Natick June 2016

Page 6 Local Town Pages www.naticktownnews.com June 2016
Bacon Free Library Plans Busy Summer
By Via Perkins,
Contributing Writer
One of the most historic and
scenic libraries in Metrowest,
The Bacon Free Library (BFL),
was established by longtime
Natick resident Oliver Bacon in
1880, well over a century ago.
Set on a hillside by the Charles
River at 58 Eliot St., the library
offers extensive services and activities
for residents.
Past Meets Present
Director Meena Jain knows
the appeal of the BFL comes
from the fact that it offers a bit
of everything. “It has a charming
blend of today’s best-sellers,
old-fashioned friendliness and
modern technology in a historic
neighborhood setting,” she said.
The BFL has a time-honored atmosphere
and picturesque surroundings,
beloved by longtime
patrons.
For younger children, high
school or college students conducting
research for the first
time, or new users of any age,
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the library may feel vast and
overwhelming at first. Jain encourages
residents to ask a BFL
staff member for help, as there
are many avenues through
which to gain information and
resources.
“Through the BFL, patrons
have access to over five million
items from more than 40
public and academic libraries
from the Minuteman Library
Network,” she explained. “The
library also provides access to
regional electronic databases
and the Internet.”
The library has benefited
from the support of the community,
allowing the BFL to
maintain its services and facility,
which also houses the Natick
Historical Society Museum.
“Many of our programs and
collections are made possible
by the generous support of the
Friends of the Bacon Free Library,”
Jain said.
A Full Schedule
This summer, the BFL will
host numerous activities for the
public. “Our smaller programs
have 10 to 12 people, but some
of our concerts bring in over
100,” Jain said. “We try to do
the larger programs outside on
our beautiful grounds.”
There are several special
programs planned during the
month of June. Check the BFL
website for details.
A woods walk with Tom
Wessels, ecologist and author
of Reading the Forested Landscape:
A Natural History of New England,
will take place at Broadmoor
Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday,
June 4, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wessels
will guide participants on an educational
hiking session, teaching
ways to find clues that can
identify the history of the land
underfoot.
On Thursday, June 9, 10
a.m. to 11 a.m., there will be a
concert with husband-and-wife
team, Two of a Kind. Their
Natick Goes Solar
Solarize Mass Natick invites residents
and business owners to go solar.
Illustrators contribute to the Board of Trustees Children’s Illustrators
Auction. (Photo/Meena Jain)
Solarize Mass Natick is a
state-funded, volunteer-led program
that works to make solar
simple and affordable for Natick
property owners. The program
is based on a proven community
solar purchasing model that has
worked successfully in over 100
communities in Massachusetts,
Vermont, Connecticut and New
York. It is designed to reduce the
cost of solar, simplify the installation
process, and make it a beneficial
financial decision and smart
investment for homeowners and
businesses.
Solarize Mass Natick relies
on four key components to reduce
installation costs: 1) a competitively
selected installer; 2) a
tiered pricing system which reduces
costs for all participants as
more people sign contracts; 3) a
community-based marketing approach
which includes education
and access to uniform solar pricing;
and 4) a limited sign-up window
to encourage participation.
“This is a really good time to
go solar,” Jay Turner, Natick’s
Solar Coach, said. “Solarize
Mass Natick will deliver prices
that are 25 percent less than the
average cost of a 2015 Natick
solar install. The state has just
expanded incentives for solar,
including a new subsidized loan
program. Solarize Mass Natick
offers purchase and lease options,
which means residents can start
saving money on their monthly
award-winning music features
multi-faceted storytelling with a
focus on audience participation,
and is perfect for younger children.
The concert will be held
outdoors, weather-permitting.
The Friends Garden Tour
will showcase 10 organic gardens
with opportunities to speak
to the gardeners and ask questions,
demonstrations from local
artists, as well as a selection of
fine wine, cheeses and cider. The
event date is Saturday, June 12, 2
p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information about
the BFL, including a complete
event list, visit www.baconfreelibrary.org.
electric bill from day one.”
Jillian Wilson Martin, the
Town of Natick’s sustainability
coordinator, added, “The
discounted pricing available
through Solarize Mass Natick
means homes that were previously
not a good fit for solar may
now be viable. We encourage all
residents to have their roof assessed
and to learn about their
solar options.”
Solarize Mass Natick’s outreach
effort and sign-up period
will continue throughout the
summer. This is a limited-time
program and, to take advantage
of the discounts, site assessments
must take place by August 1. Install
commitments must then be
made by October 1. To sign up
for a free, no obligation visit from
Boston Solar, visit: www.solarizemassnatick.com.
General questions
can be sent to Jay Turner,
the volunteer community Solar
Coach, at solarizenatick@gmail.
com.