Forest City Outdoor Town Action Team Receives Regional Award
Pictured are: Juliann Doyle and Deb McNamara members of the Forest City Outdoor Action Team and Christine Martin, President PPL Electric presenting the award. Members of the committee unable to attend: Dr. Katie Zefran, Chair, Erin Debish and Susie Atcavage.
Wilkes-Barre – On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the 34th Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment was held at the Woodlands Resort, Wilkes Barre. A Welcome was provided by Joseph Buczynski, Regional Director of the Northeast Office PA Department of Environmental Protection.
Open Remarks were given by Thomas Gilbert, President of the PA Environmental Council and special commentary was provided by Dr. Claire Jantz, Deputy Secretary of Conservation and Technical Services of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Master of Ceremonies was James (Jim) Hamill, Senior PTN Correspondent and Public Relations for the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.
The Forest City Outdoor Town Action Team (FCOTAT) was nominated for an Environmental Partnership Award by the Rails to Trails Council, Lynn Conrad. Awards are presented for achieving excellence in environmental protection or conservation in Northeast PA. and the recipients must have demonstrated the quality of involving and working successfully with others in pursuit of their accomplishments. Awards were also received by the Anthracite Bicycle Coalition, Deborah Pike, and the Dallas Intermediate School “Turtle Titans,” Lacawac Sanctuary’s Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network, Lackawanna Luzerne County Master Watershed Stewards, and Susquehanna Brewing Company. Also awarded was the 2024 Emerging Leader Award to Michelena DeNaples and the 30th annual Thomas P. Shelburne Environmental Leadership Award to Grant Genzlinger.
The FCOTAT’s mission is to connect the local community and tourists to Forest City’s businesses by promoting the local natural resources and the “Mile of Hospitality” Forest City has to offer. The first endeavor is the creation of a sculpture trail celebrating and preserving the rich history of the area. In addition, a bicycle repair station was seen as a necessity and the FCOTAT and Kost Tire worked together on this endeavor. A welcome arch was created by students from Forest City Regional for the trailhead. A resurfacing of the road leading from the trail to main street is in phase II which includes striping for a bike lane.
The next meeting of the FCOTAT is set for Thursday, November 7, 2024, beginning at 6 PM at the Forest City Borough Building, second floor, Main Street, Forest City.
