CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time right in the centre of the children’s playground usually with her umbrella covered in dirty pigeons who lived around the corner “at 40 Pembroke St with her mother and sisters from 1918 to 1924” Some might say six years of residency in her teenage years is a bit loose to qualify for your own local landmark, but Ashfield’s like that. This is a place where an escalator upgrade at the local mall can attract such a sizable crowd that police intervention is required. The Mary Poppins statue at its unveiling at Ashfield Park in 2004.Credit: 2004 Geraldine Brooks probably deserves a statue in Ashfield Park. The Pulitzer-winning author of March might now live on Martha’s Vineyard, but she was born and raised down the road from the dumplings at Shanghai Night, a period she writes about in her nonfiction book Foreign Correspondence: A Pen Pal’s Journey from Down Under to All Over. I can’t imagine there are any other Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction from my neighbourhood, so she gets a statue. There should also be some sort of statue of a rap cypher in motion, considering pioneering local hiphop acts including Def Wish Cast and Maya Jupiter had roots in the area. And a statue that somehow depicts indie sleaze, since Ashfield’s unofficial anthem is the 2003 cult cut 2131 (Ride Wit’ Me) by local legend Spod. I’d always just assumed Spod’s song was an obvious shout-out to Ashfield’s postcode but, in the interests of journalism, I had to confirm. Writer Geraldine Brooks spent her formative years in Ashfield.Credit: Randi Baird Spod, who talked up Ashfield “to pretend there was some kind of cool scene there”. Wolf Like Me creator Abe Forsythe and actress Isla Fisher on the set of the TV series, which was filmed in Ashfield. Let’s also give a statue to Isla Fisher and Josh Gad, because I’ve been told their TV series Wolf Like Me – where Isla Fisher plays a reluctant werewolf – shoots on the streets of Ashfield (I’ve never seen it, but I support their choices). Look, I understand that’s a lot of statues now but this is how it works in Ashfield. Also, Ashfield Park is very big and Mary Poppins is lonely. What do you think the best suburb in Sydney is for pop culture? Share your thoughts in the comments section. In Ashfield Park, right in the centre of the children\\u2019s playground, usually with her umbrella covered in dirty pigeons, stands a statue of Mary Poppins, a tribute to the character\\u2019s creator, author P.L. Travers, who lived around the corner \\u201Cat 40 Pembroke St with her mother and sisters from 1918 to 1924\\u201D. Some might say six years of residency in her teenage years is a bit loose to qualify for your own local landmark, but Ashfield\\u2019s like that. This is a place where an escalator upgrade at the local mall can that police intervention is required. Geraldine Brooks probably deserves a statue in Ashfield Park. The Pulitzer-winning author of March might now live on Martha\\u2019s Vineyard, but she was born and raised down the road from the dumplings at Shanghai Night, a period she writes about in her nonfiction book Foreign Correspondence: A Pen Pal\\u2019s Journey from Down Under to All Over. I can\\u2019t imagine there are any other Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction from my neighbourhood, so she gets a statue. There should also be some sort of statue of a rap cypher in motion, considering pioneering local hiphop acts including Def Wish Cast and Maya Jupiter had roots in the area. And a statue that somehow depicts indie sleaze, since Ashfield\\u2019s unofficial anthem is the 2003 cult cut 2131 (Ride Wit\\u2019 Me) by local legend Spod. I\\u2019d always just assumed Spod\\u2019s song was an obvious shout-out to Ashfield\\u2019s postcode but, in the interests of journalism, I had to confirm. Let\\u2019s also give a statue to Isla Fisher and Josh Gad, because I\\u2019ve been told their TV series Wolf Like Me \\u2013 where Isla Fisher plays a reluctant werewolf \\u2013 shoots on the streets of Ashfield (I\\u2019ve never seen it, but I support their choices). Look, I understand that\\u2019s a lot of statues now but this is how it works in Ashfield. Also, Ashfield Park is very big and Mary Poppins is lonely. HomeTributes & FuneralsDeaths & FuneralsELVA ANNE CAMPBELL Much loved mum and mother-in-law of Graeme & Sarah Favourite Grandma to her 9 grandchildren and 2 on the way Relatives and friends of Elva are invited to attend a Celebration of her Life to be held at the Northcliffe Chapel of Hansen & Cole Eedaero Gamjatang is a new Korean restaurant on Liverpool Road in Ashfield that sells one thing: Gamjatang or spicy pork bone soup in a bubbling cauldron