click on links for more information re: the topics
Senior Attorney Maggie Sullivan of Conservation Law Foundation had to reschedule due to dental surgery. She will present on Chapter 91 – waterfront public access for the 4/8th Meeting via Zoom at 6:30PM
- Philip summarized the ECC: On February 12th, at the Everett City Council (ECC) meeting: Katy Rogers, Councilor at Large, brought forth a resolution to address the National Grid failure to comply with the MassDEP ruling of their Chapter 91 mandate (public access to the Malden River)
A recording of the EEC meeting is here: and the proposed resolution regarding notice to NGrid’s lack of compliance is at 1:29:44 through 1:47 including Assist. City Counsel: Keith Slattery’s and Conservation Commission Agent, Tom Philbin’s presentation of the NGrid noncompliance.
In addition: the ECC voted to table a NGRID request to install a conduit under a public sidewalk and have continued to table other infrastructure requests until NGrid responds to their resolution
The ECC voted unanimously for a motion to the Everett City Counsel to draft a letter to NGrid and MassDEP instructing them of the necessity for Chapter 91 compliance for the three
communities on the Malden River.
- Marcia: Malden River Works Update: Whip Katherine Clark secured a federal earmark for Malden River Works Project, City of Malden: $1,560,000
- Sheila: summarized Malden’s Climate Action Plan – see attached document. The Steering Committee will be finalizing their work in April. This work will be integrated in the City of Malden Master Plan.
Plastic Free Massachusetts has two Calls to Action to Modernize our Bottle Bill Stay tuned for more details.
March 19th – Call your legislators (or you can write to them using this link) Tell them you support House Bill 3676 and House Bill 3690/SB2104. With litter pollution engulfing our cities and waterways, we have zero time to waste.
Information here: modernizing the Bottle Bill
Plastic Free MA will provide a script for the legislator phone calls and meetings.
April 2nd – Massachusetts State House Lobby Day. Register here: https://forms.gle/u5xLSvbszccYqk6MA
Adopt A Storm Drain is coming to the City of Malden! Launch will be in April: Stay Tuned
SAVE THESE DATES (some Details and Times to be determined/confirmed):
Malden River Cleanups:
Sunday, April 7th (1:00PM-4:00PM) – River’s Edge, Medford at the Tufts U. Boathouse with Tisch College of Civic Life and Gentle Giant Rowing Club
Sunday, May 12th 9:30 AM –Noon with a gratis cheer of beer afterwards)– Idle Hands Craft Ales – our second Mother’s Earth Day neighborhood and River Cleanup
Events:
April 5th: (10-11AM; rain date 4/6) grand opening of the Bike to the Sea Bike Kitchen on Canal Street, Malden
April 13th (rain date: April 14th) 10:00 AM Walk the Malden River Greenway with the Sierra Club and our community to create advocacy for the Malden River.
Start at Wellington and end at Nightshift Brewery. Map will be posted on the Friends’ website. April 13th – (Afternoon – time to be determined 2:00PM-4:00PM?) Learn about Rain Gardens! Replant the Beebe School Rain Garden with the Malden Community Gardeners
April 20th – Everett Earth Day at Gateway Park in Everett
April 27th – 10am-3:00PM Malden Mass. Memories Road Show. Bring 3 photos and share your story. It will be highly appreciated if anyone can bring one photo of their experiences on the Malden River.
April 28th – Noon – 3:00 PM Malden Earth Day Fair at Pine Banks Park – Hoping for the Adopt A Drain Launch with the Water Department.
May 19th (9:00 AM – onwards) – Mystic River Watershed Association’s 28th Herring Run at Blessing of the Bay
Register Now to reserve your place on land or in the water!
JUNE 1st – 3:00-5:00PM (Rain or Shine) – Brass Band on the Malden River with 375 year celebration of Malden and Malden River Works – There will be celebrations at the Malden River Works Waterfront Park site to be announced soon.
JUNE 2nd – Rain Date for the Malden River Works Placemaking Event.
June 15th – The Friends will Celebrate Family Day at Malden Community Garden
Date TBD: Explore the Malden River with the Chinese Cultural Connection
Action items
To request that Malden and Medford follow Everett’s lead for a resolution/motion for notice to NGrid and MassDEP. Ask Deb Burke, Director of Malden’s Office of Strategic Planning and Development (who was present at the ECC meeting) for the feedback from the City of Malden and to investigate whether the City of Malden and Medford can legally delay NGrid requests for infrastructure changes. – Once Malden says yay or nay, then Philip B-G will speak with the City of Medford
Deb Burke has been out of the office this past week. Karen will reach her on Monday, 3/18
Mark your calendars for events: we could always use an extra hand and head!
Sign up to represent the Friends of Malden River at the Everett Earth Day (4/20) and the Malden Earth Day Fair (4/28)with an email friendsofthemaldenriver@gmail.com
Join the Friends in the Plastic Free Mass events, Legislative calls or letter writing efforts, and/or Lobby Day (4/2) – spread the word to support the legislation. The State Reps need to hear from the public
Karen Lynch asked for the info regarding Cleenland and Neighborhood Produce for refills.Neighborhood Produce has over 100 items in bulk (and you can bring your own containers). The Ball Square – 691 Broadway store is the only Cleenland satellite location in Boston, with all their best-selling cleaning and home care items (in both bulk and retail options).
Please don’t use laundry or dishwasher powder pods: they are suspect of PVA’s (polyvinyl alcohol) and plastics: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/6027
Share social media posts of the Friends if you use Social Media
Spread the Word of events in your fashion!
Friends of the Malden River 