19 74 - 20 24
COMMUNITY
ADVOCATE
FREE
Musket salute honors Revolutionary War veteran
Hudson softball defeats Shrewsbury, falls short in championship game
Marlborough | 13
Hudson | 22
Master gardener talks about chickens
marlborough at a glance
Wenzel | 6
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Finance Committee approves increase for MEDC budget By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – The City Council’s Finance Committee discussed two transfer requests for the Marlborough Economic Development Corp. — the operating budget and the toolbox fund — on April 17. The funds for both programs come from the city’s economic development account. Operating budget For the 2025 fiscal year, the MEDC is requesting $762,465 to fund its programs and staffing — a nearly 10% increase over the 2024 fiscal year. The MEDC is requesting an additional $20,000 for the pop-up shops, which were launched last year and feature 20 local vendors from May through December. The additional funds will go toward advertising and marketing; maintenance of the porta potties; WiFi; insurance; increased signage; beautification; and two promotional/community events. The other part of the increase is a request to convert an administrative position from part time to full time. “The need for the administrative role to go from part time to full time is to help with overseeing and managing use of the pop-ups, along with the more traditional administrative and clerical tasks such as scheduling, answering phones, general office management, supporting staff with projects as well as assisting with all marketing efforts,” according to a letter from MEDC budget | 9
Vol. 50 | No. 17 | April 26, 2024
Earmark helps with improvements at Hudson Senior Center By Laura Hayes Managing Editor HUDSON – Visitors to the Hudson Senior Center will now be able to use a newly restored ramp to get into the building. “After 10 years of salt and dirt, we had to tear up the whole ramp,” said Director Janice Long. She said the ramp was getting to a point where it was chipping away and becoming unsafe. “We did not have any accidents, but we didn’t want to wait for one to happen,” said Long. The project was completed by the town’s Department of Public Works (DPW). The work took about a week from the time the department got the needed materials. The Senior Center also had to replace the decorative stonework near the ramp. The funding for the project was thanks to an earmark for $150,000 in the 2023 budget secured by Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow) for improvements at the Senior Center.
Center | 12
Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow) helped secure an earmark for improvements to the Hudson Senior Center. (Photo/Laura Hayes)
Assistant chief receives accreditation By Ron Ayotte Contributing Writer MARLBOROUGH – Marlborough Fire Department Assistant Chief Jeff Emanuelson recently became accredited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Fire Service Commission. The path to becoming accredited is not an easy one. The Massachusetts Fire Chiefs credential-
ing and recredentialing program is intended to provide the opportunity for all full-time, call and volunteer applicants to demonstrate, through recognition at the highest level, their skills, knowledge and professional achievements that benefit their respective departments and the cities or towns they serve. Accreditation can be obtained by the anyone in Emanuelson | 5
Proudly serving you since 1996
All Types of Home Repair & Remodeling Odd Jobs, Maintenance & Much More!
W E’R E H I R I N G!
www.mrhandyman.com
(508) 366-3690 Licensed Bonded Insured MA CS #107504 | MA HIC #146014