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School Committee interviews final candidates for superintendent job

HUDSON – As the School Committee wraps up the interviews for the next superintendent of the Hudson Public Schools, the committee is slated to make a decision on March 28 after the Community Advocate goes to press.

The five candidates for superintendent are Jannell Pearson-Campbell, Daniel Riley, Brian Reagan, Alexandra McNeil and June Saba-Maguire.

This issue of the Community Advocate includes articles from the committee’s interview with Reagan (see Page 6), Saba-Maguire (see Page 9) and McNeil (see Page 22).

For breaking coverage of who the School Committee taps as the next superintendent, visit communityadvocate.com or check out next week’s paper.

The new superintendent will replace Marco Rodrigues, who announced that he planned to retire in June. Rodrigues joined the district in 2017.

Running for Children’s Hospital

By Sarah Freedman Contributing Writer

HUDSON — This year, Hudson resident Allison Towne will be competing in the Boston Marathon.

The race marks a lifelong goal for her and even crosses an item off her bucket list.

“This is my first time running the Boston Marathon, and I’m so excited to be a part of it,” Towne said.

While Towne loves to run, she is not just participating to fulfill a goal. She will be raising money for the Boston Children’s Hospital, a place that is very special to her because of her son, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when he was three.

“Boston Children’s is near and dear to my heart,” she said. “Boston Children’s has been at the forefront of managing my son’s disease

Urban Affairs Committee approves site plans for 57 Main St.

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – Plans for a mixed-use development at the former Rowe Funeral Home, 57 Main St., took one step forward on March 23.

After nearly two hours of discussion, the City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee voted 3-2 to approve the site plan put forth by the applicant,

JW Capital Partners LLC.

Councilors Donald Landers, Laura Wagner and David Doucette voted for approval, while councilors Sean Navin and Kathleen Robey, the committee’s chair, voted against.

Much of the discussion revolved around parking for the proposed development. Current plans call for 99 units – mainly studio

Hudson resident Allison Towne will be competing in Boston Marathon this year to raise funds for the Boston Children’s Hospital.

The Town of Westborough is planning to dedicate its new monument in Minuteman Park on Saturday, April 15, 2023. That monument honors the 101 men of Westborough who marched in response to the Lexington Alarm of April 19, 1775.

COMMUNITY NEWS

WESTBOROUGH –

letters to the editor

Many of the men’s names on the monument are familiar to current residents because we drive on streets in the town named after them: Bowman, Maynard, Warren, Belknap, Fay, Adams, Brigham, Parkman. Oher names have connections to Westborough history: Rice, Gale, Whitney, Harrington.

Knowing that some families in Westborough have direct ties to men named on the monument, the Town would like to invite all families with such ties to attend the dedication ceremony.

If your family had ancestors living in Westborough in 1775, check out the monument in Minuteman Park to see if your family name is on the monument. It is located on the entrance path going towards Sandra Pond just beyond the 1975 Bicentennial Commission monument.

Alternatively, check out the Town’s website at https://www.westborougharchive.org/minuteman-park-monument-2022/. The names on the monument are in the same order as on the muster rolls from which the men were paid for their service. To facilitate searches,

an alphabetical list of names has been added as No. 9 to the collection of records relating to the monument. You can view the list directly at https://www.westborougharchive.org/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2023/02/02-09-23-Alphabeticallisting.pdf.

Then, if you have a family tie to any of the men on the monument, send a message by email to militiamonument@ gmail.com, outlining the connection so your name can be added to the Town’s invitation list. Alternatively, write to Trustees of Soldiers’ Memorials, 34 West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581 with this information.

The Westborough Lions Club will be hosting its third annual Rubber Duck Derby at the Mill Pond Spillway on Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m.

The event will raise funds for a $1,000 scholarship for a graduating high school senior who resides in Westborough and attends Westborough High School, Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School or is home schooled.

These funds will also support the club’s other charitable endeavors, including eye research and diabetes camps for children.

Those wishing to adopt ducks and participate in all the fun can do so at http://westborolionsrubberduckderby. weebly.com/. Ducks cost one for $10, three for $25, and more in increments of three. Specialty ducks representing

your occupation, hobbies or interests can also be adopted for $30 each on the website.

This will be an in-person event, and everyone is encouraged to come out and cheer on the ducks as they race down the spillway. The derby will also be available for viewing on Facebook Live. Westborough TV will rebroadcast the event at a later date as well.

David A. Nourse on behalf of the Westborough Trustees of Soldiers’ Memorials

The new monument stands in Minuteman Park.

Duckies, take your marks! The Lions Club will be running the annual derby on April 15.

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

Legion delivers socks to local veterans

OVER TOP THE

WESTBOROUGH – Drone photography shows the ongoing construction of the Amazon Robotics facility in Westborough. Amazon Robotics sits on 50 Otis Street. Plans approved by the Planning Board last spring call for a 100,000-square-foot building that will be a companion research and development facility to the work being done at Amazon Robotics.

The Community Advocate’s Policy on Letters to the Editor

All letters should be 350 words or less. Letters should be emailed to news@communityadvocate.com and managingeditor@communityadvocate.com or mailed to Managing Editor, Community Advocate, 32 South St. Westborough MA 01581. Letters must have the name, address and phone number of the person submitting it (only name and town will be printed.) Letters will be reviewed and printed at the discretion of the Editor as they are deemed suitable and as space allows. Letters that contain personal attacks will not be printed. Opinions expressed in the letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Community Advocate or its advertisers.

WESTBOROUGH – A Westborough resident recently donated three packages of Bombas socks (25 pairs) to the police, which in turn passed them onto the American Legion.

The Legion’s Paul Horrigan and John Gallinagh delivered them to veterans residing at the Highlands, The Beaumont and the Westborough Nursing Home.

CORRECTION: An article regarding the Shrewsbury election in the March 24 edition stated that Rajesh Uppalapati was the president of the Beal PTO; Rachel L. Sharifipour is the president. Additionally, an article in the Marlborough Hudson edition regarding a turtle crossing sign incorrectly stated that Select Board member Shawn Sadowski’s wife is a certified lab technician; she is a certified veterinary technician. The Community Advocate regrets these errors.

Vintage

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Vintage, or label date, is the year in which grapes were picked and made into wine. Weather is the most common cause of variation in the quality and quantity of the grapes produced for harvest from the same vineyard. Insufficient rainfall, too much rainfall, and rain at the wrong time can interfere in crop production. A drenching rain just before harvest swells the grapes and dilutes their flavor, while too little rain results in concentrated juice from a smaller crop. The difference between one vintage and another is basically the variation in weather conditions during the growing seasons. In regions where weather varies greatly from year to year, the quality of the wine can range from satisfactory to exceptional. There are fun ways to learn about wines, such as visiting wineries (or their websites), talking with wine professionals, and tasting as much as possible. The wine team at J ULIO’S LIQUORS works together to hand select each wine helping us provide the highest level of customer service. We work hard to cultivate a selection that expresses our personality and passions while still offering the gambit of styles to please our customers. Please call 508-366-1942 for more information, or visit us at 140 Turnpike Rd., Rt. 9 East

HINT: Wines that are a blend of grape varietals and harvests do not exhibit dramatic swings in quality from year to year.

If you like our Un-cork’d article every week, check out our radio show & podcast –It’s

The Liquor Talking

Live show every Saturday, 11 am on WCRN AM830

itstheliquortalking.com

Or catch rebroadcasts on WCRN AM830 every weekday at 7 pm after Howie Carr! You can also pick and choose episodes on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

DON’T MISS OUR AD ON PAGE 7

PHOTO/TAMI WHITE

Ryan Maloney, owner

Members of the American Legion post recently distributed socks to local veterans.

Easter Egg Hunt returns to Ward Park, schools celebrate International Women’s Day

him. Arriving at Ward Park as early as 11:30 would not be a bad idea as things move swiftly once the hunt begins.

Ward Park is in downtown Marlborough. Park at the Marlborough Senior Center on New Street, or at the Bigelow School, Orchard Street. Admission is free.

is happening in the city on Saturday, April 8, as the Easter Bunny is hopping into Marlborough as the Marlboro Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3565 annual Easter Egg Hunt gets underway at noon at Ward Park.

As in past years, hundreds of children are expected to attend and quickly pick up some 22,000 colorful plastic Easter eggs filled with candy. Always held the day before Easter, the Easter Bunny will bring costumed characters along with

YOUR FAVORITE Greek pastries, homemade by members of Saints Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, 9 Central St., will be available at the Greek Bake Sale on Saturday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (the day before Easter). Also, enjoy coffee and a pastry in the café.

DURING the month of March, International Women’s Day was celebrated and the Marlborough Public Schools recognized the incredible contributions of women all around the world, including Marlborough’s very own Superintendent of Schools Mary Murphy.

In her first year as superintendent, Mary has already made a significant impact on

Marlborough Public Schools. However, her dedication and service to the district spans over 20 years, serving in various roles throughout the school system. Her unwavering commitment to ensuring that all students have access to an excellent education is an inspiration to us all. She was thanked for her

Left: An Easter Egg Hunt, presented by the Marlboro Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3565, will be held Saturday, April 8, at noon, at Ward Park. Admission is free. In the photo, with a look from 2013, Kevin Spacek, with his parents Kate and Mark Spacek, meets the Easter Bunny.

incredible leadership and for being a role model for women in education.

