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HOMES MORE& Girl Scouts to help build pollinator garden at Shrewsbury’s Dean Park

Drone photography shows Dean Park in Shrewsbury, where girls scouts will soon work to plant flowers for a new pollinator garden.

By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor SHREWSBURY - Dean Park in Shrewsbury is getting a new garden of pollinator-friendly plants thanks to a grant and the help of local Girl Scout Troop 30993.

Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation’s Keep Shrewsbury Beautiful is a local chapter of the larger Keep Massachusetts Beautiful organization. They recently received a “Plant Something Bee-eautiful” Grant to help plant a new pollinator garden.

These grants, worth $250, specifically support the planting of pollinator-friendly plants and trees in public spaces.

Shrewsbury Superintendent of Public Facilities and Parks Angela Snell recently met with members of Troop 30993 to tell them about the grant.

“I look forward to working with the troop to plant new pollinator plants this spring which will help Keep Shrewsbury Beautiful,” she said.

The Troop, under the guidance of Colleen Corbett, already began working on their pollinator garden earlier this year. They collaborated with Missy Hollenback of the Worcester Environmental Community Agricultural Network and will work with Hollenback further as they select plants for the project.

Outside of Shrewsbury, Keep Massachusetts Beautiful has distributed nine other grants this year after receiving 24 applications.

Locally, Marlborough was one of those other winners as it will soon add a similar pollinator garden at Ghiloni Park. Conservation Commission member Karin Paquin helped coordinate an application.

“Native bees are on the decline, and our current urban and suburban landscaping practices are eliminating many native plants that support our native bee populations,” Conservation Officer Priscilla Ryder wrote in a letter to the City Council helping announce that grant win.

“This demonstration garden will help to educate the public about what plants to add to their own landscapes to help support native bees,” the letter continued.

PHOTO/TAMI WHITE

A bumble bee climbs into a flower at in Northborough earlier this year. Nearby Shrewsbury will soon have its own pollinator garden at Dean Park thanks to a grant.

PHOTO/COURTESY SANDY HOWARD

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COMMUNITY NEWS Northborough Town Planner will retire at the end of the year

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter NORTHBOROUGH – Longtime Northborough Town Planner Kathy Joubert announced her retirement during a Dec. 7 Planning Board meeting.

That marked her last meeting with the Planning Board.

“I think most people have heard,” Joubert said. “Once you start talking about it, it spreads faster than you can get ahead of it, but it’s all a good thing.”

Her last day will be Dec. 31. She has worked in the public sector since she finished graduate school and has been in Northborough for over 30 years.

“I think it’s just in my blood

SCREENSHOT/VIA TOWN OF NORTHBOROUGH

Inspector of Buildings Bob Frederico applauds as Kathy Joubert announces her retirement in a meeting with the Northborough planning board.

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to work with the public and volunteers,” she said. “It’s been wonderful being here in Northborough and working with the Planning Board and all of the other boards. I absolutely appreciate all of the work that you do.”

She received the Northborough Rotary Club’s Pride in Workmanship award back in 2016.

Both of her parents were avid volunteers, and her father was a public servant for the Town of Shrewsbury, the Community Advocate noted at the time.

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“I still love getting up every morning and coming to work,” Joubert said at the Rotary event. “I still love my job.”

She also serves as staff liaison for other Northborough boards, like the Zoning Board of Appeals. She joked that, once retired, she will be free from night meetings.

“I don’t even know what’s that going to be like,” Joubert said.

The board joked that she can still watch their meetings on TV.

Inspector of Buildings Bob Frederico applauded following Joubert’s announcement. Town Engineer Fred Litchfield pretended to cry.

The Planning Board thanked Joubert and wished her the best.

“It’s hard to believe,” said Planning Board member Amy Poretksy. “It won’t be the same.”

Planning Board member Michelle Gillespie said Joubert is “truly admired” throughout Massachusetts as a town planner.

“It’s a huge loss to the Town of Northborough, but you’ve certainly worked hard and you deserve this,” Gillespie said. “I would just say, she’s on the same level as [Town Administrator] John Coderre for his fiscal responsibility throughout the state. People truly admire Kathy and what she’s done. You will be missed.”

Joubert said Coderre’s office has advertised for the position.

“Hopefully, it won’t be too long before the position is filled and you’ll have another person to work with,” Joubert said.