Stonington Teen is the Newest Member of the Waterfront Commission

Reiva Grimshaw has spent her life on the water.

First as the daughter of local fisherman Michael Grimshaw, then as a college student thinking of making the water her career, and now as a member of Stonington’s Waterfront Commission.

“I love the ocean, I want to work on it, but it can be scary,” Grimshaw, 19, said.

Grimshaw is the newest member of Stonington’s Waterfront Commission, appointed by the Board of Selectmen at their Dec. 14, 2011 meeting to serve a five-year term.

“It’s great to see someone so young get involved,” First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr. said at the meeting.

Grimshaw said she decided to apply for a spot on the commission after listening to her father, who is also on the commission, speak about what they do.

“He inspires me to do more,” Reiva said.

And Grimshaw is hoping the seat on the Waterfront Commission might help her decide on a future career. A student at Three Rivers Community College, Grimshaw’s major is currently undecided, but she is thinking of doing work with the DEEP or marine research.

“I love turtles,” Grimshaw said. “I always wanted to research and track them.”

For now the Stonington teen will be attending the monthly meetings of the Waterfront Commission listening to residents concerns, such as about the , studying the waterfront and tidal waters, and helping to make recommendations on Stonington’s waterfront to the First Selectman.

Then in the not so distant future maybe she'll be giving us recommendations about sea turtles or coming up with policies at the DEEP that we all have to follow.

“The ocean is important,” Grimshaw said.