Grand Marshals chosen for Applefest Parade
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

PHOTO/KEN POWERS Longtime town residents Jim and Gigi Casella will serves as Grand Marshals for the Applefest Parade Sept. 15.

Northborough - This small town will be well represented at this year's Applefest Parade as Jim and Gigi Casella have been chosen to serve as Grand Marshals for the Saturday Sept. 15 event.

The Casellas, staples in town for 37 years, were selected to serve as Grand Marshals after being nominated by several other town residents.

"We received an overwhelming amount of nomina- tions for Jim and Gigi," Applefest Coordinator Allie Dettorre said. "We received nominations for other town residents, too, and they were all deserving, but we received so many for Jim and Gigi that it made the decision a really easy one."

The Casellas were taken aback when informed of the decision by Dettorre July 16, but have since warmed up to the idea.

"It's a very nice honor," Jim said. "You don't think about the eff ect you may have on people when you're just going about the things in your everyday life, but when you receive something like this you realize people have taken note of the things you've done."

The feedback and comments of congratulations have poured in.

"Everybody we see in town have stopped us and congratulated us," Gigi said. "They've been so nice, telling us how deserving we are of the honor. I don't know if we are, really, but everybody seems to think so."

Jim, 78, spent 14 years on the Financial Planning Committee, serving as chair for a term. He also served on the Debt Policy Committee, formed in 2000. A certified public accountant and former vice president of the former Heald Machine Co., he still attends various meetings in town.

Gigi, 82, is best known around town for her paintings and her work at the Senior Center. Her paintings hang in several buildings in town, including Town Hall, the Fire Department and the Northborough Historical Society. She has knitted lap robes for senior citizens in town and made dolls and quilts as well. She teaches weekly art classes for seniors and has donated artwork to be auctioned off to benefit the new Senior Center and library expansion projects.

"Make sure you put in there that I have to hold my art classes at the Fire Station because there's no room at the Senior Center," Gigi Casella said. "We need a new Senior Center. Make sure you put that in there."

Gigi, the first female teacher ever hired at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, taught Spanish, French and German at St. John's, Algonquin Regional and in the Worcester Public School System before retiring.

The Casellas will celebrate their 50th year of marriage in March 2008.

"Our Golden Jubilee," Gigi said.

The two met in Laconia, N.H., where both were working at the time. Jim is originally from Framingham while Gigi was born and raised in Belgium.

"I was only going to stay a few years, but then I met Jim," Gigi said. "And as nice as a honor as this is, it's nicer because it was presented to both of us. We like doing things together. I can't wait for the parade."