Westborough – Town Moderator John Arnold has announced that the annual Town Meeting scheduled for tomorrow, May 21, has been postponed to Saturday, June 20.

Here is his announcement –

Recent discussions with the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Health as well as the latest information from Governor Baker show that it remains imprudent to conduct the Annual Town Meeting this Thursday – May 21, 2020. Therefore, on Thursday May 21, 2020, the Town Moderator will issue an additional declaration of recess and continuance of the Annual Town Meeting to Saturday, June 20, 2020 with a planned start time of 12 noon at the High School.

Discussions will continue with the Selectmen, Board of Health, Town Manager, and others involved to determine the circumstances and procedures that will be needed to determine if the Annual Town Meeting can be held on June 20. Voters are asked to listen to the weekly COVID-19 updates and to check https://www.town.westborough.ma.us/ for updates as June 20 approaches.

Plans for parade for WHS seniors also discussed

By Jennifer L. Grybowski, Contributing Writer

Westborough – The Board of Selectmen and Board of Health heard from Recreation Director Jennifer Kirkland regarding opening up tennis courts and pickleball courts at their joint meeting Tuesday night.

Walsh said tennis courts explicitly fall under the outdoor recreational guidelines put forth by the state, with a May 25 opening date as part of Phase I. Because the Board of Health closed down certain town facilities – including the courts – back in March, they made a broad vote to follow state guidelines for reopening of all kinds of facilities going forward.

There was some discussion about putting up appropriate signage encouraging people to follow social distancing guidelines and Kirkland said she has considered taping off six-foot sections outside the gate.

Kirkland said she’s already had about 20 calls from people looking to use the courts.

“If we find too many people showing up and not proactively social distancing, we will close them back down,” she said.

That spurred a discussion about possibly setting up an online sign-up policy to use the courts, and what the town’s responsibility was to enforce such a thing. BOS Vice Chair Shelby Marshall said at some point, people have to take personal responsibility for their actions.

“I think we have to be realistic about the recreation department becoming the recreational policing department,” she said.

BOS Chair Ian Johnson agreed, saying that unless the courts are staffed, it is difficult to manage enforcing anything.

Westborough High Schools seniors parade

Spirit Committee Chair Roberta Brown approached the boards to inform them of updates regarding a car parade on Saturday, June 6 at noon for the graduating seniors, and to seek guidance regarding event coordination.

She relayed a proposed parade route, and said that it had been decided parents will drive and seniors can ride in the passenger’s seat. In response to an inquiry, she said about 90 percent of seniors have a parent with access to a vehicle, and they were working to figuring out how to safely include the other 10 percent.

She said the rotary would be decorated, businesses would decorate their storefronts, the marching band would play distanced on the high school field to kick off the parade and there may be a DJ on the rotary.

“I just want everyone to be safe and to enjoy their day and have a good time,” she said.

It was agreed that if people stay in their cars, they would be safe. There was some discussion however about how to keep spectators safe, and what to do if people got out of their cars. It was determined people should definitely wear masks.

“Ideally masks are a secondary feature for when people can’t be six feet apart,” Board of Health Chair Dr. Alan M. Ehrlich said. “It makes sense for spectators do both…What you have to ideally prevent is friends getting together and being too close and you have to take human nature into consideration. So I think the masks are indispensable in this situation as a backup.”

There was also discussion about how to prevent a bottleneck situation of spectators along the parade route, and it was suggested that the route be extended to allow for more mileage, and include streets that have sidewalks as much as possible.

Westborough – Pack 100 Westborough held their Arrow of Light ceremony and Webelos 2 crossover on May 9.  Originally scheduled to be held during the Pack’s annual Blue and Gold dinner on May 2, Den Leader Jenn Levine organized a virtual ceremony to honor the 11 Scouts who earned the Arrow Light, the highest honor Cub Scouts can bestow a scout and the only award from Cub Scouts that the recipient will wear on their Boy Scout uniform.  

Cubmaster Bill Bramley congratulated the 11 Scouts and thanked Levine and her Den Chief Shawn Levine, stating: “They did a terrific job organizing all aspects of the event — creating the virtual stage, compiling the achievements and distributing the ceremonial arrows  for each Scout.”   

