Ashland June 2016

state, AFM is one of the best. 

“I have traveled to many farmers’ 

markets in our state, and I 

think Ashland Farmers Market 

is definitely among the best there 

is,” Spilka said. “Great variety of 

vendors, some terrific regulars, 

usually unique themes (I am par- 

Ashland 

localtownpages 

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Vol. 3 No. 11 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month June 2016 

Voters Reject Override at 

Town Elections 

By Cynthia Whitty 

Ashland residents rejected the two Prop 2 ½ override 

ballot questions at town elections on May 17. Question 

1 asked for $1.9 million for funding schools and general 

government operations, which failed by 2,083 (No) to 1,724 

(Yes), and Question 2, for $500,000 for a Community and 

Economic Development Infrastructure Stabilization fund, 

which failed by 2,168 (No) to 1,628 (Yes). The election saw 

just over a 35 percent voter turnout, with 3,826 votes cast. 

“The outcome is pretty 

clear—voters were not convinced 

the override was necessary,” 

Steve Mitchell, Board of 

Selectmen member and chair 

of the Override Study Committee, 

said. “We’re in a good 

financial position as a town. For 

me, these [override proposals] 

are investments in the town. We 

were advocating for enhancements 

to our programs and 

services. Ultimately, we were 

not convincing. A lot of people 

have to budget in their own 

lives; they see it as no different 

for local government. Now, we 

need to move forward and figure 

out how to fund our needs, 

like additional firefighters.” 

“Incumbents in general 

did well. I’m pleased to have 

my colleagues, Joe Magnani 

and Carl Hakansson, return 

to the board,” Mitchell said. 

“I’m pleased new people put 

themselves out there; it’s least 

desirable to have uncontested 

elections.” 

“I talk to a lot of people by 

phone and face to face. It was 

a well-done process, done respectfully.” 

Mitchell said. “As 

Terry Hendrix said [on the 

cable tv show] the night of the 

election, no matter what the 

vote, we are still all neighbors, 

still a community.” 

School Superintendent Jim 

Adams issued an email on 

election night saying that he is 

committed to providing Ashland 

children “with the best 

education in the Commonwealth.” 

“We will spend the necessary 

time in the coming days to 

craft a budget that is balanced 

and acceptable to the Town 

while also maintaining the values 

of the school committee, 

and our goals as outlined in the 

district’s, Blueprint for Continuous 

Student Improvement, Adams said. 

Adams said that he will not 

be recommending any cuts to 

services in the short term, but 

he is concerned for future years 

as the community continues to 

grow. “This is a reality that we 

can’t afford to ignore or underestimate,” 

Adams said. 

For election results, visit 

www.ashlandmass.com/DocumentCenter. 

What Makes Ashland 

Farmers Market Special 

Opening day: Saturday, June 11. Celebrating five fresh 

years of fun, Saturdays, 9 to 1 pm! 


We all know Ashland and Ashlanders 

are special, but what makes 

Ashland Farmers Market (AFM) 

stand out from all other markets? 

When the organizers of AFM 

were feted as Grand Marshals at 

last year’s Ashland Day, State Senator 

Karen Spilka said that, while 

she has traveled widely around the 

FARMERS MARKET 

continued on page 2 

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Page 2 Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com June 2016 

FARMERS MARKET 

continued from page 1 

Published Monthly 

Mailed FREE to the 

Community of Ashland 

Circulation: 7,000 households 

Publisher 

Chuck Tashjian 

Editor 

Cynthia Whitty 

Sales 

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Advertising Sales Manager 

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Advertising Department 

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susanneo@localtownpages.com 

Ad deadline is the 

15th of each month. 

Localtownpages assumes 

no financial liability for errors 

or omissions in printed 

advertising and reserves the 

right to reject/edit advertising 

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Send Editorial to: 

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© Copyright 2016 LocalTownPages 

ticularly fond of Dog Day) where 

the music and often kids’ activities 

are coordinated—make it an 

event that builds community and 

knits Ashland’s diverse population 

together.” 

Drawing an average of 1,350 

visitors each week, AFM is set to 

open its 5 th season on Saturday, 

June 11, in on Front Street, on 

the grass across from the library. 

One way the market is 

unique, organizers said, is that 

it has strong business support. 

(See the list on the website, www. 

ashlandfarmersmarket.org/supporters.) 

“These local business 

people have made it possible for 

us to bring live music, fun fests, 

special events and a Kid’s Corner 

to the market,” Florence Seidell, 

a market organizer, said. “The 

sponsors augment our vendor 

fees to underwrite costs of the 

Customer Appreciation Lobster 

Fest, Dog Day, our live bands, 

SNAP match, special initiatives 

and more.” 

Another way the market is 

unique is that it supports its vendors, 

thanks to an all-volunteer 

crew that helps vendors set up. 

Sarah Whitehead of Anna Banana 

Homemade Goodness said, 

“As a vendor this is my favorite 

market to set up—the organizers 

are so supportive and the customers 

are incredibly sweet. Such 

a great community!” 

An increasing number of 

committed teen volunteers, who 

receive community service credit 

through the high school, pitch in 

to make everything run smoothly. 

Teen Volunteer Coordinator Eric 

Brooks is looking forward to welcoming 

the returning teens as 

well as a new crop of first timers. 

“We depend on these awesome 

young people to make the market 

run. And this year they will 

be directly involved with implementing 

our ‘Slash the Trash’ 

initiative, in addition to all the 

other weekly tasks they perform.” 

What’s New 

As AFM prepares to celebrate 

its 5 th year, the market will introduce 

on Opening Day a new 

breakfast and lunch vendor, 

Foodie Café of Framingham. 

One of AFM’s favorites, The 

Carve, will also be at Opening 

Day and at a few other event 

days: July 4 th BBQ (July 2) and 

the popular Lobster Fest (September 

3). The Carve, which 

launched itself at AFM and became 

a favorite, is pulling back 

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from working long hours during 

the market season this year so the 

owners can spend time with their 

young family. 

Foodie Café offers breakfast 

comfort food, BBQ pulled pork, 

freshly made artisan sandwiches 

and salads, all made from scratch. 

Owners Alicia and David Blais 

use their profits to end hunger by 

providing meals where needed 

in Framingham. They founded 

Daniel’s Table,” with the crazy 

idea of ending hunger in the 

largest town in America.” David 

said, “Today, our aggressive effort 

to help has turned into a 

growing community of supporters 

who are committed to solving 

the hunger problem in this town 

of 70,000. When we started out 

we were serving 200+ meals per 

month. Today, we have expanded 

to 2000+ meals every month.” 

There will be an ethnic bent to 

AFM’s season five. In addition to 

Amir’s Middle Eastern hummus, 

tabouli and baba ganoush, and 

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Mohammed’s Kabob House, 

visitors will find eight new food 

vendors, including Doris’ Peruvian 

Pastries, Mama Lucia’s 

Biscotti, Dulce D Leche Café 

gelato, Eastern European-inspired 

Halvah Heaven, Frenchand 

Spanish-inspired cheeses at 

Couet Cheeses and Fromagerie, 

and Lyndigo Spice chutneys. 

When it comes to vendors, 

visitors can expect more variety 

and the return of favorites with 

36 food vendors and 33 local artisans 

this season. 

Slash the Trash 

The new AFM “Slash the 

Trash” initiative aims to reduce 

trash to the landfill by providing 

at the market triple stream sorting 

stations for compostable materials 

and recyclables. Vendors 

will use compostable packaging 

and utensils. Hidden Acres Compost 

of Medway, a new Premier 

Sponsor, will pick up compostable 

materials and bring it to their 

composting facility. 

Striving to be part of a solution 

for plastic pollution and 

eliminate single-use plastic bags, 

AFM continues to encourage 

visitors to bring reusable shopping 

bags or borrow reusable 

bags from the Market Manager’s 

tent. Vendors will use BioBags® 

when needed. 

June Highlights 

June 11, Opening Day: The 

Friends of the Ashland Library 

will be at the Community Table. 

Railroad House Band returns to 

entertain at the Arts!Ashland Alliance 

Music Stage, 10:30 a.m. 

to 12:30 p.m. Children are welcome 

to come to the Kid’s Corner, 

9:30 to 10:30 a.m., to make 

crafts from recycled materials 

with Ashland resident, Cat Crow. 

Saturday, June 18: At the 

Kids Corner, 9:30 to 10:30 

a.m., visit with Farmer Brown 

and his Newfound Farm barnyard 

animals. Enjoy the Celtic 

music of Whiskey in the Jar at 

the Arts!Ashland Alliance Music 

Stage, 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. Free 

bike helmets for children while 

supplies last, courtesy of law firm 

Breakstone, White and Gluck. 

June 25, Strawberry Fest: 

Visitors will be treated to the 

fleeting flavor of ripe, locally 

grown strawberries: strawberry 

bread, strawberry gelato, or just 

plain freshly picked strawberries! 

Coin of the Realm band 

performs world music at the 

Arts!Ashland Alliance Music 

Stage, 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. Patti 

of On the Edge Knife Sharpening 

will be there, and returns on 

the 4th Saturday of each month. 

Match your SNAP. Get $80 

worth of free food every four 

weeks thanks to AFM’s $20 

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program) match each 

week. 

Ample parking. There is 

ample parking on Front Street, 

in the adjacent municipal lot, 

and nearby at town hall on Main 

Street and Mindess School on 

Concord Street. Note the new 

curbing and handicap parking 

courtesy of land owner, Ashland 

Redevelopment Authority. 

To sign up for eNewsletters of 

weekly events, artisans, specials 

and more, visit www.ashlandfarmersmarket.org. 

Ashland Farmers Market 

2016 Event Days 

June 11 


July 2 

July 16 

July 30 

August 6 

August 20 

September 3 

(Labor Day) 

September 10 

September 17 

September 24 

October 8 

Opening Day 

Strawberry Festival 

July 4 th BBQ 

Cultural Fest 

Dog Day 

Ashland Olympics 

Farm Day 

Lobster Fest 

(Customer Appreciation Day) 

Tomato Tasting 

Ashland Day 

Wine and Cheese Fest 

Pumpkin Painting

June 2016 Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com Page 3 

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Concerts, Films 

and Lunch 

at Stone Park 

This summer the Ashland Day Committee will host, free 

of charge, a concert series at the Stone Park Gazebo and a 

family film series at the Stone Park Pavilion. In addition, the 

Committee will sell lunch (hot dogs, pizza, P&B sandwiches, 

soda, cookies and ice cream), Monday through Friday, 11 

a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pavilion. 

Concerts: The June and July concerts run Tuesdays, 7 

to 9 p.m.; the August concerts run 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the 

Gazebo. Bring a blanket or folding chair. 

June 28: 

July 12: 

July 19: 

July 26: 

August 2: 

August 9: 

August 16 

August 23: 

August 30: 

New Magnolia Jazz Band 

Bobby Watson Band 

Lights Out Blues Band 

Beatles Band Studio Two 

Railroad House Band 

MetroWest Community Band 

Show Cause Band 

Flash Back 60s 70s Band 

Songs for Ceilidh 

Films: The family films are rated G or PG and run, rain 

or shine, Thursday evenings, 7 or 7:30 p.m. at the Pavilion 

through August 25. Popcorn is free for kids. 

For more information, email ashlandday@gmail.com 

or visit www.ashlandday.com or www.facebook.com/ 

AshlandDay. 

2016 

Ashland 

S UMME R 

CONCERT SERIES 

Stone Park Gazebo, Summer Street, Ashland 

June/July 7:00 - 9:00 pm s August 6:30 - 8:30 pm 

June 28 New Magnolia Jazz Band 

July 12 Bobby Watson Band 

July 19 Railroad House Band 

July 26 Beatles Band Studio Two 

August 2 Lights Out Blues Band 

August 9 MetroWest Community Band 

August 16 Show Cause Band 

August 23 Flash Back 60’s 70’s Band 

August 30 Songs for Ceilidh 

Website: www.AshlandDay.com s E-mail: AshlandDay@gmail.com 

Designed by Cliff Brigham 

cbrig1558@verizon.net 

Local Event Helps 

Fight Against Cancer 

Relay for Life of Ashland/Holliston, June 11-12 

By J.D. O’Gara, 

Contributing Writer 

This year’s Relay for Life of 

Ashland/Holliston will kick off 

at noon on Saturday, June 11, and 

run all night long until 6 a.m., 

Sunday, June 12, at the Ashland 

Middle School, 87 West Union 

St. in Ashland. The American 

Cancer Society Relay for Life 

movement is the world’s largest 

and most impactful fundraising 

event to end cancer. It unites 

communities across the globe 

to celebrate people who have 

battled cancer, remember loved 

ones lost and take action to finish 

the fight once and for all. 

Holliston and Ashland are 

among more than 5,200 communities 

and 20 countries that 

hold an annual Relay for Life 

to benefit the American Cancer 

Society. Relay for Life teams 

camp out at the event overnight, 

taking turns walking or running 

around a track. Because cancer 

never sleeps, each team is asked 

to have at least one participant on 

the track at all times. 

