Nahant’s SWIM founder stepping down

NAHANT – More than two decades after taking the plunge and founding Safer Water Waters in Massachusetts (SWIM), Polly Bradley is ready to kick back and relax.Bradley, who is in her late 70s, said founding and working with SWIM has been an amazing journey but she is stepping aside to allow for an influx of fresh ideas.”I’ve been at it 25 years,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful adventure. Even though I am stepping down I hope SWIM will be strengthened because people will kick in.”In the last 25 years, Bradley has testified at numerous hearings at the State House on everything from liquid natural gas terminals and lobstering to no discharge zones.SWIM Vice President William Crawford said it is going to be very difficult to fill Bradley’s shoes.”Polly has been there all of the years, through all of the struggles and at the forefront of all the issues SWIM has worked on over the years,” Crawford said. “She has been the leader and inspiration of the group. She has galvanized many people into action.”Bradley, who grew up in Oklahoma, said she was 16 the first time she saw the ocean and it was love at first sight.”I’ve lived in Nahant for more than 40 years now,” she said. “I can tell you, the Boston Harbor Islands Park is as beautiful as any place on Earth. We have lots of family and friends who visit from far away. They all love to sail in our sailboat so I’ll do more sailing.”Bradley said she plans on focusing on her family now.”I’ve been writing poetry all my life,” she said. “I want to pull together a little poetry book to give to my family. I’m going to spend more time with my four grandchildren, relax a little bit and not work as hard.”Last year Bradley received the River Stewardship Award from the Saugus River Watershed Council for her work to help protect the environment. Bradley was named Citizen of the Year from Town Moderator David Conlin in 2002.The next SWIM meeting will be held Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at Northeastern University Marine Science Center at East Point. Crawford urged everyone interested in joining the group to attend. Additional information about the organization is available online at http://www.nahant.org/swim/.