Anne Westerman of Southbury To Be Honored
The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition’s (PRWC) annual benefit, Cocktail Brunch by the Pond, is set for September 22 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Woodbury Barns and Farm. Guests will enjoy the magnificent views of the 20-acre Woodbury Barns and Farm countryside estate, live music, fine food as prepared by Chef Carol Byer-Alcorace, signature cocktails and tastings by Litchfield Distillery, tempting auction items and lots of fun while raising funds to support PRWC’s mission. During the celebration, Anne Westerman of Southbury will be presented with The Dr. Marc J. Taylor Environmental Stewardship Award. Anne is being recognized for her countless contributions to our environment. Since moving to Southbury in 1989, Anne Westerman has been an active volunteer with several environmental, civic, and community organizations. She focuses her volunteer work on her many interests that include music, travel, family and friends, and enjoying the outdoors in almost every way. She is currently ex officio officer of the Flanders Board and served as its President for 10 years. Prior to becoming president, Anne served as a Board Member and on was involved with almost every one of Flanders’ working committees most notable of which is the Accreditation Committee. Thanks in large part to Anne’s leadership, Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust is now accredited by the Land Trust Alliance.
During this time, Anne also generously contributing her time and expertise to the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition by serving on its Advisory Council and by volunteering for many events, projects, and programs of the PRWC including trash clean-ups, planting projects, educational programs and more. With each new effort, Anne, consistently shows up, rolls up her sleeves and asks “What do you need?” and “How can I help?” just as Marc Taylor was known to do.PRWC is pleased to recognize the meaningful contributions Anne has made to conservation and environmental improvements within the communities of the Pomperaug River watershed by presenting her the Dr. Marc Taylor Environmental Stewardship Award for 2019. PRWC’s Board of Directors established the Dr. Marc J. Taylor Environmental Stewardship Award in 2015 to honor Dr. Taylor and his exceptional vision and long term exemplary commitment to environmental stewardship, and to recognize similar efforts by dedicated Connecticut conservationists. Past awardees include Margaret Minor of Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, Tom Crider of the Southbury Land Trust, Dick Leavenworth of the Northwest Conservation District, Woodbury Conservation Commission, and Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, and Curtis Read, first selectman of Bridgewater, of the Northwest Conservation District, the Connecticut Association of Conservation Districts and the Western CT Water Utility Coordinating Committee. Dr. Taylor, who passed away in June of 2012, is remembered as a highly respected and compassionate physician, educator, and environmental leader. In 1999, Dr. Taylor and a group of his peers founded PRWC to study the quality and quantity of water in the Pomperaug Watershed, a 90-square mile area that touches eight towns in western Connecticut. PRWC works with watershed communities, regulatory agencies, environmental organizations and community volunteers to continue Dr. Taylor's legacy in stewarding the local water resources. Cocktail Brunch by the Pond celebrates PRWC's ongoing environmental coalition-based protection accomplishments. The event raises important funds to support student internships and the Youth Conservation Corps, watershed monitoring and restoration initiatives, environmental outreach programs, science-based development of and advocacy for sustainable water and land use policies, and other vital work to protect your rivers and drinking water.
Come celebrate and help protect your rivers and drinking water! Tickets are $75 per person and it is recommended that they be purchased in advance at www.pomperaug.org or by calling 203-263-0076. All proceeds for the event support the work of PRWC.
