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The Maynard Advantage is so excited to announce that we are growing! But we need your help.

We’re raising money to establish a non-profit news organization. We believe that a well-informed community is a stronger, more connected community. That’s why we are founding The Maynard News Network—a non-profit, volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to providing accessible, accurate, and non-partisan local news for Maynard, Massachusetts, and its surrounding communities.

Local journalism is disappearing across the country, and Maynard is no exception. Without dedicated local news, important town decisions can go unnoticed, local businesses struggle to gain visibility, and our community loses an essential way to stay informed.

How Can you Help?

Donate—Follow our GoFundMe link below to view our entire campaign and give whatever you can! Every contribution gets us closer to our goal. To donate click here for the full campaign, or click “donate now” below to go directly to the donations page.

Share—Spread the word on social media or email this campaign to friends.

Subscribe—Stay updated by signing up for our newsletter!

Local Business

Maynard Outdoor Store

by Mark Alston-Follansbee

The Outdoor Store at 24 Nason Street has been open for 75 years but is too busy to celebrate this wonderful milestone. Instead, the store has everyone busy stocking the shelves and helping customers with almost everything anyone needs from their local apparel store. Opened in 1950 by Sumner Cotton, the store is now run by a third generation, his grandson, Jeremy Cao, with Jeremy’s mother Amy still involved. 

Sumner bought surplus military gear and opened an Army & Navy Store just down the street from their current location. It was one of three stores three veterans opened after returning from World War II. In 1968 the corporation was dissolved and Summer had sole ownership in Maynard; the store moved to 24 Nason and changed their name to the Maynard Outdoor Store.   

By that time the surplus materials were becoming scarcer and the store was able to use the much larger space to bring in everything from name brand clothing and footwear to camping and sporting goods. Jeremy’s mother Amy took over from Sumner when he retired in the 1990’s and then Jeremy gradually took on more and more responsibility over the last 20 years.

“The most important thing for us,” said Jeremy, “is customer service and having the products people want at good prices. We have a local customer base that have been shopping with us for a long time and now see people we knew as children bringing their children into the store.”

The footwear department has a large selection of work, hiking, and snow boots plus athletic shoes and sandals. (Did you know they sell Birkenstocks at a lower cost than you can buy them on-line?) Clothing for men, women and children tends to be casual with athletic clothes for sports. They also sell sporting equipment and hats and T-shirts for our professional teams.

It’s not easy having a retail store these days and the Outdoor Store saw many long-time knowledgeable employees retire at once and then lost more staff during COVID. But the store is a well liked institution in Maynard; in fact the town’s Economic Development Committee just gave the Maynard Outdoor Store their Business of the Year Award for all they do and bring to the community.

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A Note From Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center

Dear Sanctuary Supporters,

It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight months since we took the exciting step of purchasing the historic Church at 82 Main Street in Maynard, and rebranding it as the Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center. These months have been full of energy and progress, and I’m thrilled with all the strides we’ve made. We’ve been hard at work making this space a haven for art, music, and community. One of the most exciting developments is the future build-out of our members lounge, where patrons can enjoy pre-event receptions, meet and greets with artists, and so much more. This space is truly a place where art and conversation can flourish.

We’ve installed a World Class Sound system and are upgrading the lighting throughout the venue to enhance your experience during live performances. These upgrades are designed to give our artists the best environment to perform in, while also creating an immersive and dynamic experience for all of you in the audience. We believe this will elevate every show and make the Sanctuary an even more special place for both performers and attendees alike. It’s truly an exciting time as we continue to grow and evolve.

None of this would be possible without your incredible support of local business and live music.  The future is very bright and alongside Organizations like the Maynard Cultural District, Economic Development Committee, Maynard Business Alliance  we’re proud to be a part of the economic engine of Maynard.  We truly value your patronage and want to ensure that Sanctuary is a place where you feel connected. We’d love to hear from you about the types of programming you’d like to see in the future, and any feedback you have about your experience with us so far. Please feel free to reach out—I’m there for Dead Ahead every Tuesday – come say ‘Hi’ and enjoy a fantastic night of music, food and community. Thank you for being such a vital part of our journey, and we can’t wait to see you at our upcoming events!  Join our mailing list at www.sanctuarymaynard.com for updates!

