Save the Harbor / Save the Bay Releases Beaches Report Card

 

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay issued its first annual "Water Quality Report Card" on the region's public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket on Wednesday morning at 9:00 - 1-:00 the Exchange Conference Center on Boston's Fish Pier.

To assess and compare the water quality conditions on each beach, the group looked at the percentage of tests exceeding the state swimming standard of 104 cfu/100ml of Enterococcus.

Overall Beach Safety from “Best to Worst”

Nantasket	100%
South Boston @ M Street	98.60%
South Boston @ City Point	98.60%
South Boston @ Carson (Bathhouse and I Street)	97.30%
South Boston @ Pleasure Bay	94.50%
Wollaston @ Rice Road	93.20%
Constitution Beach - East Boston	93.20%
Malibu Beach - Dorchester	91.70%
Savin Hill Beach - Dorchester	91.70%
Nahant Beach	88.50%
Wollaston @ Milton Road	87.70%
Wollaston @ Channing Street	87.70%
Revere Beach	87.50%
Wollaston@ Sachem Street	86.30%
Winthrop Beach	84.60%
Short Beach  - Revere	83.30%
Tenean Beach - Dorchester	79.50%
King’s Beach - Lynn	73.20%

"Some of the region's beaches, including Nantasket Beach in Hull and the South Boston beaches, are safe for swimming nearly every day and rank among the cleanest urban beaches in the nation" said Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's Bruce Berman.

"Many others are doing quite well.  However there continue to be pollution problems at some of the region's public beaches, including most of Wollaston Beach in Quincy, at Tenean Beach in Dorchester and at King's Beach in Lynn.  We need to address them all if we are to achieve the late Judge A. David Mazzone's often stated goal of beaches that are safe for swimming "Damn near every day!"

Last year Nantasket Beach in Hull was the "Gold Standard" for the metropolitan region's beaches, earning a 100% rating for beach safety. The South Boston Beaches came in a close second, averaging better than 98%. Tenean Beach in Dorchester and Kings Beach in Lynn each failed more than 20% of the tests performed in 2012.

The results were made public at the initial meeting of Save the Harbor's Beaches Science Advisory Committee, convened to conduct a systematic review of water quality and beach flagging accuracy on the region's public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket.

"Our goal is to help turn the data into information that people can use to make decisions," said Dr. James Shine of the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard University, who co-chairs the science committee along with Dr. Judith Pederson, a coastal resource specialist at the MIT Sea Grant College Program. "As scientists, we are here to focus on the facts," said Dr. Pederson. "It is Save the Harbor's job as an advocacy organization to build a consensus on how to address the situation going forward."

Berman, who teaches marine science and management at Boston University, agrees. "The scientists and technical advisors play a critical role in increasing our understanding of the causes of these problems, and can help us evaluate proposed solutions. But at the end of the day, this isn't just about the science, it is about our shared values and the love we have for these beaches."

By all accounts, the Deer Island sewage treatment plant and the Mass Bay outfall pipe have dramatically improved the health of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay since they were completed in 2001. However, Berman noted that the first phases of the Boston Harbor Project were not intended to solve all of the problems that cause pollution on our region's public beaches. "The remaining problems need to be addressed on a "beach by beach" and "pipe by pipe" basis, as we did in South Boston with remarkable success" said Berman, "and that's exactly what we propose to do."

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay also asked the science committee for advice on ways to better protect the public’s health and access to clean water by improving the current beach flagging system. 

"Posting yesterdays test results on the beach is simply not a sensible way to let the pubic know if it is safe to swim today" said Berman. "Most of our beaches deserve a fairly high grade, but I would flunk the red flags."

Here is a link to Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's 2012 Beach Water Quality Report Card
for the Boston Harbor Region's public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket.

Here is the data on which the report card was based, which was presented at
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Beaches Science Advisory Committee meeting
at the Exchange Conference Center on Boston's Fish Pier on Wednesday, May 30 2012.

MWRA Presentation (Background and Water Quality Testing Methods)
EPA Presentation (Past and Future Water Quality Criteria)
EPA Presentation (Rapid Testing Methods)
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's Report (Beach Safety ad Flagging Accuracy)

Here is an Executive Summary of the results.
Here is the Data on which our report is based.
You can find a Press Release about the report here.

