I don’t understand
the meaning of this poem
why I need to write it
or what I will gain
But most of all
why people must be stereotypical
so closed minded
or unwilling to even consider
What I understand most is
why I like to ski
on a hill or huge mountain
why the snow falls year after year.
The Opening Exhibit and Awards Presentation of the annual Poetry and Illustration Contest was held at the Old Forge Library on Tuesday, March 22.
The theme this year was, “Things Remembered.”
There were196 poetry entries and 110 illustration entries submitted to the event.
Residents of towns and villages within Herkimer, Oneida and Madison counties, and the Town of Inlet were eligible to enter.
This year’s poetry judges were author/poets Joseph Bruchac and Mary Sanders Shartle. Illustration judges were artists, Suzanne Firsching and Tom Yacovella.
Firsching, Yacovella and Shartle attended the ceremony to congratulate the entrants and present Award Certificates to the first place and honorable mention winners.
Library Director Izzie Worthen, who organizes the event every year, welcomed the gathering that filled the Judith Cohen Memorial Wing before introducing Master of Ceremonies Michael Cunningham, Town of Webb School English teacher, who presented the awards.
First prize winners in grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 categories received a $50 U.S. Savings Bond and an Award Certificate.
Honorable Mention winners were presented Award Certificates.
The Adult winners received a periodical subscription of their choice.
The prizes were donated by Friends of the Old Forge Library members who also served refreshments following the ceremony.
The event is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the arts, administered by the Stanley Theater and Friends of the Old Forge Library.
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert Moore for his service to the Town of Webb as its Supervisor. I know the difficulties involved in this position and the responsibilities that go with it.
Robert has served the Town well and should be proud of his accomplishments. I know that his decision to retire was a difficult one, and one that he labored over.
While I am sorry to see him go, I fully understand his decision. I wish Robert nothing but the best for he and his family and many years of happy and healthy retirement.
Thank you Robert.
Your friend,
George T. Hiltebrant,
Former Town of Webb
Supervisor
Thendara
P.S. At this time I would like to announce that I will be a candidate for Supervisor this fall.
In January 2009, photographer and graphic designer Dave Scranton and a dozen local women joined together to produce a calendar that would ultimately benefit High Peaks Hospice of Saranac Lake.
The 2011 Adirondack Elegant Ladies calendar, featuring images of each of the women enjoying an individual passion, was released last May and available for sale at area restaurants, taverns and businesses.
The fundraising effort was greatly supported and all 500 calendars were sold by the beginning of this year.
On Wednesday, March 9, Mindy Hoegerl, Joan Breish, Andrea DeShaw, and Scranton traveled to Saranac Lake to present Darsie Townsend of High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care with a check for $6,441, the proceeds of the calendar sales.
Hoegerl and Breish, who conceptualized the calendar, and DeShaw were among the models who appeared on its pages.
According to Breish, the project was well worth the time and effort it took to pull it together.
“It took us close to two years—and it was a lot of work. But High Peaks Hospice brings such a great service to our area, and they were presently surprised and so pleased to receive the donation,” she said.
Breish wanted to thank all the girls who participated as models, all those who sold calendars, and everyone who bought a calendar in support of High Peaks Hospice.
The Arts Center/Old Forge is planning an opening reception for its next exhibit that will feature the work of local painter Stephen Fletcher and pointillist Nancy Lee LaSalle, and this year’s themed exhibition, H2O.
The reception will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. and will include refreshments and live music by Yesterday’s News of Little Falls.
The event is open to the public and free of charge.
The H20 exhibit will feature water-themed visual art and written works. Local watercolor artist Debra Burrington will judge the visual art entries and author Bibi Wein will judge the entries in the writing division.
Honors and monetary prizes will be awarded in both categories.
Steven Fletcher’s exhibit, Scenery and Solitude, will be on display from March 19 through April 30. Fletcher’s paintings depict spirited scenes that often feature mountain people.
Pointilism: Something Different, an exhibit by Nancy LaSalle will be on display from March 26 through May 7.
More information about the opening is available by calling the Arts Center/Old Forge at (315) 369-6411.