One More Poster

A reader mentioned a poster citing statistics of the beneficial impact of shopping locally. Revitalize Maynard Collaborative did have one of those, but there was concern that people wouldn't be able to read it if they were rushing by. Perhaps we need to think about having these tabletop in some of the local cafes.

Here's that poster.

If You Don't Use it, You'll Lose it!

If you ask most Maynard residents why they like living here in Maynard, in their top-three list they'll probably say, "It has an amazing little downtown." Like me, you're probably one of those people. But the unfortunate thing is that as much as people believe in having a vibrant downtown, they fail to realize how important they are to it. It's like the old adage, If you don't use it, you'll lose it. Indeed many of us have been around long enough to have seen businesses come and go, and we always feel badly when it happens, probably because we realize that we failed to show up.

The people of this community—residents, business owners, and people who work here—are so essential to the downtown. Their/your/our presence is what truly makes the downtown, not the buildings.

I'm going to ask you to do something. When you're home, and you're about to make an online purchase, ask yourself whether or not what you're about to buy is something that's available in our community. If you're not sure, it's time to find out. Go be in Maynard's downtown, a place you love so much. Walk around and get to know your merchant neighbors—they'll be so glad that you did. And I'm sure that if you do, you'll find out that there's a lot more here than you ever realized, whether it's that item you didn't know you could get, or meeting someone that you never would have met.

Recently the Revitalize Maynard Collaborative made up some mini posters for shops to hang in their stores. Maybe you've noticed them. I wonder which of these resonates most with you.

See you downtown!

From Here to There: Hair Styling in Maynard

Back in September I "reported" that the Mascarelli building was getting a new tenant, and that the new tenant would be Porfino. Well, if that was the case then, it's certainly not the case now.

Flawless Hair Design has knocked down the wall and expanded to take the entire space that was Mascarelli's. It's looking really good from the street, and between that spot, the tear down of the parking deck, and the Fine Arts Theatre, you'd think that the Summer Street section of our downtown was competing for "Most-Improved Street" in town.

The other switch is about Porfino (the upscale barber shop on Nason Street). Enzo, the owner, is buying the Maynard Barber Shop on Main Street. Bobby, the current owner of the Maynard Barber Shop has been recovering from surgery and was looking to take it easy, so this deal will work out well for him—when Enzo moves his business over to the Maynard Barber Shop, Bobby will work for him. And between them both, they'll be able to serve more clients—Bobby works early, like 6 a.m. (I think that's what he told me), to cut hair for people before they head off to work. Enzo will come in later and Bobby will take a break.

So now we just need to find out who will fill what will become an empty location on Main Street. I've heard the rents are a little higher there, so it may not be immediate.

That's the scoop on some of the local hair business.

December ArtSpace Gallery Exhibit to Showcase Other, Local-to-Maynard Artists

This weekend is ArtSpace Maynard's 2nd Saturday, a monthly event that is the kickoff for the next gallery opening, and a mini open studios. The show this month will be highlighting the work of twenty-three Maynard-based artists. In the nearly fifteen years that ArtSpace has been operating, I believe this is the first show of its kind.


In the seventeen years that I've been living here, it seems that the arts community in Maynard has been steadily growing. I'm going to guess that, unlike Kevin Bacon, you're probably a mere step away from knowing a Maynard artist directly (or perhaps a mere blog post away).

The current exhibit demonstrates the talent that lives within our community, and I hope you will come out to celebrate these artist's abilities with us. If you are a local artist, come and connect with your people.

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 13, 5–7pm  (Mini Open Studios will begin at 4pm)
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 11–3pm

How do You Pronounce "Huipil"?

We're all tempted to call Maynard's muy bueno Mexican restaurant something that rhymes with "people", but that would be incorrect. The correct pronunciation is "we peel". The 'h' in Spanish is silent, while the 'il' at the end forces emphasis to the end of the word. But however you like to pronounce it, I like to pronounce it delicious!

So what is a "Huipil"? You might be able to guess by some of the decor. My internet search gave me this: A huipil is the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from central Mexico to Central America. It is a loose-fitting tunic, generally made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric which are then joined together with stitching, ribbons or fabric strips, with an opening for the head and, if the sides are sewn, openings for the arms.

Along with their delicious, authentic Mexican menu, you can also get Coca Cola with real sugar in it, and other Mexican sodas. And not only do Alma and Alonzo own and run this place, but they also choose to make Maynard their home. We are so glad to have them. 

