indicates pages or information added within approximately the last 30 days

For any general questions about the walks, or if you would like to schedule a walk yourself, please contact
FAR office: 617 661-1730

Volunteers and serious Reservation researchers
Volunteers and serious Reservation researchers needed for future plans at Alewife Reservation and its buffers. We ask that you send your interest and concern on these matters to FAR at our e-mail address FAR@friendsofalewifereservation.org

Upcoming Events — April, May 2008

Upcoming Events on this page: Belmont Concom - second Tuesday every month May 14, Wednesday - 7:30, Planetwalker signs National Geographic book with Cambridge Forum. May 17, Saturday - 10am-2pm Park Serve Day of Department of Conservation and Recreation. FAR organizing group: 10am-2pm. Annual Earth and Cleanup Day at Alewife. Details added May 1 Friday, May 23rd — 6 a.m. til noon Saturday, May 24th — 6 a.m. til noon 4th Annual "Herring Bucket Brigade" Belmont Concom - second Tuesday every month May 14, Wednesday - 7:30 Planetwalker signs National Geographic book with Cambridge Forum. Many sponsors including FAR. 3 Church Street, in Harvard Square, Cambridge Free and open to the public. A voluntary donation is requested at the door. John Francis walked without motorized vehicles for 22 years and took a 17 year vow of silence, a pligrimage for peace, environmental consciousness, and Earth stewardship. He has a PhD in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and is a UN Goodwill Ambassador to the World's Grassroots Communiites. A more detailed description of his presentation is below. More information: from Cambridge Forum: 617-495-2727 or 617 415-1884 or www.cambridgeforum.org www.planetwalk.org Francis Inspires the Planet John Francis, Ph.D., known the world over as the Planetwalker, will discuss how the current environmental crisis is a reflection of world-wide social and economic inequity and that any attempt to resolve the crisis must not only address the scientific issues, such a climate-change and deforestation but also the humanitarian issues. From peace and justice to everyday civility, Dr. Francis contends that our connection to the earth as well as each other is at the heart of the environmental crisis. Dr. Francis will reflect on his own journey into environmental awareness beginning in Philadelphia as the son of a West Indian immigrant to writing international oil spill regulations for the US Coast Guard. The climax of this journey occurred in 1971, when he witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay and gave up using motorized vehicles. Several months later he took a vow of silence and began a walking and sailing pilgrimage around the world. Dr. Francis's non-motorized lifestyle lasted twenty-two years and his silence seventeen years. During this time, he earned a B.A at Southern Oregon State College, an M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana and a Ph.D. in Land Resources at the University of Wisconsin. He later sailed and walked through the Caribbean and then walked the length of South America. Poster "Dr. John Walker, the Planetwalker, recounts his pilgrimage to save our earth one step at a time" PDF file for printing May 17, Saturday - 10am-2pm Park Serve Day of Department of Conservation and Recreation. FAR organizing group: 10am-2pm. Annual Earth and Cleanup Day at Alewife. Flyer of information below, 2 pages, for printing: Word file — PDF file Friends of Alewife Reservation Hosts Volunteers to DCR Park Serve Day   WHEN Saturday May 17, 2008, 10AM to 2PM   MEET Alewife T stop at Friends of Alewife Reservation Kiosk (across the street from passenger pick up)   WHAT TO BRING ·        FAR provides gloves and equipment ·        Wear sturdy shoes and work clothes and consider bringing sunscreen and insect repellent (FAR has some) ·        Drinking water and a snack will be supplied by the DCR   SIGN UP ·        To sign up for Park Serve Day, and to see a list of all the projects, go online to http://parkserv.env.state.ma.us ·        Also register with FAR for desired clean-up site for you or your group DIRECTIONS & PARKING   ·        New Alewife Reservation Parking Lot at Discovery Park Driving to the parking Drive west on Route 2 from Cambridge, to Belmont end of Lake Street. Turn left at underpass and immediate left again on Frontage Road to Discovery Park (large sign). Turn right onto Acorn Park Drive and go to end where there is a 20-space parking lot for Alewife Reservation visitors. Park (up to 4 hours). Walking from the parking — to meeting places Walk across bridge back towards Alewife T stop for meeting places to begin birding walks, educational tours or clean ups. ·        Dodge Co. Parking Lot — 165 Cambridge Park Drive Driving to the parking When coming into Alewife T area from Alewife Brook Parkway, go to red light. Continue down Cambridge Park Drive straight almost to end, to 165 Cambridge Park Drive. Turn right in second Dodge lot where you see cars parked (large willow trees in back). Park in the back of the lot. Your car will be safe. There is a picnic bench to sit. Dodge has been informed that you might be there. Walking from the parking From Dodge Co., walk down bikepath to Alewife T entrance, T Passenger Pickup, or Alewife Reservation Kiosk (all within 2 minutes of each other). ·        Thorndike Field — parking places Driving to the parking Take Margaret Street from Lake Street in Arlington. You can get to Lake Street from Mass Ave. or Route 2 going west. (Lake Street runs between Route 2 and Mass. Ave.) Drive to the end of Margaret Street (only one way to turn). There are parking places at the athletic fields (Thorndike Field). Walking from the parking From Thorndike Field, walk to Minute Man meeting place or Alewife Reservation kiosk or T Passenger Pickup (all within 2 minutes of each other). More information: parkserv.env.state.ma.us Friday, May 23rd — 6 a.m. til noon Saturday, May 24th — 6 a.m. til noon 4th Annual "Herring Bucket Brigade" Alewives arrive at Mystic River Watershed. Help them continue their spawning passage. Fabulous and fun experience to be a bucket brigader. The Medford Boat Club is sponsoring our 4th Annual "Herring Bucket Brigade" to help the herring on their annual plight to reach the upper Mystic Lake to lay their eggs. Meet at the Dam between the upper and lower Mystic lakes with your bucket. All nets will be provided by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Alewife parking info, below

