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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero |
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Santarsiero recognizes Newtown resident for dedication to preservation
HARRISBURG, March 10 – State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, this week presented a citation from the House of Representatives to Alan Carey in recognition of his distinguished service in natural resource conservation.
Carey, 19, a member of Boy Scout Troop 99 in the Bucks County Council, will be honored Saturday with the Silver William T. Hornaday Award, which is the highest level award presented to a youth Scout and is earned by completing eight different environmentally focused merit badges and four Eagle badge environmental conservation projects.
"I'm grateful for the service Alan has provided to the community by doing this important work," Santarsiero said. "Each one of the four projects that he accomplished for this award has had a real impact on the environment and also in making it easier for members of the community to access natural areas and enjoy the surroundings that we have here. He did a tremendous job."
To satisfy his soil and water conservation requirement, Carey single-handedly led the Newtown Grant Pedestrian Bridge construction project. He utilized 35 volunteers and 470 hours of planning and execution to allow access to this natural area of Newtown Grant where previous temporary bridges washed downstream and created obstructions in the creek. Carey used this project to satisfy the requirement for his Eagle Scout badge, which he earned when he was 16.
After completing the bridge, Carey organized a cleanup of the Newtown Creek, which satisfied the air and pollution control requirement. After 180 hours of work, 22 skids, 20 bags of trash, two tires and a riding lawnmower were removed from the Creek.
Carey’s next venture was his forestry and range management project. For that, he started a program that removed invasive species at the Churchville Nature Reserve and replaced them with native trees and shrubs. In all, 216 hours were volunteered for this project.
Carey also completed his fish and wildlife management requirement at the Churchville Nature Center. For this project, he worked to support the Eastern Red-Bellied Turtle, a threatened species.
"Alan is an extremely dedicated young man, and I am proud to commend him for his diligence and hard work to make the quality of life for residents of this area better," said Santarsiero, who serves on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. "He is a shining example of a true steward of the environment."
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