19 74 - 20 24
COMMUNITY
ADVOCATE
FREE
Run was still fun, despite the rain
Hudson softball heads to semifinals
MARLBOROUGH | 6
HUDSON | 33
Pastor of Unitarian Church honored
hudson happ’nings rimkus | 18
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 50 | No. 24 | June 14, 2024
Church begins Hundreds gather to celebrate 36th ‘Hope After Loss’ Annual Hudson Fest support group By Dakota Antelman Contributing Writer
MARLBOROUGH – Suffering the loss of a child produces a level of deep emotional grief that no person can understand except to experience it, especially when addiction is the root cause. To those enduring such agony, Greater Grace Christian Fellowship (GGCF) in Marlborough began a new support group, “Hope After Loss,” on June 3. “Losing a loved one to the impact of addiction brings a range of emotions from shame, to regret, to agonizing sorrow,” said Cheryl Juaire, who will lead the new group. Juaire has lost two sons to addiction and has turned her grief into a passion to help others who have experienced such loss. She explained that her path from unbearable grief to hope would not have been possible without the support of a loving church community and the guidance of a Godly pastor. When her son, Corey, died in 2011, while she was living in Florida, Juaire recalled, “I did not want to live with that pain.” She figured she had two options. “I could drink myself to death or I could just trust that everything my pastor was telling me from the Bible was true,” she said. So, she made sure she was in church every week. When her pastor suggested something, she did it. Those two simple steps proved to be the best possible medicine. She now lives in Marlborough and has found Support group | 8
PHOTOS/DAKOTA ANTELMAN
By Jim Ash Contributing Writer
Hudson Rotary Club members pour rubber ducks into the Assabet River as part of their annual Lucky Duck Race during Hudson Fest.
Hudson Fest | 9
Mixed-use project at former funeral home clears City Council By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – The former Rowe Funeral Home at 57 Main St. is one step closer to being torn down and replaced with a mixed-use project. On Monday, June 3, the City Council approved the amended site plan submitted by JW
Roofing
Decking
HUDSON - Hundreds of community members flocked to South Street in Hudson on Saturday for the 36th Annual Hudson Community Festival. Under clear skies, 120 vendors mingled with attendees and sold everything from hot dogs, to soaps, to wooden bowls carved on portable lathes. The event also included live music, woodturning demonstrations, nonprofit informational booths and more. “You can spend lots of money here,” said Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Sarah Cressy. “But you can also come with your kids and do almost everything for free.” The chamber of commerce organizes Hudson Fest each year. Speaking with the Community Advocate, Cressy said she is excited to see the event continue to grow and evolve. “What’s great about Hudson is that everybody loves to get together and support each other,” said Hudson Business Association President Jeffrey Gordon. “That’s probably one of the strengths of Hudson.”
Capital Partners LLC. According to City Engineer Thomas DiPersio Jr., the next steps will include a building permit application by the developer. City officials will also conduct preconstruction meetings with the developer; according to DiPersio, there is nothing scheduled yet. The project – known as Exchange Place Funeral home | 10
REMODART
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
“Transform Your Home: Discover Our Renovation Solutions Today!”
Siding
Contact Us
508-906-9627 • 774-486-8635 • www.remodart.com
10% OFF