Recently in Daily Life in Concord Category

This is the first week that the Concord Municipal Light Plant (CMLP) used its email notification system to ask Concord electric users to reduce usage of power for certain short periods of time in anticipation of decreasing the "summer peak hour".  Concord Blog readers know that the way the system works, that a portion of our electric rate is related to the demand during that magical "peak hour" (see here for more info). 

CMLP asked us to reduce our usage between 2 and 5 PM this past Wednesday and Thursday.  Wednesday's request came with two days notification; Thursday notification came that morning.  Yesterday, we received the below from CMLP. It refers to the chart at top (click on it to see it in larger form).                                                                                                                                                                                             Good Afternoon,
 
We thought you might be interested in feedback on what impact the CMLP-CAP Group had on peak demands this week.  The graph below shows the hourly demands from 10AM - 10PM each day through yesterday.
 
You'll recall the power outage we had last Tuesday around 2:30 pm in the West Concord area which is evidenced by the resultant dip in demand as shown on the graph.  We are working on better ways to reduce load!
 
On Monday (blue line) we did not request that customers reduce peak energy use but we did on Wednesday and Thursday and thus a load comparison can be made between them.  While there are many variables involved (temperature, humidity, business operations, vacations etc.) the biggest variable, outside temperature, was fairly consistently in the low to mid 80s all week.
 
So it's interesting to note that on Wednesday we were able to stay below the Monday peak.  Thursday we did not do as well but there were probably other factors impacting the outcome.  As more and more folks participate the impact should be more noticeable.
 
We plan on offering these comparisons from time to time and hope you find them of interest.  Thanks again for participating and have a great weekend.
 
Anyone wishing to receive these announcement directly should use the email address Cmlp-cap+subscribe@googlegroups.com. Simply send the email as the Subject and Body can be blank. Google Groups will automatically send an email requesting a verification of the request. This has been set up as a one way email system so members can only receive emails from this site.

From Jimi Two Feathers, member of the West Concord Task Force.

Now that Article 38: West Concord Interim Planning Overlay District has passed at Town Meeting, and hiring a consultant to complete a Master Plan for West Concord Village is nearing completion, the WCTF would like to inform those who are interested of our next steps.

We will hold a public forum on design guidelines on Tuesday, June 16th at 7:00pm at the Thoreau Elementary School Auditorium. Design guidelines are being developed jointly by the West Concord Task Force, the Planning Board, and the Planning Department. We would like as much public feedback on the draft as possible before finalizing the document.

A draft and explanation of The Design Guidelines may be viewed at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCTF_announcements or at our page on the town website at  http://www.concordma.gov/pages/ConcordMA_BComm/West%20Concord%20Task%20Force

The next West Concord Task Force meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 27th at the Concord Municipal Light Plant located at 1175 Elm St. at 7.30 p.m.  (To access the building at this hour enter through the side entrance). 

We welcome your feedback at our public forum or if you prefer, send feedback to the town's Planning Department: mrasmussen@concordma.gov or Marcia Rasmussen, Director of Planning, 141 Keyes Road, First Floor, Concord, MA 01742.

We asked Concord's Health Director, Brent Reagor what was meant by "novel"  in reference to this as novel H1N1 influenza.  Here's what he said.

"The CDC, WHO and DPH are all referring to this H1N1 as a "novel" virus as to it's genetic lineage and the fact that it appeared outside of the usual N. Hemisphere flu season."

There -- curiosity satisfied!

Submitted by Brent L. Reagor RS, Public Health Director, Concord's Public Health Department.

Late Tuesday evening, May 12, 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified the Concord Health Department that testing of two unrelated Concord residents had confirmed they were both infected with novel H1N1 influenza, previously referred to as "swine flu". Upon developing symptoms, both residents followed the current Massachusetts Department of Public Health and US Centers for Disease Control recommendations and voluntarily isolated themselves at home to prevent transmission of the virus.

Both individuals have recovered fully and neither required hospitalization. It is important to remember that regular seasonal influenza sickens 14,000 people annually in Massachusetts, and approximately 800 Massachusetts residents die from complications related to normal seasonal influenza. At this time, the Health Department is confident that the public health is fully protected, and no additional activities beyond the current level of local response are necessary.

The Health Department, in concert with Town leadership, the Concord Fire Department, and Emerson Hospital have been continuously monitoring the developments surrounding novel H1N1 influenza since April 24th, when reports began surfacing of cases outside of Mexico. At this time the Health Department recommends that Concord residents:

1) Continue to monitor the situation and listen for updates from local officials. Information is available at the Town's website, www.concordma.gov or through the Massachusetts "2-1-1" information line.

2) Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

3) Practice good "cough etiquette" by coughing or sneezing into a tissue, or into your elbow instead of into your hands. Throw away tissues after use.

4) Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

5) If you get sick, stay home from work or school, consult with your family physician, and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them. Symptoms of influenza include: fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea.

6) If you or a family member develops flu-like symptoms, please contact your family physician. The individual with flu-like symptoms should remain home from work or school until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.

7) Now is a good opportunity to take stock of your family's disaster preparedness. More information is available at the Town's website.

Concord's leadership team will continue to monitor this developing situation as part of our overall coordinated response. Up-to -date guidance and information will be posted on the Town website as necessary. Anyone with additional questions should contact the Concord Health Department at (978) 318-3275.

Photo: Image of our state flower, the mayflower, courtesy of Clipart.com

The Lemonade Award is for sites which show great attitude and/or gratitude, and the Concord Magazine Blog has just received it! We trust that it is because we have great amounts of both qualities...

