AWARDS
CPC Annual Awards Contest
Each spring an Awards Banquet is held to honor the winners of the CPC Annual Awards Contest. The contest is open to anyone, members and non-members alike. However, CPC award winners must be both CPC members and National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) members in order for their entries to be submitted into the national contest. Membership is open to both men and women.
Contest Rules 2013
For contest 2013 rules and application, click here.
The 2013 Annual Awards Banquet is Thursday, May 16, 2013 at Greenwich Water Club, 49 River Road, Cos Cob, CT. View the programs page for additional details.
2013 Winners
| Mark Twain Award Recipient | Sandra K. Boynton, author, illustrator, humorist, song writer, music producer, director and genius |
| News Story - Magazine (Honorable Mention) | Closing the Achievement Gap by Carol Dannhauser |
| I thought it was hard to get to after the lede. And would have preferred a quicker detailing of how local schools were more specifically affected. In rereading the article I was impressed by the wealth of information but it was too much of a struggle to process some of it. Seemed at times it would have been more suited for an education journal. Noteworthy good reporting. | |
| Special Series (1st Place) | "Unsolved Murders of Greenwich" by Timothy Dumas, Stephen Sawicki, Writers/Cristin Marandino, Editor |
| Outstanding. Such deeply reported and finely crafted stories with the high quality maintained throughout the series. Kept waiting for the culprit to be revealed in these murder mystery short stories and even reading the third one had to again remind myself the series was about unsolved murders. | |
| Special Series (Honorable Mention) | "Best Practices in Shopper Marketing Measurement" by Liz Crawford |
| Was kind of surprised to see a "trade publication" entry but was impressed with the thoroughness of research. Noteworthy good reporting. | |
| Feature Story (1st Place) | "Mystery at Sea" by Tim Dumas/ Cristin Marandino, Editor |
| Ditto previous comments on series. Head and shoulders above the competition. Great reporting and writing. | |
| Feature Story (2nd Place) | "Ten Reasons to Love Our Towns" by Mary Kate Hogan |
| Well written, much more than a list. Thorough, well researched with nice attitude at the end. | |
| Feature Story (3rd Place) | "Fresh Start" by Suzanne Gerber |
| Well researched. Very informative. Easy simple writing to convey so much information. | |
| Feature Story (Honorable Mention) | "Homeward Bound" by Riann Smith |
| Enjoyed and appreciated the "unusual aspect" of the piece having home folks giving insider info on exotic places. | |
| Feature Story - Magazine (1st Place) | "Street Eats" by Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick |
| Well-written details. | |
| Feature Story - Magazine (2nd Place) | "The Call" by Carol Dannhauser |
| One-source profile. Good details. Well-written. | |
| Personality Profile (1st Place) | "Who's That Girl?" by Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick |
| Personality Profile (2nd Place) | "Fight Club" by C.J. Hughes |
| Specialized Writing - Advertorials (1st Place) | "189 Sports Café" (online) & "Top Docs Profile: Kenneth Abriola, M.D." (print) by Sherry Shameer Cohen |
| Lively and colorful, this advertorial draws attention to the sponsor, Sports Café. It is excellent because it doesn't overstate, does not overuse exclamation points and its photographs are the correct demographic (young) and you can practically hear the requisite noise. It was also a good idea to include a line or two directed at someone who might not be a sports lover." & "I was pleased to read about Dr. Abriola. One suggestion: include an example of his awarded medical and/or volunteer work. I especially like his photograph-it is very important that it be a good one when the reader does not know the doctor, perhaps even as important as the editorial. He looks attentive. | |
| Specialty Articles - Business (1st Place) | "The Coolest Place in Norwalk" & "The Business of WELCOME in Fairfield County" by Sherry Shameer Cohen |
| Specialty Articles - Education (2nd Place) | "Paving the path ahead at Norwalk Public Schools" & "Stepping up to the plate: How Stamford's public schools are addressing top issues in education" by Sherry Shameer Cohen |
| Stepping Up To The Plate covers a little too much territory. Make the point that Connecticut schools face challenges. | |
| Specialty Articles - Physical health, fitness, mental health, self-help (1st Place) | "Matters of the Heart" & "Let's Dance" by Georgetta Lordi Morque |
| Good details. Both strong. Included details and awareness . who had a heart attack. | |
| Specialty Articles - Reviews (1st Place) | "BWW Reviews: Westport's THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING" & "BWW Reviews: Not Dead Yet: THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE at Long Wharf Theatre" by Sherry Shameer Cohen |
| Very thoughtful and well written. The author obviously 'knows her stuff' and has good background information. | |
| Specialty Articles - Reviews (2nd Place) | "Alexandre the Great and a 'Rach' for the ages" & Greenwich Music Festival: The Tao of Stravinsky" by Linda Phillips |
| Informative and well-written. Good recap with just enough personal opinion. | |
| Specialty Articles - Reviews (3rd Place) | "Glengarry Glen Ross and The Anarchist A Tale of Two Mamets: Are the shows Getting Panned Because He's Now a Conservative?" & " I loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti -- Theater Works" by Lauren Yarger |
| Interesting and well thought out. | |
| Specialty Articles - Reviews (Honorable Mention) | "Movie Review: Hugo" & "In Which Curiosity Wins, and I Read The Hunger Games" by Sally Allen |
| Well-written, but way too much personal opinion and not enough on what the story is, so the reader can make up his/her mind on wehther or not to read the book/see the film. | |
| Columns (1st Place) | "A Taste of India" & "A Bang-up Job" by Nancy DePalma |
| Nancy DePalma has a crisp, clean writing style that's rather like a fine wine, an excellent trait for a food writer! Besides presenting the basic information about the restaurant, she offers plenty of sensory notes that tempt readers to taste something new and exciting. All of this in a small space! | |
| Columns (2nd Place) | "Finders Keepers" and "Flat Belly" by Lois Alcosser |
| Lois Alcosser takes a lighthearted, folksy approach to chatting about a couple of everyday happenings: annoying pop-up computer ads and losing her sunglasses. She has an amiable writing style that almost invites the reader to sit down a spell and talk it over with her. | |
| Columns - Humorous (1st Place) | "They Know Why You Fly and You'll Pay for It." & "My Issues With Hanging a Paper Moon" by Kevin McKeever |
| Kevin McKeever intuitively knows how to get a chuckle out of readers. His quirky adventures in flight and at a tropical resort spa are a testament to his excellent, breezy writing style that's filled with good detail. We readers are right there with him as he endures in the sky and in the beach tent, and we are laughing out loud. | |
| Columns - Humorous (2nd Place) | "The Bank of Mom is Always Open" & "Diseases R Us: Health Insurance to Die For" by Judith Marks-White |
| What could be more serious topics than money and health care? To Judith Marks-White, they are ripe for tickling our funny bone. The 'Bank of Mom' column is clever and engaging, and readers may recognize a similar kind of situation in their own families. Ditto with 'Disease R Us' and its harious take on some of the absurdities in the medical field. | |
| Columns - Humorous (3rd Place) | "Under The Knife and Other Places I'd Rather Not Venture' & "Too Handsome For His Own Good.And Mine" by Judith Marks-White |
| Judith Marks-White pairs two columns on looking good. She takes a good look in the mirror and ponders whether she should 'go under the knife,' but shies away from that and finds her own funny but effective solution! Next, as a woman she eyes the presidential candidates in a new way.HIS good looks that drive her crazy. Downright hilarious! | |
| Columns - Humorous (Honorable Mention) | "The Imponderable, Inscrutable Male Animal" & "May-December Romance in the 21st Century" by Barbara Smith |
| Barbara L. Smith asks a lot of questions as she lightheartedly explores the bewildering nature of her man and the antics of an aging friend still on the hunt. These are common themes that can have pitfalls in the telling, but she handles them nicely in a catchy manner and without lingering on any one point too long, thus moving the reader right along. | |
