St. Stephen’s celebrates 125 years
Wachusett Aqueduct historic marker missing northborough | 23
WEstborough | 6
Grafton secures victory over Shrewsbury Shrewsbury | 25
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Vol. 49 | No. 42 | October 20, 2023
Fall Festival scares up lots of family fun
TM narrowly approves Community Center
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
GRAFTON – The air was full of autumn, and for once not full of rain. On Oct. 15, Grafton Recreation teamed up with Kid Hero Books and Feedback Earth to present a Fall Festival on the Common. On half the Common, ideas turned hay and old clothes into scarecrows. The finished products were staked along the perimeter of the Common. These included Barbie, Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a junior police officer, a ghost and a “boogy mom.” “There’s a lot of tradition, especially with the scarecrows,” said Adam Lapointe, the director for Grafton Recreation. “It’s great giving families the opportunity to get out and enjoy the Common.” One of the scarecrows was created by a new group of Girl Scouts, Junior Troop 65431. The activity doubled as the troop’s first meeting. Fall Festival | 14
PHOTO/MAUREEN SULLIVAN
WESTBOROUGH – The town is closer to having a Community Center. In a vote that cleared the needed two-thirds majority by six votes, residents at fall Town Meeting approved Article 3, authorizing the Select Board to purchase 1500 Union St., the current home of Boston Sports Clubs and Spirit Halloween. The site will be the future home of a community center and house the Senior Center and Recreation Department. The purchase price —$8.8 million — would be covered by a 20-year bond, at 5 percent interest. Residents also approved Article 4, a transfer from free cash of $195,350 to cover the costs of due diligence, community engagement, design and operating costs. Current plans call for the Recreation Department to occupy the second floor, and the Senior Center occupy the first floor; extra space could be leased out by the town. The Community Center articles gained support from town boards and committees, including the Select Board, Council on Aging, Recreation Department and Planning Board. In a revote on the Town Meeting floor, the Advisory Finance Committee approved Article 3, 5-4. A previous vote had the committee split, 4-4. Supporters cited the seniors’ need for more space, and the convenience of having a center closer to downtown and to the schools. “This could be a magnificent addition to town,” said Kris Allen.
Olivia Butler, 3, holds two pumpkins joined at the stem.
Select Board reverses decision on sign, facade funding By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – A sign and facade program is no longer moving forward. After the Select Board voted 3-2 to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the program, the board voted to reconsider the vote
on Oct. 16. The board denied funds for program by a 4-1 vote with Select Board Chair Mitch Cohen casting the lone vote in favor. What was proposed The program was first presented to the Select Board in September. Planning Director Laurie Connors requested $250,000 in ARPA funds for match-
Town Meeting | 14
Facade | 4
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