Minnie J. Savoca, 78 of Shrewsbury died in her home Feb 5, 2012 surrounded by her family. She was born in New Brunswick, NJ and lived there for many years. She also lived with her family in Woolrich, PA and Delmar, NY before moving to Westbrook Crossing in Shrewsbury in 2005.

She leaves behind three children Joseph Savoca of Richboro, PA and his wife Alice, Nancy Young of Shrewsbury, MA and her husband Russell and Diane Dahlstrom of Southborough, MA and her husband Todd. Her husband of 46 years, Joseph Savoca Sr. died in 2004. She also leaves behind a sister Josephine Catanese and her husband Rocco of Munroe Township, NJ and a brother Lawrence Bruno and his wife Sylvia of Punta Gorda, FL. Another brother Joseph Bruno predeceased her. Survivors also include 8 grandchildren, Katherine and John Savoca, Robert, Joseph and Kristen Young, Sarah, Emily and Stephen Dahlstrom and many nieces and nephews.

Being a wife, mother and homemaker were the most important things to Minnie, but she also worked as a secretary for EB Squibb and Company in NJ and Woolrich Woolen Mills in PA. She enjoyed working with children and was a teacher’s aide for many years with Schools Out Inc. in Delmar, NY. Known as “Mama Min” to her grandchildren who adored her, she enjoyed summer vacations on Cape Cod and Ocean City, NJ and spending the winters in Estero, FL. Her favorite times were spent cooking for family and friends with her husband “Papa Joe” by her side.

Services and burial will be held in New Brunswick, NJ. A memorial mass will be held at St Mary’s Church in Shrewsbury on Feb 25, 2012 at 11 AM with a reception to follow at Westbrook Crossing. The family asks that flowers be omitted. Memorial contributions can be made to The Jimmy Fund c/o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168. The Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Shrewsbury is assisting the family with the local arrangements. To leave a message of condolence for Minnie’s family, please visit www.brittonfuneralhomes.com.

(Obituary courtesy of Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home)

Robert M. Ercolani, age 77, a lifelong Marlborough resident died unexpectedly Tuesday, January 31, 2012, while vacationing with his wife, Theresa, in Aruba.

Born in Marlborough, MA on February 23, 1934, he was the son of the late Fred and Edna (Dufault) Ercolani. He was raised and educated in Marlborough and was a graduate of the Marlborough Trade School. Devoted husband of 55 years to Theresa C. (McAllister) Ercolani; loving father to son Robert E. Ercolani Jr., daughter Jan Ercolani Allen and husband Mark, son Keith J. Ercolani and wife Pam (Feccia) and daughter Andrea M. Ercolani of Marlborough; proud Papa to Joshua Robert Allen, Bobby A. Ercolani and Anthony Robert Ercolani.

He is survived by siblings Margaret Cahill, Esther Lesieur and husband Joseph of Southborough, Patricia Perry of Marlborough, Richard Ercolani and wife Barbara of Clermont, FL, Judith McConnell and husband William of Westboro, Shirley Massaglia and husband Edward of Marlborough, Linda Haynes of Columbus, OH, Muriel Ogar and husband John, Nancy Adams and husband David, Gale Lynch and husband Tom, Alsenio Ercolani and wife Kathy (Logan), and Donna Downey of Marlborough; and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by sisters Mary Hughes and Ann Clingan; brothers Fred Ercolani and Joseph Ercolani; and infant grandson Angelo J. Ercolani.

In 1961 Bob established Maple Street Auto Body and was owner and proprietor until his retirement in 1992 at which time his son Keith became owner. During this time Bob also taught auto body at Assabet Technical High School part time. Prior to establishing Maple Street Auto Body, Bob worked as an electrician at Lapointe Tool Company in Hudson, was a former owner of Cornwell Tools and had also worked as a mechanic and learned the auto body repair business at Washin8ton Street Motors in Hudson. Currently, he was employed at Napa Auto Parts in Marlborough, a job that he loved and where he will be greatly missed. Bob had been a Staff Sergeant in the National Guard for nine years.

He was the current President of the Marlborough Foundation for 45 years, former Vice President of the Marlborough Lions Club and a member of the Marlborough Zoning Board. He is a member of the Italian American War Veterans Post #45 and was a member of the Marlborough Country Club for many years and enjoyed golfing with his wife, Theresa, grandson Josh and many of their friends. He was honored with invitations and attended many of the Senior Golf Matches at Nashawtuc in Concord, MA. He was a former member of the Fish and Game as well as the Moose Lodge in Marlborough.

