CA REG 260508 WEB

Sharma, Garcia chosen in Shrewsbury Select Board race

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY — On May 5, Shrewsbury voters reported to the town’s 10 precincts to vote for Select Board, School Committee, Trustees of the Public Library, and Town Meeting members. Of the town’s 26,980 registered voters, 4,186 people voted, a 15.5 percent turnout. This election’s turnout was lower than last year’s mark (17.6 percent), but higher than the 2024 race (10.1 percent).

Three candidates fought for two three-year terms on the Select Board, and three candidates campaigned for two three-year terms on the School Committee. But who came out on top? See unofficial results below.

Select Board

(Vote for TWO, three-year terms)

Anand Sharma — 2266

Carlos A. Garcia (i) — 2252

Beth N. Casavant (i) — 2182 School Committee

(Vote for TWO, three-year terms)

Nicole Torres — 2581

Rachel L. Sharifipour (i) — 2333

Michael T. Pacy — 1500

Seeing Double? Seeing Double?

A historic Shrewsbury High School senior class boasts 17 sets of twins

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – Khaalid Abdullah and his identical twin Raashid are “very, very different.”

A member of the varsity crew team, Khaalid lifts weights and participates in a sport, while his brother prefers being indoors. Khaalid lets his hair grow, while Raashid keeps his shorter, always preferring a clean shave. The twins have listened to some of the same music – including Don Toliver, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry – but at different points in their lives.

“We have a completely different person-

ality and character,” said Khaalid. The Abdullah twins are part of history at Shrewsbury High School. Typically, graduating classes may have a handful – maybe a half-dozen – set of twins, but on Cypress Avenue, the Class of 2026 has an astounding 17 pairs. With 499 seniors in the class, approximately 7 percent of students have an identical or fraternal twin.

“During high school, we branched out and became our own independent people,” said Jadon Dumont, whose twin, Joel, is also a senior. “There are some shared, but also some separate, experiences that have shaped who we are today.”

In the busy hallways of Shrewsbury

WESTBOROUGH | 13

NORTHBOROUGH | 17

SOUTHBOROUGH | 28

Indian restaurant in Westborough to open soon White Cliffs has a certain future after a decade of effort Kathleen Valenti to retire after 12 years as Neary principal Freshman Kaitlin Ziemba leads Westborough lacrosse to victory

WESTBOROUGH | 31

Stay up to date with all

COMMUNITY NEWS

Select Board will be decision-maker for ‘peanut’ rotary redesign

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — Following the April 15 information session regarding the proposed peanut-shaped redesign of the Westborough rotary, residents continued to voice concerns about the project. The conversation continued at the Select Board’s April 28 open forum.

Select Board Chair Sean Keogh thanked everyone for their feedback throughout this process, noting that most of the board was in attendance at the April 15 meeting.

“[Comments] were overwhelmingly in one direction and I think we all heard that,” Keogh said.

All of the new feedback will be taken into consideration as the consultant, Kimley-Horn, completes its final recommendation for the project. Keogh noted that at the end of May or early June, the consultant’s

final proposal will be presented to the Select Board and Planning Board. It is not yet known whether this will be a joint meeting or if the public will have an opportunity to speak. That will be decided prior to the meeting. There is a chance a vote could take place, but it will depend on whether a board member makes a motion to do so.

Addressing a concern from resident Carolyn Spring, Keogh clarified that the Select Board is the only body with the authority to accept grant funding for the town. Director of Planning Jenny Gingras said at the April 15 meeting that the

project would be funded only through grants, meaning that the advancement of the “peanut” redesign ultimately lies in the hands of the Select Board.

Select Board member Shelby Marshall said that while many might like to see the project rejected at this point, “we have a responsibility to see the current process through.” She also stated that no decisions have been made regarding whether a Town Meeting vote may occur.

Many who spoke at the open forum highlighted a lack of transparency throughout this process, with resident Jo Anne Aramini calling for open forums to regularly occur at Planning Board meetings. The Planning Board planned to discuss topics related to the

rotary redesign on May 5, after the Community Advocate went to print.

Some residents have started circulating a petition around town to stop the proposed project. As of the April 28 meeting, that petition had over 225 signatures. After speaking with an array of individuals from the community, she said, “What we have found – similar to the infamous poll taken by the Community Advocate – was that only 10 percent were in favor of changing the rotary.”

Like many with concerns, she acknowledged the need for a safer downtown, but called for “smarter, low-cost” changes: “We feel that progress can be made without sacrificing the heart of Westborough and the community that surrounds it,” she said.

The Community Advocate will continue to follow this story, including the May 5 Planning Board meeting.

CELEBRATING THE HEART OF HEALTH CARE—OUR NURSES.

This National Nurses Week, we’re proud to honor the one of a kind nurses who care deeply, work tirelessly, and make a lasting impact on our patients, our culture, and our communities.

Razing the roof

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.”

At Town Meeting and on Election Day, Grafton voters will be asked to approve a borrowing authorization to completely fix the roof. The town anticipates using $1 million from free cash and $500,000 from the Municipal Stabilization Fund (total of $1.5M) upfront, then bonding the rest of the project. A full roof replacement is expected to cost between $4.3 to $5.3 million, according to Superintendent James Cummings.

Policy on Letters to the Editor Letters must be signed with a name, address and telephone number for verification (only name and town will be printed). Letters should be sent to news@communityadvocate.com or mailed to Managing Editor c/o Community Advocate, 32 South St. Westborough MA 01581. The editor reserves the right to reject letters on the basis of length, libelous content, suitability and space constraints. Multiple letters from the same person will not be accepted within a 30-day period. “Form letter” submissions, in which the content of one letter is essentially duplicated, will not be accepted. Letters should be 350 words or less. Deadline is 12 p.m. 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.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: David Bagdon

Shrewsbury will implement ‘beaver deceivers’ near local watersheds

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – Hopefully no beavers are reading this.

Following years of consistent complaints that properties near Old Mill Pond and the Holden Street culvert were being flooded, the Conservation Commission on April 21 allowed so-called “beaver deceivers” to be permanently installed along the watersheds.

The idea is to stop beavers from damming the waterways. It’s billed as a sustainable intervention that allows the beavers to live in the local area, while reducing the flooding risk for local residents and roadways.

According to Eleah Caseau, the town’s conservation

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 ad service. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material from any issue of the Community Advocate.

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OFFICE MANAGER: Tracy Nickerson BILLING

agent, the “deceivers” resemble heavy-duty chicken wire. They’re meant to stay year-round – though they will be monitored – and will be installed by hand: “They’re a different breed, these beaver installation folks,” she said.

“Because beavers like to dam against the smallest space they can, they’ll install something that feels contradictory to how a beaver wants to dam something … so it’s less enjoyable for them to dam against it,” she added. “For any beaver infrastructure that we install in Shrewsbury, because of staff limitations, we employ the contractor who installs them to maintain them. They check them every year and do any work that needs to get done.”

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Grafton Select Board promises accountability should override pass

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

GRAFTON – With a $5 million override set to come before voters at both Town Meeting and the ballot box, the Grafton Select Board is drafting a Letter of Commitment in an effort to show residents it will be a responsible steward

of the additional funds.

The town is facing a $1.4 million budget deficit in fiscal 2027, and 11.5 full-time roles in the School Department are in jeopardy. During a monthslong discussion process to determine how much money the town would ask for, members tossed around ideas meant to promote ac -

countability and trust.

On April 21, Select Board member Mathew Often presented a draft of a letter that attempts to itemize those ideas. As of this article’s publication, the letter has not been formally voted on.

“I think it helps put a continued focus on long-term financial stability, and putting

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specific things on the table that we’ve talked about,” Often told his colleagues on the Select Board.

Added Select Board member Mark Alimo: “I think the residents, the town will appreciate the extra step we’re taking here.”

The letter says that the $5 million will promote a

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level-service budget, calling the override a “necessary step to maintain the town you expect today while we aggressively pursue a more self-reliant and affordable tomorrow.”

The Select Board promises to establish a Financial Review Committee, a “neutral, independent committee to study spending trends and cost drivers [that] will identify specific ‘levers’ to increase efficiency and reduce our long-term dependence on tax increases.” The board would also engage in collaborative negotiations with the School Committee, superintendent, and town administrator to make every dollar count.

The letter continues: “This $5 million plan provides a predictable path for the next five years, allowing us to protect our community standards while we implement these long-term fiscal reforms. We ask for your partnership in building a stable future for Grafton.”

PRAY about everything and fear nothing. When FEAR knocks at the door let FAITH answer.

The best pasta sauce in Northborough discovered at Whitney Place

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

NORTHBOROUGH – Nick Cappello put everything he had into his pasta sauce.

He started with some olive oil, then a pound of ground beef and sweet sausage. Then, he added some chopped onions, cloves of garlic, and fresh basil. Once the tomato products make their way into the pot – starting with paste, then crushed tomatoes – the sauce is coming together.

But it’s not quite done yet.

“My secret ingredient is a combination of asiago and romano cheese that I grate in. A little parsley on top,” said Cappello. “I also add about five to six tablespoons of sugar, because the sugar cuts the acidity of the tomato.”

And, of course, who can forget the bay leaf?

“My mother and my mother-in-law both use a bay leaf,” Cappello told the Community Advocate. “I have no idea what it does. I put it in there, and when it’s done cooking, I take it out. I think it might add some flavor, but I’m not sure.”

Once it was done simmering, Cappello’s sauce was brought before some of Northborough’s harshest critics: seniors (and other community members) at Whitney Place. On May 1, the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center held a Pasta Sauce Competition, pitting the town’s finest Italian sauces against one another. All for fun and bragging rights.

“Voting is very subjective,” said Sue Savage. “It’s whatever they like.”

The competition was brought back for the first time since 2018. In addition to 10 sauces crafted by volunteers, residents were treated to salad, pasta, beer and wine, and bread. Once all the sauces were tasted, ballots were cast and votes were tabulated.

Although one pasta sauce was the most popular, the afternoon’s real winners were the Northborough seniors. The event served as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center, a non-profit that donates over $30,000 per year to help the town’s seniors, hold fun events for residents, and support various initiatives.

“The only purpose the Friends of the Northborough

Senior Center has is to raise money for the Senior Center to provide things like fuel assistance for seniors in need, or any of the things that make the Senior Center special that are not covered in the director’s budget,” said Savage. “We’re kind of like the sprinkles on the cupcake.”

Added Cappello: “We really

advocate for our seniors. We’re fortunate that we get to come to Whitney Place and share the responsibility of putting on this event. Our purpose with the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center is to support the Senior Center. We raise funds for programs that aren’t included in the normal budget of the Senior Center.”

Too many cooks in the kitchen? No such thing with the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center.

Smiling faces greet those who participated in the Pasta Sauce Competition. (Photos/Evan Walsh)

Victoria Killeen, the Northborough Senior Center kitchen manager who cooked the afternoon’s ziti, said that a sauce had to nail three things before she could justify voting for it: “Seasoning. Taste. And if it sticks to the pasta,” she said. But in the absence of the world’s best sauce, helping and entertaining Northborough Keeping families comfortably cozy in their home year-round for

seniors would do just fine. “We work as a team,” Killeen said. “We meet once a month, and we try to help seniors as much as we can. We’re trying to get bars on the sides of toilets and showers, we’re trying to help with oil assistance, rent assistance. Whatever seniors need in the town of Northborough.”

