Override Vote Will Drive Town Budget Beautifying ... - Local Town Pages

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By Deborah Burke Henderson, Contributing Writer Ashland has held two Downtown Summit meetings over the past several months with an eye toward beautifying its downtown district and attracting more business to the area. One of the short-term projects to come out of the

The flowering wall at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was the inspiration for Ashland’s living garden wall, which will include native plants like Trumpet vine, wild Clematis, and Virgin’s Bower (all of which attract hummingbirds), along with some deciduous shrubbery and evergreens. (Photo/submitted)

meetings is a living garden wall, also known as a vertical garden. The wall will go along the chain-link fence behind the Ashland Farmers Market area and display native plants, flow-

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ering vines, deciduous shrubbery and some evergreens. “We identified several site

LIVING GARDEN WALL

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Override Vote Will Drive Town Budget

By Cynthia Whitty This year the process for preparing the Ashland town budget has been “a lot more collaborative,” according to town officials. “The [budget] process is improving,” Steve Mitchell, a Selectman and the chair of the Override Study Committee (OSC), said. “I think the Tri-Board meetings will continue, but this is an unusual year with the override.” The Tri-Board, created last year to address the town’s long-term needs, consists of the School Committee, Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, town manager and assistant town manager. Out of those meetings, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) formed a 10-member OSC to hold public forums, compile and analyze data and craft a proposal. There was consensus from the Tri-Board that a Prop 2 ½ override was a viable tool, and a proposal went before the BOS in February for approval. Proposition 2 ½ is a Massachusetts law passed in 1980 that limits the total amount of property taxes a Massachusetts city and town can

Value and Affordability Since February, when the BOS voted to put the override on the town meeting ballot, officials have been busy putting their case for an override before residents in public forums and meetings. “It comes down to value and af-

OVERRIDE VOTE

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raise each year. The property tax levy is the revenue a community can raise through real and personal property taxes. A community can permanently increase its levy limit by successfully voting an override. The amount of the override becomes a permanent part of the levy limit base. (Read more: Levy Limits: A Primer on Proposition 2 ½) The town budget, therefore, will depend on what the voters say at the town elections on May 17. This year the annual town meeting will start on Wednesday, May 4, and continue to Wednesday, May 25, when residents will vote on the budget after the results of the override vote on May 17 is known.

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projects which could be pursued fairly quickly and inexpensively,” Steve Mitchell, Board of Selectman (BOS), said. “We think the creation of a living wall will help us build momentum for the overall updating of Ashland’s historic downtown.” The Downtown Summit meetings included representatives of several town committees, including the Open Space and Recreation committees, the Historical Commission, the Ashland Business Association, Ashland Redevelopment Authority, key members of the town’s planning board and members of Ashland’s Garden Club as well as interested citizens. Fellow BOS member Carl Hakansson, long impressed with the beauty of the gardens and a particular “wall of flowers” at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, suggested the idea of a living garden wall. Hakansson had spoken with Ashland resident Cathy Rooney about his idea and invited her to the Summit.

Published Monthly Mailed FREE to the Community of Ashland Circulation: 7,000 households Publisher Chuck Tashjian Editor Cynthia Whitty Sales Susanne Odell Advertising Sales Manager Lori Koller Advertising Sales Assistant Kyle Koller Production & Layout Susan Dunne Michael McDaniel Michelle McSherry Dawna Shackley Advertising Department

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Landscape designer Cathy Rooney will manage the installation of the living wall project in collaboration with the Ashland Garden Club and the DPW. (Photo/submitted)

Rooney, an ecological landscape designer and owner of Designer of Greens, volunteered to spearhead the living wall project. This spring Rooney will work with Lois Bennett and other members of the Ashland Garden Club and with the Department of Public Works (DPW). “The project will focus on an initial length of 40 feet of the fence, from the Ashland clock tower bordering Montenegro Square down toward the farmers’ market space,” Rooney explained. “We’re working out the logistical challenge of bringing water to that area with folks at the DPW.” Preparing a proper surface for the initial plantings by the existing trees and their intricate root systems is complicated. The trees, however, help soften the view and will provide future plantings relief from sun in the summer. Project workers will dig holes in the ground or construct raised garden beds to hold appropriately-selected smaller root plantings that will establish easily. Compost, organic minerals and amendments will be added to the soil. Water

will be a crucial element. “The DPW has already installed a water spigot near the clock tower to assist with watering that area,” Rooney added, “so it would be a matter of amending that infrastructure to allow for drip irrigation, but having access to water will be critical.” According to Bennett, Garden Club volunteers will provide support with planting and help to maintain the garden wall. Rooney is busy pricing the selection of materials needed and researching wholesale vendors and the appropriate selection of plants and shrubs for the living wall. She will submit a proposal this spring for Boston Athletic Association (BAA) funding through the BOS. The project will start as soon as the funding is available. “We’re in New England, so the plants will have to be hardy ones, such as Siberian Iris, Daylily, flowering vines, common yarrow, a perennial herb, and other plants that will tolerate partial shade as well as survive the cold winter months,” Rooney said. “Many of the plants will attract hummingbirds, butterflies and other natural pollinators. I practice four-season gardening with all my clients, and this will be no different. The living wall will be designed to have flowers that blossom in early spring and continue with plant specimens that flower well into late fall.” Once the living wall is completed, the town and workers will evaluate the project. According to Rooney, if the project proves successful and if additional funding becomes available, the living garden wall could be extended along the length of the fence to provide an even more spectacular display of flowers and greenery to enhance the downtown district.

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Living walls, or vertical The Cava Tapas & Wine Bar gardens, became popular Restaurant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has what with French botanist, gar- may be the first vertical dener and designer Patrick garden in America. (Photo/ submitted) Blanc, who created his first one near Paris in 1991. Like green roofs, vertical gardens beautify a space and benefit the community. They can perk up tight spaces and absorb dust and air-borne pollutants. Those created on a house or a fence bordering properties serve as a habitat for birds and insects and may help lower urban noise pollution. The first vertical garden in America may have been in 2010 at the Cava Tapas & Wine Bar Restaurant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. More than a half dozen species of mainly native woodland and perennial plants are featured climbing up the side of the restaurant’s brick facade. Today, there is a living wall at Liberty Mutual St. James Garden in Boston and others in Florida, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania. To learn more, read Blanc’s The Vertical Garden, from Nature to the Cities, published by Norton Press, and Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardens for Small and Large Spaces, co-written by Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet. Garden Up!, published by Cool Spencer Press, is filled with design tips, plant ideas and more than 200 photos and provides inspiration for enhancing any outdoor space with vertical elements. Gardening websites and online blogs also carry information and how-to instructions on creating a variety of vertical gardens.

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OVERRIDE VOTE continued from page 1

fordability for residents,” Herbert said. “School Superintendent Jim Adams and I are holding a series of meetings at the community center. We’ll tell folks how we got to this point.” Herbert, who had just come from a meeting at the senior center at the time of this interview, said “affordability is a concern.” “If the total override ($2.4 million) passes, the cost for a single family home valued at $400,000 is $415 total additional tax per year. If the override for $1.9 million passes, the cost is $330 per year. If the override for $500,000 passes, the amount is $85 per year,” Herbert explained. Ashland voters will be asked to vote Yes or No on two ballot questions on May 17: one for $1,943,400 for the schools and general government operating budgets and one for $500,000 to for the Community and Economic Development Infrastructure stabilization fund. “We are fourth from the bottom in spending per capita; we’ve kept our expenditures low,” Herbert said.

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“We’ll need $200K to make up the deficit without an override,” he said. “If the override passes, we can go ahead with such projects as the river walk. If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have to make cuts. For example, possible cuts are proposed IT programs, storm water infrastructure, training initiatives for police and fire, and some plans for economic development.” Herbert points to state and municipal relief for qualifying seniors, such as 41C1/2, which he said allows a deduction of $513 to seniors making $56,000 or less. If the override passes, the exemption will be increased by $450, to $963. One hundred seventy-five households in Ashland currently qualify, according to Herbert. Herbert noted that there is also a tax deferral and state senior circuit breaker program. The town adopts these programs and then can increase the exemption amount, he said. For more information on • Town property tax exemptions, visit www. ashlandmass.com/317/ Property-Tax-Exemptions • School budget information, visit www.ashland.k12. ma.us/budget-information.

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Dates to Remember Date

Activity

April 1

Town meeting warrant closes. Board of Selectmen vote to close and post the town meeting warrant. (The BOS reserves the right to re-open the warrant after April 1 to include articles that address emergency or unanticipated needs.)

April 7

Public forum to answer questions about the override, Board of Selectmen/hosted by the School Committee/Fin Com, town hall, 6 pm

April 14

Last day to register to vote.

April 29

Deadline for posting the town meeting warrant.

May 4

Annual town meeting, Ashland High School auditorium, 7 pm. (Town meeting continues on May 25.)

May 9 and 10

Live Candidates Forums, meet the candidates for elected office, Ashland Library, 6:30 pm. Hosted by the civic group We Love Ashland! and Friends of the Ashland Library.

May 10

Public forum to answer questions about the override, Board of Selectmen/hosted by the School Committee/Fin Com,, town hall, 6 pm.

May 17

Town elections, Ashland High School gym, 8 am to 8 pm.

May 25

Annual town meeting (continued from May 4), Ashland High School auditorium, 7 pm.

Travel with Ashland Friends Join Ashland Travelers & Friends coordinator, Donna Shawn, and her assistant, Barbara Sauro, along with other interested friends, as they travel throughout New England and the world. Shawn and Sauro are forming an Ashland-based travel group of like-minded people interested in meeting new friends and sharing exciting adventures that are supported and planned by member suggestions and organized by a volunteer advisory group. An organizational kick-off meeting will be held at the Ash-

land Library, 66 Front St., on Thursday, April 21, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to come and hear the goals of this group, sign up to become an informed member, hear details of travel opportunities or reserve a travel spot for group trip offerings highlighting the jewels of Sicily and a Seine River cruise featuring Paris and Normandy planned for this fall. For more information or to let us know you are coming on the 21st, send an email to [email protected].

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April 2016

The Bank on Campus You visit prospective colleges, taking note of what bank is on or near campus. But why?

Is it ATM access? That bank may have a machine there, but what about when you’re off campus, traveling, or home? They charge a fee on top of the ATM fee, all for the privilege of accessing your money from another bank’s ATM.

But they have “Student Checking.” Just because they name it after students, doesn’t make it the best option for students.

There is a better, local option. Even without “Student” in the name, NB Checking is ideal for those going off to school. It’s free, pays interest and automatically reimburses every fee at every ATM in the world; essentially making every ATM your ATM. Stay connected anywhere too, with full feature mobile and tablet apps to deposit checks, make transfers, pay bills and get cash back rewards.

No 1-800 Numbers. NB Checking comes with something their “Student Checking” can’t: Needham Bank. With us, you receive concierge levels of service, regardless of your account balance. If NB Checking is the right choice for you, it’s easier than you think to open an account. Start a conversation with Ashland’s personal banker, Denise Conti, at 781-247-6891 or [email protected]. You can also visit Denise at 41 Front Street in Ashland.

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New School Initiatives Foster Well-Being By Cece Doucette, Contributing Writer Ashland schools recently launched two new initiatives to promote a physically and emotionally safe school community: a weekly newsletter column called “Ashland Raises Happy and Healthy Kids” and an anonymous tip line to help prevent threats of violence, drugs and other wrongdoings. Ashland High School Principal Kelley St. Coeur said of the weekly column, “Ashland Raises Happy and Healthy Kids,” “We

were given the idea by a community member after our Mental Health Community Café last fall.” The goal of the column is to provide parents with weekly information to help support the mental and social-emotional well-being of all Ashland students. The first column began: “We all want our children to be healthy and happy. This column will address a social-emotional health topic each week. We hope these will be a starting point for discussions, raise awareness,

and/or be a reminder that kids can get stressed and need compassion and understanding.” St. Coeur indicated professionals from the schools, community and Ashland’s Decisions at Every Turn Coalition will contribute features from their areas of expertise.

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April 2016

Town Meeting: Power for the People? By Julie Nardone, Contributing Writer Ashland has an open town meeting format, which allows direct democratic rule by all of the town’s voters. Conversely, a representative town meeting, like Framingham, allows only elected members to vote. A town moderator, elected by ballot, oversees town meeting proceedings whether they are open or representative. Any town with a population above 6,000 can operate with either an open town meeting, where any registered voter can speak on the floor and vote, or a representative town meeting, where elected members debate the issues. Towns with less than 6,000 residents must use the open town meeting format. As legislators for Ashland, town meeting voters pass budgets, levy taxes, change zoning, and create new by-laws. And since 1633 in Colonial Dorchester, Massachu-

“ . . .it’s about keeping government open and inclusive, and that’s a lot more important than making government efficient.” setts, this form of government, modeled on the Greek city-states, has been found primarily in New England. No other part of the country allows voters to exert such power over their local government, to be a democratic face-toface assembly “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Concord’s Henry Thoreau saw open town meetings as the purest form of democracy. In 1854 he wrote, “When, in some obscure country town, the farmers

come together to a special townmeeting, to express their opinion on some subject which is vexing the land, that, I think, is the true Congress, and the most respectable one that is ever assembled in the United States.”

Attendance at Town Meetings Yet, all across New England attendance at town meetings has declined. Registered voters have become so distanced from their

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own power that they throw it away by not making the time to attend one or two town meetings a year. Some, like Amy Crawford in her Slate Magazine article, “For The People, By The People,” attribute the decline to large, transient municipal populations that chose to leave governing to the purported experts. Others like Frank Bryan, author of Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works, suggests something more insidious: “Citizens are not born. They are raised. Town Meetings are the schoolhouses of citizenship.” That seems about right. A sale at the local mall attracts residents in droves. A night at town meeting to determine the governmental fate of our town presents as an imposition.

Checks and Balances Many voters feel that their votes don’t matter, that the state controls issues that used to be decided on the local level, that nothing they do will make a difference and, increasingly, that governments of all levels lean toward corruption. So, why bother? A democracy cannot flourish in a vacuum. Corruption happens with our permission when we do not question. Going to the polls at the high school once every four years to vote for a president does not make a democracy. To stay alive, democracy needs a steady stream of questioning voices to act as true checks and balances. Nowhere in legislative New England do everyday people have more power than at the local government level. If voters want their voices to matter they need to take back their own power and insert themselves into their local governments. If they don’t, voters may find themselves living under a government not of their liking.

Change Ashland’s Type of Government? There has been discussion dur-

ing recent town charter review meetings to change Ashland from an open town meeting to a representative form of government. (The town charter review committee has been tasked with reviewing the town charter and making recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.) After the failure of three 2014 warrant articles—the purchase of the 329 Pleasant St. property to expand Marathon Park; the conversion of the former landfill on Howe Street to a solar farm array; and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) connection—several selectmen at the time declared on WACA-TV that “the right people were not coming to town meeting.” More recently, a desire to change town meeting from open to representational or even to eradicate it completely and move to a mayor and city council, has been suggested during informational gathering sessions of the town charter review committee.

Residents Offer Suggestions to Improve Ashland’s Town Meeting Resident Preston Crowe feels strongly that Ashland should stay with its open form of government. “The current system encourages participation,” Crowes said. “With a representative town meeting, we won’t get any more people than we get now, and many of the people we get now won’t want to go to the hassle of running for town meeting.” Crowe believes that representation is the answer when a town has too many voters showing up to run a sensible meeting. “We don’t have that problem. Even when we have a major item that attracts several hundred people, we still seem to manage just fine.” Igidio “Izzy” Assencoa, an-

TOWN MEETING

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April 2016 TOWN MEETING continued from page 6

other resident, concurred, “Our current open government seems the most democratic. It is open to everyone.” He did suggest one change to increase participation: “Find the technology to allow voting from home.” Resident Kate Jurczyk preferred to keep the open town meeting form of government since it provides the needed checks and balances with the Board of Selectmen, but suggested some enhancements to the town meeting process. Among them were: “Require that all warrant articles have a pro and con write up, like our state ballot questions do. This would make sure that the proponents have also thought about negative or untended consequences. Have trainings and tools widely available to the public about town meeting procedures so residents can be prepared. This way thoughtful information can be considered without potentially being thrown out or disregarded due to a procedural technicality. The town should not be allowed to present a ‘one-sided’ presentation, such as a prepared power point slide show, for something the government wants when opposing views do not have the same access to those resources. The meeting should be open and welcoming to opposing views and facilitate the same level of presentation for both sides of an issue, if there is opposition. The limits that have been placed on discussion seem counterproductive. When the moderator limits the people standing in line to those who can speak, there is potential for one of the speakers to say something that a town meeting attendee would like to comment upon.” Conversely, resident Phil Jack thinks we need to examine the different government options. “I believe that if the town is conducting a comprehensive review of its charter, then as part of that we should take a serious, unbiased look at all aspects of our current form of town government to evaluate what is working well and what isn’t.” Jack continued with questions about the ultimate goal of our government: “That sounds simple of course, but it necessitates an agreed upon metric, which may prove elusive as that in turn presupposes a generally agreed upon

Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com shared goal for town government. But what is that overarching goal for our town government? Is it efficiency and effectiveness? Democratic purity? Democratic participation? Or more likely some balance between all of those?”

Catering to Special Interest Groups

Page 7

Ashland Business Association and High School Partner Over Social Media

Some would argue that open town meeting caters to special interest groups and that it can be ameliorated by representation. Crowe agreed but sees small group-initiated change as positive. “If you want to do something unpopular with a segment of the population, you have to properly educate people as to why it’s important enough to override that special interest. It’s a lot of work, but it’s about keeping government open and inclusive, and that’s a lot more important than making government efficient.”

Spring Town Meeting To experience democracy in action, come to Ashland’s annual town meeting on Wednesday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 25, at 7 p.m. in the Ashland High School Auditorium. Anyone with the courage to rise and approach the microphone can speak his or her mind. No experience necessary.

For More Reading: • Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works by Frank M. Bryan • Massachusetts Citizen’s Guide To Town Meetings, www.sec. state.ma.us/cis/cistwn/ twnidx.htm • For The People, By The People, www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/ politics/2013/05/new_ england_town_halls_these_ experiments_in_direct_democracy_do_a_far_better. html

Some Ashland Business Association (ABA) social media internship participants—students, businesses and organizations—met in March to review the program’s progress. Front row (l to r): Susan Atherton, Esq.; ABA Vice President Adam Sachs; Friends of the Library President Betsy Emberley and Ashland High School Principal Kelley St. Coeur. Back row (l to r): Cheryl Cohen of Cheryl Cohen Mosaics Art Center; students Maddie Graves, Rebecca Hopmeyer, Kyle Walsh and Bradley Colarusso; and ABA President Alex Carlton.

The program was proposed by one of last year’s ABA scholarship winners, Anna Waisgerber, to help businesses become more savvy using social media and to give students real-life work experience. (Photo/Cynthia Whitty)

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April 2016

Deep Bonds of Friendship Span Pan-Mass Challenge & Team Elka STRONG By Deborah Burke Henderson, Contributing Writer Among those training for this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) on August 6 and 7 are five individuals riding as “Team Elka STRONG” in a show of friendship and support in honor of Ashland resident Elka Stokar Troutman. Their goal is to raise $25,000 to help eradicate cancer. Last year’s PMC drew 6,000 cyclists from 41 states and eight countries and raised a record $45 million in support of life-saving cancer research and treatment through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “Elka is a dear friend of mine,” Tracey Lydon, the team captain, said. “She is one of the most giving people I know, always thinking of others first. Our kids are growing up together, and we want many more years with one another to celebrate our families’ milestones. I feel helpless to help the one person I would do anything for, so if this is one small thing I can do to make a difference, I want to do it.” Troutman is a familiar name to parents of elementary-age children and to Ashland businesses as she has been involved in Ashland’s Summer Reading Program for the past eight years, and managed the program for the past four. The reading program encourages youngsters in grades 1 to 6 with prize incentives from local merchants to read as many books as they can over the summer months. Despite knee replacement surgery last year, Lydon is up for the 2016 PMC. She reached out to friends to create Team Elka

STRONG, which includes fellow Ashland residents Randy Krauss and Francois Sicard, Milford resident Lisa Campopiano and Westborough resident Mark Barsamian. This past winter, the team was involved in many hours of intense workouts on their bikes hooked up to Compu Train® riding systems at Grace Bicycles, their go-to bicycle shop in Holliston. Spring training will mean increasingly longer outdoor rides starting weekends in April all through July. Krauss, who also volunteers on the Friday of the PMC weekend helping with rider registration, said their weekend training rides will begin at 20 miles in and around Ashland and the neighboring communities and gradually work up–in five-mile increments – to about 65 miles a trip. This kind of regular endurance exercise will be important to ready their muscles for the actual event. Like most riders, Lydon and her teammates have experienced the reach of cancer whether it is a loved one living with the disease or by celebrating the lives of family members, coworkers, friends or neighbors. These are friends supporting friends; united by a common cause. “This riding team is phenomenal. I’m happy to ride with them,” Barsamian, a physician who will be riding in his second PMC this August, said. “They are highly motivated, very energetic, and raising money for an important cause. Research has been a large part of my life, and it’s an honor to play a part in helping rid society of this devastating disease.”

over the two-day PMC weekend in August. The other course options allow cyclists flexibility and offer routes requiring slightly less strenuous endurance levels.

