April 2024, Vol. 9

For town information, community building and pragmatic solutions

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This month we’re covering:

– Maynard Arbor Day Celebration April 27

– Mark Your calendars for Town Elections May 7 and Annual Town Meeting (ATM) May 20

– Help spread the word with our new QR code

– Artist of the Month … Gail Erwin

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Did You Know?…

Maynard Advantage site now has a QR code for quick access to our Home page

Please share with your contacts:

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Also, did you know… Brought to you by the Maynard Historical Commission

When you look around town, you can see Historic Plaques affixed to different properties. Did you know that your home can have its own plaque?

The Historic House Plaque program is designed to show your pride in the history of your home. Your house doesn’t need to be any special style. A plaque for your home not only celebrates the history of your home, but also provides ongoing community awareness of the history of Maynard.

Here are some common questions about the plaques:
If I get a plaque, am I subject to any historical restrictions for paint or restoration? The plaque puts no restrictions on your home. You can proceed with your own paint, adornment, and construction without any restrictions. The plaques are only used to illustrate the historical nature of your home.

What if nothing important happened at my house? We can always find something interesting about every home. From mill worker housing to town founders and even a soda factory, you never know who lived there!

Worker Tenement Housing on Percival Street and Maydale Soda Factory on Glendale Street

We can help you research your deed and present the information back to you. We will work with you on verbiage and dates. The plaques are ordered directly from Sign Logix in Hudson. The homeowner is responsible for the cost of the plaque which is $92 payable directly to Sign Logix.

If you have any questions about getting a plaque for your home, please reach out to us at:

[email protected]

or visit our town website at:

https://townofmaynard-ma.gov/277/Historical-Commission

Source: Priscilla Sandberg – Chair Maynard Historical Commission

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Recreation on the river

Did you know… you can paddle in the Assabet without getting your feet wet (aside from rain)

Details on rentals: Sponsored by Town of Maynard Conservation Commission in above link

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On the Menu

Erikson’s Ice Cream

Hans Erikson Sr. founded Erikson’s Dairy in 1901, in Stow MA, he delivered milk from his cows to the community by horse and wagon. His son, Hans Erikson Jr., the founder of Erikson’s Ice Cream, worked on the farm until he joined the Army in World War I. In 1923, Hans Jr. married Mary Boyd. Hans Sr. sold the milk business to Hans Jr. and Mary when he retired. In 1937, Hans Jr. built new buildings in Maynard, to house the dairy and a new ice cream stand. He was determined to make and sell the best quality ice cream—which, using Hans’ recipes, we still do!

World War II brought some challenges to the dairy.  Rationing of sugars and fats forced the business to close three days a week, but after the war, the business grew rapidly.  Hans chose not to expand the plant, but to maintain one stand and focus on quality and service. 

In 1955, the third generation of Erikson’s entered the business. Hans’ daughter Arlene joined Erikson’s and in the same year, she married Joe Fraser of Maynard, who also joined the enterprise. In 1961, Hans Erikson Jr. and his wife sold both the milk delivery and ice cream businesses to Joe and Arlene. The pair made significant investments in the business and a corporation was formed; the business was now known as Erikson’s Dairy Inc. 

Arlene and Joe Fraser continued to make and sell ice cream. Their three sons—Thomas, Bob and Scott—worked in the business in both manufacturing and retail capacities, while developing their own careers in engineering. Joe Fraser passed away in 1999, but Arlene continued to maintain ownership of the business until she departed in 2017. 

The business then passed on to their three sons, Thomas, Bob, and Scott, who are continuing the family tradition of excellence, quality, and fun! Thomas, together with his wife Irene, operate the business, along with the essential help of their son, Robert, from the fifth generation to carry the tradition.  Irene is the executive manager of Erikson’s, working hard to assure the premium products Erikson’s customers have loved since 1937 will be available far into the future!

Source: Bob McCarthy and Erikson’s website

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Gigi’s

Phan stopped his bike to look at the space and the owner came out and asked him if he’d like to rent it.  Phan was working in biotech and had to travel often for his job; with two young girls, travel put a strain on his family, and Phan decided it was time for something new.

Gigi’s, which opened in 2015, is named after Phan’s wife, Gigi Cao.  Phan had always loved cooking and runs the kitchen.  Gigi is the hostess and greets people who come to eat or order takeout.  

