My Southborough

Obituary: Barbara (DeFranco) Ferreira, 83

by beth on October 14, 2019

Barbara (DeFranco) Ferreira, 83, of Southborough, passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham.

She was the daughter of the late Augustus and Christina (DelGaizo) DeFranco and predeceased by her sisters, Rose Mini and Regina Catano. For the past 59 years, she has been the adored wife of Angelo Ferreira. Barbara is survived by her sons, Paul Ferreira and his wife Paloma of Wayland, David Ferreira and his wife Stacey of North Reading, her daughters, Caroline Hanlon and her husband John of Marlborough, and Ellen Tobin and her husband Rich of Marlborough, her brother, Joseph DeFranco, and his wife Alice of Sudbury as well as 10 grandchildren who called her “Mimi”, one great grandchild and lots of nieces and nephews. [click to keep reading…]

Tagged as: Southborough obituaries

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Heritage Day Weekend at a glance: Golf for ALS One; Pumpkin Stroll and After Party; and Heritage Day parade, sales and activities (Updated with activity map)

by beth on October 11, 2019

Post image for Heritage Day Weekend at a glance: Golf for ALS One; Pumpkin Stroll and After Party; and Heritage Day parade, sales and activities (Updated with activity map)

Above: The biggest happening of the long weekend is the annual parade. But there’s a lot taking place before and after in celebration of Heritage Day.

The weekend is off to a dreary start. Fortunately, the forecast is looking up for a beautiful Pumpkin Stroll and Heritage Day. I’m rounding up all you need to know. But first, there are two unrelated happenings this Saturday. So, here’s the full slate of weekend activities:

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Golf for ALS One @ Southborough Golf Club: The public is invited to come out to golf and support ALS research and care. The greens fees will be reduced to $5 over Heritage Day weekend. Golfers have the option to pay the regular full fees with the extra going to ALS One. (Additional donations are also welcome.) For details, see dedicated post.

Fay School Farmers Market (10:00 am – 1:00 pm) @ Harlow Circle in front of Fay’s Primary School, 25 Middle Rd: Each market will feature local produce, prepared food, and handmade goods by local vendors. The school has updated its description of activities for kids this week, “Celebrate fall with a special pumpkin painting craft and apple cider. The Girl Scouts will be at the market with a catapult-making activity for children.” For details, see dedicated post.

Plastic Reduction Workshop (2:30 – 3:30 pm) @ Southborough Library, Eaton Room: Learn about the effects climate change and pollution is having on our planet in an interesting and fun way. For details, see dedicated post.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Golf for ALS One @ Southborough Golf Club: The public is invited to come out to golf and support ALS research and care. The greens fees will be reduced to $5 over Heritage Day weekend. Golfers have the option to pay the regular full fees with the extra going to ALS One. (Additional donations are also welcome.) For details, see dedicated post.

Drop-off for Pumpkin Stroll (2:00 – 4:00 pm) @ in front of the Southborough Library: Drop off your decorated pumpkins with Southborough Rotary for the 21s Annual jack o’ lantern display. The Rotary is also collecting boxes of crackers and bottles of condiments for the Southborough Food Pantry. For details, see dedicated post.

Pumpkin Stroll (4:00 – 6:00 pm) @ Old Burial Grounds: Southborough Rotary Club’s 21st annual pre-Heritage Day celebration. The community is invited to view pumpkins lined up on the stone wall. The jack-o-lanterns are decorated and contributed by residents of all ages earlier in the day. This year, Rotary is asking people to donate boxes of crackers and bottles of condiments for the Southborough Food Pantry. Light refreshments will be served. For details, see dedicated post.

After Party (5:00 – 7:00 pm) @ Pilgrim Church Fellowship Hall: The Pilgrim Congregational Church Fellowship Committee invites attendees of the Pumpkin Stroll, “keep walking right into Fellowship Hall to gather with friends and neighbors. All are welcome to warm up with cider and donuts while getting into the Pumpkin Spice season!”

Heritage Day – Monday, October 14, 2019

(click to enlarge)

Due to the Columbus Day holiday, government offices, facilities, and public schools will be closed.

With so many new activities at Heritage Day this year, I thought a map would be helpful. You can find all of the activities (except for golfing) on the map right.

Golf for ALS One @ Southborough Golf Club: The public is invited to come out to golf and support ALS research and care. The greens fees will be reduced to $5 over Heritage Day weekend. Golfers have the option to pay the regular full fees with the extra going to ALS One. (Additional donations are also welcome.) For details, see dedicated post.

