- The Woburn Neighborhood Association, Inc. (WNA) and its sister environmental Aberjona Study Coalition, Inc. (ASC) were established in 2002 as Non-Profit organizations by Mike and Linda Raymond and John Ciriello along with a group of concerned Woburn and South Wilmington residents with the one goal of fighting environmental injustice in Woburn and South Wilmington. The WNA first environmental concern was the closure of the unlined Woburn Landfill. Our number one concern was the material that was being used to change the original 15' hill on a five-acre site to a man-made 85' high mountain on a 40-acre site. In addition to contaminated waste, we found medical waste and we also documented over 150 thousand tons of coal fly ash (a known carcinogen). Through the persistent efforts of the WNA, we were able to stop the dumping of ONE MILLION additional tons. The final capping took place in 2005. Many thanks to Marie Coady, Donna Robbins, Kathleen Barry, Joyce Russis and Tim Purcell as members and the many hours they contributed.
- Over the past 22 years the WNA and ASC have been and continue to be involved through review and comment to the Federal and State Government Agencies in the following:
- The closure and covering of the 40 Acre Woburn Landfill, and the construction of a 14000-panel solar farm on the property.
- The cleanup and reconstruction of the Aberjona River from the Reading Line through Medford. For this project ASC received $150,000 in EPA Grants that was used to hire environmental scientist to monitor and review the project.
- The Reconstruction of the New Boston Street Bridge.
- The 40b Housing Project at 1042 Main Street Woburn MA
- The Aberjona River Nature walk
- The disposition and reconstruction of the Superfund Site on The Olin Property in Wilmington Ma.
- The review of the business and residential construction on the Commerce Way
- Over the past 22 years, the WNA and ASC have received numerous awards. One of the awards that we are most proud of is the recognition we received during the closure of the Woburn Landfill. In January 2004 the Parade Magazine published a front-page article outlining the WNA efforts uncover the truth regarding the closure of the Woburn Landfill, the circulation of the Parade Magazine at the time was over three million subscribers. Senator Patrick Lahey of Vermont during a speech to the US Senate read the article into the Congressional Record.
- Contact Information: Woburn Neighborhood Association, Inc., Co-Chairman Mike & Linda Raymond, 10 N Maple Street, Woburn MA 01801, fitwalker1@aol.com
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world,
indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. Margaret Mead