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Local Business

Sanctuary

Tomorrow Never Knows, Inc are the new owners of Sanctuary.  They aim to preserve 82 Main Street and its legacy through continued support of the Maynard community.  

They plan on taking full advantage of the multi-purpose use of the space and the floor plan, which is adaptable to all types of events, from weddings to bar mitzvahs, retirement and birthday parties, celebrations of life and baby showers. Plans are on the way to build and design a bridal suite/green room, to create a robust and customizable wedding and special events package

The team is also excited to expand the business by featuring local musicians and national touring acts on the Sanctuary stage.  Upgrades to the lighting, sound and acoustical treatment of the room are imminent. 

Once the kitchen build-out is complete and fully equipped, catering options will be available to event clients.  With its unique design and space, the bar area will continue to function as a gathering place for a cozy and exciting night out. Plans are in the works to create a separate entrance to the bar area. 

They will continue to grow on the reputation as a reliable, exciting concert venue and bring new more exciting acts to the stage and develop new programming like, Sunday Jazz Brunch.   

Some of the other ideas are:

• Increase family/children’s programming
• Create Community Music Series
• Establish a Membership Program

With their diverse background and experience, partners Shannon Phypers, Kevin Baker and Caleb Whelden, envision a future where Sanctuary thrives as a central hub for Maynard’s Cultural District and becomes a popular regional attraction. 

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Koulopoulos Vona & Company

Koulopoulos Vona & Company, also known as KVC Builders, is one of the most prominent high-end residential custom builders in New England, with offices in Boston’s Metro West, Cape Cod, Sunapee, NH, and Rhode Island. With over two decades in business, the company has proudly built over 150 of the area’s finest homes. Its sister company, 360 Home Services, originated 20 years ago as simply the ‘maintenance’ arm for the homes KVC built. However, 360 Home Services has evolved into a leading, reliable home ‘care’ business that not only looks after its 200 clients’ home’s seasonal maintenance needs, but also a wide range of custom renovation projects, both large and small.

As these businesses both evolved and grew rapidly over the past twenty five years, starting as just a ‘small shop’ with less than a six people to more than 70 today, the two original offices in Metro West no longer supported its needs as a true headquarters. Maynard was an attractive new location in that it shortened the commute for the majority of the employees of both companies, while also having close access to major highways like Route 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike. In addition, as we’ve learned, the development of Maynard’s downtown makes it attractive to the wellbeing and lifestyle of its employees. Mill & Main’s extensive campus offered a variety of opportunities for KVC Builders and 360 Home Services to create a new, collaborative working environment for the two businesses, with attractive amenities for continued education, fitness, and day care services. 

Our people are looking forwrd to being a great partner in this community!

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Snazzy Sign

Snazzy Sign, open since February at the corner of Nason and Summer streets,  offers many unique ways to promote your business or help anyone celebrate special occasions with everything from LED neon or acrylic signs to custom T-Shirts, hats, or mugs.  Run by the Aguilera family, father Yony is the artist in the back room making all their products while mother Mery handles the business side and son Adrian works the showroom.

The Aguilera’s fled Venezuela in 2016 when the economy started tanking and political instability followed.  They left behind a business 1fixing cell phones where Yony gained experience soldering, an essential skill to making LED neon signs.  They  lived in Florida for five years and opened a new phone repair store and started selling custom designed T-Shirts online. That store wasn’t successful so the family moved to our area.  Both parents drove for Uber and DoorDash while they planned what to do next.

Driving gave them a chance to realize how much they like Maynard and, when they saw the empty space where the store is, they fell in love with it immediately.  It took them a year to get the store open, most of which they did themselves.  They had to move a wall for their large laser engraver and had to hire special HVAC specialists for the complicated ventilation.

Yony has always liked to create things and said, “Neon is what excites people!”.  Small LED neon sculptures can cost as little as $120 but with the laser engraver and Yony’s creativity, there is little they can’t do and they are happy to work with anyone on their custom designs.  While the LED neon is a great draw for the store, they also specialize in acrylic signs that can include back-lighting.  They are happy to custom make almost anything that can go on a sign, a hat, a T-Shirt, or a mug.  The usual turnaround time for custom orders is one week.

