LITERARY DIGEST | 10 win poetry contest with original works

10 win poetry contest with original works

NILES

Aspiring poets of all ages from Mahoning, Shenango, Beaver, Tuscarawas and Cuyahoga valleys submitted copies of their original works for judging during a poetry contest that ended March 31 and marked the beginning of National Poetry Month, April 2011.

The event was sponsored by Pig Iron Literary and Art Works, Youngstown; Art Outreach Gallery, Eastwood Mall, Niles; and Pig Iron Press, Youngstown.

After the judging by Jim Villani of Pig Iron Press and Phil Warren of Youngstown City Schools, 10 winners were announced. They were:

Gloria Alden, Southington.

Carole Lynn Babyak and James T. Saker, Warren.

James E. Carlisle, Kelsey Pringle and Melodee Titus, Youngstown.

Gregory Erb and William Farragher, Canfield.

Nira B. Robinette and Vance Klem, Boardman.

The poets read their winning works at the Art Outreach Gallery during a public poetry reading on April 12.

The winning poems were reproduced in large format and are being exhibited at the Art Outreach Gallery during April. Afterward they also will be displayed at the Pig Iron Press until May 15.

YSU graduate student will publish novel

YOUNGSTOWN

“Erasing Sid Murphy,” a young adult novel by Colleen Clayton-Dippolito, Youngstown State University graduate student, has been acquired by Poppy Books and will be published in hardback in the fall of 2012.

The story centers around a 16-year-old girl in Lakewood, Ohio, who experiences a life-altering incident on a school ski trip, and on the unlikely slacker who teaches her to trust again.

Clayton-Dippolito, a former social worker, has worked in residential-treatment centers for teens and as program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mahoning Valley.

As a YSU graduate assistant, she coordinates the Mahoning Valley Outreach Program, bringing YSU Poetry Center writers to local high schools and community venues.

For more information, contact Phil Brady at psbrady@gmail.com or at 330-941-1052.

Vindicator staff reports