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Local Business

Resilience Body Arts

by Mark Alston-Follansbee

“I wanted to create a safe space for everyone, and especially for kids, women, people of color, or queer,” said Fiona Luddy, founder and piercer at Resilience Body Arts at 39 Main Street in downtown Maynard. “Growing up, I had so many negative experiences getting earrings, but that helped me be clear about what I wanted. People are coming in just to thank me for this cosy, clean, and safe space.”

Fiona and her partner have lived in Maynard for the last two years. She’d walk by the empty storefront and dream of being her own boss, and not having to work for someone else. She did piercing in another town and worked as a waitress, saving her money.  Finally able to rent this space, it took them six months of renovations until they were able to open April 8th.  

The shop has Fiona doing piercings and Leo Gielow, who Fiona worked with before and calls a kindred spirit, as their in-house tattoo artist. “They are so talented,” Fiona said, “and have a degree from Mass Art. Leo has a unique style and is very passionate about their work.”

“Town Hall was really helpful,” said Fiona. “It was surprisingly easy. I had never opened a business before and, while there were hiccups, the town made it easy to get this open.”

Fiona had planned on being a tattoo artist herself but couldn’t find a shop where she could apprentice. Eventually she was offered a job as an apprentice piercer and found she loved it. She has always loved jewelry and drawing was hard for her. She is now a certified piercer (did you know the mall stores don’t really pierce, using a gun to push an earring in and not a needle).  

“I’m a certified piercer, licensed for six years. We sell quality jewelry and next I’m studying gemstones in order to expand the gems with different piercings,” said Fiona.  “About 50% of our business is young people. Kids, eight and older, can have their lobe pierced and over 14 can have lobes and cartilage pierced. It’s gentle piercing and I have everyone from families to individuals, young and older people coming in; we’re here for everyone.”

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Town Hall

Thinking of Opening a Business in Maynard?

How the Office of Municipal Services (OMS) Works to Cultivate a Business-Friendly Environment

Source: Maynard Town Hall

Customer Service 

Yes, the Town believes businesses, as well as residents, are customers. Let’s start with how Town staff help entrepreneurs learn about the local requirements to open a small business. Although Maynard‘s website contains much of the information you would need to start a business, learn about required licensing, and go through a public hearing permitting process (it even has a downloadable business guide), most inquiries begin with an appointment, an impromptu visit, or a phone call to Town Hall, typically to the Office of Municipal Services (OMS) or the Select Board’s office. Town staff walks the inquiring person through the permitting or licensing processes specific to their stated type of business. 

OMS handles permitting of most (but not all) business activities that require board or committee approvals–such as Building, Planning and Zoning, Health, Conservation— depending on the type of business. Businesses requiring licensing by the Select Board such as alcohol, victualer (“common vic”), or marijuana sales, are handled through the Town Administrator’s office.

Town Hall seeks to ensure individuals are thoroughly advised, which includes directing them to other departments whose approvals may also be required to operate, e.g. Department of Public Works or Police/Fire Departments. This is specifically intended to prevent the frustration of going through one approval process only to learn that a separate, parallel approval is required from another department. Town Hall staff strive not to leave the potential business owner adrift in the sea of local bureaucracy. 

But Town Hall customer service doesn’t stop with inbound inquiries. In early 2025, Maynard established a volunteer “Business Ambassador” role whose core mission is to:

• Identify the business community’s needs and wants.
• Build and gauge consensus around economic development. 
• Ensure businesses are aware of the available resources and information at Town Hall. 
• Maintain an open line of communication between Town Hall and the local commercial sector. 
• Promote Maynard as a destination for new business.

The Business Ambassador program was a product of Town Hall listening sessions, outreach efforts, and one-on-one meetings with members of the business community, and is intended to set the stage for a full-time Economic Development Coordinator. 

In addition, Maynard’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) is tasked with the mission to monitor the local business climate and advise Town administration and staff on economic policy, strategy, and related initiatives. 