As the following Scouts were receiving their ceremonial arrows from their parents, Eric French, Scoutmaster of Troup 100 Westborough, fired off an arrow for each as the Scouts and families watched.  The Pack congratulates the following scouts and wishes them the very best as their Scouting journey continues. 

The Scouts honored were: Aidan Chan, Jack Egan, Jonathan Fairbanks, Suhaas Goluguri, Bruin Guilbert, Ryan Hall, Sam Jordan, Sawyer Jordan, Atharv Joshi, Nolan Kelley and Brian Levine. 

For more information on Pack 100 visit https://www.pack100westborough.org

Westborough

Monday, May 11

1:30 a.m. Connector Rd. Larceny.

8:39 a.m. Turnpike Rd. Larceny.

9:39 a.m. Turnpike Rd. Disturbance (general).

12:42 p.m. Connector Rd. Well-being check.

12:58 p.m. Oak St. Disturbance (general).

1:44 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Larceny.

8:49 p.m. Arrested, Matthew Jones, 46, of 18 Leroy St., Dorchester, on warrant, unlicensed operation of MV, MV headlight violation, registration not in possession.

Tuesday, May 12

8:39 a.m. Kings Grant Rd. Disturbance (general).

10:18 a.m. Grove St. Suspicious activity.

1:37 p.m. Friberg Pkwy. Suspicious activity.

4:20 p.m. W Main St. Suspicious activity.

5:45 p.m. Computer Dr. Disturbance (general).

10:12 p.m. W Main St. Threats made.

Wednesday, May 13

12:54 p.m. Meadow Rd. Suspicious activity.

2:55 p.m. Otis St. Disturbance (general).

4:57 p.m. Friberg Pkwy. Trespassing.

10:29 p.m. W Main St. Suspicious auto.

Thursday, May 14

4:53 a.m. Lyman St. Suspicious person.

5:32 a.m. Lyman St. Suspicious person.

5:46 a.m. Lyman St. Suspicious person.

11:21 a.m. Ruggles St. Accident property damage.

4:13 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Larceny.

4:28 p.m. W Main St./Benjamin Dr. Suspicious person.

7:05 p.m. Connector Rd. Suspicious person.

7:35 p.m. Water/Willow Sts. Suspicious activity.

Friday, May 15

5:24 p.m. Lackey St. Well-being check.

10:36 p.m. Lackey St./Spring Rd. Road/tree.

Saturday, May 16

9:03 a.m. Maynard St. Disturbance (general).

10:37 a.m. Oak St. Disturbance (general).

12:09 p.m. Beach St. Suspicious activity.

2:43 p.m. Milk St. Disturbance (general).

3:21 p.m. Summer St. Accident property damage.

5:09 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Suspicious activity.

5:48 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Suspicious auto.

9:07 p.m. Steven Rd. Disturbance (general).

Sunday, May 17

3:49 a.m. W Main St. Accident property damage.

2:31 p.m. Oak St. Suspicious auto.

7:03 p.m. E Main St. Larceny.

7:09 p.m. Cross St. Well-being check.

7:36 p.m. Milk St. Accident property damage.

The information from the police log is obtained directly from the official records maintained at each police station in our circulation area. It contains arrests and samplings of police activity. Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty. The Community Advocate will publish news of acquittals upon notification and a copy of court-issued documentation.

Westborough – Marie R. Baldner, 97, formerly of Westborough, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham. She was the wife of the late Frederick Baldner.

A private graveside service will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Kingston, MA

By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor 

Westborough – During the normal school year, members of Westborough Athletic and Social Association (WASA) raise funds for the town’s youth to support them in their academic and athletic endeavors. Recently the group’s members extended that support to the town’s senior population through an initiative with the Senior Center. 

After reaching out to Alma Demanche, the Senior Center’s director, eight WASA members volunteered to do spring clean and yard work for seniors who needed a bit of help. 

At Marcia Patten’s home, WASA members Mike Stanton and Mark Higgins cleared out a patch of lawn that had been overgrown with weeds and debris. They then mulched it and planted some perennial flowers.  

“We were happy to do this,” Higgins said. “This town has been great to me and great to my kids. So I was happy to give back to someone who needs it.”  

