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Hudson Special Town Meeting debates funds
Hudson football earns win over Westborough
hudson | 8
hudson | 27
Kind donations, spooky places, demonstrations
marlborough at a glance
Wenzel | 14
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 51 | No. 39 | September 26, 2025
Fireworks between Hudson resident honors sister, DPW, Board friend in boxing match for cancer of Health over By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter water system By Paul Hopkins Reporter HUDSON – The Hudson Board of Health is asking to be included as the town’s Department of Public Works addresses administrative concerns brought by the state about Hudson’s water system. But that discussion turned testy as a town leader asked why the Board of Health felt it could hold the DPW chief accountable. Select Board Vice Chair Judy Congdon rose in defense of DPW Director Eric Ryder, accusing the Board of Health of “disparaging” him because he could not attend an earlier meeting. Congdon also chastised the Board of Health for a public communication that accused the Select Board of not being responsive regarding the water report. The Department of Environmental Protection issued a report earlier this year identifying a number of violations and concerns, none of which had to do with water quality. They were deemed “administrative” in nature at the time, and Ryder says they are being addressed. Ryder and Congdon both stressed — again — that Hudson’s water supply is safe to drink. But the debate continued, with Health Board Chair Matthew Gallen arguing that his board has a responsibility to respond to the DEP report. Attorney Mike Hugo with the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards said that, under law, boards of health must protect people from Board of Health | 4
HUDSON — Next month, Hudson resident Jackie Griffin will be fighting for a cure for cancer — literally. Along with 25 other New Englanders, Griffin will be participating in the annual Haymakers for Hope Belles of the Brawl charity boxing event. Haymakers for Hope has raised over $35 million for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care since it was founded in 2011. Griffin, a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern University, has been taking boxing classes since 2018. It started as a sustainable form of exercise and stress relief, but now it’s taking on a new meaning. In 2023, Griffin’s sister Emily Setteducato died from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at 29. Just a year later, Marilyn Minus, a close friend of Griffin’s, died after a battle with cancer at 46. Griffin said she watched both Setteducato and Minus fight cancer firsthand. Their relent-
Boxing | 9
Jackie Griffin is ready to fight for a cure for cancer. (Photo/Courtesy)
Marlborough welcomes new lab for sustainable materials By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter MARLBOROUGH — Loop CO2 Inc. opened its new lab on Cedar Hill Street on Sept. 17, ushering Marlborough deeper into the Mas-
sachusetts biotechnology landscape. Loop CO2 is a startup company focused on sustainability through CO₂-based polymers. The polymers can be made into materials used to make BPA-free epoxies, biodegradable polyesters, and more. Lab | 15
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