Shrewsbury to consider Town Center transportation study
Westborough Lions host Rubber Duck Derby
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Harlem Wizards come to Northborough
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Vol. 48 | No. 15 | April 15, 2022
Westborough notes surge in opioid overdoses, considers larger crisis By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor
Hunting for Easter eggs at Algonquin By Laura Hayes Senior Reporter
Overdose | 7
Easter | 13
WESTBOROUGH - Westborough police had noticed a surge in overdose calls earlier this year. But they were still “shocked” when they reviewed their 2022 data to find that, by March 18, they had already surpassed the total number of overdoses seen in town in 2021. “That’s outrageous,” Lt. Michael Daniels told the Community Advocate. Police saw 12 such overdoses through March 18, two of which had been fatal. That marked an increase over 2021, which saw a total of 11 overdoses and no reported deaths. “It’s tough,” Daniels said. “We’re seeing not just an uptick in Westborough, but really all over the Commonwealth.”
PHOTO/LAURA HAYES
Multiple factors compound crisis Daniels emphasized that there is likely not a singular cause of this recent surge. He named factors contributing to instances of drug use in Westborough, though. The town is centrally located between Worcester and Framingham, along I-495 and I-90. It also boasts Spectrum Health, which offers addiction treatment services. “There are people that are coming from other parts of the Commonwealth,” Daniels said. “They’re staying in Westborough. They’re seeking treatment.” COVID-19 also has compounded addiction problems, experts say, exacerbating issues of isolation, depression and stress that can sometimes lead to substance use disorder.
NORTHBOROUGH - Rain didn’t stop the Easter Bunny from coming to Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) last Saturday morning. Sure enough, local families and children filled the ARHS bleachers ready to hunt for Easter eggs that covered the football field. The hunt was put on by the ARHS National Honor Society (NHS). “Honestly, I was a little nervous just because I looked at the weather, and it looked like a little bit of rain,” NHS President and Algonquin senior Delaney Cosentino told the Community Advocate. “It makes me so, so happy to see everyone come together.” The hunt was open to children in fifth grade and younger from Northborough and Southborough. “We just wanted to create a service project that really involved the entire community and made everyone a little happier because, with the pandemic, we haven’t had the community outreach. We haven’t been able to connect everyone,” Cosentino said. NHS thought an Easter egg hunt would be a great way to get that work started, she said. As part of the Easter egg hunt, NHS asked families to donate items to the Northborough Food Pantry — which is located at 37 Pierce Street
Alexander Komsta picks up an Easter egg at Algonquin Regional High School.
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Polar party Grafton baseball enjoys game under the lights at Polar Park
sports | 35