Event Space Rental

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone,

Some of you may be familiar with Pets In Need, a local animal shelter. We host a silent auction each year as our major fundraiser. In the past, we have always had it at at Mad Oyster Studios in East Somerville. We're considering moving the location this year. We really need a place with parking of some sort (even if it's metered) and preferably some place that serves alcohol, although this is not a big deal.

Does anyone have any recommendations about local venues that we could possibly rent for this event? I am planning on contacting the VFW Hall in Davis. Also, we probably don't want to have it at a church because of a) parking, and b) we don't want people to think we are religiously affiliated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

NSTAR heating costs going up?

[moireach.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming I'm far from the only person whose heat is provided by NSTAR natural gas. I'm hoping someone can help me understand why prices are up this winter over last:

The useful little comparison chart on the back of my current bill shows that natural gas prices per therm were $1.24 this January, as opposed to 97.9 cents in January 2008. I'd assumed that the plummet in oil prices would be driving down energy costs in general, and some very cursory googling seems to show a big drop (~50%) in natural gas costs over the past year, too. Is this something NSTAR can decide arbitrarily, or is this the actual legitimate cost to them? (I get suspicious, because of things like airlines still charging fuel surcharges, despite the huge drop in fuel costs, etc.) If it is something they can set, has anyone had any luck trying to talk them into a lower rate, a la cable companies?

It's frustrating that even with NSTAR's delivery charges down, and with pretty strenuous attempts on our part to keep heating costs down (we have a timer on the thermostat, vacuum-insulated windows, have blocked off rooms, used plastic window seal, keep the heat low, etc etc), the bills keep going up.

me and my big tool

[lightenmyload.livejournal.com]

i've got a really big tool and my shed isn't big enough for it.  no, seriously.

i've got this enormous metal lathe, a monarch 12CK.  i've got an even bigger one, too, and the garage is pretty darn full with both of them in there so i'd like to find the monarch a new home.  it may not weigh exactly a ton, but it's a lot more than our car and will require a flatbed truck with a winch to move, so don't jump the gun and call your friend with a truck, unless your friend works at someplace likes pat's tow.  it takes 3-phase power, but i've been running it off a phase-matic converter for the last few years and i'm told that replacing the 3-phase motor with a single-phase would be easy enough.  ideally i'd like to find a trade school or similar to donate it to, but i'm not too picky, as long as it doesn't go for scrap metal.  help ?  anyone ?  bueller ?

burglary on Francesca Ave

[klauspood.livejournal.com]

We were broken into on Francesca Ave. Screen was cut and window forced open. 2 laptops, ipod and camcorder were stolen. We are still looking for anything else missing.

The break in happened between 2:30 and 5:00 pm. We are very surprised as our 80 pound dog was at home, and the radio was on upstairs. I usually work from home but was at a client meeting this afternoon.

By the time they lay track down, flying cars will be a reality.

[horizon-radar.livejournal.com]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/02/state_wants_to.html

Discuss.

Here we go again! (More snow stuff.)

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Are we to assume that there will not be a snow emergency declared since one hasn't been so far? Perhaps, like last time, the emergency happened without enough warning, which is a very silly thing for an emergency to do.

While looking at the city's website to see if they mentioned this, I saw that they'd posted a reminder a few days ago about how residents aren't allowed to reserve parking spaces and chairs, etc. will be declared abandoned property and junked. I'm all for this practice, but I was just wondering if it's ever actually enforced*, as they claim.

*enforced by the city, not by militia-like townspeople