Monterey Bay Air Resources District and Valley Women’s Club

An excited crowd of parents and children turned out at the San Lorenzo Valley School Board meeting on Wednesday, November 15th to hear the announcement of the winners of the Second Annual Art Contest sponsored by the Monterey Bay Air Resources District and Valley Women’s Club. The artwork of all the winners was on display along with their winning ribbons. The creativity and talent of the children was amazing!

The Art Contest provided San Lorenzo Valley children the chance to be “creative” while helping bring awareness to the serious San Lorenzo Valley air quality issues created largely by wood burning smoke from wood stoves used for heating during the winter.

San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Laurie Bruton stated, “We are always happy to show off the talents of our students, particularly when it serves our community of San Lorenzo Valley.”  “All of our schools stress community services,” said Dr. Bruton. “Joining students’ artistic ability and their desire to improve conditions in the community is a perfect match for the art contest.”

The art contest is an idea that was born from citizen input which was solicited and organized by Supervisor Bruce McPherson to help solve the critical air quality issues our community faces. “The air quality issue in San Lorenzo Valley can be addressed – and solved – by our local community. That solution will require an educational process and having our creative students show us how to do that through their artwork will be an important part of our success,” McPherson said.

The Valley Women’s Club Environmental Committee is also supporting the art contest. “We are excited to support this effort to help reduce dangerous air pollution levels in the SLV through this contest that also encourages creative expression of ideas,” stated Chairperson Nancy Macy.

The awards were presented in front of the School Board and in an excited audience by:

• 5^th District Supervisor, Bruce McPherson
• Richard Stedman, Director and Air Pollution Control Officer of the Monterey Bay Air Resources District,
• David Frisbey, Planning and Air Monitoring Manager for the Monterey Bay Air Resources District
• Ann O’Rourke, Executive Assistant of the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, and
• Nancy Macy, Chairperson of the Environmental Committee of the Valley Women’s Club

The Grand Prize winner was: Hana Goulart, 5^th Grade at SLV Elementary School

The other prize winners were: 

Grades 9-12:
First: Erin Johnson, 9^th Grade; 
Second: Lilith Romig, 9^th Grade
Third: Sarah Jane Murphy, 10^th Grade

Grades 7-8: 
First: Lila Arrasjid, 7^th Grade
Second: Kyla Jubinville, 8^th Grade
Third: Haven Wallace Menge, 8^th Grade

Grades 4-6:
First: Maddie Beprestis, 4^th Grade, Boulder Creek Elementary;
Second: Justice Armstrong, 4^th Grade, Fall Creek Charter;
Third: Natalee Thomas, 5^th Grade, Fall Creek Home School

Grades K-3:
First: Ivan Cruz, 3^rd Grade, Fall Creek Charter;
Second: Hayes Nielsen, Kindergarten, Boulder Creek Elementary;
Third: Aydria Cruz, 1^st Grade, Fall Creek Charter

The winning artwork will be displayed after Thanksgiving through December 24^th on the Community Wall on the bottom floor of the County Building, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz.

The message of this wonderful artwork is a reminder to all residents that wood-burning stoves contribute to serious health and air pollution issues in the San Lorenzo Valley. This is especially severe on our upcoming winter days when the San Lorenzo Valley experiences low clouds and low winds creating an “inversion” that traps smoke in our air. During these days residents protect their health and the environment by avoiding the use of wood stoves and using other sources of clean heat.