Above: Upcoming event highlights (images of cropped flyers)

Here are highlights of what’s happening around (or related to) our town this weekend through next weekend.

Scroll to the bottom for info on additional activities and camps this summer.*

(The gray font below is for previously established long running events that take place weekly or bi-weekly.)

Juneteenth — Friday, June 19, 2026

• Town Closures: The public schools, Town Offices, the Southborough Library and Senior Center are closed for Juneteenth, the state holiday.
• Opening Art Reception (6:00 – 8:00 pm) @ Apothecary Artists, 11 Main St: The opening reception for the fair themed art exhibits featuring works Southborough artists — painter Jane Schwartz Gates and artisan Erica Champney. For details, see dedicated post.
• Rent the Musical (7:30 pm) @ Fay School’s Harris Event Center: The 90s hit rock musical is being put on by the adult theater troupe, A Common Thread Theatre Company. For details, see dedicated post.
• Live Music with Ryan Nummela & the Educators (8:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: The band will perform classic rock and familiar favorites from the 70’s. For details, click here.

Saturday, June 20, 2026

• Electronic, Appliance, and Bicycle Recycle Day (9:00 am – 2:00 pm) @ Saint Anne’s Church parking lot, 20 Boston Road: Recycle Electronics and Appliances for a fee. (No fee on some small items.) Also collecting bicycles for no fee. A portion of the event proceeds will be paid to St. Anne’s Church.. For details, see dedicated post.
• DIY Gulbankian Workshop (1:00 pm) @ Gulbankian Florist, 40 Mt Vickery Rd: There is a registration fee and attendance is limited. This session is to make Cutting Flowers Container Gardens. For details, click here.
• Fairy House Workshop (1:00 – 3:00 pm) @ Apothecary Artists, 11 Main St: Registration and a fee are required for this children’s workshop led by artisan Erica Champney. For details, see dedicated post.
• Rent the Musical (7:30 pm) @ Fay School’s Harris Event Center: The 90s hit rock musical is being put on by the adult theater troupe, A Common Thread Theatre Company. This performance will feature ALS interpretation. For details, see dedicated post.

Monday, June 22, 2026

• Walking Group for Seniors (8:30 am) @ Trottier Middle School’s outdoor track: Free weekly walking group organized by the Southborough Senior Center. (Dependent on weather conditions.) Walkers generally go for an hour, but continue for as long as you wish. The location is a loop, so feel free to join late.
• AVRTHS Last Day of School (11:15 am): Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s summer break begins with an early dismissal today.
• Knitting Club & Quilting Club (1:00 pm) @ Southborough Senior Center: Weekly opportunity for senior crafters to work on their projects in a social setting, including knitting, sewing, cross stitching, needle point.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

• Bridge (12:00 pm) @ Southborough Senior Center: A weekly card group, welcoming new participants. For details, contact the Senior Center at 508-229-4453.
• Virtual Author Talk (2:00 – 3:00 pm) @ online: Registration is required to take part in the free live talk with Q&A, “Simple, Sustainable, and Powerfully Delicious Meals with Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy”. This is part of the Southborough Library’s virtual series featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. For details, see related post.
• Poetry Workshop (6:30 – 8:30 pm) @ Southborough Library, main level: Bring in five copies of original poetry to share. The group will provide supportive feedback. If you don’t have a poem, come anyway and share your insights. (Meets twice monthly.)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night (8:00 – 10:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: Weekly Trivia game night with prizes. For details, see dedicated post.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

• Walking Group for Seniors (8:30 am) @ Southborough cemetery, 11 Cordaville Road: Free weekly walking group organized by the Southborough Senior Center. Walkers generally go for an hour, but continue for as long as you wish. The location is a loop, so feel free to join late.
• Story Time with Glory (10:30 – 11:30 am) @ Southborough Library: Preschoolers are invited to listen to some doggie stories and hang out with one of the library’s favorite therapy dogs, Glory! No registration required.
• American Mah Jongg Meetup (1:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Library, Main Floor Stacks: Biweekly opportunity. Drop ins are welcome, but groups of 4 are generally necessary to play. For details, see related post.
• Outdoor Story Time (4:30 – 5:15 pm) @ Southborough Library lawn: Families with kids are invited to bring a blanket and listen to stories outside on the lawn, followed by chasing some bubbles. No registration is required. (In inclement weather, this will move to the Children’s Room.)
• Teen Summer Ice Cream Party (5:00 – 6:00 pm) @ Southborough Library: Teens and tweens ages 12-18 are invited to a party with ice cream sundaes. For details, see dedicated post.
• Community forum on SPD’s Civil Immigration Enforcement Guidelines (7:00 – 8:00 pm) @ Southborough Library: The group “Southborough Hate Has No Home Here” is sponsoring a community forum with the Southborough Police Chief for a “conversation” about his department’s role related to immigration enforcement.. For details, see dedicated post.
• Southborough Rotary Club (7:00 – 8:00 pm) @ Southborough Library, main floor: Regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Southborough. New and prospective members are always welcome. (Held on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month.)
• Live Blues Jam n’ Open Mic (8:00 – 11:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: Come play or sing with the house band and fellow musical talent, or just enjoy the show. For details, click here.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