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Town Hall

Avalon Development

The Town of Maynard is requesting public comment from residents on Avalon Bay’s proposed 40B Development at 182 Parker Street.  

You can add your comments/concerns by visiting the Town’s project webpage (scan QR code to access) where an easy-to-use online form has been created. Please note additional information about this proposal is also found on the webpage. This page also includes information about the Chapter 40B process itself in case you need to brush up on what is involved.

Comments should be provided with the understanding they may be presented to the the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) on behalf of the Town.  This is critical because comments will be part of MHP’s considerations as they determine if they will issue a letter of eligibility allowing the developer to apply under Chapter 40B.  When you provide comments, I request you be project specific and please give an extra thought to ensure that initiatives the community has adopted are not unintentionally cast in a negative light that may hurt the town (i.e. creation of affordable housing, economic development efforts etc.).

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Maynard Advantage Special Edition

Look for the next Special Edition on Water Resources issues, a quarterly series by the Maynard Advantage Team.  It will publish within a week of our next newsletter in September

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Community Voices

Andrea Gillis

What are some of the ways in which you have in the past or are currently volunteering your time in Maynard? What are some of the activities involved with what you do?

As music is perhaps my most useful tool when it comes to shining a light on something, I recently hosted the successful “Only in Maynard” series at the Sanctuary back bar. With the support of the wonderful new owners and blessing of David Mark, I was able to bring my experience as both a residency-seasoned musician and booking agent to curate a weekly Maynard-centric musical experience. This proved a great way to highlight our rich artistic community by bringing in various local and regional artists and helping to further establish Maynard as a cultural hub. (Residency to resume soon! Back by popular demand!). Also at Sanctuary, for the past three years we have had our annual Christmas show – an amazing event packed with bands and local artists – all to help the Maynard Food Pantry. As a mother, chef, and someone who grew up on a tight food budget, The Maynard Food Pantry hits home. My first experience raising money for MFP was in 2020 during lockdown, when I would live-stream a wacky musical variety show with my husband, “Devotion Saturdays”, from our basement every Saturday night for a year. Amongst all the duetting, joking, call-in guests, and costumes, we’d raise money for various causes. Maynard Food Pantry was one of our first. THAT was a lot of fun. I guess residencies are my thing?

What compelled you to start volunteer work?

While I’ve always loved volunteering and fundraising, it was becoming a mother that really rekindled my drive. I believe the ethos of giving back, helping, and volunteering should be instilled from the beginning. I wanted to set a strong example for my son.

How did you end up living/working in Maynard?

My husband grew up in the area – stuffing his face at TC Landos, playing pool at the Corner Pocket, and watching his father’s band play at The Sit n’ Bull. After years in the city, we were looking to settle down a little (but not too much!) and raise our family. Marc (my husband) suggested we look in Maynard. I knew very little about the town other than a few of our musician friends had made their way out here over the years. Admittedly reluctant at first, I’m a city girl from South Boston, I fell in love with Maynard from the very first time we came to look at a house. I was so surprised that this beautiful little New England town was so close to all the places we knew and played – Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Worcester, Lowell… It is perfectly situated for someone like me, close enough to the city while offering a quiet, safe place to come home to. Right off the bat we found a supportive, smart, and funny community within the Maynard Family Network and knew we had made a great choice. We love seeing the town continue to grow and enjoy being some small part of that.

Can you talk about one or two of your best/most rewarding experiences as a volunteer?

I would consider the past two Sanctuary Holiday Concerts as my most rewarding. The 2022 concert brought together all of my favorite things – raising money/food/awareness, music, arts, community, family (my young son got to see Mama rock out!) and delicious baked treats. It was by all accounts pretty sweet. And in 2023 we partnered with Green Maynard and fellow Maynard resident, uber-talented songwriter and performer Abbie Barrett to put on a killer concert for another great cause. We are very lucky to have such a talented community and a gorgeous venue like Sanctuary to support us. 

