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New at the library

Jul 3rd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
by susan.

Welcome to the My Southborough blog! I post new stories several times every weekday, so check back often. For an easy way to get the latest info, subscribe to the daily My Southborough email update. There's also an RSS feed for you techie types.

Here are some of the latest selections for adults and kids at the Southborough library.

ADULT:

rosebedRoastbeef’s Promise, by David Jerome
“When a dad’s dying wish is to have his ashes sprinkled in each state, what’s a son to do?”–Jacket.(Library catalog | Amazon)

fathers-tearsMy Father’s Tears, by John Updike
Updike’s first collection of new short fiction since the year 2000, “My Father’s Tears” finds the author in a valedictory mood as he mingles narratives of his native Pennsylvania with stories of New England suburbia and of foreign travel. (Library catalog | Amazon)

water-stone-heartWater, Stone, Heart, by Will North
This follow-up to The Long Walk Home is a moving and bittersweet tale of love, loss, and the power of nature to alter lives. (Library catalog | Amazon)

seducing-angelSeducing an Angel, by Mary Balogh (Book on CD)
Cassandra, Lady Paget–banished, destitute, and labeled a murderess–arrives in Regency London and soon becomes the mistress of Stephen, Earl of Merton, a man of means who, despite his looks and easy charm, is no angel. (Library catalog | Amazon)

rosemary-thymeRosemary and Thyme: The Complete Collection (DVD)
Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme, two middle-aged women, make a fresh start by opening a gardening business. Mysteries grow around these two gardening sleuths as they dig up trouble on the job and use investigative skills to get to the bottom of things. (Library catalog | Amazon)

CHILDREN’S:

charlotte-hayesDog Days of Charlotte Hayes, by Marlane Kennedy
Eleven-year-old Charlotte is not a dog person but does not like that the rest of her family neglects their Saint Bernard puppy, and so with a lot of determination and a little sneakiness, she works on finding a good home for the gentle giant. (Library catalog | Amazon)

tumtum-nutmegTumtum and Nutmeg, by Emily Bearn
Wealthy, married mice Tumtum and Nutmeg find adventure when they secretly try to help two human siblings who live in a tumbledown cottage with their absent-minded inventor father. (Library catalog | Amazon)

any-witch-wallAny Which Wall, by Laurel Snyder
In the middle of an Iowa cornfield, four children find a magic wall that enables them to travel through time and space. (Library catalog | Amazon)

small-surpriseA Small Surprise, by Louise Yates
A little rabbit, too small even to wipe his own nose, is just the right size to do one very special thing. (Library catalog | Amazon)

yum-yumYum Yum! What Fun, by Mara Bergman
A series of animals sneaks into the house, looking for something to eat. (Library catalog | Amazon)

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Posted in: Library.

On parenting and the Declaration of Independence

Jul 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
by susan.

In honor of the Fourth of July, Southborough resident and former selectwoman Donna McDaniel puts to rest some popular misconceptions about the Declaration of Independence in a column for the Southborough Village (aka Wicked Local Southborough).

And in a second Father’s Day column — only just posted online — McDaniel considers parenting from the perspective of a grandmother.

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Posted in: Community News.
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Police chief job description posted

Jul 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
by susan.

In case you’re curious, the job posting for our new police chief is now on the town website. Here’s an excerpt:

Candidate must value accountability, diversity and high ethical standards. Candidates must have thorough knowledge of police administration; proven communication and management skills; familiarity with collective bargaining, strong leadership qualities, ability to interact positively with the Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, department heads and the public and possess the ability to perform law enforcement activities in the field as required. Requirements include a Bachelors degree or higher in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or a related field from an accredited college or university; a Master’s Degree is preferred; and a minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressive career experience as a certified police officer having worked in at least three different functional areas, including five (5) years at a command level of sergeant or higher rank and be a person of good financial and personal standing.

There’s also a more expansive job description along with a residency requirement map.

(For the latest on the search for a new police chief, click here.)

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Posted in: Public Safety.
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Updated flood zone maps may mean higher insurance for some

Jul 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
by susan.

(click to view as PDF)

Proposed FEMA flood insurance map. Pink indicates parcels that have changed (click to view as PDF).

If you’re one of about 300 affected property owners in Southborough, the rate you pay for flood insuarnce may be on the rise.

FEMA, the agency that determines where various flood zones lie, has been working with local engineering firms to update their Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Town Engineer John Woodsmall recently told selectmen that in Southborough the proposed changes mean some parcels that weren’t in flood zones before now are, and others that were in one type of flood zone are now in another.

In all, Woodsmall said about 300 properties in town are changing, and those changes may lead to higher insurance costs.

If your property is located in a flood zone, federal law requires you to carry flood insurance, and the amount of the insurance depends on whether you’re in a 100-year flood zone (1% annual chance) or a 500-year flood zone (0.2% annual chance).

