As the year draws to a close ...

The "Giving Tuesday" Seal of Approval.

It is not too late to make a contribution to support Save the Harbor/Save the Bay in 2013.

You can make a contribution online right now - just click on the link or visit our website at www.savetheharbor.org. Or, if you prefer, you can read a short letter (see below) and learn more about all we accomplished in 2013 and what we intend to do in 2014 - and then make a contribution to support our work!

Here's wishing you and yours a great Giving Tuesday!

Your Friends at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

                                     
                                                                                                       December 1, 2013

 Dear Friend,

As the year draws to a close, you will not be surprised to learn that 2013 was a busy and productive year for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. 

Click on an image to see a collection of press clips or collages from 2013.

In 2013, we convened 10 public hearings in 9 communities with more than 700 participants for the Metropolitan Beaches Commission to help the Massachusetts Legislature move our beaches from good to great.

• Our Beaches Science Advisory Committee issued the region’s only comprehensive report card on water quality and flagging accuracy, focusing attention on beaches in Lynn, East Boston, Dorchester and Quincy that are still closed after small summer storms.
• Our free Youth Environmental Education Programs employed a summer staff of 32 that included 6 senior harbor educators, 7 college students, and 19 urban teens, connecting 15,903 youth and teens to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands.
• Our Better Beaches Program awarded small grants to 14 groups in 9 beachfront communities and waterfront neighborhoods to support more than 30 free events including concerts, beach festivals and sand sculpting competitions from Nahant to Nantasket.

We also hosted the 3rd Annual Youth Beach Bash and Splash, which brought more than 750 kids to the beach to celebrate clean water, and the Swim and Paddle for Boston Harbor, a one-mile, chip-timed competitive swim and paddle board race on one of the cleanest urban beaches in America.

Despite our success, there is still more work to do and we need your help to do it.

Your contribution of $50, $100, $500 or more will help us sustain our advocacy, accelerate our policy agenda and meet the increased demand for our free programs.

Make a donation online today by clicking here.
With your support in 2014 Save the Harbor/Save the Bay will:

• Convene a regional meeting of the more than 700 stakeholders who took part in this summer’s Metropolitan Beaches Commission hearings to review our findings and recommendations, and release the final report focused on economic development opportunities, management reforms, capital investments, and increased investment in staff, equipment, planning, and free programs.
• Focus attention on water quality and beach flagging accuracy, which prevent the pubic from enjoying the benefits of the $5 billion Boston Harbor cleanup on public beaches in Dorchester, East Boston, Quincy and Lynn. Our Beaches Science Advisory Committee will release our 3rd Annual Beaches Report Card and work with local, state and federal officials, opinion leaders and the public to address these issues.
• Strengthen Boston’s waterfront neighborhoods and the region’s beachfront communities by growing our cold-water pledge fundraiser to support 40 Better Beaches Program events and programs on public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket.
• Increase meaningful public access to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands by expanding our free youth environmental education programs that have served nearly 90,000 youth and teens since we began them in 2002.

As I am sure you know, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is the region’s leading voice for clean water and public investment in Boston Harbor, the waterfront, the region’s public beaches and the Boston Harbor Islands.

When we were founded in 1986 the thought that Boston’s polluted beaches, abandoned waterfront, and neglected islands would ever be seen as assets instead of liabilities was a radical one.  The very idea that our region’s young people and their families would ever be able to use Boston Harbor, our region's public beaches and the Boston Harbor Islands as a learning laboratory and a healthy place to play was a distant dream.

Today we are proud to say that Bostonians and the region’s residents are beginning to see Boston Harbor, the beaches and the islands as civic, educational and recreational resources that belong to them and their communities.

I want to share a visceral moment with you. This summer I was on the beach in South Boston with about 750 kids at our annual Youth Beach Bash & Splash. As I watched kids of all colors, shapes and sizes swim, splash, and explore together on a beach that Save the Harbor/Save the Bay had transformed into one of the cleanest urban beaches in America, I was struck by the extraordinary legacy that we were leaving to the next generation.

To me that beach was a blank canvas that we had transformed into something beautiful. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone had the same opportunity and access to something as beautiful as our harbor and wonderful as that beach.

Creating new generations of opportunities is what Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is all about. I am proud to be a part of it and committed to carrying it forward for the next generation. I am certain that you are, too.

I know you share our dreams for Boston Harbor. As the year draws to a close I hope I can count on your financial support.  You can make a donation online today by clicking here.
All the best,

Patricia A. Foley, President
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

P.S. Happy Cyber Tuesday, and thanks for your support.

