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PHOTO: Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust 2021 Volunteer of the Year Janet Bissell. (Submitted image)
RANGELEY — Conservation community members were honored for their conservation contributions by Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust in August.
The awards included the Sen. Angus King for Conservation Excellence, which were awarded to Warren Whitney and Betsy Ham, of Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The award is meant to “publicly acknowledge those individuals who have worked to conserve lands and waters for the benefit of the community and future generations, in Maine and beyond,” said David Miller, RLHT executive director.
“It is particularly intended to recognize those heroic and unheralded citizens who have labored largely behind the scenes, and who may have been overlooked and unacknowledged for their contributions,” Miller said.
Spirit of the Community awards were awarded to Maine Department of Transportation employees Larry Johannesman and Fred Michaud. “This award is given to those who’s commitment to the Rangeley community has touched everyone,” Miller said.
Michaud has labored tirelessly on behalf of the Rangeley region and has been the driving force behind the Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway, RLHT officials said.
Johannesman has been the leading landscape designer and is responsible for creating the Height of Land and Whip Willow Farm scenic overlooks along the byway. He’s also been the lead designer on RLHT’s Madrid Gateway property, which will host the Sandy River Scenic Turnout. “Larry has captured our region of Maine perfectly and continues to do so; he gets us and understands how special this place is,” said Amanda Laliberte, of RLHT.
2021 Volunteer of the Year was Janet Bissell, a long-time supporter of RLHT, who has been an active invasive plant patrol volunteer since 2014. In 2019, she took on regional coordinator for the Rangeley Lakes region and oversees lake leaders on 12 water bodies.
Bissell is mentor to RLHT’s AmeriCorps environmental stewards, who coordinate the Headwaters Lake Protection Program, the last two summers.
ELHT has conserved 14,000 acres in the Rangeley Lakes Region, with 35 miles of recreational trails. For information, visit rlht.org.