• Mah Jongg (10:00 am) @ Southborough Senior Center: The weekly program would love new players to join. Feel free to stop by to watch or talk to one of the players to see if you would be interested. For details, contact the Senior Center at 508-229-4453.
• NSBORO Schools last day: Northborough-Southborough Public School’s summer break begins with an early dismissal today. (Dismissal times by schools are ARHS at 11:06 am, Trottier at 10:50 am, Neary at 11:50 am, Woodward at 12:05 pm, and Finn K-1 at 12:20 pm and Pre-K at 11:00 am.)
• Adult Game Night (6:00 – 8:00 pm) @ Southborough Library: Join fellow gamers (ages 18+) to learn and play some new board games! Gamers are invited to try the library’s games or bring their own from home. No registration required.
• Karaoke (9:00 – 11:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: Come and be the star. DJ and Karaoke at Owens every Thursday.

Friday, date, 2026

• Dull Men’s Club (10:00 am) @ Southborough Senior Center: Casual social club for senior men. New members are always welcome to drop in. For details, see dedicated post.
• Kids Jam (11:00 – 11:30 am) @ Southborough Library Children’s Room: Newborns through preschoolers are invited to dance and sing. No registration necessary. Sponsored by the Friends of the Southborough Library.
• Canasta (11:15 am) @ Southborough Senior Center: A weekly card group playing “Hand & Foot”. For details, contact the Senior Center at 508-229-4453.
• American Mah Jongg Meetup (1:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Library, Main Floor Stacks: Biweekly opportunity. Drop ins are welcome, but groups of 4 are generally necessary to play. For details, see related post.
• Patriotic Standout (3:00 – 4:00 pm) @ sidewalk corners of Rte 9, Central Street, and Oak Hill Road: The Southborough based pro-democracy group “Stand Up Now (SUN) has merged with “Indivisible Boros and Beyond”. Their formerly monthly “Stand Out” event is now being held weekly. The community is invited to join them holding up “pro-democracy” signs for passing commuters. For details, see related post.
• Live Music with Ready To Go! (8:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: The band will play “uptempo dance-able” classic rock and pop covers. For details, click here.

Saturday, June 27, 2026

• Art Reception: Madhavi Tolety (10:00am – 1:00pm) @ Southborough Library: Come celebrate and join the reception celebrating the artist’s work on display in the library. For details, click here.
• Sit & Knit (2:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Library: Semi-monthly program for ages 18+ to drop in and work on your latest knitting or crochet projects while you enjoy the company of fellow yarn crafters in a relaxed social setting. All levels are welcome but no formal instruction will be given.

*Some other opportunities that aren’t special/weekly events (like Art on the Trails, Summer Reading program activities, or favorite-places/activities in our region) can be found under my posts on Summer Fun for Adults and What to Do with Kids this Summer. (I’ll be adding to these tagged lists throughout the summer.)

The post Events this week appeared first on My Southborough.

Arthur Miner, 90, of Southborough, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Boston to Arnold and Irene (Goldman) Miner, Arthur grew up in Mattapan and graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School, Class of 1954. In January 1955, he joined the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Macon as an Electrician’s Mate Third Class before his honorable discharge in December 1958.

Arthur married Sheila Astrachan in 1959, and together they raised their two sons, David and Richard. After that marriage ended, he married Carol Crossman in 1975, and together they raised their daughter, Andrea. Arthur and Carol made their home in Southborough in 1976, where they spent the last fifty years together.

Arthur worked at Raytheon in Wayland for 37 years, retiring in 1995. He was equally committed to serving the Southborough community, volunteering for many years on the Personnel Board, Recreation Board, and Finance Committee, and spending two decades as Voting Warden for District 3.

While Arthur was proud of his military service, his career, and his community involvement, his greatest pride was always his family. He took enormous satisfaction in watching his children build meaningful lives of their own and in seeing the family he helped create continue to grow through his grandchildren.

Those who knew Arthur remember a man who looked for the good in every person and every situation. He was thoughtful, generous, and optimistic. He put the needs of others before his own and celebrated the successes of those around him. Arthur made friends wherever he went and was known as a dependable friend, neighbor, and family man who could always be counted on. He built a good life for himself and his family, yet remained humble throughout.

Arthur found joy in life’s simple pleasures: time spent with family, morning coffee with friends, following the Red Sox, and staying connected to the community he loved. He often spoke fondly of his years in the Navy and the opportunity it gave him as a young man to travel, see new places, and experience the world beyond Boston. Throughout his life, he enjoyed being together with family, whether around a backyard barbecue, a holiday gathering, or time spent in Maine enjoying boat rides, lobster boils, and Fourth of July fireworks.

