U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano.

By Tom Bannister

The 43rd Annual Meeting of the Mystic River Watershed Association will be held on Monday, October 19, at Tufts University at the 51 Winthrop Street function hall, Medford. The public is invited to join in for an evening celebrating the Mystic River Watershed Association’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the Mystic River.

The event will begin with snacks and mingling at 6:15 p.m. and the night’s program will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Special awards will be given and we’ll hear an update from Association staff as well as an address from keynote speaker U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano. Go to www.MysticRiver.org for more information about this free, public meeting.

Congressman Capuano will share his unique perspective on watershed protection efforts and his vision for the Mystic River Watershed. The Congressman is no stranger to the Mystic! Born in Somerville, Congressman Capuano went on to become the Mayor of Somerville for nine years prior to serving in Congress. He is now serving his ninth term as a Representative in Congress for Massachusetts’ Seventh District, which includes several Mystic communities: Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, and parts of Cambridge and Boston.

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was founded in 1972 and has largely functioned through the efforts of professional staff and community volunteers working together on a project-by-project basis. Its mission is to protect and restore the Mystic River, its tributaries and watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations and to celebrate the value, importance and great beauty of these natural resources which play a vital role in the many cities and towns the watershed includes.