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Vol. 3 No. 5
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December 2015
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Happy Holidays, Doris Overturf!
The Ashland Emergency Fund: Where Every Cent Counts
A woman who has left a lasting imprint on Ashland through her vision and hard work. By Cece Doucette, Contributing Writer Many may recall with fondness long-time Ashland resident Doris (Follansbee) Overturf who gave her energy to the Friends of the Ashland Library, Ashland Business Association, Ashland Emergency Fund and more. For those who have not met her, this article will introduce you to a woman who has embodied the Ashland spirit through a lifetime of hard work, community engagement and compassion.
By Cynthia Whitty This might be called the season for giving, but one local organization, the Ashland Emergency Fund (AEF), helps connect donors year-round with those in need. “Every cent donated goes to helping people,” Rosemary Fedorchak, AEF chair, said. AEF volunteers cover all ex-
Ashland Scouts dropped off food collection bags to local residents in early November, as part of the annual “Scouting for Food” campaign. They then collected and helped sort approximately five tons of food at the Community Center. Front row (l to r): Jordan Kotob, Ben Esenther, Maky Kotob, Mr. Haworth. Back row (l to r): Mr. Temple, Ben Temple, Wilson Lin, Jayson Kukowski, Joe Morrissey. (Photos/Rosemary Fedorchak)
penses, such as stationery and postage, themselves. “It’s important to do what we can to understand what’s
needed and then provide help,” Fedorchak said. “If someone’s
EMERGENCY FUND
continued on page 3
Deep Family Ties Doris’s Ashland roots go back to the mid-1800s to the Follansbee family home at 260 Main St., where as a child she came to visit her great-aunt Estelle Carpenter. Local resident Janet Picconi remembers those visits well as their family matriarchs were all friends. “When we were kids, Doris would come out for a week or two to stay with Aunt Stelle and I got stuck
Described as a “bright star all her life,” Doris Overturf now resides in South Carolina. (Photo/submitted)
with her—after all, she was two and a half years younger than me!” When her aunt passed away, Doris moved with her mother, Hazel Follansbee, from Boston to Ashland and lived in the family dwelling where she eventually raised her son Dallas and
DORIS OVERTURF
continued on page 5
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December 2015
Congratulations to the Cataract Surgery Center of Milford for Achieving Re-accreditation. Glen K. Goodman, M.D., F.A.C.S, Medical Director of The Cataract Surgery Center of Milford is pleased to announce the recent successful re-accreditation survey. “Our facility has met the stringent requirements for the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, AAAASF. AAAASF requires rigorous standards to be met in order to achieve accreditation”, Dr. Goodman states. All accredited clinics must pass inspection of all practice standards in the following categories: • General environment and patient safety. • Operating room environment. • Policies and procedures. • Recovery room environment.
Pictured from left to right; Julie McDonald, RN, Clinical Director, Jaqueline Nardolillo, ASC Administrator, Teresa Bell, RN, Nurse Manager
• Medical records. • Quality assessment and improvement studies. • Personnel, staff, and anesthesia. Dr. Goodman is especially proud of his ambulatory surgical center (ASC) management staff and wishes to especially thank Jacqueline Nardolillo, ASC Administrator, Teresa Bell, RN, Nurse Manager, and Julie McDonald, RN, Clinical Director, for working so hard to achieve this very rigorous reaccreditation. The surveyors commented that this was one of the easiest surveys that they have conducted and were very impressed with the high standards to which the center adheres. Surgeons, legislators, state, and national health agencies and patients acknowledge that AAAASF sets the “gold standard” for quality patient care.
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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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Ashland Girl Scouts, Brownies and Daises help collect and sort food for the Ashland Food Pantry, located in the lower level of the Community Center.
continued from page 1
house burns down or they experience an accident or other personal traumatic event, AEF can step in to help until other aid or insurance kicks in.” John Ellsworth, one of the founders of AEF in 1987, noted that not everyone has benefited from the recent economic recovery. He said that a separation has developed with a sharp contrast between those who have benefited and those who continue to struggle. If housing prices are up, so too are rents and the costs for food, clothing and other necessities. For circumstances out of their
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control, some people continue to need occasional help paying for rent, fuel, clothing, utilities, food and medicine. Ellsworth is concerned that, as the economy improves, donations to AEF are dropping. In the last four years, AEF bank balances have steadily fallen and are at the lowest they have been since 200405. The AEF board of directors worries that if the trend is not reversed, AEF will go into a financial crisis in the near future. Last year, the organization gave over $93,000 for housing, utilities, childcare and food to 20 Ashland
individuals and families. So far in 2015, AEF has helped 13 families. More requests are expected before the year is out and as the weather turns cold. To donate, send checks or money orders to The Ashland Emergency Fund, P.O. Box 112, Ashland, MA 01721 or visit the website, www.ashlandemergencyfund.org and click “Credit Card or Direct Debit” to use the Network for Good online giving system. AEF also accepts monthly recurring donations via automatic online bill pay through banks. All donations are tax-deductible.
Applying for Assistance Cara Tirrell, Director of Ashland Youth Services and Coordinator of Social Assistance, is the face of AEF. Tirrell assesses applicants, who usually need assistance to get through a home fire, illness or other crisis. In addition, Tirrell buys food for the Ashland Food Pantry through the Greater Boston Food Bank and administers the Campership and Holiday programs. The Campership Program usually gets referrals from the schools or food pantry and sends approximately 30 low income kids each summer to the Hopkinton YMCA. They are kids that are identified as needing extra social support
or supervision. Through the Holiday Program, Tirrell sees that kids who come into the food pantry with their parents receive presents. The parents can sign up there. Last year, 120 families were matched up with donors. For more information or to apply for assistance, contact Tirrell by calling 508881-0140, ext. 3, emailing ctirrell@ashlandmass.com or stopping by the Ashland Community Center at 162 W. Union St. (Rt. 135). Individuals or families can also apply for assistance by completing the online form, www. ashlandemergencyfund.org/ get-assistance.
Ashland Scouts came together in November to collect food as part of the Scouting for Food campaign.
Pictured (l to r): Mike Fedorchak, Nick Bialzik, Dan Horan, Jayson Kukowski, Christopher Bialzik and Chase Williams (in front)
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Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com dam should be called the Doris Overturf Trail!” In 1990, Doris was honored as Ashland Co-Citizen of the Year, along with Andy Talvy of Talvy Florist and Andy’s Trucking.
DORIS OVERTURF continued from page 1
daughter Sarah (Lindsay). Doris later purchased the house across the street at 267 Main and lived there until 2012. After relocating to Ashland, Doris and her friend Janet commuted into Boston together by train for work. They outgrew the age difference and ultimately became best friends. “Doris has been a bright star all her life,” Janet said.
Not One to Rest on her Laurels When she retired, Doris enjoyed staying active. She worked part-time for Annie’s Book Stop in Ashland, then eventually bought the business in 1994 and ran it for 10 years with the help of her friend Claire Nugent. If a patron needed a book but could not afford the price, Doris was known to casually say, “Oh, I meant to mark that down ....” She sold Annie’s when she had to go in for hip surgery, but after a successful recovery she was eager to be busy again. In
A Rising Career As was common in 1942, Doris graduated at the age of 16 from Girls’ Latin School (now Boston Latin Academy). She was academically gifted and had a deep love of books so she applied for a position at the Boston Public Library. Candidates were required to pass one of 10 competitive qualifying examinations, so while Doris was there, she figured she would just take them all. She did, and became the first person to pass all 10! Doris’s go-getter attitude led her through a very successful career, including a marketing position with General Electric (GE)/ Telechron where she conducted research throughout New England, asking consumers, “Which of these clocks would you like to buy?” Her daughter recalls a photo of her mother taken with Ronald Reagan, who, before becoming president, was the GE/ Telechron spokesperson. Doris never veered far from books. After a time working for Sharon Bolt and Screw Company on Pleasant Street, she spent many years as a leader in the publishing industry. During her tenure as secretary treasurer for Ashland’s Gothic House printing company, she became the first female president of the Printing Industries of New England, and served on the board of directors for the Printing Industries of America.
A Hands-on Community Leader While raising her children, Doris was very civic-minded. She volunteered as a leader with the Campfire Girls and Cub Scouts, and when it appeared the Ashland Public Library might close or drastically cut hours, Doris stepped up to help raise money and became a founding member of the Friends of the Ashland Library. Sarah recalls her mother coming home disappointed after a town initiative she cared about lost by one vote. When Doris realized her own mother had not gone
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Doris Overturf, right, conducting market research for Telechron circa 1950. (Photo/submitted)
to the polls, she had words with Hazel. Hazel responded that even if she had voted, Doris could not be sure of which way her mother would have cast her ballot. That taught Doris a lesson she never forgot: reasonable people can have very differing opinions on an issue. Doris’s Main Street home was an ideal location for campaigning, and candidates often asked if they could put a sign on her lawn. She respected the process and believed everyone should have a fair chance. Whether she agreed with their platform or not, if someone asked to put a sign in her yard, she smiled and said yes. Her commitment to fairness served Ashland well. From 1974 to 1977 Doris gave her time as a Finance Committee member and chairwoman. She also helped steer the Ashland Emergency Fund and Ashland Business Association, and served as a calm and respectful Town Moderator from 1983 to 1989, returning on several occasions to fill in upon request. Reflecting on the early years of the Ashland Emergency Fund, founding member John Ellsworth, said, “Doris was a counselor to me and the board in general, and a very caring individual when it came to taking care of people in need. She had us more aware of the needs and the people we were providing for. She is just a lovely person.” Doris’s guidance stemmed from her own humble beginnings. Her father returned from World War I after being gassed or shellshocked, and was never able to work again. Raising the children fell to her mother, who took on odd jobs when she could find the time. The family grew up very poor but resourceful. When they
couldn’t afford a Christmas tree one year, they made one out of cardboard and decorated that instead. When they had bacon, they saved the drippings to have bacon fat sandwiches for a later meal. John recalled Doris’s contributions to the Bay Circuit Trail, too: “Doris was present at a lot of the conceptual meetings and also did the grunt work. Ben Montenegro had delivered the piles of wood chips to lay the first trail. Doris and two lady friends trudged back and forth with buckets; it was the most laborious thing. She had the brains to organize and the willingness to put in the sweat equity to make it happen. The trail to Mill Pond
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her 80s she worked part-time at both Kohl’s department store and with Nadine Heaps at Purple Ink Insurance. “Doris was happy to do whatever anyone needed, she was very thoughtful, polite and strong,” Nadine said. “The culture of her time was to work really hard and do the job well, and she loved learning. She took any instruction and improved on the expected outcome.” In 2012 Doris suffered a heart attack and moved to South Carolina to be near her daughter, and today resides in an assisted living home. At 89, Doris has Alzheimer’s but maintains her wonderful attitude and great sense of humor. We hope she might read this article and know just how fond we remain of her in Ashland. Happy holidays, Doris!
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December 2015
Alpaca Ranch Annual Holiday Open House & Boutique Dec. 5 & 6 Features Lots of Alpacas & Alpaca Products – Acorn Alpaca Ranch, Millis, MA Acorn Alpaca Ranch at 99 Acorn St., Millis, will host its annual Holiday Open House On December 5th & 6th. Visitors are welcome between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to interact with the friendly alpacas in the Ranch Barn and browse the fine Alpaca Products in the Holiday Boutique. The Ranch, in addition to breeding and selling the alpacas, offers yarn made from the fiber of their own alpacas as well as luxurious, warm, non-allergenic garments made from alpaca fiber. These items make great gifts to jump start your holiday shopping and warm up someone’s holiday and winter. Among the soft alpaca cloth-
ing available will be alpaca socks, scarves, mittens, hats and other warm products. For knitting and crocheting there is a wide variety of both natural and dyed colored yarns. If you have ever thought of owning alpacas, you can talk directly to Bob and Louise Hebeler about alpaca care, husbandry and how to get started. You will be surprised at how affordable it can be to start your own small herd of alpacas. With 17 years of experience to guide you, and a wide choice of Alpacas for sale, this is the place to begin. For the second year, we will be joined by our good friend Sue Robinson from Buzz10 Honey
Acorn Alpaca Ranch’s Holiday Boutique, also held December 5 & 6, will feature an array of items made from alpaca wool.
with plenty of Local Honey to sweeten your holiday. Acorn Alpaca Ranch is located at 99 Acorn Street in Millis. Directions can be found on our website at www.AcornAlpacaRanch. com or call us at (508) 294-7085.
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Garden Club Offers Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop, Dec. 5 The Ashland Garden Club (AGC) is hosting a wreath-making workshop with Paul Split, Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Federated Church, 118 Main St. (Note change of location from the library.) Doors open at 10 a.m.; the program runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Split will show par-
ticipants how to make a 22-inch wreath with fresh seasonal greens and an assortment of decorations. Split has been part of the Green Industry since 1971 and a principle of Walden Gifts and Nursery. He is the director of Horticulture at the Comcast Center for the Performing Arts; a teacher, lecturer and nationally recognized horticultural con-
sultant; has served as a judge at flower shows in New England and lectures widely at gardening organizations and clubs. Pre-registration with payment is required. Class size is limited to 25. The $35 fee includes all materials. Make checks payable to the Ashland Garden Club, P.O. Box 43, Ashland, MA 0172. Refreshments will be provided.
Ashland Clocker Club Raises Funds for School Programs The Ashland Clocker Club recently announced that it made the following contributions since the beginning of the 2015-16 school year: • $2,400 for HUDL sports video analysis subscription used by all Ashland High School (AHS) sports programs • $1,000 for three video camera packages to be used by AHS teams
• $700 to support two Clocker fan buses for AHS football playoff games • $500 to the Maddie Lamson Scholarship. Known as “The Clocker Club,” Ashland High School All Sports Boosters, Inc. is a nonprofit all-sports booster organization made up of students, parents, teachers, coaches and interested community members.
The Club is looking for volunteers for the Clocker Store, concessions and its upcoming Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Feb. 7. Volunteers may sign up on the Volunteer Spot at http://vols.pt/ ZwtWkK. For more information, visit www.clockerclub.org. Follow the club on twitter @clockerclub.
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December 2015
Ashland Community Gardens Celebrates Six Seasons By Cynthia Whitty Ashland Community Gardens (ACG) celebrated the end of its sixth season at its annual meeting last October. This year gardeners once again enjoyed a bountiful harvest from their own
garden beds and from the common areas, which include herbs and rhubarb. At the meeting, the group generated new ideas for 2016, including expanding the mentoring program for new and inexperienced gardeners
Nine scouts from Ashland Boy Scout Troop 23 and several dads helped build replacement garden beds. Under the leadership of Scout Master Dave Howarth and organized by Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Michael Fedorchak, the scouts, age 12-16, put together five frames. (Photo/ Florence Seidell)
and planting asparagus for all to enjoy. ACG has two sites: 57 raised and in-ground beds on an old tennis court in Stone Park and six large in-ground beds at its satellite location at Cutler Mill Herb Farm on Fountain St. Stone Park gardeners maintain a certified butterfly garden and an Asian pear tree with guild plantings. Some highlights from the past season were: Donations to the Ashland Food Pantry. This year Garden Coordinators Mary Panda and Owen Ackerman planted a bed in the Stone Park garden specifically for the Ashland Food Pantry. Each Wednesday during harvest season, the coordinators delivered donations from this bed, gardeners’ overabundance and the herb and rhubarb gardens. A total of 107 pounds of fresh vegetables were donated. Raised beds replaced. Last spring, ACG started replacing frames for its 36 raised beds with the help of Doug Paul and Keefe
Pictured (l to r) are Scout Master Dave Howarth, Richie Abbato, Michael Fedorchak, Russell Piccard, Wilson Lin, Joey Morrissey, Ben Esenther, Donnie Jones, Maky Kotob, Jordan Kotob and Stephen Fedorchak. (Photo/Florence Seidell)
Tech students. The volunteers helped build and install seven beds. Gardeners Ken Rush and Rob Moolenbeek built and assembled an eighth, three-level raised bed for handicap access. In November, Boy Scout Troop 23 helped replace 10 more. ACG plans to replace more in the
spring. After the original raised beds are fixed, the wood around the in-ground beds will be replaced as well. To learn more or to be put on the garden waitlist, email info@ ashlandcommunitygardens.org or visit www.facebook.com/AshlandCommunityGardens.
SNOWPLOWING Services Art in the Library Call Mauricio 508-202-8602
DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY “Senior Watercolor Exhibit” by Ashland Senior Citizens Dec. 1, 2015 to Jan. 16, 2016
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UPSTAIRS DISPLAY CASE AND FIREPLACE AREA Through Dec. 19: “Illuminating Futures: The Ashland & Nyanza Project;” Dan Borelli, Exhibition Designer. This project began in 2010 by local artist Dan Borelli as an arts-based research inquiry into the various histories surrounding the town of Ashland and its Superfund Site, the Nyanza Colorant Plant. Funded by grants from ArtPlace America and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town, the exhibition contextualizes the narrative of science and history with mappings, artifacts, and first-hand stories from people that were directly impacted. Part of this exhibit will be housed permanently in the library. If you are a collector and would like to share your collection with the library community by exhibiting all or part of it in the locked display case near the main circulation desk, contact art exhibit coordinator Larry DeJong at leftaris@ gmail.com. Leave a short message and the best way to get in touch.
December 2015
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
Ashland High School Leos Club Makes the World a Better Place By Olivia White, Student Writer, Sophomore, Ashland High School The Ashland Leos club is a high school student-run version of the Lions Club with over 25 members strong that does charitable work to make our community a better place. Leo stands for Leadership, Experience and Opportunity. Volunteers from the Ashland High School student body become an important part of the community when they dedicate themselves to helping others in need. The members congregate bright and early every other Friday morning from 7:00 to 7:30 am in the Conference Room near the High School main office, and all are welcome. There, members and visitors discuss upcoming events and share ideas on how to improve their community and become more active in it. It is one of few clubs that offers important community service hours toward graduation. Most of their work consists of fundraisers that can last as long as a month, allowing them to reach out to more people in need. In November, the Leos organized a collection for a local women’s shelter. Citizens of Ashland donated much-needed bath and shower products, Leos then assembled shower bags for the women that were gratefully received. In December, there is lots in store, including a semi-annual coat drive! Everyone is encouraged to participate and donate gently used or new coats for kids in anticipation of another cold New England winter. Coats for Kids boxes will be available at the High School, Middlesex Bank, and other visible spots around town. Leos will also be assisting with the Lions Club’s annual Holiday Tree Sale on Pond St./Rt. 126 throughout the month. And
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in keeping with the Lion’s Sight Program, the Leos collect used eyeglasses year-round at the High School. There is also a Dana Farber hat drive under consideration
in the next few months. If you’d like to help or join the Leos, contact Advisor Caroll Walden at cwalden@ashland. k12.ma.us.
Run Your Inserts and Advertisements With Us! Call Susanne Odell at (508) 954-8148
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Town Manager to Step Down
Over the next few weeks, Schiavi will transition out of the town manager role and prepare to run for state senate. (Photo/Cynthia Whitty)
By Cynthia Whitty Proud of the many accomplishments of his staff and community volunteers, Town Manager Anthony Schiavi is leaving his position effective January 4 with mixed emotions. Schiavi said in an interview that there are many projects still to be done, the Cadillac Paint site cleanup and the Pond Street/Rt. 126 and the Rail Transit District development, to name a few. “My wife reminded me that there are always going to be unfinished projects if
you are pushing to the next level,” he said. Schiavi became town manager in 2013 and will leave to run for state Senate for the Cape and the Islands. “I’ve always had a desire to run for public office and this opportunity popped up just a few weeks ago,” he explained. Since 2013, Schiavi has maintained two homes, one on the Cape where he served for 20 years in the Air National Guard, and one in Ashland after taking on the town manager job. “I’ve always had a desire to run for pub-
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lic office. If I didn’t try for this, I would look back with regret,” he said. “Campaigning is new to me, but I have always enjoyed talking to people. I came to Ashland with no direct municipal experience, but I’m a quick study and I try to surround myself with talented people. In the military, you are put in positions where you have to learn things very quickly.” “Personal interaction is a big part of both the town manager and state senator jobs. You can’t solve every problem, but you can listen, do the research and try to come up with solutions,” he said. In an email, Schiavi said: “Leaving a job I have loved for an opportunity of a lifetime was not an easy decision, and it is an equally difficult logistical dilemma. Transparency being of the utmost importance, I chose to both announce my intentions to run for State Senate and to resign from Ashland as quickly as possible. My family and I are excited to embark on this next chapter of my career. Over the next several weeks, my campaign will begin to take shape as I transition out of the town manager role. I expect to be prepared to announce a committee chairman and initial campaign events in the near future. In the meantime, my only public statement on my candidacy is that I look forward to working with all the people of the Cape and Islands District. I am encour-
December 2015
Ashland Resident Promoted to Major
Brett Walker lives in Ashland with his wife Amanda and two sons, Benjamin and James. Walker, who serves as a captain in the National Guard, was recently promoted to major. Walker is a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star medal and veteran of active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has worked as a Suffolk County prosecutor since 2013. He is one of two combat veterans assigned to the Veterans Court program, which provides supervision to veterans who are charged with low-level criminal offenses in the city of Boston. (Photo/submitted)
aged by the approach Governor Baker has taken towards the management of our state government,
and I look forward to working with him as the next State Senator from the Cape and Islands.”
Ashland Comprehensive Plan Forum to Focus on Prioritization of Goals, Strategies The public is invited to weigh in at the Dec. 7 meeting. The Town of Ashland Planning Board and the Ashland Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group for PlanAshland with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) will present the community vision and goals developed through the Comprehensive Plan process, and seek public input on Monday, Dec. 7, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Ashland Community Center, 162 West
Union St. The results of a community survey will also be presented. “This meeting is the next step in developing the Comprehensive Plan and getting community input as we work to finalize the goals. I look forward to completing the process,” Selectman Yolanda Greaves, a member of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group, said.
MAPC is working with Ashland to develop “PlanAshland” to guide the town in housing, land use, zoning, and more. Participants at the December meeting will be asked to weigh in on the prioritization of goals and specific strategies to meet them. For more information, contact Jenny Raitt, MAPC Assistant Director of Land Use Planning, at jraitt@mapc.org or 617-933-0754 or visit www. PlanAshland.com.
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
December 2015
Page 11
Groups Brainstorm Ways to Improve Downtown By Cynthia Whitty The Ashland Board of Selectmen (BOS) held a Downtown Summit in early November with representatives from other town committees and boards. The purpose of the one-hour summit was to take an inventory of downtown improvement projects in progress or planned, identify short- and long-term projects and help move the projects forward. Selectmen and summit organizers Steve Mitchell and Carl
Hakansson plan to hold additional meetings and invite other town groups and stakeholders. “We’d like to foster collaboration and help coordinate the efforts of the many groups involved,” Mitchell said in an interview. “All are looking at the same goal—to make downtown an attractive, vibrant place. There are lots of things we can be doing right now to beautify downtown.” The selectmen want to put timelines and deadlines to the projects.
The Ashland Redevelopment Authority (ARA), the Historical Commission, the Planning Board and the Open Space and Recreation Committee were some of the groups at the first summit meeting. A representative from each group briefly discussed top priorities. At the meeting, Ashland Historical Commission Chair Paul Weineck described plans to place part of downtown, starting at the Ocean House to the post office and including the former railroad
Project Just Because to Give to 15,000+ Children this Year Holiday Effort Relies on Donations Project Just Because is hard at work assembling Holiday packets to give out to over 15,000 children this year. This is never possible without your generous support. There are many ways to help this Holiday Season: 1.) Visit one of the many Holiday trees that have been put up in surrounding business’ and choose a child to sponsor. The trees are located at: • Hopkinton High School, 90 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton • Indigo Insurance Services, 401 Park Drive, Boston • EMC, 80 South St., Hopkinton • Hopkinton Town Hall, 18 Main St, Hopkinton.
(beginning 11/16) • Unibank, 87 W. Main St., Hopkinton • The Residence at Valley Farm, 369 Pond St., Ashland • The Dentist at Hopkinton, 77 Main St., Hopkinton • Project Just Because, 86 South St., Hopkinton 2.) Have a drive for us at your office or in your moms group, neighborhood or other social event. In addition to the children that get sponsored we will provide for thousands of children ourselves. As the elves are packing on South Street we are noticing we are very much in need of these items: • Monetary Donation to buy items by clicking by going to
our website, www.projectjustbecause.org and clicking the Paypal button. • Gift Cards for Warm Clothing. • New Board Games for ages 10 and up. • New Warm hats and gloves for all ages. • New Twin Blankets.
If you can have a drive for us contact us and we can supply you with a flyer and bins if needed. 3.) Finally, many of you will shop at Amazon.com this Holiday Season. Did you know that amazon will give us .5% of your purchase ? You need to begin your shopping by going to smile.amazon.com. You shop as usual and at check out choose Project Just Because from the list of charities.
station, on the National Register of Historic Places. For the most part, National Register Districts are symbolic federal designations that offer federal or state historic preservation tax credits for owners to restore and maintain their historic buildings. Property owners can still do anything they want to their buildings, even demolish them—although they are probably less likely since the designation is considered an honor. (See “The Pros and Cons of Historic Districts” in the October 2015 issue of Ashland Local Town Pages.) The ARA is exploring creating a downtown green and adding more parking. An ARA subcommittee, the Downtown Collaborative, is hoping to have new signage installed throughout downtown by next spring. The ARA is also looking into beautifying the median by removing sandwich boards and adding more lighting and historic signs. “War memorials and the Henry Warren clock might have to be moved,” Jon Fetherston, ARA member, said. “We want to start communicating with the businesses. It should take one calendar year to accomplish.” “There are a lot of moving
pieces,” Roberta Soolman, Open Space Committee chair, noted. “A town green has been part of the Open Space plan in the past. Our Riverwalk project received permitting a year ago. It’s a four-phase project, consisting of expanded trails, scenic view seating, an overlook and possibly a bridge, which is the most expensive part of the project.” The Open Space Committee is also involved in the Upper Charles Rail Trail project that may connect the Rail Transit District to downtown. Among the projects the Planning Board is concerned with is strategically placing parking. “The proposals for a parking study in downtown is nearing completion,” Nat Strosberg, town planning director, said. Selectman Hakansson closed the meeting by listing several “low-hanging fruit” ideas, such as finding a better place for the skate park, planting a flower wall on the fence along the railroad tracks, installing murals on buildings and banners on telephone poles and adding flower boxes. Hakansson cited the Prescott Park flower wall in the city of Portsmouth, NH, which attracts visitors from all over.
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Page 12
December 2015
The Making of Artist Entrepreneurs By Julie Nardone, Contributing Writer Last winter, I took an on-line painting class that cost $297. I figured the instructor would get about 50 participants. Boy, was I wrong. The class had 400 other people in it. I figured that, after accounting for discounts and scholarships, the take for the instructor and her five-week program was probably close to $90,000, and it runs several times a year. This led me into the profitable and growing world of ‘artist entrepreneurship,’ a reality that contradicts what most children are told during career discussions: “You can’t make a living as an artist—don’t even try.” I wanted to dig deeper into the local profitability of arts-related businesses so I met with four Ashland artists: a dancer, a stained glass artist, a painter and a mosaic artist. I asked them to share their pathways to self-employment— the pinnacles and the pitfalls. Their stories follow.
Lisa Abbascia, Dancer Lisa Abbascia owns the brick and mortar Back Stage Dance Center (backstageashland.com) in Ledgemere Plaza on Eliot Street. Abbascia offers a wide variety of programs, from chil-
dren’s dance, musical theater and drama to voice and piano lessons, adult dance and Zumba. In addition, she rents the studios for small group meetings. Abbascia has been self-employed for 24 years. Business ownership runs in her family. Her grandfather owned an Italian market. Her dad owned a restaurant. Her two brothers own their own businesses. “I always dreamed of being a teacher and owning a school for the arts,” Abbascia said. She also credits her mother who encouraged her to take business risks. “My mother always said to me, ‘What’s the worst thing that could happen?’” Her love of dancing surfaced at the age of four. She danced all the way through the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance and Theater, where she obtained a B.F.A. in dance. She opened Back Stage in 1991 and loves every day she spends at work. “I am a living example of how you can live your dream,” she said. “There are plenty of people making more money in the arts than they could ever spend in a lifetime.” Her biggest challenge as a business owner: “Delegating because I love doing everything at Back Stage.”
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Her best advice for artist entrepreneurs: “Make sure it’s what you love and get educated on the business side as well as the art.”
Brenda Hedden, Stained Glass Artist Brenda Hedden owns the home-based business, Beautiful Forms To See (heddenstainedglass.com), which she opened three years ago. Hedden makes custom-designed glass kaleidoscopes using client memorabilia and stained glass windows for home front entranceways. She sells her artwork via the Internet. In addition, she offers The STEAM Kaleidoscope Project For Kids at schools. Through the kaleidoscope construction process, she awakens children to the importance of art as well as science, technology, engineering and math, all working together to solve problems. Hedden took her first stained glass class in the mid-80s and has been continuing her studies ever since. Once she retired from teaching and consulting at the K-12 level, friends encouraged her to take the business plunge. Opening Beautiful Forms has been an uplifting experience. “I love meeting new people, learning new things and bringing new experiences into the lives of all,” Hedden said. Her biggest challenge as a business owner: “Marketing. It can be really time consuming and sometimes nothing comes of it.” Her best advice for artist entrepreneurs: “Join Boston Networking International; the Dream Factory, a local group that supports visionaries; and local chambers of commerce, where you can meet with the re-
Brenda Hedden creates kaleidoscopes made with stained glass. (Photo/ submitted)
tired business people willing to share their many years of experience. Work on art-based projects throughout the area. Participate in art and craft shows.”
Dyrick Schaefer, Painter After he obtained a B.F.A. in sculpture from the University of Hartford and a teaching certificate from Suffolk University, Dyrick Schaefer taught in the Newton public schools for one year before deciding it was not for him. Schaefer has been selfemployed since the age of 26, which has included freelancing, owning several retail furniture stores and Dyrick Art (dyrickart.com), his commissioned art company catering to residential and business clients. He recently sold his retail store to spend more time creating and selling paintings, something he really enjoys. “I love the freedom to work on what most interests me. I like making things. It is a great feeling of accomplishment,” he said. His biggest challenge as a
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Painter Dyrick Schaefer paints a scene from Hopkinton State Park. (Photo/submitted)
business owner: “Promoting my artwork. It can take more time to promote it than does to paint it.” His best advice for artist entrepreneurs: “Take care of your business first. Then you can take care of yourself.”
Cheryl Cohen, Mosaic Artist After ten years of taking master mosaic classes with world-famous instructors, Cheryl Cohen retired early from her position as an occupational therapist in Hopkinton and opened Cheryl Cohen Mosaic Art Center (cherylcohenmosaics.com) in Holliston. Cohen credits her sister for encouraging her to stop talking about opening an art-related business and open one. “Cheryl, just jump off the cliff. There is never a perfect time to do something like this,” her sister said. And jump she has! Cohen offers a myriad of classes for adults and children, during the day, after school, at nights and on weekends. She has children’s birthday parties, family gatherings, holiday parties and more. When she speaks about her business, Cohen exudes enthusiasm: “I love the freedom of having an idea and being able to initiate it quickly. I love seeing the excitement on students’ faces when they complete a project they are proud of. I love gathering all the ‘blingy’ supplies: the glass, tile, plates, and jewelry. Everything I use is gorgeous!”
ARTIST ENTREPENUERS continued on page 13
December 2015
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
Page 13
Superintendent Adams on Reading and a Growth Mindset Ashland School Superintendent Jim Adams will lead a Community Book Read and discussion based on Mindset, The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. The discussion will be held at 6.30 to 8.30p.m., Jan. 12, in the Ashland Public Library, Community Room. This event is organized by the Friends of the Library. The public is invited to participate. The library is currently circulating a dozen copies of the book plus an audio book version, solely for participants of this event. “The Friends is launching the book read series as a way to strengthen our community,” Betsy Emberley, president of the Friends, said. “We want to create more opportunities for healthy discussion, foster a culture that values arts and humanities, and build awareness of the Ashland Library. As a parent, I attended the previous community book reading hosted by Superintendent Adams and was impressed by the diverse, meaningful discussion it produced.” Emberley is open to ideas for titles, genres and guest hosts for future community book reads. Ideas can be submitted to her at president@friendsoftheapl.com. In a recent interview, Superintendent Adams answered questions about the upcoming Community Book Read and the reason he selected Dweck’s book. Are you an avid reader, what are some of your favorite recent reads? While I love to read, I find myself reading more educational materials than books for pleasure. However, I do listen to about 25 audio books per year, mainly spy novels by Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn and Mark Greaney.
ARTIST ENTREPENUERS continued from page 12
Her biggest challenge as a business owner: “It’s a lot of work to get a business up and running. It is hard to know when to go to bed at night. There is always more to do.” Her best advice for artist entrepreneurs: “If you have a passion and a good work ethic, you can make it happen. If you don’t try, you will always wonder
How did you find out about this title? Why did you pick this book? I listened to Ms. Dweck speak at a conference two years ago and found this topic rather interesting. She presented with Daniel Wong who wrote The Happy Student. My first book read with the community was The Happy Student. For those of us who have yet to read this book, what is it all about? The book is about understanding the differences between a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset. Fixed meaning the ability you possess is inherent in nature and a growth mindset meaning your actions and work ethic can actually lead to better outcomes. What is one of your favorite/inspiring passages or quote from this book? “Those with the growth mindset found success in doing their best, in learning and improving.” Why do you believe parents and kids should read this book? I think parents and kids should read the book as it will help them understand that it is ok to find success in working hard and that building resilience due to failures is critical to being successful. What age kids is this book appropriate for? Probably grade 8 and above. What do you hope to achieve by doing this Community Book Read? I would hope that the community can come together to understand the differences of a
if you could have done it.” Each artist interviewed thinks society should nurture entrepreneurship as a career option in children who love the arts. They cited the schools, media and art centers as places that could enhance the validity of artist entrepreneurs. Cohen reflected the underlying sentiment of the four artist entrepreneurs when she said: “We should encourage our children to follow their dreams as much as we can.”
fixed and growth mindset. Parents, teachers, and students need to incorporate the growth way of thinking in order to increase their successes and how they feel about him or herself.
What should those who have never attended this kind of a Community Book Reading expect? Great dialogue, good snacks and an opportunity to learn
from one another. Read the book and come with an open mind, which allows for growth.
Milford Federal Savings Protects Veterans Offers Crime Prevention Program in Veteran’s Homess
Milford Federal Saving and Loan has been a partner with the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF), the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and the American Bankers Association (ABA) to do our part to ensure that veterans living in Massachusetts are able to live out their lives in safe, secure, enhanced quality of life environments free from the daily fear of crime, abuse, neglect, hostility and deprivation of personal freedom, as provided through the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation’s Senior Crimestoppers program. “Protecting our nation’s
40,000 elderly veterans living in long-term care is a need that must be addressed, and I can’t think of a better way to get this done than by asking every bank in the country to allocate a portion of their annual Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) budget to securing the Foundation’s successful Senior Crimestoppers program in their bank’s assessment area,” said SHCPF Chairman, President & CEO Edward J. Genry. “We are proud to support the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation in their efforts toward providing the nationally-acclaimed Senior Crimestoppers program to
every Veterans nursing home in the nation at no cost to the facilities or their residents,” said Milford Federal President and CEO Cynthia Casey. “We honor our nation’s service men and women and are grateful for their service to our country.” For more information regarding how to protect Veterans in your community or the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, please contact us at (877) 232-0859 or visit us at www.SHCPFoundation.org. For more information about the Senior Crimestoppers program, please visit www.seniorcrimestoppers.org or call 800-529-9096.
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Page 14
December 2015
It’s a Small World By Neha Shabeer, Student Writer, Freshman, Ashland High School3 “THE FRENCH ARE COMING! THE FRENCH ARE COMING!” There was an excited chatter leading up to the day 25 ninth graders from Collège Auguste Mailloux in Nantes, France, arrived at Ashland High School. They were to stay for two weeks to practice their English and learn about American culture. The French exchange students were hosted by Ashland High School students currently enrolled in the French program. French students and Ashland hosts were matched by their hobbies, likes, interests and personality. Ashland hosts were given no stipend to host and only did so because of their interest to make new friends, practice/ learn French, and get to know French culture. Leading up to the trip, hosts and French students emailed, sent pictures, Skyped, and talked on social media to get to know each other and each other’s families. Our friends from across the Atlantic landed at Logan Airport in Boston on a busy Friday—the night of the Homecoming Game! They came in time to catch the second half of the football game and attend the Homecoming Dance hosted by the Student Council the following night. They laughed at us as we screamed to Hollaback Girl and taught them how to Whip and Nae Nae. After
an eventful weekend, the big day was Monday, their first day of school in America. As a student who takes Spanish, I found the language to be a challenge, but anyone could tell how excited they were to be here! Every single one of them always had a smile on their face even if they were completely lost or overwhelmed in a situation. While they combated the oh-so-stereotypical questions, of “How many crêpes do you eat each day?” and “Why aren’t you
comments with their delightful accents. But the most surprising of all was their extensive knowledge of American culture. They were into the same shows, music, movies, books, and YouTubers as us! When we asked them what French music they listened to, they said that they actually only listened to American music, stating that Taylor Swift was one of their favorites. They love the Hunger Games and The Fault In Our Stars, too! They even watch Dancing with
Students arrived in Clocktown from Nantes, France, this fall for an experience that both the French and Ashland students will never forget. (Photo/submitted)
Ashland hosts took their French guests out to experience American culture. (Photo/submitted)
wearing a beret?”, I realized how fluent their English was! It was a pleasant surprise that they could usually keep up in conversations, playfully tease, and make witty
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the Stars, crushing on the one and only Derek Hough, as well. French school is quite different from America. The schools and classes are much smaller, school starts at 8 in the morning and ends at 5 p.m. (Don’t worry! There is an hour break for lunch and an hour study hall to do homework every day!), there is much less homework, and gym class is much more involved. They were horrified by how early we had to get up, the enormous stack of homework we need to do every night, and that the majority of kids walk around a track talking to their friend for an hour instead of playing the ongoing
game in gym class. While they were at our school, they still had a few sessions of classes with their own teachers. They needed to do writing assignments, describing the house they were staying at, their host, and the school. They didn’t come to America just for school though! They came at the perfect time to watch the leaves change colors. They went to Rhode Island for the pumpkin carving festival at the Roger Williams Park Zoo and Quincy Market, spent a couple days in Boston visiting Harvard and went on one of the famous Duck tours, watched the Celtics versus the Spurs basketball game, and visited Plimoth Plantation. Of course, their hosts took them to some of the local favorites like the Natick Mall, Sunnyside Café, some of the best stores known to mankind (aka CVS and Target), and gave them their first experience eating local Chinese food! They also arrived just in time to experience their first Halloween! They went to parties and went trick-or-treating and dressed up in costumes for the first time. Needless to say, getting
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free candy is a fun event for kids all around the world. This experience was one that both the French and Ashland students will never forget! While I expected meeting people from around the world would help me embrace differences, it more importantly helped me realize it’s a small world and we’re not all that different after all. What’s so exciting is that with today’s technology, hosts and their French exchange students can continue to stay connected through social media and texting, allowing their friendship to last over thousands of miles. Ashland students might even get the chance to go to France over April vacation to stay with the family of the student they hosted! It’s incredible that at a time in which Ashland High School’s French program is at risk of being shut down, there is a shining light at the end of the tunnel. Such opportunities prove how important it is for our schools to provide at least two foreign languages, if not more! Language is the only true barrier between people, which can easily and definitely should be deconstructed. Hopefully, in the near future, Latin could be offered at our schools as well! I would like to thank my friends, Olivia Beaton and Neeharika Chanda, for allowing me to discuss with them their experience as hosts for French exchange students. Their experiences helped me write this article! For more about the happenings at Ashland High School, tune into my monthly column :)
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
December 2015
Page 15
Weight Loss is a Family Affair A little sibling rivalry can be a good thing; at least it was for this Lunenburg family. It started when 26 year-old Andrew Pelletier joined New England Fat Loss in the spring, 2015. As his mother, Andrea Pelletier, watched her son drop an impressive 41.2 pounds, she was sold on the program and joined in the fall. Andrea Pelletier’s sister Justine Morgan was equally enthused by her sister’s success and a month later, their friendly sister challenge began. “Deep down I am a competitor,” 56-year-old Justine said. “I saw how good my sister was doing and I thought, ok, if she and my nephew can do it, I can too.” Once Justine joined, the game was on. In 60 days, Andrea lost 36.2 pounds and dropped four clothing sizes and Justine lost 18.6
pounds in only 26 days. Of course, the competition is all in good fun. The pair work cooperatively and share their daily experiences, especially on Sunday mornings when they get together to prepare their menus for the week. “We weigh everything, put them in food savers and throw the meals in the freezer to take out each day,” Andrea said. “It makes it so easy. We also swap recipes!” “I think it is fun to have someone to do it with,” Justine said. “We take turns buying the food and I have someone to talk to and cook with.” The advantage of purchasing and preparing their own meals while following NEFL was a big appeal for this motivated duo. While their portions and combinations may differ based on their
individual analysis and activity levels, they prefer having full control over their personal food choices and grocery budget. “It is totally opposite of what you usually do,” Andrea said. “With other diets, you have to buy their food and do this or that, but here, you follow guidelines and pick what you like and that is what you eat.” In addition to the program’s proven principles, Justine also credits the support from Dr. Johns and the entire NEFL staff as an important factor in her weight loss success. “They give you their cell phone numbers and you can call any time, 24/7,” Justine said. “You are encouraged to call any time you need a question answered.” Weight loss, however, was not
Andrea and Justine’s only motivator for turning to NEFL. Both were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and Justine with high blood pressure, but once on the program, their blood sugar numbers quickly dropped and maintained healthy levels. “I have wanted to control my diabetes for a long time,” 55 yearold Andrea said. “I haven’t taken a pill since the first week I went on the diet. I knew weight loss would help stabilize my blood sugar, but I had no idea my body would react so quickly and the diet would be so effective.” “After my second day, I stopped two of my diabetes medications,” Justine said. “I still take pills for my
blood pressure, but that dosage has been lowered also.” All three family members visited the New England Fat Loss Hopkinton location, and while not necessarily convenient from their homes in Lunenburg, they felt the commute was a worthy investment for their good health. Isn’t your wellbeing worth it? Take control of your weight and health today at one of New England Fat Loss’ two convenient locations: 22 South Street, Suite 204, Hopkinton and 188 Needham Street, Suite 255, Newton. To learn more, visit their website at www.newenglandfatloss.com, or call 844-437-8446.
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Lion members will be on hand to help answer questions, wrap trees as requested and help load them onto cars or trucks. Candy canes will be available for all boys and girls. The tree lot is open 7 days a week, daytime and evening, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. The funds raised from this event support Lions eye research and local charities.
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The Residence at Valley Farm, Boy Scout Troop 23 and Post Commander Richard Smith from Ashland in November honored residents Burt Gerrig, Allan Schill and Fred Simm for their service. (Photo/submitted)
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The following article was submitted in response to recently published articles questioning the safety of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from wireless devices. Ashland Local Town Pages welcomes dialogue on a topic of importance to Ashland.
Should Wireless Be Demonized? By Christopher Taylor, Contributing Writer Concerning the recent stories in Ashland Local Town Pages, Vol. 3 No. 3, October 2015, about the evils of wireless devices, rather than worry about the very unlikely risks of radio frequency (RF) exposure from consumer electronics, I submit that the Ashland public would be better served by news stories about known problems in the town such as opioid addiction, the deaths of teenagers driving while intoxicated or texting, high property taxes, traffic congestion and housing. The ICNIRP is the International Nonionizing Radiation Protection Commission, an independent group of experts responsible for evaluating the effects of nonionizing radiation such as that emitted by cars, electric household wiring, computers, cell phones, Wi-Fi devices, Bluetooth headsets and wireless smart meters. According to the ICNIRP, as published in a recent article in IEEE Microwave Magazine, “Scientific literature published to date does not furnish any compelling data showing adverse effects [from consumer wireless equipment] below the basic restrictions.” The World Health Organization (WHO) has come to the same conclusion and has a similar statement on its web site. Another respected organization, The National Research Council (NRC), reviewed more than 500 scientific studies that have been conducted over a 20-year period and found “no conclusive and consistent evidence” that electromagnetic fields [from consumer devices] harm humans. The “basic restrictions” in the US refer to limits imposed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), which tests
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and measures the SAR (specific absorption rates) of nonionizing radiation from all wireless devices before permitting them to be sold and used in the US. Absorption of RF waves by the human body depends on exposure intensity, which falls off as the square of the distance from the source, and on the RF. The only proven physical mechanism for damage to the human body is heating, and the SAR limits are based on the finding that about 4 watts of RF per kilogram of body weight have to be absorbed to raise the temperature of the human body one degree Celsius (1.8 degree F), equivalent to about 280 watts absorbed for a 145-pound person. This is quite a high exposure that would be difficult if not impossible to reach in practical terms, but one could easily raise his or her body temperature this much by jogging for a few minutes. The FCC sets the SAR limit for the 10 MHz to 10 GHz frequency range used by consumer devices to 0.08 watts per kilogram of body weight, two percent of the 4 W/kg benchmark for a one degree C temperature rise. This is a very low level of exposure
not known to cause any measurable effects at all. Subtle cellular mechanisms that could potentially lead to health problems from consumer wireless devices have been proposed and some experimental results shown, but these mechanisms have not been proven, or the experimental results have not stood up to confirmation. In no cases have double-blind tests proven any relationship between consumer RF exposure and health, and to suggest otherwise is to ignore or simply not understand the science. The “wireless experts” and the “peer reviewed research” quoted in the news article have so far not withstood the peer review process! As new RF devices reach the market, as new research such as epidemiological studies appear, and as measurement and computational predictive techniques for in vivo absorption and temperature estimation improve, the ICNIRP and other safety organizations constantly review their guidelines for RF, so the book may not be entirely closed on the question of wireless safety, but for now, the public need not worry. Don’t take my word for it. Read about all of the scientific studies—not just the pseudoscience, quackery and hysteria demonizing wireless—here: http://skepdic.com/electrosensitives.html. And, you can read about the FCC’s testing of wireless devices and what it means here: www. fcc.gov/guides/specific-absorption-rate-sar-cell-phones-what-itmeans-you. Christopher Taylor is an Ashland resident and the director of RF & Wireless Components, Strategy Analytics, Inc., Newton, MA.
Putting Safety at the Forefront this Holiday Season Dear Editor, Thank you for publishing Adam Elbirt’s article, “The Truth About Wireless Device Safety,” in the November issue of Ashland Local Town Pages. I am pleased to see others joining this important conversation. Mr. Elbirt’s comments are not unusual for someone who has built his career in the telecommunications industry. Unfortunately, the premise upon which Mr. Elbirt bases his information is no longer valid. He indicates, “The main effect of radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields is heating of body tissue.” This is referred to as the thermal effect. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards to which telecommunication companies adhere were set in 1996, and the only testing done was for heat exposure from a single source of radiation on a six-foot, 220-pound military mannequin. Current science now indicates you don’t have to heat the tissue cause damage. Harm is being done at the much lower non-ionizing, non-thermal levels. None of the devices we use today have been pre-market safety tested, not even for children, fetuses, senior citizens or those with known health conditions. Nor have they been tested in a setting like a home, school or public place where we now have multitudes of devices emitting unshielded radiation at once. Our world scientists and doctors are asking for change. The American Academy of Pediatrics, representing 60,000 pediatricians, in December 2012 urged Congress to protect children from the dangers of Wi-Fi. They wrote, “It is essential that
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any new standards for cell phones or other wireless devices be based on protecting the youngest and most vulnerable populations to ensure they are safeguarded through their lifetimes.” The FCC put their guidelines under review shortly after the BioInitiative Report (www.bioinitiative. org) was released in 2013, but as with cigarettes and asbestos, it could take our government decades to protect public health. In May 2015, Dr. Martin Blank, Ph.D., of Columbia University’s Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, representing 190 leading scientists worldwide, submitted an international appeal to the United Nations and the World Health Organization calling for protection from non-ionizing electromagnetic field exposure (www. emfscientist.org/index.php/emfscientist-appeal). The appeal states, “We are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Based upon peerreviewed, published research, we have serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. These include–but are not limited to–radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices and infra-structures used in the delivery of electricity that generate extremely-low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF).” The appeal goes on to say, “Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general
SAFETY AT FOREFRONT
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December 2015
SAFETY AT FOREFRONT continued from page 16
well-being in humans.” With all due respect to Mr. Elbirt who is an engineer, not a biologist, the world’s top scientists are appealing to the WHO and UN to ensure: • Children and pregnant women be protected • Guidelines and regulatory standards be strengthened • Manufacturers be encouraged to develop safer technology • Utilities responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution, and monitoring of electricity maintain adequate power quality and ensure proper electrical wiring to minimize harmful ground current The public be fully informed about the potential health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm reduction strategies Medical professionals be educated about the biological effects
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com of electromagnetic energy and be provided training on treatment of patients with electromagnetic sensitivity Governments fund training and research on electromagnetic fields and health that is independent of industry and mandate industry cooperation with researchers Media disclose experts’ financial relationships with industry when citing their opinions regarding health and safety aspects of EMF-emitting technologies White-zones (radiation-free areas) be established The same scientists who tried to warn us of cigarette and asbestos dangers are speaking out about EMFs. Dr. Devra Davis, Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate on climate change, epidemiologist and founder of Environmental Health Trust, was instrumental in banning cigarette smoking in airplanes. She came to Massachusetts in June with a team of world experts to ask our legislature to inform the public of the health
implications surrounding Wi-Fi radiation. At http://ehtrust.org/ cell-phones-radiation-3/wirelessand-children-3/, she recommends 10 precautionary measures to reduce exposure, such as setting the Airplane mode to ON and Wi-Fi to OFF and connecting by cord or cable when possible. I urge each person even remotely concerned with this issue to begin doing their own research. I have housed my findings in an on-line repository, which you are welcome to peruse as a starting point, https://sites.google.com/ site/understandingemfs/. You can also go directly to the National Institutes for Health (NIH) PubMed database at www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. A search on “electromagnetic fields/adverse effects” returns more than 3,000 world-wide papers published over the last 50 years. Please put safety at the forefront this holiday season. We can still do wonderful things with our technology, but let’s do so safely. Cece Doucette, Ashland
Ashland Education Foundation Casino Night was a Good Bet!
Over 100 people attended the Ashland Education Foundation, Inc. (AEFI) Casino Night at Kelly’s Restaurant on Friday, Nov. 13. The event raised over $2,000 for the AEFI Teacher Grant Awards. The ‘Casino’ offered blackjack, roulette, Texas hold’em and craps tables and every attendee receive $1,000 in ‘funny money’ at the door. At the end of the evening the funny money was turned in for raffle tickets in hopes of taking home prizes that consisted of various denominations of scratch tickets. In addition, raffles were donated by local businesses: Wine Empire, Focus on Fitness, NEC Trophies, and Kelly’s Restaurant. Becky DeGeorge, who organized the event with Randy Krauss, said “The 2nd annual Casino Night was a huge success; we had such positive feedback from the attendees. We look for-
ward to building on this success at next year’s event.” The AEFI would like to thank
those who attended, Kelly’s restaurant for donating the space and our many local sponsors: 126 Self Storage, At Home Personal Training - Jennifer Simpson, Backstage Dance Center, Frozen Ropes, Focus on Fitness, Hahna Nails & Spa, Mr. Handyman, Needham Bank, Purple Ink Insurance, Realty Executives -Shelly Jung, Richard Francis Salon and Spa and R.L. Goldman Co.
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Holiday Art Show! Premier Image Galleries of Ashland is hosting the Framingham Artists Guild Anniversary Holiday Art Show through February 2016. The show features 68 pieces of artwork from 33 local artists. This piece ‘ Breaking Away’ acrylic on canvas is by Ashland Artist Raffi Kodjian.
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Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
December 2015
Sports Ashland Swimming Program Growing in Size and Wins By Chris Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer Through its first years, the swim team program at Ashland High School has tripled in size. Entering its fifth season this winter, the third season under head coach Anne Meisner, the Clockers are hoping to continue to improve in the pool while adding numbers to its roster. “It’s one of those things were we started off on the smaller side because it was new to the school, but once we got some good swimmers and divers, the program began drawing attention,” the coach said. “That in turn allowed it to trickle down and even more talented athletes began coming out for the team. This year we’re hoping that leads to more wins.” When Ashland began its program, the squad only had 12 athletes take to the water. Last season the Clockers roster was 36 and Meisner is hoping that a few more kids come out for the team this season to get that number up over 40. With Westwood putting together a swim team for the first time, the Tri Valley League (TVL) will bolster seven teams looking to
man Michelle Grasberger, who’s older sister Lauren was a member of the team last year. “I have not seen her in action, but from what I’ve been told, she is a sprinter style swimmer,” Meisner said. “She is also strong enough of a swimmer that I could possibly use her in longer events and still do well.” Senior captain Roger Gu will be swimming for the boys. Gu has been swimming for the team since his freshman campaign and continues to lower his times in both the 50 and 100-freestyle. According to the coach, GU was a force to be reckoned with last season going undefeated in both his events, while capturing the TVL meet championships in both events and setting the league record in the 50 with a time of 21.98. Gu also swam in the South Central Sectionals where he finJunior Lauren Mangiaratti will be a big part of the Clocker’s breast stroke and a key contributor to the relay events and the 200 IM. (Photo/ submitted)
take home the league championship. The Clockers are hoping to make a move upward in the standings this winter. “Hopkinton always seems to
be on the top, and we continually are the runners up,” Meisner said. “Our numbers are much too small to compete with the big dogs, and there are no swim teams in the town so our swimmers have to look elsewhere to swim year round. Framingham and Westboro have rec teams, while a lot of nearby towns have elite club teams.” As has been the case in the past, Meisner has good news as well as bad news regarding this year’s squad. The good news is that the entire boys’ team looks to be returning, while the girls’ had a significant number graduate. Eight female swimmers, a good number participating in the state tournament, will not be swimming for Ashland this season, leaving big holes to be filled. Junior Lauren Mangiaratti will be a big part of the Clocker’s breast stroke and a key contributor to the relay events and the 200 IM. The junior will be looked upon to get the team points in the breast stroke on a regular basis. “Lauren is one of the best breast stroke swimmers in the TriValley League and should finish either first or second in just about all of her races,” the coach said.
The State Relay team is Eric Zhou (senior captain), Johnny Pencze, Roger Gu (captain) and Shawn Lee. (Photo/submitted)
Mangiaratti, the school record holder in the 100 breaststroke, finished fourth in the 200 medley relay, seventh in the 200 free relay and 15th in the 100 breaststroke at the Sectionals. At the States, she was 8th, 10th and 11th in the same three events. Senior Alison Zheng is a middle-of-the-pack swimmer when it comes to the 500 freestyle, but Meisner is hopeful she will continually earn points to help the teams score. Zheng will also swim in the relays, where the coach can count on her no matter which one she is used in on any particular day. Rounding out who the coach can definitely count on is fresh-
ished third in the 100 and fifth in the 50. At the state tournament he didn’t do as well grabbing a fifth place finish in the 100 and a seventh in the 50. The senior captain also is the school record holder in the 50 (21.98) and the 100 (48.61). Meisner will also be looking to sophomore Johnny Pecze and freshman Vanya Lukashev to fill some of the voids left by the graduating seniors. Pecze will swim the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke, while Lukashev is more of a sprint freestyle swimmer but is versatile in other events. Where the coach puts him on any given day will all depend on who the team has available, the team they
December 2015
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
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Sports A Challenging Year Ahead for Ashland Boys Quintet By K3en Hamwey, Staff Sports Writer
Junior Ben Sturgis holds the school record in both the 6 dive event as well as the 11 dive event. (Photo/submitted)
are facing and what the team is up against. When talking about the swim team, Meisner wanted to make sure she mentioned the divers, and Ashland has themselves a bona fide one in Ben Sturgis. As a junior last winter Sturgis finished third in the TVL meet behind two state champions from Hopkinton and Dover-Sherborn and was able to participate in the sectionals where he finished 12th as well as finishing 14th at the states. Sturgis holds the school record in both the 6 dive event as well as the 11 dive event. The junior diver will have a newbie in junior Liz Cahill to take under his wing this season. “Those were some of the biggest meets Sturgis has been in to date. He was nervous at first, but his teammates started joking with him and it relaxed him,” the coach said. “Once he was relaxed, he went out and just had fun. He is the first male diver from Ashland to make it and place in the State Tournament.” Along with Gu, Galh Efroni and Eric Zhou will captain the Clockers in the pool this winter. Heather Keaveney is the diving coach.
Mark Champagne has quietly and effectively built a winning tradition for the boys’ basketball program at Ashland High. His five-year record with the Clockers is 62-42. The 59-year-old Champagne has guided his squad to tournament appearances during the last four seasons and, two years ago, Ashland rolled to a 19-2 overall record and won the Tri Valley League (TVL) championship. Last year’s squad finished with a 13-9 mark. The 2015-16 campaign, however, will be a challenge for the former Bridgewater State head coach. Ashland lost seven seniors to graduation, three of whom were starters. And, although his varsity roster has strengths, there are some areas of concern. “We’ve got players who can shoot and have talent,’’ Champagne said. “We also have quality leadership, some experience and mental toughness. But, we’re small and our lack of size will create a rebounding problem. We also lack depth and our speed is average.’’ Champagne, nevertheless, is optimistic his forces can achieve several of the goals he has listed for the new year. “We want to get to the tourney again,’’ he said. “And, most importantly, we want to keep improving as the season moves along. A TVL title is realistic only if we can overcome some of our weaknesses. A big plus for us is that our kids know how to win and they have pride.’’ Ashland’s senior captains typify the Clockers’ blue-collar tradition. They include guard-forward swingmen Max Feinberg (6-feet) and Spencer Rabidou (5-10), forward Christian VanKleef (6-feet) and point guard Mitch Porter (5-9). “Max was our leading scorer last year, connecting for 14 points a game,’’ Champagne noted. “He’s a good athlete who has experience, can play defense, rebound and shoot. He started as a freshman. Spencer is a leader who has a high basketball IQ, is strong and makes
good decisions. Christian is a highenergy player with lots of stamina. His skills are very good. Mitch is a pass-first point guard who distributes well and gets points off his defense.’’ Two other seniors—forward Matt Gazzard (5-11) and swingman Justin Byrnes (5-11)—will be important contributors. “Matt is smart, always playing within his limitations,’’ Champagne said. “He’s coachable and gives us depth. He’s like a relief pitcher. Justin is a good shooter whose defense is decent. I’m hoping he steps up and takes advantage of his opportunities.’’ Champagne will be counting on three juniors to supply quality minutes. They include forward Kyle Walsh (6-1), guard Luke Nutting (5-10), and and forward Doug Pesce (6-2). “Kyle shoots well, is an allaround player who has high upside,’’ Champagne said. “Luke is athletic, a good defender with energy and a capable shooter. Doug is long and lanky, improving and
gaining confidence. He worked very hard in summer league play.’’ Senior guard Donovan Prezinski (5-11), and junior forward Jeremy Butkus (6-1) should provide depth. “Donovan plays solid defense, can shoot and gives good effort while Jeremy is a capable shooter who started for the jayvees last year,’’ Champagne said. Ashland will play a deliberate style because of its lack of size. Champagne expects to change defenses often “to disguise our deficiencies.’’ “I always adjust to the kind of personnel we have,’’ he emphasized. “Because our speed is average, we’ll employ a fast break off our defense. Our hope is that we develop depth and become decent rebounders.’’ Champagne views defending champion Westwood as the team to beat with Medfield, Hopkinton and Medway also battling for the league crown. “They all have talent and they’re all well-coached,’’ Champagne said. “And, they’re programs that have tradition.’’
Coach Mark Champagne plans to continue a winning tradition for boys’ basketball at Ashland High. (Photo/submitted)
Champagne’s staff includes varsity assistant John Johannessen and junior varsity coach Steve Linehan. “John was a teammate when I played at Medfield,’’ Champagne said. “He’s wellversed in the game. Steve is loyal and simply an outstanding coach. He develops talent very well.’’ Ashland’s season will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at home against Norton.
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December 2015
5 Design Trends in Residential Construction I work with scores of clients every year. Each project is different but there are some overall trends that are likely here to stay for the long haul: 1. Open Floorplan – Yes, this idea has been around for a while. However now, we remove walls in the majority of our remodeling projects and open floorplans are increasingly being featured in new construction primary homes, condos and secondary homes. It starts with the kitchen and expands outward from there, creating a large, open layout where families can multitask and still be together. Additional windows should be included in any open floorplan, to bring the outside in. 2. Freestanding tubs – We
have seen a surge in freestanding tubs, primarily in the master bath. More people are removing the whirlpools in favor of freestanding soaking tubs, eliminating the boxed-in tub deck look. This cre-
more traditional squares and rectangles. There are many different colors, grain options and pattern variation (for a more realistic look) similar to hardwood flooring, but also comparably indestructible. This is a greast option in a high traffic area or one exposed to moisture.
ates a dramatic focal point and often gives the space a more open, spacious feel. There are many styles available: vintage claw-foot, transitional and ultra-modern looks. 3. Quartz and Quartzite countertops – Granite is still very
popular and is a good, quality material. Quartz and Quartzite, however have come on strong due to their reputation as a stone that’s pretty indestructible. The leading quartz manufacturers are coming
up with authentic marble looks without the drawbacks of the real thing: staining and comparable softness. Quartz is 2/3 natural quartz and 1/3 man-made composite, allowing manufacturers to create good-looking colors. Quartzite is a natural stone. Both have become very popular! 4. Porcelain imitation wood tile flooring – The options for this
popular material are becoming numerous: they are available in various linear plank sizes as well as
5. Storage – Rarely do I design a project without including plenty of specialized storage. People want everything in its place. More often than not, we’re reducing the size of an extra bedroom in favor of a well-planned and spacious master walk-n closet. The majority of my new kitchen designs includes a butler’s pantry, often with prep space, secondary appliances and open storage. Mudrooms have become a very popular space, always with multiple lockers and other storage cabinets. Minimizing clutter is a big trend in design today. Designer’s advice: as I mentioned, each project is different
Nancy Werneken
and each client has a different objective for their project. These trends are not for everyone; typically, one or two will apply, but I’ll always weigh the pros and cons to make sure we collectively select the right option for the space. And most importantly, I want the design to be timeless and classic, regardless of the style. Nancy Werneken is a certified, professional interior designer with 16 years of experience in the Boston Metro West area. Nancy is the lead designer at Masters Touch Design Build in Holliston, MA.
