The Watersmith Journal
Volunteer of the Year Announcement
Since its inception, First Waves has showcased film projects that highlight conservation efforts and youth mentorship at the Stonycreek Rendezvous every spring. The festival is the largest whitewater paddling event in the region and attracts thousands of people to Greenhouse Park, where most of the projects take place. The screenings also provide an opportunity to show appreciation for the sponsors and volunteers that make First Waves successful. Specifically, it’s a chance to recognize one individual for their exceptional work in youth mentorship and watershed conservation, and name them the First Waves Volunteer of the Year. In 2020, the pandemic thwarted the opportunity for large gatherings and the event was postponed. While we would have loved to announce the 2019 winner in person, we are taking the opportunity now to celebrate Jill Martin as the recipient of the award.
FIRST WAVES STRIKE USS REQUIN
The USS Requin is a floating museum of World War II era technology along the Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. While educating and enchanting hundreds of thousands of visitors about the life and science aboard a submarine, the ship often helps divulge a more sinister story about Pittsburgh’s waterways.
RIVER OF CHANGE
AN UNEXPECTED MATCH PARTNER OF THE YEAR
“IT’S SAFE, THE KIDS WILL BE FINE!” I yelled into my cell phone, trying to overcome a howling wind off the Gulf of Mexico. In spite of the ambient roar, I could hear doubt on the other end spinning like a turbine. Intuition, however, has a way of prevailing under duress, when communication is done on an instinctual level rather than through the confusion of words and reason.