| Columns - General (1st Place) | "Big Lessons Learned From Little League and Losing" & "Physical Wounds Not All That Take Soldiers' Lives" by Kevin McKeever |
| Kevin McKeever skillfully takes his readers on two very different journeys about loss. He shares his outspoken sensitivities about a tragedy, a high school classmate who later took his life after suffering from post-traumatic stress. In a more lighthearted manner, he deals with getting a grip on the fact that we sometimes will be on the losing side in life, starting in Little League. | |
| Columns - Informational (1st Place) | "Understanding How to Choose Between share Classes" & Debit Card Process Saves Money for State in Tax Refund Payments" by Julie Jason |
| Julie Jason takes the complexities of dealing with one's finances to a new level, one the reader can actually understand. She anticipates the ordinary person's questions and answers them clearly, with expertise, plus she provides helpful backup sources for those who want to explore the topic more. | |
| Columns - Informational (2nd Place) | "Lesley Stahl" & "Dream Maker" by Diane Sembrot |
| Diane Sembrot offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of two subjects, newswoman Lesley Stahl and comedian Steve Mazan, who have had to fight to make their way in their respective fields. Her questions are direct and the answers honest, given the reader a real feel for them as human beings. | |
| Columns - Personal Opinion (1st Place) | "Wall Street's Big Swingers Get the Biggest Breaks" & "There's No Business Like the Brokerage Business" by Susan Antilla |
| Susan Antilla tackles tough topics, topics most of us might not want to think about. But, reading her columns brings out the fact that bad things are going on among the big players in the finance world and that we ordinary folks ought to pay attention and educate ourselves to speak up and protect our investments. She writes boldly in a no-nonsense style that is fairly easy to follow, considering the complexities of her subjects. | |
| Columns - Personal Opinion (2nd Place) | "People Who Need People" & "The Art of Losing" by Stephanie K. Hopkins |
| Stephanie Hopkins has a tender touch when it comes to dealing with "life" and the basic need for love and companionship. Whether struggling to be way too independent at a writer's residency and finding it a very lonely mission, to losing material things and love, she makes the reader think about our interconnectedness as human beings. She stayed to herself during her retreat but wanted to share her solo successes and tell everyone, 'Look at me. I don't need anyone!'.but nobody was there to listen. She realizes, 'My accomplishments just didn't feel the same when they happened, well, alone. | |
| Columns - Personal Opinion (3rd Place) | "Let's Expand Bright Idea For Train Station Around Town" & "You'll (insert marketing verb here) It in Connecticut" by Kevin McKeever |
| Kevin McKeever takes up the Connecticut cause in his tongue-in-cheek columns on outrageously decorating familiar landmarks and turning the state's dull marketing plan into an exciting one that showcases its best-bet tourist attraction: P.T. Barnum. His writing moves right along from one crazy idea to the next without skipping a beat, and the reader can vividly imagine exactly what he's suggesting, such as stringing chase-sequence, blinking holiday lights along I-95 to make drivers think traffic is moving. | |
| Columns - Personal Opinion (Honorable Mention) | "Outside The Lines: Coloring My Life" & "Remembering Nora Ephron As Though I Knew Her" by Judith Marks-White |
| Judith Marks-White shares two inspirations in her creative life: learning to go with her imagination as a child while coloring outside the lines.and as an adult engaging that imagination to see Norah Ephron as her special pretend friend. The column on coloring is filled with colorful visuals, but seemed to dwell too long on that aspect, without providing a more memorable and inspiring look at her artistic progress. The Nora Ephron column is more appealing with its truly personal sharing. | |
| Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant (2nd Place) | New Canaan-Darien Magazine, Sep/Oct 2012 and March/April 2012 issues by Jeanne Craig |
| Nice placement of articles -- readable and not lost in the ads. | |
| Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant (Honorable Mention) | At Home in Fairfield County by Amy Vischio |
| Like page layouts - colorful and different. | |
| Page Design (1st Place) | "Light a Fire" & "Backcountry Secret" by Holly Keeperman |
| The layout of the pages for the Light A Fire shows such respect for the honorees. | |
| On-the-scene report (news, features, sports) - Television (1st Place) | "Rude-olph Awakening" by Daniel Renzetti, Frank Recchia |
| Interesting and emotional story told from beginning to end. Good use of sound from the crowd, excellent photography, and good interviews. | |
| On-the-scene report (news, features, sports) - Television (2nd Place) | "Lives Overturned" by Aaron Mesmer, Daniel Renzetti, Matt Grindle |
| On-the-scene report (news, features, sports) - Television (3rd Place) | "Family of Slain Sandy Hook Teacher Vicki Soto Speaks Out" by Sarah Hagen, Bob Cook |
| Special Programming (1st Place) | "Babies Behind Bars" by Kirsti Olds, Christopher Wood, Melissa Taberna |
| Special Programming (2nd Place) | "Therapy Pony" by Sarah Hagen, Bob Cook |
| Interview - Radio (Honorable Mention) | Wisconsin Public Radio: "Business Futures Scenario Planning" by Liz Crawford |
| Generally good but [not]worthy of a top award. | |
| Interview - TV (Honorable Mention) | "Taking Aim at Bullying" by Gillian Neff |
| TV interview had a very good guest who had important info, and the host gave pretty good intro but very simplistic. | |
| Best Newscast (1st Place) | "News 12 Connecticut Evening Newscast 6/1/2012" by Andrea Cyr |
| While both newscasts had good production values and no technical glitches, the News 12 Connecticut evening newscast on 6/1/2012 (Andrea Cyr) had superior content over the competing entry. It had live reports with dramatic soundbites from the scene of a shooting, a school bus accident, and a supermarket where a car had come crashing through the windows; as well as voice-over reports on a breakthrough in a cold case, and impending layoffs at a local charitable organization. The competing entry's stories were less engaging, including the announcement of an upcoming anti-violence meeting and a local doctor's commentary on an NHL player's fatal overdose. The banter between the anchors in the winning newscast also seemed more natural. | |
| Best Newscast (2nd Place) | "News 12 Connecticut Evening Newscast 6/4/2012" by Stacy Pattberg |
| [See above comment.] | |
| Website edited by an entrant (for profit) (1st Place) | Ctbites.com by Stephanie Webster & Amy Kundrat |
| Content - The written content is generally clear and engaging with a distinctive and personal voice. It is spiced with color and background information about its topics. It would be helpful if the headline font was black. The green is very light [on my computer] and can be quickly overlooked amid the images from the articles and advertisements on the left and right sidebars. I'm not quite sure that bolding some of the sentences in the stories make sense. I think it clutters an alreadyStructure and Navigation - The site is well-organized and the navigation is very easy to follow. The main navigation bar and the left-side navigation give readers a great starting point to travel through the site. The search function adds to the ease of finding specific items.Visual Design - The design is very crisp and inviting, though a little busy with advertisements on the right and left sidebars, but that's good for business. As mentioned above, the headlines are not doing their job to boldly call attention to the articles. The faded color is lost amid the ads, body type and social media icons. I would change the font color to black. The darker color would also be a better indicator of where the next article begins. I would also do the same for the blog entry date; it is difficult to pick up, particularly if you are scanning the text. | |
| Website edited by an entrant (nonprofit) (3rd Place) | Ctarts.blogspot.com by Lauren Yarger |
