pashley bike

Happy Spring! It is wonderful to see the crowds of people walking and riding bikes, buses, and trains! New Walk/Ride Day coordinators and sponsors are joining us and integrating new events, challenges, and incentives. If you would like help organizing an event, please let us know, so we can add it to our website and help spread the word and inspire others.

BOSTON AREA EVENTS
APRIL 30, WALK/RIDE DAY!
7:30-7:45 a.m.: RozzieBikes/JP Bikes Walk/Ride Day Ride Join us for all or part of your commute. Beginning bike commuters welcome! Car parking available. More info here.

BIKE MONTH: Keep in mind that May is Bike Month and more, with all sorts of activities and events — too many to mention!

May 28, 2010~June 25, 2010~July 30, 2010~August 27, 2010
September 24, 2010~October 29, 2010~November 26, 2010~December 31, 2010
January 28, 2011~February 25, 2011~March 25, 2011~April 29, 2011

The Green Streets Initiative is a grassroots organization that encourages the use of alternative transportation to create safer, quieter, healthier streets for all.
The Green Streets Initiative is best known for our monthly Walk/Ride Days, which take place on the last Friday of every month. On Walk/Ride Days, we invite people everywhere to go green, wear green, and celebrate!

Our vision is to create a monthly city-wide party that celebrates alternative transportation, helps people connect with their community, and improves our well-being and that of our Earth.

Green Streets seeks individuals in businesses, schools, and state and local government to help spread the Walk/Ride Day concept. If you are interested in becoming a coordinator or a sponsor, please contact the Green Streets Director at walk-ride-days@comcast.net.

Click on image to enlarge

The Amazing Race through Medford Square

We are Team T.A.D.D. West (Teens Against Drinking and Drugs), a youth group of Medford Health Matters who meets in West Medford at the West Medford Community Center. We are organizing an Amazing Race that will take place in Medford Square on April 21, 2010. This race is being held to raise awareness of underage drinking and drug abuse prevention while raising funds to benefit our group. This race is targeted towards teens to provide them with an alternative to destructive decisions over April vacation. We are trying to create a stronger, united community by hosting this race. We are looking for adult volunteers and teenaged participants to take part in this race. Participants will enter as teams of two. The entrance fee for each participant is a $5 donation to our group. The Amazing Race will begin and end at City Hall’s Council Chambers. All participants will need to fill out and return a registration form (parent’s signature required). The deadline to enter the Amazing Race is April 16^th. Please come and enjoy the fun!  For more information, to enter the Amazing Race as a contestant or to volunteer, please contact Penelope Bruce at (781) 393-2560 or PBruce@medford.org

Parent Advisory Committee, pawinn@yahoo.com

Parents have long asked what they can do to help us make the club a successful place for their child. In an effort to allow parents to make their voices heard we have created a parent advisory committee. Phyllis Winn parent of Robert and Samantha Winn has agreed to head this committee, her email address is listed above. If you are interested in helping her with any of the following events, or know another way that you can help our club to be a greater place for youth please let us know.

******************************************

Movie and Pizza Night, Friday April 16th 6-9 p.m.

Need a night out, not interested in hiring a baby sitter? Leave your kids at the club and know that they’ll be safe and entertained. For only $15.00 per child, you can enjoy three hours of child free bliss. We’ll provide pizza and an age appropriate movie. Registration is required for this event. Please obtain a registration form from the front desk. All registrations must be received by Friday April 9, 2010.

******************************************

Photo via Tufts University Blog

All children in grades K-3 are invited to the Annual Kids’ Day at Tufts University.

Saturday, April 10, 2010, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

A fun-filled day for FREE hosted by Tufts’ Leonard Carmichael Society

Check-in at the Campus Center, 44 Professors Row, Medford/Somerville Campus

This year’s theme, “Under the Sea,” will feature various games and sports, as well as a chemistry presentation and other fun competitions.

To register for the event or read more about the event online, please visit http://ase.tufts.edu/lcs/kids_day. For more information, please e mail lcs.kidsday@gmail.com or call 617-627-3780, the Tufts Office of Community Relations, a supporter of Kids’ Day.

River Day is a school based event that offers informal learning opportunities around the site of our nearby Mystic River. The River Day programs seek to access skills and talents of community, university, government and public and private institutions. These presenters offer their skills and talents on a volunteer or reduced fee basis to our students for one school day. The students learn from many “hands on’ and interactive displays all related to the designated theme.

River Day is a special event that is held only at the Andrews school. The program is developed and run by parent volunteers. We are hoping you will consider participating in this wonderful event. Volunteers can choose from a variety of tasks that may include: running the “recycle relay” course, picking up refreshments for lunch, contacting possible presenters, or being a presenter…the possibilities are varied and everyone can play a role.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PLANNING MEETING ON MONDAY 2/8 AT 7PM at the Andrews School or tell us how you can help by returning the bottom half of this notice, to the school and label the envelope “River Day 2010″ Any questions, please email Pauline Fiorello co chair PTO at j.healionfiore@comcast.net

DCR SOLICITS PUBLIC INPUT ON TRAIL PLANNING PROCESS

FOR THE MIDDLESEX FELLS RESERVATION

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has scheduled a Trail Planning Workshop to solicit public input as the agency begins to develop a Trail System Planning Process for the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

The Trail Planning Workshop will be held on Monday, February 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the McGlynn School Auditorium, 3002 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford.

The trail plan will map out plans for the entire trail system at the Middlesex Fells Reservation, which covers 2,575 acres in parts of Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester. The plan will provide guidance for short and long-term management of trails, set priorities for allocating limited staff and financial resources, and identify stewardship partners and opportunities. The plan will function as a stand-alone trails plan and a component of a future Resource Management Plan for the entire Reservation.

