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Hiring of principal may have broken district rules By Evan Walsh Managing Editor GRAFTON – The appointment of an elementary school principal is creating debate in Grafton. After much discussion, the School Committee on July 30 voted, 4-1, to appoint Juliana Kessler Marcos as the new principal of South Grafton Elementary School. Importantly, the debate was not about Marcos personally – School Committee members seemed excited for her to join the district – but rather how the hiring process was conducted. In early July, Superintendent Jay Cummings had several conversations with former principal Melissa Wallace, who had served the district for four years in that role. Wallace had been dealing with personal issues, Cummings said, that were expected to worsen going forward. In an effort to support Wallace, Cummings offered her an interim Preschool Coordinator position – a role that allowed more flexibility than her South Grafton principal job. The offer was ultimately accepted. That left the South Grafton position open in mid-July – a time when hardly any quality principal candidates would be available, said Cummings, since they were already planning for the school year ahead. “It was way too late to have a process,” said Cummings, and so he reached out to Marcos, whom he knew (but had never met) through professional connections in the industry. Marcos’ hiring marked the first time in Cummings’ tenure a position was filled without a search. “You pay me to make hard decisions, and it was one of the moredifficult decisions I’ve had to make in a long time,” said Cummings. “I believe
Vol. 52 | No. 33 | August 14, 2026
A bright future for Armory on the Assabet
Uhlman’s brings joy to generations
HUDSON | 6 Marlborough PD holds first-ever National Night Out
marlborough | 12 The world of Mahjong is taking Central Mass. by storm
Kelley Marston inside Uhlman’s, her home away from home. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
Behind the counter at a Westborough treasure By Evan Walsh Managing Editor WESTBOROUGH – Kelley Marston is at the heart of an “amazing, huge family.” She lives in Northborough with her family, which includes five children. Then, in Westborough, she has a family of about 85 college- and high-schoolaged scoopers at Uhlman’s Ice Cream. When she started managing the establishment, Marston, a former science teacher, had to pencil schedules for only 15 employees. “I feel like an aunt to a million children,” she told the Community Advocate. “I know their sports, I know their interests, I know their schedules. They’ll put in a schedule request, and I’m like, ‘Are you sure? Because I think you have dance practice that night.’ I know where they’re all going to school.”
Principal | 37
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Most of those 85 employees frequented Uhlman’s as children. Others are second-generation employees. Over the past 59 years, Uhlman’s has become far more than an ice cream spot – it’s an iconic Westborough destination, a gathering place for locals, and somewhere that, despite continuing its legacy of excellence, has not been shy about expanding its reach in the last decade. “People need a reason to be happy. We’re here to do that,” said Marston. In 1967, George Smith – the founder of Smithfield Ice Cream – set up a small farmstand on land owned by his friend Howard Uhlman. Smith later converted the stand into an ice cream shop, turning over operations to his son, Richard, in 1987. Marston, Richard’s step-daughter, took over Uhlman’s about 15 years ago. As a pillar of the community,
shrewsbury | 22 Purcell leaves Westborough FD after 27 years
westborough | 23
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