LAKE ARIEL — Lacawac Sanctuary is thrilled to announce its 10th Annual Farm-to-Plate Dinner, a milestone evening celebrating a decade of local food, natural beauty, and community connection.  This year’s signature event will take place at Lacawac’s historic Watres Lodge and surrounding forest, offering guests an unforgettable experience nestled in nature.

Event Highlights Include a Four-Course Farm-Fresh Feast. Renowned local chef Laurie Peterson of The Mustard Seed Café returns with a seasonally inspired, farm-to-table menu showcasing the best ingredients from our region’s farms and growers.  As the sun sets through the towering trees, guests can enjoy a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere perfect for mingling with friends and fellow supporters. Raise a glass to ten years of farm-to-plate tradition with a curated selection of drinks. 

As part of the event, there will be Silent & Live Auctions plus Premier Basket Raffles.  Bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, local art, and curated baskets filled with regional treasures—all while supporting Lacawac’s mission.

Honoring Local Leaders

As part of the evening’s festivities, Lacawac will proudly recognize the following 2025 award recipients:

Business of the Year: Signal 1 Fire Equipment

Person of the Year: Chris Cykosky

Watres Community Service Award: Lisa Champeau

Signal 1 Fire Equipment

Signal 1 Fire Equipment is a fire apparatus and equipment provider for fire departments throughout eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, and lower New York State. Signal 1 Fire focuses on providing the bravest members of our community with the safest and most reliable equipment and apparatus available. Established in 2006, Signal 1 will be celebrating its 20th year anniversary in 2026.

As a family-owned local business, Signal 1 is an avid supporter of the community. The Signal 1 family has the honor of contributing to charities by volunteering, donating, and serving on boards and committees. Consistent throughout the organizations Signal 1 contributes to, there is a clear passion for conservation of the natural world.

Chris Cykosky 

A lifelong resident of the Lake Region, Chris Cykosky brings decades of business leadership and community service to the Farm-to-Plate table. A graduate of Wallenpaupack Area High School and Bloomsburg University with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Chris has worn many hats throughout his career.

For 27 years, he owned and operated Overboards Restaurant, a beloved local dining landmark, and later ran the historic Hotel Belvidere for 4.5 years. His entrepreneurial ventures also include six years as the owner of Xpres Limousine Service and three years operating the Spirit of Paupack, a dinner cruise boat on Lake Wallenpaupack.

Chris has been deeply committed to serving his community. He’s a 20-year member of the Newfoundland Rotary, having served as president four times, and has spent 25 years as treasurer of the Greene-Dreher Alumni Association. He also serves as a trustee for the Paupack United Methodist Church and is treasurer of the Mt. View Villas Homeowners Association.

Education and youth have always been a priority for Chris. Beyond his involvement with the local school district, he’s also been dedicated to supporting a school in Uganda, helping to expand educational opportunities globally. Closer to home, Chris has spent over 25 years as a school bus driver, ensuring students travel safely to and from school. He also spent two seasons as a scenic tour boat captain on Lake Wallenpaupack, sharing his love for the area with visitors.

Chris lives in Greentown with his daughters, Emma (19) and Abby (17). In his free time, he enjoys spending time on the lake, golfing, and traveling.

Lisa Champeau

For more than 25 years, Lisa Champeau has been a driving force for community service and engagement in northeastern Pennsylvania. Her leadership journey began as Vice President of the Northern Wayne Community Library and has continued with passion and purpose ever since.

Today, Lisa serves as Chair of the Board for The Cooperage Project in Honesdale and sits on the boards of both Lackawaxen River Trails and The Foundation for Harmony Presents, which produces the Harmony in the Woods summer concert series and the podcast HarmonyTALK, where Lisa is also a co-host.

Lisa’s commitment to “meeting a need and making an impact” is evident in the many projects she’s helped bring to life. She takes particular pride in initiatives like the river walk at Sycamore Point and the new boat launch in White Mills—both transformative community projects led by Lackawaxen River Trails.

A long-time member of the Honesdale Rotary, Lisa supports both local outreach—such as the Wayne County Food Pantry—and global efforts like Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign to eradicate polio worldwide.

Before her current nonprofit work, Lisa spent 20 years at Wayne Memorial Health System as Director of Communications and Development. Earlier in her career, she was an award-winning journalist with a resume that includes anchor and reporter roles at WNEP-TV in Scranton, as well as stations in New York City, Baltimore, and Binghamton. Her writing and reporting have appeared in The Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Magazine, Barron’s, HBO, and National Geographic Television.

Lisa’s commitment to service also took her overseas when she worked as a community relations director for an international relief agency, helping deliver food and medical aid to populations in Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Haiti, and Poland.

A native New Yorker, Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and pursued graduate studies at NYU, earning her MFA. She now lives in Honesdale and is the proud mother of one daughter.

Lacawac Sanctuary is proud to honor Lisa Champeau with the 2025 Watres Award for her remarkable dedication to making positive change—both locally and globally.

Join us for a special evening on Saturday, August 2nd, beginning at 6:00 PM at the beautiful Lacawac Sanctuary, located at the Historic Watres Lodge in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. Guests are encouraged to dress in smart casual attire as they enjoy the serene surroundings and the charm of this unique venue.

All proceeds from the Farm-to-Plate Dinner benefit Lacawac Sanctuary’s mission to protect natural resources, advance environmental education, and inspire the next generation of scientists and Earth stewards.  Tickets are limited and advance registration is required. For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or more information, visit HYPERLINK “https://www.lacawac.org” \t “_new”www.lacawac.org.

Join Lacawac for an evening where flavor meets forest, and community comes together for conservation!