By Katie Aponte The Ayer Shirley Regional High School girls’ track and field team captured the MIAA Division 6 State Championship this past weekend, delivering one of the strongest all-around performances in program history. The Panthers were led by two individual state champions. Lorelai Levy won the 100-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 15.20 seconds, while Roxanne McKenzie claimed the 100-meter dash title in 12.41 seconds. Both athletes added crucial points that helped secure the overall team victory. Ayer Shirley also earned a state title in the 4×100 meter relay, with J’Aliyah Mayes, Roxanne McKenzie, Abby Stull, and Lauren Gaudet racing to first place in 49.94 seconds, setting a new school record. Mayes added to the team’s medal count with a second-place finish in the long jump, marking her second silver of the meet. Following their championship performance, the Panthers returned home to a police escort back to the high school, where they were greeted by a welcoming crowd of families, friends, and supporters. Cheers, signs, and applause filled the parking lot as the community celebrated the team’s historic achievement. The championship reflects the depth, determination, and teamwork of the entire roster, with strong contributions across sprints, hurdles, relays, and field events. Congratulations to the Panthers on an outstanding state championship performance.

By Janet Tice Long-time Shirley resident Dave Swain has been appointed as Shirley Water District Commissioner, replacing Milton Westover, who passed away in March. He joins existing Commissioners Butch Farrar and Kevin Johnston on the SWD three-member board. At the SWD Annual Meeting on May 6, the commissioners invited anyone interested in filling the open position to submit a letter of interest and promised to make their selection by month-end. In spite of its name, the Shirley Water District isn’t part of Shirley’s town government. Rather, it is an independent governmental body administered by a board of three “commissioners” who function much as a Select Board does for a town. According to SWD bylaws, the existing board can appoint a new commissioner to fill an open position, with the appointee serving until the next election, in this case, in May 2027. I asked Dave to tell us a bit about himself, his family, and what led to his interest in becoming a Water District Commissioner. The story is a long one, beginning 39 years ago when he and his wife Dorry moved to Shirley, shortly after getting married. They were raised in the area and wanted to live in a community similar to where they grew up. Their two children, now adults, both went through the Shirley/Ayer school systems. Once settled in Shirley, Dave started donating time and effort in support of the Shirley community, a habit that has continued to this day. Early on, he joined the Finance Committee, where he served for 10-plus years, assuming the role of chairperson four times. During this period, he mastered the ins and outs of municipal finance and, with his fellow committee members, worked to present balanced budgets to the Town during what he describes as “some very difficult budget times.” After stepping down from the Finance Committee, Dave was elected as an Assessor and served a two-year term. He resigned after being elected to the Select Board, where he served for nine years. During his tenure, the Select Board worked to eliminate the “structural deficit” the Town was incurring on a regular basis. According to Dave, the Board “increased the revenue the Town received, for example, by selling surplus property like the old Town Hall and Library buildings on Lancaster Road and putting them back on the tax rolls.” Following his stint on the Select Board and a well-deserved hiatus, Dave was next appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, where he is now serving his second term. His tenure has spanned the challenging period during which the ZBA successfully worked through Shirley’s first 40B development on Benjaman Road and embarked on its second, still in the planning stages (on Parker Road at the intersection with Great Road). And, as if the ZBA weren’t enough, Dave is currently serving his second term as a member of the Shirley Sewer Commission and also sits on the Shirley Meeting House Board of Directors. So why the Water District? Dave’s answer was simple and convincing: “I felt my background in municipal finance would be an asset to the Commissioners. Plus, my knowledge of the sewer system would be an added bonus I could bring to the SWD.” In conclusion, Dave summarized what he hopes to accomplish as a Water District Commissioner: “There are numerous challenges we are facing, including increasing Department of Environmental Protection requirements, the ongoing drought situation, increasing water demands of current users and new development, and ongoing upkeep of the infrastructure. I’m looking forward to working with the other Commissioners, SWD staff, and the residents of Shirley to meet these challenges.”

