2022 Citizen of the Year

2022 Honoree: Rosemary Presnar

Rosemary Presnar has been named the2022 Old Hallowell Day Citizen of the Year by the OHD Committee. Her name may sound familiar: the Mayflower Road resident received the Timson Award on our last Old Hallowell Day, celebrated in 2019. That award, reflecting the late Hallowell Mayor Barry Timson’s remarkable contributions to the community, was designed to recognize and encourage the spirit of volunteerism, civic commitment, and leadership in the city of Hallowell.

Now, as OHD’s Citizen of the Year, Rosemary is being honored forher continuing selfless dedication and further generous contribution of hertalents, skills, experience and insight, all toward enhancing the present and futurequality of life in our community. 

In addition to chairing the Hallowell Conservation Commission, Rosemary has served on the Planning Board, the Comprehensive Planning Committee, and Hallowell Heart & Soul. Rosemary’s roll-up-your-sleeves advocacy on behalf of Hallowell’s natural resources has extended to concerns such as the health of the Vaughan stream and our Kennebec River watershed, pesticide awareness, erosion control, even the fight against brown tail moths,as well as management of our forests, trails, and open spaces including the“Res,” Jamie’s Pond, Vaughan Field, and the Effie L. Berry Conservation Area. 

And since its inception last fall, Rosemary has been the driving force and organizer behind the Granite City Park Working Group. This mammoth volunteer effort reflects the collaboration of a few dozen dedicated individuals, including representatives of the Conservation Commission, the Tree Board, Vision Hallowell, the Arts and Cultural Committee, and the Last Crane Standing, as well as engaged citizens of all ages, along with Hallowell Public Works.

Under Rosemary’s strategic, proactive and energetic leadership, tremendous improvements are being made to Hallowell’s gem of a waterfront park, while at the same time a comprehensive foundation for future planning has been created. 

The next logical and critically important step will be for the City Council to implement the plan by establishing appropriate oversight and management for all of the city’s parks and recreation areas.  

While she is honored to receive this Old Hallowell Day recognition, Rosemary says, stewardship ofour natural resources is the best gift that anyone and everyone can leave as a legacy to the community.

- Nancy McGinnis