Pollard Memorial Library – Board of Trustees Opening

There is an Open position on the Pollard Memorial Library’s Board of Trustees. The position is volunteer based, helps oversee the general care, administration, and policy making for the library, and meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Please contact Lynda Clark (lclark@lowellma.gov, 978-674-1001) for more information.

Doors Open in Lowell!

Doors Open May 17-18

Now in its 12th year, Doors Open Lowell is the community’s signature preservation, architecture, and design event and was the first of its kind in the United States when it debuted in 2002. Presented as part of National Preservation Month, it’s a celebration of urban living and culture where people and preservation have made Lowell a creative and exciting place to live, work, and visit.

So come on out this weekend, put on your good walking shoes, grab a camera, and invite some family and friends along as you discover a different side of Lowell…the inside!

For a full schedule of events, please visit http://www.doorsopenlowell.org/events-1.

Athenian Corner Serves Up Huge Energy Savings

The Athenian Corner, a local mainstay here in downtown Lowell, has a nice feature on www.energy.gov website, detailing the success the small business has enjoyed since utilizing the BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade (BLEU) program. 

Some facts:

• The Athenian Corner, a family-owned restaurant in Lowell, Massachusetts, made energy efficiency upgrades that are saving it more than 41 percent in energy costs.
• The upgrades also helped improve the comfort of the restaurant, leading to increased business for the Athenian Corner.

Please visit http://energy.gov/articles/family-owned-restaurant-serves-huge-energy-savings for the full article!

 

Coyotes Deployed at Edwards Soccer Field

 

A pack of coyotes is being deployed at the Edwards Soccer Field to discourage flocks of wild geese from taking over the turf and turning it into a hazardous waste field.

With its proximity to the Merrimack River and wide open spaces, the field has recently become a favorite landing spot for the fast-growing numbers of wild geese in the area. These hardy waterfowl have become the bane of parks and open spaces in recent years, digging up grasses and leaving behind their droppings. With the soccer season starting, these birds, with their bad habits, have become unwelcome visitors.

In an effort to chase away Mother Goose and her many followers, the Parks Department has purchased several faux coyotes which will be positioned to keep watch over the field and do their 3D “menacing predator” best to scare away the geese.

This effort is the latest in a number of improvements done to Edwards Soccer Field since its development by the City in the early 1990s.

Over the years improvements included construction of the concession stand/restroom facilities, parking area, fencing, gates and storage containers. A $75,000 irrigation system was installed resulting in improved field condition and expansion of the league’s hours of operations. Recently the City invested approximately $40,000 to connect the concession stand to the City’s sewer system, replacing the $7,800 holding tanks installed in 2006.

This season, the Department of Public Works will repave the entry and install new curbing.

Our new coyote patrol will be keeping a sharp eye on Edwards Field and making sure the goose gang doesn’t do damage to our many investments to this great asset.

Updates for 5/3/13

Community Teamwork, Inc. announces their Summer Workshop Series 2013!

The Family Finance Solutions Program at Community Teamwork Inc. is empowering individuals and families to make sound financial decisions through the provision of quality training, education, and resources.

DAY workshops are free, for adults only, and you must register for them. You’ll have two opportunities to win a gift card to Market Basket!

DAY workshops are held Fridays 10:00-11:00 AM:
June 7 – How to Generate Additional Income through Business Ventures
Location: Community Teamwork, Inc.

June 14 – Understanding How Investments Work
Location: Community Teamwork, Inc.

June 21 – Budgeting Tools
Location: Pollard Memorial Library

June 28 – Understanding the Cost of Living
Location: Community Teamwork, Inc.

July 12 – Credit Repair
Location: Community Teamwork, Inc.

July 26 – Protecting Your Money, Credit & Identity
Location: Pollard Memorial Library

Some workshops are being held at Community Teamwork, Inc. located at 155 Merrimack St Lowell, MA 01852 & others are being offered at the Pollard Memorial Library located at 401 Merrimack St Lowell, MA 01852, Ground FL Meeting Room.

NIGHT workshops are free, include childcare (limited space) and pizza for dinner, and you must register for them.

NIGHT workshops are held Wednesdays 6:00-7:15 PM.
June 5 – Get Smart About Credit

June 12 – Finances for Couples Part 1: Understanding Your Family Money Decisions

June 19 – Finances for Couples Part 2: Creating a Plan for Your Household

June 26 – Adapting to Sudden Life Changes

July 10 – Budgeting 101

July 24 – Talking to Your Kids about Money

July 31 – Building a Savings Cushion

Summer Workshops Series during the evening will be held at: CTI’s James Houlares Early Learning Center, 126 Phoenix Ave Lowell, MA 01852.

