Dr. Eve Puhalla Wins Environmental Award in Upper Hanover

The Upper Hanover Township Board of Supervisors presented Dr. Eve M. Puhalla with the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Community Pride Award at a recent meeting for her environmental work across the township.

Supervisor Stefan Laessig praised Puhalla, a Penn State Master Gardener who has organized educational workshops, volunteer training, and restoration projects. "Eve works incredibly hard and is always ready to help advise the Township on special projects and leverage volunteers for intensive work restoring the Camelot Park pond, planting trees, and coordinating free tree give-aways for residents," Laessig said.

Puhalla credited fellow Watershed Stewards JoAnn Redmond and Sunni Barndt. "The team of Master Watershed Stewards and community members who volunteer their time make all this happen, not just me," she said.

Her work includes securing grants for tree giveaways and riparian restoration, coordinating volunteer events, and delivering webinars on topics like "Zero Waste Living." She has converted traditional lawns into native wildflower meadows and led streambank restoration projects across Montgomery County municipalities.

At Camelot Park, Puhalla monitors water quality, removes invasive species and dead ash trees, plants native trees, and reinforces pond infrastructure. Penn State Extension featured her work in its statewide newsletter.

Shannon Reiter, executive director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, said the award recognizes individuals committed to litter control, recycling, or environmental stewardship. Elected officials can nominate constituents through keeppabeautiful.org.