Google Maps Has an Old View

I happened to be looking at satellite view of Maynard  on Google Maps when I decided to do a street view. I guess they haven't updated in a while. I'm home and it's late, so I'm not quite sure how many of those buildings were demolished to make way for the Walgreens. Sigh.

Maynard's Downtown: Two Different Ends at the Sip & Stroll

I braved the rain to make it to my first ever Maynard Sip & Stroll! You're wondering how such a Maynard aficionado could have missed it these last few+ years. It was easy, the ArtSpace Holiday Sale would get out late, and I'd be too hungry and exhausted to make it. But this year the show ended a little earlier on Saturday, so I swore I was going to go.

With all that rain coming down, I wasn't quite sure where to go, so I just started near the beginning and ended near the end—simple enough, no? And I wanted to make it a point to go into stores that I haven't been in before, stores that I've heard people say marvelous things about. I'm so glad that I did. 

My first stop was Collector's Paradise (35 Nason St.). I've only seen the shop from the outside, and only in passing. It's worth a visit—you'll likely find something that reminds you of your youth. The owner's name is Bernie. He's a bit of a joker and, of course, an avid collector of all kinds of things. I was amazed at the number of different things he has in there and how very organized it all is. Star Wars?—oh yes, lots, and still in the original packaging. Vintage Battleship—yup. There are also skeleton keys, board games, still-in-the-wrapper Pez dispensers, blue-glass bottles, a display of vintage, cast-iron pans, and a gazillion other things! You can be sure that whatever you get in there would only otherwise be obtained through a vigorous Ebay bidding war. 

My last visit on my sipping tour of shops was to Bon Marche. Are you wondering where that is? Well shame on you and me as well! This is a lovely little antiques gift shop that is at 41 Main Street, after Willy's Philly's, but before Aubuchon. 

Annie and Paul Smith are the owners. I spent half an hour talking to them—really lovely people. While there I was shown their collection of millinery embellishments, which I invested a few dollars in. They are from Carlisle and were telling me how much they love our downtown. The specifically mentioned that they have felt a lot of support from the business community. I brought up how there seems to be some kind of mental hurdle that people need to make to get them to walk beyond Halfway Cafe to go anywhere—myself included. They agreed, but said they are really looking forward to Jimmy MacDonald's building across the street being completed and having more life come to their end of Main Street.

Annie and Paul were gracious and didn't point out to me that the Sip & Stroll had actually ended. When I realized, I did my best to say a quick goodnight, grab a picture of them in their space, and let them go home. I then grabbed my umbrella, ran into a friend outside and we went and had a cup of peppermint hot cocoa at Serendipity Café, where live music was still playing into the night.

The ArtSpace Holiday Sale is this Weekend, December 5, 6, and 7

Art is just... special. It just is. And giving a gift of art says that you kind of went out of your way to get something particularly wonderful. Lucky for you, the ArtSpace Maynard Holiday Sale this weekend.


Here's what's really cool about it. There are going to be more than fifty area artists coming to ArtSpace to share their varied works with you—beautiful things that they've created in their own unique styles. Unlike when you buy something off a shelf, at the Holiday Sale, if you like something enough to buy it, you're going to see what that means to the artist who actually made it. And they can answer your questions about their work. And if you ask to have your picture taken with them, you can make them feel like a rock star.

Not everyone can afford to give gifts of art, but even if your budget's a little tight, come by and warm the place up with your presence. There is going to be a silent auction of various artists' works, and you might end up with something at a price you might not have been able to get otherwise. Grab a snack and a glass of wine while you're at it.

So if you want a little break from what has become "traditional" shopping, head over to the ArtSpace Maynard Holiday Sale this weekend. Everyone will be happy to see you there—especially me. I'll be there selling my hats and chatting with visitors.

Fri. Dec. 5th: 5-8 •  Sat. Dec. 6th: 10-5 • Sun. Dec. 7th: 12-5. ArtSpace Maynard is located at 63 Summer St., Maynard.
You can "like" the ArtSpace Holiday Sale on Facebook. 

Getting Festive, and Getting Shopping in Maynard

Holiday decorations have started going up in Maynard's downtown area. So nice to see! Thanks to the crew who installed them.

Black Friday is next week. You could choose to go do your crazy-shopping in the mall, or you could walk around a lovely downtown, have a nice meal in a friendly restaurant, and catch a blockbuster movie in an old-time theater. No rush, taking it easy.

