Neighbors helping neighbors

Northborough – In an economic environment that is still struggling, many are still finding it difficult to gain employment. For those with disabilities, the search can be especially frustrating. But thanks to the Central Mass Employment Collaborative (CMEC ) over 100 Massachusetts residents have found jobs this past year, including 26 at the Wegmans store in Northborough.

Westborough – A monthly divorce workshop, Second Saturdays Central Mass, will hold its first meeting Saturday, Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Corridor 9 Chamber of Commerce, 30 Lyman St., #6, in Westborough. It is geared to woman of all ages and backgrounds who are contemplating or going through divorce.

Shrewsbury –The Shrewsbury Stop & Shop, located at 539 Boston Turnpike, presented a donation of $3,424.80 to the St. Anne’s Human Services food pantry Feb. 3.

Northborough – It’s hard to believe, but one in four women experience miscarriage or infant loss, according to the TEARS Foundation, which provides assistance and support for bereaved families. The group is sponsoring its first fundraiser, Rock and Walk for Babies, Sunday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Algonquin Regional High School, 79 Bartlett St., in Northborough.

Northborough - This season, many Northborough seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the “Be a Santa to a Senior® “ program. Sponsored by the Northborough Home Instead Senior Care® office, the program brings together businesses, volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

Hudson/Marlborough – Contributions are being accepted for the Madi and Chase Fund for the teenage children of Maureen (Chiasson) Young of Hudson, who passed away unexpectedly June 9 at age 49. Young is remembered as a Marlborough-based real estate broker associate with a knack for networking whose business contacts frequently became fast friends. Those friends became accustomed to seeing her at various fundraisers and community events in Hudson and Marlborough.

Shrewsbury – When Shrewsbury mom Stacey Levine Lavely witnessed her son’s touching performance of “Let It Go” in a local talent show in April, she was hit with inspiration.

Marlborough – Geralyn Shultz, the children's librarian at the Marlborough Public Library, welcomed a roomful of new and expecting parents to the first Community Baby Shower, held April 12 in the Bigelow Auditorium.

Region - Researchers at UMASS Medical School are developing an innovative program for service members and veterans with alcohol related concerns. The program is called Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy for Military Families. Based on a similar program developed over the past 35 years called Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT), the program is now being adapted for military personnel who are facing unique challenges at home after deployment; challenges that are often include alcohol, feeling down, pain, trauma, isolation, and anger that can get in the way of creating a “new normal” for service members and their families. The principal investigators of the project are Elizabeth E. Epstein, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and director, UMass National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans and David Smelson, Psy.D., professor of psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School and research psychologist at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass.

Northborough – Thanks to the generosity of a local couple, Northborough’s first responders now have a few more valuable resources to aid them on the job. On Aug. 28, Kevin Mallett and his wife, Erla, met with Police Chief Mark Leahy and interim Fire Chief Richard Harris at the Northborough Fire Station to present them with checks for their respective departments.

Northborough – On Feb. 14, the law firm of Mirick O"Connell held a $5 Jeans Day fundraiser in support of the Northborough Free Library's...

Westborough – The Hundredth Town Chorus is seeking women singers for its fall season. Rehearsals begin Sept. 6 and no auditions are required. The...

Region – Close to 700 families with school-age children in the Metrowest/I-495 area will receive backpacks filled with school supplies through the United Way of Tri-County’s Tools for School program. For 22 years, the United Way of Tri-County has been bringing together local businesses, faith organizations, and individuals to hold supply drives and sponsor children with a backpack and school supplies for their first day back to school.

Marlborough – The First Church in Marlborough, 37 High St.,  has announced that it will be accepting Church World Service Emergency Cleanup Buckets for...

Southborough - The Southborough Community Fund (SCF), a fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, recently hosted its fourth annual Grant Award Celebration at Pilgrim...

Southborough - Ninety-six-year-old retired physician Dr. Timothy ("Doc") Stone is a distinguished and respected resident of Southborough. He resides in the red house next to Fay School, adjacent to the Stone Health Center where his daughter, Susan, now practices acupuncture and alternative medicine. It is in this house, built circa 1750, that he began his medical practice 60-plus years ago. Today, he can be found sitting at his desk with his rotary phone at his side and his Apple computer logged on to his favorite website - a striking contrast of the past and the present.

Northborough - Although he is only 26 years old, Northborough resident Matt Bruce is facing the challenge of a lifetime – a diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. In spite of that, his friends note that he has a "never give up" attitude.

Westborough – The Pastoral Counseling Center, 7 Church St., is offering several weekly groups: a Tuesday evening divorce support group, a caregivers group, a...

Shrewsbury - Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, joined forces with Shaw’s on Aug. 8 to donate more than 40,000 pounds of protein to the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB).

Region – Hundreds of Massachusetts homeless veterans will be able to show their Bruins, Celtics, Patriots or Red Sox pride this winter thanks to the generosity of those who contributed to the annual drive, "Sweats for Vets." The initiative was started by Mark Vital, a sixth-grade teacher at Advanced Math and Science Academy and himself a veteran, several years ago as a way to provide sports-related sweatshirts to homeless veterans each Christmas Eve. Vital's students also collected hundreds of other smaller items such as hats, gloves and socks throughout the last few weeks.