The following letter is from Carl Guyer.]

To the Editor:

Now that Southborough’s town election is behind us, it may be a useful time to revisit an assumption that regularly surfaces in local discussions about economic development: Will expanding the town’s commercial and industrial tax base reduce residential property taxes?

The argument is familiar. More commercial development means a larger tax base. Businesses pay a greater share of the tax levy, leaving homeowners to pay less. Given that Southborough’s residential tax rate is higher than that of 87 percent of Massachusetts residential property, it is easy to understand why residents find this argument appealing.

The more important question, however, is not whether commercial development generates revenue—it clearly does—but whether it reliably produces lower residential property tax rates.

Data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue provide useful perspective. Communities containing roughly 80 percent of the Commonwealth’s commercial and industrial property value have adopted split tax rates, under which commercial and industrial properties are taxed at higher rates than residential properties. On average, these communities set commercial tax rates approximately 84 percent higher than residential rates. They also contain roughly two-thirds of all residential property value in Massachusetts, meaning that most Massachusetts homeowners live in communities whose local officials have concluded that higher commercial tax rates are necessary to moderate residential tax burdens.

If commercial development by itself produced meaningful residential tax relief, one might expect the communities with the largest concentrations of commercial property to have the lowest residential tax rates. That is not what the data show. Residential tax rates in split-rate communities remain near the statewide average despite substantial commercial tax bases and significantly higher commercial tax rates. If those same communities were required to tax all property classes at a single uniform rate, residential tax rates would increase significantly (an average of 21%) above the current state average..

Put differently, if these communities were required to adopt Southborough’s single-rate tax structure,  residential tax rates for two thirds of residential property in the state would likely be substantially higher than they are today. A notable condition conflicting with local tax policy strategies. 

It is difficult to imagine residents in communities with split-rate tax policies supporting a return to a single tax rate based solely on the promise that additional commercial development would eventually provide comparable tax relief.

None of this should be interpreted as an argument against commercial development. Commercial and industrial activity is essential to a healthy economy. Massachusetts consistently ranks among the states with the highest GDP per capita in the nation, supported by technology, life sciences, manufacturing, financial services, and research. Commercial development creates jobs, generates income, and broadens the tax base.

The question is whether those benefits translate into meaningfully lower residential property taxes in communities that use a single tax rate. The evidence suggests they generally do not.

The issue becomes even more challenging in communities with above-average residential property values. Of the 50 Massachusetts communities with average residential assessments higher than Southborough’s, only three have a greater concentration of commercial and industrial development than Southborough. All three have adopted split tax rates—a combination of commercial development and tax policy that those communities have determined is necessary to moderate residential tax burdens.

Massachusetts communities have already answered the question through their tax policies. Additional commercial development can increase municipal revenue and strengthen the local economy, but by itself it appears to provide only limited residential property tax relief.

Carl Guyer,
146 Middle Road

The post Letter: Commercial Development and Residential Tax Relief: Are They the Same Thing? appeared first on My Southborough.

In a 3-2 vote on Monday, the Select Board approved spending $105K to provide the Southborough Police Department with a drone (and bundled technology and support) for 5 years.

The majority of the board prioritized getting the tech into the SPD’s hands quicker. The dissenters had prioritized potential savings ($30K or greater) and following the board’s preferred financial process that allows Town Meeting to weigh in on how taxes should be spent.

In a meeting with the Capital Improvement & Planning Committee last week, Police Chief Newell assured that the drone won’t employ “controversial” technology for facial recognition or reading license plates.

In meetings with CIPC and the Select Board, Newell described the purpose for the drone as improving safety by increasing the speed for searches and resulting rescues or arrests. The drone acts as a “force multiplier” for the “smaller department”. And it’s infrared capabilities are helpful at night, in the woods, etc.

But, Newell also pitched the use for aiding the Southborough Fire Department in the case of a house fire. In that instance, the drone would be able to show the SFD hot spots in the home.

The drone comes with a parachute for extra safety when flying over people. The 5 year contract will also include cloud storage, evidence upload, warranties, software upgrades, and a hardware refresh (with a replacement drone in 2½ years). Newell said that the training for drone use can be covered by the department’s FY27 training budget.

While I’m sharing this news, I’m throwing in news about a recent, interesting, equipment donation to the SPD. Scroll to the bottom for news about their “undercover vehicle”.

Debate over purchase expediency vs. improved process & potential savings

Select Board Chair Kathy Cook and Vice Chair Andrew Pfaff opposed setting the precedent of allowing departments to bypass the regular budget process with Town Meeting voters by using under-utilized salary budgets to purchase equipment.

The other three Select Board members also worried about the precedent and process. But they sided with Chief Newell in getting the equipment to his department sooner for public safety.

During the discussion, Cook highlighted that the Town was in the process of pursuing a $30K earmark for a police drone in the state’s budget for FY27. Town Administrator Mark Purple confirmed that if that is approved, it can not be applied to a previously incurred expense.

If the state funding comes through after the contract for the outdoor drone is purchased, it could be applied to buying an “indoor drone”. (But there was no discussion about the importance/value/expense of an indoor drone.)

Cook shared the good news that Fay School approved paying $20K to help with the drone purchase. But in follow up discussion, it appeared that the school may have been willing to put that money towards another, pre-existing expense.

The chair apparently spoke with a member of Fay School’s Finance & Operations team. Diane Byrne asked her if there was anything the Town would like Fay to put $20K towards. Cook suggested the drone. Byrne agreed.

Cook also asked Fay to spend another $20K towards the drone in FY27, but she hasn’t heard back yet.

Pfaff asked Newell and the rep from the contractor (Axon) about a prior draft contract that had included a free indoor drone. He got confirmation that if the Town had a bigger contract that included extending the tasers and body cameras, the indoor drone would have been thrown in for free. For Pfaff and Cook that was more reason to pause on the purchase and take a deeper look at how to approach the purchase.

