Friday Parking Humor

Sam went to court and received a fine for parking his car in a "No Parking" zone.

"Do you have anything to say?" asked the Judge.

"Yes," he replied, "They shouldn't put up such misleading notices."

"What do you mean?" the Judge asked.

"The sign said, "Fine for Parking Here."

Tips To Keep Your Car Cool

While some of us cannot avoid driving to work (since a bike ride is just impossible), here are a few tips to help keep your car cool during the hot, humid days of summer (thanks to greencars.org).

• Park in the shade in summer to keep your car cool and minimize evaporation of fuel.
• If you have a garage, use it as much as possible to keep your car warm in winter and cool in summer.
• If you have to park outdoors, windshield shades can cut down on summer heat and help keep the frost off in the winter.

Also, I would suggest leaving your windows rolled down a smidge to let the warmer air, that would normally be trapped in your vehicle, be able to vent out so you do not receive the hot air slap in the face when you return to your vehicle at the end of the day.

Building Mascot

You've seen him strutting around campus, you've read about him in the MHC News, you've probably heard about him from your friends, now *YOU* can stop by and meet the building's mascot!

After you are done taking care of your parking business, make sure to visit,McDougal (or Doogie for short) downstairs in Auxiliary Services Office (in the one-card office section).

He absolutely loves visitors and likes to give kisses too. So, don't forget about him! You won't regret it!

Blanchard Green Parking Spots

Be advised that the Faculty/Staff parking spaces the run along the Skinner green behind Safford Hall will be unavailable until December 2008. The 2-hour visitor spaces will remain available that are near Skinner Hall.

The spaces are unavailable for the renovation construction for Safford Hall.

Bicycle Safety Tips

If you are one of the many employees or students who have been thinking about using your bike to get from point A to point B these days, here are some helpful tips to make your journey safer.

1. Wear a helmet. Yes, they might not be the ideal fashion accessory, but if could help you in the event an accident should occur.
2. Use lights or reflective gear. You might be able to see the cars around you, but the person driving might have a hard time seeing you at sunset or at night.
   
3. Never ride agaisnt the flow of traffic. This may be tough to avoid on campus, but off campus it should become habit since motorists aren't looking for bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road. Some state laws & common sense require that bicyclists drive like other vehicles.
4. Learn hand signals. Hand signals tell motorists and pedestrians what you intend to do since most bikes do not have blinkers . You should signal as a matter of courtesy and of self-protection.
5. Never ride with headphones. If you ride with headphones, you will not be able to hear what is occuring around you, like a horn honking, fire engine approching or any other hazords that are going on around you that you should avoid.
   

Check out Bicycle Safe for "10 ways not to get hit by cars". This guide assists the bicyclists with the correct ways of crossing intersections and other areas. The author is straight forward, but the tips could mean the difference of being hit or not by a vehicle.

When can I pick-up my 08-09 decal?

Students-

Students may start to register for their 2008-2009 decal for the academic year after 7/1/2008. If you register on-line, you will receive a $15 discount. The cost of decals are-
Resident Student $125 (with discount $110)
Day Student $75 (with discount $60)
Equestrian Center $100 (with discount $85)

The discount will expire when classes start in the fall.

If your vehicle is registered out-of-state you will need to fill out an additional form to let the state know you are not living in MA, just attending school, to avoid paying excise tax. We will provide that link for you online.

Employees-

The round one year decals expire 6/30/2008. If your term here at the college has not expired, please stop by the office to renew your decal.

The square decal with the picture of the main gate is still in effect. Those decals expire 6/30/2009, so we can all relax for one more year. No worries for the mad dash to renew!

Can I keep my car on campus for the summer?

If you are a student and will be on campus this summer, you may park your vehicle in a student parking area without a decal. Its our gift to you, *FREE* summer parking! But, please keep in mind......you cannot park in a Faculty/Staff space even in the summer. Those spaces are for employees who are here during the warmer months.

If you are a student but leaving for the summer, you may *NOT* leave your vehicle on campus while you are away. This is to avoid any issues that may arise with your vehicle. You may be thinking, what can happen? Well, if a water main breaks where your car is parked, we have no way of moving the vehicle except for towing it off campus - expensive! Or if a tree falls on your car, and you live in California....well, that's just an unpleasant thought. These are just a couple of the reasons we do not allow vehicle to be left unattended on campus.

Thanks for the question Erin! Keep 'em coming!