Orcas’ Marta Branch and Michael Budnick Among Good Stewards Receiving Recognition in County

Sunday, May 27 from 12-3 p.m. at the Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island

From the Stewardship Network of the San Juans

Six islanders and one local group have received awards for their environmental leadership from the Stewardship Network of the San Juans this past week.

The Stewardship Network is a coalition of private and public organizations whose vision is a healthy, thriving ecosystem in the San Juan Archipelago from land to sea.  For several years the Stewardship Network has honored special individuals, families, teachers and businesses that have demonstrated, through their actions, conservation ethics that benefit our entire island community.

Many nominations for the Good Stewards award program were received.  This years’ award winners are Pete Kilpatrick of San Juan Island for his environmentally-friendly building practices and community leadership; Asha Lela of Lopez Island for her leadership in the Islanders for a National Conservation Area grassroots movement;  business owner Michael Budnick of Northwest Concepts on Orcas Island for his thoughtful landscaping business, Marta Branch of Orcas School District for her innovative science work with high school students, Sam and Carson Sprenger for their careful stewardship of Garry oak woodlands on Waldron and the Cedar Rock Biological Preserve on Shaw Island, and the San Juan Community Home Trust for their sustainable affordable-housing neighborhood on San Juan.

Full profiles of these amazing islanders (and, previous years’ award winners) can be accessed at www.stewardshipsjc.org after May 31.

The award winners’ stories will also be on display at the Sustainable San Juans Event, held at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island on Sunday, May 27 from 12-3pm.  We encourage islanders to attend the event and enjoy educational nature rambles, music, and activities and booths hosted by Stewardship Network members.