Weekly updates & news from your Town Manager |
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Special Town Meeting
Wednesday, November 16th at 7 pm
Ashland High School | 65 E. Union Street
Warrant Articles Closed and Posted at the Select Board Meeting on October 26th (Watch here).
- Free Cash Transfer, sponsored by the Town Manager/Financial Director, needs simple majority vote
- Property Tax Exemption, sponsored by the Board of Assessors, Select Board, Town Manager, needs simple majority vote
- Amend Bylaw: Demolition Delay for Historically or Architecturally Significant Property, sponsored by the Historical Commission, needs simple majority vote
- Accept Gift Nancy Drive/Eliot Street, sponsored by the Select Board needs 2/3 vote
- Adopt Brave Act provision 22G, sponsored by the Select Board, needs simple majority vote
- Authorize Funding for Improvements to Middle School Athletic Fields, sponsored by the Conservation Preservation Committee, needs simple majority vote
- Zoning Bylaw: Building Moratorium, sponsored by the Town Manager and Select Board, needs 2/3 vote
Babysitting will be available courtesy of Ashland Recreation Department at the High School from 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm. Parents can register in advance to secure space.
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Rides are available for Special Town Meeting
Transportation is now available for up to 6 people wishing to attend Special Town Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th.
Sign up for a ride by calling Candi Wilson at 508-532-7944.
Transportation is limited and will be handled on a first-come first-serve basis.
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Veterans Day Luncheon
Yesterday's Veterans Day luncheon at the Community Center was a lovely way to honor our many Veterans. Music and a short program paid tribute to the many who served our country. Thank you to the Ashland Police and Ashland Fire Departments for sponsoring this event. Thank you to all the Veterans for all they have given.
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New Welcome Guides!
The Town of Ashland is proud to announce that a newly updated Welcome to Ashland Community Guide is now available.
The Town’s Economic Development Office updated the all-encompassing booklet for community members originally printed and distributed in 2018. In this 5 by 8 inch pamphlet, residents, business owners, and visitors can access vital information pertaining to town directly at their fingertips. Information ranging from town trash bags, voting, community events, and more are located in this handy little booklet.
These guides are available to pick up at our municipal buildings- Town Hall, the public library, and the community center.
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Ashland Access
This past July, The Town of Ashland produced a new printed medium, a newsletter titled, Ashland Access. The newsletter was printed and added as an insert in the July Issue of this publication, Local Town Pages, with a corresponding digital edition housed on the Town of Ashland’s website.
The Town of Ashland is pleased to announce the second issue of Ashland Access is now available to read digitally. Discover new information about local projects and updates from town departments. Don’t miss a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the Public Safety Building, a recap of the Fall events in town with an abundance of photographs, and more!
Physical copies of the Fall Issue of Ashland Access can be printed out at the Ashland Public Library and Ashland Community Center.
View this new Ashland Access issue by visiting this website. |
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We are hiring!
Join our team here at the Town of Ashland!
Additional opportunities include:
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Vaccination Opportunity for the Flu Vaccine and COVID-19 at the Community Center!
Flu / Pfizer Clinic
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM
Ashland Community Center | 162 W. Union St.
(On the Main Level/ In the Games Room)
- Open to all; 3+ years for the Flu vaccine, 12+ years for the Pfizer bivalent booster vaccine
- A high-dose Flu vaccine available for 65 years and older
- Please bring your insurance card for the Flu vaccine
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Help us stock our local food pantry
The Food Pantry currently seeks the following items:
- cleaning wipes
- baby wipes
- diapers (larger sizes) and pull-ups
- flour
- sugar
- toiletries
- Ashland trash bags
- pancake mix and syrup
- oatmeal
- jelly
- applesauce
- snacks
- baking mixes
Please drop off your donations to the Food Pantry during the following days/hours, Mondays and Thursdays: 8 am- 4 pm and Wednesdays: 10 am - 6 pm.
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Fall Clean Up
Waste Management will be collecting yard waste curbside on Mondays until November 21st.
This collection includes rakeable materials such as grass clippings, pine needles, pine cones, leaves, etc. Do not leave brush or tree limbs.
