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Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Marlborough may ban kratom By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter MARLBOROUGH – Marlborough could become the fifth municipality in Massachusetts to ban the substance kratom. At the Board of Health’s Aug. 12 meeting, local officials discussed the city’s path forward when it came to kratom, an herbal extract that comes from an evergreen tree in Southeast Asia called Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom is often sold at smoke shops and gas stations. It can be found in liquid form, as a pill, or as a gummy. Often, the substance is advertised as an “energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever, and remedy for the symptoms of quitting opioids,” according to the Mayo Clinic. While kratom is often used by people seeking relief from opioid withdrawal, experts say it comes with its own risk of addiction. Ward 1 City Councilor Mark Vital is leading the push to ban kratom. As the community outreach manager and assistant cross country and track coach at the Advanced Math and Science Academy, Vital said he’s seen firsthand the impact of kratom on the city’s youth. Vital had a student who had been taking kratom and died, he told the Community Advocate, though he added that his death wasn’t attributed to the substance. “His quality of life was significantly reduced. He was working and spending almost his entire Kratom | 5
‘We want to continue his legacy’ Uliss women keep Firefly’s BBQ flame alive By Sara Bedigian Contributing Writer MARLBOROUGH – For the daughters of Steven Uliss, keeping their father’s restaurant running is about more than business. Firefly’s in Marlborough has been bringing barbecue and southern specialities to New England for over 20 years. For Rachel and Carly, it’s also become a monument to their late father’s legacy. Uliss opened Firefly’s 25 years ago at 350 East Main Street, and the restaurant quickly became a local favorite among Marlborough residents and the greater Central Massachusetts community. When Uliss unexpectedly passed away eight months ago, leaving the restaurant to his wife Amy and his daughters, the women united as one to keep the restaurant going. “We know how much this place meant to him, how long it had taken him to build this, and we wanted to continue his legacy,” Amy Uliss told the Community Advocate. At first, Amy Uliss thought she was doing it Firefly’s | 5
From left to right, Rachel Uliss, Amy Uliss, and Carly Uliss. (Photo/Shealagh Sullivan)
Hudson wins $500,000 for Town Hall By Paul Hopkins Reporter HUDSON – Hudson has secured a $500,000 grant to cover a significant portion of the costs to modernize the heating and air conditioning system in Town Hall. The $500,000 comes through Massachusetts’ competitive Green
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Vol. 51 | No. 35 | August 29, 2025
Communities Division. Executive Assistant Thomas Gregory told the Finance Committee on Aug. 19 that the funds will help replace 25-year-old equipment with modular heat pumps. Gregory credited Pam Helinek, assistant director of planning and community development, as “instruGreen Grant | 4
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