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LOCAL BUSINESS | TOWN HALL| COMMUNITY VOICES | EVENTS
EDUCATION & LIBRARY | AROUND TOWN
Local Business
On The Menu
Perico’s Taqueria
Victor and Lesley Aguilar have been Maynard residents since 2018 and have dreamed for years of running their own business. In the past month that dream was realized as they opened Perico’s Taqueria food truck. Victor brings twelve years’ experience as a chef and kitchen manager to this business, where they have created an authentic Mexican menu including handmade, gluten-free tortillas and adobada trompo (authentic Mexican pork).
Perico’s currently has a meat-based menu, but Victor and Lesley are planning to expand the menu with some vegetarian options soon! Current schedule is Tuesdays and Fridays from 11am-6pm at the corner of Sudbury and Main. Follow Perico’s on Facebook to stay up to date with new menu items, updated hours, and more!
Family Delicatessen
Mark Spinos was sure his wife Janet was wrong, 100% wrong. Janet had driven down Main Street and seen a For Rent sign in a storefront window. She thought it would be a great place to open their own deli and not have to drive to Lexington where she had managed a deli for 12 years. Turns out, Mark said, “she was 100% right” and the Family Deli has been a great success ever since they opened the family run business on January 7, 2020.
The Family Deli, at 129 Main Street in Maynard, is a classic Italian deli with hot and cold sandwiches, hot soups, and an extensive catering business serving businesses and families from miles around who come for the good food and are known for their quick service and fresh ingredients. Janet and Mark are excited to have new products arriving soon from Italy, including some great Italian wines.
And while it really is a family business, no one is Italian. Janet’s family came from Scotland and Ireland and Mark’s family is from Greece. But Janet always loved Italian food and her mother learned to cook it from a neighbor and then passed it on to Janet.
The day they opened, they had no idea if anyone would come. Imagine their excitement and gratitude when there was a long line out the door of people anxious to try their food. “We couldn’t have done it without all the help we received,” said Mark. “We ran out of food the first day! It was amazing and now our business keeps growing by over 20% every year.”
The delicatessen opened just before the pandemic hit in March, 2020. After closing for two weeks, they figured out how to have people call in their orders and deliver them to their cars. They also put up plexiglass barriers between staff and customers and encouraged people to keep social distance.
“We love Maynard”, said Janet. “The people are wonderful and so supportive. We’re open long hours (10 to 7 Monday through Friday and 10 to 5 Saturdays) and have to prep for hours before we open, but it’s wonderful to share our food and see how much people enjoy it.”
Business Spotlight
Kind Goods Maynard
Michelle here, picker of things, payer of electric bills. Kind Goods is celebrating its S E V E N T H year in business, and it’s just amazing to me that you all like baskets and pottery and poetry so much.
I started here in Maynard in 2016 as just a little pottery studio, a place to house my kiln and make work outside of my Somerville home. It wasn’t long until itty bitty 85 Main Street became available and I struck out as an indie brick and mortar shop on a complete whim.
There’s been hard and sometimes painful lessons along the way (looking at you 2020), and I still have searing anxiety of the unknown future from the upheaval of the many moves, downturns, and pivots of the pandemic, BUT— I am happy to still be here, and living in #magicalmaynard with my dearest darling making more and deeper relationships with each passing day.
If you’ve been around for a while, you know it’s never been about the stuff, trends, or being cool. For us it is about intentionality, grounding, and connection. People first. That is true in how we source— sustainably, ethically, locally, fair trade, etc., and also how very important it is to us how you FEEL in the space, if your needs are being met, and that you leave with a lighter heart.
Gifting is not a necessary part of loving, but if we are using it as an extension of generosity and olive-branching and delighting— then we want to do it well and with as much mirth as we can muster.
Town Hall
Annual Town Meeting
Monday, May 20th, 7PM @ Fowler School
Here is your opportunity for your voices to be heard about our operating budget and other town warrant article votes!
Registration begins at 6:45pm and the meeting begins at 7pm. The moderator, Dick
Downey, reviews the procedures of the meeting (found before articles in the warrant) and the Select Board will give an overview of the state of the town.
