*For Immediate Release*
Contact: John Majercak, Center for EcoTechnology President, 413-586-7350 x228
Peter Hofman Earns Center for EcoTechnology’s
Local Environmental Leadership Award
Lee Resident Receives 2017 Alan Silverstein and Laura Dubester Award for Community Environmental Leadership
opens IMAGE file 5/18/17 Pittsfield, MA – Peter Hofman, chair of the Town of Lee Greener Gateways Committee, of Lee, Mass., has received the 2017 Alan Silverstein and Laura Dubester Award for Community Environmental Leadership from the Center for EcoTechnology.
Hofman chairs the Lee Greener Gateways Committee, and has been an active member since he and his wife, Phyllis, moved to the Berkshires in late 2013. John Majercak, CET’s President, presented Hofman the award today at the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Networking Before Nine event in Great Barrington. The award is named after Silverstein and Dubester, who served as co-directors of CET for 22 years until they retired in 2010. Dubester joined CET in 1977 and Silverstein in 1978. They became co-directors of the organization in 1988. Silverstein passed away in 2014.
The award is given by CET to a local citizen who is working in his or her community to benefit the local environment with a focus on reducing the harmful impacts that humans can have on the environment, and the positive steps that people can take at home, work, and in their communities that help protect the environment, improve quality of life, and build community.
opens IMAGE file Left to right: CET President John Majercak, Peter Hofman, former CET Director Laura Dubester, CET Associate Director Nancy Nylen.
The Lee Greener Gateways Committee – until December 2016 called the Lee Recycling Committee – leads efforts to help the town to become more environmentally-friendly, sustainable, and attractive for residents, visitors, and future generations.
Last year the Committee helped draft and pass new bylaws, which went into effect on May 12th, regulating the use of plastic shopping bags and polystyrene containers in Lee. The Committee and other Town partners developed resources and activities to inform the community about the bylaws and their implications and to help residents and businesses make any needed changes.
In recent years the Committee has expanded its zero-waste efforts at several large events, including Lee’s annual Founders Weekend, where about two-thirds of all waste is recycled or composted. At the Taste of Lee event, committee members and more than 20 volunteers staffed five recycling-composting-trash stations.
In 2016 the Committee launched an annual town-wide cleanup, started a table-to-farm initiative to keep wasted food from being thrown away, and supported recycling and composting activities at local and regional events. In recognition of this work, the Lee Chamber of Commerce named the Committee its Volunteer of the Year.
opens IMAGE file Peter Hofman offered remarks about the urgency of environmental action and the achievements that can be made possible through collaboration.
In presenting the award, Majercak noted Hofman’s dedication to promoting practical and sustainable policies and practices in his community.
“The significant accomplishments of the Lee Greener Gateway Committee under Peter’s leadership have had positive impact in the town and beyond – and continue to grow,” said Majercak. “CET is fortunate to have worked as a partner in some of these efforts, and we are inspired by Peter’s commitment to improving the quality of life in the Berkshires and the region.”
“This award honors Alan and Laura’s achievements, and brings recognition to individuals who demonstrate community and environmental leadership through their vision, persistence, collaboration, community education and accomplishments,” he said. “We believe the best way to honor their work is to recognize similar work and commitment of other remarkable people, such as Peter Hofman, in our communities.”
For 40 years, the Center for EcoTechnology has helped people and businesses save energy and reduce waste. For more information about how to make green changes in your life, improve your comfort at home, and reduce your energy and waste expenses, visit www.cetonline.org.
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