Warwick Valley Telephone announces 37th annual directory cover competition winners

WARWICK — Many artists throughout the Warwick Valley answered the call for artwork to adorn Warwick Valley Telephone’s 2016/17 Directory. The competition has been offered every year since 1979.

“We had so many amazing entries," said Jean Beattie, WVT’s Planning and Product Manager who manages the production and design of the directory. "It was a very difficult decision.”

• The first-place winner – whose photo of Baird’s Farm will grace the cover of the directory – is Jason Williamen.

Williamen is a graduate of Warwick Valley High School and works at Orange County Automotive.

When asked about his photography training, he said: “Photography is a hobby for me. I watched a few YouTube videos, bought a camera and took it from there.”

• Second place was awarded to local painter Kevin J. Unick for an acrylic on canvas of the Carriage Path Bridge.

• Third-place winner Robin LaCicero is a local photographer who submitted an image she called Big Island Sunset.

More details about all three artists and images of Unick's and LaCicero's artwork can be found within the directory when it is published later in the spring.

Because of the quantity of entries this year, Beattie announced that the competition will alternate mediums going forward.

Next year, WVT will be asking for paintings and the following year photographers will be sought for the cover art.

• The competition is open to those 18 years and over who send in artwork that depicts a realistic location from within the WVT telephone serving area, which includes Warwick, Pine Island, Florida in New York and Vernon, Upper Greenwood Lake and Highland Lakes in New Jersey.

• For more information about the cover competition, call 845-986-2090 or stop in to Warwick Valley Telephone at 47 Main St. in Warwick.