Each Relay for Life includes 

specific features unique to the 

the event. After an opening 

ceremony, every Relay, including 

Ashland/Holliston, features 

a Survivors Lap. Anyone who 

has battled cancer is invited to 

take part in this lap, and they 

are cheered on by family and 

friends on the sidelines. At 

Relay, there is always a recognition 

of the support of family 

members touched by their loved 

one’s illness. In the past, Ashland/Holliston 

has had survivors 

and their family members walk 

that lap together, and caregivers 

are invited to walk this lap if 

they are present. 

Following the Survivors Lap, 

Learn how you can: 

• Provide for good medical 

decision making 

• Protect your property 

from nursing home costs 

• Protect your property from liabilities 

• Avoid estate taxes 

Dates: Thursday, June 9th 

Time: 7:00 p.m. (Arrive 10 minutes early) 

Where: 1660 Washington Street 

Holliston, MA 01746 

Can’t make the seminar? 

call for an estate planning consultation 

$200 with this ad (usually $400) 

(508) 429-8888 

themed laps will take place, as 

well as games and contests for a 

fun-filled event. 

A moving part of the event 

takes place at 9 p.m., with the 

Luminaria Ceremony. This ceremony 

of remembrance celebrates 

loved ones lost to cancer. 

Special paper luminaria bags are 

decorated in memory of those 

who have passed, and a candle 

is placed in each one. During 

this solemn lap, a slideshow further 

honors those whom cancer 

has taken. 

The event continues with fun 

laps and fundraisers by participants 

the whole night through. 

At 6 a.m. the closing ceremony 

takes place, with a look back at 

what participants have accomplished 

and a renewed vow to 

continue the fight. 

By mid-May, the Relay for 

Life of Ashland/Holliston had 

17 teams of 130 participants and 

had raised over $46,000 for the 

event. That’s down from past 

years, but there’s still time to 

sign up! 

Register a Team! To register 

a team or make a donation, visit 

http://relay.acsevents.org and 

search for Ashland/Holliston. 

Volunteer at the Event! Volunteers 

are needed for this June’s 

event. If you are interested in 

helping out, or if you have any 

questions about the event, contact 

Renee Hanscom, renee.hanscom@cancer.org, 

508-270-4680. 

Registration is 

Required 

(Limited to 10 seats) 

Register at: 

www.jenniferdelandlaw.com 

Click on 

“Seminars” 

“Getting Your Ducks in a Row.” 

Couples Please Attend Together, 

Adult Children Welcome 

Jennifer A. Deland, Esq.


I didn’t choose my bank. I ended up with them. 

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Whether you’re a small business owner, a family, or an individual, there are many compelling 

reasons to leave your big bank for Needham Bank. 

• They don’t love you – we will. 

• Chances are, we can save you enough money to matter on those annoying big bank 

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• We reinvest in this town by supporting a myriad of community organizations, just like 

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• With NB Checking you can use any ATM in the world and whatever you are charged for 

using that bank’s ATM, we will automatically reimburse to your NB Checking account 

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• Our products, including online and mobile, are state of the art. 

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Pond Street Project Set to Complete Design Phase 


The Pond Street (Rt. 126) 

Project, an estimated $15 million 

infrastructure revitalization 

initiative planned for the 10,000 

linear feet of roadway through 

Ashland, connecting Framingham 

and Holliston, is on track 

for a long-awaited facelift. 

Last December hundreds of 

Ashland residents packed the 

Warren Elementary School to 

see the Pond Street design presented 

by Green International, 

the engineering firm for the 

chair for the Pond Street Working 

Group (PWG), said. “We’re 

about two thirds of the way 

through the sign off of the design 

phase. Unlike the conceptual 

and design phase with a 

number of public forums, the 

engineering phase is less sexy, 

more tedious. Detailed. Exacting.” 

Several essential project-planning 

meetings have been needed 

to get to the sign off. On March 

29, MassDOT conducted a public 

utility hearing, attended by 

Selectwoman Yolanda Greaves; 

a reality. 

“It’s been a while since the 

last public forum, but it doesn’t 

mean the work has stopped, in 

fact it’s just the opposite,” Parker 

said. “The PWG will hold a 

Pond Street Update Meeting at 

7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 14 at 

the Warren Elementary School. 

Residents will hear an informal 

update ahead of the MassDOT 

Public Hearing.” 

The remaining project milestones 

to complete for this phase 

are the MassDOT signoff of 

the25 percent design and the 

design public hearing. Barring 

any unforeseen circumstances, 

DOT officials estimate holding 

the public hearing in the late 

summer of 2016. 

“Attendance at the Mass- 

DOT Public Hearing is important,” 

Parker said. “It’s where 

representatives will provide a 

project update and help residents 

to understand this complex 

process.” 

“Overall, the project is on 

track and in excellent shape for 

the 2020 Transportation Improvement 

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The Pond Street project will include an improved roadway, bike lanes 

and landscaping. With 160 businesses, the route is heavily traveled, 

with an estimated 19,000 vehicles per day. 

project. Now, in the spring of 

2016, Green and the Massachusetts 

Department of Transportation 

(MassDOT), the agency 

responsible for the project, continue 

work towards the 25 percent 

design sign off within the 

next several months. 

“Before the final signoff of 

the 25 percent design by Mass- 

DOT, there is a checklist of 

items to address, mitigate and 

approve. These checklists are 

MassDOT standard operating 

procedure for any infrastructure 

project, Paula Parker, the 

Ashland’s Department of Public 

Works (DPW) Director David 

Manugian; Wing Wong of 

Green International and PWG 

member Sara Hines. Manugian 

and Greaves also attended the 

April 7 Boston Region Metropolitan 

Planning Organization 

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update. On April 13, an overhead 

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Community Theater Presents 

Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, June 23-25 


In keeping with Ashland 

Community Theater’s (ACT) 

mission of providing as many 

opportunities as possible to local 

talent, the troupe will present 

Neil Simon’s three-act comedy, 

Plaza Suite, in June using three 

different directors. 

“We have three directors 

directing the three acts,” Joe 

White, ACTs founder, said. 

“Different directors gives more 

opportunities for more people 

to be involved.” 

The directors are Chris Erath 

(Act 1), Julie Murphy (Act 2) and 

Karen Dinehart (Act 3). 

“With Neil Simon’s Plaza 

Suite, we are departing from our 

usual format where we write 

our own material, though the 

play falls into our model: three 

different acts based on the same 

theme. Based on feedback from 

our audiences, they were interested 

in seeing how our actors 

would do with familiar material,” 

White said. 

The play is set in Suite 719 

of New York City’s Plaza Hotel. 

Simon originally had four acts, 

but one was cut during pre-production. 

The playwright later 

expanded it for the 1970 feature 

film, The Out-of-Towners. 

“Our [ACT] tickets are affordable. 

You can come out to 

see a really good performance 

in an intimate theater. The 

Ashland Middle School seats 

175 people. I prefer a small, 

intimate theater. I want to see 

the audience reaction,” White 

explained. “We are sustainable; 

we have Ashland businesses supporting 

us and we get grants, so 

we can keep our ticket prices 

low.” 

White encourages patrons 

to pay it forward. “If you can’t 

make it [to the June show] 

please consider logging in and 

buying some tickets to help support 

some of the seniors and less 

privileged who cannot afford 

coming to the show. Just click 

Katy Shander-Reynolds, Rama Ramaswamy, Jodi Marion and Aidan Shander-Reynolds (l to r) rehearse the 

spring show. 

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508.435.3880 ~ Next to Colella’s Market 

Mon-Fri: 7am – 7pm Sat: 7am - 5pm 

www.HillersCleaners.com 

on the Donate Tickets section 

on the page [www.ashlandcommunitytheater.com] 

and pick an 

amount you feel comfortable 

donating.” 

Interested in expanding theater 

in Ashland, White said, 

“We started in 2014 with under 

a dozen volunteers. Now we 

have 30+ but want more for 

many more capacities.” 

ACT is already working on its 

fall show, using the same model 

with short scenes. 

Catch Neil Simon’s Plaza 

Suite at the Ashland Middle 

School Theater, 87 West Union 

St. Performances are at 7:30 

p.m. on Thursday, June 23, Friday, 

June 24, and Saturday, June 

25. Tickets may be purchased 

in advance for $10 online at 

www.ashlandcommunitytheater. 

com/#!shop/c1k7w or $12 at 

the door. 

Chris Erath and Colleen Locke prepare for Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite. 

Our Ad & Editorial Deadline 

is the 15th of each month, for the 

following month’s issue.


Ashland Business Association Happenings 


The guest speaker at the Ashland 

Business Association (ABA) 

June 7 meeting will be Mark Altman, 

founder of MindsetGo, a 

leading provider of educational 

training programs for all aspects 

of professional development. 

Altman will talk about improving 

and increasing sales to help 

a business grow. In addition, Nadine 

Heaps of WAITT-We’re All 

In This Together will be featured 

in the 10-minute Business Spotlight 

and the ABA will announce 

its 2016 high school scholarship 

winners. 

The meeting will be held at 

the Ashland Library, Community 

Room, 66 Front St. Early 

networking is 5:30 to 6 pm; the 

meeting with the presentation 

and discussion is 6 to 7:30 pm. 

The public is invited to attend 

free of charge. 

Student-Business 

Partnership 

This year the ABA partnered 

with the high school to match 

students with local organizations. 

The students lent their social 

media experience and, in return, 

gained valuable work experience. 

This program was proposed by a 

previous ABA scholarship winner, 

Anna Waisgerber. 

Organizations hosting interns 

this year included Annemarie’s 

Dance Centre; Susan C. Atherton, 

Attorney at Law; Cheryl 

Cohen Mosaics and Ashland 

School Nutrition Services. 

One of the students, Bradley 

Colarusso, a junior matched with 

the ABA, said, “When the program 

was first presented to me, 

ABA intern Bradley Colarusso said 

the internship has provided him 

with valuable skills he can use in 

the future. (Photo/Cynthia Whitty) 

I saw it as a great opportunity to 

become a more active member in 

the Ashland community. Also, I 

was very much excited about the 

possibility of gaining real world 

work experience through this internship.” 

“Since starting my internship, 

I have learned the importance of 

driving online traffic towards a 

business website via social media 

rather than driving it towards the 

social media itself,” Colarusso 

said. “Also, I have gained valuable 

work skills, such as using 

different programs like Dropbox 

and Microsoft Excel as well as 

learning more about popular social 

media websites and how they 

operate.” 

After high school, Colarusso 

plans to attend college to major in 

biomedical engineering and business 

administration. He hopes to 

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to Read Online 

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work at a biomedical company 

and eventually create his own 

company. “I feel this internship 

will help because it is preparing 

me for a future in the workforce 

where I will have to work both 

independently and with a group 

– which is ultimately what I will 

gain from this internship,” Colarusso 

said. 

Upcoming ABA Events 

August 2: Summer Social at 

126 Self Storage (Mike Kane). 

September 6: Guest speaker 

Alan MacIntosh of Bay State 

Support will explain website 

design available at various price 

points. 

For more information on the 

ABA, contact info@ashlandbusinessassociation.com, 

call 

508-735-9473, or visit www.ashlandfirst.com. 

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Residents Volunteer to Clean Up the Town 

Ashland residents of all ages participated 

in GreenUp Ashland (www.greenupashland.org) 

the first Saturday in May. 

Volunteers pick up trash in their neighborhoods 

and throughout the town. The 

event is a collaborative effort with the town, 

businesses, schools, community groups and 

the GreenUp Ashland committee: Karyn 

Dann, Janet Gamache, David Rubenstein 

and Jeanne Walker. Photographs by Deborah 

Grady, www.deborahgradyphotographs.com. 

Summer 

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Jennifer Ball Brings Policy and Operational Experience 

to New Post as Assistant Town Manager 

By Deborah Burke 

Henderson, 


Jennifer Ball will work closely with the town manager on the town’s 

strategic plan and develop enhanced communication strategies with 

the public, among other priorities. (Photo/Deborah Burke Henderson) 

With a passion for helping 

people and the communities they 

live in, Jennifer Ball is excited to 

serve as Ashland’s new assistant 

town manager, where she will 

handle many of the town’s dayto-day 

issues and operations. 

“I thrive on working with 

people to find solutions to community 

and organizational issues 

that ultimately make the community 

or organization stronger and 

more viable,” Ball said. “For me, 

it’s all about helping realize the 

community’s goals and shared 

vision.” 

Ball brings a unique blend 

of education, experience and 

abilities to the town of Ashland. 

“Jenn has a deep policy background 

and can look at issues 

strategically and analytically,” 

Town Manager Michael Herbert 

said. “On the other hand, she has 

proven throughout her career 

that she can competently tackle 

everyday operational and organizational 

tasks that are necessary 

to keep a municipality running 

effectively.” 

Ball holds a Bachelor of Arts 

degree in Psychology from the 

University of Massachusetts at 

Amherst and a Master’s degree 

from Northeastern University’s 

Graduate College of Criminal 

Justice. Ball’s professional background 

is strongly rooted in social 

services and public safety. 

