Honor River Program Award

Senate Resolution No. 1394 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Beacon Leadership Award by the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Inc. on May 14, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organizations and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Beacon Leadership Award by the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Inc. to be celebrated at its 25th Annual Dessert Spectacular on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at the Franklin Plaza Ballroom in Troy, New York; and WHEREAS, The Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley (ILCHV) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities lead happy and fulfilling lives; rooted in a philosophy of self-determination, the Center offers many services including advocacy, peer counseling, and facilitates access to housing and employment opportunities; and WHEREAS, The Beacon Leadership Award is granted annually to those individuals and businesses which have demonstrated their commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Hudson River Estuary Program has truly helped make its community a more welcoming place for people with disabilities; and WHEREAS, The NYSDEC's Hudson River Estuary Program has been promoting access to the Hudson River since 1987; in recent years, Coordinator Fran Dunwell and Assistant Public Information Officer Nancy Beard have turned their attention to making these state and local access sites more accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities; and WHEREAS, Through the tireless efforts of many, the Hudson River Estuary Program has strived to make a difference for everyone who wants to fish, boat, swim, or just be near the river to watch wildlife or simply enjoy the views and spend some time by the water through various programs such as the Hudson River Accessibility Project, which worked with disability agencies to assess 18 access sites along the Hudson River, followed up with training for local municipalities and managers of the sites to become more aware of ADA standards; and WHEREAS, The Hudson River Program has provided grants to localities to enhance access, including the Rensselaer Land Trust to inventory public access sites along the river County-wide and create an access plan for shoreline communities, the Town of Bethlehem to create an accessible boat launch and fishing pier, and South Street Seaport Museum which is developing tactile interpretive signage, maps and multi-language tactile guidebooks for visually impaired visitors; and WHEREAS, In addition, the Hudson River Estuary Program installed an accessible kayak launch dock at the Haverstraw Bay County Park; and WHEREAS, The success of the NYSDEC, Hudson River Estuary Program is in direct correlation to the efforts of its staff whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the institution and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organizations which enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Beacon Leadership Award by the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Inc.; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Fran Dunwell, Coordinator, and Nancy Beard, Assistant Public Information Officer, New York State Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program.