THE SONG “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” brings us back to the musical ‘70s. The Marlborough version of this popular song, recorded by the group Chicago, could

Above: During the month of March, International Women’s Day was celebrated and the Marlborough Public Schools recognized the incredible contributions of women all around the world, including Marlborough’s very own Superintendent of Schools Mary Murphy.

be, “Does anybody really know about a time capsule that may still be at the former Freeman School?” Questions about the Time Capsule, buried in 1976, are circling. If you have any information about this, please contact Maureen Sullivan, maureen@ communityadvocate.com

GLANCE | 5

PHOTO/MARY WENZEL

FOR AN AMAZING concert festival, the Marlborough Public Schools is hosting its first-ever StringFest, featuring all 5-12 grade orchestra students, on Thursday, April 6, at the Whitcomb Middle School. Students will have a dress rehearsal after school, followed by a pizza dinner, and then the concert at 6 p.m. With about 190 students participating, it’s going to be a spectacular event.

MARLBOROUGH Police

Officer Robert Bonina recently retired after serving the Marlborough Police Department for 32 years and 10 months. Officer Bonina first joined the department in 1990 and served as reserve officer until he was appointed in 1993 as a fulltime police officer. During his time, his various roles included Dispatcher, Patrol Officer, Detective, CEMLEC SWAT Operator/Negotiator, Field Training Officer and Youth Academy Instructor.

Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your service Officer Bonina.

THE construction of Marlborough’s new Deck Hockey rink is underway at Ghiloni Park.

THE CITYWIDE ART SHOW is coming up on April 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Whitcomb Middle School. Come and celebrate the incredible creativity of talented K – 12 students as they showcase their unique works of art. This is a great opportunity to support the young artists and appreciate their hard work and dedication.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

March 31 – Shirley Sinacole and Toni Wolf

April 1 – April Fool’s Day, John Haesche and Cheryl Hunt

April 3 – Liz Mahoney

April 7 – Julie Dalbec

April 8 – Dori Feeney

April 10 – Leona Keefe, Margaret Dwyer and Mary Wenzel

April 12 – Michael Hogan

April 13 – Bob Turner

Send items for “Marlborough at a Glance” to Mary Wenzel at marysampler@verizon.net.

MARLBOROUGH – The Marlborough Police Department will be hosting its fourth annual youth academies this summer.

The dates of the academy are scheduled for the week of June 26-30, with a second week scheduled for July 31-Aug. 4. The academy will run daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The academy is free of charge, and a T-shirt and hat will be provided. Students will be required to bring their own lunch Monday through Thursday.

The academy will be accepting applications for students going into the seventh or eighth grade in the fall of 2023. Applications will be accepted starting April 1, and they will be available on the Marlborough Police Department website www.marlborough-ma.gov/ marlborough-police-department.

Applications also may be picked up in the front lobby of the Marlborough Police Station or from Whitcomb

The Marlborough Police Department will host its fourth annual youth academies this summer.

School Resource Officer Ryan Braswell. Applications may be submitted via email to Officer Borden Wicks or dropped off in person at the main lobby of the police station.

Preference will be given to Marlborough residents.

Topics covered will include criminal law and procedure, motor vehicle law, CPR/first responder, public speaking, team building, drug recognition, SWAT, firearm simulator and K9 demonstration. Students

will also participate in physical training each morning.

There are a limited number of seats available for the academy, so students are encouraged to sign up promptly.

Any questions, please contact one of the department’s community policing officers: Officer Borden Wicksbwicks@marlborough-ma. gov, 508-485-1212, ext. 36844 Officer Keith Moro –kmoro@marlborough-ma. gov, 508-485-1212, ext. 36835.

plan, stormwater bylaw get Town Meeting approval

Westborough TM | from page 1

“We truly appreciate the positive vote at Town Meeting,” said Library Director Maureen Amyot. “This has been a completely transparent process from the beginning and will continue to be so. The work is critical to preserving and maintaining one of our town’s treasures. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

The study will help “get us a complete picture” of what needs to be done, said Building Committee member Bob Petrucelli.

While fixing the roof and windows will remain a high priority, the study will also take a look at the 1980 addition. Under the previous effort to expand and renovate the library, the addition was going to be torn down. With the repair project, the emphasis will be on how to best use the space.

It was also a big day for the Department of Public Works, as all the articles it sponsored were approved.

This included a 102-81 vote in favor of establishing a Stormwater Utility Bylaw.

DPW Director Chris Payant said the bylaw and the enterprise fund it will create is needed.

“There’s a whole bunch of stuff that has to be paid for,” said Payant.

A stormwater utility would be the most equitable way to generate funds, he said.

He estimated that $1.5 million would be needed annu-

The Department of Public Works had all of its articles approved at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 25, at Westborough High School. This included a plan to replace culverts at Bowman Lane and the design of culvert replacements at the intersection of Morse Street and Upton Road.

ally for operations and maintenance; MS4 permit compliance; and capital improvements.

The stormwater utility enterprise fund would operate similar to a water/sewer enterprise fund. Fees generated from residential and commercial users would be used to maintain the town’s network of stormwater drains, catch basins, etc.

With the approval of the bylaw, Town Meeting then

approved Article 28, a transfer of $150,000 from free cash for startup funds.

A look at the other articles

Most of the articles on the warrant passed with substantial majorities, including the operating budget and capital improvement plan.

Three articles sponsored by Westborough Public Schools were approved — the 2024 fiscal year budget request for $63,539,476; a $504,000 request toward design and engineering work to replace 80,000 square feet of the roof at Hastings Elementary School; and $132,000 toward design plans to restore the roof at Mill Pond Elementary School.

The Hocomonco Pond Reuse Committee will get $30,820 from free cash to create bid documents toward creating passive recreation at the site.

The committee will also pursue other funding sources, such as a grant program through the University of Connecticut for technical assis -

tance.

“I feel the technical assistance could give us more guidance,” said Shelby Marshall, the Select Board’s representative to the committee.

She added that UConn would conduct a full site assessment should the grant application be approved.

Two articles failed to win Town Meeting support — a request to move Fall Town Meeting from a Monday to a Saturday in October; and a nonbinding citizens petition to have the town abandon the Climate Action Plan.

Other notes from Town Meeting

Jim Robbins, who is retiring as town planner as of March 31, received a standing ovation on the Town Meeting floor.

“It’s very difficult to sum up a 30-year career in just a few words,” said Planning Board Chair Mark Silverberg. “Jim cares about zoning and parking … most of all, Jim cares about the town of Westborough.”

PHOTO/MAUREEN SULLIVAN

Hudson ballot to feature contested races for Select Board, School Committee

By Laura Hayes Managing Editor

HUDSON – Hudson voters will have to decide between candidates in contested races for Select Board, School Committee and Municipal Light Board.

Nomination papers for the election were due on March 20.

Scott Duplisea, who is currently serving as chair on the Select Board, is seeking another term. He will face off against challenger Herman Kabakoff.

Three people are running for two, three-year terms on the School Committee: Erica Ankstitus, Nicholas Martino and Steven Sharek. Sharek was appointed to the School Committee last July to fill the remainder of Adam Tracy’s term.

For the Municipal Light Board, Lawrence Charles Fine is challenging Justin Provencher for a three-year term on the board. Tony Buscemi and Allyson O’Malley are running for a seat on the Board of Health.

There are several uncontested races.

Richard Harrity is seeking another term as town moderator, Sarah Cressy is seeking re-election to the Housing Authority, Michael Peckham is running for another term

Hudson schools to host wellness fair

HUDSON – Hudson Public Schools families and students and the broader community are invited to attend the Multicultural Health and Wellness Fair.

The fair, which is free, will take place Tuesday, April 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hudson High School.

In addition to raffles, food and music, the fair will feature a vaccine clinic, dental and vision screenings and information and services related to health insurance, family and housing assistance, and mental health, immigration and visa, food and community resources.

The fair will also feature local businesses and restaurants as well as a clothing drive.

For more information, contact Allyson O’Malley at alomalley@hudson.k12.ma.us.

as constable and incumbent Thomas Desmond is hoping to be elected to another term as a library trustee.

Additionally, David Daigneault is seeking re-election to the Planning Board, as is Nelson Luz Santos to the Cemetery Commission. In other uncontested races, Brian Bowen is vying for another term on the Board of Assessors,

and William Charbonneau is running for re-election to the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School Committee.

Diane Buchanan is running for another term as a trustee of Susan Cox, Joseph S. Bradley, J. J. Angell, Sarah A. Brown, George E.D. and Abigail A. Wilkins, Addie E. Cahill, Helen M. Lewis, Mary E. Tacey Maude A. Whitney, Clara E. Hough-

ton, Martin Joseph Moran, III Funds.

Candidates have until April 5 to withdraw their nomination papers.

The election will be May 8. The last day to register to vote for this election is April 21. For more information on the election, visit https://www. townofhudson.org/townclerk.

Former Hudson High principal interviews for superintendent job

Reagan | from page 6

office, Reagan said.