You can find current information on boarddocs here. 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 articles drafts that were provided to FinCom prior to finalizing warrant articles.
Maynard Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 – Maynard Operating Budget has been reviewed by the Select Board (SB) which is proposing a balanced FY 2025 General Fund budget to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) voters. FY25 begins July 1, 2024 and goes through June 31, 2025.
FY25 Operating Budget Article 6 and Free Cash Article 4 along with all 31 warrant articles can be found here.
There is a meeting being scheduled for June 11, 2024 to outline future longer range budget planning and forecasting. Details will be forthcoming.
Background on the upcoming FY2025 budget development and major remaining milestones here.
Source: Bob McCarthy and Town Website
Community Voices
Newest Select Board Member, Lindsay McConchie
We asked Lindsay what being on the select board means to her.
Here’s her response
Public service is integral to a working government. I believe that participation through public service is one of the key components of success in a community like Maynard. Engagement in local activity – whether it is politics or local business or community groups or schools – is enriching both for the community served and for the individuals in it.
And while Maynard has its challenges like any other town, I believe it really is a wonderful community, and we are fortunate for so many engaged, involved, dedicated people who help make Maynard run. I am really looking forward to sitting on the Select Board, and doing my part to contribute in a way that is meaningful.
I work at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where there are many faculty, scientists, post-docs, and students who spend their time researching what, exactly, accounts for a long healthy life. What accounts for longevity? Multiple studies show, again and again, the importance of community. People – friends and family – who care about us and about whom we care, are critical to not just our mental health but our physical health, and can be determinants of our lifespan. This is supported by data. I think about that often, and it affirms for me that nothing could be more important than volunteering to foster and support a vibrant, connected, thriving community in Maynard, so that we may all reap the myriad benefits that come from being connected to each other.
Events
Assabet co-op Market
One-Year Anniversary Party
Saturday, June 1st
The Assabet Co-op Market will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Saturday, June 1st. There will be live music all day, delicious samples from local vendors, and fun activities for kids and adults.
This is a free event
First Annual Maynard Pride Fest
June 7th, 8th, & 9th
Celebrate the community with music, food, vendors, games, and love!
Featuring: Neon Wave & Ladies of Blues & Soul
Friday
Fugitive Comedy at Sanctuary. Purchase tickets here
Saturday
Two classic LGBTQ+ films at The Maynard Fine Arts Theatre. Admission per film is free! Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis. Films at 1 & 4pm
Pride by the River at The Assabet Co-op. Live music on the beautiful riverside deck, yummy samples from local vendors and the Co-op kitchen, and a pride celebration for the whole community! 12-7pm
Sunday
Pride in the Park Festival with sustenance provided by Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Amory’s Tomb Brewing Company, and The Theatre Creamery. 12-4PM
3rd Annual Maynard JazzFest
Saturday, June 15th, 1-6pm
Maynard JazzFest offers a beautiful outdoor experience in the heart of Maynard’s downtown. Come to Maynard, MA June 15th, 2024 and experience music from a wide variety of players representing the best jazz the state has to offer! Headliner: Latin Logic Salsa Band
For more on events, shopping, things to do, and dining head over to Discover Maynard
Education/Library
At Maynard High School we value not only academics, but also the overall well being of each of our students. Because of the stresses they are under, we have put a number of social-emotional supports in place to make sure that our students are available for learning and set up for success.
All our students have access to Advisory where students are able to select an activity they like from a menu put together by the staff (basketball, pop culture trivia, meditation, lego, chess, etc). Then they spend one class during the school day every three weeks connecting with peers and staff members, having fun, and taking a breather from the stresses of academics. They get to choose a different activity twice a year.
We also offer competencies to develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons are taught by our counselors in classrooms throughout the year and teach lessons on anxiety and depression, skills for life beyond high school, etc. We also have Social-Emotional screeners where our counselors administer a variety of social-emotional screeners.
