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Late night edition
Welcome back!
The week went by rather fast, and now we’re publishing the newsletter late on a Friday… alas!
That being said, we have a lot for you this week:
Sell High or Build Affordable Housing? The State’s Dilemma Over Sudbury Crime Lab Property
L-S Athletics: Warriors Review Thoughts In Return?
A Q&A With Laura Bennos, MetroWest Real Estate Specialist
Gloomy Report Explores Fiscal Pressures on Cities and Towns
Sudbury Author Leta Serafim Releases Fifth Greek Islands Mystery Novel
Fontes Steps Down, Mayyasi Takes Over As Goodnow Library Chair
Thoughts In Return? A Q&A With Cove Wellness Center
CPC Applications Revealed
Events!
Opinion!
Parting Thoughts
Let’s get into it!
Sell High or Build Affordable Housing? The State’s Dilemma Over Sudbury Crime Lab Property
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Healey-Driscoll administration may soon find itself balancing competing priorities in Sudbury. Following the announcement of the new crime lab being built in Marlborough, Sudbury residents learned that the Sudbury lab would be closed, and the jobs relocated. But the administration has said nothing about what it will do with the property once the operation is moved to Marlborough.
That silence led to some speculation during a recent meeting of the Sudbury Housing Trust (SHT). The SHT is responsible for the creation of affordable housing for ownership in Sudbury and has been tracking the developments at the crime lab property, which is managed by the State’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).
“So while the Town may have desires for it or uses for it, it will likely be an open bid for private buyers.”
During discussion, members brought up concerns that the property could be sold off to the highest bidder, which would generate the most income for the State. Member John Riordan questioned if the State could be taken seriously in its efforts to address the housing crisis if it were to prioritize maximizing the sale price when there’s local interest to build affordable housing. He told the members:
L-S Athletics: Warriors Review
SPORTS
By the L-S Athletics Department
Thoughts In Return? A Q&A With Laura Bennos, MetroWest Real Estate Specialist
FEATURES
By Sudbury Weekly
Laura Bennos has been a Sudbury resident for over a decade, and has deep experience supporting home buyers and sellers in the area. Sudbury Weekly caught up with her to learn more about the state of the Sudbury real estate market, and the latest considerations for anyone looking to make a move in the Sudbury market. Thank you, Laura, for taking the time to answer our questions!
Let’s start with the big picture — how would you describe the current state of the Sudbury housing market right now?
Homes are selling in fewer than 30 days in many cases, though that number can vary significantly depending on how well the property is staged, priced, and marketed. The “blitz-speed” pace of 2021–2022 is less universal now; buyers are a bit more discerning, and sellers can’t push exorbitant pricing without consequences. Buyers are more cautious about overpaying, especially given higher mortgage rates. There is more scrutiny on inspection results, property condition, and long-term value. Some buyers are waiting or stepping back until they see more favorable interest rates.
We’ve noticed a recent uptick in price reductions on listings around town. What’s driving that shift?
Gloomy Report Explores Fiscal Pressures on Cities and Towns
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) has issued a report titled “A Perfect Storm: Cities and Towns Face Historic Fiscal Pressures.” The report identifies key funding challenges facing Massachusetts municipalities, many of which have been escalating over the last 20-plus years.
The MMA highlights that:
“While state government spending has, when adjusted for inflation, increased by an average of 2.8% per year since 2010 to meet critical needs, constraints on local revenue sources, including Proposition 2½, have held Massachusetts city and town spending growth to just 0.6% per year.”
Adam Chapdelaine, the executive director of the MMA said “Municipalities have been frugal, and any cuts they’re forced to make are now cutting bone.”
Contrary to what many residents of the Commonwealth might assume, municipalities lag the national average for spending growth. “Annual spending growth for Massachusetts municipal governments lags behind the U.S. average for cities and towns, which is 1%.”
But does the trend hold in Sudbury and surrounding towns? And what happens if we run an analysis from the taxpayers perspective, rather than the municipality?
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
Writer returns with “The Nameless Dead,” explores murder and migration amid the beauty and complexity of the Aegean — and teaches local creative writing this fall
Sudbury author Leta Serafim has once again brought the intrigue of the Greek islands to readers around the world with the release of her latest mystery novel, “The Nameless Dead.” Published by Coffeetown Press on October 14, 2025, the novel is the fifth installment in Serafim’s acclaimed Greek Islands Mysteries series.
