All posts by Brian Herzog
Go for a StoryWalk at Sunny Meadow
The Library has partnered with the Chelmsford Open Space Stewards to create a “StoryWalk” along a trail at the Sunny Meadow Community Garden.
The entire story of Sheep take a Hike, by Nancy Shaw and illustrated by Margot Apple, has been laminated and placed on sign posts along the trail, so kids and adults alike can read the story as they hike the trail.
The story follows a group of sheep taking a nature hike – which is a perfect summertime story. The StoryWalk will be changed periodically throughout the year, to match the season. Taking the StoryWalk is a fun way to enjoy the story and get a little exercise.
If you can, come join library staff and COSS volunteers for the StoryWalk ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, July 27th, at 9:00 am. Even if you can’t make it then, please enjoy StoryWalk all year round!
Thank you for the Friends of the Library for funding our StoryWalk project, and to the COSS volunteers for their work in the field. Also, thanks to Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, for coming up with the original StoryWalk idea!
This StoryWalk is located at Sunny Meadow Community Garden, at the end of Robin Hill Road near Route 27/Kate’s Corner in South Chelmsford.
View StoryWalk at Sunny Meadow in a larger map
Chelmsford Cultural Districts Presentation and Public Input Sessions
Save the date for two upcoming sessions on the development of two proposed Cultural Districts in Chelmsford – one in the Center and one in Vinal Square!
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Thursday, July 25, 2013 7:00 PM North Village (Vinal Square) Chelmsford Community Center 31 Princeton Street |
Thursday, August 1, 2013 7:00 PM Center Village (Central Square) Chelmsford Center for the Arts 1A North Road |
The goal of the Cultural Districts is to benefit residents, businesses, and property owner by emphasizing and showcasing all the activities, events, and opportunities these areas offer.
The presentation and public input will explore:
- What is a Cultural District?
- What benefits will the Cultural Districts create?
- What types of culture currently exist?
- What types of new culture are planned?
- How will the District be managed?
- How will businesses be affected?
Help spread the word with the public invitation flyer [pdf]! For more information contact Evan Belansky at ebelansky@townofchelmsford.us or call 978-244-3341.
Have Your Test Proctored At The Library
If you’re taking a distance or online course this summer – or any time of the year – you can have your tests proctored at the library!
Exams are proctored by the Reference staff, free of charge (other than what you may be charged by your school, or for postage). Usually, the process is for you to submit the Chelmsford Library as a proctor site to your school, and they will contact us to confirm we are a valid location. In general, the information they will need is the following contact information:
Chelmsford Public Library
25 Boston Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824Brian Herzog
Head of Reference
978-267-5521 x211
bherzog@mvlc.org
We can accommodate either online or paper-based tests, and students will take their tests in one of our study rooms. The study rooms have large windows and are situated right next to the Reference Desk, so students can be observed at all times during their test.
For more information, or to schedule a proctor session for one of your exams, contact the Reference Desk at the information above.
Vote Tuesday, June 25, in the MA Senate Special Election
The Massachusetts Senate Special Election is Tuesday, June 25th, 2013, to fill the seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry. Polls will be open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
The candidates are:
| Democrat | Republican |
Polling Locations:
| Precincts 1 & 9 | – Town Office Building Gym, 50 Billerica Road |
| Precincts 2 & 3 | – Harrington School Gym, 120 Richardson Road |
| Precincts 4 & 6 | – Westlands School Gym, 170 Dalton Road |
| Precincts 5 | – Byam School Gym, 25 Maple Road |
| Precincts 7 & 8 | – Mccarthy School Gym, 250 North Road |
The list of precinct locations is available online [pdf], as well as sample ballots [pdf]. For more information, residents should contact the Town Clerk’s office.
2013 Chelmsford Farmers Market Opens June 20th
The Chelmsford Farmers Market 2013 seasons opens Thursday, June 20th! Vendors from the local area and beyond can be found on the Chelmsford Town Common every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., through October 3rd.
This year will see at least 30 vendors (the most in the market’s history!), with possibly more later in the season.