DCR will do an inventory of all the roads and trails in the Fells; identify key scenic, natural and cultural resources; and make recommendations regarding trail closures, new trails, trail restoration, trail use, education and policies.

DCR expects to complete a draft trails plan by April 2010.

Comments also can be submitted via email to paul.jahnige@state.ma.us.

###

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, and dams, in addition to 278 bridges and miles of roadways. Led by Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr.

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/materials/greenwaystrails/2010-2-8mi\dfellsannounce.pdf

What is The Green Streets Initiative?

The Green Streets Initiative is a grassroots organization of people from Cambridge, Massachusetts and surrounding cities, who celebrate, promote, and advocate for the use of alternative transportation.

For environmental, health, and community building reasons, our aim is to create safer, quieter, healthier streets for commuters and citizens of all types.

Through educational efforts, and the opportunity to experience and practice alternative transportation, we help individual citizens, children, and families, discover how alternative modes of transportation can enhance their lives by creating safe, healthy, friendly communities for all.

What are Walk/Ride Days?

The Green Streets Initiative is best known for the creation of monthly Walk/Ride Days.  Walk/Ride Days occur on the last Friday of every month.  On these days people everywhere are invited to go, and wear green!

Our vision is to create a monthly city-wide party, which celebrates alternative transportation, gives people an opportunity to make community connections, and promotes a festive local atmosphere.

Who is Involved?

Anyone and Everyone!  Walk/Ride Days draw from many sectors of participating communities; from schools and universities, to businesses and retailers.  We began in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and quickly spread into Somerville, and Medford.  We are now moving into the Boston area and have gotten started in Portland Maineportlandgreenstreets.org and West Brigford England www.greenstreetswb.blogspot.com.  We are constantly expanding to other areas and we need a lot of help.

Volunteering with Green Streets is an easy and rewarding way to give back to your community.  If you want to learn more about how to get involved visit our page: How to Get Involved.

Rewards and Sponsorships:

One unique and popular feature of Walk/Ride Days, is Green Streets’ innovative idea to include local businesses in the celebrations!  On Walk/Ride Day, people who wear and go green are eligible to partake in a host of rewards.  These rewards include everything from discounts at local retailers, to the chance to win prizes in our on-line raffle.  We call these businesses our Sponsors. To learn more about becoming a sponsor visit our page For Retail Sponsors.  To learn who our sponsors are click on the links by city: Cambridge, Somerville, Medford.

What Next?

Our approach to involving such a large number of people in one movement, is to ask individual citizens to bring Green Streets into their workplaces, community organizations, and schools.  Therein, these individuals acts as coordinators for our efforts.  This model asks diverse groups of people to take action into their own hands through a community-oriented approach. And we need you to be involved!

Our Website is one of our tools for organizing. Please use it, and all the information we have provided, to spread the word about Green Streets by:

• Getting involved
• Starting Walk/Ride Days in your own towns and cities
• Reading the Inspiring Stories on our website
• Reading our History, or…

Just participate in Walk/Ride Days by wearing and going green on the last Friday of every month!

Please also feel free to contact us for more information: walk-ride-days@comcast.net

Happy Movements!

The Green Streets’ Team.

In conjunction with the VOICES & BODIES performances happening at Springstep in Medford Square this Saturday (a capella vocals & body music, two shows, cafe seating with wine & food), there’s going to be an all-ages family workshop for just $5 earlier in the day:

Family Friendly Workshop – Hambone and “Found Sound”
(All Ages) with Evie Ladin
Saturday, November 14, 2:30-3:30pm Only 5 bucks!

During the time of slavery in the U.S., African slaves were not allowed to play any of the drums that were a part of their cultural communication. Without instruments, they turned their rhythmic knowledge in part to a body music called Hambone. Using traditional African-American Hambone as a start, this family-friendly, all-ages body percussion workshop will get people clapping, stomping, singing, and snapping with fun rhythms. Syncopated and funky, Hambone rhythms lie at the foundation of American music, and are easy and fun to learn. Often accompanied by songs, Hambone teaches some basic rhythmic coordination in the context of a traditional body percussion style.

Martha Stewert Online

Medford Square, Haines Square (Salem Street) and West Medford Square.

Friday, October 30,2009 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Participating businesses are identified by orange and black balloons in front of their establishment. This event is for children in costume, ages 9 and younger, who are accompanied by an adult.

Halloween Bash at St. Francis of Assisi Church (on the Fellsway)

4-9pm on Friday October 30th. Fun filled event for families and kids. Admission is $5 for children under 13, which includes a free candy bag – parents and all others are free. There will be free games, scary movies, candy prizes and dancing. Also, a pumpkin raffle, bounce house, halloween arts and crafts and
food may be purchased for a separate fee.

Meadow Glen Mall – Radio Disney Monster Mash October 31st 2009
On Halloween Night Radio Disney will be on hand for the Monster Mash. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes to this fun filled event. A huge inflatable haunted house will be on site and will be the perfect photo opportunity for parents to take pictures of their children. Photos will be available for free for parents to take on their own. The mall will not provide any cameras or other photography materials. Customers must bring their own cameras to take photos. This event will run from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm and will take place in and around Center Court.

* Join Radio Disney with music, prizes, games and fun!
* FREE event for kids 12 and under
* Costume contest

Saturday, October 24 at 1 pm – free concert for children.
“Music: The Incredible Time Machine!”

The Tufts Wind Ensemble invites children in the primary grades as our special guests as we journey through the beat, meter, and rhythms of music. Come skip, gallop, and march to the music of composers including John Philip Sousa, Dave Brubeck, and John Williams!

Free and open to the public. No tickets required. Distler Performance Hall

Questions: Please email edith.auner@yahoo.com