NEWS RELEASE

Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 10, 2003

MAYOR DOUGHERTY VISITS CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN “IF I WERE MAYOR” ESSAY CONTEST

Frederick, Md. --- Mayor Dougherty will be visiting area elementary schools beginning this week in an effort to encourage students to participate in the Maryland Municipal League’s “If I Were Mayor, I Would…” essay contest. She will be educating students about the role of a mayor in city government.

The contest is open to all 4^th grade students enrolled during the 2002-2003 school year. One winner will be selected from each of the 11 regional districts. Each winner will receive a $250 savings bond during the Municipal Night at the Baysox Ballpark in April. The contest gives students the opportunity to exercise their creativity, language arts, and social studies skills while learning about city government. It also promotes the statewide annual Municipal Government Week held in April. Over 2,100 students throughout Maryland participated in the essay contest last year.

Mayor Dougherty will visit The Banner School on Wednesday, February 12; 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. The St. John Regional Catholic School visit was snowed out Friday and will be rescheduled. Additional schedules of school visits will be released pending confirmation.

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