epitomestitches1-blog

[liliesinwrittendreams]

Equilibrium

Chapter One - Inverted Birthday

Quiet. So, so quiet. Only the wind could be heard through the trees as Lily crouched, scanning the forest for any movement. She needed to feed her adoptive family and collect herbs for new medicines. Study things enough, and soon, ideas would flourish. It was one of the many reasons why there was always someone at the door. Even if they had to keep it hidden from the peacekeepers, which didn’t always work in their favor. No one ever spoke of where they’d gotten such medicine, to keep Lily safe. She was their healer, and at only eighteen. So while she hunted, keeping her throwing knives sharp, she would run medicines to various homes, sometimes not taking any money at all due to the severity of the illnesses.

Rustling broke her reverie, and her eyes narrowed. A rabbit. If Lily could time her throw just right, she’d hit the skull and be able to eat that night. Still. So, so still. Not even her breath could be heard as she kept her eyes locked firmly on the engorged rabbit, inching silently closer. Drawing a blade from the sheath at her hip, taking careful aim, she drew back with her wrist ready. Steady… steady… Sssskk! Perfect throw. Lily got to her feet and started after her kill when a cheerful voice called behind her. “Well, if it isn’t the little flower drifting in the breeze!” Luc. Lily turned to see his chocolate brown eyes crinkling as he smiled, his brown hair lightened considerably from so much time outside of his home. But that was District Twelve, wasn’t it? No one really stayed home unless they were dying. It was either work to try to make ends meet or go to the mines.

Quicker rustling snapped her attention back to the rabbit she’d killed. A damn fox ran off with it, with her knife. “Sonofabitch, Luc! That was my best blade!” Shaking her head, she joined him, several yards away and out of view of the electrified fence, sitting at the treeline of the woods. Luc plopped unceremoniously on the ground beside her, casually handing her a package with a flourish of his wrist. Thick, brown paper and twine wrapping. Lily took the package, a rather weighty little thing, giving him a suspicious glance. “What. Is this?” “Pfft,” Luc huffed a breath, resting his arms around his knees as he stared at her with one eyebrow raised. “You know me, Lils, you know I ain’t about that prank shit. Not today.” Oh yeah. Her birthday, the Reaping, and the anniversary of her parents’ deaths. Luc played his pranks, but he always left that for days that weren’t as emotional.

Lily opened the package, her mouth falling open as her eyes widened. A brand new set of throwing knives. The kind only created in District Two. These were deadly, ruthlessly sharp, and illegal. “You catchin’ flies over there or what? Say somethin’.” Shaking her head, she realized the implications if they got caught. “Luc!” Her voice was a hissing whisper, throwing her head around to make sure no one heard them. “Luc, these are from District Two, and they’re illegal. What the hell- how the hell- No. No, you know what? Nevermind. I don’t even-” “Jesus, Lil, tone it down a little, would ya? Aries brought them after I gave him the medicine you made for his mother. As a birthday gift and a thank you. She’s going to be all right. You saved her, Lils.”

Lily tucked her head down, going over each of the blades. Seven in total, and even touching the tip of one to a fingertip would result in a gashing wound. Black and even came with a pouch to carry them that unfolded to wrap around her thigh. A soft smile graced her face, her hazel eyes brightening as she looked back to Luc, tucking the blades in her boot. “She needed it. And Aries… he’s the reason I haven’t died.” Thinking back, that much was true. When her parents were killed by a riot, Lily was only six. Aries found her, in his mid-twenties at the time and held his arms open as he bent down for her. Lily had instantly run to him, sobbing and wailing, asking for her mommy and daddy. While nothing could be done then, he had taken her to the Holmes’, Calis and Dita, with their newborn daughter, Magnolia. She’d been with them ever since.

Now, Lily was eighteen, and it was her final year for The Reaping. Just as long as Mags wasn’t called, things would be all right. It was time to get back. She needed to change and help Mags get ready. She and Luc made their way back without incident, just before people started clamoring outside. Lily heard a few TVs broadcasting the events for the day, where several Districts had their tributes announced already. District One, Fiyero Deamorte and Amazonia Rhode. The luxury district, but Lily didn’t pay much more attention than that. She had to get bathed and dressed. “Lilypad, you were gone awhile,” her adoptive mother called. Lily nodded, taking her raven hair down from its bun and heading to the washroom. “Yeah,” she replied, calling through the door now shut behind her as she undressed. “Wanted to pick up something special for dinner tonight. Almost had a rabbit, but a fox took off with it.”

“Aye,” Dita sighed audibly in the kitchen. “But you made it home safely, that’s what matters. Mags, come here, let me fix your hair.” “Mama! I can do it myself!” Lily shook her head and sat down gently in the wash basin, scrubbing herself down as best she could with the water’s condition. Starving, frequently dirty, but they knew the importance of looking out for one another, of taking care of one another. Stepping out after she’d finished, Lily towel dried her hair and set it up in a Greek, fishtail braid, dressing into the nicest thing she had, an olive green, knee length dress. Good enough, even with the minimal makeup they were able to get their hands on. When she stepped out, Mags was dressed, her hair finished, but fidgeting. “Liliana, I’m scared.” “Hey, kitty cat, it’s gonna be okay,” she soothed her sister, taking her into a hug. “And you know to call me Lily by now, right?” She straightened as her sister shook her head. “Your name is Liliana, and it’s pretty. It’s a name for a princess, even a flower healing princess.”

Lily giggled softly and got their shoes, just before the peacekeepers announced that The Reaping enrollment had officially started. “Oh!” Maggie jumped, her arms around her older sister and squeezing tightly. “I know you don’t like it, but happy birthday, big sis princess.” She could only smile and hum softly, patting her sister’s head in response. It was time to go. Taking Maggie’s hand, Lily sighed heavily and the two were out the door.

