When Anna Drago and her husband Francesco moved to Cranbury in 1970, it wasn’t long before Ms. Drago rolled up her sleeves and waded into the waters of community volunteerism.
By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
CRANBURY — When Anna Drago and her husband Francesco moved to Cranbury in 1970, it wasn’t long before Ms. Drago rolled up her sleeves and waded into the waters of community volunteerism.
Cranbury hasn’t been the same since.
At the Feb. 24 Township Committee meeting, the governing body unanimously voted to honor Ms. Drago’s years of service with a township resolution.
Mayor Susan Goetz presented Ms. Drago with a framed copy of Cranbury Township Resolution R 02-14-034, recognizing her many efforts on behalf of the township.
”Can I just say that it’s been an honor to serve on the Environmental Commission in Cranbury,” Ms. Drago said. “It has given me the opportunity to meet people dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment and has given me an invaluable education as well.”
Over the years, Ms. Drago served on the “Save the Old School Committee” under Cranbury Landmarks, Inc. and was instrumental in restoring and preserving the architecturally significant Town Hall, according to the resolution.
According to the resolution, she was a member of the Cranbury Historical Society and its “Museum Inspection Committee,” and served as both a board member and later president of the Cranbury Public Library.
Ms. Drago also participated in restoring the Grist Mill House and was a member of the Cranbury Housing Association, the resolution read.
A tireless champion for the township’s open spaces, parks and streams, Ms. Drago served two different terms on the Environmental Commission as a Green Team member and helped Cranbury achieve Sustainable Jersey Certification, the resolution read.
Routinely working both the Cranbury Farmers’ Market and Cranbury Day, Ms. Drago was also an “Invasive Species Strike Team” member who, according to the resolution, could frequently be seen planting native species in the Cranbury Brook Preserve.
A supporter and member of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association since 1989, Ms. Drago acted as an important liaison between the township and the Watershed Association and helped initiate a partnership between the two.
She served on its Board of Trustees and co-chaired the Watershed’s “Fest” numerous times, according to the resolution.
The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association honored Ms. Drago with its volunteer service award on April 27, 2009 for “her commitment to ‘fostering communication, education and research about the environment,’” the resolution read.
Additionally, she has worked with the Cranbury Girl Scouts to promote awareness about the connection between storm drains and the health of waterways and was one of the organizers of the first township stream cleanup.
The stream cleanup is now an annual event, with this year’s cleanup slated to take place on April 12, from 9-11 a.m.
When Mayor Goetz opened the meeting to public comment, Barbara Rogers, chair of the Environmental Commission, approached the microphone to say a few words.
”When Anna first said that she was going to resign I said, ‘No!’” Barbara Rogers said. “And when I spoke to all the Environmental Commission members they were like, ‘No! Who would know the history that she knows?’ So the bittersweet moment is that we do get to do this resolution for you.”
Ms. Rogers said that her favorite memory of Ms. Drago is of her working at the stream cleanup and sharing the things she pulled out of the muck.
”She’s not afraid to get down and dirty to help with the environment,” Ms. Rogers said. “Thank you for being an inspiration for all of us who are following in your footsteps.”
Committeeman Jay Taylor said he hopes that more people in the township step up to volunteer the way Ms. Drago did.
”One thing you hear quite a bit is lead by example and very few people do that,” Mr. Taylor said. “It concerns me because we see a lot of people retiring and stepping down and I don’t see a whole lot of people in the town stepping up.”
He also said that Ms. Drago’s service was of an extremely high caliber.
”You set the bar so high I don’t see the next people (committee members) being able to sit up here and do this (honor volunteerism). Thank you very much.”
Mr. Taylor concluded by saying that if he could vote no to the resolution of her retirement and keep Ms. Drago around he would.
”You’re the people that really do lead by example, Mr. Taylor said. “And I hope that the other residents in town see this and decide they want to be as committed.”