Here are two useful papers - on Antecedent Rain and
an analysis of posting based on the Previous Day's Results.

For insight into our values, view Save the Harbor's television commercial about beach flagging,
view our short video "Water Power" or visit our webpage at www.savetheharbor.org

If you have any questions, please contact Bruce Berman at
bruce@bostonharbor.com or by phone at 617-293-6243

Seals of Approval for our Marine Mammal Safari!

After a fairly mild winter (and a freezing but fun Cupid Splash in March!) it's finally Spring on the Harbor -- and we couldn't be more excited for the season ahead! And what better way to kick it off our spring and summer programs than free boat trips for kids and families out on Boston Harbor?

This past Saturday, April 28th, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay took boatloads of kids, families, and community groups out on our annual Marine Mammal Safari to search for the harbor seals and porpoises that make Boston Harbor their home every Spring. We took 2 three-hour trips out past Deer Island, Spectacle Island, and Georges Island, around the Brewsters, and past Boston light, learning about each location as we went. We had truly gorgeous weather all day, and there were exciting seal sightings on both trips!

Out of several different seal sightings that morning, I'd say that the first boat's highlight of the day was a pair of harbor seals hauled out on the rocks off of Georges Island, lounging in the beautiful weather. We were having a nice, relaxing morning on deck, warmed by the sun, and the seals were doing the same! The second boat of the day saw some seals off of Gallops Island as they rounded Georges Island. The four porpoises that reportedly have been spending the past few weeks in the Harbor seemed to have eluded us. Keep an eye out for them when you're out on the water in the next few weeks, because they're around here somewhere-- and the kids had a great time searching for them anyway! Porpoises aside, with so many seal sightings, everyone on board both trips got to see some marine mammals, making this another successful year for the Marine Mammal Safaris, which we have been running since 1998.

Families and groups joined us from all over the city, including Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, East Boston and South Boston-- and we even had the Urban Scholars program at UMass and a group of students and professors from Boston University join us as well! We had families from outside Boston hop aboard the boat, too-- from Chelsea, Malden, Gardner, Stoughton, Lynn, Melrose, and more. And one family of five joined us from France, getting to see Boston Harbor and it's environment as most tourists don't have the chance to do. We truly had people aboard from all over the city, region, and world!

Many thanks to Massachusetts Bay Lines for their continued support of the Marine Mammal Safari trips, as well as our sponsors at Gillette, State Street Foundation, John Hancock, JetBlue, and National Grid for making these trips possible. We're so proud to be able to bring so many kids and families closer to Boston Harbor and its marine life each spring, and I personally love to see so many kids as excited about spending a day out on the water when they board the boat as when they depart. It really got me excited for our All Access Boston Harbor program this summer, when we'll be hosting similar trips for youth groups to Spectacle Island and Georges Island for four days a week in July and August! Contact me at palermino@savetheharbor.org if your group wants to find out more!

Thanks to everyone who joined us. We'll see you all on the Harbor this spring and summer!

All the best,

Michelle Palermino

Spectacular Park Serve Day on Spectacle Island!

Superintendent Bruce Jacobson of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park,
Deputy Commissioner Jack Murray of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and
Vice President Susan Fagan of Coca-Cola greet volunteers at Long Wharf.

On Saturday, April 21 dozens of volunteers from Coca-Cola teamed up with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for a community service project on Spectacle Island during the first-ever Coca-Cola Scholars National Day of Service as part of the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Park Serve Day 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars and volunteers at Spectacle Island

The trip out to the island was amazing! Though the day was cloudy as we boarded the boat, the skies had cleared by the time we arrived at Spectacle Island, to help get the island ready for the season.

 I loved seeing the Boston skyline from the water and other Boston Harbor landmarks like Pleasure Bay and Castle Island. We were greeted by many warm and friendly faces from the DCR. Our group broke out into smaller teams and helped by moving brush, removing trash, and weeding. The work was challenging, but it was rewarding to see how quickly a group of dedicated people could work together and finish a project.

Spectacle Island caretaker Alan Rilla, with Coca-Cola Scholars
Carl Kubler, Carolina Beltran, and Danni Xie

Ann Champagne

All in all, it was a great day, the sun came out, and everyone had fun! This trip made me really see how many great outdoor opportunities are around Boston and I hope to return to Spectacle Island in the near future!