With his wife and family he enjoyed vacationing in Aruba for the past 30+ years, he was ah avid hunter from childhood and spent every fall hunting at the Ercolani Camp in Halifax, Vermont with his father, sons, grandsons, brothers, brothers-in-laws, nephews and his many hunting buddies. He enjoyed watching the Patriots and Red Sox, being outdoors, working in the garden, spending time with his family during Sunday dinners throughout the year and was an excellent cook. He made a special soup for his grandchildren called Papa’s soup, which they loved.

Calling hours will be Monday, February 6th from 3-8 p.m. at Rowe’s Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Marlborough. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 7th at 11am. at the Immaculate Conception Parish, 11 Prospect Street, Marlborough. Burial immediately following at the Evergreen Cemetery, Hemingway Street in Marlborough. Those wishing to remember Bob may do so through memorial donations to the Marlborough Foundation Scholarship Fund do Joseph Grimaldo, 77 Hamilton Circle, Marlborough, MA 01752 or The American Heart Association.

(Obituary via Legacy.com)

Valentine’s Day comes early at the Southborough Library. On Saturday, join your friends for Valentine-themed cookie decorating, crafts, and games from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. No registration is necessary.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Southborough Library.

(Photo posted to Flickr by Pen Waggener)

Southborough Democrats will meet at the library on Saturday to elect delegates to attend the state convention in Springfield in June. All registered Democrats in Southborough are invited to attend. Here are the details:

Democrats in Southborough will be holding a caucus at the Southborough Public Library on Saturday, February 11 at 2:00 pm to elect five delegates and three alternates to the 2012 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will select candidates to compete for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. The convention will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield.

“This is going to be an exciting year as we build on our recent successes and prepare for the elections in 2012,” commented Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh. “Caucuses are the first step in building a community organizing strategy for victory. They give people an opportunity to become part of the local effort.”

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Southborough, and the Democratic Committee warmly welcomes participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be “add-on” delegates. Details on the rules can be found at www.massdems.org.

The committee normally meets on the second Monday of the month at the Southborough House of Pizza. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact Susan Ruane at sruane2@verizon.net / 508-460-0830 or check out their page on Facebook.

Once again, livestock takes center stage in the latest installment of the Southborough Police Department logs. Lest you you think animal control is all our men and women in blue do, you’ll also find in the logs an attempted break-in on Ted Lane along with several arrests for drunk driving, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery.

Here’s the latest from the Southborough Police Department (via their Facebook page).

Friday, February 3, 2012

• 3:00 am – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at a Turnpike Road business.
• 6:50 am – A motorist reported a two car, motor vehicle accident on Turnpike Road. Both operators had left the scene before the responding officer’s arrival.
• 10:09 am – Officers investigated an abandoned 911 hang-up call from a Moulton Road residence.
• 1:20 pm – A medical was reported at a Marlboro Road business.
• 3:27 pm – A motorist reported an erratic operator on Turnpike Road at the Framingham line. Framingham Police were notified of the complaint.
• 6:55 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at an Ashley Road residence.
• 7:06 pm – A Hickory Road resident contacted SPD for assistance with a possible missing juvenile. The parent was contacted by the juvenile before a report was filed. No further action was required.
• 8:12 pm – A motor vehicle accident in Ashland was reported to Southborough Police. Southborough police notified Ashland police of the accident.
• 8:42 pm – A medical was reported from a Common Street business.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

• 2:31 am – ARRESTED: A Framingham man was arrested and charged with Operating Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Liquor and Speeding.
• 2:32 am – ARRESTED: A second Framingham man was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest (during the above incident).
• 6:07 am – A resident of Ted Lane reported that two males dressed in ski masks had just attempted to burglarize their residence. A resident of the home was injured during a struggle with the intruders. (more)
• 7:23 am – An employee of a Turnpike Road business reported a gas leak at the business. Employees were evacuated and emergency personnel responded to the area.
• 11:11 am – Officers assisted a Bryden Road resident with a custody dispute situation.
• 12:10 pm – Officers responded to the DPW for a report of an unwanted person. The individual left the area prior to the officer’s arrival.
• 8:18 pm – A Turnpike Road business reported a lamb walking around the rear of the business. The lamb had left the area prior to the officer’s arrival.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

