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SPORTS

FEATURE

Clockers’ girls tennis slams Norton, 5-0 

SEE PAGE 15

Ashland moms run marathon for library 

Opinion

Page 4

Town Report

Page 2

Events

Page 7

Classified

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Complete index on page 2

www.wickedlocal.com/ashland

ASHLANDTAB Community Newspaper Company ■ Vol. 22, No. 49

28 Pages ■ 3 Sections

APRIL 9, 2009

75¢

School board deadlocks on leader

COMING

UP

By Aaron Wasserman STAFF WRITER

After a 90-minute debate, the School Committee Monday night could not settle on who will be the schools’ next superintendent. Members were divided between two of

in Ashland

Rabies clinic Saturday aids MetroWest Humane Society

The Farmer’s Exchange and Blue Seal are hosting a rabies clinic benefit for the MetroWest Humane Society Saturday, April 11, rain or shine, at the Farmer’s Exchange, 72 Nickerson Road, Ashland. Vaccinations will be available from 1 to 3 p.m., with a veterinarian from Healthy Paws. Other activities go until 4 p.m. In addition to vaccinations, defleaing and de-worming medications, Blue Seal staff will answer pet feeding questions. Hops-N-Lops Bunny Rescue will show how to trim a bunny’s nails and ear care. Meet with staff and volunteers from MetroWest Humane society to discuss pet behavior problems or adopting a pet. Take a chance to win a year’s supply of World’s Best cat litter. There will be prizes and free samples. The cost to vaccinate is $15; distemper, $15; rabies and distemper, $25; wormer, $5; and for the spring tune-up (everything), $40. Cats, including barn cats or semi-feral cats, are welcome in carriers. Bunnies must be in carriers and dogs on leashes. Bring a muzzle if your dog may bite. For more information, visit www.webpaws.com/mwhs or email [email protected].

the three finalists for the job. Instead, committee members decided to ask the Massachusetts Association of School Committees for input to again evaluate Ashland Assistant Superintendent Ann Dargon and Acton-Boxborough Assistant Superintendent Susan Horn, and

to resolve the impasse. They did not specify how long the process will take. Ashland’s schools need someone to fill the role Richard Hoffmann has held for nine years. He is stepping down at the school year’s end, and taking the same role at Nauset regional schools in Cape Cod.

The committee needs a unanimous vote to appoint a new superintendent, and it became quickly apparent that members’ opinions were split. While everyone said all the finalists are excellent candidates, Co-Chairwomen Kathy Bach and Marcia SUPERINTENDENT, page 6

Water grants up for grabs

Wash and Earn

Nyanza damage spurs funding By David Riley STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY SHANE GERARDI

Don Barrett, 12, of Ashland, gets soapy during Ashland Boy Scout Troop 23’s annual car wash fundraiser Saturday at the Ashland VFW. Proceeds went toward new equipment for the troop.

State officials are offering up to $201,630 in grants for projects that will protect or restore groundwater in Ashland, the first step in efforts to heal pollutiondamaged natural resources along the Sudbury River. Last week, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs put out a request for proposals for groundwater projects in Ashland, at or near the old Nyanza dye factory site. Applications must be postmarked by April 30. Until the 1970s, companies at the Nyanza site dumped tons of mercury into the Sudbury River, polluting about 26 miles of the waterway, which runs through much of MetroWest. State and federal authorities reached a roughly $3 million settlement with the companies in 1998. A portion was set aside specifically for groundwater

Get creative for Ashland Emergency Fund

The Ashland Rallying Together Project seeks volunteers for a food sculpture exhibition to benefit the Ashland Food Pantry and Ashland Emergency Fund. Participants will design and build sculptures made of canned or boxed food in a 6-by-4-by-5 space. A sample sculpture is on display at the Ashland Public Library. An information night is April 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the library meeting room. Entry forms are due May 1. Sculptures will be displayed at Rediscover Ashland on June 20. Last year alone, the Emergency Fund and Food Pantry helped hundreds of families in Ashland, and demand for services has been increasing dramatically. Rules and registration are available at AshlandEmergencyFund.com. For more information, contact Roland Houle at [email protected] or 508-736-8892.

NYANZA, page 6

Parking proposal revised

E E R I E H I S T O RY

Changes may limit business vehicles By Aaron Wasserman STAFF WRITER

After a lengthy hearing last week, town officials agreed to make adjustments to a Town Meeting article that would change the rules for parking commercial vehicles at houses overnight. Responding to suggestions from residents, selectmen said they would include school buses and limousines in the new rules, clarify that someone would be fined for each vehicle that is violating the new bylaw, and cap at four or five the standard-sized commercial pickup trucks that could be parked at a house. The board will likely vote on PARKING, page 6

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MIKE SPRING/PHOTO BY KATHLEEN CULLER

Stone’s Public House, above, is the subject of a talk at the Ashland Historical Society next Sunday. On the right, David Francis and David Retalic search for signs of the paranormal at the inn last year.

Talk delves into ominous inn’s past The Past:

The Present:

The Future:

A fine spot for a burger and a beer, Stone’s Public House on Main Street has long been just as well-known for rumors of its haunted past. Paranormal investigators last year descended on the inn, built in the 1830s, to investigate tales of bloody clothes in the attic and doors that refused to stay shut.

David Francis, who investigated the inn last year, says it has more to offer than scary stories — it’s got history. Digging into historical records and news accounts with help from the Ashland Historical Society’s Cliff Wilson, Francis says he can shed new light on the inn and the town it calls home.

Francis will give a free public talk on the history of Stone’s Public House on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. at the Historical Society’s Ocean House at 2 Myrtle St. A coffee gathering will follow. Get there while you can — this will be the nonprofit society’s last public meeting until next fall. — David Riley

WE WANT YOUR »

MarathonPHOTOS

Are you training for the Boston Marathon? Do you have a family member or friend who plans to run? Or are you one of the many thousands who will cheer along the 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Boston on April 20? Whatever your role, we want to showcase your photos – from training and race day. Please be sure to include names and hometowns of those pictured and where the photos were taken.

SUBMIT PHOTOS Please e-mail your BOSTON MARATHON PHOTOS to [email protected] and we’ll run them in our print edition and on our Web site www.wickedlocal.com/ashland