Group photo at the end of the day at the top of Spectacle Island
with Boston Harbor and the city in the background

Thanks to everyone who came to help out and make the day such a great success!

Davida

Fun in the sun

Today was my second day of fishing with Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay in front of the Boston Children's Museum. The weather and time helped get more kids to come out and fish with the crew. It was very sunny out and the tide was high. Construction across the Chanel was quiet so maybe there was more fish out. Fishing was very fun. Once we got the rods and set up everything, it was time to fish. Since I learned a little about fishing the other day, I was prepared for what was ahead of me. Many kids started showing interest in fishing and wanted to fish. Since most of the kids were young and didn't know how to fish it was my job to help them. I was able to show the kids how to fish and even though it took awhile it was worth the wait. Once I showed the kids how to fish they were fascinated and in love with it. The kids stayed fishing for over 30 minutes and didn't even want to leave, hassling their parents to let them stay. To see all of them have a blast was amazing and even though we were not able to catch fish everyone had a great day. I look forward to hopefully helping Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay in the summer with fishing.

Christian Aguilar

My First Day

My name is Christian Aguilar I am 15 and I attend Trinity Catholic High School. Today was my first day of my April Break internship at Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay. I was sent here from my middle school Epiphany, who has a graduate support program to help recent graduates. I was sent here to get a feeling of how it is to work in a office space so I can be a little more familiar with having a job.

Coming into the job I didn’t know much about the organization just that the program was involved with the ocean. When I first got there I was very nervous about what was ahead of me. I got to meet most of the crew at the meeting and learn somewhat of what the company is up to. The crew was very welcoming and opened. Then I was assigned a job which was to learn about the organization and find out what they do for the community and how it benefits Boston. After doing some research and some walking around along the pier it finally hit me I knew what the program was about. Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay is not your “typical environmental organization”. They don’t always look to the government for help. The company is built from knowledge and fundamentals. The task of the program is to clean up the dirty and horrible stench of Boston Harbor. They set up goals to make the dirty water to pure water. I think the motto of the program is to save the sea life and make the water clean enough to swim in.

Looking around I got to see many sights like the boats sailing around in the smooth water or just parked in the water waiting to be used. Also I got to see many nice restaurants with high class service and food that wowed my eyes. Walking around was amazing I got to smell the fresh smell of the ocean and fish. I got to see the world trade center and the body of clean water that surrounds it. I also got to see all the minute businesses that are running along the side of the ocean. There were so many sights but next to all the sights I saw the beautiful water that surrounds those sights. I’m looking forward to fishing at the children’s museum and also joining the crew on a trip out on the water.

Maybe ill see you at the Children's Museum later!

- Christian Aguilar

Boston Harbor Heroes - 2012

Friday, March 30, 2012

Last year, on the occasion of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's 25th Anniversary, we produced a short video and established an award honoring the many Boston Harbor Heroes for the role they played in the Boston Harbor success story. 

On March 30, 2012 at "Destination Boston Harbor 2012" at the InterContinental Boston, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay proudly recognized 5 new "Boston Harbor Heroes" for their commitment to our city, our community, and the harbor we have worked so hard to restore and protect.

Lowell Richards of MASSPORT, who left us so suddenly on February 5, but will always be in our hearts. He served our city - and the Commonwealth - in so many ways that it is simply impossible to list them all here tonight.
 

Professor Charles Haar of Harvard University, who passed away on January 10 after an extraordinary career.  His work as Special Master in the Boston Harbor Case has served as a roadmap for the restoration of Boston Harbor.

Harold Sparrow of the YMCA of Greater Boston, who has worked tirelessly as a member of Save the Harbor's board of Directors to ensure that there will always be a place for young people from all of Boston's neighborhoods on Boston Harbor, our waterfront, our beaches and in the Boston Harbor Islands.

 Ronda Ivy McLeod of Jet Blue Airways, whose support for our "Better Beaches Program" has helped Save the Harbor strengthen waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket.

Will Clark, a sophomore at St. John's University, who joined us as a junior program assistant, grew into one of our lead "Boston Harbor Explorers" - and today serves with Thi Tran and Connor Newman as Co-Chair of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's Youth Committee.