There were more people her age than Lily had seen all year. Of course, being that the Hunger Games were nationwide and televised, they had to be out. Lily had to guide Maggie on where to go, to get their finger pricked for a little blood before being directed to their age groups. A woman, a rather… brightly dressed, bird looking woman, was standing on the stage as the Capital’s emblem spun on the overhead screen, playing Panem’s anthem. Lily’s eyes scoured the rest of the crowd. She found Mags well enough, then she saw Luc, then one of her regular customers named Erik. Odd… Lily always thought Erik was older than her. Maybe it was the way he carried himself.

Silence fell over the crowd as the anthem dwindled, and the woman introduced herself. Ruby Haynes, a former resident of District Twelve and their announcer. Before they could get to announcing their tributes of the year, they had to watch the same film that was broadcasted every year, explaining the war, the revolt, the reason for the Games. Lily rolled her eyes inwardly, still scouring the crowd. Silence once again as Ruby tapped the microphone, earning an audible screech until she covered it again. “Oops,” she giggled, her bright orange hair gleaming in the sun. Her yellow outfit was glittery, too bright and gaudy for the residents of District Twelve. Was that how they dressed in the Capital? Lily didn’t know. It didn’t matter, it was time for the names to be called. As always, ladies first, as it had been every year. In what looked like a couple of giant fishbowls were folded papers with the names of every person ages twelve to eighteen. Ruby reached into one, swirling the papers before finally selecting one at random. Stepping to the microphone, her large heels audibly clicking, she cleared her throat and opened the paper. “Liliana Eriksen.”

A scream. A blood-curdling, murderous scream erupted somewhere in the crowd. Where was it coming from? Lily didn’t know, she lost the capacity to breathe, let alone think. Her birthday, the day of the Reaping, the anniversary of her parents’ deaths, and now… Called upon as tribute for the Games. Mags. Lily realized who was screaming as she stepped through the clearing crowd. “NO! NO, Liliana, you can’t go! I- I VOLUNTEER!” Lily whirled and ran to Maggie, peacekeepers crowding around her. “Take my sister home,” she whispered to Aries through trembling breaths. “Take her home, get her out of here. Tell mom.” Aries nodded and scooped Maggie in his arms, taking her away from the entire scene. An unswallowable knot welled in Lily’s throat, all cameras pointed on her as she made her way to the stage on wobbling legs. She almost fell, a peacekeeper catching her arm. “You all right there, Lils? We’re really going to suffer without you.” Lily nodded, swallowing finally and made the few remaining steps up the stairs to the stage. Ruby was all smiles, beckoning her over to her standing place. “Was that your sister, I gather? And you refused to let her volunteer on your own birthday? Impressive.” Nodding again, her eyes scoured the entire crowd. Luc stared up at her with pride in his eyes. Guardian. That was always his nickname for her. Because of the way she guarded everyone, especially Mags. She barely heard the next name that was called. Erik Leavenworth.

After he’d made it to the stage, Erik shook her hand, looking down at her with gentle blue eyes. “I’m sorry, Lils,” he whispered, leaning forward, his mouth next to her ear. “No one should have to do this on their birthday.” Erik was easily over six feet tall, and broad. If anyone from District Twelve had a shot at winning this, it was him. Lily barely saw five feet, equivalent in the height of a child. Their mentor, the only living victor from District Twelve, was Orion Graves. Fitting, considering he was a raving drunk most days and was frequently holed up in his home, almost plummeting off the stage in his stupor. It was time to go.

@rosey-writes

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

You know what-

This just came to me I’m this horny...I need to go to sleep man I really do smh.

...........

If Erik yells at you like this you will jump and yes your heart will skip a few beats. You might sweat a little and keep your mouth shut but your pussy ain’t calm. Nope. As soon as he quiet all that big nigga shit down you will take off your clothes and you will arch your back. No hesitation. No second thought. You’ll even spread that pussy open for him to see just how sopping wet you really are from all that energy he worked up. While he’s heaving, sweating, and heavily breathing your popping your ass and pussy.

“Did you even hear what the fuck I just said, Y/N?”

He thinks you can’t tell because of the darker grey sweats he’s wearing but you can see that fat ass dick clear as day. Matter of fact, you saw that heavy thang bouncing, rotating, and swaying when he was raving. No matter how mad this man is all you want him to do is dig deep in your pussy with that thick ass pipe.

“What the fuck you looking at, HUH?”

“You-“

“Don’t fucking look at me I’m fucking mad at you.”

“Just come and give me some dick-“

“That’s all you ever want is this dick, girl, shit, didn’t I just fuck you earlier today? Twice? Goddamn a nigga can’t even be upset without you bending over.”

“Take all that anger and frustration out on this pussy.”

He will give in soon, Erik can’t stay away from your pussy for long and if he had to that nigga will be in your shit for hours and hours until he’s satisfied. The twerking you were currently doing while arched as steep as Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde was definitely gaining his attention. The thunder clap of your cheeks had your pussy making the gushiest noises in the world and all he wanted to do was stand there and glare at you with a vein popping out the middle of his forehead.

“I’m waiting,” You taunt him with a coy smile, “All this creamy pussy and you wanna stand there like a big ass cry baby. Come over here and work this pussy.”

“Your little ass ain’t tired of me yet? I warned you I don’t know how many times that this dick will have you screaming bloody murder and yet you keep craving me...”

“I never had dick like yours so you should be proud, Daddy,” You rub your clit from the back, “Oooh, shit I’m so damn horny-“

“All you’re gonna do is beg for me to stop and run like always,” Erik chuckles dryly, “How you whine about wanting daddy’s big dick if you can’t even take it?”