Anyone interested in having their own tent at the Market, volunteering, or providing entertainment, please email chelmsfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
You can also read more about the Market at http://chelmsfordfarmersmarket.blogspot.com and http://www.facebook.com/chelmsfordfarmersmarket, or find other area farmers markets.
Public Session on Installing Solar Panels
The Town of Chelmsford is participating in Solarize Massachusetts, a program sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) that will allow residents and organizations to install solar panels to generate electricity at reduced prices.
A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, at 7-9 pm, that will include presentations by MassCEC, local volunteers, and the installer selected by the Town and State, SolarFlair Energy.
This is an opportunity to ask questions about whether solar electric systems will work for a home or business. For more info contact Marc Grant at Solarize@TownofChelmsford.us, or 978-656-1353.
More information is also available on the Town’s Solarize Chelmsford webpage.
New Museum Pass: Boston Harbor Islands Ferry
There is a new pass available this summer – discount ferry passes to visit the Boston Harbor Islands.
It runs May through October, and is valid for weekdays only. It is a 2-for-1 ferry ticket coupon for up to 4 people (so, two people could go for the price of one, or eight people could go for the price of four, etc) – however, it is based on the availability to either Georges or Spectacle Islands (good for one island only).
The ferry boats are run by Boston Best Cruises, and schedules and fares are available online or you can call call 617-770-0040 to make a reservation. You must present the coupon at the ferry center at Long Wharf North on the Boston waterfront.
This pass (and discounts to many other area museums) is available on the library’s website, or you can contact the Reference Desk at 978-256-5521 x211 to reserve it.
Library museum passes are provided by the Chelmsford Friends of the Library.
Chelmsford Library is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library
The Chelmsford Library recently became a FamilySearch affiliate library, which means patrons interested in genealogy have greater and more convenient access to the wealth of resources available through FamilySearch.org.
FamilySearch is the world’s largest repository of free genealogical records, based in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has amassed billions of birth, marriage, death, census, land, and court records of genealogical significance from over 130 countries.
You can search the Family History Library Catalog online at FamilySearch.org to see available records and to order microfilm. There is a nominal fee of $7.50 to order a microfilm, which is then sent to the Chelmsford Library. Once the film arrives, patrons use the Chelmsford Library’s microfilm reader to view it.
More genealogy research tools are available on the library’s website. If you have any questions about FamilySearch or researching your family tree, please contact the Reference Desk at askus@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x211.
If you have any question about genealogy
Chelmsford Water District Report Available Online
The Chelmsford Water District recently published their Annual Customer Confidence Report for 2012, and it is available online as a PDF.
The report contains useful information concerning the water quality of Chelmsford, the makeup of public drinking water, health information, water and plumbing facts, and questions and answers about the Chelmsford Water District and Chelmsford drinking water. For instance:
Where Does My Water Come From?
The Chelmsford Water District customers are fortunate because we enjoy an abundant water supply from 19 sources. The Chelmsford Water District draws water from the Merrimack and Concord river basins. Our reservoirs hold one of the state’s largest capacities: 15 million gallons of water. Combined, our facilities provide roughly 1 billion gallons of clean drinking water each year.
The online version of the report is available on their website [pdf]. If you’d like a printed version, copies are available at the library or you can request one by contacting tmelanson@chelmsfordwater.com or 978-256-2381.
MA Senate Special Election Primary: Tues, Apr 30, 2013
The Massachusetts Senate Special Election is Tuesday, April 30th, 2013, to fill the seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry. Polls will be open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
The candidates are:
| Democrats | Republicans |
Polling Locations:
| Precincts 1 & 9 | – Town Office Building Gym, 50 Billerica Road |
| Precincts 2 & 3 | – Harrington School Gym, 120 Richardson Road |
| Precincts 4 & 6 | – Westlands School Gym, 170 Dalton Road |
| Precincts 5 | – Byam School Gym, 25 Maple Road |
| Precincts 7 & 8 | – Mccarthy School Gym, 250 North Road |
The list of precinct locations is available online [pdf], as well as sample ballots [pdf].
The Special Election itself for this Senate seat will be on Tuesday, June 25, 2013.
For more information, residents should contact the Town Clerk’s office.