Wallingford on the National Stage: 'The Magic of Mackenzie' Wins Big for Local Art!

Big things are happening in our local media scene! We are thrilled to announce that Wallingford's very own Mark Houde has taken home a prestigious national honor at the Hometown Media Awards.

His stunning documentary, The Magic of Mackenzie, filmed over three months at the Mackenzie Reservoir, won Best of Parks and Recreation. Out of nearly 1,000 entries nationwide, Mark’s work stood out to a panel of 100 industry experts for its creativity and community spirit.

Catch the Celebration Tonight

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Want to see the award-winning work for yourself? We’re hosting a special broadcast event tonight:

• 8:30 PM: Meet the man behind the lens, Mark Houde.
• 9:00 PM: A special screening of The Magic of Mackenzie. Replays often on Friday or Saturday throu June 26th
• Following the Film: Stay tuned for a special segment featuring Stephen Colbert on Community Access!

How to Watch: Tune in to your local TV station or catch the simulcast live at wpaa.tv.

From a Casual Question to Community Inspiration

The journey to this award started with a simple suggestion from Board Member and fellow photographer Jeff Kohan, who asked, "Can we show Mark's work on the channel?"

Mark wasn't just interested; he was curious. That curiosity led to an incredible summer of mentorship, where Mark joined our #TeenTigerTV participants as a guest on their talk show, The Meet. Every summer, our local youth have the opportunity to learn the ropes from a professional who truly cares about the art of storytelling. Last summer that professional was Mark.

Celebrating 50 Years of Local Voices

This win comes at a historic moment. On June 24th, media producers will gather in Madison, WI, to celebrate 50 years of local storytelling.

"The Hometown Media Awards celebrate both the excellence of work and the diversity of media that appears on community channels... The ACM Foundation is proud of how they represent their communities in their work." — Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media.

Proceeds from the awards support the ACM Foundation, ensuring that local cable and community radio continue to provide a platform for diverse voices and education for years to come.

Congratulations, Mark! Thank you for showing the rest of the country the magic right here in Wallingford.