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May 2002 |
First edition Volume I |
25 Cents |
Boston
- On a beautiful spring Thursday May 16 2002, Television
I Class in cahoots with Chemistry Class trekked to Millennium Park
for a Living Lab field trip. The brand new park offers land for
soil testing along with water from its Charles River neighbor for
water testing. TV students taped water collection, processing, and
evaluation of the water samples. Student scientists examined evidence
and used steps from the scientific method to draw conclusions. The
crew interviewed local visitors to find out about the park and survey
how it is being used. Students advised folk to see our PSA on safety
in the sun. This 30-second spot promotes protection from the sun.
Look for more tips from Parks for Peace.
E. Lyon
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Brook
Farm - In 1841, Sophia Willard Dana Ripley, along with
husband George Ripley, a Unitarian minister, founded Brook Farm
a utopian community of writers, thinkers and farmers. Sophia wrote
letters about her life at Brook Farm and also taught the children
who lived there. After Brook Farm closed in 1846, she continued
to do charity work and write books. There once was a Boston Public
School named after her on Temple Street in West Roxbury. Margaret
Fuller (1810-1850) sometimes came to stay at Brook Farm. She was
one of the most famous writers and thinkers of her time. She frequently
spoke out for equal rights and opportunities for women. She was
the first editor of the journal, The Dial, from 1840-1842. -A. Hennessey
Ed. note: Alice Hennessey, a longtime West Roxbury resident, has
been involved with its schools, the Friends of West Roxbury Library,
its playgrounds, the Girl Scouts, her church, West Roxbury Historical
Society, the Democratic Ward Committee and many other ventures.
She is also founder of West Roxbury Friends of Rosie's Place. Presently,
Alice directs the Menino Project, which developed the Gardner Street
landfill and supports grass roots initiatives.
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Millennium
Park Opens its Gates
to West Roxbury & Boston
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The neighborhood of West Roxbury
proudly announces the dedication of Millennium Park to residents
and visitors from greater Boston and beyond. The park is open to
the public from dawn to dusk. Visitors can walk or hike the many
trails, play soccer, take in an event at the amphitheater, picnic,
entertain kids at an extensive jungle gym or take a lazy ride down
the river in a rented canoe. Restroom facilities, tables and areas
for grilling make it the right spot for family and friends to gather
as a community. Canoes are not yet for rent on the premises, but
there is an area for future launching. Tree lined riverbanks offer
sites for bird watching, enjoying nature, people watching or just
daydreaming. Mayor Menino cut the ribbons to open the new millennium
and dedicated the park to signal a new beginning in Boston. Now
it is open for all of the community to meet and share a beautiful
space in the sun.
Millennium Park is the site of the former West Roxbury Gardner Landfill.
Tons of soil hauled in trucks by night from the Big Dig in Boston
went to the Big Fill in West Roxbury. Where once was a flatland,
is now a mountain with things to do for the whole family. On a clear
day, the Boston's skyline is a sight to behold.
From day one, when West Roxbury students first began to track the
transformation from landfill to park, we have been following every
step leading to this day. Several West Roxbury High media and science
classes have spent hours documenting and telling the park story
to their younger buddies. Now that the park is reality, we hope
to spread the work about maintaining it as a peaceful place where
people of all ages can interact in positive and healthy ways.
For more information, contact Parks for Peace Commission, West Roxbury
High School, 1205 VFW Parkway. http://www.wrox.boston.k12.ma.us
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