that you add noodles and other bits to to create a delicious filling and fun meal (and don't forget the last step when you're there that is out of the world delicious) The restaurant has couples and groups huddled around the bowls of bubbling broth and meat There's also a helpful guide for how to enjoy Gamjatang on the wall that starts with eating the meat and broth first and then adding the noodles then sujebi noodles once there is a bit more room made in the pot and then finishing with the rice The Gamjatang comes in small ($38) medium ($57) and large ($69) sizes and for 4 people the large is perfect It already comes with cabbage and the pork neck bones but we order extra rice cake or tteokbokki and sweet potato noodles for $5 each and Sylvia gifts Celia a bowl of sujebi or hand torn short noodles "Who is boss?" Sylvia says holding the soup ladle and tongs and Celia jokes that it is Mr NQN who out of the table is the one that least wants to be boss of a Gamjatang Sylvia brings the enormous pot to the table along with banchan There are three banchan: pickled radish half moons dried squid with radish and chilli as well as pickled garlic slices Pete likes the raw garlic but Celia says "You've lost your mind that's raw garlic," while shaking her head All of the meat is already cooked so it's more a matter of warming it up I grab a can of Milkis soda ($4) from the fridge the Korean version of the Calpis yogurt soda the difference is that Milkis is carbonated which I like a bit more than Calpis While we are waiting for the soup to heat up There are two types of pancakes: kim chi and chive and normally I would order the kimchi but Celia and Pete love the chive pancake and once we try some we see why It's absolutely delicious with a gorgeous light crispiness I find myself eating piece after piece of this it's that good The pork bones are still very meaty but I love sucking the meat off the bone anyway Make sure to dip them into the light brown dipping sauce made with yellow mustard and fruit-this really enhances the flavour of the bones (not that they need it but it makes them pop) We also added some of our noodles in already so they are soft and pliable The noodles are wonderful as are the tteokbokki and the chewy sujebi which is my favourite along with the tteokbokki We fish into the bowl and we have most of the bones and all of the noodles before I either start to get the meat sweats (or it's very warm in the restaurant!) We order two serves of this and Sylvia fishes out the pork bones and places them in a bowl intensely flavoured soup left she adds two bowls of the fried rice mixture which is made up of diced carrot seaweed flakes and fish roe which she fries for us The fried rice is so full of flavour and moreish even though we are all full we can't help but have more especially with some of the leftover meat on top And before long there's no more fried rice left And a nice surprise is the bill that is $30 per person IT’S not every day that the chance comes along to visit one of Tasmania’s important But the Mercury enjoyed such a pleasure last week ahead of this glorious property’s launch to market for the first time in decades Set on a sprawling 4400sq m holding in Sandy Bay its custodians have tended to the property’s every need And cultivated an awe-inspiring garden with gigantic magnolia and pear trees that look stunning all year round but especially so in early spring Prestige property expert and Peterswald director Kim Morgan described this Margaret St home as “gracious and generous” “The gardens were first established almost 200 years ago “They have hosted many weddings and garden parties.” MORE: Highly awarded Villa Howden for sale seeking $5m-$6m $50m: Cutting-edge shopping complex to test retail sector Depending on where one stands on the property there are jaw-dropping views to take in — across Marieville Esp to the yachts on the river The house — with a separate guest apartment that could become part of the main home — blends effortlessly between its Georgian heritage toward the street The newer section features Huon pine joinery and benchtops “It is a statement in postmodernist chic,” Mr Morgan said MORE: Iconic coastal farm’s first time for sale in 87 years Historic Calstock Estate sold fast to interstate buyers A loft space above this kitchen and living zone was used by the owner as a sewing room; light and connected to the space below that is warmed by a gas fire Ashfield was originally constructed as a three-room farmhouse in 1834 for the architect who designed the Richmond Bridge He said Ashfield’s sale will be one of Tasmania’s most significant of the year “It’s not just the price of a property such as this It’s the heritage and this historical