THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 16, 2022 Page 15 City of Everett and MyRWA host Everett Firefl y Celebration Madeline English School fi rst-graders and eighth-graders – led by science teacher Bruce Jaff e and local artist Carolyn Lewenberg – collaborated with the City of Everett and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) to create 32 fi refl y sculptures. A plaque about the “32 Colorful Firefl ies” off ers information on the project. Everett Firefly Celebration attendees ate food, listened to music and learned more about pollinator species. Some young residents are shown checking out one of the sculptures. Delicious food was given out to attendees from Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s tent. Advocate Staff Report T he City of Everett – thanks to funding from the Everett Citizens Foundation – collaborated with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) to host the Everett Firefly Celebration at Rivergreen Park. The community was able to come together to view the newly installed fi refl y sculptures and learn more about pollinator species like fi refl ies and their importance to biodiverse habitats, such as Rivergreen Park. All who attended could enjoy food and live music. The 32 firefly sculptures were designed and built by local artist Carolyn Lewenberg in collaboration with the City of Everett and MyRWA. The sculptures were built from local recycled materials and aluminum wings and feature solar-powered LED lights to light up at night. Once the designs were finished, the sculptures were decorated by eighth-grader and fi rst-graders from the Madeline English School, led by science teacher Bruce Jaff e. These fi refl y sculptures amplify Everett’s commitment to a more balanced relationship between humans and the natural ecosystems of the Malden River. Firefl ies are crucial to the ecology of New England’s native fi elds, meadows, forests and wetlands – and as these areas become degraded or vanish due to development and poor land use management, fi refl ies experience habitat loss. Restoring biodiverse habitats, such as Rivergreen Park, will invite fi refl ies and other important pollinator species back to our community. Mayor Carlo DeMaria would like to thank everyone who attended the celebration and participants who helped collaborate with the City to make this event and new sculptures a possibility for our community.
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