Community Advocate October 15, 2021 by Community Advocate

Shrewsbury family hosts a haunt for a cause

Area runners lace up for Boston Marathon

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Algonquin boys soccer beats Tantasqua on Senior Night

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Vol. 47 | No. 42 | October 15, 2021

Northborough Planning Board discusses role, future of Groundwater Advisory Committee

Shrewsbury paraprofessionals union expresses frustration with contract negotiations

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

NORTHBOROUGH - Northborough Planning Board member Amy Poretsky recently expressed concern about advisory committees voting on specific projects, Oct. 5, after previously suggesting the town dissolve its Groundwater Advisory Committee, in particular. “I do think advisory committees should not be voting because they’re only supposed to be providing recommendations or advice,” Poretsky said. “It’s a legal liability if two boards are voting on the same thing.” This conversation arose out of a discussion of future zoning bylaws for Town Meeting. Poretsky had suggested on a different date that the town should eliminate its groundwater subcommittee, citing her own research of 90 Massachusetts municipalities when she said only Sherborn had such a committee. The way the memos are written and the way that votes are taken could cause an issue, Poretsky said. Poretsky said she has an example illustrating why she’s brought this forward. She said, however, that said example would have to be discussed in executive session due to litigation. Although she didn’t cite a specific case in public discussion, the Planning Board has recently faced appeals in state land court after denying permit applications by Steris Corp and the Gutierrez Company despite votes by the Groundwater Committee to recommend approval.

SHREWSBURY - Standing shoulderto-shoulder at a recent School Committee Meeting, members of the Shrewsbury Paraprofessionals Association expressed frustration with the negotiation progress for their new contract. “We urge you to invest in paraprofessionals by negotiating a fair contract with significant wage increases for the good of our students, our families and our community,” said President of the Shrewsbury Paraprofessional Association (SPA) Noreen Christie during the Oct. 6 meeting. Christie told the Community Advocate that the paraprofessionals’ contract expired Aug. 26. Paraprofessionals have since been working under their old contract. Prior to the meeting, the School Committee issued a statement that said negotiations are headed toward mediation. “The School Committee has had open, honest and transparent discussions with the SPA negotiating team based on accurate information and facts,” it said. “We value our relationship with this important team and are disappointed that we have not been able to reach a contract agreement during negotiation discussions.”

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 3

Dear Shrewsbury Community Members,

THE

OVER TOP

The Paraprofessionals of Shrewsbury Public Schools are here daily to provide essential support to a broad spectrum of students. We are here because we care. We care by assisting students in their efforts as they meet IEP objectives and prepare for state assessments. We care by promoting student self-advocacy and wellbeing (while during the pandemic, risking ours). We champion for each student to reach their full academic and personal potential. It is amongst our goals to work with the district to create opportunities for a better future; not solely for the students we support, but for ourselves as well. While we strive to model the district’s commitment to community service and leadership, it has been difficult at times to feel community belonging. We are disappointed that the wages proposed by the School Committee do not bring a sense of security to our basic financial needs. As full-time employees, with a current starting hourly rate of $14.95, most Paraprofessionals are compensated less than $22,000 per year. In comparison, the average annual living wage for Worcester County is $31,262. Increasing pay to a more livable wage would not only bring modest assurance to Paraprofessional employees, but also assist in attracting more competitive candidates to fill the district’s staffing needs. Our hope is for the School Committee to meet our attempts at reaching a fair and equitable contract. We humbly request your support in our effort to bring the earnings of Shrewsbury Paraprofessionals to a living wage, so that we may effectively continue the work we love. Thank you for your care and attention to our matter.

letters to the editor

PHOTO/TAMI WHITE

Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge SHREWSBURY - Drone photography recently captured cars traveling between Worcester and Shrewsbury on the Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge. Shrewsbury joined its larger neighbor to the west, last week, in enacting a revamped indoor mask mandate. See full coverage on page 10.

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4 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS Westborough Fire Department proposes town meeting warrant articles By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer

Contract would fund removal of outdated fire alarm cables The first article relates to fire alarm infrastructure, which Fire Chief Patrick Purcell said currently operates through radio boxes that transmit radio waves. A receiver at the Fire Station then decodes those radio waves. Prior to 2006, however, the fire alarm infrastructure was based on what Purcell called dirty copper wiring. That wiring has not been fully removed

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Fire department seeks to update computer software The other warrant article would pay for an upgrade to fire department computer software. Deputy Chief Jason Ferschke said that, since 2016, the Fire Department has been using a program called IMC as part of a joint dispatch with the Westborough Police Department.

Town meeting to take place next month This year’s special town meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Westborough High School Auditorium. The Select Board voted to close the Town Meeting warrant on Sept. 28. Both articles directly impacting the fire department were included on the final warrant.

Voters will decide on a pair of town meeting warrant articles impacting the Fire Department at town meeting on Oct. 18.

a l l o c a t e a p p rox i m a t e l y $30,000 to hire an aerial crew from FiberTech Services, Inc. to remove the old cables and dispose of them in a dumpster. Purcell said the fire department was still trying to get additional quotes assessing how much the project would cost

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as of Sept. 14. It should not be significantly more than $19,000, though, he said. “The reason we are asking for $30,000 is we’re required to provide a dumpster and disposal, and also police details,” Purcell continued. Select Board member Shelby Marshall noted that the Town of Westborough had been asked by the National Grid to take down the wiring as it is interfering with replacement of poles.

Despite their efforts, Ferschke said that the software has not worked well for the Fire Department. “It is really designed for law enforcement,” he said. “It is not designed for the fire service.” Ferschke said that the Fire Department wants to adopt a new piece of software, First Due, that is designed for use by fire services. The new software, he said, would help the fire department with pre-planning, fire prevention, emergency response and a number of other areas. The system is cloud-based and not server-based, Ferschke added, which will make it more difficult to hack into. “This is pretty much considered the gold standard,” Ferschke said. “This is a comprehensive program and it’s one that is appealing.” Ferschke said the upgraded software for the fire department would have no impact on the use of IMC for Westborough Police. An explanation attached to this town meeting article estimated that maintenance of this software would cost roughly $29,000 per year.

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

WESTBOROUGH - Two town meeting warrant articles will ask voters to approve projects addressing fire alarm infrastructure and fire department computer software, department officials explained in a presentation to the Westborough Select Board on Sept. 14.

from Westborough’s poles. “We have been piecemealing since I have become the chief because we have double poles in town,” Purcell said. “We have some where they have cut the pole up high and left it. That is pretty much our fault.” Purcell said that the fire department had started to take the wire down themselves, purchasing a bucket truck for that purpose. However, he said that the Fire Department is not really suited to this task. “We have no business in that space,” Purcell said. “We’re asking for problems, nor are we certified by OSHA to be working in a bucket truck.” Purcell said that there is an estimated 94,000 feet of cable still left out on poles in town. The fire department has taken down between 10 and 15 percent of the cable that was initially on poles. The warrant article would

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Assabet Valley Mastersingers will perform at St. John’s Oct. 30 SHREWSBURY - The Assabet Valley Mastersingers will kick off their 2021-2022 concert series at St. John’s High School on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. The Mastersingers will present “Songs of Unity,” which include performances of “Unity in Diversity” by Cynthia Wong, “LUX: The Dawn from On High” by Dan Forrest and “We Exist” by Oliver Caplan. “Unity in Diversity” was commissioned by AVM from Wong, who is a Northborough native, in honor of its 40th anniversary. Tickets cost $25, or $20 for seniors and students. They can be purchased online at https://www.avmsingers.org/ or at the venue on the day of the concert.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 5

COMMUNITY NEWS

Contractor proposes support yard on Northborough’s Bartlett Street because we’re going to be here a long time,” Gates said.

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NORTHBOROUGH - A utility contractor that installs natural gas lines wants to open a support yard at 200 Bartlett St. in Northborough. The company, R.J. Devereaux, appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 28. Devereaux installs natural gas lines for National Grid and Eversource. “This facility will basically be a support yard for all the crews,” said project manager Rick Gates. He estimated that they had 24 crews in the area. All the equipment they use needs to be maintained periodically, which would be taken care of on this site.

‘They don’t do heavy maintenance’ Devereaux plans to use all of the existing buildings on the site. The company will upgrade two of the buildings to use as their administrative and maintenance buildings. A small storage building on the site will be demolished. R.J. Devereaux would only maintain their own fleet, which Project Architect Dario DiMare estimated at 27 vehicles. “ They don’t do heavy maintenance,” DiMare noted. “They’re not changing transmissions or engines.” He estimated that, at any point, there may be around a half dozen people total on site. “If these guys are on site, it means they aren’t working, and if they’re not working, the Devereauxes aren’t making money,” DiMare said. The administrative building would be used for training, such as showing Devereaux workers

Board member seeks more information on chemicals Board members asked questions about drainage and the chemicals. Board member Suzanne Ciselica asked who would check up on chemical usage once business starts, if the list of chemicals is approved. The town’s inspector of buildings and zoning enforcement office would do that work, town staff said. All of Devereaux’s chemicals would be stored in the maintenance building. Board member Brad Blanchette said he wanted to see a list of such chemicals. “I want to know exactly what’s going on, and I want our town engineer to know what’s happening, what’s going on on that property before we make a decision,” Blanchette said. The board continued the hearing until its Oct. 26 meeting.

