Above: The audition-only middle school band will perform for jazz and big band selections for seniors next week. (images cropped from Facebook and past flyers)

The Southborough Senior Center asked me to help get the word out about an event next week that seniors can still sign up to attend.

The center is hosting a concert by Trottier Middle School’s Big Band.

The mid-afternoon event includes a selection of pizzas. (So I guess it’s an early bird dinner concert!) There is a “Suggested Donation” of $3 per person.

The concert will take place on Wednesday, May 27th. The event starts at 3:30 pm and the performance at 4:00 pm.

The center promotes:

Southborough’s winning Trottier School Big Band, led by Director, Jamie Clark, is an audition-only group comprised of 6th, 7th and 8th graders from Trottier Middle School. These amazing musicians love to play big band and jazz tunes. They repeatedly surpass the expectations of anyone who hears them perform.

Annually, they capture top accolades from the region’s most prestigious jazz competitions. From the first note, it is clear these students work very hard. Perhaps most amazing is how these musicians show their love for music and capture their audiences! 

The post Big Band Concert at the Senior Center — May 27th appeared first on My Southborough.

We are sad to announce the death of David Rogers Ulen, long time resident of Shutesbury, Massachusetts. David passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of April 26th, 2026 after several months of serious illness.

He was 68 years old.

David was born Framingham, Massachusetts on April 28, 1957. He was the youngest of four children born to Fred and Nancy Ulen of Southborough, Mass.

David is survived by his three older siblings, Anne Benson, Deborah Holloway and Hank Starr, as well as two nieces, a nephew, a grand-niece and a grand-nephew. David and his siblings grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts where Fred taught English and was assistant headmaster at St. Mark’s School, and where David attended high school and was captain of the varsity hockey team. The family spent summer school-vacations in an old farmhouse on Pratt Road, in Alstead, New Hampshire.

David is remembered by his siblings as a good natured, reserved and handsome boy who liked hanging out with his friends, playing hockey and doing his own thing. So much so that, when he was a teenager, he opted for staying in Southborough to work so that he could be with his friends, rather than going to NH with his parents.

After graduating from high school, David attended UMass Amherst for about two years until he once again decided he’d rather be on his own – this time in the Amherst area that he had become so fond of. He started a small service-oriented business and settled in. He and his first wife bought a small farm house in Shutesbury and here David was “home”. In his spare time he continued his love of hockey, playing with a local club for many years. When his first marriage ended, David stayed in the Shutesbury house and soon after met the star of the second half of his romantic life, Marilyn Turner. They were happily partnered for many years, gardening, bird watching–happily sharing their lives until her too-early passing in 2013. David felt her loss deeply, though he kept in close contact with her children, Michelle and Rick. Also, during this time, David worked for Grace Episcopal Church along with the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst’s church as sexton and maintenance guy. Once a week, he faithfully volunteered for the UU-organized Wednesday Community Breakfast – a group and cause that he truly loved and believed in. Another source of joy and companionship was his deep friendship with local professor, Danny Krause. Unfortunately, Danny passed in 2019.

Poor health made David’s last year on this sweet earth a struggle for him. His family and friends are deeply grateful to the Fisher Hospice House for their kind and loving care. Their gentle presence and wisdom certainly and noticeably eased David’s pain along with the loneliness felt by those who are so ill. The family also wishes to thank Kevyn from Grace Episcopal Church for her help and kindness, and for being a loving presence during David’s final few days.

A memorial for David will be held at a later date.

(Photo and Obituary via legacy.com)

The post Obituary: David Ulen, 68 appeared first on My Southborough.

The Town is advertising its need for two new members on the Conservation Commission. While I’m sharing that news, I’ll highlight other committees with current vacancies, and ones that may soon have more.

For all of these positions, except for those I indicate otherwise, members are appointed by the Select Board.

The Conservation Commission currently has two vacancies. Below is Conservation’s recruitment promo:

The Conservation Commission is looking to fill two vacant seats! The Commission is a 7-member board who oversees permitting near wetlands and management of Conservation owned properties. Members do not have to be experts in the field but those who have experience in engineering, soil science, stormwater, or wetland permitting are always welcome and encouraged to apply. Otherwise, interested residents should be open to learning about the Wetlands Protection Act, Southborough Wetlands Bylaw, and Southborough Erosion Control & Stormwater Bylaw and their requirements. New members get a free orientation training from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) to get an overview of wetlands permitting.

