For the Southborough Scholarship Committee, the Valentine’s Day love came early this year. Last weekend they hosted a Valentine’s Day dance and silent auction to raise money for the town’s scholarship fund. Keep reading to find out how they did, and to learn about where the money goes.

Good music and fun were the themes for The Southborough Scholarship Committee Valentine dance and auction, held at Acacia in Westborough on Saturday, February 4. The dance was organized to raise funds for the scholarships given to Southborough’s graduating high school students and post-secondary undergraduates who are attending or planning to attend post-secondary undergraduate courses. The band, Outta Commission, entertained everyone with dance music. Over $6,000 was raised from this event which will fund several scholarships this year.

The scholarships are funded from various sources; some are specific to the established funds. In 1987 the Town of Southborough established the Scholarship Fund. In 1999, the Southborough Youth Gymnastics Association (SYGA) established the Carroll Harris Memorial Scholarship. It is given to a student who participates in gymnastics, or who plans to major in physical education, recreation or education, or who has demonstrated active participation in a town recreation program. The funds from this event will contribute to the awards to these two scholarships.

In addition, in 2005 the William J. Bertonazzi Memorial Scholarship fund was started by the Eric Bertonazzi family to be awarded to an Algonquin student. In 2011 the Capital Group Academic Scholarships were established to be awarded to two town of Southborough students. These scholarships are financed by the afore-mentioned family and business entities.

For those who were unable to attend the dance and wishing to donate to the scholarship fund may donate by sending a check made out to Southborough Scholarship Fund, 17 Common Street, Southborough, MA 01772. Any and all donations of welcomed.

Applications are available at local private high schools and Algonquin Regional high school and the Southborough library. Graduating seniors and post-secondary undergraduate students are required to submit their applications no later than April 4, 2012 for consideration.

Thank you to all donators, attendees and especially to Outta Commission for their generosity in making this event so successful.

Here are the high school games on tap this week. Listed are just the varsity games. For a complete schedule, click here for Algonquin and here for Assabet. (If you’re interested in St. Mark’s sports, you can find their schedule here.)

Monday, Jan 30, 2012

• 6:00 pm – ASSABET Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Montachusett Reg Voc Tech
• 7:00 pm – ASSABET Boys Varsity Basketball @ Montachusett Reg Voc Tech
• 8:10 pm – ARHS Girls Ice Hockey vs. Gardner High School @ New England Sports Center

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012

• 7:00 pm – ARHS Boys Basketball vs. St. John’s @ Algonquin Regional High School Gym A

Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012

• 6:00 pm – ARHS Gymnastics Triangular vs. Marlborough High School, Westford Academy @ Algonquin Regional High School – Gym C
• 6:30 pm – ARHS Wrestling vs. Marlborough High School @ Marlborough High School
• 7:00 pm – ARHS Girls Bsketball vs. Acton-Boxborough Reg @ Algonquin Regional High School – Gym A
• 7:00 pm – ARHS Girls Ice Hockey vs. Shawsheen Valley Tech @ Janus Rink
• 8:00 pm – ARHS Boys Ice Hockey vs. Westborough High School @ North Star Rink

Thursday, Feb 2, 2012

• 3:00 pm – ARHS Alpine Ski vs. CMCSL @ Ski Ward Ski Area
• 7:00 pm – ASSABET Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ Burncoat Senior High School

Friday, Feb 3, 2012

• 6:00 pm – ASSABET Girls Varsity Basketball @ Nashoba Valley Voc-Tech
• 7:00 pm – ASSABET Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Nashoba Valley Voc-Tech
• 7:00 pm – ARHS Boys Basketball vs. Fitchburg @ Algonquin Regional High School Gym A
• 7:00 pm – ARHS Girls Basketball vs. Fitchburg @ Fitchburg High School

Saturday, Feb 4, 2012

• 11:00 am – ARHS Gymnastics Meet vs. Shrewsbury @ Shrewsbury High School
• 1:00 pm – ARHS Indoor Track vs. Fitchburg, Milford, North Middlesex Regional, Shrewsbury, Wachusett Regional @ Fitchburg High School
• 5:50 pm – ASSABET Boys Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Groton-Dunstable Regional
• 8:10 pm – ARHS Girls Ice Hockey vs. Burlington @ Burlington Ice Palace
• 8:20 pm – ARHS Boys Ice Hockey vs. Oakmont Regional @ North Star Rink

Sunday, Feb 5, 2012

• 3:30 pm – ARHS Girls Ice Hockey vs. King Philip Regional @ New England Sports Center

Here are the committee and department meetings for the week. Be aware that changes to the meeting schedule are known to happen throughout the week. For the most up-to-date list of meetings, visit the town website.

All these meetings are open to the public, so you’re welcome to stop on by. Don’t know where the meeting room is? Give a shout in the comments and I’ll do my best to help.