Company seeks variance to open site in Groundwater district R.J. Devereaux sought a variance. Attorney Paula Devereaux said it’s for automotive repair,

PHOTOS/LAURA HAYES

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

Lamy’s Automotive sits on Bartlett Street in Northborough.

which is a prohibited use in the groundwater district. The site is in both the Groundwater 1 and 3 Districts. “This is a property that has been vacant for many years,” Devereaux said. “We believe that the work that we’re going to be doing at the property will actually be much better for Groundwater District because, currently, right now, there’s not a whole lot that gets treated on

the property.” Lamy Automotive is on the site and would continue to operate with Devereaux as a neighbor. Devereaux said the company has a purchase and sale agreement with the landowners, which is conditioned on receiving the needed approvals the company needs to operate its business on site. “We’re going to do this right

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Shrewsbury paraprofessionals union expresses frustration with contract negotiations Attendees filled the Shrewsbury School Committee meeting held on Oct. 6.

School Committee | from page 1

PHOTOS/LAURA HAYES

are extremely low,” Christie said. “As wages rise at jobs all around us, there will never be a more opportune time to bridge the gap to a living wage.” School Committee ‘optimistic’ about mediation process The current contract calls for a two percent increase in addition to regularly scheduled step increases every year for paraprofessionals, excluding Applied Behavioral Analysis Technicians and Media Aides. “Our goal entering negotia-

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tions was to put money into the pockets of all SPA members,” the School Committee said. The committee said that, in their most recent proposal, year one and three costs of living increases were greater than that two percent mark. Between cost of living and step increases in year two, the district said its proposal saw between a four and a 10 percent wage increase. The committee said it “actively assesses” the labor market to see what other districts are paying for similar positions. After it reached an impasse in negotiations with the Paraprofessionals Association, the committee said they were “optimistic” mediation would help them reach an agreement on a contract as soon as possible.

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Paraprofessionals call for higher pay Christie read a petition to the School Committee on Oct. 6 signed by 226 paraprofessionals, some of whom she said left to work for other districts. Christie said she lived in Shrewsbury for 41 years before moving to Worcester because she couldn’t afford to live in town. “We love our jobs, our colleagues, our families, and we are essential to the academic, social and emotional wellbeing of the students in the district,” Christie said. She continued, “We want to stay here in Shrewsbury, but not at wages that are [a] detriment to our families.” Shrewsbury voters approved a Proposition 2 1/2 budget override in May. Christie said the district is receiving increased federal and state funding. “The School Committee’s bargaining team has not taken this opportunity to right a longstanding wrong — the wages of Shrewsbury paraprofessionals

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 7

COMMUNITY NEWS

Westborough Planning Board supports warrant article amending alcohol bylaws By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough Planning Board voted 5-0 at a meeting on Oct. 5 to support a warrant article for the upcoming Oct. 18 town meeting that would amend town bylaws regarding alcoholic beverages. The warrant article would create exceptions to the town’s bylaws prohibiting consumption of alcohol in town buildings and property as well as in public ways and public parks. It would then give the Select Board the ability to authorize permits allowing for alcohol consumption in these contexts. Members of the Planning Board described the article as particularly important because it encourages outdoor dining by allowing restaurants to obtain permits to serve alcohol outside. “I think it’s important to support this because I think

“

So, anything like this that can help these businesses stay afloat, I think it’s important. Peter Bouchard Planning Board member

the margins on owning a restaurant are very minimal and, during COVID, it’s been difficult for these kinds of businesses,” said Planning Board member Peter Bouchard. “So, anything like this that can help these businesses stay afloat, I think it’s important.” Town Planner Jim Robbins added that the article supports the goals of the recently approved town master plan, which encourages outdoor dining as well as storefront displays and sales of products.

MRCC announces tri-chamber event to honor, celebrate veterans REGION - The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, together with the Worcester Regional and MetroWest Chambers of Commerce, recently announced a joint event to honor and celebrate veterans. Entitled “21 Gun Tri-Salute” to our Troops, the event will take place on Nov. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson. Andrew Biggio, a United States Marine Veteran and the author of “The

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“Alcohol served outside the premises also requires approval from the Board of Selectmen, so this warrant article gives the Board of Selectmen that authority,” Robbins said. “Currently, they do not have that authority.” The Planning Board also recommended that Article 20, part of which allows for and imposes requirements

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Northborough family thanks community after support following fire By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter NORTHBOROUGH - After a groundswell of support from the community following a deadly fire last month, one woman directly impacted by that fire wants to share her thanks. “My heart is exploded with everybody’s donations and

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outlets. As Lisa described it, she wasn’t thinking. She was just acting. “It’s like my body just did the stuff,” she said. “It knew what to do, and it did it. I think I haven’t come out of that mode yet. I’ve cried here and there, but I don’t think it’s really hit me, knowing that it was that serious that, if Michael didn’t wake up, none of us would be there.” A car had driven by. The driver laid on their horn. Lisa said that, if they hadn’t already been awake, the horn would’ve woken them up.

the fire after being with her sister. Lights were out in her home by 10:30 p.m. Hours later, though, she heard her partner, Michael, say, “What’s that smell? Did you put your cigarette out?” Lisa ran into the kitchen. There weren’t any cigarettes in the ashtray and she hadn’t smoked for hours. She walked past their front door to the hall, she said, and smelled something. “When I came back from the kitchen, I opened our front door and it was nothing but smoke and a smell you’ve never smelled before,” Lisa said. In a loud voice, she said, “This isn’t just smoke. This is fire.” Michael got her son out of the house. She banged on the door of her neighbor Kevin Hunt. Lisa tried his back door, which was unlocked. “I turned the doorknob, and the door opened and it was just full of smoke,” Lisa said. Other neighbors later credited Lisa for waking them up in comments to the Community Advocate and other media

Fire victim remembered, mourned Firefighters responded and authorities later said that Hunt died in the fire. A father of two, he was remembered as “a gentle, thoughtful, and loving man who was kind to everyone he met” in his obituary. Hunt, 40, was a hockey star in his youth and remained an active hockey and golf player into adulthood. He worked in medical sales and was an “avid Boston sports fan.” “Kevin’s true passion was his incredible love and devotion to his two children,” his obituary read. “They were the love of his life and he was theirs. He was a truly devoted and loving father to his children.”

Woman displaced by fire reflects on Northborough Lisa, who grew up in Northborough, wore a pink scarf bearing the town’s name as she met with the Community Advocate late last month.

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Growing up in Northborough was comfortable, she said. “It’s homey and friendly,” she said. “If you say ‘hello’ to your neighbors, they say it back.” She’s not scared to walk down the street, she said. After moving out of town, she later came back, moving into an apartment on Maple Street after a divorce. She had lived there for the past five years prior to the fire that ripped through that home on Sept. 10. “[I] don’t want to leave again,” Lisa said. “I love the town. My son loves the school system.” The Northborough Public Schools have helped out, Lisa said. Peaslee Elementary School gave the family gift certificates and Lisa said her son’s teachers at Melican Middle School have been a source of support. “I can’t thank everybody in this area enough,” she said. ‘A smell you’ve never smelled before’ Lisa had got home to her apartment at 129 Maple St. around 10 p.m. the night before

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Cuban posters on display in Westborough library By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter WESTBOROUGH - Stephen Lewis was walking around Havana one day when he walked past a house whose doors to the foyer were open. Lewis saw two posters — one featured Che Guevara and the other Fidel Castro. He was looking at them when a woman came out and saw him. She pointed to them, and Lewis gave a thumbs up that he was looking at the posters. The woman carefully removed the posters and handed them to Lewis. “Keeping in mind that this was early in the revolution, and…Che and Fidel were gods to them, this was a big thing for her to give up…these two posters,” Lewis said. “But she gave them to me and I thought

that was really nice of her.” Lewis still has those posters. Now, though, they’re part of his larger collection of Cuban posters. The posters from Lewis’ collection are on display in a special exhibit at the Westborough Public Library that started on Oct. 4 and will remain open through Saturday, Oct. 30. Lewis, who is a retired union leader, said he began collecting the posters by accident. He was attending an international union conference in Moscow in 1990. People came to the conference from all over the world, bringing posters from their unions, organizations or countries. “The posters really attracted me,” Lewis said. He returned home with a number of posters and stored them in his attic.

Northborough family thanks community after support following fire Fire | from page 9

Alicia soon posted a call to action on a Facebook page for Northborough moms, though. The group members ran with it. Word spread quickly. Donations were already being dropped off when Lisa talked to Alicia again at around 9:30 a.m. “I’ve been overwhelmed because it’s still coming in,” Lisa later said. Lisa thanked her daughters Alicia and Valerie, community members and members of both the Northborough Police Department and Northborough Fire Department. She particularly thanked a firefighter who

saved her son Leelan’s cat. Michael had saved Lisa’s cat but couldn’t find Leelan’s cat, Rosie. “Leelan was beside himself,” Lisa said. Hours went by. But, then, Michael gasped. That firefighter was carrying Rosie, alive. She had been hiding in a set of bunk beds. Ways to help out Lisa said any donations can be sent through Alicia’s Venmo @Alicia-Renaud. Any gift cards can be sent to the Embassy Suites at 123 Boston Post Rd. West in Marlborough.

