Watershed Sponsors
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Greenwich American Legion
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The 'Battenkill Runs Through It' Festival
Bob Warren holds his BkC Community Citizen Award presented by BkC Chair, Stu Bartow
The weather cleared, the sun was shining, the food was plentiful and the only drops that were felt were the tears that Bob Warren's moving acceptance speech for his BkC Community Citizen Award provoked among the audience. Warren described of his first teenage encounter with Greenwich as, "I hugged the town like a drowning man hugs a log and Greenwich hugged me back". The award ceremony came mid way through BkC's 2nd Annual Beach & Music Festival that took place on the banks of the Battenkill in Greenwich, NY. Known as The Battenkill Runs Through It, the festival featured a trio of The Local 518 musicians and was co-sponsored in part by Exit, 97.7 WEXT public radio.
The crowd was treated to musicians from the band formerly known as The Netherwood Blues Band, a horn driven rhythm and blues group; Olivia Quillio and Bob Warren singing his river-inspired song, The Battenkill. Over 300 people came to the river through out the day to take advantage of great music, paddle a kayak up river, try their skills at fly casting with experts from the Capital District Fly Fishing Club and get a close up look at the bugs and macroinvertebrates that make the Battenkill healthly. The picnic plates that included locally procured foods coordinated by BkC star volunteer Sue Sanderson and served up with the assistance of Spoonful Kitchen & Catering were enjoyed by all. The lucky winners of the valuable raffle prizes which included an Orvis Fly Rod Outfit, a Battenkill Branch YMCA membership and an original Stephen Lack Art piece are looking forward to find the special spots on the Battenkill to try out the rod; get in shape to kayak the river with their YMCA membership and enjoy the beauty of their original Stephen Lack pastel drawing. Battenkill Conservancy awarded its first Community Citizen Award to Bob Warren, a local singer/song writer who has given his time and talents selflessly to numerous civic, community, non-profit and educational projects that have resulted in positive and lasting change in the community. Bob Warren's actions, service and his song, The Battenkill has been key in promoting the area, indirectly the work of the Battenkill Conservancy and the most importantly the role of the Battenkill in the community's everyday economic, recreational, artistic and environmental quality of life. The stunning hand-painted plaque created by local artists and community supporters, John & Gigi Begin of Cambridge, New York is a testament to the Battenkill's artistic inspiration. The Battenkill Conservancy thanks the Town of Greenwich, the festival's planning committee, numerous volunteers, and event and in-kind sponsors for their support in helping us host the Battenkill Runs Through It. The festival was created in 2011 as a community-wide celebration to bring greater awareness to the river and provide outreach for Battenkill Conservancy's mission of preserving and enhancing the Battenkill watershed through education, advocacy, conservation and the River Watch program. THANK YOU ALL FOR CELEBRATING ON THE BANKS OF THE BATTENKILL ! In-Kind Sponsors
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Battenkill Conservancy - Preserving & Enhancing the Battenkill Watershed