• 12:44 am – Southborough police assisted Hopkinton police with a search for a motor vehicle that was involved in an incident in their town.
• 7:54 am – A Vale Terrace resident reported that their mailbox was destroyed (possibly from a motor vehicle) sometime during the night. Officers responded and took a report for the incident.
• 9:16 am – A motorist reported the traffic signals at Central Street and Turnpike Road were not functioning. Mass Highway was contacted and notified of the problem.
• 2:31 pm – Officer’s investigated a Domestic A&B incident on Turnpike Road, in which the female victim was assaulted and left on the side of Turnpike Road. The male party had left the scene with the female victim’s vehicle (without authority), prior to the officer’s arrival. There is currently a warrant out for his arrest.
• 3:02 pm – A medical was reported at a Newton Street business.
• 3:15 pm – A medical was reported at a Flagg Road residence.
• 4:14 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at a Turnpike Road business.
• 11:30 pm – A motorist reported an erratic operator on Turnpike Road. The vehicle had left the area prior to the officer’s arrival.

Monday, February 6, 2012

• 12:20 am – A medical was reported at a Pinecone Lane residence.
• 2:07 am – A fight was reported at a Southville Road residence. The male party involved had left the area, prior to the officer’s arrival. An arrest warrant for Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon has been issued for the suspect.
• 6:32 am – Officers assisted a lost tractor trailer operator on Turnpike Road.
• 8:33 am – An employee of a Turnpike Road business reported wild turkeys on the business’ property. The Animal Control Officer was notified.
• 8:35 am – Officers responded to Northboro Road for a call of a loose cow running down the street (towards Main Street). Responding officers were unable to locate the reported cow.
• 12:07 pm – ARRESTED: A Marlborough man was arrested on an active arrest warrant out of Framingham Court.
• 2:03 pm – Officers investigated an abandoned 911 call from Fay School.
• 2:15 pm – Officers assisted Southborough Fire Department with a garage fire on Marlborough Road.
• 4:07 pm – A medical was reported from Newton Street business.
• 5:23 pm – Officers investigated a report of sheep running near Turnpike Road. The owner was located, and the sheep were returned to their pen. The Animal Control Officer was also notified of the incident.
• 7:38 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at a Northboro Road business.
• 7:56 pm – Officers assisted a disabled motorist on Turnpike Road.

Selectmen late last month adopted a state law that will give them more leverage in negotiating health care costs with the unions. It’s a move that could save the town upwards of $500K, but selectmen said they don’t plan to implement any changes right away.

Explains the Metrowest Daily News:

Chapter 32B, sections 21 through 23 of Massachusetts General Law — formally called Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2011 — allows towns and cities to restructure the design of insurance plan features, like co-pays and deductibles, to levels commensurate with those offered by the state’s Group Insurance Commission.

The law also allows towns and cities to switch employees’ health insurance into GIC if they can show that in doing so they would save at least 5 percent more than they would by making plan design changes.

“It means at some point in time you will be changing health insurance co-pays,” Town Administrator Jean Kitchen told selectmen. “It doesn’t mean tomorrow, but it puts the unions on notice that indeed you are serious about this and either you will go to a comparable lookalike plan, or something in between, or the GIC.”

Specific language in the teachers union contract prevents selectmen from making any changes until the contract is up for renewal in two years. Saying they didn’t want to create inequity between the unions, selectmen said they won’t look to do any plan redesign until the changes could be applied to all contracts.

As you might imagine, the question of whether to adopt the Chapter 32B statues attracted much attention from town employees, with many filling the Hearing Room seats when the board discussed the issue in December and again in January.

Most union members appeared to oppose the move.

“I don’t think we need a state statute to continue our negotiations in good faith,” teacher’s union co-president Patricia Lally told selectmen in January. “We have had a good relationship with the town.”

You can read more about the selectmen’s decision, and its implications for the town and town employees, in this MWDN article.

