WANTED: Coyote Decoy Mover

The Park Commission meeting Monday night (August 8, 2011) went very well.   The farmers' market managers presented the 3 locations we are considering, the area, , and (also known as , as presented from my ).

There is no obvious location in Melrose for the farmers’ market that will fit everyone’s needs - neither Melrose residents nor the farmers - so we have to choose the one that will be acceptable to the Melrose community and allow access to both market goers farmers.  

During this period of information gathering, we discovered that the Farm Direct Coop has already considered the Bowden Park location.  At a well attended public meeting in April 2007, the area was rejected for the CSA pick up due to the desire by the area residences and businesses to keep the park as passive recreation.  That was 4 years ago and may or may not apply today; it was useful information to hear from Julie Pottier-Brown from the Farm Direct Coop during our discoveries.

There were 6 other Melrose residents who presented their views during the Park Commission meeting. At the end, Mike Interbartolo, chairman of the Park Commission, moved to have a public hearing for the 3 locations plus the old location at the City Hall parking lot pending discussion with Joan Cassidy who is executing the parking study. The Park Commission public hearing will be September 12 at 7pm; the location will either be in the Aldermanic Chambers or the usual location at .

Rose Sena, resident of Melrose since 1964, has been going to the farmers’ market since it began in 1994, spoke for the seniors. She stated that in all the years that the farmers’ market was in the , it has only been in the last year that she has heard any problem with that location. Responding to the parking lot being dirty, she said it could be cleaned up by the City or by volunteers for civic credits. Garden clubs may be interested in adopting the site and planting perennials and beautifying the area.

The area is good for seniors because it is a flat, firm surface that is easy to negotiate, she said. In addition, seniors can do other shopping, errands to the post office or any number of things that need to be done downtown. She wasn’t so interested in having the entertainment as she finds it more distracting than interesting. She believed that the morning hours were better for fresher vegetables as they weren’t baking in the sun during the middle of hot summer days. 

Jenine Venuti from Melrose pointed out that Cedar Park has paved pathways. She believed the changes in hours were good as someone who works during the day.  She can also see the point of entertainment to make the farmers’ market a destination.   

Joan O’Connor, resident of Melrose since 1940, asked what is wrong with the City Hall location. She also doesn’t like the hours and believes the vegetables are fresher in the morning. The flat surface of the City Hall Parking Lot makes access for her easier.

Heather Macdonald, who has run the farmers’ market since Sally Frank could no longer run the market in 2005, has been receiving comments from people to make changes to the market since she started managing it. She was cited the successful Arlington and Lexington markets from comments she received and tried to incorporate those suggestions into the farmers’ market in Melrose. “We want to please the community and the farmers,” she stated.

Responding to comments about price, she points out that the ‘cheaper’ produce at Haymarket is from Chile, California or is otherwise shipped similar distances, obtained from one of the large distribution centers in Chelsea (see article on ‘’) and not local, which is what the farmers’ market is all about. It takes time to make improvements.  Right now, we are working with what we have. “Any place in Melrose will have parking issues,” she pointed out.  

Renee Tennison, also a Melrose resident, started helping with the farmers’ market in 2010. She pointed out that Ell Pond and Cedar Park have paved pathways for people to negotiate.  

Marybeth McAteer Margolis, Alderman-at-Large, pointed out that there are pros and cons to each location. She said that although she has been instrumental in gaining information on the Dick Lyons Tennis Court area, she also recognized that the roads around that area are very busy. She pointed out that the road around Vinton and W. Emerson near Cedar Park are busy. Ell Pond at the Gazebo, although it may pose a problem with the goose droppings, also provides an opportunity to clean this area for the benefit of Melrose. She pointed out that a woman in Arlington made a decoy to keep the geese away. Joan Bell said she has used a coyote decoy in other areas and would be willing to use it at the Ell Pond Gazebo.

The most difficult requirement is that the decoy needs to be moved every day - now we just need designated volunteers to be the coyote decoy mover....any takers?