All posts by Brian Herzog
One Book Chelmsford 2013: Townie, by Andre Dubus III
The book chosen for One Book Chelmsford 2013 is Townie, by Andre Dubus III. There are lots of events planned over the next few months, including a visit from the author – check out https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/onebook/ for more information.
Townie is a memoir of the author’s early life in Newburyport and Haverhill.
After their parents divorce in the 1970’s, Andre Dubus III and his three siblings grew up with their exhausted working mother in a depressed Massachusetts mill town saturated with drugs and crime. To protect himself and those he loved from street violence, Andre learned to use his fists so well that he was even scared of himself. He was on a fast track to getting killed, or killing someone else, or to beatings-for-pay as a boxer. Nearby, his father, an eminent author, taught on a college campus and took the kids out on Sundays. The clash of worlds couldn’t have been more stark or more difficult for a son to communicate to a father. Only by becoming a writer himself could Andre begin to bridge the abyss and save himself.
Copies of Townie are available at the library – after you read it, please return it to the library or pass it along to someone else.
Here’s an overview of One Book events – check https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/onebook/ for more information.
- “Keeping Your Heart Open in Hell: Jump Start Your Memoir” by Nancy Slonim Aronie, author of “Writing From The Heart”
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the main library - “Connecting Boys with Books” presented by Michael Sullivan
Tue, Mar 26 at 7 p.m. - Townie Book Discussion
Mon, Apr 1, 2013: the Evening Book Group will discuss “Townie” at 7 p.m. in the fireplace room at the main library - “From Memory to Memoir: How do we turn fragments of memory into stories that others care about?” by Mimi Schwartz, author of “Writing True, the Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction”
Wed, Apr 3, 2013 10 a.m. – noon at the Senior Center - “The Fatherhood Project” presented by Dr Ray Levy
Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the main library - Townie Book Discussion
Fri, Apr 5, 2013: the Novel Conversations Book Group will talk about “Townie” at noon at the MacKay Library - “Why Write Memoir?” presented by Professor Maureen Stanton
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the main library - Author Visit with Andre Dubus III
Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 1 p.m. at the McCarthy Middle School
Enjoy One Book Chelmsford 2013, and be sure to let library staff know what you think!
Celebrate Winterferst Chelmsford February 1-3, 2013
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 https://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.
Please Complete And Return Your Town Census
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.
Upcoming Library Hours and Services Interruptions
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:
| Christmas Eve Eve | Sunday, December 23rd | |
| Christmas Eve | Monday, December 24th | |
| Christmas Day | Tuesday, December 25th | |
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| New Year’s Eve | Monday, December 31st closing at 1 p.m. | |
| New Year’s Day | Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 | |
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).
Intern Opportunities at the Town Clerks Office
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.
Help Shape the Historic and Cultural Character of Chelmsford!
Chelmsford’s Historic and Cultural Preservation Plan
Presentation and Input Session
Thursday, December 13, 2012
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Chelmsford Police Station
2 Olde North Road
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.
Find the Value of Your Antiques
If you’re curious about the history or value of some of your antique furniture, vintage toys, or just old stuff, the library has quite a few resources that can help.
Every year we get updated copies of price guides for coins and money, stamps, sports cards, and other collectibles. There are encyclopedias and picture guides for almost every subject too – toys to cigars to watches to clothing. Most of these are in the non-fiction shelves downstairs, and the Reference staff is happy to help you locate the right book.
Chelmsford residents also have access to an online antique pricing resource called P4A Antiques Reference (P4A stands for “Price For Antiques”) – it’s a quick way to check how much an antique might be worth, based on what similar pieces have sold at recent auctions.
The focus is on collectibles and historic Americana, including furniture, china, glassware, folkart, brass, silver, iron, artwork, and major antique collectibles, with complete information on when, where, and for what price the antique was sold. The database will also provide a little background information on each item, including date, maker, etc, based on the information that was provided at the auction.
Because antiques are described differently by different people, don’t give up after your first search. Try describing your piece in various ways, and also try the country of origin, material used, and maker, if possible.
If you have any questions about the P4A Antiques Reference database, please contact the Reference Desk.
Watch Videos of Library Programs Online
Is there a program at the library that you’d love to attend but just can’t make it? Did you hear a lecture here that was so great you’d like to see it again? You’re in luck!
Chelmsford Telemedia records many of the programs held at the Library, for rebroadcast on television. They also provide these programs on DVD to the Library, as well as put them online so they are available anytime.
The DVDs are in our catalog and available in the Library’s DVD collection upstairs, and circulate just like regular DVDs.
The online videos are available on the Chelmsford Telemedia website, as well as on the Chelmsford Library Anytime website – a collection of library resources available 24 hours a day.
The videos are in the Exhibits section – just choose what you’d like to watch from the dropdown box. Each video is displayed in the player – such as “The Science of Natural Disasters” with Dr. Chuck Fidler from May 11, 2012:
Thanks to the staff and volunteers of Chelmsford Telemedia for providing this great resource to the community. If you have any questions about Library programs, finding the DVDs, or watching them online, please contact the Reference Desk.
If you have ideas of programs or speakers you’d like to see at the Library, please contact Kathy Cryan-Hicks, Assistant Director of Community Relations & Programs, and kcryanhic@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x109.
Use Consumer Reports At The Library
Did you know the library subscribes to Consumer Reports? In fact, we subscribe to both the print magazine and the online database – and it’s free for any Chelmsford resident to use!
We have two copies of the magazine – one upstairs with the regular magazines that you can check out to use at home (except for the most recent issue), and another complete set downstairs in Reference. The most current year is kept at the Reference Desk, and we also keep the last few years too.
In addition to the magazine, the library also has the Consumer Reports Buying Guide, and new and used car buying guides.
The online version of Consumer Reports is listed on the Reference databases section of our website – you’ll need your Chelmsford Library card number to log in from home.
For similar resources, check out our Consumer Information webpage – it lists other subscription services provided by the library, as well as free websites.
Another great resource is the Boston Consumer Checkbook – instead of reviewing products (like Consumer Reports), it reviews local services, like plumbers, roofers, etc. Print magazines for the last few years are available by the Reference Desk, and online access is available too, but you must be in the library.
For help with these or any Library resources, please contact the Reference Desk.
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 6th, 2012
The 2012 election is Tuesday, November 6nd, 2012. Polls will be open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
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 |
To vote absentee in person, ballots are now available in the Town Clerk’s office. Ballots may not leave the Clerk’s Office. Deadline for Absentee voting is 12 noon the day before the election. The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Ballots & Questions:
Sample ballots for each precinct are available, as well as information on each of the state-wide ballot questions:
- QUESTION 1: Availability of Motor Vehicle Repair Information
- QUESTION 2: Prescribing Medication to End Life
- QUESTION 3: Medical Use of Marijuana
Election Information:
- Town of Chelmsford Voter Information page, with polling locations [pdf] and the precinct list by street [pdf].
- Voter Information Guide, from the Elections Division
- Project Vote Smart – Information for voters on political leaders, their positions on issues, and campaign finance
- FactCheck.org – Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania monitors the factual accuracy of statements made by and advertisements on behalf of major U.S. polictical figures
- Brookings Institution – Elections – Extensive research and commentary on the overall outlook of U.S. public policy and international politics
For more information, residents should contact the Town Clerk’s office.