Monday, January 30

• Drafting Committee for Town Manager Legislation, 7:00 pm @ Room A, Cordaville Hall (agenda)

Tuesday, January 31

• Library Board of Trustees, 6:00 pm @ Southborough Public Library (agenda)
• Board of Selectmen, 6:30 pm @ Hearing Room, Town House (agenda)
• Advisory Committee, 6:30 pm @ Hearing Room, Town House (agenda)

Wednesday, February 1

• No meetings scheduled

Thursday, February 2

• Cable Television Committee, 7:30 pm @ Cable Access Office, Fayville Hall (agenda)

Friday, February 3

• No meetings scheduled

For nearly thirty years, Dick Curran was the friendly face behind the counter at what old-timers call ‘The Spa’ (now Mauro’s Cafe). On Friday Mr. Curran died at the age of 82 after a long illness, and with his passing Southborough has lost another of its treasures.

Mr. Curran was born in Framingham, and after enlisting in the Navy and serving in the Korean War, he returned and purchased The Southborough News and Coffee Shop from his uncle and aunt. That was the early 1960′s, and Mr. Curran served as The Spa’s proprietor until his retirement in 1986.

He was an active member of St. Anne Church in Southborough. He also served on the Board of Southborough Senior Center, was a past president of the Southborough Rotary Club, volunteered at the local schools and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Phil Sheridan Council.

He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Eileen, and his daughters Margaret, Mary, and Clare, along with beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be he held on Monday, January 30, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Morris Funeral Home (40 Main Street. Southborough). The funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 31, at 10:00 am at St. Anne Church (20 Boston Rd, Southborough). Burial will follow in the Southborough Rural Cemetery.

I grew up next door to the Currans, so I know first-hand what a wonderful family they are and just how much Dick meant to them. My heartfelt condolences go out to all who knew and loved him. Mr. Curran left an imprint on so many of us growing up in the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s. I’ll share my memories in an upcoming post. I invite you to share yours in the comments below.

Mr. Curran’s full obituary can be found here.

Voters at Town Meeting in April will face a decision that could fundamentally – and dramatically – change the way Southborough operates. It won’t be an easy decision, and it’s one we all need to get educated about. Here’s one great opportunity to do just that.

(click to enlarge)

Want a printable version of the flyer? Click here. For more information on the town manager legislation, visit the committee’s website at southboroughdctml.weebly.com.

Here are the committee and department meetings for the week. Be aware that changes to the meeting schedule are known to happen throughout the week. For the most up-to-date list of meetings, visit the town website.

All these meetings are open to the public, so you’re welcome to stop on by. Don’t know where the meeting room is? Give a shout in the comments and I’ll do my best to help.

Monday, January 16

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day – no meetings scheduled

Tuesday, January 17

• Library Board of Trustees, 5:30 pm @ Southborough Public Library (agenda)
• Assabet School Committee, 7:00 pm @ School Committee Conference Room, Assabet (agenda)
• Drafting Committee for Town Manager Legislation, 7:00 pm @ Room A, Cordaville Hall (agenda)

Wednesday, January 18

• Personnel Board, 8:30 am @ Lower Level, Southborough Public Library (agenda)
• Board of Assessors, 8:30 am @ Hearing Room, Town House (agenda)
• Northborough-Southborough Regional Student Advisory Council, 5:30 pm @ Library, Algonquin Regional High School (agenda)
• Assabet Building Committee, 6:00 pm @ School Committee Conference Room, Assabet (agenda)
• Operation Budget Subcommittee of the Regional School Committee, 6:30 pm @ Library, Algonquin Regional High School (agenda)
• Southborough Housing Authority, 6:30 pm @ Colonial Gardens, 49 Boston Road (agenda)
• Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee, 7:00 pm @ Library, Algonquin Regional High School (agenda)
• Capital Budget Planning Committee, 7:00 pm @ Hearing Room, Town House (agenda)
• Council on Aging, 7:00 pm @ Country Kitchen, Cordaville Hall (agenda)

Thursday, January 19

• Green Technology and Recycling Committee, 7:30 pm @ Southborough Public Library (agenda)

Friday, January 20

• No meetings scheduled

Southborough’s beloved Swap Shop is off the chopping block, at least for now. In the face of strong public opposition, DPW Superintendent Karen Galligan said last night she has backed off a plan to close the Swap Shop. Instead, she proposed making it even bigger.

At last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting Galligan said the main problem with the Swap Shop is its location and size.

“We’ve basically outgrown it,” Galligan said of the 20 by 12 foot garage bay. She said its location at the front of the recycling lane causes traffic flow problems, particularly on busy days like Saturdays.

To alleviate the space and traffic issues, Galligan proposed moving the Swap Shop to an unused parcel of town-owned land just behind the current recycling area. Access would be via a new driveway at the far end of the recycling lane. Galligan said the space would be large enough to accommodate multiple sheds dedicated to swapping.

Galligan said after the meeting she estimates the new swap area could be set up for about $32K. Assabet has expressed interested in having their students build the structures at no cost except materials.