By Jeanette Wade Brooke Wade has been playing soccer on teams since she was 5 years old: Shirley Recreation, Ayer/Shirley League, Middle School, High School, and New England Revolution Striker’s League. Last year and again this year, Brooke has made the New England Revolution’s Unified team, which has a long-standing partnership with Special Olympics of Massachusetts. The team brings together athletes with disabilities for soccer training and competition with non-disabled player partners to promote inclusion. They play in professional settings at Gillette Stadium and travel to play in matches. Built in partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts and the Arbella Insurance Group, the Revolution Unified roster features athletes and Unified partners, selected through tryouts led by The New England Revolution Academy coaches and supported by New England Revolution first team players. The roster consists of between 16-19 members (athletes and partners) who compete against other Major League Soccer (MLS) Unified teams. Brooke credits her experience last year with developing leadership skills both on and off the field and the climate of inclusion and community in a professional soccer setting has inspired her to try out and she was selected to join the team again. Last Year Shirley recreation offered discounted passes to see a New England Revolution first team game that was followed by the Rev’s Unified team to witness even more incredible Revolution athletes take the pitch in the spirit of unity, inclusion, and community. The team hosts an annual “Bowl for a Goal” fundraiser each summer at Gilette Stadium where you can meet New England Revolution first team players and the Unified team in a night of fun. The fundraiser has raised over $700K to benefit the Unified team and SOMA programs. Check the New England Revolution’s website for more details. 

By Rebecca A. Boucher Summer is fast approaching and the Benjamin Hill Park Committee has been busy getting the pool and grounds ready to open for the season on Memorial Day weekend. Our plan is to open the pool Saturday May 23, 2026. Beginning on that date the pool will be open weekends only; once the schools are out for the summer, the pool will be open daily. The pool is a busy place all summer. Many area summer camps and child care centers visit our pool. Weekday mornings are when most of our swimming lessons take place. Seven one-week sessions are available beginning on Monday, June 22. Swim lesson registration forms are available online and include class level descriptions so parents can choose the best fit for their child. Open swim hours for family, individual and senior memberships and daily users are 1 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. Membership applications are available online. Daily users are $12 per person per day. Please be sure to read through our 2026 Pool Operations and Rules as this document explains everything you need to know before you come to the pool. On weeknights, the pool is used for practice by the Penguins Swim Team. (Contact the Shirley Recreation Committee for more information about joining the team.) The pool facilities can be rented for parties on weekend mornings and Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The party rental form is also available online. Party times fill up quickly so don’t delay if you’re planning to book the pool for a party. You can find all our forms and detailed information about the pool online at www.shirley-ma.gov/bhp.  We look forward to seeing you all make a splash this summer! Rebecca Boucher is a 16-year resident of Shirley. An active mother of three employed in the property valuation field, she is also a member of the Benjamin Hill Park Committee and the Shirley Meeting House Board of Directors.

Shirley Christian Fellowship welcomed their new pastor, Rev. Dr. Kathy Harwood, in an inspiring installation service hosted at their church at 3 Harvard Road in Shirley, on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The ceremony, attended by members, guests, and regional clergy, marked a significant moment in the life of the congregation as it welcomed Rev. Dr. Harwood into spiritual leadership. Pastor Paul McPheeters, Northeast Regional Pastor for the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC), and Pastor Nick Granitsas, Pastor of the Greater Boston Area for the CCCC, took part in the service. A central part of the ceremony was the Charge to the Church, delivered by Pastor Granitsas. The congregation was asked to affirm their commitment to receive and support Rev. Dr. Harwood as their pastor, to faithfully encourage her, and to uphold her leadership in the ministry of God’s Kingdom. The congregation responded with resounding affirmations, pledging to provide for her and her family, and to embrace her pastoral authority as she teaches and practices biblical principles. Pastor McPheeters followed with the Charge to the Pastor, inviting Rev. Dr. Harwood to publicly covenant with the people of Shirley Christian Fellowship. The exchange emphasized mutual accountability, unity, and the sacred responsibilities of both pastor and congregation. More information about the church in general can be found on the website at www.shirleychurch.org.

