Issue Number 2
January 2010
2010 with Groundwork Somerville!
In This Issue
GWS Events
GWS Volunteer Opportunities
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Greetings!

Here is an update on important opportunities to volunteer with Groundwork Somerville and attend GREAT community events!

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GWS Events in January 2010

Tree Tapping Thursday, FRESH on Monday!!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

TREE TAPPING EVENT!
3pm, meet at the corner of Professors Row and College Ave near Tufts Univeristy

Learn how to tap a tree, see how it was done before electric drills, and learn about maple syrup and the Somerville Maple Syrup Project. Kids welcome!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Agrowcity Sustainable Urban Agriculture Forum
6pm, Suffolk University, 73 Tremont Street, Boston

Groundwork Somerville's Gardens Coordinator will be presenting. Click Here for more information.

Monday, January 25th, 2010
"FRESH" Movie Screening
6pm, Arts at the Armory Cafe
191 Highland Ave.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Join Groundwork Somerville for a community screening and discussion of FRESH! A discussion will follow regarding how FRESH's message applies to Somerville and how we can continue to work for healthier, sustainable alternatives for our food system and our planet. Concessions will be on sale! Please RSVP and find more info about our Somerville community screening at: FRESH the movie. Click on "find a screening" to find our event.


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The National Park Preservers are hosting their first ever Food Drive to benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition's Project Soup (also a collaboration the Haitian Coalition to send food and items to Haiti!)

From January 8th- February 28th, the Groundwork Somerville National Park Preservers (NPP) will collect non-perishable foods (preferably proteins) for Project Soup. The NPP will place boxes in stores throughout Somerville and will also stand in the squares on Fridays through the month of January. Please stay tuned to the website for more information! For info on Project Soup, click here! To donate food, please visit any Davis-area businesses with drop boxes, or simply bring non-perishable items to the Groundwork Somerville office at 240 Elm Street, Suite B7 (Davis Square).

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Maple Syrup Project Boil Down

March 12th -14th, 2010 ALL DAY!

The Growing Center

22 Vinal Avenue, Somerville (right outside of Union Square)

Music, science, fun and much MORE

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GWS Volunteer opportunities 2010

After-school assistant:  (volunteer position, 1-2 hours in-club time per week plus travel) Assist Groundwork Somerville staff member at once-a-week after school gardens clubs.  Volunteers with experience working with elementary-aged students would commit to assist weekly at one Somerville Public school for the semester.  Clubs take place in seven elementary schools, start at 3 or 4pm and run for 1 to 1.5 hours. Winter session topics include plant life cycles/seeds, snow, worms/decomposition, trees in the winter, maple syrup, tracking animals in the snow, and healthy eating.  Spring session will be with middle school students and will focus on seed starting, garden preparation, and planting each school-yard garden.

Maple Syrup Project Educator: (volunteer position, 45min to 1.5hr in class time per week plus travel) For the past 9 years, Somerville community members have volunteered for the Maple Syrup Project.  For the in-school component, teams of 2-3 volunteers comfortable working with 2nd and 3rd graders visit classrooms and teach 4-6 weekly lessons in February and early March.  Multidisciplinary topics cover parts of a tree trunk, poetry, graphing, a year in the life of a tree, history of New England syruping, tree tapping/syrup production, measuring, and more.  Groundwork Somerville will provide curriculum, training, and coordination.  Lessons lead up to the Boil Down, on March 12-14, 2010.

Maple Sap Collector: Sap from tapped trees across Somerville is collected daily from January 22 through the end of February (depending on weather) by volunteers and put in refrigerated storage at Somerville Public Schools.  The Maple Syrup Project depends on the dedication of these weekday and weekend collectors.  Car or ability to tow a bike trailer in the winter needed.

Please contact Tai at [email protected] or call (617)628-9988 for more information.


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Meet the GWS Board of Directors

We are pleased to introduce you to four of the AMAZING members of our Board of Directors. Keep watching future emails to meet the rest!

Peter Mills manages the Energy Services and Solar Energy business areas at Boston-based Citizens Energy Corporation.  Prior to Citizens, Peter was the founding Director of the City of Somerville's Office of Sustainability & Environment.  While in Somerville, he developed a distinct sense for the value and importance of open green spaces within a dense, urban fabric, and was thrilled to discover that this need was being met in admirable fashion by Groundwork.  The city as a living workshop for sustainability continues to inspire Peter's involvement on the GWS board.
 

Brandy H. M. Brooks joined the Groundwork Somerville board in 2009, after running into Jen at meetings all throughout the year.  She has a professional and academic background in nonprofit management and community design, and she is passionate about developing healthy, sustainable and equitable communities in Massachusetts and beyond.  Brandy is a proud 12-year resident of Somerville and is excited to put her skills to work where she lives.  She is also on the board of the Community Action Agency of Somerville and on Somerville's Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.

 
Sylvia C DeLuca joined the Board of Directors this year after getting to know Groundwork through a summer youth event she was organizing for another community organization.  She is a commercial interior designer and associate at the Boston architectural firm Hacin + Associates.   Sylvia joined GWS because she feels strongly about environmentally responsible community development and, being an avid gardener, knows the positive impact of greening ones surroundings. 
 
Nancy Bernhard joined the Groundwork Board in 2004, after participating as a parent in the creation of the Healey School garden.  She is inspired by Somerville's history, neighborhoods, and community spirit, and is glad to live in a city that is a model for sustainable living and redevelopment. *Nancy is the current Board President and has been doing an inspirational job in this position.*

*Executive Director's note!

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We hope to see you around Somerville at one of our many upcoming events! See you soon.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jennifer Lawrence
Groundwork Somerville

*Please think about the environment before printing this email!*
240 Elm Street, Suite B7
Somerville, Massachusetts 02144