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HHS holds graduation for Class of 2024

hudson | 17

Marlborough deploys traps to deal with rodents

marlborough | 8

Marlborough Hudson

Marlborough cuts K-5 band, orchestra from budget

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – The city’s schools will be going into the 2024-25 school year with fewer administrators and teachers, and no band and orchestra program for K-5 students.

During the meeting on May 28, the School Committee trimmed nearly $850,000 from its fiscal year 2025 budget.

On the recommendations of Superintendent Mary Murphy, the cuts will include three fulltime administrative positions (K-12 supervisors); six full-time teaching positions at the high school; a support position (hall monitor) at the high school; and the K-5 band and orchestra program (eliminates two full-time positions).

Two positions of an assistant principal and nurse at Goodnow Elementary School will be paid through two positions — an administrator and a teacher who resigned — that will remain unfilled.

In addition, Marlborough Public Schools will seek further reductions by ordering fewer supplies.

“I hope they’re not forever decisions,” said Murphy.

Later in the meeting, the School Committee approved the adjusted 2025 fiscal year budget of $75,775,874, which is still 5.2% above the budget for fiscal 2024.

Committee members and the chairman, Mayor J. Christian Dumais, credited a collaborative effort for finding and making the cuts.

“It’s not just a mayor’s show. It’s a group

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – Alexis Ott likes to bake.

She mentioned it during her valedictorian address to her fellow members of Marlborough High’s Class of 2024 on June 2.

“Baking taught me so many valuable lessons,” she said.

While culinary arts will not be Ott’s major when she goes to the University of Connecticut this fall — she plans to study mechanical engineering — baking will continue to be part of her life. It’s one of her connections to the class.

Another connection — resiliency.

“We were a very resilient class – no matter the experience we come together,” said Ott. She recalled spending her freshman year on a computer. It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she, like the rest of her class, had to rely on remote learning.

When in-person classes resumed her sophomore year, so did spirit week. When her class won the competition, Ott recalled thinking,

School Committee discusses fiscal realities

By Sarah Freedman Contributing Writer

HUDSON – The School Committee had a discussion about the necessary steps to close out the 2024 fiscal year and the fiscal realities of the budget at its May 28 meeting.

Finance and Operations Director Dan Gale highlighted the budget projections for expens-

es and revenue for the committee.

“Overall, the budget is projected $686,000 over budget, which is funded through whatever amount that is funded through School Choice reserves,” he said. He said that personnel expenses are projected to be $888,000 under budget due to vacancies, which are filled by agency staffing

Alexis Ott was the valedictorian for Marlborough High’s Class of 2024. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

Marlborough’s Piave Square honors World War I veterans

By Linda Rennie History Columnist

MARLBOROUGH - Piave Square is located between Beach Street, Liberty Street and South Street. This is the area where many of the Italian immigrants settled when they arrived in the United States. These Italians were known as the “swampers” because of the swamps and wetlands located in the area. Many of these immigrants served in both World War I and World War II.

The Piave River is located in northeastern Italy. The Battle of the Piave River (also known as the Battle of the Solstice) was fought between June 15 and 23, 1918 and was a decisive victory for the Italian Army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Get Real Grads

during World War I. Italy was part of the Allied Forces while Austria-Hungary was part of the Central Powers. It was clear that the battle was the beginning of the end of the AustroHungarian Empire.

In 1922 it was decided to raise a monument as a tribute to the Italian veterans who fought in World War I. This monument is to honor those men who served not only in the interest of their native country but a number of them also fought under the Stars and Stripes. The granite monument stands on a cement base and is nine feet high. The names are located on all four sides of the monument and are designated according to rank.

On October 12, 1922, the city celebrated with a parade and

dedication exercises. During the ceremony Councilman Nicholas F. Benedetto paid tribute to the men who fought in World War I and stated the object of the Italian people in erecting a memorial was to honor these veterans who served during the conflict. Mayor Simoneau and other speakers who followed praised the valor of Italian servicemen and gave credit to their heroic deeds on the field of battle.

The unveiling of the monument was done by Daniel Santora, Antimo Pretiulingue, Umberta Bassanti and Damiano Bruno, who represented several Italian societies. There are 63 men honored on the monument. The city of Marlborough is proud of you.

This monument in Marlborough was designated as Piave Square in 1922 to honor Italian veterans who fought in World War I.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The members of the 2024 Farmer’s Market planning committee would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the hospitality shown to The Market and the community by Congregation B’nai Shalom synagogue. After Covid, the Westborough Rotary took over managing the market and opened the season at the Congregational Church. We all remember how everyone was happy to return to some form of normality, and returning to the original market location was perfect. When the Congregational Church could no longer host the market, B’nai Shalom graciously stepped in and offered their front lawn as a new home.

The Synagogue’s location provided many advantages: lots of space on the front lawn, great visibility on Main Street, tons of parking, and an area for food trucks. But, as season two progressed, community feedback made us realize that a more central location was needed.

And so, starting this year, the Farmer’s Market will be at our town meeting place — Bay State Commons. We are so thankful to B’nai Shalom for the past two years, and to the Congregational Church for prior years. They opened their arms to the market and have been great community partners. We could not have reached this new location without the support that allowed us to continue and to learn how to improve the market.

We hope everyone will check out the Farmer’s Market at Bay State Commons starting on Thursday, June 13th, and become regular patrons.

Thanks for the continuing support, and see you at the market.

The Farmer’s Market Committee: Rotarian and Market Manager Kristin Bradley; Rotarians Kathy Wilfert and Curtis Bramley; Westborough Connects Executive Director Kelley Petralia; and Volunteer Wendi Comey

Ryan Maloney, owner

Malting

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The Community Advocate is a weekly periodical, (U.S.P.S. # 014-423), published by Bagdon Advertising, Inc., with offices located at 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581. Periodicals postage is paid at Shrewsbury, MA 01546 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Community Advocate, 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581. Publication date is Friday. Deadline for R.O.P. advertising, local community news and classified advertising is Friday, noon, seven days prior to publication. Not liable for typographical errors, however, we will reprint that portion of the ad wherein error occurred if notified in writing within three working days of the publication date. All material included is the property of The Community Advocate and may include material produced under copyright or a syndicated ad service. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material from any issue of the Community Advocate.

Malting is a pivotal process in whisky making, serving as the initial transformation of raw barley into a crucial ingredient for crafting fine spirits. This intricate procedure begins with steeping barley grains in water, triggering germination. As the grains sprout, enzymes within the barley are activated, converting starches into fermentable sugars. Once the desired level of enzymatic activity is achieved, the germinated barley, known as “green malt,” is dried in a kiln to halt further growth. This drying process, known as kilning, not only arrests germination but also imparts distinct flavors and aromas to the malt. The duration and temperature of kilning significantly influence the flavor profile of the final whisky, ranging from delicate floral notes to rich, toasty undertones. The Spirits department at JULIO’S LIQUORS carries many hard-to-find items from single malt scotches to high-end vodkas and gins. We also house the Vigilant Smoke Shop, a state-of-the-art, full-service smoke shop with a knowledgeable, well trained friendly staff to cater to all of your tobacco needs. Every Wednesday we offer free whisky tasting to the public. By using our whisky-centric blog site www.lochandkey.com as well, you can follow up with friends after the tastings! For more information, please call 508-366-1942, or visit us at 140 Turnpike Rd., Rt. 9 East P.S. The four stages of the malting process are steeping, germination, kilning, and roasting.

If you like our Un-cork’d article every week, check out our radio show & podcast –It’s TheLiquor Talking Live show every Saturday, 11 am on WCRN AM830 Or catch rebroadcasts on WCRN AM830 every weekday at 7 pm after Howie Carr! You can also pick and choose episodes on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

HUDSON – As the temperatures rise and summer is on the horizon, community members have been looking for ways to cool off. Last weekend, residents enjoyed a beach day at Centennial Beach in Hudson. (Photo/Tami White)

Where Activities Abound

Engage in our full calendar of programs and activities

Fitness programs, art classes, clubs, live performances, and more

New Horizons at Marlborough offers a wide variety of engaging activities for residents year-round. Individuals may choose from physical fitness instruction, performance and visual art classes, gardening, educational presentations, and much more. Every activity is specifically designed to benefit the well-being of residents.

On-site amenities such as our heated lap pool, raised garden beds, greenhouse, theater, and “town common” provide ideal settings for active seniors. All activities and events are facilitated by New Horizons’ friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Immediate availability, including three home-cooked meals daily, starting at $2,400/month for one resident

New Horizons at Marlborough offers: • Gardening on raised flower beds • Mind & body relaxation classes

Billiards & board games

College alumni clubs

Exercise instruction

Book & cinema club

Computer training

Watercise classes

Trips off campus

Trivia nights

Hudson School Committee discusses fiscal realities

School Committee | from page 1

such as paraeducators. Other savings in the budget came about due to staff turnover, he said.

The school district is hoping to try to make adjustments to see if they can eliminate the need to rely on agency staffing and hire more staff in-house, according to Gale.