The "Giving Tuesday" Seal of Approval.

My Semester with Save the Harbor

You know that saying “Time flies when you are having fun?” Well it describes my time at Save the Harbor perfectly. Save the Harbor is filled with enthusiastic and motivated workers that create an inviting environment to work in.

I remember how nervous I was on my first day, I didn’t know what to expect from my first internship. I know now that I was very lucky to have my first experience here, and I will take a lot away with me from my time here. I have gained new skills, met some great people and learned a lot about an important and influential organization. 

                                                             Fantastic Fall 2013 interns

As a communications intern, I worked primarily on social media. One of my assignments was to post photos from Save the Harbor’s summer programs and events on Facebook. This was a chance to not only to share the photos that had been collected over the summer, but also remind people of all the fun Save the Harbor had. My favorite part of this assignment was looking through thousands of photos from the summer and learning about the stories behind them. I’ve learned so much about the youth programs and events that I wish that I was there to witness them myself.

I’ve gained experiences at Save the Harbor that I know I wouldn’t be able to gain anywhere else, and I am very thankful to Bruce, Patty and the rest of the STH staff for making this possible!

It’s hard to believe that my last day has come, but I know I am leaving with more experience and great memories! 

See you around the harbor! 

Annmarie

A semester at Save the Harbor- from Fred Looper

Goodbye for now...

 

My name is Fred Looper, and I was one of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's two Fall 2013 Communications interns. I spent about 12 hours per week in the office, with a few weekend days throughout the semester. My responsibilities included: attending and reporting on events, writing press releases, cataloging and formatting Save the Harbor press, as well as helping with any other design/writing tasks around the office.

I remember applying to the Communications intern position here at STHSTB like it was yesterday- I was excited to break into the beginnings of the environmental career I had been working towards. I heard back from them the very next day, and began working almost immediately after I started my fall semester at Salem State… I felt ready to finally test myself in a real setting, and take away a few lessons to finish off my undergraduate experience.

And tested I was! My experience here was definitely a learning one. I’d like to say that I’ve discovered some very important lessons, both professional and personal, and that Save the Harbor is a place where you can tailor your position here to your own interests. As an undergraduate communications major living in Salem, these needs were unique- though I was certainly pressed to take a thorough experience away from my term here.

I even had the first (and second) boat ride of my life!

Save the Harbor is a happy place. I was recognized for my efforts, and held to just the right responsibilities that I needed to make the most of the three days per week I spent here. Thanks to Bruce, Patty, and the rest of the staff, I’ve gained a great deal of experiences that I don’t think many other internship environments could provide.

It’s hard to leave with so much more I could learn, but I’m excited about what I can do with the knowledge I’ve developed over the past three months. Have a happy holidays, and come next summer I'll see you on the harbor!

Fort Point Pumpkin Pageant

To celebrate the Halloween festivities in Seaport area, Save the Harbor entered the Friends of Fort Point Channel 10th Annual Pumpkin Pageant. The Pumpkin Pageant brings together businesses and organizations in the surrounding area to create the Funniest, Scariest, Most Original, and Overall Best pumpkins by carving, painting, and decorating them. Winners will receive a trophy.

It was great to see pumpkins every shape and size and have a moment to appreciate just how talented and creative the businesses and organizations in the surrounding Fort Point Channel really are. 

World Series Tribute

The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

Despicable Me

Who decides which pumpkins win? YOU DO! The public will vote on their favorite pumpkins between 12-3pm today at the Boston Children’s Museum. During the voting time, Friends of Fort Channel will offer face painting, soft pretzels, popcorn, warm cider, and even sugar pumpkins for children to take home this Halloween. 

For our entry, Save the Harbor Staff drew upon inspiration from our very own Larry the Lobster. Along with design help from our Vice President, decorative and creative vision from our Events Coordinator, Sue Woods, and with support from our interns, we were able to come up with a theme and design that really captured the spirit of our organization.

 Events Coordinator, Sue Woods, and Intern, Amy Gaylord, working on our pumpkin

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Entry into the Pumpkin Pageant

 

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay had an amazing time working on our entry, and we look forward to participating in next year's Pumpkin Pageant.

Happy Halloween,

Iris Ayala




 

Thomas White has found his lucky marble; It’s time for you to find yours!

Congratulations to the second winner of the “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt, Thomas White! With the help of his father, Langdon White, Thomas found his lucky marble on the L Street Beach in South Boston. 

