By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council’s Sept. 3 meeting kicked off with proclamations in support of the Northern Maine Fair and in gratitude to Mrs. Kinney’s social studies class from Presque Isle High School.
Council Chair Emily Smith read the NMF proclamation, noting that the citizens of the city and Aroostook County have for 160 years been participants of the Northern Maine Fair & Music Festival, and the many activities presented each year.
“The Northern Maine Fair continues to provide opportunities for travel, entertainment, commerce and plays an important role in the social and economic lives of Presque Isle residents; provides a means of learning about and appreciating rural and agricultural lifestyles; and since the first fair was held Oct. 9, 1851, it has been an integral part of our community’s rich history,” said Smith, adding, fair attendance has “reached almost 28,000 over the course of the event.”
“Therefore, be it proclaimed, that we, the City Councilors of Presque Isle, do hereby proudly declare our unanimous support and affinity for the Northern Maine Fair Association, whose extraordinary dedication to providing a quality and authentic fair event is representative of the true spirit of ‘The County,’” Smith concluded.
Councilor Mike Chasse read the proclamation recognizing Kinney’s class for their effort to beautify the alley near the Wintergreen Arts Center on State Street.
“Teachers are the backbone of our democracy, working daily to open the world to our students. The role of a classroom teacher cannot be overemphasized, for they are the single most influential factor in a young person’s educational experience; they play a key role in guiding students’ development into productive, contributing citizens,” Chasse said.
Chasse said the class “displayed exemplary citizenship by adopting the alley on State Street as their class community beautification project,” and that “Presque Isle’s downtown is significantly improved by the bright and fun colors students painted in the alley.”
“This beautification project will enhance and enrich Presque Isle residents’ daily experience in our downtown area for many years to come. The value of our talented, committed, tireless and inspirational teachers is without measure,” said Chasse.
With that, Chasse concluded, adding councilors “do hereby express their profound feelings of gratitude and also their deep appreciation for the hard work Mrs. Kinney and her students put into the beautification project of the State Street alley, which stands as an example of what can be achieved when an inspirational teacher plants a seed of citizenship in her students.”
Council unanimously approved and signed both proclamations.
