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Armory on the Assabet advancing – earmark by earmark
After semifinal bid last year, Hudson hockey returns with high hopes
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Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 51 | No. 50 | December 12, 2025
‘Catalyst for improvements’
City Council clears path for Ames Street condos
Hudson teen brings fresh perspective to state education board By Paul Hopkins Reporter
By Paul Hopkins Reporter MARLBOROUGH – The City Council approved an overlay district at the intersection of Ames Street and Forest Avenue, but with only the minimum six votes needed. The Gutierrez Company and the Marlborough/Northborough Realty Trust envision two four-story buildings with 90 “agetargeted” units that would be an alternative to a single-family home subdivision. Their attorney, Brian Falk, has said the plan concentrates development of the site, preserving about four acres of wooded land and providing a buffer for neighbors. Those supporting the overlay amendment included Council President Michael Ossing, Vice President Kathleen Robey, and councilors Teona Brown, David Doucette, Trey Fuccillo, and Mark Vital. Councilors John Irish, Sean Navin, Mark Oram, and Robert Preciado voted against the plan. As recently as October, the Ames Street property was still considered a potential site for a new Richer Elementary School. The Ames Village proposal will still be subject to the site plan review process. The City Council will continue to have input on parking, design, and landscaping in the future. The overlay district as passed restricts buildings to four stories in height with a minimum rear setback from neighbors of 50 feet. Attorney Falk indicated the development would be attractive to those looking to
HUDSON – Isabella Chamberlain has thoughts about education policy in Massachusetts. Chamberlain, 17, is the sole student on the 11-member Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; she’s a full voting member. Chamberlain was also elected chair of the state’s Student Advisory Council earlier this year. The senior at Hudson High has worked her way up the ladder. She says she started thinking about getting involved in student leadership roles as early as eighth grade. In her freshman year, Chamberlain was elected to the Central Massachusetts Regional School Advisory Council and seemingly caught the bug. “I enjoyed it so much that I really wanted to run for a leadership position,” she told the Community Advocate. “In my junior year I was re-elected to the regional council and ran for the communications coordinator position,”
Isabella Chamberlain stands next to Hudson High School Principal Lauren Pupecki.
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Marlborough property taxes set to increase By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter MARLBOROUGH — The average singlefamily home in Marlborough will see a tax increase of nearly $600 in fiscal year 2026 — an increase councilors are calling
“unprecedented.” On Dec. 1, the City Council approved a split tax rate with a factor of 1.47, meaning the residential rate would be $10.54 and the commercial/industrial/personal property (CIP) rate would be $18.43. “As you all know, the residential
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