Best,
Kevin Baker
Director of Programming
Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center

Town Hall

Special Select Board Meeting

by Jack Mackeen & Bob McCarthy with the meeting summary generated at Fireflies.ai

Last Tuesday on May 8 the Maynard Select Board held an interesting session that was different from their typical formal agenda format. The goal was to lay out options we face to reach a balanced budget, mandated by state law, in the coming Fiscal Year (FY) . The Town Administrator Greg Johnson laid out challenges facing the town as a whole. Since the Maynard Public School system is our largest annual investment of available revenue (state funding, local receipts and commercial and residential taxes) School Superintendent Brian Hass presented the background leading to the request for a Proposition 2 1/2 override, a permanent increase in our tax levy limit of 2.5%, to reach close to their requested “level service” budget for next Fiscal Year 2026. An override is also being considered to lease a Senior Center to address significant issues at their current location at Maynard Golf Course clubhouse. This is well explained in the Overview summary below and with more detail in the YouTube video of this hybrid meeting.

After the presentations of about 10 minutes each, Select Board Chair Jeff Swanberg facilitated a question and answer period for those in attendance both at the library and on line.  

We encourage you to review this informative session before next steps leading up to the vote on this budget at Annual Town Meeting (ATM) on Monday May 19, where Maynard citizens, acting as the town legislature, will vote yes or no to the proposed final amounts.

Next Steps:

• Select Board agenda for Tuesday April 16 includes approval of the final town operating budget proposal and other ATM warrant articles
• The Maynard FinCom will hold a Public Hearing to review the warrant articles, likely on Monday May 12
• ATM takes place on Monday May 19 at the Fowler Middle School Auditorium

Meeting summary with time stamps of the entire portion of the videoed discussion below with full video at the bottom.

Overview
The Town Budget Discussion meeting, led by Town Administrator Greg Johnson, focused on addressing structural budget challenges for the upcoming fiscal year, necessitating the consideration of an operational override to exceed the Prop 2.5% levy limit, a process requiring town meeting approval and local election support. The meeting highlighted major budget pressures, including significant increases in employee salaries and benefits, alongside the need for funding solid waste services, with proposals to utilize free cash and stabilization funds. The School Department presented its budget, illustrating a $1.3 million gap between town allocations and requested funding, potentially leading to staffing cuts if overrides fail. Public concerns ranged from the tax implications of the overrides—estimated at $50 annually for the town and $300 for schools—to discussions about managing long-term needs like water infrastructure and the implications of rising costs. The Select Board indicated final decisions would be made the following week, with a vote on the budget planned for the upcoming town meeting in May.

Budget Background and Override Introduction (00:00 – 11:35)

• The presentation will focus on high-level budget information rather than detailed spreadsheets
• This meeting addresses an unusual budget year requiring an operational override
• Towns across Massachusetts are facing similar structural budget challenges
• Town Administrator Greg Johnson explained revenue sources (property taxes, state aid, local receipts)
  • Revenue sources for the town primarily include property taxes, which are derived from residential and commercial properties.
  • State aid contributes to the budget, particularly for education and general government expenses.
  • Local receipts encompass various fees and taxes, such as meals tax, cannabis excise tax, and fines from inspectional services.
• Explained ‘override’ concept: exceeding the Prop 2.5% levy ceiling requires town meeting approval and local election
• Unlike debt exclusions (for specific projects), operational overrides permanently increase the tax base

Town Budget Challenges and Proposals (11:36 – 21:40)

• Major budget expenses: employee salaries/benefits (rising ~10%, lower than some towns’ 20%)
• Solid waste/recycling services can’t be maintained without special funding measures
• Select Board proposes using free cash and general stabilization funds to cover waste services
• School budget proposal doesn’t meet level funding requested by schools
• Items not included in FY26 budget: maintenance, new senior center lease, some reserve funds
• Estimated tax impact: 25 per 100,000 of override (about $350/year for combined school and senior center overrides)

School Budget Presentation (21:40 – 31:19)

• Superintendent Brian Haas presented school budget needs and challenges
• Schools facing similar revenue limitations and expense increases as town government
• Last school override request was in 1991
• Budget pressures include staff contracts, out-of-district needs, transportation, utilities, health insurance
• Current FY26 dollar increase (572,000) only 12,000 more than requested in FY14
• Town Administrator allocated 23.48M, but schools requesting 24.8M

