Shrewsbury lights menorah, celebrates Hanukkah Shrewsbury | 13
Championshipwinning football team reunites at Algonquin Northborough | 26
Holiday Gift Guide page | 11
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Vol. 49 | No. 50 | December 15, 2023
Proposal seeks addition of residential component to Westborough Shopping Center By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – An effort to increase the town’s housing stock could mean significant improvements to the Westborough Shopping Center located on Lyman Street. Colangelo Massachusetts Real Estate LLC, the plaza’s owner, has applied for a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals to reconstruct a portion of the property to add 132 dwelling units. With the goal of providing much-needed housing with minimal impact on school enrollment, 75% of the new rental units would be studio or one-bedroom floor plans, with the remainder being two-bedroom. The proposal calls for 20% of the units to be affordable. Additionally, the developer plans to apply for local workforce preference status. If granted, this designation will provide access to the affordable units for town employees in professions like teaching, fire and police and the Department of Public Works, keeping with the town’s goal of encouraging local residency for town staff. The designation would also include access to local veterans. “I’m proud to say that a great deal of planning has gone into providing the housing Westborough urgently needs while minimizing the impact on school enrollment and traffic,” said Eugene Colangelo, principal of Colangelo Massachusetts Real Estate LLC. “We have been evolving the Westborough Proposal | 4
Singing bell ringer returns to Roche Bros. in Westborough By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – A familiar face — and sound — has returned to the Roche Bros. supermarket at Bay State Commons for the holiday season. Keith Bryant Sr. is once again ringing a bell and singing for the Salvation Army, accompanied by a soundtrack of holiday favorites — his is “Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry. “Keith comes to fill out an application every year and can’t wait to get started,” said Major Paul Pelletier of the Salvation Army’s Worcester unit. For nearly a quarter-century, Bryant has been collecting Christmas donations for the unit. His combination of singing and smiling has made him a popular figure — so much so that when the holiday season arrives each year, Bryant will be in front of the Westborough Roche Bros. Bell ringer | 2
Keith Bryant Sr. is back at the Roche Bros. ringing a bell, singing holiday favorites and collecting donations for the Salvation Army.
Contract approved for town administrator By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough officially has a new town administrator. The Select Board voted to approve a contract between the town and future Town Administrator Tim McInerney during a special meeting on Dec. 8.
According to Select Board Chair Mitch Cohen, McInerney’s first day was Dec. 11. “We look forward to Tim joining us,” Cohen said. “I want to thank, on behalf of the board, Mike Gallagher for being an excellent interim [town administrator] and bringing this process to a close.” Cohen also thanked former interim Town Contract | 2
PHOTO/ MAUREEN SULLIVAN