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Chelmsford Independent:http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/photos/x846065157/PHOTOS-Backstage-with-the-cast-of-Sarut-de-Morte
PHOTOS: Backstage with the cast of "Sarut de Morte"Mar 04, 2013 @ 02:46 PM
Classrooms at Chelmsford High School were filled Saturday with actors and crews preparing their plays for the 82nd Annual Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival. The CHS Theatre Guild's selection, a piece called "Sarut de Morte" or "Kiss of Death" involved dozens of students, both onstage and behind the scenes. Creativity, energy and attention to every detail filled the room as the Chelmsford students prepared and watched the clock as it got closer to the time they needed to go to the stage.
Photos by Ann Ringwood/Wicked Local staff photographer
Chelmsford High Theatre Guild gives 'Dracula' new life
By Cindy Reynolds/[email protected] Local Chelmsford
Posted Mar 08, 2013 @ 11:35 AM CHELMSFORD INDEPENDENT
http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/features/x846066702/Chelmsford-High-Theatre-Guild-gives-Dracula-new-life#axzz2N6dbYOSg
Chelmsford —The cast and crew of the Chelmsford High School Theatre Guild’s adaptation of "Dracula" showed bloody good form in a midwinter night’s tale.
As part of a regional competition, and under the eye of director Lauren Cochran, the students gave life to an elaborate production based on a 19th century classic.
Chelmsford High performed "Sarut de Morte," ("Kiss of Death"), an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s vampire novel, written by Eloise Hoffman, (Cochran’s pen name). The cast included: Shayan Sobhian as the Count, Jake Kelsey as Seward, Chris Torres as Harker, Paul Turchinetz as Van Helsing, Timmy Chase as Renfield, Rob Geada as Williams, Jeremy O’Donnell as Davis, Lauren Leedburg as Lucy, Hannah Riffe as Mina and Sarah Duffett as Nora.
On Saturday, March 2, CHS was host site for the Mass. Educational Theater Guild’s annual One Act Competition Festival. With the addition of the High School Performing Arts Center, this is the second year Chelmsford has had the honor of hosting competition in the preliminary round. Eighteen schools participated at several sites across the state. Two professional judges view each show; awards are given for all aspects of theater, including set design, costumes, makeup, lighting and acting. Chelmsford was one of the three schools selected to proceed to the semi-final round, scheduled for March 9. Fourteen schools are ultimately chosen for the state finals at the John Hancock Building in Boston.
Chelmsford High garnered awards for the production in the following categories: Acting: Timmy Chase, Lauren Leedberg, Shayan Sobhian, Paul Turchinetz, and the ensemble cast of The Vixens, including Kaileigh Bumpus, Heather Conti-Clark, Gweyn DeFilippo, Hannah Marden and Erica Lundin. Audio design: Caroline Flynn and Alyssa Genereux. Original Music Design: Dean Gray. Set Design: Courtney Simard and Abby Hirsh.
"This production is a way to bring together parents, alumni, faculty and students to celebrate the beauty that is live theatre," Cochran said. "I am so proud of the community of Chelmsford to support and nurture the arts at the high school level."
Judy Straeffer, festival coordinator said, "Hosting… is a huge undertaking, but we have an incredible group of parents, along with the support of the high school administration."
Playing hostThe event also marked the second year of the Chelmsford Theatre Arts Parent Organization, (CTAP). The group of parent volunteers organizes lunch and dinner for the judges and plans a pizza party for all the students.
"CHS hosted the seven visiting high schools, which were each assigned to student hosts, who enjoyed giving tours and help each group settle in for the entire day," said CTAP member Kathy Duffett. "Each high school had a classroom assigned to it, where they gathered during breaks for shared discussions regarding the various plays. The groups comingled, and the students were allowed to ask questions about the productions and give positive feedback to other students. As guest hosts, CHS students decorated each of the seven classrooms in the school’s colors. This day is a huge endeavor, involving many high school students."
Stage manager Molly O’Keefe said she was excited to be part of the competition.
"It is a time when all of our cast and crew can work together toward a certain goal," she said.
Sobhian, who played the iconic vampire, stated, "This has been a crazy journey where we all worked so hard, and every aspect of the show has been top-notch. I am blessed to have been part of this theater production as my last high school competition play."
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ITR note: On March 9th Chelmsford High won the semifinal round of the theater competition. And in two weeks they move on to the finals in Boston!
Level-services school budget could rise $1.4M in Chelmsford
By Grant Welker, [email protected]: 02/27/2013 06:34:29 AM EST
LOWELL SUNhttp://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_22678052/level-services-school-budget-could-rise-1-4m
CHELMSFORD -- Next year's school budget would rise by $1.4 million, or 3 percent, to nearly $49.3 million under a proposal unveiled by school officials Tuesday.
The budget, which will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and voted on at Town Meeting, would be a so-called level-service budget, meaning spending would increase only enough to maintain current service levels.
Increases in spending would be only in a few areas, School Business Manager Kathy McWilliams said, including costs for teachers, specialists and custodial services. Most others, including transportation, administration and food services, would remain the same.
Although the proposed fiscal 2014 budget keeps services flat, that doesn't mean the current budget was simply transferred into the next year, Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano said.
"Hundreds of hours" of planning went into the budget proposal, he said.
The overall fiscal 2014 town budget is proposed at $110.8 million, an increase of $2.6 million, or nearly 2.5 percent, compared to the current fiscal year. Spending on the municipal side of government would, like schools, be level-serviced and have no increase in staffing, Town Manager Paul Cohen has said.
Budgets will be voted on at the April 29 Town Meeting.
The school budget has risen by nearly $6.2 million, or 14 percent, from fiscal 2010 to what is proposed for fiscal 2014. Student enrollment during that span has fallen by 137 students, or almost 3 percent.
School officials attributed some of the rise in spending to increases in costs such as insurance and teacher salaries. Half the district's teachers earn salaries at the top pay grade.
The district has also reclassified department heads as department coordinators, which also increased costs.
McWilliams estimated costs into the next five years, projecting annual increases of between 3 and 3.8 percent, which she called "slow growth."
In other business Tuesday, the School Committee voted to open 15 spaces for out-of-district students next school year as a way to increase revenue by an estimated $75,000.
Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Three spots will be open at the high school, seven between grades 6-8 at Parker Middle School, and five in grades 5 and 7 at McCarthy Middle School.
The proposed school calendar for the coming year would set the first day of school for Sept. 3. Teachers would have staff-development days on Aug. 28 and 29. The last day of school for the current year will be June 24, barring any further cancellations.
Follow Grant Welker at Twitter.com/SunGrantWelker.
Chelmsford Schools Prepare For SequesterThe topic that has dominated discussion in Washington recently was also a part of the discussion at this week's
Chelmsford School Committee meeting.
