The Heart of the Three Village Community
Category: News Items
8th Annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award Ceremony Back In-Person at Library
Setauket, NY – April 13, 2022 –
Emma Clark Library board members & staff, the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, local elected officials, representatives from the Three Village Central School District, and guests from the community gathered on Tuesday evening, April 12th to honor the winners of the eighth annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award:
First Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Pete the Penguin Goes to the Library by Matthew Blumenthal (9th grader at Murphy Junior High School)
First Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): The Raccoon Jug-Band written by Amelia Grant and illustrated by Anna Grant (Homeschooled 10th and 11th graders)
Second Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): The Big Carrot by Julia Hou (8th grader at Gelinas Junior High School)
Second Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Mareld by Ammella Een (Homeschooled 12th grader)
Library Director Ted Gutmann, along with the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, presented all of the winners’ books – bound and added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection – along with $400 checks to first prize winners Matthew Blumenthal (9th grader at R.C. Murphy Junior High School) and Amelia Grant and Anna Grant (10th and 11th graders who are homeschooled) and $100 checks for second prize winners Julia Hou (8th grader at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School) and Ammella Een (12th grader who is homeschooled). Senator Mario Mattera, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Legislator Kara Hahn, Supervisor Ed Romaine, and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich were all in attendance to present certificates to the winners from New York State, Suffolk County, and Brookhaven Town, respectively.
Many of the speakers discussed the wonderful talent and bright futures of these winners. Assemblyman Steve Englebright remarked, “We get a preview here, actually, of the future. And because young people who dare to dream, and in this case, put those dreams to paper and make it into art and literature, that is the future and it is reassuring.” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine commented, “We have some authors here this evening who are young in age, but wise in experience.”
Library Board President Deborah Blair, Vice President Christopher Fletcher, Treasurer Carol Leister, Secretary Dave Douglas, and trustees Orlando Maione and Suzanne Shane were there to congratulate the winners. Three Village Central School District Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Kevin Scanlon, Murphy Junior High Principal Brian Biscari, Murphy Junior High English Chair Jessica Metrio, and Murphy Junior High School Librarian Betsy Knox, and Ward Melville High School Librarian April Hatcher were all in attendance.
Guests enjoyed special treats donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop, a local Three Village-owned business. Ward Melville High School teen volunteer Raymond Lang photographed the event.
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 between an author and an illustrator. The contest was divided into two grade categories, grades 7 through 9 and grades 10 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group.
Senator Mario Mattera commented, “You accomplished something so incredible, and I just want to say congratulations to all the winners.”
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 the awards as a tribute to their mother and her commitment to passing along the importance and joy of reading for generations to come. Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich mentioned that Mrs. Shack not only created a legacy of her family members, but also the legacy of the books that come out of this contest.
Mrs. Shack’s son, Ed Taylor, spoke about a milestone in their family this past year – the birth of the first great grandchild of the late Helen Stein Shack. “She’s going to be sitting on our laps, and we’ll be reading her the books that were inspired by this competition that’s in the name of this little girl’s great grandmother, who she didn’t get a chance to meet, but who she’ll have that connection through these books…we thought we were giving a gift to the library, but the library really gave us a gift.”
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”
8th Annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award Winners Announced
Setauket, NY – March 10, 2022 –
Emma Clark Library is thrilled to reveal the winners of the Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award, an annual contest for junior high and high school students in the Three Village Central School District:
First Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Pete the Penguin Goes to the Library by Matthew Blumenthal (9th grader at Murphy Junior High School)
First Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): The Raccoon Jug-Band written by Amelia Grant and illustrated by Anna Grant (Homeschooled 10th and 11th graders)
Second Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): The Big Carrot by Julia Hou (8th grader at Gelinas Junior High School)
Second Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Mareld by Ammella Een (Homeschooled 12th grader)
The Raccoon Jug-Band, written by Amelia Grant and illustrated by Anna Grant, has handsomely colored and textured illustrations, along with a sing-song, uplifting story about music and celebration. Pete the Penguin Goes to the Library by Matthew Blumenthal is a fun story about all of the places you can “travel” to – such as medieval castles, outer space, the forest, and a city with superheroes – just by taking a trip to the library and being immersed in a book. Mareld by Ammella Een transports the young reader to an island with a girl who is trying to find her way home, and the book is done in gentle pen and beautiful watercolor that shows off both the landscape and the girl’s facial features. The Big Carrot by Julia Hou has charmingly delicate drawings of two bunnies who plant carrots together and tells of how they grow not just carrots, but in moral character.
Contest winners will be celebrated at a private awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Each First Prize award recipient will receive a $400 scholarship, and each Second Prize award recipient will receive a $100 scholarship. For those that are a collaborative effort, the prize money will be split between the author and the illustrator. The newly bound books – made into hardcover by the Library – will have the honor of being added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection, and winners will also receive copies of their books to cherish in their own home libraries. Light refreshments will be served at the reception, and desserts are being generously donated by The Bite Size Bakes Shop, a local Three Village business.
Past ceremonies have had Library trustees, teachers and top school district administrators, as well as elected officials from New York State, Suffolk County, and the Town of Brookhaven, all in attendance to honor the winners. Emma Clark Library is delighted to once again hold a special ceremony honoring these talented young authors and illustrators and to add their original books to the Library’s collection of local authors.
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 First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group.
This award is given in memory of Helen Stein Shack by her family. As a teacher, Mrs. Shack was committed to the education of children, and she especially loved literature written for them. She was a frequent visitor to Emma Clark Library where, even in retirement, she kept current with the latest children’s books. 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 the prizes.
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online 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”
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Health and Hygiene Drive at Emma Clark Library
Setauket, NY – January 26, 2022 –
Many of us take basic personal care items for granted, but they are essential for day-to-day health. The cost of these necessities can add up and may be inaccessible to some individuals. Thus, to support the community, Emma Clark Library is running a Health and Hygiene Drive from Saturday, February 26 through Sunday, March 13. Library staff are collecting new toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, mouthwash, razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, diapers, and more. These personal care items will be distributed to various local organizations that help those in need of supplies. A box will be located in the Library lobby and all (residents or nonresidents) are welcome to donate.
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”
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7th Annual Kids Bookmark Contest Hosted By Emma Clark Library
Setauket, NY – January 25, 2022 –
Kids, get out your crayons and markers! Emma Clark Library is once again hosting a Bookmark Contest for children in the Three Village Central School District, Kindergarten through 6th grade. Winners receive the incredible honor of having their bookmarks professionally printed. Community members may then take home a copy of one or more of the winning bookmarks!
To pick up an Official Entry Form and Bookmark Template, kids may stop by the Children’s Reference Desk or download the form at kids.emmaclark.org. The entry deadline is March 31, 2022. Winners will be chosen in three categories (K – 2, 3rd & 4th, and 5th & 6th grades) and announced on Monday, May 2, 2022 to kick off Children’s Book Week. All contestants’ entries are displayed in the Children’s Department for visitors to view.
Last year’s winners were Aura Valdivia (Nassakeag Elementary) in the grades K – 2 category; Emma Yu (Nassakeag Elementary) in the grades 3 & 4 category; Joyce Lee (Mount Elementary) in the grades 5 & 6 category.
Each year the staff at the Library, along with the community, loves seeing the original and creative entries by Three Village children. The contest is fantastic inspiration to create…and of course, to read!
If you have any questions about the Kids Bookmark Contest, please email marcela@emmaclark.org or call 631.941.4080 ext. 123.
Please note: With all Emma Clark Library contests, Emma Clark employees, trustees, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.
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”
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The Heart of the Three Village Community
