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Northborough - Judy Gustafson claps along to Irish tunes at the St. Patrick's Day Celebration held March 11 at the Northborough Senior Center. Guests...

Region – Since 9/11, dogs have become an important part of homeland security, both in the military and law enforcement. March 13 marks K9 Veterans Day, an unofficial holiday recognized in some cities and states to honor those dogs. Specially trained dogs are now taking on a new role in the military: as service dogs for returning soldiers and veterans. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Valiant Veterans, based in Worcester, is one of the many organizations working to lower that number through programs to help veterans return home to civilian life and overcome afflictions associated with military service.

Fitchburg - The Central Massachusetts boys' hockey Division 3 title game was held at the Captain Kenneth W. Gaetz, Sr. Arena inside the George R. Wallace, Jr. Civic Center March 10 featuring the top-seeded Shrewsbury High School Colonials against the third-seeded Wachusett Regional High School Mountaineers. The Mountaineers were the defending district champions but had been 0-2 against the Colonials this year. The first period was fairly quiet until the Colonials' Tyler O'Keefe (assisted by Trevor Shea) scored with 58 seconds remaining. Then, with only four seconds remaining in the period, the Colonials' Cole Ambach (assisted by Jack Quinlivan and Dan Quinlivan) put the Colonials up 2-0.

Shrewsbury – More than 1,800 athletes from across the state competed in the Special Olympics Massachusetts Winter Games, held the weekend of March 8...

Marlborough – Stationary bicyclists were compelled by personal reasons to participate in the 10th annual Pedal to End Cancer (formerly known as Spin for Hope), a three-hour event held March 2 at Wayside Racquet & Swim Club. In 10 years, Wayside has raised $172,269 and counting for the American Cancer Society.

Hudson – The Hudson Public Schools and Board of Health chose macaroni and cheese as this year's theme for the fourth annual Hudson Cook-Off, held March 6 at Hudson High School. Competing for three awards were four teams consisting of students, parents and faculty from the town's middle and three elementary schools. Comfort food potentially provides benefits, noted Jenny Gormley, RN, MSN and NCSN, director of health, nursing and safety for the district.

Worcester - The second seed St. John's High School Pioneers boys' basketball team hosted the Franklin High School Panthers for the Central Massachusetts Division 1 title game March 7 in Harrington Auditorium on the campus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Marlborough - The Central Mass Division 3 boys' hockey semi-final was held March 5 at the New England Sports Center with the number one seed Shrewsbury High School Colonials hosting the fourth-seed Leominster High School Blue Devils. Shrewsbury's Sean Hallice (assisted by Brayden Carroll and Matt Ward) had the only score of the first period for a 1-0 Colonials lead.

Worcester - The girls' basketball Central Division 1 semi-final game at Worcester Polytechnic's Harrison Auditorium on Mar. 4 had the Westford Academy Grey Ghosts hosting the Algonquin Regional High School Tomahawks. The Grey Ghosts pulled ahead of the Tomahawks early, and led 16-13 at the end of the first period. Westford then extended their lead to 33-21 at the half.

Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury resident Mike Morgera was leaving for work early this morning when he snapped this photo at the intersection of Winslow Street...

Worcester - The boys' basketball Massachusetts Central Division 1 semi-final game featuring the second-seeded St. John's High School Pioneers playing the third-seeded St. Peter-Marian Junior-Senior High School Guardians took place at the Harrison Auditorium on the campus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute March 2. The first period saw St. John's with a small lead, 15-13. In the second period, St. Peter-Marian took a 32-26 lead into the half.

Shrewsbury – Anna Connors of Shrewsbury has always been physically active. She studied dance from age 5 through her 20s. Then she became a competitive runner and participated in marathons. Now age 60, she continues a disciplined exercise routine after a 2006 diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). "I vowed to take care of myself and not let this get me down," she said.

Shrewsbury - The Shrewsbury Fire Department recently presented its Student Awareness and Fire Education, or S.A.F.E., program to displaced families that are now residing at the Days Inn. The program gave Captain Sean T. Lawlor and other fire department personnel a chance to speak with the tenants about fire safety in the confines of the hotel. Lawlor began the program for the adults by talking about emergency exit plans. He encouraged them to make sure they know what to do if a fire were to occur and suggested that they practice an exit plan with their children in a calm manner so they will know how to react.

To the Editor: I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to everyone that contributed to the great success of the first annual Matt...

Hudson - According to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) website, "Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately 1 in every 3,500 live male births (about 20,000 new cases each year)."

Marlborough - Mike and Jean Morrisey have been through the heartache of losing a baby from a miscarriage. So when they got a chance call from the state medical examiner's about an abandoned baby, they knew they had to do something. "We were known throughout the state for our fight against the hospital where my wife had a miscarriage," said Mike Morrisey. So when a baby was found dead in 2011, officials contacted the Morrisseys. "They said we would know someone who could help keep the baby from being buried in Potter's Field," Mike said, of the areas in cemeteries where indigent or those whose identities are not known are buried.

Westborough/Shrewsbury - Ashley Orlando-Lohnes, 29, is a fourth-grade special education teacher at the Mill Pond School. She lives in Shrewsbury with her husband, Adam, 29, and their six-week-old son, Carter. Both Ashley and Adam will be running the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, in honor of Ashley's former student, Mark Kotosky.

Southborough - Daniel Boush, 9, reads the menu choices to Marge Spinner as Cub Scout Pack 26 hosted the annual Valentine's Luncheon, held Feb....

Shrewsbury - Mike Roman of Northborough hikes in Prospect Park at the start of Saturday's storm. Photo/Jerry Callaghan

Shrewsbury - Two years ago, Shrewsbury Little League Coach Chip Collins took onto his team Camden Chenevert, a child who has a severe form of autism. That choice has inspired Collins, and others, to form a league for local youths who share the same challenges and aspirations as Camden. The Challenger League is for players with intellectual or physical disabilities, and gives them a chance to play baseball, Collins explained.