Clinton County PA Wilds Winners Honored
WILLIAMSPORT – The Pennsylvania Wilds Awards dinner was held Thursday night and two of the 11 ‘Champion of the Pennsylvania Wilds’ awards went to people from Clinton County. The Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo received the Event of the Year award, and Olivia Hanna received the Inspiring Youth Award for her volunteer work at Millbrook Playhouse in Mill Hall. From the 12-county PA Wilds region, there were 34 nominations submitted this year for Champion of the Wilds awards.
Flaming Foliage: Flaming Foliage Festival Committee Co-Chairs Pattie Rauch and David Watt accepted the Event of the Year award on behalf of the Committee. Pattie thanked the committee and the community of Renovo for all of their support and said this year – the festival’s 70th anniversary year – is expected to be extra special as Queens from the past 69 years are being invited back to Renovo to participate in the Flaming Foliage weekend (October 12-14, 2018). Of the Flaming Foliage Committee’s dedication, she said “Once you get the fever, it’s hard to leave.” Carrie Lapore, Deputy Secretary of Marketing, Tourism, and Film with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, presented the award. Several other Flaming Foliage Committee members were also at the dinner, including: Maria and Bruce Ransom, Joyce Stewart, and Dennis Smith.
Olivia Hanna: Olivia is a 15-year-old at Central Mountain High School who has been a volunteer at Millbrook Playhouse since she was four years old. She is a member of the Millbrook Playhouse Youth Ensemble, and has starred in several regular and off-season Millbrook performances. In thanking the PA Wilds for the award, Olivia said the recognition gave her a platform to advocate for theatre and the arts. “Theatre has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the influence of theatre on my life.” She said the people she has met through Millbrook Playhouse…”have taught me first and foremost to be loving always, and unapologetically myself. I’ve grown up surrounded by love, encouragement, and diversity – it’s been just amazing.” Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Dunn presented Olivia’s award.
The local award recipients also received congratulatory citations from State Representative Mike Hanna, State Senator Joe Scarnati, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, and U.S. Congressman Glenn Thompson.
Two other local people received recognition at the dinner: Sue Morris, owner of Sue’s Salves in Mill Hall, was recognized as one of the 2018 PA Wilds ‘Creative Makers’ for her all-natural, body and skin care products. Morris makes soothing herbal salves with plants grown in her own garden, and Bill Crowell of Budget Artist Photo & Design Studio was among the PA Wilds photographers recognized for their creative works.
