A Moore Township man was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association for a book he wrote. The organization presented the annual Excellence in Craft Award to Tim Herd during its spring conference banquet in Franklin May 4.

Awards Chair Brad Isles distributed awards to 16 individuals in 18 categories. There were 220 total entries.

Herd is the executive director of Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission in East Stroudsburg. He won Best Book Award for his 2011 book "Maple Sugar – "From sap to syrup. The history, lore and how-to behind this sweet treat."

Herd taps his own Moore Township silver maple trees.

One of the POWA's core awards, the Best Book Award alternates each year with the Best Radio/TV Program Award, which Herd won in 1989 for his daily radio show "Nature Newswatch Wildlife Almanac." Entries for each award, when offered, must have been published in the preceding two years.

"Maple Sugar" is a highly illustrated do-it-yourself book depicting the surprising history of maple sugaring and how to identify the various kinds of maples, tap your own trees and make your own syrup. It includes more than 20 tempting recipes for old-fashioned maple treats.

Published by Story Publishing, it is available through online booksellers and from the author at www.timherd. com/books/maple-sugar.

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association is a professional organization working to increase public awareness, understanding and appreciation of outdoor heritage and the use and enjoyment of natural resources through the written or spoken word, illustration and photography.

For more information, visit paoutdoorwriters. com.