They were outvoted by members Sam Stivers, Andrew Dennington, and Tim Fling. Their comments focused on expediting approving the purchase for safety concerns. They may have been swayed by arguments that Newell made in the public meetings. But it also appeared that their decisions were based (at least partially) on details they learned outside of public meetings and the meeting packets.

The drone “need” and planned use

Newell told the Select Board that relying on drones from other Towns adds significant delay to their ability to begin using the drone in a search. He described a range of search needs from missing children and seniors to potentially dangerous fugitive suspects. He also described the possibility of an OUI suspect running after a crash and bleeding out while trying to evade police.

One recent incident he described was a child that had run from a car. He said it was an hour search before the drone was on the scene to aid the officers. They then found him hiding in a cemetery.

He also described an incident where a suspect was fleeing in the woods and they weren’t able to get a drone on scene in time before the suspect “ended up on someone’s doorstep.”

There were other incidents when relying on outside departments adds about 30 minutes, versus the envisioned, potentially 4 minutes if a Southborough officer responds with the drone.

Newell also warned that if they rely on neighboring towns’ equipment, they risk having the drone pulled from the search before it is completed, if an emergency occurs in the partnering town.

During the CIPC meeting, the chief stated there were nine instances that the dept had to make use of drones from other departments. I followed up to learn more. Because of privacy concerns for parties involved, he didn’t forward the details to me that were emailed to CIPC members. But he did provide me with general descriptions of the incidents, which he specified were just since May 2025:

1. Search for domestic violence suspect in wooded area
2. Missing child search (located by Westborough Drone Unit)
3. Missing person search in woods surrounding Pine Hill Road for a person suffering from a mental health crisis
4. Missing student search (did not get off at bus stop)
5. Ashland PD searching for a suspect in woods near town line
6. Underage drinking party investigation with juveniles fleeing into woods and one requesting help from a nearby homeowner
7. Missing juvenile in woods suffering mental health crisis
8. Missing kayaker at Crystal Pond
9. Search for driver in woods who fled from Officers on a traffic stop

Request background

During the budget season in January, Newell listed the drone purchase as a capital expense need. But at the time, he was pausing that request to wait for a legal determination by the federal government as to whether public safety agencies could use foreign manufactured drones. Therefore, he didn’t bring the request to Annual Town Meeting this spring.

Since then, he learned that he’ll needed to purchase a U.S. made drone, adding to the expense. However, since his salary budget wasn’t tapped out (due to vacancies earlier in the year), he asked to use the excess FY26 funds to purchase the drone contract. That required signing the contract by June 30th.

Newell stressed that even after approving all of his “bottom line spending” requests, the SPD would be turning back close to six figures of the FY26 budget.

At their June 16th meeting, the majority of the Select Board decided that they wouldn’t authorize shifting the salary line item to cover that cost unless the CIPC first recommended the purchase. 

They did authorize the other spending Newell requested to use the excess salary budget to cover. That included cruiser maintenance, door repairs, and purchasing replacements for (previously approved but now expiring) equipment including AED batteries, first aid bags, Ballistic helmets and plates (for protection in incidents involving “heavy weaponry”).

But, since the drone was a new expense, and more expensive than when CIPC first reviewed it, Cook opined that approving that spend without CIPC’s evaluation would be stepping on the committee.

In hopes of getting the purchase approved quickly, rather than waiting for the October 17th Special Town Meeting, the Chief worked with the CIPC to get their recommendation in time for the Select Board to reconvene on the issue one day prior to the close of the fiscal year.

Undercover vehicle courtesy of Ted’s

On June 16th, the Select Board accepted the donation of a vehicle from Ted’s of Fayville “for use by the Police Department’s Detective Bureau”.

This isn’t Miami Vice, so the detectives won’t be cruising around in a luxury sports car. It appears to be on the other end of the spectrum, valued at just “$1,385”. (Since the purpose of it is to be incognito, I didn’t reach out to learn if it is a car or pickup truck — which is why I’ll keep referring to the “vehicle”.)

A letter from the SPD explains the value of having the modest vehicle available for use by detectives:

This generous donation. . . will enhance the Department’s investigative capabilities by providing our detectives with a dedicated vehicle for surveillance, witness interviews, evidence gathering, and other sensitive assignments. The ability to operate in a vehicle that does not readily identify officers as law enforcement allows detectives to blend into everyday traffic, reducing the likelihood of detection and helping preserve the integrity and effectiveness of ongoing investigations. In many cases, the success of an investigation depends on detectives being able to observe and document activities without drawing attention to their presence.

If you’re worried that a vehicle that unexpensive will inevitably require repairs. . . Fortunately, Ted’s towing business is perfectly suited to deal with it if it unexpectedly dies:

Ted’s Auto Body has also generously offered to dispose of the vehicle at no cost, if the vehicle requires high repair costs or is no longer useful to the Police Department.

Updated (7/2/26 8:26 am): Kathy Cook updated in a comment that Fay School has committed to repeat the donation for FY27, making their total contribution towards the drone $40K. That lowers the Town’s cost to $65K.

The post Select Board approves police drone purchase <i>(Updated)</i> appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: Did you know that you can find the main ingredient for making homemade gin growing in open spaces preserved in Southborough? (image cropped from photo contributed by SOLF)

[This post is part of a special guest series focused on appreciating nature in Southborough, contributed by the Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF), a non-profit dedicated to preserving and stewarding natural resources here in town.]

First one needs the quintessential flavor by which gin is known; the “Juniper Berry.” This is required to be considered gin. After that, lots of other flavors referred to as “Botanicals,” are added.

Juniper berries are not actually berries. They are “cones,” like pine cones, spruce cones, hemlock cones etc but are referred to as berries.

So, you might ask “where does one find these juniper berries? From an Eastern Red Cedar tree!

Cedars are a type of Juniper (juniperus virginiana.) Classic British Beefeater gin uses “Juniper Communis” or “Common Juniper” which they import from the Mediterranean.

