Public invited to NSRWA meeting in Norwell

NSRWA’s 39th Annual Meeting
South Shore Natural Science Center
Friday, Oct. 30, 7 pm.

The public is invited to join the NSRWA for its 39th Annual Meeting at 7 pm at the South Shore Natural Science Center, located on Jacobs Lane in Norwell. Costumes are optional for this meeting held on the eve of Halloween. There will be casual complimentary wine and cheese reception from 7 – 7:30 pm, followed by the meeting.

This year, the NSRWA will be giving 3 awards. College student Nik Tyack will be recognized as the 2009 volunteer of the year for his volunteer contributions, including raising close to $7,000 for paddling the almost forgotten, Wampanoag Canoe Trail, running from Scituate to the Narragansett Bay. Nik will recount his 74 mile paddle via Skype from California, with a slide show presentation of his 4 day journey.

Gabriela Silva, Wildlands Trust Assistant Director, will talk about the significant lands preserved during the last five years through collaboration with the NSRWA, and with the support of the Sheehan Family Foundation, and present the Barbara Pearson Award. This award is given to the person, or group, that has made an outstanding contribution to local environmental causes during the year. This year’s award will be given to Susan Charon, Chair of the Marshfield Open Space Committee. Susan will be recognized for her work to save land critical to the rivers by negotiating open space acquisitions in Marshfield and moving forward the South River Greenway project – a plan to preserve land and create walking paths along the South River.

The third award will be the new Blue Community Award to the town of Pembroke for their proactive efforts to deal with stormwater pollution that runs into a headwater of the North River (Oldham Pond) and at the Pembroke Town Hall. The NSRWA and Mass Bays Program have worked with the town and community groups, including the Pembroke Watershed Association and have installed innovative practices that treat polluted runoff, including rain gardens, permeable pavers and porous pavement.