By Dave MorrisonMarch 1, 2013
CHELMSFORD PATCHhttp://chelmsford.patch.com/articles/chelmsford-schools-prepare-for-sequester
Regardless of what happens and has been happening in Washington, many school districts such as Chelmsford will feel the hit of the looming sequester.
However, Chelmsford Public School business manager Kathy McWilliams, says Chelmsford's schools are still planning on the status quo.
“We start with what our budget was in 2013, and what we’re allotted this year. The Town Manager (Paul Cohen) requested a level service budget and three percent increase, and
that equals $1.4 million,” McWilliams said. “The money will be spent on the teachers and
staff and then we have an operational cost of $600,000 that we have to mandate.”
The cost of Special Education for Chelmsford students also plays a big factor into any budget increase according to McWilliams.
“We’re trying to say we can live within our means all the time, close to a three percent increase, but it does appear difficult if I want to add programs, and I can never know the
special needs tuitions all the time,” she said.
One of the other possible generators discussed was the option for more School Choice slots. Chelmsford Superintendent Dr. Frank Tiano said that for the past three years, the District would accept students from other communities for a fee. But with the projected increased enrollment, Tiano felt comfortable to make the recommendations for more open slots.
“It’s a great way to generate revenue and it helps out our student culture. We have looked at next school year’s enrollment projections, and based on enrollment, based on size, what we did at the time is we opened the first few slots were slated for
(Chelmsford High School),” he said.
A recommendation by Tiano for fifteen additional school choice students to come to Chelmsford unanimously passed that evening. Some of Tiano’s suggestions included five open slots at the McCarthy School (Grades five-seven), seven slots at the Parker School grade six, seven or eight, and three slots at CHS (Grade nine).
Jennifer Sneringer, a Lowell resident who works for the Lowell Public Schools spoke at the School Committee Meeting, and mentioned that while she was happy with the Lowell Schools as a whole, she felt that the Chelmsford Schools had what her Son, who is a sophomore, needed as far as music and theater were concerned.
“If he were a Division One athlete, then Lowell would be a great fit. My son is interested in music and theater and the arts programs in Chelmsford are fantastic. I would the
opportunity for my son to be part of that program," said Sneringer. “My son is a wonderful student. He is not a discipline problem in any way. I just think that he would benefit from a school that offers more diverse programs in music and arts. I understand
that we’re all in budget constraints, and there are tough decisions to be made.”
The proposed Fiscal Year '14 budget is available on the School Department website.
Tiano Says June School Days Don't Factor in Snow Cancellations
Chelmsford's public schools are currently set to end their year on June 24.
By Dave Morrison3/5/13
Chelmsford Patchhttp://chelmsford.patch.com/articles/budget-school-choice-tops-chelmsford-school-committee-agenda
With the brutal snow storms that have been hitting the region so far this winter, Chelmsford has been forced to make the decision to cancel schools in the event in inclement weather.
But with many people thinking about the end of the school, Chelmsford School superintendent Dr. Frank Tiano said last week that it was still too early to make a decision on the last day of the calendar year, based on how many days will have to be made ip in June.
“Currently we have cancelled school four times (this calendar year). Without any snow days, we would be scheduled to be out on June 18. Currently, we would be
scheduled to be out on June 24,” said Tiano.
Many questions have been asked about the actual process for cancelling school and how it’s done. Tiano said that he and other town officials always watch the local weather reports before coming to a decision on cancelling school.
“We always watch the weather forecast (around the office). Once of the main reasons
we cancel school is for the safety of the children.", he said. "For those of you who go to work when it snows out, and I think the rest of the world does, we like to take into account the adults, but for the most part, one hundred percent, it’s for the students to
arrive safely.”
Chelmsford Town Meeting set, with 34 items
By Grant Welker, [email protected]: 02/26/2013 06:34:35 AM EST
LOWELL SUNhttp://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_22669714/chelmsford-town-meeting-set-34-items
CHELMSFORD -- The list of items to be voted on at the April 29 Town Meeting has been set, with the warrant including a proposed $110.8 million budget, a moratorium through the end of the year on medical-marijuana treatment facilities, and protection of the town-owned Oak Hill property as conservation land.
Other warrant articles include setting aside a yet-unspecified amount for energy-efficiency improvements to town-owned buildings, and a decision on the Chelmsford Country Club clubhouse, which could include a preferred route of demolishing the building and replacing it with a prefabricated one that would cost about $500,000.
In other action Monday, the Board of Selectmen deemed a German shepherd on Bridge Street a danger after she bit a neighbor and, on three occasions, dogs. The dog will be required to be muzzled and restrained whenever she is outside.
If Katie gets out and is not muzzled she will be euthanized, selectmen voted Monday. The board deemed Katie dangerous, which by state law gives the town the ability to require such a dog to be restrained when outdoors, in a secure fenced- and roofed-in area, or in the worst cases, put to death.
Katie's owner, Valerie Kopacz of 42 Bridge St., said she would install a fence as soon as warmer weather thaws the ground enough to allow for it. Kopacz said she has the dog in obedience training but said she isn't as dangerous as neighbors and Erik Merrill, the town's animal control officer, say.
"I'm very responsible for my dog," she said. "She's not a vicious dog."
Kopacz challenged the definition of a dog bitten, saying Katie "never punctured anyone as far as a bite."
Dawn Cashman, a neighbor who was bit, said the bite drew blood and hurt badly.
"She's a big dog, and when she comes at you, it's scary," she said, adding that she didn't want to see Katie euthanized.
Town Meeting warrant items could still change slightly, but the list of 34 items is set.Town Meeting representatives will vote on the proposed fiscal 2014 budget of $110.8 million, which would rise by $2.6 million, or nearly 2.5 percent, compared to the current fiscal year.
Spending would rise by only enough to maintain current levels of service, and there will be no increase in staffing on the municipal side of government, Town Manager Paul Cohen has said.A $3.3 million capital budget includes nearly $600,000 for a new track at the McCarthy Middle School athletic field and $460,000 for a new fire engine.
Articles submitted by petition include one that would urge the Board of Selectmen to reverse its decision on granting approval for a controversial already-built office building at 9 North Road, which could require the building to be altered or demolished.
Follow Grant Welker at Twitter.com/SunGrantWelker. CLICK HEREfor Town Meeting Warrant
Waste Management Receives Chelmsford Recycling ContractIPR is out and WM is in; there will be no changes in recycling procedures for residents.
By Jay OzaFebruary 26, 2013
CHELMSFORD PATCHhttp://chelmsford.patch.com/articles/waste-management-receives-chelmsford-recycling-contract
The Town of Chelmsford will put its recycling duties into the hands of Waste Management beginning on July 1.
