If you're not a cable or satellite TV subscriber, consider this informative article from WBZ TV on the Digital Television Transition.  You may need a digital converter box for your older set to freely receive the new digital TV signal that'll be transmitted over the airwaves starting February 17th, 2009.

What You Should Know About Digital Television

Television as we know it is about to change. 

By law, television stations nationwide must switch from the old method of transmitting TV signals known as analog to digital television (DTV) on February 17, 2009. DTV is a new type of broadcasting technology that delivers movie-quality pictures and sound, more channels and even high definition television (HDTV) to consumers with HD television sets.

While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, millions of households risk losing television reception unless they take the easy steps to receive a digital signal. The CBS Television Stations Group and the National Association of Broadcasters will assist you throughout the entire transition process.

Do you know the significance of November 18th?  It's the town of Westborough's birthday!   Almost three centuries ago -- 291 years to be exact -- Westborough became the hundredth town established in Massachusetts.

Last night the Westborough Historical Society hosted a delightful "Insiders' Tour of the Westborough Public Library".  Over 60 people showed up to hear facts and stories about the physical building's history and the people who have played parts in its long and thriving life.  We learned about the "book brigade"... the "glass floor"... "eggs and darts"... Company K of the Civil war (can you spot the "nine badges" on the Gettsyburg Address?) and the infamous beech tree, subject of town meeting debate.

Thank yous to Nancy Odell, Local History Librarian; Kristina Allen, Westborough Historical Society; and Leigh Emery, Board of Selectmen who conducted the tour.

Thanks and congratulations especially go out to the Westborough Historical Society, who celebrated a significant milestone in their own history last night -- the retiring of the mortgage on their home at 13 Parkman street!   Following the library tour, attendees and guests gathered a few houses down and across the street at the "Sibley House" for a lively champagne reception to toast this major accomplishment. The society engaged private members, community leaders, and local businesses to contribute toward this goal.  Commemorative plaques honoring contributors and major donors were revealed and placed above the stairs, in the parlor, and in the two rooms upstairs which feature artifacts from the 18th and 20th century.  The "19th century room", which covers Westborough's Civil War connections, is still available for sponsorship.

From the two following sources, I've put together a chart showing percentage of voter turnout by town.

2008 Enrollment statistics from Sec. of State: st_county_town_enroll_breakdown_08.pdf  
Boston.com's article "Town-by-Town Results for President" 

Sure, it may have been high turnout, but we were below the mean for voter turnout across 351 towns and cities.  Here's my chart:

 Descriptive stats regarding percentage turnout across 351 towns : 

Mean 77.29%
Median 78.13%
Mode 84.62%
Range 43.82%
Minimum 47.58%
Maximum 91.40%
Count 351 

Here's how our percentage of voting turning compared with our neighbors.  Yowch.

74.76%  Westborough, # registered = 11,966
76.02%  Grafton, # registered = 11,740
77.99%  Shrewsbury, # registered = 22,468
81.82%  Upton, # registered = 4,995
82.03%  Northborough, # registered = 9,789
84.55%  Southborough, # registered = 6,704
86.92%  Hopkinton, # registered = 9,552

And, for those interested in a specific comparison, Westborough's five precincts and the Commonwealth voted as follows

Note, numbers are based on those from the Boston.com article referenced above.