MH 231201

Holiday Gift Guide page | 10 Highland City Striders hold Turkey Trot

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Vol. 49 | No. 48

Riverwalk bench honors Vic Billings

hudson happ’nings

MARLBOROUGH | 6

December 1, 2023

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rimkus | 14

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Marlborough Hudson E DI T I ON

Hudson snaps 13-year Thanksgiving streak against Marlborough

Marlborough approves TIF with Sartorius Stedim

By Evan Walsh Reporter

PHOTO/ MAUREEN SULLIVAN

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

Football | 26

MARLBOROUGH – A biopharmaceuticals company on Donald Lynch Boulevard has been approved for a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with the city.

The City Council approved the measure during its meeting on Monday, Nov. 27. The council’s Finance Committee had given the green light for the TIF on Monday, Nov. 20.

During the Finance Committee meeting, Meredith Harris from the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce and Maurice Phelan, president of Sartorius Stedim North

PHOTO/EVAN WALSH

Sartorius Stedim North America plans to use a Tax Increment Financing agreement to expand its facilities in Marlborough.

HUDSON – The 121st Marlborough-Hudson Thanksgiving Day contest belonged to the Hawks.

Community members gathered at Hudson Bowl on Thanksgiving to watch the Hudson Hawks face off against the Marlborough Panthers. The Hawks’ 41-0 win — which was the largest margin of victory in series history — was Hudson’s first victory over the Panthers since 2010.

“These guys know the history,” Hudson Head Coach Zac Attaway told the Community Advocate after the game. “Some of them have been a part of those losses. But we move forward. We focus on the present… That [losing

Hudson’s Evan Bushey braces for contact during the annual Thanksgiving game.

Wetland Protection Bylaw passed at Town Meeting

By Sarah Freedman Contributing Writer

which outlined the details of how the bylaw would further protect wetlands.

HUDSON – As of the November Special Town Meeting on Nov. 20, there will be a new wetlands protection bylaw on the books for Hudson.

The town voted 207-163 to pass Article 8,

Details of the bylaw The article was sponsored by the Conservation Commission and strengthened wetlands protection in Hudson with a new bylaw. The objectives were to add a 25-foot

Sartorius | 6

Wetlands | 9

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2 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

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Winter Music/ Craft Beer Series Dec. 7,14,21,28 5:30pm-8:00pm

For Full Schedule and info: VisitSolomonPond.com Giveaways Daily at @solomonpondmall

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 3

Clothing Drive for the Haitians Ending

THE

OVER TOP

Thank you to everyone who contributed warm clothing and so much more to Marlborough’s newest residents at the Holiday Inn. The outpouring of generosity from Marlborough and surrounding communities showed why this city is such a nice place to live. Unlike many other towns in the region, Marlborough is blessed with a diverse population that is becoming more colorful and vibrant every year. This is largely due to the welcoming people who live here.

The Sisters of Saint Anne have reached capacity and cannot accept any more general clothing donations at this time.

If anyone is interested in making a bulk donation of winter accessories (hats, gloves etc) or diapers or if they are interested in being involved in another way, please contact Lisa Levine at llevine@ eliotchs.org (781)-230-8507.

If you still have used cloth-

letters to the editor

PHOTO/TAMI WHITE

WESTBOROUGH – Drone photography shows the Village Commons development on Gleason Street. Director of Planning Jenny Gingras told the Planning Board last month that the handicapped ramp has been installed; the community room has been completed; and plans for landscaping and lighting have been submitted. Read more about the status of the development on pg. 17.

letters to the editor

police & fire................... 19 obituaries...................... 20 legal notices.................. 21

David Bagdon

MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Hayes ASSISTANT EDITOR: Maureen Sullivan PROJECT EDITOR: Brett Peruzzi REPORTER: Evan Walsh EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Debra Roberts

LEGAL & CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:

OFFICE MANAGER: BILLING INQUIRIES:

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W

here will you be on Monday, December 4th at 8 p.m.? I will be at Marlborough’s City Council Meeting in City Hall for a vote on an urgent matter, and I hope you will join me.

The issue is a proposed 286unit multi-use rental apartment complex on Sasseville Way. The property is currently owned by Boston Scientific and zoned for light industry.

The potential buyer/developer, Trammell Crow Company, applied for a zoning change, called an Overlay District.

Details are on Marlborough’s Letters | 4

Letters must be signed with a name, address and telephone number for verification (only name and town will be printed). Letters should be sent to news@communityadvocate.com or mailed to Managing Editor c/o Community Advocate, 32 South St. Westborough MA 01581. The editor reserves the right to reject letters on the basis of length, libelous content, suitability and space constraints. Multiple letters from the same person will not be accepted within a 30 day period. “Form letter” submissions, in which the content of one letter is essentially duplicated, will not be accepted. Letters should be 350 words or less. Deadline is 12 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Opinions expressed in the letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Community Advocate management or its advertisers.

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Bruce Ishikawa and Maria Rodriguez Marlborough

The Community Advocate’s Policy on Letters to the Editor

news............................... 6 homes & more................. 8 holiday guide ................ 10

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ing to donate, there are many worthwhile organizations in the region who will put your items to good use, helping the many folks who could use a helping hand.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Diane Sabatini | 508.366.5500 Cynthia Merchant | 508.736.4332 Mary Ellen Cyganiewicz | 508-366-5500 Barbara Clifford | 508-769-6259 Cynthia Merchant | 508.736.4332 Ellen Bishop Lynne Fountain Tracy Nickerson Bookkeeping Dept. | ext. 19

classifieds..................... 23 schools.......................... 25 sports............................ 26

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The Community Advocate is a weekly periodical, (U.S.P.S. # 014-423), published by Bagdon Advertising, Inc., with offices located at 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

Periodicals postage is paid at Shrewsbury, MA 01546 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Community Advocate, 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

Publication date is Friday. Deadline for R.O.P. advertising, local community news and classified advertising is Friday, noon, seven days prior to publication. Not liable for typographical errors, however, we will reprint that portion of the ad wherein error occurred if notified in writing within three working days of the publication date. All material included is the property of The Community Advocate and may include material produced under copyright or a syndicated ad service. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material from any issue of the Community Advocate.

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4 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY VOICES Letters | from page 3

website, Search “23-1008941”.

Why is this a very bad idea?

Please let me explain.

Environmentally, this 23acre parcel is critical to the health of Fort Meadow Reservoir and its wildlife. It’s the lake’s headwaters, providing a vital and major source of naturally filtered clean water. It includes two cold water streams that support native trout, a rarity in Massachusetts. And, Marlborough’s Conservation Commission, our local environmental stewards, oppose this overlay request.

There are also safety concerns. This development is intended for working families; so, assuming 2 cars per unit, implies over 500 cars commuting. Traffic will literally cross the Assabet River Rail Trail, and intersect Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School and its sports field which crosses the main road leading to I-290 and I-495.

Regarding quality of life,

letters to the editor

the lake and its beaches are a recreational treasure for Marlborough and Hudson. For our neighbors on Blaiswood Avenue, which abuts the site, its life changing and property values will likely decrease. The developer’s plan includes 70 ft. tall buildings just 80 ft. from their boundary, and an emergency access road joining what is now a dead-end.

Huge commercial buildings don’t belong in this residential neighborhood.

In summary, this project is a very bad idea because it negatively impacts our environment, safety and quality of life. There are too many unpredictable unknowns about this project’s long-term impact.

Our city officials have already heard from over 100 residents opposing this project.

Please support our efforts to stop this overlay request by contacting your City Councilors, telling them “Sasseville Way Overlay, No Way”, and attending the City Council meeting on December 4th.

To the Editor: Well, Massachusetts managed to give all the Vets and service academy grads a real slap in the face.

For those of you who are not sports enthusiasts, I’ll try to explain the latest debacle that our state has caused by its misplaced government priorities and lack of common sense.

The yearly Army-Navy football game is going to be held in Dec. at Gillette Stadium.

This will be the first time that the game will be held in New England and is always a sellout. Needless to say, reservations are booked for hotels and motels well in advance of the game.

Massachusetts’s “Right to Shelter” law guarantees homeless families with children who meet certain criteria access to emergency shelter. This law is being used for illegal immigrants and not MA citizens.

With the state in crisis mode due to the influx of illegal immigrants seeking guaranteed housing, our state is paying premium prices to hotels and motels throughout the state to house the illegal immigrants for an unspecified period of

Paul Goldman Marlborough **************************

time. Don’t even think about it; of course, it is funded by taxpayers’ money.

With this guaranteed revenue, hotels and motels around the state are cancelling reservations and emptying their facilities to house the illegal immigrants. I will note that hotels and motels with some sense of ethics are not doing this.

The hotels and motels mostly around Gillette Stadium in the Foxboro area are involved in the cancellation of reservations are available rooms for the Vets and academy grads attending the Army-Navy game.

Since when have illegal immigrants taken precedence over Vets and US citizens?

Do the citizens of Massachusetts realize what the Vets have done to keep our country free and safe over the years?

We, as US citizens, owe them a debt that can never be repaid.

I hope all the Vets and academy grads find places to stay and I, for one, am ashamed of the treatment they received in Massachusetts, the home of crisis, chaos and a lack of respect.

Carole A. David Northborough **************************

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he 2023 Turkey Trot was another huge success for Northborough Recreation. I would like to personally thank all our sponsors for supporting not only Recreation, but all the families in town that will benefit from their generosity.

