CA REG 260424 WEB

Despite deep

public dissatisfaction, Westborough

‘peanut’ rotary redesign will not go before Town Meeting

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — Over 100 Westborough residents and businessowners gathered at the Forbes Municipal Building April 15 to voice their concerns and disapproval about the proposed peanut-shaped redesign of the downtown rotary.

The public information session, hosted by town planning officials and Waltham-based consulting firm Kimley-Horn, provided an hour-long overview of the rotary redesign, addressing recent changes to the plan and answering questions. Residents’ comments spilled over the allotted 30 minutes following the presentation, and the meeting was subsequently extended by an additional hour.

Patrick Subaru wants to build new 50K-sq-ft

dealership at Shrewsbury Nurseries

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY — Patrick Subaru is once again looking to move, and the possible location may surprise you.

About three years after the dealership received permission to construct a new facility at 701 Boston Turnpike, currently forested area across South Street from Price Chopper, Patrick Subaru is targeting a different site, according to documents from both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Community Advocate is first with the news.

Patrick Subaru – currently located at 247 Boston Turnpike – is planning to move to another Route 9 parcel: 957 Boston Turnpike. It’s the site of Shrewsbury Nurseries, a mostly abandoned landscaping company, which is located across the road from

From Iraq battlefields to Westborough classrooms

One principal’s whirlwind journey, and why he’s about to be honored

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001, especially Mill Pond School Principal Peter Guellnitz.

Standing in an artillery training range in the middle of Oklahoma, he and his fellow army recruits were completing their basic training when the news came. Though they weren’t sure exactly how it would change the trajectory of their military careers, Guellnitz said they “definitely had the same fear and alarm that the rest of the world had.”

When joining the military at the time, recruits didn’t necessarily think they would be going into a combat zone, Guellnitz said. The biggest conflict at the time had been in Kosovo, where Guellnitz spent his first nine-month deployment, but the region had largely stabilized and work was focused on peacekeeping.

The polarizing emotions of war

While many people think that the hardest part of being at war is the fighting, shooting, and bombings, for Guellnitz, it could sometimes be the opposite.

There would be times of “extreme intensity” during combat, but then there would be periods “where you’re almost in boredom and fighting the sadness of not being with your family,” he explained.

Guellnitz spent the first half of his time in Iraq as a field direction officer, helping guide artillery by firing illumination rounds meant to light up the sky at night. In the second half of his deployment, he served as a platoon leader, patrolling cities in Iraq and providing artillery assistance.

Separated from family and friends with little to no communication, it was a difficult time. He recalls many instances when he shed tears over the loss of his fellow soldiers.

As a platoon leader at only 24 years old, Guellnitz did his best to guide his soldiers through those low moments, trying to make them as enjoyable as possible.

After Sept. 11, training changed – with a prominent focus on counterterrorism – and the overall feeling had shifted dramatically. Guellnitz was deployed and spent 13 months in Iraq. Stay up to date with all the news!

“I think there’s a lot more happiness in the army than people see,” he said, recalling the workouts at 5:30 a.m. when his platoon

Unsupervised children may be allowed at Shrewsbury Public Library again Grafton school roof could cost $5.3M to replace Resident on horseback almost killed in Westborough Shrewsbury softball conquers firefighter workout

COMMUNITY NEWS

Unsupervised children may be allowed at Shrewsbury Public Library again

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – It’s a rite of passage for Shrewsbury middle-schoolers: After school on Fridays, or on early-release days, students at Sherwood Middle School and Oak Middle School will often trek up Oak Street, down Maple Avenue, and to the town center, stopping to get something salty or sugary at 7-Eleven or Dunkin’.

Oftentimes, kids congregate at the Shrewsbury Public Library afterward.

But in 2023, the Shrewsbury Public Library was forced to change its policy after a string of bad behavior. Students would come to the library in droves, chase one another, bring bicycles inside, break windows, and even fly remote-control planes indoors.

Police were sometimes called. The loud, obnoxious activities created a nuisance, and the policy was changed to require parents to super -

You pick home. W handle th mortgag

vise fifth- and sixth-grade students. “Children through grade six must be continually attended and supervised … while in the library. Children in grades seven and eight may be left unattended for … two hours,” the policy reads. The policy has been effective, but is it time to remove it?

That’s what Library Director Priya Rathnam brought to the Library Board of Trustees on March 24. The youth librarians – in consultation with principals – feel as if the bad behavior may not arise if the policy is removed. They say that fifth- and sixth-graders feel unwelcome at the library and it serves as “a barrier to kids,” Rathnam reported.

“It’s been three years, and our youth services librarians feel that it’s a different time now. Three years have made a big difference. Fifth- and sixth-grade children don’t have as many behavioral prob-

Reception was mixed, though nothing was decided

“The police had to be called many, many times. … Rather than all-of-a-sudden switching this – I think it’s wonderful the kids want to be together – but they’re still at an age where there needs to be some supervision, and we just don’t have the capacity to do that,” said trustee Deborah Lebeaux. Added trustee Noor Ali: “I’m all for access and not gatekeeping public spaces. However, the memory of how tumultuous that time was is very clear. … I’m really hardpressed to think that all of that has disappeared. I love the intent.”

“I would just be very cautious, because it was a lot.”

The topic will likely be debated during the board’s April 28 meeting.

On April 13, dozens of chefs, culinary arts students, and instructors joined together for the Leon Roberge Culinary Classic. The event was hosted by the Epicurean Club of Boston and the ACF at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School as a part of the organization’s monthly meeting.

Planning Board set to review proposed installation of 130-foot Verizon pole

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

NORTHBOROUGH – During its next scheduled meeting on May 19, the Northborough Planning Board will review plans from Verizon Wireless to install a 130-foot pole in the northern part of town.

The monopole – which would rise between 9 and 12 stories – would be used for cellular purposes. It would have nine panel antennas, six remote radiohead units, and associated equipment. A 70-by-70-foot perimeter fence would be constructed around the pole.

The pole would be located at 409 Green Street, which is zoned for residential. The location is at the intersection of Ball Street and Green Street, in the far

northern end of town. It would be near the Mount Pisgah Wildlife Management Area.

The applicant was originally expected to go before the Planning Board on April 7, but balloon tests – designed to give abutters an idea of the height of the structure – failed three times due to New England weather. The applicant will continue to perform tests prior to May.

Since the applicant required a continuance, no public participation was permitted at the April Planning Board meeting, though several residents attended the meeting anyway. Planning Board Chair Amy Poretsky noted that an assortment of feedback had already been received by the town.

Friday the week before publication. Opinions expressed in the letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Community Advocate management or its advertisers.

The Community Advocate is a weekly periodical, (U.S.P.S. # 014-423), published by Bagdon Advertising, Inc., with offices located at 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581. Periodicals postage is paid at Shrewsbury, MA 01546 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Community Advocate, 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581. Publication date is Friday. Deadline for R.O.P. advertising, local community news and classified advertising is Friday, noon, seven days prior to publication. Not liable for typographical errors, however, we will reprint that portion of the ad wherein error occurred if notified in writing within three working days of the publication date. All material included is the property of The Community Advocate and may include material produced under copyright or a syndicated

Lynne Fountain

Michelina

A slimmed-down 36-unit project approved by Shrewsbury Planning Board

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – After a journey that included outrage, compromise, concessions, and skirting a mixed-use moratorium, a 36-unit project along a major Shrewsbury thoroughfare finally gained approval on April 6 after a unanimous vote

from the Planning Board.

Situated at 308-312 Boston Turnpike – across Route 9 from the Fairlawn (Marketplace) Plaza at the corner of Maple Avenue – Prestige Property Development will construct two 18-unit buildings for a total of 36 units.

The project was first introduced as a 48-unit project, but

through negotiations with the developer, it was scaled back to 40 units, and then again to 36 one- and two-bedroom units spread over two buildings.

“Each time, I would suggest to you respectfully, we’ve listened to comments and come back with changes that we hope you will find acceptable. … We respectfully say

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that the ratios of this project are now better than the ratios that were previously approved. I’d suggest to you that these gentlemen [Prestige Property Development] have come a long way to try to address the concerns that have been raised,” attorney Richard Ricker, representing the developer, said in December.

But that wasn’t the only problem the project ran into. Originally, the developer sought to rehabilitate an existing salon and call it “mixed use” in order to utilize the Lakeway Overlay District zoning. It stretched the definition of “mixed-use” and led to pushback and allegations of manipulating the bylaws.

The outrage over the “mixed-use” manipulation was a driving factor in Shrewsbury’s “mixed-use moratorium.” With the passage of the measure in December, no mixed-use proposals will be allowed by-right for a twoyear span. Prestige Property Development submitted its proposal prior to the moratorium, however.

But Prestige made concessions, changing the project to fall more in-line with “mixeduse.” Instead of merely refurbishing a salon, the developer will construct a new building which three tenants would occupy.

“I think they did a good job on getting their client to come around to a project that I think is palatable and acceptable for that site,” said Planning Board member Stephan Rodolakis. “I think the developer recognized the shortcomings of the original submission, and worked on increasing the aesthetics.”

The project will have 86 parking spaces, several “affordable” units for households earning less than 80 percent of the area median income, and over 5,600 square feet of commercial space.

COMMUNITY HISTORY

Horace Maynard had distinguished career in national politics

WESTBOROUGH

THEN NOW

By Kate Tobiasson History Columnist

WESTBOROUGH – The Maynard family was here since Westborough’s founding, with roots in the town dating back to the area’s earliest European settlers. Horace Maynard was born in 1814, the son of a wheelwright, Ephriam Maynard.

Maynard was an exceptional student and was the valedictorian of his class at Amherst College. In 1839, following graduation, Maynard moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he worked at East Tennessee College as a professor, teaching mathematics and ancient languages.

Maynard worked to pass the bar and quickly earned a reputation as an abrupt, intelligent, and respected attorney. His peers often noted that he was remarkably well-read, and Frederick Douglass once remarked that Maynard had a “three story head.”

He first ran for Congress in 1852, but eventually got elected in 1856. As the son of an abolitionist, Maynard described slavery as “a curse to the country” when first in power, but his time in Tennessee shaped his views. In letters to his father, he wrote that there was a “bright as well as

a dark side to slavery.” In Congress, he defended slavery, but was one of the few Southern congressmen who openly opposed secession. His views changed again as politics became volatile in Washington. As the conflict progressed, Maynard stood firmly behind President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, clearly opposed to slavery. Throughout the early 1860s, Maynard campaigned across East Tennessee delivering pro-Union speeches.

