NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) will honor individuals, organizations, and projects that have enhanced the quality of life or protected the resources of the Upper Delaware River Valley at its 21st Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 19, in Beach Lake.

Several Pennsylvania groups and individuals are among the recipients

• Community Service Award – The Pike County and Wayne County Offices of Penn State Cooperative Extension for their public education and outreach initiatives on regional natural gas exploration issues;
• Recreation Achievement Award – Business Owners of Lackawaxen Township for successful organization of an annual Monster Trout Derby on the Lackawaxen River;
• Volunteer Awards (2) – Craig, Janet, and Tara Olver of the Tall Tree Timber Farm in Manchester Township, PA (group), for their promotion of a land stewardship ethic through their annual Forestry Field Days sponsorship; and Bill Walters of Clarks Green, PA (individual), for his activism and leadership role as Commodore of the National Canoe Safety Patrol on the Upper Delaware River;
• Oaken Gavel Award – Alan Bowers of Westfall Township, PA, for his service as Upper Delaware Council chairperson in 2008.

This year’s Distinguished Service Award goes to New York State Senator John J. Bonacic (42nd District) of Mount Hope, NY, for his dedicated advocacy efforts on behalf of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and its communities;

Reservations at $24 per person are due by April 10 for the banquet that will take place at Central House Family Resort. A cash bar reception begins at 3 p.m. The buffet dinner will be served at 4 p.m. Ed Zygmunt, field representative for Congressman Christopher P. Carney (PA-10th District), will deliver the keynote address.

A downloadable reservation form is available at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org.