Are there Juniper Berries anywhere near Southborough? Yes! One need not travel farther than SOLF’s “Beals Preserve”-just beyond the kiosk where there is a large Eastern Red Cedar.

Ripening of the berries can take around 2 years after which they are added to pure spirits of alcohol or vodka. Then you add your favorite “botanicals” like coriander, angelica root, lemon peel, nutmeg, lavender and even cucumber. There are many options! Let it sit for about 48 hours, strain it and invite your friends!

Want to learn more about SOLF, or volunteer or donate?  Check out our site, we’d love to hear from you.

Debbie Costine (a SOLF Trustee, artist and curious naturalist)
SOLF – Southborough Open Land Foundation

The post <i>The Nature of Southborough:</i> Making Gin in Southborough appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: Indoor fun in our area includes an area trampoline park and a puzzle course with physical challenges (Altitude and Level 99 pics by Joao Melo)

Given the extreme heat warnings for this week, I’m re-running info from a recent post — my annual tips for indoor fun in our area.

The idea is to help people find places to find respite from homes that are too hot, or places to head when cabin fever hits. (It’s equally handy for rainy days that are bound to hit again this summer. )

Many of the options are geared to families with kids. But there are also ones good for teens and adults (especially if you’re young at heart!), or specifically for seniors.

Unfortunately, due to 4th of July this weekend, some of the listed venues may be closed this Saturday, or even this Thursday through Sunday. So be sure to check the holiday hours before heading to any of them.

Here are the details I researched a few weeks ago about the updated options for this summer in our area:

Free entertainment/relaxation

• Libraries – The Southborough Public Library can be warmer than usual in high heat – but certainly better than outdoors or no A/C. Find a comfy chair and a good book to curl up with. The “Teen Space” is a good area for young adults to hang out. Over the summer, the Children’s Room offers lots of summer reading activities for younger kids. Hours are 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Mon and Fri, and 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Tues-Thurs.

Unfortunately, our Library is closed on weekends in July & August. Fortunately, there are libraries in neighboring towns that are open Saturdays year round. For this summer, the Saturday hours are: Northborough (9:30 am – 5:00 pm), Marlborough (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), Westborough (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), Hopkinton (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), Shrewsbury (9:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Hudson (9:00 am – 5:00 pm). Bonus, those all share the same library card system as Southborough (CW MARS). So you can check materials out there and return them in Southborough or vice versa. (Framingham is also open 9:00 am – 5:00 on Saturdays, but it’s on a different lending system.)

• Free playspaces for little ones: the Solomon Pond Mall (on the lower level), and McDonald’s (155 Boston Post Rd W, Marlborough and 299 Turnpike Rd, Westborough). The mall hours are Mon-Thurs 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fri-Sat 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, and Sun 11:00 am – 6:00 pm.
• Senior Centers – For seniors, you can relax at the Southborough Senior Center weekdays from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (except July 3rd). You can play pool most days. If you check their schedule, you may also be able to drop in on a game of cards or Mah Jongg. See the senior center’s July-August schedule here. Most Surrounding towns’ centers are open a little longer:
  • • Northborough opens at 8:00 am and closes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 4:00 pm, with extended hours to 7:00 pm on Tues. Friday hours are 7:00 am to noon.
    • Marlborough is open from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm on weekdays
    • Westborough is open 8:00 am – 4:30 pm on Mon, Wed, and Thurs; 8:00 am – 8:00 pm on Tues; and Fri from 7:30 am to noon.
    • Framingham is open weekdays at 8:30 pm, closing at 4:30 pm on Mon, Wed, and Thurs, extended to 7:30 pm on Tues and closing Fri at 1:30 pm.