The Conservation Commission meets every 3 weeks on Thursdays at 7pm via Zoom. The Commission is staffed by a full-time Agent and administrative assistant. Potential members should be able to spend a few hours every two/three weeks between meetings and reviewing materials.

Interested? Fill out a volunteer application or contact the Conservation Agent, Melissa Danza at mdanza@southboroughma.gov or 508-281-8984.

The Tricentennial Committee needs to be stepping into high gear since the big 300th anniversary kicks off in just over 6 months. That committee currently has two vacancies.

As I noted last week — unless he has already successfully filled the seat — Moderator Paul Cimino will need to appoint a new member to the Advisory Committee to replace Andrew Pfaff who was just elected to the Select Board.

According to the Select Board’s agenda for tonight, tonight they will vote on appointing former Select Board member Marguerite Landry to the recently formed Cemetery Expansion Committee. But that will still leave one vacancy.

Also on the agenda for tonight is filling an apparent vacancy on the Elementary School Building Committee. [Editor’s Note: Sadly, this is likely due to the death of member Robert Moss’ wife Joanne Moss earlier this month.] That recently formed committee is to help oversee the effort to study potential renovation projects for Neary School to propose to voters this fall.

The Community Preservation Commission has three vacancies. One is for a citizen-at-large. The others are representatives on committees which each also have multiple seats that need filling: Conservation and the Open Space Preservation Commission. (For the representative seats on the CPC, members are appointed by their own committees.)

As I previously covered, the Economic Development Committee has been lacking a quorum. While the EDC is also lacking a staff member to support their work, some go-getter volunteers might have ideas on what members can do to support Economic Development in Southborough.

Below are other committees that are currently listed as having a vacancy (or more):

• Cable Television Committee (2 seats)
• Master Plan Implementation Committee (appointed by Planning Board)
• Historical Commission
• Recreation Commission
• Southborough Public Accessibility Committee
• Zoning Board Of Appeals Alternate member
• Municipal Technology Committee representative for the School District (appointed by the School Committee)

You can learn more about the opportunities by reading their sections of the Town website (here), which includes their responsibilities and links to recent agendas and minutes. For many, you can also view past meetings here.

To apply for any of the above open seats, click here.

The list of openings could grow on July 1st after the terms for many members on committees expire. (You can see that list here. But I’d ignore the PILOT Committee and the Southborough Emergency Planning postions, since both appear to be inactive.)

At this point, a public list doesn’t indicate which members have agreed to re-up or said they’ll be stepping down. So, if there’s a Town committee that your interested in that’s not on the above list, you could still reach out to let Town officials know you’re interested if/when a spot opens up.

(image of Town seal from Town website and hands edited from public domain image by Karen Arnold)

Updated (5/20/26 8:35 am): I was able to get clarification that Conservation already has two vacancies. (Before I heard back, I had posted that one of the seats they were trying to fill might have been for a member who announced they would be stepping down at the end of their term in June.)

The post Need for Volunteers: Conservation, Advisory, Tricentennial, EDC, Elementary School Building Committee, and more appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: Southborough Rotary is touting one of their charitable projects — their work to improve children’s access to science education around the world. (images cropped from logo and contributed photos)

The Rotary Club of Southborough asked me to share information on their ongoing initiative to provide “foldscopes” to schools in “underserved” countries.

You can learn more about the project below. Community members interested in supporting the effort can make donations to Rotary. But what the club is really hoping to attract is more volunteers interested in getting involved with their efforts on this and other initiatives.

One of the ways you can learn more is by stopping by their table at the Food Truck Festival taking place tomorrow and the following three Wednesdays. (Read about that here.)

Here is Rotary’s message, with more photos and a video they shared:

For residents of Southborough seeking a meaningful way to contribute, the Rotary Club of Southborough offers a practical path to making a measurable difference. One recent example of that impact is the Club’s Foldscope initiative, which expands access to science education for children in underserved regions around the world.

Over the past three years, the Club has distributed Foldscopes to students in Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, and India—helping to spark curiosity and foster interest in biology and scientific discovery.

The Foldscope itself originated in a Stanford University laboratory, where a PhD student identified a recurring challenge during fieldwork: traditional microscopes were often bulky, broken, or simply unavailable. This insight led to the development of a simple yet transformative solution. The result is the Foldscope —a durable, foldable microscope made primarily of paper. Despite its simplicity, it enables users to view microscopic organisms and structures, opening a window into an otherwise invisible world. By dramatically reducing cost and increasing portability, the Foldscope makes scientific exploration accessible to virtually anyone.

For many of us, access to basic classroom tools is taken for granted. For the students receiving these Foldscopes, such opportunities are only just becoming available—often for the first time.

To see the impact firsthand, we invite you to watch an accompanying video of a young girl in India assembling a Foldscope provided to her school. While her words may not be universally understood, her enthusiasm and sense of discovery are unmistakable—a powerful reminder of how even simple tools can inspire learning and curiosity.

To learn more about the Rotary Club of Southborough and how to get involved, please visit: southboroughrotary.com

 
Updated (5/19/26 12:19 pm): If you want to make a donation to support Foldscopes, you can also mail a check to the Rotary Club of Southborough, PO Box 391, Southborough, MA 01772. (But, again, they would rather you reached out about options for getting involved.)

The post Rotary Demonstrates Global Impact Through Science Education Initiative appeared first on My Southborough.

[Editor’s Note: Apologies for the short notice on this morning’s funeral (and late notice on other services). I just learned about Father Conrad’s death from a reader. The funeral home lists his date of death as May 13, 2026.]

Father Conrad Stephen Pecevich was born in Worcester, MA on September 19, 1949, the son of Leonard J. Pecevich and Anna R. (Shea) Pecevich. He was proud to be a “Son of Saint Peter’s Parish”, having been baptized and receiving all his Sacraments at Saint Peter’s Church in Worcester. He attended Saint Peter’s Elementary School and Saint Peter’s Catholic Central High School, graduating in 1967. In that same church he celebrated his first Mass in 1977.

“Fr. Conrad” complete his priestly studies at Christ the King Seminary, originally located at Saint Bonaventure University, Saint Bonaventure, NY, and later relocated to East Aurora, NY. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester on June 4, 1977 by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan. Following priestly ordination, Fr. Conrad pursued advance degrees at Providence College, Assumption College and eventually earned a Doctorate of Ministry at Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, MA. During his priestly life he frequently pursued Spanish language courses in Florida, Mexico, Guatemala and Toledo, Spain. He was the recipient of a study grant at the Universidad de La Mancha by the Government of Spain.

Fr. Pecevich was an avid educator and writer. He served for many years as adjunct professor at Anna Maria College, Paxton in the Religious Studies Department and later at Nichols College, Dudley in the Humanities Department. He served as instructor of Old Testament and World Religions in the Deacon Program of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island and of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. Over most of his priesthood, Father conducted popular Bible Study programs for adults in the Diocese of Worcester and the Archdiocese of Boston.

He was proud of his Russian and Irish ancestry, and he traveled several times to Ireland in order to discover his ancestral roots there. That brought him to Killarney, County Kerry and to Cork City. He loved Irish music and theatre and cherished his friends in Ireland. He also studied Russian Orthodox spirituality and culture.

His priestly assignments also included Saint Roch’s Parish, Oxford, Saint Theresa’s Parish, Blackstone, Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, Worcester, all as Associate Pastor. He was appointed Pastor of Saint Paul’s Parish, Blackstone and later of Saint Anne’s Parish, Southborough.

In 1985, Fr. Pecevich was assigned to Anna Maria College, Paxton as Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry. He proudly served at AMC for several years. Later he was appointed to be Chaplain at Nichols College, Dudley. His many years working college students greatly enriched his life. While chaplain at Nichols College, he also ministered to the Spanish-speaking community at Saint Louis Parish, Webster.

In addition to being a dedicated educator, Father Conrad was an avid writer. He was a popular columnist of the Catholic Free Press of the Worcester Diocese wherein he wrote a weekly column based on the Sunday Scripture readings. He also enjoyed writing short inspirational stories based on his real life experiences and the examples of his friends and life time heroes. He also had what he referred to as “Card Ministry” where he loved to remember people’s birthdays, anniversaries, losses and successes.

He is survived by his sister, Rita Pecevich Lebouef of Worcester and his sister-in-law, Linda Finsen Pecevich of Bristol, CT and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his fellow priests of the Diocese of Worcester and many cherished friends. He was predeceased by his loving brother, David D. Pecevich, and by his brother Leonard.

Father Pecevich will be waked at Saint John’s Church, 44 Temple Street, Worcester on Monday, May 18 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 PM. Deacon William H. White will be the homilist. His funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, May 19 at 11:00 AM in the church with the Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester as the main celebrant. The homilist will be the Reverend John F. Madden. Burial will take place in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Cherry Valley, Leicester. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Priest’s Retirement Fund of the Diocese of Worcester, 49 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster.

