Marie Steckmest Is Citizen of the Year

Marie Steckmest, the friendly, upbeat, indefatigable leader of the campaign to ‘green’ Pacific Palisades, has been named Citizen of the Year for 2008, an award presented by the Palisadian-Post since 1947. ‘Marie’s a powerhouse,’ said Post Publisher Roberta Donohue. ‘Last year, as she did the year before, she campaigned enthusiastically for a ‘greener’ community from January 1 through December 31, and she achieved important successes. We’re pleased to have a chance to honor her commitment and her accomplishments as an enviromental leader and as a role model for other volunteers.’ The Citizen of the Year banquet, also featuring the Golden Sparkplug awards presented by the Community Council, will be held on Thursday evening, April 23, at the American Legion Hall on La Cruz Drive. Ticket information will be provided in next week’s issue. In 2008, as we report on page 4, Steckmest and her nonprofit organization Palisades Cares raised $20,000 through a city grant and matching donations to install 14 recycling bins at various locations in the business district. ‘It was a community effort,’ Steckmest said, but as Michael Espinosa of the city’s Office of Community Beautification noted, ‘Every community needs a Marie Steckmest.’ Meanwhile last year, Steckmest continued to organize students and parents at all of schools in town (public and private alike) to meet and share ideas for greening their schools and, by extension, their homes. In April, Palisades Cares sponsored a Sustainable Eating Eco Evening; in July, the group’s entry in the parade had a recycling theme; in December, Steckmest organized ‘A Day Without a Disposable Bag.’ ‘She has tirelessly worked on making Pacific Palisades a better place to live for all,’ said Haldis Toppel, president of the Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association, in her Citizen nomination letter for Steckmest. ‘Her accomplishments are a list of activities that would stretch the imagination and energy of the best of us.’ Arnie Wishnick, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, noted that Steckmest ‘was able to get the Palisades business committee to go ‘green’ last year,’ and that ‘while our organization has worked with many active residents who are involved in one cause or another, Marie is as dedicated as anyone I have ever met. Perhaps most importantly, she follows through until a project is completed.’ Steckmest won a Sparkplug award for her volunteer efforts in 2005 and, since September 2006, has been contributing a regular column for the Post entitled ‘Save Our Earth.’