Kids In Caldwells, West Orange, Other Essex County Towns Win 'Forest Feeder' Contest

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Art can be practical, and what's practical can be made beautiful. This was clear from the winning entries in Essex County's annual "Forest Friends Feeder Contest."

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. presented awards to the winners in the youth, professional, and family/group categories recently.

In the youth category, Ursa Brondo from West Orange won first place.

Professional Category Winners

In the professional category, a teacher at the West Caldwell School of Technology teamed up with groups of students to win.:

• The Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology team of Ashley Sanchez, Jaidelys Sanchez, Sabrina Fabara and Aryana Jackson and their teacher Daniel Delcher were awarded first place.
• The school's team of Yaira Ramos and Yanitza Gutierrez and Delcher were awarded second place.
• The school's team of Madison Hill, Karen Velasquez and Tanea Joyner and Delcher won third place.

Winners In Group/Family:

• Cedar Grove Cub Scouts Den 4 received the People’s Choice Award.
• The DeFrank family from South Orange was awarded first place in group/family.
• The 4-H Young Gardeners Club based in Roseland was awarded second place.
• Melissa, Wyatt, Olivia and Vik Dat from Verona were awarded third place.

“We thank all the contestants for sharing their creativity and talent to create artwork that also provides food for our woodland neighbors,” DiVincenzo said. “Our Forest Friends Feeder Contest is a wonderful activity that incorporated our mission to raise awareness about nature and environmental issues with a winter theme."

He added, "This hands-on, family-oriented contest let people of all ages learn about our wetland forest friends and their environment in a fun educational way."

Participants were asked to create edible, festive and unique wetland wildlife feeder for an outdoor exhibit at the Essex County Environmental Center. Entries were on display during the month of December.

The contest was sponsored by Manhattan Bagel in Roseland, Meyers Dolls, Toys and Hobbies in Livingston, Hyssop Beauty Apothecary in Nutley, ShopRite in West Caldwell, Glass Roots in Montclair, Twice is Nice in East Hanover, the NJ Zoological Society from Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange and Aramark from West Orange.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. It consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, two miniature golf courses, golf driving range, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

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