A historic Shrewsbury High School senior class boasts 17 sets of twins

High, bearing a resemblance to a twin can lead to the occasional awkward interaction. Hamza Frederick – who is one minute older than his fraternal twin, Ibrahim – said that people get them “mixed up all the time.” But it’s nothing new for the brothers. “It’s been that way my whole life,” Hamza said.

“It does create confusion for many who mess up our names and get us confused for each other,” said Ruth Young, older than twin Alice by 60 seconds. “It also creates difficulties in official processes and documentation. … Computer systems can’t understand the concept of twins.”

For others, there can be minor inconveniences. Angelina Terra, born five minutes before her twin sister, Daniella, said that their “only difficulty is planning birthdays. … We want to do different things.”

Though there’s the occasional mix-up – and shared birthday parties – the 30-plus twins in this historic Shrews-

bury High School class overwhelmingly expressed how excited they were to walk across the stage alongside their sibling.

“It means that we both committed to the struggle of high school and came out victorious. It signals the end of childhood for both of us and the beginning of our adult -

hood, where we will remain close friends and brothers, but also change a lot,” said Jadon Dumont.

Added Alice Young: “I think it is honestly really special. We are going in different directions and to different colleges, but I am excited for it. I know that we will both grow a lot from the experience and I am excited

to see all the amazing things my twin will do. Even though we will be far away from each other, I’ll still be rooting for her.”

Lucy Rajwani, 20 seconds older than her brother Sam, concurs.

“It means a lot to me, honestly. Sam is my best friend and I’ve known him longer than

anyone else – from the womb! We’ve quizzed each other during study sessions, laughed together during study breaks, and cheered for each other’s accomplishments. In 18 years I’ve watched him grow into a better student, athlete, and person,” she said. “I’m so excited to see what his future holds and I know he feels the same.”

Northborough had several bustling taverns through the centuries

NORTHBOROUGH THEN NOW

By Zenya Molnar History Columnist

NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough’s location along Boston Post Road, and eventually along railroad lines, necessitated the presence of taverns and inns to accommodate travelers and coaches delivering mail and goods.

From the mid-1700s, when Northborough hadn’t incorporated, to the 1940s, Northborough had several taverns and inns that served many different purposes while in operation. The oldest one was the Captain James Eager Tavern, which dates to the 1740s and was situated at 112 West Main Street, where Alliance Care at Coleman is currently located. It was likely run as a tavern for at least 10 years.

Another tavern that took many different names and forms over the years started as

the Martyn Tavern. Located in the center of town and owned by the son of Northborough’s first minister, John Martyn Jr., it was operated between 1768 and 1792 and was the predecessor of the Monroe Tavern. Future president John Adams dined there on May 31, 1771. The tavern was likely a few rooms in a private home.

Abraham Monroe, a lieutenant in the French and Indian

War and town selectman from 1780 to 1782, bought the property in 1792 and renamed it as the Monroe Tavern. Monroe was born in Lexington and came from a family of tavernkeepers. During Monroe’s ownership, the tavern was used by Revolutionary War soldiers. Through the diary of militiaman Ebenezer Wilde, it is documented that in April 1777, a company of soldiers who were

marching from Watertown to Fort Ticonderoga in New York stopped at Monroe Tavern for dinner. They stayed until 4 p.m., at which time they left for Worcester, where they spent the night.

Eventually, the tavern was sold to Eben Blake, who used it as a meeting place for town officials. In 1854, Blake sold the tavern to the Agricultural Branch Railroad when a line

was being built between Framingham and Northborough. Amariah Twichell operated it as the Railroad House and used it for social events. He lived there with his family and around 12 employees. A census from 1860 shows that women from as far away as Ireland stayed at the Monroe Tavern.

The tavern consisted of several buildings, two of which remain on Blake Street, including the structure that is currently home to Sawyer’s Bowladrome. The buildings were set back from the “highway,” or Boston Post Road, and were arranged in a manner that made it easy for horses and coaches to maneuver around.

In 1866, Captain Cyrus Gale bought the tavern buildings and land in preparation for the construction of a new town hall in the center of town. The tavern dwindled after the emergence of the large Northborough Hotel, which was three stories tall. The Northborough Hotel operated until 1926 and was ultimately destroyed in a fire.

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Northborough Select Board candidates state their cases

NORTHBOROUGH – Who is running for election in Northborough?

Northborough residents will head to the polls on May 12 to cast votes in several key races. Four candidates are vying for two available three-year terms on the Select Board, while two individuals are running for a one-year term as Moderator. Due to space constraints in print, the Select Board candidates’ responses to additional questions are available on the Community Advocate’s website, which will also have up-to-the-minute results. Northborough voters will cast ballots at the Senior Center this year.

Who are you, what are your qualifications, and why are you running for Select Board?

I am a current Select Board member seeking re-election after a year of focused, results-driven service. Professionally, I’m a life science–trained attorney, and personally, I’m a husband and a father of four children in our school system—giving me a strong stake in Northborough’s future.

I ran for Select Board to bring a greater emphasis on accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline. Over the past year, I’ve worked to ensure we are careful stewards of taxpayer dollars—supporting what the Town truly needs while avoiding unnecessary spending.

My priorities are clear: keep our schools excellent, maintain a safe and welcoming community, and ensure residents receive strong value from their taxes. I also believe local government should be accessible and responsive.

I’m running to continue building a Town government that listens, acts responsibly, avoids the need for a tax override, and delivers for Northborough.

What’s the single biggest challenge facing the Town of Northborough? How would you address it?

The biggest challenge facing Northborough is controlling rising costs without overburdening taxpayers or requiring a Proposition 2½ override.

This past budget cycle demonstrated that disciplined leadership makes a real difference. Initial projections pointed toward a $1.8 million override. Instead, by carefully reviewing assumptions, prioritizing essential services, and making tough but responsible decisions, we delivered a balanced budget below the levy limit. We also preserved over $700,000 in free cash for future needs and reduced reliance on one-time funds. Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the approach.

As a result of this work, the projected tax rate has been predicted to decrease from 14.82 to 14.74 per thousand—a meaningful shift at a time when many communities are seeing rate increases and overrides.

Going forward, I will continue to focus on fiscal discipline, long-term planning, and transparency to ensure we protect taxpayers while maintaining the high-quality services residents expect.

Who are you, what are your qualifications, and why are you running for Select Board?

I’m Jeff Ostiguy. I grew up in Northborough, graduated from Algonquin in ‘93, and after moving around, my wife and two boys eventually came “home”. I work in marketing and revenue operations. I help organizations grow, use data to make better decisions, improve processes, and plan for sustainable growth. That’s the skillset I’d bring to the Select Board.

I’m running because I believe Northborough deserves a board member who asks hard questions before committing taxpayer dollars, communicates clearly about tradeoffs, and thinks about the long-term consequences of today’s decisions, not just this year’s headline.

I don’t come with years of committee experience, and I think that’s an asset. I have no entrenched positions, no obligations, and no agenda beyond making Northborough stronger. What I bring is a fresh perspective, analytical discipline, and a genuine commitment to honest, transparent governance.

I love Northborough. This is my way of giving something back.

What’s the single biggest challenge facing the Town of Northborough? How would you address it?

The single biggest challenge is structural: our cost base is growing faster than our revenue, and we keep solving it one year at a time instead of addressing it systematically.

Special education costs, aging infrastructure, school capital projects, and employee benefits are all on an upward trajectory. Meanwhile, our commercial tax base isn’t growing fast enough to absorb the pressure, which means it increasingly falls on residential taxpayers.

I’d address this on two fronts. First, make Northborough meaningfully more attractive to the right businesses, not growth for growth’s sake, but targeted commercial development that strengthens our tax base and gives residents more reasons to stay and spend money in town.

Second, bring genuine fiscal discipline to every budget cycle, level-funding where possible, clearly justifying every increase, and identifying efficiencies before asking taxpayers for more. Sustainable finances require a long-term strategy, not annual triage.

Who are you, what are your qualifications, and why are you running for Select Board?

Hi Northborough Residents - My name is Leslie Rutan, and I am running for a seat on the Select Board! I have been involved in town ever since our three kids started at Peaslee: as a PTO co-chair and treasurer, plus many years on the Peaslee and Melican School Councils. I currently serve on the Algonquin School Council, where I bring my experience from having been a member of the Northborough School Committee and subsequently the Northborough Select Board. These connections were invaluable during my previous terms on the Northborough Select Board; the school budgets comprise nearly 2/3 of the municipal budget, so a good working relationship with the schools is essential. I also served as liaison to many boards and committees, and as Chair of the Lincoln Street School Building Committee, where we completed a successful addition/renovation and came in $1 million under budget.

I am campaigning for a seat on the Select Board to maintain these important connections, and to work to decrease our residential tax burden. Many residents also reached out to me over the past two years, asking me to consider running due to great resentment toward the current Board and their treatment and behavior toward Town staff. Without the necessary respect due our employees, we risk losing our experienced professionals. It is time for a reset. What’s the single biggest challenge facing the Town of Northborough? How would you address it?

It is difficult to determine a singular challenge facing the Town of Northborough. The many positive traits make Northborough a wonderful place to live and raise children. CPA funds have made it feasible for us to have dedicated open space, to maintain assets important to the character of our community, and to build affordable housing, just to name a few. Our schools are among the top-tier in the state, which is beneficial to both students and property owners.

Unfortunately, the escalating taxes are making it very difficult for some residents to afford to live here. Many who work in town must commute, due to the cost of home ownership and high real estate taxes. It will be critical for our board to work closely with all relevant Town staff, and to solicit input from residents earlier in the budget cycle, in order to make a positive impact.

Who are you, what are your qualifications, and why are you running for Select Board?

My name is Laura, and I am seeking re-election to the Select Board; in my day job, I work in technology sales where I build relationships with partners. This experience helps me on the board where I gather information from residents, committees, and staff to make informed decisions.

Since being elected, I have strengthened my understanding of how Town Hall operates, including the role of the Board and how to work with our Town Administrator. This experience will help guide fiscally responsible decisions that meet the needs of Northborough.

I am running to keep the momentum going and build on what we have accomplished so far. The strong vote for White Cliffs demonstrates trust in our approach, and I am ready to bring that same methodology to our next municipal building at 4 West Main. I will also support the creation of an Economic Development Committee to help identify new revenue streams.

What’s the single biggest challenge facing the Town of Northborough? How would you address it?

The biggest challenge facing Northborough is managing rising costs while finding ways to minimize taxes. Having navigated this year, I feel more confident about how to approach upcoming decisions.

The two major cost drivers, employee health benefits and special education, are essential obligations we cannot reduce. While these expenses must be maintained, we do have several promising opportunities ahead to increase revenue and reduce costs. By working closely with our financial boards and town staff, we can take a thorough look at town wide spending and identify responsible savings. This will require some temporary sacrifice, and it will be important for all of us to remain flexible and open minded as we make these decisions.

There are also positive developments on the horizon. White Cliffs is expected to bring new business during events, and I support options for 4 West Main that will increase foot traffic downtown. Additionally, we are making steady progress toward establishing an economic development committee.

