Art & Essay Contest

Here the wild things are

BY NJ DeVICO
Special to the Times

Margaret O'Gorman wants to reach the people who think wildlife is found only in exotic or faraway places like the rainforests or the Arctic. There's plenty of wildlife right here in New Jersey, points out the executive director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

For example, "people are sur prised to learn that there are bald eagles in New Jersey," she says.

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School's eco-awareness pays off again

by Michael Amsel, Toms River Bureau
Asbury Park Press

MANCHESTER -- Like most of her colleagues at Ridgeway Elementary School, Maxine Meehan always stresses ecology to her fifth-grade pupils, often incorporating local current events to get her point across.

The emphasis on ecology is paying big dividends.

Ariana Wilson and her long-tailed salamanger"For a second straight year, one of Meehan's pupils won a statewide contest for fifth-graders sponsored by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

Last year, 10-year-old Andrea Martinez won for her essay and picture on the indiana bat. This year, 12-year-old Ariana Wilson was victorious for her essay and picture on the long-tailed salamander.

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