Help Give Medford Square a Spring Cleaning, April 28 (Saturday)

Celebrate Earth Day!

...by volunteering at the Second Annual Medford Square Clean Up on Saturday, April 28^th. Green Medford, the City of Medford, and several other organizations are partnering to give Medford Square a good spring cleaning in honor of Earth Day.

The cleanup and related activities run from 9 am to Noon. Volunteers will also be able to participate in green art projects, games, live music, and other activities. Mystic Coffee Roaster and Donuts with a Difference will provide morning refreshments, and other local food will also be featured.

The event will begin behind City Hall at One City Hall Mall (Riverside Ave & Clippership Drive), the future site of the Medford Farmers Market. At 9:30 am Mayor Michael McGlynn will welcome the crowd and announce the new Medford Green Awards, after which the cleanup kicks into high gear to neaten and beautify the Square, Clippership Park, and other adjacent areas.

Other activities will include a recycling relay race for kids, a free community yoga class, 10:00 am at Clippership Park (rain location 45 Riverside Ave), and green art-making—for kids, artists, and those who wish they were—at the brick plaza on Riverside Ave from 10 to noon.

In addition to the Medford Square Clean-Up, two other neighborhood cleanups are also being held the same day—one sponsored by the Friends of the Mystic River from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm at Riverbend Park, and another by the Mystic River Watershed Association, in Somerville. West Medford Open Studios will also be taking place from Noon to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday, and volunteers are encouraged to support our local artists by visiting some of the 70-plus artists in sites all over West Medford.

The cleanups are part of Mystic Community Earth Day, which includes many events in Medford, Malden, and Everett. This year we are proud to be working with the following community organizations: Awakened Warrior Yoga, Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County, Friends of the Mystic River, G&S Music, GreenUp CleanUp, Green Medford, Medford Chamber of Commerce, City of Medford, Medford Farmers Market, Medford Health Matters, Mystic Coffee Roaster, Mystic Community Earth Day, Mystic River Watershed Association, Next Step Living, Tri-City Community Action Program (Tri-CAP), Tufts University, West Medford Open Studios, and Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center.

See all the pictures from last year's cleanup here.

CONTACT: For more information, email greenmedford@gmail.com, contact Susan Altman at 781-526-4714, or visit www.greenmedford.blogspot.com.

Also see www.fomr.org for information about the Friends of the Mystic River cleanup,www.mysticriver.org for more about the Mystic River Watershed Association cleanup, andwww.wmos.org for details about the West Medford Open Studios.

99% Spring full day training

Our friends at the Better Future Project (who sponsored Climate Summer last July and will be doing so again this July) are running this training.

First Church Somerville, Davis Square, Somerville
14 Apr , 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM

The people are rising. Let's work together to build a future worthy of our deepest values and highest hopes. For some, this training will be an introduction to nonviolent direct action, for others it will be a next step in their movement leadership development, and for others it will be a sorely needed respite from the action – a time to reenergize in the presence of new movement partners. Wherever you find yourself on this continuum, we invite you to join us on April 14th. Better Future Project (BetterFutureProject.org) is excited to host a full-day training in conjunction with First Church Somerville. The 99% Spring Trainings will gather across America, 100,000 strong, in homes, places of worship, campuses and the streets to train ourselves in non-violent action and join together in the work of reclaiming our country. History is calling; it’s time to step up.

Status: Public, open for RSVP, 63 Guests (Max 150)

Best way to contact host: Email

Event URL: http://civic.moveon.org/event/99spring/128674

Marla Marcum

Director of Programs, Better Future Project

Social and Ecological Ethicist in the Christian tradition

Director of Christian Education, Lexington United Methodist Church

Chair, Climate Change Task Force, New England Conference, United Methodist Church

(781) 475-0996

Climate Summer and Ride for the Future are programs of Better Future Project. BFP is fiscally sponsored by the Open Space Institute, Inc., as part of their Citizen Action Program. OSI is a nonprofit public charity exempt from federal income tax under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Celebrate Earth Day in Medford Square, April 28!

Join in Walk/Ride Day this Friday, March 30!

Walk/Ride Day is coming up this Friday, March 30^th in Medford, as well as in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Everett, and Lynn.

Three more local, independent retail businesses have joined Medford Walk/Ride Days in March, bringing the number of business partners to fifteen. These businesses are primarily in Medford Square, with others in West Medford Square and online. Go car-free this Friday and take advantage of their special offers just for Walk/Ride participants. (The participants are all listed below.)