School Budget Impact and Override Justification (31:19 – 39:11)

• School budget recommendation supports new paraprofessional contract and athletic trainer
• Without override, schools would need to reduce 11 personnel (about 4% of workforce)
• The $1.3M difference between town allocation and school request would be reduced to 1.1M with reserves and retirements
• Budget increases needed for contracted obligations, depleted reserves, rising expenses
• Estimated tax impact of school override: $260 annually or $22 monthly for average household
• Many districts across Massachusetts are also pursuing overrides (doubled from 10 to over 20 in recent years)

View and download a PDF of the full AI generated meeting summary. Other than the removal of resident names, this summary has been unedited and appears as it was generated by Fireflies.ai.

Full Video:

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Community Voices

The Maynard Cultural District

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Events

Spring ArtWalk

Please join us for our Annual Spring ArtWalk on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 4:00 to 7:30 PM.

Come experience an evening of art and music hosted by businesses throughout downtown Maynard.  Enjoy activities, exhibits and musical performances as you stroll along the streets in the heart of the Maynard Cultural District. 

From 4:00 to 5:00 PM, Blueprint Jazz Club & Friends will kick off the evening with another exceptional performance. Then from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, we invite you to enjoy activities, art and performances at participating Maynard businesses.

Follow us on facebook.com/maynardbusinessalliance/or visit maynardbusinessalliance.org for updates!This event is made possible in part by a grant from Mass Cultural Council and Maynard Cultural Council.

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Education & Library

Maynard High School’s musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: Cons, Capers and Comedy meets the wild side with Fowler’s Mean Girls Jr.

by Kerry Weeks

Student theater hit it out of the park with their spring musicals at Maynard High School and Fowler this year! Maynard High School’s Theatre Company shone brightly in their spring production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on March 7, 8 and 9, 2025. Twenty-one MHS students and one Fowler student sang, danced, sashayed and crooned in David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane’s musical, in which two con men compete to woo unsuspecting and wealthy women on the French Riviera. They were joined by 9 MHS students on stage crew, 11 on tech crew, and 4 in the pit.   

Will Cahill, a senior at MHS, played Lawrence, a suave, sophisticated con man with a British , and at times Austrian, accent. Senior Nate Mauroy played the small town crook, Freddy Benson and also Lawrence’s “brother”, Ruprecht, using physical comedy and gags to keep the audience laughing.

The young women ensnared in Lawrence and Freddy’s hijinks include Zoe Avery, playing Muriel Eubanks, an ingenue who expresses her devotion to Lawrence, but lands her “happily ever after” with Andre, played by freshman, Gavin Izaguirre and freshman, Austin Wilde. Kendall Waldeck, junior, plays Jolene Oakes who looks forward to taking Lawrence to her ranch to meet her family in Oklahoma, but is scared off by his mentally disturbed brother, Ruprecht. Hailed as the “American Soap Queen,” Christine Colgate, a naive bumbling optimist, played by sophomore Chloe Houlihan, becomes a target of Lawrence and Freddy’s competition. The audience laughed along, following the twists and turns of this irreverent musical comedy.

MHS alumna, class of 2020, Ariane Mauroy, returned as director , after a successful directing debut with MHS’s 2024 production of Annie. When Ariane was a senior at Maynard High School, she was cast as lead actor, Christine Colgate in DRS, but the play was cancelled 48 hours before opening night, in March of 2020 due to the pandemic. Ariane reunited with other alums after this production, who shared that this performance helped them heal what they didn’t even realize needed healing. Ryan Defoe, the 2020 director of DRS, also attended to support Ariane and the new cast. 

Stomach bugs and the flu almost disrupted this spring’s performances, but the cast soldiered on.  On opening night, students Austin Wilde and Kendall Waldeck seamlessly took over the role of Lawrence, while Will Cahill sang his songs off stage. Assistant Director, Evelyn Hickey, an alumna of Maynard High School, jumped into the role of one of Lawrence’s suitors, Mauriel. Kevin Murphy, the musical director, admired the MHS students’ ability to improvise, saying “I have seen my share of middle and high school theater over the years, but I cannot remember the last time cast members understudied a fellow cast member on the spot. Austin and Kendall did a superb job of keeping the drama moving…. Impressive!”

