FIVE EARTH DAY EVENTS IN MEDFORD

This is a first for Medford! We will have five events to celebrate Earth Day--one on Friday April 22, one on Friday April 29, and the rest on Saturday April 30. Please pick at least one and participate!

Tufts students are holding their Earth Day Festival on Friday, April 22 from 12-4 pm, on the Academic Quad. There will be music, food, recycled crafting, clothing and light bulb swap, bike-powered smoothies, and more. For more information or to participate, contact Signe Porteshawver at (563) 940-1047 or signeporteshawver@gmail.com.

City of Medford Arbor Day Event: Friday, April 29, consisting of vista pruning and the removal of invasive species along the Mystic River in Riverbend Park. Bill Bernardinelli of Lawns Plus, and Joe Turner of Turner Tree, will lead the project as part of the Massachusetts Arbor Day of Service. Volunteers are needed to assist on the ground. Contact: Carey Duques, Medford’s Environmental Agent, cduques@medford.org or 781-393-2137 or Aggie Tuden, Medford Tree Warden, atuden@medford.org, 781-395-8695.

Drop Off Event for Used/Broken Electronics and Appliances, April 30, 9 am to 1 pm, Brooks School parking lot. Items will be unloaded from vehicles and sent to a facility for proper recycling. Fees are tiny and per category: $5 for small electronics such as ipods and computer mice (any number); $10 for medium electronics (e.g., laptops, phones); $15 large electronics (e.g., microwaves, dishwashers); $20 All TVs. Contact Cathy Aliberti, cathyaliberti@yahoo.com.

Mystic River Cleanup: Friends of the Mystic River will hold its 16th annual Mystic River Spring Cleanup April 30 from 9:30 am to 2 pm in the vicinity of Mystic Riverbend Park, MacDonald Park, and Wellington Greenway in the Mystic River Reservation. Meet in the parking lot at Hormel Stadium to sign in and pick up bags, gloves, pokers and instructions. For more information, visit www.fomr.org, call 781-391-2604 or e-mail Mystic02155@hotmail.com.

Medford Square Cleanup: Medford Square Cleanup: Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center is partnering with Green Medford, Mystic Coffee Roaster, Papa Gino's Pizza, GS Music Center, the Medford Garden Club, and other organizations to clean up litter and plant flowers in Medford Square, on April 30 from 2:30 to 5 pm. There will be free food and coffee, as well as live music! Meet at the bus shelter on Riverside Avenue, next to the Salem Street Burial Ground. For more information, contact Anna Nguyen at Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center, 781.395.7131 or xtremeninja1@yahoo.com, or visit www.GreenMedford.org.

Single stream recycling is a huge success

Mayor Michael J. McGlynn today announced results of the City’s new single-stream recycling program during the first five months of the program, November 1^st through March 31^st. The total diversion from the waste stream was 2,847 tons. The total saving is $248,494.

According to the Mayor, “Medford citizens are to be congratulated for their leadership with the single stream program. They have adapted extremely well despite the severe pressures put upon us from the 7^th most snow filled winter in recorded history! It was also one of our coldest winters, which prevented the snow from melting.”

March was Medford’s most successful month, with 823 tons of trash diverted from the waste stream and nearly tripling our division rate from last March. In 2010 it was 9%. This year it was 25%.

“Our projections are right in line with the result for a full year forecast of diverting 5500 tons from the waste stream and saving in the amount of $500 – $550,000…Go Green Medford!” said Mayor McGlynn.

Disturbed by Obama’s timidity on energy policy

RE “IT’S still oil and nuclear power for Obama’’ by Derrick Z. Jackson (Op-ed, April 2): The timidity of the Obama administration when it comes to the transformation of America’s energy economy is profoundly disturbing. The facts of climate change are firmly established, with only a few contrarians on the fringes of a global scientific consensus. The economics of renewable energy look more attractive every day, as do the geopolitical ramifications of meeting more of our national energy requirements from within our own borders.

The long-term costs of fossil fuels are harder and harder to hide, as we confront the health effects and environmental impacts of our profligate burning of oil and coal. Why, then, is the president so leery of taking a strong stand? The pusillanimity of the present administration only makes sense when viewed diagnostically: The extent to which our politics is paralyzed on this issue is a measure of the disproportionate influence of big oil and big coal on our nation’s governance.

Warren Senders
Medford

Published in Boston Globe, April 8

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/04/08/disturbed_by_obamas_timidity_on_energy_policy/

Arborists Wanted for Medford Riverbend Park, April 29 and beyond

Arbor Day is Friday, April 29th this year.

in 2010 the Massachusetts Arborists Association launched a new volunteer initiative called the Arbor Day of Service. This initiative was built on the success of the association’s traditional celebration, held for 30 years, by creating a statewide volunteer service day.

