CA NOV 5 2021

Officials, residents discuss Bartlett Street improvements

Shrewsbury’s Edgemere Diner car and sign are up for auction

NEws | 2

Shrewsbury paraprofessionals hold rally amid contract negotiations

news | 7

schools | 24

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Vol. 47 | No. 45 | November 5, 2021

Westborough Volleyball claims CMADA title

ARHS narrows mascot list to nine choices

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

Algonquin Boys Soccer players compete in a game earlier this year. Algonquin is in the process of choosing a new mascot after its Regional School Committee voted to retire the “Tomahawk.”

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH - Algonquin Regional High School is one step closer to picking a new mascot.

The Mascot Renaming Study Group recently narrowed the list of potential new mascots for the high school to nine — Eagles, Falcons, Golden Eagles, Navigators, Nor-Easters, Owls, Thunder, Titans and Trailblazers.

In an update to community members, Superintendent of Operations Keith Lavoie wrote that the group vetted twenty-three options and determined that these nine met their criteria.

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WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough High School Girls Volleyball team was back in action on Oct. 30.

Less than two days after they won the inaugural CMADA tournament, the squad was riding high.

“Nashoba played great, and Algonquin is a good team,” coach Roger Anderson said of Westborough’s CMADA semifinals and finals opponents. “We enjoyed playing them in the finals, and they demanded a lot of us.”

“Going through that was very healthy for us as we prepare for the tournament,” he continued. “That’s what we want to do.

The CMADA tournament ran in place of a traditional sectionals bracket, which was phased out this year under the MIAA’s new power ranking playoff seeding system.

Westborough swept Algonquin in the tournament final on Oct. 28, continuing a dominant run that had seen the team remain undefeated throughout this season as of Oct. 30.

Now, Westborough volleyball has its eyes set on a state championship.

Westborough didn’t know its next playoff opponent, Oct. 30. Final seeding had not yet been released.

A Westborough volleyball player spikes the ball over the net during a scrimmage on Oct. 30 following the Rangers’ CMADA tournament win.

A poster on the wall of the Westborough High School gym asks the question — “Who’s watching Westborough volleyball?”

Volleyball | 20 PHOTOS/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

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2 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS Officials, residents discuss Bartlett Street improvements

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

PHOTOS/LAURA HAYES

NORTHBOROUGH - Local officials, residents and business representatives spent Oct. 28 walking up and down Bartlett Street in Northborough.

It was part of a road safety audit held at Algonquin Regional High School, which discussed issues along the road and potential changes.

Northborough had engaged the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) to prepare a postoccupancy study for the Amazon property at 330 and 350 Bartlett St., which included the road safety audit.

As CMRPC Deputy Director of Transportation Sujatha Krishnan explained it, a roadway safety audit is a formal safety review process of a corridor.

Particularly in focus was the question of how well a traffic study completed prior to the

Northborough officials and neighbors walk along Bartlett Street on Oct. 28.

People watch as a truck turns off Lyman Street and onto Bartlett Street.

Amazon property being occupied is matched to real-world conditions, Krishnan said.

6,084 units to 6,378 between 2013 and 2021.

“None of the volumes here were very surprising to us,” said CMRPC Principal Planner Rob Raymond. “It’s what we would expect.”

Existing conditions According to CMRPC Assistant Planner Eric Gemperline, there were 58 crashes on Bartlett Street between 2016 and 2020 and 15 crashes between 2020 and Sept. 23.

While only nine crashes have

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Resident concerns Before residents walked the road, some voiced concerns about various intersections and Bartlett Street as a whole.

One said trucks cross the center line when turning onto Bartlett from Main Street.

Selectman Kristen Wixted voiced concern about students running along Bartlett Street.

“I’ve been here for 20 years.

I’ve seen, personally, day by day what changes have gone on and how much truck traffic has been increasing, and how much the traffic has been increasing since this area has been built,” said Lisa Maselli, who lives nearby.

Recommendations Some of the recommendations from this audit included enhancing signage at the intersection of Bartlett and Lyman Street, changing the timing of lights to allow for bus traffic and moving stop markers back at the intersection of Rt. 20 and Bartlett in case trucks cross the center line.

Krishnan said that Northborough’s Rt. 20 and Bartlett intersection needed to be examined in terms of long-term improvements.

Others made suggestions about sidewalk access to nearby trails.

Maselli noted that, while there’s a blinking crosswalk near trailheads off Bartlett Street, there are no sidewalks.

“There should at least be a sidewalk on one side,” she said.

CORRECTION: An article in last week’s edition of the Community Advocate misstated the name of the park where Shrewsbury Youth Lacrosse plays its home games. The facility is Lake Street Park, not SAC Park. The two facilities are adjacent and were formerly combined. Lake Street Park is now municipally owned and operated, though, while SAC Park is not.

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involved trucks, Gemerline said police reports often include driver statements saying individuals swerved to avoid a truck “or something of that nature.”

Additionally, while the average number of crashes per month decreased between 2016 and 2020 and 2020 and Sept.

23, Gemperline said the number of crashes involving trucks has increased.

Gemperline said one-fifth of all crashes between the beginning of 2020 and Sept. 30 involved trucks at either Class 8 size or larger.

Class 8 trucks have four or fewer axles or one single trailer.

“We’re definitely seeing a larger proportion of truck crashes going forward,” Gemperline said.

CMPRC traffic counts further indicate that the volume of traffic on Bartlett Street east of Lyman Street has increased from

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 3

Man broke into Shrewsbury home in the middle of the day, police say

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By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

SHREWSBURY - A man forced his way into a home in Shrewsbury last week before fleeing when he saw a person in the home who had called police.

Officers said, in an Oct. 28 Facebook post, that all this took place three days earlier at 12:55 p.m., Oct. 25 at Whitehall Circle.

Shrewsbury and Westborough police officers searched the area with help from the Massachusetts State Police and K-9 units. But they didn’t find the man.

Police described this susPolice responded to Whitehall pect as a heavier set, dark Circle shortly before 1pm on Oct. skinned man in his 20s or 30s 25 in response to reports of a wearing a dark-colored heavy home invasion. coat or parka.

Police said in their Facebook post that they still had not located the man. The department had not issued any further updates as of press time on this edition of the Community Advocate.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Mike Cappucci at 508-841-8424.

“The Shrewsbury Police Department would like to remind everyone to always keep your doors and windows locked,” the department wrote.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity should call the department at 507-845-1212 or 911.

PHOTO/TAMI WHITE

Lake Chauncy WESTBOROUGH - Drone photography captured colorful autumn scenes this past weekend over Chauncy Lake and the surrounding area. Stormy weather returned over the Halloween weekend, but some sun did poke through as community members continue to enjoy the fall season.

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4 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Shrewsbury Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force presents final report

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - The Shrewsbury Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force delivered a final report to the Board of Selectmen, Oct. 19, making a number of recommendations based on more than a year of meetings and review.

Those recommendations include, among other things, a call to end the School Resource Officer program in Shrewsbury schools and a call to phase out the use of the thin blue line flag on Shrewsbury Police Department uniforms and equipment.

The task force also recommended conducting a review of town hiring practices and appointments while additionally exploring ways to promote and encourage women- and minority-owned businesses.

How the task force was formed The selectmen established the task force in August of last

year, following the death of George Floyd.

Task force co-chair Adeola Mbaneme said she and fellow co-chair Ruth Febo were grateful for the time and effort that went into this now completed report.

“It’s something that I will always take with me, and I’m forever changed by this group,” said Mbaneme.

The group divided into subcommittees on education, employment, healthcare, housing and public safety. Other subcommittees conducted a survey and gathered personal stories “to support the work done by the other subcommittees,” according to the final report.

Mbaneme said the recommendations were approved by a majority vote of the committee.

“We agreed as a task force that this is a starting point for this board and the community to continue the discussion about DEI in Shrewsbury,” said Selectman Beth Casavant, who also served on the committee.

Public safety recommendations Education subcommittee recommendations included suggestions that schools provide interpreters at family events; that schools provide diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging training for all staff and new hires; and that schools regularly engage with students about their school climate.

The public safety subcommittee recommended, among other things, removing the thin blue line symbol, opting out of civil service and creating a civilian review board to hear, investigate and discipline cases of police misconduct.

The subcommittee also recommended ending the School Resource Officer (SRO) program and instead focus on creating an alternative school safety or security plan to invest in new ways to create positive interactions between children and the police.

“The link between SROs and the School to Prison Pipeline is definitive and one which is highly racialized,” the report

said, citing a 2016 thesis by Christina Pigott. “The presence of an SRO in a school increases the likelihood of expulsion due to disciplinary action, which disproportionately affects students of color, specifically Black males.”

The task force report further referenced a 2020 equity audit of the Shrewsbury Public Schools by the Assabet Valley Collaborative.