Foundation for MetroWest Receives $500,000 Endowment Gift from Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation The Foundation for MetroWest recently announced receipt of a lead gift of $500,000 from
Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation to endow its Center for Philanthropy Education. The
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Center for Philanthropy Education provides free educational programming to more than 600 nonprofits throughout Metrowest in the areas of fundraising, board governance, communications, and executive director leadership training. These programs provide nonprofits with opportunities to increase their visibility, improve their connections and expertise necessary to advance their missions and successfully address the critical unmet needs throughout Metrowest. The $500,000 gift has a dual purpose. Half will seed the Center for Philanthropy Education endowment fund, and the remaining $250,000 will leverage a matching gifts campaign engaging community members to provide support. The total cost to endow the Center is $1,000,000. The full endowment of the Center for Philanthropy Education will ensure that the community continues
to grow strong for years to come. “Middlesex Savings Bank has been an invaluable supporter of the Foundation for MetroWest over the last 10 years as we have grown to expand our impact beyond grant making with educational programming,” Garry Holmes, chair of the Foundation for MetroWest Board of Trustees, said. “Creating an endowment for the Center for Philanthropy Education will guarantee continued growth and strengthening of the nonprofits throughout Metrowest in perpetuity.” “Middlesex Savings Bank is committed to investing in its community. The impact of the workshops, seminars, and leadership series offered by the Foundation for MetroWest’s Center for Philanthropy Education to the nonprofits operating in our region has an undeniable ripple effect,” Dana Neshe, president of Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, said. “They
are strengthening the nonprofits that in turn strengthen the communities that we call home.” Established in 1995, the Foundation for MetroWest is the only community foundation serving the 33 cities and towns in the region. The Foundation promotes philanthropy in the region, helps donors maximize the impact of their local giving, serves as a resource for local nonprofits and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Since its inception, the Foundation has granted $10 million to charitable organizations and currently stewards more than $15 million in charitable assets for current needs and future impact. To learn more, visit www. foundationformetrowest.org or call 508-647-2260.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER
December 2015
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
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Community Events Third Wednesday of Every Month 5:30 to 6:30 pm: The Residence at Valley Farm, 369 Pond Street, Ashland, offers Dementia Caregiver Support Groups. Free memory screenings available, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. For more information or to register for Dec. 16, contact Emily Beauchemin, Certified Dementia Practitioner, 508-532-3197, ebeauchemin@ residencevalleyfarm.com. Fridays 7 pm: Friends’ Friday Night Films at the Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl.com Through December 19 “Illuminating Futures: The Ashland & Nyanza Project;” Dan Borelli, Exhibition Designer; Upstairs Display Case & Fireplace Area, Ashland Library, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl.com Through December 31 Watercolors by Maria Raffi at Needham Bank, 41 Front St. Cosponsored by Arts! Ashland Alliance. www.artsashland.org Through January 16 10th annual Senior Watercolor Exhibition, Downstairs Gallery, Ashland Library, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl. com
Tuesday, December 1 6 pm: Ashland Business Association Holiday Party for ABA members and their guests at Burnam’s Pub House, 366 Pleasant St. Cash bar, buffet dinner. Cost: $25; $30 at the door. Bring a wrapped gift for a Yankee Swap and food donations for the Ashland Food Pantry. info@ashlandbusinessassociation.com, www. AshlandFirst.com 7 pm: Ashland Parent Advisory Council (ASHPAC) Monthly Meeting. All are welcome. Ashland Middle School Activity Room. www.ashpac.org Wednesday, December 2 6:30 to 10 pm: The Real Hopkinton Housewives 2nd annual Shopping for a Cause at The Lodge, 60 West Main St., hosted by Golden Pond Assisted Living. Benefits Project Just Because, Hopkinton’s food pantry and local resource for families in need. Enjoy wine and appetizers while you shop Purchase tickets in advance, www.eventbrite. com/e/real-hopkinton-housewives-shopping-for-a-cause-tickets-18960886522 Friday, December 4 8 am to 12 pm: Blood drive hosted by the Ashland Police Department in cooperation with Metrowest Medical Center at
the Police Substation, Market Basket Plaza, 37 Pond St/Rt. 126. There is an urgent need for blood. Sign up at ashlandpd.metrowestdonorservices.com. Contact Sgt. Burman, Ashland Police Department, 508-532-7988. Saturday, December 5 10 am to 2 pm: Friends of the Library Book and Cupcake Sale, Ashland Library, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl.com 10:30 am to 12 pm: Holiday Wreath Making Workshop with Paul Split and the Ashland Garden Club at the Federated Church, 18 Main St.. Space is limited. Register in advance by sending a check for $35 to AGC, PO. Box 43, Ashland, MA 01721. info@ashlandgardenclub. org, www.ashlandgardenclub.org 5 pm: Holiday Tree Lighting at Montenegro Square near Santa’s house. Sponsored by the Ashland Day Committee. www. ashlandday.com Monday, December 7 6:30 to 9:30 pm: Public forum for input to the town’s comprehensive plan, PlanAshland, at the Community Center, 162 West Union St. Hosted by the Ashland Planning Board, the Ashland Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).
Sha’ arei Shalom Community Announcements ASHLAND MENORAH LIGHTING: TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 6:15-7:15 pm Join us at Montenegro Square in Ashland town center (across from Stone’s Public House) for the inaugural lighting of our menorah! This event is open to the entire Ashland community.
SHA’AREI SHLAOM 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: FRIDAY DEC. 11, 6:30-8:00 pm Please join with us as we celebrate this very special occasion
with a delicious potluck dinner, a latke contest, lively music from the Shabbat Live Band, and lots more! Ashland Community Center, 162 West Union St.
COMMUNITY CHANNUKAH PARTY: SUNDAY, DEC. 13, 10AM-NOON Join us in our festive celebration of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights! Bring your favorite Menorah, candles and appetite and join in the snacks fun and games. This celebration is geared for Preschool to 7th
grade. Ashland Middle School, 87 West Union St. 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. For more information, visit www.shaareishalom. org, call 508-231-4700 or email info@shaareishalom.org.
jraitt@mapc.org, 617-933-0754, www.PlanAshland.com Thursday, December 10 7 to 9 pm: Ashland Documentary Film & Discussion Series presents “Resonance: Beings of Frequency.” Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is all around with cell phones and other devices. It is impossible to turn back the clock, but we need to be aware of the adverse health effects so that we can choose to take precautions against exposure. Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St. Check the website to confirm this showing. Sunday, December 20 3 pm: Metrowest Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert, Peter Cokkinias, Music Director, and John Masko, Assistant Conductor, with Berklee College vocalists directed by Rene Pfister, and also featuring 9-yearold Keila Wakao, violin. Keefe Technical High School, 750 Winter St., Framingham. Purchase tickets in advance or at the door. www.metrowestsymphony. org, mso.orchestra@gmail.com, 508-686-3100 Tuesday, December 22 7 pm: “The Clocker Idol” talent show at Ashland High School Auditorium, 65 E. Union St. https://sites.google.com/site/ stucoashland/the-clocker-idol
7 to 9 pm: Ashland Documentary Film & Discussion Series presents “Questioning the Safety of Our Children’s Exposure to Wireless Radiation: An Important Discussion for Parents.” A recording of the June 10 Framingham public forum, including questions and answers with Framingham Board of Health Chair Michael Hugo and Ashland School Committee Chair Laurie Tosti. Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St. www.friendsoftheapl. com. Check the website to confirm this showing. Sunday, January 17 2 pm: Actress and educator Judith Kalaora presents “I Now Pronounce You: Lucy Stone” at the Ashland Historical Society, 2 Myrtle St. www.ashlandhistsociety.com 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 editor@ashlandtownnews.com. Events will be included as space permits.
Our Ad & Editorial Deadline is the 15th of each month, for the following month’s issue.
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Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
Home Energy Efficiency Means Cost Savings By Deborah Burke Henderson, Contributing Writer With today’s focus on climate change and global warming, you might consider ways you can reduce energy waste in your home. My husband, Bill, and I have taken several steps to reduce our carbon footprint by retrofitting our three-level Ashland townhouse over the past 15 years. Here is what we have learned in the process and how you might optimize your home’s energy efficiency and reap annual cost savings. An easy first step was to install a programmable thermostat. This allows us to customize our heating system schedule for each day of the week. During the heating season, we set the indoor temperature to the recommended 68 degrees for daytime hours and 63 degrees at night. If there’s an unusually warm day in the fall and we want to open our slider door and enjoy the air, we simply adjust the thermostat by switching the heat to “off ” and reactivate the schedule with another touch of a button. It’s especially easy to schedule lower temperatures for long periods of time, if you’re away from home. Programmable, and new wireless thermostat technologies, can help you to save energy in your home as well. Through the Mass
Save® program, Ashland residents are able to take advantage of rebates for both programmable and wireless thermostats. Right now, Mass Save is offering rebates of up to $100 per thermostat purchased at retail. Eligible customers residing in 1-4 unit homes can also purchase select discounted wireless thermostats and have them installed at no cost. With these rebates, it is easy to start saving energy and money in your home. One year we took advantage of a tax incentive by having energy efficient triple-pane slider windows installed throughout our townhouse. This provided better insulation, and we immediately noticed a reduction in outside noise. These windows do save some money but maybe not enough to justify their extra cost, unless you know you’ll be staying in your home over the long haul. As we have replaced wornout appliances, we’ve invested in those products with an ENERGY STAR® or other high-energy efficiency rating as another proven way of saving money and energy.
No-Cost Home Energy Assessment At our condo association’s annual meeting last May, residents were encouraged to seek
Homeowner Bill Henderson installs an energy efficient chandelier bulb. (Photo/Deborah Burke Henderson)
out a Home Energy Assessment through the Mass Save® Home Energy Services Program (serving 1-4 unit residences), sponsored by Eversource. We were interested. We contacted Mass Save and an Energy Specialist was assigned to conduct a no-cost Home Energy Assessment which we scheduled for June. It was suggested that we allow at least 2 to 3 hours for the initial Home Energy Assessment. The energy specialist conducted a comprehensive evaluation of our townhouse. This evaluation included a review of our unit’s physical structure, the heating and cooling systems, our windows and skylight, all of oaur appliances, the lighting throughout our home (track, recessed, chandelier, and
Christmas Gifts and Blessings By Rev. Larry Iannetti, Pastor, Federated Church of Ashland As Christmas approaches we have become accustomed to thinking of the people in our lives for whom we need to buy a gift. We willingly take on the challenge of coming up with gift ideas for the children in our lives, a spouse, a relative, close friend, or colleague at work, and then strategize as to where to buy them. Ideas may come from commercials on TV, ads in magazines, or the inserts in our newspapers, or from the skillfully placed ads that show up on the fringe of our computer web pages. Of course, one hurdle is to come up with a gift idea that is on the recipient’s wish list, whether they have campaigned for it, whether we have over-heard them tell Santa about it, or whether we have learned of a gift they may have secretly wished for in silence.