Yard waste should be within brown paper leaf bags or trash barrels clearly marked as "YARD WASTE" and should not exceed 50lbs. each in weight, per OSHA regulation.
Please be sure to have your yard waste curbside by 7 am on the collection day. This service is provided only to residents that are enrolled in the Town's contracted curbside rubbish & recycling collection program.
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to staffing/driver shortages, Waste Management is running behind on yard waste collections for Autumn 2022. If your yard waste is missed on the designated Monday pickup days, please continue to leave your brown paper leaf bags & "YARD WASTE" marked barrels at the curb for collection. Waste Management is working diligently to get trucks into Town to handle the collections of all the yard waste that is out there at curbside. Trash & Recycling collections continue without delays. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Have a wonderful day!
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Important Construction Update |
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Downtown Construction Update
Last Update: November 14, 2022
Downtown Paving Plan for Thursday, November 17th
Front Street will be closed between the hours of 7 am- 11 am +/- as crews pave the stretch of road from Fountain Street to Santander Bank. Traffic will be routed from Main Street to Union Street to Concord Street, Concord Court, Raymond Marchetti Street, to Myrtle Street to Main Street. Please see the visual of this detour in the attached document.
In the afternoon, or as soon as the work is completed on Front Street, crews will complete paving on Main Street from Myrtle Street to the Police Station, likely between the hours of 11 am- 4 pm +/-. Myrtle Street, Main Street, and a portion of Pleasant Street will be closed. Traffic into town will be routed from Pleasant Street to Tilton Avenue to Cherry to Park Road, Summer Street, Main Street, to Front Street. Winter Street, Pleasant Street, Pine Hill Road, Myrtle Street, Cherry Street, and Main Street will be closed at their intersection with Main Street.
Please understand there are a lot of variables when doing this large-scale paving work, so crews can’t guarantee when they will be off any one section of the road, and onto another section. As soon as the work is complete and safe to travel on, crews will open the roads again for traffic.
Please familiarize yourself with the maps pictured below and linked here.
Please keep in mind these updates are contingent on the weather, and timelines may change. Should the weather change again please tune in. We will be updating this page accordingly.
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Pond Street/ Route 126 Construction Update
Last Update: November 10, 2022
Crews are working on full-depth construction from Higgins Tree Farm through the Market Basket intersection. This will consist of milling followed by paving. This work includes digging up the existing asphalt and laying new groundwork and asphalt.
Sidewalk work continues through the week at the Eliot Street intersection.
Please expect lane closures to continue throughout the project. Please bring your patience when traveling through the construction. Give yourself extra time or find alternative routes if you need to.
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Other Paving Updates Around Town |
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DPW is continuously working on roadway improvement projects which includes paving of roads in Ashland.
JH Lynch (our town wide paving Contractor) is planning to start work on portion of roads in town in the coming weeks. This work will be completed by the end of the month.
The schedule is as follows:
Milling Work
Wednesday, November 16th - Fountain Street and Main Street (Hill)
Thursday, November 17th - Winter Street and Oak Street
Friday, November 18th - Olive Street
Traffic will be able to pass through these sections of roadway. Crews will be working in select areas of these roads but do not expect any detours.
Paving Work
The following week beginning Monday, November 21st crews will to pave the milled streets until all roads are paved.
Please note: Crews will not be working on the holiday. This work should not exceed Nov. 30th but please keep in mind this work weather dependent.
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Local Meetings, Programs, and Events |
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Upcoming Meetings
Learn what is happening in your community and tune into our upcoming meetings. Meetings are held at Town Hall in the Select Board Room or remotely and can be viewed with the local cable station, WACA TV.
Note that all agendas are posted according to Open Meeting Law up to 48 hours in advance.
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Participate in these upcoming programs and events
Every month, our public library, community center, and recreation department offer programs and activities for you to enjoy. Also, grab your calendar, and save the dates for these upcoming events happening around town!
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Save the Date for Comedy Night!!
Friday, November 18th at 7 pm
Ashland VFW | 311 Pleasant St.
The Ashland Business Association's Comedy Show is back this year, but in- person!
