2010 Hero Awardees

I’m pleased to announce the 2010 voice Environmental Hero Award winners who will be recognized at the South Bay’s 18th
annual Earth Day Concert and Celebration on April 17, 2010 at 1pm. The Earth Day Celebrations takes place in Polliwog Park, Manhattan Beach, see greenervoice.org for more information.

Julian Katz - Volunteer

Julian Katz is a Hermosa Beach Public Works Commissioner who
spearheaded the effort to create a Hermosa Beach Bicycle Master Plan.
He continues to be vigilant in leading the city to deploy the plan as
evidenced by the sharrows on Hermosa Ave (the first of their kind in
the LA area!). He is a founding member of the South Bay Bicycle
Coalition and his work has been an inspiration to us all by
demonstrating what is achievable with hard work and dedication.

Todd Dipoala - Volunteer

Todd is the founder and chair of the South Bay Bicycle Coalition.
Founded in 2009, the South Bay Bicycle Coalition (SBBC) works to build
a better, more bike-able South Bay through advocacy and education. We
salute Todd and his organization’s effort for advocating carbon
footprint friendly transportation and recreation and the SBBC’s vision of a bicycle friendly network throughout the South Bay!.

Ann Barklow – Life Time Environmental Hero Business & Volunteer

Voice is pleased to recognize Ann Barklow with the first voice Lifetime Achievement Environmental Hero Award for both her business and volunteer contributions. For over 25 years Ann has worked to reduce the amount of toxins used in our community and brought drought tolerant and organic gardening to the forefront.

Ann founded, Garden Magic Company, in 1985 and after experimenting with pesticides briefly, she soon realized that many unintended organisms,
including humans and pets, were being subjected to toxins. Ann struggled to find solutions and despite failures, frustrations with pioneering organic gardening she stayed committed.

Ann quickly became an expert in using: beneficial insects to control pests; composting and mulching to bring soils alive and pest resistant and native
plants to create beautiful and healthy gardens.

Ann was instrumental to bringing the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden to life and has been a board member since it’s inception. She teaches volunteers how to maintain the garden and has given countless classes and demonstrations on subjects ranging from Pest Management to drought tolerant plants.

Ann initiated the effort which established the pesticide free zone in Hermosa Beach so people, pets and plants can enjoy the Green Belt in HB
without being exposed to pesiticides.

Ann was also instrumental in working with the city and volunteers to
protect the Manhattan Beach tree canopy.  She donated countless hours to develop educational materials on tree care as well as helping rewrite the tree ordinances to address the many competing interests between structures and trees.

Ann’s dedicatioin and generosity in donating her professional talents to improve our environment and her love of people, the planet and pets has truly made her stand out as a hero within our community.

Barbara Roth - Teacher

Barbara Roth teaches Earth Sciences at St Catherine Laboure in Torrance. She conducts a program called Living Wise which enables students to understand the math and science involved with living including water use and energy. Barb is a member of the California Science Teachers Association and is active in science and space education in the community.

Congratulations,
Kaye Gagnon Sherbak
voice, President
Volunteers and Organizations Improving the Community’s Environment