Grahamsville

To the editor:

l wish to personally congratulate Tri-Valley Central School Students Samantha Mentnech (age 17) and Devyn Callahan (age 17) for receiving Regional Awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and both also winning Gold Key Awards and Devyn also winning an American Visions Award. (Please see Tri-Valley School Scene in this issue).

I graduated from Tri-Valley Central School way back in 1958 when it was one building (not three like now) and the school was open only 2 years.

In 1957 I was a 17-year-old when my English teacher Edward Condon “ordered” me to enter the Sullivan County Veterans of Foreign Wars essay contest “American Crusade for Free Men’s Rights” (1,000 words). At that time, I used to write local news for the Townsman.

It was during the·cold winter evenings with no television when I started writing. It just flowed and I finished the day before the deadline, and pecked away at the typewriter that evening until my mother took over typing so I could get some sleep. I turned in the paper the next day to Mr. Condon and the only class entrant.

A few weeks later, Mr. Condon told me of the big fight. He submitted my essay to the few members of the Town of Neversink Veterans of Foreign Wars, who entered it in the County wide contest. I won first prize. The Fallsburg School District was furious. For the past several years, Fallsburg always won first prize (consisting of a hand printed award and a $15.00 check.) Tri-Valley teachers and students were so proud, as we are so proud of Samantha Mentnech and Devyn Callahan. Good luck at the Hudson Valley Regents Scholastic Awards.