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Bill Nemser

Bill Nemser has been at the helm of planning for the Town of Maynard, serving as the Planning Director/ Town Planner since 2014 with a clear vision for guiding the town towards a sustainable and prosperous future. Describing his role, Bill aptly identifies a professional planner as an “agent of change,” tasked with developing the town’s direction through community consensus planning and strategic foresight.

As a Planning Director, Bill’s responsibilities extend beyond simply following the Master Plan, which, while an essential blueprint for Maynard, is long-range and broad. He emphasizes that the essence of a planner’s role is to represent every stakeholder in the community impartially. This objectivity, according to Bill, is one of the most critical elements of successful planning. When asked about the inherent conflicts that arise from representing diverse interests, he acknowledges the challenges but asserts that managing these conflicts requires public input, honesty in communication and regardless of the outcome, ensuring a level of respect for those potentially investing in Maynard.

Bill’s journey into the field of planning began with his pursuit of real estate studies, a relatively new program in universities at the time. After a five-year stint in the U.S. Coast Guard and with a young family to support, he sought a practical career that aligned with his interests in real estate and law. Planning emerged as the perfect intersection of these fields, offering a creative blend of disciplines.

Outside of work, Bill is dedicated to his family, cherishing time with his children and grandchildren. He also indulges his passion for music as a guitarist in a band, a role he has enjoyed for over 40 years. Bill’s commitment to the planning profession extends beyond his duties in Maynard; he is actively involved and sits on the Board of Dirctors of both the Massachusetts Chapter of American Planning Association (where he serves as Professional Development Officer) and the Massachusetts Association of Planning Professionals. 

Reflecting on his accomplishments in Maynard, Bill is particularly proud of transitioning the town towards more proactive planning strategies. He takes satisfaction in witnessing the community come together to embrace these changes. His role allows him to collaborate with town staff, committees, the business community, and residents, making a significant impact on the town’s development.

One surprising tidbit about Bill is his past role as a radio show host on WAVM. His show, “Planning, Zoning, Rock and Rolling,” was a unique platform where he combined community education with his love for music, informing listeners about local issues while playing his favorite tunes.

Bill holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning and is an AICP Certified Planner. When discussing the biggest challenge facing Maynard, he highlights the delicate balance of growth—reconciling economic, environmental, and community interests. His aspiration for Maynard is to progress towards a sustainable future that honors the town’s character while embracing sustainable growth.

Through his dedicated service, Bill Nemser continues to shape Maynard’s future, ensuring that it remains a vibrant and cohesive community for a lifetime, amidst the evolving landscape of planning and development.

Events

Maynard Fest

October 5th, 9AM-3:30PM

Downtown Maynard

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Maynard Porchfest

October 6th, 12-5PM

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Fall Book Sale

October 5th & 6th, 12-3PM

Maynard Public Libraqry

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First Annual Maynard Bocce Tournament

Veterans Memorial Park

Saturday, October 19th, 2-6PM

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For more on events, shopping, things to do, and dining head over to Discover Maynard

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Around Town

Second Annual Fall Ball

On Saturday October 26th the Maynard Elks will host the 2nd Annual Maynard Fall Ball. Doors open at 7pm. The Fall Ball was created by the Maynard Holiday Parade Committee in 2023 as a kickoff fundraising event for the Maynard Holiday Parade.  

The Maynard Holiday Parade is the longest running yearly holiday tradition in Maynard, and was created by Phil Bohunicky, also known as Fleepo the Clown, in 1966. This year the 58th Maynard Holiday Parade is set for Sunday December 8th at 2pm in downtown Maynard. (rain/snow date of Sunday December 15th at 2pm).  

Over the years various organizations have taken responsibility for the parade. Our current group is made up of Maynard moms, friends, and their daughters, all of what have lifelong ties to town.  We have been working together to bring this beloved tradition to town each December since 2021. We have brought back some of our favorite childhood memories of the parade. Many will remember the excitement of Santa flying over the crowd and waving to the parade goers as they make their way to downtown. We have also added in some new traditions such as having WAVM students from Maynard High School MC and record the event. Our favorite new addition is the parade’s holiday food collection. Each year, Open Table, Maynard Food Pantry and Maynard Backpack program receive donations from this incredible food collection that begins shortly before parade time. This collection provides for our residents who struggle with food insecurity. Our committee is so happy to be able to help stock the shelves in time for the busy holiday season for these essential groups and their volunteers.  

