Neighbors helping neighbors

Shrewsbury – Liam Davidson has had a busy fall, handling a demanding workload as a sophomore at St. John's High School as well as participating in crew. But there was also one other major project that the 16-year-old had on his agenda over the past few months - taking a leadership role in helping to organize a major community event – the third annual Turkey Trot. Liam's reason for helping with the event, which is a two- or five-mile walk, is a very personal one. The trot, to be held in Shrewsbury on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 28, is in honor of his late grandfather, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis P. O"Connor, who died in 2007 of Alzheimer's disease.

Marlborough -? Marlborough High School student teams recently took the three top honors at the Intel-OARS Environmental Innovators Contest at the Assabet River National...

Westborough - Karl Dunajski's love for photography began when he received his first camera, a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, as a child. His photography career began in 1960 when he graduated from Braintree High School. He began as a portrait wedding photographer, then later became a member of the Mass. National Guard as a public relations photographer and eventually did forensic photography. Dunajski was a member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Professional Photographers Guild (SEMPPG) from 1960 to 1980. After a successful career as a photographer, Dunajski retired to Westborough five years ago. Retirement, though, did not mean the end of picture-taking for Dunajski.

Marlborough - Friends of Roland’s House, a group that supports the Marlborough-Hudson emergency homeless shelter, recently announced that $32,500 was raised at the 25th Evening of Giving held Dec. 4 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel. Roland's House, located on Mechanics Street, is a temporary shelter serving up to 18 men and women. Its operations are supervised by the South Middlesex Opportunity Council's (SMOC) continuum of housing and services through the Common Ground Resource Center.

Grafton - The Grafton Police Association has established a support fund for 5-year-old Sofia Sugarman (Connors) whose family recently suffered a tragic event. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation to this fund can do so by dropping donations off at the Grafton Police Headquarters, 28 Providence Road. Please make all checks payable to the Grafton Police Association and indicate in the note section “Sofia Sugarman Fund.” The Grafton Police Association has pledged the first $1,000 to this effort.

Region - VNA Care Network & Hospice, a nonprofit home health care, hospice and wellness agency, needs volunteers to provide practical and emotional support...

Marlborough – A pair of mothers who lost their sons to drug overdose are using their tragedy to help others. Kathy Leonard lost her 27-year-old son Jonathan Testa in December and Cheryl Juaire lost her son Corey Merrill, 23, in 2011 – both to heroin overdose.

Marlborough - Marlborough Savings Bank (MSB) employees and members of the Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest in Marlborough recently engaged in a friendly game of basketball for the first time. The event was proposed by Christopher DiBenedetto, MSB vice president/risk officer. “I noticed that this type of event has been popular at other institutions, and thought it would be an excellent fit for our employees,” DiBenedetto said. “This is just another example of how MSB is intertwined in the community.”

Westborough – Westborough Girl Scout Troop 30633 will hold its last textile recycling event for 2017 on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clean clothes, blankets, purses, belts, sheets, curtains, linens, boots, shoes (tied together), backpacks, hats and towels are accepted items. All items do not have to be separated, but should be dry and in a clean garbage bag.

Shrewsbury – Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis delivered more than 3,000 winter coats to 11 community organizations throughout the county Dec. 3 and 5, as part of the fourth annual Winter Coat Drive. The last stop was at St. Anne’s Church in Shrewsbury.

Region – State Representative David K. Muradian Jr., R-Grafton, invites all to participate in “Bundle up the Blackstone Valley,” a coat drive to benefit families and children in need within the Blackstone Valley.

Shrewsbury – It's widely acknowledged that today's students must keep up with current advances in technology and that schools should support this goal. The...

Northborough –In 2008, Northborough residents Rita Matraia and Maggie Kosovsky organized a small get-together Thanksgiving morning as a way to get some exercise and enjoy some camaraderie with their friends. The women also decided to ask those participating to bring some goods for the Northborough Food Pantry. Thirty of their friends showed up that morning to run a 5k course that started and ended in Matraia’s Colby Street neighborhood. It was so much fun for all it became an annual event, growing in numbers each year.

Grafton – A "Tasting Nite" fundraiser to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis's (MS) Greater New England Chapter will be held at 25 on the Common, the Grafton Inn's restaurant, Saturday, May 31, from 7-9 p.m. The event will be hosted by the inn's owners John and Laurie Pardee and their son, Adam. It is inspired, John said, by his brother Michael, who has had MS for many years.

Westborough – The nonprofit organization In Your Shoes will hold a Bunco Night Friday, Feb. 5, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Bunco begins 8 p.m. Bunco is a game of chance, no skill required and easy to learn. Prizes will be awarded. Tickets for the event are $25. A cash bar is available.

Northborough – The Northboro Junior Woman’s Club and Northborough Rotary Club will hold an ethically made luncheon and human trafficking movie in support of...

Region - The St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Society Conference of Immaculate Conception Church, Marlborough, in partnership with the SVdP Conference of St. Anselm...

Northborough – Lincoln Street School fourth-grader Hannah Donley decided that instead of the usual 10th birthday party celebration and gifts, she wanted to gather 10 of her friends to celebrate while giving back to the community.

Shrewsbury - Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services (SYFS) announced that due to the efforts of many volunteers, donors, businesses and the Shrewsbury Knights of Columbus, several disadvantaged children will have gifts to unwrap for the holidays. In Shrewsbury, 78 children were served through this drive and will have toys, books and warm clothes to unwrap. Additionally, 34 families received grocery gift cards to help with the costs of a holiday meal. The remaining gifts were sent to the Department of Children and Families to help bring holiday joy to children in foster care.

Marlborough - Bicyclists participate in the ninth annual Pedal to End Cancer (formerly known as Spin for Hope), a three-hour indoor cycling event to...