“I’ll take that shit right now, the fuck,” You spreads your pussy lips with both hands, “Just put it as deep as it can go and I’ll throw it back on you. You ain’t even gotta move, Daddy I’ll make both of us cum, what do you say?”

“Is that right? I ain’t gotta do all the work this time? No charley horses? I just might whip this dick out and give it to your greedy ass-“

“Less talking, more digging,” You bring your hand down and under the bridge your body formed, curling a single finger at him, “C’mere mean ass.”

When Erik kisses his teeth and gave in, your pussy throbbed. When he pulled his sweats down to reveal that smooth cum delivering stick of his you damn near praised him for how BIG and beautiful it is. All that thick dick on him. Now you were reminiscing about the first time you saw his dick. You remembered how you told him you don’t have sex on the first date and that includes giving head but somehow when he pulled up to your crib you couldn’t help yourself. It was his smell, his raspy and deep voice, those dark and sexy eyes, how he asserted his dominance in the faintest of ways, the fact that he didn’t even brag on his dick or anything for that matter he just showed you...

( Erik...I know I said that I don’t fuck on the first date but I just wanna sit on that beautiful dick! )

“C’ mon, girl, fuck this dick,” Erik brought you back to the present, “let’s go, put this dick in that pretty puss and FUCK IT,” He says with a grunt.

“Fuckkkkk,” You gasp and squeal when Erik’s dick was finally buried inside of you.”

“You know what you need in your life,” Erik slaps both of your ass cheeks, “all that fucking wet wet on this dick.”

“Umph,” You start tossing your ass back with all your might. Erik simply stood there with a scowl on his handsome face and his jaw clenched tightly. The pressure in your guts didn’t make you flinch this time around and even though Erik glared menacingly at your magnificently arched back and round booty he couldn’t help but to be impressed with how well you were consuming him. That pussy was eating the dick.

“Daddy, talk to me,” You spoke between panting breaths and a few swallows of spit.

“I love watching that ass bouncing like that,” He says through clenched teeth.

“Oooh, fuck-“

“Gawddd, what a nasty whore,” He says with a deep husky voice.

“So fucking deep,” You slow down, winding your hips and bringing it back slow so you could feel every inch of his thickness in that creamy pussy.

“I know you can go harder than that, you want me to take over?”

You smile slyly. You knew what that meant. Daddy is about to give you a good pounding.

“You know I’m still mad at you, right?”

“Yessssssssss, Daddy-“

“Cream like that for me, baby-“

“Daddy I do cream like that for you...you make me so wet baby-“

That pussy got so wet while your ass just kept bouncing off of him. So wet his dick kept slipping out. Erik grew frustrated each time it slipped out and when he would put it back in he would fuck you harder than the last time.

“Love that sound,” He says with a gruff tone.

“Just like that, Daddy,” You encourage his forceful strokes, “Daddy yes I’m gonna fucking cum keep going!”

“I feel that grip on me,” Erik yanks your hair, “I got so much cum waiting just for you in my nuts, baby-“

“YES!” You scream.

“Oh you’ll get more, baby-“

“Make me cum! Make me cum! I need more!”

“Wait for your turn little slut.”

[enappartet]

Florida AP Broadcasters contest award winners

Photo source: Channel 3’s Jasmine Anderson

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) —

Winners of the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters contest were announced Saturday in Orlando.

Thirty-seven television and radio stations submitted 597 entries in the contest. A list of winners can be found here.

WEAR ABC 3 took home three awards in the 2017 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters contest:

General Assignment: #1, Christina Leavenworth and Tristan Turner, WEAR-TV, Pensacola, “Woman Accused of Burying Body in Grandmother’s Backyard”Photojournalist: #2, WEAR-TV, Pensacola, “Anchor Wars.”Website: #2, Website / Digital

The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,400 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States.

Winners in the 2017 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters contest:

LEGACY AWARDS

TV: Tom Wills, WJXT-TV

RADIO: Ronald Ebben, WFSU-FM

WINNERS LIST IN TV I / LARGE MARKET:

Feature ? Hard News: 1, Emerald Morrow and Heather Bailey, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, “Who Helps the Hero?“; 2, Dalia Dangerfield and Jonathan Haas, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “Hurricane Maria: A Student’s Transition.”

Feature ? Light News: 1, Matt Austin and Paul Giorgio, WKMG-TV, Orlando, “Getting Results Award: Cemetery Restoration”; 2, Gaston Toledo and Felix Castro, WSCV-TV, Miami, “Bailarina en la Oscuridad.”

Feature ? Cultural / Historical: 1, Veronica Cintron and Bobby Collins, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “Immigration in America: Field of Fear”; 2, Kathryn Bursch, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, “Violins of Hope.”

General Assignment: 1, Jeff Joiner and Holly Gregory, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “WWII Bomber Squadron Reunion”; 2, Julie Gargotta and Tony Rojek, Florida News 13, Orlando, “Before The Storm.”

Non-Breaking Newscast: 1, WKMG-TV, Orlando; 2, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, “Brightside: The Morning After the NYC Truck Attack.”

Breaking News ? Station: 1, WFLA-TV, Tampa, “Emergency Landing”; 2, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “Seminole Heights Murderer Caught.”

Breaking News ? Individual: 1, Nadeen Yanes, WKMG-TV, Orlando, “The Capture of an Accused Cop Killer”; 2, Valerie Boey and Brad Flanagan, WOFL-TV, Orlando, “Markeith Loyd Captured.”

Breaking News ? Long Format: 1, Erik Sandoval, WKMG-TV, Orlando, “Orlando Airport Gunman”; 2, Laurie Davison, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “Hurricane Irma Live.”

