2014 Annual Report Our Friends 2014 Congressional Delegation United States Senators Robert P
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Conservation Education Recreation Preservation Tourism 2014 Annual Report Our Friends 2014 Congressional Delegation United States Senators Robert P. Casey June 2015 Patrick Toomey Dear Friends, United States Representatives We are pleased to present the Schuylkill River Heritage Area’s Robert Brady Charlie Dent 2014 Annual Report. Please take a few moments to look through Chaka Fattah James Gerlach this document. You will see 2014 was another successful year Matthew Cartwright Joseph R. Pitts for us, filled with cycling and paddling events, Schuylkill River Allyson Schwartz Patrick Meehan Trail projects, book signings, educational programs, grant awards and more. We invest a great deal of time and energy into these Commonwealth of Pennsylvania projects and programs because we know that the Schuylkill River Governor Thomas Corbett is important. It provides drinking water to 1.5 million people; its PA Department of Conservation and scenic waterfronts bolster the economies of river communities, Natural Resources and its greenways, trails and waters are recreational destinations. Ellen Ferretti, Secretary The river is a shared commons that links us to our nation’s history, and joins together 3.2 million people across five counties who live in its watershed. Staff Executive Director ......... Kurt D. Zwikl With a small staff of six employees and one AmeriCorps VISTA Dolores Bauman Tim Fenchel volunteer, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area works tirelessly to Laura Catalano Cindy Kott promote the region. As you read through our annual report keep Robert Folwell Victoria Garrick (VISTA) in mind that all the programs we manage—the bike rides, the Consulting Engineer Dwight R. Powell, P.E. art show, the paddling events, the trail projects—are carefully Trail Volunteer Coordinators Greg Marshall designed to encourage stewardship of our environment and make Jason Stoudt this region a better place for everyone who lives and works here. Solicitor Carl J. Engleman, Jr., Esq 2014 Board of Directors Sincerely, President Carl Raring Vice President Kay Sykora Treasurer Chrisann Hoehl Secretary Rob Kuhlman Kurt D. Zwikl Carl V. Raring Kelly Anderson Joshua Nims Executive Director President, Board of Directors David Coyne Leslie Rebmann Ted Danforth William Reichert Daniel J. Doran Mike Stokes Tina Fink Tom Strauss Nathaniel C. Guest Judy Thomas Kay Jones David Thun Rodger Krause Alberto Vennettilli Christopher Linn John A. Koury, Jr. (Immediate Past President) Ex-Officio David G. Argall, State Senator The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is dedicated to assisting William Hanley, Rep. Holden’s Office communities, organizations, and citizens of the Edward G. Schmid, Rep. Gerlach’s Office Schuylkill River region to preserve and sustain their cultural heritage and natural environment for future generations. DCNR Liaisons Drew Gilchrist Jeffrey Knowles NPS Liaison Edie Shean-Hammond Our Members Rebecca Abgott Peter Githens Steve McManus Col. Harry H. Reichner Mr. & Mrs. Lee E. Tabas Joan Aichele William D. Gladden Matthew McTish Sue Repko Jay H. Tarler Donna Allen Susan D. Gottschall Richard Melsheimer Sydne L. Romig David Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Allender Mr. & Mrs. Pete Goodman Isabel Melvin Fred Rosen Judith Thomas Berard Avella Robert Graves JoAnn Mikulsky F. M. Rothman Robert P. Thomas Rita Banning Frances Griffin Mr. & Mrs. Arthur P. Miller David Rouse Jim Thorne Marilyn Bartram Brian Gruber Don Moll Brian L. Rucco David Thun Richard A. Bausher Nora Haefele Steve Montgomery Linda Ruddick Nancy Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Bell Robert A. Hand Tom Moslak Mr. & Mrs. Steve Rutkowski Matthew Todd Daniel S. Bellesfield Ed Harlin Mr. & Mrs. Barry Richard L. Sassaman Cheri Towne Christopher Blackwall Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Hatt Muhlenberg Wendolyn Saville Candace Trace Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Blye Rina Hayashi John A. Muhlenberg Mr. & Mrs. Frederick H. Mr. & Mrs. William Trace Harvey J. Bomberger Mr. & Mrs. Robert Heck- Barbara Myers Schuetz Thomas C. Troutman Albert M. Boscov George Heffner Ethel Nelson James Showalter Nancy B. Unger Dan Boyer Steven Henderson Mark Nevenglosky David Sibley Donna Usavage James P. Brazel Douglas Henschel Hugh O’Hare Eloise Smyrl Mr. & Mrs. Duncan Van Elizabeth Breakell James Hilyard Robert J. O’Leary Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Snyder Dusen Charlene M. Brod Mr. & Mrs. Steve Hnath Peter J. Oswald Gina Snyder Mr. & Mrs. James Van Horn A. Michael Broennle Jonathan Hodgson Lou Ann Pacocha Ms. Eugenia Sowicz and Mr. Conrad Vanino Mr. & Mrs. David A. Brown David F. Hoeschele John F. Pearson George Schanzenbach Mr. Ben Warrington & Ms. Charles Buttz Neil A. Hoffman Mary V. Pendleton David Specht Katherine Gajewski Francis Carduff Robert G. Hoffman Patricia Pezely Pete Stanson Jill Warrington Robert S. Carl Mr. & Mrs. Bernard M. Mr. & Mrs. Hank Phillips Kim Stever John Weber Lucy J. Carroll Hofmann Juliann Pinto Michael Stokes Dr. Robert Westson Tom Carroll Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Hopkins Barbara L. Pollarine Mr. & Mrs. John Storb Wendi Wheeler James