| Content - The written content was at times difficult to follow; it did not exactly flow. Packing in too many facts such as previous plays and experience in one sentence really bogs down the brief or article. Headlines need improvement. I would try to keep them to one line. There were some headlines that read as a lead paragraph. I would also use a different but complimentary font for the headline. The review of "Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with George Burns" is succinct, even with the notation of the art or costume designers at corresponding locations in the review, but the review itself is devoid of color. What about the audience? It would have been a nice touch to say how the audience responded to a line or scene in the play. The review of Hartford Stage's "A Christmas Carol" did mention the audience but only in relation to its appropriateness for a certain age children. Wesport's "Raisin in the Sun" had more depth, particularly with the reference to "Clybourne Park." "Hairspray" on the Ivoryton Playhouse was well done, but it's loaded-down sentences made parts of the review hard to follow. The topic of why the Edna character has been played by a man was interesting, but I wish the review had taken it a step further by referencing to the original "Hairspray", the 1988 John Waters' movie which featured Devine in the role. The review of RAIN at the Palace Theatre was interesting for what it did and did not say. It certainly had a voice. I would have been interested in who played Paul and George and did they attempt their mannerisms? Did the actors switch off depending on the number. With RAIN you have a tribute band that's even been on Broadway giving a Beatles' concert. It's no wonder that people were recording it with their phones. This might have been a "lowlight" for some, but it is part of the interaction for others. Structure and Navigation - Connecticut Arts Connection really has no structure or navigation that gives a visitor an image of the content on the site. It is a continuous scroll of information. I had to scroll down more than six screen pages to get to Lauren's bio. Her bio should have been more visible. If possible, I would have created an "about me" tab or put a photo and brief bio on the right sidebar with a link to the full bio. I would also use plug-ins on the right size to categorize information such as listings and older posts. Visual Design - The visual look the blogsite is not particularly inviting. The dull bluish background (with dots) and typeface of white, aqua blue, orange and red look like a work in progress. The background and font color combinations also may present a problem for those whose vision is not perfect. The designer missed an opportunity to create a stylish site by not using the black and white graphic in the upper left corner. It's a very nice graphic and should be the banner logo which in turn sets the tone for the blogsite. I would also like to see the photos displayed as stronger visual elements. The non-portrait photos could be run larger; I strained to see the details of those photos. | |
| Blog - Corporate or for profit (3rd Place) | CTbites.com by Stephanie Webster & Amy Kudrat |
| Blog - Personal (1st Place) | "Down to Earth Farm To table at Terrain - Westport, CT" & "Ocean to Table Sushi That is Seriously Out of this World! Miya's Sushi - New Haven, CT" by Daniel & Kristien Del Ferraro |
| Videos for Websites - Corporate or for-profit (2nd Place) | "Book Girl's Exclusive Interview with Nina Sankovitch, Part I" by Tessa Smith McGovern |
| I think the interview was insightful for McGovern's target audience. The setting in the kitchen was homey and relaxed, very much like neighbors chatting over the day's events or a good book. I think some viewers might be put off by the opening segment of fixing a cocktail no matter how it is folded into the talk. A few things that struck me during the interview was that I would have liked to have seen a photo of Nina's sister. I think a photo of the two of them or family members at some event to represent a comforting memory would have brought viewers more into the talk and enhanced the interview. The book revolved around the sister's passing and resulting loss, but I don't know if the interview gave me an idea of who she was. I really think it would have been nice for Nina to read a passage from her book. It's always interesting to hear the writer read his or her work. The sound was very good, but the lighting was a little flat. I would have slowed down the opening images and captions. It comes on so fast, that there's really not a lot of time to process it." | |
| News or feature release - single release (1st Place) | "GolfPosturePod" by Georgetta Lordi Morque |
| This is an exciting invention for golfers. I'm not surprised at the reception from various press outlets and I would say many more to come, perhaps from more private clubs and driving ranges, as well as pros. It is very well written. My only comment would be perhaps to shorten it up somewhat. If editors need more info, they might call. Probably the buzz about this invention is only beginning. I'm waiting to read even more. | |
| Novels for adult readers (1st Place) | Stone Wall Freedom: The Slave by David Lee Tucker |
| This rich, absorbing novel tells a history of a Block Island that I never knew before. The cadence of the prose, the haunting characters, and the vivid images described make me want to read Tucker's other books and travel to Block Island for a week. | |
| Children's Books: Non-Fiction (3rd Place) | Empress Adelaide Dances at 8: A Time Telling Tale by Marianne Prokop (writing as M.W. Penn) |
| This book is appealing in concept; I like the way it dances you through a day in the life of a little girl while demonstrating the passage of hours. The clocks were clear but did not take center stage; the concept of time was comfortably presented without seeming too pedagogical. | |
| Non-fiction books for adult readers (1st Place) | A Yippie's Lament by Michael Kilday |
| Kilday's book is an entertaining chronicle and explanation of the turmoil Americans have experienced in recent history. Not everyone will understand the title, but everyone needs to read it - especially the young in the hopes that they learn from history, as their Yippie/Yuppie parents did not. | |
| General Nonfiction (2nd Place) | The Shopper Economy by Liz Crawford |
| I learned a few new things, but I think that the book is just not that new. It can't be because people have been shopping on the Internet and on mobile devices for years and there are new apps all the time. Still, I found it interesting to read. | |
| General Nonfiction (3rd Place) | Children's Literature in the K-3 Mathematics Classroom by Dr. Adam Goldberg, Dr. Maria Diamantis, M.W. Penn |
| The activities are clear and easy to understand and are somewhat interesting. I think the activities mostly fit the grade level they are listed for. Also, the index lists the activities for each grade with the common core indicator. Despite these good things the activities only slightly relate to the literature they are presented as being based on. A character's name or setting may be used but they don't truly connect to the books as you don't need to have read them to complete the activities. In addition, many of the activities are similar to ones you would see in a book a school chooses to use for their math curriculum. This book could be used as a supplement but it would be better if there were more of a connection to the literature and more interesting activities. | |
| Nonfiction - Informative (1st Place) | I've Fallen & I Can Get Up by Alan M. Reznik, M.D. |
| Great concept. Very informative and thorough. The author should sell this at senior centers and doctors' offices. | |
| Children's Books - Fiction (3rd Place) | Round Hound Meets Square Bear: A Fairytale of Shapes by Marianne Prokop (writing as M.W. Penn) |
| The concept of the book is appealing. It presents shape concepts in a way that very young readers would enjoy, though the text itself seems to be written at a higher level than its intended audience (in the use of semicolons, for example). | |
| Single Poem (2nd Place) | Silly Seeds by Marianne Prokop (writing as M.W. Penn) |
| Cute poem, but sends the wrong message because of the stuff under the bed. | |
| Book or chapbook of poetry (2nd Place) | Flibberty Digits and Flummery Daubs: Magical, Madcap Math by Marianne Prokop (writing as M.W. Penn) |
| This is a playful book that weaves wordplay with mathematical concepts. This book would be appealing to math-loving readers of many ages. | |
2012 Winners
| Mark Twain Award for Distinctive Author | CHARLES A. MONAGAN, AUTHOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE |
| Feature story (1st Place) | Searching for Hope by Stephen Sawicki/Cristin Maradino |
| Feature story (2nd Place) | Digital Diplomat by Tim Dumas/Diane Sembrot |
| Feature story (Honorable Mention) | Scene Change by Chris Hodenfield |
| Feature story | Heart of Glass by Jessica Baumgardner |
| Personality profile (1st Place) | Hitting the Right Notes by Beth Cooney |
| Personality profile (2nd Place) | Waking Up to New Economics by Chris Hodenfield |
| Personality profile (3rd Place) | In The Right Direction by Chris Hodenfield |
| Personality profile (Honorable Mention) | The Next Patriarch? by Morton Dean |
| Specialty Articles - Physical health, fitness, mental health, self-help (1st Place) | 1. Breast Practices - a look at the pluses of breastfeeding and 2. Positive Messages - can a life coach help you? by Georgette Lordi Morque |
| Specialty Articles - Reviews (1st Place) | Harbor Hop Say Om! by Wendy Carlson |
| Specialty Articles - Green/environmental (1st Place) | House Calls by Geoffrey Morris, Editor |
| Columns (2nd Place) | Watching the Public's Back 1. News Corp. Board Offers Garbage In, Garbage Out, and 2. Naked Audiotrs Case Shows Wall Street Not Cured by Susan Antilla |
| Columns - Humorous (1st Place) | 1.The medical wit and wisdom of Dr. Mom, and 2. Meet the new math: odder than the old math by Kevin McKeever |
| Columns - Humorous (2nd Place) | Widening the scope shows more than intestinal fortitude, and His bark is worse than his megabyte by Judith Marks-White |
| Columns - Humorous (3rd Place) | Tax time for the CPA hippie and the CPA nerd, and Dinner lust: Breakfast at Midnight and other culinary diversions by Judith Marks-White |
| Columns - Humorous (Honorable Mention) | Plants and humans: The two don't always get along, and Her psychic pathway is askew by Judith Marks-White |
| Columns - Humorous (Honorable Mention) | #@$% Cancer; I'm going to Paris!, and Time flies (except when you're cleaning applesauce) by Layla Ann Silver |
| Columns - Humorous (Honorable Mention) | IBM's Watson, Almost Human, and Kermit vs. Gore: Another Side of Green by Barbara L. Smith |
| Columns - General (1st Place) | 1. When boy meets 1st mitt, it's a true glove story, and 2. My back pages at Borders Book Shop by Kevin McKeever |
| Columns - General (2nd Place) | Ten Minutes with. Glenn O'Brien, and Ten Minutes with.Clinton Kelly by Joseph Montebello |
| Columns - Personal Opinion (bylined, not editorial) (1st Place) | Starr crossed many by not immersing himself in Stamford, and The Tarzia Mutiny comes to a much-awaited end by Kevin McKeever |
| Section edited by entrant - frequent/regular (2nd Place) | From the Field J/A, N/D by Geoffrey Morris, Editor |
| Sections/supplements edited by entrant - infrequent (one-time, annual, semi-annual, quarterly) (3rd Place) | Look: Beauty, Wellness, Style by Diane Sembrot |
| Sections/supplements edited by entrant - infrequent (1st Place) | WMN - How Litchfield Eats by Geoffrey Morris, Editor |
| Publications regularly edited by entrant (1st Place) | Westport Magazine by Diane Sembrot |
| Publications regularly edited by entrant (2nd Place) | Jan. & Apr. 2011 issues by Cristen Marandino |
| Publications regularly edited by entrant (3rd Place) | Fairfield Magazine - Sept./Oct Nov./Dec. by Geoffrey Morris, Editor |
| Page layout - Publication (1st Place) | 10 Teens With Bright Futures & Bar Exam by Garvin Burke |
| Page layout - Publication (2nd Place) | In Fashion Fall 2011 & Searching for Hope by Holly Keeperman |
| Page layout - Publication (3rd Place) | 50 Ways to Live Better at Home by Garvin Burke |
| Page layout - Publication (Honorable Mention) | Natural Artistry by Verera Alexandrova |
| Page layout - Publication | Champagne Galore Sports Rule by Deborah Hayn, Designer |
| Photography in a printed publication other than a newspaper (2nd Place) | An Organic Experience by Bruce Plotkin |
| Photography - Print - Photo Essay (1st Place) | Heart of Glass by John Bessler |
| Photography - Print - Photo Essay (3rd Place) | Lady of the Lake by Douglas Foulke |
| Photography - Print - Photo Essay (Honorable Mention) | All Mixed Up by Trevor Tondro |
| On-the-scene spot report: News (1st Place) | Stamford Christmas Day Fire by Frank Recchia, Dan Renzetti |
| On-the-scene spot report: News (2nd Place) | Stuck on the Tracks by Aaron Mesmer, Dan Renzetti, Lori Golias |
| Prepared Report - Feature (1st Place) | The Survival of Stanley by Gwen Edwards, Jim Mennino |
| Prepared Report - Feature (2nd Place) | Documenting the Dead by Matt Kozar, Jim Mennino |
| Prepared Report - Feature (3rd Place) | Decade of Enduring Spirit by Aaron Mesmer, Jim Mennino |
| Prepared Report - Feature (Honorable Mention) | One Word: Art by Sarah Hagen, Dam Renzetti |
| Prepared Report - Investigative (1st Place) | Stolen From The Grave by Courtney Kane, Melisssa Taberna, Dan Renzetti |
| Prepared Report - Investigative (2nd Place) | Don't Give Up for a Friend by Kristi Olds, Christopher Wood |
| Prepared Report - Investigative (3rd Place) | Teardrop Meets Raindrop by Frank Recchia, Mathew Cyr |
| Prepared Report -Sports (1st Place) | Kidcaster by Fred Gerteiny, Robert Cook |
| Prepared Report -Sports (2nd Place) | Crushen Russian by Kristi Olds, Dan Renzetti |
| Prepared Report -Sports (3rd Place) | Can You Do That? by Christopher Wood, Mark Sogofsky |
| Special Programming : Public Affairs (1st Place) | Julie's Journey by Gillian Neff, Stacey Pattberg, Robert Cook |
| Special Programming : Documentary (2nd Place) | Messages by Amy Packham, Robert Cook |
| Special Programming : Documentary (3rd Place) | Pet Talk: Conservation Special by Lauren Collier, Jim Ballard |
| Writing for the Web - Blogs (1st Place) | OnNomCT (omnomct.com) "A feast worthy of the god it's named for. Bacchus- South Norwalk, CT" by Daniel and Kristien Del Ferraro |
| Writing for the Web (1st Place) | OnNomCT (omnomct.com) "A burger and Fries Slam Dunk: Benny's Fast Break - Stamford, CT" by Daniel and Kristien Del Ferraro |
| Web content written for special interest sites (2nd Place) | The Mixed-up Emotions of Caregiving by Laurie Newkirk |
| Feature article written specifically for the Web (2nd Place) | Playwright's Real-Life Drama and Journey of Faith by Lauren Yarger |
| Feature article written specifically for the Web (3rd Place) | Living the Message of Faith, Hope and Charity by Kerry Ann Ducey Hamlet Hub LLC |
| Feature article written specifically for the Web (Honorable Mention) | The Case for Narcissism by Barbara Wilkov |
| Writing for the Web - Theater Review (1st Place) | Theater Review: Spider-man Turn Off the Dark, and Theater Review: A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with Robin Williams by Lauren Yarger |
| Web site edited by entrant (1st Place) | The Connecticut Arts Connection by Lauren Yarger |
| Web site development/creation for not-for-profit, government or educational organization sites (1st Place) | TeenKidsNews.com by Laurie Newkirk & Ricard Jaque |
| Web site development/creation for special interest sites (1st Place) | motherrr.com by Barbara Wilkov & Laurie Newkirk |
| Web content written for special interest sites -Blogs (2nd Place) | Blogging with Barb (and Sometimes Laurie) by Barbara Wilkov & Laurie Newkirk |
| Web content written for not-for-profit, government or educational organization sites (1st Place) | Landis Gores, Architect: An Interview with Pamela Gorres by Gwen North Reiss |
| Web content written for not-for-profit, government or educational organization sites (2nd Place) | Pedro Guerrero Interview by Gwen North Reiss |
| Newsletter - Three-color print (1st Place) | 1st by Barbara Wilkov |
| Newsletter - Four-color print (2nd Place) | The Greems at Cannondale by Lois Alcosser |
| News release (1st Place) | Stamford Healthcare Associates opens new Chiro Laser Center by Georgette Lordi Morque |
| Fiction, novel (full length, 40000 words and up) (1st Place) | Stone Wall Freedom - The Islander by David Lee Tucker |
| Children's Books - Fiction (2nd Place) | The Legend of Hobbomock The Sleeping Giant by Jason J. Marchi |
| Children's Books - Non Fiction (1st Place) | It's a Pattern (one of a series of 6 books) by Marianne Prokop writing as MW Penn |
| Children's Books - Non Fiction (1st Place) | 2 Lines by Marianne Prokop writing as MW Penn |
| Children's Books - Non Fiction (Honorable Mention) | Square Bear by Marianne Prokop writing as MW Penn |
| Creative Verse, including single entries or a book or chapbook of poetry (1st Place) | Song-Threads of Ocean Music by Helena Willett |