Many of the several dozen residents who turned out to hear the discussion last night commended Galligan for coming up with the alternative, but not all were convinced it would solve the problem.

The new swap area would be behind the recycling facility in an area off by itself. Galligan said it would not be manned by a DPW employee, so it would need to be self-policing. Some residents questioned whether that model would encourage the same bad behavior that exists today.

“It sounds like an out-of-control free-for-all,” one Southville Road resident said. “I don’t know if we can afford to make the problem bigger.”

Selectman John Rooney agreed saying a larger, unmanned area would exacerbate the problem. Rooney said instead, the town should look to cut its solid waste disposal costs by enacting a pay-as-you-throw program, and then using the savings to pay an employee to manage the Swap Shop.

“This is a Band-Aid approach to a problem that is hemorrhaging…You’re not going to save any money, you’re going to end up spending more money,” Rooney said of the plan. “Am I in favor of closing the Swap Shop? No, but something has to be done.”

What do you think? Is building a new, bigger Swap Shop the answer? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Mercedes A. “Dee” (Halley) Evans, 71, of Southborough, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011 in her home, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She leaves her loving husband of 49 years, John Evans; a son, Robert Evans and his wife, Nancy of Portland, Maine; a daughter, Diane Bacon and her husband, Thomas; three grandchildren, Michaela, Lindsey and Andrea Bacon all of Southborough; a sister, Joan Stucchi of Framingham; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Ronald Halley.

She was born and raised in St. John’s Newfoundland Canada, daughter of the late Thomas and Mercedes (O’Brien) Halley and has been a resident of Southborough for the past 40 years. Her favorite pastimes included reading, knitting, dining out, going for walks and to the movies. She also enjoyed trips to the ocean and to Boston. The focus and joy of Mercedes’ life was her faith and spending time with her family, especially her three granddaughters. She overcame several personal struggles and tragedies throughout her life and used her experiences to help countless people. Mercedes was known as Dee to her many dear friends.

The funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 30, at 12, noon in St Matthew Church, Highland Street, Southborough. Burial will follow in Southborough Rural Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Friday morning from 9:30am to 11:30am in Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701 or to Holy Trinity Hospice, 1183 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01603.

(Obituary courtesy of Morris Funeral Home)

Above: Is it any surprise to hear the Swap Shop was the most commented-on story of 2011? (photo contributed by Eric Tapper)

I owe you all a tremendous amount of thanks for another banner year here at My Southborough. Traffic has grown steadily since I started blogging in August of 2008, and this year was no exception. As the year draws to a close, I thought I’d share some statistics to help you get a sense of the community you’ve helped create here on the blog.

In 2011, more than 80,000 people visited My Southborough a combined total of more than 350,000 times. Pageviews surpassed 780,000, a 46% increase over 2010.

Visitors came from 152 different countries, with most being from the United States (no surprise), followed by Canada and the United Kingdom. U.S. visitors hailed mainly from Massachusetts (again, no surprise) with New York, California, and Rhode Island also boasting solid My Southborough contingents.

Fourteen percent of the visits in 2011 were from mobile devices, up from only 5% in 2010, which suggests 2012 might be the time to build in better mobile support for My Southborough!

In 2011 I published a mind-boggling (if I do say so myself) 1,400 posts. You all responded with an even more mind-boggling 3,700 comments.

And what were all those stories you were commenting on? Here’s are the top 10 most commented-on posts in 2011.

1. Breaking news: Southborough’s Swap Shop to close for good on December 1 - 121 comments
2. Chief: We’re playing Russian roulette with the taxpayers – 108 comments
3. School committee wants to add a teacher, town faces $1M budget shortfall – 99 comments
4. Gobron: Reducing budget by 1% would result in loss of up to 11 teachers – 96 comments
5. LIVE BLOG: Hurricane Irene heads to Southborough – 91 comments
6. LIVE BLOG: Get the latest on the October snow storm here – 58 comments
7. POLL: Would a secret ballot change the way you vote at Town Meeting? – 52 comments
8. Selectmen consider increasing the cost of a Transfer Station sticker – 51 comments
9. Rooney asks St. Mark’s and Fay to contribute more – 49 comments
10. School committee trims K-8 budget request by $420K – 47 comments

Look for my take on the top Southborough stories of 2011 on the blog tomorrow.

The Southborough Library has some events planned this week to help keep the kiddos entertained while they’re on vacation. Here’s the schedule.

Wednesday, December 28: Movie Day
Children and their parents or caregivers are invited to a showing of “Happy Feet” (Rated PG, 87 minutes). Popcorn and juice will be served. Movie license and refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library.

Thursday, December 29: Drop-in crafts
Stop by the Children’s Room any time during the day to make a variety of winter-themed crafts.

Both events are open to children of all ages, and no registration is required. Call the Library at 508-485-5031 with any questions or for more information.