FreshWater writer and award winner Jess Starr and her husband, Dan Dombos.Five FreshWater Cleveland team members were honored with six awards for their writing and photography by the Press Club of Cleveland during the 2026 All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony on Friday, June 5, at House of Blues Cleveland.

FreshWater contributing writers Jess Starr, Chris Abood, and Tom Matowitz, contributing photographer Jeff Christner, and managing editor Karin Connelly Rice, were honored at the event.

Starr took first place in the feature writing, personality profile category for her story about double-board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Diana Ponsky: “Refugee turned plastic surgeon mentors young women in STEM, gives back through charity work.”

Abood earned second place for his lifestyle feature on the Beachland Ballroom owner Cindy Barber and the venue’s 25^th anniversary, “Setting the stage: Beachland Ballroom marks 25 years of music, friends, and Collinwood advocacy.”

Matowitz took first place for his history feature, “Edmund Fitzgerald: Remembering tragedy on the Great Lakes 50 years later.”

Jess Starr and Karin Connelly Rice celebrating their wins at 2026 All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards with spouses Dan Dombos and Peter Rice.Christner earned second place for this photo essay featuring faded 19- and early 20-century hand-painted billboard advertisements on Cleveland area buildings, “Faded memories: Ghost Signs of CLE.”

Rice won second place in the architecture/design category for her Breaking Ground news story on the former Fidelity Mortgage Building on East 6th Street—later known as the Baker Building—which was converted into the Fidelity Hotel. The story, “Snoop out the new Fidelity Hotel in historic Baker Building with Cleveland Restoration Society,” focuses on the Cleveland Restoration Society’s Snoop! Tour on the adaptive reuse project.

Rice also won third place in the arts and entertainment category for her story, “Cleveland native brings hometown soul food flair to Cleveland Restaurant Week.” The article profiles Cleveland Heights native Jeremy McBryde and his determination to open Comfort CLE—a Glenville soul food restaurant that he says represents the heart and soul of Cleveland.

“I feel so blessed to have such a talented, dedicated—and often patient—team of writers and photographers,” says Rice. “The entire FreshWater team puts their hearts and souls into their writing. I’m grateful to have such a talented and dedicated group of professionals sharing all that’s good in Cleveland.”