Weekly updates & news from your Town Manager |
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Dear Ashland Residents & Stakeholders,
I hope you have had a great autumn season so far. It has been so nice to see all of the pictures of Ashland during the fall. It is especially pleasing to see the attention that Mill Pond and the Riverwalk has been given by residents and visitors alike.
This weekend was a great time for events in Ashland filled with positive energy and community spirit. Hopefully some of that was captured in these photos.
Saturday was the final day of the Ashland Ashland MA Farmers Market. Finishing out the 11th season, the Farmer’s Market has long been viewed in the region as the best Farmers Market in MetroWest. Many thanks to the Board of Directors, volunteers, vendors, and of course patrons for making it so successful.
The first Ashland Hometown Spirit Parade partnered residents, community organizations, and town officials in a march from Burnam’s to Stone Park. Thank you to all the participants and those of you that came out to watch. There are so many people who worked tirelessly to make this happen, but I specifically want to recognize Kate Jurczyk and her Committee, the Ashland Select Board, Ashland Police Department , Ashland Fire Department, and Ashland DPW, for conceptualizing, organizing and supporting such a vibrant event.
Saturday afternoon was capped off with a great Fall Fest at The Corner Spot- Ashland. It was a great opportunity to see old friends and meet new people. Thank you to the band, vendors, and people who stopped by to catch up with their neighbors. And a special thanks to Beth Reynolds and Ashley Place for creating and hosting such a great experience.
Sunday featured our fifth annual Diwali Festival at the Corner Spot. It was great to celebrate with our Indian community the cultural and artistic aspects of the Festival of Lights. Many thanks to the Ashland Indians organization for putting together a great event.
Finally, don't the Fire Department Open House at the Cedar Street Station and Pumpkin Fest tomorrow at Ashland High School from 2-6 pm.
All of these events take a great amount of planning and time from residents, volunteers, and employees. Ashland can do great things when we all come together and work towards a common purpose. I hope the spirit of community continues long past the weekend.
Michael Herbert - Town Manager
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Apartment Building Moratorium
We all know that Ashland has seen an influx of large-scale apartment and condo developments in recent years. This has caused concerns within our community about our ability to provide services and the impact on quality of life. In response, at the Select Board Meeting on October 15th, a multi-family building moratorium was discussed (Watch here). This moratorium would prohibit multi-family housing (defined as 3 or more units on a single lot) until 12/31/2024. This action would give Staff and Boards the opportunity to take a pause and look at the impacts on our town's infrastructure. It also complements the efforts to create a comprehensive plan.
Due to legal requirements, this moratorium does not impact any developments currently before the Planning Board.
This moratorium will be presented as an article and the Special Town Meeting on November 16th. A public hearing on the article will be held at the November 10th Planning Board meeting.
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DEI Task Force Update
The Ashland Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force's was formed earlier this year. Their mission is to develop policy recommendations and regulations that can be adopted and used by the Select Board and Town Manager to guide Ashland in making our community more open, welcoming, and equal for all its residents.
The current members of the task force include Makeda Keegan, KG Narayana, Rabbi Eric Gurvis of Sha’arei Shalom Temple, Moala Kitayimbwa and Sentie Kironde of Ashland Residents for Equity and Action, and Anne Krauss, Karen Waldstein, and Rajashree Ghosh of Ashland is United, along with Assistant Town Manager Jenn Ball and myself.
Since being formed in April. DEI Task Force has specified goals to focus on, including- Economic & Business Development, DEI in Government, Equal Accessibility and Development, and Community Engagement and Outreach.
Since April, this group has spent time examining two areas of focus, the Economic Development and Business component and the DEI in Government components setting goals and objectives.
For the Business and Economic Development objective, the team established the following goals- Ensure equal access to opportunities & Support for all businesses in Town, Implement and expand programming, outreach, and promotion, Encourage businesses to hire a more diverse workforce, and Integrate diverse arts & culture into our Economic Development activities.
For the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Government objective, the team established the following goals- Diversify our membership on elected and appointed Boards and Committees, Diversify our staff/employees and ensure they have the tools to respect the entire Community, Ensure that our policies are reflective of the entire community.
As the Town moves to implement these objectives, the task force also hopes to use the designated State Funding to hire a consultant that specifically specializes in assisting municipalities in moving forward with Ashland’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I want to specifically recognize Senate President Karen Spilka and Representative Jack Lewis for their work in securing $75,000 for this effort.
The Task Force plans to host a community event in January 2023 so we can continue to build relationships with our public safety departments and the community.
For previous updates regarding the DEI Task Force, visit this webpage.
