SHREWSBURY – As 2021 winds down, the Community Advocate is continuing its look back at major stories that shaped the past 12 months.
From COVID-19, to historic local spots, to major building projects, 2021 was an eventful year.
Read on for our recap of this year’s top Shrewsbury stories. And check back later this week for additional recaps from other area communities!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Click each subheadline to see a collection of articles on each of this year’s top stories.
Centech project moves forward
A complex series of meetings ended this year when developers won approval for a new campus development at the Centech North property in town. Also known as the Allen property, this land long sat as a sprawling, undeveloped parcel under town ownership. Developers held numerous meetings with the Shrewsbury Planning Board in particular, this year, making amendments to their proposal. Several abutters and other community members expressed concern about the project. But the proposal ultimately moved forward with town approval.
Edgemere diner goes up for auction
The historic Edgemere dining car in Shrewsbury went up for auction this fall. A beloved and recognizable, longtime Shrewsbury destination, the dining car will now be relocated to the Catskills region of New York after it was purchased by Michael Cioffi, who already operates dining car restaurants in that area. The similarly iconic Edgemere sign went up for auction alongside the diner itself. It won’t be moving far, though, after it was sold to Spiro Giannopoulos of Worcester, for $1,000.
Shrewsbury completes new Beal School, debates old school’s future
Shrewsbury completed construction on the state-of-the-art new Maj. Howard W. Beal school this year, redistricting the town’s neighborhood elementary schools and kicking off classes in this new facility this fall. As students and staff continue to settle in, meanwhile, a reuse planning process continues at the old Beal School in downtown Shrewsbury. Developers have proposed a mixed-use residential and commercial development known as Beal Commons. They participated in a public hearing this month hearing feedback from residents. Those developers will soon move forward with aspects of the permitting process with the town.
Shrewsbury continues fight against COVID-19
As was true across the region, Shrewsbury continued its fight against COVID-19 this year, participating in the coronavirus vaccine rollout, celebrating as case rates fell over the summer and bracing as cases have since spiked this winter. The town made headlines back in October when it mandated masks in all indoor public spaces. Though that mandate came at a time when many other area towns had relaxed their mask requirements, it followed a Central Massachusetts Regional Public Health Alliance memo advising municipalities to adopt emergency orders. Speaking at a meeting on Oct. 5, public health officials said they “underestimated” the power of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and were concerned about possible spread during upcoming holiday gatherings, among other things.
Polito opts not to seek re-election
Gov. Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito announced, Dec. 1, that they would not seek re-election when their current terms end. This news came as a surprise to some in state politics, who had hypothesized that Polito would one day mount a gubernatorial campaign to succeed Baker. Back in Polito’s hometown of Shrewsbury, where she had served as a town meeting member, selectman and state representative, among other things, community members were quick to celebrate her decades of service, thanking her for her contributions to Shrewsbury and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
