Kiwanis Presents Environmental Award

The Kiwanis Club of Weston presented Sarah Hutchison with its Millie Best Environmental Award at this morning’s weekly breakfast meeting at Norfield Congregational Church’s parish hall.

From the time she set foot in Weston, Sarah has contributed to The Sustainable Weston Committee, established the Pollinator Pathway, participated in the University of Connecticut (Uconn) Extension Master Gardener Program, worked cooperatively with the high school students on recycling, and is a co-creator of Pulling Together. This Weston-based group teaches adults and students how to identify and deal with invasive plants. A recent Pulling Together posting explains how to identify a plant we should pull, Rosa multiflora, and one not to pull, Viburnum acerifolium:

Kiwanian Bill McKinney (left in the accompanying picture) and Lisa Brodlie (right) volunteer alongside Sarah (center) through Pulling Together, teaching all aspects connected to invasive plants at Lachat Town Farm at the Juliana Lachat Preserve. All three also work with the high school students on invasive removal projects on School Road. Bill and Lisa actively participate in the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) of the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) College of Agriculture.

Sarah and Lisa presented in Leveraging Community Engagement, a breakout session in the fall at the biennial CIPWG Symposium at UConn, detailing the work done through Pulling Together in Weston with the students, not only at Weston High School, but also at the Lachat Town Farm.

Anyone interested in learning more about invasive plants can attend scheduled workshops at the Lachat Farm. All program dates and times are listed on the Lachat Town Farm website.

Kiwanis annually recognizes individuals or groups that have made significant contributions to preserving and enhancing open space and the environment in the town. The award was established in 2005 in honor of Millie Best, a Weston resident who initiated Green Up Day in Weston in the early 1970s. Sponsored by Westron’s State Senator Judi Freedman and Representative John Stripp, Governor John Rowland signed a law proclaiming the last Saturday of April as Green Up Day in 1995.

Kiwanis photograph by Jim McMorris. Pulling Together post contributed by Lisa Brodlie

###

Text