Young East Haven Poets' Work Celebrated

The community room at was brimming with fine poetry and poets this past Tuesday, when the library held its 11th Annual Student Poetry Awards Ceremony.

At this year's event, the following award winners were announced:

First Place

• Grade 3 - Ann Marie Abbott,
• Grade 4 - Sophia Carlone,
• Grade 5 - Jadon Lozada, Momauguin School
• Grade 6 - Tim Keth,
• Grade 7 - Joseph Milano,
• Grade 8 - Christy Robinson,

Honorable Mentions

• Grade 3 - Aimee Lynn DiVerniero,
• Grade 4 - Ishan Patel & Michael Dion, both from
• Grade 5 - Jianna Clement & Tattiana Mojica, both Momauguin School; Amanda Hopkins, Ross Woodward Magnet School of Classical Studies
• Grade 6 - Aldric Joseph & Jenna Souza, both
• Grade 8 - Scott Krebs & Jamie Ferrucci, both

The contest was open to all students in grades 3-8 who reside in East Haven, including home-schoolers and magnet school attendees.

The contest was started in 2001 by children's librarian Carolyn Siedzik.

"And we dedicate it to her memory as she inspired young poets at Hagaman for almost 30 years," Sascha Gardiner, the current children's librarian, said.

was on hand to present the awards and prizes. And served as Master of Ceremonies.

Both had some sage words of wisdom for "our proudest resource, the wonderful kids of East Haven," Gardiner said.

Friends of the Library members Palma Ruggiero, Regina D'Addio and Lorraine Burns had the arduous task of choosing winning poems from more than 230 submissions, Gardiner said.

She added that they wish to send a hardy congratulations to all of the spectacular student poets.