Creative Writing Contest Awards Presented

The winners of the creative writing contest sponsored this summer by the Pacific Palisades Library Association (PPLA) were announced at a special after-school event on October 8.   The contest attracted entries in five different categories: Scribblers (grades 1-2), Jotters (3-4), Scrawlers (5-6), Scribes (7-8) and Authors (high school). Entries included poems, essays and short stories that were judged by members of the PPLA, also known as Friends of the Library.   All entrants received a participation certificate. The top three winners in every category received gift certificates from Village Books: $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third.   In the Scribbler category, Zach Hausner won with his entry ‘Design Land.’ Ryan Peterson placed second and third went to Rory and Connor Asawa.   Winning the Jotters category with her entry ‘Friendship Pie’ was Kiley McKay. Second was Eve McKenzie Wilkins and third was Carly Burdorf.   ’Alone in My Own World’ by Annie Lazebnik took first in the Scrawlers. Second place went to Katrina Biller and Dexter Zinman was third.   The Scribe winner was Zoe Dutton, who wrote ‘Earth Epics: Part I.’ Second place was a tie between Rachel Burdorf and Daniel Roth, and third was Ava Giglio.   In the high school category, there was a tie for first between Annie Elander, who wrote ‘A Life at the Beach,’ and Laura Sieling, who penned ‘Memories.’ Sophia Stone took second, and Fiona Hayman and Anna Mayer tied for third.   Elaine Wechsler, formerly a board member of the Library Association, started the contest in 1990 to promote literature and writing for Palisades youth.   The winning entries can be read online at www.friendsofpalilibrary.org.