As part of the Arbor Day of Service this year, the City of Medford needs the assistance of qualified arborists to complete vista pruning and the removal of invasive species along the Mystic River in the City's Riverbend Park.

The park contains walkways used by the public for recreation, such as bicycling, walking, running, etc. Currently the area is extremely overgrown and the river is difficult to see from the walkways. The City would greatly benefit from 3-4 arborists working with the City's Tree Warden, Environmental Agent and local volunteers, such as Friends of the Mystic and Hormel/Mystic River Task Force, to identify and remove overgrown and invasive vegetation. The City could provide a chipper on site.

Anyone interested can contact Medford's Tree Warden, Aggie Tuden, at (781) 395-8695, or email her.

Or you can apply online to the Mass Arborists Association's Arbor Day of Service, at this website:

http://massarborday.com/component/option,com_rsform/Itemid,99999/formId,86/lang,en/

Medford and neighbors celebrate Mystic Community Earth Day, Sat April 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Cohen

April 2, 2011 781-322-4125 x 237

ncohen@tri-cap.org

Local organizations team up for second annual Mystic Community Earth Day

April 1, 2011 – Several organizations are joining together for the second year in a row to coordinate several events for Earth Day in the Lower Mystic River Watershed in Medford, Somerville, Malden, and Everett. Comprising the “Mystic Community Earth Day,” the events will take place on Saturday, April 30^th in honor of Earth Day (April 22^nd) and will focus on improving areas along the river, while drawing attention to the needs of the watershed as a whole. All events are free and open to the public. Volunteers are needed to complete this important work.

The Mystic River Watershed is the most urbanized and densely populated watershed in Massachusetts, with over half a million people living in its 76 square miles. Due to its long industrial history and antiquated sewer systems, the water quality of the river is severely degraded and access to the riverfront is limited. Despite these challenges, residents, community groups, and organizations are working to improve the Mystic River, its tributaries, and surrounding communities.

This year marks the 41^st Earth Day, which was first held on April 22, 1970, and featured rallies, protests, and clean-ups across the country with a strong college student presence. That day is often considered the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day 2011 will be observed nationwide on April 22 and will be marked by many of the same activities as the original event 41 years ago.

The Mystic Community Earth Day will include clean-ups, trail clearings, and plantings. For more information about any of the Mystic Community Earth Day events, please contact the respective coordinator from each organization (see below). Events will include the following:

Medford

Mystic River Cleanup: Friends of the Mystic River will hold its 16th annual Mystic River Spring Cleanup from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the vicinity of Mystic Riverbend Park, and MacDonald Park in the Mystic River Reservation. Meet in the parking lot at Hormel Stadium to sign in and pick up bags, gloves, pokers and instructions. For more information, visit www.fomr.org, call 781-391-2604 or e-mail Mystic02155@hotmail.com.

Medford Square Cleanup: Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center is partnering with Green Medford, Medford City Hall, and other community organizations to clean up litter and plant flowers in Medford Square from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Meet at the bus shelter on Riverside Avenue, next to the Salem Street Burial Ground. For more information, contact Anna Nguyen at Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center, 781.395.7131 or xtremeninja1@yahoo.com, or visit www.Green.Medford.org.

Somerville

Groundwork Somerville and the Mystic River Watershed Association are joining forces to clean the Mystic River in Somerville. Head to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive, from 9:00am to 12:30pm to lend a hand. A limited number of canoes will be available for a river-based cleanup effort. Supplies will be provided, but additional tools and gloves are welcome. This co-sponsored cleanup is among several community events occurring at Blessing of the Bay Boathouse on April 30. For more information about these other events, please contact Groundwork Somerville. For more information, contact Brad Arndt, Groundwork Somerville Brad@GroundworkSomerville.org or Beth Meserve, Mystic River Watershed Association, Beth@MysticRiver.org, 781-316-3438.

The City of Somerville will also have a citywide clean-up from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, culminating with a community barbeque and band concert at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse from 12:00 – 2:00 PM.

Malden-Everett

Bike to the Sea is partnering with Groundwork Somerville, Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP), and Cambridge Health Alliance to organize a trail clearing and clean-up around the proposed Northern Strand Community Trail between Medford Street in Malden and Prescott Street in Everett, as well as Cambridge Health Alliance’s adjacent Malden River Walk from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Supplies will be provided, but additional tools and gloves are welcome. Refreshments will be available for volunteers at a riverfront picnic around 1:00 PM. For more information contact Nick Cohen at ncohen@tri-cap.org or (781) 322-4125 X237.

Event Schedule:

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Mystic River Clean-Up (Somerville)

9:30 AM – 2:00 PM Mystic River Clean-Up (Medford)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM City of Somerville Clean-Up (Somerville)

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Malden River Area Clean-Up (Malden/Everett)

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM City of Somerville Blessing of the Bay Boathouse Barbeque and Band Concert (Somerville)

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM Medford Square Clean-Up (Medford)