Amazon opens new same-day delivery center
Northborough health director steps down
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Vol. 49 | No. 52 | December 29, 2023
St. Anne’s Human Services provides holiday cheer, year-round support
Bock stepping down as WPS superintendent
By Evan Walsh Reporter
FILE PHOTO/ED KARVOSKI JR.
Superintendent Amber Bock speaks during the 2022 graduation.
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – There will be a new superintendent of schools come September 2024. Amber Bock, who has served as Westborough’s top school official for 10 years, will be stepping down at the end of the academic year. Bock notified the School Committee of her decision in early December, and the Westborough Public Schools community soon afterward. “After 10 years, it’s a good time to hand over the reins,” she said. Bock has decided to return to teaching, and has accepted a position at a school in northeastern Massachusetts. In a letter sent to members of the school community, Bock credited faculty members and Bock | 12
SHREWSBURY – Dozens of volunteers, boxes of produce and hundreds of clients — just another Monday at St. Anne’s Food Pantry. The pantry — an offshoot of St. Anne’s Human Services — helps fight food insecurity throughout Shrewsbury. Supported by community donations, corporate sponsors and volunteers, the food pantry PHOTO/EVAN WALSH The volunteers at St. Anne’s Human Services Food Pantry pose for a group photo. has shop days for clients, 62-plus crowd. where people can select certain items from fully stocked The pantry gets donations from corporate sponsors — shelves, including an assortment of meats. On non-shop namely Trader Joe’s and Target — four times per week. St. days, clients have the option to pick up a box of fresh produce. The pantry now has senior days, intended for the St. Anne’s | 10
Maple Street multifamily developer appeals ZBA’s decision By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – The Northborough Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is heading to court. In late November, the board denied a project that would have reconstructed a home at 129 Maple St. that was destroyed by a fatal fire in 2021. The project, which was proposed by David
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Cooley, called for razing the existing residence and constructing a five-unit multifamily townhouse structure in its place. After closing the public hearing in late October, the board voted 3-2 against granting a special permit with site plan approval to reconstruct a nonconforming, pre-existing multifamily structure that was destroyed by fire. Maple Street | 2