TURKEY TROT SPONSORS Michelle Gillespie Lowe’s Variety Gamache Construction Monti’s Pizza Northborough House of Pizza Wegmans Walmart Northborough Septic St. Mary’s Credit Union Davidian’s Farm Romaine’s I would also like to thank all the volunteers for helping put on such a large event. Your help is greatly appreciated. Lastly thank you to Karen Mueller and Veronic Hanley for organizing this race. The hours of work and the dedication to the success of this road race is amazing. We couldn’t have done it with out all of you.

Allie Lane Recreation Director Northborough Recreation **************************

NO THANKSGIVING? Guys can you imagine if there was no Thanksgiving and what our ladies go through.

Pretend there was no such holiday and men came up with Thanksgiving. I don’t think the ladies would sign up for it.

Ladies lets start with cleaning the house nobody likes a Mister Messy.

Putting the menu together takes time and effort. Harry hates turkey Martha will only eat fiber you do what you have to do.

Next shopping everybody is looking for the exact same groceries at the same time at the same store.

A few days before the ladies will bake the pies get all the fruits vegetables as well as the main course together. Already they need a vacation.

Turkey day arrives you ladies get up around 4 to stuff put the turkey in the oven basting every 30 minutes. You now have to start to get all the vegetables peeled so you can start cooking..

You still have to shower put on makeup which is no day at the beach with everything running through your head.

The door bell rings and your front door now looks like the southern border with everyone pushing their way in.

While you are entertaining and getting everything ready the men will watch football.

Later you will call everyone to the dinner table and everyone starts eating. looking like a hot dog eating contest at Coney Island.

As soon as the men are done eating they will go back to the living room and watch football while you clean up. An hour later you will call everyone back to the table to eat all the fantastic deserts The table will now look more like the last super. Again the men will eat quickly looking like a pie eating contest at some grand opening.

Shocker the men go back into the living room and watch football while you clean up. But the ladies never complain they are wonderful humans taking care of their families.

Lets take a moment to thank our wonderful ladies for working so hard just so the men can loosen their pants stretch out catch a couple ZZs. Thank you Pilgrims and Indians.

Guys buy your lady some flowers with a card saying thank you I love you.

Nick Benedetto Marlborough

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 5

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6 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY NEWS

Highland City Striders hold Turkey Trot

By Evan Walsh Reporter MARLBOROUGH – Hundreds of eager runners gathered at Marlborough’s Ghiloni Park on Nov. 26 to participate in the Highland City Striders’ Tough 10 and Fast 5 Turkey Trot races.

Participants had the option of running the 5-mile or the 10-mile course.

The Highland City Striders is a group of 190-plus runners from Hudson, Marlborough, and the surrounding communities. According to Peter Bakkala, the president of the Highland City Striders, the group has two main focuses: running and charity.

“We really drive our club to support the sport of running and to support the local community. Sometimes we have races that provide resources to the food pantry. Other times we donate to the adult rehabilitation center — or any variety or number of causes. We just believe that the community is enriched with people who stay fit… and people who give back

And they’re off! Runners begin the race.

PHOTO/EVAN WALSH

to the community. That’s what we’re about,” he said.

Instead of paying to run the race, participants were instructed to donate 15 nonperishable food items to enter.

As runners arrived, they placed canned goods in the back of two pickup trucks, completely filling the truck beds.

Bakkala said the event collected over 3,000 canned goods, which will be donated to the Marlborough Community Cupboard.

“That’s going to provide hundreds of meals to families right in our own community,” Bakkala said.

Local businesses throughout the area donated the prizes for the event’s top finishers.

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Bakkala also thanked the event volunteers who kept the runners safe.

The Highland City Striders’ Turkey Trot was its 20th annual race.

“It is a reminder to take stock in where you are, what you do in the community, and that there are others more in need…

As people think about the holidays, it really does prompt you to give back. We hold this on Sunday so it doesn’t compete with other races and [also] because folks who had that extra piece of pie can run it off today,” Bakkala said.

More information about the Highland City Striders is available at https://highlandcitystriders.org/.

Marlborough approves TIF with Sartorius Stedim Sartorius | from page 1

America, presented details and fielded questions about the TIF. In a letter sent to the City Council, Mayor Arthur Vigeant said the company is “seeking a local-only TIF incentive that will help them unlock credits with the Mass Life Science Center.”

The facility employs 100 people at two locations at 150 Locke Drive and 450 Donald Lynch Blvd. Since arriving in 2020, the company has invested $135 million in both locations.

“We are extremely committed to the city,” said Phelan.

Once the TIF is approved, Sartorius Stedim North America will invest $100 million for a buildout of 200 Donald Lynch Blvd. to create the Sartorius North American Center for Bioprocess Solutions; it will bring 120 additional new full-time jobs to the city by the

end of 2025.

Phelan said the proposal is an opportunity to bring more research and development to the area.

“These new positions include lab and manufacturing technicians, software developers, engineers, scientists, research analysts and product specialists,” said Vigeant.

“Sartorius is a leading biopharmaceuticals company who is helping biotech scientists and engineers across the entire globe to safely develop and manufacture medications.”

Phelan said that the firm’s clients include Novartis and Moderna.

The TIF will begin on July 1, 2024, and it will exempt 100% of the company’s real property tax for the project area. The TIF will decrease to 90% for fiscal 2026, 75% for fiscal 2027, 50% for fiscal 2028 and 20% for 2029.

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8 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

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crunch is still very real. This is the general rule of supply and demand, and it continues to put upward pressure on prices as we move into the new year.

Looking forward, experts project home prices will continue to rise next year, but not quite as much as they did this year. Even though the expected rise in 2024 isn’t as big as in 2023, it’s important to understand home price appreciation is cumulative. In simpler terms, this means if the experts are right, according to the national average, after your home’s value goes up by 2.8% this year, it should go up by another 1.5% next year. That ongoing price growth is a big part of why owning a home can be a smart decision in the long run.

Projections Show Sales Should Increase Slightly Next Year While 2023 hasn’t seen a lot of home sales relative to more normal years in the housing market, experts are forecasting a bit more activity next year. Here’s what those same three organizations project for the rest of this year, and in 2024 (see graph below):

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While expectations are for just a slight uptick in total sales, improved activity next year is a good thing for the housing market, and for buyers and sellers like you. As people continue to move, that opens up options for hopeful buyers who are looking for a home.

So, what do these forecasts show? The housing market is expected to be more active in 2024. That may be in part because there will always be people who need to move. People will get new jobs, have children, get married or divorced – these and other major life changes lead people to move regardless of housing market conditions. That will remain true next year, and for years to come. And if mortgage rates come down, we’ll see even more activity in the housing market.

Bottom Line If you’re thinking about buying or selling, it’s important to know what the experts are forecasting for the future of the housing market. When you’re in the know about what’s ahead, you can make the most informed decision possible.

Let’s chat about the latest forecasts together, and craft a plan for your next move.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Wetland Protection Bylaw passed at Town Meeting Wetlands | from page 1

no-disturb zone for wetlands within the 100-foot buffer zone and also to introduce small fines in the case of continued non-compliance to the wetlands protection bylaws.

Conservation Agent Pam Helinek said that wetlands are natural sponges that absorb flood water, and the roots of plants in the wetlands filter pollutants and sediments, which cleans stormwater runoff before it reaches rivers and streams.

“As development increases and as climate change results in more severe precipitation, stormwater runoff increases, flooding increases. More pollutants wash into our rivers and lakes, and wetlands become increasingly important,” said Helinek.

The state Wetlands Protection Act protects this resource, while the Conservation Commission ensures that the act is followed when permitting projects. There is a 100-foot

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buffer zone, and this helps make sure any vegetation change would not cause the wetlands to shrink, she said.

The Wetlands Protection Bylaw, Helinek said, would address the limited enforceability for towns and establish a 25-foot no-disturb zone.

There will also be a fine of $100 for the first offense, which increases to $200 and $300 for the second and third, for the commission to address violations of the bylaw.

“The bylaw will not impact anything that is already there.

It will not allow the commission to make a larger nodisturb zone,” she said.

Helinek emphasized that the Conservation Commission cannot trespass on private property as the State Wetlands Protection Act grants the right to enter private property subject to constitutional law and in the case of a permit or enforcement orders.

She said the 25-foot no-disturb zone is “not very much at

all” in comparison to the overall buffer zone, but it is critical to the protection of wetlands and water bodies.

“The Wetlands Protection Bylaw would help the Conservation Commission to better protect Hudson’s valuable natural resources at a very critical time,” said Helinek.

Town Meeting discussion There was much discussion from the residents of Hudson on the article.

Alex Andrews said she has lived near Lake Boone for 25 years and has seen the effect of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in the area. She said the runoff from developed land would impact people without the wetlands there.

Andrews said that, with new development near Lake Boone, the commission needs to have a bylaw for enforcement. She called the Wetlands Protection Act “great,” but the towns have no teeth in terms

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of enforcement.

“This bylaw would allow our Conservation Commission to protect us,” she added.

Brian O’Neill of Parmenter Road noted the bylaws protects “land subject to flooding” and asked if that does not apply to all of the land in town. He also was concerned about requiring approval to remove trees from his property.

Helinek clarified that the language refers to land on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood plain maps. As for removing trees, she noted that authorization from the commission is already required per the Wetlands Protection Act. Other articles Articles 9 through 12 all passed at the meeting and were designed to update the protective zoning bylaws. Article 9 focused on introducing a town zoning map and table of use regulations, Article 10 renamed the town districts,

Article 11 updated the language of the bylaws and Article 12 reorganized the sections of the protective zoning bylaws.

