The charger, installed recently, offers both CCS and CHAdeMO connectors, and is the first one in town to provide these options.  It was installed by agreement between the town and ChargePoint.  Drivers can use it with either an app on their smartphone (downloaded from ChargePoint) or with a credit card.

I used this charger for the first time on Saturday.  I was glad to see it installed because the Nissan Leaf I drive uses a CHAdeMO connector for fast DC charging, but this type of connector is somewhat more rare than the more common CCS and Tesla (NACS) chargers currently available around the country (see "Background" section of this story, below).

Normally, I charge at home, using the Level 1 setup shown in the photo below, (in the "Background" section).  Since I typically drive short distances, that is usually all I need.  As we have solar panels on our roof, I can often avoid using fossil fuels. This is possible when the sun is shining and we are producing more electricity than we otherwise need in the house.
Occasionally, my car's battery is depleted, perhaps due to taking unexpected trips. When that happens, I want to charge up much more quickly than I can at home.  Up until now, I had to drive two or three towns away to find a Level 3 charger that is compatible with my car.

Level 2 means charging a vehicle a from a dedicated 240 Volt outlet or charger unit, wired directly into the electric service panel in your house (not shown here).  This type of circuit is similar to one that might serve an electric dryer or stove at home.  Not only is the voltage twice as high, such circuits are often wired to provide three or more times the current (amps) compared to Level 1, so you can charge a vehicle in less than half the time.

There is a Wikipedia article describing the NACS standard here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Charging_System

Level 3 is a different story.  There are three different standards: CHAdeMO, Tesla (NACS), and CCS.  Why?  The main reason is that when something is very new, it's hard to develop standards because the technology keeps changing so fast.  The three standards evolved at different times as electric vehicles were being developed.
In 2008, Tesla introduced its first car, the "Roadster" and created its own proprietary network of chargers, so that owners of their cars could drive long distances and have a network of charging stations to use along the way.  The company didn't introduce its lower priced Model S until 2012.
In 2010, The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Japan formed a consortium of auto manufacturers (Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru) to standardize the CHAdeMO standard.  Nissan began producing the Leaf in 2010 and it became the largest selling electric car in the world soon after.
Meanwhile, other US and European automakers were not as aggressively developing electric vehicles. In the US, the "big 3" Detroit automakers were pursuing mid and full sized pickup trucks and truck based SUVs.  There were many reasons for this, including existing industrial infrastructure, market demand, a strong fossil fuel industry, and a traditional reliance on personal vehicles for transportation when compared to other countries.

Battery electric vehicles have a slightly shorter range in the colder months because the battery chemistry is not as efficient as when it's warm.  Gasoline or diesel powered vehicles also experience lower fuel efficiency in the cold months, perhaps anywhere from 4 to 8 miles per gallon less.  Most drivers don't pay much attention; they just have to fill up a bit more often when it's cold out.
Running the heat in a battery electric car also reduces the range somewhat.  Internal combustion engines give off a lot of waste heat, so running the heater is "free" because it uses some of that waste heat that would otherwise be dissipated by the car's radiator.  However, they must use extra fuel to "warm up" after starting in the cold.  On the other hand, electric vehicle drivers can get going without any warm up.

nTo me, the Nissan Leaf is the best car I have ever owned.  I will never go back to driving an internal combustion car on a regular basis.  The car is quieter, the ride is smoother, there is almost no vibration (except for road imperfections), and there is plenty of power, such as when needed to accelerate from a ramp onto the highway. There are none of the odors or fumes that non electric cars produce, which is better for my health as well as the health of the planet.  The car needs almost no maintenance, as it has many fewer parts. There are no oil changes, spark plugs, fuel filters, or muffler pipes to rust out.
Yes, I have to pay attention to when and how to charge the battery, but for me, it's well worth it.  I enjoy the experience of driving a small car, and seldom need the capacity of a larger vehicle.  I also seldom need to drive long distances, so I'm happy with the range I have (240 miles).
If I want to travel farther, then I have some choices: I can use the apps on my phone to find suitable chargers and perhaps stop for a meal during a charging session.  Or I can rent a hybrid vehicle for the trip and leave my Leaf at home.
One of the reasons I chose to live in Maynard was the downtown area and how "walkable" it is.  This allows me to save even more energy by leaving my car at home when I go to the Post Office, Town Hall, or local shops and restaurants.

I know the sales of electric vehicles have outpaced the roll out of "charging infrastructure," but I'm willing to be patient because I know things will eventually catch up. I know many people cannot afford a new electric car, so I consider myself lucky to have been able to.  However, I expect that the market for used electric cars will improve soon, bringing the cost down for more people.
I am confident that we will continue to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.  My goal is to learn to live more and more in harmony with nature on this planet, largely through conservation and gradual lifestyle changes.  I know I have a lot to learn but I'm dedicated to pursuing that goal throughout the rest of my life.

