Page 22 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 27, 2025 Mystic River Watershed Association honors community leaders as Champions of the Mystic River Special to The Advocate A t the Mystic River Annual Champions breakfast along the Malden River, the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) honored and acknowledged three leaders in our communities. Amber Christoffersen, Trails and Greenway Planner at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), and Alicia Hunt, Director of Planning, Development & Sustainability at the City of Medford, were awarded the Mystic Leadership Award for their work on the Clippership Connector. Danyal Najmi accepted the Mystic Champion award on behalf of Rosetta Languages. Amber and Alicia received the Mystic Leadership Award, which is given to champions from agencies and municipalities, for their vital contributions toward the decade-long envisioning, development and construction of the Clippership Connector project, which is set to be open in the coming months. Greenways are places for walking, biking, rolling and strolling that connect people to places, nature and each other. The Clippership Connector is a critical half-mile segment of the MyRWA’s Greenways vision. Alicia, in her role with the City of Medford, and Amber, first as the Greenways Director at MyRWA and now in DCR, worked tirelessly to SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 3 these boorish beings. Let’s take a look at one particular bad actor who’s very active in the mayoral challenger’s campaign. Evidently, Van Campen has begun a bid for mayor with some interesting assistance. An infamous resident of Everett and the federal penitentiary system, Da Razer Raymond, is collecting signatures and taking orders for lawn signs for Van Campen. Danyal Najmi accepts the Mystic Champion Award presented by MyRWA’s Senior Engagement Manager, Daria Santollani. (Photo: Isaiah Johnson) connect the Medford public schools complex with Medford Square, and thus the Mystic River Reservation Path, both upstream and downstream, into a larger regional greenways network. “I can safely say that without Alicia and Amber we would still be talking about the need for Clippership Connector,” said MyRWA’s Greenways Program Senior Manager, Karl Alexander. “But thanks to their hard work, leadership, and belief that everyone deserves safe access to our river — we will soon be able to roll, walk, bike, and run safely for 10 miles through this important connection. Truly, they exemplify agency and municipal leaders.” Here’s some fun facts on Da Razer: Did you know Raymond is banned from all school buildings for inappropriate use of student images? Did you know the district court found probable cause and placed an ankle bracelet and banned Raymond from other city buildings for a period of time for making threats to city officials? Did you know Raymond was convicted of taking part in a bank robbery with an automatRosetta Languages received the Champion Award, which is given to leaders in businesses or organizations, for their role, not just as translators and interpreters — but as collaborators, connectors and community builders. Whether they are digging in the dirt alongside residents to plant trees, or offering time pro bono at meetings where neighbors are finding their voices, staff at Rosetta Languages are there for this watershed and our residents. The team at Rosetta Languages, led by Danyal Najmi, embodies the spirit of equity, access and environmental justice, and helped ensure that language is not a barrier to engagement, but a bridge toward deeper connection. ic weapon? Did you know that Raymond turned state’s witness after an arrest for arson, and then changed cooperation and pled guilty to criminal contempt? Did you know that U.S. District Attorney Fred Wyshak said, “Two fires to date have not been solved. Mr. Raymond had the real-world effect of nobody being brought to justice in these fires that endangered neighbors and firefighters, and were meant to extort a businessman,” according to Amber Christoffersen and Alicia Hunt accept the Mystic Leadership Award presented by MyRWA’s Greenways Program Senior Manager, Karl Alexander. (Photo: Isaiah Johnson) “Through their partnership, more residents — especially those from communities who have historically been excluded from environmental decision-making — have been able to fully participate in shaping the future of the watershed,” said MyRWA’s Senior Engagement Manager, Daria Santollani. “Rosetta hasn’t just translated words; they’ve helped translate power.” MyRWA’s work would not be possible without the commitment and hard work of its partners — from state and federal agencies to elected officials and municipal staff to local residents and community leaders — who all strive to create change and make the Mystic River watershed a safe, the Worcester Telegram article? Did you know that Raymond has been held in civil contempt several times? Of course, this is only a fraction of Mr. Raymond’s record. One must wonder, does Van Campen know this? Does Van Campen plan on sending this man to your door for signatures, to place campaign signs and ask for a vote? Will Raymond be holding campaign signs for Van Campen with others who have been banned from buildings, or worse? Stay tuned—JDM clean and resilient place to live, work and play. The Mystic River Watershed Association works to improve the lives of the more than 600,000 residents of Mystic River communities through its efforts to protect and restore water quality, natural habitat and open space throughout the 76-square-mile watershed. The Mystic River watershed is comprised of 21 communities: Arlington, Belmont, Boston (Charlestown & East Boston), Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Revere, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn. For more information see www.MysticRiver.org. Tony “Da Razer” Raymond
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