Things you might not know to look for (or give) while you're on your holiday hunt:

• an amazing wool sweater: Outdoor Store
• a pile of books: Video Signals
• Legos: Paperstore
• a hand-painted (by you, or your kids) plate for someone you love: Video Signals
• a piece of art or craft by a local artist: Denault Studios, ArtSpace Downtown, Art and Soul
• a collector's item you never imagined you'd find again: Collector's Paradise
• a basket for goodies: Summer Street Fine Consign
• a bicycle helmet, water bottle, or horn: Ray and Sons
• a gift certificate for a facial: Flawless
• comic books: Excelsior, Legends
• a pair of binoculars: the Outdoor Store
• a gift certificate for a massage: Pathways, Massage Visits.
• a season subscription to plays: ACME Theater
• a frame on a special object that you cherish: Gallery 7
• a really cool chair: This and That.
• a lovely something for the home: Bon Marche
• a lovely piece of jewelry: Richard Goddard
• a funky Christmas decoration: Picker's Pocket
• a great deal on a new jacket: Manufacturer's Direct
• stocking stuffers galore: Sugar Snap
• tools: Aubuchon
• a swiss army something or other: the Outdoor Store
• and of course plenty of gift certificates for restaurants.

And as for you and what you'd like for Christmas, tell your family you're keeping it local and would love a gift certificate to one of the many stores we have in town.

What have you found as you've made your way around town? I certainly haven't listed everything.  Feel free to post your findings in the comments.

Happy Retirement to Peg Brown!

Having worked there for twenty years, Peg Brown has become a local fixture at the Maynard Post Office. As of November 14th, she officially retired, so you won't see her stamping your packages behind the counter there. But you'll still catch this Maynard citizen of thirty-five years around town. "Where else would we find a town like Maynard?" she asked me when I asked if she planned to head to retired-people's land.

Peg serves on the Maynard Historical Commission. She is also an avid golfer, so you'll find her at the Maynard Country Club when the weather warms up.

Many congratulations!

Mark Your Calendars: Holiday Sip & Stroll, Dec. 6th, 6-8pm

The Maynard Business Alliance is hosting the third annual Holiday Sip & Stroll. Come downtown for some community merry making! This event keeps getting better each year. Go check out the downtown windows and vote for your favorite.  

You Can Get Local Meat, Cheese, and Eggs in Maynard

Balance Rock Farm in Berlin has been one of the Maynard Farmers' Markets vendors for years. I often thought about making the drive out to Berlin in the off-season, but never managed to do it. Last year I learned that they actually do a weekly drop in Maynard. You can go onto their Web site and email them a list of what you want, and then go and get it from their truck, which will be parked out near Babico's

I'm doing this blog post because they were smart enough to send an email reminder that their service is beginning, and I was thinking that there would be plenty of people in the community who would be interested. 

Here's the information. 

Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for a wildly successful Farmer's Market season! We took a little time to regroup and catch up on things that got let go over the summer, and now we are ready to resume the Drop in Maynard.

We will be in Maynard on this Saturday November 15th between 12:00 and 1:30. As before, we will meet in the parking lot between Warriors Way and the Bank.

For anyone interested, we still have turkeys available. They are $4.19/lb. and there is a $40.00 deposit required. They must be picked up at the farm either Monday,Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
All that was offered at the Farmer's Market is available for drop and more. If you know of something you'd like us to bring, just ask.

Ice cream will not be available until the weather turns freezing.

If you would be so kind as to spread the word about this drop, we would be very appreciative. The more people we serve, the better for everyone who would like it to continue.
Anyone interested can e-mail  at Linda@balancerockfarm to get on the list.
Feel free to e-mail with questions and special requests as well as regular orders.

Please try to get your orders to us by Friday @ 6:00 to insure that they come through in time.

Thanks and hope to see you on Saturday.

Happy Fall.
Linda and the Balance Rock Farm Family

This message was sent to denishe.hats@gmail.com from:
Linda Wheeler | Linda@balancerockfarm.com | Balance Rock Farm | 104 Highland St. | Berlin, MA 01503

ArtSpace 2nd Saturday, November 8th. Opening Reception for "Disambiguation" and "Ex Situ"

ArtSpace is having their Second Saturday event this weekend. Along with a really cool show in the gallery by guest artists Ishikura and Chong, you'll be able to visit with some of the artists who have space in the studio building.

My quick look at the hanging taking place in the gallery tells me that this is going to be a very interesting exhibit—bright colors, layers of plexiglass, curious subjects.

This event is free and open to the public.

Fine Arts Theatre Opens to Maynard today, Wednesday, Nov. 5th.

