My Southborough — News and events in Southborough, MA

Summer Concert: The Midtown Horns on July 27th

by beth on July 21, 2017

Above: At next week’s concert, recently retired music teacher Steve Curtis will be blowing his horn alongside fellow members of The Midtown Horns. (photo left by Rachel Truman, image right from band Facebook page)

Headliners for next week’s concert are promising to “Rock Southborough” with Classic Rock, Latin, Motown, Rhythm & Blues, and Soul. On stage will be one player near and dear to many Southborough families – retired teacher, Steven Curtis.

(click to enlarge)

But Curtis is just one of several members of The Midtown Horns. The band recently posted:

Trumpet player, Paul Tomashefsky and renown saxophonist, Paul Ahlstrand, two seriously badass horn players, join the Midtown Horns on July 27 to round out our 5 piece horn section , which anchors our 13 piece band!!

It’s the fourth of five free outdoor concerts taking place as part of this year’s Southborough Summer Concert Series. (For the series schedule, click here.)

The concert takes place Thursday, July 27th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Neary School (53 Parkerville Road).

Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission will be collecting donations for Send a Kid to Camp. Donors of $10 or more will receive a free t-shirt commemorating this summer’s concert series.

As always, the concert is on the lawn. So, bring blankets, chairs (and bug spray). [click to keep reading…]

Tagged as: what-to-do-with-kids-this-summer-2017

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SWL: Selectmen to ask state for Truck Exclusion on Deerfoot and Parkerville

by beth on July 21, 2017

Above: One of multiple incidents with trucks ending up on a Deerfoot Road lawn after attempting to turn right from Flagg. (image cropped from contributed photo)

The Board of Selectmen are pursuing a “Truck Exclusion” on both Parkerville Road and Deerfoot Road. The decision went beyond recommendations by the Public Works Planning Board which didn’t recommend an exclusion for Deerfoot.

According to Southborough Wicked Local, selectmen were aware it’s likely to be rejected by the state. But after listening to residents about the situation, they decided they should try – even if for just an “interim” measure.

As I’ve previously shared, a chief example of the problem with trucks on Deerfoot is the repeated damage to Thomas Joyce’s property across from the Flagg Road intersection. Police have had to respond several times after large trucks attempted an impossible sharp right turn from Flagg.

Residents have also publicly worried about the impact on walkers of a future large development, Park Central, planned off of Flagg Road. They have complained that the narrow, sidewalkless streets of Deerfoot and Flagg are already unsafe. Among walkers are students of Trottier Middle School and Neary School. The campus for the schools is between Deerfoot and Parkerville with driveways connecting to both.*

Parkerville does have sidewalks. But neighbors there have complained about noise and other issues with large trucks apparently using the street as a cut through between Route 30 and Route 9 where Ken’s Foods is located.

SWL covered the discussions and decision at Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting:

Selectmen are looking for quick action to submit a plan to the state to prohibit some trucks on Parkerville and Deerfoot roads, where residents complain of noise and jack-knifing tractor-trailers.

The board voted Wednesday night to submit the documents for both streets, despite traffic studies showing the roads don’t have enough truck traffic to qualify for a prohibition under state guidelines.

The Public Works Planning Board voted to submit the Parkerville study, but took no action on Deerfoot. . .

Karen Galligan, public works superintendent, said the problem is with the layout of the intersection, which the town is working on as part of a safety study of Flagg Road. [click to keep reading…]

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Public Safety Building Update: New committee members and Project Manager selected

by beth on July 21, 2017

Above: Selectmen approved new committee members and a (preliminarily) and “Owner’s Project Manager” firm to help make the envisioned public safety building a reality. (image from Facebook)

This week, Selectmen made four new votes related to the future police and fire station. All four were related to the team of people who will oversee important work on the project.

The board filled the vacancy on the Public Safety Building Committee. They had held the seat in hopes of finding someone with experience in construction. Selectmen expressed great enthusiasm about the expertise construction attorney David J. Officer will add to the group.

Officer also previously served on the School Building Committee for construction of Trottier and renovations at Finn. Selectmen said they were impressed with his experience, and (for some) personal knowledge of him. Selectman Brian Shea was hopeful Officer could help the committee minimize interaction with outside lawyers.

One of Officer’s sons is a member of the Southborough Police Department. Selectwoman Bonnie Phaneuf asked how he would handle a disagreement between PSBC and safety chiefs. He assured that if there was any conflict, he would represent “the people’s” interest.

The PSBC’s charge was also amended to change the Advisory Committee’s representative from non-voting to a voting member. That member, approved by selectmen, is Kathy Cook.