The White family participated in this contest last year when they found their first marble. Their hard work and treasure hunting skills are now being rewarded with a roundtrip ticket from JetBlue Airways to any domestic destination from Boston’s Logan Airport.  

This is the second year that Save the Harbor and JetBlue Airways partnered to celebrate Boston Harbor and the region’s great public beaches with the “Simply Marble-ous” Treasure Hunt. The contest began in 2012 when more than 100 people came out for a beach clean up. Together they did 5 weeks of work in just a few hours. At the end of the day, the participants released marbles into the water for the first time. While everyone wants to win a free flight, the real heart of this contest is providing the community with clean public beaches for work and play.   

More than 200 marbles are still waiting for you to find on Boston area beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull, so keep hunting! Find one and you could win your own roundtrip ticket to any domestic destination courtesy of JetBlue Airways.

It is free and easy to enter the "Simply Marble-ous" Treasure Hunt. When you find a marble, just post a picture of yourself with the marble on Save the Harbor’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savetheharbor or email your photo and contact information to info@savetheharbor.org.

Can’t find a marble, but still want to have the opportunity to be entered into the contest? Make an online contribution at http://savetheharbor.org/contribution.html of any amount to Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and you will be entered. 

The next winner will be chosen this week!

Winners will be announced on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savetheharbor so stay tuned!

Until next time, 

Annmarie

About Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a non-profit, public interest, environmental advocacy organization, whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Mass Bay, and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy.  For more information about Save the Harbor, please visit www.savetheharbor.org

For more information about the "Simply Marble-ous Treasure Hunt" and other great beach events, visit their blog "Sea, Sand & Sky" at http://www.blog.savetheharbor.org

Back to Spectacle Island

Hey I am Monique Nolberto.

I am 18 years old. I attend Fenway high school, and am in the 12 grade and is looking forward to researching colleges, writing my essays for college applications and figuring out what job I may want in the future. 

Although I am still in school,  I am looking for a job so I can save up for college. Last summer I worked for Save the Harbor / Save the Bay as a Junior program assistant, and learned a lot about the harbor and the islands. On Saturday, I put what I learned to work and spend the day helping to lead the fall trip to Spectacle Island.

One interesting thing about my day on Spectacle Island is when Juelle and I were walking the trail and we saw coyote "scat" (aka poop!). It was interesting because I never knew that there were  coyotes on the island, and still wonder how they got there.

While we were on the island, Juelle and I took a walk together on the trails. From the top of the hill we were able to see how beautiful the island and the city were on this chilly fall day.

It was a great day to be back with Save the Harbor on Spectacle Island!

See you on our next island trip,
Monique

Spectacle Island Cruise

This past Saturday, October 26th I boarded the Provincetown II for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Fall Cruise to Spectacle Island along with 250 family, friends, and partners of our organization. I was looking forward to getting back to the Islands where I spent warm summer days leading the Junior Program Assistants to explore, learn, and engage others while enjoying the natural wonders of the Boston Harbor Islands.

Spectacle Island Shoreline

As the Staff Assistant at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay I had the opportunity and privilege to take a leadership role by creating and monitoring the RSVP list. I was able to able to speak to and email individuals as well as organizations informing them about the Fall Cruise to Spectacle Island and encourage them to sign up for this wonderful opportunity. I was able to speak with many people, and it was exciting to match a name to face on Saturday.

Group Picture of Our Fall Cruise to Spectacle Island

Save the Harbor Staff was able to invite our friends and family on the cruise, so I asked my friend Meghan Stone to come with us on this adventure. When I am not an Administrative Assistant at the office, I spend most of my free time roller skating and playing roller derby with the Boston Derby Dames. Meghan and I are on the same home team, the Arkham Horrors. Since we weren't able to skate around the island, we decided to hike instead. We walked more than 4 miles trekking several different nature hikes that Spectacle Island offers. It was a beautiful Fall day, and we were able to admire the multicolored trees and the ocean in the background. The view of the Boston Harbor wasn't too bad either.


My Roller Derby Team, The Arkham Horrors

Meghan and I at Spectacle Island

Although I've been to Spectacle Island before, this trip was special, because I had an integral role in the planning leading up to the Fall Cruise. I had a lot of small tasks to do on Saturday like greet guests, set-up our banners, and distribute marbles, but I felt relief as we sailed towards out into the Boston Harbor towards Spectacle Island. The cruise was a reward for all the hard work our staff put into organizing it, and it couldn't have been successful without Save the Harbor's friends, family, and partners. I can hardly wait until our next adventure.

