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Become a Heritage
Partner Today!
Your financial support is critically important to help continue the good work of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley. Please join LHV as a "Heritage Partner" today! Click here to download the membership brochure. | | |
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Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors
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Welcome!
The Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area (LHV) continues to make great progress in the development of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail (LRHT). It is active in many initiatives that promote stewardship of the environment, including sponsorship and coordination of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Conservation Alliance. The trail is the most visible of the Heritage Valley's projects, and LHV is committed to the completion of the 70+ mile trail system that will be a major component of the Pennsylvania mega-greenway network.
The Heritage Valley works collaboratively with many historical, cultural, educational and governmental organizations on a wide range of projects and programs that educate the public and celebrate the rich history and diversity of this area. The programs of LHV help to create a sense of place and an appreciation of the hard work, accomplishments and values of the people who made the Lackawanna Valley an important place in the history of the nation. They made us who we are today, and we cannot forget their stories!
Some of the partnership projects that LHV has supported in recent months include the Arts on Fire Industrial Arts Festival, the Scranton celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War with the Lackawanna Historical Society, the Heritage Passport Program with the Lackawanna County Library System, the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archive project and the restoration and upgrading of the historic Silkman House with the Scranton Public Library, "The Wall that Heals" exhibition at the Everhart Museum, the Scranton Jazz Fest, La Festa Italiano, and the Sustainable Architectural Pavilion project with Marywood University's School of Architecture. |
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LHV Funding Supports Ten Local Heritage and Environmental Education Projects
 | | Thom Welby, President of the Board of Directors of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area (LHV) (lower right), and Natalie Gelb, Executive Director of LHV (lower left), stand with the recipients of LHV's 2011-2012 Educational Mini-Grant awards. |
Ten schools and organizations in the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area (LHV) were awarded Educational Mini-Grants on December 15, 2011. The ceremony took place at the Lackawanna Historical Society in Scranton, Pennsylvania. LHV presented grants of $500 to ten diverse and innovative projects for children from preschool through grade twelve. Proposals came from schools in the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit #19, as well as local cultural, environmental, and heritage organizations.
The Educational Mini-Grant Program offers funding for projects that promote students' understanding and appreciation of the rich heritage of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley and how it contributed to the development of our nation; or that develop students' understanding of the their role as caretakers of the environment, particularly in the Lackawanna River watershed. Now in its seventh year, the Educational Mini-Grant Program is a highly regarded educational initiative that supports creative, multi-disciplinary projects, many using the performing and visual arts as well as traditional academic curricula.
"Preserving and telling the Lackawanna Valley's rich history through educational programs is a major focus of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area," said Executive Director Natalie Gelb. "This grant cycle has some really creative and dynamic projects that build a sense of place and an appreciation for the region's heritage, culture, and resources."
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Volunteers Clean Up an Illegal Dumpsite on the Trail in Taylor
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Clean up crew at the illegal dumpsite on the Taylor trail section. |
On November 5, 2011, 35 volunteers cleaned up a large illegal dumpsite on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. The site was located on the Taylor section, approximately one-half mile east of the trailhead at Depot Street. The Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area (LHV) and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) co-hosted the event.
In early summer, trail users noticed a large pile of discarded household items, tires, and building materials that had been dumped next to the trail. The illegal dumping continued through the summer, and the pile became a safety and health hazard as it grew larger. PEC received a Solid Waste Management Grant from the USDA Rural Development to clean up illegal dumpsites in communities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. USDA State Director Thomas Williams visited the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in Taylor on October 28th to recognize the dumpsite on LHV's trail as the first clean-up effort funded by this grant. He lauded the efforts of PEC and LHV to reclaim the site in preparation for development of that trail section in 2012.
The clean-up crew included a student from Scranton High School, members of the NEPA Trail Mix group from Meetup.com, staff members from WNEP-TV, staff members from the Lackawanna County Conservation District, a number of local citizens, as well as staff members from LHV and PEC. Special thanks go to Mike Guzzi and Tony Novak from the New Lost Trails ATV Park who provided a truck and trailer and a quad to help the volunteers move the debris from the pile to the dumpster at the trailhead. Although the pile was substantial, the many willing hands completely removed it in less than two hours!
