The Pahrump Valley Community Action Team (PVCAT) is a committee composed of 27 members who meet weekly to discuss making Pahrump a better place to live.

Recently, a project has developed in an effort to improve the way local residents and others considering Pahrump as a home view the community.

"Positively Pahrump" is the first writing contest that strives to build and maintain town morale. Erin Forte, fairly new to Pahrump herself, has lived here for two years and is the chairman of PVCAT.

Her qualifications come from work with nonprofits as a fundraiser and public relations contact all over the Southwest. She has worked with schools, both public and private, and was an events coordinator for the state parks systems for two years. Three years as the editor of a magazine in Kentucky tops out her experience.

"We want to get the public excited about where they live," she said. "We actually took a survey of residents to find out why people moved here. The contest is a way for them to share positive thoughts and to remember why they came."

The survey showed the attraction to be the space, land affordability, which is relative, the beautiful scenery and sense of community.

This is the opportunity to share a positive view of the community from a personal perspective.

The contest is titled "A View from Every Window" and is open to all age groups, which will be judged individually. The youngest age group is from 4 to 7, and the others are broken down into age ranges 8 to 11, 12 to 14, 15 to 17, 18 to 35, 35 to 50 and 50-plus.

Entries may be submitted in the form of an essay up to 1,500 words, a story or screenplay up to 2,500 words, or poetry to 50 lines.

The contest affords options for those who don't write. There is a category for songs no longer than three minutes, and painters can submit anything from watercolor to oils. Photographers are welcome too, as are graphic and digital artists.

The deadline is Jan. 21 at noon and entries must include an entry form available at the Chamber of Commerce office on Highway 160 on the top floor of the Nevada State Bank building.

Contestants under 18 must have a consent form signed by a parent or guardian and all entries become the property of PVCAT.

Previously published or copyrighted materials or anything trademarked or submitted under false pretenses will not be accepted, so be original. The entries may be used for promotional purposes.

There will be prizes awarded in each age group, but at the time of this writing no specifics are available.

For more information, call Forte, 727-6978.