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Tilcon has been working for several years with local environmental non-profit organization Keep Rockland Beautiful. This year we were awarded their 'Business Sponsor 2012' Award, which was accepted on Tilcon's behalf by John Van Zetta, Environmental Coordinator. Here is Keep Rockland Beautiful's account of the awards evening, which details Tilcon's work over the last few years and that of their other award winners, giving an insight into the work of this important local group.
Keep Rockland Beautiful hosted its Annual Awards Gala on December 7th at Rockland Country Club, Sparkill. Honorees included Town of Clarkstown (for their New City Streetscape Revitalization Project), Rockland Road Runners, Tilcon New York, Tony Teplitz and Tim Englert (full list attached).
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 (video link). Other business involved in the New City project included Behan Planning and Design, Maser Consulting and Tilcon (who also received the Business Sponsor Award at the Gala). John Van Zetta, Environmental Coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of Tilcon New York. Tilcon has been sponsoring KRB for 6 years, including being an Event Sponsor of the Great American Cleanup in 2012 and an Event Sponsor for the Annual Awards Gala in 2011 and 2012. John spoke with enthusiasm about his recent collaboration with KRB when Tilcon volunteers teamed up with KRB to remove large tires from the Hudson River in Haverstraw. He is looking forward to expanding the partnership between Tilcon and Keep Rockland Beautiful in the future.
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" - Tim spoke of the satisfaction and connection people feel when they are involved in creating a bench. He recognized the contributions of 6th grader Matthew Lavender 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 (video).
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 Larry Brissing, Stony Point Highway Superintendent 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. Tony 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. Currently, Tony is working with KRB to establish a program to accept the donation of cars and toher scrap metal to benefit the organization.
John Melican of Rockland Road Runners received the Adopt-A-Spot award. The Rockland Road Runners have been cleaning up a 1.3 mile stretch of road at Rockland Lake State Park for the past 12 years.
Many local politicians attended the event, including Congresswoman Nita Lowey, NY State Senator David Carlucci, Rockland County Legislative Chair Harriet Cornell, Rockland County Legislator Ed Day, Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart, Town of Clarkstown Council Members Frank Borelli and Stephanie Hausner.