Director of Planning and Development Kristina Johnson said they were modernization articles to make Hudson bylaws more readable and usable for town workers and residents. She said no changes were made to the zoning districts; they were just renamed.

The process to reconstruct the culverts on Brigham and Park streets can officially start following approval at Town Meeting.

Article 6 asked to borrow and appropriate the sum of $1.2 million for the design, permitting and reconstruction of stormwater culverts at Brigham and Park streets and to authorize the treasurer to issue any bond or notes.

Voters also approved an article to purchase a fire engine and an article to support the Hometown Heroes Banner project.

10 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

Holiday Gift Guide Garden Club plans holiday fair

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WESTBOROUGH – The Westborough Garden Club will present a holiday festival on Friday, Dec. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mill Pond Elementary School, 6 Olde Hickory Path.

Holiday greens and arrangements will be available for purchase; there will also be raffles and a presentation

by Deborah Trickett, an award-winning container garden designer.

Refreshments will be available.

Proceeds will help the club with community beautification and its scholarship fund.

Admission is $10.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 11

Holiday Gift Guide 67th Annual

Christmas Fair December 2

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12 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

Holiday Gift Guide

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 13

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SOUTHBOROUGH – St. Mark’s Church’s annual Christmas Bazaar will be returning on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The bazaar will be held at St. Mark’s at 27 Main Street.

Visitors are encouraged to start their holiday season with a visit to the craft table, bake shop, White Elephant room, jewelry room and toy room.

There will also be a silent auction, basket raffle and a 50/50 raffle table. Stop by the bargain box on the ground level for the end of season bag sale with $5 per bag.

Enjoy a hot lunch at the café between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Santa will arrive via helicopter on the field of St. Mark’s School at noon as part of Santa Day. He will then be at the Community House.

Admission is free.

Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Mark’s youth group annual mission trip and the Southborough Food Pantry’s fuel assistance program.

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14 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY NEWS

Vic Billings’ classmates sponsor Riverwalk bench in his honor Rosemary Rimkus

HUDSON

Happ’nings

HUDSON – Classmates of the late Vic Billings of Hudson High School class of 1969 have sponsored installation of a bench in his memory at the Riverwalk on the Assabet River. Billings, an outstanding student athlete and graduate of University of Notre Dame, died in May 2021.

Sponsoring classmates are: David “Rocky” Zina, Pat “Rico”

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Former Hudson resident Mary (Billings) Sherman of Franklin, on Nov. 24, visited the bench honoring her brother, the late Vic Billings, on The Riverwalk along the Assabet River. She was “touched that his friends would do this” in memory of her beloved brother, and added that: “Vic was the kind of guy that made everyone think they were his best friends.”

Muscati, Bob “Juice” Jusseaume and Dave “Deluge” Flood.

Hudson Recreation Dept. and Park Dept. personnel assisted in the installation. The Riverwalk extends along the Assabet River from Houghton

Classmates of the late Vic Billings, Hudson High School 1969, have donated a bench in his memory, and it has been installed at the Riverwalk along the Assabet, off South Street. Hudson Park Dept. and Recreation Park assisted in installing the bench, now the third bench along the Riverwalk.

Street to the South Street entrance near Horseshoe Pub. Muscati said, “Vic could have been a doctor or a lawyer, but he was a private person who chose to be a carpenter, bartender, golfer and good friend.”

He would have marked his 72nd birthday on Oct. 30. Vic was a son of the late Hudson School Supt. Myron Billings and Marcella Billings.

13th top award Tom McAuliffe, Jr., has won

“Radio Station of the Year” award for his FM station in Milford MYFM 1013, for the thirteenth time, from Mass.

Broadcasters’ Association. The Milford station competed with close to 100 radio stations in Massachusetts, who could compete regardless of power or location. Television station recipient was WCVB-TV, Channel 5, Boston. Tom McAuliffe Jr. acquired the station many years ago when his father, Tom McAuliffe Sr. of Hudson, retired.

Country Fair Dec. 2 Christmas Country Fair, featuring a visit from Santa, homemade goodies, affordable gifts and Silent Auction fare, will be held Saturday, Dec. 2 at First United Methodist Church, Felton and Pleasant streets, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit from Santa will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free small “art kit” for kids ages 3-12, and free hanging Peace Cranes for all. All are welcome.

HHS ‘55 get together Several members of Hudson High School Class of 1955 gathered for an informal “gettogether” recently at the Bolton Street Tavern, near the HudsonMarlborough line. Those attending were Veronica Despres and Joan (Thimot) Esche of Marlborough; Larry White, Holly and Nancy McAuliffe of Hudson, Dave and Pat Brown of Hudson, N.H., and Lee Courtemanche of Marietta, Ga. Courtemanche and his daughter, Renee Lake, were visiting his

Successful fundraiser Friends of the Hudson Senior Center sponsored a successful annual Fall Fair in November.

President Jackie Kapopolous said that Fair proceeds allow the Friends to support various programs and purchase necessary items.

“We are currently in the process of purchasing awnings for the handicap ramp, and in the past have purchased transport buses, professional printer and two pool tables,” she said. Local contributors to the event in-

hometown.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 15

COMMUNITY NEWS cluded: Brothers Pizza, Checkerboards, Mooyah, Mullahy’s Cheese Shop, Napa Auto Parts, “99” Restaurant, Robinson Hardware, Stop & Shop, Victor’s 50’s Diner, Vintage Café, Welly’s, SKHB INC, J & K Tire Co., 641 Café, Expo Nails, Nail Essence, All Occasions Florist, Bacon’s, Serendipity, Rail Trail, Micro Creamery, Beyond the Barn and Market Basket.

Stroll Dec. 2 Hudson 2023 Downtown

PHOTO/RENEE LAKE

Of local interest Word has been received of the death of former Hudson resident Raymond Wheeler, 80, on Nov. 12, at his home in Center Barnstead, N.H., following a long illness. A 1961 graduate of Hudson High School, he was a 22-year Air Force veteran, including two tours in Vietnam. The funeral was held Nov. 17 from the Slattery Funeral Home, Marlborough.

He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Wheeler of Hudson.

His survivors include his wife, children and grandchildren, his sister Betty Correa of Gardner and brother, David Wheeler of Center Barnstead, N.H.

Hudson native Lee Courtemanche, standing at far left, visiting from Marietta, Ga., joined members of Hudson High School Class of 1955 at a get-together at Bolton Street Tavern, Marlborough, last month: from left, Courtemanche, Veronica Despres, Nancy McAuliffe, Joan (Thimot) Esche, Holly McAuliffe, Pat Brown, Dave Brown and Larry White.

Holiday Stroll is Saturday, Dec. 2 from 3-7 p.m., rain, snow or sunshine. Main Street businesses and eateries welcoming visits from Strollers.

BELATED BIRTHDAY GREETINGS on Nov. 25 to Kristin Braga.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dec. 2 – Kevin Kittredge, Calleigh Walsh, Zachary Gay,

Bella Bush, Harry Currier, Jayne Bearsto, Katie Boyle, Richard Kane and Gabriella Pimental Dec. 3 – Steve Smith, Gina Davis, Ed Bridges and Emma Mattocks Dec. 4 – “Tuck” Walsh, Randy Carter, Debbie Dietz, Carlo Sousa Jr., Emily Rooney, Harry Bouchard, Chris Bacon, Alicia Garcia, Cindy Geldart and Rev. John Kodera

Dec. 5 – Michelle Zakrzewski, Jonathan May and Michelle Fuller Dec. 6 – Jason Cunha, Cameron Miele, Kenny Sullivan Jr., Angela Govatsos and Fran and Al Temple Dec. 7 – Kevin Busch, Wayne Jenkins and Barry Brown Dec. 8 – Joshua Gould, Sydney Provencher and John Shumski Dec. 9 – Jan Taylor Dec. 10 – MaryAnn Ethier, Janis Busch, Joe Cardoso, Dawn Capobianco, Matt O’Neil and twins Logan and Lenny Pote Dec. 11 – Brian Fraser, Courtney Kent, Steve Huehmer, Marion Lawton and MaryEllen Percuoco Dec. 12 – Sam Bouchard, Laura Cush, Chris Parker and Penny Moran Dec. 13 – Tom Longtine, Karen Bigeau, Marcia Haley, Tom Sypherd and Cody Smith Dec. 14 – Shawn Taylor, Adam Elder, Cindy White and Stephen Domenicucci Dec. 15 – Joe Grimaldo, Relden Prince and Alex Johnson HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Dec. 3 – Dick and Pam Bushey

Dec. 7 – Al and Fran Temple Dec. 13 – Mike and Terry Moran LOOKING BACK TO 1973 MaryLou Kane, riding “Sir William’s Tomahawk” won reserve championship in the Marlboro- 4-H Club horse show at Pompositticut Farm. Hudson High senior Bill Hurley finished second in the Jaycees 7-mile marathon. Gaspar Rubino bought property on Hosmer St. from Richard Pockwince.

Thomas A. Walsh, retired Light & Power Dept. manager, received the Hudson Rotary Club “Service Above Self” award at the State Armory SAS Ball. Betty Archer (Mrs. John Irvine) was soloist with the Ray Leach Surburbanaires, Jack Prinsteiner, chef at Hellen’s Restaurant, was a judge at St. Michael Parish Bazaar “Bakeoff.” Selectmen awarded the Christmas Lights contract to a Marblehead firm for $3,736.

Send items for Hudson Happ’nings to 18 Cottage St., Hudson, Ma 01749 or email rrimkus18@ comcast.net.

