The Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS) is hosting its first-ever photo contest. “Andover’s Treasure: A Visual Journey of AVIS” runs through November 15th, 2024 and is open to photographers of all ages and skill levels. One grand prize winner will be awarded a $150 prize, and one first place winner will be awarded a $75 prize in each of seven categories: The Novice Eye (ages 7-15); Abstracts or Details; Landscapes & Rivers; Plants & Flowers; Birds, Bees, and Wildlife; Black & White; and AVIS Works, a category designed to showcase projects such as boardwalks, trail maintenance, and invasive plant removal.
“For 130 years, generations of AVIS volunteers have worked to protect open space in Andover,” says AVIS President John Hess. “In the face of climate change, we cannot assume our beloved reservations will always look the same, so we are seeking digital photographs that capture the essence of AVIS properties and their iconic sites and landscapes.”
The contest entry fee is $15 per digital image, with a maximum of three entries per person permitted. Entries in the “Novice Eye” category are free. The competition is open to all, but submitted photos must have been taken on one of AVIS’s reservations. For complete contest rules and a list of AVIS properties, visit avisandover.org.
Longtime Dispatcher Retires
Girl Scout Wins National Recognition For STEM Project
An Andover Girl Scout won a Gold Award for her project addressing the issue of underrepresentation of Latinas in STEM-related occupations.
The honor for Natalia Salinas comes with a $5,000 scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA.
“Our organization has a lengthy track record of innovation in extracurricular STEM education, and Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is thrilled to honor Natalia’s focus on such an important issue within our community,” Barb Fortier, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, said in a statement. “As many STEM-related careers continue to struggle with diversity, Ms. Salinas set out to make a real impact and to alter middle-school girls’ perceptions of self and science, as well as their interest in education and careers.”