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Vol. 50 | No. 26 | June 28, 2024
Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
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Developer, trust close in on housing agreement
SPD on the job to monitor influx of Jet Skis
Westborough Library chooses Coraccio as new director
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
Westborough | 7
WESTBOROUGH – As negotiations for the special permit/site plan application for 18 and 30 Lyman continue, a proposal to provide an affordable housing subsidy is close to being finalized. A working group authorized by the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust is negotiating with the developer, Colangelo Massachusetts Real Estate LLC, for the subsidy. The town’s zoning requires 20% of the 132 units to be affordable (certified by the State Housing Inventory, at 80% of Area Median Income). At this percentage, there would be 27 affordable units. Should the subsidy be approved, the AHT would provide $750,000, or Housing | 4
Site plans approved for fire station project
Meet the Shrewsbury PD’s new comfort dog
Shrewsbury | 12
Officer Shawn Valliere, who has patrolled Lake Quinsigamond for the last 15 years, steers the Shrewsbury Police Department’s 19-foot Boston Whaler across the water. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
southborough | 24
By Evan Walsh, Reporter
NORTHBOROUGH – Site plans for the new Northborough Fire Station have been approved by the Planning Board. During the June 18 meeting, project engineer Jim Jackson walked the Planning Board through the changes to the fire station, which is set to be about 30,000 square feet at 61-65 West Main St. One of the changes was to realign the western driveway with the Dunkin’
SHREWSBURY – Officer Shawn Valliere has patrolled Lake Quinsigamond for the last 15 years. In that time, he’s developed an almost-encyclopedic knowledge of every island, beach, nook and cranny of one of Shrewsbury’s most well-known natural landmarks. Valliere has been with the department for 21 years and can tell you about the truck reportedly thrown to the bottom of the lake by the 1953 Worcester tornado and the eagles that live atop Drake Island. With a decade of experience on this seven-mile body of water split between Shrewsbury and Worcester, Valliere will tell you something else — the personal watercraft, or Jet Ski, situation has become overwhelming and oftentimes dangerous. “Over 15 years, I’ve seen the volume of boaters and traffic increase — it’s exploded. It’s a small lake for the amount of traffic and the amount of people we have coming out here on a daily basis … We’re overwhelmed,” said Valliere. “It’s a lot, we’re doing a lot to keep everyone safe, but the amount of boaters that come out here now is overwhelming.” Lake Quinsigamond is currently experiencing an influx of disruptive boaters. On June 19, Valliere reported seeing the most Jet Skis on the water over his 15 years. The total number was over 70, he said. Many of the Jet Ski users have been reckless, residents and police have previously said. A number of the watercraft have been operated without proper paperwork or registration, while others have lacked certain safety equipment, said Valliere. Personal watercraft have carried more people than allowed, blown past the lake’s 40 mph speed limit, operated too close to other vessels and “weaved through traffic” around other boaters.
Fire station | 10
Jet Ski | 6
By Laura Hayes Managing Editor
Three suspects enter home through window
Grillo smashes discus, shot put records
Westborough | 25
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