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UDC Announces Honorees for 34th Annual River Valley Awards
BEACH LAKE – The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will honor those who have enhanced the quality of life or protected the resources of the Upper Delaware River Valley at its 34th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, September 18.
The public banquet will take place at Central House Family Resort, located at 81 Milanville Road in Beach Lake, PA. A reception with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar begins at 3 p.m. A buffet dinner is set for 4 p.m. Tickets are $31 and must be reserved by September 9th.
U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-8th District) will serve as the keynote speaker.
The UDC will honor the following recipients:
Distinguished Service Award ~ William J. Rudge, for his dedicated 35-year career with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (retired 2/25/22) and 21-year tenure as State of New York Upper Delaware Council representative.
Robin M. Daniels Memorial Lifesaving Award ~ Sam Macri, age 11, of Ramsey, NJ for an August 29, 2021 rescue of his younger brother while swimming at Skinners Falls on the Upper Delaware River.
Community Service Award ~ John Pizzolato of Barryville, NY for his volunteer leadership roles benefitting the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce, Upper Delaware Litter Sweep, Barryville Farmers’ Market, Town of Highland River Access projects, and the Festival of the Founding Fish.
Cultural Achievement Award ~ Cochecton Pump House owners David Lieber and Jin Zhang for their historic preservation and rehabilitation of the circa 1881 Standard Oil Company pump station property in Cochecton, NY with an innovative repurposing vision.
Cultural Achievement Award ~ Juan and Carmen Rigal of Rock Tavern & Lake Huntington, NY, for providing 25 years of art exhibits and entertainment at the former Nutshell Arts Center through 2021.
Recreation Achievement Award ~ Corrine Hinton of Easton, PA for designing an effective new series of bilingual water safety posters for the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.
Recreation Achievement Award ~ Dan Santoro of Housefly Fishing and American House Tattoo Shop in Hawley, PA, for his conservation efforts of organizing river and highway litter clean-ups in northeast PA.
Volunteer Award ~ Cameron Forehand of Avondale, PA, for creating 27 new pages for the NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River website on natural resources subjects for education and stewardship.
Special Recognition Award ~ Liam Mayo of The River Reporter for his accurate and insightful local journalism output at the newspaper and on the air through WJFF Radio Catskill’s The Reporters Roundtable.
Oaken Gavel Award ~ Jeffrey R. Dexter, UDC representative for Damascus Township, PA, for his leadership as the 2021 Upper Delaware Council chairperson.
A downloadable reservation form is available at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or please contact the UDC at P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764; phone (845) 252-3022; e-mail info@upperdelawarecouncil.org.