Indoor Play for a price

• Museums: Click here for museum passes offered by the Southborough Public Library (most sponsored by The Friends of the Southborough Library). If a pass is booked for the day you want it, you can also check with other local libraries.
• $1 matinees – Regal Cinema at Solomon Pond Mall’s summer deal is back for kids’ movies matinees at 11:00 am. As usual, the discounted lineup doesn’t include recent releases. This summer, the program is Mondays through Thursdays, running through August 13th.
• Artistic Fun:
  • Two Tales Pottery Studio in Northborough not only has pottery painting, but also allows building pottery (including on a pottery wheel). (This is closed on Mondays.)
  • Clay Time in Shrewsbury offers pottery painting, glass fusing, and stoneware glazing
  • Plaster Fun Time in Marlborough focuses on painting plaster figurine
• Indoor Sports:
  • Indoor Mini Golf:
    • Trombetta’s Farm in Marlborough has indoor golf. (This facility better setup for rainy weather than brutally hot temps. Bonus, they also sell their handmade ice cream.)
    • Puttshack in the Natick Mall is air conditioned and offers “tech-infused” courses. (For adults, they also sell cocktails.) The venue allows online reservations, and you may need them.
    • Apex Entertainment‘s “black-lighted” course in Marlborough is also air conditioned and with online reservations.
  • Bowling:
    • Apex Entertainment in Marlborough (needs to be booked at least 24 hours in advance)
    • Pinz in Milford (with an arcade and laser tag). You can sign kids up to bowl for free throughout the summer – two free games per day.
    • Bowlero in Shrewsbury
  • Skating: Roller Kingdom in Hudson (Only open Wed & Friday evenings and weekend days)
  • Misc.
    • Bosse Pickledom at the Natick Mall offers Pickleball courts, golf simulators, and “dart lanes”
    • Ax Throwing at Apex in Marlborough
• Trampolines/inflatables – These require purchasing tickets:
  • Altitude Trampoline Park in the Apex complex in Marlborough. The entertainment extends beyond just trampolines, with dodgeball, hoops dunking, “battles”, a rock wall, a height challenge test, trapeze, and more. The business opens daily at 10:00 am, closing at 8:00 pm Sun-Thurs with extended hours to 10:00 pm on Fri & Sat. (Worth noting, they offer a special “Junior” jump time for ages 2-6 on weekdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and a Friday night special for younger teens and tweens from 7:00 – 10:00 pm.)
  • Apex Kids for ages 2-12 (jungle gyms, inflatables, and obstacle courses) is open daily from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
  • Launch in Framingham opens 10:00 am Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sun. They open 3:30 pm on Wed, and 1:30 pm on Fri. They stay open until 8:00 pm Mon – Thurs, 10:00 pm Fri & Sat, and 7:00 pm on Sun. (Their Toddler Time for kids 5 and under is weekend mornings 9:00 – 11:00 am.)
• Entertainment Centers/Arcades/Laser tag:
  • Apex Entertainment Center in Marlborough definitely has the largest range of indoor activities – ropes course, bowling, arcade, laser tag, Bumper cars, go karts, sports simulators, arcade, mini golf, and ax throwing. Bowling has to be booked at least 24 hours in advance. (Note: Altitude Trampoline Park and Breakout escape rooms share the facility but have their own websites for reservations.)
  • Dave & Busters at the Natick Mall has an arcade, virtual reality games, and sports bar.
  • Immersive GameBox in the Natick Mall is an “immersive reality” gaming experience with projected images, and tracking players’ movements. Current games (including Soccer Arcade, Batman, Squid Game, Floor is Lava, Angry Birds, Ghostbusters, and Paw Patrol) cover interests for little ones through adults.
  • Fun & Games in Framingham, Pinz Bowling in Milford, and Roller Kingdom in Hudson also offer an arcade and laser tag.
  • In the Solomon Pond Mall, there’s also the arcade WOW Family Entertainment.
• Challenges/Escape Rooms:
  • Breakout at Apex
  • Level 99 at the Natick Mall is described as offering “challenge based entertainment”. It includes a slew of physical and mental challenges that can be taken on individually or as a team. Instead of purchasing a challenge, you purchase the amount of time you want to spend in the facility.
• Paid playspaces:
  • Happy Play Day playcenter in Westborough for ages 0-6. Open Tues – Fri 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Saturdays 10:00 am – 9:00 am, and Sundays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
  • Hey Kiddo’s Playtime for ages 0-12. Open play bookings are for two hour timeslots Sunday through Fridays. Hours are mostly mornings, but appear to vary by day.
  • The Natick Mall’s playspace is a Jam Time that charges for kids to play there. Mon, Thurs, & Fri: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Tues & Wed 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, and Sat/Sun: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm.
  • Let’s Bee Kids playcenter in Hudson is another option, open Mondays through Saturdays 9:30 am – 2:00 pm — but check the website, because there are occasional closures for booked private events.

Have a tip for someplace that I should add to the list? Post a comment or email mysouthborough@gmail.com.

For more of my “Favorite local places” series, click here.

The post Reminder: Fun ways to avoid the outdoor (or indoor) heat appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: Southborough seniors enjoyed a bus tip to Polar Park in a past summer. They have another opportunity this August. (images cropped from contributed photos)

The Southborough Senior Center opens registration on Monday morning (July 6th) for programs this summer. Here’s what they have in store for the next two months.

Given that programs can fill up, you’ll want to take an advance look at what you want to sign up for. (Scroll to the bottom for more info on registration.)*

It’s worth reading the full newsletter, which includes additional program details, like what’s for lunch, plus tips and info relevant to seniors. 

My highlights below are just to make it easy to quickly see what programs/services are available.

Woo Sox Bus Trip

Bus Trips usually fill up quickly – so don’t wait too long to put in your name for the only one being offered this summer.

Woo Sox Home Game at Polar Park
Thursday, August 6th, 11:00 am – approx. 4:00 pm

The minor league Red Sox team will play the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The trip includes 2 hour “hospitality featuring the staples of burgers, hot dogs and all the essentials” ($30 Suggested Donation, details on page 9)

Special Programs at the Center

Summer Safety Tips
Wednesday, July 22nd, 10:00 am

A Southborough Fire Dept captain will discuss first aid, excessive heat exposure and other safety topics. (Free, details on page 9)

Blue Plate Special
Monday, July 27th, 12:00 pm

Social lunch featuring Chicken Broccoli penne ($6 Suggested Donation, details on page 6)

Beginner Watercolor Workshop
Tuesday, August 11th,  1:00 – 3:00 pm

Art workshop by Hopkinton Center for Arts. All necessary materials will be  provided. ($24 Suggested Donation, details on page_9)

Fall Prevention & Recovery
Tuesday, August 18th, 1:15 pm

An “Education Nurse” will teach strategies to avoid falls. (Free, details on page 9)

Blue Plate Special
Monday, August 31st, 12:00 pm

Social lunch featuring Ziti with meatballs ($6 Suggested Donation, details on page 6)

Center-Run Favorites

These regularly offered monthly programs also require pre-registration.

Bingo
Wednesday, August 19th, 1:00 pm 

Bingo and prizes. Tickets are sold promptly starting at 1:00 pm and snacks provided at break time. (Details on page___)

Movie Matinees

(The movies are free, but attendees can also come early at noon for lunch. Bring your own or register to purchase one for $6 Suggested Donation. Details on on page 3)

The Devil Wears Prada – starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, & Stanley Tucci  (PG-13; 1h 49m)
Wednesday, July 15th, noon

The original 2006 comedy that spawned the 20-yr later sequel this spring. The story focuses on an aspiring writer working for a demanding and intimidating fashion magazine editor — inspired by former Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Hamnet – starring (PG-13; 2h 6m)
Wednesday, date, noon movie 

This period drama was nominated for Best Picture and Best Directing Oscars, and earned Jessie Buckley an Oscar for her lead role as Hamlet’s wife. The story focuses on the couple dealing with grief after experiencing a tragic loss.