We strive to incorporate student voice as much as possible through our very robust Student Council that puts together a variety of student-led events (Earth day, March Madness, Spirit Weeks, etc); the Student Advisory Council that meets with the principals every week; Civics Action projects done in 11th grade social studies classes where students are trying to change policies in their school community (dress code, homework policy, attendance policy, etc); and new clubs that are started by students every year!
About 15%-20% of our students need more support and we provide one on one counseling, Social-Emotional groups led by our counselors and focused on educating students on coping strategies for anxiety and depression, as well as a place for students who need help catching up on coursework if they’ve fallen behind.
Finally, a very small number of students (3-5%) require even greater level of SEL supports. They may have a disability and be on specialized plans and work with the school psychologist and teachers to give them the support they need. These programs and other efforts help MHS students foster the sense of belonging and form meaningful connections in a rich, safe, and supportive environment!
Source: Olga Doktorov and Liz York
Maynard High School Senior Project Presentations
Friday, May 17th from 12:30-2:15 at Maynard High School, 1 Tiger Drive, Maynard
Seniors present their findings and projects at the annual Spring Presentation event. The event includes a luncheon for teachers and volunteer community partners and concludes with panel presentations that volunteers help judge.
Each student presentation will summarize the student’s experience in the program—his/her research, internship/work shadow, and project as well as a self-assessment of how well he/she met the school’s competencies requirements.
Volunteers in the community are assigned to a panel that will include a Maynard High School teacher. Panelists view three student presentations and then have the opportunity to ask the seniors questions about their projects and placements. Panelists then provide feedback to the students about the strengthsand areas for improvement in their presentations.
It promises to be a rewarding experience for you and for the students!
There is also a Showcase of the presentations for the public on Wednesday, May 22 at 6-8pm in the
Maynard HS gym.
Around Town
Upgrades
Maynard improves safety and raises ADA compliance with new traffic light at Concord St. – Haynes St. intersection
With seed funding from an American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Spending Bill earmark through the office of State Senator Jamie Eldridge, Maynard will address a problem at one of the most dangerous intersections in town, now with the added risk of proximity to the Rail Trail. Police Department records document 24 accidents at or near the Concord/Haynes/Brown Street intersection for the five-year period 2019-2024. Police Chief Mike Noble notes “In my 30 years as a police officer in Maynard it is by far the worst intersection with the most accidents.”
The State Department of Transportation (MA DOT) has signed off on the design, bids have been solicited and received and a contract is being finalized with contractor I. W. Harding, Inc. With preliminary preparation already underway by Eversource to manage the utilities involved, construction is expected to begin this month. Project funding added by the town will also result in improvements to several immediately adjacent intersections, including Concord/Acton Streets, Acton/Walcott Streets and Acton/Prospect Streets, plus long needed new sidewalks along Haynes Street.
These improvements will provide a safer mix of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at this location and its intersection with the Assabet River Rail Trail. It will also bring this intersection into compliance with current AAB/ADA standards. The location of these upgrades is part of the Town’s effort to ensure pedestrian and vehicular accommodation, accessibility, and safety at this highly used intersection that connects major roadways to Maynard’s downtown area.
Given long lead times in obtaining traffic control mast arms, completion is estimated in early 2025.
Giving Back
On Friday April 26th, Dunkin’ franchisees Mark & Megan Pesce, who own the two locations in Maynard, generously donated $50,000 to Open Table in conjunction with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. As business owners, Mark & Megan love to find ways to give back to the community and the mission of Open Table is something very important to them. The Pesce Family is very involved with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, which provides grants to non-profit organizations servicing sick and hungry kids.
Exploring our Strategy for Sustainable Water and Sewer Resources …Current progress and future planning
We intend to publish on this topic as a quarterly supplement to the Maynard Advantage Newsletter in order to dive a bit deeper into the town’s challenges and opportunities. Our first supplementary article on the topic appeared as part of the February 15 issue of the Newsletter The Maynard Advantage and was inspired by a number of events, including the excellent news article The Hidden Story of Water by Vicki Brown Stevens which published on townwidemall.com last September. Please click here to read the full article.
Fabulous! Well put together. Informative🤗💕👏
Fabulous! Well put together. Informative🤗💕👏