The River Current || November 7, 2006 || Issue XXXVIII  
The bi-monthly e-newsletter of the Charles River Watershed Association
...bringing our backyard river to your door...

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In this issue:
1)       Public Meeting on Harvard’s expansion
2)       Get your ticket today! CRWA’s Annual Meeting November 15^th
3)       Election day

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1) Public meeting on Harvard’s Allston Expansion Plans

Harvard University is currently planning its expansion in North Allston, an area that CRWA has been deeply involved in as a part of our Blue Cities Initiative. In order to proceed with the review and approval process for new buildings, the University must first complete an Institutional Master Plan (IMP) to be approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) - http://www.cityofboston.gov/BRA/ - and the Boston Zoning Commission.

Harvard is planning to build a science complex on a 4.7 acre parcel at the location of the former WGBH site on Western Avenue. The Project Notification Form (PNF) for this project was filed on October 29th with the BRA, and a Public Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, November 13th at 6:30pm at the Honan Allston Library to discuss public concerns.  

We encourage people to attend the meeting or express their concerns in writing to Gerald Autler at the BRA before November 29th. If you would like to learn more about CRWA's involvement with the project, contact Pallavi Mande at 781-788-0007 x232 or Click here for email ; to learn more about CRWA’s Blue Cities Initiative go to http://www.crwa.org/projects/esud.html.

Harvard is also planning to file their IMP Amendment by the end of November ‘06 and their new IMP by the end of ‘06…so stay tuned for more!

To view the Project Notification Form, go to: http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/pdf/PlanningPublications/Harvard%20Allston%20Science%20Complex%20PNF%2010-27-06.pdf

2) Author Bill McKibben will speak at CRWA’s Annual Meeting

We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments and future strategies of CRWA, and honoring awardees including dedicated volunteers and important civic leaders at our Annual Meeting on November 15, 2006, from 6-9pm at the Newton Marriott Hotel,

Popular speaker and environmental author Bill McKibben is the featured speaker at this year’s Annual Meeting. In 1989 McKibben published The End of Nature, regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change. In his most recent book, Wandering Home, McKibben offers insights about the environment while he describes the changing demography and economic base in rural America. 

Following his talk, McKibben will be available for an exclusive book signing, so be sure to bring any copies of his work you would like signed!

To reserve your ticket, contact Kevin Hudson at 781-788-0007 x231 or Click here for email, or go to www.crwa.org/annmeeting.html

3) Vote today!

Take a moment to check out the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters’ web site and see how the candidates stand on environmental issues. http:///www.mlev.org