Once again Shore Publishing writers, designers, and photographers have been lauded by their peers at the annual Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists awards ceremony held last night.

This year, Shore Publishing received an astonishing 17 awards—five firsts, eight seconds, and four honorable mentions—for categories ranging from investigative journalism to magazine layout.

The SPJ awards serve as personal reminder to me of the honor and privilege I have to work with such a tremendously skilled and creative staff and, while these high-profile awards recognize the talent and dedication of the individual awardees, they are also a reflection on the entire Shore Publishing team of writers, photographers, designers, sales executives, and support staff that allows for excellence in journalism to happen on a daily basis.

Our publisher, Lisa Miksis, was also pleased with the outcome.

"As a free community weekly paper, we work with limited resources that would, for many, limit their ability to achieve excellence," Miksis said. "But that does not stop these incredibly talented journalists and designers from generating award-winning stories and layouts for the community. We are incredibly lucky to have such talent working with us. The entire Shore Publishing family congratulates them on their achievement and contribution to the mission of Shore in the community."

Please join us in congratulating the award winners listed below:

Fay Abrahamsson

Investigative: "Clinton Library Burglarized" SECOND PLACE

Amy J. Barry

General Column: "Parent's Eye View – A Program That Helps Seriously Ill Kids Seriously Needs Help" FIRST PLACE

Opinion Column: "Parent's Eye View – Kids Need Hopeful Role Models During Troubled Times" HONORABLE MENTION

Adam Coppola

Feature Photo: "Birds of a Feather" FIRST PLACE

News Photo: "Bringing in the Holidays with a Boom: SECOND PLACE

News Photo: "A Field to Honor the Fallen" HONORABLE MENTION

Jen Corthell

Magazine Layout Page 1: "Fall Cover" FIRST PLACE

Magazine Layout Non-Page 1: "Close to the Earth" FIRST PLACE

Meredith Crawford

Arts & Entertainment: "Precious Triumphs over the Unspeakable" SECOND PLACE

Julie Johnson

Magazine Layout Non-Page 1: "History Unbounded" SECOND PLACE

Pam Johnson

Feature Series: "Person of the Week – Masters of Music SECOND PLACE

In-Depth Series: "Should Town Fire Tenured Teacher?" HONORABLE MENTION

Jason J. Marchi

General Column: "Albert Martone – A Glass Half Full" SECOND PLACE

General Column: "June Pinto – The Joy of Saving Kids" HONORABLE MENTION

Steven Sellers

Sports News: "Indians Three-peat as CCGHL Champions" SECOND PLACE

John Vanacore

Sports Photo: "Warriors Football Finishes Season" FIRST PLACE

Sports Photo: "Tyler Benson's Tenacity Takes Its Toll on Opponents" SECOND PLACE