It’s hard to say who’s sweeter ? little Ava Paternoster or the Achatz pie she won for her mother Katy.
The Lakeville Elementary second-grader penned a winning essay (see below) in response to the question, ‘Why does your mother deserve a piece of Achatz pie??
‘She’s really special to me and I really love her a lot,? Paternoster said. ‘She always helps out and she’s really nice.?
Paternoster’s essay earned her mother a $50 gift basket from the Achatz Handmade Pie Co. which included the store’s signature four-berry pie, jam, salad dressing, granola, cookies, pound-cake and a pie server.
The prize was presented to her on Mother’s Day.
A total of 140 essays were entered in the local pie shop’s Mother’s Day contest.
‘It was a lot of fun to read them,? said Andrea Malone, co-manager of Achatz? Oxford location. ‘The second-grader’s were hysterical. Some of the high school kids were heart-wrenching.?
All 68 of Lakeville Elementary’s second-graders entered the contest thanks to teacher Judy Bozynski.
‘I just thought it would be a great opportunity for the kids to practice their writing and to support the community,? she explained. ‘I thought that was a fabulous idea on Achatz? part.?
Bozynski liked exposing her students to how writing can have practical applications.
‘It gave them a purpose for writing. This was an opportunity for them to see how they could use it outside of school.?
‘They were a riot to read,? Malone noted. ‘Second-graders ? they just tell all. All in all they were pretty funny.?
Bozynski said she loved Paternoster’s essay because ‘she kind of thought outside the box.?
Instead of just focusing on what her mother does for her ‘material-wise,? Bozynski said Paternoster’s essay emphasized ‘the gift of giving that her mother’s giving to her.?
‘I can see why she won,? Bozynski said.
Everyone who entered the essay contest received a free slice of Achatz pie.
Lakeville second-graders packed their slices in special Mother’s Day bags which also included their essays, cards with tea bags and tissue paper flowers.
Because the Oxford location received the most entries of all six Achatz locations, the 40 N. Washington St. store received a $25 prize, which Malone donated to Bozynski’s class.
‘I’m going to purchase some books to go in our classroom library,? Bozynski said. ? I think the whole class deserves it because they really took it to heart and they did a good job.?
Overall, Bozynski enjoyed the whole experience. ‘It was just wonderful to work with a business in the community,? she said. ‘They were very supportive.?

Why my mom deserves a piece of pie

By Ava Paternoster

My mom is very nice. She loves me a lot. She always donates stuff to our church. She loves to help out.
My mom deserves a piece of pie because she does a lot of hard work. My mom loves to help around Christmas. We will go to church and sort the Christmas baskets for people. Then we load them up.
One year, we went to older people’s houses. We would talk to them. They were always very happy to see us. My mom loves to help. I love to, too.