Thanks to all of them, and to all Boston Harbor Heroes!

Harpoon Helps Save the Harbor Make a Big Splash!

 

On Saturday, March 24th, more than 200 supporters of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay from 8 waterfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket simultaneously dashed and splashed into the chilly ocean in the 2nd Annual Harpoon Helps Cupid Splash. Together, they raised $31,500 from 550 donors to support free events and programs on our region's public beaches in 2012, including sand sculpture competitions, beach parties, and family reading and movie nights.

 

This year the BCYF Curley Recreation Center in South Boston was "Center Stage" for the event, where more than 150 participants raised more than $21,000 to support the cause.

This year's biggest overall fundraiser was Save the Harbor / Save the Bay board member Paul Giudice, who raised $2,500 even though he was not eligible to win a prize. Northeastern University graduate student Kasey Fitzgerald, an intern at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay, raised $1,910 from family, friends, and co-workers to win a pair of round-trip JetBlue Airways tickets.

 

Many participants sported Cupid themed costumes to demonstrate how much they truly love their beach. Celebrity judge Kennedy Elsey of Mix 104.1's "Karson and Kennedy" morning show chose Harpoon Helps Team member Mike Pitt, dressed in a traditional Cupid costume complete with a tiny bow and arrow, as the this year's "Best Dressed Cupid," earning him a round trip ticket on Jet Blue Airways as well.

 

This year, dogs were able to take part in the Cupid Splash along with their owners. State Representative Kathi Reinstein's dog "Molly Reinstein-Denning" splashed in Revere and raised $250. "Better her than me" quipped Rep. Reinstein. "Molly really loves Revere beach!"

RoseLee Vincent was out of town on vacation this year, so she splashed in Marco Island, Florida - and raised $465, saying "My body was in the warm waters of sunny Florida, but my heart was in the cold waters of Revere Beach."

The largest fundraiser and best dressed Cupid on each beach were entered into drawings to win tickets as well. Carol Haney (who sported the best costume in Revere) and John Coyne (who raised $1,200 in Dorchester) will each receive a round trip ticket courtesy of our friends at JetBlue Airways.

Following the Splash, Save the Harbor and Harpoon Brewery hosted warm-up parties in each beach community. At the center stage in South Boston, participants enjoyed a warm bowl of Legal Sea Foods chowder and a cool pint of Harpoon on the beach, while their Cupid counterparts around the Harbor headed to local taverns to warm up, have a Harpoon beer, and celebrate their successful plunge.

"What a great way to spend the first Saturday of Spring" said Charlie Storey, Senior VP of the Harpoon Brewery, whose philanthropic program, Harpoon Helps, co-produced this year's Splash and hosted the Center Stage event in South Boston. "We are proud to be a part of it, and to support our friends at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay."

"It is great to see so many people who really love their beach" said Bruce Berman, spokesman for Save the Harbor / Save the Bay. "Thanks to all who took part - and especially to our partners at Harpoon Helps, JetBlue Airways, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Boston Center for Youth and Families, National Grid, Comcast, Legal Sea Foods, Russo Marine and the YMCA of Greater Boston for their support."

Since 2008 Save the Harbor has awarded $125,000 in small grants to support free,family-friendly events and activities on the region's public beaches in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull. Their community partners in the region's waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities have leveraged that investment with additional cash and in-kind contributions from local government and small businesses for a total investment of $500,000 to support more than 100 free events and activities for everyone to enjoy. This year's grants will be announced later in the spring.

Celebrate Clean Water at the Cupid Splash on March 24

Forty years ago - on April 20, 1972 - the Clean Water act became the law of the land.

Frankly, things were pretty bad at that time - the Cuyahoga river in Ohio was so polluted that it regularly burst into flames.

Comedian ( and Harvard Alum) Tom Lehrer captured the situation quite well in his song "Pollution" - which he recorded in 1967.

At that time Boston Harbor was one of the most degraded ecosystems in the nation, as we discharged nearly 200 million gallons of  largely untreated waste into the marine environment nearly every day.

Today, thanks to the hard work and and dedication of literally thousands of
Boston Harbor Heroes,  all that has changed. 

This Saturday, March 24, 2012, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act and the transformation of Boston Harbor from a "Harbor of Shame" into one of the cleanest urban harbors in America by hosting the 2nd Annual Cupid Splash on eight public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket, with a center stage event at the BCYF Curley Community Center at M Street Beach in South Boston.

Last year's Splash was tons of fun, as you can see in this short video.

Splish Splash - Do The Cupid Splash

 

Thanks to our partners at Harpoon Helps and JetBlue AirWays this years Splash will be even better.

It is easy to register online at http://www.cupidsplash.com All the funds we raise will go to support dozens of free events and programs on the region's public beaches that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. 

We hope to see you on the beach - and in the cleaner waters of Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay, Broad Sound and Mass Bay!

Join the Cupid Splash on March 24 - Because You Love Your Beach!

Click Here to Register Today - Splash March 24

Boston Harbor Seals of Approval

One of nicest things about having our office on Boston's Fish Pier is the chance to take a closer look at the Harbor Seals with whom we share Boston Harbor each winter.

This year there are quite a few hanging around, particularly on the rising tide, catching fish and enjoying the clean, cold, water.  

Thye come in assorted colors and sizes, just like people. Here are three of our favorites.

 

 Thanks to our new friend Arne Kiis for the use of his photos which he took on Valentine's Day!

Kicking Off the Cupid Splash at Harpoon Brewery!

Yes, it's Cupid Splash time once again! And what better way to gather all of our cupids and kick off the excitement than a party at Harpoon Brewery?

Last Wednesday, February 1st, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay and our beach captains, community partners, local elected officials, and many past and future cupids gathered together to have a Harpoon beer and hear about our exciting plans for the Splash this year.

For those of you who couldn't join us, The Cupid Splash is Save the Harbor / Save the Bay's annual pledge and plunge fundraiser on 8 of our region's public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Similar to other polar plunges, we'll be jumping in to freezing Boston Harbor waters to raise money for a great cause-- but in our case, our great cause is the very beaches on which we splash! The funds we raise go towards free events and activities on our beaches in the Spring, Summer, and Fall-- for everyone in the Greater Boston region to enjoy.

Want to be a part of the fun? Of course you do.

To register to take the plunge and learn more about our plans this year, visit www.cupidsplash.com The site has several great tools to help you meet your personal fundraising goal, including fundraising tips and your own link to send around to your family and friends to start fundraising. Best of all, you'll be getting some free swag, bragging rights after jumping into such cold water, and several chances to win free round-trip JetBlue Airways tickets!

Once you’re signed up, start to send around your personal link to begin fundraising and recruit a few friends to register. If we each bring a friend or two, we’ll introduce twice as many people to how great our beaches are all year round. And, what’s more, we’ll reach our fundraising goal of $30,000 while we do it! I know so many of us love our beaches, so I know we’re all up to the challenge.

Thank you to our friends at Harpoon Brewery for hosting us on Wednesday, and to each of you for your dedication to your beaches. Together, I know we'll make the 2nd Annual Cupid Splash an even bigger success than last year!

See you on the beach!

Michelle Palermino

Fun in the Fog at Spectacle Island

Last Saturday, Save theHarbor/Save the Bay took more than one hundred kids, parents, Girl Scouts, and adventure-loving residents from all parts of the Boston area to beautiful Spectacle Island (one of Boston's Harbor Islands). Luring rain threatened to dampen our trip, but it held off and instead, we explored the island amidst an ominous layer of fog.

The ferry ride aboard the Boston Seaport Boat Charter's Viking Starliner was an exciting trip as we cruised through the fog and occasionally spotted a sailboat racing in the 7th Annual Boston Harbor Islands Regatta. Captain Al's fresh donuts and hot chocolate from the snack bar made the ride that much more enjoyable!

I had heard the stories about Spectacle Island's transformation from a dump to a beautiful island of recreation filled with interesting treasures, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the volume of sea glass and pottery scattered throughout the shoreline. From glass bottle necks, to remnants of plates, to porcelain figurines, we seemed to stumble across a whole kitchen's worth of items, and then some. The kids were especially intrigued by the colorful sea glass; giggles and shrieks of excitement could be heard across the beach as they found treasures that had once been another's trash.

Aside from scouring the beach (but making sure to leave the treasures for other's to enjoy), families and kids opted to hike on the lush trails to the top of the island, test their hula-hooping skills by the beach, or have a picnic under the gazebo. A few brave souls even went for a swim!

