[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6203208,"mediaKeyId","3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b","parentId",3783919,"title","Committee takes on oral‑history project and graveyard reenactments; historic commission to help","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",2210000,"endMs",2500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b&start=2210&end=2500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b/thumbnail_2210000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203208/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Committee-takes-on-oralhistory-project-and-graveyard-reenactments-historic-commission-to-help","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203208-4584d6ce37dae61729098d46483f0749/orig.mp4?Expires=1776578651&Signature=WgX52MPJj2r5e1rNWLG4OJa3BBimsbxohK1UgFildzst-DQ~1De1euOUVHGG03I59-ClqhHVBssYpLzY8zqVkJHpGnoi8yM-p8rGOpI2LwK4EBUdELEfa6bOCEcNnvRNEYoJUzWiW7~0DBz54zOMsm97mSXSPGmArBvlmyZXObKGBxz12PqGnuN40ZN5KQVfiVS~XmTKBQVIYQ0VgVBstxhIqqMvmKZZxYqbkp538bmZga9K6ZkpszZfjYUqXAxKQidoqAWEV9-s7CE6NIR0UYRZkrgoFOeFkWw0qrh3QeA2hqZNiazVjTu-xvSEBIhKams~JLeG6~CGmME~rn~U-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Southborough, MA","date","2025-06-12T14:58:58.547Z","article","The committee updated members on an oral‑history project and related historic events that will feed tricentennial programming. Committee members said Andrew connected the committee with Terry Underwood, who has experience producing award‑winning oral‑history programming and is willing to help record interviews, including visits to the senior center and other community locations.

Kelly O’Brien previously began work on an oral‑history project but had limited time in her role at the building department; committee members said they will help continue the effort and recruit volunteers to collect interviews and historic photographs. Access Media (the town’s local access channel) was identified as a likely recording and distribution venue.

The committee also reported that the graveyard committee is meeting on June 24 and plans a reenactment in November; participants and roles for that program are to be determined. Members are collecting old photographs and other archival materials and said volunteers will visit local sites for interviews. The historic commission and historical society will be engaged as partners; committee members asked for volunteers to help with interviews, photo collection and scheduling.

No formal funding decision was recorded for the oral‑history work; members said the project incurs minimal direct costs and largely relies on volunteer time and access‑media recording resources. The committee asked volunteers to step forward and for working groups to draft a short public announcement and content for the tricentennial newsletter to solicit interview subjects and archival photos.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tricentennial Committee 6/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members reported coordination with the historic commission and volunteer Terry Underwood to produce recorded oral histories and reenactments; a graveyard reenactment is being planned for November 7, with volunteers and photo collection underway.","taxTitle","Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",56453,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6203213,"Committee weighing drone show versus fireworks for tricentennial; cost and booking windows cited",130,2080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b&start=2080&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b/thumbnail_2080000.jpg","/articles/6203213/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Committee-weighing-drone-show-versus-fireworks-for-tricentennial-cost-and-booking-windows-cited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203213-f452c6bba4e371a4bec29629c4b3dbb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776578651&Signature=djv-BlN25nBwDMoAiRslGdOKWo-Rfp9QT~JHK0ZtJjx91VYOA-xsZWRFK-oCWdqnf2w2QJ6laWHDIVTumLSrsdPASppfRVG-RnR5ysVRpqeuvqpFJ0v57-8sC-5CBRUtyGseD9Km8-yXpwrlMTC5LE1sf0hZ9ph9OmxkTTcK6h8k1sdAyNDPlexXj6k-WNEiQzieG69VAb9RErUNXzyW~0V1bFyoPzLCe4mxFxZ5xeUdV2abty-9mOwSFI8oeV8mdZpU4mFBvLXx33E7aHu0rUonI84V~one91y-9Sz5DnLmtbUBQfygUNEpKbzFf45KeyeNV7YitkXEkcMSkFqWTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee discussed whether to replace or supplement traditional fireworks with a drone light show during the tricentennial period. Members said drone shows can be substantially more expensive than fireworks and that available vendor options ranged widely in price and scale.

