Wayne
Ipswich River
Watershed Association
By
Nick Liani
Who they are Wayne Castonguay is the leader of an essential environmental nonprofit. The Watershed Association is taking big steps to protect and restore the natural aspects of Ipswich and the North Shore that make it worth living and working in.
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What’s their Story Wayne had grown up in Ipswich, and he believes that made him the man who he is today. He went to school to study fisheries and marine biology, but returned to his home town to continue what he’d been doing as a kid - exploring nature and helping to preserve it.
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Why they’re Amazing With the help of an amazing committee and committed Select Board, Wayne has helped to save clamming in Ipswich which, in the 90’s, was close to permanent closure due to all the pollution present back then. But they even took it a step further and managed to open the Ipswich River to clamming for the first time in over a century!
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What’s inspiring them www.gulfofmaineinstitute.org/climatecafe
Marlene
Ipswich Waste
Reduction
By
Lucy McLean
Who they are Marlene, a mother, works as the Ipswich Waste Reduction Program Manager. She coordinates the recycling, trash and composting programs as well as Household Hazardous Waste Day. Her job includes working closely with town residents, recycling vendors, nonprofit organizations, MassDep, and town departments. Together they move as much trash as possible into reusing, recycling, and donating organizations.
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What’s their Story For Marlene, it all began 15 years ago while she was working for a nonprofit and raising her sons. While volunteering in the schools, she found the town’s lack of environmental efforts discouraging. Marlene began working with the head of the science department at the high school to create and implement recycling in all four Lynnfield schools. She met a mentor from MassDep, and soon after became involved in statewide environmental programs. In turn, she was then hired by the town of Ipswich in 2013, and feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee, ISE, and the Green Teams. To her, Ipswich is a very special and green community.
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Why they’re Amazing In one of her town’s elementary schools she planned, organized, and ran the Great Locker Greenout promoted by MassRecycle. She worked with teachers, students, and the custodial staff. They cleaned out desks and classrooms. She was thrilled to have recovered more than 550 pounds of useful school supplies, paints, and books. She and a few other high school student volunteers worked to bring the materials to a nonprofit organization and distribute the supplies to schools in need.
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What’s inspiring them www.mtwyouth.org
The WRAC pack
The Ipswich Waste
Reduction
and Advisory Committee
By
Emma Casella
Who they are The Ipswich Waste Reduction and Advisory Committee (WRAC for short) is a municipal board dedicated to developing waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting solutions for Ipswich. Some of the WRAC’s activities include public outreach and education, developing sustainable programs, policy advocacy, and support.
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What’s their Story The WRAC identifies, educates, and problem solves waste reduction and management issues from our schools to special town events and everyday household waste management. The curbside composting program spurred from the WRAC, which was led by board member Heather Pillis. In being citizens of Ipswich, weekly local news articles are written by board member Paula Jones to educate Ipswich residents on current waste reduction efforts and policies. Members also work closely with the Ipswich Schools on district wide waste reduction solutions by providing financial support and overall guidance.
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Why they’re Amazing Ipswich Curbside Composting Program has been the WRAC’s most current achievement with over 600 participants, and is still growing every week. More than 1,074 tons of organics have been composted instead of incinerated with the trash, which has reduced waste hauling fees for the town!
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What’s inspiring them www.keepmassbeautiful.org
Hannah
Open Space Program
By Ava Borgman
Who they are Hannah Wilbur is the Open Space Manager for Ipswich. She protects our precious open space so that we can have farm fresh vegetables, appreciate untainted natural resources on our promenades, and above all, allow time for nature to heal.
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What’s their Story Hannah’s roots lead back to the rocky coast of Maine, where she grew up reading or playing in the great outdoors. In other words, a “bookworm”. Downstream, she attended Northeastern University and worked at the Watershed Division of the Cambridge Water Dept. She performed water quality tests and coordinated landscape restoration projects. In her late twenties, she moved to Colorado to get her Masters in Ecology! After her studious years, she was introduced to her passion of land conservation through the local land trust. Her talent reached Ipswich in 2016, where she continues to “cover a lot of ground” in her sustainable efforts. •••
Why they’re Amazing One incredible initiative was when she campaigned for a 0.25 cent sales tax to conserve open space in Larimer County, Colorado, and won with 82% approval!
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What’s inspiring them Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Umesh
Zumis
By
Mary Hannah Gallagher
Who they are Umesh Bhuju, the owner of Zumis located in downtown Ipswich, believes in investing in organic, fair trade, waste-reduced futures, and minimizing contributions to destructive systems.