In terms of general expenses, the projection is to be $1.2 million over budget. This is primarily due to increased out of district (OOD) costs for unexpected student placements in addition to the aforementioned agency staff costs. Gale called them “the two main drivers” for cost increases.

He said the agency costs were estimated to be $450,000 over budget, and staff had talked in the 2025 fiscal year budget about that being a budget cost driver for the forthcoming fiscal year.

Gale said, “That big reason the budget’s going up in FY25 is an increase in cost.”

Transportation expenses were expected to be over budget by $98,000 because of additional routes. The contractor rates for the 2024 fiscal year are “still O.K.,” he said.

In some good news, he said, “Revenues are higher than expected, so that’s offsetting some of our increased costs.”

For School Choice, the revenues were projected at $1.3 million, which was $300,000 more than what was budgeted, he said. In May, they found out they would receive $192,000 in Circuit Breaker fund relief from a state program.

“If you have a significant increase in your out-of-district special education placements,

they have additional reserves money just to help those districts out,” said Gale.

He said as the district was fortunate to receive these funds, it would be used to offset the 2024 fiscal year expenses. They were planning on the total expenses to be $47,601,786 for 2024 with $2.5 million in School Choice

remaining for the district’s use.

When asked how much of the $888,000 in personnel savings would offset the increases in budget costs, Gale said “around $800,000” of the agency staff costs, which were $300,000 more than hiring in house.

To that end, Gale said they were taking steps through hu-

man resources for marketing to increase the pay rate. Agencies are “just paying more,” and they would try to increase rates to attract more potential hires.

“We’re going to do a public hiring event at the public library coming up in June,” Superintendent Brian Reagan said.

He said the thought behind

it was that the library would be easy for people to get to and for them to engage with the school representatives.

The School Committee also approved the donation from the Robert Lloyd Corkin Charitable Foundation for $5,000 to be used for two scholarships for deserving graduating seniors at Hudson High School.

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Classic car show

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – It came just in time to fuel those summer fantasies of cruising down an open road, music blaring and motor roaring.

On June 2, more than 400 antique and classic cars and trucks lined Main Street and adjacent lots as part of the annual car show sponsored by the United Brethren Lodge.

Organizers said it was one of the best turnouts in years.

“It’s a fabulous turnout,” said Patty Bush, who was helping to run the A&M Car Club booth.

Crowds took advantage of the sunny, dry weather to check out the array of Camaros, Stingrays, Oldsmobiles, Studebakers and other makes and models, all shiny and ready to be admired.

Those who came to check out the vehicles in the morning could stop by the lodge for a pancake breakfast hosted by Boy Scout troops 41 and 26G.

Proceeds from the breakfast will help the troop replenish camping equipment and patrol boxes.

For lunch? There was a food court in one of the parking lots,

Take time to pray

selling ice cream, wings, hot dogs and much more.

Proceeds from vehicle admission fees went to several charities supported by the lodge, including Shriners Chil-

In case you missed the car show, the A&M Car Show Reunion is scheduled for Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marlborough Fish and Game, 1 Muddy Lane. The event will feature music from The Allens, car bar, 50/50 raffle, food and a cruise competition at noon.

Admission is $15 per vehicle, $5 per spectator.

For information, contact Steve Bush at 774-287-7791, or email a&mreunion@yahoo. com.

dren’s Hospital, the Wounded Warrior Project, the Masons, the Boys and Girls Club of Metrowest, the Marlborough Food Pantry, Home Base Veteran and Family Care.

Downtown in summertime

The Pop-Up Shops, sponsored by the Marlborough Economic Development Corp., have opened for the season. A variety of vendors will be at the Weed Street shops on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For the latest, visit https://www.facebook.com/MarlboroughEDC.

The Marlborough Farmers Market will open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 15 to Oct. 15 behind City Hall. The mayor’s summer concert series will take place Thursdays at 7 p.m. through Aug. 15 at Union Common. Color Killer will kick it off on June 13, followed by Dom V & the Swing Out Band on June 20 and the Reminisants on June 27. The complete schedule is available at the city’s website.

Budget | from page 1

effort,” said Dumais. The committee approved the budget while still negotiating several contracts, including the paraprofessionals and Unit B administrators.

The School Committee did approve one contact on May 28 — a new three-year deal with the Marlborough Educators Association. Marlborough cuts K-5 band, orchestra from budget

One of the oldest entries at the annual Marlboro Car Show, held on June 2, was this 1931 Ford Model 1 roadster from New Hampshire.

By noontime, crowds and classic vehicles filled Main Street.

(Photos/Maureen Sullivan)

Mayor wants to bring back Labor Day Festival

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – Mayor

J. Christian Dumais wants to bring back the Labor Day Festival.

To that end, he has requested a free cash transfer of $50,000.

“As mentioned in my inaugural speech, it was my intention to bring back the Labor Day Festival,” Dumais told the City Council in a letter dated May 15. “We are in the early planning stages of the event and plan on formally announcing in the coming weeks after securing support from the City Council.

“This transfer allows us to not only maintain seed money for this inaugural event but shows an investment on the part of the city to other investors. After the transfer is approved, we will begin fundraising for the event.”

Should the transfer be approved, the funds would be used toward programming

(dunk tank, bounce houses, etc.), entertainment, equipment rental and other expenses.

“The seed money for the festival will allow us to ensure the event remains free of cost to both residents and vendors/ participants,” said Dumais.

The mayor also provided a cost breakdown of the annual parade, which cost about $70,000 last year. He said the

current account for Labor Day parade donations has a total of $64.

“While my office will continue to solicit donations to support the parade, to rely on donations alone for the parade and the festival for the first year is unrealistic,” he said.

The request has been sent to the City Council’s Finance Committee.

Hudson Community Festival June 8

HUDSON – The Hudson community is gearing up for the 36th annual Community Festival on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. along South Street.

The festival is being sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, Avidia Bank, the Hudson Rotary Club and the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce. It will be held rain or shine.

The Friends of the Hudson Senior Center will be participating in the festival. Browse and

Garden Club Yard Sale June 15

HUDSON – The Hudson Garden Club will be holding its annual Yard Sale on June 15 between 9 a.m. to noon at 42 Marlboro St. The sale is sure to have something for everyone. Proceeds will benefit the club’s programming and scholarships.

purchase various handmade items from the Senior Center gift shop, like crocheted critters, graduation owls and end-ofthe-year teacher bouquets. All proceeds will support the group and its fundraising projects.

The festival will also feature a food court, a splash pad, alpacas, arts and crafts and performances at the Cellucci Park and food court sound stages.

For details about the festival, visit www.assabetvalleychamber.org.

Doing our part to support local business.

—

A fife player marches in the Labor Day parade in 2023. (Photo/Evan Walsh)

Marlborough deploys special traps to deal with rodents

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – The city has deployed a new way of dealing with the rat problem.

Smart boxes have been installed on public property in neighborhoods throughout the city. These are pesticidefree devices that can hold five

to 10 rodents. These boxes attract nearby rodents with specialized bait. Once the rodent is fully in the box, it is pushed up with an arm and electrocuted. The rodent is then pushed into the holding container.

The boxes are GPS monitored as well as alerted each time a rodent is captured.

Modern Pest, the owner and servicing company, picks up boxes once they have at least five captures and they are checked every few days.

The inside of the box is too small for children or pets to enter.

This capture program is part of a six-month pilot between the city and Modern Pest.

Thanks, Dad — For Showing How to Lead, Then Trusting to Follow.

Fatherhood isn’t just about providing; it’s about leading by example, imparting wisdom, and instilling values that echo through generations. As Father’s Day approaches, it’s time to pause and express gratitude for these silent architects of our lives.

This will be my first without my dad, who passed last month at 94. He had a great run as he lived an active lifestyle with emphasis on volunteerism, a farmer’s work ethic and humility.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Hampton Falls, NH, he attended nearby UNH to study agriculture and worked on the farm through his late 20’s. As with many farms in the 1950’s, financials and scale would impact their ability to operate, so he took a job as a rural mail career.

He’d retire 34 years later in this same capacity, never seeking to climb the corporate ladder nor amass great sums of money. He, along with my mom who left teaching high school to stay at home, found more value in being present for my childhood and creating an environment to provide better opportunities than they had.

I experienced his leadership through my involvement in team sports, Cub Scouts, and school activities. But what awe-struck this kid was his being in the Volunteer Fire Department (including Fire Warden) for 20-plus years. The visits to the firehouse with guys greeting “Forrest!”, his gear ready to go in our hallway, fire scanner in the bedroom and of course, seeing him come home. Sometimes it would be in the middle of the night or in the early morning where he’d shower, eat breakfast, and go to work as the only mailman in town because “someone’s gotta deliver the mail”.

As my dad led by example in work ethic and volunteerism, he also learned to trust in my expertise and insights as an adult. This reciprocal exchange of trust signifies the evolving nature of the parent-child relationship. Fathers trust

their children to carry forward their legacy and ensure their well-being in old age. This trust with my dad was nurtured through open dialogue, shared decision-making, and a mutual commitment to the family’s collective goals.

