Youth Writing Awards Ceremony

The awards ceremony for the Youth Fishing Essay Contest was held on Saturday February 27 at the Suffolk County Boat and Sportfishing Show. The event was well attended with all winners and their families in attendance. We also had a terrific show of support from The Fisherman magazine and LIOCN to help out with the event. Fred Golofaro, Doc Muller, Mike Caruso, Bob Banfelder, Donna Derasmo, Tim Smith, Jerry Collins (Captain Kayak) and yours truly, AP, were in attendance. The certificates and prizes were awared in the lecture hall of the college but we took the awarding of the grand prize out onto the floor of the show. That proved to be a real attention getter and it was an enjoyable and fun experience for all.
By all meaures, the contest was a success. We granted fifteen 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes and five special recognition awards that included the Grand Prize. Special thanks go to Captain Kayak and The Fisherman for obtaining the Hobie Kayak and to Chris Paparo and Atlantis Marine World for three very special awards. Thanks also go out to a number of LICON members for their gracious contributions: William Doc Muller; Kevin Falvey; Zeno Hromin; Nick Karas; John Skinner; Tom Melton;Tim Smith; Al Lorenzetti and AP. Other awards were donated by Albright Tackle, Shimano, Daiwa, Zebco/Quantum, Matzuo/South Bend, Pure Fishing, J&H Super Outlet, George Povermo, Larry Czonka and Roland Martin.
And thanks again to all the judges: Doc Muller; Fred Golofaro; Joel Lucks; Bob Banfelder; Donna Derasmo and AP.

Congratulations John Skinner

Congratulations and kudos to LIOCN member John Skinner for his recent New York State record false albacore that pushed the scale to 16.4 pounds. That is a very substantial little tunny for this neck of the woods, or anywhere along the east coast. Once again, congratulations.

2009 Youth Fishing Essay Contest

For Immediate Release
1/26/2010

The Fisherman magazine and the Long Island Outdoor Communicators Network announce winners of the 2009 Youth Fishing Essay Contest. According to contest coordinator, Angelo Peluso, “We received more than two-hundred outstanding entries, making judging a pleasant, challenging and rewarding task. After thorough review by the panel of judges, awards were conferred on the top fifteen essays. Forty-four certificates of achievement were also granted. Prizes for all winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd place essays in each age category will be awarded on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the Suffolk County Boat and Sportfishing Show, Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, NY.

Award recipients were as follows: High School (Grades 10-12): 1st Place, Ben McCarron - “A Bite Under The Light”; 2nd Place, Megan Whitehurst - “Fishing With My Father”; 3rd Place, Bobby Wood - “More Than Just Fishing”.

Junior Category (Grades 7-9): 1st Place, Anna Rose Petinos - “What Fishing Means to Me”; 2nd Place, Leslie Toohey - “A Fish Tail”; 3rd Place, Tristan Whitehouse - “What Fishing Means to Me”.

Elementary Category (Grade 6): 1st Place, Elizabeth Salzman - “My Favorite Fishing Memory”; 2nd Place, Emma Franza - “My Favorite Fishing Story”; 3rd Place, Anthony Caligure - “My Greatest Fishing Story”.

Elementary Category (Grades 4-5): 1st Place, Summer Kester - “My First Striped Bass”;
2nd Place, Steve Eastwood - “Fishing in Lake Erie”; 3rd Place, Jack Broomer - “My Favorite Fishing Story”.

Elementary (Grades 1-3); 1st Place, John Salerno - “What Fishing Means to Me”;
2nd Place, Grace Hayes - “My Favorite Fishing Story”; 3rd Place, Abby Heffernan - “My First Fish”.

Grand Prize/Hobie Kayak: Winner will be announced on Saturday, January 30th at the New York Sportsman’s Expo at the Nassau Coliseum. Winner will be announced from among the 1st place essays in each category.

Certificates of Achievement are awarded for honorable mention to the following contest participants: Andrea Churchill, Karen Borst, Tiyana Coleman, Patrick Straus, Sodasia Thompson, Alex Kinn, Zach Petruzzi, Tyler Quaresimo, Karl Nilsen, Donald Bangs Jr., Christine Widera, Matthew Gino, William Carney, Daniel Smith, Anthony Capellupo, Kristen Pisani, Giavanna Bergano, Chelsea Lombardo, Antonio Leone, Annie Shelley, Sabrina Esposito, Anthony Arrigo, Rachel Barbato, Hunter Cairo, Chandler Sciara, Victoria Tran, Ryan Lange, Brianna Scarda, Melanie Regan, Grace MacGibbon, Matthew Heffernan, Sean Gurl, Jack Calla, Ryan Murphy, Patrick Mangels, TJ Walker, Emma Doxsee, Angelina Scocozza, Augusto Rodriguez, Joseph Dahlinger, Francis Whitehouse IV, Allison Russo, Karleigh Moran.


We would like to thank all award donors for their kind contributions: Albright Tackle, Shimano, Daiwa, Zebco/Quantum, Matzuo/South Bend, Pure Fishing, Hobie, Captain Kayak, J&H Super Outlet, George Poveromo, Roland Martin, Larry Czonka, LIOCN Members: William Doc Muller, Nick Karas, Tom Schlichter, Tom Melton, Alberto Knie, Kevin Falvey, Angelo Peluso, Gary Joyce, Chis Paparo and Atlantis Marine World.

For additional information about this press release please contact:
APdotcominfo@aol.com

LIOCN Group Created on LInkedIn.com

I had a few minutes this morning so I created a LIOCN group on LinkedIn.com For those of you who may not be familiar with LinkedIn, it was first created as a 'face-book'- type site for adults. Facebook originally started as a teeny-bopper, HS and college social site. But LinkedIn has always attracted professionals from all walks of life. Since I have been a member I have enjoyed feedback that has lead to article assignments and other engagements, and I know plenty of folks who've landed jobs from the networking. I am not sure how many of you are on LinkeIn but for those of you who are it is a simple process to join the group. For those who aren't, I've sent an official invite email so simply create a brief profile and you're in. Based on my experience this is one of the best professional networking sites on the web. I've also coded our group so that anyone who wants to join needs to be pre-approved. Stay well...AP

Book Signing and Seminar Opportunity

If any LICON members are interested in a book signing or seminar opportunity at the Suffolk County Boat and Sportfishing Show at Suffolk Community College (Brentwood Campus) please get in touch with Fred Golofaro at The Fisherman. The show is in late February and will also be the venue for our awards ceremony for the Youth essay Writing Contest.

Surfcasters' Journal

LIOCN member Zeno Hromin has released a new on-line magazine - Surfcaster's Journal. Congratulations go out to Zeno and his team for a job well done. The E-zine is very much worth a thorough read - very nice images and visuals and some solid editorial text. It appears that the magazine will be produced seasonally each quarter. The current issue also includes a nice photo essay by another LIOCN member, Richard Siberry. You can visit the magazine at www.surfcastersjournal.com. AP

Thank You Essay Contest Judges

Thanks go out to the judges of the 2009 Youth Essay Contest. The process is complete and winners have been selected in each of the five categories. All that remains is the selection of the grand prize winner. The winning entries will be announced shortly followed by an awards ceremony. But in the interim, thank you to the following LIOCN member who assisted me in the final judging: Doc Muller, Bob Banfelder, Donna Derasmo, Fred Golofaro and Joel Lucks. My personal thanks for very objective and effective judging. AP