The Vermont Council on Rural Development has selected Des Hertz of Burke and Mike Strait of Brighton for its annual Vermont Community Leadership Award. The award recognizes residents who have had a transformative impact on their communities.
Hertz, a longtime teacher and instructional coach in the Kingdom East School District, has served as chair of the One Burke Board since its creation through a VCRD Community Visit process. She lives in Burke Hollow with her family.
"Des represents the best of what Vermont has to offer," said VCRD Executive Director Paul Costello. "She cares deeply about her hometown and is willing to step forward to make it a better place."
Strait, originally from Ohio, moved to Island Pond in 2010 and owns Hearth & Home Country Store. He serves as chairman of the Brighton Selectboard and the Island Pond Renewal Committee, among numerous other local and regional roles including treasurer of the Brighton Community Forum and membership on the Northeast Kingdom Community Broadband executive committee.
"Mike is a dedicated community leader, the kind of leader that always says yes," Costello said. "Whether it's joining a local committee, helping to organize a regional leadership summit, or speaking at one of VCRD's statewide events, Mike is someone that you can count on."
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: AlexiusHoratius (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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