Keep Rockland Beautiful hosted its Annual Awards Gala on Dec. 7 at Rockland Country Club, Sparkill. Honorees included Town of Clarkstown (for their New City Streetscape Revitalization Project), Rockland Road Runners, Tilcon, Tony Teplitz and Tim Englert.
In his acceptance speech, Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack emphasized the importance of the New City project in spurring local business owners to invest their own revitalization projects.
Tim Englert received the Public Art Award for his Knickerbocker benches.
"I've had a blast watching new friends open up a log for the first time," said Englert. He spoke of the satisfaction and connection people feel when they are involved in creating a bench. He recognized the contributions of 6th grader Matthew Lavendar who was involved in creating many benches.
Francine Cuccia, Principal of Link Elementary World School received the Education Award. She thanked her 'Link Family' and KRB Executive Director Sonia Cairo for bringing 'real life experiences with working with the environment" to the Link students.
Bob Congionti (Parks Commissioner, Town of Montebello) and Nicole Jessie (teacher at James A Farley school in Stony Point) received Cleanup Awards. Nicole spoke of the pride her students feel in being involved in "cleaning up where they live". She commended the Town of Stony Point and the Highway Department for their support during the Great American Cleanup.
Tony Teplitz received a Beautification Award for his landscaping project at his business on Demarest Mill Road in Nanuet. Several local business worked on the project, including Danny Clapp landscaping, Curti's Landscaping and Yaboo Fence Company. He often jokes that customers call up to say they can't find his scrap metal business when they are actually right outside! Teplitz has been a strong supporter of Keep Rockland Beautiful and was an Event Sponsor for both the 2012 Great American Cleanup and the 2012 Annual Awards Gala.
John Melican of Rockland Road Runners received the Adopt-A-Spot award.
John Van Zetta, Environmental Coordinator, accepted the Business Sponsor Award for Tilcon New York. Tilcon has been sponsoring KRB for 6 years.
