August 2022 - Neighbors - lists.buenavistasocialclub.org

Meeting tonight (6:30!) re office/lab space development at 32, 40, 44 Whit Street
by raryals 31 Aug '22

31 Aug '22

SPONSORED BY WARD 5 CITY COUNCILOR Beatriz Gómez MouakadThe Developer, SGL Development Inc., their legal counsel, Adam Dash, Esq.,and the Architect, Peter Quinn Architects, shall be present to speak withneighbors and answer any questions.WHEN: Wednesday, August 31stTIME: 6:30 PMZOOM LOGIN: https://tinyurl.com/WhiteStMeeting <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tinyurl.com/WhiteStMeeting&sa=D&source…>Telephone: (646) 931-3860 or (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 874 8910 0205For more information about the meeting please contactWard 5 City Councilor Beatriz Gómez Mouakadcell: (617) 216-0199/ email: gomezmouakad.ward5(a)gmail.com -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Fwd: [Porter square] Could we all start focusing our attention on the BIGGER isssue of our public transportation issues?
by raryals 31 Aug '22

31 Aug '22

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Pat Jehlen <patjehlen(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 1:22 PM Subject: Re: [Porter square] Could we all start focusing our attention on the BIGGER isssue of our public transportation issues? To: raryals <raryals(a)gmail.com> https://mailchi.mp/electpatjehlen/trouble-with-a-capital-t-august-2022?e=bd… hi ruth, i think it's worth looking at the past. if you don't understand how we got here, decades of underfunding as well as management focusing (if at all) on capital plans rather than operation, it's hard to find solutions. i don't think i was very tough on the gov, certainly not as furious as i feel... would it be ok to share this? hope you're doing well. Pat On Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 1:13 PM raryals <raryals(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Instead of using our energy, and everybody's time, to play gotcha on one > side or the other in the bikes v. parking issues, could we ALL pay > attention (and give our energy) to the report out today from the feds on > the MBTA's many failings (for starters), and start looking at the larger > transportation issues strangling MA workers, businesses, residents, > visitors? > > There are so many problems, issues and opportunities here, not limited to > the MBTA, that we ought to be discussing and sharing > studies/articles/approaches to the larger issues of transportation in this > state (think commerce-biz and workers, climate change, tourism, our > educational institutions, .....). > > Let's start here: > > > https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/31/metro/read-full-fta-report-mbta-safe… > > I welcome any of the articles and research you can post here, but let's > try to focus on solutions, not blame. > > > Ruth > > -- > Ruth Ryals > raryals(a)gmail.com > > -- > View this message at > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/portersquare/topic-id/message-id > > -- > To post to this group, send email to portersquare(a)googlegroups.com > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/portersquare > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > portersquare+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Porter Square Neighbors Association" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to portersquare+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/portersquare/CANCjpgQOEApG1FeAMLGFTCP5p4k… > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/portersquare/CANCjpgQOEApG1FeAMLGFTCP5p4k…> > . > -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Fwd: Could we all start focusing our attention on the BIGGER isssue of our public transportation issues?
by raryals 31 Aug '22

31 Aug '22

Instead of using our energy, and everybody's time, to play gotcha on one side or the other in the bikes v. parking issues, could we ALL pay attention (and give our energy) to the report out today from the feds on the MBTA's many failings (for starters), and start looking at the larger transportation issues strangling MA workers, businesses, residents, visitors? There are so many problems, issues and opportunities here, not limited to the MBTA, that we ought to be discussing and sharing studies/articles/approaches to the larger issues of transportation in this state (think commerce-biz and workers, climate change, tourism, our educational institutions, .....). Let's start here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/31/metro/read-full-fta-report-mbta-safe… I welcome any of the articles and research you can post here, but let's try to focus on solutions, not blame. Ruth -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Fwd: [Porter square] First neighborhood meeting for redevelopment of 32-44 White Street -- Wed 31 August, 6:30 pm
by raryals 27 Aug '22