Continuing Coverage: 1, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “Pulse Remembered”; 2, Matt Austin and Donovan Myrie, WKMG-TV, Orlando, “Driving Change: Push For Texting Law.”

Investigative: 1, Jarrod Holbrook and Randy Wright, WFTS-TV, Tampa, “Substituting The Truth”; 2, Greg Fox and Mike Kirby, WESH-TV, Winter Park, “Red Light Camera Countermeasures.”

Investigative Series: 1, Katie LaGrone and Matthew Apthorp, WFTS-TV, Tampa, ���Florida Teachers, Failing & Frustrated”; 2, Adam Walser and Randy Wright, WFTS-TV, Tampa, “Falling Through the Cracks – Sinkhole Investigation.”

Series / Franchise Reporting: 1, Matt Austin and Paul Giorgio, WKMG-TV, Orlando; 2, WSCV-TV, Miami, “Mujeres Fuera de Serie.”

Public Affairs / Documentary / TV Magazine: 1, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, “Hurricane Maria: Mainland Impact”; 2, John Handiboe and Gary Darling, Florida News 13, Orlando, “Hurricane Irma: Your Stories.”

Weather Reporting: 1, Myrt Price and Tom Zylowski, WFTV-TV, Orlando, “RV Park Destroyed by Hurricane Irma”; 2, Christian Bruey and Ulen Hodges, WFTV-TV, Orlando, “Hurricane Irma Coverage.”

Sports Feature: 1, Justin Granit and Angela Clooney, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, “Golfing with the Tampa Bay Bucs”; 2, Michael Wash Jr. and Andy Wontor, Florida News 13, Orlando, “The Number 42.”

Website / Digital: 1, WSCV-TV, Miami, “Mujeres Fuera de Serie”; 2, Daniel Dahm, WKMG-TV, Orlando.

Editor: 1, Matthew Apthorp, WFTS-TV, Tampa; 2, Joe Wagener, WFTV-TV, Orlando.

Photojournalist: 1, Timothy F. Kania, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg; 2, Michael Wash Jr., Florida News 13, Orlando.

Weathercaster: 1, Bryan Karrick, Florida News 13, Orlando, “Florida: Staying Calm in the Eye of the Storm”; 2, Amy Sweezey, WESH-TV, Winter Park, “Hurricane Irma: Impacts & Aftermath.”

Sportscaster: 1, Christian Bruey, WFTV-TV, Orlando.

Multi-Media Reporter (MMJ): 1, James Sparvero, WKMG-TV, Orlando.

Reporter: 1, Laurie Davison, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg; 2, Jarrod Holbrook, WFTS-TV, Tampa.

Producer: 1, Adriana Mocciola, WSCV-TV, Miami, ” ?; 2, Sakina Bowser, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, ” .

News Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Jason Guy and Michelle Imperato, WESH-TV, Winter Park; 2, Sheli Muniz, WTVJ-TV, Miami.

Television Newscast ? Morning / Midday: 1, WKMG-TV, Orlando; 2, Sakina Bowser and Bethany Rhodes, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, “Las Vegas Shooting.”

Television Newscast ? Evening / Night: 1, WKMG-TV, Orlando; 2, Bay News 9, St. Petersburg.

Overall ? Station of the Year: 1, WKMG-TV, Orlando; 2, WESH-TV, Winter Park.

WINNERS LIST IN TV II / MEDIUM MARKET:

Feature ? Hard News: 1, Merris Badcock and Jennifer Tintner, WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, “Death Row Decisions: Sentencing Killers to Death May be Harder Under New Florida Law”; 2, Melanie Lawson and Jodi Mohrmann, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Thinking of Suicide.”

Feature ? Light News: 1, Stephanie Susskind and Maurice Moran, WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, “Officer Crowder’s K9s”; 2, Derek Kemp and Rachel Polansky, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Best Hurricane Ever.”

Feature ? Cultural / Historical: 1, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Hometown Boys: A Southern Rock Tragedy.”

General Assignment: 1, Christina Leavenworth and Tristan Turner, WEAR-TV, Pensacola, “Woman Accused of Burying Body in Grandmother’s Backyard”; 2, Peter Busch and Josh Kappers, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Trump in Naples.”

General Assignment ? Long Format: 1, Jennifer Waugh and Travis Anthony, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “The Hunt for a Fugitive”; 2, Jim Piggott, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Body Cam Video.”

Non-Breaking Newscast: 1, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville; 2, Lenny Smith, WINK-TV, Fort Myers.

Breaking News ? Station: 1, WINK-TV, Fort Myers; 2, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, “Kamiyah Mobley Found.”

Breaking News ? Individual: 1, Mike Magnoli and Christopher Jones, WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, “Ft. Lauderdale Mass Shooting”; 2, Chris Lovingood and Derek Kemp, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Chicos Plane Crash.”

Breaking News ? Long Format: 1, Crystal Moyer, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Rescue During Hurricane Irma”; 2, Lindsey Sablan, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “SWFL on Fire.”

Continuing Coverage: 1, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Congresswoman’s Corruption Case”; 2, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “Reporting on Irma.”

Investigative: 1, Lauren Sweeney and Justin Cubbage, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “In Custody Deaths”; 2, Michelle Kingston, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “High School Bathroom Sex Scandal.”

Investigative Series: 1, Rachel Polansky and Derek Kemp, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “9-1-1 Fatal Flaw”; 2, WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, “Riviera Beach Investigative Series.”

Series / Franchise Reporting: 1, Jenna Bourne and Mike Dorfman, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, “ADA Lawsuits: Social Justice or Shakedown?“; 2, Michelle Kingston and Katie Cribbs, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “Custom Comfort for an Uncomfortable Price.”