Tuesday 1/31/12
01:37 Vehicle accident with injuries, Northboro Road
02:12 EMS call, Boston Road
12:34 Electrical wiring problem, Turnpike Road
13:04 EMS call, Cordaville Road
14:12 EMS call, Cordaville Road

Wednesday 2/1/12
09:32 EMS call, Boston Road
11:23 Good intent call, Boston Road
23:38 Vehicle fire, Mass Pike Westbound

Thursday 2/2/12
00:41 EMS call, Boston Road
10:17 EMS call, Blueberry Lane
18:01 Assist police or other agency, East Main Street

Friday 2/3/12
13:20 EMS call, Marlboro Road
17:21 Fires in structure, North Street
20:42 EMS call, Common Street

Saturday 2/4/12
06:07 EMS call, Ted Lane
07:23 Gas leak, Turnpike Road
15:52 Outside rubbish fire, 495 South

Sunday 2/5/12
14:31 EMS call, Turnpike Road
15:02 EMS call, Newton Street
15:15 EMS call, Flagg Road

Monday 2/6/12
00:20 EMS call, Pinecone Lane
13:46 Brush fire, Lynbrook Road
14:15 Building fire, Marlboro Road
16:07 EMS call, Newton Street

Here’s one I’ve been meaning to bring you for a while now. Last month a new indoor playspace opened up at 150 Cordaville Road (map) in the former High Speed Video building where Metrowest Gymnastics most recently was.

I haven’t been, but according to its website, Inside Playground is “a spacious area for the children to enjoy physical activities (inflated structures, slides, swings, play-cars, ball-pools, etc.) as well as sit-down games (books, puzzles, miniature furniture, dolls, computers, etc.).” It’s intended for children aged six and under.

This is the second location for Inside Playground. There is also one in Watertown.

Inside Playground is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sundays from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. The entrance fee is $10 per child ($8 for additional children) on weekedays and $12 on weekends ($10 for additional children). Multi-visit passes, yearly memberships, and group discounts are also available.

For more information, visit the Inside Playground website (southboroughinsideplayground.com).

Above: Southborough’s Joe Cozzolino on the mat at the division tournament last weekend (photo by Katarina Wrin)

Four Algonquin wrestlers are heading to the Individual Division 1 State Tournament on Saturday. They qualified after strong showings in the division sectional tournament last weekend. My Southborough reader Katarina sent in this recap of the division meet:

Albert Marsocci (220 lbs.) took second place and was the top place winner for Algonquin. Finishing in third place were Joe Cozzolino (120 lbs.), Alex Mazzola (170 lbs.), and James Officer (285 lbs.). These four wrestlers will represent Algonquin at the Individual Division 1 State championships. Placing fifth in the tournament and advancing to states as alternates are Chris Steidler (126), Zach Marcoulier (138), Carter Guzzi (152), and Matt Cofer (195). Placing sixth at the tournament was Mike Ryan at 182 lbs.

Congratulations to Zach Marcoulier on the 100th win of his career as he joins an elite group of Algonquin Wrestlers to mark that achievement. Previous members of the 100 Win Club are Baird Lashley (1989), Michael Wrin (2010) and Dylan Foley (2011).

The Algonquin Wrestling team finished fourth at the tournament and will be one of the teams representing central Mass in the Division 1 Team State Tournament. The top 16 Division 1 teams in Massachusetts wrestle on Sunday, February 19 at Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

The individual state tournament takes place on Saturday, February 11 at Weymouth High School. Join me in wishing our Algonquin competitors the best of luck!

Check out photos of Algonquin wrestlers in action at the division tournament on Flickr.

Above: Rep. Carolyn Dykema (left) and Senator Jamie Eldridge (center) at a Board of Selectmen meeting last year

The local election field is starting to shape up, and it looks like both of Southborough’s legislators in the State House – Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Carolyn Dykema – will face challenges in their bids for re-election.

On the Senate side, Dean Cavaretta, a Republican from Stow, recently kicked off his campaign to capture the Middlesex and Worcester District seat currently held by Democrat Eldridge. It’s a seat Eldridge has held since 2009.

For her part, Democrat Dykema may face off against Republican Marty Lamb, who late last year formed an exploratory committee to test the waters of a state run. Lamb’s name will be familiar to Southborough voters. In 2010 he unsuccessfully challenged Jim McGovern to represent our town, among others, in the US Congress. Lamb has not officially announced his intention to run.

Southborough’s Precinct 1 was previously part of the 4th Middlesex District represented by Steven Levy of Marlborough, but a recently-approved redistricting plan has reunited all Southborough precincts under Carolyn Dykema in the 8th Middlesex.