NEFAC to Honor Maine Newspaper and N.H. Resident for Right-to-Know Advocacy
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | mail@nefirstamendment.org
The New England First Amendment Coalition will honor the Sun Journal of Lewiston, Maine, and New Hampshire resident Donna Green for their right-to-know advocacy and work on behalf of the First Amendment.
The Sun Journal will be presented NEFAC’s 2017 Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award for uncovering a Maine judicial policy that sealed the records of all dismissed criminal cases. Led by editor Judy Meyer, the Sun Journal fought against the policy and formed a coalition of freedom of information advocates to help force an end to the practice. The FOI Award is presented annually to New England journalists who protect or advance the public’s right to know under federal or state law.
Green will be presented the Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award for her efforts in requiring New Hampshire agencies to provide documents electronically when requested. Green took a public records battle to the state’s Supreme Court, which last year unanimously ruled in her favor. The Citizenship Award is given annually to an individual from one of the six New England states who has tenaciously fought for information crucial to the public’s understanding of its community or the actions of its government.
Both the Sun Journal and Green will be honored at NEFAC’s New England First Amendment Awards luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston. During the luncheon, Washington Post columnist Margaret Sullivan will be honored with the Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award.
Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased here.
Sponsors, contributors and luncheon table hosts include The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Boston University, Prince Lobel Tye, WBUR-Boston, Northeastern University, University of New Hampshire, Emerson College, Central Connecticut State University, Fox 25, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, The Vermont Cynic, Roger Williams University, Saint Michael’s College, The University of Rhode Island and WGBH.
Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award
A Note about Dr. Orfield (from the NEFAC website):
The Citizenship Award is named after Antonia Orfield, an author, mother, optometrist, clinical professor and active citizen. Dr. Orfield worked to improve the schools in the communities she lived in, serving on one of the first elected local school councils in Chicago. Dr. Orfield operated a vision clinic in Mather Elementary School in Dorchester, Mass., which documented the improvement of children’s grades and test scores with unconventional vision-related remedies to learning problems. The findings were published in several articles and in “Eyes for Learning,” her 2007 book.
I am honored and grateful to be given this award. Thanks always to my lawyer extraordinaire, Richard Lehmann — my wonderful husband, Arthur Green — and the unfailingly supportive stalwarts at Right to Know NH, all of whom were invaluable in making my case.
timberlaneandsandown 
Congratulations, Donna! Your relentless pursuit of the truth on behalf of the citizens/taxpayers is admirable. The difficulties and vicissitudes of your battle on behalf of the taxpayers are not something average citizen truly comprehends: one has to have experienced your fight personally to appreciate the magnitude and extent of your fight and victory. I have. Thus, please accept my sincerest congratulations. You’re relatively new to Cow Hampshire: we are very glad and thankful you are among us.
Congratulations again, Donna! Well done.
Jorge
Thank you for your kind words, Jorge. You were the instigation of my suit by telling me Hampstead gets exactly what I was asking for from Timberlane.
I am available to speak to Timberlane students in History and Civics classes about the First Amendment and Right to Know. You would be similarly available, I’m sure, to speak on Second Amendment rights. It is an honor to be in your good company, Jorge.
Congratulations!!! Once again your passion for truth has been rewarded.
Thanks, Mary Ann.
Congratulations! You deserve it.. I’ve been following your blog and work for some time. I wish their were more of your type!
Congratulations Donna, It STILL irks me that one must go through all of this to simply get info to which they are entitled by law. It is a vast waste of resources for Mr. Metzler to continue to spend tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees simply to delay giving it to you.
Congratulations
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