Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, has been recognized with a Legislative Leadership Award by Massachusetts Audubon at its annual meeting on Nov. 6. This award recognizes the key role that Sen. Tarr played in guiding new and innovative environmental legislation into law.

Without Sen. Tarr's leadership, The Ocean Act, requiring a first-in-the-nation comprehensive ocean management plan to protect fisheries and sensitive marine habitats, as well as promote responsible development of renewable energy, would not be law.

Other highlights of the legislative session include The Green Communities Act, which overhauls the state's energy policy by encouraging renewable energy development and investment in energy conservation and efficiency, and The Global Warming Solutions Act, which sets state limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Passage of these three laws establishes Massachusetts as a national leader in climate change and ocean management policy.

"Under the Ocean Act, Massachusetts will identify and protect important marine habitats and ocean biodiversity, and intelligently site renewable energy facilities, leading us further away from fossil fuel reliance," Mass. Audubon President Laura Johnson said in a statement. "Thanks to Sen. Tarr's forward-thinking guidance, Massachusetts is now a national role model for comprehensive ocean management policy and we applaud him for his tremendous leadership role."

Ripped from the headlines

The writers for Dick Wolf's many "Law & Order" series aren't shy about stealing plot lines from headlines.

Gloucester's pregnant teens, thinly disguised, were the victims of theft for "Babes," Tuesday night's installment of "Law & Order: SVU."

The investigation into how a teenager burned to death puts detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and John Munch (Richard Belzer) on the case, which leads to Blessed Heart High School, and a community in turmoil.

One mother is up on charges for sending nasty e-mails to her son's pregnant girlfriend, who is believed to have committed suicide because of the harassment.

Many members of the student body belong to the "Chastity Circle" and have pledged abstinence and to be to true each other. Problem is several members have broken one or both of their pledges, and the girls are pregnant and enjoying it.

Some quotes of note:

"What's your story, wait too long? ... Older chicks are so jealous of me," says a pregnant teen to Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay).

"What about the kid who knocked her up, huh? Her boyfriend?" a father of a pregnant teen asks Benson.

"A baby is not an accessory," Benson to a pregnant teen.

The NBC Web site for "SVU" this week featured an ad for The National Campaign to Prevent to Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. All the ad says is "3 out of 10 girls get pregnant at least once by age 20. Don't want yours to be one of them? Talk to your kids about sex — your sons as well as your daughters. Get Started." The ad links to the campaign's Web site which offers parents tips about talking to teens about sex.

Honored veteran

The flag at the Veterans' Center will fly this week in honor of World War II veteran Arnold Alvaro Quadros.

Born Oct. 11, 1924, he entered the Army on May 10, 1944, at age 19. Initially, Quadros underwent 17 weeks of basic training at Camp Blanding, Fla. Upon completion of basic training in October 1944, Pvt. Quadros was among the first replacements sent to Europe, where he served as a rifleman. As a soldier in Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army in France, he was part of the front line sector that took part in the Lorraine Offensive and attack on Moncourt Woods.

On Nov. 20, 1944, Pvt. Quadros sustained injuries to both legs from machine gun fire received during a battle in the vicinity of the town of Alberstroff in northeastern France, near the German border. During the recovery from his wounds, Quadros received several promotions, finally attaining the rank of sergeant. While stateside, he served at Camp Kilmer, N.J., and was later transferred to Fort Devens, Mass. He was honorably discharged May 10, 1946, and died Jan. 3, 2003.

For his meritorious service, Sgt. Quadros was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and for his wounds sustained in battle, the Purple Heart. He also received the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and Marksman Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. As unit citations to the 104th Infantry Regiment from the French government, the Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm and the coveted Fourragere.

The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his wife, Caroline, and children, Carol Anne, Arnold Jr., Kevin and David. The flag ceremony will take place Thursday, Nov. 20, at 8:45 a.m.

Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans' Services at 978-281-9740.