Ashland November 2016

Ashland 

localtownpages 

PRSRT STD 

ECRWSS 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

Taunton, MA 

Permit No. 92 

Postal Customer 

Local 

Vol. 4 No. 4 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month November 2016 

Popping Up in Ashland: 

The Corner Spot 

An attractive, new public space is coming, funded by a grant, 

businesses and residents 

By Deborah Burke Henderson 

and Cynthia Whitty 

The Corner Spot will contain 

a park and a building for 

new businesses to try out in 

downtown Ashland starting 

next spring, with the 

help of grants and donations 

from businesses and 

many individuals. 

The land at 6 Cherry St. will 

have the feeling of a park, with 

games and activities for children and 

portable landscaping alongside a small, 

temporary shop structure. The Corner Spot will 

be less than a mile walk from the train station and 

a block away from Mill Pond Park. Customers will 

find ample parking in the nearby municipal lot. 

Based on the pop-up parks concept used 

around the world, the project is an innovative 

approach to energize the downtown district, provide 

residents with a variety of new, engaging retail 

options, and attract other businesses to town. 

The Ashland Affordable Trust, which owns 

the Cherry Street property, known as the Fredenzi 

house, has plans for a mixed use development 

with a retail business on the street 

level and affordable housing above, 

but for now this spot is ideal for 

Reynolds’ pop-up concept. 

When the Trust is ready to 

develop the site, the park and 

structure will be moved to 

another site in Ashland. 

Making it Happen 

Beth Reynolds, Ashland’s 

economic development 

director, explained: 

“We envision our downtown 

as a thriving, bustling 

center, and we’re excited to offer this new popup 

business concept, but we can only make it 

successful with the help of our businesses and 

residents.” 

Reynolds already has the buy-in of several 

local vendors that will provide pro bono demolition 

services to tear down the current building 

during the upcoming winter months, for landscaping 

services next spring and plumbing and 

THE CORNER SPOT 

continued on page 3 

An Interfaith Effort: 

Offering a Respite 

for Families 

By Larry Maloney, 

Contributing Writer 

Three times a year, the Ashland 

Federated Church transforms itself 

into a safe haven for homeless 

families battling to escape poverty 

As one of 18 host congregations 

in the Family Promise Metrowest 

anti-poverty program, the 

Federated Church most recently 

opened its doors for a week in late 

September to provide meals and 

overnight shelter to three families, 

including 10 children. 

During that week, families arrived 

at the church each day at 6:30 

p.m., ate a hot meal, and enjoyed 

social time in the church’s upstairs 

fellowship hall before retiring to 

separate rooms on the lower level, 

where volunteers had set up beds. 

Early in the morning, after families 

chose breaakfast and lunch foods 

for the day, vans took them to 

Family Promise’s Day Center in 

Natick. From there, parents either 

went to work or job training, while 

children rode to school. 

Ashland Federated Church’s Linda 

Russo: “Community outreach is 

at the core of who we are.” (Photo/ 

Pete Russo) 

Though a small congregation, 

the Federated Church was 

one of the original churches that 

spearheaded the 2008 launch 

of Family Promise Metrowest, 

which helps families address the 

INTERFAITH EFFORT 

continued on page 6 

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

Shop Local 

You may be aware that Saturday, November 26th is nationally recognized as Small 

Business Saturday. 

We think this is important. 

However, we like to think of every day as an opportunity to support local 

businesses. Luckily, so many of you share our sentiments. 

Often referred to as the Shop Local or Buy Local movement, there are widespread 

and undeniable benefits in a shared commitment to support our local merchants. We see 

this trend gaining considerable momentum in the communities we’re so privileged to 

serve. 

This movement is more about what’s good for a community and its residents, and 

less about global retailers extracting money from our towns. 

As your community bank, we’ve 

proudly taken the lead on supporting our 

local merchants and organizations. 

We believe that buying local means 

banking local. A bank like ours ensures 

your deposits will be reinvested directly 

into this community. 

It may be interesting to know that 

more people have made the switch to 

Needham Bank in 2016 than in any prior 

year throughout our long history. For 

that, we are most grateful. 

Your decision to bank locally 

enables us to increase our capital, which 

not only allows us to lend more locally, 

but also helps fund more of the local 

initiatives that we all care about. 

As our business continues to grow, 

we will continue to expand what we give 

back to the community. In just this year 

alone we will support over 300 different 

community organizations. 

This November and throughout the 

holiday season, remember that shopping 

local has a profoundly positive impact on 

our community and the local economy. 

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

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THE CORNER SPOT 

continued from page 1 

electrical work for the pop-up 

structure once it’s constructed in 

April 2017. 

and Patronicity, a crowdfunding 

site, to help raise funds. If Ashland 

residents raise $25,000 

by Dec. 7, MassDevelopment 

has guaranteed to match 

those dollars. 

pop-up business every four to 

six weeks. Here, each emerging 

small or family-owned business 

will have an opportunity to test 

out their dreams at no charge to 

the small business. 

to enjoy downtown Ashland,” 

Reynolds said. 

The Corner Spot Committee 

is promoting this investment 

opportunity through the town’s 

website at www.ashlandmass. 

com, The Corner Spot Facebook 

page at www.facebook.com/thecornerspotashland, 

and outreach 

at local business meetings and 

community events. 

To donate, visit www.patronicity.com/Ashland. 

For more 

information, contact Ashland 

Economic Development Director 

Beth Reynolds at breynolds@ashlandmass.com 

or 

508-532-7905. 

The Corner Spot project needs the financial support from residents by Dec. 7 to be eligible for a matching 

grant. The structures paid for by the donations will be moved to another site when the Cherry Street site 

is ready to be developed. Creating the design and images has been a collaboration between GMT Home 

Designs, Inc. and Tricia Kendall, Architecture + Design. 

Pro bono services for the project 

will be provided by Rodenhiser 

Excavating, Inc., Pederson 

Landscaping, Michael Kaufman 

Plumbing, and electrical work 

by Thomas DeAlmeida, but full 

community involvement is critical 

to the success of the project. 

Deadline to 

Match the Funds: Dec. 7 

Reynolds launched the $50,000 

fundraising campaign for The 

Corner Spot project in October. 

She is partnering with MassDevelopment, 

the state’s quasi-public 

economic development agency, 

All funds raised will be used 

for items that can be moved and 

used again: the simple shop structure, 

landscaping materials such 

as planters, shrubs, trees and pavers, 

open air seating and games 

for kids. 

A Moveable 

Business Incubator 

The doors to the first business 

will open in June 2017. Reynolds 

has been working since August 

with several committed volunteers 

who formed The Corner 

Spot Committee. Their goal is to 

have this location feature a new 

“Ultimately, each successful 

pop-up will move to a permanent 

location in town, providing 

a greater diversity of services 

available to everyone and enhancing 

Ashland’s economy,” 

Reynolds added. 

“If we use this opportunity 

wisely and creatively, it will stimulate 

economic activity for existing 

businesses, test the market for 

potential new businesses, showcase 

Ashland as a prominent site 

to potential future developers, 

and simultaneously create a community 

outdoor living room of 

sorts for residents to connect and 

Join the Ashland Garden Club 

The Ashland Garden Club is a 

friendly group of about 20 people 

with widely differing gardening 

experiences. Our main focus is 

beautification of the town and educating 

members and the public 

on gardening topics through talks 

that we sponsor. We take trips as 

a group to specialty nurseries, arrange 

tours to horticultural sites 

and hold a monthly members’ 

book club. Each year we hold a 

plant sale, our main fundraiser. In 

2016, we held a fabulous garden 

tour and raised additional funds. 

Friendships and the love of all 

kinds of gardening bring us together. 

We hope you will consider 

joining our group. Our dues are 

$25 per year payable in January. 

We meet at the Ashland Library 

on the second Saturday of the 

month at 10 a.m. Please note that 

we do not have a regular meeting 

on Saturdays when we are sponsoring 

a program or in July and 

August. For more information, 

visit www.ashlandgardenclub.org 

or contact us at info@ashlandgardenclub.org. 

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Owning a business is the goal 

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Being your own boss has certain 

perks, including making your 

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But owning a business is a lot 

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saying 30 percent of new businesses 

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during the first 10. 

Local businesses face an uphill 

battle to survive, but there are 

many things residents can do to 

support these valuable additions 

to their communities. 

• Shop locally. Shopping locally 

not only supports local businesses, 

but it also contributes to 

the local economy. Shopping 

locally keeps money in the community, 

which can benefit everyone. 

Shopping locally produces a 

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• Spread the word. Word-ofmouth 

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propel others to patronize the 

business. Speak up when you feel 

a business owner has provided an 

exceptional level of service. Recommend 

a company to friends 

and neighbors. You also may 

want to review a business via online 

rating websites such as Yelp 

or Angie’s List. 

• Attend grand openings. 

Each community is unique, and 

often the vibe of a community is 

defined by the businesses that call 

that community home. Attend 

grand openings to show you are 

invested in the quality and vitality 

of your community. When others 

see a business doing well, they 

may be more inclined to shop 

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Welcoming New Businesses to Town 

By Beth Reynolds, 

Economic Development 

Director 

We welcomed the following 

new businesses to town in October. 

Check out all that Ashland 

has to offer. 

Ashland Reiki & Wellness 

Center – Reiki sessions by appointment, 

meditation groups/ 

sessions and a unique gift shop! 

54 Front Street, 508-861-3090 

Proof Pest Control – If you 

have a problem with bugs, Proof 

has the “green” solution! Proof 

prides itself on using innovative 

technologies that are safe for 

family, home and the environment. 

30 Main St. #30, 617- 

855-9700 

Life on Purpose – Life coach 

Tina Fitanides can help you take 

a good look in the mirror and 

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step and balance your life! 703- 

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. . Divine Healing Massage specializes 

in Deep Tissue, Sports 

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Release, Prenatal and 

Swedish Massage, and is also 

certified in Reiki 1. 30 Main 

Street, 508-202-8312 

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INTERFAITH EFFORTS 

continued from page 1 

root causes of their homelessness, 

while providing for their basic 

needs for periods averaging six 

months. 

“We had been telling our story 

over and over since 2003, and the 

commitment of Ashland Federated 

Church was key in helping us 

to finally open our doors to families,” 

Susan Crossley, director of 

Family Promise Metrowest, said 

The congregation has plenty 

of help. In addition to its own 

core of some 25 volunteers, the 

Federated Church is now receiving 

growing support from other 

Ashland congregations, such as 

St. Cecilia Catholic church and 

the Sha’arei Shalom Jewish congregation. 

In this interfaith effort, 

volunteers not only donate, 

prepare and serve meals to the 

homeless families, but also work 

and play with the children during 

after-meal social time. Two volunteers 

also spend the night. 

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 

Lori Koller 

Advertising Sales Assistant 

Kyle Koller 

Production & Layout 

Susan Dunne 

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Advertising Department 

508-954-8148 

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 

or editorial submissions. 

Send Editorial to: 

editor@ashlandtownnews.com 

© Copyright 2016 LocalTownPages 

St. Cecilia volunteers put the finishing touches on a family meal at the Federated Church. L to r: Gwen Collins, 

Janet Farrell, Jill Morazzini and Cindy Tokarz. (Photo/Ray Zambuto) 

Mission of Outreach 

“We are a mission-based 

church, and this kind of community 

outreach fits very well with 

the core of who we are,” Linda 

Russo, the lead coordinator for 

the Federated Church’s Family 

Promise efforts, said. 

“It’s amazing how many volunteers 

show up,” added Pam Dunham, 

another Federated Church 

member who coordinates meal 

donations during the host week. 

“In many ways, I believe our volunteers 

get more out of the program 

than the families do.” 