“The no surprises mode is obviously the best way to go,” Reagan said.

The public presentations of the budget would then begin.

“I want to be as transparent as possible and upfront and answer those questions as they come in so that they don’t bubble up, and you can squelch any rumors or any rumors that might be out there,” Reagan said.

He said there were two themes in regards to struggles the district is facing.

One concern is the budget as federal dollars and COVID-19 relief funds are disappearing, creating a “funding cliff,” as Reagan described it, which has been shared by other superintendents. He said the concern is for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

The other theme is in regards to building a positive and strong district climate and

Dek hockey rink scheduled to open in spring

culture. He said this includes strengthening relationships.

Reagan said he looks forward to a challenge like that.

“That, to me, is all about relationship building and making connections with people,” Reagan said. “That’s at the foundation of my leadership style.”

He said his leadership style is grounded in collaboration.

“I do not really want to be the one that’s out front unless I have to be. I am much more comfortable being part of a team,” Reagan said.

He said his approach is doing more listening than talking and being either with or right behind the crowd to push then along.

“If I need to be in front, leading that moment, then that’s where I’ll go. I’m comfortable doing that,” Reagan said. “But, I like letting the others showcase the work they have done as well and feel very good being a part of that process.”

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – The Dek hockey rink at Ghiloni Park off Concord Road is starting to take shape.

Recreation Department Program Manager Joe Mulvey said an opening date has yet to be announced.

The rink is scheduled to open sometime this spring.

Instead of skates and pucks, Dek, or street, hockey is played with sneakers, tennis balls, knee pads, gloves and a plastic-blade stick.

The project is a collaboration between the Recreation Department and the mayor’s office.

“I had discussed this project with Bobby Butler prior to COVID, and the city is now able to get this project done,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant. “I think our

Work continues on the Dek hockey rink at Ghiloni Park. However, the opening date of the rink has yet to be announced.

youth will get a lot of enjoyment out of the Dek hockey rink.” Butler is a resident and Marlborough High alum who played for several teams in the National Hockey League, including the Ottawa Senators. He is currently playing for the Worcester Railers.

For updates and information on programs, visit https:// mrd.recdesk.com/Community/ Page?pageId=14499.

Full Service Tree Removal Company

All

PHOTO/MAUREEN SULLIVAN

Saba-Maguire shares experiences in budget development and language programs

By Sarah Freedman Contributing Writer

HUDSON – After spending a day in Hudson and exploring the schools, Dr. June SabaMaguire shared her first impression of the Hudson School District.

Saba-Maguire, who is one of the five finalists for the superintendent position, was interviewed by the School Committee March 22.

She said she had “an affinity” for the Dual Language Program as it was a vibrant example of Hudson’s investment in that area of education.

Her father was half-Puerto Rican, half-Greek and spoke Spanish, but the language was not spoken at home. She said she felt the impact of not fully realizing that part of her background, a loss she discovered later in life.

“I truly value the importance of developing a second language,” she said.

She discussed welcoming families in a way that they can maintain a sense of value in their own language and diversity. The fact that members of her own family did not fully celebrate their unique background has resonated with her in her career.

“So I truly support the work that you’re doing in Hudson,” Saba-Maguire said.

Saba-Maguire’s career

Three words that Saba-Maguire used to describe herself was visionary leader, catalyst and change agent.

Saba-Maguire currently works as assistant superintendent in Brockton Public Schools’ Office of Program Development, Expansion, En-

Marble

gagement and Partnerships.

She has been in this position since July, but has worked in Brockton since 1994. Prior, Saba-Maguire worked as a chief academic officer and the executive director of elementary education pre-K to 5. At Huntington Elementary School, she served as both the principal and the associate principal of curriculum and instruction. She has also taught at Arnone and Whitman Elementary Schools and worked as an MCAS manager in the district.

When she thinks about work to create an anti-racist environment, Saba-Maguire said she thinks about her whole career. That kind of work is “innate” for her, and she works to help people understand what exactly it means, she said.

“I can give you the textbook definition, but that’s just not enough,” she said.

Saba-Maguire defines the term anti-racist as not an issue of people being racist, but “identifying what anti-racist practices are.”

“We talk about unconscious bias,” she said. “We talk about conscious bias— and knowing the difference.”

Her work as a principal

at Huntington Elementary Schools in Brockton included supporting students with the highest needs such as English Language Learners. The faculty worked together to contribute to the success of students, especially in mathematics. The test scores went from the lowest rank to the second highest, she said.

She called working with ELL students and families the “hallmark of my career.”

In Brockton, there was an effort to welcome immigrant families and assign a peermentor to students to ensure they had someone with which to connect.

Saba-Maguire said families were informed of the resources available to them to help “overcome the anxiety of coming from another country.” There was also a family connection program and an English language program for the families of students.

She added, “That’s been something I think was very successful.”

Budget work

Working on the Brockton leadership team, Saba-Maguire has been “very involved in the development of the district budget.” Although it may be a supporting role, she has been “up close and personal” in the process.

“Thinking about it through the lens of a superintendent is a little different than the role that I’ve had,” she said.

Budget cuts, in her experience, begin with being given a dollar amount to cut. SabaMaguire would then talk to stakeholders like principals to eliminate non-essential line items, which is not easy. The maintenance of a core budget that can be built back when funding improves is important, she noted.

Saba-Maguire said she saw a lot of opportunities in Hudson to work on a strategic plan and to make sure the budget is aligned with the values of the district strategic plan.

For her, the question is “how are we holding ourselves ac-

countable?” Student needs should be met, she said, and there should be an approach to convey this to the public at large.

In developing a solid budget, she said, “The district strategic plan is critical.”

The biggest financial struggle for Hudson that she saw was projecting out potential budget shortfalls, a job she said she believed Director of Finance and Operations Dan Gale has done well for the district.

Regarding a potential major shortfall, Saba-Maguire noted the importance of not ignoring the shortfall since “you cannot underestimate the impact that has on the school system and teachers and kids and families.”

The key is to advocate for the schools with the town management and School Committee as well as other departments, she said.

Ultimately, Saba-Maguire said, “I had a wonderful day in your district. You should be proud of your schools and know that you have great folks.”

Dr. June Saba-Maguire

MORE&

The Off-Market Listing – Why it could work for you

have used this method and explain why it worked for them.

Last year, more homeowners followed suit and decided to sell while the getting was good. For the third year straight, all indicators show that the market will once again favor sellers and the results will continue to be astonishing. If you are a homeowner who has been chomping at the bit to have a big pay day but are dreading the preparations required to sell your home the conventional way, I have two words for you: Off-Market Listing.

Also referred to as a nonMLS listing, the process of listing off-market is simple: first, the Real Estate Agent establishes market value. If the num-

bers work for the homeowner, a listing contract is signed and the agent taps into his or her network to find ready, willing and able buyers. The buyers are made aware of this “exclusive opportunity” to see the house before anyone else. The buyers are also informed that the property is not in “show” condition, if that is the case, and will be sold “as is”. For the most part, today’s buyers welcome any advantage, so they comply with all the rules.

Before even scheduling a showing, the agent will verify that all buyers are financially capable of completing the transaction and informs them that the price is the price….no negotiation. Once the buyer passes this rigorous screening, the agent schedules a showing. Once an Offer to Purchase is signed, the transaction continues in the traditional way. The buyer is happy because there is little or no competition. The seller is happy because they sold their house for the price they wanted, without having to do a thing.

While some agents may disagree and claim that the best way to get the highest price is to list on the MLS, this alternative method is working. But don’t take my word for it. Let’s hear from actual homeowners that

Case #1: Jeff and Cindy owned a rental property they were looking to sell once the lease agreement expired. In an effort to close escrow soon after the lease expiration date, we notified the tenant of our intent. The tenant agreed to one day of group showings. That one group showing resulted in multiple offers, and the deal closed for the price the owner wanted.

Case #2: Tony is a Master Electrician who works more than sixty hours per week and has a shop in the basement of his house. Tony struggled with how he could ever pack up his shop or prepare his bachelor pad for listing….until I introduced him to the off-market method. We found a well-qualified and serious buyer who not only paid Tony’s target price but then allowed Tony to take his time moving his shop and residence after closing.

Case #3: Elizabeth and Mike write: “In the fall of 2022 my husband and I decided to sell our home of 27 years when we had the opportunity to move into my parent’s home after their recent passing.  We contacted Judy who located comparative properties and did a market analysis.  Our plan was to put our home on the market in the spring, giving us time to purge and prepare our home for the sale. The whole prospect was overwhelming and Judy recognized this. She mentioned

the off-market method and within a week, she came back with a young couple who were in the market to purchase their first home. This couple loved our home and made us an offer that we immediately accepted.  This process has been very smooth, thanks to Judy.  We never put the house on the market, got the price that we wanted, and will be closing in a few weeks. We avoided all the stress.”

Bottom line, if you have been thinking about selling your home but dread the time and energy that is typically associated with packing, purging and preparation, listing your home with the off-market method just might be the way to go.