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Lewis then kept collecting posters. Lewis said a lot of their posters depict the struggles going on in their countries. Their messages are in multiple languages, “so it would be more open to people in other countries that didn’t necessarily speak English or Spanish,” Lewis said. He realized, though, that no one was seeing the posters while they were in his attic.

So, Lewis identified libraries that might exhibit the posters. He framed them, gathered materials, and made schedules for those libraries. “The posters are either posters that were created in Cuba by various organizations or they were posters from other countries about Cuba,” Lewis said. Some of them feature figures like Guevara — one of which has the slogan “Chénge

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the World” above a picture of Guevara. Lewis estimates that he has about 9,200 posters in his overall collection. He said there are about 125 in this specific collection. Lewis’ posters have been displayed all over the state, including recently at the Boyden Library in Foxborough. They’ve previously been showcased in Westborough. One of the posters now on display in the Westborough exhibit comments specifically on current events. “Time to end the blockade, Joe,” it says in reference to President Joe Biden and ongoing sanctions against Cuba. Lewis’ current exhibit continues at the Westborough Public Library, located at 55 West Main St. in town. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

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10 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Westborough Police to seek Town Meeting support for new Administrative Lieutenant position By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough Police Department is asking voters to approve an article at this month’s Town Meeting to create a new Administrative Lieutenant position for the town. Discussing the effort at a Sept. 14 Select Board meeting, Police Chief Jeffery Lourie detailed the long list of tasks that would be assigned to this individual. “Basically, it is going to be an extremely busy position,” Lourie said. Lieutenant would work on variety of tasks The Administrative Lieutenant would serve as Westborough’s public records officer, while also completing administrative tasks associated with the town’s new body worn camera program and the firearms licensing process. They would handle solicitor permits, processing of court discovery motions and holding

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cell inspections in addition to a host of new duties associated with the state’s newly created Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. Gov. Charlie Baker signed Massachusetts’ police reform bill into law late last year, in part creating the POST commission. The commission will operate a number of accountability measures, holding independent authority to discipline officers in Massachusetts. The commission will conduct its own investigations of alleged misconduct while maintaining databases of various police records. The POST commission and the larger reform bill that created it will likely translate to an increase in administrative tasks for local departments like Westborough’s, Lourie said. That, in turn, underscores the need for a new Administrative Lieutenant, Lourie

continued. “I’m hoping that the community supports us on this endeavor,” he said. The new position would aim to have an individual start work on Nov. 1, representing a new cost of $79,726 through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2022. The position would then cost $120,909 for (FY) 2023. Police consider electric vehicle purchase If the Administrative Lieutenant position is approved at town meeting, the Westborough Police would also purchase a new vehicle. Lourie recommended the Mustang Mach-E, a fully electric compact SUV. Lourie said the total cost for the vehicle, electrical work and its vehicle charger would be $70,881.20. Lourie said the alternative, a hybrid Ford Explorer XLT,

would, among other things, cost less initially. The XLT, however, would have more longterm costs due to increased expenses for mileage and maintenance. “We think it’s going to be cost effective in the long run to go with an electric vehicle for administrators and detectives,” Lourie said. An added benefit, he noted, is the decreased climate impact from an electric vehicle like the Mach-E. State benchmarks have called for an eventual shift away from gas powered vehicles. Locally, a number of groups like Sustainable Westborough, the town’s Climate Action Plan Task Force and the Westborough Rotary Club have all worked to promote electric vehicles, holding an electric vehicle information session in August.

“We would like to be an example in town,” Lourie said of the opportunity to “go green” with a new vehicle purchase. “These vehicles can do the job.” Proposal comes as police face staffing shortages Lourie’s presentation on the Administrative Lieutenant position came during a larger presentation with Deputy Chief Todd Minardi on staffing shortages within the Westborough Police Department. Separate from their Town Meeting plans, the department has prepared a proposal to use American Rescue Plan Act funding to fund the hiring of three new patrol officers in an effort to get closer to a 2019 recommendation calling for 15 new patrol officers by 2024. The department has, so far, added five new positions since that recommendation.

Shrewsbury enacts indoor mask mandate By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - Face coverings will be once again required indoors in Shrewsbury following a vote by the Shrewsbury Board of Health during a special meeting on Oct. 5. Specifically, the order requires face coverings in all indoor private common spaces in the workplace and in indoor private spaces open to the public in town. This includes restaurants, bars, houses of worship and fitness establishments, except when a person is alone in a workplace, alone with a closed door or socially distanced from other people.

This order went into effect on Oct. 12, alongside an order requiring employers to report positive COVID-19 cases in the workplace. There’s also a mandate requiring facial coverings in all schools. Regional memo prompts mandate Board Chair Stephen Vigeant said the Oct. 5 special meeting was called after the Worcester Division of Public Health sent a memo to all of the communities in the Central Massachusetts Regional Public Health Alliance (CMRPHA), advising them to adopt emergency orders. In addition to Worcester and Shrewsbury, the alliance includes Grafton, Millbury and

West Boylston. The Shrewsbury Board of Health had already strongly encouraged people to wear masks in indoor spaces. Worcester Medical Director Michael Hirsh said, though, that they wanted to see masking as a policy instead of just being a recommendation. Experts detail reasoning for mandate Hirsh said that some people may be wondering why Shrewsbury is masking up while COVID-19 infection numbers are going down. Hirsh and Worcester Commissioner of Health and Human Services Matilde Castiel recalled the end of emergency orders and

subsequent reopening earlier this year. “We underestimated what [the] Delta [variant] was going to do over the summer,” Hirsh said. Looking at numbers from India and the United Kingdom, where the Delta variant has hit hard, experts say Delta-driven infection spikes have a propensity to fizzle out after three to four months. But Hirsh said they still don’t know if any of the many other COVID-19 variants currently circulating around the world will take over. “We are in a situation where there’s going to be a lot of family gatherings, whether it’s over the Columbus Day holiday, the mask mandate | 15

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Northborough Planning Board discusses role, future of Groundwater Advisory Committee Groundwater | from page 1

Outside of the groundwater committee, other advisory committees in question under Poretsky’s suggestion include the Design Review Committee, which Planning Board member Michelle Gillespie used to chair. “They were always advisory,” Gillespie said. “They always knew. I don’t understand the comments you’re making. I think they’re false.” Planning Board Chair Kerri Martinek recalled an application where the Design Review Committee recommended using stone and the Planning Board later recommended mulch. “There was confusion by the applicant that it was already approved by Design Review,” she said. Town Planner Kathy Joubert said it is made “very clear” that the advisory boards are advisory. The committees have to vote to advance any individual project, she said. She estimated that half of

her time is spent meeting with applicants, explaining the process of meeting with advisory boards. “It’s every day, folks,” Joubert said. “I just think this is a big discussion about nothing.” Discussion follows suggestion to dissolve groundwater committee Poretsky, who used to serve on the groundwater committee, originally suggested dissolving the committee during an Aug. 17 Planning Board meeting. As it currently operates, the committee gets a memo from Town Engineer Fred Litchfield regarding a given project. Litchfield checks off what’s been covered in terms of the town’s groundwater bylaw. The committee, she said, then tells the applicant whether or not they meet requirements as reported in the memo. In some cases, Poretsky said the committee voted not to read operation and maintenance manuals or stormwater reports.

The groundwater committee isn’t doing deeper research other than looking at Litchfield’s memo, however, Poretsky said. “I don’t think it’s anything that the Planning Board or the [Zoning Board of Appeals] as a special permit granting authority couldn’t do,” Poretsky said. At that time, Planning Board member Millie Milton expressed concern about putting

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the task of reading such reports and surveys onto another committee. It’s not being done at all, responded board member Anthony Ziton. Gillespie suggested expressing these concerns to the committee. Speaking on Oct. 5, Poretsky said that if the Planning Board wanted to keep the commit-

tee, the board could list what it hopes to get in terms of recommendations. “After thinking about it, I do think the groundwater committee adds a lot by reviewing the applications before they come to the boards,” she said. While it may not be a bylaw change, Poretsky said that the board could send a memo to the committee.

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Westborough holds public input session on possibly opting into CPA By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - Community Preservation Act Exploratory Committee (CPAEC) Chair Jenn Doherty presented the benefits and costs of Westborough joining the Community Preservation Act (CPA) at a public meeting at the Westborough Fire Station on Oct. 7. Doherty, who is also the chair of the Westborough Historic Commission, said that the CPA allows communities that opt into it to apply up to a three percent surcharge on their real estate tax amount, which the state supplements with a varying amount of matching funds. The money raised is then dedicated to projects related to affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation, Doherty said. “CPA really supports those projects that benefit a community that are desired but often under-funded,” Doherty said. Doherty noted that the state match is generated by a fee collected at the Registry of Deeds, which Doherty said every com-

munity pays into regardless of whether they have adopted the CPA. “So, Westborough has been paying this fee for the past twenty years, but hasn’t received anything back,” Doherty said. Doherty said that the CPAEC will make a recommendation to the Select Board about whether to place an article asking to approve a ballot question regarding the CPA. If that ballot question were to then pass, Westborough would adopt the CPA. The meeting was sparsely attended. Most of the people present were members of the CPAEC. One of the two attendees who was not a member, Leigh Emery, was formerly a member. The other of those two, Ted Gilbert, offered his thoughts. Gilbert said that the CPA seemed useful for preserving the aesthetics and environment of Westborough and said that he would vote to approve it at town meeting and/or on the ballot. “Per person, it really isn’t that much to pay for some obvious benefits for preserving the downtown,” Gilbert said.

