TRIO HONORED WITH INAUGURAL ‘PROTECTING OUR COAST’ AWARDS AT GALA
AVALON, NJ—In front of an audience of 150 last night at the ICONA Avalon, Protect Our Coast New Jersey (POCNJ) recognized three environmental leaders for their impact in protecting coastal and marine habitats from industrial development including offshore wind installations.
The banquet was hosted by Eustace Mita, CEO of ICONA Resorts and was attended by several notables including emcee Dom Giordano of WPHT radio in Philadelphia, former Philadelphia Eagles great and ESPN commentator Ron Jaworski, Congressman Jeff Van Drew, State Senator Mike Testa, and former Cape May County Judge Michael Donohue.
The awards were presented by POCNJ President Robin Shaffer.
The recipients were:
Jeff Van Drew—US Congressman representing New Jersey’s 2nd district. Van Drew has been a champion for the Jersey shore and a clean environment ever since the idea of offshore wind was first floated in the waters off Cape May. He has kept the issue of offshore wind front and center—in the media and on Capitol Hill. His voice and his leadership was critical in protecting our coast.
Meghan Lapp—Fisheries Liaison for Seafreeze. As plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned Chevron deference, in her frequent appearances in national media and in her testimony before many local, state and federal agencies, Lapp has proven herself to be one of the most important voices in protecting our coast.
Bonnie Brady—executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. Bonnie has been one of POCNJ’s closest allies in efforts to fight offshore wind.
Shaffer said, “If given the choice between using an encyclopedia on fishing, aviation, energy—you name it—and giving Bonnie a call, we would always give her a call first. She has an amazing insight and has provided her valuable analysis to nonprofits like ours, as well as federal, state and local agencies, all with an eye on protecting our coast.”
Shaffer said there were many deserving to be honored and thanked the attendees for their contributions. In particular, he said POCNJ was grateful for the contributions of its volunteer corps, its supporters and people like the six peaceful protesters arrested in Ocean City last year for blocking offshore wind activities. He cited some members of the media such as Dom Giordano “for being unafraid to say the quiet stuff out loud.”
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