Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Comstock's Magazine Entry Title: Lineage of Success: Family businesses are the heart and soul of Little Saigon in south Sacramento Entry Credit: Lien Hoang Judge Comment: A look at how the economic crash brought on by Covid affected the businesses, especially restaurants, of the Little Saigon area in Sacramento. The story included good background and perspective - material I've not seen elsewhere on how many Asian businesses have been particularly hard hit in the last year - and a good profile of the district and how the ethnic groups function within it. Clear, efficient and highly informative. There's an appreciation for the people and businesses here that doesn't become hagiographic.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Almanac Entry Title: Portola Valley delivers a fond farewell Entry Credit: Julia Brown Judge Comment: Can't recall seeing another story recently about a UPS delivery guy who seems to have endeared himself to his community after making delivered in the area ever since 1984. Gets an extra point for finding the usual and special in what would seem to be the ordinary.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Pleasanton Weekly Entry Title: On the road again Entry Credit: Dolores Fox Ciardelli Judge Comment: About a family's RV adventures around the country visiting national parks, before and then during the pandemic. At first a family profile, the story picks up interest as the effects of the pandemic kick in and ties to the pandemic-era RV trend. Rises above the basic subject matter.
Place Name: Fourth Place Contestant Name: Mountain View Voice Entry Title: Ames wind tunnels put NASA's new moonshot to the test Entry Credit: Kevin Forestieri Judge Comment: Efficient piece of localized science writing, making a complex subject comprehensible.
Place Name: Fifth Place Contestant Name: Los Altos Town Crier Entry Title: Residents rally in wake of post office hate incident Entry Credit: Eric He Judge Comment: How and why a quick incident at a post office counter led to a larger protest in the town of Los Altos against racism. A useful look at "low level racism" and a community's reactions to it.