When it was clear that Tennessee’s secession was inevitable, Maynard fled to Washington. In June of 1861, the Confederates occupied East Tennessee. Maynard begged Lincoln to send Union troops to free the region as the rift between Confederates and Unionists in Knoxville continued throughout the Civil War.

Maynard was appointed Tennessee’s attorney general in 1864. He served in Congress from 1866 to 1873, also serving on the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1868. He went on to become the ambassador to Turkey from 1875 to 1880. Upon his return, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Maynard as Postmaster General.

Maynard died suddenly in his home in 1882, never fulfilling his dream of retiring to the family homestead he had purchased in Westborough.

Celebrating our Hometown Heroes

Lori Diamond, a devoted mom, musician, and advocate for inclusion, is deeply involved in building community through the arts. She leads “Music Includes,” an inspiring group of performers of all ages and abilities who bring joyful, inclusive music to local audiences. Lori also contributes to the Northboro Porchfest Committee and the Northboro Cultural Council, supporting creative expression across the community. She co-hosts a monthly open mic at 19 Carter with her partner, Fred Abatelli, creating space for individuals to find their voice. Lori believes music connects heart, mind, and soul, bringing people together and forming meaningful, lasting relationships.

to you by

Central One marketing team wins national award

SHREWSBURY — Central

One Federal Credit Union was among 181 credit unions nationwide named as winners of the prestigious Diamond Awards, America’s Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition recognizing excellence in credit union marketing.

Central One received the following Diamond Awards: Publications & Content — Website; Design & Identity — Rebrand/New Corporate Identity.

This year’s competition drew a record 1,481 submissions, with 181 organizations from 42 states elected as winners. In total, 330 awards were distributed, reflecting the exceptional quality of work produced by credit unions nationwide.

“For more than 74 years, Central One has been dedicat-

ed to providing an outstanding experience for our members,” shared Devon Lyon, president and CEO of Central One. “As our field of membership expands and we welcome more of Central Massachusetts into our family, we saw an opportunity to refresh our visual brand and website to better represent who we are today and deliver a more engaging, memberfocused experience. These updates underscore our dedication to our members and the communities we serve.”

Added Lyon: “Our new shield-inspired logo design reflects the universal belief that Central One protects and strengthens our members’ financial lives. The website refresh creates a more welcoming experience for both members and prospective members, while giving our team greater flexibility to deliver meaningful content.”

“Our new shield-inspired logo design reflects the universal belief that Central One protects and strengthens our members’ financial lives.”

~Devon Lyon

‘Petcare perfection spanning three generations’

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

REGION — Located at 780 Grafton Street in Shrewsbury, Dalton’s Cherrywood Kennel is “celebrating a 63-year family tradition” of caring for both cats and dogs. The business welcomes pets of all sizes, including the elderly and those with special needs.

The company started caring for animals in Grafton in 1962. Like so many pioneers in their respective fields, owner Dorothy Dalton is self-taught.

Learning from experience and her love of animals, Dalton began grooming on her back porch as a hobby. Soon, her friends and neighbors recognized her dedication and talent.

The response was so overwhelming, the Dalton family converted its garage into a full-service grooming facility. Over the years, operations expanded to include “Dalton’s Dog Shoppe,” “Dalton’s Dog Shoppe Too,” and “Dalton’s School of Dog Grooming.”

With this experience and knowledge, “Dalton’s Cher -

rywood Kennels” became the main focus of the family. Unlike many kennels in the area, Cherrywood Kennels provides guests with over an

acre of tree-shaded yards for outdoor activities. During inclement weather, the indoor kennels are air-conditioned and heated. The kennels are monitored around the clock for fire, smoke, and security. Cameras are placed throughout the property for the safety of our furry friends.

Dalton’s provides Doggy Daycare, overnight boarding (both long- and short-term), and boarding for feline friends.

Dalton’s Cherrywood Kennel is dedicated to professional and compassionate care for all animals.

For rates, availability, or any other questions, call one of Dalton’s Petcare Professionals at 508-755-5551. Remember to visit the kennel on Facebook, “Dalton’s Cherrywood Kennel,” or on its website, www.cherrywoodkennel.com.

Westborough Girl Scout Troop 64524 will host this month’s Textile Recycling event on April 25, 2025. The event is a “drive-thru,” so you don’t need to get out of your vehicle. This Textile Recycling Event keeps fabrics out of our landfills and serves as a fundraiser.

For reuse, re-wear, and recycling, we accept the following items in any condition, provided they are clean, dry, and odorless. Everything should be kept dry in a closed, plastic bag.

Recycling your clothes shouldn’t be hard – Troop 64524 is here to help!

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· Tops

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One principal’s journey, and why he’s being honored

he made during work where he was forced to rely on others.

could let loose. There were moments of laughter, whether it was singing songs while running or doing a sport, game, or competition.

“I’m a pretty fun-loving goofy type of guy,” Guellnitz said. “One of my favorite things is really creating an environment that’s fun.”

During one long stint of the “boring times,” the dining hall had a bunch of leftover fried chicken. Exhausted from an overnight shift, he recalls his team sitting around playing dominoes and laughing while eating from a “massive” bucket.

“Oftentimes, I look back on the army and I remember those moments,” he said. ”I don’t remember it being this grueling, miserable time. I remember the laughs that I had with my soldiers.”

Guellnitz says his time in the military provided valuable experience in a number of different areas. He values the relationships and connections

“You’re spending every day with them. You’re in some intense situations. You’re building camaraderie through experience and lots of pretty drastic changes in emotions. So I think that, to me, was meaningful. I felt like I was part of the counterterrorism experience that our world was focused on at that timeframe,” he said.

Life after deployment

Completing his active service in 2005 as a captain, Guellnitz did four more years in the reserves. He traveled around Europe before officially making his transition back to civilian life, taking his first job as an environmental consultant for the U.S. Army.

Though Guellnitz, an enviornmental science major in college, thought he had found his niche, the work taught him that he didn’t want a desk job. He got accepted to law school, but after picking up his first bill, he started to have second

thoughts.

Stuck, Guellnitz did what every 20-something-year-old would do: He called his mom.

Both his parents were educators and suspected Guellnitz would enjoy the profession. That same week, he secured a job as an instructional assistant in Belmont and immediately fell in love with the work. He got his teaching degree, picked up a science position, and began coaching soccer. Eventually, he would become an assistant principal in Sharon.

“After being a platoon leader in the military, I think I always knew I wanted to get back into leadership,” Guellnitz said. And about eight years ago, he found himself in Westborough as principal of Mill Pond School.

From the first interview, he was impressed and drawn to the district. Westborough felt like “the place [he] wanted to be,” he said.

And this year, Guellnitz has been named Westborough’s grand marshal for the Memorial Day Parade on May 25.

Patrick Subaru wants to build new 50K-sq-ft dealership at abandoned Shrewsbury Nurseries site

Olde Shrewsbury Village. The proposed site totals nearly 16 acres.

On the site, Patrick Subaru would build a new facility. According to the plans, construction would include the demolition of the existing building, the construction of a 50,000-square-foot Subaru dealership and repair facility, and new utility connections to Shrewsbury’s network.

“The proposed development is designed to modernize the property and better utilize this prominent commercial location while providing a high - quality, contemporary facility that meets current code, operational, and environmental standards,” a cover letter for the project reads.

The project – which needs a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, in addition to a number of other approvals, to move forward –requires two driveways: one that accesses Route 9, and one off of Walnut Street. The

building would be set toward the corner of Route 9 and Walnut Street, with parking further away from the roadways.

Approximately 620 parking spaces are proposed, with 91 in proximity to the building – for customer and employee parking – and the remainder intended for vehicle display and storage.

Project documents indicate the new location would give Subaru approximately twice the space it currently occupies.

The dealership is anticipated to employ 25 people.

“The applicant believes the proposed redevelopment represents a substantial

“After being a platoon leader in the military, I think I always knew I wanted to get

back into leadership.

Being a part of this community has been a “real privilege,” he said, emphasizing how much he loves Westborough. “While

I’m honored to be grand marshal, it honestly feels more honorable to me because it’s the place that I look at so fondly.”

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provement to the site, supports continued economic activity within the Commercial-Business District, and will be compatible with surrounding land uses and the broader objectives of the town’s zoning framework,” project documents read.

There’s no word on what will become of the current Subaru site. There is also little information about the future of Subaru’s previous proposed site, 701 Boston Turnpike. The Community Advocate will have updates about those properties and the Subaru approval process.

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Westborough ‘peanut’ rotary redesign will not go before Town Meeting

Peanut | from page 1

The proposal

The proposed plan, presented in December, would transform the existing five-legged rotary into a peanut-shaped, single-lane design. Milk Street would see the biggest change. Currently, the roadway connects to the rotary through two one-way streets on either side of the Arcade Building; the existing northbound artery (near Dairy Queen) would be made into a two-way street, while the existing southern artery would be a lane that bypasses the rotary and offers a rightturn-only option onto West Main Street.

Between Jan. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2023, there were 236 crashes at the rotary — none of which had any reported fatalities or serious injuries. This includes three collisions with bicycles, seven with pedestrians, and 22 with parked vehicles.

The updates Since plans for the peanut were unveiled, the town made several changes to address concerns regarding the elimination of parking spaces around the rotary. The plan continues to call for no parking within the perimeter of the peanut shape, with Kimley-Horn citing safety concerns.

To offset the parking removed from the perimeter of the rotary, a total of 25 spaces are proposed along Union Street. Additionally, 22 parallel spaces are proposed along Milk Street.

However, during repeated questioning throughout the event, officials were unable to

confirm the specific number of spaces that would be recouped from the original design. It’s also still expected that the latest plan would include a net reduction of parking spaces.

The cost

If the design is approved by the town’s boards, the bulk of construction is estimated to take two construction seasons (April to November). KimleyHorn’s Bill Scully indicated that the downtown would be “open for business throughout the construction period.”

The preliminary construction cost is estimated at $5.5 million. So far, the project’s design has been funded completely through a state grant, totalling approximately $372,000. Although it was mentioned at a prior meeting that officials may seek funding at Town Meeting, Director of Planning Jenny Gingras noted at the night’s information session that the town will only be pursuing grants to fund the project going forward.

“Moving forward would be dependent on securing that additional funding,” Gingras said. Since no town funding would be used, the project would not appear before Town Meeting.

“The next step would be to continue refining the design based on the feedback received tonight – using the grant funding we already have in place. From there, the updated plan would be brought back to the Planning Board and Select Board for further discussion. At that point, the boards would determine whether to pursue grant funding to move forward with design into the next

phase,” said Gingras.

“There will not be another public information session at this time for this phase of the project,” Gingras told the Community Advocate. “We do not have a meeting scheduled with the Planning Board or Select Board with this as an agenda item yet, but will look to have one soon.”