W. Castellan Anne Horosky Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Porter Sandra Sudofsky Agnes Wiedmann Dr. & Mrs. Joel L. Caves Stephen Hughes Mr. & Mrs. Allan Quant Gerald Sweeney Karen S. Williamson Edward Chisak Mr. & Mrs. John F. Hunt Carl V. Raring Brian D. Swisher Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Mark Cholewa Kay Jones Steve Razzano Kay Sykora Witman Mr. & Mrs. Peter Christ Peter Joyce Leslie Rebmann John J. Symborski Rob Wolf Dr. & Mrs. Allan Cohen David T. Karst Mr. & Mrs. Garrett Bret Wrigley Lori Cole Hugh Kelly Redmond Allen J. Zimmerman David Coyne Kyle Kemp Richard W. Reiber Belinda Crane Suzanne Kent Mr. & Mrs. William Charles Crawford Mr. & Mrs. William Knight Reichert Richard Crosley William G. Koch Mr. & Mrs. Dan Daley David R. Kohler, Capt., Frances Dalton USN (Ret) Theodore S. Danforth John A. Koury Charles Day Rodger Krause Dennis DeFrancesco Paul Krepto E. Stewart Degler Laura Kruse Dennis DeMara Rob Kuhlman Anna Louise Detweiler Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Kuhns Dodson Dietrich Regina Kurrasch Mr. & Mrs. John Doering James A. Kurtz Daniel Doran Paul Kusko Michael D’Orazio Steven C. Landes Ray Dotter Mr. & Mrs. Carl Landis Ruth Dougherty David A. Lange Kent Edwards Patricia Lasseter Richard Egan Nancy Lawson Tina Ehrig Mr. & Mrs. John Lea Mr. & Mrs. James B. Elliott Judy Vehse Jay Erb Gerry Lenfest Scott Esslinger Mark Leschik Brandon Evans Kenneth Levan Johanna C. Fallon David Lewis Paul M. Felton Richard Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fisher Robert F. Loeper Mr. & Mrs. Dean Foster Harry F. Lorenz Hilary Fraley Mr. & Mrs. John Lysaght P. Richard Frantz Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Malick Regina Gargano Dr. Glen Marino Susan G. Garrett Charles N. Marshall Mairi C. Gauger Mr. & Mrs. Greg Marshall Diane Gaul Peter David Maynard Andrew Gilchrist Joseph McCormick Mary Ann Gindlesperger Edward McLaughlin A Look Back on the Schuylkill River Heritage Area’s 2014 Achievements At the Schuylkill River Heritage Area we are always working to fulfill our goals of using conservation, education, recreation, cultural and historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development. In this report, we’ve compiled a brief overview of some of the major projects and programs we engaged in for 2014. Pedaled Through Our National Parks. road route that leads to another off-road segment that was built In September, we held the Pedaling last year. Upon the future completion of another short section, Through Our National Parks Ride, the on and off-road trail will total 2.2 miles, and run from the third ride in our Schuylkill River Ontelaunee Township, through Leesport to Bern Township. It Trail Bike Tour Series. This terrific is one of the first pieces built along the Schuylkill River Trail’s two-day event incorporated a mix of critical 20-mile Reading to Hamburg gap. on-road and Schuylkill River Trail cycling with visits to three national Introduced a Unique Traveling Exhibit of Revolutionary parks: Hopewell National Historic War Illustrations. Site, Valley Forge National Historical Park, and Independence Bringing the War of Independence National Historical Park. Nearly 100 cyclists participated, to Life: 19th Century Illustrations pedaling about 30 miles per day and learning about each of of the American Revolution is the parks through tours and special programs. Like all rides in a unique exhibit featuring 42 the Bike Tour Series, Pedaling Through Our National Parks illustrations from the private highlights connections that can be made from the Schuylkill collection of Heritage Area River Trail to historic sites and visitor attractions. Executive Director Kurt Zwikl. All of the illustrations feature images of leaders, battles and key Led our 16th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn. moments of the Revolutionary War. The exhibit was displayed Over 200 paddlers from 10 states at Valley Forge National Historical Park from February through and France participated in the 16th April, and was moved to Morristown National Historical Park Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn, and where it hung from June through August. 64 of them made the full 112-mile, seven-day journey from Schuylkill Expanded our Educational Program for At-Risk Students. Haven to Philadelphia. Programs at Last year, our VISTA volunteer developed the Schuylkill all lunch and evening stops celebrated Outdoor Leadership Odyssey (SOLO), a 10-week program that the Schuylkill as Pennsylvania’s 2014 connects at-risk urban 9th and 10th graders to the outdoors River of the Year, with presentations and environmental careers. This year, our new VISTA worker, on the river’s history, environment Victoria Garrick, expanded (SOLO) to three schools in and recreational opportunities. Over Reading, Womelsdorf, and Pottstown. SOLO engages students the years the popularity of our annual who have behavioral and learning impediments and works to Schuylkill River Sojourn has steadily increased. To date, the introduce them to careers in the environmental sciences and sojourn has introduced more than 3,000 registrants from 23 to fostering a sense of stewardship for the Schuylkill River states, Canada and France to paddling the river. Watershed. The mentor-based program is highlighted by a kayak trip on the river.