It's finally here! The theater is really going to open! Unfortunately, due to some occupancy permit delays, it's with short notice—tonight, Wednesday, November fifth! The Fine Arts Theatre will have a soft opening for Maynard residents this very evening.

The movie they will be showing is Interstellar. Here's what's amazing—Christopher Nolan, producer of the film, decided to limit the first two days of the movie's release to be only for 35mm film projectors. That means that for the first two days of release, Maynard is only one of six theaters in the whole state that can show it! Can you believe that? Take that big-box-office movie theaters!

I think Steve Trumble knows that everyone is pretty excited. As excited as he is, he's actually a little nervous about it. It's a given that the staff is going to make mistakes, and knowing that, Steve has decided that he wants to have a soft opening; a little time for the team of Maynard teenagers who will be working there to make some mistakes and figure out how to fix them.

Steve thought that this soft, ever-so-gentle opening should be with a loving, supportive audience who would give the kids the bit of wiggle room they'd need. He asked me what I thought, and we both agreed—who better than the Maynard community?

But then the question became, How could you invite only people from Maynard? Steve seemed to think that I might know or be connected to enough people, so I said I'd try.

The theater crew wants to practice on about a hundred people. I must know a hundred people, right? So if you you're part of the Maynard community, think that opening-day mistakes are no big deal, and want to make history and be one of the Fine Arts Theatre's first customers, then come down to the show on Wednesday, November 5th at 7pm. I'll be there with my honey and some Jr. Mints.

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am for everyone to see the theater.

New Selectmen: Tim Egan and Chris DiSilva

Just read this.

"Chris DiSilva and Tim Egan are Maynard's newest selectmen. Check maynard.wickedlocal.com for the complete story."

Well, there you have it.

You Want to Know When the Fine Arts Theatre Is Opening, Don't You?

You want to know when the Fine Arts Theatre is going to open, and so do I.

I met again with Steve Trumble to find out what I could find out. People, opening day is so close I can almost taste the popcorn! Steve has promised to keep me posted on when opening day will be, so be ready.

In the meantime, here's a shot of some of the classic movie posters that are going to be adorning the halls of the theater. The blue plastic is just there to protect them till opening day.

When you finally get into the theater, it may be so crowded that you won't get a chance to notice the beautiful iridescent tiles that are covering the front of the concession stand, so here's a picture.

If you haven't done so already, go on their Facebook page and "like" them. Don't forget to turn notifications on so that you get any information they post—like all the up-coming movies they'll be showing!

Meet the Candidates Is Available Online

WAVM has the video of the Meet the Candidates night on their site. Here's a link.

People keep asking me about the candidates. I think watching the Meet the Candidates event is helpful. The only trouble with watching them is that you might want to judge them on their speaking ability, but a BOS member does not have to have public speaking as a qualification. 

Good luck to all our candidates and thank you to them for even wanting to serve on, what I feel, must often seem like a thankless job.

Advance Auto Parts Ribbon Cutting Tomorrow

Advance Auto Parts, on Powdermill Road next to Jam Time, is having their ribbon cutting tomorrow. Here's a link to the information. 

Fine Arts Theatre Is Getting Close—They've Hired the High School Kids!

They really are getting down to the end here with the theater—I'm not kidding. You know it's close when they've actually hired the staff. That's right, over the last month local Maynard kids have been interviewed for the various jobs at the theater. And it was important to Steve Trumble that they be local because the theater impacts their community.

Like any new endeavor, there are bound to be hitches in the first few weeks. And everyone is new to this. So don't be surprised if the new staff flounders a little bit, gets something wrong, misses a step, or doesn't have some technical aspect right to start with. Be kind. Tell them they're doing a good job.

Let me also encourage this—let's applaud at the beginning of each movie, when those velvet curtains open up and we look around and realize that it has really, truly happened.

Jero Nesson, Manager of ArtSpace Maynard, Will Retire End of Year 2014

Jero Nesson last week announced to ArtSpace artists that he would be retiring from his position as ArtSpace manager in December of this year. Jero helped to found ArtSpace in 2000. Already in his seventies, he told his friends that he wants to take some classes, read more books, and do more walking. ArtSpace artists will miss him, but he promised to visit from time to time.

The ArtSpace board has hired Fred Batstone as the new Executive Director. Many of you would know Fred from the Outdoor Store. He has been one of the most active and involved board members since 2000 and he has served as the organization’s treasurer for the past seven years. Linda Spear will serve as Administrator in this job-shared position. Linda has a strong organizational and administrative background. 