The two-mile section of trail from South Scranton to Taylor is being improved as part of the continuing development of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2012. |
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20th Anniversary Celebration on September 14th
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Partners and friends celebrate LHV's 20th anniversary at a gala dinner on September 14th. |
The Lackawanna Historical Society hosted the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area at its annual dinner on September 14, 2011, at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton, PA. More than 300 people attended the event. Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn of Fordham University in New York City, former pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Carbondale and founding chair of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley, was the master of ceremonies for the event. The highlight of the evening was the world premiere of "Legacy: The Story of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley." The WVIA-produced documentary was simultaneously broadcast from the Scranton Cultural Center and on WVIA television. |
LHV Featured in New Documentary 
"Legacy: The Story of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley" is a 60 minute documentary, produced by PBS affiliate station WVIA, that explores the culture, charm, and character that makes the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area a national treasure. Woven into the narrative is a sweeping history of the Lackawanna Valley - from the early founding of the Scranton Iron Furnaces to the bustling years when coal was king to the current days of economic and environmental renewal. Click here for a two-minute preview of "Legacy." Click here for a listing of air times on WVIA and WVIA-2. Check your local cable provider for channel listings.
The DVD is available for sale. The LHV member price is $14.95, and the non-member price is $19.95. Prices include 6% Pennsylvania sales tax and shipping. To order, please call April Rogato, Executive Assistant, at (570) 963-6730 ext. 8200. To order online, visit www.HeritageValleyPartners.org and click on "Store."
"Legacy" has been generously supported by Penn Security Bank & Trust. |
BECOME A HERITAGE PARTNER!
As the Lackawanna Heritage Valley (LHV) marks its twentieth year of tying together the people, organizations, and rich resources of the region, it extends an invitation for partnership to individuals who value the importance of this important work. As state and federal funding diminishes, the role of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley becomes ever more crucial to ensure that our history and traditions are preserved, that the trail is built, and that our legacy stays vital.
For the first time, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley has created a membership program, offering its friends the opportunity to become official Heritage Partners. There are many people who applaud the work of the Heritage Valley, and some who participate actively in events, trail clean-ups, train excursions and a host of other exciting programs. The Heritage Valley urges everyone to make the commitment to become a Heritage Partner at whatever level he or she can afford, helping to establish the sustainability of the Heritage Valley into the future.
Your financial support is critically important to help continue the good work of LHV. Please join as a "Heritage Partner" today! Click here to download the membership brochure. For more information, contact April Rogato, LHV Executive Assistant, at (570) 963-6730 ext. 8200. |
LHV Conducts Strategic Assessment Process
The Lackawanna Heritage Valley was designated as a National Heritage Area (NHA) by the U.S. Congress in 2000 in recognition of the region's unique contribution to the American experience. Although designation as a NHA is perpetual, the authorization for federal funding through the National Park Service ends in September, 2012. LHV faces the immediate task of gaining an extension of its present authorization and/or a reauthorization of its NHA status. As part of this process, LHV has conducted an in-depth strategic assessment of the organization. In spring 2011, LHV engaged the consulting team of Claudia and Bill Schechter from Washington, DC.
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Heritage Explorer Bike Tour & Festival Draws More than 450 Cyclists to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
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Happy riders on the Heritage Explorer Bike Tour! |
The second annual Heritage Explorer Bike Tour and Festival was held on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Mellow Park in Peckville, Pennsylvania. The all-day event was hosted by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area as a non-competitive, family-friendly event. The event was a resounding success, hosting more than 450 participants and hundreds of spectators. Although most of the riders were from local communities, several groups came from the Hazelton area, the Pocono Mountain Region, and Binghamton, New York.