Public Affairs / Documentary / TV Magazine: 1, Staci Spanos, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “A Disaster Named Matthew”; 2, Todd Ofenbeck and Tiffany Myers, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Irma Special.”

Weather Reporting: 1, Vic Micolucci and Chris O’Rourke, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Crisis in Puerto Rico”; 2, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “Defeating the Deadly Hurricane.”

Sports Feature: 1, Kent Justice and Jodi Mohrmann, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Jumbo Shrimp”; 2, Jodi Mohrmann and Sam Kouvaris, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Jacksonville’s Hole in One.”

Breaking Sports News : 1, Lynnsey Gardner and Jodi Mohrmann, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “Privileged?.”

Website / Digital: 1, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville; 2, WEAR-TV, Pensacola.

Editor: 1, Wally Lurz, WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, “Irma Lingers”; 2, Scott Reilly, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers.

Photojournalist: 1, Wally Lurz, WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, “Irma Lingers”; 2, WEAR-TV, Pensacola, “Anchor Wars.”

Weathercaster: 1, Jim Farrell, WINK-TV, Fort Myers, “Forecasting the Unpredictable: Irma Hits Southwest Florida”; 2, Mike Buresh, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, “Jacksonville’s Chief Meteorologist.”

Multi-Media Reporter (MMJ): 1, Channing Frampton, WINK-TV, Fort Myers.

Reporter: 1, Jenna Bourne, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville; 2, Lynda Figueredo, WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach.

Producer: 1, Leah Carr, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Chicos Plane Crash”; 2, Vanessa Bein, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Irma Aftermath.”

News Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Jennifer Waugh, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville; 2, Tenikka Smith Hughes, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville.

Television Newscast ? Morning / Midday: 1, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “After Hurricane Irma”; 2, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, “Trump in Naples.”

Television Newscast ? Evening / Night: 1, Will Stewart and Lenny Smith, WINK-TV, Fort Myers; 2, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, “After Irma.”

Overall ? Station of the Year: 1, WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville; 2, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers.

WINNERS LIST IN TV III / SMALL MARKET:

Feature ? Hard News: 1, Kayla Gaskins, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Family Searching for Missing Sister”; 2, Julie Montanaro and Ryan Kelly, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Football Fears.”

Feature ? Light News: 1, Neysa Wilkins, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Making Mats for the Homeless Out of Plastic Bags”; 2, Haley Wade, WCJB-TV, Gainesville, “Men Find Friendship During Richard Spencer Rally.”

Feature ? Cultural / Historical: 1, Mariel Carbone, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “49 Days in Leon County Jail”; 2, Jennifer Holton, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Father’s Body Found Years After Pearl Harbor Attack.”

General Assignment: 1, Erika Fernandez , WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Southwood American Flag Controversy”; 2, Byron Khalil, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Man Wants Safer Biking Options After Crash.”

General Assignment ? Long Format: 1, Byron Khalil, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Cleaning Up The Beach.”

Non-Breaking Newscast: 1, Shannah Bober, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach.

Breaking News ? Station: 1, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Hurricane Irma Live Coverage”; 2, WTXL-TV, Midway.

Breaking News ? Individual: 1, Lanetra Bennett, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Search For Missing Boy in Lake Talquin”; 2, Mariel Carbone, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Subpoenas Issued in the FBI Investigation Into Tallahassee.”

Breaking News ? Long Format: 1, Kayla Gaskins, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Hurricane Irma Coverage.”

Continuing Coverage: 1, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Fraternity Pledge Death Investigation”; 2, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “The Lucky 7.”

Investigative: 1, Alicia Turner, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Cellphones in Prison”; 2, Ashley Richmond, WTXL-TV, Midway, “Insiders: Mistrust in Midway.”

Series ? Franchise Reporting: 1, Jennifer Holton, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “9/11 Suspects Pretrial Hearings at Guantanamo Bay”; 2, Crystal Bailey and Ron Bates, WCJB-TV, Gainesville, “The Power Behind the Hashtag: #MeToo.”

Public Affairs / Documentary / TV Magazine: 1, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Eclipse Special”; 2, Jessica Foster, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Breast Cancer Awareness.”

Weather Reporting: 1, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Hurricane Irma Coverage”; 2, Charles Roop, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “South Georgia Tornado Drill.”

Sports Feature: 1, Ben Kaplan and Allison Perry, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Young Athlete Uses Golf to Overcome Cancer”; 2, Joel Sebastianelli, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach, “Father and Son Boxing Duo.”

Breaking Sports News: 1, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee, “Jimbo Fisher Leaves FSU.”

Website / Digital: 1, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach.

Weathercaster: 1, Ryan Michaels, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach; 2, Alexander Calamia, WCJB-TV, Gainesville.

Sportscaster: 1, Jamie Hale, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach.

Multi-Media Reporter (MMJ): 1, Byron Khalil, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach; 2, Mariel Carbone, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee.

Reporter: 1, Erin Lisch, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee.

Producer: 1, Shannon O’Keefe, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee; 2, Darling Hill, WCJB-TV, Gainesville.

News Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Malcolm Hornsby, WTXL-TV, Midway; 2, Paris Janos and Jessica Foster, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach.

Television Newscast ? Morning / Midday: 1, Laura Peavler, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach; 2, WTXL-TV, Midway.

Television Newscast ? Evening / Night: 1, Shannah Bober, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach; 2, WTXL-TV, Midway.

Overall ? Station of the Year: 1, WJHG-TV, Panama City Beach; 2, WCTV-TV, Tallahassee.

