Shrewsbury celebrates Chinese New Year shrewsbury| 13
Design of Northborough fire station approved northborough | 5
special section Valentine’s Day page 9
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Vol. 50 | No. 6 | February 9, 2024
Regional dispatch center may set up at former Harvey School
Shrewsbury’s David Long travels the world to capture landscapes By Evan Walsh Reporter
The Harvey School building on Phillips Street could be the new home for the regional emergency dispatch center. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – A former school building near downtown Westborough could become home for the new regional emergency communications center. During its Jan. 23 meeting, the Select Board heard from Fire Chief Patrick Purcell and Town Manager Kristi Williams on why Westborough and Grafton were seeking other sites for the center. According to Williams, the original site chosen — a building on the south side of Hocomonco Pond — may have environmental issues. She said when town officials entered the building “there was an odor.” Dispatch center | 2
SHREWSBURY – Grafton’s Small Stones Festival of the Arts features a collection of local photography. In 2021, the festival included one image of something any Central Massachusetts resident would immediately recognize: the Old Stone Church in West Boylston. In the image, the historic church — which sits on the edge of the Wachusett Reservoir — is captured after a fresh, powdery snowfall. The pine-tree branches are dusted with snow, the reservoir is icy and a picture-perfect Christmas wreath is hung on the church’s wall. The iconic photo, called “Old Stone Church Christmas,” was captured by former longtime Shrewsbury resident David Long. Since Long’s 2021 submission, he’s had several other images featured at Small Stones, including four at this year’s festival, which was held from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4. David Long | 12
David Long (Photo/Courtesy)
Westborough superintendent finalists announced By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – On Monday, Feb. 5, residents, students and staff got their first opportunity to meet the three finalists for Westborough Public Schools superintendent. Allison Borchers, Kristin DeFrancisco and Brian Callaghan spent the day touring the school
district, followed by a public forum in the early evening. During the forum at Mill Pond Elementary School, each candidate had about 30 minutes to answer the same set of questions that had been submitted in advance. The questions, presented by School Committee member Kristen Vincent, ranged from Finalists | 16