Boyle lives in Northborough where she is also a Chapter Leader of the Neighbor Brigade, a nonprofit charitable organization that assists families in times of crisis. She has been a real estate agent since 2005 and is a member of the distinguished RE/MAX Hall of Fame. Boyle is also a Children’s Miracle Network “Miracle Agent” for her commitment to making a donation to Boston Children’s Hospital on behalf of every home buyer and seller she assists.

Boyle’s mission is to empower her clients to make smarter decisions through data-driven insights and local market knowledge. She invites you to call or email her for the Spring 2023 Home Buyer and/or Seller Guides or for a complimentary market analysis.

Judy Boyle, RealtoR®

Two years ago, the Real Estate Market took an unprecedented turn when home values soared and many homeowners quickly became home sellers.

Encompass coalition talks youth substance use

By Laura Hayes Managing Editor

NORTHBOROUGH – A coalition to address substance use has renamed itself.

Encompass is a coalition made up of members from Northborough and Southborough and has representation from the schools, health departments, youth and family services, other organizations that serve youths and treatment providers.

The coalition held an action planning meeting earlier this month at Algonquin Regional High School.

“We are focused on preventing and reducing substance misuse in Northborough and Southborough,” said Northborough Health Director Kristin Black.

The group first formed under the name the Northborough Southborough Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. According to Southborough Youth and Family Services Director Sarah Cassell, the co-

alition held several programs and outreach events, including Narcan training and speakers at Algonquin Regional High School.

Over time, the coalition underwent several changes. There were changes to its leadership and membership, and they went through the COVID-19 pandemic, Cassell said.

“Despite all of these challenges to keep this work going, we continued to do so over all these years because of our collective passion for this work,” said Cassell.

Since, the coalition has

hired Amanda Decker, added structure, established bylaws, formed a steering committee, drafted an orientation manual to welcome new members and increased their prevention leadership capacity through additional training.

Plus, the coalition has a new name — Encompass.

According to Black, in addition to supporting the health of residents, Encompass members will address access to substances and make environmental and policy changes to reduce substance misuse.

During the presentation,

staff from Trendline presented results from the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey for Algonquin Regional High School students collected in 2021. According to Trendline, substance use has been stagnant over the last 10 years while use of cigarettes has declined.

The numbers were compared to other high schools in the MetroWest.

According to their presentation, the percent of students who vape is 14%, 2.4% smoke cigarettes, 15% have consumed marijuana and 3.5% consumed

prescription medication.

Trendline reported at 31% reported consuming at least one alcoholic drink. This is compared to 25% in the MetroWest.

According to Trendline, most kids in the community who drink are getting alcohol from a party or social gathering, 29% have taken alcohol from home with a parent’s knowledge and 27% have taken it without.

As part of Encompass’ future plans, the coalition hopes to expand its membership to include people from a variety of sectors.

Encompass also plans to develop and implement a oneyear action plan to reduce substance use in youths, apply for funding through the Drug-Free Community Support Program and make recommendations to both towns regarding opioid settlement funds.

For more information, visit https://www.town.northborough.ma.us/health-department/pages/encompass.

Coalition and members from the Northborough and Southborough communities gathered at Algonquin for an action planning meeting.

PHOTO/LAURA HAYES

57

Affairs Committee approves site plans for

and one-bedroom apartments – and 28 parking spaces. This would include two spots for onsite rental cars.

The applicant, along with its attorney, Brian Falk, said the development is aimed at younger employees for companies such as Boston Scientific who may not have their own vehicles.

To accommodate tenants, including a possible restaurant, the applicant said there would be adequate space available at public lots on Bolton and South Bolton streets, as well as the Court Street garage.

Bob Michaud of MDM Transportation Consultants, which conducted the traffic study commissioned by the applicant, said that even at peak times, there are more than 60 spaces available. Much of that space is on the upper levels of the Court Street garage.

He added that the Newton Street garage would also have available space.

Wagner and Robey both pointed out that both garages, as well as the Bolton Street lot, have overnight restrictions.

The Bolton Street lot is also used for pickup and dropoff for the Early Childhood Center across the street.

Several councilors questioned the availability of parking spots, given the recovery

of businesses post-pandemic, as well as other developments recently approved by the city.

The issue of public transportation also came into play. Navin said that the city doesn’t have a train station, and residents have to drive to certain areas to pick up a shuttle bus.

“I want to see this move forward,” said Navin, but because

of the parking issues “I have too many concerns” about the project and ended up voting against it.

Falk pointed out that the proposal complies with the city’s current guidelines for site plan review, including parking. He added that to try and trim the number of units, or to

increase parking, would not be economically feasible for the applicant.

After an initial vote to deny the site plan failed 3-2, the vote to approve carried.

The plans will go to the city solicitor before it heads to the full council on Monday, April 10.

Marlborough Lions staging blanket, bedding drive

MARLBOROUGH – The Marlborough Lions Club is sponsoring a blanket and bedding drive to support Fresh Start Furniture Bank. Through April 15, new or gently used blankets, sheets, pillows and comforters may be dropped off at the following locations:

Marlborough

• Marlborough Police Department, 355 Bolton St.

• Apex Entertainment, 21 Apex Drive

• Dancing Orchid Soapworks, 266 Main St.

• St. Mary’s Credit Union, 1 Northboro Road

• Tackle Box Brewing, 416 Boston Post Road East Hudson

• Crunch Fitness, 205 Washington St.

• St. Mary’s Credit Union, 439 Main St.

• Walgreens, 186 Main St. For information, call 774-369-0088, or email Service@ Marlborough-Lions.com.

Main St. | from page 1

Drone photography shows the former Rowe Funeral Home.

PHOTO/TAMI WHITE

Running for Boston Children’s Hospital

and helping us navigate through our options.”

Everyone she talks to about Boston Children’s Hospital has a connection to it, whether their child was also treated there or a relative received care.

“Connecting with other people about their experiences with Children’s has been a real joy,” she said.

Towne has been a runner off and on for a long time and believes the Boston Marathon is “such an amazing Boston tradition.” Even when she has not been in the event, she has enjoyed cheering on the marathoners.

“Training for and running a marathon is such a big undertaking, and you can see the effort and determination on the course, from the elites to the back of the pack,” she said. “I’m thrilled that I’ll be one of the runners this year.”

She quoted Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, on the joy of cheering others on at a marathon: “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.”

Crohn’s diagnosis

Towne’s son was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract. This led her son to suffer from symptoms like abdominal pain and fatigue, as well as malnutrition.

“I remember during some of his rough patches I’d go pick him up at preschool and see him on the playground, just sitting on the ground with zero energy while other kids ran and played around him,” she said.

Their pediatrician recommended that they go to Boston Children’s Hospital to look into the symptoms.

According to Towne, it’s uncommon to get a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease at such a young age. However, Boston

hasn’t been the only way that Towne has fundraised for the hospital. She taught herself to make jewelry, which she then sold at events with the profits going toward Boston Children’s.

There are other small ways people can make a difference, too. Towne referenced the

Pawprints program, in which volunteers can bring their dogs to visit patients, or donating blood at the in-house donation center.

And, whether or not the people she meets have had someone treated at Boston Children’s Hospital, Towne said, “They’ve heard stories about the amazing

work they do.”

Towne has exceeded her original fundraising goal of $8,000, and her new goal is $10,000. Her donation information is available through the Boston Children’s Hospital website at http://fundraise. childrenshospital.org/goto/ towne.

Children’s Hospital has been there every step of the way to help the family manage her son’s disease. Her son is now five and doing much better.

“Right now, my son is thriving. Boston Children’s [Hospital] helped us find the best medication for him with the least amount of side effects,” Towne said.

They bring him into the Boston Children’s Infusion Center in Waltham every eight weeks for Entyvio infusions. That’s been a “game changer”, she said.

She added, “He’s been doing great.”

Towne counted the family lucky to have such a phenomenal facility within an hour of their home.

“When you go to Children’s, you’re not just seeing the doctor there,” Towne said. “You’ve got a whole care team that rallies around you.”

One of the first times they visited, there was a child life specialist who helped keep both her and her son calm while an IV was put in. The family even received a book to help prepare him for the experience and explain what would happen.

“When my son had a scope done and needed general anesthesia, the nurses and the anesthesiologist took the time to answer questions and listen to our concerns,” Towne said. “The people there truly care.”

Allison Towne will be running in the Boston Marathon.

Hearty tennis quartet plays outside year-round

By Bill Gilman Senior Reporter

HUDSON – Those who are passionate about the sport of tennis love to play year-round. They play outdoors from spring through the fall and once the air gets frosty, they shift to indoor courts.

Unless you happen to be part of a Hudson quartet that eschews the confines of indoor courts and gathers regularly at Riverside Courts to play outdoors the entire.

“As long as there isn’t snow covering the courts, we’ll be out there,” explained Mike Barberio. “If it’s cold, that’s OK.”

Barberio’s playing partners are Jack Pimentel, Rocky Zina and Bill Percuoco. All enjoy a lifelong love affair with tennis, either as a competitive player, coach or weekend warrior.

Pimentel, Zina and Percuoco are certified Hudson “townies” and have known each other for decades. Barberio carries the label of “new guy,” having moved to town in 2008 and joined the

tennis group six years ago.

Zina coached the Hudson High School boys’ tennis team for 20 years, until his retirement four years ago.

