<div><strong>Please! Help us Save the Forest and Build the Voke!</strong>
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<div><strong>THE PROBLEM</strong>
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<div>About two years ago, a decision was made by a small group of people that would affect tens of thousands of us in 12 communities. No one can figure out why it was made, but it haunts and keeps us awake at night.
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<div>The Northeast Metro Tech Vocational School Building Committee (BC) has chosen to build its new school on a forested hilltop that will be more expensive and more environmentally destructive than either of the other two building sites available on vocational school land.
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<div>The property is located at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield, MA. This mature forest is Wakefield’s ONLY forest Core Habitat and is teeming with biodiversity including the Eastern Whip-poor-will. The forest is dotted with sensitive vernal pools, intricate natural waterworks, carbon-sequestering oaks and the elusive Lady Slipper. This area is also known for ancient Native American activity and is a beloved place for walkers, birders and those seeking the quiet calm of unspoiled nature.
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<div><strong>BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT CHANGED <em>EVERYTHING!</em></strong>
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<div>After digging through thousands of pages of documents, we discovered that what we had been told isn’t true – that it is NOT necessary to destroy the forest in order to build the new school! There are <em>TWO viable alternative building sites right there on school property that aren’t in the forest!</em>
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<div><strong>OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE</strong>
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<div>Success would be to have the new school built on one of the other two alternative sites right there on school property. Our goal is <em>not </em>to stop the new school from being built. It is only the location of the building site that we object to.
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<div><strong>WHO WE ARE</strong>
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<div>We are teachers, students, project managers, homeowners and renters, architects, retirees, caregivers, taxpayers, abutters to the project, artists, biologists, parents, and grandparents, young and old - all with a common passion and mission - protect our natural and cultural resources from unnecessary destruction and build the school on one of the other suitable sites. All of us are volunteers who voted to fund the new vocational school.
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<div>We care that the hilltop plan creates <em>severe accessibility issues</em> for everyone but most especially for those with physical limitations. We care that our local decision-makers are held accountable and make the best decisions for all of us.
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<div>Please enjoy this short <strong>VIDEO </strong>of the forest we are trying to save. It was created by two very talented teenagers who are working with us to save this natural treasure:
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<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSII51rfk0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSII51rfk0" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSII51rfk0</a></a>
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<div><strong>THIS IS WHERE YOU FIT IN!</strong>
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<div>So far, we have been self-funded, digging into our bank accounts to fund our efforts. But we realize that it is now time to hire professionals to guide us in our work to save the Forest.
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<div>Remember, anyone can donate any amount. You can donate more than once if you are able. And, remember – you can donate anonymously if you prefer. You do not have to be from Massachusetts to donate.
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<div><strong>OUR PROMISE</strong>
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<div>Every dollar that we receive will go directly to our efforts to Save the Forest. That means all donations will go to the professionals we hire who will advise and guide us –whether that be legal, engineering or environmental, and to the materials needed to move forward – things like flyers, signs and pamphlets.
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<div>If there is any money left after our campaign ends, we promise that every single penny will go to charity or to another grassroots group that is fighting to preserve, honor and protect our natural resources, open green spaces, habitats, and to those who continue to  battle the 'Goliath of bureaucracy and inappropriate development'.
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<div>The GoFundMe organization charges 2.9% + .30 per donation. For example, if we receive a donation of $100, we will get $96.80. We promise to update you often and continue working as hard as we can to make the most of these donations. We are not able to refund donations once they are transferred to our bank account, so please take care to donate the amount you wish.
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<div>If you would like a receipt for your donation to Save the Forest Build the Voke (a business name of the non-profit organization Friends of Wakefield's NEMT Forest, Inc), please complete the linked Google form. The "Friends" has a pending application for 501(c)(3) status.
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<div> You can also request a receipt by emailing us at [email redacted]."
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<div><a href="https://forms.gle/de8fPKDyjEpPZJtb7" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://forms.gle/de8fPKDyjEpPZJtb7</a>
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<div><strong>IF YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE:</strong>
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<div>THE DETAILS
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<div>This hilltop site was rejected in the pre feasibility phase because of the high cost and the severe accessibility issues inherent in the bifurcated hilltop campus. Several area Commissions on Disabilities are alarmed at the dangers and accessibility problems inherent in the hilltop site.
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<div>The hilltop site requires several months of deep blasting and the construction of a new road that will run right through the forest and wetlands! The primary areas of concern are Safety and Accessibility, Environmental Destruction, and Financial irresponsibility.
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<div>Building on one of the other sites
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<div>- would cost less
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<div>- be much less destructive
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<div>- have a shorter construction schedule
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<div>- require little to no blasting
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<div>- would not require temporary classrooms
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<div>- have no safety and accessibility problems
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<div>- be large enough to handle the educational requirements, the enhanced enrollment, and the associated parking and athletic fields
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<div>For even more information:
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087565172517" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087565172517" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087565172517</a></a>
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<div><a href="https://northeastbuildingproject.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://northeastbuildingproject.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://northeastbuildingproject.com/</a></a>
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<div><a href="https://www.change.org/p/voters-want-a-new-school-not-the-big-dig-stop-the-senseless-destruction-of-forest?fbclid=IwAR1D227RkApgDc72QzqwIVBCfAqkg-eeIpqzx553dtfu3il_sFIkZ3KnwPk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/voters-want-a-new-school-not-the-big-dig-stop-the-senseless-destruction-of-forest?fbclid=IwAR1D227RkApgDc72QzqwIVBCfAqkg-eeIpqzx553dtfu3il_sFIkZ3KnwPk" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.change.org/p/voters-want-a-new-school-not-the-big-dig-stop-the-senseless-destruction-of-forest?fbclid=IwAR1D227RkApgDc72QzqwIVBCfAqkg-eeIpqzx553dtfu3il_sFIkZ3KnwPk</a></a>
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<div><a href="https://www.nemtforest.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.nemtforest.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.nemtforest.org/</a></a>
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<div>Feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
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<div>Please note that we are <strong><em>not</em></strong> able to refund a donation once it has been transferred to our bank account.
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<div>With your help, we can make a real difference that lasts for generations!
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<div><strong>Please share this GoFundMe page with your family, friends and neighbors.</strong>
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<div>OK, let’s do this!
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Faith Whitney

Elaine Collins

Richard Maida

Carol Haagensen

Jason Langseth

Molly Aalyson

David Conwell

Anonymous

Jennifer Riley

Marie-Louise Jackson-Miller

Debra Papadinoff

Amy Maguire

Mary Russell

Melissa McWhinney

Kim Brookes

Janet Cohen

Anita Dobbs

Susan Labandibar

Glen Ayers

Help us SAVE THE FOREST and Build the voke!

Help us SAVE THE FOREST and Build the voke!

Still $10,580 to go. Help us build momentum.