An environmental stalwart for Glenview leaves
Prefacing an update on Glenview's tree preservation and maintenance program, deputy director of Public Works Joe Kenney gave Henrietta Saunders a shout-out.
"We knew where she stood," Kenney said in appreciation.
At the Aug. 2 meeting of the board of trustees, Saunders stood at the board room's dais as Village President Mike Jenny saluted the retiring chairwoman of the village's Environmental and Natural Resources Commission.
"Henrietta, it's your time," Jenny said, summoning Saunders to the front of the room, his welcome met with chuckles then applause as the 14-year chairwoman joined him.
Jenny noted Saunders' implementation of Glenview's first Plan for Nature, her instituting the Glenview Farmers Market Green Table - a different environmental-based group or informative opportunity weekly - and her getting Glenview into the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus Greenest Region Compact.
Glenview has been designated as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources each of the past 37 years.
Then indeed it was Saunders' time at the microphone. She thanked "the help of wonderful commissioners and really great staff, especially Dr. Robyn Flakne," Glenview's Natural Resources manager.
"It occurs to me we're a little bit full circle," Saunders said.
"This is a great time to step off the commission, actually, because it feels so good to know that the trustees are behind environmental efficiency and environmental improvements and the tree programs that you're going to hear more about shortly," she said.
"From the Pottawattomies that valued Glenview for a place to do portaging between rivers and to the lake, with the Kennicotts, the Swedenborgians who founded Glenview, and many others, there's a really nice, long history of people in Glenview improving the quality of life and valuing the quality of life we have because of our environment.
"And I feel like this group of trustees gets that and it's really heartening," Saunders said.
She noted two of the village's staunch environmental supporters - conservationist Kent Fuller, who recruited Saunders to the commission; and the late Judy Beck, who recruited Saunders' successor as ENRC chair, Chris Newman.
Newman is a veteran of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who has served on the Glenview commission since 2013.
"People come to Glenview and enjoy Glenview because of our Environmental and Natural Resources actions, and that's something that's great that we all value together," Saunders said.