The men have met regularly to play tennis for several years. At one point, the group also included Dana Frye, of Ashland; Brad McCullough, of Hudson; and Rowel Ramos, of Marlborough.

It was just over two years ago they decided to keep playing outdoors throughout the winter.

“It started with COVID because we couldn’t go inside and then we had to wear masks,” said Pimentel.

“Normally, we would transition from outdoor tennis to going indoor,” said Percuoco. “But when COVID came and we weren’t able to go indoors, we decided to try playing outside.”

Thus was born a new tradition.

Conditions are not always pleasant, with temperatures often below freezing. Their “record” is playing while it was

15 degrees with a windchill of minus -10 on a January day in 2021.

The men play doubles matches and the competition is friendly, though goodnatured barbs are volleyed across the net as frequently as dropshots.

As residents are aware, the Hudson Parks Department removes the nets from the tennis courts in November and reinstalls them in April. On the surface, this would seem to cause a problem for people wanting to

play in the intervening months. But necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention.

“Jack worked for a local auto dealership and he had this banner, and we just decided we’d try it out and run it across [the court],” said Percuoco. “That was our first year, at the end of 2020.”

The banner, really just a rope with flags on it, only lasted one season, as the quartet graduated to a “snow fence,” which has more of the look and flexibility of an actual tennis net. Each time they gather to play, the men use rope to connect the fencing to the net posts on each side of the court. It all takes about 5-10 minutes, and they are good to go.

“It’s amazing. It’s the right size and just the right proportion for a tennis net,” said Barberio.

So far, the men have been able to play about a dozen times since the nets came down in November. The relatively mild temperatures and lack of snow have helped.

Bill Percuoco strokes a forehand during his doubles match at Riverside Courts in Hudson.

A section of snow fence allows Bill Percuoco, Jack Pimentel, Rocky Zina and Mike Barberio (not pictured) to play tennis year-round on Riverside Courts.

PHOTOS/BILL GILMAN

POLICE FIRE& Hopkinton

man charged following Regal Cinemas break-in

By Laura Hayes Managing Editor

WESTBOROUGH – A Hopkinton man faces charges of breaking and entering at the former Regal Cinemas, police said.

Nathan Luis Vonhausen, 20, has been charged with vandalizing property, possessing a burglarious instrument and breaking and entering.

According to the statement of facts filed in Westborough District Court, a Westborough officer was dispatched at 10:08 p.m. March 10 following the report that someone was trying to break into the former Regal Cinemas.

The officer notes in the statement of facts that all access points to the building have been boarded up with plywood. The plywood on the front door was reportedly pried open.

When the officer arrived, he said he found Vonhausen sitting in a car in a nearby lot.

Tip money stolen from Uhlman’s ice cream shop

“Vonhausen was out of breath and was sweating,” the officer wrote.

He said it was about 37 degrees, and there weren’t any other individuals in the immediate area.

According to the court documents, police saw that there were wood fragments on Vonhausen’s jacket that were consistent with plywood. K9 Lucas tracked the damaged door to him, and the person who reported the break-in also identified him as the person attempting to break in, court documents read.

In his car, police said they found a pry bar, hatchet, hammer and drill bits.

He was arraigned in Westborough District Court on March 13. The judge ordered him to stay away from Regal Cinemas and set his bail at $2,000 surety bond or $200 cash.

Shrewsbury man killed in skiing accident

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

SHREWSBURY – A 67-year-old man from Shrewsbury was killed in a skiing accident at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton on March 19.

The Worcester District Attorney’s Office has identified the victim as John Lapato.

According to information

from Wachusett, the ski patrol responded to a report of an accident around 9:25 a.m. A skier had struck a tree on a trail for advanced skiers.

A spokesman for Wachusett said that ski patrollers provided emergency care and evaluated the skier before his care was handed over to first responders at the base of the ski patrol.

“Unfortunately, we have since learned that the skier has passed away,” the spokesman said.

“The entire Wachusett family is grieving this tragic loss,” said the spokesman. “All of our thoughts are with the skier’s family and friends. We will defer to local agencies in releasing any personal information about the skier.”

Police scuffle with suspect in Southborough Walgreens

By Laura Hayes Managing Editor

SOUTHBOROUGH – A Brockton man faces credit card and identity fraud.

At 3 p.m. March 21, Southborough officers responded to the report of a man who was trying to purchase items at the Walgreens on Turnpike Road with

stolen credit card information.

According to the Southborough Police Department, police arrived and tried to speak with the suspect, who was later identified as Steve Raymond.

Police said that Raymond began to flee, and officers became involved in a “brief scuffle.”

One of the officers sustained two broken fingers and was

transported to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Raymond has been charged with two counts of both credit card and identity fraud. He was also charged with possession of a Class E substance, uttering a false prescription, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and assault and battery on a police officer.

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH – Someone broke into the Uhlman’s ice cream shop and truck at 234 East Main St. on March 18 and stole tip money and cow coins.

According to a video provided by the Westborough Police Department, the person is a male, about 5 feet, 8 inches, with dark hair. He is wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with rose art on the back, khaki pants hanging below the waist and construction boots.

Police estimated that the break-in took place between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Westborough police or kelley@uhlmansicecream.com.

The Community Advocate will post obituaries online (and in print, as space allows). Please send information (and a picture if desired) to tracy@communityadvocate.com. Here is a complete list of individual obituaries posted on the Community Advocate website (www. communityadvocate.com).

DEATHS

Burns Jr., Edward of Marlborough

Chaves, Jose of Hudson

Colgate, Thomas of Grafton

Cotterly, Harold of Shrewsbury

Eastman, Donald of Hudson

Hastings, Joan formerly of Marlborough

Knapik, Ronald of South Grafton

Lapato, John of Shrewsbury

Papile, Lorena of Marlborough

Pescaro, Elaine of Northborough

Renaud, Barbara of Marlborough

Woodworth, Kenneth formerly of Marlborough

Elaine A. Pescaro, 80

NORTHBOROUGH - Elaine Ann (Publicover) Pescaro, 80, longtime resident of Northborough, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 surrounded by her loving

POLICE LOG

family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years, George R. Pescaro, in December of 2022.

She leaves her children, George H. Pescaro, of Millbury, Marie E. Auger, and her husband David, of Marlborough, and Gerald R. “Jerry” Pescaro and his wife Kimberly, of Shrewsbury; her grandchildren, Jessica Auger, Rachel Auger, Ryan Pescaro, Victoria Pescaro, and Matthew Genzale; her sister, Ruth Johnson of Auburn; along with several nieces and nephews. Besides her husband George, Elaine was predeceased by a sister Joyce Bylund.

The Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Donald R. Eastman, 88

HUDSON - Donald Richard Eastman died peacefully on March 18, 2023, in Hudson, Massachusetts. He was 88 years old and lived his entire life on Forest Avenue in Hudson.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Edwina “Eddy” Oksa Eastman, his daughter Dawna Eastman-Gallo and her husband Donald Gallo, his daughter Tina Pitre and her husband David Pitre, and his

sion Class A substance, drink alcohol from open container in MV, OUI-drugs.

Monday, March 20

8:20 p.m. Arrested , Sharlene Santana, 37, of 76 Constitution Ave., Worcester, for OUI liquor, leave scene of property damage, neg operation of MV (operate to endanger).

Northborough

Monday, March 13

daughter Erika Eastman. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Stanley Krol, Wendy Krol Holden and her husband Michael Holden, Timothy Krol, and several grandcats. His first great-grandchild, Carter Holden, was born in 2022 and also survives him. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Lorraine Eastman, and several nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his parents, Roscoe Eastman and Emily Brown Eastman, and by his beloved brother Paul Eastman.

Don graduated from Hudson High School in 1952 and had a long career in banking, spending more than 30 years as a mortgage officer at Marlborough Savings Bank.

He had many, many diverse interests and talents, including being an avid gardener of vegetables, blueberries, and flowers, building things with wood, and designing and building signs for the Methodist Church and bluebird houses for the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. He always had a bouquet of homegrown flowers in a vase on the kitchen table for Edwina. He and Eddy hosted many family cookouts, where he grilled amazing burgers and was a master at raucous family croquet. Christmas would have him regaling the family with “Crazy Christmas” gifts of mischievous origin.

Don was a lifelong member

Saturday, March 18

12:46 p.m. Arrested , Gerardo Lizaola-Ayala, 29, of 39 Pleasant St., Apt. A6, Northborough, for op MV with license suspended, use electronic device while operating MV 1st offense.

of the First United Methodist Church of Hudson, where he taught Sunday school for more than 25 years, and where the sign he crafted remains out front. He was very witty and loved to make people laugh, always with a big grin and a twinkle in his bright blue eyes.

The Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangements.

Jose A. Chaves, 74

HUDSON - Jose A. Chaves, 74, of Hudson, MA died on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Marlborough Hospital.