As we approach the challenge, we may set some criteria for ourselves: 1) make the person feel that you chose their gift thoughtfully and with attention to something on their wish list, 2) decide if the value of the gift is a reflection of how special they are us, 3) determine if it is still available either in a store or online by the time you get around to buying it, and 4) decide whether the total cost of all gifts do not require a second mortgage on the house! Some criteria are harder to meet than others. While each of us approaches Christmas gift-giving in our own way, we would be hard-pressed to deviate too far from the spirit that has come to signify the Christmas season. If we have the means and the opportunity, why shouldn’t we do what we can to express our love with those who mean so much to us? Although our culture of consumerism can detract from and
even hijack the real meaning of Christmas gift-giving, what better gift is there for the giver than to see the smiles or hear the giggles of excitement when we watch someone find a hoped-for treasure under the Christmas tree? For those of us who have been the recipients of others’ gift-giving and have been fortunate to have been on the receiving end of gifts that reflected the thoughtfulness, generosity and kindness of people who have loved us, we should smile and celebrate with the memory of what we have already received. For those wishing to give thanks and celebrate with others who have an awareness of how blessed we are, join us Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. at the Federated Church of Ashland for a special service of word, lights and song, as we hear the angels sing, “Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth!”
traditional), and an inspection of the attic space and ductwork. At the conclusion of her review, the specialist provided us with a computer-generated report summarizing the assessment’s findings along with an “Energy Action Plan” with recommendations to help improve our home’s energy efficiency. The specialist informed us of monetary and product incentives Mass Save offered at the time which further encouraged us to implement the suggested recommendations. After reviewing the assessment report with us, the specialist replaced all of our light fixtures with new, LED light bulbs and installed energy efficient shower heads and faucet aerators. She also gave us two six-outlet advanced power strips and would have provided us with a programmable thermostat, if we didn’t already use one. Just these product incentives alone, valued at $414.55, were estimated to provide us with approximately $200 worth of annual savings. “Energy efficiency is the single most important thing residents can do to take control of their energy use,” Bill Stack, energy efficiency spokesman at Eversource, said. “We recommend everyone consider a no-cost Mass Save energy assessment so they’ll know exactly what improvements they can make in their own homes.” The testing of our original 30-year-old heating system showed that the furnace now only functioned at 40-percent efficiency. According to the Mass Save website, older types of furnaces and boilers can allow more than 25 percent of the heat from combustion to exit through the flue exhaust stack or chimney. New high efficiency furnaces and boilers are designed to allow less of the heat to escape, which means that more of the heat is used to warm your
December 2015 home. The advanced features of these new heating systems reduce energy waste and save the homeowner money. We requested bid estimates on a new high energy performance furnace and, after selecting our preferred vendor, we purchased an appropriate heating system. Once it was installed, we were eligible for additional incentives on air sealing and insulation work. Although we did not take advantage of it, the Mass Save® HEAT Loan Program offers customers the opportunity to apply for a zero percent loan for the installation of qualified energy efficient improvements in the home. In September, we engaged a Mass Save-Participating Contractor to complete the approved weatherization work. Six hours of labor and materials were valued at $2,093. After the EversourceMass Save instant weatherization incentive of 75 percent off, up to $2,000, the final cost to us was only $396.80, and it is estimated that we will see an annual cost savings of $150 in our heating bill. Now that the weather is getting colder, we have felt a marked difference in the inside temperature which stays more consistent throughout. The second floorbedroom area is typically a degree or so warmer than the first floor; our walk-in closet is even warmer!
Other Energy Conservation Ideas Other energy conservation steps we took included setting our water heater temperature to 120° F; using cold water to launder clothes (about 16 percent of an average home’s energy usage goes toward heating water); always turning off lights, computer, printer, and our TV when not in use; and replacing and weatherstripping our front door after ice dam damage in 2013. Explore ways you can invest in home improvements that will start paying off immediately and the savings will add up year after year. Plus, by improving your home’s energy efficiency, you will make your home safer and more comfortable and help reduce your carbon footprint–improving the environment and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. For more information about a no-cost Home Energy Assessment, available incentives, rebates on heating equipment, and other energy conservation tips, visit www. MassSave.com or call 866-5277283 to schedule your assessment.
Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
December 2015
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Todd Zukowski
at Prospect Mortgage
The Right Move.
Branch Manager NMLS #20384 www.ToddZukowski.com Todd.Zukowski@prospectmtgcom
(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
508.309.3538 158 Pond Street, Suite A Ashland, MA 01721 OakRealtyMA.com
Recent Sales in Ashland, MA
SINGLE FAMILY SALE PRICE 267 Main St . . . . . . . . $222,900 31 Park Rd . . . . . . . . $282,000 20 Pinecrest Ln . . . . . . $326,000 76 Fountain St . . . . . . $357,000 14 Columbus Ave . . . . $370,000 43 Chestnut St . . . . . . $377,000 99 South St . . . . . . . $390,000
SINGLE FAMILY SALE PRICE 61 Valley Rd . . . . . . . . $460,000 19 Constitution St . . . . $477,000 11 Whippoorwill Ln . . . $480,000 2 Shady Hollow Path . . $520,000 12 Fox Hill Road . . . . . $540,000 269 Winter Street . . . . $580,000 71 Olive Street . . . . . . $599,900
What’s The Buzz? When people see new construction
popping up in their community, there’s always an unmistakable buzz: Will it be a Mexican restaurant around the corner? What are they building in that parking lot? Are those new apartments available yet? Rumor has it that they’re fabulous! Ashland is certainly no different. In the past year, residents are talking about new development in several corners of town. From a new bank to a beautiful assisted living center to much-needed rental apartments, it’s apparent that our town is growing and thriving. So who is it that we’re welcoming to the neighborhood? Needham Bank is one of our newest neighbors in the downtown area, at 41 Front Street. As a sponsor of the Ashland Half Marathon and 5K in October, they’ve proven their commitment to the community They’ve also donated a solar-powered bench near their building that folks truly are buzzing about: the Soofa bench, which has a solar-powered charging capability for electronic devices, is the first of its kind for Ashland. The Residence at Valley Farm is the impressive new assisted living center at 369 Pond Street, which offers the finest Independent, Assisted and Reflections Memory Care services. Featuring stunning architecture, meticulously landscaped grounds, and every convenience, service or indulgence you can imagine, they have truly built a vibrant community that many will be lucky to call home. Ashland Woods, located at 277 Union Street, are new luxury rental apartments featuring stainless steel appliances, granite counters, private washer/dryers, balconies/patios, a fitness center, and more. They’re pet friendly and even offer a Bark Park! Apartments are currently available and once you see them, you’ll know what all the excitement is about. To find out more about our new neighbors and more developments, watch our show, Real Estate 01721, on WACA-TV, or look for a link on our website at OakRealtyMA.com.
Buying? Selling? Not sure, but need to know more? Call us anytime. We welcome your questions at
508 309 3538 or info@oakrealtyma.com.
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Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com
December 2015
Water Policy Committee Considers Community Feedback on MWRA Connection Residents question whether there is a need for a supplemental source, such as the MWRA connection; the Committee will explore the issue further. (Graphic/ submitted)
Ashland Connection Point By Deborah Burke Henderson, Contributing Writer The Ashland Water Policy Committee was established in the summer of 2015 as a subcommittee of the Board of Selectmen (BOS). The Committee is charged with providing a recommendation to the BOS related to policies for the use of public water in Ashland, whether from the town wells or another source, such as the proposed Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) supplemental connection. The recommendation is expected to include a revised town water use bylaw for future enactment. The Committee had hoped to complete “phase one” of its charge by the November town meeting and provide its recommendations to the BOS. However, at its Oct. 20 meeting, the Committee received community feedback, which they would like to take into consideration before moving forward with recommendations. Residents questioned whether there is actually a need for a supplemental source, such as the MWRA and, if so, residents would like the town to take a more holistic view of water supply and consider alternatives to MWRA, such as the Spring Street well site or groundwater recharge. The process of setting water rates and the budget for the water enterprise will be agenda items for discussion during their next several meetings over the winter. “Our challenge as a committee is to ensure that the town is able to consistently provide high-quality water now and into the future,” Committee Chair Wayne Bates stated. “It is also
our challenge to do this in a manner that is affordable and that protects our existing local resource through conservation and supplemental sources. At the core of sustainability is that we Ashland meet the needs of ourConnection current Point generation, without compromising the needs of future generations. The decisions we make in the coming years with regard to water policy will have a resounding impact on our children and their children. There is no magic bullet or single solution; it will take a phased approach where minor changes combine into an overall sustainable solution.”
Key Areas for Committee Focus The five members appointed by the BOS will serve a one-year term during which time their attention will be focused on five key areas: use policy, rates, source protection, capital improvement and education. Committee Chair Bates is an Ashland resident and a registered professional engineer with a 25-year background in civil and environmental engineering and a focus on water issues. Fellow Committee members include residents Bill Browne, Jeff Lemay, Cathy Rooney, Phil Williams who serves as Committee Secretary, and Department of Public Works Director David Manugian as staff liaison. According to Manugian, the Committee members will act as policy advisors by providing information and guidance to the Board of Selectmen regarding current and future water policy issues. As part of due diligence on the town’s water issues, the Committee has reviewed, among
other materials, a 2012 Town of Ashland Water Supply Workshop presentation prepared by the Maynard, Massachusetts-based engineering firm of Haley and Ward, Inc. The town hired Haley and Ward as engineering consultants to provide a comprehensive overview of its water system, the pros and cons of various water source options, and recommendations for consideration. Over the course of meetings
held from August through late October, the Committee’s initial discussions relating to the current water system in Ashland included customers’ rights to use the water based on sources, local source protection, customer use policy as opposed to source use policy, rate system costs to encourage conservation, MWRA water costs versus local water costs, and system costs related to outdated infrastructure. The Committee has heard from key state officials who presented the issues. Representatives from the Water Resources Commission, part of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), spoke to the Committee about Ashland’s well restrictions, the
hydrology of the area, and the state water policy, and officials from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) addressed the state’s water management program. The Committee is requesting assistance from both departments in order to provide online mapping and other educational tools for the Ashland town website. These tools should help Ashland residents better understand the many issues at hand. “Since this crucial work will be an ongoing conversation, regular updates will be provided, and we’ll be looking for resident feedback along the way,” Manugian stated.” Going forward, the town will also determine how the Water Policy Committee could interface with the Stormwater Advisory Committee and other related committees.” For more information or to find out about future meetings, contact Manugian at dmanugian@ashlandmass.com.
Pet Parade and Party at The Family Pet Hospital The Family Pet Hospital, 300 Eliot St., hosted a Halloween Grand Opening Party and Pet Costume Parade. All family pets— cats, dogs, lizards, turtles, guinea pigs, snakes and birds—were invited to participate. In addition, the pet hospital gave tours of their new facility. Dr. Cris Valas, veterinarian, witch and owner of The Family Pet Hospital in Ashland, poses with her convict dog, Lobo. (Photo/ submitted)
Sally Drawe, The Yarn Dog, wins 1st place in the pet parade. (Photo/submitted)