Scholarships and Mini-Grants Awarded
Olivia Francis-Anspach and Cailan O’Leary, graduating seniors of Ashland High School, each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Ashland Farmers Market (AFM), under the umbrella of Ashland Healthy Harvest. This is the first time AFM has granted scholarships to individual students.
Francis-Anspach, who has been a valuable market volunteer for the past three summers, will be attending Georgetown University. O’Leary, who helped form the Earth Club to promote sustainable living at the high school, will major in environmental studies at the University of Vermont.
In addition, Mini-Grants of $500 each were awarded to GreenUp Ashland, an organization that mobilizes individuals and groups to clean up parks and neighborhoods and along streets and rivers, and Home2Homes, an Ashland-based nonprofit serving families and individuals going through challenging times.
It’s HIP to be Healthy, and a SNAP to Participate!
The new statewide Healthy Incentives Program (H.I.P.) is available for those families who receive SNAP benefits at AFM this season. SNAP recipients can purchase freshly picked fruits and vegetables (no ready-to-eat food) from a participating produce vendor (currently Long Life Farm) and receive an instant, dollar-for-dollar reimbursement credited back to their card. There is a monthly limit per size of household.
Then SNAP holders can go to the Market Host tent, with the big orange water cooler, and slide their SNAP card through the EBT machine for the amount they want to spend at other vendors.AFM will match that amount up to $20 each week. That means that a four-person family can receive $60 in free produce and $160 in other foods by just spending $80 SNAP in one four-week month.
SNAP holders can use these benefits to maximize the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, fish, eggs, and dairy products they can buy.
AFM Summer Calendar
AFM’s schedule of special events, Kid’s Corner activities, and free concerts at the Arts! Ashland Alliance Music Stage:
Saturday, July 1: The Carve celebrates the 4th with breakfast and BBQ lunch. Free Concert: Cindy Lane Adams country western, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: Orthodontist Dr. Pardo creates tooth brushing fun, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 8: Free Concert: Blues, swing and classic country with Peter Ward, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: butterflies and tattoos with Ashland Mom’s Club, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 15 – Tropical Fiesta: Customer Appreciation Day! Free drinks and smoothies! Kid’s Corner: Bryan Lepore’s Harmonograph, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 22 – Health & Wellbeing: Free Concert: Always in Season bluegrass band 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Ashland Lion’s Eyemobile offers free vision, hearing and heart screenings; also, free acupuncture, massages, and more.
Saturday, July 29 – 100th Market Day: Free Concert: Dale Show world music, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: pottery demonstration, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bring your dull knives, garden tools and scissors for sharpening with Patti of On the Edge Knife Sharpening (her only visit of this season).
Saturday, August 5 – Dog Day: Free Concert: Ampersand folk rock, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: Dog craft with Samali Perera-Charvet, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bring your four-legged friend to the market and check out the special services, events and treats for them. All dogs must be crowd friendly, on leash, and well behaved to participate in the Dog Parade.
Join AFM, a fun, family destination in downtown Ashland every Saturday from June 10 through October 7, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on the green across from the Ashland Public Library. Come for breakfast, stay for lunch. Remember to bring your reusable shopping bags or borrow ours. Sign up for e-blasts at www.AshlandFarmersMarket.org.
Issue Date:
July, 2017
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