Friends of Southborough Library Sale (9:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Southborough Library parking lot: The annual big used book sale and bake sale. This year, there will also be a table selling art and science kits for children. Proceeds support The Friends of the Southborough Library’s efforts to help fund library resources and events. Each child is entitled to one free book Stuff a bag sale – Bring your old Friends’ tote bag and stuff it for $10. Or buy a new one and stuff it with books for $20. If you are contributing to the bake sale, you can drop off beginning at 8:00 am that morning (or during library hours on Saturday). For details, see dedicated post.

SHS’ Fancy Flea (9:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Pilgrim Church Fellowship Hall: This “Antique/Vintage/Craft Market” is a fundraiser for the Southborough Historical Society. SHS will be selling donated items and duplicates from its historical collection (including “rare” items from the Deerfoot Farms collection). Plus numerous private vendors will be selling their own vintage and antique items. The indoor sale is rain or shine. For details, see dedicated post.

Heritage Day Parade (10:00 am): Almost every group in town marches in the big annual parade – scouts, youth sports, school bands, community groups, town official, veterans and more. Lineup begins at 9:30 am in the St. Anne’s Church parking lot. Participants march down the drive, turn right onto Boston Road, then left to Main Street past the St Mark’s School’s field – corner of Rte 30 & 85 – and right to end at Marlboro Road. (Lots of marchers toss candy to the onlookers lined along the streets on the way.)

Activities on the Field (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ St. Mark’s field (the corner of Routes 85& 30): The field is the hub of Heritage Day activities with about 80 tents and booths. Expect vendors selling wares, businesses and community groups promoting themselves, and lots of fundraising booths. Free fun includes inflatables and a photo booth.

Knight of Columbus Soccer Challenge (10:00 am – 1:00 pm) @ St. Mark’s field. Free penalty shot contest for 9-14 year old boys and girls. The highest scorers can progress to the district level competitions. For details, see dedicated post.

Pie Eating Contest (12:00 pm) @ St. Mark’s Field: Free annual contest run by Troop 92 on St. Mark’s Field – sign up by 11:30 am. Contestants are challenged to be the first to fully devour the contents of his/her individual sized Table Top Pie tin. No hands are allowed.

SCAC’s indoor Arts & Crafts Fair (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) @ Southborough Community House, 28 Main Street: Sponsored by the Southborough Cultural Arts Council. The fair will feature local artists selling jewelry, paintings, knit goods, note cards and more. The popular band “A Good Time” will play on the porch from 12-2. For details, see dedicated post.

SHS’ Classic Car show (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Southborough Historical Museum parking lot, 25 Common Street: Hosted by the Southborough Historical Society: Following the parade, classic British and American automobiles will be parked outside the museum for viewing. For details, see dedicated post.

SHS’ Museum Open House (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Southborough Historical Museum, 25 Common Street: The museum will be open showcasing its new exhibit: Southborough Through Time. Follow the changes of Southborough from 1830-1964 in a serious of spectacular maps. For details, see dedicated post.

(click to enlarge)

Updated (10/13/19 9:15 am): I created a map showing the parade route and all of Monday’s Heritage Day activities (except for golf, which is obviously over at the golf course!)

Tagged as: Heritage-day-2019, southborough-events-this-week

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Friends of Library Sale: Books, Baked goodies, and a Kids’ table (crafts, science kits, games and more)

by beth on October 11, 2019

Post image for Friends of Library Sale: Books, Baked goodies, and a Kids’ table <em>(crafts, science kits, games and more)</em>

Above: The Friends of the Southborough Library’s Heritage Day Sale will feature the usual books and baked goodies, plus a special table for kids with good-as-new science kits, craft kits, games and more. (scroll down for photo credits)

Monday is The Friends of the Southborough Library’s biggest annual fundraiser – our Heritage Day Book and Bake Sale.

As usual, the Friends will offer one free book per child. But this year, there’s an extra reason for families with kids to swing by.

We’ll be setting up a Kids table to sell science kits, craft kits, games and more. Some will be gently used and some never used. (Click on the image right for a sample of some of the items that will be sold.)

As always, there will be a large selection of fiction and non-fiction hardcover and paperback books for adults, children, and young adults.

The Friends will also offer its stuff a bag sale deal. So, if you purchased a Friends’ tote in the past, be sure to bring it with you.

If you don’t have one, you can buy one there.

The sale will be held in the Library parking lot, right across from the main field. The sale will be open from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help us out for a shift sometime that day, please email friends@southboroughlib.org. (Setup begins at 8:00 am.)

