From the Essex County Executive’s Office:
Roseland, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. presented awards to the seven winners in the Annual Essex County Parks Photography Contest on Wednesday, October 28. Winners were awarded in Adult and Youth categories.
“We congratulate the winners of the Essex County Parks Photography Contest and thank all the contestants for sharing what they experienced in our historic Parks System,” DiVincenzo said. “Events like these encourage our residents to visit our open spaces and share their artistic talents. All these photographs capture the beauty, highlight the diversity and natural splendor of our parks, reservations and recreation facilities,” he added.
The artists, and the awards they received, are as follows:
Adult Category
- Holly Barszcz from Maplewood received first place in the adult category for “Orange Reservoir.”
- Janet Markman from West Caldwell received second place in the adult category for “Grover Cleveland Park.”
- Patricia Regan Taylor from Whippany received third place in the adult category for “Verona Park.”
- Carla Francis from Boonton received an honorable mention in the adult category for “Verona Park.”
Youth Category
- Chloe Lin from Millburn received first place in the Youth Category for “South Mountain Reservation.”
- Lennon Virgin from Bloomfield received second place in the Youth Category for “Yanticaw Park.”
- Phoenix Simmons from Chatham received third place in the Youth Category for “Chipmunk, Fairy Trail, South Mountain Reservation.”
The Essex County Parks Photography Contest was sponsored by the Essex County Environmental Center and judged by members of the Essex County Photography Club. Anyone with a camera was encouraged to participate. Entries were judged in three categories: Youth for ages 17 years and younger, Adult for ages 18 and older and Professional for those who have sold their work through commercial channels, shown their photographs in exhibits or galleries, received at least two awards for their photography or have a membership in a professional craft association.
All photographs should have been taken within the boundaries of the Essex County Parks System during the past year. Entries were judged on creativity, technical superiority, composition, and the photograph’s depiction of the uniqueness of the Essex County Parks System.
All photographs were on display at the Essex County Environmental Center during September and October.
The contest was sponsored by Anthony Francos restaurant in Verona, Cannoli Shop in Fairfield, Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell, the Essex County Photo Club, Livingston Car Wash, Lombardi’s Restaurant in Cedar Grove, Manhattan Bagel in Roseland, Starbucks in Roseland, The Original Pancake House in West Caldwell, Twisted Tea in Livingston, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and the Zoological Society of NJ.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, two miniature golf courses, golf driving range, six off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (second from right) congratulates Holly Barszcz (center) from Maplewood for winning first place in the adult category in the Annual Essex County Parks Photography Contest. Others, from left are Essex County Photo Club member Chris Mauro (one of the judges), Parks Director Dan Salvante and Deputy Parks Director Kate Hartwyk. (Photo by Glen Frieson)
