Five finalists selected in D-F Police Department student patch contest

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Five finalists, from a pool of 50 submissions, have been selected in a contest inviting Foxcroft Academy and SeDoMoCha Middle School to design a new patch for the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. Each of the five students gave a short presentation on their design to the selectmen during the Feb. 26 meeting.

Police Chief Ryan Reardon, who envisioned the project as a way to involve the younger members of the community, said the artwork was displayed for the public at the Center Theatre and those viewing the patch designs could vote on their favorites to determine the five finalists.

The top five vote-getters are Foxcroft Academy freshman Maranda Poulin, who received 226 votes; SeDoMoCha eighth-grader Grace Carlson, 166 votes; SeDoMoCha seventh-grader Justice Batchelder, 134 votes; SeDoMoCha eighth-grader Ruby Rideout, 115 votes; and SeDoMoCha sixth-grader Halle Page, 101 votes.

Reardon said each student would explain to the selectmen how they determined their patch design, significance for the town, historical information, etc. He said the finalists’ designs will be considered by the board — including during a protection committee meeting on March 6 — to choose the winning patch. The choice will not be based on the total number of votes.

“The winner will be working with a graphic designer to make their design a reality,” Reardon said. He said Brian Gilbert Designs of Cumberland has agreed to donate staff time for the process.

“Whoever wins will be working with the graphic designer, all of the contestants are aware there may be some subtle changes for the embroidery,” Reardon said.

Each student included an element of the town and area in their patch, which were displayed on a screen behind them during their presentations. Poulin included The Mill, Carlson had a pair of whoopie pies for the annual festival celebrating Maine’s official state treat, Batchelder featured a heart symbol on the state of Maine to show Dover-Foxcroft is the heart of Maine, Rideout brought the eagle back from the current patch and had the bird soaring over Borestone Mountain and Page drew the woolen mill on the shores of the Piscataquis River.

Following the presentations, Reardon thanked the parents and friends who were in attendance in support of the five girls. “You saw the work that went into those speeches, it become a history lesson, a writing lesson, an art lesson,” he said.

“I want it to be as far reaching as possible,” Reardon added. “The contestants certainly did a great job and you made it difficult.”

“Wow, this is not going to be easy,” Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr said about the process to select the winning design.

Selectman Ernie Thomas, who chairs the social studies department at Foxcroft Academy, said, “From a teacher’s perspective I have seen a lot of bad presentations but you all did a great job.”

“I just want to echo Ernie’s comments, you were all very poised, very impressive,” Selectperson Gail D’Agostino said.

Town Manager Jack Clukey said the board’s protection committee would sit down with Reardon and discuss the five patch designs, starting at the March 6 session and continuing beyond the date if need be.
“As those in attendance will attest, everyone did an amazing job. This will be a tough decision,” Reardon said in a post on the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department Facebook page after the meeting.

Reardon also thanked SeDoMoCha Middle School art teacher Bobbi Tardif “for getting the students ready to present and for all her efforts during this process.”

‘Thanks to Brian Gilbert Designs of Cumberland for generously donating their time and staff to help make the winning design become a reality. Big thanks to the Center Theatre and their staff for displaying the designs and hosting the voting.”

“I am so proud of my students!,” Tardif, who also previously had Poulin in class, said. “My students worked tremendously hard on preparing and practicing their speeches to present to the board tonight. They supported each other in the process and talked about the interesting local research and authentic love for their community with one another. It is moments like this, that gets me excited to see what will happen next!”

In other business, Clukey touched upon several items in his report.

“Things are moving along well,” he said about the streetlight project. “One thing we plan on seeing very soon is three demo lights with decorative fixtures.”

Clukey said the lights will be on East Main Street, starting by the Thompson Free Library and heading toward the center of town. The three fixtures will give residents a preview of how the rest of the downtown will look.

Surveys from an age friendly working group were sent out with sewer bills. Clukey said the group plans to have a public event in April to present and discuss the results of the survey.

The town manager said the budget advisory committee will start meeting later in the week, with weekly sessions taking place over the next month-plus. He said the fourth session will include the selectmen to discuss recommendations for the 2018-19 municipal spending plan, and the fifth meeting — date to be determined — will be the public hearing prior to the late April town meeting.

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Contributed photo
DESIGNING A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT PATCH — Five finalists were chosen via a vote conducted in the Center Theatre lobby in a contest enabling Foxcroft Academy and SeDoMoCha Middle School students to design a new patch for the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. The top students each presented their patches to the selectmen during a Feb. 26 meeting, and town and department officials will meet to determine the winning design. The finalists are front, from left, SeDoMocha eighth-grader Ruby Rideout, seventh-grader Justice Batchelder, Foxcroft Academy freshman Maranda Poulin, SeDoMoCha sixth-grader Halle Page, and eighth-grader Grace Carlson. Pictured with the students are SeDoMoCha Middle School art teacher Bobbi Tardif and Police Chief Ryan Reardon.