Stay Sandy,

Iris Ayala

Back at Save the Harbor!

Hello everyone, my name is Juelle Benjamin. Hope everyone had a good summer because I sure did! For the past two summers I've worked for Save The Harbor/Save The Bay  I enjoyed it so much. I met a lot of new people over the summer and made some great friends. 

I am currently a senior in high school at Another Course to College - part of the Boston Public Schools. I also have a part time job right now. I'm keeping myself busy by working and staying in school. This is my last year of high school so I have to make it as fun as possible but also very productive.

Yesterday I spent the day at Spectacle Island, working for Save the Harbor again, and also had a good time.  I was reunited with some Senior Marine Educators and also some JPA's that I haven't seen since August. I missed a few people, so it felt really good to rekindle with everyone. I also enjoyed the hike I took at Spectacle Island, the scenery was so beautiful and peaceful. I have never seen Spectacle Island like this before it was so relaxing. It was chilly but it was definitely worth visiting the island and catching up with some of my co-workers.

Well, it's not bye it's see you later. Until then, everyone enjoy the holidays and have a good year.

Thanks for everything,

Juelle Benjamin.

A Truly Spectacular Day on Spectacle Island

On Saturday, October 26, more than 250 people from  Boston's neighborhoods and the region's beachfront communities joined Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for a free day of family fun on Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.

Save the Harbor's Board members, funders, friends and supporters from beach friends groups and youth and community organizations spent  a crisp and beautiful fall day discovering artifacts from the island’s past, searching for hidden marbles from the "Simply Marble-ous" Treasure Hunt and enjoying spectacular views of Boston Harbor and the city. Some of the younger participants took part in a treasure hunt, and joined the Department of Conservation and Recreation as “Junior Rangers”.

The whole group, alongside the Provincetown II on Spectacle Island.

Neighborhood groups from Nahant to Nantasket, students from Boston University, and many other friends of Save the Harbor bundled up for the brisk fall weather as they embarked on Bay State Cruise Line’s flagship Provincetown II.

25 members of the Maverick Association of Residents from East Boston joined Save the Harbor on the trip, including Magdalena Ayed and her family.

The Ayed and Ortiz families from Maverick Landing, from left to right: Jesus Ortiz, Mehdi Ayed, Norma Ortiz, Perla Ortiz, Adam Ayed and Magdalena Ayed.

“I love being here with my family,” said Ayed. “It’s a very good opportunity to share stories and new experiences, and I am glad that we could be here with Save the Harbor.” Her son Adam was proud of the sculpture he made in the sand.

 

Adam Ayed surveys his magnificent
rock sculpture on the beach.

The Friends of Winthrop Beach chairperson Roseann Mazzuchelli was there with her family as well. “What a great way to spend the day, celebrating clean water and our community with Save the Harbor.”

Some of The Friends of Winthrop Beach, from left to right:
Roseann Mazzuchelli, Paul Mazuchelli, Jennifer Robinson,
and Lauren Mazzuchelli with one of the marbles they found  on the beach.

Even the smallest harbor explorers enjoyed the trip, including young Lynn resident Sophia Suciu, who came along with her parents Becky and Bogden of the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach.

Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach Becky and Bogden Suciu,
with a tired and happy Sophia Suciu.

“Boston Harbor connects our neighborhoods and our communities with each other and the sea.” said Bruce Berman, Director of Strategy, Communications and Programs at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “Everyone had so much fun today that we are already planning for a winter cruise.”

This "Treasures of Spectacle Island" trip, and Save the Harbor’s youth environmental education programs are made possible with Leadership Grants from Bay State Cruise Company, Distrigas/GDF SUEZ, The P.I. Garden Fund, The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Ludeke Foundation, and Yawkey Foundation II.

Save the Harbor is grateful for Partnership Grants from The Andus Baker & Rowen Murphy Family Fund, Forrest Berkley and Marcie Tyre Berkley, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Jay Cashman Inc., The Chiofaro Company, Circle Furniture, The Dolphin Trust, Fan Pier, a development of the Fallon Company, John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., HYM Investment Group, Lee Kennedy Company, Inc., Mass Humanities, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Massachusetts Port Authority, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, National Grid Foundation, P&G Gillette, William E. and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust, and The Clinton H. and Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust.