27 Aug '22

FYI ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Karen Molloy <karenmolloy(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Aug 27, 2022 at 12:25 PM Subject: [Porter square] First neighborhood meeting for redevelopment of 32-44 White Street -- Wed 31 August, 6:30 pm To: Porter Square Neighbors Association <portersquare(a)googlegroups.com> The first neighborhood meeting for the redevelopment of 32-44 White Street (the block of the former Fleming printing company) will be held Wednesday 31 August, at 6:30 pm. The plan is for a four-story technology/laboratory office building. For zoom link, flyer, and more info, see: https://www.somervillema.gov/events/2022/08/31/neighborhood-meeting-32-44-w… - Karen Molloy =================== karenmolloy(a)gmail.com -- View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/portersquare/topic-id/message-id -- To post to this group, send email to portersquare(a)googlegroups.com Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/portersquare To unsubscribe from this group, send email to portersquare+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Porter Square Neighbors Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to portersquare+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/portersquare/CAMrOgH3LC0inUHpt-6kQQ1H9NYm… <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/portersquare/CAMrOgH3LC0inUHpt-6kQQ1H9NYm…> . -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Cambridge to Temporarily Switch to MWRA Water for Remainder of 2022
by RUTH RYALS 26 Aug '22

26 Aug '22

> > > City of Cambridge > > Contact: Lee Gianetti, Director of Communications > lgianetti(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:lgianetti@cambridgema.gov > > For Immediate Release > > > Cambridge to Temporarily Switch to MWRA Water for Remainder of 2022 > Increasing PFAS Levels and Impending Filter Upgrades Prompt Change > > Cambridge, MA, August 26, 2022 – The City of Cambridge today announced that it will temporarily begin sourcing its water from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) starting Tuesday, August 30, 2022. The Cambridge Water Department anticipates that the MWRA will exclusively supply all of Cambridge’s public water through the end of the year. Even though Cambridge owns and maintains its watershed, it is also a member of the MWRA. > > The two contributing factors to Cambridge’s decision to temporally switch to MWRA water are increasing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) levels in our finished water and supply chain delays for the upcoming replacement of the filter media used to treat the drinking water at the Walter J. Sullivan Water Treatment Facility, located at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway in Cambridge, with new Granular Activated Carbon filter media. The filter media replacement, expected to be completed in November 2022, will strengthen the Cambridge Water Department’s ability to remove PFAS from the water supply. > > “Initial results for August showed PFAS levels trending upwards and September results are generally highest and so out of an abundance of caution, the Cambridge Water Department will be temporarily switching to MWRA water to eliminate potential health effects from PFAS levels above the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulatory standard,” said Sam Corda, Managing Director of the Cambridge Water Department. “Cambridge’s temporary use of MWRA water will continue until we replace filters with new Granular Activated Carbon filter media in our treatment plant. Replacing the filter media will ensure that our PFAS levels will be reliably and consistently below the MassDEP regulatory standard in the short and long term.” > > Cambridge water comes from the Stony Brook Watershed, nested in the Charles River Basin, in the towns of Lincoln, Lexington, Weston, and the City of Waltham. The water makes its way by gravity through tributaries, reservoirs, and pipes to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, where it is pumped into the Walter J. Sullivan Purification Facility for treatment. Finally, the finished water is pumped to and stored in the underground Payson Park Reservoir in Belmont, where it is fed by gravity to the residents and businesses of Cambridge. > > “Massachusetts has some of the strictest PFAS standards in the country, and the Cambridge Water Department is committed to maintaining and supplying high-quality water to our community,” said Owen O’Riordan, Acting City Manager. “We have decided to temporarily switch to MWRA water until the Cambridge Water Department replaces the existing filter media with new Granulated Activated Carbon filter media in our Water Treatment Plant. Unfortunately, the replacement process is taking longer due to supply chain issues, and our temporary switch to MWRA water reflects our commitment to providing all residents with a safe drinking water supply, especially those sensitive subgroups such as pregnant or nursing women, infants, and people with a compromised immune system who are most impacted by increased PFAS levels.” > > The temporary switch to MWRA water is expected to cost approximately $2 million per month. > > Like many public water supply operators, the City has been aware of the emergence of PFAS as contaminants of concern in recent years. The MassDEP standard for the level of PFAS in public drinking water is 20 nanograms per liter (ng/l), or 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for six specific compounds called “PFAS6”. The Water Department has complied with the MassDEP regulations at all times since it started monitoring for PFAS in August 2019 and has also been proactively monitoring for PFAS in its water supply reservoirs since that time (Hobbs Brook, Stony Brook, and Fresh Pond) to stay on top of this emerging issue. > > The MassDEP promulgated a new regulation on October 2, 2020, for the six PFAS compounds designated as PFAS6. Within about a year from when this new regulation was adopted, the City tested and obtained approval from the MassDEP to replace the Granular Activated Carbon filter media in its Walter J. Sullivan Water Treatment Facility to strengthen our ability to remove PFAS from the water supply. The purchase and replacement of the Granular Activated Carbon filter media was bid out and subsequently awarded in May. The Cambridge Water Department is awaiting the formal implementation schedule from the vendor, with the anticipated start date of this work being Fall 2022. When the filter media are replaced, it is anticipated that our PFAS levels will be lower and reliably and consistently below state regulations. > > For additional information about PFAS and the Cambridge Water Department, visit www.cambridgema.gov/water. http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=7zFBvZry39J5K5cdwsweCO… > > > -###- http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=iNz98fGjAij26T-2FVbfVb… >

