HARRISBURG - Executive Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry, John Plonski, announced a joint emergency preparedness program to address the threat of wildfires in Pennsylvania's vast forests and the inherent danger of building in those woodlands.

A pilot project under the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Firewise Community program will recognize developments that are prepared for wildfires and are working to avoid potential fire emergencies through adequate planning and corrective action.

The Firewise Community program will recognize communities and developers working to lessen wildfire dangers in the state's wildland/interface areas, where developments adjoin wilderness tracts.

Overseen by the DCNR's Bureau of Forestry, the preparedness program and its accompanying Wildland/Urban Interface Guidance Document were developed by the bureau, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

The community-recognition program will be launched later this month in two counties in the state's Pocono Mountains area where marked development has occurred in woodland areas. The pilot will be expanded in September from Monroe and Pike counties to Wayne, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Carbon counties.

Leading builders and developers will be invited to see how their work stands up against criteria outlined in the Firewise effort. Gold, silver and bronze medals and plaques will be presented to qualified applicants after scoring of criteria that includes:

• A Wildfire Hazard Assessment;
• Preparing an Emergency Action Plan that focuses on prevention, pre-suppression and preparedness, and carries all required signatures;
• Developing a Safety Committee; and
• Initiating community fire and safety training.

A Bureau of Forestry representative will tour properties and evaluate criteria to determine appropriate awards for developments.

The Bureau of Forestry invites suggestions or comments be directed to Paul Sebasovich, Division of Forest Fire Protection, at 717/787-2925.

For more information on wildfire prevention call local forest districts or visit DCNR's website through the Pennsylvania homepage at www.state.pa.us or directly at www.dcnr.state.pa.us.

NARROWSBURG - The Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance (UDHA) invites the public to submit nominations for its 2000 Heritage Awards. Deadline for nominations is August 28.

These prestigious awards honor those who restore old and historic buildings and those who promote interest in heritage in the five river valley counties of Wayne and Pike in Pennsylvania and Delaware, Sullivan and Orange in New York.

The awards will be presented at the organization's annual dinner at Eldred Preserve in Eldred, NY, on Sunday October 1. Nominations will be accepted in several categories.

The Preservation Award is given for outstanding achievement in the preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of historical or archeological structures and sites. The Merit Award recognizes exceptional service or unusual contributions related to local heritage (e.g., founding of a historical society, preservation of historic memorabilia, publication of local history.) Certificates of Recognition are presented for noteworthy contributions to historic preservation or interest in local history.

When appropriate, the UDHA bestows the Tom Hill Award for Excellence in Public Service. This award, named in memory of the late Town of Lumberland supervisor and historical champion, recognizes achievements by elected officials, municipalities, government agencies and government employees.

To be eligible, achievement must have occurred within the past three years, although life-long work may enter into judging of the Merit Award. Projects must be complete and nominees may not have won a Heritage Award in the previous two years. Nominations should take the form of a letter detailing the nominee's accomplishments, supported by relevant background information, Before and after photographs of the restored building with information about the restoration project.

Nominations must be postmarked no later than August 28. Mail them to: Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance, c/o P.O. Box 43, Hortonville, NY 12745-4043. For more information call Laurie Ramie at 845/252-3022 or 845/887-4585.

ARKVILLE - The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Inc. received a $20,430 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its education program The Catskills: A Sense of Place. The grant was among $80,000 awarded through EPA's environmental education grants program to eight organizations in New York State out of 45 applicants.

The Catskills: A Sense of Place is a five-part curriculum guide series that serves as a resource for schools throughout the Catskill Region, which has a school enrollment of over 60,000. The curriculum was designed to engage students in the Catskills in a holistic educational experience providing quantitative as well as quantitative appreciation of the distinctive features of the Catskills region-site of the NYS Forest Preserve, source of New York City's water supply and home to a rich diversity of plant, animal and human communities. The five program elements are: Water Resources, Geography & Geology of The Catskills, Catskills Ecology, Catskills History and Catskills Culture.

Other funding support for this program has been provided by The Dorr Foundation, The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation, The Catskill Watershed Corporation, The Bay Foundation, the Scherman Foundation and The New York State Council on the Arts.

The curriculum is posted on the center's web site at www.catskillcenter.org. For more information call Nathan Chronister, Director of Education at The Catskill Center, at 845/586-2611.

LIVINGSTON MANOR - The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is celebrating summer in the Catskills at its annual Angler's Summerfest on Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This all-day festival will feature a flea market with many exhibitors and thousands of new and used items ranging from antique tackle to new fangled gadgets and art.

Guest Fly Tyer John Roetman will demonstrate the art of fly tying from 1 to 4 p.m.

Visitors to the festival will get the opportunity to see the museum's new exhibits "Flies of the Year 2000," sponsored by idvSPORTS.com and the Art Flick exhibit and stroll on 50 beautiful acres or fish in bordering Wulff Run on the Willowemoc Creek.

A casting competition for distance and accuracy will be held and food will be available.

For more information call Tracey or Sue at 845/439-4810.

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center is located on Old Route 17 between Roscoe and Livingston Manor.