Locally owned and operated since 1974
Your community. Your news. Your paper. Vol. 50 | No. 47 | November 22, 2024
Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
Shrewsbury’s MBTA zoning gets the green light
THREE-PEAT: Westborough volleyball wins championship
1974 - 20
24
FREE
Holiday Gift Guide See inside!
By Evan Walsh Reporter
MWRTA plan would provide affordable rides
SHREWSBURY – By a 123-50 margin, Town Meeting voted on Nov. 18 to approve Article 9, establishing a “Transit Oriented Development Overlay District,” or MBTA zoning district, in the southeast corner of town along Route 20. After a roughly two-hour-long debate that went late into the night — and included a successful motion that struck language regarding mixed-use zoning — Town Meeting members approved a contiguous, 118-acre zone that contains three main parcels: Shrewsbury Commons, 409 South Street, and Emerald Run.
Region | 6 Blue Square Pizza to expand into Northborough
MBTA zoning | 4
Northborough adopts single tax rate of $14.25 By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – The Select Board voted to adopt a single tax rate of $14.25 during its Nov. 18 meeting. The fiscal 2025 values were based on property values as of Jan. 1. According to Principal Assessor Lee Keomanivong, overall, Northborough’s property values increased by 6% from $4.26 billion to $4.5 billion. N o r t h b o ro u g h e x p e r i e n c e d $36,692,719 in new growth value, including seven new single-family homes, one new two-family structure, two new warehouses, two new retail buildings and several major renovation Tax rate | 5
The Westborough Rangers are now back-to-back-to-back MIAA Division 2 champions. (Photo/Owen Jones Photography/Jones Photo)
By Evan Walsh Reporter BILLERICA – Holding the ball out in front of her, Teeghan Patch crept forward to deliver a serve in the season’s biggest moment. Just moments prior, Westborough seemed destined to win the championship. The Rangers won two of the first three sets, and after pulling ahead 19-16, they sat a mere six points away from hoisting the trophy. But second-ranked Oliver Ames fought back — hard. With their season on the line, the Tigers won eight of the next 10 points — including going on a 5-0 run — to make the set 24-21. Now, it was Westborough that had to battle back — or risk a fifth set with a red-hot Oliver Ames squad. Off the serve of Sam Norman, the Rangers took a 2625 lead. It was left to Patch, one of the team’s nine seniors, to seal the deal. Her confident serve forced a poor return, the
ball flying out of play as Westborough’s players swarmed one another to celebrate the championship win. After a year of competition, the Westborough volleyball dynasty continues. “It’s spectacular. I’m thrilled beyond comprehension. I’m really, really happy,” said Westborough Head Coach Roger Anderson. “For this group, it’s special because at the beginning of the year nobody thought we could do this. I think that makes it really special. They worked hard every day, and they earned it. I mean we had to earn it against Oliver Ames because they played fantastic today.” The championship-game win — earned at Billerica Memorial High School on Nov. 16 — gave Westborough its third consecutive MIAA Division 2 championship, something that’s never happened in school history. Captained by Mia Grandin, Norman, and Georgia Tyrrell, the team finished the season at 21-1, winning 63 of Volleyball | 27
northborough | 7 Neary Building Committee holds tour of school
Southborough | 18
Stay up to date with all the news!