It’s time to for another roundup on Southborough based businesses making news.
One is making headway on brain injuries to help our military. Another just announced expanding education for autism overseas.
Plus, last month, local media interviewed a Fay School employee with a side business based on what he does with his summer break and the owner of the soon-to-be bed and breakfast on Main Street.
Southborough startup lands $3.8M DoD grant for brain injury drug– Worcester Business Journal:
The scientific founder of a Southborough startup pharmaceutical company has landed a $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to help develop a drug to treat traumatic brain injury and concussions.
Dr. Michel Baudry, co-founder and chief scientific officer of NeurAegis, will use the funds from the department’s Combat Casualty Care Research Program to develop a neuroprotective drug candidate in preparation for in-human trials.
In a statement, Baudry, the principal investigator for the project, said the company has identified a molecular mechanism that shows efficacy against cell death and damage following brain injury. (read more)
New England Center for Children in Lebanon – NECC:
The New England Center for Children® (NECC®), a global leader in autism education and research, announced today a partnership with One Two Three Autism School in Beirut, Lebanon, to serve children with autism and their families. NECC was contracted to manage school operations, teaching, applied behavior analysis (ABA) consulting, and professional development. The school marks the continued international expansion of NECC, which now operates in 18 countries. One Two Three is the first and only school in Lebanon for children with autism.
“Autism treatment in much of the Middle East remains scarce, leaving thousands of children and families lacking resources,” said Vincent Strully, President and CEO of The New England Center for Children. “NECC is excited to bring proven, research-based ABA teaching practices to Lebanon through our management of One Two Three Autism School. Our growing international programs and services have reached 18 countries, bringing effective, evidence-based educational services to underserved children with autism and their families.”
“Autism services are sorely needed in Lebanon, as I experienced with my own son. The autism rate for children in Beirut and Mount Lebanon is one in 67,” said Saritta Trad, a co-founder and mother whose son attends the school. “For One Two Three Autism School, we turned to the world leaders in autism education. Our partnership with NECC enables their staff and NECC-trained Lebanese teachers to provide the highest quality ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy to Lebanese children.”
“NECC is excited to be part of One Two Three Autism School and we look forward to helping transform the lives of children with autism and their families,” said Kristin Buchanan, NECC’s Global Consulting Director. “By empowering teachers worldwide with the knowledge and tools of ABA, together we can create more success stories like One Two Three.” (read more)
Salmon business catching on in Southborough– Southborough Wicked Local:
Josh Pierson previously only sold his fish through a cooperative, but started Papa’s Catch three years ago to bring the fresh fish back to New England. . .
He started as a deckhand on a boat after college before buying his own fishing vessel, “Full Scale,” eight years ago. Some of his catch makes it back to New England each year and is sold through his business, Papa’s Catch Salmon, online and at local farms, stores and markets.
“It’s incredibly lean and the fat that is there is really good for you,” he said. “It’s the kind of fats doctors want you to eat.”
The fish are sustainably caught in Bristol Bay, which claims to have the largest wild sockeye salmon run each year, and processed by fisherman-owned Silver Bay Seafood, said Pierson, 41. Bristol Bay is the eastern-most arm of the Bering Sea, with most of Pierson’s time spent near the Egegik River. . .
During the rest of the year, Pierson works as associate director of secondary school counseling at the Fay School. . .
His fish are sold locally at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough and Debra’s Natural Gourmet in Concord, among other places across New England. Pierson will be a vendor at the Fay School Farmers Market, which runs Sept. 21 to Oct. 26. Pre-orders will be taken in September while the fish are still being shipped. (read more)
Southborough cherishes preserving Burnett House, called a town ‘jewel’ – Southborough Wicked Local
Wicked Local’s story on the beloved Burnett House (renamed “Deerfoot”) addresses the controversial, ornate gates:
Outside the monumental gates of the Burnett House on Main Street on a recent morning, owner Jon Delli Priscoli explains the architecture behind them.
He acknowledged some in town think the gates are too extravagant.
“These were designed and re-crafted after the Second French Empire period, which would put the house around 1845 and 1865,” he said. “These gates would be appropriate.”
Sometime in the near future, decorative urns will be filled with flowers and gas-lit fixtures will be installed.
Delli Priscoli plans to have the exterior of 84 Main St. substantially restored before the end of the year — a year earlier than required in a preservation restriction with the town. In 2016, the town reached a deal with Delli Priscoli for $970,000 to prevent future demolition of the historic stone house and other structures on the property, including a carriage house and chapel.
“All the stonework has been redone,” he said of the main home and chapel on the property at the cost of about $700,000.
Using historic photos, Delli Priscoli rebuilt a promenade and porch in front of the home — which faces east, not toward Main Street — using granite and custom-made balusters.
“I had an architect base the design on the photos,” he said. “It looks very close to the original.”
Eventually, the home will be used as a boutique bed and breakfast, which required Zoning Board of Appeals approval. (read more)
Since that interview, Friends of the Burnett-Garfield House posted new photos of ongoing work:
