Past Events - 2010
2010 Winter Solstice
December 216:38 p.m.
Total Lunar Eclipse
December 21partial 1:32 a.m. - 5:02 a.m.
total 2:40 a.m. - 3:52 a.m.
Stargazing: the Geminid Meteor Showers
December 13
8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
entrance to Belle Isle Park, Bennington Street, East Boston
With clear skies, there may be lots of meteors to see. We'll bring hot chocolate and wear warm clothes. We'll see if we can beat the Perseid meteor showers record for the number of meteors we'll see.
DCR Oceanside Campfire
December 11, 2010Winthrop Beach
Celebrate winter by a warm fire, and enjoy toasted marshmallows, hot chocolate, and good company.
Meet at: Winthrop Shore Drive at Ocean Av. near Cafe Rossetti's Restaurant
Winter Lights Along the Greenway
Saturday, December 4, 20104:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
East Boston Greenway, from Gove Street to Bremen Street Park Amphitheatre
Enjoy the East Boston Greenway path lit up with festive luminarias and a holiday sing-along with East Boston's own Zumix and YMCA youth choirs. Hot chocolate and cookies will keep you warm. Performances will occur at the Bremen Street Park Amphitheatre, just a short walk from Airport T Station on the Blue Line, and the path will be lit up for a half mile from Gove Street on the Greenway into Bremen Street Park. Join us! For more info, contact BNAN at 617-542-7696 or info@bostonnatural.org.
We are looking for volunteers to help at this fun family event.
We need volunteers the week before to make the luminaries which will light the greenway.
The day of the event we will need volunteers to help set up in the afternoon, and also help during and after the event with cleanup. For more information on volunteering please contact Candice Cook, Program Manager at candice@bostonnatural.org.
Rain/Snow Date: Sunday, December 5“Boston Harbor Sea-Level Rise” Community Meeting
Monday, 29 November, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.Harbor Point Development, Dorchester
If you live, work, or enjoy Boston Harbor, join The Boston Harbor Association at a community meeting at Harbor Point Development, Dorchester, to follow up on the “Boston Harbor Sea Level Rise Forum”. Participants will view specially prepared maps of Boston Harbor and participate in discussions on the implications of sea level rise for the Boston community. Free, sandwiches and refreshments provided. Reservations suggested: mail@tbha.org.
Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower
The 2010 Leonid meteor shower runs from Wednesday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 21. The peak will be the nights between the 17th and the 19th.
Read this How-To_Wiki from Wired Magazine and enjoy watching the remains of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle slam into our atmosphere.
Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands
Monday, November 15th at 7 p.m.
at the
Winthrop Lodge of Elks' Fireside Room
191 Washington Ave., Winthrop
The blockbuster movie Shutter Island was set on a fictitious island in Boston Harbor, but the true stories of the Boston Harbor Islands are even stranger than fiction. Join author Christopher Klein as he takes you on a virtual tour through the colorful history and natural beauty of one of our best-kept local secrets: the Boston Harbor Islands national park area. Hear tales of ghosts, shipwrecks, prisoners of war, and Revolutionary War battles that took place on “the real Shutter Islands” and get inspired to leave port and visit this urban oasis.
Boston Harbor Sea Level Rise Forum
Tuesday, 9 November, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.New England Aquarium IMAX Theatre, Long Wharf, Boston
Join The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) in examining the impacts of climate change on Boston Harbor. Specially prepared maps showing potential impacts of sea level rise and climate change in Boston Harbor and local neighborhoods will be presented. Gina McCarthy, EPA’s Assistant Administrator, will give the keynote address. Open mike sessions will allow for public comments and questions. Free; reception following. Reservations required: mail@tbha.org.
Boston Harbor Sea Level Rise Forum
Wednesday, 10 November, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, Fan Pier, South Boston
Join The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) in examining the impacts of climate change on Boston Harbor. The half-day session will include responses to specially prepared maps showing potential impacts of sea level rise and climate change in Boston Harbor, as well as a keynote speech by Guy Nordenson, Coordinator of the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition “Rising Currents: Projects for New York’s Waterfront, NY, 2010. Open mike session will allow for questions and comments by the general public. Free, lunch included. Reservations required: mail@tbha.org.
In Memoriam
We are very sorry to note the passing of John Kilmartin of Winthrop. He was a long time member of the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh and very active in defending the marsh. He will be sorely missed.
Contributions in John's memory may be mailed to:
FBIM
PO Box 575
East Boston, MA 02128
Belle Isle Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival was a great success. Over 600 people came and enjoyed the event. Special thanks to the people whose work and organization made it possible. We are especially grateful to the following who sent us donations for the Harvest Festival and other fall and winter events. East Boston Foundation, Mayor Thomas Menino, The Winthrop Marketplace, Elliot Whittier Insurance Services, Clean Harbors, Capitol Waste, The Boston Foundation, East Boston Savings Bank, Century 21 Mario Real Estate.