“In Shrewsbury, students who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and Black students are suspended at the highest rates, a trend showing relative consistency since 2015,” it said.

Two Shrewsbury Police Officers are assigned as SROs, with one at the high school and one at the elementary and middle school level.

“School resource officers in Shrewsbury — they certainly collaborate with our school administration and they support our schools, but they do not function as school administrators,” Superintendent Joe Sawyer said during an Oct. 6

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Shrewsbury High School Principal Todd Bazydlo said the SROs aren’t part of discipline decisions in the district.

He said there have only been two arrests at the high school since the start of the program.

One of the cases involved a domestic assault complaint, while the other involved an armed robbery in another community. The school thought the student may have a weapon, Bazydlo said.

“It’s been really discreet,” he said. “It’s not something you would see on the news where you see these videos.

It’s very calm. It’s very nonconfrontational.”

Subcommittee member Juan Acosta asked the selectmen to look at the recommendation in the report’s context.

“The way I see it is, this recommendation does not stand alone, it stands as part of the whole body,” Acosta said.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Northborough man charged with wire fraud, money laundering

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter NORTHBOROUGH – A Northborough man is facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges after he allegedly embezzled $370,000 from a Sturbridge nonprofit.

Kyriakos Kapiris was employed as an IT manager at the nonprofit from April 2015 to May 2020, according to court filings. Prosecutors announced on Oct. 22 that Kapiris had been indicted on two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

The indictment said that, beginning around December 2016, Kapiris “engaged in a scheme to defraud [the nonprofit] by creating false purchase orders and invoices reflecting supposed purchases of IT equipment, and by making credit card payments to online accounts that he created or controlled.”

As IT Manager, Kapiris had permission to make business purchases using an administrative or department credit card, the indictment said.

According to the indictment, Kapiris used the credit cards to make purchases from two Square accounts and an Amazon account of products that

Westborough’s Sarah Cunningham receives town employee excellence award WESTBOROUGH – The Westborough Public Library’s Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Sarah Cunningham has received Westborough’s October Employee Excellence Award.

“Her friendly smile and easy way with patrons is a hallmark of her work style, and she’s a supportive and helpful team player for her coworkers,” the town said in a press release.

Cunningham has stepped in to help cover positions when an employee was on leave. She has taken on additional tasks beyond her regular duties and has kept the library’s website up to date, that press release noted.

Cunningham has injected her “creative” and “fun sense of humor” into the library’s sandwich signboards, one of which went viral on Reddit.

weren’t ordered or received by the nonprofit.

The indictment said Kapiris created that Amazon vendor account under the name “NetworkingPlus.”

He allegedly also created two vendor accounts on Square under the names of actual Waltham- and Worcester-based companies. The indictment said those busi-

nesses don’t use Square and haven’t sold products to the nonprofit.

Kapiris allegedly transferred funds from the Amazon and Square accounts into bank accounts that he controlled, and “engaged in monetary transactions of over $10,000 for his own benefit.” Those included a payment of $19,250 to a contracting company that he was

using to build a new residence in Northborough, the indictment said.

A press release from the US Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts said the wire fraud charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The money laundering charge can lead to a prison

sentence up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Kapiris appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy on Oct. 22.

He was released following his appearance on several conditions, including an order to avoid contact with the nonprofit and its current and former employees.

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6 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Study to collect data on possible regionalization of dispatch services in region

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer SOUTHBOROUGH - Southborough took the next step in exploring the possibility of regionalizing its public safety dispatch services early last month.

During a Board of Selectmen meeting, the board talked about a study to be conducted by the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston.

The study, to be done over six months, will gather data on the feasibility of establishing or joining a regional emergency communications center. The possible collaborating towns are Hopkinton, Hudson, Grafton, Marlborough, Westborough and Southborough, according to Southborough Town Administrator Mark Purple.

State 911 funds will be used to cover the study at no cost to the towns.

Southborough prepares team approach to regionalization talks Purple said there needs to be

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“We’re looking at each domino…to understand what we have locally and then compare it to a regional basis,” Purple said, noting that each community is different.

The team from Southborough will consist of Purple, Fire Chief Steven Achilles, Police Chief Kenneth Paulhus as well as Selectmen Vice Chair Chelsea Malinowski as the board’s representative.

Purple said the town has to make sure its voices and needs are heard.

Local leaders ‘excited’ about study, discussions Achilles said the information from the study will be valuable because it will highlight where each community stands and whether regionalization of services makes sense.

Paulhus described himself as “actually excited,” about having public safety officials come together and have a transparent process so that questions and anxiety can be addressed.

Southborough is considering regionalizing its public safety dispatch services.

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

He said the study would provide “a boat-load of information” and said he expects the town will be able to make an informed decision it can be confident about in six months.

Malinowski pointed out that the study may indicate that regionalization is appropriate for some of the towns but not for others. Out of the six communities, for example, regionalization might make sense for three, she said.

Purple replied that the study would address that option because it is looking at each town individually and collectively.

Pointing out that it isn’t costing the town any money, Chair Lisa Braccio said the study is “an

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The report will eventually be presented at a public meeting.

Data will be collected on equipment used, staffing levels and training, financial costs for current dispatch services, call volume, capacity/ability to accommodate research/planning and more.

Kennedy wrote the most important part of the process is to

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Idea of regionalized dispatch prompts some concerns Cited as expected concerns were labor issues/seniority, keeping out the dynamics of politics, not having anyone at the police department window or to monitor prisoners, loss of local knowledge, (i.e., landmarks) and the need for updated dispatch protocols, according to the report.

Selectman Sam Stivers said it will be an “interesting challenge,” to find something that works for the wide range of utilization by the communities.

Stivers said it is important to avoid being “pulled along in directions we’re not comfortable with,” and “being carried along by others” to pay for things the town may not want.

He said those issues will come up as the pros and cons are addressed.

Shrewsbury Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force presents final report Diversity | from page 4

several overarching themes in the task force’s report, including efforts to develop a permanent Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which would ideally include task force members.

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hear the concerns of community leaders.

He listed expected benefits of a regional approach, including having more personnel to handle increased 911 call volume, cost savings, enhanced mutual aid, financial support and more efficient services.

perhaps the town could work with,” said Selectman Maurice DePalo after the public safety presentation.

“We recognize that there is a considerable amount of work that will go into implementation strategies. We know that change does not happen overnight,” Mbaneme said.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Shrewsbury’s Edgemere Diner car and sign are up for auction

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - The iconic Edgemere Diner car is headed to auction.

“We would really love a local buyer for this,” said Paul Zekos of Zekos Group Auctioneers during an Oct. 26 Board of Selectmen meeting. “It would be terrific if that could happen.”

Zekos emphasized that the diner itself is up for auction, not the land it sits on at 51 Hartford Turnpike.

“This is an important decision for the town because it has always played a role locally, but it is time for new ownership,” Zekos said.

The auction of the diner and its contents will take place Thursday, Nov. 18. Zekos’ website states that the Edgemere Diner sign will also be auctioned off that day immediately following the sale of the dining car.

The Edgemere Diner car, which stands at 51 Hartford Turnpike, is up for auction.

NORTHBOROUGH – The Northborough Helping Hands Association (NHHA) is kicking off its “Making Spirits Bright” campaign.

It will be accepting gift card and monetary donations through Monday, Nov. 8.

The group plans to serve 130 households this year after receiving a grant from Fallon Health to fund grocery store gift cards.

Recipients of NHHA’s Holiday Outreach programs are Northborough residents participating in social service programs.

Last year, NHHA gave gift cards and new coats to 136 children. They also gave grocery cards to senior citizens and families in need.

NHHA modified its Holiday Outreach program last year due to the pandemic. The Association plans to have a similar format this year.

Gift cards to stores including Target, Walmart, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in quantities of $25 and $50 are suggested, but any donation is appreciated.

Any donations will be used to make sure parents receive gift cards to purchase holiday gifts for their children, which will be distributed with a Thanksgiving meal.

Donations can be made online at https:// northboroughhelpinghands.org/ or by mail to Northborough Helping Hands, Holiday Program, P.O. Box 383, Northborough, MA 01532.

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

Zekos’ website describes the car, which is believed to have been produced in the 1940s by the Fodero Dining Car Company, as a piece of Americana, including a takeout window “to serve hearty breakfasts, milkshakes and apple pie.”

Zekos said that a $2,500 deposit in the form of a cashier’s check or bank treasurer check is required to qualify to participate

Area groups plan discussion on history of segregation REGION - A number of area groups have joined together to sponsor a special virtual discussion on Tuesday, Nov. 16 entitled “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America.”

The event will take place via Zoom at 7 p.m. It will feature author Richard Rothstein, who will help lead the discussion.

“Residential segregation was created in the mid-twentieth century by racially explicit and unconstitutional government policies that openly subsidized whites-only suburbanization in which African Americans were prohibited from partici-

Northborough association kicks off holiday campaign

pating,” a press release noted. “[Rothstein’s] lecture will educate attendees on the history of these policies so they can be prepared to undertake the national conversation necessary to remedy the unconstitutional racial landscape.”

The Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library, the Shrewsbury Rotary Club, A Better Shrewsbury, the Grafton Public Library, the Westborough Public Library and the Southborough Public Library are among the list of entities helping make this event possible.

Register to attend by visiting https://tinyurl.com/z8x6kmvc.

in the auction.

That deposit would be used toward the purchase price, he said.

Zekos is requesting that a buyer remove the car from the site by Dec. 23. It’s the buyer’s responsibility to make arrangements, Zekos said.

“It would really be a great project for somebody in terms of a restoration or improving that and making it vibrant as it once was,” Zekos said.

The purchase of the sign does not require a deposit.

Board of Selectman Chair John Samia asked what the next step would be if someone were to not remove the car by that December deadline.

Zekos said any cost associated with running an additional sale or having Shrewsbury remove the car would fall to the buyer.

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8 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Knights of Columbus make donation to Westborough Food Pantry

WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough’s Knights of Columbus Council 85 recently donated $500 to the Westborough Food Pantry.

Grand Knight Joseph Black, Herman Millet, Guido Lonardo and Deputy Grand Knight John Huddy presented that check to food pantry co-presidents, Phil and Donna Kitteridge.

The Council is “a frequent

supporter” of the Food Pantry, having contributed $1,250 this year alone according to a press release.

Black stated in that press release that his members are “pleased to support this wonderful organization in its mission to help neighbors in need.”

Learn more about the Food Pantry and its mission at http:// westboroughfoodpantry.org.

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there in support of those who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease. The run will raise money for the Massachusetts/ New Hampshire chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Turkey trot could not be held last Festively attired with a turkey hat and tutu, year due to the panLauren Buerstatte (center) begins 2019’s demic. As it makes Westborough Turkey Trot 5K. its return, organizers are requiring masks subsidize the department’s during indoor registration and summer camps. bib pickup at the First CongreThe charity walk and run gational Church. will be held on Thursday, Nov. No masks are required during 25 and will kick off at 8 a.m. the five-mile or two-mile run/ Registration starts at 7 a.m. walks themselves.

Both the 5K run and 3K walk Register at www.turkeytrotwill begin and end at the Mariforthememory.org. on E. Zeh Elementary School at In Northborough, meanwhile, 33 Howard St. funds raised from this year’s For more information and Northborough Turkey Trot will to register online, visit https:// be going to the Northborough www.northboroughturkeytrot.

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Shrewsbury firefighter honored at state fire safety conference SHREWSBURY - A Shrewsbury firefighter has been named one of Massachusetts’ top fire safety educators.

Brendan Palumbo was recognized and named as the runner-up educator of the year during the Massachusetts Public Education Conference on Fire and Life Safety held earlier this year by the Department of Fire Services.

“It is an honor,” Palumbo said.

During the pandemic, Palumbo created a home fire escape video for children with the help of his wife and daughters. That project came after the COVID-19 pandemic halted usual in-person teaching programs.

“Thankfully, we all have cameras on our phones, and I have some good volunteers in my own family to help me,” Palumbo said.

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REGION - Area Turkey Trot traditions are back this year after widespread disruptions due to COVID-19 a year ago.

In Westborough, the Turkey Trot is entering its eighth year of running in support of the Westborough Public Schools.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m on Nov. 20 with a 5K run/walk along loop course. There’s then a Kid’s Fun Run for those ages 3 to 11 at 10 a.m.

Visit www.westboroughturkeytrot.com for further details and to register now. All proceeds benefit the Westborough Public Schools. Proceeds from this year’s event will further mental health, social emotional and technology initiatives by funding innovative resources for teachers and students.

Shrewsbury’s Turkey Trot is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning on the Town Common. This will be the 10th running of the Turkey Trot

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Grand Knight Joseph Black, Herman Millet, Guido Lonardo and Deputy Grand Knight John Huddy present a check to Westborough food pantry copresidents, Phil and Donna Kitteridge.

Organizers plan annual Turkey Trot run/walks

Firefighter Brendan Palumbo (left) stands with Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey (right).

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

WEDC Coordinator discusses COVID-19 recovery program

By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer

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WESTBOROUGH - Westborough Economic Development Coordinator Zach Boughner presented on the Westborough Economic Development Committee’s (EDC) Local Rapid Recovery Program (LRRP) at a meeting of the town’s Select Board on Oct. 12.

Boughner said that he, town staff and the firm Hagerty Consulting had conducted a comprehensive review of town documents and data points and interviewed many people to inform the Westborough Recovery Program. As a result, they planned 10 projects that Boughner said would hopefully support the revitalization and economic recovery of Westborough’s downtown after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boughner said that the projects are living projects, allowing community members able to engage and let the EDC know what is and is not working.

“The intent is to come up with 10 projects, high-level road maps for implementation for areas of economic need, specifically for our downtown business area, and then to inform the design of those

Westborough’s Local Rapid Recovery program is aiming to help downtown businesses bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

projects and iterate on those projects,” Boughner said.

Boughner added that the 10 projects match well with Westborough’s recently-passed master plan. He said that at least eight of those projects are explicitly called for in the master plan process.

The projects are divided into three phases, with four projects scheduled for the first phase.

One aims to create an outdoor dining strategy and toolkit to enable more outdoor dining for the summer of 2022.

Boughner said the project would have a very minimal cost, mostly for staff time.

ARHS narrows mascot list to nine choices Mascot | from page 1

The Regional School Committee voted to retire ARHS’ mascot, the “Tomahawk,” back in May. A survey was later sent out to community members asking, in part, what should replace the mascot.

A data analysis breaking down the results indicated that the top suggested option was to keep the Tomahawk. “Thunderhawk” came in second.

Later, in September, the group received input from Native American leaders on whether Thunderhawks avoids cultural appropriation as specified in the group’s criteria for a new mascot.

The group came to the consensus that the Thunderhawks, in fact, didn’t meet the criteria, and it was removed from consideration.

“Thunder Hawk is the name

of not one but two significant Native leaders,” said Nipmuc Nation spokesperson Brittney Walley in response to the school. “This would be the same as renaming the mascot with any Native leader, and would clearly be a continued use of Native imagery. In fact, usage of the term can lead to conflating more parts of Native history.”

Before the group meets next, Lavoie said they would work to get feedback from Native American leaders about these remaining options. Additionally, the committee will work with a branding consultant to “identify the brand attributes of each [mascot].”

“The next steps are to vet this list with greater detail and ensure each mascot meets all criteria in addition to any copyright infringements,” Lavoie said.

“The spirit of this policy is to create opportunities for outdoor dining and outdoor selling for our downtown businesses which don’t have access to their own parking lot, which is currently the only way to do outdoor dining or selling in Westborough,” Boughner said.

Another phase one project will create a shared marketing program for the downtown

area. Boughner said that this strategy would help make Westborough’s downtown more of a consumer destination through the use of things like shared rewards programs for downtown businesses. He added that individuals from a number of downtown businesses had expressed the need for this type of program. The estimated budget for it was listed as $4,500.

Boughner said a third phase one project will develop an outreach and support plan for woman- and minority-owned businesses. Boughner said that this plan, which has an estimated budget of $30,000, would require diversity and inclusion consultants to help determine how to best help businesses that were among the hardest hit by the pandemic.

“We would need some technical assistance and expertise to try and really surface what kind of help and why, and where we can play a role in supporting those businesses

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which are a growing segment of our business community,” Boughner said.

The final phase one project would create an online business directory, which Boughner described as a new commercial strategy that could help bring back economic activity to the downtown. It had an estimated budget of $25,000.

Select Board member Shelby Marshall said she was very excited about the work that had been done on the Local Rapid Recovery Program.

“It’s very exciting, necessary and important, and I love the connectivity to shifting Westborough to kind of being that consumer destination,” Marshall said.

The Local Rapid Recovery Program is a state program that matches participating communities with plan facilitators who conduct analyses of the impact of COVID-19, and who help develop projects for the revitalization of downtown areas and businesses.

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10 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Southborough Selectmen remove paramedic certification requirement from fire chief’s contract

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer SOUTHBOROUGH – With a 3-2 vote, Soutborough Board of Selectmen agreed to amend Fire Chief Steven Achilles’ contract, removing the requirement he has to maintain paramedic certification throughout the duration of his contract.

Instead, Achilles will have to maintain emergency medical technician certification.

His contract expires on April 28 of next year.

In a letter, the fire chief said there were times during his two-year tenure when he had to be the primary paramedic while at the same time acting as the ranking chief officer at

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He felt that situation creates a “conflict” and said he feels he should focus on his fire chief duties.

Selectmen Chair Lisa Braccio said the matter had been discussed in executive session before being brought up at the public meeting.