2011 Winners (Judges' comments on first prize winners are in italics).
| News reporting (1st Place) | "Coping With a Tough Downturn" by C.J. Hughes |
| Excellent reporting. Lots of sources. Reads well. Informative. | |
| Special Series (1st Place) | "Elder Care Articles Series" by Julie Jason |
| Extremely informative... examples included within columns. | |
| Editorial/Opinions (1st Place) | "Road Toward 'Perfection' Can Lead To Bad Places" by Sarah Darer Littman |
| Interesting topic. | |
| Feature Story - Non-Daily Newspaper (2nd Place) | "NHS Community Says Farewell to 'Father Figure'" by Layla Ann Silver |
| Feature Story (1st Place) | "Animation Domination" by Timothy Dumas |
| Loved the airy feel to the piece. Lots of visual detail in the written 'tour' of Blue Sky. | |
| Feature Story (2nd Place) | "Jose Feliciano" by Brigitte Quinn |
| Feature Story (3rd Place) | "Behind These Walls: The Enduring Art and Legacy of Hildreth Meiere" by Jane Kendall |
| Feature Story (Honorable Mention) | "French Connection" by Josh Garskof |
| Personality profile (1st Place) | "From One House to Another" by Chris Hodenfield |
| Great lede -- pulls you right into the story….Good quotes. | |
| Personality profile (2nd Place) | "Steppin' Out With Dovolani" by Beth Cooney |
| Personality profile (3rd Place) | "Brains & Braun" by Chris Hodenfield |
| Personality profile (Honorable Mention) | "Christopher Hitchens" by Diane Sembrot |
| Special Articles - Health (1st Place) | "Why Weight? Lift Now and Reap Rewards" & "Eliminate the Guilt: Processed Foods You Can Feed Your Family" by Georgetta Lordi Morque |
| Lots of information. Liked the sources. Reads well, lots of research. | |
| Special Articles - Food (3rd Place) | "Farm Feasts" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| Columns: General (2nd Place) | "Put on Skeptic's Hat with Munis" & "Time Is Running Out for Non-Profits" by Julie Jason |
| Columns: Humorous (1st Place) | "I Am a Creamsicle" & "Resting in Peace: The Lure of Cemeteries" by Judith Marks-White |
| An excellent mix of the humorous and the poignant. Good writing! | |
| Columns: Humorous (3rd Place) | "Dangerous To Your Health" & "When Push Comes to Shove" by Judith Marks-White |
| Columns: Humorous (Honorable Mention) | "Supersized" & "Wake Up Call" by Layla Ann Silver |
| Informational (how-to, Q&A, advice) (1st Place) | "Roots, Rhizomes Bed Down for Winter" & "Gardner's Trip To the Country" by Colleen Plimpton |
| "Roots" caught me the glimpse into the writer's home life and the punchline to the end. Very real. | |
| Informational (how-to, Q&A, advice) (2nd Place) | "Hail Kale" & "Seed Is Good" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| Specialized (essays, opinion, critique or review) (1st Place) | The Opening Salvo: "Not Quite Fit to Print" & "Shut Up, John Mayer" by Nick Keppler |
| Well-written, well-organized. Good style. Turns a phrase with the best of them! | |
| Specialized (essays, opinion, critique or review) (2nd Place) | "A Bite of Turkey" & "Expensive Tastes" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| Single page or pages regularly edited by entrant - Lifestyle or Entertainment (1st Place) | "At Home With..." (Back page celebrity designer interview) by Kate Hogan |
| Very, very nice display. Great photos. Easy to read layout. | |
| Sections/supplements edited by entrant - infrequent (one-time, annual, semi-annual, quarterly) (1st Place) | "The A-List Awards" by Judy Ostrow |
| Good layout with dominant art offset by smaller art. Very inviting to any reader wanting to decorate well. | |
| Publications regularly edited by entrant (1st Place) | At Home Magazine - Spring & Fall 2010 issues by Kate Hogan |
| Excellent headlines and pull quotes. Top notch use of photos, especially 2-page spreads. | |
| Publications regularly edited by entrant (2nd Place) | Greenwich Magazine - February & June 2010 by Cristin Marandino |
| Publications regularly edited by entrant (3rd Place) | Westport Magazine - May/ June & September/October by Diane Sembrot |
| Page Layout (1st Place) | "Animation Domination" & "Brains & Braun" by Cristin Marandino |
| You had excellent art to go with this layout and you took advantage of it. | |
| Page Layout (2nd Place) | "The Big Play" & "Living in Harmony" by Venera Alexandrova |
| Page Layout (3rd Place) | "10 Teens to Watch" & "A Portrait of Grace & Strength" by Cristin Marandino |
| Headlines (2nd Place) | "Parties help women show-case their assets," "Dough and female deer," "Added size subtracts pounds" & "Young entrepreneurs hope for windfall" by Ashley Winchester |
| Photography in a printed publication (1st Place) | New Canaan/Darien "Living In Harmony" by Stacy Bass |
| Love the shadows in the swimming pool. Adds to the attraction of the photos. Beautiful color/reproduction. | |
| Photography in a printed publication (2nd Place) | New Canaan/Darien "Best Of Issue" by Hulya Kolabas |
| Photography in a printed publication (3rd Place) | At Home Fall 2010 Cover - Feature Photo by Amy Vischio |
| Photography on the Web or electronic publishing (1st Place) | CT Bites by Stephanie Webster |
| Great work. | |
| Photography on the Web or electronic publishing (2nd Place) | "Match Restaurant in SoNo ...11 Years: A Visual Journey" by Stephanie Webster |
| On-the-scene spot report - News (1st Place) | "Idle Threats" by News12/Mark Repasky, Jim Mennino |
| Good video, sound bites, tightly written - flows well. | |
| On-the-scene spot report - News (2nd Place) | "Ready, Aim, Fire!!!" by News12/Mark Repasky, Jim Mennino |
| On-the-scene spot report - News (3rd Place) | "Got 'Em!" by News12/Mark Repasky, Dan Renzetti |
| Prepared Report - Feature (1st Place) | "Sky's The Limit" by News12/Kathryn Hauser, Dan Renzetti |
| Great story - well told - love the way you brought in 'hand' issue - inspiring story. | |
| Prepared Report - Feature (2nd Place) | "Seek and Enjoy" by News12/Mark Repasky, Dan Renzetti |
| Prepared Report - Feature (3rd Place) | "Killer Caps" by News12/Melissa Taberna, Kristi Olds & Chris Woods |
| Prepared Report - Sports (Honorable Mention) | "Average Joe" by News12/Kathryn Hauser, Dan Wills, Dan Renzetti, Amanda Dennis |
| Special programming (documentary, public affairs or editorial) - TV (1st Place) | "Escaping Alzheimer's" by News12/Gillian Neff, Mark Gajda |
| There was passion in this story and it was told very well. | |
| Interview (Radio) (2nd Place) | Divine Intervention Episode #77 - "Dave Hess" by Daniel Fazzina |
| Interview (Radio) (Honorable Mention) | Divine Intervention Episode #79 - "Zachariah Anani" by Daniel Fazzina |
| Interview (TV) (1st Place) | 12 on Health: "Unlocking Language" by News12/Gillian Neff, Rocco Aloe |
| Great shooting - nice cutaways - close up inverview in package - great line of questioning. | |
| Talk Show (Radio) (1st Place) | Interview with Kathy Sorrentino & Monologue by Lisa Wexler |
| Talk Show (Radio) (2nd Place) | Interview with Former Senate Candidate and WWE Co-Founder, Ms. Linda McMahon by Lisa Wexler |