Alewife — Directions — Places to Park New Alewife Reservation Parking Lot at Discovery Park Driving to the parking Drive west on Route 2 from Cambridge, to Belmont end of Lake Street. Turn left at underpass and immediate left again on Frontage Road to Discovery Park (large sign). Turn right onto Acorn Park Drive and go to end where there is a 20-space parking lot for Alewife Reservation visitors. Park (up to 4 hours). Walking from the parking — to meeting places Walk across bridge back towards Alewife T stop for meeting places to begin birding walks, educational tours or clean ups. Walking from the parking — to Little Pond From the new Alewife Reservation parking lot, go due south towards the river over the old parking lot that was pulled up. Do not walk on private gravel pathway. Go over lumpy ground by locust trees to behind the Bulfinch buildings along the river. Follow that pathway all the way up the river of 5,200 linear feet (one mile) to Little Pond through marsh, shrub, fields and woodlands. (This is an old fishing pathway used for years by local residents who used to swim and fish from the banks. Development and deadly impact threatens the area from an out-of-state developer.) Thanks to the DCR and the Bulfinch Company for building the lot. Dodge Co. Parking Lot — 165 Cambridge Park Drive Driving to the parking When coming into Alewife T area from Alewife Brook Parkway, go to red light. Continue down Cambridge Park Drive straight almost to end, to 165 Cambridge Park Drive. Turn right in second Dodge lot where you see cars parked (large willow trees in back). Park in the back of the lot. Your car will be safe. There is a picnic bench to sit. Dodge has been informed that you might be there. Walking from the parking From Dodge Co., walk down bikepath to Alewife T entrance, T Passenger Pickup, or Alewife Reservation Kiosk (all within 2 minutes of each other). Thorndike Field — parking places Driving to the parking Take Margaret Street from Lake Street in Arlington. You can get to Lake Steet from Mass Ave. or Route 2 going west. (Lake Street runs between Route 2 and Mass. Ave.) Drive to the end of Margaret Street (only one way to turn). There are parking places at the athletic fields (Thorndike Field). Walking from the parking From Thorndike Field, walk to Minute Man meeting place or Alewife Reservation kiosk or T Passenger Pickup (all within 2 minutes of each other).

Summer tours
For special tours of the Reservation with small groups of interested and concerned citizens, a date can be arranged. Call Friends of Alewife Reservation at 617 547-1944

Summer monitoring
FAR has 10 bird boxes throughout the Reservation that need monitoring. The monitoring charts are on the website at: http://friendsofalewifereservation.org/2003_01_nestingboxmap.html
Call FAR volunteer Rachel Philbrick for more information:( 617) 571 2412