Jose leaves his wife Rita Leal of Hudson, MA; his daughter Aimee Chaves of Shrewsbury, MA; his 4 brothers, Herculano Chaves and his wife Helena of Portsmouth, RI, Jose M. Chaves, husband of the late Zulmira Chaves of Portsmouth, RI, Antonio M. Chaves and his wife Helen of Hudson, MA and Alberto M. Chaves and his wife Filomena of Hudson, MA. He was predeceased by his sisters and their husbands Maria C. and Antonio Monteiro of Hudson, MA and Maria F. and Wayne Casavecchia of Leominster, MA. He is also survived by his first wife Maria Lena

Westborough

Friday, March 17

Shrewsbury

Sunday, March 19

12:28 a.m. Arrested , Rohit Didwania, 29, of 70 Gulf St., Shrewsbury, for neg operation of MV (operate to endanger), OUI liquor 2nd offense.

5:26 p.m. Arrested, George Alan Degrandis, 44, of 6 Zwicks Farm Rd., Plantsville, CT, for posses-

9:52 a.m. Arrested, Arun Venugopal, 41, of 3107 Townsend Blvd., Apt. 7, Westborough, for crosswalk violation, negligent operation of motor vehicle, OUIliquor or .08%.

Thursday, March 16

1:45 a.m. Arrested , Marcos Andre Mateus, 40, of 22 Washington St., Apt. A, Marlborough, for op MV license suspended, negligent operation of motor vehicle, OUI-liquor or .08%, marked lanes violation.

5:56 p.m. Arrested , Edward Ronald Cooley, 53, of 7 E Main St., Northborough, for negligent operation of motor vehicle, OUIliquor or .08% 3rd offense, possess open container of alcohol in MV, use electronic device while operating MV 1st offense.

Marlborough

Wednesday, March 22

1:03 a.m. Arrested , Christian Manuel Candelario, 38, of 79A Beaver Park Ter., Framingham, for vandalize property, attempt to commit crime.

3:16 p.m. Arrested , Frank J. Kovendy, 71, of 65 Settlers Ln., Marlborough, for shoplifting by asportation, true warrants.

Chaves of Clinton, MA along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Jose was born and raised in Santa Maria, the Azores of Portugal, son of the late Jose M. de Chaves and Filomena Monteiro. In 1962 he emigrated to the United States and resided in Hudson, MA. He began his career in law enforcement as a Framingham State Police Officer and later joined the Hudson Police Department as a police officer, a position he held for many years until retiring. He was a member of Saint Michael Parish in Hudson.

Jose always looked forward to visiting family and friends in Santa Maria. He also enjoyed trips to Brazil visiting his wife Leal’s family and friends. In his spare time he enjoyed carpentry, fishing and spending time with his brothers was always special to him. He liked to socialize with family and friends and would always be the “life of the party”. A unique characteristic of Jose was his keen sense and knowledge of the world’s current events, always keeping up with the recent events that shape our world. His outgoing personality and loyalty to family and friends will always be remembered by those who loved and knew him.

The Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangements.

Harold F. Cotterly, 73

6:42 p.m. Arrested , Roman Desousa, 47, of 1231 Edgell Rd., Framingham, for marked lanes violation, negligent operation of motor vehicle, OUI-liquor or .08%, possess open container of alcohol in MV, op MV with license suspended, possess Class E drug.

Saturday, March 18

12:42 p.m. Arrested, Moishe A. Green, 22, of 54 South St., Westborough, on straight warrant.

Sunday, March 19

11:08 a.m. Arrested , Ehab A. Aldulaimi, 36, of 12 Sutton Ave., Apt. 1, Oxford, for op MV with license suspended, MV not meeting RMV safety standards.

Monday, March 20

11:49 a.m. Arrested, Kenny M. Velazquez, 29, of 23A Beaver Terrace Cir., Framingham, for op MV with license suspended, MV operator refuse to identify self, no inspection sticker.

SHREWSBURY - Harold F. “Butch” Cotterly passed away peacefully on March 7th surrounded by his loving family. Harry was born on May 11, 1949 to the late, Harold F. Cotterly and Mary Cotterly.

Harry is survived by his only daughter Lisa CotterlyMcKenna and her husband Dean, his brother Scotty Cotterly and his wife Diane, his brother Kevin Cotterly and his wife Carol, his sister Nancy Cotterly Fraser, his granddaughters Akasha, Samantha and Faith, great grandson Eli, his nieces, nephews, cousins and his favorite furry friend of 19 years Snowy the cat.

The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

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.

LEGAL NOTICES

TRIAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS

TRIAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS SUPERIOR COURTMICHAEL A. SULLIVAN, CLERK OF COURT

Middlesex Superior Court- Woburn

200 Trade Center Woburn, MA 01801

Docket Number: 1981CV00178

Oder of Notice by Publication-

Case Name:

Michael R. Proctor Personal Representative for the Estate of Francis R. Proctor v. Lahey Clinic Foundation, Inc. & Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc.

RE: Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc.

WHEREAS a civil action has begun against you in the Middlesex Superior Court by Michael R. Proctor Personal Representative for the Estate of Francis R. Proctor, wherein he is seeking to recover damages for a nursing home negligence against the decedent Francis R. Proctor.

We COMMAND YOU if you intend to make any defense, you do cause your written pleading to be filed in the office of the Clerk of Court named above and further that you defendant against said lawsuit according to the law if you intend to do so.

After a diligent search, the deputy sheriff has not been able to make service of the summons or complaint.

It is ORDERED that notice of this lawsuit be given to the defendant, Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc. by publication.

Date issued: March 1, 2023

Judge: Hon. Camille Sarrouf

PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT

INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE

Docket No. WO23P0692EA

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Trial Court

Worcester Division

Probate and Family Court

Estate of: Lucy B. Donovan

Date of Death: December 5, 2022

To all persons interested in the above captioned estate by Petition of Petitioner Doreen D. Corkin of West Palm Beach FL. A Will has been admitted to informal probate.

Doreen D. Corkin of West Palm Beach, FL has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond.

The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting

the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.

HUDSON

LEGAL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Hudson Conservation Commission will hold a Public Hearing relative to the following filing under the Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. Chapter 131, Section 40) as requested by John Kovacs. The owner of the property is John Kovacs. The work is located at 55 Causeway Street (Map-Parcel 55-48). The proposed project is a driveway expansion and walkway in Buffer Zone to an intermittent stream. The Public Hearing will be held on April 6, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall, 78 Main Street.

All interested parties are urged to attend. The application can be obtained through email by contacting the Conservation Commission Office.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Petition #2023-05

Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing to be held by the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room, 2nd floor, Town Hall, 78 Main Street.

At this time the Board of Appeals will hear the request of Marcio DeLima, requesting a Special Permit to construct an accessory dwelling unit pursuant to Section 5.2.6 of the Town of Hudson Protective Zoning By-Laws. The subject property is located at 60 School Street in the C-2 Commercial Zoning District, Assessors’ Map 29 Parcel 245. The Board may consider any action deemed necessary relative to the subject petition.

All petition materials are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, on the Town of Hudson website at http://go.boarddocs. com/ma/hudsonma/Board.nsf/ goto?open&id=CP9KL3520CA5, and can be requested by calling (978) 562-2989 or by sending an email to kjohnson@ townofhudson.org

Matthew Russell, Clerk Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Petition #2023-06

Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing to be held by the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room, 2nd floor, Town Hall, 78 Main Street.

At this time, the Board of Appeals will hear the request of EHP Realty Corp. for a Special Permit to construct a 7,200 squarefoot steel commercial building, with associated parking at 540 Main Street within a Watershed Protection District pursuant to Section 3.3.10 of the Town of Hudson Protective Zoning By-Laws. The subject property is located at 540 Main Street within the M-6 Industrial District, Assessors’ Map 34 Parcel 21.

All petition materials are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office during

regular business hours, on the Town of Hudson website at http://go.boarddocs. com/ma/hudsonma/Board.nsf/ goto?open&id=CPYKJC5098EFand can be requested by calling (978) 562-2989 or by sending an email to kjohnson@ townofhudson.org

Matt Russell, Clerk Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals

MARLBOROUGH

CITY OF MARLBOROUGH CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Request for Determination of Applicability

Notice of Public Hearing

A Notice is hereby given that the Marlborough Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting on April 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM at Marlborough City Hall, 140 Main St. on the 3rd Floor-Memorial Hall.

Request for Determination of Applicability was filed under provisions of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, G.L. c. 131, §40.

Petition: Michael and Gina Cardarelli proposed to install an in-ground pool near wetlands at 64 Simmons St.

Plans and other information can be viewed in the Conservation Office. All interested persons are invited.

Applicant or representative must be present.

Edward Clancy Chairman Conservation Commission

PUBLIC HEARING –SPECIAL PERMIT

Applicant: SUCIU LLC (Exela Storage)

Locus: 846 Boston Post Road East Map 61, Parcel(s) 20

Notice is given that the City Council of the City of Marlborough will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 8:00 PM in City Council Chambers, 2nd floor City Hall, 140 Main Street, Marlborough, Massachusetts, on the Application for a Special Permit from Attorney Sem Aykanian, on behalf of SUCIU LLC, d/b/a Exela Storage, to add additional storage units to a nonconforming storage facility to be located at 846 Boston Post Road East within the Wayside District.

The application materials and plans are available for viewing in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 140 Main Street, Marlborough, MA 01752, Telephone 508460-3775. In addition, the plans and application will be available online at www. marlborough-ma.gov/city-council under Public Hearing Notices.