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What’s their Story He started his downtown Zumis cafe, 17 years ago. His focus was on building community with a passion for social justice. This is why he takes a stand on local, as well as global issues, such as food insecurity, climate change, environmental injustice, and land conservation. Umesh and his wife notice how everyday things and choices make an impact on the world around us.
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Why they’re Amazing With their green efforts, they have made the community more aware, and given an environmentally friendly hangout. Utilizing the cafe area they show the community our connection with nature. They donate wall space and sidewalks for local artisans work. Zumis enjoys working with IRWA, ECGA, ECTA, Cuvilly, Trustees, and the Green Team on projects that inspire citizens to be environmentally conscience.
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What’s inspiring them www.greenamerica.org
Mike+Carolyn
Climate Resiliency
Committee
By Ella Niederhelman
Who they are Carolyn is a long time Ipswich resident and works as a community development/municipal planner. She enjoys spending her retirement working on environmental issues and energy, from prepping analytic memos to demonstrating in Washington, DC! Mike is a Marine Biologist at NOAA Fisheries in Gloucester, MA, as well as a devoted, enthusiastic cyclist. Above Mike’s zeal for the sea comes his daughter, an IHS student whom he loves dearly.
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What’s their Story Carolyn’s passion for the environment was fueled from day one. She raised her two children in Ipswich, sharing the charm and beauty of the town. Her endearment for nature has only grown, and she has prepared impact statements on major energy, and local environmental projects. Whether on the water, in the woods, or in her garden, she’s inspired by the voiceless critters and beautiful plants that share the planet with us. Mike began his study of the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems in the early 2000’s, and quickly learned the seriousness of the issue. Mike realized this issue affects not only the oceans, but the entire ecosystem and life-support system depend on it. Mike strives to help others comprehend the magnitude of the situation, and avoid the worst repercussions. He strives to gain others support to prevent further damage, for we simply “need the will to act.”
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Why they’re Amazing Mike and Carolyn have worked together informally as well as on the Climate Resiliency Committee. Together, and with the help of other town residents and the IHS Green Team, they have worked to apply and designate Ipswich as a Green Community. This designation allows the town to access municipal properties and funding for clean energy conservation projects. This is a crucial first step towards Ipswich becoming a Climate Resilient Community.
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What’s inspiring them 350.org, ExtinctionRebellion.earth, and Greenpeace.org
Doyon GT
Green Team
By Mary Hannah Gallagher
Who they are Doyon Elementary’s Green Team is a group of ten 4th and 5th graders, plus a recent addition of 2 passionate 2nd graders. Led by teacher Renne Mossler and parent Yadira Ibarra-Dackert, they try to make the world a greener place, one classroom at a time.
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What’s their Story Doyon’s Green Team has been inspired by realizing that as a small group, they are having a big impact in their school and community.
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Why they’re Amazing With their premier this year, Doyon has accomplished many things; such as recycling old markers and crayons through the Crayola Recycling Program. They have created a cork board, displayed in one of their hallways, educating any passer-by of why to take the reusable route. They have held clothing drives, and started an idling reduction campaign for their after school pick up lines, creating their own signs, and collecting signatures of bus drivers and families. They have also organized beach clean-ups with their sister school, Winthrop Elementry’s Green Team.
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What’s inspiring them thegreenteam.org
Lori
IHS Environmental
Science Teacher
By Ella Borgman
Who they are Lori is a wife, mom of 3 kids and 1 cat. Her skills range from a former figure skating coach to now an amazing environmental science teacher. She fosters a love for books, documentaries and travel. Above all her appreciation of all living things is admirable as a down to earth biology nerd.
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What’s their Story Lori since the beginning has been a true friend with our Earth. Her green heart blossomed when she volunteered in her daughter’s first grade “outdoor classroom”. That then pushed her down the green path she has blazed today. She became a field teacher for Mass Audubon to then dust off her biology degree and pursue a master’s in education. Ipswich, a place so rich in biodiversity, scooped up this green gem of a thinker as their environmental science teacher right before she graduated and our sustainable high school program has thrived ever since.
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Why they’re Amazing Lori’s is the mentor of an army of green change makers. She has inspired many of her students to go out in the world to pursue careers that better the environment. Sometimes these students come back years later as guest speakers, preaching the green gospel of Lori.