Adult Coloring & Lunch
Tuesdays, July 28th & August 25th, 12:00 pm

The event begins with lunch, followed by coloring while chatting. All supplies will be available or feel free to bring your own ($3 Suggested Donation with lunch included)

Fitness Classes

The center offers the following weekly and semi-weekly classes. Signup is for the two month session  (Suggested Donation — $3 per day unless otherwise noted, details on page______)

• Stretch — Mondays at 10:15 am
• Strength Class — Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:30 am 
• Advanced Tai Chi — Thursdays at 9:45 am (no Tuesdays in the summer)
• Chair Yoga — select Thursdays at 12:30 pm (only on July 9, July 30, August 6, August 20, and August 27)
• CrossFit for Senior Fitness — Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 – 10:45 am (at CrossFit Tilt, 12 Southville Road)
  • This 16 class beginner-friendly program will run next week through August. It is subsidized to offer a discount ($5 per class, $80 total)

[Note: For Medical Insurance reimbursement, see Peg Leonard at the end of your yearly enrollment period to have the form signed.]

Scheduled Services and Resources

The Senior Center regularly offers free services and resources for Southborough Seniors.

Fat Daddy’s Produce Bus
Wednesdays July 15th & August 12th, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

The “small family owned ‘hydroponic farm'” will be selling chemical-free produce at wholesale costs. The dates align with this summer’s movie matinees. (Farmers Market coupons accepted, details on page_9)

Technology Help
Tuesdays, July 21st & August 18th (one hour time slots)

A local tech services company will answer seniors’ questions about smartphones, e-readers, laptops, tablets, Alexa, zoom and more. Sign up for a time slot (starting at 10:00 am) and bring your device with you. (Details on page 3)

Legal Advice
Wednesdays, July 8th & August 12th (15 minute sessions)

Elder Law Attorney Christine Boutin offers free consultation over the phone. Call the senior center to book a time slot between 10:00 – 10:45 am. (Details on page 10)

Nurses Clinic
Fridays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (plus at Colonial Gardens on August 7th 2:00 – 3:00 pm)

For a list of the services they offer (including wellness checks, screenings, nurse assessments, Q&A, and much more), click here.

Ongoing Services

Appointments need to be booked for these, but the services aren’t limited to specific dates.

Outreach Services

The center’s Outreach Coordinator (Raeleen Gallivan) works with Southborough Seniors and their caregivers, to provide advocacy and support, and help with applications for a variety of needs and programs, including the GUIDE MODEL (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience). For details on the types of support she can provide, see page 8.

Medicare Assistance

The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone on Medicare) Coordinator (Larry Whitman) assigned to support Southborough seniors can offer help answer Medicare questions, including support with dedicated insurance for people planning to travel.  (Details on page 8)

Interactive Groups and Drop-in Games

Unlike the above programs the following free social or activity-based groups don’t require pre-registration.

[Note: The Book Club and Genealogy Club are taking a summer break.]

Spicy Ladies Club
Tuesdays, July 21st & August 18th, 11:00 am

New monthly social club for women.

Wizards
Fridays, 9:00 am

This social group, is a spinoff to the popular Dull Men’s Club and meets immediately prior. They’ll “generally discuss subjects relating to science and technology”. A past promo quiped:

If discussing new (and old) technology with like minded guys gets your brain cells humming you owe it to yourself to check out this new interest group. No academic referral required.

A listing for this weekly meetup group was accidentally omitted from the main newsletter, although it was listed in the newsletter’s calendar. I reached out and got confirmation that this group that was initially launched for March & April, then paused for May & June, is back for July & August.

Dull Men’s Club
Fridays, 10:00 am

Casual social club for senior men. New members are always welcome to drop in. (Read more about the group here.)

Walking Group (Depending on Weather Conditions)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am

Walkers generally go for an hour. The location is a loop, so feel free to join late (or leave early/late). (No fee.)

Mondays are at Trottier Middle School’s (49 Parkerville Road) outdoor track. Wednesdays are at Southborough’s Rural Cemetery (11 Cordaville Road, next to the Senior Center).

Knitting & Quilting Club
Mondays, 1:00pm

Chat with others while working on your projects.

Drop-in Games

• Bocce — Fridays at 11:15 am to about 12:30 pm (It’s back!)
• Rummikub — 2nd, 3rd & 4th Mondays of the month, moved to 10:00 am (not 11:00)
• Bridge — Tuesdays at 12:00 pm
• Mah Jongg — Thursdays at 10:00 am
• Canasta (Hand & Foot) — Fridays at 10:00 am
• Billiards — Daily from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (except for on “large program dates” – see calendar in newsletter)

*Registration

See pages 1&2 of the newsletter for registration & cancellation details, but here are some of the highlights.

In-person registrations are using a form and must include payment.

Phone registration (508-229-4453) can’t be done over voicemail — you must connect with someone live. Payment for programs needs to be made within one week after signing up to avoid being removed from the list.

Because the programs tend to have waitlists, residents are asked to cancel if their plans change. For full refunds, bus trips must be cancelled two weeks in advance and other events one week in advance.

Updated (7/1/26 12:19 pm): Yesterday, I noted that I still needed to get clarity on two programs that were in the newsletter’s calendar but not described or listed in the newsletter text. I got confirmation that the Wizards group is back on Friday morning’s before the Dull Men’s Group (under “Interactive Groups and Drop-in Games”).

But the Boating program at Hopkinton State Park is meant just for the Trailblazers Club this summer due to the limited availability. If you’re interested in learning more about that group, you can read my post here. The group that plans outings and activities for active seniors meets at the Senior Center at 3:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month. (So, today and August 5th.)

The post Sign up Monday for July & August Senior Center programs <i>(Updated)</i> appeared first on My Southborough.

We haven’t even hit July. So Thanksgiving may seem eons away. But Friends of Southborough Recreation are already seeking sponsors for Southborough’s 20th annual Gobble Wobble.

Sponsors who want to make the most of it, and be included on runners’ shirts, need to reach out this summer.