Discretionary Permits and Economic Development

Maynard’s blueprint for future development is laid out in its 2020 Master Plan. Along with the Town’s zoning map and Zoning By-laws, which provide the spatial and regulatory framework governing the appropriate placement of various business types, and in concert with the Community Development Principles, the granting of discretionary permits (permits that must be approved by a special permit granting authority or “SPGA”, often the Planning or Zoning Boards) is often predetermined. These documents represent the collective will of Maynard’s residents and are difficult, if not impossible, to circumvent. As a result, a business may be denied a permit due to site-specific considerations or other review criteria that are not demonstrated to a satisfactory degree. This in and of itself should not be considered as “business unfriendly”. A business may impact its surrounding neighborhood to such an extent that the SPGA believes that the negatives generated outweigh any economic benefits. For example, a use that may be appropriate for some neighborhoods may not be appropriate for other ones, such as a gas station looking to set up adjacent to a Town water well or a high traffic drive-thru next to the drop-off point of an elementary school. The takeaway of the discretionary permitting process is that a reasonable person should be able to apply the regulatory framework to an application and have a degree of confidence if it meets the general criteria for issuance. 

Denial of a specific discretionary permit is sometimes characterized as “business unfriendliness”. This characterization, without knowing the factors the SPGA must investigate in each case to render its decision, is neither fair nor accurate. 

An Even Playing Field

Town Hall also believes that it has a duty to treat all businesses—both existing and potential–equally and with respect, if for no other reason than their willingness to invest in Maynard. Town Hall cannot and should not be expected to recognize a hierarchy of businesses. To maintain a healthy business and economic climate demands flexibility, free and fair competition, and adaptability. Failure to uphold these standards would be more damaging and contributory to an actual atmosphere of business unfriendliness than anything else. 

Conclusion

Town Hall recognizes the need to continually improve all facets of economic development, which includes maintaining a welcoming business environment, attracting new investment, and supporting existing businesses. Each of these is essential to Maynard’s economic viability. No system will satisfy everyone all the time. But without a doubt, I believe Maynard is continuing to make progress towards economic viability in a business-friendly manner that reflects the Town’s vision and will contribute to the creation of an economically sustainable future.

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May Highlights from Town Hall

Sources: Bob McCarthy, Glenn Koenig townwidemall.com and the Maynard Town Website

• May 6 annual election for open board/committee seats results here.
• Upcoming Annual Town Meeting (ATM) May 19, 2025 at 7:00 pm in Fowler Middle School Auditorium
• Special election on proposed contingent Prop 2 ½ overrides May 27, 2025 

Warrants have been published and circulated covering a total of 45 articles for citizens, acting as the town legislature, to vote on. 

2025 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Available Online

 The Maynard Finance Committee held a hybrid (in-person/zoom) Public Meeting to review their recommendations on all articles on Monday May 12, 2025. Some of their recommendations will be read at town meeting due to insufficient review time before publication of the warrant. 

Calendar • Finance Committee Meeting/Public Hearing

Readers of The Maynard Advantage will note that we have covered the most significant budget issues and challenges for the coming Fiscal Year (FY) starting July 1, 2026 in each issue since February. We encourage you to review past issues to see some of this preparation in order to have many of your questions answered prior to this important meeting.  

Also, a very significant “Town Hall” meeting of the Select Board (SB) was held on May 8 which we covered in our April issue that focused on voter feedback to budget priorities the SB was considering to finalize their proposed budget by April 15 for ATM voting. Summary and full video of that meeting is available in the April edition of Maynard Advantage Town Hall section here.

Glenn Koenig has also published a recent article about the ATM and special election May 27, 2025  for two proposed Prop 2 ½ overrides with some commentary here.

Articles covering most significant funding articles are listed here: 

• Article 4 – FY25 Certified Free Cash Appropriations
• Article 5 – FY 26 Salary Administration Plan
• Article 6 – FY26 General Fund Operating Budget
• Articles 8 and 9 – Contingent Budget for Council on Aging (Prop 2 ½ Override to lease Senior Center space with requested funds beyond current available revenue)
• Article 10 – Contingent Budget for Maynard Public Schools (Prop 2 ½ Override for requested funds beyond current available revenue) 
• Article 12 – Transfer from General Stabilization: Solid Waste and Recycling Services
• Article 14 – Community Preservation Reserve Fund Appropriations
• Article 16 – Sewer Enterprise Fund Budget FY 26
• Article 18 – Water Enterprise Fund Budget FY26
• Article 20 – Transfer from Water Retained Earnings, Capital Improvements Water Department

You can find current FY 2026 budget preparation information on the town website link below. The yearly budget process and goals documents are uploaded to the Select Board’s page, listed by year.  For FY 26, click here.