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What’s inspiring them www.https://youtu.be/0hVZOJCYBBM
Winthrop GT
Green Team
By
Angelica De La Cruz
Who they are They are a group of 43 hardworking students from the 4th and 5th grade. The Winthrop GT is led by three outstanding leaders, an extraordinary 4th grade teacher, a great principal, and a dedicated parent. The Winthrop Green Team helps their school be better stewards of the Earth in many ways.
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What’s their Story The past seven years, the Winthrop Green Team has worked on many efforts. This includes a running classroom composting system, and a dry marker recycling program. Their goal is to create awareness in their school community of the MA Farm to School Harvest of the Month Program. This school community keeps their school clean with good recycling, playground and school clean ups. And they maintain their school gardens all year! Their current project has students working hard on a new indoor Grow Wall system.
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Why they’re Amazing Every year more students are excited to participate in their school green team. This shows how much this school cares about working together to keep the Earth and everyone healthy and happy.
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What’s inspiring them www.4ocean.com
Kerry
Selectperson, Environmentalist
By
Nick Liani
Who they are Kerry Mackin has always been a mentor figure. She went from teaching landscape photography for the Appalachian Mountain Club (a non-profit
outdoor group) to teaching college courses in environmental protection in an effort to spread awareness. All in all, this has amounted to decades of work to protect the rivers and wetlands that we know and love.
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What’s their Story Kerry was the head of the Ipswich River Watershed Association from 1993 to 2012, and still managed to find time to found the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance in 2007. Currently, she works at North Shore Community College, and her courses consist of Environmental Protection and Protecting and Managing Water Resources.
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Why they’re Amazing Kerry is especially proud of transforming the Ipswich River Watershed Association from something that was relatively unknown to an operation that was recognized on a national level. She also received the National River Hero Award from another large scale preservation organization - the River Network.
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What’s inspiring them Mother Nature
Sarah
Mothers Out Front
By
Lucy McLean
Who they are Mothers Out Front is a movement consisting of mothers, grandmothers, and many others mobilizing to fight for a beautiful earth for our children and grandchildren. They refuse to be silent about the urgent threat from fossil fuels that destroy our wonderful environment.
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What’s their Story Sarah SImon’s environmental engineering career was devoted to improving the relationship humanity has with our world. She set out to reverse our negative impact upon it significantly. She has turned her focus to helping others understand how to join the fight.
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Why they’re Amazing She led the Mothers Out Front Ipswich team in a successful campaign to double the number of home energy audits in 2019. She also helped Boston’s clean energy community elevate the urgency of confronting the presence of climate change on Beacon Hill this year.
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What’s inspiring them www.mothersoutfront.org
Enviro Club
IHS Environmental Club
By Gabby Ramasci
Who they are The group is made up of a dedicated science teacher and high school students with a drive to better the planet. They share a passion for sustainability, and work to implement green habits into their school community.
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What’s their Story The club has been kept up by forward-thinking students who love turning their ideas into a reality in order to help the planet. They are proud to serve their town with positivity and creativity.
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Why they’re Amazing The club is overwhelming thrilled of the participation they have found. They went from having about twenty to forty kids. Their projects help better the community, and they are happy to see such passion from students.
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What’s inspiring them www.cnn.com/2019/09/28/world/youth-environment-activists-greta-thunberg-trnd/index.html
That’s Us!
Ipswich IMS/IHS GreenTeam
By
Ella Borgman
Who they are The Ipswich Middle/Highschool GreenTeam is a green-fueled group of 35 bright individuals ready to take on the big fights like climate change. They aim to engage the community in taking a stand with nature, and inspiring by example. GreenTeam is headed by the eco-rooted Amy Borgman and Nicole Whitten.
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What’s their Story They started as a 6th grade team, but that quickly evolved. As the posse of change makers moved up the ranks, they kept expanding, understanding that more people equals a bigger impact. Now, the GT is both middle and high school like-minded kids looking to shake the world out of its complacency.
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Why they’re Amazing The team’s track record for change is written in the headlines of the news. The GT has brought generations together with the garden project, launched campaigns such as UseOne, and caused traffic jams in our own quiet town all in the name of a better world. One of their biggest green badges was the 2019 Presidential EPA award and while in D.C. they talked with politicians heading green initiatives such as the Green New Deal.
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What’s inspiring them www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO5FwsblpT8
We'd like to recognize our wonderful photographer, Marshall Dackert, for his incredible work on the Change Maker project. He has helped bring to light the green individuals and groups of the town with his expertise and thoughtfulness. We are so thankful for his photography giving a face to the sustainability of our town.
Check out his other awesome work at https://www.marshalldackertphotography.com/.