Let’s talk turkey. Given attention on the Semiquincentennial and the Tricentennial, the 20th annual milestone may seem relatively small. But it represents two decades of volunteer efforts, community spirit, and holiday fun. And the fundraisers have supported events and resources the community enjoys. Sponsors can feel good about being a part of that.

Plus, the race is a great opportunity for sponsors to gain visibility with Southborough residents and other local runners. Friends of Rec pitches that the shirt level sponsorships have even wider impact:

Our participants come from all over the country, which is astounding. . . Your logo could be seen in California, Chicago or Florida on the backs of our shirts!

I never thought about it before. But it makes sense that some of the runners are visiting family for Thanksgiving.

Shirts aren’t the only way sponsors get visibility. All sponsors are included in Gobble Wobble’s advertising, linked on the registration page, posted on signs, included in press releases, etc. (I always include them in some posts on this blog.)

The sponsorship levels are:

• Under $300 – all media and advertising
• $300-$499 – your logo on the shirt backs
• $500 – $999 – your logo on the shirt backs as well as a sign on the race route with your logo
• $1,000+ – your logo on the shirt backs as well as a flag on the race route with your logo

Friends of Rec’s letter shares that funds they previously raised have been used for:

• Southborough Summer Concerts with free ice cream for all
• Trunk or Treat Event
• Summer Nights Fireworks
• Scholarships
• Summer Camp Ice Cream
• RecConnect Activities

You can find more details about the sponsorships in a letter the Friends wrote to past sponsors here.

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Above: Summer fruit tastes even sweeter when you pick it yourself.
(images cropped from Facebook top row from Tougas Farms, bottom L-R from Hanson’s Farm, Cordelia’s  Farm and Lookout Farm)

Continuing my summer fun series (for kids and adults), I’m reminding readers of local options for picking your own fresh fruit. This time of year always makes me long for fresh blueberries. But if that fruit’s not your jam, maybe another crop is.

[Note: You may get in some picking early this week before the forecast “extreme heat” front moves into our area Wednesday afternoon for a few days.]

There aren’t any pick-your-own fruit options available in Southborough. Fortunately, there are four-five farms just a stone’s throw away that offer Pick Your Own fun over the summer. Below are my updated details for this year’s picking season.

For all of the following PYO/U-pick programs, you should check with the farm that day (or day prior) to ensure conditions are ripe and fruit is plentiful.

If you’re hoping to pick some strawberries before the season is over, your best bet might be Hanson’s Farm on Nixon Road in Framingham. They are currently advertising strawberries for picking this week “Till Gone”. The last online update seemed to be Friday on Instagram (when berries were plentiful) Their website cautions to call ahead for most current conditions (508-877-3058). (I’d heed that advice because they don’t seem to have update their website this summer for the crops beyond strawberries.)

They traditionally offer blueberries, blackberries, and flowers later in the summer, followed by fall pumpkins.

The farm also has a Sunflower Maze starting in August, followed by a Corn Maze and Hayrides in the fall. Other highlights include barnyard animals, cider donuts, and a farm stand (including fruit from other local farms).

Cordelia’s Farm in Berlin is another farm still offering strawberry picking. That season is winding down and “quite slow” and limited as of this morning. But they are still allowing picking today and tomorrow “until picked out”. 

For those environmentally minded, its also one of the farms that allows (and even encourages) bringing your own containers.

PYO Raspberries should be available next week, with a second season in early September. Blueberries and flowers are expected to begin mid-July. They also have corn and other vegetable crops (that aren’t u-pick but are farm fresh) for sale over the summer. Plus, they sell vegetable plants for your own gardens.

My family traditionally has enjoyed fruit picking at Tougas Family Farm in Northborough. Of all the area orchards, they offer the most choices of fruits, and therefore the most consistent picking. (We’re apparently not alone in loving the farm, since Newsweek readers ranked it their #1 pick in the U.S. for PYO fruit last year!)

Their strawberry picking is also winding down. (It’s closed today to allow more ripening, which means there should be at least one more picking day left soon.) Right now, it’s their cherry season that is in full swing. (And it looks like the picking is plentiful with at least two varieties.)

Other crops will start ripening this month through the fall in the following overlapping order: blueberries (very soon), blackberries, peaches and nectarines, countless varieties of apples, and pumpkins. To check out what’s picking any given day, click here. You can also follow them on Facebook.

Tougas also has a farm store that starts selling some fruit before there’s enough for PYO, and packaged goodies like fruit butters, sauces and “ready-to-bake” pies made from their fruit. Plus, they have a kitchen selling lunch, cider donuts, baked goods, jams, ice cream, smoothies, etc. Adding to the entertainment (especially for little kids) are tractor rides to/from the fields/orchards, a great playground, and goats to feed. And for the over 21 set, a “Beer Garden” offers adult beverages.

Like Cordelia’s Farm, Nourse Farms in Westborough allows PYO customers to bring their own containers. This farm sounds ideal for raspberry lovers. They have a changing variety of raspberries to pick this time of year through the fall. (The picking is paused today, but they advise checking in tomorrow for updated status.)

Blueberries should be ready sometime next week. (They were unable to successfully field a strawberry picking season this year.) PYO red currants and Cut-Your-Own flower bouquets will be available sometime this month.

Click here for the latest picking report. You can also check out some gorgeous, inviting views of the farm (and cattle herd) on Facebook.

Nourse also grow a lot of veggies that are available for fresh purchase from the Farm Store. (But apparently, not peaches this year.) You can check out the produce schedule here.

You can also enjoy an educational walking trail (covering the farm’s history).

Lookout Farm in Framingham has changed quite a bit over the years. This spring, they promoted that U-Pick peaches will be back this summer, in mid to late July. Although they haven’t advertised it yet, that is sometimes followed by picking opportunities late summer for asian pears, and apples, followed by fall pumpkins. To look for updates, click here.

The farm has a tractor themed play area with an open bounce pad. There’s a fee for admission during picking season. (Until then, it’s currently free.) They also have a restaurant, tap room, their own hard cider, and musical events.

