Our redoubtable San Mateo County Legislative Advocate Lennie Roberts has been in the news again recently: she has been heralded as a "coastal champion" by an assemblage of environmental organizations, and was selected as one of the newest members of the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame.

The statewide celebration of the Coastal Commission's 30th anniversary earlier this year included a bit of fanfare for Roberts and other coastal leaders, many of whom participated in the original voter initiative that in 1972 created the Coastal Act, the strongest coastal protection law in the United States.

Awardees included Coastal Commission Executive Director Peter Douglas; Coastal Commissioner (and former chair) Sara Wan; first Commission chair Mel Lane; Michael Fischer, the Commission's second Executive Director; Warner Chabot, a former Prop. 20 activist now with the Ocean Conservancy; early CGF member Ann Notthoff, now with the Natural Resources Defense Fund; Richard Charter with Environmental Defense; Bill Kortum, a former Prop. 20 staffer; Bill Yeates, a former lobbyist and Commission staffer; activists Lucille Vinyard and Phyllis Faber; and - of course - CGF's own Lennie Roberts.

Lennie's award commends her as "a coastal champion whose tireless, unwavering and energetic advocacy has inspired countless others to join the never-ending struggle to keep the coast clear." Hear, hear!

The awards were sponsored by the Sierra Club, Aquarium of the Pacific, California Coastal Protection Network, League for Coastal Protection, publisher Mel Lane, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, with support from Oceana and the Surfrider Laguna Beach Chapter.

Roberts was also honored for her involvement throughout San Mateo County as she was chosen for induction into the County's Women's Hall of Fame. Sponsored by the San Mateo County Supervisors and the Commission on the Status of Women, the Hall of Fame recognizes women of outstanding achievement who have made significant contributions to our community. We can't think of a woman whose contributions - protected open space throughout the County - are appreciated by more people.

Roberts, only the third environmentalist to be inducted since the Hall of Fame was established in 1984, was one of eight women and two students chosen from nominations in which their identities were kept anonymous. The secret's out now: congratulations, Lennie!