Cash Mob Organizer Hopes to Boost Local Business

A new way to bring Holliston residents together and help small businesses could become a regular event for local residents.

Margaret Bishop has lived in Holliston for several years, but recently she had an idea that has never been seen in town before. Bishop decided to bring a nationwide trend to the businesses in town and organize a cash mob. "I saw someone post on the Holliston Happy Facebook page about how small businesses are suffering and I had been thinking about cash mobs that I've seen in the news," Bishop said. "So I decided to take the idea and run with it." Bishop started Facebook page for the cash mob on March 14 and it already has more than 50 likes. She also recently started a twitter account, which she plans to use to help reach more area residents. Participants in the cash mob will be meeting Saturday, March 30 in Coffee Haven before heading …

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Everything on Sale as Lost Art of Life Closes

After four years in business, Kimberly Lentros will be closing down her business and opening a yoga studio.

Lost Art of Life Going Out of Business

The Holliston business has been open for four years.

On Thursday, Feb. 28 Lost Art of Life will be closing their doors for good. According to a press release from founder and owner Kimberly Lentros, the past four years have been a success as a business, as well as a relationship builder in the community. “Lost Art of Life has been an amazing journey - truly one of blood, sweat and tears - and I wouldn't do a second of it any differently. Thank you to all of our vendors, consigners, customers, and clients - it all comes full circle,” Lentros said. In her note sent out to followers of the business, Lentros thanked many vendors as well as two employees, M.K. Cadwell and Signe Nelson. Lentros said she believes the next step in her journey will be to open a news yoga studio in town. “As one door …

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Mangia Pizza Opens in Holliston

Holliston's newest pizza place hopes to bring something new to town.

You might not think that a location across the street from Bertucci's would be a good idea for a pizza place, but if you ask Mangia Neapolitan Pizza owner Mike DeRubeis you'd be wrong. "Bertucci's is a sit down restaurant, so are the other pizza places in town. We're strictly takeout and delivery," he said. Some of Mangia's specialties include gluten-free pizza, and a variety of unique toppings including shrimp, clams and scallops. "In this plaza there's Subway and Jin's, it's a great place to come and have a lot of options," DeRubeis said. This is the second Mangia location DeRubeis has opened. Earlier this year Mangia opened on Main Street in Hopkinton. Have you tried Mangia's pizza yet? Tell us what you tried and how it was in the …

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Is Your Business Open on Christmas or New Year's? Tell Us!

We're compiling a list of local stores and restaurants that will be open during the holidays.

Holliston and Hopkinton business owners: Is your store or restaurants open during the holidays? We're making a list and checking it twice. If you'd like to be included, leave your business' store hours in the comments below for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. You can also email your store or restaurant's hours on those days to Sean.Odonnell@Patch.com. Please provide your store's hours no later than Friday, Dec. 14 so we can give everyone advance notice of your store's hours during the holidays.

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Hair Salon Opens at Hopkinton Square

Supercuts' newest location opened on Friday.

As the Hopkinton Square development nears completion businesses in the retail building at 22 South Street are begining to open their doors to new customers. On Friday Supercuts opened their Hopkinton location, one of 2,110 across the country, adjacent to Price Chopper.             “It’s always fun to bring a brand that people know and trust to a new location,” Supercuts franchisee Neal Habas said in a press release. “The Hopkinton community has been very welcoming since we opened and we’ve really enjoyed getting to know our new clients.” The salon is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or call (508) 435-8670 for call-ahead service.

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You Ask, Patch Answers

Where Can I Pick Apples Near Holliston and Hopkinton?

There are several orchards in the area, we've included some of the favorites as collected on Facebook below.

Smell that? Fall is in the air. Apple Pie, apple cider, apple crisp... get the hint? Patch has been asked where local residents can go to pick their own fresh apples so we put together a list as submitted by our Facebook friends. The top farm as mentioned on Facebook was Highland Farm and Orchard. Highland Farm is located right in Holliston on Highland Street. The farm features a dozen different types of apples, all of which can be picked fresh off the tree or bought pre-picked from the farm stand. The farmers have opened about half the area to picking, the rest of the farm (including the late blooming Granny Smith apples) will be opened soon. Also in Holliston, both Arcadian Farms and Out Post Farm sell pre-picked apples to residents …

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GALLERY: Turkey, Hydroponics on Farm Tour

Yesterday Rep. Dykema and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr. toured several of the areas farms.

The sun wasn't shining, but that didn't stop the 8th Middlesex District Farm Tour from happening. Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, was joined by Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr. at several local farms including Out Post Farm in Holliston and Water Fresh Farm in Hopkinton. They were joined by selectmen in each town as well as Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, and Rep. Chris Walsh, D-Framingham.

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Where in Hopkinton

Where in Hopkinton: The Royal Family

Where in Hopkinton is back, and this week's picture features the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Have you seen this royal plate before? It's displayed somewhere in Hopkinton and features a picture of Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. The two were married in April 2011, a cermony that was watched around the world. Leave a comment if you know where you can view this plate, if there are no correct guesses by Wednesday, we'll add a hint to our Facebook page.  Follow Hopkinton Patch on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest Hopkinton news, or simply hit the "like" button at the top of this page. If you'd like to receive the daily newsletter with our top stories, click here.

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Cormier's Self Defense Academy Celebrates 25 Years

This week we turned our Business Q&A on the Holliston dojo.

Name of Business: Cormier’s Self Defense Academy Owner: Jim Cormier/Master Instructor How many years have you been in business? How did you get started? We are celebrating our 25th year in Holliston. In the early 1980’s, my wife and I took a six week Adult Ed. self defense course at Holliston High. I was hooked and trained a few nights a week for almost four years under Master Larry Garron. He then gave me permission to open a school and the rest is history. Do you live in town? Since 1983. We’ve raised two daughters.  Aimee teaches 6th grade English and Social Studies at Adams Middle School.  Kelly is a registered nurse at Timothy Daniels House. Very proud of both of them. What do you like best about owning/running this business? My …

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