Felix Looks to Kickstart Production of MonkeyOh

"Designed to be fun and useful"  — Hopkinton resident and CEO of Felix, Chris Michaud

Boston, Mass. (March 19, 2013) — Technology accessories brand Felix announced today the launch of its first Kickstarter project for its newest product innovation - MonkeyOh, a versatile dock, stand, and cord wrap for smartphones. MonkeyOh can hold any iPhone or iPod Touch up at the outlet while it’s charging, with its cord wrapped neatly around. Oh, hello counter space!

With industry estimates that there will be 1.4 billion active smartphones by the end of 2013, the new product serves an exploding market and continues to fulfill the Felix commitment to make technology easier to use. In addition to working seamlessly with your Apple device, you can also use MonkeyOh with nearly any smartphone with the addition of the Apple power adapter needed for use in “dock” mode.

“Phones have taken over our lives and, unfortunately, our counter and desk space, too. We designed MonkeyOh to be both fun and useful,” explained Hopkinton resident Chris Michaud (photo), CEO at Felix. “MonkeyOh eliminates the cord clutter by keeping your iPhone and cord off the counter and happily charging. No more searching for your cord or having it clutter your kitchen counter.”

MonkeyOh is the company’s first product to launch on the crowdsourcing site, Kickstarter.com. MonkeyOh is a line extension joining the company’s tablet and e-reader stands, including the popular MonkeyDo, which debuted last holiday season at retailers including Staples and Amazon. MonkeyOh will be available in black and white.

“We’re really excited about launching on Kickstarter,” Michaud said. “We’ve been enamored with the site for a while and inspired by the online community that backs such an eclectic mix of products. We thought MonkeyOh would be a great product to bring to life via Kickstarter.”

Smartphone accessory revenues accounted for $20 billion in 2012, more than half of the $36 billion in total aftermarket accessories revenues according to ABI Research. “The increasing penetration of smartphones is driving a shift in accessory design toward smart accessories that drive higher levels of consumer interaction, product, and brand recognition,” according to ABI analyst Michael Morgan. 

Michaud is leveraging his career in product innovation to create technology accessory products that make technology more user-friendly. In fact, all Felix products must pass a “Smile Test” indicating a positive emotional response to the product design. 

“Smartphone users typically have cords on counters, which is messy and takes up valuable space, but we all need to charge our phones,” Michaud explained. “We want your smartphone to have a clean, fun spot to charge at the end of the day. And MonkeyOh has such a great personality, we think folks will enjoy having it there even when their smartphone isn’t on it.”

CONSUL GENERAL OF GREECE TO DELIVER “WINNERS OLIVE WREATHS”

Boston, MA – The ceremony to present the “Winners Olive Wreaths” to the Boston Marathon Association will take place on April 11, 2013. . The ceremony will be held at the Greek Consulate Boston, according to the Honorable Consul General of Greece, Ilias Fotopoulos.

The four olive branch wreaths will be used to crown the winners of 117th running of the Boston Marathon. The olive branch wreaths were grown, cut, and assembled into winners’ wreaths in Greece, and delivered as a gift from the country of Greece. It was 490BC in Greece that the Greek messenger Pheidippides ran 26 miles from the battle plain of Marathon to Athens announcing the Greek victory over the invading Persian army. And it was in Greece in 1896 that the first modern Olympic Marathon was run retracing Pheidippides path. This race inspired Boston to hold its first Boston Marathon in 1897.

The Greek victory at Marathon is recognized as a critical event in the preservation of Greek civilization and its political system known as democracy. Ancient Olympic winners were crowned with victors’ wreaths, and the Boston Marathon continues this ancient tradition in the city often referred-to as the “Athens of America”.

Bond Bill to Fund Hopkinton Public Library

Renovation and Expansion Now Pending

   March 19, 2013, Hopkinton, Mass.  

 Representative Carolyn Dykema is a co-sponsor a bond bill of $150 million, a portion of which will help fund the renovation and expansion of Hopkinton Public Library.   When approved by the House and Senate and as funds become available through the Governor’s Capital Plan, the bill will provide $150 million in funding to projects currently on the Waiting List of the Library Construction Grant program offered through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).  Hopkinton Public Library is currently 5^th on the Waiting List.   “I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.2996 which will help provide crucial funding to meet the growing demand for library services,” said Representative Dykema.  “Libraries are vital and vibrant centers, connecting residents of all ages within our community to each other and to the resources they need to keep us growing.”  

The funding for Library Construction Grants is part of a general government bond bill for $928 million to support a wide range of capital projects in the FY 2013-2017 Capital Investment Plan filed by the Patrick-Murray Administration on March 15, 2013.   “The Patrick-Murray Administration recognizes the ongoing need to provide equal access to information and resources to all the Commonwealth’s residents, especially in this digital age,” said MBLC Director Robert Maier.  The MBLC reports that, during the past decade, library usage has soared with a 50% increase in library visits and a 29% increase in circulation.  The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program works with local communities to assist them in building, renovating, or expanding their local library so that it can meet residents' needs well into the future.  Funds for Hopkinton Library could be available as soon as July 2015. 

Sustainable Green Committee to Host Fruit Street Solar Presentation

Senior Center this Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:30pm

My fellow solar enthusiasts:

I'd like to invite you to a presentation from the Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee at the Senior Center this Thursday at 7:30pm.  The HSGC has proposed that the town lease approximately 23 acres of the Fruit Street sand pit for a solar farm that would supply 90% of Hopkinton's municipal electricity usage.  This will be an article on the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting and we are hoping for your support.  These are some of the highlights: 
  
HSGC anticipates cutting Hopkinton's annual electric bill nearly in half for the next 20 years.  Annual savings are expected to be approximately $400,000.

Will generate no noise, no pollution, no traffic and no additional school loading.

Will not be visible from Fruit Street.

The current Fruit Street master plan indicates parcels 8 and 9 as affordable, market rate and senior housing.  The director of Land Use and Planning has indicated that because of developments at Legacy Farms and another behind the Dynasty on Lumber St, Hopkinton will likely not need to create additional affordable housing in the immediate future.  Depending on the size of the install, there would be at least 20 acres still available for additional housing if needed.

Two professional site surveys have shown all 13 acres of Parcel 9 (affordable housing) and 10 out of 31 acres in Parcel 8 (market rate and senior housing) as having excellent solar potential. 

Unlike a soccer field, school, or DPW, this is not a permanent commitment.  In 20 years when the lease expires, the Town can choose to buy it for $1 and  keep it running (with essentially free electricity), or decommission everything using money placed in escrow by the developer.  The Town could then develop the property as it sees fit.

Massachusetts arguably has the best solar incentives in the country and 18 other MA communities are currently pursuing similar projects.

Once again, we would appreciate your support.  Please come to the meeting to find out more and have your questions answered.

Thanks again

Andy Boyce - Chairman, Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee (and formerly Solar Coach) 

Missing Dog from Wildlife Drive since Sunday night, 3/17: RewardMissing Dog from Wildlife Drive since Sunday night, 3/17: Reward

My wonderful dog got out of our fenced-in yard last night because the weather distorted our gate and it unlatched. She is a sweetie and we miss her a lot.

The authorities in 4 towns know about her and with the snow tonight, we are terribly worried. A caller tonight said this morning she was on Ash Street heading to 85 which means she is moving away from East Hopkinton.

Meggie is a young Kerry blue terrier who looks like a Poodle or Mini-Schnauzer; dark grey/black undertones. Friendly but might be unsure about approaching people. 19 inches at the shoulders, @35 pounds.  Microchipped, no collar. 

Contact 508-265-7891 or 508-259-8017 or 508-435-7113 or contact local police or animal control. 

The Calm...

EMC CHAIRMAN AND CEO TO BE HONORED FOR LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Joseph Tucci recognized for Leading by Example in Diversity and Inclusion

BOSTON, MA – Joseph Tucci, Chairman of the Board and Ceo of EMC Corporation located in Hopkinton Ma, is being honored for his contribution and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workforce and marketplace. The Tuesday March 26^th event, held at the Emerald Lounge at the Back Bay Revere Hotel, marks the 5th Anniversary of Get Konnected!, Boston’s only urban professional and business networking event for professionals of culturally diverse backgrounds.  

Tucci is among eight other CEO’s, executives, and political figures being honored in five Diversity and Inclusion categories: 

• Public and Political Diversity and Inclusion

(Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and John Walsh, Massachusetts Democratic Committee)

• Corporate Board Diversity and Inclusion

(Richard Holbrook, Chairman, and Bob Rivers, CEO, Eastern Bank)

• Global Workforce Diversity and Inclusion

(Joseph Tucci, Chairman, and Jacqueline Glenn, Global Chief Diversity Officer, EMC)

• Local Marketplace Diversity and Inclusion

• (Andrew Dreyfus, President & CEO, and Juliette Mayers, Executive Director, Multicultural Marketing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts)

• Career Development Diversity and Inclusion

(Phyllis Barajas, Founder, Conexion)

Hopkinton Will Be Well Represented at DI State Championship Tournament

Photo L to R:  Neal Patel, Gigi Prabhakaran, Aren Arakelian, Patrick Webb, Haley Bernardo, Sara Dunn (missing Izzy Puri)

March 17, 2013 — Hopkinton saw four teams win gold yesterday at the Destination Imagination regional tournament held in Uxbridge, MA.  These four teams will go on to represent Hopkinton at the Massachusetts State Championship Tournament to be held Easter weekend at Worcester Polytechnical Institute (WPI.)

Destination Imagination (DI) is an international program which encourages teams of learners from elementary through high school to have fun, take risks, focus, and work on challenges while incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the arts, and service learning.   Through the DI challenges, team members learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem solving process.  This year teams could choose from six core challenges which they work on from mid-fall through spring and then compete against other teams from their region in their age category.

This year, Hopkinton sent eleven teams to the Region 7 tournament in Uxbridge, competing in challenges such as “In the Zone” where teams had to design and build small vehicles that are able to reliably and accurately travel specific distances, and “Real to Reel” where teams had to design and carry out a project to address a community need and create a film to document their project.  “I’m very proud of how all the teams did this year,” said Linda Holly, Hopkinton DI Coordinator.  “No matter the outcome, the kids are all winners.  DI is not about winning or placing, it’s about having fun, learning to work as a team, working to solve long-term and short term problems – lessons  they’ll use all through life.”

Elementary school level teams going on to the State Tournament include the fifth grade team from the Hopkins School of Akila Sanjay, Michael Giusti, Ananth Sanjay, Mihika Abraham.  This team competed in a structural engineering challenge where they had to build a structure that could survive a serious hit while holding weight.  Also from the Hopkins School, the team of Mirabella Paolucci, Paige Lavelanet, Sara Bernardo, Adrina Arakelian, Mia Sannicandro, Ceara Perry, and Alyssa Souza, won first place for their challenge, creating a five minute improvisational skit focused on different communication techniques. (Click thumbnail, left, to enlarge 4th grade team)

Representing Hopkinton Middle School, the 8^th grade team (click thumbnail to enlarge) of Heather Holly, Emma Griffiths, Elise Kiszla, Riley Strickland, and Erin Webb took home first place for their science challenge in which they explored how the science of wind energy can be used to make kinetic art move while integrating wind energy research into their performance.

The middle school 6^th grade team of Aren Arakelian, Haley Bernardo, Sara Dunn, Neal Patel, Gigi Prabhakaran, Izzy Puri, and Patrick Webb, won first place in their Project Outreach: Real to Reel project.  This team selected a community service project and chose Project Just Because as their focus.  During the holiday season, they collected over 100 toys for needy children and raised over $800 for Project Just Because.  They documented their project in a short film and participated in a live press conference.  In addition to their win, they were also awarded a Destination Imagination DaVinci Award, the highest level of DI award, given to those having a unique approach to a solution, risk taking, and/or outstanding creativity.  This team was also awarded with a Spirit of DI Award given in recognition of those who act as superior role models in the areas of spirit, sportsmanship, and volunteerism.  It is extremely rare to win a DaVinci Award and even rarer to win both a DaVinci and a Spirit of DI Award.

This fifth grade team from Hopkinton finished first place in the Engineering Challenge at Saturday’s Destination Imagination Tournament. The next step is the State Tournament at W.P.I on March 30th.

Left to Right: Akila Sanjay, Michael Giusti, Ananth Sanjay, Mihika Abraham. Contributed content