Clarksburg Elementary School student was this year's Berkshire County winner of the annual Arson Watch Reward Program Poster Contest.

North Adams firefighter David Simon with Arson Watch poster winner Alex Boulger of Clarksburg and his teacher, Alana Gauthier.



NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A Clarksburg Elementary School student was this year's Berkshire County winner of the annual Arson Watch Reward Program Poster Contest.

Alex Boulger received a $200 prize for his poster and will move on to the state finals. Alex is a member of Alana Gauthier's class.

Posters from middle school students in North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Sheffield and Florida were judged on March 9 at the North Adams Fire Department.

Emily Kaegi from the Mount Greylock Regional Middle School was the second-place county winner and will receive a $100 prize. Emily is a student in Lisa Mendel's class.

The first-place county winners, their families and teachers are invited to attend an awards luncheon to be held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel on May 28, when the three statewide winners will be announced. Fire departments from each of the top three winning towns will receive grants in the amount of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

The judges for the poster contest were Allyn Basel of the Adams Co-Operative Bank with Jonathan Secor, director of special programs and Jess Conzo, program coordinator of the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center at MCLA's Gallery 51. The winners were chosen from a field of more than 150 entries.

Posters which received honorable mention were Breana Gladu of Adams Memorial Middle School, Anica Pond of Undermountain Elementary in Sheffield, Tori Green of Gabriel Abbott Memorial in Florida and Cori Ghidotti of Conti Middle School in North Adams.

The annual Arson Watch Reward Program Poster Contest is sponsored by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association. On behalf of all property and casualty insurance companies of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (FAIR Plan) has sponsored the annual Statewide Arson Watch Reward Poster Contest for the past 25 years.

Contact Nancy Rodes at 617-723-3800 or 800-392-6108 for more information.