The afternoon on the island was a pleasant escape from the city and a great chance for families to experience the spectacular Spectacle Island - which, by the way, got its name from its resemblance to a pair of spectacles before it was filled in to create a much larger island.

Fore more information about free, fun things to do on Boston Harbor, join our Boston Harbor page on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bostonharbor.

New to the block

Hi everyone, my name is Cathy and I am a new intern here at Save the Harbor Save the Bay. I am studying environmental science at Emmanuel College and am on the pre-law and policy track. I am more than happy to be joining the team at Save the Harbor Save the Bay. I had discovered the organization on my school website and immediately wanted to help. The success of Save the Harbor Save the Bay truly inspired me. Creating me to believe that it is possible to maintain a clean environment afterall.

The other interns and I were lucky enough to get the chance to walk around the harbor and explore the beautiful harbor. It was a great experience walking around Boston Harbor because I am not familiar with the area at all. Yes I do go to school in Boston, but I have never had the chance to take time out of my day to explore one of the most beautiful parts of the city. Seeing how amazing the harbor is really made a great impression on me. Living in the city really creates me to miss nature and exploring the great outdoors. Being at the harbor brought back that warm and adventurous feeling that was hidden inside of me.

It was a lot of fun exploring with the other interns. The surrounding area is filled with so many great places, including Jerry Remy's, the Bank of America Pavilion, and Anthony's Pier 4. It was a very difficult decision as to where to get lunch with all the great places to choose from. We ended up getting authentic Italian panini's at J. Pace and Son, which I will honestly say made my day that much better. It was difficult to leave our adventure to go back inside, but after getting stuck in the rain it was a relief to get back to Save the Harbor Save the Bay.

Overall I really enjoyed exploring the Harbor. It allowed me to appreciate Boston Harbor and inspire me to keep it as beautiful as it has become. It feels great to be apart of such an amazing organization that will allow me to keep the the environment clean, and in turn, allow others to enjoy the beautiful harbor.

On the Waterfront

Hi everyone! I’m Davida and I am lucky enough to join the Save the Harbor Save the Bay team as an intern this fall. I am currently a senior at Brandeis University in Waltham, a short drive from the office on the fish pier. I am an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Chemistry. What attracted me to the organization was their very balanced mission to protect the harbor, while also encouraging both local residents and visitors to get involved and take advantage of the resources available in this area.

Because of the incredible changes that the waterfront areas has undergone in the past ten years, it took me a little while to realize some of my most memorable childhood trips to Boston included visits to the waterfront. My family and I would drive to visit my sister at school in Cambridge, and then come over to South Boston for an afternoon at the Children’s museum followed by dinner at No Name.

The historical success of this organization is clear based on what I’ve observed in the area. Despite the gloomy weather that has eaten up the past few weeks, the waterfront is always full of action, from business people to tourists, to fishermen. The people are all friendly and every day I leave the office I have an uncontrollable desire for fresh seafood. There are tons of restaurants, new and old, that are open for lunch and dinner. These include old favorites such as No Name as well as newer restaurants such as Legal Seafoods Harborside.

In addition to great food, there are many exciting cultural landmarks that I have yet to visit or that I was previously unaware of. The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is right down the street and has great exhibits, as well as a breathtaking view of Boston Harbor. Also, many of the artist’s studios and galleries in the area have periodic shows or open studio days. The Four Points Art Community has their open studios day October 15 and 16 from 11am-6pm.

I am very excited to continue to get to know the area by walking around and exploring on my own, in addition to enjoying many of the events that take place on the waterfront.

First Impressions

Hi!
I'm Ariana and I am very excited to be joining the team at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay as a policy and communications intern this semester. I am a Senior Environmental Studies/International Affairs major at Northeastern and am anxious to learn more about how Save the Harbor works to make the Boston Harbor and a better place for everyone to enjoy.

Last week, some of the new interns and I took a stroll around the waterfront to acclamate ourselves and take in the area. Boston's Seaport disrict combines an interesting melange of city, waterfront, and everything in between. The open air and sea breeze are a refreshing change from the busy streets downtown. From the Fish Pier's cheerful seafood distributors greeting you in the morning, to the breath-taking views of boats and tall ships lining the docks, to the sheek, new restaurants and bars lining the streets, the area has a little something for everyone.

