Latest News

NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) will honor those who have enhanced the quality of life or protected the resources of the Upper Delaware River Valley at its 27th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 26.

Reservations at $26 per person are due by April 17 for the banquet that will take place at the Central House Family Resort, 81 Milanville Road, Beach Lake, PA.

A reception with appetizers and a cash bar begins at 3 p.m. Dinner served at 4 p.m. will be a bountiful buffet featuring prime rib, roasted turkey, eggplant rollettes, six side dishes, dessert, iced tea, water, and coffee or tea.

Daniel A. Devlin, director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, will deliver the keynote address at 5 p.m. prior to the presentation of awards.

The UDC will honor the following recipients:

Distinguished Service Award – Glenn H. Voss of Beach Lake, PA, retired Chief Ranger for the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, 1984-1999.

Robin M. Daniels Memorial Lifesaving Award – Eric Mankowski of Bethlehem, PA, for the July 26, 2014 rescue of a drowning swimmer near Staircase Rapids in the Town of Lumberland.

Partnership Award –The Weather Project: Harnessing the Power of Science, Art & Community, coordinated by NACL Theatre, Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development, and the Town of Highland.

Outstanding Community Achievement Award – Damascus Township, PA for the execution of a Dirt and Gravel Road Project to improve storm water run-off conditions on River Road.

Community Service Award – Tusten Energy Committee (Brandi Merolla, chairperson; Charles Blanchard; Star Hesse; and Carol Wingert) for their solar energy research volunteer mission.

Community Service Award – Jeff Skelding and Sherri Resti for providing superior staff support to
Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Inc. (FUDR), based in Hancock, NY.

Cultural Achievement Award – Sally Talaga for her contributions to historic preservation, interpretation, and promotion in the greater Wayne County, PA region for over 25 years.

Volunteer Award – Ginny Fiero of Sioux Falls, SD, for service as Volunteer Coordinator for the NPS
Watershed Stewards Program at Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

Special Recognition Award – Mikki Uzupes for journalistic excellence as news director of the Bold
Gold Media Group, Pocono Lake Region Office.

Special Recognition Award – Kelly O. Maloney, research ecologist with the USGS Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory in Wellsboro, PA, for leading the multi-year development of a Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System Model for the Delaware River.

Oaken Gavel Award – Andrew Boyar, supervisor of the Town of Highland, NY, for his leadership and
service as Upper Delaware Council chairperson in 2014.

All are welcome to attend, with advance payment requested by April 17. A downloadable reservation form is available at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or contact the UDC at P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764; phone (845) 252-3022; e-mail info@upperdelawarecouncil.org.