Arthur is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; his children, David Miner and his wife Linda Miner, Richard Miner and his wife Corinne Nagy, and Andrea Miner and her husband Jordan Romano; his grandchildren Ashley Miner, Mathew Miner and his wife Samantha Miner, Genevieve Miner, Ethan Miner, Isaac Romano, and Daniel Romano; and many extended family members, friends, and neighbors.

Visiting hours for Arthur will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 5:00-7:00PM at the Morris-Johnston Funeral Home, 40 Main Street, Southborough, MA 01772. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10:00AM. Burial will follow at Southborough Rural Cemetery, 11 Cordaville Road, Southborough, MA. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Arthur to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 70 Walnut St #301, Wellesley, MA 02481 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)

The post Obituary: Arthur Ronald Miner, 90 appeared first on My Southborough.

The board unanimously voted to not reappoint Freddie Gillespie to the Open Space Preservation Commission (OSPC). Gillespie has served on the OSPC for 24 years and chaired it for the past 9.

The decision will leave the committee (with two other vacancies) without a quorum after June 30th.

Two members made clear the decision was about Gillespie, not the committee. But the other three indicated their opposition was appointing anyone while the board considers whether to consolidate it with the Stewardship Committee or another entity.

The board’s Tuesday night vote was despite hearing from several people urging for her reappointment. Supporters advocated for the importance of her conservation work and lauded her for her extensive volunteer efforts on behalf of the Town.

Some board members supported Gillespie continuing to serve another year on the Stewardship Committee. But they ran into a logistical roadblock that they plan to further discuss at their July 7th meeting.

Select Board’s Stated Motivations

Government Efficiency

On June 2nd, Select Board member Sam Stivers suggested holding Gillespie’s OSPC and Stewardship reappointments because he believed that the Select Board’s would include looking at consolidating the committees as part of it goals for this year.

At their June 8th goal setting meeting, the board did adopt the objective to:

Review boards, committees, and commissions for consolidation or restructuring

This week, Stivers said that, since they’re looking at potential restructuring, he didn’t want to appoint an OSPC member to another 5 year term. And he noted that Gillespie’s Stewardship appointment is linked. (She is in the seat designated for an OSPC representative.)

Vice Chair Tim Fling agreed with Stivers. Fling is the member charged with overseeing the related goal “to streamline” committees. He explained:

I think there’s an opportunity to re-evaluate open space and and kind of put that purview underneath another department or another committee

Prior to the vote, the Town Administrator confirmed to Select Board member Andrew Pfaff that the board could appoint Gillespie to a vacant seat that expires in just two years. Pfaff said he would be “more willing” to do that if anyone else was “on board”. But he didn’t get any takers.

It’s worth noting that if future Town Meeting voters eliminated or adopted changes to the committee, the terms of those currently serving on it would be irrelevant. (But, if the board chooses not to appoint members to a committee, they can effectively kill it without getting Town Meeting support.)

In a conversation I had with Select Board Chair Kathy Cook prior to their June 8th goal setting meeting, I asked her what efficiencies Select Board members believed could be achieved by combining Stewardship and the OSPC. (I noted that they had different responsiblities, and that neither had a quorum issue — yet). She cited OSPC’s ongoing issues in submitting timely minutes as an area that could be improved.¹ That’s an issue that was raised the last time that the board discussed the potential change. And I verified that it hasn’t improved. (Scroll down for those details.)

When discussing whether the committees could be combined, Cook noted that despite public pushback, the change was “our decision”. As an ad hoc committee, the Stewardship Committe’s charge is up to the Select Board to decide. But the OSPC is charged under a bylaw passed by Town Meeting.

Later in the meeting, Gillespie told the board, “There is no way the stewardship committee can take on what the Open Space Commission did.”

She highlighted that one of their responsibilities is the Open Space & Recreation Plan. She said that she and a couple other people finished half of the report after the consultant left, and it was a “heavy lift”.

Looking for a Change

Select Board member Andrew Dennington shared a different perspective than Stivers and Fling. He understood the different defined functions of the two committees. He told the room that he respected Gillespie’s long work, but felt “it’s time for a change for that committee.” He advocated for new blood. 

He didn’t address the committee’s already vacant seats, or how new blood could be introduced if other members were unwilling to appoint members to the committee.

Cited Problems with Gillespie

Cook was forthright that her reasons were different than the majority of the board’s. She asserted that she likes Gillespie, but opposed her reappointment based on actions she had taken in her role as OSPC Chair. She invoked controversial comments made two years ago by former Select Board member Al Hamilton when he held up some reappointments. 

Hamilton had argued that people appointed by the Select Board should either agree to follow the Select Board’s direction and positions or resign. This week, Cook said she didn’t fully agree. But she did believe:

they certainly should row in the same direction that the select board is trying to go with our overarching goals.

She then specified two examples when she opined that Gillespie had not done that. One was related to her last-minute attempt to amend an important roads Article sponsored by the Select Board. The other was questions in a meeting with Costco officials that Cook characterized as having risked an important economic project. (Scroll down for more on those details.)

