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Celebrating the love of Loyalsock Creek

Not even a downpour could dampen the spirits of the hundred or so people gathered at Pier 87 along Loyalsock Creek to celebrate the local creek being named 2018 River of the Year by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the state Organization for Waterways and Rivers.

The 64-mile stream received 15,000 votes from across the state to win the honor.

Carol Parenzan, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper, hosted the celebration, which is one of many events that had been planned during the year.

Proclamations from the Lycoming County commissioners and the state legislatures were presented in honor of the creek’s designation. County commissioners Rick Mirabito and Jack McKernan and State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, were at the event.

Native of the area Marc Yaggi, executive director of the Waterkeeper Alliance, spoke to the crowd, sharing memories of his time spent along the creek.

“I grew up in the Susquehanna watershed,” Yaggi, who now lives in New York City, said. “I think all those experiences along Loyalsock Creek, Pine Creek and the Susquehanna River really formed the foundation for my lifelong work on clean water issues.”

Yaggi realized as a teenager that not everyone had the same benefits of clean water — either to drink, fish or swim — that he did growing up.

“So that’s what led me to work with Waterkeeper Alliance and (the) Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper,” he said.

He said his organization works with groups like the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper because they all believe the way to combat the global water crisis is through local leaders. He called them the “boots on the ground.”

“There’s only one ‘Sock, so you’ve got to cherish, you’ve got to protect it and don’t let them mess it up,” he added.

The secretary of DCNR, Cindy Adams Dunn, helped unveil the poster that had been commissioned to commemorate the River of the Year designation. She also presented a proclamation from Gov. Tom Wolf declaring June as Pennsylvania Rivers month, dedicated to the citizens of the state reaffirming their commitment to “protecting and conserving the quality of the river system.”

The celebration continues tomorrow with a dawn to dusk paddle at Rose Valley Lake. The event had been scheduled for Loyalsock Creek, but due to the low level of the water, it was moved to the lake.

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