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Welch and Silverberg, Owens and Doret win Westborough election
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Vol. 51 | No. 11 | March 14, 2025
20 years, 19 puppies
SELCO seeks relocation to North Quinsig. Avenue
Paul and Karla Reuter alongside Jack O, their 4-month-old puppy. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
Shrewsbury | 4
WESTBOROUGH – Westborough elected its new leaders on March 11. Patrick Welch (1,457 votes) and Mark Silverberg (1,451 votes) won seats on the Select Board according to unofficial results, besting Kelly Collins (1,304 votes) and Boyd Conklin (129 votes). For School Committee, Jane Owens (1,552 votes) and Stephen Doret (1,329 votes) took the two available seats, topping Kris Kumsi (725 votes), Anjana Chennagiri (603 votes), and Boyd Conklin (144 votes). The remaining races were uncontested. Election officials reported a steady turnout throughout the day.
Budget cuts limit Westborough property tax increase to $659 By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – Residents concerned about another year of property tax hikes will see their fiscal 2026 bills rise, but not as much as previously announced. A combination of good financial news and cuts made to the town and school budgets led to a reduction in the projected increase for the average singlefamily home. Before, the increase was estimated at $969. Now, with the new information, that number drops to $659. Town Manager Kristi Williams said there are still a few factors before the budget is finalized, including state aid and contract negotiations with the patrol officers and clerical unions. Budget | 4
‘Night in the Cold’ raises $20,000 for homeless programs
WEstborough | 12 Post Office Pub under new ownership
By raising dogs, Northborough couple helps those in need By Evan Walsh Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – First, there was Toby. Then Hank, then Hamlet. Then came Bruno and Bailey, Bunky and Ringo, and Ramsey and Raja. Dyson and Issy were after that, followed by Putter, Otto, and Adam. Domenick “The Chatty” — who practically knew how to speak — is next in line, with Charley, Kramer, Beau, and Jack O. rounding out the bunch. Those 19 names belong to 19 service dogs, each of which spent their formative years in the household of longtime Northborough residents Paul and Karla Reuter. For the last two decades, the Reuter family has been raising puppies for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. Over a one- to two-year period, the Reuters prepare puppies for a life of service and
companionship. “I always wanted to get a dog, and [Karla] didn’t want to get a dog; she had put down five dogs in her life,” said Paul. “When we saw [the program], we thought it was perfect. We’d get a dog, have it for a year-and-a-half, everybody would get their dog fix, and we’d be done.” “It didn’t quite work out that way,” he said laughing. Nowadays, the Reuters have shaped their life around raising these canines. A room off their kitchen was once a closet — now it’s the “dog room.” Furniture around the house has little “chew marks,” evidence of puppies that went through the teething phase. “Our house does look like it has had 20 dogs in it,” Paul joked. But it hasn’t stopped the Reuters. Raising dogs | 8
grafton | 13 OT winner sends St. John’s hockey to the Garden
Shrewsbury | 22
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