“We’ve been here about three times, working a little bit each time in between working at our regular jobs at home during this [stay at home mandate],”  Stanton added. “We are glad to help Mrs. Patten out.” 

For her part Patten noted it was a wonderful surprise to get the call from Demanche. 

“I had not been able to get to that area in the last few years,” she said. “They replaced the weeds with lovely new perennials that added color to the once neglected area. I am grateful to Mark and Mike for their help.” 

Westborough – Worcester State University’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Department has announced that Westborough native Shannon Kittredge has been selected to be featured in Massachusetts-based ARTivism Initiative’s juried gallery show, an exhibit that is being made available online this year and features social causes that are important to local artists. The exhibit is a “Postcard Project” of artwork on four-by-six inch pieces of canvas.

Kittredge’s postcard is a gold-and-black print featuring a sunflower with a bee and a message: “Save the Bees.” Kittredge described her acceptance into ARTivism’s Postcard Project as a nice surprise.

“I just had fun with it and sent it in on a whim,” she said. “What I took away from the experience was to just go for it and submit your work!”

Kittredge is a sociology major with a concentration in women’s studies and minors in art and education. She said she started taking courses part-time at Worcester State University in 2011 while teaching in various elementary schools, after-school programs and summer programs.

Kittredge is a student of Worcester State University VPA Professor Amaryllis Siniossoglou’s Directed Studies and Intermediate Printmaking courses.

“Worcester State’s Visual and Performing Arts Department congratulates Shannon on her impressive acceptance into ARTivism’s inspiring Postcard Project show,” said Siniossoglou.

“Her meaningful piece reflects her hard work, creativity and vision. We look forward to ARTivism’s online gallery show.”

According to ARTivism’s website, the online exhibition date for the Postcard Project is May 28, with awards also being announced on that date. For more information, visit www.ahaneyart.com/artivism. For more art by Kittredge, visit her Instagram page @catpaw_prints.

Photos/submitted

Westborough – A parade to honor Westborough High School’s class of 2020 graduates will be held Saturday, June 6, starting at 12 p.m.

The parade will begin at the WHS back entrance on Ruggles Street, proceed to West Main Street through the rotary and along East Main Street to the Elsie A. Hastings Elementary School, 111 E Main St.. Those viewing the parade are asked to adhere to Board of Health guideline of wearing a mask and maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from people outside of your household members.

The parade is sponsored by the Westborough Spirit committee, with support from the Westborough Public Schools and the families of the graduates.

Residents reminded to follow protocols

By Jennifer L. Grybowski, Contributing Writer

Westborough – During a meeting with the Board of Selectmen (BOS) May 26, the Board of Health (BOH) reported businesses were opening in accordance with the governor’s phase one restrictions.

“We are optimistic and hopeful opening up doesn’t lead to a surge to where we were a few weeks ago,” BOH Chair Alan Erlich said.

Director of Public Health Steven Baccari and Sanitarian Ray Gauthier both said the BOH has been getting an increase in complaints of people not wearing masks, and they were spending significant time following up on those complaints. Both said their follow-up is typically in the form of education and understanding.

“Sometimes people just forget,” Gauthier said. “We have to have a little bit of understanding. We aren’t yelling at people; we talking to them, explaining to them to why they have to wear masks.”

Hashmi said he’s been getting complaints from people in apartment complexes about people not wearing masks in common areas, like hallways and elevators. Gauthier said that in all of the complexes there are signs on elevators saying only one family at a time should be riding, and that masks are to be world in public areas.

Recognizing that not everyone watches BOH meetings, Selectman Leigh Emery suggested a video on the website and cable station explaining the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Although the BOH workers said they haven’t run into trouble with the public yet, BOH Member Nathan Walsh encouraged them to reach out to the police department if they are unable to do their job in responding to complaints. Walsh himself said he’s had some run-ins with conspiracy theorists who don’t believe in wearing masks.

“We do have some people out there that are averse to any sort of thing the board or governor could put in place,” he said.

By Jennifer L. Grybowski, Contributing Writer

Westborough – The Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted May 26 to give the Westborough Master Plan Advisory Committee some extra time in coming up with their draft.