Per Order of the City Council #23-1008823

SHREWSBURY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR TOWN OF SHREWSBURY

Feasibility Study & Landscape Design Services Lake Street Park and Recreation Area 430-452 Lake Street Shrewsbury, MA

The Town of Shrewsbury Department of

Public Works is seeking a design firm and/or Consultant for a parkland feasibility study and landscape architectural design services and other developmental planning efforts related to the renovation of the Lake Street Park and Recreation Area parcels located on parcels at 430 and 452 Lake Street in Shrewsbury.

The project scope is to conduct an extensive community outreach process to develop a comprehensive renovation plan for the parcels for active recreational opportunities.

Applicants must be fully licensed for this type of work by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and must list licensed consultants that will be used. The budget of this design project is $150,000.00. Copies of the Request for Proposals (RFP) may be obtained at Shrewsburyma.gov/ bids.

Proposals submitted in accordance with the RFP will be received in the Office of the Town Manager, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 until 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 27, 2023

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY

Kevin J. Mizikar Town Manager

MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY

2023 Spring Clean Up Notice

The Town of Shrewsbury Parks and Cemetery Maintenance Division is reminding all lot owners that all plantings and decorations must be removed from flower beds and monuments at Mountain View Cemetery by the end of the day on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in order to facilitate the annual spring clean-up. Any items not removed by this date will be removed and discarded by Cemetery staff.

Easter decorations will be temporarily permitted from Wednesday, April 5, 2023, through Wednesday, April 12, 2023. New decorations may be placed after Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Lot owners are reminded that no decorations are allowed behind or on top of monuments.

For more information, contact the cemetery office at 508-841-8560, via email at cemetery@shrewsburyma.gov, or visit the website for a complete list of the Cemetery Rules and Regulations at www. shrewsburyma.gov/cemetery

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that Taylor Wolf, Owner, Carnivore Cooking LLC, d/b/a Errol Ray’s Bistro, 6 Hartford Turnpike, has applied to the Select Board for a Common Victualler License.

A public hearing on this application will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 7:05pm, Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury.

Maurice DePalo Chairman

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that Skaff Vineyard and Winery Inc, 614 South Street, Jean Skaff, Manager, has applied to the Select Board for a Transfer of the Section 12 Farmer Winery Pouring Permit License from Broken Creek Vineyard, LLC, d/b/a Broken Creek Vineyard to Skaff Vineyard and Winery Inc, d/b/a Broken Creek Vine-

yard. Hours of operation Sunday through Saturday 12:00pm to 10:0pm.

A public hearing on this application will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 7:15pm, Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury.

Maurice DePalo Chairman

TOWN OF SHREWSBURY PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that Nola Cajun Kitchen LLC, d/b/a Nola Cajun Kitchen, 378 Maple Avenue, Man Nguyen, Manager, has applied to the Select Board for an On-Premise Section 12 Wine and Malt Beverages Pouring License and Common Victualler License. Hours of Operation Monday through Thursday, 11:00am –9:00pm, Friday – Saturday, 11:00am –10:00pm.

A public hearing on this application will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 7:10pm, Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury.

Maurice DePalo Chairman

WESTBOROUGH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given by Westboro Towing, 41 South St. Westboro MA. Pursuant to the provisions of Mass G.L.c.255, Section 39A, that they will sell the following vehicles on or after March 20, 2023 beginning at 10:00 a.m. by private sale to satisfy the garage keeper’s lien for storage, towing charges, and notices of sale. Vehicles are being stored at Westboro Towing.

1. 2006 Mercury Montego VIN 1MEFM40116G619106

2. 2007 Subaru Legacy VIN 4S4BP61C676315744

3. 2002 Toyota Avalon VIN 4T1BF28B22U204816

WORCESTER

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given by Boulevard Towing of 550 Franklin Street Worcester, MA, pursuant to the provisions of Mass G.L c. 255, Section 39A, that they will sell the following vehicles on or after April 15, 2023 beginning at 10:00 am by public or private sale to satisfy their garage keeper’s lien for towing, storage, and notices of sale. Vehicles are being stored at Boulevard Towing.

1. 2011 Acura TSX VIN JH4CU2F64BC007168

2. 2014 Mazda 3 VIN JM1BM1V72E1185405

Pat Assad, owner Boulevard Towing 3/31, 4/7, 4/14

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

Zarape, Yummy Kitchen reopen in Marlborough

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – After being closed most of the winter for renovations, Zarape Mexican restaurant on Maple Street reopened on March 24.

The restaurant closed for renovations back in January.

“It’s doing very well so far,” said Ana Varela, the restaurant’s manager. “We appreciate all of the support.”

Since they closed, Zarape staff members frequently shared updates via social media on the status of and photos from the renovation, including the installation of the new bar.

For information, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/zarapemexican.

Yummy Kitchen reopens

More than two months after an electrical fire shuttered

businesses at 42 Boston Post Road East, another business has reopened.

The Yummy Kitchen Chinese restaurant reopened the week of March 20.

Current hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and

Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.

For information, visit www. yummykitchenma.com. Please note that the restaurant has temporarily shut down its on-

line ordering service; to place an order call 508-460-3878.

On Jan. 15, a fire damaged trusses supporting the roof; the bulk of the damage happened at Marlboro Nutrition.

The Vape City smoke shop opened days after the Jan. 15

$399!

fire, while the Sunnyside Cafe reopened on Feb. 8.

Marlboro Nutrition moved to a temporary space at Crag Fitness at 55 Maple St. Two other shops — Sun Relaxation Therapy and Oriental Nails — remain closed.

Scoops N Bites closes

Nearly five months after it shut down, the site at Downtown Crossing in Westborough that once housed Scoops N Bites remains vacant.

The restaurant that served ice cream, along with vegetarian and vegan items, closed last November after it was unable to renew its lease.

According to its Facebook page, the restaurant said it would be back in 2023 “in a new format.”

Zach Boughner, the town’s economic development coordinator, said the town is “actively seeking tenants” for the space.

Victoria was amazing. She listened to my concerns every step of the way, made me feel super comfortable and achieved a beautiful, super soft natural look for my brows. I had been contemplating microblading for years but was very scared because I’ve never liked anyone doing my makeup, I’m super particular and was worried someone would take too much artistic liberty instead of listening to what I wanted. I was shocked with how much I loved my brows. Could not recommend her enough!

Victoria was amazing. She listened to my concerns every step of the way, made me feel super comfortable and achieved a beautiful, super soft natural look for my brows. I had been contemplating microblading for years but was very scared because I’ve never liked anyone doing my makeup, I’m super particular and was worried someone would take too much artistic liberty instead of listening to what I wanted. I was shocked with how much I loved my brows. Could not recommend her enough!

Victoria was amazing. She listened to my concerns every step of the way, made me feel super comfortable and achieved a beautiful, super soft natural look for my brows. I had been contemplating microblading for years but was very scared because I’ve never liked anyone doing my makeup, I’m super particular and was worried someone would take too much artistic liberty instead of listening to what I wanted. I was shocked with how much I loved my brows. Could not recommend her enough!

Victoria was amazing. She listened to my concerns every step of the way, made me feel super comfortable and achieved a beautiful, super soft natural look for my brows. I had been contemplating microblading for years but was very scared because I’ve never liked anyone doing my makeup, I’m super particular and was worried someone would take too much artistic liberty instead of listening to what I wanted. I was shocked with how much I loved my brows. Could not recommend her enough!

(774) 318-4767

101 Coolidge St Suite 125 Hudson MA 01749

101 Coolidge St Suite 125 Hudson MA 01749

(774) 318-4767

101 Coolidge St Suite 125 Hudson MA 01749 (774) 318-4767

• vagaro.com/symmetryinkscalpandbeauty/styles

101 Coolidge St Suite 125 Hudson MA 01749 (774) 318-4767 • vagaro.com/symmetryinkscalpandbeauty/styles

• vagaro.com/symmetryinkscalpandbeauty/styles

• vagaro.com/symmetryinkscalpandbeauty/styles

PHOTOS/MAUREEN SULLIVAN

Zarape on Maple Street reopened on March 24 following a three-month renovation.

More than two months after a fire damaged several businesses at 42 Boston Post Road East, Yummy Kitchen Chinese restaurant has reopened.

Lions Gate Spiritual and Wellness Center opens its gates

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH – Seven months after it opened, Lions Gate Spiritual and Wellness Center held a formal ribbon cutting and open house on March 22.

Taking advantage of the warmth of the first full day of spring, about two dozen supporters stepped just outside the shop on East Main Street for the ribbon cutting, then stepped inside for the open house.

“It is with immense joy and gratitude that we are open,” said Genevieve Hackett, director of metaphysical relations. “We’ve accomplished more that we planned for … we’re humbled by what we’ve achieved.”

The ceremony was coordinated by members of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce.

“We welcome you to MetroWest, and to Westborough,” said Towma Rastad, a co-director of the chamber and Westborough resident.

The shop’s founder and chief spiritual officer, Wendy Rieder, explained the origin of the store’s name. The Lions Gate is a spiritual portal that occurs every Aug. 8, when the star Sirius rises above the eastern horizon.

