Kids hook prizes for whopping fish tales.(Neighbor) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Connie Powers

How did all those monster goldfish get into Lake Ellyn?

That's the question kids answered to enter the Glen Ellyn Park District's 'Whopping Tale' contest.

'It's basically the biggest lie you could think of in 150 words or less,' said Mary Defiglia, recreation supervisor for the park district.

Entrants with the wildest stories in their age division were declared winners.

Emily Kowalski, 8, won her division with her theory that the goldfish dropped into the lake during a storm when it 'rained geese and goldfish.'

Another winner, Mark Miller, 11, wrote about a boy who, while wearing a goldfish-printed swimsuit, was yanked into Lake Ellyn by a huge fish. After climbing out, the boy noticed his suit was blank, and the fish that had decorated it were now swimming in the lake.

Elizabeth Kos, 13, took the prize for her division with her tale of sinister goldfish who chose Lake Ellyn as their headquarters for world domination.

Kevin Sobocinski, winner of the ninth-grade through adult division, credits a fictional character named John Gold, who helped dig the hole for Glen Ellyn. While excavating, Gold stumbled upon a little dead fish and placed it into the lake. The fish's spirit looked favorably on Gold's good deed, so the next day the lake was filled with his namesake fish.

Children also entered poems, art, even a newspaper, complete with headlines, horoscopes and a sports page, all about fish.

'They weren't what we asked for, but we sure couldn't discount them; they were so good,' Defiglia said about the atypical entries. 'We ended up creating a couple more categories.'

Most Creative Whopping Fish Tale went to the newspaper entry by Brian Connelly, 12, and Kevin Klein, 12. Honorable Mention for Best Whopping Fish Tale Poem was awarded to Emily Peck, 12, while Most Artistic Whopping Fish Tale went to Kristy Eggert, 13.

Winners will present their whoppers at the park district's annual fishing derby June 21 at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn.

The event will be expanded beyond fishing this year to include games, crafts and a 'special aquarium,' in which several of Glen Ellyn's 'big fish' - Fire Chief Stu Stone, County Board member Mike Formento, and Village President Joe Wark - will be dunked.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 21. Registration is $5 for residents, $7.50 for nonresidents, and participants should bring their own fishing poles.

For more information, call (630) 858-2462.

Chalk art

The community is invited to see Ben Glenn, a nationally known chalk artist, present his program of 'Living Art' at 9:40 a.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn in the fellowship hall, 500 Anthony St., Glen Ellyn.

Using brightly colored chalk on a black screen lit with spotlights, Glenn tells stories that challenge and inspire preschoolers through adults.

'Its something that's good for all ages,' said Trevecca Okholm, director of Christian education for the church.

The program is free.

For details, call (630) 469-2007.