THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 5, 2026 Page 13 Congresswoman Clark and City of Woburn honored at MyRWA Annual Champions Breakfast O n June 1, 2026, the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), at its Annual Champions Breakfast, gathered with federal, state, municipal, corporate and community partners to honor and acknowledge the contributions of two champions of the Mystic River: U.S. Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who received the Mystic Champion Award, and the City of Woburn, which received the Mystic Leadership Award — presented to Mayor Michael Concannon and City of Woburn staff. “We are literally witnessing positive change in our watershed in a way that would have been hard for me to envision a decade ago when we started this breakfast,” said MyRWA Executive Director Patrick Herron. “From a new fishway in Woburn, to the Clippership Connector in Medford, to the Blessing of the Bay Park, to Draw Seven Park and a new pedestrian bridge, and the incredible work being done by GreenRoots to acquire the Forbes site — there is so much to celebrate in this watershed. You have all made it possible — as partners, funders, practitioners, and friends creating a healthier, more prosperous, future for our residents.” U.S. Congresswoman Katherine Clark received the Mystic Champion Award for her longstanding support of MyRWA’s work and the many cities and towns across the watershed that she represents. Since 2013, Congresswoman Clark has proudly represented Massachusetts’ vibrant Fifth District, which stretches from the coastal communities of Revere and Winthrop through the northern Boston suburbs to the thriving towns of MetroWest. “At a time when the fight for action on climate and our environment can seem so daunting, I’m proud to be fighting alongside the remarkable advocates at the Mystic River Watershed Association to make a real difference here at home,” said Congresswoman Clark. “Together, we’ve brought home millions to protect our watershed and build a future more worthy of our children. The winds of history are behind this movement, and I’m looking forward to all the good work that still lies ahead.” Pictured from left to right: Congresswoman Katherine Clark with members of the Malden River Works Steering Committee: Ramon Norales, Souad Akib, Erga Pierrette, Congresswoman Clark, Marcia Manong, Karl Alexander (back), Karen Colón Hayes (front), Karen Buck, Rebekah McPheeters. Congresswoman Clark’s visionary leadership has transformed the Mystic River watershed, securing a historic $39.2 million to drive clean water initiatives and climate-resilience projects. These included the Malden River Works project, a community-led effort to build a resilient, inclusive riverfront park on Malden’s only city-owned riverfront site, and extensive work in Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) parks all along the Mystic River. Marcia Manong, Chair of the Steering Committee for the Malden River Works project, and Kendra Amaral of DCR gave remarks highlighting Congresswoman Clark’s impact in the watershed. “Without your leadership, your shared values, and your commitment to climate resiliency, we would be stuck. Instead, because you fought for us, Malden River Works is actively under construction right now,” said Manong. “The outcome is going to be magnificent. We are talking about reduced pollution, beautiful new green spaces, and new waterfront access. But most importantly, we are talking about people. Because of your investment, this river will be filled with families and youth, creating a ripple effect of community health and joy for generations to come.” National Grid brings summer cooling tips to customers across Massachusetts N ational Grid is kicking off the summer season with proactive campaigns to help customers stay cool and manage costs. These efforts include bundled solutions that combine energy savings with bill management programs, as well as opportunities to connect one-on-one with customer advocates at assistance events statewide. Following a cold winter, these outreach efforts will help customers during the high-heat months, when increased usage can drive higher electricity costs, and provide tools to track and better understand their energy use. National Grid’s program experts can also offer solutions to help with high bills, helping alleviate financial burdens for eligible customers. “From cooling tips to billing help, our teams are taking a proactive approach to ensure that our customers have the support they need to stay cool and to keep costs down throughout the summer season,” said National Grid Chief Customer Officer Bill Malee. Throughout the summer season, National Grid will provide customers with text alerts that will provide timely energy-saving tips during heat waves. Below is a checklist with a few tips that can help Massachusetts residents save on energy costs throughout the hot summer: Manage energy costs when the summer heat arrives: • Adjust thermostats. Setting a thermostat to a higher, reasonable temperature while at home and adjusting it even higher when away from home can help save energy. Lowering the thermostat below the desired setting will not cool a home faster and might result in unnecessary energy consumption. • Run fans with air-conditioning. Oscillating or box fans near air-conditioning vents can improve cold air flow throughout a room. • Close window coverings. Ambient sunlight can heat a room. Turning off unused lighting and drawing window blinds to reduce heat will keep air-conditioning from running more than needed. • Charge electric vehicles overnight. Shifting electric vehicle charging to overnight hours can earn customers off-peak charging rewards and reduce stress on the grid. • Visit ngrid.com/hereforyou. Learn about residential, multifamily and commercial energy efficiency programs and rebates and find more information on ways to save energy and reduce energy costs. Tips for improving energy efficiency at home: • Sign up for a Home Energy Assessment. National Grid connects customers with an energy specialist who will create a customized energy report and provide energy-saving products, such as advanced power strips, low-flow showerheads and programmable thermostats, all at no cost. • Weatherize homes with insulation and air sealing upgrades. Properly insulating and sealing a home are cost-effective ways to boost energy efficiency. Weatherization can help lower heating and cooling costs by up to 15 percent and decrease drafts to improve comfort and humidity control all year long. Customers might qualify for 75-100% off approved insulation and air sealing improvements after completing a home energy assessment. • Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy, last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting and emit less heat. • Service cooling equipment. Proactively scheduling maintenance for central air-conditioning or heat pump systems helps ensure the unit is running efficiently before peak summer use. • Replace air filters. Check air filters every one to two months during the summer. Dirty filters can restrict airflow, forcing a system to work harder, reducing its efficiency. Clean filters help TIPS | SEE PAGE 14
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