You Used to Hit Your Knees at the Fine Arts Theater

Why am I showing you a toilet?
Before the Fine Arts Theatre was remodeled, if you went in the ladies room your knees would actually be touching the door of the stall. God help the poor mother who would need to go in and help her small child. It's one of the reasons I never used the bathroom there—too many horror stories. Well, I'm pleased to announce that the Fine Arts team made the wise decision to expand the stalls! (Insert tears of joy here.) It wasn't easy and nearly took a shoe horn, but there it is.
Hooray!

Side note: I was just using my iphone. The stall is really a comfortable normal size. My pic makes it look like there's six feet in front of the toilet.

Fine Arts Theatre Update: Steve Trumble Is Crazy

Yes, I said it—the man is cra-zy.

When I caught up with Steve Trumble to find out what was going on with the theater a couple of weeks ago, I kept finding myself shaking my head at him. "You're crazy," I finally said. He didn't deny it. 

As he showed me around, he talked to me about how much of the building had to be redone, all while trying to preserve the original character of the place. "It would have been cheaper to tear it down and build a new theater from scratch," he admitted. I don't doubt it. The same was true of the Maynard Public Library when it was redone, but we saved an old building, revitalized a neighborhood, and most importantly, got a really great library out of it. I think the same will be true of the Fine Arts Theatre. 

It's the cosmetic stuff that seems most obviously improved when you walk in, but those improvements are a drop in the bucket compared to the structural tsunami that has been the Fine Arts Theatre. All the stuff we can't see—new plumbing, new wiring, new heating systems, new roof... it's all there and so very important. "Nobody should have to sit in the theater with their coat on," he said to me. So many of us did though, grumbling under our breath as we pulled our hats down tighter. He told me about some of the bad things that they came across. For example, some key safety elements in the theater were connected to electricity using extension cords. That's just bad.

Fine Arts Theatre's new retro-styled carpet—love!

It seems that with this project lots of things went wrong. A wall would be opened, a floor uncovered, a ceiling inspected, and ta-da, a problem would be found. I've heard people say that maybe it was a sign; that maybe he was supposed to give up on it, or that the universe was sending him some kind of message. Sure, I suppose that would be one way of looking at it—a bit half-full, if you ask me. In talking to him about the whole experience, the feeling I get is that he is not a quitter—he's just not. He has the audacity to keep going in spite of all the problems, and I respect and appreciate him for it. 

As for the cosmetic stuff... I suppose that's where my accusations of craziness really comes in. As we walked through the theater and he pointed out special things he has put in (retro carpeting, classic-movie posters, velvet ropes), I found myself asking him, "With all the money you're sinking into this place, how can you justify spending money on this stuff?!?" "These are all just little things, and you're missing the point," he said. It was after walking around the whole place that I finally realized what he was getting at. With each choice, he has not opted for what was the cheapest or easiest, but instead chose what was right for the theater. And what became clear is that Steve Trumble isn't just trying to make a movie theater, he wants to make a whole movie experience. I don't know if any other investors would have had the nerve to make the choices that he's made, but I do know that the theater has more value for the attention to detail that he's giving it.

People in Maynard and the surrounding communities grow restless, they are anxious to have the theater open. Steve is anxious, too. Soon the building inspector will stop finding areas that need correcting. But even when the inspections stop, I believe the theater won't open until Steve believes he has made the theater that he has set out to make, and that is a place that people will want to be. And someday soon, we'll be able to brag about this little gem in Maynard, and we'll forgive that it took so much time and effort to get it done. 

Theme for the Maynard Christmas Parade 2014

Rotary decided last night the theme for this year’s parade is Musical Magical Christmas

MacDonald Apartments on Main St. to be Ready Around the First of the Year

As you may know, when I was at the Fine Arts Theatre on Sunday I met Melissa (the contractor for the theater). She's Jim MacDonald's daughter. I asked when the new apartment building on Main Street would be done and she said it would be sometime around the first of the year.

Meet Melissa

Let me introduce you to Melissa MacDonald. She is the contractor doing the majority of the work at the Fine Arts Theatre. Not only has she been busting her butt to fix every rotten, moldy, loose bit that has been uncovered at the theater, but she also looks like a superhero. I know she looks like a normal person in the photo, but I'm not kidding you! She is the first woman I have ever met who looks like she might be able to lift a building onto her shoulder and fly away with it. Okay, I'm a little prone to exaggeration, but if you met her, you'd want her on your team. And considering the amazing amount of work that they've had to do there, I think she's almost had to be a superhero.