Right out of grad school in 

her work with the Center for 

Criminal Justice Policy Research, 

Ball conducted qualitative and 

quantitative research to guide 

and develop criminal justice and 

community policing policies. 

She also helped evaluate and 

identify national best practices 

for the School Resource Officer 

Program, and developed recommendations 

for the Massachusetts 

Executive Office for Public 

Safety (EOPS) and the Office of 

Community Oriented Policing 

Services (COPS Office), outlining 

the types of policing strategies 

that can lead to a reduction 

in violence and ensure police integrity. 

“The criminal justice system’s 

issues are complex and have a direct 

impact on families and communities 

across the country,” Ball 

explained. “It is always my intention 

to find a pathway to make 

a positive community impact 

through prevention and intervention 

initiatives.” 

Over a period of seven years, 

Ball worked for the City of Lowell 

and its police department. Initially, 

she served as the re-entry 

coordinator assisting ex-offenders 

with available programs and 

services, but she also conducted 

a recidivism study, participated in 

home visits with clients, and presented 

findings to key stakeholders, 

including a presentation at 

the International Chiefs of Police 

Conference and other venues. 

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In 2007, Ball became the 

director of research and development 

for the Lowell Police 

Department (LPD) where she 

provided strategic support to the 

chief of police. Her responsibilities 

included aligning budgets, 

creating new frameworks, and 

developing innovative initiatives 

to achieve crime reduction, engage 

the community, and increase 

community-wide safety. 

She obtained and maintained 

$10 million in state and federal 

grant funds. During this time, 

Ball continued to foster and 

maintain myriad community and 

stakeholder partnerships, a skill 

that will bode well for her work 

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Ball became the senior policy 

advisor for homeland security 

in 2011, managing intergovernmental 

relationships as they 

relate to homeland security and 

in 2013 became chief of staff 

to Director Kurt Schwartz of 

the Massachusetts Emergency 

Management Agency (MEMA), 

ensuring the agency’s organizational 

structure and overall budget. 

Last year, Ball became an 

adjunct professor for the Security 

and Safety Leadership Program 

with the College of Professional 

Studies at George Washington 

University. 

“During my career journey, 

my eyes were opened to the 

broad array of vital services that 

municipal governments can offer 

a community and how those 

services can make a direct impact 

on the community’s overall 

health and wellness,” Ball stated. 

“I am proud to be working with 

the town manager and his team 

on the strategic plan and on a 

host of activities that will provide 

a great deal of exposure to community 

problem-solving.” 

Among other current priorities 

at Town Hall, Ball will work 

to revitalize the performance 

management program and develop 

enhanced communication 

strategies, especially in relationship 

to the public at large. With 

an eye toward comprehensive 

social services collaboration, 

Ball looks to enhance the overall 

health and wellness of the Ashland 

community. 

“Each community has an interesting 

collective personality, 

and I am already enjoying learning 

about Ashland’s history and 

personality,” Ball added. 

Ball, her husband, and 3-yearold 

son make their home in 

Chelmsford. 

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Join Ashland Friends for 

Summer Travel Adventures 

Ashland Travelers & Friends, 

an Ashland-based travel group, 

has planned some exciting summer 

adventures. Plans are underway 

for an overnight trip to 

New York for a Red Sox/Yankee 

game, a Gloucester Lobster 

Bake, and a Cape Cod Canal 

tour with dinner. 

On July 16, depart midmorning 

for New York to arrive 

at Yankee Stadium to see the 

pre-game warmups. Enjoy the 

game from reserved main level 

seats! Next, head to the Sheraton 

Hotel in Tarrytown, NY. 

The next morning after breakfast, 

make your way into New 

York City where time will allow 

visits to a downtown museum or 

the September 11 Museum & 

Memorial, or a ride out to the 

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. 

Price pp: $269 Double, $349 

Single. 

On July 28, head to Gloucester 

for a Lobster Bake & Harbor 

Cruise. The day begins with a 

lobster bake at the Clambake 

Seafood Restaurant on Pine 

Point in Scarborough, ME. 

Then, visit the gift shop or take a 

stroll along Old Orchard Beach. 

After dinner, enjoy a narrated 

90-minute scenic cruise through 

the busy harbor. Price: $89. 

On August 18, venture to 

the Cape to visit the Sandwich 

Glass Museum, and view real 

glass-blowing artisans creating 

pieces of art. At noon, arrive at 

5.938 in 

the Daniel Webster Inn for The 

Grand Buffet. Price: $89. 

All trips leave from the Ashland 

High School and include 

motor coach transportation, 

admission fees, meals and meal 

taxes.Tips are not included. To 

make a reservation, send checks, 

payable to Ashland Travelers, to 

Donna Shaw, 21 Shadow Creek 

Lane, Ashland, MA 01721. 

Be sure to include names of 

all those traveling with you, 

the date and name of the trip 

you wish to reserve and your 

personal contact information. 

Someone will get back to you 

with details of the trip once it 

is finalized. For more information, 

email ashlandtravelers@ 

gmail.com. 

Art in the Library 

UPSTAIRS DISPLAY CASE 

and 

DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY 

Ashland High School 

10th Annual 

Summer Exhibition 

June 16 to August 31 

The Ashland Library is once 

again proud to be exhibiting 

the artwork from Ashland High 

School (AHS) art students. The 

work is in a variety of mediums, 

and displays a wide range 

of images done by some of 

the most talented art students 

working and creating this year 

in the high school art classes. 

This event is always one not to 

be missed. Special thanks go to 

Scott Smith, one of the art instructors 

at AHS, for organizing 

and installing this exhibit. 

The current exhibits of Patricia 

Romeo, “The Essence of 

Memory & Time,” (Downstairs 

Gallery) and Robert Mark, 

“Wood Working: A Way To Recovery” 

(Upstairs Display Case) 

will continue through June 11. 

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. 

The work of Robert Mark, “Wood Working: A Way to Recovery,” is on 

display until June 11. 

7 in 

Vacation Bible School 

“Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love” 

July 11-15, 9:00 am-Noon 

Federated Church of Ashland, 118 Main St. 

All children, ages 4–11 

Please join us for a fun-filled week of activities designed to 

teach children about God in a camp-like setting. The cost is $30 

per child or $60 per family. To register, call the church office, 

508-881–1355, or email fcoaoffice@verizon.net. 

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Modern Day Good Samaritan Recognized 

By Rev. Larry Iannetti, 

Pastor, Federated Church 

of Ashland 

In modern day America, there 

are certain stories taken from 

the New Testament of the Bible, 

which have become iconic in their 

message and meaning. Beyond the 

stories of Jesus turning water into 

wine, or the account of Him walking 

on water, most people have 

heard the Gospel parable of the 

Prodigal Son with its message of 

repentance and forgiveness, and 

of the Good Samaritan with its 

message of concern and compassion 

for our neighbor. 

For the members and friends 

of the Federated Church, care 

and compassion for others is the 

hallmark of God’s call to us all. 

Love of God and love of neighbor 

make up the two greatest 

commandments found in the 

New Testament. The Deacons 

of the church took a look around 

us, as a church in this community, 

and could not help but notice that 

there are unsung heroes whose actions 

and activities embody and 

demonstrate care and compassion 

to those in need. 

The Deacons of the Church 

have established an award to recognize 

an individual in our local 

community, whose actions best 

exemplify the Gospel parable of 

the Good Samaritan. The Deacons 

have called this award, the 

“Good Samaritan Award” to be 

given in recognition of someone 

in Ashland who embodies those 

qualities. This year, and the first 

Rev. Iannetti and Deacon Pam Dunham present Cara Tirrell with the 

Good Samaritan Award at the Sunday service on May 22. 

recipient to be recognized, the 

award was given to Cara Tirrell. 

Cara has worked tirelessly in 

her role as the Director of Ashland 

Youth and Family Services 

and coordinator of the Ashland 

Food Pantry, which gathers and 

distributes food to combat hunger 

in our community. In addition, she 

screens those seeking help from 

the Ashland Emergency Fund, 

gathers and distributes information 

on families with children who 

need help with gifts during the 

holiday season, leads programs 

for drug abuse prevention, leads a 

book club for seniors in our community, 

and the list goes on. 

The Good Samaritan Award 

was presented to Cara Tirrell, 

during the Sunday service at the 

Federated Church on May 22. 

The Good Samaritan Award 

consists of a plaque and check for 

$1,000 to be given to the Ashland 

Emergency Fund/Ashland Food 

Panty in her honor. The monies 

were drawn from the Henry Warren 

Fund endowment, which the 

church administers for humanitarian 

purposes. 

The Federated Church of Ashland 

is located at 118 Main St., 

across from the Town Hall. It is 

a diverse and welcoming church 

that gathers to worship every 

Sunday morning at 10 a.m. Join 

us some Sunday. There is public 

plenty of parking located across 

the street from the church, behind 

the Town Hall. 

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Mehitables Bakery: The Last of The Last 

By Julie Nardone, 


If you ask residents who have 

lived in Ashland a long time what 

former business they miss most, 

many will say Mehitables Bakery 

in downtown Ashland. 

For 1985 to 1998, Mehitables 

Bakery inhabited 159 Main St. 

Owned and operated by Frankie 

Fournier Hagan, the bakery 

shared space with the Ashland 

General Store, opened in 1959 

by her parents Lenny and Bunny 

Fournier. Visualize a long wraparound 

wood bakery counter set 

back a bit to the right, tables in the 

front and back, a general store to 

the right, old signs and utensils on 

the walls, and antiques and used 

books to the left and in a back 

room up a short flight of stairs. 

Bulletin boards held flyers, business 

cards and announcements 

of Ashland happenings. Shoppers 

could buy newspapers, greeting 

cards, grocery items, gifts, magazines, 

candies and other unique 

items. The bakery served coffee, 

muffins, cookies, pastries, pies and 

other treats. 

One of Hagan’s fondest memories 

was the making of Mehitables 

legendary Thanksgiving pies. Her 

employees began their 24-hour 

baking marathon at 6 a.m. on 

Wednesday. As each pie came out 

of the oven, enthusiastic volunteers 

packed them into boxes for 

an early Thanksgiving Day pickup. 

The mingled aromas of apple, 

pumpkin, sweet potato, blueberry, 

egg custard, lemon meringue and 

French silk wafted through the air. 

“Almost all our baked goods 

came from my grandmother’s, 

mother’s and aunt’s recipes,” 

Hagan said. “Before I opened the 

bakery I got advice from the best 

bakers in Boston: make everything 

from scratch and the bakery will 

be high quality.” 

The Classical Revival building 

that housed Mehitables and the 

General Store was constructed 

Mehibtables, painting by Cliff Wilson. 

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in 1838 by local builders Studley 

and Homer. The bakery had 

wood floors, a tin ceiling and a 

long oak counter originally used in 

the library of Jeremiah E. Burke 

High School in Dorchester, Mass., 

where Hagan taught school. 

Hagan named the bakery after the 

woman baker who built and lived 

in her historic home at 171 Fountain 

St. “Mehitable Haven used to 

bake bread and pastries, pile them 

into her horse and buggy and 

head off to Downtown Ashland 

where she sold them to widowers 

and others without access to a 

baker.” 

Originally part of Hopkinton 

until Ashland incorporated 

in 1846, the historic antique 

housed a number of commercial 

enterprises. Over the years it has 

been home to a carpenter shop, 

a tailor, Romeo’s supermarket, 

Wally’s restaurant, a boot business 

and a general store, where 

it was the exclusive distributor of 

newspapers in town. Currently, 

it houses Lunker’s Outfitters, a 

multi-service store founded by 

avid fisherman. They offer assistance 

with stoves, fireplaces, and 

chimneys as well the opportunity 

to purchase bait, tackle and other 

fishing equipment. 

Memories of a 

Different Age 

Longtime resident Dave Foster 

recalled fond memories of Mehitables. 

“My wife and I chose to 

buy a home in Ashland because it 

had John Stone’s Inn and Mehitables 

right next to each other. They 

had a quaintness about them, the 

last remnants of the way things 

used to be.” 

Resident Margie Matteson 

took her young daughter there 

every Sunday morning for several 

years. “I’d pack the stroller 

and we’d go down the big Prospect 

Hill, our destination being 

Mehitables,” she said. “They 

had the most amazing chocolate 

chip cookies. Not too sweet, really 

moist and chewy. On warm days, 

they’d start to melt on the way 

home.” 

Matteson also spoke highly of 

the General Store. “It was like 

going to a different age. There 

was always something new. When 

you walked in you didn’t know 

where to look first,” she recalled. 

“The store was lit up enough to be 

able to see, but still dark enough 

to have a sense of mystery. My 

husband loved the antique Coca 

Cola cooler.” 

But the bakery had another 

important function: It served as a 

little town hall. In the mornings, 

members of the “The Breakfast 

Club,” Tony Santospago, Larry 

Hunt, John Ellsworth, Barry 

Bresnick, Gary Ghilani, Archie 

Beaton and Dave Teller, could 

be found drinking coffee and discussing 

local issues at the famous 

round table. Former Selectmen 

Dave Teller said, “Any time you 

went into the bakery, you could 

find someone to talk with often 

over the rumble of the nearby 

train. People dropped in to find 

out what was going on in town. 