We made our way down to Anthony's Pier 4 and I quickly realized how many Boston landmarks I still have yet to visit - even though this is my fourth year as a student in Boston. Now, I will have no excuse not to visit the Atlantic Beer Garden or the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) since they are practically right next door.

We stopped for lunch at the very popular J. Pace restaurant and enjoyed some delicious Italian sandwhiches and calzones before getting stuck in the rain and hail storm. It allowed for some people-watching as tourists, businessmen and women, and retired locals passed by. When weather cleared up and it was safe to venture outside again, we continued our stroll and noticed the stark contrast between the old, abandoned brick building and the newly-opened stores and restaurants - a sign of the vast transformation the Boston Harbor has seen in the past few years.

I am excited for my work with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay to begin and look forward to spending more time in this beautiful area.

A Day With the "Blue Crew"

Yesterday, Save the Harbor /Save the Bay hosted a beach clean-up in South Boston for nearly 100 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts employees. Despite the rain, members of the “Blue Crew” were energized and excited to be out of the office and on the beach helping Save the Harbor and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) address the need for clean, usable beaches not only in the summer but in the spring and fall as well.

The day kicked off with a few words from Save the Harbor’s Bruce Berman, a visit from Senator Jack Hart, and a spirit cheer led by one of the Blue Crew members. DCR’s Jack Kelly then instructed the employees on their tasks for the day, some of which included trash clean-up, weeding, and moving of displaced sand back to the beach. As the clean-up began, it was obvious how passionate the employees were about their service day – one employee even continued to pick up trash during his lunch break!

During their lunch, Karl Pastore from DCR thanked and encouraged the crew as they prepared to head back out into the rain to finish the clean-up. By the end of the day, the beach looked incredible and everyone was exhausted! It was wonderful to see how enthusiastic everyone was—and how much fun they had-- regardless of the bad weather.

The beach clean-up was part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts’ inaugural company-wide Service Day, powered by BlueCrew, BCBSMA corporate volunteer program, and inspired by the vision and goals of the community. Blue Cross Blue Shield had over 3,000 employees engaged in locally-designed projects across the Commonwealth. Save the Harbor was lucky enough to be chosen as one of BCBSMA’s non-profit partners for the 2011 service day.

We can't thank Blue Cross Blue Shield enough for all of their dedication and hard work and can't wait to work with them again in the future!

The Summer's Not Over Yet!

It may be September already, but the beautiful days to enjoy our Harbor and our beaches certainly aren't over yet! And nobody knows this better than our Better Beaches groups- who are working to bring their communities to their beaches throughout the entire year. Our friends over at the South Boston Neighborhood House hosted their second "Family Fun Night" of the summer on September 2nd, reminding us that summer isn't over-- there's plenty more fun to be had, and plenty more memories to be made, on our beaches this year!

Sarah Appleton and I headed over to McCormick Bathhouse for Family Fun Night - one of my favorite Better Beaches events. The Neighborhood House consistently creates events that are shining examples of what the Better Beaches program is about: They've received just a small sum from the Better Beaches Grant Program (which the South Boston community raised themselves this year at the Cupid Splash!) and they've leveraged it into something so much bigger, tying in so many more pieces of the community and bringing families together against our favorite backdrop: the Harbor. Kids and their families listened to a local storyteller, created paintings and spin art with local artists, played on the beach, danced to the DJ, ate, and spent time together. Boston Public School representatives were there with information for parents about the new year, the South Boston Community Heath Center was on hand with information about healthier lifestyles for families, and Sarah and I were there providing some marine science. But my favorite part? Super Duck Tours donated free rides to and from Castle Island in the Super Duck Boat, an exciting new way for families to experience the Harbor together, and a great example of expanding the vision and creativity of what a Better Beaches event can be!

The South Boston community, and all of our Better Beaches groups, do a phenomenal job with pooling and leveraging what they have and what they are given through their grants. They don't just say, "We have this amount of money, what can we do with it?" They ask: "What are our resources as a community?" and "Who else can get involved?" It's really amazing to see what they create and who joins the fun.