significance being passed to the next custodian,” he said Ashfield has grown into the impressive home that it is today seeing architectural interventions in 1911 with the addition of the Arts and Crafts billiard room and more recently with the modern extension of the kitchen and family living room by the celebrated architect Bevan Rees the billiard room is still known by that name and is perhaps the most impressive space in the whole property There is a palpable ‘if only the walls could talk’ feeling here The flexibility of the home’s floorplan offers myriad possibilities for configuration Period details remain throughout the house from the proportions of the original cottage to the statement fireplaces warm timber floors and multi-pane windows that have been sympathetically juxtaposed with more recent elements like the stainless steel and timber of the kitchen crisply tiled bathrooms and expanses of glass which keep everything bathed in natural light the house is well situated to maximise the glorious gardens and outdoor space It’s not a stretch to imagine the farm and market garden that Ashfield once was as part of its nostalgic charm lies in its spectacular almost one-acre of garden and established fruit trees Some of the oldest pear trees in the country continue to grow here putting on a breathtaking display of white blossom every spring for almost two centuries While the age and beauty of the house is remarkable it’s through the house’s symbiotic connection with the expansive and private garden that the magic happens and it’s obvious that the gardens have been much loved over a long period of time by a gardener with a passion for their craft The garden is introduced by its uniquely undulating front hedge and iron gates creating a sense of privacy and mystery from the street Following what would have once been a carriage sweep through to the Georgian facade of the original house revealing the garden and extending into the distance Sandy Bay is for sale with Peterswald via expressions of interest third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Reform UK won all Nottinghamshire County Coucil seats in Ashfield bar one – the only area retained by the Ashfield Independents The results were key to Reform winning a total of 40 seats – and overall control  of the council with a wide 23 seat majority The Conservatives won 17 seats and Labour won four Although they retain control of Ashfield District Council – which was not part of Thursday’s poll – all but one of their 10 County Council seats went to Reform UK Nottinghamshire residents headed to the polls on Thursday May 1 to vote for local councillors in 66 seats across 55 divisions Votes in Ashfield were counted at Kirkby Leisure Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield John Wilmott Anthony Wilmott (Ash Ind) won the group’s solitary Hucknall North seat with 1,231 votes – 230 more than Sean Richard Neale (Reform UK) who stood at 1,001 votes and former Notts County Council opposition leader lost his seat to Reform after 18 years of being on the County Council “I’ve been on the County Council 18 years and I tried my best to do a good job “Sometimes the big political parties take a tsunami – and that’s what’s been happening across the country.” Ashfield’s Reform MP Lee Anderson said it was an “unbelievable feeling” seeing his party win over the district He said: “We’ve been building our branch up they want a little bit of honesty in politics “It’s democracy – the best people have won on the day.” It is likely the last-ever Nottinghamshire County Council election in its current format due to ongoing local government reform which could see councils overhauled and new “strategic authorities” and combined councils created between 2027 and 2028 Christine Jennifer Self (Conservatives) 78 Kevin Thomas Rostance (Local Conservatives) 510 Rachel Elizabeth Kotze (Local Conservatives) 277 John Morton Anthony Wilmott (Ash Ind) 1,231 (E) Ethan Tyler Revill (Labour and Co-operative) 293 Error: no decision tree source folder detected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been heckled by a furious protester who was then bundled away by security during a media conference in his inner-west Sydney electorate of Grayndler Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been heckled by a climate protester during a media conference in Ashfield Mr Albanese had just announced a massive $1 billion mental health package when a protester entered the vicinity and started shouting at him about coal and gas.  She was inaudible as she was ushered out of the building Mr Albanese appeared startled by the incident at first but quickly resumed speaking.  