Navigating the PMC Route

Randy, Lisa, Francois and Tracey (l to r) chose Mardi Gras-theme helmet decorations one year to capture the spirit of fun and camaraderie generated during the PMC. These friends are among thousands who ride to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (Photo/ Submitted)

PMC Raises Money for Research Individual riders have to achieve set minimum fundraising goals, anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000, depending on the route taken and number of days riding. According to the PMC website, 100 percent of every rider-generated dollar goes directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Founded in 1980 by Billy Starr, the PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that today raises more money for

charity than any other single athletic event in the country. More than $500 million dollars has been raised to date and devoted to cancer research. Over the years, the PMC has grown considerably and consistently. Several cycling routes are now available, coursing over 360 miles of road and through 48 communities in the Commonwealth. Perhaps the most well-known is the hilly Sturbridge-to-Provincetown route, which is 192 miles of long-distance endurance riding

Team Elka STRONG members Campopiano, Krauss and Lydon will navigate the Day One/Saturday, Aug. 6 route from a starting point at Babson College in Wellesley at 7 a.m. and travel along back roads down to Bourne, covering a distance of 84 miles. The ride starts with what seems like a 25-mile descent and finishes with a combination of rolling hills and flats, taking between 3.5 and 11 hours, depending on the rider. Krauss, Barsamian and Sicard will awaken in Bourne at 3:30 a.m. in the pitch black on Day Two/Sunday, Aug. 7 to pack up their tents, grab a shower at the Mass Maritime Academy (where other PMC cyclists will be lodging), chow down a PMC-sponsored breakfast in a huge tent amidst a mass of humanity, refill their water bottles, and be on the road by 5:15 a.m. Their 80-mile trek will follow along a partly coastal route and take the cyclists by picturesque cranberry bogs as they work their way from Bourne back to the Babson College finish line in Wellesley. This route, which consists of flats and rolling terrain, began in 2000 to accommodate riders looking for a more convenient location and slightly less grueling ride. It has become the fastest growing route option

TEAM ELKA

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Ashland Farmers Market Celebrates Five Years!

continued from page 8 of the PMC. Depending on pace and rest times, this ride can last from 3 to 8.5 hours. In all cases, the PMC sponsors water/rest spots approximately 20 miles apart along the various cycling routes while myriad onlookers cheer on the cyclists, encouraging riders to be safe, stay hydrated and have fun. “This is one of the most powerful experiences of my life,” Krauss, four-time PMC alum,

Page 9

As a gesture of his love and support, Elka’s husband, Jeff, had these bracelets created for family and friends, and Team Elka STRONG was born. (Photo/Submitted)

Starting in June, take a trip around the world with the Ashland Farmers Market (AFM)! Taste French- and Spanishinspired cheeses; Peruvian pastries and cookies; Italian biscotti; Asian greens at Flats Mentor Farm or, keep it local with homegrown produce from Arcadian Farm, Long Life Farm, Sunshine Farm and new Upswing Farm, owned

and run by Brittany Sidway Overshiner (formerly of Medway Community Farm). AFM opens its 5th season on Saturday, June 11 at 125 Front St., on the green across from the library. Volunteer Caitlin O’Toole designed a special five-year logo to celebrate AFM’s success. For more information, visit www. ashlandfarmersmarket.org.

Randy, Mark, and Francois (l to r) are exuberant after completing their 80-mile PMC Bourne-to-Wellesley trek last year, cycling side-by-side. (Photo/Submitted)

said. “There is tremendous support from your fellow riders and an amazing number of people lining the route, handing out water and waving you on. It’s such a great motivator to feel the energy of the crowd.” Campopiano, a nine-year veteran of the event, agreed. “The spirit of the crowd is electric and the level of camaraderie and unity is amazing. The PMC weekend is my favorite weekend of the year. I love it, and I’m humbled this year to ride in support of Elka. Her openness, strength and honesty are empowering.”

Support the Team To make a donation in support of Team Elka STRONG or any individual team member, visit http://profile.pmc.org/TE0069 or go to www.pmc.org and search on the “Team Elka STRONG” name. The team’s fundraising deadline is October 1, 2016. To follow each day’s route or

cheer the riders on in person, visit www.pmc.org/rides/wellesleybourne for the Saturday leg of

their journey and www.pmc.org/ routes/bourne-babson for the Sunday challenge.

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April 2016

Ashland Residents Invited to Clean Up the Town, May 7 Celebrate Ashland’s Earth Day by picking up litter in your neighborhood and beyond. By Cynthia Whitty GreenUp Ashland will hold its annual event to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m. to noon. Residents of all ages are invited to participate. Individuals and groups will clean up parks and neighborhoods and along streets and rivers.

Three Locations to Register for Clean Up To clean up the town, residents may register in advance on the website, www.GreenUpAshland.

org, or on the day of the event at the Stone Park Pavilion or at two satellite locations: downtown, near Sunnyside Café, or outside Encompass Fitness Center on Homer Ave. Residents should bring a pair work gloves and water and wear sturdy shoes and bright clothing for safety. When residents fill bags with rubbish and roadside litter, they can leave them on the curbside for pickup by the Ashland Department of Public Works. Organizers say this is a great opportunity for residents to enjoy

the outdoors with family and friends while contributing to their community and neighborhood. The event is organized by the citizens’ committee, GreenUp Ashland, in cooperation with town departments. The committee is comprised of Karyn Dann, Janet Gamache, Mark Oram, David Rubenstein and Jeanne Walker. This year’s business sponsors include Waste Management, Inc.

Event Volunteers Needed The GreenUp Ashland committee needs help distributing bags, registering participants, tracking clean up locations, and setting up and organizing the morning of the event. Volunteers who assist will be treated to coffee, donuts, t-shirts and collapsible, BPA-free water bottles. For more information, email

Ashland residents, including students and families, work together on Ashland’s Earth Day to clean up the town. (Photo/Cynthia Whitty)

[email protected], visit www.GreenUpAshland. org and www.facebook.com/ GreenUpAshland, or, to volun-

teer, call the Ashland Board of Health, 508-881-0100, or extension 7128 or 7922 for Health Agent Mark Oram.

4th Annual Five-Town Special Olympics to be Held in Ashland April 1 By J.D. O’Gara, Contributing Writer Ashland High School is “thrilled” to be hosting the Special Olympics-style Five-Town School Day Games this year, taking place on April 1, featuring about 80 students from Ashland, Medway, Holliston, Millis

and Medfield special ed classes. This is the fourth year for the events, which allow students with special needs a chance to compete and experience the thrill of an athletic event. “It’s one of my favorite events of the year,” Ashland High School principal Kelly St. Coeur said. “It’s one of those feel-good days where

the whole school gets involved. We always do a parade to send the kids off, and a good chunk of our student body helps out, volunteering to be a part of it.” That’s a common theme among many of the schools involved. Students from all schools involved gather to cheer the athletes’ bus both to and from the

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event. Each year, the host town chooses a different sport to celebrate. One year was basketball, another was soccer, and Holliston held a track and field event last year. This year’s theme is football. “All skills stations, eight different stations, are all New England Patriot-themed,” St. Coeur said. These include such activities as the “Gridiron Gronk obstacle course,” and the “Brady toss,” a throwing station. Five of the stations are skills stations while there is also a snack station, a photo opportunity and a craft. Last year, New England Patriot Chandler Jones helped out at a race event at the 5-Town Games in Holliston. This year, St. Coeur,

said, “We have reached out to the Patriots, but we’re not sure who or what will be there to represent them. Plus, our own football players and cheerleaders will be helping out during the day.” All of the busses for each town will meet at Ashland State Park (Rt. 135, next to the Ashland Community Center) at 9 a.m. on April 1 to kick off the parade, which will include emergency vehicles, to the event. The busses will arrive at Ashland High School at 9:25 a.m., and students will be waiting in the halls to cheer them on as each town’s athletes march in. Opening ceremonies will start at 10 a.m., with stations running from 10:25-11:30 a.m., and award ceremonies will take place at 11:45.