Save the Harbor also appreciates funding support from Arabella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation, Inc., Bank of America Pavilion, Boston Centers for Youth Families, Breckinridge Capital Advisors, Carnival Foundation, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Lovett-Woodsum Family Charitable Foundation, Inc., The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, BOMA, Boston Bruins Foundation, Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Community-Suffolk Inc., DeMarco Produce, Thomas & Lucinda Foley, Goulston & Storrs, Matthew J. & Gilda F. Strazzula Foundation, Mobile Beacon, Reebok Foundation, South Boston Community Development Foundation, Sovereign Bank Foundation, Stuart Vidockler and Lynda Clare and hundreds of individual donors.

If you would like to be invited on Save the Harbor's next adventure on Boston Harbor, send an email to info@savetheharbor.org.

To find out more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's All Access Boston Harbor trips, visit their website at http://www.savetheharbor.org, their youth blog, “Sea, Sand and Sky” at http://www.blog.savetheharbor.org, and their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/savetheharbor.

Spectacular Day

I am looking at the map of Spectacle Island.

 

Hello, everyone. My name is Hung Huynh. I had a great summer at Save The Harbor/Save The Bay this year as a Junior Program Assistant. Yesterday I went to work for Save The Harbor/Save The Bay to help out on the trip to Spectacle Island.

It was a little bit chilly outside when I came to the boat at 9 o'clock, I met my co-workers. We had to wait for the guests. The boat left at 10 o'clock. There were about 300 people on the boat. While the boat was leaving, I talked to the guests about the Harbor.

When we got onto Spectacle Island, we walked around the island. The guests took pictures on the island as we walked on the beach and to to the top of the island. A few children found marbles - and everybody had a good time, including me!

Two children found marbles.

We had lunch at 12 o'clock. After lunch we walked around the island again. We went back to the mainland at 2 o'clock. It was a great day. I am looking forward to working for Save the Harbor next summer. I hope to see you all then.

Hung

New Facebook Campaign: Summer's Not Over Yet

Summer may be over, but we have a way to make it last a little longer. Starting this week, make sure to Like us on Facebook to see pictures we have collected from our amazing summer at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. It was a summer full of fresh and familiar faces, new friendships, unforgettable experiences and of course, fishing! Luckily we have captured all of these moments on camera, from the many sites of our two youth environmental education programs to our Better Beaches events like the Beach Bash and Splash. New photos will be posted every week, so don't forget to visit our Facebook page to see them and let the warm memories of summer brighten up your day!

We’ve selected a handful of great photos to kick things off! 

To start things off let’s go way back to the beginning of the summer to our Staff Training Week. Senior Marine Educators and Lead Harbor Explorers headed out to Castle Island, where they trained for the upcoming summer and explored the McDonough Sailing Center. And what would a trip out to Castle Island be without a stop at Sullivan’s for a hamburger and fries! 

On Saturday August 3^rd, swimmers and paddle boarders made a splash at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's annual Swim and Paddle fundraiser. The one-mile competitive swim followed by a one-mile Stand Up Paddleboard competition took place at the BCYF Curley Recreation Center at M Street Beach in South Boston.

On Friday August 9^th, hundreds of kids from youth groups representing communities throughout the greater Boston area gathered at the Curley Community Center in South Boston for our annual Beach Bash and Splash event.  In appreciation for the communities’ involvement, Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay provided a day full of beach games, swimming and food. Staff ran different stations, including: face painting, arts & crafts, fishing, sports and a touch tank. Here David Coffin, Save the Harbor's Maritime Historian, leads the group in a sea shanty.

Hundreds gathered for the Friends of Wollaston Beach’s annual KidsFest event Saturday August 17^th. The free Better Beaches event included a limbo competition, sac races, hula hoop contests and dancing.

This photo was taken on one of Camp Harborview’s fishing trips. Providing the opportunity for inner city kids to leave the city during the day, Camp Harborview brought the kids on tours of the islands, where they learned about marine biology and were taught how to fish. These guys are proudly showing off their catch of the day- Black Sea Bass. I say they did pretty well! 

Remember to like Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on Facebook to see new photos posted every week! This is just a taste of what is to come.  

Thanks for viewing!

Until next time,

Annmarie

*In case you haven't read my first blog, I am a new Communications Intern at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. This fall I will be spearheading this Facebook Campaign. While I cannot show them all, I will be sharing an eclectic bunch of these photos with you. These photos will be ones that I find interesting, exciting, intriguing and ones that have an amusing story behind them. Together these photos will tell the story of the fantastic summer at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. I can’t wait to share these photos with you; I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!