Oh, and that guy in the picture; if you haven't seen him before, that's Steve Trumble, owner of Fine Arts Theatre Place. I'll talk more about him at another time. In the meantime, if you see Melissa around the theater, yell hello and tell her to keep up the good work!

(By the way, Melissa is also Jim MacDonald's daughter. Jim is the guy who has been building that large apartment on Main Street, so she comes from a family of builders.)

So What's Up at the Fine Arts Theatre?

Everyone asks me that question. I had some answers for people, but not enough. (Rubbing my hands together) Now I have more!

Let me just say right now, the movie theater is going to be GREAT!

I met Steve Trumble, owner of the Fine Arts Theatre a while back at a Revitalize Maynard Collaborative meeting. I needled him about a few things, pointed out some stuff I didn't like, and told him I'd support the theater when I felt like I could believe in the project. He shook my hand. He told me he liked me.      He gave me his contact information—something he may come to regret. ;-)

Let me get to the point. I managed to meet with Steve on Saturday, October 4th. He talked to me for two hours, gave me a tour of the building, and answered all my crazy questions. I snapped lots of pictures.

People, there is just so much that if I do a single posting on the project I will 1.) overwhelm you, and 2.) never get to bed. So I'm going to take my information and my pictures, try to sort them out into categories, and then post them as separate posts.

I also managed to talk Steve into talking to me every two or three weeks to give me an update on how it's all going. He agreed. Let's see if I can keep the information coming.

I'll leave it at that for now. It's getting really late.

(On a side note, if you're interested in pitching in toward the digital projectors, here's a link for you.)

Erikson's sold?!? Apparently a total rumor.

When I heard this bit of scoop, my jaw dropped. I was told that Erikson's had been sold to Kimball Farm. Is your jaw dropping, too? Okay, take some deep breaths. It's not true. I contacted Erikson's via their Facebook page, and this is what they said:

"No we did not sell to Kimballs or anyone else. We will reopen for the 2015 season as Eriksons Ice Cream as we have been for 78 years."

We look forward to seeing them in their 79th year!

"Maynard, the Town That Feels Like a Neighborhood" (my bumper sticker)

Maybe you've seen it or heard about it—my magnetic bumper sticker.

Here's a picture of it. People have been asking about it and where they can get one, enough people that I seriously have to do the math and think about per piece costs. I think I need a real gauge for whether or not people want one. I'm not sure what the best way is to do this. If you got here via Facebook, could you leave a comment that you're interested in one? If you're not on Facebook, can you leave a comment at the end of this posting?

The cost will be somewhere between $10–$5 each, it all depends on the numbers and shipping costs. I may try to get them made by December. You may notice that it looks a little different from my first two—I've changed the type to black because I found the white type a little hard to read.

Here's how they came to be made: You already know that I love Maynard. Well, I was talking to someone who was either not from here or new to the town and I was trying to tell them why I felt like it was such a special place. I was dancing around ideas. I was talking about how towns are places that have buildings and land and stuff like that, and how we were really lucky that we have such a lovely accessible downtown area. Then I was saying that even though we have the downtown, what was really great about this place is the people with Maynard as a backdrop. I said something like, "In Maynard it's possible to know and connect with lots of people—it's kind of like a neighborhood."

And then I realized that that's exactly why I love it here, and I started thinking that other people probably felt the same way, but they just hadn't found those words yet. So I thought I'd make myself a bumper sticker and start letting everyone know what they already knew in their hearts.

Allow me to be corny now. This is truly a great place to live, and if you're one of the people living here and I'm lucky enough to know you, you've helped make this place what it is for me. Thank you.

Coming Soon to Downtown Maynard!

Rough sketch of a working logo

A group of ArtSpace Artists is forming a collective fine art and craft gallery in a downtown Maynard store-front location. They plan to be up and running for the holiday season and would love to have you come and check it out. If you get them your email address, they can keep you posted on goings on and news about the grand opening. (You can do that by getting me, Denise, your email address.)

Full disclosure; I'm happily involved with this project. 

Speaker Specializing in Children's Anxiety to Speak in Maynard

I heard about this from a local Mom and thought I'd share.
------
Jessica Minahan, a specialist in anxiety and behavior for kids of all ages will be coming to Maynard on: Monday Oct 6 at 7:00 pm at the Fowler Auditorium!

