Lenny Lichvar of Boswell, Somerset County, has been sworn in as the newest Fish and Boat Commissioner. Commissioner Lichvar fills a vacant seat for Commission District 4, comprised of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and Somerset counties.

Commissioner Lichvar is deeply involved in conservation matters, both professionally and in numerous volunteer organizations. He is currently Project Manager for the Somerset Conservation District. He previously served as Executive Director of the non-profit Southern Alleghenies Conservancy for eight years.

He is Chairman of the Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project and is on the board of the Somerset County Conservancy. Commissioner Lichvar is a board member, Stream Improvement Chairman and Yellow Creek Coalition representative for the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He is a member of the Jennet Rod and Gun Club. He has previously served on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

In addition, Commissioner Lichvar is a freelance outdoor writer and photographer whose works have been published in local, state and national publications. Twice he has won recognition from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association for the best published article on trout and coldwater conservation. He is presently an Outdoors Correspondent for the Somerset Daily American and produces a monthly outdoors page for the newspaper.

Other community interests include the Boswell Area Jaycees, where he is an alumni member, two-time past president and current newsletter editor and publisher. He is also current president and founder of the Boswell Area Historical Society and Chairman of the Boswell Centennial Homecoming Celebration Committee.

Commissioner Lichvar and his wife, Becky, have two children.

6/16/2006