The Perry County Council of the Arts and Sophie’s Reaction Writers Group announces the winner of the 11th Annual Sophie Awards for Poetic Excellence. The contest has continued to attract area poets since its inception in 1998. This year participation numbered 19 poets entering 57 poems in a wide range of forms and styles. The contest was judged by accomplished writer, Elizabeth Yon, who selected the following place winners.

Sandra Philpott, of Duncannon will be awarded Perry County Poet Laureate for 2009 for her poem, “The Bridge.” The Poet Laureate title is recognized and honored by the Perry County Commissioners. Perry County’s Poet Laureate receives a $100 cash prize and becomes a featured reader at Arts Council and County events.

Eydie Wight, of Newport received the Kenneth P. Allen Award, with her poem, “Winter Morning.” Eydie will be awarded a $25 cash prize. All entries for the Kenneth P. Allen Award were required to be written in the villanelle form.

First place ($50 cash prize) was awarded to Ann Hart, of McAlisterville for “Dandelion Salad.” Second place ($20 cash prize) was awarded to Kenneth J. Little, of Marysville for “March Formations.” Third place ($15 cash prize) was awarded to Lynelle David, of Liverpool for “I’ll call it, Bittersweet.” Honorable mentions were awarded to Lynelle David, of Liverpool for “In Darkness Shines the Light,” Richard Bargdill, of Ebensburg for “Sore(sic),” and Tony Oliveri for “More’n halfa hundred.” Winning poems will be published in the next issue of the Arts Council’s newsletter, The Artsquarter, to be released in June 2009. The judge of this year’s awards was 1999 Perry County Poet Laureate, Elizabeth Yon. Elizabeth is an award winning poet and short story writer whose work has been published in Central PA Magazine, PHASE, The Raystown Review, Beauty for Ashes Poetry Review, and in her own illustrated chapbook, Fruit & Bones (available at the PCCA Gallery, illustrations by Carolyn Pio).

An awards ceremony honoring winning poets will take place at Espresso Yourself Café located at 8 S. Second St., Newport at 7 p.m. April 2. The contest winners will read their poetry. The event is free and open to the public.

Perry County Council of the Arts receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Additional funding is provided by the private foundations and the Perry County Community Foundation. For more information, readers may call the Arts Council at 567-7023, or visit the website at www.perrycountyarts.org.