Congratulations to Wendy Tweten, long-time Kingston Community News writer and columnist, who received two Garden Writers Association Silver Awards of Achievement for the 2008 Media Awards for writing in the newspaper and electronic media categories.

Tweten received Silver Awards of Achievement for her articles, “Miss Snippy Derides Again” (published in the Kingston Community News) and “Wendy Tweten’s Top Ten” (published on www.rainyside.com).

These national awards recognize individuals and companies who achieve the highest levels of talent and professionalism in garden communications. Others who also received the awards write for publications such as the Chicago Tribute and Los Angeles Times.

Winners of the Silver Awards of Achievement will be considered for Gold Awards for Best Talent at an awards banquet Sept 22 at the 60th Annual GWA Symposium in Portland, Ore.

“The Garden Writers Association Media Awards showcase the communicators, photographers, illustrators, publishers and graphic designers that have pursued excellence in gardening communication,” said Anne Marie Van Nest, president of GWA. “The Media Award winners have been judged by industry experts and show significant distinction and merits that exemplify exceptional work.”

Since the early 1980s, the GWA Media Awards program has recognized outstanding writing, photography, graphic design and illustration for books, newspapers, magazines, Web sites and other works focused on gardening. GWA is an international organization of more than 1,900 professional communicators in the lawn and garden industry. To view all the 2008 GWA Media Award recipients, log on to www.gardenwriters.org.