Rieder previously told the Community Advocate that she had a spiritual awakening four years ago and felt a calling to share her vision by creating Lions Gate.

The shop offers a variety of items, programs and services, including spiritual counseling, Tarot cards, meditation, energy healing, Reiki and psychic readings.

Lions Gate also offers its space for local artists and practitioners, and plans a speaker series in the near future.

“We are more than excited to welcome Lions Gate to town,” said Zach Boughner, the town’s economic development coordinator.

The center will host a Spring Psychic Fair and Marketplace on Saturday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information, visit lionsgatespiritual.com.

Visitors, including members of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce and the town’s economic development coordinator, Zach Boughner, center, chat during the open house at Lions Gate Spiritual and Wellness Center on March 21.

PHOTOS/MAUREEN SULLIVAN

Genevieve Hackett, left, and Wendy Rieder cut the ribbon in front of their shop, Lions Gate Spiritual and Wellness Center, on March 21.

PETS

Call Jen 508-414-2691

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, the helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this nine times a day, for nine days and your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication is necessary. My prayers were and are being answered at this time. ~K.J.

ANSWERS TO THE PUZZLE

Check out communityadvocate.com

for all the latest breaking news! Including:

• The latest police and fire stories

• Updates on projects like the Regal Cinemas, White Cliffs and Beal redevelopments

• A complete list of local obituaries

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. seeks IT Quality Assurance Analyst

Marlborough, MA

Drive and execute testing processes that meet & exceed business & Internal Audit expectations. Bachelor’s’ degree plus 3 years exp. as a Quality Assurance Analyst or related. Qualified Applicants send resume to:

Chris Rouleau, crouleau@bjs.com, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Sales Consultants

America’s #1 Arch Support Company is growing, and we are looking for the best! The Good Feet Store is searching for energetic, resultsoriented individuals who desire a long-term career in sales, focusing on customer satisfaction. We are hiring Sales Consultants, commission sales experience helpful but not required, for our stores. If you are looking for a position where you can truly make a difference in someone’s quality of life, then this is the position for you!

We have stores in Shrewsbury, Westwood, Natick, Burlington, and Danvers, plus Nashua and Manchester New Hampshire.

Sales Consultant positions are full-time. Store hours are Monday –Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, and Sundays 12:00 – 5 pm. Consultants work closely with our customers to understand their foot, knee, back or hip pain to determine which of our orthotics will alleviate their pain. They are actively engaged with our customers throughout our fitting process and politely and professionally address guests’ questions. Sales Consultants conduct follow-up calls on all sales to ensure the customer is happy with the results. Our ideal candidate has retail sales or general sales experience, is a good listener, enjoys engaging with people, and is compassionate. We will train the right personality! Join us today!

Apply via Indeed.com or send resume to hr@goodfeetny.com

Seeking Church Administrator

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Westborough

Role supports all office and administrative tasks associated with GSLC’s ministry.

Please Send resume to GSLCParish@gmail.com

SCHOOLS

McNeil speaks of building community for ELL students

By Sarah Freedman

Contributing Writer

HUDSON— One need not be a rocket scientist, or in the case of Dr. Alexandra McNeil, have a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, to be a Superintendent of Schools, but it sure can help and has surprising similarities to being a leader.

On Mar. 21, McNeil, who is one of the five finalists for the Hudson Superintendent position, explained, “I truly am a rocket scientist.”

She said something clicked for her in seventh grade in terms of her interest in science and engineering and with hard work and determination, she was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and created a portfolio around leadership.

She built relationships while at MIT, which is something she is “very proud of.” She also worked in the industry on a project that rebuilt a robot that helped build the space station.

“It’s interesting — that process,” she said. “My job as a student was really connecting the black boxes.”

She connected her work in engineering with the superintendent position and her career in education by saying

put in, is what will come out, which is “kind of like leadership.”

An education legacy

McNeil said she has seen “a lot of excitement and a lot of openness” in the Hudson Public Schools and would look at strategies to connect everyone despite maybe speaking a different language. She thought the community was great.

She used the words transparency, collaborative and determined to characterize her administrative style.

McNeil currently works as the assistant superintendent for human resources at Needham Public Schools, a position she has held since 2018. She is also an adjunct professor at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human De-

velopment where she teaches an introduction to educational leadership.

Prior to joining Needham, McNeil worked as the instructional superintendent in Boston Public Schools and served as principal at Mario Umana Academy in Boston and assistant headmaster, science program director and STEM teacher at Boston Latin.

In her work at the Boston Public Schools, she helped establish the Dual Language School. She said this brought together the community, including families where English was not their native language. It was an opportunity to create a learning environment for students who may speak Spanish, she said.

“Resources are not just dollars, but it is also people,” McNeil said.

According to McNeil, research indicates that bilingual students perform better after seventh grade if they are offered an opportunity like a dual language school.

McNeil herself was a dual language learner as her parents came from Cuba to the United States.

They met, married and raised a family in Boston. She did not speak any English at first and was immersed in the language when she went to

school.

Education runs in the family. Her father studied at Boston University, and her mother was a nutrition worker and a teaching assistant. She was also a vice principal and principal in Boston for 20 years, and McNeil’s sisters are teachers.

McNeil said, “My parents really taught us to give back.”

McNeil talks budget, anti-racism

In terms of budget building, McNeil has experience with two approaches: zero-base building and building a budget off a previous year.

In zero-base budget building, the funds are allocated in total to the building leader, who starts from zero and builds the budget up. McNeil supported 13 to 14 Boston schools through this process.

To accomplish this, they needed to streamline the process and provide consistency across schools, she said.

McNeil also has experience building off of a previous year’s budget. She said the challenge is how to handle removing big items that are built into the budget.

In her current role in Needham, she shares publicly with the School Committee what budget decisions are made and what the needs are for that fis-

cal year.

McNeil said the investment in the process is “having an understanding of what is the town’s ability to meet the needs and trying to build that budget toward that end.”

She emphasized the need for transparency when dealing with potential budget cuts.

“Being transparent about the whole process is really important,” McNeil said.

She noted the important of creating an anti-racist culture where everyone feels safe, seen and valued.

“I feel strongly that students have to have a voice in their educational experience,” she said.

When she first started in Needham, the district had completed their equity audit. In Needham, they had a program called the Real Coalition that worked to discuss equity issues and look at engagement.

The “Stronger Together” initiative, an affinity group composed made up of AfricanAmerican, Asian and Latin staff across the schools and the town, was established in her time in Needham. The goal was answering “how do we build a community for our staff,” according to McNeil.

She said she was interested to see how the ongoing effort in Hudson goes.

what data is

Dr. Alexandra McNeil

Camp & Activity Guide

The Power of Camp

Ask anyone who attended summer camp as a child about their experience and watch as a nostalgic smile spreads across their face. You will likely lose them for a moment as they are instantly transported back to the memorable sights, smells, and sounds of their experience. Perhaps this introduction alone has surfaced memories of sing-a-longs and s’mores, so gather ’round for a somewhat non-traditional campfire story: The Power of Camp.

Camp can be both care and caring. The Power of Camp relies on dedicated people who work in tireless pursuit to create the purpose, the plan, and the magic of your child’s summer experience. More than anything, camp is a community of caring adults who will nurture your child, keep them safe, and genuinely enjoy them. When the pandemic shut down most camps in 2020, many camp directors mourned the loss of summer even more than their campers did. A summer without camp? It was difficult to even imagine. Thankfully, camp has returned stronger than ever, with a record number of children enrolling in summer camp programs in 2021 and 2022. What was once considered a convenient means of childcare is now more often recognized as a significant contributor to a child’s development. But how?

Camp lets us discover who we are and what we are capable of. Campers, regardless

of age, can’t help but learn at camp. A good camp will recognize that every moment can be a learning moment; a truly great camp will create immersive learning moments — most times without the campers even noticing. The opportunity to choose activities, select a popsicle flavor, learn

the names of new friends, take (supported) risks, and navigate a new structure and routine — these small lessons, absent of assessment and holistic by design, are a large part of the Power of Camp. Time and again, families report that children return from all types of camps with increased

confidence, social skills, selfawareness, and a greater sense of community and empathy.

Camp builds connections. Relationships are the curriculum of camp — studied through activities, events, meals, and traditions. For that reason, camp is often described as the best place to learn how to be a good person. Not a good student, not a good athlete, but a good person. Surrounded by carefully selected and trained role models, the majority of campers report “the staff” as their favorite part of camp. Sure, we don silly costumes, sing at the top of our lungs, and exhibit plenty of other camp behaviors that are rare among the adults they see in their day-to-day, but the real secret, the real Power of Camp, is the people.

Our campfire is burning low, and the embers are glowing, but the final message is this: Take time this year to discover the true Power of Camp. When you choose a camp, recognize the intention and care put into every aspect of your child’s experience. When you drop your child off in the morning, send them off knowing they will be learning the moment they exit the car, and when you pick them up at the end of the day, let their enthusiasm (and exhaustion!) reflect the learning they have done and the powerful memories they have made, which will bring a nostalgic smile to their face for years to come.

Kristi Jacobi Director,

St. Mark’s Summer