Mystic River Watershed Association's Annual Meeting
Thursday, October 28th
"The Birds on the Beach" Forum
October 18, 7 PM
Come to our 3rd annual Forum at the Winthrop Senior Center and hear about the shore birds that visited and nested on our local beaches this year. Heather Warchalowski and Susannah Corona of DCR and Mass Audubon will talk about Piping Plovers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, and many other species that visit Revere and Winthrop beaches, Snake Island and Belle Isle Marsh. This event is sponsored by a grant from the Boston Foundation's East Boston - Chelsea Environmental Fund.
Fall Campfire at Constitution Beach
Friday, October 1st, 6 pm - 9 pm
Co-sponsored by the YMCA of East Boston
Celebrate fall by a warm fire while enjoying toasted marshmallows, hot chocolate, and good company.
For info, call DCR Park Ranger Enzo Polcaro at 781-485-2803, ext. 109.
Meet at: Constitution Beach Bathhouse, Zero Barnes Ave., East Boston.
Tide Pool Exploration at Winthrop Beach
October 2 Saturday Noon
Come and explore the tide pools at the Beacon Street end of Winthrop shore Drive and learn about all the living things you will find there that share our beach and ocean. Join Daniela Foley and Erica Foley and explore this great resource at Winthrop Beach. Kids and adults welcome. This event is funded by a grant from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.
Meet at Beacon CircleBelle Isle Harvest Festival
Sunday, October 3rd, 1 pm - 3 pmHorse-drawn Hayrides, live animals, pumpkin decorating, a touch tank, live music of Made In The Shade, information tables, and more... This event is funded by membership dues, the Boston Foundation's East Boston - Chelsea Environmental Fund, the East Boston Savings Bank, the East Boston Foundation, and others who will soon appear in the program and here on our website.
Sponsored by the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh.
Meet at: Belle Isle Marsh parking lot, Bennington St., East Boston.
East Boston Greenway Council
Meetings: Thursday 6:30 pmSeptember 23
East Boston YMCA, 215 Bremen St., East Boston
All are welcome
For more information, contact Candice Cook at 617-542-7696 x16
or email candice@bostonnatural.org
Salt Marsh Exploration
Saturday, September 25, 10 AM
Salt Marsh Exploration with Matt Nash at 10 AM.
Meet at CVS-Excel Academy Saratoga Street, East Boston
Learn about Life in a Salt Marsh
With DCR Educator Matt Nash
Explore Belle Isle Marsh and
The Belle Isle Urban Wild
Free and Open to the Public
Adults and kids welcome
Sponsored by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Some boots will be available.
Wear high boots if you have them.
Call 617-846-7418 for information.
Newsletter Labelling
Monday, September 20, at Conal and Luisa Foley's front porch at 7. If you are available, please come and help stick labels on our newsletters.
Packing Boxes For the Troops
with Richard Honan at Honan Sign CompanySeptember 21
Honan Sign Co.
66 Crest Avenue
Winthrop, MA 02152
FBIM Board Meeting
Wednesday, September 22 - our regular Board meeting at Eliot House at 7 PM. Important meeting to plan for the Harvest Festival. If you have ideas for an information table, please call me 617-846-7418 or cell 617-921-4598. We have some lined up, but can use more...
Tide Pool Exploration at Winthrop Beach
September 18 Saturday NoonCome and explore the tide pools at the Beacon Street end of Winthrop shore Drive and learn about all the living things you will find there that share our beach and ocean. Join Daniela Foley and Erica Foley and explore this great resource at Winthrop Beach. Kids and adults welcome. This event is funded by a grant from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.
Meet at Beacon CircleRosalita's Puppets on Winthrop Beach
Saturday, September 18 2 p.m. (meet at Ocean Avenue )
Charlotte Dore and Rosalita's Puppets will perform a one hour show
followed by a meet-n-greet the puppets. This event is sponsored by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Please come and bring kids! Last year's puppet show was terrific!
2010 Dawn Heron Censuses
| Sundays | Time | High Tide |
|---|---|---|
| September 19 | 7:00 AM | 9:28 AM |
Help count the Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons and Glossy Ibises. In addition to herons, you'll see other shore and water birds. Bring binoculars, waterproof footware and mosquito protection. The census lasts anywhere from one to four hours.
Meet at Sireen Reinstein Memorial Boardwalk at the southeast corner of Belle Isle Park.
Parking on Bennington St. across from Suffolk Downs 
station, near Bell Isle Park entrance.
For more information, please call Soheil Zendeh, 781-863-2392.
History of Winthrop Harbor by Canoe/Kayak
Saturday, September 11th, 12 pm - 2 pmCanoe or kayak the waters of Winthrop Harbor and learn the history of Snake Island, the Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Cottage Park Ferry. Must have canoe or kayak experience, be able to swim, and be at least 10 years of age. Pre-registration required.
Meet at:
Winthrop Town Landing/Public Marina, 707 Shirley St., Winthrop.
Canoe Belle Isle Marsh
Tuesday, August 24, 11:00 a.m.Belle Isle Marsh Bennington Street East Boston
Discover the ecologically important Belle Isle Marsh by canoe. Must be experienced. Free, registration required. To register call DCR at 617-727-1199 x411.