If you have other favorites or suggestions, post a comment below.

And if you’re looking for other fun things to do in Southborough and nearby this summer, click the tag links below.

The post Where to pick fruit this summer appeared first on My Southborough.

Here are the posted open, public Southborough committee and board meetings for this week* along with my selected highlights from the agendas.

It looks like this week’s probably going to be a quiet one as we head towards the big 4th of July holiday.

As always, be aware that changes to the meeting schedule (and agendas) are known to happen throughout the week. (Scroll down for details on any meetings that popped up after last Monday’s post.) For an updated list of meetings, visit the Town website.

These days, most (but not all) meetings, can be participated in, watched live, and replayed from home.)**

Monday, June 29, 2026

• Wastewater Study Committee Meeting, 8:00 am @ zoom only (agenda) Agenda Highlights: MassDevelopment DIF financial analysis consulting agreement
• Select Board Meeting, 8:30 am @ zoom only (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Capital Improvement & Planning Committee Recommendation on Police Drone

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

• Recreation Commission Meeting, 7:00 pm @ zoom only (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Updates on Dept, programs, events, Fayville Hall parking, and Trails; Discuss Town Meeting – Field Permit, 911 Field Report, and 21 Highland Street improvement

Looking Back:

Below are meetings from last week that were posted to the Town website after I initially ran the list last Monday morning (including ones that I added in later updates):

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

• Capital Improvement and Planning Committee Meeting, 2:00 pm (agenda, video) Agenda Highlights: Review new capital request: Police Drone; FY27 Capital Process
• Historical Commission Meeting, 7:00 pm (agenda, video) Agenda Highlights: Review applications for Historical House Signs; Boston & Worcester Street Railway sign installation; Town Common fencing project and Town Common assets review; Rural Cemetery Water Tower and upcoming meeting with Cemetery Expansion Committee; Wayfinding initiative report; Old Burial Ground priorities

*I don’t list meetings that are only closed Executive Sessions unless the agenda indicates the possibility of some action in an open public session at the opening or closing of the meeting.

**Details on watching meetings remotely:

• Town Committee/Board Meetings:
  • If in-person meetings don’t also advertise a zoom option, assume that it won’t be broadcast or captured on video.
  • To remotely participate in meetings that allow zoom, click here.
  • To live stream (or view later) remote or hybrid meetings (even those covered by Southborough Access Media) over the internet, use the Town’s YouTube Channel for Remote Meetings. (The meetings covered by SAM can also be streamed on their website here, and eventually on SAM’s YouTube Channel.)
  • Cable Access — Southborough Access Media broadcasts the regular evening meetings for the Select Board, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals that take place in the Town House Hearing Room. (Those meetings will still allow zoom participation.) View SAM’s live and replayed broadcasts via their Government cable access channel (Verizon-37 and Charter-194).

The post The week in government appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: Highlights include animals visiting the library, a family fun run, and the annual kids’ parade. (photos cropped L-R from Animal World Experience website and by Susan Fitzgerald)

School is out and summer is really here! 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.)

Friday evening, June 26, 2026

• 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.

Monday, June 29, 2026

• Walking Group for Seniors (8:30 am) @ Trottier Middle School’s outdoor track: 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.
• 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.
• TLT: Adopt Me Flyers (4:30 – 5:30 pm) @ Southborough Library Main Floor: The library holds a monthly Teen Library Team volunteer program for ages 12+ to make projects for others in need. This month volunteers will make flyers to help get pets adopted. For details, see related post.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

• “Fun-tastic” Beasts (11:00 am – 12:00 pm) @ Southborough Library: Animal World Experience will be bringing a variety of live animals to visit the library. Kids of all ages are welcome to attend this free program sponsored by the Friends of the Southborough Library. For details, see related post.
• Bridge (12:00 pm) @ Southborough Senior Center: A weekly card group, welcoming new participants. For details, contact the Senior Center at 508-229-4453.
• Summer Puzzle Race (6:00 – 8:30 pm) @ Southborough Library: Registration is required for this free program for ages 7+. Participants will be organized into teams and the first team to finish the 500 piece puzzle wins! For details, see related post.
• 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, July 1, 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.
• 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.
• TrailBlazers meeting (3:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Senior Center: The group for active seniors holds a monthly meeting to plan upcoming activities. Any seniors interested in helping or learning more are welcome to join them. For more 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.)
• 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.)
• Friends of the Library Meeting (7:30 – 8:45 pm) @ zoom: Monthly meeting of board members and volunteers to discuss funding library requests and planning for upcoming fundraisers. We’re always happy for members/prospective members to join us! If you are interested, email friendsofsouthboroughlib@gmail.com and ask for the link or learn more here.
• Family Fun Run (6:00 – 8:00 pm) @ Neary’s Outdoor Stage, 53 Parkerville Road: Registration is required for this free event for all ages. Enjoy a free, untimed, patriotic themed fun run. Runners can choose routes 1.5 miles – 3 miles. If you sign up by Sunday, June 28th, your family will also enjoy free ice cream after your run. For details, see related post.
• 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, July 2, 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.
• Kids’ 4th of July Parade (4:30 – 5:30 pm) @ Southborough Library: Kids of all ages are welcome to march in the patriotic parade to the Town House. For details, see dedicated post.
• Craft & Create: Clay Art (3:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Library, Eaton Room: Tweens & teens ages 10+ are welcome to drop in and show off what they can create from the library’s set of clay craft supplies. For details, see related post.
• 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, July 3, 2026

• Town Closures: The Town Offices, the Southborough Library and Senior Center are closed for the federal holiday. (The Transfer Station is open.)

Saturday, July 4, 2026 — Independence Day

• Town Closures: The Transfer Station is closed for the federal holiday.

*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.) You can also click here for Summer Camps.

The post Events this week appeared first on My Southborough.

The Southborough Police Department issued a press release on their detective’s support of a case against 6 people charged with defrauding a Southborough senior. (It also includes a scam warning.)