WINNERS LIST IN RADIO I:

Feature ? Hard News: 1, Abe Aboraya, WMFE-FM, Orlando, “PTSD Lingers in First Responders After Pulse”; 2, Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF-FM, Tampa, “An Unknown Future for Military Caregivers of Post-9/11 Veterans.”

Feature ? Light News: 1, Amy Green, WMFE-FM, Orlando, “Florida’s Ghosts Forests a Sign of Sea Level Rise”; 2, Brendan Byrne, WMFE-FM, Orlando, “Meet the Everyday Astronaut.”

Feature ? Cultural / Historical: 1, Robin Sussingham, WUSF-FM, Tampa, “Violins of Hope Give Voice to Voiceless of Holocaust”; 2, Alicia Zuckerman, WLRN-FM, Miami, “The Cassettes Of Hurricane Andrew.”

General Assignment: 1, Cathy Carter, WUSF-FM, Tampa, “20,000 Join Women’s March in St. Petersburg”; 2, Peter Haden, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Sounds From The South Florida Fair: Youth Livestock Auction.”

General Assignment ? Long Format: 1, Peter Haden, WLRN-FM, Miami, “It Sounded Like a Thousand Demons’: Caribbean Evacuees Arriving in Florida Recount Hurricanes”; 2, Nadege Green, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Black Women On Being Called ‘Girl’ In The Workplace.”

Breaking News: 1, WDBO-FM, Orlando, “OPD Officer Shooting, OCSO Deputy Death, Manhunt for Suspect”; 2, WOKV-FM, Jacksonville.

Continuing Coverage: 1, Peter Haden, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Sunny Daze: Inside South Florida’s Opioid Crisis”; 2, Roberto Roldan and Steve Newborn, WUSF-FM, Tampa, “Seminole Heights Shooting Spree.”

Investigative: 1, Ryan Benk, WJCT-FM, Jacksonville, “Florida Patients Stranded By State-Contracted Ride Service”; 2, Rowan Moore Gerety, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Questionable Records of Miami-Dade’s School Discipline Overhaul.”

Series / Franchise Reporting: 1, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Young Survivors: The Unspoken Trauma of Gun Violence”; 2, Stephanie Colombini and Daylina Miller, WUSF-FM, Tampa, “Art Populi: Live Music In Tampa Bay.”

Public Affairs: 1, Wilson Sayre and Alicia Zuckerman, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Cell 1: Florida’s Death Penalty in Limbo”; 2, Nicole Darden-Creston, WMFE-FM, Orlando, “Pulse: One Year Later.”

Weather Reporting: 1, WOKV-FM, Jacksonville, “Irma Tornado Warning.”

Sports Feature: 1, Mark Schreiner, WUSF-FM, Tampa, “Jose Fernandez Celebrates 300 Wins as USF Women’s Basketball Coach.”

Use of Sound For Radio: 1, Peter Haden, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Dime a Dozen, Overdose Crisis Rages in South Florida”; 2, Sammy Mack, WLRN-FM, Miami, “Overnight: Inside a Trauma Center Where Specialists Work to Help Young Victims Survive.”

Website / Digital: 1, Teresa Frontado, WLRN-FM, Miami; 2, WOKV-FM, Jacksonville.

Digital Programming: 1, Teresa Frontado and Katie Lepri, WLRN-FM, Miami; 2, WMFE-FM, Orlando, “Life After Pulse/Orlando Un Año Después.”

Reporter: 1, Steven Ponson, WOKV-FM, Jacksonville; 2, Darrell Moody, WDBO-FM, Orlando.

News Anchor or Anchor Team: 1, Gene Wexler, WDBO-FM, Orlando.

Radio Newscast: 1, WOKV-FM, Jacksonville, “Hurricane Irma Aftermath”; 2, Christine DiMattei, WLRN-FM, Miami.

Overall ? Station of the Year: 1, WOKV-FM, Jacksonville; 2, WLRN-FM, Miami.

WINNERS LIST IN RADIO II:

Feature ? Hard News: 1, Jessica Meszaros, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “After Protest, Manatee County Votes to Remove Confederate Statue.”

Feature ? Light News: 1, Jessica Meszaros, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “Experience a “Dark Sky Park” in Florida.”

Feature ? Cultural / Historical: 1, Grace King, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “Cuban Ballet Shoes”; 2, Rachel Iacovone, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “Immokalee HS Graduation Rate is Up 5 Years in a Row.”

General Assignment: 1, Rachel Iacovone, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “Gov. Scott Visits Everglades City, Still Without Power.”

General Assignment ? Long Format: 1, Jessica Meszaros, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “Everglades City Residents Still Without Temporary Housing After Hurricane Irma Storm Surge”; 2, Luke Sullivan, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “When the Lights Go Out and Stay Out.”

Continuing Coverage: 1, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “Richard Spencer Rally”; 2, Quincy Walters, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “City Dumps Toxic Sludge in Dunbar Neighborhood.”

Investigative: 1, Jessica Meszaros, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “High Arsenic Levels on Pine Island Ignored by DEP, Lee County”; 2, Ethan Magoc, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “Find Out Florida: Why do Schools Still Collect Social Security Numbers?.”

Public Affairs: 1, Ryan Vasquez, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “After Irma: What’s Next for Florida”; 2, Julie Glenn and Matt Smith, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “Trump’s Immigration Orders Hit Home in South Florida.”

Weather Reporting: 1, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “Irma Aftermath.”

Sports Feature: 1, Rachel Iacovone, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers, “Bonita Springs YMCA Spends $300,000 on Pickleball”; 2, Caitie Switalski, WUFT-FM, Gainesville, “A Cuban Woman Who Wants To Box.”

Reporter: 1, Alexa Lorenzo, WUFT-FM, Gainesville; 2, Grace King, WUFT-FM, Gainesville.

