Traditionally, Newton Conservators present awards at its Annual Dinner Meeting, typically held in May. Unfortunately, Covid has stymied our attempts to present these awards in person – we have had to reschedule the in-person dinner four times already (May 2020, October 2020, May 2021, October 2021). We announced these awards last October at our virtual Annual Meeting on Zoom. Rather than wait until next year to present these awards, we have scheduled an outdoor presentation ceremony at City Hall on Monday, September 27 at 3 pm. Somewhat appropriately, this is also Rachel Carson Day.
The event will take place in the vicinity of the new Pollinator Garden installed last spring in conjunction with the Pollinator Working Group and support of the Conservators. The Pollinator Garden is to the left of the main City Hall entrance steps toward Homer Street. In case of rain, the ceremony will be moved into the City Hall Lobby. If you attend, please bring a mask since they are required inside City Hall. Parking should be available along the street, along the drive between Comm Ave and Homer Street, or the Library parking lot.
Directors’ Awards will be presented to recent city retirees Bob DeRubeis, Alice Ingerson, and Ouida Young for their open space efforts as part of the Parks Recreation and Culture Department, the Community Preservation Program, and the Law Department respectively. Alan Nogee will be presented with the Charles Maynard Award for his efforts in founding Friends of Cold Spring Park and much great work there. And (drum roll please) our Environmentalists of the Year Award will go to the “Webster Woods Team”, both city personnel, citizen volunteers, and members of the Friends of Webster Woods and Newton Conservators who managed to “Save Webster Woods.” These included: Rory Altman, Councilor Lisle Baker, Peter Barrer, Suzanne Berne, Dan Brody, Kathy Cade, Suzanne Carleo, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Alissa Giuliani, Jeff Goldman, Barney Heath, Ken Kimmel, Rebecca Mayne, Eric Olson, Richard Primack, Steve Small, Jennifer Steel, Beth Wilkinson, Jonanthan Yeo, and Ouida Young. This article from our Newton Conservators Winter 2021 newsletter provides more background on the awards and recipients.
Environmentalist of the Year:The Webster Woods Team
Row 1: Rory Altman, Councilor Lisle Baker, Peter Barrer, Suzanne Berne, Dan Brody
Row 2: Kathy Cade, Suzanne Carleo, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Alissa Giuliani, Jeff Goldman
Row 3: Barney Heath, Ken Kimmel, Rebecca Mayne, Eric Olson, Richard Primack
Row 4: Steve Small, Jennifer Steel, Beth Wilkinson, Jonathan Yeo, Ouida Young
