OntheWilderSide

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5185423883405762472&q=babylon+green+party+patricia&ei=qyZPSKPWFoKO_QGb9-DEDA&hl=en]

Patricia Burkhart of Deer Park was honored as a 2008 New York State Senate “Woman of Distinction.” Burkhart, a founding board member of the Friends of the Edgewood-Oak Brush Plains Preserve, was honored for her tireless advocacy on behalf of the 850-acre Edgewood Preserve, which is the largest parcel of open space west of Brookhaven and the second largest remnant of pitch-pine scrub oak habitat in New York State.  Burkhart is seen in the video above speaking about the Edgewood Preserve at the Babylon Green Party meeting.

Patricia Burkhart gave up a thriving consulting business to devote herself full time to the Friends of the Edgewood-Oak Brush Plains Preserve, an all-volunteer, not-for-profit corporation. Under her guidance, the organization has developed a strong and growing volunteer base, including numerous civic, environmental and outdoor recreational groups. A formidable activist and passionate environmentalist, Patricia has worked tirelessly to educate Long Island communities about a variety of issues, most notably, open space preservation, groundwater protection and light pollution. She successfully enlisted the participation of local Boy and Girl Scout troops and recently supervised the first-ever Eagle Scout Project to be done at the Preserve. She created and is now editor of the organization’s quarterly newsletter.

Determined to fulfill her lifelong passion, Patricia has used her vast experience to educate New Yorkers about issues that matter to her and has helped small nonprofits grow. She volunteers for a variety of causes and, in 1990, was awarded the Cardinal Cooke Award for Community Service.

Patricia was one of 38 honorees from all across the State to be recognized at the Senate’s 2008 Women of Distinction Ceremony in Albany. She traveled to Albany for the event with her husband, Sid Cherry.

The Senate’s Women of Distinction program was created as part of the Senate’s celebration of Women’s History Month. The program, which started in 1998, honors exceptional achievement, personal excellence and outstanding, courageous and heroic actions on the part of individual women from all across the State. Each honoree’s photograph and biography becomes part of a special exhibit that honors and celebrates the unique accomplishments of exemplary women in New York.