The Select Board Chair also claimed that she is “well aware” of Town employees who have issues about how Gillespie works with them. She described them as long standing issues that didn’t seem to have been abated.

Later, based on comments from other Select Board members and the Stewardship Chair, Cook did say that she would support Gillespie continuing her role on Stewardship.

Gillespie’s Defense

Gillespie both defended her actions in both of Cook’s examples, but also apologized “in hindsight”. (Scroll down for more on those details.)

Gillespie also spoke about her successes over decades, playing a leading role — including for the preservation of Chestnut Hill Farm. Responding to Cook’s overall criticism, she stated:

I never do anything to try to cause trouble or be in disagreement with a select board, but you know, on your side, when have you reached out to the Open Space Commission? . . .

You say to be on the same side. If you’re talking about developing land that has great open space value, and we’re the open space commission charged
to facilitate the preservation of open space, there’s going to be some butting of heads there. And the goal is to come together and find what’s best for the
town.

Supporters advocate for reappointment

The board acknowledged having received seven emails on Gillespie’s behalf, supporting her reappointment. In Gillespie’s comments, she added statements from two others.

She told them that former Select Board Chair John Rooney expressed his support. She noted that the two had butted heads when she opposed the Select Board’s proposal to build the public safety building on the golf course that she sought to preserve. In the end, the board supported a successful amendment proposed by the OSPC, “in what many consider Southborough’s grand compromise”.²

Gillespie also spoke about developer Dave Ferris, who she said called her a “class act”. Both OSPC and Stewardship had pushed back on Ferris Development’s original plans for a 40B at 118-120 Turnpike Road. ³ She told the board that Ferris respected the role OSPC played in finding a way for the project to move forward.

She used those examples to say that sometimes things were rough in the middle of working through issues, but it is the end results that she/the OSPC achieved that mattered.

Stewardship Committee Chair Joyce Greenleaf told the Select Board that Gillespie embodies qualities that Southborough should value in a volunteer “commitment, expertise, passion” and devoting “countless hours”.

She followed that habitats of Southborough’s conservation land and pollinator gardens “wouldn’t be here without Freddie in her leadership, her expertise, and her commitment.” Calling Breakneck Hill the “crown jewel of Southboro”, she noted its biodiversity, beauty, habitat, trails and research site for preservation of native pollinators.

Greenleaf listed projects and challenges her committee is dealing with and said:

Without Freddie, Stewardship’s effectiveness will be undermined. And I think those of us who volunteer in town will think twice about raising our hands and participating in town government

Speaking as a resident, Kristen Lavault also spoke passionately on Gillespie’s behalf:

I don’t understand what planet we would get rid of such a wealth of knowledge and source of help who puts her own life aside for the sake of this town. It blows my mind.

Lavault said the actions felt personal, but told Cook she would “leave it there”. What she chose not to mention was the similarity to the situation two years ago when Cook successfully advocated for Lavault to not be reappointed to the Community Preservation Commission (CPC).⁴.

Later, when the board discussed Gillespie’s Stewardship seat, Stewardship member Kathryn McKee told the board it wasn’t too late “to make this right”:

We can’t afford to lose this volunteer. We’ve tried to share that, but we hear what your concerns are. So, let her be part of the solution. That’s going to be a win-win for everybody. You don’t want this on your record, saying you denounce another volunteer. That’s a really bad look.

Examples of Gillespie’s “Inappropriate” Actions

Town Meeting Motion to Amend Article for Funding Road Projects

Cook objected to Gillespie’s last minute attempt at Annual Town Meeting to amend the Article to fund repairs to Town roads. She said that the first notice of the OSPC’s intent (voted on the afternoon of April 9th) was at 2:35 am the morning of the Saturday, April 11th meeting.⁵

At the Town Meeting, Gillespie made a motion to add language to reduce risk of the construction work causing new infestations of invasive knotweed or other species that cause problems. It included restricting “imported soils and material for backfill and site stabilization or any use related to these projects shall be certified weed-free”.

Cundiff told voters that the DPW didn’t currently have a standard for that request. He said that when he had asked Gillespie who would certify that soils were weed free, she didn’t have an answer.

Given the importance of the funding Article and the potential the amendment had to tank it, Cook argued that approach was inappropriate. She noted that the Article had been extensively publicly discussed in advance. She opined that Gillespie should have approached DPW Chief Bill Cundiff and/or the Select Board further in advance to discuss how to handle her concerns.

She also highlighted that the topic hadn’t been listed on the OSPC agenda for the meeting in which the committee voted to propose the amendment. (Scroll down for that detail and Gillespie’s response.)

Cook argued that Gillespie had jeopardized an important vote on the Town’s biggest funding article ever. It also added 20 minutes of debate to the Town Meeting — making it less efficient when the board was trying to streamline the meetings to improve voter engagement.