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12 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Shrewsbury family hosts a haunt for a cause By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - When Derek Shimer was a kid, he would spend hours rearranging the Halloween decorations in front of the house. Now, Derek, 14, spends hours annually constructing a haunted house in his family’s garage. “You would think when he was little, he would be scared of stuff,” said his mother, Jennifer. “But he loved it.”

Haunt starts a Halloween party skit The Shimer family holds a Halloween Haunt for their neighborhood every year. This year’s haunt officially opened on Oct. 11 and will remain open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 3 Meadow Hill Rd. in Shrewsbury. The Halloween Haunt began several years ago when the Shimers held a Halloween party at their home. Derek, his dad Cory and his brother

Derek Shimer adjusts decorations before the Halloween Haunt opens.

A day at the park

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

NORTHBOROUGH - Xyla Berry was pictured enjoying a day at Assabet Park in Northborough last month. The park has since been closed for renovations. Constructed more than 20 years ago, according to Recreation Director Allison Lane, the old facility was not compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. “We decided that we need to have one put in that is user-friendly for everyone,” Lane said in an email to the Community Advocate.

did a mad scientist-themed skit. “The reaction was really good, so we decided to keep doing it year after year and it kept getting better every year,” Derek said. Family brings back haunt after COVID-19 hiatus The Shimers had to cancel last year’s haunt due to the pandemic. But, this year, Der-

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ek said they hoped to come back with the best showing they’ve ever had. The Shimers bought more decorations and animatronics. Over half of the decorations now in the haunt are new, Derek estimated. One of Derek’s favorite decorations is an animatronic skeleton dressed as a pirate that they recently acquired. “When Derek was little, he loved pirates,” Jennifer said. “He used to dress up as a pirate.” He loved Davy Jones from the “Pirates of the Caribbean.” “It was never not the scary one,” Jennifer said. “It was always the scary one.” Preparation spans months Derek spends about two months planning and setting up the haunt each year. Even once it’s set up, Derek then spends time making adjustments before Halloween. “I love how he’s like, ‘What can we use that we have in a different way.’ It’s a fun family thing to do together, but it’s nice to give back to our neighborhood and everyone who wants to come,” Jennifer said.

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Halloween Haunt raises funds for charity In past years, the family has only held the haunt on Halloween. But they decided to open it early this year to raise money for Spirit Halloween’s fundraiser, Spirit of Children. Derek said the fundraiser collects money to pay for therapy and entertainment, like Halloween parties, for children in hospitals. Individuals will be able to donate when they visit the haunt.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 13

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14 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Southborough’s Heritage Day celebration returns for 47th year By Ed Karvoski Jr. Contributing Writer

Southborough Kindergroup participants of all ages march and stroll in the Southborough Heritage Day parade.

festivalgoers browsed among vendors including artisans, nonprofit organizations and businesses as well as food and dessert booths and trucks. The Knights of Columbus Council 119 sponsored a kids’ soccer challenge. Meanwhile, Boy Scout Troop 1 provided a rope bridge. Nearby, the Friends of the Southborough Library held the return of its annual book and

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SOUTHBOROUGH - Columbus Day is a particularly special occasion in Southborough. That’s when fans of parades and pumpkins gather with supporters of local artisans, community organizations and businesses. After last year’s hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, the downtown once again bustled with activities Oct. 11 for Southborough Recreation’s 47th Heritage Day. Over 100 decorated jack-olanterns were displayed along Common Street from the previous evening when Southborough Rotary Club presented its 22nd Pumpkin Stroll. Police Chief Kenneth Paulhus led the parade with a color guard consisting of the town’s military veterans. Following them were elected officials, Scout troops and community organizations. The parade concluded with a caravan of town trucks. Festivities continued at St. Mark’s School field. There,

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Calendar raffle planned at St. James Parish GRAFTON - After their signature Harvest Fair event was canceled for a second year due to COVID-19 concerns, St. James Parish in Grafton is holding a November Calendar Raffle. Throughout November, a winning ticket will be randomly selected every day. The winning ticket will win the corresponding prize on the calendar for that day. PHOTO/LAURA HAYES Most of the prizes St. James Parish is located are worth between at 89 Main St. in Grafton. $100 and $350. The total slate of prizes is worth over $5,000. Tickets are on sale for the raffle after each mass at St. James Parish, which is located at 89 Main St. in Grafton. Individuals can also purchase raffle tickets online at https:// stjamesgrafton.com/online-giving. Individuals can buy one ticket for $10, or they can get six tickets for $50.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

Area runners lace up for Boston Marathon

Shrewsbury enacts indoor mask mandate mask mandate | from page 10

Halloween holiday and then, of course, the big one is Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Hirsh said. Last year, there was a surge of cases after the holiday season, he said. “I think we just have to keep our foot on the pedal and not let up our guard yet,” Hirsh said.

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REGION - The Boston Marathon returned this week for the first time since the spring of 2019. Upwards of three dozen area residents were registered to make the short trip to Hopkinton on Monday, lining up for a personal challenge and, in many cases, a fundraising cause. The weather stayed largely clear as runners navigated their way to the race finish line on Boylston St. in Boston. As crowds still lined the course, the ever-sprawling mass of marathon runners was smaller than usual this year due to limitations placed by the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the marathon. See additional photos and finish times online at CommunityAdvocate.com.

‘This virus doesn’t respect … the boundaries that we write’ As the Board of Health voted to mandate masks, Castiel said Shrewsbury was doing “fabulously” in terms of its vaccination numbers. Her presentation indicated that 76 percent of residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 70 percent of residents were fully vaccinated. “The thought process is to continue being able to mask, even though numbers are good for Shrewsbury, thinking that how we should handle a pandemic shouldn’t be by neighborhood by neighborhood or by town by town,” Castiel said. “It truly should be a statewide issue

until numbers are doing better throughout the state.” That’s how pandemics should be handled in the future, she added. “This virus doesn’t respect the Burns Bridge and the boundaries that we write for where Shrewsbury is and where Worcester is,” Hirsh said. The entirety of Worcester County reported a rolling average of just six COVID-19 cases on June 26 according to New York Times visualizations sourced from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. By Sept. 16, though, that number had spiked to 276 cases. The number has since remained high, only dipping to 222 cases on Oct. 7. Worcester implemented its own mask mandate last month, establishing similar rules as those recently enacted in Shrewsbury. The orders do not have a specific end date. Hirsh said that officials may revisit the orders in December or January if data indicates that COVID-19 spread is diminished and if case numbers are low.

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16 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Southborough Boards continue to disagree about specifics of downtown district bylaw proposal By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer SOUTHBOROUGH – Trying to reach a consensus on a proposed downtown district bylaw is proving to be a challenge for the Southborough Board of Selectmen, the Economic Development Committee (EDC) and the Planning Board. During an Oct. 5 Board of Selectmen meeting, EDC members outlined their ongoing concerns about changes made to the proposed bylaw, which is slated to go before Special Town Meeting on Monday, Nov. 1. It will need a two-thirds vote for approval. EDC member Julie Connelly said the initial ask of the Planning Board two years ago was to have “by right” mixed-use development in town. The idea was to allow residential units over commercial space, a concept contemplated in the 2008 master plan and many other reports over the last decade, she said. “We literally brought one line,” Connelly said. The EDC objects to three areas in the most recent Planning Board version of the proposal. Those include a mixed-use restriction that residential units

make up no more than 40 percent of a building, a limitation to three residential units permitted in a mixed-use development (down from eight in a previous version) and the reduction of the floor area ratio requirement to .30 from the previously agreed upon .35. Connelly said the 40 percent restriction “undermines the entire premise” of allowing mixed-use development in town. Selectboard Chair Lisa Braccio said the bylaw should be looked at as a whole, recognizing that there currently is “no by right, no mixeduse” allowed. This bylaw, she said, would allow uses in downtown that aren’t possible now. She said it is a “great starting point.” Braccio mentioned several times the goal of the bylaw is to “revitalize” downtown and bring small businesses in, such as a bakery, coffee shop, microbrewery or child care center. However, Selectman Martin Healey said the 40 percent restriction “says something very unfortunate about the town of Southborough,” and its commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity of housing. “Do we walk the walk or just talk the talk?” he asked. “It’s really

important for Southborough to put up or shut up about this sort of stuff.” Although Healey said he agreed with a lot of measures in the proposal, he said, “we’re kidding ourselves if using traffic concerns, preservation and unusual algorithms to keep out housing. We’re kidding ourselves about what is really going on.” The bylaw calls for everything “street facing” to be commercial on its first floor. Connelly and EDC member John Wood spoke about wanting

Stivers said modifications could be made down the road but said it is important to get something in the voters’ hands to consider at Town Meeting. Braccio said otherwise, the town will have to wait three years before trying again. EDC chair Rob Anderson said, “The simple act of getting zoning through should not be enough to say it is a success.” The Planning Board has left its public meeting open and will discuss the issue again on Monday, October 18.