Sarah Currie, St. Cecilia’s coordinator 

for the program, said 

her parish now prepares two 

evening meals for families during 

Federated’s host weeks. Along 

with a rising number of St. Cecilia 

volunteers, she cited the “gracious 

support” of area businesses, such 

as Framingham Bakery, Holliston’s 

Outpost Farm and Ashland’s 

Julie Z breads, which have provided 

either generous discounts or 

outright donations of food. 

“It’s so rewarding to see the effort 

that these families are putting 

into getting out of their difficulties 

and into a more stable life,” Currie 

said. 

Moving from host congregation 

to host congregation each 

week is no easy chore for these 

families, observed Lisa Brown, 

Family Promise coordinator for 

Sha’arei Shalom, whose volunteers 

also provide meal assistance. 

“They are giving up control, but 

many realize that they are investing 

in their long-term future. In a 

sense, they are getting the kind of 

intensive, overall assistance that 

you would receive from a very 

supportive family.” 

Income Lags Housing Costs 

Family Promise Metrowest 

Director Crossley explains that 

the program, which receives no 

government funding, targets the 

working poor, whose incomes 

are being far outstripped by the 

Boston area’s soaring housing 

costs. One of some 200 local programs 

nationwide, the Metrowest 

OPEN HOUSE 

Saturday & Sunday 

Dec 3 & 4 

chapter gets referrals from such 

sources as schools, hospitals and 

the Massachusetts Department 

of Transitional Assistance. 

Once a family is accepted into 

the program, a Family Promise 

case worker evaluates every aspect 

of family need: finances, 

housing, health care, transportation, 

employment and education. 

The case worker meets weekly 

with families to examine progress 

in addressing these issues. 

For example, families set up savings 

accounts and are expected 

to bank 80 percent of earnings 

after expenses. A new “steps for 

success” program supports career 

advancement through training 

and education subsidies. With 

such help, one young woman recently 

earned her certified nursing 

assistant (CNA) qualification 

and is now considering licensed 

practical nurse (LPN) training. 

Family Promise Metrowest also 

is expanding its efforts in affordable 

housing, including construction 

of a new duplex unit with 

the help of grant money from 

the Wellesley Village Church. It is 

also seeking greater participation 

from area businesses and organizations. 

The Ashland Masons, 

for example, have donated meals, 

provided Christmas gifts for families, 

and backed major fundraising 

efforts, such as an annual 5K 

“Walkathon” each April. 

Still, the hospitality offered 

every week by Metrowest congregations 

like Ashland’s Federated 

Church remain the foundation 

of Family Promise’s strategy to 

lift families out of poverty and 

homelessness. 

“We send families to these congregations 

in good faith, knowing 

that they will receive compassionate 

care,” Judy Mongiardo, 

network coordinator for Family 

Promise Metrowest, said. “Ashland 

Federated Church has been 

with us from the beginning when 

all we had was a theory, and they 

should be proud of this program’s 

growth.” 

How You Can Help 

Besides joining the volunteers at Ashland area congregations, 

here are some other ways to support the Family Promise 

Metrowest anti-poverty program. 

• Donate online: https://goo.gl/nQkUAo 

• Mail a Donation: https://goo.gl/u1GIqK 

• Participate in the Nov. 5 food tasting 

and auction fundraising event: 

www.501auctions.com/fpm/tickets?type=3682 

• Make your business or organization a partner: 

www.familypromisemetrowest.org/community.html 

• Contact Family Promise Metrowest staff: 

www.familypromisemetrowest.org/contact.html 

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Special Town Meeting Includes 

Vote to Permanently Connect 

to the MWRA 

A special town meeting is set 

for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 

the Ashland High School Auditorium. 

Several warrant articles 

are related to finance. According 

to Town Manager Michael 

Herbert, there will be budget adjustments 

for the FY17 budget. 

“Ashland was fortunate to receive 

higher than expected state aid and 

less than expected assessments 

for charter schools, which has 

resulted in additional funds not 

planned when putting together 

Correction 

Ashland Fire Chief Scott 

Boothby’s father was a lieutenant 

with the Southborough 

Fire Department, not 

Hopkinton as stated in the 

October 2016 Ashland Local 

Town Pages article, “A Look Inside 

the Ashland Fire Department.” 

the FY17 budget,” Herbert said. 

“We will also have our standard 

warrant articles to appropriate 

free cash into different reserve 

funds and one-time capital items, 

and the senior tax exemption, 

which grants tax relief to qualifying 

seniors.” 

The Water Policy Committee 

will put forward two warrant articles 

related to the town’s water situation. 

“First will be approval and 

funding for a permanent connection 

to the Massachusetts Water 

Resources Authority (MWRA) 

through Southborough,” Herbert 

said. “We currently have a 

single water source that for the 

town’s water. As these water levels 

become stressed in the summer 

and fall, we implement water 

conservation measures through 

water bans. This year, things became 

bad enough that we made 

an emergency connection with 

Southborough. This article will be 

accompanied by a recommendation 

to change our water bylaws.” 

Herbert added: “There is the 

potential for several zoning-related 

articles to come forward at Town 

Meeting. First is a zoning change 

redefining height restrictions. Second 

are two articles that could 

potentially move forward pending 

Planning Board approval. These 

include a rate of development 

bylaw and a marijuana dispensary 

moratorium if Question 4 passes 

on the State ballot.” 

Last fall, town meeting approved 

the purchase of property 

at the Warren Conference Center. 

Recently, through negotiations 

with Framingham State University, 

the town has the opportunity 

to purchase two parcels of land 

for the same price. Town Meeting 

will be asked to approve this 

change. 

For up-to-date information 

and the town warrant when it is 

available, see the town’s website, 

www.ashlandmass.com. 

Center Celebrates 

Seniors 

The Ashland Senior Center celebrated 120 senior residents 

over 80 years young at their annual fall “Celebration of Life” 

luncheon. The food was provided by TJ’s Food and Spirits and 

the music by entertainer Tommy Rull singing “Music Thru the 

Years.” (Photo/Betsy Emberley) 

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Electrical Done Right – WattsControl, Inc. 

Providing Unsurpassed 

Electrical Services for 

16 Years 

By Deborah Burke Henderson, 


It’s obvious that Walter Hernandez 

loves what he does; which 

is providing Metrowest homeowners 

with smart electrical solutions 

through his company, 

WattsControl, Inc. 

“Since I was a child, I’ve been 

fascinated with anything electrical,” 

Hernandez stated in a recent 

interview. “I like dealing with 

people and find great satisfaction 

in seeing our customers’ faces 

light up as their electrical issues 

are resolved.” 

WattsControl, Inc.’s electrical 

services include installing flatscreen 

televisions, thermostats, 

smoke/carbon monoxide (CO) 

detectors, bathroom fans, outlets 

and wall switches, telephone, data 

and cable connections, interior 

and exterior lighting, and new 

electrical panels and upgrades. 

They also install state-of-theart 

home automation systems 

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that monitor your home’s energy 

usage and report it through your 

smartphone. 

This Ashland-based business 

has been recognized by Angie’s 

List with a “Super Service 

Award” and has received numerous 

five-star customer reviews in 

the electrical services industry on 

Google and Yelp. A caring community 

partner, WattsControl, 

Inc. supported the 2015 Ashland 

Lion’s Club 8 th Annual Charity 

Golf Tournament as a Masters 

Sponsor and is supporting the 

Ashland Music Association in its 

2016-2017 school-based concert 

program. 

WattsControl, Inc. is known 

for providing unsurpassed service, 

exceptional workmanship and innovative 

solutions that exceed the 

homeowner’s expectations. Their 

promise: “The job will be done 

correctly the first time, using topquality 

materials, and that the 

customer will be 100 percent satisfied 

with our work.” 

While the electrical team are 

on the road assisting customers, 

the office is managed by Valerie 

Kupferman and her colleague, 

Joan Diani-Kampersal, who keep 

the office running by scheduling 

appointments, responding to customer’s 

questions, and making 

sure their customers’ electrical 

needs are fully met. 

“Relationships are important 

to us,” Master Electrician Hernandez 

added. “We’re proud of 

our existing customer base and 

look forward to working with new 

customers and introducing them 

to our services.” 

All work includes a two-year 

warranty on parts and a lifetime 

labor warranty. They offer senior 

citizen and military discounts. 

Whether you’re purchasing 

a new home or selling one, 

WattsControl, Inc. can handle 

any job, from a home electrical 

inspection to installing a 

new breaker, GFCI, thermostat, 

smoke or CO detector to upgrading 

your electrical panel. 

If you’re considering having 

new insulation installed through 

Holiday Wreath-Making 

Workshop With Paul Split 

Come and have fun as Paul 

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After selecting from a tableful of 

Mass Save ® as a result of a home 

energy assessment, WattsControl, 

Inc. can inspect your attic and 

basement for knob and tube wiring, 

determine if it’s present, and 

if so, remove it. They also perform 

“IC Rated Inspections” to 

ensure there is proper clearance 

between any existing light fixtures 

and the insulation. Once the inspections 

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Visit our website: www.ashlandgardenclub.org 

Contact us: info@ashlandgardenclub.org 

fresh seasonal greens and an assortment 

of decorations, Paul will 

lead us through creating our own 

beautiful wreath. 

Paul has has served as a judge 

at flower shows in New England 

(Photo: Deborah Burke Henderson) 

a week, it will remember the 

cooling and heating patterns that 

you’re comfortable with in your 

home. If you’re away from your 

house and the temperature falls 

below your preset safety temperature, 

the Nest system can alert 

you before the pipes freeze. 

WattsControl, Inc. wants 

to ensure that your family and 

home are safe in the coming 

months. The company website, 

www.wattscontrol.com offers 

regular blog postings to inform 

and educate homeowners about 

various electrical situations and 

provide safety and energy-saving 

tips and ideas. 

As you prepare for the upcoming 

holidays and winter months, 

WattsControl, Inc. can assist 

you with any electrical needs. If 

you’re having an electrical issue, 

they will identify the problem 

and correct it. 

To schedule an appointment, 

call 508-231-8077. Business 

hours are Monday through Friday, 

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Discover more smart electrical 

solutions at www.wattscontrol. 

com or follow them on Facebook 

at facebook.com/wattscontrol. 

and lectures widely for gardening 

organizations and clubs. 

Date: Saturday, December 10 

Time: Refreshments at 11 a.m. 

Begins at 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. 

Place: Ashland Public Library, 

Community Room, 66 Front St. 

* Door Prizes ! !


Ashland PD Launches CodeRED Notification System 

Police Chief Craig Davis announced 

in September that the 

Town of Ashland is launching a 

new CodeRED community notification 

system, which sends important 

alerts and time-sensitive 

messages to staff members and 

residents. 

Along with emergency and 

critical messages, the CodeRED 

notification system can also enhance 

community engagement 

via the release of important but 

non-emergency information, including 

road closures, trash collection 

schedule changes, snow 

plow schedules and other town 

services. 

Registration for this notification 

service is customized, allowing 

residents to choose which 

alerts to sign up for and how they 

would prefer to receive them. 

Residents can choose several 

different methods: landline, cell 

phone, email, text message, TTY, 

or a combination of devices. 

Notifications can be specified by 

streets, neighborhoods, or regions 

so that residents in affected areas 

can receive information in their 

selected area. 

Residents that were enrolled 

in the town’s previous notification 

system do not need to re-register, 

but are encouraged to update 

their contact information online. 

In addition, residents and visitors 

can keep track of alerts in 

town with the CodeRED Mobile 

App, which notifies smartphone 

holders of real-time alerts in the 

area. Similar to the online registration, 

users choose which notifications 

they’d like to receive 

via the app. Authorized town 

personnel will have access to the 

ECN (Emergency Communications 

Network) Launcher, an app 

that allows officials to create and 

send messages on the go from 

any smartphone or tablet within 

seconds, without requiring a computer. 