(Photo and Obituary via Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home)

The post Obituary: Rev. Conrad S. Pecevich, 76 appeared first on My Southborough.

Above: Residents are invited welcome to take part in the Town’s traditional parade and ceremony honoring Memorial Day. (Photo by Beth Melo)

As we head towards the long Memorial Day weekend, I’m reminding readers that it’s about more than barbeques and family fun.

Every year in Southborough, veterans host a parade with ceremonies to honor soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Observances include a pre-event on Friday evening to help mark veterans’ graves, followed by the big event on the Monday holiday.

As always, the Veterans of VFW Post 3276 and American Legion Post 161 encourage the community to participate.

Changing of the Flags

On Friday, May 22nd at 6:00 pm Scouts and the residents of Southborough are invited to join veterans at the Rural Cemetery to replace the flags on the graves of our fellow Veterans.

For those unfamiliar, the Rural Cemetery is located at 11 Cordaville Road.

Memorial Day Parade

On Monday morning, May 25th, veterans, and local officials will march in the annual parade. Boys Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts, and the Trottier Middle School Band are all expected to march with them.

Participants for the parade should gather in advance in the Main St. Bank parking lot (corner of Rt. 30 and Newton St). 

The parade steps off at 9:00 am, proceeding down Main Street, then to the Rural Cemetery, Old Burial Ground, Civil War Memorial and concluding at the All Wars Memorial. Most years, a large crowd of residents follow along.

Traditionally, at each cemetery/memorial a short ceremony is held in honor of veterans laid to rest and Southborough residents who died in wars. The observances are expected to conclude around 10:30 am.

The post Memorial Day Observances appeared first on My Southborough.

The following letter is from Peter Kahn.]

To the Editor:

Imagine a warehouse the size of a football field, filled wall to wall with containers, each packed tight with computers. They generate enormous heat requiring industrial cooling consuming electricity and water. Water leaves the system full of algaecides, biocides, and corrosion inhibitors ensuring lower costs for the operator and leaving a legacy which we pay for with our lives and our town budget. 99.999% reliability and controlling operation costs act as chief drivers for the firm running this datacenter.

With downtime unacceptable, diesel and gas turbine backup systems sit on site as well. Far from only used during a power outage, these run whenever it makes financial sense to do so. If electricity prices rise in midday, those gas turbines spin up with the noise and air pollution as our cost. The operating firm makes money and we face health risks. This isn’t a clean tech company, this is heavy-industry supporting tech companies.

I started in the tech sector in 1995 and have seen many boom and bust cycles. Over and over again the bubble pops and businesses fail. When datacenters fail, communities find that they pick up cleanup costs. When we seek legal redress we may find a shell company, or an army of lawyers who bury the town in discovery. Stopping this before they break ground remains our only point of strength.

There’s nothing hypothetical about these risks. They have been harming communities for decades.

Brittany Heights – Chandler, Arizona: When a data center moved in late 2014, residents began hearing a constant humming. They complained. They petitioned. They organized. After a decade-long fight, the hum remains. What is done cannot be magically undone.

Memphis: In 2024 xAI announced a data center and built it in 122 days. The turbines started running prior to permits being filed. Before anyone could ask questions, the system was operational. By the time we raise our voices, they’ve already won.

Boardman, Oregon: A town of 4,000 people, Boardman saw data centers starting in 2011. By 2022, the county declared a public health emergency over drinking water. A survey of 70 wells found 68 violated the federal nitrate limit. Of 30 homes visited, 25 residents recently had miscarriages and six lost a kidney. Amazon denied wrongdoing, paid out $20.5 million to settle with residents, and the wells remain contaminated.

Data Centers promise good jobs and tax revenue. Their track record tells a different story: rules bent or ignored, communities poisoned, and cleanup costs left for us. This is our home, not their trash dump.

Say no to data centers. They are bad for us and bad for the town.

Peter Kahn
43 Highland St

The post Letter: A Data Center: What does it mean for us appeared first on My Southborough.

[Highlights from last week’s competitions and what’s on tap this week in Algonquin Regional High School varsity sports.]

This is the final week of the regular season for most ARHS teams. For several of them, it’s a critical one.

Most of the girls teams appear to have secured spots in this spring’s playoffs, although one is out of chances. In contrast, most of the boys teams are long shots.

