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Berkeley resident Linda Levitsky has recently been recognized as the Alameda County’s Outstanding Woman of the Year in the category of environment for 2001. 

Levitsky, executive director of the East Bay Depot for Creative Re-use will be inducted into the Alameda County’s Women’s Hall of Fame on March 3 at a ceremony in Fremont that will honor her and seven other exceptional women who have impacted the county and its residents. 

The honor is awarded by the Alameda County Health Care Foundation and the Commission on the Status of Women, along with the Board of Supervisors who collectively established the Women’s Hall of Fame of Alameda County in 1993. 

“Linda is an exceptional woman whose work has made a great contribution to the county,” said Carolyn Roach of the Health Care Foundation.  

The depot is a nonprofit organization that is committed to protecting the environment through reduction of materials that end up in the landfill by collecting unwanted materials from businesses, manufacturers and individuals. These items, which consist of old fabrics, magazines, chairs, paintings, buttons, are available to teachers, artists, community programs and the public for reuse. 

It is currently housed at 6713 San Pablo Ave., a building owned by the University of California. The agency is currently in negotiations with the university, in an attempt to extend its lease at that location.  

In addition, Levitsky is honored for establishing several ecologically effective programs in the area, including the Second Chance, First Chance Program and the Renewed Products program. 

“You never know who makes a contribution to Alameda County unless we speak up and acknowledge them,” said Roach. “This is a way to let the community know of their achievements.”  

The Women’s Hall of Fame was spearheaded by former Supervisor Mary King with the goal of recognizing outstanding women in the county.  

Although there are 10 possible categories, this year only eight awards will be given, Roach said. She said the judges did not elect any women from the sports or youth categories.  

The other Hall of Fame inductees include Dorothy Graham in the health category for creating, Berkeley Place, a community mental health agency; Minnie Bateman in arts and culture, Dr. Cynthia Harris in education, Ruthe P. Gomez in business and professions, Helen Waukazoo in community service, Ilene Weinreb in justice and Dr. Susan Opp in science.