Mystic Community Earth Day Events April 21, 28

Local Organizations Team Up for Third Annual Mystic Community Earth Day

Several organizations are joining together for the third consecutive year to coordinate numerous events for Earth Day in the Lower Mystic River Watershed in Medford, Somerville, Malden, Everett, Chelsea, and East Boston. Comprising the “Mystic Community Earth Day,” most of the events will take place on Saturday, April 21st and Saturday, April 28th in honor of Earth Day (April 22nd) 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 42nd 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 2012 will be observed nationwide on April 22 and will be marked by many of the same activities as the original event 42 years ago.

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). Event-specific press releases will follow in the coming weeks.

Events will include the following:

Medford

The Second Annual Medford Square Earth Day Clean-Up will happen from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th rain or shine. At 9:30 a.m., Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn will welcome participants, on the lawn next to One City Hall Mall (Riverside Avenue and Clippership Drive/Ring Road). The cleanup will run from 9:45 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Adults can take a short free yoga class at 10:00 a.m., and kids can make art in Medford Square from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Free local music and local food available. Many buses serve Medford Square, and free parking is available.
Contact: Anna Nguyen, 781-395-7131, xtremeninja1@yahoo.com, or Susan Altman, 781-526-4714 or susan.altman@comcast.net.

Friends of the Mystic River will host its 17th annual Mystic River Spring Clean-Up on Saturday, April 28th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. meeting at the Hormel Stadium lot, 90 Locust Street.  Clean-up supplies will be provided. The clean-up will include the Mystic Riverbend Park and MacDonald Park, but participants may travel to any other location they wish along the Mystic in Medford. Morning and lunchtime refreshments provided. In the event of heavy rain, the cleanup will be Sunday, April 29th.
Contact: www.fomr.org, 781-391-2604 or Mystic02155@hotmail.com.

On Wednesday, May 2nd from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. the Medford Boys & Girls Club will hold a GreenFest Earth Day event.  The event will include a Green Art activity and a Green Art competition, a science activity related to the environment, information about recycling and reducing one’s carbon footprint, and tables with information from local environmental groups.  Open to everyone, we hope you will bring your kids and come celebrate the earth with us!  The Medford Boys & Girls Club is located at 30 Forest Street in Medford Square.
Contact: 781-391-3619 or kholt@kidsclubs.org.

Malden

Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP) is partnering with Bike to the Sea, Groundwork Somerville, and Cambridge Health Alliance for the third year in a row to organize a clean-up around the Malden River, focusing on the Malden River Walk, Northern Strand Community Trail, and Plaza 188 riverfront tail from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on April 28th rain or shine. Volunteers should meet at Cambridge Health Alliance at 195 Canal Street (behind Anthony’s). Supplies will be provided, but additional tools and gloves are welcome. Light refreshments will be available for volunteers at a riverfront picnic. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., the Malden River will be the subject of a public presentation to the Malden City Council at Malden City Hall.

Contact: Nick Cohen, Tri-CAP Environmental Justice Coordinator, ncohen@tri-cap.org, 781 322-4125 x 237.

Everett

The City of Everett and Energize Everett are planning the annual citywide clean-up for Saturday, May 5th , including work on sections of the Northern Strand Community Trail.

Contact: 617-389-3365 or Christina.Rousseau@ci.everett.ma.us

Somerville

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and Gentle Giant Rowing Club will host a river clean-up in celebration of Earth Day as well as MyRWA’s 40th Anniversary on Saturday, April 28th from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Volunteers should meet at Assembly Row along the waterfront in Somerville (165 Middlesex Avenue, Somerville). Parking is available in the Staples parking lot and volunteers are needed to remove trash along the banks of the Mystic. The City of Somerville clean-up will be going on at the same time, and at 12:00 p.m. volunteers can join the City of Somerville at the DCR Blessing of the Bay Boathouse for a BBQ.

Contact: http://mysticriver.org/watershed-clean-ups/ or 781-316-3438

Join the Groundwork Somerville Green Team on Saturday, April 21st, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a “farm raising” at Somerville’s first urban agriculture site at 111 South Street.  We will be building and laying out the beds, filling them, mixing soil, and planting the first crops of the spring with Green City Growers. Celebrate Earth Day by adding your hands to the creation and clean-up of new open space in Massachusetts’ densest city!

Contact: www.groundworksomerville.org or 617-628-9988

East Boston

Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), partnering with the Food Project, will be organizing a raised-bed garden build day, mobilizing dozens of volunteers to install new garden beds across East Boston from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 21st. Volunteers should meet at NOAH at 143 Border Street in East Boston.
Contact: http://www.noahcdc.org/ or 617-418-8241

Chelsea

On April 28th Chelsea will be celebrating the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day with a city- wide clean-up and festivities afterwards.  If you want to make a difference and meet others who share the same interest in keeping Chelsea beautiful, meet at Chelsea City Hall at 8:30 a.m. We will celebrate after with food, music, and activities at the Creekside Commons Park located behind Beth Israel – 1000 Broadway.
Contact: http://chelseacollab.org/ or 617-889-6080

Event Schedule for Mystic Community Earth Day Events on 4/21/12 and 4/28/12:

Saturday 4/21/12

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
East Boston Raised-Bed Garden Build Day

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Somerville “Farm-Raising”

Saturday, 4/28/12

8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Chelsea Citywide Clean-Up

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Medford Square Clean-Up

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

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Mystic River & Assembly Row Clean-Up (Somerville)

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Malden River & Northern Strand Community Trail Clean-Up (Malden)

12:00 PM –
City of Somerville Blessing of the Bay BBQ

– Information from Tri-City Community Action Program