Let me be clear, it wasn’t always easy. It can be a humbling realization – to see the roles reversed, to witness the wisdom and innovation of the next generation, and to have the courage to follow their lead. There were times he’d feel anxiety towards change, whether all proper precautions were being taken and he’d reference others who were doing something different.

From a financial planning perspective, some examples of actions taken (with his initial reaction) included: establishing a revocable trust (“Why, we’re not loaded”), maintaining longterm care insurance (“It’s getting so expensive, I might never use it”), and converting his modest IRA to Roth in January 2009 plus switch to growth investments (“I’m too old for that”).

And of course, the greatest combination of financial and well-being in old age planningknowing when it’s time to get support for elder care (“Your mother and I are going to sell our home, move to Mass and live with you, your wife, and young kids - are you crazy?!”).

As I look back on the last 5 ½ years since that decision, his ability to trust and follow plans made for some of the most relaxed experiences together as a father and son. We could both focus on developing fond memories and instilled values with our girls, his granddaughters. For this, and many other reasons, I say thanks Dad and Happy Father’s Day.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Glenn Brown lives in MetroWest and is owner of PlanDynamic, LLC, www.PlanDynamic.com. He is a fee-only Certified Financial Planner™ helping motivated people take control of their planning and investing, so they can balance kids, aging parents and financial independence.

The boxes were originally placed based on the results of the mayor’s rodent reporting tool. Boxes will be moved if they show inactivity after a certain period of time.

Since the reporting tool was initiated in January, the Board of Health has reported about 80 rodent sightings, with the top spots close to the city’s center.

Boxes designed to catch and kill rodents have been deployed throughout the city. This box is located on Washington Street.

(Photo/Maureen

The city obtained funding from some underutilized accounts within its budget, said Ryan Egan, chief of staff for Mayor J. Christian Dumais. To learn more about the boxes and to report a rodent sighting, visit: https://www. marlborough-ma.gov/boardhealth/pages/rodent-information-reporting

AMSA to host ‘Running with the Eagles’ 5K

MARLBOROUGH – Advanced Math and Science Academy (AMSA) will host a “Running with the Eagles 5K” on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m.

The course will start and finish behind the Solomon Pond Mall. The route will go to Donald Lynch Boulevard, to the New England Sports Center, and then will return.

Walkers, strollers and dogs will be allowed; they will start once the runners have begun. Water will be available along the route.

The mall will host a postevent party, with live entertainment, a cornhole tournament,

food trucks and more.

Awards will be given to the winners in three age categories. Race-day registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The event is in partnership with Solomon Pond Mall. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of science equipment for the school.

Registration will be $30; the first 100 entrants will receive a shirt.

Online registration is now available at tinyurl.com/ymnvpz5r.

For information, contact Mark Vital at mvital@amsacs. org.

Your Money, Your Independence

Glenn Brown, CFP

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Sullivan)

St. Matthew’s Rev. Flynn celebrates 60th anniversary

By Thomas Grillo Contributing Writer

SOUTHBOROUGH – For the Rev. James Flynn, there wasn’t a moment when he decided to join the priesthood.

The 85-year-old pastor of St. Matthew in Southborough said it was a series of reflections since he was a teenager and not a “calling” that brought him to the church.

“It evolved,” Flynn said. “God didn’t come down and sit on my shoulder and whisper in my ear. My Catholic education had a substantial impact on me. I had tremendous admiration for the priests and nuns in Arlington where I grew up. And my mother, who attended daily Mass, had a tremendous faith and that dramatically affected me.”

On June 9, Flynn and the St. Matthew community will celebrate the 60th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood. The observance will be held at the parish center at 2 p.m.

Patricia Lally, a longtime parishioner, said when Flynn joined the parish in 1993, there were fewer than five dozen families and it was losing members. Today, she said, there are more than 600, and it’s all thanks to Flynn.

“In addition to Southborough, parishioners come from

CPR/AED training course in Northborough

NORTHBOROUGH – The Greater Boroughs Partnership for Health is offering an in-person CPR/AED training course on Thursday, June 27, at Northborough Free Library, 34 Main St.

Training sessions will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and each session will last two hours.

This event is for residents and staff from the towns of Boylston, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough. Registration in advance is required as space is limited; cost of attendance is $30.

Register via the Northborough Recreation site, under summer/adult programs, at https://northboroughma.myrec.com/info/default.aspx.

Northborough, Berlin and Holliston all because of Father Flynn,” she said. “He’s brought so many teenagers back to the parish. The thing that strikes me the most is he lives in the real world, he understands people, and treats everyone so kindly. If you need somebody for support, he’s there for that.”

The other factor, she said, is Flynn has mastered the 35-minute Mass and is convinced the briefer the sermon the better.

“One time, my son, who was a teenager at the time, actually timed the Mass,” she recalled. “And when Mass was over, Father Flynn asked him, ‘Was

I fast enough for you?’ ”

Flynn has a unique ability to relate to persons of all ages, Lally said.

“If you need a good laugh, he’s there to laugh with you,” she said. “And he brings God, which is his job, into the picture in a very simple and understanding way.”

Born in 1938, the son of Robert J. and Helen Flynn, he attended Elm Bank, the Stigmatine Fathers’ seminary in Wellesley, and graduated from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with a BA in 1960 and a graduate degree in theology four years later.

He was ordained at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in 1964. After his service as a lecturer in religious studies at Catholic University, he was appointed dean of students for the Stigmatine Fathers, while directing the guidance department of the former Elizabeth Seton High School in Wellesley. In 1980, he received a doc-

torate in the history and philosophy of education from Boston College. His goal, Flynn said, was to teach.

“I never thought I would serve in a parish and to tell you the truth I didn’t want to,” he recalled. “But my experiences in a variety of parishes, where for the first time I went to people’s homes to anoint them, were extraordinary.”

Among the problems facing the Catholic Church today, Flynn said, is the number of priests is shrinking, in part, because marriage is prohibited.

Between 1970 and 2023, the number of priests has declined by 3% despite a large increase in the number of Catholics, according to the Vatican. One of the major reasons, Flynn said, is celibacy. He favors allowing priests to marry and also supports the ordination of women.

“Women should be equal to men in the Catholic Church,” he said. “They have made tremendous contributions and deserve to be on par with men.”

Rev. James Flynn celebrates the 60th anniversary of his ordination on Sunday, June 9 at St. Matthew parish center. (Photo/ Thomas Grillo)

By Evan Walsh Reporter

looking for an affordable, easy way to get around the MetroWest area?

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) can help. The organization –formed in 2006 to serve the 32 towns in the I-495-MetroWest corridor – runs buses, shuttles and vans to dozens of destinations throughout Central Massachusetts. With roughly 20 fixed routes, and myriad other programs and shuttles, one thing is clear: The MWRTA can get you where you want to go.

“Public transit is huge. We can connect you to the MBTA — from there, you can go into

Boston or Worcester. You can go to a game, to a show, or commute to work. You don’t

The MWRTA can get you where you want to go.

(Photo/Courtesy)

have to drive into Boston and get stuck in traffic and sit there angrily. It’s a lot less

expensive as well. You don’t have to worry about parking, you don’t have to worry about getting to your car and getting gas. You can just use the MWRTA and go where you want to go,” MWRTA Director of Fixed Route, Intermodal and Marketing Emily VanDewoestine said.

The MWRTA gives MetroWest residents the flexibility and freedom to travel throughout the region, including Framingham, Natick, Hopkinton, Ashland, Wellesley, and, of course, Marlborough and Hudson. VanDewoestine said that locals, including many transit-dependent us-

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

ers, use the service to get to supermarkets, offices, the mall, the park, the movie theater and much more. The MWRTA is reliable and significantly cheaper than possible alternatives – an adult ticket on a fixed route clocks in at $1.50 cash.

“We’re very reliable and we’re only striving to do better,” VanDewoestine told the Community Advocate. “We really want to hear more from the community on what we could be doing better to make service better for them. We want to hear feedback from existing riders, but also from people who don’t ride the services and don’t know anything about it – we want to know how we can help them.”

In 2022, the MWRTA, with the support of Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow), started a service of particular interest

to Hudson residents, with some areas of Marlborough included. CatchConnect, a curb-to-curb micro-transit service, brings public transit to every area in Hudson. With the MWRTA’s CATCH app, customers can get almost ondemand transit service from any Hudson address.

“CatchConnect is really nice, specifically for Hudson residents. It’s the public-transit version of Uber or Lyft is what we call it. It’s very flexible, but it still offers public transportation: It’s a shared-ride service, it will get you where you need to go, but it’s not an individual ride. People can make an account, go in, put in their address in Hudson, put in where they want to go, and the next available vehicle will come pick them up at their door and take them where they want to go,” said VanDewoestine.

Plus, the MWRTA is for everyone. The service offers 65plus residents reduced fares on the authority’s ADA-accessible vehicles, giving people who may not be able to reliably drive the freedom to independently move around the state. Children and active-duty servicemembers ride free, and the TryTransit promotion allows people to try the service for free through June 30.

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) can be found at https://mwrta. com/. For more information, please contact the MWRTA office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except for holidays), at 508-935-2222.

