The New England Outdoor Writers Association presented their Excellence in Craft awards for 2011 and two special awards at their annual meeting on March 31 at Singletary Rod & Gun Club in Oxford, Mass. Each year NEOWA honors outstanding examples of writing, broadcast, and images that convey the excitement and wonder of outdoor activities through the press, books, radio and television. OWAA was well represented by members who received the following awards.
Awards for the best offerings of 2011:
EXCELLENCE IN WRITING
Best Column – Newspaper
- 1st Place: Nelson Sigelman for his column entitled, “Tuna Fever Can be a Fatal Disease for Those Who Venture Too Far”
- 2nd Place: Angelo Peluso for his column entitled, “The Second Royal Sport, Falconry, Exists on the Island”
Best Column – Magazine
- 1st Place: Bob Sampson for his column entitled “Luck?”
- 2nd Place: (tie) Matt Dunlap for his column entitled “New Hunting Partner!” and Bob Sampson for his column entitled “Warm-up”
- 3rd Place: Angelo Peluso for his column entitled, “The Skinny on Long Island Flats Fishing”
Best Article – Newspaper
- 1st Place: Nelson Sigelman for his column entitled, “Wounded Warriors, Far From War But not From the Daily Battle”
- 2nd Place: Angelo Peluso for his column entitled, “Ice Decoys: Functional Then, Collectible Now”
- 3rd Place: Nelson Sigelman for his article entitled, “Internet Licenses Trade Convenience for Class”
Best Article – Magazine
- 1st Place: Capt. Bill Brown for his article entitled, “Rick’s Tuna”
- 3rd Place: V. Paul Reynolds for his article entitled, “Bagging of Record Black Bear in Colorado Cave Sparks Controversy”
Best Opinion – Newspaper
- 1st Place: Angelo Peluso for his article entitled, “The Legacy of Respect”
- 2nd Place: Marc Folco for his article entitled, “Just Another Reason to Avoid Boston at All Costs”
- 3rd Place (tie): Mike Roberts for, “Don’t Expect Lion Sightings to Mount”
- and Bob Sampson for “Commercial Fishing Shrinks Region’s Striper Stock”
Best Opinion – Magazine
- 1st Place: V. Paul Reynolds for his article, “The Downeast Mugging”
- 2nd Place: Bob Sampson for his article entitled, “Ante Up”
- 3rd Place (a three-way tie): Bob Sampson for “Waiting for Wally”
Best Humor – Newspaper
- 1st Place: Bob Sampson for “Some Fish Stories Don’t Involve Scales”
- 2nd Place: Mark Blazis for “Catching Kivvers Puts Kids on the Hook”
- 3rd Place: Marc Folco for “Nothing Scary About River Monsters”
EXCELLENCE IN BROADCAST MEDIA
Television – Hunting Category
- 1st Place: Richard Scorzafava for “Dick’s Bison” from the show “Radical Hunter”
Television – Youth Category
- 1st Place: Richard Scorzafava for “Rex’s Idaho Whitetail” from “Radical Hunter”
Radio – Fishing Category
- 1st Place: Peter St. James for “Summer Fishing” from the show “Outdoor Almanac”
EXCELLENCE IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Members in Action
- 2nd Place (tie): Larry Osmer for “Ghost in the Forest”
Still Life
- 1st Place: Larry Osmer for “Chicken Sockeye”
- 3rd Place: David Sartwell for “Cutthroat”
Fauna
- 2nd Place (tie): Larry Osmer for “Ledges” and Bob Sampson for “Frog’s Eye View”
Flora
- 1st Place: Bob Gregorski for “Poppies in the Rockies”
- 3rd Place: Diane Reynolds for “Pond Beauty”
Scenic
- 3rd Place: Larry Osmer for “A River for Recovery”
Action
- 3rd Place: Angelo Peluso for “Waiting for a Bite”
People
- 2nd Place: V. Paul Reynolds for “Early Goose Vigil”
- 3rd Place (tie): David Sartwell for “Clamming”