The Housatonic Valley Association gave its Friends of the River Award to Eagle Scouts Dustin Zrelak and Justin Gittings, along with Boy Scout Troop #11 at its annual meeting on Friday, Sept. 30 at its headquarters in Cornwall Bridge.
The award recognizes their leadership in providing safe, environmentally sound canoe access to the Housatonic River in Seymour. They presented their idea to the Conservation Commission last year, received wetlands approval and worked with the Public Works director to pave the entrance and ramp to the launch. With donated materials, the Scouts also built picnic tables and benches for the launch area.
HVA also presented awards to other outstanding individuals and organizations in the Housatonic River valley for their efforts to protect the region’s land and water resources. The awards are:
- The Montgomery Hare Environmental Advocate Award to Kevin Zak and Sondra Harman and the Naugatuck River Revival group for their tireless work to raise awareness and rally community support for the Naugatuck River – once one of our most polluted rivers and now a true natural heritage gem.
- HVA board member Marc Taylor said, “This award was named for Shakespearean actor and long-time HVA leader Montgomery Hare who was known for his thundering advocacy on behalf of the Housatonic River Valley and these recipients are two of the most persuasive and compelling voices of our time.”
- Source-to-Sound Media Champion Award to the Republican American newspaper for its outstanding teamwork during HVA’s 10-day Housatonic River Source-to-Sound Paddle Adventure to raise public awareness about the Housatonic River and the organizations dedicated to conserving this precious natural resource. Taylor said, “Every day during the 10-day trip the newspaper deployed reporters and photographers to provide hour-by-hour coverage of the adventure with blogs, articles, photos and personal moments of triumph and humor. Thousands of people learned about the river’s geography, history, culture, people, health, issues and beauty.
- Housatonic Watershed Conservationist Award to the Candlewood Lake Authority, its Executive Director Larry Marsicano, Director of Public Outreach and Development Mark Howarth, and Sherman delegate and Invasive Species Subcommittee Chairman Phyllis Schaer, in recognition of the tremendous effort and resources they have expended to combat the spread of Zebra Mussels in the lower Housatonic River system.
- Litchfield Hills Greenprint Award to the Cornwall Conservation Trust and its president Hector Prud’homme, for exemplifying the spirit and ideals of regional partnership by working beyond Cornwall’s borders to contribute resources, expertise and funding to land conservation in Goshen, Falls Village and Sharon.
- Smart Business Green Award to John Di Santis and Quality Printing of Pittsfield, Mass. for their outstanding dedication to maintaining an environmentally friendly workplace for employees, customers and the community. They use recycled paper, soy-based inks, tree-free paper, have reduced energy use and emissions and have installed solar panels on their building.
- Volunteer-of-the-Year Award to Marie Raftery of Stockbridge, Massachusetts for her persistent and priceless gift of time to the Housatonic River and the Housatonic Watershed community.
Taylor said, “Marie has volunteered for more than 10 years as one of HVA’s first water quality monitors, as well as countless hours leading paddle trips, helping students learn river science and locating and assessing road crossing culverts for upgrade to allow fish and wildlife to pass freely.”
HVA, a nonprofit citizen’s environmental group founded in 1941, works to conserve the natural character and environmental health of its communities by protecting and restoring the land and waters of the Housatonic watershed from its source in the Pittsfield, Massachusetts area to Long Island Sound. HVA is monitoring water quality throughout the watershed, adding sections to the Housatonic Greenway which links preserved space along the Housatonic River corridor with hiking and biking trails, and is using computer mapping to help towns measure the impact and benefits of land use and development. HVA also sponsors the Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative in protecting more land across northwest Connecticut. It has offices in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut; South Lee, Massachusetts and Wassaic, New York.