Master Plan Chair Lester Hensley told the BOS that the committee has continued to meet each week with VBH, the consulting firm, but that there had been a concern raised regarding the ability of department heads’ ability to be properly engaged in the process while they are so consumed with dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are missing out on their subject matter expertise and the benefit of their engagement,” Hensley said. “We don’t want to short the master plan process.”

He said the subcommittees suggested delaying the process by 60 days and give department heads time to clear some space in their schedules to engage in the master plan work.

“We want the best outcome,” BOS Chairman Ian Johnson said.

Selectman Allen Edinberg agreed.

“Getting it right is more important than getting it right now,” he said.

He asked if the public comment period could be reopened, and Hensley said not only that it could, but that there has been a “submit your ideas” tool where people can both submit their ideas and engage on the ideas posted.

Selectman Syed Hashmi pointed out that this process was started pre-COVID-19.

“That was another world,” he said. “It would behoove us to look at the assumptions we made pre-COVID-19 to see if they still hold true today.”

For example, he said, sidewalks are likely more important to people now than they were previously. He also pointed to considering the makeup of the committee, making sure there were some essential workers.

Hensley said discussions with VHB showed they were in agreement with the delay. Town Manager Kristi Williams said she spoke with town departments and found that staff felt relieved at the prospect of an extended deadline.

By Dakota Antelman, Contributing Writer

Westborough – Roughly two dozen painted rocks formed the shape of the American flag at the Westborough War Memorial, May 29.

Set at the foot of a flagpole bearing the full US flag, the handmade tribute sat in the middle of a space made uncharacteristically quiet by the coronavirus this year.

Memorial Day came and went on Monday without traditional parades and somber ceremonies. Such gatherings, experts warned, would be unsafe in the current conditions.

That did not stop many communities and their residents, however, as evidenced by this flag decoration, from finding creative ways to still honor fallen soldiers.

For more coverage, click here: https://www.communityadvocate.com/2020/05/26/traditions-disrupted-by-covid-19-region-still-observes-memorial-day/

By Alana McCarthy

There is a thief that has robbed me.

He travels from continent to continent,

missing not a single town.

Swooping down, stealing laughter and lives,

like a seagull snatching your sandwich.

His name is COVID…COVID-19. 

The only way to avoid him is to 

ISOLATE

on my own island, wearing a mask,

while keeping a wary eye on the horizon

watching for the rising waves

of COVID. 

Still, he will find the weakness in our defense,

allowing him to continue

his world tour,

leaving no stone unturned,

Robbing us of socializing, sports,

shopping and school.

No school:  my dream come true!

But wait! No friends! No social activities at all!

Soon I find myself yearning,

just to hear the squeak of tennis shoes,

on the polished gym floor,

for normal to be, once again.

COVID is as sneaky as a fox,

for he lurks on groceries, doorknobs,

and more. 

He can inhabit you,

without you realizing he is there!

This is what makes him most dangerous of all.

I, for one, hate the uncertainty of it all!

When will I get to see my friends, once more?

Shall a cure ever be found?

Will this be over, come fall?

These questions bounce around my mind,

the answers unknown.

A life, my life, once full of fun and joy,

is now a dark tunnel with no end in sight!

All it took was one careless mistake,

to birth this thief, and only one it took to spread it.

To spread it to my town, Westborough.

I blinked, and my former life was gone, in a flash!

The author is a sixth grade student at the Mill Pond School in Westborough. 

By Jennifer L. Grybowski, Contributing Writer

Westborough – After weeks of stopped construction work as part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s pandemic response plan, Westborough Building Commissioner Fred Lonardo said construction has resumed on several commercial sites in town as part of the Phase One reopening.

Lonardo said all of the sites are complying with the governor’s directives, such as having hand washing stations set up, doing some kind of daily check on the employees’ health and being proactive with social distancing.

“Generally the number of people you see in any one area is diminished from what it would normally be,” he said.

He said at the Amazon Robotics innovation hub, located at 50 Otis St., the site of the former pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, there has been a lot of substantial demolition of the old building, and that foundation work on the new building will likely begin in the next couple of weeks. He also reported that the cube building (behind the old pyramid) is beginning to be occupied, but that Amazon has a nurse on site to manage employees’ health. Plans were to fully open the facility in 2021.