The Northborough Helping Hands Association and Northboro Junior Woman’s Club would like to thank all of these businesses for supporting the Community Meals over the past several years:

Hillside Grill • Sir Loin’s Catering • Pickle Haus Deli Northborough House of Pizza • Mooyah • Monti’s Pizza Plus Stevie’s Cafe • The Buffet Way • Assabet Culinary Program Lowe’s Variety & Meat Shop • Wegmans Thank you to all of our volunteers for their help during the drive-through meals!

LOWE’S VARIETY & MEAT SHOP

NORTHBOROUGH HOUSE OF PIZZA

16 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY HISTORY

Westborough’s hills once abounded with apple orchards WESTBOROUGH THEN NOW

By Kristina Nilson Allen History Columnist WESTBOROUGH - A brisk walk on Westborough trails brings the scent of ripening

apples; in the spring a glimpse of pink blossoms appears. Although there’s no orchard in sight, Westborough hills once abounded in the colors and smells of apple trees. Westborough’s frost-free elevations, good soil moisture, and climate were suitable for the fruit to flourish.

There were nearly ten com-

mercial orchards in town by the 1940s. These were Dick Gilmore on Adams Street; the Nourse family on Nourse Street; Ed Emery on Chestnut Street, Kenneth Craig on West Main Street; Walter McTaggart on West Main Street; Carl Henry on Fisher Street; the Baldwin/ Whittemores on Morse Street; Mr. Sanford (later George Park-

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Your Money, Your Independence

The Clash Against The Magnificent Seven Never before has the S&P 500 been this top-heavy.

The seven largest companies by market capitalization (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla) comprise more than 29% of the S&P 500 index. These companies dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” have performed very well in 2023.

The Only Band (of stocks) That Matters?

A November 14th Goldman Sachs report shared that the Magnificent Seven have gained 71% this year while the other 493 stocks in the S&P 500 have gained just 6%.

Given market cap distribution, which allows larger stocks to contribute more to the index’s movements, the S&P 500 has gained +19% this year.

Thus, if one owns the Glenn Brown, CFP other 493 stocks but not the Magnificent Seven, they’re trailing the S&P 500 Index by ~13%.

“Di-worse-ification”?!

As for other asset classes YTD through 11/14: +9.1% - MSCI EAFE (International) Index. +7.5% - Gold. +5.1% - Dow Jones Industrial Average (Apple, Microsoft are components). +5.0% - MSCI Emerging Markets Index. +3.4% - U.S. Small Cap (Russell 2000) Index. +0.4% - U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

-0.6% - Morningstar U.S. Real Estate Index.

What of dividend stocks? Vanguard’s Dividend Appreciation +7.9% trails S&P 500 Index by ~11% even though its largest holdings Apple and Microsoft are ~9%. It can’t own other Magnificent Seven stocks because they don’t pay dividends (yet).

Before asking, what about NASDAQ 100’s +34.6%?

Understand, Magnificent Seven are 44% of that index’s 100 stocks.

Death or Glory.

Yes, Magnificent Seven 2023 returns are eye-popping, but let’s review 2022 then add together for net total return (not average) from 01/01/22 -11/14/23.

Apple: 2022 -26%; 2023 +45%; Net +7% Microsoft: ‘22 -28%; ‘23 +56%; Net +12% Amazon: ‘22 -50%; ‘23 +74; Net -13% Alphabet: ‘22 -39%; ‘23 +51%; Net -8% Nvidia: ‘22 -51%; ‘23 +240%; Net +69% Meta: ‘22 -64%; ‘23 +179%; Net 0% Tesla: ‘22 -65%; ‘23 +93%; Net -32%

Still, since 2018 the Magnificent Seven have outpaced the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Not the first time a concentrated group of tech stocks outperformed 5 years to sit near the top of S&P 500.

The Four Horsemen.

In the late 90s, Dell, Cisco Systems, Intel and Microsoft were deemed The Four Horsemen.

To end 1999, the Top 10 S&P 500 Index holdings were - Microsoft, General Electric, Cisco, ExxonMobil, Wal-Mart, Intel, Lucent, IBM, America Online and Citigroup. Notice 7 out of Top 10 were technology. Dell was #18, between Nortel Networks and MCI Worldcom.

A “What Happened To…?” article should be done, but understand from 2000-2009, aka “The Lost Decade”, the S&P 500 Index lost -9%. The best performing Four Horseman, Microsoft, had a -36% decline for 2000s.

Diversification and Equal-Weight At Work.

If S&P 500 was negative for the 2000s, so was everything else. Right?

Nope.

Per indices cited previously, Gold returned +274%, U.S. REITs +162%, Emerging Markets +154%, U.S. Bonds +85%, U.S. Small Caps +44%, and International stocks was +12%.

Additionally, the Equal-Weight S&P 500 Index was +65% for the 2000s.

An equal-weight index is when all components are weighted equally. In today’s terms, a Magnificent Seven stock impacts the same as Lululemon, Hubbell and Blackstone, all recently added to S&P 500 Index.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? This isn’t to say sell this or buy that, as everyone’s situation is different with goals, taxes, risk tolerance and timelines. It’s to help educate, understand what you own and why you own it.

You should go to your CFP for your customized recommendations.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Glenn Brown lives in MetroWest and is owner of PlanDynamic, LLC, www.PlanDynamic.com. He is a fee-only Certified Financial Planner™ helping motivated people take control of their planning and investing, so they can balance kids, aging parents and financial independence.

er) on Lackey Street; and Perry Arnold on Spring Road.

Apple varieties offered at roadside stands or at the orchards included MacIntosh, Macoun, Baldwin, Cortland, Gravenstein, Empire, and Delicious. In the early 1900s, families earned pocket money by picking these apples. During World War II, however, most farm hands had been drafted.

Jane Forsey Dunphy (age 94) remembered when Dick Gilmore recruited Westborough High students to help harvest Westborough’s largest orchard. After picking the fruit, the teens ― managed by Carl Henry ― sorted them for packing.

“The apples went by on a long conveyer belt. It had holes sized to let either large, medium, or small apples fall through,” Dunphy recalled.

“We packed the apples by size and were very careful to pack them with the red, shiny side up. We had so much fun,” she said. Some orchards later switched to “pick your own” due to labor shortages.

Former Selectperson Leigh Emery recalled stories about her family’s orchard. “For added revenue, my grandfather Ed Emery sent cider to France to make brandy after World War I, and again after World War II, when French grape orchards had been destroyed,” she said.

The Hurricane of 1938 devastated many orchards, Leigh added. “The hurricane toppled about 150 apple trees on our farm,” she explained. “Ed’s sons, Belknap, Richard, and Ra, with Bob Hennessy, Joe and Donald Nason used block and tackle, tractors and horses to pull almost all the orchard back upright. However,” she continued, “the Tornado of ‘53 destroyed the orchard as a working one ― the trees were not just toppled, they were

torn out of the ground or just completely smashed.”

By the 1980s, only a few orchards remained: Zane And Evelyn Arnold on Spring Road and George and Helen Parker on Lackey Street. Joe Quick had bought the Gilmores’ Fay Mountain Orchard in the 1970s. Seems every senior class plotted how to move the tremendous fiberglass steer standing before Quick’s store.

Hot cider and doughnuts also enticed folks to Quick’s.

The history of Westborough orchards dates back to 1876 to Benjamin Alden Nourse(1862-1897). “Benjamin was one of the most successful Nourses of the eight generations who have farmed here,” said Tim Nourse.

Benjamin Nourse was elected to the Westborough School Committee, and ― from 18821886 ― to the Select Board. In 1885, Benjamin was elected representative to the Massachusetts General Court and was appointed to its Standing Committee on Agriculture.

On his farm, Benjamin Nourse diversified crops by planting a 49-acre apple orchard.

“He cultivated as many as 57 varieties of apples,” said Tim. “We still sell a few of them on our farm.”

Benjamin Nourse marketed not only apples but also byproducts like cider and applesauce. “Eventually he sold apples as far south as Atlanta, Georgia, and even overseas to Scotland,” marveled Tim. Besides apples, Benjamin added berries to his crop. “Over the three centuries of the Nourse farm, each generation has changed according to the market, focusing on dairy, fruits, or vegetables,” Tim explained.

“Their story reflects the constantly evolving nature of farming in America.”

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Marlborough receives $1.35 million in block grants

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – Improvements to Winthrop Street, continuation of a housing rehabilitation program and programs for the Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest are among the projects in line for funding from a community block grant.

The state recently awarded Marlborough with a grant of $1.35 million, pending the execution of grant contracts to be sent by the state.

The grants were approved by the City Council on Nov. 13.

The funds will be allocated for the following: Winthrop Street Infrastructure Project ($791,051) – The proposal includes replacement of the centuries-old drainage system; full-depth reconstruction of the roadways; replacement of sidewalks; and new granite curbing. New cement Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant wheelchair ramps will also be installed at all crossings. The Department of Public Works will administer the project and fund its overhead costs from the city budget.

‘Messiah Sing’ in Marlborough MARLBOROUGH – The Assabet Valley Mastersingers invite the public to a “Messiah Sing” on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3:30 p.m. at First Church Marlborough, 37 High St. The Messiah Sing is a unique event that encourages audience participation, allowing attendees to become part of the performance and share in the magic of George Handel’s masterpiece.

Accompanied by a professional orchestra and under the direction of Robert Eaton, participants will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of performing Handel’s “Messiah” alongside professional soloists.

For more information and to reserve your spot at the Messiah Sing, please visit www. avmsingers.org/events/messiah-sing.