An opinion from town counsel Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC, noted that the chief is responsible for the direction and control of the scene to ensure personnel is responding to the needs during an emergency.

Although the firm did not see a “conflict,” per se, it noted the board could defer to his experience of time management and the fact that other lowerlevel employees are responding to medical incidents.

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lot out of his leadership, and I don’t want to take away from that.”

Braccio said she sees the fire department as “paramedic driven,” and therefore, she said she has reservations as well. She noted that she was involved in prior negotiations of the fire chief contract and knows that the paramedic certification “was an important piece” of the agreement.

“This is not on you,” she told the chief, also praising his leadership.

The other selectmen, Martin Healey, Sam Stivers and Andrew Dennington, voted in favor of the amendment.

Selectmen and Achilles have both expressed interest in renewing his contract but have not started discussions yet.

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Town counsel said the fire chief’s request for an amendment also appeared to be related to his personal comfort level in performing paramedic duties.

Vice Chair Chelsea Malinowski said that she is uncomfortable with the fire chief dropping two levels down in certification from a paramedic to a basic EMT. She said the emergency personnel, at a minimum, have an advanced EMT certification.

However, Malinowski said that she didn’t want to downplay the fire chief’s performance in any way.

“He brings a lot of value to the fire chief position, and I think we’re seeing that in the operations of the department,” Malinowski said. “We get a

New electric chargers will be located at Shrewsbury Town Hall.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Westborough student investors support small businesses, entrepreneurs Members of the Westborough High School Microbank pose for a photo after a fundraiser at Westborough’s Homecoming festival last month.

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor WESTBOROUGH - A group of Westborough teens are giving entrepreneurs around the world a boost through the practice of microfinancing.

Now, the same group has partnered with the Westborough Economic Development Committee (EDC) to consider ways to support local businesses.

“We’ve seen a pretty good amount of results,” said Nigel Jayavendra in a recent interview.

Microbank supports entrepreneurs Jayavendra is the president of the Westborough High School Microbank. He’s joined on the group’s leadership team

by Vice President Rohan Bettadpur, Treasurer Sean Tam and Secretary Amir Hameed.

The group also includes roughly 20 consistent members who help hold fundraisers and distribute proceeds into viable investment opportunities.

Once it selects ventures to invest in, the Microbank uses a third party service known as Kiva to manage transactions and collect repayments on loans to entrepreneurs who might not otherwise have access to credit.

The Microbank currently has a portfolio of roughly $2,000 spread across three investments in Ghana and Rwanda. Loans are low interest. In some cases, they’re made with zero interest.

Microbank partners with Westborough EDC Building up the Microbank, the group has recently begun working with the Westbor-

ough Economic Development Coordinator Zach Boughner on ways to expand with more lending in Westborough itself.

That interest in helping local businesses, Jayavendra said, has grown after seeing the impact of COVID-19.

“We saw the potential for having small loans that don’t have the kind of constraints that [loans from] a traditional bank would have,” he said.

The microbank is specifi-

classmates.

They’re working on drafting a constitution to govern the club and have expressed interest in partnering with an outside financial expert to advise future students.

They want this program to continue into the future and are excited at their prospects of making that happen.

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cally looking to get involved in the EDC’s business accelerator program, among other things, to help support businesses in town.

Leadership eyes future Each of the individuals on the Westborough High School Microbank’s leadership team are seniors, this year.

As such, those members are eyeing the future of a group that they’ll soon hand off to

“Even though it’s a small group of people, we’ve been able to do a lot of work within the community as well as the global community,” Jayavendra said.

Learn more about the Microbank at https://sites. google.com/student.westboroughk12.org/whs-clubpedia/ whs-clubs/whs-microbank

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12 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Shrewsbury friends enjoy Lake Quinsigamond ‘adventure’

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor

Dee Bosma, Pat Ahern and Cyndee Plude passed under the iconic Kenneth Burns Bridge during their kayaking trip.

SHREWSBURY - A trio of Shrewsbury friends are on a mission to stay healthy and inspire others.

Last month, that drew them on a marathon kayaking trip across much of Lake Quinsigamond.

“It was really fun,” said Pat Ahern in a recent interview.

“We felt proud. All three of us.”

‘It was an adventure’ Ahern, Dee Bosma and Cyndee Plude have been friends for decades.

Ahern and Bosma worked together over long careers as nurses. Plude, a daycare provider, joined the friend group as well.

All three got involved in the sport of kayaking in different ways. Over time, they all set their sights on long trips through Lake Quinsigamond itself.

“It was an adventure,” Plude said.

Dee Bosma, Pat Ahern and Cyndee Plude recently completed a marathon kayaking trip across much of Lake Quinsigamond.

The group set out near the Oak Island Boat Ramp on the same end of Lake Quinsigamond as Route 20.

They then paddled miles north, under Route 9, the Kenneth Burns Bridge and all the way to the I-290 overpass over the far end of the lake. Then, the friends turned around and headed back.

“We just said ‘Why don’t

we just go keep going?’” Plude said of the decision to continue past their initial goal of simply reaching the Burns Bridge.

Kayaking trip prompts positive response Ahern, Bosma and Plude shared photos of their trip on Facebook.

Immediately, they said they heard comments from friends

and acquaintances who said they had been inspired to get outside.

“That was a real positive response,” Bosma said.

As they feel gratitude for opportunities to inspire others, Ahern, Bosma and Plude are, themselves, working to push through the struggle that has been life amid COVID-19.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be out in nature,” Bosma said.

“We’re all nature lovers...And we all just want to be healthy.”

“We’re all getting along in age,” she added.

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Plude, meanwhile, is on a personal quest to hike all of New Hampshire’s 48 4,000foot mountains.

She’s hoping to retire soon to spend more time in nature.

“Get out there and do it,” she said of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and physical activity. “Just do it.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 13

COMMUNITY NEWS

Westborough Select Board rejects recommendation to replace Columbus Day

By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer

By Laura Hayes, Senior Community Reporter

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

SHREWSBURY - The Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union has gifted the Shrewsbury Public Schools $40,000 to support the district’s Coordinators of Development and volunteer activities positions.

“We are here this evening to tell you that we think that is a wonderful idea,” Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union Community Relations Officer Michael Hale said of the program during an Oct. 20 School Committee meeting. “We are a mission-driven organization, and our mission is to give back to our members when we can, but also to the community at large.”

The School CommitThe Shrewsbury Public Schools recently tee formally accepted thanked the Shrewsbury Federal Credit the gift.

Union for a major donation.

Assistant Superintendent Jane Lizotte said the coordinators have helped raise large amounts of money, some of which went to updating the school district’s TV production studio. The coordinators also helped bring in $1.8 million for the turf field at Shrewsbury High School.

Hale said this gift is an extension of the private-public partnership between the credit union and the district. The Credit Union has funded “several” requested initiatives, he said.

Lizotte said Hale also joined a group of business and tradespeople last week at the high school to discuss how the school can support students throughout their high school careers as students explore school to career, trade or college opportunities.

“I never get a ‘no’ when I ask for help [from Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union],” Lizotte said.

through this process,” she wrote, in part. “On the surface of every issue there are at least two perspectives, and in some cases many. Listening to the many, diverse voices is critical to any process, but especially with respect to these types of topics for change. My practice of ‘doing the work’ and the importance of due diligence was reinforced.”

this decision does not preclude the DIC or others in the community from starting another process to change the holiday in the future.

Marshall then posted a separate statement on social media on Oct. 28 addressing questions that she said she had received since this vote on Oct. 26.

“I have learned a lot

Faiths in Tune coming to Bay State Commons WESTBOROUGH - The Interfaith Music Festival is heading to Bay State Commons on Sunday, Nov. 7 from noon to 3 p.m.

The festival, entitled “Faiths in Tune,” is presented by the Central Mass Connections in Faith and Westborough Interfaith Clergy.

“Faiths in Tune” will be held outside, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

In case of rain, the rain date is Sunday, Nov. 14.

Bay State Commons will host the Interfaith Music Festival on Nov. 7.

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both Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day. However, Marshall mentioned that the group Indigenous People’s Day in Massachusetts had explicitly told DIC that a shared day was not wanted, making it an ineffective compromise.

Johnson said that the issue, which is not part of the town’s strategic plan, town manager’s goals or the Select Board’s goals, has already taken a lot of the Board’s time and had received significant negative feedback from community members.

“Probably most importantly in my mind here is, since the first presentation, everything I’ve gotten has been against it,” Johnson said. “I have not had people reach out with explanations for it.”

A number of supporters of Columbus Day spoke at Select Board meetings on Aug. 24 and Sept. 28 after the DIC’s initial recommendation.

During this most recent meeting, Marshall said that

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough Select Board voted 3-2 against supporting a recommendation from the town’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DIC) to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day at a meeting on Oct. 26.