Gillespie responded that the OSPC’s actions were based on what they learned about lawsuits being filed in other towns after knotweed was introduced to abutting properties due to construction projects. She apologized for the way it was handled, but said they were responding to an issue that they had suddenly become aware of. She said it was a mistake, but “only in the effort of doing what was better for the town”

Later, Kristen Lavault suggested that the example should be taken off the table, given the actions of one of the current Select Board members at the same Town Meeting. She believed the OSPC was acting on information they learned about last minute, and the communication delay was because Gillespie was so busy. And she appreciated Gillespie educating voters about the potential costs and problems that new invasives could pose for the Town.

In contrast, she pointed out that Stivers had admitted at Town Meeting that he was  pulling a fast one on the Planning Board by proposing a surprise amendment to their Industrial Park zoning Article.⁶ 

Costco Questions & Comments

Cook referred to the enthusiastic community support at Fall Town Meeting for zoning to allow potential development of a Costco in town. She described a “kickoff” meeting a few months ago that Town officials held with someone “way up the food chain of Costco”. At the meeting, the first two questions were from Gillespie asking what they are going to do about people who leave cars idling in the parking lot, and about plants.

Cook called that a “totally inappropriate” introduction to our town. She cited a news article about a Costco project that was cancelled in North Carolina when a town kept picking at the retailer about “more stuff” they wanted. She believed Gillespie’s comments could have jeopardized the project.

She acknowledged that Gillespie told her she had thought the project was a “done deal”.

On Tuesday, Gillespie said that her comments to Costco weren’t “out of the blue”. She explained that the project is:

in an area of the highest preservation for open space priorities and not once did anyone talk to us about what the impact of that will be to those properties as well as the over 85 acres of protected land around there.

She followed that she had a friendly relationship with Costco representatives who had approached her previously at another meeting. She didn’t think that her comments were adversarial. She noted that the meeting was for Costco to get feedback. She wanted them to be able to incorporate thinking into their plans before they were drawn, rather than incurring a later expense to redraw them.

OSPC Agenda & Minutes Issues

When Cook discussed the OSPC vote to propose amending the road funding Article, she noted that it wasn’t on the committee’s posted agenda. Gillespie responded that she had believed it was covered by the item “Roadside Invasives”. 

It’s worth noting that the actual agenda item had been a longstanding item typically on every agenda, with additional language that made it seem unrelated to the proposed road funding Article:

• Master Plan and OSRP Review
  • Roadside Invasive Program and Native Plants

According to Gillespeie, after Dennington stated at Town Meeting that the board’s vote wasn’t on the agenda, she realized the topic may have been too vague. She reached out to the state and was informed that they could resolve the issue at their next meeting. She said they voted to do that.

That action is reflected on the April 16th agenda, but no minutes are posted explaining it. That’s not surprising given that they haven’t met again since, and for years the committee has had unposted/overdue minutes.

When the Select Board last publicly floated the idea of combining the committees in June 2024, Cook pointed to issues with Meeting Minutes as one of the ways efficiency could be improved. While Stewardship’s minutes weren’t an issue. OSPC had a history of late/missing minutes.

At the time, Gillespie took responsibility for OSPC’s issues. She said that there had been turnover and lack of understanding of responsibilities by less experienced members but that it had been her responsibility to see it got done. She promised they were working on it, stating that the biggest holdup was putting together the documents discussed at each meeting. She believed that would be done within a month.

Since then only a few more OSPC Minutes were posted. As of today, minutes were still unposted for more than a dozen meetings over the past few years.⁷ OSPC meetings are usually conducted without a remote option, so there is no video to aid with public transparency (or with subsequent compiling of minutes.)

Not appointing Gillespie may make cleaning up OSPC’s outstanding minutes issue more challenging. But, her term doesn’t expire until June 30th.

Gillespie’s Stewardship Committee Seat in Question

The decision also eliminated (at least temporarily) Gillespie’s ability to serve on the Stewardship Committee.

Pfaff and Dennington voted to appoint Gillespie to another one year term on the Stewardship Committee. But Stivers pointed out that the only currently available seat is the one Gillespie currently serves in — OSPC’s designated representative on the committee.

It’s a role that Gillespie has served in on and off dating back to the committee’s inception in 2005. (It appears more years on than off.)

After Pfaff pointed to Greenleaf’s comments of support for Gillespie on her committee, and noted it was a one year seat, Cook supported the appointment. She suggested that the board could make a change to Stewardship’s composition.

McKee offered to immediately give up her at-large seat if the board would appoint Gillespie to it. Fling pushed against an appointment that night. He told the room that he didn’t want to lose Gillespie, but believed there would be “space for her”. But he wanted to first review potential committee changes.

Dennington called for tabling the decision on the Stewardship appointment to their next meeting. (That’s scheduled for Tuesday, July 7th.)

