Two at Journal honored

WATERBURY — Two members of The Lakeville Journal family, Robert Estabrook and Janet Manko, were honored  for their dedication to open government by the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information (CCFOI) at its annual meeting Wednesday, June 17.

Estabrook, former owner and editor and publisher emeritus (and currently one of the ownership) of The Lakeville Journal, received a lifetime achievement award, the first such award ever given by CCFOI.

Manko, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Lakeville Journal, and publisher of The Millerton News and Winsted Journal, received the Stephen Collins Award. The most prestigious award given by CCFOI, it was named for the late editor of the Danbury News-Times.

In a playful twist, organizers of the event asked Manko and Estabrook to prepare a speech honoring the other — without revealing to either that they both would be honored.

“No one has made a bigger contribution to freedom of information in Connecticut than Bob Estabrook,� Manko said in her speech at the June 24 event. “Over the years, he’s been instrumental not only in passing good laws, but in stopping the passage of bad ones.�

Manko spoke of a day she spent with Estabrook at the state Capitol, waiting 11 hours to testify before the Legislature in support of a constitutional amendment that would better define the roles of the judiciary and legislature in the state.

“The first thing he did when he stepped up to the microphone was to compliment our legislators serving on the judiciary committee on their own ability to sit and listen for so many hours as so many constituents give their opinions,� Manko said. “Then, Bob gave his opinion, as always, eloquently, getting his point across strongly but respectfully, making it clear that he felt we were all on the same team, but just with a few disagreements on the way the game should be played.�

Estabrook, too, referred to that long day in the Capitol in his remarks about Manko, who is also a past president and current treasurer of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government.

“She has been a foresighted and resourceful leader of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government in setting goals, conducting information conferences for public officials and testifying through long days and late hours before the General Assembly in efforts to expand access to the courts,� he said. “She has been an equally ardent promoter of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, eager to use it as a lever to help bring better understanding of the Freedom of Information Act in local affairs.�

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