Select Board members Shelby Marshall, Ian Johnson and Patrick Welch voted for the motion, while members Allen Edinberg and Sean Keogh voted against it.

The motion was specifically against supporting the DIC’s recommendation. As such, Edinberg and Keogh were simply voting not to reject it.

The vote came after Select Board members discussed other options to address the issue, which has seen community members speak out both in favor of and in opposition to Columbus Day. One of the ideas proposed was the op-

tion to hold a listening session to gather community input.

“I’m not sure there’s a lot of good to come out of public listening sessions, except for potentially more division in the community,” Marshall said.

Welch said that, while he thought the Select Board would likely not hear a lot of new information in a listening session, the board had previously indicated it would hold one. The board had subsequently received requests from community members to hold such a session, Welsh said.

Keogh said he was concerned with backtracking from a listening session, although he said that having supporters and opponents in the same room might not be the best way to move forward on the issue.

“I would say I’m up in the air on it,” he said. “At this point, I would still consider having a listening session.”

There was also a discussion about the possibility of having a shared holiday for

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14 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Board of Health lifts mask mandate for Westborough Public Library

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I think, for patrons in town, it’s a bit confusing that the library was the only municipal building that this was required for.

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By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - The Westborough Board of Health voted 3-0 to revise the mask mandate for the Westborough Public Library at a meeting on Oct. 27.

While masks are still required regardless of vaccination status for those over two years old in the library’s children’s room area, vaccinated visitors elsewhere in the building are now able to remove their masks.

The previous mask mandate had been in place for the library since the board voted it into effect in late August after Westborough experienced a rise in COVID-19 cases.

“I think, for patrons in town, it’s508-366-8302 a bit confusing that the library was the only municipal building that this was required for,” said Chair of Library Trustees Mary Johnston at this most recent meeting.

See expanded coverage online at CommunityAdvocate.com.

Both dressed as astronauts, Quinn Bergh gives Madison Morrill a high-five.

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter WESTBOROUGH - Kids dressed as everything from the Big Bad Wolf to Wonder Woman hit the streets of downtown Westborough to get a jumpstart on trick-or-treating last week.

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Amy Stone takes Margo Bergh trick-or-treating.

“Westborough Main Street Trick or Treat” was held on Oct. 28. Westborough Recreation hosted the event.

For several hours, kids and their parents wandered up and down the street, gathering candy in their bags. Downtown business owners sat on their front steps, ready to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters.

“We’ve had a lot more kids than I expected,” said Westborough Public Library Assistant Library Director Lynne Soukup.

The library was one of several downtown trick-or-treating municipal stops for kids this Halloween, along with Town Hall, the Forbes Municipal Building and the Westborough Fire Station.

Earlier in the day on Oct. 28, firefighters were busy stringing up cobwebs in front of the station to get ready for trickor-treaters.

Pumpkins lined the path leading into the library as kids wandered in.

“It’s great,” Soukup said. “It’s good energy. It’s about time. We missed them.”

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

Westborough voting map would add precinct A proposed precinct map has been sent back to the state for final review.

By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH – Westborough would add an additional, sixth precinct to the west of downtown under a proposed redistricting plan approved by the Select Board on Oct. 26.

All cities and towns are required to redraw their voting districts into roughly equally-sized ones in accordance with the release of new census data every ten years.

“The additional precinct has caused a move of several streets in each precinct to balance the population in each precinct,” Town Clerk Wendy Mickel said at that Oct. 26 meeting.

This precinct would pull primarily from precincts 3, 4 and 5 to delineate an area bisected, in part, by West Main Street, according to the map approved by the Select Board.

Mickel said that the new precinct would require a budget transfer to purchase new supplies. Mickel said she planned to meet with the Westborough Advisory Finance Committee to discuss the transfer, which she estimated would total around $30,000.

This would be a one-time cost, she said, although there would be a slight

Sunset over Sandra Pond

SCREENSHOT/COURTESY TOWN OF WESTBOROUGH

increase going forward because more people would be required to work at this additional precinct.

The map that Select Board members approved last month was based on an initial proposal drawn up by state officials. It did feature one change, though, after Mickel proposed correcting a precinct line that would have divided a condominium complex at Lake Chauncy.

That line was moved to match up

with Lyman Street to correct that issue, Mickel said.

“Everything looks good and ready to go,” Mickel said on Oct. 26 as she presented that revised map.

The proposed changes were sent to the Local Election District Review Commission for final approval. New precinct maps will go into effect on Dec. 31, meaning they will impact Westborough’s town elections in March.

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16 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY BUSINESS Concierge PT owner offers timely ski season tips

MJ’s Market opens as Grafton’s first marijuana dispensary

By Sean T. Lordon

MJ’s Market celebrates its grand opening on Oct. 29 with a ribbon cutting.

Starting at $27 per person

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

REGION - Ski and Snowboard season is upon us and although both are great ways to get some outdoor exercise, it is important to be careful in both preparation and recovery.

Train your upper and lower body with bicep and wrist curls along with squats and lunges, take a few minutes to stretch out your hamstrings, quads, Dr. Sean T. Lordon back and calves to prevent injury and, at the end of a busy ski day, spend ten or fifteen minutes with a foam roller to avoid soreness the next day, paying special attention to your back, quads, hamstrings and hips. All of these exercises will help ensure a safe and fun winter season.

Dr. Sean T. Lordan is a doctor of physical therapy and the author of “11 Winning Secrets To Stop Aging In Its Tracks.” Concierge Physical Therapy has locations in both Shrewsbury and Sutton. For more information or to schedule an appointment visit www.conciergephysicaltherapy.com.

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor GRAFTON - Grafton’s first marijuana dispensary marked its grand opening on Oct. 29 with a ribbon cutting that was well attended by friends, family, investors, public officials and customers.

MJ’s market is located at 13 Centennial Drive and offers a wide array of premium cannabis products as noted on its website. The business has “Cannasseurs” on hand to help customers understand and make their purchases.

“It’s nice to see the stores starting to open up,” said State Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury) during the ribbon cutting.

Moore presented MJ’s with a pair of celebratory citations.

One came from the state Senate while the other came from the state House of Representatives on behalf of State Rep. David Muradian (D-Grafton).

The ribbon cutting was attended by everyone from Grafton Police Chief Normand Crepeau to Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeannie Hebert.

MJ’s founders and staff lined up for the ribbon cutting itself.

“There’s been a lot of people that have truly come together to make this day happen,” General Manager Mitch Gaffney told the crowd. “I can’t thank all of you enough.”

MJ’s offers a performance space for local artists in addition to on-site cultivation and manufacturing facilities.

It plans to offer tours of those spaces in addition to a number of other amenities and offerings.

Learn more at https:// mjsmkt.com.

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Dominique Jean-Pierre is the new manager of Avidia Bank’s newest location in Hudson.

HUDSON - Avidia Bank has hired Dominique Jean-Pierre as a new manager for its recently opened, newly constructed location at 196 Wash-

ington St. in Hudson.

The new branch was a result of a move from its former location at 221 Washington St. Jean-Pierre comes to Avidia from Bank of America and has eight years of management experience. Jean-Pierre is also on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of MetroWest and regularly volunteers doing deliveries for the Hudson Food Pantry.

“What brought me to Avidia is the fact that we take action to truly help the client,” Jean-Pierre said in a press release. “We call our clients because we see something wrong with the account or a fee assessed and we want to

figure out how to help them.”

“We are happy to have Dom join our team at Avidia Bank,” said Avidia President and CEO Mark O’Connell. “He brings a lot of experience, enthusiasm and that community mindset that is at the core of our values at the Bank. Dom is a great fit to lead our newest location in Hudson.”

The new Washington Street location features walk in banking, drive up banking, ATM, coin machine and interactive touchscreen technology. In addition, many of the same friendly faces Avidia customers know from the location across the street are there to serve.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 17

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

Marlborough business’ motto is love, laughter and coffee

By Jeff Theodore Contributing Writer

Coffee Loft is located at 406 Lincoln Street in Marlborough.

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

MARLBOROUGH - When Jackie Musorofi was a student at Hudson High School, one of her favorite spots to either study or chill out was the Coffee Loft in Marlborough.

One day, Musorofi, who went on to become a freshman at Mount Wachusett Community College, returned to the Coffee Loft to see a “closed” sign on the door. Alarmed, Musorofi reached out to the shop’s owner, who informed her that, since the manager had moved away, the coffee shop was now for sale.

Musorofi made up her mind to enter the coffee business that day. Four years later, as the owner of the Coffee Loft on Lincoln Street, Musorofi says there is no place she’d rather be.

“This is my dream and my life, and I want to continue doing it forever,” Musorofi said in a recent interview. “To be honest, I have been winging it

as a business owner. But I’m learning as I go, and I have a really good team.”

“My favorite part is having a relationship with my regular customers and making this a place where people feel at home,” she continued.

