News Release

News from the Superintendent, March 2008

Date: March 31, 2008

Civic Engagement & Volunteers

The Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council held its annual meeting on March 5 at UMass-Boston. Fifty-five people attended and heard a presentation about a new guide book on Boston Harbor Islands, which will be released this spring by Union Park Press. The Council also re-elected Peter Rosen for chair and Karen O'Donnell as vice-chair, and discussed park priorities. Full meeting minutes are available.

Interpretation & Visitor Services

Public programming continues throughout the year. We conducted three Webb Memorial State Park walks in February (one tour filmed for Weymouth public TV); tours totaled 46 people.

Welcome!

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is pleased to introduce Jacalyn Shelton Wallace as the new Vice President of Youth Programs. Jacie brings to the park a lifetime passion for serving young people. She holds a BA in Education and a Masters in Counseling from Michigan State University. During her 20+ year career in the private sector, Jacie managed human resources for a large corporation, and acquired substantial experience in recruiting, staffing, training, and diversity initiatives. Most recently she served as Director of Programs for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

Denise Sarno-Bucca was recently promoted to the position of Forest and Park Regional Coordinator for Boston Harbor Islands. This is a new position to DCR, which came as a direct result of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission. Deni, who has worked at Boston Harbor Islands for more than 15 years, will oversee the maintenance operation, ranger and interpretive services and the lifeguard operation for the DCR-owned Boston Harbor Islands. In this capacity, Deni will work closely with NPS, Island Alliance, and DCR staff to provide the highest quality visitor experience. Deni is a tremendous asset to DCR and Boston Harbor Islands national park area, and we are very excited to continue working with her in her new position.

The National Park Service has created a new permanent position to assist in caring for natural and cultural resources. Marc Albert has been selected as the park's first Stewardship Services Program Manager. Marc brings more than 14 years of experience working at California and Massachusetts parks that are notable for a mix of significant cultural and natural resources. Throughout his work he has been a forceful and successful advocate of incorporating volunteer participation as part of park stewardship and science. Marc has an undergraduate degree from Tufts in Environmental Studies and American Studies, and a Masters from UC-Berkeley Department of Integrative Biology.