The voices

The rotary redesign has been deeply unpopular in town, with a Community Advocate poll finding that over 90 percent of residents disagree with the full peanut-shaped plan. At the public meeting, many residents were upset to learn they will not have the opportunity to vote on the project directly.

While town officials pointed to the Master Plan and Complete Streets Plan – which were created based on community feedback – as documents that suggest a project may be embraced to address the safety and walkability of the downtown, residents repeatedly questioned who asked for the full redesign.

Residents have also frequently criticized the lack of consideration of potential half-measures – like flashing beacons, better signage, and clearer road striping – which may be far cheaper than the full redesign. “I’d like to know why we aren’t making immediate changes,” asked resident Laura Novick. “All these things could be done right now, and maybe we don’t need this [redesign].”

Officials said that all feedback will be incorporated in the final report from the consultants, but in their opinion, these in-between steps would

Hundreds

The design of the proposed “peanut” rotary as of April 14. On South Street, West Main Street, and East Main Street, officials added parking back by changing some of the previously proposed parallel spots to angled spaces.

not fully address all of the issues with the downtown area, and a redesign is ultimately necessary.

Al Gordon, a Westborough retired police chief and resident, said he was not in favor of the proposed redesign. “The rotary is not the problem” when it comes to safety, he said, noting most accidents are caused by drivers not paying attention.

The impact to business

While the town claimed that it had consulted many businesses about the plan, Gary Sanginario, a resident and real estate attorney, disputed that assertion, stating some of his clients who operate businesses downtown had no idea about the project.

“All of those would be severely impacted by any such project as this. … I don’t see how substituting bike paths for parking is going to enhance our downtown,” he said, adding that as many as 90 businesses may be affected by the proposed changes.

Jackie Weber, an employee of Faris Farm Flowers, was perhaps the most blunt.

“If you build this, all of our businesses are gone,” she said. Weber mentioned that regardless of net parking amounts, the lack of spaces directly in front of some businesses could create problems.

“You talk about, economically speaking, bringing more people down to the rotary. Well, I don’t

understand how you’re going to do that if we’re all gone,” she said.

In response, Planning Board member Christina Kelleher pointed to other communities that have completed similar projects. Although business owners in those towns had similar concerns, they are said to be satisfied with the results, which included better business outcomes.

The environment

Residents were also unhappy to learn that access to the peanutshaped rotary’s green space would be off-limits due to the lack of crosswalks leading to the center green. If (and when) people still go there, the intersection’s redesign would be less safe than existing conditions, they claimed.

Several residents also spoke on the importance of preserving the town’s mature trees.

“Everything that I’ve received in this proposal does remove all of the trees out of the middle of the rotary and put new trees in,” said Tree Warden Kyle Grendell. “Everything comes out and gets replaced.”

Roberta Sylvester Brown, a fourth generation Westborough resident, said she had hoped the meeting would change her mind, but she remains opposed to the proposed redesign. She encouraged the town to “go back to the drawing board” and focus energy on other parts of the town.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Beth Casavant exemplifies the qualities and experience necessary to fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of a member of the Shrewsbury Select Board. Her dedication and determination to serve the people of Shrewsbury cannot be overstated.

Throughout her tenure, Beth has been keenly focused on improving communication between the Town and residents; ensuring long term financial planning and a stable tax rate; and advocating for public safety, improved infrastructure and mental health and educational resources.

The Town of Shrewsbury is well served by an outstanding advocate for the best interests of all residents. Her votes on issues and projects reflect serious study and thought on her part, always working to achieve the best results for the people she serves.

Please join us in voting for the re-election of Beth Casavant on May 5, 2026. Respectfully, Stephen and Gayle Vigeant, Shrewsbury

To the Editor:

I have been reading the letters to the editors and am disappointed in the qualities Select Board Candidates Garcia and Casavant have been praised for. We should scrutinize our leaders for how they serve Shrewsbury and how willing they are to speak out and act on our issues than their liberal policy and methods of governance.

The support for Garcia previously published in the Community Advocate have largely praised Garcia for his personality and improvements to town legislature, but I wonder if these make him unique and how bureaucratic issues would have been improved with or without him. Brian Farrell had written to the editor on March 8 about transparency, documented accountability and accessible leadership issues in support of Garcia, but I ask the citizens of Shrewsbury if these are issues we are actively demanding. Lisa Talbot praised Garcia for similar qualities on March 29, but was at least able to note Garcia’s acts such as the Affordable Housing Trust Action and food insecurity. These issues of critical infrastructure and mutual support networks will affect us more than baseline civil transparency.

We should also realize that volunteerism and charitable initiatives are no replacement for

structural policy and permanent support networks. Roy Balfour’s March 29 letter to the editor in support of Beth Casavant focuses largely on her volunteer and charitable initiatives, but goodwill alone will not provide critical infrastructure to support Shrewsbury. We should expect more.

As a teacher, I understand the importance of visual rhetoric. The candidates are praised for confidence, openness, and friendliness. But these are expected qualifications. If being thoughtful, asking questions, and volunteering are the qualities we focus on, then any successful high school student would be a good candidate. We should focus our attention on candidate policy that will focus on building support networks, better ecological standards, and improved cost of living. As vigilant citizens, our focus needs to be on Select Board Members who will improve on our town struggles.

Luke Cai, Shrewsbury

To the Editor: I support Carlos Garcia for re-election to the Shrewsbury Select Board. As a graduate of the Shrewsbury Public Schools, Carlos knows the importance of civic engagement and the inclusion of all voices at the table, especially young people with diverse interests and experiences. He advocated for a spot for a high school-aged student on the town’s Sustainability Committee, collaborated with an SHS student on a tree bylaw he developed, and is a supporter of the expansion of the high school. He attends youth events to encourage engagement in civic affairs, and opened the first Shrewsbury Pride 5K with a speech that reflected his gratitude and appreciation for the

expanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community by Shrewsbury residents. “Love can truly make all the difference,” he said at that race, and he continues to exemplify that ethos and respect for all residents into his work on the board. Please join me in voting again for Carlos Garcia on Tuesday, May 5th.

Erin H. Canzano, Shrewsbury

To the Editor:

After 18 years on the Shrewsbury School Committee, Sandy Fryc is ending her term. For 12 of those 18 years I had the pleasure of serving with her and could see up close the work that she did on behalf of our students and community. Besides energy and idealism, she brings a background in conflict management which was invaluable to the Committee, especially in labor contract negotiations. Her talent for connecting with Committee members went far to help us to function as a team. Her willingness to help meant that whenever there was a need for a subcommittee or project her hand went up. Wherever she was involved, she was the hardest working person in the room, even taking her own notes. If questions came up regarding what may have transpired several years ago, one would hear the pages flipping across the table and then she would quote exactly what had happened!

The school system and its budgets are complex and unique. Having someone who has mastered these and has been there year after year working to bring the best value to the families of Shrewsbury was a blessing.

Thank you, Sandy Fryc, for all that you have done.

Dale Magee, Shrewsbury School Committee, 2010-2022

To the Editor:

Congressman James P. McGovern voted nay on the resolution naming Iran the largest state sponsor of terrorism.

McGovern voted nay to funding appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security. McGovern voted nay to the House resolution condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff.

McGovern voted nay to subject to deportation illegal aliens who defraud the government.

McGovern voted nay to the Laken Riley Act, which would deny bail to illegal aliens who are charged with committing serious crimes, named for the Georgia nursing student who had her skull crushed by the illegal alien who attempted to rape her.

McGovern’s office did not respond to an enquiry asking if he’d support The Dalilah Law, which would prevent illegal aliens from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses, and was proposed because of the frequency of trucking accidents causing chaos on our highways. It was named for Dalilah Coleman, a first-grader severely injured in a crash at the hands of an illegal alien who couldn’t read road signs in English. No surprise, after all, McGovern has not expressed a word of empathy to the families of American citizens who’ve lost loved ones to the actions of illegal alien criminals.

President Trump arrested the narco-terrorist Nicolas Maduro who impoverished the people of Venezuela and trafficked drugs into America. Trump seeks to liberate the people of Cuba from their Communist overlords. Now, Trump is engaged in a righteous mission to liberate the

world from the bloodthirsty Iranians who murder their own people by the thousands and seek to realize their apocalyptic vision of end times with nuclear Armageddon. McGovern is against Trump on all of it. In addition to McGovern’s Trump Derangement Syndrome, his incurable moral relativism seems to align him with Maduro, the Castro regime, and Iranian leadership. McGovern has promoted partisan poison for a quarter century. Is it not time, even in the gerrymandered state of Massachusetts, for those who love our country to stand up and vote nay to McGovern? Steven Feldman, Shrewsbury

To the Editor:

Donald Trump’s reckless and irresponsible behavior in recent weeks has demonstrated anew that he is a danger to our country and the world. We must speak out strongly against this threat. For this reason the Westborough Democratic Town Committee has voted approval of a resolution that calls on our congressman and U.S. senators to support the removal of Donald Trump as president by any constitutional or legal means. We also call on the full Congress and the president’s cabinet to take immediate action to remove Trump from the presidency. We understand that Trump’s removal is unlikely, at least for now, and we understand that some will criticize our resolution as partisan. Be that as it may, this is no time for silence. The American people we must unify around the demand for Trump to go, now.

Respectfully, Tom Hubbard, Vice Co-Chair/Westborough Democratic Town Committee

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Skip the “Let’s See What Happens” Approach when Buying & Selling

By Jennifer Juliano

Preparation isn’t just helpful, it’s strategic. Surprises are great when they’re birthday parties or impromptu vacation getaways, not in a real estate sale. Buyers and sellers who enter a transaction with key items already handled, such as mortgage preapprovals, septic and well inspections, and even fire department requirements, dramatically reduce risk and last minute glitches. These may seem dull compared to picking out paint and staging, but they are the difference between smooth closings and ones that get tricky.

Mortgage Preapprovals

A mortgage preapproval is more than a letter; it’s a signal of financial readiness and expectations. It’s Murphy’s Law: a buyer goes house shopping without one, they claim “they weren’t really looking”, and they fall in love with something. It’s like showing up to a potluck empty-handed, and now begins a scramble that didn’t need to happen. Get preapproved by a reliable lender ahead of time, and save yourself the stress.

If the phrase “never assume” meant anything, it certainly applies to septic inspections. A Title 5 inspection is required in Massachusetts for resale; assuming a system will pass or that you’ll do it when you get an offer is flirting with

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Community Chorus presents ‘Icons & Legends’

WESTBOROUGH – The Westborough Community Chorus will present its annual spring show, “Icons & Legends,” on May 2 at 7 p.m. and May 3 at 2 p.m.

just enough to fill a couple of hours.”

disaster. Once, a house I was holding my breath over to see if it would pass because the seller “didn’t realize” they had a system and hadn’t maintained it actually passed just fine. Another that was maintained regularly, well, that one had to have a whole new system. Fortunately, both were done ahead of listing and saved a world of hassle later.