Town Seal Review Committee discusses Eli Whitney, cotton gin with local historian By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer

WESTBOROUGH – Local History Librarian Anthony Vaver talked about the history of the Westborough town seal, as well as Eli Whitney’s life, during a Westborough Town Seal Review Committee meeting on Sept. 23.

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the option of a handicapped-accessible unit on a first floor and being in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, though. Connelly said she thought there was “camaraderie” among the three groups, initially working toward both bringing in businesses and diversity in housing. “I’m surprised to see pushback,” she said. “I’m sort of surprised by accusations we’re making a housing bylaw.” Selectman Sam Stivers agreed with Healey’s suggestion that the voters should ultimately decide.

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The Town Seal Review Committee was formed in response to concern over the town seal, which depicts a cotton gin. The cotton gin on the seal represents a nod to its inventor Eli Whitney, who was born in Westborough. But the symbol remains controversial due to its role in the expansion of slavery in the United States. Vaver said that there are many contradictory perspectives on this issue because the controversy is over a symbol that can have multiple meanings. “My question is, going forward, are we comfortable with these two symbolic readings being present on our town seal?” Vaver asked. “If we want one symbolic reading, we have to have the other. We can’t choose one and arbitrarily say that the other reading does not apply.” Vaver described the history of Whitney, who was born in Westborough in 1765, before leaving town at the age of 23 to attend Yale College. Vaver said Whitney received a patent for the cotton gin in 1794 after moving to Georgia Vaver mentioned how the particular cotton that grew in the American South had tightly attached fibers which pre-existing Indian cotton gins were unable to separate. Whitney’s cotton gin increased cotton production by more than 4,000 percent, in turn increasing slavery, Vaver said. “In my research, I have not

come across any information that indicates one way or another that Eli Whitney was a racist, although some people have come to me in town and claimed that that is what is being argued,” Vaver said. “But I’ve come across references that diminish his stature as an inventor, including the ingenuity behind his cotton gin.” Vaver referred to the existence of cotton gins in India for hundreds of years and references to enslaved people in the United States who had invented cotton gins. Vaver also said that, in this time period, many inventors did not actually create new technology. Instead, some were known as inventors of certain products because they were the ones to obtain patents. Vaver further discussed the history of the town seal, which was designed through a contest in 1967 to commemorate the town’s 250th anniversary. The Anniversary Committee ended up selecting four drawings by art students in the Westborough High School to create a composite seal. “I’m here to say that I’m here to make your jobs more complicated,” Vaver said, “But I hope that it will help you think about the issue with more precision and with more nuance.” “If there’s one thing I would like you to take away from tonight, it’s that we strive for precision when we talk about this issue,” he continued. Vaver also mentioned the symbol that he likes the best as a symbol of Westborough – the town’s rotary. This, he said, represents the different roads that come through Westborough and that have shaped the town’s history. “People grumble about it,” he said. “I think it’s great because I see so many acts of kindness with people going in and allowing people to come into it.”

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 17

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

Haul Away Junk Removal thrives in Marlborough and beyond By Jeff Theodore Contributing Writer MARLBOROUGH - It initially started out as a side hustle for William Shomphe. But Haul Away Junk Removal has since taken over as Shomphe’s chief career focus, thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. “When COVID happened, I was laid off from Ford Motors, where I was a collision technician. I had been doing collision work, painting cars for about 15 years,” Shomphe said in a recent interview. “Because I didn’t want to collect unemployment, I sold a couple of cars, [a] boat and a motorcycle to buy two trucks to start this junk removal business. And, to my surprise, it’s been successful.” Shomphe has decided not to return to Ford, instead opting to focus on his two-yearold junk removal business full time.

The word is out in the community about the quality of the services that Haul Away offers. Just ask Marlborough resident Lina Lofrumento. “They were very professional, kind and friendly, and stuck with the price they quoted,” said Lofrumento, who contacted the company to remove a treadmill, table, couches and a couple of bags of rubbish. “I’d definitely recommend them to anybody.” Haul Away, which is licensed and insured, offers basement, attic and storage

room cleanouts in addition to mattress, appliance and snow removal. Haul Away also conducts demolition work. Shomphe said he has established strong ties with residential and commercial clients, developing good civic relations with the City of Marlborough as well. He’s donated his time and services to help the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce with their junk day program where customers can drop off junk they want removed and disposed of.

St. Mary’s new President and CEO starts position MARLBOROUGH - Larissa Thurston, the new President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary’s Credit Union, has begun serving in her new position. The credit union announced her appointment in April. Thurston was appointed to succeed James C. Garvey. “Leading an organization that has been serving our family, friends and neighbors Larissa Thurston is for more than 100 years is a the new President and CEO of St. Mary’s true honor,” said Thurston in a press release. “I’m exCredit Union.

cited to continue the traditions and legacy of those leaders who came before me and to grow the credit union with high-tech access and convenience for our members while also supporting our communities as responsible corporate citizens.” A Bolton resident, Thurston will be the first woman to lead the credit union in its history. Locally, Thurston is on the board of directors of Boys & Girls Club of Metrowest and United Way of Tri-County. She’s also a Read to a Child student mentor at Raymond C. Richer Elementary. Thurston joined St. Mary’s as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2014 and recently also served as its Chief Operating Officer in addition to her role as CFO.

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The average cost of Haul Away’s junk removal services varies between $280 and $350. Haul Away’s biggest job-to-date was clearing out a Marlborough motel, which called for the emptying of 75 units, including as many as 250 mattresses. As it relates to mattresses, Shomphe is eyeing recycling them as a potential way his business can grow. Such a move would coincide with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s proposal to add mattresses to its list of banned disposal materials in landfills. “Mattresses are 90 percent recyclable,” Shomphe says. “We’re trying to facilitate a means to take care of that, especially since there are only about one or two other places in the area that cater to that.” Shomphe would also like to ramp up the dumpster rental

side of his business, which would allow clients time to dispose of junk in their spaces at a leisurely pace before Haul Away removes it. For all that Haul Away removes, one thing the business won’t remove is the 10 percent discount it offers to senior citizens, military veterans and first-responders. “We’re respectful of the elderly and appreciate the service of the military,” Shomphe said. “All of them deserve a break.” Consequently, Shomphe is grateful that he’s gotten his big break. “I knew the business would do OK,” he said. “But I didn’t know it would do so well so fast.” Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Community Advocate advertisers.

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18 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Westborough schools will have snow days in case of inclement weather this winter By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough Public Schools will have snow days in the event of inclement weather this winter, district Record Access Officer, Assistant Superintendent, Daniel Mayer told the School Committee late last month. The announcement comes after an atypical winter last year where the district called at least one remote learning day in addition to one traditional snow day, according to School Committee Chair Kristen Vincent. “The superintendent could make the decision based on the circumstances,” Vincent wrote in an email to the Community Advocate. Superintendent Amber Bock had that option, thanks to a

“

A fisherman floats on Lake Chauncy during a past winter storm. Westborough students will have snow days of their own this winter after virtual learning due to COVID-19 partially eliminated such days last year, district officials recently said.

If the roads are not passable, we will have snow days. Daniel Mayer Record Access Officer

PHOTO/CHERYL ARSENAULT

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 19

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Redevelopment of former Beal School moves forward following School Committee vote By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - The Shrewsbury School Committee has officially declared the former Beal Early Childhood Center no longer necessary for school purposes. This action formally hands the building over to the town for general use, according to Board of Selectmen Chair John Samia, just as the town has been negotiating with potential developers eyeing the property. “It’s been a thoughtful, constructive and collaborative pro-

“

The old Beal School in Shrewsbury will no longer be used for school purposes now that its replacement has opened.

John Samia Board of Selectmen Chair

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

cess to date,” said Board of Selectmen Chair John Samia during a Sept. 28 meeting. “We’re taking time to make sure that we’re going in the direction we

believe it should be.” Selectmen said during a roundtable meeting earlier this summer that they expected a public hearing would be held

Area schools react to MCAS score reports By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter REGION - While some local school districts saw their Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) scores dip this year compared to their pre-pandemic levels, other districts celebrated growth following the recent release of 2021 MCAS data. The MCAS returned for the 2020-2021 school year after the test requirements were waived in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Statewide, 46 percent of students in third through eighth grade either met or exceeded expectations on the ELA exam. Forty-two percent met that benchmark on the science MCAS, while 33 percent met or exceeded expectations on the math test. “Overall, there were lower scores across the state,” Shrewsbury superintendent Joseph Sawyer said. “Although not to the same extent, our school district followed that trend.” Shrewsbury scores outpace state but fall compared to pre-pandemic data In 2021, 65 percent of Shrewsbury students in third through eighth grade either met or exceeded expectations on their ELA MCAS. Sixty percent earned such marks on their math as well as their science MCAS tests. That is a decrease compared to 2019, which saw 72 percent of students meet or exceed expectations on the ELA exam. Seventy-one percent reached the same benchmark on math while 63 percent did so on science.

