November

A perfect autumn day drew thousands of people to downtown Maynard on Saturday, October 2^nd for Maynard Fest, the biggest town event of the year.  Organized by the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce, Maynard Fest is a celebration of “Community, Commerce and Culture” and everyone had a blast.

The Maynard Community Chest was on hand at the event in their trademark bright-orange shirts to provide information about what it does and the 17 organizations it supports.  In addition to all its community efforts, the Maynard Community Chest raised over $135 at Maynard Fest!

The Chest would like to thank Art & Soul for sharing promotional space in front of its store and for donating the proceeds from the sale of hand-knit finger puppets to the cause.  Thanks also go to The Paper Store for lending a helium tank to blow up the many balloons that the kids enjoyed.  The Community Chest’s new signs advertising its mission are courtesy of Patricia Sands at Sir Speedy Printing, Waltham.  Many thanks to all the folks who stopped by the Maynard Community Chest tent to say hello and learn about the upcoming Annual Campaign.  If you want to be like your neighbors and have a popular red and white “Support Community Chest” sign on your lawn contact Patty Crossland at pcrossland@maynardchest.org.

During our October meeting, we met with Sara Stapel from The Community School. The Community School provides early childhood education for children ranging from two years, nine months to five years of age from Maynard and the surrounding towns. Parent discussion groups, individual counseling, and fun family events are often provided. The school will be offering an up-coming parenting series entitled, “Community Conversations” in which various parenting topics are discussed. The school has been providing such high-quality services to families in Maynard and surrounding communities since 1968.

Competition for enrollment among childcare providers has been fierce in this tough economic climate, so the Community School has decided to discontinue its day care offering for the time being and to focus instead on its preschool services with the intention of expanding its offerings at a later date. The Community School is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Financial aid referrals are available to eligible families. Funds provided by the Maynard Community Chest help provide scholarships for preschool to families in need.

For more information or to arrange a tour, please email Sara Stapel at communityschool@verizon.net, or call her at 978-897-9708. You can also visit their website at www.communityschoolmaynard.com.

During our October meeting, we also met with Deborah Garfield from Eliot Community Human Services.  Eliot Community Human Services is a private, non-profit human services organization providing services for people throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The Eliot Center, which is located in the Community Agencies building at Emerson Hospital, provides outpatient mental health services to individuals of all ages and from a range of social and economic backgrounds from nine local communities including Maynard.  Services at Eliot Center include diagnostic evaluation, individual, couples and family therapy, group therapy, 24-hour emergency services and crisis stabilization, medication management and psychological testing.

Eliot served 174 Maynard clients during its fiscal year 2010, a 14% increase over 2008.  Kids under the age of 18 represent 25% of the Maynard clients served by Eliot Center.  Beginning with the current school year, Eliot has begun to see clients onsite at Maynard High School, ensuring that kids can access its mental health services despite transportation and logistical challenges. Overall, Maynard residents represent 15% of the total clients served.  Funds received from the Maynard Community Chest help to provide services and ease the financial burden on Eliot’s clients.

For more information, please contact 978-369-1113 or http://www.eliotchs.org.

A Community Conversation
Co-sponsored by the Maynard Community School, the Maynard Community Chest and First Connections

All are invited to join local early education consultant Wendy Valentine on Thursday, November 18^th from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Maynard Public Library.

Wendy Valentine, a Maynard resident and Board member at the Maynard Community School, will lead a lively conversation and question and answer session about the learning skills children develop in preschool, as well as tips and strategies that parents can use at home to support and enhance classroom learning.  While there won’t be any homework, Wendy will have handouts and articles.

The community conversation will take place in the Children’s Program Room (better known as Mr. Mark’s Reading Room) on Maynard Library’s 3^rd Floor.

Anyone interested in early education is encouraged to attend!  As parking may be tight, it is suggested attendees park in the town lot.

The Maynard Community School offers a four day, child-focused, high quality and affordable preschool program for Founded in 1968, for children aged two years nine months to five years.   It is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.  Visit us at www.communityschoolmaynard.com.

First Connections is a non-profit, family support organization that provides comprehensive services to families with young children birth through age five.  To learn more, visit jri.org/FirstConnections.