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Request for Interest for Main Street Police and Fire Buildings Open
As the Town nears completion of its new Public Safety Building, the Town of Ashland prepares the next steps for the current Police and Fire Stations on Main Street.
In anticipation of the vacancy at the Fire Station and Police Station Main Street, the Town of Ashland is soliciting ideas through a process called Request for Interest (RFI), in which interested parties submit their ideas and thoughts for the reuse of these facilities. This Request for Interest is a non-binding process that will be used for informational purposes. Information received will be reviewed by the town residents in a public forum setting and feedback from that meeting will be used to develop a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the utilization/disposition of these two sites. The RFP will yield a more developed reuse proposal with more concrete information as to plans and purposes for the buildings, as well as financial considerations. Proposals that include housing will not be accepted, and there will be a required preservation restriction on the façade of the fire station.
Letters of Interest and submittals for this RFI must be received by December 6, 2022, at 11:00 am at Town Hall, 101 Main Street, Town Managers Office, 1st Floor, Ashland, MA 01721. Questions can be directed, in writing, to Jenn Ball at jball@ashlandmass.com.
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Mattress Ban Notice
Things are changing in Massachusetts. As of November 1, 2022, mattresses and textiles will no longer be allowed in the trash. New state rules require mattresses and textiles be kept out of the trash so they can be recycled or donated for reuse. In order to comply, the Town of Ashland will change the way we collect mattresses and textiles as of November 1st 2022. Waste management will no longer be allowed per state regulations to pick up old mattresses and box springs. Ashland residents can continue to utilize SimpleRecycling as a means to recycle clothing & textiles by scheduling a pickup by visiting https://simplerecycling.com/ or by calling SimpleRecycling at 866-835-5068.
It is important to note that this is an unfunded state mandate. The cost of disposal of these items is $45 per unit. Due to the diligent work of David Miller, DPW Program Manager in securing grant funding we are able to provide this service at no charge to residents receiving trash removal services for the time being. The program and grant opportunities will be reviewed annually.
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We need your help to run our Holiday Program!
As you know, this time of year can be a source of stress, and strain for most of us, particularly for our neighbors struggling with financial, housing, and food insecurities. In an effort to help alleviate some of the anxiety and economic burden that can coincide with the holidays, we would like to invite you to spread some joy to a child in need this season.
The Ashland Community Center, in partnership with the Human Services Department, is asking for donors to help contribute to our annual holiday program! There are a few ways in which to participate, and welcome any level of involvement you choose.
Option 1- One person, or a group of people, can adopt one or more children (you will be provided information to help shop such as clothing sizes, hobbies, favorite colors, etc.)
Option 2- Purchase ‘filler gifts’ (Books, Hair Accessories, Fidgets, Pokemon Cards, etc.)
Option 3- Purchase gift cards (Target, Walmart, Amazon, TJ Maxx, etc.)
We appreciate the donation of filler gifts as extra donations will be used to ensure no child is turned away.
We hope to begin pairing donors and participants by November 1st. If you are interested in becoming a donor, please fill out the short application in the link below as soon as possible.
Our Annual Holiday Program Would Not Be Made Possible Without Your Generosity!
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Reminders from the Town Clerk
Our Town Clerk's Office is ready to help you with the upcoming November 8th State Election.
Here are some helpful dates to remember:
- Register to vote by Saturday, October 29th
- Submit your vote-by-mail application by Tuesday, November 1st
- Vote Early from October 22nd- November 4th at Town Hall
- Vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th at Ashland High School from 7 am - 8 pm
Visit our dedicated Elections and Voting webpage here.
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Reminder from the Treasurer
The fiscal year 2023 second quarter real estate and personal property taxes are due Tuesday, November 1, 2022
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Vaccine Clinic
Moderna Booster (Bivalent) Clinic
Tuesday, October 25th from 12- 2 pm
Town Hall, Lower Level | 101 Main Street
Anyone over 60+ years of age and who had their last Primary series/Booster dose at least 2 months ago is eligible for this booster. Please use the back door, or to use the elevator, please use the side door when visiting Town Hall for this Booster Clinic.
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We are hiring!
Join our team here at the Town of Ashland!
Openings include:
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Downtown Construction Update
Crews continue sidewalk and curbing work on Main Street. This work includes removing existing curbing, installing new curbing, and building new sidewalks. Crews are working along Main Street from Myrtle Street towards the railroad tracks. They hope to finish this stretch in the next three weeks (weather Pending).
Crews are preparing to start work under the railroad tracks. Work on that will begin the 1st week of November. More detail on how this will affect traffic and access is coming.