Proceeds from the Friends’ fundraisers are used to support Library resources and programs not covered by the regular budget. That includes most of the Library’s discount passes to museums and venues, many children’s programs throughout the year, and programs for adults and young adults.

(images from flickr, top row L-R: cropped from pic by Ginny, photo by Sean; center row L-R by Jamison Judd and Mallory Dash; bottom row product marketing photos)

Tagged as: Heritage-day-2019

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Celebrating 70 years of Marriage: Robert and Barbara Delarda

by beth on October 11, 2019

Above: Congratulations to the Platinum couple (image edited from contributed photo)

A longtime Southborough couple are celebrating a special anniversary next week. Their family asked to share their bit of joy with the community.

Robert and Barbara Delarda wed 70 years ago this month. Their daughters noted that it’s not often you come across a couple that has been together for so long.

Daughters Sue Wood and Diane Levay shared:

Robert and Barbara Delarda of Southborough will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on October 16, 2019.

Robert and Barbara (Marsh) met while working at Deerfoot Farms here in Southborough. The couple married on October 16,1949, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Marlborough, with a reception held at the Fayville Hall in Fayville.

Robert, 90 and Barbara, 91 have lived their entire married life in Southborough, where they raised their two daughters and still reside. Their happiest moments in life are those that are spent with their children, grandchildren and extended family.

The couples 70th ‘Platinum’ Anniversary will be celebrated with their family and friends!

(If you have good news or congratulations to share for a feelgood friday post, email mysouthborough@gmail.com.)

Tagged as: feelgood-fridays

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Troop 1 is eager to talk about its Iceland adventure

by beth on October 11, 2019

Above: A group of Southborough Boy Scouts had a summer vacation worth talking about. (images cropped from photos contributed by Troop 1 leaders and families)

Southborough Boy Scout Troop 1 members are excited to tell the community about the “Big Trip” they took over the summer. The overseas adventure was four years in the making – and appears to have been well worth the effort.

Here is an excerpt from the Troop’s recap of the trip:

Troop 1 Southborough Big Trip 2019
27 Current and former Boy Scouts from Troop 1 Southborough along with 13 adult volunteers took a “Big Trip” to Iceland in late July of 2019. Following a long-standing tradition, the scouts of Troop 1 voted for this destination in several rounds in the Winter and Spring of 2018 to take this once-every-four-years trip.

The Big Trip team of five senior scouts, Anthony Zalev, Alexander Forrest, Joseph Greene, Zane Walter, and Garrett Goodney and Scoutmaster Jim Greene spent the next 14 months planning the adventure that saw the Troop camp in five different campsites and visit over 20 destinations during their 8-day adventure.

That text is the introduction to a day-by-day overview of their adventure, peppered with gorgeous photos. It concludes:

Forty people made the 8-day journey that consisted of almost 5,000 miles traveled by air, 1,000 miles traveled by bus, and 70 miles travelled by foot around the beautiful country of Iceland. Our 40 adventurers camped using 25 tents in 5 separate campsites. We had 3 restaurant meals and prepared 23 meals for ourselves. We brought 6 stoves and sets of cooking equipment, we purchased two canopies in Iceland along with most of our food and consumed 24 liters of propane, 2 liters of white gas, and 2 pounds of isobutane. Our itinerary consisted of 24 activities (8 of which required a fee) and we were able to do it all for the thrifty cost of roughly $1,600 per person. Being in a foreign land with its unique topology, foods, sparse population centers, unique language, currency, and on the metric system presented a number of challenges, but it made the adventure one truly worthy of the title “Big Trip”.

You can read the full details about the fun they had here. You can also see some of the gorgeous photos they shared with me below:

On Monday, the Troop will be showing off a photo book with even more pictures from the trip at its Heritage Day booth. You can also ask scouts about their personal experience. Of course, they’ll also be happy to talk about future adventures in store for scouts who join the troop.

Leader Jim Greene explained that the Troop embraces the boy led origins.

whether that is turning the church hall tables into a ga-ga pit or trying a snorkeling trip, or this summer’s Water Skiing, as long as everyone is safe and included I always push for the Troop to try new things or destinations. We have fun weekly meetings planned by the scouts that feature training, updates on our activities and trips as well as a game each week. We have pretty exciting trips every month including a week at Summer Camp in Bolton together, Biking, Canoeing, Whitewater Rafting, Backpacking, Climbing, Skiing, etc. Troop 1 is in it’s 104th year of serving Southborough’s Youth and we recently had our 101st Eagle Scout awarded.

The planning for 2023 will likely begin in January of 2022 and I am excited to see what ideas the scouts have (runner up ideas this time were Hawaii and southern Utah).