Phan and Gigi were born in Vietnam near the war’s end.  Both had relatives who escaped Vietnam as part of the ‘boat people’, often people who sided with and supported the American side in the war and were therefore harassed and often persecuted by the Vietnam government.  After their relatives were here for 10 years they were able to sponsor other family members to come to Boston. Phan was 17 when he arrived and finished high school while learning English.

Phan and Gigi had very similar backgrounds when they met at Suffolk University and fell in love.  After graduating with a degree in biochemistry, they got married and moved to Miami for Phan’s job in biotech.  During college Phan worked as a laboratory technologist at Mass General Hospital.  His mentor at Mass General got a job in Miami and persuaded Phan to join him there.

After five years of running his mentor’s lab at the University of Miami, Phan took a job with a biotech company which soon relocated to Bedford.  While they were living in Miami, they started a catering company, going into client’s homes and cooking, often for large parties.  Cooking 200 meals a day at Gigi’s is hard work for everyone but that experience with catering gave them the skills to make the restaurant successful.

“We are happy to be in Maynard,” said Phan. “We are happy for all the support we receive here.”  Phan feels it’s important to be involved in the community too and loved cooking for Open Table when that was allowed before the pandemic.  His one wish for the restaurant’s future is to be open for Sunday brunch.  Mostly though, Phan is happy that his new life gives him “time to spend with his kids.”

Source: Mark Alston Follansbee

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Business Spotlight

C0DEEX

Their summer camps in Maynard will include these expanded programs, but the branding from C0deEX to Brains and Brawns won’t be completed until new signage is hung sometime this summer.  The couple also offer fencing classes in Westford at the Roudenbush Community Center under The Fencing Academy moniker.  

C0deEx started in Acton in 2019, had to close down for nine months during the pandemic, and reopened in 2021.  Susri and Sanjib already owned the Main Street building here and decided to expand their programming to Maynard this January.  It will now become the hub of their work and they are planning a summer program that will give youngsters classes in coding, math, and science along with plenty of physical activity.

 When asked why they are settling in Maynard, Sanjib said, “Acton has lots of programs and Maynard doesn’t have the options.  We’re so happy here; people gave us such a warm welcome in Maynard.” 

Both Susri and Sanjib came to the United States for work in corporate America.  “Each program started with the needs of our own children,” explained Susri. “When my son asked, ‘why do I need math?’ I replied, do you want to make money?”  For the last 10 years they have run a Mathnasium franchise in Acton and now also have Mathnasium programs in Lexington and Sudbury.

Coding has been mandatory in California for all children from the 6th grade up.  Susri and Sanjib hope to support and supplement what our schools aren’t able to teach.  C0deEX has been successful since it started.  That first year they competed against 300 other teams with 2,000 students in a competition called International Zero Robotics Competition.  The C0deEX team of five local students made it to the finals and were then declared the winners.  Their code was then run, as the students watched, on a satellite on the International Space Station.

When asked about a class in public speaking for young people, Susri said that “in India, we had public speaking from kindergarten.  They realize that it’s important to reach children early when they’re open and excited to learn.  We follow that same principle in all our programs.”

Besides the ongoing classes that use legos and computer games to teach coding, C0deEX also holds children’s birthday parties that can include playing playing Minecraft or Roblox or a program with robotics. 

Susri and Sanjib are happy to be here and offer these programs to help our children be better prepared for the future.  It’s an exciting  program that offers great potential to our town.

Source: Mark Alston Follansbee

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Around Town

Employee Spotlight

Julia Flanary

Julia’s holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island, followed by a Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning and a Certificate in Water Systems, Science, and Society. With a diverse professional background that encompasses federal-level permitting and consulting on various topics such as wind farms and stormwater management, Julia brings a breadth of experience to her multifaceted role. Her expertise is particularly invaluable as Maynard grapples with the challenge of preserving our history while meeting the evolving needs of our community.  When asked for comment, Steven Silverstein, the Maynard Director of Municipal Services had this to say, “Julia is the Office of Municipal Service’s triple threat. She’s Maynard’s conservation agent, assistant town planner, and GIS coordinator. She does the work of what is covered by a half dozen people in neighboring towns. I would love to claim that this is due to our Office’s efficiency, but the reality is that it all stems from Julia’s intelligence, expertise, and energy.”