To sign up for CodeRED, visit 

www.ashlandpd.org. For more information 

on the CodeRED notification 

system or registration, 

contact Sgt. Ed Burman, eburman@ashlandpd.org. 

What to Watch for in Your Aging Pet 

By Cristina Valas, DVM, 

The Family Pet Hospital 

Dogs and cats don’t necessarily 

tell us when something is 

wrong, so it’s important to continually 

monitor your pet’s health 

and well-being. Our pets age at 

a much faster rate than we humans. 

A seven- to eight-year-old 

dog is equivalent to a 50-year-old 

human and a cat would be comparable 

to a 40-year-old human. 

Paying attention to older 

pets will help your vet diagnose 

whether a condition is serious and 

help prevent an issue from getting 

progressively worse. We call this 

“early detection,” and it involves 

taking your pet for a physical at 

least twice a year and reporting 

any subtle signs or changes. 

Things to look for, especially 

in aging pets, include bad breath, 

coughing, difficulty eating food, a 

change in weight (gain or loss) or 

appetite, gastrointestinal issues, 

urination (how often and how 

much the animal drinks water), 

incontinence, diarrhea, any kind 

of disorientation, getting winded 

on walks, depression, and any 

lumps or bumps that are new in 

or on the skin. 

Other signs to watch involve 

whether the pet is bumping into 

furniture, shaking its head or 

scratching its ears. Is your pet 

unable to climb stairs now or get 

into the car? As soon as you notice 

any of these signs, make your 

vet aware. With early detection, 

your vet can prevent unnecessary 

pain and suffering in your pets, allowing 

them to live a quality life 

as long as possible. 

Twice-a-year physical exams 

along with annual blood, stool, 

and urine testing help us monitor 

the internal condition of your 

pet’s organs before something 

causes your pet discomfort and 

sometimes even before you see 

symptoms. 

Nearly 75 percent of dog diseases 

and 63 percent of cat diseases 

can be treated effectively if 

detected early and may only require 

a simple change in diet. A 

proactive approach doesn’t have 

to cost a lot, and early detection 

can actually save you money. 

See your vet to discuss any 

concerns about your pet. Early 

detection is key to your pet living 

a long and happy life! 

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300 Eliot Street, Ashland 

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Assisted Living at the Residence at Valley Farm in Ashland 

Why Do Seniors 

Stay Healthier & Happier 

in Assisted Living? 

It’s no secret that many seniors 

do much better living in an Assisted 

Living community than at 

home or in a nursing home. Why 

is this? 

Christine Brooks, Executive 

Director of the Residence at 

Valley Farm, Metro West’s premiere 

senior living community, 

featuring Enhanced Independent 

Living, Assisted Living and 

Reflections Memory Care for 

local seniors, points to four major 

reasons: healthy diets, companionship, 

fun engagement opportunities 

and wellness care services. 

Christine said, “Too often, 

people living alone fail to cook 

Ashland Middle School 

Students Honor Veterans 

David DiGirolamo, principal 

of the Ashland Middle 

School, holds an annual 

celebration the day before 

Veterans Day and gets his 

whole school involved. Prior 

to Veterans Day, Nov. 11, his 

art class will prepare colorful 

stars for students to write 

their thanks for the service 

veterans have given. Ashland 

veterans are invited for 

a continental breakfast at the 

school, followed by activities 

and presentations. 

Dry, Seasoned, Clean, Debarked 

FIREWOOD 

16” Split 

(delivered local) 

508-881-0001 

ASHLAND Landscape Supply 

18 Waverly St. (Rte. 135) • Ashland, MA 

ashlandlandscapesupply.com 

SUMMER TUTORING AND PROGRAMS 

TEST PREP 

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Reading • Math • Writing • Study Skills • Homework Help 

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15 W. Union St, Ashland • KnowledgePointsTutors.com 

or eat proper nutritious meals. 

But we know the importance that 

diet plays in our overall health. 

Seniors who consume a well-balanced 

diet tend to recover from 

illness more rapidly, spend less 

time in the hospital and have a 

better sense of overall well-being 

and increased energy. Who isn’t 

happier when you are feeling 

more energized?” 

Dining at the Residence at 

Valley Farm is a true restaurant 

culinary experience. Featuring 

the concept of “anytime dining,” 

the restaurant is open from 7 a.m. 

to 7 p.m. for resident choice and 

convenience. “We believe our 

residents should choose when 

and what they want to eat. It 

should be on their schedule, not 

ours,” says Culinary Service Director, 

Chef Christopher Ryan. 

The menu is designed just as you 

would see in a local restaurant, 

with homemade soups, hand 

tossed salads, appetizers, light 

fare, entrees, local favorites, daily 

specials and home-made desserts. 

When you visit the Residence 

at Valley Farm, you get a sense 

of what vibrant senior living is 

all about. The engagement calendar 

is created in collaboration 

with Harvard Medical School 

and Brigham and Women’s 

Hospital. Each day, residents 

are offered opportunities which 

are proven to improve overall 

Selim C. Alptekin, D.M.D. 

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

metrowestdentalcare@gmail.com 

Relax at METROWEST DENTAL 

Family and General Dentistry 

Cleanings • Exams • Fillings • Crowns 

Our Specialties 

Sedation Dentistry • Implant Placements & Restorations 

Cosmetic Dentistry • Oral Surgery and Root Canals 

Free Consultation on sedation dentistry and dental implants 

Dr. Sal 

well-being and potentially slow 

the progression of memory loss, 

something that is common for 

individuals as they age. 

Active, involved people tend 

to be healthier and more independent. 

Companionship is a 

major ‘happiness factor’ for older 

adults. This community offers 

residents programming to pursue 

hobbies, the arts, physical fitness, 

adult learning and spiritual 

growth with their new neighbors 

and friends. 

The average 80-year-old is 

taking five medications daily. 

Medication-related errors are a 

leading cause of hospitalizations 

for seniors. At the Residence at 

Valley Farm, daily reminders are 

available so that residents take 

their medications in the right dosage 

and time. 

Every eleven seconds, an older 

adult is treated in the emergency 

room for a fall. The Residence at 

Valley Farm offers fall prevention 

screenings and programs, various 

fitness classes, as well as, features 

a rehabilitation area, offering 

physical and occupational therapy. 

Being proactive helps seniors 

remain healthier and more independent 

for as long as possible. 

Jennifer, daughter of Resident 

Bert Gerrig, couldn’t have said 

it any better. “After experiencing 

the unfortunate accidents 

that sometimes occur while living 

alone, I finally talked Dad 

into considering assisted living. 

It was a battle convincing him. 

However, this community was 

the right choice. We visited many 

other places, but there was something 

different about the Residence at Valley 

Farm. Every single person is so 

genuine and caring. Within one 

week I knew everyone by name. 

The food is fantastic! My dad 

was losing weight, walking with 

a cane, dehydrated and feeling 

depressed when he arrived. Now 

he is HAPPY and healthy, walking 

independently from all of his 

physical and occupations therapy 

services and has put on at least 7 

pounds! 

The nursing staff is so wonderful. 

They call me with any concerns 

or changes in his health or 

behavior. I can’t say enough about 

this community! It has given me 

peace of mind and my Dad has a 

place he can call home.” 

“The best decision I could 

have made was moving to The 

Residence at Valley Farm,” says 

resident Alan Schill. “I feel wonderful! 

It’s the perfect place to 

live…the food, space and people 

are excellent. I felt handicapped 

having to handle the inside and 

outside of the house, especially 

with the snow. It’s an improvement 

over my own home, which 

was a good situation. The residents 

here are so friendly and 

warm. I truly enjoy spending 

time with them during meals 

and programs. I am not alone 

anymore…there’s no better 

place to be!” 

For more information or to 

schedule a private tour, please call 

Sales and Marketing Director, 

Amy Lucas at (508) 532-3197, 

or visit www.residencevalleyfarm. 

com or email alucas@residencevalleyfarm.com 

.


A Veterans Day Introspective 

By Les Clark, 


Estimates are one per cent of 

the American population currently 

serves active military duty, 

the National Guard or the reserves. 

Millions have served since 

World War II. Some attend services 

at Arlington National Cemetery, 

march in 4 th of July parades, 

go on motorcycle runs for POW/ 

MIA and are celebrated in welcome 

home vignettes. Here are 

two local vets who lead far more 

quiet lives. 

From a Military Family: 

Sam Duca 

At the Ashland Senior Center, 

I met a United States Marine, 

Sam Duca, now 87, and a peacetime 

veteran of the 3 rd Marine 

Division. Duca comes from a 

military family, one of eight kids 

where three other brothers served 

years before him. One perished 

in a tank battle in Germany; two 

others served in the Navy in the 

Pacific. Duca said their service 

took an emotional toll on their 

Marine Sam Duca (Photo/ 

submitted) 

family. In 1953, after a “motivational” 

talk by a recruiter, Duca 

entered the Marines and served 

as an instructor in Japan and 

Korea. “I was a bad shot with 

my M1,” he said with a laugh. 

Ending his Marine service as a 

corporal, Duca graduated from 

Arizona State and taught in the 

Marlboro school system. He 

spoke with pride regarding his 

service to his country, and his two 

sons, who serve with the Ashland 

Fire Department. 

A Liberator Bomber Pilot: 

Harold Gates 

Harold Gates, a 66-year resident 

of Ashland, was a WWII 

B24 Liberator pilot flying bombing 

missions over Germany. 

“Getting shot up wasn’t fun and 

getting shot at wasn’t fun either,” 

Gates reflected. “You know, the 

Pilot Harold Gates (Photo/ 

submitted) 

Germans weren’t shooting to 

miss.” Among his harrowing missions 

was landing his crippled 

B24 in an abandoned airfield 

in France and then flying out in 

another B24, which rescued him 

and his crew. 

When WWII started, Gates 

was a mechanical engineering 

student at Northeastern University. 

He was not drafted but felt 

the call in 1943 and volunteered 

in what was then the United 

States Army Air Force. He trained 

in the Stearman PT-19 and the 

Vultee BT-13 Valiant. From January 

1945 to war’s end, he flew 

18 missions, came out a first lieutenant 

where he was discharged 

with thousands of others. Gates 

is now 96 and a proud veteran of 

the Greatest Generation. 

Grew to Appreciate Vets 

My story may not be as remarkable. 

As a kid in the 40s and 

50s, I knew from get-togethers 

that there were veterans in my 

family. My uncle Dan fought in 

the Battle of the Bulge and came 

home forever troubled. Uncle 

Saul, a Navy corpsman attached 

to the Marines, tended to the 

wounded and dying on Iwo Jima 

and Guadalcanal. A successful 

pharmacist after the war, he 

spoke little about his tour. 

As an adolescent I didn’t take 

any of this family history seriously, 

but I was changed completely 

after high school. In June 

1957, with a high school diploma 

and no marketable skills, I volunteered 

for the Air Force, ultimately 

installing communication 

systems in Western Europe and 

here in the U.S. From that experience, 

I carry the pride of being a 

veteran. 

Recently, I made the decision 

to reconnect in California with 

childhood friends, who as pals in 

the mid-50s, had all been in Boston 

Squadron, Civil Air Patrol 

(CAP), the official auxiliary of 

the United States Air Force. We 

had bonded back then through 

our participation on a precision 

drill team, going on search and 

rescue missions and preparing for 

our military service. 

In 1960 my friend Herb Altman, 

now a Las Vegas resident, 

was nominated to the Air Force 

Academy. In Viet Nam, he flew 

134 missions in the back seat of 

an F4 Phantom, got shot down 

on his 13 th mission, and after 30 

years, left as a lieutenant colonel. 

He is 78 and still working. Larry 

Cohen, 77, living in Beverly Hills, 

was an Army captain, an intelligence 

officer and now, a patent 

attorney. Our reunion was a hoot. 

It was hard to believe how young 

we looked in 60-year-old faded 

CAP photos. 

