SHARON 2 residents honored for contributions

The award comes with a $250 donation.
SHARON, Pa. -- The founder of Shenango River Watchers and a longtime Sharon podiatrist have been honored by Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. for their service to the community.
Representatives of Aqua Pennsylvania (formerly Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co.) presented Jennifer Barborak and Dr. Leonard Pleban with the company's Neighborhood Hero awards in Sharon City Hall Thursday.
The award, presented to people who have made significant personal contributions to their community, comes with a $250 donation that the recipient gives to the organization of his or her choice.
Honorees
Barborak, founder and president of River Watchers, split her money between that organization and the UPMC Foundation Medical Equipment Recycling Program, of which she is program coordinator.
Pleban, who has practiced medicine for 53 years and still makes home, hospital and convalescent home visits to patients, split his award between the Prince of Peace Center and the Community Food Warehouse of the Shenango Valley.
Barborak is active in city government, serving on several boards, and is secretary of the Mercer County Human Services Council, a Red Cross volunteer and an advisory board member for the COOL Kids after-school program.
Pleban has been active in local sports since the early 1950s, organizing grade school basketball programs and serving as an organizer of the Trumbull and Mercer County All Star Football game.
He was given the Outstanding Contributions to Sports in Sharon award in 2000.
Aqua Pennsylvania has given out 56 of the Neighborhood Hero awards along with more than $14,000 to more than 60 nonprofit organizations since launching the program four years ago.