| Talk Show (Radio) (3rd Place) | Divine Intervention Episode #78 - "George Foreman" by Daniel Fazzina |
| Talk Show (TV) (1st Place) | Pet Talk: "Christmas Wedding Extravaganza" by News12/Lauren Collier & Jim Ballard |
| A lot of camera possibilities. | |
| Talk Show (TV) (2nd Place) | Ageless by Stacy Enyeart & Karen Heffner |
| Talk Show (TV) (3rd Place) | 12 on Health: "Unlocking Language" by News12/Lauren Collier & Jim Ballard |
| Best Newcast (1st Place) | Noon Newscast by News12 /Melissa Taberna & Rebecca Surran |
| Nice coverage of breaking news. Nice graphics. Moving. | |
| Best presentation (anchor) - TV (Honorable Mention) | Gillian Neff Composite by News12 /Gillian Neff |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - For profit organization/site (1st Place) | "Thali Opens in Westport With Small Plates & Big Flavor" by Amy Kundrat |
| Great explanations for the web reader. | |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - For profit organization/site (3rd Place) | "Who's The Mother Now" by Barb Wilkov |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - For profit organization/site (Honorable Mention) | "'Good' Daughter or 'Bad' Daughter?" by Laurie Newkirk |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - Hobby or special interest (2nd Place) | "Behind The Scenes at the SoNo Baking Company" by Deanna Foster |
| Feature article written specifically for the web (1st Place) | "From Dollars & Cents to Common Sense: John Turenne" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| Nice story. Good reporting. | |
| Feature article written specifically for the web (3rd Place) | "How To Add The 'Happy' in Holidays with Mom" by Barb Wilkov |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - Commentary (1st Place) | "Yale Falling Short After Fraternity Incident" & "Don't Be a Bystander" by Sarah Darer Littman |
| Great idea -- and your well thought-out opinions make me trust that you're not making a snap judgment and putting 'any old thing' on the Internet for all to read. | |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - Commentary (2nd Place) | Theatre Review: Driving Miss Daisy & La Bete by Lauren Yarger |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - Commentary (3rd Place) | "The Ex-Wife Files" & "Arms and The Woman" by Barbara Smith |
| Writing for the Web/online newsletters - Commentary (Honorable Mention) | "Digging Out of Debt and Surviving the Downturn" & "Boomer Love: How is the 'Free Love' Generation Doing Now?" by Jan Yager, Ph.D. |
| Website edited by entrant (1st Place) | Connecticut Arts Connection by Lauren Yarger |
| Clean writing. Well-written posts. Updated frequently. I can tell that much time and effort is put into this blog and web site. | |
| Website edited by entrant (2nd Place) | Fairfield Green Food Guide by Analiese Paik |
| Website edited by entrant (3rd Place) | Motherrr.com website by Barb Wilkov & Laurie Newkirk |
| Website Development/Creation (1st Place) | CT Bites by Stephanie Webster |
| So professional looking! Excellent design. Absolutely excellent work. I love this website - the display, the photos, the stories. I think you've got a great site. | |
| Blogs (1st Place) | "Your Guide to Great Food in Fairfield County" by Stephanie Webster |
| Loved everything. Great work. | |
| Blogs (2nd Place) | "Metrojournalist Blog" by Sherry Shameer Cohen |
| Blogs (3rd Place) | "Blogging With Barb (and Sometimes Laurie)" by Barb Wilkov & Laurie Newkirk |
| 50 - Newsletter (one-to-three color) (1st Place) | Meetinghouse Monthly Newsletter by Barb Wilkov |
| Love the color. Love the format. Easy to read. Beautiful stained glass window picture. | |
| News or feature release - single release (1st Place) | Straightening Out With SOAR - The New Method for Perfect Posture by Georgetta Lordi Morque |
| Your news release offered lots of detail -- got great results. | |
| Non-fiction, book, General (3rd Place) | Secrets of a Jewish Mother by Lisa Wexler, Jill Zarin & Gloria Kamen |
| Non-fiction, book, Historical (1st Place) | A Professor, A President, and a Meteor: The Birth of American Science by Cathryn J. Prince |
| This is a story that is interesting, vital, well-researched and well-written, and (most of all) an important look not just at history but issues that continue to this day. | |
| Non-fiction, book, Historical (2nd Place) | The Inside Stories of Modern Political Scandals: How Investigative Reporters Changed the Course of American History by Woody Klein |
| Non-fiction, book, Humor (1st Place) | Leave It To Boomer by Jerry Zezima |
| Entertaining stories...you're funny and don't make yourself out to be the...'dumb' dad...I'd agree with the youngester from Horizon Academy who called you 'cool' -- for your age. | |
| Non-fiction, book, Instructional (1st Place) | The Knee and Shoulder Hand-book For All of Us by Alan M. Reznik, M.D. |
| Very informational. Many people are dealing with knee/shoulder concerns so the topic is a good one. | |
| Non-fiction, book, Instructional (2nd Place) | Who's Crazy Here? by Gracelyn Guyol |
| Non-fiction, book, Religious or Inspirational (1st Place) | Divine Intervention: Amazing True Stories of God's Miracle's Today - Vol. II by Daniel Fazzina |
| An amazing, compelling well-written/edited book. Each story moved the reader along...page turning collection of diverser and attention-grabbing stories. | |
| Non-fiction, book, Religious or Inspirational (3rd Place) | Mentors in the Garden of Life by Colleen Plimpton |
| Fiction, novel (full-length, 40,000 words and up) (1st Place) | Stay With Me by Sandra Rodriguez Barron |
| Very good writing. Should make a movie. | |
| Fiction, novel (full-length, 40,000 words and up) (2nd Place) | Depraved Heart by Melissa Scheffey |
| Fiction, novel (full-length, 40,000 words and up) (3rd Place) | Dead Head by Rosemary Harris |
| Fiction, novel (full-length, 40,000 words and up) (Honorable Mention) | Stone Wall Freedom by David Lee Tucker |
| Young Adult Fiction (1st Place) | Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman |
| The cultural contrasts are beautiful, moments of brilliant writing such as food tasting like anger and 'after trying to figure out love, even geometry seemed easy.' | |
| Young Adult Fiction (2nd Place) | The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted |
| Young Adult Fiction (3rd Place) | The Twins' Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted |
| Young Adult Non Fiction (1st Place) | From Survivor to Survivor: Your Journey of Conquest (3 part-book). by Rejena L. Bennett |
| The questions are thought-provoking....Very nice set of booklets on a topic for which people need help. | |
| Book or chapbook of poetry (1st Place) | All Your Messages Have Been Deleted by Vivian Shipley |
| This book just won the 2011 Paterson Prize for Sustained Literary Achievement from the Poetry Center. | |
2010 Mark Twain Winner Donald Margulies with Michael Mordecai and Awards Chair Elizabeth Keyser (Photo courtesy of www.NewportSeen.com)
