Awards Presented at 2009 Annual Meeting

Environmentalists of the Year: Crystal Lake Conservancy

Charles Johnson Maynard Award: David Backer

Directors' Awards: Alderman Lisle Baker, Carol Stapleton, and Susan Avery

Environmentalists of the Year:
Crystal Lake Conservancy

Advocacy for Crystal Lake

The Environmentalist of the Year Award was given to the Crystal Lake Conservancy, for its part in helping the city secure the acquisition of two parcels adjacent to the Crystal Lake Bathhouse, for their advocacy for the lake, and for their role in planning for its future. The Conservators joined this group with a $15,000 grant for study of the lake. Five members of the Conservancy were honored: Janice Bourke, Robert Fizek, Schuyler Larrabee, Sedjan Nedelvkovic, and Barbara Wales.

Charles Johnson Maynard Award:
David Backer of the Newton Environmental Sciences Program

The Charles Johnson Maynard Award is given each year to recognize efforts to improve biodiversity, habitat reclamation, and natural resource protection.

The Charles Maynard Award, given for advancing the cause of biodiversity, went to David Backer for his leadership of the city's Environmental Sciences Program, a summer program of environmental field study for dozens of Newton teens.

Directors' Awards: Alderman Lisle Baker, Carol Stapleton, and Susan Avery

Three Directors’ Awards were made to individuals:

Alderman Lisle Baker, for his long-time work on behalf of open space interests, most recently involving a Conservation Restriction for the Commonwealth Golf Course, to protect it as open space in perpetuity;

 

 

Carol Stapleton of the Newton Parks and Recreation Department; and

 

Susan Avery, head of the Conservators’ Land Management Committee, for her leadership of a group that has made detailed records of species present at all Newton’s major open spaces.

photos by Henry Finch

Prior Environmentalist of the Year Awards