“

It’s been a thoughtful, constructive and collaborative process to date.

Overall, there were lower scores across the state.

‘I’m very pleased overall with how we did’ The percentage of Westborough sophomores who scored exceeded expectations on their math MCAS grew from 31 percent in 2019 to 43 percent in 2021. “I’m very pleased overall with how we did,” said Westborough Superintendent Amber Bock during an Oct. 6 School Committee meeting. “I’d say there were no surprises there.” Southborough excels, while Hudson, Marlborough fall behind state averages In Hudson, 42 percent of students in third through eighth grade met or exceeded expectations on their ELA test while 35 percent earned such marks on science. Twenty-five of percent met or exceeded expectations on their math exams. Thirty-three percent of such Marlborough students met or exceeded expectations on ELA. Thirty-two percent did so on science, while 21 percent did so on math. In Northborough, 50 percent of third through eighth grade students met or exceeded expectations on math. Fifty-nine percent reached that level on their ELA test, while 60 percent did so on science. Southborough boasted the region’s highest scores with 72 percent on math, 73 percent on ELA and 74 percent on science.

Joseph Sawyer Shrewsbury Superintendent

on the redevelopment of the old Beal school in September. Samia said residents will have a “meaningful opportunity” to provide feedback once the project is tangible. The developer, Civico and Greenly Development, had pitched a redevelopment of the school into a mixed-use development called “Beal Commons” in May. At that time, the developers proposed two buildings with a mix of apartments and businesses on the ground floor. Additionally, over the summer, the selectmen entered into an agreement with Landwise LLC to help them in their negotiations with Civico and Greenly. Shrewsbury’s term sheet

was submitted to Civico and Greenly Development on Sept. 1. The town then later met with the developers. “We expect as an outcome from that that Civico will refine their cost analysis and get back to the town no later than the first full week of October,” Samia said. As this plays out, the School Committee’s recent vote “technically...put[s] the building back into general municipal purposes or accounts” for the town according to Samia. The former Beal Early Childhood Center opened in 1922 and had hosted kindergarten and first-grade classes prior to the opening of the new Maj. Howard W. Beal School on Lake Street in town.

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20 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY OBITUARIES The Community Advocate will post obituaries online (and in print, as space allows) at no charge as a courtesy to our readers. Please send information (and a picture if desired) to tracy@communityadvocate.com. Here is a complete list of individual obituaries posted on the Community Advocate website (www. communityadvocate.com).

DEATHS Chamberlain, Matthew of Shrewsbury Cherry, Marie of Marlborough Falco, Anne of Northborough Fleming, Marjorie of Northborough Gerardi, Mark of Shrewsbury Hill, Joan of Northborough LeBlanc, William of Marlborough Levesque, Mary of Marlborough Lincoln Jr., Walter of Northborough Mabie, Mary of Marlborough Mahan, Donald of Westborough Mollenhauer, Shirley of Northborough Noborini Jr., Louis of Marlborough Perdikomatis, Andreas formerly of Marlborough Pitkin, Marion of Westborough Plotczyk, Jeffrey of Grafton and New Bedford Provost, Arlene of Grafton Steeves, Robert of Westborough and formerly of Marlborough Trischuk, Ronald of Northborough

Matthew R. Chamberlain, 47 SHREWSBURY - Matthew R. Chamberlain, 47, passed away peacefully on October 4th surrounded by his loving family, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born in Lowell, son of Robert Chamberlain and the late Marcia (Pestana) Chamberlain of Westford, MA. He is survived by his wife of 16 years Jana Anastas of Shrewsbury, along with his three children Benjamin and Jackson Chamberlain of Shrewsbury and Erica Paquette of Waltham. He also leaves behind his sister Sarah (Chamberlain) Kinghorn and husband Grant of Littleton along with his nephews Ewan and Andy. Tighe Hamilton Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangements.

Marion E. Pitkin, 84 May 13, 1937 ~ Oct. 1, 2021

WESTBOROUGH - Marion was

born in the Bronx, NY on May 13th 1937 to the late Max and Anna (Liff) Cobert. She is survived by her daughters, Lauren Smith (Bradford) of Westborough MA and Barbara Crooke (Robert) of Underwood WA, her grandchildren Joshua Smith (Tiffany), Johanna Smith, Rachael Crooke (Emiliano) and Alyssa Crooke (Robert), sister-in-law Florence Pitkin, and a niece and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Stanley Pitkin, she was predeceased by her sister Phyllis Fogel. Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Donald L. Mahan, 91

Elsie (Wright) Mahan and was educated in the Clinton Public Schools. Donald was blessed to have found love twice in his life, having remarried at age 86. He is survived by this special angel, Judith F (Coldwell) Mahan. Don is also survived by four children, Donna Brooks of Canaan, NH, Cheryl Dion and husband John of Sutton, MA, Michael Mahan and wife Betsy of Millbury, MA, Brian Mahan of Randolph, VT, 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 65 years, Barbara (Mainville) Mahan, his brother C. Stanley Mahan and his son in law Richard R. Brooks. Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

WESTBOROUGH - Donald Lawson Mahan 91, of Westboro, MA, slipped away to be with the Lord on Sunday September 26, 2021. Born in Clinton Massachusetts, he was the son of Clarence and

Ronald W. Trischuk, 80

12:57 p.m. West Main St. Accident: P.D. 1:09 p.m. West Main St. Vandalism. Thursday, Sept. 30 2:41 p.m. Little Pond Rd./East Main St. Dog complaint. 4:30 p.m. Thayer St. Dog complaint. 7:45 p.m. Arrested, Bradford J. Gorrie, 46, of 71 Cherlyn Dr., Northborough, for fail to yield at intersection, leave scene of property damage, OUI-liquor or .08%. 10:25 p.m. Main St. Assault. Friday, Oct. 1 6:26 a.m. Hudson St. Accident: P.D. 12:12 p.m. Mulberry Ln. Threats. 1:28 p.m. Northgate Rd. Dog complaint. 8:11 p.m. Beechwood Cir. Fraud. Sunday, Oct. 3 7:12 a.m. Brigham St. Vandalism. 11:51 a.m. Main St. Accident: P.D. 12:49 p.m. Pleasant St. Dog complaint. 2:36 p.m. Shops Way. Accident: PED/BIC. 5:32 p.m. Church St./I290. Accident: P.I. Monday, Oct. 4 8:14 a.m. Solomon Pond Rd./Route 290. Accident: P.I.

Soares, 31, of 51 Alden St., Apt. 1, New Bedford, on default warrant. 9:10 p.m. South/Baxter Sts. Accident – hit & run. Friday, Oct. 1 1:40 a.m. High Street Ext. Burglary/ breaking & entering. 3:12 p.m. W Main St. Accident property damage. 5:29 p.m. Milk St. Road/tree. Sunday, Oct. 3 10:29 a.m. Harvest Way. Accident property damage. 4:46 p.m. West St. Larceny. Monday, Oct. 4 9:38 a.m. Computer Dr. Vandalism. 3:01 p.m. W Main St. Accident property damage.

NORTHBOROUGH - Ronald (Ron) W. Trischuk, age 80, of Northborough passed away

peacefully on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, surrounded by the love of his family. He was the beloved husband of 56 years to Clare (Gilbert), the loving father to Stephen Trischuk and his wife Beckie of Clinton, and Christine Romeo and her husband Jeff of Boxborough. He was the proud grandfather of two grandsons, Owen and Drew Romeo. In addition, Ron is survived by siblings, Ernie Trischuk and Janet Crane; his nephews, William, Ken and David Trischuk; his nieces, Jodie Lehmann and Andrea Nicoll. They will all miss his quick wit and sense of humor. Hays Funeral Home of Northborough assisted with arrangements.

Scan QR code to read all of this week’s obituaries on our website.

POLICE LOG The information in the police log is obtained directly from the official records maintained at each police station in our circulation area. Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty. The Community Advocate will publish news of acquittals upon notification and a copy of court issued documentation.

Shrewsbury

Friday, Oct. 1 9:12 a.m. Grafton St. Larceny. 2:57 p.m. Holden St. Assaults. Saturday, Oct. 2 9:53 a.m. Oak St. Vandalism. 10:07 p.m. Arrested, Timothy Martin McCarthy, 27, of 54 Lamplighter Dr., Shrewsbury, for OUI liquor, negligent operation of motor vehicle. Sunday, Oct. 3 2:11 a.m. Arrested, Jawon Singleton, 33, of 41 Clinton St., Clinton, for OUI liquor 2nd offense, marked lanes violation, speeding, drink alcohol from open container in MV. 1:58 p.m. Arbor Dr. Larceny. 2:58 p.m. Boston Tpke. Road hazard – trees/wires/debris. 6:40 p.m. Arrested, David P. Caracciolo, 65, of 11 St. James Rd., Shrewsbury, for OUI liquor. Monday, Oct. 4 3:53 p.m. Stoney Hill Rd. Road rage.

