Second Annual Environmental Excellence Awards

The Clarkstown Town Board announced the recipients of the Town of Clarkstown's second annual Environmental Excellence Award are Peggy Kurtz and the Valley Cottage Library. They will be recognized at the Tuesday, May 7 board meeting and a birdhouse will be dedicated in their honor and installed along the Congers Trailway.

In 2012, the Valley Cottage Library completed a parking lot expansion which included the installation of an extensive underground drainage system utilizing environmental-friendly features such as bioswales and a rain garden.   The bioswales, located in the two medians, are depressed basins containing native plants which remove silt and pollution from the surface water runoff.  The rain garden is a bigger and more elaborate stormwater retention system that will hold large amounts of water. The rain garden will allow the water to be naturally filtered using primarily native plants and for some of it to turn into water vapor before the remainder enters the groundwater system. 

Kurtz of Upper Nyack resident is a lifelong environmental advocate.  For the last six years she led the Rockland Sierra Club in working locally on climate change and encouraging Rockland County to sign the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, the 11th county to do so.  The Town of Clarkstown and other towns and villages in Rockland County have already signed the agreement.  

Kurtz also helped organize the Town of Clarkstown’s Environmental Summit in 2011.  She served as an advisor throughout the process of planning the Summit. Her wide range of knowledge, dedication, and work on a wide range of environmental fronts has made her one of the leading environmental figures in Rockland. 

“I am pleased to recognize both the Valley Cottage Library and Peggy Kurtz, who dedicate and donate their time and expertise to improving the environment in Clarkstown,” said Councilwoman Shirley Lasker.

"The Town of Clarkstown is a leader in environmental initiatives from purchasing to policy to public education," said Supervisor Alex Gromack. "This award gives us the opportunity to recognize those in our community, like Peggy and the Library, who share our dedication to our environment."

The Town received four applications for the award. It sought nominations based on the individual's contribution to environmental preservation, beautification, and improvement within the town. Also considered, was the nominee's involvement as a volunteer or as a coordinator in environmental programs, and any innovative programs or measures the nominee has taken or developed to better Clarkstown's natural environment. 

The winners of the inaugural award were Naomi Camilleri and Laurie Seeman.