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Shrewsbury man turns prostate cancer battle into recovery blueprint By Evan Walsh Managing Editor
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Vol. 52 | No. 29 | July 17, 2026
‘It was our best option’
Lowe’s Variety & Meat Shop officially under new ownership
Southborough firefighter honored after daring aerial rescue
NORTHBOROUGH | 10
SHREWSBURY – When John Barron had a prostatectomy, he hoped the removal of his prostate – a walnutsized gland located below the bladder – would provide the respite he needed. The procedure aimed to remove the cancer completely, allowing him to restart life as normal. Barron was told he’d have the results within five days. Within 24 hours, he received an email containing the worst news of his life. The diagnosis was Grade Group 5 (Gleason 9) prostate cancer. The cancer had extended beyond the prostate (extraprostatic extension) and had already spread to regional lymph nodes, leading to a Stage 4A classification. It was the type of news that you can never quite prepare for. “It’s a tough surgery, and you come out of it and you’re hoping it’s going to be the end of all the treatment,” Barron told the Community Advocate. “You see those results, and realize that it’s only the beginning of the journey. It was extremely tough.” But faced with a life-threatening diagnosis, Barron chose to fight, conducting months of relentless research as he navigated a complex and confusing medical journey. Now entering his fifth year of remission, he has released a book in an effort to help men who are trying to move forward after dealing with terrible news. It’s proven to be more than a book. To some, it’s a lifeline. A glimmer of hope. “There are more than 900 people every day that are new to prostate cancer that are wondering what to do,” said Barron. “I want to tell them that Book | 14
Town study could reshape Grafton Common
GRAFTON | 20 Longtime WHS principal to leave for new role in Shrewsbury
WESTBOROUGH | 22 Brian Bowen wins Babe Ruth national award
Firefighter Kipp and Captain Roach were among the brave Southborough first-responders who helped save a man stuck in a tree. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
By Evan Walsh Managing Editor SOUTHBOROUGH – At approximately 10:20 a.m. on June 10, firefighter William Kipp – midway through his shift – was among the Southborough Fire Department personnel dispatched to Pinecone Lane, where a worker was in desperate need of help. By 10:40 a.m., that worker was officially rescued, safely stabilized in an ambulance. In the 20-minute span between the call and resolution, Kipp performed a daring rescue that earned him praise from department leaders, a commendation from town officials at a recent Select Board meeting, and a Firefighter Cross, which recognizes heroism and bravery.
“For us [firefighters], it’s just another day on the job,” he told the Community Advocate at the Southborough Fire Department headquarters. “It’s always awkward, because we do this and we don’t ever expect any recognition. We got a unit citation and I got an individual award, but it was a team effort – we were the right people at the right place at the right time.” In the initial call, Kipp, captain Jason Roach, and several other firefighters heard that a tree-worker became trapped 100 feet in the air while trying to cut down a branch. The man was unable to escape and potentially dealing with serious injuries. The Southborough Fire Department arrived in five minutes.
HUDSON | 31
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