Alewife Brook water quality rates a D, environmentalists say

'[W]e also need collectively to invest in urban infrastructure at scale.'
      -- Patrick Herron

The Alewife Brook has the worst water quality of any Boston-area water body, a group of environmental groups say.

While the Charles, Mystic and Neponset rivers received A's and B's in annual report cards released Friday, July 15, the Mystic watershed’s tributary, Alewife, drew the lowest grade for a major stretch of any of the three-river systems — a D.

In response to the 2021 Three Rivers Report Card, Patrick Herron, executive director of the Arlington-based Mystic
River Watershed Association, said in a statement: “This year’s report card for the Mystic River Watershed reminds us how far we have come thanks to the 50-year-old Clean Water Act.

“But it also reminds us that we have more to do to meet its full promise. Many waterways in the Mystic watershed are safe for recreation most of the time, and we should celebrate that. But we also need collectively to invest in urban infrastructure at scale, so that all city residents living along and near the Mystic and its tributaries can enjoy and access the clean water they deserve.”

YourArlington asked David White and Kristin Anderson to respond on behalf of Save the Alewife Brook, a grass-roots group of Arlington residents who seek to improve water quality in the stream bordering Cambridge and Somerville. They wrote:

“Save the Alewife Brook agrees with Patrick Herron of the Mystic River Watershed Association that we need to focus our environmental-justice investments on areas where populations are being directly impacted by poor water quality like Alewife Brook.”

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From ACMi intern to ABC affiliate in Maine

ACMi has been contacting several former interns who’ve gone to bigger and better things in the TV news business.

Stephanie Wittenbach, a graduate of Emerson College, was an ACMi News intern in the fall of 2018. She now works for the ABC affiliate in Bangor, Maine, and we’re elated to hear she owes much of her success to what she absorbed here at ACMi.

See an interview with Jeff Barnd, ACMi news director.

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Pierce Press children's book creates waves with oceanographer's endorsement

Sheryl Davis

A new children's book from the Arlington-based Pierce Press – Ocean's Alive! by Sheryl Davis – has caught the eye of Dr. Sylvia Earle, a renowned oceanographer.

"I'm thrilled,” wrote Charlotte Pierce, the publisher.

Known as “Her Deepness” in the ocean conservation community, Earle writes in the introduction: “This book can show you, your family and friends ways to learn about and help protect our seas. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something to safeguard the ocean, Earth’s blue heart.”

Davis's first book, The Mystical Magical Abracadabracal Daniel McDougal McDouglas McFly, won two awards in 2019 from Story Monsters' Purple Dragonfly Awards.Ocean's Alive! continues the McFly series.

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13 applicants share $1m in community grants for 17 projects

 Mallory Sullivan

The Department of Planning and Community Development has announced the recipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the 48th year, which began July 1.

Thirteen applicants were selected to receive a total of $1,090,804 in grants for 17 projects in the areas of affordable housing, public services, parks, public facilities, infrastructure, planning and administration.

The CDBG subcommittee of the Select Board reviewed all of the applications that were received and made these funding recommendations, which were endorsed at Annual Town Meeting on May 23.  Here are the 17 and what each is to receive:

Affordable housing

• Caritas Communities, $110,000;
• Arlington Housing Authority, $250,000; 

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Deshler, 3 vice chairs lead Finance Committee

The Arlington Finance Committee has announced new leadership for the fiscal year that began July 1. Elected were Christine Deshler, chair, with vice chairs Darrel Harmer, Annie LaCourt and Alan Jones.

They replace Charles Foskett, who served as chair after longtime leader Al Tosti stepped down in 2020.

Deshler has served as a vice chair of the committee since 2017 and as a member since 2008. She has been a Precinct 19 Town Meeting member since 1994 and is a past member and chair of the Arlington Human Rights Commission, in addition to serving on several other town boards.

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State Senate backs reproductive, gender-affirming care

Friedman

Friedman files bill responding to Roe decision

The Massachusetts state Senate on Wednesday, July 13, unanimously passed a bipartisan bill protecting providers, residents and visitors to the Commonwealth who engage in legally protected reproductive and gender-affirming health care. The state House of Representatives passed similar legislation; a conference committee may reconcile the two versions.

An Act expanding protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care includes provisions preventing the commonwealth’s cooperation with bounty-style anti-abortion and anti-gender-affirming- care laws in other states. It mandates health insurance coverage for abortion and abortion-related care with no cost-sharing. And it ensures access to emergency contraception. It also provides confidentiality to providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care.

Senate Bill 2996, filed by Sen.Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), expands on her amendment to the Senate fiscal 2023 budget, filed in response to the leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson and adopted by the Senate in late May.

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Arlington students among those winning awards for environmental projects

A team of three environmental science students from Minuteman High School won gold medals at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta for their work certifying a vernal pool in the town of Bolton.

Abigail Bayer of Acton, Cameron French of Arlington and Kevin Mukherjee of Arlington, who will be juniors in Minuteman’s environmental science career major this fall, received the medals in the category “Career Pathways: Natural Resources: Agriculture and Food,” at the national competition, which was held in late June. The team previously won a gold medal at the SkillsUSA Massachusetts state competition in April.

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Thrive Juice Cafe to reopen Saturday

Derek Fleming smiles in 2019. 

Eleven and a half months after fire closed Thrive Juice Cafe, the East Arlington business plans to reopen Saturday, July 16. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Owner Derek Fleming cited delays by contractors as part of the slow return after an early morning blaze Aug. 28 hit the cafe and 13Forest, next door. The art gallery reopened in May.

Fleming plans have a ready smile and signature smoothies ready for the public.

Early reports last year put the fire damage to the two businesses at $65,000, but final figures were believed to be much higher.

At the time, Fleming told YourArlington: "It will be a long haul." For the business that opened in May 2018, it has been.

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