Staffer Sara Muchowski, alias 'Smooch,' departs

A very big thank you to Sara Muchowski, who has served as FMR's Program Assistant for the past two years. During her tenure, Sara engaged more than 3,000 volunteers in stenciling 6,800 storm drains in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, helping spread important messages about protecting water quality in our local rivers and lakes. She also provided invaluable assistance with the Mississippi River Challenge and many of our other stewardship events.

Affectionately known as "Smooch," Sara brought great energy to FMR and its programs. She even taught us the "Milk Cheer"! (To learn more, attend the 2009 Mississippi River Challenge.) Sara says what she will miss most about working for FMR is "the passion of the staff, the dedication of the volunteers, working for something bigger than myself and knowing that we really are making a difference."

Sara is looking forward to continued involvement with FMR as a volunteer. She intends to paddle in the 2009 Mississippi River Challenge and to be a familiar face at future volunteer events, because, in her words, "Once a friend of the river, always a friend of the river!" Smooch will be greatly missed by FMR staff and volunteers and we wish her the best of luck in the future.