CHOCONUT TOWNSHIP, Pa., Sept. 16, 2002 -- On behalf of Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary David E. Hess congratulated 11 teenage artists who developed a logo for the Choconut Creek Watershed Association.
"I would like to congratulate the artists, their adult mentors and the Choconut Creek Watershed Association for their artistic and environmental efforts here in northwestern Susquehanna County," Secretary Hess said at a festival of conservation art in Susquehanna County.
The artists honored were Amber Clapper and Jen Richards, both of Brackney; Thomas Traver, Deua Traver, Nickole Lake, Victoria Marlowe, Bryan Homsher and Heather Stewart, all of Friendsville; Rebecca Rafferty and Kristie Rafferty, both of Little Meadows; and Rachael Ely of Montrose.
Secretary Hess was joined by state and Susquehanna County officials and William McVaugh of the watershed association, who coordinated the arts festival.
"We welcome Secretary Hess to the watershed and to Susquehanna County," McVaugh said. "We thank him for his support for the Growing Greener Program that helps us design and implement projects that will protect the Choconut Creek and its watershed."
The Arts Festival for the Choconut Watershed was held to recognize the artistic talents of the students who designed the watershed logo and to focus area-wide attention on the watershed and the work of the Choconut Creek Watershed Association.
The association, along with the Susquehanna County Conservation District, was recently awarded an $118,500 Growing Greener Grant to develop a natural stream channel project on the creek.
Susquehanna County and the association have received additional Growing Greener funding in the past for startup and development of the watershed association and a comprehensive watershed assessment.
"Secretary Hess is a valued friend here in Susquehanna County," Susquehanna County Commissioner Lee Smith said. "He has supported our residents and environmental groups through DEP programs such as Growing Greener."
Secretary Hess said, "The Coconut Creek Watershed Association and its partners have invested our Growing Greener funding to benefit the environment, the community and the residents.
"I want to thank members of the association and their partners and supporters for again demonstrating the effectiveness of the Growing Greener Program. Gov. Schweiker's financial support, added to DEP's technical support and your enthusiasm, equals a better environment for Susquehanna County and Pennsylvania as a whole."
The new watershed logo will be displayed in the Secretary's Scrapbook section of DEP's website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/.
For more information on Growing Greener, visit the PA Power Port at http://www.state.pa.us/, PA Keyword: "Growing Greener."