The Prime Minister's mental health package came in a bid to increase services to tackle the mental health crisis The announcement includes 31 new and upgraded Medicare mental health centres on top of the 61 the government has already committed to as well as 58 new or upgraded Headspace services Mr Albanese said the increased support will be “so important for young people” “Only Labor has a plan to strengthen Medicare and what this will do is make sure that more Australians can get the help they need … with their Medicare card,” he said that my government’s absolutely committed to “This will be critical because we know that one in five adult Australians experience a mental health issue for a year or more.” The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. Please check your spelling and if you still can't get to the right page try heading to the homepage for a look around If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from After an extraordinary mass suspension of Club Directors, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has called for the state government to launch an investigation into how Wests Ashfield League Club is being governed three of the seven board members received the news that they’d be suspended from the roles as Club Directors for periods of up to a whopping eight years Mayor Darcy Byrne called the current governance of the leagues club “unstable” said that Wests fans had become sick and tired of the club’s messy governance undermining the Wests Tigers franchise “Quite obviously the current governance of Wests Ashfield has become unstable and possibly untenable and the NSW Government has a responsibility to investigate this,” Byrne said “Loyal and long-suffering Wests Tigers fans deserve better than this mess Our team is competing in the most professional rugby league competition on earth but the governance of our Club seems at the moment like the amateur committee for a park footy team.” The remaining four Board members are not elected by club’s wider membership – they’re appointed through a ‘debenture’ system meaning a handful of club members select the majority of the board’s members The board members that were notified of their suspension were directly elected by the club’s membership “When half of the Board of Club decides to suspend the other half of the Board from their duties there is a clearly a problem and a need for the regulator to examine what is going on,” said Byrne “The fact that the Board members removed are those that were directly elected by the broader membership is also very concerning A system in which the 27,000 members of Wests Ashfield have no real democratic say at all is unjustifiable.” “The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority has statutory responsibility to investigate a Club when its governance falls apart which seems to be what is happening here,” the Mayor continued “I’m calling for the NSW Government to intervene to ensure there is proper democratic governance of the Holman Barnes Group and that is what is needed for Wests Tigers to survive and thrive.” Wests Ashfield (the Holman Barnes Group) are the majority owner of Wests Tigers sunny bakery shop is like a country fair stall in full bloomThe Tart Sisters in Ashfield is one of the best bakery shops in Sydney chubby pastry pies and sweet fruit-laden treats Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime It is a joy, of eye-widening, mouth-watering baked goods proportions, to walk into the Tart Sisters. Stocked like a country baking fair at full bloom, albeit in a suburban street in Ashfield, this tiny, swoony, sun-filled shop bursts with freshly baked tarts, cakes, slices and pies, all neatly placed on racks and ceramic stands edged by cooking books, stacked pumpkins, soft folded tea towels and a jug of tall fresh rosemary. It takes the breath away. Only two, maybe three people can fit inside at a time. And they are entirely absorbed, eyes locking on golden roast pumpkin and goats’ cheese tarts; oven-warm brioche layered with dark green cime di rapa (broccoli rabe), garlic and cheese; and chubby, flaky pastry pies filled with creamy mushroom and barley, lentil bolognese or cauliflower, potato and cheese. Choc chip and ginger molasses biscuits.Nikki ShortAdvertisementThen there are slices of vanilla cake, topped with passionfruit icing and studded with whole raspberries; or little lemon curd cakes, with tubby, immensely citrusy (but not over the top) bodies with lemon icing. Or cocoa-dusted, gluten-free cheesecake brownies and strawberry rhubarb shortcakes with ruby red centres glowing like fruity volcanos. The Tart Sisters, run by Felicity Peel with her cousin Claire, sister Maryanne and friend Simone, began 30 years ago. Founded by Peel and her sister Catriona, it