TRR photo by David Hulse Many of the award winners at the annual Upper Delaware Council banquet are pictured following the ceremonies. (Click for larger image)

River council awards presented

By DAVID HULSE

HAWLEY — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) celebrated Earth Day on April 22 with its awards banquet and the UDC’s 13th annual awards ceremony, at Erhardt’s Restaurant on Lake Wallenpaupack.

More than 125 persons were in attendance as 17 individuals and organizations were honored.

Those honored included: recently retired Department of Environmental Conservation official Bruce MacMillan, Distinguished Service Award; James J. Hanson, Jr., Christopher Hall and Mark Cooke, who saved a drowning boater at Cedar Rapids last spring, Robin M. Daniels Memorial Lifesaving Award; and 2000 UDC chair Harold Roeder, Oaken Gavel Award.

Special Recognition Awards went to: Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Jacob Gunther for their new river valley grants program, Clarke Rupert of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) for his work on the DRBC website, Sullivan West - Narrowsburg teacher Karen Bliss for her environmentally conscious student programs, and Kurt and Luitgard Mueller for their work with the Equinunk-Lordville Upper Delaware River Association (ELUDRA).

UDC Delegate George Frosch also made a special ELUDRA presentation to Bruce Bergman for his work with the Muellers during the formative days of the Upper Delaware scenic river project.

The UDC Community Service Award was accepted by Susan Beecher of the Pike County Conservation District; Donald Downs of Long Eddy was honored for his community volunteer efforts with the Volunteer Award; the Recreation Award went to members of the Scenic Delaware River Paddling Club for their charitable fundraising efforts; Lumberland Historian Frank V. Schwarz was presented the Cultural Achievement Award for his efforts in documenting and preserving local history; and Sullivan County Planner Alan Sorensen accepted the Partnership Award on behalf of the Route 97 Scenic Byway Committee.