The people that ran the store 

were really friendly.” 

Ronald “Red” Breault, who 

recently passed away, worked at 

the general store for 40 years. A 

beloved Ashland resident before 

moving to Charlton, his obituary 

read, “Horseback riding was 

his passion and he loved nothing 

more than sharing his love 

of horses with others. He will 

be remembered as a very giving 

man who always had a positive 

attitude.” Employee Vin Rubeo 

used to write an inspirational 

quote and the soup of the day on 

a black chalkboard outside the 

store. People often strolled by just 

to read the quote. 

It was also a great place to get 

signatures for ballot initiatives. For 

many months, Dave Foster spent 

every Saturday and Sunday getting 

signatures for the adoption of 

the Community Preservation Act, 

a state-matched initiative that has 

made it possible to install the fields 

behind the high school, purchase 

Warren Woods and repair the 

clocks on the Telechron Building 

among other projects. 

I actually met Foster at Mehitables 

when I was drumming up 

support to save Ashland’s historic 

Town Hall from a demolition. 

New to town, I got the political 

ball rolling, as suggested by neighbors, 

at the Bakery. In that way, it 

was a central watering hole that 

brought residents together, a hole 

that has never been filled. 

Hagan sold the bakery business 

in 1998. It continued with a different 

owner for another couple of 

years before closing for good. To 

this day, long-time residents still 

lament the closing of Mehitables. 

“It was a gathering spot in the 

Town. We lost that,” said Teller. 

“You can go to Honey Dew and 

Dunkin Donuts, but the bakery 

was more personal. They knew 

who you were.” 

Matteson concurred. “I get depressed 

when I think about it. It 

was one of the best things about 

downtown Ashland. Nothing in 

the world like it.” She continued, 

“It was all crammed with stuff 

and everything was interesting. It 

was a treat for the senses.” 

“Ashland lost some of its identity 

when Mehitables closed,” Foster 

said. “Along with John Stone’s, 

it was a local place where everyone 

knew your name. It was the 

last of the last.” 

Currently, Ashland has no retail 

bakery. Two opened and failed 

in the past 10 years, yet a bakery 

always lands on the most coveted 

business list. Perhaps someday in 

the future, a local entrepreneur 

will stumble on this article in the 

Local Pages archives and decide 

that downtown Ashland needs a 

gathering spot. And just maybe, if 

we’re lucky, it will be called Mehitables 

II and when you walk in 

to order a homemade Thanksgiving 

pie the owner will know your 

name.


The Seany O Memorial Golf Tournament 

Brings Together Old Friends 

By Deborah Burke 

Henderson, 


On Friday, June 3, more than 

110 devoted friends and family 

of Sean O’Connor will come 

together from all over New England 

for a spirited golf tournament 

at Shining Rock Golf 

Course in Northbridge, Mass. 

O’Connor was walking home 

from work one day via the train 

tracks when he was fatally struck 

by a train. It was a tragic loss for 

everyone. 

On the day of the tournament, 

Shahood and her stepdaughter, 

Samantha, will greet 

the golfers at Shining Rock at 7 

a.m., sell raffle tickets and cover 

a couple of the holes where 

Sean O’Connor at the time of his graduation from Ashland High School 

in 1989. 

“It’s such a touching time,” 

Shahood stated. “These are 

Sean’s best friends from high 

school, and they come back year 

after year. Now they’re bringing 

their own families for the day’s 

festivities. It’s like a big class reunion, 

and it’s a beautiful way to 

keep Sean’s memory alive.” 

Over the many years since 

O’Connor’s passing in 1992, 

these devoted friends have 

staged two walk-a-thons, 20 

golf tournaments and the Seany 

O Memorial Fund Run/Walk, 

which was held for nine years on 

Ashland Day. Funds raised during 

the past 20 years benefitted 

many students graduating from 

AHS with $500 scholarships; 

over the past three years, the 

monies collected assisted a family 

in need or another worthy 

cause chosen by event organizer 

Bill Rivers and O’Connor’s 

other closest friends. 

For more information on The 

Seany O, email the event organizer 

at rivers.bill@gmail.com. 

With two close friends also named Sean, there had to be some way to 

tell the boys apart. O’Connor is shown here with a colorful tee shirt 

bearing his nickname, which has become the moniker for the annual 

memorial golfing event. 

The Sean O’Connor Memorial 

Golf Tournament, affectionately 

known as “The Seany O,” 

is a four-player scramble of 29 

teams. This will be the tournament’s 

21 st consecutive year. 

The event will celebrate and 

remember a young life lost from 

our community. O’Connor 

was diagnosed with cancer on 

Mother’s Day, 1986, when he 

was just 16 years old. He survived 

surgery on the brain and 

underwent an intense regimen 

of radiation and chemotherapy 

treatments. 

“Sean’s friends were a closeknit 

group who were at his side 

every step of the way,” Linda 

Shahood, O’Connor’s mother 

recalled. “Sean needed to relearn 

how to walk, talk, and eat, 

and these young boys supported 

him every way they could.” 

In 1989 O’Connor was able 

to attend his senior prom at Ashland 

High School and graduated 

with his classmates. By age 

21 the cancer was in remission. 

prizes are offered. O’Connor’s 

brother, Billy, will join the band 

of devoted friends who not only 

John’s 

play golf but who have organized 

this memorial event and 

others in O’Connor’s name over 

the years. That devoted group 

includes Brian McCoin, Scott 

Cameron, Sean Taylor, Sean 

Flaherty, Wayne Assencoa and 

Bill Rivers, all fellow Ashland 

High School (AHS) alumni. 

DESOUSA PLASTERING 

No Job Too Big or Too Small 

PLASTER • BLUEBOARD • DRYWALL 

Rafael DeSousa • 508-939-1664 

family owned and operated for 45 years 

Birkenstock 

repair center 

Superior Shoe & Boot Repair 

21E CharlEs strEEt, holliston, Ma 01746 

839a Main strEEt (rt. 20), WalthaM, Ma 

CErtifiED in PEDorthiCs/orthoPEDiC shoE MoDs 

sPECializing in laDiEs high hEEl tiP rEPlaCEMEnt 

tall Horse riding Boot Zipper specialist 

www.superiorshoerepair.com 

John ElhiloW, C.PED, o.s.t. (508) 429-2038 

Run Your Ads With Us! 

Call Susanne (508) 954-8148 

GENERAL AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY 

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL 

Cleaning, 

X-Ray & Exam 

$ 

*New patients only. 

99Please mention coupon at time of service. 

Selim C. Alptekin, D.M.D. 

214 Main St., Ashland, MA • 508-881-1290 

metrowestdentalcare@gmail.com 

Dr. Sal


Ashland Flower Power 

The Ashland Garden Club celebrates its successful plant sale on May 7. The club wishes to thank town 

residents for their support and donations of plants. Proceeds from the annual sale will fund plantings in 

public spaces around town. 

Local Photography Exhibit 

Premier Image Gallery 

announces their Special Photography 

Competition and 

Exhibit. The Exhibit is open 

for viewing through July 29 th . 

There are thirty photographs 

from fifteen Metrowest photographers 

on display. The 

exhibit is open from 9 to 4 

Monday through Friday and 

PREMIER IMAGE GALLERY 

Specializing in Museum Quality Framing 

Finest Selection of Original Artwork 

by Local Artists 

Celebrating 25 Years as a family owned business 

290 Eliot Street, (Ledgemere Plaza) • Ashland • (508) 881-4730 

www.premier-image.com 

SAME DAY DUMPSTERS 

$325 for 15 yard 

1.5 ton capacity 

20 and 30 yard 

sizes available 

Call for price 

(508) 872-7751 

Free Delivery 

ORLANDO 

9 to 2 on Saturday. Premier 

Image Gallery is located at 

290 Eliot Street, Ledgemere 

Plaza, Ashland. For more information 

call (508) 881-4730. 

The Easy Way Out 

By Neha Shabeer, 

Student Writer, Freshman, 

Ashland High School 

Recycle That 

Old Tricycle 

For the past few years, Bill Gath has repaired, cleaned and 

lubricated used tricycles, bicycles and scooters and donated 

them to the Ashland Food Pantry to be given away to families 

in need. Last year he refurbished 24 of them. As summer is 

fast approaching, he is looking for donations. He will pick up. 

Contact him, 508-989-0181, billgath@gmail.com. 

The students of Ashland 

High School Class of 2016 are 

anxiously waiting to zoom into 

their college futures after graduation 

on June 5! As a society, we 

offer much praise for graduating 

and getting into college as it is a 

truly remarkable feat. But what 

really happens to get into college 

behind the scenes? 

Due to high competition and 

stakes for college, students are 

taught to do everything they can 

to make their application look 

like a beautiful, well-trimmed 

garden of assorted flowers. 

Surely you must be thinking 

top SAT scores, stellar grades, 

maybe a few AP classes, leadership 

positions, sports, clubs, 

volunteer work, playing an instrument, 

and so forth. That is a 

lot to handle while also having 

a social life. But the struggle to 

write college applications begins 

well before one starts applying. 

Colleges look for a student’s 

commitment to what he or she 

has passion for. Don’t colleges 

know that it’s practically impossible 

to ask a 14-year old 

freshman to decide what they 

are “passionate” about and for 

them do the work to pad their 

application? As it is, many college 

students are still undecided 

on a major. 

Overwhelmed with stress 

from a heavy workload, high 

schoolers often try to find the 

easy way out. Have to take 

reading notes for The Odyssey? 

Use SparkNotes. Have a 

confronting text that you don’t 

know how to answer? Don’t 

respond. Have a long math assignment? 

Split the even and 

odd problems with a friend, so 

you only have to do half the 

work. These ideas seem ingenious 

to high schoolers, who try 

to apply them to every scenario. 

High school students apply 

this methodology to high school 

clubs. Clubs support different 

causes and are so fun to be part 

of if one is interested in them. I, 

for one, can attest to the fact that 

the clubs I’ve become part of 

this year have become my family 

and it has been wonderful 

finding a group of like-minded 

people in school. The fact that I 

can use club experience on a college 

application is just a cherry 

on top! Unfortunately, it has 

become a pattern for students to 

show up to the first few meetings 

of the academic year and to 

maybe one or two more meetings 

scattered throughout the rest 

of the year, while some never 

show up again. While the people 

in the club know, a college can’t 

tell the difference between a student 

who has come to one meeting 

and a student who has come 

to one hundred meetings. 

The only way for a student to 

show a difference is to be in a 

leadership position of the club. 

This forces and puts extra pressure 

on students to take leadership 

roles to show commitment 

when they might actually be 

content doing a supporting role 

consistently and working behind 

the scenes supporting the cause. 

Colleges should stop putting 

pressure on high schoolers 

to have applications that look 

like a well-scripted movie for 

their future. The fact is that we 

students should be free to try 

out different activities, make 

mistakes and learn from them. 

High school shouldn’t be the 

years where we focus on commitment; 

it should be the years 

to experiment and figure out 

who we are. I think it is only 

fair for colleges to look for good 

grades and conduct, but to have 

requirements to show steady 

commitment and passion is not 

healthy. Personally, I would like 

to try boxing one year, theater 

another year, or shadow a doctor 

without worrying that colleges 

will think I’m lackluster and unclear 

for the future. As I struggle 

through who I am, I am glad my 

seniors are seeing the light at the 

end of the tunnel. I wish them all 

the best and a fabulous summer. 

For more about the happenings 

at Ashland High School 

through my eyes, keep reading 

my monthly column :)


Free Events at 

The Residence 

The Residence at Valley Farm, 

369 Pond Street, Ashland, will hold 

the following free events, which are 

open to the public. Please sign up in 

advance by calling 508-532-3197. 

Tai Chi 

Looking for a new way to exercise? 

Join us every Friday at 10 a.m. The 

experts agree that this form of exercise 

has value in treating or preventing 

many health problems. 

History at Play with Judith 

Kalaora 

Historical interpreter Judith Kalaora 

will give a dynamic portrayal 

of Lucy Stone, the first woman from 

Massachusetts to earn her college degree, 

while showing fierce support for 

human rights and equality. This performance 

will leave you spell-bound. 

Friday, June 10, 2 p.m. 

Massachusetts Wildlife Presentation 

with Ranger Pam 

Landry 

Ranger Pam Landry will give 

a presentation on the local wildlife 

found in our local area. Wednesday, 

June 15, 2 p.m. 

Wellness Wednesday Talk 

with Dr. Amy Strong 

This month’s topic: How to maintain 

a healthy back, with Dr. Amy 

Strong. Wednesday, June 22, 11 a.m. 

Ashland Education 

Foundation Wishes You 

a Happy Summer! 

The Ashland Education 

Foundation, Inc. 

(AEFI) would like to thank 

residents for their support 

throughout the 2015-16 

school year. As you make 

your summer plans, please 

consider continuing your 

support through two of our 

sponsors: 

For every supporter of 

AEFI who opens a checking 

account at Needham Bank, 

41 Front St., the bank will 

donate an additional $100 

to AEFI. When you open 

your account, please mention 

you are there to support 

the AEFI. 

