SAUGUS — State Representative RoseLee Vincent will be the first honoree to receive the Saugus River Watershed Council’s Lifetime Stewardship Award during the organization’s annual meeting Dec. 9.
Recognized throughout the North Shore for her years of environmental advocacy work, Vincent, a lifelong Revere resident, was a founding member of the Alliance for Health and Environment in 2016 and has spent years raising awareness about the environmental impacts of waste incineration and ash disposal in greater Boston communities.
“She’s been a huge advocate for the Watershed and the environment,” said SRWC program coordinator Mary Lester, who said the organization wanted to find a meaningful way to honor Vincent after news broke earlier this year that she would be vacating her state representative seat at the end of the term. “We wanted to make something special for her and let her know how much we appreciate everything she’s done for our area.”
Board president Debra Panetta, who has worked closely alongside Vincent for years, said she considers the state rep. to be a “role model” for women throughout the commonwealth.
“She has worked tirelessly to ensure people understood the ill health effects of incineration and the unlined ash landfill in Saugus,” Panetta said. “Her passion, integrity, and determination to do the right thing is what I admire most about RoseLee. Even as a private citizen, she was named a 2012 Unsung Heroine by the Mass Commission on the status of Women.”
This year’s meeting will also honor SRWC board members Jackie Mercurio (a 2019 recipient of the Clean Water Action Award) and Jillian Howell, who will be receiving Stewardship Awards for their work with the organization, and will feature guest speakers Douglas Heath and Alison Simcox, authors of The Lost Mill Village of Middlesex Fells and Murder at Breakheart Hill Farm: The Shocking 1900 Case that Gripped Boston’s North Shore.
“I am thrilled that Jackie Mercurio and Jillian Howell are the recipients of this year’s Stewardship award,” Panetta said. “I feel so fortunate to have both Jackie and Jill working on the Watershed as well as both being active members of the Alliance for Health and the Environment.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s ceremony will be held via Zoom, and board members have requested that attendees purchase their dinners from Kelly’s Roast Beef, where a portion of the proceeds will go back to SRWC for educational purposes in local schools.
The organization is also hosting an online auction from Dec. 3 through Dec. 9. Those interested in entering can check out auction items on the SRWC website.
“I want to personally thank everyone for all their continued support over the years,” Panetta said.