No recycling procedures will change for residents.
The Board of Selectmen voted last night to discontinue service with recycling contractor IPR prior to the March 1 contract extension/termination deadline.
Town of Chelmsford Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator Nick Parlee received two unsolicited bids from Waste Management, each coming in at a significantly cheaper rate than Allied Waste, who also put in a bid.
Allied Waste currently resides over Chelmsford’s solid waste pickup. That could all change come 2015 when their contract runs out at the same time as the new contract with Waste Management.
“I think they’re looking to make a good impression on the town and bundle trash pickup and trash
disposal,” Parlee said of Waste Management.
“It’ll really put is in a great place; we’ll have the two big providers in the community jockeying for
us,” added Town Manager Paul Cohen.
“The idea is that you have your solid waste pick up, your solid waste disposal and your recycling all
up in 2015,” Parlee clarified to the board. “Then you can bundle it and get the best price,” he said.
Cohen told the board that he was disappointed with the recycling service from IPR.
“We’re dissatisfied with the service,” he said.
Parlee echoed the sentiment and stated many reasons for Chelmsford to part ways with IPR.
“I haven’t been happy with the service from IPR,” he admitted.
A recent glass leak in South Chelmsford prompted Parlee to contact IPR. The response from the contractor was to take care of the problem and have the company billed.
“I’ve been chasing them for the $330 bill,” Parlee divulged. “That kind of roughed me the wrong
way,” he added.
Parlee continued with his IPR grievances. “After Martin Luther King Day a whole street was missed,
Bay Street, a small street, four houses,” he said. “They were left out for five-ish days,” he added.
Parlee also brought up the simple issue of the Senior Center. “The Senior Center has been a spot of
routine misses,” he informed the board.
“It’s picking up one dumpster once a week, it’s not like we’re asking them to go above and beyond
right there,” Parlee said.
“There’s been all sorts of little problems, nothing that warrants any liquidated damages in the
contract,” Parlee clarified.
Waste Management will use a new facility to recycle what it collects from Chelmsford residents.
“Waste Management is opening up this summer a brand new, state of the art facility tin Billerica
and they’re desperate for material; they don’t have enough material coming in,” he informed the board.
Even neighboring towns are singing the praises of Waste Management.
“They’re giving us a reasonable offer for pretty high end service; I have nine reviews from
surrounding towns,” Parlee said.
IPR will continue to serve Chelmsford until July 1.
Chelmsford selectmen sign on to dam-repair oppositionBy Grant Welker, [email protected]: 03/04/2013 07:07:34 AM ESTLowell Sunhttp://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_22712722/chelmsford-selectmen-sign-dam-repair-opposition
A proposal by the owner of the Pawtucket Dam to replace the structure's historic flashboard system has been strongly criticized by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in a letter to the federal agency that will ultimately rule on whether to grant a permit.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must first consider the preservation council's comments before making a ruling -- and the council was clear in its opposition to the pneumatic crest-gate system proposed by the dam's owner, Enel Green Power of Andover.
A crest-gate system would "substantially and irreversibly change the historical appearance, historic fabric, physical form, and functionality" of the dam, the council said in a letter to FERC on Feb. 22.
The dam is part of the Lowell National Historical Park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a major component of the system of canals and mills that fueled the industrial growth of the city.
"But for the Pawtucket Falls, there would be no Lowell," said Peter Aucella, assistant superintendent of the Lowell National Historical Park.
Another entity, the federal Department of the Interior, submitted on Feb. 26 to FERC its criticism of the whole process.
FERC's process, "in terms of its duty to minimize harm to a National Historic Landmark and its consideration of (environmental) alternatives, has been, in the view of the department, woefully inadequate."
The Department of the Interior also criticized FERC for not making "every possible effort" to consider "reasonable alternatives" that wouldn't ruin the historic value of the dam. It didn't recommend any of the proposed changes.
Also last week, the town of Chelmsford re-emphasized its opposition to the proposed changes to the dam, for both the changes to the structure's historic character and for how the town says it could worsen flooding upstream.
The Chelmsford Board of Selectmen wrote to FERC saying more regular flooding has caused an "economic hardship" for people at the Williamsburg Condominiums complex, with 538 units on a bend in the Merrimack River.
The town has had "very serious concerns about the height elevation (of the river) that has occurred in recent years," Selectmen Chairman Jon Kurland said at a recent meeting.
More frequent flooding has led to much of the Williamsburg complex to be included in a flood zone for the first time, said Dinell Clark, a president of the condo association. Flood insurance, which is shared by condo owners, was $55,000 before the reclassification and $283,000 after, she said.
A sewer pipe that runs between the homes and the river is also in danger of being exposed or damaged because of erosion to the riverbank around it, Clark said. The complex has, along with the town, applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for grants that would cover three-fourths of an estimated $4 million project.
Potential changes to the dam date back to flooding in 2006 and 2007.
After flooding those years, FERC directed the owner of the dam, Enel Green Power, to install a flashboard system that would allow for more water to pass over the dam. The only system that would meet FERC's requirements is the crest-gate proposal, Victor Engel, Enel's vice president for engineering and construction, said in a letter to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in early February.
Enel cited benefits the proposed system would have, including "reducing the negative effects of upstream backwater and flooding," as well as benefits to resident and migratory fish, improvements to water quality, and "enhanced stabilized water level conditions" for recreational uses of the river. It also advances the development of hydropower, a priority of the Obama administration, Enel said.Two other alternatives would not work, the company said.
A deeper gate on the dam would have required significant bedrock removal, Enel said, calling it "irreversible draconian effects on a historically significant structure."
Another option, a hybrid combining flashboards and a crest-gate system, would not have fully met FERC's requirements and was opposed by the National Park Service.
Enel, which draws hydroelectric energy from the dam, has offered a set of actions it could take to honor the dam's historic qualities if a crest-gate system were installed.
It would develop an interpretive exhibit featuring the two styles, incorporate the old style of the historic gatehouse into a new compressor building, and mimic the color and shape patterns of the flashboard system in the new system, it said in a letter last month.
The flashboard system works by using stacked boards on top of the dam that are supported by steel pins or rods, according to the National Council on Historic Preservation. The flashboards are designed to drop when water pressure from higher water levels pushes them downward, releasing more water down the dam.
The system has been in place since 1875.
The new crest-gate system would have inflatable so-called bladders at the top of the dam instead. By putting more or less air in the bladders, the system would be able to better and more quickly control the level of the water behind the dam.
Engel, the Enel vice president, could not be reached for comment on the opinions by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and Department of the Interior.
Opposition to the proposals from the two groups is "wonderful news," said Deb Forgione, co-chair of the Pawtucketville Citizens Council, which has been a vocal opponent of the proposed changes. If the proposal is still approved by FERC despite those arguments, it shows the agency all along "planned on approving this despite all the facts," she said.