started in a former fish-and chip shop at Pier One in Walsh Bay, where they shared a kitchen with fellow bakers Manna From Heaven. “In those days we would have the roller door to the harbour up and watch the ferries come in as we baked,” Peel says. “It was awesome.” They continued in Marrickville before the Tart Sisters moved independently to Surry Hills and then Ashfield. In 2009 Catriona left the business when she had children and the Tart Sisters’ evolution from wholesaler to bakery shop came unexpectedly. “My dog, Pudding, got cancer and I needed to pay the bills,” Peel says. “Everyone said, ‘Open a shop’, and this one is next to the kitchen, so we did. That was 10 years ago.” The Tart Sisters, which still supplies cafes and businesses, works symbiotically with next-door cafe 3 Tomatoes. They share a wide footpath corner surrounded by native plants, bench spots and cafe tables. Leashed dogs look imploringly at the Tart Sisters’s racks from outside. “We’ve got a beautiful little community around here,” Peel says. “We’re very lucky.” Passionfruit and raspberry cake.Nikki ShortPerhaps the most regular visitors are residents from a nearby retirement village, who swing by to buy apple almond tarts, peanut butter-and-jam brownies or sticky date cakes with piped cream cheese icing caps. Locals also donate surplus fruit from their backyards. “A lady just brought in kilos of grapefruit,” Peel says. “So I’ve been making marmalade non-stop.” She points to shelves by the door filled with grapefruit, bitter grapefruit and ruby grapefruit marmalade beside strawberry jam. Peel, who originally studied print-making at the National Art School (her drawings adorn the shop’s cards and website), says shop staples include savoury and frangipane tarts, along with most of the cake varieties. But, depending on what’s seasonal at their fruit and vegetable supplier, Frank’s Fruit Market in Haberfield, and which of Peel’s favourite food writers’ she is reading, new offerings are baked each day. A rhubarb tart.Nikki Short“I’m terribly unprofessional like that,” she says, laughing. “It’s whatever we feel like. People sometimes get downcast because we don’t have what they want.” Batches are baked throughout the day to meet demand, and everything is vegetarian with some gluten-free and vegan options. “I’ve been here forever,” Peel says. “It’s embarrassing sometimes, how long I’ve been here. But I still love it. I still love coming in and I still love reading cookbooks and food columns ... and I still love baking every day.” Visit promptly but make a plan. Today it’s asking for Peel’s flagrantly creamy cauliflower, potato and cheese pie, and a beautifully chewy ginger molasses biscuit, and taking these outside to eat on the small yellow bench by the shop’s front window. Then, because you’re still there, and this is one of the best bakery shops in Sydney, it’s not undignified to go back in and look at everything again. Vibe: Tiny sweet and savoury bakery teeming with tarts, cakes, savoury slices, pies, jams and biscuits. Go-to dish: Cime di rapa with garlic and cheese on brioche, a ginger molasses biscuit, and jars of raspberry jam and grapefruit marmalade (for later). Cancel that Greek island resort holiday; come to this new waterfront restaurant insteadA meal at Peter Conistis’ Ammos soon turns into a joyful feast of dishes many of us grew up loving. Y’all are welcome to join the smoky, charry action at this Texas-inspired brisket jointThe co-owners of Brisket Boys travelled to the US to try every style of American-style barbecue. Now they’ve brought melty slow-cooked meats to Penrith. Not just here to grill steaks: This ‘proper restaurant’ offers bells-and-whistles diningWith a new winter menu and head chef fresh from Oncore by Clare Smyth and Newtown’s Cafe Paci, Shell House has plenty of compelling reasons to visit. news and the hottest openings served to your inbox This is probably not the page you’re looking for If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you. her mother Anna Westley and pysanky workshop co-leader Mary Link admire the Westleys’ work during a workshop at Belding Memorial Library in Ashfield Northampton resident Amanda Nash and pysanky workshop co-leader Alex Osterman embellish their eggs during the workshop at Belding Memorial Library Longtime Ashfield resident Mary Link demonstrates the first step of pysanky during a workshop at Belding Memorial Library Completed eggs during the pysanky workshop at Belding Memorial Library in Ashfield ASHFIELD — Visitors to Belding Memorial Library last weekend gained insight on the colorful process that is pysanky the Ukrainian tradition of decorating Easter eggs guided by longtime Ashfield residents Mary Link and Alex