Winners Named in Classic Towns Photo Contest

From the Delaware Regional Planning Commission:

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has announced the winners of its first ever “I Love Classic Towns” Photo Contest and opened its gallery show with an awards ceremony and celebration on August 15  at the Ambler Theater in Ambler, PA.  

“DVRPC congratulates the winning photographers and thanks all those who participated for helping to make this contest and gallery show a success,” said Barry Seymour, Executive Director, DVRPC. “The photographs we received reflect the characteristics that make our Classic Towns unique and creatively capture what we know and love about these classic neighborhoods.” 

Seymour was joined for the announcement by Montgomery County Commissioner and DVRPC Board Member Leslie Richards; Ambler Mayor Bud Wahl; Sharon Rossi, Vice President of Advertising for Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, and Alan Willoughby, Executive Director of the Perkins Center for the Arts, which co-sponsored the contest. 

DVRPC awarded prizes in seven different categories: community, local history, main street, parks and recreation, people, residential, and seasonal. Additionally, a Best in Show prize and Voters’ Choice prize were also awarded. The winners are: 

•    Community – Mike Tribulas, of Collingswood, NJ; 
•    Local History – Margaret Westfield, of Haddon Heights, NJ; 
•    Main Street – Maureen Schoenberger, of Cinnaminson, NJ; 
•    People –Billy Ronayne, of West Chester, PA; 
•    Parks and Recreation – Anita Behrman, of Ambler, PA; 
•    Residential – Valerie Sassaman, of Bordentown City, NJ; and
•    Seasonal – Allison Wolf, of Ambler, PA. 

The Best in Show prize went to Schoenberger for her photograph of Haddon Avenue in Collingswood during the holiday season. The Voters’ Choice prize went to Linda Hollinger, of Philadelphia, for her photograph of cyclists in Manayunk. Each winner was awarded $100. In addition, the Best in Show winner received $500 and the Voters’ Choice winner received $300. 

“I am an elementary school teacher and mother of two who spends a lot of time visiting many of the classic towns in our area,” said Schoenberger. “We particularly love Collingswood and the quirky fun shops, great restaurants, and numerous family special events.  The quaint hometown feeling is very special and makes for great memories –and photo opportunities.” 

The winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Karen Chigounis, director of Arts Education Programs and associate curator at the Perkins Center for the Arts; David Maialetti, photojournalist for the Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Meredith Edlow, visual assets manager for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. 

More than 100 people attended the gallery show opening, which showcased the winning photographs as well as 30 additional images selected from the more than 1,200 that were submitted for the contest.  The show will be open to the public through August 2013, visiting the various Classic Towns. Checkwww.classictowns.org for the dates and locations. 

At present, there are 19 towns designated as Classic Towns by DVRPC. They are: Ambler, Ardmore, Bordentown City, Collingswood, Germantown, Glassboro, Haddon Heights, Kennett Square, Lansdale, Lansdowne, Manayunk, Media, Merchantville, Moorestown, New Hope, Overbrook Farms, Phoenixville, Souderton/Telford, and West Chester. 

The winning photographs may be viewed by visiting http://contest.classictowns.org/winners.