Reception in Arlington Hts. honors winning artists, writers

Beverly Ottaviano of Arlington Heights leads the Barrington Writers' Workshop, where she regularly encourages members to submit their writing to contests.

Earlier this year, she took her own advice and wound up a winner in the Daily Herald Community Art and Writing Contest.

Ottaviano took first place for her poem titled "A Murder of Crows."

She and the rest of the award winners - in art, poetry and prose - were honored at a reception culminating the 40th annual Arts Unlimited celebration, hosted by Northwest Community High School District 214.

"Entering a contest like this is a great exercise," Ottaviano said, "and when you get recognition, wow!"

The second-place winner in poetry, Debbie Ippolito Di Verde of Arlington Heights, won for "Where Do the Dandelion Seeds Go?"

"It's part of a manuscript for a children's book - in poetry form - that I'm trying to get published," Di Verde said. "This is so encouraging. It lets me know I'm on to something."

Mark Mandernach, a third-place winner in prose, also said his entry - and recognition - has him thinking about following through on writing a book.

"I grew up on a farm in Barrington and I always thought there was some potential for a book or short stories," said Mandernach who formerly freelanced in journalism and now works in corporate communications. "I've had all these thoughts but never knew how to put it together."

Each year, the Daily Herald partners with District 214 to sponsor the Art & Writing Contest, allowing adults who live in the district to compete alongside students in its Arts Unlimited competition.

Other community winners were: Joanne Rooney of Arlington Heights, who took first place for her prose entry "The Closet," and Dennis Depcik of Buffalo Grove, who placed second with his story "Not Dad's Day."

In the art category, Jeanne Garrett of Arlington Heights took first place for her entry called "Still Life," while Erik Jorgenson of Mount Prospect took second for his ceramic piece called "Horse Hair Raku." Erin Schultz of Arlington Heights placed third for her portraits called "Nerves."

Rounding out the poetry category was Me Hansburg with an original poem called "Come Day."

The reception took place at Forest View Educational Center and opened with a display of all of the winning works by students and community members in a gallery-type setting, with a performance by the Buffalo Grove High School's string quartet in the background.

Kurt Laakso, assistant superintendent for District 214, served as emcee for the student performances that followed in the auditorium.

He opened by introducing the Friend of the Arts winners, who are both longtime band directors in the district retiring this year: Edward Jacobi from Buffalo Grove High School and Brian Logan of Wheeling High School.

"I've always been a proponent of music for music sake, and art and for art's sake," Jacobi said. "I believe it's incredibly important for students to have total access to the arts as part of their education."

Laakso also introduced this year's nominees for the Richard W. Calisch Arts Unlimited Award, which acknowledges one student from each school who has demonstrated creative excellence and contribution to the arts at their school and in the community.

Nominees are: Katarzyna Pilat of Buffalo Grove High School, Kathryn Riopel of Elk Grove High School, Morgan Buckley of Hersey High School, Katherine Fitzgerald of Prospect High School, Wesley Carroll of Rolling Meadows High School and Margaret Scanlan of Wheeling High School.