We five mentioned above are 

a miniscule percentage of the 

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men and women who served in 

the U.S. armed forces. Some of 

us did jobs that were shrouded 

in secrecy, some were exposed to 

extreme danger and some had 

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normal military jobs requiring no 

more effort than donning fatigues 

and working in an office. But we 

were all veterans, and are proud 

to be called such. 

Ashland Education 

Foundation Presents 

3 rd Annual Casino Night 

Join the Ashland Education 

Foundation on Friday, 

Nov. 18 for the third annual 

Casino Night! The event 

will be held at Hanto Restaurant, 

380 Union St (Rt. 

135) from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. 

Gather your friends and 

neighbors for a fun evening 

playing Blackjack, Craps, 

Texas Hold’em and Roulette 

to raise money for the AEFI 

Teacher Grant awards. Tickets 

can be purchased online 

for $20 at www.Ashland- 

Education.org/casino-night. 

Tickets will sell fast so be sure 

to purchase yours soon! 

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Ashland Greatest Fall Hits List 

By Julie Nardone, 


Ever since I moved to Ashland 

in 1997, I’ve heard complaints 

that the town needs to be more 

like this or that town. The problem 

with other town-envy is that 

we lose sight of what’s already 

great about Ashland. 

With the collaboration of my 

fellow residents who contributed 

their ideas on Facebook, I created 

a list of must-see and must-do’s in 

Ashland this fall. Enjoy! 

Outdoor Exercise: Hike the 

three-mile loop with family, 

friends and pets around the scenic 

and pristine Ashland State Park. 

In 1881, 164 acres were flooded 

to construct the 1800-foot long, 

20-foot wide, 60-foot high 

earthen dam at the north end 

of the park. An eight-foot lower 

concrete core holds it in place. 

Park at the Chestnut Street or 

South Street Parking lots and do 

the complete loop. For even more 

hiking, cross Chestnut street and 

hike the wide paths crisscrossing 

the 120-acre Warren Woods. 

Hot Toddies: Sip a warm libation 

in front of the fire at the 

historic and haunted Stone’s 

Public House. It was originally 

a hotel named The Railroad 

House, constructed in 1832 by 

John Stone. Several spirits are 

believed to roam the restaurant, 

including a man killed, perhaps, 

over a gambling debt by John 

Stone during a card game and 

Mary, a 10-year-old girl, allegedly 

hit by the train. Passersby have 

reported seeing the little girl looking 

out the windows. 179 Main 

St. (www.haunted-places-to-go. 

com/haunted-places-in-massachusetts-1.html) 

Karaoke: Sing your heart out 

every fourth Thursday of the 

month at TJs restaurant on Route 

135 with hosts Michelle and Ron. 

The hosts have a great sound system 

and an extensive song list. 

Gorge on TJ’s famous Z-burgers 

and yummy drinks in between 

songs. TJ’s is an restaurant icon 

in Metrowest. 

Witches Caves: Hunt along 

five different trails for several 

witches’ caves hiding in the Ashland 

Town Forest. Witches who 

survived the Salem Witch Trials 

headed west to Framingham. It 

is believed that these women and 

their families first hid in several 

caves sprinkled throughout the 

forest. This delightful forest has 

550 acres of trails, streams and 

woods to explore. Park in Winter 

Street lot. 

Thanksgiving Charity Workout: 

Pump some muscle with Bob 

Savin for a good cause during the 

5 th Annual Thanksgiving Morning 

Workout at Fitness Together. 

You’ll burn enough calories to 

justify eating a large holiday meal. 

Suggested donation is $25. Register 

for 8 and 9 am workout times 

at https://fitnesstogether.com/ 

ashland/. 200 Butterfield Dr. 

2 Myrtle St. Colonial John Jones 

built the home in 1748, making 

it one of Ashland’s oldest buildings. 

Attend the Ashland Historical 

Society Nov. 20 Sunday talk 

entitled, “Early New England 

Glassmaking. Presented by Kirk 

Cousins, Director, New Bedford 

Museum of Glass. (www.ashlandhistsociety.com) 

Thanksgiving Market: Stock 

up with food for Thanksgiving 

and gifts for the holidays at the 

Market Day Farmer’s Market on 

November 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Just when you thought the Fab 

Farmer’s Market was over for the 

season, you get one last chance 

to buy food and wares from your 

favorite food and artisan vendors. 

Ashland Middle School, 87 West 

Union Street (Rt. 135). 

Ocean House 

(Photo/Cliff Wilson) 

Civic Duty: Attend and speak 

up at the fall town meeting on 

Monday, Nov. 28. This free 

event is a terrific opportunity to 

get your brave on and speak up 

about issues that concern you. 

Best free speaking opportunity 

you will ever find. Ashland High 

School, 65 East Union St. 7 p.m. 

Trivia Night: Test your trivia 

knowledge at the Ashland Lion’s 

Nov. 19 trivia night. This is a 

highly competitive, challenging 

and fun trivia night. If you want 

to warm up before the big trivia 

event, check out Hanto Restaurant’s 

trivia night every Wednesday, 

beginning at 7:30 p.m. with 

alternating hosts Zach and Jodi. 

Lions trivia is at The American 

Legion, 2 Summer St. 

Ashland State Park 

(Photo/Julie Nardone) 

Ocean House. Learn about 

our local history and admire the 

extensive Telechron clock collection 

at the historic Ocean House, 

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ORTHODONTICS FOR ALL AGES 

Pre -Thanksgiving 


Farmer’s Market 

(Photo/Cynthia Whitty) 

Accepting many insurances including Mass Health 

Call to schedule an appointment 

508-498-6360 

hopkintonsquaredental.com 

22 South Street, Suite 104 

Hopkinton (Price Chopper Plaza) 

Education: Raise money for 

the Ashland Education Foundation 

on Friday, Nov. 18 at the 

third annual casino night! Play 

various games of chance, including 

Blackjack, Craps, Texas 

Hold’em, and Roulette. The 

event will be held at Hanto, 380 

Union Street (Route 135) from 

7:30 to 10:30 pm. Purchase your 

tickets at www.ashlandeducation. 

org/casino-night. 

Inspiration: Follow the North 

Star to Ashland’s newest downtown 

shop – The Reiki and Wellness 

Center. This beautifully 

decorated downtown oasis has 

lots of inspirational gifts for your 

holiday shopping. Located in the 

historic Greenwood Building, one 

of Ashland’s finest historic “skyscraper” 

and home to The North 

Star Lodge, a local organization 

of FreeMasons. 54 Front St.


Income Eligibility Guidelines for 

Free and Reduced-Priced Meals 

Ashland Public Schools offers 

free and reduced-priced 

meals to students who meet the 

eligibility criteria set forth by 

Effective July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 

HOUSEHOLD 

SIZE 

YEAR 

the UDSA. Applications are 

available in the main offices at 

all schools in our district, as well 

as on our website, www.ashland. 

k12.ma.us/nutrition-services. If 

you have questions, contact the 

Nutrition Services Department 

at 508-881-0165. 

Free Meals (130%) Reduced Meals (185%) 

MONTH 

Twice 

Per 

Month 

Every 

Two 

Weeks 

WEEK YEAR MONTH 

Twice 

per 

Month 

Every 

Two 

Weeks 

WEEK 

1 $297 $916 $423 

2 1,736 868 801 401 2,470 570 

3 2,184 504 3,108 718 

4 2,633 608 3,747 865 

Local Art Teacher 

Honored 

Ashland resident Andrea 

Green was one of nine educators 

to be named a winner 

for the 2017 Massachusetts 

Art Education Association 

(MAEA) Awards. Green won 

in the Community Arts Educator 

of the Year category. She is 

a teacher at the Summit Montessori 

School in Framingham. 

The awards ceremony will be 

held on Saturday, Nov. 12, 5 to 

7:30 p.m. at Lesley University 

in Cambridge. 

As an art educator, Green 

has initiated several collaborative 

programs and initiatives 

over the years. She has served 

on the board of the Hopkinton 

Center for the Arts and is one 

of the founders of Arts! Ashland 

Alliance. Their signature 

event is one Green initiated, 

the Dragonfly Music and Arts 

Festival, held in downtown 

Ashland every August. 

5 3,081 711 4,385 

6 3,530 815 5,023 

7 3,980 919 5,663 

8 4,430 1,023 6,304 

For each 

additional family 

member add 

+451 +104 +642 +321 +148 

Friends’ Run Around the Town 

The Friends of the Ashland 

Library (FAL) held its second annual 

“Fun Run Around Town,” 

a one-mile, family-friendly “fun 

run” around Ashland on Oct. 15. 

Starting and ending at the library, 

the event attracted all ages and 

abilities. Runners learned about 

the community as they jogged to 

local landmarks, met community 

members who shared interesting 

facts, and collected stamps on a 

special card. At the finish line, the 

participants celebrated with live 

music by Ashland’s Road Dawgs, 

delicious snacks from The Carve, 

face painting by Metrowest Face 

Painting, rock decorating and 

prizes. 

Fun Run participants warm up 

as the Mindess Running Club 

leads them through stretches. 

(Photo/submitted) 

Fourth grade participants 

Nathan Gerlovin and Noam 

Metchinger proudly display 

their completed credentials. 


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Banish Body Acne 

By Lisa Massimiano, 

Aesthetician, 

Certified Acne Specialist, 

Owner Skin Smart Salon 

Many people with facial 

acne also have body acne. 

Acne can travel like a wave 

down the face and onto the 

chest and back. This bothersome 

condition is often made 

worse by sweat and friction 

from sports, and clothing rubbing 

against the skin. Although 

body acne can be frustrating, 

it can be managed with the 

right products and treatment. 

To treat body acne successfully, 

you need a consistent 

home care regimen that 

includes the right amount of 

exfoliation and topical antibacterial 

action. Home care, 

combined with professional 

peel treatments, prevent micro 

acne lesions from forming and 

breaks the vicious acne cycle. 

There are two types of 

body acne, inflamed and noninflamed 

and they are treated 

differently. 

Inflamed Body Acne. 

Inflamed acne is red, pustular 

and often sore to the 

touch. With this type of acne 

you need less exfoliation and 

more antibacterial treatment. 

Achieve Clear Skin 

Before 

I have my clients use a benzoyl 

peroxide cleanser and topical 

benzoyl peroxide lotion. The 

strength of the products is determined 

by whether it is on 

their chest or back. The back is 

less sensitive and needs stronger 

products. I always have my 

clients start slowly, gradually 

increasing frequency of use 

as their body gets used to the 

products. Being too aggressive 

too quickly can irritate 

inflamed acne. 

Non-inflamed Body 

Acne. 

Non-inflamed acne presents 

as a bumpy texture made up of 

lots of blackheads and clogged 

pores. This type of acne is generally 

not sensitive and to treat 

it you need more exfoliation 

and less antibacterial action. 

Exfoliating alpha-hydroxy 

serums and an exfoliating 

cleanser work well to smooth 

skin texture and loosen buildup 

inside the pores. 

Questions about acne? Email me 

at skinsmartsalon@aol.com or call 

(508) 881-1180. 

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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 

Needham Bank Signs on as 

Major Sponsor of Ashland 

Education Foundation 

Needham Bank and the 

Ashland Education Foundation 

(AEFI) announced today the 

renewal of their partnership 

through the 2016-2017 academic 

year with Needham Bank 

supporting AEFI charity fundraising 

events including Casino 

Night, the MetroWest College 

and Career Fair, and the Annual 

Innovation Grant Awards Gala. 

“Since opening their branch 

in Ashland in 2015, Needham 

Bank has quickly become a pillar 

of the community and has 

provided major financial support 

to the AEFI and the Ashland 

Public Schools. Needham 

Bank truly cares about the Ashland 

community and that is reflected 

in everything they do,” 

stated AEFI President Adam 

Elbirt. 

