THE BEDFORD BANNER  

                                                                                   April 2016

 

In This Issue
Catch the Net
Article 14
Business Spotlight
Leadership Luncheons Marketing Program
Business Development
Brueggers Open House
What the Chamber did in March
Night of Beauty
Chamber Connections
Chamber Calendar
Follow us on Facebook
Surf was up at this month's Catch the Net



The tried and true method of networking to grow your business can provide surprisingly effective and creative solutions to business strategies. Being able to meet new business people face to face, visiting other local businesses in a casual atmosphere, and easy introductions make the Bedford Chamber of Commerce's monthly "Catch the Net" event more popular than ever.
Dr. Hesby Speaks to his guests about the joys of orthodontics! 

        Here's what one of our attendees had to say 

  "I met Caitlin O'Connor and Nancy Hesby last night at a Bedford Chamber of Commerce "Catch the Net" event (like a business after hours event).  Nancy and her husband Rich hosted the event at Bedford Orthodontics.  It was one of the best Chamber events I've attended in my 3+ years here at MSB.  Great host, great people, stimulating conversation."
 
This month's event was hosted by Dr. Richard Hesby of Bedford Orthodontics, located at 55 North Road, Bedford, MA.

If you would like to hold a Catch the Net After hours at your place of business, give the Chamber office a call at 781-275-8503. 
 
Town Meeting Votes to pass the Zoning Bylaw Amendment on the Limited Business District
 
Article 14 on the town warrant allows the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant a special permit which would change the size limit of stores in the Limited Business District from the current 2,000 square feet to a level of up to 4,000 square feet for retail stores and "indoor amusement" establishments. The current restriction does not apply to restaurants or banks.

Todd Crowley, Chair, Zoning Board of Appeals,  said the intent of this bylaw change is to allow for more reasonably sized businesses and to attract desirable tenants.  He pointed out the upper limit of 4,000 square feet is well below the size of much larger businesses such as Marshalls, Whole Foods, CVS, and other businesses in the areas outside of the limited business district. He also noted any increase beyond 2,000 square feet would only happen with the approval of the Planning Board after a Special Permit application review and public hearing, with any conditions deemed appropriate by the Planning Board.

The article passed by a 2/3 affirmative voice vote.

Business Spotlight
Renee Lazar, Esq.

Renee Lazar, Esq., offers quality family legal services. She practices family law, so her focus is on your divorce, custody, parenting plan, child support, alimony, guardianships of minors and adults, military divorce, divorce mediation and other family law issues.

Believing that everyone should be able to obtain legal services, Ms. Lazar's practice focuses on the needs of people of "modest means" - typically, those whose incomes put pro bono and subsidized legal assistance out of reach, but who also do not have a large budget for legal services.
 
When you work with Attorney Lazar, you're getting great service at a fair price. She offers as much representation as you need at a rate you can afford. Whatever your legal issue, she can help you solve it. She offers practical legal counsel in an efficient manner to fit your budget. If you only need a couple of hours of legal work done or to have a lawyer by your side when you attend a meeting or court, she is happy to be there for you.
Estate planning is just plain smart. There are many ways to protect your assets and the future of your loved ones, all while preventing costly court intervention. Part of these initiatives also include making certain that your most valuable asset, your life and well-being, is also protected through such documents as a Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy and Personal Wishes.
Knowing the importance of these documents, she offers to prepare all three documents for $50 to chamber members.
As an added benefit, she offers reduced and sliding scale fees for family law matters.
Contact Renee Lazar to schedule a free one hour no obligation consultation.
Renee Lazar ǀ 4308 Thompson Farm ǀ Bedford, MA ǀ 978 844 8095 ǀ www.reneelazarlaw.com

 
 Leadership Luncheon Marketing Program
   


                                    
   Simple Yet Effective Marketing Done With Your Eyes Closed 
                           April 13, 2016 
                              11:30-1:30

The Leadership Luncheons will be held at Waxy O'Connors 
 94 Hartwell Road ~ Lexington, MA  


 
 Matt Ward - CEO of inConcert Web Solutions, Master Certified Authorized Local Expert for Constant Contact.

Simple Yet Effective Marketing:  Done With Your Eyes Closed 
Marketing is about staying in front of your customers and prospects and being present when they are ready to buy

Many business owners struggle with where, how often and how much time to put into marketing. But did you know that you could automate your marketing to ensure a consistently delivered message to your prospect?
In this presentation you will learn how to automate your marketing....so that you can be marketing with your eyes closed, while you are sleeping!
 
