The third annual Beacon Awards, honoring shoreline Samaritans nominated by their peers, took place on Thursday, Oct. 8.

A multitude of residents from across the shoreline nominated dozens of worthwhile candidates, making for a very difficult task for the Beacon Awards Selection Committee. The Beacon Awards are a way for the Harbor News and its sister publications to recognize a few of the outstanding individuals who selflessly step up to help fulfill the shoreline community's promise as a place of wellbeing, opportunity, and safety for all.

While we have again selected just 15 of these generous individuals for the Beacon Award, the gala event itself, held at presenting sponsor Water's Edge Resort & Spa, has grown significantly.

"We started the Beacon Awards because we are constantly talking to people who are so inspiring. We wanted a big way to say thank you to the people that make our towns so great," said Harbor News/Zip06 Publisher Robyn Collins. "Now in our third year, we are grateful to witness how many people our readers want to recognize. The Beacon Awards are the type of event that you attend to say thank you to these people in person, and you leave inspired and full of hope for what can be done for the world within our small communities."

The red carpet gala kicked off with a performance by Encore, an acapella group from Daniel Hand High School in Madison, followed by introductory remarks from Collins and Sen. Ted. Kennedy, Jr. The event also included dinner, a silent auction (to benefit the awardees' organizations of choice), and a video presentation honoring the recipients.

Sponsors included Presenting Sponsor Water's Edge Resort & Spa, Award Sponsor Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Guilford Savings Bank, Clinton Crossings Premium Outlets, CT River Museum, The Drunken Palette Art Studio, Frame Shop on Wall Street, Shoreline Trolley Museum, Village Green Gardens, Walker-Loden, Advanced Office Systems, Swan Funeral Homes, Kia of Old Saybrook, Tower Labs, Vein Center of CT, V.F. McNeil Insurance, Shumack Construction, Big Prints, Riggio's, The Ciccio Family, Deborah Volain, William Espowood, Parker Fox, Michael Hallahan, Vista Vocational, Middlesex Primary Care, and Essex Savings Bank.

2015 Beacon Award Winners

Patricia Andriole, Branford

Judy Bannon, Northford

Mary Caruso, North Branford

Wendy Cowles, East Haven

Margaret & Vinny Diglio, Madison

Joe Goldberg, Guilford

Matt & Mary Hally, Branford

Patricia Kral, Guilford

Lisa LeMonte, Old Saybrook

Judy McCusker, Madison

Bill O'Brien, Branford

Theresa Ranciato, North Haven

Miner Vincent, Clinton

Joe Wollack, Old Saybrook

Robert Worrell III, Guilford