Tagged as: feelgood-fridays

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DCR opening up deer hunting on some of its land in Southborough

by beth on October 11, 2019

Above: DCR has posted an interactive map indicating where deer hunting will be allowed on its land in town. The solid green areas will be open to archery and firearm hunting this fall. The striped areas and red areas will not be.

A commenter questioned signs at trails in town purportedly warning hikers to wear orange safety vests for hunting season. In looking into it, I discovered that the state will be allowing deer hunting (including shotgun/firearm hunting) on some land near the reservoir. In preparation, signs are being posted at trails that will be impacted.

With recent encouragement to hit trails in the boroughs, it would be pretty frustrating to show up at a trail just to learn that an orange vest is required. But, I was able to verify that none of the signs were put up by Town committees. Hunting isn’t allowed on Town owned open spaces and its trails aren’t restricted to people wearing orange safety vests. You can find the information on Town trails here.

Still, hunting season has opened in Southborough and it is allowed on private land. In case any hunters accidentally overstep their boundaries, it’s a good idea to wear bright colors when hiking in the woods this time of year.

And, it is worth noting that I was unable to confirm whose signs the commenter spotted. They could have been ones on property belonging to the Southborough Open Land Foundation, which is privately owned. (The board does allow some selective bow hunting on certain areas of Beals Preserve. Hunting is meant to be in areas away from the trails. But to be safe, they always post warning signs to for visitors to wear bright colors during hunting season.)

As for the state owned land, I was able to get more information on where hunting will and won’t be allowed – and when.

A representative from the Department of Conservation and Recreation confirmed that last Friday DCR finalized allowing hunting on some watershed lands. A special permit is required, but there is no fee.

While archery deer hunting season opened in Southborough on October 7th, a DCR representative clarified that hunting on its land won’t open until October 21st. Beyond that, it is essentially open to the end of the year with just changes in the weaponry allowed. (Scroll down for those details.*)

The DCR has posted an interactive map with a legend detailing where hunting is/isn’t allowed. (It’s targeted at hunters but should be helpful for anyone who wants to know.) DCR Watershed Ranger Andrew M. Leahy explained:

The areas that are green, but with black cross-hatching are open, but are ‘setbacks’… which means it is too close to houses or road-ways to legally discharge bows/firearms in that area.

Some residents seem to have been under the impression that hunting isn’t allowed in town. In fact, according to our bylaws, it is allowed as long as written permission is granted by the property owner. (I presume a hunting license is also needed.)

Others have asserted that the Town prohibits the uses of firearms in town. But that appears to be a misconception as well.

A search of the Town Code doesn’t bring up any restrictions on guns or weapons. In 2013, this blog shared a warning from police when shotgun season opened. The message referenced calls they would get each year from residents concerned by hearing guns fired.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t any restrictions. A state law prohibits discharging a firearm within 500 feet “of a dwelling or other building in use, except with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof”. (There are some exceptions to that rule, but hunting isn’t one of them.)

Still, while I knew that hunting was allowed on private land in town, this is the first time I’ve heard of it on government owned land. So, why is DCR allowing it this year? As some have commented, it’s about culling the deer population. [click to keep reading…]

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On the market this week in Southborough

October 10, 2019 03:54:04 PM

What went on and off the market this week.

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APTO calls for critically needed support: Dollars Drive and school volunteers

October 10, 2019 09:54:12 AM

The Algonquin Parent Teacher Organization asked to share their October news with Southborough readers. Their biggest news is their calls for financial and volunteer support.

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Heritage Day fun on the field: Inflatables, food trucks, and booths worth checking out

October 10, 2019 09:30:00 AM

On Monday, St. Mark’s field at the corner of Routes 85& 30 will serve as the hub of Heritage Day activities. This year it will be lined with about 80 tents/booths. While many of them will be selling food or wares, there will also be plenty of free fun.

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Arts & Crafts indoor sale – Heritage Day

October 9, 2019 10:19:29 AM

One of the new satellite events at Heritage Day this year is an indoor Arts & Crafts Sale at the Community House.

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Nominate a name for part of the new Public Safety Building

October 9, 2019 07:30:08 AM

The public is invited to weigh in as the Town considers the possibility of “naming” rooms in the new combined police and fire station.

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Obituary: John R. Evans, 83

October 8, 2019 04:31:26 PM

John R. Evans, 83, of South Portland, ME and formerly a long time resident of Southborough, passed away on October 3rd, 2019 at his new home, surrounded by his family, after a long courageous battle with cancer.

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