Southborough Select Board: Three vie for two seats

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

SOUTHBOROUGH — When Southborough voters head to the polls on May 12, only two seats – three-year terms on the Select Board – will be contested. The Community Advocate caught up with the three Select Board candidates prior to the election.

Marguerite Landry (Incumbent)

Marguerite Landry, an incumbent on the Select Board, is seeking re-election this year. After initially being encouraged to run, Landry said she’s helped lead Southborough forward while serving for the last three years.

“It’s a lot of work, but you can make things better for people,” she said.

Landry highlighted the Public Safety Staffing Study that helped stabilize the Southborough Police Department, also commending the strong department heads that lead the town.

Landry knows residents are facing a tough time with rising taxes as property values continue to increase, speaking of the growing number of families who visit the town’s food pantry.

If re-elected, one of Landry’s goals would be to look at Southborough’s tax relief and write-off programs – alongside options the town could potentially adopt – with the hope of helping residents while officials continue to investigate ways to relieve the tax burden.

While increasing commercial business and more housing are important goals for the town, Landry believes residents should have the first say in what they want to see in Southborough.

She highlighted a chunk of wooded land by the proposed Costco Wholesale Club. She said the town will need to carefully consider input from the Conservation Commission, Open Space Preservation Commission, and other community groups before making any big decisions.

“If it’s not carefully done, it could potentially go in the wrong direction,” Landry said. “The people in town should decide what they want there.”

Officially retired, Landry spent her career teaching English at an array of universities. She was also a writer and editor. Knowing that communication is vital, she always wants to ensure residents are informed, especially when it comes to Town Meeting.

She knows that meetings can become difficult when residents don’t understand exactly what the town is trying to accomplish. She has proactively reached out to the community and anticipated questions in an effort to get them addressed ahead of time.

For example, when the large borrowing request for roadwork came before Town Meeting, she suggested providing a hand-out that could thoroughly explain the scope and importance of the project.

Andrew Pfaff

Andrew Pfaff, a lifelong Southborough resident, is running for Select Board with a plethora of new ideas that he believes could benefit every aspect of town.

Southborough is facing some important decisions, and those choices are going to play a vital role in getting the community to where it needs to be in the future, said Pfaff. As an executive director at Santander Holdings USA, Pfaff leads large strategic initiatives that include budgeting, long-term planning, and regulatory compliance. He is also a current member of the town’s Advisory Committee.

Southborough faces a number of budgetary challenges, Pfaff believes his background and expertise in finance could prove essential to progress, and he wants to be a part of the initial conversations that tend to dictate the budget.

The difficulty with the budget lies with the restrictions posed by Proposition 2 ½ and employee contractual obligations, which make up about 80 percent of the town’s spending, said Pfaff.

“Southborough does have high taxes,” he said. “Mostly because we don’t have a huge commercial tax base.”

The difficulty with attracting commercial business is the lack of a supporting municipal wastewater system, he said. However, Pfaff isn’t completely sold on the town building its own facility, stating he is not in agreement with the “build it and they will come attitude,” wanting to explore more public-private or regional partnership opportunities.

He also acknowledges that not everyone wants to see Southborough lose its small-town feel. Pfaff said he’d like to hear from residents about which direction they want to go: an acceptance of increasing taxes with knowledge of the services they are getting in return, or cuts.

Other opportunities for relieving the tax burden, he said, could be found by being more aggressive with contract negotiations or looking for other revenue sources like a Stormwater Enterprise Fund and grants.

There is a need for more affordable housing, but Pfaff says he wants to explore more ways the town can get “more bang for its buck” and ensure the parcels chosen for development are completed as efficiently as possible and won’t have an impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

Pfaff is also a firm believer in advancing transparency and finding more ways for town departments to operate efficiently and better support one another.

Sam Stivers

Sam Stivers, who has over 20 years of experience in town government across 15 committees – including six years on the Select Board – is running for the position once again.

In addition to his work for the town, Stivers has a background in finance, management, and analytics. With this knowledge and experience, Stivers said he “can be effective from Day One, especially because the board is losing a member with similar experience, with Al Hamilton not seeking re-election.”

Stivers highlighted that one of his important roles on the Select Board was holding weekly office hours at the transfer station, allowing residents to share their thoughts and get questions answered – something he intends to do again if elected.

“I’m the leading candidate for transparency and access,” he said.

A common resident complaint he hears is that residential property taxes are too high. He believes the challenges in the Southborough budget aren’t so much a cost problem as they are a revenue one. He noted that there’s not much “waste” to cut without reducing services that many people value.

“It’s going to be a fiscal challenge going forward, and I think I’ve got a lot of skills to help deal with that,” he said, adding how more commercial development along Route 9 could help lighten the residential property tax burden.

The trouble, however, is wastewater, with Southborough being the only town on Route 9 between Boston and Goshen (west of Amherst) that doesn’t have access to a municipal wastewater system. Stivers, chair of the Wastewater Study Committee, says getting a sewer facility is a key to unlocking Route 9 commercial development, but it will take time and come at a cost.

Stivers also wants to focus on infrastructure issues. He believes that the recent Town Meeting approval of $25 million for work on roads and sidewalks is an appropriate, proactive approach to this issue. He noted his concern for the stormwater infrastructure underneath the roads, with rusting steel pipes that are creating costly repair projects today.

He also highlighted his desire to encourage more coordination between departments and committees, and his interest in creating affordable housing opportunities for younger families and seniors.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Throughout her Northborough residency, Leslie Rutan has been a tireless contributor to the community, first as a volunteer for various town and school efforts, and subsequently in elected positions on the School Committee and Select Board. During her prior service on the Select Board, the Town enjoyed excellent financial stability and superior management practices, and completed several major building construction projects including the Lincoln Street School renovation, brought in on-time and under-budget with Leslie as Building Committee Chair. Leslie is an accessible and receptive listener to residents, and she acknowledges and appreciates the important work of our Public Safety, Public Works, and Town department personnel. Her calm, experienced, sustained, collaborative approach to public service will be a welcome steadying influence. Please join me in voting on May 12 to elect Leslie Rutan to the Northborough Select Board. Jason Perreault, Northborough

To the Editor:

I’m writing to let you know why I will be voting for Leslie Rutan on May 12 for the Northborough Select Board.

Northborough is facing challenging times. One look at this year’s Town Meeting makes this brutally apparent. Our 2027 budget avoided a Prop 2.5 override by the slimmest of margins. To do so, the current Select Board took $1.2M from Free Cash (our “savings account”), chose NOT to meet our annual OPEB contribution (retirement benefits), allocated zero dollars to our Stabilization Fund (emergency fund), and ignored the need to allocate funds in support of the five Firefighters hired last year. In short, they have chosen to kick the proverbial can down the road.

On the personnel side, we are losing many of our best employees to other towns, choosing instead to work where they feel valued and respected. The unfortunate way the SB treated the leadership team of the Fire Department over the new station sent a clear message to all current Town employees. The abysmal response for applicants to fill the retired Chief’s position is indicative of the damage done. We can do better.

Leslie served in the past on both the Select Board and School Committee. Her experience would bring a needed dose of seasoned leadership and common sense back to the Board. During my 18 years serving on the Select Board, I had the pleasure of working with many very bright and competent people. Leslie was among the very best. As a member of the Board, she was always prepared, understood the issues before us, and was never afraid to take a difficult position if she felt it was necessary for the good of the town. There is no one more qualified to fill the role than Leslie and help us get back on track.

I have always felt that the best measure of what a person will do in the future is to look at what they did in the past. Leslie Rutan has proven that she is “just what the doctor ordered”. Please consider giving her your vote on May 12.

Jeff Amberson, Northborough

To the Editor:

I’m writing to express my strong support of Leslie Rutan for the Northborough Select Board.

As a previous member of the Select Board, Leslie has the experience with large capital projects that is desperately needed in this time. She oversaw the builds of the Senior Center and Lincoln Street School, both of which were completed on time and on budget.

She deeply cares for our community. She volunteered for many years before she

ran for a seat. Her bi-weekly reports from her time in office repeatedly called out cautious driving; school bus awareness; and pedestrian safety.

Her only agenda is what’s best for the community at large. She listens to ALL voices, not just the loudest or most familiar.

I’ve paid enough attention to town matters to know that Leslie comes prepared and ready to get to work – no drama, no pet projects, no ego – just the desire to use her deep knowledge of Northborough to the benefit of every member of this community.

Without hesitation and with my full heart, I feel that Leslie Rutan has what it takes to guide our town through the major projects we are undertaking.

Sincerely,

Gianna Frezzo, Northborough

To the Editor:

Leslie S. Rutan is a candidate for election to the Select Board of Northborough at the Town’s Election on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. She exhibits strong leadership skills, professional integrity and a high commitment to our Town with a friendly and approachable demeanor.

Her ability to listen to different viewpoints and engage with residents supports her genuine interest in addressing the diverse needs of our Town and to work collaboratively toward jointly agreed upon solutions.

She has a proven track record of involvement in local issues, and a high commitment to serving the public through her tenure as a former member on both the Northborough Select Board and Northborough School Committee. Through her volunteerism she has continued to serve the community.

Leslie Rutan’s life-long initiatives, experience and dedication to the community of Northborough prove that she will serve in her role on the Select Board with integrity and professionalism.

Joan Frank, Northborough

To the Editor:

I met Colleen several years ago and was immediately impressed with her knowledge of Grafton’s policies and how much she genuinely loves town government. She lights up when she talks about her municipal experience, which includes time on the Select Board, Finance Committee, Capital and Permit Planning Committee, chairing the Fire Chief Search Committee, CIPC, Tri-Com, Open Space and Recreation, and more. Colleen is the one person you go to when you want to truly understand how Grafton works. She has a deep commitment to public service and always shows up prepared, and is often the first resident to speak when an issue needs clarity. I remember a moment when the board was engaged in discussion, and they actually needed Colleen’s perspective. I am excited to vote for Colleen and support her return to the Select Board. Her experience is tremendous and having an educated and informed voice at the table is exactly what Grafton needs. She will continue to lead with fairness and advocate for responsible budgeting across all the departments. Colleen has my vote, and I hope you will join me in voting for Colleen on May 19th!

Stella Varellas Dikas, Grafton

To the Editor:

Colleen Roy has demonstrated, time and again, what it means to serve the Town of Grafton with dedication, integrity, and results. Her extensive experience across multiple town boards, including the Select Board, Finance Committee, Community Preservation Committee, and Capital Improvement Planning Commit-

tee, gives her a uniquely comprehensive understanding of how our local government operates and how to make it work effectively for residents.

Colleen’s work ethic is unmatched. She approaches every issue with diligence, thoughtfulness, and a genuine commitment to doing what is best for Grafton. Whether it’s managing fiscal challenges, preserving community character, or planning for sustainable growth, she brings both expertise and steady leadership to the table.

At a time when Grafton faces complex and consequential decisions, experience matters. Colleen Roy has already proven that she can navigate these challenges and deliver meaningful outcomes. She listens, she leads, and she follows through. Grafton needs leadership that is informed, reliable, and deeply committed to the community. Colleen Roy embodies all of these qualities and more.

Join me in voting for Colleen Roy for Select Board on May 19, 2026!