Last week, Titans Softball lost to Oakmont 6-7, but followed with wins over Marlborough 13-6 and Fitchburg 5-1. That updates their record to 10-7. With only one regular season game left to go, they are guaranteed a place in the Division 1 playoffs.

Photographer Jeff Slovin posted photo highlights from the Marlborough win, which was also Senior Night: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jeff Slovin Photography (@jeffslovinphoto)

 
Girls Lacrosse also has more than enough wins and only one game left in the season. Last week, they beat Grafton 16-12 and Wachusett 21-7. Slovin posted photos of the Grafton win:

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jeff Slovin Photography (@jeffslovinphoto)

Baseball’s record is now 4-14 after entering another losing streak. (Last week, they lost to Westborough 2-9, to Leominster 2-5, and Wellesley 0-5.) To qualify for playoffs, they’d need to jump up more than 10 spots in the Power Rankings (from 43 to 32). With only two regular season games left in their schedule, that would be quite a turnaround.

Boys Lacrosse’s chances are similar, though possibly slightly better. Last week, they lost their 15th of 16 games, 8-12 to Grafton. They also have only two games left on the schedule. But they’d only need to move up five ranks (from 37 to 32) to make the cut.

Boys Volleyball is surely out. They lost last week’s games against Shrewsbury 0-3 and Wachusett 1-3. That updates their record to 4-10 and a ranking of 57. To make they’re playoffs, they’d have to shoot up the rankings by an impossible 25 places.

In Tennis, both teams are in good standing with seemingly too few games left to tank their chances. In last week’s games, the Boys lost to Westborough 0-5 last, but then shut out both Wachusett and Marlborough 5-0. They’re ranked #12 for Division 2 with a 7-6 record. The Girls lost to Westborough 2-3, beat Bromfield 3-2, and lost to Dover-Sherborn 1-4. They are currently ranked #20 in Division 1 with a 9-5 record.

In Rugby, the Girls ended their season on Friday with a 0-6 record. (That loss was 5-40 to Lincoln-Sudbury.) The Boys’ game was cancelled. Their team is currently ranked #2 for Division 2 with a 3-1-1 record. They have one game left on the schedule (or two if the cancelled game against Braintree gets rescheduled.)

In Outdoor Track & Field, the Girls beat Shrewsbury 78-66 in last week’s one-on-one meet, while the Boys lost 59-86.

More importantly, both teams competed at the championships for Central Mass District E Division 1. The Girls came in 2nd place and the Boys 7th. Outstanding performers included:

• Jillian Belniak who won the Girls 400 meter hurdles and came in 2nd place for the 100 meter hurdles
• Charlotte Lipka won the Girls High Jump and placed 3rd for the Triple Jump
• Tanvi Mehta won the Girls 400 meters and finished 2nd in the Girls Long Jump
• Other 2^nd place finishers were Trent Bedard for the Boys 800 meters and the Girls’ 4×400 relay team
• Other 3rd place finishers  were
  • for the Girls — Niamh OSullivan for the High Jump, Laura White for Pole Vault, Aleena Garge for Javelin, Hadley Anglim for 400 meter hurdles
  • for the Boys — Stephen Green for both the 1 Mile and 2 Miles,  Jakob Rochefort for the Boys 200 meters, and Brandon Charles for the High Jump

This Saturday, the teams will compete in the Division A Mid-Wach League Championships.

Last week was a bad one for the co-op Girls Golf team*. They lost to both Quabbin and Notre Dame, updating their record to 6-7.

But the team is still right on the edge of qualifying for next week’s sectionals — something they weren’t able to pull off last year. This week, they’re scheduled to play against six teams. To secure a spot, they’ll need to win more than they lose.

Now, here are the ARHS varsity games on tap for this week¹:

[Note: Tickets for any Home Games which require them are sold here.]

