Just ducky

Prestwood students Luis Garcia (l) and Vianny Paredes (r) took top prizes in last week’s California Junior Duck Stamp contest.  Out of a total 1,084 entries in the fourth through sixth grade category, Paredes was awarded a second place while Garcia received an honorable mention. Both students were instructed by the school’s art teacher, Jill Valavanis.  This was the largest California JDS event in twenty years, according to Sonoma Birding’s Tom Rusert, with 3100 entries coming from kindergarten through 12^th grade from all 50 states.  It is also the first time the judging took place here in Sonoma, at Cornerstone Gardens.  The national winner will be announced on April 14 in Washington, D.C.