Mark Haddad, Grafton

To the Editor:

There truly isn’t another Grafton resident like Colleen — she is one of a kind. It takes a special level of commitment to attend nearly every meeting in person. In her previous tenure on the board, she was elected just as an override passed, and managed the intricate budgeting extremely well on top of additional COVIDrelated funds coming from the federal government. No other candidate brings this level of experience. Combine that with her expert knowledge of policy writing, and I can think of no better person to represent us. It is long overdue that Grafton rectifies its error and elects Colleen Roy back to the Select Board.

Jack Kelley, Grafton

To the Editor:

I wish to endorse for re-election to the Northborough Select Board: Laura Ziton and Jacob Jones. Laura has supported smart use of ARPA funds and has stood up on issues that save us money. Jacob has shown his willingness and ability as an attorney to investigate details of both the fire station project and White Cliffs in the interests of doing what is best, besides ensuring the best value for the taxpayers. Respectfully, Doug Stone, Northborough

To the Editor:

The Westborough peanut rotary design will not go before Town Meeting. Why not? This should not happen. There are many articles that are voted on at Town Meeting that have nothing to do with funding. For example, zoning bylaws, changing voting rights for young adults from 18 to 16? These things have NOTHING to do with any type of funding whatsoever. Somebody, maybe you, should get a petition for the Town Meeting to add the proposed rotary design to be voted on by Westborough taxpayers and longtime residents. Personally, I have lived in town for 73 years and I don’t have a problem with the current design of the downtown area. I, like former Chief Gordon said at the meeting, am NOT in favor of the proposed redesign. The rotary is NOT the problem. He says most accidents are caused by drivers not paying attention.

At this point, let me add one simple solution that would cost very little and that is to lower the downtown speed limit from 30 MPH down to 20 MPH. It takes much longer for a vehicle (even with good tires and brakes) to stop for someone in the street at 30 MPH than it does at 20 MPH.

I will have another message on downtown safety soon.

Francis Sowa, Westborough

To the Editor:

Northborough is one of the most costly communities in which to live within Massachusetts.

Resident homeowners are struggling to meet high property taxes and cost of living expenses and many are being forced to move while others fear foreclosures. Extremely high cost capital projects and a major recent override compound the financial problems; yet officials show little or no concern to the financial burden being thrust upon residents. Where is the fiduciary duty and oversight? Who is representing the people? Over reliance on property taxes and failure to reduce spending and growth are eroding disposable income, purchase power, retirement savings and everyday living quality. There is no municipal financial stability without resident household financial stability.

Jacob Jones understands that residents need to be the first priority, not municipal departments; that annual budgets and expenditures need to reflect residents financial capabilities to pay. His promise to represent the people and put residents back in charge of funding decisions has been upheld. His legal experience serves us well in budget, union contract and collective bargaining negotiations. His negotiation experience assists preparation of lease and sales agreements of public property. Unfortunately, some see the residents and service departments as competitors which is not the case. The departments work for and are responsible to the residents. Elected officials are responsible for ensuring that we do not pay for unnecessary services or equipment; that costs are not exceeded beyond local revenue source capabilities and that basic services are rendered at a cost residents can afford. Jacob has and is working hard to see that this is the case. If you want true representation and initiation of a “resident first” fiscal policy approach and someone who will prioritize resident financial stability over departmental spending, Jacob is our man. Of all the candidates, he has the best qualifications and experience to address the issues and challenges facing us and will ensure accountability of taxpayer dollars and residents’ concern. As a Board member he knows that “fair’ is defined as the legal and ethical constraints designed to protect taxpayers from over reach and not undermine their financial security. Please re-elect Jacob Jones. Gib Chase, Northborough

To the Editor:

I felt compelled to respond to the Vice Co-Chair of the Westborough Democratic Town Committee’s letter dated April 24. He demonstrates, clearly, the intolerance of today’s Democratic Party. I understand the difficulty for anyone to get a clear picture of how successful Trump and his administration have been due to the incredible left-wing bias of today’s legacy media. I listen to the Democrats making very clear the problems facing Americans today but, “what are the Democratic Party’s solutions?” Trump said what he was going to do and just went and did it. Things like securing the border, requiring honest elections, labeling the left-wing media lies as fake news, ending the threat of Iran getting a nuke, which every president Democrat or Republican has said must happen for the past 47 years but has never done anything about it. In my career I dealt with business people like Trump. They are arrogant, egotistical, narcissistic and ruff around the edges to the point of being close to intolerant. That’s how they get things done. A politician usually fails in the business world. Simply explaining the problem, the way President Biden and Harris did, is the politician’s way of doing things. Simply hating President Trump with absolutely no solutions, other than raising taxes, shows just how shallow today’s

Democrat party is. I wish they could put their TDS in a closet and try to work with the President on anything. It is shameful and they are far removed from the days of JFK, who was, in my opinion, a left leaning center of the road Democrat. I would not label Trump as a center of the road Republican by any means but he is exactly what America needs at this time in our history. The Republican party has an upcoming field of moderate candidates and I feel if any of these stars come on board in 28 it will give the Democrat party a few years to get their act together. David Metcalf, Shrewsbury

To the Editor: Congressman James P. McGovern, from my perspective, has been nothing more than a rubber stamp, following party lines while failing to keep an open mind and thinking about all his constituents’ concerns, not just the liberal ultra progressive members of our State. His hate for our President Trump has seemed to cloud McGovern’s mind. By failing to do his due diligence on the many good things President Trump has accomplished for our country, McGovern and the liberal Democrat Party simply will crush any and all policies that make America Safe and prosperous. Never once, to the best of my knowledge, has he given our President credit for fear of retribution from his liberal, Democratic peers. So sad that we live in a State that has been known to be corrupt to the core from the State Police to those politicians who seek power, greed and a “woke” agenda. As an Independent voter, I have lived with the fact that Massachusetts voters seemingly vote “D” no matter what type of individual runs for office. President Trump has put his life on the line for real American citizens. Liberals, like McGovern, were so afraid of Trump becoming President years ago that, from the beginning, they created Hoax after Hoax after Hoax denigrating this man on every level every day for 12 or so years. Now we know why, politicians like McGovern go after this man. They KNEW he would expose the corruption and greed in our society which is now being shown for all to see. Democrats will never, ever, be able to match his successes! They are a JV team at best. It’s just sad that we must put up with our politicians who do not see what accomplishments (like keeping Iran in check when no other President had the guts to do so).

John J. Benedetto, Northborough

To the Editor:

I am voting for Rutan and Ostiguy for the Northborough Select Board for a variety of reasons but will share the most important ones to me. In my opinion, the current Select Board members Ziton and Jones did not demonstrate support of the SAFER Grant hires for our Fire Department. Even when it was suggested by SB member Tietjen that a stabilization funded account be created with no funds in the hopes that we could fund before the grant expires, neither Ziton nor Jones supported that motion.

The other major reason, again has to do with our Fire Dept. When member Jones initiated a complaint regarding what he alleged was intentional misinformation, actually his complaint was harsher than that, was given by our Fire Chief and Deputy Chief relating to the Fire Station project, Ziton did not defend our Chiefs. For me this is inexcusable. Which is a shame, because I had thought she deserved a second term, but not now.

Both Rutan and Ostiguy will bring a more positive approach to both problems and opportunities for our town. I also have greater respect for their ability to hire the best candidate for our next Fire Chief.

Vote for Rutan and Ostiguy on May 12th for Northborough Select Board. Fran Bakstran, Northborough

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Real Estate Q&A with Sue Gordon

What is the biggest mistake people make because of fear or hesitation?

One of the biggest mistakes people make in real estate is letting fear or hesitation delay decisions. Whether it’s uncertainty about market conditions, interest rates, or timing, waiting too long can lead to missed opportunities. Buyers may hold off, hoping prices will drop or rates will improve, only to face more competition, higher costs, or fewer homes. What felt cautious can quickly become costly.

Sellers may hesitate to list because they’re worried about finding their next home or unsure if it’s the “perfect” time. In reality, timing the market perfectly is nearly impossible. That hesitation can mean missing strong buyer demand or favorable conditions that may not last.

Fear can also show up during negotiations. Buyers might avoid making competitive offers, or sellers may reject strong ones expecting something better that never comes. In both cases, hesitation can result in losing out entirely.

The key is not eliminating fear—it’s making informed decisions with the right guidance. A knowledgeable real estate professional helps you understand options, evaluate risk, and move forward with confidence. Real estate is one of the most significant financial decisions most people will make, and having a clear strategy is far more powerful than standing still.

In a changing market, thoughtful action almost always beats hesitation.

Thank you to Daphne Phalon for asking such a great question.

Indian restaurant in Westborough to open after long wait

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — A new Indian restaurant slated to open at 225 Turnpike Road secured its liquor license at the April 28 Westborough Select Board meeting.

Desi Chowrastha, a chain with more than 25 locations in the U.S. – including restaurants in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and New Hampshire – is looking to open its doors by the end of May.

According to permit documents, the approximately 5,000-square-foot space will include a dining area and lounge with a maximum

occupancy of 171. Over the last year, the owner, Sudha Krishamoorthy of MYPI Foods LLC, and her team have worked to complete a number of renovations to transform the site. The building was formerly home to Uno Pizzeria, which closed in July 2024.

“People love the food because it’s close to what they get in India, so that’s a game changer,” Krishamoorthy’s husband, Saravanan Natesan, explained to the Select Board. “It’s spicy though — I’m giving you a warning.”

Natesan, explained that he and his wife saw success with their business in Virgin-

ia and decided to open here in Westborough: “I believe this will be a successful one too,” he said.

“Welcome to Westborough. Looking forward to seeing the restaurant. I’m hearing good things about the inside — it’s supposed to be beautiful in there,” said Select Board member Patrick Welch.

The restaurant also sits in front of the long-abandoned Regal Cinemas, which is slated to become Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu house of worship. BAPS is currently situated at 275 Turnpike Road.

White Cliffs has a certain future after a decade of effort

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

NORTHBOROUGH – White Cliffs finally has a certain future.

On the first night of Northborough’s Town Meeting on April 27, residents overwhelmingly voted for Article 4 (369-17), Article 5 (381-22), and Article 6 (262-11), cementing plans for what will become of the town’s historic mansion that, over the last decade, has generated international headlines.

In 1886, Daniel Wesson – the namesake of Smith & Wesson firearms – constructed the White Cliffs mansion for his wife, Cynthia. Known for Queen Anne-style architecture and elaborate woodwork, the mansion has 32 rooms and 17 fireplaces.

After decades of use as an event venue under local ownership, the mansion closed its doors in 2014. In 2015, the owners pursued demolition of the historic structure, with stained-glass windows and other artifacts heading to auction. In an effort to preserve White Cliffs, Town Meeting named it a “significant historic asset,” allowing the town to expend Community Preservation Act funds to preserve the structure. In 2016, Northborough voted (218-67) to purchase the property for $1.75 million.

The building was saved from the wrecking ball, but now what?

“That decision was not without risk,” said Town Administrator Stephanie Bacon. “At the time, there were no clear reuse plans, limited understanding of the build -

ing conditions, and known environmental concerns that needed to be addressed.”

The town sent out an RFP (Request for Proposals) that didn’t materialize. After Northborough made international headlines due to the White Cliffs debacle, the town issued another – ultimately successful – RFP in 2025.

Elegant Banquets, a firm specializing in renovating historic venues for weddings and other gatherings, stepped forward with a plan for a $12 million renovation of the mansion. White Cliffs will mimic what Elegant Banquets did with Le Chateau, a nowrenovated mansion in New York that was constructed by J.P. Morgan.

“Their background in weddings, corporate events, and properties like White Cliffs … showed [Elegant Banquets]

aligned directly with the proposed use. It was a key factor in the selection,” Bacon told Town Meeting.

Elegant Banquets will raze some of the superflu -

ous structures on the lot, revealing the mansion’s 1886 facade. A cocktail room and 5,000-square-foot ballroom will be added to the structure, though the company insists that the new additions will be “subservient” to the White Cliffs mansion and will not distract from its historic value.

“Our intention is to make a significant financial investment to restore White Cliffs to its original elegance and prominence, ensuring it functions as a premier event destination for generations,” said John Royce, owner of Elegant Banquets.

Elegant Banquets will take out a 45-year lease, becoming the building’s owner for tax purposes. The lease has been carefully reviewed and contains strong protections that limit the town’s financial responsibility and ensure that, if the structure is abandoned, the town retains ownership of the property.

Annual rent will be around $35,000, going up incremen-

tally to $50,000 by Year 20. A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement has been reached, giving Elegant Banquets a tax reduction for six years after occupancy.

Elegant Banquets retains the right to purchase the property for $2.5 million at any point throughout the lease. If the option is not exercised after 8.5 years, the purchase price increases 2 percent annually (compounding). The dollars from the sale would go toward the Community Preservation Act, as that was the funding source used to purchase the property in 2016.

“The mansion is a piece of art,” said Norm Corbin, who has been involved with White Cliffs since before Northborough took it over. “The property will go back to being an event space, which it’s been since the 1940s. The mansion will be brought back to its historic 1880s design. The lease-to-purchase option is beneficial to all involved.”

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Northborough Moderator candidates state priorities

MODERATOR (vote for one)

Who are you, what are your qualifications, and why are you running for Moderator?

My name is Fred George and I am seeking re-election to the office of Town Moderator. I have been serving the Northborough community for over three decades. I have had the honor to serve on the Personnel Board for six years and the Board of Selectmen for ten years. Since being elected Town Moderator in 2003, I have held leadership positions with the Massachusetts Moderators Association, the most recent was president of that association.

I am the Founder and Principal of GeoSimms Consulting, a boutique practice that works collaboratively with organization leadership teams to optimize their human capital. My career has focused on leadership positions at the corporate level in Human Resources, Operations Management and Finance Management.

I am running for re-election to continue the process that is near to my heart. It is important to me that we honor the tradition of the Town Meeting, one of the purest forms of democracy.

There is a balance of allowing all voices to be heard while running an efficient meeting. It is important that I realize when comments are becoming redundant and it is time to move forward to complete the actions of each motion. Active listening skills really come into play when there is heated debate or a complex matter.

Who are you, what are your qualifications, and why are you running for Moderator?

I have lived in Northborough since I entered the 3rd grade at Peaslee Elementary. My wife, “Miss Rachael” is the Children’s Librarian in town. Our children are all graduates of the Northborough Schools. My father was Chief of Police in Northborough for 23 years. This community has been a constant in my life, and public service here has been a long-standing commitment.

I have been a decades long volunteer on Northborough boards and committees. Everything from the Select Board to the Community Affairs Committee, to the little-known Algonquin naming sub-committee. My most recent service was with the Town Offices’ Feasibility Committee. I’ve also served on two principal search committees for Northborough Schools. One of the moderator’s key responsibilities is appointing members to boards and committees, and I bring both experience and care to that responsibility.

I am a licensed attorney currently employed with the Federal Court in Boston. Professionally, I’ve spent almost 20 years in the legal field, working within structured systems where fairness, consistency, and orderly process are essential. That experience has taught me how to manage competing viewpoints, apply rules evenly, and recognize when discussion has been thorough enough to move a body toward a decision.

At the same time, in my leadership roles within a non-profit organization, I’ve had the opportunity to guide group discussions, encourage participation, and help maintain a respectful and unified environment, even when there are differing perspectives.

While a moderator is not a judge, the role requires similar discipline: neutrality, consistency, and a commitment to making sure every voice has a fair opportunity to be heard.

Our most recent Town Meeting made it clear that consistency in applying our rules, clarity in the use of Moderator discretion, and proper handling of a consent agenda are not just technical details, they are essential to maintaining trust in the process.

I believe our town is better served when leadership is not concentrated in one individual for too long. After many years of dedicated service, it is reasonable and healthy for the community to consider a transition that brings both experience and a fresh perspective.

B’nai Shalom’s European pilgrimage gives perspective on Jewish heritage

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — On April 19, 23 members of Westborough’s Congregation B’nai Shalom found themselves in Warsaw, Poland. Walking around the various monuments in the city, the travelers couldn’t help but notice yellow daffodils strewn about, and those same flowers seemingly pinned to almost every resident.

They were surprised to learn it was Poland’s national memorial day remembering the Jewish people who fought back against the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Growing up experiencing antisemitism and hearing stories from relatives – including Holocaust survivors – many Jewish people carry with them a certain perspective of Central Europe, explained Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz.

“What we see as our history, Jewish history, is Polish history,” Gurevitz said. “It was incredibly moving. We were so lucky to be there on that day.”

Congregation member Judy Kalman, who attended the trip, was astonished to see the Jewish community restoring itself.

Reflecting on her time traveling to various places in Czechia, Poland, and Hungary, Kalman said: “We enjoyed each other. We experienced amazing things. A lot of it was heartbreaking though.”

The group visited former concentration camps, including Terezin in Czechia and Auschwitz in Poland.

The group was used to seeing ticket booths in places like Disneyland, but Kalman said it was surreal to see them at the

former camps. Still, she said there was a good balance of solemnity and tourism infrastructure.

She said it was interesting to see the way Terezin was designed as a little city, with the Nazis having originally used the site as propaganda. Gurevitz highlighted how there are even people living there who are unable to sell their homes given the circumstances.

Despite how hard those visits were emotionally and physically, Kalman thanked the rabbi for the way she set up the itinerary to ensure the travelers could have ways to recover.

After visiting Auschwitz on a Friday, the travelers had their Shabbat at the Jewish Community Center. There, the group enjoyed food, sang songs, and celebrated the birthday of Bernard, a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor.

“It was just inspirational to see vibrant Jewish community,” said Gurevitz.

(Photos/Courtesy)

Kalman highlighted how no matter where they go, “Jewish culture is the Jewish culture. … It was just so welcoming – that feeling of universality is just so important.”

Gurevitz’s wife brought a photograph of her great aunt –one of her grandmother’s three siblings who didn’t survive

the Holocaust. When the tour guide saw the picture, he knew exactly where it was taken, and she was able to recreate the picture herself.

“It was incredibly moving, touching, and also heartbreaking to know this strand of our family was cut off,” Gurevitz said. “Everyone on that trip felt deeply connected to the experiences that they were having, because it’s our history.”

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Former Shrewsbury Little League stars make impact for BC

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – Tyler Mudd remembers the Friday nights under the lights at Dean Park. He fondly recalls getting the special at the Snack Shack postgame: two hot dogs, a bag of chips, and a Gatorade for $5.

Though his days as a Little League ballplayer have passed, the memories remain.

“It was the best. I remember playing at Dean Park and all your friends were there – whether they were on your team, different teams, or just coming to cheer on their friends on a Friday night,” said Mudd. “It was definitely really special. That was so cool and something I’ll remember forever.”

Mudd, a graduate student, and freshman teammate Luke Gallo have both gone from Shrewsbury Little League to Boston College, making an impact on a Division 1 program that is ranked within the top 20 nationally.

“Baseball was a big part

of my life as a kid – playing every day, weekends. I remember being at school during the day and thinking about playing baseball under the lights at Dean Park. Playing at those fields as a kid was a dream to me,” said Gallo. “It was cool to be a part of.”

Mudd, a Deerfield Academy alum and lefthanded pitcher, started his baseball career at the College of the Holy Cross. After transferring to Boston College, he reunited with childhood friend John West, a Shrewsbury High School and Boston College graduate who now pitches in the

Arizona Diamondbacks orga-

“So thankful and blessed to be able to put on that [BC] jersey every day,” said Mudd. “Shrewsbury is such a great town, and you meet a lot of people there that really help you build your foundation.”

or

debit, receive account statements electronically (eStatements), log in to CSB Online Banking) are met. We may change the interest rate and APY at any time after the account is opened (4.05% APY effective 12/1/2025 guaranteed through 5/31/2026). Balances calculated using the Daily Balance method and interest is based on your daily average balance, compounded daily, and paid monthly. Current rate effective 12/1/2025 and guaranteed through 5/31/2026. No minimum balance required to maintain the account. Monthly service fee of $3 will apply unless enrolled in eStatements. The qualification cycle used to determine if the account requirements have been met is the first day of the current statement month through the close of the current statement month; if you do not meet the requirements for three consecutive statement cycles, the bank reserves the right to convert your account to a Basic Checking account, subject to that account's associated restrictions and fees (see Basic Checking Account details and Fee Schedule). Debit card purchases and ACH transactions must post and clear to your account during the qualification cycle. If you do not meet the requirements per cycle, your account will earn .01% APY and not receive a refund of ATM fees charged by others during that time period. ATM fee refunds of up to a maximum of $12 per qualification cycle if all qualifications are met. Fees may reduce earnings. Minimum deposit of $10 required to open the account. Available to

Gallo grew up going to Shrewsbury High School games to watch West pitch, and called Mudd one of his “heroes” growing up. After attending Phillips Academy, he became the starting third-baseman for the Eagles as a freshman.

Both Shrewsbury natives have been key players in what’s become an exceptional year.

“I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff, getting this team together. There’s a lot of new guys, a lot of transfers, a lot of returners as well. We’re coming together as a team, we have good team chemistry. We knew what we were about, so it’s about just believing that,” said Gallo.

Added Mudd: “It’s been really special. I’m so thankful to be a part of it – my last year playing baseball. It’s not a team of superstars by any means, but every single game, there’s someone who steps up in a big-time moment. I think that’s been really special.”

Select Board issues annual review of Town Manager Kevin Mizikar

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – The Select Board on April 28 performed its annual evaluation of Town Manager Kevin Mizikar, who has led the town since 2017. Over the course of about an hour, Select Board Vice-Chair Beth Casavant outlined the results of a “360 review” that incorporated feedback from Select Board members and town employees who directly report to Mizikar.

The evaluation asked participants to rank various aspects of Mizikar’s performance on a scale of 1 (unsatisfactory) to 5 (outstanding). All in all, Mizikar earned a 3.8 – between “meets expectations” and “exceeds expectations” in the last year. In his previous evaluation, Mizikar earned a 4.4, which ranked between “exceeds expectations” and “outstanding.”

“I appreciate the feedback from the board. The critical feedback from everyone – the accomplishments we sought that we didn’t quite get to. I appreciate the board’s leadership and setting the priorities. We need to aspire to achieve,” Mizikar told the Select Board.

Mizikar received his highest marks for financial planning, earning a 4.6 – close to “outstanding” – for his work “preparing and administering the budget.” Select Board members spoke highly of his fiscal acumen, his financial planning, and his ability to extend time until an override ask.

“Mr. Mizikar exceeds expectations in fiscal management and long-range fiscal planning. Shrewsbury is in a stable position, when many municipalities across Massachusetts are facing significant deficits and very difficult choices. This stability reflects disciplined

budgeting, thoughtful modeling, and an ability to effectively work through complex situations,” one Select Board member, who remained anonymous, wrote in their evaluation.

Town staff spoke highly of Mizikar. Those reporting directly to Mizikar gave him an average of 4.33 across different categories. Staff said Mizikar’s leadership style blends accountability and encouragement. “You’re getting the same Kevin Mizikar every day,” said Casavant.

“Direct reports describe a leadership style that balances accountability with support, and strategic focus with accessibility. That combination is not easy to achieve, particularly in periods of transition, and when resources are scarce,” one Select Board member said.

The review wasn’t without hiccups. Mizikar earned lower-than-average scores on goals that either weren’t

started or experienced no significant progress. While some Select Board members chalked it up to Mizikar’s many responsibilities, others used it as an opportunity to “challenge” Mizikar to be better going forward.

“I think I have high expectations, and as the top leader of our community, we should be holding [Mizikar] to high expectations. … I use this as an opportunity to challenge you. I think you do a good job leading the community, leading the staff. But I’m trying to make you better as well,” said Select Board member Gregg Richards.

An anonymous Select Board member wrote: “I have rated several areas

‘Needs Improvement,’ primarily because related work has not yet been initiated or lacks a defined timeline. In many instances, I believe this is due to bandwidth constraints and competing demands, and not disregard.”

Overall, Select Board members expressed gratitude for Mizikar.

“Local government is certainly a passion of yours. I’ve seen you demonstrate your love for the community, your love for the organization, your love for public service in everything that you do. We’re certainly lucky to have you as our town manager,” said Select Board member Carlos Garcia.

POLICE FIRE

Officials asking for help after string of suspicious

WESTBOROUGH — Late into the night April 30, the Westborough Fire Department responded to 25 Brigham Street. There, the department encountered the latest in a string of fires in town that officials are deeming suspicious.

There was damage to mulch, shrubs, and the exterior of the commercial structure, and officials have determined the blaze was intentionally set.

In recent months, Westborough firefighters responded to another fire at that same location, as well as fires in the Cottage Street area. All of the incidents took place outdoors or at commercial properties that were unoccupied at the time. No injuries have been reported so far.

Now, officials are asking for the public’s help and awareness

fires

as they continue to investigate.

“First and foremost, we want residents to be alert to any suspicious activity and call 9-1-1 immediately for any fire,” said Westborough Fire Chief Patrick Purcell. “We don’t want to risk an injury or worse in a late-night fire because no one noticed it until it was too late.”

“We’re also asking anyone with information on these fires or similar incidents to contact the Arson Watch Reward Program at 1-800-682-9229,” said Westborough Police Chief Todd Minardi. “You can remain anonymous if you prefer.”

The Arson Watch Reward Program is coordinated by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association. It offers rewards of up to $5,000 for information that solves, detects, or prevents arson crimes.

POLICE LOG

The information in the police log is obtained directly from the official records maintained at each police station in our circulation area. Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty. The Community Advocate will publish news of acquittals upon notification and a copy of court issued documentation. What’s below is a representation of this week’s police log. Some calls lacking severity have been omitted due to space constraints.

Southborough

Wednesday, April 1

3:19 p.m. Arrested , Ziad S. Elshorbagi, of Gould Rd., Bedford, for operate MV with license suspended, operate MV with registration suspended, uninsured motor vehicle, possess Class B drug subsq. offse., possess Class E drug.

Friday, April 3

1:44 a.m. Arrested, Gineto Callahan, of E Main St., Westborough, for OUI-liquor or .08%, OUI-drugs, negligent operation of motor vehicle, possess open container of alcohol in MV, speeding in violation of special regulation.

Saturday, April 4

Scan QR code to read this week’s police and fire news on our website.

1:30 a.m. Arrested , Aurelio Cordeiro Da Silva, of Raffaele Rd., Marlborough, for OUI-liquor or .08%, negligent operation of motor vehicle, false application for MV license, operate MV with license suspended, marked lanes violation.

Friday, April 10

1:12 a.m. Arrested , Roddell D. Anderson, of Warren Ave., Hyde Park, for negligent operation of motor vehicle, fail to stop/yield, fail to stop for police, speeding/rate of speed greater than was reasonable and proper.

Saturday, April 11

3:00 a.m. Arrested , Saquan M. Wilkerson, of Silver Leaf Way, Marlborough, for OUI-liquor or .08%, negligent operation of motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of MV, speeding/rate of speed exceeding posted limit, window obstructed/ nontransparent, MV not meeting RMV safety standards, MV operator refuse to give name/address.

Marlborough

Saturday, April 25

4:02 p.m. Arrested , Joshua Collins McCarthy, 35, homeless, on true warrant, possess to distribute Class A drug, possess Class B drug, possess Class C drug subsq. offse.

Sunday, April 26

4:47 p.m. Arrested , Rafael Jonnel Guzman, 22, of 14 Whipple St., Apt. 1, Lowell, for operate MV with license suspended/revoked, marked lanes violation, fail to stop/yield.

Shrewsbury

Saturday, April 25

8:47 p.m. Arrested , Pedro Juan Murillo-Ortega, 30, of 109 Summer St., Apt. 2, Fitchburg, for possess Class B substance, warrants, and Brianna Michelle Davey, 25, of 66 Park St., Oxford, for possess Class A substance, possess Class B substance, warrants.

Contractor dead after fatal fall from Southborough roof

SOUTHBOROUGH — The Southborough Police Department is investigating a fatal incident involving a roofing contractor who fell from a residence on Flagg Road on Wednesday, April 29.

At approximately 3:39 p.m., the Southborough Police Department and Southborough Fire Department were dispatched after a reported fall from a roof at a private residence. Upon arrival, first-re -

sponders located an adult male who had sustained serious injuries consistent with a fall from the roof.

The Southborough Fire Department assessed the patient and initiated emergency care. The individual was later pronounced deceased after being transported to a nearby hospital. The incident remains under investigation. At the time of publication, the victim’s identity was being withheld.

“There’s always something to do and someone to do it with.”

At The Branches, supportive friendships, engaging programs and personalized care help seniors connect to what matters most. Residents enjoy an average of 19 meaningful interactions daily with our associates—from chef-prepared meals in the dining room, during community concerts or even just chats in the hallway. This winter, join us at one of our weekly Wednesday open houses! Enjoy refreshments, meet the people who make our community home and take a personal tour of our open-concept community designed for connection.

Contact Kathy Smith at 508.458.8392 or ksmith4@benchmarkquality.com for more information.

LEGAL NOTICES

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

MARLBOROUGH

MARLBOROUGH PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provision of M.G.L. c 255 Section 39A that on May 29th, 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.

2015 BMW 328i

VIN WBA3B3C53FF547220

Owner Yan Pimenta Dasilva

2006 Chrysler 300

VIN 2C3KA53G86H297345

Owner Stephen Catbell

ZBA CASE: 25-7

LOCATION: 0 DUDLEY ST. (PARCEL 66-182)

APPLICANT: NIEL & GERALDINE FOSSILE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING APPEAL

Notice is hereby given that the Marlborough Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on May 19, 2026 at 7:00pm in Marlborough City Hall, 140 Main St. – 3rd floor Memorial Hall.

Petition:

The applicant requests relief from the required 120’ of frontage which does not comply with Chapter 650 Article 41, the parcel only has 91.14’ of frontage. Lot also requires relief from the ‘Lot Shape’ section of Chapter 650 Article 42B. The applicant is seeking relief in the form of a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals to allow construction of a new single-family residence. For further assistance, please contact the Board at 508-460-3768. All interested people are invited. The applicant or representative must be present.

Ralph Loftin Chairman

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.

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY INVITATION FOR BIDS

BITUMINOUS CONCRETE AND PATCH MATERIALS

The Town of Shrewsbury invites sealed bids for the purchase of BITUMINOUS CONCRETE and PATCH MATERIALS for various Town departments for the term beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027.

All contractors must submit bids in conformance with this Invitation for Bids and the “Information for Bidders, Requirements and Specifications” 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 AM6:30 PM; and Fri 8:00 AM-12:00 PM.

All bids must meet the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works Standard Specifications for Highways, Bridges and Waterways (2022).

Bids will be received in the Town Manager’s Office at 100 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, MA until 10:00 AM on May 27, 2026, at which time they will be opened publicly and read aloud.

Bids must be sealed and marked “BITUMINOUS CONCRETE and PATCH MATERIALS” with the bidder’s name and address clearly noted.

This Invitation for Bids shall be governed by the requirements of MGL Chapter 30B.

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

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

PUBLIC HEARINGS

RICHARD D. CARNEY MUNICIPAL OFFICE BUILDING

100 MAPLE AVENUE

SHREWSBURY, MA

To hear the appeal of Emily Anderson, 27 North Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01571 for a Variance to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VII Table III to allow for a shed five feet (5’) from the side setback where ten feet (10’) is required on property located at 27 North Street in the Residence B-1 zoning district. The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 11 Plot 043000.

May 27, 2026 6:00 PM

To hear the appeal of Kate Moriarty, 72 Holman Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 for a Variance to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VII.C Table III to allow for an accessory structure five and nine tenths feet (5.9’) from the principal dwelling where ten feet (10’) is required on property located at 72 Holman Street in the Residence B-1 zoning district. The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 17 Plot 112000.

May 27, 2026 6:00 PM

To hear the appeal of Samantha Ormond, 101 Grove Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 for a Special Permit to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VI Table I for an in-law apartment upon property located at 101 Grove Street in the Residence A zoning district. The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 46 Plot 084000.

May 27, 2026 6:00 PM

To hear the appeal of McCarty Engineering, INC., 42 Tucker Drive, Leominster, MA 01453 for two Special Permits to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VI Table I for a Salesroom for Automobiles and Motor Cycles and for Garage and repair shop upon property located at 957 Boston Turnpike in the Commercial Business zoning district. The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 36 Plot 019000.

May 27, 2026 6:00 PM

To hear the appeal of David Carney, 82 Howe Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 for a Special Permit to the Shrewsbury Zoning

Bylaw Section IV.C to allow for an addition on a pre-existing nonconforming dwelling twenty five and five tenths feet (25.5’) from the front setback where thirty feet (30’) is required upon property located at 82 Howe Avenue in the Residence B-1 zoning district. The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 40 Plot 124000.

David Moore, Clerk

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY –PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Select Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 7:05 PM in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545, to accept public comment on an application submitted by Krishkanth Ram LLC DBA Eggholic Indian Restaurant, located at 378 Maple Avenue, Unit 3106, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, for the issuance of a new Common Victualler License pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 2. Interested residents are encouraged to attend and provide oral or written comments. Written comments may be emailed to selectboard@ shrewsburyma.gov or mailed to the Office of the Select Board, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.

Theresa Flynn, Chairperson Office of the Select Board April 17, 2026

WESTBOROUGH

LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF WESTBOROUGH INVITATION TO BID IFB 27-0044 ON-CALL HVAC MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AT VARIOUS TOWN BUILDINGS

The Town of Westborough is accepting sealed bids for “On-Call HVAC Maintenance and Repairs” at various Town Buildings. This bid is for 3 fiscal years and maximum end date is June 30, 2029. All bids must be submitted on forms furnished by the Town and shall be sealed and appropriately marked: “IFB 27-0044 On-Call HVAC Maintenance and Repairs” on the front of the envelope. Bids will be received at the office of the Public Works Department until 2:00pm on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 131 Oak St, Westborough MA 01581 at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. available This project is being Electronically Bid (E-Bid). You can register to become a bidder (free) online at www.BidNetDirect.com. For assis-

tance, contact BidNetDirect.com at 800-835-4603. Bid Documents will be online beginning at 9am on Friday May 8, 2026 at https:// www.bidnetdirect.com/massachusetts/townwestborough. All plan holders must have an active online account on www.bidnetdirect.com to acquire documents, receive project notifications, and to receive Addenda electronically. All addenda issued will be emailed to all plan holders registered with BidNetDirect. Questions can be emailed to Jim Stewart, Facilities at jstewart@westboroughma.gov . Oral questions will not be accepted or answered. Answers to all questions will be issued and distributed to all plan holders via Addenda through BidNetdirect. com. Manager Prevailing wages do apply to this contract and will be provided with the Bid documents. All bids for this project are subject to applicable public bidding laws of Massachusetts, including, but not limited to G.L. c.149. The Town reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to waive any informality, to divide the award or to accept any bid or part thereof, which is deemed in the best interest of the Town of Westborough. Tina Cote Procurement Officer tcote@westboroughma.gov

Pickleball for good

Head to Rt. 12 Pickle on May 9 for the fourth annual Jacob Rogers Memorial Pickleball Tournament. Proceeds from the tournament go to the Shine Initiative, which seeks to “combat discrimination and to destigmatize mental health conditions in children and young adults ... through work with schools and communities.” Scan the QR code to register or for more information. Sponsors also welcome.

WE’RE HIRING

Senior Sourcing Specialist, Marlborough, MA. May require to travel/telecommute. Develop and execute sourcing strategies for IT categories (software, AI and Digital, hardware, cloud, and IT services). $76,315/ yr. Contact: Susan Cardinal Boston Scientific Corporation, GlobalTalentAcq@ bsci.com. Must include reference H487200997. (EOE).

SENIOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Senior Software Developer, Marlborough, MA. May require to travel/telecommute. Design and deliver innovative, creative solutions for Kronos software. $107,557-$125,000/yr. Contact: Susan Cardinal Boston Scientific Corporation, GlobalTalentAcq@bsci.com. Please include reference H4872-01054. (EOE).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ MANAGEMENT AGENT

The Westborough Housing Authority seeks an experienced housing Executive Director for leadership and management of its programs, properties and contracts. The Westborough Housing Authority owns and operates 110 Units of State-aided public Housing, 76 Units (6 congregate) of CH667 housing, 14 units od CH200 housing, 12 Units of CH705 housing and 8 units of CH689 housing.

Minimum requirements: a minimum of two years’ experience in housing management, community development, public administration, or a closely related field that demonstrated strong management and organizational skills. Knowledge of the principles and practices of housing management, finances and maintenance systems in public and private is desired. Excellent written and verbal communication skills required. Willingness to work with people of various socio-economic backgrounds. Willingness and interest in working with tenants on a personal level. Knowledge of laws regulating public State housing programs is desired. Certification as a Public Housing Manager from HUD/ EOHLC approved organization is required within one year of employment. The salary range is up to $70,643.00 depending on experience and certifications, and in accordance with the EOHLC Executive Director Salary schedule/ calculation worksheet. The work week is 26 hours

To apply in confidence, please submit cover letter and resume to Westborough ED position” in the subject line. A full job description is available upon request at this same email address. DIVERSE APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED

The deadline for resumes is May 18th, 2026 by close of Late applications will not be accepted. The Westborough

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

Anderson, Gary of Northborough

Anzalone, Elaine of Westborough

Baker, Sandy of Marlborough

Celularo, Betty of shreWsbury

Charpentier, John of shreWsbury

Chau, Peter of Westborough

Henningson, Alyce

forMerly of southborough

Lamachia, Joan of Marlborough

Lape, Lori of Westborough

McGrail, Gail of graftoN

Mirabito, Donald of graftoN

O’Neil, Judith of Marlborough

Elaine M. Anzalone, 94

WESTBOROUGH - Elaine

Anzalone, 94, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026. Born on November 6, 1931, in Waltham, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Esther Finney.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Donald Anzalone, 32 years ago, and

by her son, John Anzalone last year.

Elaine is survived by her children: Marilyn Green Berardi and her husband Edward Berardi of Southborough and Nantucket, Richard Anzalone and his wife Lisa of Marlborough, Donald Anzalone and his wife Marcela of California, and Christine Anzalone, widow of her late son John Anzalone, of New Hampshire.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jennifer Thompson and her husband Ray Thompson, and their daughters Hailey, Hannah, and Emma of Southborough; Jonathan Green and his wife Penny, and their children Ryan and Maggie of Southborough; Christopher Green and his wife Geraldine of Bolton; Jill Trovo and her husband Pedro, and their children Landon and Briella of Hudson; Jacy Anzalone and Kristen Anzalone; Sarah Walters, Alyssa, and Mark Anzalone; Nick and Gianna Anzalone.

Elaine is lovingly remembered by her 13 great-grandchildren and 3 great-greatgrandchildren, as well as many extended family members and dear friends.

The Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home is honored to assist with arrangements.

on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Marlborough Hospital. Born on February 4, 1932, in Caribou, Maine, Gary lived a remarkable life filled with love, dedication, and service to his family and country. He was 93 years old at the time of his passing.

Gary’s legacy is carried on by his devoted wife of 73 years and best friend of 83 years, Shirley Anderson.

Gary is survived by his son, Gary C. Anderson and his wife Jean of Shrewsbury, and his daughter, Karen L. Hollyer of Northborough. He was a proud grandfather to three grandchildren: Christian Hollyer and his wife Trisha, Brandon Hollyer, and Bryan J. Anderson and his wife Emily, all of Shrewsbury. Additionally, Gary cherished his role as great-grandfather to five great-grandchildren: Marissa Hollyer of Somerville, Joshua Hollyer, and Charlie, Andie, and Drew Anderson, all of Shrewsbury. He is also survived by his brother Gregory Anderson and wife Sheila of Plaistow, NH by several nieces and nephews, a longtime family friend Karen Ryberg, all of whom will miss his kind spirit and gentle presence.

Nardone Funeral Home of Watertown assisted the family.

Joan M. LaMachia, 87

Funeral Home of Hudson assisted the family.

Gary S. Anderson, 93 NORTHBOROUGH - Gary S. Anderson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, and friend, passed peacefully

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the Anderson family on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from 10:00-11:00AM at the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St, Shrewsbury followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM and burial at Howard St. Cemetery, Northborough

Sandy Baker, 76

MARLBOROUGH - Joan M. (McNeill) LaMachia, 87, of Marlborough, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of the late James and Mona (McLaughlin) McNeill and the beloved wife of the late David L. LaMachia II, to whom she was married for 50 years until his passing in 2009. Joan was predeceased by her son, Thomas LaMachia, and her siblings, Margaret Mahler, Mona Sullivan, William McNeill, Elizabeth Brady, and James McNeill. She is survived by her children, David L. LaMachia III; Joan LaMachia and her husband, Alex Bingham; Peter LaMachia; and Stephen LaMachia. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jeremy, Lucy, Dennison, Devon, Madison, Hailey, and Stephanie; and her great-grandchildren, Elyse, Ella, and Jack.

Slattery Funeral Home Inc. of Marlborough assisted the family.

Lori S. Lape, 64

Alyce M. Henningson, 94 Alyce Mae (Wieselquist) Henningson, 94, formerly of Southborough, passed away early Monday morning, April 20th at the Whitney Place Assisted Living facility in Westborough. She was surrounded by her children, the people she loved most, until the very end of her life.

Alyce is survived by her daughter Jennifer (Jeff) Crisafulli of Natick, sons John (Patty) Henningson of Northborough, Jeff (Janice) Henningson of Northborough, Erik (Nina) Henningson of North Grafton, Ivar Henningson of Marlborough, son-in-law Jim Chapdelaine of Worcester; grandchildren Linnea, Graham, Kelsey, Jack, Suzanne, James, John, Ian, Anders, Isak, Jenson and Georgia. In addition to her parents, Alyce is predeceased by her husband Jack Henningson, her daughter Leslie Chapdelaine, and brother James (Leilani) Wieselquist. Morris-Johnston Funeral Home of Southborough assisted the family.

Donald F. Mirabito, 70

MARLBOROUGH - Sandra (Hagman) Baker, age 76, of Marlboro formerly, of Watertown, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family after a battle with ALS on April 23, 2026.

Beloved mother to Jennifer Gaudette and her husband Keith and Gina Cardarelli and her husband Michael all of Marlboro. Cherished “Grammy” & “Rey Rey” to Mason, Maxwell, Emerson, Benjamin, Zachary, Lola and Jax. Dear sister to Donna Fucillo and Debrah McGongale. Cherished daughter to the late Claudia and Olaf Hagman.

WESTBOROUGH - Lori S. Lape, 64, passed away on April 23, 2026, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was fortunate to spend her final days at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

She was born December 19, 1961, in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Marvin and Janice (Ellman) Bornstein.

Lori is survived by her devoted husband, Chip Lape; her son Joshua Lape and his fiancée, Eungi; her daughter, Zoie Lawton and her husband, Giles; and her two adored grandchildren, Archer and Dakota Lawton. Their lives are forever enriched by her presence, guidance, and love. Tighe Hamilton Regional

GRAFTON - Donald F. Mirabito, 70, of Grafton, MA, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026, after a brief illness. Don was born in Natick, MA. He was the eldest son of Francis Mirabito and Frances Campbell. Don is survived by his loving family, including his wife of 46 years Sharon (Matos), son Christopher, and son Timothy and his wife Maryam Khan. He is also survived by his mother Fran, sister Donna McCann and her husband Patrick, brother Thomas and his wife Michelle, sister Jeannine Barrett, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Consigli Ruggerio Funeral Home of Milford assisted the family.

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH — For Mill Pond School sixth-grader Mara Esteverena, learning in the classroom is one thing. But it’s a whole other experience to be doing so hands-on, immersed in the natural world.

That’s why on May 1, she was thrilled to be joining her peers helping Tree Warden Kyle Grendel and Deputy Warden Jeff Moore plant 25 new trees on the Mill Pond School campus.

The project was the culmination of a year-long conservation curriculum. Each year, classes focus on a different subject that includes an engaging service project in the community. A primary topic this year was trees.

“We try to create these authentic learning experiences because it makes the learning that much more impactful,” said Geoff Maletta, a sixthgrade math and science teach-

er. He said previous projects saw students build a pollinator garden and trail signs.

Learning about heat islands, students worked with the wardens to help mitigate the heat coming from the school’s large parking lot. Visualizing what their school will look like 20 years from now, students understood the positive impact they were making.

“Trees are everything,” Esteverena said. “Without trees, there is no us. I think it’s really important for our generation to take action so that future generations can be able to just enjoy the beautiful world.”

Students picked out oaks, honey locus, elm, and maple trees from a list provided by the wardens and were able to take soil and water samples to continue their research.

The project was made possible through donations from the Westborough DPW, eClinicalWorks Giving Foundation, the Rotary Club of Westborough, and ArborActive.

On May 2, the community gathered for the annual Westborough Civic Club Fishing Challenge. Despite the rain, the event saw a great turnout. Colton Brown, 11, and Katie Smith were on a “legendary” streak, each catching a 16.5-inch bass (as seen pictured). Organizer Bill Kohler said his favorite part of the event is seeing the families and kids get outdoors, either enjoying a beloved hobby or trying something new. The event is always free, thanks to the funds the Civic Club earns from its tree and wreath sale. The sale helps fund the club’s annual donation of thousands of dollars to the Westborough community. (Photos/Leighah Beausolieil)

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Kathleen Valenti to retire after 12 years as Neary principal

By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor

SOUTHBOROUGH — Growing up in Marshfield, Kathleen Valenti, principal of Margaret A. Neary Elementary School, thought nothing could compare to the community she’d established there.

But after her husband’s construction company needed to move to Central Mass., she found herself lucky to stumble upon Southborough.

“I feel like I struck the lottery twice,” Valenti said.

Now, after 12 years leading Neary School, Valenti is ready to embark on her next big adventure: retirement.

“I can’t believe I’m at this point in my life,” she said, highlighting how she’ll miss the days walking through the halls, greeting students, and working with her staff.

One of her favorite memories was always the last day of school: “Because that’s when

we know we’ve done a really good job,” Valenti said. And though the day has always brought her to tears, this year’s departure from students is sure to be the hardest.

“But I know I’m leaving it in such good hands,” she added, pointing to her veteran staff – many who have been at the school for the last 20 years – and the newly appointed principal, Tom Millett.

Valenti never thought she would end up in public education. She spent the beginning of her career as a dietician for a children’s hospital. She began volunteering in the schools when her kids came along, and eventually got into the education field.

Starting out as a substitute teacher and reading tutor, Valenti got her license and taught kindergarten and third-grade in Marshfield. The principal, William Campia, inspired her to transition to a more administrative role, and soon enough,

she became assistant principal. Now, Valenti finds herself doing the same for others, serving as a mentor to both her staff and those she teaches

in a course at Worcester State University.

She describes herself as a “collaborative” leader who believes “as long as we put the child in the middle of our decisions, we’re going to do the right thing.”

One of Valenti’s favorite aspects of Neary is the way the staff goes about teaching its students.

In the hallway just outside Valenti’s office, a large poster hangs on the wall with the phrase “Be The ‘I’ In Kind,” with enough space for a student to stand in for the letter “I.”

The goal behind the initia tive is to recognize students who are kind, respectful, and responsible. “We’re so fortu nate to have the teaching and learning that we do here. As a district, I think that’s really

important, but also this staff in particular recognizes the importance of raising kind human beings.”

Valenti values Neary’s monthly whole-school meetings, when chosen students have the opportunity to demonstrate a talent or share something special with the community.

She commended the bravery it takes a 9- or 10-year-old child to stand in front of a 300-person crowd and sing, play piano, share some writing, and more.

“Those are opportunities for students to really shine,” she said. “Seeing kids step up – even those shy students you never thought in a million years would stand up and sing a cappella in front of that many people – it’s amazing. They

Shrewsbury educator writes popular children’s books

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

SHREWSBURY – Whether it was volunteering at afterschool camps as a teen, officiating soccer matches, or teaching second-graders for nearly two decades, Andrew Hacket has always been surrounded by children.

Naturally, he found himself around a lot of picture books.

Helping children learn –as he did in the Wachusett district for 16 years, and at Shrewsbury’s Maj. Howard W. Beal School for the last two years – brought him great joy. But his relationship with picture books? A little more complicated. He’d always wanted to create his own story, but getting the process started was tricky.

“I always had this idea kicking around in the back of my mind,” he said.

During the pandemic, Hacket was surrounded by kiddos again – this time his own three children. It was the perfect time to get started. He entered writing contests, found an agent, created story after story, and joined social media. His brain simply “couldn’t slow down.”

In 2024, Hacket’s goal was realized in a big way. That year, three books – all with different publishers – hit the shelves. It took years of work, but Hacket could officially call himself an author.

“It was wild,” he said. “I didn’t know if I’d get to play in this world of authorship.”

Each book is uniquely charming and meaningful. His first book, “Ollie, the

Acorn, and the Mighty Idea,” is a humorous story about a boy who becomes a tree monster. Hacket’s “Curlilocks and the Three Hares” was inspired by his daughter who hated her curly hair, and his third book, “Hope and the Sea” follows a relationship between a girl and the ocean.

There’s no shortage of imagination in Hacket’s stories. And, in using the books in his second-grade classroom, he’s able to see the impact they have on students.

“It’s incredible. I love seeing my books being used by others, of course, but to do it myself and to see that direct reaction from kids – to see the impact my words have, reading it the way I know it’s intended to be read – it’s amazing,” Hacket told the Community Advocate.

When you’re having so much fun writing, why stop? Hacket has four books expected to be published by 2029, including “In This Classroom,” set to debut in June.

While his first three books can be read in any setting, his newest story is geared toward educators.

It’s a tale that “blends [his] professional life into [his] author life.”

“It’s everything I hold true and that’s important about school,” he said “The community we make within the classroom, and how every year it’s unique – that set of kids will never be the same exact set of kids. It’s the magic that happens between those walls that doesn’t get replicated.”

“A Family Like Ours,” the sequel to “In This Classroom,” is expected to be published in 2027. The upcoming “Squirrel and Turtle: This Book Has Big Words” will see Hacket reunite with illustrator Kaz Windness, his collaborator on “Ollie.”

Beyond learning the business behind publishing, Hacket has gleaned quite a bit from writing children’s books. He treats his students

like authors. Using what he’s learned about the creative process, he encourages them to collaborate on projects, embrace making (and learning from) mistakes, and take risks. In Hacket’s first story, Ollie

swallows an acorn to stand up to a bully.

But there’s no need for that in Hacket’s classroom. With the help of his stories, secondgraders are learning about acceptance, compassion, and how to deal with big feelings.

COMMUNITY SPORTS

The Laudate sisters are leading AMSA softball to new heights

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

MARLBOROUGH – For the Advanced Math & Science Academy (AMSA) softball team, the left side of the infield belongs to the Laudate family.

Brooke Laudate, a junior, starts at shortstop for the Eagles. Makayla Laudate, a sophomore, is the team’s starting third-baseman. If a ball is hit to the infield, it’s likely one of the Laudates has it handled, and the sisters are a huge reason why AMSA has yet to be defeated this season.

“They’re both extremely competitive, even against each other,” said Head Coach Jason Ayik. “Honestly, it keeps them working twice as hard. Neither one wants to have the other one have a better game. They constantly work. They’re simply phenomenal players.”

Though both sisters also play soccer and basketball, softball is their favorite sport. Brooke was

pulled up to varsity as a sixthgrader, starting as an eighthgrader. It was a similar story for Makayla, who made varsity as a seventh-grader, starting the next year.

“Makayla would fly across the country to catch it to make sure her sister is out,” Ayik joked. “But their competition pushes one another, and that’s good for the team.”

Sometimes sisters on the team can lead to cliques – but not for AMSA. In a program that features sixth- through twelfth-grade ballplayers, the sisters serve as an important link between different age groups. Makayla’s friends are Brooke’s friends, better uniting the team.

“It makes the team so much more connected. She’s more connected with her grade and younger, but I know the older kids. Us being around the same age brings the team together as a whole,” said Brooke.

Between club sports, practice, and games, the Laudate sisters’ spring is chock-full of softball. When driving in the car together – typically en route to some softball destination –the sport is a frequent point of discussion.

But once they’re home?

“We talk about random stuff,” said Makayla.

Cali, their younger sister, is almost ready to join the Eagles. She’s a middle-infielder too, and there’s a chance of a nearly allLaudate infield in years to come.

Competitive as they are, the sisters ultimately support each other.

“It’s really great. Brooke is always there for me, and she gives me great advice when I’m not doing so great,” said Makayla. “I’ve learned a lot from her.”

But in practice, that competitiveness comes through.

As far as on-the-field play goes, Makayla characterizes herself as more of a contact hitter, while her sister “always hits the ball far,” she said. Both make a huge impact on an AMSA squad that seemingly can’t be stopped.

“It’s all the work we put in over the off-season. All of us do club or some sort of training over the winter,” said Brooke. “We also hang out over the off-season, so it helps us bond closer. Skill-wise, we all understand each other and how we can improve.”

Freshman Kaitlin Ziemba leads Westborough lacrosse to victory

By Evan Walsh Managing Editor

WESTBOROUGH — Last year, eighth-grader Kaitlin Ziemba was eagerly watching the Westborough girls’ lacrosse team from the sidelines. Her sister, Abby, was a senior captain and defenseman for the Rangers prior to graduating.

This year, Ziemba is no longer limited to mere spectator status — and she’s taking full advantage. The freshman has earned every minute she’s been on the field this season, and on May 2, during her first start as a midfielder, Ziemba tallied three goals as Westborough rolled to a 12-4 mid-season win over visiting Bromfield.

“I saw [my sister’s] games last year. It’s really fun to be a part of it after seeing it,” Ziemba told the Community Advocate. “It just seems so fun on the field when you’re watching it, and then it actually is when you’re playing.”

Added Head Coach Becky Tynan: “She’s a Westborough legacy. Kaitlin is a little more offensive-minded. I think she won some really important draw controls, she had great placement on her shots, she was able to mesh with our middies. She’s been practicing really hard — never missed a day — so she earned that start, and I’m really proud of her. She’s a great addition to our team.”

With three goals and six draw controls, Ziemba was in the spotlight, but plenty of Westborough teammates joined the fun. Junior Regan Kittredge added four goals (and nine draw controls), while senior Taylor Payne scored twice.

With so many weapons, stopping the Westborough attack can be challenging.

Just ask Bromfield.

each other’s strengths to benefit the team.”

Added Tynan: “It’s hard for defenses to predict because our girls play so unselfishly together. They are always looking for one more, and they want to share the love, they want to share the wealth. They’re putting confidence in each other.”

Though Westborough controlled possession for most of the game, the Rangers’ defense was tested in a frenetic opening quarter. Junior Allie Martel leads the unit, with sophomore goalie Bruna Deoliveira acting as a steadying force.

“They’re a real unit. They know how to pick each other up,” said Tynan. “They’re connected this year. We’ve got a really strong voice in Allie Martel — she’s a strong leader. It’s nice to see them step up, and our goalie is really stepping up. It’s fun to watch them play as a unit.”

“Individually, I think any of us at any time could succeed,” said senior Lucy Petralia. “We play to each other’s strengths — Regan’s a driver, I’m a feeder, Kenzie [Gage] is a cutter. We use

Freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior — everyone is contributing for the Rangers.

“Our plays were really working. Everyone is working together,” said Ziemba.

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