Overall ? Station of the Year: 1, WGCU-FM, Fort Myers; 2, WUFT-FM, Gainesville.

Source Article

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My Lucky Break: How I Got a Job in Craft Beer

Craftbeer.com

March 17, 2017

How do you get a job in craft beer? Hard work, talent and education go a long way, but a little luck doesn’t hurt.

We asked people in the beer industry to tell us how luck played a role in landing their dream job. From being in the right place at the right time to a chance meeting on Twitter, here are nine stories from people who work in beer.

(MORE: 8 Women in Craft Beer Who are Making a Mark Right Now)

Dean Priebe at Icicle Brewing. (Credit: Dean Priebe)

My Lucky Break: From Homebrewer to Head Brewer

Dean Priebe, Brewmaster at Icicle Brewing: In 2008, I was a humble homebrewer who won 1st place with my Robust Porter in a Seattle homebrew competition. In July, Pike Brewing Company offered to brew my Robust Porter and enter it as a Pro-Am entry in the Great American Beer Festival. I was able to attend the festival and pour my beer for the crowd.

However, the best part happened when a restaurant in my hometown of Leavenworth, Washington, purchased some kegs of my porter from Pike. The restaurant had a release party and I was pouring pints. At the event, a couple looking to open a brewery tried my porter and we started talking. They hired me as their head brewer. Icicle Brewing Company has been open six years and things are awesome!

My Lucky Break: Politeness Pays Off

Kurt Randall, Head Brewer at Ska: I had just moved to Denver and the only job I could find was mowing lawns in the southwest corner of the city.

Kurt Randall is Ska’s head brewer. (Photo: Kurt Randall)

I saw an ad in the Denver Post basically stating entry level position at Flying Dog Brewery. I called in sick to my lawn mowing job so I could go to the brewery and apply.

After waiting in line, I finally made it inside and spoke with Kelly Bearden, their office manager at the time, and was sent into the office to speak with Ryan Fox and Paul Marczyk. They went through the normal interview process asking me if I had ever brewed before, if I had any experience driving a forklift and a few other things. I thanked them and Kelly for their time and went to enjoy the rest of my day off.

Ryan and Paul ended up interviewing somewhere between 150 and 200 people that day. They were overwhelmed and asked Kelly her thoughts. I still remember what she told me she had told them: “Hire Kurt. He was polite and will fit in well with the guys in back.”

Luck was on my side! I was polite and it paid off. I spent five years working at Flying Dog before they moved to Maryland. I started on packaging and worked my way up to Head Brewer. I was the last Flying Dog Head Brewer in Denver. That was over 13 years ago and I still love what I do, and I still thank Kelly for getting me my first brewery job.

(MORE: Understanding the Three-Tier System in Beer)

My Lucky Break: Extra Credit Points

Danielle Schuler is quality manager at Fargo Brewing. (Credit: Danielle Schuler)

Danielle Schuler, Quality Manager at Fargo Brewing: I feel like some pretty serious luck got me to where I am in the brewing industry.

I was studying food science at North Dakota State University and was accepted into a research fellowship program during the summer of 2014. What I didn’t know was that one of the professors in the program had recently been contacted by the Fargo Brewing Company (FBC) asking for assistance to set up their quality lab. As someone who was just getting into the craft beer scene, I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about the science of making beer.

After the fellowship ended, I was hired on part-time until I finished my degree. It’s now three years later and I’m running the quality lab full-time, and couldn’t imagine a more satisfying way to make a living.

Colin Presby is the brewmaster on Carnival Vista. (Credit: Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)

My Lucky Break: From Llamas to Luxury Cruise Line

Colin Presby, Brewmaster on Carnival Vista: In 2009 I was working as a large animal veterinary technician treating horses, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas. The practice was growing and one of our new clients was Dan Weirback, owner of Weyerbacher Brewing Company in Easton, Pennsylvania.

On a routine farm call, Dan and I started talking beer. I was an avid homebrewer and very interested in the beer scene. Weyerbacher was growing rapidly and Dan needed help with festivals from time to time. It was a great fit!

Before too long that turned into part time work on the bottling line and then a full-time job as a cellarman. Now, I’m the brewmaster for Carnival’s Vista.

(MORE: CraftBeer.com’s Great American Beer Bars 2017)

My Lucky Break: Timing is Everything

Jason Randles started at Deschuutes. He’s now at Crux Fermentation Project. (Credit: Jason Randles)

Jason Randles, Branding and Marketing Manager at Crux Fermentation Project: When I moved to Bend, Oregon, in 1999 the only thing I knew about the town was it was the home of Deschutes Brewery. When I turned 21 in Seattle a few years before that, a friend gave me a six-pack of Black Butte Porter and I was hooked.

Three months after moving to Bend and trying to find a job I said, “Wouldn’t it be cool to work for Deschutes?” I turned in an application and they just happened to be hiring. I started answering phones at the front desk and ordering branded shirts. I worked my way up to digital marketing manager and had a fun 17-year run.

Now I’m leading the marketing efforts at Crux Fermentation Project and still having a blast.

My Lucky Break: A Phone Call at the Right Time 

Chris Davison is the head brewer at Wolf’s Ridge in Ohio. (Credit: Wolf’s Ridge)

Chris Davison, Head Brewer at Wolf’s Ridge: I am from Columbus, Ohio. Before I was a professional brewer I spent roughly two to three years applying to various breweries. At the time my wife and I were open to moving and I was unhappy with my current job.