7:56 p.m. Arrested, Wilson Jose Ortiz Roman, 45, of 845 Hartford Tpke., Apt. 104, Shrewsbury, on warrant. 9:17 p.m. Rt. 140/I290. Road hazard – trees/wires/debris. Tuesday, Oct. 5 1:11 a.m. Tr 140/I290. Road hazard – trees/wires/debris. 9:35 a.m. Boston Tpke. Larceny. 10:51 a.m. Boston Tpke. Trespassing. 3:09 p.m. Holden St. Road hazard – trees/wires/debris. 4:26 p.m. Fairlawn Cir. Identity theft. Wednesday, Oct. 6 4:32 p.m. Ryan Rd. Larceny. 5:35 p.m. Boston Tpke. Harassment. Thursday, Oct. 7 10:06 a.m. Harlow Rd. Road hazard – trees/wires/debris. 10;54 a.m. Memorial Dr./Adams Farm Rd. Road hazard – trees/ wires/debris. 11:44 a.m. Janet Cir. Road hazard – trees/wires/debris. 4:00 p.m. Fairlawn Cir. Identity theft.

Northborough

Tuesday, Sept. 28 12:53 p.m. Hitching Post Ln./Southwest Cutoff. Accident: P.D. 1:23 p.m. Cedar Hill Rd. Fraud. 6:36 a.m. Sunset Dr. Trespass. Wednesday, Sept. 29 9:25 a.m. Davis Ave. Larceny.

Westborough

Thursday, Sept. 30 4:50 p.m. W Main St. Vandalism. 5:14 p.m. Arrested, Gary Paul

Grafton

Sunday, Sept. 26 4:02 p.m. Worcester/Bridge Sts. Accident – hit & run. Monday, Sept. 27 4:09 p.m. Mill St. Accident – hit & run. 7:52 p.m. Cherry Ln. Harassment. Tuesday, Sept. 28 8:42 a.m. Providence Rd. Vandalism. 9:53 a.m. Providence Rd. Fraud/ identity theft. 4:31 p.m. Millbury St./Providence Rd. Accident – no injuries. Wednesday, Sept. 29 8:51 a.m. Worcester St. Forgery/ counterfeit.

11:15 a.m. Mass Pike E. Accident – personal injury. 6:25 p.m. Mass Pike W. Accident – personal injury. Thursday, Sept. 30 10:15 a.m. Worcester St. Threatening. 12:04 p.m. Lordvale Blvd. Fraud/ identity theft. 6:53 p.m. Old Westboro Rd. Fire – chimney. 9:05 p.m. Providence Rd./Millbury St. Accident – personal injury. Friday, Oct. 1 12:39 p.m. Providence Rd. Threatening. 8:14 p.m. Providence Rd. Fraud/ identity theft. 11:35 p.m. N Main St. Fraud/identity theft. Saturday, Oct. 12 12:59 p.m. N Main/Shrewsbury Sts. Accident – property damage. EDITOR’S NOTE: Southborough’s police log was not available as of press time. Police logs will be shared at CommunityAdvocate.com as they become available. Scan QR code to read this week’s police and fire news on our website.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 21

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The Town of Northborough seeks candidates for the part-time position of Van Driver with the Northborough Senior Center. Interested applicants should send resume and letter of interest to townadmin@town.northborough.ma.us, or drop a hard copy at Northborough Town Hall, 63 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532. Visit www.town.northborough. ma.us/human-resources for more information.

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22 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 23

COMMUNITY SPORTS WHS senior wins spot in Special Olympics USA Games School honored for Unified Sports programs By Cindy Zomar Education Coordinator WESTBOROUGH - Westborough High School senior Shinya Honji was recently selected to represent Massachusetts in the swimming portion of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games to be held in Orlando, Florida next summer. As he and his school community celebrate this accomplishment, though, they’re also celebrating another major milestone, as Westborough High School (WHS) recently became one of only fifteen high schools in the country to be named both a Unified Champion School and a National Banner School. That latter designation commends the school’s abil-

Shinya Honji is a senior at Westborough High School who was recently selected to participate in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.

PHOTO/CINDY ZOMAR

ity to bring together students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in team events and programs to foster leadership, respect and dignity. “Westborough High School

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has continually provided a socially inclusive climate, one where there is whole school engagement,” said Patti Doherty, Vice President of Schools and Community Development for Special Olympics.

WHS unified sports program grows Catherine Caruso has been the unified sports coach for WHS since 2017. The school initially partnered with Algonquin for its unified track and field program. It split to form its own program for the 2018-2019 year, though, Caruso said. Westborough High launched an additional strength and conditioning program last year. Caruso said she’s now hoping participation will pick up after a pilot year limited by pandemic restrictions. WHS student named to 2022 USA Games team WHS Principal, Brian Callaghan, explained that while a typical student participat-

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ing in sports may encounter some issues, a student with intellectual and developmental disabilities must overcome a whole different set of challenges. That’s been the case for Shinya Honji as he has worked to earn his spot in the USA Games. “Shinya just keeps overcoming obstacles,” Shinya’s mother, Beth said. “He was really sick a month after birth, resulting in a feeding tube for three years. In third grade he tore his ACL and was in a leg brace for years. Growth hormone shots caused scoliosis, forcing a back brace at night. He didn’t walk until he was two, nor talk until he was five, and yet here he is, graduating Special Olympics | 24

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24 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

COMMUNITY SPORTS

Algonquin Boys Soccer beats Tantasqua on Senior Night By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH - A physical game ended in a flurry of scoring Oct. 9 as the Algonquin Boys Soccer team beat Tantasqua by a score of 3-1. The win came on Algonquin’s senior night after players declared during their pregame huddle that they were playing

for injured teammate Brian Morrisette. “It’s absolutely huge,” said Senior Striker Charlie Hynes after the game. “It’s an amazing feeling.” Andrew Sedzia opened the scoring early to give Algonquin a 1-0 lead. From there, though, the game’s physicality escalated, prompting outrage on the Algonquin sideline.

Teammates mob Senior Striker Charlie Hynes after Hynes scored a goal during Algonquin’s 3-1 win over Tantasqua last week.

Officials handed out two yellow cards to Tantasqua players in less than five minutes at one point. Leading 1-0 at halftime, Algonquin doubled its lead early in the second half when Hynes capitalized on a free kick deep in Tantasqua territory. Garrett Burns took the free kick and opted to pass wide to Hynes as Hynes darted around the wall of Tantasqua defenders

WHS senior wins spot in Special Olympics USA Games Special Olympics | from page 23

from WHS in June and two days later going to compete in the USA Games in Orlando.” Beth went on to say that, while Shinya is small in stature, he has a big sense of humor and is a social butterfly. “He even enjoys helping other special needs students, showing them what to do [and] demonstrating his leadership skills,” she added.

‘I love challenges’ Honji has competed in unified track and field, soccer, and basketball in addition to swimming. In Orlando, he will swim his three favorite events, which include the freestyle, the breaststroke and the backstroke. He said he is not nervous about competing at the national level. “I have three gold medals already in those events from

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

States,” he said. “I enjoy it so much because it brings a lot more challenges and I love challenges. I think the other Special Olympics kids swimming also enjoy the challenges.” When he’s not honing his athletic skills, Honji also spends time researching and visiting steam trains as well as collecting antiques. He is an avid reader and enjoys playing video games with his Buddy from the Best Buddies program at school.

set up in what would have been Burns’ lane to the goal. Hynes said he had been speaking with his father prior to the game about taking more free kicks. “It was a great pass by [Burns] and I was happy to get that goal,” Hynes said. The physicality continued, but Algonquin managed to again spring Hynes on a scoring opportunity with just over 3:02 left on the unofficial game clock.

Hynes capitalized, scoring on the breakaway to establish the 3-0 lead. Though Tantasqua answered with their own goal less than 10 seconds later, Algonquin held on for the victory. Algonquin was scheduled to be back in action on Oct. 12 against Westborough. It was then scheduled to wrap up its regular season with games against Wachusett and Nipmuc on Oct. 14 and 16, as of Oct. 11.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 25

COMMUNITY SPORTS

High School Scoreboard: Playoffs on the horizon By Chris Wilson Contributing Writer

A Shrewsbury Boys Soccer player surveys the field during a game earlier this year.

