[Archived] Alexandrians Invited to Nominate Local Environmental Stewards

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2017

The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises invite nominations to recognize members of the Alexandria community who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and work to sustain local natural resources.  Nominations must be received by March 30, 2017.

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award will be presented at the 2017 Alexandria Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Lenny Harris Memorial Fields at Braddock Park, 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave. The theme of this year’s event is “Clean Water Starts with YOU!” The event will include educational exhibits, hands-on activities for children, art, and a celebration of the natural environment with a focus on local waterways to support this year’s theme.

The Award was founded to honor the legacy of Ellen Pickering, a former member of both City Council and the board of Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly Alexandria Sanitation Authority). Pickering, a longstanding advocate for environmental conservation, worked to ensure that the Potomac River waterfront was accessible to the public and not reserved for private interests. She also helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington and managed the installation of 1,000 resident-donated cherry trees during her tenure as chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.  

For more information about the Ellen Pickering Awards, including eligibility criteria, nominating requirements, and the selection process, visit www.alexandriava.gov/EarthDay.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea J. Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail Geralyn.Taylor@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711.