The recipients of Wildlands Conservancy’s 2012 Friend of the Lehigh River Awards are: Mario Spangoletti, member of the Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council; Tom Shive, retired Central Catholic High School teacher and champion for the school’s EnviroMentor program; and the Hokendauqua Chapter #535 of Trout Unlimited.

The awards will be presented during the closing ceremony of Wildlands Conservancy’s 16th Annual Lehigh River Sojourn at the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary on June 25th beginning at 6 p.m. (award presentation at 7:00 p.m.)

The Friend of the Lehigh River award is Wildlands Conservancy’s annual acknowledgment of individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, institutions, or governmental entities that deserve to be recognized for their commitment to preserving, protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Lehigh River and its watershed.

“The Lehigh River is one of the region’s most precious natural resources. The work of protecting and maintaining it as a viable home for plants and wildlife, as well as a destination for respite and adventure, cannot be accomplished alone. This award celebrates individuals and organizations who proactively act and speak on behalf of the river to inspire its sustainability for future generations,” says Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy.

Here’s more on the award winners--

Mario Spangoletti: Longtime volunteer of Wildlands Conservancy and a member of the Whitehall Township Environment Advisory Council, Spangoletti is a tireless steward of the environment. He is often found streamside, where over the years he has planted thousands of plants and been actively involved in countless restoration projects.

Past EAC member Dale Ott credits Spangoletti with “singlehandedly feeding the birds at the Whitehall Parkway observation station.” His caretaking also extends to the maintenance of the bluebird boxes and the rehabilitation of the Township’s barn along Chestnut Street. Notable, too, is his dedication to the Township’s annual recycling drive and his stream work with the Little Lehigh and Hokendauqua chapters of Trout Unlimited.

Tom Shive: Shive is a retired as Central Catholic High School (CCHS) teacher who has anything but retired from educating students about nature in their neighborhoods, most especially those living in urban areas. He has been instrumental in bringing to life Wildlands Conservancy’s EnviroMentor program that, too, engages elementary children at Sacred Heart Regional School.

Shive doubles as CCHS’s Conservation Club leader. In this role, he’s involved student members in annual clean-ups of the Jordan Creek, the installation of bird houses and the planting of riparian, or water-loving, plants to support soil conservation.

Shive is also an active member of the Jordan Heights Green Space committee, and he has embraced Wildlands Conservancy’s proposed Jordan Creek Greenway & Trail, a plan to physically connect five existing township-, city- and county-owned parks and recreation sites, from Jordan Meadows Park in Allentown to the Trexler Nature Preserve. The first 1.27-segment opened in December 2011, and as efforts continue, Shive will undoubtedly celebrate having more room for young minds to grow.

Hokendauqua Chapter #535 of Trout Unlimited: Since their first charter 25 years ago, the Hokendauqua Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been devoted to local natural resource protection, and moreover, connecting the community with nature through education. Additionally, the Chapter models the determination and dexterity needed to nurture partnerships with businesses and individuals and obtain grants, all for the improvement of their tributary to the Lehigh River.

The Chapter has a history of fulfilling numerous restoration projects. Their most recent effort focused on stream bank restoration in Northampton Borough and at the historic Kreidersville Covered Bridge area.

In tandem with hands-on projects like this, the Chapter maintains a number of community education programs. These include: sponsorship of “Trout in the Classroom” at Catasauqua High School, assisting youth field days, fly fishing instruction at the Women-in-the-Outdoors event, equipment and instructional support for “Casting for Recovery,” a breast cancer survivors program, and “Project Healing Waters,” an activity for wounded veterans, and streamside-education for Cub and Boy Scouts and local schools. A new endeavor with the City of Allentown Parks and Recreation Department offers field instruction on aquatic insects and fishing instruction.

6/25/2012