                                          
The Format for the meeting is:
brief networking 
 lunch/seminar at the same time

     then a round-table discussion on what people are doing for      marketing to grow their business
  
Each month we will check back with previous guests on the different  results they are seeing as well
 
registration is $20.00 which will include lunch provided
by Waxy O'Connors.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER   
 
 

                            SAVE THE DATES

  Business Development Update

Restaurant List - Alyssa Sandoval created a
brief guide to all Bedford's  restaurants that is hyper-linked to their websites and menus.
Lunchtime Shuttle - A survey was sent to Crosby and Wiggins area business and property owners with some good feedback on a lunchtime shuttle as anticipated by the Expanded Transit Pilot on the ATM. There appears to be sufficient demand to pilot a lunchtime shuttle once a week to Crosby and once a  week to Wiggins. Survey results are here.
Crosby Center -  Crosby Center Redevelopment project on hold - National Development addressing issues with tenant, Aspen Tech.
Mass Innovation Night - Scheduled for April 13th at MITRE.
Business Guide- Bedford's first Business and Community Guide will be printed in the next couple of weeks

BRUEGGERS OPEN HOUSE
 
 


What the Chamber did in March
Catch the Net 
Leadership Luncheon 
Board of Directors Meeting 
Business Development Meeting 
Great Food (from Prince St Cafe) and excellent networking

 



 
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS 

 
 
_________________________________________________________________
CHAMBER CALENDAR 

April 8
Night of Beauty Revealed
Salon Reyna
326 Great Road
Bedford, MA
6:30-8:30
$25.00
To register call
978-221-6911

April 13
Leadership Luncheon
Simple yet Effective Marketing:Done with your eyes closed
 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
 Waxy O'Conner's
 Lexington, MA  02421

 April 13  
  Innovation Night
6-830 PM
MITRE
Click here to register
 
April 14
 Board of Directors Meeting 
SHAWSHEEN ROOM 
Town Center 
12 Mudge Way 
Bedford, MA  
7:30 AM

April 19
Catch the Net
Billerica Crossings
20 Charnstaff Ln, Billerica, MA
Click here to register


April 21
   Working Women Alliance
Speaker
Kristen O'Neil, Outreach Manager, Workforce Training Fund Program; Commonwealth Corporation
Brightview Concord River
100 Concord Road
Billerica, MA

April 27
 Multi Chamber After Hours
Vistaprint
275 Wyman St., Waltham
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.   
$10.00
Click here to register


 Save the Date

 May 31
Cambridge Savings Bank Sr. Prom Stroll


The Chamber is looking for any businesses that have sustainability officers. We are trying to start a Exchange & re-use Program.

  
 
Welcome New Members

168 Great Road Unit F 
Bedford, MA

Salon Reyna 
326 Great Road
Bedford, MA 978-221-6911 
 
Bruegger's Bagels + Jamba Juice
170 Great Road
Bedford, MA 781-778-2927 
 
 
 
 
2016 CHAMBER MEMBERS

Ametek
Atlantic Capitol
Atlas Commercial Real Estate
B& D Advertising Agency
Baldwin Insurance
Bedford Acupuncture
Bedford Car Wash
Bedford Children's Center
Bedford Citizen
Bedford Farms
Bedford Florist
Bedford Funeral Home
Bedford Motel
Bedford Periodontal and Dental Implant Care, LLC
Bedford Plaza
Bedford Research Foundation
Billerica Crossings
Brown & Brown, P.C.
Caldwell Banker
Callahan's Karate Studio
Carlton-Willard Village
Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Christine Pinney Marketing
Collegeapplicationessaycoach.
com
ComforCare Home Care
Conagen
CouponSurfer.com
Danielle Beck NP-C-LLC
Davidson's Law Office
Dianne Bridgeman, DDS
The Debbie Spencer Group KW Boston Northwest
Design 2 Order
Design 1 Kitchen & Bath
Doubletree Bedford Glen
DSA Publishing
Elite Freestyle Karate
First Parish in Bedford
F.W.  Webb Company
Fujifilm Microdiscs
Great Road Gallery & Framing
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Harold Nichols Insurance
Heritage at Bedford Springs
Inside Outside Staging
JRM Antiques
Kammerwerke
Kimberly Bee Design
Law Offices of Renee Lazar
Leary Auto
Lexington Symphony
Lincoln Liquors
Live Life Well
Mead Trees
Metller Toledo
Middlesex Savings Bank
MITRE
New England Nurseries
North Road Chiropractic
Patriot Pediatrics
Primrose School
Prince St Cafe & Bakery
Quality Database Design
Quinstance
Red Heat Tavern
Right at Home 
Salem Five
Salon Oz
ServPro of Bedford/Lexington
Slak Chiropractic
St. Michael's Parish Center
The Goddard School
The Higgins Group
The Place for Words College Application Essay Coach
The Real School of Music
The Tutor Doctor
The Well Effect
uVisualize
Waxy's O'Connors

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Bedford Chamber of Commerce | 12 Mudge Way | Bedford | MA | 01730