Rose Rivezzi

CANTON - Every year the Social Action group of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton recognizes a member of our wider North Country community whose volunteer work is exceptional. 

This year’s recipient is Rose Rivezzi who has served our wider community for several decades, especially in the areas of environmental education and preservation, access to healthy food, and support of small businesses and farmers in our region. 

The award was set up in 1992 to honor Rachel Somers Grant who worked on behalf of a variety of community groups and who believed in grass roots movements as an effective means of achieving change. The award, given each June, honors an individual who has worked, as Rachel did, to make ours a more humane and progressive community. 

As a two-term member of Potsdam’s Town Council, Rose was a driving force for completing the Town’s comprehensive plan. Since 2018 she has chaired the all- volunteer Potsdam Climate Smart Community Task Force. With her husband David Trithart she created Kay’s PlaySpace in Ives Park, effectively designed as a safe space for children which fits into the local riverine environment along the Racquette River. 

Rose, along with her son Will, is co-owner of Big Spoon Kitchen, a business model committed to supporting small local farmers and to connecting residents with our local food systems. For the past several years Big Spoon has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension and BOCES to process local produce to be delivered to and used in the school lunches of twenty-one local schools. Big Spoon readily collaborates with local organizations including the Children’s Museum, St. Lawrence County Arts Council, Potsdam Pride Fest, the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce, and the local Juneteenth celebration in efforts to support these organizations and build community. 

In many ways and for many decades, Rose has served our community by providing nutritious food and education, generating volunteerism across a range of activities, and supporting a healthy environment. The RSG Social Action Award will be presented as part of the Sunday service on June 15 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton, (3½ Main St., at 10:30 a.m. 

All well-wishers are welcome to attend; a reception follows the service in the Social Rooms.