Rendell names a Pike winner of environmental award

GREELEY — A Pike County company was named Wednesday as one of nine statewide winners of the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Governor Ed Rendell recognized Pennsylvania businesses and organizations that are adopting environmentally friendly practices and technologies and are working to revitalize communities, reduce pollution, and educate the public on the benefits of being good stewards of the state’s natural resources. “These businesses and organizations, large and small, all have one thing in common — they look at environmental challenges as opportunities to do things differently,” said Rendell in announcing the recipients of the 2008 awards. Heron’s Eye Communications LLC of Greeley was named for producing the public television documentary “Nature’s Keepers.” Heron’s Eye Communications, with principal Krista Gromalski. spearheaded a fundraising campaign, coordinated interview subjects and locations, and handled publicity efforts for this inspiring story of the people of one of Pennsylvania’s fastest growing counties —Pike— who are taking a leadership role in land stewardship and smart growth. The film presents Pike County as a model for other communities nationwide that struggle with similar challenges. Often called the birthplace of the American conservation movement because it was home to the Pinchot family, the documentary highlights the county’s 150-year-heritage of natural resource conservation and land stewardship and examines how this legacy continues today through citizen activism in response to development pressures that have made it one of the fastest growing areas in the northeast United States. Winners were chosen from 35 nominations. To view a more detailed summary of the nine winning projects, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, and click on “2008 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.”