YMCA moves ahead with Ashland facility

The YMCA continued to push forward with plans to build a new facility in Ashland that will serve Hopkinton and Holliston as well. The location is 12.5 acres on the access road next to Ashland Middle School that leads to the commuter rail station.

The land is being donated by Bob Gayner, who said his family were members of the YMCA in Framingham.

“This site in the Ashland Rail Transit District couldn’t be more perfect for locating a new regional YMCA,” Gayner said in a statement when the projects was announced earlier this year. “It has easy access to Hopkinton, Holliston, and Framingham from Routes 9, 135, 495, the MassPike, and the MBTA Commuter Rail Station.”

While the organization is seeking more community input before finalizing plans, the new YMCA is expected to have far more indoor amenities than the Y in Hopkinton, which is mainly an outdoors-based facility.

The new facility is designated to serve residents of Hopkinton, Ashland and Holliston.

Hildreth receives CFO honor

Hopkinton resident Michael Hildreth recently was named one of the Boston Business Journal’s Chief Financial Officers of the Year, in the midsize private company category. Hildreth, 48, is the executive vice president and CFO of Moors & Cabot, an investment firm where he has worked for the last 14 years.

As one of eight honorees, Hildreth was featured in a July 24 special section of the publication.

Asked to offer afire to someone starting a career in finance, Hildreth told the magazine: “Ask to be involved in as much as you can. Pay attention, ask questions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Own your work (both good and bad) and find a good mentor in the industry who will provide you with honest feedback and help you to push yourself.”

Richardson completes climate training

Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) principal and owner Scott Richardson recently completed a three-day intensive training program in Minneapolis offered by the Climate Reality Project, founded by Nobel Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore.

The program brings together activists, cultural leaders, organizers, scientists and storytellers committed to building a sustainable future. The training equips participants with the knowledge and skills to share facts about Earth’s climate crisis and provide insight into actions necessary to impact the future of our shared home. To date, more than 20,000 individuals have been designated Climate Reality Leaders, representing more than 150 countries and ranging in age from 12 to 87.

Richardson, long passionate about sustainability, found the training and the presentations featuring Gore to be powerful and inspiring. As a newly minted Climate Reality Leader, Richardson plans to work with local, state and federal officials as well as business and industry leaders and nonprofit organizations to better inform the discussions, actions and legislation around the global climate emergency.

“I am newly energized to assist what is being done worldwide to combat the climate crisis and I do believe that working together we can solve this problem to ensure a better world for our children’s children!” he said.

He is available to present to community forums, youth groups or any interested parties.