March & April Newsletter

Dear ABA Members and Community,

March has come and gone, and we have SO MANY updates for you!

First, help us welcome new members, James Feudo at JVF Solutions, Stephen Marks at Linclusion, Steven Hickey at Richmond Development Corp., Jill Vernes at Journey Environmental Consulting LLC, and Maxim Pertsovsky at Ashland Driving School.

We have an exciting announcement! This year, we are teaming up with Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce to expand RESTAURANT WEEK into Ashland. From May 10th- 19th, dine at participating eateries for your chance to win a gift certificate! We are accepting Sponsors and Restaurant Participants until April 12th! See further details below or visit this webpage.

Thank you to AT&R Insurance, 126 Self Storage, Ashland Mini Storage, and Mr. Handyman Central MetroWest for becoming a year-round Events Sponsor!

If you missed our previous virtual events please find them at the following links.

• Access the Virtual Discussion: Sustainability Committee Update HERE
• Access the recording of the Ashland Town Update event HERE
• ABA Members, access the recording of the Virtual Lunch & Learn Marketing your business in 2024 HERE

Scroll to the rest of this email for exciting opportunities to promote your business around the community, and to save the dates for this year's (nearly) complete events calendar!

Plus, exciting announcements from Ashland High School, the Friends of the Ashland Public Library, and Hopkinton Center for the Arts!

Lastly, a special message to those running in the Boston Marathon on the 15th, we wish you the very best and look forward to cheering you on!

Sincerely,

The ABA Board

Donate to this year's scholarship or invite your Ashland High School Senior to apply!

As part of our efforts to give back to our wonderful community, each year we, the ABA, award scholarships to high school seniors residing in Ashland who exemplify community and business spirit, work ethic, and creativity. This year, we will award two- $1,500.00 scholarships.

Donate- Please consider contributing to this worthy program. We will recognize your generosity by listing your business name on our print and online marketing. 

Apply- Please tell your High school Senior who fits our criteria to submit an application.

For more information, contact ABA Scholarship Committee Chair Chrissy Reynolds by email, scholarship@ashlandbusinessassociation.com.  

Download the following images and help us share this information with your network!

Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce and the Ashland Business Association are excited to welcome you to this year’s expanded Restaurant Week serving both Hopkinton and Ashland communities. Our purpose is to drive much needed customer visits and sales to our community of restaurants by providing locals and visitors an opportunity to sample area restaurants and enter in raffles to win Gift Certificates to these same participating restaurants.

During the week of May 10-19, 2024 look for the “Restaurant Week” emblem/logo at participating eateries! Take a picture of your receipt from your restaurant participant after you dine, and submit the image to the Ashland Business Association Marketing Director, publicity@ashlandbusinessassociation.com for your chance to win a gift certificate. The more receipts of different places you send, the higher your chance is to win! 

Our restaurants and eateries are excited to show off what makes them special so SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter and social media platforms (Facebook & Instagram) @ashlandbusinessassociation to be kept up on the latest information during this fantastic week spotlighting local eateries! 

Become a Sponsor for $250 and have your logo featured on all our promotion items- Learn more!

Become a Restaurant Participant by sending us your contact info, logo, and "offer"- Learn more! Deadline is April 12th!

Financial Reality Fair

Friday, May 31st at AHS

Ashland High School is working to put together our fourth annual "Financial Reality Fair" for the graduating seniors. This event will be held on Friday, May 31st at the high school.

Each senior will receive a paycheck and credit score and will need to navigate various booths where they will have to make financial decisions (renting an apartment, getting a car, getting insurance, etc.) The previous four times we ran this event, the overwhelming response of the students was that they found this fair very informative and that they learned using information that they will use in their lives.

To run this event successfully we need help from the community. We are looking for professionals who can work with the students to help them make financial decisions and help guide them along the way. Specifically, we are looking for anyone with a background in housing (realtors), furniture, food, insurance (renter's insurance and auto insurance), clothing, transportation, charity/community service, education (paying for college), luxuries (vacation, entertainment, pets), utilities (internet / phone / cable / gas / electricity), personal savings, retirement savings, or budgeting. In addition, we are also looking for anyone who is willing to help out as a "general volunteer." These "general volunteers" will be trained by the professionals at their booth and will then be able to engage in financial conversations with students, helping them make decisions.

For more information (including videos from the previous events) and to sign-up to volunteer, visit our website at: https://sites.google.com/ashland.k12.ma.us/reality-fair/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lauren Giombetti (LGiombetti@ashland.k12.ma.us) or Josh Wiczer (jwiczer@ashland.k12.ma.us)

Winged Foot Art Exhibition and Auction NOW- April 21st



This year the HCA and 26.2 Foundation are celebrating 100 starts of the Boston Marathon from Hopkinton with several community initiatives. The Winged Foot Exhibition, sponsored by UNIBANK, will showcase 26 winged feet on Hopkinton Town Common created by artists from near and far! The artwork will be displayed from April 1 through April 21 and available for bid through an online auction. All proceeds benefit the two organizations. We hope this is a way to uniquely celebrate Hopkinton, the Boston Marathon, and the arts. Create your bidding number today to be the first to bid on a winged foot!

Also on display will be a winged foot sculpture by Michael Alfano, repaired and repainted by artists Maura Conron and Katrina Posner. This sculpture was created by Michael and painted by Maura in 2010. We are delighted to bring back this beautiful sculpture Hopkinton to Boston thanks to a generous sponsorship from Middlesex Savings Bank!

stART Line Experience From NOW- April 21st | 9 am - 5 pm



Launched in 2023, the stART Line Experience is a self-guided art and education tour of the ‘Marathon Legend’ sculptures in Hopkinton. Attendees begin at the HCA, where they can view a short video about the sculptures and a Marathon-themed exhibit. They are then given a map to visit each of the statues, as well as provided with a discount coupon to use at Start Line Brewing to enjoy lunch when they are done. There will also be a special kids map with fun and engaging activities.