Baristaville seniors cleaned up all the prizes and honorable mentions in this year’s Essex County Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest. The contest asked participants to write essays about influential people or events in their lives, and the winners were judged on the author’s ability to share humorous, emotional, and rich descriptions.
The winners: Lester M. Bornstein of West Orange, Robert L. Petrus and Leah Johnston-Rowbotham of Montclair, and Kal Wagenheim of Millburn received an award certificate from the Essex County Division Services, a gift package, and read their stories at today’s luncheon at the Essex County Hospital Center.
The honorable mentions include: Carole Bailey and Sharon Sandusky of Montclair, Stanley Paluba of Bloomfield, and Douglas S. Stivison of Upper Montclair.
“The contest is a unique way for our older population to share their stories and describe the people and events that helped to shape their lives,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. Divcenzo Jr. “Their stories make you laugh and they touch your heart. They provide us with a different perspective on historical events and what our society was like.”
The essays help to create a connection between the author and reader, young or old. We especially see this connection in Lester M. Bornstein’s essay “Mother’s Day 1944″ (excerpt below). Bornstein describes the love shared between a mother and son before his departure to World War II.
“Mother’s Day 1944″: “On that April day in 1943, something drew me to Grand Central Station to check the train schedule from Boston so that I could call her and let her know when to come. Entering into that huge station with throngs of service men and women and civilians, I spotted an elderly woman sitting on a bench under the clock, clutching her pocketbook. I couldn’t believe it. It was my mother! She did not appear scared, but rather self-assured. As I approached, she ran to me, hugged me and smothered me in kisses, all the while murmuring, ‘Zinnenu, my zinnenu’ (son, my son).”
“Corn Liquor and Maple Syrup” is the humorous essay written by honorable mention Carole Bailey, which describes her aunt, Annie Ash Spinney, who illegally sold “whiskey” on Sundays to help provide for her family. The catch, Annie’s “whiskey” was really corn liquor colored with maple syrup (excerpt below).
“Corn Liquor and Maple Syrup”: “Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons found Miss Annie’s place to be the hub of activity, filled with music from phonography, laughter, and small talk as local folk came and left, usually stumbling through the doorway, their bellies warm and full after having eaten a plate of her famous pig’s feet, potato salad and corn bread, chased with a few shots of whiskey.”
The winning essays help the reader reflect and understand that despite our differences, we are similar to each other in the experiences we share. Sponsored by the Essex County Division of Senior Services, the Legacies Writing Contest began in 1996 as a national contest. In 1998, the contest was discontinued at the national level, but remained at the local level with the the Essex County Division of Senior Services.
“You don’t have to be a professional writer to participate in our Senior Legacies Writing Contest. Our seniors are very talented and they write from the heart,” states Essex County Director of Citizen Services, Anibal Ramos Jr. “Every year, I am impressed with the emotion and quality of stories. I congratulate every one for participating.”
If you would like more information about the Legacies Writing Contest or the Essex County Division of Senior Services, call 973-395-8375.