Kevin Murphy directed professional and MHS student musicians in the live orchestra pit, creating a vibrant dynamic for the show. “Audio tracks are, by nature, unresponsive.” Kevin said. “A real (orchestra) pit is capable of reacting to the action onstage in a heartbeat, and this spontaneity lends a whole new energy to music theater, one that MHS band members assimilated quickly.” MHS students Matthew Lucas, on trumpet and guitar; Noel Hunt and Matthew Berman, on drums and percussion; and Lillian Hochmuth, flute, dedicated a considerable amount of time to learning the Broadway score. Professional musicians Rob Hammerton, electric bass, and Sharon Marshall, clarinet, also performed with the students.

Meanwhile, Fowler’s production of Mean Girls, Jr. brought Maynard on a wild ride March 21^st and 22^nd, directed by devoted Fowler teachers and magic makers Ms. Michelle Travers and Mr. Travis Hales. Over 50 Fowler students comprised the actors and stage and tech crews for this hilarious performance! Cady Heron, played by Maylee Hiatt, may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. She takes on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George, played by Ariana Mancone, alongside actors Sabrina Symes (playing Karen Smith) and Natalie Nauseda (playing Gretchen Wieners). But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung. Cady’s love interest Aaron Samuels was played by Lucas Harrison, who forged on in his role despite a leg injury. And her two sassy loner friends Damian Hubbard, played by Tommy Leonhardt, and Janis Sarkisian (played by Alice Blunt), narrate the story as they too stoke the flames of high school drama.

The theater programs at Maynard High School and Fowler School (grades 4-8) are supported by the Maynard Theater Association (MTA), a new non-profit raising funds to support student theater in Maynard. Erika Wilde, MTA vice-president, Artistic Director in community theater, and Maynard parent, emphasized how vital it is for students to have a strong performing arts program, “Theater creates community and helps students develop a strong sense of self and identity. Acting also builds empathy and emotional intelligence, and helps strengthen relationships. Furthermore, participating in theater encourages collaboration, builds confidence, and fuels creativity.”

The Maynard Theater Association is accepting donations to fund robust theater experiences: Maynard Theater Association, MHS, 1 Tiger Drive, Maynard, MA 01754

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What is Great About Maynard Public Schools

by Maro Hogan

Green Meadow Elementary School

The Green Meadow Elementary School serves students from Preschool through Grade 3 and resides on the Maynard Public Schools campus. Our school focuses on fostering curiosity, engagement, and a strong academic foundation.

We welcome our youngest learners as they enter the Green Meadow Preschool, an integrated program that is based on fundamental principles of how young children learn. We believe that all children can be successful and learn in a nurturing, supportive, and safe environment. Our program fosters:

• An excitement for and a love of learning
• Student confidence and personal growth
• The skills to explore, interact, and problem-solve
• The development of social and academic language skills
• A sense of community both in the classroom and in the larger
  school community
• A strong home-school connection

As our students enter our Kindergarten through Grade 3 program, they engage in evidenced-based curriculum that includes a commitment to developing student knowledge and agency. Families may opt for our Spanish Immersion program which begins in Kindergarten. All students are encouraged to explore a variety of interests through weekly classes in art, library, music, physical education, and technology. We are excited to move into a brand new school during the 2026-2027 school year.

Fowler School

Fowler School is proud to see increased student engagement in youth leadership. Our students are expanding their horizons beyond the school walls and thinking about how they can positively impact their community and educational environment. This year, 20 students from grades 7 and 8 are participating in a youth leadership conference where they can further develop and showcase their leadership skills. 

Supporting career and college pathways is a district-wide movement. Maynard is fortunate to have several pathways in the high school that Fowler School can increasingly support through grant funding. The district has applied for and received multiple grants to support this alignment. Over the past two years, more than $50,000 in awarded grants has facilitated the creation of Fowler’s new media class, expanded learning materials, professional development, and student engagement activities. As a result, our students are beginning to explore career interests earlier in their learning journey and pursue pathways that can help them achieve their college and career goals.

