NORTHBOROUGH – The community is invited to attend the Taste of Northborough and silent auction on Oct. 28 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Melican Middle School.
The event is supported by Applefest, Northborough Knights of Columbus and the Algonquin National Honor Society.
Weather canceled several Applefest events this year, including the fireworks. According to Applefest Committee Chair Michelle Gillespie, Applefest Committee and the Knights of Columbus lost a lot of product because it was in the rain.
“No one was expecting this tsunami of a storm to arrive,” Gillespie said. “It just drenched everything.”
The event is the Knights’ major fundraiser for the year, and the National Honor Society gets three scholarships out of it. Plus, the committee, who lost income from the weather, still had to pay their bills.
So, the Applefest Committee decided to do something to help their fellow organizations and planned to hold the Taste of Northborough later in October.
About 15 eateries will be participating in the Taste of Northborough, and there will be a silent auction. Some of the participants include Lowe’s Meat Market, Monti’s Pizza Plus, Cellar Bar and Grille and Davidian’s Farm Market.
“I think people were disappointed that it was canceled due to the weather and all of the other events. So, to still bring it back to help highlight the restaurants and our small businesses is really what that’s about, as well being able to help, like I said, the Knights of Columbus and the National Honor Society and even ourselves,” Gillespie said. “It sort of completes what we tried to do on Applefest weekend but we couldn’t due to the weather.”
Tickets cost $15 per person and can be sold online at http://northboroughapplefest.com/ or at the door. Tickets will also be on sale at Lowe’s Meat Market on Oct. 21.
SHREWSBURY – This isn’t your traditional workplace.
When you walk through the doors of Control Point Mechanical, Inc. in Shrewsbury, you’re greeted by Kaiya, a golden retriever who takes her responsibilities as the company’s chief cuteness officer very seriously.
The donuts and pastries available to employees are pushed toward the back of the counter — Kaiya’s been known to jump up and take a bite.
Kaiya trots around the office greeting the company’s employees en route. After her journey around the office is complete, Kaiya heads to her owner — Director of Strategy and Business Operations Danielle Boland — and plays with her bucket of toys.
Kaiya’s presence is just one example of the office culture at Control Point Mechanical. The company is proud of the positive environment it has created, and now, Boland has taken one more step toward improving the workplace: giving employees World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10 off.
“I took the job in January, and in February I just said, ‘We’re giving our team World Mental Health Day off,’” Boland told the Community Advocate. “It wasn’t a question to me. It was like it makes so much sense. It affects so many people’s lives. Why would you not acknowledge this?”
The company — which has grown from 12 to 20 employees recently — gave employees the option of taking World Mental Health Day or the Friday prior to Columbus Day weekend. The gesture is done to foster a more mental health-friendly workplace.
“People don’t understand financially. When you have everyone off the road for one day, it’s like thousands and thousands of dollars, right? But, for us, it’s like how do you balance that high-level of performance that you’re going to get from people when they have more down time? We’re still navigating, but for me I believe so much in mental health,” Boland said.
Since becoming sober in 2013, Boland navigated corporate America, discovered the importance of mental health and balance, and “took a journey of self-development.” Boland focuses on supporting employees inside and outside the workplace.
“The mental health stuff and balance is huge to me,” she said. “Work is work… and everyone has their days. But, to the extent we can control, how can we make sure people leave here and are like ‘I’m really happy I’m at Control Point.’”
And that attitude — that happiness — has become pervasive.
“One of the guys — he’s been here nine years — said, ‘Friends that we have in the industry, they don’t know what it’s like to be at a company that you enjoy being at,’ ” Boland said.
SHREWSBURY – Central One Federal Credit Union employees recently partnered with an organization to construct beds for local children in need.
Through A Bed For Every Child’s Build a Bed program, Central One staff constructed 10 beds for local kids who were on a waiting list.
In a press release, Central One wrote that the federal credit union was “honored to aid in A Bed For Every Child’s mission to help ensure all children have a bed of their own, regardless of their family’s income.”
Central One Federal Credit Union also recently donated $2,000 to Safe Homes. Located in Worcester, Safe Homes provides support and resources to LGBTQIA+ youth and those exploring their sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions with a nurturing and safe space to be themselves.
In a press release, Central One wrote that they proudly support this mission.