SECAUCUS – Mayor Michael Gonnelli has been named as a recipient of the 2012 Friend of the Hackensack River awards. Captain Bill Sheehan and the Trustees of the Hackensack Riverkeeper Wednesday announced the honorees who will be presented with the award during the 13th annual Hackensack Riverkeeper Awards Celebration and Sustainable SeafoodFest on Oct. 4.
Gonnelli is being recognized for his professional and personal commitment to growing and maintaining a community that values clean water and protected habitats as much as it values clean streets and a vibrant economy, according to a press statement.
The Panasonic Corporation was also selected as an honoree for its longstanding encouragement of a strong community service ethic among its employees; and the company’s history of participation in Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Corporate River Stewardship program.
“As always we have both an easy time and a difficult time deciding whom to honor,” said Captain Sheehan. “It’s easy because we have a lot of dedicated partners; and it’s difficult because each year we have to decide among them.”
Founded in 1997 by Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. It serves as the independent voice of the river and the citizen steward of the Hackensack Meadowlands. Hackensack Riverkeeper is a founding member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, which is an association of over 200 clean water advocates around the world.