ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Our awards go to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution to making an environmental difference and to a group who has done much to foster environmental awareness/activism. In 2005, a business award was added to recognize those whose actions positively impact the health of our planet and local communities.

2012 Environmental Leadership Award Winners

Individual Award

Maria Rose
Department of Public Works, City of Newton

Maria Rose Your work for Newton's Department of Public Works as Stormwater Program Manager and Environmental Engineer. Recently you passed the FEMA exam to become a Certified Floodplain Manager.

One of your singular achievements was to help design a stormwater utility program in Newton, that provides a dedicated and permanent funding source to sustain Newton's sampling programs and its aging stormwater infrastructure. Newton was only the 2nd municipality in the State to put such a utility program in place, which takes the form of a small fee on all water and sewer bills and completely covers your own salary and benefits along with that of several DPW staff who work full time scouring and repairing catch-basin and setting curbs.

We also recognize your outreach, educational, and volunteer work. Since 2007 you have been one of the regional coordinators for the annual spring Charles River cleanup, that requires numerous planning meetings with the Charles River Watershed Association and other partners and then recruitment and communications with volunteer groups, among other tasks. In addition, you have designed a variety of school programs about the water cycle and stormwater, and you visit Newton schools to speak to classes several times a year. You also volunteer in your town as a member of the Watertown Conservation Commission and as Chair of the Watertown Stormwater Advisory Committee.

Maria, for your professional work, for the teaching you do in our schools, and for you work on behalf of our entire region's civil society and waterways, we honor you.

Group Award

Newton Tree Conservancy

Newton Tree Conservancy You formed your non-profit organization for the purpose of raising money for the preservation and planting of trees in Newton. It was born out of the recognition that the city is not in a position to cover all the costs necessary to maintain our urban forest - the trees along our streets and in our parks and other public areas, and that in order to continue to enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of these trees, we must take action to develop initiatives that will supplement what can be supported through the city's budget. The Newton Tree Conservancy seeks to maintain the health of Newton's existing trees, as well as plant and care for many new street trees for the benefit of future generations.

Your Mission is to promote the health of Newton's trees through:

• Funding for planting and care of new trees, as well as preservation pruning and tree maintenance that will supplement - not replace - city funding.
• Educational programs to build public awareness of the value of trees and the risks of not properly caring for and replacing trees along streets and in parks and other public places and to help people know how to keep their own trees healthy.
• Training programs and volunteer opportunities to give citizens an opportunity to participate in tree maintenance and planting.

We thank you for your significant contributions.

www.newtontreeconservancy.org

Business Award

Meredith Management, Corp.
John Rosenthal, President

Meredith Management Your recently approved Fenway Center development is a "Smart Growth," transit and sustainable energy-oriented development that will locate more than 400 residences, offices and neighborhood-oriented retail space directly adjacent to a new Yawkey Commuter Rail Station which will be the state's first solar powered transit station, one block from the MBTA's Kenmore Square and Fenway Green Line Stations. The Fenway Center mixed-use development has been designed to connect and integrate into the existing Fenway, Kenmore, and Longwood Medical Area neighborhoods by:

• Fostering the increased use and capacity of public transportation and decreased reliance on private automobiles.
• Providing a bicycle storage and a bicycle share station.
• Strengthening the vitality and quality of life in the neighborhood.
• The five-building complex is designed to be unlike anything now standing in Boston, with solar panels to generate much of its electricity.

You also installed solar panels on your own Bridge Street office and founded "Here Comes the Sun" a solar installer, committed to providing solar energy to non-profits at a lower rate than the grid. You work very closely with two local non-profit organizations founded by your President John Rosenthal: Stop Handgun Violence committed to the prevention of gun violence and Friends of Boston's Homeless which develops and funds innovative, solution-oriented programs to help the homeless move beyond shelter and back into the community as independent citizens.

We thank Meredith Management, Corp. for your significant contributions.

meredithmanagement.com

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Previous Environmental Leadership Award Winners

Year	Individual	Group	Business
2004	David Tannozzini Electrical Engineer, City of Newton	GreenCAP, Co-Chairs Ellie Goldberg & Maeve Ward	(Not established until 2005)
2005	Peter J. Barrer Demand Management Institute	Friends of Hemlock Gorge Reservation www.hemlockgorge.org	Whole Foods Market
2006	Ann Dannenberg and Zachary Snow Newton North High School Science Teachers	Newton Conservators newtonconservators.org	Wainwright Bank
2007	Sally Rosen Advisor to the Newton South High School Environment Clubs	Angino Farm newtoncommunityfarm.org	Cambridge Savings Bank
2008	Dirk Detlefsen Countryside Elementary School Teacher, 5th Grade	Newton/San Juan del Sur Sister City Project –Margaret & David Gullette, coordinators	Chapman Construction & Design John C. Hall, President
2009	David B. Cohen Mayor, City of Newton	Silent Spring Institute Dr. Julia Brody, Executive Director	Unidine Corporation David Chechik, Regional Director of Business Development
2010	Verne Vance Alderman, City of Newton	Bike Newton Lois Levin, Founder	UGL Unicco Randy Ledbetter, Vice President of Business Development
2011	Deb Crossley Alderman, City of Newton	Greengineers, Newton North High School Steve Chinosi, Director, Innovation Lab	General Compression Patrick M. Moran, Chief Operating Officer