This year the parade will become even larger with a new feature: The Holiday Village. The Village will be a new element to the parade and will take place in Veterans Memorial Park starting at noon, two hours prior to parade time. It will include facepainting, food options and numerous holiday gift vendors.  

Creating a parade is fun, but it is also costly. Each year the parade costs on average $13,000 to create. A survey that was released the end of August polled local residents about what they wanted to see more of during the parade. Maynard spoke and we listened. The survey showed residents would like to see more music, more cartoon characters and more live bands. In order to do this it is crucial that our committee raise the funds. The Maynard Fall Ball is one of the ways we fund the parade. Last year The Maynard Fall Ball raised $7,000!  We also rely on private donations from residents, as well as our sponsors from many of our local businesses. This year we will also have holiday ornaments, as well as magnets with the popular cartoon artwork from Maynard resident and ArtSpace artist Denise Shea available for purchase. Come see our tent at Maynardfest on October 5th!  

We are expecting this year’s 2nd Annual Maynard Fall Ball to be even more popular than last year’s which nearly sold out. The Fall Ball is a 21+ costume themed event, however it is important to know that party goers do not need to be in costume to attend. Ticket prices are just $35 and will include free appetizers and desserts from local eateries. Our committee will be announcing this year’s Grand Marshal and guests of honor in the parade. We will have  a silent auction which will include a chance to ride with Santa in the helicopter on parade day!  We are also very excited to share that Maynard favorite Dr. Glenn Jackson and Westwood Junction Band will be providing the dancing music for the evening. Their band has a large Maynard following and we expect this to be a popular event so please buy tickets early to ensure you get in! This event makes for a great date night, girls’ night out or night out with a group of friends and family. Dancing, food, laughs … it is truly a costume party for a cause, but also such a fabulous night out with other Maynard residents.  

100% of the proceeds raised go directly to the Maynard Holiday Parade fund. To buy tickets or for more information please check out our site at LightuptheholidaysMaynard.com or Facebook page at 58th Maynard Holiday Parade.  

If you would like to be an Official Sponsor of the Maynard Holiday Parade or if you have questions please contact Jen Picorelli at 978-290-6373 or [email protected]

The Apartments at Powder Mill

Recently several Maynard residents have been enquiring as to what type of project is being developed on Powder Mill Rd across from Wendy’s on the Acton side. 

The Dolben Company, Inc has announced the initiation of their latest project, The Apartments at Powder Mill, a 230-unit luxury residential apartment community situated on 10.5-acre site along the picturesque Assabet River in South Acton, adjacent to Maynard. The Dolben Company Announces Groundbreaking Development: The Apartments at Powder Mill in Acton, MA – Dolben

The approved development plans include two residential buildings, each designed as a five-story structures. Complementing these residential buildings will be a standalone six-story parking garage. The buildings will include studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Community amenities will include a fitness center, swimming pool, BBQ grilling area, roof deck, residential lounge, dog park and spa, package acceptance, bike storage, controlled access parking, EV charging stations, and a kayak/canoe launch. Adhering to a Local Initiative Program (LIP) Comprehensive Permit, this development ensures that 58 of the 230 apartments (25%) are designed as affordable in perpetuity.

The original developer in 2017 proposed the Powder Mill Place, spanning the Maynard/Acton town line that was to include 254 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, 74 of which would be in Maynard. 25% of the rental was to be affordable, in accordance with Massachusetts Chapter 40B housing law. 

The developer had initially asked Maynard to provide sewer hookups for the apartments in both Maynard and Acton. But on November 8, 2018, a Special Town Meeting was held that was brought on by a Citizen’s Petition to vote on whether the town of Maynard should be in the business of selling sewer and water to neighboring towns. 