"It's the cradle of the Industrial Revolution," Forgione said of the falls. "If you can dismantle that, there's nothing that can be saved. If they can destroy that, it sets a precedent."
Lowell National Historical Park was "very pleased to see outside parties assessing and supporting these positions that we've had," said Aucella, the National Park's assistant superintendent.
The National Park, the Pawtucket Citizens Council, the Williamsburg Condominiums Association and others have called for keeping the flashboard system, but returning it to an earlier version, with a different system of pin spacing and strength, among other changes that those groups say made flooding more common.
Follow Grant Welker at Twitter.com/SunGrantWelker.
Fire-station plan OK'd in ChelmsfordBy Grant Welker, [email protected]
Updated: 03/06/2013 06:33:56 AM ESThttp://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_22728670/fire-station-plan-okd-chelmsford
CHELMSFORD -- The new central fire station has won unanimous site-plan approval from the Planning Board after making a series of changes after input from the board and neighbors.
Station planners made changes to the design, including modifying the front garage-door windows and the window above the main entry, moving rooftop equipment to the rear of the building and adding screening to shield it from view, and incorporating more architectural elements to improve the look of the building.
The Planning Board criticized the design in a hearing in January, with one member calling it "awful." The board gave its approval to the proposal on Feb. 27 after the third public hearing on the proposal had ended.
Among other changes, planners also moved a planned crosswalk across Billerica Road, reduced the amount of proposed landscaping and agreed to put up a fence on the east side of the property as a buffer for neighbors. In a previous meeting, planners also agreed to reduce the size of a front sign and make a new set of traffic lights in front of the station solid green instead of a traditional flashing yellow, turning red only to let fire apparatus out for emergency calls.
Planning Board approval was granted with a few conditions, including repaving the access road from the rear parking lot to Chelmsford Street, and ensuring proper placement of public-safety signs for the new traffic light and location of poles for the lights themselves.
Town officials had voiced concerns about both traffic and parking, but planners said the station won't add significant traffic.
"You're looking at really a negligible impact," Scott Thornton, a project manager for Vanasse & Associates, said at a hearing last month.
But Planning Board member Bob Joyce said he was particularly worried about traffic leaving Town Hall, the fire station and baseball fields toward Chelmsford Street. It's already very difficult, he said.
"God help you if you have to make a left turn," Joyce said.
The 19,000-square-foot station, double the size of the current central station, built in 1952, was approved by voters last year.
The $7.8 million project will be funded under a 20-year bond at a 2.32-percent interest rate.
The station, which still requires building permits, will be built in the parking lot for Town Hall and adjoined to the building by a small corridor.
Construction is targeted for early summer.
Follow Grant Welker at Twitter.com/SunGrantWelker.
Is Chelmsford ready for Solar Farming...
now??ITR●FB3/4/13
In the fall of 2011 Town Meeting narrowly rejected the idea of placing a solar farm on the Swain Road land fill. At that time "The article requested permission to lease the property for 20 years instead of the maximum five allowed by town bylaw, and to change its use from a landfill to combination solar facility and landfill. Town Manager Paul Cohen said a solar company would most likely return the energy to the grid through the nearby Scotty Hollow neighborhood and sell it back to the town, which would save the town about $20,000 per year and assure the company of a buyer."***
Now it looks like a solar farm in town might get another chance...
ITR: Is the town going to revisit the idea of solar farming on the Swain road landfill in the near future?
Paul Cohen: The Town has been working on the development of an energy services management agreement. This will be presented at the Board of Selectmen’s March 18th meeting, followed by action at the Spring Annual Town Meeting. A solar farm on the Swain Road landfill may take place following this major energy initiative.
***From Chelmsford Independent news story 10/18/2011
Town Meeting turns down solar arrayBy By Monica Jimenez http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/news/x597435339/Town-Meeting-turns-down-solar-array#ixzz2Mc7CfM1k
A Dog's Eye View: The latest in Local Dog NewsPosted on March 6, 2013 at 12:47 pm
by Vivian Merrill
Chelmsford Patchhttp://chelmsford.patch.com/blog_posts/a-dogs-eye-view-the-latest-in-local-dog-news
In spite of Mother Nature's latest shenanigans, the Chelmsford Dog Association is preparing for Spring.
First up, is the Chelmsford Spring Town Meeting, which starts on April 29. The Spring Town Meeting Warrant is now signed by the Board of Selectmen. Article 23 will designate an area of 54 Richardson Rd to be used as a dog park. Article 29 will allow off-leash dogs in an area designated by the Town. The Chelmsford Dog Association is asking supporters for a dog park in Chelmsford to let their Town Meeting Representatives know that having a public dog park is a desired project, and to ask them to vote in favor of these two articles. Once these steps are complete, the group can finally work on building the park. They'll be asking for lots of help then. Thanks to all of you for getting the word out. Please feel free to ask questions-if I don't know, I'll find out! Thank you-on behalf of the Chelmsford Dog Association.
For May, the CDA will host their Third Annual Spring Flea Market on May 18, from 9AM-1PM at the Chelmsford Senior Center. Many Vendors are wanted to make this event a huge success. The good news is that it is very easy to be a vendor-anyone and everyone can do it. A 10x10 space can be yours for a $25.00 donation to the CDA, the proceeds of which will be used for dog park planning expenses. Non-profit groups can get a space for free. The flyer and application have been attached for convenience. You can sell whatever you'd like as long as its legal, and not hotdogs, chips or drinks because the CDA will be selling those for lunch. They will have coffee and donuts for the breakfast crowd as well.
For June, Walgreens will host their Third Annual Dog Rally. They are still working on setting a date for this one, and this year's rally will include a walk-a-thon. All proceeds from this event will also be used for the Dog Park. More details will be available as I get them.
In July, look for the CDA's float in the July 4th parade. They will also have a table at the Country Fair on the Common.
The German Shepherd Rescue League is working on their plans for their Annual Walk-n-Wag in September. This year's event will be held at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Westford. This was a wonderful event last year-we had a great time.
Howl'ween will be held in October, and it's way too soon to be thinking about that. Unless you are like CDA member Will Wagner, and already planning what Violet will wear this year. She was a sheep last year. Competition gets tougher each year, the costumes get more and more ornate, and I expect it the bar to be even higher this year.
Chelmsford election loomsBy Molly Loughman
GateHouse News ServicePosted Mar 05, 2013
http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/news/x846065834/Chelmsford-election-looms#axzz2MiVfbu1W
Chelmsford —Residents are taking a closer look at candidates as they decide whom to vote for to occupy seats on the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Planning Board in the April 2 town election.