2010 Winners (Judges' comments on first prize winners are in italics).
| Mark Twain Award for Distinctive Author | Donald Margulies |
| Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography (1st Place) | Happily Ever After Divorce by Jessica Bram |
| "Jessica Bram's well-written book turns out to be a love story. The book takes the reader on an emotional, inspiring and ultimately satisfying 'journey' of revelation, growth and rebirth." | |
| Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography (2nd Place) | A Ship in the Harbor: Mother and Me, Book 2 by Julian Padowicz |
| Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography (3rd Place) | It's Never Too Late To Dance by Rosann Levy |
| Adult Nonfiction, History (1st Place) | America's Homefront Heroes: An Oral History of World War II by Stacy Enyeart |
| "Stacy Enyeart has collected a wealth of stories, poetry, photographs, telegrams and heartfelt letters that have been carefully stitched together to give insight into the human response to and the emotional impact of World War II." | |
| Adult Nonfiction, Inspirational(1st Place) | Mother Theresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle |
| "This well written book hooked me right from the start. Inspired by the life of and friendship with Mother Teresa, O'Boyle describes answering her own 'call' and working towards helping others and having a better spiritual life herself." | |
| Adult Nonfiction, Instructional (1st Place) | The Wrapping Scarf Revolution by Patricia Lee |
| "Patricia Lee's beautifully produced book, The Wrapping Scarf Revolution, pulls the read into the fun, great look, practicality and ecology of wrapping gifts and various items in the home with gorgeous scarves. Captivating." | |
| Children's Book (1st Place) | Bunnies Are For Kissing by Allia Zobel Nolan |
| "Very endearing 'snapshots of daily life in a loving household, both in text and illustration. A perfect night-time read (with a bed time kiss, of course.)" | |
| Children's Book (2nd Place) | Noah's Notebook by Allia Zobel Nolan |
| Children's Book (3rd Place) | ADDVerse by M.W. Penn |
| Children's Book (Honorable Mention) | Mrs. McGee's Coconut by Allia Zobel Nolan |
| Creative Writing - Playwriting (1st Place) | Butterscotch by Barbara Smith |
| "Butterscotch is lively, warm, well plotted with real and distinct human characters. It certainly holds one's interest and many of the really good lines are genuinely humorous. One can relate easily to both the situations and the characters." | |
| Creative Writing - Poetry | Number Tree by M.W. Penn |
| "'Number Tree' is well crafted. It demonstrates the fun one can have with poetry while dealing with math or the sciences, or many other important subjects not often associated with poetry. Your work as a poet is unique, instructive and refreshing." | |
| Column - Criticism, Review (1st Place) | "Choral Society hums, drums, and chants in spring concert" & "Taste of Tango" by Linda Phillips |
| "Linda Phillips has a way of putting readers at an event they couldn't get to. Her writing is vivid and she backs it up with what is clearly an impressive body of knowledge." | |
| Column - Humor (1st Place) | "Take that, Greenback National" & "Blind Date with a Billionnaire" by Barbara Smith |
| "Barbara Smith took a situation in which we have all found ourselves (without a speck of humor) and put a funny twist on battling the bank's rude customer service operators that brought a smile to even the most curmudgeonly of faces." | |
| Column - Humor (2nd Place) | "Medical Malpractice" & "Do My Eyelashes Make Me Look Fat?" by Judith Marks-White |
| Column - Informational (1st Place) | "Money, planning needed for the future" by Julie Jason |
| "It's a topic none of us wants to discuss, but Julie Jason puts the care of the sick and elderly in front of readers at the time when they're probably thinking of it the least - the holidays. The column is packed with information, advice and tips and is a true service to the readers." | |
| PR campaign (1st Place) | Summer Theatre of New Canaan by Marven Moss |
| "The kind of results the campaign organizers received helped drive their season's success. Getting PR results for yet another theatre season always is a challenge, and they were effective." | |
| PR campaign (2nd Place) | Elizabeth Edwards Luncheon (for Family Centers) by Bill Brucker |
| Feature Story (1st Place) | "A Welcome Home" by Lois Alcosser |
| "Powerful story of how a diverse community working together can transform lives in the most tangible ways. Splendid reporting - this writer made good connections and invested the necessary time to come away with the detail and insight revealed here. Good ending, too." | |
| Feature Story (2nd Place) | "Bastianich's Bees" by Rosemarie T. Anner |
| Feature Story (3rd Place) | "Secrets of a Diary" by Leslie Chess Feller |
| Feature Story (Honorable Mention) | "Time Will Tell" by Christy Colasurdo "Super Jocks" by Nancy McLoughlin |
| News Story (2nd Place) | "Pressed to the Bone" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| Personality Profile (1st Place) | "Paradise Found" by Timothy Dumas |
| "Profiling the man through his property and what he has done with it is a great approach. I came away from the piece feeling, in a sense, as if I had met and talked with Gamarci. The descriptions of the Chilean landscape are skillfully interwoven with quotations, historical facts and Gamarci's own history with the property." | |
| Personality Profile (3rd Place) | "Rising Star" by Wendy Logan |
| Restaurant Review (1st place) | Elizabeth Keyser |
| Special Article - Food (1st Place) | "Connecticut Chefs Go Whole Hog" and "They've Got Game" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| "Who knew that meat could be so interesting? The strong thesis, active verbs and just-the-right word choice makes the writing in both articles strong and interesting. Good use of quotes." | |
| Special Article - Home (1st Place) | "Renew, Remodel, Reinvent, Reuse" and "A Welcome Home" by Elizabeth Keyser |
| "I really liked how the writer correlated the homes and their décor with the owners’ personalities. Very well done. In both articles, vivid vocabulary and strong, active verbs bring the writing to life." | |
| Special Article - Physical Health (1st Place) | "Thirteen Symptoms You Should Never Ignore" and "No More Excuses" by Cheryl Platzman Weinstock |
| "Good job presenting real life people facing health issues we can all relate to. I like your conversational style as well as the solutions offered as well. You gave readers something to think about." | |
| Photography - Print (1st Place) | "Clea Newman Soderlund" by William Taufic |
| "Well done, direct portrait, conveying an interesting and alive personality. Good work!" | |
| Photography - Print (2nd Place) | "Light a Fire" by William Taufic |
| Photography - Web (1st Place) | www.ctbites.com by Stephanie Webster |
| "An excellent editorial illustration that clearly communicates the quality, care, and appetizing aspects of good food and its preparation & presentation." | |
| On-the-Scene Report - TV News (1st Place) | "Up in Smoke" by Frank Ricchia (reporter) and Christopher Wood (photographer) |
| "I really liked the use of the scanner as NAT sound. That spoke volumes about this fire. It told the viewer this blaze was serious and the danger immediate. Good shots of the flames - again, this stresses the threat and shows people what firefighters are up against." | |
| On-the-Scene Report - TV News (2nd Place) | "Milford Fire" by Shawna Ryan (reporter) and Al Howard (photographer) |
| On-the-Scene Report - TV News (3rd Place) | "Hot Sauce Spill" by Kimber Crandall (reporter) and Joselito A. Rivera (photographer) |
| On-the-Scene Report - TV News (Honorable Mention) | "Girand Street Fire" by David Pickering |
| Prepared Report - TV Features (1st Place) | "Kojo" by Kimber Crandall (reporter) and Christopher Wood (photographer) |
| "Great job of letting the subject tell his story. You kept the reporter tracks to a minimum and that helped. Excellent use of music to drive the story and the edits." | |
| Prepared Report - TV Features (2nd Place) | "Flying Fortress" by Mark Repasky (reporter) and Teal Tyszka (photographer) |
| Prepared Report - TV Features (3rd Place) | "A Divine Deal" by Courtney Kane (reporter) and Bob Cook (photographer) |
| Prepared Report - TV Features (Honorable Mention) | "A Different Role" by Kristi Faccenda (reporter) and Christopher Wood (photographer) |
| Prepared Report - TV Sports (1st Place) | "Giving With Both Fists" by Shirleen Allicock (reporter) and Bob Cook (photographer) |
| Special Reporting Series (1st Place) | "Baby Talk" by Gillian Neff (reporter), Matt Cyr (photographer) and Joe Connors (photographer) |
| Website Development & Creation (1st Place) | www.NewportSeen.com by Linda Phillips |
| "It delivers a lot of information about the Newport social scene. Clearly it's intended for an upscale audience and even the graphics and fonts have an upscale look. It reminded me of an online version of Town & Country." | |
| Website Development & Creation (2nd Place) | www.motherrr.com by Barb Wilkov and Laurie Newkirk |
| Website Development & Creation (3rd Place) | www.ctbites.com by Stephanie Webster |
| Writing for the Web and Online (1st Place) | "Raptorex: The Latest Fossil Discover" by Linda Phillips for www.NewportSeen.com |
| "It's very informative with a lot of interesting photos and appropriate captions. The paragraphs are short and to the point and the article ends when there's nothing more to say." | |
| Writing for the Web and Online (2nd Place) | "Beauty Rehab - Looking Your Best" by Lynn Flaster |
| Best Blog (1st Place) | www.ctbites.com by Stephanie Webster |
| Best Blog (2nd Place) | www.CtMonuments.net by Dave Pelland |
| Best Blog (3rd Place) | "Blogging with Barb (and sometimes Laurie)" by Barb Wilkov and Laurie Newkirk |