Mark Whalen, Needham 

Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, 

remarked, “The Ashland Education 

Foundation was one of 

the first relationships we formed 

when we opened in Ashland. 

Our community is incredibly 

lucky to have an organization 

Annual Coat Drive 

Runs Through 

January 6 

The Greater Ashland Lions Club in partnership with Anton’s 

Cleaners is holding its 6th Annual Coat Drive through 

Jan. 6. The group is collecting gently used winter coats for both 

kids and adutlts. Coats may be placed in a box in the lower 

level entrance to Town Hall, or for pickup, call Lion Debbie 

at 508-881-2117. 

Mark Whalen, Chief Executive Officer of Needham Bank, Adam Elbirt, 

President of the Ashland Education Foundation, and Paul Totino, 

President of Needham Bank 

The Candy Cottage 

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Chocolate Turkeys • Advent Calendars 

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(508) 429-5544 • thecandycottage1950@yahoo.com 

www.TheCandyCottage.biz 

that demonstrates this type of 

dedication to our schools. Our 

partnership with the AEFI is extremely 

important to us, and we 

are delighted to support them 

again this school year.” 

Upcoming AEFI events include: 

The 3rd Annual Casino 

Night, Friday, November 18, 

2016. The event will be held 

at Hanto, 380 Union St (Route 

135), Ashland from 7:30-10:30 

p.m. Gather your friends and 

neighbors for a fun evening 

playing Blackjack, Craps, Texas 

Hold’em, and Roulette to raise 

money for the AEFI Innovation 

Grant awards. 

The MetroWest College and 

Career Fair (MWCCF), scheduled 

for Saturday April 1, 2017 

from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Ashland 

High School. 

The 14th Annual Innovation 

Grant Awards Gala at the 

Framingham Sheraton Tara 

Hotel on Friday April 7, 2017. 

The event typically draws 300- 

400 attendees and raises over 

$40,000 to benefit the AEFI’s 

mission to fund innovative education 

through competitive 

innovation grants and school 

needs grants. 

Since 2010, the AEFI has 

raised over $520,000 towards 

funding innovative projects 

within the Ashland Public 

Schools.


Art in the Library 

DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY 

“Night Light,” 

photographs by Jean Keamy 

Through Dec. 3, 2016 

Westborough eye doctor Jean 

Keamy began learning photography 

in 1980. She studied black 

and white photography, and in 

2006, moved to digital photography. 

In 2012 she began exploring 

night photography. 

The surprise and mystery of 

the light at night intrigues and 

drives Keamy. She is excited to 

exhibit her images of the extraordinary 

night beyond what 

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our human eye can perceive. The 

photographs on exhibit come 

from her travels to Iceland, New 

York, Bermuda and Bodie Ghost 

Town. 

There will be a Reception 

for the Artist, Saturday, Nov. 

5, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Downstairs 

Gallery. 

UPSTAIRS DISPLAY CASE 

“School Lunch Memories,” a 

collection of 

school lunch boxes 

By Laureen Cheever Robinson 

Through Nov. 30, 2016 

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Ashland Documentary Film 

& Discussion Series Explores 

How Children Learn, Nov. 10 

The Documentary Film & 

Discussion Series meets 7 to 

9 pm in the Ashland Library, 

Community Room, every second 

Thursday of the month. 

The films are sponsored by the 

Friends of the Ashland Library. 

For more information, call the 

library, 508-881-0134, or visit 

www.friendsoftheapl.com. 

The Documentary Film Series 

will start a new mini-series 

in November. Based on recent 

research, as well as the pioneering 

work of Piaget and others, 

the film series “Minds of 

Our Own” shows that many 

of the things we assume about 

how children learn are simply 

not true. For educators and 

parents, these programs bring 

new insight to debates about 

education reform. “Minds of 

Our Own” is an Annenberg 

Learner film produced by the 

Harvard-Smithsonian Center 

for Astrophysics. 

Thursday, Nov. 10-- 

Part 1: Obstacles to Teaching 

and Learning Science 

Why is it that students can graduate 

from MIT and Harvard, yet 

not know how to solve a simple 

third-grade problem in science: 

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lighting a light bulb with a battery 

and wire? Beginning with 

this startling fact, this program 

systematically explores many of 

the assumptions that we hold 

about learning to show that 

education is based on a series of 

myths. Through the example of 

an experienced teacher, the program 

takes a hard look at why 

teaching fails, even when he uses 

all of the traditional tricks of the 

trade. The program shows how 

new research, used by teachers 

committed to finding solutions 

to problems, is reshaping what 

goes on in our nation’s schools. 

Learn the History of Early 

Glass Making, November 20 

Kirk Nelson, Director and 

President of the New Bedford 

Museum of Glass, will present 

a “History of Early New England 

Glass Making,” featuring 

glass factories in Sandwich, 

New Bedford, East Cambridge 

and South Boston as well as 

bottle and window makers in 

New Hampshire and Vermont. 

Nelson has an extensive background 

as a museum curator. 

He has had a longtime interest 

in glass and has worked as a 

glass cutter. Come join us! All 

are welcome. His program will 

be held on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 

2 p.m. at the Ashland Historical 

Society, 2 Myrtle St. For more 

information, visit www.ashlandhistsociety.com. 

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Breaking the Barriers 

By Neha Shabeer, Sophomore, 

Ashland High School 

President and Co-founder, 

Breaking the Barriers 

Every day we are faced with 

barriers: walls of prejudice others 

put up, bricks that we build 

around ourselves setting our 

own limits and the glass box society 

places upon us. Now there 

is a new Ashland High School 

(AHS) club, Breaking the Barriers 

(BTB), which focuses on destroying 

these invisible walls in 

the Ashland community. 

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What is BTB? 

BTB is a community service 

and leadership club supported 

by Drug Free Communities 

(DFC) funding, inspiring youth 

to make healthy choices and giving 

them the skills to become a 

leader. The goal of the club is to 

shatter the stereotypical mold of 

complacent teenagers and make 

a positive change in the lives of 

students through service activities 

and leadership. The main 

events for the club’s first year 

include conducting a leadership 

program with the Mindess Student 

Council, planning a regional 

youth summit with the Metrowest 

Substance Abuse Prevention 

Alliance, volunteering at PTOsponsored 

Kids Night Out, and 

attending the one-week CADCA 

(Community Anti-Drug Coalitions 

of America) conference in 

Washington D.C. As the youth 

sector of the Decisions at Every 

Turn (DAET) Coalition, members 

will also be attending DAET 

meetings, dedicated to creating a 

safe and healthy Ashland by preventing 

and solving problems that 

lead to youth substance abuse. 

Additionally, BTB will assist with 

the AHS Student Taking a Noble 

Direction (STAND) positive social 

norms campaign. BTB has a 

very busy and fun year planned 

and has sights set on having a 

leadership summit for AHS students 

and a workshop with Girl 

Scouts in the future. 

Pushing Through Barriers 

Although, as president and 

co-founder of BTB, I can say 

that our path to becoming a fully 

established club wasn’t easy. We 

faced our own hurdles and barriers, 

which we pushed through. 

In June, we proposed the name of 

our club to be STAND (after the 

Students Taking a Noble Direction 

campaign) at a DEAT meeting, 

and it was shut down due to 

various issues. Not succumbing to 

defeat, we began brainstorming 

new club names. After a tight race 

between Breaking the Barriers 

BTB founders (Photo/submitted) 

and the Positivity Pandas, Breaking 

the Barriers, thankfully, won. 

This new name represents our redefined 

vision for our leadership 

and community service-oriented 

club. An afternoon of glue, glitter 

and construction paper later, 

we had created our first Club Fair 

poster for the freshmen orientations 

held last June and August. 

At those two orientations, we received 

38 emails from prospective 

members. From there, countless 

emails were exchanged between 

DEAT leaders, AHS administration 

and BTB club founders over 

the course of the summer. Soon 

it was time to put aside administrative 

work and make the club 

official! We had several founders’ 

meetings to outline our club constitution, 

meetings with DAET 

heads to discuss the vision of the 

club, and a search for a qualified 

and passionate faculty advisor. 

Once all of that work was done, it 

was time for the real battle: publicizing 

the new club. 

Marketing the New Club 

From speaking at the homecoming 

rally, to sneakily hanging 

posters on the back of bathroom 

stall doors for forced viewership, 

to being on the morning announcements, 

we were practically 

a marketing team. On our posters 

we advertised food at all meetings, 

building a youth leadership 

program, taking a week-long trip 

to D.C., and community service 

at every meeting and event. 

Our publicity worked! We had 

our first official club meeting on 

Oct. 5 with around 40 students 

attending! The involvement was 

incredible, and we hope to see all 

those faces again. We are a new, 

growing club always looking for 

different opinions, so we always 

welcome new members. I believe 

that this is going to be the beginning 

of many successful years for 

BTB, and hope that our story inspires 

others to do what they are 

passionate about. 

I would like to thank the other 

five founders of the club: Haley 

Boccuzzi (BTB publicist), Liz 

Cahill, Selma Chamime, Stephanie 

Moscaritolo and Annabelle 

Rutherford (BTB secretary). A 

special shout out to the amazing 

women at DEAT who have 

tirelessly helped us throughout 

this process: Elizabeth Byrnes, 

Betsy Emberly, Kristen French 

and Amy Turncliff. Also thanks 

to our wonderful AHS Principal, 

Kelley St. Coeur, who has always 

supported us. Last but not least, 

a huge thank you to our advisor, 

Lindsay Hogan, who always 

lends a hand and a bright smile 

and listens to the ramblings of us 

crazy founders! Please feel free to 

contact me at shabeerneh@ashland.k12.ma.us 

for any questions 

or comments about BTB. 

For more about the world 

through my eyes, keep reading 

my monthly column :) 

Thanksgiving Day Feast 2016 

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AHS Names Commended Students for 2017 

Front row (l to r): Jennifer McMahon (guidance counselor), Kelley St. Coeur (principal), Abigail Kidson, 

Haley Rao, Caitlin Keaveny, Jessica Moses, Kristen Mahoney, Jessica Wright and Beverly Chase (guidance 

counselor). Back row: Julia Doucette, Colin Dunn, Zachary Greenstein, Bradley Colarusso, Adela Lin, Brian 

Garrigan (guidance counselor) and Cory McGann (guidance counselor). (Photo/submitted) 

Ashland High School Principal 

Kelley St. Coeur announced 

that the following students have 

been named Commended Students 

in the 2017 National Merit 

Scholarship Program: Bradley 

Colarusso, Julia Doucette, Colin 

Dunn, Zachary Greenstein, 

Caitlin Keaveny, Abigail Kidson, 

Adela Lin, Kristen Mahoney, 

Jessica Moses, Haley Rao 

and Jessica Wright. A Letter of 

Commendation from the school 

and National Merit Scholarship 

Corporation (NMSC), which 

conducts the program, was presented 

to these scholastically talented 

students by Principal St. 

Coeur and their guidance counselors 

on September 20. 

Approximately 34,000 Commended 

Students throughout 

the nation are being recognized 

for their exceptional academic 

promise. Although they will not 

continue in the 2017 competition 

for National Merit Scholarship 

awards, Commended 

Students placed among the top 

five percent of the more than 

1.6 million students who entered 

the 2017 competition by taking 

the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National 

Merit Scholarship Qualifying 

Test (PSATNMSQT). 

“The young men and 

women named Commended 

Students are some of the most 

academically gifted at Ashland 

High School and their accomplishments 

reach far beyond 

the NMSC,” St. Coeur said. 

“This is the largest group of 

Commended students I can remember 

in my time at AHS. I 

am proud of their academic 

achievement and what each of 

them brings to Ashland High 

School each day. I have no 

doubt these young adults have 

bright futures ahead of them.” 

