The recent snowfall hopefully has gotten everyone in the mood for Winterfest Chelmsford 2013!

This year's Winterfest kicks off on Friday, February 1st, at 7:00 p.m. with the WinterFest Community Social at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts (after snowshoeing at Russell Mill 5:30-7:30 p.m., of course!):

We're All Townies Now! This year the popular community social that kicks off Chelmsford's WinterFest weekend will be held at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts. The cabaret on the CCA's lower level will be transformed into a townie's dream as we attempt to recreate Skip's Restaurant (use your imagination!). Test your Chelmsford knowledge by participating in Chelmsford Trivia matches throughout the evening. Dancing to the music of the Breaktime Band!

Local restaurants and bakeries will provide their best comfort foods. And as in past years, Harrington's Wines & Liquors will make it possible for us to sell beer and wine. Purchase tickets at the CCA and at the main Library ($15 per person).

We'll also be kicking off the annual One Book Chelmsford so as in past years, you can pick up a copy of the 2013 One Book read, Townie by Andre Dubus III at the end of the WinterFest Social. Check the Library's website for more details on the One Book program www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/onebook

A complete listing of events and locations is available at http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/winterfest. There will be lots of great food, fun, and people throughout the town for the entire weekend of Winterfest, so be sure to go out and have a wonderful time.

Chelmsford residents should receive the 2013 Annual Town Census by Wednesday, January 2013. Town Clerk Onorina Maloney is reminding everyone that is it important to fill out and return the census, because it keeps vital Town records up-to-date, as well as saves the Town money in maintaining these records.

The Census will also include a dog license application, and all dogs must be licensed by February 28th to avoid fines.

If you do not receive a census or have any questions, please contact the Office of the Town Clerk at 978-250-5205.

More information on the benefits of completing the census is available from the Chelmsford Independent.

The end of December 2012 and the beginning of January 2013 will see a few changes to the library - as well as a few interruptions in our day-to-day services.

Holiday Hours
The following changes affect Library hours for the Christmas and New Year's holidays:

Besides the days and times listed above, the library will be open regular hours - including 1 PM - 5 PM on Sundays!

No Internet Access on Wednesday, Dec 26
On Dec. 26th, the Town will be switching to a new and faster internet provider.

This means we will have a day without internet access at the library. You will still be able to check books out and use the catalog from home. We hope to have internet access restored by Thursday.

Library Closed Mornings Jan 7 - Jan 11th
The main library will be doing some building upgrades on the ceiling in the main lobby the second week of January 2013. Because of the construction, there will be a delayed opening that week. The main library will not open to the public until 2:30 p.m. from Monday, Jan. 7th through Friday, Jan. 11th

However, the MacKay Branch Library at 43 Newfield St. in North Chelmsford will be open from 9:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m. daily (in addition to the branch’s regular hours).

The Chelmsford Town Clerk's Office has announced an internship program - details and application information are below.

Objectives
In an effort to assist the Chelmsford Town Clerk’s Office with its many ongoing tasks, we are seeking to recruit bright, hardworking individuals with an interest in working in an busy, fast-paced office that handles functions from licensing dogs to maintaining birth, marriage and death records to registering voters and running elections. We are providing opportunities to high school students, undergraduates and graduate students, law school students, and other individuals who are seeking experience with the Town of Chelmsford. As part of Chelmsford’s diversity effort and equal opportunity policies, we seek to accommodate internships for women and men from different racial, cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds regardless of their sexual orientation or disability status.

Internship Program Overview
As part of Chelmsford’s talented and professional team, Clerk’s Office interns are provided with education, training, hands-on experience, supervision, and networking opportunities. Internship positions are unpaid, but do provide excellent experience for students who are interested in government, elections, research, vital statistics and a wide variety of other areas. While some of the work will be basic filing and organizing, we will also be looking to interns for their ideas and suggestions as we tackle new issues and seek to improve our processes and services. We are seeking highly motivated selfstarters, but interns will be supervised and help will always be available to them.

Time Commitment
We are seeking interns who are available for at least 4 hours per week starting in January 2013. While internship opportunities will be available in the summer months and in the following academic year, the need will be greatest from January through the spring of 2013 to assist with the Town Census, Town Election and other events that will occur in that timeframe. We are flexible regarding the hours to be worked, but we strongly prefer interns be available for shifts of at least two hours during the Clerk’s Office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Qualifications
Applicants for internships must be responsible, organized, detail oriented and motivated. We are an office that serves the public, so a positive attitude and neat attire are required.

Applications
Interested individuals may submit a resume and cover letter to the Clerk’s Office, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford MA 01824. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but first consideration will be given to those received in early January from those available to start right away. Contact Jennifer Almeida at JAlmeida@townofchelmsford.us or call 978-250-5205 with any questions or to submit applications.

Come learn more about the Town's first Master Plan dedicated to historical & cultural resources. The presentation and public input will explore:

• What are the Town’s historic & cultural resources?
• What are the Town’s historic & cultural organizations?
• Are the Town's historic & cultural resources adequately protected?
• What can be done to preserve the Town's historic & cultural resources?
• What should be the Town's historic & cultural implementation priorities?

The full report will be available for review on the Town's website. First start on the Town of Chelmsford Document Collection, then click "Committees," then "Historic and Cultural Plan Committee."

Help spread the word! Please distribute the Presentation & Input Session flyer [pdf] by email or print and hang around town.