She is heavily sought after by schools, parents and other organizations that work with children to teach her strategies on working with kids who show signs of anxiety, whether they are diagnosed or not. Members of the Maynard PTOs, the Maynard Family Association, and the Boys and Girls Club worked really hard to get her here, and she's coming. She will have copies of her book "The Behavior Code" available to purchase for $20 (a 40% discount)—cash only, please. Parents that have worked with her or heard her speak rave about her, and educators and schools are equally impressed.

This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend.

Practical and Effective Strategies for Children with Anxiety

By Jessica Minahan, M.Ed, BCBA

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that one in four thirteen-eighteen year olds has had an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Without intervention, these children are at risk for poor performance, diminished learning, and social/behavior problems in school. Understanding
the role anxiety plays in a student's behavior is crucial and using preventive strategies are key to successful intervention. Effective behavior plans for these students must avoid the reward and punishment-based consequences from traditional behavior plans and focus instead on the use of preventive strategies and on explicitly teaching coping skills, self-monitoring, and alternative responses. As a result of this workshop participants will be able to easily implement preventive tools, strategies, and interventions for reducing anxiety, increasing self-regulation, executive functioning, and self-monitoring.

Bio:

Jessica Minahan, MEd, BCBA, is a board certified behavior analyst and special educator and Director of Behavioral Services at NESCA-Newton (MA) (Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children and Adolescents), as well as a school consultant to client's nationwide (www.jessicaminahan.com). Jessica has over sixteen years of experience supporting students who exhibit challenging behavior in urban public school systems. She is an adjunct professor at Boston University, a blogger on The Huffington Post, as well as the author of The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students, with Nancy Rappaport (Harvard Education Press, 2012) and author of The Behavior Code Companion: Strategies, Tools, and Interventions for Supporting Students with Anxiety-Related or Oppositional Behaviors (Harvard Education Press, 2014).

Last Farmers' Market of the Season!

Time to close the 2014 season on the Maynard Farmers' Market. Come down and buy the last of the fresh produce for this season. While you're shopping, you can thank our vendors for coming out. Then bust out your dancing shoes for the band The Hip Swayers. I'll bring my chalk.


Let's see if we can make this a fabulous market finale!

Sharon Santillo's Family Stories Through Art

Maynard had one of the most amazing teachers working for the elementary school system, Mrs. Sharon Santillo. This year she officially retired. Now she gets to make art for pleasure and she gets to teach beyond the 5–10 age range.

Sharon has been teaching classes in story making through art. In her courses she encourages people to write a little of their family history and work on making some accompanying art.
If any of you have ever seen the end-of-year art displays that Mrs. Santillo put up at ArtSpace, then you sense that the kids were truly inspired to be creative. I'm guessing the same happens with her adult students too.

New Exhibit at ArtSpace Maynard Highlights Artist Christiane Corcelle's Tea Works

The ArtSpace Gallery is pleased to present A Better Cup of Tea, an exhibit of artwork by Christiane Corcelle, who uses tea bags, their wrappers and their labels to create her artwork. Her pieces are not planned, but rather have been a spontaneous response to the materials she collected. In doing so, she is able to explore variations in composition, repeating patterns, and recurring elements in a deeper way, and from a greater variety of perspectives.

The exhibit runs from October 8 – 31. Gallery hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free!

The public is also invited to attend the opening reception for the exhibit at the ArtSpace Second Saturdays event on Saturday, October 11thfrom 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. which will also feature a mini-open studios from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.. Free!


ArtSpace is wheelchair accessible.
The ArtSpace Gallery is located at 63 Summer Street in Maynard.
For more information go to www.artspacemaynard.com or call (978) 897-9828.

The Indian Restaurant is Closed (but for how long?)

Apparently there's a sign up at Savoring Indian Cuisine (always a mouthful) that says they're closed for remodeling. If you call their phone number there's a message saying they're closed, but it doesn't mention remodeling, they just say to call their other locations.

If you know what's going on, can you post in the comments? Let's hope they reopen soon.

ArtSpace Maynard is Having Open Studios This Weekend: 9/27, 9/28, Noon – 5:00

It's time for ArtSpace Maynard's annual Open Studios. This is your chance to see what happens in that old middle school on Summer Street. Walk around, poke your head into the various studios, and say hello—all studio doors will be open.

Think your kids are going to be bored to tears (or screams)? Think again. Many artists are gracious enough to have things that kids can touch (but it's always a good idea to ask artists if their work is too fragile for kids to handle, just in case). In a time where art and creative time is being removed from the classroom, isn't it nice to be able to show them some of the creativity that bases itself right here in Maynard?

