PHOTOS: Local children awarded for their imaginative Halloween inspired artwork

As the countdown to Christmas began, Halloween was still sticking around, at least for one last night, as the neighborhood children who participated in this year’s Bay Ridge Community Council Fall Poster and Window Painting Contest reunited for the annual awards ceremony, where each student received his or her award.

In the eyes of the judges, everyone was a winner.

The ceremony was held on Tuesday, November 24 at Fort Hamilton High School, at 83rd Street and Shore Road, to commemorate the competition, which took place on Tuesday, October 27 with roughly 500 students from 30 or so public, private, and parochial schools, grades four through 12, within District 20, partaking in the contest.

Chair of the community Halloween Art Contest committee Maria Makrinos served as emcee for the night. She noted that the Bay Ridge Community Council congratulated a packed gymnasium full of student artists, along with their teachers parents, and friends. The artists were presented with Gold, Silver or Bronze medals, certificates, and a lucky few snagged cash and paint prizes in a lottery drawing of all the students who attended.

Makrinos credits many groups for their support for this year’s contest, including the 86th Street Business Improvement District, the Merchants of Third Avenue, the Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue BID, the Dyker Heights Civic Association, the Fort Hamilton Parkway Board of Trade, and the 13th Avenue Merchants Association,

In addition, Makrinos noted the committee’s gratitude for the support of local elected officials Councilmember Vincent Gentile, State Senator Marty Golden, Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis, and Congressmember Dan Donovan who congratulated every student with a personal letter of recognition for their hard work and participation in the neighborhood contest. Makrinos noted there was extra support from Gentile, who secured a grant for the Bay Ridge Community Council to be used towards this now-64-year-old community event.

The contest usually takes place the Tuesday before Halloween every year. Next year’s competition is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2016.