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HOLIDAY EDITION
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Vol. 51 | No. 51 | December 19, 2025
Something sweeter than candy at BORO Sugar Shack By Evan Walsh Managing Editor
Santa | 10
Post Office working through busiest time of year By Leighah Beausoleil Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH — They may not be Santa, but every year they’re delivering gifts to families across America, including many right here in Westborough. “Christmas is our biggest time of the year,” said Westborough Postmaster Patrick Graham. “It’s our heaviest time. [Employees] are busy from the time they walk in to the time they leave.” Having delivered mail in Westborough for the last 37
years, Dana Lamorticelli, of Watertown, knows the “Christmas crush” all too well. Over time, he said he’s seen the Post Office delivering more and more packages, all while continuing to deliver first-class mail and periodicals. Graham said people don’t mail like they used to, but he’s “still seeing a decent amount.” He recalls the early days of his time at the Westborough Post Office, where he became postmaster in 2012, when packages filled
the whole building: “You couldn’t walk around in here because there were so many packages.” “Now, it’s a little more manageable,” he added, noting the office has gone from eight to 10 mail-trays a day per carrier to about three or four. These days, the office processes about 3,000 packages a month, but the volume is certainly amplified during the holiday season, he said. “We try to just make sure [the carriers and clerks] understand that, you
Major development proposed for abandoned Shrewsbury factory
$8.8 million project would bring changes to Route 30 in Westborough
After construction, Southborough History and Arts Center is open
SHREWSBURY | 14
WESTBOROUGH | 24
SOUTHBOROUGH | 24
Fudge | 9
Post Office | 9
In her first varsity game, freshman Anna Preciado scores three goals
NORTHBOROUGH | 35
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Coming To Town
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in Southborough. Read the story of how Santa and his friends have worked to maintain Christmas magic in Central Mass. (Photo/Leighah Beausoleil)
WESTBOROUGH – What is fudge? The rich blend of sugar, butter, and milk is a holiday favorite – and an important part of these Westborough students’ weekly routine. It’s one of the busiest times of the year at the Sugar Shack on East Main Street, a candy store operated by the BORO (Bridging Over to Right Opportunities) Program. Within the walls of the candy shop, students produce between 30 and 72 pounds of fresh fudge weekly – and the number can balloon to 100 pounds during the craziest weeks. That includes all sorts of different flavors, ranging from Cookies & Cream to Rocky Road. The array of housemade sweets also includes favorites like chocolatedipped oreos, pretzel rods, and Nutter Butter cookies. “We try to find the things that our customers are going to want, the things that we can do, and the students can get excited about. We want what the customers want, and we want what the students can make,” said Kristen Dadah-Wall, a BORO employee who oversees the production of the sweet treats.