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Letter to All Ashland Emergency Fund Supporters and Ashland Residents By Rosemary Fedorchak, on behalf of all AEF Board Members The Ashland Emergency Fund (AEF), founded in 1987 to quietly provide hope to those in need, has recently been the subject of discussion in public forums. Questions have been raised about AEF operations and management and, of course, this causes great concern within our community. The entire AEF Board understands and shares these concerns. AEF has taken great care to make sure every issue brought directly to the attention of the AEF Board has been diligently and thoughtfully worked through as follows. First, there was a claim AEF did not pay a bill due another Ashland organization. All involved parties reviewed all available records and determined the outstanding bill was not an AEF responsibility. However, AEF Board Members continued voluntarily working with all involved and a mutually acceptable and amicable agreement among all parties was reached and the matter was closed earlier this month. An accusation was made that AEF paid a non-essential bill. Respecting the privacy of our clients, AEF never comments on specific disbursements, but in general, each request for aid comes with unique and sometimes complex circumstances,

which are not always obvious, or even visible, to the public. Having said that, the processes and controls AEF has always had in place ensure each request for aid is consistently considered, thoroughly reviewed and approved by multiple AEF Board Members before aid is disbursed. Finally, it was incorrectly stated AEF was sued and a judgment was made against AEF some years ago. This misperception is understandable given the common leadership between AEF and those involved in the lawsuit. However, AEF was not named in the lawsuit. Further, the matter was tried and closed long ago. AEF Board Members have put in extra effort in recent days responding to these questions raised. I am proud of this team’s strict compliance to the AEF Charter and for faithfully exercising the fiduciary responsibility the Board has to the Fund and its donors. On behalf of the entire AEF Board and our clients, we also want to thank the hundreds of people who reached out to AEF publicly and privately during this time to express their continued support of AEF and the good work AEF does for our town. Sometimes adversity, such as this, helps highlight the value and importance of the AEF mission. We have felt honored by the outpouring of support by so many in our community. It has been amazing

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April 2016

Brett Walker First to Qualify for Ballot By Daniel Costello, Brett Walker for State Representative Campaign Manager On Friday, March 11, 2016 Brett Walker became the first candidate to collect enough certified signatures to appear on the ballot as a candidate for State Representative in the 7th Middlesex District. He will be running as a Democrat. “This is a campaign of energy and initiative,” said Walker. “While it was not our goal to be the first campaign to officially qualify for the ballot, it was certainly our intent to be proactive, and I believe we accomplished that.”

Walker lives in Ashland with his wife and two sons. For the past four years, he has chaired the Ashland Democratic Town Committee. Walker is a state prosecutor and a member of the Massachusetts National Guard. “This is an important milestone for the campaign,” said Walker. “This act demonstrates my commitment to this race and the dedication of the campaign volunteers.” Walker’s first official campaign event was on Feb 5 - the day of this winter’s most severe snow storm. Despite eight inches of snow, the event drew more than 70 people. Walker also hosted a St. Patrick’s Day themed campaign party

in Boston at which time he received endorsements from New Politics and the National Guard Association of Massachusetts. “Brett Walker is a true servant leader who will put the people of Ashland and Framingham first,” said Emily Cherniack, Executive Director of New Politics, in her organization’s endorsement. “Brett is ready to be a new leader at the State House.” For more information on Brett Walker or his campaign for State Representative go to www.ElectBrett.us or www.facebook.com/ElectBrett2016/

Brett Walker, his two sons (Benjamin and James) and the chairwoman of his campaign – Gloria VanBuskirk – submitted approximately 200 signatures to the Ashland Town Clerk on March 11, 2016.

Ashland Lions Chili Fest, a Great Success We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the restaurants and individuals that participated in the Ashland Lions Chili Fest in February. It was a great success because of community support. This years’ winner was Owen O’Leary’s Res-

taurant & Pub of Southborough. All funds raised from this event will support local activities and Lions Eye Research. Save the Date: The 9th annual Ashland Lions Golf Tournament will be held at the Highfield Golf

and Country Club on Monday, May 23. For more information, call Lion Paul at 508-881-2397 or Lion Tom at 508-881-1122. (Photo/Lion Paul Ciccolo)

Ashland Community Gardens Readies for New Season Ashland Community Gardens (ACG) at Stone Park has 57 raised and in-ground beds. Three beds are designed specifically to allow access for individuals with disabili-

ties. Individuals, couples and families from all age groups participate. In 2015, ACG built an 8x10 ft. inground bed that members plant for the food pantry. Over 100 lbs

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given by: Advantage Collision Center, Inc. 43 Nickerson Road, Ashland MA 01721 pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 255, Section 39 A, that on May 2, 2016 at Advantage Collision Center, a private sale will be held for the following motor vehicles to satisfy our garage keepers lien thereon for storage, towing, care and expenses of notices and sale of said vehicles.

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2003 Hyundai Elantra Ward Quaglietti 20 Bliss Road Bellingham, MA 02019

1N4AL2AP4AN447024 2010 Nissan Altima Marissa Goldstein 22 Lantern Road Framingham, MA 01702 By Stanley Paine Auctioneers License #120 Sale per order of Advantage Collision Center, Inc. 508-881-3450

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Ashland Education Foundation Awards Grants for 2015-16 The Ashland Education Foundation, Inc. (AEFI) is pleased to announce its annual awarding of grants in support of innovative education and improving core infrastructure to the Ashland Public Schools. Teacher innovation grants totaling $27,834 were awarded for projects at the Henry E. Warren Elementary School, Ashland Middle School and Ashland High School. Core infrastructure grants were awarded to the Ashland Middle School for the purchase of Chrome books to be used throughout the school and to the Henry E. Warren Elementary School for the purchase of a new kiln to support the school’s

art program and new projectors to support the school’s enVisions math program. Through the generous support of its donors, the AEFI has donated more than $58,000 to the Ashland Public Schools so far in 2016 and more than $347,000 in the past five years. AEFI makes the awards in early March so that the recipients may implement their grant project by the end of the school year. The recipients are recognized at the annual AEFI Gala for bringing innovation into the classrooms. For more information, visit www.ashlandeducation.org.

At Warren E lementary School Taking the anxiety out of Schools Through Evidence-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Education. Awarded to Ann Myers, project leader, and Julie Baker, Jess Malone, collaborators. Music Room Interactive Projector and iPads. Awarded to Cheryl Noel, project leader.

At Ashland Middle School Around the World in 180 Days. Awarded to Nanci Herson and Scott Soderberg, project leaders.

At Ashland High School A Vision for Math Solutions. Awarded to Suzanne Reap, project leader, and Josh Wiczer, Catherine Dicken, Katie Eburn, DJ Jost, Mike Shennett, Steve O’Leary, Chaz Alberts and Chad McGowan, collaborators. The Next Edison. Awarded to Chad McGowan, project leader, and Charles Alberts, collaborator. Multimedia Music Center. Awarded to Talia Mercadante, project leader, and Darren Maule and Chad McGowan, collaborators. Passport to Global Communication at AHS. Awarded to Lauren Wolfe, project leader,

and Andrea Medved, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Susan Furste, Emily Vargeletis and Lisa Dunn, collaborators. Nonfiction Reading and Writing for 9-12. Awarded to Susanne Bronstein, project leader, and Jessica McGuire, Lauren Gomebetti, Elizabeth Cooney, Aleisha Egan, Stephen Moshkovitz, Bill Graham, and Rachel Stevenson, collaborators.

Artists Form Mosaic Art Society

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The New England Mosaic Society (NEMS) had its first meeting in early March in Framingham. Over 85 people attended, representing all five New England states. Nine mosaic artists—Carrie Fradkin, Glynda Benham, Cheryl Cohen, Pam Stratton, Amy Marks, Deb Aldo, Cynthia Fisher, Suzanne Owayda, and Karen Edland— started the group. Cohen, an Ashland resident, said that the group’s mission is to increase the appreciation of contemporary mosaic art. At the meeting, NEMS president Amy Marks spoke about the benefits of membership. Cynthia Fisher and Deb Aldo, two well-known mosaic artists, spoke about their careers, presented images of their work and critiqued four art pieces created by individuals in the audience. Artist Martin Cheek is scheduled to speak on Creative Inspiration at their second meeting on April 8. Upcoming activities include visiting a mosaic art show at

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Art in the Library

April 2016

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DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY “Colors On The Water” Watercolor Paintings by Janis Luedke April 2 to 29 Janis Luedke, Natick resident and artist, has been painting and showing her artwork publicly in New England and California for many years. Luedke cannot seem to escape nature as a fundamental theme in her work. She has long

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found solace and inspiration in its serenity, solitude and color. Her color palette and composition have been greatly influenced by 19 years in the expansive, colorful and serene landscape of the Southwest. Her focus has been on abstraction and simplicity. Luedke’s art can be found in private collections throughout New England.

When Luedke heard Mark Lanen’s music CD, “The Colors on the Water,” for the first time, she was inspired to pick up her brush and paint with watercolor. Each painting she created is a stream of consciousness abstraction inspired by the colors of the music. Mark Lanen has been playing piano and composing music since early childhood. He has performed with a variety of musical ensembles and teaches piano and keyboard. His CD, “The Colors on the Water,” was inspired by the play of light on water surfaces . . . quiet, simple and transparent.

The music has been described as soothing, alive and colorful, and has hints of Brahms, Debussy and Brubeck.

Art and Music Reception There will be a special Artist’s Reception on Saturday, April 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Downstairs Gallery. Along with the artist Janis Luedke, Mark Lanen will be there to perform selections from his inspirational album “The Colors on the Water” and other original compositions—a wonderful accompaniment to Luedke’s paintings.

“Mudivate” Pottery by Debra A. Griffin and students Through April 30 Ashland resident Debra Griffin displays her own lovingly-crafted pottery (mostly functional, natural dishware) along with her students, Tonya and Olga. They have been her weekly pottery students for more than two years. You may have seen Debra, Tonya, or Olga at the Ashland Farmers Market demoing on the wheel. Tonya and Olga are moms and full-time engineers who find pottery to be a creative outlet that rounds out their lives. Tonya likes to put hours of time into unique carvings to decorate her pottery. Olga often integrates creative hand building with her wheel work, and discovers new effects using hand-painted layered glazes. The motivational give-andtake of ideas, techniques, and encouragement happens every class, making all participants productive.

Ashland Business Association Offers Scholarships By Cynthia Whitty The Ashland Business Association (ABA) will award two-$1,500 scholarships to high school seniors

residing in Ashland who best demonstrate good work ethics, motivation, creativity and business/ community interests. The deadline to submit an application and

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Ashland High School Finding God Annual Bingo Night Children and adults alike will call out “BINGO!” in the Ashland High School (AHS) Cafeteria on Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. The Ashland High School Student Council will host their eighth annual BINGO night. The event is open to people of all ages. The organizers promise that everyone, whether five or 95 will have fun! Baked goods will be available players who get hungry during the event. Who doesn’t enjoy freshly made cookies and brownies? A pack of six cards costs $10; 12 cards, $20; and 18 cards,

$30. Feel free to bring your own BINGO marker or buy one for $1. There will be lots of prizes donated by local businesses and restaurants. Two wonderful AHS teachers will emcee the event: DJ Jost and Randa Istfan. Come out and join us for a night of fun! For more information, visit https:// sites.google.com/site/ stucoashland/bingo. If you have questions, contact the Ashland High School Student Council Exec Board at [email protected] or Student Council Advisor Josh Wiczer at [email protected] or call 508-881-0177.

