Chelmsford Gets First Look Solarize Mass Project

A crowd of residents from Chelmsford and Carlisle were in attendance at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts on Wednesday to hear about the state run program aiming to increase solar panel installation on the roofs of local homes.

  Much has been said nationally about things like energy independence and the green economy, but for many everyday folks, taking real steps toward things like installing solar panels on their homes comes down to one thing: how much does it cost? That was the core of a new program from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) called "Solarize Massachusetts," a program that was explained in a presentation by MassCEC's Elizabeth Kennedy to curious residents at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts on Wednesday. In addition to Chelmsford, the communities of Bourne, Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Lee, Medford, Medway, Newton, Northampton and Williamstown are participating in the …

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How Can I Unsubscribe From Bulk Mailings?

There are several options available for people who want to start clearing out their mailbox.

One good thing about bulk mail is that unlike its distant cousin, the telemarketer, it can’t wake you up or interrupt your dinner. But that said, it does have a way of clogging up your mailbox in any given week with lots of paper and not necessarily much else of interest. So what can you do about unwanted bulk mailings? You can head to the post office in Chelmsford or North Chelmsford and put yourself on the “Do Not Mail” list to go along with the “Do Not Call” list. The Federal Trade Commission has a page with various links for people to use, depending on what kind of mail they wish to stop receiving. For example, OptOutPreScreen.com, an official credit industry site, will allow you to stop receiving pre-screened credit and insurance-…

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7 Jobs that Make the World a Better Place

Want to make a real difference in the world? Consider one of these seven "green" careers that help protect -- and improve -- our planet. Provided by Jobs at AOL.

  The following story was provided by AOLJobs.com  By Debra Auerbach for CareerBuilder Have you ever had an itch to quit your job and instead do work that makes a real difference in the world? In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we've compiled a list of seven jobs that help people live a better life – from the buildings they work and live in, to the energy that fuels their homes, to the air they breathe.  1. Conservation scientist: Conservation scientists are hired to help preserve and protect natural habitats. They usually work with landowners and federal, state and local governments to find the best ways to use and improve the land while conserving the environment.*   2. Energy auditor: When a building is cooled or heated, it uses energy…

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How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day? (Sponsored)

Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism. Sponsored by Sony.

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day. How can we make every day Earth Day? Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of …

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Chelmsford Open Space Stewards Raise Fun(ds) at North Town Hall

The volunteer group dedicated to helping maintain Chelmsford's open spaces doesn't have many fundraising events, but when they do, they have a ball.

  It's hard to get much done with a budget of $500 a year, and yet the Chelmsford Open Space Stewards, also known as COSS, have been able to take that amount and use it to help keep Chelmsford's trail system and open spaces safe and available for everyone. Last week the group looked to replenish their coffers as well as have a bit of fun at North Town Hall. We were there, and here are a few pictures were got from the festivities. If you have any pictures, share them with us by signing in and clicking on the "Upload Photos and Videos" button. More information on COSS is available on their website.

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Garden Club Planting Tree on Library Lawn This Saturday

The Country Lane Garden Club will mark Arbor Day 2013 by planting a tree on the lawn of the Chelmsford Public Library.

State Officials Announce $2.5 Million Electric Vehicle Grant in Chelmsford

Various officials from the Patrick-Murray administration used Chelmsford as an example for their initiative, which aims to bring electric charging stations and more environmentally friendly vehicles to municipalities across the Commonwealth.

  To commemorate Earth Day 2013, officials from the Patrick-Murray administration were on hand at the Adams Library to announce a $2.5 million incentive program for municipalities looking to buy electric or plug-in vehicles as well as dual electric charging stations. The event, which took place at the same time as a similar event in Greenfield, honored the two communities along with several others that had installed charging stations comparable to the one at the library, nearly 140 throughout the state so far. "Today I'm proud to stand here in a green community where they've established a fuel efficient vehicle policy," said Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources' commissioner Mark Sylvia. Sylvia and other state officials hope that …

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Spring is Here: What Are You Looking Forward To?

Spring isn't quite here yet, weather-wise, but the calendar says it is.

If you've got a skier in the family, most likely they could be found cheering each and every time it snowed this winter. Same goes for other winter-sports enthusiasts.  But I know there are plenty of people out there waiting for warmer weather. Spring has started, according to the calendar, however the latest half-foot of snow we received yesterday is not exactly indicative of an end to winter.  But signs of spring have been in the air recently. Remember about a week and half ago when we had sunny days and temps around 50 degrees? Most snow from the previous storm melted, and it felt like perhaps spring was here. I saw people running errands without jackets, and there was that muddy smell of spring in the air.  If anything, this week we …

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Was The Oak Hill Committee Worth It?

That was a question discussed during the Last Oak Hill Committee Meeting ever earlier this month. Today, we want your take.

  Much has been said over the past few years about Oak Hill, and the Committee put together to study the North Chelmsford property set aside for open space has adjourned for the last time. We were there during their last meeting and donated the Flipcam video of the proceedings to Telemedia. However, there was one part in particular that got our attention: was the Committee itself worth it? We've taken the excerpt from that part of the meeting here, do you agree with the sentiments said here? Do you have another opinion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Phil stanway

12:55 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I just have confirmation that Scotty Hollow will allow us to park on part of their property and access Oak Hill from that point for the second part of the walk (2 ish). This will mean we will not have to cross the stream (where the bridge might go) and access it direct. A much better option and thanks to Scotty Hollow for allowing this one time access. Oak Hill is locked by private land on all …   more ›