The Pelican Press — 
— the weekly Sarasota newspaper that gave me my local start in column writing when the editors there began running my Reality Chick column back in 2006 — picked up four press association awards recently in statewide writing and editorial contests.
County reporter and all-round news hound Stan Zimmerman nabbed first place for an editorial he wrote in January 2009 criticizing Sarasota City commissioners for their decision to create a managed mooring field in Sarasota Bay — and we all know how well that decision went.
One of the judge’s raved about Zimmerman’s writing, describing it as “Hard-hitting editorial that takes on just about every power in town. Sure to make enemies but pulls no punches and urges specific action.”
I LOVE that! Sheesh. That’s high praise, and Zimmerman deserves it. He’s collected lots of awards prior to this, and has long been a favorite of mine.
JR Riley — the paper’s cartoonist — also won an award, as well as photographer Ric Miracle, and I think the paper won in an editorial content category, as well.
I MISS that paper! I loved writing for it — loved the readers (well, maybe not the ones who sent snail mail pictures of KKK activities or called my house to call me names). It was a great place to call home.
Kudos out to Stan Z., and the rest of the Pelican crew. Well done!