While shopping over the 

summer, don’t forget to use 

Amazon Smiles. By using 

Amazon smiles, AEFI will 

receive .5 percent of your 

purchase price as a donation 

from Amazon. 

1. To select AEFI as your 

charity, click Amazon 

Smiles or the icon to the 

right. 

2. Type “Ashland Education 

Foundation Inc” 

(no quotation marks) in 

the box next to search 

field and click “Search.” 

“Ashland Education 

Foundation, Inc located 

in Ashland, MA” will be 

the first search result. 

3. Press the Select button 

next to the search result. 

This will select AEFI as 

your target charity 

Overwhelmed by Financing Your 

Child’s College Education? 

Join Rep. Tom Sannicandro 

and the Massachusetts Educations 

Financing Authority 

(MEFA) for a free educational 

seminar on saving for college. 

Whether you’re expecting, having 

young children or are nearing 

a high school graduation, it is 

always the right time to start investing 

in your child’s future. An 

experienced MEFA representative 

will provide families with the 

information and tools they need 

to create college financing plan, 

while debunking college savings 

myths, and discussing how savings 

affects financial aid eligibility. 

Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 to 

8 pm, The Forum at Framingham 

State University, McCarthy 

Center, 100 State St. For more 

details, call McAndrews at 617- 

722-2013, or visit www.mefa.org 

Gardener Plus 

Your old fashioned perennial gardener 

Planting Pruning Weeding Mulching 

~Call for our full list of services~ 

Washington Barbalho 

Owner 508.881.2264 

New Expanded Dining Room 

HAPPY HOUR 

Monday - Thursday 2-6 pm • Friday - Sunday 2-5 pm 

Say NO to Big Bank Fees. 

Switch to Milford Federal’s EZ Checking Free account! 

99¢ 

Jumbo Cocktail 

Shrimp 

99¢ 

Raw Oysters 

79¢ 

Fried Chicken 

Wings 

Watch your favorite sports on our 7 large screen TV’s! 

Play Keno • Live Music 

Private Function Room for up to 100 

• FREE ATM/Debit Card 

• FREE Online bill pay 

• FREE Mobile banking 

• Unlimited Check Writing 

• NO monthly service fees 

• NO direct deposit required 

• NO Minimum balance required 

•FREE Internet and phone banking 

Organic Chinese Japanese Fine Cuisine 

508-881-6568 

380 Union Street, Rte 135, Ashland 

www.hantogourmet.com 

MilfordFederal.com 

508-634-2500 • 800-478-6990 

Milford • Whitinsville • Woonsocket 

Member FDIC


Is It Time to See an 

Acne Specialist? 

Lisa Massimiano. 

Licensed Esthetician and 

Certified Acne Specialist 

Owner of Skin Smart Salon 

If you have been diagnosed 

with acne and haven’t been satisfied 

with drug store products 

or the suggested treatment from 

your doctor, consider seeing an 

Acne Specialist. 

What is an 

Acne Specialist? 

An Acne Specialist is a licensed 

skin care professional 

who is specially trained to treat 

acne using a combination of 

clinical treatments, home care 

protocols and regular follow-up 

during the process of clearing 

acne prone skin. 

Most physicians don’t have 

time to spend educating patients 

on the root cause of their acne. 

They often prescribe oral antibiotics 

and strong topical retinoids 

that can leave skin dry, red and 

irritated. Patients get frustrated 

with these side effects and stop 

using the products. 

Achieve Clear Skin 

Before 

How an Acne Specialist 

Can Help You. 

An Acne Specialist will assess 

your individual skin type 

and the type of acne you have 

to develop a plan of action specifically 

for you. They will take 

the time to teach you about the 

root cause of acne and provide 

information on lifestyle, diet, 

medications and ingredients 

in makeup and skin care products 

that exacerbate acne. They 

help you to get your skin clear 

and teach you how to keep your 

acne under control. 

For people struggling with 

acne, it can be frustrating to try 

and communicate with their 

doctor on a timely basis. My clients 

tell me that the best part of 

working with an Acne Specialist 

is that we are there for them 

to answer their questions and 

provide support while they go 

through the process of getting 

their skin clear. 

Questions about acne? Call me 

at (508) 881-1180 or email me at 

skinsmartsalon@aol.com. Visit my 

website skinsmartsalon.com for information 

about the acne program and 

other services. 

after 

ACNE CLINIC - for all ages 

Take control and manage your acne with a customized treatment program 

designed to clear your unique skin. 

Education. Coaching. Support 

I went to Skin Smart a little over a year ago as my last ditch effort to 

treat my acne. I had tried almost every acne treatment out there and 

was still struggling. When I went to Skin Smart my acne was at the 

worst it had ever been. I was a little reluctant that anything was going 

to help but within a few months I started seeing improvements. 

A year later and my skin has neverlooked so good! I am so grateful 

for Skin Smart and their products! – Jennifer 

Lisa Massimiano - Licensed Aesthetician, Acne Specialist 

508-881-1180 

44 Front Street, 2nd Floor • Ashland 

www.skinsmartsalon.com 

In Memory Of 

Gerald “Jerry” W. Bunker, 

70, of Ashland passed away on 

April 28 after a long battle with 

cancer. Bunker was a firefighter 

in town from 1978 through 

1991. In addition, he worked 

as a building contractor and 

owned and operated Bunker 

Excavation Co. in Ashland. He 

had a passion for old Farmall 

tractors having restored several 

and served as the president of 

the International Harvester 

Collector’s Club New England 

Chapter 18. Bunker served his 

country honorably with the 

Coast Guard during the Vietnam 

War receiving two Bronze 

Stars. According to Fire Chief 

Scott Boothby, “Jerry was well 

STUMP GRINDING 

508-380-8717 

PLUMBING • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING 

Residential and Commercial 

FREE 

Estimates 

Licensed & 

Insured 

loved by the members of the 

department as well as everyone 

he touched throughout his life.” 

Waterview Lodge 

Skilled Nursing Facility 

Opens in Ashland 

Waterview Lodge Rehabilitation 

and Healthcare located 

at 250 West Union St., opened 

this past January. The fourstory, 

52,000-square foot, stateof-the 

art facility has 103 beds. 

The facility is situated in 12 

acres of woodlands and boasts 

a park-like enclosed courtyard, 

fountain and pond. Offering 

Gary Schofield 

Timber Harvesters 

Equipment 

JOYCE 

508-497-6344 

joyceplumbingandheating.com 

(Photo/Cynthia Whitty) 

skilled nursing care, the facility 

is licensed for Medicare and 

Medicaid. Also included in the 

building design are two 39-bed 

long-term care units for residents 

who are no longer able 

to manage in the community. 

Later this year, Waterview 

Lodge plans to provide a dementia 

care unit for those suffering 

from Alzheimer’s disease 

or related dementias. The unit 

will feature a sensory room designed 

to promote a feeling of 

safety, reduce tension and provide 

one-on-one therapeutic 

activities. 

CEO and President Dr. 

Indira Desai said, “I’d like to 

thank the town of Ashland for 

helping us open Waterview 

Lodge. After 28 years in the 

business, my vision of building 

a beautiful, new healthcare 

facility has been achieved. It is 

my hope that all the communities 

of Metrowest, especially 

Ashland, Hopkinton, Holliston, 

Sherborn, Natick, Framingham 

and Milford, will be 

proud of this new landmark 

for years to come. Together, 

we will build a healthy future, 

from the ground up.” 

Waterview Lodge LLC is 

affiliated with Mr. Ida Rest 

Home, an 18-bed retirement 

community in Newton. For 

more information, contact 

Cindy Farrell, Admissions Director, 

or Karen Baker, Case 

Manager, at 508-848-4200. 

PLEASE RECYCLE 

THIS NEWSPAPER


Cruising to a Successful Weight Loss 

New England Fat Loss Client Clocks 

Many Miles to Achieve His Goal 

East Wareham resident Jeff 

Monast admits he was initially 

hesitant to commit to the onehour 

drive to join New England 

Weight Loss (NEFL). Once he met 

Dr. John and the NEFL staff and 

learned about the program, however, 

the commute was a minimal 

factor to achieve his weight loss 

goals. 

“When I first heard it was so 

far away, I thought, ‘That really 

stinks,’ but after my experience, it 

is well worth the drive,” Monast 

said. 

According to forty-two yearold 

Monast, the stimulus to walk 

through that door on April 15 

far outweighed inconvenience. 

He was experiencing lack of energy 

and was intrigued with their 

20-to-40-pounds-lost-in-40-days 

guarantee. 

“I don’t know what clicked in 

my head, but I honestly couldn’t 

recommend it enough,” Monast 

said. “I’ve been fighting my weight 

since I’ve been 10 years old, and I 

honestly did not think it would be 

this easy to lose the weight. 

While being interviewed on 

day 23 of his first stage, Monast 

had dropped 34.9 pounds, already 

within reach of that first significant 

goal. The food combinations, 

daily weight reports and office 

visits guided the way, but Monast 

also found Dr. John’s assistance 

invaluable. 

“I knew I would have no time 

to prepare meals during one weekend 

and we went back and forth 

with ideas,” Monast said. He is 

very accessible.” 

Monast is thrilled with his success 

of the Phase 1 portion of the 

program, but is motivated to enter 

the next stage. Through an extensive 

diagnostic process, the NEFL 

team will identify specific foods 

to work with his individual body 

chemistry and trigger additional 

weight loss. 

a“Once I get through the 40 

days, they give me a list of my personal 

weight-burning foods that 

are good for my body make up,” 

Monast said. “I’m pretty excited to 

see what they are.” 

From the beginning, nothing 

has come in the way of Monast 

reaching his weight loss goals. Not 

miles, time or commitment. His 

true drive, however, comes from 

his family. 

“This is a lifestyle change not a 

diet, and my number one reason 

is because I have a beautiful wife 

and two beautiful children that 

I want to be around a long time 

for,” Monast said. 

Your journey can begin today! 

New England Fat Loss offers 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 1 (844) 437-8446. 

LESS BUMMER 

THIS SUMMER! 

Lose 20-40 lbs 

in 40 days... 

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Get Ready For Summer 

· Bodyworkz personal 

training program 

· State of the art cardio and 

strength equipment 

· 24 hr secure access coed 

fitness center 

309 Pond St • Ashland, MA 

508-881-4900 

www.anytimefitnessashland.com 

Sports 

7 Players, 1 Team to Enter Ashland Hall of Fame 

By Ken Hamwey, 

Staff Sports Writer 

The Ashland Athletic Hall of 

Fame now has eight members 

and one team. 

The selection committee 

voted to add seven individuals 

and one team to join the first 

inductee — Harold “Grump’’ 

Walker — who was inducted 

posthumously last year for his 

coaching excellence. Ashland’s 

Hall of Fame, which is only two 

years old, plans to honor its newest 

members at a dinner that will 

be held on Nov. 20 at the Crystal 

Room in Milford. The time has 

yet to be determined. 

“I’d like to thank the selection 

committee for its time and 

effort in reviewing all the candidates,’’ 

Peter Zacchilli, the Hall 

of Fame chairman, said. “The 

new members no doubt are very 

deserving to be included for induction, 

and I urge residents in 

the community to continue to 

submit candidates’ names for 

induction.’’ 

The seven members and one 

team selected are Atilio Ferdenzi, 

Robert “Buddy” Kokins, 

Gus Carlson, Hugo “Scooch” 

Giargiari, Lou Mancini, Julie 

Phipps, Kevin Maines, and the 

1996 softball team. A look at the 

new inductees follows: 

Atilio Ferdenzi (class of 

1933, posthumously) was a 

three-sport star in football, 

basketball and baseball, and 

captained the basketball and 

football teams. Ferdenzi excelled 

in the Clockers’ backfield 

through the early 1930s, competing 

as a running back and 

Atilio Ferdenzi 

quarterback. He led Ashland 

to its first undefeated season in 

1932 and is most remembered 

for scoring all the points in a 

24-6 rout of Hopkinton that 

season. Ferdenzi later played 

at Boston College where he 

starred in football and baseball. 

Robert “Buddy” Kokins 

(class of 1944, posthumously) 

earned 12 varsity letters starting 

for the Clockers in football, basketball, 

and baseball (freshmen 

through senior year). Kokins 

captained the 1943 undefeated 

squad and was a star player in the 

backfield. He really left his mark, 

however, in basketball, playing 

at center and scoring 227 points 

in the 1944 season. This was in 

an era of 15 game seasons and 

no three-point baskets. His point 

total set a new single-season record 

at Ashland. 

Gus Carlson 

Gus Carlson (class of 1951, 

posthumously). Considered by 

many to be the best athlete to 

have ever worn an Ashland uniform, 

Carlson starred as a shooting 

guard in basketball and a 

catcher in baseball. He earned 

first-team, all-star honors in 

baseball as an eighth-grader and 

started at guard in basketball as 

a freshman. He was admired for 

his play at quarterback, fullback, 

linebacker, and kicker in football. 

