The Weather Poster Contest Winners in Long Island

Optimum Community recognized the Long Island winners of the “Weather in 2040” poster contest with two prize presentation events. The contest, sponsored by Optimum Community and The Weather Channel, encouraged students to create a poster that expressed their views on changing weather patterns and how meteorologists would determine a daily forecast in the year 2040. Southold Supervisor Scott Russell joined Optimum Community at Mattituck-Cutchogue Junior/Senior High School to recognize the multiple winners in the school district in both the middle school and elementary categories. Eighteen students from Cutchogue East Elementary School and 58 students from Mattituck-Cutchogue Jr./Sr. High School entered the contest. Supervisor Russell congratulated the students on their prize winning posters and assisted in presenting the prizes and certificates. In the 3rd through 5th grade category, third grade student Thomas McGunnigle received the Grand Prize, a Galaxy 4 tablet computer. Cutchogue Elementary also had 1 runner-up and 1 honorable mention winner. In the 6th-8th category, Mattituck-Cutchogue had 1 runner-up and 5 honorable mention winners. Runners-up received Red Cross Crank Radios and the Honorable Mention Winners received Red Cross Flashlights. Optimum Community also visited Southold Elementary school to award a runner-up prize to fifth grade student Tate Klipstein.

"I would like to congratulate all of the winners on a job well done,” said Supervisor Russell. “Weather plays such a vital part in each of our lives. Programs such as this provide young people with the opportunity to discuss climate change and think ahead to the effect it could have on each of us in the years to come. I thank Optimum Community and The Weather Channel for bringing this innovative and interesting program to the students in our area.”