2. To support trees and greenspace in backyards of Cambridge, an ordinance by the Community Development Department will come to a vote of City Councillors on Monday, Feb. 8. Kathy Born and Anthony Gallucio drafted the initial resolution.  Many of us have been involved in reviewing this ordinance. Please call your councillor to urge passage. Or speak on it Monday at the City Council meeting which begins at 5:30 (call 349-4280 between 9:30-3 to speak or sign up at 5:30). For more information see: http://www.ci.cambridge.ma.us/~CDD/CommPlan/Zoning/

3. STREET TREES in CAMBRIDGE printed by Cambridge Tree Project and written by students at Graham and Parks School was sent out to all school libraries, School Committee Members and City Councillors. A class set is available at the Teacher Resource Center. We hope that the most significant trees in each neighborhood will be identified so that the next edition of the book can include these.

4. Educational materials on trees purchased by the CTP are also available from the Resource Center.  If you wish to use these materials with Cambridge folks of any age and do not work in the schools, email us at DoanePerry@compuserve.com. We will list and describe them in a future edition of the Bulletin. This bulletin is too full already. The list is on our website:  http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DoanePerry/homepage.htm

5. Summerbridge 8th and 9th grade students are willing to work with elementary schools in Cambridge to speak and teach them about trees. They have been learning about trees for a year, worked with Ranger Jean Rogers on mulching trees at Fresh Pond, and with Chris Dewart identifying and labeling trees in the park near the high school and main library. They hope to work with all the schools in preparation for Arbor Days. Arborist Larry Acosta plans to do an Arbor Day event in each of the schools this year on different days. Arbor Day does occur on different days in different states-New Orleans celebrates it in January.

6. If you are willing to do something for Arbor Day events and tree education the schools, reply to this message. We need help identifying the significant trees in neighborhoods.
Poets Jack Powers and Richard Cambridge have agreed to do poetry on trees in the schools. They read  poetry on trees at previous Arbor Days.

Cambridge Tree Project Calendar
Feb. 2-3  Tree Wardens Conference, Danvers. Contact Louis Cassasanto 508-365-2842. Larry Acosta, our arborist, will present on preventive maintenance programs.
Feb. 2-3  Trees Utilities National Conference, Nebraska City, NE. Contact the National Arbor Foundation. 402-474-5655.
Feb. 3  7 p.m. Public Discussion of Growth Policy Goals in Cambridge. Determine priorities for the City. Senior Center, Central Square across from City Hall.
Feb 8  5:30-6:30. Public Comment on Backyard Zoning and IPOP traffic reduction at City Council.
Feb 9  7-9 p.m. Cambridge Greenspace Alliance High School, Debbie Kershner 868-8481
Feb. 10  Cambridge Public Planting Committee
Feb. 10  Native Trees and Shrubs, with Tom Ward, Wellesley. Contact Mass. Hort. Society, 617-536-9280 x324
Feb 19  Trees in the Urban Landscape. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston. Contact Doug Williams, 508-869-6111 x21
Feb. 27  Right Tree, Right Place, with Dennis Ryan, Ph.D. Wellesley. Contact Mass. Hort. Society, 617-536-9280x324.
Feb.26  Ecology and the Managed Landscape, Boxborough. Contact Ecological Landscaping Assn. 978-897-7490.
Feb. 26-27  EarthConnect for high school environmental clubs, Umass-Amherst. Contact Will Snyder, 413-545-3876.
March 4, 1-2:30p.m. Tree Walk at Mount Auburn Cemetery with David Barnett, director of Horticulture. “Snug as a Bug in a Rug: How to Know the Trees in Winter.” $8. Rain/snow date Thurs. March 11 547-7105 x 823
March 6  Mass. Association of Conservation Districts, annual meeting, Worcester. Contact Sally Zalinski, 617-489-3930.
March 7  Community Orchards workshop. Jamaica Plain. Contact Earthworks, 617-983-9463.
March 10  Mass. Environmental Education Society, annual meeting, Holy Cross College, Worcester. Contact Carey Buttfield. 617-734-9441.
Mar. 13,  Sat. “Sap to Syrup” Learn how to identify maple trees. Pancake breakfast Drumlin Farms, Mass Audubon Society. 8-10 am @$13  781-259-9506 ext. 7706

How do you rate these goals? Low, Medium or High priority. #6,2, 5, 10, 4 & 8 refer to green/openspace, parks and the environment. Put L, M or H in front to rate and return by bringing to Wed.’s meeting at 7 at the Senior center, logging on to internet site above, or if necessary, you may forward them, with your ratings, to us.
1. :  A vibrant, stable population of diverse races, cultures and viewpoints.  New cultures continue to arrive; some rise to positions of public prominence.
2. An environment where families with children can thrive.   Parks, housing, schools and child care and other supports make the city a good place to raise families.
3. Good housing available to a wide spectrum of income levels and households (singles, families with children, older people, etc.)  Hundreds of units are renovated yearly by neighborhood-based organizations.  More residents are experimenting with cooperatives, co-housing and other forms of ownership which share costs, community services and benefits.
4. .  Significantly reduced automobile traffic.  Walking, carpooling, public transit, bicycling and jitney trips are the norm.  Employers and families compete annually to reduce single occupant car trips by the greatest percentage.   All corners of the city (and adjoining cities) are stitched together by bicycle lanes and paths.
5. .  A national model for community energy production, pollution prevention, and recycling.  Grassroots organizations and the universities, churches, and other institutions cooperate on sustainable forms of transportation, heating, waste reduction and food production and distribution.
6. .  A system of beautiful, well maintained and accessible parks and open spaces.  Landscaped pedestrian parkways knit the park system together in the style of Frederick Law Olmsted.  Every neighborhood has volunteer groups pitching in to ensure clean and safe parks.
7. .  A renowned system for training and retraining workers for emerging industries and successful careers.  Youth combine courses, work apprenticeships and community placements; older workers learn new skills and act as mentors to youth.
8. .  A thriving economic base, anchored by new health, environment and communications-based industries, home-based and storefront businesses, and the academic institutions.  Cambridge continues to attract national attention for its climate of innovation and entrepreneurship.
9. .  Vital and distinctive retail centers serving neighbors, students and regional customers seeking an ethnic meal, a rare paperback or fresh fish and produce.  Local retailers, hurt by higher rents in the 80s and early 90s, make a comeback and thrive.
10. .  Strengthened and stabilized neighborhoods which retain their distinctive flavor.  Connections between neighborhoods are improved by open space and transit improvements, as well as by increased cooperation on a variety of issues.
11. .  A model for effective citywide design review.   Widespread design review of new projects occurs in both traditional districts and in the former industrial areas, such as Alewife.
12. .  A system of comprehensive, high quality city services.   New revenue sources and forms of service delivery lessen the city's dependence on property taxes and physical development to fund services.
13. .  An ongoing, successful process for addressing growth and development concerns.  Local government expands shared responsibility for growth with the nonprofit and private sectors.  All interested parties engage in continued debate about the appropriate pace and quality of development in the evolving industrial districts, and their impact on nearby residential areas.
Return to Cambridge Tree Project Bulletin
Return to Home Page for Cambridge Tree Project