ATHOL — The town has put out a call for photos and drawings of Athol — and one will be featured on the cover of the annual town report.
There is no fee to enter, and the contest is open to all Athol residents.
Knowing the printing of the annual Town Report is right around the corner, Town Clerk Nancy Burnham and Administrative Assistant Bridget Sullivan brainstormed for ideas for its cover. In recent years, photos of the Market Basket development, Athol Community Elementary School, the Lions Club’s annual River Rat Race and the visiting Highlanders in full regalia marching down Main Street have graced the covers.
Called “Your Town Through Your Eyes,” judges want a photograph or drawing celebrating “Tool Town” and its unique character.
The judges want to know how you view the town. Find the beauty in your surroundings, from your point of view. Entries can depict people, places, buildings or nature.
The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. on April 19.
A panel of local town officials and employees will select the photo/drawing for the Town Report, and the winner will be announced during the May 1 Selectboard meeting.
If your submission is chosen, it will be featured (with credit) on the cover of the annual town report, and you will receive a small prize. By entering, you agree that your submission may also be featured on Athol’s website, the Selectboard’s Facebook page and it will be submitted to the Athol Daily News.
Sullivan said a copy will also be sent to the State Library of Massachusetts to be housed with all annual town reports.
The photograph should be a high-quality JPGg or PNG image, and be appropriate for posting on a public or government website.
Submissions that are offensive or otherwise inappropriate will not be considered.
Submit your photograph or drawing either in person to Room 17 in Town Hall at 584 Main St., or email it to: selectmen@townofathol.org.
Your name and telephone number should be printed clearly in either the email or on the photograph or drawing, itself. The winner will be notified by either telephone or email.
The rules state, in part: “The Town of Athol reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel this contest without notice if factors beyond the Town of Athol’s control, including technical difficulties, disrupt or corrupt the fair or secure administration or operation of the contest. Contest organizer is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and its decisions are final. We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant when there is reason to believe is not the original work of the entrant or does not otherwise meet the contest rules. If a winner is disqualified or ineligible, an alternate winner will be selected using the same judging process and subject to all requirements outlined.”