Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition

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Proposal to Allow Bicycling in Franklin Park - Starting in January 2010,
the Franklin Park Coalition, Dot Bike, DEHC and other local groups and individuals joined together to try and change the city of Boston’s rule that does not permit bicycling in Franklin Park. This new bike advocacy alliance hopes that the Boston Park Commission will officially allow bicycling on those paths that are wide enough to be classified as “shared use” between bicyclists and pedestrians. Shared paths with frequent use should be 10’, less used paths may be 8’. All paved paths in the park were carefully measured, recorded, and photographed.
While this rule is not enforced, and there are frequently bicyclists on the paths in Franklin Park, removing the rule will:
- Encourage bicycling as a healthy activity for children and adults;
- Offer bike commuters a safe cross-town route off of city streets for part of their ride.
- Enable park entrance and access improvements that will make it easier for bicyclists, wheelchairs, and parents pushing strollers to enter and move throughout the park.

Please contact the folks below with questions about biking in Franklin Park:
Christine Poff at the Franklin Park Coalition or Debbie Munson at DotBike

DEHC needs volunteers to help out with our air quality awareness program!
DEHC has several sets of nylon air quality banners designed to hang outdoors. Each banner is 3′ x 6′ and when they are hung in a prominent location show by their color - green, yellow or red - whether the day’s air quality is Good, Moderate or Unhealthy according to the EPA’s daily email notification system.

A stipend is available to each volunteer - it is their responsibility to hang/store the banners, check the daily email, and change to a different color banner when the air quality changes, from May through September. Currently, we have two banner notification locations, at Codman Square Health Center and at Bowdoin Street Health Center. Please get in touch if you are interested by calling 617-474-1478 or by emailing dorchesterenviro@gmail.com.

Why do I commute by bike? For lots of reasons, such as

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The city of Boston is updating its climate action plan goals for the years 2020 and 2050. What will it be like to live in Boston then? No one knows for sure, but anyone high school age now will be an adult by then and will be living with the results of decisions made today.
Young people have important ideas on climate change that need to be heard!

The city’s series of five Climate Action Workshops in February and March will be both educational and interactive with opportunities for attendees to provide ideas for the city’s climate action plan and energy efficiency program.  

The citywide Climate Action Youth Workshop is happening this Saturday, Feb. 27, from 11AM-2PM at Old South Church 645 Boylston Street, Copley Square. Registration will begin at 10AM. Free brunch will be served at 11AM.
 
If you are a young person consider attending to help develop recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop a green economy, be part of the solution to climate change. Please pass the information on to your friends/co-workers. Adults please share this opportunity with the youth in your programs.
This and all the other workshops are free, but pre-registration is required via email or call 617-635-3425.

FREE - Teen Environmental Job Fair features employers seeking young people who are interested in the environmental field.
Jobs for ages 16-22, noon to 4 PM, Maverick Landing Meeting Room, 31 Liverpool Street, East Boston
Food~Prizes~Workshops

Its that time of year again! The Neponset River Watershed Association is looking for Beetle Ranchers. Little beetles (”Galerucella”) are raised in local backyards then released to help control the exotic, invasive Purple loosestrife plants that have spread throughout local wetlands.

The vigorous Purple loosestrife outcompetes local, native wetland plants and changes habitat and food for native wildlife.

Galerucella change this trend. By feeding on Purple loosestrife, these beetles and their larvae can prevent the plants from growing as vigorously. Light is allowed into the wetland once again to nourish native plants, and fewer Purple loosestrife seeds are added to the seedbank.

NepRWA’s goal is to release enough Galerucella beetles in Fowl Meadow to reduce Purple loosestrife over the long-term, enable native plants to grow successfully, improve habitat and food for wildlife, and encourage wildlife to return.

To be a Beetle-Rancher:
• The spot where you plan to grow plants must receive at least 6 hours of sunlight (all day is best).
• You must be able to fit one kiddie pool in your growing space.
• You must be able to participate March through mid-July. During that time, you will receive training, prepare and/or pick-up ready-made materials, and also harvest, raise and release plants and beetles.

Beetle-ranching is a great activity for individuals, families, associations, classes, clubs, organizations, scouts and more.

To be a Beetle-Rancher, email Carly Rocklen, or call 781-575-0354 x303 by March 1st.

Please forward this message to anyone you know who may be interested!

Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Action will be hiring a full-time or part-time campaign organizer for the Diesel Pollution Solution campaign. This organizer will organize community and constituency group support for local, state, and federal action to clean-up polluting diesel vehicles.

The Diesel Pollution Solution is a coalition of local and state-wide advocacy groups working to improve air quality in MA. Diesel exhaust continue reading…

Beginning on April 22, 2010, federal law will require contractors that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools built before 1978, to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
Renovation work like window replacement, sanding & demolition can create lead dust & chips, which can harm children and adults. To protect against this risk, EPA is requiring new lead-safe renovation practices.

The New Lead-Based Paint, Renovation and Repair Painting Program (RRP) is a federal regulatory program affecting contractors, property managers & others who disturb painted surfaces.

• It applies to residential houses, apartments & child-occupied facilities such as schools & day-care centers built before 1978.

• New training, certification & work practice requirements become effective April 22, 2010. Firms are required to be certified, their employees must be trained in use of lead-safe work practices & lead-safe work practices that minimize occupants’ exposure to lead hazards must be followed.

For the more on the new RRP requirements click here
or call 800-424-LEAD (5323)

All are invited to a community meeting on Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 p.m., at All Saints’ Church Hall, 209 Ashmont Street.
Hear updates about Ashmont Station construction and the planned redesign of Peabody Square as part of the Dorchester Avenue Project. Representatives from the MBTA and Boston Transportation Department will be on hand to make presentations and answer questions.
For info: please call 617-825-3846 or email office@smams.org.

In 2009, advocates in the neighborhood were able to enjoy some hard-earned new and improved open spaces in the neighborhood, like the new Elmhurst Playground in the Talbot Norfolk Triangle neighborhood, the new “Paul’s Park” at Washburn and Howell Streets in the Polish Triangle, and the improvements to the Geneva Cliffs Urban Wild in Bowdoin-Geneva.

DEHC was involved in a number of these efforts as an integral part of the larger community, and we look forward collaborating for a strong 2010 continue reading…