Since 1974 fo r
COMMUNITY
ADVOCATE
rs
Supp or
sm
cal Journ g Lo ali tin
ea O ver 5 0 Y
An early look at plans for a new Richer Elementary School
Proudly 100% local content
100% FREE
Marlborough city councilor deployed to active military duty
MARLBOROUGH | 5
Hudson softball shows newfound confidence in big win over Dracut
MARLBOROUGH |20
HUDSON | 37
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Theater central to Marlborough residents’ relationship
Donnie Baillargeon and David Berti
By Sophia Oppedisano Reporter MARLBOROUGH – Donnie Baillargeon and David Berti met in Paradise. At least that was the name of the nowdefunct bar in Cambridge where Baillargeon took refuge on a rainy night back in 1990. Neither can remember who approached whom, but 36 years later, the Marlborough residents look back fondly on that night and what they connected over: theater. Baillargeon fell in love with show business as a first-grader after landing the lead role in his grammar school’s original musical. Berti was a third-grader when he found a book of plays in his classroom and asked his teacher if he and his classmates could perform one. While the pair didn’t have access to big theater programs in high school, both performed in yearly plays or musicals, and Baillargeon began singing with a friend who would invite
Theater | 5
Sunday, May 10th Celebrate mom with a special Mother’s Day dinner
Vol. 52 | No. 18 | May 1, 2026
Hudson, meet Magnus!
Hudson Police Department welcomes new canine officer By John Bishop Reporter HUDSON – You can add “Magnus” to the Hudson Police Department’s roster of canine officers. Soon, the black Labrador retriever will join officer Cameron O’Toole on the beat, and four-legged members of the department “Murf” and “Jocko.” “I’ve always loved dogs and animals, and I love my job. If a K-9 position ever opened, I wanted to do it — but I didn’t expect it anytime soon. We already have our comfort dog, Murf, and our patrol dog, Jocko,” said O’Toole. “I’ve had dogs my entire life — bulldogs, boxers, golden retrievers. I never personally had a lab.” When it was made known that Hudson would be getting a new canine, a handful of officers showed interest and interviewed. The chief narrowed down the candidates before officially deciding. O’Toole’s experience with dogs comes from family. His siblings own Labrador retrievers, which are known for their gentle Magnus | 5
Magnus is excited to get to work for the Hudson Police Department. (Photo/Courtesy)
Hudson Town Meeting to consider $7.25M spend to repair two school roofs By Paul Hopkins Reporter HUDSON – Voters at Hudson Town Meeting will consider articles to fund school roof repairs, create an Audit Committee, and spend PFAS settlement money that started arriving last year.
Mother’s Day Join us for
Breakfast & Dinner
Restaurant & Market
Article 22 asks for a borrowing authorization of $7.25 million for roof and HVAC improvements at Hudson High School and C.A. Farley Elementary School. The roofs of both schools are in various states of disrepair, with some sections needing immediate work. The proposal was pitched as a three-year program Town Meeting | 5
Reservation Encouraged 247A Maple Street, Marlborough 508-485-5800 www.kenedyspub.com