Monday, May 18, 2026

• 3:30 pm – Girls Tennis vs. Wachusett Regional High @ Wachusett Regional High
• 4:00 pm – Boys Volleyball vs. Leominster @ Algonquin
• 4:00 pm – Boys Baseball vs. Grafton High @ Grafton High
• 4:00 pm – Boys Lacrosse-Boys vs. Dover-Sherborn High @ Dover-Sherborn High
• 4:30 pm – Boys Tennis vs. Acton-Boxborough @ Acton-Boxborough
• 4:30 pm – Girls Lacrosse vs. Dover-Sherborn High @ Algonquin

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

• 3:30 pm – Girls Golf* vs. Framingham @ Westborough Country Club
• 4:00 pm – Girls Tennis vs. Marlborough @ Algonquin
• 4:00 pm – Boys Tennis vs. Dover-Sherborn High @ Dover-Sherborn High

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

• 8:30 am – Girls Golf* vs. Nashoba, Wachusett, & Quabbin @ Quail Hollow Golf and Country
• 4:00 pm – Girls Softball vs. Westborough @ Westborough
• 4:00 pm – Boys Tennis vs. Saint John’s High @ Algonquin
• 4:00 pm – Boys Baseball vs. Auburn High @ Algonquin
• 6:00 pm – Boys Lacrosse vs Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter @ Algonquin

Thursday, May 21, 2026

• 3:15 pm – Girls Golf* vs. Bishop Feehan & Wellesley @ Westborough Country Club
• 4:00 pm – Boys Volleyball vs. Acton-Boxborough @ Algonquin
• 6:00 pm – Boys Rugby vs. Brookline High @ Algonquin

Saturday, May 23, 2026

• 10:00 am – Girls & Boys Outdoor Track & Field Division A Mid-Wach League Championships @ Shrewsbury

*Girls Golf is a multi-school co-op program run through Westborough High.

The post The week in ARHS sports 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.

As always, be aware that changes to the meeting schedule (and agendas) are known to happen throughout the week. 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.)**

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

• Select Board Meeting, 6:00 pm @ Public Safety Building and zoom (agenda with packet) Agenda Highlights: Pole petition for Parkerville Rd; Appoint Student Officers; contract for DPW Superintendent; letter of support for regional One Stop Grant application; Approve Neary Feasibility Study contract; Authorize borrowing for MetroWest Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC); Discuss Elementary School Building Committee vacancy and appointment; elect Chair & Vice Chair
• Southborough Youth Commission Meeting, 7:00 pm @
  South Union Building (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Dept update; Review of Youth Commission job descriptions; Outreach opportunities; Friends update

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

• Scholarship Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:00 pm @ zoom only (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Vote to approve awards
• Regional School Committee/Combined School Committees Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Algonquin Regional High School Library (agenda with packet) Agenda Highlights: Elect Officers; Applied Arts Dept Presentation; Student Handbook Updates; Food Services update & contract; Enrollments; Circuit Breaker Relief approved by DESE
• Recreation Commission Meeting, 7:00 pm @ zoom only (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Fay Memorial Park (Community Engagement and letter); 911 Field Payback Schedule

Thursday, May 21, 2026

• Community Preservation Committee Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Town House Hearing Room and zoom (agenda) Agenda Highlights: CPC Public Forum; Applications for Fall Town Meeting (Fayville Park Improvements, Rural Cemetery Water Tower Restoration, Golf Course Irrigation, and Peninsula Trail Project); Signage to close out completed projects
• Wastewater Study Committee Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Public Safety Building and zoom (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Updates on presentation to Planning Board, Westborough discussion (Rt 9/I-495 Gateway Initiative), Mass Development process, and members’ progress; Discuss potential financing, sites, and users

*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).
• School Committee Meetings:
  • Subcommittee meetings and some special meetings are only available to attend/view live (in person or by “webinar”) with no later rebroadcast.
  • Regular Southborough School Committee meetings are generally broadcast live by Southborough Access Media here and on Verizon-37 and Charter-192. (Video replays are also usually made available through their YouTube channel within a couple of days.)
  • Regular Regional School Committee meetings (or Combined meetings based at Algonquin) are live broadcast by Northborough Cable Access here and YouTube channel, and on Southborough’s Education Channel (Verizon-29 and Charter-194). The meetings are also eventually rebroadcast and available on demand through NCAT’s VideoOnDemand player and YouTube (though that can take several days).
• Other:
  • Southborough does participate in some regional collaboratives hosted in other towns. Those committees follow their own rules and may not offer a way to re-watch zoom meetings.