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Community Voices

Spring ArtWalk and Open Studios

by Mark Alston-Follansbee

Spring ArtWalk, organized by the Maynard Business Alliance, brought art and music to downtown Maynard on the first Saturday in May followed by Open Studios the next day. Ominous rainclouds held off during the afternoon concert in Memorial Park by the Blueprint Jazz Club & Friends and the rain that fell in the evening may have kept some away but those who ventured out saw and heard amazing art and beautiful music.

“We wanted to provide a fun time showing what Maynard has to offer with lots of activity in music, film, dance and of course art,” said Megan Summers, owner of Inspired Bliss with her mother Charity and part of the committee from the Maynard Business Alliance that organized the Spring ArtWalk.  

“ArtSpace was overwhelmed by the positive response during this year’s ArtWalk and first Town-wide Open Studio,” according to Suchi Mumford, Artspace executive director. “We welcomed hundreds of visitors to our new Gallery space at 15 Nason Street and the Studios at 9 Nason and 74 Main. 

“The community has been incredibly friendly and supportive, whether through visiting our brand-new gallery space, taking our classes, or visiting our events and studio artists. We’re planning on making town-wide Open Studios an annual event as see how the arts are a draw in other towns. We’ll be tabling at Maynard Pride and the Farmers Market in coming months and hope to see more folks there”, said Suchi.

Artspace was founded in 2001 and eventually housed at the former Fowler Middle School building until two years ago when building code violations Artspace couldn’t afford to fix forced the town to close the building. At one point, 80 artists had studios at the Fowler which also housed the Acme Theater. The new Artspace locations provide studio space for 18 artists and has allowed Artspace to expand from a single location to a town-wide organization including home studios artists.

“This is the first town-wide Open Studios and I’m excited to participate,” said Julia Berkley who has a studio in her home on Orchard Terrace. “I’m especially excited to show my work because we had a house fire in 2020 that destroyed my studio and my art – but we were able to rebuild and now I have this beautiful, bright space and I’m excited to be painting.”

Rachel Korn, who has a studio at Artspace, said, “Open Studios gives people an opportunity to come in and interact with our art, it’s a bridge that can bring us together. I want people to see what I’m making; we’re a part of the community and we want people to see what we’re doing.”

Catherine Solovay, a scientist by profession, paints to show “what is seen and what is unseen”, is grateful and excited to have a studio at Artspace. She has had a studio in her home but having a studio at Artspace “for the last three months has been so freeing!”

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Events

Maynard Jazz Festival

by Armand Diarbekirian

The 4^th Annual Maynard Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday June 21^st in Memorial Park from 12:30 to 5:00pm. We have a great lineup this year, featuring Two Tuckers, Christine Fawson Quartet and Bluedog. The Maynard High School and Marlborough High School jazz bands will also be performing on our education stage. This Maynard Cultural District event is FREE and “open air” allowing you to come and go as you please while you experience Maynard’s vibrant downtown. Be sure to bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and come early to reserve your spot!

We would not be able to put this festival on without our sponsors. We would like to thank our major sponsors: 

• Mass Cultural Council
• Middlesex Savings Bank
• DUNKIN (The Pesce Network)
• KVC Builders
• Summer Street Properties
• Capital Group
• Domino’s
• InSitu Architects

We would also like to thank our other sponsors: Amory’s Tomb, David French Music, Enterprise Bank, Fly by Night Furniture, Look Optical, Smoothie King and Snazzy Sign.

It’s also important to recognize the hardworking committee: Patricia Gately Fanara, Devereux Geiger, Jenna Dargie, Richard Pepein, Lynda Thayer and Armand Diarbekirian.

Spread the word and bring on the sunshine to enjoy an afternoon of great jazz music and after enjoy dinner at many of our great restaurants.    

Please follow Maynard Jazz Festival on Facebook for updates, including weather updates and where to buy exclusive Maynard Jazz Fest t-shirts!   