In Memory Of Scott Thouren, 55, Ashland highway superintendent, passed away on Feb. 25 after complications from a heart condition. Thouren graduated from Keefe Technical School in 1978 and began working for the Ashland Department of Public Works in 1987. He also worked for Caissie Paving and Stumpy’s Tree Service. Thomas Kinder, 71, retired Ashland Chief of Police where

he served for 30 years, passed away suddenly at his Uxbridge home on Feb. 28. After graduating from Framingham High School in 1962, he served in the army and went on to graduate with honors in criminology from Northeastern University. After his retirement, he continued his dedication to public service in his role on the board for the Preservation of Pout Pond in Uxbridge.

By Rev. Larry Iannetti, Pastor, Federated Church of Ashland In an age when both parents in a family work to meet financial needs, when seniors live longer and savings have to last longer, when young families may have substantial student debt, while trying to buy a house and start a family, it can seem that asking for money in support of a church, synagogue, mosque or temple, adds another burden on top of every other pressing financial need. From a strictly monetary point of view, that is indeed what happens when religious institutions ask for your financial support. The institutions don’t pay your bills nor cover the cost of heating oil; they don’t put food on your table, nor do they put gas in your car (although they might do those things if an urgent need arose in your life). So what do they do? The church, synagogue, mosque and temple do provide a place to refocus and be at peace, where you can find like-minded people who champion values such as mercy, forgiveness, compassion, diversity and charity. They are probably the only places where it is okay to talk about your spiritual values and the God who both inspires you and blesses you. They are the only places to learn about God, the historical traditions, our understanding of God and of God’s love for us all. Think about when all else fails, when we struggle with the chal-

lenges of life, when we seek inspiration to keep going or make tough decisions and be true to the values we hold, where do you turn? When we look at the fragility of life, our own mortality or that of our loved ones, where do we find the message of hope and the consolation that comes through faith in God? Regardless of your faith tradition or religious affiliation, isn’t it remarkable that humanity can find a certain commonality in our collective recognition that there is more to life than meets the eye. While there is still much that sepa-

rates us from one another, even in our religious beliefs and practices, there is common ground for us to find in one another, a brother or sister who is seeking the same God you seek, or who inspires you. While we approach these questions from a distinctively Christian perspective, consider joining with us at the Federated Church, 118 Main St., Ashland, any Sunday morning at 10 a.m. where we pause to give thanks to the God who blesses us, lift up one another in prayer, and seek inspiration found in the faith traditions preserved in the Bible.

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2,000 to 20,000 square feet, condominiums and town homes perfect for retirees and vacation homes for families to sprawling estate homes for corporate executives. All have private swimming pools and are located in golf resorts that feature golf, water parks and even restaurants among their amenities. “All of them are professionally managed and maintained, beautiful luxury estate homes,” says Montalvo. For more information on investing in your piece sunny Florida, as well as your own peace of mind, visit homesalesneardisney.

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April 2016

A Weekend to Remember: Junior Statesmen of America By Neha Shabeer, Student Writer, Freshman, Ashland High School We might seem like a dysfunctional group gaveling, shouting, arguing and laughing, but we’re surrounded by each other’s passion. I am talking about Junior Statesmen of America (JSA). JSA is a national organization organized at the local chapter level in high school campuses around the country for students interested in politics, government, foreign affairs, law and current news. These chapters collectively form regions and run multiple regional events annually. JSA allows for an exchange of ideas through stimulating student debates, thought talks, problem solving, and a variety of simulations, like Mock Supreme Court. On the last weekend of February, the six members of the Ashland High JSA Club made the 8-hour journey on Amtrak from Boston to Washington D.C. for the Northeastern Winter Congress held at the Crystal City DoubleTree Hotel. The passionate debaters who went on the trip were Kwesi Sakyi, Jordan Castro, Dean Fantaci, Preston Saleh, Pradeep Manivannan, and myself (Neha Shabeer) chaperoned by the great Mr. Len Rabinowitz. We checked into the hotel on Friday afternoon after taking two subways from Union Station and making our way through the windy streets of D.C. with our suitcases. I was

blessed with my own hotel room since I was the only girl on the trip. Later, the boys and I went out for dinner and attended the opening ceremony, which included the keynote speaker, Republican Senator of Nebraska, Benjamin Sasse. After a powerful speech, we split between the Democratic and Republican parties, as the convention was structured like a mock Congress. Our club was surprisingly split down the middle, half Democrats and half Republicans. In the Democratic caucus, we went over the bills we would be debating in the House and Senate the next day. Once the caucus rounded up, it was time for what everyone had been waiting for—the dance. JSA parties are quite epic with killerdance circles, some incredible flash mobs and a great chance to meet other like-minded students from other schools. The theme for the first dance of the weekend was Blackout so everyone was wearing black. By the end of the night, my feet were sore and I felt thankful to hit the white hotel linens before the next day of events started. We all woke up bright and early to get ready in our best business attire, boys in suits and girls in dresses or skirts and blouses with heels. (Side note: To whomever invented heels, women’s’ feet do not taper into a triangular point. The pointiest shoe does not make one look any better, it just makes you waddle from constricted blood flow to your toes.) However, back

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Ashland students bid farewell to the JSA Northeastern Winter Congress: (l-r) Preston Saleh, Mr. Len Rabinowitz, Pradeep Manivannan, Neha Shabeer, Jordan Castro and Kwesi Sakyiat the Crystal City DoubleTree in Washington, D.C. (Photo/submitted)

to the convention. After a speedy breakfast at the hotel, we went on our separate ways to our respective Democratic or Republican Houses or Senates to debate a set of bills, amendments and resolutions. Bills are proposed by local chapters and the main pro speaker is the sponsor/writer of the bill, while main con and subsequents are impromptu. If a bill is passed by the House, it is sent to Senate, which can pass or fail it. Now that the layout is understood, let’s proceed to House G where Kwesi and I spent the majority of the day. Attendance was recorded and then our committee was called to order. Throughout the day, we debated 12 bills. A few of my favorite bills debated were: “A BILL TO MANDATE WOMEN IN THE DRAFT” “A BILL TO MANDATE TEACHING OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN ALL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.” “A BILL TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN A MOTHER ON WELFARE CAN HAVE” “A BILL TO MAKE AMERICA GAY AGAIN,” my all-time favorite mock bill of the century. The bill proposed to take the entire military budget (~$700 billion) and make Hawaii the international gay party islands where all gays could voluntarily move to party all day and night and never work. Straight people would only be able to visit for two weeks at a time on a “straight visa,” with an exception of Macklemore as he is the savior of the gays. There were

26 other hilarious sections of the bill, each one more outrageous than the last! During the lunch break, Kwesi and I went out on the prowl for food and discovered a mall underneath the Marriott called the Crystal City Shops. I believe it is just a secret underground hoverboard arena. After shoveling some Subway into our mouths, we went back to finish debating bills and headed to an activism fair with stands pledging to fight apathy, where we made some new friends. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay for the last day of Winter Congress that involved the congregation of full House and Senate, since we had to get back to school on Monday. I had an amazing trip

making stronger friendships full of memories and learning from other youth from across the country. I believe that with this generation of youth passionate about politics, we will be able to make America great again. Youth getting involved in politics is critical as they have different perspectives and host of different ideas. Allowing youth to voice their opinion is not only good for society but necessary for society. Our Superintendent Jim Adams is a great example of getting youth involved in school policy decisions and allowing us to know what happens behind the scenes to make Ashland a great community. To help Ashland JSA keep running and to subsidize the costs for JSA members who cannot afford to attend these great events that occur six times a year, please consider donating. Email ashlandjsa@ gmail.com, if you are interested, since no donation is too small. Also, keep your eye out for collection boxes at local restaurants and businesses around town. Thank you and we thoroughly appreciate your support to keep our club alive and thriving! A huge thank you to our club supervisor, Mr. Len Rabinowitz, and Principal St. Coeur, plus a shoutout to all the other members of JSA who couldn’t make it to the convention! For more about the happenings at Ashland High School through my eyes, keep reading my monthly column :)

Sharps Drop-Off The Town of Ashland is pleased to offer residents free sharps disposal kiosks in two locations: the Ashland Police Station, 137 Main St., and the Ashland Community Center, 162 W. Union St. The sharps collection program is made possible by a grant from the Boston Athletic Association (BAA). Sharps include onetime syringes, hypodermic needles and catheters and veterinary sharps. Broken glass and sharps in plastic or paper bags are not accepted. For more information, visit www.ashlandmass. com/432/Sharps-Disposal-Containers.

April 2016


Page 17

Living Healthy Getting Rid of Whiteheads and Blackheads Lisa Massimiano, Licensed Esthetician and Certified Acne Specialist Owner of Skin Smart Salon Acne is an inherited trait that often begins at puberty. In acneprone individuals, the skin cells inside the follicles shed more rapidly than in non-acne prone skin, causing a build-up of dead cells and sebum (oil). This build-up gets trapped inside the pores creating “microcomedos.” These micro-

comedos make their way to the skin’s surface and develop into inflamed pustules or non-inflamed lesions. The DNA of a person’s skin determines what type of acne will develop.

What is non-inflamed acne? Non-inflamed acne appears as raised bumps on the skin, often referred to as whiteheads. These bumps (closed comedos) sit below

the skin’s surface with no visible opening. They rarely get inflamed, typically are not painful to the touch and can appear all over the face. Blackheads (open comedos) are clogged pores that are open to the air. The air oxidizes the sebum and dead cells, giving blackheads their dark appearance.