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Community Advocate advertisers.

New director of Grafton Public Library appointed

GRAFTON – The Board of Library Trustees has appointed Thomas O’Connell as library director of the Grafton Public Library.

O’Connell will be responsible for the management, operation and leadership of programs and services of the 25,000-squarefoot library. He will oversee a professional, unionized staff of full- and part-time employees.

His prior experience includes working as manager of collection development and technical services at Springfield City Library; and librarian and technical supervisor of integrated library systems at Mid-Hudson Library System in Poughkeepsie, New York.

O’Connell served as assistant director/public services

librarian at Owensboro Community College, Owensboro, Kentucky; reference librarian at Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, Connecticut; and reference librarian at Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky.

O’Connell has a comprehensive knowledge of library policies and best practices, budget management, collection development, as well as his experience supervising union and non-union staff.

He holds a master of library science degree and bachelor of arts in geography from Southern Connecticut State University.

O’Connell will be joining the library in early June, and he has recently relocated to Upton.

GIFTS DADS GRADS FOR

Marlborough Rotary holds annual Italian Night

COLOR KILLER, with its pop/ punk music, will kick off the 2024 Marlborough Summer Concert Series in Union Common on Thursday, June 13, at 7 p.m. The series of nine concerts will be great entertainment for the whole family. Presented by Mayor Christian Dumais and the Marlborough Recreation Department, admission is free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the concert with family and friends. The concerts are being held Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the corner of Main and Bolton (Rte. 85) streets, Marlborough. Local breweries are on site each week to provide adult refreshments to those who wish to partake. On June 20, Dom V & The Swing Out Band will perform.

“A PASTA DINNER FUNDRAISER,” sponsored by the Marlborough Sons and Daughters of Italy #240, was the oc-

MARLBOROUGH – The Rotary Club of Marlborough held its annual Italian Night May 22 at the Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church with some 100 people enjoying the salad, pasta, sauce, meatballs, sausage and homemade desserts. The 500 meatballs were crafted into precise 2.0 ounces, each, by a Rotarian committee consisting of Elaine McDonald, Doug Palino, Heather Johnston, Darlene Trainor and George Mongeau.

Handmade meatballs, precisely 2.0 ounces each, were served at the Rotary Club of Marlborough’s Italian Night at the Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church. Crafting the 500 meatballs were a Rotarian committee consisting of, from left, Heather Johnston, Doug Palino, George Mongeau, Elaine McDonald and Darlene Trainor. (Photo/Mary Wenzel)

casion to present 2024 Sons of Italy Scholarships. Held at the Moose Lodge, Rose King, Alex Tockman and Mallory Farrell were announced as winners.

Concert Series Concert Series

The Willows at Westborough is thrilled to announce their 2024 Summer Concert Series, featuring a lineup of incredible artists and bands, set in their beautiful community courtyard.

ALL CONCERTS: 7:00–8:15pm

June 12* The Reminisants

June 19 The Interborough Community Band

June 26 Stoptime Review

July 3 Westwood Swing Band

July 10 The Wolverines Jazz Band

MARLBOROUGH’S WADING Pools, Splash Pads, and Memorial Beach will be opening up soon. The splash pads will be (tentatively) opening June 3 and pools will be (tentatively) opening June 21. Both are “tentative” in the case of system issues, as these types of facilities are complex to regulate. Memorial Beach opens to the public on June 10.

THIS YEAR, 32 Marlborough High School seniors are earning the MA Seal of Biliteracy, an award for students who demonstrate high levels of fluency and literacy in two languages. Three students are earning the Seal of Biliteracy with distinc-

ON JUNE 14, 2024 (Flag Day) at 4:30 p.m. at the Marlborough Public Library, Marlborough, there will be a Medal of Liberty Ceremony hosted by the Marlborough Historical Society. There will be 13 Medals of Liberty awarded to families from casualties from World War I, World War II and Korea. Also, being honored are three Medals of Fidelity to the families of three men from Marlborough who died from exposure to agent orange.

July 17* Fantasy Big Band

July 24 Riverboat Stompers

July 31 Dan Gable & the Abletones

August 7* Swing Legacy

*Be our guest and receive a complementary dinner and tour of our facility prior to the concert. RSVP 508-366-4730 x2020.

No dogs allowed. If poor weather, concerts will be closed to the public.

tion, an award reserved for those with top test scores.

(* = Seal of Biliteracy with distinction)

Congratulations to:

Elias Brytus*

Jessica Dzioba*

Juanes Flores*

Jaylee Agundis

Allan Ahn Duque

Iasmin Andrade

Sebastian Arango

Luiz Bernardes

Joel Campos

Lara Da Silva

Lucas Da Silva

Ana De Andrade

Lucas De Sa

Julia De Souza

Luis Dutra

Yuri Ferreira

Anderson Gomez

Layany Guimaraes

Maria Hernandez Silva

Laura Leal

Saulo Maciel

Isaac Meireles

Luis Oliveira Silva

Luis Felipe Penna

Joana Pereira Da Silva

Michele Pinto

Joao Ramos

Ryan Santos

Elizaveta Strelkova

Leonardo Vasquez Alcantara

Ingrid Vieira Rios

Jenny Xitumul Sic

CONGRATULATIONS to Marlborough High School senior Parker Rogers for being named “Outstanding Male Athlete” at a recent track meet. Parker set a new meet record in the discus, showcasing his incredible talent and hard work. Parker is to attend the University of South Carolina.

JAWOREK SCHOOL recently hosted a heartfelt outdoor ceremony in honor of Memorial Day, attended by family, friends, and veterans. Under the direction of music teacher Meg Defazio, the entire student body performed to pay tribute to our veterans. This year’s event was particularly special as it marked Ms. Defazio’s final program before her retirement at the end of this school year. Former colleagues also joined to participate and wish her well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

June 7 – Walter Bonin

June 9 – Rosemary Rimkus and Patty Cappadona

June 10 – Jose Mesmar

June 12 – Linda Rennie and Mike Lawton

June 14 – Mary Aykanian and Adam DeFalco

June 15 – Avraham Nahoumi

June 16 – Katie Robey

June 16 – Father’s Day

June 17 – Jake Dalbec and Roy Cappadona

June 18 – Samantha Perlman, Theresa Haddad Frias and Deb Marino

June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day

June 20 – Summer Solstice

Send items for “Marlborough at a Glance” to Mary Wenzel at marysampler@verizon.net. Put GLANCE in the subject line.

2024 Sons of Italy Scholarships were presented at a recent Pasta Dinner sponsored by the Marlborough Sons and Daughters of Italy #240. In the photo, from left, are Robert Hall, vice president; Chris Milner, uncle of Alex Tockman; Rose King; Mike Farrell, father of Mallory Farrell; and Dan Caruso, president. (Photo/Mary Wenzel)

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – In his first graduation ceremony as mayor of Marlborough, J. Christian Dumais recalled when he was a member of the Class of 1998, sweating it out in the Field House.

“I was where you are,” he told the Class of 2024 on June 2 at Noble Field. “If someone had told me that I would be mayor, I’d say you were out of your mind.”

His message to the class –follow your own path and be willing to work hard to achieve your goals.

“Hard work is the key to success,” he said.

Superintendent Mary Murphy told the class – in English, Spanish and Portuguese – that graduation “marks the beginning of a new chapter in your lives.”

“I have no doubt you will

continue to make us proud,” she said.

For Principal Daniel Riley, the Class of 2024 was one of facing adversity — especially a pandemic — with “tremendous character.”

Riley said he was impressed with “how charitable you are as human beings.”

An example of that generosity — the senior class gift. The funds will be used to purchase jerseys for the school’s unified sports teams.

“We want to give back to this program,” said Alexis Ott, historian for the Class of 2024.

As valedictorian, Ott congratulated her classmates on making it to this day.

“It only took 13 years and a long pandemic,” she said.

Class President Risha Khanderia also referred to the pandemic, which impacted their freshman year. She listed several “I can’t wait” moments, with “I can’t wait to take this mask off” topping the list.

As sophomores, the class

won the spirit week competition and remained undefeated the final two years.

After she thanked her parents “for giving me the world,” Khanderia had one more phrase.

“I can’t wait to graduate,” she said.

With that, she and her classmates were presented their diplomas by Dumais and Murphy. After they returned to their seats, they moved their tassels, threw their caps and proceeded off the field and into their first days at the newest alums of Marlborough High School.

Alexis Ott’s main ingredient for the Class of 2024 – resiliency

Ott | from page 1

“Our class really does care about this.”

Her class would go on to win spirit week the following two years.

While at MHS, Ott was a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and tennis. She was also a basketball coach for sixth- and seventh-graders.

“I enjoyed it,” she said.

MHS tennis coach Jennifer Belisle said of Ott, “I couldn’t ask for a better captain and leader, the way she leads by example, cheering on the kids; she supported me.

“Ott made that [coaching]

a whole lot easier. She was my backup,” she said. “There’s not enough good things to say. She will be missed by this school.” And Ott’s message to her class? “To be a good person, to be kind.”

