In This Issue

Chamber Meetings, Tax Rates and Volunteer Salute!

Property for Lease

Hudson Holiday Coalition for Giving

Community Events

January 14th Gala Award Ceremony!

Alex Thayer and family, Maynard Selectperson Sally Bubier and Chamber Chairman Bob Larkin celebrate the opening of Look Optical this past November!

1.7 Women's Business Council Planning Meeting. The Horseshoe Pub, 11:45 am.

1.8 Government Affairs Committee. Boyd Coatings Research Co., 8 am.

1.13 Ambassador Committee, Citizens Community Room (Hudson), 8:15 am.

1.14 (Almost) Annual Award Ceremony to honor Dottie MacKeen, Mark O'Connell, the Maynard Public Library, Patricia Walrath and The Stow Independent. Clock Tower Cafe in Maynard. 5 to 7:30 pm. Plentiful hors d'oeuvres, refreshing beverages and live jazz. Sponsored by Wellesley Companies. $25 pp. Reservations Requested.

1.19 Office Closed for ML King, Jr. Day.

1.21 Board of Directors Meeting, Citizens Community Room (Hudson), 7:45 am.

1.23 ad hoc Hudson Fest Committee, Aubuchon's Parking Lot, 9 am. Dress warmly!

1.24 Chamber Night at the Symphony. Join the Chamber to celebrate Symphony Pro Musica-- MetroWest Boston's premier community orchestra--for an all Wagner program. Great Discounts! Buy one ticket at $15 (a 25% discount) and get a second ticket for $10. Call 978.562.0939 or email spm@symphonypromusica.org, Tell them you want the Chamber discount today.

1.28 Maynard Matters Meeting featuring Town Administrator John Curran. Gianotis Room in the Maynard Town Building. 8 am.

2.4 Women's Business Council Meeting at Harvest Cafe (Hudson). Meeting features presentation on acupuncture with Marianne Volpe of the Hudson Natural Health Center. $15 for members and their guests. $20 for nonmembers. Reservations Required.

2.5 Avidia Seminar Series presents Protecting Personal Information: It's the Law! with Networks Unlimited and Bowditch and Dewey. 8:15 to 9:30 am. $15 for Chamber members and guests. $25 for nonmembers. Reservations Required.

Tax Rates

The Chamber and representatives from its Government Affairs Committee attended Tax Hearings in both Hudson and Maynard this past December. Hudson voted (3-2) in favor of an average 5% tax increase for both business and residential. Mr. Leeber and Mr. Lucy opposed. Both argued for higher business tax rates.

Maynard, with a 3-1 vote, passed a tax rate that on average increases residential and business taxes by 4%. Barilone opposed but no reason was given.

Volunteer Salute

Special thanks to the following members of the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee that attended tax hearings this past December: Dick Downey (Boyd Coatings Research), Chuck Randall (Randall Properties), Bill Sullivan (RW Holmes Realty) and Tom Davis (495 Realty).

Also, special thanks to the following that worked on the Maynard Holiday Happenings Campaign--Marlene Thomas and Paula Copley (Middlesex Savings Bank), Fred Batstone (The Outdoor Store), Mary Holtorf (Art & Soul) and Bob Larkin (Frick & Frack).

We are seeking...

...two Business Network Breakfast Sponsors...

...three Business After 5 Sponsors...

...one volunteer to serve on our Scholarship Committee (about 10 hours of reading).

...participants for our ad hoc Hudson Fest Committee. We're moving the Fest to South St. and need your help to make it bigger and better...

...a pt marketing assistant (6 to 10 h/wk). Candidate must be comfortable with sales and phone work. Computer skills a plus. $9 to $14/h depending on experience. Interested parties should forward a letter of interest and a resume to the Chamber Office.

·  Property for Lease

Maynard: Chartwell Properties, LLC offers immediate occupancy of 550,000 SF of existing office, flex and high-tech mfg. space at their Metrowest Technology Park. 4 Years of Free Base Rent; Starting Base Rent of $8.95 per SF NNN; Tenant Improvement Allowance; Low NNN Charges; Subdividable to 100,000 SF; Town Approved 20 Year TIF; Within 20 minutes of Interstates 90/95/495. For more info, contact John Wolters at 603-578-1705. www.129ParkerStreet.com

For a complete listing, consult the property for lease bulletin board at www.assabetvalleychamber.org.

·  Hudson Holiday Coalition for Giving

Through the generosity of many, this year the Coalition was able to provide clothes, food and toys for over 400 Hudson children and their families. While need increased by 12%, sponsorship was also robust. In a time when many are trimming their budgets, we were surprised and pleased that the community met this challenge.

·  Community Events

1/8 River's Edge Community Band Rehearsals begin. HS and adult musicians welcome. HHS Band Room, 7 pm. www.upwitharts.org. 978.562.1646.

1/10 Hudson Youth Baseball & Softball (in person) Registration. Hudson HS. 9 am. to 2 pm. HYBS@aol.com.

1/14 Bryley Systems presents Free Seminar on Preparing Your Business for 201 CMR 17.00. Bryley Conference Room @ 12 Main St. in Hudson, 9 am. events@bryley.com. 888.280.5799.

1/15 Arts Alliance After School Program Registration Begins. Art. Music. Theater. Grades 1-12. Classes begin on 2/2. www.upwitharts.org. 978.562.1646.

1/15 River's Edge Players' Community Theater Audition Workshop. Hudson HS. 7 to 9 pm. $. www.upwitharts.org. 978.562.1646.

1/22 River's Edge Players' Dancing for Musical Theater Workshop. Hudson HS. 7 to 9 pm. $. www.upwitharts.org. 978.562.1646.

1/24 Symphony Pro Musica presents an All Wagner Program. Hudson HS. 7:30 pm. The same program is presented on 1/25, 3:30 pm. @ Westborough HS. $. Great discounts for Chamber Members. One ticket for $15. A second ticket for $10. A 38% discount. Call 978.562.0939 and ask for the AV Chamber discount.

1/26 River's Edge Players' Improv Workshop. Hudson HS. 7 to 9 pm. $. www.upwitharts.org. 978.562.1646.

1/29,1/30 and 1/31. Hudson HS Drama Society presents Mission Improvable, 7 pm. Intel Mini Theater, $. 978.567.6250 x 0131.

2/5 Arts Alliance opening reception for Empowering the Artist--A Teacher/Student Art Exhibit. 5:30 to 7 pm. @ Citizens Bank, Hudson. Show runs through 2/28. www.upwitharts.org. 978.562.1646.

·  January 14th Gala Award Ceremony!

Join us on Wednesday, January 14th, 5 to 7:30 pm., for our (almost) Annual Award Ceremony at Clock Tower Place Cafe in Maynard!

This event, sponsored by Wellesley Companies, honors Dottie MacKeen with the Maynard Leadership Award, Mark O'Connell with the Gould Award, Maynard Public Library with the Outstanding Renovation Award, Patricia Walrath with the Cellucci Award and The Stow Independent with the New Business Award.

Cost is $25 pp and includes hot & cold hors d'oeuvres, music from CuBop, assorted beverages and plentiful networking. To register, email the Chamber today!