Amid all the adversities and drama that happen in Roselle Park, there are times we – as adults – take for granted all the good thing we have. Not to say that real issues should be ignored but sometimes it takes the eyes of a child to remind us of those things that make Roselle Park our home and more than just a place. For seven-year-old Sherman School student and lifelong Roselle Park resident Phoebe, her hometown is the best. When she was given the chance to tell the world about it, she took pencil to paper and – as a result – wrote her contest-winning essay based on the theme “There’s No Pace Like Home”.
Sponsored by the Roselle Park Historical Society and open to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the contest had those who wished to take part write what about they loved about Roselle Park in 1-2 pages. Essays were due at the beginning of the month with a committee picking the top three (3) entries. The Roché family received a phone call from Roselle Park Historical Society President Pat Butler on March 15th. She notified them that Phoebe’s essay won first place and the $100 accompanying prize. Mrs. Butler then asked that Phoebe read her essay at the 115th Anniversary Celebration of Roselle Park’s incorporation at the Casano Community Center. On Sunday, March 20th, Phoebe read to those in attendance her gift of words for the place she loves.
“She was beyond excited at winning,” commented her father Tom, “She didn’t seem nervous at all reading at the Casano event.”
She was then asked to give an encore reading at the March 22nd Board Of Education (BOE) meeting. Without hesitation or nervousness, Phoebe again regaled the filled auditorium with what she loved about Roselle Park. The crowd erupted in laughter when she offered the one thing she could change, which was to make the houses free so more people would be able to move into town and see how “awesome it is to live in Roselle Park’.
“She got a kick out of the fact that people laughed when she read the part about wishing the houses were free,” her parents said about the positivity and smiles that Phoebe’s words brought to residents. They added, “We’re so proud of her, not just for coming up with some great ideas for her essay, but also for reading it in public a few times. She can be shy sometimes, but she really shined like a pro in front of everyone!”
And now, for your consideration, the essay:
There’s No Place Like Home!
My name is Phoebe Roché and I am 7 years old. I have lived in Roselle Park my whole life. It is a great place to live and I will tell you why.
My favorite thing about Roselle Park is Sherman School because the teachers are nice and there is no bullying. Plus, it is so close to my house that I can walk there.
There are lots of fun things to do in Roselle Park. I play soccer in the spring and do activities with my Girl Scout troop all year long. In October, people come from all over to Roselle Park because we do Halloween the best!
When my friends come to visit I take them to fun places to play like Pump It Up and Hot Dog Park. Then we get great pizza from Valentino’s and ice cream from Mimi’s. Later, we go to Lego Club at the library.
If there was one thing I could change about Roselle Park it would be to make the houses free. That way, more people could move here and find out how awesome it is to live in Roselle Park.