Maura Navin Webster, one of those Coffee Loft regular customers, said that, aside from the delicious coffee, Mu-

sorofi and her team have created a place that has a “cool vibe.”

“It’s a tiny and cozy shop that’s very welcoming and Jackie and her staff are super friendly,” said Webster, who visits the shop at least three times a week. “Every time I go there, I don’t care if it’s for 15 minutes or two hours, I always run into someone I know.”

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Musorofi and five other baristas whip up a variety of coffee and tea concoctions along with an artisan-style breakfast and lunch menu.

Among the more popular items are the Coffee Loft’s specialty lattes, especially a bee sting latte composed of honey, cinnamon, and vanilla.

“It’s ironic that is the most popular latte because bees are

a part of our logo and I love bees,” Musorofi said.

Patrons also love the fact that the Coffee Loft serves gluten-free pastries.

“Gluten-free food is becoming more of the norm but still it’s tough to find,” Musorofi said. “My customers appreciate that it’s here. I strive to make sure we have items that are liked by everybody.”

Despite facing some challenges, Musorofi said she’s thankful for support from close family members and friends to keep the coffee shop running.

What advice would Musorofi give to people contemplating opening a business?

“Make sure you love what you’re doing because it will become your life,” she says.

“Sometimes it does get tough.

But then I reflect on why I started: to provide a safe space and comfy environment.”

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Community Advocate advertisers.

18 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

Flaherty Physical Therapy celebrates Halloween

PHOTO/CHERYL ARSENAULT

NORTHBOROUGH - The staff at Flaherty Physical Therapy in Northborough celebrated Halloween early last week by dressing up as characters from the movie Toy Story on Oct. 28.

Flaherty offers a variety of services and treatments. Its Northborough office is located at 411 West Main Street in Northborough.

Flaherty also operates a second office in Hudson at 43 Broad Street.

Paradise City Arts Festival scheduled for Nov. 19 – 21 MARLBOROUGH - The Paradise City Arts Festival will be held on Nov. 19, 20 and 21 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough.

Paradise City’s award-winning show, the weekend before Thanksgiving, has been New England’s “kick off the holidays” tradition for more than twenty years.

A highly selective, beautifully curated showcase for 175 of the finest independent American artists and craft makers, this event is a “must-see” for lovers of the arts in the Greater Boston region and beyond.

Paradise City’s artists, not dependent on limited supply source chains to create their work, provide attendees with a treasure-trove of gift ideas.

Look for one-of-a-kind home furnishings, fashion, jewelry, fine art, and even stocking stuffers, in every price range, that transcend expectations.

The Paradise City Arts Festival will showcase the work of independent American artists and craft makers.

With live music in the Sculpture Café, the special exhibit “Abstract Thoughts”, and ongoing demonstrations, Paradise City keeps visitors entertained and inspired for hours.

Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Parking is free. The festival is open from

10a.m. to 5p.m. on Friday. Saturday hours run from 10a.m. to 6p.m. The festival is open on Sunday from 11a.m. to 5p.m.

See info, discounts, tickets and more at ParadiseCityArts.com Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test are required for entry. Face coverings must be worn indoors.

The Marlborough Commuter Shuttle is back in service!

REGISTER ONLINE TO RESERVE A SPOT The 12 -passenger handicap-accessible shuttle connects local commuters between three stops at the Southborough MBTA Commuter Rail, the Apex Center of New England, and the business park located at 200 Forest Street. This option provides free public transportation for those who take the train to and/or from Boston and Worcester.

Monday through Friday Morning Trips: Afternoon/Evening Trips:

6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

3:45 p.m. to 6:46 p.m.

Any questions or concerns, please contact us at 508-229-2010 or info@marlboroughedc.com

For a complete schedule and link to registration, go to marlboroughedc.com/commuter-shuttle

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 19

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

Nonprofit offers homeless, pregnant women shelter and a second chance

“

By Jeff Theodore Contributing Writer REGION - Since its opening in 2005, Visitation House has helped over 300 women in the Worcester area find their footing and move towards stability and security - overcoming homelessness while embarking on single motherhood.

The house was a mission envisioned by the late Ruth Pakaluk, a mother of seven who felt such a home was needed to assist young women with unplanned pregnancies.

Grace Cheffers, Executive Director of Visitation House, said in a recent interview that she thinks Pakaluk, who was a close friend, would be pleased about the evolution of Visitation House today.

“Ruth knew the importance of motherhood and did what she could to give mothers space to assure them that their child mattered, and they as a women mattered, too,” Cheffers said. “The work we’re doing here at Visitation House is

Grace Cheffers is the Executive Director of Visitation House.

Ruth knew the importance of motherhood and did what she could to give mothers space to assure them that their child mattered, and they as a women mattered, too.

Grace Cheffers Executive Director

continuing Ruth’s legacy.”

That work done at Visitation House requires in-depth collaboration between staff and the residents. Aside from Cheffers, the house employs a House Manager, who oversees intake, a Program Director and a Manager of Operations as well as five others who alternate covering daily shifts.

“Our goal is to help them in the moment but also to change the trajectory of their futures,” Cheffers said. “We

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strive to change how they see themselves, move past the trauma they’ve experienced, and understand how much their child will need them.”

When applying to live in the Visitation House, a 11,000-square-foot structure with 12 bedrooms, expectant mothers are interviewed and go through a background check. After entering, they gain access to a private furnished bedroom,

four communal dinners each week, daytime and evening life skills classes, housing and education support services and ongoing case management.

The 22 life skills classes incorporate the latest research in neuroscience, teaching the women tools to develop habits that will change the way they think. “ Many of the women have never lived in a home environment where they feel loved and protected,” Cheffers said.

“We aim to model that kind of environment so they can pass that along to their children.”

Cheffers estimates that it costs about $108 a day to support each expectant mother’s living expenses at the house, which can provide shelter for up to twelve women at one time. The lion’s share of the house’s operating expenses is covered by individual donors who support the mission of Visitation House.

“I know how to budget and be efficient with resources,” said Cheffers, a trained certified public accountant and a mother of 11. “I pay attention when someone reaches in their pocket to donate because I want to honor that gift and stretch donation dollars.”

For more information about Visitation House, visit https:// visitationhouse.org.

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Community Advocate advertisers.

PHYSICAL THERAPY JOIN US FOR A FREE EDUCATIONAL LOW BACK PAIN & SCIATICA WORKSHOP Thursday Nov 18 at 6 p.m. in our Hudson Office Saturday Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. in our Northborough Office

Presented by Kevin Flaherty, PT Call 508-393-9000 Today to RSVP! The presentation is capped to 15 attendees.

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20 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY SPORTS Algonquin Girls Soccer team recognized with Coaches Team Pinnacle Award

By Kevin J. Stone Contributing Writer NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH - The Algonquin Girls Soccer team beat Shrewsbury on Oct. 28 in the semifinals of the inaugural CMADA

tournament.

That, however, only came after the team won an arguably more important award earlier in the same week.

This Algonquin squad was one of 66 high school and college institutions to be named

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a United Soccer Coaches Team Pinnacle Award recipient. The award is given to programs that demonstrate a high level of fair play, academic excellence and success on the pitch.

“I’ve been a member of the United Soccer Coaches since 2010 and it’s a great organization,” said head coach John Clifford. “It’s mostly a reflection of culture. I support all of their programming whenever possible and I’ve benefited from it in more ways than I can describe.” “[It’s an] invaluable association and experience and networking [opportunity],” he continued. “Where it comes

PHOTO/JESSE KUCEWICZ

into play in the high school athlete experience is something that I feel is very important to support.”

Through this success, Algonquin has had its fair share of senior leadership in the form of Fariha Khan, Serena Mihalek, Carlee Ballard, Madison Maletta, Grace Morin and captains Caroline Kelly, Lucy Rodgers and Caroline Alcock.

The team’s captains, Clifford said, were all “big minute contributors” to the 2019 Algonquin team that won a Division I Central Massachusetts Championship. They’ve remained crucial parts of the program over the last two sea-

sons, now, since that win.

“If you don’t have players invested in your program for many years, more than a year or two, then it’s very difficult to have the continuity, never mind on the field, but off the field that you need,” Clifford said.

“The winning is downstream from the social chemistry and the culture and values that exist off the field,” he continued. “If you don’t have that, I don’t think you can sustain winning and even if you do win, it’s not as fulfilling of an experience for the players, adults, everyone involved.

They’ve been great, as have all of our seniors.”

Clifford stressed how lucky he’s been to have worked under longtime coach Scott Taggart before taking over the reins of the program himself.

“Everything I’ve said about our program results from continuing what coach [Taggart] led during his 14 years,” Clifford said. “I was fortunate to be with him for eight of those years.

“Whatever my intentions are as a coach, they would go unfulfilled without the buy-in of the players,” he continued.

“The players play the game, the students get the grades, it’s really a reflection of them.”