Updating the flood mpas is a federal project, not a local one, Woodsmall told selectmen. “This process is not being driven by the town,” he said. “We didn’t ask for this to happen.”

FEMA does not typically notify property owners when flood zones change, so the town has taken it upon themselves to let affected owners know. A letter to property owners went out earlier this week. (If you didn’t recieve a letter, feel free to breathe a sigh of relief now.)

In updating their maps, FEMA used improved topography data from 2002, as well as work engineering firm Beals & Thomas did on the Fay School project in 2008, Woodsmall said.

A 90-day public comment period starts July 17. It’s the responsibility of the propoerty owner to appeal any decisions to FEMA.

Some DCR lang along the reservoir is affected by the zone updates, but Woodsmall said he did not believe any town-owned property was affected.

You can view all the proposed maps on the Department of Public Works website.

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Posted in: Public works.

Finding fireworks for the Fourth

Jul 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 am
by susan.

Scheveningen fireworksIn Southborough, we save our fireworks for Summer Nights in August. That means if you’re looking to celebrate the Fourth with a bang, you’ll have to make a bit of a trek.

Towns in our area that used to host fireworks displays — like Framingham, Marlborough, Ashland, and Holliston — haven’t held them in years. According to a list published by the state, some of our nearest fireworks this year are in Milford, Needham, Newton, and Waltham (note that some of the firework displays are tonight).

Both Franklin and Worcester were scheduled to have their fireworks displays on Thursday night, but each was postponed because of the wet weather. Worcester will hold theirs tonight, while Franklin will have theirs on Monday.

If it’s parade or party you’re after, you won’t need to drive nearly as far. Westborough, Shrewsbury, and Sudbury (among others) are hosting events today and tomorrow to celebrate the Fourth. You can see a list of events here.

Update: Just found this list of fireworks displays in The Metrowest Daily News.

(Photo by ** Maurice **)

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Posted in: Recreation.

On the market this week

Jul 3rd, 2009 at 6:58 am
by susan.
This house at 13 Joslin Lane went on the market at $990,000

This house at 13 Joslin Lane went on the market at $990,000

It was a bit of a slow week in Southborough real estate. Two new houses came on the market, two sold, and none went under agreement.

Thanks to Doug McClain (email) of Century 21 Commonwealth Realty for supplying the listing information.

New on the market

  • 10 Rockpoint Road (map) – 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Split-Entry – $349,900
  • 13 Joslin Lane (map) – 11 room, 4 bed, 4.5 bath Colonial – $990,000

Sale pending
No houses went under agreement this week

Sold

  • 9 Ted Lane (map) – 8 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath Contemporary – Listed at $459,900 – Sold for $452,000 – 64 days on market
  • 11 Barn Lane (map) – 10 room, 5 bed, 3 full, 2 half bath Colonial – Listed at $1,595,000 – Sold for $1,463,750 – 343 days on market
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Posted in: Real estate.

Memorial poster for Dennis Wrenn

Jul 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
by susan.

Musical-Tribute-PosterSMALLSouthborough resident Sue Teplansky has created a memorial poster for Algonquin music director Dennis Wrenn who died earlier this year. The full-size poster measures 11×17 and costs $20. A portion of the proceeds go toward the Dennis Wrenn Scholarship Fund.

You can find more information, including how to order the poster, on Sue’s website.

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Posted in: Schools.
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Southborough resident named finalist for CEO of Year Award

Jul 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
by susan.

Southborough resident Brian Zanghi, president and CEO of Kadient, has been named a finalist for he 2009 Mass Technology Leadership Council’s CEO of the Year Award.

“I’m incredibly honored to be chosen as a finalist for CEO of the Year Award,” Zanghi said. “Certainly my success at Kadient is due, in part, to the team of fine employees here who give their talent and skills to aid the growth of our company.”

Kadient is headquartered in Lowell. You can read all about Zanghi’s nomination in a press release on Kadient’s website.

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Posted in: Business.
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Magazine crews currently canvassing Southborough

Jul 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 am
by susan.

A My Southborough reader wrote in to report that some door-to-door solicitors hawking magazine subscriptions visited her house earlier this week.

I checked with Interim Chief Jane Moran, and she confirmed that an organization recently registered with the police department and will be going door-to-door throughout town for the next six weeks.

Moran said the police have already received calls about their aggressive tactics. But because Southborough’s bylaw concerning solicitors is weak, there’s not much the police can do.

“We can ask them to tone it down, but we can’t remove them or ask them to leave,” Moran said.

Moran suggested residents not open the door to people they don’t know. She also said you can post no trespassing and no solicitation signs on your property. If solicitors ignore the signs, police can then take action.

Solicitors are allowed to work from 7:00 am to 30 minutes after sunset. Sunset is around 8:20 pm this time of year.

