Community Corner

Week in Review: Trader Joe's Update, Pats Training Camp, Christina's Violations and More

A recap of this week's headlines from July 22-27.

Miss anything in Foxborough this week? Here's your chance to sit back and catch up on some Patch. Below is a recap of this week’s biggest headlines on Foxborough Patch:

Trader Joe’s announced it plans to open at Patriot Place in Foxborough on Friday, Sept. 7 at 8 a.m. but will begin hiring on Monday, July 30.

Find out what's happening in Foxboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Individuals interested in working at the neighborhood grocery store located at 350 Patriot Place can begin applying on July 30 at 10 a.m. Applicants must apply in person and can obtain an application on site or online at www.traderjoes.com/pdf/employment_application.pdf.

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Find out what's happening in Foxboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Another season of New England Patriots football began Thursday afternoon in front of a record crowd as Foxborough's hometown team opened its 2012 NFL training camp.

Despite the threat of severe weather, Patch joined over 12,000 spectators at the practice fields of Gillette Stadium Thursday to catch the first public glimpse of the 2012-13 version of the Patriots.

Check out scenes from Thursday's practice.

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When , landlord – and now owner – Nicholas Panagopoulos promised to reopen the restaurant under his management.

A month after closing the Washington Street business, Panagopoulos is looking to make good on his promise to bring back the restaurant and function hall.

“We are making a complete renovation,” Panagopoulos said.

While there is currently no set timeline for a reopening, Panagopoulos said it would take about two to three weeks to lay out a plan for renovation and then at least another two months to complete renovations.

If Christina’s is able to reopen, Panagopoulos said he plans for the restaurant part of the building to be a steakhouse with what he called “reasonable prices.”

Read more by

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It was revealed at Tuesday’s public hearing regarding transfer of all alcohol restaurant license from MJ Holding to D&N Corporation DBA Christina’s Fireside Grille and landlord Nicholas Panagopoulos that the function hall was in violation of more than 10 liquor license violations over the past 12 years under previous ownership of the license, according to Foxborough counsel Louis Cassis.

The violations of the liquor license include unauthorized change in ownership of the license without proper notification or approval by the Board of Selectmen and operating without a valid liquor license in the town of Foxborough as a result of the improper change in ownership.

It was noted that a previous owner – MJ Holding – is responsible for the liquor license violations and not Panagopoulos, who is currently seeking the license transfer from MJ Holding following the recent action change in ownership at Christina’s.

Members of the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Kevin Paicos tried for over 40 minutes Tuesday to make sense of these liquor license issues surrounding the Route 1 function hall before ultimately agreeing to continue the public hearing to Aug. 7 at 7:20 p.m.

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Foxborough Town Manager Kevin Paicos' top priority over the course of the coming year, according to the selectmen, is to work with the town's Water and Sewer and other departments to develop an effective sewer strategy and expand programs.

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For the sixth consecutive season, the New England Patriots will be holding an open practice on the field for season ticketholders and Foxborough residents.

The event is free but requires a complimentary ticket for entry. Those tickets, like in years past, can be picked up with proof of residency at Foxborough’s , the or the .

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Police reports in the case involving – state the eight “homemade devices” allegedly found in Mudge’s backpack were “M-80-type fireworks.”

Mudge Jr., 41 of Easton and Taunton, was arrested on July 13 on two outstanding warrants for breaking and entering in Easton and Raynham and arraigned in Wrentham District Court on July 16, where he to nine additional charges from the July 13 incident at off Route 1 on Washington Street in Foxborough, court documents said.

Whether it was homemade explosives or “just fireworks” found in Mudge’s possession at America’s Best Value Inn, Foxborough Chief of Police Edward O’Leary says both are illegal in the state of Massachusetts and is confident the charges, which includes eight counts possession of a destructive or incendiary device, accurately fit the situation.

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Corey Orlando, 17 of 180 Main St., Foxborough and Nicholas Mordini, 18 of 48 Granite St., Foxborough were each arrested on Friday, July 20 at 5:03 p.m. and charged with shoplifting by concealing merchandise and disorderly conduct.

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As we near the one-year anniversary of (and nearly a million total Massachusetts residents) without power for days, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is proving that she hasn't forgotten what she calls an "inadequate response" to both the tropical storm and an

Coakely is recommending a $16 million fine against the company – the largest penalty ever recommended against a utility in Massachusetts, according to a statement from her office released Thursday.

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Frozen yogurt lovers will have a new place to visit locally this weekend as Berry Yogurt is set to open in Foxborough at Patriot Place Saturday.

Berry Yogurt, according to manager Mimi Tran, is a “self-service frozen yogurt shop featuring over 30 flavors of frozen yogurt.”

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As I mentioned in my , Tuesday night's lightning show in Foxborough was unbelievable!

Luckily, I had my camera on me from covering the and when I was walking to my car the lightning lit up the sky and decided to try and capture some of it.

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Looking to get a sense of local real estate values? Here’s a quick snapshot of homes that have sold in Foxborough from July 18-24.

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Monday's meet and greet with Liverpool FC players and legends at We Got Soccer on Route 1 in Foxborough drew a crowd of nearly 1,000 people – a turnout Tyler Dickson, the store's customer service manager, said was much larger than expected.

"The event was really successful and actually a lot larger turnout then we were expecting," Dickson said. "Players came around 2:40 p.m. and stayed about an hour signing autographs, all Warrior branded stuff and it was really exciting."

Dickson said people were already lining up outside the door at 9 a.m. Monday - an hour before the store opens and six hours before Liverpool players were expected to arrive.

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Add boxing to the list of professional sporting events to be held in Foxborough this year.

The New England Revolution, in association with Warrior Boxing and DiBella Entertainment, will present a unique double-header on Sunday, Aug. 12, featuring Gillette Stadium’s first-ever boxing match. Tickets are now on sale.

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 The largest crowd in 53 years of New England Patriots training camp practices arrived in Foxborough Thursday to welcome the return of professional football and cheer on their favorite players.

But for most fans, the thrill of the day came after practice when thousands of children and adults crowded the yellow rope around the perimeter of the practice fields as they anxiously awaited the chance for their favorite player's autograph.


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