CandidatesCandidates running for the two seats on the Board of Selectmen include incumbent Matt Hanson, resident Roland Van Liew, Planning Board member Robert Joyce, Permanent Building Committee member Patrick Maloney and School Committee Chairwoman, Janet Askenburg.
School Committee candidates running for a three-year term are incumbent Evelyn Thoren and resident Barbara Skaar.
Planning Board candidates running unopposed for a two seats for a three-year term are Edmond Roux and Henry Parlee Jr.
Selectmen were faced with a timely decision during a meeting last month, when members voted unanimously against rescheduling the election, and therefore spring Town Meeting, based mostly on concerns surrounding Town Meeting representation.
“Those are the nights when you run for that office, you make a commitment to be available. You change Town Meeting, anybody who has made plans around that meeting schedule may be totally messed up,” said Town Meeting representative Mary Frantz.
Before the board voted, Town Manager Paul Cohen provided members with background context behind the matter. On Feb. 1, Gov. Deval Patrick set the dates for the primary and special elections to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. It also allows any city or town that had an election within 30 days of either the primary or general election to change the date of the local election to coincide with the special state primary or the general election by a vote through selectmen or city council.
“Again, not only are you changing the election date, you’re changing the Town Meeting date. And I think that’s probably what I heard more concerns about, was a Town Meeting date,” said Cohen, who reminded members it is always possible to keep the date of spring Town Meeting, and not have a town election until June 25, which all agreed was impractical.
Selectmen Pat Wojtas, Jim Lane and Matt Hanson, spoke up against the date change, saying it would only further complicate the election season and town representation.
“A few thousand dollars it would cost us initially will undoubtedly be reimbursed by the state,” said Selectmen Chairman Jon Kurland.
“So I think there’s a lot more compelling arguments to keep it the same day.”
For more information, visit the town’s website at townofchelmsford.us
CHELMSFORD ELECTION SEASON: Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.
- Groucho Marx
Welcome to the second round of questions in the annual
ITR Q&Awith the Selectmen Candidates
For this round only 3 Candidates have chosen to participate
The final round will be in theMarch 31st ITR edition
And then there were three...
MATT HANSONITR: What is your opinion (based on cost and revenue production) of the turf field warrant article and the use of community preservation funds for the project?
MH:The new synthetic turf fields at the McCarthy Middle School and Chelmsford High School will be a terrific asset to both our school system and our community. Chelmsford is ideally located along Interstate 495 and Route 3, which makes Chelmsford a desirable location for hosting sports tournaments. However, without synthetic turf fields, many sports leagues will not host a tournament in Chelmsford. Synthetic fields have become the norm for many reasons: They are safer to use, contribute to fewer sports injuries, they can be used continuously every day of the year without a “resting period”, and they require less maintenance than grass fields.
When parents are considering moving to a new town to raise their children, one of the most important factors in their decision is the strength of the school district. Chelmsford’s great schools are the reason that my parents moved to Chelmsford to raise me and my siblings. Having a superb school system requires a continued investment. In the past, we have seen the investment of the new High School auditorium, for example, and the synthetic turf fields are also smart investment for our community.
I currently serve as a member of the synthetic turf field committee. One of our main goals from the beginning has been to ensure that the town does not ask the tax payers for additional money to fund the turf fields. The current proposal will utilize Community Preservation funds for approximately half of project, while the remainder of the cost will be offset by field rentals and fundraising. The Community Preservation Committee voted to support this project at Town Meeting and I support their recommendation. The town also has an aggressive goal of raising $500,000 by the end of April, and I have confidence that we can achieve that goal by working together as a community.
ITR:What is your opinion of licensing stores (grocery, convenient, specialty) other than liquor stores to sell beer and wine?
MH:The town has a limited number of liquor licenses that it can issue as mixed use beer and wine licenses. As a Selectman, it is my job to review every application on its merits before making my final decision. Before making a decision, I listen to all of the public input from the community and consider a number of other factors, such as the proximity of the applicant to other liquor stores in the area. As a Selectman I have voted both for and against mixed use beer and wine licenses in town. I voted to support a mixed use beer and wine license for the Meat House, however, that was voted down by a majority of the other Board members. I also voted with a majority of the Board of Selectmen against two other applications. One applicant was a grocery store in Drum Hill located directly across the street from one of the town’s other liquor license holders. The second application I voted against was proposing to open a package store close to many residential neighborhoods and the abutters were not in favor of issuing the license.
My record demonstrates that I am an independent voice on the Board, that I take public input seriously when making my decisions, and I review each application on a case by case basis. If reelected, that is how I will continue to approach the issue of mixed use beer and wine licenses.
ITR:What is your opinion of the work done by the Oak Hill Study Committee?And do you think the town meeting should accept their recommendation to put the land under the control of the Selectmen for three years first before turning it over to the control of the Conservation Committee? Why or Why Not?
MH: The work done by the Oak Hill Study Committee is commendable and I would like to thank every member of the committee for their hard work. As a member of the Board of Selectmen, I voted to create the Oak Hill Study Committee for the purpose of soliciting public input on what the town’s people would like to see done to the parcel and to review the possible uses of the parcel. The Committee held multiple public hearings and invited the abutters to their meetings to discuss every possible use for the land. The Committee used this input to make a series of recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen has been in control of the Oak Hill parcel for over 20 years. The Oak Hill Study Committee recommended that the Board of Selectmen remain in control of the land for up to three years at which time it will be transferred to the Conservation Commission. The purpose of the three year period was to allow the Board of Selectmen time to create a dirt parking lot on town owned land that would connect to Oak Hill via a walking bridge. Some of the walking paths on Oak Hill cut across private property and the Board of Selectmen also need to make sure that the areas of private property are properly marked. This work needs to be completed before Oak Hill can be adequately used as conservation for the purpose of open space and recreation. That is why the Committee recommended that the Board of Selectmen remain in control until this work is completed. I agree with this recommendation and I will work hard to ensure that the land is transferred to the Conservation Commission as soon as the necessary work is finished.
ITR:In your opinion how is Town Manager Paul Cohen doing? What would you want him to do differently, if anything?
MH:When Paul took over, we were using $2 million a year from our stabilization fund to operate our town government. It was difficult, but Paul reversed that trend when he was hired and we now have more than$6 million in our stabilization fund. Through the remarkable efforts of Paul and his financial team, the town’s bond rating has improved twice in the last two years and is now AA. This bond rating increase will save the town more than $650,000 in interest payments on our current debt and reduce the cost of borrowing money for capital improvements in the future. Paul also had the foresight to make Chelmsford one of the first Green Communities in Massachusetts. This resulted in a 50% state reimbursement on the Byam School roof and High School window projects, immediately saving the town $1.5 million.