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Fwd: Pay it Forward
by RUTH RYALS 26 Aug '22

26 Aug '22

Can anyone help out? Ruth > ---------- Original Message ---------- > From: Marc McGovern <marcmcgovern(a)gmail.com> > To: Marc McGovern <marcmcgovern(a)gmail.com> > Date: 08/25/2022 5:01 PM > Subject: Pay it Forward > > > Dear friends; > > I'm posting on behalf of my friend, Mike Thistle. Mike is a great guy who has had a rollercoaster life. Mike was a professional basketball player invited to try out with the Celtics in the 80s and then went on to play professional basketball in Europe. Mike's career was cut short when he was diagnosed with cancer. Mike returned to the States, but now out of basketball, he lost his health insurance and soon found himself bankrupt and homeless. Between his cancer, homelessness and depression, Mike became an alcoholic and struggled with addiction. > > I met Mike six years ago while he was selling Spare Change News in front of the WholeFoods on Prospect Street in Cambridge. He was still unhoused and struggling with sobriety. I worked with Mike to secure a housing voucher and a studio apartment for him through Cambridge’s Inclusionary Housing program. > > Mike is now five years sober. He earned his license as a Peer Addiction Counselor and now works at a non-profit helping others with sobriety. He's doing great and has completely turned his life around. > > Mike's job requires him to have a car as he travels to various communities to meet with his clients. Mike's car is on its last legs; without a replacement, he will lose his job and possibly his housing. > > I am trying to help Mike raise $7,000, so he can purchase a decent, used car. I know times are difficult for everyone but my hope is that collectively we can pull together and help Mike. He has worked so hard to turn his life around and is paying it forward by helping others. Unfortunately, Mike's job doesn't pay him much, and he isn't able to make this purchase on his own. > > Mike is too proud to ask for help, so here I am. If possible, please consider contributing anything you can to the Mike Thistle Car Fund, and let's show Mike how much we care. > > If you would like to contribute, please visit: https://gofund.me/516f10f8 > > Thank you, > > Marc McGovern >

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Fwd: Clarification: Meet Your Neighbor Day on 9/18/2022 is more than just block parties!!
by RUTH RYALS 25 Aug '22