Finding the Hope 

PLEASE RECYCLE 

By Rev. Larry Iannetti, Pastor, 

Federated Church of 


A little more than a generation 

or two ago, the world seemed 

much bigger than it does today. 

News and images of what was 

happening in far off places took 

days and sometimes weeks, to 

reach us. Newspapers were our 

primary sources of information, 

with occasional timely reports on 

the radio or on the evening news 

from the three major networks. 

Hurricanes, earthquakes and 

wars, political events, famines or 

floods, did not have the immediate 

impact then that they do 

today because they seemed so far 

away. 

Today, we receive live media 

streaming on our televisions, 

computers, smart phones and 

even our wrist devices. We get 

live coverage of the aftermath 

of hurricane Matthew as it devastates 

Haiti, images of bleeding 

children whose parents’ have 

been killed in Aleppo, Syria, the 

aftermath images of missile exchanges 

between Israel and Palestine, 

a Tsunami hitting the coast 

of Japan and the melt down of a 

nuclear reactor. 

There was a time when danger 

and tragedy seemed much 

farther away than it does today. 

We are forced to come to the realization 

that the world seems to be 

a much more fragile place today 

than it once was. It is easy to understand 

why it might seem overwhelming 

and leave us feeling 

fearful, depressed and powerless. 

While it might be tempting to try 

and withdraw, to isolate ourselves 

as a nation, to grow weary worrying, 

and to become numb to the 

heartache and tragedy facing our 

neighbors in far off places and 

lands, we need to be careful we 

do not lose perspective. 

We need to become aware that 

for every tragic event there are 

heroes and heroines, people who 

rise to the occasion, selfless people 

who roll up their sleeves, console 

their neighbor, sacrifice themselves 

out of love and compassion 

for others. The volunteers who 

cleaned the shore birds along the 

Gulf coast, the medical professional 

and caregivers who nursed 

the injured after the marathon 

bombing, the countless volunteer 

church groups that helped rebuild 

New Orleans, the doctors without 

borders medical professionals 

who respond to need around the 

world, are all inspiring examples 

of the best of us. 

Humanity has great resilience, 

a determination to overcome 

adversity, to heal and 

mend, to rebuild and restore, 

and to begin again in the aftermath 

of great loss. While the 

media streams the news and 

images of death, destruction 

and tragedy, it does not offer us 

a complete picture, for it often 

leaves out the news and images 

of recovery, self-sacrifice, the 

faces of heroes and heroines 

who help to heal the world’s 

brokenness. 

Come be inspired and find 

the best in yourself and in others 

at the Federated Church of 

Ashland. We gather every Sunday 

morning at 10 a.m. We are 

located at 118 Main St., across 

from the Town Hall where there 

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Classes offered in: 

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Ashland Community Theater 

(ACT) to Present “Dinner 

Conversations” December 1-3 

Ashland Community Theater 

(ACT) founder Joe White is 

pleased to announce that their 

6th production, “Dinner Conversations,” 

is scheduled to be 

performed on December 1st, 

2nd and 3rd at the David Mindess 

School in Ashland. The 

company continues to grow and 

approximately 35 actors, directors 

and stage crew are involved 

in this show. The company 

started in 2014 and plans to continue 

its model of 2 shows a year. 

“Dinner Conversations” 

consists of 8 scenes, all written 

by local writers. The original 

material format offers flexibility, 

creativity and enables many 

actors to participate. Audiences 

also enjoyed the known material 

that ACT performed in the 

spring, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite. 

Joe believes that the mixture of 

the two offers the company a 

nice balance, as producing two 

shows a year is a considerable 

undertaking. 

If you are interested in helping 

with ACT, please reach out 

to Joe at Ashlandcommunitytheater@gmail.com. 

If you would 

like to purchase tickets for the 

show in December, please visit 

ashlandcommunitytheater.com. 

MetroWest Christian Academy students show their appreciation for Ashland Police and Fire 

Departments by taking food items, baked goods, and notes of appreciation. We love giving to those 

who give so much of themselves! 

Enjoying a Guilt-Free 

Holiday Dinner 

Adhering to a diet on special 

occasions has always proved challenging 

for Roy DeGrandpre. 

He was enthused when he joined 

New England Fat Loss (NEFL) 

on October 1, 2015. However, 

Thanksgiving Day loomed in the 

near future. When the big day arrived, 

the 54 year-old had already 

lost 43 pounds and gratefully approached 

the event with a totally 

new outlook. 

“In the past, every time I’ve dieted, 

I’ve dreaded the holidays,” 

DeGrandpre said. “The holidays 

are about great family, great food 

and letting go, but this year was 

completely different. When I 

woke up on Thanksgiving, I told 

myself I was not going to go overboard, 

but if I saw something I 

wanted, I was going to try it and 

enjoy every bite.” 

Armed with a successful diet 

plan and a personal nutritional 

menu from NEFL, DeGrandpre 

allowed himself to enjoy a truly 

satisfying Thanksgiving knowing 

he had a clear direction for the 

day after. 

“The difference this time was 

that I had full and complete confidence 

that starting the next day, 

I could just follow the program 

again and very shortly, I would 

be right back to my Thanksgiving 

morning weight,” DeGrandpre 

said. “There was absolutely 

no doubt in my mind that I 

would accomplish that. It took 

me only two days.” 

At press time, DeGrandpre 

had lost an impressive 54 pounds 

just six weeks into the program. 

In addition to the weight loss he 

was also experiencing other physical 

benefits. For example, now 

carrying a lot less weight, he only 

requires 20 percent of his original 

insulin dosage to manage his 

diabetes. He also is experiencing 

quite an increase in stamina. 

“I have more energy than I 

feel I have had in years, as far 

back as I can remember,” De- 

Grandpre said. “A lot of that is 

because even when I was thinner 

and younger, I still wasn’t eating 

healthy. Anyone who is diabetic 

should be calling right away because 

your energy and health will 

benefit greatly.” 

DeGrandpre did all the work, 

but also credits the support and 

guidance from the NEFL staff. 

The hour’s commute to the Newton 

office from his Amherst, NH 

home required additional commitment, 

but the effort was well 

worth the result. His personal 

interaction with the staff who he 

described as available, encouraging, 

friendly and knowledgeable, 

and with Dr. Johns who he would 

text with daily, made him feel like 

his weight loss was a successful 

team effort! 

Create your weight loss team 

today, and 2016 will be a lighter 

and healthier year! New England 

Fat Loss has three nearby locations: 

22 South Street, Suite 204, 

Hopkinton, 276 Turnpike Road, 

Suite 200, Westborough and 

188 Needham Street, Suite 255, 

Newton. To learn more, visit their 

website at www.newenglandfatloss.com, 

or call 1-844-437-8446. 

College Info Night 

for Students on an 

IEP or 504 Plan 

There will be a panel discussion 

on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 

7-9 pm in the Ashland Middle 

School Activity Room for students 

on an IEP (Individualized 

Education Program) or a 504 

plan who are heading to college. 

The panel will include Brian 

Garrigan from Ashland High 

School Guidance Department, 

representatives from Dean College 

and Mass Bay, an Ashland 

parent and Kelly Carter from 

the Transition to Adult Program 

(TAP) at MetroWest Center for 

Independent Living. Ask your 

questions, learn about accommodations 

colleges are offering 

and how to make sure you get the 

right ones for you, and find out 

important criteria to include in 

your search. Parents and students 

welcome! For more information, 

contact maillist@ashpac.org.


Sports 

Dedham to Join Tri Valley League Next Fall 

By Ken Hamwey, 

Staff Sports Writer 

Ashland High will have a new 

opponent on its athletic schedules 

next fall. Dedham, which has 

been competing in the Bay State 

Conference (BSC), will join the 

Tri Valley League (TVL) in September, 

2017, and become the 

11 th member of the circuit. 

TVL athletic directors approved 

the measure by a 10-0 

vote and the league’s principals 

also voted 10-0 to add Dedham, 

which is the smallest school in the 

BSC. Its enrollment for the 2016- 

17 school year is 740, which falls 

in the middle of the 10 TVL 

schools. 

“I’m excited to have Dedham 

join the TVL,’’ Ashland’s 

Athletic Director, Mike Grimes, 

said. “The TVL is a strong, 

competitive league, and the addition 

of Dedham will enhance 

the strength and competitiveness 

within our league. Dedham will 

add teams to our league schedule 

in sports such as girls’ volleyball, 

field hockey, ice hockey, wrestling 

and lacrosse, where other schools 

within our league do not have 

field teams in those varsity sports. 

“This is a great opportunity 

for not only our student-athletes, 

but also those student-athletes 

from Dedham. I personally feel 

the TVL will be a great fit for 

Dedham. I look forward to working 

with their A.D., Steve Traister, 

and being able to watch our 

schools compete against each 

other starting next fall.’’ 

Traister is delighted with the 

impending move but also acutely 

aware that his school is leaving “a 

great league that unfortunately 

outgrew us.’’ 

“We’re entering a league that 

is a better fit, in terms of competitive 

size and geography,’’ said 

Traister, who’s been the A.D. at 

Dedham for four years and who 

previously was the A.D. at Milton. 

“It’s not about winning games, 

it’s about being competitive on 

a nightly basis. We’ve played 

non-league games against TVL 

schools and we’ve competed with 

them at the middle school level. 

This is a move where everyone 

was on board—the community, 

coaches, parents and students.’’ 

Special People’s Field Day 

The Special People’s Field Day, 

held on Sept. 25 at the Ashland 

Fish & Game Club, is an annual 

event sponsored by the Ashland/ 

Hopkinton council (Bishop Rice 

Council #4822) of the Knights 

of Columbus. The event brings 

together members of the special 

needs community for a day of fun 

activities, including sports for all, 

pony/horse rides, fire truck rides, 

a barbeque lunch, ice cream and 

prizes. (Photos/submitted) 

Dedham had enrollments of 

2,000-plus in the 1970s, but as 

time passed, so did the town’s 

dynamic. Traister said, “The 

town got older.’’ Also, Dedham 

is surrounded by private schools, 

namely Xaverian, Catholic Memorial, 

Nobel & Greenough, Ursuline 

and BC High. 

“We struggled in the BSC, but 

residents of Dedham shouldn’t 

think we’re going to dominate in 

the TVL,’’ Traister said. “Medfield 

and Westwood have won 

state championships in a variety 

of sports, Bellingham won state 

titles in softball and baseball a few 

years ago and Holliston is a force 

in football. What’s good for us is 

that we no longer will be playing 

schools like Framingham, Weymouth 

and Brookline that have 

enrollments three times our size.’’ 

Having 11 teams in the TVL 

might seem like an invitation for a 

scheduling nightmare, but Medway 

A.D. Rob Pearl, who is the 

president of the TVL, said it will 

take some creative maneuvering. 

“We’re not sure just yet if Dedham 

will be in the TVL Small or 

Large Division,’’ he noted. “But, 

when two schools have a quality 

rivalry and want to schedule 

more than one game in a season, 

then two cross-over games can be 

scheduled. If Dedham were to be 

aligned in the small division, then 

we’d have six schools there and 

five in the large division. That decision 

will come later.’’ 

About seven years ago in 2009, 

Dedham mulled leaving the BSC 

for the TVL, but the community 

wasn’t 100 percent on board. At 

that time, Milford High and Dedham 

were seeking entrance, but 

neither school was added. Dedham 

gave the Mass. Interscholastic 

Athletic Association a year’s 

notice and the BSC got two years’ 

notice on Dedham’s impending 

switch to the TVL. 

“The TVL wasn’t looking to 

add a team, but we knocked on 

its door and the A.D.s graciously 

invited us in for a presentation,’’ 

Traister said. “School principal 

Ron McCarthy and I attended 

and the school eventually was accepted. 

“The BSC, to its credit, 

tried to accommodate us in various 

ways, but we no longer fit. 

We’re expected to give our kids an 

opportunity to compete against 

school our size, and joining the 

TVL is simply a better fit.’’ 