The request had been made by Advisory. Te committee determined any member serving on another committee (even non-voting) is prohibited to vote at Advisory on related items. Between that, Cook’s expertise, and her already proven commitment to attend meetings, selectmen agreed she should have a vote on PSBC.

Following the new appointments, selectmen voted to support the PSBC’s recommendation of a firm to act as the “Owner’s Project Manager”. Selectmen said they witnessed and were impressed by the work that the PSBC put into the selection process.

Southborough Wicked Local covered the decision:

The Public Safety Building Committee received bids from seven companies and recommended Vertex Companies of Weymouth for the job.

On Wednesday, selectmen approved the recommendation pending contract negotiations.

You can read more about that here.

Tagged as: public-safety-building

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Obituary: Laila Violet (Nykanen) Buchieri, 91

by beth on July 21, 2017

Laila Violet (Nykanen) Buchieri, 91, of Southborough passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at the Beaumont Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in Westborough. She was the beloved wife of the Manual Buchieri who passed away in 1985.

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada she was the daughter of the late Henry & Impi Nykanen predeceased by her husband

Laila spent most of her adult life in Southborough where she and Manual raised five sons. In her early years she worked as a Stenographer at the Sault Ste. Marie Steel Plant in Ontario, where she met her husband Manuel, who was guarding the Sault Ste. Marie locks early in World War II. She also worked at Hendries Frozen Foods in Southboro, former Zayre Corporation and TJX in Framingham, as well as the former Jordan Marsh at Shopper’s World in Framingham. Laila was an avid reader and a member of the Women’s Auxiliary at the VFW in Southborough She was a sweet, gentle and kind woman and was loved very much by her family, friends and all who met her. Her greatest joy was being around her family. She will be greatly missed.

[click to keep reading…]

Tagged as: Southborough obituaries

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Creature teachers returning to Library with “amazing animals” next Tuesday

by beth on July 21, 2017

Above: Could this kinkajou be one of the animals that Creature Teachers will introduce to kids at the library next week? (Photo from their website)

Creature Teachers will be visiting the Southborough Library again next week.

On Tuesday, July 25 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm Creature Teachers will be “returning with all kinds of amazing animals.”

The library teases, “What will they bring? Come and find out!”

In February of last year, the animal educators visited during school break. The cropped photos and highlights are from details the library shared on Facebook the next day (click thumbnails to enlarge):

Sara from Creature Teachers visited the Library yesterday to teach the audience about armadillos with Dug the (cuddly) armadillo, and shared Bob the snake with some brave children! A tarantula, a ferret, and a hedgehog also made an appearance. Thanks to the Friends of the Library for this event.

Tagged as: what-to-do-with-kids-this-summer-2017

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Southborough Rotary social to benefit the Library – Monday

by beth on July 20, 2017

(click to enlarge)

Next week, the Southborough Rotary Club is hosting a fundraiser for the Southborough Library.

Anyone who eats at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in Northborough will be supporting the Library. Rotary is pitching the event as a social, promising a presence by Rotary and Library Staff. And they are inviting the public to enjoy them.

On Monday, July 24 at 6:00 – 8:00 pm of participating diners’ tabs will be donated to the Library.

To participate, you must tell your server that you are attending as part of the Library fundraiser.

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On the market this week in Southborough

July 20, 2017 02:44:08 PM

What went on and off the market this week.

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Main St Design Working Group investigating potential contingency for moving utility poles (Updated-again)

July 20, 2017 12:47:04 PM

Last week, the Main Street Design Working Group discussed David Parry’s proposal for a section of Main Street to be designed without utility poles. The group learned that it would likely need to be a separate project from the reconstruction of the Main Street area. But, they asked Public Works to investigate one area of potential overlap.

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Ages 10+ invited to “sculp” pens and keychains next Wednesday Crafternoon

July 20, 2017 07:30:59 AM

The Southborough Library’s next “Crafternoon” session takes place next week. Crafter Mandy Roberge will guide patrons creating their own “sculpey” pens and keychains.

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Open discussion thread: Ask questions, share opinions

July 19, 2017 02:30:13 PM

The open discussion thread is your place to ask questions, sound off on town issues, or share information with other readers.

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Chestnut Meadows highlights Southborough’s continued work on (and struggle with) Open Space issues

July 19, 2017 11:20:36 AM

Discussions at this week’s Planning Board meeting highlighted the Town’s ongoing work handling Open Space parcels. It also drew attention to issues that aren’t fully resolved.

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