. 222; Caroline Chelales, Holy Angels Catholic Academy; and Devin McGowan Kelly, P.S. 277.

The finalists are students in Grades Three, Four and Five in public, private and parochial schools in Golden’s Senate district, which includes Bay Ridge and parts of several neighborhoods in Southwest Brooklyn.

The essay contest drew more than 300 entries, according to Golden’s office.

Golden said he is looking forward to hearing what the students have to say.

“This contest has generated 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 civic lesson,” he said in a statement.

The judges are Joel Garson, publisher of Brooklyn’s Our News; Robert Howe, president of the Merchants of Third Avenue; Arlene Keating, president of Ragamuffin Inc.; and Laurie Windsor, vice chairwoman of Community Board 11.

Representatives from the NYC Department of Sanitation and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection have been invited to attend.

For more information, call Golden’s office at 718-238-6044.

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