City Hosts Stephen Crane Day
Asbury Park hosted its first Stephen Crane Day Sat., Nov. 1 with proclamations from both the city and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, readings of Crane stories and announcing the winners of a writing contest based around Crane’s work.
The author spent 10 years of his life living on Fourth Avenue in Asbury Park. The house where he lived is being restored by the current owner Frank D’Alessandro.
Activities also included a cocktail party at Synaxis and an after party at Asbury Lanes.
Susan Pelligrini, a film director and producer who is currently working on a documentary about Crane, organized the event. She was dressed as Cora Crane, the author’s mother, for the festivities wearing a long skirt from the late 1800s.
Seniors from Asbury Park High School participated in “The Pace of Youth” short story contest which commemorated the writing and literary impact of Crane, who is best known for his novel, “The Red Badge of Courage.”
The students were asked to read “The Pace of Youth” and rewrite the story in modern day times. The only thing required to remain unchanged was the location. The story takes place in Asbury Park. Advanced Placement English teacher, Kim Brightman incorporated the contest into their classroom time and even allowed the assignment to become their midterm grade.
Four winners were chosen with second place being shared by two students. Terrance Berry received the first place prize, which was an iPOD donated by the John C. Conover Agency of Allenhurst and Asbury Park.
Officials said it was Terrance’s creative writing style that won him the first place slot.
Second place winners twins Danielle and Donesse Brascomb won tee shirts and tickets for walking ghost tours from Kathy Kelly of Paranormal Books and Curiosities on Cookman Avenue. The third place winner, Shaquela Brodie, won a gift certificate from Munch also located on Cookman Avenue.
The writing contest at the high school was organized by by Phyllis Maffucci, a real estate agent with the John C. Conover Agency, Asbury Park and Allenhurst.
“The contest came about as a result of working with Susan Pellegrini and becoming familiar with Stephen Crane’s stories,” Maffucci said. “As a Conover real estate agent, the subject of community involvement often becomes a topic in our weekly meetings. Since ‘The Pace of Youth’ is a teenage love story, I thought, what a great idea it would be to have Asbury Park High School students rewrite the story using modern day circumstances and experiences. Susan loved the idea and it was well received by all; the principal Tyler Blackmore, the students, as well as the business owners who sponsored the prizes.
“It was really great to see the students of Asbury Park High School standing there among the political, business and artistic leaders of our community receiving their prizes and having their pictures taken with their friends and family proudly watching.”
Nov. 1 was named Stephen Crane Day in Asbury Park. At a ceremony marking the event, the birthday of the author who once lived in Asbury Park, were (from left) City Manager Terry Reidy, Donesse Brascomb, second place winner of the writing contest, Susan Marco, re-enactor, Larry Mihlon, re-enactor, Susan Pelligrini, director of a Stephen Crane documentary and organizer of Saturday’s events, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, Terrence Berry, first place winner in writing contest and Danielle Brascomb, who shared second place in the contest with her twin, Donesse. Not pictured is third place winner Shaquela Brodie.
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