Having a septic inspection completed before listing provides clarity on system condition, prevents market-value loss, and prevents unexpected repair negotiations. Some buyers aren’t from our area and don’t fully understand septic systems, so having a “passed Title 5” report can help assuage concerns about the unknown. Speaking of septic systems, make sure you understand that the bedroom count for listings is based on the septic size, not on how many rooms you count or use. If you have four rooms that all meet criteria for bedrooms, such as size, emergency egress, etc., but the septic is only sized for three, then you sell it as a three. This is a common mistake that can also cause hiccups later.

Fire department compliance for real estate transfers involving smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and safety certifications is one of the most commonly overlooked steps in a real estate transaction. It’s also often misunderstood. Just going to Home Depot to pick up a few new detectors may cost you time and effort if you get the wrong ones. Make sure to read the requirements closely, and definitely don’t wait until a few days before closing to handle this. I remember one seller wanted to handle it themselves and bought all the wrong detectors; it cost time, money, and definitely a lot of avoidable stress. Whether you, your agent, or a contractor well-versed in Fire Department requirements does, simply make sure they’re done ahead of a closing. Some towns have very specific timeframes for inspections, and, of course, real emergencies take precedence over resales or “real estate emergencies” (these don’t count to them!). Plan ahead and be patient.

Is your house serviced by a private well? Check with the Board of Health to see whether your town requires sellers to perform certain quality tests for resale. Some towns put this on the seller, while others leave it up to the buyer. Finding this out ahead of time can make your house that much more marketable to a potential buyer.

See the pattern?

Prepared and practical helps create peace and profit.

Songs performed by the chorus include hitmakers in popular music from the 1950s through today. “It was a huge challenge picking the songs for this show,” according to chorus president Amy Marr. “We asked the chorus for suggested songs and artists, and had to whittle down a list of around

Audiences can expect to hear songs from Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton, Sonny & Cher, U2, The Jackson 5, and many more. “There’s really something for everyone in this show, as we are covering several decades’ worth of pop music,” says William Goliger, in his second year of directing the WCC. “We expect there will be a lot of folks in the audience singing right along with us.”

to

The WCC’s family-friendly

performances are held at Gibbons Middle School in Westborough. Tickets good for either show are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, students, and children. In addition to being available at the door, tickets can be purchased online at westborocommunitychorus. com, at David French Music, and at Music & Arts located in Baystate Commons. For group tickets, or more information, contact tickets@ westborocommunitychorus. com.

Planning Board proposes stopgap solution to data centers in Northborough

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

NORTHBOROUGH – The Northborough Planning Board will bring an article to Town Meeting in April that requires a special permit for data centers to be constructed in the Industrial District. The measure is a “stopgap” designed to give the town more time to brainstorm solutions, better understand data centers, and develop bylaws.

Even with a special permit from the Planning Board, the proposed bylaw only allows data centers with a maximum projected electrical demand of 5 megawatts at full build-out. Iron Mountain, the data center currently in Northborough, is a 3.6-megawatt facility, according to the Planning Board.

First reported by the Community Advocate, the Planning Board in February looked to protect the

town against data centers by establishing a definition, adding criteria, and allowing the board to consider factors such as traffic, air quality, and noise during the approval process.

The bylaw defines a data center as “a building or group of buildings whose primary purpose is to house information technology equipment for the storage, processing, management, or transmission of electronic data.” Data centers may also include “supporting systems such as cooling and environmental controls, electrical supply and backup power (including uninterruptible power supply or generators), fire suppression, and security systems.”

Data centers have drawn criticism for being extreme users of power and water, incredibly noisy, and generally disruptive. Some centers employ armed guards – something that several Northborough Planning

Board members were worried about.

Right now, data centers are allowed in Northborough, and if Town Meeting votes the article down, they would continue to be allowed. If the article is ad -

opted, the Planning Board would have more say, and would be able to vet future projects more effectively.

There’s also the chance that Town Meeting may amend the article to disallow data centers throughout

town. Originally, the Planning Board favored a complete ban on data centers until it could figure out more specific regulations.

“The ‘no’ is intended to be temporary,” Northborough Planning Board member Bill Pierce said at the time. “We still have to draw up the electrical, the water –all the other questions that we need answered if a Data Center were to come in front of us.”

It’s an attempt to keep up with the times, which are rapidly changing.

“Equipment is shrinking all the time. It can shrink. You can have a 100-megawatt facility 10 years from now that’s the size of a room. … That’s where you really want to be careful about how you’re doing it,” said Pierce.

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Grafton 63-year-old school roof could cost $5.3M to fully replace

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

GRAFTON – A Grafton school roof in need of help, to put it lightly, will appear before residents in upcoming months. At Town Meeting and at the ballot box, residents will be asked to invest in a new roof for the school, though the exact dollar amount hasn’t been decided as of the publication of this article.

The Select Board discussed the issue on April 21, after this issue went to print. The Community Advocate will have further updates in subsequent editions.

In spring 2025, Garland, a commercial roofing firm, studied the roof at Grafton Middle School, located at 22 Providence Road. The study revealed significant issues, with its final report determining that “catastrophic failure and other health dangers are dangerously evident [if] roof replacement is put off any further.”

In the fall, Town Meeting approved funds for further study and analysis of the roof. On April 7, Superintendent James Cummings went before the Select Board to outline options to replace the 63-year-old roof, which has gone through decades of patching. It is original to the 76,000-square-foot Grafton Middle School, which opened in 1963.

“It’s just a mess,” said Cummings.

A full roof repair would run between $4.3 to $5.3 million, according to Cummings. Some areas are worse than others. A partial replacement of the roof would run between $2.2 and $2.7 million. Solely replacing the most seriously damaged portions of the roof, the area of the building closest to Providence Road that houses all the classrooms, would cost between $1.5 and $1.8 million.

Grafton could be eligible for the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program, which could reimburse 50 percent of ex-

penses. However, the application doesn’t open until January 2027, and it’s a four-year process until the project would be started.

Does the roof have that long?

“I know we can’t wait four years for the [classroom] section,” said Cummings.

For that reason, Cummings recommended funding the classroom portion of the repairs, between $1.5 and $1.8 million, and applying for the MSBA process for the other repairs. The town could perhaps ask the MSBA to help replace the North Street Elementary School roof, which is also in need of fixes.

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Should data centers be banned in Southborough? Debate at Town Meeting

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

SOUTHBOROUGH — Will Southborough be getting a new data center soon?

On April 11, Southborough Town Meeting passed an update to its Industrial Park Zoning to attract more business revenue while maintaining protections for residents and conservation areas. However, the updated zoning ordinance also places specific restrictions on data centers that some argue “effectively ban” them from town.

According to the new zoning, data centers require a special permit from the Planning Board and are further restricted, with a required 1,000-foot setback and a maximum build-out of 50,000 square feet.

Planning Board ViceChair Marnie Hoolihan explained that with the Industrial Park Zone located in close proximity to residential and conservation areas – and with so many unknowns about the ultimate impact of data centers (including AI-based ones) – the board wanted to instate some intentional boundaries around these facilities.

“We want to open the doors for data centers, but we also want to be very cautious,” Hoolihan said at Town Meeting.

Southborough currently has one data center, located at 34 St. Martin Drive (on the border of Marlborough). Originally built in 1995 as a

It is not a ‘no’ [to data centers], it is a deliberate, responsible ‘let’s proceed with caution.’

~ Planning Board ViceChair Marnie Hoolihan “

multi-tenant warehouse distribution center, the approximately 200,000-square-foot facility has since become home to multiple data center operations. The site was purchased by Marlborough Technology Partner in 2019 and space is now largely occupied by TierPoint.

According to Assessor Paul Cibelli, the property is valued at about $33 million, meaning the annual tax revenue based on the current rate is approximately $480,000. With an additional $10 million worth of contents, the tax revenue from that facility exceeds $600,000 annually –more than the town expects from the proposed Costco.

Sam Stivers, a long-time town official, told the Community Advocate he believes there are few parcels in Southborough that could accommodate the setback restrictions on these data centers. Therefore, at Town Meeting, Stivers proposed an amendment that would have eliminated the pro -

posed setback and doubled the allowed buildable square footage to 100,000.

“Article 17, I believe, effectively bans data centers in Southborough,” Stivers told Town Meeting. “The setbacks and the size limits make it unlikely that anybody is going to want to put a data center here.”

Hoolihan explained that the current facility is an “old-school” data center, which uses five to 10 times less resources than what a modern AI facility would require. She said it’s difficult to compare the two.

She added: “The Planning Board is not here to maximize revenue. It is here to steward land use, public health, environmental balance, and long-term capacity. Tax benefit alone cannot outweigh irreversible [site] decisions.”

While the zoning can be revisited after more is known about these facilities, she emphasized: “It is not a ‘no’ [to data centers], it is a deliberate, responsible ‘let’s proceed with caution.’”

Town Meeting ultimately turned down Stivers’ amendment and passed the original zoning updates proposed by the Planning Board.

“I was disappointed,” Stivers told the Community Advocate after the decision, adding he hopes the discussion will be brought to Town Meeting once more in the future. In the meantime, he doubts the town will reap the benefits of any new data center.

Select Board says Town Administrator has done ‘great’ in latest review Kimberlee Hughes by your side every step of the way

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

GRAFTON – On April 7, the Grafton Select Board completed its annual review of Town Administrator Evan Brassard, who celebrated his fifth year leading the town this February. With a score of 74.2 out of 100, Brassard’s performance was rated as “great,” meeting and occasionally exceeding established standards and objectives.

Brassard received high marks for his long-term financial planning, fiscal management, and for bringing a team approach to the Grafton Memorial Municipal Center. Select Board members and staff praised his “down-to-earth, authentic” style.

“Evan continues to demonstrate strengths in his ability to communicate with employees and create a positive environment at the Town Hall,” one anonymous Select Board member commented in the evalua-

tion. “His employees note that he empowers them to run their departments independently and gets involved only when needed or asked.”

Added another member:

“Evan’s biggest strength may be his temperament. I always hear about actions he’s taken to help someone, his calming [demeanor], unflappable attitude, his ability to listen and make people feel heard, his respect for his staff and their individual roles, and his ability to diffuse potentially difficult situations and discussions. He’s very knowledgeable across all areas of municipal and state government.”

