| How a
small number of people can make a big difference. |
|
The ourriver.org
Medal for Courage in Defense of the Public Trust
is awarded to those brave few who, against the odds, have given
(and continue to give) all that they can for the greater good.
|
The concept of nobility
may be an archaic one, but in the never-ending battle to preserve
the public's interests and rights in the Connecticut River Valley,
these people have dedicated their time and energy in a truly noble
cause - working for the benefit of others. |
|
These are just the people we know about. No doubt there are others
who have contributed greatly to this cause If you know someone who
should be added, by all means let
us know.
|
| These are medal
recipients as of January 18, 2002. |
|
We are proud to present the ourriver.org Medal for Courage
in Defense of the Public Trust to the following people and
organizations (in no particular order):
|
Our latest medal
is awarded to Gail Carmody of the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry Association,
who desplayed singular moxie at the recent DEP hearing, publicly characterizing
the Schaller megadock for the eyesore that it would be.
We like plain talk, and this is a plain as it gets. And it's the truth. |
| Claudia Van
Nes of Chester, who spoke out in the early stages, despite the
fact that her employment put her in a sensitive position. |
| Jil Nelson
of Lyme, who had the courage to stand up in public as the official
Intervenor in the original dock fights, and has done so again in the
second Schaller dock application. |
| James (Jay)
McKay of Chester, whose work in bringing this issue to public
attention was (and continues to be) absolutely vital. Jay is the force
behind the CRCPT,
the organization that keeps getting the real work done. |
| Austin Carey
of Hartford, for volunteering his crucial legal expertise. |
| Patricia Pendergast,
for her unflagging energy in defending the environment. She's been
at it a lot longer than most of us and has done a ton of good. |
| State Rep
James Spallone, for his work on bringing this issue to public
attention. A politician who listens to his constituents' concerns.
(And, we might add, not the only one in the state who does so. We
really do have some good folks in our State government.) |
| The town governments
of Deep River, Essex, and Old Saybrook, for their determination
to keep public access areas open to the public. |
| John Kennedy
of Deep River, for his plain talk (and great humor), not to mention
his unwillingness to cave in to anyone's opinion of his views. You
thought we were vicious? We're kittycats compared to John. |
| Suzanne Haig
of New York and Deep River, not only for donating land to the
gorgeous Pratt Cove preserve, but also for her continued outspokenness
(is that a word?) (if not, it is now) on the public access issue. |
