001Hello clockers. Welcome to another segment of the WACA news blog. My name is Hi Silver and today I'll be giving you a brief summary of some town highlights as written about in the Ashlin Town Manager newsletter. The town hall painting project update. Ashlin's historic town hall is getting a major makeover. And it's more than just a paint job. While a coat was added back in 2015, budget limits prevented deeper repairs. This time, thanks to town meeting approved funding and support from Senate President Karen Spilka, the renovation is being done right. Crews have replaced deteriorating structural elements and fixed long-standing issues from the 2005 renovation. On the exterior, they've removed rot, scraped layers of old paint, and installed new trim. As summer sets in, the final coats of bright white paint with crisp black trim are
002restoring the town hall's stately charm and preserving the civic landmark for years to come. The townwide road condition assessment begins starting next week. BL companies and Beta Engineering will begin a complete analysis of every road in Ashland. Using AIdriven camera technology, they'll assess pavement, sidewalks, and curbs. This data will feed into Ashland's pavement management plan, a strategic tool to help the DPW prioritize repairs and select cost-effective treatments. Keep an eye out for the survey vehicles as this important infrastructure work gets underway. Also, some exciting news. Ashlin eighth grade band wins platinum. Congratulations to the Ashlin Middle School eighth grade band who earned a platinum medal, the highest honor at the Great East Festival in Playstone, New Hampshire. Under the direction of Brian Coning, the band wowed the judges and capped off the celebration with a
003trip to Canoby Lake Park. Fantastic job representing Ashland with talent and pride. The STEM and leadership program for girls will be held July 21st to 24th. Ashlin is partnering with Girls Incorporated Eureka Metro West for a hands-on STEM and leadership summer program for girls aged 13 to 15. From July 21st to 24th, participants will engage in public speaking workshops, branding sessions, and creative design activities using recycled materials and build a dream community model. The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the town hall with lunch included. The cost is $250 and space is limited, so sign up soon. For job openings in Ashland, current openings include the director of prevention and human services, light and heavy equipment operators at the DPW, maintenance technician, and to find out more information about these job openings,
004please visit the town website to apply. The corner closet clothing drive and event. Ashlin is collecting gently used clothing for a community pop-up shop in July. Bring adult and children's clothes, shoes, or outerwear to the corner spot on Wednesday, June 18th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the town hall parking lot. Also, the Metro West Chess League, the summer launch. Student chess players get ready. The Metro West Chess School League launches this summer with weekly matches on Fridays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Future Masters Chess Academy in Ashland. Teams of four will represent their town and regional competitions. The cost is $200 per team and learn more at futurechessmasters.com. Also coming up, the Pawn Street Prominade on Friday, June 20th. Celebrate Ashland's new sidewalks with a community stroll down Pawn Street on Friday, June
00520th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Dress up if you like, or just show up. Walk from the Framingham end. Enjoy some local business stops along the way and be part of this new community tradition. This week's community shoutout goes to Charlie Pine, whose tireless leadership and compassion have guided the Ashlin Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for over a decade. Known for his calm presence and unwavering commitment, Charlie has helped shape young scouts into strong citizens. Thank you, Charlie, for being a role model and a community pillar. Coffee with the town manager. Want to connect with town manager Michael Herbert? Join him for casual conversation at coffee hour held every third Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the Ashlin Community Center. The next dates are June 18th and July 16th. Also, some exciting events
006coming up being held at the Ashlin Public Library. For adult programs, we have the ESL Conversation Group, which is Wednesday, June 18th at 6:30 p.m., and the Inclusive Puzzle Club on Friday, June 20th at 1 p.m. For children's programs, we have the Social Emotional Story Time on Saturday, June 21st at 10:30 a.m. and Pride Month story time, Saturday, June 21st at 2 p.m. The DA Community Survey, We Need Your Voice, help improve health and equity for Ashlin youth. decisions at every turn is collecting community feedback to better guide prevention and support services. Take the anonymous survey in just 5 minutes and help promote safer, healthier choices for all. Also, some food pantry needs. The Ashlin food pantry welcomes all and open unexpired donations, especially now. Drop off boxes are at the community center or Shaws
007on Pond Street. Lastly, an opportunity to volunteer for the friends of the Council on Aging. Looking for a meaningful way to give back? The Friends of the COA support Ashland's older adults through fundraising and community initiatives. Volunteers are needed and contact Candy Wilson at cwilson.com or 5085327944 for more information. A big thank you to our town manager, Michael Herbert, and the town staff for putting together this newsletter. And thanks to you all for tuning in. This is Hi Silver with WACA wishing you a good night and go clockers.