Westborough Volleyball claims CMADA title Volleyball | from page 1

In the interim, though, the team piled into the WHS gym early on a rainy Saturday morning for a three-team scrimmage featuring contests against Franklin and GrotonDunstable.

“Any opportunity where you can play great teams and challenge yourself and see different things [is good],” Anderson said of that opportunity.

“We want to make sure that when we get to the playoffs, we’ve seen just about everything that we can so that we don’t get surprised.”

A poster hangs taped to the gym wall, asking a question — “Who’s watching Westborough Volleyball.”

Little colored stickers dot the attached US map.

Championship banners

A Westborough volleyball player spikes the ball over the net during a scrimmage on Oct. 30 following the Rangers’ CMADA tournament win.

from years gone by hang on the gym wall.

“The level of play is really high,” Anderson said of his team in a previous interview

with the Community Advocate. “They’re really motivated to learn and get better every day.”

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 21

Legal CITY OF MARLBOROUGH OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS 01752 LEGAL NOTICE

THAT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 OF CHAPTER 40A OF THE GENERAL LAWS, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MARLBOROUGH THAT CHAPTER 650 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MARLBOROUGH, AS MOST RECENTLY AMENDED, BE FURTHER AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: 1. By amending Section 650-5, Definitions; word usage, to add the following new definition: Hobby Vehicle Storage – the warehousing, maintenance, and minor incidental and accessory repair of personal landbased passenger vehicles owned as part of a collection, provided that the vehicles shall be stored indoors in a building with a floor area not to exceed 17,000 square feet with an accessory building not to exceed a floor area of 3,000 square feet, the vehicles shall not be displayed outdoors or advertised for sale, and any maintenance or minor incidental and accessory repair shall take place indoors and shall be limited to vehicles stored at the site, any major repairs or restoration work must take place off-site, and fuel shall not be stored on-site other than the fuel tanks of the vehicles and not more than five five-gallon portable containers. No manufacturing is allowed.

2. By amending Section 650-18(36), Conditions for Uses, to read as follows: “(36) Manufacturing and/or warehousing of footwear, precision instruments, tool and die, dental, medical and optical equipment, electrical or electronic instruments, hobby vehicle storage, biomedical or biotechnology products, subject to the provisions governing biomedical research in Subsection A(33) above, provided truck loading and parking areas are effectively screened from abutting office and residential use. Oil or asphalt manufacturing is prohibited.”

APPROVED. First Reading, suspended; Second Reading, adopted; Passage to Enroll, adopted; Passage to Ordain; adopted. No objection to passage in one evening.

ADOPTED In City Council Order No. 21-1008344D Copies of the Zoning Ordinance may be examined and obtained at the Office of City Clerk.

Claims of invalidity by reason of any defect in the procedure of adoption of the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance set forth in this summary may only be made within ninety (90) days after this second publication of this summary.

Prayers A Powerful Prayer to the Holy Spirit - Holy Spirit you who solve all problems who light all roads so I can attain my goals, you who give me the divine gifts to forgive and forget all evil against me, in this short prayer to thank you for all things and confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you, even in spite of all material illusions.

I wish you in eternal glory, thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. The person must say this prayer for three consecutive days. After three days the favor requested will be granted, even if it may appear difficult. This prayer must be published immediately after the favor is granted without mentioning the favor. Only your initials shall appear on the bottom. ~ F.R.

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22 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 23

COMMUNITY OBITUARIES The Community Advocate will post obituaries online (and in print, as space allows) at no charge as a courtesy to our readers. 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 Allen, Kathy of Northborough Bleakney, Karin of Shrewsbury Busconi, Frederick of Southborough Cavanagh, Wayne of Hudson Cole, Albert of Marlborough Collins, Paul of Oxford/Grafton Doyle Richardson, Audrey of Shrewsbury Dyer, Gerald formerly of Shrewsbury Fouracre, Marsha of Northborough Fuller, Kay of Marlborough Gill, J. Edward formerly of Southborough Grenier, Patrick formerly of Westborough Grimaldo, Angelina of Shrewsbury Hummel, Gertrude of Westborough Kastler, Arlene of Northborough and Sudbury Lavigueur, Ann of Shrewsbury Lyons, Patrick of Marlborough McGovern, Alice of Marlborough Mercado, Ricardo of Marlborough Mero, Alfred of South Grafton Pond, Nancy of Westborough Reske, Patricia of Westborough Silva, Luis of Marlborough Sirignano, Sylvia of Westborough Valchuis, Anthony of Marlborough White, Donna of Shrewsbury and formerly of Westborough Wood, Patricia formerly of Westborough Wood, Christopher of Westborough

Patricia Reske, 60 WESTBOROUGH - Patricia “Trish” Reske, 60, of Westborough, MA, passed away on Friday, October 22, 2021, at her home.

Born in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of the late Stephen and Alice Cunningham and the youngest of seven siblings. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 1983 and received her Masters in Creative Writing from Harvard Extension School in 2016.

The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Sylvia Sirignano, 73 WESTBOROUGH - On Friday, October 22, 2021, Sylvia Sirignano of Westborough, MA passed away peacefully at UMass Memorial Hospital at the age of 73 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Her husband, sister, daughter, and son were by her side.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Vince; her son, Zach Wolfson, and his wife, Erin Betters; her daughter, Elissa

Schulman, and her husband, Scott Schulman; and her two granddaughters, Eleanor Morgan Wolfson and Annabel Hope Schulman. She is also survived by her brothers, David Sirignano of Saint Michaels, MD and Michael Sirignano of Waccabuc, NY, and her sister, Judith Maresca of Plymouth, MA. Her brother, Paul Sirignano, passed away in 2019.

The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

her sisters Cynthia Haskell of Westborough and Janice Dreyfus and her husband William of Webster, Debbie Mackinnon and her husband Dan of East Hampton, NJ and Denise MacDonald of Sunapee NH; a brother-in-law Dick Bliss of Westborough and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by her sister Maureen Bliss.

The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Nancy L. Pond, 71

Patrick Grenier, 30

WESTBOROUGH - Nancy L. Pond, 71, of Westborough, passed away on Friday, October 22, 2021 at UMASS Memorial Medical Center. She was the wife of the late Richard J. Pond.

Nancy was a self-employed accountant providing accounting services. She was a communicant of St. Luke the Evangelist Church, enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and loved her grand pups.

She is survived by one daughter Caitlin Jaeger and her husband James of N. Grafton;

WESTBOROUGH - Patrick Grenier, formerly of Westborough, died unexpectedly at home in San Antonio, Texas on October 17, 2021. He was born on November 15, 1990. Patrick attended Westborough schools and was a graduate of Westborough High School.

He is survived by his wife, Pilar Grenier; his beloved auntie, Colleen Ripley of Westborough; and father, Daniel Ripley of Rutland. He also leaves a brother, four sisters, and the Nute family. He leaves many

6:08 p.m. W Main St. Threats made.

Monday, Oct. 25 1:01 p.m. Whitehall Way. Burglary/ breaking & entering.

5:12 p.m. Nash St. Threats made.

Wednesday, Oct. 27 9:54 a.m. Brigham St. Trespassing.

10:50 p.m. Arrested, Paul Bradley Whitman, 56, of 71 Sears Rd., Southborough, for OUI-liquor or .08% 5th offense, negligent operation of MV, fail to stop for police, speeding/rate of speed exceeding posted limit.

10:51 p.m. W Main St. Threats made.

Thursday, Oct. 28 3:53 p.m. Turnpike Rd. MV theft.

4:38 p.m. Eli Whitney St. Threats made.

2:05 p.m. Boston Tpke./North Quinsigamond. Road hazard – trees/wires/ debris.

4:51 p.m. Arrested, Chad S. Krasnecky, 41, of 1515 Grafton Rd., Millbury, for shoplifting by asportation 3rd offense, trespass.

Sunday, Oct. 24 8:52 a.m. Maple Ave. Road rage.

4:35 p.m. Arrested, Amy Lynn Farro, 37, of 10 Auburn St., Apt. 2, Worcester, on warrant.

6:22 p.m. Main St. B&E motor vehicle.

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.

Grafton

Sunday, Oct. 17 1:17 a.m. Arrested, Kristin M. Donovan, 33, of 4 Captain Peter Simpson Rd., Millbury, for OUI-liquor or .08% 2nd offense, negligent operation of MV. Tuesday, Oct. 19 11:23 a.m. Adams/Old Westboro Rds. Accident – personal injury.

12:13 p.m. Upton St./Meadowbrook Rd. Road hazard.

1:57 p.m. Main St. Vandalism.

Wednesday, Oct. 20 9:42 a.m. Wesson St. Vandalism.

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

Thursday, Oct. 21 9:13 a.m. Providence Rd. Fraud/ identity theft.

1:39 p.m. Providence Rd. Harassment.

7:04 p.m. Main St. Fireworks.

