Dear Ashland Residents & Friends: 

We capped off probably the weirdest summer in decades after the Labor Day weekend. I always look forward to the first day of school pics that come across my social media feed and while this year was a little different, it has been great to see the adaptability and creativity of our schools and families. My wife has named this generation the "Zoomer Boomers". 

As we head into fall, please be on the lookout for more information on both the proposed new Public Safety Building and new Mindess School. The Public Safety Building recently started its process before the Planning Board and Mindess has been working through the Massachusetts School Building Authority to establish a not-to-exceed budget number of $84,370,000. As always the hope is that the actual costs come in lower than these figures. 

I feel like it is really important to acknowledge the work that both of these building committees have put in to these projects. Each group has been detailed, thoughtful, and cost-conscious but not at the expense of functionality or dependability. 

Finally, I want to make everyone aware that the Town of Ashland will be partnering with Black Earth compost to start offering curbside composting services at a reduced rate. Participating in this service will help Ashland reach its net zero goals and reduce waste. Many thanks to our Sustainability Coordinator, Frank Nakashian, and the Sustainability Committee for their efforts to make Ashland a greener community. Recently, Frank also successfully applied for a Green Communities competitive grant for energy efficiency upgrades and charging stations. We will have more information on the Sustainability page on the website soon.