OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

(09/P9) TRENTON – Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello and the New Jersey Historic Sites Council today honored individuals, businesses and organizations for their outstanding achievements in preserving the state’s historic resources and its remarkable heritage.

“These extraordinary preservation projects and the enlightened people who made them happen deserve our appreciation and admiration not only for recognizing that New Jersey’s historic places matter, but for helping all of us understand why,” Commissioner Mauriello said.

Commissioner Mauriello and New Jersey Historic Sites Council Chairman David Markunas handed certificates to each of the winners during the 19th Annual New Jersey Historic Preservation Awards ceremony at Ellarslie Mansion, the Trenton City Museum.

The awards program raises public awareness and understanding of historic preservation, recognizes volunteer contributions to preserve historic resources, acknowledges projects of excellent quality and honors individuals, organizations and agencies dedicated to historic preservation and its advocacy.

Every year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designates May as National Historic Preservation Month. The theme for 2009 is “This Place Matters.” As part of the celebration, the DEP’s Historic Preservation Office and the New Jersey Historic Sites Council hold an awards ceremony to spotlight New Jersey’s outstanding achievement in historic preservation.

During the ceremony, Commissioner Mauriello also presented a proclamation from Governor Jon S. Corzine, recognizing the value of historic preservation in New Jersey.

Earlier this month, an awards committee comprising a New Jersey Historic Sites Council member, a representative of the DEP’s Historic Preservation Office and a preservation professional selected the winners after thoroughly evaluating all awards applications. The committee considered only those individual accomplishments, projects and programs that involve historic resources eligible for listing in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, the National Register of Historic Places or both.

The following have earned awards for demonstrating exceptional merit in the field of historic preservation:

• Rehabilitation of the Rialto & the Capitol at the Beacon, Jersey City, Hudson County
• Rehabilitation of the Fire Control Tower No. 23, Lower Township, Cape May County
• Restoration of the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, Monmouth County
• Preservation New Jersey’s “10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey” program and its creator, Deborah M. Kelly
• Restoration of the Jersey City Council Chambers, Jersey City, Hudson County
• Reconstruction of St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church rebuild project, Bernardsville, Somerset County
• Restoration of the Henry Doremus House, Montville, Morris County
• A Sustainable Future: The Bell Labs Charrette and Publication, Holmdel Township, Monmouth County

For more information on historic preservation in New Jersey, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/