FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi

May 28, 2010 973-621-2542

Lauren Shears

973-621-1590

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO AND DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES

PRESENT AWARDS TO WINNERS OF ANNUAL SENIOR CITIZEN LEGACIES WRITING CONTEST

Essex County Senior Citizens Experience the Joys of Writing

by Sharing Anecdotes and Life Stories

Cedar Grove, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. recognized the writing talents of nine Essex County residents during the Essex County Division of Senior Service’s Annual Legacies Writing Contest Celebration Luncheon on Friday, May 28th. The Legacies Writing Contest encourages Essex senior citizens to write essays about the people and events that have influenced their lives.

“Our Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest is a unique way for our older population to share their life’s stories and describe the people and events that helped to shape their lives,” DiVincenzo said. “Our seniors’ 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,” he added.

Anneliese Kovach from Caldwell was presented with “The Director’s Award” for her story titled “An Unexpected Lesson.” Other seniors with winning essays were Helen Croom of Irvington, Harriet Halpern of Montclair, Irma Lou Sanders of Cedar Grove and June Giles Wigfall of West Orange. Honorable mentions were awarded to Peggy La Vake of Cedar Grove and Leah Johnston-Rowbotham, Billie Smith Culler and Toby Stein of Montclair. More than 300 seniors attended the annual awards luncheon, which was held in the Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove.

“All our seniors have stories to tell, and our Legacies Writing Contest provides our older adults with an incentive to preserve their memories, and create a living history,” Essex County Division of Senior Services Director Jaklyn DeVore said. “Writing enables our seniors to share their memories with friends and families, allows them to reminisce about old times, and keeps their minds active. This is one of our most popular events because of the emotions and memories that are evoked,” she added.

Anneliese Kovach of Caldwell received “The Director’s Award” for her story “An Unexpected Lesson.” As a mischievous third-grader, Kovach experienced a life-changing event after sweeping eraser crumbs from her desk using the long, bushy ponytails of her classmate sitting in front of her. It was during World War II, and when the teacher scolded Kovach, she blamed her student’s German heritage for her behavior. Kovach’s mother confronted the teacher and then enrolled her daughter in private school. “And with that, a life changing process began to evolve,” Kovach writes. “I was so proud of my mother and my whole relationship with her changed. It took great courage for her to speak up for me, who usually had to translate for her whenever necessary.”

Helen Croom of Irvington submitted “A Time Remembered,” which was recognized as being one of the winning essays. Croom wrote about growing up in Harlem during the Great Depression and World War II. There was always a lot of activity and the social scene was very popular. However, the writer more fondly remembers spending time with her mother on Saturdays. They would walk throughout New York City, go shopping or have lunch in the Automat. In the Automat, customers would insert coins into a machine and then choose sandwiches and desserts from behind small glass windows. “I have always treasured the memory of those wonderful outings with Mom,” Croom writes. “On days when I am down I still think of the joy of those Saturdays excursions. I mourned the passing of the Automat. It was the center of my most treasured memories of childhood and Mom.”

Harriet Halpern of Montclair wrote “In Memory of Miss McNally,” which was chosen as one of the winning stories. Her grade school music teacher, Miss McNally, was an intimidating character who mercilessly classified students according to their singing ability without worrying about the impact on their self esteem. By the time she entered eighth grade, Halpern had accepted her fate of being placed in the group that could not carry a note. Later, in her professional life, she became a teacher – English, not music – and made sure she never humiliated a student. Miss McNally had a profound impact on Halpern, who only recently began to sing, but only in groups. Halpern writes: “It is time for us to sing whenever we want to, and never mind all the Miss McNallys who say we may not be vocal without their permission!”

Irma Lou Saunders of Cedar Grove was recognized as having a winning story with “The Little Valley below Nichol’s Pond.” The current economic crisis evoked memories of growing up during the Great Depression for Saunders. She wrote that men who were down on their luck would camp by Nichol’s Pond in Nutley. When men came to their house looking for help, Saunders’ mother would provide a hot meal and give old clothes. “Witnessing my mother’s generosity and compassion and seeing those who inhabited the little valley helped me to empathize with those less fortunate than myself,” writes Saunders. “I hope that our present ‘depression’ will end soon. We can become better people because of it and a better country. It was certainly beneficial and heartwarming for me to rekindle my memories and to revisit The Little Valley Below Nichol’s Pond!”

