Friday night was a winning night for Lake Orion. Not only did the varsity girls? basketball team win a district title, but local producers from Orion Neighborhood Television were in Lansing, taking home coveted Philo T. Farnsworth awards.
In a yearly award ceremony sponsored by the Alliance for Community Media ? Central States division, three ONTV producers walked away with the top distinction in four of the categories.
Local producer John Taylor’s Lake Orion Family Fishing won the sports entertainment category, and Kathy Wieland and Edward Peters? Lunch at CJ’s swept three different categories: seniors (Lunch at CJ’s #10), talk show and cultural event (Lunch at CJ’s #26).
‘In the world of public access, these awards are a real honor,? said Diane Griffiths, executive director of ONTV. ‘These programs were judged against other public access programs from four states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.?
All three of the award-winning programs focus on life inside Lake Orion. Lake Orion Family Fishing traces fishing through the generations. Lunch at CJ’s is a talk show program that introduces the community to members of local businesses, organizations and events.
‘How does winning feel? Fabulous. It’s nice to know that what you’re doing is important, not just to you but also to the community,? said Wieland. ‘This community is growing, but we still like to have that small-town feel. Any way that you can help people get to know each other is a huge plus.?
Orion Neighborhood Television will be replaying these award-winning programs on Sunday, November 26 and December 3, 2006 on public access ONTV channel 10. Lake Orion Family Fishing will play at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Lunch at CJ’s #10 will play at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Lunch at CJ’s #26 will round out the award-winning block at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
‘We have always known that we have the best volunteers, but it’s great to see them recognized for all of their hard work and dedication not only to ONTV, but also to the Lake Orion community,? said Cathy Kimmel, outreach coordinator for ONTV.
Orion Neighborhood Television is the non-profit, public access television center for the Lake Orion area. For more information about ONTV, visit www.OrionNeighborhoodTelevision.org or call 693-3377.