25 Aug '22

Hello Neighbors, I am going to suggest we schedule our Buena Vista Social Club annual cookout for September 18, roughly 3-7pm. I know September is already getting very busy so I wanted to get a day on the calendar. We also need volunteers to help pull this off again. Almost everyone OK with that day? Ruth > ---------- Original Message ---------- > From: "Corr, Brian" <bcorr(a)cambridgema.gov> > To: Peace <Peace(a)CambridgeMA.GOV> > Date: 08/24/2022 3:04 PM > Subject: Clarification: Meet Your Neighbor Day on 9/18/2022 is more than just block parties!! > > > > I’ve realized that my last email may have made it sound like Meet Your Neighbor Day is just about block parties – but it’s so much more! (I just wanted to make sure people were aware of the block party application deadline.) There are some ideas below, and see the attached PDFs for more information, tips, and ideas! > > Recognizing the power of grassroots, locally-based action, Meet Your Neighbor Day is a chance to plan something that can bring together your neighbors in that way that works for you! Here are just a few ideas for your special gathering: > > > Fun Ideas: > > * Neighborhood party > * Welcome new neighbors > * Yard sale > > Games (Great ice breaker activities!): > > * Charades > * Board games > * Dominoes > * Other games with themes of unity > > Food and Drink: > > * Potluck > * Barbecue > * Dessert party/ice cream social > > Neighborhood Projects: > > * Neighborhood service project, followed by a fun gathering > * Neighborhood walking tour > > Community Agencies and Local Businesses: > > * Partner with a local arts organization to highlight cultural diversity > * Invite local nonprofit organizations to come with information about their services > * Involve local businesses to have an open house, or use their facilities for an event > > > > > --------------------------------------------- > > > [Meet Your Neighbor Day] https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/peacecommission/meetyourneighborday Meet Your Neighbor Day 2022: > Sunday, September 18, 2022! > > Convened by the Cambridge Peace Commission in partnership with the Citizens' Committee on Civic Unity, Meet Your Neighbor Day is the third Sunday in September each year. It is an invitation for you to plan something that can bring together your neighbors — in a way that works for you! > > Recognizing the power of grassroots, locally-based action, this is a Cambridge-specific approach to building connections and community in our amazing city. > > • For more information and ideas for your special gathering visit the Meet Your Neighbor Day page https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/peacecommission/meetyourneighborday . > • To submit your event visit: https://forms.gle/JAEd7y6hk2rBhCqb8 https://forms.gle/JAEd7y6hk2rBhCqb8 > • You can also download the Peace Commission's fact sheet and frequently asked questions! https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/peacecommission/meetyourneighbord… > • A block party https://www.cambridgema.gov/traffic/Permits/blockparties is a community-based event hosted by a group of neighbors, a nonprofit organization, or an association on a City street requiring closing of a portion of the street, on a single block, for part of a day. If you want to do a block party, you need to start the process earlier and get your neighbors to sign on and submit the completed application to the Traffic, Parking & Transportation Department 30 by Friday, Sept. 2 for this year’s Meet Your Neighbor Day! (Think of it as another great way to get to know your neighbors!). All the information is at https://cambridgema.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1122/record-types/6691. > > Meet Your Neighbor Day is inspired by the growing need to connect with each other, we have borrowed from two national initiatives, and adapted them to fit the needs of our city. It’s built on the foundation of two nationwide efforts — Welcoming America http://www.welcomingamerica.org/ ’s “Welcoming Week” and the “National Neighborhood Day http://www.neighborhoodday.org/ ” initiative — and organized in collaboration with another City of Cambridge partner — the Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/Board/1096-Citizens-Committee-on-Civi… . > > * National Neighborhood Day inspires, builds, and sustains the neighborhood relationships that provide the foundation for civic action and the building of stronger, more caring and effective communities. > * Welcoming Week brings communities together long-time residents, newcomers, and everyone in between in a spirit of unity to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone – including new Americans. > > > Meet Your Neighbor Day is a chance to plan something that can bring together your neighbors in that way that works for you! > > Brian Corr > Pronouns: he/him/his > Executive Director, Cambridge Peace Commission > City of Cambridge, Massachusetts > 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139 > 617.349.4694 office • 617.349.4766 fax > bcorr(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:bcorr@cambridgema.gov > http://www.cambridgema.gov/peace http://www.cambridgema.gov/peace > > > Please note that this is not an automated email list. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click here to send me an email message asking to be removed mailto:bcorr@cambridgema.gov?subject=Brian%20--%20Please%20remove%20me%20from%20the%20Peace%20Commission%20email%20list . >

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Fall Job Openings at the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs
by raryals 23 Aug '22

23 Aug '22

>From the City of Cambridge: Are you or someone you know looking for a job in Cambridge this fall? Do you enjoy working with young children, middle schoolers, or teens? The City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) is hiring for a variety of child and youth-serving positions! DHSP’s part-time positions earn $20-24 per hour and full-time positions offer salary and benefits. Learn more about the open positions and how to apply: https://camb.ma/DHSPJobs. -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Don"t be fooled by a light rain. We are about 10 inches down....
by raryals 22 Aug '22

22 Aug '22

Cambridge residents: We are in a Drought Emergency. Please consider leaning into the Cambridge Citizen's "Brigade" to help water City (and our own!) trees. The City does not have enough human-power to do it and is eager to partner with residents. This is an "all hands on deck" situation. What you can do now: 1. Identify young/mature trees around you that need watering and water them 2-3x a week from now through end of September (updates to come as needed). Use a watering can, a hose or better: Get your own tree bag or get free ones from DPW (Call: 617 349 4800). 2. Encourage your neighbors/kids/others to engage, too. 3. Sign up to be on a tree-saving mailing list (Email: Cambridge4Trees(a)gmail.com) We are building up a list of people who want to help preserve the city's trees and grow our urban canopy as tree care will be an ongoing issue for YEARS to come. Thanks for your help and please share this! -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Fwd: News Archives - Cambridge Day
by raryals 22 Aug '22

22 Aug '22

We have done it again! Would we had today's weather.... https://www.cambridgeday.com/category/news/

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