The Ashland Business Association (ABA) is planning its first-ever membership dinner on May 1, 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Ashland VFW, 311 Pleasant St. The guest speaker will be Jennifer Maseda, executive director of the Metrowest Conference for Women. Attendees will learn how the ABA can help their business and meet ABA members. Needham Bank has donated raffle tickets for the May 14 Red Sox-Oakland game. The cost to attend is $10 per ABA member and significant other, or free admission for an ABA member who brings a guest who qualifies as a potential member. To RSVP, contact membership coordinator, Denise Conti, DConti@needhambank.com, 508-259-5161.
Support Scholarships
for Ashland Students
It is not too late to donate to the ABA scholarship fund. A business or individual interested in supporting this program may send a contribution by May 11 to ABA, P.O. Box 510, Ashland, MA 01721. Donors are recognized in ABA print and online materials and at June graduation, when the 2018 scholarship winners are announced.
Around Town:
New Businesses
Economic Development Director Beth Reynolds reported on several local business openings:
Murphy’s Eats & Treats is now open at 16 West Union St. (Rt. 135). A locally owned family business, Murphy’s offers 25 flavors of Richardson’s ice cream, lunch and dinner, and indoor and outdoor seating.
Opening in mid-May are The Bagel Table, 21 Main St., with pastries, bagels, pre-made sandwiches and coffee, and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, on Pond St. (Rt. 126), which will sell gently used and surplus furniture, construction materials and home improvement items at deep discounts. The store proceeds benefit local Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
Created last year, The Corner Spot at 6 Cherry St. is now accepting applications for pop-up businesses for the 2018 season. The community gathering place will open from May through October. The grand opening on June 1, 5 to 8 p.m., will feature La Maison a Gateaux in the shed, the Travelin’ Bones BBQ food truck, live entertainment and kids’ activities. For more information, visit the town website, www.ashlandmass.com/488/The-Corner-Spot, or www.facebook.com/thecornerspotashland.
Town Meeting to
Vote on Business
Incentive Program
The town manager and the economic development director are sponsoring articles at the May town meeting for a business incentive program, to modernize downtown by establishing “a grant and loan fund for the purpose of creating economic tools and activities.”
“There are two related articles that town meeting will be voting on,” Michael Herbert, town manager, said. “First will be an appropriation to fund the program that is part of the budget. The second article is to file special legislation that allows the program to be created. Both need to pass to establish the program.”
© Copyright by Cynthia Whitty, April 2018
Issue Date:
May, 2018
Article Body: