On Saturday night Steeple Coffeehouse will host its final show of the 2011-2012 season. Taking the stage to close things out will be trio Brother Sun. Here are the program notes:

Nationally touring folk artists from three major points on the map – Boston, New York, and Chicago – Pat, Greg, and Joe celebrate the amazing power of singing together. Their combined musical skills should make for an unforgettable evening – three rich voices blending on a well-crafted foundation of guitar, slide guitar, and piano.

As always, Tomasso Trattoria will offer a discounted dinner to those going to the show. You can get details and see the menu here. Doors to the show open at 7:00 pm and the music starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance ($12 for students/seniors) or $18 at the door ($15 for students/seniors).

Steeple Coffeehouse is located in Pilgrim Church’s Fellowship Hall. For more information, visit the Steeple Coffeehouse website (steeplecoffeehouse.org).

(Photo by Jake Jacobson, via www.brothersunmusic.com)

Holding a garage, yard, or other sort of sale this Memorial Day weekend? Feel free to promote it here. Just add a comment below and let everyone know the details.

If you have items you’re trying to sell or give away – cars, furniture, and the like – you’re also welcome to use the comments of this post to share the details even if you’re not holding a garage or yard sale. Think of it as our own little version of Craigslist.

(Photo posted to Flickr by Eastlaketimes)

The first annual Shop & Explore MetroWest kicks off on Saturday, and a number of Southborough businesses are participating by offering special deals and promotions. The event, sponsored by the MetroWest Tourism & Visitors Bureau is designed to showcase life and business in our neck of the woods. The event runs May 27 through June 3.

Check out the full list of participants on the Bureau’s website. You can also download a mobile app for when you’re out and about. Here are the Southborough businesses that are offering special deals.

• Eros Gourmet Pizza and Deli, 162 Cordaville Road, Southborough. Buy one pizza at regular price, get one at ½ price. (1/2 price pizza will be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with any other offers. Mention Shop & Explore Metrowest when ordering. At Eros Gourmet Pizza & Deli, we pride ourselves on offering a consistently exceptional product at a reasonable price.
• Southborough House of Pizza, 5 Main Street, Southborough. Buy 1 pizza at regular price, get one at half price. (Half-price pizza will be of equal or lesser value, cannot be combined with any other offers.) Mention Shop and Explore Metrowest when ordering. Family- owned and operated for 40 years! Now with 15 NEW signature pizzas!
• Berkshire Realty Group, 259 Turnpike Road, Southborough. We offer FREE, no obligation MLS Property Finder Service to assist you in viewing thousands of homes at your fingertips. Listings are updated every 15 minutes!
• Culinary Underground, 21 Turnpike Road, Southborough. 15% off any class purchased during Shop & Explore MetroWest if you use the code METROWEST. Our intimate, hands-on classes emphasize culinary technique, skills building, creativity and most of all – fun!
• Fitness Together, 300 Eliot Street, Ashland, and 21G Turnpike Road, Southborough. Through July 4th, we challenge you to lose 2 jeans sizes in our Great Jeans Challenge. Train 3 times a week for 8 weeks in a small group setting for just $499. Plus, when you drop 2 jeans sizes, we will give you a $100 gift card to buy new (and smaller) jeans! Some restrictions apply.
• Mark Jablonski Guitar Instruction, 508-479-7923, Southborough. Mark Jablonski, musician and guitar teacher, is pleased to offer you $25 off your first lesson. Sign up for 4 lessons and get 1 free. You must sign up during Shop & Explore MetroWest by calling 508-479-7923. Local musician and guitar teacher for 20 years. I will travel to the towns of Southborough, Northborough and Westborough. 30-minute lessons are regularly $25.
• Salon Charisma, 162 Cordaville Road, Southborough. New clients take 20% off! We customize our services and use the finest products to suit your needs
• Vision Care Specialist PC, 30 Turnpike Road, Suite 7, Southborough. Mention Shop & Explore to receive 30% off eyewear, 10% off contact lenses. Cannot be combined with other discounts and is not available on Maui Jim products. Optometry/optician.
• Gulbankian Farms Garden Center, 40 Mount Vickery Road, Southborough. FREE viola plant with a $40 plant purchase. We are a family owned florist, garden center and gift shop specializing in long-lasting fresh flowers. We grow our own specialty annuals, perennials, vegetable plants and herbs. We deliver to all surrounding towns. Custom order are always welcome.
• Friends of Southborough Recreation, 21 Highland Street, Southborough. Reduced rate passes for recreation programs. $50 Credit Voucher for only $25. First-come first-served, one per family. Vouchers may be used for summer camp, RAP or any town recreation programs. Friends of Southboro Recreation supports recreational activities for the youth and families of Southborough.

Other Southborough business taking part include Brendon Properties, Capital Group Properties, Clausen & Company CPAs, and JBJ Construction.

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

Sunday, May 20, 2012

• 12:33 am – Officers assisted a disabled motorist on Turnpike Road.
• 12:35 am – Officers assisted a second disabled motorist on Turnpike Road.
• 1:45 am – ARRESTED: A Shrewsbury man was arrested and charged with OUI Alcohol, Speeding, and a Red Light Violation.
• 2:13 am – An officer responded to Neary Elementary School for a report of possible fireworks going off in the area. The responding officer was unable to locate the source of the noise.
• 2:53 am – A resident of Newton Street called to report a suspicious male walking on their front lawn. Marlborough PD assisted the responding officer with manpower coverage on the call. Officers reported that the male party was possibly picked up by a waiting vehicle.
• 9:12 am – A resident came into the station to speak with an officer about an ongoing domestic issue.
• 2:35 pm – A Deerfoot Road resident reported that someone had taken the door off of his pool fence. The responding officer took a report of the vandalism.
• 3:08 pm – Officers assisted a disabled motorist on Cordaville Road.
• 5:17 pm – A motorist from Framingham was issued a Criminal Application for Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License, Inspection Sticker Violation, and Defective Equipment.
• 5:51 pm – Officers assisted a disabled motorist on Turnpike Road.

Monday, May 21, 2012

• 8:16 am – A Mt. Vickery Road resident requested to speak with an officer about a parking complaint on their property.
• 8:33 am – A medical was reported at an Orchard Road residence.
• 11:03 am – A medical was reported at a Turnpike Road residence.
• 11:33 am – A Cordaville Road business reported an abandoned vehicle in their parking lot.
• 12:48 pm – A Constitution Drive resident requested a No Trespass Order.
• 3:39 pm – A Main Street business reported a parking complaint in their parking lot.
• 7:33 pm – Officers assisted a disabled motorist on Turnpike Road.
• 7:47 pm – A medical was reported at a Bantry Road residence.
• 8:24 pm – A motorist from Natick was issued a Criminal Application for Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License and having No Inspection Sticker.
• 9:20 pm – A medical was reported at an East Main Street residence.
• 11:19 pm – A Pine Hill Road resident called to report a suspicious person walking up Pine Hill Road. Responding officers were able to locate the individual, and he checked out o.k.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

• 4:34 am – Southborough Police assisted Marlborough Police with a civilian transport.
• 7:45 am – An officer took a report of illegal dumping on Lynbrook Road.
• 8:16 am – A medical was reported at a Turnpike Road business.
• 2:05 pm – Southborough Officers were informed by Marlborough Police about a bank robbery that had just occurred in their town. The suspect was described as a black male; dark goatee; husky build; wearing a tan hoody; dark pants; carrying a black briefcase and possibly armed. The suspect left the bank on foot on Route 20 from Marlborough Savings Bank.
• 2:56 pm – An officer responded to the T-station lot entrance for a report of four Geese struck (and killed) by a motor vehicle. The situation was creating a traffic problem in the area, and the Geese were removed from the roadway. The Animal Control Officer was notified of the incident.
• 3:04 pm – Officers investigated an abandoned 911 call from a St. Martin Drive business.
• 4:32 pm – Officers investigated a hit & run motor vehicle accident at a Turnpike Road business.
• 7:06 pm – Officers investigated a suspicious male walking on Boston Road. The male party was located and checked out o.k.
• 10:09 pm – Southborough officers assisted Marlborough Police with a foot pursuit of a suspect near the Southborough town line.
• 11:46 pm – Officers investigated a noise complaint at a Southville Road residence. The resident was asked to lower their music by the responding officer.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

• 3:45 am – An officer on patrol reports the stop sign at Parkerville and Turnpike road has been damaged.
• 6:10 1m – A medical was reported at a Red Gate Lane residence.
• 8:00 am – Officers investigated an abandoned 911 call from a Marlboro Road residence.
• 9:40 am – A medical was reported at a Birchwood Drive residence.
• 10:04 am – A motorist reported that some of the cows at Davco Farm had gotten loose, and were now in the parking lot area. The owner of the property was notified and took control of the cows.
• 10:35 am – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at a Sears Road residence.
• 12:27 pm – A medical was reported at a Stockwell Lane residence.
• 12:37 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at a Fiddleneck Lane residence.
• 12:55 pm – A restraining order was served to an employee of a Coslin Drive business.
• 1:49 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at Neary Elementary School.
• 3:12 pm – A resident of Northboro Road reports a small, white dog loose in the area. The Animal Control Officer was notified.
• 3:13 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at a Walnut Drive residence.
• 6:43 pm – Officers investigated a report of a possible verbal domestic in progress on Parkerville Road. The responding officer responded and checked the area, but did not observe any disturbance in the area.
• 7:16 pm – Officers assisted a disabled motorist on Turnpike Road.
• 7:22 pm – Officers investigated a burglar alarm at an Overlook Drive residence.
• 8:05 pm – A utility worker reported being bit by a dog on Marlboro Road. The Animal Control Officer was notified of the incident.
• 9:05 pm – A medical was reported at a North Street residence.
• 9:15 pm – Officers assisted a Marlboro Road resident with a domestic issue.
• 9:23 pm – Officers conducted a requested well-being check on a Turnpike Road resident.

I just got word of this benefit concert at St. Anne’s tonight that features Southborough native Derek Johnson. Sounds like a great time for a great cause. Here are the details.

After moving to Nashville, Tennessee this past year and beginning his goal to one day become a gigging musician, Derek Johnson is putting on a benefit show for the young adults going on the Mississippi retreat to help those who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Derek went on this trip to Gulfport three years while in high school and wants to give back to those young adults who still carry Jesus’ mission to help those in need. This past year, Derek Johnson not only started gigging in Nashville, but also honed his song writing to a folky style and released his album “In Time”. Derek’s band mates are joining him, traveling from Virginia and Alabama for this benefit concert.

We hope you come out with some friends on May 25 th at 7:30, St. Anne’s Parish Center, to enjoy a night of music you’re sure to enjoy.

Above: Algonquin scores the winning goal over Westborough (photo by Chris Wraight)

The Algonquin girls lacrosse team ended the regular season this week with a dramatic, come-from-behind overtime victory over rival Westborough. Chris Wraight was at the game and sent in a recap of the action.

Earlier this season, Girls LAX defeated Westborough 8-7, the first time they’d beaten them in four years. For the season-ending re-match today in Westborough, the girls were down 3-10 at one point. However, they rallied and came back to tie the game 11-11 with 20 seconds left on a penalty shot by Carly O’Connell. They went into the first three minute ‘sudden victory’ OT, and noone was able to score. With 24.4 seconds remaining in the second OT, Carly O’Connell fed Laurie Finelli for the winning goal.

Senior Carly O’Connell from Southborough has been a standout on the team throughout the season. Early in the game against Westborough she reached the 500 career point milestone, only the fourth lacrosse player in state history to do so. Carly, who will be playing for the University of Oregon Ducks next year, has a state soccer championship and a Central Mass basketball title to her credit. Here’s hoping she can add a lacrosse championship to her resume. (For more, check out this profile of Carly the Worcester Telegram ran back in March.)

With the win over Westborough, both the Algonquin girls and boys lacrosse teams finished the regular season with 17-1 records. Both went undefeated in their 12 Mid-Wach A matches and are expected to be the top seeds in the upcoming Central Mass playoffs.

Take a look at some great photos of yesterday’s win over Westborough sent in by Chris Wraight (www.thawkspix.com). Click an image to enlarge.

The C/W MARS library consortium, of which the Southborough Library is a member, is undertaking a big project this weekend. They’re upgrading to a new version of electronic catalog system called Evergreen.

In support of the upgrade, the Southborough Library, along with most others in the area, will be closed on Saturday, May 26. They’ll also be closed (as expected) on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.

The Southborough Library advises that during the Memorial Day weekend changeover, you will not be able to access the catalog or your library account online. The new system will require every library user to have their library card with them to check out materials. If you’ve lost your card, stop by the library for a replacement.

What are the benefits of the new Evergreen catalog system? Here’s what C/W MARS says on their website:

• Only one catalog! All C/W MARS libraries, Central and Western, will be in the new catalog.
• Patrons will have the option to create a username. You will have the option to use either your library card or create a username for login to the catalog.
• Public lists. Want to show off that reading list? You will have the option to make your lists available on the internet through an RSS feed.

C/W MARS says existing holds will be transferred to the new system, but things like your reading history will not. Check out the C/W MARS website for more information.

Above: A rendering from AT&T showing its proposal for a new flagpole (contributed)

As you may (or may not) know, the flagpole in front of the Town House is not a flagpole at all. It’s actually a cell tower disguised to look like a flagpole. The town worked out that clever arrangement with AT&T more than a decade ago when the old flagpole needed to be replaced. In exchange for using the pole to house wireless antennae, the town gets about $26K in rent each year.

When AT&T approached the town last August with a plan to replace the pole with one that would support new LTE antennae, the town balked at the proposal which featured what one selectman called a “butt-ugly” 28-inch pole. Most of you agreed with the selectman’s assessment.

Saying they “got the message,” AT&T went back to the drawing board and came up with a new design for a much slimmer 16-inch pole which they presented to the Board of Selectmen this week.

While selectmen praised AT&T for their efforts and for making “significant progress” on the design, they said they still weren’t sold. While the new design is actually slimmer at the base than the existing pole, which is 18 inches at the bottom and just over 9 inches at the top, selectmen objected to the fact that the proposed pole does not taper. They also felt the cylindrical cap at the top of the pole was too different than the traditional ball.