Friday, Oct. 22 2:42 a.m. Arrested, Stefan R. Giroux, 33, of 186 Wheelock Ave., E Millbury, for OUI-liquor or .08%, failure to stay within marked lanes, negligent operation of MV. Saturday, Oct. 23 10:14 p.m. Old Westboro Rd. Fire – structure.

Westborough

Tuesday, Oct. 19 10:28 a.m. W Main St. Larceny.

1:10 p.m. E Main St. Larceny.

2:48 p.m. Eli Whitney/W Main Sts. Accident property damage.

Wednesday, Oct. 20 1:25 a.m. Arrested, Ian M. Counihan, 35, of 44 Summer St., Quincy, on warrant.

3:08 p.m. W Main St. Larceny.

Friday, Oct. 22 9:02 a.m. Arrested, Julie A. Wing, 49, of 21 Mill St. Central, Marlborough, for op MV with license suspended, possess Class A drug, possess Class E drug.

Shrewsbury

Thursday, Oct. 21 8:33 a.m. Commons Dr. Harassment.

10:59 a.m. Worthington Ave. Vandalism.

Friday, Oct. 22 6:14 a.m. Hartford Tpke. Assaults.

6:49 a.m. Hartford Tpke. B&E commercial.

3:42 p.m. Elizabeth St. Threats.

7:42 p.m. Point Rd. Harassment.

Saturday, Oct. 23 11:54 a.m. Vista Dr. Identity theft.

Northborough

Wednesday, Oct. 20 8:55 a.m. Green St. Accident: P.I. 12:37 p.m. Washington Rd. Fraud.

4:43 p.m. Belmont St. Larceny.

Thursday, Oct. 21 1:26 p.m. Pond View Way. Fraud.

Friday, Oct. 22 12:54 p.m. Southwest Cut. Larceny.

Saturday, Oct. 23 11:29 a.m. Ball St. Vandalism.

7:55 p.m. Arrested, Michelle E. Spirito, 41, of 20 Crestwood Dr., Northborough, for negligent operation of MV, OUIliquor or .08%, marked lanes violation.

Tuesday, Oct. 26 1:18 p.m. Shops Way. Accident: PED/ BIC.

aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

A memorial will be held at a later date and will be posted.

Frederick A. Busconi, 84 SOUTHBOROUGH - Frederick Anthony Busconi (84) of Southborough, Massachusetts passed away after a brief illness on October 12, 2021.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Inez T (Piotti) Busconi and their four children, Dr. Brian D. Busconi and his wife Karolyn (Welsh) of Hopkinton, MA, Professor Collene E. Thaxton and her husband Edgar of Groton, MA, Attorney Scott Frederick Busconi of Southborough, MA and Alicia Busconi Lynch and her husband Ryan of South Berwick, ME; his loving sister, Ellen Ann Kluge and her husband Boudewyn of Southborough, MA; his four grandchildren he cherished, Liam and Aidan Busconi and Gregory and Katie Thaxton as well as his many nieces and nephews, extended family and grand Labrador retrievers. He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony J and Mary V. Busconi and his brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Elizabeth Busconi.

Kathy A. Allen, 62 NORTHBOROUGH - Kathy A. Allen 62, of Northborough, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester. Born in Rochester, Minnesota, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Ethel (Leitzen) Allen.

She is survived by two sons, Jarrett Rehbein of Northborough and Carter Rehbein of Shrewsbury; four brothers, David Allen of S. Dakota, Michael Allen of Minnesota, Richard Allen of Kansas and Thomas Allen of Minnesota; one sister, Nancy Larsen of Minnesota; her former husband, Carl Rehbein and nieces and nephews.

The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

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

24 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Shrewsbury paraprofessionals hold rally amid contract negotiations Supporters hold signs along Maple Avenue during a recent rally held by the Shrewsbury Paraprofessionals Association.

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - Supporters stood along Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury on Oct. 27, holding signs that read “honk for fair wages” and “we are worth more.”

The rally was held by the Shrewsbury Paraprofessionals Association (SPA), whose negotiations with Shrewsbury Public Schools (SPS) are currently in mediation.

During the rally, SPA President Noreen Christie said the union was fighting for a living wage.

“I’ve worked for the district for 16 years, and in 16 years, they’ve given me $5 and some change. … I deserve more. You deserve more,” Christie said.

The SPA’s agreement expired in August. The paraprofessionals have been working under their old contract since then.

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

The most recent agreement with SPA provided to the Community Advocate by the district indicated that, in the 2020-2021 school year, step one degreed and non-degreed aides were paid $14.95 an hour. Personnel

at the highest step, step six, were paid $18.84 an hour.

In the past, the School Committee has said that their most recent proposal for year one and three cost of living increases were greater than two percent.

In year two, the proposal called for between a four and 10 percent wage increase, the committee said.

Christie noted to the Community Advocate that a two percent increase at the top step

of $18.84 amounted to $0.38 an hour.

Christie was joined by Massachusetts Teachers Association, Rep. David LeBoeuf (DWorcester) and the Shrewsbury Education Association (SEA).

SEA President Gary Chalmers said the teachers were behind the paraprofessionals.

“I have had the honor and the pleasure to work with many of you standing here over my 33 years here in Shrewsbury,” Chalmers said. “I know that I could not do my job without the support of all of you.”

“Day in and day out, you have my back, and you are there for the kids,” he continued. “I appreciate you, and I will stand here with you for as long as we have to get you what you deserve.”

Katie Monopoli is a paraprofessional at Parker Road Preschool. She also works other Paraprofessionals | 25

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021 • 25

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Westborough Schools Superintendent, Board of Health discuss masking in schools

By Stuart Foster Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - Westborough Superintendent Amber Bock discussed the possible implementation of a flexible masking policy for the Westborough High School (WHS) and Gibbons Middle School with the Board of Health on Oct. 27.

Board of Health members expressed a variety of opinions during that discussion.

“We know masks protect both parties,” said Board of Health member Melissa Mahr.

“With winter coming and more gatherings going inside, holiday season, we’re likely going to see increased transmission.”

Mahr recommended waiting to change the policy until elementary school children ages five through 11 can be vaccinated.

She also recommended waiting until Westborough’s case incidence rate drops below 10 and waiting until there are more vaccinated students and teachers.

Bock presented data at the meeting showing that WHS has

an 85 percent COVID-19 vaccination rate, while Gibbons has an 82 percent rate. Both schools each have three unvaccinated faculty members, she said.

Board of Health Chair Nathan Walsh said that, while an 85 percent vaccination rate in WHS is good, it is not good enough to recommend a transition to a flexible masking policy.

Walsh said that indoor spaces where people are in close proximity to each other for more than 15 minutes, like schools, present a particular risk for COVID-19 transmission.

“That’s kind of the situation where I would view that as risky, and they should be wearing masks,” Walsh said.

Board of Health member Alan Ehrlich offered his comments, saying that he thought the School Committee and Superintendent are in a good position to determine whether a transition to flexible masking is appropriate.

Ehrlich described the risk of COVID-19 transmission as one factor in the decision of

whether or not to implement flexible masking policies. He said that other considerations, like student anxiety over wearing masks, are relevant.

“As long as we’re carefully monitoring the situation, I don’t think it’s reckless to go in that direction,” Ehrlich said.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provides waivers to implement flexible masking for schools that meet certain vaccination benchmarks. Bock said WHS and Gibbons have received such waivers.

At a School Committee

meeting on Oct. 20, though, Bock noted that Westborough Public Schools would not move forward with such a policy until moving forward with a “thoughtful process.”

Read expanded coverage online at CommunityAdvocate. com.

Shrewsbury paraprofessionals hold rally amid contract negotiations Paraprofessionals | from page 24

jobs in the extended day program at Calvin Coolidge School, and as a fitness instructor, dance teacher and elderly companion.

“That’s five jobs that I work every week to make ends meet,” Monopoli said.

She said the district has sent emails about how the mental health of staff and students is important to the district.

But mental health can’t be addressed without examining the causes of stress, Monopoli said.

“For a large amount of people

I know, myself included, financial instability is a leading cause of mental health issues,” she said.

Monopoli said that one way to assist people is by paying staff a “fair” wage, so people don’t burn out by working multiple jobs.

“We love our jobs,” Christie said. “We love our students. We love our teachers. We love each other. Let’s show them. Let’s be together on this.”

The Community Advocate contacted School Committee Chair Jon Wensky seeking any

updates to a previous statement by committee on this matter.

Wensky said the committee did not have any updates and referred back to that statement, which was made on Oct. 5 “The School Committee has had open, honest and transparent discussions with the SPA negotiating team based on accurate information and facts,” it said. “We value our relationship with this important team and are disappointed that we have not been able to reach a contract agreement during negotiation discussions.”

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Focused on Excellence In Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Care Call us today for a tour!

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28 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 5, 2021

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