Osterman hovered their styluses — or “kistkas,” as Ukrainians call the pysanky tool tipped with a pocket for beeswax — over a candle flame The drop of beeswax then melted into a smooth medium for decorating the step that gives pysanky its name: write While some attendees drew Christian symbols from Link’s handout “I love seeing the things that people do with it where they go and what they experiment with.” the visitors bobbed their eggs in the first dye the artists then picked up their kistkas and added more detail to the shell before dropping the egg in a darker color “It’s sort of an inside-out process,” Link explained visitors dropped their eggs in the darkest dye But contrary to the Ukrainian tradition of melting the beeswax off their eggs with a candle flame the library visitors popped their eggs in a toaster oven “Bringing people together is fun,” Link added Link has been drawing on and dipping eggs for 55 years her boyfriend invited her to a friend’s pysanky party She remembers gaping as she walked into the host’s kitchen “It’s musical chairs when there’s a lot of people,” Link recalled When one artist hopped up to dye their egg she hosted her own egg-dying party with her friends and the tradition continued into annual pysanky parties in her Ashfield home She and her husband “gutted” all the furniture rolled up the rugs and covered the floors in rosin paper “It was just like an open house all day long 100 people would come over the course of the day,” Link recounted After learning pysanky with a mutual friend she decorated eggs at Link’s before the pair took the Ukrainian tradition to their local library three years ago said the workshop started to “show support and solidarity” with Ukraine donations were accepted to support humanitarian relief efforts in the country but has evolved into a “gesture of peace” since the invasion but Link’s handout from the now closed “SURMA - The Ukrainian Shop” in New York tells one version “Among Ukrainians there is a belief that the fate of the world depends upon pysanky,” the handout reads servants of a chained evil monster travel across the globe artists of all ages celebrated the ancient tradition “The kids are always creating,” Ashfield resident Tatiana Soper said Pysanky was a shift from their favorite art transforming “junk” from the recycling bin into houses she chose between a brown egg with a speckled crimson mushroom a rainbow egg and a purple egg reading “Happy Easter” to pick her favorite: a sky blue egg with clouds and a yellow sun “This is my motto: every stain is a new memory,” Ida said Pointing to a fresh splash of green and red on her sweatshirt you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users By 2025-01-14T10:20:00+00:00 Ashfield is one of the best-known faces in UK grocery having appeared alongside Anita Rani in two series of the Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Thing Aldi has promoted its national buying MD Julie Ashfield to a new role of chief commercial officer as part of a shake-up of the board structure Ashfield will be responsible for both buying and sustainability in her new statutory board role at Aldi UK The shake-up also includes the creation of two chief operating officer roles who along with Ashfield will report to Aldi UK CEO Giles Hurley The new ‘best practice structure’ replaces three group MD roles King is moving to a global role as Aldi’s international customer interaction officer while O’Connor is transferring to be its national country MD for Ireland Ronald is taking one of the new COO roles under Hurley He will be responsible for regional store and warehouse operations The other COO role is going to Ruth Doyle, who has been promoted from MD of HR. She will take responsibility for both HR and supply chain in her new role She has been replaced as national buying MD by Stephen Eivers who has been Aldi MD for customer interaction since 2015 Sign in to comment on this article Site powered by Webvision Cloud Learn moreExplore related questionsDiscover more about the topics that matter most Browse our suggested questions or ask your own to find out more ASHFIELD — Residents will be asked to consider a total $7.69 million budget for fiscal year 2026 that includes funding for the next steps toward meeting the town’s climate-resiliency goals during Annual Town Meeting asking voters to approve a $6.25 million general operating budget and town bylaw amendments that aim to make town government easier and more efficient for volunteers and staff Articles 11 through 21 break down the town’s budget The town is seeking $721,470 for general government expenses $41,802 for Franklin Regional Council of Governments expenses and $359,990 for employee benefits voters will