County tourism efforts recognized
BY STEPHANIE LASOTA STAFF WRITER
12/04/2007
Two individuals, an organization
and a government partner were honored Monday night for their contributions
in furthering tourism in Schuylkill County.
The Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau held its eighth
annual Tourism Recognition Awards at the Clubhouse at Sweet Arrow
Lake to award David Kuchta, Nesquehoning; Robert Evanchalk, Pine Grove;
the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society and Upper Schuylkill
Downtowns for their efforts in the past year.
A visitors bureau board subcommittee of four members
reviewed about a dozen nominations submitted before Nov. 1 to choose
the award recipients. Those honored helped contribute to the roughly
$150 million of tourism revenue generated in Schuylkill County this
year, Mark T. Major, bureau executive director, said.
Tourism is Pennsylvania’s second largest industry
and people visit for the state’s “outdoors” appeal,
he said.
“When you add it all up, it’s not quite a
million,” he said of the 2007 Schuylkill County visitor count.
Upper Schuylkill Downtowns was recognized for its community
improvement programs, particularly for its Tidy Town programs that
promote downtown revitalization in the six participating boroughs
it serves: Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown
and Shenandoah.
“We have a great group of volunteers and our boroughs
are all working beautifully together,” Patrice K. Rader, Upper
Schuylkill executive director, said after receiving the plaque on
behalf of the agency.
Evanchalk, parks and recreation supervisor at the Schuylkill
Conservation District, was named tourism employee of the year for
his efforts in Sweet Arrow Lake Park renovations. Some of the tasks
of the current project include improving the roadway, sidewalks, parking
lot and playgrounds, all of which should be completed Dec. 15.
“I was a little bit hesitant to accept this at
first because I’m just doing my job,” Evanchalk said after
receiving the award. “I do appreciate the recognition.”
The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society
was also honored for increasing tourism in the northern region by
establishing a Heritage Day and Parade of Nations, among other things.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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