The Night Sky
The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh will host a stargazing program, "The Night Sky" on Thursday and Friday, August 12th and 13th at Hannaford Park in Winthrop Highlands from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. Mr. Christopher Farnsworth will talk about the Perseid Meteor Showers and what constellations we can expect to see in the night sky. The Perseid Meteor showers have been observed for about 2000 years and will reach their peak activity on these nights. Fifty or sixty meteors per hour may been seen after midnight and before dawn in the night sky. The meteors are bright and leave long trails. We can expect to see constellations and some meteor activity after the sun sets at night. In the event of clouds or inclement weather, we will postpone the program to August 14th.
"The Night Sky" is free and open to the public. Parking is limited, so please carpool with friends or walk to the park. Bring a flashlight, bug spray and a chair or blanket to watch the meteor showers. This event is funded by a generous grant to the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. For more information, please call 617-846-7418.
Gregorio Uribe in Concert
on the East Boston Greenway
Thursday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.at the Caboose - 2 Bremen St. corner of Marginal
The wildly danceable Gregorio Uribe Big Band is a 15-piece group that plays Gregorio Uribe's original songs and traditional Colombian music. Part of the Tito Puente Latin Music Series.
Reminder: Friends of East Boston Greenway Meeting
Thursday July 22, 2010, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.East Boston YMCA, 215 Bremen St., East Boston
All are welcome.
Butterfly Garden
Volunteers Needed at Belle Isle Marsh
Saturday, July 24, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.Google Map location
Volunteers of all ages are needed to help at the Butterfly Garden on Lawn Ave in East Boston. We will check on the Carolina Roses and crab apple trees that we planted earlier in July and we will plant butterfly bushes this week.
Thanks to the volunteers who have helped with the garden in the past month.
The location is between the Suffolk Downs and Orient Heights T stations, the New England Casket Factory and the restaurant that was formerly Jimmy Maggs. If you are driving, go the intersection of Bennington Street and Leverett Ave (at the traffic light near the restaurant that was formerly Jimmy Maggs), go down Leverett Avenue toward the marsh and at the end of Leverett Ave, take a right onto Lawn Ave. Look for the DCR truck. Bring binoculars to see the ospreys, herons and other wildlife.
Butterfly Garden
Lawn Avenue, East BostonJuly 24, 11 - 12
Google Map location
Volunteers of all ages are needed this Saturday for an hour or so to help at the Butterfly Garden on Lawn Ave in East Boston. We will check on the Carolina Roses and crab apple trees that we planted earlier in July and we will plant butterfly bushes this week. Thanks to the volunteers who have helped with the garden in the past month. The location is between the Suffolk Downs and Orient Heights T stations, the New England Casket Factory and the restaurant that was formerly Jimmy Maggs. If you are driving, go the intersection of Bennington Street and Leverett Ave (at the traffic light near the restaurant that was formerly Jimmy Maggs), go down Leverett Avenue toward the marsh and at the end of Leverett Ave, take a right onto Lawn Ave. Look for the DCR truck. Bring binoculars to see the ospreys, herons and other wildlife.
Butterfly Garden
Lawn Avenue, East BostonJuly 3, 11 to noon.
Google Map location
Gardeners age 6 - 10 invited to help with the butterfly garden. Learn about plants, butterflies, birds, bugs - draw and take pictures of the garden. Park Ranger Geoff Woods will talk more about the plants and why they are valuable additions to the garden. We may see some interesting wildlife in the area. Last time we saw a great egret in the marsh. We may also put up bird feeders in the area. This project was funded by a grant from the Boston Foundation's East Boston - Chelsea Environmental Fund.
Thanks to everyone who help plant on June 12th and June 19th.
Chelsea Creek and Lower Mystic River Cruise
Sat. 26 June 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.Take a rare guided tour with TBHA to learn about Boston's oldest continually active port and two highly developed urban rivers. Speakers from port-related organizations, community-based organizations, and governmental agencies discuss Boston Harbor's Working Port, waterfront land use and planning, and environmental restoration efforts. Free, registration required ( mail@tbha.org ).
Monday Night Forum, May 10th
The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh sponsored a Monday Night Forum "The Return of the Clam" at the Orient Heights Yacht Club on Monday, May 10th at 7 PM. 
Dr. Joe Buttner of Salem State College and the Northeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center talked about aquaculture and a shellfish farming project to restore Softshell Clams in Boston Harbor and coastal Massachusetts.
Earth Day Cleanup
April 24th
We all enjoyed the cleanup which happened under clear skies and warm temps. With the Ospreys keeping an eye on us, we hauled out a lot of trash. The morning was capped with pizza and a sense of accomplishment. Thank you all who helped.
THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Annual Meeting in a nor'easter on Sunday, March 14, 2010.
Thanks to Dr. Phil Colarusso for his talk on "Eel Grass: It's not just for eels anymore."
© Friends of Belle Isle Marsh 2011 - all rights reserved