ADVOCATE
rs
4 1974 - 202 fo r
COMMUNITY
Rosemary Rimkus, Hudson legend and community journalist, 1929-2025
sm
Supp or
cal Journ g Lo ali tin
ea O ver 5 0 Y
Proudly 100% local content
100% FREE
Zoning change sought to build threestory home
Hudson girls basketball team defeats Quabbin
Marlborough | 11
Hudson | 23
Obituaries | 21
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Select Board shows interest in Mass. Central Rail Trail By Evan Walsh Reporter HUDSON – Already home to the beloved Assabet River Rail Trail, Hudson is showing interest in constructing another recreational path. The Select Board on Jan. 13 voted unanimously, 3-0, to take three actions regarding the proposed Mass. Central Rail Trail. The board signed on to a letter supporting the “Finish the Trail” campaign, while also authorizing the Department of Planning and Community Development to apply for design funds with the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Mass. Trails Program. The Mass. Central Rail Trail is a project that aims to connect Boston and Northampton with 104 miles of trails. The project has been in the works since 1980. Today, the organization advocating for the trail reports that 96.5 miles of the proposed trail are protected, with 63 miles open for public use. At this point, Hudson and Berlin are some of the remaining unfinished sections of the trail. The proposed trail section in Hudson would start near the ongoing Eversource Transmission Project, later connecting to Main Street and the Assabet River Rail Trail. Moving west from there, the trail would loosely follow Central Street, and then Coolidge Street, before hitting the Bolton line near Interstate 495. “This is the town’s second adventure in rail trails, so it’s very exciting,” said Director of Planning and Community Development Kristina Johnson. Rail Trail | 11
00
Apply Apply forfor a a
%%
Mass Mass Save Save HEAT HEAT Loan Loan
Vol. 51 | No. 4 | January 24, 2025
For Mary Murphy, students came first Superintendent to retire at end of school year By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – Mary Murphy faced several challenges during her three-year tenure as superintendent of Marlborough Public Schools. A bus strike. A sudden influx of students from refugee families. Budget cuts. Through it all, Murphy emphasized the needs of students above everything else. “The staff, families, and community all prioritize the needs of our students,” she said. “I have loved being a Marlborough educator for 22 years. When I meet with new staff members, I share with them that it is my hope that they will love Marlborough, the staff and schools, as much as I have.” Murphy announced her retirement during the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14. She will step down at the end of this school year. “It was an honor to work alongside Superintendent Murphy. We are sad she made the decision to retire; however, we are extremely
Murphy | 5
Marlborough Public Schools Superintendent Mary Murphy recently announced that she planned to retire at the end of the school year.
Pleasant Hill Retirement Community officially opens By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
Pleasant Hill includes a “Main Street” with a salon, fitness center, and general store. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
interest interestfinancing financingfor for energy energyefficient efficienthome home upgrades. upgrades.
MARLBOROUGH – The region’s latest over-55 retirement community offers a combination of comfort and amenities. “They’ve thought of everything,” said Mayor J. Christian Dumais, who presented a Pleasant Hill | 7
LEARN LEARNMORE MORE Scan Scan QRQR code code forfor details details or or visit visit www.stmaryscu.org www.stmaryscu.org