Crews will complete milling and paving on Front Street and Summer Street by the end of the year. Main Street paving will happen after crews have a chance to finish all curbing and sidewalk work. It is important to note that on street parking will remain along Main Street as it has been in the past. New striping will come after the final paving is complete. Some might say the roads are narrow but this was done by design. This work was designed to slow traffic, create safer pedestrian walkways and make it safe to cross and navigate the downtown area.
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Pond Street/ Route 126 Construction Update
Drainage work has been completed at the Market Basket end of Route 126.
Light pole bases and conduit work will be completed by the end of this week at the Market Basket section of town and will complete this work at the roundabout and islands. Curbing will be completed at all islands as well in the coming weeks.
Crews will be paving driveways from Boston Paintball towards Eliot Street in the next two weeks. Home and Business owners will be given 24 hour notice prior to closing driveway access.
Crews will begin full-depth construction from Higgins Tree Farm through the Market Basket intersection. This will consist of 3-5 days of milling. They will be working to complete 2- 700 ft. sections. Full-depth construction begins October 24th. This work includes digging up the existing asphalt and laying new groundwork and asphalt. The area between Rodman Road and Market Basket will not be under full-depth construction yet.
Please expect lane closures to continue throughout the project. Please bring your patience when traveling through the construction. Give yourself extra time or find alternative routes if you need to.
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Fall Clean Up
Waste Management will be collecting yard waste curbside on Mondays until November 21st.
This collection includes rakeable materials such as grass clippings, pine needles, pine cones, leaves, etc. Do not leave brush or tree limbs.
Yard waste should be within brown paper leaf bags or trash barrels clearly marked as "YARD WASTE" and should not exceed 50lbs. each in weight, per OSHA regulation.
Please be sure to have your yard waste curbside by 7 am on the collection day. This service is provided only to residents that are enrolled in the Town's contracted curbside rubbish & recycling collection program.
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to staffing/driver shortages, Waste Management is running behind on yard waste collections for Autumn 2022. If your yard waste is missed on the designated Monday pickup days, please continue to leave your brown paper leaf bags & "YARD WASTE" marked barrels at the curb for collection. Waste Management is working diligently to get trucks into Town to handle the collections of all the yard waste that is out there at curbside. Trash & Recycling collections continue without delays. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Have a wonderful day!
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One quick question for you...
We are committed to providing timely, relevant, and quality information directly to your inbox. Each week, we will now ask you one simple question to help maximize our communications.
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This email has become quite lengthy. With that being said, do you prefer:
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Reading this one email with everything included
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Reading two emails (one events based, the other news based)
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Local Meetings, Programs, and Events |
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Upcoming Meetings
Learn what is happening in your community and tune into these upcoming meetings. Meetings are held at Town Hall in the Select Board Room or remotely and can be viewed with the local cable station, WACA TV.
Select Board
October 26th
Planning Board
October 27th
Note that all agendas are posted according to Open Meeting Law up to 48 hours in advance.
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Ashland Fire Department Open House
Saturday, October 22th from 10 am- 12 pm
70 Cedar Street
The Ashland Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2022 Fire Prevention Month theme and welcomes local families to our Drive By Open House on Saturday, October 22. 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Due to the timing of the fire department's move to the new Public Safety Building, the fire station can not be opened to the public, which is for everyone's safety. Come to the 70 Cedar Street Fire Station where you will see the Trucks and Equipment on display and receive a gift bag from us. We ask families to remain in their cars as they drive through the station parking lot viewing the fire trucks for a safe and healthy visit.
The Ashland Fire Department takes this time to continue to help others in need and is encouraging each family to bring in food items for the Ashland Food Pantry. Items can include pasta, canned goods, kid’s snacks, cereal, pet food, paper towels, and town trash bags.
This year, your fire department will be teaming up with the Ashland Lions Club and Anton’s Cleaners for their Coats for Kids Drive. The Lions Club collects and delivers the coats to Anton’s, and they clean the coats for free. The coats are then distributed to area communities where they are most in need. Donated coats must be gently used and in good condition.
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Economic Development Director's Quarterly Meet & Greet is BACK!
Thursday, October 27th from 8:00 am- 9:00 am
The Bagel Table, 21 Main Street
(Parking at the Town Hall Municipal Lot - enjoy the new sidewalks as you stroll over!)
Join the town's Economic Director and town leaders for a Business Meet & Greet on Thursday, October 27th at 8:00 am at The Bagel Table. This is a great chance to network with other businesses and make connections that will help your business! Don't miss out on this free event and a chance to learn more about what is happening around town!
Enjoy a cup of coffee and a bite to eat! Hope to see you there.
FREE TO ATTEND! Kindly RSVP though so we know you are coming!