Treating non-inflamed acne. Although, non-inflamed acne

Ashland’s Decisions at Every Turn Coalition: Promote Good Sleep Habits Hectic schedules, stress, late night texting – they can all get in the way of a good night’s rest. Losing as little as one hour of sleep have can have a dramatic impact on how we feel – and is even more significant for growing children and teens. The National Sleep Foundation recommends between 9 to 11 hours of sleep for children ages 6 to 13, and 8 to 10 hours of sleep for teens aged 14 to 17. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children sleep better when parents establish rules, limit technology & set a good example about sleep practices. Here are a few tips to promote good sleep habits in your home: 1. Enforcing rules helps children get more sleep. When parents set and enforce rules about

limiting caffeine intake, use of electronics, and bedtime curfews, children sleep longer – up to 1 hour. 2. Turning electronics off while sleeping makes a difference. Nearly 3 out of 4 children ages 6 to 17 have at least one electronic device in the bedroom while sleeping. Children who leave electronic devices on at night get less sleep - a difference of up to nearly 1 hour on average per night. 3. Setting a good example encour-

Our Ad & Editorial Deadline is the 15th of each month, for the following month’s issue.

ages children to do the same. Parents with healthy sleep habits tend to have children with healthy sleep habits. Nearly 65 percent of children whose parents have at least one electronic device in their bedroom also have at least one device in their own bedroom, but only 24 percent of children have a device in their bedroom if their parent does not. For more parent tips and resources, visit www.ashlanddecisions.org/parent-tip-sheets.html

is not as visible as cystic acne, it can be more difficult to clear. Whiteheads, especially, can be deep under the skin. Exfoliation is key in bringing bring them to the surface so they can be removed. When working with clients with non-inflamed acne, I use treatment that includes alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acid and retinoic acid. The correct

home care, combined with professional peels, allow the clogged debris to be removed and the pores to be kept clear. Questions about acne? Call me at (508) 881-1180 or email me at [email protected] my website skinsmartsalon.com for information about my acne program and other services.

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Page 18

April 2016

Sports

Where Are They Now?

Ashland’s Kane Recalls ‘Magical Atmosphere’ of 1977 By Ken Hamwey, Staff Sports Writer Chris Kane remembers vividly the events of 1977 when Ashland High’s football team ended its regular season unbeaten at 10-0 and competed in its first Super Bowl, losing to Hull at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. However, the Clockers’ 20-0 shutout of Medway in early November of that year was the game Ashland sports enthusiasts prefer to recall. Without that triumph there would have been no Super Bowl trip to Boston. It was a Friday night matchup and Kane, who was the Clockers’ quarterback, called the atmosphere surrounding that game “magical.’’ “Both teams were 8-0 and the winner was going to the Super Bowl,’’ Kane, who’s been Keefe Tech’s athletic director for the last 10 years, said. “It was rare back then to play football on a Friday but we had lights. The crowd numbered about 7,200. Fans parked at two supermarkets and got to the field by shuttle buses. I remember seeing thousands of fans during warm-ups and when I

came out of the game with about a minute to go, I saw the enormity of the crowd. People were lined up eight deep at the barriers.’’ Kane threw two 40-yard touchdown passes to Kevin Maloney for a 14-0 first-quarter lead and the Clockers defense did the rest. The victory put the Clock Town in celebration mode. “We had a running back in Peter Lamb who could dominate and Jim Norton, Dale Adams and Gary Gillman were outstanding linebackers,’’ Kane noted. “Maloney had just returned from missing four games because of appendix surgery. When the game ended, I saw opposing players from everywhere. And I remember Medway’s players being so dejected they walked off the field with no handshakes.’’ Kane also credits his coach (Scooch Giargiari) for Ashland’s success in 1977. “He was an offensive genius,’’ Kane said. “He was all about creativity.’’ Kane was dynamic that year, throwing 11 touchdown passes and rushing for six others. He was a three-sport star, a Tri Valley League all-star in football

and basketball and Ashland’s MVP in basketball. “My years at Ashland High were so memorable and rewarding,’’ Kane said. “I had good coaches and excellent teammates.’’ Kane, now 56, played left field and hit .300 in baseball. A strong defensive player, he helped the Clockers go to a pair of tourney games. “We went 13-5 my senior year and I remember beating Hopkinton with a triple that scored the winning run in a 1-0 game,’’ Kane noted. Kane was the TVL’s second leading scorer in basketball his senior year. The 5-foot-11, 160-pounder averaged 21 points

and 15 rebounds and his 30-point outing against Medway as a senior was a career-high. “After high school, I started at QB all four years for Framingham State where we had three plus-.500 seasons,’’ Kane said. “I still hold one record there. I was a punter, both at Ashland and at Framingham, and my 73-yard punt is the longest in the college’s history. I was chosen a MASCAC all-star as a senior.’’ When Kane graduated, he enrolled at Northeastern for two years to get his certification in physical education. He joined the Keefe faculty in 1985, started as a phys-ed instructor, later coached its football squad for 13 years and

became athletic director in 2006. “My 1994 team went 10-0 and we beat Ashland, 15-14, that year,’’ Kane said. “We ended the year with eight shutouts.’’ His coaching record in football was 77-54-3. As athletic director, Kane is most proud of elevating the school from 12 varsity sports to 18 and getting solid participation results. “What’s important is providing opportunities and getting kids involved,’’ he said. “Last fall, we had 200 of our 600 students participating in athletics.’’ A native of Ashland and still a resident of the town, Kane is married and the father of two daughters. Calling his father (Bernie) a role model for his support and encouragement, Kane, who never missed a game in any of his three sports at Ashland, relied on a competitive philosophy that focused on preparation, sportsmanship, and all-out effort. “Winning resulted from those things,’’ he said. Chris Kane is enjoying his career as an athletic administrator and he also likes to reflect on his successful days at Ashland High. He was a big part of the Super Bowl year and the Clockers’ stunning victory over Medway—a game that remains an indelible memory for long-time fans of Clocker football.

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The basketball season may have ended, but not for the 5th annual Hoop Fever Basketball Camp. This program, for boys and girls ages 8-13, has been well accepted in all our neighboring communities as a great opportunity for learning and enjoying basketball during April school vacation. This year’s camp will begin Marathon Monday, April 18th, in the late afternoon to allow for watching or attending the event. From Tuesday the 19th to Friday the 22nd, the camp meets from 8:30 to 1:30. That includes a break for lunch except on Friday when we have our annual Pizza and Award Party. The program is designed so that youngsters learn the game,

play it in competitive situations and have a great time. Campers drill every day in the basics of the game; from dribbling to passing, from rebounding to defense, all designed to gain basketball concepts for better play and understanding the game. Games are 3x3 games, allowing all players to be part of every play. Everyone touches the ball and everyone experiences the fun of playing! The staff are all coaches from the college level to youth programs. They take their work seriously and try to make all players appreciate and develop a love for the game. Steve Curley is the director of the Hoop Group, Inc. A former Holliston resident, he

is the Owner/Director of the internationally-known Red Auerbach Basketball School, now in its 56th season, as well as the All Cape Hoop Camps. The Program Director is Don Grimes, former Head Coach at Medway High School and currently a certified board official in two college leagues. Together with their staff, they bring a dynamic enthusiasm that generates to the campers making for a great week of basketball. Information on all the Hoop Group camps can be obtained either by calling (617) 899-5433 or online at www.superhoopcamps. com. Registration is limited, so sign up today and you can catch the Hoop Fever!

April 2016


Page 19

Sports Ashland Boys’ Tennis Captains By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer The Ashland boys’ tennis team will have two captains this season that are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Senior Shawn Lee has been a fixture on the Clockers squad for all four seasons of his high school career, while his counterpart Spencer Rabidou is only entering his second season. Although the two are different, the Ashland co-captains do have similarities: neither had ever played tennis before entering high school. Lee considered himself well versed in the game of ping pong and felt his skills would allow him to pick up a tennis racquet and make the adjustment to his new sport. “I really thought that my ping pong skills would translate onto the tennis court so I tried out for the team; unfortunately they didn’t,” Lee said. “On the first day of tryouts I was paired with the team’s number one player and I didn’t do well at all. I still found the sport to be incredible and fun so I kept with it.” Rabidou, on the other hand, was already an athlete for Ashland playing baseball and football, but come his junior year he wanted to try something new. “Baseball just didn’t interest me once I got to the high school, so for the first two springs I just lifted weights to get better for football,” he said. “Then last year I decided I wanted to take on a sport during the spring season and track didn’t interest me.” Ashland boys’ tennis Coach Mike Roman had mentioned tennis to the then sophomore a year ago; Rabidou turned him down due to the sport being boring in his mind. “Tennis had never interested me,” Rabidou said. “But last spring I was bored and wanted to try something new. I was surprised that I was able to pick it up rather quickly.” Coach Roman is thrilled with both of his captains and what they bring to the table this upcoming season. “Shawn’s a backboard, he gets to every single ball hit his way

Co-captains Shawn Lee and Spencer Rabidou. (Photo/submitted)

no matter what the score. Up or down, he’ll still play all out until that last point is recorded,” Coach Roman said. “Spencer has instincts and knows how to play doubles without any real teaching on my part. He’s an athlete that brings an intensity to the court and competes every minute he’s on it.” Although entering his fourth season on the squad, Lee has been named the Most Improved player each of his first three seasons.

During his freshmen campaign, he found himself as a doubles alternate, played third singles as a sophomore and bounced back and forth between second and third singles last spring. “Each year I continue to work hard and take lessons during the off-season to improve my game. I’ve become more confident as I’ve grown with the sport,” Lee said. “Mentally I try to keep my game at all times on an even keel.

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In the past, if I lost the first set, I’d continue to lose. Now, if I lose that first set, I come back to win the second and third sets.” While Lee was gathering Most Improved awards, Rabidou and his doubles teammate, also a first

time tennis player, were earning honorable mention status on the Tri-Valley League All Star squad. “I really didn’t even expect to play last year,” Rabidou said. “It was tough at first, but we were two athletes who had played multiple sports that brought a lot of heart and competitiveness.” At this point Roman does not know exactly where his two captains will play until he sees the rest of the field take to the courts during tryouts. However, his two captains have thoughts to where they believe they fit in. “I don’t care where, but I’m hoping that its one of the single positions,” Lee said. “I love singles as I have more control of my outcome.” Rabidou, who feels more comfortable playing doubles is just hoping to improve the team for the years to come. “I’m big into building this program up. I have some first-time seniors coming out for the team, as well there are a lot more freshmen than in the past,” he said. “I’m just hoping that we can all go out and have ourselves a fun year while building for the future.”


