Sharp Building to be converted into homeless shelter westborough | 9
Grand jury indicts two people in fatal hit-and-run shrewsbury | 18
Saint John’s victorious over Shrewsbury Shrewsbury | 26
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Vol. 49 | No. 8 | February 24, 2023
‘Pioneers’ of technology
Westborough, Grafton and Southborough approve regional dispatch
Saint John’s students lead the way in robotics By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
PHOTO/TAMI WHITE
By Maureen Sullivan and Laura Hayes WESTBOROUGH – The MetroWest Regional Emergency Communication Center (RECC) District is a go. Three out of the four communities —Westborough, Grafton and Southborough — have decided to go ahead with forming a regional dispatch center. Hopkinton declined to join. All decisions were made by the respective select boards. Westborough, which will host the center at Hocomonco Pond, decided to approve the Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) for the dispatch center with a unanimous vote by the Select Board on Tuesday, Feb. 14. “This is strongly encouraged by the state,” said
PHOTO/MAUREEN SULLIVAN
Drone photography shows Hocomonco Pond, which will be the site of a regional dispatch center.
SHREWSBURY – The group of Saint John’s High School students gathered around a table in a ground-floor room of the school’s Ryken Center. After commenting on what made them grateful that day and sharing a prayer, the students began their assignments. The students are members of Pioneer Robotics 12589, a team that competes with other teams in eastern and central Massachusetts. “They’re so well engaged,” said Edward Tonelli, mentor of the robotics team and instructor of engineering and physics. He cited the team’s success and willingness to help others learn about science, engineering, technology and math (STEM). “We had a kid come in seven years ago and say ‘We should have robotics.’ We put him Robotics | 15
Carlos Contreras, one of the captains for Pioneer Robotics 12589 at St. John’s High School, shows the framework of a robot.
Split vote denies ARPA funds for fire engine, DPW tight tank By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – A proposal to use American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) to replace a Northborough Fire Department engine and tight tank in the highway garage were denied by the Board of Selectmen in a split
Dispatch | 14
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vote Feb. 13. The 3-2 vote left Selectmen Jason Perreault and Scott Rogers voting in favor and Chair Mitch Cohen and Selectmen Julianne Hirsh and Kristen Wixted voting against. However, the board did vote to allocate $1.7 million in ARPA funds to replace the roof of Proctor Elementary School. ARPA | 10
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