Community Volunteer Day August 1st
Volunteer with the Lead Action Collaborative to help prevent childhood
lead poisoning in Boston!
Childhood lead poisoning still affects hundreds of children in Boston
every year. The Lead Action Collaborative is conducting visual housing
surveys to identify homes in Boston’s high risk neighborhoods that are
likely to contain lead paint hazards. By identifying hazardous homes and
educating homeowners about resources, LAC is being proactive in
preventing children from being exposed to a toxic indoor environment.
When: Saturday August 1, 2009, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM *LUNCH PROVIDED*
Where: Roxbury (meet in Franklin Park at El Parquesito de Hermandad
across from 440 Walnut Ave)
Who we are:
Since 1993 the Lead Action Collaborative (LAC) has played a leadership
role in the fight to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Boston. Made
up of non-profit organizations, foundations, and government agencies,
LAC has been working to develop and implement strategies that will
greatly reduce the risk and eventually eliminate the likelihood that
children in Boston will test positive for lead poisoning.
For more information or to register, please contact Elizabeth Tanefis:
etanefis at hria.org or 617-279-2240 x530.
Dorchester Beach Festival Saturday Aug 8, 11-4
The Dorchester Beach Festival takes place rain or shine on Saturday, August 8, from 11 to 4. The festival is a one-day free outdoor event designed to celebrate and promote one of Dorchester’s natural gems, the Savin Hill/Malibu Beach area. A wide range of fun activities will also provide environmental, conservation and health information to the community. The festival’s free activities, such as lifeguard demonstrations, canoeing and sailing, bike safety instruction, and sun damage screening, are meant to promote health and wellness in the outdoors, as well as how to live sustainably through recycling and conservation.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay grants support this and other free events on Boston area beaches this summer. “We have great beaches. It’s important to have great things for people to do on them,” said Bruce Berman of Save the Harbor. “The grants help people to do that.” The grant came from donations by The Boston Foundation, Comcast and National Grid.
Volunteers are needed to make this year’s Dorchester Beach Festival experience as wonderful as last year’s, which saw around 5,000 attendees. Contact DEHC for details.
farm fresh produce in Dorchester!
Dorchester’s Farmers Markets are in full swing – two on Thursdays, at Codman Square and at Bowdoin Street, Friday at Ashmont, two on Saturdays, at Fields Corner and at Mattapan Square, and Tuesdays at Dorchester House.
DEHC helps out every Friday at the Ashmont Farmers’ Market – a few highlights for this Friday: Face painting for the kids! ~ Strawberry gazpacho and apple pies at Dot-2-Dot Cafe ~ Beautiful zucchini blossoms and pea tendrils at Flats Mentor Farm ~ Garlic and green beans coming in at Farmer Dave’s, plus blueberries at their peak throughout August ~ Concord-grown sunflowers, guaranteed to brighten up the rainiest day, at Cedar Grove Gardens ~ Peaches, raspberries & corn at Spring Brook Farm.
The market, sponsored by SMAMS, ODWIN Learning Center, Wainwright Bank and the Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition, runs every Friday Continue Reading »
Kite Festival at Ronan Park July 19
Sunday, July 19, 1-5pm
2nd Annual Kite Festival
Can you think of a more perfect place to fly a kite? Bring your kites!!! The first 25 children under the age of 10 will receive a free kite to decorate any way they wish. Some refreshments will be available.
Sea Side Kites from Hull will be available for advice and assistance and to show off some truly spectacular kites.
Volunteers needed for this event! Please email info@friendsofronanpark.org if you can help.
Sponsored by Friends of Ronan Park
Community Advisory Committee on Climate Action – nominations sought
The city of Boston’s Climate Action Leadership Committee needs your help! They are looking for Boston residents to serve on the Climate Action Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that will work alongside the Climate Action Leadership Committee. You don’t have to be a climate expert. You just have to be willing to be an active player on a diverse team that will work together from July 2009 to March 2010.
Nominate yourself or another person.
You can apply on line at http://www.cityofboston.gov/climate/committee.asp.
For more information, contact: Carl Spector at at 617-635-3850 or Carl.Spector@cityofboston.gov.
NOMINATION FORMS DUE BY: Friday June, 26, 2009, 4:00 p.m.
green Dorchester some more
A project between the Dorchester Historical Society and Earthworks Boston will establish another edible landscape in Dorchester, click here to see some photos of recent volunteer activity. You can also help out on Saturday May 30, 10 a.m. at the William Clapp House, 195 Boston Street, near the big pear sculpture at Edward Everett Square.
beetle ranchers wanted
The Neponset River Watershed Assocation needs backyard beetle ranchers to raise small beetles (“Galerucella” beetles) in wading pools. These beetles eat Purple loosestrife plants, a rampant weed choking Neponset wetlands. Purple loosestrife is changing the make-up of these ecosystems and degrading native wildlife habitat. The beetles have an appetite and life cycle very specific to Purple loosestrife.