The concern was that with several redevelopments on the horizon Maynard wouldn’t have any remaining sewer capacity for those developments. Providinng sewer to Maynard-based developments gains the Town both sewer revenue and tax revenue. Providing sewer service to other towns gains us sewer revenue but property tax revenue goes to the other town. By a vote of 91-30 the voters opted to prohibit the sale of sewer and water services to other towns. The vote was non-binding, but it served as advice to the Select Board members. 

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Maynard Cultural Council

The Maynard Cultural Council has announced that grant season is open.

We are seeking funding proposals for community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs due October 16, 2024

Organizations, schools, and individuals can apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community. 

These grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Maynard — including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, or performances in schools, workshops, and lectures. Grants typically range from $50 to $1500 – however one change this year will be the funding of a small amount of higher impact projects with bigger disbursements. 

Questions? Message us here or email [email protected]

Application forms and more information about this Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org and at https://www.mass-culture.org/lcc 

Who Can Apply? Individuals, organizations, agencies, schools, and non-profits may apply for grants that support activities in culture, humanities, arts, and sciences publicly benefiting the local community. Projects must take place between February 1, 2025 and be completed by December 31, 2025. All applicants must reside or be located in Massachusetts. 

How to apply? Applicants must be submitted online via the MCC website https://www.mass-culture.org/lcc_public.aspx and at https://massculturalcouncil.org/…/apply-for-lcc-grants…/ The application is open now. The deadline for applying is October 16, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. 

What makes a good application? Each year we receive more requests than the funds that are available. The success of your grant may rely on careful planning and thorough preparation. Clearly identify dates, times, and locations. Include all costs in your budget, including in-kind donations (free use of space or donated services). If permits or extra permission are needed, please identify them. If this is a collaborative project, please identify the stakeholders and spell out agreements.

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Maynard Historical Commission

Massachusetts maintains a database of historical properties and areas across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, also known as MACRIS, allows you to search the Massachusetts Historical Commission database for information on historic properties and areas in the Commonwealth and specifically in Maynard.

The Maynard Historical Commission works every year to identify properties and areas that are historically significant and enter them into MACRIS. The database is available  to the public and here is how it works:

• Step One: Go to mhc-macris.net
• Step Two: Enter MAY into the search field
• Step Three: You’ll be presented with a list of results which you can search by area,
• street or name. Click on the entry you want to see
• Step Four: The .pdf will download and when you open it, you will see a comprehensive
• documentation of the property

Any questions, reach out to us on our Facebook page or email [email protected]

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Maynard Community Preservation Committee

The Maynard Community Preservation Committee is asking Maynard residents to submit proposals for Community Preservation Act funding.

The deadline for submitting a Notice of Intent is October 15, 2024. This entails a short project description used to determine eligibility for CPA funds. Final applications are due on November 12, 2024. Final applications must include detailed plans for the execution of the project, as well as a list of any additional funding sources and a maintenance plan, where applicable. CPA funds can be used for four kinds of projects:

• Community housing projects that promote affordable housing.
• Historic preservation projects that protect, preserve, or restore historic structures, sites, or artifacts.
• Open space projects that acquire land for open space, purchase conservation restrictions or restore open space areas.
• Recreation projects that acquire, preserve, rehabilitate, or convert structures and land to recreational use.

To date, Maynard CPA funds have been used to support affordable housing and conservation initiatives through contributions to the Maynard Affordable Housing Trust and Conservation Trust, respectively. CPA funds have also been used to support projects such as the design and acquisition of the Assabet River Rail Trail, the purchase of the Maynard Golf Course, improvements to Alumni Field, Front Field and Keenan Field, playground improvements at Fowler and Green Meadow Schools, the replacement of the fence and restoration of historic gravestones at Glenwood Cemetery, and the preservation of historical artifacts, such as the Mill Curfew Bell, among other projects.

Information and application forms are available on the Town of Maynard website here under the “Resource Documents” section. You may also contact the CPC administrative assistant, Anna-Lisa McLaughlin, at [email protected] with any questions.

The Community Preservation Committee consists of nine town residents appointed by various town boards and by the Maynard Select Board. The committee reviews applications, provides support for the proponents of proposals, and determines which proposals to recommend for funding to the Maynard Town Meeting.