New Award Coming to Binghamton's "Thirty-Three Cecils Day"

A Binghamton native has come up with something special to honor an area resident who has made a meaningful difference in the community.

Everett De Morier, author of the novel Thirty-three Cecils, is inviting area residents to make nominations for the special recognition.

De Morier said the inaugural "Cecils Award" winner will be announced on September 1, which is known as Thirty-Three Cecils Day in Binghamton.

Author Everett De Morier during a radio interview on March 18, 2022. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

De Morier's 2015 novel is partially set in the Binghamton of the 1990s and in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The author said one of the novel's characters - Dutch - hangs out at the Belmar bar on Binghamton's West Side.

A fan of the book visited the Belmar on September 1 back in 2022 to commemorate the day that the main characters die. That ultimately led to the creation of Thirty-three Cecils Day.

De Morier is introducing the Cecils Award to recognize a local resident whose "quiet acts of kindness, generosity, resilience or service have made a meaningful difference" in the Binghamton area.

Nominations for the 2026 Cecils Award can be submitted through this link: https://forms.gle/ifp5iJFwdtrwGZ2k9. All nominations must be received by August 28 to be considered for this year's award.

The winner of the award will be announced during the fourth annual Thirty-three Cecils Day celebration at the Belmar on Tuesday, September 1.

The film rights to Thirty-three Cecils were sold a few years ago. De Morier said that project is "currently in development."

LISTEN: Author Everett De Morier discussed the "Cecils Award" on WNBF Radio on August 10, 2026.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Everett De Morier chatted on the prospects of a film adaptation of his novel during a visit to Binghamton in March 2022.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

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