While I’m sharing that news, I’m also including other recent SPD highlights — like another MADD award.

Case against alleged fraudsters

Here is the statement that the SPD posted on the fraud case:

Southborough Police Investigation Contributes to Fraud Cause Resulting in Federal Charges

The Southborough Police Department is recognizing the work of Detective Anthony Vega, whose investigation into the financial exploitation of a resident contributed to a federal case that resulted in charges against six individuals.

An 81-year-old Southborough woman reported in March 2025 that she had been defrauded by individuals posing as representatives of a well-known sweepstakes organization. She had been convinced to send checks, financial information and other personal information to claim her winnings.

She ultimately lost approximately $85,000.

Detective Vega led the investigation for Southborough Police. He worked for more than a year alongside federal investigators to gather evidence, trace financial transactions, execute investigative subpoenas, coordinate with law enforcement agencies in multiple states, and identify information that helped advance the federal investigation.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced federal charges against six individuals. According to federal prosecutors, the scheme defrauded seniors of millions of dollars.

The Southborough Police Department assisted the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Services during the investigation.

“We are extremely proud of Detective Vega’s dedication and persistence throughout this investigation,” said Chief Ryan Newell. “What began as a report from one Southborough resident ultimately became part of a much larger federal investigation. Detective Vega’s work demonstrates the important role local law enforcement plays in identifying complex fraud schemes and working with our state and federal partners to hold those responsible accountable.”
The Southborough Police Department would also like to urge residents, particularly older adults and their families, to remain vigilant against scams.

“No legitimate sweepstakes or organization will ever require someone to pay fees or taxes up front to claim a prize,” Chief Newell said. “If someone contacts you claiming you’ve won money but first demands payment or asks for your banking information, it is a scam. We encourage anyone who receives these types of calls to end the conversation immediately and contact their local police department.”

Families are encouraged to regularly speak with older relatives about common scams and to report suspicious activity before sending money or sharing personal financial information.

Returned Property

The above case wasn’t the only investigation the SPD successfully participated in. Earlier this month, the dept posted a follow up to their report of a custom bike stolen last August/September. “Thanks to the diligent work of our Detectives, it has now been recovered and returned to its (very happy) owner!”

MADD Award

Earlier this month, the SPD posted news about the award given to Officer Theo Davis:

Congratulations to Southborough Police Officer Theo Davis on being recognized today with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) OUI Excellence Award at the annual MADD Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony at Fort Devens.

Through the 51 OUI arrests he made in 2025, Officer Davis demonstrated an unwavering commitment to keeping our roadways safe. Every impaired driver removed from the roadway represents a potential tragedy prevented. These enforcement efforts help protect not only motorists, but also passengers, pedestrians and families throughout our community and beyond.

OUI enforcement is one of the most important responsibilities in law enforcement, requiring vigilance, professionalism and dedication from officers. Officer Davis’ work has made a meaningful impact on public safety, and this recognition is a testament to his commitment to serving and protecting others.

We are incredibly proud of Officer Davis for this well-deserved honor and grateful for his everyday work in keeping our community safe. Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement!

Policing Stats

Since I last provided an SPD update, the department issued its statistics report for May:

• Arrests: 25
• Criminal Summons: 47
• Motor Vehicle Crashes: 39
• Motor Vehicle Stops: 744
• Incident Reports: 109
• Total Calls: 2,949

Newest Addition and Officer Status

On May 29th, SPD’s newest Probationary Police Officer, Joseph Lindberg, was sworn in. He began his field training on June 1st.

The hiring filled the last of the SPD’s open positions following approvals for staffing increases in recent years. (It’s notable, since there was a time prior when the smaller roster had several open positions as the Town struggled to attract and retain officers.)

Note: the SPD is still encouraging applications for future openings.

SPD’s staff is currently a Chief, 2 Lieutenants, 5 Sergeants, and 17 full time police officers (including 2 student officers, 3 probationary officers, a school resource officer, a detective and a part-time detective). They also have a Business Admin and work with a regionally shared “Jail Diversion Clinician”.

Plus, in Dispatch, there are currently 7 full time Communications Officers and 2 part-time. (Those are positions that will eventually be removed from the Town’s direct payroll when the regional dispatch center is up and running.)

As for Lindberg, the SPD posts:

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Conservation Law Enforcement from Unity College in Maine and previously served as a full-time police officer with the Holden Police Department (3 years).

Officer Lindberg is a certified TASER instructor and a certified crash reconstruction expert, having successfully completed the required 240-hour crash reconstruction program. For the past three years, he has served with the Billings Airport Police Department in Montana.

Feelgood Community Engagement

The SPD has continued engaging with the community as part of its Community Policing philosophy. That includes their traditional end of school year Lunch Takebacks (where they serve students lunches at the elementary schools and spend time with them at recess). They also hosted a Woodward Field trip and helped place flags at veterans graves prior to Memorial Day. 

This spring they also again helped deliver flowers to homebound residents. The initiative was in partnership with the Senior Center and the Southborough Gardeners:

Today we once again partnered with the Southborough Garden Club and the Southborough Senior Center to brighten the day of homebound senior citizens throughout our community. The Southborough Garden Club members created beautiful, hand-arranged flower bouquets; the Southborough Senior Center put together a list of homebound seniors who would like a bouquet of flowers; and the Southborough Police Department delivered them while sharing meaningful visits with residents who may not frequently have the chance to get out and socialize.

The smiles, conversations, and heartfelt appreciation made the day especially memorable. Simple acts of kindness can have a lasting impact, and we are grateful to partner with community organizations such as the Southborough Garden Club and Senior Center to help bring joy and connection to our senior residents.

A sincere thank you to the Southborough Garden Club and Southborough Senior Center members—especially Susan Conti and Peg Leonard—for their time, effort, and commitment to supporting our community and making this program possible.

The post SPD Update: Investigation Contributes to Fraud Cause & Other News appeared first on My Southborough.