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Your community. Your news. Your paper. Vol. 50 | No. 50 | December 13, 2024
Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
Community Center pool project estimated at $406,521
Fire damages Arrive building
1974 - 20
24
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By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – The project to renovate the pool at the community center on Union Street is making its way through the capital budget process. During its meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, the Capital Expenditures Committee approved the request for the pool, which has been closed since the town purchased the former Boston Sports Clubs site a year ago. It was among $1.41 million in requests approved by the committee, out of the $2.2 million in requests made by town departments. The pool project will take $406,521 to bring it up to operational standards, according to Recreation Department Director Jennifer Kirkland. Pool | 5
During heated meeting, Select Board rejects ARPA funds for firefighters’ equipment By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – Conversations regarding how Northborough should spend its remaining nearly $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds grew heated at times during the Dec. 2 Select Board meeting, including an abrupt five-minute recess at one point. Eight requests came before the board, including a request from the Northborough Fire Department to fund equipment for eight new firefighters. It was rejected by a vote of 2-3 with ARPA | 4
845,500 sf UPS warehouse approved
Region | 15 NRT awarded another bus contract with WPS Firefighters from three towns helped knock down a fire at the Arrive apartment complex on Turnpike Road in Westborough. (Photos/Evan Walsh and Maureen Sullivan)
WESTborough | 18
By Maureen Sullivan, Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – A faulty electrical appliance was the apparent cause of a fire that led to a portion of the Arrive apartment complex at 293 Turnpike Road becoming uninhabitable. The investigation into the cause was conducted by the town’s Fire Investigation Unit, made up of personnel from Westborough Police and Fire. According to Fire Chief Patrick Purcell, the department was called to Arrive around 8:41 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, on reports of heavy smoke coming from a seventh-floor apartment. On arrival, firefighters from Engine 4 went to the seventh floor and discovered heavy smoke in the south side and a fire in Apartment 716. Westborough’s Truck 1 and Engine 2 were called in, along with crews from neighboring towns. According to Purcell, two sprinkler heads with Apartment 716 were activated; the fire was contained to one room and quickly extinguished. Meanwhile, firefighters evacuated residents from the building and, using fans, ventilated the smoke from the area. Although the fire was knocked down quickly, there was water damage that extended from the seventh floor to the basement. According to Purcell, damage has been estimated at $2 million. He said the department had to shut off the water and utilities; the southern part of the building was declared uninhabitable. One person was transported by Westborough paramedics to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Another person had a hand injury, but did not require a trip to the hospital. Currently, the occupants of all 177 apartments (466 registered tenants) have been displaced by the fire. They are receiving housing assistance from the Red Cross, Westborough’s Public Health director, Arrive management and the Fire Department.
Shrewsbury holds Yuletide Market, Light the Common
shrewsbury | 27
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