Julia’s dedication to conservation extends beyond the confines of her work, as she actively engages with local scouts and high school students on various service and conservation projects. Through her mentorship and leadership, she inspires the next generation to embrace their environment and become guardians of our community’s welfare.

As a resident of Maynard herself, Julia finds profound fulfillment in working within the community she calls home. She relishes the opportunity to effect tangible change on a local level and witnesses firsthand the positive impact her work has on our town. Julia is deeply passionate about the redesign of the Reo Road Park. As she eagerly anticipates the arrival of her little one, she looks forward to utilizing the park with her growing family. Her personal investment in this project underscores her commitment to creating spaces that enrich the lives of all Maynard residents, both present and future.

Beyond her professional duties, Julia’s interests are as varied as her skill set. She enjoys gardening, undertaking home repair projects, and nurturing her creativity through crochet. An outdoor enthusiast, she frequently enjoys biking, kayaking, or basking in the sun at the beach.

Julia Flanary embodies the spirit of service and dedication that defines the Town of Maynard. Her unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and community enhancement makes her an indispensable asset to our town and a source of inspiration for us all. 

Source: John Cramer

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Maynard “Town Takeover” at WooSox

On May 22, 2024, the Worcester Red Sox will celebrate ‘Town Takeover’ night by honoring Maynard during their game against the Norfolk Tides.

During the pregame ceremonies, the Maynard Fire Department will participate in the color guard, while Select Board Chair, Chris DiSilva, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and kids in the community assist in introducing the players and delivering the game ball before first pitch. The WooSox will be donating a portion of all ticket sales purchased through the link below to the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley, as their ‘Town Takeover’ events aim to give back to local non-profit organizations in the community being celebrated each evening. Come support our local Boys & Girls Club, while enjoying what is sure to be a great night at the ballpark!”

https://fevo.me/maynard24

Source: Shaun Loughlin; Member of the Board of Directors at the Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley

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Upcoming Elections and Town Meeting

Town Election is on May 7, 2024 …Candidates on Ballot

See a sample ballot and list of candidates here

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Annual Town Meeting May 20

Don’t miss upcoming chances for your voices to be heard about our operating budget and other town warrant article votes!

You can find current documents on boarddocs in the link below. In the top right corner change Select Board to Finance Committee (FinCom) and you can see all documents posted from past meetings in the agenda pulldown. The April 1st and April 8th Fincom Agendas show updated ATM article drafts that have been provided to FinCom including FY25 Operating Budget (Draft article E) and Free Cash (Draft Article C) updates. For detail, see agenda items 1a :

https://go.boarddocs.com/ma/tom/Board.nsf/Public#

Maynard Budget Calendar for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 – Maynard Operating Budget Calendar for SB to propose balanced FY 2025 general fund budget to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) voters. FY25 begins July 1, 2024 and goes through June 31, 2025. Background on budget development and major remaining milestones here:

https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=48

• Third week of March, The Select Board (SB) to adopt a Capital Improvement Plan for the next fiscal year
• Third week of April, The Select Board to approve balanced FY25 operating budget proposal to Annual Town Meeting and authorize its publication in the warrant.
• On May 13 (tentative date) the Finance Committee, representing the Town Meeting voters, holds a public hearing to discuss both operating and capital budget proposals and share its recommendations on all warrant articles before the May 20 Annual Town Meeting.

Source: Bob McCarthy and Town Website

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Make your voice heard about Aging in Maynard — fill out a survey!

Researchers from the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging at the Gerontology Institute of UMass Boston are conducting a study focusing on the needs and interests of Maynard’s current and future senior adult population. The study will inform the Town of Maynard and the Council on Aging’s planning for programs and services and the proposal for a new location for the Maynard Senior Center, currently housed in the clubhouse of the public golf course.

While the survey has been mailed to all Maynard residents age 50 and older, anyone with an opinion may take the survey on the town website and see survey process timeline here:

https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=173

or you may pick up a copy at the Senior Center. The survey asks important questions about your experiences living in Maynard and what you would like to have available here to enhance your life. It offers an opportunity to reflect on your interest in Council on Aging programs and activities, current and future, as well as your preferred means of communication about these services. There are questions for caregivers as well, soliciting feedback about what the Council can offer to make this rewarding but hard work easier.

