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)