Dedham’s Thanksgiving Day 

football game with Norwood, 

which has been a tradition for 

80-plus years, will not be impacted. 

The TVL’s grid rivalries 

are all set and there is no team in 

need of a holiday opponent. Also, 

Thanksgiving Day games no longer 

have any significance with the 

current playoff format. 

Pearl indicated that at some 

point the TVL may look to add 

another school to bring league 

membership to 12. Wayland 

and Weston High have inquired 

about potential membership but 

nothing has materialized on that 

front. 

Pearl also noted that Dedham, 

which borders TVL member 

Westwood, should pose no major 

travel concerns. He did, however, 

say that he hoped that current 

Route 109 reconstruction would 

not interfere with road games to 

Dedham. 

Chuck Grant, Millis High’s 

veteran A.D., believes Dedham’s 

entrance will be a plus for the 

TVL. “Dedham is a class act and 

will be a great addition to the 

TVL,’’ Grant emphasized. “And 

hopefully, the change will enable 

them to enjoy success like they 

had in the past in the BSC.’’ 

The 10 schools that currently 

comprise the TVL are Ashland, 

Bellingham, Dover-Sherborn, 

Holliston, Hopkinton, Medfield, 

Medway, Millis, Norton and 

Westwood. The league, which was 

formalized in 1966, celebrated its 

50 th anniversary this year. 

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Sports 

Davis Selected as Ashland’s New Boys Hoop Coach 

By Ken Hamwey, 


Isaiah Davis is Ashland High’s 

new boys’ basketball coach, replacing 

Mark Champagne who 

left the program after six seasons 

to take the coaching reins at King 

Philip Regional in Wrentham. 

The 30-year-old Davis was 

Wellesley High’s assistant varsity 

coach with the boys’ program 

for four years, and during 

the last two seasons the native of 

Providence served as assistant 

varsity boys’ coach and middle 

school head coach at Noble & 

Greenough in Dedham. He 

was a two-time all-star when he 

played at Providence Country 

Day (PCD) and he competed 

for two years in a reserve role at 

Babson College where he graduated 

in 2008. 

Although Davis has no headcoaching 

experience at the high 

school level, he’s no stranger 

to the sport or programs in the 

Metrowest area. He has coached 

and worked in youth programs in 

Wellesley and is program director 

of GT Elite, a club team that 

he started. He also has coached 

at the highest club level and he’s 

conducted many camps and clinics 

throughout the local area. 

Chosen from a pool of 20- 

plus applicants, Davis is eager 

to get started. He and his wife 

Maria live in Framingham, and 

his commute to Ashland is about 

five minutes. 

“I’m excited to get this opportunity, 

and I’m looking forward 

to continuing the success 

that coach Champagne had during 

his six seasons,’’ Davis said. 

“My coaching philosophy is to 

compete hard, help our players 

reach their potential, win and 

enjoy the experience.’’ 

Davis, who had a 3.90 grade 

point average at PCD, enrolled at 

Babson on an academic scholarship 

and studied in Europe and 

Africa for three of his semesters. 

He has a degree in business administration 

with a concentration 

in marketing. While he was 

coaching at Wellesley High and 

Noble & Greenough, he worked 

in the financial services field but 

now is employed by EIS Group, 

a firm that sells insurance software 

to major corporations. 

Davis, who was a dynamic 

point guard at PCD, averaged 16 

points and 8 assists, but his calling 

card was defense, a commodity 

he plans to employ intensely 

at Ashland. 

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“My style will focus on defense 

first, and our offense will be uptempo,’’ 

Davis noted. “Teaching 

and stressing fundamentals 

will be a priority. If we’re small, 

we’ll rely on players who’ll read 

and react, pass and set picks. I 

want our kids to buy into what 

I’m teaching, but I also want to 

groom them into young men 

and create lasting memories. I 

want players to allow basketball 

to help them deal with issues in 

real-life situations. Working as a 

team, setting goals and overcoming 

adversity are just a few lessons 

that can be learned.’’ 

Appointed in August, Davis 

said, “We’ve got some up-andcoming 

talent on our junior 

varsity squad, and I know we’ve 

got good leadership at the senior 

level.’’ Davis also is acutely aware 

that the Tri Valley League 

(TVL) is ultra competitive. 

“I know 

Medfield is traditionally 

strong, 

and it looks 

like Holliston 

is emerging,’’ 

he said. “The 

TVL looks like 

a conference 

where teams one 

through six will all 

be in the mix for the 

league title.’’ 

Davis credits Wellesley High 

coach Glen Magpiong for helping 

him develop into a candidate 

to lead a varsity squad. “Glen 

groomed me and taught me a lot 

about coaching,’’ Davis emphasized. 

“He also showed me how 

to build a program. I also admire 

two other coaches — Paul Connolly 

at Newton North and Stephen 

Brennan at Babson. Paul 

stresses all the right things and 

his teams are always in the playoffs, 

and coach Brennan showed 

me how to maintain poise and 

stressed the importance of academics 

in a players’ life.’’ 

Davis said he plans on being 

very visible in the community. 

“I want to learn more about 

Ashland’s youth program and 

I want to be at a variety of the 

school’s events, like football 

games,’’ he emphasized. “My 

players will get to know my style 

and philosophy but I want to be 

involved in the town so that the 

basketball program will be built 

from the grassroots up. There 

will be rules and there will be 

accountability and that goes for 

me, too.’’ 

When Athletic Director Mike 

Grimes informed Davis he was 

the choice of the search committee, 

there was a very poignant 

comment made 

by Grimes to Davis. 

It was a comment 

that said volumes 

about the 

confidence 

Ashland was 

placing in its 

new coach. 

“Mike 

told me that 

there was a 

person who took 

a chance on him 

when the school was 

seeking a new A.D.,’’ Davis 

said. “He told me that he and 

the committee were willing to 

take a chance on me. I know the 

competition I faced was stiff, but 

Ashland showed confidence in 

me.’’ 

Grimes is eager to work with 

Davis. “He brings energy and 

knowledge to the table, and I’m 

excited for our entire basketball 

program, from the varsity down 

to the youth level,’’ Grimes emphasized. 

“I look forward to 

working with Isaiah as he establishes 

his program.’’ 

Davis helped Wellesley High 

get to the playoffs in all four 

years he worked as an assistant 

coach. Qualifying for the tourney 

obviously is high on his list 

of priorities, but Isaiah Davis 

also is interested in developing 

solid citizens and creating positive 

memories.


Sports 

Maggie Duich, Ashland Golf 

By Christopher Tremblay, 


When you’re exposed to a 

sport enough, you tend to gravitate 

toward that sport. Such was 

the case for Ashland’s Maggie 

Duich, whose father loved to 

play golf, and following her first 

time swinging the clubs, she was 

hooked. 

“My father took me out on the 

course when I was old enough to 

take part in the sport and soon 

after he bought me my own 

clubs,” Duich said. “I liked the 

game almost immediately as it 

was different and not a popular 

sport, especially for girls. The best 

part about it was it was something 

that I could do with my dad.” 

The Ashland golfer soon 

found herself taking lessons with 

Bill McInerney, and although she 

was inconsistent with her scoring 

(high 40s/ low 50s), she was 

enjoying the sport in the eighth 

grade. By her sophomore year 

in high school, she began cutting 

strokes off her overall score 

and found herself shooting in the 

43-44 range. This year, her senior 

campaign, she now finds herself 

in the low 40s. 

Although she fell in love with 

the sport for what it was, she also 

thought that she could possible 

parlay it into some cash for college. 

“I figured that if I worked hard 

enough I might be able to play 

in college and possibly get some 

type of scholarship,” she said. 

“However I have since changed 

my mind as I am looking to pursue 

a science major in college and 

even if I wanted to play I’d have 

no times with my studies.” 

While her parents would support 

any decision that she decided 

to tackle, her mother was very 

relieved that she decided not to 

pursue golf. 

“My mother was always saying 

that academics come first, so 

it was a relief to her when I decided 

not to play golf in college,” 

Duich said. 

Playing a sport that not many 

of her friends took part in sometimes 

has its downfalls, but Duich 

was ok with that. 

“My friends were very supportive 

of me, but since none of 

them play the sport we can never 

hang out on the course,” she said. 

“They are just not into playing 

nine holes of golf over 2 hours.” 

Coach Rick LeBlanc, who has 

guided the Ashland golf team for 

three years now, has seen the senior 

two-time captain grow over 

the past few years into the top 

golfer she is today. 

“She is definitely the team’s 

number one golfer with a team 

best 43 average. She’s not only 

a leader on the course, but in 

school, too,” the Clocker Coach 

said. “She’s got a great all around 

game with a fantastic tee shot. 

Her mental game over the past 

two years has improved immensely.” 

Upon entering high school 

Duich made the decision to try 

out for the team despite being 

a girl. And although somewhat 

weaker than her male counterparts 

she was not going to let it 

get in her way. 

“I felt that I shouldn’t have to 

let my love for the sport be denied 

just because I was a girl,” she said. 

“I really wanted to make the team 

and was able to get through it because 

I embraced the fact that I 

was not going to be able to hit the 

ball as far as the boys. I may not 

be able to hit it 300 yards, but I 

would keep it straight, play my 

game to the best of my ability 

and put up a decent score.” 

After securing a spot on the 

team, Duich found things a bit 

intimidating being the only girl 

on the squad, especially when 

she was teeing off and the entire 

team was watching her. However, 

the team didn’t think of her as a 

girl and welcomed her with open 

arms. 

During the past few years, 

Duich has been looking to improve 

upon her skills to be the 

best teammate possible on the 

golf course and help her team 

win. 

“I love hitting, I love crushing 

the ball. It’s probably the best 

part of my game and it came 

relatively easy, but I knew that I 

needed to build upon my other 

skills if I was to be successful,” 

the Ashland golfer said. “During 

my sophomore and junior years, I 

would practice in Dedham two or 

three hours every day after school 

before going home and doing my 

homework.” 

According to Coach LeBlanc, 

Duich’s risk of trying out for the 

team has certainly opened the 

doors. 

“Our numbers were low prior 

to Maggie joining the team,” the 

Coach said. “But it opened up the 

door for other girls to become interested 

in the sport and try out 

for the team.” 

LeBlanc sees his senior captain 

as a great leader for the younger 

golfers and one that doesn’t let 

herself down; she’ll just shake it 

off and regroup. Duich agrees 

with her coach’s assessment. 

“Patience can definitely get the 

best of me sometimes,” Duich 

said. “Golf is a social sport and 

you just need to embrace that and 

continue on your way.” 

With her decision not to play 

golf on the collegiate level, her 

senior year at Ashland will conclude 

her golf career so she’s 

looking to go out on a high note. 

“This is my last year playing 

golf competitively, but I will not 

be giving up on golf, I will continue 

to play,” she said. “Before 

I leave Ashland, I would like to 

shoot under 40; I’ve been close 

before, but I always seem to have 

a bad hole near the end.” 

Whether she is able to get 

under that elusive 40 score on the 

golf course for her own sake, the 

SPRING REGISTRATION 

NOW OPEN 

(Photo/Maddie Graves Photography) 

Ashland golfer has given other 

girls in the area the option to play 

golf competitively for the high 

school team if they choose to do 

so and that is probably a bigger 

feat in itself. 

Boys & Girls - K thru 8th Grade 

To register and for more information, 

visit us online: 

www.ashlandyouthlacrosse.org


Ashland Community Calendar 

Tuesdays 

12 pm to 1 pm: Ashland Business 

Builders Weekly Networking 

Group, a networking lunch 

(bring your own bag lunch), 

meets at Fitness Together, 126 

Commerce Park Plaza (Past 

UPS), 200 Butterfield Dr. RSVP 

to Bob Savin, 508-438-0050, 

bobsavin@fitnesstogether.com. 

