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Your community. Your news. Your paper. Vol. 50 | No. 36 | September 6, 2024
Community Center price tag estimated $15.5 to $25 million
1974 - 20
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Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
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Mary Ellen Duggan named Applefest grand marshal
$41.4M fire station price tag to go before Town Meeting
northborough | 5 Plans approved for Albrecht Auto Group
westborough | 7
The rendering for the first floor under Alternative 1. (Photo/Town of Westborough)
Students head back to school
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – On Thursday, Aug. 29, a special joint meeting hosted by the Select Board, Council on Aging and Recreation Commission gave residents a better idea of what could go into the community center on Union Street, and the possible cost. Based on input from public sessions Community Center | 9
McInerney to become Shrewsbury DPW director By Evan Walsh and Laura Hayes SHREWSBURY – Tim McInerney has been tapped to lead Shrewsbury’s Department of Public Works (DPW). During an Aug. 27 Select Board meeting, Town Manager Kevin Mizikar announced that McInerney would become DPW director, a role that has been unoccupied following the departure of the former director Jeff McInerney | 4
Mary Ellen Duggan stands inside of the Northborough Food Pantry. She was recently named the Applefest grand marshal. (Photo/Laura Hayes)
By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – When Mary Ellen Duggan learned that she would be Applefest grand marshal, she was shocked. “I love Applefest. I really do. It just brings everybody in the community out,” said Duggan. “There’s something for everybody.” Meet Mary Ellen Duggan grew up in Canton and moved to Northborough when she started her family. “I think as my kids grew up, I grew with them in the ways you’re involved with town things,” she said. That means helping out with Girl Scouts, PTO and Booster Club. She ran the snack shack for the Booster Club for many years. As her kids grew up, Duggan became involved with the Northboro Junior
region | 28
Woman’s Club, the Northborough Food Pantry and Northborough Helping Hands Association Inc. She is currently in her second year as copresident of the Junior Woman’s Club; she also volunteers with Community Meals, Our Father’s Table and Northborough Rotary Club and its Nutrition 68 program. She is also involved with her church St. Bernadette Parish as the outreach minister. All of the work is intertwined, she said. “I think there are so many opportunities to get everybody involved in helping our community. Our community is a helping community. If you have a need, and you put it out there, someone is going to answer your need,” Duggan said. For example, when shoes were needed for the families who lived at the Econo Lodge, community members were “head over heels” donating items. The community is generous when people need sup-
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Boosters still raise funds after kids have graduated
shrewsbury | 30
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