[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E27-E28]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING NATALIE SOLFANELLI AS SHE IS HONORED BY THE LACKAWANNA 
                       RIVER CORRIDOR ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2006

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Natalie 
Solfanelli, executive director of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley 
Authority in Lackawanna County, PA. Mrs. Solfanelli has been honored by 
the Lackawanna River Corridor Association for her exceptional 
performance in creating partnerships to preserve and develop the 
Lackawanna Valley's historic, cultural, natural and economic resources 
through preservation, education and promotion of the regional heritage.
  The Lackawanna River Corridor Association is a nonprofit community 
organization created in 1987 to promote the restoration and protection 
of the Lackawanna River and its watershed resources. A major goal of 
the LRCA is to foster the development of a 40-mile long network of 
parks and trails along the Lackawanna River.
  The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and the Lackawanna River 
Corridor Association have been collaborating to get the 40-mile trail 
and greenway system built. Known as the Lackawanna River Heritage 
Trail, several sections were developed in the past few years. Other 
sections are in final engineering phases and will be under construction 
soon.
  Mrs. Solfanelli's leadership and vision have contributed to making 
the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail project a strategic link in the 
work of the authority and its partners to promote the economic and 
environmental revitalization of communities along the river.
  After being named LHVA executive director, Mrs. Solfanelli began to 
enhance the scope of the Downtown Riverfront Trail Project and position 
the trail as an economic development generator. She is leading a 
riverfront partnership effort to look ahead at the next steps that will 
enable private developers and local public agencies to further develop 
the riverfront area as a complement to the revitalization of downtown 
Scranton.
  Mrs. Solfanelli has an impressive background in financial services, 
having served with Alpha Benefits Group, Consulting Group, Inc. and 
Omni Health Plan. She is an NASD licensed registered representative 
with MidSouth Capital, Inc. and has been president of Harbor Group, 
Inc., an insurance and investment planning firm since 1989. Mrs. 
Solfanelli is also a certified life underwriter and a long term care 
professional.
  Mrs. Solfanelli serves on the board of Scranton Tomorrow, the Jewish 
Federation of

[[Page E28]]

Northeastern Pennsylvania, the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, Temple 
Hesed, Presidents Advisory Council of Keystone College and the Economic 
Development Council of Lackawanna County.
  Married to Attorney Joseph R. Solfanelli, the couple has three adult 
children.
  On a personal note, let me express my appreciation to Natalie for 
welcoming me into the Greater Scranton community. Her boundless energy 
and enthusiasm are infectious; everyone who deals with Natalie is 
inspired to work even harder to make Lackawanna County a better place 
to live.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Natalie Solfanelli on 
the occasion of this honor. Mrs. Solfanelli epitomizes the finest level 
of selfless community service and the quality of life in the greater 
Scranton area is better because of her efforts.

                          ____________________