The former Burger King at 139 Turnpike Rd. (Route 9) and the intersection of Lyman Street was razed earlier this year and plans filed for a 5,000-square-foot ConvenientMD urgent care medical center, Starbucks and new Burger King in its place.

“They’ve come a long way to finishing the outside shell and are in the process of getting permits for interior work,” Lonardo said.

Lonardo said none of the companies he’s working with seem to be fazed about this setback in scheduling.
“They are going forward and doing what they can do,” he said.

He did acknowledge that permits come with expiration dates, but the building office is giving leniency and extending those dates as a courtesy.

“We aren’t going to deny them,” he said. “We tell the customers to do the best they can.”

Westborough

Monday, May 18

11:01 a.m. Research Dr. Larceny.

5:28 p.m. W Main St./O’Neil Dr. Accident property damage.

6:26 p.m. Milk St./Turnpike Rd. Well-being check.

6:57 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Suspicious person.

7:10 p.m. W Main St. Disturbance (general).

Tuesday, May 19

5:00 a.m. Lyman St. Suspicious person.

12:35 p.m. Flanders Rd. Suspicious activity.

2:24 p.m. North Dr. Suspicious activity.

4:52 p.m. Copperbeech Cir. Threats made.

8:46 p.m. Charles St. Disturbance (general).

10:28 p.m. Oak St. Suspicious activity.

11:24 p.m. Milk St./Robin Rd. Suspicious person.

Wednesday, May 20

11:38 a.m. West St. Suspicious activity.

1:09 p.m. W Main St. Disturbance (general).

5:26 p.m. Milk St. Threats made.

Thursday, May 21

3:03 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Accident property damage.

8:13 p.m. Deerslayer Ln. Erratic operator.

8:22 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Suspicious person.

9:55 p.m. Milk St. Accident property damage.

11:10 p.m. E Main St. Suspicious auto.

11:50 p.m. Turnpike Rd. Accident property damage.

Friday, May 22

3:46 p.m. Shepherd Rd. Well-being check.

10:17 p.m. Oak St. Disturbance (general).

Saturday, May 23

10:12 a.m. E Main St. Suspicious activity.

1:17 p.m. Baxter St. Annoying/harassing phone calls.

3:42 P.M. Turnpike Rd. Accident property damage.

7:24 p.m. Arrested, Keriann Notartomaso, 35, of 15 Capital St., Newton, for larceny from person.

7:32 p.m. Turnpike Rd./Otis St. Road/tree.

The information from the police log is obtained directly from the official records maintained at each police station in our circulation area. It contains arrests and samplings of police activity. Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty. The Community Advocate will publish news of acquittals upon notification and a copy of court-issued documentation.

Nearly 7,000 lbs. of food and items donated during town-wide drive

By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor

Westborough –  As Donna Kittredge looked over the hundreds of food and personal care items spread on the lawn of the Westborough Food Pantry’s lawn thanks to a town-wide food drive held on the morning of  May 30, she was thrilled she said, but not surprised.

“Westborough is the best community,” Kittredge, who shares the duties of pantry president with her husband, Phil. “They are always are so very generous.”

The food drive was an initiative of In your Shoes, a nonprofit giving circle dedicated to giving “time, talents, and monetary resources to provide assistance and financial support to those in need.” The group organized the May 30 food drive by asking residents to sign up to participate and then leaving items in their driveway which were then picked up by a team of volunteers who brought them to the pantry.

At day’s end, 6,716 pounds of food and supplies had been donated, which was very much need by the pantry, Donna Kittredge said.

For the past two months, the Kittredges, along with the pantry’s volunteers, have grappled at how best to serve residents in need of food.

Since the pandemic struck in March, the pantry has been operating under a different model. Located in the Forbes Community House (9 East Main St.), it was closed for pickups and donations due to health concerns. Patrons were still serviced by volunteers who dropped off items and gift cards to local grocery stores.

But not being open for donations meant the shelves were quite bare.