Assabet Valley Mastersingers is a regional chorus with performances in Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough, Southborough and Marlborough.

Work should begin in the spring of 2024.

Housing Rehabilitation Program ($305,000) – About $240,000 will provide deferred payment loans to low- and moderate-income owner occupants and investor-owners of properties occupied by LMI households to complete needed repairs to an estimated six hous-

ing units; and $65,000 will be used to cover program delivery and administrative costs.

Improvements to be undertaken include repair or replacement of basic building systems such as roofs, heating systems, plumbing and electrical repairs; accessibility modifications; weatherization improvements; lead paint hazard reduction/

abatement; abatement of asbestos hazards; and correction of other building or sanitary code violations. Applicant properties must be substandard to quality for assistance.

“Prevention through Positive Youth Development,” Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro West ($80,000) – Combined with $44,800 from the Mas-

Events & Tastings Join us for a whiskey & war stories with horse soldiers

SCOTT NEIL & STEVE KOFRON whisk(e)y Wednesday December 6 • 7-8 PM

Meet Horse Soldier Bourbon President, Scott Neil — a 25 year US Army Green Beret retired, and fellow Green Beret and Brand Ambassador, Steve Kofron, for a tasting of this authentic, all-American, awardwinning, ultra-premium bourbon.

Horse Soldier is produced by American Freedom Distillery and founded by the Green Berets who were the first boots on the ground in Afghanistan following the attacks on 9/11. we’ll be TASTING: • Horse Soldier Bourbon • Horse Soldier Small Batch • Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Purchase a $10 Julio’s Gift Card to attend.

sachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs to continue this successful program for two more school years.

This program was first funded with a fiscal 2018 community block grant, and continued in fiscal 2020 serving 50 low- and moderate-income young people (ages 10 to 17) at its MarlborBlock grants | 25

Go to Juliosliquors.com Tastings/Events to purchase and sign up!

Wines of Bodega Catena Zapata December 7 • 7-8 pm

Whisk(e)y Wednesday

ROAD TRIP!! If you can’t make it to Argentina right away, make a road trip to Julio’s Liquors Thursday December 7th for a presentation and tasting of wines from Bodega Catena Zapata.

Elevated Dalmore Tasting

TASTING • Appellation Lujan de Cuyo Catena White Clay Semillon • Appellation San Carlos Cabernet Franc • Catena Alta Historic Rows Chardonnay • Catena Alta Historic Rows Cabernet Sauvignon • Catena Alta Historic Rows Malbec • Catena Zapata Argentino Malbec • Nicolas Catena Zapata Red Blend

TASTING • Dalmore 12yr Sherry Cask paired with food • Dalmore Portwood paired with food • Dalmore Cigar Malt paired with food • Dalmore 2008 Vintage 15yr • Dalmore 2005 Vintage 18yr • Dalmore 18yr • Dalmore 21yr • Dalmore 25yr

BRING A FRIEND Purchase a $10 Julio’s Gift Card to attend for you and 1 guest!

Purchase a Dalmore 12 Year for $65.00 (reg $79.99) to attend this elevated tasting.

December 13 • 7-8 pm Food pairings by Chef Alina Eisenhauer

OPEN 7 DAYS Mon-Sat: 9 am - 9 pm Sun: 10 am - 7 pm

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Shop In-store, Online, Delivery, or Pick-up! Free delivery on orders over $300 140 Turnpike Rd., Westborough, Route 9 at Lyman St., 508-366-1942 | juliosliquors.com

18 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

Chuckle for the Day :) Remember, old folks are worth a fortune, with silver in their hair, gold in their teeth, stones in their kidneys, lead in their feet, and gas in their stomachs.

I have become a little older since I saw you last and a few changes have come into my life since then.

Frankly, I have become quite a frivolous old gal.

I am seeing five gentlemen every day.

As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps me get out of bed. Then I go to see John. Then Charlie Horse comes along, and when he is here, he takes a lot of my time and attention. When he leaves, Arthur Ritis shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn’t like to stay in one place very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day, I’m really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay. What a life!

P.S. The preacher came to call the other day. He said at my age I should be thinking about the hereafter.

I told him, ‘Oh, I do it all the time’. No matter where I am - in the parlor, upstairs, in the kitchen or down in the basement, I ask myself ‘What am I here after?’

Sponsored by Chief Joseph Robert J. Terkanian P.O. Box 808 • Northborough, MA 01532

COMMUNITY NEWS

City Council approves telephone pole near 57 Main St.

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – While plans for 57 Main St. are on hold, plans to install a telephone pole, manhole and underground conduit are proceeding.

On Oct. 23, the City Council approved the plans.

The new pole will be jointly owned by Massachusetts Elec-

tric and Verizon, and it will be installed on High Street, about 300 feet east of the intersection of High and Bolton streets.

In addition, a new manhole and underground conduit will be installed.

According to an official from Verizon, the project would take two-three days to complete.

The project is adjacent to 57 Main St., the former Rowe Funeral Home. Plans to develop

the site, known as Exchange Place, are currently in litigation. JW Capital Partners LLC, the owner of the site, is suing the city over the number of offsite parking spaces the city will allow.

Current plans for Exchange Place call for 99 units and 25 on-site spaces.

For details on the plans, visit the development project page at www.marlborough-ma.gov.

Residents continue to save under electrical aggregation

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – Residents taking part in the city’s electricity aggregation program continue to save money compared to National Grid.

City Councilor Laura Wagner, a member of the city’s Ad Hoc Municipal Aggregation Committee, presented an update to the committee on Oct. 23.

For the second quarter of 2023, Wagner said that

residents have saved just over $2 million in their electricity bills compared to National Grid’s basic service rate. She added that another $1 million could be saved over the third quarter.

The city’s current contract with Inspire is scheduled to end in January of next year.

After that, the city will begin a 22-month contract with First Point Power.

As in the previous contract, the energy will come from 100% National Wind

Renewable Energy Credits; the new rate will be 0.14150 per kilowatt hour. National Grid’s Basic Service winter rate, effective in November, will be 0.18213 per kilowatt hour.

According to Wagner, residents have saved more than $17 million on their electric bills with Inspire.

More information on the city’s electrical aggregation program is available at the city’s website, www.marlborough-ma.gov.

&

POLICE

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 19

FIRE

Arrest made in connection with swastika incident at Hudson school

Woman charged with setting fire in Westborough police lobby

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

HUDSON – A Hudson man has been arrested in connection with drawing swastikas at Quinn Middle School earlier this month.

According to information released by the Hudson Police Department, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, officers responded to a report of swastikas being drawn in the dirt of the middle school’s softball field.

An investigation into the origin of the drawings was still ongoing when the department received another such report on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

On that day, according to police, officers responded to the softball field and located a 19-year-old Hudson man who was suffering from a mental health crisis. The department connected that individual to

services to address his mental health crisis.

A further investigation led the department to issue a summons for the 19-year-old male to appear at Marlborough District Court to face a charge of vandalizing property in connection with allegedly drawing swastikas in the dirt of the softball field.

Since the man was summoned, his name is not being released. It will be released upon his arraignment in Marlborough District Court, according to police.

“The swastika symbol has a well-known history of hatred, anti-Semitism and racism, and such symbols have no place in Hudson,” said Chief Richard DiPersio. “I want to thank the members of the community and school department that helped us identify and charge a suspect in this case.”

POLICE LOG Due to space constraints, this week’s police log will be running online only. The police log will return in a future edition of the Community Advocate. The police log and other police and fire news can be accessed online at https://www.communityadvocate.com/category/police-fire/.

The information in the police log is obtained directly from the official records maintained at each police station in our circulation area.

Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty. The Community Advocate will publish news of acquittals upon notification and a copy of court issued documentation. The below is a representation of this week’s police log. Some calls lacking severity have been omitted due to space constraints.

Scan QR code to read this week’s police and fire news on our website.

WESTBOROUGH – A woman from West Roxbury has been charged with setting fire to a clothing donation box in the Westborough Police Headquarters lobby on Sunday, Nov. 26.

According to information provided by the Westborough Police Department, officers discovered a fire in the lobby around 8:19 p.m. The fire set

off the sprinkler system; the Westborough Fire Department responded and confirmed that the fire had been extinguished.

There were no injuries.

Just before the fire, an officer had transported a woman to the lobby as a courtesy; she was waiting for a ride because the vehicle, in which she was a passenger, had to be towed due to an accident. The officer reviewed the surveillance and identified the woman who al-

Man charged with assault after incident at Dunkin’ Donuts

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor SOUTHBOROUGH – A Southborough resident was arrested and charged with assault following an incident at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 162 Cordaville Road.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, at around 1:42 p.m., Southborough police responded to a report that a female employee at Dunkin’ Donuts was accosted by a male customer.

When officers arrived, the employee told police she was inappropriately “grabbed” by the customer, according to a press release from the police department.

After an investigation, including a check of surveillance footage, the customer, identified as Paul Smith, was located and placed under arrest.

Celebrating our

Smith was charged with assault and battery and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years of age and older.

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legedly set the donation box on fire as Theresa Abichaker of West Roxbury.

After a search including K9 and drone units, she was located and placed under arrest.

She has been charged with three counts of burning in a public building; three counts of attempting to burn in a public building; vandalizing property; and fire negligence.

She was scheduled to be arraigned in Westborough District Court on Monday, Nov. 27, and is being held on $25,000 bail.

On Monday morning, the police had placed several fans in the lobby to dissipate the smell of smoke.