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

Above: The Southborough Gardeners Plant Sale, arts & entertainment, Food Trucks, and preparing for Memorial Day weekend are just some of the many events taking place this weekend through next. (photos by Beth Melo and bottom right by Kim Tolander)

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

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

Friday evening, May 15, 2026

• ARHS Spring Improv Show (7:00 pm) @ Algonquin’s Black Box Theater: GonkStage’s annual improv and sketch comedy show. Tickets are available online only. For details, click here.
• Live Music with Acoustic Ménage (8:00 – 11:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: The band will entertain with acoustic favorites. For details, click here.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Southborough Gardeners Plant Sale (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) @ Community House lawn, 28 Main Street: The annual spring fundraiser in which Southborough Gardeners sell a variety of plants from members’ gardens including annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets. For details, see dedicated post.
• Spring Market (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) @ Apothecary Artists, 11 Main St: Join us for an indoor/outdoor market with spring shopping from local vendors and food trucks. For details, see dedicated post.
• TLT: Seed Pod Making (5:00 – 6:00 pm) @ Southborough Library Main Floor: Registration is required for this special program for 6th-8th grade volunteers. Participants will make pods of native seeds. For details, see see related post.
• Everyday Safety for Teen Girls (1:00 – 2:00pm) @ Southborough Library: Registration is required for this program for students ages 12+. Local teen volunteers will lead a relaxed session to help girls feel more confident navigating everyday situations. 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.
• Art Reception for Visions of Landscapes and Romanticism (6:00 – 8:00pm) @ Apothecary Artists, 11 Main St: Reception for the art exhibit by painter Gary Smith. For details, see dedicated post.
• Crossroads: A Night of Storytelling (7:00 pm) @ Southborough History & Arts Center, 42 Central St: The first Moth-style storytelling event in Southborough, featuring multiple StorySlam champs. Tickets are required. For details, see dedicated post.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

• Shir Joy Spring Concert (7:00 pm) @ Congregation B’nai Shalom, 117 East Main Street, Westborough: The regional Jewish community chorus concert is themed “Lights, Camera, Tradition!” For details, see dedicated post.

Monday, May 18, 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.
• Preschool Story Time (10:30 – 11:15 am) @ Southborough Library Children’s Room: Ages 2-5 are invited for stories and a craft based on a weekly theme (and sometimes a couple of songs). No registration required. For details, see related post.
• Rummikub (11:00 am) @ Southborough Senior Center: Drop-in to the game group for seniors, meeting the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Monday of each month.
• 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.
• ARHS Senior Scholastic Awards Night (6:30 – 8:30 pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School: Night to honor seniors receiving scholarships and scholastic awards. (Families should receive emails if there student is receiving an award.)

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

• Preschool Story Time (10:30 – 11:15 am) @ Southborough Library Children’s Room: Ages 2-5 are invited for stories and a craft based on a weekly theme (and sometimes a couple of songs). No registration required. 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.
• Tri-M Coffeehouse (7:00 – 9:00 pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School, Cafeteria: ARHS’ musical honor society’s annual fundraising open mic night. Admission is free. Concessions will be for sale.
• Befriend Your Sleep (7:00 – 8:00 pm) @ zoom: Registration is required for this free interactive workshop to learn tools and strategies to help you sleep better. This is offered through a partnership between the Southborough Library and Jill Vroman Fitness & Wellness. For details, click here.
• Postponed — Middle School Parent & Caregiver Focus Groups (7:00 – 7:45 pm) @ zoom: This is a focus group run by Encompass (the Northborough & Southborough community coalition focused on preventing and reducing substance misuse). For details, see dedicated post. [Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for a new date for this program.]
• 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, May 20, 2026

• Walking Group for Seniors (8:30 am) @ Southborough cemetery, 11 Cordaville Road: 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.
• American Mah Jongg Meetup (1:00 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Library, Main Floor Stacks: New weekly time for people to play the game at the library. Drop ins are welcome, but groups of 4 are generally necessary to play. For details, click here.
• Food Truck Festival (3:30 – 7:00pm) @ St. Mark’s meadow (corner of Rte 85 and Rte 30): Part of the annual series organized by the Southborough Rotary Club featuring trucks selling dinner and ice cream. The event takes place on Wednesday evenings over four weeks. For details, see dedicated post.
• Meditations for the Nations (4:30 – 5:00 pm) @ St. Mark’s Church Parish Hall, 27 Main St: The church invites community members troubled by “division, unrest, and fear in our country” to share concerns with others and take part in guided and silent meditation. The bi-weekly program is open to all. For details, see dedicated post.
• ARHS Spring Art Show Reception (6:00 – 8:00pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School: Reception for the exhibit of student artwork. (The exhibit is also on display during school hours through May 18-29.)
• Virtual Author Talk (7:00 – 8:00 pm) @ online: Registration is required to take part in the free live talk with Q&A, “Dangerous Magic, Enchanting Romance, and Painting the Future with Elizabeth Lim”. 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.
• YA Watch Party for Elizabeth Lim Author Talk (7:00 – 8:00 pm) @ Southborough Library: Registration required. Readers in grades 6-12 are invited to watch the above-listed author talk live with fellow fans while enjoying snacks. For details, click here.
• Fay Memorial Park Community Engagement Meeting
  (7:00 pm) @ zoom: Southborough Recreation is hosting this engagement event to help shape the future of the park and playground area on Central Street. For details, see dedicated 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, see related post.