We are grateful (ha! there's the theme!) to Rob Robillard of A Concord Carpenter Comments for giving us this award -- we are honored.

Here are the "rules" for this award that we found online.  You can be certain that we'll follow them -- but only if we feel like it and if they make sense!

Rules for the award:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to this post.

The MBTA is holding a series of meetings we've only just found out about.  The most local one will be in Waltham tomorrow night, May 13.  Others around eastern Mass are listed here: http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/

This meeting will cover their future draft plans, which they describe as a plan defining the 25-year vision of public transportation in eastern Mass.  Details where to meet and who to contact are here: http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=17235

Of course, this impacts our community because the train runs through Concord, with depots at both West Concord and Concord. The tracks also cross our public roads in a variety of places.  Also, effects on commuter traffic are of great concern to us. We would welcome a report from anyone who attends.

The below update is from Stephanie Stillman, Executive Director of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. For additional info, go to the Concord Journal's story about the fire.

As many of you may already know, another long-loved Concord business has suffered a loss due to a fire.  Fritz and Gigi: The Children's Shop, formerly Kussin's, was the site of an overnight fire which caused damage to the structure along with much smoke and water damage to the building and the store inventory.
 
As Louisa, Karen, Fritz and their families sort out the damage, we hope that we can provide support to them.
 
A fund has been set up at Cambridge Trust Company to help with efforts for the store to reopen as soon as possible.  Donations may be sent to:
 
Fritz and Gigi Special Account
Attn:  Carol Bartalussi
Cambridge Trust Company
75 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742
 
Another way to support the family would be to cast your vote for the Orchard House in their current efforts to receive the 2009 Partners in Preservation Award, honoring commitment to restoring places that matter.  The Kussin family are direct descendants of Louisa May Alcott and the Orchard House is another building they all dearly love.  They would be touched by your votes for the Orchard House.  You may vote at www.louisamayalcott.org.
 
Thank you for your support of Concord business!
 

A note sent to us this morning by Maria Powers, Orchard House... you  might recall that the Kussins are related to the Alcott family.

Everyone is fine, thank goodness, and the buildings are likely still structurally sound, but the merchandise needs to be discarded and the interiors completely re-done.

The Kussins have every intention of re-building, but of course, that will take time and the store will need to be closed for the next several months (earliest opening is estimated to be July/August).  At the moment, they are not able to do anything at all until the fire investigation is completely over.  Initial (and fairly certain) reports are that the fire was caused by an electrical problem with a computer above the Flower Shop.

Although this fire is not as utterly devastating as the Verrill Farm one, we hope the the Concord community -- business partners as well as friends and neighbors and anyone who has every shopped at these fine stores -- can come together in just the same way to support and assist these folks in their time of need.

If there is any organized way in which we can get help to them, I know they would be most appreciative.  If Orchard House can be of any help, we're all over that, as we not only support the Concord businesses, but also dearly care for all the members of the Kussin family.

I know the Kussins would probably not like to be bombarded with calls and visits, but to have something more organized would be of great help. Thank you.

Sorry, we thought we linked Mary White's name in the byline to her email address, but find we did not. So here it is: mary.white100@verizon.net (sorry Mary for any spam that comes to you out of this!).

By Mary White, member of ConcordCAN (Concord Climate Action Network)

ConcordCAN has contacted the New England Marine Alliance which is organizing a Community Supported Fishery called the Cape Ann Fresh Catch.  It will work similarly to a CSA.  If we can get 30 to 50 people in the area interested we could apply to be a local drop-off site. 

However, the deadline for application is this Saturday, May 9th.  I have attached more detailed information about how it works and the benefits of such a program.  If you are interested in a share please let me know by this Thursday, May 7th.  Let me know what size share you would like. I will then let you know if we have enough people.  If so, then we will each email in the application in the Gloucester CSF Application selecting the Concord drop-off. Please feel free sharing this information and my email address with others who you think might be interested.

Quoting below from the Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC), Community Supported Fishery Application (download it here):

Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC), Community Supported Fishery program, or CSF, is a collaboration of shore-side residents and the local fishing community. CSF members give the fishing community financial support in advance of the season, and in turn the fishermen provide a weekly share of seafood during the harvesting season to shareholders.  A CSF reconnects people to the ocean that sustains them and builds a rewarding relationship between fishermen and shareholders.

WHY SMALL AND LOCAL?
There is an essential quality to seafood that you only get when it's harvested locally and delivered to you just hours out of the ocean.   Our small family-owned boats enable us to pay attention to the way fish is caught and to focus on strengthening our local food community, economy, and the sustainability of the ecosystem. The long-term health and abundance of the Gulf of Maine are important to all of us.

Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) will deliver a variety of the freshest haddock, cod, flounder, hake, dabs, grey sole, monkfish, Pollock, and redfish - and possibly other seafood such as clams, lobsters and scallops.  In traditional markets fishermen are forced to chase whatever species is fetching the highest price that week. By taking a mix off these species at the same price week-to-week (about $3/lb), fishermen are able to fish areas that are not stressed by the rest of the fleet, and give species and ecosystems time to recover and replenish.
 
This cooperative system also keeps fishermen safer because they don't have to fight the weather to go offshore for a certain species; if the weather is dangerous, they can stay close to shore and catch only what the CSF needs that week. At the same time, shareholders are guaranteed the freshest, highest quality fish caught.  The fish caught for the CSF will never be old or frozen, and it will always come from fishermen who believe in working with the ocean and the community.

For additional info, also download the Community Supported Fishery Basics document.