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COMMUNITY NEWS Southborough Selectmen discuss pitch to add non-voting members to Trails Committee
By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer SOUTHBOROUGH - Selectmen recently said they feel it would be appropriate to propose changing the Southborough Trails Committee from an ad hoc board to a permanent one at Southborough’s spring Town Meeting.
They are also on board with a proposal to extend the Aqueduct Trail.
However, they did not make a decision on a recent pitch to add two non-voting “associate” members to the Trails Committee, asking to first receive more information.
Committee Chair pitches trail extension
Trails Committee Chair Kathryn McKee spoke about these matters during a Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Sept. 8.
She talked about a plan to construct a 572.1- foot extension from the existing Bay Circuit/ Boroughs Loop/Aqueduct Trail to the Weston Aqueduct on Pine Hill Road. The construction would require clearance of the path by removing the existing ground cover, small shrubs, branches, tree limbs and protruding rocks. Tread maintenance would also be needed.
McKee explained that Eagle Scout Nick McEvoy of Southborough Troop 92 would lead scouts and volunteers in the effort. The hope is that the work could be done this fall and be completed by December.
To make that happen, the existing permit must first be amended to include this parcel of land, an MWRA’s easement. The trail’s boundaries must then be defined, she said.
McKee said that she would reach out to neighbors to ensure they are comfortable with the process and that there is no encroaching on the property.
Selectmen discuss promoting Trails Committee from ‘ad-hoc’ status
During this presentation, some selectmen expressed surprise that the Trails Committee remains an ad-hoc committee instead of being a permanent board since it was established in 2013.
Chair Lisa Braccio said that it would be appropriate for the Board of Selectmen to sponsor a Town Meeting article next spring to make the status change.
PHOTO/LAURA HAYES The Sudbury Reservoir Trail/ Aqueduct Trail/ Boroughs Loop Trail runs from an entrance off of Ward Road.
Pitch to add associate members to Trails
Committee prompts discussion
Beyond that discussion, the Sept. 8 Board of Selectmen meeting mostly focused on a pitch by the Trails Committee to add two associate non-voting members.
The addition would not affect the board’s quorum and would be done primarily to take advantage of the talent and interest of individuals in town, McKee said. It would also broaden the experience level of the committee, she continued.
The idea is to include volunteers who may not be able to attend every meeting but who could still help out with activities and maintenance of trails, for example.
McKee said two individuals are ready to serve in this capacity, including a person on the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee who could bring that perspective to the board.
She noted that towns and cities like Westborough and Foxborough have non-voting associate members who serve on committees.
Selectman Andrew Dennington said that he couldn’t see downsides to this arrangement, while Braccio asked if having a “Friends of Trails” active group was a better alternative.
Both Braccio and Selectman Vice Chair Chelsea Malinowski expressed concerns about issues with the open meeting law and setting a precedent.
Selectman Sam Stivers said he couldn’t remember other towns with associates having problems and said that each case could be taken on its own merits if something came up.
McKee added that associate members would make the board more “inclusive.” The designation would give individuals more incentive to continue to attend meetings and participate.
“To belong to a group means something…There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer,” she said.
Selectmen will re-visit the topic at a later date.
In the meantime, McKee said she would do more research on other communities and their experiences with associate members.
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Gymnastics Learning Center, God’s Little Children Preschool and Kindergarten offer kids a place to have fun while learning
By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer SHREWSBURY - The Gymnastics Learning Center (GLC) and God‘s Little Children Preschool and Kindergarten are all about doing what’s best for children.
They’ve been doing this for some 38 years, so they know how to do this right.
“To see that parents want their children to have the same positive experience at GLC that they had as children is a multigenerational blessing and the highest form of compliment I could receive,” said owner Marianne Simone Frongillo in a recent interview. “It’s been a privilege to be able to pass on that love of gymnastics to the next generation.”
GLC focuses on fun and safety
GLC runs a variety of gymnastics programs with the general goal of helping students “’build the pride inside’ by putting self-esteem above all else,” according to the GLC website.
God’s Little Children Preschool and Kindergarten operates with a focus on “learning by doing” and an individualized curriculum centered around the principles of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math).
Over the years, the preschool and kindergarten became the first schools in Shrewsbury to earn national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. GLC, meanwhile, was voted first place in MetroWest’s Best of the Best Gymnastics Schools in 2020.
