Islesboro Central School held an assembly on March 17 to recognize and honor winners of its annual Creative Writing Contest. The contest’s goal has been to encourage students to value the art of writing through positive feedback and recognition from their teachers, peers and community members for excellence in writing.
This year’s theme, for students in grades 6-8 and 9-12, was a visual prompt. The image was a Johann Berthelsen painting that hangs over the fireplace in the principal’s office, which depicts a Manhattan winter scene. Berthelsen, born in Denmark, is a late American Impressionist painter who moved to New York City in 1920, where he became known for his cityscapes of metropolitan New York, in particular the romantic city streets on a snowy day. The painting at the school notes that it was “presented by Veda and Alvin Harnes.” To whom, when, and under what circumstances it came to be a familiar presence at the school has been lost in history. (Anyone reading this who knows something about the painting is encouraged to contact me or the school.)
In the middle school prose division, first place went to Jeffrey Lewis, for his descriptive story titled, “A Day On the Streets.” Second place went to Claire Boucher for “Birthday Money,” and third place was Jesse Tutor’s piece titled “A Winter Worry.”
Middle school level poetry awards went to first place winner Samatha Durkee for “Life from Sky to Ground.” Second place honors went to Jeffrey Lewis, and Patric Skigen took third place for his poem titled, “The Winter Cold.”
At the high school level, first place for prose went to Chloe La Pointe for “White Wash,” a piece that draws the reader into the thoughts of the painter. Second place went to Krysti Hall for a well-thought-out story with good dialogue, and third place to Emily Thomas for her nicely paced piece, “The Meeting.”
Nicholas Porter took first place honors in the high school poetry division for his very hip, evocative poem, “Blowing Madness.” Michael Pisciotta took second place with “Up Comes the Blizzard,” a powerful snapshot of NYC, and third place went to Richard Coombs, for his biting cold, shivery poem, “Still Standing Tall.”