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School Menus April 2016

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 



   

    





   

   

“V”   

“V”   

“V”   







 “V” 



   



   



   

“V”   



“V”   

  





    

   

   

   









“V”  “V”      “V”                 “V” 

 

 







“V” is or can be made vegetarian







    

    

    







   

   



   



   



   



    



“V”   

“V”   



 “V” 

“V”   



  



 



   



“V”   



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April 2016

Ashland High’s Gender Sexuality Alliance Club By Olivia White, Student Writer, Sophomore, Ashland High School In today’s world where criticism flies off the tongue as often as compliments, it can be hard to feel comfortable in your own skin, but Ashland is fortunate to be have some of the most accepting and transformative young adults in their high school. The mission of the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Club is to highlight the importance of acceptance and kindness. This group was originally formed under the name Gay Straight Alliance Club but recently changed it to Gender Sexuality Alliance to be more inclusive. Their goal is to make sure all LGBTQPA+ feel safe and valued and continue forward in that mindset. During weekly meetings, members express what’s on their mind, or listen to others’ opinions and talk about various topics. Most meetings start off with everyone sharing two positive and three negative thoughts on their past week and close with voluntary sharing of anything that has been causing them emotional

anxiety or discomfort. The president of the club, Mary Mclaughlin, now a senior in Ashland High School, has rejuvenated and helped the club grow in size and spirit after the majority of the original club members graduated. The group fluctuates between seven and 20 members throughout the year, but everyone attends the annual Masquerade Ball held in the fall and the spring coffeehouse in April or May. Lately the club has been focusing on the different levels and types of support for human rights put forth by each of the candidates in this year’s presidential election, a crucial issue to this community and ample topics for discussion. Also in the works is a sexual education class open to all students where educators provide life knowledge to attendees. Most importantly though is that this club provides the welcome, safe, cohesive environment that allows members to become friends. Everyone and anyone is welcome. Students can feel free to attend in Ms. Wolfe’s room, B211 in the world language wing, every Monday afternoon from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

“V”  “V”      “V”                 “V” 

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The annual Ashland High School Masquerade Ball is held in the fall.


April 2016

Page 21

Community Events Every Fourth Tuesday 7 pm: The Front Street Readers book discussion group meets at the Ashland Library, 66 Front St. The group will discuss All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr on Tuesday, April 26. Every Wednesday 10 am to 4 pm: Thrift Shop at the Federated Church, 118 Main St., 508-881-1355, www.federatedchurchofashland.org. Every Third Wednesday 5:30 to 6:30 pm: The Residence at Valley Farm, 369 Pond St. hosts a Dementia Caregiver Support Group and free memory screenings, , 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Contact Emily Beauchemin, 508-532-3197, ebeauchemin@ residencevalleyfarm.com. Every Third Thursday 5 to 6 pm: Golden Pond Assisted Living and Memory Care, 50 West Main St., Hopkinton, hosts an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group in The Lodge. The group focuses on individuals who care for people in the mid to late stages of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. This support group is an Alzheimer’s Association-Approved Support Group in New England. Light refreshments served. Free and open to the public. To register, call Liz Kemp, LCSW, 508-4351250 ext. 29.

Every Friday 7 pm: Friends’ Friday Night Film Series shows predominantly independent or foreign films. Many of the films are shown with subtitles in English. Ashland Library, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl.com, 508-881-0134. Through April “Colors on the Water,” paintings by Natick artist Janis Luedke, Downstairs Gallery, Ashland Library, 66 Front St., www.friendsoftheapl.com, 508-881-0134. “Mudivate,” pottery by Debra A. Griffin and students, Upstairs Gallery, Ashland Library, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl. com, 508-881-0134. Friday, April 1 6:30 pm: Ashland Education Foundation’s 13th Annual Award Gala, Sheraton Framingham. www.ashlandeducation.org. Tuesday, April 5 5:30 to 7:30 pm: Ashland Business Association Networking Social at Purple Ink Insurance, 73 Main St. www.ashlandfirst. com, 508-735-9473. 7 pm: Ashland Parent Advisory Council (ASHPAC) Monthly Meeting. All are welcome. Ashland Middle School Activity Room, 87 W. Union St. www.ashpac.org

Saturday, April 9 10 to 11:30 am: Ashland Garden Club meeting. All are welcome. Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St., 508881-0134. 2 to 4 pm: Artists’ reception: Janis Luedke, watercolors, and Mark Lanen, piano. Ashland Library, Downstairs Gallery, 66 Front St., www.friendsoftheapl. com, 508-881-0134. Monday, April 11 7 pm: Ashland Parent Advisory Council (ASHPAC) Workshop: Transition Regarding Adult Services with Ellen Kilicarslan, Charles River Center. Ashland Middle School Activity Room, 87 W. Union St. www.ashpac.org. Wednesday, April 13 to Friday, April 15 Overnight trip to Atlantic City, Friends of the Council on Aging. For reservations, call Clara Caya, 508-881-2719. Thursday, April 14 7 to 9 pm: Ashland Documentary Film & Discussion Series presents The Brain: What is Reality? (Part 1 of 6). The film explores, color, time perception, synesthesia, light and more. We meet people whose experiences reveal important clues about how the brain constructs reality, including the Alcatraz prisoner who was locked in the notorious

Sha’arei Shalom Community Announcements Sha’arei Shalom is a member-driven, diverse congregation offering the warmth of a small community. We recognize the wide range of views in our congregation and provide both tradition and innovation, giving us the opportunity to learn and grow as a community.

Shabbat Services: Friday, April 1, 7:30 to 9 pm Experience the warmth of the Sha’arei Shalom Community. Join us for a traditional Friday night service with Rabbi Margie and our Bat Mitzvah, Sarah Levenson, leading the service. A community Oneg

Shabbat will follow. Ashland Community Center, 162 W. Union St.

Shabbat Services: Friday, April 15, 7:30 to 9 pm Experience the warmth of the Sha’arei Shalom Community. Join us for a traditional Friday night service with Rabbi Margie and our Bat Mitzvah, Josie Kaufman, leading the service. A community Oneg Shabbat will follow. Ashland Community Center, 162 W. Union St.

Passover: April 23 to 30 Wishing the Metrowest com-

munity a wonderful Passover holiday!

Religious School Open House: Sunday, May 1, 10 am to noon We offer pre-K to 7th grade and Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation. Give your child the gift of religious and cultural identity, a sense of community and an appreciation of Jewish tradition and heritage. Ashland Middle School, 87 West Union Street, Ashland For more information, call 508-231-4700, email info@ shaareishalom.org, or visit www. shaareishalom.org.

‘Dark Hole’ for 29 days and yet experienced richly colorful moments. His experience, along with those who have experienced total sensory deprivation show us that even when sensory input to the brain stops, the show still goes on. Why? Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl.com, 508881-0134. Sunday, April 17 2 pm: The Ashland Historical Society presents a joint program with the Hopkinton Historical Society - For Members Only -at Hopkinton Historical Society. www.ashlandhistsociety.com, 508-881-8183. Wednesday, April 20 3 to 4 pm: Mini Health and Sports Fair: The Museum of Science will have a “drop-in station” featuring activities with a direct tie-in to the Boston Marathon. There will also be 10 local businesses and organizations staffing additional drop-in stations. Ashland Library, 66 Front St., 508881-0134.

Tuesday, April 26 7 to 9 pm: Ashland Documentary Film & Discussion Series presents The Brain: What Makes Me? (Part 2 of 6). The film explores the question of how the brain gives rise to our thoughts, emotions, our memories and personality. Philosophers and great thinkers have for millennia pondered the question of how physical stuff can give rise to mental processes. Last century, the new field of neuroscience joined the discussion, and Dr David Eagleman explains that to a neuroscientist, the answers to such questions lie in a deep understanding of the brain. Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl. com, 508-881-0134. Town Committees and Boards For times and dates, visit the town website, www.ashlandmass. com, and click “Public Meeting Calendar.” Email your event, with “CALENDAR” in the subject line, by the 15th of every month to [email protected]. Events will be included as space permits.

Harold B. Walker Scholarship for Ashland High School Grads Applications for the Harold B. Walker Scholarship are available in the Ashland High School (AHS) Guidance Office and on the AHS website under “Guidance Department.” Applicants must be a graduate of Ashland High School and have successfully completed four full semesters, or the equivalent of 50 percent of post-secondary program in which the applicant is enrolled. Students must be at least in their junior year of college. The scholarship is applied to their senior year and/

or graduate school. Preference will be given to applicants pursuing studies in the fields of science and mathematics. If the scholarship is to be applied to graduate school, proof of acceptance is required. An official transcript and a letter stating reasons for applying for the scholarship must accompany the application. All materials must be received in the Ashland High School Guidance Department by April 29. For more information, call 508881-0176.


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April 2016

Navigating the Real Estate Spring Market – Buyers Edition By John Szolomayer, CBR, LMC Last month, we talked about how the advent of warmer temperatures and increased sunlight is awakening our motivation to achieve housing goals as sellers. This month, we focus on how the spring Real Estate Market can benefit buyers. If you are a perspective home buyer, now is the time to start shopping. Inventory is the best it has been in months. As houses continue to come on the market, it is important for buyers to be equipped to capture the home of their dreams. Here are some helpful hints to consider as

you start your home search: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will help determine a price range for your home search. With the help of your Real Estate Agent, a pre-approval will assist you in determining which towns and neighborhoods would best fit your desires and budget. Your Agent will be able to create a list of homes meeting your needs in each desired location you wish to conduct your house hunt. Target your search. Do you have a specific city or town you want to move to or are you open to a wider area? Do you have a particular house style in mind?