According to Deputy Police Chief Steven B. Tompkins, the fire itself did not cause much damage, but the water damage “could be significant.”

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20 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY OBITUARIES The Community Advocate will post obituaries online (and in print, as space allows). Please send information (and a picture if desired) to tracy@communityadvocate.com. Here is a complete list of individual obituaries posted on the Community Advocate website (www. communityadvocate.com).

Scan QR code to read all of this week’s obituaries on our website.

DEATHS Ahlman, Donald of Hudson Belaska, Elizabeth of Marlborough Brown, Sr. Dorothy a Sister of the Good Shepherd Charron, Robert of Shrewsbury Connolly, Michael of Marlborough Current Sr., John of Shrewsbury DiLeo, Diane of Shrewsbury Gilchrist, John of Charlton/ Grafton Gillespie, John of Grafton Kuzmanovski, Majria of Shrewsbury Matos, John of Hudson Pietruszka, Lorraine of South Grafton St. Martin, Phyllis of Northborough Wyner, Patricia of Shrewsbury

Jose M. Matos, 85 HUDSON - On Friday, November 17, 2023 Jose Manuel Silva Ferreira de Matos passed away peacefully at the age of 85.

He was born in Beca Boticas Portugal on January 4, 1938. He was the

5th oldest of 8 children born to his mother Maria Amelia de Silva and his father Miguel Joaquim Ferreira de Matos.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eugenia Fernandes Lage Matos and their 4 children: Amelia Matos and her husband Daniel Pack, Daniel Matos and his partner Teri Main, Mario Matos and his wife Patti Matos and Luiz Matos and his wife Tracy Matos.

Calling hours for Jose will be held on Friday November 24, 2023, from 4pm-7pm at Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangements.

John F. Gilchrist, 66 CHARLTON/GRAFTON - John F. Gilchrist, 66, passed away November 14, 2023 at Care Dimensions Hospice in Lincoln following a p ro l o n ge d illness. John was born December 10, 1956 in Providence, RI. He grew up in Grafton where he graduated from Grafton High School.

He is survived by his sons John and Jesse Gilchrist, his brothers Stephen Gilchrist and his wife Wendy. William Gilchrist and his wife Julianne.

Robert Gilchrist and his wife Julie. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, Charlie and Francis Gilchrist.

His son Jake Gilchrist and his former wife, and the mother of his children Lorna Gilchrist.

Roney Funeral Home of North Grafton assisted with arrangements.

Elizabeth Belaska, 87 MARLBOROUGH - Elizabeth “Betty” (Logan) Belaska, 87, a lifelong resident of Marlborough, MA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, N o ve m b e r 14, 2023 at Marlborough Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Betty was born in Marlborough, MA, the daughter of the late Robert and Margaret (Coyne) Logan. She was predeceased by her husband of 25 years Michael “Mike” J. Callahan in November, 2022.

Betty is survived by her 4 children, Kathie Belaska of Lynn, Jack Belaska of Worcester, David Belaska and his wife Pam of Milbury, Annie Belaska and her husband Andy of Rico, CO, 2 granddaughters, Marissa Belaska, Jessica van Dam and her husband Erik of Billerica and a great granddaughter Anya. She was predeceased by 2 brothers, Bob Logan, Dick Logan and a sister, Peggy Bennett.

The Short & Rowe Funeral Home of Marlborough assisted with arrangements.

Donald A. Ahlman, 75 HUDSON - Donald A. Ahlman, 75, of Hudson, MA, passed away u n ex p e c t edly on November 13th 2023, from what we (his three children) believe was from a broken heart from the loss of our mother, his loving wife, less than five months ago.

Donnie, loving father and

husband of his predeceased wife of 51.5 years, Barbara J. Ahlman; daughters Wendy (Ahlman) Wheeler and her husband Robert of Hudson, MA, and Laura Ahlman of Marlborough, MA; his son Shane Ahlman, of Worcester, MA; his three beloved grandchildren, granddaughter Jayden Wheeler of Hudson, MA and his two grandsons, Kolby and Brandon Resendes of Hudson, MA and his beloved step-grandchildren Kevin Wheeler and Colton Wheeler of Auburn, MA. He was predeceased by his late brother Arthur Ahlman and his wife Carol Ahlman, his three predeceased sisters, Doris Moran, Elynor Ahlman and Judy Nunnally.

He is also survived by his sister Kim Lindeman and her husband Mike of Bellingham, MA and his brother David Proulx and his wife Shirley, of Norfolk, MA; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, all of whom he loved very much.

Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangements.

Robert E. Charron, 72 SHREWSBURY - Robert E. Charron, 72, of Shrewsbury, formerly of Worcester, passed away very peacefully on T h u r s d a y, N o ve m b e r 16, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at Memorial Hospital in Worcester.

Bob leaves behind the love of his life, Karen (Jose). They have known each other since they were young children but married in 1972. After narrowly escaping a stint in Vietnam, they settled in Shrewsbury. He began working for Stop & Shop Warehouse as a forklift operator in their produce department.

Their daughter, Nichole M., was born shortly thereafter. Some years later, Nichole married Ron Zacek, and they gave Bob and Karen two granddaughters, Rileigh and Sophina. He is also survived by two brothers: his twin William Charron and his wife Deborah of Auburn, and Henry A. Charron, Jr. of Westborough; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four siblings: Helena M. Newton, George A., Frances C., and Richard T. Charron.

A Memorial Funeral Mass

will be held on Friday, December 8th at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne’s Church, 120 Boston Turnpike Road (Route 9 East), Shrewsbury. The family has entrusted Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel.

Lorraine M. Pietruszka, 91 GRAFTON - Lorraine (Poulin) Pietruszka, 91, of South Grafton, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday Nov.17, 2023.

The devoted wife of the late Edward J. Pietruszka, whom she was married to for 49 years, she leaves behind her beloved children; Diane Lucier wife of Paul, Thomas Pietruszka husband of Cheryl, Steven Pietruszka husband of Deanna, and Nancy L’Esperance wife of Albert.

She was the proud memere of 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren all of whom she loved immensely and treasured dearly.

Roney Funeral Home of North Grafton assisted with arrangements.

Michael C. Connolly, 65 MARLBOROUGH - Michael C. Connolly, 65, of Marlborough, passed away peacefully on Sunday, N o ve m b e r 19, 2023, at UMass Memorial – Marlborough Hospital. Michael was born in Lowell, MA, son of the late Joseph Connolly, and Georgette (L’Hereaux) Avila.

Michael is survived by his beloved children, Michelle Milian of North Carolina, Erin Fraize and her husband Sean of New Hampshire, Chad Connolly and his wife Tanya of Colorado, his cherished grandsons, Orien Chhun and Elliot Milian of North Carolina, and Joshua, Jonathan, and Kyle Fraize of New Hampshire. He is also survived by his sister Sharon McGovern of New York.

Short & Rowe Funeral Home of Marlborough assisted with arrangements.

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 21

LEGAL NOTICES Scan QR code for rate information or to email your legal notice.

HUDSON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Petition #ZSP-23-3 Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing to be held by the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023 extending the remote meeting provisions of March 12, 2020, Executive Order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, this meeting of the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals will be conducted via remote participation. Specific information for remote participation will be included on the agenda.

At this time the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals will hear the request of Guilherme Monteiro and Marcia Monteiro, requesting a Special Permit for the expansion of a pre-existing nonconforming two-family use pursuant to Section 5.1.6.1 of the Town of Hudson Protective Zoning By-Laws. The subject property is located at 15 Pine Street in the SB Single Family Zoning District, Assessors’ Map 28 Parcels 95. Such public hearing is taking place pursuant

A TO Z REPEATEDLY

to an order issued by the Land Court in Monteiro v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Hudson, Docket No. 23 MISC 000444 (Land Court), remanding the matter to the Zoning Board of Appeals for public hearing. The Board may consider any action deemed necessary relative to the subject petition.

All petition materials are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, on the Town of Hudson website at http://go.boarddocs. com/ma/hudsonma/Board.nsf/ goto?open&id=CXKJVW4EADD8 and can be requested by calling (978) 5622989 or by sending an email to kjohnson@townofhudson.org.

Matt Russell, Clerk Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Petition # ZSP 23-4 Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing to be held by the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this meeting of the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals will be conducted via remote participation.

At this time the Board of Appeals will hear the request of 80 Central Street, LLC., requesting a Special Permit pursuant to Section 5.2.3.1 for the conversion of a single-family dwelling into a

Call 508.366.5500 to advertise your legal notice two-family dwelling. The subject property is located at 80 Central Street in the SB – Residential Zoning District, Assessors’ Map 28 Parcel 214. The Board may consider any action deemed necessary relative to the subject petition.

All petition materials are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, on the Town of Hudson website at http://go.boarddocs. com/ma/hudsonma/Board.nsf/ goto?open&id=CXKJVV4EAD44 and can be requested by calling (978) 5622989 or by sending an email to kjohnson@townofhudson.org.

Matt Russell, Clerk Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Petition # ZSP 23-5 Notice is hereby given of a Public Hearing to be held by the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this meeting of the Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals will be conducted via remote participation.

At this time the Board of Appeals will hear the request of Jose Peneda, Trustee of 136 Main Street East Condominium, requesting a Special Permit pursuant to Section 9.2.37 for the construction of a two-family dwelling unit. The subject property is located at 136 Main Street

in the C-1 Downtown Commercial Zoning District, Assessors’ Map 29 Parcel 562. The Board may consider any action deemed necessary relative to the subject petition.

ant to 207 C.M.R 3.05 and Section 626(h) of the Cable Act (47 USC Section 546(h)), regarding the regarding the renewal of the cable television license of Verizon New England Inc.