be asked to approve more than $3.31 million in education costs Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III said town officials worked to keep the budget as tight as possible and they are always seeking grants and state aid to reduce the burden on taxpayers “Not all of this is from taxes — state aid all play a role in reducing the amount that actually has to be raised in taxation,” he said “I think the budget we’ve got right now can cover a little extra but at least it covers everything we need it to,” Selectboard member Tom Carter said during a joint meeting of the Selectboard and Finance Committee earlier this month Articles 22 through 25 seek voter approval for additional appropriations: $12,750 for Ashfield Lake dam maintenance; $125,000 for repairs and upgrades to Town Hall including replacing a chairlift and installing an outdoor drinking fountain; borrowing up to $500,000 to repair a failing retaining wall on Bronson Avenue; and $100,000 to match a state grant to install solar arrays at the Highway Garage and Wastewater Treatment Plant The town has applied to be designated as a Climate Leader Community a new designation created by the state Department of Energy Resources voters approved taking steps necessary to be named a Climate Leader such as adopting a Zero-Emission First Vehicle Policy The town is expecting to hear whether it has been named a Climate Leader and if it is eligible for the associated grant funding later this spring the town will be pursuing grant funding for a $1 million solar project that could save the town $2 million in energy costs over the next 25 years the town’s share of the solar panels would be paid for from the Grant Match Stabilization Fund which voters approved creating at last year’s Annual Town Meeting “The town could be eligible for up to $1 million in grants to transition our town buildings away from fossil fuels and toward cleaner renewable energies,” the Selectboard wrote on the warrant “The state program would cover 90% of the cost of the project with the possibility of the federal government covering an additional 30% of the town’s portion.” Articles 26 through 30 seek approval for bylaw changes seeking to make town government easier and more efficient for volunteers and staff ■Article 26: Amending the Town Meeting bylaw so department heads and other municipal staff members who are not residents of the town may address the floor without a majority vote approval the town has taken a vote to allow non-residents to speak Amending this bylaw would remove the necessity to hold that vote each year ■Article 27: Changing the role of tree warden from an elected position to an appointed one so its duties can be merged with the role of highway superintendent ■Article 28: Reducing the term of Planning Board members from five years to three years The town hopes reducing the time commitment will encourage more residents to seek a seat on the board ■Article 29: Amends the Flood Hazard District to adopt a revised flood map ■Article 30: Changes the special permit bylaw to recommend applicants meet with the special permit granting authority for a pre-application conference to discuss the procedural steps of the permit process and answer any questions in a non-binding manner Voters who attend a preceding Special Town Meeting will be asked to approve three monetary transfers with the Special Town Meeting starting at 9:30 a.m and the Annual Town Meeting following at 10 a.m ■Article 1: A $278,000 transfer from the broadband retained earnings account to the broadband operating budget to cover a deficit due to a FY24 grant ending and the balance on the unpaid broadband loan being higher than expected ■Article 2: A $20,000 transfer from free cash to the accounting consulting budget line to cover an overage in expenses from a third-party review of the books ■Article 3: Appropriating $225,000 from free cash to pay the remaining balance owed on a dump truck that voters approved purchasing for the Highway Department at last year’s Annual Town Meeting Visit ashfield.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=368 to view both the Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting warrants in their entirety Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com Entrepreneur® and its related marks are registered trademarks of Entrepreneur Media LLC We'll be in your inbox every morning Monday-Saturday with all the day’s top business news best advice and exclusive reporting from Entrepreneur The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. Please check your spelling and if you still can't get to the right page try heading to the homepage for a look around If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from.