Maynard, MA - Shoppers in town have gained a new bookstore to browse in, but are losing a grocery store, just over the border in nearby Acton.  The bookstore, Felixology, opened their new store in downtown Maynard just last week.  Meanwhile Stop & Shop is closing it's current location at 100 Powder Mill Road at the end of business on Thursday, December 12th.  The company is opening a new store, just up Route 27 at Kelly's corner, the following day (see further details, below).

The store is named for Elizabeth's son, Felix, who passed away from cancer in 2018, at age 29.  There are some details on the store's web site, http://felixology.com  (Note: the site does not yet seem to have an SSL certificate, so some web browsers may issue a warning to users when attempting to load it on their devices.)

The new store is located at Kelly's Corner, also in Acton, replacing the K-Mart that closed there a few years ago. Kelly's Corner is the junction of Main Street (Route 27) and Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111), where construction on the intersection is ongoing, in order to provide new lanes of traffic flow.  The location is just down the road from the Roche Bros. store. The new store is significantly larger than the existing location and is set to carry a wider variety of products.
The Acton Exchange, Acton's on-line news feed, published a story about the new store back in November:
https://www.actonexchange.org/news-brief-stop-and-shop-opening-nears/
Although technically not within Maynard's borders, the existing Stop & Shop location has been a convenient stop for many Maynard residents traveling along Powder Mill Road, as they drove to and from Route 2 in Concord.  There are only two full service grocery stores within Maynard's town limits, Market Basket, at Maynard Crossing, and the Assabet Co-op Market, at 84 Powder Mill Road.

(Full Disclosure:  I am a member of the Assabet Co-op Market, and the bookstore has agreed to carry copies of both my books for sale there.)

I don't often cover news of local shops comings and goings as they happen surprisingly frequently, and the time I have to devote to publishing news is limited.  I am a strong adherent of the "shop locally" movement, but we live in a world of trade-offs. That means that it may take some effort to change our ways.
Where people shop has had a significant impact on local communities over the last few decades.  As people shifted their buying habits to favor larger stores and online merchants, many downtown areas have been left with more empty storefronts, with some types of merchandise no longer available locally.
As with many things in life, there are pros and cons to everything.  Shopping online provides an extremely wide choice of products, as local storefronts just don't have the room to stock every brand, model, color, or style of product the way huge warehouse based supply chains can.  Online sales also have the advantage of economies of scale and lower overhead compared to small shops, so they can sometimes offer lower prices, although assuming that their prices are always lower can be a mistake.
However, the loss of local ad revenue generated by local shops along with the loss of classified advertising has bankrupted many local newspapers.  It has also shifted the tax burden in local communities, and reduced face to face interactions between residents who used to frequent downtown shops and areas.
This reduction in personal interaction has lead to increased isolation and loneliness in general.  In addition, ordering online has become more risky as products now more often lack the quality we expect from web page descriptions.  Without being able to try on clothes, shoes, etc. or try the features of some device with our own hands, we are often left having to return items that don't fit us or can't meet our needs.  Sadly, much of what we return can't be sold again online, and thus ends up in landfills.
Admonishing people to "shop locally" may help revitalize downtown areas and improve the quality of life, but doing so will take a concerted effort to accept slightly higher prices, somewhat fewer options, and involve slightly more patience and inconvenience.  Next day delivery and free shipping are very tempting, but these "features" risk making shut-ins of us all.
I chose to move to Maynard, partly because it has a significant downtown area.  I never buy books online, but rather order from local bookstores and then go to pick up my order in person.  Usually I have to wait three days for a book to arrive, but I'm never in such a hurry that I need a book more quickly than that.  I'm glad to know that, as far as books are concerned, I can now actually walk to a bookstore to shop there.
(Note: I don't often check books out of the library because I'm a slow reader and typically write in the margins as I read.  I depend on the Library as more of a community resource, offering meeting space to gather, and events to attend.)

When I first thought of this headline, my intention was a play on the words "Stop & Shop."  Why not "Stop & Go" instead?  The idea was that we have to stop shopping at the grocery store at 100 Powder Mill Road (now that it's closing there), but we can now "go" shopping at the new bookstore.  But now, reading it again, I realize that it could also be read more as a command to "Stop, and then go shopping."  Alas, I didn't intend to encourage anyone to simply do more shopping!  I didn't include a comma after the word "Stop" but that left it ambiguous, none the less.  Language is a funny thing, that way.

Maynard, MA - This weekend, Maynard residents will have two opportunities to celebrate the coming winter season, although the weather is likely to leave us feeling as if winter is here already!
These events are held every year around this time and are familiar to long time residents; however newcomers to town may not know much about them, so please help spread the word.

The event starts at 5:45 PM, in Memorial park (across Summer Street from the Fine Arts Theater), with carolers singing and the lighting of the tree and menorah. 

