One day in May, Steve Hulse was having breakfast when his phone dinged. The Bainbridge man glanced at the message and showed it to his wife, Cindy, asking her, "Does this say what I think it says?" She confirmed that yes, indeed, Hulse and his grandson James Thompson had won an award for a Maytown Historical Society video they created.

Hulse served as editor, with Thompson as producer/director of photography for the video, which highlighted the society's history and impact. The video earned a Silver Award in the Non-Broadcast Not-for-Profit category of the 47th annual Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television and are judged by leaders in the industry.

The pair joins other winners in this year's competition, which include Paramount TV, Warner Brothers Discovery, FOX Entertainment, ABC News and more. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives more than 13,000 entries globally each year.

Making the video was a labor of love for Hulse, who spent a few years in Maytown after moving from New Jersey to Pennsylvania with his wife.

"We were instantly captivated by the charming all-American small-town feel of Maytown," he said. "I first learned about the Maytown Historical Society when we shot a video for a friend whose beautiful English gardens were part of the society's House and Garden Tour in 2025. We were so impressed by their dedication to keeping the history and culture of one of Lancaster County's oldest towns alive that we wanted to team up with them to share their story. And, as they say, the rest is history!"

This is the first award for CatPaw Productions, which created the video and which began as a side project two years ago. Based in Bainbridge, it started with the launch of "Rich's World" on YouTube - a channel packed with tips and tricks for gardening that has gained thousands of views from across the country.

"We also made a cool concept video called 'Backyard Sommelier,' where we tried pairing wine and ice cream. That was a blast!" Hulse said. "Right now, we're working on a series called 'Reading the Classics,' which is a collection of short poems with discussions."

Thompson has always been passionate about media, and he studied video and photography at the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center. As part of CatPaw, he functions as producer and director of photography, and he often does wedding and event photography as well.

Hulse has a wealth of experience as a writer and producer of video and multimedia projects, having worked at Penn State College of Medicine and a private production house in Harrisburg. He's won numerous awards over the years, including a Telly for a project with the Governor's Institute of Health Science Educators while working at Penn State.

"CatPaw is all about helping small businesses and nonprofits that might not have a big media budget," Hulse said. "We team up with these groups to boost their presence on social media. The name CatPaw comes from our shared love of cats. Cats have this amazing, carefree way of seeing the world, turning everyday moments into exciting adventures. That's exactly how we approach each project - with an open mind, always looking for the magic in the story, working closely with our clients."

Winning the award with his oldest grandson was especially rewarding, Hulse said.

"James accompanied (me) on 'bring your child to work' events through the years and was always fascinated by the behind-the-scenes look at media production," Hulse noted. "The partnership between grandfather and grandson is perhaps unique, but (it's) one that pairs years of experience and technical know-how with a fresh look at media trends and production values."

For their win, the pair received a 12-inch, 4-pound trophy that showcases a sleek, abstract, winged figure and has a silver polished finish.

Hulse and Thompson were proud of the work they did for the historical society, but they were stunned to win.

"CatPaw is a brand new production company, and winning a prestigious award like the Telly in our first major project was a huge affirmation of our creative and technical abilities," Hulse said.

He thinks the video won because it highlights a unique organization.

"A great video is all about sharing a story that resonates, whether it's about people, events or important issues," he said. "The Maytown Historical Society were amazing partners, offering knowledgeable content experts and re-enactors who brought history and local characters to life. Plus, we used AI to recreate some buildings as they might have looked back in the early days of Maytown."

To watch the video, visit https://tinyurl.com/Maytown-video.

For more information about CatPaw Productions, email catpawvideoprod@gmail.com.