SHREWSBURY LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS

Shrewsbury - When one picture's New England, a big red barn surrounded by stone walls is often one of the images that come to mind. That vision, plus watching "The Good Life" on HGTV, drove Gail and Joe Aslanian to move from Michigan to Shrewsbury back in the late 90's. Joe had owned a cabinet making business outside of Detroit. Gail was an elementary school art teacher. They had lived in Michigan for 27 years, and when they thought about their retirement, they decided that they wanted a place big enough for all their crafts and collections. Since Joe's family came from Worcester, the couple started looking for a property with a barn in this area. They searched with mounting frustration for months, but nothing was what they envisioned. A newspaper ad eventually led to a six-acre property in Shrewsbury on a stream that included a big red barn, an antique house and three income producing apartments.

Shrewsbury - Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc. (SYFS), the town of Shrewsbury's only private, nonprofit community counseling and social services agency, held its ninth annual and special 30th anniversary gala Feb. 23 at St. John's High School. Honorees included Robert "Bob" Paul Jacques, a founding member who was honored with the 2013 Harry S. Cutting, Jr. Award, and Shrewsbury teens Kristen Grip, Nick Silverio, Aaron Hayden, and Jennifer Tylock, who received 2013 Outstanding Youth of Shrewsbury awards.

Shrewsbury – The public is invited to attend a free seminar at Shrewsbury Crossings on how seniors can protect themselves from identity theft and...

Shrewsbury - Several local businesses were approved for business license at the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen's Feb. 13 meeting.

Shrewsbury – Parents, teachers and residents in Shrewsbury voiced their concerns of the growing class sizes and program cuts in the public school system during a School Committee budget hearing on Feb. 13. Hosted at the Oak Middle School Auditorium, the hearing gave residents such as Michelle Duke, a mother of 3 children currently in the Shrewsbury public school system, an opportunity to be heard by the School Committee.

Shrewsbury – The 9th Annual Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services, Inc. (SYFS), Gala - "Thirty Years of Community Caring -? has been rescheduled for?...

Shrewsbury - Sharon Yager, director of the Shrewsbury Senior Center and the Council on Aging (COA), recently announced that the third edition of the "Home Heating Resource Booklet" is now available. The booklet provides a concise summary of all the existing programs to assist residents with their winter heating costs or in need of other community services. Anyone over 60 who wants help filling out the forms can contact the Senior Center. For younger adults, the Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services group will provide assistance.

Shrewsbury - For as long as Ben North can remember, stuttering has been part of his life. His mother, Julie, says Ben's stuttering came on gradually when he was between 5 and 6years old. "Ben was chronically sick for his first three years of life, including chronic ear infections, a ruptured ear drum at 9 months old, and a life-threatening illness at age 2," Julie said. "His speech was a little bit delayed and when he began talking, he had some articulation issues."

Shrewsbury – Deidra Lincoln, of Shrewsbury, began 2012 in a hospital's intensive care unit, recovering from surgery after a heart attack. She's beginning 2013 by raising awareness as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association's 10th annual Go Red for Women campaign through February, which is National Heart Month.

Shrewsbury - On the morning of Jan. 23, nearly 1,000 fifth- and sixth-grade students moved into their new school, the Sherwood Middle School. It was a crisp nine degrees in Shrewsbury, as a parade of bundled-up young students made the historic 50-yard march across the parking lot, from the old school to the new. Led by a "Thank you Shrewsbury" sign, students entered the state-of-the-art building, complete with nearly 40 classrooms and 30 other rooms for learning.

Shrewsbury – More than 100 people filled the room at Cyprian Keyes in Boylston Saturday Jan. 19 as the Shrewsbury Education Foundation (SEF) held...

Shrewsbury – Throughout the year, the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB), located at 474 Boston Turnpike (Route 9), serves as a resource for 149 agencies such as food pantries, meal sites and soup kitchens throughout 60 central Massachusetts communities. In a month, it distributes 440,000 pounds of food, enough for 85,000 meals a week. This would not be possible, Executive Director Jean McMurray said, if not for the different donation sources, including federal and state government agencies, civic and private sectors and food retailers. On Jan. 15, the food bank received a major boost when an 18-wheeler from the Rhode Island-based retailer Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) pulled into the WCFB parking lot bearing 40,000 pounds of nutritious shelf-stable food.

Shrewsbury – A ten-year franchise agreement license proposal for Shrewsbury Electric and Cable Operations (SELCO), including a controversial measure that would reduce discounts for seniors, was discussed at the Jan. 22 Board of Selectmen's meeting. SELCO officials noted that cable subscriber numbers were largely unchanged since 2003, with 11,594 basic and 10,580 extended in 2003, versus 11,526 basic and 10,594 extended in January 2013. However, other metrics have increased dramatically. Between 2003 and 2013, digital customers have increased from 2,127 to 7,643; HD-71 customers from 71 to 5,630; DVR-21 from 21 to 3,911; and internet customers from 3,754 to 11,019.

Shrewsbury – The Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen heard a review of the town's retirement plans at its Jan. 8 meeting.

Shrewsbury - Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc. (SYFS), the town of Shrewsbury's only private, nonprofit community counseling and social services agency, has announced...

Shrewsbury – For 47 years, Michael Palumbo has served as the faithful organist for St. Anne's Church. Now, at age 66, he has had to step aside from the activity that he loves so much as he faces a major health battle – Mike needs a heart transplant. As expected, the medical expenses associated with his illness are extensive. But Mike is not facing this battle alone – emotionally or financially. On Sunday, Jan. 13, nearly 700 friends and fellow parishioners gathered at St. Anne's for a benefit to help his family with the costs.

The Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library will be presenting its Fourth Annual Foreign Film Festival every Sunday during the month of February at...

Shrewsbury – The Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed at its Jan. 8 meeting to approve a measure that would allow its members to remotely participate in its regularly scheduled meetings.

Shrewsbury – After nearly four decades as the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass./Metrowest Inc. (BBBSCM) Shrewsbury resident Ben Ticho will be leaving that post later this month. His replacement will be another Shrewsbury resident, Jeffrey Chin, who Ticho said he believes is a "great choice" as the agency prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this spring.

Region – Like millions of people around the globe, singer/songwriter Justin Cohen was devastated by the senseless murders of 20 children and six adults in the Newtown, Conn. massacre in December. Out of that grief, he wrote the song, "26 Angels."