Every year the Board of Selectmen establishes an agenda and the Town Manager implements it. How he implements this agenda is how I evaluate his performance. Last year the Board of Selectmen made reopening the South Fire Station a priority and Paul achieved that goal. The Board of Selectmen also made tax relief a priority and after some compromise, Paul developed a budget that placed $900,000 towards tax relief. The Board of Selectmen sets goals and Town Manager Paul Cohen achieves those goals every year.
Paul has done a good job at increasing transparency with the community through his round table television show and social media activities. Paul constantly keeps the Board of Selectmen and members of the community aware of activities that occur in town. If elected, I will work to ensure that Paul continues these efforts and enhances them. I will also continue to listen to public input from the residents when setting goals and priorities for the Town Manager on a weekly and monthly basis.
Your input is extremely important to me. If you would like to contact me with your priorities for our town, please contact me at (978) 319-5383 or [email protected]. Thank you for reading my responses today. I respectfully ask for one of your two votes on Tuesday, April 2nd.
JANET ASKENBURGITR: What is your opinion (based on cost and revenue production) of the turf field warrant article and the use of community preservation funds for the project?
JA:As I have stated throughout my campaign, I believe quality of life is extremely important to our residents. We have utilized CPA funds to purchase open space and restore both historic town halls which are now used for a multitude of community purposes for hundreds of our residents. With the addition of turf fields we will now provide for outdoor community uses for several thousand residents to enjoy. In addition, our children will now be playing on a safer surface that helps prevent injury.
I believe this warrant article should be fully supported and approved at town meeting and is a good use of community preservation funds. The article appropriates money to convert the two locations (CHS and McCarthy fields) into turf fields including new tracks. This is an opportunity for us to upgrade our fields to make them safe for our kids and everyone who will use them. Currently our fields are in conditions that limit our ability to use them, with some of our own teams renting fields in other communities for practices. We also have to alternate "resting" our fields in order to maintain their integrity and future use. These current conditions prevent us from using our fields to their full capacity for our local athletes. It also prevents us from renting them for state and youth tournaments, which is an opportunity for a revenue stream for our community. Passage of this article is a great opportunity for our town and one that I believe should be supported by the community.
ITR:What is your opinion of licensing stores (grocery, convenient, specialty) other than liquor stores to sell beer and wine?
JA: I believe in competition and providing options to the community. However, I believe granting grocery, convenient, and specialty stores a beer and wine license is an issue that could change the integrity of our community and a decision that should not be taken lightly. If elected to the Board of Selectmen, I would actively seek input from the community as well as the Chief of Police to determine what is in the best interest of Chelmsford.
ITR:What is your opinion of the work done by the Oak Hill Study Committee?And do you think the town meeting should accept their recommendation to put the land under the control of the Selectmen for three years first before turning it over to the control of the Conservation Committee? Why or Why Not?
JA:The Board of Selectmen's decision to study the parcel before making a final decision was a great move. This allowed for a detailed study of all options for the land and for the inclusion of public input.
The Oak Hill Study Committee should be commended for their hard work and for their active solicitation from the community for their input on their desires for this land. The citizens of Chelmsford continue to show that they value open space and the quality of life that it provides. Yes, I believe town meeting should accept the recommendation to put the land under the control of the Selectmen for three years before turning it over to the Conservation Committee. There is still work to be done at Oak Hill to make this a useable open space for the public, including parking and access, and the Board of Selectmen should have the authority to oversee this process before handing it over to Conservation Committee for continued oversight of the land.
ITR:In your opinion how is Town Manager Paul Cohen doing? What would you want him to do differently, if anything?
JA:I believe the Town Manager is doing a good job for our Town, including making decisions that he believes is in the best interest of our town. I have personally found Paul to be very responsive to my emails and phone calls, as a citizen and as a committee member. Anything that I would like for Paul to do differently is under the control of the Board of Selectmen. As the governing board, the Board of Selectmen should determine the priorities of the town and create clear and measurable goals for the Town Manager to address these priorities. For example, everyone is talking about providing property tax relief. Should the Board of Selectmen decide that this is a priority, then this should be a goal given to the Town Manager and the Selectmen should work collaboratively with him to support his efforts.
PAT MALONEYITR: What is your opinion (based on cost and revenue production) of the turf field warrant article and the use of community preservation funds for the project?
PM:I believe that anything that promotes the Town and its commitment to the community is a good thing. This is yet another example of the Town stepping up to take care of its own, leading the way by creatively finding a way to provide another asset and amenity that makes the entire community proud. Chelmsford has a history of providing for all its citizens with all different interests including academics, the arts, sports and recreation. So, I don’t see this as a special interest, I see this as just another opportunity to make Chelmsford a better place to live and to enhance the value of the Town as a whole.
The Town, through its use of the Community Preservation Act, has purchased open space, rehabilitated historic structures, and enhanced recreational areas, all worthy projects providing for a better Chelmsford. I see this project as a worthy endeavor for the Town. From the information I have seen, the revenue generated from the fields will ensure its future maintenance. The fact is that the fields combined with our favorable geographical location makes Chelmsford a desirable community to hold tournaments and other athletic events that will benefit our restaurants, hotels and other local businesses. That will also generate additional income to the town via meals and hotel taxes.
ITR:What is your opinion of licensing stores (grocery, convenient, specialty) other than liquor stores to sell beer and wine?
PM:The Town of Chelmsford has had a long standing policy of maintaining strict control of alcohol sales. It allows the sale of alcohol for convenience, but limits availability of all spirits to liquor stores only that geographically cover the Town. Considering the fact there are still towns in the area that are dry, I believe this type of policy has worked for Chelmsford because it allows the sale of beer and wine, with a common sense focus on public safety.
The problem with expanding the availability of alcohol is that, from a legal point of view, as soon as you allow any deviation in policy and grant a grocery or convenience store a license, you start down a slippery slope opening the Town up to legal challenges from other entities. I don’t think anyone wants every grocery, convenience, and specialty store in Town to supply alcohol, and I know that our public safety officials would be deeply concerned and burdened if such were the case.
ITR:What is your opinion of the work done by the Oak Hill Study Committee?And do you think the town meeting should accept their recommendation to put the land under the control of the Selectmen for three years first before turning it over to the control of the Conservation Committee? Why or Why Not?
PM:For me it is hard to fathom why this is even an issue. It breeds from what seems to be a general mistrust in local government. To say that the work of the Oak Hill Study Committee is anything less than excellent is to impugn the integrity of the hard working, professional individuals assigned the daunting task of researching all the various uses and potential involved with this property. They have worked diligently to provide a sound recommendation that is completely in the best interest of the Town.
