About >> Environmental Service Awards

Hazel Young
Conservation Commissioner of the Year
(Posthumous)

Hazel Young’s love of nature and awareness of the need for natural resource protection were evident well before the word “environmentalist” became popular in the 1960s. Hazel played a major role in forming the Southampton Conservation Commission, and there pursued land preservation and environmental education for 35 years. She was the Commission’s first secretary, serving until 1975, and then intermittently chaired the board until her departure in June 2000.

Hazel was adept at delegating authority and using local, state and federal resources to insure that conservation issues were well represented before her select board and town meeting. She wrote grant applications totaling more than five million dollars; over 328 acres of Southampton open space were obtained through her efforts. Her work to protect the town well and aquifer areas, farmlands and wildlife, and in preparing Conservation and Recreation Plans was tireless. Her early efforts with school children and the environment “unwittingly” promoted her to liaison between the Commission and local schools.

The Southampton’s Commission’s words sum up her dedication: “Although small physically, she was a giant in the conservation field and it is doubtful her shoes will ever be filled”.

Bruce Garlow
Conservation Administrator of The Year

Bruce Garlow has served as Conservation Administrator for the Town of Richmond since 1993, and was previously the Commission’s Resource Assistant. Before working for the Commission Bruce had been a local assistant to Richmond's State Representative. Through this experience gained knowledge and expertise on how to be diplomatic, make sure all interests are being represented, and how to be a master facilitator and communicator.

He has become a valuable resource not only for the Commission, but also for town counsel, the select board, and other boards and organizations struggling to understand the complexities of wetlands permitting. A recent project was a new fiber optic cable through town. As one of his local supporters stated: "Bruce is best known for being the bridge and glue for the community". Not an easy task these days!

Bruce gives his own time to make sure Richmond’s natural resources come first. He is a role model for administrators throughout the Commonwealth in demonstrating the way to balance development with environmental protection.

Marcia Molay
Outstanding Public Service

Marcia Molay has provided effective and enthusiastic service to the citizens of the Commonwealth for more than 30 years. Her positions, whether elected, appointed, hired, or volunteer, represent a litany of service richly deserving of our acknowledgement and applause.

Marcia has served as a Board Member and the Director of the Massachusetts League of Women Voters; and held senior positions in the Office of the State Secretary, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, and Department of Public Utilities. She has also fulfilled numerous gubernatorial and legislative appointments relative to local housing, regional planning, and statewide elections.

In 1993, Marcia turned her considerable talents to conserving the Commonwealth’s historic resources and community character, serving as president of Historic Massachusetts. In 1997 rising to perhaps her greatest challenge, she founded the Community Preservation Coalition, and worked tirelessly with open space, historic preservation and affordable housing advocates to achieve passage of the Community Preservation Act. Now, as we implement this landmark legislation, MACC is pleased to recognize Marcia’s dedication, perseverance, and effectiveness.

We are all honored, and benefited, by Marcia’s long career of outstanding public service. May all our public servants, and indeed all our citizens, be so inspired!

Maria Van Dusen
Outstanding Public Service

Maria Van Dusen's work with the Massachusetts Riverways Programs spanned from 1987 to her retirement this past fall. She has also been involved with many other local and state programs - all in the name of conservation.

Maria’s dedication to "What Rivers Need" stemmed from her experiences as a young child growing up at her family homestead in Boxford. Adjacent was a stream called The Run , which ran into Fish Brook, then found its way to the Ipswich River. Maria was fascinated with The Run; its protection inspired her life-long dedication to wetlands conservation and protection.
Maria joined the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Riverways Programs as their first Adopt-a-Stream Coordinator. Her unique natural approach and faith in people to do the right thing have helped our communities realize the importance of our water resources and led to the creation of a Watershed Association and Land Trust in nearly every basin.

She is truly an inspiration for her tireless efforts and commitment.