Meet 'Darth Blader': Contest Lets School Children Name DPW Snow Plows, Just In Time For Winter Weather

PUTANM COUNTY, NY — When the snow next falls (perhaps as soon as Tuesday), the familiar snowplows clearing the streets will have fierce new monikers, thanks to area school children.

On Thursday, County Executive Kevin Byrne, DPW Commissioner Thomas Feighery, Crew Chief Craig Moran (who suggested the idea), and DPW staff visited the schoolchildren who took part in the county’s first-ever snowplow-naming contest.

Four plows weighing several tons and winter sand trucks are now lettered with the contest’s winning names.

Byrne and Feighery visited Putnam Valley Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary School, Fulmar Road Elementary School, and John F. Kennedy Elementary School to showoff the winning names.

The top vote-getters were, “Mr. 67,” “Frosty,” “White Tiger” and “Darth Blader.”

The naming contest also offered a readymade opportunity to teach the student about snowplow and road safety in low-visibility and other potentially hazardous conditions with reminders such as “Don’t Crowd the Plow.”

With more winter weather expected, county residents can expect to see the newly christened plows on roadways soon as part of Putnam County’s 74-vehicle-strong fleet.