Alexis Ott (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

Members of Marlborough High’s Class of 2024 head to their seats at Noble Field. Marlborough High Principal Daniel Riley, center, issues some lastminute instructions before graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2024 on June 2 at Noble Field. (Photos/Maureen Sullivan)

Hudson High School holds graduation for Class of 2024

By Dakota Antelman Contributing Writer

HUDSON – High school years that started under metaphorical storm clouds ended under crystal clear skies June 1 as the Hudson High School Class of 2024 walked across the stage at graduation.

As attendees filled the Morgan Bowl, students received their diplomas and speakers reflected on the years that led to this point.

“Our class was literally a series of unfortunate events,” said Class President Bruna Oliveira in her welcome address.

This year’s seniors had their eighth grade year cut short by COVID-19. When students returned to school, they did so under restrictions.

Looking back on the challenges, Oliveira and the other speakers thanked their classmates, teachers and loved ones for their support.

“The pandemic experience was an anomaly,” said salutatorian Avani Kashalikar. “But it does not need to be what we are known for.”

“In fact, I think we have several other things to look back upon and learn from,” Kashalikar continued.

Kashalikar said she learned “how to make things work,” be it a silent breakout room in an online class, a forgotten quiz or a fast-approaching deadline.

“Pick up the pieces,” Kashalikar said. “Figure out what you can and can’t do. And do something.”

For all the disruption and, in some cases, trauma it caused, Hudson Public Schools Superintendent Brian Reagan told graduates the pandemic “[gave] you the chance to test your resilience.”

“The fact that you’re sitting here today having earned your high school diplomas tells me that you all possess some level of resilience,” he said.

“You’re poised to do great things and, quite frankly, we need your energy. We need your passion your empathy, your sense of social justice and all of that mixed in with a healthy dose of resilience as you use your talents to make our world a better place,” Reagan said.

Valedictorian Thuy-Tien Nguyen urged classmates to

take pictures and celebrate the day’s milestone.

“You are all so deserving of capturing this moment in our lives,” Nguyen said. “The pictures don’t need to be perfect, because the journey to get here was far from smooth and neither will be the future.”

“Embrace your imperfections as they are the marks of you leading a life with no regrets,” Nguyen later said.

“Your voice can still be heard, even if it cracks or quivers, because that carries the weight

of your dreams and aspirations.”

Graduation attendees also heard from Principal Jason Medeiros and class Vice President Jackson O’Brien.

“We love you. We are proud of you. And we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next,” Medeiros said.

“Stay curious. Stay driven. Stay committed to getting better each day and success will find you,” O’Brien said. “I will miss Hudson High School, and I will miss all of you.”

Graduates clap for their supporters, including teachers and family members, during Hudson High School’s graduation ceremony. (Photo/Dakota Antelman)

Assabet graduation honors Class of 2024, retiring principal Hollick

By Evan Walsh Reporter

WORCESTER – They entered as students. They left as graduates. But they’ll always be Aztecs.

Shop by shop, roughly 260 Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School students filed into the DCU Center on June 1 for the Class of 2024’s graduation ceremony. The event – which brought together hundreds of friends, family, and other loved ones – included speeches, music, and, of course, the conferral of diplomas to the graduates.

“Class of 2024, your journey has been anything but ordinary. Over the past four years, we’ve faced unprecedented challenges. The world threw obstacles in your path that nobody could have anticipated. You’ve navigated through a global pandemic, navigated through new ways of learning and dealt with uncertainty that tested your resilience daily. Yet, here you stand today, not just

as soon-to-be graduates, but as victors who have overcome adversity through shared determination and unwavering spirit,” Assabet Superinten -

dent-Director Ernest Houle said during the ceremony.

“As you embark on this next chapter of your lives, I encourage you to dream big, take

risks, and never stop learning. The whole world needs your talents, creativity, and your passion. Believe in yourself as we believe in you, and know…

that your potential is boundless,” he said.

The ceremony included speeches from valedictorian Larissa Granger, salutatorian Lara El-Amme Pingitore and Student Council President Jayna Tang. The class also heard performances by the Assabet Honors Chorus, Assabet singer-songwriter Jack Brzenk and the Assabet Senior Band.

“The past four years have been – to put it appropriately – quite the adventure for all of us. As I reflect back, I can’t help but marvel at how far the Class of 2024 has come. We entered this school as timid freshmen, unsure what the future held for us, but now we stand here as graduates, ready to take on the world. I think it’s truly important to recognize the tremendous support the Class of 2024 received from teachers, parents, and friends,” Tang said.

While the ceremony marked the end of the graduates’ high school experience, it also represented the end of something else.

After 32 years of working at the school, Principal Mark Hollick has decided to “move on to the next chapter.” Houle presented Hollick with a plaque during the ceremony as the crowd – including the graduates on stage – erupted in applause.

“Throughout his remarkable career he has worn many hats – paraprofessional, teacher, coach, adviser, director, and principal. Each role has been met with unwavering commitment to the betterment of students and staff, leaving an indelible mark on our community. … You have guided the school with a steady hand ensuring it remains a beacon of high-quality career and technical education for all our students. … Your departure will undoubtedly be felt deeply by all of us,” said Houle.

“It is my sincere hope that you reflect in the coming days, months, and years and look back at your time at Assabet as some of the most rewarding times of your life. You have grown. You have matured. You have overcome… Today, the Class of 2024 becomes part of a 50-year legacy and tradition. You will always be members of the Assabet family and will forever be known as Aztecs,” said Hollick.

The Assabet Honors Chorus sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Superintendent-Director Ernest Houle presents a plaque to Principal Mark Hollick in recognition of his tenure. (Photos/Evan Walsh)

Home Prices Hit Another Record High, Pushing Pending Sales Down 4%

Elaine Quigley, CBR, CRS, GRI

Elaine.Quigley@commonmoves.com

Cell: (508) 735-5161

www.EQRE.com

Prices keep rising because this spring’s inventory is lower than usual. The sliver of good news for buyers is that mortgage rates have declined slightly

The median U.S. home-sale price hit a record $387,600 during the four weeks ending May 19, up 4% from a year earlier. That’s according to a new report from Redfin (redfin. com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Weekly average mortgage rates dipped to 7.02% from a fivemonth high of 7.22% at the start of the month, bringing the median monthly housing payment to $2,854, roughly $20 shy of April’s all-time high.

High housing costs pushed pending home sales down 4.2% year over year, the biggest decline in three months (except the prior 4-week period, when sales declined 4.4%). Prices keep rising despite declining sales because there aren’t enough homes on the market: New listings are up about 8% year over year, but inventory remains lower than typical spring levels. Many homeowners are staying put because they would rather hold onto their relatively low mortgage

Embark on a New Adventure

rate than move up to a bigger and/or better home.

“Move-up buyers feel stuck because they’re ready for their next house, but it just doesn’t make financial sense to sell with current interest rates so high,” said Sam Brinton, a Redfin Premier agent in Salt Lake City, UT. “The homeowners listing right now are often doing so because they need to: One of my clients is selling because of a family emergency, and another couple is selling because they had a baby and simply don’t have enough room. Buyers should take note that many of today’s sellers are motivated; if a home doesn’t have other offers on the table, offer under asking price and/or ask for concessions because many sellers are willing to negotiate.”

COMMUNITY OBITUARIES

The Community Advocate will post obituaries online (and in print, as space allows). Please send information (and a picture if desired) to tracy@communityadvocate.com. Here is a complete list of individual obituaries posted on the Community Advocate website (www.communityadvocate.com).

DEATHS

Adams, Jodi of Shrewsbury Aversano, Laura of Grafton Bartlett, Karen of Marlborough Clasby, Helen of Southborough Dellagala, MaryJane of Shrewsbury Courtemanche, Barbara formerly of Hudson Donaldson, Wanda of Hudson Dubick, Murry of Marlborough Edwards, Scott formerly of Westborough

William E. Bickel

WESTBOROUGH - Bill was born in Pittsburgh and raised his family here. After a short and fierce battle with AML, Bill died on May 19, 2024.

Bill is survived by his wife Donna DiPrima Bickel, his son, Dr. Jonathan Bickel, and his wife, Dr. Julie Bickel, and their children Ellie (12) and Owen (8) Bickel, and his son, Alex Bickel, and his wife, Michy McCreary. The family plans a private Celebration of Life Service in Westborough, MA.

Bernard A. Farley, 87

WORCESTER – Bernard A. Farley, 87, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at Whitney Place at Westborough after a brief illness.

Mr. Farley is survived by his wife of 62 years, Cecile (Gatineau) Farley; his children, Diane Webster and her husband, Robert of Northborough; Benoit Farley and his wife, Michelle of North Brookfield; Michelle O’Leary and her husband, Patrick of Shrewsbury. He leaves his grandchildren, Matthew Webster, Benjamin and Corey Farley, and Teagan and John O’Leary. He also leaves three brothers and six sisters all of

Farley, Bernard of Worcester Hatfield, Dolores of Northborough LeBlanc, Solange of Hudson MacDonald, Alison of Shrewsbury MacDonald, Kevin formerly of Hudson Marie, Lois of Northborough Mieth, Bernd of Marlborough Remillard, Bradley formerly of Grafton Sanguinet, Ronald of Shrewsbury Smith, James of Shrewsbury Taylor Jr., Richard of Northborough

Quebec, Canada, and several nieces and nephews.

Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home of Worcester assisted with arrangements.

MaryJane Dellagala, 76

SHREWSBURY - MaryJane

“MJ” (Riggieri) Dellagala, 76, longtime Shrewsbury resident, passed away peacefully on the evening of Wednesday, May 22, 2024 with her loving family by her side. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 40 years, Joseph J. Dellagala, in 2009.

She leaves her daughters, Jennifer D. Arsenault and her husband Thomas J. Giblin, III, of Shrewsbury, and Stacey M. Beer, of Worcester; grandchildren, Evan J. Arsenault, Will C. Arsenault, and Matthew S. Arsenault, all of Shrewsbury, Ryan D. Beer and Alexa M. Beer, both of Florida; her siblings, Robert and Patricia Riggieri and Dolores Riggieri, all of Worcester; her niece, Rachel Vincequere and husband Thomas; and her nephew, Robert Riggieri and wife Christine. She also leaves behind many cousins and friends. MaryJane was also predeceased by her brother, Joseph Riggieri, Jr.; and their parents, Joseph R.J. Riggieri and Katherine L. (Padavano) Riggieri.

The Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Bernd S. Mieth, 81

MARLBOROUGH - Bernd (Bernie) Mieth, 81 of Marlborough passed away from his battle with pancreatic cancer on May 22 at his home surrounded by his close family. Born in Leipzig, Germany, he was the son of Ursula (Rath) and Ernst Mieth and was raised in Dresden.

He is survived by his wife Anneliese, his children, Corie and Dirk, daughter-in-law Jamie and four grandchildren, Seneca, Maya, Taylor and Brody.

Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Helen Clasby, 92

SOUTHBOROUGH - A Mass of Christian Burial for Helen (Kofos) Clasby will be held on Wednesday May 29, 2024, at 10:30 AM in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Newton. She was the beloved wife of the late Chester F. Clasby, Jr. Loving mother of Alison Kelley & her husband Chris of Warren RI and Karen Sheridan & her husband William of Southborough. Dear sister of the late Monthe Kofos and Cleopatra Agahigian. Loving grandmother of Sophia & Amy Sheridan and Patrick & Olivia Kelley.

The MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home of Watertown assisted with arrangements.

Kevin J. MacDonald, 64

PRINCETON/HUDSON - Kevin J. MacDonald, 64, of Princeton, MA, formerly of Hudson, MA passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Kevin was born in Newton, MA, son of the late Ronald and Mary (Rooney) MacDonald.

Kevin is survived by his daughter, Alexandra MacDonald of Auburn, MA; his

Scan QR code to read all of this week’s obituaries on our website.

two sons, Ryan MacDonald of Chelmsford, MA and Anthony MacDonald of Matthews, NC; his sister Janice Parson, and his brothers Ronald MacDonald, John Angus MacDonald, and Eugene MacDonald.

Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangement.

Murry D. Dubick, 77

MARLBOROUGH - Murry D. Dubick, 77, of Marlborough, MA, passed away suddenly while vacationing in Las Vegas, NV, with his wife of 30 years, Ellen (Bittle) Dubick. He was born in Portsmouth, NH, the son of the late Benjamin and Jeanette (Yoffee) Dubick.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ellen Dubick; a daughter, Nickie Dubick, and her partner Kathleen “KP” Perez of Bronx, NY; a daughter, Debra Brooks Hayes, and her partner Reggie of Hudson, MA; and a son, Daniel Dubick, and his wife Debbie of Framingham, MA. He was predeceased by his son, David Dubick, who died in 2005.

He also leaves behind his two brothers - Michael Dubick, and his wife Joanne of OR, and Stanley Dubick, and his wife Linda of CT. He found great joy in his five grandchildren and their families; Brittney McCue, her husband Nicholas, and their 3 daughters, Layla, Ava, and Cecilia, of Methuen, MA; Elizabeth Dworkin, her husband Nathan, their son, Austin, and their daughter, Presley, who resided with Murry and Ellen in Marlborough, MA; Victoria Brooks, and her 2 daughters, Riley and Felicity, of Worcester, MA; His grandsons Jacob and Benjamin Hayes of Hudson, MA. He also leaves his long-time, dear friends, Jane Bittle and Arthur Bittle (siblings) of Marlborough, MA, with whom he resided for over 30 years. There were other special people in his life — relatives and friends — too numerous to list, all of whom knew that they had a special place in his heart. Collins Funeral Home of Marlborough assisted with arrangements.

Ronald G. Sanguinet, 86

SHREWSBURY - Ronald G. “Ron” Sanguinet, 86, of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. He was born in Shrewsbury, the son of Roland and Marie Sanguinet.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 60 years, Brenda J. Sanguinet; their two daughters, Mary and Jean Sanguinet; his three grandchildren, Holly, Joshua, and Emily Joubert; his great grandchild Tanner Erickson; as well as many nieces and nephews. Ron is predeceased by his mother Marie, father Roland, and his sister Suzanne Singer.

The Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

James F. Smith, 79

SHREWSBURY – Mr. James F. Smith, died Tuesday, May 29, 2024 in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after an illness. He was 79. In addition to his wife of 55 years, Marcia D. (Lees) Smith, he leaves his children, Christopher J. Smith of Brookline and his girlfriend, Kathryn McArdle of Winchester and Emily E. Allen and her husband, Sean of Jonesboro, Arkansas; his grandchildren, Griffin, Halcyon and Dylan Allen; his brothers, Don Smith (Elaine) of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Mark Smith of St. Augustine, Florida and the late Andrew Smith; his brother-inlaw, Barry Lees (Barbara) of Williamsville, New York; many nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Jim’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Parlor of First Congregational Church, 19 Church Road on Thursday, June 13th from 4 to 7 p.m. His funeral service will be celebrated on Friday, June 14th at 10 a.m. in the church. The Rev. Holly MillerShank will officiate.

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIED

SUPER CROSSWORD

COMMUNITY OBITUARIES

Obituaries | from page 21

Dolores C. Hatfield, 62

NORTHBOROUGH - Dolores Carolyn (Navalta) Hatfield, 62, of Northborough,

formerly of Cummington, passed away peacefully on Friday May 24, 2024, at UMass Memorial in Worcester surrounded by her family. She was born in Philadelphia, PA on June 3, 1961, to the late Ricardo and Vida (Bayani) Navalta.

She is survived by her son,

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIED

Corp

Virtusa Corp

Virtusa Corporation has multiple openings for the following positions in Southborough, MA and other unanticipated locations across U.S.:

Architect – DevOps: Bach in CS, Engrng (any fld) +5yrs of pgrsv post-bach IT exper incl 1+yr DevOps exper in a distrib environ; OR Master’s in CS, Engrng (any fld) +3yrs IT exper, incl 1+yr DevOps exper in a distrib environ. Ref # VIR-1029.

Sci or Engrng rel fld +3yrs DW/BI exper wrkng w/ ETL Tech. Ref #VIR-1036.

QA Engineer III: Master’s in CS, Comp Engrng, or rel fld +2yrs exper executing test scnarios under a variety of conditions. Ref #VIR-1032.

Technical Sales Engineer

For all positions, employee will work in various unanticipated locations in U.S., travel/re-location possible. Please email resumes to apply@virtusa.com, making specific reference to the Ref # of the position you are applying to.

DW/BI Engineer II: Bach in any Sci or Engrng rel fld +5yrs prgrsv post-bach IT exper incl 3+yrs DW/BI exper wrkng w/ ETL Tech; OR Master’s in any Sci or Engrng rel fld +3yrs DW/BI exper wrkng w/ ETL Tech. Ref #VIR-1036.

For all positions, employee will work in various unanticipated locations in U.S., travel/re-location possible. Please email resumes to apply@virtusa.com, making specific reference to the Ref # of the position you are applying to.

Audit Supervisors in Westborough, MA to plan and direct work on multiple client engagements; monitor & review all work products and services; prov supervision for mult engagements, incl planning, budgeting, assessing audit risk, and establish scope. Req. deg in accounting/rel + exp. License not required. Telecommuting opt; less than 10 % domestic travel. Send resumes to AAFCPAs Inc, 50 Washington Street, Westborough, MA 01581 (Attn: A. Quinn); or apply online at www.aafcpa.com/careers/

TAX MANAGERS

Tax Managers in Westborough, MA to eval tax & biz aspects of asst purchase agreements during the due diligence process on behalf of buyer/seller; id & generate opportunities within existing clients & meet w/ new clients; conduct rev of partnership income tax returns. Req. deg in accounting/related + exp. Telecommuting is an option. License not required. Less than 10% dom travel required per yr. Apply online with AAFCPAS, Inc. at www.aafcpa.com/careers/ or mail resumes to AAFCPAS Inc, 50 Washington Street, Westborough, MA 01581 (Attn: A. Quinn)

Ross Hatfield of Lenox, her daughter, April Kelley and her husband Leland of Northborough, granddaughters, Lea and Zoe Kelley of Northborough, her brother, Michael Navalta and his wife Rose of Corpus Christi, TX, sisters, Marquita Ligouri and her husband Mike of Cherry Hill,

Busy local tow company looking for all Class drivers immediately. Day and night shifts available. Pay based on experience. Benefits available after trial period. Apply online, call us, or stop in. loveystowing@gmail.com

508-756-5753 632 Lake St., Shrewsbury

Technical Sales Engineer

Identify business opportunities & work w/C level executives to help translate opportunities into sales; Understand customer requirements, communicate business value of solving technology problems using the company’s software solution expertise; Prepare demos & proof of concepts to demonstrate to prospective clients various use cases of the company’s software solution platform to either formulate new or help support an existing software solutions; Identify customer’s business challenges & prepare customized presentations, demos to illustrate how the company can solve challenges using custom software solutions. Travel & reloc possible to unanticipated locations throughout U.S. Work loc: Southborough, MA.