Maynard High School

Maynard High School is a small, fully accredited, comprehensive high school serving the historic town of Maynard, Massachusetts. All students receive a personalized education in a school community where they are known, respected, and challenged in their academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits.

• We offer a wide variety of Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and Virtual High School opportunities, and a rigorous Global Scholars interdisciplinary certificate for students interested in researching global languages, issues, and connections. 
• We celebrate our bilingual students by promoting biliteracy as a valuable life skill, regardless of their first language. In 2024, 19% of our graduates were able to add the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy to their transcripts. 
• Our student-led FCC-licensed radio and television station, WAVM, offers technical and leadership opportunities that rival those available in top universities’ Communication programs. Our Chapter 74 Vocational Program in Media uses the WAVM facility during school hours. 
• We offer Innovation Career Pathways in Computer Science and Business/Finance, connecting students to the Maynard Business Alliance, Maynard Town Hall, and many other community partners for internships and career connections.

Whether they are planning for college, a career, or the military, Maynard High School (MHS) graduates are prepared to enter adulthood as engaged and active citizens, ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Riley Carven

by Armand Diarbekirian

Congratulations to @Maynardhighschool senior Riley Carven, who was awarded a MEF grant to build and install three ‘Little Free Art Galleries’ at each of the Maynard schools! This project will allow students and the community to exchange small art pieces, while fostering a creative and collaborative environment. Riley’s goal is to strengthen the connection between the community and the arts, and inspire more students to get involved in artistic expression. This project is part of Riley’s Senior Project.  Be on the lookout for the Little Free Art Galleries later this spring!

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Around Town

Minuteman Trail March

by Zoe Piel

On the morning of April 19th, 1775, colonial farmers set off from what was then Assabet Village in Stow. News rapidly spread that British regulars had fired on the militia assembled at Lexington Green. Heeding the call to arms, militia members marched to Concord with little assurance of what awaited them.

2025 marks 250 years since “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” the Battles of Lexington and Concord that commenced the war for American independence. “Rev250” celebrations and ceremonies will soon be underway in the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, and Arlington, among others.

Annual Patriot’s Day observances in Maynard traditionally include a reenactment of the march to Concord, led by the Stow Minutemen. The Trail March proceeds 9.5 miles, following the path traveled by the militia in 1775. In Maynard, the march heads east on Summer Street before heading up Concord Street toward Parker Street in Acton, and finally concluding by the North Bridge in Concord. The music of the fife and drum, and the crack-boom of musket fire, punctuate the proceedings.

This year’s Trail March will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Residents of Maynard are encouraged to participate. Participants should assemble at the Stow Lower Village Shopping Center at 5:15AM, to commence the march promptly at 5:30AM. You may also “fall in” at any point along the route. There will be three short breaks along the route, and a light breakfast served at Rideout Playground in Concord.

Participants should bring water and snacks, and make plans for return transportation from the Minuteman National Park North Bridge Visitor Center in Concord. Hearing protection is strongly recommended. 18th-century dress is encouraged.

For more information about the Trail March, please contact the Stow Minutemen at [email protected], or call (978) 206-1775.

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Economic Development Awards

by Armand Diarkebirian

On Sunday March 23rd representatives from Maynard businesses, community leaders and outstanding volunteers gathered at the Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center to recognize and celebrate this year’s Economic Development Award recipients for their contributions to the success, growth and improvement of the local economic environment. The 2^nd Annual Event provided an opportunity for networking among business owners, highlighted new businesses that opened in 2024 and encouraged future investments. The committee recognizes businesses, individuals, entrepreneurs and non-profits doing business in Maynard.  

The delicious brunch was provided by Bagel Table. Guest speakers included. Rep. Kate Hogan, Maynard Select Board Chair Jeff Swanberg, Jason Palitsch, Executive Director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership and Steve Silverstein, Executive Director of Municipal Services. The awards were presented by last year’s award recipients. 

This year’s award recipients were:   

• Rising Star: Smoothie King
• Distinguished Public Service: Jen Picorelli
• Non- Profit of the Year: Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Most Philanthropic: The Pesce Network (Owners of Dunkin Donuts)
• Business of the Year: The Maynard Outdoor Store  

Thank you to the Economic Development Awards Committee and for the support of the Town Administrator and the Select Board for making this a successful event.  

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