Haverhill’s Brightside Honors 2017 Environmental Heroes

Brightside founder Elaine Barker and Executive Director Christine Rau share the podium during the 2017 Environmental Heroes program, Thursday night, at Maria’s Galleria Function Room, downtown Haverhill. (WHAV News photograph.)

Brightside, a quasi-government city agency, named its 2017 Environmental Heroes during a ceremony Thursday night in downtown Haverhill.

Following greetings from Christine Rau, executive director of Haverhill’s Brightside, Mayor James J. Fiorentini announced the awards—many saluting those adopting and beautifying city parks.

Recipients included Steve and Christine Flynn, Nunan’s Garden Center; Mike Lupi, Duston Park at Main and Primrose Streets; the Oelerich and Burns families, Herbert H. Goecke Jr. park on Merrimack Street; Louan White and Dennis Lubner and families, Winnekenni Basin; Ralph and Marilyn Jenkins, also Winnekenni Basin; Derrick Sanborn, Broadway and Liberty Street island; Melissa Lewandowski and family, Lincoln Avenue Adopt-A-Park; Lawrence A. Carnevale, Monument Square Adopt-A-Park; Gordon W. Ulen of Ulen and Bennett, Columbus Park on Washington Street; Haverhill Housing Authority, Washington Square; Ed Becker of Bradford Tree and Lawn Care, Veterans Park at Ferry Road; St. Joseph’s School and Norman LeBlanc, Lafayette Square; John Dole, for picking up litter daily from Washington Square to Main Street; Pentucket Kiwanis and Peter Carbone, Washington Square Adopt-a-Park; Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro, Capt. Steve Doherty, Sgt. Andrea Fogarty and the Haverhill Police Department; City Councilor Colin F. LePage, for educating students about the dangers of opioids and alcohol; and Peter Carbone, for Adopt-A-Parks at Gile Street, Washington Street island and South Main Street.

The guest speaker was Christine MacMillan, owner of Cottage Gardens Nursery.