Conservation Commmision

Watertown High School Students Use Town Forest as a Living Laboratory

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When the Conservation Commission wanted to find out exactly what trees, plants and animals can be found in the town’s largest forested area, Commissioner Patick Fairbairn decided to enlist the help of students from Watertown High School. Last week, two honors biology classes spent the morning walking around Whitney Hill, the area overlooking Victory Field, detailing which species are located in 31 plots being studied on the hill. After coming up with the idea to enlist the help of students, Fairbairn approached School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer to ask if a combined effort with the schools could be possible. After speaking with a number of people, he found a WHS teacher who was interested. “Erik Hiltunen was a teacher who saw the value of observation over a long period of time,” Fairbairn said.

Environment

Residents Worry About Fate of Trees During Greenough Greenway Work

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A recent tour of the renovation of Greenough Boulevard brought up some concerns for advocates for trees and the environment. 

The Department of Conservation and Recreation teamed with the Solomon Foundation to install a new, wider bicycle and pedestrian path, and reduce the width of the roadway from Arsenal Street to Cambridge, near the Eliot Bridge and Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School (BB&N). The Solomon Foundation provided $500,000 to help make the Greenough Greednway improvements a reality along with $700,000 in public funds. Herb Nolan, deputy director of the Solomon Foundation, said the work is beginning to shape up well. “I am very excited about this,” Nolan said. “Looking at the scale of the space (of the path) compared to what was here before is a breath of fresh air.

Environment

Town Has Trees to Plant in Front of Watertown Homes

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Want a tree for the front of your home, Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward may have one for you. 

He will soon begin planting street trees around town, and he has a long list of species, including small trees for the front yard, medium sized ones and large shade trees. A complete list can be found by clicking here. For more information contact Chris Hayward at 617-972-6426 or chayward@watertown-ma.gov

Environment

Grant for ‘Green’ Lights, Fire Negotiations Update & Heroin Crisis Discussion

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Watertown will replace several hundred street lights with energy efficient LED lights thanks to a grant awarded to the town by the state. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the awarding of a $207,505 Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources grant to Watertown as part of the Green Community Competitive Grant program, Town Manager Michael Driscoll told the Town Council Tuesday. The money, along with $92,495 in incentives from Eversource, will pay for the $300,000 project to replace 800 high-pressure sodium and mercury vapor street lights with LED lights, Driscoll said. The new lights will provide the equivalent amount of light while consuming 62 percent less energy,” Driscoll said. The town is expected to save $50,000 in energy costs annually.

Environment

Find Out About Getting a Solar for Your Home

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People interested in adding a solar system to their home can attend an informational meeting in Cambridge. 

The informational meeting about a time-limited solar offer sponsored by Green Cambridge and Neighborhood Solar will be held at the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave., on July 7, 2015, at 7 p.m. Neighborhood Solar is a Watertown-based solar initiative designed to be local, fair, and transparent. Details are available at neighborhoodsolar.org. The program is open to all residents, businesses, and non-profits in Watertown and Cambridge. Anyone residing in a neighboring community who wishes to participate can do so by contacting Jocelyn Tager at info@neighborhoodsolar.org to determine eligibility.

Around Town

President of Environmental League of Mass. Speaking at Local Gathering

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Watertown Citizens will welcome a special guest from the Environmental League of Massachusetts at its annual meeting. 

George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, will be the featured speaker at Watertown Citizens Annual Meeting. All are invited to attend. He will speak on “The State of the Environmental Movement in Massachusetts: Information, Education, Advocacy.”

“This event will be a good opportunity for people to learn firsthand about current Massachusetts environmental issues from a leader whose position puts him at the center of environmental policy as viewed by lawmakers, administrators, advocates and business leaders,” said the Watertown Citizens announcement. Bachrach and his family are long-term residents of Watertown and he served as the town’s state senator for three terms in the 1980s. The event is  on Sunday, June 7 at the Auditorium at The Apartments at Coolidge School, 319 Arlington St. in Watertown.

Environment

Residents, Town Officials Outraged by Hacking of Trees in Watertown

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Trees along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown got a severe pruning or in some cases were cut down completely, a move that has upset residents and town officials alike. 

Last week, residents noticed that the trees on the street that runs along the Charles River had been cut by crews. The trees stand on land owned by the state and overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Residents began contacting DCR officials, state representatives and Town Councilors to ask for the tree trimming to be halted. While they are state owned, the DCR was supposed to alert the Watertown Conservation Commission and the town Tree Warden, Chris Hayward, to let them know about the plan, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “They are supposed to do that.

Environment

LETTER: Watertown Residents Can Join Neighborhood Solar Program

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It is with great pleasure that Neighborhood Solar II is launched. Green Cambridge is partnering with Neighborhood Solar to help promote this program in Cambridge. Right now, Massachusetts has excellent solar incentives and the federal government is giving a 30 percent tax credit through 2016. The goal of Neighborhood Solar is to combine these incentives and tax credits with the best solar prices and the best solar quality and craftsmanship. With this in mind, and based on the success of Neighborhood Solar I, SunBug Solar has agreed to be the installer.