The post Select Board rejects longtime chair of Open Space Preservation Commission appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: This home at 20 Parkerville Road went on the market this week for $1,399,900 (MLS photo)

Here’s what went on and off the market this week. Thanks to Gail DuBois (email) of William Raveis Real Estate for supplying the town’s new listing information for the week.*

New on the market

• 18 Wood Street (map) – 9 room, 4 bed, 3f 1h bath Colonial – $1,175,000
• 55 Breakneck Hill Road (map) – 12 room, 4 bed, 3f 1h bath Contemporary, Log – $1,275,000
• 20 Parkerville Road (map) – 8 room, 3 bed, 2f 2h bath Split Entry – $1,399,900

Sale pending

• 25 Park Street (map) – 8 room, 4 bed, 1f 1h bath Antique, Farmhouse – 16 days on the Market, Listed at $649,000
• 44 Gilmore Road (map) – 11 room, 4 bed, 3f 1h bath Colonial, Garrison – 96 days on the Market, Listed at $949,900
• 14 Hillside Ave (map) – 10 room, 4 bed, 4f 0h bath Colonial, Contemporary – 36 days on the Market, Listed at $1,449,000

Sold*

• 30 Ward Road (map) – 10 room, 4 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – 19 days on the Market, Listed at $899,900, Sold at $980,000
• 22 Liberty Drive (map) – 10 room, 4 bed, 3f 0h bath Colonial – 20 days on the Market, Listed at $1,499,000, Sold at $1,491,100

*Listings for the week are based on data pulled from MLS on Thursday mornings. Occasionally, that includes “sold” info that isn’t captured by MLS until a week (or more) following the sale. [Listings don’t include houses that weren’t publicly listed through MLS.]

The post On the market this week in Southborough appeared first on My Southborough.

The Southborough Fire Department was on the scene. National Grid is aware of the problem and working to resolve it within “2-3 hours”. (I hope sooner, since I’m one of the impacted customers!)

The fire was near the corner of MacNeil Road and Latisquama.

Updated (6/`8/26): National Grid is now giving an estimated restore time of 6:00 pm.

The post Electric Wire fire on Latisquama causing area power outage appeared first on My Southborough.

The day before school gets out for summer, the Southborough Library is holding an early celebration for 12–18 year olds.

The teens and tweens are invited to drop in and “make ice cream sundaes to celebrate the end of the school year & start of summer”.

The event will also feature crafts and other fun activities.

Plus, attendees can learn about other fun events, programs, and opportunities the library will be dishing up for YA Summer Reading this June through August.

The event is Wednesday, June 24th from 5:00 – 6:00 pm in the Eaton Room (downstairs). No registration is required to attend.

(Reminder, the last day of NSBORO public schools is early dismissal on Thursday, June 25th. Assabet’s last day is actually earlier, on Monday, June 22nd.)

The post Party for 12-18 year olds — Wednesday appeared first on My Southborough.

Stories include interviews with elementary school principals who are retiring this month. They also profiled a Southborough Fire Department captain. And they spoke to a resident Vietnam era veteran and his long ago work helping service members who needed “a second chance”.

‘I love coming to work’: Southborough fire captain reflects on life of serving community – Jun 5, 2026:

The article recalls a moment when Southborough Fire Department Captain Christian Dano saved a child’s life while off duty:

He still looks back on this day as one of his proudest moments in his 35 years as a firefighter, and he often thinks about those kids – who are now in their 30s – and the countless others he has been able to help throughout his career.

For Dano, life is about service.

That service began further back than his work at the SFD:

He trained in the infantry with hopes of becoming a police officer and served in the Army Reserves from 1990 to 1995. However, after three weeks in his criminal justice course at Quinsigamond Community College, Dano realized the police force wasn’t for him.

He joined his hometown fire department in Auburn as a call firefighter in 1991: “It took one ride in a fire truck and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. That was my calling.” (read more)

How a Southborough veteran helped give Vietnam War soldiers a second chance – May 19, 2026:

The piece starts off addressing Southborough veteran Chris Robbins’ long ago decision to stop wearing his uniform due to public anger at the military over the Vietnam War. It then discusses the more recent change as the community began to honor veterans.

The change in public perception has given many veterans like Robbins a second chance to celebrate the sacrifices they made for the country.

Anger about the war wasn’t limited to the citizens back home. Drafted soldiers struggled during their service. Some turned to drugs or ended up imprisoned, while others — feeling unwanted in their units — faced getting a dishonorable discharge at any moment.

However, during his service, Robbins and fellow officers were able to provide those dissatisfied soldiers with their very own “second chance.”

Because of his experience working for the Outward Bound School in Maine, Robbins was given the mission to develop and implement a unique rehabilitation program at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, which offered soldiers the opportunity to become productive service members and obtain an honorable discharge at the end of their duty.  (read more)

After 30 years, Ryan to retire as Finn Elementary School principal – May 16, 2026:

In the 1980s, Clayton Ryan was finishing up college while working part-time for V66, a Boston television station. In his role, Ryan helped around the studios on Speen Street in Natick. He had dreams of being a television comedy writer.