The Holiday Parade is organized by a separate organization, the Maynard Holiday Parade Committee, headed up by Director Jennifer Picorelli.  Numerous sponsors and volunteers collaborate to put the parade together each year.  Details are at their "Light Up the Holidays" web site:
https://www.lightuptheholidaysmaynard.com/

I thought of doing this story recently, when I saw predictions of unseasonably cold weather for this weekend.  I know that many volunteers have put in hours of work to make these events successful, and I thought it would a shame if attendance was low because of the cold.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a member of ArtSpace, one of the non-profit organizations that will be open during the stroll.  I am likely to be standing outdoors to welcome strollers to the studios at 9 Nason Street, later on in the evening, so believe me, I will be sure to dress warmly for the weather!
My suggestion for everyone is to show old man winter that you've got what it takes, and don't let that deter you from having a good time this weekend!  I recommend you dress in plenty of layers during the stroll, as you may be indoors much of the time, enjoying what the participating organizations have to offer.
Viewing the parade on Sunday will involve being outdoors for longer periods, so layers may not be as important (as there will be no need to remove some while indoors).  Perhaps just good basic winter wear (coats, hats, scarves and boots) will be best.

Another thing that occurred to me is that many events in Maynard are promoted on Facebook.  I don't see a problem with this, however, there are people who do not wish to have a Facebook account, and others who, perhaps new to town, don't know where to look for information on community events.  I have provided a guide on the Opinion page, here on the Town Wide Mall web site, called "What's going on in town." It's in the form of a PDF document that can be downloaded, simply by clicking on the title on that page.  In it, I list a number of other sources of information about whats going on in Maynard.
So, I invite you to please let folks know about this story and the PDF document, especially if they are new to town.
Either way, I hope to see you downtown this weekend!

Frequent followers of this web site may have noticed that I have not published a story since late October, about six weeks ago.  Back then, I could see that interest in the election was growing more and more intense, fueled by a flood of stories about the campaigns, carried by national and regional news media.
It seemed disingenuous to me to carry on with local news, as if none of that was going on.  How could I ignore all the high emotions people were experiencing about the election?  I decided to wait until after a sort of "cooling down" period to elapse before I started again.

I also noticed something else.  I have slowed down in publishing somewhat, compared to when I started doing this, back in April 2023.  As with many things, I had a lot of energy at first.  But after many late nights and hard work, I began to realize how much effort being a good journalist really takes - a lot!  Next year, I will celebrate my 75th birthday, so I don't quite have the energy I did when I was 20 or 30 years old.
I have made a few attempts to engage others in doing some local journalism on their own, with the hopes that we could network with each other, perhaps using a "I'll do this kind of story, you do some other kind," approach.  (So far, I have only had one other reporter do two (excellent) stories before stopping to attend to other matters.)  I have not carried high school sports, weddings, obituaries, or public safety logs, ... some of the standard fare in traditional publishing.  Perhaps someone else might want to publish those things?
Also, I have yearned to return to some other projects that I have put off, since starting Town Wide Mall.  One of my main interests is video, but I've left precious little time to work on any video projects in the past two years.

So, I am facing a bit of a dilemma.  I don't want to stop doing this, yet I want to change the pace a bit. One idea I had was to invite people to suggest story ideas.  Perhaps you are curious about about something, but don't have the time to research yourself.  If you tell me (via the Contact Us page) about your interest, that might give me a continued sense of the "heartbeat" of the community, and point me in the direction of stories of interest.
Another idea I had was to take that a step further, perhaps.  Let's say you had some time to gather a bit of information about a story, but you're not up to fleshing it out into a full fledged report, with a headline, proper journalistic story structure, proofreading, photographs, web page layout, and publicity. Then you could "hand off the baton," so to speak, so I could then take what you had so far, and carry it through.
If you have thoughts or ideas about any of this, I'd love to know them.  (It's better if you leave comments here, rather than on Facebook, as it's easier for me to refer back to them later.)
I have thought of recruiting students or interns, but with the overall decline in revenues in the news business over the last two decades or so, most young people rightly don't see a career in journalism as very promising.  Even if there are some who are interested, it's a two way street.  They might help me in producing stories, but I would then have to devote time to a teaching role. There are always trade-offs.

I do want to thank all the people who have donated funds so far to help me continue.  I have been remiss in not thanking each donor individually, but again, that is one of the "back room" functions of a news organization that I have neglected.  Another is creating an e-mail list, to notify people who are not on Facebook, when I publish a story.
After all, I started doing this for the stories, and for you, the readers, so I have typically focused on the next story to do, while letting other functions languish. Recently, I have been planning to get up to speed on some of them.

Thus far, I have put over 500 hours of work into Town Wide Mall, and have gathered just under $1000 in donations since I started, so that works out to slightly under $2.00 per hour.  Take out my expenses, and it's even less.  Clearly, I'm not in this for the money!  At least I've published 82 stories (including this one), so I'm certainly proud of that.  Although I could run advertising or apply for grants, both of those things take considerable effort to manage, taking time and energy away from the basic job of reporting.
One thing I can say is that the response I've gotten from everyone so far has been overwhelmingly supportive.  I am grateful for the feedback you have given me and it tells me that I'm doing something that people need and appreciate.