In terms of what Brassard could improve, Select Board members pointed to delegation, noting how Brassard’s packed schedule leaves little time for strategic planning. Delegating authority and setting specific objectives were among Brassard’s lowest scores.

“I don’t know how he does

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it,” one anonymous staff member said. “Regardless of how much stress Evan may be under, it stays with Evan and never impacts staff. Personal feelings never factor into work decisions. Evan respects department head feedback and decisions, and always prioritizes the town’s needs.”

A Select Board member wrote: “Evan should continue to work on delegation within his office. He should continue to work on timely responses to residents and Committee members. He should also continue to foster interactions between departments at the Municipal Center to foster a greater sense of a unified team.”

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Proposed 270-unit mixed-use project would net almost 6,000 daily trips

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – How much traffic will this major development generate?

That was the question before the Shrewsbury Planning Board on April 2 as the community learned more about the traffic impact associated with a proposed project on a 24.5-acre lot at 335 Maple Avenue, the former site of a bottling factory.

Developer Sam Adams –represented by Prince Lobel Tye LLP attorney Mark Borenstein – walked residents through plans. The property has been subdivided into two lots: a 400,000-square-foot Lot 1, closest to Route 9; and a 680,000-square-foot Lot 2, located north of Lot 1 closer to Maple Avenue.

The Planning Board will treat each lot separately.

Lot 1 is a commercial development. Seven retail buildings, about 4,000 square feet each, would be constructed parallel to one another along Route 9. Uses would include a car wash, a bank, and several other businesses. Over 250 parking spaces would be constructed.

Lot 2 is the mixed-use development, which may be constructed despite the recent twoyear moratorium on mixed-use in the Lakeway Overlay District. Plans call for a 20,000-squarefoot supermarket, a 270-unit development, and over 600 parking spaces.

The supermarket would be “specialty,” or not “full-size,” according to developers. The residential component would be split into five four-story buildings, with unit counts ranging from 45 to 70. Parking would surround the structures.

Led by Robert Michaud of Marlborough-based MDM Transportation Consultants, Adams and Borenstein presented a traffic study to the Planning Board. MDM analyzed a number of locations along Maple Avenue and Route 9, using a 7 percent assumed growth factor (which far exceeds historical standards, they said) and taking into account five site-specific developments throughout the town.

According to the study, the development (both lots) would generate 5,946 weekend daily trips, with 5,298 trips throughout an average weekday. An average weekday morning peak

hour would generate 371 trips –with 175 entering, 196 exiting.

Though traffic would use a variety of roads to access the sites, the majority of trips would use Route 9 when entering and exiting. In fact, Michaud said that nearly onethird of the “trip” generation can be characterized as “passby” traffic – cars already traveling along Route 9 that stop by the plaza as a matter of convenience.

“A significant number of the uses – specifically the ones that front Route 9 as commercial entities – will really rely substantially on pass-by traffic along the Route 9 corridor. … It would not be new traffic. It would be traffic that, as a matter of convenience, would draw from existing [flow],” said Michaud.

Michaud added that there is plenty of capacity at nearby intersections to handle the increased traffic. He argued there would be no noticeable impact to many of the intersections in the area, including the intersection of Route 9 and Oak Street. Safety countermeasures would not be warranted, he said.

“These [traffic] demands are principally oriented toward the

Route 9 corridor as opposed to local street systems,” Michaud said. “These are good results. They indicate that there is ample capacity to accommodate additional traffic from this project.”

He added: “This is going to have an impact, but it’s not going to create congestion.”

Michaud said that MDM did not consider “ebbs and flows” in traffic associated with school dismissal at Oak Middle School or Sherwood Middle School, located nearby the proposed site. Michaud dismissed the after-school traffic as “brief” and “infrequent.”

Residents, however, said that poor traffic conditions are anything but that.

Said Paul Lindsey, an Oak Street resident: “We are not under-capacity on Oak Street. We are over-capacity. It’s three lanes. A dangerous situation with children walking, children biking, and buses going down the middle. I don’t think adding 200-plus units with access on Oak Street is going to be tenable.”

The site includes several adjustments since it was last discussed publicly. The northerly Oak Street driveway onto

the site has been turned into an “emergency-only” road, eliminating a curb-cut. A pedestrian crossing to Williamsburg Court has been added across Oak Street, with another crossing spanning Maple Avenue to the Marketplace Plaza.

The project, which has not been received well by Shrewsbury residents in a variety of public meetings, received plenty of pushback. Planning Board member Stephan Rodolakis questioned whether the “mixed-use” Lot 2 portion of the project can truly be

considered as such, as it lacks connectivity for vehicles.

Developers point to “elevation issues” that make connectivity difficult.

“I have issues with calling this a mixed-use project. This supermarket is entirely separated – other than some recent additions to pedestrian traffic – from the residential component. You have six bags of groceries … you’re not going to drag [them] up. It’s not connected visually, and certainly not from a pedestrian aspect,” said Rodolakis.

After life-threatening horseback incident, Westborough resident pleads for help

By Kate Tobiasson Contributing Writer

WESTBOROUGH – Located at the intersection of Route 30 and Glen Street, Emerald Isles Equestrian Center has picturesque paddocks and even fences. The property has two separate pieces: 20 acres where the barns and riding areas are located, and a 27-acre crosscountry field where the horses exercise.

To get between the properties, it’s about 100 yards down Glen Street.

It’s becoming quite a dangerous trek.

This section of Glen Street, connecting Route 30 to Arch Street, is often used by commuters to travel toward Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Route 9. The speed limit is marked at 30 miles per hour, and there are signs posted by the town encouraging drivers to yield to horses.

Paige Roy, the owner of Emerald Isles, typically cares for about 20 horses on the prop-

erty. An experienced equestrian, she works to take every possible precaution to keep riders, horses, and local drivers safe. In the last decade, dozens of lifethreatening incidents have happened, and now, Roy is growing increasingly concerned.

“On April 8, I was coming back to the barn from exercising a horse in the field,” she said. “I was riding with one other woman that day. There was some tree maintenance being done at one of the properties we pass along Glen Street on our walk, which agitated the horses and frightened them a bit. I was walking beside the horses on foot as an extra precaution.”

One particular horse was quickly growing increasingly scared and was visibly agitated, jumping, and spinning. Two vehicles stopped behind Roy and the horses, kindly waiting while she worked to de-escalate the situation. Then, a white box truck approached; the horsewoman accompanying Roy signaled for the driver to slow down, but rather than yielding,

he allegedly mocked the horsewoman and slipped between Roy and the other vehicles.

“At this point, my horse was lost to his panic. He was spinning and trying to run away from me, but because he was so lost in his fear, he was almost running me over and stepping on me. I was really close to the truck, and the truck driver nearly struck me,” explained Roy.

According to state law, vehicles must yield to horses on the road. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 reads that “every person operating a motor vehicle shall bring the vehicle and the motor propelling it immediately to a stop when approaching a cow, horse or other draft animal being led, ridden or driven, if such animal appears to be frightened and if the person in charge thereof shall signal so to do; and, if traveling in the opposite direction to that in which such animal is proceeding, said vehicle shall remain stationary so long as may be reasonable to allow such animal to pass; or, if traveling in the same direction,

the person operating shall use reasonable caution in thereafter passing such animal. In passing a vulnerable user, the operator of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance of not less than 4 feet and at a reasonable and proper speed.”

Recently, a fellow Massachusetts equestrian wasn’t as fortunate as Roy.

Five months ago, Rosie Kennedy of Hamilton was riding her horse, Pops, along the shared trail system that they visited nearly daily. Kennedy and her horse had a strong, unique connection, and both enjoyed their rides in the fields owned by Greenbelt, a system shared with bicyclists and other pedestrians. That morning, Kennedy did not see or hear a bicyclist coming towards them from behind at a high speed, and Pops seemed unusually agitated. She tried to calm him, but he became uncontrollably frantic.

Pops panicked, and Kennedy was thrown from the horse, shattering her ankle and severely damaging her right knee. Kennedy had to crawl for nearly 60 minutes to reach help, and an ambulance brought her to a local hospital. Pops was later found at a local farm, but since he had suffered too many injuries from his escape, he was euthanized before Kennedy was able to say goodbye.

Kennedy noted, “Horses are flight animals; if they don’t see or understand what is ahead or behind them, and if they don’t have a chance to discern what that is, their instinct is to flee. This can be very dangerous for riders. One of the problems that we have is that while much of the community is considerate and respectful about horses, you never know what an oncoming person is going to do.

This unpredictability is truly frightening. … If drivers are able to yield, for just a short moment, this can have a tremendous impact on our safety. This is why Massachusetts Law is worded as it is.”

In Westborough, Roy is concerned about the next time a horse is nearly struck or frightened on Glen Street. She has made a number of efforts over the years to help protect both the local equestrians and drivers.

“Since 2020, I’ve reached out to a number of different people in town, asking for help: the Select Board, the Westborough Police Department, the Traffic Department, the DPW. I have also had a number of clients call in and place reports with the police department about frightening and dangerous incidents that have happened,” Roy said. She added: “Someone is going to get hurt. I’ve been begging the town for years to find a remedy to the issue. The signs aren’t working.”

In 2022, the Westborough Police Department visited Glen Street to monitor the road and participated in a demonstration about the importance of yielding to equestrians. The town added the signs on Glen Street. As recently as April 2025, Kristen Belanger, assistant town manager, wrote in correspondence that the Town of Westborough has “previously completed speed studies in this area and did not identify any significant speeding issues on that stretch of roadway. At this time, they do not propose the installation of speed humps or similar traffic calming measures on any public roadways due to the concerns they present for emergency vehicle operations and roadway safety.”

Marathon Monday at The Willows

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — Ines

Sonsino – a resident of The Willows at Westborough, a SALMON Health and Retirement facility – says walking is part of her DNA.

Every day she completes an average of 20,000 steps.

“I try to walk three times a day – in the morning, then in the afternoon, and then a little bit in the evening,” Sonsino said. “Now that the weather is nice, I go outside, and miles pile up.”

Over the last three weeks, Sonsino and over a dozen fellow residents participated in the fourth annual Willows Marathon. Led by Fitness Director Kerry Paulhus, participants kept track of their steps to see how far they traveled leading up to the Boston Marathon. The goal is to reach 26.2 miles.

Completing a final lap around The Willows campus on Marathon Monday, April

20, Sonsino managed to rack up 223.5 miles.

“It’s very good for me –for my state of mind and for my body,” she said. “It’s a community thing. It bonds our community and it’s very important. At our age, it’s very important to have a community that you can be with and you can relate to. This is a great activity. The [employees] here do a great job. We are very lucky to have them.”

