by Leah Robins
10/6/2012

                           Carolyn adds her signature to the shovel

State Representative Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) was joined by local landscape professionals and the Holliston Rail Trail Committee earlier today to plant a tree in Holliston to recognize the 2012 Environmental Leadership Award she received from the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. (MNLA) earlier this year.

“I’m very grateful to have received this award and to be able to add this tree to the growing park at the Rail Trail here in Holliston,” said Representative Dykema.  “MNLA member businesses are the backbone of our Commonwealth’s agriculture industry and they are the local businesses that drive our economy. Agriculture is part of our heritage here in Massachusetts and I’m proud of the work we’ve done together to promote the industry’s continued success.”

“We are pleased to honor Representative Carolyn Dykema for her strong leadership and commitment to addressing the range of complex environmental issues that affect residents and businesses throughout the Commonwealth,” said Rena Sumner, Executive Director of the MNLA.

Carolyn shows that she is not afraid of geting dirty, while getting a little dirt on Mark Arhonian, who donated the tree.

Henry Gillet, of MNLA, praised Carolyn for her environmental work and her support of Massachusetts agriculture.

This legislative session Dykema worked with the landscape and agriculture community  to develop a bill to provide an agricultural investment tax credit for small agricultural businesses.  She also spearheaded the successful effort to reinstate the Agriculture Innovation Center that will fund projects with a 100% match of private funding, creating new opportunities for farms to grow and improve here in the Commonwealth.  Dykema serves on the Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and was co-chair of the Water Infrastructure Finance Commission.

After filling up on cookies and cider, The Mayor holds court with (l to r) Steve Bradford, Bill Stickney, Pat Duffey, Dame Sylvia, and Carolyn.

Mary Greendale attended along with grandaughter Riley, who needed no coaxing to try the chocolate covered brownies.

The MNLA is a non-profit organization that represents nursery and landscape professionals in Massachusetts, a $3 billion dollar industry in the Commonwealth.  The MNLA Environmental Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have consistently provided informed leadership in dealing with complex environmental issues.

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State Representative Carolyn Dykema serves on the Joint Committee for Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture and represents the towns of Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway (pct. 1), Southborough (pct. 2 & 3) and Westborough (pct. 2).