and Union County HAWK’s Lead Reporter Katie Moen, Photographer Paul Lachenauer and Publisher Lauren S. Barr have captured firstand second-place awards across multiple categories in the 2023 New Jersey Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

Ms. Moen took First Place for Coverage of Government — Art Weissman Memorial Award for her continuing coverage of Westfield Board of Education member Sahar Aziz’s absences and the ethics complaint filed against her, including the articles “Aziz Could Lose Seat” and “Fellow Board Member Files Ethics Complaint.”

Mr. Lachenauer captured First Place in the Protest photography category for his photo “Anger on Both Sides,” taken at a pro-Palestinian rally held in November at Mindowaskin Park.

ANGER ON BOTH SIDES…Two men argue across a temporary police barrier erected during a pro-Palestinian rally held Saturday at Mindowaskin Park.

“Good job of capturing what seems like a tense moment between two protesters. The inclusion of Palestinian flag and kidnapping poster separates both sides of the debate as does the yellow tape,” the judges commented.

Mrs. Barr garnered First Place in the Spot News photo category for her photo of the SWAT team coming up Boulevard for a barricaded man last summer, entitled “14 Hour Standoff.”

A 14-HOUR STANDOFF….Law enforcement officers from around Union County came together on Wednesday to aid the Westfield Police with a domestic disturbance that resulted in a 14-hour standoff on Boulevard.

Mrs. Barr also won the Second-Place award in the Responsible Journalism- Editorial Comment category for the editorials “It’s Time for Sahar Aziz to Resign” and “Government Policies Should Not Interfere With Role of Parents.”

Awards will be formally presented at a ceremony on Thursday, April 25. The 2023 contest was judged by the Maryland/Delaware/DC Press Association.