Bombeck’s daughter to deliver address

Washington-Centerville Public Library announced that Betsy Bombeck, a social worker, community volunteer and daughter of the legendary humorist Erma Bombeck, will deliver the keynote address at the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, at Centerville Library, 111 W. Spring Valley Road. It’s free and open to the public.

When her mother died in 1996, Bombeck eulogized her this way: “She challenges me to carry on her spirit of dignity, grace, courage, humor, love for others and most especially for family and God. In that way, she never really dies — she continues to live.”

This year’s contest drew 657 human interest and humorous essays from 44 states, Washington, D.C., and nine countries (Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Kenya, Spain and the United Kingdom).

Given the volume of entries this year in the writing competition, the library has increased the value and number of prizes. The four winners in the humor and human interest categories will read their essays at the Celebration Evening and will receive $1,000 and free registrations to the sold-out April 5-7 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop at the University of Dayton. For the first time, writers receiving honorable mentions will receive $100 prizes.

For more information and to read the winning essays, visit the Library’s website at wclibrary.info.