Committee members noted an operational detail raised by a vendor: drone shows typically require booking six to eight weeks in advance of the event. Travis (working‑group member) said he would continue his research on drone providers and costs; committee members said the ultimate decision will depend on how much money the committee can raise and on logistical feasibility.

No final decision was made at the June 11 meeting. Committee members framed the choice as a budget question: if the committee secures higher funding levels, it can pursue a drone show; with less funding, it will likely plan for a conventional fireworks display. The committee asked the research lead to return with vendor quotes and a recommended budget range for both options.","The tricentennial committee reviewed drone‑show options as an alternative to fireworks, but members said high costs and booking windows make the choice contingent on fundraising; a drone vendor’s booking lead time of roughly six to eight weeks was noted and further research by committee member Travis was requested.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":42,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6203218,"Tricentennial committee targets Sunday, Oct. 10, 2027 for parade tied to Heritage Day",2960000,3250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b&start=2960&end=3250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b/thumbnail_2960000.jpg","/articles/6203218/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Tricentennial-committee-targets-Sunday-Oct-10-2027-for-parade-tied-to-Heritage-Day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203218-f68a8c048223e22b2ffcf6e2492c8d61/orig.mp4?Expires=1776578651&Signature=HsRM7OF-HSMfWELqFJxT6OuN5532KJWiNUh2eC50zL1dNKRt1rhIJkgdi5yURIFZo-2M5BAu4rNjKyE0SHKRHZ5tBFVqWBQ3uqSdAJkpjqjl0g~0zi7O8I29xlVedEIsQCepmKZ0enqvLpi8VNX6YeSIiIiCUXrAtxL3rNm4EAV8Ctamaz2mn03a4a8jg8doKjS6wbGF2~~ZCG~2cymSOHtcx7J~oArI6o3Fxard8R3NHOsGE8okeoq2SEE5M1gDewe-LMeqQ3NKrAoWo1wjCLfsXnlnPyebtRUW1e5pHUPcxXcbVqfwBs~zB20h80PLGUXMGSP99eBdUJImFrsC3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Southborough Tricentennial Committee on June 11 discussed parade planning and agreed to target Sunday, Oct. 10, 2027, for a parade linked to the town’s Heritage Day celebrations.

Committee members said the working group met with Westborough parade organizers and borrowed operational lessons about staging, safety, volunteer identification and booking large musical acts. The Westborough route was longer (about 2.3 miles) and required multiple staging zones; Southborough’s working group proposes a shorter route (about 1.5 miles) with staging on Newton Street, Austin Road and East Main Street and a destaging area near Marion Bridge and Hastings School.

Andrew and other working‑group members raised operational concerns the committee must resolve before finalizing the plan: avoiding conflicts with Sunday worship services at town churches, notifying youth sports leagues and businesses about road closures well in advance, arranging staging and packing areas, and deciding whether to start the parade in the afternoon to reduce conflict with morning services. Committee members repeatedly emphasized advanced notice for residents and businesses and early outreach to marching bands and other performers.

The committee did not record a formal Select Board authorization at the June 11 meeting; members described the Oct. 10 target as the working group’s recommended date and asked continued engagement with town departments, the historical commission and local institutions to firm up routing, insurance and volunteer staffing.

