TRI-CAP Press

							                                   Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc.
                                      110 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148
                                        781- 322-4125      781-324-7717 (F)
              ___________________________________________________________
              ___________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Contact: Nick Cohen
April 11, 2011                                                781-322-4125 x 237
                                                              ncohen@tri-cap.org

Local Organizations Team Up for Second Annual Mystic Community Earth Day

Malden, MA – April 11, 2011 – Several organizations are joining together for the second
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,” the events will take place on Saturday, April 30th 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 41st 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:

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 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Supplies will be provided, but additional tools and gloves are
welcome. Refreshments will be available for volunteers at a riverfront picnic around 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Nick Cohen, Tri-CAP EJ Coordinator, ncohen@tri-cap.org, (781) 322-4125 x 237.

Medford
Friends of the Mystic River will hold its 16th annual Mystic River Spring Cleanup from 9:30
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the vicinity of Mystic Riverbend Park, MacDonald Park, and the 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. Contact: www.fomr.org, call 781-391-2604 or
Mystic02155@hotmail.com.

Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center is partnering with Green Medford and Medford City Hall to
clean up litter and plant flowers in Medford Square from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Meet at the bus
shelter on Riverside Avenue, next to the Salem Street Burial Ground. Contact: Anna Nguyen,
Xtreme Ninja Martial Arts Center, 781.395.7131, xtremeninja1@yahoo.com.

The City of Medford will hold an Arbor Day event on 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.

There will be a Drop Off Event for used/broken electronics and appliances from 9:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. at the 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.

Also, Tufts University will be holding its Earth Day Festival on Friday, April 22 from 12:00-
4:00 p.m, on the Academic Quad. There will be music, food, recycled crafting, clothing and
light bulb swap, bike-powered smoothies, and more. Contact: Signe Porteshawver at (563) 940-
1047 or signeporteshawver@gmail.com.

Everett
Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. and the Everett Beautification Committee, Everett Kiwanis, and
Recylebank will sponsor a citywide Cleanup Day, Saturday April 30h, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. Volunteers are to meet at Glendale Park for a light breakfast snack and get a cleanup
assignment. This year’s cleanup will again focus on cleaning of area parks and tot lots as well as
entryways into the city. Contact: Matt Laidlaw, Everett Director of Communications, 617-394-
2270, matt.laidlaw@ci.everett.ma.us.

Somerville
Groundwork Somerville and the Mystic River Watershed Association are joining forces to clean
the Mystic River Path in Somerville on April 30. This community event will take place from
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., along the path adjacent to the Christmas Tree Shop at Assembly Square
Mall (177 Middlesex Avenue, Somerville, MA). Participants should park/meet at the northwest
corner of the Christmas Tree Shop parking lot. Supplies will be provided, but additional tools
and gloves are welcome. This co-sponsored cleanup is among several events occurring along the
Mystic River in Somerville on April 30. For more information about these other events, please
contact Groundwork Somerville. 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 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.,
culminating with a community barbeque and band concert at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse
from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

East Boston-Chelsea
The Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG), a partnership between Chelsea Green Space and
Recreational Committee and East Boston’s Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, will hold the
annual citywide clean-ups in both Chelsea and East Boston.

On Friday, April 29th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the residents of East Boston will meet at the
Condor Street Urban Wild. Snacks and refreshments will be provided at the Condor Street Urban
Wild. Contact: Melinda Alvarado-Vega, (617) 567-5882, mvega@noahcdc.org (East Boston)
On Saturday, April 30th from 9AM to 12 Noon, the Chelsea Green Space & Recreational
Committee along with the City of Chelsea and Chelsea Neighborhood Developers will host a city
wide clean-up in honor of Earth Day. We will gather in front of Chelsea's City Hall (500
Broadway) at 9am, followed by a celebration at the Creekside Commons Park (behind Beth
Israel - 1000 Broadway Chelsea) at Noon. There will be food, music and much more! Contact:
Yaritza Gonzalez, (617) 889-6080 x 107, yarig@chelseacollab.org (Chelsea)

Event Schedule for Mystic Community Earth Day:
Friday 4/29/11
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM           East Boston Urban Wild Event (East Boston)
TBD                         City of Medford Tree Pruning (Medford)
Saturday, 4/30/11
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM          City of Everett Clean-Up (Everett)
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM          Mystic River Clean-Up (Somerville)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM          Chelsea Clean-Up (Chelsea)
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM           City of Medford Drop Off Event (Medford)
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM           Mystic River/Wellington Greenway 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)
Press release contact:
Nick Cohen
Environmental Justice Community Organizing Coordinator
Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP)
Mystic River Watershed Collaborative
110 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 322-4125 (X 237)
ncohen@tri-cap.org

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