[Vision2020] PR - Mayor’s Earth Day Awards Announced

[Stephanie Kalasz]

City of Moscow
206 E Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843
Contact: Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor
p     |  208.883.7006
e     |   griedner at ci.moscow.id.us<mailto:griedner at ci.moscow.id.us>
w    |  www.ci.moscow.id.us<http://www.ci.moscow.id.us>

PRESS RELEASE
Mayor’s Earth Day Awards Announced

April 22, 2014 (Moscow, Idaho) — Mayor Bill Lambert honored ten citizens with the 2014 Mayor’s Earth Day Awards at the April 21, 2014 City Council meeting.  This award was established to promote sustainability in the community and recognize a variety of worthy recipients.  This year’s recipients were recognized at the public meeting and given a certificate noting the recognition of their activities conducive to environmental sustainability in their unique categories.  The awards concept, established in 2006, is to acknowledge and encourage practices that foster sustainability in a variety of ways.

2014 Mayor’s Earth Day Award winners included:

·        Business

o   Maialina Pizzeria Napoletana, nominated by Adria Mead – Cited as a model of success for the triple bottom line, social, economic, and environmental sustainability.  Maialina purchases local produce whenever possible and post their local purveyor list in the restaurant.  The remodel of their existing building was also a great model for sustainability as they repurposed brick, locally harvested and milled wood, and design and construction of their Community Table from an elm tree from East City Park.

·        Teacher/School

o   McDonald Elementary, nominated by Steve McGeehan – The McDonald School Outdoor Learning Center and Garden is in its sixth year of operation and provides fresh vegetables for the school lunch program, strengthens outdoor learning projects, and partner with community organizations to teach sustainable living.  The Garden is an outstanding example of a partnership between school and community that provides an enriching education for the students and a strong relationship with supporting organizations.

·        Individuals

o   Pat Rathman, nominated by Elaine Alvey – Rathman is very involved with several local environmental activism organizations and is noted as fiercely fighting for the plant and claims to strive to continue the fight for as long as she is able.

o   Mike and Brooke Lowry, nominated by Helen Brown – Mike and Brooke Lowry have impacted and improved active travel in the Moscow community both separately and jointly.  Mike Lowry, served on the Active Living Task Force and was instrumental in the development of methodology and tools for iCount, the City’s annual bicycle and pedestrian documentation event.  Brooke Lowry coordinates the Safe Routes to School program through a University of Idaho Movement Sciences and City of Moscow partnership and through her efforts Moscow students participate in three community wide events, joining walking school buses, receiving bike safety education and enjoying activities that integrate active travel with the arts, science, math and reading.

·        Organization

o   Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI), nominated by Daniel Sidder – PCEI is recognized for their AmeriCorps team, which includes nine individuals in Moscow.  The team meets critical needs in areas such as education, public safety, health and the environment through partnership with public agencies, non-profits, faith-based and other local organizations.

o   Moscow Renaissance Fair – The Moscow Renaissance Fair is more than 40 years old and strives to meet a zero waste goal with each event by restricting service items, utilizing compost, encouraging recycling and promoting refillable water bottles and providing water stations for refills.

·        Academic

o   Darin Saul, University of Idaho Sustainability Center, nominated by Adria Mead – Saul currently directs the Office of Community Partnerships and oversees the Sustainability Center at the University of Idaho.  He has spent his career working with community organizations.  His work spans several issue areas including dairy and ag, sustainable waste management, community development, grass roots activism, community tree plantings, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and more.

·        Student

o   Wieteke Holthuijzen, University of Idaho Sustainability Center, nominated by Adria Mead – Holthuijzen is recognized for her dedication to making a difference in the Moscow community as well as the University of Idaho.  She has been involved with the University of Idaho Sustainability Center for more than four years helping to build a hoop house at the Soil Stewards student farm, recruiting volunteers, directed the mini-grant program, and is the current Sustainability Center Director.

·        Event

o   Palouse Basin Water Summit, nominated by David Hall – An annual event since 2006, the Summit has reached out to hundreds of individuals.  The purpose of the Summit is to raise the public awareness regarding the Palouse region water sources to include education and to seek solutions to potential future water issues.

·        Business

o   SMART, nominated by Jenny Ford, SMART Executive Director – SMART’s public transit system provide ADA accessible and affordable public transportation for the Moscow community.  SMART provides a safe, efficient, and cost effective mobility option for those who may not have any other means of transportation and to anyone who chooses a more economical and environmentally friendly mode of transportation.  Ridership for SMART’s fixed route service has steadily increased since it began in 2004 and since that time has reached a cumulative ridership total more than one million rides.

The City of Moscow is proud to recognize these honorees and congratulates them on their achievements and passion for promoting sustainability in the community.

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Story Contact: Jen Pfiffner, Assistant to the City Supervisor
Phone: 208.883.7123
Email: jpfiffner at ci.moscow.id.us<mailto:jpfiffner at ci.moscow.id.us>


The City of Moscow delivers quality municipal services while ensuring responsible use of resources.
We anticipate and meet the needs of our diverse population in order to build public trust and enhance a sense of community.







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