I figured that if I was going to get into a brewery I needed to be part of a larger beer scene. Knowing that Colorado was not only a beautiful state but one of the most saturated beer states, I applied for a transfer with my company to get closer to the beer. Little did I know that they only accepted transfer requests for educational reasons. I had already been looking into grad school to try and firm up a true skill set (my undergrad was in Philosophy – like so many other brewers of course!). I settled on an MBA at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. I went through all the testing for grad school and months later applied to CSU. I was accepted and began planning the move.

Two weeks later I got a call from Tony Corder at Columbus Brewing Company. He knew I was looking to break into the industry and said that there would be a job opening washing kegs.

I was torn — I was geared up for a major life change but the whole point of going back to school and moving was to become a brewer. I decided to take that job washing kegs in pursuit of a sure thing. I got really lucky and was brewing most days within a year.

Five years later I’m an award-winning head brewer for Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and still in Columbus. I’m happier than ever and doing exactly what I wanted all those years ago.

Chris Shields works at Ohio’s Rhinegeist. (Credit: Rhinegeist Brewery)

My Lucky Break: Chance Meeting on Twitter

Chris Shields, Brewer at Rhinegeist: My whole career is lucky breaks! Not to say that I haven’t put in lots of hours and worked hard, but I seem to continually find myself in fortunate situations.

My start in the industry came after meeting someone on Twitter. I was a homebrewer and major fan of craft beer and always found myself tweeting to another beer fan (@topfermented) in the area. One day we ended up at the same event and met in person. We hit it off and became close friends. We brewed a bunch of beer together and fell in love with the North Carolina craft beer scene and talk about going pro.

Fast forward a couple years and Erik starts up Mystery Brewing Company and asks me if I want to quit my day job and join him in making the brewery a reality. I did.

As fate would have it, two years ago I left Mystery to follow my amazing wife for an opportunity in Cincinnati, Ohio (where we knew exactly zero people). So of course, I used the amazing community of craft brewers and put the word out to everyone I knew that I was looking for somewhere to land in Cincinnati.

I made two particularly lucky connections. First, a former cellerperson at Mystery along with another North Carolina brewer nearby had worked with the lead brewer at Rhinegeist when all three of them lived in Michigan. Second, I managed a connection through the BA Safety Subcommittee which put me in touch with Jim Matt, the head brewer. With those connections, Rhinegeist was willing to bring me in (despite not having an open position), and as luck would have it, the new expansion brewhouse had just arrived. I joined Rhinegeist and could not be happier to be a part of such an amazing team.

My Lucky Break: Talking My Way Into a Job

Shaun O’Sullivan is a co-founder of 21st Amendment. (Credit: 21st Amendment)

Shaun O’Sullivan, 21st Amendment Co-Founder: I had several careers in my 20s, as a photographer for a weekly, working at CNN as a producer and a legal assistant at a large corporate law firm. I thought I was headed to a career in law/business and was applying to law and business schools when around that time I took up homebrewing. I was exposed to craft beer and enjoyed the likes of Redhook ESB, Pete’s Wicked Ale and Anchor Steam as well as Sierra Nevada’s beers in the parking lot while checking out Grateful Dead shows in the Bay Area and really fell in love with craft beer.

I decided to pull up stakes and move to the Bay Area with hopes of becoming a brewer. I moved to Berkeley, California, just over the bridge from San Francisco and frequented Triple Rock Brewery which was just down the street from my home. I managed to talk my way into coming in and brewing. I met Sandy Savage, the head brewer, and Sean Donnelley, the assistant brewer, that day. Sean would then invite me in, essentially interning, to help out with whatever he was doing in the brewery.

When a position opened up I approached the two owners of Triple Rock, Reed and John Martin and asked if they’d hire me for the assistant brewing position. I got the job, and that was the break that set the stage for everything that came after that.

I met my 21st Amendment Brewery business partner Nico Freccia there soon after I started at Triple Rock. It was the launch pad for my other brewery positions in San Francisco and sealing my fate in opening a craft brewery in San Francisco. As Sean Donnelly said after he left Triple Rock and I took over as assistant brewer, “People know Triple Rock. You will do fine and go far in this industry.”

I never knew back then that he was indeed right. Now that is one lucky break.

My Lucky Break: Got the Attention of a Beer Editor 

Nico Freccia is a co-founder of California’s 21st Amendment Brewing. (Credit: 21st Amendment)

Nico Freccia, 21st Amendment Co-Founder: I moved from LA to San Francisco in the fall of 1994 because I wanted to be closer to the craft brewing business. I had been waiting tables and managing restaurants in LA and had become an avid homebrewer. I wanted to break into the craft beer world and San Francisco was the epicenter.

A few months after I arrived, I attended a blues and brews beerfest and wrote an article about my experience. I mailed the article (we didn’t use email in those days) to Tom Dalldorf, the editor and publisher of the Celebrator Beer News, the West Coast’s oldest and largest beer newspaper. I told him I was a writer, homebrewer and craft beer fan that had just moved to the Bay Area and I wanted to write about beer. (I even offered to send him some short stories I had written to prove my chops. He begged me not to.)

Tom called me and said he enjoyed the article and was actually looking for someone to be the Bay Area correspondent for the Celebrator so he could spend more time working on other facets of the paper — and would I like the job? I calmly offered that I would love to and thanked him and hung up the phone. Then I started dancing around the room and fist pumping. I felt like a cub reporter fresh out of journalism school that had just gotten offered a job at the New York Times. This was my big break and for the next several years I traveled around the bay area and beyond, meeting the people in the craft beer world, seeing their breweries, talking about their beers, eating their food. It drove me to want to start working on opening my own brewery someday.

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Jess Baker

Jess Baker is the editor in chief of CraftBeer.com. Enamored by the personalities, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of America’s small and independent brewers, she brings their stories to life. She’s a runner, an aunt, a die-hard Springsteen fan, and suffers from a bit of social media obsession. Read more by this author

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