Please mail res, min sal reqmts, & pos applied for to:

Trigent Software Inc., Attn: HR Dept.

2 Willow St., Ste 201, Southborough MA 01745

SC, Debra Vettraino and her husband Paul of Philadelphia, PA, Brother-in-law, Michael Hatfield of Naples, FL, and nephews, Michael, and Ricky Navalta, Michael Ligouri, and Vincent Vettraino.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Thomas Hatfield in 2015.

Drozdal Funeral Home of Northampton assisted with arrangements.

Scan QR code to read all of this week’s obituaries on our website.

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

Fire causes $1 million damages; no injuries Puntini installed as Southborough’s new fire chief

WESTBOROUGH – A Westborough resident is seeking a new home after a fire ripped through his South Street apartment early on Sunday, June 2.

Thomas Cardinale said he and his girlfriend were awakened by a smoke alarm shortly before 2 a.m. They tried going down the stairs, but the smoke was too thick. They managed to get onto the roof of the former Décor building, where personnel from the Westborough Fire Department got them safely down.

“It was so scary,” he said.

The apartment, at the back of the ThaiMinal restaurant, sustained heavy damage, as did a van parked below.

Although he said he can salvage most of his clothes, Cardinale said he’s going to have a tough time finding an affordable place to live.

“Anything could help right now,” said Cardinale, who has lived in the apartment for about four years.

The owners of the restaurant were checking the damage as of Sunday morning. The Fire Department had to remove the two front windows while knocking out the fire.

The owners posted on Facebook on Sunday afternoon that the restaurant will be closed for the time being.

The fire also caused some damage to the space that was recently vacated by Décor.

Tom Orlando, one of the building’s owners, said he had received a text message about the fire. He said there was some smoke damage inside, as well as some roof damage.

“We fared out pretty well,” he said. “It’s a hell of a wakeup call for a Sunday morning.”

Firefighters from Southborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Grafton, Upton and Framingham provided mutual aid at the scene, while firefighters from Hopedale covered Westborough stations.

The fire was brought under control around 2:40 a.m.

The Fire Department has assessed the damage at around $1 million.

The fire remains under investigation by the Westborough Fire Department and the District 14 Fire Investigation Unit.

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

SOUTHBOROUGH – On June 1, the town officially welcomed its newest fire chief.

In a brief ceremony at the Southborough Senior Center, Town Clerk James Hegarty administered the oath of office to Andrew Puntini.

“I’m anxious to lead this team of professionals,” said Puntini.

Select Board Chair Kathryn Cook recalled the process to replace former Chief Steven Achilles, who retired in early February to take a job in Florida.

“Andrew was the No. 1 candidate,” she said. “He is a thoughtful, straightforward person.”

Puntini, a fourth-generation Ashland resident, began his career in that town as an oncall firefighter. He joined Foxborough Fire & Rescue in 2006 as a firefighter and paramedic; he served there for 18 years.

Along the way, Puntini was promoted to lieutenant in 2015 and to captain/shift commander in 2019.

In 2005, he earned his paramedic certification from Massachusetts Bay Community College. He also earned a master’s degree in public administration from Anna Maria College, and is certified as a Massachusetts Firefighting Academy chief fire officer.

“We’re all very proud of this moment,” said Select Board member Andrew Dennington. “I’m impressed with his knowledge and expertise.”

He said the factor that decided his vote — Puntini “coming over the line” from Ashland to have breakfast at Mauro’s Village Café.

Puntini was pinned with the chief’s badge by his wife, Rebecca.

Fire and police officials from several communities, including Ashland, Foxborough and Westborough, attended the ceremony.

Puntini is Southborough’s 10th fire chief. He will lead a team of 27 men and women, both full time and on call.

For information about the department, visit https://www.southboroughma.gov/311/FireDepartment.

Top: Heavy fire erupts from the rear of a building at 22-26 South St. in Westborough early Sunday morning.

Bottom: Damage to a home and vehicle at 22-26 South St. in Westborough following a two-alarm fire early Sunday morning.

(Photos/Courtesy of the Westborough Fire Department)

(Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

POLICE LOG

Sunday, May 26

3:26 p.m. Stone Gate Apartments/Silver Leaf Way. Vandalism.

4:48 p.m. Memorial Beach/Hosmer St. Trespassing. Monday, May 27

Grafton

Tuesday, May 21

8:52 a.m. Arrested, Heather Poole, 36, of 144 Texas Ave., Providence, RI, on default warrant.

4:08 p.m. Worcester St./Airport Rd. Accident – personal injury.

5:13 p.m. Providence Rd. Fraud/ identity theft.

Wednesday, May 22

8:11 a.m. Worcester St. Illegal dumping.

8:41 p.m. Providence Rd. Trespassing.

Westborough

Thursday, May 16

3:50 p.m. W Main St. Fraud.

Monday, May 20

10:05 a.m. Turnpike Rd. Burglary/ breaking & entering.

11:20 a.m. Arrested, Anne Elizabeth O’Leary, 65, of 10 Bradish Ln., Apt. 3, Westborough, for fail to stop/yield, op MV with license suspended.

12:45 p.m. W Main St. Larceny.

6:09 p.m. Arrested, Paul M. MacLean, 52, of 43 Wayside Rd., Westborough, on straight warrant.

9:30 p.m. Arrested, John Mack, 48, of 11 Waterford Ct., North Augusta, SC, for fugitive from justice on court warrant, unlicensed operation of MV, unregistered motor vehicle.

11:00 p.m. Arrested , Michael P. Minicucci Jr., 38, of 89 Currier St., Methuen, on default warrant.

Tuesday, May 21

10:47 a.m. Arrested , Paul M. O’Loughlin, 47, of 2801 Windsor Ridge Dr., Westborough, for A&B, A&B with dangerous weapon.

Wednesday, May 22

5:53 a.m. Turnpike Rd. Vandalism.

9:08 a.m. Turnpike rd. Larceny.

5:41 p.m. Otis St. Larceny.

5:57 p.m. Otis St. Fraud.

Thursday, May 23

12:40 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Larceny.

3:13 p.m. Arrested , Brendan R. Mackay, 49, of 2 Chickatawbut Rd., Framingham, on straight warrant.

5:36 p.m. Valente Dr. Larceny.

Friday, May 24

4:47 p.m. W Main St. Assault.

Sunday, May 26

11:19 p.m. Arrested , Dickson O. Kwayisi, 41, of 7213 Homestead Blvd., Westborough, for OUI-liquor or .08%, negligent operation of motor vehicle, marked lanes violation.

Northborough

Tuesday, May 21

6:07 p.m. Washburn St. Fraud.

6:17 p.m. Little Pond Rd. Scams.

Wednesday, May 22

7:03 a.m. Arrested , Jairo PaizCampos, 44, of 64 Highland St., Marlborough, for fail to stop/yield, op MV with license suspended, negligent operation of motor vehicle, OUI-liquor or .08% 2nd offense, possess open container of alcohol in MV.

8:13 a.m. Hudson St. Vandalism.

11:13 a.m. John Edwards Dr. Fraud.

3:07 p.m. Summer St. Scams.

7:31 p.m. Tomahawk Dr. Breaking and entering.

11:08 p.m. Arrested , Christopher Chappell, 38, of 1646 Main St., Concord, for fail to dim headlights, op MV

with license suspended, warrant.

Thursday, May 23

3:24 p.m. Arrested , Mark Andrew Pinkham, 54, homeless, Worcester, for shoplifting by asportation (2 cts); Mark Andrew Healy, 55, of 21 Oread St., Worcester, for shoplifting by asportation (2 cts); and Mark E. Kuklewicz, 46, of 21 Oread St., Worcester, for possess Class B drug, shoplifting by asportation.

Saturday, May 25

10:19 p.m. Arrested, Sasha Kamelli Chaffee, 43, of 9 Tarrytown Ln., Worcester, on warrant.

Sunday, May 26

10:30 a.m. Hudson St. Threats.

11:13 p.m. Arrested, Michael P. Brown, 57, of 150 Lyman Rd., Berlin, for negligent operation of motor vehicle, OUI-liquor or .08% 2nd offense.