Working‑group items to address include parade insurance forms, participant requirements (floats/units rather than unsupervised groups of children), porta‑potty placement, volunteer (identified T‑shirt) stations for information and water, and coordination with St. Mark’s and other property owners along the route. Members noted the UMass marching band and similar large groups require early booking, and urged the working group to begin outreach sooner rather than later.","The committee’s parade working group, after meeting with experienced organizers, recommended staging a shorter parade on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2027, to coincide with Heritage Day; members noted routing, staging and church service conflicts that will require coordination with local groups and town departments.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6203223,"Veterans firemen's group secures July 17, 2027 date for Southborough tricentennial hand-engine muster",1626,0,1626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b&start=0&end=1626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783919-29f658a83f950ab0b33461364a0a178b/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6203223/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Veterans-firemens-group-secures-July-17-2027-date-for-Southborough-tricentennial-hand-engine-muster","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203223-bc13c94b21b7b11069eec7c7030a2fea/orig.mp4?Expires=1776578651&Signature=HvovarT2E8kuwZSgbN5BT~hObtpn6fc9y83~ble4xnDy6p1olPK-9r0NhZPaZWA7Elm0HShscos01jtSTFMMstLzcoe1KMIKwSoJKQMZUmN3XGWR1ZmSYaFxX2R27txdCtDz9YO6~r7tuhuNWVpyjfkT8QXjolophXGLoo6ku~2wtFDYRagxcxJ-nKuSZLQ1rgzA6OMM0XQsW1B-QVM-ychtJRhorbOWsT5VlMpUfh4zINHcZQHwxTvi79n~mPIy27E~qZ3c4IVvHdv5kCTVWQPr~dUbC-RL3LqzEqQhO4T8g4g1b-w5MDZtP-yHWzxBE1dIHoDORv1NkmgJ0Qa1VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jamie Falcone, president of the Francis Dexter Newton Veterans Firemen's Association, told the Town of Southborough Tricentennial Committee on June 11 that his group wants to host an antique hand‑engine muster on Saturday, July 17, 2027, the town’s tricentennial date under the Gregorian calendar, and asked the committee to reserve that day for the event.

Falcone said his nonprofit expects to attract about 15 antique hand engines and estimated a budget of about $25,000 to cover advertising, police details, water, prize money and other logistics. “Putting on this muster in today’s budget, we could use $25,000 to be sufficient to host a muster that we could all be proud of,” Falcone said.

The committee’s vote to hold the date was taken June 11. A motion to plan the muster for Saturday, July 17, 2027, was made and seconded; committee members raised their hands and the chair announced the result was unanimous. The vote locks the date on the tricentennial calendar but does not commit the committee to full financial sponsorship: committee members and Falcone repeatedly stated that fundraising and coordination would continue after the date was set.

Committee discussion and Falcone’s presentation detailed the event format and logistics. A typical hand‑engine entry receives 15 minutes of competition time; Falcone estimated the muster would likely run from about noon to mid‑afternoon (roughly noon to 3–4 p.m., depending on the number of entries). He said participants historically compete to produce the longest water stream on a 300‑foot course and noted prize money and trophies help attract out‑of‑town teams. Falcone also described needs the town would help coordinate: a PA system, police detail for crowd control and traffic, access to water (some towns use hydrants with meters), and field setup; he suggested Choate Field as a likely venue.

On funding, Falcone described how prize payouts are typically issued by the New England States Veterans Firemen’s League, the sanctioning organization, and said his association is a 501(c)(3). Committee members asked questions about whether a town donation to the association would be permitted and how prize monies would be handled; Falcone said the association could accept donations and the league would issue prize checks. Committee members also discussed the association’s ability to help with fundraising and promotion, and offered to assist with publicity and outreach.

The committee emphasized that reserving the date was intended to give organizers, visiting teams and partner groups time to plan and to allow the committee to coordinate other tricentennial programming around the day. Committee members noted that locking a date does not remove future review: if circumstances change, the committee said it would revisit logistics and funding.

The committee directed staff and working groups to continue coordinating on venue availability, public‑safety needs and fundraising, and to return with cost estimates and recommended funding sources. Falcone invited committee members to attend area musters this summer to observe the competition.

Falcone provided historical context about his organization and the event: the Francis Dexter Newton VFA maintains three hand engines (the Falcon, Franklin No. 1 and others) and has hosted musters in Southborough for past anniversary events. He described prior musters on Choate Field in 1977 and October 12, 2002, and said hosting the muster for the 300th would continue that tradition.","The Francis Dexter Newton Veterans Firemen's Association presented plans and a $25,000 budget estimate to host an antique hand‑engine muster on Saturday, July 17, 2027, and the Town of Southborough tricentennial committee voted unanimously to reserve that date while funding and logistics are worked out.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee takes on oral‑history project and graveyard reenactments; historic commission to help

Committee weighing drone show versus fireworks for tricentennial; cost and booking windows cited

Tricentennial committee targets Sunday, Oct. 10, 2027 for parade tied to Heritage Day

Veterans firemen's group secures July 17, 2027 date for Southborough tricentennial hand-engine muster