And with so many people either finding themselves unemployed or unable to work for health reasons during the pandemic, there was an increasing number of residents facing food insecurity. During “normal” times, the pantry serves approximately 130 families. Over the past two months, that number has climbed to approximately 160 families.

Joining in as a pickup volunteer the morning of the drive was State Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). It was not the first time the senator had assisted with the pantry’s operations, Phil Kittredge noted.  Thanks to a $50,000 grant that Eldridge helped to secure, the pantry will finally now have air conditioning.

“This is such a wonderful thing,” Kittredge said to Eldridge. “Sometimes it gets really hot in some of the rooms, up to the high 90s. And many of our volunteers are elderly – that was not good for them. So we are so appreciative.”

“I was happy to help,” Eldridge replied, “and happy to be here this morning. People were so generous! “

Kittredge also praised In Your Shoe’s member Terry Gavin, who helped to organize the drive.

“She and the other volunteers here this morning really deserve all the credit in the world,” he said. “We could not have done this without them.”

The pantry will be opening June 4 and 18 for pre-boxed grocery pick up for present and new clients, from 9-11:30 a.m. and then hopefully back to its regular schedule in July.

Additionally, the Westborough Appalachia Service Project will be running another food drive on Saturday, June 27.  They will be using a similar format where residents may register via email at ahead of time at Westboroughfooddrive@gmail.com  and volunteers will come and pick up the donations. Traditional staples such as mac and cheese, pasta sauce, rice, beans and paper products are always desired but items such as cookies and crackers are also welcome donations.

By Morgan Hume, Contributing Writer

Westborough – Like many small businesses nowadays, the Sugar Shack candy store in Westborough needs support from the community if they are to continue operating.

Due to the coronavirus, the local candy shop closed in-person shopping in compliance with statewide restrictions. Since then, Manager Kristen Dadah Wall said the store has looked different as stronger sanitation procedures have been put in place, employees are wearing face masks, and there is no loose candy for sale. When the store eventually reopens to the public, there will be social distancing precautions in place.

In the meantime, the Sugar Shack has continued taking orders online, selling everything from graduation gift sets to boxes filled with movie theater favorites at a variety of price points. The store offers curbside pickup and free delivery service throughout Westborough on Wednesdays and Fridays on orders of $20 or more.

But the Sugar Shack does more than fix a sweet tooth on Main Street. The store is also the on-site learning lab for students in the Westborough Public Schools’ Bridging Over to Right Opportunities (BORO) program.

The program aims to give opportunities for adult students ages 18-22, with special abilities, the opportunity to practice business and retail skills. A portion of sales from the store also goes back to supporting the BORO program.

“It’s important that we keep sustained because without the store, the students don’t have the vocational learning opportunity,” said BORO Program Coordinator Erin LaPrad.

Dadah Wall and LaPrad said they miss having the students working alongside them, but they have been keeping the students engaged by giving them updates on any changes to the store. They hope that the students are looking forward to the improvements the shop has made recently and the fun tasks they will be assigned when they are able to return.

“It’s part of their schedules and it’s something that they really enjoy doing, between working and packaging products and engaging with customers,” said Dadah Wall. “They really did enjoy being here on a regular basis, so I know there’s quite a few students who miss their time here at the Sugar Shack.”

With the loss of foot traffic and passersby popping in for a treat, the Sugar Shack is working hard to keep customers in the loop as much as possible on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. Dadah Wall and LaPrad have been trying to increase the shop’s social media presence and build a stronger online audience. They said they hope to develop a robust online platform by the time students come back.

“We’ve been trying to increase our followers so that customers know we’re still here, what’s going on, that we appreciate the support they’ve given us and that we are constantly launching and doing new things,” said Dadah Wall.

Since opening its doors in November of 2018, one year after the BORO program launched, the Sugar Shack has been a part of Westborough community, and they hope to stay that way. Dadah Wall said they need to come out of these hard times as strong as possible.

“We want to be part of the community,” she said. “We want this community to be part of the Sugar Shack.”

By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer

Westborough – June 6 would have been graduation day for Westborough High School’s (WHS) class of 2020. While plans are underway for a graduation ceremony this summer on the WHS athletic field, supportive community members gathered June 6 to congratulate the seniors with a pandemic-era vehicle parade through downtown.

