The Rockfall Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2019 Environmental Champion Awards, to be presented at the foundation’s Annual Meeting, Grants & Awards Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 3at 6 p.m. Essex Land Trust (ELT) and Pat Young will receive Tom ODell Distinguished Service Awards, honoring their long-term accomplishments in environmental conservation and preservation. Certificates of appreciation will be presented to Katie Hughes-Nelson of Perk on Main and Bill Hesbach of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association and Connecticut Queen Breeders Cooperative. The Annual Meeting, Grants & Awards Celebration is open to the public and takes place at the deKoven House Community Center located at 27 Washington Street in Middletown. More information can be found at www.rockfallfoundation.org.

ELT, entirely supported by volunteers, has been a leader in the area for eradication of invasive plants and supporting fish populations. It actively manages more than 900 acres of town open space, including its 23 preserves with more than 55 trails maintained with 2,000 volunteer hours annually. Amongst other accomplishments, ELT has collaborated to install fishways on two dams on Falls River, expanded open space corridors such as the 1,000-acre Preserve, protected the Essex Great Meadows, and raised public awareness of ospreys by a live stream from its OspreyCam on Thatchbed Island.

Founded in 1935 by Middletown philanthropist Clarence S. Wadsworth, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations. The foundation supports environmental education, conservation, and planning initiatives in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. In addition, The Rockfall Foundation operates the historic deKoven House Community Center, which offers meeting rooms and office space for non-profit organizations.

For more information about the 2019 Environmental Champion Awards, The Rockfall Foundation, or the Oct. 3 Annual Meeting, Grants & Awards Celebration, visit www.rockfallfoundation.org or call 860-347-0340.