COUNCIL ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
The first and oldest Fire Safety Essay Contest is held in the Council Rock
School District located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Council Rock is comprised of
5 municipalities: Northampton, Upper Makefield, Wrightstown and Newtown Townships and the
Borough of Newtown. This contest was originated by Peter F. Palestina, CPCU who
still Chairs this committee today. Pete is also an elected official of Northampton
serving as a Township Supervisor since 1983. Each year all elementary school
children (grades 1 through 6) are invited to submit essays and posters created during
National Fire Prevention Week in the month of October. Winners are selected by a
panel of 3 judges comprised of a CPCU, a Township Fire Marshall and a School Board
Director. The categories of competition are in 3 levels:1st & 2nd graders, 3rd
& 4th graders and 5th & 6th graders. Four prizes are awarded in each level
with a first place award of a $100 bond and plaque going to the best essay author and most
creative entry in each category. Second and third place finishers in each category
receive a plaque. The awards are presented at the School Board public meeting in
November and also at the Northampton Township Board of Supervisors public meeting where
the governing officials of the winning students also present awards and citations to the
students residing in their respective municipality. Both meetings are televised
live over the local cable television channel and videotaped for replay during the ensuing
two weeks. Legislators from the PA State House of Representative also present
citations to the winners. If you have an interest in helping with this contest
contact Pete Palestinamailto:Peteypal@aol.com
At the November 25,
1997 presentation held at the Northampton Board of Supervisors public meeting. Pete
Palestina, CPCU, Essay contest Chairman and member of the Board of Supervisors,
congratulates the winning Council Rock School District students. Chapter President
Anne Kopanski, CPCU (far left) also participated in the ceremony and announced the names
of the winners.
One
of the winning students in the Council Rock contest is presented her award at the School
Board public meeting of November 20, 1997 by then Chapter President Anne Kopanski, CPCU.
After the 1995 awards
presentation, winning students posed for this group shop with then chapter President Frank
Mason (right), Pete Palestina (left) and School Board Director Charlene Miller 2nd from
right).
Winners of the 1998
contest with Pete Palestina (left), 1998 Chapter President Sandra Loebs (2nd from left)
and School Board Director Bruce Stamm (right)
More 1998 contest photos taken at the Northampton Township Board of
Supervisors presentation of November 24, 1998 are shown below.
 Pete Palestina explains the
importance of the contest at the Nov. 24, 1998 Northampton Township Supervisors meeting as
Chapter President Sandra Loebs looks on in background. |
 Northampton Township Board of
Supervisors Chairman George Komelasky presents his Townships citation to resident Allyson
Hauptman of Hillcrest Elementary. |
 Newtown Township Board of
Supervisors Secretary Skip Goodnoe presents his Townships citation to Kelly Wasilewski of
Newtown Elementary. |
 Upper Makefield Township Board
of Supervisors Vice Chairman Bud Baldwin presents his Townships citation to Joshua Wortzel
of Sol Feinstone Elementary. |
The winning students and
prizes for the 1999 contest are as follows:
| 1st
Place: $100 Bond and a Plaque |
Most
Creative: $100 Bond and a Plaque |
2nd
Place: Plaque |
3rd
Place: Plaque |
| 1ST
and 2ND GRADE |
|
|
|
 Allyson Hauptman
Hillcrest Elementary |
 Alexandra Mangold
Richboro Elementary |
 Jamie Mangold
Richboro Elementary |
 Elizabeth Miller
Rolling Hills Elementary
|
| 3RD
and 4TH GRADE |
|
|
|
 Lauren Suchenski
Sol Feinstone Elementary |
 Joshua Wortzel
Sol Feinstone Elementary
|
 Taylor Mangold
Richboro Elementary
|
 Amanda Marra
Churchville Elementary
|
| 5TH
and 6TH GRADE |
|
|
|
 Dori Buttz
Churchville Elementary |
 Alexis Cohen
Hillcrest Elementary |
 Caitlin Marchini
Churchville Elementary |
 Adam Hauptman
Hillcrest Elementary |
 Judges (L-R) School Director Bruce Stamm, Fire Marshal Frank Fenton and Pete
Palestina, CPCU pose with the 1999 winners. |
 Teachers
with students (L-R) Alexandra Mangold with Mrs. Vancadsand, Allyson Hauptman with Mrs.
Husted, Jamie Mangold with Mrs. Hauoert, Elizabeth Miller with Mrs. Parker |
 Joshua
Wortzel with Mrs. Kelly, Lauren Suchenski with Mrs. Schurmann, Amanda Marra with Mr.
Kohlmayer, Taylor Mangold with Mrs. Walker |
 Dori Buttz with Miss Sfarnas, Caitlin Marchini
with Mrs. Longo, Adam Hauptman with Mr. Hansberry, Alexis Cohen with Mrs. Leroy |
 Adam
Hauptman receives congratulations from PA State Rep. Roy Reinard along with CPCU's Pete
Palestina & Cindy Wolkiewicz at the Northampton Twp. meeting |
 Upper
Makefield Fire Marshall John Kernan congratulates Lauren Suchenski alonf with Northampton
Supervisors Chairman and CPCU Pete Palestina |
 Northampton
Supervisors Chairman and Chapter President Pete Palestina concludes ceremony with
congratulations to all who participated |
|