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Pumpkin Compost
November 2nd from 11 am to 1 pm
DPW | 20 Ponderosa
Allow your Halloween Pumpkins to break down naturally and compost them with Black Earth at DPW! Help us keep them out of the landfills!
Bring your pumpkins (in any condition) to DPW on November 2nd and let nature do it's work!
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Participate in these upcoming programs and events
Every month, our public library, community center, and recreation department offer programs and activities for you to enjoy. Also, grab your calendar, and save the dates for these upcoming events happening around town!
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Ashland Senior Center
The Community Center | 162 W. Union Street
In addition to the weekly events held at the Community Center, here are some special programs coming up!
Notable Events:
- Chief Rossi Introduction on Monday, October 24th
- Pumpkin Party- Intergenerational Program with Ashland Rec on Monday, October 24th
- Clocktown Memory Cafe on Thursday, October 27th
View the full event calendar for the month of October here.
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Announcement from Senate President Karen Spilka
We are pleased to tell you that the annual Senior Fair returns this year on October 22nd at Keefe Technical School in Framingham from 9 am - 1 pm!
Attend workshops, visit exhibitors, and participate in activities such as exercise, art and music therapy. At 11:30 am, participants will gather for lunch, prize drawings, and a short program.
Don't miss this year's "55+ Fair!"
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Hidden in Plain Sight
Thursday, October 27th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Hidden in Plain Sight is a one-of-a-kind interactive exhibit to help parents & other caring adults recognize potential signs of substance use/misuse in teens.
Visitors will walk through a series of educational posters and then explore the “staged” teen bedroom containing items that may signal alcohol or other substance use.
Parent/Caregiver Resources are provided to help start or continue important family conversations about healthy decision-making and not using alcohol or other substances.
Due to the nature of the content in the interactive portion, Hidden in Plain Sight is for adults 21+ only.
Registration is not required.
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Last Corner Spot Event for the 2022 Season...
Zelus Beer Garden
The Corner Spot, 6 Cherry Street
Saturday, October 22nd from 12 - 9 pm
Sunday, October 23rd from 1- 7 pm
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“For the Love of the Game”
Softball Jamboree & Fundraiser
(Rescheduled)
Sunday, October 23rd
12:30 to 4:00 pm
at the Warren School Fields
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AGC- Putting our Gardens to Bed for the Winter
Saturday, October 22nd
from 1 pm
Ashland Public Library, 66 Front Street
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Pumpkin Fest
Saturday, October 22nd
from 2 - 7 pm
Ashland High School, 65 E. Union Street
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Ashland Community Theater
Stream the film Tommy & Michael and support ACT!
This film was nominated for best Long Short Film at the NY Short Film Festival (The Sofies), and our own, Larry Loring, was nominated for Best Actor.
In Honor of their acknowledgment, they have decided to re-release the film
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Ashland Community Theater presents "Dracula"
Thursday, October 27th at 7:30 pm
Friday, October 28th at 7:30 pm
Saturday, October 29th at 7:30 pm
Marconi's Theatre at the VFW, 311 Pleasant Street
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Pumpkin Party
for Kids and Seniors
Monday, October 24th from 1- 3 pm
Community Center | 162 W. Union St.
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Halloween Crafts
Tuesday, October 25th at 10 am
Community Center | 162 W. Union St.
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Halloween Parade and Party with Ashland Day Committee
Friday, October 28th at 6 pm
Montenegro Square, Front Street
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Trick or Treat at Town Hall & Library
Wednesday, October 26th from 4- 7 pm
Town Hall, 101 Main Street
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Ashland Town Forest Committee Children's Fall Event
Saturday, October 29th at 10 am
Ashland Town Forest, Winter St. Entrance
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Save the Date for the Holiday Stroll!!
Saturday, December 3rd from 11 am - 5 pm
From 11 am - 3 pm stroll around downtown visiting various businesses Blush Bouquets, Ashland Reiki & Wellness, B&Beauty, MSM Blowdry, Crossroads Physical Therapy, Bill Horsman Photography and pop-up shops at The Bagel Table and My Ashland Office (128 Main Street), Crossroads Physical Therapy (128 Main Street) and Town Hall to complete your holiday shopping.
The Corner Spot will host activities for kids, have hot cocoa, cider and teas from Doragon Ramen from 11 am - 3 pm, and from 1:30-3:30 pm, all the kiddos can visit with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas!
At 3:30 pm, walk with Santa down Main Street from The Corner Spot to the Downtown Square to get ready for the Tree Lighting.
From 3:30- 5 pm, gather at the tree downtown to sip on some hot cocoa, munch on a cookie, and listen to caroling before the annual tree lighting.
The evening will conclude with the annual tree lighting and Santa driving by, giving everyone a big wave!
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