Wednesday, May 29

7:45 p.m. Arrested, Shyem T. Simms, 35, of 21 Central St., Whitman, for possess Class B drug, warrant.

Marlborough

Friday, May 24

1:11 p.m. Knowledge Park/Mount Royal Ave. Fraud/ forgery.

7:07 p.m. Halstead Apartments/Ames St. Vandalism.

7:09 p.m. Paquin Dr. Trespassing.

10:17 p.m. Kosa Dispensary/BPRW. Fraud/forgery.

Saturday, May 25

8:50 a.m. Miele Rd. B&E into MV.

11:12 a.m. The Recovery Connection/Main St. Larceny.

2:48 p.m. Exeter St. Vandalism.

9:37 p.m. Firefly’s/East Main St. Threats.

9:58 p.m. Gibbons St. Vandalism.

4:54 a.m. Orchard Apartments/Farmhouse Ln. Auto theft.

10:14 a.m. Liberty Hill Apartments/Main St. Vandalism.

1:31 p.m. Ringold St. B&E into MV. Tuesday, May 28

11:56 a.m. Highland St. Fraud/forgery.

5:21 p.m. Post Road Transfer and Recovery/BPRE. Auto theft.

11:15 p.m. Warren Ave, Ave. Assault.

Shrewsbury

Monday, May 20

4:53 p.m. Main St. Identity theft.

Tuesday, May 21

9:05 a.m. Floral St. Identity theft.

11:37 a.m. Maple Ave. B&E commercial.

1:07 p.m. Golden Hill Ave. Larceny.

3:08 p.m. Hartford Tpke. Larceny.

7:31 p.m. Sheridan Dr. Identity theft.

Wednesday, May 22

1:38 p.m. Main St. Larceny.

Thursday, May 23

1:25 p.m. Russell Ave. Larceny attempt.

Friday, May 24

7:01 p.m. Arrested, Breno Carlindo Santos Miranda, 30, of 70 South St., Shrewsbury, on warrant.

Saturday, May 25

1:02 a.m. Arrested, Paola Fernanda Dominguez, 28, of 87 Gage St., Apt. 1, Worcester, for OUI liquor.

1:38 p.m. Avalon Way. B&E attempted.

Sunday, May 26

1:06 p.m. Arrested, Hector E. Vazquez-Padilla, 42, of 205 Millbury St., Apt. 4F, Worcester, for poss

Class A substance subsequent offense, poss Class B substance subsequent offense, shoplifting by asportation, warrant.

1:54 p.m. Boston Tpke. Accident with injury.

4:42 p.m. Arrested , Jehnelle Guzman, 27, of 5 Wyman St., Apt. 5, Webster, for oper MV with license suspended/revoked, possession Class A substance, no inspection sticker, warrant.

9:22 p.m. Arrested, Ernstly Fleuriot, 35, of 35 Harrington Ave., Apt. 1111, Shrewsbury, for unregistered vehicle, oper MV with license suspended/revoked, warrant.

Monday, May 27

3:12 a.m. Arrested, Brailyn Henriquez Paula, 26, of 100 Wall St., Apt. 413, Worcester, on warrant. 11:07 a.m. Keyes House Rd. Assaults. 4:42 p.m. Maple Ave. Vandalism.

COMMUNITY SPORTS Walk-off hit helps Algonquin top Grafton in 11-inning playoff thriller

By Evan Walsh Reporter

NORTHBOROUGH – Tighe

Clark knew what was coming, and he knew what he had to do.

After 11 innings and approximately three hours, the No. 8 Algonquin Titans and No. 25 Grafton Gators were knotted at 4-4 in this win-or-go-home Round of 32 matchup. With the season hanging in the balance and runners on first and second, Clark stepped up to the plate. On the first pitch, he lined the ball into left field to give his team a walk-off 5-4 victory.

“I knew what [the pitcher] was throwing, I knew what was coming. I knew there was no way that that wasn’t ending the game right there. I was so confident. I knew he was going to give me a fastball. I… just put it over the infield,” Clark said. “Then, we went

straight to the celebration.”

And what a celebration it was.

After contact, Clark flipped his bat toward the dugout,

sprinted toward first and, as the winning run dove safely head-first into home plate, took off toward the outfield, where a mob of teammates

followed him, nearly taking him to the ground. After the game, Algonquin teammates dumped water over his head.

“Words can’t describe it. I was absolutely elated,” Clark said.

While Clark’s RBI single put the Titans over the top, his game-winning hit was made possible by smaller —but no less important — plays throughout the 11th inning. Nick Klein started the inning by drawing a four-pitch walk, reaching second after Jackson Redfern’s sacrifice bunt. Grafton opted to intentionally walk Zach Meehl, giving Clark, the clean-up hitter, the opportunity to end the game.

“Getting the lead-off hitter on was huge. Getting Jackson Redfern, the senior leader who pitched a great game, I just had the confidence that

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he could bunt him over. We had our three [and] four hitters, our senior captains, Zach Meehl and Tighe Clark. I figured one of those guys would be able to come through with a clutch hit. One of them did, and that was Tighe,” Algonquin Head Coach Ken MacDonald said.

The game, which entered extra innings tied at 3-3, could’ve just as easily gone Grafton’s way.

In the 10th inning, the Gators loaded the bases with one out, pulling ahead after Charlie Law’s sacrifice fly. After Grafton quickly retired the first two Algonquin batters in the bottom half of the inning, the Titans needed a miracle. Down to their last out, Brennan Rice singled to keep the game alive. Next, Thomas Boudreau hit a soft grounder to the shortstop who, in an effort to nab Boudreau at first to win the game, couldn’t field the ball cleanly. Rice scored on the play and tied the game in dramatic fashion.

“We’ve played a tough schedule all year, and I think everything we’ve done has prepared us for this playofftype atmosphere. Those tough losses we had earlier in the year, we were right there, and today we had a bunch of guys that just refused to lose. We found a way to get the tying run, and then we went ahead and won it,” said MacDonald. Additional photos and details from the game can be found at communityadvocate.com.

Grafton’s Chris Kiesiner fires the ball toward home plate.

Grafton’s A.J. Parlante slides into the base safely as Algonquin’s Tighe Clark catches the throw. (Photos/Evan Walsh)

By Evan Walsh Reporter

SHREWSBURY – The Shrewsbury Colonials softball team focuses on the little things — and it’s paid off in a big way.

One need not watch Shrewsbury long to see how seriously the team takes every aspect of the game. Sure, the Colonials take pride in fielding ground balls, dropping down bunts, and stealing bases, but the team dedicates an equal amount of time perfecting the off-the-field side of the game, fostering accountability, positivity, and, most importantly, energy.

The energy was evident on May 31, when No. 29 Shrewsbury met the No. 36 Revere Patriots in the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 1 playoffs. In a mercy-rule shortened game, Shrewsbury defeated Revere 15-3.

“We have really high expectations of game-day energy. … The energy carries inning to inning and it dictates the pace of the game. We really work on that a lot… honestly, as much as the softball stuff,” Shrewsbury Head Coach Jamie Millett said.

The Colonials’ excitement and energy reverberated through their bats. The team sent 41 batters to the plate over the game’s six innings, scored 15 runs, earned 14 hits and drew nine walks. Colonials were on the basepaths from the get-go, as Marin Agbay opened the game with a lead-off double, followed by Maggie Garbarino’s firstinning single.

Agbay and Garbarino, who bat first and second in the

Colonials’ order, respectively, were an unstoppable force against Revere. Agbay went 4-4 with three singles, the double and one walk to win her first-ever playoff game as a Shrewsbury Colonial. Garbarino, a sophomore, went 3-4 with three singles.

“It’s a really nice way to end high school, especially since my first year playing we only had two wins the entire season. It was kind of rough. It was really nice for me and [fellow senior Bea Millar] especially to come back at the end

of our senior year,” Agbay said. “I feel like today the pitcher was pitching me right where I like to hit the ball.”

Agbay and Garbarino were seemingly always on the basepaths, and Shrewsbury teammates had no problem registering timely hits and driving runs in. In the first inning, Ava Cotton’s (3-4, 4RBI) two-out single plated the Colonials’ first two runs. After Shrewsbury hit three straight singles to open the next inning, an RBI triple from McKenna Halloran (2-3) extended the lead.

The scoring just kept coming. After a four-run first and a three-run second, seven consecutive Colonial batters reached base safely to open what would become a five-run fifth inning. The game was officially called in the sixth inning after Millar’s two-run single increased Shrewsbury’s lead to 15-3.

According to players, the success goes right back to what Millett stresses: keeping the energy up.

“I think we all just showed up, had great energy, and wanted to win. We all wanted to play this next round. I think everyone really brought the energy and we were excited to get on the field,” said Garbarino. “We’re all so close.”

Shrewsbury season’s ended on June 3 to No. 4 LincolnSudbury. While the team suffered a 6-4 loss, Millett said on X, formerly Twitter, that she was proud of how her team “battled until the final out.”

Maddie Bentley hurls the ball toward home plate.

Shrewsbury players high-five one another as they sprint off the field.

(Photos/Evan Walsh)