The Christmas tree
By Brandon Hozian
Kirtland, Ohio
Age 11
Winner
There once was an evergreen tree that got planted in a forest. It wanted to grow to be a...
The Stocking Surprise
Second place: Mark Llewellyn, of New Castle, Pa.
Doreen’s eyes, glassy in this state of reverie, wandered from one hand to the other. Arthritis found...
Uncle Leonard
Third place: Maryann Lepovsky, 65, of Lucinda, Pa.
All the lights were out in town except for the bright orange Rexall sign on the corner...
A Christmas Surprise
Abigail Langmeyer
Age: 7
Cortland, Ohio
There was a little girl named Jane who lived on a farm in Texas. She wanted a cat for Christmas, but...
Marie’s Christmas miracle
Eileen Gress, 16, of Shreve, Ohio
It was Christmas Eve, and Marie sat in her rocking chair. She was thinking about Christmas and how her...
Through the eyes of a child
By M. Merlin Acker
Wooster, Ohio
Honorable Mention
Farmer Jim awoke early one bright spring morning, traveling to the steep eastern slope on his farm overlooking a...
2009 Adult writing contest and youth art winners
The holidays have a special meaning to all of us. It could be the sights and sounds of the children sled riding down the...
The meaning of Christmas
By Destini Smith
Vickery, Ohio
Age 12
Winner
De was in school. It was the end of the day, right before the bell rang, when her...
2009 Children, Holiday art and writing contest
Christmas stories of love, wishes, lessons learned and animals filled our mailbox and inboxes in the past few weeks and we couldn’t have been...
A friend for Christmas
By Jaclyn Krymowski
Hinckley, Ohio
Age 12
Honorable Mention
Sarah watched the winter snow fall fast, thick and heavy. This would be the loneliest Christmas ever. For...
