Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, FEbRuARy 27, 2026 FREE TREES! For Chelsea, Somerville and Everett residents D o you want to be a part of making your city greener, cleaner and healthier? Do you live in either Somerville, Everett or Chelsea? The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) has FREE TREES to plant on your property! To express your interest in a free tree, fill out MyRWA’s Tree Request Interest Form, which is available at www.mysticriver.org/trees. This form is not a commitment to receiving a tree — it is an expression of interest, and a member of the MyRWA team will follow up with you directly. “It was such a full-service experience, which I did not anticipate and which I very much appreciated, both in terms of how it saved me precious time, but it also provided expertise I don’t have,” said a previous free tree program participant. Any private property qualifies. You can request a free tree for your home, business, place of worship or other space you have permission to plant on. Please respond by March 13. The benefits of trees are not just aesthetic. Trees lower temperatures and provide shade, which helps communities weather increasingly hot summers. In 2021, MyRWA conducted a heat mapping campaign called Wicked Hot Mystic. The results showed that the most urban communities — with the least tree cover — are the hottest. These communities also tend to have the highest percentages of low-income residents and/or people of color. When MyRWA asked residents what changes they wanted to see to address this problem, trees were one of the top solutions. Trees bring other benefits beyond shade and cooling. They can improve air quality by absorbing pollutants, and tree roots soak up water, reducing the volume of polluted runoff into rivers and streams. Trees create habitat for beneficial birds, insects and other wildlife. More greenery in a community can also reduce stress and improve mental health. Finally, trees can save you money! Tree cover reduces energy usage, bringing down cooling and heating costs, and more greenery can increase property values. MyRWA is committed to building solutions so that all people across the watershed, no matter who you are or where you live, have safe and easy access to nature and a healthy environment. MyRWA is working with cities and towns to plant trees on public property, including parks, paths and parking lots. So far, the organization has helped plant over 3,700 trees, but resident tree planting is key to expanding the canopy even farther. Request a free tree today! E Everett Police Department Now Accepting Lateral Transfers Competitive starting salary, 4x4 schedule and opportunities in specialized units VERETT, MA – The Everett Police Department (EPD) is now accepting applications from fulltime civil service police officers seeking a lateral transfer. EPD is looking for motivated, proactive officers who are currently permanent civil service police officers in Massachusetts and eligible for transfer under Chapter 31, Section 35 of Massachusetts General Laws. Applicants must have successfully graduated from a Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) Basic Full-Time Police Officer Academy in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 41, Section 96B. Candidates must have a minimum of two years of law enforcement experience and work in an urban environment with a population of 25,000 or more. Applicants must demonstrate strong problem-solving ability and excellent verbal and written communication skills. All candidates will undergo an extensive background investigation, medical evaluation and psychological screening. Preference will be given to Everett residents. “Everett is an exciting place to be a police officer,” said Chief Paul Strong. “Our officers work in a fast-paced environment with strong command support, modern policing strategies and meaningful opportunities for growth. We’re looking for officers who want to advance their careers and make a real impact.” The starting salary for Everett Police Officers is $95,568 and up to a maximum of $148,893 depending on education and experience. The City of Everett offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes longevity pay, sick leave and sick buyback, personal time, night differential, educational incentives and additional stipends. The City also offers educational incentives for applicable degrees depending on their time as a law enforcement officer and will bridge entry steps to reflect prior years of service. Everett patrol officers work a 4x4 schedule consisting of four 10-hour shifts followed by four days off. Officers also have opportunities to serve in specialized units, including Detectives, Narcotics, K9, Community Services, Bicycle Unit, North Metro SWAT, Traffic, Gaming Enforcement Unit and Marine Unit. “Public safety is a top priority in Everett, and we are committed to investing in a strong, professional police department,” said Mayor Robert J. Van Campen. “We are proud to offer competitive compensation, strong benefits and meaningful career opportunities for officers looking to serve in a dynamic and diverse community.” Qualified officers are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to Captain Paul Landry at Paul.Lazndry@cityofeverett.org. Please note that the applicant’s current Appointing Authority must approve the transfer. The City of Everett is an equal opportunity employer. Suspect in Everett shooting arrested in Quincy after multidepartment search A n Everett man was taken into custody following a shooting in Everett and a multidepartment search that ended in Quincy, authorities said. Last week Gemini Nherrison, 20, was arrested in the evening in Quincy with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police and the Quincy Police. Police in Everett responded to the Main Street area at approximately 8:15 p.m. for reports of multiple shots fired. Officers were able to identify Nherrison and his vehicle through multiple sources, authorities said. Earlier in the day, Nherrison was allegedly involved in a domestic assault and battery incident involving his ex-girlfriend in Fitchburg, according to police. The victim’s brother later went to Everett looking for Nherrison. Investigators allege that Nherrison then fired shots and fled the scene. State police, assisted by Quincy police, located the suspect vehicle and took Nherrison into custody without further incident. Nherrison faces multiple assault and weapons-related charges in connection with the Everett shooting. Those charges do not include any potential charges stemming from the earlier incident in Fitchburg, officials said. Reportedly, he was arraigned in Malden District Court and pled not guilty, and a dangerousness hearing was set for February 26, 2026. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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