Join comedians Kathe Farris, connected to Boston Comedy Chicks and The Comedy Studio and “The Showman”, Chris Tabb, who has appeared on television shows such as NESN Comedy All Stars, BET’s ComicView, and even The Food Network’s Cake Challenge! There is still room to join us for a fun evening of comedy and laugh away!
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Pre-Thanksgiving Market Day
Saturday, November 19th from 10 am - 1 pm
Ashland Farmers Market | 125 Front Street
Bundle up and visit with our amazing vendors and expanded list of artisans. Never too early to start your holiday shopping! Remember this market is OUTSIDE at the Farmer's Market spot and not in the school this year!
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Friends of the Ashland Public Library
Big 2-Day Book Sale
Friday, Dec. 2, Member Preview from 6 to 8 pm (join at the door!)
Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 am to 4 pm, open to all
Ashland Public Library | 66 Front St.
Donations of gently used books will be accepted in the library parking lot from 10 am to 1 pm. Friendly elves will be available to assist.
Featuring loads of holiday books for children and adults, plus choose from hundreds of original Asian Brush Paintings for a most unique holiday gift!
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The popular Fixit Clinic Event returns!
Saturday, December 3rd from 1 - 3 pm
Ashland Public Library | 66 Front St.
Bring in your broken item(s) and participate in troubleshooting and repair with help from our volunteer Fixit Coaches.
Bring any parts and tools you already own that might be helpful.
Most items (carry-in only; no oversize items) are welcome - clean, mendable clothing; lamps; small appliances; computers and other electronics; bikes; batteries; toys; jewelry; small furniture items, etc.
We’re looking for volunteer coaches with repair knowledge and skills.
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Holiday Stroll
Saturday, December 3rd from 11 am - 5 pm
From 11 am - 3 pm stroll around downtown visiting various businesses- Blush Bouquets, Ashland Reiki & Wellness, B&Beauty, MSM Blowdry, Crossroads Physical Therapy, Bill Horsman Photography and pop-up shops at The Bagel Table and My Ashland Office (128 Main Street), Crossroads Physical Therapy (128 Main Street) and Town Hall to complete your holiday shopping.
The Corner Spot will host activities for kids, have hot cocoa, cider and teas from Doragon Ramen from 11 am - 3 pm, and from 1:30-3:30 pm, all the kiddos can visit with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas!
At 3:30 pm, walk with Santa down Main Street from The Corner Spot to the Downtown Square to get ready for the Tree Lighting.
From 3:30- 5 pm, gather at the tree downtown to sip on some hot cocoa, munch on a cookie, and listen to caroling before the annual tree lighting.
The evening will conclude with the annual tree lighting and Santa driving by, giving everyone a big wave!
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Decisions at Every Turn Coalition invites you to participate in a Community Book Read
Community Book Read: Lelia's Aventura
Tuesday, December 6th from 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Ashland Community Center | 162 W. Union St.
Details
Everyone is welcome on December 6th for an ALL-AGES community book read of Lelia's Aventura by Ashland author Deborah Burke Henderson. The Town of Ashland, the Ashland Community Center, and Decisions at Every Turn are excited to host this intergenerational event featuring small book-read sessions, art activities, and refreshments. The first 40 families to register will receive a free copy of the book as a keepsake.
Walk-ins will be welcomed. See the flyer for additional information.
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We are happy to shout out an amazing THANK YOU to all that have contributed to the community center this month. This community continues to come together and at the holidays it truly shows.
The community center team reports that we have 95 families in need that will receive the gift of a full Thanksgiving meal next week!
120 families will be provided with holiday gift assistance to ensure the happiest of holidays! 240 kids in those 120 families will have a magical morning thanks to the generosity of all those who have "adopted" them this holiday season. If you would still like to contribute, filler gifts or gift cards are always helpful. Click here for a list of items that are always welcome.
The New/Unwrapped gifts are due back to the Ashland Community Center (located at 162 West Union Street) on Tuesday December 6th between 8:30a-10:30a or 2p -4p or Wednesday December 7th between 11a-1p or 4p-6p. We will either be set up outside in the front of the building or, we will be taking donations in the lower level / back entrance of the Community Center.
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