How You Can Help in Ashland

To our Members, Friends, and Neighbors,

Our town government and community volunteers are doing incredible work to make sure the most vulnerable in our community are cared for during this time of crisis, and they've found a way to do this while also supporting our local businesses who will undoubtedly struggle as a result of all of the necessary closures. 

Please, if you are able, make a donation to the Ashland Emergency Fund. This is the best way to contribute safely and effectively. They will use these funds to purchase food from local businesses and distribute it to people in need. 

There are two ways to donate to the Ashland Emergency Fund

The MetroWest Workers Center is providing Covid-19 Mutual Aid for Immigrant Neighbors, providing food and financial assistance to those who have lost their jobs and are unable to apply for unemployment benefits due to their immigration status. You can donate to their efforts here.

The Framingham Coronavirus Community Outreach was created to connect people who need help to people who can help. If you can contribute supplies, funds, or other aid this group can help you get your support to those who need it.

Please help where you can. And if you find yourself in need, please reach out to one of these groups, or to ashlanddems@gmail.com and we'll do everything we can to connect you to the support you need. 

A Message about COVID-19

To our Members, Friends, and Neighbors:

Amid growing concerns about COVID-19, our March 23rd meeting will either be cancelled outright or conducted virtually. We will send out an email and post in our Facebook group about how and when we'll get together again. If you have questions please email ashlanddems@gmail.com or post to our Facebook group.We will also let you know if there are any changes related to the state convention. 
Ashland's Town Manager, Michael Herbert, has been posting helpful updates about town events and precautions that our town government is taking, You can follow those updates a few different ways:

A few other notes:

  • Make sure the information you read and share about COVID-19 comes from legitimate sources, like the CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

  • We encourage you to share information about opportunities to help our neighbors through this crisis - via the food pantry, elder services, etc. - in our Facebook group or by emailing ashlanddems@googlegroups.com (if you need to be added to our google groups email list, reply to this email to let us know). 

  • Most importantly, follow the advice of the CDC and your physicians. Wash your hands frequently, and self-isolate as much as possible - whether or not you’re feeling sick - to protect yourself and those around you. 

2020 Democratic Convention Caucus

Thank you to everyone who turned out for our 2020 caucus! 35 eligible voters (plus friends, neighbors, and elected officials) gathered to to elect delegates to the 2020 State Convention. New rules instituted this year were designed to ensure gender balance in elected delegates and to ensure representation for those identifying as non-binary. A lot of planning from our officers and contributions from many volunteers resulted in a very successful afternoon.

Join us in congratulating our 9 Delegates and 4 Alternates to this year’s state convetion!

Delegates

  • David Rosenblum (ex officio)

  • Diane Ring

  • Lynn Lidz

  • Charles Lidz

  • Maro Gartside

  • Nancy Rosenblum

  • Valerie Paul

  • Preston Crow

  • Jeff Keilson

  • Rob St. Germain

Alternates

  • Judson DeCew

  • Catherine Jurczyk

  • Koduvayur G. Narayana

  • Janet Platt

In Support of DACA

On Tuesday, September 5th, The Trump administration announced, via Attorney General Jeff Sessions, that in 6 months they will end the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, which allows certain illegal immigrants who entered the country as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit. 

This action puts the immigration status of almost 8,000 people in Massachusetts and 800,000 people nation wide in jeopardy. In response to this, the Massachusetts Democratic Party issued the following statement: 

Today, the Trump Administration reaffirmed its agenda to vilify and punish our nation’s immigrant community – once again forcing them back into the shadows and tearing families apart. The President and extremist Republicans continue to ignore the fact that we’re a nation of immigrants and continue to undermine our American ideals of inclusion and diversity.

Massachusetts Democrats – including our Senators, Congressional Delegation, and Attorney General Maura Healey – stand with the 7,934 DACA recipients in Massachusetts and the 800,000 across the nation who have long considered America home and have made great contributions to our economy, our society, and our communities.


Here are some things you can do to support the Democratic party and our elected officials as they stand against this hateful action:

 

Please share your thoughts and other opportunities for action by emailing ashlanddems@gmail.com, or post on our Facebook page. 

Ashland United Against Hate

On Friday, August 18th, Ashland residents and neighbors gathered to stand United Against Hate. About 50 people gathered at Montenegro Square to hear words of unity and diversity from community leaders, and held signs to demonstrate to our neighbors that all are welcome in Ashland, and that we are a community that stands against white nationalism, racism, violence, oppression, and discrimination.  

Special thanks to Rabbi Margie Klein of Temple Sha’arei Shalom, Reverend Jason Rutherford of the  First Baptist Church in Framingham, Senator Karen Spilka, Betsy Emberley of Engage Ashland, Jon Featherston of the Ashland Republican Town Committee, and our own Co-Chair Makeda Keegan, for their inspiring words. 

Click here for news coverage of the event. 

This event was co-sponsored by the Ashland Democratic Town Committee, the Ashland Republican Town Committee, and Engage Ashland. 

Summer Social

On July 30, the Ashland Democratic Town Committee teamed up with the Hopkinton and Holliston DTCs to host our annual Summer Social at the home of Senator Karen Spilka. It was a beautiful afternoon and a great chance for Democrats from Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Framingham, Franklin, Natick, and beyond to socialize and share our passion and energy.

We heard from Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Jack Lewis, Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Bob Jubinville of the Governor's Council. We also heard remarks from Setti Warren, Mayor of Newton and Gubernatorial Candidate, and from a representative of the Jay Gonzalez for Governor campaign.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, especially Senator Spilka and her husband Joel for hosting.

A Message From the Co-chairs

      The Ashland Democratic Town Committee wishes to salute Chairman Tom Sannicandro for the exceptional leadership and representation he has provided to the people of Ashland and Framingham for the past eleven years.  Sannicandro recently announced that he will not be seeking re-election for a seventh term as State Representative for the 7th Middlesex District.  While we grieve for the loss of Sannicandro’s solid advocacy, we also appreciate his decade-plus of selfless dedication to the people of Massachusetts.  Among other things, Sannicandro is Massachusetts’ most influential voice on policies regarding the special needs population as well as improvements to our state’s higher education system.
brett     The Ashland Democratic Town Committee does not typically endorse any candidate in a primary race, so it is unlikely that we will do so in in the 2016 race.  However, we are aware of many excellent Ashland-based candidates to continue Sannicandro’s legacy of tireless work on behalf of Democratic principles.

      Sannicandro’s announcement is but one of the exciting developments afoot in the field of Democratic politics.  Of course, we also have a presidential election on the horizon.  After eight years as President, Barack Obama is preparing to retire from the Oval Office and we feel it is important to replace him with another Democrat.  We cannot allow the destruction of universal healthcare, thoughtful policies pertaining to immigration and progressive environmental practices by a Republican chief executive.  If any of those matters are a concern to you, the Ashland Democratic Town Committee wishes to invite you to join us at a meeting or event and make your voice heard.