2009 Winners (Judges' comments on first prize winners are in italics).
| Mark Twain Award for Distinctive Author | Wally Lamb |
| Fiction book (1st place) | Deadliest Strain by Jan Coffey |
| Coffey's book was thrilling and exciting. | |
| Fiction book (2nd place) | Belly of the Whale by Linda Merlino |
| Non fiction book | All the Presidents' Spokesmen by Woody Klein |
| Klein, press secretary to New York City Mayor John Lindsay in the mid-1960s, gives a sure-footed analysis of 24 presidential spokesmen from FDR's Stephen Early to Bush 43's Dana Perino. Rather than writing a dry chronological narrative, he addresses his material thematically -- "Hot War," "Cold War," "Presidential Scandals," "Domestic Crises." Klein ably deconstructs spin, examining how spokesmen over the generations have coped with ethical dilemmas in their office. | |
| YA book (1st place) | Jump the Cracks by Stacy DeKeyser |
| DeKeyser gives the reader a look at how an adolescent might feel and react in what could be a plausible situation. She has a good hold on a 15 year old's angry adolescent thinking as well as a 2 year old's behavior. | |
| YA book (2nd place) | Comes A Little Light by Darice Bailer and Rosemarie Molsen |
| Children's book | The Winter Lodge by Gwen North Reiss |
| The work done in rhyme gives a feeling of summer camp and what it must be like when no one is there but mice who have just as much fun, it would seem, as people do. | |
| Poetry | Lion's Tooth by Connie Magnan-Albrizio |
| Column (1st place) | My Fellow Americans by Judith Marks-White |
| The nomination of Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCain's running mate was fodder for columns and talk show hosts around the country. In this column, Ms. Marks-White echoed the sentiments felt by many Americans and did so with her trademark light touch. | |
| Column (2nd place) | "When Obama's Right, Give Him Due Credit" by Theresa Vara |
| Column (Honorable Mention) | "Pardon Me If I Don't Shake Your Hand & Please Pass the Purell" by Ann DeMatteo |
| Creative writing | When Janice Bailey Walked by Tessa Smith McGovern |
| We meet Janice Bailey as she is being released from prison and so terrified of the real world that she wants to return to life behind bars. Her crime? Manslaughter in self-defense. Ms. McGovern's tightly written prose and fine sense of pace allows the story to build gently to a happy conclusion. | |
| Blog | Heather Kovar |
| Much of the success of Ms. Kovar's blog is due to the many links she provides to other sites that are related to her news segments. | |
| Web copy | "Social Media Emerging as Customer Engagement Channel" by Dave Pelland |
| This straightforward business piece explains why social networking sites are a more effective means of reaching customers than call-in centers or traditional web sites. Mr. Pelland writes in plain English, not just for "suits." | |
| PR campaign | Nancy Helle |
| A comprehensive and strategic public relations campaign. | |
| Feature (1st place) | "Secret Shame" by Margaret Farley Steele |
| "Secret Shame" started with a great lead that grabbed the attention and got to the heart of dating violence among teenagers. Well-written and researched piece on an important topic. | |
| Feature (2nd place) | "Food Fight" by Leslie Chess Feller |
| Feature (Honorable Mention) | "Rail Riders" by Nick Wedge |
| Feature Video (1st place) | "My Name is Mimi" by Andrea Vavasour, Matt Cyr and Debra Alfarone |
| The narrative arc was perfect, great beginning, middle and end. The commentary was lean and well-paced, creating a compelling story. The topic was moving and the message worthwhile. | |
| Feature Video (2nd place) | "Out of Darkness" by Andrea Vavasour, Matt Cyr and Chris Wood |
| Feature Video (Honorable Mention) | "Bodie's Place" by Kristi Faccenda and Mark Sogofsky |
| TV News | Old Man Marathon by Shawna Ryan and Jim Mennino |
| Well documented, action packed, informative, leaves viewer with an upbeat feeling. | |
| On the Scene | No Fire Hydrant by Joe Connors |
| First rate, first hand reporrting, fire images graphic, brings disaster alive. | |
| Investigative | Justice for Jessica by Melissa Taberna |
| Well documented, images good, topic inviting, well thought out. | |
| Sports | Gracie by Robert Cook and Fred Gerteiny |
| Moving story, proves a good point, video action excellent. | |
| Prepared Special | What's Bugging You by Heather Kovar and Lori Golias |
| Enterprising reporting, excellent camera work, articulate, clear script writing. Real public service. | |
2008 Winners
| Best Publication | Geoffrey Morris, Ridgefield Magazine |
| Best Feature | Jamie Marshall |
| Best Creative Writing | Theresa Vara |
| Best Column | Theresa Vara |
| Best Children's Book | Marianne Prokop |
| Best Adult Fiction | Amy Bloom |
| Best Adult Non-Fiction | Edward Alwood |
| Best Audio-Visual | Weston Woods |
| Best Prepared Sports | David Springer, Mark Sogofsksy, News 12 |
| Best on the Scene Coverage | Debra Alfarone, Joe Connors, Matthew Cyr, News 12 |
| Best Prepared Feature | David Springer, Christopher Wood, News 12 |
| Best Investigative Report | Dave Grunebaum, Frank Bruce, News 12 |
| Best Creative Report | David Springer, News 12 |
| Best Blog | Heather Kovar, News 12 |
List of Past Winners
For award certificate sample, click here.
Mark Twain Journalist of the Year Award
Given each year by the Connecticut Press Club to a candidate who has made a notable journalistic or literary contribution to Connecticut. The candidate may or may not be a member of the CPC.
List of Winners- 2009 Wally Lamb
- 2008 Faith Middleton
- 2007 Hugh Mulligan
- 2006 Robert E. Button
- 2004 Morton Schindel
- 2003 Andree Aelion Brooks
- 2002 Diane Smith
- 2001 Lawrence Fellows (Post-humously)
For Mark Twain award criteria, click here.
For background details about Mark Twain past winners, click here.
Wally Lamb's novels She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True were both featured selections of Oprah's Book Club and climbed The New York Times best seller lists. She's Come Undone was a 1992 "Top Ten" Book of the Year selection in People Weekly. Lamb's latest novel, The Hour I First Believed, explores the lives of a fictional Connecticut family interfaced with nonfiction events such as the Civil War and Columbine High School shootings in 1999.
A native of Connecticut, Lamb lives in Storrs, where he taught writing at the University of Connecticut. He earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in teaching from UConn and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College. He began writing fiction in 1981 while teaching high school English at his alma mater, The Norwich Free Academy. Lamb also edited the nonfiction anthologies Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned Sisters and I'll Fly Away.
Background on 2008 winner Faith Middleton.WNPR interviewer Faith Middleton is one of only two dozen interviewers in the world who have ever received the The George Foster Peabody Award ("Pulitzer" of national broadcast journalism) twice. She joins the ranks of Ted Koppel, Walter Cronkite, Charles Kuralt, Diane Sawyer, Robert MacNeil, Jim Lehrer, Scott Simon, and Susan Stamberg. Faith has interviewed more than 7,000 people and is the author of The Goodness of Ordinary People (Crown, now in its third printing). She is a contributor to CPTV and to National Public Radio's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition with Scott Simon. She has guest hosted Fresh Air With Terry Gross, and her print stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Denver Post, The Hartford Courant, and a variety of national magazines. In addition, she has taught The Art of the Interview at Yale University, where she is an associate fellow.