Westborough Spirit Committee organized the parade with support from Westborough Public Schools and families of the class of 2020.  Roberta Sylvester Brown organized the parade.

“I think the seniors definitely deserve it,” she said.

Pandemic restrictions also altered traditional pre-graduation activities.

May 29 was the seniors’ “last day of school.” The milestone date was observed at seniors’ homes with special deliveries of lawn signs emblazoned with a congratulatory message as well as gifts donated by local businesses and residents. Deliveries were made by WHS administrators and senior class officers Rhea Balasubramanian, president; Kristi Scamurra, vice president; Alexey Khotimsky, treasurer; and Samantha Stucchi, secretary.

On the evening of June 5, seniors and immediate family members were invited to take a one-way, physically-distanced stroll around the WHS track and baseball field. There, they viewed seniors’ posters and collages depicting school memories.

On the morning of June 6 prior to the noontime parade, seniors were driven by an adult family member in a procession on the WHS campus while teachers and staff waved “hello” and “goodbye.” With limited physical contact, graduating seniors were given items including their yearbooks, and caps and gowns.

Beginning from WHS’ back parking lot, town police motorcycles and a fire engine escorted the parade onto Ruggles Street to West Main Street and through downtown. Businesses decorated its storefronts for the occasion. Well-wishers cheered from the sidelines. Music was provided at the rotary by deejay Sarah Linkenhoker and sponsored by Realtor Gary Kelley.

The parade proceeded on East Main Street to Hastings Elementary School. Assisting along the parade route were members of Westborough Connects and Rotary Club of Westborough.

In an email sent to the seniors and their families, Principal Brian Callaghan noted that efforts are being made to determine a summer date for a graduation ceremony with safety protocols based on state and town health guidelines.

“The senior class has spoken clearly that they wish to receive their diplomas together when we can host a ceremony,” he stated.

Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.

Westborough – Rose Ruth (Liverman) McGorty, 94, of Westborough, MA passed away at home on June 3, 2020 after a long battle with Dementia. She was born on Aug 25, 1925 to Michael and Fannie (Cohen) Liverman of Maynard, MA.

Rose lived most of her life in Marlborough and moved to Westborough in 2002 to live with her daughter.

She was employed for 25 years by Cushing Hospital in Framingham, MA. Rose was previously married to Richard McCarthy of Marlborough and Redondo beach, CA from 1948 to 1967 and was remarried in 1983 to John Michael McGorty of Hudson, MA.

Rose is survived by her children, Maureen Dube of Deland, FL, Sandra Horne of Westborough and Brian McCarthy of Westborough and Dennis, MA, her grandchildren, Jeffrey Dube of Irvine, CA, Kerry Benter of Irvine, CA, Melissa Horne of Upton, MA, Ricky Horne of Auburn, MA and Kayla Counihan of Marlborough. She also leaves 9 great grandsons.

She was the hostess with the mostess and our “rock”!

Rose was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be truly missed.

Funeral services for Rose will be private.

By Jennifer L. Grybowski, Contributing Writer

Westborough – Town officials got together via video chat June 2 night to discuss if Town Meeting could be safely conducted this spring, and if so, what it would look like.

Town Moderator John Arnold officially postponed the meeting to Saturday, June 20 last month due to current restrictions on the gathering of crowds.

“Given the important role of Town Meeting as the legislative body of the town and my obligation to ensure that those who wish to participate are able to participate without undue risk to their health or safety, I have concluded that further delaying the Annual Town Meeting is in the best interest of the Town and its citizens,” he said in a statement.

Things are starting to open up,” Arnold said. “There is some likelihood Town Meeting may be able to happen. The overarching question is do we think June 20 is a feasible date, with the caveat being it’s likely that if that is plausible, there would be safeguards the Board of Health would require. I think it’s in the best interest of the town to inform voters of what the safeguards would be so they can make decisions about if they want to attend.”

BOH and BOS Member Syed Hashmi said he was concerned because the length of exposure is so long at the meetings, with meetings typically running 10 to 11 hours long, and that many of the regular Town Meeting attendees are part of the vulnerable population.