June Giles Wigfall of West Orange wrote “A Significant Period in My Life,” which was recognized as one of the winning stories. Wigfall’s coming of age story includes how her life was affected by the events of 1960 – as a debutant participating in the NAACP Cotillion of Jersey City, the election of John F. Kennedy as President and the fight against Jim Crow laws. An influential figure was the late Raymond Brown, a black attorney who galvanized the Civil Rights movement in New Jersey and lead boycotts and protests against southern companies that deprived blacks of their rights. As they participated in picket lines, Wigfall and her friends realized the seriousness of the issues affecting the country. “It took a while, but what we were doing began to penetrate. We were starting to see the importance of supporting others, and not always thinking of ourselves,” she wrote.

Leah Johnston-Rowbotham of Montclair received an honorable mention award for “The Gift.” She writes that her fondest memory while growing up is of sitting with her grandmother and listening to her tell stories. Her grandmother would tell the story, but would give Johnston-Rowbotham choices on what characters were involved and the outcome. “I remember nestling in close to the smell and sound and warmth of her and knew that I was safe,” Johnston-Rowbotham writes. “And many times throughout the years, I have reached back in time to that memory, wrapped myself in it and knew that I was cherished.”

Peggy La Vake of Cedar Grove wrote “Dear Papa” and was awarded an honorable mention. A musician, La Vake explains how she is the guardian of a box of old letters from 1906-1908 written by her grandmother Benita to her great-grandfather. The letters provide insight about Benita and how important music was in her life. La Vake notes that her life is similar to her grandmother’s – how they both left home and moved to a strange city to study music and eventually have successful careers. “I am wondering if Benita Conlin has transcended time and space to join me when I finally have clarity and hindsight to embrace the deep connection and profound importance of blood, genes and memories handed down in a box of letters,” she writes.

Billie Smith Culler of Montclair received an honorable mention award for her story “Jeannie B.” Culler writes about the relationship she had with her mother. The two did not always get along, but Culler always felt a special bond with her mother. When her mother was in the hospital, shortly before she passed away, the two put aside their differences, talked about old times and laughed about family stories. “I missed her laugh, her soft cheek when we hugged, and her being in the world,” she wrote.

Toby Stein of Montclair received an honorable mention recognition for “Mama and Soreh: My First Grade Teacher,” her story about the two people who most influenced her life. One was her mother, Zelya Zam Stein, who provided for and protected her daughter, and taught her that saying “thank you” is most important. The other woman was Soreh Fuchs, who ran a child care center at a time when most families took care of their own children. As a young girl, Stein did not talk much. One day at the playground, Fuchs told her she would not push Stein on the swing unless she asked in a complete sentence. “From the start, it’s been the tough teachers I learned from, and loved,” she wrote.

“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,” Essex County Director of Citizen Services Anibal Ramos, Jr. said. “Every year, I am impressed with the emotion and quality of stories. I congratulate every one for participating,” he added.

Sponsored by the Essex County Division of Senior Services, the Legacies Writing Contest was started in 1996 and was part of a national contest which encouraged senior citizens to discover the joys of writing while sharing their stories with others. Although the national contest was discontinued in 1998, the Essex County Division of Senior Services continued to sponsor the Legacies Writing Contest on a local level. Entries are judged on the writer’s ability to engage the reader with humor, emotional impact or rich descriptions. Winning stories were selected by a committee of volunteer judges and staff from the Essex County Division of Senior Services. As part of the annual Legacies Writing Contest, each of the winners’ stories will be published in the Division of Senior Services’ newspaper, The Essex Advisor.

The Essex County Division of Senior Services offers a wide range of services to eligible Essex County senior citizens. The Division offers adult protective services, provides basic transportation services, administers adult day care centers, offers counseling services for caregivers, provides home delivered meals and offers visiting nurse services. For more information, please call 973-395-8375.