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Planning for the 2012 Bike Tour & Festival 
The third annual Heritage Explorer Bike Tour and Festival will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Mellow Park in Peckville, Pennsylvania. The event will offer the choice of 5, 11, 22, and 44 mile routes on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, a Tot Tour around Mellow Park, and a lively festival that celebrates bicycling and outdoor recreation in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Gene McDonough, Michael C. Toye, and Bill Burke are co-chairs for the event. All three individuals are dedicated cyclists who bring a wealth of knowledge to the Bike Tour. Local businesses and individuals are offering generous support as sponsors of the event, receiving recognition on signage, tee shirts and other items, as well as the opportunity to showcase their wares at the Festival.
The planning committee for the Bike Tour and Festival meets on the third Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18th, at 5:30 p.m. Volunteers from the community who would like to become involved are welcome to join the committee. Please contact Stephanie Milewski, LHV Trail Manager and Environmental Program Officer, at smilewski@LHVA.org or (570) 963-6730 ext. 8203. |
New Economic Impact Study Released  In 2009, LHV initiated a large-scale planning initiative, the "Lackawanna Greenway Plan and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail Feasibility Study." One component of this project was a survey of the people who use the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. The analysis of the data gathered from these surveys estimated 128,000 annual user visits to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in 2009, resulting in a direct economic impact to the local economy of approximately $28,251,862.LHV has released the detailed findings in a new report, "The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail: 2009 Trail User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis." Click here to download the full report. Click here to read the Executive Summary. Click here to download the one-page Fact Sheet.
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New Trail Brochure & Map Now Available
LHV has published a new brochure and map for the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Both materials identify the location of the trailheads along the trail, including their GPS coordinates. Click here to download the brochure, and click here to view the map.
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Trail Update: Trail Improvements in 2011
 In 2011, LHV embarked on a program of major repairs and improvements to the existing sections of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. These improvements included repairs to existing fences and gates and the installation of new fencing on the Scranton Riverwalk, the CNJ Trail, and the Mid-Valley Trail, as well as the installation of trail furnishings - pet stations and trash and recycling receptacles - at key locations along the trail. The improvements increase the safety and comfort of the trail for our trail users.
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Trail Update: Two Construction Projects Slated for 2012
LHV anticipates that two trail projects will begin construction in spring 2012: a two-mile section from South Scranton to Taylor, and a three-mile section from Jermyn to Archbald. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 4-0 will be the project manager for both initiatives. The projects have been in the planning and permitting phase for the last two years.
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LHV to Launch Signage and Guidebook Project  The Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area (LHV) is partnering with the Rail-Trail Council of NEPA (RTC) to implement a signage and guidebook project. The project will brand and promote the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail and the Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail, as well as the natural, recreational, cultural, and historic resources in the 70+ mile Lackawanna Greenway from the New York State border to Pittston, PA.
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In May 2011, Owen Worozbyt joined LHV as the Volunteer Coordinator. He is a resident of Dunmore, PA, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Park and Recreation Management from East Stroudsburg University. Prior to working for LHV, he was an Interpretive Park Ranger for the National Park Service since graduating from college. |
LHV Volunteer "Ambassadors" Make a Difference in the Community
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Trail clean-up crew from July 16th event. |
LHV Volunteer Coordinator Owen Worozbyt (see above) has had a busy season tackling new and existing projects with volunteers of the heritage area. Since May, Owen has coordinated regular meetings of LHV's volunteer corps, "Ambassadors in Action," encouraging a cadre of more than 150 volunteers to support a variety of events. In the last six months, these volunteers have given over 270 hours of work valued at more than $5,500.
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Conservation Alliance Has New Facebook Page 
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Conservation Allianceis made up of more than 70 representatives from regional environmental organizations and individuals. The group is committed to facilitating communication and the sharing of resources in order to coordinate and advance conservation efforts in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It meets every two months to network and share information about upcoming programs. The Conservation Alliance now has its own Facebook page. Click here to visit the page and "Like" it. The page is designed to be a "public calendar" for everyone to share their conservation- and environment-related projects and programs. Click here for a complete list of 2012 meeting dates and directions. |
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For More Information
Natalie Gelb, Executive Director
Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area
and Heritage Valley Partners, Inc.
(570) 963-6730 extension 8202
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