In addition, people who plan to commute from Medford car-free this Friday can check-in at http://greenstreets.mapc.org/ and will be entered into a raffleVisit www.GoGreenStreets.org to find other partners in Walk/Ride Days and their special offers for people who go car-free.

Walk/Ride Partners in Medford Square:

Aggie’s Attic: 10% off any item

Awakened Warrior Yoga: Take a FREE class

Bestsellers Café: 10% discount on phone or on-line orders

Century Bank: $50.00 when you open a personal checking account

Colleen’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop: Free raffle entry for a gift card (with your purchase)

D’Errico-McGlynn Flowers: 10% off floral purchase of $20 or more, carry-out sale only

Medford Muscular Therapy Centre: Add a 15-minute treatment of your choice to your massage session

Medford Optical: $100 off any complete pair of prescription eye ware (cannot be combined with any insurance or other discounts)

Mystic Coffee Roaster: Free small cup of fresh-roasted coffee (several choices available)

Oliver Deli/Chickpeas: Free drink of your choice
Ward’s Gifts: 15% off purchases (cannot combine with other discounts or promotions)

Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center: Raffle entry for a month of free lessons

Walk/Ride Partners in Other Medford Locations:

Depot Square Grill, West Medford: Free cup of clam chowder

Hair’s Karen Salon, West Medford: 20% off all products and 10% off all services

Lions Share Coaching (online/phone only): (1) Be entered into a 6-week life and/or career coaching program, or (2) Get 15% off any coaching package. Email marie[at]lionssharecoaching.com or call 617–803–1508 to sign up.

Green Medford's Letter on MBTA Service/Fare Proposals

We submitted this letter to the MBTA email address for this issue, which is:

fareproposal@mbta.com

Please copy if you wish and send your own version. Deadline for comments is March 12, 2012.

_________

Our organization, Green Medford, wishes to express our opposition to the MBTA’s proposed fare increases and service cuts. Green Medford is a group of volunteer activists dedicated to taking action to reducing Medford’s carbon emissions.

A few of the extremely negative consequences that would result from the implementation of either of these proposals include:

1. Increased air pollution and carbon emissions (leading us away from addressing climate change).

2. An increase in health problems due to air pollution.

3. Economic downturn in Medford and other communities affected by the service cuts, as T riders take to cars and completely bypass the community small businesses that currently receive their patronage.

4. Increased wear and tear on highways and other major arteries, due to increased car traffic.

5. Increased traffic congestion.

These costs will undoubtedly outweigh the value of increased revenues from the higher fares. Equally concerning is the fact that all of these negatives will be disproportionately felt by low-income, senior, and disabled persons.

 

We especially oppose the proposed service cuts. In many instances, these cuts will eliminate access for those dependent upon public transportation. In other instances, these service cuts will force riders to shift to automobiles. Either outcome is unacceptable.

Several Medford buses are slated for elimination or cutbacks in both proposals: 80, 95, 96, 325, 326, and 134. One end of Medford has an Orange Line Stop (Wellington), and the very limited Commuter Rail stop in West Medford. Otherwise there are no subway stops anywhere in Medford or near it. Medford residents rely heavily on bus routes to get around. We do not have a wealthy population, and any decrease in bus service would negatively impact residents to a very great degree. Residents who currently take one bus (e.g., the 96 to Davis Square Red Line) would have to take two, three, or four buses instead, greatly increasing the time and inconvenience of their commutes. Many, rather than do so, would instead take to cars, thereby increasing pollution and carbon emissions, causing more wear and tear on our already stressed road system, and contributing to worse traffic, which is already severe in parts of Medford, not to mention the rest of the greater Boston area.

We are also aware of the Commonwealth’s leadership on issues affecting climate change, such as the Global Warming Solutions Act and the Green Communities Act. We applaud these commitments to take real and lasting steps towards reducing greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions and building a more sustainable future. The Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 charts the path for achieving a 25% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 (below 1990 levels). In this context, it is especially ironic and disheartening to witness the failure to protect and support our public transportation system, which is a vital component in any plan for reducing GHG emissions and the principle means by which we can maintain a sustainable, prosperous region into the future.