In the gallery you'll find the annual group exhibit. Every artist is invited to submit a piece for the show, so if you start there you'll get a visual sense of the talent in the building. It might even help to spur you in the direction of a particular studio.


If you come on Sunday and hang out till the end at 5:00, you'll get the privilege of hearing the music group The Farewells play a set in the ArtSpace Gallery (one of the members is also a visual artist at ArtSpace).

Whatever day you come in, please know that we are so happy that you are interested enough to come and visit us.

Yard Waste Collection Dates

I got this from the Town of Maynard's Web site:

"Updates from the DPW

September 5, 2014General Information

Fall Drop Off Center is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2014 and Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

Fall leave curbside pickup with be held the week of October 13-17 and the week of November 10-14. Please place leaves, grass, wood chips and all other easily raked materials in paper yard waste bags, Please have them curbside on your regular trash day before 7:00 a.m. Also note that Monday, October 13 is a Holiday and all trash, recycle and yard waste will be a day late.

The Department of Public Works has contracted with Prowler Water Conservation Company to conduct a leak detection survey in town that is mandated by the DEP. Prowler should be finished with this survey in three weeks. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Water/Sewer division at 978-897-1317."

Here's the link if you need to check it out for yourself. 

Schedule for Next Week's MaynardFest

The Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce presents the 22nd Annual Maynard Community Fest Saturday, September 27th, 9am - 3:30pm  Downtown Maynard Free Family Entertainment, Over 110 Vendors & Nonprofits, Audubon Animals, Alpacas, Balloon Artist, Pumpkin Painting...  ...celebrating community, culture, and commerce, since 1992. Fest to Go On: Rain or Shine!  ................................................................................................

Free Entertainment @ Memorial Park The Movement Center (9 am), Nightwalk (9:30 am), Keith Jacques & Joy Walsh (10:30 am), Mister Vic (11:30 am), MA Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (12:30 pm), Transistor Kings (1 pm), L & M Rhythm Kings (2 pm), Mike Rush & Jen Howard (3 pm).     @ Memorial Park Twillingate Farm Alpacas, The Memorial Park Soundstage, Vendors...  @ the Maynard Public Library Fantastic Used Book Sale. Sat (10-3), Sun (12-3) Audubon Animals, Location: TBA (10-12)  On Nason Street Balloon Artist @ Middlesex Savings (10-1) Baked Goods Galore w/ Hobson's Homemade @ Serendipity   On Summer Street Inflatables in the Walgreen's Lot with the Boys & Girls Club Maynard Fire Department Open House Complimentary Healthy Snacks @ McDonalds ArtSpace Maynard Open Studio (12-5) both Sat & Sun Out and About The Happy Wagon, Finz (Worcester Sharks) On Main Street Maynard Community Band @ The Congregational Church (11) The Maynard Farmers' Market @ the CVS Pumpkin Painting (10-2) and WAVM (9 to 12:30) at Prudential Prime Properties Pig Roast & Beer Garden @ The Pleasant Cafe TONS of free & modestly priced activities for all!     Plentiful Parking in the Clock Tower Garage. FEST WILL GO ON RAIN OR SHINE!

Follow the Links Below to Check Out Our Fantastic Sponsors! Baystate Municipal Accounting Group New Sponsor! Boyd Coatings Research Co. Middlesex Savings Bank ASC Mechanical, H. Thomas Babaian CPA, Levine-Piro Law, Law Offices of Blaine DeFreitas, McWalter-Volunteer Insurance,Prudential Prime Properties, The Paper Store, and The Pleasant Café. Advance Auto Parts, Aim for Fitness, Citizens Bank, David Griffin Photography,  Foley & Sons, Friends of the Maynard Public Library, Hobson's Homemade @ Serendipity Café, Lauren Tetreault--Coldwell Banker RE, Maynard Litter League, and The Little Rug Co.

Maynard's Downtown Trick-or-Treat to be Held October 30th

Every year Maynard's downtown businesses and the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce team up to host a downtown trick-or-treat event. Citizens big and small get decked out in Halloween costumes and head down to fill up their bags with treats provided by the local businesses.

According to someone I know in the Maynard Business Alliance, the event is scheduled for Thursday, October 30th. She thinks the start time is 4:00, but keep your ears out in case I'm wrong.

Plan your driving accordingly because they shut down Nason Street, and on Main Street there will be lots of people walking and crossing the street.