State environmental agencies launch campaign to promote pollinator habitat T he Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), launched the Growing Wild Massachusetts campaign with a kickoff event at Weston Nursery in Hopkinton. This new initiative aims to promote and preserve pollinators throughout the Commonwealth, and it will offer the public free Growing Wild starter kits and other educational resources to create pollinator-friendly native plant habitat and boost pollinator populations. “Pollinators play a critical role in ensuring healthy ecosystems and a thriving agricultural industry in Massachusetts and the Baker-Polito Administration is dedicated to protecting these important species,” said Energy and Environmental Aff airs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Through this new initiative, we encourage Massachusetts residents to plant pollinator-friendly habitat and help boost polDEVELOPMENT | FROM Page 1 things the recent COVID-19 pandemic has made clear is that there is a need for highquality life sciences space in the Boston area. “Life sciences companies are looking for places for the high-end manufacturing of very special kinds of pharmaceuticals that companies have been working on for some period of time,” said O’Brien. The buildings needed for this kind of pilot manufacturing are very expensive, and O’Brien said the site on the Suffolk Downs property would be perfect for that type of use. “These two parcels were originally intended to be residential parcels,” said O’Brien. He said the move to use them as commercial life sciences space fi ts with THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 FESTIVAL | FROM Page 1 linator populations from their own yards.” “Pollinators are essential for the survival of many plant and wildlife species that are native to Massachusetts,” said DCR Commissioner James Montgomery. “The Growing Wild program is yet another example of the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to the further enhancement of our green spaces.” As part of Growing Wild Massachusetts, DCR and MDAR are partnering with nurseries throughout the state to distribute pollinator habitat starter kits featuring live plants and a packet of seeds native to Massachusetts. The kit also contains a trowel, a Growing Wild sign, information about plants and pollinators and a journal to track seasonal plant growth and pollinator activity. DCR will provide educational resources on its website and social media channels and encourage Growing Wild enthusiasts to share POLLINATOR | SEE Page 33 Beach Partnership is to preserve and enhance America’s fi rst public beach for the enjoyment of all. With this as our focus, we are committed to creating a safe, family-friendly event and are working to develop a modifi ed version of our beloved International Sand Sculpting Festival for all to enjoy,” said Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival Committee Chairman John Hamel. This year’s event will celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Revere Beach, America’s fi rst public beach! The event will feature beautiful sand sculptures designed by the best sculptors in America. In addition, there will Page 13 be food trucks, food vendors, exhibitors and much more. “Signs of hope and progress continue as we welcome back the International Sand Sculpting Festival this year,” Mayor Brian Arrigo said. “While the event may be a little diff erent than years past, we have full confidence that the Revere Beach Partnership will produce a spectacular experience that represents the best of our community and the rich history of Revere Beach. I look forward to participating this year as we kick off our summer together again.” The Revere Beach Partnership is excited to welcome back guests from across Massachusetts, New England and the United States to Revere Beach and the festival. Details and announcements about the event will be announced later. For more information, visit www.rbissf.com or follow the Revere Beach Partnership’s social media accounts. About the Revere Beach Partnership The Revere Beach Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t organization that was established in 2001. Its mission is to preserve and enhance America’s fi rst public beach for the enjoyment of all. The partnership is made up of a volunteer board that shares a love for Revere and Revere Beach. For more information, visit www.reverebeachpartnership.com. INTERNATIONAL APPEAL: Attleboro resident Shirley Rodrigues with tourists from Columbia, from left, Silvia Echeverri, Jorge Beruul and Gloria and Carlos Echeverri, during the 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival. (Advocate fi le photo) za property by the end of the calendar year. Construction on a 60,000-square-foot retail and offi ce building near the Beachmont T station is set to get underway this year, and O’Brien said construction documents are complete on a 475-unit residential building. Two other residential buildings and a hotel are also planned for the Beachmont Plaza develA rendering of the proposed Beachmont Plaza. (Courtesy Photo) A rendering of the proposed Life Sciences building. (Courtesy Photo) the city and the council’s desire to have the Revere portion of the development tilt heavier to commercial use. Overall, about 10,000 residential units are proposed for the entire Suff olk Downs development, with 7,500 in Boston and 2,500 in Revere, O’Brien said. The 500,000-square-foot, half-billion-dollar life sciences building will have space for labs, offi ces and high-end manufacturing, O’Brien said. “We are very confi dent that the impact on the life sciences industry will make Suffolk Downs a place where companies will want to locate,” said O’Brien. “Mr. O’Brien, I want to thank you for bringing life sciences to Revere,” said Councillor-atLarge George Rotondo. “It is exactly what the city needs and it will bring new life to the community.” While the construction of the life sciences building isn’t likely to begin before 2023, O’Brien said, there will be buildings going up on the Beachmont Plaopment. “Time and time again, I’ve called the redevelopment of this site transformational,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “We’ve always talked about the fact that this is about jobs, and this is about economic growth for our residents, and we’ve talked about the improvements we would see in traffi c.” The redevelopment will lead to increased tax revenue to improve city services for residents, and it would help increase public and open space in that part of the city, the mayor said. “Revere is now on the map for life sciences – for offi ce and lab space – and we’re proud to say that the fi rst phase of this project in Revere will include lab and offi ce life science space. That’s something that is a testament to the tremendous work [the City Council] has done to move us forward and the vision we have as a city and the vision Tom and his team have.”
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