But his career went off-script – something he’s forever grateful for. After working in various industries, Ryan is retiring after three decades working in child psychology and public education. He’s been the longtime principal of Southborough’s Mary E. Finn Elementary School.

“Working with the kids is probably the most rewarding part – to build a connection with a student, to help them when they’re feeling sad, to build a sense of trust, to let them know that an adult cares,” he said. (read more)

Kathleen Valenti to retire after 12 years as Neary principal – May 7, 2026:

after 12 years leading Neary School, Valenti is ready to embark on her next big adventure: retirement.

“I can’t believe I’m at this point in my life,” she said, highlighting how she’ll miss the days walking through the halls, greeting students, and working with her staff.

One of her favorite memories was always the last day of school: “Because that’s when we know we’ve done a really good job,” Valenti said. And though the day has always brought her to tears, this year’s departure from students is sure to be the hardest. (read more)

[Editor’s Note: The article doesn’t reference the elephant in the room — the controversy at Neary a few years ago and her actions that prompted some Southborough parents to petition for Valenti’s firing.]

The post CA profiles of community members appeared first on My Southborough.

Wendy Willman, 57, a longtime resident of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away at home, following a 14-month battle with leukemia. She was surrounded by her children and her parents. Wendy was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, on February 28, 1968, the only daughter of Sharon and Glenn Willman. She grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts. Wendy attended Algonquin Regional High School and Boston College, where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. When she moved to Georgia, she attended the University of Georgia and received her Master’s in Social Work. For twenty years, Wendy was employed as an adoption social worker at Adoption Planning. In 2014, she decided to open her own adoption agency, Georgia Adoption Specialists. Wendy had a passion for bringing together families and sharing the joys of adoption..

Wendy enjoyed relaxing at the beach, traveling, attending sporting events, exercising, and spending time with her family.

Wendy is survived by her children Kalyann Teasley and Jackson Teasley of Atlanta, Georgia; her parents, Sharon and Glenn Willman of Atlanta, Georgia, formerly of Southborough, Massachusetts; and her brothers Jeffrey Willman and his wife, Stacey of Rutland, Massachusetts; Jason Willman and his wife, April (Cioffi) of Rutland, Vermont; and Jonathan Willman and his wife, Caroline of Sterling, Massachusetts. In addition, she is survived by her aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many close friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pilgrim Congregational Church, 15 Common St, Southborough, MA. Burial will follow at Southborough Rural Cemetery, 11 Cordaville Rd, Southborough, MA After the interment, all are invited back to the Pilgrim Congregational Church hall for lunch.

Pink was Wendy’s favorite color, so we are asking everyone to wear something pink – if you would like – to help honor and celebrate her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Wendy’s memory to Blood Cancer United or the Atlanta Mission: My Sisters House.

(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)

The post Obituary: Wendy Ann Willman, 57 appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: A look at this season’s virtual events featuring bestselling authors. (images edited from library flyers and promos on library website)

The Southborough Library is continuing to offer the virtual author talk series available to Southborough residents. Most are targeted to adults, but a few are geared to children or young adults.

The series features:

bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.

The series features 2-3 live events per month. When you register to join the live zoom, you can also pre-submit questions for the Q&A. As with all library events, participation is free to the public. Anyone can take advantage of the opportunity, but registration is required for the live talks.

If you can’t make the live event, the library’s subscription allows patrons to view the recording later. Each talk is added to the existing library of streaming videos available through the library’s website.

Any Southborough resident with a Southborough Library card can register to join the free live talks. Here’s what’s on tap for the next few months:

Children’s Author — Wonderfully Weird: Celebrating the Joys of Feeling Different with Zaila Avant-garde
Tuesday, June 16th at 7:00 – 7:45 pm

This author talk for children features the Scripps National Spelling Bee Champ and bestselling children’s book author will focus on her new picture book, Weird and Wonderful You, “in which she encourages young readers to embrace what makes them different.”

(Avant-garde has also written early readers and a collection of stories from her life.)

To learn more and register, click here.

Simple, Sustainable, and Powerfully Delicious Meals with Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy
Tuesday, June 23rd at 2:00 – 3:00 pm

The CEO & Founder of Diaspora Spice Co. (Sana Javeri Kadri) and Renowned Food and Recipe Writer (Asha Loupy) will discuss the cookbook they teamed up to create. The Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook, “celebrates beautiful, simple, and seasonal cooking with 85 recipes adapted from India and Sri Lanka’s best family spice farms.”

To learn more and register, click here.

How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are (and How to End the Cycle) with Renowned Therapy Expert Mark Wolynn
Tuesday, July 7th at 2:00 – 3:00 pm

The author of the award-winning book, It Didn’t Start with You, author Mark Wolynn cites scientific research purporting that traumatic experiences can be passed down in our genes for generations, and “play a far greater role in our emotional and physical health than has ever before been understood.” He will discuss “how to break the cycle” and his companion workbook for a practical, therapeutic “approach to resolving longstanding difficulties”.

To learn more and register, click here.