“We do not completely know the risks yet,” he said. “We do not know what the prevalence of COVID-19 is in Westborough. How man people are asymptomatic carriers are not known. We are about to hold a ‘superspreader’ event in our town and it’s for all the right reasons —we are not having a wild party, we are conducting town business — but what is our liability as a town?”

BOH Chair Nathan Walsh said he thought as long as the number of cases continued trending downward, the June 20 date would be feasible.

“We have to take some personal responsibility,” he said. “We will give them the best information we can, but they have to make their own decisions [about whether to attend] because people’s circumstances vary widely.”

Arnold said some towns are hosting meetings outside while others are changing venues in favor of larger areas. He noted that while outdoor meetings allow for fresh air and more distancing, there is the issue of weather and a practical, affordable way to set up a projector and audio.

Instead, he suggested the large gym and the auditorium at the high school. He said both places have adequate ventilation, doors to outside, and higher ceilings to allow for larger air space. He said the library, the smaller gym, and the cafeteria can all be considered as well.

However, he pointed out Town Meeting staff has experience running the meeting simultaneously in two rooms, but not more than that. Walsh pointed out that senior citizens likely need chairs with arms to endure the meeting comfortably, but he also worried about people climbing over each other in and out of the rows in the auditorium. BOS member Allen Edinberg suggested using the second gym as a check-in area, to avoid a bottleneck.

Arnold said that he had received rough numbers from Westborough High School Principal Brian Callaghan showing that with six foot spacing, he thought about 190 people could be in the gym, and another 50 in the auditorium safely. It was also pointed out that people who cohabitant together can sit together, making those numbers a bit larger. Town Clerk Wendy Mickel, who was also at the meeting, said attendance is usually between 150 and 200 people, and hardly ever goes over 300. She added that after the budget passes, the crowd begins to dwindle unless there is a high-stakes item on the warrant; however many warrant items have been pushed off to the fall due to budget concerns.

“I think maybe once people know there are a reduced number of articles, we may get smaller numbers,” Mickel said.

By Jennifer L. Grybowski, Contributing Writer

Region – The Board of Selectmen (BOS) and Board of Health (BOH) met jointly June 2 to tackle a variety of issues.

Restaurant re-openings

The boards discussed outdoor seating at restaurants, as allowed in Phase II of the governor’s reopening plan.

Baccari said the state has given local BOHs guidelines and criteria for things like safety precautions and alcohol consumption. Part of those guidelines include local BOSs voting on written procedures giving the building commissioner’s office approval and authority over the processes of getting the restaurants the approval they need to operate safely. The process would also give waivers to zoning and site plan restrictions, and give an amended process with the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) for liquor licensing.

Building Commissioner/Zoning Enforcement Officer Fred Lonardo explained that the way it would work is a restaurant would apply for a temporary permit to serve outdoors, the BOH, building department, fire department, police department and the BOS would all sign off in their respective areas.

“We try to abbreviate the process,” he said. “We realize we have to turn them over in a couple of days.”

He said he would go out and check the sites prior to opening. Some discussion was had about how bathrooms would be handled, and Lonardo said the restaurant has to submit a bathroom plan and that facilities vary widely in the town’s restaurants.

Selectmen unanimously approved the outdoor restaurant procedure and waived any permitting fees attached to this new application process.

“These are businesses that have been struggling,” Selectman Allen Edinberg said. “I think anything we can do to make things easier benefits them, the town and the residents.”

BOS Chair Ian Johnson gave credit to the building and BOH staff for being proactive in instituting this process, and being so willing to work with local businesses.

Other business

The BOS and BOH considered a question about allowing the senior tax work-off program to continue.
“Some offices want to have seniors back to do work,” he said, pointing out that the seniors are a high-risk population and that social distancing can be difficult in some of the smaller offices.

The boards decided to allow the seniors to continue working on a case by case basis, as long as people are following guidelines to stay safe.

Town Manager Kristi Williams said the Town Hall staff will be back in buildings on an alternating basis effective Monday, June 8 during regular hours observing the reduction in staff guidelines.

In other news, there will be a town mourning event Sunday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m. All of the churches will ring their bells for one full minute, one full minute of silence will be observed, and one full minute of bells will follow.