All petition materials are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, on the Town of Hudson website at http://go.boarddocs. com/ma/hudsonma/Board.nsf/ goto?open&id=CXLK3C4FD6B3 and can be requested by calling (978) 5622989 or by sending an email to kjohnson@townofhudson.org.

The public is invited to attend or join and pose questions and/or provide comments.

Matt Russell, Clerk Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals

TOWN OF HUDSON SELECT BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE RENEWAL OF CABLE TELEVISION LICENSE OF VERIZON NEW ENGLAND INC. Monday, December 18, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. Hudson Police Station (Community Room) 911 Municipal Drive, Hudson MA The Select Board, as the Cable Television License Issuing Authority, will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. at the Hudson Police Station (Community Room), 911 Municipal Drive, Hudson, MA, pursu-

Any applications, reports, statements and/or amendments, including a copy of the Renewal License as proposed and/or agreed upon by the parties at that time will be available for review, download and/or reproduction at a reasonable fee from the Office of the Executive Assistant, including by e-mailing the office at tvickery@townofhudson. org or telephoning (978) 562-9963 Ext. 402.

SELECTBOARD TOWN OF HUDSON

WESTBOROUGH LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF INTENT WESTBOROUGH, MA In accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, MGL Chapter 131, Section 40, and the Westborough Wetlands Protection Bylaw, the Conservation Commission will conduct a Public Hearing to be held on December 12, 2023 after 6:30 PM at the Forbes Mu-

SUPER CROSSWORD

Legals | 22

Answers on page 23

22 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

LEGAL NOTICES Scan QR code for rate information or to email your legal notice.

Legals | from page 21 nicipal Building, 3rd Fl meeting room, 45 West Main Street, Westborough, MA, for a Notice of Intent for 14 Kendall Dr. (Map 8 Parcel 205) filed by David Buttry for proposed installation of an inground pool and associated grading within jurisdictional resources areas.

LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ABBREVIATED NOTICE OF RESOURCE AREA DELINEATION WESTBOROUGH, MA In accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, MGL Chapter 131, Section 40, and the Westborough Wetlands Protection Bylaw, the Conservation Commission will conduct a Public Hearing to be held on December 12, 2023 after 6:30 PM at the Forbes Municipal Building, 3rd Fl meeting room, 45 West Main Street, Westborough, MA, for an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation for 42 Lackey St. (Map 2 Parcel 9) filed by Chuck Lane to evaluate jurisdictional wetland resources areas.

MARLBOROUGH CITY OF MARLBOROUGH CONSERVATION COMMISSION NOTICE OF INTENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Marlborough Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on December 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM at Marlborough City Hall, 140 Main St. on the 3rd Floor Memorial Hall.

Petition: 1-7 Cullinane Drive – The Marlborough DPW proposes a drainage upgrade by the addition of a 12” reinforced concrete pipe to be located next to the existing 18” reinforced concrete pipe.

Replacement of existing wall with prefabricated concrete blocks and removal of any silt caused from washout.

Plans and other information will be available in the Conservation Commission office at City Hall Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. All interested persons are invited to the public hearing.

Edward Clancy Conservation Commission Chairman

OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Notice is given that the City Council of the City of Marlborough will hold a TAX

CLASSIFICATION PUBLIC HEARING with the Board of Assessors on MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023, at 8:00 PM in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 140 Main Street, Marlborough, MA to determine the percentage of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of property for Fiscal Year 2023. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 56 sets forth the procedures and responsibilities under the law.

Per Order of the City Council # 23-1009008 Michael H. Ossing, President

NOTICE OF TIER CLASSIFICATION 40 Hayes Memorial Drive, Marlborough, MA RELEASE TRACKING NUMBER 2-979 A release of oil and/or hazardous materials has occurred at this location, which is a disposal site as defined by M.G.L. c.

21E, § 2 and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, 310 CMR 40.0000. To evaluate the release, a Phase I Initial Site Investigation was performed pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0480. The site has been classified as TIER II pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0500. On November 17, 2023, Hayes Memorial Realty LLC filed a TIER II Classification Submittal with the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). To obtain more information on this disposal site, please contact Mr. Glenn Prouty, Hayes Memorial Realty LLC, 40 Hayes Memorial Drive, 508 786-0309. The Tier Classification Submittal and the disposal site file can be viewed at MassDEP website using Release Tracking Number (RTN) 2-979 at http://public.dep.state.ma.us/ SearchableSites2/Search.aspx or at MassDEP, Central Region. 8 New Bond Street, Worcester, MA 01606, 508 7927650. Additional public involvement opportunities are available under 310 CMR 40.1403(9) and 310 CMR 40.1404.

ZBA Case # 23-1500 Location: 553 Elm St. Applicant: David & Katherine Mason Representative: Christopher Flood NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RELIEF REQUESTED Notice is hereby given that the Marlborough Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public meeting on Tuesday December 19, 2023 at 7:00 PM at Marlborough City Hall, 140 Main St. – 3rd floor Memorial Hall.

Petition: This is a request for relief taken under M.G.L. Ch 40A § 10, 13 and 14 to the Zoning Determination of the City’s Building Commissioner dated November 9, 2023 as said determination affects premises at 553 Elm St. The applicants requested a zoning determination of the Building Commissioner as to whether the proposed 19’x32’ addition can be built by right in the Zoning District A2.

The Building Commissioner determined

Call 508.366.5500 to advertise your legal notice that the applicant requires relief from Chapter 650, Article 41, “Table of Lot Area, Yards, and Height of Structures”, of the City Code of Marlborough.

The applicant is seeking relief in the form of a Variance to construct an addition replacing the existing patio which exceeds the minimum rear yard setback requirement of 40 feet. The proposed rear yard setback is 32.6 feet.

For further assistance, please contact the Zoning Board of Appeals at 508460-3768. All interested persons are invited.

Applicant or representative must be present Ralph Loftin Chairman

SHREWSBURY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARINGS RICHARD D. CARNEY Municipal Office Building 100 Maple Avenue Shrewsbury, MA December 18, 2023 6:30 PM To hear the appeal Matthew Mrva of 103 Holman Street, Shrewsbury MA 01545 Shrewsbury MA for two Variances to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VII.C-Table III to construct a fire place and pergola in the front yard, forty two and eight tenths (42.8’) feet from the front yard setback where these accessory structures are not allowed upon property located at 103 Holman Street in the Residence B-1zoning district.

The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 17 Plot 045000.

December 18, 2023 6:30 PM To hear the appeal of Michael Connors 621 Main St, RemodelWerks, Shrews-

bury, MA 01545, for two Variances to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section VII.B. Table II to allow for an addition to a pre-existing non-conforming building to be constructed twenty – nine and two tenths (29.2’) feet from the rear yard setback where fifty (50’) feet is required and an easterly side yard setback of thirty – two (32’) feet where fifty 50’ feet is required and a Special Permit to the Shrewsbury Zoning Bylaw Section IV.B for the westerly side yard setback of twenty eight (28.5’) feet where fifty (50’) feet is required upon property located at 779 Hartford Turnpike in the Limited Industrial zoning district. The subject premise is described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 43 Plot 025000.

December 18, 2023 6:30 PM To hear the appeal of Pulte Homes of New England, LLC., 1900 West Park Drive, Suite 180, Westborough, MA, 01581 for a Comprehensive Permit pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 40B, Sections 20 to 23, of the Massachusetts General Laws, to permit the construction of a 300 unit multifamily residential development upon property located at 33-69 Green Street, Shrewsbury MA. The subject premises are described on the Shrewsbury Assessor’s Tax Plate 43 Plot 007000.

Peter C. Mulcahy, Clerk December 1st & December 8th

SOUTHBOROUGH Notice is hereby given by Ted’s of Fayville, 300 Turnpike Road., Southborough, MA 01772, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 255, section 39A, that on Wednesday December 20, 2023 at 10 am an auction sale on the web based site of http://sta.ibidsmart.com the following motor vehicles will be sold to satisfy our garage keeper’s lien thereon

for storage, towing charges, care and expenses of notices and sale of said vehicles. Starting December 5, 2023 at 9 am, vehicles can be viewed at http:// sta.ibidsmart.com.

This is not an absolute auction we reserve the right to set a minimum on all auction vehicles. If a particular vehicle is not listed on http://sta.ibidsmart.com call 508-485-0503 for bidding instructions.

2009 Honda Civic VIN: 2HGFA16679H331242 Owned by Luiz H Lopes Lima 2007 Honda Accord VIN:1HGCM56797A161374 Owned by Nicole Colon 2009 Toyota Rav4 Vin: JTMBF31V39D005850 Owned by Siah J Foday 2007 Mercedes Benz E350 VIN: WDBUF87X4X209940 Owned by Neysiauris Y Pichardo 2021 Stoughton 53’ Trailer VIN: 1DW1A532XNBA70657 Owned by: Aluna Trucking Inc 2012 Chevrolet Cruze VIN:1G1PC5SH5C7299253 Owned by Frednel Bissainthe 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN: 1G1AK15F077236353 Owned by Abner Quinones 2004 Lincoln LS VIN: 1LNHM86S84Y681316 Owned by Michael Direeno 1989 Galaxy 225 Weekender VIN: GALWE130D989 Owned by Anderson Sandes This notice has been given under the provisions of G.L. c. 255, Section 39A. Publication Friday December 1, 8 and 15, 2023 Community Advocate.

