The winners of the Amagansett Village Improvement Society’s “Love Letters to Amagansett” essay-writing contest were announced on the society’s website on Monday, Valentine’s Day.
Entrants were asked to explain, in 100 words or fewer, why they love the hamlet. Entries were judged by a panel of society board members on the basis of content, creativity, originality, and fresh point of view.
“We were overwhelmed with the response,” said Victor Gelb, a co-president of the society, “so much so that it was decided to award two prizes in each category” and add an additional prize, for group entry.
Mr. Gelb said that “our beaches, restaurants, library, and shops were recurring themes,” adding that “the sentiments expressed reflect how truly blessed we are to live in a caring community.”
Michael Schenkler and Edith Lester Smith were named winners in the adult category. They will be awarded a gift certificate to Amagansett Wine and Spirits and a Visa gift card, respectively.
In the youth category (ages 12 to 18), Sam Koffler and Dante Sasso won gift certificates to Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee. The winners in the children’s category, Plum Nugent and Reid Palmer, will receive gift certificates to BookHampton, and the group entry winners, the second and fifth-grade children of the Amagansett School, will each receive a gift bag.
Contestants will be given red-felt stuffed lobsters as a token of the society’s appreciation of their appreciation of the hamlet.
The society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It fell in September, but marking the occasion, along with the society’s annual Summer Splash fund-raiser, was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