“It doesn’t look like a flagpole,” Selectman John Rooney said, calling the design “visual pollution.”

“This is just a big stick,” American Legion Commander Steve Whynot said.

Attorney Edward D. Pare Jr. of Brown Rudnick LLP, who represents AT&T, told selectmen the pole cannot get any slimmer than 16 inches due to technical constraints, but said they might be able to make it wider at the base so it would taper more like a flagpole.

Selectman asked AT&T to evaluate other alternatives like placing a different pole in the Town House parking lot instead. And they asked for confirmation that the flag could be raised and lowered, an issue selectmen said would be a deal-breaker.

In exchange for replacing the existing pole with a new one, AT&T offered to increase its annual payment to the town to $40K.

“As a proud veteran in our town, anything that flies our flag needs to be incredibly respectful of that flag,” Selectman Dan Kolenda said.

The board agreed, saying the opinion of the veterans would weigh heavily on their decision.

“The only way I can sign off on it is if veterans are able to sign off on it,” Rooney said. “You need to convince me by convincing the veterans.”

Above: Marching in the annual Memorial Day parade (photo by Chris Wraight)

Southborough will remember its veterans on Monday with the annual Memorial Day parade. The parade starts at 9:00 am at Marlboro Saving Bank at the corner of East Main and Newton Streets. Veterans are asked to meet at the Legion/VFW Headquarters at the Community House at 8:15 am.

The parade will wind down Main Street and through Southborough’s cemeteries old and new. The route will also stop at each of the town’s war memorials to honor and pay tribute to Southborough men and women who have worn the uniform in service to our country. A Trottier student will present the Gettysburg Address at the Civil War Monument in honor of Southborough residents who paid the ultimate price.

Veterans of VFW Post 3276 and American Legion Post 161 will lead the parade, followed by members of the Southborough Men and Militia, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local politicians, and the Trottier and Algonquin marching bands. All veterans, especially those who have recently returned from service in Iraq, Afghanistan or any deployment in service to our nation, are welcome to march in the parade.

Above: This home at 14 Strawberry Hill Road went on the market for $765,000 (MLS photo)

Here’s what went on and off the market this week. Thanks to Doug McClain (email) of Century 21 Commonwealth Realty for supplying the listing information.

New on the market

• 41 Woodbury Rd (map) – 6 room, 4 bed, 2f 0h bath Contemporary – $399,900
• 17 Tara Road (map) – 8 room, 4 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – $479,900
• 3 Alexandra Cir (map) – 9 room, 4 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – $519,900
• 4 Clifford Rd (map) – 9 room, 4 bed, 2f 1h bath Cape – $559,900
• 48 Oregon Rd (map) – 11 room, 4 bed, 3f 1h bath Colonial – $694,900
• 14 Strawberry Hill Road (map) – 8 room, 4 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – $765,000
• 3A Powdermill Lane (map) – 10 room, 4 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – $789,900
• 8 Kennedy Ln (map) – 9 room, 4 bed, 4f 1h bath Colonial – $1,199,000

Sale pending

• 102 Newton Street (map) – 7 room, 3 bed, 1f 0h bath Cape – 64 Days on market, Listed at $249,900
• 114 Framingham Road (map) – 6 room, 3 bed, 2f 0h bath Antique – 351 Days on market, Listed at $274,900
• 60 Deerfoot (map) – 9 room, 5 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – 252 Days on market, Listed at $435,000
• 5 Candlewood Lane (map) – 8 room, 3 bed, 2f 1h bath Colonial – 274 Days on market, Listed at $499,900
• 5 Candlewood Lane (map) – 8 room, 3 bed, 2f 1h bath Detached – 273 Days on market, Listed at $499,900
• 77 Carriage Hill Circle (map) – 10 room, 2 bed, 3f 1h bath Townhouse – 28 Days on market, Listed at $589,000
• 15 Banfill Ln (map) – 11 room, 4 bed, 4f 1h bath Colonial – 38 Days on market, Listed at $799,900

Sold

• 10 Parker St (map) – 7 room, 4 bed, 2f 0h bath Colonial – 16 Days on market, Listed at $289,900, Sold for $289,900
• 53 Latisquama Road (map) – 7 room, 3 bed, 4f 0h bath Contemporary – 9 Days on market, Listed at $549,900, Sold for $525,000
• 11 Carriage Hill Cir (map) – 7 room, 2 bed, 2f 1h bath Townhouse – 72 Days on market, Listed at $549,000, Sold for $527,000
• 71 Breakneck Hill Rd (map) – 10 room, 3 bed, 2f 2h bath Contemporary – 94 Days on market, Listed at $599,900, Sold for $577,000