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Federal grant helps Westborough Police Department hire an additional officer By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor
100% FREE
Vol. 51 | No. 47 | November 21, 2025
‘It changed me in such a great way’
First Parish bell rings again after years of silence
Northborough teen perseveres, beats one of the world’s most painful diseases
Northborough | 12 Proposed 40-unit project shows improvement, but skeptics remain
WESTBOROUGH — The Westborough Police Department will be hiring a new patrol officer thanks to a grant awarded by the Department of Justice, which will partially pay for the position over the next three years. Chief Todd Minardi came before the Select Board at its Tuesday, Nov. 4 meeting seeking approval to accept the grant, which he ultimately received unanimous support for. “I’m convinced that it’s needed,” said Select Board member Mark Silverberg.
SHREWSBURY | 18 A sweet development: Nourse Farm adds cider donuts
WPD Grant | 14
Shrewsbury bartender who saved patron’s life honored by Celtics
Gabby Richard has overcome the odds. Now, she wants to help others. (Photo/Courtesy)
By Evan Walsh Managing Editor
By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter
BOSTON — Justin Goodney, a bartender at the Ground Round in Shrewsbury, was honored during the Boston Celtics versus Washington Wizards home game on Wednesday, Nov. 5. During a routine shift at the Ground Round in July, a guest suddenly began choking. Goodney immediately sprung into action. Drawing on his emergency response training, he jumped over the bar, identified the issue, and successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver until the obstruction cleared. The patron was able to breathe again.
NORTHBOROUGH — In 2022, Gabby Richard was a normal 14-year-old. Then, an injury sustained during field hockey sent her into a yearslong spiral of pain, therapies, and treatment that would alter her life forever. While running to score a goal, Richard fell and tore three ligaments in her right ankle. Devastated, she was eager to recover and return to the field. But in the weeks that followed, she wasn’t recovering like she was supposed to. Her foot felt like it was on fire, with even the lightest touch making her feel like a brick was being dropped on her, she said. More and more, she had a feeling deep down that something was wrong. Eventually, Richard and her mother
Hero Celtics | 14
WESTBOROUGH | 20
went to the doctor, hopeful that her condition was a minor complication. “We had no idea this disease even existed,” she said. Richard was diagnosed in December of 2022 with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain illness that can develop after an injury. People with CRPS develop an abnormal pain response in their nerves, causing intense pain in a certain part of the body, even without a present injury, according to experts. CRPS is sometimes referred to as the “suicide disease” because of the excruciating pain associated with it. “I just remember breaking down in the car on the way home,” Richard said. Before her injury, Richard was an athlete with an active social life. After
SOUTHBOROUGH | 26
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Richard | 19
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Algonquin Unified Basketball takes on Southborough PD
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