Another resident, Sally Weglage, who has been at The Willows for the last nine years, spent over a decade volunteering for the Boston Marathon.

She held a number of roles, including collecting clothing, manning the start gate, and stuffing the bibs in Hopkinton. Most of those years were spent volunteering alongside her late husband.

“This is fun for us,” Weglage said. “It’s a way for The Willows to keep the mara -

thon theme going. It’s nice to see all over the Boston-area how people are doing things to mark it.”

Scan QR code for rate information or to email your legal notice.

SHREWSBURY

SHREWSBURY PLANNING BOARD

LEGAL NOTICE

The Shrewsbury Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday evening, May 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM, in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room at the Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Avenue, to hear the application of McCarty Engineering, Inc. 42 Tucker Drive, Leominster, MA 01453, as required by the Town of Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VII.F.3. for Site Plan Approval by the Planning Board, to allow for the redevelopment of the property located at 957 Boston Turnpike and 269 Walnut Street. The proposed project involves demolition of existing structures and construction of a new automotive sales and repair dealership with associated parking, access, utilities, stormwater management, and other associated improvements. The proposed site plan is shown on a plan accompanied by the application titled “Site Plan Approval Documents for Patrick Subaru,” prepared by McCarty Engineering Inc., 42 Tucker Drive, Leominster, MA 01453, dated April 2, 2026, and stamped by Wesley R. Flis, PE and James Patrick Smith P.L.S. The subject project is located at 957 Boston Turnpike and 269 Walnut Street, northerly of Boston Turnpike and west of Walnut Street and consists in whole or in part of Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 36 Plot 019000 and 062000.

A copy of the application and plans may be seen in the Office of the Planning and Economic Development Department at the Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA, and on the Planning Board website at www.shrewsburyma.gov/ongoingprojects

SHREWSBURY PLANNING BOARD

Timothy Fitzgerald, Clerk

SHREWSBURY PLANNING BOARD LEGAL NOTICE

The Shrewsbury Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday evening, May 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM, in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room at the Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Avenue, to hear the application of MFJF, LLC, 487 Grafton Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, as required by the Town of Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VII.F.3. for Site Plan Approval by the Planning Board, to allow for the construction of a 11,200 sq.ft. building and associated parking spaces. The proposed site plan is shown on a plan accompanied by the application titled “Site Plan of Land at 715 Hartford Turnpike in Shrewsbury,” prepared by James Tetreault, Expedited Engineering, LLC, dated October 10, 2023 revised through March 31, 2026 and stamped by James L Tetreault PE. The subject project is located at 703-715 Hartford Turnpike, southerly of South Street and west of Hartford Turnpike and consists in whole or in part of Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 42 Plot 022000.

A copy of the application and plans may be seen in the Office of the Planning and Economic Development Department at the Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA, and on the Planning Board website at www.shrewsburyma.gov/ongoing-

projects

SHREWSBURY PLANNING BOARD

Timothy

Fitzgerald, Clerk

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR FY2027 ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

The Town of Shrewsbury invites sealed bids for FY2027 Roadway Improvements.

All contractors must submit bids in conformance with this Invitation for Bids and the related documents which shall be available online at www.shrewsburyma. gov/bids and also in the Town Manager’s Office at 100 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury. Town Offices are open Mon, Wed, Thu 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Tue 8:00 AM-6:30 PM; and Fri 8:00 AM-12:00 PM.

The scope of work is as follows: the mill and overlay of approx. 33,500 s.y. of roadways known as Oak St, Alice Ave, Ruthen Cir, Prospect St, Round Table Rd, Sword St, and Guinevere Cir. Work also includes the full depth reclaim/repave of two streets totaling approx. 18,100 s.y., known as Saxon Lane and Keyes House Rd. Also included is the replacement of 36 WCR/CCs, approx. 46 catch basins, 13 DMHs, and associated HDPE drainage pipe.

Work to be performed must be completed within 180 calendar days.

All Contractors must be pre-qualified through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation with the class of work as PAVEMENT – SURFACING with an estimated value of $2,172,804.34.

This Invitation for Bids shall be governed by the requirements of MGL Chapter 30, §39M.

Bids will be received in the Town Manager’s Office at 100 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, MA until 1:00 PM on May 12, 2026, at which time they will be opened publicly and read aloud.

Bids must be sealed and marked “FY2027 Roadway Improvements” with the bidder’s name and address clearly noted.

A bid deposit in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total bid shall accompany the Bid and be made payable to the Town of Shrewsbury.

The Town reserves the right to waive any minor informalities in the bids and to reject any and all bids if it shall be deemed in the best interests of the Town to do so.

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY

Kevin Mizikar

Town Manager

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SHARED PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICES

The Town of Shrewsbury, on behalf of the Central Massachusetts Regional Health Department, seeks proposals from professional planning consultants to provide shared public health strategic planning services.

Proposal Documents are available online at www.shrewsburyma.gov/bids and also in the Town Manager’s Office at 100 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury. Town Offices are open Mon, Wed, Thu 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Tue 8:00 AM-6:30 PM; and Fri 8:00 AM-12:00 PM.

Specific questions concerning this RFP shall be submitted via email to Annette Garcia, Regional Health Director, at agar-

cia@shrewsburyma.gov by no later than 1PM on May 6, 2026. It is the responsibility of prospective proposers to check www.shrewsburyma.gov/bids for new information via any addenda to this RFP. All prospective proposers must register their name and contact information (email address) on the proposal request form on the Town’s website or via a register to be maintained by the Office of the Town Manager to receive any addenda or answers to questions that may be issued by the Town.

Proposals submitted in accordance with this RFP and the related documents online will be received in the Town Manager’s Office at 100 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, MA or via email to jgoodwin@shrewsburyma.gov until 1PM on May 13, 2026.

MGL ch. 30B, sec. 6 shall apply to this RFP. The Town reserves the right to waive any minor informalities in the proposals and to reject any and all proposals if it shall be deemed in the best interests of the Town to do so.

Kevin Mizikar Town Manager Town of Shrewsbury

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE NOTICE OF PUBLIC FORUM

The Shrewsbury Community Preservation Committee will hold a public forum on Monday, May 11th at 7 PM in the Shrewsbury Police Department Training Room, 106 Maple Ave, Shrewsbury MA 01545. The purpose of this public forum is to receive community input on the historic preservation, affordable housing, open space and recreation needs in the Town of Shrewsbury. These findings are used to update the Community Preservation Plan.

If you are unable to attend in person, you are encouraged to complete a survey to have your voice heard, the survey can be found by following this link, https:// forms.gle/Jd2247YMDZiSx9PA9. Please refer to the CPC website, www.shrewsburyma.gov/cpc, for more information.

MARLBOROUGH

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provision of M.G.L. c 255 Section 39A that on May 7, 2026, the following vehicle(s) will be sold at a private sale to satisfy our garage keeper’s lien thereof for towing, storage, & notices of sale. To be sold at ADR Towing 301 Maple st Marlborough MA.

2017 Jeep Compass VIN 3C4NJDBBXHT672140

Owner Jillian Rich

2010 Audi A4 VIN WAUAFAFLXAN064638

Owner Ralph Santiago Pessoa

2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross VIN JA4AT3AALZ036862

Owner Richard Metro

NORTHBOROUGH

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NORTHBOROUGH MA

In accordance with the provisions of

Section 10-24-010 of the Northborough Subdivision Rules and Regulations, the Northborough Planning Board will hold a public hearing on May 5, 2026 at 6:00pm to consider the Definitive Subdivision Application for 17 Green Street, Map 37, Parcel 115, in the Residence B District, submitted by Corriveau Development, LLC, to construct a three-lot residential subdivision. Application and plans are on file at the Town Clerk’s Office and Planning Department, and may be viewed on the Planning Department webpage at https://www.town.northborough.ma.us/ planning board/pages/projects-underreview. Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, An Act Relative to Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency, signed into law on March 28, 2025, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation. To participate in the public comment portion of this public hearing, please click this URL to join: https://town-northborough-ma us.zoom.us/j/89816992409 Passcode: 313466. To join via audio: +1 646 876 9923 US Webinar ID: 898 1699 2409 Passcode: 313466; https://youtube. com/@northboroughmediaconnection. Amy Poretsky, Chairperson

SOUTHBOROUGH

Notice is hereby given by Ted’s of Fayville, 300 Turnpike Road., Southborough, MA 01772, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 255, section 39A, that on Wednesday May 13, 2026 at 10 am an auction sale on the web based site of http://sta. ibidsmart.com the following motor vehicles will be sold to satisfy our garage keeper’s lien thereon for storage, towing charges, care and expenses of notices and sale of said vehicles. Starting May 4, 2026 at 9 am, vehicles can be viewed at http://sta.ibidsmart.com. This is not an absolute auction we reserve the right to set a minimum on all auction vehicles. If a particular vehicle is not listed on http://sta.ibidsmart.com call 508-4850503 for bidding instructions.

2014 Freightliner Cascadia VIN: 1FUJGLDRXELFJ8726

Owned by AAS Trucking

2015 Jeep Cherokee VIN: 1C4PJMCB5FW582859

Owned by Jean Lubin

2019 Vanguard Box Trailer VIN : 5V8VA5323LM016748

Owned by Alpha Trucking Solutions

2016 GreatDane Box Trailer VIN: 1GRAA0623GB710038

Owned by SamStar Trans LLC

2013 Ford Fusion Vin: 3FA6P0H78DR138856

Owned by Hailey Stebner

2005 Ford F150 VIN: 1FTRX12W75FA63224

Owned by Martin Casey

2010 Chevrolet Impala Vin: 2G1WB5EK9A1147816

Owned by Antonio Rodriguez

2005 GMC Envoy VIN: 1GKDT13S752216908

Owned by Matthew Parkhurst

2004 Toyota Rav4 VIN: 2T3BF4DV8AW056818

Owned by Ashley Sanchez

2006 Honda Civic

VIN: 2HGFG11896H561268

Owned by Carllos E Ribeiro Silva

2006 Subaru Outback VIN: 4S4BP62C167310362

Owned by Mamadou Cissokho

2004 Lexus ES300 VIN: JTHBA30G545026637

Owned by Ashley St Louis/Nadia St Louis

2005 GMC Savana Vin: 1GDGG31V951901399

Owned by Angel Montanes

2009 GMC Sierra VIN: 1GTHK59K19E155977

Owned by Steven Ciano

2010 Ford Edge Vin: 2FMDK4KC6ABB26207

Owned by Amherst Subaru

2007 Saturn LW200 VIN: 1G8JU84F42Y584066

Owned by Minnette DaVila

2007 Toyota Prius Vin: JTDKB20U477556234

Owned by Maicon D Ameida Pereira

2012 Nissan Altima VIN: 1N4AL2AP5CN566929

Owned by Merchant Auto

This notice has been given under the provisions of G.L. c. 255, Section 39A. Publication Friday April 17, 24 and May 1, 2026 Community Advocate.