The sunset brought some chilly air in South Boston, but the party continued. I know that some of my favorite memories as a child were on the beach on nights like this, late in the season, wrapped in a sweatshirt, cold sand under my feet, seeing lights sparkle all around me across the water. And in those memories, I was always with my family. The South Boston Neighborhood House is creating memories like that-- time spent together on a gorgeous night as the summer dwindles. I'm very proud to be a part of giving families the chance to make these memories together.

But hold on.... these kids get duck boat rides, storytellers, and spin art? Little elementary-school me is very, very jealous.

Hope to see you on the beach all year round!

Michelle

I guess this is goodbye.

This summer was the greatest and most adventurous summer I have ever spent with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay even though it was my first with them. Starting with the staff members: it was great working with you guys. You all have some great personalities and are the best to work with. I had a wonderful time with y'all. The kids I have met over the summer are so much fun and are always joyful. I have learned so much from them, and they also learned a lot from me. This summer I visited so many places that I never been to and never taught I would. This job have given me some great qualities and I am very grateful of that. It was a pleasure working for Save the Harbor this summer and I will always remember each and everyone of you. "This is great now I'm crying"
SOO LONG MY FRIENDS -Hugues

My Farewell!

Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay has been one of the most exciting job experiences I have ever had. This summer was filled with enthusiastic and motivated workers, who put the true definition to working together. I am still in disbelief that it's all over. The day of my interview made me extremely nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I was worried I wouldn't make friends and I'd have a hard time adapting. Luckily I didnt; I wanted to especially thank Michelle, Brianne, Sheuli, Paula, Sarah, Will, Carolyn, and Tommy for being great comrades as well as outstanding SME's and LE's. If I could change anything this summer, I would keeep it all the same because it turned out ten times better than expected. For the first time, I went sailing and I also went kayaking. Places like Courageous Sailing Center, Piers Park, McDonough Sailing Center, and Community Boating were all new places to me. I never knew these places existed. The most memorable part were the children; before working here I didn't know the first thing about fishing or crab trapping. Before this summer I had never been fishing a day in my life. Now, I can start my senior year of high school knowing I've learned knowledge I can pass on. I can now appreciate the harbor alot more and tell people things I didn't know at one point. Close friends I made include, Leon, Will, Aruna, Mark, Dianna, Christina, Cassie, Latoya, Huges, Tommy and Connor. Thanks everyone, for making my summer fun and memorable...I hope we all keep in touch!
-Josette :)

Au Revoir!

Well harbor explorers, it's that time of year again. Eveyone is heading back to school and Save the Harbor, Save the Bay has wrapped up the summer programs once again. I was very busy this summer -- from leading groups to Georges' and Spectacle Islands to crabbing at the McDonough Center to hosting a beach party at M Street beach in South Boston -- and now that I've had some time to sit back and look at the whole summer, I can confirm that it was pretty amazing.

Not many people get to be outside near the water all day and get paid, or to work with such great children and staff, so I consider myself lucky to have found a place at STH/STB. Last summer was wonderful, and this year was just as amazing. I can never thank my co-workers enough -- I'm going to miss everyone! Special thanks to Brianne, David, and Michelle for being only a phone call away with help and advice. And there would be no Save the Harbor without Bruce Berman and Patty Foley -- thank you both for all that you do!

For those of you who don't know, this is Save the Harbor's 25th anniversary. 25 years ago many of the neighborhood beaches in Boston were unsafe to swim in; today more and more children are playing and learning on the same beaches that their parents couldn't swim in. Save the Harbor has been working to better the lives of all Bostonians by helping to clean up the harbor and to expose a whole new generation to the wonderful resource that is our beaches. I hope that 25 years from now STH/STB will still be encouraging a love for the water in all of Massachusetts's children.

Until next time harbor explorers,

~Carolyn

PS: The pictures are all my favorites from this past summer!

Season Finale!

Hey everyone! My name is Mekhi Wright-hopkins;I am 15 years old and this was my first year at Save The Harbor. This summer at Save the Harbor was amazing I learned so many new things such as: fishing, setting up crab traps, baiting rods and traps and different things relavent to that. Not only does this organization teach you the essential things for working here at Save The Harbor; they teach you life skills such as being responsible, patient, and communitive. This organization exposes you to so many people and different opportunities which is extremely helpful for us younger staffers. Thank you all so much for this meomorable summer!

-Mekhi