Again, your Real Estate agent can help you refine your search based on your needs and goals. Considering your work commute is important during this process. Make a list of big ticket necessities, and use this opportunity to determine what style of home you would like to live in. It is also important to determine if you are willing to put a little “sweat equity” into a home or if you need it “move in ready.” Pace yourself. When you start viewing homes with your Real Estate Agent, keep the number to under eight for each visit. Seeing more than eight homes in one day is overwhelming and can

cause confusion when trying to stick to your goals. Keep notes of each home tour. Important items to note at each property are; the age of the home, the sources of fuel used in the home, the age of the roof, if the home has a well or septic, and if proper permits have been pulled for recent updates. Listen to your gut. If you are knowledgeable about what you are looking for in a home, you will know it when you see it. When you do, sit with your Agent to make a strong offer. He or she should present you with comparable housing prices so you understand the price range your target home falls in,

and feel confident you are not overpaying for your dream home. House hunting can be a fun activity when you are well prepared. Enjoy the process by working with your local Real Estate Agent on the above tips, and you will be positioned to take full advantage of the exciting, and long awaited, Spring Market. Information provided by John Szolomayer from Hallmark Sotheby’s International Realty in Hopkinton. Each office is independently owned and operated. John can be reached for more information at (508) 259-4788.

Tips for Designing a Laundry Space in Your Home When considering home remodeling, the first spaces that usually get attention are the kitchen and the master bathroom. This makes sense, as these are typically the “big ticket” remodeling items in a home and can have the largest impact on future resale value. However, another space in the home is quickly becoming more and more important to homeowners and buyers---the laundry room. Gone are the days of

putting the laundry in the dark, dingy basement; in new construction homes, it is very common to have a designated laundry room on the first or second floor. However, in most older homes, the laundry is stuck in the basement, which makes doing laundry more unpleasant than it has to be. A designated laundry space on the first or second floor of the home is a way to not only add value, but also improve the functionality and

Fafard Real Estate The ONLY Full Service Real Estate Office In Ashland! The largest residential builder in the MetroWest area for nearly 50 years. Now listing and selling existing homes! Our agents are some of the top MLS agents with 20+ years of experience. Choose one of our exclusive new construction plans and sell your current home at the same time. Offering options for any price range from affordables to estate homes. We know Ashland houses, condos, and townhouses better than anyone. We built them, afterall. Located at 102 Chestnut Street, Ashland, MA Open daily from 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

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livability of the home. Here are some tips for designing a home laundry area: Carve Out Space: If your laundry is currently in the basement, the first concern is to find a place to relocate it on one of the main levels. This means space will have to be “stolen” from another space in the home. On the first floor, sometimes a portion of a back entry closet, pantry closet, or a first floor bathroom could be used creatively to gain space for the washer and dryer. On the second floor, consider converting a hall closet or taking some space from a rarely used guest room or oversized bathroom. A design-build firm or interior designer can help you figure out creative spaces to relocate the

laundry--as long as you are willing to lose some space elsewhere. Make the Space Functional: Once space has been designated for the laundry on the first or second floor (and the plumbing has been moved), it would be prudent to make the newly designated space as effective as possible. If space is very tight, consider stacking your washer and dryer to take advantage of vertical space and save hard-to-comeby floor space. Any remaining space should be used for shelving or as a slot for a collapsible ironing board or drying rack. If you have a bit more space, countertop surfaces for folding items, a closet pole for hanging items on hangers, and a laundry sink will help to make the space incredibly effective. Cubbies for laundry baskets, concealed hampers, and wall-mounted drying racks and ironing boards can also make doing laundry a breeze. Regardless of space, the most important item to upgrade is the lighting— you want to be able to see if you got the stains out! Make The Space Aesthetically Pleasing: Let’s face it— doing laundry for most people is never going to be enjoyable. However, doing laundry can be made more pleasant if it is in a visually-pleasing space. Consider

a tile floor with a unique pattern for visual interest (and easy cleanability)! Or, add color with a cheerful wallpaper or vibrant backsplash mosaic. Washers and dryers now come in colors besides white—a jazzy red washer/ dryer set is an easy way to infuse color in to the space. Even if you only have a small closet to work with, stylish baskets or bright shelves can help make the space more interesting. Use the laundry area as a place to be bolder with your patterns and colors; since the laundry area is usually smaller and more isolated, this is your chance to take a risk and have fun with the design! Although relocating the laundry takes a careful amount of planning, a trustworthy designbuild firm can help you to get the laundry out of the gloomy basement and provide you with a much better laundry experience! Alex Yavarow is a lead designer at Masters Touch, a local design build firm located at 24 Water St., Holliston. For more information Alex Yavarow contact (508) 3595900, e-mail info@ MastersTouchWeb.com or visit www. MastersTouchWeb.com.


April 2016

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REAL ESTATE Corner Todd Zukowski

at Prospect Mortgage

The Right Move.

Branch Manager NMLS #20384 www.ToddZukowski.com Todd.Zukowski@prospectmtgcom

508.309.3538 158 Pond Street, Suite A Ashland, MA 01721 OakRealtyMA.com

Recent Sales in Ashland, MA

(508) 543-5281 30 Mechanic Street Foxboro, MA 02035 Branch NMLS #320399 Todd Zukowski has been a strong member of the mortgage industry since 2000. He serves Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire and can originate a variety of loans including: FHA, VA, 203(K), conventional, jumbo, and refinance. He was recently named, in Mortgage Executive Magazine, as one of the Top 1% of Mortgage Originators in the nation for 2014! Todd loves being a Loan Officer because it is a win-win situation for him. He gets to be an instrumental and helpful part of one of the most important transactions in his clients’ lifetime. He truly enjoys his work helping buyers to get a home that they want. He works with a team of local underwriters and closers who are extremely responsive and efficient. He and his team are very enthusiastic about what they do, and they are happy to help clients find a perfect loan for their unique financial situation. He consistently remains in the list of Top 25 Mortgage Originators at Prospect Mortgage, and his dedicated team closes loans within 30 days on average. Headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA, Prospect Mortgage is one of the largest independent residential retail mortgage lenders in the United States. It is backed by Sterling Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm with approximately $5 billion in assets under management and offices in Chicago, Baltimore and Miami. In 2011, Prospect Mortgage was ranked number 2 on Mortgage –Executive Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America and was a top 10 national home purchase lender in 2012.

What are his clients saying? “Very easy to reach. Responds quickly and does a great job explaining all the details. Has kept process moving forward.” — Garth F., Holliston

“Working with Todd is always a great experience. The process is smooth, clear and expectations are met. Thanks for all of the efforts!” — Aaron B., Hopkinton

“We were kept informed throughout the loan process. Todd made it very easy to get the forms done and into the risk department on time. Adjusted the criteria of the loan to fit our circumstances.” — David L., Raynham

“Todd Zukowski went out of his way to come to my home to retrieve documents from me and to get my signature. He was extremely responsive and made the transaction go very smoothly.” — Beth W., Natick

I am licensed to originate mortgage loans in the following state(s): MA, NH, RI. Loan inquiries and applications in states where I am not licensed will be referred to a Loan Officer who is licensed in the property state. Equal Housing Lender. Prospect Mortgage is located at 15301 Ventura Blvd., Suite D300, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. Prospect Mortgage, LLC (NMLS Identifier #3296, www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is a Delaware limited liability company licensed by MA Mortgage Lender/Broker License #MC3296; licensed by the NH Banking Dept.; and licensed by RI Licensed Lender #20021343LL, Loan Broker #20041643LB. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. Rev 4.15.15 (0415-2055) LR 2015-229

SINGLE FAMILY 40 50 54 78

SALE PRICE

Birch Hill Rd . . . . . . . Raymond Marchetti St Strobus Ln . . . . . . . . Howe Street . . . . . . .

$280,000 $346,000 $375,000 $476,000

CONDOMINIUMS

SALE PRICE

111 Trailside Way . . . . . 225 Trailside Way . . . . . Voyagers Ln . . . . . . . . . 10 Meeting House Path . 475 Captain Eames Cir . . 100 Algonquin Trl . . . . . 35 America Blvd . . . . . . 7 Arrowhead Cir . . . . . .

$210,000 $210,000 $255,000 $256,000 $290,500 $294,000 $327,000 $356,000

A Fresh Start It’s that hopeful time of year again. When the

first crocus pops through the soil and the spring showers and muddy yards give way to longer days and bright sunshine. Whether selling or happily staying put, we all eye our homes a little more closely and consider home improvements. Raking, planting, cleaning, painting. A fresh start for a new season.

Here at Oak Realty, we’re completing our own kind of upgrades — on our new web site. While locating new homes for sale isn’t difficult, it IS a challenge to find all of the relevant local connections in one place when buying a home. On our site, you’ll find both new inventory plus the town resources that are so important when you’re in the housing market. Why should that matter? It’s simple: your home is part of a larger community. A place for you and your family to put down roots. So while you’re shopping around, it’s important to get to know your neighbors. We’ll be highlighting business owners and stellar students alike. We’ll also connect with community members as we include profiles and personal tidbits. The fabric and charm of the town — the farmer’s market, school events, road races, and summer concerts — will be featured as well. And, of course, we’ll have all of the latest properties available. We’ll also keep you on top of your neighborhood’s latest sales; just sign up if you want us to keep you posted. And be sure to “Like” us on Facebook for even more information. Take a look at www.oakrealtyma.com. Watch our latest episode of REAL ESTATE 01721, Search for a home right away, or create an account to get daily listings. Call us if you and your family are considering your very own upgrades…we’ll be happy to help you find your way home.

Buying? Selling? Not sure, but need to know more? Call us anytime. We welcome your questions at

508 309 3538 or [email protected].


Page 24

April 2016

OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, April 10th 2:00 – 4:00 pm Friday, MaY 13th 9:00 – 11:30 am Don’t miss this great opportunity to see the classroom

“in action”!

4 & 5 Year Old Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-5 Before/After School Care Available Advanced Curriculum

Strong Phonics Foundation Facilities with Excellent Security Affordable Tuition

50% Off Application Fee “We have been thrilled with the combination of academics, Christian values, and character training that MCA instills within all its students, specifically our three sons. The concepts they use are easy to understand, and the teachers work with their students towards mastery of the subjects instead of touching on it, then moving on. Thanks to MCA, my children have developed a confidence in themselves and their learning abilities. We are blessed to have a school like MCA where our children can grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally.” – Lorri and John Dudley

Call for information package 508.881.7404

[email protected] • www.mcamwm.org

350 Pleasant St., Ashland, MA 01721 Convenient access to the Ashland T-Station