ALGONQUIN

PHOTO/JESSE KUCEWICZ

REGION - Regional schools are now playing some of their last HIGH SCHOOL regular season games of the fall season. SCOREBOARD sports Football will continue until the end of the month, but the rest of the fall sports will conclude in the next week. Playoffs are just around the corner, so area schools are making the final push to boost their postseason positioning. See full scores…

GRAFTON

BOYS GOLF – OCT. 5 Algonquin – 44, Shrewsbury – 28 BOYS SOCCER – OCT. 5 Algonquin – 2, Bromfield – 0 GIRLS SOCCER – OCT. 5 Algonquin – 3, Bromfield – 1 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 6 Algonquin – 15, Leominster – 50 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 6 Algonquin – 24, Leominster – 42 FIELD HOCKEY – OCT. 6 Algonquin – 0, Marlborough – 1 BOYS SOCCER – OCT. 7 Algonquin – 3, Shrewsbury – 0 FIELD HOCKEY – OCT. 8 Algonquin – 1, Nashoba – 7 FOOTBALL – OCT. 8 Algonquin – 21, Shepherd Hill – 14

BOYS GOLF – OCT. 7 Grafton – 223, Algonquin – 214 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 8 Grafton – 167, Millbury – 191 BOYS SOCCER – OCT. 8 Grafton – 4, Assabet – 1 FOOTBALL – OCT. 8 Grafton – 28, Northbridge – 20

BOYS GOLF – OCT. 5 Grafton – 159, Oxford – 210 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 5 Grafton – 159, Quaboag – 210 FIELD HOCKEY – OCT. 6 Grafton – 3, Tantasqua – 1 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 6 Grafton – 269, Hopkinton – 238 GIRLS SOCCER – OCT. 6 Grafton – 4, Tantasqua – 1 BOYS SOCCER – OCT. 6 Grafton – 1, Tantasqua – 4 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 7 Grafton – 28, Millbury – 30 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 7 Grafton – 15, Millbury – 50 FIELD HOCKEY – OCT. 7 Grafton – 2, Quaboag – 0

SHREWSBURY

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 5 Shrewsbury – 24, Shepherd Hill – 35 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 5 Shrewsbury – 33, Shepherd Hill – 22 GIRLS SOCCER – OCT. 5 Shrewsbury – 1, Wachusett – 1 BOYS SOCCER – OCT. 5 Shrewsbury – 0, Wachusett – 2

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – OCT. 5 Shrewsbury – 1, Algonquin – 3 FIELD HOCKEY – OCT. 6 Shrewsbury – 1, Wachusett – 3 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 7 Shrewsbury – 30.5, Wachusett – 41.5 GIRLS SOCCER – OCT. 7 Shrewsbury – 0, Algonquin – 2 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 8 Shrewsbury – 178, Sutton – 223 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – OCT. 8 Shrewsbury – 3, Shepherd Hill – 0 FOOTBALL – OCT. 8 Shrewsbury – 30, Nashoba – 13

ST. JOHN’S GOLF – OCT. 5 St. John’s – 226, Wachusett – 235 SOCCER – OCT. 5 St. John’s – 1, St. John’s Prep – 1

CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 5 St. John’s – 20, Malden Catholic – 43 GOLF – OCT. 6 St. John’s – 188, Shrewsbury – 228 GOLF – OCT. 7 St. John’s – 233, Malden Catholic – 272 SOCCER – OCT. 8 St. John’s – 5, Doherty – 0 GOLF – OCT. 8 St. John’s – 219, St. John’s Prep – 228 FOOTBALL – OCT. 9 St. John’s – 0, Catholic Memorial – 44

WESTBOROUGH

BOYS GOLF – OCT. 5 Westborough – 23, Wellesley – 49 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 5 Westborough – 32, Wachusett – 23 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – OCT. 5 Westborough – 47, Wachusett – 16 GIRLS SOCCER – OCT. 5 Westborough – 1, Nashoba – 0 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – OCT. 5 Westborough – 3, Wachusett – 0 BOYS SOCCER – OCT. 5 Westborough – 0, Leominster – 2 FIELD HOCKEY – OCT. 6 Westborough – 0, Oakmont – 0 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 6 Westborough – 22, Nashoba – 50 BOYS GOLF – OCT. 7 Westborough – 35, Shrewsbury – 37

26 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021

HOMES This is a paid advertisement

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One of the most popular requests from buyers purchasing a home is a fireplace. People love the ambiance that a blaze provides, while others rely on their fireplaces to keep them warm and cozy during chilly winter months. Many homes in New England have fireplaces, but for the ones that do not, more and more homeowners are looking for ways to install them. It is becoming a sought-after amenity and homes boasting this feature see its benefits when

Celebrating Veterans Day During this November, we will take the time to remember our Veterans for their service for our country. Veterans live within our neighborhoods and communities going about their daily lives without many of us knowing about their service and sacrifice for our country. As a founding member of Boros Cares For Troops, we started a quest to honor our veterans with the Hometown Heroes Program. Our mission is display banners of all our Veterans along our main streets, connecting one community to another. If you would like to donate to this very worthy project, please send your donation to Boros Cares For Troops Hometown Heroes, PO Box 304, Northborough, MA 01532 or visit www.bc4t.org for more information. We truly appreciate your support.

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selling a home. Your fireplace is the focal point when people visit your home and should complement the rest of your home decor. That is why it is important to ensure that the look of your fireplace has been updated and is working properly. Yearly cleanings are essential to maintaining a well-functioning fireplace or wood and pellet stove. During your yearly cleaning, ask the company you hired to check out the exterior chimney. All too often there is some type of repair needed, from loose bricks to repointing the chimney. Investing in this yearly maintenance will make a difference when you decide to sell your home. An older-looking fireplace that looks like an eyesore can be easily updated. It doesn’t take much to enhance a fireplace before selling your home. To start, begin by looking at the rest of the room and see what statement you want to make with the fireplace. For example, if you have an older fireplace with red bricks, consider resurfacing over the bricks, or explore different painting techniques like faux finishes. For other fireplaces, it could be as simple as changing the mantel, adding a more decorative screen, or placing a beautiful piece of art above it.

Let’s talk about transforming your fireplace Transformative materials that are easy to work with are tile, manufactured stone, granite, marble, and wood. Lately, what has become extremely popular is painting over old, red brick, which will make a huge improvement on the look of the fireplace. A stone fireplace can set a home apart and significantly improve resale value.

Adding a mantel will frame and enhance the fireplace. There are a multitude of styles and designs for mantels, from modern and traditional to craftsman. Keeping the mantel clean and uncluttered is also a must. You want the focal point to be the fireplace. It is fine to decorate with a few accessories but try not to detract from the fireplace itself.

Now, onto the popular gas fireplace I have been listing and selling homes for over 16 years. By far, one of the most popular requests is a gas fireplace, fueled either by natural or propane gas. You see them more and more in homes and they are a popular request from buyers, as well as easy to use. Plus, they can be installed just about anywhere in the home. There is no need for a chimney, wood or even matches with this type of fireplace, and there is no mess to clean up either. Most recently, I listed a home with a gas fireplace. At first, because of the style, I thought it was a wood or pellet stove, but was pleasantly surprised it was a gas stove. The heat generated from the stove felt wonderful and the stove was a lovely added feature for the family room.

Another option to consider is an electric fireplace If you want to add a fireplace, consider an electric fireplace as it’s often the least expensive

option, reasonably easy to install and more advanced than earlier models. Technology has made them more beautiful than ever, and some can even be operated by remote control. Users can turn on both the flame and heat, or just one. Another benefit is that they can operate year-round in any climate and are easy to clean and maintain. Finally, regardless of the season, a fireplace should be kept clean and in good working order. You want the buyer feeling great about that room, knowing they can move in and sit in front of that wonderful fireplace. There are very few things as warm and inviting as a fireplace.

In closing… The inventory is exceptionally low, and as you know, buyers are out there looking for homes to purchase. I am meeting with sellers to list their home. If you want to sell your home this year or next year, please let me help you stage, prepare and sell your home while attracting the most buyers. If you are thinking of selling your home, please call me, Michelle Gillespie, at 508-9349818 or email michelle@michellegillespie.com. Visit my website at www. michellegillespie.com for more information. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Keller Williams Pinnacle Metrowest 114 Turnpike Road, Suite 201 Westborough, MA 01581 All sales data is obtained from the MLS PIN

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, October 15, 2021 • 27

HOMES

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Shrewsbury Police Chief proposes traffic enforcement unit amid discussion on traffic concerns By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

DPW Director notes possible reasons for high traffic volume Police Chief Kevin Anderson said traffic concerns are one of the most common complaints made by Shrewsbury residents. “I think [to] most of the people, it’s a perception that vehicles are traveling faster than they actually are,” Director of Public Works Jeffery Howland added. According to Anderson’s

Traffic calming efforts to focus on education, enforcement, engineering Traffic calming is a threepronged approach to address traffic in a community made up

cannot be assigned due to call volume or gets taken off the traffic assignment to answer calls for service in his or her sector,” Anderson said. Anderson said Shrewsbury doesn’t have a traffic division because the department is at minimum staffing. PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

SHREWSBURY - Shrewsbury leaders discussed a variety of traffic concerns and ways to respond to them during a Sept. 28 Board of Selectmen meeting. Selectmen Chair John Samia said the board has recently heard complaints about various traffic issues like speeding and high traffic volume in school zones.

presentation, in 2020, the department responded to 747 motor vehicle accidents, 112 hit-and-runs, 451 disabled vehicles and 515 traffic complaints. An additional 67 formal traffic complaints were investigated. He named several factors driving increased traffic volume in town, including the distance from Shrewsbury to both Boston and Worcester, highlyranked colleges and biotech firms nearby, new housing and commercial development in the area, as well as the presence of the four major highways that run through town. Lake Quinsigamond attracts a large recreation population over the summer, he added.

A sign monitors vehicle speed on South Street in Shrewsbury.

of education, enforcement and engineering, officials noted. Education, for example, includes radar signs. Anderson said the department intends to purchase three more in addition to the ones it currently has. Enforcement, likewise, is effective, Anderson said. “But it requires constant and continual presence in addition to being highly visible,”

he continued. Drivers tend to slow down when they continually see police cruisers in a specific area, Anderson said. They then still tend to slow down even when the cruisers are gone, he continued. Most communities of a similar size to Shrewsbury have a dedicated traffic unit, Anderson said. “However, often, the officer

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