Every Fourth Tuesday 

7 pm: The Front Street 

Readers book discussion group 

meets at the Ashland Library, 

66 Front St. 508-881-0134. The 

next meeting will be on Nov. 29, 

when The Residence: Inside the Private 

World of the White House by 

Kate Anderson Brower will be 

discussed. 

Wednesdays 

10 am to 4 pm: Thrift Shop, 

Federated Church, 118 Main St. 

Fall and winter donations are 

appreciated and can be dropped 

off while the shop is open. 

508-881-1355, www.federatedchurchofashland.org 

Thursdays 

1 pm: Films are shown at the 

Ashland Community Center, 

162 West Union St. Refreshments 

are served at intermission. 

508-881-0140, ext. 1. 

Every Second Thursday 

7 to 9 pm: Ashland Documentary 

Film & Discussion 

Series, Ashland Library, Community 

Room, 66 Front St. The 

Nov. 10 film will be “Obstacles 

to Teaching and Learning Science” 

from the series Minds of 

Our Own. Sponsored by the 

Friends of the Library, www. 

friendsoftheapl.com, 508-881- 

0134 

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 that 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. 

Last Thursday 

of Each Month 

6:30 to 7:30 pm: Library Teen 

Advisory Board meets to discuss 

programming for young adults. 

Teens may earn community service 

hours. Ashland Library, 66 

Front St., 508-881-0134. 

Fridays 

10 am: Tai Chi class at The 

Residence at Valley Farm, 369 

Pond St. (Rt. 126). Free. RSVP, 

508-532-3197. 

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. 

Tuesday, November 1 

5 pm: MassBay Community 

College Automotive Technology 

Program: Info session, admissions 

and financial aid overview, 

and facility tour at 250 Eliot 

St., Ashland. To reserve a seat, 

call 508-270-4059 or visit www. 

massbay.edu/rsvp. (Additional 

sessions: Dec. 6, Jan. 7) 

5:30 to 7:30 pm: Ashland 

Business Association Program: 

Ashland Police Officer Ed Burman 

will discuss what businesses 

(and others) should do in an active 

shooter situation. Free and 

open to the public. Ashland Library, 

Community Room, 66 

Front St. www.ashlandbusinessassociation.com, 

800-425-5573 


7 am to 8 pm: Election Day. 

All Ashland residents vote at the 

Ashland High School, 65 East 

Union St. For more information, 

contact the town clerk’s 

office, 508-881-0100 x 7127, 

townclerkoffice@ashlandmass. 

com, or visit www.ashlandmass. 

com/219/Elections-Voting. 

Wednesday, November 9 

7 to 8 pm: College Info for 

Students on IEPs, ASHPAC, 

Ashland Middle School. 

Friday, November 11 

Veterans Day 

Saturday, November 12 

Ashland Boy Scouts collect 

food for the food pantry. www. 

pack1-ashlandma.org 

9 am: Eastern Bird Habitat 

Program (a joint program of the 

Working Forests Initiative and 

Mass. Audubon) at the Ashland 

Library, Community Room, 66 

Front St. For more information, 

contact Cathy Rooney, 508-561- 

0532. 


7 to 8:30 pm: Community 

Discussion: Reducing Ashland’s 

Adolescent Alcohol Use, hosted 

by Decisions at Every Turn 

(DAET) at the Ashland Library, 

Community Room, 66 Front 

St. Facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth 

Byrnes, Associate Professor of 

Biomedical Sciences at Tufts 

University. 

Friday, November 18 

2 pm: Judith Kalaora performs 

as Hedy Lamarr, who 

was known as the Most Beautiful 

Woman in the World, circa 

1920s. Lamarr was also an inventor 

and some of her inventions 

are used still today. The 

Residence at Valley Farm, 369 

Pond St. (Rt. 126). Free. RSVP 

508-532-3197. 

7:30 to 10:30 pm: Casino 

Night to benefit the Ashland 

Education Foundation Innovation 

Grants at Hanto Restaurant, 

380 Union St. (Rt. 135). 

Purchase tickets online for $20 

at www.AshlandEducation.org/ 

casino-night. 


9 to 1 pm: Pre-Thanksgiving 

Ashland Farmers Market at the 

Ashland Middle School, 87 West 

Union St. (Rt. 135). www.ashlandfarmersmarket.org 


2 pm: “The History of Early 

New England Glass Making,” a 

program presented by Kirk Nelson, 

Director and President of 

the New Bedford Museum of 

Glass, at the Ashland Historical 

Society, 2 Myrtle St. www.ashlandhistsociety.com 

November 24 

Thanksgiving 

Monday, November 28 

Special Town Meeting at 

the Ashland High School Auditorium. 

(Last day to register 

to vote at the town meeting is 

Friday, Nov. 18.) For more information, 

contact the town clerk’s 

office, 508-881-0100 x 7127, 

townclerkoffice@ashlandmass. 

com, or visit www.ashlandmass. 

com/219/Elections-Voting. 

December 1, 2 and 3 

7:30 pm: Ashland Community 

Theater (ACT) presents the 

play “Dinner Conversations,” 

at the David Mindess School 

Theater, 90 Concord St. www. 

ashlandcommunitytheater.com 

Saturday, December 10 

Day trip to New York City: 

Depart Ashland, 6 am; depart 

NYC, 7 pm. Travel aboard a 

deluxe motor coach and spend 

the day shopping, sightseeing or 

visiting world-class museums. 

Cost: $65 per person. Contact 

the Ashland Community Center 

for more information, 508-881- 

0140 X2, recreation@ashlandmass.com. 

Schools 

For school programs and 

events, visit www.ashlandpto. 

com/events. 

Town Committees and 

Boards 

For times and dates of town 

committees and board meetings, 

visit the town website, www.ashlandmass.com, 

and click “Meetings, 

Agendas and Minutes.” 

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. 

Sha’arei Shalom 

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. Services are held at 

the Ashland Community Center, 

162 West Union St. For more 

information, call 508-231-4700, 

email info@shaareishalom.org, 

or visit www.shaareishalom.org. 

Yom Ha-Aliyah Day: 

Tuesday, Nov. 8 

Yom Ha-Aliyah is an Israeli 

national holiday celebrated annually 

on the 10th of the Hebrew 

month of Nisan to acknowledge 

“Aliyah,” immigration to the 

State of Israel. This holiday honors 

the ongoing contributions to 

Israeli society of those who make 

“Aliyah.” 

Shabbat Services: 

Friday, Nov. 18, 

7:30 to 9 pm 

Third Grade Consecration! 

Join us for this very special and 

fun event for the entire family, as 

our third graders receive their very 

own prayer books. You’ll also experience 

the warmth of the Sha’arei 

Shalom community. A delicious 

Oneg Shabbat will follow. 

Shabbat Kids: 

Friday, Dec. 2, 

6:45 to 7:30 pm 

Join us for this interactive, 

musical service for young children 

and their families. We will 

celebrate Shabbat together with 

stories, dancing and singing. This 

Shabbat event is geared to children 

ages 3-7 (older siblings of 

course are always also welcome). 

Shabbat Services: 

Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 to 9 pm 

Experience the warmth of the 

Sha’arei Shalom Community. 

Join us for a traditional Friday 

night service with Rabbi Margie 

leading the service. A community 

Oneg Shabbat will follow.


Get Your Home Ready for Winter 

It’s hard to believe winter is 

upon us again when it seems like it 

was just the 4th of July, but here it 

comes again! It’s important to get 

your home ready for winter, so a 

little planning and action now can 

prevent a major crisis later. Here 

are a few tips to have your home 

ready for winter. 

Heating System Check Up 

Make sure you have a service 

call scheduled with a professional 

technician for an inspection and 

tune up of your home’s heating 

system. If you have a hot air system, 

this should include changing 

all the air filters. 

Chimney Sweep 

We love our fires here in New 

England! Hire an insured chimney 

sweep to clean your chimney 

and inspect your fireplace before 

you have any fires. This should be 

done every year. 

Clean Your Gutters 

Clean gutters are critical during 

the winter when there may 

be large amounts of snow and 

ice melting on your home. More 

about ice dams later, but for now, 

make sure your gutters are clean 

and working properly, including 

water run off at around the foundations. 

If you hire a company for 

this, make sure you get a copy of 

their insurance policy or ask their 

agent if they are covered for ladder 

work. Many landscapers may 

offer gutter clean but are not insured 

to go on ladders. 

Change Batteries in 

All Smoke/CO Alarms 

Have you ever noticed that the 

batteries on smoke detectors only 

die at 3 am? Who hasn’t been 

awakened by a loud chirp and had 

to change a battery in the middle 

of the night. More importantly, 

for your safety, keep the batteries 

fresh. Also check any CO detectors 

and make sure they have not 

Ashland Cub Scouts Collect Food for the 

Food Pantry and More 

The Ashland Cub Scouts 

have been busy this fall, holding 

outdoor glow-in-the-dark contests, 

playing animal tracks challenges, 

preparing first aid kits and 

trail mix for nature and wildlife 

Den 1 Wolf Scouts Jacob Fertig, Austin Turncliff, Adam Warnetski 

and Walter Carmichael play Animal Tracks Twister. (Photo/submitted) 

Den 4 Webelo Scouts 

prepare trail mix for 

a hike at Waseeka 

Wildlife Sanctuary. 


hikes and performing campfire 

skits. On Satur- day, Nov. 12, 

the Scouts will 

be collecting 

donations of 

non-perishable 

food items for the Ashland 

Food Pantry. The Scouts greatly 

appreciate the community’s generosity 

and support 

of this 

meaningful 

communityservice 

project. 

Join us 

and learn 

m o r e 

about what 

scouting is about! For 

more information, 

visit www.pack1-ashlandma.org. 

reached their expiration date and 

that they are mounted at the correct 

height per manufacturer’s recommendations. 

Exterior Faucets, 

Showers, and Irrigation 

Make sure you turn off exterior 

faucets and showers, drain the 

shower and take the valve inside 

for the winter, and have your irrigation 

company blow out all of 

the water in the system. This will 

protect all of these components 

from freezing and ensure they last 

a long time. Plus, you don’t want 

your hose faucet pipe to freeze and 

burst in your basement! 

Inspect Exterior Exhaust 

Pipes on Heating System 

With today’s newer direct vent 

and exhaust heating systems, the 

exhaust pipe is often close to the 

ground. If you have this type of 

system, inspect the exterior pipe 

and make sure it is free and clear 

from debris and plants. Also make 

sure you keep an eye on this during 

the winter to ensure it is NEVER 

covered with snow or ice. Every 

year now we hear about deep 

snow covering these and causing 

CO poisoning and even death. 

Empty Fuel Tanks 

in Yard Equipment 

Make sure you drain or use up 

all of the gas in yard equipment 

such as lawn mowers, trimmers, 

etc. When gas freezes it can cause 

Doug Masters 

major problems in the machinery. 

Also, don’t store any gas over 

the winter in an unheated garage. 

(Don’t store gas inside your 

home either!) 

Ice Dam Removal Company 

Get under contract with an 

ice dam removal company now 

before it’s an emergency. As mentioned 

above, make sure the company 

you hire has insurance for 

this work, which is often excluded 

from policies. Establish clear expectations 

of timing and scope of 

work during an ice dam event so 

you know what the crews will do 

and when they will do it. 

Doug Masters is the owner of Masters 

Touch, located at 24 Water St., 

Holliston. For more information contact 

(508) 359-5900, e-mail info@MastersTouchWeb.com 

or visit www.MastersTouchWeb.com. 

Thinking of Selling? 

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Buying and Selling Homes in Metrowest. 

Amy Uliss, Realtor 

963 Worcester Rd. 

Framingham, MA 01701 

Cell: 508-341-1422 

Tel: 508-879-8999 

mdmrealtyinc@gmail.com 

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