Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1,000 Showing in Arlington

In case you missed it, or just want to see it again, Marion Stoddart's The Work of 1,000 is showing at the Capitol Theater in Arlington on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 7pm.  We really enjoyed having Marion join us during our Lenten Green Faith Series last year.


Mystic River Watershed Association invites you to Get Energized & Inspired with Marion Stoddart.

Join a lively discussion with acclaimed Massachusetts environmental pioneer, Marion Stoddart, preceded by the award-winning film about her, "Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1,000".

Thursday, March 22, 2012
Capitol Theater
204 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA
7 p.m. (doors open at 6:45)

$10 Suggested Donation, $35 Join MyRWA plus Admission

Purchase tickets here:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/218263

Co-Sponsors
Friends of Spy Pond Park, Ocean River Institute, Ecological Landscaping Association, Friends of Alewife Reservation, Charles River Canoe and Kayak, Woburn Residents' Environmental Network, Green Medford, Somerville Climate Action, Sustainable Arlington, Friends of the Mystic River and East Arlington Liveable Streets Coalition.

Corporate Sponsor
Boreal Renewable Energy Development

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Green Up Clean Up: Park Leader Role

GreenUp CleanUp Banner
To coordinate so many park cleanups around town, we have found it helpful to clearly lay out what is expected from our volunteer Park Leaders and what they can expect from the GreenUp CleanUp Organizing Team.

Usually we divide the work as follows:

Park leader
  • Picks a date
  • Decides what work needs to be done at the park and lets the organizers know what your recommendations are for the park (email to greenupcleanup@gracemedford.org)
  • Does local outreach to people who use the park or live/work nearby. (If at a special location, coordinate with that location, e.g., Brooks Estate Trustees, Friends of the Mystic River)
  • Is in charge the day of the cleanup
  • Sets up at the beginning and cleans up at the end of that cleanup.

Green Up Clean Up Organizing Committee
  • Coordinates all the dates
  • Communicates with the City about what materials and tools are needed on each date for each park cleanup; they make any special arrangements that might be necessary (e.g., getting bathrooms opened out of season for volunteers, unlocking parking lot gates for the clean up, etc)
  • Does central & city-wide outreach, including email, press releases (but Park Leaders are welcome to do this as well)
  • Maintains the webpage:   http://gracemedford.org/greenupcleanup
  • Brings the large lemonade cooler, cups
  • Brings work gloves, garbage, recycling & yard waste bags

Snacks and Beverages
Some year we have a volunteer who is able to solicit donations of food and beverages (coffee, water) for the cleanups.  Sometimes the Park Leader organizes snack, either through donations or bringing something on their own.   For 2012 we don't yet have a volunteer (yet) to organize this, and we'd be happy to have someone volunteer, or for businesses to contact us directly.

Examples of Clean Up Activities
We are happy to report to the City Park's Department whatever you want them to hear about the park.  Typical activities they are able to support us doing include:
  • Raking
  • Sweeping sand
  • Picking up trash and recycling
  • Spreading mulch (they have provided mulch, shovels, wheel barrows)
  • Spreading safety wood chips (they have provided wood chips, shovels, wheel barrows)
  • Spreading sand (they provided sand, shovels, wheel barrows, rakes)
  • Pulling weeds
  • Removing graffiti (the City has special graffiti removal cleaner)
  • Painting (the City has provided paint, brushes)
  • Pruning (sometimes the City will send one of their staff with power tools)
  • Planting flowers and sprucing up local gardens

The City is happy to supply the tools and supplies we need, within their budget, provided we make the request in a timely manner and it is something they have available.

If you are interested in organizing a Clean Up, but you're not sure where, or what to do,  members of the organizing committee and the Medford Parks Department have recommendations on locations that could use volunteer help.


Thank you for volunteering!
Green Up Clean Up Committee
Grace Medford
greenupcleanup@gracemedford.org