COMMUNITY OBITUARIES

The Community Advocate will post obituaries online (and in print, as space allows). 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

Addeo Jr., Rocco of Grafton

Alley, Nancy of MarlborouGh

Barck, Peter of MarlborouGh

Bushey, Edward of MarlborouGh

Chartier, Gerald of north Grafton

Dubois, Sr. Jacqueline a SiSter of St anne

Evangelous, Elizabeth of MarlborouGh

Flynn, William

raiSed in northborouGh

Grimley, Daniel of Grafton

Holyoak, Clive

forMerly of MarlborouGh

Leary, Duncan of northborouGh

Leoleis, Christe of MarlborouGh

Markert, Harriet of WeStborouGh

McLaughlin, Ann of hudSon

Palmer, Clifford of northborouGh

Panagiotou, Gloria of ShreWSbury

Panahi, Hormoz of MarlborouGh

Phaneuf, Patricia

forMerly of hudSon

Sooy Jr., John of ShreWSbury

Tenney, Robert of ShreWSbury

Wallace, John

forMerly of northborouGh

William Flynn, 94

NASHUA, NH - William “Bill”

Valentine Flynn, 94, of Nashua, New Hampshire, passed away on March 24, 2026. He leaves behind wonderful memories of a life lived to the fullest.

Bill was born on May 17, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in Northborough, a town he really loved. He spoke fondly of his youth, from

swimming in local ponds to spending time with his father at Woodside Mill.

He was preceded in death by his siblings: Maryjane Gogan, Peter, and Richard.

Alongside his beloved wife of 58 years, Barbara, Bill raised five daughters - Kathy, Beth, Patty, Susan, and Janey in Andover, Massachusetts.

The family will hold a celebration of life in honor of Bill at a later date.

Christe G. Leoleis, 73

MARLBOROUGH - Christe G. Leoleis passed away peacefully on April 14, 2026, at the age of 73, with his beloved wife, Vera, by his side.

Christe was renowned for his exceptional finish work, an accomplishment highlighted in 2002 when his work was featured in Architectural Digest. However, Christe considered his greatest achievement to be the restoration of his cherished Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in Marlborough, MA, which had been extensively damaged by a fire in 2002.

Christe is survived by his devoted wife of 28 years, Vera Leoleis, his cherished son, Christe M. Leoleis, and his wife Rebecca. He was the proud grandfather of two beautiful grandchildren, Kaylee A. and Christe J. Leoleis. He is also survived by his siblings: Dennis G. Leoleis and his wife Joyce, Nicholas G. Leoleis, George Leoleis Jr., and Anastasia I. Dilling and her husband, Raymond. Christe was a loving uncle to his niece, Kimberly Fischer, and his nephews, Daniel Dilling and George Dilling. He was also godfather to his nephews, Nicholas J. Leoleis and Henry L. Dilling. Christe was predeceased by his parents, Diana and George Leoleis, and his nephew, Mark D. Leoleis.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home.

Gerald P. Chartier, 73

NORTH GRAFTON – Gerald P. “Gerry” Chartier, age 73, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at UMass Medical Center – University Campus in Worcester. Born in

Southbridge, he was the son of the late Henry and Theresa (Hebert) Chartier. He is survived and will be lovingly missed by his wife of 30 years, Martha (Grundstrom)

Chartier; a son, Paul Shea and his wife, Carolyn of Cherry Valley; 2 brothers, Marc and Michael Chartier, both of Sturbridge; 2 sisters, Suzanne Chartier of Sturbridge, Barbara Renaud and her husband, Richard of Southbridge; 3 grandchildren, Patrick, Catherine and James; 2 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, David Chartier, and his sister, Diane Boudreau.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service at 11:00 am on Monday, April 27, at Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Ave., Paxton. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden.

Duncan P. Leary, 72

NORTHBOROUGH - In arguably the most Duncan Leary way possible, our dad, husband, brother and grandfather passed away unexpectedly on April 1st - April Fools’ Day - leaving us all wishing this was one of his classic jokes.

Born in 1953 in Manchester, New Hampshire, Duncan was the eldest of Robert and Patricia Leary’s five children, a role he embraced early and carried proudly throughout his life. He loved being a big brother to Sheryl O’Neil, Patti Murphy, Mary Leary, and Helen Dunn and carried immense gratitude for his big, loving Irish family. His most cherished role, however, was that of husband to his bride of nearly 50 years, Cynthia. In 1979, Duncan proudly took on the role of “Dad” with the arrival of his son, Ryan. A few years later, his daughter, Kaitlin, completed the family. Later in life, Duncan stepped into what may have been his favorite title of all: “Papa Dunc.”

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

As a grandfather to Sydney Goodwin, Skylar Leary and William and Emmett McCrann, he found a new level of joy. Arrangements have been under the care of Hays Funeral Home of Northborough.

Elizabeth R. Evangelous, 94

MARLBOROUGH - It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mother Elizabeth “Betty” Evangelous. She died peacefully at the age of 94. She was born in Marlborough, MA on January 20, 1932 to Dominic Pietroluongo and his wife Rose (Russo) and was married to Achilles “Killy” Evangelous for 66 years until his passing in 2017.

She was predeceased by her husband, Killy; brother, Raffaele Pietroluongo; and her sister, Frances Brescia.

Betty is survived by her sons, Ralph Evangelous and his wife Donna of Hampstead, NC, and Anthony Evangelous and his wife Fabiana of Marlborough, MA. She is also survived by her 8 grandchildren, Michael, Alexis, Chad and his wife Liz, Meghan, Nick, and his wife Anna, Damian, Katie, Tyler and his wife Barbara. Betty also had 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

The Slattery Funeral Home, Inc. of Marlborough assisted the family.

Clifford B. Palmer, 98

NORTHBOROUGH - Clifford B. Palmer, affectionately known to all as “Johnnie,” passed away on April 11, 2026, at the age of 98. He was the beloved husband of the late Constance “Connie” I. (Leard) Palmer, who died in 2012.

He is survived by his son, Clifford B. Palmer and his wife, Martha; his two daughters, Dolores Palmer and Deborah Berberian and her husband, Ted; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and

his sister, Grace McFee. He was predeceased by his grandson, Theodore Berberian, Jr. and by his three brothers, Charles Palmer, Westley Palmer, Forest Palmer and by his two sisters Muriel Ryan and Effie Schenker. Arrangements have been under the care of Hays Funeral Home of Northborough.

Sr. Jacqueline Dubois, SSA, 86

MARLBOROUGH- Sr. Jacqueline Dubois, 86, a Sister of St. Anne, known in religion as Sister Marie Anne Carmen, was born to eternal life on April 14, 2026 at Alliance Health at Marie Esther, 720 Boston Post Road East, following a decline in health.

She is predeceased by her sister, Aline Proctor, and brothers, Maurice, Denis and Richard. She is survived by her two brothers Charles and his wife, Christine, and Rene and his wife, Elizabeth, and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, several cousins, and the Sisters of Saint Anne.

Collins Funeral Home of Marlborough assisted the family.

Hormoz Panahi, 70

MARLBOROUGH - Hormoz Panahi, of Marlborough MA, passed away on April 11, 2026, after a two-year battle with highly aggressive cancer.

He is survived by his son, Collin Panahi, two daughters, Laleh and Delara Panahi, his lifelong partner and friend, Oksana, along with many other family and friends.

Born in Iran, Hormoz came to the United States in his early twenties, just before the Iranian Revolution. That period of transition shaped the course of his life, leading him to build a future defined by stability, perseverance, and a deep sense of responsibility to his family.

The Short & Rowe Cemetery of Marlborough assisted the family.

Continued on page 24

Continued from page 21

Patricia M. Phaneuf, 92

HUDSON/HOPKINTON - Patricia Mary Phaneuf, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who resided in Hudson for most of her life, passed away peacefully at the Golden Pond

Assisted Living Community in Hopkinton, MA. on April 8, 2026, 11 days short of her 93rd birthday. She was a loving mother to her son Stephen R. Phaneuf and his partner Linda Muren of Hopkinton, MA; her son James P. Phaneuf and his wife Susan of Milford, MA; and her daughter Susan M.

Desimone and her husband James of Shrewsbury, MA. Pat’s compassion and generosity extended deeply into her role as grandmother to Gina M. Phaneuf, Brad W. Phaneuf and his wife Trista, Angela R. Phaneuf, Lori E. Gelsomini, Nicole P. Dutton and her husband Stanley, and Alex A. Desimone. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, who, alongside her grandchildren, were the recipients of her boundless love and generosity. Pat’s extended family includes her loving sister Eileen Devlin of Hudson, MA, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends who will remember her fondly.

Pat’s passing is mourned deeply by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Alan Phaneuf; her parents, Stanley and Ida (Spratt) Duley; her brother

Warren Duley; her sisters Anne Corrine “Nina” Parker, Sheila Whitney, and her grandchild Jeffrey J. Phaneuf. The Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted the family.

Robert J. Tenney, 68

SHREWSBURY - Robert James Tenney, 68, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. He is survived by his children: Elizabeth Verone, 45, of Texarkana, Texas; Leah Langlois, 43, of Warren, Massachusetts; Russell Tenney, 43, of Sebring, Florida; Rebecca Small, 41, of

Paris, Tennessee; Mindi Parrish, 40, of Hernando, Florida; and Mellisa Marshall, 33, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; his loving sisters, Alice Daigle and Beatrice Cooper; as well as 20 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, along with numerous other family members and friends who will cherish his memory.

Robert was predeceased by his parents, Pauline Spadea (Tenney) and Russell Tenney; his stepmother, Freda Tenney; his son, Robert Tenney Jr.; and his daughter, Kasie Marshall. Nordgren Memorial Chapel assisted the family.

Edward A. Bushey, 71

MARLBOROUGH - Edward A. Bushey, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026 at his home surrounded by his fam-

ily, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and devotion that touched all who knew him. He was a true family man, devoted deeply to his beloved wife, Brenda H. (Emberley) Bushey of Marlborough, and their children—Nathaniel Gerald of Marlborough, Edward C. Bushey of Worcester, and Samantha A. Bushey also of Worcester. Edward reveled in the joys of being a grandfather to Makayla and Jaylin, who brought him immeasurable happiness. He leaves a brother Bruce Johnson of Brockton, two sisters Sheila Pirrotta of Uxbridge and Sharon Combs of New York. Collins Funeral Home of Marlborough assisted the family.