While we are aware of the deep financial difficulties the MBTA is facing, and agree that some modest fair hikes may be appropriate, we are also mindful of the tragic negative impacts likely to ensue if either of the proposals were implemented. We largely agree with the suggestions made in the MBTA Advisory Board’s February 2012 Review of MASSDOT Fare Increase and Service Cut Proposals, especially the goal of restructuring funding for public transportation. We need a long-term solution, not a short-term fix. We urge you to hold out for an overhaul of the way the T is funded.

We urge the MBTA and our elected leaders to seek other solutions to the MBTA’s fiscal difficulties to avoid these devastating impacts. The MBTA Advisory Board’s proposals for alternative funding sources appear promising in this regard, as do other thoughtful approaches, such as congestion pricing or increased parking fees that would have beneficial synergistic effects on travel choices in our region. It would be particularly short-sighted to cripple our public transportation system just when we need it most.

Sincerely,

Susan Altman

President, Green Medford

Apply for Youth Climate Action Mini-Grants by October 31st!

This is a great opportunity for Medford youth!

Please forward to people you know in the Medford-based schools, religious congregations, community groups.

Green Medford has been awarded $750 from the Wolfe-Rita Climate Action Projects fund of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network. Green Medford will use this funding to award three $250 mini-grants to youth addressing climate change in Medford. The deadline for the application will be October 31. Grantees will be notified on December 1, and projects must be completed by April 30, 2012.

Click here to link to the application.

Specifically, funding will be available for projects that address grassroots climate action within Medford. Project priorities may include hosting educational and training conferences; successful climate protection or educational projects; journalism about climate activism; lectures; forums; prizes to recognize and promote climate activism; policy initiatives; or media and social media projects that engage other youth in climate activism. All projects must take place in Medford.
Teachers, churches, youth groups, older youth (ages 16 - 20), and child and youth-serving organizations are eligible to apply. Funding cannot be used to pay individuals, salaries or consultants’ fees.

We are also seeking members of the judging committee for the applications. We have three volunteers and would love to have two more, especially people who have a connection to Medford students. (Of course, you would have to recuse yourself if there is a direct connection/conflict of interest with any application.) Please let Christine or me know if you are interested. We estimate the total time as under 5 hours total, but that could go up a bit if there are lots of applicants. The committee can do all its work by conference call and email, to keep your hours low.

About Green Medford: We educate the Medford community to understand its environmental impact, and empower residents to make more sustainable energy choices related to homes and businesses, transportation, and food. Green Medford is a chapter of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this grant or the application process!

Christine Ellersick (christinemaher[add 'at' sign here]gmail.com)
Susan Altman
website: GreenMedford.org
FB: Green Medford

Request for Proposals, fall 2011

Tufts Community Research Center

The Tufts Community Research Center is a collaborative of Tufts researchers and Boston-area community representatives. This RFP solicits requests for funding of community-collaborative research projects.

Grant Specifications:

1) Amount available: One award of $6,500

2) Application is due at 5pm on November 4, 2011

3) Funding must be used between November 5, 2011 and June 30, 2012

4) A final report on the project must be submitted by July 31, 2012

Application Requirements:

1) The team that is applying must include at least one Tufts-based researcher and at least one community-based organization. You might want to consult: http://www.ccph.info/.

2) Proposals may be from any discipline.

3) The proposed research could be community-based participatory research, but could also involve other approaches to research collaboration.

4) Applicants must specify what kind of research will be conducted.

5) The community, and the ways that it is involved, must be clearly defined. We are particularly interested in proposals from Tufts host communities (Somerville, Boston Chinatown, Medford), but will consider proposals from other communities.

6) The proposal must be for a research project that is asking a question of interest to the community partner.

7) Funding is prioritized for start-up projects rather than as an add-on to existing research.

8) The applicant must clearly indicate how the TCRC funds will be used by providing a brief line item budget and justification (stipends, hiring a research assistant, etc.).

Submission process:

Applications should consist of no more than 3 pages (Times New Roman 12 point type, 1 inch margins) of narrative, plus the budget and justification. The structure of the narrative is at the discretion of the applicant.

Signed letters, on letterhead, from all partners indicating that they have agreed to participate in the proposal development must be included.

One-on-one meetings to discuss this RFP can be scheduled with the director of TCRC in advance of submission.

Final applications should be submitted as an email attachment (preferably in PDF format) to dbrugge@aol.com. For more information contact Doug Brugge, Director of TCRC, via email at dbrugge@aol.com or phone at (617) 636-0326.

NOTE: The funded application will be eligible for technical assistance from the director and steering committee of the Tufts Community Research Center during the implementation of the research.