For the most part, the folks selling magazine subscriptions are not local. I don’t have specifics on the particular organization currently canvassing in town, but for some enlightening (and disturbing) reading, check out For Youths, a Grim Tour on Magazine Crews by the New York Times.

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Posted in: Community News, Police & Fire.

Kids march in Fourth of July parade

Jul 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 am
by susan.

The sun shone just long enough yesterday for the kids to make their annual Fourth of July trek from the library up to the Town House. Here are some photos taken by Laura Coldwell-Stewart. (Thanks Laura for taking them and thanks Marge for sending them in!)

4th-parade-1

4th-parade-2

4th-parade-3

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Posted in: Library, Recreation.
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In the media: The Algonquin garden spot in Northborough

Jul 1st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
by susan.

The Metrowest Daily News has a story about a garden started by students and faculty at Algonquin. Some crops from the garden are being donated to the Northborough Food Pantry, while others are being frozen for use during nutrition classes next fall.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, organizers have planned a serenity garden with trees, a gazebo, and granite benches. It’s intended as a place where visitors can remember students and faculty who have passed. It will be created in part with money donated by the Murphy Sisters Foundation.

You can find all the details in the Metrowest Daily News along with this video.

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Posted in: Schools.
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When it comes to speeding tickets, Southborough is about average

Jul 1st, 2009 at 11:55 am
by susan.

If you’re caught speeding in Southborough, how likely are you to get a ticket? The answer? Less likely than you are in Hopkinton, more likely than you are in Framingham.

WHDH Channel 7 took a look at how much money towns inside the Route 495 loop collected in traffic tickets last year. The average was $4.53 per resident. Southborough came in just under that at $4.35 per resident.

Best not to push the speed limit when you cross the border into Hopkinton, though. They rated one of the highest in the area at $9.32 per resident. Framingham came in at $2.99, and Marlborough at $3.43.

You can read the full article and find a link to the data on the Channel 7 website.

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Posted in: Police & Fire.

Vast majority of Algonquin grads plan to continue their education

Jul 1st, 2009 at 9:18 am
by susan.

With the workforce the way it is today, perhaps it’s no surprise that a whopping 91% of this year’s Algonquin graduates plan to continue their schooling in the fall.

According to unofficial numbers presented at last week’s regional school committee meeting, 83% of graduating seniors plan to attend a four-year college in the fall, while 8% will go on to a two-year college. An additional 2% will enter trade or certificate programs.

The Metrowest Daily News recently did an article on postsecondary placement rates, and Algonquin’s rate is on par with other districts in the area.

Of course, college is not the only post-graduation choice. Of the 361 seniors who graduated this year, some will enter the military, others will join the workforce, and still others plan to take some time off. Here’s how the numbers break down.

postgrad-plans

So what about you? What did you do after graduating from high school? Take the My Southborough poll in the sidebar to the right. (If you’re reading this via email or RSS, you’ll need to visit the site to vote.)

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Posted in: Schools.
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Fire logs for the week

Jul 1st, 2009 at 6:59 am
by susan.

Tuesday 6/23/09
08:56 Vehicle accident with injuries, Turnpike Road
14:34 Vehicle accident with injuries, Turnpike Road and Route 85
15:30 Public service assistance, Parkerville Road
22:11 EMS call, Clifford Street

Wednesday 6/24/09
08:26 Vehicle accident with injuries, Turnpike Road and Oak Hill Road
14:05 Unintentional alarm system activation, Northboro Road
20:54 Gasoline or other flammable spill, Woodland Road and Breakneck Hill Road

Thursday 6/25/09
07:31 EMS call, Main Street
07:55 Vehicle accident with injuries, Mass Pike West
09:54 Smoke scare, odor of smoke, Turnpike Road and Central Street
11:03 EMS call, Pleasant Street
12:11 EMS call, Richards Road
12:55 Unintentional transmission of alarm, Marlboro Road
13:40 EMS call, Upland Road
20:01 EMS call, Pine Hill Road

Friday 6/26/09
12:36 Power line down, Woodbury Road
15:52 Smoke scare, odor of smoke, Clemmons Street

Saturday 6/27/09
00:59 Rescue, emergency medical call, Wolfpen Lane
18:43 Rescue, emergency medical call, Main Street

Sunday 6/28/09
12:21 Unintentional transmission of alarm, Clemmons Street
12:59 Rescue, emergency medical call, Boston Road
19:10 Rescue, emergency medical call, Middle Road

Monday 6/29/09
06:19 Rescue, emergency medical call, Boston Road
08:34 EMS call, Wolfpen Lane
09:12 EMS call, Main Street
15:24 EMS call, Hemenway Road, Framingham
15:32 Carbon monoxide detector activation (no CO found), Birchwood Drive

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Posted in: Police & Fire.
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