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The Maynard Community Gardeners: Making Maynard Beautiful for Thirty Years and Counting

by Joan Celebi

Saturday, May 17, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Maynard/Clinton Elks Parking Lot, 34 Powdermill Rd.

If you’ve ever strolled the streets of downtown Maynard during the spring, summer, or fall months, you’ve no doubt seen the beautiful sidewalk planters filled with gorgeous combinations of colorful flowers and intriguing plant varieties.  Fondly known as “buckets,” these cheerful plantings are uniquely designed and lovingly cared for by members of the Maynard Community Gardeners.  Admired by locals and visitors alike, the sidewalk buckets contribute to the picturesque, small town vibe that makes Maynard feel like home to its residents and attracts those looking for a fun and inviting destination for shopping, music, art, dining, and so much more.  

The Plants Always Sell Fast at the MCG Plant Sale

Rain or shine, each year people start lining up well before 9:00 on the morning of the plant sale for the best selection of flowers, vegetables, hanging plants, perennials, annuals, herbs, and shrubs.  This is an excellent opportunity to stock up on plants that flourish locally, at bargain prices!  There is also a small flea market of deeply discounted garden-related tools and items.  Get there early, and get ready to spruce up your yard this spring!

MCG Now Entering Its Fourth Decade

Established in 1995, the Maynard Community Gardeners began as a small but determined group of volunteers who planted a garden at the corner of Maple and Summer Streets.  Now known as Maple Brook Park, this garden has expanded and flourished over the years, thanks to the dedication and devotion of enthusiastic MCG members who plant and maintain not only the park, but also the sidewalk buckets and the many other town beautification projects around Maynard, including the Alleyway Garden (off Nason Street next to the The Outdoor Store), the Triangle Garden (at the intersection of Nason and Main Streets), and the gateway planters at the town lines, including Erickson’s Ice Cream.  

Everyone is Welcome

The Maynard Community Gardeners welcomes everyone interested in gardening, from beginners to experienced gardeners.  MCG members are passionate about gardening as a way to bring people together, beautify the town, and bring joy to all who live in, work in, and visit Maynard.  MCG membership dues are just $20 annually; members enjoy a variety of benefits and events throughout the year, such as free passes to New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, MCG member garden tours, classes, workshops, and the annual Member Appreciation Breakfast.  

There’s no minimum time commitment to be a MCG member; join today and be as involved as you want or as your schedule permits.  To join the Maynard Community Gardeners or learn about membership and past and current projects and offerings, check out the MCG website at www.maynardcommunitygardeners.org.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on the plant sale, plus member happenings all year round!

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Education & Library

High School Seniors Making a Difference;  Senior Projects Presentations May 16

by Jean LaBelle

The school year is coming to an end and while the members of the Class of 2025 are taking AP tests, planning for the prom, and finishing their last assignments for classes, they are also preparing for Senior Project final presentations which will take place on Friday, May 16th.

The goal of the Senior Project class is to help refine skills for life after high school. The students practice professional development such as resume writing and interviewing; they practice writing emails and making presentations; they familiarize themselves with typical workplace programs and expectations. They are tasked with completing 25 hours of volunteer or job shadow internships/placements. And the culminating experience is a project that they design. The project teaches students what’s involved in planning, funding, and executing an idea. For many of the projects, students secure grants most notably through the Maynard Education Foundation. Ultimately, the goal of the class is to help students develop their own agency and to encourage them to make a difference in the community.

Some of the support students received, and placements students have worked at, this year include: 

• Companies and organizations in Maynard such as Insitu and the Farmer’s Market. 
• John Cramer of Summer Street Properties presented to students and met with some of the students who were interested in finance and real estate careers. 
• The Maynard Business Alliance was helpful in making connections for our students. 
• The teachers and counselors of Green Meadow and Fowler schools were gracious in working with our students, as were many teachers at the high school who helped students complete their projects.
• Maynard Pride was involved with a student project
• The Town of Maynard not only provided multiple internships to learn GIS (essentially a database combined with spatial or geographic information), they also welcomed students in touring facilities at the Police and Water Departments. 
• Two students worked with Kindercare at Mill and Main while other students worked with the Till Organization.
• Neighboring towns also were places students volunteered, including the Organization of the Assabet River(OAR)  which presented to the class and invited students to volunteer. 
• A student worked with the Heritage Museum in Hudson. 
• And a student worked with the Stow Conservation Commission. 
• Representative Kate Hogan’s office provided an incredible experience for two interns at the State House. 

