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Beer and Billiards
Welcome back!
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Amy Stimac Named New Director of Sudbury’s Goodnow Library
SPS Committee Passes Gender Identity and Inclusivity Policy
Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio to Host Fall Open House in Sudbury
This One Time, it’s All About You
Playground Surface Woes: Haynes Elementary Surface Needs Replacement Already
Sewataro Swimming Pond Closed Due to Algae
Let’s get into it!
Amy Stimac Named New Director of Sudbury’s Goodnow Library
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Town of Sudbury and the Goodnow Library Board of Trustees have announced the appointment of Amy Stimac as the new Director of the Goodnow Library. Stimac, a familiar face in the library, officially stepped into the role on August 6 following a competitive search process.
Known to many local families as “Ms. Amy,” Stimac brings nearly two decades of public library experience to the position, including 12 years at the Goodnow Library. Since 2018, she has served as Head of Children’s Services.
A message from the Goodnow Library Trustees noted “Amy’s appointment comes after an extensive search that yielded many highly qualified candidates. Her enthusiasm for library services, strong record of leadership, and knowledge of the Sudbury community were evident from her interviews and we are looking forward to the next chapter in Goodnow’s history.”
Prior to joining Goodnow Library in 2013, Stimac worked at the Acton Memorial Library and the Marlborough Public Library. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and a Master of Library and Information Science from Simmons College.
Reflecting on her appointment, Stimac said, “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to continue to serve the Sudbury community, now as Library Director. I look forward to working with our excellent library staff, volunteers, Foundation and Trustees as we explore new and innovative ways to serve the community.”
SPS Committee Passes Gender Identity and Inclusivity Policy
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) school district now has a Gender Identity and Inclusivity policy following a unanimous vote of the SPS School Committee on August 4. (Page 18)
The policy includes provisions governing parent and guardian engagement, student records and name/gender marker changes, facilities/bathrooms, physical education and athletics, gender-based activities, rules, policies, and practices, as well as education and professional development.
Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio to Host Fall Open House in Sudbury
EVENTS
By Contributor
[Event listing courtesy of Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio]
Sudbury, MA – Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio is thrilled to invite families and community members to its Fall Open House on Sunday, September 14th, from 2:00–4:00 PM at 75 Witherell Drive, Sudbury, MA.
This One Time, It’s All About You
FEATURES
By Rev. Eric Wolf
Exploring the intersection of sacred and secular.
It’s not about you! If you’d just get your head out of your ass and worry about others, you could do some great things.
This is not only one of the most helpful pieces of pastoral advice I ever received, but it’s probably the most important piece of life advice in my forty-whatever years.
No Really, It’s Not About Me
As someone who’s only ever had my one perspective, I’ve always wanted a button to press allowing me to live in someone else’s body and experience life from their precise perspective for about ten minutes — and though I’ve frequently wished that I had someone else’s resources, I’ve never wanted to be anyone else. But that’s the reason I’m always poking and prodding, pushing against and pulling at people’s thoughts and opinions. I’ve always had an intense desire to have genuine empathy — firsthand lived knowledge — of what another person is thinking, feeling, and experiencing.
Play Surface Woes: Haynes Elementary Surface Needs Replacement Already
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
In an August 4 update to the Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) School Committee, Combined Facility Director Sandra Duran informed the committee that the Haynes Elementary School Playground surface is in need of replacement.
The new Haynes playground opened in 2018 as part of the Town’s work to replace all elementary school playgrounds over several years. The primary source of funding for the projects was the Community Preservation Act, and the Haynes playground was the first to be completed.
The Park and Recreation department recently completed pour-in-place (PIP) surface repairs at the SMILE playground at Haskell Field, and the Loring Elementary School playground surface was replaced last summer. The Loring surface replacement came just two years after opening, but was covered under warranty according to the SPS administration.
Loring playground surface, under repair in 2024
Most vendors indicate that the PIP surfaces are expected to last 10-15 years assuming proper installation at the outset and ongoing maintenance. In the case of Haynes, the surface is in need of replacement after less than seven years. Based on comments during the SPS School Committee meeting, the cost of the surface replacement is not covered by warranty this time.
Duran told the school committee that the estimated cost of a proposed Haynes roof replacement relative to the assessed value of the facility triggered requirements (frequently called the MAAB 30% rule) to bring all other elements of the facility into compliance with modern accessibility requirements.
Prior estimates for the playground surface repairs were nearly $200,000. That estimate included only the poured surface replacement, not any potential work on the base below that according to Duran.
“If you were at the Haynes playground area you would see that the play surface requires some repair and actual replacement. I do have costs associated with that. This is going to be a significant addition to the Haynes roof cost. For the play surface itself, I believe that that surface requires replacement. So that cost estimate that I received last year was at $185,000, $188,000 just for the play surface. That didn’t include any kind of sub-surface preparations that we might need. In addition to that there’s a concrete and asphalt surface outside that requires significant renovation if not replacement, and the exterior doors in that courtyard all kind of dump up, but there’s no accessible pathway. So a design and renovation plan of the courtyard would be required as well to comply with ADA.” (1:22:00)
The Haynes playground was built several years before Duran joined the Town of Sudbury. Since she joined the Town, she has executed a number of projects to bring elements of school buildings into compliance with the ADA, including securing a Massachusetts Office On Disability (MOD) grant for a Public Address and Assisted Listening System at Ephraim Curtis Middle School.
Duran noted that her department has been executing a long list of the simple repairs recommended for compliance in the ADA Transition Plan commissioned by the Town years ago. That leaves some of the larger, more expensive repairs and renovations left on the to-do list, many of which require design before work is completed. In this case, the total cost of a roof replacement is driven up significantly by the extensive renovation and replacement needs on the relatively new Haynes playground.
If the playground surface were to be replaced as part of the roof project, that would be subject to Massachusetts School Building Authority approval of the project and adherence to their timeline and requirements. In the event SPS doesn’t go down that path for the Haynes roof, the playground surface could be replaced a standalone project, but another funding source would need to be identified.
Sewataro Swimming Pond Closed Due to Algae
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Town of Sudbury announced today that the Sewataro Swim Pond will be temporarily closed following test results showing moderate levels of blue-green algae.
The test results, received earlier today, prompted officials to close the pond until algae cell counts return to safe levels. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, can pose health risks to people and animals.
The announcement noted “As you might have heard in the news, numerous beaches across New England have been closed this summer because of high levels of blue green algae in the water – a problem largely linked to increasingly frequent heatwaves.”
The Sewataro Swim Pond will be closed for resident swimming on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10. The town will continue to monitor water conditions and share updates as soon as it is safe to reopen.
The pond was closed last summer for the same cause, cutting short the first year of the resident swim program. That program was relaunched this summer after the camp operator discussed the matter with the Sudbury Select Board. However, Sudbury Health Department representatives noted last year that they expected blue-green algae to be an ongoing, possibly annual, challenge for the pond.
For more information and the latest status, residents are encouraged to check the Town of Sudbury’s website and social media channels.
Parting Thoughts
The Select Board returns next week, and they have a mighty interesting agenda. There’s a pool table donation on the agenda for the Senior Center. There’s also a licensing item for a “Wayside Inn Beer Tent Pavilion.”
All of which is to say… life is pretty good in the shire these days!
Onward!