Thursday, May 21, 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.
• Baby/Toddler Storytime (11:00 – 11:30 am) @ Southborough Library Children’s Room: A weekly program for ages 0-2 years with their parents/caregivers. Each session will include puppets and music. No registration required. For details, see related post.
• Blood Drive (12:00 – 6:30 pm) @ Southborough Library parking lot, 25 Main St: The Bloodmobile will be collecting blood. (If no spots are available to book, walk-ins are always welcome.) This month’s incentive for donors is a $15 gift card to Amazon. For details, see related post about past event.
• Postponed — Middle School Parent & Caregiver Focus Groups (12:00 – 12:45 pm) @ zoom: This is a focus group run by Encompass (the Northborough & Southborough community coalition focused on preventing and reducing substance misuse). For details, see dedicated post. [Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for a new date for this program.]
• Genealogy Club (2:30 – 4:00 pm) @ Southborough Senior Center: The Club welcomes drop-ins to its monthly meeting by those interested in learning more about their own family history and genealogy. For details, see related post.
• NSPAC Go the Distance Awards (6:00 – 7:30pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School, 79 Bartlett St, Northborough: The Northborough/Southborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council’s 16th annual appreciation evening for community members who support students with special needs. For details, see dedicated post.
• Karaoke (9:00 – 11:00 pm) @ Owen O’Leary’s, 50 Turnpike Rd: Weekly Karaoke night. For details, see related post.

Friday, May 22, 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.
• Rhyme Time (11:00 – 11:30 am) @ Southborough Library Children’s Room: Weekly drop-in program for babies and toddlers (and parents/caregivers). Join Ms. Jenny for rhymes, songs, and more fun.
• Canasta (11:15 am) @ Southborough Senior Center: A weekly card group playing “Hand & Foot”. For details, contact the Senior Center at 508-229-4453.
• ARHS Carnival (12:30 – 2:30 pm) @ Algonquin Regional High School: Algonquin’s annual festival for students run by student council with booths and activities organized by student groups.
• American Mah Jongg Meetup (1:00 – 3:30 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.
• Stand Up Now demonstration (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/
• Mindful Art (4:00 – 5:30 pm) @ Southborough Senior Center, 9 Cordaville Rd: Registration is required for this free even for ages 5 through adults. (Kids under 16 yrs old must be accompanied by an adult.) Participants will take part in an art activity exploring personal roots. For details, see dedicated post.
• Flag placement for Memorial Day (6:00 – 7:00 pm) @ Rural Cemetery, Cordaville Road/Route 85: Community members are welcome to join veterans and volunteers placing/replacing fresh flags on veterans’ graves. To participate, meet them in front of the stone structure by the maintenance building at the rear of the cemetery. 

Saturday, May 23, 2026

• Murph Challenge (8:00am – 12:00pm) @ ForceField Athletics, 94 Main St, Northborough: Algonquin’s student group Operation Enduring Freedom organizes local participation in the annual fundraiser for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. For details, see last year’s post, and click here to register.
• ARHS Junior Prom (7:00 – 11:00 pm) @ Union Station: Algonquin’s prom night

Monday, May 25, 2026 – Memorial Day

• Schools and Public offices closed for the federal holiday.
• Memorial Day Parade & Observances (9:00 – 10:30 am): Each year, the VFW and American Legion invite the community to join them “as we remember those who have gone before us and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.” A parade of veterans, scouts, and school bands convenes in Main St Bank parking lot, then proceeds down Main St, left onto Cordaville Road, and through the Town’s cemeteries, with ceremonies along the way to remember veterans laid to rest. The public is encouraged to follow along. Observances will end at the All Wars Memorial with the traditional speakers and ARHS singers.

Updated (5/19/26 2:11 pm): Encompass announced that the  Parent & Caregiver Focus Groups for middle and high school students are being postponed to dates to be determined.

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