Every year the Town of Highlands Democratic Committee gives out just one award – the Evelyn Drew Memorial Service Award. It goes to a person who has made significant contributions to the Town of Highlands community, in a wide variety of ways.

This year’s recipient was Olga Anderson.

Anderson is a familiar face. She serves as the Chair of the Town of Highlands Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee (THCEAC), established on April 22, 2019, to advise the Town Board on environmental preservation and enhancement initiatives. Under her leadership, the committee has achieved significant milestones, including attaining Bronze Certification in New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Program and securing over $80,000 in grants for clean energy upgrades to the Town Hall.

Just recently the Town Board was able to issue a job offer to a summer intern, paid for via funding Anderson helped obtain, to work on an energy audit within all of the town’s buildings.

In addition to her role with THCEAC, Anderson has organized several versions of a Highland Falls Repair Café, which hosted a notable Earth Day event at the Highland Falls Library in 2024 and will again on April 26. She also played a pivotal role in the Town of Highlands Clean Heating and Cooling Campaign, aiming to increase local access to clean energy technologies.

Beyond her local commitments, Anderson joined the Board of Directors of Sustainable Hudson Valley in November 2024, further contributing to regional climate action efforts.

Anderson is a familiar face in other areas of the community – just two weeks ago she was a poll worker at the Highland Falls village elections. She attends most Town and Village Board meetings; works toward disaster prevention in the community – for instance she’s coordinated an event at the Highland Falls Library on April 4 which featured former Town Councilman Dean Jaeger talking about how certain types of landscaping can help protect a home in the case of severe weather.

She also runs the community garden at the Church of the Holy Innocents; is committed to support for the country of Ukraine; is collecting plastic to ‘cash in’ for a recycled bench for the town; and on and on and on!

“People don’t realize how much Olga does for our community,” Democratic Committee chair Lynn Edsall said. “She’s an amazing woman and we are very lucky to have her.”

Others sang her praise at the celebration as well – Town Supervisor Bob Livsey and Councilman Joe DeWitt; Orange County Legislator Laurie Tautel; Senator James Skoufis; and Assemblyman Chris Eachus. Some presented her with proclamations recognizing the award and her efforts.

Anderson said she appreciated the award, which is named after Town of Highlands Ambulance Corps charter member, president and captain Evelyn Drew. Drew died in December 2001.

“What a wonderful privilege to share the Evelyn Drew award with so many fantastic people,” Anderson said the day after the event. “Evelyn was an inspiration, and I will continue to work to live up to her high standards for service. Also, my thanks to Lynn and Bill Edsall and Laurie Tautel for the work they put into hosting this award every year. To see and hear kind words from Senator Skoufis and Assemblymember Eachus made the day even more special.”

She also thanked the Town of Highlands Board for its support of the work she has been doing for the past six years.

Just a few of the previous winners of the award include the late Amy Squicciarini, Ann Molina, the late Cora Lee Matthews, current Town of Highlands Ambulance Corps Captain Jeff Gathers, Jackie Tautel, Trudy McCabe, Doris Koziak, Marlene Medina, Roxanne Donnery, Dot Nielsen and Sallie Dorsch.

There were about 50 people at the brunch, including several of the Democratic Party’s candidates for election in local elections in November.