MHS seniors honored

The town council and school board honored two Merrimack High School seniors Thursday night at a joint meeting.

Jane Starke and Daphne Nichols received certificates and a standing ovation for their recent accomplishments.

Starke was recognized for her volunteer efforts and for having been named a “distinguished finalist” in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for New Hampshire.

In 2007, Starke and three friends founded Pure Water Vending, a nonprofit organization that donates proceeds from water vending machines to help families in third-world countries purchase filtration systems. Earlier this year, Pure Water Vending won $10,000 in a contest to expand their work.

Nichols’ photograph of an ice-laden tree won the town’s annual report cover contest. Members of the town hall staff chose her picture out of 20 entries.

The photograph will appear on hundreds of copies of the annual report, which includes year-end information from all departments and committees, town financial statements, vital statistics and the official Town Meeting Guide.

The reports will be available within the next 10 days.