Gertrude H. Peele, known for her work as founder and volunteer executive director of the Reed Educational Campus, which provides at-risk girls with educational programs, health counseling and a “safe haven,” is to be honored at the annual Speaking of Women’s Health conference on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. For more information on the conference, call 549-2938.

- Posted by John E. Citrone

Take a gander at this tasty little slice of passive aggression we received via snail mail from Public Defender Matt Shirk. Back in January we ran a story about the then-newly elected Shirk, his pally-wally relationship with State Attorney Angela Corey and the Fraternal Order of Police, and the ways in which he made the office his own — a process that, unfortunately, involved firing virtually all of the office’s most prestigious, most experienced defense attorneys.

Shirk declined to participate in the article, instead directing us to spokesman Ronald Mallett, who provided us only with a thrown-together press release in lieu of an interview. Still, the story subsequently won first place in the long form news category in the 2009 Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Editorial Awards.


We’re not sure how Shirk found out about the victory (Googling himself, perhaps?), but we sure do appreciate the congratulations and all the “help!” 

Having syndicated sex columnist Dan Savage host the recent Association of Alternative Newsweeklies editorial awards gives a new meaning to “winner take all.” Thankfully, all the alt-newsweekly editor/author/gay activist did while presenting the awards was answer audience questions about sex — a sort of live version of his weekly Savage Love column. 

Folio Weekly had a good showing at the national awards ceremony, held at AAN’s convention last week in Tucson, AZ. Staff writer Gwynedd Stuart won a first place award for her story on the new Public Defender Matt Shirk. Editor Anne Schindler also took first place for her weekly From The Editor Column [click here, here and here]. Photo Editor Walter Coker took second place in the Photography category for his weekly photo series Through The Lens, and contributing writer Susan Clark Armstrong took third place for her story “Don’t Bother” in the Investigative Reporting catgory.

Hooray for them! And Dan Savage? Even cuter in person.