Small Towns and Big Secrets: In Conversation with Bestselling Author Karin Slaughter
Tuesday, July 14th at 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Slaughter is the author of international and New York Times bestselling mystery/detective novels, including Pretty Girls, the Will Trent series, and The Good Daughter. In this talk, she’ll discuss her North Falls series We Are All Guilty Here and the upcoming sequel, The Secrets We Hide. 

To learn more and register, click here.

Young Adult author — Dragons, Castles, and an Irresistible Princess Bent on Revenge with Katherine Rundell
Thursday, July 30th at 2:00 – 2:45 pm

Rundell is the 2024 Author of the Year, and a bestselling and award-winning author of children’s fantasy books including Impossible Creatures. She’ll discuss the sequel, The Poisoned King! “Register now to go behind-the-scenes of the making of the Impossible Creatures books–just in time for The Neverfear’s (Book #3)’s release on September 1, 2026!”

To learn more and register, click here.

The Legacy of Julia Child’s Kitchen with Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson
Tuesday, August 4th at 2:00 – 3:00 pm

(Rescheduled from December) The historian will discuss her book Julia Child’s kitchen: the design, tools, stories, and legacy of an iconic space. The author will discuss the famous cookbook author and TV chef’s kitchen (which was recreated at the National Museum of American History) and her legacy.

To learn more and register, click here.

Live Aware, Not in Fear: Street Smarts and Safety Tactics with Dannah Eve
Thursday, August 13th at 2:00 – 3:00 pm

For years, Eve who has shared with millions of social media followers “her advice, self-defense strategies, and safety tips”. She’s the bestselling author of  Street Smarts: Trust Your Instincts, Outsmart Danger, and Stay Safe in a World That Isn’t. Her talk will focus on “mastering situational awareness, calculated deception, and the art of always being ready.”

To learn more and register, click here.

YA author — My Bicentennial Summer: A True-Life Adventure Across America with G. Neri
Thursday, August 20th at 7:00 – 7:45 pm

Neri is the multi-award winning and bestselling author of several books for “young people” including Ghetto Cowboy (made into the 2020 Netflix movie Concrete Cowboy). In this talk, he’ll focus on “his funny and heartfelt book, My Bicentennial Summer.” It recounts the summer of 1976 when his family went on an 8,000 mile road trip “from California to Washington, DC, with only the aid of paper maps and transistor radios rather than smartphones and GPS.”

To learn more and register, click here.

High Altitudes and High Stakes: A Miss Marple Mystery with Lucy Foley
Thursday, August 27th at 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Foley is the #1 NYT bestselling mystery thriller author of of The Guest List and The Midnight Feast. In this talk, she’ll “delve into her brand-new Miss Marple mystery, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel.” In it, she transports “transport Miss Marple – her favorite Christie creation – to the glamorous post-war setting of the Swiss Alps, in a mystery that feels gloriously escapist yet utterly relevant to our times.”

To learn more and register, click here.

For more information or to register for any of the author talks, visit bit.ly/sbliblsc. There you can also find links for the following talks that took place since July 2022. They cover a diverse array of subjects and genres including children’s author talks appropriate for kids

The post Virtual Author Talks through August appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: An author/illustrator will work with kids at the Southborough Library again this summer to help them learn or improve their skills drawing cartoons/graphic novels. (images from Facebook and Todd’s promo photo)

Popular graphic novelist and artist Jonathan Todd returns to the Southborough Library this summer for another week-long “Comics Camp”. This time, the free opportunity is available to 2^nd to 8^th graders.

Once again, kids can sign up for 1-5 of the morning sessions held the first week of August. Registration is required, and space is limited.

Each session will take place from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Library promotes the program as tied together by the theme of “Self Care”:

In his kid’s graphic novel TIMID, cartoonist Jonathan Todd uses comics to express the anxiety he experienced as a middle school student. In this camp, we’ll use comics-making as a way to calm and express ourselves and share our feelings with others (when we’re comfortable doing so.)

Each day will feature a different activity:

• Monday, August 3, Collage Comics — Create comics with your doodles and found images (click here to register)
• Tuesday, August 4, Journal Comics — Create private comics in your own journal (journals provided) (click here to register)
• Wednesday, August 5, Autobio Comics — Create a comic about something that happened to you that you’d like to share with an audience (click here to register)
• Thursday, August 6, Letter Comics — Write a letter to a friend or relative in the form of a comic (click here to register)
• Friday, August 7, Board Game Cartooning — Use your cartooning skills to create your own board game (game board, dice and game pieces included) (click here to register)

This series of workshops is partially supported by The Friends of the Southborough Library.

For those not familiar with Todd, he is an author/illustrator whose work is inspired by his own childhood experiences. He has experience working with kids (in Southborough and elsewhere) to help them tap into their own experiences and imagination to create cartoons/graphic novels.

To learn about him and his work, check out his blog on tumbler, Cecil’s World. You can also check out this NPR story about the graphic novel Timid.

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