Monday, May 4 Varsity girls softball and boys baseball vs. Tyngsboro Middle school girls softball and boys baseball vs. Grafton Away:  Varsity boys volleyball @ South Lancaster Academy Tuesday, May 5 Junior varsity girls softball and boys baseball vs. Lunenburg Middle school girls and boys track and field vs. Nashoba Regional Wednesday, May 6 Away: Varsity girls softball and boys baseball @ Lunenburg Thursday, May 7 Varsity girls and boys track and field vs. Bromfield Junior varsity boys volleyball vs. Wachusett Varsity girls softball and boys baseball vs. Murdock Varsity boys volleyball vs. Wachusett Friday, May 8 Junior varsity girls softball vs. Parker Away: Varsity boys baseball @ Groton-Dunstable Monday, May 11 Away: Unified coed track and field @ North Middlesex Away: Junior varsity boys baseball and girls softball @ Clinton Away: Varsity boys volleyball @ Whittier Tuesday, May 12 Middle school girls and boys track and field vs. Wachusett Middle school girls softball and boys baseball vs. Quabbin Wednesday, May 13 Away: Varsity and junior varsity boys volleyball @ Westford Away: Varsity girls softball and boys baseball @ Bromfield Thursday, May 14 Away: Middle school girls softball and boys baseball @ Gardner Junior varsity girls softball and boys baseball vs. Groton-Dunstable Away: Varsity girls softball @ Groton Varsity girls and boys track and field vs. Gardner Away: Varsity boys volleyball @ Nashoba For more information, visit www.asrsd.org/families/athletics.

By Dina Samfield The way we pay tribute to our deceased loved ones has evolved considerably over time, reflecting broader societal changes and shifts in cultural attitudes toward death and memorialization. Today, many people are moving beyond “conventional” funeral services in favor of more personalized, contemporary memorials that celebrate the unique life, beliefs, and character of the deceased. For those in Shirley who wish to honor a deceased loved one with a burial that feels gentler on the earth, natural or “green” burial in Village Cemetery is now an option. According to Shirley Cemetery Committee Secretary Peg Lorenz, the Town of Shirley currently has about 3,500 gravesites in its two public cemeteries–the Shirley Center Cemetery, established in 1755, and Village Cemetery, dating to 1849. Both are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and are within the boundaries of state and local historic districts. Lorenz said that half of the burials in those cemeteries–1,750–were natural burials done before the 1920s, as embalming did not become widespread until the Civil War. Prior to that time, wealthy people used embalming, but that practice took a long time to catch on with the middle and lower class. “We’re going back to reviving an old tradition” by now offering natural or green burials, she stated.   A Four-Year Project The move to make natural burials available in Shirley “started because people asked us,” said Lorenz. “People were concerned about protecting the environment and conserving the land. People did not want to be buried in a cement vault.” So, Lorenz and former Shirley Cemetery Committee Treasurer Renee Cook became a subcommittee of the Cemetery Committee and researched what was needed “to make this happen.” There was a piece of land in the Village Cemetery the Committee owned, but it had been degraded by people using it for recreation. A survey company and the Shirley Conservation Commission were brought in to look at the wetlands, riverfront buffer, etc., to determine exactly where digging would be possible. That took four years, explained Lorenz. The group then got the Shirley Board of Health on board, and asked the Shirley Select Board to give its stamp of approval on the project, after reviewing the rules and regulations and general guidelines for the natural burial site.   The Natural Burial Ground Approximately 60 cemeteries in Massachusetts now allow green burials. Some are separate from conventional gravesites; others are integrated, and some have both configurations. In Shirley’s Village Cemetery, the new “Natural Burial Ground” is a completely wooded spot behind the new section of the conventional cemetery. The nearly two-acre green burial site is separate from the conventional graves. “We have to manage where we dig based on the trees and the landscape. It is a sequential burial; in other words, one cannot reserve a specific space. The Cemetery Committee puts you in sequential order, fitting people very gently into the landscape.” Rather than embalming the deceased and encasing them in a cement, hardwood, or metal box, some funeral homes also offer biodegradable pine boxes and shrouds, if needed. Although families can certainly craft their own coverings and transport their loved ones themselves, “People tend to be more comfortable having a funeral home involved, so they provide the transportation for the deceased,” explained Lorenz. The expense for an actual burial is the same as for a conventional burial, but there is less expense overall due to there being no vault and other funeral home expenses, such as embalming.   “Natural Burial Comes to Shirley” On Thursday, May 14, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., Lorenz, Cook, and Chair of the Westford Cemetery Commission Lisa Groves present “Natural Burial Comes to Shirley” at the Hazen Memorial Library. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. “Come to the program to learn from people who have lived this and have a lot of experience with this,” entreated Lorenz. This is an opportunity to learn more about this simple, eco-friendly, natural burial alternative, ask questions, and explore your options. “With green burial, you get the feeling of completion–the earth taking us back. You are out in the woods, the birds are singing, the sun is shining through the woods, and there is some kind of feeling of the circle closing in a really beautiful way. We are hoping people embrace this, but we really just want people to know they have an option.”