New Milford students are the biggest contributors of entries in the
contest to pick a logo for the town’s Tricentennial in 2007.
The logo contest, which is being sponsored by NewMil Bank, runs
through the end of March, so it’s not too late to send in an entry.
“We are off to a great start in our logo contest,” said Peter
Orenski, who chairs the logo selection committee.
Fellow judges include Wallie Jahn, Robert Burkhart, Pat Hembrook, Joy
Gaiser, Pat Maguire and Jennifer Cox.
Mr. Orenski, known in town as “Flagman,” said students from Hill
and Plain Elementary School and Sarah Noble Intermediate School “did
themselves and their teachers very proud: They submitted over 80
percent of the entries, showing great imagination, plenty of
dedication and often a wonderful sense of humor.”
Adults, including a professional artist, also provided excellent
proposals, according to Mr. Orenski.
“The 300th anniversary is a very exciting event,” said Lou Okell,
who has two logos among the 18 chosen as finalists in the first phase
of the contest. “It’s a great way to launch the 300th
anniversary.”
Ms. Okell, a Girl Scout leader and artist who does abstract paintings,
said entering the contest was a matter of town spirit and a way to
challenge friends and fellow Girl Scouts.
“It’s a great way to celebrate our past and look forward to what
we envision our future to be,” she said. “The idea is to
participate. That’s what’s important.”
Ms. Okell chose the gazebo for one logo since it’s a focal point
where residents meet socially. Her entry shows the top of a gazebo and
the dates 1707-2007.
Her second logo depicts the number 300 with John and Sarah Noble from
1707 in one zero facing a modern John and Sarah Noble dressed to go to
a ballgame in the second zero.
She said she wanted some humor in the logo.
The committee is encouraging residents to continue sending in their
ideas. The volunteer judges met Jan. 7 and again on Feb. 4, spending
hours poring over what Mr. Orenski called “a vast display of
talent” to evaluate over 200 entries received for Phase I (January)
of the contest.
Samantha McCauley, 11, a sixth-grader at Sarah Noble Intermediate
School, who is one of first group of 18 finalists, said her social
studies teacher Carol Fogel asked the class to submit entries.
“I love living in New Milford. I was born here,” Samantha said,
explaining that she chose a cake design to celebrate the town’s
300th birthday because cakes go with birthday celebrations and “I
like cake.”
Several entries included a cake theme.
Peter Christopherson said he tried to keep his design generic, simple
and timeless so it would be suitable to a variety of promotions.
“I dabble in all kinds of artful ventures,” Mr. Christopherson
said, remarking that he has several other ideas — variations with a
similar theme.
His design combines the letters “NM” to evoke the hills and
mountains of the town, with the tail of the N depicting the flowing
Housatonic River.
Mr. Christopherson, who studied industrial design, said he took his
inspiration from the hills and Housatonic, “not manmade icons.”
Abbe Svarplaitis, 10, and a fourth-grader at Sarah Noble is “very
excited” her design was chosen.
“I just like to draw, to play around with pencils and paint,” Abbe
said, explaining that she chose the gazebo as a background because
“it’s popular.” She said she decided to add a dog and cat
“because I really like animals.”
Her reaction to being a finalist?
“It’s shocking.”
Abbe’s proud father, Vitas, said he’s “ecstatic” his
daughter’s design is one of the 18.
“This is great,” he said.
Abbe’s mother, Sue, said her daughter is so busy with lessons and
activities, she “never dreamed” she would want to enter the
contest so she threw out the first entry form.
That didn’t deter Abbe, who asked her teacher for another entry form
and worked diligently to produce her design as something “fun to
do.”
“This is such a wonderful idea to get children involved in our
community,” Mrs. Svarplaitis wrote on the entry form.
Hill and Plain student Teddy Sheehy was one of several who chose to
use a bridge to symbolize bridging 300 years. His design shows a horse
and buggy entering the bridge and a modern car exiting.
Mr. Orenski said judges have the freedom to combine logo suggestions
and have done so to produce one chosen design. In some cases the
judges altered the colors from black or blue to “New Milford
greens.”
February is Phase II of the contest. Phase III is in March. Three
finalists will eventually be chosen from the finalists in all phases
and residents will vote on the logo in April.
The committee’s basic rules ask for designs that:
- Are simple rather than complex.
- Identify New Milford and the Tricentennial in some way.
- Are original and visually attractive.
- Use strong colors.
- Avoid generic or intricate images and shun words.
- Are effective in a black-and-white rendering.
- Would be readily discernible on diverse applications such as small
pins, T-shirts, or a flag on 30-foot flagpole.
The judges named the following 18 finalists for the January phase:
Alden Ackerman, Peter Christopherson, Ron Crowcroft, Catherine DeJohn,
April Kenney, Larry Gunerman, Shanin Jordan, Kimberly Lockwood,
Samantha McCauley, Sean Miltenberger, Lou Okell (2), Kristin Orcutt,
Laura Quigley, Charles Reynolds, Matt Rissolo, Teddy Sheehy, and Abbe
Svarplaitis.
See next week’s Spectrum for a viewing of all 18 logos.
Design entries may be dropped off at the reference desk at New Milford
Public Library or dropped off or mailed to The Greater New Milford
Spectrum office at 45B Main St., New Milford CT 06776.
