Congrats to the Winners!

This past Sunday, Emma Clark Library, along with the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, local elected officials, and representatives from the Three Village Central School district, awarded teens with the second annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award:

Grand Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Good Night, Judy by Katie Zhao

Grand Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Sal the Sock by Michelle Pacala

Honorable Mention (Grades 7 – 9 category): Rainbow by Nicole Freeley

Honorable Mention (Grades 10 – 12 category): Honu by Samantha White

At the ceremony in the Vincent R. O’Leary Community Room, Library Director Ted Gutmann, along with the family of Helen Stein Shack, presented all of the winners’ books – bound and added to the library’s Local Focus Collection – along with $500 scholarships to grand-prize winners Katie Zhao and Michelle Pacala.

Samantha Kelly and Niva Taylor, granddaughters of the late Helen Stein Shack, gave a heartwarming speech about their grandmother and how much she loved Emma Clark Library.

“This was her favorite place to take us in the entire world, “remarked Ms. Kelly.

Mr. Paul Hennings, staff member from Senator John Flanagan’s office, brought certificates for all of the winners on behalf of the Senator. Councilwoman Valerie Cartright presented the winners with certificates from the Town of Brookhaven. Three Village Central School District President of the Board of Education William Connors, Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Scanlon, Three Village Art Department Chairperson Jennifer Trettner, R.C. Murphy English Department Chairperson Cathy Duffy, and R.C. Murphy Junior High School Librarian Betsy Knox were all in attendance.

“What I really like seeing is the way we’re working with the schools on this, “Mr. Gutmann observed. “We’re all part of this same community, and it’s great in this day and age to see organizations like ours working together and promoting something which is certainly very worthwhile.”

Guests enjoyed desserts donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop, a local Three Village-owned business. Everyone then moved upstairs to the Children’s Department program room where the grand-prize winners read their stories to young patrons.

The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest called for teens in grades 7 through 12 who live in the Three Village Central School District to create a children’s picture book. Each entry could be the work of a single author/illustrator or a collaborative effort of an author and an illustrator. The contest was divided into two grade categories, grades 7 through 9 and grades 10 through 12, with one Grand Prize winner from each group, as well as an Honorable Mention winner from each category. The library is grateful to the children of the late Mrs. Shack who have established a substantial endowment with the library to cover the cost of presenting this award.

“I think this is an amazing way to continue the legacy of Helen Stein Shack. I think that allowing kids to express themselves in an artistic manner – positive artistic manner – is important, “said Councilwoman Valerie Cartright. “You are the future leaders…Keep expressing yourself. In a world today where there are so many negative things going on, every time you turn on the television it’s something negative, something that makes you want to cry or be mad, you need to have outlets. Positive outlets. And these [books] are positive outlets, not only for you, but it puts a smile on the faces of those who view it.”

The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and on the web at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.

“The Heart of the Three Village Community”