CLEVELAND, OH -- Jerome Catalano of Mayfield Village and John C. Hauck of Bay Village have been honored as Boaters of the Year by the Lake Erie Safe Boating Council, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft.
The council recognized Catalano and Hauck for their remarkable service and leadership to boating during a ceremony held Wednesday at the Mid-America Boat, Sail & Power Show in the I-X Center. Catalano is a member of the U.S. Power Squadron's Cleveland Squadron and Hauck is a member of the Rocky River Squadron.
"These two individuals have been very visible and significant contributors to boater education and safety awareness in Ohio. The Division of Watercraft shares with the Lake Erie Safe Boating Council in recognizing their contributions," said Ken Alvey, Lake Erie regional manager for the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
Also recognized with special appreciation was Division of Watercraft Chief Jeff Hoedt for a boating safety education grant the division provided to the Lake Erie Safe Boating Council. The grant was used to purchase "Coastie," an animated miniature robotic boat that was developed by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for youth education, boating and water safety awareness programs.
The Lake Erie Safe Boating Council is a nonprofit organization consisting of various boating interests in the greater Cleveland area from Lorain to Ashtabula. Its purpose is to increase public awareness of boating and safe boating practices across northern Ohio.
For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Watercraft
(614) 265-6695
-or-
Karl Yanuzzi, Lake Erie Safe Boating Council
(440) 734-6834