He captained the football team 

that snapped Weston’s 19-game 

win streak. 

Hugo “Scooch” Giargiari 

(class of 1954). A three-sport captain 

as a senior, Giargiari started 

every varsity game for four years. 

In basketball, he played forward 

and averaged 14 points. In baseball, 

he played centerfield and 

hit .415 as a senior. He started at 

quarterback for the undefeated 

Hugo “Scooch” Giargiari 

1952 team and also led Ashland 

to the school’s longest win streak 

of 19 games (1951-1953). He 

won the MetroWest scoring title 

(96 points in 8 games) and scored 

32 career touchdowns. Giargiari 

enrolled at Holy Cross where he 

played football and baseball. He 

later coached Ashland’s football 

teams (1973-1979) and his 1977 

squad finished 10-0 in the regular 

season and captured the Tri Valley 

League (TVL) title. 

Lou Mancini (class of 1967) 

lettered in football, gymnastics, 

wrestling, and track and is most 

recognized for his success on 

Ashland’s first varsity wrestling 

team (1967). Mancini never lost 

a dual meet, going 11-0 for Ashland 

in just one year of wrestling. 

He capped off his season as Ashland’s 

first 

state champ 

and finished 

as runnerup 

in New 

England. 

Wrestling 

for Boston 

State, Man- 

Lou Mancini 

cini continued 

his 

dominance 

by compiling 

a dual-meet record of 42-0. 

He has since given back to his 

hometown, serving as a teacher 

and coach in the district for almost 

40 years. 

Julie Phipps (class of 1996). 

A two-time TVL all-star in volleyball, 

Phipps also was a threetime 

all-star in track. She set the 

school shot-put record and the 

Class D meet record in 1994 

while capturing the Class D 

state championship. In softball, 

she starred as a pitcher and first 

baseman, earning TVL MVP 

honors in ’94, ’95, and ’96. She 

was also a two-time Globe and 

Herald All-Scholastic. Phipps 

compiled a 60-7 record and had 

586 strikeouts in four seasons. 

Julie Phipps 

In 1996 as captain, she led Ashland 

to a Division 3 state title 

and earned the Boston Globe’s 

Division 3 Player of the Year 

Award. Phipps played at Merrimack 

College, then Assumption 

where she became the National 

Collegiate Athletic Association 

(NCAA) Division 2 batting 

champ, hitting .576. 

Kevin Maines (coached 

from 1991-2002). Taking over 

the football program in 1991, 

Maines led Ashland to its first 

winning season in almost a decade 

with the 1993 squad. Two 

years later in 1995, he guided 

Ashland to its first Super Bowl 

crown. That team captured the 

TVL championship and the 

Eastern Mass. Division 6B title. 

Maines also served as head baseball 

coach from 1995-2002. In 

2000, he led Ashland to a 24-2 

record, a TVL title, and the Division 

3 state championship. A positive 

example for all high school 

coaches, Maines now is principal 

at Douglas High School. 

HALL OF FAME 

continued on page 19


HALL OF FAME 


The 1996 softball team 

compiled a 25-2 record (16-1 

in the TVL). Coached by 

Dave Hunt and Bob Torosian, 

the girls finished as 

TVL champions, Division 3 

South Sectional champs, and 

Division 3 state champions. 

Three-time TVL MVP Julie 

Phipps (pitcher, first baseman), 

TVL all-star catcher 

Kelly Rund, and TVL all-star 

shortstop Jackie Lloyd led the 

team on a 6-0 playoff run 

to capture the state crown. 

Other senior teammates included 

Jill Carey, Christine 

Amico, Paola Gaine, Kristen 

Zawada, Jennifer Meade and 

Rachel Vachon. Leah Kamataris, 

Jill Deliago, Sheri Piascik, 

Chrissy Andronico, Amy 

Curlett, Keri Giangrande, 

Michele Leporati, Brooke 

Perry, and Becky Karb all 

contributed as underclassmen. 

Sports 

Baseball Opening Day in Ashland 

Ashland Lions to 

Host Triathlon, 


The Ashland Lions Olympic 

and Sprint Triathlon will 

start at the Warren Conference 

Center on Chestnut 

Street, Sunday, June 12. The 

triathlon consists of two categories: 

Olympic and Sprint. 

The Olympic involves a onemile 

swim at the Ashland 

Reservoir, a bike course of 26 

miles and a run of 6.5 miles, 

both courses going through 

the three towns of Ashland, 

Holliston and Hopkinton. 

The Sprint category involves 

a .5-mile swim, a 13-mile bike 

course and a 3.25-run course. 

The Ashland Lions have 

been hosting the triathlon 

for the past 15 years. The 

Lions work in combination 

with Fiske Independent Race 

Management, the race organizers. 

“Our club members help 

set up for the race, man 

water stations, monitor intersections 

in the three towns 

and clean up after the race 

is completed,” Julian Doktor, 

Ashland Lion, said. “We 

place many signs along the 

bike and run courses, cautioning 

motorists to watch 

for the bikers and runners. 

We urge motorists to display 

extreme caution along the 

courses.” 

For more information, 

email wendy@firm-racing. 

com or call 508-434-0123. 

Ashland Little League and Softball Parade on April 30 opens the season. (Photo/Keith Robie) 

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Ashland Travels 

An Unofficial Guided Tour of Noriega’s Estate 

The estate had been a self-sufficient fortress 

with an escape tunnel. 

By Howard Axelrod, 


During the period from 1983 

to 1989, Manuel Noriega was one 

of the wealthiest and most powerful 

dictators, arms dealers and 

drug lords in the world. After US 

forces invaded Panama in 1989, 

extradited, prosecuted and jailed 

him, he is now wasting away, at 

the age of 81, in a federal prison 

in Panama. 

This guy was no Boy Scout. 

The US jury tried Noriega on 

eight counts of racketeering, conspiracy, 

and cocaine smuggling. 

He was sentenced to 40 years in 

prison (later reduced to 30). Twice 

turned down for parole, he was 

released from prison in 2007. 

France subsequently extradited 

and convicted him of murder and 

money laundering, sentencing 

him to a seven-year prison term. 

A conditional release was granted 

on Sept. 23, 2011 for Noriega to 

be extradited once again, this time 

to serve 20 years in prison in his 

native Panama. He returned to 

Panama on December 11, 2011. 

He will most likely spend the rest 

of his life here behind bars. 

Private Guided Tour 

In 2002 my wife Nancy and I 

took a private guided tour of Panama. 

While in Panama City our 

guide and driver Mario stopped 

our vehicle to show us the exterior 

of the Noriega Estate, which is no 

longer occupied, and is off limits 

to the public. Our driver began 

chatting with the rather large and 

scary-looking military guard on 

duty. The guard looked ‘right out 

of central casting,’ complete with 

facial scars. As it turned out, our 

driver had once worked in the 

Noriega regime as an aerial photographer. 

As such, the guard on 

duty apparently felt some bond of 

trust and comradeship with him. 

Sensing a way to make a few quick 

US greenbacks, the guard—after 

looking around carefully—asked 

us if we would like to see the inside 

of the estate and grounds. 

Now clearly, this is not ‘legit,’ and 

we all knew it. Mario, a licensed, 

professional guide of 17 years, said 

that such an invitation is absolutely 

unimaginable. 

The next thing we knew, the estate 

guard, a former officer under 

The ceramic tile nameplate on the 

front gate of the estate/fortress. 

the Noriega regime in the 80s, 

ushered us inside, padlocking the 

iron gate behind us. I remember 

thinking that the closing gate had 

a sound similar to that of a jail 

cell swinging shut. He then proceeded 

to give us a private guided 

tour of the estate. We exchanged 

pleasantries as best as possible. He 

spoke little English, and we spoke 

little Spanish. I flattered him by 

complementing him on all of 

the colorful medals and patches, 

which he displayed proudly on 

his military uniform. My wife followed 

my cue and did the same. 

He re-payed us with a smile. 

Have you ever had the feeling 

you were in a place you simply 

did not belong? The feeling was 

palpable and pervasive. My wife 

and I were tense, and felt that at 

any moment we would be apprehended 

and swept off to a Panamanian 

jail cell. Clearly we did not 

belong here! This was not a tourist 

attraction, and the military guard 

was certainly not stationed there to 

give private tours. Gradually, we 

relaxed a bit and we began to take 

in everything around us. I asked if 

taking photographs was OK, and 

to my amazement the guard said 

yes. 

The Noriega estate is in disrepair, 

as it had not had any maintenance 

in over a decade. A thick 

layer of dust covered the interior. 

Boards are falling off the side of 

the house, wooden decking is 

rotting, and many wooden stairs 

were broken. Clearly, this was not 

a place designed for the public to 

visit. 

Floor-by-Floor Tour 

On the first floor we toured 

Noriega’s private movie theater, 

barbecue area and bar. Some 

wine bottles, covered with dust, 

were still in the rack. We examined 

these, and it was clear that the 

dictator had a taste for fine French 

Grand Crus. 

On the second floor we found 

The fountains in front of the main house have been turned off for over 

a decade. 

Noriega’s private beauty salon, including his suitcases and suits. 

The personal desk of General Noriega. 

ourselves in Noriega’s office and 

study. Almost every item was 

marked with an inventory tag. 

There had once been an undertaking 

to turn the estate and 

grounds into a museum, and as 

such everything had been inventoried 

and tagged. The museum 

never materialized. We saw 

Noriega’s desk and chair, and the 

guard even pulled out the former 

dictator’s scrapbook, complete 

with mementos and photos from 

his daughter’s wedding! As we 

(Photos/Howard Axelrod) 

looked through this scrapbook, I 

kept thinking, “Should we really 

be looking at this? Is this ethically 

and morally right? Were we invading 

another person’s privacy? 

Does it really matter that he was 

a convicted, international criminal 

and had not been here in over a 

decade?” 

I felt conflicted but was afraid to 

offend the guard. It was unbelievable 

to be looking at the personal 

belongings in the private office 

and on the personal desk, where 

one of the wealthiest and most 

powerful dictators and criminals 

in the world once sat. The guard 

invited me to sit in the General’s 

desk chair, and shivers ran up my 

spine. I graciously declined. I felt 

that sitting in this chair was somehow 

going too far. Opening and 

closing drawers and cabinets, our 

host showed us many of Noriega’s 

personal possessions. 

During the time in his office, 

we felt like grave robbers, at times 

almost expecting to be caught. I 

snapped photos inside using flash, 

as the only light was that which 

entered through windows covered 

with a thick layer of dust. The 

electricity and water service had 

been disconnected long ago. 

The guard then reached into a 

dusty bookcase, and pulled down 

a paperback copy of a book that 

had been written by Felicidad Sieiro 

de Noriega, the General’s wife, 

an educated woman, and a professor 

at the University of Panama at 

the time of publication (1968). Los 

Indio’s Guaymies – Frente al problema 

educativo y cultural was a study of the 

Guaymie Indians, one of Panama’s 

indigenous tribes. The pages 

of the book had yellowed with 

age. Some 20 or so identical copies 

were in the bookcase, all covered 

in dust. Apparently the ex-dictator 

would present these as gifts to his 

guests. He was proud of his educated 

and accomplished wife. The 

guard handed my wife Nancy the 

book and said, “I have something 

for you, if you have something for 

me . . . .” We got the me$$age, and 

became the owner of this item. 

On the left of the General’s 

desk was a table where some 50 

or so empty opened jewelry and 

wrist watch boxes laid. Apparently 

Noriega would keep very 

expensive watches and jewelry on 

hand to give as gifts to guests. The 

rumor is that after Noriega had 

been forcibly removed from the 

estate by US troops, some 5 million 

dollars in jewelry and watches 

somehow ‘walked out the door.’ 

Additional rumors are that in 

the storage areas of the mansion, 

many 40-gallon drums had been 

found, filled with money. I doubt 

we are talking “ones” here! 

A Self-Sufficient Fortress 

We were then led by flashlight 

to a basement room where old 

electric generators and fresh water 

NORIEGA’S ESTATE 

continued on page 21


Every Fourth Tuesday 

7 pm: The Front Street 

Readers book discussion group 

meets at the Ashland Library, 66 

Front St. 

Every Third Wednesday 

5:30 to 6:30 pm: The Residence 

at Valley Farm, 369 Pond 

St. hosts a Dementia Caregiver 

Support Group and free memory 

screenings, 9:30 am to 5:30 

pm. Contact Emily Beauchemin, 

508-532-3197, ebeauchemin@residencevalleyfarm.com. 

Every Third Thursday 

5 to 6 pm: Golden Pond 

Assisted Living and Memory 

Care, 50 West Main St., Hopkinton, 

hosts an Alzheimer’s 

and Dementia Support Group 

in The Lodge. The group focuses 

on individuals who care 

for people in the mid to late 

stages of Alzheimer’s and related 

dementias. This support 

group is an Alzheimer’s Association-Approved 

Support Group 

in New England. Light refreshments 

served. Free and open to 

the public. To register, call Liz 

Kemp, LCSW, 508-435-1250 

ext. 29. 

