The Town of Huntington Youth Bureau Project EXCEL is kicking-off its seventh annual Townwide writing contest, Huntington Youth Writes, for students in grades four through twelve who attend school in the Town of Huntington or live in the Town. Since it began in 2000, more than 8,000 entries have been submitted to the contest.

More than $2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded and winners will have their work published collectively by the Town. The writing categories are poetry, short fiction, and essays. Entries will be judged in three categories -Grades 4&5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. Cash prizes will be given to the First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention winners in each category.

Poems should be limited to 30 lines. Short fiction and essays should not exceed 3,000 words. Suggested topics include "Common Ground", "Reducing Violence in Society", "Cleaning-up the Environment", "A Memorable Person", "Your Dreams for the Future", "Pets", "Friendship", "Civics & Government", and "Imagine If…". Of course, student authors are free to choose any suitable topic they'd like.

Huntington Youth Writes entry forms are available from the Huntington Youth Bureau, located in Room 200 at the Village Green/John J. Flanagan Center at the corner of Park Avenue and Main Street in Huntington, or by calling the Bureau at (631) 271-5499. Entry forms are also available at local schools, libraries, and other youth-related locations throughout the Town.

The deadline for submissions is March 16 at 5pm. Contest winners will attend a special writing workshop on May 19 and an awards and publishing party will be held on June 7. For more information, contact the Youth Bureau at (631) 271-5499.