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24 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY NEWS

Northborough celebrates Thanksgiving with families from Haiti, Colombia

By Laura Hayes Managing Editor

PHOTOS/LAURA HAYES

NORTHBOROUGH – St. Bernadette’s was filled with music and food on Nov. 21 as new arrivals from Colombia and Haiti and community members gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Children ran and played in between the tables while people filled their plates with food. At one table, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll ate with one of the new arrivals.

“It’s so heartwarming for new arrivals who are experiencing their first Thanksgiving and to be able to share that,” Driscoll told the Community Advocate.

“Real gratitude to the town of Northborough, the amazing staff, supporters, community members who have come together to help people feel welcome and feel that their needs are being met, which is pretty important.”

In her remarks, Driscoll welcomed the families on behalf of the commonwealth.

“Thanksgiving is about hope

Lt. Gov Kim Driscoll speaks at a Thanksgiving meal at St. Bernadette’s for the new arrivals from Haiti and Colombia.

— hope for the next generation, hope for a better life, hope that we can find peace in where we are and across the world,” she said.

Over the summer, a number of migrant families arrived in Massachusetts, leading Gov. Maura Healey to declare a state of emergency in August. At that time, the state estimated that there were nearly 5,600 families, or over 20,000 individuals, in the state shelter system.

In late July, the new arrivals were placed in an emergency

Select Board Chair Mitch Cohen places food on his plate during the Thanksgiving dinner.

shelter in a Northborough motel. According to Health Director Kristin Black, 30 families have been housed in town, including 40 children — 27 of which were under the age of 4 and five babies on the way.

“The arrival families who are gathered with us tonight originate from Haiti and Colombia.

These countries don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but they have many holidays where they give thanks and celebrate with food,” said Black.

Black said the event that

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night was special as they gathered at St. Bernadette’s to give thanks and celebrate.

“These families faced extreme hardships to come to Northborough. We are grateful for their health and their strength,” said Black.

Referencing the phrase that “it takes a village to raise a child,” Black recognized the “village” of Northborough that has supported the families since they arrived in town.

Among those recognized were Driscoll and Housing and

Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, who were both present at the meal; Northborough’s delegation of Sen. Robyn Kennedy and Reps. Kate Donaghue and Meghan Kilcoyne; Select Board members; school officials; members of the technology department, department of public works, health department, fire and police; and the town’s partnership with the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance.

Black also recognized Northborough Helping Hands Association, Northboro Junior Woman’s Club and the Northborough Food Pantry, and the Neighborhood Brigade along with individual community members.

“I am so grateful to work in the beautiful village of Northborough, which is filled with amazing people. I am thankful for the families here tonight.

Thank you for sharing your children, your goodwill and your delicious food with us and enriching all of our lives,” said Black.

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COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

AMSA receives $25,000 gift from Middlesex Savings MARLBOROUGH – Middlesex Savings Bank announced a corporate gift of $25,000 to the Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School (AMSA).

The support will allow the school to improve equity in access to science and tech-

nology for its diverse student population by investing in educational facilities that are learning laboratories.

AMSA is a middle and high school dedicated to inspiring students to become future leaders who will make a difference in traditional and emerg-

ing industries and companies.

The school is undertaking a capital campaign to raise funds to construct a new building to expand classroom space, allowing more flexible scheduling and improved learning opportunities with state-ofthe-art classroom technology.

The building project will put more 21st-century science and technology into students’ hands in earlier grades. Specific improvements include increasing science research space; modernizing classroom technology; expanding chemistry, biology, and physics labs; adding new benches and tables to labs; and improving safety features in all rooms and buildings.

“Receiving this gift from Middlesex Savings Bank is

Marlborough Public Schools begins budget process for 2025

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – Planning for the fiscal 2025 school budget is underway.

On Nov. 14, the School Committee approved the following calendar to develop and present the school budget: • Feb. 13, 2024, the superintendent’s budget will be delivered to the School Committee.

• March 6, budget workshop at 6 p.m. to review the su-

more than a financial contribution to our capital campaign, it is a commitment to being right there with AMSA as we seek to provide the highest quality education to our students who come from all backgrounds and abilities,” said AMSA Executive Director Lisa Mobley.

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perintendent’s budget reed to send along a request to quest. the City Council for $2 million • March 12, School Committoward a feasibility study for tee will agree on the fiscal Richer Elementary School.

Marlborough receives $1.35 million in block grants 2025 budget figure for pubThe study will help delic hearing posting. termine when the proposed Block grants | from page 17 sexual activity. The program’s • March 26, public hearing school project would be elicollaborative approach includes ough clubhouse each year. on the proposed budget; gible for a grant from the Maseducation, prevention and enThe program addresses vote for budget in regular sachusetts School Building forcement opportunities. youth health-risk behaviors Branding Concepts Authority. session.

The combined funds would Family Dental Group by providing programs that • April 1, School Committee Richer, which was built in be used toward a teen proimprove decision-making and budget sent to mayor and 1965, has been overcrowded gram coordinator; a program critical-thinking skills, as well as City Council.Concept 2 | Revised for several years. It currently director; a prevention prohelping participants learn how Main Logo: serves students in grades K-5, gram instructor; supplies; and to avoid and/or resist alcohol Plans for Richer Elementary and it has an enrollment of 585 transportation. and drug use, and premature DENTAL The School Committee votas of October.

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26 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023

COMMUNITY SPORTS Hudson snaps 13-year Thanksgiving streak against Marlborough Football | from page 1

PHOTOS/EVAN WALSH

streak] may have been discussed by others, but not here.

We told them to focus on the present and take care of business here today.”

Hudson did, in fact, take care of business. Logan Luz scored late in the first quarter, putting Hudson ahead 7-0.

Marlborough fumbled the kickoff, and less than 15 seconds later, Hudson’s Jake Attaway scrambled for another touchdown, putting the Hawks ahead 14-0.

Hudson would add to the lead with 8:26 remaining in the half. Attaway found Nolan Yates to extend the Hawks’ lead to 21-0. Just fifteen seconds into the third quarter, Attaway hit Savion Newton-Clark for a 65-yard touchdown that made the game 28-0.

After losing in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 6 semifinals on Nov. 18, the Hawks had to prepare for Marlborough on an abbreviated schedule. Hudson still had plenty of firepower.

“I saw a team that wanted to respond after a loss. I saw a team that wanted to win. They came out with energy.

They came out with a lot of pride — a lot of heart. It’s all gas, no breaks for these guys and that’s been the statement of the week,” Attaway said.

The Thanksgiving Day win concluded Attaway’s first season as Hudson’s head coach.

“I couldn’t ask for a more amazing group for my first year. I told my seniors that they’ll always be special to me.

I’ll never have a first senior class ever again. It’s onward and upward from here; we have bigger goals for next season,” said Attaway.

Above: Marlborough’s Calvin McFarlane looks for an opportunity to score against the Hawks.

Right: A Hudson player dodges Marlborough defenders and moves the ball up the field.

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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 1, 2023 • 27

COMMUNITY SPORTS

Shrewsbury girls hockey looks to match last year’s success

By Evan Walsh Reporter

PHOTO/BILL GILMAN

SHREWSBURY – Since winning its first-ever 2023 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 championship in March, the Shrewsbury Colonials girls ice hockey team has been busy.

The team visited the State House, Fenway Park and Polar Park, and it dropped the ceremonial puck at a Worcester Railers game. Throughout the last few months, the team has taken every opportunity to celebrate its title-clinching win against St. Mary’s High (Lynn) at TD Garden.

However, as the new season is fast approaching — the first official practice was scheduled for Nov. 27, and captains’ practices are well underway —Shrewsbury is refocusing and looking forward to the upcoming season and the opportunity to become back-toback state champions.

“They’ve been working really hard,” said Head Coach Frank Panarelli. “[The players] know that [the championship] was great. It’s over. Let’s concentrate on this year.”

After graduating several seniors — including Telegram & Gazette Girls Athlete of the Year Maddie Mrva — Shrewsbury’s team will have some shuffling. Yasmine McKenzie, who scored the go-ahead goal in March’s championship game, has since transferred to another school and will not return to Shrewsbury’s team.

“We need girls to step into bigger roles… We’re going to have a target on our back, which we’re kind of used to because we’ve had some

Shrewsbury High Coach Frank Panarelli and the captains pose with the Division 1 Girls State Hockey Championship following their win against St. Mary’s High (Lynn) in March.

pretty successful teams. We seem to get everyone’s best game,” Panarelli said.

He noted that Shrewsbury plays in “probably the best league in the state.”

Shrewsbury’s team will have plenty of familiar faces and important contributors returning. Marisa Montoya — the team’s goalie and nowsenior captain — returns to the net. Panarelli said that “it all starts with [Montoya],” mentioning her “fantastic” play in the championship.

Bridget McLaughlin, Paige Umile, Kealy Fay, Mia Ryder, Blaire Fay, Lauren Albertson, Natalie MacCausland, and Sadie Cusson are among those returning to the team.

Panarelli said that the team has a “good balance” of returning players and rookies.

“Hockey is a small world, so at one point, some of these kids always seem to have played with each other. They

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know each other a little bit,” he said. “Our first scrimmage, I always make it a good bus ride — this year we’re going out to play a scrimmage at Malden Catholic. It’s a great bonding experience. We’re on the bus for the first time, all the new freshmen… It’s a

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where I’m starting out on our first day of practice. That’s going to be our goal — let’s make it to the tournament.

There’s going to be no talk of championships,” he said.

The Colonials’ season will kick off against Billerica on Dec. 14.

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