Every Friday 

7 pm: Friends’ Friday Night 

Film Series shows predominantly 

independent or foreign 

films. Many of the films are 

shown with subtitles in English. 

Ashland Library, 66 Front St. 

www.friendsoftheapl.com, 508- 

881-0134. 

Through June 11 

Art in the Library: The Essence 

of Memory and Time” 

by Patricia Romeo, Downstairs 

Gallery, and “Wood Working: 

A Way to Recovery” by Robert 

Mark, Upstairs Display Case. 

Ashland Library, 66 Front St., 

www.friendsoftheapl.com, 508- 

881-0134. 

Saturday, June 4 

8:30 am to 1 pm: Ashland 

Garden Club Garden Tour and 

Luncheon. Tour begins at the 

Garden Club tent across the 

street from the Ashland Library, 

66 Front St. Stroll through six 

beautiful private gardens. Includes 

lunch, 11:30 to 1 pm, at 

the library. Proceeds help fund 

plantings in Ashland’s public 

spaces. Tickets: $20 by May 30; 

$25, the day of the tour. www. 

ashlandgardenclub.org or call 

Lois, 508-881-3376. 

Community Events 

Metrowest K9 5K “Fun Run,” 

which includes a 5K run and a 

5K run/walk with your dog 

through the woods at the Metrowest 

YMCA outdoor facility 

in Hopkinton. www.metrowestK95K.com, 

508-641-1222. 

Tuesday, June 7 

7 pm: Ashland Parent Advisory 

Council (ASHPAC) 

Monthly Meeting. All are welcome. 

Ashland Middle School 

(AMS) Activity Room, 87 W. 

Union St. www.ashpac.org 

5:30 to 7:30 pm: Ashland 

Business Association Meeting 

at Ashland Library, 66 Front 

St. Free and open to the public. 

Guest Speaker: Mark Altman, 

founder of MindsetGo. Business 

Spotlight: Nadine Heaps of 

WAITT (We’re All In This Together). 

www.ashlandfirst.com, 

508-735-9473. 

Saturday, June 11 

9 am to 1 pm: Ashland Farmers 

Market Opening Day, 125 

Front St., on the grass across 

from the library. www.ashlandfarmersmarket.org 

10 am to 2 pm: Friends of 

the Library Book and Cupcake 

Sale, Ashland Library, 66 

Front St. Books are $1 for hardcover 

and trade paperbacks. 

Mass-market paperbacks and 

children’s books are 50 cents. 

Children’s paperbacks are 25 

cents. www.friendsoftheapl.com, 

508-881-0134. 

Sunday, June 12 

Ashland Lions Olympic and 

Sprint Triathlon starts at the 

Warren Conference Center. 

wendy@firm-racing.com, 508- 

434-0123. 


7 pm: Pond Street Update 

Meeting at the Warren Elementary 

School. http://pondst.ashlandmass.com. 

Thursday, June 16 

through August 31 

Art in the Library: artwork 

from Ashland High School art 

students at the Ashland Library, 

66 Front St. 


2 pm: Summer Reading 

Program Kicks off with comic 

mime Robert Rivest with his 

high energy comedy program 

“Healthy Choices, Healthy 

Lives.” Open to all ages, but 

space is limited. Tickets will be 

given out starting at 1:30 pm. 

Ashland Library, 66 Front St. 

Children ages 2 and up can 

join the Summer Reading Program 

by coming to the library 

any time between June 28 and 

July 30. Each child who signs up 

will choose a paperback book 

to take home and keep. Readers 

will earn more books and 

prizes by tracking their reading 

throughout the summer. Call 

the library, 508-881-0134. 

Town Committeest 

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 15 th of 

every month to editor@ 

ashlandtownnews.com. 

Events will be included as 

space permits. 

NORIEGA’S ESTATE 


holding tanks stood silently collecting 

dust. The estate had been 

a self-sufficient fortress with an 

escape tunnel, and had once been 

surrounded by hundreds of guards 

and heavily armed vehicles. 

Next, the guard escorted us to 

the ground floor. Here we walked 

through the private children’s 

nursery, and peeked through a 

locked gate into Noriega’s private 

beauty salon. It was amazing 

to see all the chairs, mirrors and 

beautician equipment used to 

keep the General looking his best. 

In an open closet I saw some very 

expensive, probably hand-made 

suits covered in dust, as well as 

Noriega’s suitcases. The man had 

impeccable taste. Although the 

once finely manicured gardens 

were overgrown, and the numerous 

beautiful fountains (he really 

did have excellent taste) had long 

since stopped functioning, it took 

little imagination to visualize how 

beautiful the grounds must have 

looked when “El Jefe” ruled from 

here. 

I asked Mario how much to 

give our “host” and he said $2 

should please him. I asked no 

questions, handed the guard two 

US singles, took a few photos of 

him, smiled, shook hands, once 

again complemented him on all 

his colorful medals and military 

patches, and got the hell out of 

there. You get a lot of excitement 

for your money in Panama! 

When we got back to the car, 

my wife and I and our guide and 

driver were all silent. None of us 

could believe where we had just 

been. Slowly it started to sink in. 

I looked down and saw my wife 

holding the paperback copy of 

Los Indio’s Guaymies, and I realized 

that I had not been dreaming. We 

we had really been in the home 

and office of General Manual 

Noriega! As we drove further from 

the mansion, the tenseness left us, 

and we all relaxed, realizing what 

an incredible experience we had 

just had. Our guide phoned his office 

to tell them what had just happened, 

and no one believed him! 

For years after this experience, 

I feared a knock on the door, or 

worse. As time goes on I fear less 

and less, so as the great adventurer 

and my favorite writer Mr. 

E. Hemingway would probably 

say, “So there you have it!” 

Nancy and I have traveled the 

globe, and had many amazing experiences, 

but this one was truly 

unique, and is most definitely in 

our “Top 10.” 

Howard Axelrod is a Metrowest 

resident, travel photographer, sometimes 

writer and former high technology executive. 

He has photographed in 74 countries 

on six continents and has travelled to 38 

of the U.S. states. Axelrod is primarily 

interested in native and tribal cultures, architecture 

and wildlife, which he feels are 

all disappearing at an alarming rate. His 

goal is to document through photographs 

as much of this as possible, while it still 

exists. He can be reached at highwind@ 

verizon.net. 

Sha’arei Shalom 

Community 

Announcements 

Sha’arei Shalom is a member-driven, 

diverse congregation 

offering the warmth of a 

small community. We recognize 

the wide range of views in our 

congregation and provide both 

tradition and innovation, giving 

us the opportunity to learn and 

grow as a community. The following 

events will be held at the 

Ashland Community Center, 

162 W. Union St. 

Shabbat Live Service: 

Friday, June 3, 7:30 pm 

Shabbat Live! is a musical 

and interactive service featuring 

our Shabbat Live! Band. Come 

experience our lively twist on a 

traditional Shabbat service as 

we celebrate with Rabbi Margie 

and Bar Mitzvah, Ben Weinstein. 

A community Oneg Shabbat 

will follow the service. 

Shabbat Services: Friday, 

June 17, 7:30 pm 

Experience the warmth of 

the Sha’arei Shalom Community. 

Join us for a traditional 

Friday night service with Rabbi 

Margie and our Bat Mitzvah, 

Dolin Grayson, leading the service. 

A community Oneg Shabbat 

will follow. 

For more information, call 

508-231-4700, email info@ 

shaareishalom.org, or visit www. 

shaareishalom.org.


Ashland Cub Scouts Enjoy Outdoor Adventures 

This month Ashland Cub 

Scouts have been busy with 

outdoor adventures, including 

fishing at Ashland State 

Park, exploring nature at 

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary 

and cheering on the Pawtucket 

Red Sox at a double 

header baseball game. The 

Scouts also presented fire 

escape plans at the Ashland 

Fire Station, practiced skits 

to perform on the air at the 

Ashland cable station, and 

raced slot cars at Modelville 

Hobby. To learn more about 

scouting, visit www.pack1- 

ashlandma.org. 

Den 6 Tiger Scouts explore nature at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Den 4 Bear Scouts enjoy a fishing expedition at Ashland State Park. 

Decisions at Every Turn Coalition 

Tips for a Safe Summer 

Ashland’s Decisions at Every 

Turn (DEAT) Coalition would 

like to remind families that as 

they embrace the summer season, 

please be sure to do it safely. 

Here are some safety tips to keep 

in mind. 

Outdoor safety 

Kids of all ages are more 

likely to be outside during the 

summer months. Older children 

! 

Ashland Garden Club 

Ashland, Massachusetts 

2016 Garden Tour and Luncheon 

Saturday, June 4, 2016 – 9:00am – 3:00pm 

$20.00 in advance for orders received by May 30th 

$25.00 on the day of the tour 

Stroll through six beautiful private gardens in 

Ashland. Homeowners or experienced gardeners will 

be on hand to answer questions. 

The ticket price includes a delicious luncheon at the 

Library, prepared by garden club members. Lunch 

will be served between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. 

Proceeds from the garden tour help fund plantings in 

Ashland’s public spaces, and also helps to defray the 

cost of our various educational events. 

Thank you for your support! 

Visit our website at: www.ashlandgardenclub.org 

Or call: Lois Bennett at 508-881-3376 

are often given the freedom to 

walk downtown, play in public 

parks or attend activities without 

parental supervision. Talk with 

your children about simple steps 

thtey can take to stay safe as they 

enjoy the outdoors. 

Wear a helmet and obey road 

regulations when riding a bike. 

Use sunscreen and drink 

water to stay hydrated when 

outdoors. 

Wear long-sleeved shirts and 

pants in wooded/trail areas to 

minimize the risk of tick and 

other bug bites. 

Swim only in designated 

areas or those under supervision 

of a lifeguard. 

Discuss actions your child 

should take if they are approached 

by a stranger 

Yes, I’d like to order tickets for the Ashland Garden Club Tour 

and luncheon. 

Enclosed is my check for ______number of tickets at $20.00 per 

ticket for: 

Name:_________________________________________________ 

Address: ______________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________ 

Phone # (in case we need to contact you) ______________________ 

Please make checks payable to: Ashland Garden Club and 

mail with this form to: Ashland Garden Club, P.O. Box 43, 

Ashland, MA 01721. Prepaid ticket orders must be received by 

May 30 th. 

Pick up your prepaid tickets and get directions to 

the garden sites across from the library at 66 

Front Street between 8:30AM – 1:00PM. Tickets 

may also be purchased the day of the tour for 

$25.00. 

In the house 

During the summer months, 

older children are often at home 

for extended periods of time 

while parents are at work. Some 

may be in charge of watching 

younger siblings. For all children, 

having “down time” is 

important and necessary, but 

prolonged periods of time without 

supervision can increase 

the chances of risky behaviors. 

Some helpful tips for parents: 

Monitor online activity and 

know which websites and chatrooms 

your children are visiting. 

Discuss and enforce your 

rules and expectations regarding 

social media. For example, 

watch for signs of online bullying 

behaviors if your child is a 

frequent user of texting, instant 

messaging, Instagram, Snapchat 

or Facebook. 

Make sure smoke detectors 

and fire alarms have batteries 

and are working properly. 

Keep all alcohol and medications 

locked up. 

Discuss a safety plan with 

your child in case of an emergency. 

Especially for teens 

The summer can be a particularly 

exhilarating time for 

teens. With the intensity of the 

classroom behind them, they 

have an opportunity to reconnect 

with friends, have a job or 

explore new activities. Teens can 

benefit from this additional freedom, 

if balanced with parental 

expectations. Remind your teen: 

No cell phones or texting 

while driving, and always wear 

a seatbelt. 

As a driver, be aware of bicyclists 

on the road. 

No parties where alcohol or 

other drugs are present. 

Never ride with an impaired 

driver. 

Observe curfew and other 

family guidelines. 

You are available for them if 

they are in a dangerous or uncomfortable 

situation. Have a 

code word that your teen can 

use with you to ask for help. 

To contact the DAET Coalition 

Leadership Team, email 

CoalitionInfo@AshlandDecisions.org. 

Visit www.Ashland- 

Decisions.org.


What Affects Your Home’s Value Most? 

By John Szolomayer, Realtor 

Sellers are looking to get the 

maximum amount for their 

home, and some have an inflated 

idea of what to expect when finding 

the value of their home. Do 

home renovations truly give you 

a big return on the investment? 

Take a look at these important 

factors that impact your home’s 

value. 

Location is Everything - You 

know what they say, you’ve heard 

it before – “location, location, 

location!” Location includes factors 

such as the price of nearby 

homes, the quality of the school 

district and the sense of community. 

Many people seek out 

communities with walk able 

amenities. For millennials, it is 

important for them to be in the 

center of the action and within 

walking distance of the places 

they need to get to. 

Layout and Size - Homebuyers 

used to compete for homes 

with ample square footage, but 

many have fallen out of love with 

large homes. With large homes 

come more housework and more 

maintenance to keep up the 

home’s grand appearance. Layout 

is a big factor because even 

if you don’t have a 3,500 squarefoot 

home, an open concept can 

make your 2,000 square-foot 

home look just as spacious. The 

number of bedrooms is also a big 

influence on a home’s value, so 

think hard before you put up a 

wall to separate one room into 

two. Fewer but larger bedrooms 

increase the value of homes. 