Helping lead this success, Frongillo is not only a former competitive gymnast but has a college degree in physical education and health and is also teacher-certified for grades kindergarten through grade twelve.
Her competitive coaching staff are also highly accomplished professionals with decades of experience.
Gymnastics program fosters self confidence
Gymnastics is a great sport for kids of all ages, Frongillo noted.
“Even tiny tots and toddlers 18 months and over can enjoy this sport,” she continued.
For older gymnasts, GLC offers weekly gymnastics classes
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A Gymnastics Learning Center staff member guides a student.
and competitive girls teams.
For anyone who takes to the floor, balance beam, bars or vault, gymnastics makes you strong and flexible while improving balance and concentration. She also has an inground trampoline and tumble track as well as an in-ground foam landing pit for additional safety.
“The self-esteem our gymnasts gain as they learn new skills, I believe, positively impacts their lives both on and off the gymnastics floor,” explained Frongillo. “We are true to our mission statement of ‘building the pride inside’ for each student that walks through our door.”
Programs emphasize mental health
GLC is also committed to making sure everyone stays healthy, not just physically, but also mentally.
This has been a topic of global conversation, particularly after superstar gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from a handful of competitions during the recent Summer Olympics in Toyko, Japan, due to mental health concerns.
However, at GLC, this attention to mental health is not a new thing.
“The issue of our gymnast’s mental well-being has been a priority at GLC for many years,” Frongillo said. “Our coaches have been extensively trained to provide support to our gymnasts not only with respect to athletic achievement but with mental readiness, as well.”
Preschool seeks to nourish
‘a sense of wonder’
Back in the God‘s Little Children Preschool and Kindergarten, they considers a child’s first entry into education significant for their development.
The school, therefore, has age-appropriate education and socialization. Children further learn to respect and care for one another one another.
Their primary goal is that every child is nourished with a sense of wonder and love of learning.
Learn more about the preschool, kindergarten and gym at www.gymnasticslearningcenter.org.
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Gaudette Insurance merges with Daniels Insurance Agency
REGION - Gaudette Insurance Agency, Inc. has merged with the Daniels Insurance Agency and established a partnership with Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union.
“Over the course of our 95 years in business, we are proud of the strong relationships and connections we have built in the Blackstone Valley and beyond — and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our local services to those in Shrewsbury and Westborough,” said Gaudette Insurance President Lee Gaudette in a press release.
Gaudette Insurance was founded in 1916 and serves as a local leader in personal and business insurance. It currently has three locations in Whitinsville, Grafton, and Southborough.
The Daniels Agency spent three generations as a family-owned business in Westborough.
“Our team believes in the importance of personal connections and we truly go above and beyond for our clients,” Gaudette said. “At our agency, our clients are not just a policy number, we take the time to get to know them, their families, and their businesses.”
“Over the next few weeks, we look forward to welcoming clients of the Daniels Agency to our family,” he continued.
Except for the retirement of owners, Bob and Traci Daniels, clients of the Daniels Agency will experience a smooth transition with minimal disruptions. All three offices will be fully operational with the same friendly Daniels team working in those same offices. The same policy numbers and carriers will all remain in place.
Clients may also, however, take advantage of new resources including visiting any of Gaudette’s locations, accessing the advice of a larger team of experienced insurance professionals, and learning more about the many other carriers that Gaudette represents.
During this time, Gaudette Insurance will also carry on a partnership with Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union.
All SFCU members will keep the opportunity to receive special auto insurance discounts from Arbella and Mapfre.
Lee Gaudette encourages community members to stop by one of the six office locations now brought together by this merger. Community members can also call (508) 234-6333 to learn more about this news.
REGION - A number of attorneys from Fletcher Tilton Attorneys At Law recently earned recognition from their peers and the industry publication Best Lawyers in America.
In total, six attorneys were listed in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers. Those included Richard C. Barry, Jr., Mark L. Donahue, Dennis F. Gorman, Frederick M. Misilo, Jr., Phillips S. Davis and
Anthony J. Salvidio II.
Donahue, Gorman and Davis earned further “Lawyer of the Year” honors.
“For over 40 years, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both the profession and the public — as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. As such, recognition by Best Lawyers symbolizes excellence in practice,” read a press release from Fletcher Tilton.
These recognitions are awarded based on peer review utilizing “a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services,” that press release explained.
“Congratulations to the following attorneys recognized for their high caliber of legal service,” it continued.
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