I do think Town Meeting should accept the recommendations of the Committee. It makes sense for the Town to ready the property for its final and pre-determined use by installing the roads and parking lot necessary for this property to be used and enjoyed by all of the residents of the Town. I further believe that three years is a generous amount of time for the Town to complete the work and I can foresee the possibility of expediting the transfer of control to Conservation.
ITR:In your opinion how is Town Manager Paul Cohen doing? What would you want him to do differently, if anything?
PM: I think the Town Manager is doing a good job. Since coming on board in 2007, he has managed to rebuild the
Stabiliza?on Fund to 5-‐10% of the overall budget resul?ng in two bond ra?ng increases, thus saving the Town money when borrowing, and puIng the Town in a posi?ve posi?on when being reviewed for financial stability. He has taken advantage of various opportuni?es including having Chelmsford designated as one of the first Green Communi?es in the State, again saving taxpayer dollars. He works well with the employees and has been fair and forthright in his dealings with all the various cons?tuencies in Town.
Having said that, whether running a town, a business or a school, there is always room for improvement. It is up to the Board of Selectman and the Town Manager to determine goals moving forward and to ensure those goals are met. And at all ?mes, it is important for those of us who represent the community to consider all posi?ons and sides of any given issue and cons?tuency with an open mind.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆The Final Round of the
Selectmen Q&Ain the next ITR
Candidates here are your final questions:
Question 1: If you had to pick one, what is your main goal to achievein your next 3 years as Selectman?
Question 2: What is your opinion on the town putting a solar farm on the Swain Road landfill (adjacent to the Oak Hill property) and signing long term contracts to bring in revenue for the town? (this proposal was previously defeated before by a very close vote at town meeting in 2011)
Question 3: One of the big issues coming up in the future at Fall Town Meeting will involve the "Sewer Fairness Alliance" and their issue on being forced to install grinder pumps. Do you think that homeowners with grinder pumps should be required to bear any additional costs not borne by homeowners using gravity feed, and if your answer is "no" how should homeowners with grinder pumps be made whole so they are treated equally and equitably? ( Sewer Fairness Alliance info sheet CLICK HERE)
Question 4: Time for your final pitchWhy should I vote for you?
Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.
- Will Rogers
CLICK HEREfor VIDEO
Pat Maloney for Selectman Campaign Kick OffChelmsford Lodge of Elks300 Littleton RdSunday, March 10, 20132:00pm until 5:00pm
Irish Treats await you at this fundraising event to help elect Pat Maloney for Selectman. Tickets are available at Chelmsford Copy & Secretarial or by emailing Pat at [email protected]
Bob Joyce’s Campaign Party will be held on Saturday March 16th from 4-8PM at the One Ten Grill, 116 Chelmsford Street.
Upcoming Candidates Nights “Debates”
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Republican Town Committee Candidate NightWednesday, March 13th, at the Adams Library.
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Democratic Town Committee Candidate NightTuesday, March 19th, at the Police Station.
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The League of Women Voters (LWV) Candidates Night will take place on Thursday March 21st at the Chelmsford Police Station training room. Starting at 7-7:30 PM there will be coffee and treats with the candidates, and from 7:30 until 9:30 PM the program will take place. The event will be moderated by Ellen Harde of the Westford League of Women Voters.
Please forward questions for the Board of Selectmen or Planning Board Alternate candidates to [email protected]. Please put LWV in the subject line of the email. We have received some terrific audience questions via email at past candidate nights and we welcome more.
Chelmsford selectmen hopefuls tout skills at forumBy Grant Welker, [email protected]
Updated: 03/08/2013 09:02:11 AM ESTLOWELL SUN
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_22746171/chelmsford-selectmen-hopefuls-tout-skills-at-forum
CHELMSFORD -- The five candidates for selectmen debated spending, taxes, development and land conservation, and pitched themselves to voters Thursday night in the first of a series of public forums.
The 80-minute forum at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts gave the candidates, looking for votes for one of two available seats in the April 2 election, a chance to tell voters their priorities and why they should be chosen.
Candidates gave their stance on a few issues, including the potential for the town taking, through eminent domain, the vacant Odd Fellows Building in the town center, and what to do with the Chelmsford Country Club clubhouse.
Four of the five candidates, when asked, gave at least a strong consideration to taking the Odd Fellows Building, an option that has not been publicly discussed by town officials as a likely course of action. The building has been vacant since Sovereign Bank moved out in 2005.
Janet Askenburg, the current School Committee chairwoman, said she wasn't sure of the implications of a land-taking and would need legal guidance first.
Other candidates were more decided.
Patrick Maloney of the Permanent Building Committee said the town should "use whatever remedies are available," and Bob Joyce of the Planning Board first said the town probably should take the land but then said it definitely should.
Incumbent Matt Hanson said eminent domain should be a "last resort" but that it may be the only way to restore the building, which was built in 1896. Roland Van Liew called it "not a trivial decision" but added that the town may not have a choice.
The candidates also differed on what to do with the Chelmsford Country Club clubhouse, a portion of which was taken down in December after an inspection found serious structural deficiencies.
Town officials have pitched three options: the preferred but costliest route of building a new structure, replacing the former enclosed addition with a deck, or rebuilding the addition similar to how it was. The decision will be made at April 29 Town Meeting.
Joyce said the town was "a little too hasty" in knocking part of the building down, and disagreed with officials' assertion that the function-hall portion might not be needed because of similar venues in town.
Maloney called it the right move for public safety but said he didn't see a new structure as cost-effective.
Hanson called the function space integral to the club and said a renovation would be the best decision financially.
Van Liew urged not to take action until more information is available through a study. Askenburg also supported further study but said she "fully supports" having a clubhouse at the course.
Van Liew repeated his priority for increasing transparency and accountability, including requiring written contracts for work orders. He also touted his fiscal conservatism.
"I've heard them allude to staying within a budget," he said. "It's a means to an end, not an end to itself."
Hanson cited his hand in the selectmen's success the last three years, including devoting $900,000 last year to keeping tax bills down.
He said he'd like to regionalize the 911 dispatch system to save money and would prioritize helping the Williamsburg Condominiums complex deal with flooding and erosion issues.
Askenburg called herself an advocate for fiscal responsibility and said she would institute public detailed monthly budget reports to selectmen. Other priorities would be helping to fill commercial vacancies, which would help provide tax relief.
Maloney pitched himself to voters by mentioning his 13 years on the Permanent Building Committee, saying projects the board has overseen have been completed on-time and under budget. Among his priorities would be maintaining the town's stabilization fund, which has helped it earn a better credit rating.
Joyce cited his experience on town boards, including serving as a selectman from 1993 to '96. His priorities would include reducing capital costs and returning unused and free cash to taxpayers.
"I've been there, done this, and people can count on me to represent them," he said.
Follow Grant Welker at Twitter.com/SunGrantWelker.
