Pupils’ Art, Essays With Coast Guard Theme Win Acclaim

CREST HAVEN – Among freeholder resolutions passed April 28 were several dealing with the Coast Guard Community Festival celebration May 8-10 at the Training Center in Cape May.
Lawrence P. Antonucci
Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence P. Antonucci Jr. was named Community Coast Guardian. The board established the award that will be annually presented to an active duty Coast Guard member with “an outstanding record of volunteer service to the Cape May County community.”
Antonucci has been an active duty service members since Sept. 3, 1991. He served the past three years at Training Center Cape may “with a substantial record of volunteer service in Cape may County, including in organizations such as the Chief Petty Officers Association, Partnership in Education and Toys for Tots,” the resolution stated.
Jill Simcox
Freeholders recognized Jill Simcox as Cape May County’s 2015 recipient of the “Coast Guard Community Spouse of the Year.” As was the previous award, this will be presented annually to the spouse of an active duty member who has aided the community in large measure.
Simcox is a leader of Guardian Spouses, a volunteer program at the Training Center Cape May. It is where she and her husband, Chief Petty Officer Robert Simcox have been stationed for the past three years with their three children.
Essay and Art Contest Winners
Winners of the elementary and middle school art and essay contests in connection with the Coast Guard Community Festival were:
Art, Middle School Division:
First place, Dominic Alba, 13, of Colleen Ferraro’s art class at Teitelman Middle School. His piece depicts a boardwalk scene with two Coast Guard helicopters hovering above led by a banner plane with “Join the U.S. Coast Guard.” The service motto, “Semper Paratus” is written under the boardwalk.
Second place, Emily DeLong, 11, also of Colleen Ferraro’s art class at Teitelman Middle School. It shows a Coast Guard cutter with the words “Semper Paratus” as reflected in the eye of a person watching the sunset beyond the cutter.
Third place, Avery White, 12, also of Colleen Ferraro’s art class at Teitelman Middle School. His work shows the county with a banner wrapped around stating “Cape May County: A Proud Coast Guard Community.”
Art, Elementary School Division:
First place, Julian McLaughlin, 6, of Cape May City Elementary School kindergarten. He drew recruits with a rainbow over them.
Second place, Madeline Wolff, 6, of Cape May City Elementary School first grade. Her work shows Coast Guard members saving a woman from an ocean filled with dangerous creatures.
Third place, Petyton Kesterson, 6, of Cape May City Elementary School kindergarten. His work shows mechanics working on Coast Guard aircraft with caption, “My Daddy Fixes Helicopters.”
Essay Competition
First place, Nicole Wolf, 18, Cape May Technical High School. Her essay describes the sense of connection she feels to service families as developed through riding the schoo bus with Coast Guard children.
Second place, Group entry from Cape May Technical High School. Members Robin Barry, 17, group leader, Cameron Friedman, 18, Erik Wolfe, 18, Brandon Milano, 17, Rebecca Dietrich, 18, and James Schmucker, 18. The group’s video essay highlights little-known facts about the Coast Guard, and features personal interview with fellow students, and ends with each group member’s reflection on what the Coast Guard means to them personally.
In other action the board:
Accepted request from Board of Social Services to dissolve the board as an entity and integrate its function as a county department.
Authorized a labor contract with Police Benevolent Association Local 59 covering Officers and Sergeants of the Sheriff’s Department from Jan. 1, 2-14 to Dec. 31, 2017.
Authorized a labor contract with Police Benevolent Association Local 59 covering investigators, detectives and sergeants in the County Prosecutor’s Office from Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2016.
Authorized agreement with Microsoft Corps. to buy Office 365 software off state contract for $465,720. The contract is for six years.
Reappointed to the County Agricultural Development Board Leslie Rea of West Cape May, Sue Anne Wheeler of Goshen, James P. Hand of Goshen and George Brewer Jr. of Dennisville and appointed Matt Stiles of Court House. Stiles will serve four years term expiring Jan. 11, 2019. Rea’s term expires March 25, 2016. Wheeler’s term expires March 25, 2017. Hand’s term expires Jan. 11, 2019. Brewer’s term expires March 25, 2019.