Milford restaurant gets OK to build on Nashua Street

MILFORD – Almost a year after the idea was first floated, and more than four years after the current owners bought the property, a new Giorgio’s Restaurant has finally gotten the OK to be built at the site of the former White Horse Inn.

The more upscale version of the Giorgio’s that has long operated at Edgewood Plaza, may be open as early as next summer.

Giorgio’s owner, George Sklavounos, looked relieved Tuesday when the Milford Planning Board approved the plan.

His plans for the 1.8-acre property at 524 Nashua St. have gone through a host of changes.

Originally, his idea was to tear down the old house on the site but incorporate the century-old barn into a restaurant. That idea ran into planning difficulties and stalled, and in 2002 the barn was burned by teenage arsonists.

Another idea to put in a gas station and 7-Eleven ran into obstacles due to an underlying aquifer.

Then, when Sklavounos came back with the current restaurant idea, questions arose about the possibility of a stop light being installed at the intersection of Nashua and Powers streets, which forced a change in Sklavounos’ preferred driveway configuration.

The new restaurant will have seating for about 125 people, plus a lounge with room for about 60 more.

Milford has had a lot of new-restaurant news lately. Aside from the Elm Street openings this summer of the upscale Verve, which features live jazz, and the French Bistro, a wine and French-food restaurant next to the Oval, a Mexican restaurant is moving into the recently closed Gabriella’s on South Street.

Further, the long-closed Taco Bell on Elm Street is turning into a drive-through doughnut shop, and the former Kelly’s seafood restaurant nearby has reopened as Longboards, a similar type of restaurant.

Copy of town’s charter acquired

MASON -The Mason Historical Society is again alive and well with a new slate of officers, a plan to update the by-laws and procedures, and a list of projects for the future.

At the annual meeting on Oct. 23, a decision was made to continue the group, and new officers were elected: President, Charles Moser; vicepresident, Linda O’Grady; and secretary, Pat LeTourneau. Arthur Rafter was re-elected treasurer.

At the group’s regular meeting on Nov. 18, members decided to begin a plan to update the former Mann Store into a storage and display area. The building is owned by the town, but is currently not used. A committee wasThe Society currently meets upstairs in the Mann House, above the town offices. More record storage space is needed for both the Society and the town.

A complete inventory of the Society’ possessions will also be undertaken, with LeTourneau agreeing to put the master list into a computer. At the Society’s next meeting on Jan. 20, taking inventory will be begun, and work will continue on Saturday, Jan. 22.

Moser will also complete all of the paperwork required by the Secretary of State’s office to re-instate the Society as a registered non-profit, a status which had lapsed. Once a budget has been established, the amount of dues requested will be discussed.

Arthur Rafter presented a gift to the Society, received from former resident Robert Martin who now lives in California. Martin sent a framed copy of the town’s charter, granted to the town by King George III. Rafter said the charter had been found in the Selectmen’s office in the 1940s, when Martin’s father was a selectman. The charter will be hung in an appropriate place in the town office.

Residents originally chose the name “Sharon,” but it was changed to “Mason” by Gov. Benning Wentworth because Sharon had been given to another town. The change in the printing of the name can be seen on the charter.

Member Elizabeth “Twig” Jones suggested that each meeting of the Society include “something about history,” and she agreed to make the presentation on the January meeting.

Firefighter becomes captain

HUDSON – Another member of the Fire Department is moving up.

Todd Hansen was recently promoted to Captain, replacing Capt. John Brewer, who now oversees training for the department.

Hansen joined the department as a call firefighter in 1983 and was hired as a full-time firefighter about a year later.

He is certified in several areas including EMS and Fire. He will take over the duties and responsibilities of Group 3.