To register today or for more information, please call Gladys at (978) 654-5673 or online at http://www.ctifamilyfinance.org

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Community Teamwork, Inc.’s Financial Literacy Institute for High School Students

The Summer Financial Literacy Institute teaches real-world personal finance skills to local high school students. Students will learn how to budget, handle credit cards, how to set financial goals, and how to create an action plan to achieve their financial goals.

Students also learn how personal choices determine their roles as participants in the greater economy, and how the greater economy influences the decisions they make. This applied knowledge will give them the knowledge and confidence to successfully navigate the major financial decisions to come.

Students will meet for three days and cover the following topics:

Day 1: Money and Debt Management
• Track daily spending habits.
• Understand credit reports.
• Identify ways to decrease spending.
• Credit cards & loans.
• Identify possible ways to increase income.
• Identify helpful budgeting tools.
• Managing bills
• Creating a plan to achieve financial goals

Day 2: Consumer Economics
Students will learn to make informed decisions as they explore the opportunity cost associated with each consumer choice.

Day 3: Reality Fair
The Reality Fair will be an interactive activity where students have the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge they gained during the past two days by making the best money decisions for themselves based on their predetermined career and salary.

Dates: July 17-19, 2013
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: Community Teamwork Inc.
155 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852

For more information or to register, please call Gladys at (978) 654-5673 or go to http://www.ctifamilyfinance.org

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Calling all entrepreneurs! This summer, turn your business or non-profit idea into a reality. From June to August, the Merrimack Valley Sandbox will host a 12-week accelerator for start-ups in the region. The Sandbox Summer Accelerator will give you the opportunity to:
• Work with seasoned executive MENTORS
• NETWORK with investors, industry experts, and successful entrepreneurs
• Have access to co-shared WORKSPACE
• Participate in technical workshops in business design, fundraising, social media marketing and more
• Compete for $30K in SEED CAPITAL

There are no fees to participate and the Sandbox does not take equity from the startups in our program.
The deadline to apply is May 16th at midnight!

For more information, or to apply: http://merrimackvalleysandbox.org/entrepreneur-program/sandbox-summer-accelerator/.

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The deadline to register to vote in the special U.S. Senate election on June 25th is Wednesday, June 5th at 8 PM! The Election Office will be open in City Hall until 8 PM on that day. They are located in the basement of City Hall at 375 Merrimack Street. Normal office hours are weekdays from 8 AM – 5 PM

Lowell voters who are current in the census remain on the Active Voters List but must inform us in writing if they changed their name or city address, or wish to change their party affiliation by June 5th.

Lowell residents who wish to check their registration status or would like to request a mail-in voter registration form may call the Election & Census Commission at 978-674-1200.

Cutting Down on Salt

No, this isn’t a health advisory although a 40% reduction in road salt used during winter storms will make for a healthier environment and a healthier snow and ice budget.

New equipment installed to monitor and control salt output on the City’s salt trucks have resulted in a 40% reduction of salt usage in the first full year of operation. Twenty-one vehicles–a combination of new and existing winter fleet vehicles–have been equipped with the Cirus SpreadSmart salt control system. This system allows for the managed spread of salt at various levels to account for varying storm conditions as well as distinct neighborhood and road characteristics. Retrofitting the older vehicles cost $100,000; the savings in fiscal year 2013 alone has been $215,000.

Where the average truck output of salt per truck was 1,000 pounds per lane mile, it is now down to 350 pounds per lane mile, a far more efficient way to keep our roads safe during the winter.

Going forward, the Department of Public Works will be fine-tuning the system for even greater benefits. In addition, contractors with salters will be required to install the Cirus system on their vehicles by next winter, further reducing salt use and costs. Also in the works for next year is the addition of an agricultural based liquid product that will increase the effectiveness of the salt.

All of which will result in positive outcomes for our environment and our bottom line.

Lowell Youth Job Fair – TODAY!`

To all of our younger friends out there who are seeking a summer job – Today is the day!!

Please make sure to drop by Lowell High School today, running from 3:00-5:00 PM, for the youth job fair. There are over 50 representatives who are all looking to hire right away!

Don’t forget to dress nicely and bring some resumes!!

When: Today from 3-5 PM
Where: Lowell High School Cafeteria
50 Father Morissette Blvd.
Lowell, MA 01852