And there are many more places that our students were able to work and for that we are very grateful! Each of those placements is an educational experience.

The projects produced by the Class of 2025 have been diverse! Students have hosted leadership workshops, created expert panels, planned events to break stereotypes, used AI to build and test a small rocket, created a DNA lab for the biology class, created an app, produced a book of poetry, a musical zine, a financial guide. If you see a Little Free Art Gallery box on the school grounds, that’s thanks to a senior project! Students have learned Quickbooks, Project Planning, and coding. In short, students have pursued their passions and interests and they’ve seen how those convictions and ideas can turn into tangible artifacts for our community.

As another class joins the ranks of the alumni, the Senior Project program is thankful to all those in the Maynard community who support our students’ work!

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WAVM Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

by Priscilla Sandberg, Maynard Historical Commission

The first weekend of May 2025, WAVM (Maynard High School’s student-run radio station) celebrated their members and their success with a full weekend of fun and celebration for all the students, faculty, staff and parents.  It was a special celebration which marked the 50^th anniversary of WAVM.

In 1974, WAVM started the school year with a full broadcast schedule of weekday shows from 7am to 9pm. Students created their own shows with different styles and formats with the students making all the decisions on their shows.  From music to talk to sports, WAVM provided the community with a first of its kind Maynard programming and format depending completely on the student, and there have been many types of shows to grace the airwaves. Some programs have been very general playing all types of jazz while others are more specific by airing only Hollywood Soundtracks. To no surprise, the most common programming of all has been “Pop Music.”

You might be familiar with their signature fundraising event, the Beacon Santa Telethon, which has raised over one million dollars since its inception. This money directly benefits a non-profit organization that provides holiday assistance to families in need within the 12 communities it serves.

Starting a tradition is easy, keeping it going is hard.  Here’s to the next 50 years of WAVM.

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MHS at the High School Production Awards

by Hannah Fullam

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (the organization behind the Emmy Awards) has recognized EIGHT Maynard High School student projects with Honorable Mentions in this year’s High School Production Awards. A sincere congratulations to all of the students involved – your hard work and creativity have paid off. The full list of MHS student projects can be found below, along with links to each of the projects.

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Around Town

Icehouse Landing Planting and Park Restoration

by Steve Smith

The Maynard Conservation Commission has, over the past two seasons, invested time and resources in revitalizing the Icehouse Landing Park along the Assabet River. Icehouse Landing is located at the end of Winter Street. The park has ample parking to take advantage of both the kayak launch and the Rail Trail. Last year a local contractor was employed to help move boulders and existing granite blocks and regrade multiple areas to help establish locations for native plant beds. With the help of volunteers, the initial garden had over eighty native plants installed, and they were watered throughout the season by local volunteers. This spring, an additional one hundred and eighty plants were added as part of a CPC grant awarded to the Conservation Commission and these were also installed by volunteers. The long-term goal of this project is to create a teaching garden where residents and guests can learn about how native plants can be used in their own gardens. As all good gardens are, this is a long-term project requiring ongoing maintenance and care. 

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Powder Mill Road Detour Route

Source: Ray Bauters, Senior Project Manager, Plumb House

Please see above plan for the proposed detour we will put in place while we are working in the road from our site located at 2 Powder Mill Rd. to the intersection of Powder Mill and Sudbury Rd.

• The detour will be established in the morning prior to commencing work and will be removed and normal traffic patterns restored at the end of each working day.
• We will need to establish this detour on a daily basis from ~middle/end of May to ~middle/end of October.
• We will block off traffic access to various entrances and parking areas on the property at 111 Powder Mill Rd. (Maynard) to guide traffic through the detour route.
• Eastbound traffic would take a right off Powder Mill Rd., follow the detour through 111 Powder Mill Rd, turn left on Old Sudbury Rd., bare left onto Sudbury Rd, and turn right back onto Powder Mill Rd.
• Westbound traffic will follow the same path in reverse.

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