The more people respond with their thoughts and ideas, the better the Council on Aging and the Town of Maynard can meet the needs and wants of our seniors (and those who will someday be seniors!).

Source: Maynard Council on Aging (COA)

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Featured upcoming events in Town:

Spring has sprung which means Maynard is brimming with activities! We’ve highlighted a few below and for a full list please visit the events calendar at Discover Maynard

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ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
April 27th from 10-11AM, Maynard town hall

SPRING ART WALK
May 4th, 4-7:30PM, Downtown

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MAYNARD COMMUNITY GARDENERS PLANT SALE
May 18, 9AM-12PM, Maynard Clinton Elks Lodge

In 1995, a group of interested neighbors petitioned the town for permission to plant a garden at the corner of Maple and Summer streets. Their success produced Maple Brook Park – and the Maynard Community Gardeners, who continue to nurture the park as just one of their many town beautification projects.

Our only fundraiser of the year is the Annual Plant Sale, held in May in the Elks Parking Lot at 34 Powdermill Road. This event funds all our programs and beautification projects. Towards the end of April, we begin acquiring perennial donations from the community. Do you have plants that need thinning? Maybe you planted something that you just don’t love or that won’t work in your space. All those plants can find a new home! If you need assistance getting plants out of the ground, we do that too! If you have plants in mind to donate, please contact our Digging Coordinator, Steve Smith at [email protected] to coordinate digging or pick up of plants.

At the sale we have a variety of annuals including veggie starts, perennials, and houseplants.

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TASTE IN MOTION
May 19th, 2-5PM, Downtown

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Maynard Public Library and Maynard Education:

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Student Activities at Maynard High School

Our students love to lead, and student clubs and organizations give them that opportunity every day. Some examples:

• The Maynard High School DECA chapter, founded entirely by our students, is only in its third year and is sending a representative to Nationals for the second year in a row. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
• Our Quiz Show club competes against Kahoot each week, and appeared on WGBH’s High School Quiz Show this past winter.
• Our Mock Law team argues complex legal cases against other area high schools, and often wins!
• Meanwhile, our well established Student Council is responsible for planning Spirit Weeks, Pep Rallies, and the popular Cocoa and Cramming.
• Our Global Scholars travel the world and bring back great recipes for our International Dinner.
• New clubs this year include Ultimate Frisbee, Chess, and Volleyball.

These opportunities for student creativity and social connections are just one part of the fabric that makes our school a great place to learn – but they may be the most fun of all!

Source: MHS Principal Elizabeth York

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Artist of the month

Gail Erwin

Gail Erwin has been an artist for over 30 years and has shown her work in many galleries, regionally and nationally. She lives in Maynard and has had a studio at ArtSpace since 2001. She was one of the original tenants in the building.  She joined the ArtSpace Board of Directors in 2020 and has been President since September 2021.

In 2014, Erwin became a founding member of 6 Bridges Gallery an artist run gallery in Maynard, MA.  From 1999 to 2014 she was a member of the Kingston Gallery in Boston’s South End. She has had many solo exhibits in both of these galleries and at other venues. 

Teaching experience includes Massachusetts College of Art and Design, DeCordova Museum School, several community art centers and studio classes. Erwin received a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art; BA from William Smith College; MS in Education, from State University of New York College at Oswego; and a JD from Western New England College of Law.

Erwin says of her work:

“In creating my art work it is my intention to combine image and process to create new and unpredictable images. I delight in discovering patterns and rhythms in nature and creating mysterious, layered images.  Time, age and memory are reflected in my painting.

My latest body of work features horizons. 

 Source: Armand Diarbekieian

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More Volunteer Opportunities:

https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/

Scroll down on Home Page to ‘Latest News’ for current openings on the Economic Development Committee(EDC) and Recreation Commission as well as the COA Survey timeline

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To read future newsletter issues, simply bookmark:

 maynardadvantage.org

and then click on most recent newsletter posts at the top of the home page.

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Some links for more town information:

Email: [email protected]

Website: maynardadvantage.org

http://discovermaynard.com

http://townwidemall.com

https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/27/Government

https://go.boarddocs.com/ma/tom/Board.nsf/Public#

https://www.maynardpubliclibrary.org/

[email protected]

Copyright © 2024 Maynard Marketing Task Force

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