Fontes Steps Down, Mayyasi Takes Over As Goodnow Library Chair
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The October 7 meeting of the Goodnow Library Trustees was routine by all accounts, with the exception of one agenda item titled “Announcement from Chair (Vote).” That created some intrigue before the meeting, if for no reason other than the requirements of the Open Meeting Law for agenda items to be “sufficiently specific to advise public of the issues to be discussed.” (Page 10)
At the end of the meeting, the meaning behind that broad agenda item was revealed:
Thoughts In Return? A Q&A With Cove Wellness Center
FEATURES
By Sudbury Weekly
Integrated wellness is a well-established, holistic approach to health. But did you know that Sudbury now has its own hub for integrated wellness, complete with some truly original and distinct services? Sudbury Weekly caught up with Sandee Tisdale, Founder of Cove Wellness Center, to learn more about what they have to offer the Sudbury community.
What inspired you to open Cove Wellness Center here in Sudbury, and what gap in the community did you hope to fill?
As a therapist and mom in Sudbury, I saw how many families were juggling stress, anxiety, and disconnection without a true hub for integrated wellness. Cove was designed to fill that gap — blending therapy, movement, and holistic care in one welcoming, calming space that serves the whole person. Cove was born from a vision to create a space where people could come not only to work through challenges, but to reconnect with themselves and one another.
Cove combines traditional therapy with yoga, Reiki, and other holistic practices under one roof. How does that integrated approach benefit clients compared to a typical counseling office or fitness studio?
CPC Applications Revealed
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) met on October 15 to compile questions about the big batch of applications they received for community preservation projects this cycle. Sudbury Weekly will be covering them in greater detail as the CPC conducts hearings and the projects are further refined in the coming months. For now, we’re offering a brief, high-level summary of the key points. The applications included:
Events!
Opinion!
Parting Thoughts
The Sudbury Community Food Pantry held a ribbon cutting at its new location on Boston Post Road this week. Their press release noted “In 2024, SCFP distributed over 450,000 pounds of food—enough for 30,000 grocery bags—serving nearly 1000 families from 85 cities and towns. The pantry operates entirely through the efforts of more than 175 volunteers, who collectively contributed over 15,000 hours of service last year.”
SCFP Executive Director John Thomas, Sudbury Director of Public Health Vivian Zeng, Wayland Town manager, Michael McCall, Sudbury Town Manager Andy Sheehan
Image Credit: Lisa West Photography
In addition to all that work, they secured a permanent home for their operation, moved in, and sustained their work throughout the transition. As far as volunteer achievements go… this one is off the charts.
In fact, it’s a good reminder of how active and engaged the community is in Sudbury.
Fall sports are in full swing, complete with volunteer coaches and volunteer league administrators. Coaching isn’t just coaching - those volunteers plan rosters and balance playing time, they coordinate and re-coordinate schedules as weather disrupts the season, and they make plans for each practice and game… all before they do the actual on-field coaching.
Town committees are gearing up for budget season, which is a good reminder that people actually volunteer to 1) learn the bizarre world of municipal finance and 2) take positions on Town Meeting articles while being broadcast on local TV. Talk about volunteering the hard way!
There are easier and more pleasant ways to give back, but Sudbury’s residents don’t shy away from the challenge.
How about planning an accessible trick-or-treat through an entire neighborhood, and coordinating with every house on the street?
And why plan an event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American revolution when you can step up to plan a whole year of events and fundraise for them, too?
Here’s a fun one: invite the entire population of a suburb to a forum to discuss affordable housing strategies, then sit in front of the room and take questions.
Or in an equally daunting scenario: volunteer for a school subcommittee that’s going to review the school district calendar and holidays!
It certainly can feel like thankless work sometimes. Yet it doesn’t seem like the volunteers necessarily want to be thanked. They just seem to want to do some good for their community. And perhaps the best way to celebrate that is to contribute to a cause.
Back to the pantry…
175 volunteers. 450,000 pounds of food. 15,000 hours of service. And 1,000 families served.
In a single year.
SCFP Project Consultant, Larry Smith; Board member Paul Lamoureaux; attorney Mary Krumsiek; SCFP Facility Manager, Bob Palumbo; Board member George Connor; Executive Director, John Thomas; Board member, Chris Goff; Board President, Patrick Mullen; Board member Tom McGowan; SCFP General Contractor, Michael Massarotti
Image Credit: Lisa West Photography
This week, the Sudbury Community Food Pantry celebrated its new home… but it sure feels like more than that given the astonishing scale of their contributions to the community in and around Sudbury. It feels like an invitation to join the cause, to do some good. It feels like a timely reminder that a community can change lives through small acts of kindness that add up to massive impact. If you’re so inclined, the below button takes you to their donation page.
Onward!