By Chris Cassidy
SALEM — Together, they represent thousands of hours of community service.
Tonight, the city's parks and recreation department will honor some of its hardest-working volunteers during its third annual appreciation awards night. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at the senior center at 5 Broad St.
"In this time of tough budgets, without these groups, many of these things we wouldn't be able to get done," said Doug Bollen, the city's director of park, recreation and community services.
They include people like Mike Salerno, who helped design an ecologically friendly way to fix up Salem Woods hiking trails, and Robert Connell, who has spent hours raking leaves on Salem Common and shoveling snow at the senior center.
Joe Furnari of the Correctional Alternative Center will be honored for sending work crews of inmates to help on projects ranging from the Mack Park playground installation to Camp Naumkeag. And Kristy Sacco will be given an award for volunteering to lead a field hockey clinic for the last three years, teaching skills to young players ages 12 to 20 in a program that has evolved as a feeder system for high school field hockey.
For the first time this year, the Parks & Recreation Commission will also hand out a lifetime achievement award — to Joseph "Pep" Cornacchio. Cornacchio is a former parks and recreation commissioner who served on the board of a variety of organizations from the Boys & Girls Club to the Rotary.
"He's been on every board in the city at one time," Bollen said. "He's just contributed so much, we felt it was a great opportunity to recognize him for everything he's done."
The commission will also honor several businesses and community organizations.
Bollen said the city wants to hear from residents who know of other unsung volunteers for the 2011 awards.
"This is like a little tribute to those who give back," he said.
And the winners are ...
Innovative Program Award
Salem Play Area for Canine Exercise (SPACE)
Bart Hoskins
Gordon College
Dr. Cliff Hersey
Salem Sound Coastwatch
Barbara Warren
Business Appreciation Award
Butterworth & O'Toole
Paul O'Toole
John J. Walsh Insurance
John Walsh
Community Partnership Award
Youth Soccer
Terry Wilkins
Boy Scouts
Jonaldo Alix
Moose Family Center
David George
Friends of Forest River Park
Holly Grose
Mack Park Neighborhood Association
Rosemary O'Connor
Wicked Running Club
Tim Short
Salem State College
Tim Shea
Salem Rotary
John Hall & Mike McLaughlin
Volunteer Appreciation Award
Salem Woods
Mike Salerno
Salem Common & Senior Center
Robert Connell
Inmates Community Service
Joe Furnari
Field Hockey Clinic
Kristy Sacco
Lifetime Achievement Award
Joseph "Pep" Cornacchio