POLICE FIRE

Local police departments get critical response training

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

REGION — Over the course of four weeks, officers from Westborough, Northborough, Southborough, and Grafton will receive advanced critical incident response training through a program led by Tier 1 Special Operations veterans.

The Community First Project is a nonprofit organization that delivers free life-saving training to law enforcement agencies across the country. Led by founder and president Andrew “Sully” Sullivan, a former Navy SEAL, the organization seeks to prepare agencies to respond to critical incidents like school violence, and other high-threat situations.

The nonprofit has partnered with the Westborough Police Department to provide this training to officers in town

and several surrounding communities. The total cost of the training comes out to about $99,700. The Westborough Police Foundation, along with a number of local private businesses, raised over $120,000 to fund the training.

The first two weeks of training will take place in May, with the final two weeks occurring in September. The courses – which are not classroombased – focus on tactical response, threat identification, decision-making under pressure, and de-escalation. There will also be 12 months of ongoing consultation available as needed.

Sullivan, who began this work in 2022, said that when a critical situation occurs, those responding first are closest in proximity. That sometimes means that they’re local officers who haven’t trained or

prepared for the situation. Despite not having access to the necessary training, these officers often face the repercussions when a response is deemed inadequate.

Sullivan is looking to change that. The training incorporates the creation of life-like scenarios officers could potentially see on the job, specifically focused on active shooter response.

“We’re not teaching basic tactics,” he said. “We’re not teaching you to go in and shoot people and kill people. We’re teaching you to manage stress because we are the best in the world tactically at managing stress and making good decisions.”

Sullivan recalls having dinner with a local business owner Massachusetts when he received a text from his daughter that her school was on lockdown with an active shooter.

“I’m here – 1,500 miles away – and my daughter is locked in a school,” he said. “The feeling I had of helplessness, being probably the person in this country that’s most capable to go do something like that, I couldn’t do anything.”

This incident has further motivated his work and ultimate mission.

“You realize as a parent, there’s only so much you can do,” he said. “I am entrusting my children’s lives in the local police department of the community. You trust them with your family’s lives. Why wouldn’t we want them to be as prepared as they can?”

Thank You, Sponsors:

Jim Ball, Ball Financial

John Parsons, Parsons Commercial

Andrew Montelli, Post Road Residential

Matt McGovern, McGovern Auto Group

Joseph Zink, Atlantic Management

Christopher Egan, Carruth Capital LLC

Todd Minardi, Westborough Police Department

Peter Tonelli, Westborough Toyota

David Carlstrom, Carlstrom Metals

John Anderson, Plumb House

Quentin Hart, McCord Development

Donald Satterfield, Boston Lawnmower

Ari Haseotes, Transcendent Brands

Jon Pezzoni, Avison Young

Andrew Sullivan, Community First

Arthur Gutierrez, Gutierrez Company

Ryan Newell, Southborough Police Department

Brian Griffin, Northborough Police Department

Neil Minardi, Grafton Police Department

Westborough Police Foundation

Brendon Giblin, Brendon Homes Saint Mark’s School

Christopher Griffin, Walker Development

Tom Kelly, Original Contracting

Michael Maruca, Maruca Excavating

John Fryer, Fryer Engineering

Justin Lundberg, Westboro Tennis and Swim Club

Adam Boyce

David Cooley

Nick Garnet

Josh Bassett

Froylan Delarosa

Maureen Johnson

Maura Shunney

Fawaz El Khoury

Patrick El Khoury

Property

Condominium

Groceries/dining

Monthly

Emergency

Housekeeping

24-hour staffing

24-hour emergency call systems

Lawn care/landscaping

Home maintenance (snow removal, etc.)

Transportation (gas, auto insurance, etc.)

Trash removal

Exterior building maintenance

Plumbing/appliance repairs

Social/cultural events

Other

Total monthly cost

COMMUNITY SPORTS

Shrewsbury softball conquers firefighter-inspired workout

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY — How to become Shrewsbury Athletic Director Jay Costa in four easy steps, courtesy of the Shrewsbury softball team.

Get some polarized sunglasses and place them atop a baseball cap. If they’re upside down, that’s fine — better, even. Find every piece of Colonials merchandise in your closet. Acquire some baggy shorts. And, finally, using a marker of your liking, draw an outline of a beard across your face.

“We were supposed to get bald caps, because, of course, Mr. Costa is bald,” said Ava Cotton, a senior on the softball team. “But we went to the store, we went to Walmart, Target — there was nothing.”

But what were a half-dozen spitting images of Costa, who also serves as the team’s as-

sistant coach, doing at EVO Softball on April 17? It was the team’s annual firefighter practice — an annual tradition that mixes hardcore competition, fast-paced aerobic activity, and wacky traditions and costumes.

Dressed like Costa or not, every Colonial bought in.

“We keep channeling our competitive spirit. We hope to keep that going throughout the year,” said senior Aaesha Mahurkar. “We have a culture where we are willing to push each other to our best.”

When Head Coach Jamie Millett Schaeffer first got the job leading Shrewsbury softball, she was looking for a way to infuse a healthy amount of competitiveness into her roster. Alongside her husband, Kyle Schaeffer, a lieutenant with the Hudson Fire Department, she devised a way to make that happen.

“We wanted something

[TOP] With half the team dressed as nuns, and the other half dressed as the school’s athletic director, Shrewsbury softball participated in a firefighterinspired workout. [RIGHT] Activities involved pulling fire hoses, a staple at the Fire Academy. (Photos/Evan Walsh)

gritty, competitive. Something that worked on communication, resilience,” said Millett Schaeffer. “It’s a fun day for the kids. They work really hard, and I don’t think they know how hard they work.”

Over the course of practice, Shrewsbury athletes were divided up into two teams. Those two groups competed in Fire Academy-inspired workouts like pulling fire hoses and doing 8-Count Body Builders, with team-building games like tic-tac-toe and Hungry Hungry Hippos sprinkled in.

“A lot of it came from when I came through the academy, stuff I did with my classmates there. ... You’re with 36 guys, and I only knew one person. You’re a stranger to 35 other people, so you have to build that teamwork quick,” said Schaeffer, who now teaches aspiring firefighters in Stow part-time.

Though the Colonials are teammates, friendships were put on hold for two hours as “Team Costa” and “Team Nuns” squared off. The costume themes are chosen organically by the athletes, and, according to Millett Schaeffer, they have only “gotten more wild and crazy each year.”

Over the years, Millet Schaeffer has seen her players thrive in the hyper-competitive environment, where Colonials fight to earn bragging rights over their teammates.

Sometimes the athletes’ energy surprises her.

“They sometimes run faster here than they do on the basepaths,” she said. “Leaders show up today that you don’t typically see.”

Perhaps more impressive?

Moments after “Team Nuns” took home the trophy — a

it was back to normal for the Colonials. As competitive as the practice was, Shrewsbury players buried the hatchet. If there was ever really a hatchet to begin with.

“I think it’s good to know that you can compete with the other team and call them the ‘enemy,’ but once it’s done and over with, you’re going to talk to them, you’re going to get food with them. The camaraderie is still there, but so is the competitiveness,” said senior Emma Ellis.

Added Millett Schaeffer: “This goes beyond softball. We didn’t even really do anything softball-related today. It’s a nice way for these kids to get out of their comfort zone. I want the kids to work hard, have fun, and be competitive.” This event has never yielded a female firefighter, but through the shenanigans, the Colonials learned about what it takes to become one. Firefighting, like softball, is about being a good teammate. That shouldn’t be a problem for Shrewsbury players going forward.

“We have a really strong group of kids. They’re great communicators and great teammates,” said Millett Schaeffer. “I think that’s made a difference.”

Grafton girls’ lacrosse having another excellent year

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

GRAFTON — For Grafton girls’ lacrosse, there is no such thing as rebuilding. Only reloading.

The program has existed in a seemingly perpetual state of excellence in recent years. In its first two post-pandemic seasons, the Gators posted 17-3 and 17-2 records. Several dominant seasons later, Grafton has moved to the Midland-Wachusett League, continuing its winning ways.

Grafton is beating schools nearly double its size — and doing so quite soundly. But how?

Blessed with fresh talent every year, Head Coach Karl Moisan knows just who to thank.

“Our youth program in Grafton is really solid, and we have so many people who put a lot of time into it,” Moisan told the Community Advocate. “The more touches the kids get growing up, the better they’re going to be.”

Addie McGrath, the team’s standout sophomore, picked up her first lacrosse stick in kindergarten. A one-time competitive gymnast, junior Payton Morrison, a Southern Connecticut State lacrosse commit, first took the field as a fourth-grader.

After years of youth lacrosse, McGrath and Morrison were the architects behind a 16-4 win over Algonquin on April 14 at “The Swamp.” With the victory, the Gators added onto their flawless record, rallying off six consecutive wins to open the season.

“I think you start so young with youth lacrosse, so you just build up,” said McGrath. “All the coaches are so nice. All the high-schoolers help out the younger players, and it’s just such a good environment. It brings people back to play. It makes it so fun to be there, and everyone’s getting better.”

Added Morrison: “For me, I’d always go to practices and see all the older girls on the team — I really wanted to be like one of them some day. Now, being on the field, it means so much to see all the youth kids. It helps us play better because we’re playing for them just as much as we’re playing for the team.”

Grafton took control of the game almost immediately, pulling ahead, 6-2, after the first quarter. But one score meant more to the Gators. With 38 seconds remaining in the period, Morrison found the back of the net for her 100th career varsity goal.

Normally business-like after a score, the Grafton attackers showed Morrison plenty of love.

“It was a really special moment,” said Morrison, who finished the game with 5 goals and an assist. “It means so much because I have a team that backs me up. We feel comfortable with the ball on everyone’s stick. It doesn’t matter who has the ball.”

Added Moisan: “Payton is all intensity. Intensity all the time. She goes hard all the time. She’s smart, she sees the field really well. She’s tremendous. Absolutely tremendous. She’s tough to stop, and she’s such a big part of our team.”

Then there’s McGrath, a 100-goal scorer not even midway through her sophomore year. Against Algonquin, McGrath was once again excellent for the Gators, collecting eight goals. Though she’s a threat anywhere on the field, McGrath has a lethal shot.

“You’ve seen it, right? It’s crazy,” said Moisan.

Even scarier for opponents? Morrison and McGrath are as unselfish as they come, fearlessly creating scoring opportunities for teammates. Junior Abbey Lazeren and freshman Mariela Scott tallied goals for the Gators.

“It doesn’t matter who scores a goal — we’re all

celebrating for them,” said McGrath. “It’s such a great moment. It brings up the momentum and it helps us play with such a great intensity the entire time.”