2013 Children's Day Logo Unveiled

Like many kids, Bridget Rooney loves to draw everything, especially cats. When she created a logo for Pro Portsmouth's Children's Day, she went with a very simple design that will now be displayed all over the city.

As her parents, Dani and Tom Rooney, and her younger brother, Ian, 6, all of Portsmouth watched, Bridget, Pro Portsmouth Executive Director Barbara Massar and Citizens Bank Branch Manager Lisa Gainty unveiled the 2013 Children's Day logo.

Bridget later signed the logo that features a green and blue backdrop with a boy and a girl holding balloons as they walk with the words, "Children's Day 2013. A Day for Children!"

Massar said the 22nd annual Children's Day that is usually held on the first Sunday in May will be held on May 5 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Massar said it will feature plenty of live music, face painting and face time with popular cartoon characters like Elmo, Tigger and Eeyore as well as few newcomers like Mick the Maverick, the Seacoast Mavericks new mascot.

Massar said some of the other things that will be offered include free cruises on the M/V Thomas Laighton at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. and a raffle by the Seacoast Mavericks to give girls and boys a chance to be bat boys and bat girls during their baseball season.

She said Extreme Air would do a jump rope show on Hanover and Market streets and the Seacoast Repertory Theatre would do some performances from "Godspell."

Bridget said she found out a week ago that she had won the contest and felt "excited" after she spoke with Massar and found out. Massar said Rooney's logo will be featured on the Volunteer T-shirts, the Children’s Day Map and Poster and the Pro Portsmouth website.

Massar, who is in her 12th year as director of Pro Portsmouth, said she always enjoys seeing all of the artwork that the children create for Children's Day each year. "One of the real joys is seeing the artwork."

Massar said this year the Children's Day contest had about 40 entries.

Support for Children’s Day comes from: 2013 Program Partners Citizens Bank and King Real Estate and Shareholders: Isles of Shoals Steamship Co., Service Credit Union, G.Willikers, Treehouse Toys, xfinity, Measured Progress, Hampshire First, Acorn School, Community Child Care Center of Portsmouth, Eyelook Optical, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, Kilwins, NH Association for the Blind/Portsmouth Lions Club, Infinite Imaging, ad Cetera and the Richie McFarland Children's Center. The Official Beverage Sponsor of all Pro Portsmouth events is Coca Cola of Northern New England.

The Children’s Day map will be available at the event and on the Pro Portsmouth website www.proportsmouth.org .