Age and Condition – Older, 

historic homes and new, modern 

homes are traditionally more 

valuable than homes built in 

the middle of that timeline. As 

homes get older, they generally 

lose value, but there is also that 

point where homes become so 

aged that they have historical 

value. Along with the age of the 

home, the condition of the home 

also matters. Buyers are more 

willing to pay $20,000 more for 

a home that is in excellent condition 

than they are for a house 

that needs $5,000 worth of work. 

Putting in the Right Upgrades 

– Renovations can 

positively affect your home’s 

value – especially in areas like 

the kitchen and bathrooms. Although, 

if your home is over-thetop 

improved compared with 

other homes in the neighborhood, 

it can actually hurt your 

property’s value. Unless you 

live in an upscale neighborhood 

where built-in wine cellars and 

chef ’s kitchens are considered 

normal, you may want to save 

the money on expensive finishes 

and go for the more basic options. 

You should also be sure to 

keep a record of the repairs and 

upgrades to show potential buyers 

that the home has been wellmaintained 

and taken care of. 

Information provided by John 

Szolomayer, Realtor from Hallmark 

Sotheby’s International Realty in Hopkinton. 

Each office is independently 

owned and operated. John can be 

reached for more information at (508) 

259-4788 or at johnszolomayer.com. 

Kitchen Cabinet Selection 101 

1. Custom or Manufactured 

– This is your first decision when 

selecting cabinets. There are 

pros and cons with both. Custom 

cabinets are typically the more 

expensive choice (however, not 

always so some homework may 

be needed here), but will better 

utilize the space available and 

you can control the details and 

enhancements more. Also, a custom 

finish will have more personality; 

more of a human touch 

than a factory finish. However, 

a factory finish will last longer 

in most cases and some cabinet 

manufacturers offer so many 

modifications, that it is easier 

today to achieve a more custom 

look with manufactured cabinets 

than in the past. Fillers are still a 

necessary evil with manufactured 

cabinets that you can avoid with 

custom, because width options 

are still limited with manufactured 

cabinets. 

2. Species and Finish – This 

topic assumes you are using 

wood – cabinets can be made 

from other materials too: laminate 

and Thermofoil are two 

materials used for cabinets that 

are not wood. These use different 

manufacturing methods to make 

the cabinet look like wood yet is 

more durable and resistant to humidity, 

nicks and scratches. We 

typically reserve these two types 

of cabinets for more commercial 

uses or more industrial areas of 

the home. By far, the vast majority 

of cabinets in residential 

kitchens in New England today 

are wood. The three most common 

species of hard wood used 

in kitchen cabinets are: cherry, 

maple and oak. They all have distinctively 

different appearances. 

Cherry is naturally darker with 

a dense, smooth grain. Maple is 

very light with a similar, dense 

smooth grain and oak is a medium 

color tone with a definite 

open grain that can also be felt 

on the surface. Cherry tends to 

cost more than the other two and 

develops a deeper, redder coloring 

with age which is very beautiful, 

so staining cherry is the most 

popular method of finishing this 

species. Maple is also beautiful 

and stains evenly. It will age to 

a deeper pinky-golden yellow to 

orange tone which is beautiful, 

but not as rich as cherry. Maple 

is also popular to paint because 

it is priced well and the grain is 

hidden within the surface, resulting 

in a smooth, painted 

finish. When making these decisions, 

keep in mind that painted 

finishes come with an upcharge, 

whether you are going custom 

or manufactured. Oak is less 

popular than maple or cherry 

but can be used to create a more 

traditional look or in other ways, 

such as combining with a modern 

door style and painted so the 

grain shows through to create a 

more unique, updated look. The 

number of stain and paint colors, 

combined with many glaze 

colors (and distressing options) 

make the choices overwhelming - 

your kitchen designer will help to 

narrow this down and show you 

samples of all of the possibilities! 

3. Frame style – Full overlay, 

partial overlay or inset: full overlay 

is where the door covers the 

face frame (leaving only ¼” reveal 

for door/drawer operation) 

like the European style. Partial 

overlay is where the face frame 

is exposed by at least an inch 

around the door/drawer. Inset 

is where the door is actually 

inset within the face frame. Full 

overlay is very popular and can 

be used to create more contemporary 

looks but can be used to 

create a traditional style kitchen 

as well (depending on the door 

style and finish selected). Inset is 

typically used to create a shaker, 

farmhouse or more traditional 

look, but can be paired with a 

modern door style for a fresh, 

updated look. Generally, inset is 

more expensive than the other 

two frame styles. 

4. Door Style – Once you have 

decided on species, color and 

frame style, the door style is an 

important decision: it will set the 

style for the kitchen and also can 

significantly affect pricing. Some 

general guidelines: flat profile, 

shaker and flat center panel doors 

create a more contemporary, classic 

or transitional style. Raised 

panel doors are used to create 

traditional style kitchens. Of 

course, molding styles, hardware 

and other embellishments further 

contribute to the specific style you 

are going for. Also consider the 

drawer heads: some will come 

flat or plain and some will come 

as a five-piece unit to match the 

door. This choice will also contribute 

to the look you are trying to 

achieve, as well as price. 

5. Color – This is where your 

designer can really help: many 

combinations are commonly 

used to create that specific look 

you are trying to achieve. Often 

the island is done in a different 

Nancy Werneken 

Lead Designer at Masters Touch 

Design Build 

color or different door style and 

color. Or, you can use one color 

for the base cabinets and another 

for the wall cabinets, stain 

one section and paint another, 

change countertop materials, 

change colors and countertops, 

the options are endless! Be sure 

to look at plenty of pictures and 

ask plenty of questions during 

the process. 

Choosing the right cabinet 

can be daunting or it can be simplified 

if you follow these five selection 

steps! 

Nancy Werneken is a lead designer 

at Masters Touch, a local design build 

firm located at 24 Water St., Holliston. 

For more information contact 

(508) 359-5900, e-mail info@ 

MastersTouchWeb.com or visit www. 

MastersTouchWeb.com.


High School Club Raises Funds 

to Grant Wishes for Children 

By Haley Zee, 

President and Co-founder of the 

Make-A-Wish Club, Ashland High School 

The purpose of the Ashland High School (AHS) 

Make-A-Wish Club is to raise funds and awareness for 

the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The club’s mission is 

to grant wishes to children “suffering from a progressive, 

degenerative, or malignant condition.” Through 

an abundance of fundraising events, such as an annual 

Jump For Joy, car washes, sporting event bake sales, 

movie nights, and so forth, club members volunteer, as 

a means of completing their community service hours, 

towards a meaningful cause. 

The club organizes a multiple day service trip for its 

members to volunteer at a program known as Give Kids 

the World, at their Florida village. This village is where 

children, the majority of whom are affiliated with Make- 

A-Wish, come to have their wishes fulfilled. Here, our 

members are able to see the direct impact their hard 

work and fundraising efforts have on the children they 

are helping. 

Within less than a year and a half, our club has grown 

in membership from 15 to over 60 students, and has 

become a well-established club at our high school. The 

volunteers are focused on fostering positivity and passion 

towards making a difference in others’ lives. 

We are very excited that, as of this past February, 

we have reached our goal of raising $7,500 to grant 

our very first wish! During the week of April 25 (as of 

this writing the exact date has not been determined), 

we presented our check to a representative from the 

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode 

Island. We are proud to showcase our club and what it 

has achieved thus far. 

AHS Make-A-Wish Club and officers. In the front row from 

left to right: Nick Davis, director of communications; 

John Almeida, treasurer; Dalia Marmash, vice president; 

Haley Zee, president; Alyssa Zee, secretary; and Maureen 

Beaulac, a representative from the foundation. 

Missing: Mrs. Jennifer Shiels, club faculty adviser. 

Register Now for AYF Fightin’ Irish Football 

Hopkinton-Ashland American Youth Football (AYF) 

Register Now invites you for to take AYF part Fightin’ in the Fightin’ Irish Football 

Register Hopkinton-Ashland Now Football for AYF Program’s American Fightin’ fifth Youth year! 

Football Irish (AYF) Football 

Athletes invites from Hopkinton you take and Ashland part going the into 1st through 8th Grade 

Register Hopkinton-Ashland Now 

are Football invited 

for to AYF 

Program’s 

American 

register now Fightin’ 

for fifth 

Youth 

the fall year! 

Football (AYF) 

season. 

Irish Football 

invites you to take part in the Register Hopkinton-Ashland Now for AYF American Fightin’ Youth Football Irish (AYF) Football 

June 7th 7th - 7-9 7:30pm Informational 

Athletes from Football Hopkinton & Paperwork 

and Program’s Ashland Night 

going fifth into 1st year! through 8th Grade 

Hopkinton High invites School are you Gymnasium 

invited to to take register part now for in the fall Fightin’ season. Irish 

Athletes from Football Hopkinton and Program’s Ashland going fifth into 1st year! through 8th Grade 

PROGRAM FACTS: 

June 7th - 7:30pm Informational invites are you invited & Paperwork to to take register part Night now for in the fall Fightin’ season. Irish 

☘ American Youth Hopkinton Football is is Athletes High the largest School from youth football program in the US. 

Football Hopkinton Gymnasium and Program’s Ashland going fifth into 1st year! through 8th Grade 

Team placement by grade (no older lighters) building self-esteem and grade 

PROGRAM 

June 7th 

level “esprit FACTS: 

- 7:30pm Informational are invited & Paperwork to register Night now for the fall season. 

de corp” 

Hopkinton Athletes High School from Hopkinton Gymnasium and Ashland going into 1st through 8th Grade 

☘ Focus American on playing Youth Football the game is the safely largest with youth new equipment football program and extensive 

in the US. 

June 7th - 7:30pm Informational are invited & Paperwork to register Night now for the fall season. 

PROGRAM training Team placement of FACTS: coaches by and grade players 

(no older lighters) building self-esteem and grade 

Part 

level of 

“esprit Hopkinton the Tri-Valley de corp” High School Gymnasium 

☘ American Youth Football Conference is the largest this year, youth play football many of program the same in teams the US. as 

☘ 

June 7th - 7:30pm Informational & Paperwork Night 

PROGRAM the Focus Team High placement on School playing FACTS: minimizing by the grade game (no safely travel older with (Holliston, lighters) new equipment building Medway, self-esteem Dover/Sherborn, and extensive and grade etc.) 

AYF 

training level offers “esprit of 

tackle 

coaches Hopkinton de corp” football for 

and 

athletes 

players High School Gymnasium 

☘ American Youth Football is for the athletes entering largest entering youth 2nd-8th football 2nd grade - 8th program and and flag flag for in football the athletes US. for 

PROGRAM ☘ athletes Part Focus Team entering of placement on the entering playing 1st-3rd FACTS: Tri-Valley by grade the 1st grade Conference through game (no safely 3rd older this with lighters) year, new play equipment building many of self-esteem the and same extensive teams and grade as 

☘ Practices 

the training level American High “esprit of School 

start Youth coaches de August corp” 

Football minimizing and 8th players is for the travel 

tackle largest (Holliston, 

and youth late August football Medway, for program Dover/Sherborn, 

flag 

in the US. etc.) 

Through ☘ AYF Part Focus Team offers placement on the the playing tackle Tri-Valley instruction football by the grade Conference game and for (no safely participation athletes older this with lighters) year, entering new play equipment building 

football, 2nd many - 8th of self-esteem the and goal same extensive flag football teams and grade as for 

is to athletes the training level promote High “esprit of entering School coaches the de corp” ideals minimizing 1st and through of players good travel 3rd sportsmanship, (Holliston, Medway, accountability, 

Dover/Sherborn, etc.) 

team ☘ Practices AYF Part Focus competition, offers on the start playing tackle Tri-Valley August football and the Conference game above 8th for safely athletes all, tackle to this with have and year, entering new late fun! 

play equipment August 2nd many - 8th for of the and flag 

same extensive flag football teams as for 

Through athletes the training High the of entering School coaches instruction minimizing 1st and through and players participation travel 3rd (Holliston, in Medway, football, Dover/Sherborn, the goal etc.) 

is ☘ to Practices AYF Part promote offers the start tackle Tri-Valley the August ideals football Conference 8th of for good athletes tackle sportsmanship, this and year, entering late play August 2nd many accountability, 

- 8th for of the flag and same flag football teams as for 

team competition, and above all, to have fun! 

Through athletes the High the entering School instruction minimizing 1st through and participation travel 3rd (Holliston, in Medway, football, Dover/Sherborn, the goal etc.) 

Hopkinton-Ashland American Youth Football (AYF) 

For more information go to 

www.hopkintonashlandayf.org 

and to join a program with a winning tradition 

For more information go to 

register at www.playAYFnow.org 

www.hopkintonashlandayf.org 

and to join For a program more information with a winning go to tradition 

register www.hopkintonashlandayf.org 

at www.playAYFnow.org

Ashland June 2016

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