ISLAND FALLS, Maine — A contest meant to commemorate the town of Island Falls’ 150th anniversary next year is being extended until the end of April.
Island Falls Town Manager Jutta Beyer announced the extension due to multiple factors in the towns in the RSU 50 school district, including a tractor fire at Southern Aroostook that damaged the school building and COVID-19 cases forcing closures of the school. The contest is for submitting the design of a commemorative coin to mark the town turning 150 years old in 2022.
“We understand that the contest was interrupted by COVID, a school fire, and other factors, so to encourage more participation, the new ending date is [April 28] at 3 p.m.,” wrote Beyer in a released statement. “This is a great opportunity for adults, homeschoolers and RSU 50 students to gear up for the Island Falls sesquicentennial.”
Prizes for all categories include $100 for first place, $75 for second and $25 for third. Winners will have their coins professionally minted, and then auctioned and sold as part of the town’s 150th anniversary celebration. Those wishing to apply can obtain application and submission materials from either the Island Falls or Dyer Brook town offices, or the Katahdin Public Library. Coin designs may be submitted individually or as part of a team.
Beyer also encouraged a variety of different techniques to help with the design process.
“We understand that drawing can seem challenging, so consider photography, 3-D
printing, and the printed word as ways to get your ideas on paper,” she wrote. “We can work with a professional artist to move winning ideas through the minting process.”
Anyone who lives within the RSU 50 school district, which includes the towns of Island Falls and Dyer Brook, is allowed to participate. The town also designed a commemorative coin for its 100th anniversary in 1972.