PoliticallyIncorrect With Tom Christiano
GUESTS: Sal Lupoli (owner of Lupoli Business Enterprises), Jim Lane (Selectman), Ralph Hickey (TM Rep. Pr. 1), LeighAnn Poehler Sciacca (TM Rep. Pr. 9), and Ed Roux (Planning Bd.).
CLICK HERE for show
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EXTRA EXTRAS:
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CHELMSFORD’S IN-TOWN REPORT
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆From Town Clerk Onorina Maloney
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MONEY AND POLITICS…BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK.SPEAKERS FROM STATE AGENCIES TO PRESENT IN CHELMSFORD
The Chelmsford Office of the Town Clerk will be hosting an educational forum at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at the Police Department Community Training Room located at 2 Olde North Road Chelmsford, MA 01824.
In the first hour, Jason Tait, Director of Communications and Public Education at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, will cover campaign finance laws. This portion of the forum is particularly geared to local elected officials and political committees. The Clerk is encouraging all current elected officials and those seeking office to attend with their treasurers.
The second part of the forum will begin at 7:00 pm and will cover all aspects of the conflict of interest law. Many changes have been made to the law which affects municipal employees and committee members. David Giannotti, Public Education and Communications Division Chief from the State Ethics Commission, will be our guest speaker and presenter. This forum will afford participants an opportunity to ask questions about their obligations under the law, such as signing the yearly conflict of interest law summary and the online training which must be completed every two years. Municipal employees such as school, police, fire, library, and senior center personnel are encouraged to attend. Elected Officials and a representative from boards and committees are also strongly encouraged to attend.
To reserve your seat, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 978.250.5205 or e-mail [email protected]
Paul Pedulla Comes Home to Chelmsford with a Solo Show Artist Paul Pedulla is preparing for a homecoming at the Chelmsford Library for the month of April, where his original paintings will be on exhibit. An opening reception is planned for Saturday, April 6, 2013, 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the main library, 25 Boston Road. The artist will be present and the public is invited. Paul remembers the day he realized, as an 8th grader in a wonderful art class in the Chelmsford school system, that art wouldn’t be part of his high school curriculum. So he let art go, graduated from CHS in 1973, from Boston College in 1977 and went on to a successful career in advertising. He took another look at his art side seven years ago, for the first time since the 8th grade. His emergence as an artist has since been rapid. Juried shows led to sales, press attention and gallery representation. Pedulla’s paintings are now found at the venerable Tao Water Gallery of Provincetown and Barnstable, the esteemed Sharon Weiss Gallery of Columbus, Ohio, and his work has also been featured this year at the innovative Gold Gallery in Boston. In addition, his paintings are currently on exhibit in the Thomas Moser Showroom at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Paul Pedulla’s work is in collectors’ homes and businesses from Los Angeles to Germany. The artist’s contemporary paintings begin with fresh ideas about space and place. What one sees is a moment, often revealing a relationship between neighboring houses, a road and the landscape, the sky and the sea, figures in a room or a window and the world it views. Paul was featured in ARTSCOPE Magazine, has appeared in the publication’s centerfold, has been written about by well-known interior designer Ana Donohue and was a featured artist at bostonartlife.com. The artist lives in Cambridge, as well as in Kennebunk, Maine and Miami Beach, Florida. His parents, Marianne and Peter Pedulla, resided in Chelmsford for 54 years until this past November, when they sold the family home on Brentwood Road. Pedulla’s Chelmsford Library show will run throughout the month of April. In addition to the acrylic-on-canvas originals on exhibit, limited edition gicleé prints of Paul’s paintings are also available. Please contact the artist directly for more information at [email protected]. (CONTACT)Paul [email protected]
Check out what’s happening at Chelmsford Community Center at North Town Hall this March!!
See our website for more details and the full calendar www.chelmsfordcommunitycenter.orgreach us at 978-‐656-‐1853 or by email at [email protected]
Fitness Classes:
FitMamas: A kid-‐friendly complete body workout just for moms of young children with Rachel Rader, Personal Trainer. Tuesdays 11:30 – 12:15am.
Ac@veKids: A fun fitness class for boys and girls ages 5-‐8 with Rachel Rader, Personal Trainer. Wednesdays 4:00 – 4:45pm.
Girl Power: An age-‐appropriate cardio and strength training class for girls ages 9-‐12 with Rachel Rader, Personal Trainer. Wednesdays 5:00 – 5:45pm.
Circuit Training: A great alterna?ve to your typical aerobics class with Rachel Rader, Personal Trainer. For all fitness levels. Fridays 11:30 – 12:30am.
Yoga Classes:
Tuesday evening from 6-‐7:15pm with Shak? Wellness Yoga – a gentle, moderate class.
Wednesday morning from 8-‐9am and 9-‐10am On the Edge Yoga. Kripalu yoga with Donna Harrington.
Wednesday evening from 6:15-‐7:30pm Yoga for Vitality and Increased Energy (moderate level, beginners welcome) with Charlode Od.
Thursday morning from 9:45-‐11am with Shak? Wellness Yoga – a gentle, moderate class.****************************************************************
Varney Playground CommiHee Presenta@on Thursday, 3/14 at 7pm. Presenta?on on the Commidee’s proposal for Varney Playground.
Zentangle on Monday, 3/18 from 7:15-‐9pm. Crea?ng art from repe??ve paderns to relax, unwind and create!
ScoVsh Country Family Dance on the first Friday of the month,4/5 from 7-‐9pm. Dance lessons and dancing for all ages with new live music this month! $3 per person, $10 family maximum.
Scottish Country Dance is a very social dance form related to square dancing and contra dancing. It is a type of Scottish folk dancing, where we learn different steps, reels, jigs, and strathspeys, which will be taught by an instructor who is accompanied by live music. If you would like to try a hobby which is GREAT FUN, why not come along and join us? Partners are not necessary, you will receive a very warm welcome, whatever your age or level of dancing experience. Please bring a pair of clean smooth-bottomed shoes to dance in. These classes are a tremendously good value at only $3, with a $10 cap for Families. !"#$%&'()'*+%#$%$,&&('-./%#0%&*'-%12%*%)'*0-%3'(+%-".%4".5+$3('/%4,5-,'*5%4(,06#57%*%5(6*5%*).062%8"#6"%#$%$,&&('-./%12%-".%9*$$*6",$.--$%4,5-,'*5%4(,06#57%*%$-*-.%*).062:!
!"#$%&'()*+!(%%,-./0+!#-/#)1+23+4).-5#/(-+6/1+7()/"+!"#$%&'()*1+89+:3;<2+
Scottish Country Dancing First Friday of the Month at the Chelmsford Community Center 7-9
Laugh whileyou can...
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