DRP 2017 Environmental Hero: Janice Walford
A highlight of the evening at the 22nd Annual Friends meeting was the presentation of the Friends’ annual David Ross Palmer Award, to former Mashpee Enterprise editor Janice Walford for her outstanding dedication to, and support for the creation and implementation of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge and protection of other conservation lands through both favorable editorials and extensive reporting on the Refuge. Janice worked for the Mashpee Enterprise for 30 years as a reporter and managing editor.
Ms. Walford responded with a well-received speech thanking the Friends, noting that she was humbled to receive an award previously given to outstanding Mashpee residents Beverly Kane and Mary Scanlan, both friends of hers, and noting as well that credit for the award must be shared with The Enterprise and the Hough family who provided the platform and support for the news coverage of the Refuge and the editorial endorsements.
Janice shared a memorable moment with other conservation-minded, influential key people involved with the newly-created Mashpee Refuge “I had been at The Enterprise for six years when the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1995. I remember a bumpy drive in a borrowed 4WD through part of the refuge with Mashpee Selectman Carol Jacobson. I recall a lot of laughter and excitement on that ride with my dear friend and lover of the environment. I miss her still, as I do another great voice for our environment during those years: Congressman Gerry Studds. Imagine if we currently had his voice, honesty, and brilliance in the present Congress!”
She also emphasized the critical role of locally-owned newspapers in general as a critical source of information on local issues. Ms. Walford ended with a call “to nurture in our children and grandchildren love and appreciation for the outdoors, in all seasons. By your example, encourage them to leave their electronic gadgets at home and use all their senses to learn about the life of our ponds, streams, woodlands, marshes, beaches. Beyond the small screen and its earphones is a wonderful world waiting to inspire some of these children to become the stewards of the earth that we so desperately need now. Also engage them in discussions about our civic life and the importance of voting.”
Other local environmental groups also recognized Janice’s dedicated reporting on conservation issues. In 1989, in appreciation of Ms. Walford’s long standing support for environmental protection, the Board of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod presented APCC’s Environmental Recognition Award for her work on the Cape Codder newspaper.